Simultaneous IUE, EXOSAT and optical observations of the unusual AM Her type variable H058+608

Simultaneous observations of the AM Her type variable H0538+608 made with IUE, EXOSAT, and a 1.3 m ground based telescope, and subsequent optical spectrophotometry at high and low resolution are discussed. The X-ray and optical data show clear evidence of a 3.30 + or - 0.03 hr period. Three SWP spectra were taken outside of eclipse and during overlapping phase intervals. The UV spectra contain strong emission lines characteristic of this class of objects and a flat continuum which appears to be deficient, given the brightness of source at optical and X-ray wavelengths. There is evidence for intensity variations in emission lines, particularly C IV. The X-ray light curves for H0538+608 reveal behavior which may be related to irregularities in its accretion flow

The X-ray transient XTE J1118+480: Multiwavelength observations of a low-state mini-outburst

We present multiwavelength observations of the newly discovered X-ray transient XTE J1118+480 obtained in the rising phase of the 2000 April outburst. This source is located at unusually high Galactic latitude and in a very low absorption line of sight. This made the first EUVE spectroscopy of an X-ray transient outburst possible. Together with our HST, RXTE, and UKIRT data this gives unprecedented spectral coverage. We find the source in the low hard state. The flat IR-UV spectrum appears to be a combination of optically thick disk emission and flat spectrum emission, possibly synchrotron, while at higher energies, including EUV, a typical low hard state power-law is seen. EUVE observations reveal no periodic modulation, suggesting an inclination low enough that no obscuration by the disk rim occurs. We discuss the nature of the source and this outburst and conclude that it may be more akin to mini-outbursts seen in GRO J0422+32 than to a normal X-ray transient outburst.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, replaced with accepted version. Uses emulateapj5.st

XTE J1550-564: INTEGRAL Observations of a Failed Outburst

The well known black-hole X-ray binary transient XTE J1550-564 underwent an outburst during the spring of 2003 which was substantially underluminous in comparison to previous periods of peak activity in that source. In addition, our analysis shows that it apparently remained in the hard spectral state over the duration of that outburst. This is again in sharp contrast to major outbursts of that source in 1998/1999 during which it exhibited an irregular light curve, multiple state changes and collimated outflows. This leads us to classify it as a "failed outburst." We present the results of our study of the spring 2003 event including light curves based on observations from both INTEGRAL and RXTE. In addition, we studied the evolution of the high-energy 3-300 keV continuum spectrum using data obtained with three main instruments on INTEGRAL. These spectra are consistent with typical low-hard-state thermal Comptonization emission. We also consider the 2003 event in the context of a multi-source, multi-event period-peak luminosity diagram in which it is a clear outlyer. We then consider the possibility that the 2003 event was due to a discrete accretion event rather than a limit-cycle instablility. In that context, we apply model fitting to derive the timescale for viscous propagation in the disk, and infer some physical characteristics.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figures, to be published in The Astrophysical Journa

Role of Nitrogen, Phosphorus and Potassium fertilizers in continuous corn culture on Nicollet and Webster soils

The possibility of growing continuous corn is receiving increasing consideration with the changing agricultural patterns. Farmers are devoting more and more acres to intensive cropping sequences in which corn follows corn more often. The practice of continuous corn-growing consecutive corn crops on the same land-is on the increase. This is because corn is the most profitable crop generally grown in the Corn Belt, because limitations in production technology have been eased, and because farm product demands or values have altered. Early research with crop rotations generally resulted in conclusions that continuous culture of inter tilled crops, especially of corn, was less profitable than other alternatives and resulted in decreasing soil fertility and continuously declining yields. The early experiments indicated that a crop rotation, including a nitrogen-fixing legume, was needed to increase or even maintain fertility levels. These experiments usually did not explore the use of N, and, if they did, the N usually was used in low amounts, probably because of the high cost. Forage-producing crops were also necessary for the livestock program, which then included draft horses, and the manure byproduct from the animals helped maintain fertility levels

What Fertilizers for Crop Rotation?

No one can predict the exact response of a single crop in a given year or at a specific location. Price relationships change, too. What should you do in a cropping sequence? Here are some clues from our long-term research

Long-term variability of AGN at hard X-rays

Variability at all observed wavelengths is a distinctive property of AGN. Hard X-rays provide us with a view of the innermost regions of AGN, mostly unbiased by absorption along the line of sight. Swift/BAT offers the unique opportunity to follow, on time scales of days to years and with a regular sampling, the 14-195 keV emission of the largest AGN sample available up to date for this kind of investigation. We study the amplitude of the variations, and their dependence on sub-class and on energy, for a sample of 110 radio quiet and radio loud AGN selected from the BAT 58-month survey. About 80% of the AGN in the sample are found to exhibit significant variability on months to years time scales, radio loud sources being the most variable. The amplitude of the variations and their energy dependence are incompatible with variability being driven at hard X-rays by changes of the absorption column density. In general, the variations in the 14-24 and 35-100 keV bands are well correlated, suggesting a common origin of the variability across the BAT energy band. However, radio quiet AGN display on average 10% larger variations at 14-24 keV than at 35-100 keV and a softer-when-brighter behavior for most of the Seyfert galaxies with detectable spectral variability on month time scale. In addition, sources with harder spectra are found to be more variable than softer ones. These properties are generally consistent with a variable power law continuum, in flux and shape, pivoting at energies >~ 50 keV, to which a constant reflection component is superposed. When the same time scales are considered, the timing properties of AGN at hard X-rays are comparable to those at lower energies, with at least some of the differences possibly ascribable to components contributing differently in the two energy domains (e.g., reflection, absorption).Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&

Comparison of meadow-kill treatments on a corn-oats-meadow-meadow rotation in northwestern Iowa

An experiment was conducted at the Moody Research Center (formerly Moody Experimental Farm) in northwestern Iowa to examine the effects of meadow-kill on crop yields and on soil moisture in the spring. The experiment utilized a corn-oats-meadow-meadow rotation with meadow-kill treatments applied to the second-year meadow at various times of the growing season. Twenty years (1958-1977) of data were used for the analyses presented in this bulletin. Three treatments were used in the experiment. In the first, the control treatment, the second-year meadow was harvested two or three times. The plots were plowed the following spring before corn was planted. The second treatment was a short fallow” treatment, in which second-year meadow was killed with herbicides in the early fall after the second cutting of hay. The third treatment was a longer fallow treatment, with meadow killed in midsummer after the first hay cutting. Plots receiving the second and third treatments also were spring plowed