784 research outputs found
Stellar Velocity Dispersion of the Leo A Dwarf Galaxy
We measure the first stellar velocity dispersion of the Leo A dwarf galaxy,
\sigma = 9.3 +- 1.3 km/s. We derive the velocity dispersion from the radial
velocities of ten young B supergiants and two HII regions in the central region
of Leo A. We estimate a projected mass of 8 +- 2.7 x10^7 solar masses within a
radius of 2 arcmin, and a mass to light ratio of at least 20 +- 6 M_sun/L_sun.
These results imply Leo A is at least ~80% dark matter by mass.Comment: 6 pages, accepted to Ap
Inconsistency in asylum appeal adjudication
Open access journalNew research findings indicate that factors such as the gender of the judge and of the appellant, and where the appellant lives, are influencing asylum appeal adjudication.Economic and Social Research Counci
Characterizing extinction debt following habitat fragmentation using neutral theory
Habitat loss leads to species extinctions, both immediately and over the long-term as âextinction debtâ is repaid. The same quantity of habitat can be lost in different spatial patterns with varying habitat fragmentation. How this translates to species loss remains an open problem requiring an understanding of the interplay between community dynamics and habitat structure across temporal and spatial scales. Here we develop formulas that characterize extinction debt in a spatial neutral model after habitat loss and fragmentation. Central to our formulas are two new metrics, which depend on properties of the taxa and landscape: âeffective areaâ, measuring the remaining number of individuals; and âeffective connectivityâ, measuring individualsâ ability to disperse through fragmented habitat. This formalizes the conventional wisdom that habitat area and habitat connectivity are the two critical requirements for long term preservation of biodiversity. Our approach suggests that mechanistic fragmentation metrics help resolve debates about fragmentation and species loss
The Interaction between the ISM and Star Formation in the Dwarf Starburst Galaxy NGC 4214
We present the first interferometric study of the molecular gas in the
metal-poor dwarf starburst galaxy NGC 4214. Our map of the 12CO(1-0) emission,
obtained at the OVRO millimeter array, reveals an unexpected structural wealth.
We detected three regions of molecular emission in the north-west (NW),
south-east (SE) and centre of NGC 4214 which are in very different and distinct
evolutionary stages (total molecular mass: 5.1 x 10^6 M_sun). These differences
are apparent most dramatically when the CO morphologies are compared to optical
ground based and HST imaging: massive star formation has not started yet in the
NW region; the well-known starburst in the centre is the most evolved and star
formation in the SE complex started more recently. We derive a star formation
efficiency of 8% for the SE complex. Using high--resolution VLA observations of
neutral hydrogen HI and our CO data we generated a total gas column density map
for NGC 4214 (HI + H_2). No clear correlation is seen between the peaks of HI,
CO and the sites of ongoing star formation. This emphasizes the irregular
nature of dwarf galaxies. The HI and CO velocities agree well, so do the
H-alpha velocities. In total, we cataloged 14 molecular clumps in NGC 4214. Our
results from a virial mass analysis are compatible with a Galactic CO-to-H_2
conversion factor for NGC 4214 (lower than what is usually found in metal-poor
dwarf galaxies).Comment: accepted for publication in the AJ (February 2001), full ps file at:
ftp://ftp.astro.caltech.edu/users/fw/ngc4214/walter_prep.p
Genetic differentiation of Glossina morsitans centralis populations
Variation at mitochondrial and microsatellite loci was used to study the breeding and dispersal structure of Glossina morsitans centralis, in six natural populations from Botswana, the Caprivi Strip (Namibia), Zambia, and in a laboratory culture derived from Singida, Tanzania. Only seven mitochondrial haplotypes were found. Mean diversity averaged over the six natural populations was 0.216 ± 0.085. The fixation index FST = 0.866 indicated a high degree of genetic differentiation among populations. Fifty-three alleles were detected among six microsatellite loci and six natural populations. Mean microsatellite diversity was 0.702 ± 0.091. Depending on the estimating model used, fixation indices varied from 0.15 to 0.225 confirming that G. m. centralis populations are strongly subdivided. For all FST estimates, positive correlations were detected between pair-wise genetic distance measures and geographical distances. The difference in fixation indices estimated from mitochondrial or nuclear loci was explained by the greater sensitivity of mitochondrial genomes to genetic drift. Population differentiation can be explained by genetic drift and the subsequent recovery of extant populations from small, discontinuous populations. These data confirm genetically the collapse and retreat of G. m. centralis populations caused by the rinderpest epizootic of the late 19th and early 20th centuries
Giant Conductance Oscillations In Mesoscopic Andreev Interferometers
We analyze the electrical conductance of a two-dimensional, phase
coherent structure in contact with two superconductors, which is known to be an
oscillatory function of the phase difference between the
superconductors. It is predicted that for a metallic sample, the amplitude of
oscillation is enhanced by placing a normal barrier at the interface and that,
by tuning the strength of the barrier, can be orders of magnitude greater than
values observed in recent experiments. Giant oscillations can also be obtained
without a barrier, provided a crucial sum rule is broken. This can be achieved
by disorder induced normal scattering. In the absence of zero phase
inter-channel scattering, the conductance possesses a zero phase minimum.Comment: 4 pages of Revtex, 6 figures available on reques
Sign of the crossed conductances at a FSF double interface
Crossed conductance in hybrid Ferromagnet / Superconductor / Ferromagnet
(FSF) structures results from the competition between normal transmission and
Andreev reflection channels. Crossed Andreev reflection (CAR) and elastic
cotunneling (EC) between the ferromagnets are dressed by local Andreev
reflections, which play an important role for transparent enough interfaces and
intermediate spin polarizations. This modifies the simple result previously
obtained at lowest order, and can explain the sign of the crossed resistances
in a recent experiment [D. Beckmann {\sl et al.}, cond-mat/0404360]. This holds
both in the multiterminal hybrid structure model (where phase averaging over
the Fermi oscillations is introduced ``by hand'' within the approximation of a
single non local process) and for infinite planar interfaces (where phase
averaging naturally results in the microscopic solution with multiple non local
processes).Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
The tribunal atmosphere: on qualitative barriers to access to justice
This the final version. Available on open access from Elsevier via the DOI in this recordVulnerable groupsâ direct experiences and impressions of British courts and tribunals have often been
overlooked by politicians and policy makers (JUSTICE, 2019). This paper takes a geographical,
empirical approach to access to justice to respond to these concerns, paying attention to the atmosphere
of First Tier Immigration and Asylum Tribunal hearings to explore the qualitative aspects of (in)access
to justice during asylum appeals. It draws on 41 interviews with former appellants and 390 observations
of hearings in the First tier immigration and asylum tribunal to unpack the lived experiences of tribunal
users and to identify three ways in which the atmosphere in tribunals can constitute a barrier to access
to justice. First, asylum appellants are frequently profoundly disorientated upon arrival at the tribunal.
Second, appellants become distrustful of the courtroom when they cannot see it as independent of the
state. Third they often experience the courtroom procedures and the interactions that take place as
disrespectful, inhibiting their participation. These insights demonstrate how the concept of âatmosphereâ
can illuminate legal debates in valuable ways. Additionally we argue that legal policy making must find
better ways to take vulnerable litigantsâ experiences into account.Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)European Commissio
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