Extreme TeV Blazars and Lower Limits on Intergalactic Magnetic Fields

The intergalactic magnetic field (IGMF) in cosmic voids can be indirectly probed through its effect on electromagnetic cascades initiated by a source of TeV gamma rays, such as blazars, a subclass of active galactic nuclei. Blazars that are sufficiently luminous at TeV energies, "extreme TeV blazars", can produce detectable levels of secondary radiation from inverse Compton scattering of the electrons in the cascade, provided that the IGMF is not too large. We reveiw recent work in the literature which utilizes this idea to derive constraints on the IGMF for three TeV-detected blazars-1ES 0229+200, 1ES 1218+304, and RGB J0710+591, and we also investigate four other hard-spectrum TeV blazars in the same framework. Through a recently developed detailed 3D particle tracking Monte Carlo simulation code, incorporating all major effects of QED and cosmological expansion, we research effects of major uncertainties such as the spectral properties of the source, uncertainty in the intensity of the UV - far IR extragalactic background light (EBL), under-sampled Very High Energy (VHE; energy > 100 GeV) coverage, past history of gamma-ray emission, source vs. observer geometry, and jet AGN Doppler factor. The implications of these effects on the recently reported lower limits of the IGMF are thoroughly examined to conclude that presently available data are compatible with a zero IGMF hypothesis.Comment: 2012 Fermi Symposium proceedings - eConf C12102

The Impact of the Safeguard Anti-Ballistic Missile System Construction on Northeastern North Dakota

Federal defense projects have let to rapid population changes in many communities. These communities often have experienced rapid growth during the construction and installation phase, followed by a population decrease when the project became operational and labor requirements declined. Large industrial construction projects (e.g., construction of coal conversion plants) may confront other communities with similar adjustment problems.Community/Rural/Urban Development,

CC179 The Salt-Wahoo Watershed District Referendum : Questions and Answers

Campaign Circulation 179 tells us about the salt-wahoo watershed district referendum

Financial, Managerial, and Attitudinal Characteristics of North Dakota Farm Families: Results of the 1986 Farm Survey

Agricultural Finance, Farm Management,

Financial Motivation Undermines Maintenance in an Intensive Diet and Activity Intervention

Financial incentives are widely used in health behavior interventions. However, self-determination theory posits that emphasizing financial incentives can have negative consequences if experienced as controlling. Feeling controlled into performing a behavior tends to reduce enjoyment and undermine maintenance after financial contingencies are removed (the undermining effect). We assessed participants' context-specific financial motivation to participate in the Make Better Choices trial—a trial testing four different strategies for improving four health risk behaviors: low fruit and vegetable intake, high saturated fat intake, low physical activity, and high sedentary screen time. The primary outcome was overall healthy lifestyle change; weight loss was a secondary outcome. Financial incentives were contingent upon meeting behavior goals for 3 weeks and became contingent upon merely providing data during the 4.5-month maintenance period. Financial motivation for participation was assessed at baseline using a 7-item scale (α = .97). Across conditions, a main effect of financial motivation predicted a steeper rate of weight regained during the maintenance period, t(165) = 2.15, P = .04. Furthermore, financial motivation and gender interacted significantly in predicting maintenance of healthy diet and activity changes, t(160) = 2.42, P = .016, such that financial motivation had a more deleterious influence among men. Implications for practice and future research on incentivized lifestyle and weight interventions are discussed