An Integral Formulation for Rectangular Wires in a 3D Magneto-Quasi-Static Field

This paper proposes an integral formulation for calculating the magnetic and ohmic losses in rectangular wires immersed in an external 3D magneto-quasi-static field. The formulation is based on some simplifying assumptions that allow to employ a collocation method with constant elements for the discretization, reducing the computational burden. Even if the assumptions introduce an approximation, for the application at hand the numerical tests have shown that the accuracy is still acceptable. Moreover, the computational time is drastically reduced with respect to other approaches based on the finite element method

Preferred music listening is associated with perceptual learning enhancement at the expense of self-focused attention

Can preferred music listening improve following attentional and learning performances? Here we suggest that this may be the case. In Experiment 1, following preferred and non-preferred musical-piece listening, we recorded electrophysiological responses to an auditory roving-paradigm. We computed the mismatch negativity (MMN – the difference between responses to novel and repeated stimulation), as an index of perceptual learning, and we measured the correlation between trial-by-trial EEG responses and the fluctuations in Bayesian Surprise, as a quantification of the neural attunement with stimulus informational value. Furthermore, during music listening, we recorded oscillatory cortical activity. MMN and trial-by-trial correlation with Bayesian surprise were significantly larger after subjectively preferred versus non-preferred music, indicating the enhancement of perceptual learning. The analysis on oscillatory activity during music listening showed a selective alpha power increased in response to preferred music, an effect often related to cognitive enhancements. In Experiment 2, we explored whether this learning improvement was realized at the expense of self-focused attention. Therefore, after preferred versus non-preferred music listening, we collected Heart-Beat Detection (HBD) accuracy, as a measure of the attentional focus toward the self. HBD was significantly lowered following preferred music listening. Overall, our results suggest the presence of a specific neural mechanism that, in response to aesthetically pleasing stimuli, and through the modulation of alpha oscillatory activity, redirects neural resources away from the self and toward the environment. This attentional up-weighting of external stimuli might be fruitfully exploited in a wide area of human learning activities, including education, neurorehabilitation and therapy. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.3758/s13423-022-02127-8

Radio Astronomy

Contains research objectives, summary of research and reports on six research projects.National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NGL 22-009-016)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NGR 22-009-421)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Langley Research Center Contract NAS1-10693)National Science Foundation (Grant GP-20769A#2)National Science Foundation (Grant GP-21348A#2)Joint Services Electronics Programs (U. S. Army, U. S. Navy, and U. S. Air Force) under Contract DAAB07-71-C-0300U. S. Air Force -- Wright-Patterson (Contract F33615-72-C-2129)California Institute of Technology Contract 952568M.I.T. Sloan Fund for Basic Research (Grant 241)M.I.T. Thomas C. Desmond Fun

Radio Astronomy

Contains research objectives and summary of research.U. S. Air Force - Electronic Systems Division (Contract F19628-73-C-0196)National Science Foundation (Grant 40484X)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAB07-71-C-0300)National Institutes of Health (Grant 1 RO1 GM20370-01)U. S. Air Force - Air Force Systems Command (Contract F33615-72-C-2129)California Institute of Technology (Contract 952568)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Contract NAS1 -10693)National Science Foundation (Grant GP-40485X

Physical structure of the envelopes of intermediate-mass protostars

Context: Intermediate mass protostars provide a bridge between low- and high-mass protostars. Furthermore, they are an important component of the UV interstellar radiation field. Despite their relevance, little is known about their formation process. Aims: We present a systematic study of the physical structure of five intermediate mass, candidate Class 0 protostars. Our two goals are to shed light on the first phase of intermediate mass star formation and to compare these protostars with low- and high-mass sources. Methods: We derived the dust and gas temperature and density profiles of the sample. We analysed all existing continuum data on each source and modelled the resulting SED with the 1D radiative transfer code DUSTY. The gas temperature was then predicted by means of a modified version of the code CHT96. Results: We found that the density profiles of five out of six studied intermediate mass envelopes are consistent with the predictions of the "inside-out" collapse theory.We compared several physical parameters, like the power law index of the density profile, the size, the mass, the average density, the density at 1000 AU and the density at 10 K of the envelopes of low-, intermediate, and high-mass protostars. When considering these various physical parameters, the transition between the three groups appears smooth, suggesting that the formation processes and triggers do not substantially differ