18,314 research outputs found
The case for long range chemoreceptive piloting in Chelonia
The reproductive ecology and migration habits of Chelonia are investigated. Efforts were made to determine if the turtle navigates by chemoreception and if sensory responses of the migrating animals could be electronically tracked through telemetry. Efforts were also made to: (1) explain why certain small islands or restricted areas of mainland shore are chosen by Chelonia as nesting grounds, even when located a thousand miles or more from the year round feeding grounds of the population; (2) identify guidance mechanisms used by migrants in their periodic open ocean travels; and (3) account for the so called lost year - the virtually complete disappearance of young sea turtles during their first year of life. It was suggested that turtle migration is aided by an olfactory mechanism, sun compass, and ocean currents. The tracking experiment was unsuccessful; the equipment was lost or damaged and stopped functioning after about two hours
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Evaluating candidate reactions to selection practices using organisational justice theory
Objectives: This study aimed to examine candidate reactions to selection practices in postgraduate medical training using organisational justice theory.
Methods: We carried out three independent cross-sectional studies using samples from three consecutive annual recruitment rounds. Data were gathered from candidates applying for entry into UK general practice (GP) training during 2007, 2008 and 2009. Participants completed an evaluation questionnaire immediately after the short-listing stage and after the selection centre (interview) stage. Participants were doctors applying for GP training in the UK. Main outcome measures were participants’ evaluations of the selection methods and perceptions of the overall fairness of each selection stage (short-listing and selection centre).
Results: A total of 23 855 evaluation questionnaires were completed (6893 in 2007, 10 497 in 2008 and 6465 in 2009). Absolute levels of perceptions of fairness of all the selection methods at both the short-listing and selection centre stages were consistently high over the 3 years. Similarly, all selection methods were considered to be job-related by candidates. However, in general, candidates considered the selection centre stage to be significantly fairer than the short-listing stage. Of all the selection methods, the simulated patient consultation completed at the selection centre stage was rated as the most job-relevant.
Conclusions: This is the first study to use a model of organisational justice theory to evaluate candidate reactions during selection into postgraduate specialty training. The high-fidelity selection methods are consistently viewed as more job-relevant and fairer by candidates. This has important implications for the design of recruitment systems for all specialties and, potentially, for medical school admissions. Using this approach, recruiters can systematically compare perceptions of the fairness and job relevance of various selection methods
Expendable bubble tiltmeter for geophysical monitoring
An unusually rugged highly sensitive and inexpensive bubble tiltmeter has been designed, tested, and built in quantity. These tiltmeters are presently used on two volcanoes and an Alaskan glacier, where they continuously monitor surface tilts of geological interest. This paper discusses the
mechanical, thermal, and electric details of the meter, and illustrates its performance characteristics in both large ( > 10^(-4) radian) and small ( < 10^(-6) radian) tilt environments. The meter's ultimate sensitivity is better than 2 X 10^(-8) radians rms for short periods (hours), and its useful dynamic range is greater than 10^4. Included is a short description of field use of the instrument for volcano monitoring
Sensitivity studies for the cubic-kilometre deep-sea neutrino telescope KM3NeT
The observation of high-energy neutrinos from astrophysical sources would
substantially improve our knowledge and understanding of the non-thermal
processes in these sources, and would in particular pinpoint the accelerators
of cosmic rays. The sensitivity of different design options for a future
cubic-kilometre scale neutrino telescope in the Mediterranean Sea is
investigated for generic point sources and in particular for some of the
galactic objects from which TeV gamma emmission has recently been observed by
the H.E.S.S. atmospheric Cherenkov telescope. The effect of atmospheric
background on the source detection probabilities has been taken into account
through full simulation. The estimated event rates are compared to previous
results and limits from present neutrino telescopes.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, contribution of the 30th International Cosmic Ray
conferenc
A near infrared spectroscopic study of the interstellar gas in the starburst core of M82
Researchers used the McDonald Observatory Infrared Grating Spectrometer, to complete a program of spatially resolved spectroscopy of M82. The inner 300 pc of the starburst was observed with 4 inch (50 pc) resolution. Complete J, H and K band spectra with resolution 0.0035 micron (lambda/delta lambda=620 at K) were measured at the near-infrared nucleus of the galaxy. Measurements of selected spectral features including lines of FeII, HII and H2 were observed along the starburst ridge-line, so the relative distribution of the diagnostic features could be understood. This information was used to better define the extinction towards the starburst region, the excitation conditions in the gas, and to characterize the stellar populations there
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