Search for Variable Stars in the Globular Cluster M3

We describe here results of a photometric time-sequence survey of the globular cluster M3 (NGC 5272), in a search for contact and detached eclipsing binary stars. We have discovered only one likely eclipsing binary and one SX Phe type star in spite of monitoring 4077 stars with $V<20.0$ and observing 25 blue stragglers. The newly identified SX Phe star, V237, shows a light curve with a variable amplitude. Variable V238 shows variability either with a period of 0.49 d or with a period of 0.25 d. On the cluster colour-magnitude diagram, the variable occupies a position a few hundredths of magnitude to the blue of the base of the red giant branch. V238 is a likely descendent of a binary blue straggler. As a side result we obtained high quality data for 42 of the previously known RR Lyrae variables, including 33 of Bailey type ab, 7 type c and 2 double-mode pulsators. We used equations that relate the physical properties of RRc stars to their pulsation periods and Fourier parameters to derive masses, luminosities, temperatures and helium parameters for five of the RRc stars. One of the RRd stars (V79) has switched modes. In previous studies, it was classified as RRab, but our observations show that it is an RRd star with the first overtone mode dominating. This indicates blueward evolution on the horizontal branch.Comment: 21 pages including 14 figures, Latex, requires mn.sty, psfig.sty. Submitted, MNRA

Integrity static analysis of COTS/SOUP

This paper describes the integrity static analysis approach developed to support the justification of commercial off-the-shelf software (COTS) used in a safety-related system. The static analysis was part of an overall software qualification programme, which also included the work reported in our paper presented at Safecomp 2002. Integrity static analysis focuses on unsafe language constructs and “covert” flows, where one thread can affect the data or control flow of another thread. The analysis addressed two main aspects: the internal integrity of the code (especially for the more critical functions), and the intra-component integrity, checking for covert channels. The analysis process was supported by an aggregation of tools, combined and engineered to support the checks done and to scale as necessary. Integrity static analysis is feasible for industrial scale software, did not require unreasonable resources and we provide data that illustrates its contribution to the software qualification programme

Effects of Uniform and Differential Rotation on Stellar Pulsations

We have investigated the effects of uniform rotation and a specific model for differential rotation on the pulsation frequencies of 10 \Msun\ stellar models. Uniform rotation decreases the frequencies for all modes. Differential rotation does not appear to have a significant effect on the frequencies, except for the most extreme differentially rotating models. In all cases, the large and small separations show the effects of rotation at lower velocities than do the individual frequencies. Unfortunately, to a certain extent, differential rotation mimics the effects o f more rapid rotation, and only the presence of some specific observed frequencies with well identified modes will be able to uniquely constrain the internal rotation of pulsating stars.Comment: 33 pages, 16 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Capital Expenditure Decisions and the Role of the Not-for-Profit Hospital: An Application of a Social Goods Model

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68370/2/10.1177_107755879004700404.pd

Generalized Massive Gravity and Galilean Conformal Algebra in two dimensions

Galilean conformal algebra (GCA) in two dimensions arises as contraction of two copies of the centrally extended Virasoro algebra ($t\rightarrow t, x\rightarrow\epsilon x$ with $\epsilon\rightarrow 0$). The central charges of GCA can be expressed in term of Virasoro central charges. For finite and non-zero GCA central charges, the Virasoro central charges must behave as asymmetric form $O(1)\pm O(\frac{1}{\epsilon})$. We propose that, the bulk description for 2d GCA with asymmetric central charges is given by general massive gravity (GMG) in three dimensions. It can be seen that, if the gravitational Chern-Simons coupling $\frac{1}{\mu}$ behaves as of order O($\frac{1}{\epsilon}$) or ($\mu\rightarrow\epsilon\mu$), the central charges of GMG have the above $\epsilon$ dependence. So, in non-relativistic scaling limit $\mu\rightarrow\epsilon\mu$, we calculated GCA parameters and finite entropy in term of gravity parameters mass and angular momentum of GMG.Comment: 9 page

Desenho preliminar de uma coleção nuclear de mandioca dentro do banco ativo de germoplasma da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental.

A mandioca (Manihot esculenta Crantz) destaca-se como um dos cultivos mais importantes na Amazônia, tanto para a segurança alimentar regional como no comércio. A Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental organizou um Banco Ativo de Germoplasma (BAG) para fins de melhoramento e conservação in vivo da variabilidade genética da mandioca, por meio da coleta de germoplasma em diferentes localidades no Estado do Amazonas, visando reunir a diversidade encontrada na região amazônica. O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenhar uma coleção nuclear de mandioca com base em dados geográficos, morfo-agronômicos e genético-moleculares. Decidiu-se que a Coleção Nuclear deveria conter 50 amostras, representando 15% do BAG e serão representadas por acessos coletados nas calhas dos principais rios Negro, Solimões, Purus, Amazonas e Madeira. As localidades super-representadas no BAG serão alocadas à CN logaritmicamente, enquanto que as localidades sub-representadas serão alocadas proporcionalmente. As amostras selecionadas para a Coleção devem possuir boa produtividade (>13,3 t/há), raízes com polpa de coloração amarelada, teores de HCN acima de 100 mg/kg e divergência genético-moleculares satisfatórias

Bounds on the force between black holes

We treat the problem of N interacting, axisymmetric black holes and obtain two relations among physical parameters of the system including the force between the black holes. The first relation involves the total mass, the angular momenta, the distances and the forces between the black holes. The second one relates the angular momentum and area of each black hole with the forces acting on it.Comment: 13 pages, no figure

Note: "Lock-in accelerometry" to follow sink dynamics in shaken granular matter

Understanding the penetration dynamics of intruders in granular beds is relevant not only for fundamental Physics, but also for geophysical processes and construction on sediments or granular soils in areas potentially affected by earthquakes. While the penetration of intruders in two dimensional (2D) laboratory granular beds can be followed using video recording, it is useless in three dimensional (3D) beds of non-transparent materials such as common sand. Here we propose a method to quantify the sink dynamics of an intruder into laterally shaken granular beds based on the temporal correlations between the signals from a reference accelerometer fixed to the shaken granular bed, and a probe accelerometer deployed inside the intruder. Due to its analogy with the working principle of a lock in amplifier, we call this technique Lock in accelerometry (LIA). During Earthquakes, some soils can lose their ability to sustain shear and deform, causing subsidence and sometimes substantial building damage due to deformation or tumblin