5,075 research outputs found
The Palomar Testbed Interferometer Calibrator Catalog
The Palomar Testbed Interferometer (PTI) archive of observations between 1998
and 2005 is examined for objects appropriate for calibration of optical
long-baseline interferometer observations - stars that are predictably
point-like and single. Approximately 1,400 nights of data on 1,800 objects were
examined for this investigation. We compare those observations to an
intensively studied object that is a suitable calibrator, HD217014, and
statistically compare each candidate calibrator to that object by computing
both a Mahalanobis distance and a Principal Component Analysis. Our hypothesis
is that the frequency distribution of visibility data associated with
calibrator stars differs from non-calibrator stars such as binary stars.
Spectroscopic binaries resolved by PTI, objects known to be unsuitable for
calibrator use, are similarly tested to establish detection limits of this
approach. From this investigation, we find more than 350 observed stars
suitable for use as calibrators (with an additional being
rejected), corresponding to sky coverage for PTI. This approach
is noteworthy in that it rigorously establishes calibration sources through a
traceable, empirical methodology, leveraging the predictions of spectral energy
distribution modeling but also verifying it with the rich body of PTI's on-sky
observations.Comment: 100 pages, 7 figures, 7 tables; to appear in the May 2008ApJS, v176n
A log analysis study of 10 years of ebook consumption in academic library collections
Even though libraries have been offering eBooks for more than a decade, very little is known about eBook access and consumption in academic library collections. This paper addresses this gap with a log analysis study of eBook access at the library of the University of Waikato. This in-depth analysis covers a period spanning 10 years of eBook use at this university. We draw conclusions about the use of eBooks at this institution and compare the results with other published studies of eBook usage at tertiary institutes
FUSE Measurements of Far Ultraviolet Extinction. I. Galactic Sight Lines
We present extinction curves that include data down to far ultraviolet
wavelengths (FUV; 1050 - 1200 A) for nine Galactic sight lines. The FUV
extinction was measured using data from the Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic
Explorer. The sight lines were chosen for their unusual extinction properties
in the infrared through the ultraviolet; that they probe a wide range of dust
environments is evidenced by the large spread in their measured ratios of
total-to-selective extinction, R_V = 2.43 - 3.81. We find that extrapolation of
the Fitzpatrick & Massa relationship from the ultraviolet appears to be a good
predictor of the FUV extinction behavior. We find that predictions of the FUV
extinction based upon the Cardelli, Clayton & Mathis (CCM) dependence on R_V
give mixed results. For the seven extinction curves well represented by CCM in
the infrared through ultraviolet, the FUV extinction is well predicted in three
sight lines, over-predicted in two sight lines, and under-predicted in 2 sight
lines. A Maximum Entropy Method analysis using a simple three component grain
model shows that seven of the nine sight lines in the study require a larger
fraction of grain materials to be in dust when FUV extinction is included in
the models. Most of the added grain material is in the form of small (radii <
200 A) grains.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 31 pages with
7 figure
Inference for bounded parameters
The estimation of signal frequency count in the presence of background noise
has had much discussion in the recent physics literature, and Mandelkern [1]
brings the central issues to the statistical community, leading in turn to
extensive discussion by statisticians. The primary focus however in [1] and the
accompanying discussion is on the construction of a confidence interval. We
argue that the likelihood function and -value function provide a
comprehensive presentation of the information available from the model and the
data. This is illustrated for Gaussian and Poisson models with lower bounds for
the mean parameter
Superheated Microdrops as Cold Dark Matter Detectors
It is shown that under realistic background considerations, an improvement in
Cold Dark Matter sensitivity of several orders of magnitude is expected from a
detector based on superheated liquid droplets. Such devices are totally
insensitive to minimum ionizing radiation while responsive to nuclear recoils
of energies ~ few keV. They operate on the same principle as the bubble
chamber, but offer unattended, continuous, and safe operation at room
temperature and atmospheric pressure.Comment: 15 pgs, 4 figures include
Immunospecific targeting of CD45 expressing lymphoid cells: Towards improved detection agents of the sentinel lymph node
This study was designed to demonstrate the potential of small nanoparticulate lymphotropic contrast agents designed to bind with high affinity to lymphoid cells overexpressing the CD45 antigen. To this end, small gold nanoparticles used as model were conjugated to anti-CD45 antibodies and injected in mice in the dorsal toe of the fore/hind paw. Chemical analysis demonstrated rapid uptake and transport of the nanoparticles in the lymphatic as well as significant retention of the nanoparticles with high binding affinity to lymphoid cells in the popliteal and axillary lymph nodes in comparison to non-targeted nanoparticles.Tianqing Liu, Aidan Cousins, Chia-Chi Chien, Ivan Kempson, Sarah Thompson, Yeukuang Hwu, Benjamin Thierr
Momentum asymmetries as CP violating observables
Three body decays can exhibit CP violation that arises from interfering
diagrams with different orderings of the final state particles. We construct
several momentum asymmetry observables that are accessible in a hadron collider
environment where some of the final state particles are not reconstructed and
not all the kinematic information can be extracted. We discuss the
complications that arise from the different possible production mechanisms of
the decaying particle. Examples involving heavy neutralino decays in
supersymmetric theories and heavy Majorana neutrino decays in Type-I seesaw
models are examined.Comment: 20 pages, 9 figures. Clarifying comments and one reference added,
matches published versio
Is mindfulness Buddhist? (and why it matters).
Modern exponents of mindfulness meditation promote the therapeutic effects of "bare attention"--a sort of non-judgmental, non-discursive attending to the moment-to-moment flow of consciousness. This approach to Buddhist meditation can be traced to Burmese Buddhist reform movements of the first half of the 20th century, and is arguably at odds with more traditional Theravāda Buddhist doctrine and meditative practices. But the cultivation of present-centered awareness is not without precedent in Buddhist history; similar innovations arose in medieval Chinese Zen (Chan) and Tibetan Dzogchen. These movements have several things in common. In each case the reforms were, in part, attempts to render Buddhist practice and insight accessible to laypersons unfamiliar with Buddhist philosophy and/or unwilling to adopt a renunciatory lifestyle. In addition, these movements all promised astonishingly quick results. And finally, the innovations in practice were met with suspicion and criticism from traditional Buddhist quarters. Those interested in the therapeutic effects of mindfulness and bare attention are often not aware of the existence, much less the content, of the controversies surrounding these practices in Asian Buddhist history
Squeezing a drop of nematic liquid crystal with strong elasticity effects
The One Drop Filling (ODF) method is widely used for the industrial manufacture of liquid crystal devices. Motivated by the need for a better fundamental understanding of the reorientation of the molecules due to the flow of the liquid crystal during this manufacturing method, we formulate and analyze a squeeze-film model for the ODF method. Specifically, we consider a nematic squeeze film in the asymptotic regime in which the drop is thin, inertial effects are weak, and elasticity effects are strong for four specific anchoring cases at the top plate and the substrate (namely, planar, homeotropic, hybrid aligned nematic, and π-cell infinite anchoring conditions) and for two different scenarios for the motion of the top plate (namely, prescribed speed and prescribed force). Analytical expressions for the leading- and first-order director angles, radial velocity, vertical velocity, and pressure are obtained. Shear and couple stresses at the top plate and the substrate are calculated and are interpreted in terms of the effect that flow may have on the alignment of the molecules at the plates, potentially leading to the formation of spurious optical defects (“mura”)
Organizational impact of evidence-informed decision making training initiatives : a case study comparison of two approaches
Background
The impact of efforts by healthcare organizations to enhance the use of evidence to improve organizational processes through training programs has seldom been assessed. We therefore endeavored to assess whether and how the training of mid- and senior-level healthcare managers could lead to organizational change.
Methods
We conducted a theory-driven evaluation of the organizational impact of healthcare leaders’ participation in two training programs using a logic model based on Nonaka’s theory of knowledge conversion. We analyzed six case studies nested within the two programs using three embedded units of analysis (individual, group and organization). Interviews were conducted during intensive one-week data collection site visits. A total of 84 people were interviewed.
Results
We found that the impact of training could primarily be felt in trainees’ immediate work environments. The conversion of attitudes was found to be easier to achieve than the conversion of skills. Our results show that, although socialization and externalization were common in all cases, a lack of combination impeded the conversion of skills. We also identified several individual, organizational and program design factors that facilitated and/or impeded the dissemination of the attitudes and skills gained by trainees to other organizational members.
Conclusions
Our theory-driven evaluation showed that factors before, during and after training can influence the extent of skills and knowledge transfer. Our evaluation went further than previous research by revealing the influence—both positive and negative—of specific organizational factors on extending the impact of training programs
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