1,635 research outputs found
Profiling the Audience for Self-Transcendent Media: A National Survey
This article reports the findings from a national survey of self-transcendent (or inspiring) media audience members in the United States. Exposure to self-transcendent content is socially significant because, theoretically, it can orient users towards matters beyond themselves, ultimately promoting connections with others and altruistic behaviors. However, to date, little is known about the daily audiences for such fare. Four primary questions guided the investigation: (1) What are the media sources and contents identified as âinspiringâ by the audience?, (2) Who makes up the current U.S. audience for self-transcendent media content?, (3) What personality traits and viewer characteristics are associated with self-transcendent media consumption?, and (4) What prosocial and altruistic behaviors are associated with self-transcendent media consumption? To address these questions, a nationally representative survey (n = 3,006) was conducted. The findings are discussed in relation to the growing body of scholarship on positive media psychology
Exploring the Spirit in U.S. Audiences: The Role of the Virtue of Transcendence in Inspiring Media Consumption
Little is yet known about audiences who routinely seek out media content that is inspirational in nature. The current study expands the research on inspirational media by utilizing a nationally representative sample of U.S. audiences (n = 2,016) to explore relationships between inspiring media exposure, trait transcendence, and self-transcendent emotions. Results show that media content is a reliable source for everyday self-transcendent emotional experiences in U.S. audiences. These experiences are most frequently encountered by persons with high levels of trait spirituality and gratitude. The profile of U.S. audiences that seek out inspiring media is discussed
Evidence for Low Extinction in Actively Star Forming Galaxies at z6.5
We present a search for the [CII] 158micron fine structure line (a main
cooling line of the interstellar medium) and the underlying far-infrared (FIR)
continuum in three high-redshift (6.6<z<8.2) star-forming galaxies using the
IRAM Plateau de Bure interferometer. We targeted two Lyman-Alpha-selected
galaxies (Lyman-Alpha-Emitters, LAEs) with moderate UV-based star formation
rates (SFR~20 M_sun/yr; Himiko at z=6.6 and IOK-1 at z=7.0) and a Gamma Ray
Burst (GRB) host galaxy (GRB 090423 at z~8.2). Based on our 3 sigma rest-frame
FIR continuum limits, previous (rest-frame) UV continuum measurements and
spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting, we rule out SED shapes similar to
highly obscured galaxies (e.g. Arp220, M82) and less extreme dust-rich nearby
spiral galaxies (e.g. M51) for the LAEs. Conservatively assuming a SED shape
typical of local spiral galaxies we derive upper limits for the FIR-based star
formation rates (SFRs) of ~70 M_sun/yr, ~50 M_sun/yr and ~40 M_sun/yr for
Himiko, IOK-1 and GRB 090423, respectively. For the LAEs these limits are only
a factor ~3 higher than the published UV-based SFRs (uncorrected for
extinction). This indicates that the dust obscuration in the z>6 LAEs studied
here is lower by a factor of a few than what has recently been found in some
LAEs at lower redshift (2<z<3.5) with similar UV-based SFRs. A low obscuration
in our z>6 LAE sample is consistent with recent rest-frame UV studies of z~7
Lyman-Break-Galaxies (LBGs).Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
Far-Infrared Properties of Spitzer-selected Luminous Starbursts
We present SHARC-2 350 micron data on 20 luminous z ~ 2 starbursts with
S(1.2mm) > 2 mJy from the Spitzer-selected samples of Lonsdale et al. and
Fiolet et al. All the sources were detected, with S(350um) > 25 mJy for 18 of
them. With the data, we determine precise dust temperatures and luminosities
for these galaxies using both single-temperature fits and models with power-law
mass--temperature distributions. We derive appropriate formulae to use when
optical depths are non-negligible. Our models provide an excellent fit to the
6um--2mm measurements of local starbursts. We find characteristic
single-component temperatures T1 ~ 35.5+-2.2 K and integrated infrared (IR)
luminosities around 10^(12.9+-0.1) Lsun for the SWIRE-selected sources.
Molecular gas masses are estimated at 4 x 10^(10) Msun, assuming
kappa(850um)=0.15 m^2/kg and a submillimeter-selected galaxy (SMG)-like
gas-to-dust mass ratio. The best-fit models imply >~2 kpc emission scales. We
also note a tight correlation between rest-frame 1.4 GHz radio and IR
luminosities confirming star formation as the predominant power source. The
far-IR properties of our sample are indistinguishable from the purely
submillimeter-selected populations from current surveys. We therefore conclude
that our original selection criteria, based on mid-IR colors and 24 um flux
densities, provides an effective means for the study of SMGs at z ~ 1.5--2.5.Comment: 13 pages, 4 figures, edited to match published version in ApJ 717,
29-39 (2010
Mid--IR emission of galaxies in the Virgo cluster: II. Integrated properties
We analyse the integrated properties of the Mid-IR emission of a complete,
optically selected sample of galaxies in the Virgo cluster observed with the
ISOCAM instrument on board the ISO satellite. The analysis shows that the
Mid-IR emission up to 15 mic of optically-selected, normal early-type galaxies
(E, S0 and S0a) is dominated by the Rayleigh-Jeans tail of the cold stellar
component. The Mid-IR emission of late-type galaxies is instead dominated by
the thermal emission from dust. The small dust grains emitting in the Mid-IR
have an excess of emission if compared to big grains emitting in the Far-IR.
While the Far-IR emission increases with the intensity of the interstellar
radiation field, their Mid-IR emission is non--linearly related to the UV
radiation field. The spectral energy distributions of the target galaxies
indicate that there is a linear relationship between the UV radiation field and
the Mid-IR emission of galaxies for low or intermediate activities of star
formation, while the emission from the hot dust seems to drop for strong UV
fields. The Mid-IR colour of late-type galaxies is not related to their
activity of star formation. The properties of the dust emission in the Mid-IR
seem more related to the mass than to the morphological type of the target
galaxy. Since the activity of star formation is anticorrelated to the mass of
galaxies, this reflects a relationship between the emission of dust in the
Mid-IR and the UV radiation field: galaxies with the lowest Mid-IR emission for
a given UV field are low mass, dwarf galaxies. These observational evidences
are easily explained if the carriers of the Unidentified Infrared Bands that
dominate the 6.75 mic emission are destroyed by the intense UV radiation field
of dwarf galaxies, although abundance effects can also play a role.Comment: 17 pages, Latex, 7 figures; to be published in Astronomy &
Astrophysics, Main Journal; Figure legend should be corrected in: 1 - 1a; 2 -
1b; 3 - 2; 4 - 3a; 5 - 3b; 6 - 3c; 7 - 3d; 8 - 3e; 9 - 4; 10 - 5; 11 - 6; 12
-
Co-oscillation of a fjord basinâs circulation with decade-long oceanographic, hydrologic, and climatic regimes: Puget Sound 1916-'87 [abstract]
EXTRACT (SEE PDF FOR FULL ABSTRACT):
Oceanographic, hydrologic, and climatic data collected during 1916-'87 in Puget Sound's Main Basin (~200 m x 5 km x 100 km) and approaches oscillate at low frequency between two regimes (I, II). The oscillation accounts for a large fraction of the interannual variability (41-75%) and the zero crossings between regimes span approximately a decade. ... The transition between regimes is accompanied by substantial changes in the horizontal pressure and density fields between the Pacific coast and the mixing zones leading to the Basin, as well as within the Basin itself
Increasing Resiliency to Natural HazardsâA Strategic Plan for the Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project in Southern California
The U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) is initiating a new
project designed to improve resiliency to natural hazards
in southern California through the application of science to
community decision making and emergency response. The
Multi-Hazards Demonstration Project will assist the regionâs
communities to reduce their risk from natural hazards by
directing new and existing research towards the communityâs
needs, improving monitoring technology, producing innovative
products, and improving dissemination of the results.
The natural hazards to be investigated in this project include coastal erosion, earthquakes, floods, landslides, tsunamis, and wildfires.
Americans are more at risk from natural hazards now
than at any other time in our Nationâs history. Southern California, in particular, has one of the Nationâs highest potentials for extreme catastrophic losses due to natural hazards, with estimates of expected losses exceeding $3 billion per year. These losses can only be reduced through the decisions of the southern California community itself. To be effective, these decisions must be guided by the best information about hazards, risk, and the cost-effectiveness of mitigation technologies. The USGS will work with collaborators to set the direction of the research and to create multi-hazard risk frameworks where communities can apply the results of scientific research to their decision-making processes. Partners include state, county, city, and public-lands government agencies, public and private utilities, companies with a significant impact and presence
in southern California, academic researchers, the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), National Oceanic
and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA), and local emergency
response agencies.
Prior to the writing of this strategic plan document,
three strategic planning workshops were held in February and
March 2006 at the USGS office in Pasadena to explore potential relationships. The goal of these planning sessions was to determine the external organizationsâ needs for mitigation efforts before potential natural hazard events, and response efforts during and after the event. On the basis of input from workshop participants, four priority areas were identified for future research to address. They are (1) helping decision makers design planning scenarios, (2) improving upon the mapping of multiple hazards in urban areas, (3) providing real-time information from monitoring networks, and (4)
integrating information in a risk and decision-making analysis. Towards this end, short-term and out-year goals have been outlined with the priorities in mind.
First-year goals are (1) to engage the user community to
establish the structures and processes for communications and interactions, (2) to develop a program to create scenarios of anticipated disasters, beginning in the first year with a scenario of a southern San Andreas earthquake that triggers secondary hazards, (3) to compile existing datasets of geospatial data, and (4) to target research efforts to support more complete and robust products in future years. Both the first-year and out-year goals have been formulated around a working-group structure that builds on existing research strengths within the
USGS. The project is intended to demonstrate how developments in methodology and products can lead to improvement in our management of natural hazards in an urban environment for application across the Nation
Oil and Gas Impacts in the Big Cypress Ecosystem: An Analysis of Impacts Associated with Proposed Activities in the Nobles Grade Area
A comparative analysis of fibroblast growth factor receptor signalling during Xenopus development
Radial Star Formation Histories in 32 Nearby Galaxies
The spatially resolved star formation histories are studied for 32 normal
star-forming galaxies drawn from the the Spitzer Extended Disk Galaxy
Exploration Science survey. At surface brightness sensitivities fainter than 28
mag arcsec, the new optical photometry is deep enough to complement
archival ultraviolet and infrared imaging and to explore the properties of the
emission well beyond the traditional optical extents of these nearby galaxies.
Fits to the spectral energy distributions using a delayed star formation
history model indicate a subtle but interesting average radial trend for the
spiral galaxies: the inner stellar systems decrease in age with increasing
radius, consistent with inside-out disk formation, but the trend reverses in
the outermost regions with the stellar age nearly as old as the innermost
stars. These results suggest an old stellar outer disk population formed
through radial migration and/or the cumulative history of minor mergers and
accretions of satellite dwarf galaxies. The subset of S0 galaxies studied here
show the opposite trend compared to what is inferred for spirals:
characteristic stellar ages that are increasingly older with radius for the
inner portions of the galaxies, and increasingly younger stellar ages for the
outer portions. This result suggests that either S0 galaxies are not well
modeled by a delayed- model, and/or that S0 galaxies have a more
complicated formation history than spiral galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. arXiv admin
note: text overlap with arXiv:1511.0328
- âŚ