Absolute Magnitude Distribution And Light Curves Of Gamma-Ray Burst Supernovae

Photometry data were collected from the literature and analyzed for supernovae that are thought to have a gamma-ray burst association. There are several gamma-ray burst afterglow light curves that appear to have a supernova component. For these light curves, the supernova component was extracted and analyzed. A supernova light curve model was used to help determine the peak absolute magnitudes as well as estimates for the kinetic energy, ejected mass and nickel mass in the explosion. The peak absolute magnitudes are, on average, brighter than those of similar supernovae (stripped-envelope supernovae) that do not have a gamma-ray burst association, but this can easily be due to a selection effect. However, the kinetic energies and ejected masses were found to be considerably higher, on average, than those of similar supernovae without a gamma-ray burst association.Comment: Accepted by AJ, 16 pages, 5 figure

The Deans\u27 Roundtable

The Deans\u27 Roundtable

A measure of nature connectedness for children and adults: Validation, performance, and insights

With benefits to both human well-being and pro-nature conservation behaviors, nature connectedness is emerging as an important psychological construct for a sustainable future. The growing research and applied and policy-related interests require a straightforward measure of nature connectedness that is suitable for both children and adult populations. To establish the reliability of the new Nature Connection Index (NCI) three factor analyses were conducted. One was based on a large Monitor of Engagement with the Natural Environment (MENE) dataset for adults (n = 3568) with a replication from data sets collected online (n = 553), and a third used MENE data from children (n = 351). To validate the NCI as a measure for nature connectedness an online comparison study (n = 153) included the NCI alongside other established measures. The results showed that the NCI was a reliable and valid scale that offers a short, simple alternative to other measures of nature connectedness, particularly for populations including both children and adults, measured face to face or online. The utility of the NCI is also supported, with variations associated with various pro-environmental and pro-conservation behaviors observed, and importantly the NCI also revealed changes in nature connectedness across the lifespan.N/

CYLINDRICAL ARRANGEMENTS OF UNIFORM SPHERES.

Cylindrical arrangements of uniform spheres have been discussed on a general basis where the ratio of cylinder diameter to sphere diameter is large. These papers have been directed at the study of the filing of cylindrical containers to achieve maximum density without regard for the systematic geometric arrangements which might occur. This paper deals primarily with the systematic arrangements of uniform spheres such that the envelope of the set of uniform spheres is an infinite cylinder

Listen in the Library: Music Therapy Student Musicians

The monthly concert series, Listen in the Library, featured student performers in library spaces on the Logan campus. These short, pop-up concerts were one of the ways the USU Libraries was involved in USU’s “Year of the Arts” in 2017-2018. While the library regularly features students’ visual art and exhibits, Listen in the Library brought the performing arts into the space, making student accomplishments in music audible and visible to a community outside the concert hall.https://digitalcommons.usu.edu/music_programs/1158/thumbnail.jp

Evaluating the skill curve of psychomotor skill acquisition in arthroscopy, using a virtual reality simulator in trainee doctors

BackgroundVirtual reality (VR) simulation with haptic feedback has emerged as one of the most promising methods of teaching basic techniques in minimally invasive surgery (MIS). Simulation training in MIS procedures allows trainees to receive feedback without putting patients at risk and can assist in decreasing error rates and iatrogenic injury.AimsThe aim of this study is to evaluate the learning curve in acquiring psychomotor skills required for shoulder arthroscopy using a VR device with haptic feedback.Methods The TolTech ArthroSim (Touch of Life Technologies, Inc., Aurora, Colorado) was selected as the simulator. Six repetitions of the same arthroscopic procedure were performed in a single one-hour session. The metrics included in this study were time taken to complete procedures in seconds. 24 trainee doctors without prior arthroscopy exposure were recruited in this studyResults There is a relevant reduction in time taken throughout the training sessions. The largest reduction in time taken occurred in the first two repetitions going from 422.61s to 242.19s a reduction of 42.69 per cent. This reduction in time taken levels out after the fourth repetition. ConclusionThere is a significant but steep learning curve in trainee doctors learning arthroscopy using VR simulator with haptic feedback which correlated with the first 40 minutes of training. Despite a large variation in innate arthroscopic skill, on average participants were able to significantly improve by the end of the study. There is also a reduction in the variation of arthroscopic skills between participants in later repetitions

Absolute-Magnitude Distributions and Light Curves of Stripped-Envelope Supernovae

The absolute visual magnitudes of three Type IIb, 11 Type Ib and 13 Type Ic supernovae (collectively known as stripped-envelope supernovae) are studied by collecting data on the apparent magnitude, distance, and interstellar extinction of each event. Weighted and unweighted mean absolute magnitudes of the combined sample as well as various subsets of the sample are reported. The limited sample size and the considerable uncertainties, especially those associated with extinction in the host galaxies, prevent firm conclusions regarding differences between the absolute magnitudes of supernovae of Type Ib and Ic, and regarding the existence of separate groups of overluminous and normal-luminosity stripped-envelope supernovae. The spectroscopic characteristics of the events of the sample are considered. Three of the four overluminous events are known to have had unusual spectra. Most but not all of the normal luminosity events had typical spectra. Light curves of stripped-envelope supernovae are collected and compared. Because SN 1994I in M51 was very well observed it often is regarded as the prototypical Type Ic supernova, but it has the fastest light curve in the sample. Light curves are modeled by means of a simple analytical technique that, combined with a constraint on E/M from spectroscopy, yields internally consistent values of ejected mass, kinetic energy, and nickel mass.Comment: 39 pages, 14 figures, 7 tables; Accepted to A