HST Observations of the Central-Cusp Globular Cluster NGC 6752. The Effect of Binary Stars on the Luminosity Function in the Core

We consider the effect of binary stars on the main-sequence luminosity functions observed in the core of globular clusters, with specific reference to NGC 6752. We find that mass segregation results in an increased binary fraction at fainter magnitudes along the main-sequence. If this effect is not taken into account when analyzing luminosity functions, erroneous conclusions can be drawn regarding the distribution of single stars, and the dynamical state of the cluster. In the core of NGC 6752, our HST data reveal a flat luminosity function, in agreement with previous results. However, when we correct for the increasing binary fraction at faint magnitudes, the LF begins to fall immediately below the turn-off. This effect appears to be confined to the inner core radius of the cluster.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures Accepted to ApJ Lett Vol 513 Number

Eight Things Wrong with Introductory Psychology Courses in America: A Warning to My European Colleagues

8 Probleme mit Psychologie-Einführungskursen in Amerika: Eine Warnung an meine europäischen KollegInnenEinführung in die Psychologie ist der erste zu belegende Kurs für PsychologiestudentInnen an amerikanischen Universitäten, oft auch der einzige, den die meisten anderen Studierenden im Fach Psychologie absolvieren. In ihm ergeben sich Probleme sowohl durch widersprüchliche curriculare Zielvorstellungen als auch durch schlechte Lehrbücher. Institutionelle Zwänge an den Universitäten, die Marktinteressen der Verlage sowie eine weit verbreitete Selbstgefälligkeit verfestigen die Problemlage. Wenn die europäischen PsychologInnen nicht aufpassen, wird der Druck, mit amerikanischen Universitäten mithalten zu können, zu den gleichen Problemen führen.Introductory Psychology is the first course that must be taken by any students interested in studying psychology in an American university. It is also the only psychology class taken by most other students. The class has problems both resulting from conflicting class goals and poorly designed textbooks. Further, institutional forces within the university, market forces within the publishing industry, and general complacency within the field conspire to entrench these problems. If European psychologists are not vigilant, the pressure to emulate the American university system will results in the same problems

The Professional Challenges Facing General Psychologists

An einer Allgemeinen Psychologie zu arbeiten, führt zu typischen und erwartbaren intellektuellen Herausforderungen, da führt kein Weg dran vorbei. Ebenso führt sie jedoch auch zu professionellen Herausforderungen, mit denen sich die, die eine engere Spezialisierung wählen, nicht befasst sind. Diese zusätzliche Hürde können wir reduzieren. Es braucht eine Anstrengung um Generalisten die gleichen institutionellen Rahmenbedingungen zur Verfügung zu stellen, wie Generalisten. Die professionellen Schwierigkeiten, auf die Generalisten stoßen, die eine Allgemeine Psychologie konzipieren wollen, sind ein genauso großes Hindernis, wie die Schwierigkeiten, verständliche Theorie zu entwerfen

The Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. XII. Stellar Populations and Kinematics of Compact, Low-Mass Early-Type Galaxies from Gemini GMOS-IFU Spectroscopy

We present Gemini GMOS-IFU data of eight compact low-mass early-type galaxies (ETGs) in the Virgo cluster. We analyse their stellar kinematics, stellar population, and present two-dimensional maps of these properties covering the central 5"x 7" region. We find a large variety of kinematics: from non- to highly-rotating objects, often associated with underlying disky isophotes revealed by deep images from the Next Generation Virgo Cluster Survey. In half of our objects, we find a centrally-concentrated younger and more metal-rich stellar population. We analyze the specific stellar angular momentum through the lambdaR parameter and find six fast-rotators and two slow-rotators, one having a thin counter-rotating disk. We compare the local galaxy density and stellar populations of our objects with those of 39 more extended low-mass Virgo ETGs from the SMAKCED survey and 260 massive ($M>10^{10}$\Msun) ETGs from the A3D sample. The compact low-mass ETGs in our sample are located in high density regions, often close to a massive galaxy and have, on average, older and more metal-rich stellar populations than less compact low-mass galaxies. We find that the stellar population parameters follow lines of constant velocity dispersion in the mass-size plane, smoothly extending the comparable trends found for massive ETGs. Our study supports a scenario where low-mass compact ETGs have experienced long-lived interactions with their environment, including ram-pressure stripping and gravitational tidal forces, that may be responsible for their compact nature.Comment: Accepted in ApJ, 19 pages, 10 figure

System and method for confining an object to a region of fluid flow having a stagnation point

A device for confining an object to a region proximate to a fluid flow stagnation point includes one or more inlets for carrying the fluid into the region, one or more outlets for carrying the fluid out of the region, and a controller, in fluidic communication with the inlets and outlets, for adjusting the motion of the fluid to produce a stagnation point in the region, thereby confining the object to the region. Applications include, for example, prolonged observation of the object, manipulation of the object, etc. The device optionally may employ a feedback control mechanism, a sensing apparatus (e.g., for imaging), and a storage medium for storing, and a computer for analyzing and manipulating, data acquired from observing the object. The invention further provides methods of using such a device and system in a number of fields, including biology, chemistry, physics, material science, and medical science

Photochemical Response of Electronically Reconfigurable Molecule-Based Switching Tunnel Junctions

Robust molecular devices may be based on the photo‐switching between spiropyran and merocyanine isomers (see Scheme). The equilibrium has been investigated in a Langmuir–Blodgett film and then succesfully sandwiched into a solid‐state tunnel junction

Dauphine Was Right: Masques, the Authenticity of (Un)Performed Identity, and the Two Prologues of Epicene

This paper argues that Epicene, Jonson's first public play after being made official court masque writer, is unusually optimistic about the possibilities of drama. The play explores the possibility of creating an authentic personality through performance, an idea that Jonson is often hostile towards. However, Jonson's flirtation with this pro-theater perspective was short lived. For complex reasons, Lady Arbella's complaint about the play led Jonson to once again grow cynical about the possibilities of the public stage. These vacillating perspectives, I argue, can be traced within the two different prologues, which offer two very different perspectives on playing, play going and the theater