Letter from Joan O\u27Dwyer, Judge with the Criminal Court of New York City, to Geraldine Ferraro

Congratulatory letter from Joan O\u27Dwyer, judge for the Criminal Court of New York City, to Geraldine Ferraro. Includes standard response letter from Ferraro and a data entry sheet.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_correspondence_1984_new_york/1244/thumbnail.jp

The giant, horizontal and asymptotic branches of galactic globular clusters. I. The catalog, photometric observables and features

A catalog including a set of the most recent Color Magnitude Diagrams (CMDs) is presented for a sample of 61 Galactic Globular Clusters (GGCs). We used this data-base to perform an homogeneous systematic analysis of the evolved sequences (namely, Red Giant Branch (RGB), Horizontal Branch (HB) and Asymptotic Giant Branch (AGB)). Based on this analysis, we present: (1) a new procedure to measure the level of the ZAHB (V_ZAHB) and an homogeneous set of distance moduli obtained adopting the HB as standard candle; (2) an independent estimate for RGB metallicity indicators and new calibrations of these parameters in terms of both spectroscopic ([Fe/H]_CG97) and global metallicity ([M/H], including also the alpha-elements enhancement). The set of equations presented can be used to simultaneously derive a photometric estimate of the metal abundance and the reddening from the morphology and the location of the RGB in the (V,B-V)-CMD. (3) the location of the RGB-Bump (in 47 GGCs) and the AGB-Bump (in 9 GGCs). The dependence of these features on the metallicity is discussed. We find that by using the latest theoretical models and the new metallicity scales the earlier discrepancy between theory and observations (~0.4 mag) completely disappears.Comment: 51 pages, 23 figures, AAS Latex, macro rtrpp4.sty included, accepted by A

Letter from Judge Phyllis O. Flug, Civil Court of the City of New York, to Geraldine Ferraro

Letter from Judge Phyllis O. Flug, Civil Court of New York City, to Geraldine Ferraro. Contains standard response letter from Ferraro.https://ir.lawnet.fordham.edu/vice_presidential_campaign_correspondence_1984_new_york/1023/thumbnail.jp

Discovery of an anomalous Sub Giant Branch in the Color Magnitude Diagram of omega Centauri

Using deep high-resolution multi-band images taken with the Very Large Telescope and the Hubble Space Telescope, we discovered a new anomalous sequence in the Color Magnitude Diagram of omega Cen. This feature appears as a narrow, well-defined Sub Giant Branch (SGB-a), which merges into the Main Sequence of the dominant cluster population at a magnitude significantly fainter than the cluster Turn-Off (TO). The simplest hypothesis assumes that the new feature is the extension of the anomalous Red Giant Branch (RGB-a) metal-rich population discovered by Lee et al. (1999) and Pancino et al. (2000). However, under this assumption the interpretation of the SGB-a does not easily fit into the context of a self-enrichment scenario within omega Cen. In fact, its TO magnitude, shape and extension are not compatible with a young, metal-rich population, as required by the self-enrichment process. The TO level of the SGB-a suggests indeed an age as old as the main cluster population, further supporting the extra-cluster origin of the most metal rich stars, as suggested by Ferraro, Bellazzini & Pancino (2002). Only accurate measurements of radial velocities and metal abundances for a representative sample of stars will firmly establish whether or not the SGB-a is actually related to the RGB-a and will finally shed light on the origin of the metal rich population of omega Cen.Comment: ApJL, in pres

Experimental Study on a Laboratory Test Bench for Sea Wave Generation Systems

Abstract The paper presents a laboratory test bench specifically designed for sea wave generation systems. In particular a DC Micro Grid is realized to experimentally validate the energy performance of a PM Brushless ball screw actuator, during motor-regenerative operative conditions, which is representative of an oscillating body wave generation system. The proposed architecture is based on a DC bus, which features the integration of renewable energy sources and buffered storage systems, with the aim of smoothing the natural power fluctuations of wave energy generation systems. The wave generation is simulated in laboratory by controlling an electric motor, which is directly coupled with the PM brushless generator. The experimental validation phase is mainly devoted to verify the design criteria of the architecture scheme and the control strategies of the power fluxes related to power converters

Practice patterns of kidney stone management across European and non-European centers: an in-depth investigation from the European Renal Stone Network (ERSN).

Kidney stones are a common condition in the general population, however, high-quality evidence for its management is scarce. We propose the creation of an international network with the aim of sharing practice patterns and patient data towards an improvement of our knowledge of the disease. Cross-sectional survey. An online survey was circulated through several scientific societies. Items were grouped into six domains. Each center's overall score (OS) was also calculated. Chi square and Mann-Whitney tests were performed for differences across centers. The countries that contributed most were Italy (8.6%), Turkey (6.6%), France and Spain (6.1%). Some type of nutritional work-up was implemented in 62% of centers. A DEXA scan was performed by 46% of centers, whereas some kind of acidification test was performed by 25% of centers. Most centers (80%) implemented blood investigations at least at baseline. With regard to 24-h urine exams, 7 out of 16 were performed by at least 50% of centers. Information on stone composition was collected by 58% of centers. The OS was significantly higher among higher-volume centers compared with lower-volume centers (p = 0.002). Significant differences between EU and non-EU centers were found. Cross-sectional design; no validation on information. Our survey highlights the potential for the creation of a network of centers that could share information in a common database for observational research and for enrollment of patients in interventional trials

Teleportation fidelities of squeezed states from thermodynamical state space measures.

Published versio

The Luminosity Function of M3

We present a high precision, large sample luminosity function (LF) for the Galactic globular cluster M3. With a combination of ground based and Hubble Space Telescope data we cover the entire radial extent of the cluster. The observed LF is well fit by canonical standard stellar models from the red giant branch (RGB) tip to below the main sequence turnoff point. Specifically, neither the RGB LF-bump nor subgiant branch LF indicate any breakdown in the standard models. On the main sequence we find evidence for a flat initial mass function and for mass segregation due to the dynamical evolution of the cluster.Comment: 18 pages, 13 figures. ApJ, in pres

Exergy efficiency assessment of corn-based ethanol production : a case study in the Pampas region (Argentina)

La transformación de los sistemas naturales en sistemas productivos altera no sólo su estructura sino también su funcionalidad. La necesidad de evaluar y monitorear esos cambios funcionales ha llevado al desarrollo y la aplicación de un gran número de indicadores del impacto de las actividades humanas sobre los ecosistemas. En este trabajo se presenta un marco teórico para el estudio del deterioro de los ecosistemas agrícolas a través del análisis de los flujos de energía. Se presentan los fundamentos de la evaluación del funcionamiento de los agroecosistemas a través del uso de la energía útil o exergía, y se ilustra la metodología de cálculo en un sistema agrícola de la Región Pampeana destinado a la producción de etanol sobre la base de grano de maíz. Los resultados indican que si bien el impacto potencial en términos de extracción de recursos (bajo la forma de exergía consumida) es mayor en la fase industrial, las ineficiencias en la fase agrícola son mucho más marcadas. En cuanto al ciclado interno de exergía, los resultados de este trabajo indican que 41% de la exergía utilizada para obtener 1 MJ de exergía proviene de fuentes no renovables, y se eleva a 71% si se toma en cuenta el aporte neto de exergía del combustible, después de descontarle los costos exergéticos acumulados durante los procesos de elaboración. Estos resultados indican que el sistema analizado de producción de etanol sobre la base de maíz cumple de manera parcial las condiciones deseables de baja extracción de recursos del ambiente y alta renovabilidad de la producción.Natural ecosystems transformation in agroecosystems not only alters its structure but also its functionality. The need to evaluate and monitor these functional changes has led to the development and implementation of a large number of indicators of human impact due to agricultural activities. This paper develops a theoretical framework for the assessment of agroecosystems through the analysis of energy flows. In particular, the approach is based on the use of energy or useful exergy. Also, the calculation methodology is applied to a corn-based ethanol farming system located in the Pampa Region. Results indicate that although the potential impact in terms of resource extraction from the environment, in the form of exergy consumed, is highest in the industrial stage, the inefficiencies in the agricultural phase are much more pronounced. As for the internal cycling of exergy, the results of this study indicate that 41% of the exergy used to get 1 MJ of exergy comes from non-renewable sources, rising to 71% when you take into account the contribution of net exergy fuel. These results indicate that the crop-based system analyzed for ethanol production partially meets the desirable conditions of low resource extraction from the environment and high renewability of production

Two distinct sequences of blue straggler stars in the globular cluster M30

Stars in globular clusters are generally believed to have all formed at the same time, early in the Galaxy's history. 'Blue stragglers' are stars massive enough that they should have evolved into white dwarfs long ago. Two possible mechanisms have been proposed for their formation: mass transfer between binary companions and stellar mergers resulting from direct collisions between two stars. Recently, the binary explanation was claimed to be dominant. Here we report that there are two distinct parallel sequences of blue stragglers in M30. This globular cluster is thought to have undergone 'core collapse', during which both the collision rate and the mass transfer activity in binary systems would have been enhanced. We suggest that the two observed sequences arise from the cluster core collapse, with the bluer population arising from direct stellar collisions and the redder one arising from the evolution of close binaries that are probably still experiencing an active phase of mass transfer.Comment: Published on the 24th December 2009 issue of Natur