Time Dilation and Quasar Variability

The timescale of quasar variability is widely expected to show the effects of time dilation. In this paper we analyse the Fourier power spectra of a large sample of quasar light curves to look for such an effect. We find that the timescale of quasar variation does not increase with redshift as required by time dilation. Possible explanations of this result all conflict with widely held consensus in the scientific community.Comment: 6 pages including 3 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter

Behaviours preceding suicides at railway and underground locations: a multimethodological qualitative approach

Background: Suicides by train have devastating consequences for families, the rail industry, staff dealing with the aftermath of such incidents, and potential witnesses. To reduce suicides and suicide attempts by rail it is important to learn how safe interventions can be made. However, very little is known about how to identify someone who may be about to make a suicide attempt at a railway location (including underground/subways). The current research employed a novel way of understanding what behaviours might immediately precede a suicide or suicide attempt at these locations. Design and Methods: A qualitative thematic approach was used for three parallel studies. Data were gathered from several sources including: interviews with individuals who survived a suicide attempt at a railway or underground location (N=9); CCTV footage of individuals who died by suicide at a rail or underground location (N=16); and qualitative survey data providing views from rail staff (N=79). Results: Our research suggests there are several behaviours that people may carry out before a suicide or suicide attempt at a rail location including: station hopping and platform switching; limiting contact with others; positioning themselves at the end of the track where the train/tube approaches; allowing trains to pass by; and carrying out repetitive behaviours. Interpretation: There are several behaviours that may be identifiable in the moments leading up to a suicide or suicide attempt on the railways, which may present opportunities for intervention. These findings have implications for several stakeholders including rail providers, transport police and other organisations focused on suicide prevention

On the relationship between sigma models and spin chains

We consider the two-dimensional $\rm O(3)$ non-linear sigma model with topological term using a lattice regularization introduced by Shankar and Read [Nucl.Phys. B336 (1990), 457], that is suitable for studying the strong coupling regime. When this lattice model is quantized, the coefficient $\theta$ of the topological term is quantized as $\theta=2\pi s$, with $s$ integer or half-integer. We study in detail the relationship between the low energy behaviour of this theory and the one-dimensional spin-$s$ Heisenberg model. We generalize the analysis to sigma models with other symmetries.Comment: To appear in Int. J. MOd. Phys.

Time, institutional support and quality of decision making in child protection:A cross-country analysis

This paper examines perceptions of time and institutional support for decision making and staff confidence in child welfare staffs ultimate decisions – examining differences and similarities between and within the service-oriented Nordic countries (Norway and Finland) and the risk-oriented Anglo-American countries (England and California). The study identifies a high degree of work pressure across all the countries, lines of predominantly vertical institutional support and relatively high confidence in decisions. Finland stands out with higher perceived work pressure and with a horizontal support line, whereas England stands out with workers having a lower degree of confidence in their own and others’ decisions

Microsatellite-stable diploid carcinoma: a biologically distinct and aggressive subset of sporadic colorectal cancer

Chromosomal instability and microsatellite instability represent the major pathways for colorectal cancer (CRC) progression. However, a significant percentage of CRC shows neither pattern of instability, and thus represents a potentially distinctive form of the disease. Flow cytometry was used to determine the degree of DNA aneuploidy in 46 consecutive sporadic colorectal cancers. Microsatellite status was determined by PCR amplification using standard markers, while immunostaining was used to examine the expression of p53. K- ras status was determined by restriction-mediated PCR assay. Twenty-five (54%) tumours were aneuploid, 14 (30%) were diploid and microsatellite-stable and seven (15%) were diploid and microsatellite-unstable. Tumours with microsatellite instability were more likely to be right sided, to occur in women and to be associated with an improved survival. Aneuploid tumours were significantly more common in men and were likely to be left sided. The diploid microsatellite-stable (MSS) tumours did not show a sex or site predilection, but were strongly associated with the presence of metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis. Our data suggests that diploid, MSS tumours represent a biologically and phenotypically distinct subset of colorectal carcinoma, and one that is associated with the early development of metastases. We suggest that the genetic stability that characterizes these tumours may favour the maintenance of an invasive phenotype, and thus facilitate disease progression. These findings may have important implications for treatment options in this disease subset. © 2001 Cancer Research Campaign http://www.bjcancer.co

Ultracompact monolithic integration of balanced, polarization diversity photodetectors for coherent lightwave receivers

The authors have monolithically integrated an optical front-end on InP for balanced, polarization-diversity coherent lightwave reception which is only 1.3-mm long. Low on-chip insertion loss (<4.5 dB) and balanced photoresponse (1.05:1 or better) are achieved at 1.5-μm wavelength using straightforward, regrowth-free fabrication. Low-capacitance photodetectors (≤0.15 pF) are employed for high bandwidth operation

Long Term Variability of SDSS Quasars

We use a sample of 3791 quasars from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) Early Data Release (EDR), and compare their photometry to historic plate material for the same set of quasars in order to study their variability properties. The time base-line we attain this way ranges from a few months to up to 50 years. In contrast to monitoring programs, where relatively few quasars are photometrically measured over shorter time periods, we utilize existing databases to extend this base-line as much as possible, at the cost of sampling per quasar. Our method, however, can easily be extended to much larger samples. We construct variability Structure Functions and compare these to the literature and model functions. From our modeling we conclude that 1) quasars are more variable toward shorter wavelengths, 2) their variability is consistent with an exponentially decaying light-curve with a typical time-scale of ~2 years, 3) these outbursts occur on typical time-scales of ~200 years. With the upcoming first data release of the SDSS, a much larger quasar sample can be used to put these conclusions on a more secure footing.Comment: 16 pages, accepted for publication in AJ, Sept issu

Long-term modifications of coastal defences enhance marine biodiversity

Realization that hard coastal infrastructures support lower biodiversity than natural habitats has prompted a wealth of research seeking to identify design enhancements offering ecological benefits. Some studies showed that artificial structures could be modified to increase levels of diversity. Most studies, however, only considered the short-term ecological effects of such modifications, even though reliance on results from short-term studies may lead to serious misjudgements in conservation. In this study, a seven-year experiment examined how the addition of small pits to otherwise featureless seawalls may enhance the stocks of a highly-exploited limpet. Modified areas of the seawall supported enhanced stocks of limpets seven years after the addition of pits. Modified areas of the seawall also supported a community that differed in the abundance of littorinids, barnacles and macroalgae compared to the controls. Responses to different treatments (numbers and size of pits) were species-specific and, while some species responded directly to differences among treatments, others might have responded indirectly via changes in the distribution of competing species. This type of habitat enhancement can have positive long-lasting effects on the ecology of urban seascapes. Understanding of species interactions could be used to develop a rule-based approach to enhance biodiversity

An Application of Kerr Blackhole Fly-Wheel Model to Statistical Properties of QSOs/AGNs

The aim of this work is to demonstrate the properties of the magnetospheric model around Kerr blackholes (BHs), so-called the fly-wheel (rotation driven) model. The fly-wheel engine of the BH-accretion disk system is applied to the statistics of QSOs/AGNs. In the model, the central BH is assumed to be formed at $z \sim 10^2$ and obtains nearly maximum but finite rotation energy ($\sim$ extreme Kerr BH) at the formation stage. The inherently obtained rotation energy of the Kerr BH is released through an magnetohydrodynamic process. This model naturally leads finite lifetime of AGN activity. Nitta et al. (1991) clarified individual evolution of Kerr BH fly-wheel engine which is parametrized by BH mass, initial Kerr parameter, magnetic field near the horizon and a dimension-less small parameter. We impose a statistical model for the initial mass function (IMF) of ensemble of BHs by the Press-Schechter formalism. By the help of additional assumptions, we can discuss the evolution of the luminosity function and the spatial number density of QSOs/AGNs.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures Fig.7 has been replace

Epidermal growth factor receptors in intracranial and breast tumours: their clinical significance.

A method to determine the binding of epidermal growth factor (EGF) to the particulate fraction of the cell has been established and evaluated using rat liver, human placenta, and tumours of human breast and brain. Little EGF receptor (EGFR) activity was detected in normal or benign tumour tissues except for meningioma (positive in 95% samples), but EGFR were present in 43% of 131 breast tumours and 75% of 55 primary cerebral tumours. Despite the strong inverse correlation between EGFR activity and oestrogen receptors in breast tumours and a tendency for high levels of EGFR activity to be associated with glioblastoma multiforme, analysis showed that EGFR was of little prognostic significance in patients with tumours of either breast or brain