6,244 research outputs found
On the size of the Fe II emitting region in the AGN Akn 120
We present a reverberation analysis of the strong, variable optical Fe II
emission bands in the spectrum of Akn 120, a low-redshift AGN which is one of
the best candidates for such a study. On time scales of several years the Fe II
line strengths follow the variations in the continuum strength. However, we are
unable to measure a clear reverberation lag time for these Fe II lines on any
time scale. This is due to the very broad and flat-topped nature of the Fe II
cross correlation functions, as compared to the H-beta response which is much
more sharply localized in time. Although there is some suggestion in the light
curve of a 300-day response time, our statistical analysis does not pick up
such a feature. We conclude that the optical Fe II emission does not come from
a photoionization-powered region similar in size to the H-beta emitting region,
but we cannot say for sure where it does come from. Our results are generally
consistent either with emission from a photoionized region several times larger
than the H-beta zone, or with emission from gas heated by some other means,
perhaps responding only indirectly to the continuum variations.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Ap
Spectroscopy of Close Companions to QSOs and the Ages of Interaction-Induced Starbursts
We present low-resolution absorption-line spectra of three candidate close (
< 3 arcsec) companions to the low redshift QSOs 3CR 323.1, PG 1700+518, and PKS
2135-147. The spectra were obtained with LRIS on the Keck telescopes and with
the Faint Object Spectrograph on the University of Hawaii 2.2 m telescope. For
3CR 323.1 and PG 1700+518, we measure relative velocities that are consistent
with an association between the QSOs and their companion galaxies. The spectral
features of the companion galaxy to 3CR 323.1 indicate a stellar population of
intermediate age (approx. 2.3 Gyr). In contrast, the spectrum of the companion
object to PG 1700+518 shows strong Balmer absorption lines from a relatively
young stellar population, along with the Mg Ib absorption feature and the 4000
A break from an older population. By modeling the two stellar components of
this spectrum, it is possible to estimate the time that has elapsed since the
end of the most recent major starburst event: we obtain approx. 0.1 Gyr. This
event may have coincided with an interaction that triggered the QSO activity.
Finally, our spectroscopy shows conclusively that the supposed companion to PKS
2135-147 is actually a projected Galactic G star.Comment: 10 pages, 5 Postscript figures. Latex (AASTEX). To appear in ApJ.
Letters, Volume 480 (1997
Dogs catch human yawns
This study is the first to demonstrate that human yawns are possibly contagious to domestic dogs (Canis familiaris). Twenty-nine dogs observed a human yawning or making control mouth movements. Twenty-one dogs yawned when they observed a human yawning, but control mouth movements did not elicit yawning from any of them. The presence of contagious yawning in dogs suggests that this phenomenon is not specific to primate species and may indicate that dogs possess the capacity for a rudimentary form of empathy. Since yawning is known to modulate the levels of arousal, yawn contagion may help coordinate dog–human interaction and communication. Understanding the mechanism as well as the function of contagious yawning between humans and dogs requires more detailed investigation
Controlled access under review : improving the governance of genomic data access
In parallel with massive genomic data production, data sharing practices have rapidly expanded over the last decade. To ensure authorized access to data, access review by data access committees (DACs) has been utilized as one potential solution. Here we discuss core elements to be integrated into the fabric of access review by both established and emerging DACs in order to foster fair, efficient, and responsible access to datasets. We particularly highlight the fact that the access review process could be adversely influenced by the potential conflicts of interest of data producers, particularly when they are directly involved in DACs management. Therefore, in structuring DACs and access procedures, possible data withholding by data producers should receive thorough attention
Nonlinear optics in Xe-filled hollow-core PCF in high pressure and supercritical regimes
Supercritical Xe at 293 K offers a Kerr nonlinearity that can exceed that of
fused silica while being free of Raman scattering. It also has a much higher
optical damage threshold and a transparency window that extends from the UV to
the infrared. We report the observation of nonlinear phenomena, such as
self-phase modulation, in hollow-core photonic crystal fiber filled with
supercritical Xe. In the subcritical regime, intermodal four-wave-mixing
resulted in the generation of UV light in the HE12 mode. The normal dispersion
of the fiber at high pressures means that spectral broadening can clearly
obtained without influence from soliton effects or material damage
Observation and inverse problems in coupled cell networks
A coupled cell network is a model for many situations such as food webs in
ecosystems, cellular metabolism, economical networks... It consists in a
directed graph , each node (or cell) representing an agent of the network
and each directed arrow representing which agent acts on which one. It yields a
system of differential equations , where the component
of depends only on the cells for which the arrow
exists in . In this paper, we investigate the observation problems in
coupled cell networks: can one deduce the behaviour of the whole network
(oscillations, stabilisation etc.) by observing only one of the cells? We show
that the natural observation properties holds for almost all the interactions
Host galaxies of AGN
The relationship of an AGN to its host galaxy is a crucial question in the study of galaxy evolution. We perform stellar population synthesis in the central regions of galaxies of different activity levels. A large number of stellar features are measured both in the optical and near-infrared. We find the nuclear stellar population to be related to the level of activity. These differences are no more conspicuous further away in the bulge of the galaxy
The Impact of New Technologies on the Environment
One of the objectives of IIASA's Study "Future Environments for Europe: Some Implications of Alternative Development Paths" is to characterize the large-scale and long-term environmental transformations that could be associated with plausible scenarios of Europe's socio-economic development over the next century. The purpose of this task is to help foresee potentially serious environmental problems before they actually occur. This Working Paper is an important contribution toward that goal.
It is becoming increasingly clear that the linkages between technologies and their long-term effects on the environment require more careful attention and forethought than has been the case in the past. The socio-economic benefits of technologies are usually proportional to their scale of application, and the rewards are reaped almost instantaneously. The problem, however, is that the "disbenefits", in terms of ecological degradation, often very nonlinearly with the scale of application, and are manifested on relatively slow time scales. The danger of this syndrome is that the technology may tend to become entrenched over time, making it difficult for adjustment or change by the time the disbenefits become manifest.
Therefore, this timely paper should be of interest to all those who ponder the long-term trade-offs between technological development and environmental degradation
Early Detection and Intervention for the Prevention of Psychosis: Outreach Evaluation Report Year 3
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation contracted with the University of Southern Maine’s Muskie School to evaluate the community outreach and training efforts of the Early Detection and Intervention for the Prevention of Psychosis Program (EDIPPP). This report provides a brief description of program, the evaluation methodology, and preliminary results from the first three years of the evaluation. The evaluation includes an assessment of: 1) implementation efforts across five demonstration sites, 2) contextual factors that may influence outreach efforts, and 3) specific outcomes related to the education and outreach activities. In an effort to evaluate these three elements, a number of data collection tools were used, including quantitative and qualitative methods
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