1,450 research outputs found
Doctoral Studies of Students in Educational Administration Programs in UCEA Member Institutions
This research shows that the Ph.D and Ed.D degree programs in educational administration are virtually identical pursuits in UCEA member institutions
GRB 070714B - Discovery of the Highest Spectroscopically Confirmed Short Burst Redshift
Gemini Nod & Shuffle spectroscopy on the host of the short GRB 070714B shows
a single emission line at 7167 angstroms which, based on a grizJHK photometric
redshift, we conclude is the 3727 angstrom [O II] line. This places the host at
a redshift of z=.923 exceeding the previous record for the highest
spectroscopically confirmed short burst redshift of z=.546 held by GRB 051221.
This dramatically moves back the time at which we know short bursts were being
formed, and suggests that the present evidence for an old progenitor population
may be observationally biased.Comment: Conference procedings for Gamma Ray Bursts 2007 November 5-9, 2007
Santa Fe, New Mexico (4 pages, 2 figures
Thermal Degradation Properties of Wood Reacted With Diethylchlorophosphate or Phenylphosphonic Dichloride as Potential Flame Retardants
Improved thermal degradation properties (an indication of improved flame-retardant properties) were observed when southern pine was reacted with either diethylchlorophosphate (DECP) or phenylphosphonic dichloride (PPDC). These two compounds may prove useful as flame retardants for wood. Thermal degradation was evaluated by thermogravimetric methods; the values were reduced slightly by extraction of the specimens with toluene or ethanol and water. When pyrolyzed in nitrogen, specimens of the reacted wood, extracted or unextracted, showed maximum rates of pyrolysis at lower temperatures and produced more char than control specimens
GRB optical afterglow and redshift selection effects: The learning curve effect at work
We show how the observed gamma ray burst (GRB) optical afterglow (OA) and
redshift distributions are changing in time from selection effects. For a
subset of {\it Swift} triggered long duration bursts, we show that the mean
time taken to acquire spectroscopic redshifts for a GRB OA has evolved to
shorter times. We identify a strong correlation between the mean time taken to
acquire a spectroscopic redshift and the measured redshift. This correlation
reveals that shorter response times favour smaller redshift bursts. This is
compelling evidence for a selection effect that biases longer response times
with relatively brighter high redshift bursts. Conversely, for shorter response
times, optically fainter bursts that are relatively closer are bright enough
for spectroscopic redshifts to be acquired. This selection effect could explain
why the average redshift, measured in 2005, has evolved to
, by mid 2008. Understanding these selection effects provides an
important tool for separating the contributions of intrinsically faint bursts,
those obscured by host galaxy dust and bursts not seen in the optical because
their OAs are observed at late times. The study highlights the importance of
rapid response telescopes capable of spectroscopy, and identifies a new
redshift selection effect that has not been considered previously, namely the
response time to measure the redshift.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, MNRAS Letter (accepted
Protention and retention in biological systems
This paper proposes an abstract mathematical frame for describing some
features of cognitive and biological time. We focus here on the so called
"extended present" as a result of protentional and retentional activities
(memory and anticipation). Memory, as retention, is treated in some physical
theories (relaxation phenomena, which will inspire our approach), while
protention (or anticipation) seems outside the scope of physics. We then
suggest a simple functional representation of biological protention. This
allows us to introduce the abstract notion of "biological inertia".Comment: This paper was made possible only as part of an extended
collaboration with Francis Bailly (see references), a dear friend and
"ma\^itre \'a penser", who contributed to the key ideas. Francis passed away
in february 2008: we continue here our inspiring discussions and joint wor
Where are the missing gamma ray burst redshifts?
In the redshift range z = 0-1, the gamma ray burst (GRB) redshift
distribution should increase rapidly because of increasing differential volume
sizes and strong evolution in the star formation rate. This feature is not
observed in the Swift redshift distribution and to account for this
discrepancy, a dominant bias, independent of the Swift sensitivity, is
required. Furthermore, despite rapid localization, about 40-50% of Swift and
pre-Swift GRBs do not have a measured redshift. We employ a heuristic technique
to extract this redshift bias using 66 GRBs localized by Swift with redshifts
determined from absorption or emission spectroscopy. For the Swift and
HETE+BeppoSAX redshift distributions, the best model fit to the bias in z < 1
implies that if GRB rate evolution follows the SFR, the bias cancels this rate
increase. We find that the same bias is affecting both Swift and HETE+BeppoSAX
measurements similarly in z < 1. Using a bias model constrained at a 98% KS
probability, we find that 72% of GRBs in z < 2 will not have measurable
redshifts and about 55% in z > 2. To achieve this high KS probability requires
increasing the GRB rate density in small z compared to the high-z rate. This
provides further evidence for a low-luminosity population of GRBs that are
observed in only a small volume because of their faintness.Comment: 5 pages, submitted to MNRA
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