103 research outputs found
Decision-Making and Depressive Symptomatology
Difficulty making decisions is a core symptom of depressive illness, but the nature of these difficulties has not been well characterized. The two studies presented herein use the same hypothetical scenarios that call for a decision. In Study 1, participants were asked to make and explain their decisions in a free-response format, as well as to describe their prior experiences with similar situations. The results suggest that those with more depressive symptoms make decisions that are less likely to further their interests. We also identified several interesting associations between features of decision-making and the presence of depressive symptoms. In Study 2, participants were guided through their decisions with simple decision tools to investigate whether the association between depressive symptoms and poor decisions is better accounted for by failure to use of good decision-making strategies, or by other factors, such as differences in priorities or goals. With this minimal intervention the quality of decisions no longer declined significantly as a function of depressive symptom severity. Moreover, few associations between depressive symptom severity and decision-related goals and priorities were evident, suggesting that the previously-exposed difficulties of depressed individuals with decision-making were largely the result of their failure to use effective decision-making techniques
ROSAT observations of X-ray emission from planetary nebulae
We have searched the entire ROSAT archive for useful observations to study
X-ray emission from Galactic planetary nebulae (PNs). The search yields a
sample of 63 PNs, which we call the ROSAT PN sample. About 20-25% of this
sample show X-ray emission; these include 13 definite detections and three
possible detections (at a 2-sigma level). All X-ray sources in these PNs are
concentrated near the central stars. Only A 30, BD+30 3639, and NGC 6543 are
marginally resolved by the ROSAT instruments. Three types of X-ray spectra are
seen in PNs. Type 1 consists of only soft X-ray emission (<0.5 keV), peaks at
0.1-0.2 keV, and can be fitted by blackbody models at temperatures 1-2 10^5 K.
Type 2 consists of harder X-ray emission, peaks at >0.5 keV, and can be fitted
by thin plasma emission models at temperatures of a few 10^6 K. Type 3 is a
composite of a bright Type 1 component and a fainter Type 2 component.
Unresolved soft sources with Type 1 spectra or the soft component of Type 3
spectra are most likely photospheric emission from the hot central stars.
Absorption cross sections are large for these soft-energy photons; therefore,
only large, tenuous, evolved PNs with hot central stars and small absorption
column densities have been detected. The origin of hard X-ray emission from PNs
is uncertain. PNs with Type 2 spectra are small, dense, young nebulae with
relatively cool (<<10^5 K) central stars, while PNs with Type 3 X-ray spectra
are large, tenuous, evolved nebulae with hot central stars. The hard X-ray
luminosities are also different between these two types of PNs, indicating
perhaps different origins of their hard X-ray emission. Future Chandra and XMM
observations with high spatial and spectral resolution will help to understand
the origin of hard X-ray emission from PNs.Comment: To be published in The Astrophysical Journal Supplement Series. 21
pages, 7 figures, 5 table
Variable X-ray Absorption in the Seyfert 2 Galaxy Mrk 348
We present RXTE monitoring observations of the Seyfert 2 galaxy Mrk 348
spanning a 6 month period. The time-averaged spectrum in the 3-20 keV band
shows many features characteristic of a Compton-thin Seyfert 2 galaxy, namely a
hard underlying power-law continuum (photon index = 1.8) with heavy soft X-ray
absorption (N_h ~ 10^23 cm^-2) plus measureable iron line emission (equivalent
width ~ 100 eV) and, at high energy, evidence for a reflection component (R <
1). During the first half of the monitoring period the X-ray continuum flux
from Mrk 348 remained relatively steady. However this was followed by a
significant brightening of the source (by roughly a factor of 4) with the
fastest change corresponding to a doubling of its X-ray flux on a timescale of
about 20 days. The flux increase was accompanied by a marked softening of X-ray
spectrum most likely attributable to a factor 3 decline in the intrinsic
line-of-sight column density. In contrast the iron line and the reflection
components showed no evidence of variability. These observations suggest a
scenario in which the central X-ray source is surrounded by a patchy
distribution of absorbing material located within about a light-week of the
nucleus of Mrk 348. The random movement of individual clouds within the
absorbing screen, across our line of sight, produces substantial temporal
variations in the measured column density on timescales of weeks to months and
gives rise to the observed X-ray spectral variability. However, as viewed from
the nucleus the global coverage and typical thickness of the cloud layer
remains relatively constant.Comment: 19 pages, 3 figures Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Searching for non-Gaussianity in the VSA data
We have tested Very Small Array (VSA) observations of three regions of sky
for the presence of non-Gaussianity, using high-order cumulants, Minkowski
functionals, a wavelet-based test and a Bayesian joint power
spectrum/non-Gaussianity analysis. We find the data from two regions to be
consistent with Gaussianity. In the third region, we obtain a 96.7% detection
of non-Gaussianity using the wavelet test. We perform simulations to
characterise the tests, and conclude that this is consistent with expected
residual point source contamination. There is therefore no evidence that this
detection is of cosmological origin. Our simulations show that the tests would
be sensitive to any residual point sources above the data's source subtraction
level of 20 mJy. The tests are also sensitive to cosmic string networks at an
rms fluctuation level of (i.e. equivalent to the best-fit observed
value). They are not sensitive to string-induced fluctuations if an equal rms
of Gaussian CDM fluctuations is added, thereby reducing the fluctuations due to
the strings network to rms . We especially highlight the usefulness
of non-Gaussianity testing in eliminating systematic effects from our data.Comment: Minor corrections; accepted for publication to MNRA
Estimating the bispectrum of the Very Small Array data
We estimate the bispectrum of the Very Small Array data from the compact and
extended configuration observations released in December 2002, and compare our
results to those obtained from Gaussian simulations. There is a slight excess
of large bispectrum values for two individual fields, but this does not appear
when the fields are combined. Given our expected level of residual point
sources, we do not expect these to be the source of the discrepancy. Using the
compact configuration data, we put an upper limit of 5400 on the value of f_NL,
the non-linear coupling parameter, at 95 per cent confidence. We test our
bispectrum estimator using non-Gaussian simulations with a known bispectrum,
and recover the input values.Comment: 17 pages, 16 figures, replaced with version accepted by MNRAS.
Primordial bispectrum recalculated and figure 11 change
Cosmological parameter estimation using Very Small Array data out to l=1500
We estimate cosmological parameters using data obtained by the Very Small
Array (VSA) in its extended configuration, in conjunction with a variety of
other CMB data and external priors. Within the flat CDM model, we find
that the inclusion of high resolution data from the VSA modifies the limits on
the cosmological parameters as compared to those suggested by WMAP alone, while
still remaining compatible with their estimates. We find that , , , , and
for WMAP and VSA when no external prior is
included.On extending the model to include a running spectral index of density
fluctuations, we find that the inclusion of VSA data leads to a negative
running at a level of more than 95% confidence (),
something which is not significantly changed by the inclusion of a stringent
prior on the Hubble constant. Inclusion of prior information from the 2dF
galaxy redshift survey reduces the significance of the result by constraining
the value of . We discuss the veracity of this result in the
context of various systematic effects and also a broken spectral index model.
We also constrain the fraction of neutrinos and find that at
95% confidence which corresponds to when all neutrino
masses are the equal. Finally, we consider the global best fit within a general
cosmological model with 12 parameters and find consistency with other analyses
available in the literature. The evidence for is only marginal
within this model
First results from the Very Small Array -- II. Observations of the CMB
We have observed the cosmic microwave background temperature fluctuations in
eight fields covering three separated areas of sky with the Very Small Array at
34 GHz. A total area of 101 square degrees has been imaged, with sensitivity on
angular scales 3.6 - 0.4 degrees (equivalent to angular multipoles l=150-900).
We describe the field selection and observing strategy for these observations.
In the full-resolution images (with synthesised beam of FWHM ~ 17 arcmin) the
thermal noise is typically 45 microK and the CMB signal typically 55 microK.
The noise levels in each field agree well with the expected thermal noise level
of the telescope, and there is no evidence of any residual systematic features.
The same CMB features are detected in separate, overlapping observations.
Discrete radio sources have been detected using a separate 15 GHz survey and
their effects removed using pointed follow-up observations at 34 GHz. We
estimate that the residual confusion noise due to unsubtracted radio sources is
less than 14 mJy/beam (15 microK in the full-resolution images), which added in
quadrature to the thermal noise increases the noise level by 6 %. We estimate
that the rms contribution to the images from diffuse Galactic emission is less
than 6 microK. We also present images which are convolved to maximise the
signal-to-noise of the CMB features and are co-added in overlapping areas, in
which the signal-to-noise of some individual CMB features exceeds 8.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS. Replaces
original version - more detailed abstract, corrected typo
The CMB power spectrum out to l=1400 measured by the VSA
We have observed the cosmic microwave background (CMB) in three regions of
sky using the Very Small Array (VSA) in an extended configuration with antennas
of beamwidth 2 degrees at 34 GHz. Combined with data from previous VSA
observations using a more compact array with larger beamwidth, we measure the
power spectrum of the primordial CMB anisotropies between angular multipoles l
= 160 - 1400. Such measurements at high l are vital for breaking degeneracies
in parameter estimation from the CMB power spectrum and other cosmological
data. The power spectrum clearly resolves the first three acoustic peaks, shows
the expected fall off in power at high l and starts to constrain the position
and height of a fourth peak.Comment: 6 pages with 5 figures, MNRAS in press (minor corrections
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