331 research outputs found
The X-ray Outburst of H1743-322: High-Frequency QPOs with a 3:2 Frequency Ratio
We observed the 2003 X-ray outburst of H1743-322 in a series of 130 pointed
observation with RXTE. We searched individual observations for high-frequency
QPOs (HFQPOs) and found only weak or marginal detections near 240 and 160 Hz.
We next grouped the observations in several different ways and computed the
average power-density spectra (PDS) in a search for further evidence of HFQPOs.
This effort yielded two significant results for those observations defined by
the presence of low-frequency QPOs (0.1-20 Hz) and an absence of
``band-limited'' power continua: (1) The 9 time intervals with the highest 7-35
keV count rates yielded an average PDS with a QPO at Hz. (; 3--35 keV); and (2) a second group with lower 7-35 keV count rates (26
intervals) produced an average PDS with a QPO at Hz (;
7--35 keV). The ratio of these two frequencies is . This finding
is consistent with results obtained for three other black hole systems that
exhibit commensurate HFQPOs in a 3:2 ratio. Furthermore, the occurrence of
H1743-322's slower HFQPO at times of higher X-ray luminosity closely resembles
the behavior of XTE J1550-564 and GRO J1655-40. We discuss our results in terms
of a resonance model that invokes frequencies set by general relativity for
orbital motions near a black-hole event horizon.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Ap
Ariel - Volume 4 Number 7
Editors
David Jacoby
Eugenia Miller
Tom Williams
Associate Editors
Paul Bialas
Terry Burt
Michael Leo
Gail Tenikat
Editor Emeritus and Business Manager
Richard J. Bonnano
Movie Editor
Robert Breckenridge
Staff
Richard Blutstein
Mary F. Buechler
J.D. Kanofsky
David Mayer
Rocket Webe
Ariel - Volume 4 Number 5
Editors
David A. Jacoby
Eugenia Miller
Tom Williams
Associate Editors
Paul Bialas
Terry Burt
Michael Leo
Gail Tenikat
Editor Emeritus and Business Manager
Richard J. Bonnano
Movie Editor
Robert Breckenridge
Staff
Richard. Blutstein
Mary F. Buechler
Alice M. Johnson
J.D. Kanofskv
Rocky Webe
A Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Withdrawal Trial of Dexmethylphenidate Hydrochloride in Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
Objectives:
d,l-threo-methylphenidate HCl (d,l-MPH) is the most common treatment of attention deficit
hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). A previous report showed placebo-controlled efficacy for the purified disomer
(dexmethylphenidate hydrochloride, d-MPH, Focalinâ„¢) with a 2:1 potency compared to dl, and
suggested a 6-hour duration of action. This study complements that report by studying the effect of
placebo-controlled discontinuation and retesting the duration of action.
Methods:
A 6-week, open-label titration of d-MPH (2.5–10 mg twice-a-day) was followed by a doubleblind,
placebo-controlled, 2-week withdrawal study of responders.
Results:
In the open titration, 82% of the 89 enrolled patients achieved a Clinical Global Impression—
Improvement (CGI-I) rating of much or very much improved. Only 5 patients discontinued for adverse
events. Seventy-five patients continued into the placebo-controlled discontinuation. For the randomly
assigned d-MPH (n = 35) and placebo (n = 40) groups, mean ages, respectively, were 10.1 ± 2.9 and 9.9 ±
2.7 years, 86% and 78% were male, and 70.6% and 80.0% took the ceiling dose of 10 mg twice-daily,
respectively. Each group had 80% combined-type ADHD and 20% inattentive type. By the end of the 2-
week, placebo-masked withdrawal, significantly more placebo patients (24 of 39) than d-MPH continuers
(6 of 35) relapsed (61.5% versus 17.1%, p = 0.001). Compared to d-MPH continuers, placebo patients
deteriorated significantly more in the 2-week period on teacher ratings of the 18 ADHD symptoms rated 0–
3 (p = 0.028), the 3 p.m. and 6 p.m. parent ADHD symptom ratings (p = 0.0026 and p = 0.0381,
respectively), and clinic (2–3 p.m.) and home (6 p.m.) Math Tests (p = 0.024 and p < 0.0001, respectively).
The 6 p.m. scores replicated the significant effect at 6 hours reported in the previous study.
Conclusions:
d-MPH is safe, tolerable, and effective, with a 6-hour duration of effect suggested by the
significant difference from placebo at 6 hours on a double-blind discontinuation
Delocalization of electrons in a Random Magnetic Field
Delocalization problem for a two-dimensional non-interacting electron system
is studied under a random magnetic field. With the presence of a random
magnetic field, the Hall conductance carried by each eigenstate can become
nonzero and quantized in units of . Extended states are characterized by
nonzero Hall conductance, and by studying finite-size scaling of the density of
extended states, an insulator-metal phase transition is revealed. The metallic
phase is found at the center of energy band which is separated from the
localized states at the band tails by critical energies . Both
localization exponent and the critical energy are shown to be dependent
on the strength of random magnetic field.Comment: 9 pages, Revtex, 3 figures available upon reques
Trigonometric Parallaxes of Central Stars of Planetary Nebulae
Trigonometric parallaxes of 16 nearby planetary nebulae are presented,
including reduced errors for seven objects with previous initial results and
results for six new objects. The median error in the parallax is 0.42 mas, and
twelve nebulae have parallax errors less than 20 percent. The parallax for
PHL932 is found here to be smaller than was measured by Hipparcos, and this
peculiar object is discussed. Comparisons are made with other distance
estimates. The distances determined from these parallaxes tend to be
intermediate between some short distance estimates and other long estimates;
they are somewhat smaller than estimated from spectra of the central stars.
Proper motions and tangential velocities are presented. No astrometric
perturbations from unresolved close companions are detected.Comment: 24 pages, includes 4 figures. Accepted for A
Impact Ionization in ZnS
The impact ionization rate and its orientation dependence in k space is
calculated for ZnS. The numerical results indicate a strong correlation to the
band structure. The use of a q-dependent screening function for the Coulomb
interaction between conduction and valence electrons is found to be essential.
A simple fit formula is presented for easy calculation of the energy dependent
transition rate.Comment: 9 pages LaTeX file, 3 EPS-figures (use psfig.sty), accepted for
publication in PRB as brief Report (LaTeX source replaces raw-postscript
file
The USNO-B Catalog
USNO-B is an all-sky catalog that presents positions, proper motions,
magnitudes in various optical passbands, and star/galaxy estimators for
1,042,618,261 objects derived from 3,643,201,733 separate observations. The
data were obtained from scans of 7,435 Schmidt plates taken for the various sky
surveys during the last 50 years. USNO-B1.0 is believed to provide all-sky
coverage, completeness down to V = 21, 0.2 arcsecond astrometric accuracy at
J2000, 0.3 magnitude photometric accuracy in up to five colors, and 85%
accuracy for distinguishing stars from non-stellar objects. A brief discussion
of various issues is given here, but the actual data are available from
http://www.nofs.navy.mil and other sites.Comment: Accepted by Astronomical Journa
Gauging U.S. Emergency Medical Services Workers' Willingness to Respond to Pandemic Influenza Using a Threat- and Efficacy-Based Assessment Framework
Emergency Medical Services workers' willingness to report to duty in an influenza pandemic is essential to healthcare system surge amidst a global threat. Application of Witte's Extended Parallel Process Model (EPPM) has shown utility for revealing influences of perceived threat and efficacy on non-EMS public health providers' willingness to respond in an influenza pandemic. We thus propose using an EPPM-informed assessment of EMS workers' perspectives toward fulfilling their influenza pandemic response roles.We administered an EPPM-informed snapshot survey about attitudes and beliefs toward pandemic influenza response, to a nationally representative, stratified random sample of 1,537 U.S. EMS workers from May-June 2009 (overall response rate: 49%). Of the 586 respondents who met inclusion criteria (currently active EMS providers in primarily EMS response roles), 12% indicated they would not voluntarily report to duty in a pandemic influenza emergency if asked, 7% if required. A majority (52%) indicated their unwillingness to report to work if risk of disease transmission to family existed. Confidence in personal safety at work (OR = 3.3) and a high threat/high efficacy ("concerned and confident") EPPM profile (OR = 4.7) distinguished those who were more likely to voluntarily report to duty. Although 96% of EMS workers indicated that they would probably or definitely report to work if they were guaranteed a pandemic influenza vaccine, only 59% had received an influenza immunization in the preceding 12 months.EMS workers' response willingness gaps pose a substantial challenge to prehospital surge capacity in an influenza pandemic. "Concerned and confident" EMS workers are more than four times as likely to fulfill pandemic influenza response expectations. Confidence in workplace safety is a positively influential modifier of their response willingness. These findings can inform insights into interventions for enhancing EMS workers' willingness to respond in the face of a global infectious disease threat
- …