935 research outputs found
Using the Big Ideas in Cosmology to Teach College Students
Recent advances in our understanding of the Universe have revolutionized our
view of its structure, composition and evolution. However, these new ideas have
not necessarily been used to improve the teaching of introductory astronomy
students. In this project, we have conducted research into student
understanding of cosmological ideas so as to develop effective web-based tools
to teach basic concepts important to modern cosmology. The tools are intended
for use at the introductory college level. Our research uses several
instruments, including open-ended and multiple choice surveys conducted at
multiple institutions, as well as interviews and course artifacts at one
institution, to ascertain what students know regarding modern cosmological
ideas, what common misunderstandings and misconceptions they entertain, and
what sorts of materials can most effectively overcome student difficulties in
learning this material. These data are being used to create a suite of
interactive, web-based tutorials that address the major ideas in cosmology
using real data. Having students engage with real data is a powerful means to
help students overcome certain misconceptions. Students master the scientific
concepts and reasoning processes that lead to our current understanding of the
universe through interactive tasks, prediction and reflection, experimentation,
and model building.Comment: 2012 Fermi Symposium proceedings - eConf C12102
Expansion, Geometry, and Gravity
In general-relativistic cosmological models, the expansion history, matter
content, and geometry are closely intertwined. In this brief paper, we clarify
the distinction between the effects of geometry and expansion history on the
luminosity distance. We show that the cubic correction to the Hubble law,
measured recently with high-redshift supernovae, is the first cosmological
measurement, apart from the cosmic microwave background, that probes directly
the effects of spatial curvature. We illustrate the distinction between
geometry and expansion with a toy model for which the supernova results already
indicate a curvature radius larger than the Hubble distance.Comment: 4 pages, 1 color figur
Provenance, protolith and metamorphic ages of jadeite-bearing orthogneiss and host paragneiss at Tavagnasco, the Sesia Zone, Lower Aosta Valley, Italy
An eclogite-facies orthogneiss and host paragneiss from a quarry
near Tavagnasco in the Lower Aosta Valley were studied in order to refine
the protolith, provenance and metamorphic ages of the Eclogitic Micaschist
Complex of the Sesia Zone. The orthogneiss contains jadeite with quartz + phengite + K-feldspar ± garnet + rutile + zircon, whereas the
paragneiss hosts garnet + jadeite + phengite ± glaucophane + epidote + rutile + quartz. Phase diagram modeling of two representative
samples yields minimum equilibration conditions of 550 ± 50 ∘C and 18 ± 2 kbar. Cathodoluminescence images of zircon from the
orthogneiss show oscillatory-zoned cores that are embayed and overgrown by
complex, oscillatory-zoned rims. Four concordant secondary ion mass
spectrometry analyses from the cores give a weighted mean
206Pb / 238U age of 457 ± 5 Ma. The cores have Th/U = 0.1
and negative Eu anomalies indicative of an igneous protolith, which we
interpret to have crystallized in the Ordovician at 780 ∘C, based
on Ti-in-zircon measurements. Zircon rims yield a range of
206Pb / 238U dates from 74 to 86 Ma, and four concordant analyses
define a weighted mean 206Pb / 238U age of 78 ± 2 Ma. The rims
are interpreted to have grown in the eclogite facies based on their lower
Th/U (0.01), less negative Eu anomalies and steeper heavy rare
earth element (HREE) patterns at <600 ∘C. The paragneiss yielded a detrital zircon population with
major peaks at 575–600, 655 and 765 Ma; minor older components; and a
maximum depositional age of approximately 570 Ma. The prominent
Neoproterozoic zircon population and Ediacaran depositional age suggest
derivation from the Gondwana margin. The metamorphic zircon is consistent
with the oldest eclogite-facies event in the Sesia Zone; it does not show
evidence of multiple periods of rim growth or any pre-Alpine (e.g.,
Variscan) metamorphism.</p
Controls on the composition and lability of dissolved organic matter in Siberia's Kolyma River basin
High-latitude northern rivers export globally significant quantities of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) to the Arctic Ocean. Climate change, and its associated impacts on hydrology and potential mobilization of ancient organic matter from permafrost, is likely to modify the flux, composition, and thus biogeochemical cycling and fate of exported DOC in the Arctic. This study examined DOC concentration and the composition of dissolved organic matter (DOM) across the hydrograph in Siberia's Kolyma River, with a particular focus on the spring freshet period when the majority of the annual DOC load is exported. The composition of DOM within the Kolyma basin was characterized using absorbance-derived measurements (absorbance coefficienta330, specific UV absorbance (SUVA254), and spectral slope ratio SR) and fluorescence spectroscopy (fluorescence index and excitation-emission matrices (EEMs)), including parallel factor analyses of EEMs. Increased surface runoff during the spring freshet led to DOM optical properties indicative of terrestrial soil inputs with high humic-like fluorescence, SUVA254, and low SRand fluorescence index (FI). Under-ice waters, in contrast, displayed opposing trends in optical properties representing less aromatic, lower molecular weight DOM. We demonstrate that substantial losses of DOC can occur via biological (∼30% over 28 days) and photochemical pathways (>29% over 14 days), particularly in samples collected during the spring freshet. The emerging view is therefore that of a more dynamic and labile carbon pool than previously thought, where DOM composition plays a fundamental role in controlling the fate and removal of DOC at a pan-Arctic scale
Anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave Background at Degree Angular Scales: Python V Results
Observations of the microwave sky using the Python telescope in its fifth
season of operation at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole Station in Antarctica are
presented. The system consists of a 0.75 m off-axis telescope instrumented with
a HEMT amplifier-based radiometer having continuum sensitivity from 37-45 GHz
in two frequency bands. With a 0.91 deg x 1.02 deg beam the instrument fully
sampled 598 deg^2 of sky, including fields measured during the previous four
seasons of Python observations. Interpreting the observed fluctuations as
anisotropy in the cosmic microwave background, we place constraints on the
angular power spectrum of fluctuations in eight multipole bands up to l ~ 260.
The observed spectrum is consistent with both the COBE experiment and previous
Python results. There is no significant contamination from known foregrounds.
The results show a discernible rise in the angular power spectrum from large (l
~ 40) to small (l ~ 200) angular scales. The shape of the observed power
spectrum is not a simple linear rise but has a sharply increasing slope
starting at l ~ 150.Comment: 5 page
Evaluation of Extreme Thermal Processing Methods to Improve Nutrient Utilization of Low-Energy Diets for Finishing Pigs
A total of 270 pigs (PIC 337 × 1050; initially 115.7 lb) were used in a 79-d experiment to determine the effects of long-term conditioning or extrusion on finishing pig nutrient digestibility, growth performance, and carcass characteristics. There were 7 or 8 pigs per pen and 9 pens per treatment. Treatments included the same basal diet processed as: 1) nonprocessed mash; 2) pelleted with 45-s conditioner retention time; 3) pelleted with 90-s conditioner retention time; or 4) extruded. Diets were fed in three phases with the same low-energy diet formulation fed across treatments, containing 30% corn dried distillers grains with solubles and 19% wheat middlings. Pigs fed thermally processed feed, regardless of method, had improved ADG, F/G, ether extract, and crude fiber apparent total tract digestibility (P \u3c 0.05) compared to those fed the mash diet, but thermal processing did not affect ADFI . Extruded diets tended to improve F/G compared to pelleted diets (P = 0.09). Pigs fed any thermally processed treatment had greater HCW compared to those fed mash (P \u3c 0.05). Improvements in fat and crude fiber digestibility (P \u3c 0.05) led to improved caloric efficiency in pigs fed thermally processed diets. Thermal processing did not influence percentage yield, backfat, or loin depth when HCW was used as a covariate. However, pigs fed thermally processed diets had greater jowl fat iodine value compared to those fed mash diets (P \u3c 0.05). Electrical energy usage during thermal processing was recorded. Pigs fed mash diets had greater (P \u3c 0.05) cost per lb of gain, as well as reduced gain value and income over feed costs, compared to those fed thermally processed diets. This experiment confirms the benefits of thermally processing feeds to improve ADG and F/G, but compromises carcass fat iodine value. Additionally, this research suggests that more extreme thermal processing conditions may be used without hindering nutrient utilization
Effects of Feeding a Finishing Diet Blended with Different Phases of Nursery Diets on Growth Performance and Economics of Nursery Pigs
A total of 1,260 weaned pigs (PIC TR4 × (Fast LW × PIC L02); initially 12.9 lb BW)) were housed in a commercial research barn and used in a 47-d study to determine the effects of blending a finishing diet into different phases of nursery diets on pig growth performance. Pens of pigs were blocked by initial BW and gender and allotted to 1 of 4 treatment groups (15 pens/treatment). In a 5-phase feeding program, the 4 treatments were: 1) standard nursery diets throughout (control); or standard nursery diets with 5.5 lb/pig of late finishing feed blended at the beginning of 2) Phase 2; 3) Phase 3; or 4) Phase 4. Phase changes were based on feed budgets. From d 0 to 7, all pigs received the same standard Phase 1 diet and had similar growth performance. Compared with pigs from control, blending finishing feed into the Phase 2 period resulted in poorer (P \u3c 0.01) ADG, ADFI, and F/G from d 7 to 14, poorer (P = 0.025) F/G from d 21 to 28, decreased (P = 0.028) ADG from d 28 to 35, and decreased (P \u3c 0.05) ADFI and F/G from d 35 to 47. Blending finishing feed during Phase 3 resulted in worsened (P \u3c 0.001) ADG and F/G from d 14 to 21, decreased (P = 0.010) ADG from d 21 to 28, and lower (P \u3c 0.05) ADFI and F/G from d 35 to 47 compared with control pigs. Pigs that received blended diet in Phase 4 had impaired (P \u3c 0.001) ADG and F/G from d 21 to 28, but had improved (P = 0.010) F/G from d 35 to 47. Overall (d 0 to 47), blending the finishing diet into Phase 2 decreased (P \u3c 0.05) ADG, ADFI, and final BW, but did not affect F/G compared with control pigs or pigs that had finishing feed blended into the Phase 4. Blending finishing feed into Phase 3 or 4 did not influence overall growth performance. Pigs that had finishing feed blended into Phase 2 or 3 had lower (P \u3c 0.05) overall feed costs than pigs from control and Phase 4 blending treatments. Gain value was decreased (P \u3c 0.05) when finishing feed was blended into Phase 2 compared with the control or when feed was blending into Phase 4. However, no differences in feed cost per lb of gain and only numerical differences in income over feed cost were observed among the treatments. In conclusion, feeding finishing feed in early nursery phase negatively affected pig growth performance; however, blending approximately 5.5 lb/pig finishing feed into nursery diets for pigs greater than 22 lb BW did not affect overall growth performance
Effects of Increasing Zn from Zinc Sulfate or Zinc Hydroxychloride on Finishing Pig Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics, and Economic Return
A total of 1,008 pigs [TR4 (Fast × L02 PIC; initially 70.6 lb BW)] were used in a 103-d growth study to determine the effects of Zn source and level on finishing pig growth performance, carcass characteristics, and economic return. The 6 dietary treatments were arranged as a 2 × 3 factorial with main effects of Zn source (ZnSO4; Agrium Advance Technology, Loveland, CO, or Zn hydroxychloride; Intellibond-Z®; Micronutrients, Indianapolis, IN) and level (50, 100, or 150 ppm added Zn). The trace mineral premix was formulated to contain no added Zn. There were 21 pigs per pen and 8 pens per treatment. Overall, there was no effect of Zn source for growth performance criteria observed. Increasing added Zn maximized (quadratic, P = 0.007) ADG when diets contained 100 ppm Zn; however, F/G tended to worsen (source × level, linear, P = 0.068) as Zn from Zn hydroxychloride increased, but was relatively unchanged when pigs were fed increasing Zn from ZnSO4. Carcass yield increased (linear, P = 0.027) as Zn level increased. Pigs fed diets with Zn hydroxychloride had heavier (P = 0.041) HCW, and increased HCW ADG (P = 0.036) than those fed ZnSO4. Hot carcass weight and HCW ADG were maximized (quadratic, P ≤ 0.006) when diets contained 100 ppm Zn. There was a tendency for income over feed cost (IOFC) to be maximized when pigs were fed diets with 100 ppm Zn when economic analysis was calculated on both a constant day (quadratic, P = 0.059) and constant carcass weight (quadratic, P = 0.070) basis, respectively.In summary, these results suggest that a total of 100 ppm added Zn is adequate to maximize ADG, HCW, HCW ADG, and IOFC, but F/G worsened as Zn level increased. Zinc source did not affect growth performance; however, pigs fed Zn hydroxychloride had increased HCW and HCW ADG compared to those fed ZnSO4
Observationally Determining the Properties of Dark Matter
Determining the properties of the dark components of the universe remains one
of the outstanding challenges in cosmology. We explore how upcoming CMB
anisotropy measurements, galaxy power spectrum data, and supernova (SN)
distance measurements can observationally constrain their gravitational
properties with minimal assumptions on the theoretical side. SN observations
currently suggest the existence of dark matter with an exotic equation of state
p/rho < -1/3 that accelerates the expansion of the universe. When combined with
CMB anisotropy measurements, SN or galaxy survey data can in principle
determine the equation of state and density of this component separately,
regardless of their value, as long as the universe is spatially flat. Combining
these pairs creates a sharp consistency check. If p/rho > -1/2, then the
clustering behavior (sound speed) of the dark component can be determined so as
to test the scalar-field ``quintessence'' hypothesis. If the exotic matter
turns out instead to be simply a cosmological constant (p/rho = -1), the
combination of CMB and galaxy survey data should provide a significant
detection of the remaining dark matter, the neutrino background radiation
(NBR). The gross effect of its density or temperature on the expansion rate is
ill-constrained as it is can be mimicked by a change in the matter density.
However, anisotropies of the NBR break this degeneracy and should be detectable
by upcoming experiments.Comment: 16 pages, 10 figures, RevTeX, submitted to PR
Observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background and Implications for Cosmology and Large Scale Structure
Observations of the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) are discussed, with
particular emphasis on current ground-based experiments and on future
satellite, balloon and interferometer experiments. Observational techniques and
the effects of contaminating foregrounds are highlighted. Recent CMB data is
used with large scale structure (LSS) data to constrain cosmological parameters
and the complementary nature of CMB, LSS and supernova distance data is
emphasized.Comment: 23 pages, 10 figures. Phil. Trans. R. Soc. Lond. A., 1998, in pres
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