4,428 research outputs found
How Leaders in Greek Life View Alcohol
The researcher in this study used qualitative methodology to explore perspectives of undergraduate student leaders in fraternity and sorority life at a mid-sized, Midwest institution on alcohol, especially within the Greek life system. Eight informants participated in semi-structured, open-ended interviews and were asked about their views on and experiences with alcohol, both as a new member and after having leadership experience. Informants were also asked about alcohol intervention and prevention measures. A majority of informants maintained or developed an indifferent or aversive view of alcohol, had decreased their personal levels of alcohol use, had made attempts to change the way members of their organization viewed or used alcohol, and saw a need for more responsible alcohol use in their organization. Recommendations were made for professionals in fraternity and sorority life and in alcohol intervention and preventions
Nitrogen Abundances and the Distance Moduli of the Pleiades and Hyades
Recent reanalyses of HIPPARCOS parallax data confirm a previously noted
discrepancy with the Pleiades distance modulus estimated from main-sequence
fitting in the color-magnitude diagram. One proposed explanation of this
distance modulus discrepancy is a Pleiades He abundance that is significantly
larger than the Hyades value. We suggest that, based on our theoretical and
observational understanding of Galactic chemical evolution, nitrogen abundances
may serve as a proxy for helium abundances of disk stars. Utilizing
high-resolution near-UV Keck/HIRES spectroscopy, we determine N abundances in
the Pleiades and Hyades dwarfs from NH features in the 3330 Ang region. While
our Hyades N abundances show a modest 0.2 dex trend over a 800 K Teff range, we
find the Pleiades N abundance (by number) is 0.13+/-0.05 dex lower than in the
Hyades for stars in a smaller overlapping Teff range around 6000 K; possible
systematic errors in the lower Pleiades N abundance result are estimated to be
at the <0.10 dex level. Our results indicate [N/Fe]=0 for both the Pleiades and
Hyades, consistent with the ratios exhibited by local Galactic disk field stars
in other studies. If N production is a reliable tracer of He production in the
disk, then our results suggest the Pleiades He abundance is no larger than that
in the Hyades. This finding is supported by the relative Pleiades-Hyades C, O,
and Fe abundances interpreted in the current context of Galactic chemical
evolution, and is resistant to the effects on our derived N abundances of a He
abundance difference like that needed to explain the Pleiades distance modulus
discrepancy. A physical explanation of the Pleiades distance modulus
discrepancy does not appear to be related to He abundance.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Publications of the Astronomical
Society of the Pacifi
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