Kepler Fourier concepts: The performance of the Kepler data pipeline

Given the extreme precision attainable with the Kepler Space Telescope, the mitigation of instrumental artefacts is very important. In an earlier paper (Murphy 2012), the characteristics of Kepler data were discussed in light of their effect on asteroseismology. We continue this discussion now that data processed with the new PDC-MAP pipeline are publicly available; users should use the latest data reductions available at the Mikulski Archive for Space Telescopes (MAST), not just for PDC, but also for improvements in the attached meta-data. We discuss the injection of noise in the frequency range 0-24 c/d (up to ~277 {\mu}Hz) by the PDC-LS pipeline into ~15 per cent of light-curves.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures of which 4 are colour. On material presented at the conference "The Modern Era of Helio- and Asteroseismology" held at Obergurgl, Austria, May 2012. Published in AN (Volume 333, Issue 10, Pages 1057-1060

Towards a framework for analyzing interactions between social science and environmental policy

Interactions between social science and environmental policy have become increasingly important over the past 25 years. There has, however, been little analysis of the roles that social scientists adopt and the contributions they make. In this paper we begin the process, offering tentative answers to two key questions: in relation to environmental problems: (1) how do social science and public policy interact? and (2) in the future, what types of interactions can social scientists engage in? To answer these questions we build on research in policy studies and science and technology studies, and extend it through public scholarship debates

Spectrophotometric Libraries, Revised Photonic Passbands and Zero-points for UBVRI, Hipparcos and Tycho Photometry

We have calculated improved photonic passbands for the UBV RI, Hipparcos and Tycho Hp,BT,VT standard systems using the extensive spectrophotometric libraries of NGSL and MILES. Using the Hp passband, we adjusted the absolute flux levels of stars in the spectrophotometric libraries so their synthetic Hp magnitudes matched the precise Hipparcos catalog value. Synthetic photometry based on the renormalized fluxes were compared to the standard UBVRI and BT, VT magnitudes and revised synthetic zero-points were determined. The Hipparcos and Tycho photometry system zero-points were also compared to the V magnitude zero-points of the SAAO UBVRI system, the homogenized UBV system and the Walraven V B system. The confusion in the literature concerning broadband magnitudes, fluxes, passbands and the choice of appropriate mean wavelengths is detailed and discussed in an appendix.Comment: 44 pages, including 16 figures and a 12 page appendi

What horses and humans see: a comparative review

Adaptations of the mammalian eye have tailored each to its own particular ecological niche. On the one hand, it would appear that the horse is best served by a system that can keep "half an eye" on everything, while the human benefits from focussing on more specific aspects of the visual array. By adapting a range of techniques, originally used to assess human visual ability, it has been possible to compare the human visual experience with that of the horse. In general, the results of the majority of these comparative studies indicate that the visual capabilities of the horse are broadly inferior to the human equivalents in acuity, accommodation, and colour vision. However, both the horse and human abilities to judge distance and depth perception may be quite comparable while equine vision is certainly superior to that of human's under scotopic conditions. Individual variation in visual ability, which is routinely taken for granted in humans, is also likely to occur in the horse. Such variation would undoubtedly affect equine performance, particularly in terms of expectation of athletic competitive outcomes in modern equitation

Creative activities and skills for bright and gifted children to supplement the Scott, Foresman and Company new basic readers for grade two

Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit

Health informatics education for clinicians and managers - What's holding up progress?

This paper reports outcomes of a national survey of health informatics (HI) education and training carried out in the UK. A questionnaire to elicit details of HI and IT skills teaching was derived from a national consensus document (Learning to Manage Health Information, LtMHI). Forms were sent to all pre-qualification medical and nursing schools and to a stratified sample of postgraduate and post-registration programmes. Three case studies were carried out in acute hospital trusts to gain insight into opportunities for continuing professional development in health informatics and IT. Our evidence suggests that in the UK, health informatics is not yet integrated into the clinical curriculum. Nearly all the pre-qualification courses made some provision for teaching IT skills. Nonetheless, many respondents felt that students did not receive sufficient training. There was considerable variation in the amount of HI teaching provided in the different educational sectors. The case studies suggested very little HI training was provided for clinical staff and take-up of provision was not monitored. A number of factors are holding up progress, the most important being a lack of staff with the knowledge and skills to provide academic leadership. The paper outlines some steps that need to be taken to ensure health informatics is embedded in all clinical curricula. © 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Boson Pairs in a One-dimensional Split Trap

We describe the properties of a pair of ultracold bosonic atoms in a one-dimensional harmonic trapping potential with a tunable zero-ranged barrier at the trap centre. The full characterisation of the ground state is done by calculating the reduced single-particle density, the momentum distribution and the two-particle entanglement. We derive several analytical expressions in the limit of infinite repulsion (Tonks-Girardeau limit) and extend the treatment to finite interparticle interactions by numerical solution. As pair interactions in double wells form a fundamental building block for many-body systems in periodic potentials, our results have implications for a wide range of problems.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figure