8,874 research outputs found
Role of coronal mass ejections in the heliospheric Hale cycle
[1] The 11-year solar cycle variation in the heliospheric magnetic field strength can be explained by the temporary buildup of closed flux released by coronal mass ejections (CMEs). If this explanation is correct, and the total open magnetic flux is conserved, then the interplanetary-CME closed flux must eventually open via reconnection with open flux close to the Sun. In this case each CME will move the reconnected open flux by at least the CME footpoint separation distance. Since the polarity of CME footpoints tends to follow a pattern similar to the Hale cycle of sunspot polarity, repeated CME eruption and subsequent reconnection will naturally result in latitudinal transport of open solar flux. We demonstrate how this process can reverse the coronal and heliospheric fields, and we calculate that the amount of flux involved is sufficient to accomplish the reversal within the 11 years of the solar cycle
Evidence for a Molecular Cloud Origin for Gamma-Ray Bursts: Implications for the Nature of Star Formation in the Universe
It appears that the majority of rapidly-, well-localized gamma-ray bursts
with undetected, or dark, optical afterglows, or `dark bursts' for short, occur
in clouds of size R > 10L_{49}^{1/2} pc and mass M > 3x10^5L_{49} M_{sun},
where L is the isotropic-equivalent peak luminosity of the optical flash. We
show that clouds of this size and mass cannot be modeled as a gas that is bound
by pressure equilibrium with a warm or hot phase of the interstellar medium
(i.e., a diffuse cloud): Such a cloud would be unstable to gravitational
collapse, resulting in the collapse and fragmentation of the cloud until a
burst of star formation re-establishes pressure equilibrium within the
fragments, and the fragments are bound by self-gravity (i.e., a molecular
cloud). Consequently, dark bursts probably occur in molecular clouds, in which
case dark bursts are probably a byproduct of this burst of star formation if
the molecular cloud formed recently, and/or the result of lingering or latter
generation star formation if the molecular cloud formed some time ago. We then
show that if bursts occur in Galactic-like molecular clouds, the column
densities of which might be universal, the number of dark bursts can be
comparable to the number of bursts with detected optical afterglows: This is
what is observed, which suggests that the bursts with detected optical
afterglows might also occur in molecular clouds. We confirm this by modeling
and constraining the distribution of column densities, measured from absorption
of the X-ray afterglow, of the bursts with detected optical afterglows: We find
that this distribution is consistent with the expectation for bursts that occur
in molecular clouds, and is not consistent with the expectation for bursts that
occur in diffuse clouds. More...Comment: Accepted to The Astrophysical Journal, 22 pages, 6 figures, LaTe
Determinants of propensity of tertiary agricultural students in Ghana to enter agribusiness as a self-employment venture
The study aimed to identify factors that affect the decision of tertiary agricultural students in Ghana to enter agribusiness as a self-employment venture after graduation. The results showed that tertiary agricultural students in Ghana were predominantly males with little or no farming background. They had a rather moderate propensity to enter self-employed agribusiness. The propensity was based on the perception that agribusiness was beneficial, sustainable, and had a bright future. A significant and positive relationship was found between the propensity to enter self-employed agribusiness and availability of inputs, training received by students and supportive policies. However, a significant and negative relationship was found between students' propensity to enter self-employed agribusiness and the desire for other competing enterprises as well as risks and constraints in agribusiness. The most important determinants of the decision of tertiary level agricultural students to enter into agribusiness were found to be attraction to other businesses such as NGOs, non-agricultural manufacturing industries and banks; training received; perceived constraints; and needs for self- employment in agribusiness. The results indicate that the propensity of agricultural graduates to enter self-employed agribusiness may be increased by (1) making agribusiness attractive by increasing its competitiveness with respect to other enterprises, ( 2) modifying the curricula to make agricultural training at the tertiary level more practical, (3) making it easier to acquire production inputs for agribusiness, and (4) improving the policy environment with supportive policies to minimize risk and constraints in agribusiness.. La recherche Ă©tait entreprise pour identifier les facteurs qui influencent la decision d'Ă©tudiants agricoles du niveau supĂ©rieur au Ghana de s'Ă©tablir dans les agro-industries comme une entreprise de travailleur indĂ©pendant aprĂšs l'obtention du diplĂŽme. Les rĂ©sultats montraient que les Ă©tudiants agricoles de l'enseignement supĂ©rieur au Ghana Ă©taient principalement mĂąles avec peu ou sans expĂ©rience d'agriculture. Ils avaient plutĂŽt une propension modĂ©rĂ©e de s'Ă©tablir dans l'agro-industrie de travailleur indĂ©pendant. Cette propension est fondĂ©e sur l'idĂ©e que l'agro-industrie est bĂ©nĂ©fique, durable et avait un avenir brillant. Un rapport considĂ©rable et positif Ă©tait dĂ©couvert entre la propension de s'Ă©tablir dans l'agro-industrie de travailleur indĂ©pendant et la disponibilitĂ© d'intrants, la formation reçue par les Ă©tudiants et les politiques d'appui. Un rapport considĂ©rable et nĂ©gatif Ă©tait toutefois dĂ©couvert entre la propension d'Ă©tudiants de s'Ă©tablir dans les agro-industries indĂ©pendantes et le dĂ©sir pour d'autres entreprises en concurrence ainsi que les risques et les contraintes d'agro-industries. Les dĂ©terminants les plus importants de la decision d'Ă©tudiants agricoles du niveau supĂ©rieur de s'Ă©tablir dans les agro-industries Ă©taient dĂ©couverts d'ĂȘtre l'attrait aux autres entreprises telles que les ONGs, les industries manufacturiĂšres non-agricoles et les banques; la formation reçue; les contraintes remarquĂ©es; et les besoins requis pour l'indĂ©pendant en agro-industrie. Les rĂ©sultats indiquent que la propension de licenciĂ©s agricoles de s'Ă©tablir dans l'agro-industrie comme travailleurs indĂ©pendants pourrait ĂȘtre augmentĂ© par (1) la transformation d'agro-industrie en la rendant attirante par l'augmentation de sa compĂ©titivitĂ© relativement aux autres entreprises, (2) la modification du programme scolaire pour rendre la formation agricole au niveau supĂ©rieur plus pratique, (3) la facilitation de l'acquisition de resources de production pour l'agro-industrie, et (4) l'amĂ©lioration de l'environnement politique avec les politiques d'appui pour rĂ©duire au minimum le risque et les contraintes d'agro-industrie. Ghana Journal of Agricultural Science Vol. 39 (1) 2006: pp. 41-5
Investigating Candidatesâ Research Experience Beyond the Thesis: The Peripheral World of the Doctorate
This article focuses on both the process and the results of a recently completed research project that concentrated on what are commonly seen as peripheral aspects of the doctorate; that is, aspects of candidature that lie beyond, and outside of, the core work of what is widely understood to be research training. The project saw 18 candidates from the creative arts and humanities â and creative writing in particular â gather to reflect upon their learning journeys, and then analyse and theorise the âhumanâ dimensions of undertaking a doctorate. These often peripheral aspects were revealed to have a major influence on undertaking a research degree, as well as affecting candidatesâ progress and satisfaction with their studies, and career potential beyond the research degree. This article first outlines how candidates were able to develop a language with which to identify some of the major human dimensions â the lived experience â of undertaking a doctorate that emerged from the project. It then explores how candidates were able to articulate their own growth in the form of producing an edited collection of essays in order that others might benefit from this reflective learning
Uncertainties in determining parton distributions at large x
We critically examine uncertainties in parton distribution functions (PDFs)
at large x arising from nuclear effects in deuterium F2 structure function
data. Within a global PDF analysis, we assess the impact on the PDFs from
uncertainties in the deuteron wave function at short distances and nucleon
off-shell effects, the use of relativistic kinematics, as well as the use of
less a restrictive parametrization of the d/u ratio. We find that in particular
the d-quark and gluon PDFs vary significantly with the choice of nuclear model.
We highlight the impact of these uncertainties on the determination of the
neutron structure function, and on W boson production and parton luminosity at
the Tevatron and the LHC. Finally, we discuss prospects for new measurements
sensitive to the d-quark and gluon distributions but insensitive to nuclear
corrections.Comment: 37 pages, 13 figures. Final published versio
The X-ray afterglow of the Gamma-ray burst of May 8, 1997: spectral variability and possible evidence of an iron line
We report the possible detection (99.3% of statistical significance) of
redshifted Fe iron line emission in the X-ray afterglow of Gamma-ray burst
GRB970508 observed by BeppoSAX. Its energy is consistent with the redshift of
the putative host galaxy determined from optical spectroscopy. The line
disappeared about 1 day after the burst. We have also analyzed the spectral
variability during the outburst event that characterizes the X-ray afterglow of
this GRB. The spectrum gets harder during the flare, turning to steep when the
flux decreases. The variability, intensity and width of the line indicate that
the emitting region should have a mass approximately greater than 0.5 solar
masses (assuming the iron abundance similar to its solar value), a size of
about 3 times 10^15 cm, be distributed anisotropically, and be moving with
sub-relativistic speed. In contrast to the fairly clean environment expected in
the merging of two neutron stars, the observed line properties would imply that
the site of the burst is embedded in a large mass of material, consistent with
pre-explosion ejecta of a very massive star. This material could be related
with the outburst observed in the afterglow 1 day after the GRB and with the
spectral variations measured during this phase.Comment: To appear in The Astrophysical Journal Letters, AASTEX LateX, 2
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Improved Rheometry of Yield Stress Fluids Using Bespoke Fractal 3D Printed Vanes
To enable robust rheological measurements of the properties of yield stress
fluids, we introduce a class of modified vane fixtures with fractal-like
cross-sectional structures. A greater number of outer contact edges leads to
increased kinematic homogeneity at the point of yielding and beyond. The vanes
are 3D printed using a desktop stereolithography machine, making them
inexpensive (disposable), chemically-compatible with a wide range of solvents,
and readily adaptable as a base for further design innovations. To complete the
tooling set, we introduce a textured 3D printed cup, which attaches to a
standard rheometer base. We discuss general design criteria for 3D printed
rheometer vanes, including consideration of sample volume displaced by the
vanes, stress homogeneity, and secondary flows that constrain the parameter
space of potential designs. We also develop a conversion from machine torque to
material shear stress for vanes with an arbitrary number of arms. We compare a
family of vane designs by measuring the viscosity of Newtonian calibration oils
with error <5% relative to reference measurements made with a cone-and-plate
geometry. We measure the flow curve of a simple Carbopol yield stress fluid,
and show that a 24-arm 3D printed fractal vane agrees within 1% of reference
measurements made with a roughened cone-and-plate geometry. Last, we
demonstrate use of the 24-arm fractal vane to probe the
thixo-elasto-visco-plastic (TEVP) response of a Carbopol-based hair gel, a
jammed emulsion (mayonnaise), and a strongly alkaline carbon black-based
battery slurry
Cost-effectiveness of a potential vaccine for Coccidioides immitis.
Coccidioidomycosis, a systemic fungal infection, affects Americans living in the Southwest. We evaluated the cost- effectiveness of a potential vaccine against Coccidioides immitis. Using a decision model we developed, we estimate that among children, vaccination would saved 1.9 quality-adjusted life days (QALD) and 62,000 per quality adjusted life year gained over no vaccination. If the birth cohort in highly endemic counties of California and Arizona were immunized in 2001, 11 deaths would be averted and $3 million would be saved (in net present value) over the lifetime of these infants. Vaccination of adults to prevent disseminated coccidioidomycosis would provide a modest health benefit similar in magnitude to other vaccines but would increase net expenditures. Vaccination of children in highly endemic regions would provide a larger health benefit and would reduce total health care expenditures
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