Constraints on supernova progenitors from spatial correlations with H-alpha emission

We have attempted to constrain the progenitors of all supernova types, through correlations of the positions of historical supernovae with recent star formation, as traced by H-alpha emission. Through pixel statistics we have found that a large fraction of the SNII population do not show any association with current star formation, which we put down to a 'runaway' fraction of these progenitors. The SNIb/c population accurately traces the H-alpha emission, with some suggestion that the SNIc progenitors show a higher degree of correlation than the SNIb, suggesting higher mass progenitors for the former. Overall the SNIa population only show a weak correlation to the positions of HII regions, but as many as a half may be associated with a young stellar population.Comment: To appear in conference proceedings: "Supernova 1987A: 20 Years After -- Supernovae & Gamma-Ray Bursters", held in Aspen, February 200

Update on tests of the Cen A neutron-emission model of highest energy cosmic rays

We propose that neutron emission from Cen A dominates the cosmic ray sky at the high end of the spectrum. Neutrons that are able to decay generate proton diffusion fronts, whereas those that survive decay produce a spike in the direction of the source. We use recent data reported by the Pierre Auger Collaboration to normalize the injection spectrum and estimate the required luminosity in cosmic rays. We find that such a luminosity, L_{CR} ~ 5 x 10^{40} erg/s, is considerably smaller than the bolometric luminosity of Cen A, L_{bol} ~ 10^{43} erg/s. We compute the incoming current flux density as viewed by an observer on Earth and show that the anisotropy amplitude is in agreement with data at the 1\sigma level. Regardless of the underlying source model, our results indicate that after a decade of data taking the Pierre Auger Observatory will be able to test our proposal.Comment: To be published in PR

European Constitutionalism and Its Discontents

Traditionally, the European Community has been set apart from all other international organizations, as well as from states, and Euro- pean Community law has been distinguished from both international law and from domestic law. This was so because of the supposed unique internal structure and processes of the European Community. This splendid isolation is no longer viable. Increasingly in the .be- havior - and study - of other transnational organizations, polities or regimes, the European transnational experience has come to provide a model, a yardstick and a set of analytical and critical tools, and per- haps erroneously, a desideratum. While European Community law is no nirvana, it has contributed to our world-view both as a substantive demonstration of one developmental path and as the instrument of reformation of our perceptions of international law. It is time to rec- ognize that European Community law is not a different species of law, but is a mutation of the same species

Electroencephalographic patterns of the goldfish (Carassius auratus l.)

The first recordings of electrical potentials from the teleost brain were made by Adrian and Buytendijk (1931), who used isolated brain stem preparations from Carassius auratus L. Slow potential changes (1-3 eye./sec.) were recorded from the medulla oblongata, corresponding to the rhythm of the goldfish respiratory activity. Patterns of higher frequency and low amplitude were also recorded from the optic lobes. Enger (1957) has used the codfish (Gadus callarias) for implanted-electrode recordings, which were somewhat obscured by artifacts due to breathing movements and to the pressure of the electrodes on the brain surface. He obtained, however, records of the spontaneous electrical activity in the brain of an unanaesthetized fish, as well as mesencephalic responses to stimulation by light flashes. Waves of a frequency of 8-13 cyc./sec. dominated the electrical pattern of the midbrain; these were compared by Enger to the mammalian alpha rhythm. He found evidence for an arousal reaction in the mesencephalon^ following sudden photic stimulation, but none following auditory stimulation

A cross impact methodology for the assessment of US telecommunications system with application to fiber optics development, volume 2

The appendices for the cross impact methodology are presented. These include: user's guide, telecommunication events, cross impacts, projection of historical trends, and projection of trends in satellite communications

Rekonstruktion des Lig.patellofemorale mediale bei patellofemoraler Instabilität

Zusammenfassung: Obwohl Instabilitäten und mechanische Fehlbelastung im patellofemoralen Gelenk sehr häufig auftreten, besteht immer noch ein ungenügendes Verständnis der Interaktionen zwischen den einzelnen mechanischen Faktoren, die die Kinematik und Stabilität des Patellofemoralgelenks beeinflussen. Die patellofemorale Stabilität wird von passiven und aktiven Faktoren beeinflusst: Der Geometrie des patellofemoralen Gelenks und den medialen und lateralen Weichteilkräften wie z.B. dem Lig.patellofemorale mediale (LPFM, passive Stabilisatoren) sowie den Muskelkräften des Streckapparats (aktive Stabilisatoren). Neben den knöchernen Strukturen sind die medialen passiven Stabilisatoren wesentlich für die patellofemorale Stabilität verantwortlich. Die Verletzung des LPFM stellt die essenzielle Verletzung im patellofemoralen Gelenk dar, ohne die eine Luxation der Patella nahezu unmöglich ist und die in ca. 90% aller erstmaligen Patellaluxationen auftritt. Da klinisch und biomechanisch gezeigt werden konnte, dass die Rekonstruktion des LPFM eine höhere Stabilität erreicht als die bisher vornehmlich durchgeführten konventionellen Eingriffe am Streckapparat, ohne gleichzeitig ein Schmerzsyndrom zu verursachen, gilt dieser Eingriff heute als Mittel der Wahl zur Patellastabilisierun

A cross impact methodology for the assessment of US telecommunications system with application to fiber optics development, volume 1

A cross impact model of the U.S. telecommunications system was developed. It was necessary to prepare forecasts of the major segments of the telecommunications system, such as satellites, telephone, TV, CATV, radio broadcasting, etc. In addition, forecasts were prepared of the traffic generated by a variety of new or expanded services, such as electronic check clearing and point of sale electronic funds transfer. Finally, the interactions among the forecasts were estimated (the cross impact). Both the forecasts and the cross impacts were used as inputs to the cross impact model, which could then be used to stimulate the future growth of the entire U.S. telecommunications system. By varying the inputs, technology changes or policy decisions with regard to any segment of the system could be evaluated in the context of the remainder of the system. To illustrate the operation of the model, a specific study was made of the deployment of fiber optics throughout the telecommunications system

TriMinimal Parametrization of the Neutrino Mixing Matrix

Current experimental data on neutrino mixing are very well described by TriBiMaximal mixing. Accordingly, any phenomenological parametrization of the MNSP matrix must build upon TriBiMaximal mixing. We propose one particularly natural parametrization, which we call "TriMinimal". The three small deviations of the PDG angles from their TriBiMaximal values, and the PDG phase, parametrize the TriMinimal mixing matrix. As an important example of the utility of this new parametrization, we present the simple resulting expressions for the flavor-mixing probabilities of atmospheric and astrophysical neutrinos. As no foreseeable experiment will be sensitive to more than second order in the small parameters, we expand these flavor probabilities to second order.Comment: Typos corrected, references added, title changed; matches version appearing in PRL 100, 111801 (2008)