Frequency-Dependent Template Profiles for High Precision Pulsar Timing

Pulsar timing experiments require high fidelity template profiles in order to minimize the biases in pulse time-of-arrival (TOA) measurements and their uncertainties. Efforts to acquire more precise TOAs given fixed effective area of telescopes, finite receiver noise, and limited integration time have led pulsar astronomers to the solution of implementing ultra-wideband receivers. This solution, however, has run up against the problem that pulse profile shapes evolve with frequency, which raises the question of how to properly measure and analyze TOAs obtained using template-matching methods. This paper proposes a new method for one facet of this problem, that of template profile generation, and demonstrates it on the well-timed millisecond pulsar J1713+0747. Specifically, we decompose pulse profile evolution into a linear combination of basis eigenvectors, the coefficients of which change slowly with frequency such that their evolution is modeled simply by a sum of low degree piecewise polynomial spline functions. These noise-free, high fidelity, frequency-dependent templates can be used to make measurements of so-called "wideband TOAs" simultaneously with an estimate of the instantaneous dispersion measure. The use of wideband TOAs is becoming important for pulsar timing array experiments, as the volume of datasets comprised of conventional, subbanded TOAs are quickly becoming unwieldly for the Bayesian analyses needed to uncover latent gravitational wave signals. Although motivated by high precision timing experiments, our technique is applicable in more general pulsar observations.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, accepted to Ap

A broadband radio study of the average profile and giant pulses from PSR B1821-24A

We present the results of wide-band (720-2400 MHz) study of PSR B1821-24A (J1824-2452A, M28A), an energetic millisecond pulsar visible in radio, X-rays and gamma-rays. In radio, the pulsar has a complex average profile which spans >85% of the spin period and exhibits strong evolution with observing frequency. For the first time we measure phase-resolved polarization properties and spectral indices of radio emission throughout almost all of the on-pulse window. We combine this knowledge with the high-energy information to compare M28A to other known gamma-ray millisecond pulsars and to speculate that M28A's radio emission originates in multiple regions within its magnetosphere (i.e. both in the slot or outer gaps near the light cylinder and at lower altitudes above the polar cap). M28A is one of the handful of pulsars which are known to emit Giant Pulses (GPs) -- short, bright radio pulses of unknown nature. We report a drop in the linear polarization of the average profile in both windows of GP generation and also a `W'-shaped absorption feature (resembling a double notch), partly overlapping with one of the GP windows. The GPs themselves have broadband spectra consisting of multiple patches with fractional spectral width ($\Delta\nu/\nu$) of about 0.07. Although our time resolution was not sufficient to resolve the GP structure on the microsecond scale, we argue that GPs from this pulsar most closely resemble the GPs from the main pulse of the Crab pulsar, which consist of a series of narrowband nanoshots.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figures, accepted to Ap

MR441: An Evaluation of Turfgrass Secies and Varieties: Kentucky Bluegrass

The bluegrasses rank highest among those grasses used as amenity turfgrasses. They comprise the most important, most popular, and the most richly colored of all turfgrasses and have found excellent adaptation in the United States, Europe, and the cooler regions of Asia. The bluegrasses, and in particular the Kentucky bluegrasses, have been subjected to the most rigorous breeding and screening efforts, with the resulting release of the greatest numbers of improved cultivars of any turfgrass species. The 2000 National Turfgrass Evaluation Programs (NTEP) Kentucky Bluegrass Trial (High Maintenance) included 173 cultivars that were evaluated for their tolerance to and performance under normal mid-Maine conditions.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_miscreports/1014/thumbnail.jp

MR437: An Evaluation of Turfgrass Species and Varieties: The bentgrasses

In the genus Agrostis, the four species employed as turfgrasses include creeping bentgrass (A. palustris Huds., A. stolonifera L.), colonial bentgrass (A. tenuis, A. capillaris), velvet bentgrass (A. canina), and, more rarely, redtop (A. alba, A. gigantea). The objective of this four-year study was to evaluate the performance of 29 commercially available bentgrass cultivars under the environmental conditions of central Maine.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_miscreports/1012/thumbnail.jp

MR416: An Evaluation of Turfgrass Species and Varieties: Perennial Ryegrass

The ryegrasses include those popular and extensively used turfgrasses noted for their rapid germination and subsequent swift development into a suitable turf. These grasses are broadly adapted to cool temperate climates and find use in a wide array of habitats: from the seashore to mountain slopes, and in nearly all soil conditions. This report presents the results of a trial of 97 perennial ryegrass varieties at the University of Maine.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_miscreports/1006/thumbnail.jp

MR430: An Evaluation of Turfgrass Species and Varieties: Tall Fescue

Originating in Europe, Tall fescue (Festuca anundinacea Schreb.) is a coarse-textured grass, which is characterized by a bunch-type growth habit. Tall fescue possesses a deeper, coarser and more extensive root system than the other cool- season species giving this grass excellent drought tolerance. It is propagated by seed, with an establishment rate that is more rapid than Kentucky bluegrass, but slower than perennial ryegrass. In conclusion, the improved tall fescue varieties performed surprisingly well at the Littlefield Garden at the University of Maine. Based upon this performance, this species should be given consideration as a cool-season turf species in those situations where its demonstrated attributes are consistent with the turf needs of that location and/or situation.https://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_miscreports/1022/thumbnail.jp

MR413: An Evaluation of Turfgrass Species and Varieties: Fineleaf Fescues

The fineleaf fescues comprise 28 species of perennial grasses in the genus Festuca. The fescue species represented in the United States include deeply rooted grasses with both wide and narrow leaf types, bunch and spreading plant morphologies, and tolerances to a wide variety of environmental conditions. Several of these species exhibit desirable characteristics for turfgrass use: adaptation to cool, humid regions, tolerance to droughty acidic soils, excellent wear and shade tolerance, deep, erosion-resistant root systems and rapid recovery following mowing. This report presents the results of Maine trials in the 1993 National Turfgrass Evaluation Program (NTEP) Fineleaf Fescue Trial, which evaluated 59 varieties representing four species: Chewings fescue, creeping red fescue, hard fescue, sheep fescue, and blue sheep fescuehttps://digitalcommons.library.umaine.edu/aes_miscreports/1004/thumbnail.jp

Assessment of a urban sustainability and life quality index for elderly

The research here presented originates from some of the ongoing challenges of our society: the demographic changes and the high share of population living in urban areas. The aim of the research is the definition of an index of sustainability and quality of life for elderly at suburban scale, not only able to outline aspects related to the local territorial context but also to represent the neighbourhood level. This would provide significant added value to existing indicators that represent the quality of life for much larger areas as cities, regions and nations. Indeed, it is universally recognised that the quality of life varies quite considerably depending on whether you live in different neighbourhoods or urban areas. The index proposed with the research is elaborated on the base of objective and subjective indicators integrated with the judgment of experts, in order to give an accurate and truthful weight to each indicator. Moreover, it has been elaborated for microscale analysis, dividing urban areas into cells, in order to highlight more in detail the real needs of each specific zone. As a result, the elaborated index would be an available tool to be provided to the local public administration to facilitate and optimise the urban planning and management, prioritizing interventions on the base of the sustainability principles and subjective needs of the population, in particular of elderly

Promoting healthy eating habits among youth according to their preferences: Indications from a discrete choice experiment in Tuscany

Abstract Introduction The incidence of overweight among youth in Western Countries requires the implementation of initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles. Although under particular conditions obesity is not preventable, drawing attention on factors affecting teenagers' preferences can ameliorate the efficacy of public interventions designed for health promotion. Methods This study aims at eliciting teenagers' food preferences through a discrete choice experiment, conducted in Tuscany using a webAPP survey, with the participation of more than 4,700 teenagers. Respondents expressed their preferences for breakfast food based on three attributes: food quality, packaging and claim. The survey also collected information on respondents' socio-demographic characteristics, social influence and media use for food information. Results Teenagers' preferences for healthy foods seem positively related with their own level of food literacy. The tendency of respondents to read labels and nutritional facts is positively associated with preferences for healthier foods. Peers' influence is not significant, while family influence has a positive impact on teenagers' healthy choices. Internet usage is associated with unhealthy choices with a healthy aspect. Conclusion The results can be useful in defining effective actions for the promotion of healthy behaviors among teenagers, either in communication and awareness campaigns or in education and activation initiatives, with respect to the reading and interpretation of nutritional facts and labels, the role of family and friends, and the use of media