Axial rotation and turbulence of RR ab stars: the Peterson Conundrum revisited

We calibrate and then use the relation between equivalent width (EW) and full-width-half-maximum (FWHM) of metallic absorption lines in the spectra of RR Lyrae stars to estimate a new upper limit of Vrot sini less than or equal to 6 km/s on their axial equatorial rotational velocities, and to derive the variations of macroturbulent velocities in their atmospheres during pulsation cycles. Finally, we present a simple way to estimate macroturbulent/rotational velocity from FWHM of the cross-correlation function.Comment: 15 pages, 7 figures, 1 table. EAS Publications Series.: "New advances in stellar physics: from microscopic to macroscopic processes", 27-31 May 2013, Roscoff, Franc

Part I. Synthesis of Tumour-Inhibiting Compounds. Part II. Synthesis of 1:9-Phenylenecarbazole

Abstract Not Provided

IT Alignment with Business Strategies in Healthcare Organizations: An Empirical Analysis

This paper describes a study that assessed the performance implications of aligning information technology (IT) strategy to overall business strategy across a variety of health care organization (HCO) structures. We obtained survey results from senior executives of 178 hospitals to identify key configurations of IT strategic practices, business strategy and HCO structures. Using K- means cluster analysis, we identified which business strategies correlate strongly with certain IT strategy types. Our results indicate that HCOs achieve superior performance through unique combinations of business and IT strategy, suggesting that correctly aligning these strategies is a critical decision for healthcare organizations

AVALIANDO JULGAMENTOS NÃO VERBAIS DE IGUALDADE/DIFERENÇA ENTRE ESTÍMULOS AUDITIVOS EM INDIVÍDUOS COM DEFICIÊNCIAS INTELECTUAIS: UMA INVESTIGAÇÃO METODOLÓGICA

This methodological paper reports an initial attempt to evaluate the feasibility and utility of a nonverbal task for assessing generalized same/different judgments of auditory stimuli in individuals with intellectual disabilities. Study 1 asked whether participants could readily acquire a baseline of auditory same/different, go-left/go-right performance with minimal prompting. Sample stimuli consisted of pairs of successively presented sine-wave tones. If the tones were identical, selections of a visual stimulus on the left side of the computer screen were reinforced. If the tones were different, selections of a visual stimulus on the right side of the computer screen were reinforced. Two of five participants readily acquired the task, generalized performance to other stimuli, and completed a rudimentary protocol for examining auditory discriminations that are potentially more difficult than those used to establish the initial task. In Study 2, two participants who could not perform the “go-left/go-right” task with tone stimuli, but could do so with spoken-word stimuli, successfully transferred control by spoken words to tones via an auditory superimposition-and-fading procedure. The findings support the feasibility of using the task as a general-purpose auditory discrimination assessment.Keywords: auditory discrimination, go-left/go-right, intellectual disabilities, matching to sample, superimposition and fading.O presente artigo metodológico relata uma tentativa inicial de avaliar a viabilidade e a utilidade de uma tarefa não verbal para avaliar o julgamento generalizado de igualdade/diferença entre estímulos auditivos em indivíduos com deficiências intelectuais. O Estudo 1 investigou se os participantes poderiam prontamente adquirir uma linha de base de desempenho discriminativo de igualdade/diferença, em tarefa de “go-left/go-right” (responder à esquerda/responder à direita) com ajuda mínima. Os estímulos-modelo consistiam em pares de sons de frequência única apresentados sucessivamente. Se os sons fossem idênticos, seleções de um estímulo visual no lado esquerdo da tela do computador eram reforçadas. Se os sons fossem diferentes, seleções de um estímulo visual no lado direito da tela do computador eram reforçadas. Dois dos cinco participantes aprenderam prontamente a tarefa, generalizaram o desempenho para outros estímulos e completaram um protocolo rudimentar para avaliar discriminações auditivas que são potencialmente mais difíceis do que aquelas usadas para estabelecer a tarefa inicial. No Estudo 2, dois participantes que não puderam desempenhar a tarefa “go-left/go-right” com os sons de única frequência, mas puderam fazê-lo com palavras faladas como estímulos, transferiram com sucesso o controle das palavras faladas para os sons via um procedimento de esmaecimento e sobreposição de estímulos auditivos. Os achados apoiam a viabilidade de se usar a tarefa como uma avaliação de discriminação auditiva em geral. Palavras-chave: discriminação auditiva, procedimento de resposta à esquerda/resposta à direita, deficiência intelectual, emparelhamento ao modelo, sobreposição e esmaecimento

Probabilistic computer model of optimal runway turnoffs

Landing delays are currently a problem at major air carrier airports and many forecasters agree that airport congestion will get worse by the end of the century. It is anticipated that some types of delays can be reduced by an efficient optimal runway exist system allowing increased approach volumes necessary at congested airports. A computerized Probabilistic Runway Turnoff Model which locates exits and defines path geometry for a selected maximum occupancy time appropriate for each TERPS aircraft category is defined. The model includes an algorithm for lateral ride comfort limits

Spectroscopic Constraints on the Surface Magnetic Field of the Accreting Neutron Star EXO 0748-676

Gravitationally redshifted absorption lines of Fe XXVI, Fe XXV, and O VIII were inferred recently in the X-ray spectrum of the bursting neutron star EXO 0748-676. We place an upper limit on the stellar magnetic field based on the iron lines. The oxygen absorption feature shows a multiple component profile that is consistent with Zeeman splitting in a magnetic field of ~(1-2)x10^9 gauss, and for which the corresponding Zeeman components of the iron lines are expected to be blended together. In other systems, a field strength >5x10^{10} gauss could induce a blueshift of the line centroids that would counteract gravitational redshift and complicate the derivation of constraints on the equation of state of the neutron star.Comment: 5 pages, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let

Field Blue Stragglers and Related Mass Transfer Issues

This chapter contains my impressions and perspectives about the current state of knowledge about field blue stragglers (FBS) stars, drawn from an extensive literature that I searched. I conclude my review of issues that attend FBS and mass transfer, by a brief enumeration of a few mildly disquieting observational facts.Comment: Chapter 4, in Ecology of Blue Straggler Stars, H.M.J. Boffin, G. Carraro & G. Beccari (Eds), Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Springe

Comparison of statistical treatments for the equation of state for core-collapse supernovae

Neutrinos emitted during the collapse, bounce and subsequent explosion provide information about supernova dynamics. The neutrino spectra are determined by weak interactions with nuclei and nucleons in the inner regions of the star, and thus the neutrino spectra are determined by the composition of matter. The composition of stellar matter at temperature ranging from $T=1-3$ MeV and densities ranging from $10^{-5}$ to 0.1 times the saturation density is explored. We examine the single-nucleus approximation commonly used in describing dense matter in supernova simulations and show that, while the approximation is accurate for predicting the energy and pressure at most densities, it fails to predict the composition accurately. We find that as the temperature and density increase, the single nucleus approximation systematically overpredicts the mass number of nuclei that are actually present and underestimates the contribution from lighter nuclei which are present in significant amounts.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure