4,226 research outputs found
Luminosity and surface brightness distribution of K-band galaxies from the UKIDSS Large Area Survey
We present luminosity and surface brightness distributions of 40,111 galaxies
with K-band photometry from the United Kingdom Infrared Telescope (UKIRT)
Infrared Deep Sky Survey (UKIDSS) Large Area Survey (LAS), Data Release 3 and
optical photometry from Data Release 5 of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS).
Various features and limitations of the new UKIDSS data are examined, such as a
problem affecting Petrosian magnitudes of extended sources. Selection limits in
K- and r-band magnitude, K-band surface brightness and K-band radius are
included explicitly in the 1/Vmax estimate of the space density and luminosity
function. The bivariate brightness distribution in K-band absolute magnitude
and surface brightness is presented and found to display a clear
luminosity--surface brightness correlation that flattens at high luminosity and
broadens at low luminosity, consistent with similar analyses at optical
wavelengths. Best fitting Schechter function parameters for the K-band
luminosity function are found to be M*-5 log h=-23.19 +/- 0.04, alpha=-0.81 +/-
0.04 and phi*=(0.0166 +/- 0.0008)h^3 Mpc^{-3}, although the Schechter function
provides a poor fit to the data at high and low luminosity, while the
luminosity density in the K band is found to be j = (6.305 +/- 0.067) x 10^8
L_sun h Mpc^{-3}. However, we caution that there are various known sources of
incompleteness and uncertainty in our results. Using mass-to-light ratios
determined from the optical colours we estimate the stellar mass function,
finding good agreement with previous results. Possible improvements are
discussed that could be implemented when extending this analysis to the full
LAS.Comment: 17 pages, 24 figures, matches MNRAS accepted versio
Conservation status of New Zealand freshwater invertebrates, 2013
The conservation status of 644 freshwater invertebrate taxa, across five Phyla, 28 Orders and 75 Families, was assessed using the New Zealand Threat Classification System (NZTCS) criteria. Forty-six species were ranked Nationally Critical, 11 Nationally Endangered and 16 Nationally Vulnerable. One hundred and seventy-two taxa were listed as Data Deficient. A full list is presented, along with summaries and brief notes on the most important changes. This list replaces all previous NZTCS lists for freshwater invertebrates
Kepler Mission Stellar and Instrument Noise Properties Revisited
An earlier study of the Kepler Mission noise properties on time scales of
primary relevance to detection of exoplanet transits found that higher than
expected noise followed to a large extent from the stars, rather than
instrument or data analysis performance. The earlier study over the first six
quarters of Kepler data is extended to the full four years ultimately
comprising the mission. Efforts to improve the pipeline data analysis have been
successful in reducing noise levels modestly as evidenced by smaller values
derived from the current data products. The new analyses of noise properties on
transit time scales show significant changes in the component attributed to
instrument and data analysis, with essentially no change in the inferred
stellar noise. We also extend the analyses to time scales of several days,
instead of several hours to better sample stellar noise that follows from
magnetic activity. On the longer time scale there is a shift in stellar noise
for solar-type stars to smaller values in comparison to solar values.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A
Building community cyclone resilience through academic and insurance industry partnership
This paper presents research from collaboration between the Cyclone Testing Station (CTS) at James Cook University and insurer Suncorp over the last two years. A key outcome of this work has been an insurance premium reduction program by Suncorp known as the 'Cyclone Resilience Benefit'. Background research conducted for the program by the CTS is discussed and its details are briefly reviewed. Insights from the program delivery to over 14,000 homeowners to date are discussed. Although still in preliminary stages, the development of this industry program based on academic research demonstrates the benefits of strategic partnerships in the field of natural disaster risk mitigation
Building community cyclone resilience through academic and insurance industry partnership
This paper presents research from collaboration between the Cyclone Testing Station (CTS) at James Cook University and insurer Suncorp over the last two years. A key outcome of this work has been an insurance premium reduction program by Suncorp known as the 'Cyclone Resilience Benefit'. Background research conducted for the program by the CTS is discussed and its details are briefly reviewed. Insights from the program delivery to over 14,000 homeowners to date are discussed. Although still in preliminary stages, the development of this industry program based on academic research demonstrates the benefits of strategic partnerships in the field of natural disaster risk mitigation
Agricultural Education Teacher Candidates’ Reflection on the 15-Week Clinical Teaching Internship: A Collective Case Study
This collective case study explored the integration of video reflection during the 15-week clinical teaching internship at three distinct points in time. Weeks three, seven, and 11 were investigated to determine if the integration of video reflection improved the quality of teacher candidate reflection and to gauge teacher candidates’ views on agricultural education during the clinical teaching internship. Four overarching themes emerged from the video reflections: establishing roles as a teacher, teaching and learning, balance, and coming full circle. Throughout the internship, candidates expressed a deeper understanding of teaching within the three-component model of school-based agricultural education (SBAE). We recommend the use of video reflection during the student teaching internship to expand the depth of reflection and feeling of community among the cohort. Overall, the addition of the video reflection process has provided an efficient and effective tool that allows teacher candidates to make meaning of their experience
Near-infrared spectroscopy of SN 2009ip's 2012 brightening reveals a dusty pre-supernova environment
We present low-resolution near-infrared (IR) 0.8–2.5 μm spectra of Supernova (SN) 2009ip, taken immediately before, during and just after its rapid brightening in late September/October 2012. The first epoch shows the same general spectral characteristics as the later epochs (smooth continuum, narrow H and He I emission lines), but the IR continuum shape is substantially redder than the later epochs. The epoch 1 continuum can be approximated by reddening the peak-luminosity (epoch 3) spectrum by E(B − V) = 1.0 mag, but the blue colour seen in visual-wavelength spectra at the same time indicates that strong wavelength-dependent extinction by circumstellar dust is not the correct explanation. Instead, we favour the hypothesis that the redder colour before the brightening arises from excess emission from hot ∼2000 K circumstellar dust. The minimum radius ( ≳ 120 au) deduced from the dust temperature and observed luminosity of the transient, combined with the observed expansion speed in the precursor outbursts of SN 2009ip, is consistent with an ejection at least 1.1 yr earlier. The mass of hot dust indicated by the IR excess is ∼4 × 10^(−7) M⊙, although this is only a lower limit since the near-IR data do not constrain the mass of cooler dust. Thus, the observed pre-SN outbursts of this object were able to efficiently form dust into which the SN ejecta and radiation now propagate. This is consistent with the notion that the same pre-SN eruptions that generally give rise to SNe IIn also give rise to the dust needed for their commonly observed IR echoes. We also discuss some aspects of the IR line profiles, including He I λ10 830
Improving Photometry and Stellar Signal Preservation with Pixel-Level Systematic Error Correction
The Kepler Mission has demonstrated that excellent stellar photometric performance can be achieved using apertures constructed from optimally selected CCD pixels. The clever methods used to correct for systematic errors, while very successful, still have some limitations in their ability to extract long-term trends in stellar flux. They also leave poorly correlated bias sources, such as drifting moir pattern, uncorrected. We will illustrate several approaches where applying systematic error correction algorithms to the pixel time series, rather than the co-added raw flux time series, provide significant advantages. Examples include, spatially localized determination of time varying moir pattern biases, greater sensitivity to radiation-induced pixel sensitivity drops (SPSDs), improved precision of co-trending basis vectors (CBV), and a means of distinguishing the stellar variability from co-trending terms even when they are correlated. For the last item, the approach enables physical interpretation of appropriately scaled coefficients derived in the fit of pixel time series to the CBV as linear combinations of various spatial derivatives of the pixel response function (PRF). We demonstrate that the residuals of a fit of soderived pixel coefficients to various PRF-related components can be deterministically interpreted in terms of physically meaningful quantities, such as the component of the stellar flux time series which is correlated with the CBV, as well as, relative pixel gain, proper motion and parallax. The approach also enables us to parameterize and assess the limiting factors in the uncertainties in these quantities
Revision to Nomenclature of the Zarah Subgroup of the Kansas City Group (Pennsylvanian) in Kansas
This paper provides a summary review of proposed nomenclatural revisions to the Zarah Subgroup of the Kansas City Group (Pennsylvanian) in Kansas and outlines changes adopted by the Kansas Geological Survey. The Iola Limestone, which comprises in ascending order the Paola Limestone, Muncie Creek Shale, and Raytown Limestone Members, is now considered the basal formation of the Zarah Subgroup. We reinstate the overlying Liberty Memorial Shale as originally defined by Clair (1943) in the area of Kansas City, Missouri. We also restrict the Wyandotte Limestone to include only, in ascending order, the Frisbie Limestone, Quindaro Shale, and Argentine Limestone Members. Furthermore, the Lane Shale is restricted in use and encompasses all strata within the shale-dominated interval between the top of the Argentine Limestone Member of the Wyandotte Limestone and the base of the overlying Plattsburg Limestone. Within the revised Lane Shale, the KGS now formally recognizes, in ascending order, the Lower Farley Limestone, Middle Farley Shale, and Upper Farley Limestone Members. The Bonner Springs Shale is now demoted in rank and included as the uppermost member within the Lane Shale.
On the Progenitor System of the Type Iax Supernova 2014dt in M61
We present pre-explosion and post-explosion Hubble Space Telescope images of
the Type Iax supernova (SN Iax) 2014dt in M61. After astrometrically aligning
these images, we do not detect any stellar sources at the position of the SN in
the pre-explosion images to relatively deep limits (3 sigma limits of M_F438W >
-5.0 mag and M_F814W > -5.9 mag). These limits are similar to the luminosity of
SN 2012Z's progenitor system (M_F435W = -5.43 +/- 0.15 and M_F814W = -5.24 +/-
0.16 mag), the only probable detected progenitor system in pre-explosion images
of a SN Iax, and indeed, of any white dwarf supernova. SN 2014dt is consistent
with having a C/O white-dwarf primary/helium-star companion progenitor system,
as was suggested for SN 2012Z, although perhaps with a slightly smaller or
hotter donor. The data are also consistent with SN 2014dt having a low-mass red
giant or main-sequence star companion. The data rule out main-sequence stars
with M_init > 16 M_sun and most evolved stars with M_init > 8 M_sun as being
the progenitor of SN 2014dt. Hot Wolf-Rayet stars are also allowed, but the
lack of nearby bright sources makes this scenario unlikely. Because of its
proximity (D = 12 Mpc), SN 2014dt is ideal for long-term monitoring, where
images in ~2 years may detect the companion star or the luminous bound remnant
of the progenitor white dwarf.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, submitted to ApJ
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