Discovery of Two Distant Type Ia Supernovae in the Hubble Deep Field North with the Advanced Camera for Surveys

We present observations of the first two supernovae discovered with the recently installed Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) on the Hubble Space Telescope. The supernovae were found in Wide Field Camera images of the Hubble Deep Field North taken with the F775W, F850LP, and G800L optical elements as part of the ACS guaranteed time observation program. Spectra extracted from the ACS G800L grism exposures confirm that the objects are Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) at redshifts z=0.47 and z=0.95. Follow-up HST observations have been conducted with ACS in F775W and F850LP and with NICMOS in the near-infrared F110W bandpass, yielding a total of 9 flux measurements in the 3 bandpasses over a period of 50 days in the observed frame. We discuss many of the important issues in doing accurate photometry with the ACS. We analyze the multi-band light curves using two different fitting methods to calibrate the supernovae luminosities and place them on the SNe Ia Hubble diagram. The resulting distances are consistent with the redshift-distance relation of the accelerating universe model, although evolving intergalactic grey dust remains as a less likely possibility. The relative ease with which these SNe Ia were found, confirmed, and monitored demonstrates the potential ACS holds for revolutionizing the field of high-redshift SNe Ia, and therefore of testing the accelerating universe cosmology and constraining the "epoch of deceleration".Comment: 11 pages, 8 embedded figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Paper Session II-B - The Advanced Camera for the Hubble Space Telescope

The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) will have a high throughput, wide field, optical and I-band camera (WFC), a critically sampled high resolution camera (HRC), and a high throughput, moderate field of view far ultraviolet, solar-blind camera (SBC). The key characteristics of the ACS are listed in Table 1. The throughputs include the geometrical, scattering, and reflectivity losses from the HST optical telescope assembly (Burrows, HST OTA Handbook). Two figures are listed for the ACS efficiencies. The first is the efficiency using the quantum efficiency (QE) of the Scientific Imaging Technologies (SITe) 2K x 4K WFC CCDs and the SITe HRC 1K ´ 1K CCDs selected for the first build of the flight cameras. The second and higher efficiencies are those achieved with SITe CCDs processed and anti-reflection coated at Steward Observatory by Dr. Michael Lesser. We plan to use these better CCDs for the second build of the flight cameras

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

“American Sodom: New Orleans Faces Its Critics and an Uncertain Future”

In the wake of Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans faced critics ranging from members of the religious right who saw the storm as God's judgment on a sinful city, to politicians who condemned the city's free-wheeling lifestyle and history of political corruption.  In the face of a disaster that resulted from improperly built levees, the residents of the beleaguered city were forced to defend their city's right to exist.  This essay explores the roots of these negative perceptions of the city, th impact of these perceptions on the rebuilding effort, and the spirit of the city's citizens who are determined to rebuild while holding on to the city distinctive culture

An analysis of the benefits and application of Earned Value Management (EVM) project management techniques for DOD programs that do not meet DOD policy thresholds

The primary objective of this research was to demonstrate how Earned Value Management (EVM) principles can be applicable for non-major programs that spend money within the Department of Defense. This Joint Applied Project provided a tailorable EVM approach, both for contracts that do not meet the threshold, and contracts that have a waiver and need modified levels of cost, schedule and performance reporting. The immediate objective of this research project was to examine the question: Can the application of EVM-Lite project management techniques improve the reporting metrics to assess acquisition category (ACAT) II and III cost and schedule performance trends across programs? The JAP examined the background of present cost and schedule reporting currently being used for non-major DOD programs. A comparative analysis was conducted on ACAT II and III programs to define the key issues related to accuracy, completeness, and consistency with data received by the contractor to measure performance. The results indicated that by the use of EVM techniques, ACAT II and III programs can improve data reliability and effectively measure cost and schedule performance. An example of the EVM concepts was demonstrated as a starting point and where tailoring is appropriate.http://archive.org/details/annalysisofbenef1094556799Civilian, Department of the ArmyCivilian, Department of the ArmyApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

A mingled yarn: Race and religion in Mississippi, 1800-1876

From their inauspicious beginnings in the late eighteenth and early nineteenth centuries, Mississippi evangelical churches--the Baptist, Methodist, and Presbyterian-- expanded dramatically and set the moral tone of society. Early churches were founded on egalitarian principles by members of both races. A study of unpublished church records reveals that before 1830, blacks and whites received equal treatment in the churches. White evangelicals welcomed slaves into the churches, often opposed slavery, and defended slaves' religious freedom. The rapid expansion of slavery in the state, the movement of slaveholders into the churches, and the growing wealth of the membership presented evangelicals with a serious moral dilemma. As sectional tensions rose and the debate over slavery intensified after 1830, most evangelicals embraced slavery. Religious leaders articulated the most accepted justification of slavery, one based on Biblical teachings. The Biblical defense of slavery emphasized the spiritual welfare of slaves. After 1830 evangelical efforts to minister to blacks increased, and black church membership grew. As they moved from sect to denomination, churches became more hierarchical and less egalitarian. Ministers sought a higher social position and placed greater emphasis on the ministerial gift. Lay participation in worship services was discouraged. Because of their preference for a different style of worship and because of white discrimination, blacks often preferred segregated services. Some historians have characterized biracial churches as simply another white control device against slaves, but an analysis of approximately 1600 disciplinary actions from 30 churches demonstrates that while whites sometimes used church courts to punish slaves who violated the slave code, most cases against blacks involved the same charges made against white offenders. The coming of the Civil War highlighted the divergent goals held by black and white evangelicals. With varying degrees of enthusiasm, white evangelicals lent their support to sectionalism, secession, and war. War and defeat brought about a crisis in many churches, yet out of that malaise grew a powerful, and heretofore unexamined, revival on the home front. Blacks joined in the revivals. The war disrupted life in the slave community, but many slaves saw the war as an answered prayer for freedom. (Abstract shortened with permission of author.