6,894 research outputs found
UHF and VHF radar observations of thunderstorms
A study of thunderstorms was made in the Summer of 1985 with the 430-MHz and 50-MHz radars at the Arecibo Observatory in Puerto Rico. Both radars use the 300-meter dish, which gives a beam width of less than 2 degrees even at these long wavelengths. Though the radars are steerable, only vertical beams were used in this experiment. The height resolution was 300 and 150 meters for the UHF and VHF, respectively. Lightning echoes, as well as returns from precipitation and clear-air turbulence were detected with both wavelengths. Large increases in the returned power were found to be coincident with increasing downward vertical velocities at UHF, whereas at VHF the total power returned was relatively constant during the life of a storm. This was attributed to the fact that the VHF is more sensitive to scattering from the turbulence-induced inhomogeneities in the refractive index and less sensitive to scatter from precipitation particles. On occasion, the shape of the Doppler spectra was observed to change with the occurrence of a lightning discharge in the pulse volume. Though the total power and mean reflectivity weighted Doppler velocity changed little during these events, the power is Doppler frequency bins near that corresponding to the updraft did increase substantially within a fraction of a second after a discharge was detected in the beam. This suggests some interaction between precipitation and lightning
Self-management of medical abortion: A qualitative evidence synthesis
Medical abortion is a method of pregnancy termination that by its nature enables more active involvement of women in the process of managing, and sometimes even administering the medications for, their abortions. This qualitative evidence synthesis reviewed the global evidence on experiences with, preferences for, and concerns about greater self-management of medical abortion with lesser health professional involvement. We focused on qualitative research from multiple perspectives on women’s experiences of self-management of first trimester medical abortion (< 12 weeks gestation). We included research from both legal and legally-restricted contexts whether medical abortion was accessed through formal or informal systems. A review team of four identified 36 studies meeting inclusion criteria, extracted data from these studies, and synthesized review findings. Review findings were organized under the following themes: general perceptions of self-management, preparation for self-management, logistical considerations, issues of choice and control, and meaning and experience. The synthesis highlights that the qualitative evidence base is still small, but that the available evidence points to the overall acceptability of self-administration of medical abortion. We highlight particular considerations when offering self-management options, and identify key areas for future research. Further qualitative research is needed to strengthen this important evidence base
K+ to pi-mu+mu+ and doubly-charged Higgs
The rate for the lepton-number-violating decay K+ to pi- mu+mu+ is calculated
in a model which incorporates doubly-charged Higgs bosons. We find that for
reasonable values of the parameters the decay branching ratio may be as large
as 2E-16. Although this is a discouragingly small number, it is of the same
order of magnitude as the rate mediated by massive Majorana neutrinos.Comment: 8 pages, RevTex, Figure1 is P
Lattice-dynamics of a Disordered solid-solid Interface
Generic properties of elastic phonon transport at a disordered interface are
studied. The results show that phonon transmittance is a strong function of
frequency and the disorder correlation length. At frequencies lower than the
van Hove singularity the transmittance at a given frequency increases as the
correlation length decreases. At low frequencies, this is reflected by
different power-laws for phonon conductance across correlated and uncorrelated
disordered interfaces which are in approximate agreement with perturbation
theory of an elastic continuum. These results can be understood in terms of
simple mosaic and two-colour models of the interface.Comment: 17 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Behavior of bulk high-temperature superconductors of finite thickness subjected to crossed magnetic fields
Crossed magnetic field effects on bulk high-temperature superconductors have
been studied both experimentally and numerically. The sample geometry
investigated involves finite-size effects along both (crossed) magnetic field
directions. The experiments were carried out on bulk melt-processed Y-Ba-Cu-O
(YBCO) single domains that had been pre-magnetized with the applied field
parallel to their shortest direction (i.e. the c-axis) and then subjected to
several cycles of the application of a transverse magnetic field parallel to
the sample ab plane. The magnetic properties were measured using orthogonal
pick-up coils, a Hall probe placed against the sample surface and
Magneto-Optical Imaging (MOI). We show that all principal features of the
experimental data can be reproduced qualitatively using a two-dimensional
finite-element numerical model based on an E-J power law and in which the
current density flows perpendicularly to the plane within which the two
components of magnetic field are varied. The results of this study suggest that
the suppression of the magnetic moment under the action of a transverse field
can be predicted successfully by ignoring the existence of flux-free
configurations or flux-cutting effects. These investigations show that the
observed decay in magnetization results from the intricate modification of
current distribution within the sample cross-section. It is also shown that the
model does not predict any saturation of the magnetic induction, even after a
large number (~ 100) of transverse field cycles. These features are shown to be
consistent with the experimental data.Comment: 41 pages, 9 figures, accepted in Phys. Rev. B Changes : 8 references
added, a few precisions added, some typos correcte
Properties of the Chandra Sources in M81
The Chandra X-ray Observatory obtained a 50-ks observation of the central
region of M81 using the ACIS-S in imaging mode. The global properties of the 97
x-ray sources detected in the inner 8.3x8.3 arcmin field of M81 are examined.
Roughly half the sources are concentrated within the central bulge. The
remainder are distributed throughout the disk with the brightest disk sources
lying preferentially along spiral arms. The average hardness ratios of both
bulge and disk sources are consistent with power law spectra of index Gamma~1.6
indicative of a population of x-ray binaries. A group of much softer sources
are also present. The background source-subtracted logN-logS distribution of
the disk follows a power law of index ~ -0.5 with no change in slope over three
decades in flux. The logN-logS distribution of the bulge follows a similar
shape but with a steeper slope above ~4.0e+37 ergs/s. There is unresolved x-ray
flux from the bulge with a radial profile similar to that of the bulge sources.
This unresolved flux is softer than the average of the bulge sources and
extrapolating the bulge logN-logS distribution towards weaker sources can only
account for 20% of the unresolved flux. No strong time variability was observed
for any source with the exception of one bright, soft source.Comment: 5 pages, 3 color PS figures, to appear in ApJ
On the nature of the ultraluminous X-ray transient in Cen~A (NGC 5128)
We combine 9 ROSAT, 9 Chandra, and 2 XMM-Newton observations of the Cen~A
galaxy to obtain the X-ray light curve of 1RXH J132519.8-430312 (=CXOU
J132519.9430317) spanning 1990 to 2003. The source reached a peak 0.1-2.4
keV flux F_X>10^{-12} ergs cm^{-2} s^{-1} during a 10~day span in 1995 July.
The inferred peak isotropic luminosity of the source therefore exceeded 3
10^{39} ergs s^{-1}, which places the source in the class of ultra-luminous
X-ray sources. Coherent pulsations at 13.264 Hz are detected during a second
bright episode (F_X >3 times 10^{-13} ergs cm^{-2} s^{-1}) in 1999 December.
The source is detected and varies significantly within three additional
observations but is below the detection threshold in 7 observations. The X-ray
spectrum in 1999 December is best described as a cut-off power law or a
disk-blackbody (multi-colored disk). We also detect an optical source, m_F555W
~ 24.1 mag, within the Chandra error circle of 1RXH J132519.8-430312 in HST
images taken 195~days before the nearest X-ray observation. The optical
brightness of this source is consistent with a late O or early B star at the
distance of Cen A. If the optical source is the counterpart, then the X-ray and
optical behavior of 1RXH J132519.8-430312 are similar to the transient Be/X-ray
pulsar A 0538-66.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures. ApJ (accepted
The Effects of Home-Based Literacy Activities on the Communication of Students with Severe Speech and Motor Impairments
This study examined the effects of using sensory, augmentative, and alternative communication (AAC), and supportive communication strategies on the rate and type of communication used by three students with severe speech and motor impairments (SSMI). Using a multiple baseline across behaviour design with sensory and AAC intervention phases, students were paired with a family member during shared reading activities using familiar and unfamiliar storybooks in their homes. All reading activities were video-recorded for analysis. Examination of recorded readings revealed that students demonstrated increases in their overall rates of communication. Further, these students successfully integrated communication devices into the reading process. The results suggest that students with severe disabilities can benefit from these forms of literacy strategies to increase their participation in reading tasks. Implications for research and practice are discussed
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