Local u'g'r'i'z' Standard Stars in the Chandra Deep Field-South

Because several observing programs are underway in various spectral regimes to explore the Chandra Deep Field South (CDF-S), the value of local photometric standards is obvious. As part of an NOAO Surveys Program to establish u'g'r'i'z' standard stars in the southern hemisphere, we have observed the central region of the CDF-S to create local standards for use by other investigators using these filters. As a courtesy, we present the CDF-S standards to the public now, although the main program will not finish until mid-2005.Comment: Accepted by AJ (scheduled for October 2003 issue). 26 pages, 5 tables, 5 figures. High resolution version of Figure 7 available at http://home.fnal.gov/~dtucker/Southern_ugriz/index.htm

The Sahin-Francis Scale of Attitude towards Islam: A Study among Students in Pakistan

Recent years have seen growing interest in empirical religious research within the Islamic context. This paper contributes to that growth by exploring the reliability of the Sahin-Francis Scale of Attitude toward Islam. The scale is a 23-item instrument which measures attitudes toward Islam on a 5-point Likert scale. A total of 729 English speaking Pakistani young people (45% male and 55% female) completed the FSCAI. The data demonstrated that the scale is a reliable measure achieving a Cronbach Alpha of .91 and accounting for 37.4% of the variance. The measure is recommended for further research in the Muslim context

Utilization of Actinomycetes to increase phosphate availability at different soil moisture conditions in Andisols Namanteran, North Sumatera

The high phosphate retention in Andisols causes the availability of P to be low, can not be absorbed by plants. Actinomycetes are capable of solubilizing bound phosphates. This research aimed to identify Actinomycetes in Andisols Namanteran, assess their ability to increase phosphate availability, and understand how they work to increase phosphate availability in this soil. The research design used a factorial randomized block design with 2 factors; factor 1 was Actinomycetes isolate, consisting of A₀ = No Inoculant, A₁ = Inoculant A₁₃₂ (vegetable crops; 32 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), A₂ = A₄₆₈ (forest plants; 41 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), A₃ = A₄₅₈ (forest plant; 58 × 10⁸ CFUmL⁻¹), A₄ = A₄₇₁ (coffee plant; 35 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), A₅ = A₄₅₉ (forest plant; 63 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), A₆ = A₃₂₁ (hibiscus plant; 37 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), and A₇ = A₃₅₆ (vegetable plant; 33 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), and factor 2 was soil water content, consisting of K₁ = 50%, K₂ = 75% and K₃ = 100% of field capacity. The results showed that the availability of P in Andisols increased due to the application of Actinomycetes from 42.46 ppm to 159.20−266.60 ppm. The population of Actinomycetes in Actinomycetes treatment ranged from 27.33−31.58 × 10⁸ CFU mL⁻¹), with a soil pH of 4.41. Water content of 100% was the best in increasing soil pH and Actinomycetes population, but not having significant effects on the available P of the soil. The results of molecular identification of Actinomycetes that have the best potential in dissolving P include A₃>A₅>A₂>A₄>A₁

Investigation on Willingness of Employees to Share Information Security Advice

As modern organizations rely more on their information systems, mitigating information security risks becomes essential. Weaknesses in the information security management chain have continued to be challenged by employees. Therefore, enhancing employee security awareness becomes critical. Considering the effectiveness of informal methods, this research examines security advice sharing as one of the operative ways. Accordingly, in this paper, by adapting the theory of planned behavior as our theoretical lens, we propose a conceptual model of factors that are anticipated to impact the willingness of employees to share security advice. Finally, conclusion and avenues for future research are discussed

Synthesis and Characterization of Some New Benzimidazole Derivatives

In this paper the new starting material 2-(5-chloro-1H-benzo[d]imidazole-2-yl) aniline (1) was synthesized by the condensation reaction of 4-chloro-o-phenylenediamine and anthranilic acid .The new Mannich base derivatives were synthesized using formaldehyde and different secondary amines to synthesize a new set of benzimidazole derivatives(2-5). Also, the new Schiff-base derivatives (6-10) were synthesized from the reaction of compound (1) with various aromatic aldehydes and the closure-ring was done successfully using mercapto acetic acid to get the new thiazolidine derivatives(11-12).These new compounds were characterized using some physical techniques like:FT-IR Spectra and 1HNMR Spectra

Optical Gain from InAs Nanocrystal Quantum Dots in a Polymer Matrix

We report on the first observation of optical gain from InAs nanocrystal quantum dots emitting at 1.55 microns based on a three-beam, time resolved pump-probe technique. The nanocrystals were embedded into a transparent polymer matrix platform suitable for the fabrication of integrated photonic devices.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. This second version is excactly the same as the first. It is resubmitted to correct some format errors appeared in the pdf file of the first versio

Effect of Surgical Fusion on Volitional Weight-Shifting in Individuals With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design Prospective. Objectives The goals of this study were to (1) evaluate the differences in weightbearing symmetry between individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and typically developing controls; (2) observe the effect of posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSFI) on volitional weight-shifting at 1 and 2 years postoperatively; and (3) evaluate whether lowest instrumented fusion level (ie, lowest instrumented vertebra [LIV]) in PSFI has an effect on volitional weight-shifting. Summary of Background Data Previous studies have conflicting findings with regard to the effect of scoliosis on postural control tasks as well as the effect of surgery. They have also noted an inconsistent effect of PSFI at different LIVs, with more distal LIVs exhibiting greater reductions in postoperative range of motion. Methods The study was designed with an AIS group of 41 patients (8 males and 33 females) with AIS who underwent PSFI, along with a Control Group of 24 age-matched typically developing participants (12 male and 12 female). Both groups performed postural control tasks (static balance and volitional weight-shifting), with the AIS group repeating the tasks at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Results At baseline, the AIS group showed increased weightbearing asymmetry than the Control Group (p = .01). The AIS group showed improvements in volitional weight-shifting at 2 years over baseline (p \u3c .01). There was no effect of LIV on volitional weight-shifting by the second postoperative year. Conclusions Individuals with AIS have greater weightbearing asymmetry but improved volitional weight-shifting over typically developing controls. PSFI improves volitional weight-shifting beyond preoperative baseline but does not differ significantly by LIV

Effect of Surgical Fusion on Volitional Weight-Shifting in Individuals With Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis

Study Design Prospective. Objectives The goals of this study were to (1) evaluate the differences in weightbearing symmetry between individuals with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS) and typically developing controls; (2) observe the effect of posterior spinal fusion and instrumentation (PSFI) on volitional weight-shifting at 1 and 2 years postoperatively; and (3) evaluate whether lowest instrumented fusion level (ie, lowest instrumented vertebra [LIV]) in PSFI has an effect on volitional weight-shifting. Summary of Background Data Previous studies have conflicting findings with regard to the effect of scoliosis on postural control tasks as well as the effect of surgery. They have also noted an inconsistent effect of PSFI at different LIVs, with more distal LIVs exhibiting greater reductions in postoperative range of motion. Methods The study was designed with an AIS group of 41 patients (8 males and 33 females) with AIS who underwent PSFI, along with a Control Group of 24 age-matched typically developing participants (12 male and 12 female). Both groups performed postural control tasks (static balance and volitional weight-shifting), with the AIS group repeating the tasks at 1 and 2 years postoperatively. Results At baseline, the AIS group showed increased weightbearing asymmetry than the Control Group (p = .01). The AIS group showed improvements in volitional weight-shifting at 2 years over baseline (p \u3c .01). There was no effect of LIV on volitional weight-shifting by the second postoperative year. Conclusions Individuals with AIS have greater weightbearing asymmetry but improved volitional weight-shifting over typically developing controls. PSFI improves volitional weight-shifting beyond preoperative baseline but does not differ significantly by LIV