29,071 research outputs found
Laboratory modeling and analysis of aircraft-lightning interactions
Modeling studies of the interaction of a delta wing aircraft with direct lightning strikes were carried out using an approximate scale model of an F-106B. The model, which is three feet in length, is subjected to direct injection of fast current pulses supplied by wires, which simulate the lightning channel and are attached at various locations on the model. Measurements are made of the resulting transient electromagnetic fields using time derivative sensors. The sensor outputs are sampled and digitized by computer. The noise level is reduced by averaging the sensor output from ten input pulses at each sample time. Computer analysis of the measured fields includes Fourier transformation and the computation of transfer functions for the model. Prony analysis is also used to determine the natural frequencies of the model. Comparisons of model natural frequencies extracted by Prony analysis with those for in flight direct strike data usually show lower damping in the in flight case. This is indicative of either a lightning channel with a higher impedance than the wires on the model, only one attachment point, or short streamers instead of a long channel
ASCA observations of type-2 Seyfert galaxies: II. The Importance of X-ray Scattering and Reflection
We discuss the importance of X-ray scattering and Compton reflection in
type-2 Seyfert galaxies, based upon the analysis of ASCA observations of 25
such sources. Consideration of the iron Kalpha, [O III] line and X-ray
variability suggest that NGC 1068, NGC 4945, NGC 2992, Mrk 3, Mrk 463E and Mrk
273 are dominated by reprocessed X-rays. We examine the properties of these
sources in more detail.
We find that the iron Kalpha complex contains significant contributions from
neutral and high-ionization species of iron. Compton reflection, hot gas and
starburst emission all appear to make significant contributions to the observed
X-ray spectra.
Mrk 3 is the only source in this subsample which does not have a significant
starburst contamination. The ASCA spectrum below 3 keV is dominated by hot
scattering gas with U_X ~ 5, N_H ~ 4 x 10^23 cm^-2. This material is more
highly ionized than the zone of material comprising the warm absorber seen in
Seyfert~1 galaxies, but may contain a contribution from shock-heated gas
associated with the jet. Estimates of the X-ray scattering fraction cover 0.25
- 5%. The spectrum above 3 keV appears to be dominated by a Compton reflection
component although there is evidence that the primary continuum component
becomes visible close to 10 keV.Comment: 27 pages, 6 figures. LaTeX with encapsulated postscript. To appear in
the Astrophysical Journal. Also available via
http://lheawww.gsfc.nasa.gov/~george/papers/gnt_s2p2/abstract.htm
Correlation of electrical conductivity and radiation-induced free radical concentration in poly/ethylene terephthalate/ and related compounds
Gamma and ultraviolet radiation effects on electronic properties of polyethylene terephthalate and related compound
The PL calibration for Milky Way Cepheids and its implications for the distance scale
The rationale behind recent calibrations of the Cepheid PL relation using the
Wesenheit formulation is reviewed and reanalyzed, and it is shown that recent
conclusions regarding a possible change in slope of the PL relation for
short-period and long-period Cepheids are tied to a pathological distribution
of HST calibrators within the instability strip. A recalibration of the
period-luminosity relation is obtained using Galactic Cepheids in open clusters
and groups, the resulting relationship, described by log L/L_sun =
2.415(+-0.035) + 1.148(+-0.044)log P, exhibiting only the moderate scatter
expected from color spread within the instability strip. The relationship is
confirmed by Cepheids with HST parallaxes, although without the need for
Lutz-Kelker corrections, and in general by Cepheids with revised Hipparcos
parallaxes, albeit with concerns about the cited precisions of the latter. A
Wesenheit formulation of Wv = -2.259(+-0.083) - 4.185(+-0.103)log P for
Galactic Cepheids is tested successfully using Cepheids in the inner regions of
the galaxy NGC 4258, confirming the independent geometrical distance
established for the galaxy from OH masers. Differences between the extinction
properties of interstellar and extragalactic dust may yet play an important
role in the further calibration of the Cepheid PL relation and its application
to the extragalactic distance scale.Comment: Accepted for Publication (Astrophysics & Space Science
Elemental Abundances in NGC 3516
We present RGS data from an XMM-Newton observation of the Seyfert 1 galaxy
NGC 3516, taken while the continuum source was in an extreme low state. The
spectrum shows numerous emission lines including the H-like lines of C, N and O
and the He-like lines of N, O and Ne. These data show that the N lines are far
stronger than would be expected from gas of solar abundances. Based on our
photoionization models, we find that N is overabundant compared to C, O and Ne
by at least a factor of 2.5. We suggest this is the result of secondary
production of N in intermediate mass stars, and indicative of the history of
star formation in NGC 3516.Comment: 19 pages, 3 color figures. ApJ in pres
Scalar Field as Dark Matter in the Universe
We investigate the hypothesis that the scalar field is the dark matter and
the dark energy in the Cosmos, wich comprises about 95% of the matter of the
Universe. We show that this hypothesis explains quite well the recent
observations on type Ia supernovae.Comment: 4 pages REVTeX, 1 eps figure. Minor changes. To appear in Classical
and Quantum Gravit
The effect of normative social influence and cultural diversity on group interactions
Motivated by concerns regarding the impact of cultural diversity on group interaction processes and a desire to extend the Social Influence Model of Technology Use, this paper discusses the impact of normative social influence on enhancing group media use and group decision making performance over time in different cultural group compositions. This paper proposes that the strength of attraction to the group influences the similarity in media perception and use of group members. The similarity of group media perception and use is proposed to influence group performance. Concurrently, group cohesion, similarity of media perception and use, and group performance are positively correlated over time. Since culture affects individuals' values, beliefs and behavior, this paper proposes that the degree of similarity in media perception and media use may differ when group composition varies by culture. Several propositions for empirical examination are highlighted. Finally, the paper concludes with a discussion of the importance and implications of understanding cultural diversity and social influence on technology use and group performance. © 2006 IEEE
The X-ray Emission from the Nucleus of the Dwarf Elliptical Galaxy NGC 3226
We present the first high resolution X-ray image of the dwarf elliptical
galaxy NGC 3226. The data were obtained during an observation of the nearby
Seyfert Galaxy NGC 3227 using the Chandra X-ray Observatory. We detect a point
X-ray source spatially consistent with the optical nucleus of NGC 3226 and a
recently-detected, compact, flat-spectrum, radio source. The X-ray spectrum can
be measured up to ~10 keV and is consistent with a power law with a photon
index 1.7 <~ Gamma <~ 2.2, or thermal bremmstrahlung emission with 4 <~ kT <~
10 keV. In both cases the luminosity in the 2--10 keV band ~10^{40} h_{75}^{-1}
erg/s. We find marginal evidence that the nucleus varies within the
observation. These characteristics support evidence from other wavebands that
NGC 3226 harbors a low-luminosity, active nucleus. We also comment on two
previously-unknown, fainter X-ray sources <~ 15 arcsec from the nucleus of NGC
3226. Their proximity to the nucleus (with projected distances <~ 1.3/h_{75}
kpc) suggests both are within NGC 3226, and thus have luminosities (~few x
10^{38} -- few x 10^{39} erg/s) consistent with black-hole binary systems.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. Figures in colo
Intelligent Queries over BIRN Data using the Foundational Model of Anatomy and a Distributed Query-Based Data Integration System
We demonstrate the usefulness of the Foundational Model of Anatomy (FMA) ontology in reconciling different neuroanatomical parcellation schemes in order to facilitate automatic annotation and “intelligent” querying and visualization over a large multisite fMRI study of schizophrenic versus normal controls
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