A model of the local region of the galaxy

A two-component model of the local interstellar medium was developed, based on the Radio Astronomy Explorer (RAE-1) satellite observations of the low frequency (0.2 - 10 MHz) galactic radio background spectrum. The model shows evidence for a thick spiral arm and a thick electron disk of 600 and 1200 pc slab thicknesses, respectively. The temperature difference between the north galactic pole and anticenter directions supports the concept of a local positive thermal gradient away from the galactic plane. A preliminary discussion of the influence of the Razin effect on the model is also presented

Adding nutritional value to lentils (Lens culinaris Medik.)

Non-Peer Reviewe

Relative bioavailability of iron in Bangladeshi traditional meals prepared with iron-fortified lentil dal

Non-Peer Reviewe

Meter-wavelength observations of pulsars using very long baseline interferometry

The results of an investigation of the angular structure imposed on pulsar radiation due to scattering in the interstellar medium are presented. The technique of very-long-baseline interferometry was used to obtain the necessary high angular resolution. The interferometers formed by the Arecibo, NRAO, and Sugar Grove telescopes were used at radio frequencies of 196, 111, and 74 MHz during seven separate observing sessions between November 1971 and February 1973. A crude visibility function for the Crab nebular pulsar was obtained along with the correlated pulse profile. The technique of differential fringe phase was used to show that the pulsar and the compact source in the Crab nebula are coincident to within 0.001 arcsec which corresponds to aproximately 2 a.u. at the distance to the nebula. The ratio of pulsing to total flux, and the fringe visibility of the time-averaged pulsing flux are also discussed, and apparent angular sizes of the pulsars were measured

The age of 47Tuc from self-consistent isochrone fits to colour-magnitude diagrams and the eclipsing member V69

Our aim is to derive a self-consistent age, distance and composition for the globular cluster $47\,$Tucanae ($47\,$Tuc; NGC104). First, we reevaluate the reddening towards the cluster resulting in a nominal $E(B-V)=0.03\pm0.01$ as the best estimate. The $T_{\rm eff}$ of the components of the eclipsing binary member V69 is found to be $5900\pm72$ K from both photometric and spectroscopic evidence. This yields a true distance modulus $(m-M)_0=13.21\pm0.06$(random)$\pm0.03$(systematic) to $47\,$Tuc when combined with existing measurements of V69 radii and luminosity ratio. We then present a new completely self-consistent isochrone fitting method to ground based and $\textit{HST}$ cluster colour-magnitude diagrams and the eclipsing binary member V69. The analysis suggests that the composition of V69, and by extension one of the populations of $47\,$Tuc, is given by [Fe/H]$\sim-0.70$, [O/Fe]$\sim+0.60$, and $Y\sim0.250$ on the solar abundance scale of Asplund, Grevesse & Sauval. However, this depends on the accuracy of the model $T_{\rm eff}$ scale which is 50-75 K cooler than our best estimate but within measurement uncertainties. Our best estimate of the age of $47\,$Tuc is 11.8 Gyr, with firm ($3 \sigma$) lower and upper limits of 10.4 and 13.4 Gyr, respectively, in satisfactory agreement with the age derived from the white dwarf cooling sequence if our determination of the distance modulus is adopted.Comment: 19 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Phenolic compounds profiling in zero-tannin and tannin-containing lentil seeds

Non-Peer Reviewe

Germination and emergence of diverse dry bean varieties under cold and dry conditions

Non-Peer ReviewedDry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L. ) originated in the tropics and is a warm season crop. In temperate climates such as Saskatchewan, producers face many challenges in growing the crop. Sowing often occurs under suboptimal conditions for crop growth. Planting in early spring (early May) in cold soils results in poor stands while waiting for warmer temperatures in June reduces the length of the growing season. In some years, like 2002, the seedbed conditions at sowing time are cold and dry, which adversely affect stand establishment. Two experiments were conducted in the phytotron at the University of Saskatchewan to address the stand establishment problem in dry bean. The first experiment tested 12 bean varieties/lines for germination ability in petri plates placed in incubation chambers using 20 different temperature regimes. The bean varieties included nine from bean breeding programs across western Canada and one variety from the bean breeding program at Michigan State University and these were compared with two bean lines (G9345, G8823), known to have some cold tolerance, obtained from CIAT (International Centre for Tropical Agriculture) in Cali, Colombia. All genotypes were then tested for emergence in the soil in growth chambers at five temperatures and three soil moisture regimes. From the petri plates, the break-point temperature for bean germination where genotypes varied was 16/16 C (day/night). Temperatures above this were optimal for germination for all bean varieties used in the experiment. The two CIAT lines G9345 and G8823 had superior germination (about 35%) at a lower temperature regime of 14/10 C. Among prairie adapted varieties, AC Polaris had the best germination (25%) under the same temperature regime. Under simulated field conditions, emergence and plant development were slowed down by drought stress or cooler temperatures. Under cool temperatures the two CIAT lines had faster emergence than the bean varieties bred in western Canada. CDC Nighthawk and AC Polaris were most promising among prairie adapted varieties