Conjugate 18cm OH Satellite Lines at a Cosmological Distance

We have detected the two 18cm OH satellite lines from the $z \sim 0.247$ source PKS1413+135, the 1720 MHz line in emission and the 1612 MHz line in absorption. The 1720 MHz luminosity is $L_{\rm OH} \sim 354 L_\odot$, more than an order of magnitude larger than that of any other known 1720 MHz maser. The profiles of the two satellite lines are conjugate, implying that they arise in the same gas. This allows us to test for any changes in the values of fundamental constants, without being affected by systematic uncertainties arising from relative motions between the gas clouds in which the different lines arise. Our data constrain changes in $G \equiv g_p [\alpha^2/y]^{1.849}$, where $y \equiv m_e/m_p$; we find $\Delta G/G = 2.2 \pm 3.8 \times 10^{-5}$, consistent with no changes in $\alpha$, $g_p$ and $y$.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure. Minor changes to match published versio

Kinematics of parsec-scale structures in AGN: the 2cm VLBA Survey

We are investigating the kinematics of jets in active galactic nuclei on parsec scales by studying a representative population of sources. This study is being carried out using the Very Long Baseline Array at 15 GHz, with more than 800 images taken since 1994. In this contribution we present an overview of the diversity of kinematics for a complete sample of sources.Comment: Proceedings of the 6th European VLBI Network Symposium, Ros E., Porcas R.W., Lobanov, A.P., & Zensus, J.A. (eds), MPIfR, Bonn, Germany. 2 pages, 3 figures, needs evn2002.cls style fil

Twenty Years of Timing SS433

We present observations of the optical ``moving lines'' in spectra of the Galactic relativistic jet source SS433 spread over a twenty year baseline from 1979 to 1999. The red/blue-shifts of the lines reveal the apparent precession of the jet axis in SS433, and we present a new determination of the precession parameters based on these data. We investigate the amplitude and nature of time- and phase-dependent deviations from the kinematic model for the jet precession, including an upper limit on any precessional period derivative of $\dot P < 5 \times 10^{-5}$. We also dicuss the implications of these results for the origins of the relativistic jets in SS433.Comment: 21 pages, including 9 figures. To appear in the Astrophysical Journa

Europees Loopkevercongres jubileert in Nederland

De 1e Europese loopkeverovereenkomst werd in 1969 in Wijster georganiseerd. 40 jaar erna wordt in 2009 het jubileumcongres weer in Nederland georganiseerd. Deze bijdrage belicht de bijzondere relatie tussen Nederland en de European Carabidologist Meeting (ECM

Variability and Velocity of Superluminal Sources

We investigate the relation between the Doppler factor determined from variations in total flux at 22 and 37 GHz, and the apparent transverse velocity determined from VLBA observations at 2 cm. The data are consistent with the relativistic beaming theory for compact radio sources, in that the distribution of beta_{app}/delta_{var}, for 30 quasars, is roughly consistent with a Monte Carlo simulation. The intrinsic temperature appears to be ~2x10^{10} K, close to the "equipartition value" calculated by Readhead (1994). We deduce the distribution of Lorentz factors for a group of 48 sources; the values range up to about gamma=40.Comment: To be published in "Radio Astronomy at the Fringe", ASP Conf. Ser. Vol. 300, J. A. Zensus, M. H. Cohen, & E. Ros (eds.), 8 pages, 3 figures, needs rafringe.st

Evaluation of an Emergency Department Lean Process Improvement Program to Reduce Length of Stay

In recent years, lean principles have been applied to improve wait times in the emergency department (ED). In 2009, an ED process improvement program based on lean methods was introduced in Ontario as part of a broad strategy to reduce ED length of stay and improve patient flow. This study seeks to determine the effect of this program on ED wait times and quality of care. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of all ED visits at program and control sites during 3 program waves from April 1, 2007, to June 30, 2011, in Ontario, Canada. Time series analyses of outcomes before and after the program and difference-in-differences analyses comparing changes in program sites with control sites were conducted

Подавление синхронной помехи в ЯКР с модуляцией Зеемана

Рассмотрены принципы частотной модуляции и модуляции Зеемана в ядерном квадрупольном резонансе и показаны преимущества последней. Предложен метод устранения синхронной помехи, вызываемой переключением магнитного поля. Приведены результаты наблюдения резонансной линии ¹⁴N с достоверной формой в образце гексаметилентетрамине массой 2 г.Розглянуто принципи частотної модуляції та модуляції Зеемана в ядерному квадрупольному резонансі та показано переваги останньої. Запропоновано метод усунення синхронної завади, спричиненої перемиканням магнітного поля. Наведено результат спостереження резонансної лінії ¹⁴N з достовірною формою у зразку гексаметилентетраміну масою 2 г.The principles of frequency and Zeeman modulation in nuclear quadrupole resonance were considered, and the advantages of the latter were shown. The authors propose a method to eliminate the synchronous noise caused by switching of the magnetic field. Results of observations of the resonance line with ¹⁴N in the hexamethylenetetramine sample weighing 2 g were given