Anomaluos RR Lyrae (V-I)_0 colors in Baade's Window

We compare (V-I)_0-(V-K)_0 color-color and (V-I)_0-log P period-color diagrams for Baade's Window and local RRab Lyrae stars. We find that for a fixed log P the Baade's Window RR Lyrae stars are ~0.17 magnitudes redder in (V-I)_0 than the local RR Lyrae stars. We also show that there is no such effect observed in (V-K)_0. We argue that an extinction misestimate towards Baade's Window is not a plausible explanation of the discrepancy. Unlike Baade's Window RR Lyrae stars, the local ones follow a black-body color-color relation and are well approximated by theoretical models. We test two parameters, metallicity and surface gravity, and find that their effects are too small to explain the (V-I)_0 discrepancy between the two groups of stars. We do not provide any explanation for the anomalous (V-I)_0 behavior of the Baade's Window RR Lyrae stars. We note that a similar effect for clump giant stars has been recently reported by Paczynski and we caution that RR Lyrae stars and clump giants, often used as standard candles, can be subject to the same type of systematics.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, submitted to Ap

A Statistical Description of AGN Jet Evolution from the VLBA Imaging and Polarimetry Survey (VIPS)

A detailed analysis of the evolution of the properties of core-jet systems within the VLBA Imaging and Polarimetry Survey (VIPS) is presented. We find a power-law relationship between jet intensity and width that suggests for the typical jet, little if any energy is lost as it moves away from its core. Using VLA images at 1.5 GHz, we have found evidence that parsec-scale jets tend to be aligned with the the direction of emission on kiloparsec scales. We also found that this alignment improves as the jets move farther from their cores on projected scales as small as ~50-100 pc. This suggests that realignment of jets on these projected scales is relatively common. We typically find a modest amount of bending (a change in jet position angle of ~5 deg.) on these scales, suggesting that this realignment may typically occur relatively gradually.Comment: Accepted to ApJ, 20 pages, 8 figure

Measurement of kinematic and nuclear dependence of R = σ_L/σ_T in deep inelastic electron scattering

We report results on a precision measurement of the ratio R=σ_L/σ_T in deep inelastic electron-nucleon scattering in the kinematic range 0.2≤x≤0.5 and 1≤Q^2≤10 (GeV/c)^2. Our results show, for the first time, a clear falloff of R with increasing Q^2. Our R results are in agreement with QCD predictions only when corrections for target mass effects and some additional higher twist effects are included. At small x, the data on R favor structure functions with a large gluon contribution. We also report results on the differences R_A-R_D and the cross section ratio σ^A/σ^D between Fe and Au nuclei and the deuteron. Our results for R_A-R_D are consistent with zero for all x, Q^2 indicating that possible contributions to R from nuclear higher twist effects and spin-0 constituents in nuclei are not different from those in nucleons. The ratios σ^A/σ^D from all recent experiments, at all x, Q^2 values, are now in agreement

Measurement of the Difference in R=σ_L/σ_T and of σ^A/σ^D in Deep-Inelastic e-D, e-Fe, and e-Au Scattering

We measured the differences in R=σ_L/σ_T and the cross-section ratio σA/σD in deep-inelastic electron scattering from D, Fe, and Au nuclei in the kinematic range 0.2≤x≤0.5 and 1≤Q^2≤5 (Gev/c)^2. Our results for R^A-R^D are consistent with zero for all x and Q^2, indicating that possible contributions to R from nuclear higher-twist effects and spin-0 constituents in nuclei are not different from those in nucleons. The European Muon Collaboration effect is reconfirmed, and the low-x data from all recent experiments, at all Q^2, are now in agreement

Spatiotemporal patterns and agro-ecological risk factors for cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (Alabama Rot) in dogs in the UK

Seasonal outbreaks of cutaneous and renal glomerular vasculopathy (CRGV) have been reported annually in UK dogs since 2012, yet the aetiology of the disease remains unknown. The objectives of this study were to explore whether any breeds had an increased or decreased risk of being diagnosed with CRGV, and to report on age and sex distributions of CRGV cases occurring in the UK. Multivariable logistic regression was used to compare 101 dogs diagnosed with CRGV between November 2012 and May 2017 with a denominator population of 446,453 dogs from the VetCompass database. Two Kennel Club breed groups—hounds (odds ratio (OR) 10.68) and gun dogs (OR 9.69)—had the highest risk of being diagnosed with CRGV compared with terriers, while toy dogs were absent from among CRGV cases. Females were more likely to be diagnosed with CRGV (OR 1.51) as were neutered dogs (OR 3.36). As well as helping veterinarians develop an index of suspicion for the disease, better understanding of the signalment risk factors may assist in the development of causal models for CRGV and help identify the aetiology of the disease

Magnetic excitations in vanadium spinels

We study magnetic excitations in vanadium spinel oxides AV$_2$O$_4$ (A=Zn, Mg, Cd) using two models: first one is a superexchange model for vanadium S=1 spins, second one includes in addition spin-orbit coupling, and crystal anisotropy. We show that the experimentally observed magnetic ordering can be obtained in both models, however the orbital ordering is different with and without spin-orbit coupling and crystal anisotropy. We demonstrate that this difference strongly affects the spin-wave excitation spectrum above the magnetically ordered state, and argue that the neutron measurement of such dispersion is a way to distinguish between the two possible orbital orderings in AV$_2$O$_4$.Comment: accepted in Phys. Rev.

Performing research: four contributions to HCI

This paper identifies a body of HCI research wherein the researchers take part in digitally mediated creative experiences alongside participants. We present our definition and rationale for "self-situated performance research" based on theories in both the HCI and performance literatures. We then analyse four case studies of this type of work, ranging from overtly "performative" staged events to locative audio and public making. We argue that by interrogating experience from within the context of self-situated performance, the 'performer/researcher' extends traditional practices in HCI in the following four ways: developing an intimate relationship between researchers and participants, providing new means of making sense of interactions, shaping participants' relationship to the research, and enabling researchers to refine their work as it is being conducted