Detecting a small Kuiper Belt object using archival data of HST's Fine Guidance Sensor

The Kuiper Belt is a remnant of the primordial Solar System. Measurements of its size distribution constrain its accretion and collisional history, and the importance of material strength of Kuiper Belt objects. Small, sub-kilometer-sized, Kuiper Belt objects elude direct detection, but the signature of their occultations of background stars should be detectable. Such an occultation event lasts typically a fraction of a second, thus making it a classical high time-resolution observation. Here we report an analysis of archival data of HST’s Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS), that reveals an occultation by such a small object. The detection introduces the FGS as a valuable HTRA instrument. We discuss the statistical aspects regarding the validation of the detection claim, and its physical implications

Detecting a small Kuiper Belt object using archival data of HST's Fine Guidance Sensor

The Kuiper Belt is a remnant of the primordial Solar System. Measurements of its size distribution constrain its accretion and collisional history, and the importance of material strength of Kuiper Belt objects. Small, sub-kilometer-sized, Kuiper Belt objects elude direct detection, but the signature of their occultations of background stars should be detectable. Such an occultation event lasts typically a fraction of a second, thus making it a classical high time-resolution observation. Here we report an analysis of archival data of HST’s Fine Guidance Sensors (FGS), that reveals an occultation by such a small object. The detection introduces the FGS as a valuable HTRA instrument. We discuss the statistical aspects regarding the validation of the detection claim, and its physical implications

The Impact of Casino Gambling on Housing Markets: A Hedonic Approach

The social and economic impact of casino gambling has been a contentious issue in both the popular and academic press.  Prior academic research has focused largely on constructing piece-by-piece cost benefit accounting, but theoretical and measurement issues have prevented researchers from reaching a consensus as to the bottom line impact of casino gambling.  This paper uses a hedonic approach to estimate directly the implicit price and the welfare impacts of a casino on its local area.  The hedonic approach provides consistent estimates of the net change in social welfare without relying on a piecemeal approach to measuring costs and benefits.  Using data from the 1990 and 2000 U.S. Census of Population and Housing, the estimated net benefit of casino gambling at year 2000 levels was approximately 2% of household value, or about $2,000-$3,000 per household for households living near a casino.  Additionally, there are positive spillover effects to neighboring in-state regions and no significant costs to out-of-state border regions.  A particularly important finding for policymakers is that the benefits associated with a casino depend inversely on population density.  Casinos are more likely to create net benefits in areas where population density is low

Green bridges in a re-colonizing landscape: Wolves (Canis lupus) in Brandenburg, Germany

Gray wolves (Canis lupus) are recolonizing many parts of central Europe and are a key part of international conservation directives. However, roads may hinder the reestablishment of gray wolves throughout their historic range by reducing landscape connectivity and increasing mortality from wildlife-vehicle collisions. The impact of roads on wolves might be mitigated by the construction of green bridges (i.e., large vegetated overpasses, designed to accommodate the movement of wildlife over transportation corridors). In this study, we investigated the seasonal and diurnal use of a green bridge by wolves and three of their main prey species: red deer (Cervus elaphus), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), and wild boar (Sus scrofa). We found that all four species used the green bridge. Wolves were most active in winter, whereas prey species were most active in spring and summer. All species were more active at dusk and during the night than at dawn and during the day. We found no evidence that wolf presence influenced bridge-use by prey species, consistent with other tests of the prey-trap hypothesis. Our results suggest that green bridges are used by wolves and prey species alike, and may foster connectivity and recolonization for these species in rewilding landscapes

Emotionen und Gedächtnis bei Patienten mit Alzheimer-Demenz

Aim of this review is to examine the interactions between emotion and memory in Alzheimer's disease and to discuss resources of these patients. On the basis of neuropathological findings in Alzheimer's disease and neuroanatomical structures of emotional processing, we provide an overview of findings (a) on the emotional memory effect and (b) on emotions as memory content in Alzheimer's Disease. We discuss future research questions and consequences for nonpharmacological therapy of Alzheimer's disease

Ritual in a Digital Society

We live in a digital society, where life takes place at the offline-online nexus. The shift towards a continuous blending of offline and online dimensions also affects rituals. Understanding digital rituals challenges us to explore new questions, new rules, new possibilities, and new limitations regarding rituals that are shaped by digitalization. In this book, the authors address these issues by relating ritual studies to digital culture studies. The book offers different case studies in the field of digital rituals, including pilgrimage and online storytelling, digital death rituals and mourning practices, religious online education, and online memorial practices. This book is published on the occasion of the retirement of Paul Post, professor of Ritual Studies at Tilburg University from 1994 until 2019