1,627 research outputs found
Star Formation Density and Halpha Luminosity Function of an Emission Line Selected Galaxy Sample at z ~ 0.24
We use narrowband imaging (FWHM = 70 A) to select a sample of emission line
galaxies between 0.20 <~ z <~ 1.22 in two fields covering 0.5 sq. deg. We use
spectroscopic follow-up to select a sub-sample of Halpha emitting galaxies at z
~ 0.24 and determine the Halpha luminosity function and star formation density
at z ~ 0.24 for both of our fields. Corrections are made for imaging and
spectroscopic incompleteness, extinction and interloper contamination on the
basis of the spectroscopic data. When compared to each other, we find the field
samples differ by \Delta \alpha = 0.2 in faint end slope and \Delta \log [ L*
(ergs/s) ] = 0.2 in luminosity. In the context of other recent surveys, our
sample has comparable faint end slope, but a fainter L* turn-over. We conclude
that systematic uncertainties and differences in selection criteria remain the
dominant sources of uncertainty between Halpha luminosity functions at this
redshift.
We also investigate average star formation rates as a function of local
environment and find typical values consistent with the field densities that we
probe, in agreement with previous results. However, we find tentative evidence
for an increase in star formation rate with respect to the local density of
star forming galaxies, consistent with the scenario that galaxy-galaxy
interactions are triggers for bursts of star formation.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. The paper contains 14 figures and
7 table
Remote sensing of geobotanical relations in Georgia
The application of remote sensing to geological investigations, with special attention to geobotanical factors, was evaluated. The general areas of investigation included: (1) recognition of mineral deposits; (2) geological mapping; (3) delineation of geological structure, including areas of complex tectonics; and (4) limestone areas where ground withdrawal had intensified surface collapse
FARMERS' DECISION PROCESSES AND ADOPTION OF CONSERVATION TILLAGE
In a transect survey of crop residue levels in 1995 and 1996, two Minnesota counties had very different percentages of cropland with desired residue cover even though the soil types were similar. To gain a better understanding of the reasons behind this difference, the farmers in these two counties were surveyed about their use or lack of use of conservation tillage practices. A statistical logit analysis of survey responses showed farmers are more apt to adopt conservation tillage if they are larger; are more concerned about erosion on their land; have made a recent major investment in the farm; use other producers for tillage information; have the management skill for conservation tillage; and believe conservation tillage will fit with their production goals and the physical setting of their farm. Two counterintuitive findings are the negative effects of the ease of finding information and the degree of control of the adoption decision. The costs and labor requirements of conservation tillage were important but not as statistically significant as those factors just listed. Some variables, that are often listed as potentially important factors, were not found to be important in this survey. These included the long-term viability of the farm; the age, education, and experience of the farmer; the debt level of the farm; whether a family member wanted to continue farming; the proportion of land rented; the use of other sources for tillage information; the complexity of conservation tillage practices; the producer's planning horizon; the risk of negative returns; the availability of support for conservation tillage systems; and the quality of conservation tillage information.Crop Production/Industries,
ENVIRO-ECONOMIC ANALYSIS OF PHOSPHORUS NONPOINT POLLUTION
The state of Minnesota seeks to reduce phosphorus loading to the Minnesota River by 40% from current levels. The state agency charged with achieving this reduction has indicated each watershed should reduce its current phosphorus loading by 40%. We hypothesized that policies targeting specific practices or regions would have a smaller negative impact on farm income than policies requiring every nonpoint polluter to reduce its contribution by 40%. Using a stylized version of one major watershed in the river basin as an example, we analyzed the cost-effectiveness of various nonpoint pollution reduction policies. We simulated current and alternative farming systems (designed to reduce phosphorus loading by changing tillage or fertilizer practices) in distinct regions within the watershed using a biophysical process model. For each system, estimates of phosphorus loading from biophysical simulation were combined with production cost and return estimates to create an enviro-economic model of the watershed. Additionally, risk premiums were estimated and included with cost estimates for each alternative system. We used a positive math-programming (PMP) version of the enviro-economic model to analyze nonpoint pollution reduction policies (pollution standard, phosphorus effluent tax, conventional tillage tax, and phosphorus fertilizer tax). When regions and practices within the watershed could be targeted for achieving the pollution reduction standard, 13,500 fewer hectares (6% reduction from the baseline cropland level) were farmed. When the same standard was uniformly applied to all regions (not targeted), cropland decline by 40,500 hectares (20%). Under either scenario, cropland was removed from production, implying some producers may exit farming. Cropland reductions resulted in farmers losing 11.4 million (21%). This finding illustrates how difficulty it is to reduce nonpoint pollution if one does not focus on specific regions. An effluent tax of 14 million (25% reduction from the baseline income level), $11 million of which were revenues from the effluent tax. Neither the conventional tillage tax nor the phosphorus fertilizer tax achieved a 40% reduction in phosphorus loading. This finding illustrates the difficulty of reducing nonpoint pollution by focusing only on one practice. Under a pollution-reduction standard, our results indicated it is more cost effective to reduce nonpoint pollution by targeting particular regions or practices in a watershed compared to not targeting. Specifically, producers farming on cropland susceptible to erosion in close proximity to water who switch from conventional tillage to conservation tillage and reduce phosphorus fertilization levels to those recommended by the state extension service will appreciably reduce phosphorus nonpoint pollution loading potential. Efforts to target those producers could minimize potential losses in farm income in the watersheds and the river basin.Environmental Economics and Policy,
The multidimensionality of health protective behaviors
This study explored the relationship among health protective behaviors in an asymptomatic population and identified multiple dimensions. A battery containing measures of health locus of control, general well-being and health value was given to 395 college students. The findings suggested that the three sets of variables offered predictive models unique to each health behavior dimension. Perceived outcomes or benefits were also assessed in relation to the specific health behaviors endorsed by each individual and were found to differentially relate to the various dimensions, providing suggestive evidence for underlying motivations. Several implications were discussed. First, multiple models are needed given multiple dimensions of health behavior. Second, health behaviors are not always performed for health related reasons, and alternative motivations need to be considered. Once identified, these motivations will allow better refinement of health enhancement models based on an approach theory, rather than one of disease-avoiDance
Effects of Synaptic and Myelin Plasticity on Learning in a Network of Kuramoto Phase Oscillators
Models of learning typically focus on synaptic plasticity. However, learning
is the result of both synaptic and myelin plasticity. Specifically, synaptic
changes often co-occur and interact with myelin changes, leading to complex
dynamic interactions between these processes. Here, we investigate the
implications of these interactions for the coupling behavior of a system of
Kuramoto oscillators. To that end, we construct a fully connected,
one-dimensional ring network of phase oscillators whose coupling strength
(reflecting synaptic strength) as well as conduction velocity (reflecting
myelination) are each regulated by a Hebbian learning rule. We evaluate the
behavior of the system in terms of structural (pairwise connection strength and
conduction velocity) and functional connectivity (local and global
synchronization behavior). We find that for conditions in which a system
limited to synaptic plasticity develops two distinct clusters both structurally
and functionally, additional adaptive myelination allows for functional
communication across these structural clusters. Hence, dynamic conduction
velocity permits the functional integration of structurally segregated
clusters. Our results confirm that network states following learning may be
different when myelin plasticity is considered in addition to synaptic
plasticity, pointing towards the relevance of integrating both factors in
computational models of learning.Comment: 39 pages, 15 figures This work is submitted in Chaos: An
Interdisciplinary Journal of Nonlinear Scienc
A tight Tsirelson inequality for infinitely many outcomes
We present a novel tight bound on the quantum violations of the CGLMP
inequality in the case of infinitely many outcomes. Like in the case of
Tsirelson's inequality the proof of our new inequality does not require any
assumptions on the dimension of the Hilbert space or kinds of operators
involved. However, it is seen that the maximal violation is obtained by the
conjectured best measurements and a pure, but not maximally entangled, state.
We give an approximate state which, in the limit where the number of outcomes
tends to infinity, goes to the optimal state for this setting. This state might
be potentially relevant for experimental verifications of Bell inequalities
through multi-dimenisonal entangled photon pairs.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures; improved presentation, change in title, as
published
If you say so:A mixed-method study of hospital mergers and quality of care
Background: Despite a lack of supporting evidence, hospitals continue to merge in pursuit of quality improvements. Purpose: We seek to develop a more thorough understanding of the quality effects of hospital mergers by integrating various theoretical perspectives using a mixed-methods design. Methodology: Quantitatively, we tested the quality effect of all consummated hospital mergers in the Netherlands between 2008 and 2014 on 15 quality indicators (with 82 measurements at hospital, department, and disease levels) using a difference-in-difference approach with Bonferroni correction. Qualitatively, we conducted three comparative case studies to examine how hospital executives, managers, and medical professionals perceive the quality impact of hospital mergers. Results: Our quantitative results reveal few significant effects of hospital mergers on quality of care at all levels. After applying Bonferroni correction, two quality indicators are negatively associated with hospital mergers. However, the qualitative results indicate that hospital staff have positive perceptions of the mergers’ quality implications, resulting from scale and shock effects. Conclusion: The perceptions of hospital staff regarding mergers diametrically oppose their measurable effects. However, the operationalization of quality by hospital staff members differs considerably from the way it is quantitatively measured. The positive perceptions of hospital staff toward mergers could further contribute to the institutionalization of mergers as a quality improvement strategy. Practice Implications: Hospital managers seeking measurable quality improvements should be wary of merging, despite potential positive perceptions toward it within the organization. In case they do decide to merge, mitigating difficulties in the postmerger integration processes seem most pertinent to achieve measurable effects
Interactions between directly and parametrically driven vibration modes in a micromechanical resonator
The interactions between parametrically and directly driven vibration modes
of a clamped-clamped beam resonator are studied. An integrated piezoelectric
transducer is used for direct and parametric excitation. First, the parametric
amplification and oscillation of a single mode are analyzed by the power and
phase dependence below and above the threshold for parametric oscillation.
Then, the motion of a parametrically driven mode is detected by the induced
change in resonance frequency in another mode of the same resonator. The
resonance frequency shift is the result of the nonlinear coupling between the
modes by the displacement-induced tension in the beam. These nonlinear modal
interactions result in the quadratic relation between the resonance frequency
of one mode and the amplitude of another mode. The amplitude of a
parametrically oscillating mode depends on the square root of the pump
frequency. Combining these dependencies yields a linear relation between the
resonance frequency of the directly driven mode and the frequency of the
parametrically oscillating mode.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure
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