Age, IQ Effects and Reliability of a Stereoscopic Test for Field Dominance

Results support findings by Bechtoldt and Colliver for temporal dominance of the visual field. The test-retest reliability of the stereoscopic procedure for assessing dominance of the nasal or temporal visual fields was found to be significant for both left and right temporal fields. Furthermore, the test results appear to be unaffected by age or by level of intellectual functioning. Further research is in order both to evaluate competing theories of binocular rivalry and suppression and to assess optical processes at cortical and subcortical levels

Flux calibration of the AAO/UKST SuperCOSMOS H-alpha Survey

The AAO/UKST SuperCOSMOS H$\alpha$ Survey (SHS) was, when completed in 2003, a powerful addition to extant wide-field surveys. The combination of areal coverage, spatial resolution and sensitivity in a narrow imaging band, still marks it out today as an excellent resource for the astronomical community. The 233 separate fields are available online in digital form, with each field covering 25 square degrees. The SHS has been the motivation for equivalent surveys in the north, and new digital H$\alpha$ surveys now beginning in the south such as VPHAS+. It has been the foundation of many important discovery projects with the Macquarie/AAO/Strasbourg H$\alpha$ planetary nebula project being a particularly successful example. However, the full potential of the SHS has been hampered by lack of a clear route to acceptable flux calibration from the base photographic data. We have determined the calibration factors for 170 individual SHS fields, and present a direct pathway to the measurement of integrated H$\alpha$ fluxes and surface brightnesses for resolved nebulae detected in the SHS. We also include a catalogue of integrated H$\alpha$ fluxes for $>$100 planetary and other nebulae measured from the SHS, and use these data to show that fluxes, accurate to $\pm$ 0.10 - 0.14 dex ($\sim$25-35 per cent), can be obtained from these fields. For the remaining 63 fields, a mean calibration factor of 12.0 counts pix$^{-1}$ R$^{-1}$ can be used, allowing the determination of reasonable integrated fluxes accurate to better than $\pm$0.2 dex ($\sim$50 per cent). We outline the procedures involved and the caveats that need to be appreciated in achieving such flux measurements. This paper forms a handy reference source that will significantly increase the scientific utility of the SHS.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, 2 tables (plus 7 pp. of supplementary online information). Version to appear in MNRA

(1,2) heterotic string with gauge symmetry

We construct a (1,2) heterotic string with gauge symmetry and determine its particle spectrum. This theory has a local {ital N}=1 world sheet supersymmetry for left movers and a local {ital N}=2 world sheet supersymmetry for right movers and describes particles in either two or three space-time dimensions. We show that fermionizing the bosons of the compactified {ital N}=1 space leads to a particle spectrum which has non-Abelian gauge symmetry. The fermionic formulation of the theory corresponds to a dimensional reduction of self-dual Yang-Mills theory. We also give a world sheet action for the theory and calculate the one-loop path integral. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society.

Purposeful Pedaling: Analyzing MS 150 Participant Behavior

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore factors affecting participant awareness, attraction, and attachment to the National Multiple Sclerosis Society’s (NMSS) MS 150 PGA Tour Cycle to the Shore charitable bike ride utilizing the Psychological Continuum Model (PCM) developed by Funk and James. In addition, the authors sought to outline variables sport organizations can use to predict donor behavior. Design/methodology/approach – Data for this project were derived from an electronic survey distributed to race participants and was analyzed in SPSS® software. Regression analysis was employed. Findings – The findings support previous research employing the PCM; wherein social situational variables have the greatest influence on the relational significance of hedonic and dispositional needs in attraction and attachment to sporting events. The work supports the inclusion of communities as an additional attachment outcome. Practical implications – In all, 92 percent of riders were informed about the event through word of mouth (WOM) marketing, highlighting the importance this promotional technique in the awareness stage of the PCM. NMSS would be well served by capitalizing on the power of WOM. Originality/value – The research provides insight into predictors of fundraising efficacy. In terms of fundraising effectiveness, participants with four or more years of participation were six times more likely than first-year riders to raise $1,000 or more

A (1,2) Heterotic String with Gauge Symmetry

We construct a (1,2) heterotic string with gauge symmetry and determine its particle spectrum. This theory has a local N=1 worldsheet supersymmetry for left movers and a local N=2 worldsheet supersymmetry for right movers and describes particles in either two or three space-time dimensions. We show that fermionizing the bosons of the compactified N=1 space leads to a particle spectrum which has nonabelian gauge symmetry. The fermionic formulation of the theory corresponds to a dimensional reduction of self dual Yang Mills. We also give a worldsheet action for the theory and calculate the one-loop path integral.Comment: 17 pages, added reference

The Key Role of Heavy Precipitation Events in Climate Model Disagreements of Future Annual Precipitation Changes in California

Climate model simulations disagree on whether future precipitation will increase or decrease over California, which has impeded efforts to anticipate and adapt to human-induced climate change. This disagreement is explored in terms of daily precipitation frequency and intensity. It is found that divergent model projections of changes in the incidence of rare heavy (\u3e60 mm day−1) daily precipitation events explain much of the model disagreement on annual time scales, yet represent only 0.3% of precipitating days and 9% of annual precipitation volume. Of the 25 downscaled model projections examined here, 21 agree that precipitation frequency will decrease by the 2060s, with a mean reduction of 6–14 days yr−1. This reduces California\u27s mean annual precipitation by about 5.7%. Partly offsetting this, 16 of the 25 projections agree that daily precipitation intensity will increase, which accounts for a model average 5.3% increase in annual precipitation. Between these conflicting tendencies, 12 projections show drier annual conditions by the 2060s and 13 show wetter. These results are obtained from 16 global general circulation models downscaled with different combinations of dynamical methods [Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF), Regional Spectral Model (RSM), and version 3 of the Regional Climate Model (RegCM3)] and statistical methods [bias correction with spatial disaggregation (BCSD) and bias correction with constructed analogs (BCCA)], although not all downscaling methods were applied to each global model. Model disagreements in the projected change in occurrence of the heaviest precipitation days (\u3e60 mm day−1) account for the majority of disagreement in the projected change in annual precipitation, and occur preferentially over the Sierra Nevada and Northern California. When such events are excluded, nearly twice as many projections show drier future conditions

Acoustic surface wave generation over rigid cylinder arrays on a rigid plane

Propagation of an airborne acoustic pulse from a point source above an array of regularly spaced rigid cylinders on a rigid plane has been investigated using a two-dimensional multiple scattering theory. Time domain simulations show a main arrival and a separate delayed “tail.” Fourier analysis of the tail shows that, for a sufficiently sparse array of cylinders, it is composed of a series of spectral peaks resulting from constructive interference consistent with Bragg diffraction theory and amplitudes depending on the spacing and size of the cylinders. For increasingly compact distributions of cylinders, the lowest frequency peak is dominated by a quarter wavelength “organ pipe” or “gap” resonance in the space between the cylinders. Simulated pressure maps show that there is a transition region in the acoustic field with an extent that depends on the spacing and size of the cylinders. Beyond this region, individual gap resonances combine to create a field that declines exponentially with height, consistent with the behaviour of a surface wave. Data from measurements of acoustic pulses above copper cylinders on rigid fibreboard under anechoic conditions demonstrate some of the predicted characteristics

Probabilistic estimates of future changes in California temperature and precipitation usingstatistical and dynamical downscaling

Sixteen global general circulation models were used to develop probabilistic projections of temperature (T) and precipitation (P) changes over California by the 2060s. The global models were downscaled with two statistical techniques and three nested dynamical regional climate models, although not all global models were downscaled with all techniques. Both monthly and daily timescale changes in T and P are addressed, the latter being important for a range of applications in energy use, water management, and agriculture. The T changes tend to agree more across downscaling techniques than the P changes. Year-to-year natural internal climate variability is roughly of similar magnitude to the projected T changes. In the monthly average, July temperatures shift enough that that the hottest July found in any simulation over the historical period becomes a modestly cool July in the future period. Januarys as cold as any found in the historical period are still found in the 2060s, but the median and maximum monthly average temperatures increase notably. Annual and seasonal P changes are small compared to interannual or intermodel variability. However, the annual change is composed of seasonally varying changes that are themselves much larger, but tend to cancel in the annual mean. Winters show modestly wetter conditions in the North of the state, while spring and autumn show less precipitation. The dynamical downscaling techniques project increasing precipitation in the Southeastern part of the state, which is influenced by the North American monsoon, a feature that is not captured by the statistical downscaling

Dehydration mechanism of a small molecular solid: 5-nitrouracil hydrate

Previous studies of the dehydration of 5-nitrouracil (5NU) have resulted in it being classified as a ‘‘channel hydrate’’ in which dehydration proceeds principally by the exit of the water molecules along channels in the structure. We have re-examined this proposal and found that in fact there are no continuous channels in the 5NU structure that would contribute to such a mechanism. Product water molecules would be immediately trapped in unlinked voids in the crystal structure and would require some additional mechanism to break loose from the crystal. Through a detailed structural analysis of the macro and micro structure of the 5NU as it dehydrates, we have developed a model for the dehydration process based on the observed development of structural defects in the 5NU crystal and the basic crystallography of the material. The model was tested against standard kinetic measurements and found to present a satisfactory account of kinetic observations, thus defining the mechanism. Overall, the study shows the necessity of complementing standard kinetic studies with a parallel macro and micro examination of the dehydrating material when evaluating the mechanisms of dehydration and decomposition processes