Thermal Model Calibration for Minor Planets Observed with WISE/NEOWISE: Comparison with IRAS

With thermal infrared observations detected by the NEOWISE project, we have measured diameters for 1742 minor planets that were also observed by the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS). We have compared the diameters and albedo derived by applying a spherical thermal model to the objects detected by NEOWISE and find that they are in generally good agreement with the IRAS values. We have shown that diameters computed from NEOWISE data are often less systematically biased than those found with IRAS. This demonstrates that the NEOWISE dataset can provide accurate physical parameters for the >157,000 minor planets that were detected by NEOWISE.Comment: ApJ Letters accepte

Rectified Asteroid Albedos and Diameters from IRAS and MSX

Rectified diameters and albedo estimates of 1517 main belt asteroid selected from the IRAS and MSX asteroid photometry catalogues are derived from updated infrared thermal models, the Standard Thermal Model (STM) and the Near Earth Asteroid Thermal Model (NEATM), and Monte Carlo simulations, using new Minor Planet Center (MPC) compilations of absolute magnitudes (H-values) constrained by occultation and radar derived parameters. The NEATM approach produces a more robust estimate of albedos and diameters, yielding albedos of $p_{v}$(NEATM mean)$=0.081 \pm 0.064$. The asteroid beaming parameter ($\eta$) for the selected asteroids has a mean value of $1.07 \pm 0.27$, and the smooth distribution of $\eta$ suggests that this parameter is independent of asteroid properties such as composition. No trends in $\eta$ due to size-dependent rotation rates are evident. Comparison of derived $\eta$'s as a function of taxonomic type indicates the beaming parameter values for S-type and C-type asteroids are identical within the standard deviation of the population of beaming parameters.Comment: 43 pages in manuscript layout, 9 figures. Submitted to The Astronomical Journa

Fine Structure Constant, Domain Walls, and Generalized Uncertainty Principle in the Universe

We study the corrections to the fine-structure constant from the generalized uncertainty principle in the spacetime of a domain wall. We also calculate the corrections to the standard formula to the energy of the electron in the hydrogen atom to the ground state, in the case of spacetime of a domain wall and generalized uncertainty principle. The results generalize the cases known in literature.Comment: 8 pages. Accepted for publication in International Journal of Mathematics and Mathematical Science

Spontaneous Generation of Magnetic Field in Three Dimensional QED at Finite Temperature

We investigate the effects of thermal fluctuations on the spontaneous magnetic condensate in three dimensional QED coupled with P-odd Dirac fermions. Our results show that the phenomenon of the spontaneous generation of the constant background magnetic field survives to the thermal corrections even at infinite temperature. We also study the thermal corrections to the fermionic condensate in presence of the magnetic field.Comment: Final version, to appear in Phys. Lett.

Social interaction of cancer survivors in Malta : a sociological analysis

This research analyzes social interaction of cancer patients in Malta. In particular it applies a qualitative sociological approach to verify how cancer patients interact with family members and society. The research concludes that social interaction of cancer survivors in Malta is characterized by mixed experiences, but at the same time, all cancer patients emphasize the importance of family support. A major finding is that cancer patients do not simply receive support from family members, but also provide it themselves to their relatives. This is not an intended effect of cancer survivorship, but nevertheless it helps strengthen social bonds within families of cancer patients.peer-reviewe