38,844 research outputs found
Do the electromagnetic fields generated by mobile-phone base-stations have short-term effects on health? A response to commentaries
Program simplification as a means of approximating undecidable propositions
We describe an approach which mixes testing, slicing, transformation and formal verification to investigate speculative hypotheses concerning a program, formulated during program comprehension activity. Our philosophy is that such hypotheses (which are typically undecidable) can, in some sense, be `answered' by a partly automated system which returns neither `true' nor `false' but a program (the `test program') which computes the answer. The motivation for this philosophy is the way in which, as we demonstrate, static analysis and manipulation technology can be applied to ensure that the resulting test program is significantly simpler than the original program, thereby simplifying the process of investigating the original hypothesi
Multi-filter transit observations of WASP-39b and WASP-43b with three San Pedro M\'artir telescopes
Three optical telescopes located at the San Pedro M\'artir National
Observatory were used for the first time to obtain multi-filter defocused
photometry of the transiting extrasolar planets WASP-39b and WASP-43b. We
observed WASP-39b with the 2.12m telescope in the U filter for the first time,
and additional observations were carried out in the R and I filters using the
0.84m telescope. WASP-43b was observed in VRI with the same instrument, and in
the i filter with the robotic 1.50m telescope. We reduced the data using
different pipelines and performed aperture photometry with the help of custom
routines, in order to obtain the light curves. The fit of the light curves
(1.5--2.5mmag rms), and of the period analysis, allowed a revision of the
orbital and physical parameters, revealing for WASP-39b a period ( days) which is seconds larger than
previously reported. Moreover, we find for WASP-43b a planet/star radius
() which is larger in the i filter
with respect to previous works, and that should be confirmed with additional
observations. Finally, we confirm no evidence of constant period variations in
WASP-43b.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, accepted in PASP, scheduled for the February 1,
2015 issu
Preliminary Results from the Caltech Core-Collapse Project (CCCP)
We present preliminary results from the Caltech Core-Collapse Project (CCCP),
a large observational program focused on the study of core-collapse SNe.
Uniform, high-quality NIR and optical photometry and multi-epoch optical
spectroscopy have been obtained using the 200'' Hale and robotic 60''
telescopes at Palomar, for a sample of 50 nearby core-collapse SNe. The
combination of both well-sampled optical light curves and multi-epoch
spectroscopy will enable spectroscopically and photometrically based subtype
definitions to be disentangled from each other. Multi-epoch spectroscopy is
crucial to identify transition events that evolve among subtypes with time. The
CCCP SN sample includes every core-collapse SN discovered between July 2004 and
September 2005 that was visible from Palomar, found shortly (< 30 days) after
explosion (based on available pre-explosion photometry), and closer than ~120
Mpc. This complete sample allows, for the first time, a study of core-collapse
SNe as a population, rather than as individual events. Here, we present the
full CCCP SN sample and show exemplary data collected. We analyze available
data for the first ~1/3 of the sample and determine the subtypes of 13 SNe II
based on both light curve shapes and spectroscopy. We discuss the relative SN
II subtype fractions in the context of associating SN subtypes with specific
progenitor stars.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of the meeting "The Multicoloured
Landscape of Compact Objects and their Explosive Origins", Cefalu, Italy,
June 2006, to be published by AIP, Eds. L. Burderi et a
Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL) as pedagogical pragmatism
This case study is located within a joint venture between a University and a College of Further Education, with an explicit mission to bring into Higher Education under-represented groups, including mature learners and to promote part-time education. Our case study provides a review and evaluation of the successful development of an undergraduate programme in leadership and professional development for experienced learners, two-thirds of which is awarded through the Recognition of Prior Learning (RPL). The case study demonstrates how the research-informed RPL design has enabled the recognition of prior learning in a way that is both true to the students’ experience and works within the parameters of quality assurance frameworks. The term used is pedagogical pragmatism i.e. a process that rests on particular combinations of both technical rationality (e.g adherence to a Learning Outcome focused output which is static and a "given") and professional artistry (differential judgements made about the efficacy of approaches to RPL). The practices are contextual, however we would argue that sharing the conditions that underpin RPL as a specialised pedagogic practice is an important part of moving this agenda forward in the sector
Longitudinal multivariate tensor- and searchlight-based morphometry using permutation testing
Tensor based morphometry [1] was used to detect
statistically significant regions of neuroanatomical
change over time in a comparison between 36 probable
Alzheimer's Disease patients and 20 age- and sexmatched
controls. Baseline and twelve-month repeat
Magnetic Resonance images underwent tied spatial
normalisation [10] and longitudinal high-dimensional
warps were then estimated. Analyses involved univariate
and multivariate data derived from the longitudinal
deformation fields. The most prominent findings were
expansion of the fluid spaces, and contraction of the
hippocampus and temporal region. Multivariate measures
were notably more powerful, and have the potential to
identify patterns of morphometric difference that would
be overlooked by conventional mass-univariate analysis
Social pedagogy as relational attachment practice
The utility of social pedagogy as an approach to building resiliency and developing positive relationships with children and youth is currently underdeveloped in North America. However, there are signs of growth in this field. For example, one youth project in British Columbia, Canada, employs relationship building, collaboration and creativity in terms of music- or art-based community interventions as part of its programme. The findings from a recent evaluation report on this youth project will be used to explore the potential for a social pedagogical approach being deployed more widely, and possibly more effectively, than current youth-focused practice. Specifically, the importance of relational practice, underpinned by aspects of attachment theory will be used to explore the utility of social pedagogical practices and examine the possibility of its development within a number of professional contexts
Human acclimation and acclimatization to heat: A compendium of research, 1968-1978
Abstracts and annotations of the majority of scientific works that elucidate the mechanisms of short-term acclimation to heat in men and women are presented. The compendium includes material from 1968 through 1977. Subject and author indexes are provided and additional references of preliminary research findings or work of a peripheral nature are included in a bibliography
RAT0455+1305: another pulsating hybrid sdB star
RAT0455+1305 was discovered during the Rapid Temporal Survey which aims in
finding any variability on timescales of a few minutes to several hours. The
star was found to be another sdBV star with one high amplitude mode and
relatively long period. These features along with estimation of T_eff and log g
makes this star very similar to Balloon 090100001. Encouraged by prominent
results obtained for the latter star we have decided to perform white light
photometry on RAT0455+1305. In 2009 we used the 1.5m telescope located in San
Pedro Martir Observatory in Mexico. Fourier analysis confirmed the dominant
mode found in the discovery data, uncovered another peak close to the dominant
one, and three peaks in the low frequency region. This shows that RAT0455+1305
is another hybrid sdBV star pulsating in both p- and g-modes.Comment: Proceedings of The Fourth Meeting on Hot Subdwarf Stars and Related
Objects held in China, 20-24 July 2009. Accepted for publication in
Astrophysics & Space Scienc
Oxidation Protection of Porous Reaction-Bonded Silicon Nitride
Oxidation kinetics of both as-fabricated and coated reaction-bonded silicon nitride (RBSN) were studied at 900 and 1000 C with thermogravimetry. Uncoated RBSN exhibited internal oxidation and parabolic kinetics. An amorphous Si-C-O coating provided the greatest degree of protection to oxygen, with a small linear weight loss observed. Linear weight gains were measured on samples with an amorphous Si-N-C coating. Chemically vapor deposited (CVD) Si3N4 coated RBSN exhibited parabolic kinetics, and the coating cracked severely. A continuous-SiC-fiber-reinforced RBSN composite was also coated with the Si-C-O material, but no substantial oxidation protection was observed
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