15,954 research outputs found
Photoelectron spectroscopy of NpPd3 and PuPd3
We present the results of x-ray and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy of NpPd3 and PuPd3. The spectra indicate that for both compounds, the 5f electrons are well localized on the actinide sites. Comparison with bulk measurements indicates that for NpPd3 the electrons have a valence of Np3+ and thus a ground state 5f4 with a Hund's rules 5I4 configuration. Similarly for PuPd3, we find a Pu3+ valence, 5f5 ground state and a Hund's rules 6H5/2 configuration
The size-brightness correspondence:evidence for crosstalk among aligned conceptual feature dimensions
The same core set of cross-sensory correspondences connecting stimulus features across different sensory channels are observed regardless of the modality of the stimulus with which the correspondences are probed. This observation suggests that correspondences involve modality-independent representations of aligned conceptual feature dimensions, and predicts a size-brightness correspondence, in which smaller is aligned with brighter. This suggestion accommodates cross-sensory congruity effects where contrasting feature values are specified verbally rather than perceptually (e.g., where the words WHITE and BLACK interact with the classification of high and low pitch sounds). Experiment 1 brings these two issues together in assessing a conceptual basis for correspondences. The names of bright/white and dark/black substances were presented in a speeded brightness classification task in which the two alternative response keys differed in size. A size-brightness congruity effect was confirmed, with substance names classified more quickly when the relative size of the response key needing to be pressed was congruent with the brightness of the named substance (e.g., when yoghurt was classified as a bright substance by pressing the smaller of two keys). Experiment 2 assesses the proposed conceptual basis for this congruity effect by requiring the same named substances to be classified according to their edibility (with all of the bright/dark substances having been selected for their edibility/inedibility, respectively). The predicted absence of a size-brightness congruity effect, along with other aspects of the results, supports the proposed conceptual basis for correspondences and speaks against accounts in which modality-specific perceptuomotor representations are entirely responsible for correspondence-induced congruity effects
The A-X infrared bands of Aluminum Oxide in stars: search and new detections
We describe a search for the A-X infrared bands of AlO with a view to better
understand the characteristics of this radical. These bands are infrequently
encountered in astronomical sources but surprisingly were very prominent in the
spectra of two well-known, nova-like variables (V838 Mon and V4332 Sgr) thereby
motivating us to explore the physical conditions necessary for their
excitation. In this study, we present the detection of A-X bands in the spectra
of 13 out of 17 stars, selected on the basis of their J-K colors as potential
candidates for detection of these bands. The majority of the AlO detections are
in AGB stars viz. 9 OH/IR stars, 2 Mira variables and 2 bright infrared
sources. Our study shows that the A-X bands are fairly prevalent in sources
with low temperature and O-rich environments. Interesting variation in strength
of the AlO bands in one of the sources (IRAS 18530+0817) is reported and the
cause for this is examined. Possible applications of the present study are
discussed in terms of the role of AlO in alumina dust formation, the scope for
estimating the radioactive Al content in AGB stars from the A-X bands,
and providing possible targets for further mm/radio studies of AlO which has
recently been discovered at millimeter wavelengths.Comment: To appear in Astrophysical Journal (Letters), 14 pages, 2 figure
Surgery formulae for finite type invariants of rational homology 3--spheres
We first present three graphic surgery formulae for the degree part
of the Kontsevich-Kuperberg-Thurston universal finite type invariant of
rational homology spheres. Each of these three formulae determines an alternate
sum of the form where is the
set of components of a framed algebraically split link in a rational
homology sphere , and denotes the manifold resulting from the Dehn
surgeries on the components of . The first formula treats the case when
is a boundary link with components, while the second one is for
--component algebraically split links. In the third formula, the link
has components and the Milnor triple linking numbers of its 3--component
sublinks vanish. The presented formulae are then applied to the study of the
variation of under a -surgery on a knot . This variation is a
degree polynomial in when the class of in \QQ/\ZZ is fixed,
and the coefficients of these polynomials are knot invariants, for which
various topological properties or topological definitions are given.Comment: 51 pages, uses pstrick
Small business owners: too busy to train?
Purpose – The reason often cited for the poor relationship between small businesses and their uptake of vocational education and training is that small business owner-managers claim that they are too busy to engage in training or any type of learning activity and that most training is of little value to them. The aim of the research is to examine the relationship between these factors.
Design/methodology/approach – Using qualitative research methods the study collected data of the knowledge, attitudes and needs of small business owner-managers, both before and after participation in a training program.
Findings – This study has indicated that small business owners are interested in skills development and training opportunities, provided that they are directly applicable to the current situation in their business, and as long as the delivery process is carefully structured in terms of location, time of day, and length of session.
Practical implications – The success of a human resource management training program offers both an incentive for other educators to continue to pursue small business participation and useful guidelines for the implementation and the development of new programs for the small business sector.
Originality/value – The approach taken in this research has offered important insights into the value of training and how it is evaluated by small business owner-managers. This is important as owner managers are the primary decision makers about whether or not training takes place
Star-galaxy separation by far-infrared color-color diagrams for the AKARI FIS All-Sky Survey (Bright Source Catalogue Version beta-1)
To separate stars and galaxies in the far infrared AKARI All-Sky Survey data,
we have selected a sample with the complete color information available in the
low extinction regions of the sky and constructed color-color plots for these
data. We looked for the method to separate stars and galaxies using the color
information. We performed an extensive search for the counterparts of these
selected All-Sky Survey sources in the NED and SIMBAD databases. Among 5176
objects, we found 4272 galaxies, 382 other extragalactic objects, 349 Milky Way
stars, 50 other Galactic objects, and 101 sources detected before in various
wavelengths but of an unknown origin. 22 sources were left unidentified. Then,
we checked colors of stars and galaxies in the far-infrared flux-color and
color-color plots. In the resulting diagrams, stars form two clearly separated
clouds. One of them is easy to be distinguished from galaxies and allows for a
simple method of excluding a large part of stars using the far-infrared data.
The other smaller branch, overplotting galaxies, consists of stars known to
have an infrared excess, like Vega and some fainter stars discovered by IRAS or
2MASS. The color properties of these objects in any case make them very
difficult to distinguish from galaxies. We conclude that the FIR color-color
diagrams allow for a high-quality star-galaxy separation. With the proposed
simple method we can select more that 95 % of galaxies rejecting at least 80 %
of stars.Comment: 20 pages, 41 figures, "Astronomy & Astrophysics", accepted, to appear
in the AKARI special issu
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