Elucidating the Correlation of the Quasar \ion{Fe}{2}/\ion{Mg}{2} Ratio with Redshift

Interpretation of the \ion{Fe}{2}(UV)/\ion{Mg}{2} emission ratios from quasars has a major cosmological motivation. Both Fe and Mg are produced by short-lived massive stars. In addition, Fe is produced by accreting white dwarf supernovae somewhat after star formation begins. Therefore, we expect that the Fe/Mg ratio will gradually decrease with redshift. We have used data from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey to explore the dependence of the \ion{Fe}{2}(UV)/\ion{Mg}{2} ratio on redshift and on luminosity in the redshift range of $0.75< z< 2.20$, and we have used predictions from our 830-level model for the \ion{Fe}{2} atom in photoionization calculations to interpret our findings. We have split the quasars into several groups based upon the value of their \ion{Fe}{2}(UV)/\ion{Mg}{2} emission ratios, and then checked to see how the fraction of quasars in each group varies with the increase of redshift. We next examined the luminosity dependence of the \ion{Fe}{2}(UV)/\ion{Mg}{2} ratio, and we found that beyond a threshold of \ion{Fe}{2}(UV)/\ion{Mg}{2} =~ 5, and $M_{2500} < -25\rm mag$, the \ion{Fe}{2}(UV)/\ion{Mg}{2} ratio increases with luminosity, as predicted by our model. We interpret our observed variation of the \ion{Fe}{2}(UV)/\ion{Mg}{2} ratio with redshift as a result of the correlation of redshift with luminosity in a magnitude limited quasar sample.Comment: ApJL accepte

Stability of the Submillimeter Brightness of the Atmosphere Above Mauna Kea, Chajnantor and the South Pole

The summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii, the area near Cerro Chajnantor in Chile, and the South Pole are sites of large millimeter or submillimeter wavelength telescopes. We have placed 860 GHz sky brightness monitors at all three sites and present a comparative study of the measured submillimeter brightness due to atmospheric thermal emission. We report the stability of that quantity at each site.Comment: 6 figure

Design of aircraft turbine fan drive gear transmission system

The following basic types of gear reduction concepts were studied as being feasible power train systems for a low-bypass-ratio, single-spool, geared turbofan engine for general aircraft use: (1) single-stage external-internal reduction, (2) gears (offset shafting), (3) multiple compound idler gear system (concentric shafting), and (4) star gear planetary system with internal ring gear final output member (concentric shafting-counterrotation). In addition, studies were made of taking the accessories drive power off both the high-speed and low-speed shafting, using either face gears or spiral bevel gears. Both antifriction and sleeve-type bearings were considered for the external-internal and star-planet reduction concepts

Rehabilitation of mined areas and control of dust at Kalgoorlie and Boulder

One of the lesser known roles of the Department of Agriculture is advising on aspects of managing and rehabilitating non-agricultural land. This advice and research is directed mainly at minimizing the effects of land degradation and providing land resource data and land capability assessment maps to assist regional planners

Central Masses and Broad-Line Region Sizes of Active Galactic Nuclei: I. Comparing the Photoionization and Reverberation Techniques

The masses and emission-line region sizes of Active Galactic Nuclei (AGNs) can be measured by ``reverberation-mapping'' (measuring the lag of the emission-line luminosity after changes in the continuum). We use tis technique to calibrate similar size and mass estimates made by photoionization models of the AGN line-emitting regions. We compile a sample of 19 AGNs with reliable reverberation and spectroscopy data, twice the number available previously. The data provide strong evidence that the BLR size and the emission-line width measure directly the central mass. Two methods are used to estimate the distance of the broad emission-line region (BLR) from the ionizing source: the photoionization method (available for many AGNs but has large intrinsic uncertainties), and the reverberation method (gives very reliable distances, but available for only a few objects). The distance estimate is combined with the velocity dispersion, derived from the broad Hb line profile, to estimate the virial mass. Comparing the central masses calculated with the reverberation method to those calculated using a photoionization model, we find a highly significant, nearly linear correlation. This provides a calibration of the photoionization method on the objects with presently available reverberation data, which should enable mass estimates for all AGNs with measured Hb line width. Comparing the BLR sizes given by the two methods also enables us to estimate the ionizing EUV luminosity which is directly unobservable. We find it to be typically ten times the visible (monochromatic luminosity at 5100A). The inferred Eddington ratio of the individual objects in our sample are 0.001-0.03 (visible luminosity) and 0.01-0.3 (ionizing luminosity).Comment: 27 pages Latex, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Preliminary results of the University of California X-ray experiment on the OSO-3

Cosmic and solar X ray data obtained by Orbiting Solar Observatory /OSO-3

Structural modeling and functional analysis of the essential ribosomal processing protease Prp from Staphylococcus aureus

In Firmicutes and related bacteria, ribosomal large subunit protein L27 is encoded with a conserved N-terminal extension that is removed to expose residues critical for ribosome function. Bacteria encoding L27 with this N-terminal extension also encode a sequence-specific cysteine protease, Prp, which carries out this cleavage. In this work, we demonstrate that L27 variants with an un-cleavable N-terminal extension, or lacking the extension (pre-cleaved), are unable to complement an L27 deletion in Staphylococcus aureus. This indicates that N-terminal processing of L27 is not only essential but possibly has a regulatory role. Prp represents a new clade of previously uncharacterized cysteine proteases, and the dependence of S. aureus on L27 cleavage by Prp validates the enzyme as a target for potential antibiotic development. To better understand the mechanism of Prp activity, we analyzed Prp enzyme kinetics and substrate preference using a fluorogenic peptide cleavage assay. Molecular modeling and site-directed mutagenesis implicate several residues around the active site in catalysis and substrate binding, and support a structural model in which rearrangement of a flexible loop upon binding of the correct peptide substrate is required for the active site to assume the proper conformation. These findings lay the foundation for the development of antimicrobials that target this novel, essential pathway

NASA metrology information system: A NEMS subsystem

the NASA Metrology Information Systems (NMIS) is being developed as a standardized tool in managing the NASA field Center's instrument calibration programs. This system, as defined by the NASA Metrology and Calibration Workshop, will function as a subsystem of the newly developed NASA Equipment Management System (NEMS). The Metrology Information System is designed to utilize and update applicable NEMS data fields for controlled property and to function as a stand alone system for noncontrolled property. The NMIS provides automatic instrument calibration recall control, instrument historical performance data storage and analysis, calibration and repair labor and parts cost data, and instrument user and location data. Nineteen standardized reports were developed to analyze calibration system operations

Aerodynamic design of the contoured wind-tunnel liner for the NASA supercritical, laminar-flow-control, swept-wing experiment

An overview is presented of the entire procedure developed for the aerodynamic design of the contoured wind tunnel liner for the NASA supercritical, laminar flow control (LFC), swept wing experiment. This numerical design procedure is based upon the simple idea of streamlining and incorporates several transonic and boundary layer analysis codes. The liner, presently installed in the Langley 8 Foot Transonic Pressure Tunnel, is about 54 ft long and extends from within the existing contraction cone, through the test section, and into the diffuser. LFC model testing has begun and preliminary results indicate that the liner is performing as intended. The liner design results presented in this paper, however, are examples of the calculated requirements and the hardware implementation of them