A search for luminous Be stars

As Be stars are restricted to luminosity classes III‐V, but early B‐type stars are believed to evolve into supergiants, it is to be expected that the Be phenomenon disappears at some point in the evolution of a moderately massive star, before it reaches the supergiant phase. As a first stage in an attempt to determine the physical reasons of this cessation, a search of the literature has provided a number of candidates to be Be stars with luminosity classes Ib or II. Spectroscopy has been obtained for candidates in a number of open clusters and associations, as well as several other bright stars in those clusters. Among the objects observed, HD 207329 is the best candidate to be a high‐luminosity Be star, as it appears like a fast‐rotating supergiant with double‐peaked emission lines. The lines of HD 229059, in Berkeley 87, also appear morphologically similar to those of Be stars, but there are reasons to suspect that this object is an interacting binary. At slightly lower luminosities, LS I +56°92 (B4 II) and HD 333452 (O9 II), also appear as intrinsically luminous Be stars. Two Be stars in NGC 6913, HD 229221 and HD 229239, appear to have rather higher intrinsic magnitudes than their spectral type (B0.2 III in both cases) would indicate, being as luminous as luminosity class II objects in the same cluster. HD 344863, in NGC 6823, is also a rather early Be star of moderately high luminosity. The search shows that, though high‐luminosity Be stars do exist, they are scarce and, perhaps surprisingly, tend to have early spectral types. (© 2004 WILEY‐VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)     

Observations of High Resolution Spectra of Comet Hale-Bopp (C/1995 O1) at the SAO of the RAS

We present the results of the preliminary study of the comet Hale-Bopp spectrum obtained April 17, 1997 by K. Churyumov and F. Mussayev with the help of the 1-meter Zeiss reflector and the echelle spectrometer (spectral resolutionλ/Δ λ ≈ 50000), CCD and the long slit, oriented along the radius-vector(“Sun-comet direction”). Energy distributions for three selected regions including the C₃, C₂ (0-0) and CN(Δ ν = 0) molecules emissions of the comet Hale-Bopp spectrum were built. The rotational lines of the CN(Δ ν = 0) band were identified. The nature of the high emission peak near λ 4020 Å in the C₃ band is discussed. The presence of the cometary continuum of the nonsolar origin is assumed.     

A search for a problem free cosmology

We explore features of a nonminimally coupled theory of scalar fields with an effective potential that supports non topological soliton solutions. It is suggested that a problem free cosmology results.     

Acceleration response modification factors for nonstructural components attached to inelastic moment‐resisting frame structures

A statistical analysis of the peak acceleration demands for nonstructural components (NSCs) supported on a variety of stiff and flexible inelastic regular moment‐resisting frame structures with periods from 0.3 to 3.0 s exposed to 40 far‐field ground motions is presented. Peak component acceleration (PCA) demands were quantified based on the floor response spectrum (FRS) method without considering dynamic interaction effects. This study evaluated the main factors that influence the amplification or decrease of FRS values caused by inelasticity in the primary structure in three distinct spectral regions namely long‐period, fundamental‐period, and short‐period region. The amplification or decrease of peak elastic acceleration demands depends on the location of the NSC in the supporting structure, periods of the component and building, damping ratio of the component, and level of inelasticity of the supporting structure. While FRS values at the initial modal periods of the supporting structure are reduced due to inelastic action in the primary structure, the region between the modal periods experiences an increase in PCA demands. A parameter denoted as acceleration response modification factor (R_acc) was proposed to quantify this reduction/increase in PCA demands. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Modelling peak accelerations from earthquakes

This paper deals with the prediction of peak horizontal accelerations with emphasis on seismic risk and insurance concerns. Non‐linear mixed effects models are used to analyse well‐known earthquake data and the consequences of mis‐specifying assumptions on the error term are quantified. A robust fit of the usual model, using recently developed robust weighted maximum likelihood estimators, is presented. Outlying data are automatically identified and subsequently investigated. A more appropriate model accounting for the extreme value nature of the responses, is also developed and implemented. The implication on acceleration predictions is demonstrated. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

A data‐based mechanistic modelling (DBM) approach to understanding dynamic sediment transmission through Wyresdale Park Reservoir,Lancashire, UK

This paper outlines the application of a new data‐based mechanistic (DBM) modelling methodology to the characterization of the sediment transmission dynamics in a small upland reservoir, Wyresdale Park, Lancashire. The DBM modelling strategy exploits advanced statistical procedures to infer the dynamic model structure and its associated parameters directly from the instrumented data, producing a parametrically efficient, continuous time, transfer function model which relates suspended sediment load at the reservoir inflow to the outflow at the event scale. The associated differential equation model parameters have physical attributes which can be interpreted in terms of sediment transmission processes and associated reservoir trap efficiency. Sedigraph analysis suggests that wind‐induced resuspension episodically supplies an additional load to the reservoir outlet. The stochastic nature of the DBM model makes it ideal for evaluating the effects of uncertainty through Monte Carlo simulations (MCS) for discharge and sediment transmission. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Wild things in urban places: America's largest cities and multi-scales of governance for endangered species conservation

Endangered species live inside the world's most densely populated cities. In the United States, the Fish and Wildlife Service is responsible for the protection and recovery of endangered species – wherever those species are found. Unfortunately, very little is known about urban endangered species policy or programs. This paper presents a comparative analysis of the five largest cities in the United States and examines issue of governance around conservation. Cities have a responsibility to steward the environment, but through the 1973 Endangered Species Act, the Fish and Wildlife Service has a legal mandate to protect endangered species throughout the country. Thus, this paper asks: What is the USFWS doing inside cities to recover endangered species? What are cities doing? Conservation is a shared duty but it is not clear that anyone is taking responsibility for urban endangered species.     

半荒漠风沙区土地沙漠化生物整治技术的研究

试验证明,土地沙漠化生物整治技术能在半荒漠风沙区取得显著的作用和效果。在柠条、毛条、花棒、杨柴、沙木蓼等灌木树种的适生立地上营造防风固沙林,林后3~4年,灌木就可郁闭成林,流动沙丘完全被控制变为固定沙丘;林下植被结构得以改善,优良品种增多,如能合理开发其饲料等用途,还具有十分可观的经济效益。     

米槠次生林内4种植物叶片DOM的数量和质量特征

选取福建省三明市米槠次生林内的4种植物,即米槠(CAC),木荷(SCS),山杜英(ELS),芒萁(DID)为研究对象,对其叶片进行了室内淋溶处理,并分析了淋溶液中的可溶性有机碳(DOC)和可溶性有机氮(DON)含量及pH值,芳香性指标(AI)和荧光效率指数(Feff)等,以揭示其淋溶液中可溶性有机质(DOM)的数量和质量特征。结果表明:4种植物叶片DOM含量总体随淋溶次数的增加逐渐减小,其中首次淋溶后淋溶液中的DOC和DON含量最大,分别占总淋溶量的平均值为67.90%和44.51%;淋溶液中前3次DOC和DON淋溶量总和分别占10次淋溶总量的87.40%~94.77%和68.46%~72.49%;且前3次淋溶次数间呈极显著差异(P0.01),其后差异性不显著。DOM的pH值和光谱指标随着淋溶次数的增加逐渐上升.总体上乔木树种DOM的数量和质量比林下植被要高,这是由于乔木树种的DOM含有更多的养分和芳香类和腐殖化的高分子量化合物,而林下植被的DOM含有较多低分子量化合物和易分解组分。