DO WE NEED TO MODEL PLATES AT ALL?

The historical method of obtaining equatorial coordinates for stars observed via astronomical photography has been to convert the measured coordinates to equatorial coordinates with the aid of a plate model which corrects for a variety of effects. However, we now have at our disposal novel smoothing techniques, of considerable generality, which in conjunction with modern star catalogues can reproduce the essence of the plate model while dramatically minimizing both the fortuitous and systematic errors of observation. In this paper we demonstrate that, with this technique and extant catalogues, one can obtain, with at least the same precision and better accuracy, the information necessary to transform the measured coordinates successfully into standard coordinates by a process that involves no sophisticated model for the plate. Using external checks we estimate the increase in accuracy to be of the order of 25 per cent.     

A 408-MHz variability study of two fields in the region 6h30m, +45°

Variability in 408-MHz flux density, over a 1-yr interval between 1995 and 1996, has been investigated using the DRAO Synthesis Telescope for a complete sample of 322 sources with S _408 MHz > 80 mJy at galactic latitude b  = 15°; four sources are found to show significant flux density variations. These results, taken with those from a similar study at b  = 58°, indicate that 408-MHz variability over a time-scale of 1 yr is more uncommon than has previously been thought; variations at a level >10 per cent could have been detected in a statistically complete sample of about 150 of these sources and none was found. Variability over a period of 18 yr has also been investigated by comparing the DRAO data with those from the B3 catalogue for 182 sources with S _408 MHz > 200 mJy; five variables are found. Large flux density variations over a period of 18 yr are much more common than over 1 yr, with roughly one source in 15 showing variations at the 15 per cent level or greater. The statistics are not good enough to show any conclusive evidence for a dependence of variability on galactic latitude. Roughly half of the variable sources have spectra that are steep at high frequencies and flatten at low frequencies; the other half have flat radio spectra over the entire frequency range. Simultaneous observations at 1420 MHz, also with the DRAO Synthesis Telescope, have been used to investigate variability at this frequency as well, and indicate that over a period of 1 yr roughly half of the flat-spectrum sources vary at the 5 per cent level or greater.     

A ROSAT survey of Wolf–Rayet galaxies — II. The extended sample

We present results from an ongoing X-ray survey of Wolf–Rayet (WR) galaxies, a class of objects believed to be very young starbursts. This paper extends the first X-ray survey of WR galaxies by Stevens &38; Strickland by studying WR galaxies identified subsequent to the original WR galaxy catalogue of Conti.   Out of a sample of 40 new WR galaxies a total of 10 have been observed with the ROSAT PSPC, and of these seven have been detected (NGC 1365, NGC 1569, I Zw 18, NGC 3353, NGC 4449, NGC 5408 and a marginal detection of NGC 2366). Of these, all are dwarf starbursts except for NGC 1365, which is a barred spiral galaxy possibly with an active nucleus. We also report on observations of the related emission-line galaxy IRAS 0833+6517.   The X-ray properties of these galaxies are broadly in line with those found for the original sample; they are X-ray overluminous compared with their blue luminosity and have thermal spectra with typically kT  ∼ 0.4 − 1.0 keV. There are some oddities: NGC 5408 is very overluminous in X-rays, even compared with other WR galaxies; I Zw 18 has a harder X-ray spectrum; NGC 1365, although thought to contain an active nucleus, has X-ray properties that are broadly similar to other WR galaxies, and we suggest that the X-ray emission from NGC 1365 is due to starburst activity.   A good correlation between X-ray and blue luminosity is found for the WR galaxy sample as a whole. However, when just dwarf galaxies are considered there is little evidence of correlation. We discuss the implications of these results on our understanding of the X-ray emission from WR galaxies and suggest that the best explanation for the X-ray activity is starburst activity from a young starburst region.     

区域矿产资源经济研究的发展趋势及值得注意的若干问题

区域矿产资源经济研究的发展趋势是：区域矿产资源经济研究与人口、环境科学汇流,更加注重应用研究,研究目标的多元化,研究地域的扩大化,研究方法的现代化．值得重视的几个问题有：区域矿产资源可持续发展问题;区域矿产资源合理有效利用的客观标准;区域矿产资源的经济和人口承载能力;计算机技术的应用;人工神经网络等现代科学技术的应用;区域矿产资源资产评估的理论与方法;区域矿产资源经济研究模型系统的开发等．     

奉献农业 发展学科——对黄秉维院士农业研究工作的认识

简述了黄秉维院士的农业研究工作的光辉历程,分析了黄秉维农业研究工作的特色,强调学习黄秉维的精神.     

元古宙蛇绿岩研究现状及其板块构造意义

在回顾元古宙蛇绿岩研究简史的基础上,对元古宙蛇绍岩的时空分布特征,岩石组合类型,变质作用程度,大地构造背景及源区地球化学制约等进行了系统总结,并就元古宙蛇绿岩的板块构造意义作了探讨。     

Methodological aspects of surveying the volume, structure, activities and perceptions of city centre visitors

Counting pedestrians on a street and visitors entering a store is a method used to measure the attractiveness of these places. Their volumes are governed by daily, weekly, monthly and yearly cycles and are subject to random influences. This must be taken into account especially where comparison counts reveal changes. When single streets or stores are counted, it must be ascertained whether this figure is representative of the whole city centre and its retailing. Pedestrian volumes can be used for adjusting interview samples to the distribution in time and space of the city centre visitors. Counts of the qualitative characteristics of the pedestrian with respect to composition of groups reveal that surveys among pedestrians are biased in relation to the size of the group. Special attention in surveys should be given to the linking of activities. Whereas much emphasis is given to the accessibility of the city centre from outside, the ‘inner accessibility’ of the city centre is just as important. Long distances are often walked and many destinations visited. This is best recorded by conducting interviews at public transport stops and car parks. The attractiveness of the city centre depends not only on its physical structures but very much on the subjective perception of them; therefore judgements on accessibility, goods and services offered and the urban ambiance should be recorded. Retailer's attitudes concerning the qualities of the city centre should also be compiled for comparison. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Background of ground penetrating radar measurements

Characterization of the shallow subsurface (0.25 to 10 m) is of growing importance for engineering activities, solutions of environmental problems, and archaeological investigations. Ground-penetrating radar (GPR) is an appropriate technique considering the depth range of interest, the strength of electric and magnetic contrasts between different subsurface layers and buried objects, and the required resolution. GPR surveys can detect subsurface structures by recording electromagnetic reflections from discontinuities. The detectability of objects and the delineation of subsurface structures increases with increasing wave velocity and conductivity differences between the object and its surroundings or between adjacent layers. However, unwanted reflections from objects above the surface influence the images. Shielded antennas can be used to avoid strong reflections from these objects. The data thus obtained are, however, more difficult to interpret. The fundamentals of GPR and two different acquisition setups for a GPR system are discussed. Basic interpretation tools for travel-time and velocity estimation are described, and finally, case studies are presented, followed by conclusions.