The visible spectra of three B stars: π Cet, 36 Lyn 134 Tau

We present an identification list for the visible spectra of three B stars: π Cet (B7V), 36 Lyn B8 IIIp (?)),and 134 Tau (B9 IV). Equivalent widths have been measured on medium dispersion plates (7.0 and 12.4 Å mm^?1) taken with the 152 cm coudé reflector at the Observatoire de Haute Provence (France). These results are also presented. The photographic plates were digitized by using a PDS 1010A microdensitometer. The spectroscopic data were reduced by means of a dedicated software package and an attempt was made to compute equivalent widths in a homogeneous way. T _eff and logg parameters were estimated by using the computer to compare automatically the spectroscopic data with the value of theoretical models.     

Estimate of the optimum measuring time in the synchronous photometry of optical sources

The note shows how to estimate accurately the optimum measuring time in the measurement of a periodical optical source by means of a synchronous photometer affected by phase-tracking error. The procedure used can be easily generalized to sources or signal patterns not considered here. The optimum number of scans to be averaged results to be typicallyN _opt≈0.5r/ɛ for an optical source of Lorentzian signal pattern, wherer is the duty cycle of the pulsed component and ɛ the relative truncation error of the local sync to the source period. Work supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Gruppo Nazionale di Astronomia, Settore Tecnologie Astronomiche. Trieste Observatory — Instruments and Data Processing Group (4/76).     

Estimate of the limiting standard deviation in the absolute timing of periodic sources

This note demonstrates the application of a rigorous procedure for estimating the limiting standard deviation in the absolute timing, of periodic sources of known period, to the problem of the evaluation of the effects of the main source and instrumental parameters. The procedure is used to examine the case of the optical pulsar NP 0532. The results are given in diagrammatic form.Work supported by Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, Gruppo Nazionale di Astronomia, Settore Tecnologie Astronomiche. Trieste Observatory-Instruments and Data Processing group (2/76).     

Cost-sensitive rainfall thresholds for shallow landslides

The risk management of rainfall-induced landslides requires reliable rainfall thresholds to issue early warning alerts. The practical application of these thresholds often leads to misclassifications, either false negative or false positive, which induce costs for the society. Since missed-alarm (false negative) and false-alarm (false positive) cost may be significantly different, it is necessary to find an optimal threshold that accounts for and minimises such costs, tuning the false-alarm and missed-alarm rates. In this paper, we propose a new methodology to develop cost-sensitive rainfall thresholds, and we also analyse several factors that produce uncertainty, such as the accuracy of rainfall intensity values at landslide location, the time of occurrence, the minimum rainfall amount to define the non-triggering event, and the variability of cost scenarios. Starting from a detailed mapping of landslides that occurred during five large-scale rainfall events in the Italian Central Alps, we first developed rainfall threshold curves with a ROC-based approach by using both rain gauge and bias-adjusted weather radar data. Then, based on a reference cost scenario in which we quantified several cost items for both missed alarms and false alarms, we developed cost-sensitive rainfall threshold curves by using cost-curve approach (Drummond and Holte 2000). Finally, we studied the sensitivity of cost items. The study confirms how important is the information regarding rainfall intensity at the landslide site for the development of rainfall thresholds. Although the use of bias-corrected radar strongly improves these values, a large uncertainty related to the exact time of landslide occurrence still remains, negatively affecting the analysis. Accounting for the different missed-alarm and false-alarm misclassification costs is important because different combinations of these costs make an increase or decrease of the rainfall thresholds convenient. In our reference cost scenario, the most convenient threshold is lower than ROC-based thresholds because it seeks to minimise the number of missed alarms, whereas the missed-alarm costs are almost seven times greater than false-alarm costs. However, for different cost scenarios, threshold may vary significantly, as much as half an order of magnitude.