We present radial and rotation (vsini) velocity measurements, from UVES+VLT high resolution spectra of 61 stars in the blue horizontal branches (HB) of the Galactic globular clusters NGC 1904 (M79), NGC 2808, NGC 6093 (M80), and NGC 7078 (M15). The data reduction and the velocity determination, based on cross-correlation techniques, are discussed in detail. Most of this database has been used b...

Videogames represent what may be the current apotheosis, and certainly most widely available implementation, of high-level human–computer interaction. As such, they must be viewed as a paradigmatic emblem of the new media. This article presents findings from two longitudinal studies that highlight the analytical and methodological weaknesses of the (sparse) extant scholarly studies of the mediu...

Preliminary analysis of the X-ray spectrum of NGC 1068 obtained by the RGS spectrometer on board XMM-Newton is presented. A physically consistent model is developed in order to quantitatively describe the reprocessing of the central AGN continuum source into the discrete X-ray emission observed in Seyfert 2 galaxies. All the important atomic processes are taken into account, including photoexci...

The publication of Michael Lewis’ Flash Boys in early April, 2014, generated an intense month-long wave of publicity surrounding high frequency trading (HFT) firms, much of it unfavorable. In a typical example, Paul Krugman, writing in a New York Times editorial that appeared just after publication of Flash Boys, conflated HFT trading practices with the proliferation of complex derivatives prod...

Microwave processing of materials is a relatively new technology advancement alternative that provides new approaches for enhancing material properties as well as economic advantages through energy savings and accelerated product development. Factors that hinder the use of microwaves in materials processing are declining, so that prospect for the development of this technology seem to be very p...

In a global kinematical study of NGC 5055 using high resolution Fabry-Perot interferometry, intriguing spectral line prooles have been observed in the center of the galaxy. These prooles seem to indicate a rapidly rotating disk with a radius near 365 pc and tilted 50 deg with respect to the major axis of the galaxy. In the hypothesis of a massive dark object, a naive keplerian estimate gives a ...

We have obtained high resolution UV images with the HST+WFPC2 of the central region of the dwarf elliptical galaxy NGC 205. Our images reveal that many of the hot UV stars previously detected and studied from the ground are actually multiple systems, open clusters and star associations. We have performed photometry of two such clusters and we find our data are consistent with stellar ages of 50...

The neutron powder diffractometer NPD at the Manuel Lujan Neutron Scattering Center (MLNSC) at Los Alamos National Laboratory is the neutron powder diffractometer with the highest resolution in the United States. We are currently upgrading NPD by adding a large number of position-sensitive detectors in the backscattering position. The upgraded instrument will make it possible to collect data fr...

The Agilent 7000 GC/QQQ system can provide both high selectivity and high sensitivity for the analysis of drugs. Low-level detection and confirmation of large numbers of target drugs in blood extracts is possible in a single run. Combined with information from a single quadrupole screening instrument like the Agilent GC/NPD/MSD/DRS system, a much more complete picture of each sample is now poss...

We have observed four red clump stars in the very old and metal-rich open cluster NGC 6791 to derive its metallicity, using the high resolution spectrograph SARG mounted on the TNG. Using a spectrum synthesis technique we obtain an average value of [Fe/H] = +0.47 (±0.04, r.m.s. = 0.08) dex. Our method was tested on μ Leo, a well studied metal-rich field giant. We also derive average oxygen and ...