16,273 research outputs found
Atlas and checklist of the bark and ambrosia beetles of Texas and Oklahoma (Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae)
180 species of bark and ambrosia beetles (Curculionidae: Scolytinae and Platypodinae) are known to occur in Texas and Oklahoma. 175 species are known from Texas, 35 of which are reported here for the first time. 78 species are known from Oklahoma, 47 of which are new records for the state. Based on overall distribution patterns the largest group of species found in Texas and virtually all known from Oklahoma are widely distributed in eastern and southeastern North America, reaching their southwestern limits here. In the case of Texas other large elements include Neotropical elements shared with Mexico and a large number found in southwestern North America. New distribution and significant new host records are discussed. Distribution maps are included for most species and a checklist is provided as an appendix
Dark matter-wave solitons in the dimensionality crossover
We consider the statics and dynamics of dark matter-wave solitons in the
dimensionality crossover regime from 3D to 1D. There, using the nonpolynomial
Schr\"{o}dinger mean-field model, we find that the anomalous mode of the
Bogoliubov spectrum has an eigenfrequency which coincides with the soliton
oscillation frequency obtained by the 3D Gross-Pitaevskii model. We show that
substantial deviations (of order of 10% or more) from the characteristic
frequency ( being the longitudinal trap
frequency) are possible even in the purely 1D regime.Comment: Phys. Rev. A, in pres
Neural Network-Based Equations for Predicting PGA and PGV in Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas
Parts of Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas have experienced increased rates of
seismicity in recent years, providing new datasets of earthquake recordings to
develop ground motion prediction models for this particular region of the
Central and Eastern North America (CENA). This paper outlines a framework for
using Artificial Neural Networks (ANNs) to develop attenuation models from the
ground motion recordings in this region. While attenuation models exist for the
CENA, concerns over the increased rate of seismicity in this region necessitate
investigation of ground motions prediction models particular to these states.
To do so, an ANN-based framework is proposed to predict peak ground
acceleration (PGA) and peak ground velocity (PGV) given magnitude, earthquake
source-to-site distance, and shear wave velocity. In this framework,
approximately 4,500 ground motions with magnitude greater than 3.0 recorded in
these three states (Texas, Oklahoma, and Kansas) since 2005 are considered.
Results from this study suggest that existing ground motion prediction models
developed for CENA do not accurately predict the ground motion intensity
measures for earthquakes in this region, especially for those with low
source-to-site distances or on very soft soil conditions. The proposed ANN
models provide much more accurate prediction of the ground motion intensity
measures at all distances and magnitudes. The proposed ANN models are also
converted to relatively simple mathematical equations so that engineers can
easily use them to predict the ground motion intensity measures for future
events. Finally, through a sensitivity analysis, the contributions of the
predictive parameters to the prediction of the considered intensity measures
are investigated.Comment: 5th Geotechnical Earthquake Engineering and Soil Dynamics Conference,
Austin, TX, USA, June 10-13. (2018
Experimental investigation of potential confined ignition sources for vapour cloud explosions
Electrical control boxes are prolific on high vapour cloud hazard sites, and in the case of the Buncefield explosion the ignition source was inside such a box that was sited in an emergency pump house building. There has, however, been relatively little previous research into this type of ignition mechanism and its effect on the explosion severity. Commercially available electrical control boxes measuring 600 mm high, 400 mm wide and 250 mm deep were used to explore the pressure development, venting processes and flame characteristics of stoichiometric propane/air explosions using aluminium foil and the supplied doors as vent coverings. In this work, the boxes were empty of their usual contents in order to establish a baseline for the effect of the internal congestion of the boxes. It was found that, in these empty-box tests, the door produced a flat petal shaped flame, which differed drastically from the mushroom flame shape, associated rolling vortex bubble venting traditionally observed with large orifice vented explosions
Avian blood parasites in an endangered columbid: Leucocytozoon marchouxi in the Mauritian Pink Pigeon Columba mayeri
There is increasing evidence that pathogens can play a significant role in species decline. This study of a complete free-living species reveals a cost of blood parasitism to an endangered host, the Pink Pigeon Columba mayeri, endemic to Mauritius. We investigated the prevalence and effect of infection of the blood parasite, Leucocytozoon marchouxi, in the free-living Pink Pigeon population. Overall, L. marchouxi infection prevalence detected was 18·3%. Juveniles were more likely to be infected than older birds and there was geographical variation in infection prevalence. Survival of birds infected with L. marchouxi was lower than that of uninfected birds to 90 days post-sampling. This study suggests that while common haematozoa are well tolerated in healthy adults, these parasites may have greater pathogenic potential in susceptible juveniles. The study is unusual given its completeness of species sampling (96%) within a short time-period, the accurate host age data, and its focus on blood parasites in a threatened bird species. Species for which long-term life-history data are available for every individual serve as valuable models for dissecting the contribution of particular pathogens to species decline
Dark Solitons in Discrete Lattices: Saturable versus Cubic Nonlinearities
In the present work, we study dark solitons in dynamical lattices with the
saturable nonlinearity and compare them with those in lattices with the cubic
nonlinearity. This comparison has become especially relevant in light of recent
experimental developments in the former context. The stability properties of
the fundamental waves, for both on-site and inter-site modes, are examined
analytically and corroborated by numerical results. Furthermore, their
dynamical evolution when they are found to be unstable is obtained through
appropriately crafted numerical experiments.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figure
Geometry, topology and dynamics of geodesic flows on noncompact polygonal surfaces
We establish the background for the study of geodesics on noncompact
polygonal surfaces. For illustration, we study the recurrence of geodesics on
-periodic polygonal surfaces. We prove, in particular, that almost all
geodesics on a topologically typical -periodic surface with boundary are
recurrent.Comment: 34 pages, 13 figures. To be published in V. V. Kozlov's Festschrif
Significant Wave Height Comparison using in situ and Satellite Measurements (Extended Abstract)
This abstract contains information relevant to the use of wave information for naval operations, education, and alternative energy technologies, and was used, along with the Session Presentation, to facilitate discussion during Session 1 (the use of wave measurements to support operations)
The c axis optical conductivity of layered systems in the superconducting state
In this paper, we discuss the c axis optical conductivity Re [sigma_c(omega)]
in the high T_c superconductors, in the superconducting state. The basic
premise of this work is that electrons travelling along the c axis between
adjacent CuO_2 layers must pass through several intervening layers. In earlier
work we found that, for weak inter-layer coupling, it is preferable for
electrons to travel along the c axis by making a series of interband
transitions rather than to stay within a single (and very narrow) band.
Moreover, we found that many of the properties of the normal state optical
conductivity, including the pseudogap could be explained by interband
transitions. In this work we examine the effect of superconductivity on the
interband conductivity. We find that, while the onset of superconductivity is
clearly evident in the spectrum, there is no clear signature of the symmetry of
the superconducting order parameter.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Meteoroid and debris special investigation group data acquisition procedures
The entire LDEF spacecraft was examined by M&D SIG for impact (i.e., craters greater than or = 0.5 mm and penetrations greater than or = 0.3 mm in diameter) and related features (e.g., debris, secondaries). During the various detailed surveys conducted at NASA Kennedy, approx. 5,000 impact related features were photodocumented, and their locations measured and recorded; an additional approx. 30,000 smaller features were counted. The equipment and techniques used by the M&D SIG permitted the determination and recording of the locations and diameters of the 5,000 imaged features. A variety of experimental and LDEF structural hardware was acquired by the M&D SIG and is presently being examined and curated at NASA Johnson
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