317 research outputs found
Gemini Observations of Disks and Jets in Young Stellar Objects and in Active Galaxies
We present first results from the Near-infrared Integral Field Spectrograph
(NIFS) located at Gemini North. For the active galaxies Cygnus A and Perseus A
we observe rotationally-supported accretion disks and adduce the existence of
massive central black holes and estimate their masses. In Cygnus A we also see
remarkable high-excitation ionization cones dominated by photoionization from
the central engine. In the T-Tauri stars HV Tau C and DG Tau we see
highly-collimated bipolar outflows in the [Fe II] 1.644 micron line, surrounded
by a slower molecular bipolar outflow seen in the H_2 lines, in accordance with
the model advocated by Pyo et al. (2002).Comment: Invited paper presented at the 5th Stromlo Symposium. 9 pages, 7
figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc
Weak localization in InSb thin films heavily doped with lead
The paper reports on the investigations of the weak localization (WL) effects
in 3D polycrystalline thin films of InSb. The films are closely compensated
showing the electron concentration n>10^{16} cm^{-3} at the total concentration
of the donor and acceptor type structural defects >10^{18} cm^{-3}. Unless
Pb-doped, the InSb films do not show any measurable or show very small WL
effect at 4.2 K. The Pb-doping to the concentration of the order of 10^{18}
cm^{-3} leads to pronounced WL effects below 7 K. In particular, a clearly
manifested SO scattering is observed. From the comparison of the experimental
data on temperature dependence of the magnetoresistivity and sample resistance
with the WL theory, the temperature dependence of the phase destroying time is
determined. The determination is performed by fitting theoretical terms
obtained from Kawabata's theory to experimental data on magnetoresistance. It
is concluded that the dephasing process is connected to three separate
interaction processes. The first is due to the SO scatterings and is
characterized by temperature-independent relaxation time. The second is
associated with the electron-phonon interaction. The third dephasing process is
characterized by independent on temperature relaxation time tau_c. This
relaxation time is tentatively ascribed to inelastic scattering at extended
structural defects, like grain boundaries. The resulting time dephasing time
shows saturation in its temperature dependence. The temperature dependence of
the resistance of the InSb films can be explained by the electron-electron
interaction for T2 K.Comment: 15 pages with 5 figure
Weak Localization and Integer Quantum Hall Effect in a Periodic Potential
We consider magnetotransport in a disordered two-dimensional electron gas in
the presence of a periodic modulation in one direction. Existing quasiclassical
and quantum approaches to this problem account for Weiss oscillations in the
resistivity tensor at moderate magnetic fields, as well as a strong
modulation-induced modification of the Shubnikov-de Haas oscillations at higher
magnetic fields. They do not account, however, for the operation at even higher
magnetic fields of the integer quantum Hall effect, for which quantum
interference processes are responsible. We then introduce a field-theory
approach, based on a nonlinear sigma model, which encompasses naturally both
the quasiclassical and quantum-mechanical approaches, as well as providing a
consistent means of extending them to include quantum interference corrections.
A perturbative renormalization-group analysis of the field theory shows how
weak localization corrections to the conductivity tensor may be described by a
modification of the usual one-parameter scaling, such as to accommodate the
anisotropy of the bare conductivity tensor. We also show how the two-parameter
scaling, conjectured as a model for the quantum Hall effect in unmodulated
systems, may be generalized similarly for the modulated system. Within this
model we illustrate the operation of the quantum Hall effect in modulated
systems for parameters that are realistic for current experiments.Comment: 15 pages, 4 figures, ReVTeX; revised version with condensed
introduction; two figures taken out; reference adde
Broad-scale patterns of body size in squamate reptiles of Europe and North America
Aim To document geographical interspecific patterns of body size of European and North American squamate reptile assemblages and explore the relationship between body size patterns and environmental gradients. Location North America and western Europe. Methods We processed distribution maps for native species of squamate reptiles to document interspecific spatial variation of body size at a grain size of 110 x 110 km. We also examined seven environmental variables linked to four hypotheses possibly influencing body size gradients. We used simple and multiple regression, evaluated using information theory, to identify the set of models best supported by the data. Results Europe is characterized by clear latitudinal trends in body size, whereas geographical variation in body size in North America is complex. There is a consistent association of mean body size with measures of ambient energy in both regions, although lizards increase in size northwards whereas snakes show the opposite pattern. Our best models accounted for almost 60% of the variation in body size of lizards and snakes within Europe, but the proportions of variance explained in North America were less than 20%. Main conclusions Although body size influences the energy balance of thermoregulating ectotherms, inconsistent biogeographical patterns and contrasting associations with energy in lizards and snakes suggest that no single mechanism can explain variation of reptile body size in the northern temperate zone
Dead layer on silicon pâiân diode charged-particle detectors
Semiconductor detectors in general have a dead layer at their surfaces that is either a result of natural or induced passivation, or is formed during the process of making a contact. Charged particles passing through this region produce ionization that is incompletely collected and recorded, which leads to departures from the ideal in both energy deposition and resolution. The silicon p-i-n diode used in the KATRIN neutrinomass experiment has such a dead layer. We have constructed a detailed Monte Carlo model for the passage of electrons from vacuum into a silicon detector, and compared the measured energy spectra to the predicted ones for a range of energies from 12 to 20 keV. The comparison provides experimental evidence that a substantial fraction of the ionization produced in the "dead" layer evidently escapes by diffusion, with 46% being collected in the depletion zone and the balance being neutralized at the contact or by bulk recombination. The most elementary model of a thinner dead layer from which no charge is collected is strongly disfavored
Defining the Critical Hurdles in Cancer Immunotherapy
ABSTRACT: Scientific discoveries that provide strong evidence of antitumor effects in preclinical models often encounter significant delays before being tested in patients with cancer. While some of these delays have a scientific basis, others do not. We need to do better. Innovative strategies need to move into early stage clinical trials as quickly as it is safe, and if successful, these therapies should efficiently obtain regulatory approval and widespread clinical application. In late 2009 and 2010 the Society for Immunotherapy of Cancer (SITC), convened an "Immunotherapy Summit" with representatives from immunotherapy organizations representing Europe, Japan, China and North America to discuss collaborations to improve development and delivery of cancer immunotherapy. One of the concepts raised by SITC and defined as critical by all parties was the need to identify hurdles that impede effective translation of cancer immunotherapy. With consensus on these hurdles, international working groups could be developed to make recommendations vetted by the participating organizations. These recommendations could then be considered by regulatory bodies, governmental and private funding agencies, pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions to facilitate changes necessary to accelerate clinical translation of novel immune-based cancer therapies. The critical hurdles identified by representatives of the collaborating organizations, now organized as the World Immunotherapy Council, are presented and discussed in this report. Some of the identified hurdles impede all investigators, others hinder investigators only in certain regions or institutions or are more relevant to specific types of immunotherapy or first-in-humans studies. Each of these hurdles can significantly delay clinical translation of promising advances in immunotherapy yet be overcome to improve outcomes of patients with cancer
TRY plant trait database â enhanced coverage and open access
Plant traitsâthe morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plantsâdetermine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of traitâbased plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traitsâalmost complete coverage for âplant growth formâ. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and traitâenvironmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives
Search for gravitational waves from Scorpius X-1 in the second Advanced LIGO observing run with an improved hidden Markov model
We present results from a semicoherent search for continuous gravitational waves from the low-mass x-ray binary Scorpius X-1, using a hidden Markov model (HMM) to track spin wandering. This search improves on previous HMM-based searches of LIGO data by using an improved frequency domain matched filter, the J-statistic, and by analyzing data from Advanced LIGO's second observing run. In the frequency range searched, from 60 to 650 Hz, we find no evidence of gravitational radiation. At 194.6 Hz, the most sensitive search frequency, we report an upper limit on gravitational wave strain (at 95% confidence) of h095%=3.47Ă10-25 when marginalizing over source inclination angle. This is the most sensitive search for Scorpius X-1, to date, that is specifically designed to be robust in the presence of spin wandering. © 2019 American Physical Society
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