4,304 research outputs found
Waratah theft in Brisbane Water National Park - an analysis of the blue paint poaching reduction program
The flowers of Waratahs, Telopea speciosissima (family Proteaceae) are regularly harvested illegally from natural bushland, particularly close to urban areas such as the New South Wales Central Coast. The removal of Waratah blooms from the wild may have implications for the long-term survival of local populations because of the interaction between wildfire events, subsequent flowering and limited seedling recruitment opportunities. To reduce the incidence of theft, blue acrylic paint was applied to blooms to reduce their commercial value. The painting of blooms in 2004 did not significantly reduce the incidence of wildflower theft when compared to unpainted blooms, but overall losses were lower (27%) than in 2003 (33%). However, painting of blooms had a deleterious affect on fruit production on plants with multiple heads with painted blooms having significantly reduced fruit set compared to unpainted blooms. Painting of blooms had no significant effect on seed quality (seed production per fruit, seed germination or seedling vigour) when compared to unpainted blooms. The painting of Waratah blooms to reduce theft was relatively ineffective and decreased fruit production. Alternative strategies should be considered to reduce wildflower theft in the area
Parasupersymmetric Quantum Mechanics of Order 3 and a Generalized Witten Index
In this paper we generalize the Rubakov-Spiridonov parasupersymmetry algebra
to the order 3 case. We also generalize the notion of the Witten index, and we
provide a class of models satisfying our parasupersymmetry algebra. Finally, we
show that there is a correspondence between the Hamiltonian and the index in
our class of models
Local Molecular Dynamics with Coulombic Interaction
We propose a local, O(N) molecular dynamics algorithm for the simulation of
charged systems. The long ranged Coulomb potential is generated by a
propagating electric field that obeys modified Maxwell equations. On coupling
the electrodynamic equations to an external thermostat we show that the
algorithm produces an effective Coulomb potential between particles. On
annealing the electrodynamic degrees of freedom the field configuration
converges to a solution of the Poisson equation much like the electronic
degrees of freedom approach the ground state in ab-initio molecular dynamics.Comment: 4 pages with 3 figure
Are Panel Unit Root Tests Useful for Real-Time Data?
With the development of real-time databases, N vintages are available for T observations instead of a single realization of the time series process. Although the use of panel unit root tests with the aim to gain in efficiency seems obvious, empirical and simulation results shown in this paper heavily mitigate the intuitive perspective.macroeconomics ;
Exploring the electron density in plasmas induced by extreme ultraviolet radiation in argon
The new generation of lithography tools use high energy EUV radiation which
ionizes the present background gas due to photoionization. To predict and
understand the long term impact on the highly delicate mirrors It is essential
to characterize these kinds of EUV-induced plasmas. We measured the electron
density evolution in argon gas during and just after irradiation by a short
pulse of EUV light at 13.5 nm by applying microwave cavity resonance
spectroscopy. Dependencies on EUV pulse energy and gas pressure have been
explored over a range relevant for industrial applications.
Our experimental results show that the maximum reached electron density
depends linearly on pulse energy. A quadratic dependence - caused by
photoionization and subsequent electron impact ionization by free electrons -
is found from experiments where the gas pressure is varied. This is
demonstrated by our theoretical estimates presented in this manuscript as well.Comment: submitted to J. Phys. D. 16 pages, 8 figure
Spectroastrometry of rotating gas disks for the detection of supermassive black holes in galactic nuclei. I. Method and simulations
This is the first in a series of papers in which we study the application of
spectroastrometry in the context of gas kinematical studies aimed at measuring
the mass of supermassive black holes. The spectroastrometrical method consists
in measuring the photocenter of light emission in different wavelength or
velocity channels. In particular we explore the potential of spectroastrometry
of gas emission lines in galaxy nuclei to constrain the kinematics of rotating
gas disks and to measure the mass of putative supermassive black holes. By
means of detailed simulations and test cases, we show that the fundamental
advantage of spectroastrometry is that it can provide information on the
gravitational potential of a galaxy on scales significantly smaller (~ 1/10)
than the limit imposed by the spatial resolution of the observations. We then
describe a simple method to infer detailed kinematical informations from
spectroastrometry in longslit spectra and to measure the mass of nuclear mass
concentrations. Such method can be applied straightforwardly to integral field
spectra, which do not have the complexities due to a partial spatial covering
of the source in the case of longslit spectra.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Motion plan changes predictably in dyadic reaching
Parents can effortlessly assist their child to walk, but the mechanism behind such physical coordination is still unknown. Studies have suggested that physical coordination is achieved by interacting humans who update their movement or motion plan in response to the partner's behaviour. Here, we tested rigidly coupled pairs in a joint reaching task to observe such changes in the partners' motion plans. However, the joint reaching movements were surprisingly consistent across different trials. A computational model that we developed demonstrated that the two partners had a distinct motion plan, which did not change with time. These results suggest that rigidly coupled pairs accomplish joint reaching movements by relying on a pre-programmed motion plan that is independent of the partner's behaviour
Tactical adjustment of signaling leads to increased mating success and survival
Most sexually reproducing animals overcome the challenge of searching for and attracting mates by utilizing signals that are broadcast through a spatially and temporally varying environment. A diverse suite of behavioral solutions exist for overcoming such environmental variability, including the adjustment of signaling behavior based upon receiver feedback. Few studies have directly examined the relationship between such tactical signaling adjustments and proxies of male fitness; the few that have, failed to find a relationship. Using the wolf spider, Schizocosa rovneri, we set out to first quantify among-male variation in the form and degree of responsiveness to female feedback. Following exposure to female receptivity cues, some males increased their signaling on an effective signaling substrate (filter paper) while others decreased signaling on the effective substrate. These groups of males were then run through mating trials, conducted in a heterogeneous environment, to examine the relationship between male signaling adjustments and subsequent mating success. Males that adaptively adjusted their signaling (i.e. increased signaling on a more effective substrate) were (1) more likely to copulate, (2) achieved a copulation more quickly and (3) were less likely to be attacked; thus establishing a positive relationship between tactical adjustments of courtship signaling and male fitness
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