263 research outputs found
Gradio: Project proposal for satellite gradiometry
A gradiometric approach, rather than the more complicated satellite to satellite tracking, is proposed for studying anomalies in the gravitational fields of the Earth and, possibly, other telluric bodies. The first analyses of a gradiometer based on four of ONERA's CACTUS or SUPERCACTUS accelerometers are summarized. it is shown that the obstacles to achieving the required accuracy are not insuperable. The device will be carried in a 1000 kg lens shaped satellite in a heliosynchronous orbit 200 to 300 km in altitude. The first launching is planned for the end of 1987
Mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of two bauxitic profiles, Fria, Guinea Republic
Bauxite deposits of the Fria district, Guinea, have been exploited since 1960. These lateritic bauxites, located on the upper parts of plateaus, result from weathering of paleozoic schists. The ores are composed of gibbsite associated with pyrophyllite, Al-substituted goethite, and kaolinite. Pyrophyllite and Al-substituted goethite may contain up to 9% of the total Al2O3 content of the bauxite ; this cannot be recovered through the Bayer process because these phases are insoluble in the leaching solutions. Kaolinite is soluble under Bayer leaching but this dissolution induces precipitation of sodium alumino-silicates, which apart from loss of further alumina results in decreasing efficiency of the process through scale formation. Detailed knowledge of the distribution of the different ore types and their mineralogical composition is necessary for efficient processing. (Résumé d'auteur
Regional genetic structure in the Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) suggests metapopulation dynamics
Using microsatellite markers and mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) sequences (cytochrome oxidase 1 gene), we estimated levels of genetic structuring among nine Magellanic Penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) colonies distributed throughout three major reproductive regions of the South Atlantic Ocean. Overall, breeding colonies showed relatively high levels of genetic diversity at both nuclear and mtDNA markers (mean heteorzygosity: He = 0.598; mean allelic diversity: A = 7.11; mtDNA haplotype diversity: h = 0.812). A hierarchical analysis of molecular variance based on microsatellite data showed limited genetic structuring of breeding colonies, with 99% of the variation explained by differences among individuals and 0.7–1.0% attributed to differences among the three regions. The mtDNA analysis revealed higher levels of genetic structuring, with 3.43% of the variation explained by regions and 2.24% explained by colonies within the regions. Furthermore, a Mantel test revealed a significant association between geographic and genetic distances among colonies. The limited genetic structuring we detected is likely a result of (1) population intermixing through natal dispersal and (2) the large effective sizes of the reproductive colonies, both of which prevent genetic differentiation at neutral markers, balanced with (3) the regional association of breeding colonies to distinct feeding grounds and (4) a recent expansion of the population. Our results suggest that the demographic dynamics of breeding colonies of Magellanic Penguins may be framed under a metapopulation model, in which colonies with large numbers of breeding pairs could be considered source populations for maintaining the overall abundance of this species in the Atlantic Ocean
Levy ratchets with dichotomic random flashing
Additive symmetric L\'evy noise can induce directed transport of overdamped
particles in a static asymmetric potential. We study, numerically and
analytically, the effect of an additional dichotomous random flashing in such
L\'evy ratchet system. For this purpose we analyze and solve the corresponding
fractional Fokker-Planck equations and we check the results with Langevin
simulations. We study the behavior of the current as function of the stability
index of the L\'evy noise, the noise intensity and the flashing parameters. We
find that flashing allows both to enhance and diminish in a broad range the
static L\'evy ratchet current, depending on the frequencies and asymmetry of
the multiplicative dichotomous noise, and on the additive L\'evy noise
parameters. Our results thus extend those for dichotomous flashing ratchets
with Gaussian noise to the case of broadly distributed noises.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figure
Gender inequality in Latin American Neuroscience community
Gender bias in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) has been identified since a long time ago. However, gender imbalance in neuroscience has not yet been adequately explored worldwide. Here we report the first study on the development of the careers of men and women neuroscientists in Latin America in relation to family life and their perceptions of obstacles to success. Apart from revealing gender inequality in the neuroscience field, distinctive Latin American traits have become evident, thus providing novel insights into the global comprehension of gender imbalance in the region, which is required for guiding future actions, including the design of public policies in the region
Experimental evidence of stochastic resonance without tuning due to non Gaussian noises
In order to test theoretical predictions, we have studied the phenomenon of
stochastic resonance in an electronic experimental system driven by white non
Gaussian noise. In agreement with the theoretical predictions our main findings
are: an enhancement of the sensibility of the system together with a remarkable
widening of the response (robustness). This implies that even a single resonant
unit can reach a marked reduction in the need of noise tuning.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Resonant phenomena in extended chaotic systems subject to external noise: the Lorenz'96 model case
We investigate the effects of a time-correlated noise on an extended chaotic
system. The chosen model is the Lorenz'96, a kind of "toy" model used for
climate studies. Through the analysis of the system's time evolution and its
time and space correlations, we have obtained numerical evidence for two
stochastic resonance-like behavior. Such behavior is seen when both, the usual
and a generalized signal-to-noise ratio function are depicted as a function of
the external noise intensity or the system size. The underlying mechanism seems
to be associated to a "noise-induced chaos reduction". The possible relevance
of these and other findings for an "optimal" climate prediction are discussed.Comment: Submitted to Europhysics Letters (LaTex, 12 pgs, 5 figures
Data and methods to calculate cut-off values for serum potassium and core temperature at hospital admission for extracorporeal rewarming of avalanche victims in cardiac arrest.
The data and estimation methods presented in this article are associated with the research article, "Cut-off values of serum potassium and core temperature at hospital admission for extracorporeal rewarming of avalanche victims in cardiac arrest: a retrospective multi-centre study" [1]. In this article we estimate recommended cut-off values for in-hospital triage with respect to extracorporeal rewarming. With only 6 survivors of 103 patients collected over a period of 20 years the ability to estimate reliable threshold values is limited. In addition, because the number of avalanche victims is also limited, a significantly larger dataset is unlikely to be obtained. We have therefore adapted two non-parametric estimation methods (bootstrapping and exact binomial distribution) to our specific needs and performed a simulations to confirm validity and reliability
Limit cycle induced by multiplicative noise in a system of coupled Brownian motors
We study a model consisting of nonlinear oscillators with {\em global
periodic} coupling and {\em local multiplicative} and additive noises. The
model was shown to undergo a nonequilibrium phase transition towards a
broken-symmetry phase exhibiting noise-induced "ratchet" behavior. A previous
study \cite{[7]} focused on the relationship between the character of
thehysteresis loop, the number of ``homogeneous'' mean-field solutions and the
shape of the stationary mean-field probability distribution function. Here we
show --as suggested by the absence of stable solutions when the load force is
beyond a critical value-- the existence of a limit cycle induced by
both:multiplicative noise and {\em global periodic} coupling.Comment: Submitted to Phys. Rev. E, RevTex, 18 pgs, 5 figure
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