3,019 research outputs found
Age and helium content of the open cluster NGC 6791 from multiple eclipsing binary members. I. Measurements, methods, and first results
Earlier measurements of the masses and radii of the detached eclipsing binary
V20 in the open cluster NGC 6791 were accurate enough to demonstrate that there
are significant differences between current stellar models. Here we improve on
those results and add measurements of two additional detached eclipsing
binaries, the cluster members V18 and V80. The enlarged sample sets much
tighter constraints on the properties of stellar models than has hitherto been
possible, thereby improving both the accuracy and precision of the cluster age.
We employed (i) high-resolution UVES spectroscopy of V18, V20 and V80 to
determine their spectroscopic effective temperatures, [Fe/H] values, and
spectroscopic orbital elements, and (ii) time-series photometry from the Nordic
Optical Telescope to obtain the photometric elements. The masses and radii of
the V18 and V20 components are found to high accuracy, with errors on the
masses in the range 0.27-0.36% and errors on the radii in the range 0.61-0.92%.
V80 is found to be magnetically active, and more observations are needed to
determine its parameters accurately. The metallicity of NGC 6791 is measured
from disentangled spectra of the binaries and a few single stars to be [Fe/H]=
+0.29 \pm 0.03 (random) \pm 0.07 (systematic). The cluster reddening and
apparent distance modulus are found to be E(B - V) = 0.160 \pm 0.025 and (m -
M)V = 13.51 \pm 0.06 . A first model comparison shows that we can constrain the
helium content of the NGC 6791 stars, and thus reach a more accurate age than
previously possible. It may be possible to constrain additional parameters, in
particular the C, N, and O abundances. This will be investigated in paper II.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
The bend stiffness of S-DNA
We formulate and solve a two-state model for the elasticity of nicked,
double-stranded DNA that borrows features from both the Worm Like Chain and the
Bragg--Zimm model. Our model is computationally simple, and gives an excellent
fit to recent experimental data through the entire overstretching transition.
The fit gives the first value for the bending stiffness of the overstretched
state as about 10 nm*kbt, a value quite different from either B-form or
single-stranded DNA.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figur
Detector imperfections in photon-pair source characterization
We analyze how imperfections in single-photon detectors impact the
characterization of photon-pair sources. We perform exact calculations to
reveal the effects of multi-pair emissions and of noisy, non-unit efficiency,
non photon-number resolving detections on the Cauchy-Schwarz parameter, on the
second order auto-correlation and cross-correlation functions, and on the
visibilities of both Hong-Ou-Mandel and Bell-like interferences. We consider
sources producing either two-mode squeezed states or states with a Poissonian
photon distribution. The proposed formulas are useful in practice to determine
the impacts of multi-pair emissions and dark counts in standard tests used in
quantum optics.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figure
Efficient Pattern Matching in Python
Pattern matching is a powerful tool for symbolic computations. Applications
include term rewriting systems, as well as the manipulation of symbolic
expressions, abstract syntax trees, and XML and JSON data. It also allows for
an intuitive description of algorithms in the form of rewrite rules. We present
the open source Python module MatchPy, which offers functionality and
expressiveness similar to the pattern matching in Mathematica. In particular,
it includes syntactic pattern matching, as well as matching for commutative
and/or associative functions, sequence variables, and matching with
constraints. MatchPy uses new and improved algorithms to efficiently find
matches for large pattern sets by exploiting similarities between patterns. The
performance of MatchPy is investigated on several real-world problems
Genetic fuzzy system predicting contractile reactivity patterns of small arteries
Monitoring of physiological surrogate end points in drug development generates dynamic time-domain data reflecting the state of the biological system. Conventional data analysis often reduces the information in these data by extracting specific data points, thereby discarding potentially useful information. We developed a genetic fuzzy system (GFS) algorithm that is capable of learning all information in time-domain physiological data. Data on isometric force development of isolated small arteries were used as a framework for developing and optimizing a GFS. GFS performance was improved by several strategies. Results show that optimized fuzzy systems (OFSs) predict contractile reactivity of arteries accurately. In addition, OFSs identified significant differences that were undetectable using conventional analysis in the responses of arteries between groups. We concluded that OFSs may be used in clustering or classification tasks as aids in the objective identification or prediction of dynamic physiological behavior
Multi-site H-bridge breathers in a DNA--shaped double strand
We investigate the formation process of nonlinear vibrational modes
representing broad H-bridge multi--site breathers in a DNA--shaped double
strand.
Within a network model of the double helix we take individual motions of the
bases within the base pair plane into account. The resulting H-bridge
deformations may be asymmetric with respect to the helix axis. Furthermore the
covalent bonds may be deformed distinctly in the two backbone strands.
Unlike other authors that add different extra terms we limit the interaction
to the hydrogen bonds within each base pair and the covalent bonds along each
strand. In this way we intend to make apparent the effect of the characteristic
helicoidal structure of DNA. We study the energy exchange processes related
with the relaxation dynamics from a non-equilibrium conformation. It is
demonstrated that the twist-opening relaxation dynamics of a radially distorted
double helix attains an equilibrium regime characterized by a multi-site
H-bridge breather.Comment: 27 pages and 10 figure
Hydrocarbon plumbing systems of salt minibasins offshore Angola revealed by three-dimensional seismic analysis
Weatherability and Leach Resistance of Wood Impregnated with Nano-Zinc Oxide
Southern pine specimens vacuum-treated with nano-zinc oxide (nano-ZnO) dispersions were evaluated for leach resistance and UV protection. Virtually, no leaching occurred in any of the nano-ZnO–treated specimens in a laboratory leach test, even at the highest retention of 13 kg/m3. However, specimens treated with high concentrations of nano-ZnO showed 58–65% chemical depletion after 12 months of outdoor exposure. Protection from UV damage after 12 months exposure is visibly obvious on both exposed and unexposed surfaces compared to untreated controls. Graying was markedly diminished, although checking occurred in all specimens. Nano-zinc oxide treatment at a concentration of 2.5% or greater provided substantial resistance to water absorption following 12 months of outdoor exposure compared to untreated and unweathered southern pine. We conclude that nano-zinc oxide can be utilized in new wood preservative formulations to impart resistance to leaching, water absorption and UV damage of wood
New information on the Havelte Group site Ahrenshöft LA 58 D (Nordfriesland, Germany) - Preliminary results of the 2008 fieldwork
Late Glacial processes of human colonisation, adaptation and development represent a large field of study with a wide range of approaches. With respect to the archaeological succession from the classic Hamburgian to the Havelte Group, studies on the latter are still rare in Northern Germany. This paper aims to contribute to the chronological and archaeological characterization of the Havelte Group by presenting some new results from the Ahrenshöft LA 58 D site. Located in a micro-region rich in Late Glacial occupations, especially of the Hamburgian, the site was the subject of excavation in 1995. Questions regarding the homogeneity and chronological attribution of the site had been raised, leading to further fieldwork in 2008. This included palynological, micro-tephra and soil micromorphology analyses, which were partly supplemented by samples collected in 2009. The preliminary results presented here confirm the absence of indications of archaeological heterogeneity and, despite taphonomic difficulties, seem to confirm a recent age for the occupation, after the early Late Glacial Interstadial and within the Havelte Group
Effect of martensitic phase transformation on the behavior of 304 austenitic stainless steel under tension
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