2,223 research outputs found
The large-scale bias of the hard X-ray background
Recent deep X-ray surveys combined with spectroscopic identification of the
sources have allowed the determination of the rest-frame 2-8 keV luminosity as
a function of redshift. In addition, an analysis of the HEAO1 A2 2-10 keV
full-sky map of the X-ray background (XRB) reveals clustering on the scale of
several degrees. Combining these two results in the context of the currently
favored Lambda-CDM cosmological model implies an average X-ray bias factor,
b_x, of b_x^2 = 1.12 +- 0.33, i.e., b_x = 1.06 +- 0.16. These error estimates
include only statistical error; the systematic error sources, while comparable,
appear to be sub-dominant. This result is in contrast to the large biases of
some previous estimates and is more in line with current estimates of the
optical bias of L* galaxies.Comment: 6 pages, 3 eps figures, accepted for ApJ, vol. 612, 10 September 200
Nuclear Isomerism in Rhodium
Pontecorvo has recently pointed out that Rh^(104) emits numerous electrons of energy 35—60 kev. He ascribes these electrons to the internal conversion of the gamma-radiation emitted when the Rh^(104) nucleus goes from an excited state (4.2-minute period) to the ground state. From the ground state there is beta-emission which gives Pd^(104) and is ascribed to the 44-second period. The emission of the gamma-ray from the excited state is an alternative process to the direct emission of a beta-ray from the excited state. In this latter connection the beta-ray spectra associated with the two periods are of interest
Modeling of activated carbon and coal gasification char absorbents in single-solute and bisolute systems
A mathematical model of fixed-bed adsorption was used to predict the bed response to a sustained step change in influent concentration. The model was employed to compare the performance of different adsorbents in the removal of organics from water and to analyze factors that affect desorption owing to a decrease in influent concentration and to competitive adsorption. Model equations, which considered that film transfer and surface diffusion controlled the adsorption rate, were solved with the technique of orthogonal collocation. Three species, 3,5-dimethylphenol (DMP), 3,5-dichlorophenol (DCP) and rhodamine 6G (R6G), were the single solutes studied, and the two phenols were also examined as a mixture. Four activated carbons and a coal gasification char were the adsorbents studied. The model was used to compare the adsorbents in the removal of DMP, R6G and the bisolute mixtures and equilibrium capacity was found to have a greater influence than kinetics on fixed-bed performance. It was observed that, under conditions approximating a drinking water plant, the time during which the effluent concentration of a desorbed species was higher than the influent concentration was significant (on the order of weeks) whether a reduced influent concentration or competition was responsible for the desorption.U.S. Department of the InteriorU.S. Geological SurveyOpe
The Low Redshift survey at Calar Alto (LoRCA)
The Baryon Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) feature in the power spectrum of
galaxies provides a standard ruler to measure the accelerated expansion of the
Universe. To extract all available information about dark energy, it is
necessary to measure a standard ruler in the local, z<0.2, universe where dark
energy dominates most the energy density of the Universe. Though the volume
available in the local universe is limited, it is just big enough to measure
accurately the long 100 Mpc/h wave-mode of the BAO. Using cosmological N-body
simulations and approximate methods based on Lagrangian perturbation theory, we
construct a suite of a thousand light-cones to evaluate the precision at which
one can measure the BAO standard ruler in the local universe. We find that
using the most massive galaxies on the full sky (34,000 sq. deg.), i.e. a
K(2MASS)<14 magnitude-limited sample, one can measure the BAO scale up to a
precision of 4\% and 1.2\% using reconstruction). We also find that such a
survey would help to detect the dynamics of dark energy.Therefore, we propose a
3-year long observational project, named the Low Redshift survey at Calar Alto
(LoRCA), to observe spectroscopically about 200,000 galaxies in the northern
sky to contribute to the construction of aforementioned galaxy sample. The
suite of light-cones is made available to the public.Comment: 15 pages. Accepted in MNRAS. Please visit our website:
http://lorca-survey.ft.uam.es
Cohort Differences in Aging in Place Needs Among a Rural-Serving Area Agency on Aging Client Population
This study was conducted as part of a foundation-funded initiative to better coordinate the system of care in a rural New England area for older adults and individuals with chronic conditions and disabilities. It utilized a needs assessment in order to identify challenges and needs of area community members. Respondents included 347 individuals from the community, ranging from 55 to 105 years old, with a mean of 73.4 years old. Among the respondents, 57.7 percent lived along, 55.7 percent identified as having a chronic condition or disability, 70.3 percent lived in their own home, and 87.9 percent were not receiving any in-home care. Household repairs and help with household chores were among the most common needs. There was a high prevalence of difficulty with getting up after falls and social isolation, showing that implementation of interventions is crucial
A Road to Results: A Performance Measurement Guidebook for the Annie E. Casey Foundation's Education Program
Provides an overview of Casey's performance measurement process: how to select measures, set goals, and report results. Includes a measurement matrix; common measures of impact, influence, and leverage; and examples of highlights from grantee reports
Method and apparatus for destroying organic compounds in fluid
An apparatus for the photocatalytic oxidation of organic contaminants in fluid includes a reactor and a photocatalyst affixed to support material. Preferably, the outer wall of the reactor is constructed of material transmissive of ultraviolet radiation. The support material preferably is transmissive of ultraviolet radiation. The support material can also be an adsorbent material. Also, a method for photocatalytic oxidation of organic contaminants in fluid. Also, a method for preparation of a supported photocatalyst. Also, a supported photocatalyst adapted for the photocatalytic oxidation of organic contaminants in fluid. Also, a method for preparing a photocatalyst adapted for the photocatalytic oxidation of organic contaminants in fluid.https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/patents/1071/thumbnail.jp
Efficiency considerations in the construction of interpolated potential energy surfaces for the calculation of quantum observables by diffusion Monte Carlo
A modified Shepard interpolation scheme is used to construct global potential energy surfaces (PES) in order to calculate quantum observables--vibrationally averaged internal coordinates, fully anharmonic zero-point energies and nuclear radial distribution functions--for a prototypical loosely bound molecular system, the water dimer. The efficiency of PES construction is examined with respect to (a) the method used to sample configurational space, (b) the method used to choose which points to add to the PES data set, and (c) the use of either a one- or two-part weight function. The most efficient method for constructing the PES is found to require a quantum sampling regime, a combination of both h-weight and rms methods for choosing data points and use of the two-part weight function in the interpolation. Using this regime, the quantum diffusion Monte Carlo zero-point energy converges to the exact result within addition of 50 data points. The vibrationally averaged O-O distance and O-O radial distribution function, however, converge more slowly and require addition of over 500 data points. The methods presented here are expected to be applicable to both other loosely bound complexes as well as tightly bound molecular species. When combined with high quality ab initio calculations, these methods should be able to accurately characterize the PES of such species.D.L.C. would like to acknowledge the financial support
of an Australian Postgraduate Research Award. This work
has also been supported by Large Grant No. A00104447
from the Australian Research Council and by grants of computer
time from the Australian Partnership in Advanced
Computing (APAC) National Merit Allocation Scheme
Regeneration of adsorbents using advanced oxidation
The present invention is a method of purifying fluid having organic material. The method comprises two operational steps. The first step includes passing the fluid through an adsorbent such that the organic material is substantially adsorbed by the adsorbent and the fluid is substantially purified. The second step includes destroying the adsorbed organic material on the adsorbent and regenerating the adsorbent in a form substantially free of adsorbed organic material.https://digitalcommons.mtu.edu/patents/1115/thumbnail.jp
Measurement of Electron Trapping in the CESR Storage Ring
The buildup of low-energy electrons has been shown to affect the performance
of a wide variety of particle accelerators. Of particular concern is the
persistence of the cloud between beam bunch passages, which can impose
limitations on the stability of operation at high beam current. We have
obtained measurements of long-lived electron clouds trapped in the field of a
quadrupole magnet in a positron storage ring, with lifetimes much longer than
the revolution period. Based on modeling, we estimate that about 7% of the
electrons in the cloud generated by a 20-bunch train of 5.3 GeV positrons with
16-ns spacing and population survive longer than 2.3 s in a
quadrupole field of gradient 7.4 T/m. We have observed a non-monotonic
dependence of the trapping effect on the bunch spacing. The effect of a witness
bunch on the measured signal provides direct evidence for the existence of
trapped electrons. The witness bunch is also observed to clear the cloud,
demonstrating its effectiveness as a mitigation technique.Comment: 6 pages, 9 figures, 28 citation
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