2,419 research outputs found
A photometric analysis of Abell 1689: two-dimensional multi-structure decomposition, morphological classification, and the Fundamental Plane
We present a photometric analysis of 65 galaxies in the rich cluster Abell
1689 at , using the Hubble Space Telescope Advanced Camera for Surveys
archive images in the rest-frame -band. We perform two-dimensional
multi-component photometric decomposition of each galaxy adopting different
models of the surface-brightness distribution. We present an accurate
morphological classification for each of the sample galaxies. For 50 early-type
galaxies, we fit both a de Vaucouleurs and S\'ersic law; S0s are modelled by
also including a disc component described by an exponential law. Bars of SB0s
are described by the profile of a Ferrers ellipsoid. For the 15 spirals, we
model a S\'ersic bulge, exponential disc, and, when required, a Ferrers bar
component. We derive the Fundamental Plane by fitting 40 early-type galaxies in
the sample, using different surface-brightness distributions. We find that the
tightest plane is that derived by S\'ersic bulges. We find that bulges of
spirals lie on the same relation. The Fundamental Plane is better defined by
the bulges alone rather than the entire galaxies. Comparison with local samples
shows both an offset and rotation in the Fundamental Plane of Abell 1689.Comment: 53 pages, 71 figures, MNRAS in pres
Non-equilibrium hysteresis and spin relaxation in the mixed-anisotropy dipolar coupled spin-glass LiHoErF
We present a study of the model spin-glass LiHoErF using
simultaneous AC susceptibility, magnetization and magnetocaloric effect
measurements along with small angle neutron scattering (SANS) at sub-Kelvin
temperatures. All measured bulk quantities reveal hysteretic behavior when the
field is applied along the crystallographic c axis. Furthermore avalanche-like
relaxation is observed in a static field after ramping from the
zero-field-cooled state up to Oe. SANS measurements are employed to
track the microscopic spin reconfiguration throughout both the hysteresis loop
and the related relaxation. Comparing the SANS data to inhomogeneous mean-field
calculations performed on a box of one million unit cells provides a real-space
picture of the spin configuration. We discover that the avalanche is being
driven by released Zeeman energy, which heats the sample and creates positive
feedback, continuing the avalanche. The combination of SANS and mean-field
simulations reveal that the conventional distribution of cluster sizes is
replaced by one with a depletion of intermediate cluster sizes for much of the
hysteresis loop.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figure
Emission of correlated photon pairs from superluminal perturbations in dispersive media
We develop a perturbative theory that describes a superluminal refractive
perturbation propagating in a dispersive medium and the subsequent excitation
of the quantum vacuum zero-point fluctuations. We find a process similar to the
anomalous Doppler effect: photons are emitted in correlated pairs and mainly
within a Cerenkov-like cone, one on the forward and the other in backward
directions. The number of photon pairs emitted from the perturbation increases
strongly with the degree of superluminality and under realizable experimental
conditions, it can reach up to ~0.01 photons per pulse. Moreover, it is in
principle possible to engineer the host medium so as to modify the effective
group refractive index. In the presence of "fast light" media, e.g. a with
group index smaller than unity, a further ~10x enhancement may be achieved and
the photon emission spectrum is characterized by two sharp peaks that, in
future experiments would clearly identify the correlated emission of photon
pairs.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
Drift-induced deceleration of Solar Energetic Particles
We investigate the deceleration of Solar Energetic Particles (SEPs) during their propagation from the Sun through interplanetary space, in the presence of weak to strong scattering in a Parker spiral configuration, using relativistic full orbit test particle simulations. The calculations retain all three spatial variables describing particlesâ trajectories, allowing to model any transport across the magnetic field. Large energy change is shown to occur for protons, due to the combined effect of standard adiabatic deceleration and a significant contribution from particle drift in the direction opposite to that of the solar wind electric field. The latter drift-induced deceleration is found to have a stronger effect for SEP energies than for galactic cosmic rays. The kinetic energy of protons injected at 1 MeV is found to be reduced by between 35 and 90% after four days, and for protons injected at 100 MeV by between 20 and 55%. The overall degree of deceleration is a weak function of the scattering mean free path, showing that, although adiabatic deceleration plays a role, a large contribution is due to particle drift. Current SEP transport models are found to account for drift-induced deceleration in an approximate way and their accuracy will need to be assessed in future work
Desempenho em conversĂŁo alimentar de suĂnos Landrace e Large White e o potencial econĂŽmico de sua melhora genĂ©tica.
bitstream/item/59099/1/CUsersPiazzonDocuments97.pd
Identifying predictors for energy poverty in Europe using machine learning
In this paper we identify drivers for energy poverty in Europe using machine learning. The establishment of predictors for energy poverty valid across countries is a call made by many experts, since it could provide a basis to effectively target energy-poor households with adequate policy measures. We apply a âlow income, high expenditureâ framework that classifies households as being at risk of energy poverty to a dataset from a survey conducted at the household-level in 11 European countries with vastly different economies, cultures, and climates. A gradient boosting classifier is successfully trained on a set of socio-economic features hypothesized as predictors for energy poverty in this diverse set of countries. The classifier's internal model is analyzed, providing novel insights into the intricacies that underlie energy poverty. We find that besides the main driver - income - floor area and household size can be confirmed as predictors. Our results suggest the presence of universal predictors that are valid across Europe, and contextual ones that are governed by local characteristics. To facilitate advanced research into energy poverty in Europe, we recommend to increase and streamline household data collection efforts, both at the country- and EU-level
Adaptive differences in circadian clock gene expression patterns and photoperiodic diapause induction in <i>Nasonia vitripennis</i>
Day length (photoperiod) and temperature oscillate daily and seasonally and are important cues for season-dependent behavior. Larval diapause of the parasitoid Nasonia vitripennis is maternally induced following a certain number of days (switch point) of a given critical photoperiod (CPP). Both the switch point and the CPP follow a latitudinal cline in European N. vitripennis populations. We previously showed that allelic frequencies of the clock gene period correlate with this diapause induction cline. Here we report that circadian expression of four clock genes-period (per), cryptochrome-2 (cry-2), clock (clk), and cycle (cyc)-oscillates as a function of photoperiod and latitude of origin in wasps from populations from the extremes of the cline. Expression amplitudes are lower in northern wasps, indicating a weaker, more plastic clock. Northern wasps also have a later onset of activity and longer free-running rhythms under constant conditions. RNA interference of per caused speeding up of the circadian clock, changed the expression of other clock genes, and delayed diapause in both southern and northern wasps. These results point toward adaptive latitudinal clock gene expression differences and to a key role of per in the timing of photoperiodic diapause induction of N. vitripennis.</p
Corte da cauda em leitÔes: Estudo comparativo de dois métodos.
bitstream/item/58755/1/CUsersPiazzonDocuments173.pd
Internationalisation, cultural distance and country characteristics: a Bayesian analysis of SME's financial performance
Relying on the accounting data of a panel of 403 Italian manufacturing SMEs collected over a period of 5 years, we find results suggesting that multinationality per se does not impact on the economic performance of international small and medium sized firms. It is the characteristics of the country selected i.e. the political hazard, the financial stability and the economic performance that significantly influence SMEs financial performance. The management implication for small and medium sized firms selecting and entering new geographic markets is significant, since our results show that for SMEs it is the market selection process that really matters and not the degree of multinationality
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