Halo Properties in Cosmological Simulations of Self-Interacting Cold Dark Matter

We present a comparison of halo properties in cosmological simulations of collisionless cold dark matter (CDM) and self-interacting dark matter (SIDM) for a range of dark matter cross sections. We find, in agreement with various authors, that CDM yields cuspy halos that are too centrally concentrated as compared to observations. Conversely, SIDM simulations using a Monte Carlo N-body technique produce halos with significantly reduced central densities and flatter cores with increasing cross section. We introduce a concentration parameter based on enclosed mass that we expect will be straightforward to determine observationally, unlike that of Navarro, Frenk & White, and provide predictions for SIDM and CDM. SIDM also produces more spherical halos than CDM, providing possibly the strongest observational test of SIDM. We discuss our findings in relation to various relevant observations as well as SIDM simulations of other groups. Taking proper account of simulation limitations, we find that a dark matter cross section per unit mass of sigma_DM ~= 10^{-23}-10^{-24} cm^2/GeV is consistent with all current observational constraints.Comment: 14 pages, submitted to Ap

Molecular immunophenotyping of lungs and spleens in naive and vaccinated chickens early after pulmonary avian influenza A (H9N2) virus infection

In a respiratory-infection-model with the avian influenza A H9N2 virus we studied lung and splenic immune reactions in chickens using a recently developed 5K chicken immuno-microarray. Groups of chickens were either mock-immunized (referred to as non-immune), vaccinated with inactivated viral antigen only (immune) or with viral antigen in a water-in-oil (W/O) immunopotentiator (immune potentiated). Three weeks after vaccination all animals were given a respiratory infection. Immune potentiated birds developed inhibitory antiviral antibodies, showed minimal lung histopathology and no detectable viral sequences, while non-immune animals showed microscopic immunopathology and detectable virus. Immune birds, receiving antigen in saline only, showed minimal microscopic histopathology, and intermediate levels of virus detection. These classical features in the different groups were mirrored by overlapping or specific mRNA gene expression profiles in lungs and spleen using microarray analysis. To our knowledge this is the first study demonstrating pneumonia-associated lung pathology of the low pathogenic avian influenza H9N2 virus. Our data provide insights into the molecular interaction of this virus with its natural host when naive or primed by vaccination

The X-ray surface brightness distribution from diffuse gas

We use simulations to predict the X-ray surface brightness distribution arising from hot, cosmologically distributed diffuse gas. The distribution is computed for two bands: 0.5-2 keV and 0.1-0.4 keV, using a cosmological-constant dominated cosmology that fits many other observations. We examine a number of numerical issues such as resolution, simulation volume and pixel size and show that the predicted mean background is sensitive to resolution such that higher resolution systematically increases the mean predicted background. Although this means that we can compute only lower bounds to the predicted level, these bounds are already quite restrictive. Since the observed extra-galactic X-ray background is mostly accounted for by compact sources, the amount of the observed background attributable to diffuse gas is tightly constrained. We show that without physical processes in addition to those included in the simulations (such as radiative cooling or non-gravitational heating), both bands exceed observational limits. In order to examine the effect of non-gravitational heating we explore a simple modeling of energy injection and show that substantial amounts of heating are required (i.e. 5 keV per particle when averaged over all baryons). Finally, we also compute the distribution of surface brightness on the sky and show that it has a well-resolved characteristic shape. This shape is substantially modified by non-gravitational heating and can be used as a probe of such energy injection.Comment: 11 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Ap

A 275–425-GHz Tunerless Waveguide Receiver Based on AlN-Barrier SIS Technology

We report on a 275–425-GHz tunerless waveguide receiver with a 3.5–8-GHz IF. As the mixing element, we employ a high-current-density Nb–AlN–Nb superconducting–insulating– superconducting (SIS) tunnel junction. Thanks to the combined use of AlN-barrier SIS technology and a broad bandwidth waveguide to thin-film microstrip transition, we are able to achieve an unprecedented 43% instantaneous bandwidth, limited by the receiver's corrugated feedhorn. The measured double-sideband (DSB) receiver noise temperature, uncorrected for optics loss, ranges from 55 K at 275 GHz, 48 K at 345 GHz, to 72 K at 425 GHz. In this frequency range, the mixer has a DSB conversion loss of 2.3 1 dB. The intrinsic mixer noise is found to vary between 17–19 K, of which 9 K is attributed to shot noise associated with leakage current below the gap. To improve reliability, the IF circuit and bias injection are entirely planar by design. The instrument was successfully installed at the Caltech Submillimeter Observatory (CSO), Mauna Kea, HI, in October 2006

Integrated thermochronology and organic maturation studies in the South Portuguese Zone and Algarve Basin (South Portugal)

This PhD research project started in February this year. Its main goal is to combine apatite fission track analysis (AFTA) with other low-temperature thermochronometers (zircon fission track, (U-Th)/He apatite) to construct temperature-time paths for the South Portuguese Zone and the Algarve Basin

The Optimal Single Copy Measurement for the Hidden Subgroup Problem

The optimization of measurements for the state distinction problem has recently been applied to the theory of quantum algorithms with considerable successes, including efficient new quantum algorithms for the non-abelian hidden subgroup problem. Previous work has identified the optimal single copy measurement for the hidden subgroup problem over abelian groups as well as for the non-abelian problem in the setting where the subgroups are restricted to be all conjugate to each other. Here we describe the optimal single copy measurement for the hidden subgroup problem when all of the subgroups of the group are given with equal a priori probability. The optimal measurement is seen to be a hybrid of the two previously discovered single copy optimal measurements for the hidden subgroup problem.Comment: 8 pages. Error in main proof fixe

Effective and Feasible Photocatalytic Degradation of Janus Green B dye in Aqueous Media using PbS/CTAB Nanocomposites

In this Chapter, we demonstrated the synthesis of Lead sulphide by using low-cost chemical displacement method. We used thioacetamide for the source of sulphide ion and for the source metal salt; lead nitrate was used. The structural, morphological, metal percentage and optical properties of as synthesized nanoparticles are investigated by using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Uv-Visible spectra; Field emission gun Scanning electron microscopy (FEG-SEM) with EDS, Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), High-resolution transmission electron microscopy (HR-TEM) and Photoluminescence spectroscopy (PL).The average particle size of the nanoparticles from the x-ray diffraction is about 20 nm and also field emission gun Scanning electron microscopy shows good morphology and exhibited clearly cubic shape. Further, the photocatalytic degradation of Janus green B dye was measured by visible absorption spectroscopy. To obtain the optimal conditions for the dye degradation, the effect of various experimental parameters, i.e., pH, amount of nanoparticles, concentration of dye and light intensity on the rate of reaction was studied. It was found that the JGB dye degradation gave the best results at a pH of 7.0, dye concentration= 200 ppm and using a 70 mW·cm–2 light intensity with 0.5 g of PbS nanoparticles. At room temperature, the photocatalytic degradation of Janus green B dye was observed about 93.5%

Attenuation of FJ44 Turbofan Engine Noise with a Foam-Metal Liner Installed Over-the-Rotor

A Williams International FJ44-3A 3000-lb thrust class turbofan engine was used as a demonstrator for a Foam-Metal Liner (FML) installed in close proximity to the fan. Two FML designs were tested and compared to the hardwall baseline. Traditional single degree-of-freedom liner designs were also evaluated to provide a comparison. Farfield acoustic levels and limited engine performance results are presented in this paper. The results show that the FML achieved up to 5 dB Acoustic Power Level (PWL) overall attenuation in the forward quadrant, equivalent to the traditional liner design. An earlier report presented the test set-up and conditions

Geology of Tindfjallajökull volcano, Iceland

The geology of Tindfjallajökull volcano, southern Iceland, is presented as a 1:50,000 scale map. Field mapping was carried out with a focus on indicators of past environments. A broad stratocone of interbedded fragmental rocks and lavas was constructed during Tindfjallajökull’s early development. This stratocone has been dissected by glacial erosion and overlain by a variety of mafic to silicic volcanic landforms. Eruption of silicic magma, which probably occurred subglacially, constructed a thick pile of breccia and lava lobes in the summit area. Mafic to intermediate flank eruptions continued through to the end of the last glacial period, producing lavas, hyaloclastite-dominated units and tuyas that preserve evidence of volcano-ice interactions. The Thórsmörk Ignimbrite, a regionally important chronostratigraphic marker, is present on the SE flank of the volcano. The geological mapping of Tindfjallajökull gives insights into the evolution of stratovolcanoes in glaciated regions and the influence of ice in their development