11,191 research outputs found
Upper atmosphere research: Reaction rate and optical measurements
The objective is to provide photochemical, kinetic, and spectroscopic information necessary for photochemical models of the Earth's upper atmosphere and to examine reactions or reactants not presently in the models to either confirm the correctness of their exclusion or provide evidence to justify future inclusion in the models. New initiatives are being taken in technique development (many of them laser based) and in the application of established techniques to address gaps in the photochemical/kinetic data base, as well as to provide increasingly reliable information
Multi-frequency study of Local Group Supernova Remnants The curious case of the Large Magellanic Cloud SNR J0528-6714
Aims. Recent ATCA, XMM-Newton and MCELS observations of the Magellanic Clouds
(MCs) cover a number of new and known SNRs which are poorly studied, such as
SNR J0528-6714 . This particular SNR exhibits luminous radio-continuum
emission, but is one of the unusual and rare cases without detectable optical
and very faint X-ray emission (initially detected by ROSAT and listed as object
[HP99] 498). We used new multi-frequency radio-continuum surveys and new
optical observations at H{\alpha}, [S ii] and [O iii] wavelengths, in
combination with XMM-Newton X-ray data, to investigate the SNR properties and
to search for a physical explanation for the unusual appearance of this SNR.
Methods. We analysed the X-ray and Radio-Continuum spectra and present
multi-wavelength morphological studies of this SNR.
Results. We present the results of new moderate resolution ATCA observations
of SNR J0528-6714. We found that this object is a typical older SNR with a
radio spectral index of {\alpha}=-0.36 \pm 0.09 and a diameter of D=52.4 \pm
1.0 pc. Regions of moderate and somewhat irregular polarisation were detected
which are also indicative of an older SNR. Using a non-equilibrium ionisation
collisional plasma model to describe the X-ray spectrum, we find temperatures
kT of 0.26 keV for the remnant. The low temperature, low surface brightness,
and large extent of the remnant all indicate a relatively advanced age. The
near circular morphology indicates a Type Ia event.
Conclusions. Our study revealed one of the most unusual cases of SNRs in the
Local Group of galaxies - a luminous radio SNR without optical counterpart and,
at the same time, very faint X-ray emission. While it is not unusual to not
detect an SNR in the optical, the combination of faint X-ray and no optical
detection makes this SNR very unique.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, Accepted for publication in A&
Beta3 integrin haplotype influences gene regulation and plasma von Willebrand factor activity
The Leu33Pro polymorphism of the gene encoding beta(3) integrin (ITGB3) is associated with acute coronary syndromes and influences platelet aggregation. Three common promoter polymorphisms have also been identified. The aims of this study were to (1) investigate the influence of the ITGB3 -400C/A, -425A/C and -468G/A promoter polymorphisms on reporter gene expression and nuclear protein binding and (2) determine genotype and haplotype associations with platelet alpha(IIb)beta(3) receptor density. Promoter haplotypes were introduced into an ITGB3 promoter-pGL3 construct by site directed mutagenesis and luciferase reporter gene expression analysed in HEL and HMEC-1 cells. Binding of nuclear proteins was assessed by electrophoretic mobility shift assay. The association of ITGB3 haplotype with platelet alpha(IIb)beta(3) receptor density was determined in 223 subjects. Species conserved motifs were identified in the ITGB3 promoter in the vicinity of the three polymorphisms. The GAA, GCC, AAC, AAA and ACC constructs induced approximately 50% increased luciferase expression relative to the GAC construct in both cell types. Haplotype analysis including Leu33Pro indicated five common haplotypes; no associations between ITGB3 haplotypes and receptor density were found. However, the GCC-Pro33 haplotype was associated with significantly higher vWF activity (128.6 [112.1-145.1]%) compared with all other haplotypes (107.1 [101.2-113.0]%, p=0.02). In conclusion, the GCC-Pro33 haplotype was associated with increased vWF activity but not with platelet alpha(IIb)beta(3) receptor density, which may indicate ITGB3 haplotype influences endothelial function
Microscopic mechanism for mechanical polishing of diamond (110) surfaces
Mechanically induced degradation of diamond, as occurs during polishing, is
studied using total--energy pseudopotential calculations. The strong asymmetry
in the rate of polishing between different directions on the diamond (110)
surface is explained in terms of an atomistic mechanism for nano--groove
formation. The post--polishing surface morphology and the nature of the
polishing residue predicted by this mechanism are consistent with experimental
evidence.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figure
Are you feeling lucky?:lottery-based scheduling for public displays
Scheduling content onto pervasive displays is a complex problem. Researchers have identified an array of potential requirements that can influence scheduling decisions, but the relative importance of these different requirements varies across deployments, with context, and over time. In this paper we describe the design and implementation of a lottery-based scheduling approach that allows for the combination of multiple scheduling policies and is easily extensible to accommodate new scheduling requirements
A novel multigrid method for electronic structure calculations
A general real-space multigrid algorithm for the self-consistent solution of
the Kohn-Sham equations appearing in the state-of-the-art electronic-structure
calculations is described. The most important part of the method is the
multigrid solver for the Schroedinger equation. Our choice is the Rayleigh
quotient multigrid method (RQMG), which applies directly to the minimization of
the Rayleigh quotient on the finest level. Very coarse correction grids can be
used, because there is no need to be able to represent the states on the coarse
levels. The RQMG method is generalized for the simultaneous solution of all the
states of the system using a penalty functional to keep the states orthogonal.
The performance of the scheme is demonstrated by applying it in a few molecular
and solid-state systems described by non-local norm-conserving
pseudopotentials.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figure
Adaptive mesh refinement versus subgrid friction interpolation in simulations of Antarctic ice dynamics
Geophysical Research Letters
The Stony Brook / SMARTS Atlas of mostly Southern Novae
We introduce the Stony Brook / SMARTS Atlas of (mostly) Southern Novae. This
atlas contains both spectra and photometry obtained since 2003. The data
archived in this atlas will facilitate systematic studies of the nova
phenomenon and correlative studies with other comprehensive data sets. It will
also enable detailed investigations of individual objects. In making the data
public we hope to engender more interest on the part of the community in the
physics of novae. The atlas is on-line at
\url{http://www.astro.sunysb.edu/fwalter/SMARTS/NovaAtlas/} .Comment: 11 figures; 5 table
Geometrical effects and signal delay in time-dependent transport at the nanoscale
The nonstationary and steady-state transport through a mesoscopic sample
connected to particle reservoirs via time-dependent barriers is investigated
within the reduced density operator method. The generalized Master equation is
solved via the Crank-Nicolson algorithm by taking into account the memory
kernel which embodies the non-Markovian effects that are commonly disregarded.
We propose a physically reasonable model for the lead-sample coupling which
takes into account the match between the energy of the incident electrons and
the levels of the isolated sample, as well as their overlap at the contacts.
Using a tight-binding description of the system we investigate the effects
induced in the transient current by the spectral structure of the sample and by
the localization properties of its eigenfunctions. In strong magnetic fields
the transient currents propagate along edge states. The behavior of populations
and coherences is discussed, as well as their connection to the tunneling
processes that are relevant for transport.Comment: 26 pages, 13 figures. To appear in New Journal of Physic
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