2,595 research outputs found
Low temperature acoustic properties of amorphous silica and the Tunneling Model
Internal friction and speed of sound of a-SiO(2) was measured above 6 mK
using a torsional oscillator at 90 kHz, controlling for thermal decoupling,
non-linear effects, and clamping losses. Strain amplitudes e(A) = 10^{-8} mark
the transition between the linear and non-linear regime. In the linear regime,
excellent agreement with the Tunneling Model was observed for both the internal
friction and speed of sound, with a cut-off energy of E(min) = 6.6 mK. In the
non-linear regime, two different behaviors were observed. Above 10 mK the
behavior was typical for non-linear harmonic oscillators, while below 10 mK a
different behavior was found. Its origin is not understood.Comment: 1 tex file, 6 figure
Coherent theta oscillations in the cerebellum and supplementary motor area mediate visuomotor adaptation
The cerebellum and its interaction with cortical areas play a key role in our ability to flexibly adapt a motor program in response to sensory input. Current knowledge about specific neural mechanisms underlying the process of visuomotor adaptation is however lacking. Using a novel placement of EEG electrodes to record electric activity from the cerebellum, we studied local cerebellar activity, as well as its coupling with neocortical activity to obtain direct neurophysiological markers of visuomotor adaptation in humans. We found increased theta (4-8 Hz) power in "cerebellar" as well as cortical electrodes, when subjects first encountered a visual manipulation. Theta power decreased as subjects adapted to the perturbation, and rebounded when the manipulation was suddenly removed. This effect was observed in two distinct locations: a cerebellar cluster and a central cluster, which were localized in left cerebellar crus I (lCB) and right supplementary motor area (rSMA) using linear constrained minimum variance beamforming. Importantly, we found that better adaptation was associated with increased theta power in left cerebellar electrodes and a right sensorimotor cortex electrode. Finally, increased rSMA -> lCB connectivity was significantly decreased with adaptation. These results demonstrate that: (1) cerebellar theta power is markedly modulated over the course of visuomotor adaptation and (2) theta oscillations could serve as a key mechanism for communication within a cortico-cerebellar loop
Local Properties of the Potential Energy Landscape of a Model Glass: Understanding the Low Temperature Anomalies
Though the existence of two-level systems (TLS) is widely accepted to explain
low temperature anomalies in the sound absorption, heat capacity, thermal
conductivity and other quantities, an exact description of their microscopic
nature is still lacking. We performed computer simulations for a binary
Lennard-Jones system, using a newly developed algorithm to locate double-well
potentials (DWP) and thus two-level systems on a systematic basis. We show that
the intrinsic limitations of computer simulations like finite time and finite
size problems do not hamper this analysis. We discuss how the DWP are embedded
in the total potential energy landscape. It turns out that most DWP are
connected to the dynamics of the smaller particles and that these DWP are
rather localized. However, DWP related to the larger particles are more
collective
Long-term insect herbivory slows soil development in an arid ecosystem
Although herbivores are well known to alter litter inputs and soil nutrient fluxes, their long-term influences on soil development are largely unknown because of the difficulty of detecting and attributing changes in carbon and nutrient pools against large background levels. The early phase of primary succession reduces this signal-to-noise problem, particularly in arid systems where individual plants can form islands of fertility. We used natural variation in tree-resistance to herbivory, and a 15 year herbivore-removal experiment in an Arizona piñon-juniper woodland that was established on cinder soils following a volcanic eruption, to quantify how herbivory shapes the development of soil carbon (C) and nitrogen (N) over 36–54 years (i.e., the ages of the trees used in our study). In this semi-arid ecosystem, trees are widely spaced on the landscape, which allows direct examination of herbivore impacts on the nutrient-poor cinder soils. Although chronic insect herbivory increased annual litterfall N per unit area by 50% in this woodland, it slowed annual tree-level soil C and N accumulation by 111% and 96%, respectively. Despite the reduction in soil C accumulation, short-term litterfall-C inputs and soil C-efflux rates per unit soil surface were not impacted by herbivory. Our results demonstrate that the effects of herbivores on soil C and N fluxes and soil C and N accumulation are not necessarily congruent: herbivores can increase N in litterfall, but over time their impact on plant growth and development can slow soil development. In sum, because herbivores slow tree growth, they slow soil development on the landscape. http://dx.doi.org/10.1890/ES12-00411.
Templated growth of metal-organic coordination chains at surfaces
Line them up: Metal\u2013organic chains (see scanning tunneling microscopy image) have been created in situ by self\u2010organized growth at a metal surface under ultrahigh vacuum. These 1D arrangements of metal centers (Fe, Cu), regularly spaced by organic linkers such as trimesitylic acid, open new possibilities for the study of low\u2010dimensional magnetism
Solar flares with and without SOHO/LASCO coronal mass ejections and type II shocks
We analyse of a set of radio rich (accompanied by type IV or II bursts) solar
flares and their association with SOHO/LASCO Coronal Mass Ejections in the
period 1998 2000. The intensity, impulsiveness and energetics of these events
are investigated. We find that, on the average, flares associated both with
type IIs and CMEs are more impulsive and more energetic than flares associated
with type IIs only (without CME reported), as well as flares accompanied by
type IV continua but not type II shocks. From the last two classes, flares with
type II bursts (without CMEs reported) are the shortest in duration and the
most impulsive.Comment: Advances in Space Research, Volume 38, Issue 5, p. 1007-101
Developing more environmentally friendly and nutritious pea varieties
Non-Peer ReviewedPhytate is the major storage form of phosphorus in crop seeds, but is not well digested by humans
and non-ruminant animals. In addition, phytate chelates several essential micronutrients which are also
excreted contributing to phosphorus pollution in the environment. Environmental and nutritional concerns
led to the development of cultivars with the low phytate trait. The present study is aimed at biochemical
and molecular characterization of two low phytate pea mutant lines, 1-150-81 and 1-2347-144 developed
at the Crop Development Centre, University of Saskatchewan in collaboration with Dr. Victor Raboy,
USDA, Idaho. Biochemical characterization is in progress for the two low phytate lines, their progenitor,
CDC Bronco and CDC Meadow that were grown in replicated field trials at Saskatoon and Rosthern, SK
in 2010 and 2011. Samples of developing seeds were collected 7 days after pollination and at weekly
intervals thereafter until maturity. The concentration of phytate-phosphorus, isomeric forms of phytatephosphorus and inorganic phosphorus in these developing cotyledons and seed coats will be assessed
using colorimetric and HPLC methods. In this way, the pattern of phytate-phosphorus and inorganic
phosphorus accumulation will be determined in developing seeds.
Molecular characterization will include cloning, sequencing and mapping of the gene(s) associated
with the low phytate trait. Molecular markers will be developed based on the gene sequences.
Recombinant inbred lines (RILs) were developed from crosses between the two low phytate lines and
CDC Meadow. One set of RILs was evaluated in a field trial in Saskatchewan in 2011, and will be
evaluated again in 2012. The RILs will be genotyped using available microsatellite markers or SNP
markers and phenotyped using colorimetric and HPLC assays. These data will then be used to identify
the molecular marker(s) for the trait. The study will aid us to understand the nature of the low phytate
mutation(s). Significant potential benefits that we could expect out of the project include improved
bioavailability of phosphorus, iron and zinc in foods and feeds, less phosphorus excretion and
environmental pollution and a substantial saving in feed costs
Tomographic reconstruction of the runaway distribution function in TCV using multispectral synchrotron images
Synchrotron radiation observed in a quiescent Tokamak Configuration Variable (TCV) runaway discharge is studied using filtered camera images targeting three distinct wavelength intervals. Through the tomographic simultaneous algebraic reconstruction technique (SART) procedure the high momentum, high pitch angle part of the spatial and momentum distribution of these relativistic particles is reconstructed. Experimental estimates of the distribution are important for verification and refinement of formation-, decay- and transport-models underlying runaway avoidance and mitigation strategy design. Using a test distribution it is demonstrated that the inversion procedure provides estimates accurate to within a few tens of percent in the region of phase-space contributing most to the synchrotron image. We find that combining images filtered around different parts of the emission spectrum widens the probed part of momentum-space and reduces reconstruction errors. Next, the SART algorithm is used to obtain information on the spatiotemporal runaway momentum distribution in a selected TCV discharge. The momentum distribution is found to relax towards an avalanche-like exponentially decaying profile. Anomalously high pitch angles and a radial profile increasing towards the edge are found for the most strongly emitting particles in the distribution.Pitch angle scattering by toroidal magnetic field ripple is consistent with this picture. An alternative explanation is the presence of high frequency instabilities in combination with the formation of a runaway shell at the edge of the plasma. </p
Elastic response of [111]-tunneling impurities
We study the dynamic response of a [111] quantum impurity, such as lithium or
cyanide in alkali halides, with respect to an external field coupling to the
elastic quadrupole moment. Because of the particular level structure of a
eight-state system on a cubic site, the elastic response function shows a
biexponential relaxation feature and a van Vleck type contribution with a
resonance frequency that is twice the tunnel frequency . This
basically differs from the dielectric response that does not show relaxation.
Moreover, we show that the elastic response of a [111] impurity cannot be
reduced to that of a two-level system. In the experimental part, we report on
recent sound velocity and internal friction measurements on KCl doped with
cyanide at various concentrations. At low doping (45 ppm) we find the dynamics
of a single [111] impurity, whereas at higher concentrations (4700 ppm) the
elastic response rather indicates strongly correlated defects. Our theoretical
model provides a good description of the temperature dependence of
and at low doping, in particular the relaxation peaks, the absolute
values of the amplitude, and the resonant contributions. From our fits we
obtain the value of the elastic deformation potential eV.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figure
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