ANU Radiocarbon Dating Laboratory, General Projects

The laboratory is playing an important role in a number of research projects. Indeed, there is a continuing and increasing need for laboratory generated research involving improvements in dating techniques, analysis, interpretation and reporting of results; parameters fundamental to the validity of dating such as environmental contamination and selection of applicable dating standards. Equally important is participation on a cooperative basis in research generated by other departments and institutions, often involving field work

Low-level gas multicounter for C-14 dating of small samples: Electronic, numerical and shielding optimisation

Up to 14 methane samples can be dated simultaneously in our compact gas multicounter. Sample detectors are 10 ml (NTP) in volume each. They are made of copper and linked to form two 7 detector rigid assemblies which are filled in situ. Monitoring of the counting conditions is enabled through multichannel analysis of the cosmic pulse height spectrum, which shows the changes in gas amplification due to impurities or leakage. HV is set (and adjusted) automatically using the cosmic peak. All individual events are stored on disc, including pulse height (PH), risetime (RT) (both 256 Ch), time of arrival (TA), detector identification, anticoincidence status and elapsed and live time. Software programs analyse and validate data. Numerical discrimination and manipulations of counting parameters can be performed without destroying the original data set. Statistical quality control is based on chi-square and Poisson distribution of count rates around their mean in user defined energy regions as weil as time of arrival of pulses mode. TA analysis offers the user an early means for recognizing some types of system malfunction that otherwise might remain undetected for Jong periods of time. RT analysis is used to discriminate sample beta pulses from environmental radiation pulses, resulting in a low background with compact and relat ively inexpensive shielding. The automatic high voltage setting, PH, RT and TA electronics as weil as the liquid scintillation anticoincidence systems are applicable to all existing gas counting systems. Delivery of the gas multicounter to the Australian National University is to take place at the end of the year 1984

Low-level liquid scintillation spectrometer for ß-counting

A new liquid scintillation (LS) spectrometer has been developed. lt improves the signal to noise ratio of C-14 assays by an order of magnitude compared to conventional LS systems. As a result, precision for a modern sample is 0.2 % and the dating limit is 64 Ky BP for a 15 ml sample of benzene. Sophisticated MCA facilities allow the use of Multiparameter Multichannel Analysis for data validation and age evaluation. Despite the high sophistication, the spectrometer, (named QUANTULUS) is seif contained, microprocessor controlled and user friendly. lt can be used with full advantage in a normal laboratory environment

Polymer reptation and nucleosome repositioning

We consider how beads can diffuse along a chain that wraps them, without becoming displaced from the chain; our proposed mechanism is analogous to the reptation of "stored length" in more familiar situations of polymer dynamics. The problem arises in the case of globular aggregates of proteins (histones) that are wound by DNA in the chromosomes of plants and animals; these beads (nucleosomes) are multiply wrapped and yet are able to reposition themselves over long distances, while remaining bound by the DNA chain.Comment: 9 pages, including 2 figures, to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Nucleosome repositioning via loop formation

Active (catalysed) and passive (intrinsic) nucleosome repositioning is known to be a crucial event during the transcriptional activation of certain eucaryotic genes. Here we consider theoretically the intrinsic mechanism and study in detail the energetics and dynamics of DNA-loop-mediated nucleosome repositioning, as previously proposed by Schiessel et al. (H. Schiessel, J. Widom, R. F. Bruinsma, and W. M. Gelbart. 2001. {\it Phys. Rev. Lett.} 86:4414-4417). The surprising outcome of the present study is the inherent nonlocality of nucleosome motion within this model -- being a direct physical consequence of the loop mechanism. On long enough DNA templates the longer jumps dominate over the previously predicted local motion, a fact that contrasts simple diffusive mechanisms considered before. The possible experimental outcome resulting from the considered mechanism is predicted, discussed and compared to existing experimental findings

Differences in Race Characteristics between World-Class Individual-Medley and Stroke-Specialist Swimmers

The purpose of the present study was to investigate differences between world-class individual medley (IM) swimmers and stroke-specialists using race analyses. A total of eighty 200 m races (8 finalists × 2 sexes × 5 events) at the 2021 European long-course swimming championships were analysed. Eight digital video cameras recorded the races, and the video footage was manually analysed to obtain underwater distance, underwater time, and underwater speed, as well as clean-swimming speed, stroke rate, and distance per stroke. Each lap of the IM races was compared with the first, second, third, and fourth laps of butterfly, backstroke, breaststroke, and freestyle races, respectively. Differences between IM swimmers and specialists in each analysed variable were assessed using an independent-sample t-test, and the effects of sex and stroke on the differences were analysed using a two-way analysis of variance with relative values (IM swimmers’ score relative to the mean specialists’ score) as dependent variables. Breaststroke specialists showed faster clean-swimming speed and longer distance per stroke than IM swimmers for both males (clean-swimming speed: p = 0.011; distance per stroke: p = 0.023) and females (clean-swimming speed: p = 0.003; distance per stroke: p = 0.036). For backstroke and front crawl, specialists exhibited faster underwater speeds than IM swimmers (all p < 0.001). Females showed faster relative speeds during butterfly clean-swimming segments (p < 0.001) and breaststroke underwater segments than males (p = 0.028). IM swimmers should focus especially on breaststroke training, particularly aiming to improve their distance per stroke

Validation of multi-body models for simulation in authorisation of rail vehicles

An application of multi-body simulations is to reduce the amount of vehicle on-track testing and present an opportunity for saving the time and costs of vehicle acceptance in regard to running characteristics. One of the objectives of the EU project DynoTRAIN was to define criteria and limits for vehicle model validation. The paper presents investigations carried out by comparing simulations with measurements from a testing campaign using a test train with 4 types of vehicles and a total of 10 force measuring wheelsets and accompanied with continuous measurement of track irregularities and rail profiles. The simulations were performed by using several vehicle models, built in different simulation tools by different partners. The results of the investigations and the criteria and limits proposed for the validation of multi-body vehicle models, intended for simulations of on-track tests, in the framework of railway vehicle authorisations are presented.Une application des simulations multi-corps consiste à réduire la quantité d'essais en ligne et à offrir une opportunité pour économiser le temps et les coûts d'acceptation des Îhicules en ce qui concerne les caractéristiques de fonctionnement dynamiques. L'un des objectifs du projet de l'UE DynoTRAIN était de définir des critères et des limites pour la validation du modèle de Îhicule. Le document présente des recherches effectuées en comparant des simulations avec des mesures à partir d'une campagne de test utilisant un train d'essai avec 4 types de Îhicules et un total de 10 essieux de mesure de force roue-rail et accompagnés d'une mesure continue des irrégularités de voie et des profils de rail. Les simulations ont été réalisées en utilisant plusieurs modèles de Îhicules, construits dans différents outils de simulation par différents partenaires. Les résultats des enquêtes et les critères et limites proposés pour la validation des modèles de Îhicules multi-corps, destinés à des simulations de tests sur voie réelle, dans le cadre des autorisations de Îhicules ferroviaires sont présentés

Sequence Effects on DNA Entropic Elasticity

DNA stretching experiments are usually interpreted using the worm-like chain model; the persistence length A appearing in the model is then interpreted as the elastic stiffness of the double helix. In fact the persistence length obtained by this method is a combination of bend stiffness and intrinsic bend effects reflecting sequence information, just as at zero stretching force. This observation resolves the discrepancy between the value of A measured in these experiments and the larger ``dynamic persistence length'' measured by other means. On the other hand, the twist persistence length deduced from torsionally-constrained stretching experiments suffers no such correction. Our calculation is very simple and analytic; it applies to DNA and other polymers with weak intrinsic disorder.Comment: LaTeX; postscript available at http://dept.physics.upenn.edu/~nelson/index.shtm

Performance of new technology liquid scintillation counters for 14C dating

The results are presented of an investigation comparing the performance of commercially available liquid scintillation spectrometers claiming 'low-level' radioisotope detection abilities. Determination of ¹⁴C at naturally occurring concentrations was carried out in both old and new technology liquid scintillation counters using a ¹⁴C labelled benzene sample with butyl-PBD as scintillant. The signal to noise ratio and the ¹⁴C detection efficiency were evaluated. The results show a wide range of merit for radiocarbon dating of so called 'low-lever instruments