224 research outputs found
Rainfall-Runoff Simulation Using HEC-HMS Model in the Benanain Watershed, Timor Island
Floods in a watershed area are caused by reduced water recharge due to changes in land use, increasing their discharge volume. Benanain watershed is an extensive area with many tributaries. Watershed morphometrics provides initial information about the hydrological behavior and the hydrograph shape of flooding in these areas. Furthermore, rainfall-runoff modeling uses as a unit to approach the hydrological values of the flooding process. This study determines the physical characteristics of the Benanain watershed based on curve number (CN) values, land cover, peak discharge, and peak time. It was conducted on the Benanain watershed with 29 sub-watersheds covering 3,181.521 km2. Data were collected on the rainfall experienced for 13 years from 1996 to 2008 and analyzed using the Log Pearson Type III method, while the HEC HMS model was used for flood discharge analysis. HEC-HMS model must calibrate by adjusting the model parameter values until the model results match historical data such as initial abstraction, lag time, recession, baseflow values, and curve number.  The results show that the curve number values range from 56.55 - 73.90, comprising secondary dryland forest and shrubs. Moreover, the rock lithology in the Benanain watershed is dominated by scaly clay and other rock blocks. This means the area has low to very low permeability, which affects the volume of runoff. The return period of a 1000-year flood discharge obtained a peak of 5,794.50 m3/s, with a peak time of ± 14 hours. Morphometry of the Temef watershed with large catchment, radial shape pattern, an average of steep slope river, and meandering affects the peak of flood discharge hydrograph and the peak time of the flood.
Dirac Electrons in Molecular Solids
Electrons in solids are characterized by the energy bands, which indicate
that electrons are considered to be "elementary particles" with specific
effective masses and g-factors reflecting features of each solid. There are
cases where these particles obey dispersion relationship similar to those of
Dirac electrons. Examples include graphite and bismuth both of which are known
for many years, together with graphene, a single layer of graphite, recently
addressed intensively after its realization. Another recent example is a
molecular solid, alpha-ET2I3, which is described by an equation similar to Weyl
equation with massless Dirac cones but the coordinate axis is tilted because of
the location of cones at off-symmetry points. Orbital susceptibility of such
Dirac electrons in graphite and bismuth has been known to have striking
features not present in ordinary band electrons but resulting from the
inter-band matrix elements of magnetic field. Results of theoretical studies on
not only orbital susceptibility but also Hall effect of such Dirac electrons in
molecular solids with tilting are introduced in this paper.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figure
Anomalous exothermic and endothermic data observed by Nano-Ni-composite samples
This is an experimental paper summarizing the observations of anomalous data on excess heat, D(H)-loading and abrupt desorption with endothermic heat sink in Ni-nano-composite samples under D(H)-gas charging at both room and elevated temperatures, done by Kobe-Technova group in 2012-2013. Referring to our JCF12 paper (Y. Miyoshi et al., JCF-12-1) on Pd1Ni7/ZrO2 samples, experimental procedure and results reported for Ni/ZrO2, Cu0.21Ni0.21/ZrO2 and Cu0.08Ni0.36/ZrO2 samples (partially reported in our JCF13-15 paper by Sakoh et al.) will be summarized. We have reanalyzed time-dependent data for speculating heat releasing mechanisms during the long (several weeks) lasted phase of D(H)-loading-into-nano-metal. It seems that competing process of D(H)-gas sorption and desorption at the surface of nano-powders would be attributed to the mechanism. Burst-like heat peaks of η-values (in unit of eV per D(H)-take-in/out) were observed with anomalously high values reaching 600 eV/H-sorption, and with smaller [eta]-values for isotopic Dsorption than H-sorption, at 573K. Integrated heat values for several-week runs were reached at the levels of ca. 800eV/atom-Ni for Cu0.08Ni0.36/ZrO2 samples, which were about 10 times larger than those of Ni/ZrO2 samples and about 4 times larger than those of Cu0.21Ni0.21/ZrO2 samples, at temperatures of 523 to 573K
Ultra-stable performance of an underground-based laser interferometer observatory for gravitational waves
In order to detect the rare astrophysical events that generate gravitational
wave (GW) radiation, sufficient stability is required for GW antennas to allow
long-term observation. In practice, seismic excitation is one of the most
common disturbances effecting stable operation of suspended-mirror laser
interferometers. A straightforward means to allow more stable operation is
therefore to locate the antenna, the ``observatory'', at a ``quiet'' site. A
laser interferometer gravitational wave antenna with a baseline length of 20m
(LISM) was developed at a site 1000m underground, near Kamioka, Japan. This
project was a unique demonstration of a prototype laser interferometer for
gravitational wave observation located underground. The extremely stable
environment is the prime motivation for going underground. In this paper, the
demonstrated ultra-stable operation of the interferometer and a well-maintained
antenna sensitivity are reported.Comment: 8 pages, to appear on PR
Variation of proâvasopressin processing in parvocellular and magnocellular neurons in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus: Evidence from the vasopressinârelated glycopeptide copeptin
Arginine vasopressin (AVP) is synthesized in parvocellularâ and magnocellular neuroendocrine neurons in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus. Whereas magnocellular AVP neurons project primarily to the posterior pituitary, parvocellular AVP neurons project to the median eminence (ME) and to extrahypothalamic areas. The AVP gene encodes preâproâAVP that comprises the signal peptide, AVP, neurophysin (NPII), and a copeptin glycopeptide. In the present study, we used an Nâterminal copeptin antiserum to examine copeptin expression in magnocellular and parvocellular neurons in the hypothalamus in the mouse, rat, and macaque monkey. Although magnocellular NPIIâexpressing neurons exhibited strong Nâterminal copeptin immunoreactivity in all three species, a great majority (~90%) of parvocellular neurons that expressed NPII was devoid of copeptin immunoreactivity in the mouse, and in approximately half (~53%) of them in the rat, whereas in monkey hypothalamus, virtually all NPIIâimmunoreactive parvocellular neurons contained strong copeptin immunoreactivity. Immunoelectron microscopy in the mouse clearly showed copeptinâimmunoreactivity coâlocalized with NPIIâimmunoreactivity in neurosecretory vesicles in the internal layer of the ME and posterior pituitary, but not in the external layer of the ME. Intracerebroventricular administration of a prohormone convertase inhibitor, hexaâdâarginine amide resulted in a marked reduction of copeptinâimmunoreactivity in the NPIIâimmunoreactive magnocellular PVN neurons in the mouse, suggesting that low protease activity and incomplete processing of proâAVP could explain the disproportionally low levels of Nâterminal copeptin expression in rodent AVP (NPII)âexpressing parvocellular neurons. Physiologic and phylogenetic aspects of copeptin expression among neuroendocrine neurons require further exploration
Left atrial geometry in an ovine ischemic mitral regurgitation model:implications for transcatheter mitral valve replacement devices with a left atrial anchoring mechanism
Abstract Background Transcatheter mitral valve replacement (TMVR) is a challenging, but promising minimally invasive treatment option for patients with mitral valve disease. Depending on the anchoring mechanism, complications such as mitral leaflet or chordal disruption, aortic valve disruption or left ventricular outflow tract obstruction may occur. Supra-annular devices only anchor at the left atrial (LA) level with a low risk of these complications. For development of transcatheter valves based on LA anchoring, animal feasibility studies are required. In this study we sought to describe LA systolic and diastolic geometry in an ovine ischemic mitral regurgitation (IMR) model using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and echocardiography in order to facilitate future research focusing on TMVR device development for (I)MR with LA anchoring mechanisms. Methods A group of 10 adult male Dorsett sheep underwent a left lateral thoracotomy. Posterolateral myocardial infarction was created by ligation of the left circumflex coronary artery, the obtuse marginal and diagonal branches. MRI and echocardiography were performed at baseline and 8Â weeks after myocardial infarction (MI). Results Six animals survived to 8Â weeks follow-up. All animals had grade 2â+âor higher IMR 8Â weeks post-MI. All LA geometric parameters did not change significantly 8Â weeks post-MI compared to baseline. Diastolic and systolic interpapillary muscle distance increased significantly 8Â weeks post-MI. Conclusions Systolic and diastolic LA geometry do not change significantly in the presence of grade 2â+âor higher IMR 8Â weeks post-MI. These findings help facilitate future tailored TMVR device development with LA anchoring mechanisms
Infrared problem for the Nelson model on static space-times
We consider the Nelson model with variable coefficients and investigate the
problem of existence of a ground state and the removal of the ultraviolet
cutoff. Nelson models with variable coefficients arise when one replaces in the
usual Nelson model the flat Minkowski metric by a static metric, allowing also
the boson mass to depend on position. A physical example is obtained by
quantizing the Klein-Gordon equation on a static space-time coupled with a
non-relativistic particle. We investigate the existence of a ground state of
the Hamiltonian in the presence of the infrared problem, i.e. assuming that the
boson mass tends to 0 at infinity
Anisotropy, Phonon Modes, and Free Charge Carrier Parameters in Monoclinic ÎČ-Gallium Oxide Single Crystals
We derive a dielectric function tensor model approach to render the optical response of monoclinic and triclinic symmetry materials with multiple uncoupled infrared and far-infrared active modes. We apply our model approach to monoclinic ÎČ-Ga2O3 single-crystal samples. Surfaces cut under different angles from a bulk crystal, (010) and (2Ì
01), are investigated by generalized spectroscopic ellipsometry within infrared and far-infrared spectral regions. We determine the frequency dependence of 4 independent ÎČ-Ga2O3 Cartesian dielectric function tensor elements by matching large sets of experimental data using a point-by-point data inversion approach. From matching our monoclinic model to the obtained 4 dielectric function tensor components, we determine all infrared and far-infrared active transverse optic phonon modes with Au and Bu symmetry, and their eigenvectors within the monoclinic lattice. We find excellent agreement between our model results and results of density functional theory calculations. We derive and discuss the frequencies of longitudinal optical phonons in ÎČ-Ga2O3. We derive and report density and anisotropic mobility parameters of the free charge carriers within the tin-doped crystals. We discuss the occurrence of longitudinal phonon plasmon coupled modes in ÎČ-Ga2O3 and provide their frequencies and eigenvectors. We also discuss and present monoclinic dielectric constants for static electric fields and frequencies above the reststrahlen range, and we provide a generalization of the Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relation for monoclinic lattices with infrared and far-infrared active modes.We find that the generalized Lyddane-Sachs-Teller relation is fulfilled excellently for ÎČ-Ga2O3
Toward reconstructing the evolution of advanced moths and butterflies (Lepidoptera: Ditrysia): an initial molecular study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the mega-diverse insect order Lepidoptera (butterflies and moths; 165,000 described species), deeper relationships are little understood within the clade Ditrysia, to which 98% of the species belong. To begin addressing this problem, we tested the ability of five protein-coding nuclear genes (6.7 kb total), and character subsets therein, to resolve relationships among 123 species representing 27 (of 33) superfamilies and 55 (of 100) families of Ditrysia under maximum likelihood analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Our trees show broad concordance with previous morphological hypotheses of ditrysian phylogeny, although most relationships among superfamilies are weakly supported. There are also notable surprises, such as a consistently closer relationship of Pyraloidea than of butterflies to most Macrolepidoptera. Monophyly is significantly rejected by one or more character sets for the putative clades Macrolepidoptera as currently defined (<it>P </it>< 0.05) and Macrolepidoptera excluding Noctuoidea and Bombycoidea sensu lato (<it>P </it>†0.005), and nearly so for the superfamily Drepanoidea as currently defined (<it>P </it>< 0.08). Superfamilies are typically recovered or nearly so, but usually without strong support. Relationships within superfamilies and families, however, are often robustly resolved. We provide some of the first strong molecular evidence on deeper splits within Pyraloidea, Tortricoidea, Geometroidea, Noctuoidea and others.</p> <p>Separate analyses of mostly synonymous versus non-synonymous character sets revealed notable differences (though not strong conflict), including a marked influence of compositional heterogeneity on apparent signal in the third codon position (nt3). As available model partitioning methods cannot correct for this variation, we assessed overall phylogeny resolution through separate examination of trees from each character set. Exploration of "tree space" with GARLI, using grid computing, showed that hundreds of searches are typically needed to find the best-feasible phylogeny estimate for these data.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results (a) corroborate the broad outlines of the current working phylogenetic hypothesis for Ditrysia, (b) demonstrate that some prominent features of that hypothesis, including the position of the butterflies, need revision, and (c) resolve the majority of family and subfamily relationships within superfamilies as thus far sampled. Much further gene and taxon sampling will be needed, however, to strongly resolve individual deeper nodes.</p
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