800 research outputs found
Using NuRadioMC to study the performance of UHE radio neutrino detectors
NuRadioMC is an open-source, Python-based simulation and reconstruction framework for radio detectors of ultra-high energy neutrinos and cosmic rays. Its modular design makes NuRadioMC suitable for use with a range of past, current and future detectors. In addition, the recent deployment
of a complete documentation as well as a pip release make NuRadioMC relatively easy to learn and use. Here, we outline the features currently available and under development in NuRadioMC, with a focus on its usage to simulate and study in-ice radio neutrino detectors
Ring closing reaction in diarylethene captured by femtosecond electron crystallography
The photoinduced ring-closing reaction in diarylethene, which serves as a model system for understanding reactive crossings through conical intersections, was directly observed with atomic resolution using femtosecond electron diffraction. Complementary ab initio calculations were also performed. Immediately following photoexcitation, subpicosecond structural changes associated with the formation of an open-ring excited-state intermediate were resolved. The key motion is the rotation of the thiophene rings, which significantly decreases the distance between the reactive carbon atoms prior to ring closing. Subsequently, on the few picosecond time scale, localized torsional motions of the carbon atoms lead to the formation of the closed-ring photoproduct. These direct observations of the molecular motions driving an organic chemical reaction were only made possible through the development of an ultrabright electron source to capture the atomic motions within the limited number of sampling frames and the low data acquisition rate dictated by the intrinsically poor thermal conductivity and limited photoreversibility of organic materials
Evolution of reproductive development in the volvocine algae
The evolution of multicellularity, the separation of germline cells from sterile somatic cells, and the generation of a male–female dichotomy are certainly among the greatest innovations of eukaryotes. Remarkably, phylogenetic analysis suggests that the shift from simple to complex, differentiated multicellularity was not a unique progression in the evolution of life, but in fact a quite frequent event. The spheroidal green alga Volvox and its close relatives, the volvocine algae, span the full range of organizational complexity, from unicellular and colonial genera to multicellular genera with a full germ–soma division of labor and male–female dichotomy; thus, these algae are ideal model organisms for addressing fundamental issues related to the transition to multicellularity and for discovering universal rules that characterize this transition. Of all living species, Volvox carteri represents the simplest version of an immortal germline producing specialized somatic cells. This cellular specialization involved the emergence of mortality and the production of the first dead ancestors in the evolution of this lineage. Volvocine algae therefore exemplify the evolution of cellular cooperation from cellular autonomy. They also serve as a prime example of the evolution of complex traits by a few successive, small steps. Thus, we learn from volvocine algae that the evolutionary transition to complex, multicellular life is probably much easier to achieve than is commonly believed
The Antares Collaboration : Contributions to the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2015, The Hague)
The ANTARES detector, completed in 2008, is the largest neutrino telescope in the Northern hemisphere. Located at a depth of 2.5 km in the Mediterranean Sea, 40 km off the Toulon shore, its main goal is the search for astrophysical high energy neutrinos. In this paper we collect the 21 contributions of the ANTARES collaboration to the 34th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2015). The scientific output is very rich and the contributions included in these proceedings cover the main physics results, ranging from steady point sources, diffuse searches, multi-messenger analyses to exotic physics
Visualization of grapevine root colonization by the Saharan soil isolate Saccharothrix algeriensis NRRL B-24137 using DOPE-FISH microscopy
Background and aim There is currently a gap of
knowledge regarding whether some beneficial bacteria
isolated from desert soils can colonize epi- and
endophytically plants of temperate regions. In this
study, the early steps of the colonization process of
one of these bacteria, Saccharothrix algeriensis NRRL
B-24137, was studied on grapevine roots to determine
if this beneficial strain can colonize a non-natural host
plant. An improved method of fluorescence in situ
hybridization (FISH), the double labeling of oligonucleotide
probes (DOPE)-FISH technique was used to
visualize the colonization behavior of such bacteria as well as to determine if the method could be used to
track microbes on and inside plants.
Methods A probe specific to Saccharothrix spp. was
firstly designed. Visualization of the colonization behavior
of S. algeriensis NRRL B-24137 on and inside
roots of grapevine plants was then carried out with
DOPE-FISH microscopy.
Results The results showed that 10 days after inoculation,
the strain could colonize the root hair zone, root
elongation zone, as well as root emergence sites by
establishing different forms of bacterial structures as
revealed by the DOPE-FISH technique. Further observations
showed that the strain could be also endophytic
inside the endorhiza of grapevine plants.
Conclusions Taking into account the natural niches of
this beneficial strain, this study exemplifies that, in
spite of its isolation from desert soil, the strain can
establish populations as well as subpopulations on and
inside grapevine plants and that the DOPE-FISH tool
can allow to detect it
All-sky Search for High-Energy Neutrinos from Gravitational Wave Event GW170104 with the ANTARES Neutrino Telescope
Advanced LIGO detected a significant gravitational wave signal (GW170104)
originating from the coalescence of two black holes during the second
observation run on January 4, 2017. An all-sky high-energy
neutrino follow-up search has been made using data from the ANTARES neutrino
telescope, including both upgoing and downgoing events in two separate
analyses. No neutrino candidates were found within s around the GW
event time nor any time clustering of events over an extended time window of
months. The non-detection is used to constrain isotropic-equivalent
high-energy neutrino emission from GW170104 to less than
erg for a spectrum
The ANTARES Collaboration: Contributions to ICRC 2017 Part I: Neutrino astronomy (diffuse fluxes and point sources)
Papers on neutrino astronomy (diffuse fluxes and point sources, prepared for
the 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2017, Busan, South Korea) by
the ANTARES Collaboratio
The ANTARES Collaboration: Contributions to ICRC 2017 Part III: Searches for dark matter and exotics, neutrino oscillations and detector calibration
Papers on the searches for dark matter and exotics, neutrino oscillations and
detector calibration, prepared for the 35th International Cosmic Ray Conference
(ICRC 2017, Busan, South Korea) by the ANTARES Collaboratio
The ANTARES Collaboration: Contributions to ICRC 2017 Part II: The multi-messenger program
Papers on the ANTARES multi-messenger program, prepared for the 35th
International Cosmic Ray Conference (ICRC 2017, Busan, South Korea) by the
ANTARES Collaboratio
Scientists' warning to humanity on insect extinctions
Here we build on the manifesto ‘World Scientists’ Warning to Humanity, issued by the Alliance of World Scientists. As a group of conservation biologists deeply concerned about the decline of insect populations, we here review what we know about the drivers of insect extinctions, their consequences, and how extinctions can negatively impact humanity. We are causing insect extinctions by driving habitat loss, degradation, and fragmentation, use of polluting and harmful substances, the spread of invasive species, global climate change, direct overexploitation, and co-extinction of species dependent on other species. With insect extinctions, we lose much more than species. We lose abundance and biomass of insects, diversity across space and time with consequent homogenization, large parts of the tree of life, unique ecological functions and traits, and fundamental parts of extensive networks of biotic interactions. Such losses lead to the decline of key ecosystem services on which humanity depends. From pollination and decomposition, to being resources for new medicines, habitat quality indication and many others, insects provide essential and irreplaceable services. We appeal for urgent action to close key knowledge gaps and curb insect extinctions. An investment in research programs that generate local, regional and global strategies that counter this trend is essential. Solutions are available and implementable, but urgent action is needed now to match our intentions.Peer reviewe
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