Multiplet ligand-field theory using Wannier orbitals

We demonstrate how ab initio cluster calculations including the full Coulomb vertex can be done in the basis of the localized, generalized Wannier orbitals which describe the low-energy density functional (LDA) band structure of the infinite crystal, e.g. the transition metal 3d and oxygen 2p orbitals. The spatial extend of our 3d Wannier orbitals (orthonormalized Nth order muffin-tin orbitals) is close to that found for atomic Hartree-Fock orbitals. We define Ligand orbitals as those linear combinations of the O 2p Wannier orbitals which couple to the 3d orbitals for the chosen cluster. The use of ligand orbitals allows for a minimal Hilbert space in multiplet ligand-field theory calculations, thus reducing the computational costs substantially. The result is a fast and simple ab initio theory, which can provide useful information about local properties of correlated insulators. We compare results for NiO, MnO and SrTiO3 with x-ray absorption, inelastic x-ray scattering, and photoemission experiments. The multiplet ligand field theory parameters found by our ab initio method agree within ~10% to known experimental values

Installation and Test of the ATLAS Muon Endcap Trigger Chamber Electronics

For the detector commissioning planned in 2007, a sector assembly of the ATLAS muon endcap trigger chambers is being progressed in CERN. Final technical test of the electronics mounted on a sector must be made at this stage. For systematic test of the electronics (sector test), we have developed a DAQ system on top of the ATLAS online software framework. The system is not dedicated only for this test, but can be used also for the front-end detector part of the overall ATLAS DAQ system. In the presentation, the procedure, meaning and results of the sector test are discussed after brief introduction of the TGC electronics and the sector structure as a construction unit. We introduce plans of further detailed and elaborated tests for the whole system using cosmic ray and single halo muons when all the TGC sub-detector part is completed as concluding remark

Re-engineering an alphoid-HAC-based vector to enable high-throughput analyses of gene function

Human artificial chromosome (HAC)-based vectors represent an alternative technology for gene delivery and expression with a potential to overcome the problems caused by the use of viral-based vectors. The recently developed alphoid(tetO)-HAC has an advantage over other HAC vectors because it can be easily eliminated from cells by inactivation of the HAC kinetochore via binding of tTS chromatin modifiers to its centromeric tetO sequences. This provides unique control for phenotypes induced by genes loaded into the alphoid(tetO)-HAC. However, inactivation of the HAC kinetochore requires transfection of cells by a retrovirus vector, a step that is potentially mutagenic. Here, we describe an approach to re-engineering the alphoid(tetO)-HAC that allows verification of phenotypic changes attributed to expression of genes from the HAC without a transfection step. In the new HAC vector, a tTS-EYFP cassette is inserted into a gene-loading site along with a gene of interest. Expression of the tTS generates a self-regulating fluctuating heterochromatin on the alphoid(tetO)-HAC that induces fast silencing of the genes on the HAC without significant effects on HAC segregation. This silencing of the HAC-encoded genes can be readily recovered by adding doxycycline. The newly modified alphoid(tetO)-HAC-based system has multiple applications in gene function studies

How Do Honeybees Attract Nestmates Using Waggle Dances in Dark and Noisy Hives?

It is well known that honeybees share information related to food sources with nestmates using a dance language that is representative of symbolic communication among non-primates. Some honeybee species engage in visually apparent behavior, walking in a figure-eight pattern inside their dark hives. It has been suggested that sounds play an important role in this dance language, even though a variety of wing vibration sounds are produced by honeybee behaviors in hives. It has been shown that dances emit sounds primarily at about 250–300 Hz, which is in the same frequency range as honeybees' flight sounds. Thus the exact mechanism whereby honeybees attract nestmates using waggle dances in such a dark and noisy hive is as yet unclear. In this study, we used a flight simulator in which honeybees were attached to a torque meter in order to analyze the component of bees' orienting response caused only by sounds, and not by odor or by vibrations sensed by their legs. We showed using single sound localization that honeybees preferred sounds around 265 Hz. Furthermore, according to sound discrimination tests using sounds of the same frequency, honeybees preferred rhythmic sounds. Our results demonstrate that frequency and rhythmic components play a complementary role in localizing dance sounds. Dance sounds were presumably developed to share information in a dark and noisy environment

Sector logic implementation for the ATLAS endcap level-1 muon trigger

We present development of the Sector Logic for the ATLAS endcap Level-1 (LVL1) muon trigger. The muon tracks from the interaction point (IP) are bent by the magnetic fields induced by the ATLAS toroidal magnets. The Sector Logic reconstructs three dimensional muon tracks with six levels of transverse momentum (pT) by combining two sets (R-Z and φ-Z) of information from the Thin Gap Chamber (TGC) detectors. Then, it selects two highest pT tracks in each trigger sector. The Sector Logic module is designed in pipelined structure to achieve no-dead-time operation and shorter latency. Look-Up-Tables (LUTs) are used so that any pT threshold level can be set. To achieve these, we adopted SRAM embedded type FPGA devices. The design and its performance are given in this presentation