114 research outputs found

    Nonlinear Dynamics of a Bose-Einstein Condensate in a Magnetic Waveguide

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    We have studied the internal and external dynamics of a Bose-Einstein condensate in an anharmonic magnetic waveguide. An oscillating condensate experiences a strong coupling between the center of mass motion and the internal collective modes. Due to the anharmonicity of the magnetic potential, not only the center of mass motion shows harmonic frequency generation, but also the internal dynamics exhibit nonlinear frequency mixing. We describe the data with a theoretical model to high accuracy. For strong excitations we test the experimental data for indications of a chaotic behavior.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

    Impact of GST implementation on MSMEs- A Study with special reference to Bangalore City

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    Goods and Services Tax (GST) is a comprehensive tax levy on manufacture, sale and consumption of goods and services at a national level. The GST regime holds an enormous opportunity for various sectors of the economy and is expected to herald a new era of indirect tax regime. By replacing various indirect taxes, GST is expected to be a key step in the field of indirect tax reform in India. The uniform tax reform under GST is expected to provide a uniform market for MSMEs. By cutting down multiple taxes, this reform will increase the flexibility in transfer of goods, hence reducing the total business cost. While the lower Goods and Services Tax (GST) rates may lead to a decline in inflation, economic growth may not improve significantly in the short term even though it will benefit both India Inc and the government in the medium term. Present study carried out in Peenya Industrial area, Banglaore city with a random sample of 110 responses. It’s concluded that there is significant relationship between dependent variable GST impacts on MSMEs

    Calibration of a single atom detector for atomic micro chips

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    We experimentally investigate a scheme for detecting single atoms magnetically trapped on an atom chip. The detector is based on the photoionization of atoms and the subsequent detection of the generated ions. We describe the characterization of the ion detector with emphasis on its calibration via the correlation of ions with simultaneously generated electrons. A detection efficiency of 47.8% (+-2.6%) is measured, which is useful for single atom detection, and close to the limit allowing atom counting with sub-Poissonian uncertainty

    A propensity index for surface runoff on a karst plateau

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    Karst aquifers are an important water resource, but are particularly vulnerable to pollution due to the typically short residence times. As the rainwater runs off on the surface it may collect contamination from faeces and other sources, before infiltrating the surface. It is therefore important to understand the spatial distribution of the frequency of surface runoff in karst areas. This paper proposes a new field-mapping method for the ability of the landscape to produce and convey surface runoff. The mapping method is based on (i) prior spatial information (e.g. geological map, terrain model), (ii) a visual assessment from a distance at the landscape scale (e.g. traces of surface runoff) and (iii) local data collection in the field (e.g. soil moisture, grain size distribution). The focus on variables that can be assessed from a distance in the landscape makes the method suitable for mapping larger areas than traditional field mapping. The mapping method is developed and tested for the 60&thinsp;km2 Hochschwab area in Austria. The field mapping is used to specify a surface runoff propensity index which is tested against the spatial distribution of observed sink holes in the area. The mapping indicates that, in the study region, runoff occurs much more frequently in the poorly karstified dolomitic areas than in the limestone areas that are highly karstified. On dolomites, low permeable soils or debris prevail, often resulting in a permanent surface drainage network. On karstified limestone, sometimes overlaid by debris, surface runoff only occurs through infiltration excess at high rainfall intensities. Overall the analyses suggest that the mapping method is suitable for efficiently and reliably identifying spatial patterns of the ability of the landscape to produce and convey surface runoff in karst areas.</p

    Measurement of the optical absorption of bulk silicon at cryogenic temperature and the implication for the Einstein Telescope

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    International audienceWe report in this article on the measurement of the optical absorption of moderately doped crystalline silicon samples at 1550 nm, which is a candidate material for the main optics of the low temperature interferometer of the Einstein Telescope (ET). We observe a nearly constant absorption from room temperature down to cryogenic temperatures for two silicon samples presenting an optical absorption of 0.029 cm −1 and 780 ppm cm −1 , both crystals doped with boron. This is in contradiction to what was assumed previously—a negligible optical absorption at low temperature due to the carrier freezeout. As the main consequence, if the silicon intrinsic absorption can not be lowered , the cross section of the mirror suspension of the ET must be increased to be able to carry away the excess heat generated by the partially absorbed laser beam during the operation of the interferometer

    Indium joints for cryogenic gravitational wave detectors

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    A viable technique for the preparation of highly thermal conductive joints between sapphire components in gravitational wave detectors is presented. The mechanical loss of such a joint was determined to be as low as 2 × 10−3 at 20 K and 2 × 10−2 at 300 K. The thermal noise performance of a typical joint is compared to the requirements of the Japanese gravitational wave detector, KAGRA. It is shown that using such an indium joint in the suspension system allows it to operate with low thermal noise. Additionally, results on the maximum amount of heat which can be extracted via indium joints are presented. It is found that sapphire parts, joined by means of indium, are able to remove the residual heat load in the mirrors of KAGRA

    A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of flood management measures based on the concept of retaining water in the landscape in different European hydro-climatic regions

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    In this paper, we analyse the effectiveness of flood management measures based on the concept known as retaining water in the landscape . The investigated measures include afforestation, micro-ponds and small-reservoirs. A comparative and model-based methodological approach has been developed and applied for three meso-scale catchments located in different European hydro-climatological regions: Poyo (184 km2) in the Spanish Mediterranean, Upper Iller (954 km2) in the German Alps and Kamp (621 km2) in Northeast-Austria representing the Continental hydroclimate. This comparative analysis has found general similarities in spite of the particular differences among studied areas. In general terms, the flood reduction through the concept of retaining water in the landscape depends on the following factors: the storage capacity increase in the catchment resulting from such measures, the characteristics of the rainfall event, the antecedent soil moisture condition and the spatial distribution of such flood management measures in the catchment. In general, our study has shown that, this concept is effective for small and medium events, but almost negligible for the largest and less frequent floods: this holds true for all different hydro-climatic regions, and with different landuse, soils and morphological settings.Most of this research was done within the ERANET-Crue project "Room for the River", which was sponsored by: Lebensministerium (Austria), Bundesministerium fur Bildung und Forschung (Germany) and Ministerio de Ciencia y Educacion (Spain). 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    Mutants of the Drosophila ncd microtubule motor protein cause centrosomal and spindle pole defects in mitosis

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    Nonclaret disjunctional (ncd) is a kinesin-related microtubule motor protein required for meiotic and early mitotic chromosome distribution in Drosophila. ncd translocates on microtubules with the opposite polarity to kinesin, toward microtubule minus ends, and is associated with spindles in chromosome/spindle preparations. Here we report a new mutant of ncd caused by partial deletion of the predicted coiled-coil central stalk. The mutant protein exhibits a velocity of translocation and ability to generate torque in motility assays comparable to near full-length ncd, but only partially rescues a null mutant for chromosome mis-segregation. Antibody staining experiments show that the partial loss-of-function and null mutants cause centrosomal and spindle pole defects, including centrosome splitting and loss of centrosomes from spindle poles, and localize ncd to centrosomes as well as spindles of wild-type embryos. Association of ncd with spindles and centrosomes is microtubule- and cell cycle-dependent: inhibition of microtubule assembly with colchicine abolishes ncd staining and centrosomal staining is observed in prometaphase, metaphase and anaphase, but diminishes in late anaphase/telophase. The cell cycle dependence of centrosomal staining and the defects of mutants provide clear evidence for activity of the ncd motor protein near or at the spindle poles in mitosis. The ncd motor may interact with centrosomal microtubules and spindle fibers to attach centrosomes to spindle poles, and mediate poleward translocation (flux) of kinetochore fibers, a process that may underlie poleward movement of chromosomes in mitosis. Together with previous work, our findings indicate that ncd is important in maintaining spindle poles in mitosis as well as in meiosis

    Combination of microbiome analysis and serodiagnostics to assess the risk of pathogen transmission by ticks to humans and animals in central Germany

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    BackgroundArthropod-borne diseases remain a major health-threat for humans and animals worldwide. To estimate the distribution of pathogenic agents and especially Bartonella spp., we conducted tick microbiome analysis and determination of the infection status of wild animals, pets and pet owners in the state of Hesse, Germany.ResultsIn total, 189 engorged ticks collected from 163 animals were tested. Selected ticks were analyzed by next generation sequencing (NGS) and confirmatory PCRs, blood specimens of 48 wild animals were analyzed by PCR to confirm pathogen presence and sera of 54 dogs, one cat and 11 dog owners were analyzed by serology. Bartonella spp. were detected in 9.5% of all ticks and in the blood of 17 roe deer. Further data reveal the presence of the human and animal pathogenic species of genera in the family Spirochaetaceae (including Borrelia miyamotoi and Borrelia garinii), Bartonella spp. (mainly Bartonella schoenbuchensis), Rickettsia helvetica, Francisella tularensis and Anaplasma phagocytophilum in ticks. Co-infections with species of several genera were detected in nine ticks. One dog and five dog owners were seropositive for anti-Bartonella henselae-antibodies and one dog had antibodies against Rickettsia conorii.ConclusionsThis study provides a snapshot of pathogens circulating in ticks in central Germany. A broad range of tick-borne pathogens are present in ticks, and especially in wild animals, with possible implications for animal and human health. However, a low incidence of Bartonella spp., especially Bartonella henselae, was detected. The high number of various detected pathogens suggests that ticks might serve as an excellent sentinel to detect and monitor zoonotic human pathogens
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