Environmental drivers of distribution and reef development of the Mediterranean coral Cladocora caespitosa

Cladocora caespitosa is the only Mediterranean scleractinian similar to tropical reef-building corals. While this species is part of the recent fossil history of the Mediterranean Sea, it is currently considered endangered due to its decline during the last decades. Environmental factors affecting the distribution and persistence of extensive bank reefs of this endemic species across its whole geographic range are poorly understood. In this study, we examined the environmental response of C. caespitosa and its main types of assemblages using ecological niche modeling and ordination analysis. We also predicted other suitable areas for the occurrence of the species and assessed the conservation effectiveness of Mediterranean marine protected areas (MPAs) for this coral. We found that phosphate concentration and wave height were factors affecting both the occurrence of this versatile species and the distribution of its extensive bioconstructions in the Mediterranean Sea. A set of factors (diffuse attenuation coefficient, calcite and nitrate concentrations, mean wave height, sea surface temperature, and shape of the coast) likely act as environmental barriers preventing the species from expansion to the Atlantic Ocean and the Black Sea. Uncertainties in our large-scale statistical results and departures from previous physiological and ecological studies are also discussed under an integrative perspective. This study reveals that Mediterranean MPAs encompass eight of the ten banks and 16 of the 21 beds of C. caespitosa. Preservation of water clarity by avoiding phosphate discharges may improve the protection of this emblematic species.Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness [CTM2014-57949-R]info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Enhancement of the ferromagnetic order of graphite after sulphuric acid treatment

We have studied the changes in the ferromagnetic behavior of graphite powder and graphite flakes after treatment with diluted sulphuric acid. We show that this kind of acid treatment enhances substantially the ferromagnetic magnetization of virgin graphite micrometer size powder as well as in graphite flakes. The anisotropic magnetoresistance (AMR) amplitude at 300 K measured in a micrometer size thin graphite flake after acid treatment reaches values comparable to polycrystalline cobalt.Comment: 3.2 pages, 4 figure

Ferromagnetic coupling and magnetic anisotropy in molecular Ni(II) squares

We investigated the magnetic properties of two isostructural Ni(II) metal complexes [Ni4Lb8] and [Ni4Lc8]. In each molecule the four Ni(II) centers form almost perfect regular squares. Magnetic coupling and anisotropy of single crystals were examined by magnetization measurements and in particular by high-field torque magnetometry at low temperatures. The data were analyzed in terms of an effective spin Hamiltonian appropriate for Ni(II) centers. For both compounds, we found a weak intramolecular ferromagnetic coupling of the four Ni(II) spins and sizable single-ion anisotropies of the easy-axis type. The coupling strengths are roughly identical for both compounds, whereas the zero-field-splitting parameters are significantly different. Possible reasons for this observation are discussed.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figure

Flavor Alignment in SUSY GUTs

A Supersymmetric Grand unified model is constructed based on SO(10)xSO(10) symmetry in which new types of Yukawa matrices couple standard and exotic fermions. Evolution of these couplings from the Grand Unified scale to the electroweak scale causes some of them to be driven to their fixed points. This solves the supersymmetric alignment problem and ensures that there are no observable flavor changing neutral currents mediated by supersymmetric particles. Fermion hierarchy and neutrino mixing constraints are automatically satisfied in this formalism.Comment: 20 pages, 1 figur

Neptunium Transport Behavior in the Vicinity of Underground Nuclear Tests at the Nevada Test Site

We used short lived {sup 239}Np as a yield tracer and state of the art magnetic sector ICP-MS to measure ultra low levels of {sup 237}Np in a number of 'hot wells' at the Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), formerly known as the Nevada Test Site (NTS). The results indicate that {sup 237}Np concentrations at the Almendro, Cambric, Dalhart, Cheshire and Chancellor sites, are in the range of 3 x 10{sup -5} to 7 x 10{sup -2} pCi/L and well below the MCL for alpha emitting radionuclides (15 pCi/L) (EPA, 2009). Thus, while Np transport is believed to occur at the NNSS, activities are expected to be well below the regulatory limits for alpha-emitting radionuclides. We also compared {sup 237}Np concentration data to other radionuclides, including tritium, {sup 14}C, {sup 36}Cl, {sup 99}Tc, {sup 129}I, and plutonium, to evaluate the relative {sup 237}Np transport behavior. Based on isotope ratios relative to published unclassified Radiologic Source Terms (Bowen et al., 1999) and taking into consideration radionuclide distribution between melt glass, rubble and groundwater (IAEA, 1998), {sup 237}Np appears to be substantially less mobile than tritium and other non-sorbing radionuclides, as expected. However, this analysis also suggests that {sup 237}Np mobility is surprisingly similar to that of plutonium. The similar transport behavior of Np and Pu can be explained by one of two possibilities: (1) Np(IV) and Pu(IV) oxidation states dominate under mildly reducing NNSS groundwater conditions resulting in similar transport behavior or (2) apparent Np transport is the result of transport of its parent {sup 241}Pu and {sup 241}Am isotopes and subsequent decay to {sup 237}Np. Finally, measured {sup 237}Np concentrations were compared to recent Hydrologic Source Term (HST) models. The 237Np data collected from three wells in Frenchman Flat (RNM-1, RNM-2S, and UE-5n) are in good agreement with recent HST transport model predictions (Carle et al., 2005). The agreement provides confidence in the results of the predictive model. The comparison to Cheshire HST model predictions (Pawloski et al, 2001) is somewhat ambiguous due to the low concentration resolution of the particle transport model

Actinide Sorption in Rainier Mesa Tunnel Waters from the Nevada Test Site

The sorption behavior of americium (Am), plutonium (Pu), neptunium (Np), and uranium (U) in perched Rainier Mesa tunnel water was investigated. Both volcanic zeolitized tuff samples and groundwater samples were collected from Rainier Mesa, Nevada Test Site, NV for a series of batch sorption experiments. Sorption in groundwater with and without the presence of dissolved organic matter (DOM) was investigated. Am(III) and Pu(IV) are more soluble in groundwater that has high concentrations of DOM. The sorption K{sub d} for Am(III) and Pu(IV) on volcanic zeolitized tuff was up to two orders of magnitude lower in samples with high DOM (15 to 19 mg C/L) compared to samples with DOM removed (< 0.4 mg C/L) or samples with naturally low DOM (0.2 mg C/L). In contrast, Np(V) and U(VI) sorption to zeolitized tuff was much less affected by the presence of DOM. The Np(V) and U(VI) sorption Kds were low under all conditions. Importantly, the DOM was not found to significantly sorb to the zeolitized tuff during these experiment. The concentration of DOM in groundwater affects the transport behavior of actinides in the subsurface. The mobility of Am(III) and Pu(IV) is significantly higher in groundwater with elevated levels of DOM resulting in potentially enhanced transport. To accurately model the transport behavior of actinides in groundwater at Rainier Mesa, the low actinide Kd values measured in groundwater with high DOM concentrations must be incorporated in predictive transport models

Constraining CP Violating Phases of the MSSM

Possible CP violation in supersymmetric (SUSY) extensions of the Standard Model (SM) is discussed. The consequences of CP violating phases in the gaugino masses, trilinear soft supersymmetry-breaking terms and the `mu' parameter are explored. Utilizing the constraints on these parameters from electron and neutron electric dipole moments, possible CP violating effects in B-physics are shown. A set of measurements from the B-system which would overconstrain the above CP violating phases is illustrated.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figure

Theory of Electric Field-Induced Photoluminescence Quenching in Disordered Molecular Solids

The dynamics of excitons in disordered molecular solids is studied theoretically, taking into account migration between different sites, recombination, and dissociation into free charge carriers in the presence of an electric field. The theory is applied to interpret the results of electric field-induced photoluminescence (PL) quenching experiments on molecularly doped polymers by Deussen et al. [Chem. Phys. 207, 147 (1996)]. Using an intermolecular dissociation mechanism, the dependence of the PL quenching on the electric field strength and the dopant concentration, and the time evolution of the transient PL quenching can be well described. The results constitute additional proof of the distinct exciton dissociation mechanisms in conjugated polymer blends and molecularly doped polymers.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX, 3 Postscript figure

A Testpart for Interdisciplinary Analyses in Micro Production Engineering

AbstractIn 2011, a round robin test was initiated within the group of CIRP Research Affiliates. The aim was to establish a platform for linking interdisciplinary research in order to share the expertise and experiences of participants all over the world. This paper introduces a testpart which has been designed to allow an analysis of different manufacturing technologies, simulation methods, machinery and metrology as well as process and production planning aspects. Current investigations are presented focusing on the machining and additive processes to produce the geometry, simulation approaches, machine analysis, and a comparison of measuring technologies. Challenges and limitations regarding the manufacturing and evaluation of the testpart features by the applied methods are discussed.Video abstrac