5,475 research outputs found
Efficient Methods for Generating Digital Charts
Near shore hydrographic surveying conducted for engineering works require high accuracy and high throughput because the results from these surveys serve as inputs in the engineering work cycle for cost estimates, design and construction purposes. Increasingly, this engineering work cycle is driven by the integrated process of computer-aided-engineering. Hence, the traditional end product of the hydrographic survey — the paper depth chart — can no longer satisfy the digital demands of many engineering organisations. A new product —the digital database, with the digital chart as a by-product of this digital database — is therefore urgently needed. This paper explains how inexpensive microcomputerbased digital charts can be generated from conventional analogue/digital hydrographic systems
Resonant x-ray scattering study on multiferroic BiMnO3
Resonant x-ray scattering is performed near the Mn K-absorption edge for an
epitaxial thin film of BiMnO3. The azimuthal angle dependence of the resonant
(003) peak (in monoclinic indices) is measured with different photon
polarizations; for the channel a 3-fold symmetric oscillation
is observed in the intensity variation, while the scattering
intensity remains constant. These features are accounted for in terms of the
peculiar ordering of the manganese 3d orbitals in BiMnO3. It is demonstrated
that the resonant peak persists up to 770 K with an anomaly around 440 K; these
high and low temperatures coincide with the structural transition temperatures,
seen in bulk, with and without a symmetry change, respectively. A possible
relationship of the orbital order with the ferroelectricity of the system is
discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure
Superclustering at Redshift Z=0.54
We present strong evidence for the existence of a supercluster at a redshift
of z=0.54 in the direction of Selected Area 68. From the distribution of
galaxies with spectroscopic redshifts we find that there is a large
over-density of galaxies (a factor of four over the number expected in an
unclustered universe) within the redshift range 0.530 < z < 0.555. By
considering the spatial distribution of galaxies within this redshift range
(using spectroscopic and photometric redshifts) we show that the galaxies in
SA68 form a linear structure passing from the South-West of the survey field
through to the North-East (with a position angle of approximately 35 deg East
of North). This position angle is coincident with the positions of the X-ray
clusters CL0016+16, RX J0018.3+1618 and a new X-ray cluster, RX J0018.8+1602,
centered near the radio source 54W084. All three of these sources are at a
redshift of approximately z=0.54 and have position angles, derived from their
X-ray photon distributions, consistent with that measured for the supercluster.
Assuming a redshift of 0.54 for the distribution of galaxies and a FWHM
dispersion in redshift of 0.020 this represents a coherent structure with a
radial extent of 31 Mpc, transverse dimension of 12 Mpc, and a thickness of
approximately 4 Mpc. The detection of this possible supercluster demonstrates
the power of using X-ray observations, combined with multicolor observations,
to map the large scale distribution of galaxies at intermediate redshifts.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figures, Latex, aaspp4.sty, accepted for publication in
Ap J Letters. Figure 3 and followup observations can be found at
http://tarkus.pha.jhu.edu/~ajc/papers/supercluster
Anisotropic strains and magnetoresistance of La_{0.7}Ca_{0.3}MnO_{3}
Thin films of perovskite manganite La_{0.7}Ca_{0.3}MnO_{3} were grown
epitaxially on SrTiO_3(100), MgO(100) and LaAlO_3(100) substrates by the pulsed
laser deposition method. Microscopic structures of these thin film samples as
well as a bulk sample were fully determined by x-ray diffraction measurements.
The unit cells of the three films have different shapes, i.e., contracted
tetragonal, cubic, and elongated tetragonal for SrTiO_3, MgO, and LaAlO_3
cases, respectively, while the unit cell of the bulk is cubic. It is found that
the samples with cubic unit cell show smaller peak magnetoresistance than the
noncubic ones do. The present result demonstrates that the magnetoresistance of
La_{0.7}Ca_{0.3}MnO_{3} can be controlled by lattice distortion via externally
imposed strains.Comment: Revtex, 10 pages, 2 figure
A Continuum Model for Soil-Pile-Structure Interactions Under Earthquake Excitation
An exact analytical method for the interaction analysis of a fully coupled soil-pile-structure system under seismic excitation is investigated in this paper. Only horizontal shaking induced by harmonic SH waves was considered. The soil mass, pile and building were all considered as elastic with hysteretic type damping. Geometrically, the soil is modeled as an elastic isotropic homogeneous continuum, and both pile and structures are simplified as beam models. The structure and piles are coupled through a rigid foundation at the ground level. Buildings of various heights in Hong Kong designed to withstand wind load were analyzed using the present model. Only the shaking at the ground level is considered in this study. It was discovered that the maximum shaking of the piled-structures at ground level is generally larger than that of a free field ground shaking except near the first natural frequency of the coupled soil-pile-structure system. This first resonant frequency depends strongly on the natural frequency of the structure
Quantitative Risk Assessment as Applied to Natural Terrain Landslide Hazard Management in a Mid-levels Catchment, Hong Kong
This paper presents a case study of the application of quantitative risk assessment techniques to a site-specific natural terrain hazard study in Hong Kong. The development of the landslide hazard and susceptibility models is described and salient details of the consequence model are given, including the assessment of debris flowpaths and runout using state-of-the-art Geographic Information System (GIS) tools and debris runout computer models. A synthesis of the risk quantification process and schematic design of risk mitigation works is presented
Simultaneous paralogue knockout using a CRISPR-concatemer in mouse small intestinal organoids
Approaches based on genetic modification have been invaluable for investigating a wide array of biological processes, with gain- and loss-of-function approaches frequently used to investigate gene function. However, the presence of paralogues, and hence possible genetic compensation, for many genes necessitates the knockout (KO) of all paralogous genes in order to observe clear phenotypic change. CRISPR technology, the most recently described tool for gene editing, can generate KOs with unprecedented ease and speed and has been used in adult stem cell-derived organoids for single gene knockout, gene knock-in and gene correction. However, the simultaneous targeting of multiple genes in organoids by CRISPR technology has not previously been described. Here we describe a rapid, scalable and cost effective method for generating double knockouts in organoids. By concatemerizing multiple gRNA expression cassettes, we generated a ‘gRNA concatemer vector’. Our method allows the rapid assembly of annealed synthetic DNA oligos into the final vector in a single step. This approach facilitates simultaneous delivery of multiple gRNAs to allow up to 4 gene KO in one step, or potentially to increase the efficiency of gene knockout by providing multiple gRNAs targeting one gene. As a proof of concept, we knocked out negative regulators of the Wnt pathway in small intestinal organoids, thereby removing their growth dependence on the exogenous Wnt enhancer, R-spondin1.A.A-R. is supported by the Medical Research Council (MRC), A.M.is supported by Wntsapp (Marie Curie ITN) and B-K.K. and R.M. are supported by a Sir Henry Dale Fellowship from the Wellcome Trust and the Royal Society [101241/Z/13/Z] and receive support through a core grant from the Wellcome Trust and MRC to the WT-MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute
Waste Water Force Main Pipe Construction Alternatives to Protect Existing Foundations in the City of Chandler: Case Study
To provide additional wastewater capacity and redundancy in South Chandler, Arizona, a new 28” High Density Polyethylene (HDPE) force main was installed from the upsized Kyrene Lift Station three miles east to tie into an existing 66” transmission sewer line. The force main was installed under the State Route Loop 202 (SR 202L) freeway through existing 48” steel casings constructed ten years prior. Additionally, the force main was constructed through a narrow Arizona Department of Transportation (ADOT) corridor, which required clearance from existing utilities, including overhead 69 kV power poles. Two locations required innovative solutions to both access the existing sleeves and cross the transmission power pole foundations: 1) crossing of the 69 kV power pole required detailed slope stability analysis and location specific trench backfilling; and 2) access to the existing 48” was within 15 feet of an existing ADOT sound wall. Various alternatives for access were analyzed in this paper including temporary shoring, sheet pile installation, and full wall replacement and reconstructing on drilled shafts. Based on the objectives above, the existing power pole does not have sufficient embedment for maximum design loads but is stable with reduced load factors and lower operation wind forces. Also, for construction issue with the existing ADOT sound wall, the temporary shoring and sheet piles used due to the geotechnical conditions and construction costs
Orbital ordering and enhanced magnetic frustration of strained BiMnO3 thin films
Epitaxial thin films of multiferroic perovskite BiMnO3 were synthesized on
SrTiO3 substrates, and orbital ordering and magnetic properties of the thin
films were investigated. The ordering of the Mn^{3+} e_g orbitals at a wave
vector (1/4 1/4 1/4) was detected by Mn K-edge resonant x-ray scattering. This
peculiar orbital order inherently contains magnetic frustration. While bulk
BiMnO3 is known to exhibit simple ferromagnetism, the frustration enhanced by
in-plane compressive strains in the films brings about cluster-glass-like
properties.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, accepted to Europhysics Letter
Chain Formation by Spin Pentamers in eta-Na9V14O35
The nature of the gapped ground state in the quasi-one-dimensional compound
eta-Na9V14O35 cannot easily be understood, if one takes into account the odd
number of spins on each structural element. Combining the results of specific
heat, susceptibility and electron spin resonance measurements we show that
eta-Na9V14O35 exhibits a novel ground state where multi-spin objects build up a
linear chain. These objects - pentamers - consist of five antiferromagnetically
arranged spins with effective spin 1/2. Their spatial extent results in an
exchange constant along the chain direction comparable to the one in the
high-temperature state.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
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