3,688 research outputs found
A First Step Towards Automatically Building Network Representations
To fully harness Grids, users or middlewares must have some knowledge on the
topology of the platform interconnection network. As such knowledge is usually
not available, one must uses tools which automatically build a topological
network model through some measurements. In this article, we define a
methodology to assess the quality of these network model building tools, and we
apply this methodology to representatives of the main classes of model builders
and to two new algorithms. We show that none of the main existing techniques
build models that enable to accurately predict the running time of simple
application kernels for actual platforms. However some of the new algorithms we
propose give excellent results in a wide range of situations
Atmospheric nitrogen oxides (NO and NO2) at Dome C, East Antarctica, during the OPALE campaign
Mixing ratios of the atmospheric nitrogen oxides NO and NO2 were measured as part of the OPALE (Oxidant Production in Antarctic Lands & Export) campaign at Dome C, East Antarctica (75.1 degrees S, 123.3 degrees E, 3233 m), during December 2011 to January 2012. Profiles of NOx mixing ratios of the lower 100m of the atmosphere confirm that, in contrast to the South Pole, air chemistry at Dome C is strongly influenced by large diurnal cycles in solar irradiance and a sudden collapse of the atmospheric boundary layer in the early evening. Depth profiles of mixing ratios in firn air suggest that the upper snowpack at Dome C holds a significant reservoir of photolytically produced NO2 and is a sink of gas-phase ozone (O-3). First-time observations of bromine oxide (BrO) at Dome C show that mixing ratios of BrO near the ground are low, certainly less than 5 pptv, with higher levels in the free troposphere. Assuming steady state, observed mixing ratios of BrO and RO2 radicals are too low to explain the large NO2 : NO ratios found in ambient air, possibly indicating the existence of an unknown process contributing to the atmospheric chemistry of reactive nitrogen above the Antarctic Plateau. During 2011-2012, NOx mixing ratios and flux were larger than in 2009-2010, consistent with also larger surface O-3 mixing ratios resulting from increased net O-3 production. Large NOx mixing ratios at Dome C arise from a combination of continuous sunlight, shallow mixing height and significant NOx emissions by surface snow (F-NOx). During 23 December 2011-12 January 2012, median F-NOx was twice that during the same period in 20092010 due to significantly larger atmospheric turbulence and a slightly stronger snowpack source. A tripling of F-NOx in December 2011 was largely due to changes in snowpack source strength caused primarily by changes in NO3- concentrations in the snow skin layer, and only to a secondary order by decrease of total column O-3 and associated increase in NO3- photolysis rates. A source of uncertainty in model estimates of F-NOx is the quantum yield of NO3- photolysis in natural snow, which may change over time as the snow ages
Preference and usage of pasture versus free-stall housing by lactating dairy cattle
The aim of the current study was to assess if cows preferred pasture or indoor housing, and how diurnal and environmental factors affected this preference. Lactating dairy cows (n = 5 groups, each containing 5 cows) were sequentially housed either in a free-stall barn on pasture, or given the choice between the 2 environments. Each group was tested 3 times under each condition, for a total of 21 d, to assess the effects of varying climatic conditions (outdoor temperature ranged from 9.9 to 28.2°C and daily rainfall from 0 to 65 mm/d over the course of the experiment). When provided the choice, cows spent on average (± SD) 13.0 ± 0.6 h/d on pasture, mainly at night. The time cows spent on pasture during the day decreased with the temperature-humidity index (R2 = 0.55); time on pasture at night decreased with rainfall (R2 = 0.12). When provided a choice, cows spent more of their lying time on pasture (69.4 ± 0.02% of the total lying time/d) than indoors in the free-stalls. Cows also spent more time in total lying down when provided a choice than when confined to pasture [0.6 h/d more lying time; standard error of the difference (SED) = 0.21 h/d] and spent even more time lying down when confined indoors (1.1 h/d more time; SED = 0.21 h/d). Cows used the indoor housing especially for feeding; feeder use peaked when cows returned from morning and afternoon milkings. However, cows with free access to pasture spent 1.0 h/d (SED = 0.09 h/d) less time eating the TMR available indoors, resulting in a decline in intake of 2.9 kg of dry matter/d (SED = 0.36 kg of dry matter/d). How cows used the indoor housing differed when cows were provided a choice; for example, cows spent a greater percentage of their time indoors at the feed alley both during the day (47% of the total time spent indoors, versus 41% for cows confined indoors, SED = 0.02%) and at night (22 vs. 5%, SED = 0.04%). In conclusion, under the housing and environmental conditions tested, cows showed a strong preference for access to pasture at night and for access to indoor housing during the day when temperature and humidity increased
Selective amplification of scars in a chaotic optical fiber
In this letter we propose an original mechanism to select scar modes through
coherent gain amplification in a multimode D-shaped fiber. More precisely, we
numerically demonstrate how scar modes can be amplified by positioning a gain
region in the vicinity of specific points of a short periodic orbit known to
give rise to scar modes
An imaging and spectroscopic study of the very metal-deficient blue compact dwarf galaxy Tol 1214--277
We present a spectrophotometric study based on VLT/FORS I observations of one
of the most metal-deficient blue compact dwarf (BCD) galaxies known, Tol
1214-277 (Z ~ Zsun/25). The data show that roughly half of the total luminosity
of the BCD originates from a bright and compact starburst region located at the
northeastern tip of a faint dwarf galaxy with cometary appearance. The
starburst has ignited less than 4 Myr ago and its emission is powered by
several thousands O7V stars and ~ 170 late-type nitrogen Wolf-Rayet stars
located within a compact region with < 500 pc in diameter. For the first time
in a BCD, a relatively strong [Fe V] 4227 emission line is seen which together
with intense He II 4686 emission indicates the presence of a very hard
radiation field in Tol 1214-277. We argue that this extraordinarily hard
radiation originates from both Wolf--Rayet stars and radiative shocks in the
starburst region. The structural properties of the low-surface-brightness (LSB)
component underlying the starburst have been investigated by means of surface
photometry down to 28 B mag/sq.arcsec. We find that, for a surface brightness
level fainter than ~ 24.5 B mag/sq.arcsec, an exponential fitting law provides
an adequate approximation to its radial intensity distribution. The broad-band
colors in the outskirts of the LSB component of Tol 1214-277 are nearly
constant and are consistent with an age below one Gyr. This conclusion is
supported by the comparison of the observed spectral energy distribution (SED)
of the LSB host with theoretical SEDs.Comment: 17 pages, 11 Postscript figures, uses emulateapj.sty, to appear in
Astronomical Journa
Metaplastic woven bone in bone metastases: A Fourier-transform infrared analysis and imaging of bone quality (FTIR)
Most osteolytic tumors are in fact mixed and contain an osteoblastic component associated with the predominant osteolytic areas. This metaplastic woven bone is always evidenced by histological analysis even in the absence of radiological expression. Metaplastic bone formation reflects the activation of new osteoblasts coming from the stimulation of the dormant lining cells. Twelve patients with secondary metastases of the iliac crest evidenced by hot spots on a Tc-MBP san were diagnosed by histomorphometry on bone biopsies. Fourier Transformed InfraRed analysis and Imaging (FTIRI) was used on 4ÎĽm thick sections of undecalcified bone. The mineralization degree, carbonate substitution, crystallinity and the cross-links ratio of collagen (1660/1690cm bands) were determined. The matrix characteristics were analyzed and imaged in the pre-existing residual bone and in the metaplastic woven bone in the vicinity of the tumor cells. FTIRI provided images of the phosphate, amide and combination of peak ratio after having selected the peaks of interest. In addition, the matrix properties can be measured and compared between the old and newly-formed bones. Woven bone appeared poorly calcified with a low phosphate/amide ratio (P=0.03) crystallinity (P<0.0001) and carbonate substitution (P=0.003). Collagen was less mature as evidenced by lower cross-links (P=0.01). Woven bone associated with bone metastasis appears poorly mineralized and rapidly elaborated by osteoblasts. The collagenous phase of the bone matrix has a low level of reticulation. FTIRI is a powerful tool to measure and visualize the various components of the bone matrix in human diseases
Allochthonous Carbon-a Major Driver of Bacterioplankton Production in the Subarctic Northern Baltic Sea
Heterotrophic bacteria are, in many aquatic systems, reliant on autochthonous organic carbon as their energy source. One exception is low-productive humic lakes, where allochthonous dissolved organic matter (ADOM) is the major driver. We hypothesized that bacterial production (BP) is similarly regulated in subarctic estuaries that receive large amounts of riverine material. BP and potential explanatory factors were measured during May-August 2011 in the subarctic RAyenne Estuary, northern Sweden. The highest BP was observed in spring, concomitant with the spring river-flush and the lowest rates occurred during summer when primary production (PP) peaked. PLS correlations showed that similar to 60 % of the BP variation was explained by different ADOM components, measured as humic substances, dissolved organic carbon (DOC) and coloured dissolved organic matter (CDOM). On average, BP was threefold higher than PP. The bioavailability of allochthonous dissolved organic carbon (ADOC) exhibited large spatial and temporal variation; however, the average value was low, similar to 2 %. Bioassay analysis showed that BP in the near-shore area was potentially carbon limited early in the season, while BP at seaward stations was more commonly limited by nitrogen-phosphorus. Nevertheless, the bioassay indicated that ADOC could contribute significantly to the in situ BP, similar to 60 %. We conclude that ADOM is a regulator of BP in the studied estuary. Thus, projected climate-induced increases in river discharge suggest that BP will increase in subarctic coastal areas during the coming century.Peer reviewe
Colloidal stability of tannins: astringency, wine tasting and beyond
Tannin-tannin and tannin-protein interactions in water-ethanol solvent
mixtures are studied in the context of red wine tasting. While tannin
self-aggregation is relevant for visual aspect of wine tasting (limpidity and
related colloidal phenomena), tannin affinities for salivary proline-rich
proteins is fundamental for a wide spectrum of organoleptic properties related
to astringency. Tannin-tannin interactions are analyzed in water-ethanol
wine-like solvents and the precipitation map is constructed for a typical grape
tannin. The interaction between tannins and human salivary proline-rich
proteins (PRP) are investigated in the framework of the shell model for
micellization, known for describing tannin-induced aggregation of beta-casein.
Tannin-assisted micellization and compaction of proteins observed by SAXS are
described quantitatively and discussed in the case of astringency
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