Radiative proton-antiproton annihilation and isospin mixing in protonium

A detailed analysis of the radiative $p\bar p$ annihilation is made in the framework of a two-step formalism, the $p\bar p$ annihilates into meson channels containing a vector meson with a subsequent conversion into a photon via the vector dominance model (VDM). Both steps are derived from the underlying quark model. First, branching ratios for radiative protonium annihilation are calculated and compared with data. Then, details of the isospin interference are studied for different models of the initial protonium state and also for different kinematical form factors. The isospin interference is shown to be uniquely connected to the $p\bar p - n\bar n$ mixing in the protonium state. Values of the interference terms directly deduced from data are consistent with theoretical expectations, indicating a dominant $p\bar p$ component for the $^1S_0$ and a sizable $n\bar n$ component for the $^3S_1$ protonium state. The analysis is extended to the $p\bar p \to \gamma \Phi$ transition, where the large observed branching ratio remains unexplained in the VDM approach.Comment: 34 pages, RevTeX, 2 figures, to appear in Phys. Rev. C; typos correcte

LocaRDS: A Localization Reference Data Set

The use of wireless signals for the purposes of localization enables a host of applications relating to the determination and verification of the positions of network participants ranging from radar to satellite navigation. Consequently, this has been a longstanding interest of theoretical and practical research in mobile networks and many solutions have been proposed in the scientific literature. However, it is hard to assess the performance of these in the real world and, more importantly, to compare their advantages and disadvantages in a controlled scientific manner. With this work, we attempt to improve the current state of art methodology in localization research and to place it on a solid scientific grounding for future investigations. Concretely, we developed LocaRDS, an open reference data set of real-world crowdsourced flight data featuring more than 222 million measurements from over 50 million transmissions recorded by 323 sensors. We demonstrate how we can verify the quality of LocaRDS measurements so that it can be used to test, analyze and directly compare different localization methods. Finally, we provide an example implementation for the aircraft localization problem and a discussion of possible metrics for use with LocaRDS

High frequency monitoring of feeding activity in benthic suspension feeders

Suspension feeders ecosystem role and services are mainly driven by their efficiency in clearing particles from the water column. As such there is an interest on suspension feeders feeding activity and how they interact with the ecosystem. Advancing research on feeding response requires experimental designs where individuals can be exposed to continuously changing environments and where feeding activity can be monitored at a high frequency and at different time scales. However, interindividual variability or temporal dynamics in feeding behaviors cannot be investigated properly by the methods commonly used. There are several methods to monitor feeding activity of suspension feeders. Among them, the flow-through method allows individuals to be exposed to changing conditions. As with the other existing methods, the flow-through method is labor intensive limiting both the number of individuals that could be observed simultaneously and the time resolution of observations. The flow-through method is constrained by the need to measure the flow rate through the chambers and to take samples to determine particle concentration in the water. In this work, we automated the standard flow-through method using microcontroller based prototyping. The result is a methodological approach that continuously monitor feeding at high frequency and on a larger number of individuals while reducing handling and measurement errors. As such, this method brings a solution to the current limitations when studying suspension feeders feeding behaviors. This work provides the description and assessment of the automated set-up, which is an end to end solution that can readily assembled and configured.publishedVersio

Orbital and physical parameters of eclipsing binaries from the ASAS catalogue -- I. A sample of systems with components' masses between 1 and 2 M⊙_\odot

We derive the absolute physical and orbital parameters for a sample of 18 detached eclipsing binaries from the \emph{All Sky Automated Survey} (ASAS) database based on the available photometry and our own radial velocity measurements. The radial velocities (RVs) are computed using spectra we collected with the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope and its \emph{University College London Echelle Spectrograph} and the 1.9-m SAAO Radcliffe telescope and its \emph{Grating Instrument for Radiation Analysis with a Fibre Fed Echelle}. In order to obtain as precise RVs as possible, most of the systems were observed with an iodine cell available at the AAT/UCLES and/or analyzed using the two-dimensional cross-correlation technique (TODCOR). The RVs were measured with TODCOR using synthetic template spectra as references. However, for two objects we used our own approach to the tomographic disentangling of the binary spectra to provide observed template spectra for the RV measurements and to improve the RV precision even more. For one of these binaries, AI Phe, we were able to the obtain an orbital solution with an RV $rms$ of 62 and 24 m s$^{-1}$ for the primary and secondary respectively. For this system, the precision in $M \sin^3{i}$ is 0.08%. For the analysis, we used the photometry available in the ASAS database. We combined the RV and light curves using PHOEBE and JKTEBOP codes to obtain the absolute physical parameters of the systems. Having precise RVs we were able to reach $\sim$0.2 % precision (or better) in masses in several cases but in radii, due to the limited precision of the ASAS photometry, we were able to reach a precision of only 1% in one case and 3-5 % in a few more cases. For the majority of our objects, the orbital and physical analysis is presented for the first time.Comment: 16 pages, 2 figures, 6 tables in the main text, 1 table in appendix, to appear in MNRA

Reanalysis of two eclipsing binaries: EE Aqr and Z Vul

We study the radial-velocity and light curves of the two eclipsing binaries EE Aqr and Z Vul. Using the latest version of the Wilson & Van Hamme (2003) model, absolute parameters for the systems are determined. We find that EE Aqr and Z Vul are near-contact and semi-detached systems, respectively. The primary component of EE Aqr fills about 96% of its 'Roche lobe', while its secondary one appears close to completely filling this limiting volume. In a similar way, we find fill-out proportions of about 72 and 100% of these volumes for the primary and secondary components of Z Vul respectively. We compare our results with those of previous authors.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 10 table

Feeding plasticity more than metabolic rate drives the productivity of economically important filter feeders in response to elevated CO2 and reduced salinity

AbstractClimate change driven alterations in salinity and carbonate chemistry are predicted to have significant implications particularly for northern costal organisms, including the economically important filter feeders Mytilus edulis and Ciona intestinalis. However, despite a growing number of studies investigating the biological effects of multiple environmental stressors, the combined effects of elevated pCO2 and reduced salinity remain comparatively understudied. Changes in metabolic costs associated with homeostasis and feeding/digestion in response to environmental stressors may reallocate energy from growth and reproduction, affecting performance. Although these energetic trade-offs in response to changes in routine metabolic rates have been well demonstrated fewer studies have investigated how these are affected by changes in feeding plasticity. Consequently, the present study investigated the combined effects of 26 days’ exposure to elevated pCO2 (500 µatm and 1000 µatm) and reduced salinity (30, 23, and 16) on the energy available for growth and performance (Scope for Growth) in M. edulis and C. intestinalis, and the role of metabolic rate (oxygen uptake) and feeding plasticity [clearance rate (CR) and absorption efficiency] in this process. In M. edulis exposure to elevated pCO2 resulted in a 50% reduction in Scope for Growth. However, elevated pCO2 had a much greater effect on C. intestinalis, with more than a 70% reduction in Scope for Growth. In M. edulis negative responses to elevated pCO2 are also unlikely be further affected by changes in salinity between 16 and 30. Whereas, under future predicted levels of pCO2C. intestinalis showed 100% mortality at a salinity of 16, and a &amp;gt;90% decrease in Scope for Growth with reduced biomass at a salinity of 23. Importantly, this work demonstrates energy available for production is more dependent on feeding plasticity, i.e. the ability to regulate CR and absorption efficiency, in response to multiple stressors than on more commonly studied changes in metabolic rates.</jats:p

From AOP to UML: Towards an Aspect-Oriented Architectural Modeling Approach

Capturing concerns that crosscut the boundaries of multiple components in software architecture descriptions is problematic. Standard description languages, such as UML, do not provide adequate means to understand and modularize such concerns, but aspect-oriented programming techniques do. This paper explores and analyzes the suitability of UML for aspect-oriented architectural modeling. It takes a bottom-up approach, starting from the code level to the level of software architecture description, via aspect-oriented design, using standard UML