43,828 research outputs found
Assessing digital preservation frameworks: the approach of the SHAMAN project
How can we deliver infrastructure capable of supporting the
preservation of digital objects, as well as the services that can be applied to those digital objects, in ways that future unknown systems will understand? A critical problem in developing systems is the process of validating whether the delivered solution effectively reflects the validated requirements. This is a challenge also for the EU-funded SHAMAN project, which aims to develop an integrated preservation framework using grid-technologies for distributed networks of digital preservation systems, for managing the storage, access, presentation, and manipulation of digital objects over time. Recognising this, the project team ensured that alongside the user requirements an assessment framework was developed. This paper presents the assessment of the SHAMAN demonstrators for the memory institution, industrial design and engineering and eScience domains, from the point of view of
user’s needs and fitness for purpose. An innovative synergistic use of TRAC criteria, DRAMBORA risk registry and mitigation strategies, iRODS rules and information system models requirements has been designed, with the underlying goal to define associated policies, rules and state information, and make them wherever possible machine-encodable and enforceable. The described assessment framework can be valuable not only for the implementers of this project preservation framework, but for the wider digital preservation community, because it provides a
holistic approach to assessing and validating the preservation of digital libraries, digital repositories and data centres
Effective field theory calculation of second post-Newtonian binary dynamics
We use the effective field theory for gravitational bound states, proposed by
Goldberger and Rothstein, to compute the interaction Lagrangian of a binary
system at the second Post-Newtonian order. Throughout the calculation, we use a
metric parametrization based on a temporal Kaluza-Klein decomposition and test
the claim by Kol and Smolkin that this parametrization provides important
calculational advantages. We demonstrate how to use the effective field theory
method efficiently in precision calculations, and we reproduce known results
for the second Post-Newtonian order equations of motion in harmonic gauge in a
straightforward manner.Comment: Replaced with published versio
Macular Bioaccelerometers on Earth and in Space
Space flight offers the opportunity to study linear bioaccelerometers (vestibular maculas) in the virtual absence of a primary stimulus, gravitational acceleration. Macular research in space is particularly important to NASA because the bioaccelerometers are proving to be weighted neural networks in which information is distributed for parallel processing. Neural networks are plastic and highly adaptive to new environments. Combined morphological-physiological studies of maculas fixed in space and following flight should reveal macular adaptive responses to microgravity, and their time-course. Ground-based research, already begun, using computer-assisted, 3-dimensional reconstruction of macular terminal fields will lead to development of computer models of functioning maculas. This research should continue in conjunction with physiological studies, including work with multichannel electrodes. The results of such a combined effort could usher in a new era in understanding vestibular function on Earth and in space. They can also provide a rational basis for counter-measures to space motion sickness, which may prove troublesome as space voyager encounter new gravitational fields on planets, or must re-adapt to 1 g upon return to earth
The construction and evaluation of a word pronunciation test for grades four, five, and six
Thesis (Ed.M.)--Boston Universit
Charge-Focusing Readout of Time Projection Chambers
Time projection chambers (TPCs) have found a wide range of applications in
particle physics, nuclear physics, and homeland security. For TPCs with
high-resolution readout, the readout electronics often dominate the price of
the final detector. We have developed a novel method which could be used to
build large-scale detectors while limiting the necessary readout area. By
focusing the drift charge with static electric fields, we would allow a small
area of electronics to be sensitive to particle detection for a much larger
detector volume. The resulting cost reduction could be important in areas of
research which demand large-scale detectors, including dark matter searches and
detection of special nuclear material. We present simulations made using the
software package Garfield of a focusing structure to be used with a prototype
TPC with pixel readout. This design should enable significant focusing while
retaining directional sensitivity to incoming particles. We also present first
experimental results and compare them with simulation.Comment: 5 pages, 17 figures, Presented at IEEE Nuclear Science Symposium 201
Connexin36 knockout mice display increased sensitivity to pentylenetetrazol-induced seizure-like behaviors
Large-scale synchronous firing of neurons during seizures is modulated by electrotonic coupling between neurons via gap junctions. To explore roles for connexin36 (Cx36) gap junctions in seizures, we examined the seizure threshold of connexin36 knockout (Cx36KO) mice using a pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) model
Orbifold Family Unification
We study the possibility of complete family unification in higher-dimensional
space-time. Three families of matters in SU(5) grand unified theory are derived
from a single bulk multiplet of SU(N) gauge group (N >= 9) in the framework of
S^1/Z_2 orbifold models. In the case of the direct orbifold breaking down to
the standard model gauge group, there are models in which bulk fields from a
single multiplet and a few brane fields compose three families of quarks and
leptons.Comment: Comments added, version to appear in Physical Review D (v3);
References added (v2); 19 pages (v1
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