32,499 research outputs found
Infrared Dark Cloud Cores in the SCUBA Legacy Catalogue
We present an investigation of candidate Infrared Dark Cloud cores as
identified by Simon et al. (2006) located within the SCUBA Legacy Catalogue.
After applying a uniform noise cut to the Catalogue data we identify 154
Infrared Dark Cloud cores that were detected at 850um and 51 cores that were
not. We derive column densities for each core from their 8um extinction and
find that the IRDCs detected at 850um have higher column densities (a mean of
1.7x10^22 cm-2) compared to those cores not detected at 850um (a mean of
1.0x10^22 cm-2). Combined with sensitivity estimates, we suggest that the cores
not detected at 850um are low mass, low column density and low temperature
cores that are below the sensitivity limit of SCUBA at 850um. For a subsample
of the cores detected at 850um those contained within the MIPSGAL area) we find
that two thirds are associated with 24um sources. Cores not associated with
24um emission are either ``starless'' IRDC cores that perhaps have yet to form
stars, or contain low mass YSOs below the MIPSGAL detection limit. We see that
those ``starless'' IRDC cores and the IRDC cores associated with 24um emission
are drawn from the same column density population and are of similar mass. If
we then assume the cores without 24um embedded sources are at an earlier
evolutionary stage to cores with embedded objects we derive a statistical
lifetime for the quiescent phase of a few 10^3-10^4 years. Finally, we make
conservative predictions for the number of observed IRDCs that will be observed
by the Apex Telescope Galactic Plane Survey (ATLASGAL), the Herschel Infrared
Galactic Plane Survey (Hi-GAL), the JCMT Galactic Plane Survey (JPS) and the
SCUBA-2 ``All Sky'' Survey (SASSy).Comment: 18 pages, 3 tables, 10 figure
A Monte Carlo Template based analysis for Air-Cherenkov Arrays
We present a high-performance event reconstruction algorithm: an Image
Pixel-wise fit for Atmospheric Cherenkov Telescopes (ImPACT). The
reconstruction algorithm is based around the likelihood fitting of camera pixel
amplitudes to an expected image template. A maximum likelihood fit is performed
to find the best-fit shower parameters. A related reconstruction algorithm has
already been shown to provide significant improvements over traditional
reconstruction for both the CAT and H.E.S.S. experiments. We demonstrate a
significant improvement to the template generation step of the procedure, by
the use of a full Monte Carlo air shower simulation in combination with a
ray-tracing optics simulation to more accurately model the expected camera
images. This reconstruction step is combined with an MVA-based background
rejection.
Examples are shown of the performance of the ImPACT analysis on both
simulated and measured (from a strong VHE source) gamma-ray data from the
H.E.S.S. array, demonstrating an improvement in sensitivity of more than a
factor two in observation time over traditional image moments-fitting methods,
with comparable performance to previous likelihood fitting analyses. ImPACT is
a particularly promising approach for future large arrays such as the Cherenkov
Telescope Array (CTA) due to its improved high-energy performance and
suitability for arrays of mixed telescope types.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure
Characterisation of nicotine receptors on human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC)
“The original publication is available at www.springerlink.com”. Copyright Springer. DOI: 10.1007/s00011-008-8171-xAim and objective: The aim of the work was to characterise the nAChRs on human PBMC. Method: PBMC were isolated from human blood buffy coats provided by the blood transfusion service and were used for radioligand binding studies with [3H]-nicotine. RT-PCR experiments were used to determine nAChR subunit expression while immunoblotting experiments were used to confirm that nAChR subunits identified by RT-PCR were translated into protein. Results: Binding studies suggested the presence of one binding site for (-)- nicotine on human peripheral blood lymphocytes. Competition studies showed that only (-)- nicotine, epibatidine and α-bungarotoxin, displaced radiolabelled nicotine from cells. RT-PCR studies demonstrated mRNA for α4, α5, α7, β1 and β2 nAChRs subunits in PBMC. Expression of mRNA for the a5 subunit of nAChR was observed in all lymphocyte samples tested. In contrast, the expression pattern of mRNAs for α4, α7, β1, and β2 mRNAs subunits of nAChRs, varied between samples. Western blot analysis showed that protein for α4, α5, and α7 and β2 nAChR subunits was expressed in most, but not all of the PBMC samples tested but some of the bands obtained were faint. Conclusion: The results obtained suggest that human PBMC contain nAChRs containing α4β2, α4β2α5, and/or α7 subunits.Peer reviewe
Representation and ideology: reading advertisements, with special reference to selected British magazine advertisements, 1956-1964
It is argued that advertisements constitute a semiotic social resource. A communicative practice is realised using this resource which is part of the commercial function of advertising. However, this communicative practice is shown to be a limited meaning production.
Advertising is theorised as a discursive social practice in which a communicative practice has become dominant. The discursive practice works ideologically, not simply communicatively or commercially.
The ideological operation is understood as the address of social subjects in local historical situations. Advertisements present a unified position from which the text can be understood as communicative. That position is imbricated with representations constituted by the text, as the other of the ego.
The ego is imbricated with an order of discourse, which is a field of unevenly developed discursive practices. Through the overdetermination of the text in discursive social practice, the imbrications are hierarchised to construct representations of the 'real'. The 'real' is socially constituted. It is not a simple ontological priority.
The institutional intentionality of marketing practice authorises the communicative practice. Thus, the authorised practice is enacted and resisted, or deconstructed, through a series of readings of advertisements from British magazines between 1956 and 1964. That period is considered to be one in which advertising was consolidated, both in corporate strategies and technologically in the public media. The deconstructive reading reinstates the discursive productions
marginalised by the communicative practice.
Advertisements are not simply reciprocal conversations freely developed between ego and other. Advertising as discourse is developed in the context of economic corporations' strategies.
Advertisements encode, reiterate and constitute social subjects, through overdetermination, in relations of power. Ideologically, when formed as a communicative practice,
advertisements join social subjects with an hegemonised order of power relations, which are realised in an extended social order in whose 'real' economic institutions are dominant
WaND Briefing Note 28 Revised Options for UK Domestic Water Reduction - A Review
Demand pressure on UK water supplies is expected to increase in the next 20 years driven by increasing population, new housing development and reducing household size. Regionally and at town level migration will also affect demand particularly in the South-East which is forecast to have a larger than average growth in population and house building.
The water demand moderating trends that are considered to have the greatest effect on UK consumption, in approximate order, are:
1. Metering
2. Low flush toilets
3. Normal showers
4. Efficient washing machines
5. Dishwashers
6. Cistern displacement devices (in existing homes with large cisterns)
7. Water efficient gardening measures can play an important role in reducing demand during critical drought period
Synthesis and characterisation of Fe<sub>6</sub> and Fe<sub>12</sub> clusters using bicine
Reaction of bicine {BicH3, N,N-bis(2-hydroxyethyl)glycine} with an Fe(III) oxo-centered pivalate triangle in MeCN in the presence of Et<sub>2</sub>NH yields [Et<sub>2</sub>NH<sub>2</sub>]<sub>2</sub>[Fe<sub>6</sub>O<sub>2</sub>(OH)<sub>2</sub>(Bic)<sub>2</sub>(O<sub>2</sub>CCMe<sub>3</sub>)<sub>8</sub>], which possesses an S = 5 ground state.
Changing the base to NaOMe produces [Fe<sub>12</sub>O<sub>4</sub>(Bic)<sub>4</sub>(HBic)<sub>4</sub>(O<sub>2</sub>CCMe<sub>3</sub>)<sub>8</sub>], which contains two Fe6 units bridged by the carboxylate arms from the bicine ligands. The complex displays strong antiferromagnetic coupling leading to an S = 0 ground state
The Options for UK Domestic Water Reduction: A Review
Demand pressure on UK water supplies is expected to increase in the next 20 years driven by increasing population, new housing development and reducing household size. Regionally and locally migration will also afect demand particularly in the South-East.
The water reduction trends that will have the greatest reduction effect on UK consumption are:
1. For new homes; metering and new efficiencies in design and construction (e.g. low flush toilets, heating and plumbing efficiences)
2. For established housing; metering and modern washing machines
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