33,492 research outputs found
Low Frequency Gravitational Waves from Black Hole MACHO Binaries
Nakamura, Sasaki, Tanaka, and Thorne have recently estimated the initial
distribution of binary MACHOs in the galactic halo assuming that the MACHOs are
primordial half solar mass black holes, and considered their coalescence as a
possible source for ground-based interferometer gravitational wave detectors
such as LIGO. Evolving their binary distribution forward in time to the
present, the low-frequency (10^{-5} < f < 10^{-1} Hz) spectrum of gravitational
waves associated with such a population of compact binaries is calculated. The
resulting gravitational waves would form a strong stochastic background in
proposed space interferometers such as LISA and OMEGA. Low frequency
gravitational waves are likely to become a key tool for determining the
properties of binaries within the dark MACHO population.Comment: 8 pages + 2 ps figures; AASTe
Meteoritic ablation and fusion spherules in Antarctic ice
In the course of two Antarctic expeditions in 1980/1981 and 1982/1983 approximately 4 metric tons of documented ice samples were collected from the Atka Bay Ice Shelf, Antarctica, and subsequently shipped for cosmic dust studies. After filtration of the melt water, approximately 700 Antarctic spherules (AAS) in the size range of 5 to 500 microns were handpicked from the filter residue under optical microscopes. For the chemical investigation of single dust grains the following techniques were applied: scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray analysis (EDAX), instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA), laser microprobe mass analysis (LAMMA), and accelerator mass spectroscopy (AMS). For more than 95% of the total mass the bulk and trace elements were determined in single grain analyses using EDAX, INAA, and LAMMA. The element pattern of the dust particles was compared with that of typical terrestrial material and meteoritic matter. The majority of the spherules exhibited elemental compositions compatible with meteoritic element patterns
Generation of Hyperentangled Photons Pairs
We experimentally demonstrate the first quantum system entangled in every
degree of freedom (hyperentangled). Using pairs of photons produced in
spontaneous parametric downconversion, we verify entanglement by observing a
Bell-type inequality violation in each degree of freedom: polarization, spatial
mode and time-energy. We also produce and characterize maximally hyperentangled
states and novel states simultaneously exhibiting both quantum and classical
correlations. Finally, we report the tomography of a 2x2x3x3 system
(36-dimensional Hilbert space), which we believe is the first reported photonic
entangled system of this size to be so characterized.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, 1 table, published versio
Simplified Evaluation and Documentation of Data from Glucose Controlled Insulin Systems (GCIIS)
Generalized (m,k)-Zipf law for fractional Brownian motion-like time series with or without effect of an additional linear trend
We have translated fractional Brownian motion (FBM) signals into a text based
on two ''letters'', as if the signal fluctuations correspond to a constant
stepsize random walk. We have applied the Zipf method to extract the
exponent relating the word frequency and its rank on a log-log plot. We have
studied the variation of the Zipf exponent(s) giving the relationship between
the frequency of occurrence of words of length made of such two letters:
is varying as a power law in terms of . We have also searched how
the exponent of the Zipf law is influenced by a linear trend and the
resulting effect of its slope. We can distinguish finite size effects, and
results depending whether the starting FBM is persistent or not, i.e. depending
on the FBM Hurst exponent . It seems then numerically proven that the Zipf
exponent of a persistent signal is more influenced by the trend than that of an
antipersistent signal. It appears that the conjectured law
only holds near . We have also introduced considerations based on the
notion of a {\it time dependent Zipf law} along the signal.Comment: 24 pages, 12 figures; to appear in Int. J. Modern Phys
Tool facilitates installation of Marmon clamps
Adjustable tool facilitates the installation of Marmon clamps. It provides sufficient mechanical advantage to force the clamps into place, permitting one man operation. Two handles provide the major leverage, and a pivoting arm with a slot enables snap-out action
Recurrent shell infall events in a B0.5e star: HD 58978 1979-1988
Infall from the circumstellar envelope onto the bright B0.5 IVe star, HD 58978 was studied. The IUE data indicate that the star was surrounded by a low and moderately ionized circumstellar shell at least 12 times between 1979 and 1988. During 6 of these episodes, the signatures of cool circumstellar material were redshifted with respect to the photosphere by 20 to 80 km/sec. The data indicate that the transition from infall to minimal shell absorption can occur in under 10 days, and are consistent either with infall phases lasting up to 6 months, or with infall episodes shorter than 10 to 15 days. The long term behavior of the shell episodes is compared with variability in the stellar wind
Modulation of ecdysal cyst and toxin dynamics of two Alexandrium (Dinophyceae) species under small-scale turbulence
Some dinoflagellate species have shown different physiological responses to certain turbulent conditions. Here we investigate how two levels of turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rates (epsilon = 0.4 and 27 cm(2) s(-3)) affect the PSP toxins and ecdysal cyst dynamics of two bloom forming species, Alexandrium minutum and A. catenella. The most striking responses were observed at the high epsilon generated by an orbital shaker. In the cultures of the two species shaken for more than 4 days, the cellular GTX(1+4) toxin contents were significantly lower than in the still control cultures. In A. minutum this trend was also observed in the C(1+2) toxin content. For the two species, inhibition of ecdysal cyst production occurred during the period of exposure of the cultures to stirring (4 or more days) at any time during their growth curve. Recovery of cyst abundances was always observed when turbulence stopped. When shaking persisted for more than 4 days, the net growth rate significantly decreased in A. minutum (from 0.25 +/- 0.01 day(-1) to 0.19 +/- 0.02 day(-1)) and the final cell numbers were lower (ca. 55.4%) than in the still control cultures. In A. catenella, the net growth rate was not markedly modified by turbulence although under long exposure to shaking, the cultures entered earlier in the stationary phase and the final cell numbers were significantly lower (ca. 23%) than in the control flasks. The described responses were not observed in the experiments performed at the low turbulence intensities with an orbital grid system, where the population development was favoured. In those conditions, cells appeared to escape from the zone of the influence of the grids and concentrated in calmer thin layers either at the top or at the bottom of the containers. This ecophysiological study provides new evidences about the sensitivity to high levels of small-scale turbulence by two life cycle related processes, toxin production and encystment, in dinoflagellates. This can contribute to the understanding of the dynamics of those organisms in nature
The Shape of Dark Matter Haloes IV. The Structure of Stellar Discs in Edge-on Galaxies
We present optical and near-infrared archival observations of eight edge-on
galaxies. These observations are used to model the stellar content of each
galaxy using the FitSKIRT software package. Using FitSKIRT, we can
self-consistently model a galaxy in each band simultaneously while treating for
dust. This allows us to accurately measure both the scale length and scale
height of the stellar disc, plus the shape parameters of the bulge. By
combining this data with the previously reported integrated magnitudes of each
galaxy, we can infer their true luminosities. We have successfully modelled
seven out of the eight galaxies in our sample. We find that stellar discs can
be modelled correctly, but have not been able to model the stellar bulge
reliably. Our sample consists for the most part of slow rotating galaxies, and
we find that the average dust layer is much thicker than what is reported for
faster rotating galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication by Monthly Notices RAS. Hi-res. version
available at www.astro.rug.nl/~vdkruit/Petersetal-IV.pd
Improving dialysis adherence for high risk patients using automated messaging: Proof of concept
AbstractComorbidities and socioeconomic barriers often limit patient adherence and self-management with hemodialysis. Missed sessions, often associated with communication barriers, can result in emergency dialysis and avoidable hospitalizations. This proof of concept study explored using a novel digital-messaging platform, EpxDialysis, to improve patient-to-dialysis center communication via widely available text messaging and telephone technology. A randomized controlled trial was conducted through Washington University-affiliated hemodialysis centers involving ESRD patients with poor attendance, defined as missing 2–6 sessions over the preceding 12 weeks. A cross-over study design evaluated appointment adherence between intervention and control groups. Comparing nonadherence rates eight weeks prior to enrollment, median appointment adherence after using the system increased by 75%, and median number of unintended hospitalization days fell by 31%. A conservative cost-benefit analysis of EpxDialysis demonstrates a 1:36 savings ratio from appointment adherence. EpxDialysis is a low-risk, cost-effective, intervention for increasing hemodialysis adherence in high-risk patients, especially at centers caring for vulnerable and low-income patients.</jats:p
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