103 research outputs found
A confirmation of agreement of different approaches for scalar gauge-invariant metric perturbations during inflation
We revisit an extension of the well-known formalism for gauge-invariant
scalar metric fluctuations, to study the spectrums for both, the inflaton and
gauge invariant (scalar) metric fluctuations in the framework of a single field
inflationary model where the quasi-exponential expansion is driven by an
inflation which is minimally coupled to gravity. The proposal here examined is
valid also for fluctuations with large amplitude, but for cosmological scales,
where vector and tensor perturbations can be neglected and the fluid is
irrotacional.Comment: Version accepted in EPJC with new title. 11 pages, no figure
A rapid staining technique for the detection of the initiation of germination of bacterial spores
Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/75645/1/j.1472-765x.2002.01047.x.pd
Time-of-arrival distributions from position-momentum and energy-time joint measurements
The position-momentum quasi-distribution obtained from an Arthurs and Kelly
joint measurement model is used to obtain indirectly an ``operational''
time-of-arrival (TOA) distribution following a quantization procedure proposed
by Kocha\'nski and W\'odkiewicz [Phys. Rev. A 60, 2689 (1999)]. This TOA
distribution is not time covariant. The procedure is generalized by using other
phase-space quasi-distributions, and sufficient conditions are provided for
time covariance that limit the possible phase-space quasi-distributions
essentially to the Wigner function, which, however, provides a non-positive TOA
quasi-distribution. These problems are remedied with a different quantization
procedure which, on the other hand, does not guarantee normalization. Finally
an Arthurs and Kelly measurement model for TOA and energy (valid also for
arbitrary conjugate variables when one of the variables is bounded from below)
is worked out. The marginal TOA distribution so obtained, a distorted version
of Kijowski's distribution, is time covariant, positive, and normalized
A Biased Review of Sociophysics
Various aspects of recent sociophysics research are shortly reviewed:
Schelling model as an example for lack of interdisciplinary cooperation,
opinion dynamics, combat, and citation statistics as an example for strong
interdisciplinarity.Comment: 16 pages for J. Stat. Phys. including 2 figures and numerous
reference
Magnetic Field Generation in Stars
Enormous progress has been made on observing stellar magnetism in stars from
the main sequence through to compact objects. Recent data have thrown into
sharper relief the vexed question of the origin of stellar magnetic fields,
which remains one of the main unanswered questions in astrophysics. In this
chapter we review recent work in this area of research. In particular, we look
at the fossil field hypothesis which links magnetism in compact stars to
magnetism in main sequence and pre-main sequence stars and we consider why its
feasibility has now been questioned particularly in the context of highly
magnetic white dwarfs. We also review the fossil versus dynamo debate in the
context of neutron stars and the roles played by key physical processes such as
buoyancy, helicity, and superfluid turbulence,in the generation and stability
of neutron star fields.
Independent information on the internal magnetic field of neutron stars will
come from future gravitational wave detections. Thus we maybe at the dawn of a
new era of exciting discoveries in compact star magnetism driven by the opening
of a new, non-electromagnetic observational window.
We also review recent advances in the theory and computation of
magnetohydrodynamic turbulence as it applies to stellar magnetism and dynamo
theory. These advances offer insight into the action of stellar dynamos as well
as processes whichcontrol the diffusive magnetic flux transport in stars.Comment: 41 pages, 7 figures. Invited review chapter on on magnetic field
generation in stars to appear in Space Science Reviews, Springe
Using screen video capture software to aide and inform cognitive interviewing
Web-based surveys are a salient tool in the repertoire of social and behavioral scientists. The increase in web-based surveys is understandable considering the distinct advantages offered, including: (a) lower costs and reduced labor time, (b) ability to directly transfer data into statistical packages (reducing coding errors), (c) customization options enabling more attractive presentation, (d) ability to reduce respondent burden by embedding skip patterns, and (e) access to larger sample sizes in different geographic regions. It is important to note, however, that administering web-based surveys also introduces distinct sources of error (e.g., coverage, sampling and non-response). Regardless of format (e.g., paper-and-pencil or web-based), specific, prescribed steps must be followed when constructing an instrument in order to reduce survey error and lend credence to the data collected before subsequent analysis is performed. One of those crucial stages integral to the pretesting process is cognitive interviewing. Cognitive interviewing is a qualitative process, encompassing two main techniques: think aloud interviewing and verbal probing. Collectively, these two methods seek to (a) produce information on what the respondent is thinking while answering the questions, (b) the cognitive processes used to answer the questions, and (c) how the respondent answers the questions. The purpose of this article is to provide a practical guide outlining how Camtasia, a screen video capture software, can aide and inform the cognitive interview process
Long-term N-addition alters the community structure of functionally important N-cycling soil microorganisms across global grasslands
Anthropogenic nitrogen (N) input is known to alter the soil microbiome, but how N enrichment influences the abundance, alpha-diversity and community structure of N-cycling functional microbial communities in grasslands remains poorly understood. Here, we collected soils from plant communities subjected to up to 9 years of annual N-addition (10 g N mâ2 per year using urea as a N-source) and from unfertilized plots (control) in 30 grasslands worldwide spanning a large range of climatic and soil conditions. We focused on three key microbial groups responsible for two essential processes of the global N cycle: N2 fixation (soil diazotrophs) and nitrification (AOA: ammonia-oxidizing archaea and AOB: ammonia-oxidizing bacteria). We targeted soil diazotrophs, AOA and AOB using Illumina MiSeq sequencing and measured the abundance (gene copy numbers) using quantitative PCR. N-addition shifted the structure of the diazotrophic communities, although their alpha-diversity and abundance were not affected. AOA and AOB responded differently to N-addition. The abundance and alpha-diversity of AOB increased, and their community structure shifted with N-addition. In contrast, AOA were not affected by N-addition. AOA abundance outnumbered AOB in control plots under conditions of low N availability, whereas N-addition favoured copiotrophic AOB. Overall, N-addition showed a low impact on soil diazotrophs and AOA while effects for AOB communities were considerable. These results reveal that long-term N-addition has important ecological implications for key microbial groups involved in two critical soil N-cycling processes. Increased AOB abundance and community shifts following N-addition may change soil N-cycling, as larger population sizes may promote higher rates of ammonia oxidation and subsequently increase N loss via gaseous and soil N-leaching. These findings bring us a step closer to predicting the responses and feedbacks of microbial-mediated N-cycling processes to long-term anthropogenic N-addition in grasslands
Drivers of soil microbial and detritivore activity across global grasslands
DATA AVAILABILITY : The source data that support the findings of this study can be found in the
supplementary data (Figs. 1a, b, 2 and 4 were created with Data 1, Fig. 1c and Fig. 3 with
Data 2). All other data are available from the corresponding author on reasonable
request.CODE AVAILABILITY : The code is available from the corresponding author upon request.Covering approximately 40% of land surfaces, grasslands provide critical ecosystem services
that rely on soil organisms. However, the global determinants of soil biodiversity and functioning
remain underexplored. In this study, we investigate the drivers of soil microbial and
detritivore activity in grasslands across a wide range of climatic conditions on five continents.
We apply standardized treatments of nutrient addition and herbivore reduction, allowing us
to disentangle the regional and local drivers of soil organism activity. We use structural
equation modeling to assess the direct and indirect effects of local and regional drivers on soil
biological activities. Microbial and detritivore activities are positively correlated across global
grasslands. These correlations are shaped more by global climatic factors than by local
treatments, with annual precipitation and soil water content explaining the majority of the
variation. Nutrient addition tends to reduce microbial activity by enhancing plant growth,
while herbivore reduction typically increases microbial and detritivore activity through
increased soil moisture. Our findings emphasize soil moisture as a key driver of soil biological
activity, highlighting the potential impacts of climate change, altered grazing pressure, and
eutrophication on nutrient cycling and decomposition within grassland ecosystems.Open Access funding enabled and organized by Projekt DEAL.http://www.nature.com/commsbioam2024Mammal Research InstituteNoneSDG-15:Life on lan
Early Jurassic palaeoenvironments in the Surat Basin, Australia - marine incursion into eastern Gondwana
Interpretations of palaeodepositional environments are important for reconstructing Earth history. Only a few maps showing the Jurassic depositional environments in eastern Australia currently exist. Consequently, a detailed understanding of the setting of Australia in Gondwana is lacking. Core, wireline logs, twoâdimensional and threeâdimensional seismic from the Precipice Sandstone and Evergreen Formation in the Surat Basin have been used to construct maps showing the evolution of depositional environments through the Early Jurassic. The results indicate the succession consists of three thirdâorder sequences (Sequence 1 to Sequence 3) that were controlled by eustatic sea level. The lowstand systems tract in Sequence 1 comprises braidplain deposits, confined to a fairway that parallels the basin centre. The strata were initially deposited in two subâbasins, with rivers flowing in different orientations in each subâbasin. The transgressive systems tract of Sequence 1 to lowstand systems tract of Sequence 3 is dominated by fluvioâdeltaic systems infilling a single merged basin centre. Finally, the transgressive and highstand systems tracts of Sequence 3 show nearshore environments depositing sediment into a shallow marine basin. In the youngest part of this interval, ironstone shoals are the most conspicuous facies, the thickness and number of which increase towards the north and east. This study interprets a corridor to the open ocean through the ClarenceâMoreton Basin, or the Carpentaria and Papuan basins, evidence of which has been eroded. These results challenge a commonly held view that eastern Australia was not influenced by eustasy, and propose a more dynamic palaeogeographic setting comprising a mixture of fluvial, deltaic and shallow marine sedimentary environments. This work can be used to unravel the stratigraphic relationships between Mesozoic eastern Australian basins, or in other basins globally as an analogue for understanding the complex interplay of paralic depositional systems in data poor areas
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