17,528 research outputs found
Application of XFaster power spectrum and likelihood estimator to Planck
We develop the XFaster Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) temperature and
polarization anisotropy power spectrum and likelihood technique for the Planck
CMB satellite mission. We give an overview of this estimator and its current
implementation and present the results of applying this algorithm to simulated
Planck data. We show that it can accurately extract the power spectrum of
Planck data for the high-l multipoles range. We compare the XFaster
approximation for the likelihood to other high-l likelihood approximations such
as Gaussian and Offset Lognormal and a low-l pixel-based likelihood. We show
that the XFaster likelihood is not only accurate at high-l, but also performs
well at moderately low multipoles. We also present results for cosmological
parameter Markov Chain Monte Carlo estimation with the XFaster likelihood. As
long as the low-l polarization and temperature power are properly accounted
for, e.g., by adding an adequate low-l likelihood ingredient, the input
parameters are recovered to a high level of accuracy.Comment: 25 pages, 20 figures, updated to reflect published version: slightly
extended account of XFaster technique, added improved plots and minor
corrections. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Mechanically-Induced Transport Switching Effect in Graphene-based Nanojunctions
We report a theoretical study suggesting a novel type of electronic switching
effect, driven by the geometrical reconstruction of nanoscale graphene-based
junctions. We considered junction struc- tures which have alternative
metastable configurations transformed by rotations of local carbon dimers. The
use of external mechanical strain allows a control of the energy barrier
heights of the potential profiles and also changes the reaction character from
endothermic to exothermic or vice-versa. The reshaping of the atomic details of
the junction encode binary electronic ON or OFF states, with ON/OFF
transmission ratio that can reach up to 10^4-10^5. Our results suggest the
possibility to design modern logical switching devices or mechanophore sensors,
monitored by mechanical strain and structural rearrangements.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure
The silicon stable isotope distribution along the GEOVIDE section (GEOTRACES GA-01) of the North Atlantic Ocean
The stable isotope composition of dissolved silicon in seawater (δ30SiDSi) was examined at 10 stations along the GEOVIDE section (GEOTRACES GA-01), spanning the North Atlantic Ocean (40–60∘ N) and Labrador Sea. Variations in δ30SiDSi below 500 m were closely tied to the distribution of water masses. Higher δ30SiDSi values are associated with intermediate and deep water masses of northern Atlantic or Arctic Ocean origin, whilst lower δ30SiDSi values are associated with DSi-rich waters sourced ultimately from the Southern Ocean. Correspondingly, the lowest δ30SiDSi values were observed in the deep and abyssal eastern North Atlantic, where dense southern-sourced waters dominate. The extent to which the spreading of water masses influences the δ30SiDSi distribution is marked clearly by Labrador Sea Water (LSW), whose high δ30SiDSi signature is visible not only within its region of formation within the Labrador and Irminger seas, but also throughout the mid-depth western and eastern North Atlantic Ocean. Both δ30SiDSi and hydrographic parameters document the circulation of LSW into the eastern North Atlantic, where it overlies southern-sourced Lower Deep Water. The GEOVIDE δ30SiDSi distribution thus provides a clear view of the direct interaction between subpolar/polar water masses of northern and southern origin, and allow examination of the extent to which these far-field signals influence the local δ30SiDSi distribution
Black string corrections in variable tension braneworld scenarios
Braneworld models with variable tension are investigated, and the corrections
on the black string horizon along the extra dimension are provided. Such
corrections are encrypted in additional terms involving the covariant
derivatives of the variable tension on the brane, providing profound
consequences concerning the black string horizon variation along the extra
dimension, near the brane. The black string horizon behavior is shown to be
drastically modified by the terms corrected by the brane variable tension. In
particular, a model motivated by the phenomenological interesting case
regarding Eotvos branes is investigated. It forthwith provides further physical
features regarding variable tension braneworld scenarios, heretofore concealed
in all previous analysis in the literature. All precedent analysis considered
uniquely the expansion of the metric up to the second order along the extra
dimension, what is able to evince solely the brane variable tension absolute
value. Notwithstanding, the expansion terms aftermath, further accomplished in
this paper from the third order on, elicits the successive covariant
derivatives of the brane variable tension, and their respective coupling with
the extrinsic curvature, the Weyl tensor, and the Riemann and Ricci tensors, as
well as the scalar curvature. Such additional terms are shown to provide sudden
modifications in the black string horizon in a variable tension braneworld
scenarioComment: 12 pages, 5 figures, accepted in PR
Markov Chain Beam Randomization: a study of the impact of PLANCK beam measurement errors on cosmological parameter estimation
We introduce a new method to propagate uncertainties in the beam shapes used
to measure the cosmic microwave background to cosmological parameters
determined from those measurements. The method, which we call Markov Chain Beam
Randomization, MCBR, randomly samples from a set of templates or functions that
describe the beam uncertainties. The method is much faster than direct
numerical integration over systematic `nuisance' parameters, and is not
restricted to simple, idealized cases as is analytic marginalization. It does
not assume the data are normally distributed, and does not require Gaussian
priors on the specific systematic uncertainties. We show that MCBR properly
accounts for and provides the marginalized errors of the parameters. The method
can be generalized and used to propagate any systematic uncertainties for which
a set of templates is available. We apply the method to the Planck satellite,
and consider future experiments. Beam measurement errors should have a small
effect on cosmological parameters as long as the beam fitting is performed
after removal of 1/f noise.Comment: 17 pages, 23 figures, revised version with improved explanation of
the MCBR and overall wording. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysics (to appear in the Planck pre-launch special issue
Addressing self-disconnection among prepayment energy consumers: A behavioural approach
This paper uses insights from the study of self-control in decision-making to remedy the problem of self-disconnection among energy prepayment consumers. Self-disconnection happens when consumers exhaust all available credit in their meter and are left without supply of energy. This has serious consequences for the wellbeing of consumers and may increase firms' costs. We design a mechanism composed of a commitment contract and a reminder in order to minimize the number of self–disconnectons. We empirically assess this mechanism by examining (1) the determinants of self-disconnecton and (2) the choice of different commitment contracts. we show that self-control plays a role in self-disconnection and we are able to identify in our sample, those consumers who benefit from a commitment contract. Moreover we find a demand to commitment and an opportunity to save among those consumers who need a commitment contract
Modular termination verification for non-blocking concurrency
© Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg 2016.We present Total-TaDA, a program logic for verifying the total correctness of concurrent programs: that such programs both terminate and produce the correct result. With Total-TaDA, we can specify constraints on a thread’s concurrent environment that are necessary to guarantee termination. This allows us to verify total correctness for nonblocking algorithms, e.g. a counter and a stack. Our specifications can express lock- and wait-freedom. More generally, they can express that one operation cannot impede the progress of another, a new non-blocking property we call non-impedance. Moreover, our approach is modular. We can verify the operations of a module independently, and build up modules on top of each other
Fatores limitantes à expansão dos sistemas produtivos de palma na Amazônia.
O mercado de óleos vegetais encontra-se em plena ascensão no mundo. O cultivo da palma-de-óleo (palmácea do gênero Elaeis), cujos maiores produtores mundiais são Malásia e Indonésia, tem se destacado nesse mercado pelas vantagens decorrentes do seu aspecto produtivo. A liderança desses países assentou-se na atuação conjunta entre setor público e privado, garantindo a ampliação sucessiva dos plantios e o incremento da agroindústria. No Brasil, o desenvolvimento dessa cultura poderia substituir as importações de óleo de palma, bem como promover a recuperação de áreas desmatadas na Amazônia. Contudo, a despeito das condições naturais favoráveis ao cultivo no País, a produção de palma não se desenvolveu. Este trabalho foi estruturado a partir do marco conceitual sobre o enfoque sistêmico no agronegócio e o conceito de cadeias produtivas associado às variáveis de desenvolvimento propostas nos modelos teóricos de Porter e Alves, sob uma perspectiva comparativa acerca da evolução do agronegócio de palma na Indonésia, na Malásia, na Colômbia e no Brasil. O objetivo foi identificar os principais fatores limitantes à expansão dos sistemas produtivos de palma na Amazônia. Ressaltam-se entre essas limitações, a falta de desenvolvimento de políticas públicas e de estratégias competitivas de longo prazo. Com efeito, parcos investimentos nas áreas de pesquisa e infraestrutura, bem como inadequação dos financiamentos e falta de apoio ao pequeno produtor, têm comprometido a expansão dessa atividade produtiva
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