16,334 research outputs found
Two Distinct, Geographically Overlapping Lineages of the Corallimorpharian Ricordea Florida (Cnidaria: Hexacorallia: Ricordeidae)
We examined the genetic variation of the corallimorpharian Ricordea florida; it is distributed throughout the Caribbean region and is heavily harvested for the marine aquarium trade. Eighty-four distinct individuals of R. florida were sequenced from four geographically distant Caribbean locations (Curaçao, Florida, Guadeloupe, and Puerto Rico). Analysis of the ribosomal nuclear region (ITS1, 5.8S, ITS2) uncovered two geographically partially overlapping genetic lineages in R. florida, probably representing two cryptic species. Lineage 1 was found in Florida and Puerto Rico, and Lineage 2 was found in Florida, Puerto Rico, Guadeloupe, and Curaçao. Because of the multi-allelic nature of the ITS region, four individuals from Lineage 1 and six from Lineage 2 were cloned to evaluate the levels of hidden intra-individual variability. Pairwise genetic comparisons indicated that the levels of intra-individual and intra-lineage variability (\u3c1%) were approximately an order of magnitude lower than the divergence (~9%) observed between the two lineages. The fishery regulations of the aquarium trade regard R. florida as one species. More refined regulations should take into account the presence of two genetic lineages, and they should be managed separately in order to preserve the long-term evolutionary potential of this corallimorpharian. The discovery of two distinct lineages in R. florida illustrates the importance of evaluating genetic variability in harvested species prior to the implementation of management policies
A USB3.0 FPGA Event-based Filtering and Tracking Framework for Dynamic Vision Sensors
Dynamic vision sensors (DVS) are frame-free sensors
with an asynchronous variable-rate output that is ideal for hard
real-time dynamic vision applications under power and latency
constraints. Post-processing of the digital sensor output can
reduce sensor noise, extract low level features, and track objects
using simple algorithms that have previously been implemented
in software. In this paper we present an FPGA-based framework
for event-based processing that allows uncorrelated-event noise
removal and real-time tracking of multiple objects, with dynamic
capabilities to adapt itself to fast or slow and large or small
objects. This framework uses a new hardware platform based on
a Lattice FPGA which filters the sensor output and which then
transmits the results through a super-speed Cypress FX3 USB
microcontroller interface to a host computer. The packets of
events and timestamps are transmitted to the host computer at
rates of 10 Mega events per second. Experimental results are
presented that demonstrate a low latency of 10us for tracking
and computing the center of mass of a detected object.Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad TEC2012-37868-C04-0
Ultrafast non-linear optical signal from a single quantum dot: exciton and biexciton effects
We present results on both the intensity and phase-dynamics of the transient
non-linear optical response of a single quantum dot (SQD).
The time evolution of the Four Wave Mixing (FWM) signal on a subpicosecond
time scale is dominated by biexciton effects. In particular, for the
cross-polarized excitation case a biexciton bound state is found. In this
latter case, mean-field results are shown to give a poor description of the
non-linear optical signal at small times. By properly treating exciton-exciton
effects in a SQD, coherent oscillations in the FWM signal are clearly
demonstrated. These oscillations, with a period corresponding to the inverse of
the biexciton binding energy, are correlated with the phase dynamics of the
system's polarization giving clear signatures of non-Markovian effects in the
ultrafast regime.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figure
Nonadiabatic charged spherical evolution in the postquasistatic approximation
We apply the postquasistatic approximation, an iterative method for the
evolution of self-gravitating spheres of matter, to study the evolution of
dissipative and electrically charged distributions in General Relativity. We
evolve nonadiabatic distributions assuming an equation of state that accounts
for the anisotropy induced by the electric charge. Dissipation is described by
streaming out or diffusion approximations. We match the interior solution, in
noncomoving coordinates, with the Vaidya-Reissner-Nordstr\"om exterior
solution. Two models are considered: i) a Schwarzschild-like shell in the
diffusion limit; ii) a Schwarzschild-like interior in the free streaming limit.
These toy models tell us something about the nature of the dissipative and
electrically charged collapse. Diffusion stabilizes the gravitational collapse
producing a spherical shell whose contraction is halted in a short
characteristic hydrodynamic time. The streaming out radiation provides a more
efficient mechanism for emission of energy, redistributing the electric charge
on the whole sphere, while the distribution collapses indefinitely with a
longer hydrodynamic time scale.Comment: 11 pages, 16 Figures. Accepted for publication in Phys Rev
On the Issue of the \zeta Series Convergence and Loop Corrections in the Generation of Observable Primordial Non-Gaussianity in Slow-Roll Inflation. Part II: the Trispectrum
We calculate the trispectrum T_\zeta of the primordial curvature perturbation
\zeta, generated during a {\it slow-roll} inflationary epoch by considering a
two-field quadratic model of inflation with {\it canonical} kinetic terms. We
consider loop contributions as well as tree level terms, and show that it is
possible to attain very high, {\it including observable}, values for the level
of non-gaussianity \tau_{NL} if T_\zeta is dominated by the one-loop
contribution. Special attention is paid to the claim in JCAP {\bf 0902}, 017
(2009) [arXiv:0812.0807 [astro-ph]] that, in the model studied in this paper
and for the specific inflationary trajectory we choose, the quantum
fluctuations of the fields overwhelm the classical evolution. We argue that
such a claim actually does not apply to our model, although more research is
needed in order to understand the role of quantum diffusion. We also consider
the probability that an observer in an ensemble of realizations of the density
field sees a non-gaussian distribution. In that respect, we show that the
probability associated to the chosen inflationary trajectory is non-negligible.
Finally, the levels of non-gaussianity f_{NL} and \tau_{NL} in the bispectrum
B_\zeta and trispectrum T_\zeta of \zeta, respectively, are also studied for
the case in which \zeta is not generated during inflation.Comment: LaTex File, 27 pages, 8 figures. v2: Previous Section 2 has been
removed. Two new sections (3 and 4) discussing the classicality condition
given by Byrnes, Choi, and Hall, in JCAP 0902, 017 (2009), and the
probability that an observer sees a non-gaussian distribution have been
added. v3: Version accepted for publication in Physical Review
Organic cheese market (Río Cuarto, Argentina). Valuation associated variables
Although most argentinian ecological products are targeted for export markets, domestic markets show signs of slow, but sustained growth. In order to assess the perception and willingness to purchase a new product (an organic cheese), attitudes and consumer behaviors were studied among consumers in Rio Cuarto. Data collection methods used in the survey were personal interviews with semi-structured questionaries and tasting of the new product. Bivariate and multivariate statistical analysis were performed. It was found that the willingness to pay a premium of 25 to 35 percent for this new product was associated with: social-economical variables as well as others related to food quality, like additive free and those concerned with specific attributes of the cheese such as brand and packaging. However, price and its organic label had more influence on the products valuation and potential buying decision.Si bien la producción ecológica argentina se ha destinado principalmente al mercado externo, el mercado interno manifiesta signos de crecimiento, lento, pero sostenido. Con el objetivo de conocer la valoración de los consumidores hacia un queso ecológico se estudiaron las actitudes y el comportamiento de los consumidores de la ciudad de Río Cuarto. La investigación se implementó a través de encuestas semiestructuradas, basadas en entrevistas personales a las familias y degustación del nuevo producto. Se realizaron análisis estadísticos bivariados y multivariados. La voluntad de pagar un sobreprecio de 25 a 35 p.100 por el nuevo producto se asoció a variables socioeconómicas, como así también a variables relacionadas con la calidad alimentaria (ausencia de conservantes y aditivos) y con atributos específicos del queso, como marca y presentación. Sin embargo, el precio del producto y su imagen de calidad ecológica fueron los factores que fundamentalmente incidieron en la valoración del producto y la decisión potencial de compra
Horizontal target strength-size conversion equations for sea bass and gilt-head bream
[EN] Horizontal hydroacoustics is a technique of remote fish detection that has proved to efficiently determine fish density and biomass in shallow or superficial waters. This non-intrusive technique could render better results than those obtained by conventional sampling when monitoring shallow waters. To apply this technique, we need equations that relate the amount of sound returned by fish, known as target strength (TS in dB), with their length (mm) or weight (g). This study presents horizontal conversion equations for the species gilt-head bream (Sparus aurata) and sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax), two of the most important species bred in aquaculture. Moreover, this study presents a new formula to calculate a mixed equation adjusted to the percentage of distribution of those species in case of mixed populations. The results in this research have been obtained by applying a simple setup that allows for high-quality acoustic data. These new equations will enable the application of this technique in order to estimate these species' density and biomass in shallow aquatic systems such as aquaculture ponds with semi-intensive production densities.This study's authors would like to thank the Superintendent of Economy and Knowledge (Andalusian Government) for the funding provided as part of the project (PI_57052) developed in collaboration with CTAQUA. We would like to thank the researchers Carlos Orduna Marin and Juan Ramon Cid Quintero for their selfless work to obtain the field data and to the company PIMSA for generously allowing us to use their facilities and fish. We would also like to thank the veterinarian JR Rodriguez for being kind enough to perform X-rays on the studied fish and Cristina Ocana for her careful proofreading of the English text.Rodríguez-Sánchez, V.; Rodríguez-Ruiz, A.; Pérez Arjona, I.; Encina-Encina, L. (2018). Horizontal target strength-size conversion equations for sea bass and gilt-head bream. Aquaculture. 490:178-184. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aquaculture.2018.02.034S17818449
Bose-Einstein condensate dark matter phase transition from finite temperature symmetry breaking of Klein-Gordon fields
In this paper the thermal evolution of scalar field dark matter particles at
finite cosmological temperatures is studied. Starting with a real scalar field
in a thermal bath and using the one loop quantum corrections potential, we
rewrite Klein-Gordon's (KG) equation in its hydrodynamical representation and
study the phase transition of this scalar field due to a Z_2 symmetry breaking
of its potential. A very general version of a nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation
is obtained. When introducing Madelung's representation, the continuity and
momentum equations for a non-ideal SFDM fluid are formulated, and the
cosmological scenario with the SFDM described in analogy to an imperfect fluid
is then considered where dissipative contributions are obtained in a natural
way.Additional terms appear compared to those obtained in the classical version
commonly used to describe the \LambdaCDM model, i.e., the ideal fluid. The
equations and parameters that characterize the physical properties of the
system such as its energy, momentum and viscous flow are related to the
temperature of the system, scale factor, Hubble's expansion parameter and the
matter energy density. Finally, some details on how galaxy halos and smaller
structures might be able to form by condensation of this SF are given.Comment: Substantial changes have been made to the paper, following the
referees recommendations. 16 pages. Published in Classical and Quantum
Gravit
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