1,260 research outputs found
Molecular characterization of mesophilic and thermophilic sulfate reducing microbial communities in expanded granular sludge bed (EGSB) reactors
The microbial communities established in mesophilic and thermophilic expanded granular sludge bed reactors operated with sulfate as the electron acceptor were analyzed using 16S rRNA targeted molecular methods, including denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, cloning, and phylogenetic analysis. Bacterial and archaeal communities were examined over 450 days of operation treating ethanol (thermophilic reactor) or ethanol and later a simulated semiconductor manufacturing wastewater containing citrate, isopropanol, and polyethylene glycol 300 (mesophilic reactor), with and without the addition of copper(II). Analysis, of PCR-amplified 16S rRNA gene fragments using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis revealed a defined shift in microbial diversity in both reactors following a change in substrate composition (mesophilic reactor) and in temperature of operation from 30 degrees C to 55 degrees C (thermophilic reactor). The addition of copper(II) to the influent of both reactors did not noticeably affect the composition of the bacterial or archaeal communities, which is in agreement with the very low soluble copper concentrations (3-310 microg l(-1)) present in the reactor contents as a consequence of extensive precipitation of copper with biogenic sulfides. Furthermore, clone library analysis confirmed the phylogenetic diversity of sulfate-reducing consortia in mesophilic and thermophilic sulfidogenic reactors operated with simple substrate
Quantities of interest for surface based resistivity geophysical measurements
The objective of traditional goal-oriented strategies is to construct an optimal mesh that minimizes the problem size needed to achieve a user prescribed tolerance error for a given quantity of interest (QoI). Typical geophysical resistivity measurement acquisition systems can easily record electromagnetic (EM) fields. However, depending upon the application, EM fields are sometimes loosely related to the quantity that is to be inverted (conductivity or resistivity), and therefore they become inadequate for inversion. In the present work, we study the impact of the selection of the QoI in our inverse problem. We focus on two different acquisition systems: marine controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM), and magnetotellurics (MT). For both applications, numerical results illustrate the benefits of employing adequate QoI. Specifically, the use as QoI of the impedance matrix on MT measurements provides significant computational savings, since one can replace the existing absorbing boundary conditions (BCs) by a homogeneous Dirichlet BC to truncate the computational domain, something that is not possible when considering EM fields as QoI
Noncommutativity from the string perspective: modification of gravity at a mm without mm sized extra dimensions
We explore how the IR pathologies of noncommutative field theory are resolved
when the theory is realized as open strings in background B-fields:
essentially, since the IR singularities are induced by UV/IR mixing, string
theory brings them under control in much the same way as it does the UV
singularities. We show that at intermediate scales (where the Seiberg-Witten
limit is a good approximation) the theory reproduces the noncommutative field
theory with all the (un)usual features such as UV/IR mixing, but that outside
this regime, in the deep infra-red, the theory flows continuously to the
commutative theory and normal Wilsonian behaviour is restored. The resulting
low energy physics resembles normal commutative physics, but with additional
suppressed Lorentz violating operators. We also show that the phenomenon of
UV/IR mixing occurs for the graviton as well, with the result that, in
configurations where Planck's constant receives a significant one-loop
correction (for example brane-induced gravity), the distance scale below which
gravity becomes non-Newtonian can be much greater than any compact dimensions.Comment: 30 pages. Slight revision: clarified some points and added a
referenc
Lattice Sigma Models with Exact Supersymmetry
We show how to construct lattice sigma models in one, two and four dimensions
which exhibit an exact fermionic symmetry. These models are discretized and
{\it twisted} versions of conventional supersymmetric sigma models with N=2
supersymmetry. The fermionic symmetry corresponds to a scalar BRST charge built
from the original supercharges. The lattice theories possess local actions and
in many cases admit a Wilson term to suppress doubles. In the two and four
dimensional theorie s we show that these lattice theories are invariant under
additional discrete symmetries. We argue that the presence of these exact
symmetries ensures that no fine tuning is required to achieve N=2 supersymmetry
in the continuum limit. As a concrete example we show preliminary numerical
results from a simulation of the O(3) supersymmetric sigma model in two
dimensions.Comment: 23 pages, 3 figures, formalism generalized to allow for explicit
Wilson mass terms. New numerical results added. Version to be published in
JHE
Closed-String Tachyons and the Hagedorn Transition in AdS Space
We discuss some aspects of the behaviour of a string gas at the Hagedorn
temperature from a Euclidean point of view. Using AdS space as an infrared
regulator, the Hagedorn tachyon can be effectively quasi-localized and its
dynamics controled by a finite energetic balance. We propose that the off-shell
RG flow matches to an Euclidean AdS black hole geometry in a generalization of
the string/black-hole correspondence principle. The final stage of the RG flow
can be interpreted semiclassically as the growth of a cool black hole in a
hotter radiation bath. The end-point of the condensation is the large Euclidean
AdS black hole, and the part of spacetime behind the horizon has been removed.
In the flat-space limit, holography is manifest by the system creating its own
transverse screen at infinity. This leads to an argument, based on the
energetics of the system, explaining why the non-supersymmetric type 0A string
theory decays into the supersymmetric type IIB vacuum. We also suggest a notion
of `boundary entropy', the value of which decreases along the line of flow.Comment: 24 pages, Harvmac. 2 Figures. Typos corrected and reference adde
BF models, Duality and Bosonization on higher genus surfaces
The generating functional of two dimensional field theories coupled to
fermionic fields and conserved currents is computed in the general case when
the base manifold is a genus g compact Riemann surface. The lagrangian density
is written in terms of a globally defined 1-form and a
multi-valued scalar field . Consistency conditions on the periods of
have to be imposed. It is shown that there exist a non-trivial dependence of
the generating functional on the topological restrictions imposed to . In
particular if the periods of the field are constrained to take values , with any integer, then the partition function is independent of the
chosen spin structure and may be written as a sum over all the spin structures
associated to the fermions even when one started with a fixed spin structure.
These results are then applied to the functional bosonization of fermionic
fields on higher genus surfaces. A bosonized form of the partition function
which takes care of the chosen spin structure is obtainedComment: 17 page
A measurement of parity-violating gamma-ray asymmetries in polarized cold neutron capture on 35Cl, 113Cd, and 139La
An apparatus for measuring parity-violating asymmetries in gamma-ray emission
following polarized cold neutron capture was constructed as a 1/10th scale test
of the design for the forthcoming n+p->d+gamma experiment at LANSCE. The
elements of the polarized neutron beam, including a polarized 3He neutron spin
filter and a radio frequency neutron spin rotator, are described. Using CsI(Tl)
detectors and photodiode current mode readout, measurements were made of
asymmetries in gamma-ray emission following neutron capture on 35Cl, 113Cd, and
139La targets. Upper limits on the parity-allowed asymmetry were set at the level of 7 x 10^-6 for all three
targets. Parity-violating asymmetries were observed in
35Cl, A_gamma = (-29.1 +- 6.7) x 10^-6, and 139La, A_gamma = (-15.5 +- 7.1) x
10^-6, values consistent with previous measurements.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Nucl. Instr. and Meth.
Energy and Flux Measurements of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays Observed During the First ANITA Flight
The first flight of the Antarctic Impulsive Transient Antenna (ANITA)
experiment recorded 16 radio signals that were emitted by cosmic-ray induced
air showers. For 14 of these events, this radiation was reflected from the ice.
The dominant contribution to the radiation from the deflection of positrons and
electrons in the geomagnetic field, which is beamed in the direction of motion
of the air shower. This radiation is reflected from the ice and subsequently
detected by the ANITA experiment at a flight altitude of 36km. In this paper,
we estimate the energy of the 14 individual events and find that the mean
energy of the cosmic-ray sample is 2.9 EeV. By simulating the ANITA flight, we
calculate its exposure for ultra-high energy cosmic rays. We estimate for the
first time the cosmic-ray flux derived only from radio observations. In
addition, we find that the Monte Carlo simulation of the ANITA data set is in
agreement with the total number of observed events and with the properties of
those events.Comment: Added more explanation of the experimental setup and textual
improvement
Continental shelf off northern Chilean Patagonia: A potential risk zone for the onset of Alexandrium catenella toxic bloom?
Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) pose a severe socio-economic problem worldwide. The dinoflagellate species Alexandrium catenella produces potent neurotoxins called saxitoxins (STXs) and its blooms are associated with the human intoxication named Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). Knowing where and how these blooms originate is crucial to predict blooms. Most studies in the Chilean Patagonia, were focused on coastal areas, considering that blooms from the adjacent oceanic region are almost non-existent. Using a combination of field studies and modelling approaches, we first evaluated the role of the continental shelf off northern Chilean Patagonia as a source of A. catenella resting cysts, which may act as inoculum for their toxic coastal blooms. This area is characterized by a seasonal upwelling system with positive Ekman pumping during spring-summer, and by the presence of six major submarine canyons. We found out that these submarine canyons increase the vertical advection of bottom waters, and thus, significantly enhance the process of coastal upwelling. This is a previously unreported factor, among those involved in bloom initiation. This finding put this offshore area at high risk of resuspension of resting cysts of A. catenella. Here, we discuss in detail the physical processes promoting this resuspension.Harmful Algal Blooms (HAB) pose a severe socio-economic problem worldwide. The dinoflagellate species Alexandrium catenella produces potent neurotoxins called saxitoxins (STXs) and its blooms are associated with the human intoxication named Paralytic Shellfish Poisoning (PSP). Knowing where and how these blooms originate is crucial to predict blooms. Most studies in the Chilean Patagonia, were focused on coastal areas, considering that blooms from the adjacent oceanic region are almost non-existent. Using a combination of field studies and modelling approaches, we first evaluated the role of the continental shelf off northern Chilean Patagonia as a source of A. catenella resting cysts, which may act as inoculum for their toxic coastal blooms. This area is characterized by a seasonal upwelling system with positive Ekman pumping during spring-summer, and by the presence of six major submarine canyons. We found out that these submarine canyons increase the vertical advection of bottom waters, and thus, significantly enhance the process of coastal upwelling. This is a previously unreported factor, among those involved in bloom initiation. This finding put this offshore area at high risk of resuspension of resting cysts of A. catenella. Here, we discuss in detail the physical processes promoting this resuspension.Postprint2,35
Bosonic D-branes at finite temperature with an external field
Bosonic boundary states at finite temperature are constructed as solutions of
boundary conditions at for bosonic open strings with a constant gauge
field coupled to the boundary. The construction is done in the
framework of thermo field dynamics where a thermal Bogoliubov transformation
maps states and operators to finite temperature. Boundary states are given in
terms of states from the direct product space between the Fock space of the
closed string and another identical copy of it. By analogy with zero
temperature, the boundary states heve the interpretation of -brane at
finite temperature. The boundary conditions admit two different solutions. The
entropy of the closed string in a -brane state is computed and analysed. It
is interpreted as the entropy of the -brane at finite temperature.Comment: 21 pages, Latex, revised version with minor corrections and
references added, to be published in Phys. Rev.
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