329 research outputs found
Integration and Conventional Systems at STAR
At the beginning of the design and construction of the STAR Detector, the
collaboration assigned a team of physicists and engineers the responsibility of
coordinating the construction of the detector. This group managed the general
space assignments for each sub-system and coordinated the assembly and planning
for the detector. Furthermore, as this group was the only STAR group with the
responsibility of looking at the system as a whole, the collaboration assigned
it several tasks that spanned the different sub-detectors. These items included
grounding, rack layout, cable distribution, electrical, power and water, and
safety systems. This paper describes these systems and their performance.Comment: 17 pages, 6 figures, Contribution to a NIM Volume Dedicated to the
Detectors and the Accelerator at RHI
Science-based restoration monitoring of coastal habitats, Volume Two: Tools for monitoring coastal habitats
Healthy coastal habitats are not only important ecologically; they also support healthy coastal communities and improve the quality of people’s lives. Despite their many benefits and values, coastal habitats have been systematically modified, degraded, and destroyed throughout the United States and its protectorates beginning with European colonization in the 1600’s (Dahl 1990). As a result, many coastal habitats around the United States are in desperate need of restoration. The monitoring of restoration projects, the focus of this document, is necessary to ensure that restoration efforts are successful, to further the science, and to increase the efficiency of future restoration efforts
Surface-Initiated Grafting of Dendritic Polyglycerol from Mussel-Inspired Adhesion-Layers for the Creation of Cell-Repelling Coatings
Biofouling is a major challenge in the application of textiles, biosensors, and biomedical implants. In the current work, a straightforward method for the solvent-free polymerization of antifouling dendritic polyglycerol (dPG) from mussel-inspired dendritic polyglycerol (MI-dPG) coatings on hydrophilic titanium dioxide (TiO2) and hydrophobic polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is reported. Surface characterization is performed by static water contact angle (CA) measurements, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Significant lower CA values are obtained after dPG grafting from MI-dPG-coated TiO2 and MI-dPG coated PDMS. Furthermore, XPS shows a time-dependent increase of the C-O bond content upon dPG grafting from MI-dPG-coated TiO2 and MI-dPG-coated PDMS. Analysis of the surface morphology by SEM shows a clear time-dependent increase in the surface roughness upon dPG grafting from MI-dPG-coated TiO2 and MI-dPG-coated PDMS. When the viability of two adhesive cell types is studied via LIVE/DEAD staining, a strong reduction in the cell density is observed after the dPG grafting from MI-dPG-coated TiO2 and MI-dPG-coated PDMS (a decrease of >95% in all cases). The combined results show that biocompatible but highly cell-repelling surfaces are efficiently constructed via the grafting of dPG from MI-dPG-coated TiO2 and MI-dPG-coated PDMS
Transmitter-side antennas correlation in SVD-assisted MIMO systems
MIMO techniques allow increasing wireless channel performance by decreasing the BER and increasing the channel throughput and in consequence are included in current mobile communication standards. MIMO techniques are based on benefiting the existence of multipath in wireless communications and the application of appropriate signal processing techniques. The singular value decomposition (SVD) is a popular signal processing technique which, based on the perfect channel state information (PCSI) knowledge at both the transmitter and receiver sides, removes inter-antenna interferences and improves channel performance. Nevertheless, the proximity of the multiple antennas at each front-end produces the so called antennas correlation effect due to the similarity of the various physical paths. In consequence, antennas correlation drops the MIMO channel performance. This investigation focuses on the analysis of a MIMO channel under transmitter-side antennas correlation conditions. First, antennas correlation is analyzed and characterized by the correlation coefficients. The analysis describes the relation between antennas correlation and the appearance of predominant layers which significantly affect the channel performance. Then, based on the SVD, pre- and post-processing is applied to remove inter-antenna interferences. Finally, bit- and power allocation strategies are applied to reach the best performance. The resulting BER reveals that antennas correlation effect diminishes the channel performance and that not necessarily all MIMO layers must be activated to obtain the best performance
The XUV environments of exoplanets from Jupiter-size to super-Earth
Planets that reside close-in to their host star are subject to intense high-energy irradiation. Extreme-ultraviolet (EUV) and X-ray radiation (together, XUV) is thought to drive mass-loss from planets with volatile envelopes. We present XMM–Newton observations of six nearby stars hosting transiting planets in tight orbits (with orbital period, Porb < 10 d), wherein we characterize the XUV emission from the stars and subsequent irradiation levels at the planets. In order to reconstruct the unobservable EUV emission, we derive a new set of relations from Solar TIMED/SEE data that are applicable to the standard bands of the current generation of X-ray instruments. From our sample, WASP-80b and HD 149026b experience the highest irradiation level, but HAT-P-11b is probably the best candidate for Ly α evaporation investigations because of the system’s proximity to the Solar system. The four smallest planets have likely lost a greater percentage of their mass over their lives than their larger counterparts. We also detect the transit of WASP-80b in the near-ultraviolet with the optical monitor on XMM–Newton
3D-conformal-intensity modulated radiotherapy with compensators for head and neck cancer: clinical results of normal tissue sparing
BACKGROUND: To investigate the potential of parotic gland sparing of intensity modulated radiotherapy (3D-c-IMRT) performed with metallic compensators for head and neck cancer in a clinical series by analysis of dose distributions and clinical measures. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 39 patients with squamous cell cancer of the head and neck irradiated using 3D-c-IMRT were evaluable for dose distribution within PTVs and at one parotid gland and 38 patients for toxicity analysis. 10 patients were treated primarily, 29 postoperatively, 19 received concomittant cis-platin based chemotherapy, 20 3D-c-IMRT alone. Initially the dose distribution was calculated with Helax (® )and photon fluence was modulated using metallic compensators made of tin-granulate (n = 22). Later the dose distribution was calculated with KonRad (® )and fluence was modified by MCP 96 alloy compensators (n = 17). Gross tumor/tumor bed (PTV 1) was irradiated up to 60–70 Gy, [5 fractions/week, single fraction dose: 2.0–2.2 (simultaneously integrated boost)], adjuvantly irradiated bilateral cervical lymph nodes (PTV 2) with 48–54 Gy [single dose: 1.5–1.8]). Toxicity was scored according the RTOG scale and patient-reported xerostomia questionnaire (XQ). RESULTS: Mean of the median doses at the parotid glands to be spared was 25.9 (16.3–46.8) Gy, for tin graulate 26 Gy, for MCP alloy 24.2 Gy. Tin-granulate compensators resulted in a median parotid dose above 26 Gy in 10/22, MCP 96 alloy in 0/17 patients. Following acute toxicities were seen (°0–2/3): xerostomia: 87%/13%, dysphagia: 84%/16%, mucositis: 89%/11%, dermatitis: 100%/0%. No grade 4 reaction was encountered. During therapy the XQ forms showed °0–2/3): 88%/12%. 6 months postRT chronic xerostomia °0–2/3 was observed in 85%/15% of patients, none with °4 xerostomia. CONCLUSION: 3D-c-IMRT using metallic compensators along with inverse calculation algorithm achieves sufficient parotid gland sparing in virtually all advanced head and neck cancers. Since the concept of lower single (and total) doses in the adjuvantly treated volumes reduces acute morbidity 3D-c-IMRT nicely meets demands of concurrent chemotherapy protocols
Detection of He I \AA{} absorption on HD 189733 b with CARMENES high-resolution transmission spectroscopy
We present three transit observations of HD 189733 b obtained with the
high-resolution spectrograph CARMENES at Calar Alto. A strong absorption signal
is detected in the near-infrared He I triplet at 10830 \AA{} in all three
transits. During mid-transit, the mean absorption level is %
measured in a 10 km s range at a net blueshift of km
s (10829.84--10830.57 \AA{}). The absorption signal exhibits radial
velocities of km s and km s during
ingress and egress, respectively; measured in the planetary rest frame. We show
that stellar activity related pseudo-signals interfere with the planetary
atmospheric absorption signal. They could contribute as much as 80% of the
observed signal and might also affect the radial velocity signature, but
pseudo-signals are very unlikely to explain the entire signal. The observed
line ratio between the two unresolved and the third line of the He I triplet is
, which strongly deviates from the value expected for an optically
thin atmospheres. When interpreted in terms of absorption in the planetary
atmosphere, this favors a compact helium atmosphere with an extent of only 0.2
planetary radii and a substantial column density on the order of cm. The observed radial velocities can be understood either in
terms of atmospheric circulation with equatorial superrotation or as a sign of
an asymmetric atmospheric component of evaporating material. We detect no clear
signature of ongoing evaporation, like pre- or post-transit absorption, which
could indicate material beyond the planetary Roche lobe, or radial velocities
in excess of the escape velocity. These findings do not contradict planetary
evaporation, but only show that the detected helium absorption in HD 189733 b
does not trace the atmospheric layers that show pronounced escape signatures.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in A&
The Drosophila Female-Specific Sex-Determination Gene, Sex-Lethal, Has Stage-, Tissue-, and Sex-Specific RNAs Suggesting Multiple Modes of Regulation
For proper sexual development of females, the Sex-lethal (Sxl) gene must be activated early in development and remain on during the rest of the life cycle. Conversely, in males, Sxl must remain functionally off through development. Here, we show that the Sxl transcription unit spans a DNA segment of greater than 20 kb and encodes at least 10 distinct, but overlapping, RNA species. These RNAs range in size from 4.4 to 1.7 kb and exhibit sex, stage, and tissue specificity. Six RNAs, three female specific and three male specific, are first detected by midembryogenesis and persist through the adult stage: Their expression reflects the on/off regulation of Sxl\u27s activity at the level of sex-specific alternate splicing. Four Sxl RNAs are found in adult females. Two of these RNAs are dependent on the presence of a functional germ line and may be relevant to Sxl\u27s role in adult germ-line development. All four are present in unfertilized eggs. Finally, three Sxl RNAs are found only transiently during very early embryogenesis; we suggest that the expression of these RNAs may reflect an early regulation of Sxl at the level of transcription and that these transcripts are involved in the initial selection of the Sxl activity state in response to the primary sex-determination signal, the X/A ratio
The High-Acceptance Dielectron Spectrometer HADES
HADES is a versatile magnetic spectrometer aimed at studying dielectron
production in pion, proton and heavy-ion induced collisions. Its main features
include a ring imaging gas Cherenkov detector for electron-hadron
discrimination, a tracking system consisting of a set of 6 superconducting
coils producing a toroidal field and drift chambers and a multiplicity and
electron trigger array for additional electron-hadron discrimination and event
characterization. A two-stage trigger system enhances events containing
electrons. The physics program is focused on the investigation of hadron
properties in nuclei and in the hot and dense hadronic matter. The detector
system is characterized by an 85% azimuthal coverage over a polar angle
interval from 18 to 85 degree, a single electron efficiency of 50% and a vector
meson mass resolution of 2.5%. Identification of pions, kaons and protons is
achieved combining time-of-flight and energy loss measurements over a large
momentum range. This paper describes the main features and the performance of
the detector system
Technical Design Report for the PANDA Solenoid and Dipole Spectrometer Magnets
This document is the Technical Design Report covering the two large
spectrometer magnets of the PANDA detector set-up. It shows the conceptual
design of the magnets and their anticipated performance. It precedes the tender
and procurement of the magnets and, hence, is subject to possible modifications
arising during this process.Comment: 10 pages, 14MB, accepted by FAIR STI in May 2009, editors: Inti
Lehmann (chair), Andrea Bersani, Yuri Lobanov, Jost Luehning, Jerzy Smyrski,
Technical Coordiantor: Lars Schmitt, Bernd Lewandowski (deputy),
Spokespersons: Ulrich Wiedner, Paola Gianotti (deputy
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