4,119 research outputs found
Electrode level Monte Carlo model of radiation damage effects on astronomical CCDs
Current optical space telescopes rely upon silicon Charge Coupled Devices
(CCDs) to detect and image the incoming photons. The performance of a CCD
detector depends on its ability to transfer electrons through the silicon
efficiently, so that the signal from every pixel may be read out through a
single amplifier. This process of electron transfer is highly susceptible to
the effects of solar proton damage (or non-ionizing radiation damage). This is
because charged particles passing through the CCD displace silicon atoms,
introducing energy levels into the semi-conductor bandgap which act as
localized electron traps. The reduction in Charge Transfer Efficiency (CTE)
leads to signal loss and image smearing. The European Space Agency's
astrometric Gaia mission will make extensive use of CCDs to create the most
complete and accurate stereoscopic map to date of the Milky Way. In the context
of the Gaia mission CTE is referred to with the complementary quantity Charge
Transfer Inefficiency (CTI = 1-CTE). CTI is an extremely important issue that
threatens Gaia's performances. We present here a detailed Monte Carlo model
which has been developed to simulate the operation of a damaged CCD at the
pixel electrode level. This model implements a new approach to both the charge
density distribution within a pixel and the charge capture and release
probabilities, which allows the reproduction of CTI effects on a variety of
measurements for a large signal level range in particular for signals of the
order of a few electrons. A running version of the model as well as a brief
documentation and a few examples are readily available at
http://www.strw.leidenuniv.nl/~prodhomme/cemga.php as part of the CEMGA java
package (CTI Effects Models for Gaia).Comment: Accepted by MNRAS on 13 February 2011. 15 pages, 7 figures and 5
table
Phosphorus limited growth of the tropical seagrass Syringodium filiforme in carbonate sediments
Blue Light Induces Phosphorylation at Seryl Residues on a Pea (Pisum sativum L.) Plasma Membrane Protein
Isopoll Maps and an Analysis of the Distribution of the Modern Pollen Rain, Eastern and Central Northern Canada
At 39 sites in eastern and central northern Canada, multiple samples of surface moss and lichens have been analyzed for their pollen content. Although pollen from 20 to 30 taxa were identified in the samples from each site, 8 pollen types (Alnus, Betula, Picea. Pinus, Salix, Gramineae, Cyperaceae and Ericaceae) usually comprise 90 to 100% of the pollen rain. We present isopoll maps of these taxa based on mean percentages of multiple samples from the 39 sites. The data are further analyzed by a number of statistical methods to determine whether there are specific pollen assemblages within this region and to what extent present day climatic parameters and floristic/vegetation zones correlate with pollen counts. Cluster analysis on raw data and on principal component scores yields six distinct pollen assemblages which are further examined by discriminant analysis. Pollen concentration maps for eastern Canada are also presented here and used as an aid in interpreting the percentage data.L'analyse pollinique d'un grand nombre d'échantillons de mousses et de lichens prélevés à la surface de 39 sites du centre et de l'est du Nord canadien a été faite. Même si on a pu identifier de 20 à 30 taxons dans les échantillons provenant de chacun des sites, 8 types polliniques (Alnus, Betula, Picea, Pinus, Salix, Gramineae, Cyperaceae, Ericaceae) se partagent habituellement entre 90 et 100% de la pluie pollinique. On présente ici les cartes isopolles de ces taxons, basées sur les pourcentages moyens des nombreux échantillons prélevés sur les 39 sites. L'analyse statistique des données qui a été faite avait pour but de dégager des assemblages polliniques distincts et de déterminer si les paramètres climatiques actuels ainsi que les régions floristiques pouvaient être mis en corrélation avec les sommes polliniques. Une analyse de grappes et de scores des composantes principales et des données brutes a permis de dégager 6 assemblages polliniques distincts qui ont fait l'objet d'une analyse discriminante. Les cartes de concentration pollinique de l'est du Canada, qui ont été dressées, ont servi à l'interprétation des données en pourcentage
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Modeling of Uncertainties in Major Drivers in U.S. Electricity Markets
This paper presents information on the Stochastic Energy Deployment System (SEDS) model. DOE and NREL are developing this new model, intended to address many of the shortcomings of the current suite of energy models. Once fully built, the salient qualities of SEDS will include full probabilistic treatment of the major uncertainties in national energy forecasts; code compactness for desktop application; user-friendly interface for a reasonably trained analyst; run-time within limits acceptable for quick-response analysis; choice of detailed or aggregate representations; and transparency of design, code, and assumptions. Moreover, SEDS development will be increasingly collaborative, as DOE and NREL will be coordinating with multiple national laboratories and other institutions, making SEDS nearly an 'open source' project. The collaboration will utilize the best expertise on specific sectors and problems, and also allow constant examination and review of the model. This paper outlines the rationale for this project and a description of its alpha version, as well as some example results. It also describes some of the expected development efforts in SEDS
Filling some black holes: modeling the connection between urbanization, infrastructure, and global service intensity
This empirical article combines insights from previous research on the level of knowledge-intensive service in metropolitan areas with the aim to develop an understanding of the spatial structure of the global service economy. We use a stepwise regression model with the Globalization and World Cities research network's measure of globalized service provisioning as the dependent variable and a range of variables focusing on population, infrastructure, urban primacy, and national regulation as independent variables. The discussion of the results focuses on model parameters as well as the meaning of outliers and is used to explore some avenues for future research
Can dark matter be a Bose-Einstein condensate?
We consider the possibility that the dark matter, which is required to
explain the dynamics of the neutral hydrogen clouds at large distances from the
galactic center, could be in the form of a Bose-Einstein condensate. To study
the condensate we use the non-relativistic Gross-Pitaevskii equation. By
introducing the Madelung representation of the wave function, we formulate the
dynamics of the system in terms of the continuity equation and of the
hydrodynamic Euler equations. Hence dark matter can be described as a
non-relativistic, Newtonian Bose-Einstein gravitational condensate gas, whose
density and pressure are related by a barotropic equation of state. In the case
of a condensate with quartic non-linearity, the equation of state is polytropic
with index . To test the validity of the model we fit the Newtonian
tangential velocity equation of the model with a sample of rotation curves of
low surface brightness and dwarf galaxies, respectively. We find a very good
agreement between the theoretical rotation curves and the observational data
for the low surface brightness galaxies. The deflection of photons passing
through the dark matter halos is also analyzed, and the bending angle of light
is computed. The bending angle obtained for the Bose-Einstein condensate is
larger than that predicted by standard general relativistic and dark matter
models. Therefore the study of the light deflection by galaxies and the
gravitational lensing could discriminate between the Bose-Einstein condensate
dark matter model and other dark matter models.Comment: 20 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in JCAP, references
adde
"Pudding mold" band drives large thermopower in NaCoO
In the present study, we pin down the origin of the coexistence of the large
thermopower and the large conductivity in NaCoO. It is revealed that
not just the density of states (DOS), the effective mass, nor the band width,
but the peculiar {\it shape} of the band referred to as the "pudding
mold" type, which consists of a dispersive portion and a somewhat flat portion,
is playing an important role in this phenomenon. The present study provides a
new guiding principle for designing good thermoelectric materials.Comment: 5 page
Genomic Profiling Reveals Distinct Routes To Complement Resistance in Klebsiella pneumoniae.
The serum complement system is a first line of defense against bacterial invaders. Resistance to killing by serum enhances the capacity of Klebsiella pneumoniae to cause infection, but it is an incompletely understood virulence trait. Identifying and characterizing the factors responsible for preventing activation of, and killing by, serum complement could inform new approaches to treatment of K. pneumoniae infections. Here, we used functional genomic profiling to define the genetic basis of complement resistance in four diverse serum-resistant K. pneumoniae strains (NTUH-K2044, B5055, ATCC 43816, and RH201207), and explored their recognition by key complement components. More than 90 genes contributed to resistance in one or more strains, but only three, rfaH, lpp, and arnD, were common to all four strains. Deletion of the antiterminator rfaH, which controls the expression of capsule and O side chains, resulted in dramatic complement resistance reductions in all strains. The murein lipoprotein gene lpp promoted capsule retention through a mechanism dependent on its C-terminal lysine residue; its deletion led to modest reductions in complement resistance. Binding experiments with the complement components C3b and C5b-9 showed that the underlying mechanism of evasion varied in the four strains: B5055 and NTUH-K2044 appeared to bypass recognition by complement entirely, while ATCC 43816 and RH201207 were able to resist killing despite being associated with substantial levels of C5b-9. All rfaH and lpp mutants bound C3b and C5b-9 in large quantities. Our findings show that, even among this small selection of isolates, K. pneumoniae adopts differing mechanisms and utilizes distinct gene sets to avoid complement attack
Characterisation of Corrosion Damage in T91/F91 steel exposed to Liquid Lead-Bismuth Eutectic
T91 samples were exposed to static liquid lead-bismuth eutectic (LBE) at
700{\deg}C for 250-500 hours in either an oxidising or reducing environment.
Corrosion damage was characterised using electron microscopy techniques, which
identified networks of LBE intrusion beneath LBE-wetted surfaces. Under
reducing conditions these networks are uniformly distributed, while they appear
patchier and deeper under oxidising conditions. The individual intrusions
preferentially follow microstructural features, initially along prior-austenite
grain boundaries, followed by penetration down martensite lath boundaries.
Local depletion of Cr was observed within 4 {\mu}m of the intrusions and along
intersecting boundaries, suggesting local Cr dissolution as the main corrosion
mechanism.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figures and graphical abstract, submitted to Scripta
Materiali
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