The local dust foregrounds in the microwave sky: I. Thermal emission spectra

Analyses of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) radiation maps made by the Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) have revealed anomalies not predicted by the standard inflationary cosmology. In particular, the power of the quadrupole moment of the CMB fluctuations is remarkably low, and the quadrupole and octopole moments are aligned mutually and with the geometry of the Solar system. It has been suggested in the literature that microwave sky pollution by an unidentified dust cloud in the vicinity of the Solar system may be the cause for these anomalies. In this paper, we simulate the thermal emission by clouds of spherical homogeneous particles of several materials. Spectral constraints from the WMAP multi-wavelength data and earlier infrared observations on the hypothetical dust cloud are used to determine the dust cloud's physical characteristics. In order for its emissivity to demonstrate a flat, CMB-like wavelength dependence over the WMAP wavelengths (3 through 14 mm), and to be invisible in the infrared light, its particles must be macroscopic. Silicate spheres from several millimetres in size and carbonaceous particles an order of magnitude smaller will suffice. According to our estimates of the abundance of such particles in the Zodiacal cloud and trans-neptunian belt, yielding the optical depths of the order of 1E-7 for each cloud, the Solar-system dust can well contribute 10 microKelvin (within an order of magnitude) in the microwaves. This is not only intriguingly close to the magnitude of the anomalies (about 30 microKelvin), but also alarmingly above the presently believed magnitude of systematic biases of the WMAP results (below 5 microKelvin) and, to an even greater degree, of the future missions with higher sensitivities, e.g. PLANCK.Comment: 33 pages, 9 figures, 1 table. The Astrophysical Journal, 2009, accepte

COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF THE FREQUENCY OF CYTOGENETIC ABNORMALIES IN THE ROOT APICAL MERISTEM OF SPRING BARLEY (<i>HORDEUM VULGARE </i> L.) CULTIVAE SEEDLINGS, CONTRASTING IN THEIR LEAD TOLERANCE

Cell division activity, frequencies and spectra of cytogenetical abnormalities were studied in the root apical meristem cells of spring barley seedlings (Hordeum vulgare L.). Comparative analysis of aberration frequencies in cells of most sensitive or tolerant barley cultivars was made. Sensitive and tolerant cultivars of spring barley were chosen by testing of lead influence on 100 barley cultivars from the VIR collection. Significant differences between groups of sensitive and tolerant cultivars were shown in indexes received on intact seedlings: frequencies of aberrant cells (FAC), frequency of cytogenetical abnormalities on a dividing cell (FADC), frequency of cytogenetical disturbances on a cell with cytogenetical abnormalities (FAAC). Mechanisms of tolerance to lead and HM were discussed

CAREER-GUIDANCE AND DIGITALIZATION AS LINKS OF ONE PROBLEM

The methods of work on professional information distribution, professional enlightenment, professional selection, professional education, professional social adaptation are revealed. Within the conditions of worldwide transition to digital economy the reevaluation of socio-economic situations occurs which has an eect on education sector, its relation to society, labour market, culture, a human being and, as a result, economic, moral, spiritual potential of society and civilization as a whole. The value system of the choice of the place of work and study by individuals, the motives for the choice of professional activity are specied

GRB Sky Distribution Puzzles

We analyze the randomness of the sky distribution of cosmic gamma-ray bursts. These events are associated with massive galaxies, spiral or elliptical, and therefore their positions should trace the large-scale structure, which, in turn, could show up in the sky distribution of fluctuations of the cosmic microwave background (CMB). We test this hypothesis by mosaic correlation mapping of the distributions of CMB peaks and burst positions, find the distribution of these two signals to be correlated, and interpret this correlation as a possible systematic effect.Comment: 12 pages, 16 figures, 1 tabl

Can residuals of the Solar system foreground explain low multipole anomalies of the CMB ?

The low multipole anomalies of the Cosmic Microwave Background has received much attention during the last few years. It is still not ascertained whether these anomalies are indeed primordial or the result of systematics or foregrounds. An example of a foreground, which could generate some non-Gaussian and statistically anisotropic features at low multipole range, is the very symmetric Kuiper Belt in the outer solar system. In this paper, expanding upon the methods presented by Maris et al. (2011), we investigate the contributions from the Kuiper Belt objects (KBO) to the WMAP ILC 7 map, whereby we can minimize the contrast in power between even and odd multipoles in the CMB, discussed discussed by Kim & Naselsky (2010). We submit our KBO de-correlated CMB signal to several tests, to analyze its validity, and find that incorporation of the KBO emission can decrease the quadrupole-octupole alignment and parity asymmetry problems, provided that the KBO signals has a non-cosmological dipole modulation, associated with the statistical anisotropy of the ILC 7 map. Additionally, we show that the amplitude of the dipole modulation, within a 2 sigma interval, is in agreement with the corresponding amplitudes, discussed by Lew (2008).Comment: 24 pages, 9 figures, 5 tables. Matches version in JCA

Status of Activities on Rehabilitation Of Radioactively Contaminated Facilities and the Site of Russian Research Center ''Kurchatov Institute''

This paper describes the program, the status, and the course of activities on rehabilitation of radioactively contaminated facilities and the territory of temporary radioactive waste (radwaste) disposal at the Russian Research Center ''Kurchatov Institute'' (RRC KI) in Moscow as performed in 2001-2002. The accumulation of significant amounts of radwaste at RRC KI territory is shown to be the inevitable result of Institute's activity performed in the days of former USSR nuclear weapons project and multiple initial nuclear power projects (performed from 1950's to early 1970's). A characterization of RRC KI temporary radwaste disposal site is given. Described is the system of radiation control and monitoring as implemented on this site. A potential hazard of adverse impacts on the environment and population of the nearby housing area is noted, which is due to possible spread of the radioactive plume by subsoil waters. A description of the concept and project of the RRC KI temporary radwaste disposal site is presented. Specific nature of the activities planned and performed stems from the nearness of housing area. This paper describes main stages of the planned activities for rehabilitation, their expected terms and sources of funding, as well as current status of the project advancement. Outlined are the problems faced in the performance and planning of works. The latter include: diagnostics of the concrete-grouted repositories, dust-suppression technologies, packaging of the fragmented ILW and HLW, soil clean-up, radioactive plume spread prevention, broad radiation monitoring of the work zone and environment in the performance of rehabilitation works. Noted is the intention of RRC KI to establish cooperation with foreign, first of all, the U.S. partners for the solution of problems mentioned above

Dominant Multipoles in WMAP5 Mosaic Data Correlation Maps

The method of correlation mapping on the full sphere is used to study the properties of the ILC map, as well as the dust and synchrotron background components. An anomalous correlation of the components with the ILC map in the main plane and in the poles of the ecliptic and equatorial coordinate systems was discovered. Apart from the bias, a dominant quadrupole contribution in the power spectrum of the mosaic correlation maps was found in the pixel correlation histogram. Various causes of the anomalous signal are discussed.Comment: 10 pages,11 figure

Advancing Tests of Relativistic Gravity via Laser Ranging to Phobos

Phobos Laser Ranging (PLR) is a concept for a space mission designed to advance tests of relativistic gravity in the solar system. PLR's primary objective is to measure the curvature of space around the Sun, represented by the Eddington parameter $\gamma$, with an accuracy of two parts in $10^7$, thereby improving today's best result by two orders of magnitude. Other mission goals include measurements of the time-rate-of-change of the gravitational constant, $G$ and of the gravitational inverse square law at 1.5 AU distances--with up to two orders-of-magnitude improvement for each. The science parameters will be estimated using laser ranging measurements of the distance between an Earth station and an active laser transponder on Phobos capable of reaching mm-level range resolution. A transponder on Phobos sending 0.25 mJ, 10 ps pulses at 1 kHz, and receiving asynchronous 1 kHz pulses from earth via a 12 cm aperture will permit links that even at maximum range will exceed a photon per second. A total measurement precision of 50 ps demands a few hundred photons to average to 1 mm (3.3 ps) range precision. Existing satellite laser ranging (SLR) facilities--with appropriate augmentation--may be able to participate in PLR. Since Phobos' orbital period is about 8 hours, each observatory is guaranteed visibility of the Phobos instrument every Earth day. Given the current technology readiness level, PLR could be started in 2011 for launch in 2016 for 3 years of science operations. We discuss the PLR's science objectives, instrument, and mission design. We also present the details of science simulations performed to support the mission's primary objectives.Comment: 25 pages, 10 figures, 9 table