62,401 research outputs found
Observations of the Ultraviolet Spectra of Carbon White Dwarfs
Strong ultraviolet carbon lines were detected in additional white DC (continuous visual spectra) dwarfs using the IUE. These lines are not seen in the ultraviolet spectrum of the cool DC star Stein 2051 B. The bright DA white dwarf LB 3303 has a strong unidentified absorption near lambda 1400
Manned simulations of the SRMS in SIMFAC
SIMFAC is a general purpose real-time simulation facility currently configured with an Orbiter-like Crew Compartment and a Displays and Controls (D and C) Subsystem to support the engineering developments of the Space Shuttle Remote Manipulator (SRMS). The simulation consists of a software model of the anthropomorphic SRMS manipulator arm including the characteristics of its control system and joint drive modules. The following are discussed: (1) simulation and scene generation subsystems; (2) the SRMS task in SIMFAC; (3) operator tactics and options; (4) workload; (5) operator errors and sources; (6) areas for further work; and (7) general observations
Defect free global minima in Thomson's problem of charges on a sphere
Given unit points charges on the surface of a unit conducting sphere,
what configuration of charges minimizes the Coulombic energy ? Due to an exponential rise in good local minima, finding global
minima for this problem, or even approaches to do so has proven extremely
difficult. For \hbox{} recent theoretical work based on
elasticity theory, and subsequent numerical work has shown, that for --1000 adding dislocation defects to a symmetric icosadeltahedral lattice
lowers the energy. Here we show that in fact this approach holds for all ,
and we give a complete or near complete catalogue of defect free global minima.Comment: Revisions in Tables and Reference
On the Robustness of NK-Kauffman Networks Against Changes in their Connections and Boolean Functions
NK-Kauffman networks {\cal L}^N_K are a subset of the Boolean functions on N
Boolean variables to themselves, \Lambda_N = {\xi: \IZ_2^N \to \IZ_2^N}. To
each NK-Kauffman network it is possible to assign a unique Boolean function on
N variables through the function \Psi: {\cal L}^N_K \to \Lambda_N. The
probability {\cal P}_K that \Psi (f) = \Psi (f'), when f' is obtained through f
by a change of one of its K-Boolean functions (b_K: \IZ_2^K \to \IZ_2), and/or
connections; is calculated. The leading term of the asymptotic expansion of
{\cal P}_K, for N \gg 1, turns out to depend on: the probability to extract the
tautology and contradiction Boolean functions, and in the average value of the
distribution of probability of the Boolean functions; the other terms decay as
{\cal O} (1 / N). In order to accomplish this, a classification of the Boolean
functions in terms of what I have called their irreducible degree of
connectivity is established. The mathematical findings are discussed in the
biological context where, \Psi is used to model the genotype-phenotype map.Comment: 17 pages, 1 figure, Accepted in Journal of Mathematical Physic
Surface Divergences and Boundary Energies in the Casimir Effect
Although Casimir, or quantum vacuum, forces between distinct bodies, or
self-stresses of individual bodies, have been calculated by a variety of
different methods since 1948, they have always been plagued by divergences.
Some of these divergences are associated with the volume, and so may be more or
less unambiguously removed, while other divergences are associated with the
surface. The interpretation of these has been quite controversial. Particularly
mysterious is the contradiction between finite total self-energies and surface
divergences in the local energy density. In this paper we clarify the role of
surface divergences.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, submitted to proceedings of QFEXT0
Effects of photoperiod extension on clock gene and neuropeptide RNA expression in the SCN of the Soay sheep
In mammals, changing daylength (photoperiod) is the main synchronizer of seasonal functions. The photoperiodic information is transmitted through the retino-hypothalamic tract to the suprachiasmatic nuclei (SCN), site of the master circadian clock. To investigate effects of day length change on the sheep SCN, we used in-situ hybridization to assess the daily temporal organization of expression of circadian clock genes (Per1, Per2, Bmal1 and Fbxl21) and neuropeptides (Vip, Grp and Avp) in animals acclimated to a short photoperiod (SP; 8h of light) and at 3 or 15 days following transfer to a long photoperiod (LP3, LP15, respectively; 16h of light), achieved by an acute 8-h delay of lights off. We found that waveforms of SCN gene expression conformed to those previously seen in LP acclimated animals within 3 days of transfer to LP. Mean levels of expression for Per1-2 and Fbxl21 were nearly 2-fold higher in the LP15 than in the SP group. The expression of Vip was arrhythmic and unaffected by photoperiod, while, in contrast to rodents, Grp expression was not detectable within the sheep SCN. Expression of the circadian output gene Avp cycled robustly in all photoperiod groups with no detectable change in phasing. Overall these data suggest that synchronizing effects of light on SCN circadian organisation proceed similarly in ungulates and in rodents, despite differences in neuropeptide gene expression
Geochronological reconsideration of the eastern European key loess section at Stayky in Ukraine
Event-stratigraphical correlations between regional terrestrial sedimentary
archives and marine or ice-core records that provide climate history are
highly desirable for a deeper understanding of the effects of global climate
change. However, such correlations are not simple, as the terrestrial
records tend to be floating and fragmentary, and usually show varying
sedimentation rates. Therefore, a reliable chronometric framework is a
prerequisite for any event stratigraphy involving terrestrial archives. We
propose that the age model underlying the event-stratigraphical approach for
the eastern European key loess section at Stayky in Ukraine needs revision.
Here we explore why it is unlikely that the Middle Pleniglacial Vytachiv
Soil developed during Greenland interstadial (GIS) 8, and why the embryonic
soils in the upper part of the Upper Pleniglacial part of the loess section
most likely post-date the Heinrich 2 event. As a consequence, the revised
age-model challenges the earlier suggested correlation of the suite of
incipient soils above the Vytachiv Soil with Greenland Interstadials, which
was supposed to start with GIS7 but for which matching from after GIS5 seems
more likely. The revised chronology suggests that the transition from Middle
to Upper Pleniglacial environmental conditions at the eastern European key
section occurred during the final phase of marine isotope stage (MIS) 3.
Thus, the picture appears to be in accordance with that of the western
European key section at Nussloch. This points to a common driver of
palaeo-environmental change in both regions, such as early late glacial
maximum (LGM) advances of the Arctic ice shield or changes of the North
Atlantic circulation and sea-ice distribution associated with changes in the
palaeowind field relevant to aeolian loess deposition and soil formation. To
test and substantiate the alternative age model, more chronologies for
well-stratified loess sections throughout the European loess belt are required
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