2,472 research outputs found
Ray stability in weakly range-dependent sound channels
Ray stability is investigated in environments consisting of a
range-independent background sound-speed profile on which a range-dependent
perturbation, such as that produced by internal waves in deep ocean
environments, is superimposed. Numerical results show that ray stability is
strongly influenced by the background sound speed profile. Ray instability is
shown to increase with increasing magnitude of alpha := I omega^{prime} /
omega, where 2 pi / omega(I) is the range of a ray double loop and I is the ray
action variable. The mechanism, shear-induced instability enhancement, by which
alpha controls ray instability is described.Comment: To appear in JAS
The dynamics of measles in sub-Saharan Africa.
Although vaccination has almost eliminated measles in parts of the world, the disease remains a major killer in some high birth rate countries of the Sahel. On the basis of measles dynamics for industrialized countries, high birth rate regions should experience regular annual epidemics. Here, however, we show that measles epidemics in Niger are highly episodic, particularly in the capital Niamey. Models demonstrate that this variability arises from powerful seasonality in transmission-generating high amplitude epidemics-within the chaotic domain of deterministic dynamics. In practice, this leads to frequent stochastic fadeouts, interspersed with irregular, large epidemics. A metapopulation model illustrates how increased vaccine coverage, but still below the local elimination threshold, could lead to increasingly variable major outbreaks in highly seasonally forced contexts. Such erratic dynamics emphasize the importance both of control strategies that address build-up of susceptible individuals and efforts to mitigate the impact of large outbreaks when they occur
Temperature and Emission-Measure Profiles Along Long-Lived Solar Coronal Loops Observed with TRACE
We report an initial study of temperature and emission measure distributions
along four steady loops observed with the Transition Region and Coronal
Explorer (TRACE) at the limb of the Sun. The temperature diagnostic is the
filter ratio of the extreme-ultraviolet 171-angstrom and 195-angstrom
passbands. The emission measure diagnostic is the count rate in the
171-angstrom passband. We find essentially no temperature variation along the
loops. We compare the observed loop structure with theoretical isothermal and
nonisothermal static loop structure.Comment: 10 pages, 3 postscript figures (LaTeX, uses aaspp4.sty). Accepted by
ApJ Letter
Transversality of Electromagnetic Waves in the Calculus-Based Introductory Physics Course
Introductory calculus-based physics textbooks state that electromagnetic
waves are transverse and list many of their properties, but most such textbooks
do not bring forth arguments why this is so. Both physical and theoretical
arguments are at a level appropriate for students of courses based on such
books, and could be readily used by instructors of such courses. Here, we
discuss two physical arguments (based on polarization experiments and on lack
of monopole electromagnetic radiation), and the full argument for the
transversality of (plane) electromagnetic waves based on the integral Maxwell
equations. We also show, at a level appropriate for the introductory course,
why the electric and magnetic fields in a wave are in phase and the relation of
their magnitudes.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
Experimental investigation at 10 Gb/s of the noise suppression capabilities in a pass-through configuration in SOA-based interferometric structures
Novel scheme for simple label-swapping employing XOR logic in an integrated interferometric wavelength converter
Comparison of Short-Wavelength Reduced-Illuminance and Conventional Autofluorescence Imaging in Stargardt Macular Dystrophy
Purpose
To compare grading results between short-wavelength reduced-illuminance and conventional autofluorescence imaging in Stargardt macular dystrophy.
Design
Reliability study.
Methods
setting: Moorfields Eye Hospital, London (United Kingdom). patients: Eighteen patients (18 eyes) with Stargardt macular dystrophy. observation procedures: A series of 3 fundus autofluorescence images using 3 different acquisition parameters on a custom-patched device were obtained: (1) 25% laser power and total sensitivity 87; (2) 25% laser power and freely adjusted sensitivity; and (3) 100% laser power and freely adjusted total sensitivity (conventional). The total area of 2 hypoautofluorescent lesion types (definitely decreased autofluorescence and poorly demarcated questionably decreased autofluorescence) was measured. main outcome measures: Agreement in grading between the 3 imaging methods was assessed by kappa coefficients (κ) and intraclass correlation coefficients.
Results
The mean ± standard deviation area for images acquired with 25% laser power and freely adjusted total sensitivity was 2.04 ± 1.87 mm2 for definitely decreased autofluorescence (n = 15) and 1.86 ± 2.14 mm2 for poorly demarcated questionably decreased autofluorescence (n = 12). The intraclass correlation coefficient (95% confidence interval) was 0.964 (0.929, 0.999) for definitely decreased autofluorescence and 0.268 (0.000, 0.730) for poorly demarcated questionably decreased autofluorescence.
Conclusions
Short-wavelength reduced-illuminance and conventional fundus autofluorescence imaging showed good concordance in assessing areas of definitely decreased autofluorescence. However, there was significantly higher variability between imaging modalities for assessing areas of poorly demarcated questionably decreased autofluorescence
A 16-yr Comparison of Fine Particle and Aerosol Strong Acidity at the Interface Zone (1,540 m) and Within (452 m) the Planetary Boundary Layer of the Great Gulf and Presidential-Dry River Class I Wildernesses on the Presidential Range, New Hampshire
Mount Washington, NH in the White Mountain National Forest, is flanked to the north-northeast and south by two Class I Wilderness areas, the Great Gulf and Presidential Range-Dry River Wildernesses, respectively. The Clean Air Act protects Class I area natural resource values from air pollution. Aerosol sulfate, a fine particulate component that is often transported long distances, is a known contributor to visibility degradation and acidic deposition. We examined summertime fine particulate aerosol mass and sulfate, strong acidity and ammonium concentrations from 1988 to 2004 on Mount Washington at two elevations, 452 and 1,540 meters (msl). The former site is within, and the latter at the interface of, the planetary boundary layer. Comparisons of sampling interval durations (10 and 24 hours), site vs. site, and different sampling methods are made. We also examine the extent to which aerosol sulfate is neutralized. Ten hour (daytime) compared to 24 hour samples have higher mass and aerosol sulfate concentrations, however paired samples are well correlated. Fine mass concentrations compared between the 452 m and 1,540 m sites (standard temperature and pressure corrected) show a weak positive linear relationship with the later being approximately 34% lower. We attribute the lack of a strong correlation to the facts that the 1,540 m site is commonly at the interface of and even above the regional planetary boundary layer in summer and that it can intercept different air masses relative to the 452 m site. Sulfate is approximately 19% lower at the higher elevation site, but comprises a greater percentage of total fine mass; 42% compared to 35% for the high and low elevation site, respectively. Aerosol strong acidity was found to increase with increasing sulfate concentrations at both sites. At the high elevation site, elevated mass and sulfate concentrations are associated with westerly and southwesterly regional flows
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