14,646 research outputs found
The Resonant Cavity Radiator (RCR)
The design of the resonant cavity radiator (RCR) is compared to that of the slotted waveguide array in terms of efficiency, weight, and structural integrity. It is shown that the RCR design has three significant potentials over the slotted waveguide array: (1) improvement in efficiency; (2) lighter weight; and (3) simpler structure which allows the RCR to be integrated with the RF tube to alleviate thermal interface problems
The impact of extreme weather on cattle feeding profits
Citation: Belasco, E. J., Cheng, Y., & Schroeder, T. C. (2015). The impact of extreme weather on cattle feeding profits. Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 40(2), 285-305. Retrieved from http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?eid=2-s2.0-84936755380&partnerID=40&md5=86d90c8aefd369699842fb1c44c4f19aWhile large feedlots commonly hedge corn and fed cattle prices, weather remains the largest uncontrollable component of production risk. This research examines the economic losses to cattle feeding associated with extreme weather. Profit losses are assessed using nonlinear regressions that relate weather outcomes, based on the Comprehensive Climate Index (Mader, Johnson, and Gaughan, 2010), and their impact on production variables. Actuarially fair insurance premium rates are derived for an insurance product designed to mitigate the potential cost of extreme weather. Finally, we discuss additional issues associated with using weather-index insurance products and insuring feedlot cattle against adverse weather
Specific Resistance of Pd/Ir Interfaces
From measurements of the current-perpendicular-to-plane (CPP) total specific
resistance (AR = area times resistance) of sputtered Pd/Ir multilayers, we
derive the interface specific resistance, 2AR(Pd/Ir) = 1.02 +/- 0.06 fOhmm^2,
for this metal pair with closely similar lattice parameters. Assuming a single
fcc crystal structure with the average lattice parameter, no-free-parameter
calculations, including only spd orbitals, give for perfect interfaces,
2AR(Pd/Ir)(Perf) = 1.21 +/-0.1 fOhmm^2, and for interfaces composed of two
monolayers of a random 50%-50% alloy, 2AR(Pd/Ir)(50/50) = 1.22 +/- 0.1 fOhmm^2.
Within mutual uncertainties, these values fall just outside the range of the
experimental value. Updating to add f-orbitals gives 2AR(Pd/Ir)(Perf) = 1.10
+/- 0.1 fOhmm^2 and 2AR(Pd/Ir)(50-50) = 1.13 +/- 0.1 fOhmm^2, values now
compatible with the experimental one. We also update, with f-orbitals,
calculations for other pairsComment: 3 pages, 1 figure, in press in Applied Physics Letter
A Comprehensive View of the 2006 December 13 CME: From the Sun to Interplanetary Space
The biggest halo coronal mass ejection (CME) since the Halloween storm in
2003, which occurred on 2006 December 13, is studied in terms of its solar
source and heliospheric consequences. The CME is accompanied by an X3.4 flare,
EUV dimmings and coronal waves. It generated significant space weather effects
such as an interplanetary shock, radio bursts, major solar energetic particle
(SEP) events, and a magnetic cloud (MC) detected by a fleet of spacecraft
including STEREO, ACE, Wind and Ulysses. Reconstruction of the MC with the
Grad-Shafranov (GS) method yields an axis orientation oblique to the flare
ribbons. Observations of the SEP intensities and anisotropies show that the
particles can be trapped, deflected and reaccelerated by the large-scale
transient structures. The CME-driven shock is observed at both the Earth and
Ulysses when they are separated by 74 in latitude and 117
in longitude, the largest shock extent ever detected. The ejecta seems missed
at Ulysses. The shock arrival time at Ulysses is well predicted by an MHD model
which can propagate the 1 AU data outward. The CME/shock is tracked remarkably
well from the Sun all the way to Ulysses by coronagraph images, type II
frequency drift, in situ measurements and the MHD model. These results reveal a
technique which combines MHD propagation of the solar wind and type II
emissions to predict the shock arrival time at the Earth, a significant advance
for space weather forecasting especially when in situ data are available from
the Solar Orbiter and Sentinels.Comment: 26 pages, 10 figures. 2008, ApJ, in pres
Universal mean moment rate profiles of earthquake ruptures
Earthquake phenomenology exhibits a number of power law distributions
including the Gutenberg-Richter frequency-size statistics and the Omori law for
aftershock decay rates. In search for a basic model that renders correct
predictions on long spatio-temporal scales, we discuss results associated with
a heterogeneous fault with long range stress-transfer interactions. To better
understand earthquake dynamics we focus on faults with Gutenberg-Richter like
earthquake statistics and develop two universal scaling functions as a stronger
test of the theory against observations than mere scaling exponents that have
large error bars. Universal shape profiles contain crucial information on the
underlying dynamics in a variety of systems. As in magnetic systems, we find
that our analysis for earthquakes provides a good overall agreement between
theory and observations, but with a potential discrepancy in one particular
universal scaling function for moment-rates. The results reveal interesting
connections between the physics of vastly different systems with avalanche
noise.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figure
Simultaneous X-ray and optical spectroscopy of the Oef supergiant lambda Cep
Probing the structures of stellar winds is of prime importance for the
understanding of massive stars. Based on their optical spectral morphology and
variability, the stars of the Oef class have been suggested to feature
large-scale structures in their wind. High-resolution X-ray spectroscopy and
time-series of X-ray observations of presumably-single O-type stars can help us
understand the physics of their stellar winds. We have collected XMM-Newton
observations and coordinated optical spectroscopy of the O6Ief star lambda Cep
to study its X-ray and optical variability and to analyse its high-resolution
X-ray spectrum. We investigate the line profile variability of the He II 4686
and H-alpha emission lines in our time series of optical spectra, including a
search for periodicities. We further discuss the variability of the broadband
X-ray flux and analyse the high-resolution spectrum of lambda Cep using
line-by-line fits as well as a code designed to fit the full high-resolution
X-ray spectrum consistently. During our observing campaign, the He II 4686 line
varies on a timescale of ~18 hours. On the contrary, the H-alpha line profile
displays a modulation on a timescale of 4.1 days which is likely the rotation
period of the star. The X-ray flux varies on time-scales of days and could in
fact be modulated by the same 4.1 days period as H-alpha, although both
variations are shifted in phase. The high-resolution X-ray spectrum reveals
broad and skewed emission lines as expected for the X-ray emission from a
distribution of wind-embedded shocks. Most of the X-ray emission arises within
less than 2R* above the photosphere.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysic
Predictably Philandering Females Prompt Poor Paternal Provisioning
One predicted cost of female infidelity in socially monogamous
species is that cuckolded males should provide less parental
care. This relationship is robust across species, but evidence is ambiguous
within species. We do not know whether individual males reduce
their care when paired with cheating females compared with when
paired with faithful females (within-male adjustment) or, alternatively,
if the males that pair with cheating females are the same males that
provide less parental care in general (between-male effect). Our exceptionally
extensive long-term data set of repeated observations of a wild
passerine allows us to disentangle paternal care adjustment within
males—within pairs and between males—while accounting for environmental
variables. We found a within-male adjustment of paternal
provisioning, but not incubation effort, relative to the cuckoldry in
their nest. This effect was mainly driven by females differing consistently
in their fidelity. There was no evidence that this within-male adjustment
also took place across broods with the same female, and we
found no between-male effect. Interestingly, males that gained more
extrapair paternity provided less care. Data from a cross-foster experiment
suggested that males did not use kin recognition to assess paternity.
Our results provide insight into the role of individual variation in
parental care and mating systems
Identification of climatological sub-regions within the Tully mill area
Identifying optimal nitrogen application rates that reduce nitrogen loss without adversely reducing yields would benefit growers and the environment. In order to identify optimal nitrogen application rates throughout the Tully mill area, it is important to identify sub-regions that share similar topographical, soil, farm management, productivity or climatological attributes. While current SIX EASY STEPS nitrogen guidelines enable a hierarchy of district, soil, block and crop nitrogen requirements for sugarcane, it would be beneficial for management zones to also take spatial climate variability information into account. Unfortunately, spatial climate variability within a region, is generally not considered when developing nitrogen management practices. The objective of this paper was to identify sub-regions within the Tully mill area based on climatological attributes as a first step towards better informing nitrogen management decisions. Rainfall, radiation and temperature data were obtained on a 0.05 by 0.05˚ grid (approximately 5 km by 5 km) for sugarcane-growing areas within the Tully Mill region. A K-means clustering algorithm was then used to cluster these grid cells into distinct sub-regions based on seasonal or annual climate data. Two distinct sub-regions were identified based on total annual rainfall and annual average daily radiation data. These sub-regions were identified as a northern and southern sub-region, divided roughly along the Tully River. The northern sub-region was characterised by lower radiation, lower temperatures and higher rainfall than the southern sub-region. Crop simulation models will now be able to use this knowledge to assess if nitrogen management plans should vary between the two sub-regions in Tully
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