Systematic challenges for future gravitational wave measurements of precessing binary black holes

The properties of precessing, coalescing binary black holes are presently inferred through comparison with two approximate models of compact binary coalescence. In this work we show these two models often disagree substantially when binaries have modestly large spins ($a\gtrsim 0.4$) and modest mass ratios ($q\gtrsim 2$). We demonstrate these disagreements using standard figures of merit and the parameters inferred for recent detections of binary black holes. By comparing to numerical relativity, we confirm these disagreements reflect systematic errors. We provide concrete examples to demonstrate that these systematic errors can significantly impact inferences about astrophysically significant binary parameters. For the immediate future, parameter inference for binary black holes should be performed with multiple models (including numerical relativity), and carefully validated by performing inference under controlled circumstances with similar synthetic events.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Impact of gravitational radiation higher order modes on single aligned-spin gravitational wave searches for binary black holes

Current template-based gravitational wave searches for compact binary coalescences (CBC) use waveform models that neglect the higher order modes content of the gravitational radiation emitted, considering only the quadrupolar $(\ell,|m|)=(2,2)$ modes. We study the effect of such a neglection for the case of aligned-spin CBC searches for equal-spin (and non-spinning) binary black holes in the context of two versions of Advanced LIGO: the upcoming 2015 version, known as early Advanced LIGO (eaLIGO) and its Zero-Detuned High Energy Power version, that we will refer to as Advanced LIGO (AdvLIGO). In addition, we study the case of a non-spinning search for initial LIGO (iLIGO). We do this via computing the effectualness of the aligned-spin SEOBNRv1 ROM waveform family, which only considers quadrupolar modes, towards hybrid post-Newtonian/Numerical Relativity waveforms which contain higher order modes. We find that for all LIGO versions, losses of more than $10\%$ of events occur for mass ratio $q\geq6$ and $M \geq 100M_\odot$ due to the neglection of higher modes. Moreover, for iLIGO and eaLIGO, losses notably increase up to $(39,23)\%$ respectively for the highest mass $(220M_\odot)$ and mass ratio ($q=8$) studied. For the case of early AdvLIGO, losses of $10\%$ occur for $M>50M_\odot$ and $q\geq6$. Neglection of higher modes leads to observation-averaged systematic parameter biases towards lower spin, total mass and chirp mass. For completeness, we perform a preliminar, non-exhaustive comparison of systematic biases to statistical errors. We find that, for a given SNR, systematic biases dominate over statistical errors at much lower total mass for eaLIGO than for AdvLIGO

Global Antifungal Profile Optimization of Chlorophenyl Derivatives against Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides

Twenty-two aromatic derivatives bearing a chlorine atom and a different chain in the para or meta position were prepared and evaluated for their in vitro antifungal activity against the phytopathogenic fungi Botrytis cinerea and Colletotrichum gloeosporioides. The results showed that maximum inhibition of the growth of these fungi was exhibited for enantiomers S and R of 1-(40-chlorophenyl)- 2-phenylethanol (3 and 4). Furthermore, their antifungal activity showed a clear structure-activity relationship (SAR) trend confirming the importance of the benzyl hydroxyl group in the inhibitory mechanism of the compounds studied. Additionally, a multiobjective optimization study of the global antifungal profile of chlorophenyl derivatives was conducted in order to establish a rational strategy for the filtering of new fungicide candidates from combinatorial libraries. The MOOPDESIRE methodology was used for this purpose providing reliable ranking models that can be used later

Confusing Head-On Collisions with Precessing Intermediate-Mass Binary Black Hole Mergers

We report a degeneracy between the gravitational-wave signals from quasi-circular precessing black-hole mergers and those from extremely eccentric mergers, namely head-on collisions. Performing model selection on numerically simulated signals of head-on collisions using models for quasi-circular binaries we find that, for signal-to-noise ratios of 15 and 25, typical of Advanced LIGO observations, head-on mergers with respective total masses of $M\in (125,300)M_\odot$ and $M\in (200,440)M_\odot$ would be identified as precessing quasi-circular intermediate-mass black hole binaries, located at a much larger distance. Ruling out the head-on scenario would require to perform model selection using currently nonexistent waveform models for head-on collisions, together with the application of astrophysically motivated priors on the (rare) occurrence of those events. We show that in situations where standard parameter inference of compact binaries may report component masses inside (outside) the pair-instability supernova gap, the true object may be a head-on merger with masses outside (inside) this gap. We briefly discuss the potential implications of these findings for the recent gravitational-wave detection GW190521, which we analyse in detail in [Phys. Rev. Lett. 126, 081101]

Raman spectroscopy analysis of Paleolithic industry from Guadalteba terrace river, Campillos (Guadalteba county, Southern of Iberian Peninsula)

Artículo sobre la aplicación de la espectroscopía ramán a los materiales de la terraza fluvial del Río Guadalteba, en Campillos

Sedimentología química de los sedimentos miocenos con diatomeas de la Cuenca del Guadalquivir

The chemical data of major elements is used to study the precise lithological composition and the sedimentology of Miocene diatomaceous sediments from 24 sections of the Guadalquivir Basin. Three main episodes (Lower, Middle and Upper), defined on the basis of diatom zones have been studied. They record a highly productive coastal upwelling regime in the area during the Miocene. The wide range of variation of SiO2 (12.1878.00), CaO (1.60-43.73) and Al2O3 (2.76-10.32) contents reflects the important variations of the main components: Opal A, calcite (mainly biogenic) and clay minerals-terrigenous components. Biogenic silica has been estimated by using normative calculations after determination of the mineralogical compositions of the samples by means of X-ray diffraction. Maximum and minimum contents in biogenic silica are related to the dominant diatom taxa, the structure of the rock and the geographicallocation in the basin. The ternary diagrams SiO2 biogenic- Al2O3-CaO reveal that the Upper Episode has the highest amounts of clay minerals-terrigenous components. Plots of SiO2 biogenic/CaO versus Al2O3show a relation between the biogenic calcite and the clay-minerals-terrigenous components. The plots of Fe2O3/TiO2 versus Al2O3/ Al2O3+ Fe2O3 show that most of the samples may be interpreted as deposited in a continental margin enviranment. The data obtained fram the slope of linear regressions Fe (y) - Al (x) are indicative of areas with varying influence of a terrigenous source. The MnO/ Al2O3 ratio is used to estimate rates of sedimentation of the diatomaceous sediments. The range is between 1.7 and 180 mm/103 years, which is consistent with the sedimentation rate values fram sediments formed in coastal upwelling regimes. The rate of sedimentation varies in relation to the structure of the rack, the dominant diatom taxa and the age of the episodes.La composición química de elementos mayores es utilizada para analizar las características composicionales y sedimentológicas en 24 afloramientos de sedimentos miocenos con diatomeas de la Cuenca del Guadalquivir. En función de las biozonas de diatomeas, se consideran tres episodios de sedimentación diatomítica (Inferior, Medio y Superior) que reflejan un medio de sedimentación de alta productividad biogénica ocasionada por corrientes ascensionales costeras («coastal upwelling»). Los grandes márgenes de variación de los tres óxidos más importantes SiO2 (12,1878,00), CaO (1,60-43,73) y Al2O3 (2,76-10,32) definen la gran variación que presentan los tres componentes mayoritarios de estos sedimentos: Opalo A, calcita y minerales de la arcilla-terrígenos. A través de cálculos normativos en función de la composición mineralógica de las muestras y de los análisis de difracción de RX, se ha definido el porcentaje de sílice biogénica. El estudio de los máximos y mínimos de sílice biogénica ha puesto de manifiesto su relación con tipos dominantes de diatomeas, la estructura de la roca y la posición geográfica dentro de la Cuenca. La proyección de las muestras en los diagramas triangulares SiO2 biogénica- Al2O3-CaO ha revelado que el Episodio Superior es el que manifiesta mayor proporción relativa de Al2O3 (arcillas-componentes terrígenos). Los diagramas SiO2 biogénicalCaO versus Al2O3 han demostrado que existe frecuentemente una asociación preferente entre el plancton calcáreo y los minerales de arcilla-terrígenos. La proyección de las muestras en el diagrama Fe2O3/TiO2 versus Al2O3/ Al2O3+FeO, junto con la pendiente de la recta de regresión Fe (y) - Al (x) indican que todas las series se pueden considerar de plataforma continental existiendo zonas con mayor o menor influencia del continente. La relación MnO/ Al2O3, se ha utilizado para medir la tasa sedimentación; los valores obtenidos (entre 1,7 y 180 mm/103 años) concuerdan con los hallados en otras zonas de corrientes ascensionales costeras, encontrándose diferencias en función de las estructura de la roca, las diatomeas dominantes y los episodios considerados

Los sedimentos con diatomeas del Mioceno en la Cuenca del Guadalquivir: edad y composición litológica

The lithological composition and biostratigraphy of diatomaceous marls have been defined in 93 outcrops of the Guadalquivir Basin. The diatomaceous marls display a wide variety of lithological types, mainly comprised of opal A (10-85 %) (mainly diatoms and to a lesser extent silicoflagellates, spicules and radiolarians), calcite (5-80 %) (principally foraminifers, nannoplankton, sparite, micrite and microspar), c1ay minerals (5-40 %) (smectite in greater quantities than illite; and kaolinite in small quantities) and terrigenous quartz (< 15 %). The diatom assemblages in the marls reflect the occurrence of temperate to warm water conditions in this area during middle and late Miocene. The diatoms are dominated by the fol1owing upwelling species: Thalassiosira nitzshoides, Thalassiotrix longuissima and Thalassionema baci//aris. Benthic diatoms are scarce but they have great species diversity. However, in sorne outcrops the genus Delphineis is more frequent thus indicating environments c10ser to shore areas. Three episodes based on Barron's (1985) low latitude zonation have been defined. The Lower Episode includes Cestodiscus peplum and Coscinodiscus lewisianus Zone and is assigned to the upper Langhian- lower Serravalian. After a period of no diatom occurrence (e. gigas var. diorama Zone is missing), the Middle Episode is defined by Craspedodiscus coscinodiscus and Actinocyclus moronensis Zones and covers the latest Serravalian-early Tortonian. The Upper Episode corresponds to Thalassiosira yabei Zone and it is assigned to middle Tortonian. The fundamental types of dilutants in diatomic sedimentation (biogenic calcareous, terrigenous and c1ay minerals), do not vary throughout the three episodes but there are great variations in the proportions. The coastal upwelling regime produces tongue-like patterns of sedimentation and the sedimentary record displays different changes of facies. The Upper Episode, where the c1ay-terrigenous dilutants predominate over calcareous dilutants and Delphineis appear in greater quantities, is interpreted as having been formed in an environment closer to the shore than other episodes.El estudio de 93 puntos en el Mioceno de la cuenca del Guadalquivir ha permitido definir en esta cuenca la situación, bioestratigráfica y composición litológica de las margas con diatomeas o «moronitas». Dichas rocas incluyen gran variedad de términos litológicos estando constituidos principalmente por ópalo A (10-85 %) (mayoritariamente diatomeas; silicoflagelados, espículas de esponja y radiolarios en menor proporción), calcita (5-80 %) (microforaminíferos, nanoplancton calcáreo, micrita y esparita fundamentalmente), minerales de la arcilla (5-40 %) (esmectita predominando sobre illita y caolinita en menores proporciones) y cuarzo terrígeno « 15 %). Las asociaciones de diatomeas están constituidas fundamentalmente por diatomeas planctónicas de aguas templado-cálidas, con dominio de Thalassionema nitzschoides, Thalassionema bacillaris y Thalassiotrix longuissima, definiendo áreas de alta productividad (upwelling) en la zona durante el Mioceno Medio y Superior. El componente bentónico es escaso y diversificado, sin embargo localmente adquiere importancia el género Delphineis indicando zonas más litorales. Se determinan tres episodios de sedimentación diatomítica basados en la zonación de baja latitud de Barron (1985c). El Episodio Inferior definido por las biozonas Cestodiscus peplum y Coscinodiscus lewisianus, comprende desde el Langhiense superior al Serrava¡ iense inferior. Después de un período de tiempo sin deposición de diatomeas comienza el Episodio Medio definido por las biozonas Craspedodiscus coscinodiscus y Actinocyclus moronensis, y que incluye el techo del Serravaliense y el Tortoniense Inferior. El Episodio Superior que corresponde a la biozona Thalassiosira yabei comprende el Tortoniense Medio. Los tipos de diluyentes fundamentales de la sedimentación diatomítica (componentes biogénicos calcáreos, terrígenos y arcillas), se mantienen en los tres episodios pero presentan gran variación en sus proporciones debido a la morfología «en lenguas» y composición de los depósitos sedimentarios formados bajo zonas de «coastal upwelling». El Episodio Superior diferenciado por el predominio del diluyente arcilloso-terrígeno y por una mayor proporción de Delphineis en las asociaciones de diatomeas. se interpreta formado más cerca del continente

Silicificaciones selectivas en Thalassinoides y otras estructuras biogénicas asociadas a calizas de plataforma marina y hardground (Albiense inferior, Sonabia, Cantabria)

In this work different types of chert from the Oriñón Limestone Formation (upper Aptian-lower Albian) are studied. This formation outcrops in the eastern coast of Cantabria (Liendo-Castro Urdiales area) and includes outstanding and abundant cherty nodules, lenticular layers and crusts. The host rock is mainly a biocalcarenite (wackestone/packstone) of pellets, echinoids fragments, oysters, foraminifers and calcareous or calcified siliceous sponge spicules. The Oriñón Limestone Formation was deposited in a marine open-shelf environment and preserves a hardground of regional extent with particular chert crusts. The silica source is associated to the dissolution of siliceous sponge spicules or to their calcification. Most of the chert is constituted by mosaics of micro-cryptocrystalline quartz and calcedonite, and it is generated by the selective silicification of biogenic structures, mainly dwelling trace fossils (Thalassinoides isp.) because of the higher amount of organic matter and the higher porosity and permeability of the burrow infill. In the hardground, selective silicification affects body fossils such as belemnites, oysters and echinoids, and trace fossils (feeding burrows and borings) where in addition cherts is accumulated as an indeterminate crust. The silicification of the biogenic structures firstly occurred in form of opaline phases during the early diagenesis while the oxidation of the organic matter was active. Thus, Thalassinoides trace fossils affected by silicification preserve filaments and cocoids that might have had a microbial origin. Neoformation of dolomite and calcite occur only within the Thalassinoides trace fossils which indicates that diagenetic processes taking place within these burrows differed from those affecting the host rock and other biogenic structures. Dwelling trace fossils would have supposed a close micro-environment where the oxidation conditions changed from high to low rate.El presente trabajo estudia los diferentes tipos de sílex que aparecen en la Formación Calizas de Oriñón (Aptiense superior-Albiense inferior), en un zona concreta de la costa oriental de Cantabria (Liendo-Castro Urdiales), debido a su gran abundancia y espectacularidad. Las rocas que los incluyen son principalmente biocalcarenitas (wackestones/packstones de pellets, fragmentos de equinodermos, ostreidos, foraminíferos y espículas calcáreas o silíceas calcificadas), siendo el ambiente de depósito marino de plataforma abierta, y existiendo un hardground regional, donde las silicificaciones son diferentes. La fuente de la sílice proviene de la calcitización o disolución de las espículas de esponjas silíceas. Se determina que la gran mayoría de sílex (mosaicos de cuarzo micro-microcriptalino y calcedonita principalmente), se forman por la silicificación selectiva de estructuras biogénicas, siendo las galerías de Thalassinoidespreferentemente silicificadas, debido a que en su relleno existe mayor proporción de materia orgánica y mayor porosidad y permeabilidad. En las calizas que soportan el hardground además de las silicificaciones selectivas sobre fósiles (rostros de belemnites, ostreidos y equínidos), la sílice se acumula de forma importante en huellas de alimentación y rellenos de perforaciones, dando lugar a su vez a costras sobre bioturbaciones y perforaciones que a pesar de su importancia no han podido ser clasificadas. La silicificación de todas las estructuras biogénicas, originó inicialmente fases opalinas y tuvo lugar durante la diagénesis temprana cuando la oxidación de la materia orgánica estaba todavía activa, conservándose en los Thalassinoides silicificados formas (filamentos y cocoides) que podrían ser consideradas microbianas. La transformación ópalo-cuarzo fue temprana, preservándose dichas formas. En las galerías silicificadas de Thalassinoides los procesos diagenéticos son diferentes a los de los sedimentos carbonáticos marinos que las incluyen, y al resto de estructuras biogénicas silicificadas, existiendo en estas galerías neoformación de dolomita y calcita, en un microambiente cerrado donde las condiciones cambian de oxidantes a reductoras

DNA transport by a micromachined Brownian ratchet device

We have micromachined a silicon-chip device that transports DNA with a Brownian ratchet that rectifies the Brownian motion of microscopic particles. Transport properties for a DNA 50mer agree with theoretical predictions, and the DNA diffusion constant agrees with previous experiments. This type of micromachine could provide a generic pump or separation component for DNA or other charged species as part of a microscale lab-on-a-chip. A device with reduced feature size could produce a size-based separation of DNA molecules, with applications including the detection of single nucleotide polymorphisms.Comment: Latex: 8 pages, 4 figure