Spectral disentangling with Spectangular

The paper introduces the software Spectangular for spectral disentangling via singular value decomposition with global optimisation of the orbital parameters of the stellar system or radial velocities of the individual observations. We will describe the procedure and the different options implemented in our program. Furthermore, we will demonstrate the performance and the applicability using tests on artificial data. Additionally, we use high-resolution spectra of Capella to demonstrate the performance of our code on real-world data. The novelty of this package is the implemented global optimisation algorithm and the graphical user interface (GUI) for ease of use. We have implemented the code to tackle SB1 and SB2 systems with the option of also dealing with telluric (static) lines

Spectangular: Disentangling variable spectra

Spectangular is a GUI based software package written in C++ designed for spectral disentangling on the wavelength scale. The code disentangles spectra of SB1 and SB2 systems and can now also be used also for spectra showing variability. In this work, effects of variability caused by telluric lines, line profile, and continuum flux are being investigated. Also shown is the disentangling on spectra from an artificial eclipsing binary. It is now possible to optimize on the flux ratios of each spectrum, making the disentangling a technique for extracting photometric information from spectroscopic observations usually provided by additional photometry. Furthermore, we make some comments about changes to the code since it was first published.Comment: accepted to A&

Control of patterning, growth, and differentiation by floral organ identity genes

In spite of the different morphologies of sepal, petals, stamen and carpels, all these floral organs are believed to be modified versions of a ground-state organ similar to the leaf. Modifications of the ground-state developmental program are orchestrated by different combinations of MADS-domain transcription factors encoded by floral organ identity genes. In recent years, much has been revealed about the gene regulatory networks controlled by the floral organ identity genes and about the genetic pathways that control leaf development. Here, I review how floral organ identity is connected with the control of morphogenesis and differentiation of shoot organs, focusing on the model species Arabidopsis thaliana. Direct links have emerged between floral organ identity genes and genes involved in abaxial-adaxial patterning, organ boundary formation, tissue growth and cell differentiation. In parallel, predictive models have been developed to explain how the activity of regulatory genes can be coordinated by intercellular signaling and constrained by tissue mechanics. Combined, these advances provide a unique opportunity to reveal how exactly leaf-like organs have been "metamorphosed" into floral organs during evolution and to reveal crucial regulatory points in the generation of plant form

Spectangular – spectral disentangling for detailed chemical analysis of binaries

Disentangling of spectra helps to improve the orbit parameters and allows detailed chemical analysis. Spectangular is a GUI program written in C++ for spectral disentangling of spectra of SB1 and SB2 systems. It is based on singular value decomposition in the wavelength space and is coupled to an orbital solution.The results are the component spectra and the orbital parameters

Bilanz(en) des Wertpapierkapitalismus: Deregulierung, Shareholder Value, Bilanzskandale

In the public discussion, the series of accounting scandals and bankruptcies which has taken place in the last years is primarily attributed to the greed of managers and institutional lacks in securing shareholder's interests. However, this article argues that it is precisely the proliferation of shareholder value concepts and the growing dominance of "fictitious capital" associated with the development of financial markets which increases the necessity and the possibilities to inflate profits, sales and share prices by all means, including "creative" accountin

Benetzungseigenschaften und Keimbildung bei der Tropfenkondensation

Die Tropfenkondensation ermöglicht im Vergleich zur Filmkondensation eine Steigerung des Wärmeübergangskoeffizienten um ein Vielfaches. Dieser Effekt ist im Sinne der Energie- und Ressourceneffizienz für zahlreiche verfahrenstechnische Anwendungen erstrebenswert. Eine Möglichkeit zur Umsetzung der Tropfenkondensation ist die Modifikation der Benetzungseigenschaften von Wärmeübertrageroberflächen durch geeignete Beschichtungen. Dadurch kann die Ausbildung eines geschlossenen Kondensatfilms verhindert werden und es bilden sich stattdessen immer wieder neue Tropfen auf freien Bereichen der Oberfläche. Die Keimbildungsvorgänge bei der Entstehung neuer Tropfen haben einen großen Einfluss auf den Wärmeübergang bei der Tropfenkondensation. Eine Kenntnis dieser Vorgänge ist daher für die Modellierung und Berechnung des Wärmeübergangs erforderlich. Derzeit mangelt es jedoch an geeigneten Methoden, um wichtige Parameter bei der Tropfenbildung messtechnisch zu erfassen. In diesem Zusammenhang liefert die vorliegende Arbeit einen Beitrag zur Bestimmung der Keimstellendichte bei der Tropfenkondensation von Wasser auf hydrophoben Dünnschichten.Dropwise condensation has the potential to increase the heat transfer coefficient by a multiple compared to filmwise condensation. This effect is desirable for numerous process engineering applications in terms of energy and resource efficiency. One option to implement dropwise condensation is to modify the wetting properties of heat exchanger surfaces with suitable coatings. This prevents the formation of a condensate film. Instead, new drops continue to form on free areas of the surface. The nucleation processes involved in the formation of new drops have a major influence on heat transfer during dropwise condensation. Therefore, a knowledge of these processes is required for modeling and calculating the heat transfer. However, there are currently no adequate methods to measure important parameters during drop formation. In this context, the present work provides a contribution to the determination of the nucleation site density during dropwise condensation of water on hydrophobic thin coatings

Active Control of Cell Size Generates Spatial Detail during Plant Organogenesis

SummaryHow cells regulate their dimensions is a long-standing question [1, 2]. In fission and budding yeast, cell-cycle progression depends on cell size, although it is still unclear how size is assessed [3–5]. In animals, it has been suggested that cell size is modulated primarily by the balance of external signals controlling growth and the cell cycle [1], although there is evidence of cell-autonomous control in cell cultures [6–9]. Regardless of whether regulation is external or cell autonomous, the role of cell-size control in the development of multicellular organisms remains unclear. Plants are a convenient system to study this question: the shoot meristem, which continuously provides new cells to form new organs, maintains a population of actively dividing and characteristically small cells for extended periods [10]. Here, we used live imaging and quantitative, 4D image analysis to measure the sources of cell-size variability in the meristem and then used these measurements in computer simulations to show that the uniform cell sizes seen in the meristem likely require coordinated control of cell growth and cell cycle in individual cells. A genetically induced transient increase in cell size was quickly corrected by more frequent cell division, showing that the cell cycle was adjusted to maintain cell-size homeostasis. Genetically altered cell sizes had little effect on tissue growth but perturbed the establishment of organ boundaries and the emergence of organ primordia. We conclude that meristem cells actively control their sizes to achieve the resolution required to pattern small-scale structures

Gewerkschaften am Scheideweg

During the last two years German trade unions must accept several worsenings like increased worktime without additional payments and also a continuous decrease of the number of members. While the attack of employers is going on, trade unions stay with their traditional strategy of corporatist bargaining. But in many respects the situation between labour and capital has changed dramatically, so that new strategies and mobilization efforts are necessary: German unions are at the cross road