20,456 research outputs found
The effect of cave illumination on bats
Artificial light at night has large impacts on nocturnal wildlife such as bats, yet its effect varies with wavelength of light, context, and across species involved. Here, we studied in two experiments how wild bats of cave-roosting species (Rhinolophus mehelyi, R. euryale, Myotis capaccinii and Miniopterus schreibersii) respond to LED lights of different colours. In dual choice experiments, we measured the acoustic activity of bats in response to neutral-white, red or amber LED at a cave entrance and in a flight room – mimicking a cave interior. In the flight room, M. capaccinii and M. schreibersii preferred red to white light, but showed no preference for red over amber, or amber over white light. In the cave entrance experiment, all light colours reduced the activity of all emerging species, yet red LED had the least negative effect. Rhinolophus species reacted most strongly, matching their refusal to fly at all under any light treatment in the flight room. We conclude that the placement and light colour of LED light should be considered carefully in lighting concepts for caves both in the interior and at the entrance. In a cave interior, red LED light could be chosen – if needed at all – for careful temporary illumination of areas, yet areas important for bats should be avoided based on the precautionary principle. At cave entrances, the high sensitivity of most bat species, particularly of Rhinolophus spp., towards light sources almost irrespective of colour, calls for utmost caution when illuminating cave entrances
Quantification of myeloperoxidase from human granulocytes as an inflammation marker by enzyme.linked immunosorbent assay
The role of carbon for superconductivity in MgCNi from specific heat
The influence of carbon deficiency on superconductivity of MgCNi is
investigated by specific heat measurements in the normal and superconducting
state. In order to perform a detailed analysis of the normal state specific
heat, a computer code is developed which allows for an instantaneous estimate
of the main features of the lattice dynamics. By analyzing the evolution of the
lattice vibrations within the series and simultaneously considering the visible
mass enhancement, the loss in the electron-phonon coupling can be attributed to
significant changes of the prominent Ni vibrations. The present data well
supports the recently established picture of strong electron-phonon coupling
and ferromagnetic spin fluctuations in this compound.Comment: 4 pages, latex, corrections to the text, one reference added, one
figure correcte
Quantitative assessment of pinning forces and the superconducting gap in NbN thin films from complementary magnetic force microscopy and transport measurements
Epitaxial niobium-nitride thin films with a critical temperature of Tc=16K
and a thickness of 100nm were fabricated on MgO(100) substrates by pulsed laser
deposition. Low-temperature magnetic force microscopy (MFM) images of the
supercurrent vortices were measured after field cooling in a magnetic field of
3mT at various temperatures. Temperature dependence of the penetration depth
has been evaluated by a two-dimensional fitting of the vortex profiles in the
monopole-monopole model. Its subsequent fit to a single s-wave gap function
results in the superconducting gap amplitude Delta(0) = 2.9 meV = 2.1*kB*Tc, in
perfect agreement with previous reports. The pinning force has been
independently estimated from local depinning of individual vortices by lateral
forces exerted by the MFM tip and from transport measurements. A good
quantitative agreement between the two techniques shows that for low fields, B
<< Hc2, MFM is a powerful and reliable technique to probe the local variations
of the pinning landscape. We also demonstrate that the monopole model can be
successfully applied even for thin films with a thickness comparable to the
penetration depth.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, 2 table
An introduction to spacecraft thermal control
External and internal passive and active methods for spacecraft thermal control - material insulation and structural propertie
Spin injection from perpendicular magnetized ferromagnetic -MnGa into (Al,Ga)As heterostructures
Electrical spin injection from ferromagnetic -MnGa into an (Al,Ga)As
p-i-n light emitting diode (LED) is demonstrated. The -MnGa layers show
strong perpendicular magnetocrystalline anisotropy, enabling detection of spin
injection at remanence without an applied magnetic field. The bias and
temperature dependence of the spin injection are found to be qualitatively
similar to Fe-based spin LED devices. A Hanle effect is observed and
demonstrates complete depolarization of spins in the semiconductor in a
transverse magnetic field.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Nitrogen and ultraviolet radiation modify grapevines’ susceptibility to powdery mildew
Potted Cabernet Sauvignon and Chardonnay grapevines were grown in southeastern Australia under either ambient or reduced ultraviolet (UV) radiation to test the effect of UV on powdery mildew (Uncinula necator) susceptibility. Diacetate films were used to screen out UV-B (280-315 nm) and UV-A (315-400 nm). Two nitrogen treatments (0 or 3 g N per plant) were applied at bloom to test interactions of nitrogen status with UV radiation. Cabernet Sauvignon was much less susceptible to U. necator and also responded less to UV and nitrogen. U. necator incidence and severity on leaves were increased dramatically when high nitrogen supply was combined with low UV, particularly in Chardonnay. The differences in infection were not due to variation in canopy microclimate (temperature and humidity) caused by experimental treatments. However, high disease susceptibility in response to high nitrogen status and low UV radiation was related to low concentrations of constitutive phenolic compounds (flavonol glycosides and, to a lesser extent, hydroxy-cinnamic acid derivatives), high leafnitrogen status and photosynthetic rates, high succulence, and reduced cuticular wax deposition. No stilbene phytoalexins could be detected following infection, suggesting that stilbenes are not involved in U. necator resistance in grapevines. These results show that UV radiation affects disease susceptibility of grapevine cultivars and that this susceptibility is modulated by nitrogen supply
A comparison of the acoustic and aerodynamic measurements of a model rotor tested in two anechoic wind tunnels
Two aeroacoustic facilities--the CEPRA 19 in France and the DNW in the Netherlands--are compared. The two facilities have unique acoustic characteristics that make them appropriate for acoustic testing of model-scale helicopter rotors. An identical pressure-instrumented model-scale rotor was tested in each facility and acoustic test results are compared with full-scale-rotor test results. Blade surface pressures measured in both tunnels were used to correlated nominal rotor operating conditions in each tunnel, and also used to assess the steadiness of the rotor in each tunnel's flow. In-the-flow rotor acoustic signatures at moderate forward speeds (35-50 m/sec) are presented for each facility and discussed in relation to the differences in tunnel geometries and aeroacoustic characteristics. Both reports are presented in appendices to this paper. ;.)
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