Knowledge-based monitoring of the pointing control system on the Hubble space telescope

A knowledge-based system for the real time monitoring of telemetry data from the Pointing and Control System (PCS) of the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) that enables the retention of design expertise throughout the three decade project lifespan by means other than personnel and documentation is described. The system will monitor performance, vehicle status, success or failure of various maneuvers, and in some cases diagnose problems and recommend corrective actions using a knowledge base built using mission scenarios and the more than 4,500 telemetry monitors from the HST

Engineered yeast for enhanced CO2 mineralization

In this work, a biologically catalysed CO2 mineralization process for the capture of CO2 from point sources was designed, constructed at a laboratory scale, and, using standard chemical process scale-up protocols, was modelled and evaluated at an industrial scale. A yeast display system in Saccharomyces cerevisae was used to screen several carbonic anhydrase isoforms and mineralization peptides for their impact on CO2 hydration, CaCO3 mineralization, and particle settling rate. Enhanced rates for each of these steps in the CaCO3 mineralization process were confirmed using quantitative techniques in lab-scale measurements. The effect of these enhanced rates on the CO2 capture cost in an industrial scale CO2 mineralization process using coal fly ash as the CaO source was evaluated. The model predicts a process using bCA2-yeast and fly ash is [similar]10% more cost effective per tonne of CO2 captured than a process with no biological molecules, a savings not realized by wild-type yeast and high-temperature stable recombinant CA2 alone or in combination. The levelized cost of electricity for a power plant using this process was calculated and scenarios in which this process compares favourably to CO2 capture by MEA absorption process are presented.MIT Energy InitiativeEni S.p.A. (Firm)National Institutes of Health (U.S.) (NIH Biotechnology Training Program)Thomas and Stacey Siebel Foundatio

Resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study of charge excitations in La2CuO4

We report a resonant inelastic x-ray scattering study of the dispersion relations of charge transfer excitations in insulating La$_2$CuO$_4$. These data reveal two peaks, both of which show two-dimensional characteristics. The lowest energy excitation has a gap energy of $\sim 2.2$ eV at the zone center, and a dispersion of $\sim 1$ eV. The spectral weight of this mode becomes dramatically smaller around ($\pi$, $\pi$). The second peak shows a smaller dispersion ($\sim 0.5$ eV) with a zone-center energy of $\sim 3.9$ eV. We argue that these are both highly dispersive exciton modes damped by the presence of the electron-hole continuum.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Magnetoelectric Coupling in epsilon-Fe2O3

Nanoparticles of the ferrimagnetic epsilon-Fe2O3 oxide have been synthesized by sol-gel method. Here, we report on the measurements of the dielectric permittivity as a function of temperature, frequency and magnetic field. It is found that, coinciding with the transition from collinear ferrimagnetic ordering to an incommensurate magnetic state occurring at about 100 K, there is an abrupt change (about 30 %) of permittivity suggesting the existence of a magnetoelectric coupling in this material. Indeed, magnetic field dependent measurements at 100 K have revealed an increase of the permittivity by about 0.3 % in 6 T. Prospective advantages of epsilon-Fe2O3 as multiferroic material are discussed.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Nanotechnolog

Boundary degrees of freedom in fractional quantum Hall effect: Excitations on common boundary of two samples

Using the Carlip's method we have derived the boundary action for the fermion Chern-Simons theory of quantum Hall effects on a planar region with a boundary. We have computed both the bulk and edge responses of currents to the external electric field. From this we obtain the well-known anomaly relation and the boundary Hall current without introducing any ad hoc assumptions such as the chirality condition. In addition, the edge current on the common boundary of two samples is found to be proportional to the difference between Chern-Simons coupling strengths.Comment: 20 pages, uses revte

A Comprehensive Resource for Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells from Patients with Primary Tauopathies.

Primary tauopathies are characterized neuropathologically by inclusions containing abnormal forms of the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT) and clinically by diverse neuropsychiatric, cognitive, and motor impairments. Autosomal dominant mutations in the MAPT gene cause heterogeneous forms of frontotemporal lobar degeneration with tauopathy (FTLD-Tau). Common and rare variants in the MAPT gene increase the risk for sporadic FTLD-Tau, including progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) and corticobasal degeneration (CBD). We generated a collection of fibroblasts from 140 MAPT mutation/risk variant carriers, PSP, CBD, and cognitively normal controls; 31 induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines from MAPT mutation carriers, non-carrier family members, and autopsy-confirmed PSP patients; 33 genome engineered iPSCs that were corrected or mutagenized; and forebrain neural progenitor cells (NPCs). Here, we present a resource of fibroblasts, iPSCs, and NPCs with comprehensive clinical histories that can be accessed by the scientific community for disease modeling and development of novel therapeutics for tauopathies

Highlights of the First 15 Months of Aquarius Salinity Measurements

Aquarius satellite salinity measurements are resolving the major global and regional spatial patterns, and temporal variations, since the start of routine data collection on 25 August 2011. This description includes the principal seasonal variations over the first annual cycle as observed by the mission. In particular, we identify the evolution of low salinity anomalies associated with the Atlantic and Pacific intertropical convergence zones (ITCZ), major river outflows such as the Amazon, a seasonal low salinity anomaly in the Panama bight, and other features. We also explore the links that the salinity variations have with precipitation and surface currents. We then will describe the variations related to the presently evolving 2012 El Nino, now evident, as it progresses through the summer and fall 2012. We conclude with a brief summary of the Aquarius data products and validatio

Whole Genome Sequencing for Determining the Source of Mycobacterium bovis Infections in Livestock Herds and Wildlife in New Zealand.

The ability to DNA fingerprint Mycobacterium bovis isolates helped to define the role of wildlife in the persistence of bovine tuberculosis in New Zealand. DNA fingerprinting results currently help to guide wildlife control measures and also aid in tracing the source of infections that result from movement of livestock. During the last 5 years we have developed the ability to distinguish New Zealand (NZ) M. bovis isolates by comparing the sequences of whole genome sequenced (WGS) M. bovis samples. WGS provides much higher resolution than our other established typing methods and greatly improves the definition of the regional localization of NZ M. bovis types. Three outbreak investigations are described and results demonstrate how WGS analysis has led to the confirmation of epidemiological sourcing of infection, to better definition of new sources of infection by ruling out other possible sources, and has revealed probable wildlife infection in an area considered to be free of infected wildlife. The routine use of WGS analyses for sourcing new M. bovis infections will be an important component of the strategy employed to eradicate bovine TB from NZ livestock and wildlife

Quantifying the Risk of Localised Animal Movement Bans for Foot-and-Mouth Disease

The maintenance of disease-free status from Foot-and-Mouth Disease is of significant socio-economic importance to countries such as the UK. The imposition of bans on the movement of susceptible livestock following the discovery of an outbreak is deemed necessary to prevent the spread of what is a highly contagious disease, but has a significant economic impact on the agricultural community in itself. Here we consider the risk of applying movement restrictions only in localised zones around outbreaks in order to help evaluate how quickly nation-wide restrictions could be lifted after notification. We show, with reference to the 2001 and 2007 UK outbreaks, that it would be practical to implement such a policy provided the basic reproduction ratio of known infected premises can be estimated. It is ultimately up to policy makers and stakeholders to determine the acceptable level of risk, involving a cost benefit analysis of the potential outcomes, but quantifying the risk of spread from different sized zones is a prerequisite for this. The approach outlined is relevant to the determination of control zones and vaccination policies and has the potential to be applied to future outbreaks of other diseases

Cosmological evolution and statefinder diagnostic for new holographic dark energy model in non flat universe

In this paper, the holographic dark energy model with new infrared cut-off proposed by Granda and Oliveros has been investigated in spatially non flat universe. The dependency of the evolution of equation of state, deceleration parameter and cosmological evolution of Hubble parameter on the parameters of new HDE model are calculated. Also, the statefinder parameters $r$ and $s$ in this model are derived and the evolutionary trajectories in $s-r$ plane are plotted. We show that the evolutionary trajectories are dependent on the model parameters of new HDE model. Eventually, in the light of SNe+BAO+OHD+CMB observational data, we plot the evolutionary trajectories in $s-r$ and $q-r$ planes for best fit values of the parameters of new HDE model.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, Accepted by Astrophys. Space Sc