4,880 research outputs found
Performance of alkaline battery cells used in emergency locator transmitters
The characteristics of battery power supplies for emergency locator transmitters (ELT's) were investigated by testing alkaline zinc/manganese dioxide cells of the type typically used in ELT's. Cells from four manufacturers were tested. The cells were subjected to simulated environmental and load conditions representative of those required for survival and operation. Battery cell characteristics that may contribute to ELT malfunctions and limitations were evaluated. Experimental results from the battery cell study are discussed, and an evaluation of ELT performance while operating under a representative worst-case environmental condition is presented
GaAs monolithic frequency doublers with series connected varactor diodes
GaAs monolithic frequency doublers using series connected varactor diodes have been fabricated for the first time. Output powers of 150 mW at 36.9 GHz with 24% efficiency and 300 mW at 24.8 GHz with 18% efficiency have been obtained. Peak efficiencies of 35% at output power levels near 100 mW have been achieved at both frequencies. Both K-band and Ka-band frequency doublers are derived from a lower power, single-diode design by series connection of two diodes and scaling to achieve different power and frequency specifications. Their fabrication was accomplished using the same process sequence
Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis Version 2.1: construction, observational verification and new results
The Binary Population and Spectral Synthesis (BPASS) suite of binary stellar
evolution models and synthetic stellar populations provides a framework for the
physically motivated analysis of both the integrated light from distant stellar
populations and the detailed properties of those nearby. We present a new
version 2.1 data release of these models, detailing the methodology by which
BPASS incorporates binary mass transfer and its effect on stellar evolution
pathways, as well as the construction of simple stellar populations. We
demonstrate key tests of the latest BPASS model suite demonstrating its ability
to reproduce the colours and derived properties of resolved stellar
populations, including well- constrained eclipsing binaries. We consider
observational constraints on the ratio of massive star types and the
distribution of stellar remnant masses. We describe the identification of
supernova progenitors in our models, and demonstrate a good agreement to the
properties of observed progenitors. We also test our models against photometric
and spectroscopic observations of unresolved stellar populations, both in the
local and distant Universe, finding that binary models provide a
self-consistent explanation for observed galaxy properties across a broad
redshift range. Finally, we carefully describe the limitations of our models,
and areas where we expect to see significant improvement in future versions.Comment: 69 pages, 45 figures. Accepted for publication in PASA. Accompanied
by a full, documented data release at http://bpass.auckland.ac.nz and
http://warwick.ac.uk/bpas
Narrow-line magneto-optical cooling and trapping of strongly magnetic atoms
Laser cooling on weak transitions is a useful technique for reaching
ultracold temperatures in atoms with multiple valence electrons. However, for
strongly magnetic atoms a conventional narrow-line magneto-optical trap (MOT)
is destabilized by competition between optical and magnetic forces. We overcome
this difficulty in Er by developing an unusual narrow-line MOT that balances
optical and magnetic forces using laser light tuned to the blue side of a
narrow (8 kHz) transition. The trap population is spin-polarized with
temperatures reaching below 2 microkelvin. Our results constitute an
alternative method for laser cooling on weak transitions, applicable to
rare-earth-metal and metastable alkaline earth elements.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. Lett. 4 pages, 5 figure
Atom focusing by far-detuned and resonant standing wave fields: Thin lens regime
The focusing of atoms interacting with both far-detuned and resonant standing
wave fields in the thin lens regime is considered. The thin lens approximation
is discussed quantitatively from a quantum perspective. Exact quantum
expressions for the Fourier components of the density (that include all
spherical aberration) are used to study the focusing numerically. The following
lens parameters and density profiles are calculated as functions of the pulsed
field area : the position of the focal plane, peak atomic density,
atomic density pattern at the focus, focal spot size, depth of focus, and
background density. The lens parameters are compared to asymptotic, analytical
results derived from a scalar diffraction theory for which spherical aberration
is small but non-negligible (). Within the diffraction theory
analytical expressions show that the focused atoms in the far detuned case have
an approximately constant background density
while the peak density behaves as , the focal distance or
time as , the focal spot size as
, and the depth of focus as .
Focusing by the resonant standing wave field leads to a new effect, a Rabi-
like oscillation of the atom density. For the far-detuned lens, chromatic
aberration is studied with the exact Fourier results. Similarly, the
degradation of the focus that results from angular divergence in beams or
thermal velocity distributions in traps is studied quantitatively with the
exact Fourier method and understood analytically using the asymptotic results.
Overall, we show that strong thin lens focusing is possible with modest laser
powers and with currently achievable atomic beam characteristics.Comment: 21 pages, 11 figure
Kinetochore alignment within the metaphase plate is regulated by centromere stiffness and microtubule depolymerases
During mitosis in most eukaryotic cells, chromosomes align and form a metaphase plate halfway between the spindle poles, about which they exhibit oscillatory movement. These movements are accompanied by changes in the distance between sister kinetochores, commonly referred to as breathing. We developed a live cell imaging assay combined with computational image analysis to quantify the properties and dynamics of sister kinetochores in three dimensions. We show that baseline oscillation and breathing speeds in late prometaphase and metaphase are set by microtubule depolymerases, whereas oscillation and breathing periods depend on the stiffness of the mechanical linkage between sisters. Metaphase plates become thinner as cells progress toward anaphase as a result of reduced oscillation speed at a relatively constant oscillation period. The progressive slowdown of oscillation speed and its coupling to plate thickness depend nonlinearly on the stiffness of the mechanical linkage between sisters. We propose that metaphase plate formation and thinning require tight control of the state of the mechanical linkage between sisters mediated by centromeric chromatin and cohesion
Vascular Health in American Football Players: Cardiovascular Risk Increased in Division III Players
Studies report that football players have high blood pressure (BP) and increased cardiovascular risk. There are over 70,000 NCAA football players and 450 Division III schools sponsor football programs, yet limited research exists on vascular health of athletes. This study aimed to compare vascular and cardiovascular health measures between football players and nonathlete controls. Twenty-three athletes and 19 nonathletes participated. Vascular health measures included flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT). Cardiovascular measures included clinic and 24 hr BP levels, body composition, VO2 max, and fasting glucose/cholesterol levels. Compared to controls, football players had a worse vascular and cardiovascular profile. Football players had thicker carotid artery IMT (0.49 ± 0.06 mm versus 0.46 ± 0.07 mm) and larger brachial artery diameter during FMD (4.3 ± 0.5 mm versus 3.7 ± 0.6 mm), but no difference in percent FMD. Systolic BP was significantly higher in football players at all measurements: resting (128.2 ± 6.4 mmHg versus 122.4 ± 6.8 mmHg), submaximal exercise (150.4 ± 18.8 mmHg versus 137.3 ± 9.5 mmHg), maximal exercise (211.3 ± 25.9 mmHg versus 191.4 ± 19.2 mmHg), and 24-hour BP (124.9 ± 6.3 mmHg versus 109.8 ± 3.7 mmHg). Football players also had higher fasting glucose (91.6 ± 6.5 mg/dL versus 86.6 ± 5.8 mg/dL), lower HDL (36.5±11.2 mg/dL versus 47.1±14.8 mg/dL), and higher body fat percentage (29.2±7.9% versus 23.2±7.0%). Division III collegiate football players remain an understudied population and may be at increased cardiovascular risk
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