102 research outputs found
Notes on insects recently introduced to Metro Vancouver and other newly recorded species from British Columbia
Sixteen insects species are recorded for the first time from British Columbia, including seven new to Canada. These records are comprised of nine introduced species, including the first record of Rhopalum gracile Wesmael (Hymenoptera: Crabronidae) from North America, and range extensions for seven species native to the Nearctic region
RICE Limits on the Diffuse Ultra-High Energy Neutrino Flux
We present new limits on ultra-high energy neutrino fluxes above 100 PeV
based on data collected by the Radio Ice Cherenkov Experiment (RICE) at the
South Pole from 1999-2005. We discuss estimation of backgrounds, calibration
and data analysis algorithms (both on-line and off-line), procedures used for
the dedicated neutrino search, and refinements in our Monte Carlo (MC)
simulation, including recent in situ measurements of the complex ice dielectric
constant. An enlarged data set and a more detailed study of hadronic showers
results in a sensitivity improvement of more than one order of magnitude
compared to our previously published results. Examination of the full RICE data
set yields zero acceptable neutrino candidates, resulting in 95%
confidence-level model dependent limits on the flux
(E_\nu)^2(d\phi/dE_\nu)<10^{-6} GeV/(cm^2s~sr}) in the energy range 10^{17}<
E_\nu< 10^{20} eV. The new RICE results rule out the most intense flux model
projections at 95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to Astropart. Phy
A First Search for Cosmogenic Neutrinos with the ARIANNA Hexagonal Radio Array
The ARIANNA experiment seeks to observe the diffuse flux of neutrinos in the
10^8 - 10^10 GeV energy range using a grid of radio detectors at the surface of
the Ross Ice Shelf of Antarctica. The detector measures the coherent Cherenkov
radiation produced at radio frequencies, from about 100 MHz to 1 GHz, by
charged particle showers generated by neutrino interactions in the ice. The
ARIANNA Hexagonal Radio Array (HRA) is being constructed as a prototype for the
full array. During the 2013-14 austral summer, three HRA stations collected
radio data which was wirelessly transmitted off site in nearly real-time. The
performance of these stations is described and a simple analysis to search for
neutrino signals is presented. The analysis employs a set of three cuts that
reject background triggers while preserving 90% of simulated cosmogenic
neutrino triggers. No neutrino candidates are found in the data and a
model-independent 90% confidence level Neyman upper limit is placed on the all
flavor neutrino+antineutrino flux in a sliding decade-wide energy bin. The
limit reaches a minimum of 1.9x10^-23 GeV^-1 cm^-2 s^-1 sr^-1 in the 10^8.5 -
10^9.5 GeV energy bin. Simulations of the performance of the full detector are
also described. The sensitivity of the full ARIANNA experiment is presented and
compared with current neutrino flux models.Comment: 22 pages, 22 figures. Published in Astroparticle Physic
Performance of the ARIANNA Hexagonal Radio Array
Installation of the ARIANNA Hexagonal Radio Array (HRA) on the Ross Ice Shelf
of Antarctica has been completed. This detector serves as a pilot program to
the ARIANNA neutrino telescope, which aims to measure the diffuse flux of very
high energy neutrinos by observing the radio pulse generated by
neutrino-induced charged particle showers in the ice. All HRA stations ran
reliably and took data during the entire 2014-2015 austral summer season. A new
radio signal direction reconstruction procedure is described, and is observed
to have a resolution better than a degree. The reconstruction is used in a
preliminary search for potential neutrino candidate events in the data from one
of the newly installed detector stations. Three cuts are used to separate radio
backgrounds from neutrino signals. The cuts are found to filter out all data
recorded by the station during the season while preserving 85.4% of simulated
neutrino events that trigger the station. This efficiency is similar to that
found in analyses of previous HRA data taking seasons.Comment: Proceedings from the 34th ICRC2015, http://icrc2015.nl/ . 8 pages, 6
figure
Comparative Toxicological Assessment of 2 Bisphenols Using a Systems Approach: Evaluation of the Behavioral and Transcriptomic Responses of Danio rerio to Bisphenol A and Tetrabromobisphenol A
The zebrafish (Danio rerio) is becoming a critical component of new approach methods (NAMs) in chemical risk assessment. As a whole organism in vitro NAM, the zebrafish model offers significant advantages over individual cell-line testing, including toxicokinetic and toxicodynamic competencies. A transcriptomic approach not only allows for insight into mechanism of action for both apical endpoints and unobservable adverse outcomes, but also changes in gene expression induced by lower, environmentally relevant concentrations. In this study, we used a larval zebrafish model to assess the behavioral and transcriptomic alterations caused by subphenotypic concentrations of 2 chemicals with the same structural backbone, the endocrine-disrupting chemicals bisphenol A and tetrabromobisphenol A. Following assessment of behavioral toxicity, we used a transcriptomic approach to identify molecular pathways associated with previously described phenotypes. We also determined the transcriptomic point of departure for each chemical by modeling gene expression changes as continuous systems which allows for the identification of a single concentration at which toxic effects can be predicted. This can then be investigated with confirmatory cell-based testing in an integrated approach to testing and assessment to determine risk to human health and the environment with greater confidence. This paper demonstrates the impact of using a multi-faceted approach for evaluating the physiological and neurotoxic effects of exposure to structurally related chemicals. By comparing phenotypic effects with transcriptomic outcomes, we were able to differentiate, characterize, and rank the toxicities of related bisphenols, which demonstrates methodological advantages unique to the larval zebrafish NAM
Livetime and sensitivity of the ARIANNA Hexagonal Radio Array
The ARIANNA collaboration completed the installation of the hexagonal radio
array (HRA) in December 2014, serving as a pilot program for a planned high
energy neutrino telescope located about 110 km south of McMurdo Station on the
Ross Ice Shelf near the coast of Antarctica. The goal of ARIANNA is to measure
both diffuse and point fluxes of astrophysical neutrinos at energies in excess
of 1016 eV. Upgraded hardware has been installed during the 2014 deployment
season and stations show a livetime of better than 90% between commissioning
and austral sunset. Though designed to observe radio pulses from neutrino
interactions originating within the ice below each detector, one station was
modified to study the low-frequency environment and signals from above. We
provide evidence that the HRA observed both continuous emission from the Galaxy
and a transient solar burst. Preliminary work on modeling the (weak) Galactic
signal confirm the absolute sensitivity of the HRA detector system.Comment: Proceedings from the 34th ICRC2015, http://icrc2015.nl/, 8 pages, 6
figure
Constraints on the Ultra-High Energy Neutrino Flux from Gamma-Ray Bursts from a Prototype Station of the Askaryan Radio Array
We report on a search for ultra-high-energy (UHE) neutrinos from gamma-ray
bursts (GRBs) in the data set collected by the Testbed station of the Askaryan
Radio Array (ARA) in 2011 and 2012. From 57 selected GRBs, we observed no
events that survive our cuts, which is consistent with 0.12 expected background
events. Using NeuCosmA as a numerical GRB reference emission model, we estimate
upper limits on the prompt UHE GRB neutrino fluence and quasi-diffuse flux from
to GeV. This is the first limit on the prompt UHE GRB
neutrino quasi-diffuse flux above GeV.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figures, Published in Astroparticle Physics Journa
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