97 research outputs found
A phased array-based method for damage detection and localization in thin plates
A method for damage localization based on the phased array idea has been developed. Four arrays oftransducers are used to perform a beam-forming procedure. Each array consists of nine transducersplaced along a line, which are able to excite and register elastic waves. The A0 Lamb wave mode hasbeen chosen for the localization method. The arrays are placed in such a way that the angulardifference between them is 458 and the rotation point is the middle transducer, which is common for allthe arrays. The idea has been tested on a square aluminium plate modeled by the Spectral Element Method. Two types of damage were considered, namely distributed damage, which was modeled asstiffness reduction, and cracks, modeled as separation of nodes between selected spectral elements.The plate is excited by a wave packet. The whole array system is placed in the middle of the plate.Each linear phased array in the system acts independently and produces maps of a scanned fieldbased on the beam-forming procedure. These maps are made of time signals (transferred to spacedomain) that represent the difference between the damaged plate signals and those from the intactplate. An algorithm was developed to join all four maps. The final map is modified by proposed signal processing algorithm to indicate the damaged area of the plate more precisely. The problem fordamage localization was investigated and exemplary maps confirming the effectiveness of theproposed system were obtained. It was also shown that the response of the introduced configurationremoves the ambiguity of damage localization normally present when a linear phased array is utilized.The investigation is based exclusively on numerical data
Optical properties of LaNiO3 films tuned from compressive to tensile strain
Materials with strong electronic correlations host remarkable -- and
technologically relevant -- phenomena such as magnetism, superconductivity and
metal-insulator transitions. Harnessing and controlling these effects is a
major challenge, on which key advances are being made through lattice and
strain engineering in thin films and heterostructures, leveraging the complex
interplay between electronic and structural degrees of freedom. Here we show
that the electronic structure of LaNiO3 can be tuned by means of lattice
engineering. We use different substrates to induce compressive and tensile
biaxial epitaxial strain in LaNiO3 thin films. Our measurements reveal
systematic changes of the optical spectrum as a function of strain and,
notably, an increase of the low-frequency free carrier weight as tensile strain
is applied. Using density functional theory (DFT) calculations, we show that
this apparently counter-intuitive effect is due to a change of orientation of
the oxygen octahedra.The calculations also reveal drastic changes of the
electronic structure under strain, associated with a Fermi surface Lifshitz
transition. We provide an online applet to explore these effects. The
experimental value of integrated spectral weight below 2 eV is significantly
(up to a factor of 3) smaller than the DFT results, indicating a transfer of
spectral weight from the infrared to energies above 2 eV. The suppression of
the free carrier weight and the transfer of spectral weight to high energies
together indicate a correlation-induced band narrowing and free carrier mass
enhancement due to electronic correlations. Our findings provide a promising
avenue for the tuning and control of quantum materials employing lattice
engineering.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure
Probing the relaxation towards equilibrium in an isolated strongly correlated 1D Bose gas
The problem of how complex quantum systems eventually come to rest lies at
the heart of statistical mechanics. The maximum entropy principle put forward
in 1957 by E. T. Jaynes suggests what quantum states one should expect in
equilibrium but does not hint as to how closed quantum many-body systems
dynamically equilibrate. A number of theoretical and numerical studies
accumulate evidence that under specific conditions quantum many-body models can
relax to a situation that locally or with respect to certain observables
appears as if the entire system had relaxed to a maximum entropy state. In this
work, we report the experimental observation of the non-equilibrium dynamics of
a density wave of ultracold bosonic atoms in an optical lattice in the regime
of strong correlations. Using an optical superlattice, we are able to prepare
the system in a well-known initial state with high fidelity. We then follow the
dynamical evolution of the system in terms of quasi-local densities, currents,
and coherences. Numerical studies based on the time-dependent density-matrix
renormalization group method are in an excellent quantitative agreement with
the experimental data. For very long times, all three local observables show a
fast relaxation to equilibrium values compatible with those expected for a
global maximum entropy state. We find this relaxation of the quasi-local
densities and currents to initially follow a power-law with an exponent being
significantly larger than for free or hardcore bosons. For intermediate times
the system fulfills the promise of being a dynamical quantum simulator, in that
the controlled dynamics runs for longer times than present classical algorithms
based on matrix product states can efficiently keep track of.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
Physics and Applications of Laser Diode Chaos
An overview of chaos in laser diodes is provided which surveys experimental
achievements in the area and explains the theory behind the phenomenon. The
fundamental physics underpinning this behaviour and also the opportunities for
harnessing laser diode chaos for potential applications are discussed. The
availability and ease of operation of laser diodes, in a wide range of
configurations, make them a convenient test-bed for exploring basic aspects of
nonlinear and chaotic dynamics. It also makes them attractive for practical
tasks, such as chaos-based secure communications and random number generation.
Avenues for future research and development of chaotic laser diodes are also
identified.Comment: Published in Nature Photonic
New Hard-TeV Extreme Blazars Detected with the MAGIC Telescopes
Extreme high-frequency-peaked BL Lac objects (EHBLs) are blazars that exhibit extremely energetic synchrotron emission. They also feature nonthermal gamma-ray emission whose peak lies in the very high-energy (VHE, E > 100 GeV) range, and in some sources exceeds 1 TeV: this is the case for hard-TeV EHBLs such as 1ES 0229+200. With the aim of increasing the EHBL population, 10 targets were observed with the MAGIC telescopes from 2010 to 2017, for a total of 265 hr of good-quality data. The data were complemented by coordinated Swift observations. The X-ray data analysis confirms that all but two sources are EHBLs. The sources show only a modest variability and a harder-when-brighter behavior, typical for this class of objects. At VHE gamma-rays, three new sources were detected and a hint of a signal was found for another new source. In each case, the intrinsic spectrum is compatible with the hypothesis of a hard-TeV nature of these EHBLs. The broadband spectral energy distributions (SEDs) of all sources are built and modeled in the framework of a single-zone, purely leptonic model. The VHE gamma-ray-detected sources were also interpreted with a spine-layer model and a proton synchrotron model. The three models provide a good description of the SEDs. However, the resulting parameters differ substantially in the three scenarios, in particular the magnetization parameter. This work presents the first mini catalog of VHE gamma-ray and multiwavelength observations of EHBLs
Plot by plot: plotting urbanism as an ordinary process of urbanization
With this paper, we analyse an ordinary urban process, which has received little attention so far and propose a new concept to take account of it: plotting urbanism. It is usually subsumed
under terms like “urban informality” or “incremental urbanism” and not studied as a distinct process. In comparing Lagos, Istanbul and Shenzhen we captured four defining features of
plotting urbanism: first, it unfolds in a piecemeal fashion with limited comprehensive planning. Second, it emerges from conflicts between multiple overlapping modes of territorial regulation, land tenure and property rights, which result in specific territorial compromises. Third, plotting is based on commodification of housing and land, which might accentuate socio-economic differentiations between property-owners, who often live in the same area, and their tenants. The term “plotting” highlights the key role of the plot in the process. It also alludes to strategic acts of collaboration for individual and collaborative benefit
Transgenic apple plants overexpressing the chalcone 3-hydroxylase gene of Cosmos sulphureus show increased levels of 3-hydroxyphloridzin and reduced susceptibility to apple scab and fire blight
Main conclusionOverexpression of chalcone-3-hydroxylase provokes increased accumulation of 3-hydroxyphloridzin inMalus. Decreased flavonoid concentrations but unchanged flavonoid class composition were observed. The increased 3-hydroxyphlorizin contents correlate well with reduced susceptibility to fire blight and scab.The involvement of dihydrochalcones in the apple defence mechanism against pathogens is discussed but unknown biosynthetic steps in their formation hamper studies on their physiological relevance. The formation of 3-hydroxyphloretin is one of the gaps in the pathway. Polyphenol oxidases and cytochrome P450 dependent enzymes could be involved. Hydroxylation of phloretin in position 3 has high similarity to the B-ring hydroxylation of flavonoids catalysed by the well-known flavonoid 3′-hydroxylase (F3′H). Using recombinant F3′H and chalcone 3-hydroxylase (CH3H) from Cosmos sulphureus we show that F3′H and CH3H accept phloretin to some extent but higher conversion rates are obtained with CH3H. To test whether CH3H catalyzes the hydroxylation of dihydrochalcones in planta and if this could be of physiological relevance, we created transgenic apple trees harbouring CH3H from C. sulphureus. The three transgenic lines obtained showed lower polyphenol concentrations but no shift between the main polyphenol classes dihydrochalcones, flavonols, hydroxycinnamic acids and flavan 3-ols. Increase of 3-hydroxyphloridzin within the dihydrochalcones and of epicatechin/catechin within soluble flavan 3-ols were observed. Decreased activity of dihydroflavonol 4-reductase and chalcone synthase/chalcone isomerase could partially explain the lower polyphenol concentrations. In comparison to the parent line, the transgenic CH3H-lines showed a lower disease susceptibility to fire blight and apple scab that correlated with the increased 3-hydroxyphlorizin contents.Austrian Sci-ence Fund (FWF
Constraints on Gamma-Ray and Neutrino Emission from NGC 1068 with the MAGIC Telescopes
Starburst galaxies and star-forming active galactic nuclei are among the candidate sources thought to contribute appreciably to the extragalactic gamma-ray and neutrino backgrounds. NGC 1068 is the brightest of the star-forming galaxies found to emit gamma-rays from 0.1 to 50 GeV. Precise measurements of the high-energy spectrum are crucial to study the particle accelerators and probe the dominant emission mechanisms. We have carried out 125 hr of observations of NGC 1068 with the MAGIC telescopes in order to search for gamma-ray emission in the very-high-energy band. We did not detect significant gamma-ray emission, and set upper limits at the 95% confidence level to the gamma-ray flux above 200 GeV f < 5.1. x. 10(-13) cm(-2) s(-1). This limit improves previous constraints by about an order of magnitude and allows us to put tight constraints on the theoretical models for the gamma-ray emission. By combining the MAGIC observations with the Fermi-LAT spectrum we limit the parameter space (spectral slope, maximum energy) of the cosmic ray protons predicted by hadronuclear models for the gamma-ray emission, while we find that a model postulating leptonic emission from a semi-relativistic jet is fully consistent with the limits. We provide predictions for IceCube detection of the neutrino signal foreseen in the hadronic scenario. We predict a maximal IceCube neutrino event rate of 0.07 yr(-1)
Effects of Anacetrapib in Patients with Atherosclerotic Vascular Disease
BACKGROUND:
Patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease remain at high risk for cardiovascular events despite effective statin-based treatment of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol levels. The inhibition of cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) by anacetrapib reduces LDL cholesterol levels and increases high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. However, trials of other CETP inhibitors have shown neutral or adverse effects on cardiovascular outcomes.
METHODS:
We conducted a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial involving 30,449 adults with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive atorvastatin therapy and who had a mean LDL cholesterol level of 61 mg per deciliter (1.58 mmol per liter), a mean non-HDL cholesterol level of 92 mg per deciliter (2.38 mmol per liter), and a mean HDL cholesterol level of 40 mg per deciliter (1.03 mmol per liter). The patients were assigned to receive either 100 mg of anacetrapib once daily (15,225 patients) or matching placebo (15,224 patients). The primary outcome was the first major coronary event, a composite of coronary death, myocardial infarction, or coronary revascularization.
RESULTS:
During the median follow-up period of 4.1 years, the primary outcome occurred in significantly fewer patients in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (1640 of 15,225 patients [10.8%] vs. 1803 of 15,224 patients [11.8%]; rate ratio, 0.91; 95% confidence interval, 0.85 to 0.97; P=0.004). The relative difference in risk was similar across multiple prespecified subgroups. At the trial midpoint, the mean level of HDL cholesterol was higher by 43 mg per deciliter (1.12 mmol per liter) in the anacetrapib group than in the placebo group (a relative difference of 104%), and the mean level of non-HDL cholesterol was lower by 17 mg per deciliter (0.44 mmol per liter), a relative difference of -18%. There were no significant between-group differences in the risk of death, cancer, or other serious adverse events.
CONCLUSIONS:
Among patients with atherosclerotic vascular disease who were receiving intensive statin therapy, the use of anacetrapib resulted in a lower incidence of major coronary events than the use of placebo. (Funded by Merck and others; Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN48678192 ; ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01252953 ; and EudraCT number, 2010-023467-18 .)
Atmospheric Icing of Transmission Line Conductor Bundles
Abstract: Hazardous for the transmission lines is not only the static ice load, but also the aerodynamic instability of iced cables. It can lead to large amplitude oscillations at low frequencies and also twisting due to asymmetrical iced cables may increase the fatigue rate. In extreme events atmospheric icing can cause severe damages on towers and power lines resulting in extensive electricity breakdown. Therefore the shape and the density of the ice forming on the cable are of major interest in investigating the risk of failure. This is the first part of a simulation scheme going to be developed in order so investigate whole hazard scenarios for transmission lines under a variety of meteorological condition and conductor bundle characteristics. The simulation scheme is manly inspired by the aerospace engineering, since significant attention has been paid to ice accumulation in aircraft design
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