Absolute frequency measurement of the ? optical clock transition in ? with an uncertainty of ? using a frequency link to international atomic time

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baynham, Charles F. A.; Godun, Rachel M.; Jones, Jonathan M.; King, Steven A.; Nisbet-Jones, Peter B. R.; Baynes, Fred; Rolland, Antoine; Baird, Patrick E. G.; Bongs, Kai; Gill, Patrick; Margolis, Helen S.

2018-03-01

The highly forbidden ? electric octupole transition in ? is a potential candidate for a redefinition of the SI second. We present a measurement of the absolute frequency of this optical transition, performed using a frequency link to International Atomic Time to provide traceability to the SI second. The ? optical frequency standard was operated for 76% of a 25-day period, with the absolute frequency measured to be 642 121 496 772 645.14(26) Hz. The fractional uncertainty of ? is comparable to that of the best previously reported measurement, which was made by a direct comparison to local caesium primary frequency standards.

Reliable absolute analog code retrieval approach for 3D measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Shuang; Zhang, Jing; Yu, Xiaoyang; Sun, Xiaoming; Wu, Haibin; Chen, Deyun

2017-11-01

The wrapped phase of phase-shifting approach can be unwrapped by using Gray code, but both the wrapped phase error and Gray code decoding error can result in period jump error, which will lead to gross measurement error. Therefore, this paper presents a reliable absolute analog code retrieval approach. The combination of unequal-period Gray code and phase shifting patterns at high frequencies are used to obtain high-frequency absolute analog code, and at low frequencies, the same unequal-period combination patterns are used to obtain the low-frequency absolute analog code. Next, the difference between the two absolute analog codes was employed to eliminate period jump errors, and a reliable unwrapped result can be obtained. Error analysis was used to determine the applicable conditions, and this approach was verified through theoretical analysis. The proposed approach was further verified experimentally. Theoretical analysis and experimental results demonstrate that the proposed approach can perform reliable analog code unwrapping.

Self-interaction-corrected time-dependent density-functional-theory calculations of x-ray-absorption spectra

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tu, Guangde; Rinkevicius, Zilvinas; Vahtras, Olav

We outline an approach within time-dependent density functional theory that predicts x-ray spectra on an absolute scale. The approach rests on a recent formulation of the resonant-convergent first-order polarization propagator [P. Norman et al., J. Chem. Phys. 123, 194103 (2005)] and corrects for the self-interaction energy of the core orbital. This polarization propagator approach makes it possible to directly calculate the x-ray absorption cross section at a particular frequency without explicitly addressing the excited-state spectrum. The self-interaction correction for the employed density functional accounts for an energy shift of the spectrum, and fully correlated absolute-scale x-ray spectra are thereby obtainedmore » based solely on optimization of the electronic ground state. The procedure is benchmarked against experimental spectra of a set of small organic molecules at the carbon, nitrogen, and oxygen K edges.« less

Quantification of water in hydrous ringwoodite

DOE PAGES

Thomas, Sylvia -Monique; Jacobsen, Steven D.; Bina, Craig R.; ...

2015-01-28

Here, ringwoodite, γ-(Mg,Fe) 2SiO 4, in the lower 150 km of Earth’s mantle transition zone (410-660 km depth) can incorporate up to 1.5-2 wt% H 2O as hydroxyl defects. We present a mineral-specific IR calibration for the absolute water content in hydrous ringwoodite by combining results from Raman spectroscopy, secondary ion mass spectrometery (SIMS) and proton-proton (pp)-scattering on a suite of synthetic Mg- and Fe-bearing hydrous ringwoodites. H 2O concentrations in the crystals studied here range from 0.46 to 1.7 wt% H 2O (absolute methods), with the maximum H 2O in the same sample giving 2.5 wt% by SIMS calibration.more » Anchoring our spectroscopic results to absolute H-atom concentrations from pp-scattering measurements, we report frequency-dependent integrated IR-absorption coefficients for water in ringwoodite ranging from 78180 to 158880 L mol -1cm -2, depending upon frequency of the OH absorption. We further report a linear wavenumber IR calibration for H 2O quantification in hydrous ringwoodite across the Mg 2SiO 4-Fe 2SiO 4 solid solution, which will lead to more accurate estimations of the water content in both laboratory-grown and naturally occurring ringwoodites. Re-evaluation of the IR spectrum for a natural hydrous ringwoodite inclusion in diamond from the study of the crystal contains 1.43 ± 0.27 wt% H 2O, thus confirming near-maximum amounts of H 2O for this sample from the transition zone.« less

Absolute rate constants for the reaction of OH with cyclopentane and cycloheptane from 233 to 351 K.

PubMed

Gennaco, Michael A; Huang, Yi-wen; Hannun, Reem A; Dransfield, Timothy J

2012-12-27

Absolute rate constant measurements for the reactions of OH with cyclopentane and cycloheptane in the gas phase in 6-8 Torr of nitrogen from 233 to 351 K in the Harvard University High-Pressure Flow System (HPFS) are reported. Hydroxyl concentrations were measured using laser-induced fluorescence, and alkane concentrations were measured using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Results were fit to a modified Arrhenius equation based on transition state theory (ignoring tunneling): k(T) = B e(-E(a)/T)/T(1 - e(-1.44ν(1)/T))(2)(1 - e(-1.44ν(2)/T)), with ν(1) and ν(2) bending frequencies set to 280 and 500 cm(-1) . Results were as follows for E(a) (K) and k (298) (10(-12) cm(3) s(-1)): cyclopentane, 460 ± 32, 4.85; cycloheptane, 319 ± 36, 9.84. This work represents the second absolute temperature-dependent rate constant measurement reported for cycloheptane, and the third absolute temperature-dependent rate constant measurement reported near room temperature for the reaction of OH and cyclopentane. For the title reactions, the reaction barriers reported here are in agreement with the reaction barrier previously reported for cyclohexane and considerably higher than the barrier previously reported for cyclo-octane, a result that is not predicted by our current understanding of hydrocarbon reactivity.

Cavity ring-down spectroscopy of Doppler-broadened absorption line with sub-MHz absolute frequency accuracy.

PubMed

Cheng, C-F; Sun, Y R; Pan, H; Lu, Y; Li, X-F; Wang, J; Liu, A-W; Hu, S-M

2012-04-23

A continuous-wave cavity ring-down spectrometer has been built for precise determination of absolute frequencies of Doppler-broadened absorption lines. Using a thermo-stabilized Fabry-Pérot interferometer and Rb frequency references at the 780 nm and 795 nm, 0.1 - 0.6 MHz absolute frequency accuracy has been achieved in the 775-800 nm region. A water absorption line at 12579 cm(-1) is studied to test the performance of the spectrometer. The line position at zero-pressure limit is determined with an uncertainty of 0.3 MHz (relative accuracy of 0.8 × 10(-9)). © 2012 Optical Society of America

Inverse Temperature Dependence of Nuclear Quantum Effects in DNA Base Pairs

PubMed Central

2016-01-01

Despite the inherently quantum mechanical nature of hydrogen bonding, it is unclear how nuclear quantum effects (NQEs) alter the strengths of hydrogen bonds. With this in mind, we use ab initio path integral molecular dynamics to determine the absolute contribution of NQEs to the binding in DNA base pair complexes, arguably the most important hydrogen-bonded systems of all. We find that depending on the temperature, NQEs can either strengthen or weaken the binding within the hydrogen-bonded complexes. As a somewhat counterintuitive consequence, NQEs can have a smaller impact on hydrogen bond strengths at cryogenic temperatures than at room temperature. We rationalize this in terms of a competition of NQEs between low-frequency and high-frequency vibrational modes. Extending this idea, we also propose a simple model to predict the temperature dependence of NQEs on hydrogen bond strengths in general. PMID:27195654

Technique for long and absolute distance measurement based on laser pulse repetition frequency sweeping

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Castro Alves, D.; Abreu, Manuel; Cabral, A.; Jost, Michael; Rebordão, J. M.

2017-11-01

In this work we present a technique to perform long and absolute distance measurements based on mode-locked diode lasers. Using a Michelson interferometer, it is possible to produce an optical cross-correlation between laser pulses of the reference arm with the pulses from the measurement arm, adjusting externally their degree of overlap either changing the pulse repetition frequency (PRF) or the position of the reference arm mirror for two (or more) fixed frequencies. The correlation of the travelling pulses for precision distance measurements relies on ultra-short pulse durations, as the uncertainty associated to the method is dependent on the laser pulse width as well as on a highly stable PRF. Mode-locked Diode lasers are a very appealing technology for its inherent characteristics, associated to compactness, size and efficiency, constituting a positive trade-off with regard to other mode-locked laser sources. Nevertheless, main current drawback is the non-availability of frequency-stable laser diodes. The laser used is a monolithic mode-locked semiconductor quantum-dot (QD) laser. The laser PRF is locked to an external stabilized RF reference. In this work we will present some of the preliminary results and discuss the importance of the requirements related to laser PRF stability in the final metrology system accuracy.

Robust control design with real parameter uncertainty using absolute stability theory. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

How, Jonathan P.; Hall, Steven R.

1993-01-01

The purpose of this thesis is to investigate an extension of mu theory for robust control design by considering systems with linear and nonlinear real parameter uncertainties. In the process, explicit connections are made between mixed mu and absolute stability theory. In particular, it is shown that the upper bounds for mixed mu are a generalization of results from absolute stability theory. Both state space and frequency domain criteria are developed for several nonlinearities and stability multipliers using the wealth of literature on absolute stability theory and the concepts of supply rates and storage functions. The state space conditions are expressed in terms of Riccati equations and parameter-dependent Lyapunov functions. For controller synthesis, these stability conditions are used to form an overbound of the H2 performance objective. A geometric interpretation of the equivalent frequency domain criteria in terms of off-axis circles clarifies the important role of the multiplier and shows that both the magnitude and phase of the uncertainty are considered. A numerical algorithm is developed to design robust controllers that minimize the bound on an H2 cost functional and satisfy an analysis test based on the Popov stability multiplier. The controller and multiplier coefficients are optimized simultaneously, which avoids the iteration and curve-fitting procedures required by the D-K procedure of mu synthesis. Several benchmark problems and experiments on the Middeck Active Control Experiment at M.I.T. demonstrate that these controllers achieve good robust performance and guaranteed stability bounds.

The adaptation of generalist predators' diet in a multi-prey context: insights from new functional responses.

PubMed

Baudrot, Virgile; Perasso, Antoine; Fritsch, Clémentine; Giraudoux, Patrick; Raoul, Francis

2016-07-01

The ability for a generalist consumer to adapt its foraging strategy (the multi-species functional response, MSFR) is a milestone in ecology as it contributes to the structure of food webs. The trophic interaction between a generalist predator, as the red fox or the barn owl, and its prey community, mainly composed of small mammals, has been empirically and theoretically widely studied. However, the extent to which these predators adapt their diet according to both multi-annual changes in multiple prey species availability (frequency dependence) and the variation of the total prey density (density dependence) is unexplored.We provide a new general model of MSFR disentangling changes in prey preference according to variation of prey frequency (switching) and of total prey density (we propose the new concept of "rank switching"). We apply these models to two large data sets of red fox and barn owl foraging. We show that both frequency-dependent and density-dependent switching are critical properties of these two systems, suggesting that barn owl and red fox have an accurate image of the prey community in terms of frequency and absolute density. Moreover, we show that negative switching, which can lead to prey instability, is a strong property of the two systems. © 2016 by the Ecological Society of America.

Orbital structure in oscillating galactic potentials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terzić, Balša; Kandrup, Henry E.

2004-01-01

Subjecting a galactic potential to (possibly damped) nearly periodic, time-dependent variations can lead to large numbers of chaotic orbits experiencing systematic changes in energy, and the resulting chaotic phase mixing could play an important role in explaining such phenomena as violent relaxation. This paper focuses on the simplest case of spherically symmetric potentials subjected to strictly periodic driving with the aim of understanding precisely why orbits become chaotic and under what circumstances they will exhibit systematic changes in energy. Four unperturbed potentials V0(r) were considered, each subjected to a time dependence of the form V(r, t) =V0(r)(1 +m0 sinωt). In each case, the orbits divide clearly into regular and chaotic, distinctions which appear absolute. In particular, transitions from regularity to chaos are seemingly impossible. Over finite time intervals, chaotic orbits subdivide into what can be termed `sticky' chaotic orbits, which exhibit no large-scale secular changes in energy and remain trapped in the phase-space region where they started; and `wildly' chaotic orbits, which do exhibit systematic drifts in energy as the orbits diffuse to different phase-space regions. This latter distinction is not absolute, transitions corresponding apparently to orbits penetrating a `leaky' phase-space barrier. The three different orbit types can be identified simply in terms of the frequencies for which their Fourier spectra have the most power. An examination of the statistical properties of orbit ensembles as a function of driving frequency ω allows us to identify the specific resonances that determine orbital structure. Attention focuses also on how, for fixed amplitude m0, such quantities as the mean energy shift, the relative measure of chaotic orbits and the mean value of the largest Lyapunov exponent vary with driving frequency ω and how, for fixed ω, the same quantities depend on m0.

Frequency-agile, rapid scanning cavity ring-down spectroscopy (FARS-CRDS) measurements of the (30012)←(00001) near-infrared carbon dioxide band

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Long, D. A.; Wójtewicz, S.; Miller, C. E.; Hodges, J. T.

2015-08-01

We present new high accuracy measurements of the (30012)←(00001) CO2 band near 1575 nm recorded with a frequency-agile, rapid scanning cavity ring-down spectrometer. The resulting spectra were fit with the partially correlated, quadratic-speed-dependent Nelkin-Ghatak profile with line mixing. Significant differences were observed between the fitted line shape parameters and those found in existing databases, which are based upon more simplistic line profiles. Absolute transition frequencies, which were referenced to an optical frequency comb, are given, as well as the other line shape parameters needed to model this line profile. These high accuracy measurements should allow for improved atmospheric retrievals of greenhouse gas concentrations by current and future remote sensing missions.

Chromium:forsterite laser frequency comb stabilization and development of portable frequency references inside a hollow optical fiber

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Thapa, Rajesh

We have made significant accomplishments in the development of portable frequency standard inside hollow optical fibers. Such standards will improve portable optical frequency references available to the telecommunications industry. Our approach relies on the development of a stabilized Cr:forsterite laser to generate the frequency comb in the near-IR region. This laser is self referenced and locked to a CW laser which in turn is stabilized to a sub-Doppler feature of a molecular transition. The molecular transition is realized using a hollow core fiber filled with acetylene gas. We finally measured the absolute frequency of these molecular transitions to characterize the references. In this thesis, the major ideas, techniques and experimental results for the development and absolute frequency measurement of the portable frequency references are presented. A prism-based Cr:forsterite frequency comb is stabilized. We have effectively used the prism modulation along with power modulation inside the cavity in order to actively stabilize the frequency comb. We have also studied the carrier-envelope-offset frequency (f0) dynamics of the laser and its effect on laser stabilization. A reduction of f0 linewidth from ˜2 MHz to ˜20 kHz has also been observed. Both our in-loop and out-of-loop measurements of the comb stability showed that the comb is stable within a part in 1011 at 1-s gate time and is currently limited by our reference signal. In order to develop this portable frequency standard, saturated absorption spectroscopy is performed on the acetylene v1 + v3 band near 1532 nm inside different kinds of hollow optical fibers. The observed linewidths are a factor 2 narrower in the 20 mum fiber as compared to 10 mum fiber, and vary from 20-40 MHz depending on pressure and power. The 70 mum kagome fiber shows a further reduction in linewidth to less than 10 MHz. In order to seal the gas inside the hollow optical fiber, we have also developed a technique of splicing the hollow fiber to solid fiber in a standard commercial arc splicer, rather than the more expensive filament splicer, and achieved comparable splice loss. We locked a CW laser to the saturated absorption feature using a Frequency Modulation technique and then compared to an optical frequency comb. The stabilized frequency comb, providing a dense grid of reference frequencies in near-infrared region is used to characterize and measure the absolute frequency reference based on these hollow optical fibers.

Detecting Topological Defect Dark Matter Using Coherent Laser Ranging System

PubMed Central

Yang, Wanpeng; Leng, Jianxiao; Zhang, Shuangyou; Zhao, Jianye

2016-01-01

In the last few decades, optical frequency combs with high intensity, broad optical bandwidth, and directly traceable discrete wavelengths have triggered rapid developments in distance metrology. However, optical frequency combs to date have been limited to determine the absolute distance to an object (such as satellite missions). We propose a scheme for the detection of topological defect dark matter using a coherent laser ranging system composed of dual-combs and an optical clock via nongravitational signatures. The dark matter field, which comprises a defect, may interact with standard model particles, including quarks and photons, resulting in the alteration of their masses. Thus, a topological defect may function as a dielectric material with a distinctive frequency-depend index of refraction, which would cause the time delay of a periodic extraterrestrial or terrestrial light. When a topological defect passes through the Earth, the optical path of long-distance vacuum path is altered, this change in optical path can be detected through the coherent laser ranging system. Compared to continuous wavelength(cw) laser interferometry methods, dual-comb interferometry in our scheme excludes systematic misjudgement by measuring the absolute optical path length. PMID:27389642

Calibration-free absolute frequency response measurement of directly modulated lasers based on additional modulation.

PubMed

Zhang, Shangjian; Zou, Xinhai; Wang, Heng; Zhang, Yali; Lu, Rongguo; Liu, Yong

2015-10-15

A calibration-free electrical method is proposed for measuring the absolute frequency response of directly modulated semiconductor lasers based on additional modulation. The method achieves the electrical domain measurement of the modulation index of directly modulated lasers without the need for correcting the responsivity fluctuation in the photodetection. Moreover, it doubles measuring frequency range by setting a specific frequency relationship between the direct and additional modulation. Both the absolute and relative frequency response of semiconductor lasers are experimentally measured from the electrical spectrum of the twice-modulated optical signal, and the measured results are compared to those obtained with conventional methods to check the consistency. The proposed method provides calibration-free and accurate measurement for high-speed semiconductor lasers with high-resolution electrical spectrum analysis.

The Assessment of Protective Behavioral Strategies: Comparing the Absolute Frequency and Contingent Frequency Response Scales

PubMed Central

Kite, Benjamin A.; Pearson, Matthew R.; Henson, James M.

2016-01-01

The purpose of the present studies was to examine the effects of response scale on the observed relationships between protective behavioral strategies (PBS) measures and alcohol-related outcomes. We reasoned that an ‘absolute frequency’ scale (stem: “how many times…”; response scale: 0 times to 11+ times) conflates the frequency of using PBS with the frequency of consuming alcohol; thus, we hypothesized that the use of an absolute frequency response scale would result in positive relationships between types of PBS and alcohol-related outcomes. Alternatively, a ‘contingent frequency’ scale (stem: “When drinking…how often…”; response scale: never to always) does not conflate frequency of alcohol use with use of PBS; therefore, we hypothesized that use of a contingent frequency scale would result in negative relationships between use of PBS and alcohol-related outcomes. Two published measures of PBS were used across studies: the Protective Behavioral Strategies Survey (PBSS) and the Strategy Questionnaire (SQ). Across three studies, we demonstrate that when measured using a contingent frequency response scale, PBS measures relate negatively to alcohol-related outcomes in a theoretically consistent manner; however, when PBS measures were measured on an absolute frequency response scale, they were non-significantly or positively related to alcohol-related outcomes. We discuss the implications of these findings for the assessment of PBS. PMID:23438243

Communicating data about the benefits and harms of treatment: a randomized trial.

PubMed

Woloshin, Steven; Schwartz, Lisa M

2011-07-19

Despite limited evidence, it is often asserted that natural frequencies (for example, 2 in 1000) are the best way to communicate absolute risks. To compare comprehension of treatment benefit and harm when absolute risks are presented as natural frequencies, percents, or both. Parallel-group randomized trial with central allocation and masking of investigators to group assignment, conducted through an Internet survey in September 2009. (ClinicalTrials.gov registration number: NCT00950014) National sample of U.S. adults randomly selected from a professional survey firm's research panel of about 30,000 households. 2944 adults aged 18 years or older (all with complete follow-up). Tables presenting absolute risks in 1 of 5 numeric formats: natural frequency (x in 1000), variable frequency (x in 100, x in 1000, or x in 10,000, as needed to keep the numerator >1), percent, percent plus natural frequency, or percent plus variable frequency. Comprehension as assessed by 18 questions (primary outcome) and judgment of treatment benefit and harm. The average number of comprehension questions answered correctly was lowest in the variable frequency group and highest in the percent group (13.1 vs. 13.8; difference, 0.7 [95% CI, 0.3 to 1.1]). The proportion of participants who "passed" the comprehension test (≥13 correct answers) was lowest in the natural and variable frequency groups and highest in the percent group (68% vs. 73%; difference, 5 percentage points [CI, 0 to 10 percentage points]). The largest format effect was seen for the 2 questions about absolute differences: the proportion correct in the natural frequency versus percent groups was 43% versus 72% (P < 0.001) and 73% versus 87% (P < 0.001). Even when data were presented in the percent format, one third of participants failed the comprehension test. Natural frequencies are not the best format for communicating the absolute benefits and harms of treatment. The more succinct percent format resulted in better comprehension: Comprehension was slightly better overall and notably better for absolute differences. Attorney General Consumer and Prescriber Education grant program, the Robert Wood Johnson Pioneer Program, and the National Cancer Institute.

Measurement of absolute frequency of continuous-wave terahertz radiation in real time using a free-running, dual-wavelength mode-locked, erbium-doped fibre laser

PubMed Central

Hu, Guoqing; Mizuguchi, Tatsuya; Zhao, Xin; Minamikawa, Takeo; Mizuno, Takahiko; Yang, Yuli; Li, Cui; Bai, Ming; Zheng, Zheng; Yasui, Takeshi

2017-01-01

A single, free-running, dual-wavelength mode-locked, erbium-doped fibre laser was exploited to measure the absolute frequency of continuous-wave terahertz (CW-THz) radiation in real time using dual THz combs of photo-carriers (dual PC-THz combs). Two independent mode-locked laser beams with different wavelengths and different repetition frequencies were generated from this laser and were used to generate dual PC-THz combs having different frequency spacings in photoconductive antennae. Based on the dual PC-THz combs, the absolute frequency of CW-THz radiation was determined with a relative precision of 1.2 × 10−9 and a relative accuracy of 1.4 × 10−9 at a sampling rate of 100 Hz. Real-time determination of the absolute frequency of CW-THz radiation varying over a few tens of GHz was also demonstrated. Use of a single dual-wavelength mode-locked fibre laser, in place of dual mode-locked lasers, greatly reduced the size, complexity, and cost of the measurement system while maintaining the real-time capability and high measurement precision. PMID:28186148

Microwave zero-resistance states in a bilayer electron system.

PubMed

Wiedmann, S; Gusev, G M; Raichev, O E; Bakarov, A K; Portal, J C

2010-07-09

Magnetotransport measurements on a high-mobility electron bilayer system formed in a wide GaAs quantum well reveal vanishing dissipative resistance under continuous microwave irradiation. Profound zero-resistance states (ZRS) appear even in the presence of additional intersubband scattering of electrons. We study the dependence of photoresistance on frequency, microwave power, and temperature. Experimental results are compared with a theory demonstrating that the conditions for absolute negative resistivity correlate with the appearance of ZRS.

Redefinition of the crater-density and absolute-age boundaries for the chronostratigraphic system of Mars

USGS Publications Warehouse

Werner, S.C.; Tanaka, K.L.

2011-01-01

For the boundaries of each chronostratigraphic epoch on Mars, we present systematically derived crater-size frequencies based on crater counts of geologic referent surfaces and three proposed " standard" crater size-frequency production distributions as defined by (a) a simple -2 power law, (b) Neukum and Ivanov, (c) Hartmann. In turn, these crater count values are converted to model-absolute ages based on the inferred cratering rate histories. We present a new boundary definition for the Late Hesperian-Early Amazonian transition. Our fitting of crater size-frequency distributions to the chronostratigraphic record of Mars permits the assignment of cumulative counts of craters down to 100. m, 1. km, 2. km, 5. km, and 16. km diameters to martian epochs. Due to differences in the " standard" crater size-frequency production distributions, a generalized crater-density-based definition to the chronostratigraphic system cannot be provided. For the diameter range used for the boundary definitions, the resulting model absolute age fits vary within 1.5% for a given set of production function and chronology model ages. Crater distributions translated to absolute ages utilizing different curve descriptions can result in absolute age differences exceeding 10%. ?? 2011 Elsevier Inc.

Measurement of visual contrast sensitivity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vongierke, H. E.; Marko, A. R.

1985-04-01

This invention involves measurement of the visual contrast sensitivity (modulation transfer) function of a human subject by means of linear or circular spatial frequency pattern on a cathode ray tube whose contrast is automatically decreasing or increasing depending on the subject pressing or releasing a hand-switch button. The threshold of detection of the pattern modulation is found by the subject by adjusting the contrast to values which vary about the subject's threshold thereby determining the threshold and also providing by the magnitude of the contrast fluctuations between reversals some estimate of the variability of the subject's absolute threshold. The invention also involves the slow automatic sweeping of the spatial frequency of the pattern over the spatial frequencies after preset time intervals or after threshold has been defined at each frequency by a selected number of subject-determined threshold crossings; i.e., contrast reversals.

Carrier-envelope phase control of femtosecond mode-locked lasers and direct optical frequency synthesis

PubMed

Jones; Diddams; Ranka; Stentz; Windeler; Hall; Cundiff

2000-04-28

We stabilized the carrier-envelope phase of the pulses emitted by a femtosecond mode-locked laser by using the powerful tools of frequency-domain laser stabilization. We confirmed control of the pulse-to-pulse carrier-envelope phase using temporal cross correlation. This phase stabilization locks the absolute frequencies emitted by the laser, which we used to perform absolute optical frequency measurements that were directly referenced to a stable microwave clock.

Input-dependent frequency modulation of cortical gamma oscillations shapes spatial synchronization and enables phase coding.

PubMed

Lowet, Eric; Roberts, Mark; Hadjipapas, Avgis; Peter, Alina; van der Eerden, Jan; De Weerd, Peter

2015-02-01

Fine-scale temporal organization of cortical activity in the gamma range (∼25-80Hz) may play a significant role in information processing, for example by neural grouping ('binding') and phase coding. Recent experimental studies have shown that the precise frequency of gamma oscillations varies with input drive (e.g. visual contrast) and that it can differ among nearby cortical locations. This has challenged theories assuming widespread gamma synchronization at a fixed common frequency. In the present study, we investigated which principles govern gamma synchronization in the presence of input-dependent frequency modulations and whether they are detrimental for meaningful input-dependent gamma-mediated temporal organization. To this aim, we constructed a biophysically realistic excitatory-inhibitory network able to express different oscillation frequencies at nearby spatial locations. Similarly to cortical networks, the model was topographically organized with spatially local connectivity and spatially-varying input drive. We analyzed gamma synchronization with respect to phase-locking, phase-relations and frequency differences, and quantified the stimulus-related information represented by gamma phase and frequency. By stepwise simplification of our models, we found that the gamma-mediated temporal organization could be reduced to basic synchronization principles of weakly coupled oscillators, where input drive determines the intrinsic (natural) frequency of oscillators. The gamma phase-locking, the precise phase relation and the emergent (measurable) frequencies were determined by two principal factors: the detuning (intrinsic frequency difference, i.e. local input difference) and the coupling strength. In addition to frequency coding, gamma phase contained complementary stimulus information. Crucially, the phase code reflected input differences, but not the absolute input level. This property of relative input-to-phase conversion, contrasting with latency codes or slower oscillation phase codes, may resolve conflicting experimental observations on gamma phase coding. Our modeling results offer clear testable experimental predictions. We conclude that input-dependency of gamma frequencies could be essential rather than detrimental for meaningful gamma-mediated temporal organization of cortical activity.

Input-Dependent Frequency Modulation of Cortical Gamma Oscillations Shapes Spatial Synchronization and Enables Phase Coding

PubMed Central

Lowet, Eric; Roberts, Mark; Hadjipapas, Avgis; Peter, Alina; van der Eerden, Jan; De Weerd, Peter

2015-01-01

Fine-scale temporal organization of cortical activity in the gamma range (∼25–80Hz) may play a significant role in information processing, for example by neural grouping (‘binding’) and phase coding. Recent experimental studies have shown that the precise frequency of gamma oscillations varies with input drive (e.g. visual contrast) and that it can differ among nearby cortical locations. This has challenged theories assuming widespread gamma synchronization at a fixed common frequency. In the present study, we investigated which principles govern gamma synchronization in the presence of input-dependent frequency modulations and whether they are detrimental for meaningful input-dependent gamma-mediated temporal organization. To this aim, we constructed a biophysically realistic excitatory-inhibitory network able to express different oscillation frequencies at nearby spatial locations. Similarly to cortical networks, the model was topographically organized with spatially local connectivity and spatially-varying input drive. We analyzed gamma synchronization with respect to phase-locking, phase-relations and frequency differences, and quantified the stimulus-related information represented by gamma phase and frequency. By stepwise simplification of our models, we found that the gamma-mediated temporal organization could be reduced to basic synchronization principles of weakly coupled oscillators, where input drive determines the intrinsic (natural) frequency of oscillators. The gamma phase-locking, the precise phase relation and the emergent (measurable) frequencies were determined by two principal factors: the detuning (intrinsic frequency difference, i.e. local input difference) and the coupling strength. In addition to frequency coding, gamma phase contained complementary stimulus information. Crucially, the phase code reflected input differences, but not the absolute input level. This property of relative input-to-phase conversion, contrasting with latency codes or slower oscillation phase codes, may resolve conflicting experimental observations on gamma phase coding. Our modeling results offer clear testable experimental predictions. We conclude that input-dependency of gamma frequencies could be essential rather than detrimental for meaningful gamma-mediated temporal organization of cortical activity. PMID:25679780

Some basic properties of immune selection.

PubMed

Iwasa, Yoh; Michor, Franziska; Nowak, Martin

2004-07-21

We analyze models for the evolutionary dynamics of viral or other infectious agents within a host. We study how the invasion of a new strain affects the composition and diversity of the viral population. We show that--under strain-specific immunity--the equilibrium abundance of uninfected cells declines during viral evolution. In addition, for cytotoxic immunity the absolute force of infection, and for non-cytotoxic immunity the absolute cellular virulence increases during viral evolution. We prove global stability by means of Lyapunov functions. These unidirectional trends of virus evolution under immune selection do not hold for general cross-reactive immune responses, which introduce frequency-dependent selection among viral strains. Therefore, appropriate cross-reactive immunity can lead to a viral evolution within a host which limits the extent of the disease.

The development of a stepped frequency microwave radiometer and its application to remote sensing of the Earth

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harrington, R. F.

1980-01-01

The design, development, application, and capabilities of a variable frequency microwave radiometer are described. This radiometer demonstrated the versatility, accuracy, and stability required to provide contributions to the geophysical understanding of ocean and ice processes. A closed-loop feedback method was used, whereby noise pulses were added to the received electromagnetic radiation to achieve a null balance in a Dicke switched radiometer. Stability was achieved through the use of a constant temperature enclosure around the low loss microwave front end. The Dicke reference temperature was maintained to an absolute accuracy of 0.1 K using a closed-loop proportional temperature controller. A microprocessor based digital controller operates the radiometer and records the data on computer compatible tapes. This radiometer exhibits an absolute accuracy of better than 0.5 K when the sensitivity is 0.1 K. The sensitivity varies between 0.0125 K and 1.25 K depending upon the bandwidth and integration time selected by the digital controller. Remote sensing experiments were conducted from an aircraft platform and the first radiometeric mapping of an ocean polar front; exploratory experiments to measure the thickness of lake ice; first discrimination between first year and multiyear ice below 10 GHz; and the first known measurements of frequency sensitive characteristics of sea ice.

Absolute-length determination of a long-baseline Fabry-Perot cavity by means of resonating modulation sidebands.

PubMed

Araya, A; Telada, S; Tochikubo, K; Taniguchi, S; Takahashi, R; Kawabe, K; Tatsumi, D; Yamazaki, T; Kawamura, S; Miyoki, S; Moriwaki, S; Musha, M; Nagano, S; Fujimoto, M K; Horikoshi, K; Mio, N; Naito, Y; Takamori, A; Yamamoto, K

1999-05-01

A new method has been demonstrated for absolute-length measurements of a long-baseline Fabry-Perot cavity by use of phase-modulated light. This method is based on determination of a free spectral range (FSR) of the cavity from the frequency difference between a carrier and phase-modulation sidebands, both of which resonate in the cavity. Sensitive response of the Fabry-Perot cavity near resonant frequencies ensures accurate determination of the FSR and thus of the absolute length of the cavity. This method was applied to a 300-m Fabry-Perot cavity of the TAMA gravitational wave detector that is being developed at the National Astronomical Observatory, Tokyo. With a modulation frequency of approximately 12 MHz, we successfully determined the absolute cavity length with resolution of 1 microm (3 x 10(-9) in strain) and observed local ground strain variations of 6 x 10(-8).

Real-Time and Meter-Scale Absolute Distance Measurement by Frequency-Comb-Referenced Multi-Wavelength Interferometry.

PubMed

Wang, Guochao; Tan, Lilong; Yan, Shuhua

2018-02-07

We report on a frequency-comb-referenced absolute interferometer which instantly measures long distance by integrating multi-wavelength interferometry with direct synthetic wavelength interferometry. The reported interferometer utilizes four different wavelengths, simultaneously calibrated to the frequency comb of a femtosecond laser, to implement subwavelength distance measurement, while direct synthetic wavelength interferometry is elaborately introduced by launching a fifth wavelength to extend a non-ambiguous range for meter-scale measurement. A linearity test performed comparatively with a He-Ne laser interferometer shows a residual error of less than 70.8 nm in peak-to-valley over a 3 m distance, and a 10 h distance comparison is demonstrated to gain fractional deviations of ~3 × 10 -8 versus 3 m distance. Test results reveal that the presented absolute interferometer enables precise, stable, and long-term distance measurements and facilitates absolute positioning applications such as large-scale manufacturing and space missions.

Real-Time and Meter-Scale Absolute Distance Measurement by Frequency-Comb-Referenced Multi-Wavelength Interferometry

PubMed Central

Tan, Lilong; Yan, Shuhua

2018-01-01

We report on a frequency-comb-referenced absolute interferometer which instantly measures long distance by integrating multi-wavelength interferometry with direct synthetic wavelength interferometry. The reported interferometer utilizes four different wavelengths, simultaneously calibrated to the frequency comb of a femtosecond laser, to implement subwavelength distance measurement, while direct synthetic wavelength interferometry is elaborately introduced by launching a fifth wavelength to extend a non-ambiguous range for meter-scale measurement. A linearity test performed comparatively with a He–Ne laser interferometer shows a residual error of less than 70.8 nm in peak-to-valley over a 3 m distance, and a 10 h distance comparison is demonstrated to gain fractional deviations of ~3 × 10−8 versus 3 m distance. Test results reveal that the presented absolute interferometer enables precise, stable, and long-term distance measurements and facilitates absolute positioning applications such as large-scale manufacturing and space missions. PMID:29414897

Strongly nonlinear theory of rapid solidification near absolute stability

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kowal, Katarzyna N.; Altieri, Anthony L.; Davis, Stephen H.

2017-10-01

We investigate the nonlinear evolution of the morphological deformation of a solid-liquid interface of a binary melt under rapid solidification conditions near two absolute stability limits. The first of these involves the complete stabilization of the system to cellular instabilities as a result of large enough surface energy. We derive nonlinear evolution equations in several limits in this scenario and investigate the effect of interfacial disequilibrium on the nonlinear deformations that arise. In contrast to the morphological stability problem in equilibrium, in which only cellular instabilities appear and only one absolute stability boundary exists, in disequilibrium the system is prone to oscillatory instabilities and a second absolute stability boundary involving attachment kinetics arises. Large enough attachment kinetics stabilize the oscillatory instabilities. We derive a nonlinear evolution equation to describe the nonlinear development of the solid-liquid interface near this oscillatory absolute stability limit. We find that strong asymmetries develop with time. For uniform oscillations, the evolution equation for the interface reduces to the simple form f''+(βf')2+f =0 , where β is the disequilibrium parameter. Lastly, we investigate a distinguished limit near both absolute stability limits in which the system is prone to both cellular and oscillatory instabilities and derive a nonlinear evolution equation that captures the nonlinear deformations in this limit. Common to all these scenarios is the emergence of larger asymmetries in the resulting shapes of the solid-liquid interface with greater departures from equilibrium and larger morphological numbers. The disturbances additionally sharpen near the oscillatory absolute stability boundary, where the interface becomes deep-rooted. The oscillations are time-periodic only for small-enough initial amplitudes and their frequency depends on a single combination of physical parameters, including the morphological number, as well as the amplitude. The critical amplitude, at which solutions loose periodicity, depends on a single combination of parameters independent of the morphological number that indicate that non-periodic growth is most commonly present for moderate disequilibrium parameters. The spatial distribution of the interface develops deepening roots at late times. Similar spatial distributions are also seen in the limit in which both the cellular and oscillatory modes are close to absolute stability, and the roots deepen with larger departures from the two absolute stability boundaries.

A test of Lee's quasi-linear theory of ion acceleration by interplanetary traveling shocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kennel, C. F.; Coroniti, F. V.; Scarf, F. L.; Livesey, W. A.; Russell, C. T.; Smith, E. J.

1986-01-01

Lee's (1983) quasi-linear theory of ion acceleration is tested using ISEE-3 measurements of the November 12, 1978 quasi-parallel interplanetary shock. His theory accounts with varying degrees of precision for the energetic proton spatial profiles; the dependence of the spectral index of the power law proton velocity distribution upon the shock compression ratio; the power law dependence of the upstream proton scalelength upon energy; the absolute magnitude of the upstream proton scale length; the behavior of the energetic proton anisotropy upstream and downstream of the shock; the behavior of the alpha-particle proton ratio upstream; the equality of the spatial scale lengths at the shock of the upstream waves and of the protons that resonate with them; and the dependence of the integrated wave energy density upon the proton energy density at the shock. However, the trace magnetic field frequency spectra disagree with his theory in two ways. The part of the spectrum that can resonate with the observed protons via first-order cyclotron resonance is flat, whereas Lee's theory predicts an f exp - 7/4 frequency dependence for the November 12 shock. Higher frequency waves, which could not resonate with the observed upstream protons, increased in amplitude as the shock approached, suggesting that they too were generated by the shock.

Treatment Effects of a Primary Care Intervention on Parenting Behaviors: Sometimes It's Relative.

PubMed

Shaffer, Anne; Lindhiem, Oliver; Kolko, David

2017-04-01

The goal of this brief report is to demonstrate the utility of quantifying parental discipline practices as relative frequencies in measuring changes in parenting behavior and relations to child behavior following intervention. We explored comparisons across methodological approaches of assessing parenting behavior via absolute and relative frequencies in measuring improvements in parent-reported disciplinary practices (increases in positive parenting practices in response to child behavior; decreases in inconsistent discipline and use of corporal punishment) and child behavior problems. The current study was conducted as part of a larger clinical trial to evaluate the efficacy of a collaborative care intervention for behavior problems, ADHD, and anxiety in pediatric primary care practices (Doctor Office Collaborative Care; DOCC). Participants were 321 parent-child dyads (M child age = 8.00, 65 % male children) from eight pediatric practices that were cluster randomized to DOCC or enhanced usual care (EUC). Parents reported on their own discipline behaviors and child behavior problems. While treatment-related decreases in negative parenting were found using both the absolute and relative frequencies of parenting behaviors, results were different for positive parenting behaviors, which showed decreases when measured as absolute frequencies but increases when measured as relative frequencies. In addition, positive parenting was negatively correlated with child behavior problems when using relative frequencies, but not absolute frequencies, and relative frequencies of positive parenting mediated relations between treatment condition and outcomes. Our findings indicate that the methods used to measure treatment-related change warrant careful consideration.

A vibration-insensitive optical cavity and absolute determination of its ultrahigh stability.

PubMed

Zhao, Y N; Zhang, J; Stejskal, A; Liu, T; Elman, V; Lu, Z H; Wang, L J

2009-05-25

We use the three-cornered-hat method to evaluate the absolute frequency stabilities of three different ultrastable reference cavities, one of which has a vibration-insensitive design that does not even require vibration isolation. An Nd:YAG laser and a diode laser are implemented as light sources. We observe approximately 1 Hz beat note linewidths between all three cavities. The measurement demonstrates that the vibration-insensitive cavity has a good frequency stability over the entire measurement time from 100 ms to 200 s. An absolute, correlation-removed Allan deviation of 1.4 x 10(-15) at s of this cavity is obtained, giving a frequency uncertainty of only 0.44 Hz.

Precision saturated absorption spectroscopy of H3+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Yu-Chan; Chang, Yung-Hsiang; Liao, Yi-Chieh; Peng, Jin-Long; Wang, Li-Bang; Shy, Jow-Tsong

2018-03-01

In our previous work on the Lamb-dips of the ν2 fundamental band transitions of H3+, the saturated absorption spectrum was obtained by third-derivative spectroscopy using frequency modulation with an optical parametric oscillator (OPO). However, frequency modulation also caused errors in the absolute frequency determination. To solve this problem, we built a tunable offset locking system to lock the pump frequency of the OPO to an iodine-stabilized Nd:YAG laser. With this improvement, we were able to scan the OPO idler frequency precisely and obtain the saturated absorption profile using intensity modulation. Furthermore, ion concentration modulation was employed to subtract the background noise and increase the signal-to-noise ratio. To determine the absolute frequency of the idler wave, the OPO signal frequency was locked to an optical frequency comb. The absolute frequency accuracy of our spectrometer was better than 7 kHz, demonstrated by measuring the wavelength standard transition of methane at 3.39 μm. Finally, we measured 16 transitions of H3+ and our results agree very well with other precision measurements. This work successfully resolved the discrepancies between our previous measurements and other precision measurements.

Broadband, high-resolution investigation of advanced absorption line shapes at high temperature

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schroeder, Paul J.; Cich, Matthew J.; Yang, Jinyu; Swann, William C.; Coddington, Ian; Newbury, Nathan R.; Drouin, Brian J.; Rieker, Gregory B.

2017-08-01

Spectroscopic studies of planetary atmospheres and high-temperature processes (e.g., combustion) require absorption line-shape models that are accurate over extended temperature ranges. To date, advanced line shapes, like the speed-dependent Voigt and Rautian profiles, have not been tested above room temperature with broadband spectrometers. We investigate pure water vapor spectra from 296 to 1305 K acquired with a dual-frequency comb spectrometer spanning from 6800 to 7200 c m-1 at a point spacing of 0.0033 c m-1 and absolute frequency accuracy of <3.3 ×10-6c m-1 . Using a multispectral fitting analysis, we show that only the speed-dependent Voigt accurately models this temperature range with a single power-law temperature-scaling exponent for the broadening coefficients. Only the data from the analysis using this profile fall within theoretical predictions, suggesting that this mechanism captures the dominant narrowing physics for these high-temperature conditions.

Absolute Pitch in Boreal Chickadees and Humans: Exceptions that Test a Phylogenetic Rule

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weisman, Ronald G.; Balkwill, Laura-Lee; Hoeschele, Marisa; Moscicki, Michele K.; Bloomfield, Laurie L.; Sturdy, Christopher B.

2010-01-01

This research examined generality of the phylogenetic rule that birds discriminate frequency ranges more accurately than mammals. Human absolute pitch chroma possessors accurately tracked transitions between frequency ranges. Independent tests showed that they used note naming (pitch chroma) to remap the tones into ranges; neither possessors nor…

A polarized low-coherence interferometry demodulation algorithm by recovering the absolute phase of a selected monochromatic frequency.

PubMed

Jiang, Junfeng; Wang, Shaohua; Liu, Tiegen; Liu, Kun; Yin, Jinde; Meng, Xiange; Zhang, Yimo; Wang, Shuang; Qin, Zunqi; Wu, Fan; Li, Dingjie

2012-07-30

A demodulation algorithm based on absolute phase recovery of a selected monochromatic frequency is proposed for optical fiber Fabry-Perot pressure sensing system. The algorithm uses Fourier transform to get the relative phase and intercept of the unwrapped phase-frequency linear fit curve to identify its interference-order, which are then used to recover the absolute phase. A simplified mathematical model of the polarized low-coherence interference fringes was established to illustrate the principle of the proposed algorithm. Phase unwrapping and the selection of monochromatic frequency were discussed in detail. Pressure measurement experiment was carried out to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. Results showed that the demodulation precision by our algorithm could reach up to 0.15kPa, which has been improved by 13 times comparing with phase slope based algorithm.

Humidification during high-frequency oscillatory ventilation for adults: a bench study.

PubMed

Chikata, Yusuke; Imanaka, Hideaki; Ueta, Masahiko; Nishimura, Masaji

2010-12-01

High-frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFOV) has recently been applied to acute respiratory distress syndrome patients. However, the issue of humidification during HFOV has not been investigated. In a bench study, we evaluated humidification during HFOV for adults to test if adequate humidification was achieved in 2 different HFOV systems. We tested 2 brands of adult HFOV ventilators, the R100 (Metran, Japan) and the 3100B (SensorMedics, CA), under identical bias flow. A heated humidifier consisting of porous hollow fiber (Hummax II, Metran) was set for the R100, and a passover-type heated humidifier (MR850, Fisher & Paykel) was set for the 3100B, while inspiratory heating wire was applied to both systems. Each ventilator was connected to a lung model in an incubator. Absolute humidity, relative humidity and temperature at the airway opening were measured using a hygrometer under a variety of ventilatory settings: 3 stroke volumes/amplitudes, 3 frequencies, and 2 mean airway pressures. The R100 ventilator showed higher absolute humidity, higher relative humidity, and lower temperature than the 3100B. In the R100, as stroke volume and frequency increased, absolute humidity and temperature increased. In the 3100B, amplitude, frequency, and mean airway pressure minimally affected absolute humidity and temperature. Relative humidity was almost 100% in the R100, while it was 80.5±2.3% in the 3100B. Humidification during HFOV for adults was affected by stroke volume and frequency in the R100, but was not in the 3100B. Absolute humidity was above 33 mgH_2 O/L in these 2 systems under a range of settings.

Quantifying discipline practices using absolute versus relative frequencies: clinical and research implications for child welfare.

PubMed

Lindhiem, Oliver; Shaffer, Anne; Kolko, David J

2014-01-01

In the parent intervention outcome literatures, discipline practices are generally quantified as absolute frequencies or, less commonly, as relative frequencies. These differences in methodology warrant direct comparison as they have critical implications for study results and conclusions among treatments targeted at reducing parental aggression and harsh discipline. In this study, we directly compared the absolute frequency method and the relative frequency method for quantifying physically aggressive, psychologically aggressive, and nonaggressive discipline practices. Longitudinal data over a 3-year period came from an existing data set of a clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a psychosocial treatment in reducing parental physical and psychological aggression and improving child behavior (N = 139). Discipline practices (aggressive and nonaggressive) were assessed using the Conflict Tactics Scale. The two methods yielded different patterns of results, particularly for nonaggressive discipline strategies. We suggest that each method makes its own unique contribution to a more complete understanding of the association between parental aggression and intervention effects.

Differences of the Solar Magnetic Activity Signature in Velocity and Intensity Helioseismic Observations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Salabert, D.; García, R. A.; Jiménez, A.

2013-12-01

The high-quality, full-disk helioseismic observations continuously collected by the spectrophotometer GOLF and the three photometers VIRGO/SPMs onboard the SoHO spacecraft for 17 years now (since April 11, 1996, apart from the SoHO “vacations”) are absolutely unique for the study of the interior of the Sun and its variability with magnetic activity. Here, we look at the differences in the low-degree oscillation p-mode frequencies between radial velocity and intensity measurements taking into account all the known features of the p-mode profiles (e.g., the opposite peak asymmetry), and of the power spectrum (e.g., the presence of the higher degrees ℓ = 4 and 5 in the signal). We show that the intensity frequencies are higher than the velocity frequencies during the solar cycle with a clear temporal dependence. The response between the individual angular degrees is also different. Time delays are observed between the temporal variations in GOLF and VIRGO frequencies. Such analysis is important in order to put new constraints and to better understand the mechanisms responsible for the temporal variations of the oscillation frequencies with the solar magnetic activity as well as their height dependences in the solar atmosphere. It is also important for the study of the stellar magnetic activity using asteroseismic data.

Nondestructive evaluation techniques for nickel-cadmium aerospace battery cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Haak, R.; Tench, D.

1982-01-01

The ac impedance characteristics of Ni-Cd cells as an in-situ, nondestructive means of determining cell lifetime, particularly with respect to the probability of premature failure were evaluated. Emphasis was on evaluating Ni-Cd cell impedance over a wide frequency range (10,000 to 0.0004 Hz) as the cells were subjected to charge/discharge cycle testing. The results indicate that cell degradation is reflected in the low frequency (Warburg) impedance characteristics associated with diffusion processes. The Warburg slope (W) was found to steadily increase as a function of cell aging for completely discharged cells. In addition, based on data for two cells, a high or rapidly increasing value for W signals imminent cell failure by one mechanism. Degradation by another mechanism is apparently reflected in a fall-off (roll-over) of W at lower frequencies. As a secondary result, the frequency dependence of the absolute cell impedance at low frequencies (5 - 500 mHz) was found to be a good indication of the cell state-of-charge.

Nonlinear self-sustained structures and fronts in spatially developing wake flows

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pier, Benoît; Huerre, Patrick

2001-05-01

A family of slowly spatially developing wakes with variable pressure gradient is numerically demonstrated to sustain a synchronized finite-amplitude vortex street tuned at a well-defined frequency. This oscillating state is shown to be described by a steep global mode exhibiting a sharp Dee Langer-type front at the streamwise station of marginal absolute instability. The front acts as a wavemaker which sends out nonlinear travelling waves in the downstream direction, the global frequency being imposed by the real absolute frequency prevailing at the front station. The nonlinear travelling waves are determined to be governed by the local nonlinear dispersion relation resulting from a temporal evolution problem on a local wake profile considered as parallel. Although the vortex street is fully nonlinear, its frequency is dictated by a purely linear marginal absolute instability criterion applied to the local linear dispersion relation.

Frequency locking of compact laser-diode modules at 633 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nölleke, Christian; Leisching, Patrick; Blume, Gunnar; Jedrzejczyk, Daniel; Pohl, Johannes; Feise, David; Sahm, Alexander; Paschke, Katrin

2018-02-01

This work reports on a compact diode-laser module emitting at 633 nm. The emission frequency can be tuned with temperature and current, while optical feedback of an internal DBR grating ensures single-mode operation. The laser diode is integrated into a micro-fabricated package, which includes optics for beam shaping, a miniaturized optical isolator, and a vapor cell as frequency reference. The achieved absolute frequency stability is below 10-8 , while the output power can be more than 10 mW. This compact absolute frequency-stabilized laser system can replace gas lasers and may be integrated in future quantum technology devices.

Mapping the absolute magnetic field and evaluating the quadratic Zeeman-effect-induced systematic error in an atom interferometer gravimeter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hu, Qing-Qing; Freier, Christian; Leykauf, Bastian; Schkolnik, Vladimir; Yang, Jun; Krutzik, Markus; Peters, Achim

2017-09-01

Precisely evaluating the systematic error induced by the quadratic Zeeman effect is important for developing atom interferometer gravimeters aiming at an accuracy in the μ Gal regime (1 μ Gal =10-8m /s2 ≈10-9g ). This paper reports on the experimental investigation of Raman spectroscopy-based magnetic field measurements and the evaluation of the systematic error in the gravimetric atom interferometer (GAIN) due to quadratic Zeeman effect. We discuss Raman duration and frequency step-size-dependent magnetic field measurement uncertainty, present vector light shift and tensor light shift induced magnetic field measurement offset, and map the absolute magnetic field inside the interferometer chamber of GAIN with an uncertainty of 0.72 nT and a spatial resolution of 12.8 mm. We evaluate the quadratic Zeeman-effect-induced gravity measurement error in GAIN as 2.04 μ Gal . The methods shown in this paper are important for precisely mapping the absolute magnetic field in vacuum and reducing the quadratic Zeeman-effect-induced systematic error in Raman transition-based precision measurements, such as atomic interferometer gravimeters.

Error Analysis of Wind Measurements for the University of Illinois Sodium Doppler Temperature System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pfenninger, W. Matthew; Papen, George C.

1992-01-01

Four-frequency lidar measurements of temperature and wind velocity require accurate frequency tuning to an absolute reference and long term frequency stability. We quantify frequency tuning errors for the Illinois sodium system, to measure absolute frequencies and a reference interferometer to measure relative frequencies. To determine laser tuning errors, we monitor the vapor cell and interferometer during lidar data acquisition and analyze the two signals for variations as functions of time. Both sodium cell and interferometer are the same as those used to frequency tune the laser. By quantifying the frequency variations of the laser during data acquisition, an error analysis of temperature and wind measurements can be calculated. These error bounds determine the confidence in the calculated temperatures and wind velocities.

Noninvasive assessment of testicular torsion in rabbits using frequency-domain near-infrared spectroscopy: prospects for pediatric urology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hallacoglu, Bertan; Matulewicz, Richard S.; Paltiel, Harriet J.; Padua, Horacio; Gargollo, Patricio; Cannon, Glenn; Alomari, Ahmad; Sassaroli, Angelo; Fantini, Sergio

2009-09-01

We present a quantitative near-IR spectroscopy study of the absolute values of oxygen saturation of hemoglobin before and after surgically induced testicular torsion in adult rabbits. Unilateral testicular torsions (0, 540, or 720 deg) on experimental testes and contralateral sham surgery on control testes are performed in four adult rabbits. A specially designed optical probe for measurements at multiple source-detector distances and a commercial frequency-domain tissue spectrometer are used to measure absolute values of testicular hemoglobin saturation. Our results show: (1) a consistent baseline absolute tissue hemoglobin saturation value of 78+/-5%, (2) a comparable tissue hemoglobin saturation of 77+/-6% after sham surgery, and (3) a significantly lower tissue hemoglobin saturation of 36+/-2% after 540- and 720-deg testicular torsion surgery. Our findings demonstrate the feasibility of performing frequency-domain, multidistance near-IR spectroscopy for absolute testicular oximetry in the assessment of testicular torsion. We conclude that near-IR spectroscopy has potential to serve as a clinical diagnostic and monitoring tool for the assessment of absolute testicular hemoglobin desaturation caused by torsion, with the possibility of serving as a complement to conventional color and spectral Doppler ultrasonography.

High precision pulsar timing and spin frequency second derivatives

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Liu, X. J.; Bassa, C. G.; Stappers, B. W.

2018-05-01

We investigate the impact of intrinsic, kinematic and gravitational effects on high precision pulsar timing. We present an analytical derivation and a numerical computation of the impact of these effects on the first and second derivative of the pulsar spin frequency. In addition, in the presence of white noise, we derive an expression to determine the expected measurement uncertainty of a second derivative of the spin frequency for a given timing precision, observing cadence and timing baseline and find that it strongly depends on the latter (∝t-7/2). We show that for pulsars with significant proper motion, the spin frequency second derivative is dominated by a term dependent on the radial velocity of the pulsar. Considering the data sets from three Pulsar Timing Arrays, we find that for PSR J0437-4715 a detectable spin frequency second derivative will be present if the absolute value of the radial velocity exceeds 33 km s-1. Similarly, at the current timing precision and cadence, continued timing observations of PSR J1909-3744 for about another eleven years, will allow the measurement of its frequency second derivative and determine the radial velocity with an accuracy better than 14 km s-1. With the ever increasing timing precision and observing baselines, the impact of the, largely unknown, radial velocities of pulsars on high precision pulsar timing can not be neglected.

Electroencephalographic activity and mood in cocaine-dependent outpatients: effects of cocaine cue exposure.

PubMed

Bauer, L O; Kranzler, H R

1994-08-01

Electroencephalographic (EEG) and subjective reactions to cocaine cues were evaluated in 18 cocaine-dependent outpatients, after 14 or fewer days of abstinence, and 16 noncocaine-dependent controls. EEG activity and desire for cocaine were recorded while subjects viewed three 5-min films that featured either cocaine-associated, erotic, or neutral stimuli. Other measures of mood state and cocaine craving, derived from the Mood Adjective Checklist and the Cocaine Craving Questionnaire, respectively, were recorded immediately after each film. Analyses of absolute EEG power within six frequency bands (delta, theta, slow and fast alpha, slow and fast beta) revealed no EEG abnormalities in the cocaine-dependent group under any condition. In both subject groups, the cocaine-associated and erotic films produced a similar reduction in total EEG power. The cocaine-associated and erotic films also produced a similar increase in the self-rated desire for cocaine, but this change only occurred in the cocaine-dependent group.

Dynamic frequency-domain interferometer for absolute distance measurements with high resolution

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Weng, Jidong; Liu, Shenggang; Ma, Heli; Tao, Tianjiong; Wang, Xiang; Liu, Cangli; Tan, Hua

2014-11-01

A unique dynamic frequency-domain interferometer for absolute distance measurement has been developed recently. This paper presents the working principle of the new interferometric system, which uses a photonic crystal fiber to transmit the wide-spectrum light beams and a high-speed streak camera or frame camera to record the interference stripes. Preliminary measurements of harmonic vibrations of a speaker, driven by a radio, and the changes in the tip clearance of a rotating gear wheel show that this new type of interferometer has the ability to perform absolute distance measurements both with high time- and distance-resolution.

Excitation Location and Seasonal Variation of Transoceanic Infragravity Waves Observed at an Absolute Pressure Gauge Array

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tonegawa, T.; Fukao, Y.; Shiobara, H.; Sugioka, H.; Ito, A.; Yamashita, M.

2018-01-01

An array of 10 absolute pressure gauges (APGs) deployed in deep water 50 km east of Aogashima, an island in southern Japan, observed several isolated signals in the infragravity wave (IGW) frequency band (0.002-0.03 Hz) during boreal summer, whereas relatively high IGW energy persisted during boreal winter. The isolated IGW shows dispersion with a delay time of 4-5 days as a function of frequency. Here we estimate the excitation locations of IGWs for the two seasons with estimated incoming direction of IGW, calculation of transoceanic IGW trajectories and propagation times, and spatiotemporal variations of significant wave heights from WAVEWATCH III. In boreal summer, the isolated IGWs are primarily caused by IGW energies excited at the shoreline of South America, based on the following three observations: IGWs observed at the array originated from the east: the easterly ray path from the array reaches South America: and an event-like IGWs were observed at the array when a storm approaches eastward to the shoreline of South America, in which the observed delay time of 4-5 days was also supported by the frequency-dependent calculation of IGW propagation times. In boreal winter, the incessant IGWs consist of transoceanic IGW energies leaked from the shoreline, primarily from North America, and secondly from South America and the western Aleutian Islands.

Contribution of tonal components to the overall loudness, annoyance and noisiness of noise: Relation between single tones and noise spectral shape

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hellman, R. P.

1985-01-01

A large scale laboratory investigation of loudness, annoyance, and noisiness produced by single-tone-noise complexes was undertaken to establish a broader data base for quanitification and prediction of perceived annoyance of sounds containing tonal components. Loudness, annoyance, and noisiness were distinguished as separate, distinct, attributes of sound. Three different spectral patterns of broadband noise with and without added tones were studied: broadband-flat, low-pass, and high-pass. Judgments were obtained by absolute magnitude estimation supplement by loudness matching. The data were examined and evaluated to determine the potential effects of (1) the overall sound pressure level (SPL) of the noise-tone complex, (2) tone SPL, (3) noise SPL, (4) tone-to-noise ratio, (5) the frequency of the added tone, (6) noise spectral shape, and (7) subjective attribute judged on absolute magnitude of annoyance. Results showed that, in contrast to noisiness, loudness and annoyance growth behavior depends on the relationship between the frequency of the added tone and the spectral shape of the noise. The close correspondence between the frequency of the added tone and the spectral shape of the noise. The close correspondence between loundness and annoyance suggests that, to better understand perceived annoyance of sound mixtures, it is necessary to relate the results to basic auditory mechanisms governing loudness and masking.

All-fibre photonic signal generator for attosecond timing and ultralow-noise microwave

PubMed Central

Jung, Kwangyun; Kim, Jungwon

2015-01-01

High-impact frequency comb applications that are critically dependent on precise pulse timing (i.e., repetition rate) have recently emerged and include the synchronization of X-ray free-electron lasers, photonic analogue-to-digital conversion and photonic radar systems. These applications have used attosecond-level timing jitter of free-running mode-locked lasers on a fast time scale within ~100 μs. Maintaining attosecond-level absolute jitter over a significantly longer time scale can dramatically improve many high-precision comb applications. To date, ultrahigh quality-factor (Q) optical resonators have been used to achieve the highest-level repetition-rate stabilization of mode-locked lasers. However, ultrahigh-Q optical-resonator-based methods are often fragile, alignment sensitive and complex, which limits their widespread use. Here we demonstrate a fibre-delay line-based repetition-rate stabilization method that enables the all-fibre photonic generation of optical pulse trains with 980-as (20-fs) absolute r.m.s. timing jitter accumulated over 0.01 s (1 s). This simple approach is based on standard off-the-shelf fibre components and can therefore be readily used in various comb applications that require ultra-stable microwave frequency and attosecond optical timing. PMID:26531777

Audio steganography by amplitude or phase modification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gopalan, Kaliappan; Wenndt, Stanley J.; Adams, Scott F.; Haddad, Darren M.

2003-06-01

This paper presents the results of embedding short covert message utterances on a host, or cover, utterance by modifying the phase or amplitude of perceptually masked or significant regions of the host. In the first method, the absolute phase at selected, perceptually masked frequency indices was changed to fixed, covert data-dependent values. Embedded bits were retrieved at the receiver from the phase at the selected frequency indices. Tests on embedding a GSM-coded covert utterance on clean and noisy host utterances showed no noticeable difference in the stego compared to the hosts in speech quality or spectrogram. A bit error rate of 2 out of 2800 was observed for a clean host utterance while no error occurred for a noisy host. In the second method, the absolute phase of 10 or fewer perceptually significant points in the host was set in accordance with covert data. This resulted in a stego with successful data retrieval and a slightly noticeable degradation in speech quality. Modifying the amplitude of perceptually significant points caused perceptible differences in the stego even with small changes of amplitude made at five points per frame. Finally, the stego obtained by altering the amplitude at perceptually masked points showed barely noticeable differences and excellent data recovery.

Hoeren unter Wasser: Absolute Reizschwellen und Richtungswahrnehnumg (Underwater Hearing: Absolute Thresholds and Sound Localization),

DTIC Science & Technology

The article deals first with the theoretical foundations of underwater hearing, and the effects of the acoustical characteristics of water on hearing...lead to the conclusion that, in water , man can locate the direction of sound at low and at very high tonal frequencies of the audio range, but this ability is probably vanishing in the middle range of frequencies. (Author)

Versatile mid-infrared frequency-comb referenced sub-Doppler spectrometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gambetta, A.; Vicentini, E.; Coluccelli, N.; Wang, Y.; Fernandez, T. T.; Maddaloni, P.; De Natale, P.; Castrillo, A.; Gianfrani, L.; Laporta, P.; Galzerano, G.

2018-04-01

We present a mid-IR high-precision spectrometer capable of performing accurate Doppler-free measurements with absolute calibration of the optical axis and high signal-to-noise ratio. The system is based on a widely tunable mid-IR offset-free frequency comb and a Quantum-Cascade-Laser (QCL). The QCL emission frequency is offset locked to one of the comb teeth to provide absolute-frequency calibration, spectral-narrowing, and accurate fine frequency tuning. Both the comb repetition frequency and QCL-comb offset frequency can be modulated to provide, respectively, slow- and fast-frequency-calibrated scanning capabilities. The characterisation of the spectrometer is demonstrated by recording sub-Doppler saturated absorption features of the CHF3 molecule at around 8.6 μm with a maximum signal-to-noise ratio of ˜7 × 103 in 10 s integration time, frequency-resolution of 160 kHz, and accuracy of less than 10 kHz.

Quantifying Discipline Practices Using Absolute vs. Relative Frequencies: Clinical and Research Implications for Child Welfare

PubMed Central

Lindhiem, Oliver; Shaffer, Anne; Kolko, David J.

2014-01-01

In the parent intervention outcome literatures, discipline practices are generally quantified as absolute frequencies or, less commonly, as relative frequencies. These differences in methodology warrant direct comparison as they have critical implications for study results and conclusions among treatments targeted at reducing parental aggression and harsh discipline. In this study, we directly compared the absolute frequency method and the relative frequency method for quantifying physically aggressive, psychologically aggressive, and nonaggressive discipline practices. Longitudinal data over a 3-year period came from an existing data set of a clinical trial examining the effectiveness of a psychosocial treatment in reducing parental physical and psychological aggression and improving child behavior (N = 139; Kolko et al., 2009). Discipline practices (both aggressive and nonaggressive) were assessed using the Conflict Tactics Scale (CTS; Straus et al., 1998). The two methods yielded different patterns of results, particularly for nonaggressive discipline strategies. We suggest that each method makes its own unique contribution to a more complete understanding of the association between parental aggression and intervention effects. PMID:24106146

Polarizability tensor invariants of H2, HD, and D2

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Raj, Ankit; Hamaguchi, Hiro-o.; Witek, Henryk A.

2018-03-01

We report an exhaustive compilation of wavelength-dependent matrix elements over the mean polarizability (α ¯ ) and polarizability anisotropy (γ) operators for the rovibrational states of the H2, HD, and D2 molecules together with an accompanying computer program for their evaluation. The matrix elements can be readily evaluated using the provided codes for rovibrational states with J = 0-15 and v = 0-4 and for any laser wavelengths in the interval 182.25-1320.6 nm corresponding to popular, commercially available lasers. The presented results substantially extend the scope of the data available in the literature, both in respect of the rovibrational transitions analyzed and the range of covered laser frequencies. The presented detailed tabulation of accurate polarizability tensor invariants is essential for successful realization of our main long-term goal: developing a universal standard for determining absolute Raman cross sections and absolute Raman intensities in experimental Rayleigh and Raman scattering studies of molecules.

Transient conduction-radiation analysis of an absolute active cavity radiometer using finite elements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mahan, J. R.; Kowsary, F.; Tira, N.; Gardiner, B. D.

1987-01-01

A NASA-developed finite element-based model of a generic active cavity radiometer (ACR) has been developed in order to study the dependence on operating temperature of the closed-loop and open-loop transient response of the instrument. Transient conduction within the sensing element is explored, and the transient temperature distribution resulting from the application of a time-varying radiative boundary condition is calculated. The results verify the prediction that operation of an ACR at cryogenic temperatures results in large gains in frequency response.

Method and apparatus for simultaneously measuring temperature and pressure

DOEpatents

Hirschfeld, Tomas B.; Haugen, Gilbert R.

1988-01-01

Method and apparatus are provided for simultaneously measuring temperature and pressure in a class of crystalline materials having anisotropic thermal coefficients and having a coefficient of linear compression along the crystalline c-axis substantially the same as those perpendicular thereto. Temperature is determined by monitoring the fluorescence half life of a probe of such crystalline material, e.g., ruby. Pressure is determined by monitoring at least one other fluorescent property of the probe that depends on pressure and/or temperature, e.g., absolute fluorescent intensity or frequency shifts of fluorescent emission lines.

Role of the Double-Layer Cation on the Potential-Dependent Stretching Frequencies and Binding Geometries of Carbon Monoxide at Platinum-Nonaqueous Interfaces

DTIC Science & Technology

1992-02-01

were recrystallized twice from water, or water, and then ethanol , and methanol/water, respectively, and dried at 100"C under vacuum for 24 hours. The...hexafluorophosphate, and recrystallized twice from absolute ethanol . The alkali perchlorates (LiCIO4, NaCl0 4, KCIO 4, from G.F. Smith) were recrystallized twice from...which a Ag/AgCl (3M KCI) reference electrode was used. All measurements were made at room 5 temperature , 23 ± VC. RESULTS In our earlier preliminary

The intercrater plains of Mercury and the Moon: Their nature, origin and role in terrestrial planet evolution. Cratering histories of the intercrater plains. Ph.D. Thesis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leake, M. A.

1982-01-01

The intercrater plains of Mercury and the Moon are defined, in part, by their high densities of small craters. The crater size frequency statistics presented in this chapter may help constrain the relative ages and origins of these surfaces. To this end, the effects of common geologic processes on crater frequency statistics are compared with the diameter frequency distributions of the intercrater regions of the Moon and Mercury. Such analyses may determine whether secondary craters dominate the distribution at small diameters, and whether volcanic plains or ballistic deposits form the intercrater surface. Determining the mass frequency distribution and flux of the impacting population is a more difficult problem. The necessary information such as scaling relationships between projectile energy and crater diameter, the relative fluxes of solar system objects, and the absolute ages of surface units is model dependent and poorly constrained, especially for Mercury.

Stabilization of a self-referenced, prism-based, Cr:forsterite laser frequency comb using an intracavity prism

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tillman, Karl A.; Thapa, Rajesh; Knabe, Kevin

2009-12-20

The frequency comb from a prism-based Cr:forsterite laser has been frequency stabilized using intracavity prism insertion and pump power modulation. Absolute frequency measurements of a CW fiber laser stabilized to the P(13) transition of acetylene demonstrate a fractional instability of {approx}2x10{sup -11} at a 1 s gate time, limited by a commercial Global Positioning System (GPS)-disciplined rubidium oscillator. Additionally, absolute frequency measurements made simultaneously using a second frequency comb indicate relative instabilities of 3x10{sup -12} for both combs for a 1 s gate time. Estimations of the carrier-envelope offset frequency linewidth based on relative intensity noise and the response dynamicsmore » of the carrier-envelope offset to pump power changes confirm the observed linewidths.« less

An analysis of source structure effects in radio interferometry measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, J. B.

1980-01-01

To begin a study of structure effects, this report presents a theoretical framework, proposes an effective position approach to structure corrections based on brightness distribution measurements, and analyzes examples of analytical and measured brightness distributions. Other topics include the effect of the frequency dependence of a brightness distribution on bandwidth synthesis (BWS) delay, the determination of the absolute location of a measured brightness distribution, and structure effects in dual frequency calibration of charged particle delays. For the 10 measured distributions analyzed, it was found that the structure effect in BWS delay at X-band (3.6 cm) can reach 30 cm, but typically falls in the range of 0 to 5 cm. A trial limit equation that is dependent on visibility was successfully tested against the 10 measured brightness distributions (seven sources). If the validity of this particular equation for an upper limit can be established for nearly all sources, the structure effect in BWS delay could be greatly reduced without supplementary measurements of brightness distributions.

A frequency-stabilized light source at 399 nm using an Yb hollow-cathode lamp

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tanabe, Takehiko; Akamatsu, Daisuke; Inaba, Hajime; Okubo, Sho; Kobayashi, Takumi; Yasuda, Masami; Hosaka, Kazumoto; Hong, Feng-Lei

2018-06-01

We demonstrate a diode laser system operating at 399 nm that is stabilized to the 6s2 1S0–6s6p 1P1 electric dipole transition in ytterbium (Yb) atoms in a hollow-cathode lamp. The frequency stability of the laser reached 1.1 × 10‑11 at an averaging time of τ = 1 s. We performed an absolute frequency measurement using an optical frequency comb and determined that the absolute frequency of the laser stabilized to the 1S0–1P1 transition in 174Yb was 751 526 522.26(9) MHz. We also investigated several systematic frequency shifts while changing some of the light source parameters and measured several isotope shifts. The measured laser frequency will provide useful information regarding the practical use of the frequency-stabilized light source at 399 nm.

Subsurface Ice Detection via Low Frequency Surface Electromagnetic Method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stillman, D. E.; Grimm, R. E.; Mcginnis, R. N.

2014-12-01

The geophysical detection of ice in the Cryosphere is typically conducted by measuring the absence of water. These interpretations can become non-unique in dry soils or in clay- and silt-rich soils that contain significant quantities of unfrozen water. Extensive laboratory measurements of electrical properties were made on permafrost samples as a function of frequency, temperature, and water content. These laboratory measurements show that the amount of ice can be uniquely obtained by measuring a frequency dependence of the electrical properties over a large frequency range (20 kHz - 10 Hz). In addition, the electrical properties of permafrost are temperature dependent, which can allow for an estimate of subsurface temperature. In order to test this approach in the field, we performed field surveys at four locations in Alaska. We used three low frequency electromagnetic methods: Spectral Induced Polarization (SIP: 20 kHz - 10 Hz), Capacively Coupled Resistivity (CCR: OhmMapper - 16.5 kHz), and DC Resistivity (Syscal ~ 8 Hz). At the Cold Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory permafrost tunnel near Fox, AK, we used SIP to measure the average ice concentration of 80 v% and determined the temperature to be -3±1°C by matching survey results to lab data. SIP data acquisition is very slow; therefore, at three sites near Tok, AK, we used CCR to perform reconnaissance of the area. Then SIP and DC resistivity were performed at anomalous areas. The three survey types give very similar absolute resistivity values. We found that while SIP gives the most quantitative results, the frequency dependence from the CCR and DC resistivity surveys is all that are needed to determine ice content in permafrost.

Precision Saturated Absorption Spectroscopy of H3+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guan, Yu-chan; Liao, Yi-Chieh; Chang, Yung-Hsiang; Peng, Jin-Long; Shy, Jow-Tsong

2016-06-01

In our previous work on the Lamb dips of the νb{2} fundamental band of H3+, the saturated absorption spectrum was obtained by the third-derivative spectroscopy using frequency modulation [1]. However, the frequency modulation also causes error in absolute frequency determination. To solve this problem, we have built an offset-locking system to lock the OPO pump frequency to an iodine-stabilized Nd:YAG laser. With this modification, we are able to scan the OPO idler frequency precisely and obtain the profile of the Lamb dips. Double modulation (amplitude modulation of the idler power and concentration modulation of the ion) is employed to subtract the interference fringes of the signal and increase the signal-to-noise ratio effectively. To Determine the absolute frequency of the idler wave, the pump wave is offset locked on the R(56) 32-0 a10 hyperfine component of 127I2, and the signal wave is locked on a GPS disciplined fiber optical frequency comb (OFC). All references and lock systems have absolute frequency accuracy better than 10 kHz. Here, we demonstrate its performance by measuring one transition of methane and sixteen transitions of H3+. This instrument could pave the way for the high-resolution spectroscopy of a variety of molecular ions. [1] H.-C. Chen, C.-Y. Hsiao, J.-L. Peng, T. Amano, and J.-T. Shy, Phys. Rev. Lett. 109, 263002 (2012).

Assessment of the Absolute Excitatory Level of the Retina by Flicker ERG.

PubMed

Tanimoto, Naoyuki; Seeliger, Mathias W

2018-01-01

Electroretinography (ERG) is important for functional diagnostics of the retina. Types of information about retinal function obtainable by ERG differ depending on recording conditions, e.g., a combination of light stimulus and adaptation. In terms of stimulation, single-flash and flicker stimuli are frequently used because response properties have been well investigated, allowing an assessment of fundamental retinal functionality; for example, how photoreceptors and bipolar cells, including signal transmission between them, are affected under pathological conditions. Usually, ERGs are recorded with a nonzero lower cutoff frequency of amplifiers to avoid certain artifacts, and additionally, responses are averaged over time so that non-event-related signals are cancelled out. However, the improved signal quality is associated with a loss of information. Especially in steady-state flicker ERG, information about the absolute baseline of recordings is missing because the prestimulus baseline is not included on the recording trace as well as because a zero response is obtained in all cases in which the signal baseline stays constant for a sufficient amount of time. In other words, it is impossible to tell from the conventional flicker ERG whether a zero signal is obtained under conditions of maximal or no excitation of the visual system. In this chapter, we describe a direct current ERG protocol (featuring a lower cutoff frequency of zero) with repetitive single flashes mimicking conventional flicker that contains a defined onset. Using this recording protocol, it is possible to assess not only the absolute excitatory level of the retina but also the development of steady-state responses from the single flash response.

Enhancement of autonomic and psychomotor arousal by exposures to blue wavelength light: importance of both absolute and relative contents of melanopic component.

PubMed

Yuda, Emi; Ogasawara, Hiroki; Yoshida, Yutaka; Hayano, Junichiro

2017-01-31

Blue light containing rich melanopsin-stimulating (melanopic) component has been reported to enhance arousal level, but it is unclear whether the determinant of the effects is the absolute or relative content of melanopic component. We compared the autonomic and psychomotor arousal effects of melanopic-enriched blue light of organic light-emitting diode (OLED) with those of OLED lights with lesser absolute amount of melanopic component (green light) and with greater absolute but lesser relative content (white light). Using a ceiling light consisting of 120 panels (55 × 55 mm square) of OLED modules with adjustable color and brightness, we examined the effects of blue, green, and white lights (melanopic photon flux densities, 0.23, 0.14, and 0.38 μmol/m 2 /s and its relative content ratios, 72, 17, and 14%, respectively) on heart rate variability (HRV) during exposures and on the performance of psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) after exposures in ten healthy subjects with normal color vision. For each of the three colors, five consecutive 10-min sessions of light exposures were performed in the supine position, interleaved by four 10-min intervals during which 5-min PVT was performed under usual fluorescent light in sitting position. Low-frequency (LF, 0.04-0.15 Hz) and high-frequency (HF, 0.15-0.40 Hz) power and LF-to-HF ratio (LF/HF) of HRV during light exposures and reaction time (RT) and minor lapse (RT >500 ms) of PVT were analyzed. Heart rate was higher and the HF power reflecting autonomic resting was lower during exposures to the blue light than the green and white lights, while LF/HF did not differ significantly. Also, the number of minor lapse and the variation of reaction time reflecting decreased vigilance were lower after exposures to the blue light than the green light. The effects of blue OLED light for maintaining autonomic and psychomotor arousal levels depend on both absolute and relative contents of melanopic component in the light.

3D measurement using combined Gray code and dual-frequency phase-shifting approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yu, Shuang; Zhang, Jing; Yu, Xiaoyang; Sun, Xiaoming; Wu, Haibin; Liu, Xin

2018-04-01

The combined Gray code and phase-shifting approach is a commonly used 3D measurement technique. In this technique, an error that equals integer multiples of the phase-shifted fringe period, i.e. period jump error, often exists in the absolute analog code, which can lead to gross measurement errors. To overcome this problem, the present paper proposes 3D measurement using a combined Gray code and dual-frequency phase-shifting approach. Based on 3D measurement using the combined Gray code and phase-shifting approach, one set of low-frequency phase-shifted fringe patterns with an odd-numbered multiple of the original phase-shifted fringe period is added. Thus, the absolute analog code measured value can be obtained by the combined Gray code and phase-shifting approach, and the low-frequency absolute analog code measured value can also be obtained by adding low-frequency phase-shifted fringe patterns. Then, the corrected absolute analog code measured value can be obtained by correcting the former by the latter, and the period jump errors can be eliminated, resulting in reliable analog code unwrapping. For the proposed approach, we established its measurement model, analyzed its measurement principle, expounded the mechanism of eliminating period jump errors by error analysis, and determined its applicable conditions. Theoretical analysis and experimental results show that the proposed approach can effectively eliminate period jump errors, reliably perform analog code unwrapping, and improve the measurement accuracy.

Fringe order correction for the absolute phase recovered by two selected spatial frequency fringe projections in fringe projection profilometry.

PubMed

Ding, Yi; Peng, Kai; Yu, Miao; Lu, Lei; Zhao, Kun

2017-08-01

The performance of the two selected spatial frequency phase unwrapping methods is limited by a phase error bound beyond which errors will occur in the fringe order leading to a significant error in the recovered absolute phase map. In this paper, we propose a method to detect and correct the wrong fringe orders. Two constraints are introduced during the fringe order determination of two selected spatial frequency phase unwrapping methods. A strategy to detect and correct the wrong fringe orders is also described. Compared with the existing methods, we do not need to estimate the threshold associated with absolute phase values to determine the fringe order error, thus making it more reliable and avoiding the procedure of search in detecting and correcting successive fringe order errors. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated by the experimental results.

A nonmusical paradigm for identifying absolute pitch possessors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ross, David A.; Olson, Ingrid R.; Marks, Lawrence E.; Gore, John C.

2004-09-01

The ability to identify and reproduce sounds of specific frequencies is remarkable and uncommon. The etiology and defining characteristics of this skill, absolute pitch (AP), have been very controversial. One theory suggests that AP requires a specific type of early musical training and that the ability to encode and remember tones depends on these learned musical associations. An alternate theory argues that AP may be strongly dependent on hereditary factors and relatively independent of musical experience. To date, it has been difficult to test these hypotheses because all previous paradigms for identifying AP have required subjects to employ knowledge of musical nomenclature. As such, these tests are insensitive to the possibility of discovering AP in either nonmusicians or musicians of non-Western training. Based on previous literature in pitch memory, a paradigm is presented that is intended to distinguish between AP possessors and nonpossessors independent of the subjects' musical experience. The efficacy of this method is then tested with 20 classically defined AP possessors and 22 nonpossessors. Data from these groups strongly support the validity of the paradigm. The use of a nonmusical paradigm to identify AP may facilitate research into many aspects of this phenomenon.

A nonmusical paradigm for identifying absolute pitch possessors.

PubMed

Ross, David A; Olson, Ingrid R; Marks, Lawrence E; Gore, John C

2004-09-01

The ability to identify and reproduce sounds of specific frequencies is remarkable and uncommon. The etiology and defining characteristics of this skill, absolute pitch (AP), have been very controversial. One theory suggests that AP requires a specific type of early musical training and that the ability to encode and remember tones depends on these learned musical associations. An alternate theory argues that AP may be strongly dependent on hereditary factors and relatively independent of musical experience. To date, it has been difficult to test these hypotheses because all previous paradigms for identifying AP have required subjects to employ knowledge of musical nomenclature. As such, these tests are insensitive to the possibility of discovering AP in either nonmusicians or musicians of non-Western training. Based on previous literature in pitch memory, a paradigm is presented that is intended to distinguish between AP possessors and nonpossessors independent of the subjects' musical experience. The efficacy of this method is then tested with 20 classically defined AP possessors and 22 nonpossessors. Data from these groups strongly support the validity of the paradigm. The use of a nonmusical paradigm to identify AP may facilitate research into many aspects of this phenomenon.

The 1994 international transatlantic two-way satellite time and frequency transfer experiment: Preliminary results

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Deyoung, James A.; Klepczynski, William J.; Mckinley, Angela Davis; Powell, William M.; Mai, Phu V.; Hetzel, P.; Bauch, A.; Davis, J. A.; Pearce, P. R.; Baumont, Francoise S.

1995-01-01

The international transatlantic time and frequency transfer experiment was designed by participating laboratories and has been implemented during 1994 to test the international communications path involving a large number of transmitting stations. This paper will present empirically determined clock and time scale differences, time and frequency domain instabilities, and a representative power spectral density analysis. The experiments by the method of co-location which will allow absolute calibration of the participating laboratories have been performed. Absolute time differences and accuracy levels of this experiment will be assessed in the near future.

Absolute frequency measurement of a diode laser locked on a hyperfine component of 5S1/2-5D5/2 two-photon transitions of rubidium (lambda equals 778.1 nm, nu equals 385.3 THz)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zondy, Jean-Jacques; Touahri, D.; Acef, Ouali; Hilico, L.; Abed, M.; Clairon, Andre; Millerioux, Yves P.; Felder, Raymond; de Beauvoir, Beatrice; Nez, Francois; Biraben, Francois; Julien, Lucile

1995-04-01

A frequency chain, derived from the one used to measure the absolute frequency ((nu) $= 473 THz) of the He-Ne/I2 optical standard, is currently being implemented in order to measure the frequency of a diode laser stabilized on the two-photon transition of rubidium vapor. The measurement scheme is based on the comparison of the frequency of this near-IR potential secondary standard to the 13th harmonic frequency of the R(12)-CO2/OsO4 LPTF secondary standard at (nu) equals 29.096 THz. Recent results on the frequency synthesis are reported, enabling the testing of long-term stability of this Rb-locked system with respect to the IR reference standard.

Absolute biological needs.

PubMed

McLeod, Stephen

2014-07-01

Absolute needs (as against instrumental needs) are independent of the ends, goals and purposes of personal agents. Against the view that the only needs are instrumental needs, David Wiggins and Garrett Thomson have defended absolute needs on the grounds that the verb 'need' has instrumental and absolute senses. While remaining neutral about it, this article does not adopt that approach. Instead, it suggests that there are absolute biological needs. The absolute nature of these needs is defended by appeal to: their objectivity (as against mind-dependence); the universality of the phenomenon of needing across the plant and animal kingdoms; the impossibility that biological needs depend wholly upon the exercise of the abilities characteristic of personal agency; the contention that the possession of biological needs is prior to the possession of the abilities characteristic of personal agency. Finally, three philosophical usages of 'normative' are distinguished. On two of these, to describe a phenomenon or claim as 'normative' is to describe it as value-dependent. A description of a phenomenon or claim as 'normative' in the third sense does not entail such value-dependency, though it leaves open the possibility that value depends upon the phenomenon or upon the truth of the claim. It is argued that while survival needs (or claims about them) may well be normative in this third sense, they are normative in neither of the first two. Thus, the idea of absolute need is not inherently normative in either of the first two senses. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Dipole of the Epoch of reionization 21-cm signal

DOE PAGES

Slosar, Anze

2017-04-10

The motion of the Solar System with respect to the cosmic rest frame modulates the monopole of the epoch of reionization 21-cm signal into a dipole. This dipole has a characteristic frequency dependence that is dominated by the frequency derivative of the monopole signal. We argue that although the signal is weaker by a factor of ~100, there are significant benefits in measuring the dipole. Most importantly, the direction of the cosmic velocity vector is known exquisitely well from the cosmic microwave background and is not aligned with the galaxy velocity vector that modulates the foreground monopole. Furthermore, an experimentmore » designed to measure a dipole can rely on differencing patches of the sky rather than making an absolute signal measurement, which helps with some systematic effects.« less

ARCADE 2 Observations of Galactic Radio Emission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kogut, A.; Fixsen, D. J.; Levin, S. M.; Limon, M.; Lubin, P. M.; Mirel, P.; Seiffert, M.; Singal, J.; Villela, T.; Wollack, E.;

Quantitative electroencephalography analysis in university students with hazardous alcohol consumption, but not alcohol dependence.

PubMed

Núñez-Jaramillo, Luis; Vega-Perera, Paulo; Ramírez-Lugo, Leticia; Reyes-López, Julián V; Santiago-Rodríguez, Efraín; Herrera-Morales, Wendy V

2015-07-08

Hazardous alcohol consumption is a pattern of consumption that leads to a higher risk of harmful consequences either for the user or for others. This pattern of alcohol consumption has been linked to risky behaviors, accidents, and injuries. Individuals with hazardous alcohol consumption do not necessarily present alcohol dependence; thus, a study of particular neurophysiological correlates of this alcohol consumption pattern needs to be carried out in nondependent individuals. Here, we carried out a quantitative electroencephalography analysis in health sciences university students with hazardous alcohol consumption, but not alcohol dependence (HAC), and control participants without hazardous alcohol consumption or alcohol dependence (NHAC). We analyzed Absolute Power (AP), Relative Power (RP), and Mean Frequency (MF) for beta and theta frequency bands under both eyes closed and eyes open conditions. We found that participants in the HAC group presented higher beta AP at centroparietal region, as well as lower beta MF at frontal and centroparietal regions in the eyes closed condition. Interestingly, participants did not present any change in theta activity (AP, RP, or MF), whereas previous reports indicate an increase in theta AP in alcohol-dependent individuals. Our results partially resemble those found in alcohol-dependent individuals, although are not completely identical, suggesting a possible difference in the underlying neuronal mechanism behind alcohol dependence and hazardous alcohol consumption. Similarities could be explained considering that both hazardous alcohol consumption and alcohol dependence are manifestations of behavioral disinhibition.

Stability analysis of the onset of vortex shedding for wakes behind flat plates

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Shuai; Liu, Li; Zhang, Shi-Bo; Wen, Feng-Bo; Zhou, Xun

2018-04-01

Above a critical Reynolds number, wake flows behind flat plates become globally unstable, the leading modal instability in this case is known as Kelvin-Helmholtz mechanism. In this article, both local and BiGlobal linear instability analyses are performed numerically to study the onset of the shedding process. Flat plates with different base shapes are considered to assess geometry effects, and the relation between the critical shedding Reynolds number, Re_cr , and the boundary layer thickness is studied. Three types of base shapes are used: square, triangular and elliptic. It is found that the base shape has a great impact on the growth rate of least stable disturbance mode, thus would influence Re_cr greatly, but it has little effect on the vortex shedding frequency. The shedding frequency is determined mainly by boundary layer thickness and has little dependence on the Reynolds number and base shape. We find that for a fixed Reynolds number, increasing boundary layer thickness acted in two ways to modify the global stability characteristics: It increases the length of the absolute unstable region and it makes the flow less locally absolutely unstable in the near-wake region, and these two effects work against each other to destabilize or stabilize the flow.

Electroencephalographic characterization of subgroups of children with learning disorders

PubMed Central

Roca-Stappung, Milene; Bosch-Bayard, Jorge; Harmony, Thalía; Ricardo-Garcell, Josefina

2017-01-01

Electroencephalographic alterations have been reported in subjects with learning disorders, but there is no consensus on what characterizes their electroencephalogram findings. Our objective was to determine if there were subgroups within a group of scholars with not otherwise specified learning disorders and if they had specific electroencephalographic patterns. Eighty-five subjects (31 female, 8–11 years) who scored low in at least two subscales -reading, writing and arithmetic- of the Infant Neuropsychological Evaluation were included. Electroencephalograms were recorded in 19 leads during rest with eyes closed; absolute power was obtained every 0.39 Hz. Three subgroups were formed according to children’s performance: Group 1 (G1, higher scores than Group 2 in reading speed and reading and writing accuracy), Group 2 (G2, better performance than G1 in composition) and Group 3 (G3, lower scores than Groups 1 and 2 in the three subscales). G3 had higher absolute power in frequencies in the delta and theta range at left frontotemporal sites than G1 and G2. G2 had higher absolute power within alpha frequencies than G3 and G1 at the left occipital site. G3 had higher absolute power in frequencies in the beta range than G1 in parietotemporal areas and than G2 in left frontopolar and temporal sites. G1 had higher absolute power within beta frequencies than G2 in the left frontopolar site. G3 had lower gamma absolute power values than the other groups in the left hemisphere, and gamma activity was higher in G1 than in G2 in frontopolar and temporal areas. This group of children with learning disorders is very heterogeneous. Three subgroups were found with different cognitive profiles, as well as a different electroencephalographic pattern. It is important to consider these differences when planning interventions for children with learning disorders. PMID:28708890

Perceived risk of tamoxifen side effects: a study of the use of absolute frequencies or frequency bands, with or without verbal descriptors.

PubMed

Knapp, Peter; Gardner, Peter H; Raynor, David K; Woolf, Elizabeth; McMillan, Brian

2010-05-01

To investigate the effectiveness of presenting medicine side effect risk information in different forms, including that proposed by UK guidelines [[1] Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency. Always read the leaflet-Getting the best information with every medicine. (Report of the Committee on Safety of Medicines Working Group on Patient Information). London: The Stationery Office, 2005.]. 134 Cancer Research UK (CRUK) website users were recruited via a 'pop-up'. Using a 2x2 factorial design, participants were randomly allocated to one of four conditions and asked to: imagine they had to take tamoxifen, estimate the risks of 4 side effects, and indicate a presentation mode preference. Those presented with absolute frequencies demonstrated greater accuracy in estimating 2 of 4 side effects, and of any side effect occurring, than those presented with frequency bands. Those presented with combined descriptors were more accurate at estimating the risk of pulmonary embolism than those presented with numeric descriptors only. Absolute frequencies outperform frequency bands when presenting side effect risk information. However, presenting such exact frequencies for every side effect may be much less digestible than all side effects listed under 5 frequency bands. Combined numerical and verbal descriptors may be better than numeric only descriptors when describing infrequent side effects. Information about side effects should be presented in ways that patients prefer, and which result in most accurate risk estimates. Copyright (c) 2009 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Structural impact on the eigenenergy renormalization for carbon and silicon allotropes and boron nitride polymorphs

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tutchton, Roxanne; Marchbanks, Christopher; Wu, Zhigang

2018-05-01

The phonon-induced renormalization of electronic band structures is investigated through first-principles calculations based on the density functional perturbation theory for nine materials with various crystal symmetries. Our results demonstrate that the magnitude of the zero-point renormalization (ZPR) of the electronic band structure is dependent on both crystal structure and material composition. We have performed analysis of the electron-phonon-coupling-induced renormalization for two silicon (Si) allotropes, three carbon (C) allotropes, and four boron nitride (BN) polymorphs. Phonon dispersions of each material were computed, and our analysis indicates that materials with optical phonons at higher maximum frequencies, such as graphite and hexagonal BN, have larger absolute ZPRs, with the exception of graphene, which has a considerably smaller ZPR despite having phonon frequencies in the same range as graphite. Depending on the structure and material, renormalizations can be comparable to the GW many-body corrections to Kohn-Sham eigenenergies and, thus, need to be considered in electronic structure calculations. The temperature dependence of the renormalizations is also considered, and in all materials, the eigenenergy renormalization at the band gap and around the Fermi level increases with increasing temperature.

Thermal, dielectric characteristics and conduction mechanism of azodyes derived from quinoline and their copper complexes.

PubMed

El-Ghamaz, N A; Diab, M A; El-Bindary, A A; El-Sonbati, A Z; Nozha, S G

2015-05-15

A novel series of (5-(4'-derivatives phenyl azo)-8-hydroxy-7-quinolinecarboxaldehyde) (AQLn) (n=1, p-OCH3; n=2, R=H; and n=3; p-NO2) and their complexes [Cu(AQLn)2]·5H2O are synthesized and investigated. The optimized bond lengths, bond angles and the calculated quantum chemical parameters for AQLn are investigated. HOMO-LUMO energy gap, absolute electronegativities, chemical potentials, and absolute hardness are also calculated. The thermal properties, dielectric properties, alternating current conductivity (σac) and conduction mechanism are investigated in the frequency range 0.1-100kHz and temperature range 293-568K for AQL1-3 and 318-693K for [Cu(AQL1-3)2]·5H2O complexes. The thermal properties are of ligands (AQLn) and their Cu(II) complexes investigated by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The temperature and frequency dependence of the real and the imaginary part of the dielectric constant are studied. The values of the thermal activation energy of conduction mechanism for AQLn and their complexes [Cu(AQLn)2]·5H2O under investigation are calculated at different test frequencies. The values of thermal activation energies ΔE1 and ΔE2 for AQLn and [Cu(AQLn)2]·5H2O decrease with increasing the values of frequency. The ac conductivity is found to be depending on the chemical structure of the compounds. Different conduction mechanisms have been proposed to explain the obtained experimental data. The small polaron tunneling (SPT) is the dominant conduction mechanism for AQL1 and its complex [Cu(AQL1)2]·5H2O. The quantum mechanical tunneling (QMT) is the dominant conduction mechanism for AQL2 and its complex [Cu(AQL2)2]·5H2O. The correlated barrier hopping (CBH) is the dominant conduction mechanism for AQL3 and its complex [Cu(AQL3)2]·5H2O, and the values of the maximum barrier height (Wm) are calculated. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Integration of auditory and vibrotactile stimuli: Effects of frequency

PubMed Central

Wilson, E. Courtenay; Reed, Charlotte M.; Braida, Louis D.

2010-01-01

Perceptual integration of vibrotactile and auditory sinusoidal tone pulses was studied in detection experiments as a function of stimulation frequency. Vibrotactile stimuli were delivered through a single channel vibrator to the left middle fingertip. Auditory stimuli were presented diotically through headphones in a background of 50 dB sound pressure level broadband noise. Detection performance for combined auditory-tactile presentations was measured using stimulus levels that yielded 63% to 77% correct unimodal performance. In Experiment 1, the vibrotactile stimulus was 250 Hz and the auditory stimulus varied between 125 and 2000 Hz. In Experiment 2, the auditory stimulus was 250 Hz and the tactile stimulus varied between 50 and 400 Hz. In Experiment 3, the auditory and tactile stimuli were always equal in frequency and ranged from 50 to 400 Hz. The highest rates of detection for the combined-modality stimulus were obtained when stimulating frequencies in the two modalities were equal or closely spaced (and within the Pacinian range). Combined-modality detection for closely spaced frequencies was generally consistent with an algebraic sum model of perceptual integration; wider-frequency spacings were generally better fit by a Pythagorean sum model. Thus, perceptual integration of auditory and tactile stimuli at near-threshold levels appears to depend both on absolute frequency and relative frequency of stimulation within each modality. PMID:21117754

Visuospatial Working Memory in Toddlers with a History of Periventricular Leukomalacia: An EEG Narrow-Band Power Analysis

PubMed Central

García-Gomar, María Luisa; Santiago-Rodríguez, Efraín; Rodríguez-Camacho, Mario; Harmony, Thalía

2013-01-01

Background Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) affects white matter, but grey matter injuries have also been reported, particularly in the dorsomedial nucleus and the cortex. Both structures have been related to working memory (WM) processes. The aim of this study was to compare behavioral performances and EEG power spectra during a visuospatial working memory task (VSWMT) of toddlers with a history of PVL and healthy toddlers. Methodology/Principal Findings A prospective, comparative study of WM was conducted in toddlers with a history of PVL and healthy toddlers. The task responses and the EEG narrow-band power spectra during a VSWMT were compared in both groups. The EEG absolute power was analyzed during the following three conditions: baseline, attention and WM retention. The number of correct responses was higher in the healthy group (20.5±5.0) compared to the PVL group (16.1±3.9) (p = 0.04). The healthy group had absolute power EEG increases (p≤0.05) during WM compared to the attention condition in the bilateral frontal and right temporal, parietal and occipital regions in frequencies ranging from 1.17 to 2.34 Hz and in the right temporal, parietal and occipital regions in frequencies ranging from 14.06 to 15.23 Hz. In contrast, the PVL group had absolute power increases (p≤0.05) in the bilateral fronto-parietal, left central and occipital regions in frequencies that ranged from 1.17 to 3.52 Hz and in the bilateral frontal and right temporal regions in frequencies ranging from 9.37 to 19.14 Hz. Conclusions/Significance This study provides evidence that PVL toddlers have visuospatial WM deficits and a very different pattern of absolute power increases compared to a healthy group of toddlers, with greater absolute power in the low frequency range and widespread neuronal networks in the WM retention phase. PMID:23922816

Visuospatial working memory in toddlers with a history of periventricular Leukomalacia: an EEG narrow-band power analysis.

PubMed

García-Gomar, María Luisa; Santiago-Rodríguez, Efraín; Rodríguez-Camacho, Mario; Harmony, Thalía

2013-01-01

Periventricular Leukomalacia (PVL) affects white matter, but grey matter injuries have also been reported, particularly in the dorsomedial nucleus and the cortex. Both structures have been related to working memory (WM) processes. The aim of this study was to compare behavioral performances and EEG power spectra during a visuospatial working memory task (VSWMT) of toddlers with a history of PVL and healthy toddlers. A prospective, comparative study of WM was conducted in toddlers with a history of PVL and healthy toddlers. The task responses and the EEG narrow-band power spectra during a VSWMT were compared in both groups. The EEG absolute power was analyzed during the following three conditions: baseline, attention and WM retention. The number of correct responses was higher in the healthy group (20.5 ± 5.0) compared to the PVL group (16.1 ± 3.9) (p = 0.04). The healthy group had absolute power EEG increases (p ≤ 0.05) during WM compared to the attention condition in the bilateral frontal and right temporal, parietal and occipital regions in frequencies ranging from 1.17 to 2.34 Hz and in the right temporal, parietal and occipital regions in frequencies ranging from 14.06 to 15.23 Hz. In contrast, the PVL group had absolute power increases (p ≤ 0.05) in the bilateral fronto-parietal, left central and occipital regions in frequencies that ranged from 1.17 to 3.52 Hz and in the bilateral frontal and right temporal regions in frequencies ranging from 9.37 to 19.14 Hz. This study provides evidence that PVL toddlers have visuospatial WM deficits and a very different pattern of absolute power increases compared to a healthy group of toddlers, with greater absolute power in the low frequency range and widespread neuronal networks in the WM retention phase.

Non-invasive optical monitoring of the newborn piglet brain using continuous-wave and frequency-domain spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fantini, Sergio; Hueber, Dennis; Franceschini, Maria Angela; Gratton, Enrico; Rosenfeld, Warren; Stubblefield, Phillip G.; Maulik, Dev; Stankovic, Miljan R.

1999-06-01

We have used continuous-wave (CW) and frequency-domain spectroscopy to investigate the optical properties of the newborn piglet brain in vivo and non-invasively. Three anaesthetized, intubated, ventilated and instrumented newborn piglets were placed into a stereotaxic instrument for optimal experimental stability, reproducible probe-to-scalp optical contact and 3D adjustment of the optical probe. By measuring the absolute values of the brain absorption and reduced scattering coefficients at two wavelengths (758 and 830 nm), frequency-domain spectroscopy provided absolute readings (in contrast to the relative readings of CW spectroscopy) of cerebral haemoglobin concentration and saturation during experimentally induced perturbations in cerebral haemodynamics and oxygenation. Such perturbations included a modulation of the inspired oxygen concentration, transient brain asphyxia, carotid artery occlusion and terminal brain asphyxia. The baseline cerebral haemoglobin saturation and concentration, measured with frequency-domain spectroscopy, were about 60% and 42 µM respectively. The cerebral saturation values ranged from a minimum of 17% (during transient brain asphyxia) to a maximum of 80% (during recovery from transient brain asphyxia). To analyse the CW optical data, we have (a) derived a mathematical relationship between the cerebral optical properties and the differential pathlength factor and (b) introduced a method based on the spatial dependence of the detected intensity (dc slope method). The analysis of the cerebral optical signals associated with the arterial pulse and with respiration demonstrates that motion artefacts can significantly affect the intensity recorded from a single optode pair. Motion artefacts can be strongly reduced by combining data from multiple optodes to provide relative readings in the dc slope method. We also report significant biphasic changes (initial decrease and successive increase) in the reduced scattering coefficient measured in the brain after the piglet had been sacrificed.

Cone structure and focusing of VLF and LF electromagnetic waves at high altitudes in the ionosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Alpert, Ya. L.; Green, J. L.

1994-01-01

The frequency and angle dependencies of the electric field radiated by an electric dipole E = E(sub 0) cos omega(t) are studied through numerical calculations of absolute value of E in the VLF and LF frequency bands where F is less than or equal 0.02 to 0.05 f(sub b) in a model ionosphere over an altitude region of 800-6000 km where the wave frequency and electron gyrofrequency varies between F approximately 4-500 kHz and f(sub b) is approximately equal (1.1 to 0.2) MHz respectively. It is found that the amplitudes of the electric field have large maxima in four regions: close to the direction of the Earth magnetic field line B(sub 0) (it is called the axis field E(sub 0), in the Storey E(sub St), reversed Storey E(sub RevSt), and resonance E(sub Res) cones. The maximal values of E(sub 0), E(sub Res), and E(sub RevSt) are the most pronounced close to the lower hybrid frequency, F approximately F(sub L). The flux of the electric field is concentrated in very narrow regions, with the apex angles of the cones Delta-B is approximately (0.1-1) deg. The enhancement and focusing of the electric field increases with altitude starting at Z greater than 800 km. At Z greater than or equal to 1000 up to 6000 km, the relative value of absolute value of E, in comparison with its value at Z = 800 km is about (10(exp 2) to 10(exp 4)) times larger. Thus the flux of VLF and LF electromagnetic waves generated at high altitudes in the Earth's ionosphere are trapped into very narrow conical beams similar to laser beams.

The effect of zero-point energy differences on the isotope dependence of the formation of ozone: a classical trajectory study.

PubMed

Schinke, Reinhard; Fleurat-Lessard, Paul

2005-03-01

The effect of zero-point energy differences (DeltaZPE) between the possible fragmentation channels of highly excited O(3) complexes on the isotope dependence of the formation of ozone is investigated by means of classical trajectory calculations and a strong-collision model. DeltaZPE is incorporated in the calculations in a phenomenological way by adjusting the potential energy surface in the product channels so that the correct exothermicities and endothermicities are matched. The model contains two parameters, the frequency of stabilizing collisions omega and an energy dependent parameter Delta(damp), which favors the lower energies in the Maxwell-Boltzmann distribution. The stabilization frequency is used to adjust the pressure dependence of the absolute formation rate while Delta(damp) is utilized to control its isotope dependence. The calculations for several isotope combinations of oxygen atoms show a clear dependence of relative formation rates on DeltaZPE. The results are similar to those of Gao and Marcus [J. Chem. Phys. 116, 137 (2002)] obtained within a statistical model. In particular, like in the statistical approach an ad hoc parameter eta approximately 1.14, which effectively reduces the formation rates of the symmetric ABA ozone molecules, has to be introduced in order to obtain good agreement with the measured relative rates of Janssen et al. [Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys. 3, 4718 (2001)]. The temperature dependence of the recombination rate is also addressed.

A novel multi-dimensional absolute distance measurement system using a basic frequency modulated continuous wave radar and an external cavity laser with trilateration metrology

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiong, Xingting; Qu, Xinghua; Zhang, Fumin

2018-01-01

We propose and describe a novel multi-dimensional absolute distance measurement system. This system incorporates a basic frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) radar and an second external cavity laser (ECL). Through the use of trilateration, the system in our paper can provide 3D resolution inherently range. However, the measured optical path length differences (OPD) is often variable in industrial environments and this will causes Doppler effect, which has greatly impact on the measurement result. With using the second ECL, the system can correct the Doppler effect to ensure the precision of absolute distance measurement. Result of the simulation will prove the influence of Doppler effect.

Absolute frequency list of the ν3-band transitions of methane at a relative uncertainty level of 10(-11).

PubMed

Okubo, Sho; Nakayama, Hirotaka; Iwakuni, Kana; Inaba, Hajime; Sasada, Hiroyuki

2011-11-21

We determine the absolute frequencies of 56 rotation-vibration transitions of the ν(3) band of CH(4) from 88.2 to 90.5 THz with a typical uncertainty of 2 kHz corresponding to a relative uncertainty of 2.2 × 10(-11) over an average time of a few hundred seconds. Saturated absorption lines are observed using a difference-frequency-generation source and a cavity-enhanced absorption cell, and the transition frequencies are measured with a fiber-laser-based optical frequency comb referenced to a rubidium atomic clock linked to the international atomic time. The determined value of the P(7) F(2)((2)) line is consistent with the International Committee for Weights and Measures recommendation within the uncertainty. © 2011 Optical Society of America

Precise measurement of dielectric anisotropy in ice Ih at 39 GHz

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Matsuoka, Takeshi; Fujita, Shuji; Morishima, Shigenori; Mae, Shinji

1997-03-01

The dielectric permittivities parallel and perpendicular to the c axis (optic axis) of ice Ih were measured using an open resonator at 39 GHz in the temperature range 194-262 K. The dielectric anisotropy in ice at microwave frequencies is important for understanding remote sensing data in polar regions, obtained by ice radar and satellite-born microwave radar and radiometer. The measured samples were natural single-crystal ice collected from Mendenhall Glacier, Alaska. A very precise measurement was achieved by detecting two resonant peaks, one from the ordinary component and the other from the extraordinary component, simultaneously, from one sample. The real part of dielectric anisotropy, Δɛ'=ɛ∥c'-ɛ⊥c', at 39 GHz was 0.0339±0.0007 (1.07%±0.02%) at 252 K and slightly depended on temperature. Reference measurements at 1 MHz using parallel plate electrodes were also carried out. The measured dielectric anisotropy at microwave frequencies agrees very well with the value at 1 MHz. The absolute values of ɛ∥c' and ɛ⊥c' at 39 GHz were, respectively, smaller than those at 1 MHz and the difference was about 0.044 at 252 K. The results suggest that a small dispersion exists between GHz and MHz frequencies, but there is no frequency dependence in the value of anisotropy.

When the Ostrich-Algorithm Fails: Blanking Method Affects Spike Train Statistics.

PubMed

Joseph, Kevin; Mottaghi, Soheil; Christ, Olaf; Feuerstein, Thomas J; Hofmann, Ulrich G

2018-01-01

Modern electroceuticals are bound to employ the usage of electrical high frequency (130-180 Hz) stimulation carried out under closed loop control, most prominent in the case of movement disorders. However, particular challenges are faced when electrical recordings of neuronal tissue are carried out during high frequency electrical stimulation, both in-vivo and in-vitro . This stimulation produces undesired artifacts and can render the recorded signal only partially useful. The extent of these artifacts is often reduced by temporarily grounding the recording input during stimulation pulses. In the following study, we quantify the effects of this method, "blanking," on the spike count and spike train statistics. Starting from a theoretical standpoint, we calculate a loss in the absolute number of action potentials, depending on: width of the blanking window, frequency of stimulation, and intrinsic neuronal activity. These calculations were then corroborated by actual high signal to noise ratio (SNR) single cell recordings. We state that, for clinically relevant frequencies of 130 Hz (used for movement disorders) and realistic blanking windows of 2 ms, up to 27% of actual existing spikes are lost. We strongly advice cautioned use of the blanking method when spike rate quantification is attempted. Blanking (artifact removal by temporarily grounding input), depending on recording parameters, can lead to significant spike loss. Very careful use of blanking circuits is advised.

When the Ostrich-Algorithm Fails: Blanking Method Affects Spike Train Statistics

PubMed Central

Joseph, Kevin; Mottaghi, Soheil; Christ, Olaf; Feuerstein, Thomas J.; Hofmann, Ulrich G.

2018-01-01

Modern electroceuticals are bound to employ the usage of electrical high frequency (130–180 Hz) stimulation carried out under closed loop control, most prominent in the case of movement disorders. However, particular challenges are faced when electrical recordings of neuronal tissue are carried out during high frequency electrical stimulation, both in-vivo and in-vitro. This stimulation produces undesired artifacts and can render the recorded signal only partially useful. The extent of these artifacts is often reduced by temporarily grounding the recording input during stimulation pulses. In the following study, we quantify the effects of this method, “blanking,” on the spike count and spike train statistics. Starting from a theoretical standpoint, we calculate a loss in the absolute number of action potentials, depending on: width of the blanking window, frequency of stimulation, and intrinsic neuronal activity. These calculations were then corroborated by actual high signal to noise ratio (SNR) single cell recordings. We state that, for clinically relevant frequencies of 130 Hz (used for movement disorders) and realistic blanking windows of 2 ms, up to 27% of actual existing spikes are lost. We strongly advice cautioned use of the blanking method when spike rate quantification is attempted. Impact statement Blanking (artifact removal by temporarily grounding input), depending on recording parameters, can lead to significant spike loss. Very careful use of blanking circuits is advised. PMID:29780301

Radarclinometry: Bootstrapping the radar reflectance function from the image pixel-signal frequency distribution and an altimetry profile

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wildey, R.L.

1988-01-01

A method is derived for determining the dependence of radar backscatter on incidence angle that is applicable to the region corresponding to a particular radar image. The method is based on enforcing mathematical consistency between the frequency distribution of the image's pixel signals (histogram of DN values with suitable normalizations) and a one-dimensional frequency distribution of slope component, as might be obtained from a radar or laser altimetry profile in or near the area imaged. In order to achieve a unique solution, the auxiliary assumption is made that the two-dimensional frequency distribution of slope is isotropic. The backscatter is not derived in absolute units. The method is developed in such a way as to separate the reflectance function from the pixel-signal transfer characteristic. However, these two sources of variation are distinguishable only on the basis of a weak dependence on the azimuthal component of slope; therefore such an approach can be expected to be ill-conditioned unless the revision of the transfer characteristic is limited to the determination of an additive instrumental background level. The altimetry profile does not have to be registered in the image, and the statistical nature of the approach minimizes pixel noise effects and the effects of a disparity between the resolutions of the image and the altimetry profile, except in the wings of the distribution where low-number statistics preclude accuracy anyway. The problem of dealing with unknown slope components perpendicular to the profiling traverse, which besets the one-to-one comparison between individual slope components and pixel-signal values, disappears in the present approach. In order to test the resulting algorithm, an artificial radar image was generated from the digitized topographic map of the Lake Champlain West quadrangle in the Adirondack Mountains, U.S.A., using an arbitrarily selected reflectance function. From the same map, a one-dimensional frequency distribution of slope component was extracted. The algorithm recaptured the original reflectance function to the degree that, for the central 90% of the data, the discrepancy translates to a RMS slope error of 0.1 ???. For the central 99% of the data, the maximum error translates to 1 ???; at the absolute extremes of the data the error grows to 6 ???. ?? 1988 Kluwer Academic Publishers.

Shapes of Magnetically Controlled Electron Density Structures in the Dayside Martian Ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diéval, C.; Kopf, A. J.; Wild, J. A.

2018-05-01

Nonhorizontal localized electron density structures associated with regions of near-radial crustal magnetic fields are routinely detected via radar oblique echoes on the dayside of Mars with the ionospheric sounding mode of the Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionospheric Sounding (MARSIS) radar onboard Mars Express. Previous studies mostly investigated these structures at a fixed plasma frequency and assumed that the larger apparent altitude of the structures compared to the normal surrounding ionosphere implied that they are bulges. However, the signal is subjected to dispersion when it propagates through the plasma, so interpretations based on the apparent altitude should be treated with caution. We go further by investigating the frequency dependence (i.e., the altitude dependence) of the shape of 48 density structure events, using time series of MARSIS electron density profiles corrected for signal dispersion. Four possible simplest shapes are detected in these time series, which can give oblique echoes: bulges, dips, downhill slopes, and uphill slopes. The altitude differences between the density structures and their edges are, in absolute value, larger at low frequency (high altitude) than at high frequency (low altitude), going from a few tens of kilometers to a few kilometers as frequency increases. Bulges dominate in numbers in most of the frequency range. Finally, the geographical extension of the density structures covers a wide range of crustal magnetic fields orientations, with near-vertical fields toward their center and near-horizontal fields toward their edges, as expected. Transport processes are suggested to be a key driver for these density structures.

Negative Differential Resistance (NDR) frequency conversion with gain

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hwu, R. J.; Alm, R. W.; Lee, S. C.

1992-01-01

The dependence of the I-V characteristic of the negative differential resistance (NDR) devices on the power level and frequency of the rf input signal has been theoretically analyzed with a modified large- and small-signal nonlinear circuit analysis program. The NDR devices we used in this work include both the tunnel diode (without the antisymmetry in the I-V characteristic) and resonant-tunneling devices (with the antisymmetry in the I-V characteristic). Absolute negative conductance can be found from a zero-biased resonant tunneling device when the applied pump power is within a small range. This study verifies the work of Sollner et al. Variable negative conductances at the fundamental and harmonic frequencies can also be obtained from both the unbiased and biased tunnel diodes. The magnitude of the negative conductances can be adjusted by varying the pump amplitude -- a very useful circuit property. However, the voltage range over which the negative conductance occurs moves towards the more positive side of the voltage axis with increasing frequency. Furthermore, the range of the pumping amplitude to obtain negative conductance varies with the parasitics (resistance and capacitance) of the device. The theoretical observation of the dependence of the I-V characteristic of the NDR devices on the power and frequency of the applied pump signal is supported by the experimental results. In addition, novel functions of a NDR device such as self-oscillating frequency multiplier and mixer with gain have been experimentally demonstrated. The unbiased oscillator have also been successfully realized with a NDR device with an antisymmetrical I-V characteristic. Finally, the applications of these device functions will be discussed.

Low frequency ac waveform generator

DOEpatents

Bilharz, O.W.

1983-11-22

Low frequency sine, cosine, triangle and square waves are synthesized in circuitry which allows variation in the waveform amplitude and frequency while exhibiting good stability and without requiring significant stablization time. A triangle waveform is formed by a ramped integration process controlled by a saturation amplifier circuit which produces the necessary hysteresis for the triangle waveform. The output of the saturation circuit is tapped to produce the square waveform. The sine waveform is synthesized by taking the absolute value of the triangular waveform, raising this absolute value to a predetermined power, multiplying the raised absolute value of the triangle wave with the triangle wave itself and properly scaling the resultant waveform and subtracting it from the triangular waveform to a predetermined power and adding the squared waveform raised to the predetermined power with a DC reference and subtracting the squared waveform therefrom, with all waveforms properly scaled. The resultant waveform is then multiplied with a square wave in order to correct the polarity and produce the resultant cosine waveform.

Frequency dependence of sensitivities in second-order RC active filters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kunieda, T.; Hiramatsu, Y.; Fukui, A.

1980-02-01

This paper presents that gain and phase sensitivities to some element in biquadratic filters approximately constitute a circle on the complex sensitivity plane, provided that the quality factor Q of the circuit is appreciably larger than unity. Moreover, the group delay sensitivity is represented by the imaginary part of a cardioid. Using these results, bounds of maximum values of gain, phase, and group delay sensitivities are obtained. Further, it is proved that the maximum values of these sensitivities can be simultaneously minimized by minimizing the absolute value of the transfer function sensitivity at the center frequency provided that w(0)-sensitivities are constant and do not contain design parameters. Next, a statistical variability measure for the optimal-filter design is proposed. Finally, the relation between some variability measures proposed to the present time is made clear.

Charge-carrier mobilities in Cd(0.8)Zn(0.2)Te single crystals used as nuclear radiation detectors

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Burshtein, Z.; Jayatirtha, H. N.; Burger, A.; Butler, J. F.; Apotovsky, B.; Doty, F. P.

1993-01-01

Charge-carrier mobilities were measured for the first time in Cd(0.8)Zn(0.2)Te single crystals using time-of-flight measurements of charge carriers produced by short (10 ns) light pulses from a frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser (532 nm). The electron mobility displayed a T exp -1.1 dependence on the absolute temperature T in the range 200-320 K, with a room-temperature mobility of 1350 sq cm/V s. The hole mobility displayed a T exp -2.0 dependence in the same temperature range, with a room-temperature mobility of 120 sq cm/V s. Cd(0.8)Zn(0.2)Te appears to be a very favorable material for a room-temperature electronic nuclear radiation detector.

High accuracy line positions of the ν1 fundamental band of 14N216O

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

AlSaif, Bidoor; Lamperti, Marco; Gatti, Davide; Laporta, Paolo; Fermann, Martin; Farooq, Aamir; Lyulin, Oleg; Campargue, Alain; Marangoni, Marco

2018-05-01

The ν1 fundamental band of N2O is examined by a novel spectrometer that relies on the frequency locking of an external-cavity quantum cascade laser around 7.8 μm to a near-infrared Tm:based frequency comb at 1.9 μm. Due to the large tunability, nearly 70 lines in the 1240-1310 cm-1 range of the ν1 band of N2O, from P(40) to R(31), are for the first time measured with an absolute frequency calibration and an uncertainty from 62 to 180 kHz, depending on the line. Accurate values of the spectroscopic constants of the upper state are derived from a fit of the line centers (rms ≈ 4.8 × 10-6 cm-1 or 144 kHz). The ν1 transitions presently measured in a Doppler regime validate high accuracy predictions based on sub-Doppler measurements of the ν3 and ν3-ν1 transitions.

Swept Frequency Laser Metrology System

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Zhao, Feng (Inventor)

2010-01-01

A swept frequency laser ranging system having sub-micron accuracy that employs multiple common-path heterodyne interferometers, one coupled to a calibrated delay-line for use as an absolute reference for the ranging system. An exemplary embodiment uses two laser heterodyne interferometers to create two laser beams at two different frequencies to measure distance and motions of target(s). Heterodyne fringes generated from reflections off a reference fiducial X(sub R) and measurement (or target) fiducial X(sub M) are reflected back and are then detected by photodiodes. The measured phase changes Delta phi(sub R) and Delta phi (sub m) resulting from the laser frequency swept gives target position. The reference delay-line is the only absolute reference needed in the metrology system and this provides an ultra-stable reference and simple/economical system.

Absolute atomic hydrogen densities in a radio frequency discharge measured by two-photon laser induced fluorescence imaging

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chérigier, L.; Czarnetzki, U.; Luggenhölscher, D.; Schulz-von der Gathen, V.; Döbele, H. F.

1999-01-01

Absolute atomic hydrogen densities were measured in the gaseous electronics conference reference cell parallel plate reactor by Doppler-free two-photon absorption laser induced fluorescence spectroscopy (TALIF) at λ=205 nm. The capacitively coupled radio frequency discharge was operated at 13.56 MHz in pure hydrogen under various input power and pressure conditions. The Doppler-free excitation technique with an unfocused laser beam together with imaging the fluorescence radiation by an intensified charge coupled device camera allows instantaneous spatial resolution along the radial direction. Absolute density calibration is obtained with the aid of a flow tube reactor and titration with NO2. The influence of spatial intensity inhomogenities along the laser beam and subsequent fluorescence are corrected by TALIF in xenon. A full mapping of the absolute density distribution between the electrodes was obtained. The detection limit for atomic hydrogen amounts to about 2×1018 m-3. The dissociation degree is of the order of a few percent.

Influence of surgical gloves on haptic perception thresholds.

PubMed

Hatzfeld, Christian; Dorsch, Sarah; Neupert, Carsten; Kupnik, Mario

2018-02-01

Impairment of haptic perception by surgical gloves could reduce requirements on haptic systems for surgery. While grip forces and manipulation capabilities were not impaired in previous studies, no data is available for perception thresholds. Absolute and differential thresholds (20 dB above threshold) of 24 subjects were measured for frequencies of 25 and 250 Hz with a Ψ-method. Effects of wearing a surgical glove, moisture on the contact surface and subject's experience with gloves were incorporated in a full-factorial experimental design. Absolute thresholds of 12.8 dB and -29.6 dB (means for 25 and 250 Hz, respectively) and differential thresholds of -12.6 dB and -9.5 dB agree with previous studies. A relevant effect of the frequency on absolute thresholds was found. Comparisons of glove- and no-glove-conditions did not reveal a significant mean difference. Wearing a single surgical glove does not affect absolute and differential haptic perception thresholds. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Optimization of the R-SQUID noise thermometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Seppä, Heikki

1986-02-01

The Josephson junction can be used to convert voltage into frequency and thus it can be used to convert voltage fluctuations generated by Johnson noise in a resistor into frequency fluctuations. As a consequence, the temperature of the resistor can be defined by measuring the variance of the frequency fluctuations. Unfortunately, the absolute determination of temperature by this approach is disturbed by several undesirable effects: a rolloff introduced by the bandwidth of the postdetection filter, additional noise caused by rf amplifiers, and a mixed noise effect caused by the nonlinearity of the Josephson junction together with rf noise in the tank circuit. Furthermore, the variance is a statistical quantity and therefore the limited number of frequency counts produces inaccuracy in a temperature measurement. In this work the total inaccuracy of the noise thermometer is analyzed and the optimal choice of the parameters is derived. A practical way to find the optimal conditions for the Josephson junction noise thermometer is discussed. The inspection shows that under the optimal conditions the total error is dependent only on the temperature under determination, the equivalent noise temperature of the preamplifier, the bias frequency of the SQUID, and the total time used for the measurement.

Absolute backscatter coefficient estimates of tissue-mimicking phantoms in the 5–50 MHz frequency range

PubMed Central

McCormick, Matthew M.; Madsen, Ernest L.; Deaner, Meagan E.; Varghese, Tomy

2011-01-01

Absolute backscatter coefficients in tissue-mimicking phantoms were experimentally determined in the 5–50 MHz frequency range using a broadband technique. A focused broadband transducer from a commercial research system, the VisualSonics Vevo 770, was used with two tissue-mimicking phantoms. The phantoms differed regarding the thin layers covering their surfaces to prevent desiccation and regarding glass bead concentrations and diameter distributions. Ultrasound scanning of these phantoms was performed through the thin layer. To avoid signal saturation, the power spectra obtained from the backscattered radio frequency signals were calibrated by using the signal from a liquid planar reflector, a water-brominated hydrocarbon interface with acoustic impedance close to that of water. Experimental values of absolute backscatter coefficients were compared with those predicted by the Faran scattering model over the frequency range 5–50 MHz. The mean percent difference and standard deviation was 54% ± 45% for the phantom with a mean glass bead diameter of 5.40 μm and was 47% ± 28% for the phantom with 5.16 μm mean diameter beads. PMID:21877789

Absolute and Mass-Dependent Titanium Isotope Compositions of Solar System Materials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Williams, N. H.; Fehr, M. A.; Akram, W. M.; Parkinson, I. J.; Schönbächler, M.

2013-09-01

Mass dependent Ti isotope data for various solar system material will be presented. This data has been obtained via double spike technique using ^47 Ti and ^49Ti as spikes. Absolute nucleosynthetic anomalie data for Ti will be presented also.

Absolute Frequency Measurements with a Set of Transportable HE-NE/CH4 Optical Frequency Standards and Prospects for Future Design and Applications

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gubin, M.; Kovalchuk, E.; Petrukhin, E.; Shelkovnikov, A.; Tyurikov, D.; Gamidov, R.; Erdogan, C.; Sahin, E.; Felder, R.; Gill, P.; Lea, S. N.; Kramer, G.; Lipphardt, B.

2002-04-01

The accumulated results of absolute frequency measurements (AFM) carried out in 1997-2000 with transportable double-mode He-Ne/CH4 optical frequency standards (λ = 3 .39μm) in a collaboration of several laboratories are presented. The performance of this secondary optical frequency standard is estimated on the level of 10-13 (in repeatability), and 1 × 10-14/s (in stability). The next steps towards He-Ne/CH4 standards with one order of magnitude better performance, including devices based on monolithic zerodur resonators, are discussed. Important applications of transportable He-Ne/CH4 optical frequency standards have appeared now due to dramatic progress in the field of optical frequency measurements. Used to stabilize the repetition rate of a Ti:Sa fs laser, these compact secondary standards can transfer their performance into the whole optical range covered by a fs comb. Thus they can play the role of a narrow spectrum interrogative oscillator for super-accurate optical or microwave frequency standards substituting in some tasks a H-maser or oscillators based on cryogenic sapphire resonators.

Frequency comb calibrated frequency-sweeping interferometry for absolute group refractive index measurement of air.

PubMed

Yang, Lijun; Wu, Xuejian; Wei, Haoyun; Li, Yan

2017-04-10

The absolute group refractive index of air at 194061.02 GHz is measured in real time using frequency-sweeping interferometry calibrated by an optical frequency comb. The group refractive index of air is calculated from the calibration peaks of the laser frequency variation and the interference signal of the two beams passing through the inner and outer regions of a vacuum cell when the frequency of a tunable external cavity diode laser is scanned. We continuously measure the refractive index of air for 2 h, which shows that the difference between measured results and Ciddor's equation is less than 9.6×10^-8, and the standard deviation of that difference is 5.9×10^-8. The relative uncertainty of the measured refractive index of air is estimated to be 8.6×10^-8. The data update rate is 0.2 Hz, making it applicable under conditions in which air refractive index fluctuates fast.

Frequency graded 1D metamaterials: A study on the attenuation bands

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Banerjee, Arnab; Das, Raj; Calius, Emilio P.

2017-08-01

Depending on the frequency, waves can either propagate (transmission band) or be attenuated (attenuation band) while travelling through a one-dimensional spring-mass chain with internal resonators. The literature on wave propagation through a 1D mass-in-mass chain is vast and continues to proliferate because of its versatile applicability in condensed matter physics, optics, chemistry, acoustics, and mechanics. However, in all these areas, a uniformly periodic arrangement of identical linear resonating units is normally used which limits the attenuation band to a narrow frequency range. To counter this limitation of linear uniformly periodic metamaterials, the attenuation bandwidth in a one-dimensional finite chain with frequency graded linear internal resonators are investigated in this paper. The result shows that a properly tuned frequency graded arrangement of resonating units can extend the upper part of the attenuation band of 1D metamaterial theoretically up to infinity and also increases the lower part of the attenuation bandwidth by around 40% of an equivalent uniformly periodic metamaterial without increasing the mass. Therefore, the frequency graded metamaterials can be a potential solution towards low frequency and wideband acoustic or vibration insulation. In addition, this paper provides analytical expressions for the attenuation and transmission frequency limits for a periodic mass-in-mass metamaterial and demonstrates the attenuation band is generated by the high absolute value of the effective mass not only due to the negative effective mass.

Using ultra-low frequency waves and their characteristics to diagnose key physics of substorm onset

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rae, I. J.; Murphy, K. R.; Watt, Clare E. J.; Mann, Ian R.; Yao, Zhonghua; Kalmoni, Nadine M. E.; Forsyth, Colin; Milling, David K.

2017-12-01

Substorm onset is marked in the ionosphere by the sudden brightening of an existing auroral arc or the creation of a new auroral arc. Also present is the formation of auroral beads, proposed to play a key role in the detonation of the substorm, as well as the development of the large-scale substorm current wedge (SCW), invoked to carry the current diversion. Both these phenomena, auroral beads and the SCW, have been intimately related to ultra-low frequency (ULF) waves of specific frequencies as observed by ground-based magnetometers. We present a case study of the absolute and relative timing of Pi1 and Pi2 ULF wave bands with regard to a small substorm expansion phase onset. We find that there is both a location and frequency dependence for the onset of ULF waves. A clear epicentre is observed in specific wave frequencies concurrent with the brightening of the substorm onset arc and the presence of "auroral beads". At higher and lower wave frequencies, different epicentre patterns are revealed, which we conclude demonstrate different characteristics of the onset process; at higher frequencies, this epicentre may demonstrate phase mixing, and at intermediate and lower frequencies these epicentres are characteristic of auroral beads and cold plasma approximation of the "Tamao travel time" from near-earth neutral line reconnection and formation of the SCW.

High-resolution absolute position detection using a multiple grating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Schilling, Ulrich; Drabarek, Pawel; Kuehnle, Goetz; Tiziani, Hans J.

1996-08-01

To control electro-mechanical engines, high-resolution linear and rotary encoders are needed. Interferometric methods (grating interferometers) promise a resolution of a few nanometers, but have an ambiguity range of some microns. Incremental encoders increase the absolute measurement range by counting the signal periods starting from a defined initial point. In many applications, however, it is not possible to move to this initial point, so that absolute encoders have to be used. Absolute encoders generally have a scale with two or more tracks placed next to each other. Therefore, they use a two-dimensional grating structure to measure a one-dimensional position. We present a new method, which uses a one-dimensional structure to determine the position in one dimension. It is based on a grating with a large grating period up to some millimeters, having the same diffraction efficiency in several predefined diffraction orders (multiple grating). By combining the phase signals of the different diffraction orders, it is possible to establish the position in an absolute range of the grating period with a resolution like incremental grating interferometers. The principal functionality was demonstrated by applying the multiple grating in a heterodyne grating interferometer. The heterodyne frequency was generated by a frequency modulated laser in an unbalanced interferometer. In experimental measurements an absolute range of 8 mm was obtained while achieving a resolution of 10 nm.

The Effectiveness of a Rater Training Booklet in Increasing Accuracy of Performance Ratings

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-04-01

subjects’ ratings were compared for accuracy. The dependent measure was the absolute deviation score of each individual’s rating from the "true score". The...subjects’ ratings were compared for accuracy. The dependent measure was the absolute deviation score of each individual’s rating from the "true score". The...r IS % _. Findings: The absolute deviation scores of each individual’s ratings from the "true score" provided by subject matter experts were analyzed

Small impact craters in the lunar regolith - Their morphologies, relative ages, and rates of formation

USGS Publications Warehouse

Moore, H.J.; Boyce, J.M.; Hahn, D.A.

1980-01-01

Apparently, there are two types of size-frequency distributions of small lunar craters (???1-100 m across): (1) crater production distributions for which the cumulative frequency of craters is an inverse function of diameter to power near 2.8, and (2) steady-state distributions for which the cumulative frequency of craters is inversely proportional to the square of their diameters. According to theory, cumulative frequencies of craters in each morphologic category within the steady-state should also be an inverse function of the square of their diameters. Some data on frequency distribution of craters by morphologic types are approximately consistent with theory, whereas other data are inconsistent with theory. A flux of crater producing objects can be inferred from size-frequency distributions of small craters on the flanks and ejecta of craters of known age. Crater frequency distributions and data on the craters Tycho, North Ray, Cone, and South Ray, when compared with the flux of objects measured by the Apollo Passive Seismometer, suggest that the flux of objects has been relatively constant over the last 100 m.y. (within 1/3 to 3 times of the flux estimated for Tycho). Steady-state frequency distributions for craters in several morphologic categories formed the basis for estimating the relative ages of craters and surfaces in a system used during the Apollo landing site mapping program of the U.S. Geological Survey. The relative ages in this system are converted to model absolute ages that have a rather broad range of values. The range of values of the absolute ages are between about 1/3 to 3 times the assigned model absolute age. ?? 1980 D. Reidel Publishing Co.

Apes are intuitive statisticians.

PubMed

Rakoczy, Hannes; Clüver, Annette; Saucke, Liane; Stoffregen, Nicole; Gräbener, Alice; Migura, Judith; Call, Josep

2014-04-01

Inductive learning and reasoning, as we use it both in everyday life and in science, is characterized by flexible inferences based on statistical information: inferences from populations to samples and vice versa. Many forms of such statistical reasoning have been found to develop late in human ontogeny, depending on formal education and language, and to be fragile even in adults. New revolutionary research, however, suggests that even preverbal human infants make use of intuitive statistics. Here, we conducted the first investigation of such intuitive statistical reasoning with non-human primates. In a series of 7 experiments, Bonobos, Chimpanzees, Gorillas and Orangutans drew flexible statistical inferences from populations to samples. These inferences, furthermore, were truly based on statistical information regarding the relative frequency distributions in a population, and not on absolute frequencies. Intuitive statistics in its most basic form is thus an evolutionarily more ancient rather than a uniquely human capacity. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Parametric scaling of neutral and ion excited state densities in an argon helicon source

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McCarren, D.; Scime, E.

2016-04-01

We report measurements of the absolute density and temperature of ion and neutral excited states in an argon helicon source. The excited ion state density, which depends on ion density, electron density, and electron temperature, increases sharply with increasing magnetic field in the source. The neutral argon metastable density measurements are consistent with an increasing ionization fraction with increasing magnetic field strength. The ion temperature shows no evidence of increased heating with increasing magnetic field strength (which has only been observed in helicon sources operating at driving frequencies close to the lower hybrid frequency). The measurements were obtained through cavity ring down spectroscopy, a measurement technique that does not require the target excited state to be metastable or part of a fluorescence scheme; and is therefore applicable to any laser accessible atomic or ionic transition in a plasma.

The Role of Helium Metastable States in Radio-Frequency Helium-Oxygen Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jets: Measurement and Numerical Simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niemi, Kari; Waskoenig, Jochen; Sadeghi, Nader; Gans, Timo; O'Connell, Deborah

2011-10-01

Absolute densities of metastable He atoms were measured line-of sight integrated along the plasma channel of a capacitively-coupled radio-frequency driven atmospheric pressure plasma jet operated in helium oxygen mixtures by tunable diode-laser absorption spectroscopy. Dependencies of the He metastable density with oxygen admixtures up to 1 percent were investigated. Results are compared to a 1-d numerical simulation, which includes a semi-kinetical treatment of the electron dynamics and the complex plasma chemistry (20 species, 184 reactions), and very good agreement is found. The main formation mechanisms for the helium metastables are identified and analyzed, including their pronounced spatio-temporal dynamics. Penning ionization through helium metastables is found to be significant for plasma sustainment, while it is revealed that helium metastables are not an important energy carrying species into the jet effluent and therefore will not play a direct role in remote surface treatments.

A novel frequency analysis method for assessing K(ir)2.1 and Na (v)1.5 currents.

PubMed

Rigby, J R; Poelzing, S

2012-04-01

Voltage clamping is an important tool for measuring individual currents from an electrically active cell. However, it is difficult to isolate individual currents without pharmacological or voltage inhibition. Herein, we present a technique that involves inserting a noise function into a standard voltage step protocol, which allows one to characterize the unique frequency response of an ion channel at different step potentials. Specifically, we compute the fast Fourier transform for a family of current traces at different step potentials for the inward rectifying potassium channel, K(ir)2.1, and the channel encoding the cardiac fast sodium current, Na(v)1.5. Each individual frequency magnitude, as a function of voltage step, is correlated to the peak current produced by each channel. The correlation coefficient vs. frequency relationship reveals that these two channels are associated with some unique frequencies with high absolute correlation. The individual IV relationship can then be recreated using only the unique frequencies with magnitudes of high absolute correlation. Thus, this study demonstrates that ion channels may exhibit unique frequency responses.

Absolute Depth Sensitivity in Cat Primary Visual Cortex under Natural Viewing Conditions.

PubMed

Pigarev, Ivan N; Levichkina, Ekaterina V

2016-01-01

Mechanisms of 3D perception, investigated in many laboratories, have defined depth either relative to the fixation plane or to other objects in the visual scene. It is obvious that for efficient perception of the 3D world, additional mechanisms of depth constancy could operate in the visual system to provide information about absolute distance. Neurons with properties reflecting some features of depth constancy have been described in the parietal and extrastriate occipital cortical areas. It has also been shown that, for some neurons in the visual area V1, responses to stimuli of constant angular size differ at close and remote distances. The present study was designed to investigate whether, in natural free gaze viewing conditions, neurons tuned to absolute depths can be found in the primary visual cortex (area V1). Single-unit extracellular activity was recorded from the visual cortex of waking cats sitting on a trolley in front of a large screen. The trolley was slowly approaching the visual scene, which consisted of stationary sinusoidal gratings of optimal orientation rear-projected over the whole surface of the screen. Each neuron was tested with two gratings, with spatial frequency of one grating being twice as high as that of the other. Assuming that a cell is tuned to a spatial frequency, its maximum response to the grating with a spatial frequency twice as high should be shifted to a distance half way closer to the screen in order to attain the same size of retinal projection. For hypothetical neurons selective to absolute depth, location of the maximum response should remain at the same distance irrespective of the type of stimulus. It was found that about 20% of neurons in our experimental paradigm demonstrated sensitivity to particular distances independently of the spatial frequencies of the gratings. We interpret these findings as an indication of the use of absolute depth information in the primary visual cortex.

Double-sideband frequency scanning interferometry for long-distance dynamic absolute measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mo, Di; Wang, Ran; Li, Guang-zuo; Wang, Ning; Zhang, Ke-shu; Wu, Yi-rong

2017-11-01

Absolute distance measurements can be achieved by frequency scanning interferometry which uses a tunable laser. The main drawback of this method is that it is extremely sensitive to the movement of targets. In addition, since this method is limited to the linearity of frequency scanning, it is commonly used for close measurements within tens of meters. In order to solve these problems, a double-sideband frequency scanning interferometry system is presented in the paper. It generates two opposite frequency scanning signals through a fixed frequency laser and a Mach-Zehnder modulator. And the system distinguishes the two interference fringe patterns corresponding to the two signals by IQ demodulation (i.e., quadrature detection) of the echo. According to the principle of double-sideband modulation, the two signals have the same characteristics. Therefore, the error caused by the target movement can be effectively eliminated, which is similar to dual-laser frequency scanned interferometry. In addition, this method avoids the contradiction between laser frequency stability and swept performance. The system can be applied to measure the distance of the order of kilometers, which profits from the good linearity of frequency scanning. In the experiment, a precision about 3 μm was achieved for a kilometer-level distance.

Martian ages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neukum, G.; Hiller, K.

1981-01-01

Four discussions are conducted: (1) the methodology of relative age determination by impact crater statistics, (2) a comparison of proposed Martian impact chronologies for the determination of absolute ages from crater frequencies, (3) a report on work dating Martian volcanoes and erosional features by impact crater statistics, and (4) an attempt to understand the main features of Martian history through a synthesis of crater frequency data. Two cratering chronology models are presented and used for inference of absolute ages from crater frequency data, and it is shown that the interpretation of all data available and tractable by the methodology presented leads to a global Martian geological history that is characterized by two epochs of activity. It is concluded that Mars is an ancient planet with respect to its surface features.

Improved performance of semiconductor laser tracking frequency gauge

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaplan, D. M.; Roberts, T. J.; Phillips, J. D.; Reasenberg, R. D.

2018-03-01

We describe new results from the semiconductor-laser tracking frequency gauge, an instrument that can perform sub-picometer distance measurements and has applications in gravity research and in space-based astronomical instruments proposed for the study of light from extrasolar planets. Compared with previous results, we have improved incremental distance accuracy by a factor of two, to 0.9 pm in 80 s averaging time, and absolute distance accuracy by a factor of 20, to 0.17 μm in 1000 s. After an interruption of operation of a tracking frequency gauge used to control a distance, it is now possible, using a nonresonant measurement interferometer, to restore the distance to picometer accuracy by combining absolute and incremental distance measurements.

Low frequency AC waveform generator

DOEpatents

Bilharz, Oscar W.

1986-01-01

Low frequency sine, cosine, triangle and square waves are synthesized in circuitry which allows variation in the waveform amplitude and frequency while exhibiting good stability and without requiring significant stabilization time. A triangle waveform is formed by a ramped integration process controlled by a saturation amplifier circuit which produces the necessary hysteresis for the triangle waveform. The output of the saturation circuit is tapped to produce the square waveform. The sine waveform is synthesized by taking the absolute value of the triangular waveform, raising this absolute value to a predetermined power, multiplying the raised absolute value of the triangle wave with the triangle wave itself and properly scaling the resultant waveform and subtracting it from the triangular waveform itself. The cosine is synthesized by squaring the triangular waveform, raising the triangular waveform to a predetermined power and adding the squared waveform raised to the predetermined power with a DC reference and subtracting the squared waveform therefrom, with all waveforms properly scaled. The resultant waveform is then multiplied with a square wave in order to correct the polarity and produce the resultant cosine waveform.

Selective loss of orientation column maps in visual cortex during brief elevation of intraocular pressure.

PubMed

Chen, Xin; Sun, Chao; Huang, Luoxiu; Shou, Tiande

2003-01-01

To compare the orientation column maps elicited by different spatial frequency gratings in cortical area 17 of cats before and during brief elevation of intraocular pressure (IOP). IOP was elevated by injecting saline into the anterior chamber of a cat's eye through a syringe needle. The IOP was elevated enough to cause a retinal perfusion pressure (arterial pressure minus IOP) of approximately 30 mm Hg during a brief elevation of IOP. The visual stimulus gratings were varied in spatial frequency, whereas other parameters were kept constant. The orientation column maps of the cortical area 17 were monocularly elicited by drifting gratings of different spatial frequencies and revealed by a brain intrinsic signal optical imaging system. These maps were compared before and during short-term elevation of IOP. The response amplitude of the orientation maps in area 17 decreased during a brief elevation of IOP. This decrease was dependent on the retinal perfusion pressure but not on the absolute IOP. The location of the most visible maps was spatial-frequency dependent. The blurring or loss of the pattern of the orientation maps was most severe when high-spatial-frequency gratings were used and appeared most significantly on the posterior part of the exposed cortex while IOP was elevated. However, the basic patterns of the maps remained unchanged. Changes in cortical signal were not due to changes in the optics of the eye with elevation of IOP. A stable normal IOP is essential for maintaining normal visual cortical functions. During a brief and high elevation of IOP, the cortical processing of high-spatial-frequency visual information was diminished because of a selectively functional decline of the retinogeniculocortical X pathway by a mechanism of retinal circulation origin.

The electrical asymmetry effect in a multi frequency geometrically asymmetric capacitively coupled plasma: A study by a nonlinear global model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Saikia, P.; Bhuyan, H.; Escalona, M.; Favre, M.; Bora, B.; Kakati, M.; Wyndham, E.; Rawat, R. S.; Schulze, J.

2018-05-01

We investigate the electrical asymmetry effect (EAE) and the current dynamics in a geometrically asymmetric capacitively coupled radio frequency plasma driven by multiple consecutive harmonics based on a nonlinear global model. The discharge symmetry is controlled via the EAE, i.e., by varying the total number of harmonics and tuning the phase shifts ( θ k ) between them. Here, we systematically study the EAE in a low pressure (4 Pa) argon discharge with different geometrical asymmetries driven by a multifrequency rf source consisting of 13.56 MHz and its harmonics. We find that the geometrical asymmetry strongly affects the absolute value of the DC self-bias voltage, but its functional dependence on θ k is similar at different values of the geometrical asymmetry. Also, the values of the DC self-bias are enhanced by adding more consecutive harmonics. The voltage drop across the sheath at the powered and grounded electrode is found to increase/decrease, respectively, with the increase in the number of harmonics of the fundamental frequency. For the purpose of validating the model, its outputs are compared with the results obtained in a geometrically and electrically asymmetric 2f capacitively coupled plasmas experiment conducted by Schuengel et al. [J. Appl. Phys. 112, 053302 (2012)]. Finally, we study the self-excitation of nonlinear plasma series resonance oscillations and its dependence on the geometrical asymmetry as well as the phase angles between the driving frequencies.

Humidification during high-frequency oscillation ventilation is affected by ventilator circuit and ventilatory setting.

PubMed

Chikata, Yusuke; Imanaka, Hideaki; Onishi, Yoshiaki; Ueta, Masahiko; Nishimura, Masaji

2009-08-01

High-frequency oscillation ventilation (HFOV) is an accepted ventilatory mode for acute respiratory failure in neonates. As conventional mechanical ventilation, inspiratory gas humidification is essential. However, humidification during HFOV has not been clarified. In this bench study, we evaluated humidification during HFOV in the open circumstance of ICU. Our hypothesis is that humidification during HFOV is affected by circuit design and ventilatory settings. We connected a ventilator with HFOV mode to a neonatal lung model that was placed in an infant incubator set at 37 degrees C. We set a heated humidifier (Fisher & Paykel) to obtain 37 degrees C at the chamber outlet and 40 degrees C at the distal temperature probe. We measured absolute humidity and temperature at the Y-piece using a rapid-response hygrometer. We evaluated two types of ventilator circuit: a circuit with inner heating wire and another with embedded heating element. In addition, we evaluated three lengths of the inspiratory limb, three stroke volumes, three frequencies, and three mean airway pressures. The circuit with embedded heating element provided significantly higher absolute humidity and temperature than one with inner heating wire. As an extended tube lacking a heating wire was shorter, absolute humidity and temperature became higher. In the circuit with inner heating wire, absolute humidity and temperature increased as stroke volume increased. Humidification during HFOV is affected by circuit design and ventilatory settings.

Absolute frequencies of water lines near 790 nm with 10-11 accuracy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chen, J.; Hua, T.-P.; Tao, L.-G.; Sun, Y. R.; Liu, A.-W.; Hu, S.-M.

2018-01-01

Water lines in the infrared are convenient frequency references. We present absolute positions of several H216O ro-vibrational transitions around 790 nm using comb-locked cavity ring-down saturation spectroscopy. Lamb dips of 6 water lines with saturation power in the range of 70-130 kW/cm2 were observed and the line positions were determined with an accuracy of 25 kHz, corresponding to a fractional uncertainty of 6.6 × 10-11. The present work demonstrates the capability to considerably improve the accuracy of the water line positions in the infrared.

3D absolute shape measurement of live rabbit hearts with a superfast two-frequency phase-shifting technique

PubMed Central

Wang, Yajun; Laughner, Jacob I.; Efimov, Igor R.; Zhang, Song

2013-01-01

This paper presents a two-frequency binary phase-shifting technique to measure three-dimensional (3D) absolute shape of beating rabbit hearts. Due to the low contrast of the cardiac surface, the projector and the camera must remain focused, which poses challenges for any existing binary method where the measurement accuracy is low. To conquer this challenge, this paper proposes to utilize the optimal pulse width modulation (OPWM) technique to generate high-frequency fringe patterns, and the error-diffusion dithering technique to produce low-frequency fringe patterns. Furthermore, this paper will show that fringe patterns produced with blue light provide the best quality measurements compared to fringe patterns generated with red or green light; and the minimum data acquisition speed for high quality measurements is around 800 Hz for a rabbit heart beating at 180 beats per minute. PMID:23482151

Performance of a GaAlAs laser diode stabilized on a hyperfine component of two-photon transitions in rubidium at 778 nm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Felder, Raymond; Touahri, D.; Acef, Ouali; Hilico, L.; Zondy, Jean-Jacques; Clairon, Andre; de Beauvoir, Beatrice; Biraben, Francois; Julien, Lucile; Nez, Francois; Millerioux, Yves P.

1995-04-01

The absolute frequency measurement of each hyperfine component of the 5S3/2 and 5S5/2 levels in rubidium was done at ENS more than one year ago using Ti-Sa lasers. We built two devices based on diode lasers to study some metrological properties. We measure the frequency differences between hyperfine components of the 5S5/2 level and we calculate the corresponding hyperfine constants. We also measure the frequency interval between the 5S3/2 and 5S5/2 levels using a Schottky diode. The measured stability in terms of Allan variance is 3*10-13t-1/2 up to 2000 s. The light shift is investigated and the difference between our two systems is 1.7 kHz. The repeatability of one system is better than 10-12 and will allow the absolute frequency measurement at this level via the LPTF frequency synthesis chain.

Absolute Frequency Measurement of the {sup 40}Ca{sup +} 4s {sup 2}S{sub 1/2}-3d {sup 2}D{sub 5/2} Clock Transition

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Chwalla, M.; Kim, K.; Monz, T.

2009-01-16

We report on the first absolute transition frequency measurement at the 10{sup -15} level with a single, laser-cooled {sup 40}Ca{sup +} ion in a linear Paul trap. For this measurement, a frequency comb is referenced to the transportable Cs atomic fountain clock of LNE-SYRTE and is used to measure the {sup 40}Ca{sup +} 4s {sup 2}S{sub 1/2}-3d {sup 2}D{sub 5/2} electric-quadrupole transition frequency. After the correction of systematic shifts, the clock transition frequency {nu}{sub Ca{sup +}}=411 042 129 776 393.2(1.0) Hz is obtained, which corresponds to a fractional uncertainty within a factor of 3 of the Cs standard. In addition,more » we determine the Landeg factor of the 3d{sup 2}D{sub 5/2} level to be g{sub 5/2}=1.200 334 0(3)« less

Scanning micro-resonator direct-comb absolute spectroscopy

PubMed Central

Gambetta, Alessio; Cassinerio, Marco; Gatti, Davide; Laporta, Paolo; Galzerano, Gianluca

2016-01-01

Direct optical Frequency Comb Spectroscopy (DFCS) is proving to be a fundamental tool in many areas of science and technology thanks to its unique performance in terms of ultra-broadband, high-speed detection and frequency accuracy, allowing for high-fidelity mapping of atomic and molecular energy structure. Here we present a novel DFCS approach based on a scanning Fabry-Pérot micro-cavity resonator (SMART) providing a simple, compact and accurate method to resolve the mode structure of an optical frequency comb. The SMART approach, while drastically reducing system complexity, allows for a straightforward absolute calibration of the optical-frequency axis with an ultimate resolution limited by the micro-resonator resonance linewidth and can be used in any spectral region from UV to THz. We present an application to high-precision spectroscopy of acetylene at 1.54 μm, demonstrating performances comparable or even better than current state-of-the-art DFCS systems in terms of sensitivity, optical bandwidth and frequency-resolution. PMID:27752132

Widely tunable laser frequency offset lock with 30 GHz range and 5 THz offset.

PubMed

Biesheuvel, J; Noom, D W E; Salumbides, E J; Sheridan, K T; Ubachs, W; Koelemeij, J C J

2013-06-17

We demonstrate a simple and versatile method to greatly extend the tuning range of optical frequency shifting devices, such as acousto-optic modulators (AOMs). We use this method to stabilize the frequency of a tunable narrow-band continuous-wave (CW) laser to a transmission maximum of an external Fabry-Perot interferometer (FPI) with a tunable frequency offset. This is achieved through a servo loop which contains an in-loop AOM for simple radiofrequency (RF) tuning of the optical frequency over the full 30 GHz mode-hop-free tuning range of the CW laser. By stabilizing the length of the FPI to a stabilized helium-neon (HeNe) laser (at 5 THz offset from the tunable laser) we simultaneously transfer the ~ 1 MHz absolute frequency stability of the HeNe laser to the entire 30 GHz range of the tunable laser. Thus, our method allows simple, wide-range, fast and reproducible optical frequency tuning and absolute optical frequency measurements through RF electronics, which is here demonstrated by repeatedly recording a 27-GHz-wide molecular iodine spectrum at scan rates up to 500 MHz/s. General technical aspects that determine the performance of the method are discussed in detail.

Precise Stabilization of the Optical Frequency of WGMRs

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Savchenkov, Anatoliy; Matsko, Andrey; Matsko, Andrey; Yu, Nan; Maleki, Lute; Iltchenko, Vladimir

2009-01-01

Crystalline whispering gallery mode resonators (CWGMRs) made of crystals with axial symmetry have ordinary and extraordinary families of optical modes. These modes have substantially different thermo-refractive constants. This results in a very sharp dependence of differential detuning of optical frequency on effective temperature. This frequency difference compared with clock gives an error signal for precise compensation of the random fluctuations of optical frequency. Certain crystals, like MgF2, have turnover points where the thermo-refractive effect is completely nullified. An advantage for applications using WGMRs for frequency stabilization is in the possibility of manufacturing resonators out of practically any optically transparent crystal. It is known that there are crystals with negative and zero thermal expansion at some specific temperatures. Doping changes properties of the crystals and it is possible to create an optically transparent crystal with zero thermal expansion at room temperature. With this innovation s stabilization technique, the resultant WGMR will have absolute frequency stability The expansion of the resonator s body can be completely compensated for by nonlinear elements. This results in compensation of linear thermal expansion (see figure). In three-mode, the MgF2 resonator, if tuned at the turnover thermal point, can compensate for all types of random thermal-related frequency drift. Simplified dual-mode method is also available. This creates miniature optical resonators with good short- and long-term stability for passive secondary frequency ethalon and an active resonator for active secondary frequency standard (a narrowband laser with long-term stability).

Absolute Interrogative Intonation Patterns in Buenos Aires Spanish

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Lee, Su Ar

2010-01-01

In Spanish, each uttered phrase, depending on its use, has one of a variety of intonation patterns. For example, a phrase such as "Maria viene manana" "Mary is coming tomorrow" can be used as a declarative or as an absolute interrogative (a yes/no question) depending on the intonation pattern that a speaker produces. …

Effects of degree and configuration of hearing loss on the contribution of high- and low-frequency speech information to bilateral speech understanding

PubMed Central

Hornsby, Benjamin W. Y.; Johnson, Earl E.; Picou, Erin

2011-01-01

Objectives The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of degree and configuration of hearing loss on the use of, and benefit from, information in amplified high- and low-frequency speech presented in background noise. Design Sixty-two adults with a wide range of high- and low-frequency sensorineural hearing loss (5–115+ dB HL) participated. To examine the contribution of speech information in different frequency regions, speech understanding in noise was assessed in multiple low- and high-pass filter conditions, as well as a band-pass (713–3534 Hz) and wideband (143–8976 Hz) condition. To increase audibility over a wide frequency range, speech and noise were amplified based on each individual’s hearing loss. A stepwise multiple linear regression approach was used to examine the contribution of several factors to 1) absolute performance in each filter condition and 2) the change in performance with the addition of amplified high- and low-frequency speech components. Results Results from the regression analysis showed that degree of hearing loss was the strongest predictor of absolute performance for low- and high-pass filtered speech materials. In addition, configuration of hearing loss affected both absolute performance for severely low-pass filtered speech and benefit from extending high-frequency (3534–8976 Hz) bandwidth. Specifically, individuals with steeply sloping high-frequency losses made better use of low-pass filtered speech information than individuals with similar low-frequency thresholds but less high-frequency loss. In contrast, given similar high-frequency thresholds, individuals with flat hearing losses received more benefit from extending high-frequency bandwidth than individuals with more sloping losses. Conclusions Consistent with previous work, benefit from speech information in a given frequency region generally decreases as degree of hearing loss in that frequency region increases. However, given a similar degree of loss, the configuration of hearing loss also affects the ability to use speech information in different frequency regions. Except for individuals with steeply sloping high-frequency losses, providing high-frequency amplification (3534–8976 Hz) had either a beneficial effect on, or did not significantly degrade, speech understanding. These findings highlight the importance of extended high-frequency amplification for listeners with a wide range of high-frequency hearing losses, when seeking to maximize intelligibility. PMID:21336138

Aftereffects of Intense Low-Frequency Sound on Spontaneous Otoacoustic Emissions: Effect of Frequency and Level.

PubMed

Jeanson, Lena; Wiegrebe, Lutz; Gürkov, Robert; Krause, Eike; Drexl, Markus

2017-02-01

The presentation of intense, low-frequency (LF) sound to the human ear can cause very slow, sinusoidal oscillations of cochlear sensitivity after LF sound offset, coined the "Bounce" phenomenon. Changes in level and frequency of spontaneous otoacoustic emissions (SOAEs) are a sensitive measure of the Bounce. Here, we investigated the effect of LF sound level and frequency on the Bounce. Specifically, the level of SOAEs was tracked for minutes before and after a 90-s LF sound exposure. Trials were carried out with several LF sound levels (93 to 108 dB SPL corresponding to 47 to 75 phons at a fixed frequency of 30 Hz) and different LF sound frequencies (30, 60, 120, 240 and 480 Hz at a fixed loudness level of 80 phons). At an LF sound frequency of 30 Hz, a minimal sound level of 102 dB SPL (64 phons) was sufficient to elicit a significant Bounce. In some subjects, however, 93 dB SPL (47 phons), the lowest level used, was sufficient to elicit the Bounce phenomenon and actual thresholds could have been even lower. Measurements with different LF sound frequencies showed a mild reduction of the Bounce phenomenon with increasing LF sound frequency. This indicates that the strength of the Bounce not only is a simple function of the spectral separation between SOAE and LF sound frequency but also depends on absolute LF sound frequency, possibly related to the magnitude of the AC component of the outer hair cell receptor potential.

Using DORIS measurements for modeling the vertical total electron content of the Earth's ionosphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dettmering, Denise; Limberger, Marco; Schmidt, Michael

2014-12-01

The Doppler orbitography and radiopositioning integrated by satellite (DORIS) system was originally developed for precise orbit determination of low Earth orbiting (LEO) satellites. Beyond that, it is highly qualified for modeling the distribution of electrons within the Earth's ionosphere. It measures with two frequencies in L-band with a relative frequency ratio close to 5. Since the terrestrial ground beacons are distributed quite homogeneously and several LEOs are equipped with modern receivers, a good applicability for global vertical total electron content (VTEC) modeling can be expected. This paper investigates the capability of DORIS dual-frequency phase observations for deriving VTEC and the contribution of these data to global VTEC modeling. The DORIS preprocessing is performed similar to commonly used global navigation satellite systems (GNSS) preprocessing. However, the absolute DORIS VTEC level is taken from global ionospheric maps (GIM) provided by the International GNSS Service (IGS) as the DORIS data contain no absolute information. DORIS-derived VTEC values show good consistency with IGS GIMs with a RMS between 2 and 3 total electron content units (TECU) depending on solar activity which can be reduced to less than 2 TECU when using only observations with elevation angles higher than . The combination of DORIS VTEC with data from other space-geodetic measurement techniques improves the accuracy of global VTEC models significantly. If DORIS VTEC data is used to update IGS GIMs, an improvement of up to 12 % can be achieved. The accuracy directly beneath the DORIS satellites' ground-tracks ranges between 1.5 and 3.5 TECU assuming a precision of 2.5 TECU for altimeter-derived VTEC values which have been used for validation purposes.

Energy and Transmissibility in Nonlinear Viscous Base Isolators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Markou, Athanasios A.; Manolis, George D.

2016-09-01

High damping rubber bearings (HDRB) are the most commonly used base isolators in buildings and are often combined with other systems, such as sliding bearings. Their mechanical behaviour is highly nonlinear and dependent on a number of factors. At first, a physical process is suggested here to explain the empirical formula introduced by J.M. Kelly in 1991, where the dissipated energy of a HDRB under cyclic testing, at constant frequency, is proportional to the amplitude of the shear strain, raised to a power of approximately 1.50. This physical process is best described by non-Newtonian fluid behaviour, originally developed by F.H. Norton in 1929 to describe creep in steel at high-temperatures. The constitutive model used includes a viscous term, that depends on the absolute value of the velocity, raised to a non-integer power. The identification of a three parameter Kelvin model, the simplest possible system with nonlinear viscosity, is also suggested here. Furthermore, a more advanced model with variable damping coefficient is implemented to better model in this complex mechanical process. Next, the assumption of strain-rate dependence in their rubber layers under cyclic loading is examined in order to best interpret experimental results on the transmission of motion between the upper and lower surfaces of HDRB. More specifically, the stress-relaxation phenomenon observed with time in HRDB can be reproduced numerically, only if the constitutive model includes a viscous term, that depends on the absolute value of the velocity raised to a non-integer power, i. e., the Norton fluid previously mentioned. Thus, it becomes possible to compute the displacement transmissibility function between the top and bottom surfaces of HDRB base isolator systems and to draw engineering-type conclusions, relevant to their design under time-harmonic loads.

Acoustic Radiation Force-Induced Creep-Recovery (ARFICR): A Noninvasive Method to Characterize Tissue Viscoelasticity.

PubMed

Amador Carrascal, Carolina; Chen, Shigao; Urban, Matthew W; Greenleaf, James F

2018-01-01

Ultrasound shear wave elastography is a promising noninvasive, low cost, and clinically viable tool for liver fibrosis staging. Current shear wave imaging technologies on clinical ultrasound scanners ignore shear wave dispersion and use a single group velocity measured over the shear wave bandwidth to estimate tissue elasticity. The center frequency and bandwidth of shear waves induced by acoustic radiation force depend on the ultrasound push beam (push duration, -number, etc.) and the viscoelasticity of the medium, and therefore are different across scanners from different vendors. As a result, scanners from different vendors may give different tissue elasticity measurements within the same patient. Various methods have been proposed to evaluate shear wave dispersion to better estimate tissue viscoelasticity. A rheological model such as the Kelvin-Voigt model is typically fitted to the shear wave dispersion to solve for the elasticity and viscosity of tissue. However, these rheological models impose strong assumptions about frequency dependence of elasticity and viscosity. Here, we propose a new method called Acoustic Radiation Force Induced Creep-Recovery (ARFICR) capable of quantifying rheological model-independent measurements of elasticity and viscosity for more robust tissue health assessment. In ARFICR, the creep-recovery time signal at the focus of the push beam is used to calculate the relative elasticity and viscosity (scaled by an unknown constant) over a wide frequency range. Shear waves generated during the ARFICR measurement are also detected and used to calculate the shear wave velocity at its center frequency, which is then used to calibrate the relative elasticity and viscosity to absolute elasticity and viscosity. In this paper, finite-element method simulations and experiments in tissue mimicking phantoms are used to validate and characterize the extent of viscoelastic quantification of ARFICR. The results suggest that ARFICR can measure tissue viscoelasticity reliably. Moreover, the results showed the strong frequency dependence of viscoelastic parameters in tissue mimicking phantoms and healthy liver.

Self-consistent phonon calculations of lattice dynamical properties in cubic SrTiO3 with first-principles anharmonic force constants

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tadano, Terumasa; Tsuneyuki, Shinji

2015-08-01

We present an ab initio framework to calculate anharmonic phonon frequency and phonon lifetime that is applicable to severely anharmonic systems. We employ self-consistent phonon (SCPH) theory with microscopic anharmonic force constants, which are extracted from density functional calculations using the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator technique. We apply the method to the high-temperature phase of SrTiO3 and obtain well-defined phonon quasiparticles that are free from imaginary frequencies. Here we show that the anharmonic phonon frequency of the antiferrodistortive mode depends significantly on the system size near the critical temperature of the cubic-to-tetragonal phase transition. By applying perturbation theory to the SCPH result, phonon lifetimes are calculated for cubic SrTiO3, which are then employed to predict lattice thermal conductivity using the Boltzmann transport equation within the relaxation-time approximation. The presented methodology is efficient and accurate, paving the way toward a reliable description of thermodynamic, dynamic, and transport properties of systems with severe anharmonicity, including thermoelectric, ferroelectric, and superconducting materials.

New look at the Badger-Bauer rule: Correlations of spectroscopic IR and NMR parameters with hydrogen bond energy and geometry. FHF complexes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tupikina, E. Yu.; Denisov, G. S.; Melikova, S. M.; Kucherov, S. Yu.; Tolstoy, P. M.

2018-07-01

In this work correlation dependencies between hydrogen bond energy ΔE for complexes with Fsbnd H⋯F hydrogen bond and their spectroscopic characteristics of the IR and NMR spectra are presented. We considered 26 complexes in a wide hydrogen bond energy range 0.2-47 kcal/mol. For each complex we calculated complexation energy (MP2/6-311++G(d,p)), IR spectroscopic parameters (FH stretching frequency ν, FH stretching frequency in local mode approximation νLM at MP2/6-311++G(d,p) level) and NMR parameters (chemical shift of hydrogen δH and fluorine nuclei δF, Nuclear Independent Chemical Shielding and spin-spin coupling constants 1JFH, 1hJH...F, 2hJFF at B3LYP/pcSseg-2 level). It was shown that changes of parameters upon complexation, i.e. changes of the stretching frequency in local mode approximation ΔνLM, change of the proton chemical shift ΔδH and change of the absolute value of spin-spin coupling constant 1JFH could be used for estimation of corresponding hydrogen bond strength. Furthermore, we build correlation dependencies between abovementioned spectroscopic characteristics and geometric ones, such as the asymmetry of bridging proton position q1 = 0.5·(rFH - rH…F).

The frequencies of IFNγ+IL2+TNFα+ PPD-specific CD4+CD45RO+ T-cells correlate with the magnitude of the QuantiFERON® gold in-tube response in a prospective study of healthy indian adolescents.

PubMed

Jenum, Synne; Grewal, Harleen M S; Hokey, David A; Kenneth, John; Vaz, Mario; Doherty, Timothy Mark; Jahnsen, Frode Lars

2014-01-01

QuantiFERON-TB Gold In-Tube (QFT) is an IFNγ-release assay used in the diagnosis of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB) infection. The risk of TB progression increases with the magnitude of the MTB-specific IFNγ-response. QFT reversion, also associated with low Tuberculin Skin Test responses, may therefore represent a transient immune response with control of M. tuberculosis infection. However, studies at the single cell level have suggested that the quality (polyfunctionality) of the T-cell response is more important than the quantity of cytokines produced. To explore the quality and/or magnitude of mycobacteria-specific T-cell responses associated with QFT reversion and persistent QFT-positivity. Multi-color flowcytometry on prospectively collected peripheral blood mononuclear cells was applied to assess mycobacteria-specific T-cell responses in 42 QFT positive Indian adolescents of whom 21 became QFT negative (reverters) within one year. Ten QFT consistent negatives were also included as controls. There was no difference in the qualitative PPD-specific CD4+ T-cell response between QFT consistent positives and reverters. However, compared with QFT consistent positives, reverters displayed lower absolute frequencies of polyfunctional (IFNγ+IL2+TNFα+) CD4+ T-cells at baseline, which were further reduced to the point where they were not different to QFT negative controls one year later. Moreover, absolute frequencies of these cells correlated well with the magnitude of the QFT-response. Whereas specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cells have been suggested to protect against TB progression, our data do not support that higher relative or absolute frequencies of PPD-specific polyfunctional CD4+ T-cells in peripheral blood can explain the reduced risk of TB progression observed in QFT reverters. On the contrary, absolute frequencies of these cells correlated with the QFT-response, suggesting that this readout reflects antigenic load.

Absolute calibration of a multichannel plate detector for low energy O, O-, and O+

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stephen, T. M.; Peko, B. L.

2000-03-01

Absolute detection efficiencies of a commercial multichannel plate detector have been measured for O, O+, and O-, impacting at normal incidence for energies ranging from 30-1000 eV. In addition, the detection efficiencies for O relative to its ions are presented, as they may have a more universal application. The absolute detection efficiencies are strongly energy dependent and significant differences are observed for the various charge states at lower energies. The detection efficiencies for the different charge states appear to converge at higher energies. The strongest energy dependence is for O+; the detection efficiency varies by three orders of magnitude across the energy range studied. The weakest dependence is for O-, which varies less than one order of magnitude.

Measuring THz QCL feedback using an integrated monolithic transceiver.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wanke, Michael Clement

2010-08-01

THz quantum cascade lasers are of interest for use as solid-state local-oscillators in THz heterodyne receiver systems, especially for frequencies exceeding 2 THz and for use with non-cryogenic mixers which require mW power levels. Among other criteria, to be a good local oscillator, the laser must have a narrow linewidth and excellent frequency stability. Recent phase locking measurements of THz QCLs to high harmonics of microwave frequency reference sources as high as 2.7 THz demonstrate that the linewidth and frequency stability of QCLs can be more than adequate. Most reported THz receivers employing QCLs have used discrete source and detectormore » components coupled via mechanically aligned free-space quasioptics. Unfortunately, retroreflections of the laser off of the detecting element can lead to deleterious feedback effects. Using a monolithically integrated transceiver with a Schottky diode monolithically integrated into a THz QCL, we have begun to explore the sensitivity of the laser performance to feedback due to retroreflections of the THz laser radiation. The transceiver allows us to monitor the beat frequency between internal Fabry-Perot modes of the QCL or between a QCL mode and external radiation incident on the transceiver. When some of the power from a free running Fabry-Perot type QCL is retroreflected with quasi-static optics we observe frequency pulling, mode splitting and chaos. Given the lack of calibrated frequency sources with sufficient stability and power to phase lock a QCL above a couple THz, attempts have been made to lock the absolute laser frequency by locking the beat frequency of a multimoded laser. We have phase locked the beat frequency between Fabry-Perot modes to an {approx}13 GHz microwave reference source with a linewidth less than 1 Hz, but did not see any improvment in stability of the absolute frequency of the laser. In this case, when some laser power is retroreflected back into the laser, the absolute frequency can be pulled significantly as a function of the external path length.« less

Absolute Distance Measurement with the MSTAR Sensor

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lay, Oliver P.; Dubovitsky, Serge; Peters, Robert; Burger, Johan; Ahn, Seh-Won; Steier, William H.; Fetterman, Harrold R.; Chang, Yian

2003-01-01

The MSTAR sensor (Modulation Sideband Technology for Absolute Ranging) is a new system for measuring absolute distance, capable of resolving the integer cycle ambiguity of standard interferometers, and making it possible to measure distance with sub-nanometer accuracy. The sensor uses a single laser in conjunction with fast phase modulators and low frequency detectors. We describe the design of the system - the principle of operation, the metrology source, beamlaunching optics, and signal processing - and show results for target distances up to 1 meter. We then demonstrate how the system can be scaled to kilometer-scale distances.

Effect of plasma grid bias on extracted currents in the RF driven surface-plasma negative ion source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Belchenko, Yu., E-mail: belchenko@inp.nsk.su; Ivanov, A.; Sanin, A.

2016-02-15

Extraction of negative ions from the large inductively driven surface-plasma negative ion source was studied. The dependencies of the extracted currents vs plasma grid (PG) bias potential were measured for two modifications of radio-frequency driver with and without Faraday screen, for different hydrogen feeds and for different levels of cesium conditioning. The maximal PG current was independent of driver modification and it was lower in the case of inhibited cesium. The maximal extracted negative ion current depends on the potential difference between the near-PG plasma and the PG bias potentials, while the absolute value of plasma potential in the drivermore » and in the PG area is less important for the negative ion production. The last conclusion confirms the main mechanism of negative ion production through the surface conversion of fast atoms.« less

Human speed perception is contrast dependent

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, Leland S.; Thompson, Peter

1992-01-01

When two parallel gratings moving at the same speed are presented simultaneously, the lower-contrast grating appears slower. This misperception is evident across a wide range of contrasts (2.5-50 percent) and does not appear to saturate. On average, a 70 percent contrast grating must be slowed by 35 percent to match a 10 percent contrast grating moving at 2 deg/sec (N = 6). Furthermore, the effect is largely independent of the absolute contrast level and is a quasilinear function of log contrast ratio. A preliminary parametric study shows that, although spatial frequency has little effect, relative orientation is important. Finally, the misperception of relative speed appears lessened when the stimuli to be matched are presented sequentially.

Determination of the Absolute Number of Cytokine mRNA Molecules within Individual Activated Human T Cells

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Karr, Laurel J.; Marshall, Gwen; Hockett, Richard D.; Bucy, R. Pat; Curreri, Peter A. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

A primary function of activated T cells is the expression and subsequent secretion of cytokines, which orchestrate the differentiation of other lymphocytes, modulate antigen presenting cell activity, and alter vascular endothelium to mediate an immune response. Since many features of immune regulation probably result from modest alterations of endogenous rates of multiple interacting processes, quantitative analysis of the frequency and specific activity of individual T cells is critically important. Using a coordinated set of quantitative methods, the absolute number of molecules of several key cytokine mRNA species in individual T cells has been determined. The frequency of human blood T cells activated in vitro by mitogens and recall protein antigens was determined by intracellular cytokine protein staining, in situ hybridization for cytokine mRNA, and by limiting dilution analysis for cytokine mRNA+ cells. The absolute number of mRNA molecules was simultaneously determined in both homogenates of the entire population of cells and in individual cells obtained by limiting dilution, using a quantitative, competitive RT-PCR assay. The absolute numbers of mRNA molecules in a population of cells divided by the frequency of individual positive cells, yielded essentially the same number of mRNA molecules per cell as direct analysis of individual cells by limiting dilution analysis. Mean numbers of mRNA per positive cell from both mitogen and antigen activated T cells, using these stimulation conditions, were 6000 for IL-2, 6300 for IFN-gamma, and 1600 for IL-4.

Ultra-low-frequency vertical vibration isolator based on a two-stage beam structure for absolute gravimetry.

PubMed

Wang, G; Wu, K; Hu, H; Li, G; Wang, L J

2016-10-01

To reduce seismic and environmental vibration noise, ultra-low-frequency vertical vibration isolation systems play an important role in absolute gravimetry. For this purpose, an isolator based on a two-stage beam structure is proposed and demonstrated. The isolator has a simpler and more robust structure than the present ultra-low-frequency vertical active vibration isolators. In the system, two beams are connected to a frame using flexural pivots. The upper beam is suspended from the frame with a normal hex spring and the lower beam is suspended from the upper one using a zero-length spring. The pivot of the upper beam is not vertically above the pivot of the lower beam. With this special design, the attachment points of the zero-length spring to the beams can be moved to adjust the effective stiffness. A photoelectric detector is used to detect the angle between the two beams, and a voice coil actuator attached to the upper beam is controlled by a feedback circuit to keep the angle at a fixed value. The system can achieve a natural period of 100 s by carefully moving the attachment points of the zero-length spring to the beams and tuning the feedback parameters. The system has been used as an inertial reference in the T-1 absolute gravimeter. The experiment results demonstrate that the system has significant vibration isolation performance that holds promise in applications such as absolute gravimeters.

Ultra-low-frequency vertical vibration isolator based on a two-stage beam structure for absolute gravimetry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, G.; Wu, K.; Hu, H.; Li, G.; Wang, L. J.

2016-10-01

To reduce seismic and environmental vibration noise, ultra-low-frequency vertical vibration isolation systems play an important role in absolute gravimetry. For this purpose, an isolator based on a two-stage beam structure is proposed and demonstrated. The isolator has a simpler and more robust structure than the present ultra-low-frequency vertical active vibration isolators. In the system, two beams are connected to a frame using flexural pivots. The upper beam is suspended from the frame with a normal hex spring and the lower beam is suspended from the upper one using a zero-length spring. The pivot of the upper beam is not vertically above the pivot of the lower beam. With this special design, the attachment points of the zero-length spring to the beams can be moved to adjust the effective stiffness. A photoelectric detector is used to detect the angle between the two beams, and a voice coil actuator attached to the upper beam is controlled by a feedback circuit to keep the angle at a fixed value. The system can achieve a natural period of 100 s by carefully moving the attachment points of the zero-length spring to the beams and tuning the feedback parameters. The system has been used as an inertial reference in the T-1 absolute gravimeter. The experiment results demonstrate that the system has significant vibration isolation performance that holds promise in applications such as absolute gravimeters.

Dependence of hydrogen arcjet operation on electrode geometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pencil, Eric J.; Sankovic, John M.; Sarmiento, Charles J.; Hamley, John A.

1992-01-01

The dependence of 2kW hydrogen arcjet performance on cathode to anode electrode spacing was evaluated at specific impulses of 900 and 1000 s. Less than 2 absolute percent change in efficiency was measured for the spacings tested which did not repeat the 14 absolute percent variation reported in earlier work with similar electrode designs. A different nozzle configuration was used to quantify the variation in hydrogen arcjet performance over an extended range of electrode spacing. Electrode gap variation resulted in less than 3 absolute percent change in efficiency. These null results suggested that electrode spacing is decoupled from hydrogen arcjet ignition. The dependence of breakdown voltage on mass flow rate and electrode agreed with Paschen curves for hydrogen. Preliminary characterization of the dependence of hydrogen arcjet ignition on rates of pulse repetition and pulse voltage rise were also included for comparison with previous results obtained using simulated hydrazine.

Novel search algorithms for a mid-infrared spectral library of cotton contaminants.

PubMed

Loudermilk, J Brian; Himmelsbach, David S; Barton, Franklin E; de Haseth, James A

2008-06-01

During harvest, a variety of plant based contaminants are collected along with cotton lint. The USDA previously created a mid-infrared, attenuated total reflection (ATR), Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectral library of cotton contaminants for contaminant identification as the contaminants have negative impacts on yarn quality. This library has shown impressive identification rates for extremely similar cellulose based contaminants in cases where the library was representative of the samples searched. When spectra of contaminant samples from crops grown in different geographic locations, seasons, and conditions and measured with a different spectrometer and accessories were searched, identification rates for standard search algorithms decreased significantly. Six standard algorithms were examined: dot product, correlation, sum of absolute values of differences, sum of the square root of the absolute values of differences, sum of absolute values of differences of derivatives, and sum of squared differences of derivatives. Four categories of contaminants derived from cotton plants were considered: leaf, stem, seed coat, and hull. Experiments revealed that the performance of the standard search algorithms depended upon the category of sample being searched and that different algorithms provided complementary information about sample identity. These results indicated that choosing a single standard algorithm to search the library was not possible. Three voting scheme algorithms based on result frequency, result rank, category frequency, or a combination of these factors for the results returned by the standard algorithms were developed and tested for their capability to overcome the unpredictability of the standard algorithms' performances. The group voting scheme search was based on the number of spectra from each category of samples represented in the library returned in the top ten results of the standard algorithms. This group algorithm was able to identify correctly as many test spectra as the best standard algorithm without relying on human choice to select a standard algorithm to perform the searches.

Enhanced Lamb dip for absolute laser frequency stabilization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Siegman, A. E.; Byer, R. L.; Wang, S. C.

1972-01-01

Enhanced Lamb dip width is 5 MHz and total depth is 10 percent of peak power. Present configuration is useful as frequency standard in near infrared. Technique extends to other lasers, for which low pressure narrow linewidth gain tubes can be constructed.

Generation of 1/f noise from a broken-symmetry model for the arbitrary absolute pitch of musical melodies.

PubMed

Grant, Martin; Faghihi, Niloufar

2017-11-01

A model is presented to generate power spectrum noise with intensity proportional to 1/f  as a function of frequency f. The model arises from a broken-symmetry variable, which corresponds to absolute pitch, where fluctuations occur in an attempt to restore that symmetry, influenced by interactions in the creation of musical melodies.

Intra- and Interobserver Variability of Cochlear Length Measurements in Clinical CT.

PubMed

Iyaniwura, John E; Elfarnawany, Mai; Riyahi-Alam, Sadegh; Sharma, Manas; Kassam, Zahra; Bureau, Yves; Parnes, Lorne S; Ladak, Hanif M; Agrawal, Sumit K

2017-07-01

The cochlear A-value measurement exhibits significant inter- and intraobserver variability, and its accuracy is dependent on the visualization method in clinical computed tomography (CT) images of the cochlea. An accurate estimate of the cochlear duct length (CDL) can be used to determine electrode choice, and frequency map the cochlea based on the Greenwood equation. Studies have described estimating the CDL using a single A-value measurement, however the observer variability has not been assessed. Clinical and micro-CT images of 20 cadaveric cochleae were acquired. Four specialists measured A-values on clinical CT images using both standard views and multiplanar reconstructed (MPR) views. Measurements were repeated to assess for intraobserver variability. Observer variabilities were evaluated using intra-class correlation and absolute differences. Accuracy was evaluated by comparison to the gold standard micro-CT images of the same specimens. Interobserver variability was good (average absolute difference: 0.77 ± 0.42 mm) using standard views and fair (average absolute difference: 0.90 ± 0.31 mm) using MPR views. Intraobserver variability had an average absolute difference of 0.31 ± 0.09 mm for the standard views and 0.38 ± 0.17 mm for the MPR views. MPR view measurements were more accurate than standard views, with average relative errors of 9.5 and 14.5%, respectively. There was significant observer variability in A-value measurements using both the standard and MPR views. Creating the MPR views increased variability between experts, however MPR views yielded more accurate results. Automated A-value measurement algorithms may help to reduce variability and increase accuracy in the future.

Spectral purity and tunability of terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on intracavity difference-frequency generation.

PubMed

Consolino, Luigi; Jung, Seungyong; Campa, Annamaria; De Regis, Michele; Pal, Shovon; Kim, Jae Hyun; Fujita, Kazuue; Ito, Akio; Hitaka, Masahiro; Bartalini, Saverio; De Natale, Paolo; Belkin, Mikhail A; Vitiello, Miriam Serena

2017-09-01

Terahertz sources based on intracavity difference-frequency generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers (THz DFG-QCLs) have recently emerged as the first monolithic electrically pumped semiconductor sources capable of operating at room temperature across the 1- to 6-THz range. Despite tremendous progress in power output, which now exceeds 1 mW in pulsed and 10 μW in continuous-wave regimes at room temperature, knowledge of the major figure of merits of these devices for high-precision spectroscopy, such as spectral purity and absolute frequency tunability, is still lacking. By exploiting a metrological grade system comprising a terahertz frequency comb synthesizer, we measure, for the first time, the free-running emission linewidth (LW), the tuning characteristics, and the absolute center frequency of individual emission lines of these sources with an uncertainty of 4 × 10 -10 . The unveiled emission LW (400 kHz at 1-ms integration time) indicates that DFG-QCLs are well suited to operate as local oscillators and to be used for a variety of metrological, spectroscopic, communication, and imaging applications that require narrow-LW THz sources.

Frequency measurement of the 2 S10-3 D12 two-photon transition in atomic 4He

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Huang, Yi-Jan; Guan, Yu-Chan; Huang, Yao-Chin; Suen, Te-Hwei; Peng, Jin-Long; Wang, Li-Bang; Shy, Jow-Tsong

2018-03-01

We present precise frequency measurement of the 2 S10-3 D12 two-photon transition in 4He at 1009 nm. The laser source at 1009 nm is stabilized on an optical frequency comb to perform the absolute frequency measurement. The absolute frequency of 2 S10-3 D12 transition is experimentally determined to be 594 414 291.803(13) MHz with a relative uncertainty of 1.6 ×10-11 , which is more precise than previous determinations by a factor of 25. In combination with the theoretical ionization energy of the 3 D12 state, the ionization energy of the 2 S10 state is determined to be 960 332 040.823(24) MHz. In addition, the deduced 2 S10 and 2 S31 Lamb shifts are 2806.864(24) MHz and 4058.130(24) MHz, respectively, which are 1.6 times better than previous determinations, and the fine structure 3 D31-3 D12 is determined to be 101 143.889(29) MHz, improving the precedent determination by a factor of 11.

A tunable, double-wavelength heterodyne detection interferometer with frequency-locked diode-pumped Nd:YAG sources for absolute measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gelmini, E.; Minoni, U.; Docchio, F.

1995-08-01

A double heterodyne interferometric instrument using a tunable synthetic wavelength for the absolute measurements of distance and position is presented. The optical synthetic wavelength is generated by a pair of PZT-tunable diode-pumped Nd:YAG lasers operating at 1.064 μm. Based on a closed-loop scheme, a suitable electronic circuit has been developed to implement the frequency locking of the two lasers. A digital frequency comparator provides an error signal, used to control the slave laser, by comparing the laser beat frequency to a reference oscillator. Demodulation of the superheterodyne signals is obtained by a rf detector followed by low-pass filtering. Distance measurements are obtained by a digital phase meter gauging the phase difference between the demodulated signals from a measuring interferometer and from a reference interferometer. The paper presents the optical and the electronic layouts of the instrument as well as experimental results from a laboratory prototype.

The effect of angiotensin-2 receptor blocker valsartan on circulating level of endothelial progenitor cells in diabetic patients with asymptomatic coronary artery disease.

PubMed

Berezin, Alexander E; Kremzer, Alexander A; Martovitskaya, Yulia V; Samura, Tatyana A

2015-01-01

Decreased circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) are considered as strong and robust biomarkers for the prediction of cardiovascular outcomes in diabetic populations. The perspectives for modulating EPCs levels in T2DM with known coronary artery disease (CAD) with different drugs, affected mechanisms of improving mobilization of EPCs from tissue, are not still understood. To evaluate an effect of angiotensin-2 receptor blocker valsartan on circulating level of EPCs in diabetic patients with asymptomatic CAD. The study population was structured retrospectively after determining the CAD by contrast-enhanced spiral computed tomography angiography in 126 asymptomatic subjects. All subjects were distributed into two cohorts depending on daily doses of valsartan given. Low (80-160 mg daily orally) and high doses (240-320 mg daily orally) of valsartan were used and they were adjusted depending on achieving BP level less than 140/80 mmHg. The change from baseline in CD34(+) subset cells (frequencies and absolute values) was not significantly different between treatment cohorts. We found a significant increase of circulating level of CD14(+)CD309(+) cells in two patient cohorts. But more prominent change of CD14(+)CD309(+) cells was verified in subjects who were given valsartan in high daily doses when compared with persons who were included into cohort with low daily doses of the drug (1.96% versus 2.59%, respectively; P<0.05). Therefore, both frequencies and absolute values in CD14(+)CD309(+)Tie(2+) were increased significantly in patients who were treated with high doses of valsartan only. We found positive influence of angiotensin-2 receptor blocker valsartan in escalation doses on bone marrow-derived EPCs phenotyped as CD14(+)CD309(+) and CD14(+)CD309(+)Tie(2+) in T2DM patients with known asymptomatic CAD. Copyright © 2014 Diabetes India. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Galileo FOC Satellite Group Delay Estimation based on Raw Method and published IOV Metadata

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Reckeweg, Florian; Schönemann, Erik; Springer, Tim; Enderle, Werner

2017-04-01

In December 2016, the European GNSS Agency (GSA) published the Galileo In-Orbit Validation (IOV) satellite metadata. These metadata include among others the so-called Galileo satellite group delays, which were measured in an absolute sense by the satellite manufacturer on-ground for all three Galileo frequency bands E1, E5 and E6. Therewith Galileo is the first Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) for which absolute calibration values for satellite on-board group delays have been published. The different satellite group delays for the three frequency bands lead to the fact that the signals will not be transmitted at exactly the same epoch. Up to now, due to the lack of absolute group delays, it is common practice in GNSS analyses to estimate and apply the differences of these satellite group delays, commonly known as differential code biases (DCBs). However, this has the drawback that the determination of the "raw" clock and the absolute ionosphere is not possible. The use of absolute bias calibrations for satellites and receivers is a major step into the direction of more realistic (in a physical sense) clock and atmosphere estimates. The Navigation Support Office at the European Space Operation Centre (ESOC) was from the beginning involved in the validation process of the Galileo metadata. For the work presented in this presentation we will use the absolute bias calibrations of the Galileo IOV satellites to estimate and validate the absolute receiver group delays of the ESOC GNSS network and vice versa. The receiver group delays have exemplarily been calibrated in a calibration campaign with an IFEN GNSS Signal-Simulator at ESOC. Based on the calibrated network, making use of the ionosphere constraints given by the IOV satellites, GNSS raw observations are processed to estimate satellite group delays for the operational Galileo (Full Operational Capability) FOC satellites. In addition, "raw" satellite clock offsets are estimated, which are free of the ionosphere-free bias, which is inherent to all common satellite clock products, generated with the standard ionosphere-free linear combination processing approach. In the raw observation processing method, developed by the Navigation Support Office at ESOC, no differences or linear combinations of GNSS observations are formed and ionosphere parameters and multi-signal group delay parameters can be jointly estimated by making use of all available code and phase observations on multiple frequencies.

Absolute Transition Probabilities of Lines in the Spectra of Astrophysical Atoms, Molecules, and Ions

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Parkinson, W. H.; Smith, P. L.; Yoshino, K.

1984-01-01

Progress in the investigation of absolute transition probabilities (A-values or F values) for ultraviolet lines is reported. A radio frequency ion trap was used for measurement of transition probabilities for intersystem lines seen in astronomical spectra. The intersystem line at 2670 A in Al II, which is seen in pre-main sequence stars and symbiotic stars, was studied.

A behavioral audiogram of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes).

PubMed

Malkemper, E Pascal; Topinka, Václav; Burda, Hynek

2015-02-01

We determined the absolute hearing sensitivity of the red fox (Vulpes vulpes) using an adapted standard psychoacoustic procedure. The animals were tested in a reward-based go/no-go procedure in a semi-anechoic chamber. At 60 dB sound pressure level (SPL) (re 20 μPa) red foxes perceive pure tones between 51 Hz and 48 kHz, spanning 9.84 octaves with a single peak sensitivity of -15 dB at 4 kHz. The red foxes' high-frequency cutoff is comparable to that of the domestic dog while the low-frequency cutoff is comparable to that of the domestic cat and the absolute sensitivity is between both species. The maximal absolute sensitivity of the red fox is among the best found to date in any mammal. The procedure used here allows for assessment of animal auditory thresholds using positive reinforcement outside the laboratory. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

High frequency source localization in a shallow ocean sound channel using frequency difference matched field processing.

PubMed

Worthmann, Brian M; Song, H C; Dowling, David R

2015-12-01

Matched field processing (MFP) is an established technique for source localization in known multipath acoustic environments. Unfortunately, in many situations, particularly those involving high frequency signals, imperfect knowledge of the actual propagation environment prevents accurate propagation modeling and source localization via MFP fails. For beamforming applications, this actual-to-model mismatch problem was mitigated through a frequency downshift, made possible by a nonlinear array-signal-processing technique called frequency difference beamforming [Abadi, Song, and Dowling (2012). J. Acoust. Soc. Am. 132, 3018-3029]. Here, this technique is extended to conventional (Bartlett) MFP using simulations and measurements from the 2011 Kauai Acoustic Communications MURI experiment (KAM11) to produce ambiguity surfaces at frequencies well below the signal bandwidth where the detrimental effects of mismatch are reduced. Both the simulation and experimental results suggest that frequency difference MFP can be more robust against environmental mismatch than conventional MFP. In particular, signals of frequency 11.2 kHz-32.8 kHz were broadcast 3 km through a 106-m-deep shallow ocean sound channel to a sparse 16-element vertical receiving array. Frequency difference MFP unambiguously localized the source in several experimental data sets with average peak-to-side-lobe ratio of 0.9 dB, average absolute-value range error of 170 m, and average absolute-value depth error of 10 m.

A high sensitivity real-time NVR monitor. [Nonvolatile Residue

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bowers, William D.; Chuan, R. L.

1992-01-01

The use of a temperature-controlled 200-MHz SAW resonator piezoelectric mass microbalance to monitor the mass of nonvolatile residue (NVR) deposited on its surface in real time is reported. The fundamental frequency of this device is mainly dependent on the configuration of the transducers and not on the thickness of the substrate. Therefore, higher operating frequencies can be achieved without reducing the thickness of the crystal. The real-time instrument was integrated onto a conventional stainless steel NVR plate and operated flawlessly over a 14-d period at Kennedy Space Center and successfully measured less than 1 ng/sq cm d NVR contamination. Contamination episodes detected by the instrument were correlated with scheduled activities on the test stand. Under the assumption of a baseline noise level of +/- 2 Hz, the absolute mass lower limit of detection would be 0.065 ng/sq cm. This would enable the detection of a daily NVR deposition rate of less than 0.1 ng/sq cm d.

Allan deviation analysis of financial return series

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hernández-Pérez, R.

2012-05-01

We perform a scaling analysis for the return series of different financial assets applying the Allan deviation (ADEV), which is used in the time and frequency metrology to characterize quantitatively the stability of frequency standards since it has demonstrated to be a robust quantity to analyze fluctuations of non-stationary time series for different observation intervals. The data used are opening price daily series for assets from different markets during a time span of around ten years. We found that the ADEV results for the return series at short scales resemble those expected for an uncorrelated series, consistent with the efficient market hypothesis. On the other hand, the ADEV results for absolute return series for short scales (first one or two decades) decrease following approximately a scaling relation up to a point that is different for almost each asset, after which the ADEV deviates from scaling, which suggests that the presence of clustering, long-range dependence and non-stationarity signatures in the series drive the results for large observation intervals.

2D DOST based local phase pattern for face recognition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Moniruzzaman, Md.; Alam, Mohammad S.

2017-05-01

A new two dimensional (2-D) Discrete Orthogonal Stcokwell Transform (DOST) based Local Phase Pattern (LPP) technique has been proposed for efficient face recognition. The proposed technique uses 2-D DOST as preliminary preprocessing and local phase pattern to form robust feature signature which can effectively accommodate various 3D facial distortions and illumination variations. The S-transform, is an extension of the ideas of the continuous wavelet transform (CWT), is also known for its local spectral phase properties in time-frequency representation (TFR). It provides a frequency dependent resolution of the time-frequency space and absolutely referenced local phase information while maintaining a direct relationship with the Fourier spectrum which is unique in TFR. After utilizing 2-D Stransform as the preprocessing and build local phase pattern from extracted phase information yield fast and efficient technique for face recognition. The proposed technique shows better correlation discrimination compared to alternate pattern recognition techniques such as wavelet or Gabor based face recognition. The performance of the proposed method has been tested using the Yale and extended Yale facial database under different environments such as illumination variation and 3D changes in facial expressions. Test results show that the proposed technique yields better performance compared to alternate time-frequency representation (TFR) based face recognition techniques.

Characterization of air-coupled ultrasound transducers in the frequency range 40 kHz-2 mHz using light diffraction tomography.

PubMed

Almqvist, M; Holm, A; Persson, H W; Lindström, K

2000-01-01

The aim of this work was to show the applicability of light diffraction tomography on airborne ultrasound in the frequency range 40 kHz-2 MHz. Seven different air-coupled transducers were measured to show the method's performance regarding linearity, absolute pressure measurements, phase measurements, frequency response, S/N ratio and spatial resolution. A calibrated microphone and the pulse-echo method were used to evaluate the results. The absolute measurements agreed within the calibrated microphone's uncertainty range. Pulse waveforms and corresponding FFT diagrams show the method's higher bandwidth compared with the microphone. Further, the method offers non-perturbing measurements with high spatial resolution, which was especially advantageous for measurements close to the transducer surfaces. The S/N ratio was higher than or in the same range as that of the two comparison methods.

Radio frequency cavity analysis, measurement, and calibration of absolute Dee voltage for K-500 superconducting cyclotron at VECC, Kolkata

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Som, Sumit; Seth, Sudeshna; Mandal, Aditya

2013-02-15

Variable Energy Cyclotron Centre has commissioned a K-500 superconducting cyclotron for various types of nuclear physics experiments. The 3-phase radio-frequency system of superconducting cyclotron has been developed in the frequency range 9-27 MHz with amplitude and phase stability of 100 ppm and {+-}0.2{sup 0}, respectively. The analysis of the RF cavity has been carried out using 3D Computer Simulation Technology (CST) Microwave Studio code and various RF parameters and accelerating voltages ('Dee' voltage) are calculated from simulation. During the RF system commissioning, measurement of different RF parameters has been done and absolute Dee voltage has been calibrated using a CdTemore » X-ray detector along with its accessories and known X-ray source. The present paper discusses about the measured data and the simulation result.« less

Early results from the Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS)

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mather, J. C.; Cheng, E. S.; Shafer, R. A.; Eplee, R. E.; Isaacman, R. B.; Fixsen, D. J.; Read, S. M.; Meyer, S. S.; Weiss, R.; Wright, E. L.

1991-01-01

The Far Infrared Absolute Spectrophotometer (FIRAS) on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) mapped 98 percent of the sky, 60 percent of it twice, before the liquid helium coolant was exhausted. The FIRAS covers the frequency region from 1 to 100/cm with a 7 deg angular resolution. The spectral resolution is 0.2/cm for frequencies less than 20/cm and 0.8/cm for higher frequencies. Preliminary results include: a limit on the deviations from a Planck curve of 1 percent of the peak brightness from 1 to 20/cm, a temperature of 2.735 +/- 0.06 K, a limit on the Comptonization parameter y of 0.001, on the chemical potential parameter mu of 0.01, a strong limit on the existence of a hot smooth intergalactic medium, and a confirmation that the dipole anisotropy spectrum is that of a Doppler shifted blackbody.

Absolute S- and P-plane polarization efficiencies for high frequency holographic gratings in the VUV

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caruso, A. J.; Woodgate, B. E.; Mount, G. H.

1981-01-01

High frequency plane gratings (3500 and 3600 gr/mm) have been holographically ruled and blazed for the VUV spectral region. All gratings were coated with 70 nm Al + 25 nm MgF2. Absolute unpolarized and S- and P-plane polarization efficiencies have been measured for the first and second orders in the 120- to 450-nm spectral region at 18.5 and 30 deg angles of deviation. For deep grooves, anomalous features are more pronounced for the P-plane polarization efficiency than for the S-plane polarization efficiency. Holographic gratings can be tailored to produce high polarization or low polarization in the VUV. For comparison, efficiencies and polarization of the best conventional high frequency gratings were also determined. Measurements show that scattered light is significantly lower for holographic gratings in the VUV when compared with the conventional gratings.

[Clinical observation on laparoscopic radiofrequency ablation assisted enucleation for the renal epithelial angimyolipoma].

PubMed

Yang, Yang; Yang, Rong; Guo, Hongqian

2014-08-13

To explore the clinicopathological characteristics of epithelial angiomyolipoma (EAML) and examine the clinical efficacy and prognosis of laparoscopic radio frequency ablation assisted enucleation. The clinicopathological data of 7 patients with renal EAML undergoing laparoscopic radio frequency ablation assisted enucleation were reviewed from April 2009 to June 2012. And the clinical efficacy and prognosis of laparoscopic radio frequency ablation assisted enucleation were analyzed. Laparoscopic radio frequency ablation assisted enucleation was successfully performed in all cases without postoperative bleeding, ureteral obstruction, chronic renal insufficiency or urinary leakage. The mean operative duration was 110 min. Renal pedicles were blocked in 4 patients with a mean blockage time of 9 min. The mean intraoperative bleeding was 90 ml. No blood transfusion was required. The absolute bedrest time was 1-3 days and the drainage tube implanted for 3.8 days. Postoperative pathology showed that all cases were EAML. Immunohistochemistry showed HMB-45⁺ and small muscle action⁺ and creatine kinase⁻ in epithelioid cells. During a mean follow-up period of 1.8 years, none of them had local tumor recurrence, chronic renal insufficiency or other complications. Renal EAML is a rare subtype of angiomyolipoma without specific clinical and imaging features. And its definite confirmation depends on pathology. Laparoscopic radio frequency ablation assisted enucleation is both safe and effective in the treatment of renal EAML with pseudocapsule.

Accounting for hardware imperfections in EIT image reconstruction algorithms.

PubMed

Hartinger, Alzbeta E; Gagnon, Hervé; Guardo, Robert

2007-07-01

Electrical impedance tomography (EIT) is a non-invasive technique for imaging the conductivity distribution of a body section. Different types of EIT images can be reconstructed: absolute, time difference and frequency difference. Reconstruction algorithms are sensitive to many errors which translate into image artefacts. These errors generally result from incorrect modelling or inaccurate measurements. Every reconstruction algorithm incorporates a model of the physical set-up which must be as accurate as possible since any discrepancy with the actual set-up will cause image artefacts. Several methods have been proposed in the literature to improve the model realism, such as creating anatomical-shaped meshes, adding a complete electrode model and tracking changes in electrode contact impedances and positions. Absolute and frequency difference reconstruction algorithms are particularly sensitive to measurement errors and generally assume that measurements are made with an ideal EIT system. Real EIT systems have hardware imperfections that cause measurement errors. These errors translate into image artefacts since the reconstruction algorithm cannot properly discriminate genuine measurement variations produced by the medium under study from those caused by hardware imperfections. We therefore propose a method for eliminating these artefacts by integrating a model of the system hardware imperfections into the reconstruction algorithms. The effectiveness of the method has been evaluated by reconstructing absolute, time difference and frequency difference images with and without the hardware model from data acquired on a resistor mesh phantom. Results have shown that artefacts are smaller for images reconstructed with the model, especially for frequency difference imaging.

A source of artifact in the lacZ reversion assay in Escherichia coli.

PubMed

Hoffmann, George R; Gray, Carol L; Lange, Paulina B; Marando, Christie I

2015-06-01

The lacZ reversion assay in Escherichia coli measures point mutations that occur by specific base substitutions and frameshift mutations. The tester strains cannot use lactose as a carbon source (Lac(-)), and revertants are easily detected by growth on lactose medium (Lac(+)). Six strains identify the six possible base substitutions, and five strains measure +G, -G, -CG, +A and -A frameshifts. Strong mutagens give dose-dependent increases in numbers of revertants per plate and revertant frequencies. Testing compounds that are arguably nonmutagens or weakly mutagenic, we often noted statistically significant dose-dependent increases in revertant frequency that were not accompanied by an absolute increase in numbers of revertants. The increase in frequency was wholly ascribable to a declining number of viable cells owing to toxicity. Analysis of the conditions revealed that the frequency of spontaneous revertants is higher when there are fewer viable cells per plate. The phenomenon resembles "adaptive" or "stress" mutagenesis, whereby lactose revertants accumulate in Lac(-) bacteria under starvation conditions in the absence of catabolite repression. Adaptive mutation is observed after long incubation and might be expected to be irrelevant in a standard assay using 48-h incubation. However, we found that elevated revertant frequencies occur under typical assay conditions when the bacterial lawn is thin, and this can cause increases in revertant frequency that mimic chemical mutagenesis when treatments are toxic but not mutagenic. Responses that resemble chemical mutagenesis were observed in the absence of mutagenic treatment in strains that revert by different frameshift mutations. The magnitude of the artifact is affected by cell density, dilution, culture age, incubation time, catabolite repression and the age and composition of media. Although the specific reversion assay is effective for quickly distinguishing classes of mutations induced by potent mutagens, its utility for discerning effects of weak mutagens may be compromised by the artifact. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Dynamics of alkali ions-neutral molecules reactions: Radio frequency-guided beam experimental cross-sections and direct quasiclassical trajectory studies

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Aguilar, J.; Andres, J. de; Lucas, J. M.

2012-11-27

Different reactive processes taking place in collisions between alkali ions and neutral i-C{sub 3}H{sub 7}Cl molecules in the low (center of mass frame) energy range have been studied using an octopole radiofrequency guided-ion-beam apparatus developed in our laboratory. Cross-section energy dependences for all these reactions have been obtained in absolute units. Ab initio electronic structure calculations for those colliding systems evolving on the ground single potential surface have given relevant information on the main topological features of the surfaces. For some of the reactions a dynamic study by 'on the fly' trajectories has complemented the available experimental and electronic structuremore » information.« less

Elimination of residual amplitude modulation in tunable diode laser wavelength modulation spectroscopy using an optical fiber delay line.

PubMed

Chakraborty, Arup Lal; Ruxton, Keith; Johnstone, Walter; Lengden, Michael; Duffin, Kevin

2009-06-08

A new fiber-optic technique to eliminate residual amplitude modulation in tunable diode laser wavelength modulation spectroscopy is presented. The modulated laser output is split to pass in parallel through the gas measurement cell and an optical fiber delay line, with the modulation frequency / delay chosen to introduce a relative phase shift of pi between them. The two signals are balanced using a variable attenuator and recombined through a fiber coupler. In the absence of gas, the direct laser intensity modulation cancels, thereby eliminating the high background. The presence of gas induces a concentration-dependent imbalance at the coupler's output from which the absolute absorption profile is directly recovered with high accuracy using 1f detection.

Broader, flatter optical spectra of passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers for a wavelength-division multiplexing source

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Eliyahu, Danny; Yariv, Amnon

1997-05-01

Using the time domain master equation for a complex electric-field pulse envelope, we find analytical results for the optical spectra of passively mode-locked semiconductor lasers. The analysis includes the effect of optical nonlinearity of semiconductor lasers, which is characterized by a slow saturable amplifier and absorber. Group velocity dispersion, bandwidth limiting, and self-phase modulation were considered as well. The FWHM of the spectrum profile was found to have a strong dependence on group velocity dispersion and self-phase modulation. For large absolute values of the chirp parameter, the optical spectra result in equispaced continuous wave frequencies, a large fraction of whichmore » have equal power. {copyright} 1997 Optical Society of America« less

Method and apparatus for frequency spectrum analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cole, Steven W. (Inventor)

1992-01-01

A method for frequency spectrum analysis of an unknown signal in real-time is discussed. The method is based upon integration of 1-bit samples of signal voltage amplitude corresponding to sine or cosine phases of a controlled center frequency clock which is changed after each integration interval to sweep the frequency range of interest in steps. Integration of samples during each interval is carried out over a number of cycles of the center frequency clock spanning a number of cycles of an input signal to be analyzed. The invention may be used to detect the frequency of at least two signals simultaneously. By using a reference signal of known frequency and voltage amplitude (added to the two signals for parallel processing in the same way, but in a different channel with a sampling at the known frequency and phases of the reference signal), the absolute voltage amplitude of the other two signals may be determined by squaring the sine and cosine integrals of each channel and summing the squares to obtain relative power measurements in all three channels and, from the known voltage amplitude of the reference signal, obtaining an absolute voltage measurement for the other two signals by multiplying the known voltage of the reference signal with the ratio of the relative power of each of the other two signals to the relative power of the reference signal.

Absolute dual-comb spectroscopy at 1.55 μm by free-running Er:fiber lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Cassinerio, Marco; Gambetta, Alessio; Coluccelli, Nicola; Laporta, Paolo; Galzerano, Gianluca

2014-06-01

We report on a compact scheme for absolute referencing and coherent averaging for dual-comb based spectrometers, exploiting a single continuous-wave (CW) laser in a transfer oscillator configuration. The same CW laser is used for both absolute calibration of the optical frequency axis and the generation of a correction signal which is used for a real-time jitter compensation in a fully electrical feed-forward scheme. The technique is applied to a near-infrared spectrometer based on a pair of free-running mode-locked Er:fiber lasers, allowing to perform real-time absolute-frequency measurements over an optical bandwidth of more than 25 nm, with coherent interferogram averaging over 1-s acquisition time, leading to a signal-to-noise ratio improvement of 29 dB over the 50 μs single shot acquisition. Using 10-cm single pass cell, a value of 1.9 × 10-4 cm-1 Hz-0.5 noise-equivalent-absorption over 1 s integration time is obtained, which can be further scaled down with a multi-pass or resonant cavity. The adoption of a single CW laser, together with the absence of optical locks, and the full-fiber design makes this spectrometer a robust and compact system to be employed in gas-sensing applications.

Are reconstruction filters necessary?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Holst, Gerald C.

2006-05-01

Shannon's sampling theorem (also called the Shannon-Whittaker-Kotel'nikov theorem) was developed for the digitization and reconstruction of sinusoids. Strict adherence is required when frequency preservation is important. Three conditions must be met to satisfy the sampling theorem: (1) The signal must be band-limited, (2) the digitizer must sample the signal at an adequate rate, and (3) a low-pass reconstruction filter must be present. In an imaging system, the signal is band-limited by the optics. For most imaging systems, the signal is not adequately sampled resulting in aliasing. While the aliasing seems excessive mathematically, it does not significantly affect the perceived image. The human visual system detects intensity differences, spatial differences (shapes), and color differences. The eye is less sensitive to frequency effects and therefore sampling artifacts have become quite acceptable. Indeed, we love our television even though it is significantly undersampled. The reconstruction filter, although absolutely essential, is rarely discussed. It converts digital data (which we cannot see) into a viewable analog signal. There are several reconstruction filters: electronic low-pass filters, the display media (monitor, laser printer), and your eye. These are often used in combination to create a perceived continuous image. Each filter modifies the MTF in a unique manner. Therefore image quality and system performance depends upon the reconstruction filter(s) used. The selection depends upon the application.

Operation of U.S. Geological Survey unmanned digital magnetic observatories

USGS Publications Warehouse

Wilson, L.R.

1990-01-01

The precision and continuity of data recorded by unmanned digital magnetic observatories depend on the type of data acquisition equipment used and operating procedures employed. Three generations of observatory systems used by the U.S. Geological Survey are described. A table listing the frequency of component failures in the current observatory system has been compiled for a 54-month period of operation. The cause of component failure was generally mechanical or due to lightning. The average percentage data loss per month for 13 observatories operating a combined total of 637 months was 9%. Frequency distributions of data loss intervals show the highest frequency of occurrence to be intervals of less than 1 h. Installation of the third generation system will begin in 1988. The configuration of the third generation observatory system will eliminate most of the mechanical problems, and its components should be less susceptible to lightning. A quasi-absolute coil-proton system will be added to obtain baseline control for component variation data twice daily. Observatory data, diagnostics, and magnetic activity indices will be collected at 12-min intervals via satellite at Golden, Colorado. An improvement in the quality and continuity of data obtained with the new system is expected. ?? 1990.

Correlations of Apparent Cellulose Crystallinity Determined by XRD, NMR, IR, Raman, and SFG Methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Johnson, David K; Lee, Christopher; Dazen, Kevin

2015-07-04

Although the cellulose crystallinity index (CI) is used widely, its limitations have not been adequately described. In this study, the CI values of a set of reference samples were determined from X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and infrared (IR), Raman, and vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopies. The intensities of certain crystalline peaks in IR, Raman, and SFG spectra positively correlated with the amount of crystalline cellulose in the sample, but the correlation with XRD was nonlinear as a result of fundamental differences in detection sensitivity to crystalline cellulose and improper baseline corrections for amorphous contributions. It ismore » demonstrated that the intensity and shape of the XRD signal is affected by both the amount of crystalline cellulose and crystal size, which makes XRD analysis complicated. It is clear that the methods investigated show the same qualitative trends for samples, but the absolute CI values differ depending on the determination method. This clearly indicates that the CI, as estimated by different methods, is not an absolute value and that for a given set of samples the CI values can be compared only as a qualitative measure.« less

Correlations of Apparent Cellulose Crystallinity Determined by XRD, NMR, IR, Raman, and SFG Methods

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lee, Christopher M; Dazen, Kevin; Kafle, Kabindra

2015-01-01

Although the cellulose crystallinity index (CI) is used widely, its limitations have not been adequately described. In this study, the CI values of a set of reference samples were determined from X-ray diffraction (XRD), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), and infrared (IR), Raman, and vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopies. The intensities of certain crystalline peaks in IR, Raman, and SFG spectra positively correlated with the amount of crystalline cellulose in the sample, but the correlation with XRD was nonlinear as a result of fundamental differences in detection sensitivity to crystalline cellulose and improper baseline corrections for amorphous contributions. It ismore » demonstrated that the intensity and shape of the XRD signal is affected by both the amount of crystalline cellulose and crystal size, which makes XRD analysis complicated. It is clear that the methods investigated show the same qualitative trends for samples, but the absolute CI values differ depending on the determination method. This clearly indicates that the CI, as estimated by different methods, is not an absolute value and that for a given set of samples the CI values can be compared only as a qualitative measure.« less

Background Studies for Acoustic Neutrino Detection at the South Pole

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Abbasi, R.; Abdou, Y.; Adams, J.; Aguilar, J. A.; Ahlers, M.; Andeen, K.; Auffenberg, J.; Bai, X.; Baker, M.; Barwick, S. W.;

Background studies for acoustic neutrino detection at the South Pole

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abbasi, R.; Abdou, Y.; Abu-Zayyad, T.; Adams, J.; Aguilar, J. A.; Ahlers, M.; Andeen, K.; Auffenberg, J.; Bai, X.; Baker, M.; Barwick, S. W.; Bay, R.; Bazo Alba, J. L.; Beattie, K.; Beatty, J. J.; Bechet, S.; Becker, J. K.; Becker, K.-H.; Benabderrahmane, M. L.; Benzvi, S.; Berdermann, J.; Berghaus, P.; Berley, D.; Bernardini, E.; Bertrand, D.; Besson, D. Z.; Bindig, D.; Bissok, M.; Blaufuss, E.; Blumenthal, J.; Boersma, D. J.; Bohm, C.; Bose, D.; Böser, S.; Botner, O.; Braun, J.; Brown, A. M.; Buitink, S.; Carson, M.; Chirkin, D.; Christy, B.; Clem, J.; Clevermann, F.; Cohen, S.; Colnard, C.; Cowen, D. F.; D'Agostino, M. V.; Danninger, M.; Daughhetee, J.; Davis, J. C.; de Clercq, C.; Demirörs, L.; Denger, T.; Depaepe, O.; Descamps, F.; Desiati, P.; de Vries-Uiterweerd, G.; Deyoung, T.; Díaz-Vélez, J. C.; Dierckxsens, M.; Dreyer, J.; Dumm, J. P.; Ehrlich, R.; Eisch, J.; Ellsworth, R. W.; Engdegård, O.; Euler, S.; Evenson, P. A.; Fadiran, O.; Fazely, A. R.; Fedynitch, A.; Feusels, T.; Filimonov, K.; Finley, C.; Fischer-Wasels, T.; Foerster, M. M.; Fox, B. D.; Franckowiak, A.; Franke, R.; Gaisser, T. K.; Gallagher, J.; Geisler, M.; Gerhardt, L.; Gladstone, L.; Glüsenkamp, T.; Goldschmidt, A.; Goodman, J. A.; Grant, D.; Griesel, T.; Groß, A.; Grullon, S.; Gurtner, M.; Ha, C.; Hallgren, A.; Halzen, F.; Han, K.; Hanson, K.; Heinen, D.; Helbing, K.; Herquet, P.; Hickford, S.; Hill, G. C.; Hoffman, K. D.; Homeier, A.; Hoshina, K.; Hubert, D.; Huelsnitz, W.; Hülß, J.-P.; Hulth, P. O.; Hultqvist, K.; Hussain, S.; Ishihara, A.; Jacobsen, J.; Japaridze, G. S.; Johansson, H.; Joseph, J. M.; Kampert, K.-H.; Kappes, A.; Karg, T.; Karle, A.; Kelley, J. L.; Kenny, P.; Kiryluk, J.; Kislat, F.; Klein, S. R.; Köhne, J.-H.; Kohnen, G.; Kolanoski, H.; Köpke, L.; Kopper, S.; Koskinen, D. J.; Kowalski, M.; Kowarik, T.; Krasberg, M.; Krings, T.; Kroll, G.; Kuehn, K.; Kuwabara, T.; Labare, M.; Lafebre, S.; Laihem, K.; Landsman, H.; Larson, M. J.; Lauer, R.; Lünemann, J.; Madsen, J.; Majumdar, P.; Marotta, A.; Maruyama, R.; Mase, K.; Matis, H. S.; Meagher, K.; Merck, M.; Mészáros, P.; Meures, T.; Middell, E.; Milke, N.; Miller, J.; Montaruli, T.; Morse, R.; Movit, S. M.; Nahnhauer, R.; Nam, J. W.; Naumann, U.; Nießen, P.; Nygren, D. R.; Odrowski, S.; Olivas, A.; Olivo, M.; O'Murchadha, A.; Ono, M.; Panknin, S.; Paul, L.; Pérez de Los Heros, C.; Petrovic, J.; Piegsa, A.; Pieloth, D.; Porrata, R.; Posselt, J.; Price, P. B.; Prikockis, M.; Przybylski, G. T.; Rawlins, K.; Redl, P.; Resconi, E.; Rhode, W.; Ribordy, M.; Rizzo, A.; Rodrigues, J. P.; Roth, P.; Rothmaier, F.; Rott, C.; Ruhe, T.; Rutledge, D.; Ruzybayev, B.; Ryckbosch, D.; Sander, H.-G.; Santander, M.; Sarkar, S.; Schatto, K.; Schmidt, T.; Schönwald, A.; Schukraft, A.; Schultes, A.; Schulz, O.; Schunck, M.; Seckel, D.; Semburg, B.; Seo, S. H.; Sestayo, Y.; Seunarine, S.; Silvestri, A.; Slipak, A.; Spiczak, G. M.; Spiering, C.; Stamatikos, M.; Stanev, T.; Stephens, G.; Stezelberger, T.; Stokstad, R. G.; Stössl, A.; Stoyanov, S.; Strahler, E. A.; Straszheim, T.; Stür, M.; Sullivan, G. W.; Swillens, Q.; Taavola, H.; Taboada, I.; Tamburro, A.; Tepe, A.; Ter-Antonyan, S.; Tilav, S.; Toale, P. A.; Toscano, S.; Tosi, D.; Turčan, D.; van Eijndhoven, N.; Vandenbroucke, J.; van Overloop, A.; van Santen, J.; Vehring, M.; Voge, M.; Walck, C.; Waldenmaier, T.; Wallraff, M.; Walter, M.; Weaver, Ch.; Wendt, C.; Westerhoff, S.; Whitehorn, N.; Wiebe, K.; Wiebusch, C. H.; Williams, D. R.; Wischnewski, R.; Wissing, H.; Wolf, M.; Woschnagg, K.; Xu, C.; Xu, X. W.; Yanez, J. P.; Yodh, G.; Yoshida, S.; Zarzhitsk, P.

2012-01-01

The detection of acoustic signals from ultra-high energy neutrino interactions is a promising method to measure the flux of cosmogenic neutrinos expected on Earth. The energy threshold for this process depends strongly on the absolute noise level in the target material. The South Pole Acoustic Test Setup (SPATS), deployed in the upper part of four boreholes of the IceCube Neutrino Observatory, has monitored the noise in Antarctic ice at the geographic South Pole for more than two years down to 500 m depth. The noise is very stable and Gaussian distributed. Lacking an in situ calibration up to now, laboratory measurements have been used to estimate the absolute noise level in the 10-50 kHz frequency range to be smaller than 20 mPa. Using a threshold trigger, sensors of the South Pole Acoustic Test Setup registered acoustic events in the IceCube detector volume and its vicinity. Acoustic signals from refreezing IceCube holes and from anthropogenic sources have been used to test the localization of acoustic events. An upper limit on the neutrino flux at energies Eν > 1011 GeV is derived from acoustic data taken over eight months.

Athermal fiber laser for the SWARM absolute scalar magnetometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fourcault, W.; Léger, J.-M.; Costes, V.; Fratter, I.; Mondin, L.

2017-11-01

The Absolute Scalar Magnetometer (ASM) developed by CEA-LETI/CNES is an optically pumped 4He magnetic field sensor based on the Zeeman effect and an electronic magnetic resonance whose effects are amplified by a laser pumping process [1-2]. Consequently, the role of the laser is to pump the 4He atoms at the D0 transition as well as to allow the magnetic resonance signal detection. The ASM will be the scalar magnetic reference instrument of the three ESA Swarm satellites to be launched in 2012 in order to carry out the best ever survey of the Earth magnetic field and its temporal evolution. The sensitivity and accuracy of this magnetometer based on 4He optical pumping depend directly on the characteristics of its light source, which is the key sub-system of the sensor. We describe in this paper the selected fiber laser architecture and its wavelength stabilization scheme. Its main performance in terms of spectral emission, optical power at 1083 nm and intensity noise characteristics in the frequency bands used for the operation of the magnetometer, are then presented. Environmental testing results (thermal vacuum cycling, vibrations, shocks and ageing) are also reported at the end of this paper.

Multi-frequency Phase Unwrap from Noisy Data: Adaptive Least Squares Approach

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Katkovnik, Vladimir; Bioucas-Dias, José

2010-04-01

Multiple frequency interferometry is, basically, a phase acquisition strategy aimed at reducing or eliminating the ambiguity of the wrapped phase observations or, equivalently, reducing or eliminating the fringe ambiguity order. In multiple frequency interferometry, the phase measurements are acquired at different frequencies (or wavelengths) and recorded using the corresponding sensors (measurement channels). Assuming that the absolute phase to be reconstructed is piece-wise smooth, we use a nonparametric regression technique for the phase reconstruction. The nonparametric estimates are derived from a local least squares criterion, which, when applied to the multifrequency data, yields denoised (filtered) phase estimates with extended ambiguity (periodized), compared with the phase ambiguities inherent to each measurement frequency. The filtering algorithm is based on local polynomial (LPA) approximation for design of nonlinear filters (estimators) and adaptation of these filters to unknown smoothness of the spatially varying absolute phase [9]. For phase unwrapping, from filtered periodized data, we apply the recently introduced robust (in the sense of discontinuity preserving) PUMA unwrapping algorithm [1]. Simulations give evidence that the proposed algorithm yields state-of-the-art performance for continuous as well as for discontinues phase surfaces, enabling phase unwrapping in extraordinary difficult situations when all other algorithms fail.

Spectral purity and tunability of terahertz quantum cascade laser sources based on intracavity difference-frequency generation

PubMed Central

Consolino, Luigi; Jung, Seungyong; Campa, Annamaria; De Regis, Michele; Pal, Shovon; Kim, Jae Hyun; Fujita, Kazuue; Ito, Akio; Hitaka, Masahiro; Bartalini, Saverio; De Natale, Paolo; Belkin, Mikhail A.; Vitiello, Miriam Serena

2017-01-01

Terahertz sources based on intracavity difference-frequency generation in mid-infrared quantum cascade lasers (THz DFG-QCLs) have recently emerged as the first monolithic electrically pumped semiconductor sources capable of operating at room temperature across the 1- to 6-THz range. Despite tremendous progress in power output, which now exceeds 1 mW in pulsed and 10 μW in continuous-wave regimes at room temperature, knowledge of the major figure of merits of these devices for high-precision spectroscopy, such as spectral purity and absolute frequency tunability, is still lacking. By exploiting a metrological grade system comprising a terahertz frequency comb synthesizer, we measure, for the first time, the free-running emission linewidth (LW), the tuning characteristics, and the absolute center frequency of individual emission lines of these sources with an uncertainty of 4 × 10−10. The unveiled emission LW (400 kHz at 1-ms integration time) indicates that DFG-QCLs are well suited to operate as local oscillators and to be used for a variety of metrological, spectroscopic, communication, and imaging applications that require narrow-LW THz sources. PMID:28879235

Dependence of hydrogen arcjet operation on electrode geometry

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Pencil, Eric J.; Sankovic, John M.; Sarmiento, Charles J.; Hamley, John A.

1992-01-01

The dependence of 2 kW hydrogen arcjet performance on cathode to anode electrode spacing was evaluated at specific impulses of 900 and 1000 s. Less than 2 absolute percent change in efficiency was measured for the spacings tested which did not repeat the 14 absolute percent variation reported in earlier work with similar electrode designs. A different nozzle configuration was used to quantify the variation in hydrogen arcjet performance over an extended range of electrode spacing. Electrode gap variation resulted in less than 3 absolute percent change in efficiency. These null results suggested that electrode spacing is decoupled from hydrogen arcjet performance considerations over the ranges tested. Initial studies were conducted on hydrogen arcjet ignition. The dependence of breakdown voltage on mass flow rate and hydrogen arcjet ignition on rates of pulse repetition and pulse voltage rise were also included for comparison with previous results obtained using simulated hydrazine.

Telling in-tune from out-of-tune: widespread evidence for implicit absolute intonation.

PubMed

Van Hedger, Stephen C; Heald, Shannon L M; Huang, Alex; Rutstein, Brooke; Nusbaum, Howard C

2017-04-01

Absolute pitch (AP) is the rare ability to name or produce an isolated musical note without the aid of a reference note. One skill thought to be unique to AP possessors is the ability to provide absolute intonation judgments (e.g., classifying an isolated note as "in-tune" or "out-of-tune"). Recent work has suggested that absolute intonation perception among AP possessors is not crystallized in a critical period of development, but is dynamically maintained by the listening environment, in which the vast majority of Western music is tuned to a specific cultural standard. Given that all listeners of Western music are constantly exposed to this specific cultural tuning standard, our experiments address whether absolute intonation perception extends beyond AP possessors. We demonstrate that non-AP listeners are able to accurately judge the intonation of completely isolated notes. Both musicians and nonmusicians showed evidence for absolute intonation recognition when listening to familiar timbres (piano and violin). When testing unfamiliar timbres (triangle and inverted sine waves), only musicians showed weak evidence of absolute intonation recognition (Experiment 2). Overall, these results highlight a previously unknown similarity between AP and non-AP possessors' long-term musical note representations, including evidence of sensitivity to frequency.

Sub-nanometer periodic nonlinearity error in absolute distance interferometers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yang, Hongxing; Huang, Kaiqi; Hu, Pengcheng; Zhu, Pengfei; Tan, Jiubin; Fan, Zhigang

2015-05-01

Periodic nonlinearity which can result in error in nanometer scale has become a main problem limiting the absolute distance measurement accuracy. In order to eliminate this error, a new integrated interferometer with non-polarizing beam splitter is developed. This leads to disappearing of the frequency and/or polarization mixing. Furthermore, a strict requirement on the laser source polarization is highly reduced. By combining retro-reflector and angel prism, reference and measuring beams can be spatially separated, and therefore, their optical paths are not overlapped. So, the main cause of the periodic nonlinearity error, i.e., the frequency and/or polarization mixing and leakage of beam, is eliminated. Experimental results indicate that the periodic phase error is kept within 0.0018°.

Absolute measurement of the 1S0 − 3P0 clock transition in neutral 88Sr over the 330 km-long stabilized fibre optic link

PubMed Central

Morzyński, Piotr; Bober, Marcin; Bartoszek-Bober, Dobrosława; Nawrocki, Jerzy; Krehlik, Przemysław; Śliwczyński, Łukasz; Lipiński, Marcin; Masłowski, Piotr; Cygan, Agata; Dunst, Piotr; Garus, Michał; Lisak, Daniel; Zachorowski, Jerzy; Gawlik, Wojciech; Radzewicz, Czesław; Ciuryło, Roman; Zawada, Michał

2015-01-01

We report a stability below 7 × 10−17 of two independent optical lattice clocks operating with bosonic 88Sr isotope. The value (429 228 066 418 008.3(1.9)syst (0.9)stat Hz) of the absolute frequency of the 1S0 – 3P0 transition was measured with an optical frequency comb referenced to the local representation of the UTC by the 330 km-long stabilized fibre optical link. The result was verified by series of measurements on two independent optical lattice clocks and agrees with recommendation of Bureau International des Poids et Mesures. PMID:26639347

Automatic solar image motion measurements. [electronic disk flux monitoring

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Colgate, S. A.; Moore, E. P.

1975-01-01

The solar seeing image motion has been monitored electronically and absolutely with a 25 cm telescope at three sites along the ridge at the southern end of the Magdalena Mountains west of Socorro, New Mexico. The uncorrelated component of the variations of the optical flux from two points at opposite limbs of the solar disk was continually monitored in 3 frequencies centered at 0.3, 3 and 30 Hz. The frequency band of maximum signal centered at 3 Hz showed the average absolute value of image motion to be somewhat less than 2sec. The observer estimates of combined blurring and image motion were well correlated with electronically measured image motion, but the observer estimates gave a factor 2 larger value.

Programmable, secondary frequency standard based infrared synthesizer using tunable lead-salt diode lasers

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freed, C.; Bielinski, J. W.; Lo, W.

1983-01-01

Quantum phase noise limited Lorentzian power spectral densities were achieved with tunable lead-salt diode lasers. Linewidths as narrow as 22 kHz were observed. A truly programmable infrared synthesizer was produced by frequency-offset-locking the tunable diode lasers to the combination of a stable CO2 (or CO) reference laser and a programmable microwave frequency synthesizer. Absolute frequency accuracy and reproducibility of about + or - 30 kHz (0.000001 kaysers) relative to the primary Cs frequency standard may now be obtained with this technique.

Frequency measurement of the 2S(1/2)-2D(3/2) electric quadrupole transition in a single 171Yb+ ion.

PubMed

Webster, Stephen; Godun, Rachel; King, Steven; Huang, Guilong; Walton, Barney; Tsatourian, Veronika; Margolis, Helen; Lea, Stephen; Gill, Patrick

2010-03-01

We report on precision laser spectroscopy of the 2S(1/2)(F = 0)-2D(3/2) (F = 2, m(F) = 0) clock transition in a single ion of 171Yb+. The absolute value of the transition frequency, determined using an optical frequency comb referenced to a hydrogen maser, is 688358979309310 +/- 9 Hz. This corresponds to a fractional frequency uncertainty of 1.3 x 10(-14).

What to Do about Zero Frequency Cells when Estimating Polychoric Correlations

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Savalei, Victoria

2011-01-01

Categorical structural equation modeling (SEM) methods that fit the model to estimated polychoric correlations have become popular in the social sciences. When population thresholds are high in absolute value, contingency tables in small samples are likely to contain zero frequency cells. Such cells make the estimation of the polychoric…

Frequency accurate coherent electro-optic dual-comb spectroscopy in real-time.

PubMed

Martín-Mateos, Pedro; Jerez, Borja; Largo-Izquierdo, Pedro; Acedo, Pablo

2018-04-16

Electro-optic dual-comb spectrometers have proved to be a promising technology for sensitive, high-resolution and rapid spectral measurements. Electro-optic combs possess very attractive features like simplicity, reliability, bright optical teeth, and typically moderate but quickly tunable optical spans. Furthermore, in a dual-comb arrangement, narrowband electro-optic combs are generated with a level of mutual coherence that is sufficiently high to enable optical multiheterodyning without inter-comb stabilization or signal processing systems. However, this valuable tool still presents several limitations; for instance, on most systems, absolute frequency accuracy and long-term stability cannot be guaranteed; likewise, interferometer-induced phase noise restricts coherence time and limits the attainable signal-to-noise ratio. In this paper, we address these drawbacks and demonstrate a cost-efficient absolute electro-optic dual-comb instrument based on a frequency stabilization mechanism and a novel adaptive interferogram acquisition approach devised for electro-optic dual-combs capable of operating in real-time. The spectrometer, completely built from commercial components, provides sub-ppm frequency uncertainties and enables a signal-to-noise ratio of 10000 (intensity noise) in 30 seconds of integration time.

The effect of signal duration on the underwater hearing thresholds of two harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) for single tonal signals between 0.2 and 40 kHz.

PubMed

Kastelein, Ronald A; Hoek, Lean; Wensveen, Paul J; Terhune, John M; de Jong, Christ A F

2010-02-01

The underwater hearing sensitivities of two 2-year-old female harbor seals were quantified in a pool built for acoustic research by using a behavioral psycho-acoustic technique. The animals were trained only to respond when they detected an acoustic signal ("go/no-go" response). Detection thresholds were obtained for pure tone signals (frequencies: 0.2-40 kHz; durations: 0.5-5000 ms, depending on the frequency; 59 frequency-duration combinations). Detection thresholds were quantified by varying the signal amplitude by the 1-up, 1-down staircase method, and were defined as the stimulus levels, resulting in a 50% detection rate. The hearing thresholds of the two seals were similar for all frequencies except for 40 kHz, for which the thresholds differed by, on average, 3.7 dB. There was an inverse relationship between the time constant (tau), derived from an exponential model of temporal integration, and the frequency [log(tau)=2.86-0.94 log(f);tau in ms and f in kHz]. Similarly, the thresholds increased when the pulse was shorter than approximately 780 cycles (independent of the frequency). For pulses shorter than the integration time, the thresholds increased by 9-16 dB per decade reduction in the duration or number of cycles in the pulse. The results of this study suggest that most published hearing thresholds

Nanosatellite High-Precision Magnetic Missions Enabled by Advances in a Stand-Alone Scalar/Vector Absolute Magnetometer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hulot, G.; Leger, J. M.; Vigneron, P.; Jager, T.; Bertrand, F.; Coisson, P.; Deram, P.; Boness, A.; Tomasini, L.; Faure, B.

2017-12-01

Satellites of the ESA Swarm mission currently in operation carry a new generation of Absolute Scalar Magnetometers (ASM), which nominally deliver 1 Hz scalar for calibrating the relative flux gate magnetometers that complete the magnetometry payload (together with star cameras, STR, for attitude restitution) and providing extremely accurate scalar measurements of the magnetic field for science investigations. These ASM instruments, however, can also operate in two additional modes, a high-frequency 250 Hz scalar mode and a 1 Hz absolute dual-purpose scalar/vector mode. The 250 Hz scalar mode already allowed the detection of until now very poorly documented extremely low frequency whistler signals produced by lightning in the atmosphere, while the 1 Hz scalar/vector mode has provided data that, combined with attitude restitution from the STR, could be used to produce scientifically relevant core field and lithospheric field models. Both ASM modes have thus now been fully validated for science applications. Efforts towards developing an improved and miniaturized version of this instrument is now well under way with CNES support in the context of the preparation of a 12U nanosatellite mission (NanoMagSat) proposed to be launched to complement the Swarm satellite constellation. This advanced miniaturized ASM could potentially operate in an even more useful mode, simultaneously providing high frequency (possibly beyond 500 Hz) absolute scalar data and self-calibrated 1 Hz vector data, thus providing scientifically valuable data for multiple science applications. In this presentation, we will illustrate the science such an instrument taken on board a nanosatellite could enable, and report on the current status of the NanoMagSat project that intends to take advantage of it.

Absolute frequency measurement of the 88Sr+ clock transition using a GPS link to the SI second

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dubé, Pierre; E Bernard, John; Gertsvolf, Marina

2017-06-01

We report the results of a recent measurement of the absolute frequency of the 5s{{ }2}{{S}1/2} - 4d{{ }2}{{D}5/2} transition of the {{}88}\\text{Sr}{{}+} ion. The optical frequency was measured against the international atomic time realization of the SI second on the geoid as obtained by frequency transfer using a global positioning system link and the precise point positioning technique. The measurement campaign yielded more than 100 h of frequency data. It was performed with improvements to the stability and accuracy of the single-ion clock compared to the last measurement made in 2012. The single ion clock uncertainty is evaluated at 1.5× {{10}-17} when contributions from acousto-optic modulator frequency chirps and servo errors are taken into account. The stability of the ion clock is 3× {{10}-15} at 1 s averaging, a factor of three better than in the previous measurement. The results from the two measurement campaigns are in good agreement. The uncertainty of the measurement, primarily from the link to the SI second, is 0.75 Hz (1.7× {{10}-15} ). The frequency measured for the S-D clock transition of {{}88}\\text{S}{{\\text{r}}+} is {ν0}= 444 779 044 095 485.27(75) Hz.

Temperature-Dependent Magnetic Response of Antiferromagnetic Doping in Cobalt Ferrite Nanostructures.

PubMed

Nairan, Adeela; Khan, Maaz; Khan, Usman; Iqbal, Munawar; Riaz, Saira; Naseem, Shahzad

2016-04-18

In this work Mn x Co 1- x Fe₂O₄ nanoparticles (NPs) were synthesized using a chemical co-precipitation method. Phase purity and structural analyses of synthesized NPs were performed by X-ray diffractometer (XRD). Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) reveals the presence of highly crystalline and narrowly-dispersed NPs with average diameter of 14 nm. The Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum was measured in the range of 400-4000 cm -1 which confirmed the formation of vibrational frequency bands associated with the entire spinel structure. Temperature-dependent magnetic properties in anti-ferromagnet (AFM) and ferromagnet (FM) structure were investigated with the aid of a physical property measurement system (PPMS). It was observed that magnetic interactions between the AFM (Mn) and FM (CoFe₂O₄) material arise below the Neel temperature of the dopant. Furthermore, hysteresis response was clearly pronounced for the enhancement in magnetic parameters by varying temperature towards absolute zero. It is shown that magnetic properties have been tuned as a function of temperature and an externally-applied field.

Relative and absolute level populations in beam-foil-excited neutral helium

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Davidson, J.

1975-01-01

Relative and absolute populations of 19 levels in beam-foil-excited neutral helium at 0.275 MeV have been measured. The singlet angular-momentum sequences show dependences on principal quantum number consistent with n to the -3rd power, but the triplet sequences do not. Singlet and triplet angular-momentum sequences show similar dependences on level excitation energy. Excitation functions for six representative levels were measured in the range from 0.160 to 0.500 MeV. The absolute level populations increase with energy, whereas the neutral fraction of the beam decreases with energy. Further, the P angular-momentum levels are found to be overpopulated with respect to the S and D levels. The overpopulation decreases with increasing principal quantum number.

Microwave Brightness Temperature and Its Relation to Atmospheric General Circulation Features

DTIC Science & Technology

1989-05-17

absolute temperature. Molecules may absorb electromagnetic radiation and transition to a higher energy level, or emit radiation and transition to a lower...Walker, 1970). In the microwave region, thermal emission is the only 10 source of radiation and is dependent on the absolute temperature of the...substance as determined by the Planck function. The relationship between absolute temperature and radiation emitted is given by Planck’s Law for a

The effect of epoch length on time and frequency domain parameters of electromyographic and mechanomyographic signals.

PubMed

Keller, Joshua L; Housh, Terry J; Camic, Clayton L; Bergstrom, Haley C; Smith, Doug B; Smith, Cory M; Hill, Ethan C; Schmidt, Richard J; Johnson, Glen O; Zuniga, Jorge M

2018-06-01

The selection of epoch lengths affects the time and frequency resolution of electromyographic (EMG) and mechanomyographic (MMG) signals, as well as decisions regarding the signal processing techniques to use for determining the power density spectrum. No previous studies, however, have examined the effects of epoch length on parameters of the MMG signal. The purpose of this study was to examine the differences between epoch lengths for EMG amplitude, EMG mean power frequency (MPF), MMG amplitude, and MMG MPF from the VL and VM muscles during MVIC muscle actions as well as at each 10% of the time to exhaustion (TTE) during a continuous isometric muscle action of the leg extensors at 50% of MVIC. During the MVIC trial, there were no significant (p > 0.05) differences between epoch lengths (0.25, 0.50, 1.00, and 2.00-s) for mean absolute values for any of the EMG or MMG parameters. During the submaximal, sustained muscle action, however, absolute MMG amplitude and MMG MPF were affected by the length of epoch. All epoch related differences were eliminated by normalizing the absolute values to MVIC. These findings supported normalizing EMG and MMG parameter values to MVIC and utilizing epoch lengths that ranged from 0.25 to 2.00-s. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Electromagnetic waves with frequencies near the local proton gyrofrequency: ISEE-3 1 AU observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tsurutani, Bruce T.; Arballo, John K.; Mok, John; Smith, Edward J.; Mason, Glenn M.; Tan, Lun C.

1994-01-01

Low Frequency (LF) electromagnetic waves with periods near the local proton gyrofrequency have been detected in interplanetary space by the magnetometer onboard International-Sun-Earth-Explorer-3 (ISEE-3). Transverse peak-to-peak amplitudes as large as delta vector B/absolute value of B approximately 0.4 have been noted with compressional components (Delta absolute value of B/absolute value of B) typically less than or = 0.1. Generally, the waves have even smaller amplitudes, or are not detectable within the solar wind turbulence. The waves are elliptically/linearly polarized and are often, but not always, found to propagate nearly along vector B(sub zero). Both right- and left-hand polarizations in the spacecraft-frame have been detected. The waves are observed during all orientations of the interplanetary magnetic field, with the Parker spiral orientation being the most common case. Because the waves are detected at and near the local proton cyclotron frequency, the generation mechanism must almost certainly be solar wind pickup of freshly created hydrogen ions. Possible sources for the hydrogen are the Earth's atmosphere, coronal mass ejections from the Sun, comets and interstellar neutral atoms. At this time it is not obvious which potential source is the correct one. Statistical tests employing over one year of ISEE-3 data will be done in the near future to eliminate/confirm some of these possibilities.

Minor planets and related objects. XXI - Photometry of eight asteroids

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Taylor, R. C.; Gehrels, T.; Capen, R. C.

1976-01-01

Light curves, UBV colors, rotational periods, phase coefficients, and absolute magnitudes are presented. The asteroids studied are (1) Ceres, (4) Vesta, (16) Psyche, (78) Diana, (281) Lucretia, (451) Patientia, (1212) Francette, and (1362) Griqua. The rotation axis of Lucretia is nearly perpendicular to the plane of the ecliptic. Ceres appears to be nearly spherical with an absolute magnitude of B(1,0)=4.42, which is 0.3 mag fainter than previously reported. The determination of the absolute magnitude for an asteroid depends on its aspect, and for each opposition there is, therefore, a different absolute magnitude.

Methodological Challenges in Research on Sexual Risk Behavior: I. Item Content, Scaling, and Data Analytical Options

PubMed Central

Schroder, Kerstin E. E.; Carey, Michael P.; Vanable, Peter A.

2008-01-01

Investigation of sexual behavior involves many challenges, including how to assess sexual behavior and how to analyze the resulting data. Sexual behavior can be assessed using absolute frequency measures (also known as “counts”) or with relative frequency measures (e.g., rating scales ranging from “never” to “always”). We discuss these two assessment approaches in the context of research on HIV risk behavior. We conclude that these two approaches yield non-redundant information and, more importantly, that only data yielding information about the absolute frequency of risk behavior have the potential to serve as valid indicators of HIV contraction risk. However, analyses of count data may be challenging due to non-normal distributions with many outliers. Therefore, we identify new and powerful data analytical solutions that have been developed recently to analyze count data, and discuss limitations of a commonly applied method (viz., ANCOVA using baseline scores as covariates). PMID:14534027

Effects of temperature on the ground state of a strongly-coupling magnetic polaron and mean phonon number in RbCl quantum pseudodot

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sun, Yong; Ding, Zhao-Hua; Xiao, Jing-Lin

2016-07-01

On the condition of strong electron-LO phonon coupling in a RbCl quantum pseudodot (QPD), the ground state energy and the mean number of phonons are calculated by using the Pekar variational method and quantum statistical theory. The variations of the ground state energy and the mean number with respect to the temperature and the cyclotron frequency of the magnetic field are studied in detail. We find that the absolute value of the ground state energy increases (decreases) with increasing temperature when the temperature is in the lower (higher) temperature region, and that the mean number increases with increasing temperature. The absolute value of the ground state energy is a decreasing function of the cyclotron frequency of the magnetic field whereas the mean number is an increasing function of it. We find two ways to tune the ground state energy and the mean number: controlling the temperature and controlling the cyclotron frequency of the magnetic field.

Audiometric asymmetry and tinnitus laterality.

PubMed

Tsai, Betty S; Sweetow, Robert W; Cheung, Steven W

2012-05-01

To identify an optimal audiometric asymmetry index for predicting tinnitus laterality. Retrospective medical record review. Data from adult tinnitus patients (80 men and 44 women) were extracted for demographic, audiometric, tinnitus laterality, and related information. The main measures were sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. Three audiometric asymmetry indices were constructed using one, two, or three frequency elements to compute the average interaural threshold difference (aITD). Tinnitus laterality predictive performance of a particular index was assessed by increasing the cutoff or minimum magnitude of the aITD from 10 to 35 dB in 5-dB steps to determine its ROC curve. Single frequency index performance was inferior to the other two (P < .05). Double and triple frequency indices were indistinguishable (P > .05). Two adjoining frequency elements with aITD ≥ 15 dB performed optimally for predicting tinnitus laterality (sensitivity = 0.59, specificity = 0.71, and PPV = 0.76). Absolute and relative magnitudes of hearing loss in the poorer ear were uncorrelated with tinnitus distress. An optimal audiometric asymmetry index to predict tinnitus laterality is one whereby 15 dB is the minimum aITD of two adjoining frequencies, inclusive of the maximal ITD. Tinnitus laterality dependency on magnitude of interaural asymmetry may inform design and interpretation of neuroimaging studies. Monaural acoustic tinnitus therapy may be an initial consideration for asymmetric hearing loss meeting the criterion of aITD ≥ 15 dB. Copyright © 2012 The American Laryngological, Rhinological, and Otological Society, Inc.

[Diagnostic strategy for shoulder pathology?].

PubMed

Noël, Eric

2006-09-30

Faced to shoulder pathology, the way of investigating must be very systematic. Before doing sophisticated explorations (arthroCT, MRI), we first have to use the triad "interrogatory-clinical examination-standard X Rays". This first step is absolutely necessary; it must allow to make the diagnosis to which the therapy must be adapted. The rotator cuff pathology is the most frequent one. Its frequency depends on patient's age, precessive trauma or not and the pratice of activities using the arm up (sports, leasures, works). A stiff shoulder must never be neglected, the diagnosis is done by clinical examination and its origine is very often precised by standard Xrays. Others diagnosis are done by the conjunction of several elements (pathologic context, clinical examination, standard Xrays). In some complex situations, other investigations (US, arthroCT, MRI) will be needed.

A prediction model of short-term ionospheric foF2 Based on AdaBoost

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xiukuan; Liu, Libo; Ning, Baiqi

Accurate specifications of spatial and temporal variations of the ionosphere during geomagnetic quiet and disturbed conditions are critical for applications, such as HF communications, satellite positioning and navigation, power grids, pipelines, etc. Therefore, developing empirical models to forecast the ionospheric perturbations is of high priority in real applications. The critical frequency of the F2 layer, foF2, is an important ionospheric parameter, especially for radio wave propagation applications. In this paper, the AdaBoost-BP algorithm is used to construct a new model to predict the critical frequency of the ionospheric F2-layer one hour ahead. Different indices were used to characterize ionospheric diurnal and seasonal variations and their dependence on solar and geomagnetic activity. These indices, together with the current observed foF2 value, were input into the prediction model and the foF2 value at one hour ahead was output. We analyzed twenty-two years’ foF2 data from nine ionosonde stations in the East-Asian sector in this work. The first eleven years’ data were used as a training dataset and the second eleven years’ data were used as a testing dataset. The results show that the performance of AdaBoost-BP is better than those of BP Neural Network (BPNN), Support Vector Regression (SVR) and the IRI model. For example, the AdaBoost-BP prediction absolute error of foF2 at Irkutsk station (a middle latitude station) is 0.32 MHz, which is better than 0.34 MHz from BPNN, 0.35 MHz from SVR and also significantly outperforms the IRI model whose absolute error is 0.64 MHz. Meanwhile, AdaBoost-BP prediction absolute error at Taipei station from the low latitude is 0.78 MHz, which is better than 0.81 MHz from BPNN, 0.81 MHz from SVR and 1.37 MHz from the IRI model. Finally, the variety characteristics of the AdaBoost-BP prediction error along with seasonal variation, solar activity and latitude variation were also discussed in the paper.

Comb-Resolved Dual-Comb Spectroscopy Stabilized by Free-Running Continuous-Wave Lasers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kuse, Naoya; Ozawa, Akira; Kobayashi, Yohei

2012-11-01

We demonstrate dual-comb spectroscopy with relatively phase-locked two frequency combs, instead of frequency combs firmly fixed to the absolute frequency references. By stabilizing two beat frequencies between two mode-locked lasers at different wavelengths observed via free-running continuous-wave (CW) lasers, two combs are tightly phase locked to each other. The frequency noise of the CW lasers barely affects the performance of dual-comb spectroscopy because of the extremely fast common-mode noise rejection. Transform-limited comb-resolved dual-comb spectroscopy with a 6 Hz radio frequency linewidth is demonstrated by the use of Yb-fiber oscillators.

The Absolute Vector Magnetometers on Board Swarm, Lessons Learned From Two Years in Space.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hulot, G.; Leger, J. M.; Vigneron, P.; Brocco, L.; Olsen, N.; Jager, T.; Bertrand, F.; Fratter, I.; Sirol, O.; Lalanne, X.

2015-12-01

ESA's Swarm satellites carry 4He absolute magnetometers (ASM), designed by CEA-Léti and developed in partnership with CNES. These instruments are the first-ever space-born magnetometers to use a common sensor to simultaneously deliver 1Hz independent absolute scalar and vector readings of the magnetic field. They have provided the very high accuracy scalar field data nominally required by the mission (for both science and calibration purposes, since each satellite also carries a low noise high frequency fluxgate magnetometer designed by DTU), but also very useful experimental absolute vector data. In this presentation, we will report on the status of the instruments, as well as on the various tests and investigations carried out using these experimental data since launch in November 2013. In particular, we will illustrate the advantages of flying ASM instruments on space-born magnetic missions for nominal data quality checks, geomagnetic field modeling and science objectives.

Astigmatism error modification for absolute shape reconstruction using Fourier transform method

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

He, Yuhang; Li, Qiang; Gao, Bo; Liu, Ang; Xu, Kaiyuan; Wei, Xiaohong; Chai, Liqun

2014-12-01

A method is proposed to modify astigmatism errors in absolute shape reconstruction of optical plane using Fourier transform method. If a transmission and reflection flat are used in an absolute test, two translation measurements lead to obtain the absolute shapes by making use of the characteristic relationship between the differential and original shapes in spatial frequency domain. However, because the translation device cannot guarantee the test and reference flats rigidly parallel to each other after the translations, a tilt error exists in the obtained differential data, which caused power and astigmatism errors in the reconstructed shapes. In order to modify the astigmatism errors, a rotation measurement is added. Based on the rotation invariability of the form of Zernike polynomial in circular domain, the astigmatism terms are calculated by solving polynomial coefficient equations related to the rotation differential data, and subsequently the astigmatism terms including error are modified. Computer simulation proves the validity of the proposed method.

Absolute auditory thresholds in three Old World monkey species (Cercopithecus aethiops, C. neglectus, Macaca fuscata) and humans (Homo sapiens).

PubMed

Owren, M J; Hopp, S L; Sinnott, J M; Petersen, M R

1988-06-01

We investigated the absolute auditory sensitivities of three monkey species (Cercopithecus aethiops, C. neglectus, and Macaca fuscata) and humans (Homo sapiens). Results indicated that species-typical variation exists in these primates. Vervets, which have the smallest interaural distance of the species that we tested, exhibited the greatest high-frequency sensitivity. This result is consistent with Masterton, Heffner, and Ravizza's (1969) observations that head size and high-frequency acuity are inversely correlated in mammals. Vervets were also the most sensitive in the middle frequency range. Furthermore, we found that de Brazza's monkeys, though they produce a specialized, low-pitched boom call, did not show the enhanced low-frequency sensitivity that Brown and Waser (1984) showed for blue monkeys (C. mitis), a species with a similar sound. This discrepancy may be related to differences in the acoustics of the respective habitats of these animals or in the way their boom calls are used. The acuity of Japanese monkeys was found to closely resemble that of rhesus macaques (M. mulatta) that were tested in previous studies. Finally, humans tested in the same apparatus exhibited normative sensitivities. These subjects responded more readily to low frequencies than did the monkeys but rapidly became less sensitive in the high ranges.

A low phase noise microwave frequency synthesis for a high-performance cesium vapor cell atomic clock

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

François, B.; Boudot, R.; Calosso, C. E.

2014-09-15

We report the development, absolute phase noise, and residual phase noise characterization of a 9.192 GHz microwave frequency synthesis chain devoted to be used as a local oscillator in a high-performance cesium vapor cell atomic clock based on coherent population trapping (CPT). It is based on frequency multiplication of an ultra-low phase noise 100 MHz oven-controlled quartz crystal oscillator using a nonlinear transmission line-based chain. Absolute phase noise performances of the 9.192 GHz output signal are measured to be −42, −100, −117 dB rad{sup 2}/Hz and −129 dB rad{sup 2}/Hz at 1 Hz, 100 Hz, 1 kHz, and 10 kHz offset frequencies, respectively. Comparedmore » to current results obtained in a state-of-the-art CPT-based frequency standard developed at LNE-SYRTE, this represents an improvement of 8 dB and 10 dB at f = 166 Hz and f = 10 kHz, respectively. With such performances, the expected Dick effect contribution to the atomic clock short term frequency stability is reported at a level of 6.2 × 10{sup −14} at 1 s integration time, that is a factor 3 higher than the atomic clock shot noise limit. Main limitations are pointed out.« less

[Neutropenia in dogs: etiology and prognostic factors].

PubMed

Cook, Andrea M; Bauer, Natali; Neiger, Reto; Peppler, Christine; Moritz, Andreas

2016-10-12

The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate frequency, prognostic factors, and differences for various etiologies of neutropenia in dogs. A total of 391 dogs with neutrophil counts < 2.78 x 10 9 /l (January 2008 to December 2012) were included and, depending on the etiology of neutropenia, assigned to seven diagnostic groups: nonbacterial infectious disease, increased demand due to marked inflammation, drug-associated, bone-marrow diseases, immune-mediated, physiologic, miscellaneous. Absolute neutrophil counts, evidence of neutrophil toxicity or left shift, case history, rectal temperature, hospitalization, and survival were compared among groups. Increased demand due to marked inflammation (90/391, 23%) and nonbacterial infectious disease (70/391, 18%) were the most common causes for neutropenia, followed by drug-associated neutropenia (43/391, 11%) and bone-marrow disease (32/391, 8%). Immune-mediated and physiologic neutropenia (both 16/391, 4%) were uncommon. Almost one third (124/391, 32%) of dogs were assigned to the miscellaneous group. Absolute neutrophil counts were significantly higher (p < 0.01) in dogs of the physiologic and miscellaneous groups than in the other groups. Dogs with immune-mediated neutropenia or nonbacterial infectious disease displayed significantly lower absolute neutrophil counts than dogs with neutropenia due to an increased demand (p < 0.001) and were most commonly referred with a history of fever (11/16, 69%) or gastrointestinal signs (52/70, 74%), respectively. Neutrophil toxicity and left shift were most commonly associated with an increased demand due to marked inflammation (60/90 and 25/90, 67% and 28%, respectively) and the mortality rate was highest in this group (32/90, 36%). Neutrophil toxicity and left shift are associated with an increased demand due to marked inflammation and may indicate a poor prognosis. The lower the absolute neutrophil count, the greater the probability of an immune-mediated neutropenia. Neutropenia should be assessed in context with case history, clinical examination, and neutrophil morphology.

Revisiting polarimetry near the isotropic point of an optically active, non-enantiomorphous, molecular crystal.

PubMed

Martin, Alexander T; Tan, Melissa; Nichols, Shane M; Timothy, Emily; Kahr, Bart

2018-07-01

Accurate polarimetric measurements of the optical activity of crystals along low symmetry directions are facilitated by isotropic points, frequencies where dispersion curves of eigenrays cross and the linear birefringence disappears. We report here the optical properties and structure of achiral, uniaxial (point group D 2d ) potassium trihydrogen di-(cis-4-cyclohexene-1,2-dicarboxylate) dihydrate, whose isotropic point was previously detected (S. A. Kim, C. Grieswatch, H. Küppers, Zeit. Krist. 1993; 208:219-222) and exploited for a singular measurement of optical activity normal to the optic axis. The crystal structure associated with the aforementioned study was never published. We report it here, confirming the space group assignment I 4¯c2, along with the frequency dependence of the fundamental optical properties and the constitutive tensors by fitting optical dispersion relations to measured Mueller matrix spectra. k-Space maps of circular birefringence and of the Mueller matrix near the isotropic wavelength are measured and simulated. The signs of optical rotation are correlated with the absolute crystallographic directions. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

The role of helium metastable states in radio-frequency driven helium-oxygen atmospheric pressure plasma jets: measurement and numerical simulation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Niemi, K.; Waskoenig, J.; Sadeghi, N.; Gans, T.; O'Connell, D.

2011-10-01

Absolute densities of metastable He(23S1) atoms were measured line-of-sight integrated along the discharge channel of a capacitively coupled radio-frequency driven atmospheric pressure plasma jet operated in technologically relevant helium-oxygen mixtures by tunable diode-laser absorption spectroscopy. The dependences of the He(23S1) density in the homogeneous-glow-like α-mode plasma with oxygen admixtures up to 1% were investigated. The results are compared with a one-dimensional numerical simulation, which includes a semi-kinetical treatment of the pronounced electron dynamics and the complex plasma chemistry (in total 20 species and 184 reactions). Very good agreement between measurement and simulation is found. The main formation mechanisms for metastable helium atoms are identified and analyzed, including their pronounced spatio-temporal dynamics. Penning ionization through helium metastables is found to be significant for plasma sustainment, while it is revealed that helium metastables are not an important energy carrying species into the jet effluent and therefore will not play a direct role in remote surface treatments.

17 CFR 34.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-04-01

... decomposed into an option payout or payouts, is measured by the absolute net value of the put option premia with strike prices less than or equal to the reference price plus the absolute net value of the call... which a commodity-dependent payment becomes non-zero, or, in the case where two potential reference...

17 CFR 34.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-04-01

... decomposed into an option payout or payouts, is measured by the absolute net value of the put option premia with strike prices less than or equal to the reference price plus the absolute net value of the call... which a commodity-dependent payment becomes non-zero, or, in the case where two potential reference...

17 CFR 34.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-04-01

... decomposed into an option payout or payouts, is measured by the absolute net value of the put option premia with strike prices less than or equal to the reference price plus the absolute net value of the call... which a commodity-dependent payment becomes non-zero, or, in the case where two potential reference...

17 CFR 34.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-04-01

... decomposed into an option payout or payouts, is measured by the absolute net value of the put option premia with strike prices less than or equal to the reference price plus the absolute net value of the call... which a commodity-dependent payment becomes non-zero, or, in the case where two potential reference...

17 CFR 34.2 - Definitions.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-04-01

... decomposed into an option payout or payouts, is measured by the absolute net value of the put option premia with strike prices less than or equal to the reference price plus the absolute net value of the call... which a commodity-dependent payment becomes non-zero, or, in the case where two potential reference...

On-Wafer Characterization of Millimeter-Wave Antennas for Wireless Applications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simons, Rainee N.; Lee, Richard Q.

1998-01-01

The paper demonstrates a de-embedding technique and a direct on-substrate measurement technique for fast and inexpensive characterization of miniature antennas for wireless applications at millimeter-wave frequencies. The technique is demonstrated by measurements on a tapered slot antenna (TSA). The measured results at Ka-Band frequencies include input impedance, mutual coupling between two TSAs and absolute gain of TSA.

File Carving and Malware Identification Algorithms Applied to Firmware Reverse Engineering

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-03-21

33 3.5 Performance Metrics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35 3.6 Experimental...consider a byte value rate-of-change frequency metric [32]. Their system calculates the absolute value of the distance between all consecutive bytes, then...the rate-of-change means and standard deviations. Karresand and Shahmehri use the same distance metric for both byte value frequency and rate-of-change

Dripping and jetting regimes in co-flowing capillary jets: unforced measurements and response to driving

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Baroud, Charles; Cordero, Maria-Luisa; Gallaire, Francois

2011-11-01

We study the breakup of drops in a co-flowing jet, within the confinement of a microfluidic channel. The breakup can occur right after the nozzle (dripping) or through the generation of a liquid jet that breaks up a long distance from the nozzle (jetting). Traditionally, these two regimes have been considered to reflect an absolutely unstable jet or a convectively unstable jet, respectively. We first provide measurements of the frequency of oscillation and breakup of the liquid jet; the dispersion relation thus obtained compares well with existing theories for convective instabilities in the case of the jetting regime. However, the theories in the absolutely unstable mode fail to predict the evolution of the frequency and drop size in the dripping regime. We also test the jet response to an external forcing, using a focused laser to locally heat the jet. The dripping regime is found to be insensitive to the perturbation and the frequency of drop formation remains unaltered. In contrast, the jetting regime locks to the external frequency, which translates into a modification of the drop size in agreement with the dispersion relations. This confirms the convective nature of the jetting regime. Permanent address: Universidad de Chile.

Trajectory NG: portable, compressed, general molecular dynamics trajectories.

PubMed

Spångberg, Daniel; Larsson, Daniel S D; van der Spoel, David

2011-10-01

We present general algorithms for the compression of molecular dynamics trajectories. The standard ways to store MD trajectories as text or as raw binary floating point numbers result in very large files when efficient simulation programs are used on supercomputers. Our algorithms are based on the observation that differences in atomic coordinates/velocities, in either time or space, are generally smaller than the absolute values of the coordinates/velocities. Also, it is often possible to store values at a lower precision. We apply several compression schemes to compress the resulting differences further. The most efficient algorithms developed here use a block sorting algorithm in combination with Huffman coding. Depending on the frequency of storage of frames in the trajectory, either space, time, or combinations of space and time differences are usually the most efficient. We compare the efficiency of our algorithms with each other and with other algorithms present in the literature for various systems: liquid argon, water, a virus capsid solvated in 15 mM aqueous NaCl, and solid magnesium oxide. We perform tests to determine how much precision is necessary to obtain accurate structural and dynamic properties, as well as benchmark a parallelized implementation of the algorithms. We obtain compression ratios (compared to single precision floating point) of 1:3.3-1:35 depending on the frequency of storage of frames and the system studied.

Spectral Characteristics of the Unitary Critical Almost-Mathieu Operator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fillman, Jake; Ong, Darren C.; Zhang, Zhenghe

2017-04-01

We discuss spectral characteristics of a one-dimensional quantum walk whose coins are distributed quasi-periodically. The unitary update rule of this quantum walk shares many spectral characteristics with the critical Almost-Mathieu Operator; however, it possesses a feature not present in the Almost-Mathieu Operator, namely singularity of the associated cocycles (this feature is, however, present in the so-called Extended Harper's Model). We show that this operator has empty absolutely continuous spectrum and that the Lyapunov exponent vanishes on the spectrum; hence, this model exhibits Cantor spectrum of zero Lebesgue measure for all irrational frequencies and arbitrary phase, which in physics is known as Hofstadter's butterfly. In fact, we will show something stronger, namely, that all spectral parameters in the spectrum are of critical type, in the language of Avila's global theory of analytic quasiperiodic cocycles. We further prove that it has empty point spectrum for each irrational frequency and away from a frequency-dependent set of phases having Lebesgue measure zero. The key ingredients in our proofs are an adaptation of Avila's Global Theory to the present setting, self-duality via the Fourier transform, and a Johnson-type theorem for singular dynamically defined CMV matrices which characterizes their spectra as the set of spectral parameters at which the associated cocycles fail to admit a dominated splitting.

The role of service areas in the optimization of FSS orbital and frequency assignments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levis, C. A.; Wang, C. W.; Yamamura, Y.; Reilly, C. H.; Gonsalvez, D. J.

1985-01-01

A relationship is derived, on a single-entry interference basis, for the minimum allowable spacing between two satellites as a function of electrical parameters and service-area geometries. For circular beams, universal curves relate the topocentric satellite spacing angle to the service-area separation angle measured at the satellite. The corresponding geocentric spacing depends only weakly on the mean longitude of the two satellites, and this is true also for alliptical antenna beams. As a consequence, if frequency channels are preassigned, the orbital assignment synthesis of a satellite system can be formulated as a mixed-integer programming (MIP) problem or approximated by a linear programming (LP) problem, with the interference protection requirements enforced by constraints while some linear function is optimized. Possible objective-function choices are discussed and explicit formulations are presented for the choice of the sum of the absolute deviations of the orbital locations from some prescribed ideal location set. A test problem is posed consisting of six service areas, each served by one satellite, all using elliptical antenna beams and the same frequency channels. Numerical results are given for the three ideal location prescriptions for both the MIP and LP formulations. The resulting scenarios also satisfy reasonable aggregate interference protection requirements.

Dipolar DC Collisional Activation in a "Stretched" 3-D Ion Trap: The Effect of Higher Order Fields on rf-Heating

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Prentice, Boone M.; McLuckey, Scott A.

2012-04-01

Applying dipolar DC (DDC) to the end-cap electrodes of a 3-D ion trap operated with a bath gas at roughly 1 mTorr gives rise to `rf-heating' and can result in collision-induced dissociation (CID). This approach to ion trap CID differs from the conventional single-frequency resonance excitation approach in that it does not rely on tuning a supplementary frequency to coincide with the fundamental secular frequeny of the precursor ion of interest. Simulations using the program ITSIM 5.0 indicate that application of DDC physically displaces ions solely in the axial (inter end-cap) dimension whereupon ion acceleration occurs via power absorption from the drive rf. Experimental data shows that the degree of rf-heating in a stretched 3-D ion trap is not dependent solely on the ratio of the dipolar DC voltage/radio frequency (rf) amplitude, as a model based on a pure quadrupole field suggests. Rather, ion temperatures are shown to increase as the absolute values of the dipolar DC and rf amplitude both decrease. Simulations indicate that the presence of higher order multi-pole fields underlies this unexpected behavior. These findings have important implications for the use of DDC as a broad-band activation approach in multi-pole traps.

The recalibration of the IUE scientific instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Imhoff, Catherine L.; Oliversen, Nancy A.; Nichols-Bohlin, Joy; Casatella, Angelo; Lloyd, Christopher

1988-01-01

The IUE instrument was recalibrated because of long time-scale changes in the scientific instrument, a better understanding of the performance of the instrument, improved sets of calibration data, and improved analysis techniques. Calibrations completed or planned include intensity transfer functions (ITF), low-dispersion absolute calibrations, high-dispersion ripple corrections and absolute calibrations, improved geometric mapping of the ITFs to spectral images, studies to improve the signal-to-noise, enhanced absolute calibrations employing corrections for time, temperature, and aperture dependence, and photometric and geometric calibrations for the FES.

Revisiting Absolute Radio Backgrounds in Light of Juno Cruise Data

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chang, Tzu-Ching

Radio backgrounds have played a critical role in recent progress in astronomy and cosmology. Major amongst them, the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) is currently our most precise window on the physics of the early universe. Both its near perfect blackbody spectrum and its angular fluctuations led to unique cosmological inferences. Beyond the CMB, radio backgrounds have offered golden insights to Galactic and extragalactic astrophysics. In this proposal, we take note of the recently released "cruise data" collected over five years by the MicroWave Radiometer (MWR) instrument on board the Juno planetary mission to construct new, unprecedented and well-characterized full-sky maps at 6 frequencies ranging from 0.6 to 22 GHz. We propose to generate, validate and release these full-sky maps and investigate their rich and unique astrophysical implications. In particular, we expect the use of Juno data to shed light on the "ARCADE excess" and lead to new insights on Galactic and extragalactic radio signals. Over the past several years, evidence indicating the existence of a significant isotropic radio background has been hinted at by a number of instruments. In 2011, the Absolute Radiometer for Cosmology, Astrophysics and Diffuse Emission (ARCADE 2) collaboration reported measurements of the absolute sky temperature at a number of frequencies between 3 and 90 GHz (Fixsen et al. 2011). While these measurements are dominated by the CMB at frequencies above several GHz, they reveal the presence of significant excess power at the lowest measured frequencies (Seiffert et al. 2011). This conclusion is strengthened by a number of observations at lower frequencies, reported at 22 MHz, 45 MHz, 408 MHz and 1.42 GHz: the emission observed by each of these groups appears to be in significant excess to what can be attributed to Galactic emission, or to unresolved members of known extragalactic radio source populations. In addition, it appears to be anomalously spatially smooth to be extragalactic. Six years after the report of this excess, this situation remains unsettled and has not evolved due to the lack of new observations at these frequencies. For this reason, and for the intrinsic value of the unprecedented full-sky maps, the astrophysics impact of MWR Juno cruise observations will be very important. Our program will be articulated along five projects (labeled P1 to P5), loosely corresponding to research papers: (P1) We will generate well characterized full-sky maps at the Juno MWR six frequencies starting from the timestream data, released in September 2016 on the Planetary Data System (PDS) archive. We will validate these maps using cross-correlations with WMAP and Planck public maps at low frequencies. We will release our maps to the community via the NASA LAMBDA archive. This analysis will set the basis for the following projects. (P2) We will investigate the implication of these new maps for foreground modeling with a focus on CMB foreground separation. This analysis will be performed jointly with now standard WMAP and Planck component separation tools and products. (P3) We will investigate the implication of these new maps for foreground modeling with a focus on radio 21 cm intensity mapping signals, extending in the process current community foreground models. This analysis will be improve our understanding and characterization of radio foregrounds, and guide current and future redshifted 21 cm line mapping experiments. (P4) Using the above maps, we will revisit the ARCADE excess and perform absolute temperature measurement of the extragalactic radio backgrounds at multiple frequencies and angular positions over the sky. (P5) Using the above maps, we will revisit the ARCADE excess and perform absolute temperature measurement of the Galactic radio backgrounds at multiple frequencies and angular positions in the Galactic plane, using multiple other line surveys to guide our interpretation.

Chemistry of neutral species in the effluent of the micro atmospheric pressure plasma jet in water-helium admixture

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Willems, Gert; Benedikt, Jan; von Keudell, Achim

2016-09-01

A thorough understanding and good control of produced neutral and charged species by cold atmospheric plasmas is essential for potential environmental and/or bio-medical applications. In this study we use the COST reference micro plasma jet (µ-APPJ), which is a radio-frequency capacitive coupled plasma source with 1 mm electrode distance, which has been operated in helium-water vapour mixture and has been studied as a potential source of hydroxyl radicals and hydrogen peroxide molecules. The water vapour concentration was up to 1.2%. Molecular Beam mass spectrometry is used as diagnostic tool. An absolute calibration of hydrogen peroxide was conducted using a double bubbler concept, because the ionization cross section for hydrogen peroxide is not available. Additionally the effluent chemistry was investigated by use of a 0D and 2D model. Absolute densities of hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals from atmospheric plasma will be presented. Their dependency on water vapour concentration in the carrier gas as well as distance to target have been investigated. The measured density is between 5E-13 cm-3 (2.4ppm) and 1.5E-14 cm-3 (7.2ppm) for both hydrogen peroxide molecules and hydroxyl radicals. The achieved results are in good agreement with other experiments.

VUV spectroscopy of OH and SO

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Heays, Alan; de Oliveira, Nelson; Gans, Bérenger; Ito, Kenji; Nahon, Laurent; Douin, Stéphane; Boyé-Péronne, Séverine; Hickson, Kevin; Loison, Jean-Christophe; Lyons, James; Stark, Glenn

2018-06-01

Radicals are certainly important in the ISM and atmospheric chemical cycles but laboratory measurement of their photoabsorption and dissociation cross sections is a continuing challenge. In some cases, the detailed rovibrational structure within ultraviolet electronic transitions leads to interesting resonance or isotope effects in interstellar or atmospheric photodissociation but their measurement requires high spectral resolution. The latest generation in broadband high-resolution UV spectrometers at the SOLEIL synchrotron has been put to work studying the photoabsorption of radicals OH and SO. I will present the results of these studies.This unique UV/VUV Fourier-transform spectrometer is illuminated by a 3rd generation synchrotron and a column of radicals is maintained in a radio-frequency discharge [1]. Careful separation of precursor gases and contaminants is needed to distinguish the radical absorption, and a means of determining the absolute radical column density. In the case of OH, we measure the absolute absorption strength of the D-X transition, occasionally observed in the ISM and refine its rate of interstellar photodissociation [2]. For SO, we measure the absorption strengths and variable predissociation linewidths of the B-X transition, and investigate the possibility of isotope-dependent effects.[1] de Oliveira et al. (2016) J. Synchr. Rad. 23:887.[2] Heays et al. (2018) JQSRT 204:12.

First international comparison of fountain primary frequency standards via a long distance optical fiber link

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Guéna, J.; Weyers, S.; Abgrall, M.; Grebing, C.; Gerginov, V.; Rosenbusch, P.; Bize, S.; Lipphardt, B.; Denker, H.; Quintin, N.; Raupach, S. M. F.; Nicolodi, D.; Stefani, F.; Chiodo, N.; Koke, S.; Kuhl, A.; Wiotte, F.; Meynadier, F.; Camisard, E.; Chardonnet, C.; Le Coq, Y.; Lours, M.; Santarelli, G.; Amy-Klein, A.; Le Targat, R.; Lopez, O.; Pottie, P. E.; Grosche, G.

2017-06-01

We report on the first comparison of distant caesium fountain primary frequency standards (PFSs) via an optical fiber link. The 1415 km long optical link connects two PFSs at LNE-SYRTE (Laboratoire National de métrologie et d’Essais—SYstème de Références Temps-Espace) in Paris (France) with two at PTB (Physikalisch-Technische Bundesanstalt) in Braunschweig (Germany). For a long time, these PFSs have been major contributors to accuracy of the International Atomic Time (TAI), with stated accuracies of around 3× {{10}-16} . They have also been the references for a number of absolute measurements of clock transition frequencies in various optical frequency standards in view of a future redefinition of the second. The phase coherent optical frequency transfer via a stabilized telecom fiber link enables far better resolution than any other means of frequency transfer based on satellite links. The agreement for each pair of distant fountains compared is well within the combined uncertainty of a few 10-16 for all the comparisons, which fully supports the stated PFSs’ uncertainties. The comparison also includes a rubidium fountain frequency standard participating in the steering of TAI and enables a new absolute determination of the 87Rb ground state hyperfine transition frequency with an uncertainty of 3.1× {{10}-16} . This paper is dedicated to the memory of André Clairon, who passed away on 24 December 2015, for his pioneering and long-lasting efforts in atomic fountains. He also pioneered optical links from as early as 1997.

Remote ultrasound palpation for robotic interventions using absolute elastography.

PubMed

Schneider, Caitlin; Baghani, Ali; Rohling, Robert; Salcudean, Septimiu

2012-01-01

Although robotic surgery has addressed many of the challenges presented by minimally invasive surgery, haptic feedback and the lack of knowledge of tissue stiffness is an unsolved problem. This paper presents a system for finding the absolute elastic properties of tissue using a freehand ultrasound scanning technique, which utilizes the da Vinci Surgical robot and a custom 2D ultrasound transducer for intraoperative use. An external exciter creates shear waves in the tissue, and a local frequency estimation method computes the shear modulus. Results are reported for both phantom and in vivo models. This system can be extended to any 6 degree-of-freedom tracking method and any 2D transducer to provide real-time absolute elastic properties of tissue.

Frequency measurement of the 260-THz (1. 15-. mu. m) He--Ne laser

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Jennings, D.A.; Petersen, F.R.; Evenson, K.M.

1979-05-01

Absolute infrared frequency measurement has been extended to 260 THz with the measurement of the strong 1.15-..mu..m laser line in /sup 20/Ne. The frequency was synthesized in nonlinear crystals of CdGeAs/sub 2/ and Ag/sub 3/AsS/sub 3/ from stabilized CO/sub 2/ lasers and the 1.5-..mu..m laser line in /sup 20//sub Ne.Themeasuredfrequencyis/..nu..20/sub Ne,1.15mum/ =260.103 284 (30) THz.

Absolutely relative or relatively absolute: violations of value invariance in human decision making.

PubMed

Teodorescu, Andrei R; Moran, Rani; Usher, Marius

2016-02-01

Making decisions based on relative rather than absolute information processing is tied to choice optimality via the accumulation of evidence differences and to canonical neural processing via accumulation of evidence ratios. These theoretical frameworks predict invariance of decision latencies to absolute intensities that maintain differences and ratios, respectively. While information about the absolute values of the choice alternatives is not necessary for choosing the best alternative, it may nevertheless hold valuable information about the context of the decision. To test the sensitivity of human decision making to absolute values, we manipulated the intensities of brightness stimuli pairs while preserving either their differences or their ratios. Although asked to choose the brighter alternative relative to the other, participants responded faster to higher absolute values. Thus, our results provide empirical evidence for human sensitivity to task irrelevant absolute values indicating a hard-wired mechanism that precedes executive control. Computational investigations of several modelling architectures reveal two alternative accounts for this phenomenon, which combine absolute and relative processing. One account involves accumulation of differences with activation dependent processing noise and the other emerges from accumulation of absolute values subject to the temporal dynamics of lateral inhibition. The potential adaptive role of such choice mechanisms is discussed.

Precision and Fast Wavelength Tuning of a Dynamically Phase-Locked Widely-Tunable Laser

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Numata, Kenji; Chen, Jeffrey R.; Wu, Stewart T.

2012-01-01

We report a precision and fast wavelength tuning technique demonstrated for a digital-supermode distributed Bragg reflector laser. The laser was dynamically offset-locked to a frequency-stabilized master laser using an optical phase-locked loop, enabling precision fast tuning to and from any frequencies within a 40-GHz tuning range. The offset frequency noise was suppressed to the statically offset-locked level in less than 40 s upon each frequency switch, allowing the laser to retain the absolute frequency stability of the master laser. This technique satisfies stringent requirements for gas sensing lidars and enables other applications that require such well-controlled precision fast tuning.

Frequency spectrum analyzer with phase-lock

DOEpatents

Boland, Thomas J.

1984-01-01

A frequency-spectrum analyzer with phase-lock for analyzing the frequency and amplitude of an input signal is comprised of a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) which is driven by a ramp generator, and a phase error detector circuit. The phase error detector circuit measures the difference in phase between the VCO and the input signal, and drives the VCO locking it in phase momentarily with the input signal. The input signal and the output of the VCO are fed into a correlator which transfers the input signal to a frequency domain, while providing an accurate absolute amplitude measurement of each frequency component of the input signal.

Territorial black-capped chickadee males respond faster to high- than to low-frequency songs in experimentally elevated noise conditions

PubMed Central

Slabbekoorn, Hans; Otter, Ken A.

2017-01-01

Low-frequency urban noise can interfere with avian communication through masking. Some species are able to shift the frequency of their vocalizations upwards in noisy conditions, which may reduce the effects of masking. However, results from playback studies investigating whether or not such vocal changes improve audibility in noisy conditions are not clear; the responses of free-ranging individuals to shifted signals are potentially confounded by functional trade-offs between masking-related audibility and frequency-dependent signal quality. Black-capped chickadees (Poecile atricapillus) naturally sing their songs at several different frequencies as they pitch-shift to match conspecifics during song-matching contests. They are also known to switch to higher song frequencies in response to experimental noise exposure. Each male produces both high- and low-frequency songs and absolute frequency is not a signal of aggression or dominance, making this an interesting species in which to test whether higher-frequency songs are more audible than lower-frequency songs in noisy conditions. We conducted playback studies across southern and central British Columbia, Canada, using paired song stimuli (high- vs low-frequency songs, n = 24 pairs) embedded in synthetic background noise created to match typical urban sound profiles. Over the course of each playback, the signal-to-noise ratio of the song stimuli was gradually increased by raising the amplitude of the song stimuli while maintaining background noise at a constant amplitude. We evaluated variation in how quickly and aggressively territorial males reacted to each of the paired stimuli. We found that males responded more quickly to playbacks of high- than low-frequency songs when high-frequency songs were presented first, but not when low-frequency songs were first. This difference may be explained by high-frequency songs being more audible combined with a carry-over effect resulting in slower responses to the second stimulus due to habituation. We observed no difference in overall aggression between stimuli. These results suggest that high-frequency songs may be more audible under noisy conditions. PMID:28462051

Have human activities changed the frequencies of absolute extreme temperatures in eastern China?

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wang, Jun; Tett, Simon F. B.; Yan, Zhongwei; Feng, Jinming

2018-01-01

Extreme temperatures affect populous regions, like eastern China, causing substantial socio-economic losses. It is beneficial to explore whether the frequencies of absolute or threshold-based extreme temperatures have been changed by human activities, such as anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases (GHGs). In this study, we compared observed and multi-model-simulated changes in the frequencies of summer days, tropical nights, icy days and frosty nights in eastern China for the years 1960-2012 by using an optimal fingerprinting method. The observed long-term trends in the regional mean frequencies of these four indices were +2.36, +1.62, -0.94, -3.02 days decade-1. The models performed better in simulating the observed frequency change in daytime extreme temperatures than nighttime ones. Anthropogenic influences are detectable in the observed frequency changes of these four temperature extreme indices. The influence of natural forcings could not be detected robustly in any indices. Further analysis found that the effects of GHGs changed the frequencies of summer days (tropical nights, icy days, frosty nights) by +3.48 ± 1.45 (+2.99 ± 1.35, -2.52 ± 1.28, -4.11 ± 1.48) days decade-1. Other anthropogenic forcing agents (dominated by anthropogenic aerosols) offset the GHG effect and changed the frequencies of these four indices by -1.53 ± 0.78, -1.49 ± 0.94, +1.84 ± 1.07, +1.45 ± 1.26 days decade-1, respectively. Little influence of natural forcings was found in the observed frequency changes of these four temperature extreme indices.

Minimal gain marching schemes: searching for unstable steady-states with unsteady solvers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

de S. Teixeira, Renan; S. de B. Alves, Leonardo

2017-12-01

Reference solutions are important in several applications. They are used as base states in linear stability analyses as well as initial conditions and reference states for sponge zones in numerical simulations, just to name a few examples. Their accuracy is also paramount in both fields, leading to more reliable analyses and efficient simulations, respectively. Hence, steady-states usually make the best reference solutions. Unfortunately, standard marching schemes utilized for accurate unsteady simulations almost never reach steady-states of unstable flows. Steady governing equations could be solved instead, by employing Newton-type methods often coupled with continuation techniques. However, such iterative approaches do require large computational resources and very good initial guesses to converge. These difficulties motivated the development of a technique known as selective frequency damping (SFD) (Åkervik et al. in Phys Fluids 18(6):068102, 2006). It adds a source term to the unsteady governing equations that filters out the unstable frequencies, allowing a steady-state to be reached. This approach does not require a good initial condition and works well for self-excited flows, where a single nonzero excitation frequency is selected by either absolute or global instability mechanisms. On the other hand, it seems unable to damp stationary disturbances. Furthermore, flows with a broad unstable frequency spectrum might require the use of multiple filters, which delays convergence significantly. Both scenarios appear in convectively, absolutely or globally unstable flows. An alternative approach is proposed in the present paper. It modifies the coefficients of a marching scheme in such a way that makes the absolute value of its linear gain smaller than one within the required unstable frequency spectra, allowing the respective disturbance amplitudes to decay given enough time. These ideas are applied here to implicit multi-step schemes. A few chosen test cases shows that they enable convergence toward solutions that are unstable to stationary and oscillatory disturbances, with either a single or multiple frequency content. Finally, comparisons with SFD are also performed, showing significant reduction in computer cost for complex flows by using the implicit multi-step MGM schemes.

Human speed perception is contrast dependent

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Stone, Leland S.; Thompson, Peter

1992-01-01

When two parallel gratings moving at the same speed are presented simultaneously, the lower-contrast grating appears slower. This misperception is evident across a wide range of contrasts (2.5-50 percent) and does not appear to saturate (e.g. a 50 percent contrast grating appears slower than a 70 percent contrast grating moving at the same speed). On average, a 70 percent contrast grating must be slowed by 35 percent to match a 10 percent contrast grating moving at 2 deg/sec (N = 6). Furthermore, the effect is largely independent of the absolute contrast level and is a quasi-linear function of log contrast ratio. A preliminary parametric study shows that, although spatial frequency has little effect, relative orientation is important. Finally, the misperception of relative speed appears lessened when the stimuli to be matched are presented sequentially.

Effect of the gas flow rate on the spatiotemporal distribution of Ar(1s5) absolute densities in a ns pulsed plasma jet impinging on a glass surface

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gazeli, K.; Bauville, G.; Fleury, M.; Jeanney, P.; Neveu, O.; Pasquiers, S.; Santos Sousa, J.

2018-06-01

This work presents spatial (axial-z and transversal-y) and temporal distributions of Ar(1s5) metastable absolute densities in an atmospheric pressure argon micro-plasma jet impinging on an ungrounded glass surface. Guided streamers are generated with a DBD device driven by pulsed positive high voltages of 6 kV in amplitude, 224 +/- 3 ns in FWHM and 20 kHz in frequency. The argon flow rate is varied between 200 and 600 sccm. The glass plate is placed at 5 mm away from the reactor’s nozzle and perpendicular to the streamers propagation. At these conditions, a diffuse stable discharge is established after the passage of the streamers allowing the quantification of the Ar(1s5) absolute density by means of a conventional TDLAS technique coupled with emission spectroscopy and ICCD imaging. The good reproducibility of the absorption signals is demonstrated. The experiments show the strong dependence of the maximum density ({0.5-4}× {10}13 {{{cm}}}-3) on the gas flow rate and the axial and transversal position. At 200 sccm, high maximum densities (> 2.4× {10}13 {{{cm}}}-3) are obtained in a small area close to the plasma source, while with increasing flow rate this area expands towards the glass plate. In the transversal direction, density maxima are obtained in a small zone around the propagation axis of the streamers. Finally, a noticeable increase is measured on the Ar(1s5) effective lifetime close to the glass surface by varying the flow rate from 200 to 600 sccm. In overall, the effective lifetime varies between ∼25 and ∼550 ns, depending on the gas flow rate and the values of z and y coordinates. The results obtained suggest that the present system can be implemented in various applications and particularly in what concerns the detection of weakly volatile organic compounds present in trace amounts on different surfaces.

Neural Sensitivity to Absolute and Relative Anticipated Reward in Adolescents

PubMed Central

Vaidya, Jatin G.; Knutson, Brian; O'Leary, Daniel S.; Block, Robert I.; Magnotta, Vincent

2013-01-01

Adolescence is associated with a dramatic increase in risky and impulsive behaviors that have been attributed to developmental differences in neural processing of rewards. In the present study, we sought to identify age differences in anticipation of absolute and relative rewards. To do so, we modified a commonly used monetary incentive delay (MID) task in order to examine brain activity to relative anticipated reward value (neural sensitivity to the value of a reward as a function of other available rewards). This design also made it possible to examine developmental differences in brain activation to absolute anticipated reward magnitude (the degree to which neural activity increases with increasing reward magnitude). While undergoing fMRI, 18 adolescents and 18 adult participants were presented with cues associated with different reward magnitudes. After the cue, participants responded to a target to win money on that trial. Presentation of cues was blocked such that two reward cues associated with $.20, $1.00, or $5.00 were in play on a given block. Thus, the relative value of the $1.00 reward varied depending on whether it was paired with a smaller or larger reward. Reflecting age differences in neural responses to relative anticipated reward (i.e., reference dependent processing), adults, but not adolescents, demonstrated greater activity to a $1 reward when it was the larger of the two available rewards. Adults also demonstrated a more linear increase in ventral striatal activity as a function of increasing absolute reward magnitude compared to adolescents. Additionally, reduced ventral striatal sensitivity to absolute anticipated reward (i.e., the difference in activity to medium versus small rewards) correlated with higher levels of trait Impulsivity. Thus, ventral striatal activity in anticipation of absolute and relative rewards develops with age. Absolute reward processing is also linked to individual differences in Impulsivity. PMID:23544046

Presenting efficacy information in direct-to-consumer prescription drug advertisements.

PubMed

O'Donoghue, Amie C; Sullivan, Helen W; Aikin, Kathryn J; Chowdhury, Dhuly; Moultrie, Rebecca R; Rupert, Douglas J

2014-05-01

We evaluated whether presenting prescription drug efficacy information in direct-to-consumer (DTC) advertising helps individuals accurately report a drug's benefits and, if so, which numerical format is most helpful. We conducted a randomized, controlled study of individuals diagnosed with high cholesterol (n=2807) who viewed fictitious prescription drug print or television ads containing either no drug efficacy information or efficacy information in one of five numerical formats. We measured drug efficacy recall, drug perceptions and attitudes, behavioral intentions, and drug risk recall. Individuals who viewed absolute frequency and/or percentage information more accurately reported drug efficacy than participants who viewed no efficacy information. Participants who viewed relative frequency information generally reported drug efficacy less accurately than participants who viewed other numerical formats. Adding efficacy information to DTC ads-both in print and on television-may potentially increase an individual's knowledge of a drug's efficacy, which may improve patient-provider communication and promote more informed decisions. Providing quantitative efficacy information in a combination of formats (e.g., absolute frequency and percent) may help patients remember information and make decisions about prescription drugs. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.

Assessing the feasibility of detecting a hemorrhagic type stroke using a 16 channel magnetic induction system

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dekdouk, B.; Ktistis, C.; Armitage, D. W.; Peyton, A. J.

2010-04-01

Magnetic induction tomography (MIT) has been proposed as a possible method for imaging stroke in the human brain. Hemorrhagic stroke is characterized by local blood accumulation in the brain and exhibits a greater change in conductivity with frequency compared to other tissues which is observed in the frequency range of interest [1-10] MHz. In this study, we investigate the feasibility of detecting hemorrhagic stroke using absolute and frequency difference imaging. For this purpose, a model of the head originally obtained from MRI and X-ray data was used, to which a large stroke (50 ml) was added. In addition, a model of a 16 channel circular array MIT system was employed. The received coil induced voltages were computed using a custom eddy current solver, based on the finite difference method. For absolute imaging, the induced voltages at the receiver coils were calculated from various coil combinations at 10 MHz frequency together with anticipated systematic errors and biases (orientation and displacement of the coils, movement of the head). The induced voltage noise due to these systematic inaccuracies was compared with the voltage change due to the stroke. In order to decrease the impact of this noise, frequency difference was also considered, whereby measurements were performed at another frequency (1MHz) and subtracted. Comparison results are presented and a realistic picture is delivered with to regard the required mechanical stability and electronics accuracy for this particular medical application

A Calibration Method for Nanowire Biosensors to Suppress Device-to-device Variation

PubMed Central

Ishikawa, Fumiaki N.; Curreli, Marco; Chang, Hsiao-Kang; Chen, Po-Chiang; Zhang, Rui; Cote, Richard J.; Thompson, Mark E.; Zhou, Chongwu

2009-01-01

Nanowire/nanotube biosensors have stimulated significant interest; however the inevitable device-to-device variation in the biosensor performance remains a great challenge. We have developed an analytical method to calibrate nanowire biosensor responses that can suppress the device-to-device variation in sensing response significantly. The method is based on our discovery of a strong correlation between the biosensor gate dependence (dIds/dVg) and the absolute response (absolute change in current, ΔI). In2O3 nanowire based biosensors for streptavidin detection were used as the model system. Studying the liquid gate effect and ionic concentration dependence of strepavidin sensing indicates that electrostatic interaction is the dominant mechanism for sensing response. Based on this sensing mechanism and transistor physics, a linear correlation between the absolute sensor response (ΔI) and the gate dependence (dIds/dVg) is predicted and confirmed experimentally. Using this correlation, a calibration method was developed where the absolute response is divided by dIds/dVg for each device, and the calibrated responses from different devices behaved almost identically. Compared to the common normalization method (normalization of the conductance/resistance/current by the initial value), this calibration method was proved advantageous using a conventional transistor model. The method presented here substantially suppresses device-to-device variation, allowing the use of nanosensors in large arrays. PMID:19921812

Enhancement of SV40 transformation by treatment of C3H2K cells with uv light and caffeine. I. Combined effect of uv light and caffeine. [Mice

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ide, T.; Anzai, K.; Andoh, T.

1975-08-01

Treatment of cultured mouse cells, C3H2K, with uv light and/or caffeine enhanced the frequency of SV40-induced transformation. This enhancement depends upon the doses of uv and caffeine and the mode of combination of these agents. Irradiation of cells with increasing doses of uv just before infection resulted in approximately 2-fold enhancement of the transformation frequency up to a dose of 90 ergs/mm/sup 2/ and 3.3-fold at 150 ergs/mm/sup 2/. Addition of 1 mM caffeine to the medium for 4 days subsequent to infection brought about a 2-fold enhancement. When cells were irradiated and treated with 1 mM caffeine, the enhancementmore » was approximately 4-fold up to a uv dose of 90 ergs/mm/sup 2/ and 5.9-fold at 150 ergs/mm/sup 2/. When 0.1 to 4 mM caffeine was added for 4 days postinfection, the absolute number of transformations increased, and an enhancement ratio of 1.3 to 6.8 resulted. After the addition of the same increasing doses of caffeine to uv-irradiated cells (75 ergs/mm/sup 2/), the enhancement of transformation frequency was even higher ranging 2.0 to 13.3. The transformation frequencies thus obtained by the double treatment were always higher than those predicted if uv and caffeine acted additively. The transformation frequency was little affected by the addition of dibutyrylcyclic AMP and theophylline.« less

Radiation induction of drug resistance in RIF-1 tumors and tumor cells

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hopwood, L.E.; Moulder, J.E.

1989-11-01

The RIF-1 tumor cell line contains a small number of cells (1-20 per 10(6) cells) that are resistant to various single antineoplastic drugs, including 5-fluorouracil (5FU), methotrexate (MTX), and adriamycin (ADR). For 5FU the frequency of drug resistance is lower for tumor-derived cells than for cells from cell culture; for MTX the reverse is true, and for ADR there is no difference. In vitro irradiation at 5 Gy significantly increased the frequency of drug-resistant cells for 5FU, MTX, and ADR. In vivo irradiation at 3 Gy significantly increased the frequency of drug-resistant cells for 5FU and MTX, but not formore » ADR. The absolute risk for in vitro induction of MTX, 5FU, and ADR resistance, and for in vivo induction of 5FU resistance, was 1-3 per 10(6) cells per Gy; but the absolute risk for in vivo induction of MTX resistance was 54 per 10(6) cells per Gy. The frequency of drug-resistant cells among individual untreated tumors was highly variable; among individual irradiated tumors the frequency of drug-resistant cells was significantly less variable. These studies provide supporting data for models of the development of tumor drug resistance, and imply that some of the drug resistance seen when chemotherapy follows radiotherapy may be due to radiation-induced drug resistance.« less

A prediction model of short-term ionospheric foF2 based on AdaBoost

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhao, Xiukuan; Ning, Baiqi; Liu, Libo; Song, Gangbing

2014-02-01

In this paper, the AdaBoost-BP algorithm is used to construct a new model to predict the critical frequency of the ionospheric F2-layer (foF2) one hour ahead. Different indices were used to characterize ionospheric diurnal and seasonal variations and their dependence on solar and geomagnetic activity. These indices, together with the current observed foF2 value, were input into the prediction model and the foF2 value at one hour ahead was output. We analyzed twenty-two years' foF2 data from nine ionosonde stations in the East-Asian sector in this work. The first eleven years' data were used as a training dataset and the second eleven years' data were used as a testing dataset. The results show that the performance of AdaBoost-BP is better than those of BP Neural Network (BPNN), Support Vector Regression (SVR) and the IRI model. For example, the AdaBoost-BP prediction absolute error of foF2 at Irkutsk station (a middle latitude station) is 0.32 MHz, which is better than 0.34 MHz from BPNN, 0.35 MHz from SVR and also significantly outperforms the IRI model whose absolute error is 0.64 MHz. Meanwhile, AdaBoost-BP prediction absolute error at Taipei station from the low latitude is 0.78 MHz, which is better than 0.81 MHz from BPNN, 0.81 MHz from SVR and 1.37 MHz from the IRI model. Finally, the variety characteristics of the AdaBoost-BP prediction error along with seasonal variation, solar activity and latitude variation were also discussed in the paper.

Optimised effective potential for ground states, excited states, and time-dependent phenomena

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gross, E.K.U.

1996-12-31

(1) The optimized effective potential method is a variant of the traditional Kohn-Sham scheme. In this variant, the exchange-correlation energy E{sub xc} is an explicit functional of single-particle orbitals. The exchange-correlation potential, given as usual by the functional derivative v{sub xc} = {delta}E{sub xc}/{delta}{rho}, then satisfies as integral equation involving the single-particle orbitals. This integral equation in solved semi-analytically using a scheme recently proposed by Krieger, Li and Iafrate. If the exact (Fock) exchange-energy functional is employed together with the Colle-Salvetti orbital functional for the correlation energy, the mean absolute deviation of the resulting ground-state energies from the exact nonrelativisticmore » values is CT mH for the first-row atoms, as compared to 4.5 mH in a state-of-the-art CI calculation. The proposed scheme is thus significantly more accurate than the conventional Kohn-Sham method while the numerical effort involved is about the same as for an ordinary Hanree-Fock calculation. (2) A time-dependent generalization of the optimized-potential method is presented and applied to the linear-response regime. Since time-dependent density functional theory leads to a formally exact representation of the frequency-dependent linear density response and since the latter, as a function of frequency, has poles at the excitation energies of the fully interacting system, the formalism is suitable for the calculation of excitation energies. A simple additive correction to the Kohn-Sham single-particle excitation energies will be deduced and first results for atomic and molecular singlet and triplet excitation energies will be presented. (3) Beyond the regime of linear response, the time-dependent optimized-potential method is employed to describe atoms in strong emtosecond laser pulses. Ionization yields and harmonic spectra will be presented and compared with experimental data.« less

Absolute versus relative intensity of physical activity in a dose-response context.

PubMed

Shephard, R J

2001-06-01

To examine the importance of relative versus absolute intensities of physical activity in the context of population health. A standard computer-search of the literature was supplemented by review of extensive personal files. Consensus reports (Category D Evidence) have commonly recommended moderate rather than hard physical activity in the context of population health. Much of the available literature provides Category C Evidence. It has often confounded issues of relative intensity with absolute intensity or total weekly dose of exercise. In terms of cardiovascular health, there is some evidence for a threshold intensity of effort, perhaps as high as 6 METs, in addition to a minimum volume of physical activity. Decreases in blood pressure and prevention of stroke seem best achieved by moderate rather than high relative intensities of physical activity. Many aspects of metabolic health depend on the total volume of activity; moderate relative intensities of effort are more effective in mobilizing body fat, but harder relative intensities may help to increase energy expenditures postexercise. Hard relative intensities seem needed to augment bone density, but this may reflect an associated increase in volume of activity. Hard relative intensities of exercise induce a transient immunosuppression. The optimal intensity of effort, relative or absolute, for protection against various types of cancer remains unresolved. Acute effects of exercise on mood state also require further study; long-term benefits seem associated with a moderate rather than a hard relative intensity of effort. The importance of relative versus absolute intensity of effort depends on the desired health outcome, and many issues remain to be resolved. Progress will depend on more precise epidemiological methods of assessing energy expenditures and studies that equate total energy expenditures between differing relative intensities. There is a need to focus on gains in quality-adjusted life expectancy.

Nucleotide pools dictate the identity and frequency of ribonucleotide incorporation in mitochondrial DNA.

PubMed

Berglund, Anna-Karin; Navarrete, Clara; Engqvist, Martin K M; Hoberg, Emily; Szilagyi, Zsolt; Taylor, Robert W; Gustafsson, Claes M; Falkenberg, Maria; Clausen, Anders R

2017-02-01

Previous work has demonstrated the presence of ribonucleotides in human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and in the present study we use a genome-wide approach to precisely map the location of these. We find that ribonucleotides are distributed evenly between the heavy- and light-strand of mtDNA. The relative levels of incorporated ribonucleotides reflect that DNA polymerase γ discriminates the four ribonucleotides differentially during DNA synthesis. The observed pattern is also dependent on the mitochondrial deoxyribonucleotide (dNTP) pools and disease-causing mutations that change these pools alter both the absolute and relative levels of incorporated ribonucleotides. Our analyses strongly suggest that DNA polymerase γ-dependent incorporation is the main source of ribonucleotides in mtDNA and argues against the existence of a mitochondrial ribonucleotide excision repair pathway in human cells. Furthermore, we clearly demonstrate that when dNTP pools are limiting, ribonucleotides serve as a source of building blocks to maintain DNA replication. Increased levels of embedded ribonucleotides in patient cells with disturbed nucleotide pools may contribute to a pathogenic mechanism that affects mtDNA stability and impair new rounds of mtDNA replication.

An ultra-stable optical frequency standard for telecommunication purposes based upon the 5S1/2 → 5D5/2 two-photon transition in rubidium

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Terra, Osama; Hussein, Hatem

2016-02-01

In this study, we report the development of a frequency standard for optical fiber communication applications based on a two-photon transition in rubidium at 385.2 THz. This standard kills two birds with one stone in the sense it is capable of providing us with two highly stable serviceable wavelengths at 778.1 and 1556.2 nm. In this system, we exploit the narrow line-width of a fiber laser emitting at 1556.2 nm in conjunction with an erbium-doped fiber amplifier to generate a sufficient second harmonic laser beam at 778.1 nm in a periodically polled lithium niobate waveguide mixer in order to probe and frequency-lock the laser to the 5S1/2 ( F g = 3)-5D5/2 ( F e = 5) hyperfine two-photon transition component in 85Rb. The metrological performance of the standard is evaluated with the aid of an optical frequency comb synthesizer. Allan variance measurement shows a stability of 4 × 10-12 at 1 s (limited by the comb stability), reaching a floor of 6.8 × 10-13 at 1000 s. After correction of all the major systematic frequency shifts including the light shift, the absolute frequency is found to be 385 285 142 374.0 (5.0) kHz. Moreover, the absolute frequencies of most of the hyperfine components of the 5S1/2-5D5/2 transition of the two naturally existing rubidium isotopes are measured using a femtosecond frequency comb synthesizer after stabilizing a laser on each component.

Self-mixing instrument for simultaneous distance and speed measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norgia, Michele; Melchionni, Dario; Pesatori, Alessandro

2017-12-01

A novel instrument based on Self-mixing interferometry is proposed to simultaneously measure absolute distance and velocity. The measurement method is designed for working directly on each kind of surface, in industrial environment, overcoming also problems due to speckle pattern effect. The laser pump current is modulated at quite high frequency (40 kHz) and the estimation of the induced fringes frequency allows an almost instantaneous measurement (measurement time equal to 25 μs). A real time digital elaboration processes the measurement data and discards unreliable measurements. The simultaneous measurement reaches a relative standard deviation of about 4·10-4 in absolute distance, and 5·10-3 in velocity measurement. Three different laser sources are tested and compared. The instrument shows good performances also in harsh environment, for example measuring the movement of an opaque iron tube rotating under a running water flow.

Fast and accurate read-out of interferometric optical fiber sensors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bartholsen, Ingebrigt; Hjelme, Dag R.

2016-03-01

We present results from an evaluation of phase and frequency estimation algorithms for read-out instrumentation of interferometric sensors. Tests on interrogating a micro Fabry-Perot sensor made of semi-spherical stimuli-responsive hydrogel immobilized on a single mode fiber end face, shows that an iterative quadrature demodulation technique (IQDT) implemented on a 32-bit microcontroller unit can achieve an absolute length accuracy of ±50 nm and length change accuracy of ±3 nm using an 80 nm SLED source and a grating spectrometer for interrogation. The mean absolute error for the frequency estimator is a factor 3 larger than the theoretical lower bound for a maximum likelihood estimator. The corresponding factor for the phase estimator is 1.3. The computation time for the IQDT algorithm is reduced by a factor 1000 compared to the full QDT for the same accuracy requirement.

Opto-electronic device for frequency standard generation and terahertz-range optical demodulation based on quantum interference

DOEpatents

Georgiades, Nikos P.; Polzik, Eugene S.; Kimble, H. Jeff

1999-02-02

An opto-electronic system and technique for comparing laser frequencies with large frequency separations, establishing new frequency standards, and achieving phase-sensitive detection at ultra high frequencies. Light responsive materials with multiple energy levels suitable for multi-photon excitation are preferably used for nonlinear mixing via quantum interference of different excitation paths affecting a common energy level. Demodulation of a carrier with a demodulation frequency up to 100's THZ can be achieved for frequency comparison and phase-sensitive detection. A large number of materials can be used to cover a wide spectral range including the ultra violet, visible and near infrared regions. In particular, absolute frequency measurement in a spectrum from 1.25 .mu.m to 1.66 .mu.m for fiber optics can be accomplished with a nearly continuous frequency coverage.

Dissemination of optical-comb-based ultra-broadband frequency reference through a fiber network.

PubMed

Nagano, Shigeo; Kumagai, Motohiro; Li, Ying; Ido, Tetsuya; Ishii, Shoken; Mizutani, Kohei; Aoki, Makoto; Otsuka, Ryohei; Hanado, Yuko

2016-08-22

We disseminated an ultra-broadband optical frequency reference based on a femtosecond (fs)-laser optical comb through a kilometer-scale fiber link. Its spectrum ranged from 1160 nm to 2180 nm without additional fs-laser combs at the end of the link. By employing a fiber-induced phase noise cancellation technique, the linewidth and fractional frequency instability attained for all disseminated comb modes were of order 1 Hz and 10^-18 in a 5000 s averaging time. The ultra-broad optical frequency reference, for which absolute frequency is traceable to Japan Standard Time, was applied in the frequency stabilization of an injection-seeded Q-switched 2051 nm pulse laser for a coherent light detection and ranging LIDAR system.

Precision and fast wavelength tuning of a dynamically phase-locked widely-tunable laser.

PubMed

Numata, Kenji; Chen, Jeffrey R; Wu, Stewart T

2012-06-18

We report a precision and fast wavelength tuning technique demonstrated for a digital-supermode distributed Bragg reflector laser. The laser was dynamically offset-locked to a frequency-stabilized master laser using an optical phase-locked loop, enabling precision fast tuning to and from any frequencies within a ~40-GHz tuning range. The offset frequency noise was suppressed to the statically offset-locked level in less than ~40 μs upon each frequency switch, allowing the laser to retain the absolute frequency stability of the master laser. This technique satisfies stringent requirements for gas sensing lidars and enables other applications that require such well-controlled precision fast tuning.

Laser frequency stabilization using a commercial wavelength meter

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Couturier, Luc; Nosske, Ingo; Hu, Fachao; Tan, Canzhu; Qiao, Chang; Jiang, Y. H.; Chen, Peng; Weidemüller, Matthias

2018-04-01

We present the characterization of a laser frequency stabilization scheme using a state-of-the-art wavelength meter based on solid Fizeau interferometers. For a frequency-doubled Ti-sapphire laser operated at 461 nm, an absolute Allan deviation below 10-9 with a standard deviation of 1 MHz over 10 h is achieved. Using this laser for cooling and trapping of strontium atoms, the wavemeter scheme provides excellent stability in single-channel operation. Multi-channel operation with a multimode fiber switch results in fluctuations of the atomic fluorescence correlated to residual frequency excursions of the laser. The wavemeter-based frequency stabilization scheme can be applied to a wide range of atoms and molecules for laser spectroscopy, cooling, and trapping.

Hyperfine-resolved transition frequency list of fundamental vibration bands of H35Cl and H37Cl

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Iwakuni, Kana; Sera, Hideyuki; Abe, Masashi; Sasada, Hiroyuki

2014-12-01

Sub-Doppler resolution spectroscopy of the fundamental vibration bands of H35Cl and H37Cl has been carried out from 87.1 to 89.9 THz. We have determined the absolute transition frequencies of the hyperfine-resolved R(0) to R(4) transitions with a typical uncertainty of 10 kHz. We have also yielded six molecular constants for each isotopomer in the vibrational excited state, which reproduce the determined frequencies with a standard deviation of about 10 kHz.

Measurements of absolute absorption cross sections of ozone in the 185- to 254-nm wavelength region and the temperature dependence

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Yoshino, K.; Esmond, J. R.; Freeman, D. E.; Parkinson, W. H.

1993-01-01

Laboratory measurements of the relative absorption cross sections of ozone at temperatures 195, 228, and 295 K have been made throughout the 185 to 254 nm wavelength region. The absolute absorption cross sections at the same temperatures have been measured at several discrete wavelengths in the 185 to 250 nm region. The absolute cross sections of ozone have been used to put the relative cross sections on a firm absolute basis throughout the 185 to 255 nm region. These recalibrated cross sections are slightly lower than those of Molina and Molina (1986), but the differences are within a few percent and would not be significant in atmospheric applications.

Absolute Position of Targets Measured Through a Chamber Window Using Lidar Metrology Systems

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kubalak, David; Hadjimichael, Theodore; Ohl, Raymond; Slotwinski, Anthony; Telfer, Randal; Hayden, Joseph

2012-01-01

Lidar is a useful tool for taking metrology measurements without the need for physical contact with the parts under test. Lidar instruments are aimed at a target using azimuth and elevation stages, then focus a beam of coherent, frequency modulated laser energy onto the target, such as the surface of a mechanical structure. Energy from the reflected beam is mixed with an optical reference signal that travels in a fiber path internal to the instrument, and the range to the target is calculated based on the difference in the frequency of the returned and reference signals. In cases when the parts are in extreme environments, additional steps need to be taken to separate the operator and lidar from that environment. A model has been developed that accurately reduces the lidar data to an absolute position and accounts for the three media in the testbed air, fused silica, and vacuum but the approach can be adapted for any environment or material. The accuracy of laser metrology measurements depends upon knowing the parameters of the media through which the measurement beam travels. Under normal conditions, this means knowledge of the temperature, pressure, and humidity of the air in the measurement volume. In the past, chamber windows have been used to separate the measuring device from the extreme environment within the chamber and still permit optical measurement, but, so far, only relative changes have been diagnosed. The ability to make accurate measurements through a window presents a challenge as there are a number of factors to consider. In the case of the lidar, the window will increase the time-of-flight of the laser beam causing a ranging error, and refract the direction of the beam causing angular positioning errors. In addition, differences in pressure, temperature, and humidity on each side of the window will cause slight atmospheric index changes and induce deformation and a refractive index gradient within the window. Also, since the window is a dispersive media, the effect of both phase and group indices have to be considered. Taking all these factors into account, a method was developed to measure targets through multiple regions of different materials and produce results that are absolute measurements of target position in three-dimensional space, rather than simply relative position. The environment in which the lidar measurements are taken must be broken down into separate regions of interest and each region solved for separately. In this case, there were three regions of interest: air, fused silica, and vacuum. The angular position of the target inside the chamber is solved using only phase index and phase velocity, while the ranging effects due to travel from air to glass to vacuum/air are solved with group index and group velocity. When all parameters are solved simultaneously, an absolute knowledge of the position of each target within an environmental chamber can be derived. Novel features of this innovation include measuring absolute position of targets through multiple dispersive and non-dispersive media, deconstruction of lidar raw data from a commercial off-the-shelf unit into reworkable parameters, and use of group velocities to reduce range data. Measurement of structures within a vacuum chamber or other harsh environment, such as a furnace, may now be measured as easily as if they were in an ambient laboratory. This analysis permits transformation of the raw data into absolute spatial units (e.g., mm). This technique has also been extended to laser tracker, theodolite, and cathetometer measurements through refractive media.

Negative Dielectric Constant Material Based on Ion Conducting Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gordon, Keith L. (Inventor); Kang, Jin Ho (Inventor); Park, Cheol (Inventor); Lillehei, Peter T. (Inventor); Harrison, Joycelyn S. (Inventor)

2017-01-01

Metamaterials or artificial negative index materials (NIMs) have generated great attention due to their unique and exotic electromagnetic properties. One exemplary negative dielectric constant material, which is an essential key for creating the NIMs, was developed by doping ions into a polymer, a protonated poly (benzimidazole) (PBI). The doped PBI showed a negative dielectric constant at megahertz (MHz) frequencies due to its reduced plasma frequency and an induction effect. The magnitude of the negative dielectric constant and the resonance frequency were tunable by doping concentration. The highly doped PBI showed larger absolute magnitude of negative dielectric constant at just above its resonance frequency than the less doped PBI.

Negative Dielectric Constant Material Based on Ion Conducting Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gordon, Keith L. (Inventor); Kang, Jin Ho (Inventor); Harrison, Joycelyn S. (Inventor); Park, Cheol (Inventor); Lillehei, Peter T. (Inventor)

2014-01-01

Metamaterials or artificial negative index materials (NIMs) have generated great attention due to their unique and exotic electromagnetic properties. One exemplary negative dielectric constant material, which is an essential key for creating the NIMs, was developed by doping ions into a polymer, a protonated poly(benzimidazole) (PBI). The doped PBI showed a negative dielectric constant at megahertz (MHz) frequencies due to its reduced plasma frequency and an induction effect. The magnitude of the negative dielectric constant and the resonance frequency were tunable by doping concentration. The highly doped PBI showed larger absolute magnitude of negative dielectric constant at just above its resonance frequency than the less doped PBI.

Direct link of a mid-infrared QCL to a frequency comb by optical injection.

PubMed

Borri, S; Galli, I; Cappelli, F; Bismuto, A; Bartalini, S; Cancio, P; Giusfredi, G; Mazzotti, D; Faist, J; De Natale, P

2012-03-15

A narrow-linewidth comb-linked nonlinear source is used as master radiation to injection lock a room-temperature mid-infrared quantum cascade laser (QCL). This process leads to a direct lock of the QCL to the optical frequency comb, providing the unique features of narrow linewidth, absolute frequency, higher output power, and wide mode-hop-free tunability. The QCL reproduces the injected radiation within more than 94%, with a reduction of the frequency-noise spectral density by 3 to 4 orders of magnitude up to about 100 kHz, and a linewidth narrowing from a few MHz to 20 kHz.

Ultra-low frequency vertical vibration isolator based on LaCoste spring linkage.

PubMed

Li, G; Hu, H; Wu, K; Wang, G; Wang, L J

2014-10-01

For the applications in precision measurement such as absolute gravimeter, we have designed and built an ultra-low frequency vertical vibration isolator based on LaCoste spring linkage. In the system, an arm with test mass is suspended by a mechanical extension spring, and one end of the arm is connected to the frame with flexible pivots. The displacement of the arm is detected by an optical reflection method. With the displacement signal, a feedback control force is exerted on the arm to keep it at the balance position. This method can also correct the systematic drift caused by temperature change. In order to study the vibration isolation performance of the system, we analyze the dynamic characteristics of the spring linkage in the general case, and present key methods to adjust the natural oscillating period of the system. With careful adjustment, the system can achieve a steady oscillation with a natural period up to 32 s. This isolator has been tested based on the T-1 absolute gravimeter. A statistical uncertainty of 2 μGal has been achieved within a typical 12 h measurement. The experimental results verify that the isolator has significant vibration isolation performance, and it is very suitable for applications in high precision absolute gravity measurement.

Mapping with MAV: Experimental Study on the Contribution of Absolute and Relative Aerial Position Control

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skaloud, J.; Rehak, M.; Lichti, D.

2014-03-01

This study highlights the benefit of precise aerial position control in the context of mapping using frame-based imagery taken by small UAVs. We execute several flights with a custom Micro Aerial Vehicle (MAV) octocopter over a small calibration field equipped with 90 signalized targets and 25 ground control points. The octocopter carries a consumer grade RGB camera, modified to insure precise GPS time stamping of each exposure, as well as a multi-frequency/constellation GNSS receiver. The GNSS antenna and camera are rigidly mounted together on a one-axis gimbal that allows control of the obliquity of the captured imagery. The presented experiments focus on including absolute and relative aerial control. We confirm practically that both approaches are very effective: the absolute control allows omission of ground control points while the relative requires only a minimum number of control points. Indeed, the latter method represents an attractive alternative in the context of MAVs for two reasons. First, the procedure is somewhat simplified (e.g. the lever-arm between the camera perspective and antenna phase centers does not need to be determined) and, second, its principle allows employing a single-frequency antenna and carrier-phase GNSS receiver. This reduces the cost of the system as well as the payload, which in turn increases the flying time.

Ultra-low frequency vertical vibration isolator based on LaCoste spring linkage

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Li, G.; Hu, H.; Wu, K.; Wang, G.; Wang, L. J.

2014-10-01

For the applications in precision measurement such as absolute gravimeter, we have designed and built an ultra-low frequency vertical vibration isolator based on LaCoste spring linkage. In the system, an arm with test mass is suspended by a mechanical extension spring, and one end of the arm is connected to the frame with flexible pivots. The displacement of the arm is detected by an optical reflection method. With the displacement signal, a feedback control force is exerted on the arm to keep it at the balance position. This method can also correct the systematic drift caused by temperature change. In order to study the vibration isolation performance of the system, we analyze the dynamic characteristics of the spring linkage in the general case, and present key methods to adjust the natural oscillating period of the system. With careful adjustment, the system can achieve a steady oscillation with a natural period up to 32 s. This isolator has been tested based on the T-1 absolute gravimeter. A statistical uncertainty of 2 μGal has been achieved within a typical 12 h measurement. The experimental results verify that the isolator has significant vibration isolation performance, and it is very suitable for applications in high precision absolute gravity measurement.

Call for papers for special issue of Journal of Molecular Spectroscopy focusing on "Frequency-comb spectroscopy"

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Foltynowicz, Aleksandra; Picqué, Nathalie; Ye, Jun

2018-05-01

Frequency combs are becoming enabling tools for many applications in science and technology, beyond the original purpose of frequency metrology of simple atoms. The precisely evenly spaced narrow lines of a laser frequency comb inspire intriguing approaches to molecular spectroscopy, designed and implemented by a growing community of scientists. Frequency-comb spectroscopy advances the frontiers of molecular physics across the entire electro-magnetic spectrum. Used as frequency rulers, frequency combs enable absolute frequency measurements and precise line shape studies of molecular transitions, for e.g. tests of fundamental physics and improved determination of fundamental constants. As light sources interrogating the molecular samples, they dramatically improve the resolution, precision, sensitivity and acquisition time of broad spectral-bandwidth spectroscopy and open up new opportunities and applications at the leading edge of molecular spectroscopy and sensing.

Unsteady Convection Flow and Heat Transfer over a Vertical Stretching Surface

PubMed Central

Cai, Wenli; Su, Ning; Liu, Xiangdong

2014-01-01

This paper investigates the effect of thermal radiation on unsteady convection flow and heat transfer over a vertical permeable stretching surface in porous medium, where the effects of temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity are also considered. By using a similarity transformation, the governing time-dependent boundary layer equations for momentum and thermal energy are first transformed into coupled, non-linear ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients. Numerical solutions to these equations subject to appropriate boundary conditions are obtained by the numerical shooting technique with fourth-fifth order Runge-Kutta scheme. Numerical results show that as viscosity variation parameter increases both the absolute value of the surface friction coefficient and the absolute value of the surface temperature gradient increase whereas the temperature decreases slightly. With the increase of viscosity variation parameter, the velocity decreases near the sheet surface but increases far away from the surface of the sheet in the boundary layer. The increase in permeability parameter leads to the decrease in both the temperature and the absolute value of the surface friction coefficient, and the increase in both the velocity and the absolute value of the surface temperature gradient. PMID:25264737

Unsteady convection flow and heat transfer over a vertical stretching surface.

PubMed

Cai, Wenli; Su, Ning; Liu, Xiangdong

2014-01-01

This paper investigates the effect of thermal radiation on unsteady convection flow and heat transfer over a vertical permeable stretching surface in porous medium, where the effects of temperature dependent viscosity and thermal conductivity are also considered. By using a similarity transformation, the governing time-dependent boundary layer equations for momentum and thermal energy are first transformed into coupled, non-linear ordinary differential equations with variable coefficients. Numerical solutions to these equations subject to appropriate boundary conditions are obtained by the numerical shooting technique with fourth-fifth order Runge-Kutta scheme. Numerical results show that as viscosity variation parameter increases both the absolute value of the surface friction coefficient and the absolute value of the surface temperature gradient increase whereas the temperature decreases slightly. With the increase of viscosity variation parameter, the velocity decreases near the sheet surface but increases far away from the surface of the sheet in the boundary layer. The increase in permeability parameter leads to the decrease in both the temperature and the absolute value of the surface friction coefficient, and the increase in both the velocity and the absolute value of the surface temperature gradient.

Modelling of Vortex-Induced Loading on a Single-Blade Installation Setup

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Skrzypiński, Witold; Gaunaa, Mac; Heinz, Joachim

2016-09-01

Vortex-induced integral loading fluctuations on a single suspended blade at various inflow angles were modeled in the presents work by means of stochastic modelling methods. The reference time series were obtained by 3D DES CFD computations carried out on the DTU 10MW reference wind turbine blade. In the reference time series, the flapwise force component, Fx, showed both higher absolute values and variation than the chordwise force component, Fz, for every inflow angle considered. For this reason, the present paper focused on modelling of the Fx and not the Fz whereas Fz would be modelled using exactly the same procedure. The reference time series were significantly different, depending on the inflow angle. This made the modelling of all the time series with a single and relatively simple engineering model challenging. In order to find model parameters, optimizations were carried out, based on the root-mean-square error between the Single-Sided Amplitude Spectra of the reference and modelled time series. In order to model well defined frequency peaks present at certain inflow angles, optimized sine functions were superposed on the stochastically modelled time series. The results showed that the modelling accuracy varied depending on the inflow angle. None the less, the modelled and reference time series showed a satisfactory general agreement in terms of their visual and frequency characteristics. This indicated that the proposed method is suitable to model loading fluctuations on suspended blades.

Calculation of dispersion curves and amplitude-depth distributions of Love channel waves in horizontally-layered media. [In seam; various boundary conditions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Rader, D.; Dresen, L.; Ruter, H.

We present dispersion curves, and amplitude-depth distributions of the fundamental and first higher mode of Love seam waves for two characteristic seam models. The first model consists of four layers, representing a coal seam underlain by a root clay of variable thickness. The second model consists of five layers, representing coal seams containing a dirt band with variable position and thickness. The simple three-layer model is used for reference. It is shown that at higher frequencies, depending on the thickness of the root clay and the dirt band, the coal layers alone act as a wave guide, whereas at lowmore » frequencies all layers act together as a channel. Depending on the thickness, and position of the dirt band and the root clay, in the dispersion curves of the group velocity, secondary minima grow in addition to the absolute minima. Furthermore, the dispersion curves of the group velocity of the two modes can overlap. In all these cases, wave groups in addition to the Airy phase of the fundamental mode (propagating with minimum group velocity) occur on the seismograms recorded in in-seam seismic surveys, thus impeding their interpretation. Hence, we suggest the estimation of the dispersion characteristics of Love seam waves in coal seams under investigation preceding actual field surveys. All numerical calculations were performed using a fast and stable phase recursion algorithm.« less

Near-equipartition Jets with Log-parabola Electron Energy Distribution and the Blazar Spectral-index Diagrams

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dermer, Charles D.; Yan, Dahai; Zhang, Li; Finke, Justin D.; Lott, Benoit

2015-08-01

Fermi-LAT analyses show that the γ-ray photon spectral indices {{{Γ }}}γ of a large sample of blazars correlate with the ν {F}ν peak synchrotron frequency {ν }s according to the relation {{{Γ }}}γ =d-k{log} {ν }s. The same function, with different constants d and k, also describes the relationship between {{{Γ }}}γ and peak Compton frequency {ν }{{C}}. This behavior is derived analytically using an equipartition blazar model with a log-parabola description of the electron energy distribution (EED). In the Thomson regime, k={k}{EC}=3b/4 for external Compton (EC) processes and k={k}{SSC}=9b/16 for synchrotron self-Compton (SSC) processes, where b is the log-parabola width parameter of the EED. The BL Lac object Mrk 501 is fit with a synchrotron/SSC model given by the log-parabola EED, and is best fit away from equipartition. Corrections are made to the spectral-index diagrams for a low-energy power-law EED and departures from equipartition, as constrained by absolute jet power. Analytic expressions are compared with numerical values derived from self-Compton and EC scattered γ-ray spectra from Lyα broad-line region and IR target photons. The {{{Γ }}}γ versus {ν }s behavior in the model depends strongly on b, with progressively and predictably weaker dependences on γ-ray detection range, variability time, and isotropic γ-ray luminosity. Implications for blazar unification and blazars as ultra-high energy cosmic-ray sources are discussed. Arguments by Ghisellini et al. that the jet power exceeds the accretion luminosity depend on the doubtful assumption that we are viewing at the Doppler angle.

[Effect of substance P on cardiac autonomic nervous function in rats].

PubMed

Deng, Lijun; Li, Jing; Yan, Fuping; Lu, Jie

2009-12-01

Forty SD rats were divided into 5 groups: control group, SP groups (5 microg/kg,10 microg/kg, 20 microg/kg) and spantide II plus SP group. An analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) was used to detect the changes of HRV parameters before and after intravenous injection of SP in order to investigate the effect of substance P on cardiac autonomic nervous function and the corresponding mechanism. (1) There were significant differences in most HRV parameters for the three different doses of SP. Mean heart period (MHP), absolute power of ultra-low frequency and high frequency band (APU, APH), total power (TPV) and ratio of power in ultra-low to high frequency band (RUH) increased, while mean heart rate (MHR) and chaos intensity (HCC) decreased during the 30 minutes. Each peak amplitude of HRV parameters went higher and showed up ahead of the upward doses of SP. (2) Significant change was seen in each of the parameters between spantide II plus SP group and high-dose SP group. These data idicate that, after intravenous injection of different doses of SP, both cardiac sympathetic nervous system activity and parasympathetic nervous system activity increase, and the function of cardiac autonomic nervous becomes instable and unbalanced. The effect of SP may be dose dependent, and it is possibly mediated by neurokinin-1(NK-1) receptor.

Rapid NK cell differentiation in a population with near-universal human cytomegalovirus infection is attenuated by NKG2C deletions.

PubMed

Goodier, Martin R; White, Matthew J; Darboe, Alansana; Nielsen, Carolyn M; Goncalves, Adriana; Bottomley, Christian; Moore, Sophie E; Riley, Eleanor M

2014-10-02

Natural killer (NK) cells differentiate and mature during the human life course; human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a known driver of this process. We have explored human NK cell phenotypic and functional maturation in a rural African (Gambian) population with a high prevalence of HCMV. The effect of age on the frequency, absolute number, phenotype, and functional capacity of NK cells was monitored in 191 individuals aged from 1 to 49 years. Increasing frequencies of NK cells with age were associated with increased proportions of CD56dim cells expressing the differentiation marker CD57 and expansion of the NKG2C+ subset. Frequencies of NK cells responding to exogenous cytokines declined with age in line with a decreased proportion of CD57- cells. These changes coincided with a highly significant drop in anti-HCMV IgG titers by the age of 10 years, suggesting that HCMV infection is brought under control as NK cells differentiate (or vice versa). Deletion at the NKG2C locus was associated with a gene dose-dependent reduction in proportions of CD94+ and CD57+ NK cells. Importantly, anti-HCMV IgG titers were significantly elevated in NKG2C-/- children, suggesting that lack of expression of NKG2C may be associated with altered control of HCMV in childhood. © 2014 by The American Society of Hematology.

Rapid NK cell differentiation in a population with near-universal human cytomegalovirus infection is attenuated by NKG2C deletions

PubMed Central

Goodier, Martin R.; White, Matthew J.; Darboe, Alansana; Nielsen, Carolyn M.; Goncalves, Adriana; Bottomley, Christian; Moore, Sophie E.

2014-01-01

Natural killer (NK) cells differentiate and mature during the human life course; human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) infection is a known driver of this process. We have explored human NK cell phenotypic and functional maturation in a rural African (Gambian) population with a high prevalence of HCMV. The effect of age on the frequency, absolute number, phenotype, and functional capacity of NK cells was monitored in 191 individuals aged from 1 to 49 years. Increasing frequencies of NK cells with age were associated with increased proportions of CD56dim cells expressing the differentiation marker CD57 and expansion of the NKG2C+ subset. Frequencies of NK cells responding to exogenous cytokines declined with age in line with a decreased proportion of CD57− cells. These changes coincided with a highly significant drop in anti-HCMV IgG titers by the age of 10 years, suggesting that HCMV infection is brought under control as NK cells differentiate (or vice versa). Deletion at the NKG2C locus was associated with a gene dose-dependent reduction in proportions of CD94+ and CD57+ NK cells. Importantly, anti-HCMV IgG titers were significantly elevated in NKG2C−/− children, suggesting that lack of expression of NKG2C may be associated with altered control of HCMV in childhood. PMID:25150297

Scale invariant rearrangement of resting state networks in the human brain under sustained stimulation.

PubMed

Tommasin, Silvia; Mascali, Daniele; Moraschi, Marta; Gili, Tommaso; Assan, Ibrahim Eid; Fratini, Michela; DiNuzzo, Mauro; Wise, Richard G; Mangia, Silvia; Macaluso, Emiliano; Giove, Federico

2018-06-14

Brain activity at rest is characterized by widely distributed and spatially specific patterns of synchronized low-frequency blood-oxygenation level-dependent (BOLD) fluctuations, which correspond to physiologically relevant brain networks. This network behaviour is known to persist also during task execution, yet the details underlying task-associated modulations of within- and between-network connectivity are largely unknown. In this study we exploited a multi-parametric and multi-scale approach to investigate how low-frequency fluctuations adapt to a sustained n-back working memory task. We found that the transition from the resting state to the task state involves a behaviourally relevant and scale-invariant modulation of synchronization patterns within both task-positive and default mode networks. Specifically, decreases of connectivity within networks are accompanied by increases of connectivity between networks. In spite of large and widespread changes of connectivity strength, the overall topology of brain networks is remarkably preserved. We show that these findings are strongly influenced by connectivity at rest, suggesting that the absolute change of connectivity (i.e., disregarding the baseline) may be not the most suitable metric to study dynamic modulations of functional connectivity. Our results indicate that a task can evoke scale-invariant, distributed changes of BOLD fluctuations, further confirming that low frequency BOLD oscillations show a specialized response and are tightly bound to task-evoked activation. Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier Inc.

QED test and nuclear radius determination of helium atom by laser spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavone, F. S.

1995-01-01

The 23S1-33P0 4He transition at λ = 389 nm is measured with respect to a previously frequency calibrated 87Rb two-photon transition at 2λ = 778 nm. The 4He absolute frequency is 770 732 839 058 (190) kHz, with an accuracy of 2.4 parts in 1010. A Lamb shift value of + 4057.61 (79) MHz, with 600 kHz uncertainty arising from the theoretical position of the 33P0 energy level, is extracted for the 23S1. This value is more than two orders of magnitude more accurate than the current best theoretical predictions. By means of a novel heterodyne spectrometer using only one laser tuned at the atomic frequency, we have measured for the first time the 3He-4He isotope separation for the 23S1-33P0 transition at 389 nm. Our experimental result of 45 394 425 (140) kHz, for the F = 1/2-1/2 3He component, is compared with the theoretical prediction which has similar accuracy and depends also on the rms nuclear radius of 3He. For this we determine a preliminary value of 1.923 (37) fm which shows a slight discrepancy with previous values obtained by extrapolation to zero momentum transfer from high energy scattering measurements.

Longitudinal association between eating frequency and HbA1c and serum lipids in diabetes in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study.

PubMed

Li, Chao; D'Agostino, Ralph B; Dabelea, Dana; Liese, Angela D; Mayer-Davis, Elizabeth J; Pate, Russell; Merchant, Anwar T

2018-04-30

Few studies have evaluated the prospective association of eating frequency with HbA1c levels and cardiovascular disease risk markers among youth with diabetes. To examine the 5-year longitudinal association of eating frequency with HbA1c and serum lipid levels among youth with type 1 diabetes (T1D) or type 2 diabetes (T2D). 1,049 youth (≥10 years old) with incident T1D (n=821) or T2D (n=228) who participated in the SEARCH for Diabetes in Youth Study were included. Eating frequency (≤3, 4-5 or 6-10 times/day) measured at baseline and follow-up visits was related to HbA1c and serum lipid levels measured repeatedly over 5 years. Increased eating frequency was associated with larger increases in HbA1c among youth T1D. For example, for youth with T1D who ate ≤ 3 times/day at the outset and ate 6-10 times/day 5 years later, the longitudinal model predicted greater absolute increases in HbA1c (2.77%); whereas for youth with T1D who ate 6-10 times/day at the outset and ate ≤3 times/day 5 years later, the model predicted lesser absolute increases in HbA1c (1.33%). Eating frequency was not associated with changes in serum lipid levels among youth with T1D or T2D. Youth with T1D who increased their eating frequency vs. those who decreased it had larger increases in HbA1c over 5 years. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Absolute spike frequency as a predictor of surgical outcome in temporal lobe epilepsy.

PubMed

Ngo, Ly; Sperling, Michael R; Skidmore, Christopher; Mintzer, Scott; Nei, Maromi

2017-04-01

Frequent interictal epileptiform abnormalities may correlate with poor prognosis after temporal lobe resection for refractory epilepsy. To date, studies have focused on limited resections such as selective amygdalohippocampectomy and apical temporal lobectomy without hippocampectomy. However, it is unclear whether the frequency of spikes predicts outcome after standard anterior temporal lobectomy. Preoperative scalp video-EEG monitoring data from patients who subsequently underwent anterior temporal lobectomy over a three year period and were followed for at least one year were reviewed for the frequency of interictal epileptiform abnormalities. Surgical outcome for those patients with frequent spikes (>60/h) was compared with those with less frequent spikes. Additionally, spike frequency was evaluated as a continuous variable and correlated with outcome to determine if increased spike frequency correlated with worse outcome, as assessed by modified Engel Class outcome. Forty-seven patients (18 men, 29 women; mean age 40 years at surgery) were included. Forty-six patients had standard anterior temporal lobectomy (24 right, 22 left) and one had a modified left temporal lobectomy. There was no significant difference in seizure outcome between those with frequent (57% Class I) vs. those with less frequent (58% Class I) spikes. Increased spike frequency did not correlate with worse outcome. Greater than 20 complex partial seizures/month and generalized tonic-clonic seizures within one year of surgery correlated with worse outcome. This study suggests that absolute spike frequency does not predict seizure outcome after anterior temporal lobectomy unlike in selective procedures, and should not be used as a prognostic factor in this population. Copyright © 2017 British Epilepsy Association. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Opto-electronic device for frequency standard generation and terahertz-range optical demodulation based on quantum interference

DOEpatents

Georgiades, N.P.; Polzik, E.S.; Kimble, H.J.

1999-02-02

An opto-electronic system and technique for comparing laser frequencies with large frequency separations, establishing new frequency standards, and achieving phase-sensitive detection at ultra high frequencies are disclosed. Light responsive materials with multiple energy levels suitable for multi-photon excitation are preferably used for nonlinear mixing via quantum interference of different excitation paths affecting a common energy level. Demodulation of a carrier with a demodulation frequency up to 100`s THZ can be achieved for frequency comparison and phase-sensitive detection. A large number of materials can be used to cover a wide spectral range including the ultra violet, visible and near infrared regions. In particular, absolute frequency measurement in a spectrum from 1.25 {micro}m to 1.66 {micro}m for fiber optics can be accomplished with a nearly continuous frequency coverage. 7 figs.

Research on spectrum broadening covering visible light of a fiber femtosecond optical frequency comb for absolute frequency measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xing, Shuai; Wu, Tengfei; Li, Shuyi; Xia, Chuanqing; Han, Jibo; Zhang, Lei; Zhao, Chunbo

2018-03-01

As a bridge connecting microwave frequency and optical frequency, femtosecond laser has important significance in optical frequency measurement. Compared with the traditional Ti-sapphire femtosecond optical frequency comb, with the advantages of compact structure, strong anti-interference ability and low cost, the fiber femtosecond optical frequency comb has a wider application prospect. An experiment of spectrum broadening in a highly nonlinear photonic crystal fiber pumped by an Er-fiber mode-locked femtosecond laser is studied in this paper. Based on optical amplification and frequency doubling, the central wavelength of the output spectrum is 780nm and the average power is 232mW. With the femtosecond pulses coupled into two different photonic crystal fibers, the coverage of visible spectrum is up to 500nm-960nm. The spectral shape and width can be optimized by changing the polarization state for satisfying the requirments of different optical frequencies measurement.

An original method for characterizing internal waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Casagrande, Gaëlle; Varnas, Alex Warn; Folégot, Thomas; Stéphan, Yann

This study consisted in the characterization of internal waves in the south of the Strait of Messina (Italy). The observational data consisted in thermistor string profiles from the Coastal Ocean Acoustic Changes at High frequencies (COACH06) sea trial. An empirical orthogonal function analysis is applied to the data. The first two spatial empirical modes represent over 99% of the variability, and their corresponding time-dependent expansion coefficients take higher absolute values during internal wave events. In order to check how the expansion coefficients vary during an internal wave event, their time derivative, called here changing rates, are computed. It shows that each wave of an internal wave train is characterized by a double oscillation of the changing rates. At the front of the wave, both changing rates increase in absolute value with opposite sign, and then decrease to become null at the maximum amplitude of the wave. At the rear of the wave, the changing rates describe another period, again with opposite sign. This double oscillation can be used as a detector of internal waves, but it can also give information on the width of the wave, by measuring the length of the oscillation, as this information may sometimes be hard to read straight out of the data. When plotting the changing rates one versus another, the resulting scatter diagram puts on a butterfly shape that illustrates well this behaviour.

Spin-wave thermal population as temperature probe in magnetic tunnel junctions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Le Goff, A., E-mail: adrien.le-goff@u-psud.fr; Devolder, T.; Nikitin, V.

We study whether a direct measurement of the absolute temperature of a Magnetic Tunnel Junction (MTJ) can be performed using the high frequency electrical noise that it delivers under a finite voltage bias. Our method includes quasi-static hysteresis loop measurements of the MTJ, together with the field-dependence of its spin wave noise spectra. We rely on an analytical modeling of the spectra by assuming independent fluctuations of the different sub-systems of the tunnel junction that are described as macrospin fluctuators. We illustrate our method on perpendicularly magnetized MgO-based MTJs patterned in 50 × 100 nm{sup 2} nanopillars. We apply hard axismore » (in-plane) fields to let the magnetic thermal fluctuations yield finite conductance fluctuations of the MTJ. Instead of the free layer fluctuations that are observed to be affected by both spin-torque and temperature, we use the magnetization fluctuations of the sole reference layers. Their much stronger anisotropy and their much heavier damping render them essentially immune to spin-torque. We illustrate our method by determining current-induced heating of the perpendicularly magnetized tunnel junction at voltages similar to those used in spin-torque memory applications. The absolute temperature can be deduced with a precision of ±60 K, and we can exclude any substantial heating at the spin-torque switching voltage.« less

The effects of a uniform axial magnetic field on the global stability of the rotating-disk boundary-layer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Davies, Christopher; Thomas, Christian

2006-11-01

Following on from the earlier discovery by Lingwood (1995) that the rotating-disk boundary-layer is absolutely unstable, Jasmine & Gajjar (2005) have shown that the application of a uniform axial magnetic field can raise the critical Reynolds number for the onset of absolute instability. As with Lingwood's analysis, a parallel-flow' type of approximation is needed in order to derive this locally-based stability result. The approximation amounts to a freezing out' of the underlying radial variation of the mean flow. Numerical simulations have been conducted to investigate the behaviour of linearized disturbances in the genuine rotating disk boundary layer, where the radial dependence of the mean flow is fully accounted for. This extends the work of Davies & Carpenter (2003), who studied the more usual rotating-disk problem, in the absence of any magnetic field. The simulation results suggest that globally unstable behaviour can be promoted when a uniform axial magnetic field is applied. Impulsively excited disturbances were found to display an increasingly rapid growth at the radial position of the impulse, albeit without any selection of a dominant frequency, as would be more usual for an unstable global mode. This is very similar to the behaviour to that was observed in a recent investigation by Davies & Thomas (2005) of the effects of mass transfer, where suction was also found to promote global instability.

Near-Inertial and Tidal Currents Detected with a Vessel Mounted Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler in the Western Mediterranean Sea

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Garcia-Gorriz, E.; Candela, J.; Font, J.

1998-01-01

The Acoustic Doppler Current Profiler (ADCP) combined with accurate navigation provides absolute current velocities which include information from all the frequencies which have a dynamical presence in the ocean.

Special class of nonlinear damping models in flexible space structures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hu, Anren; Singh, Ramendra P.; Taylor, Lawrence W.

1991-01-01

A special class of nonlinear damping models is investigated in which the damping force is proportional to the product of positive integer or the fractional power of the absolute values of displacement and velocity. For a one-degree-of-freedom system, the classical Krylov-Bogoliubov 'averaging' method is used, whereas for a distributed system, both an ad hoc perturbation technique and the finite difference method are employed to study the effects of nonlinear damping. The results are compared with linear viscous damping models. The amplitude decrement of free vibration for a single mode system with nonlinear models depends not only on the damping ratio but also on the initial amplitude, the time to measure the response, the frequency of the system, and the powers of displacement and velocity. For the distributed system, the action of nonlinear damping is found to reduce the energy of the system and to pass energy to lower modes.

Instant Variations in Velocity and Attenuation of Seismic Waves in a Friable Medium Under a Vibrational Dynamic Loading

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Geza, N.; Yushin, V.

2007-12-01

Instant variations of the velocities and attenuation of seismic waves in a friable medium subjected to dynamic loading have been studied by new experimental techniques using a powerful seismic vibrator. The half-space below the operating vibrator baseplate was scanned by high-frequency elastic waves, and the recorded fluctuations were exposed to a stroboscopic analysis. It was found that the variations of seismic velocities and attenuation are synchronous with the external vibrational load but have phase shift from it. Instant variations of the seismic waves parameters depend on the magnitude and absolute value of deformation, which generally result in decreasing of the elastic-wave velocities. New experimental techniques have a high sensitivity to the dynamic disturbance in the medium and allow one to detect a weak seismic boundaries. The relaxation process after dynamic vibrational loading were investigated and the results of research are presented.

Supertaskers: Profiles in extraordinary multitasking ability.

PubMed

Watson, Jason M; Strayer, David L

2010-08-01

Theory suggests that driving should be impaired for any motorist who is concurrently talking on a cell phone. But is everybody impaired by this dual-task combination? We tested 200 participants in a high-fidelity driving simulator in both single- and dual-task conditions. The dual task involved driving while performing a demanding auditory version of the operation span (OSPAN) task. Whereas the vast majority of participants showed significant performance decrements in dual-task conditions (compared with single-task conditions for either driving or OSPAN tasks), 2.5% of the sample showed absolutely no performance decrements with respect to performing single and dual tasks. In single-task conditions, these "supertaskers" scored in the top quartile on all dependent measures associated with driving and OSPAN tasks, and Monte Carlo simulations indicated that the frequency of supertaskers was significantly greater than chance. These individual differences help to sharpen our theoretical understanding of attention and cognitive control in naturalistic settings.

The critical dimensions of the response-reinforcer contingency.

PubMed

Williams, B A.

2001-05-03

Two major dimensions of any contingency of reinforcement are the temporal relation between a response and its reinforcer, and the relative frequency of the reinforcer given the response versus when the response has not occurred. Previous data demonstrate that time, per se, is not sufficient to explain the effects of delay-of-reinforcement procedures; needed in addition is some account of the events occurring in the delay interval. Moreover, the effects of the same absolute time values vary greatly across situations, such that any notion of a standard delay-of-reinforcement gradient is simplistic. The effects of reinforcers occurring in the absence of a response depend critically upon the stimulus conditions paired with those reinforcers, in much the same manner as has been shown with Pavlovian contingency effects. However, it is unclear whether the underlying basis of such effects is response competition or changes in the calculus of causation.

Infrared conductivity of cuprates using Yang-Rice-Zhang ansatz: Review of our recent investigations

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Singh, Navinder; Sharma, Raman

2015-05-15

A review of our recent investigations related to the ac transport properties in the psedogapped state of cuprate high temperature superconductors is presented. For our theoretical calculations we use a phenomenological Green’s function proposed by Yang, Rice and Zhang (YRZ). This is based upon the renormalized mean-field theory of the Hubbard model and takes into account the strong electron-electron interaction present in Cuprates. The pseudogap is also taken into account through a proposed self energy. We have tested the form of the Green’s function by computing ac conductivity of cuprates and then compared with experimental results. We found agreement betweenmore » theory and experiment in reproducing the doping evolution of ac conductivity but there is a problem with absolute magnitudes and their frequency dependence. This shows a partial success of the YRZ ansatz. The ways to rectify it are suggested and worked out.« less

Calculation and Comparative Analysis of the IR Spectra of Homobrassinolide and (22S,23S)-Homobrassinolide

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Andrianov, V. M.; Korolevich, M. V.

2015-09-01

Normal vibrational frequencies and absolute IR band intensities of the biologically active steroid phytohormones homobrassinolide and (22S,23S)-homobrassinolide were calculated in the framework of an original approach that combined classical analysis of normal modes using molecular mechanics with quantum-chemical estimation of the absolute intensities. IR absorption bands were interpreted based on a comparison of the experimental and theoretical absorption spectra. The impact of structural differences in the side chains of these molecules on the formation of their IR spectra in the region 1500-950 cm -1 was estimated.

Proceedings of the Annual Precise Time and Time Interval (PTTI) Applications and Planning Meeting (15th) Held at Washington, DC on 6-8 December 1983,

DTIC Science & Technology

1984-04-02

clock is an absolute technique with a 14 0 • ,4 precision of about 0.1 )us The results of the portable clock experiment indicate that LF sync...also gains direct access to the U. S. primary frequency standard, NBS-6. Access to1 BS-6 makes it possible to set an absolute limit of one part in 10...of the components in these equations are uncorrelated we may take vari- ances of each of these equations and the cross terms will average to zero 117

Use of an untuned cavity for absolute power measurements of the harmonics above 100 GHz from an IMPATT oscillator

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Llewellyn-Jones, D. T.; Knight, R. J.; Gebbie, H. A.

1980-07-01

A new technique of measuring absolute power exploiting an untuned cavity and Fourier spectroscopy has been used to examine the power spectrum of the harmonics and other overtones produced by a 95 GHz IMPATT oscillator. The conditions which favor the production of a rich harmonic spectrum are not those which maximize the fundamental power. Under some conditions of mismatch at the fundamental frequency it is possible to produce over 200 microW of harmonic power in the 100-200 GHz region comparable with the fundamental power from the oscillator.

Quantum cascade laser-based mid-IR frequency metrology system with ultra-narrow linewidth and 1  ×  10⁻¹³-level frequency instability.

PubMed

Hansen, Michael G; Magoulakis, Evangelos; Chen, Qun-Feng; Ernsting, Ingo; Schiller, Stephan

2015-05-15

We demonstrate a powerful tool for high-resolution mid-IR spectroscopy and frequency metrology with quantum cascade lasers (QCLs). We have implemented frequency stabilization of a QCL to an ultra-low expansion (ULE) reference cavity, via upconversion to the near-IR spectral range, at a level of 1×10(-13). The absolute frequency of the QCL is measured relative to a hydrogen maser, with instability <1×10(-13) and inaccuracy 5×10(-13), using a frequency comb phase stabilized to an independent ultra-stable laser. The QCL linewidth is determined to be 60 Hz, dominated by fiber noise. Active suppression of fiber noise could result in sub-10 Hz linewidth.

Measuring the rate of change of voice fundamental frequency in fluent speech during mental depression.

PubMed

Nilsonne, A; Sundberg, J; Ternström, S; Askenfelt, A

1988-02-01

A method of measuring the rate of change of fundamental frequency has been developed in an effort to find acoustic voice parameters that could be useful in psychiatric research. A minicomputer program was used to extract seven parameters from the fundamental frequency contour of tape-recorded speech samples: (1) the average rate of change of the fundamental frequency and (2) its standard deviation, (3) the absolute rate of fundamental frequency change, (4) the total reading time, (5) the percent pause time of the total reading time, (6) the mean, and (7) the standard deviation of the fundamental frequency distribution. The method is demonstrated on (a) a material consisting of synthetic speech and (b) voice recordings of depressed patients who were examined during depression and after improvement.

Absolute Paleointensity Study of Miocene Tiva Canyon Tuff, Yucca Mountain, Nevada

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Patiman, A.; Bowles, J.

2014-12-01

Unoriented samples from the ~12.7 Ma Tiva Canyon (TC) tuff from Yucca Mountain, Nevada are studied in terms of magnetic properties and geomagnetic paleointensity. The magnetic mineralogy and magnetic properties of the TC tuff have previously been well documented, and the remanence-carrier in ~15-m thick zones at the top and bottom of the unit is dominantly is single domain (SD) to superparamagnetic (SP) magnetite, which may be considered ideal for absolute paleointensity studies. Among one of the several episodic volcanic eruptions of the Southwestern Nevada Volcanic Field (SWNVF), the welded TC tuff belongs to the Paintbrush Group. Here we present magnetic properties from two previously unreported sections of the TC tuff, as well as Thellier-type absolute paleointensity estimates. Samples were collected from the lower ~7 m at the base of the flow. Magnetic properties studied include hysteresis, bulk magnetic susceptibility, frequency-dependent susceptibility, and anhysteretic remanent magnetization acquisition. Magnetic property results are consistent with earlier work, showing that the main magnetic mineral is magnetite. SP samples are dominant from the lower ~1 m to ~3.6 m basal unit while the middle unit of ~3.7 m to 7.0 m mainly consists of SD samples. The paleointensity results are closely tied to the stratigraphic height and magnetic properties linked to domain state. The SD samples have consistent absolute paleointensity values 32.40±0.22 uT, VADM 5.74*1022 A.m2 and behaved ideally during paleointensity experiments. The SP samples have consistently higher paleointensity and less ideal behavior, but would likely pass many traditional quality-control tests. Since the magnetite has been interpreted to form by precipitation out of the glass post-emplacement, but at temperatures higher than the Curie temperature, we tentatively interpret the SD remanence to be a primary thermal remanent magnetization and the paleointensity result to be a valid estimate of geomagnetic paleointensity for the Miocene. Post-emplacement vapor-phase alteration might be expected to alter magnetic mineralogy and magnetization, and has been reported in the upper portions of the TC tuff, but not in the lower sections discussed here.

Resection plane-dependent error in computed tomography volumetry of the right hepatic lobe in living liver donors

PubMed Central

Kwon, Heon-Ju; Kim, Bohyun; Kim, So Yeon; Lee, Chul Seung; Lee, Jeongjin; Song, Gi Won; Lee, Sung Gyu

2018-01-01

Background/Aims Computed tomography (CT) hepatic volumetry is currently accepted as the most reliable method for preoperative estimation of graft weight in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, several factors can cause inaccuracies in CT volumetry compared to real graft weight. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of resection plane-dependent error in CT volumetry of the right hepatic lobe in LDLT. Methods Forty-six living liver donors underwent CT before donor surgery and on postoperative day 7. Prospective CT volumetry (VP) was measured via the assumptive hepatectomy plane. Retrospective liver volume (VR) was measured using the actual plane by comparing preoperative and postoperative CT. Compared with intraoperatively measured weight (W), errors in percentage (%) VP and VR were evaluated. Plane-dependent error in VP was defined as the absolute difference between VP and VR. % plane-dependent error was defined as follows: |VP–VR|/W∙100. Results Mean VP, VR, and W were 761.9 mL, 755.0 mL, and 696.9 g. Mean and % errors in VP were 73.3 mL and 10.7%. Mean error and % error in VR were 64.4 mL and 9.3%. Mean plane-dependent error in VP was 32.4 mL. Mean % plane-dependent error was 4.7%. Plane-dependent error in VP exceeded 10% of W in approximately 10% of the subjects in our study. Conclusions There was approximately 5% plane-dependent error in liver VP on CT volumetry. Plane-dependent error in VP exceeded 10% of W in approximately 10% of LDLT donors in our study. This error should be considered, especially when CT volumetry is performed by a less experienced operator who is not well acquainted with the donor hepatectomy plane. PMID:28759989

Absolute frequency of cesium 6S-8S 822 nm two-photon transition by a high-resolution scheme.

PubMed

Wu, Chien-Ming; Liu, Tze-Wei; Wu, Ming-Hsuan; Lee, Ray-Kuang; Cheng, Wang-Yau

2013-08-15

We present an alternative scheme for determining the frequencies of cesium (Cs) atom 6S-8S Doppler-free transitions. With the use of a single electro-optical crystal, we simultaneously narrow the laser linewidth, lock the laser frequency, and resolve a narrow spectrum point by point. The error budget for this scheme is presented, and we prove that the transition frequency obtained from the Cs cell at room temperature and with one-layer μ-metal shielding is already very near that for the condition of zero collision and zero magnetic field. We point out that a sophisticated linewidth measurement could be a good guidance for choosing a suitable Cs cell for better frequency accuracy.

Frequency domain near-infrared multiwavelength imager design using high-speed, direct analog-to-digital conversion

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zimmermann, Bernhard B.; Fang, Qianqian; Boas, David A.; Carp, Stefan A.

2016-01-01

Frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS) has proven to be a reliable method for quantification of tissue absolute optical properties. We present a full-sampling direct analog-to-digital conversion FD-NIR imager. While we developed this instrument with a focus on high-speed optical breast tomographic imaging, the proposed design is suitable for a wide-range of biophotonic applications where fast, accurate quantification of absolute optical properties is needed. Simultaneous dual wavelength operation at 685 and 830 nm is achieved by concurrent 67.5 and 75 MHz frequency modulation of each laser source, respectively, followed by digitization using a high-speed (180 MS/s) 16-bit A/D converter and hybrid FPGA-assisted demodulation. The instrument supports 25 source locations and features 20 concurrently operating detectors. The noise floor of the instrument was measured at <1.4 pW/√Hz, and a dynamic range of 115+ dB, corresponding to nearly six orders of magnitude, has been demonstrated. Titration experiments consisting of 200 different absorption and scattering values were conducted to demonstrate accurate optical property quantification over the entire range of physiologically expected values.

Frequency domain near-infrared multiwavelength imager design using high-speed, direct analog-to-digital conversion

PubMed Central

Zimmermann, Bernhard B.; Fang, Qianqian; Boas, David A.; Carp, Stefan A.

2016-01-01

Abstract. Frequency domain near-infrared spectroscopy (FD-NIRS) has proven to be a reliable method for quantification of tissue absolute optical properties. We present a full-sampling direct analog-to-digital conversion FD-NIR imager. While we developed this instrument with a focus on high-speed optical breast tomographic imaging, the proposed design is suitable for a wide-range of biophotonic applications where fast, accurate quantification of absolute optical properties is needed. Simultaneous dual wavelength operation at 685 and 830 nm is achieved by concurrent 67.5 and 75 MHz frequency modulation of each laser source, respectively, followed by digitization using a high-speed (180  MS/s) 16-bit A/D converter and hybrid FPGA-assisted demodulation. The instrument supports 25 source locations and features 20 concurrently operating detectors. The noise floor of the instrument was measured at <1.4  pW/√Hz, and a dynamic range of 115+ dB, corresponding to nearly six orders of magnitude, has been demonstrated. Titration experiments consisting of 200 different absorption and scattering values were conducted to demonstrate accurate optical property quantification over the entire range of physiologically expected values. PMID:26813081

Relatively Different? How Do Gender Differences in Well-Being Depend on Paid and Unpaid Work in Europe?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Boye, Katarina

2009-01-01

Absolute as well as relative hours of paid and unpaid work may influence well-being. This study investigates whether absolute hours spent on paid work and housework account for the lower well-being among women as compared to men in Europe, and whether the associations between well-being and hours of paid work and housework differ by gender…

SU-E-T-491: Importance of Energy Dependent Protons Per MU Calibration Factors in IMPT Dose Calculations Using Monte Carlo Technique

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Randeniya, S; Mirkovic, D; Titt, U

2014-06-01

Purpose: In intensity modulated proton therapy (IMPT), energy dependent, protons per monitor unit (MU) calibration factors are important parameters that determine absolute dose values from energy deposition data obtained from Monte Carlo (MC) simulations. Purpose of this study was to assess the sensitivity of MC-computed absolute dose distributions to the protons/MU calibration factors in IMPT. Methods: A “verification plan” (i.e., treatment beams applied individually to water phantom) of a head and neck patient plan was calculated using MC technique. The patient plan had three beams; one posterior-anterior (PA); two anterior oblique. Dose prescription was 66 Gy in 30 fractions. Ofmore » the total MUs, 58% was delivered in PA beam, 25% and 17% in other two. Energy deposition data obtained from the MC simulation were converted to Gy using energy dependent protons/MU calibrations factors obtained from two methods. First method is based on experimental measurements and MC simulations. Second is based on hand calculations, based on how many ion pairs were produced per proton in the dose monitor and how many ion pairs is equal to 1 MU (vendor recommended method). Dose distributions obtained from method one was compared with those from method two. Results: Average difference of 8% in protons/MU calibration factors between method one and two converted into 27 % difference in absolute dose values for PA beam; although dose distributions preserved the shape of 3D dose distribution qualitatively, they were different quantitatively. For two oblique beams, significant difference in absolute dose was not observed. Conclusion: Results demonstrate that protons/MU calibration factors can have a significant impact on absolute dose values in IMPT depending on the fraction of MUs delivered. When number of MUs increases the effect due to the calibration factors amplify. In determining protons/MU calibration factors, experimental method should be preferred in MC dose calculations. Research supported by National Cancer Institute grant P01CA021239.« less

The PMA Catalogue: 420 million positions and absolute proper motions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Akhmetov, V. S.; Fedorov, P. N.; Velichko, A. B.; Shulga, V. M.

2017-07-01

We present a catalogue that contains about 420 million absolute proper motions of stars. It was derived from the combination of positions from Gaia DR1 and 2MASS, with a mean difference of epochs of about 15 yr. Most of the systematic zonal errors inherent in the 2MASS Catalogue were eliminated before deriving the absolute proper motions. The absolute calibration procedure (zero-pointing of the proper motions) was carried out using about 1.6 million positions of extragalactic sources. The mean formal error of the absolute calibration is less than 0.35 mas yr-1. The derived proper motions cover the whole celestial sphere without gaps for a range of stellar magnitudes from 8 to 21 mag. In the sky areas where the extragalactic sources are invisible (the avoidance zone), a dedicated procedure was used that transforms the relative proper motions into absolute ones. The rms error of proper motions depends on stellar magnitude and ranges from 2-5 mas yr-1 for stars with 10 mag < G < 17 mag to 5-10 mas yr-1 for faint ones. The present catalogue contains the Gaia DR1 positions of stars for the J2015 epoch. The system of the PMA proper motions does not depend on the systematic errors of the 2MASS positions, and in the range from 14 to 21 mag represents an independent realization of a quasi-inertial reference frame in the optical and near-infrared wavelength range. The Catalogue also contains stellar magnitudes taken from the Gaia DR1 and 2MASS catalogues. A comparison of the PMA proper motions of stars with similar data from certain recent catalogues has been undertaken.

Robust frequency stabilization of multiple spectroscopy lasers with large and tunable offset frequencies.

PubMed

Nevsky, A; Alighanbari, S; Chen, Q-F; Ernsting, I; Vasilyev, S; Schiller, S; Barwood, G; Gill, P; Poli, N; Tino, G M

2013-11-15

We have demonstrated a compact, robust device for simultaneous absolute frequency stabilization of three diode lasers whose carrier frequencies can be chosen freely relative to the reference. A rigid ULE multicavity block is employed, and, for each laser, the sideband locking technique is applied. A small lock error, computer control of frequency offset, wide range of frequency offset, simple construction, and robust operation are the useful features of the system. One concrete application is as a stabilization unit for the cooling and trapping lasers of a neutral-atom lattice clock. The device significantly supports and improves the clock's operation. The laser with the most stringent requirements imposed by this application is stabilized to a line width of 70 Hz, and a residual frequency drift less than 0.5 Hz/s. The carrier optical frequency can be tuned over 350 MHz while in lock.

Demonstration of an optical frequency synthesizer with zero carrier-envelope-offset frequency stabilized by the direct locking method.

PubMed

Kim, Eok Bong; Lee, Jae-hwan; Trung, Luu Tran; Lee, Wong-Kyu; Yu, Dai-Hyuk; Ryu, Han Young; Nam, Chang Hee; Park, Chang Yong

2009-11-09

We developed an optical frequency synthesizer (OFS) with the carrier-envelope-offset frequency locked to 0 Hz achieved using the "direct locking method." This method differs from a conventional phaselock method in that the interference signal from a self-referencing f-2f interferometer is directly fed back to the carrier-envelope-phase control of a femtosecond laser in the time domain. A comparison of the optical frequency of the new OFS to that of a conventional OFS stabilized by a phase-lock method showed that the frequency comb of the new OFS was not different to that of the conventional OFS within an uncertainty of 5.68x10(-16). As a practical application of this OFS, we measured the absolute frequency of an acetylene-stabilized diode laser serving as an optical frequency standard in optical communications.

Solid-state lasers for coherent communication and remote sensing

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Byer, Robert L.

1991-01-01

Work in the stabilization of monolithic Nd:YAG lasers and the application of these lasers to nonlinear optical frequency conversion is discussed. The intrinsic stability of semiconductor diode laser pumped solid state lasers has facilitated a number of demonstration in external resonant cavity harmonic generation and stable optical parametric oscillation. Relative laser frequency stabilization of 0.3 Hz was achieved, and absolute stability of a few hundred hertz is anticipated. The challenge is now to reproduce this frequency stability in the output of tunable nonlinear optical devices. Theoretical and experimental work toward this goal are continuing.

Resolution-enhancement and sampling error correction based on molecular absorption line in frequency scanning interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pan, Hao; Qu, Xinghua; Shi, Chunzhao; Zhang, Fumin; Li, Yating

2018-06-01

The non-uniform interval resampling method has been widely used in frequency modulated continuous wave (FMCW) laser ranging. In the large-bandwidth and long-distance measurements, the range peak is deteriorated due to the fiber dispersion mismatch. In this study, we analyze the frequency-sampling error caused by the mismatch and measure it using the spectroscopy of molecular frequency references line. By using the adjacent points' replacement and spline interpolation technique, the sampling errors could be eliminated. The results demonstrated that proposed method is suitable for resolution-enhancement and high-precision measurement. Moreover, using the proposed method, we achieved the precision of absolute distance less than 45 μm within 8 m.

Electromigration analysis of solder joints under ac load: A mean time to failure model

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Yao, Wei; Basaran, Cemal

2012-03-01

In this study, alternating current (ac) electromigration (EM) degradation simulations were carried out for Sn95.5%Ag4.0%Cu0.5 (SAC405- by weight) solder joints. Mass transport analysis was conducted with viscoplastic material properties for quantifying damage mechanism in solder joints. Square, sine, and triangle current wave forms ac were used as input signals. dc and pulsed dc (PDC) electromigration analysis were conducted for comparison purposes. The maximum current density ranged from 2.2×106A/cm2 to 5.0×106A/cm2, frequency ranged from 0.05 Hz to 5 Hz with ambient temperature varying from 350 K to 450 K. Because the room temperature is nearly two-thirds of SAC solder joint's melting point on absolute temperature scale (494.15 K), viscoplastic material model is essential. Entropy based damage evolution model was used to investigate mean time to failure (MTF) behavior of solder joints subjected to ac stressing. It was observed that MTF was inversely proportional to ambient temperature T1.1 in Celsius and also inversely proportional to current density j0.27 in A/cm2. Higher frequency will lead to a shorter lifetime with in the frequency range we studied, and a relationship is proposed as MTF∝f-0.41. Lifetime of a solder joint subjected to ac is longer compared with dc and PDC loading conditions. By introducing frequency, ambient temperature and current density dependency terms, a modified MTTF equation was proposed for solder joints subjected to ac current stressing.

Communicating cardiovascular disease risk: an interview study of General Practitioners' use of absolute risk within tailored communication strategies.

PubMed

Bonner, Carissa; Jansen, Jesse; McKinn, Shannon; Irwig, Les; Doust, Jenny; Glasziou, Paul; McCaffery, Kirsten

2014-05-29

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention guidelines encourage assessment of absolute CVD risk - the probability of a CVD event within a fixed time period, based on the most predictive risk factors. However, few General Practitioners (GPs) use absolute CVD risk consistently, and communication difficulties have been identified as a barrier to changing practice. This study aimed to explore GPs' descriptions of their CVD risk communication strategies, including the role of absolute risk. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 25 GPs in New South Wales, Australia. Transcribed audio-recordings were thematically coded, using the Framework Analysis method to ensure rigour. GPs used absolute CVD risk within three different communication strategies: 'positive', 'scare tactic', and 'indirect'. A 'positive' strategy, which aimed to reassure and motivate, was used for patients with low risk, determination to change lifestyle, and some concern about CVD risk. Absolute risk was used to show how they could reduce risk. A 'scare tactic' strategy was used for patients with high risk, lack of motivation, and a dismissive attitude. Absolute risk was used to 'scare' them into taking action. An 'indirect' strategy, where CVD risk was not the main focus, was used for patients with low risk but some lifestyle risk factors, high anxiety, high resistance to change, or difficulty understanding probabilities. Non-quantitative absolute risk formats were found to be helpful in these situations. This study demonstrated how GPs use three different communication strategies to address the issue of CVD risk, depending on their perception of patient risk, motivation and anxiety. Absolute risk played a different role within each strategy. Providing GPs with alternative ways of explaining absolute risk, in order to achieve different communication aims, may improve their use of absolute CVD risk assessment in practice.

Microgravity vibration isolation: An optimal control law for the one-dimensional case

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hampton, Richard D.; Grodsinsky, Carlos M.; Allaire, Paul E.; Lewis, David W.; Knospe, Carl R.

1991-01-01

Certain experiments contemplated for space platforms must be isolated from the accelerations of the platform. An optimal active control is developed for microgravity vibration isolation, using constant state feedback gains (identical to those obtained from the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) approach) along with constant feedforward gains. The quadratic cost function for this control algorithm effectively weights external accelerations of the platform disturbances by a factor proportional to (1/omega) exp 4. Low frequency accelerations are attenuated by greater than two orders of magnitude. The control relies on the absolute position and velocity feedback of the experiment and the absolute position and velocity feedforward of the platform, and generally derives the stability robustness characteristics guaranteed by the LQR approach to optimality. The method as derived is extendable to the case in which only the relative positions and velocities and the absolute accelerations of the experiment and space platform are available.

Microgravity vibration isolation: An optimal control law for the one-dimensional case

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hampton, R. D.; Grodsinsky, C. M.; Allaire, P. E.; Lewis, D. W.; Knospe, C. R.

1991-01-01

Certain experiments contemplated for space platforms must be isolated from the accelerations of the platforms. An optimal active control is developed for microgravity vibration isolation, using constant state feedback gains (identical to those obtained from the Linear Quadratic Regulator (LQR) approach) along with constant feedforward (preview) gains. The quadratic cost function for this control algorithm effectively weights external accelerations of the platform disturbances by a factor proportional to (1/omega)(exp 4). Low frequency accelerations (less than 50 Hz) are attenuated by greater than two orders of magnitude. The control relies on the absolute position and velocity feedback of the experiment and the absolute position and velocity feedforward of the platform, and generally derives the stability robustness characteristics guaranteed by the LQR approach to optimality. The method as derived is extendable to the case in which only the relative positions and velocities and the absolute accelerations of the experiment and space platform are available.

Measurement of the cosmic microwave background spectrum by the COBE FIRAS instrument

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mather, J. C.; Cheng, E. S.; Cottingham, D. A.; Eplee, R. E., Jr.; Fixsen, D. J.; Hewagama, T.; Isaacman, R. B.; Jensen, K. A.; Meyer, S. S.; Noerdlinger, P. D.

1994-01-01

The cosmic microwave background radiation (CMBR) has a blackbody spectrum within 3.4 x 10(exp -8) ergs/sq cm/s/sr cm over the frequency range from 2 to 20/cm (5-0.5 mm). These measurements, derived from the Far-Infrared Absolute Spectrophotomer (FIRAS) instrument on the Cosmic Background Explorer (COBE) satellite, imply stringent limits on energy release in the early universe after t approximately 1 year and redshift z approximately 3 x 10(exp 6). The deviations are less than 0.30% of the peak brightness, with an rms value of 0.01%, and the dimensionless cosmological distortion parameters are limited to the absolute value of y is less than 2.5 x 10(exp -5) and the absolute value of mu is less than 3.3 x 10(exp -4) (95% confidence level). The temperature of the CMBR is 2.726 +/- 0.010 K (95% confidence level systematic).

Climatic Stress during Stand Development Alters the Sign and Magnitude of Age-Related Growth Responses in a Subtropical Mountain Pine.

PubMed

Ruiz-Benito, Paloma; Madrigal-González, Jaime; Young, Sarah; Mercatoris, Pierre; Cavin, Liam; Huang, Tsurng-Juhn; Chen, Jan-Chang; Jump, Alistair S

2015-01-01

The modification of typical age-related growth by environmental changes is poorly understood, In part because there is a lack of consensus at individual tree level regarding age-dependent growth responses to climate warming as stands develop. To increase our current understanding about how multiple drivers of environmental change can modify growth responses as trees age we used tree ring data of a mountain subtropical pine species along an altitudinal gradient covering more than 2,200 m of altitude. We applied mixed-linear models to determine how absolute and relative age-dependent growth varies depending on stand development; and to quantify the relative importance of tree age and climate on individual tree growth responses. Tree age was the most important factor for tree growth in models parameterised using data from all forest developmental stages. Contrastingly, the relationship found between tree age and growth became non-significant in models parameterised using data corresponding to mature stages. These results suggest that although absolute tree growth can continuously increase along tree size when trees reach maturity age had no effect on growth. Tree growth was strongly reduced under increased annual temperature, leading to more constant age-related growth responses. Furthermore, young trees were the most sensitive to reductions in relative growth rates, but absolute growth was strongly reduced under increased temperature in old trees. Our results help to reconcile previous contrasting findings of age-related growth responses at the individual tree level, suggesting that the sign and magnitude of age-related growth responses vary with stand development. The different responses found to climate for absolute and relative growth rates suggest that young trees are particularly vulnerable under warming climate, but reduced absolute growth in old trees could alter the species' potential as a carbon sink in the future.

High-accuracy absolute rotation rate measurements with a large ring laser gyro: establishing the scale factor.

PubMed

Hurst, Robert B; Mayerbacher, Marinus; Gebauer, Andre; Schreiber, K Ulrich; Wells, Jon-Paul R

2017-02-01

Large ring lasers have exceeded the performance of navigational gyroscopes by several orders of magnitude and have become useful tools for geodesy. In order to apply them to tests in fundamental physics, remaining systematic errors have to be significantly reduced. We derive a modified expression for the Sagnac frequency of a square ring laser gyro under Earth rotation. The modifications include corrections for dispersion (of both the gain medium and the mirrors), for the Goos-Hänchen effect in the mirrors, and for refractive index of the gas filling the cavity. The corrections were measured and calculated for the 16  m² Grossring laser located at the Geodetic Observatory Wettzell. The optical frequency and the free spectral range of this laser were measured, allowing unique determination of the longitudinal mode number, and measurement of the dispersion. Ultimately we find that the absolute scale factor of the gyroscope can be estimated to an accuracy of approximately 1 part in 10⁸.

Frequency characteristics of the heart rate variability produced by Cheyne-Stokes respiration during 24-hr ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring.

PubMed

Ichimaru, Y; Yanaga, T

1989-06-01

Spectral analysis of heart rates during 24-hr ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring has been carried out to characterize the heart rate spectral components of Cheyne-Stokes respiration (CSR) by using fast Fourier transformation (FFT). Eight patients with congestive heart failure were selected for the study. FFT analyses have been performed for 614.4 sec. Out of the power spectrum, five parameters were extracted to characterize the CSR. The low peak frequencies in eight subjects were between 0.0179 Hz (56 sec) and 0.0081 Hz (123 sec). The algorithms used to detect CSR are the followings: (i) if the LFPA/ULFA ratios were above the absolute value of 1.0, and (ii) the LFPP/MLFP ratios were above the absolute values of 4.0, then the power spectrum is suggestive of CSR. We conclude that the automatic detection of CSR by heart rate spectral analysis during ambulatory ECG monitoring may afford a tool for the evaluation of the patients with congestive heart failure.

Contactless and absolute linear displacement detection based upon 3D printed magnets combined with passive radio-frequency identification

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Windl, Roman; Abert, Claas; Bruckner, Florian; Huber, Christian; Vogler, Christoph; Weitensfelder, Herbert; Suess, Dieter

2017-11-01

Within this work a passive and wireless magnetic sensor, to monitor linear displacements, is proposed. We exploit recent advances in 3D printing and fabricate a polymer bonded magnet with a spatially linear magnetic field component corresponding to the length of the magnet. Regulating the magnetic compound fraction during printing allows specific shaping of the magnetic field distribution. A giant magnetoresistance magnetic field sensor is combined with a radio-frequency identification tag in order to passively monitor the exerted magnetic field of the printed magnet. Due to the tailored magnetic field, a displacement of the magnet with respect to the sensor can be detected within the sub-mm regime. The sensor design provides good flexibility by controlling the 3D printing process according to application needs. Absolute displacement detection using low cost components and providing passive operation, long term stability, and longevity renders the proposed sensor system ideal for structural health monitoring applications.

Temperature-dependent Absolute Refractive Index Measurements of Synthetic Fused Silica

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Leviton, Douglas B.; Frey, Bradley J.

2006-01-01

Using the Cryogenic, High-Accuracy Refraction Measuring System (CHARMS) at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center, we have measured the absolute refractive index of five specimens taken from a very large boule of Corning 7980 fused silica from temperatures ranging from 30 to 310 K at wavelengths from 0.4 to 2.6 microns with an absolute uncertainty of plus or minus 1 x 10 (exp -5). Statistical variations in derived values of the thermo-optic coefficient (dn/dT) are at the plus or minus 2 x 10 (exp -8)/K level. Graphical and tabulated data for absolute refractive index, dispersion, and thermo-optic coefficient are presented for selected wavelengths and temperatures along with estimates of uncertainty in index. Coefficients for temperature-dependent Sellmeier fits of measured refractive index are also presented to allow accurate interpolation of index to other wavelengths and temperatures. We compare our results to those from an independent investigation (which used an interferometric technique for measuring index changes as a function of temperature) whose samples were prepared from the same slugs of material from which our prisms were prepared in support of the Kepler mission. We also compare our results with sparse cryogenic index data from measurements of this material from the literature.

Low settings of the ventricular pacing output in patients dependent on a pacemaker: are they really safe?

PubMed

Schuchert, Andreas; Frese, Jens; Stammwitz, Ekkehard; Novák, Miroslav; Schleich, Arthur; Wagner, Stefan M; Meinertz, Thomas

2002-06-01

It is generally acknowledged that pacemaker output must be adjusted with a 100% voltage safety margin above the pacing threshold to avoid ineffective pacing, especially in patients dependent on pacemakers. The aim of this prospective crossover study was to assess the beat-to-beat safety of low outputs in patients who are dependent on a pacemaker between 2 follow-up examinations. The study included 12 patients who had received a DDD pacemaker with an automatic beat-to-beat capture verification function. The ventricular output at 0.4 milliseconds pulse duration was programmed independently of the actual pacing threshold in a crossover randomization to 1.0 V, 1.5 V, and 2.5 V for 6 weeks each. At each follow-up, the diagnostic counters were interrogated and the pacing threshold at 0.4 milliseconds was determined in 0.1-V steps. The diagnostic pacemaker counters depict the frequency of back-up pulses delivered because of a loss of capture. During the randomization to 1.0-V output, we evaluated whether the adjustment of the output under consideration of the >100% voltage safety margin reduced the frequency of back-up pulses. Pacing thresholds at the randomization to 1.0-V, 1.5-V, and 2.5-V output were not significantly different, with 0.7 +/- 0.3 V at 2.5-V output, 0.6 +/- 0.2 V at 1.5-V output, and 0.6 +/- 0.2 V at 1.0-V output. The frequency of back-up pulses was similar at 2.5-V and 1.5-V output, 2.2% +/- 1.9% and 2.0% +/- 2.0%, respectively. The frequency of back-up pulses significantly increased at 1.0-V output to 5.8% +/- 6.4% (P <.05). Back-up pulses >5% of the time between the 2 follow-ups were observed in no patient at 2.5 V, in 1 patient at 1.5 V, and in 5 patients at 1.0 V. At the randomization to the 1.0-V output, 6 patients had pacing thresholds of 0.5 V or less, and 6 patients had pacing thresholds >0.5 V. The frequency of back-up pulses in the 2 groups was not significantly different, 6.4% +/- 8.6% and 5.7% +/- 2.6%. The frequency of back-up pulses was significantly higher at 1.0-V output than at 1.5-V and 2.5-V output. This also applied to patients with pacing thresholds of < or =0.5 V. Fixed low outputs seem not to be absolutely safe between 2 follow-ups in patients who are dependent on a pacemaker, even when the output has a 100% voltage safety margin above the pacing threshold. When patients with pacemakers programmed to a low ventricular output have symptoms of ineffective pacing, an intermittent increase of the pacing threshold should be carefully ruled out.

Relative Spatial Frequency Processing Drives Hemispheric Asymmetry in Conscious Awareness

PubMed Central

Piazza, Elise A.; Silver, Michael A.

2017-01-01

Visual stimuli with different spatial frequencies (SFs) are processed asymmetrically in the two cerebral hemispheres. Specifically, low SFs are processed relatively more efficiently in the right hemisphere than the left hemisphere, whereas high SFs show the opposite pattern. In this study, we ask whether these differences between the two hemispheres reflect a low-level division that is based on absolute SF values or a flexible comparison of the SFs in the visual environment at any given time. In a recent study, we showed that conscious awareness of SF information (i.e., visual perceptual selection from multiple SFs simultaneously present in the environment) differs between the two hemispheres. Building upon that result, here we employed binocular rivalry to test whether this hemispheric asymmetry is due to absolute or relative SF processing. In each trial, participants viewed a pair of rivalrous orthogonal gratings of different SFs, presented either to the left or right of central fixation, and continuously reported which grating they perceived. We found that the hemispheric asymmetry in perception is significantly influenced by relative processing of the SFs of the simultaneously presented stimuli. For example, when a medium SF grating and a higher SF grating were presented as a rivalry pair, subjects were more likely to report that they initially perceived the medium SF grating when the rivalry pair was presented in the left visual hemifield (right hemisphere), compared to the right hemifield. However, this same medium SF grating, when it was paired in rivalry with a lower SF grating, was more likely to be perceptually selected when it was in the right visual hemifield (left hemisphere). Thus, the visual system’s classification of a given SF as “low” or “high” (and therefore, which hemisphere preferentially processes that SF) depends on the other SFs that are present, demonstrating that relative SF processing contributes to hemispheric differences in visual perceptual selection. PMID:28469585

Absolute ages from crater statistics: Using radiometric ages of Martian samples for determining the Martian cratering chronology

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Neukum, G.

1988-01-01

In the absence of dates derived from rock samples, impact crater frequencies are commonly used to date Martian surface units. All models for absolute dating rely on the lunar cratering chronology and on the validity of its extrapolation to Martian conditions. Starting from somewhat different lunar chronologies, rather different Martian cratering chronologies are found in the literature. Currently favored models are compared. The differences at old ages are significant, the differences at younger ages are considerable and give absolute ages for the same crater frequencies as different as a factor of 3. The total uncertainty could be much higher, though, since the ratio of lunar to Martian cratering rate which is of basic importance in the models is believed to be known no better than within a factor of 2. Thus, it is of crucial importance for understanding the the evolution of Mars and determining the sequence of events to establish an unambiguous Martian cratering chronology from crater statistics in combination with clean radiometric ages of returned Martian samples. For the dating goal, rocks should be as pristine as possible from a geologically simple area with a one-stage emplacement history of the local formation. A minimum of at least one highland site for old ages, two intermediate-aged sites, and one very young site is needed.

The efficacy of the Microsoft KinectTM to assess human bimanual coordination.

PubMed

Liddy, Joshua J; Zelaznik, Howard N; Huber, Jessica E; Rietdyk, Shirley; Claxton, Laura J; Samuel, Arjmand; Haddad, Jeffrey M

2017-06-01

The Microsoft Kinect has been used in studies examining posture and gait. Despite the advantages of portability and low cost, this device has not been used to assess interlimb coordination. Fundamental insights into movement control, variability, health, and functional status can be gained by examining coordination patterns. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of the Microsoft Kinect to capture bimanual coordination relative to a research-grade motion capture system. Twenty-four healthy adults performed coordinated hand movements in two patterns (in-phase and antiphase) at eight movement frequencies (1.00-3.33 Hz). Continuous relative phase (CRP) and discrete relative phase (DRP) were used to quantify the means (mCRP and mDRP) and variability (sdCRP and sdDRP) of coordination patterns. Between-device agreement was assessed using Bland-Altman bias with 95 % limits of agreement, concordance correlation coefficients (absolute agreement), and Pearson correlation coefficients (relative agreement). Modest-to-excellent relative and absolute agreements were found for mCRP in all conditions. However, mDRP showed poor agreement for the in-phase pattern at low frequencies, due to large between-device differences in a subset of participants. By contrast, poor absolute agreement was observed for both sdCRP and sdDRP, while relative agreement ranged from poor to excellent. Overall, the Kinect captures the macroscopic patterns of bimanual coordination better than coordination variability.

Measurements of the Acoustic Speaking Voice After Vocal Warm-up and Cooldown in Choir Singers.

PubMed

Onofre, Fernanda; Prado, Yuka de Almeida; Rojas, Gleidy Vannesa E; Garcia, Denny Marco; Aguiar-Ricz, Lílian

2017-01-01

The aim of this study was to evaluate the acoustic measurements of the vowel /a/ in modal recording before and after a singing voice resistance test and after 30 minutes of absolute rest in female choir singers. This is a prospective cohort study. A total of 13 soprano choir singers with experience in choir singing were evaluated through analysis of acoustic voice parameters at three points in time: before continuous use of the voice, after vocal warm-up and a singing test 60 minutes in duration respecting the pauses for breathing, and after vocal cooldown and an absolute voice rest for 30 minutes. The fundamental frequency increased after the voice resistance test (P = 0.012) and remained elevated after the 30 minutes of voice rest (P = 0.01). The jitter decreased after the voice resistance test (P = 0.02) and after the 30 minutes of voice rest. A significant difference was detected for the acoustic voice parameters relative average perturbation (RAP), (P = 0.05), and pitch perturbation quotient (PPQ), (P = 0.04), compared with the initial time point. The fundamental frequency increased after 60 minutes of singing and remained elevated after vocal cooldown and absolute rest for 30 minutes, proving an efficient parameter for identifying the changes inherent to voice demand during singing. Copyright © 2017. Published by Elsevier Inc.

High-frequency filtering of strong-motion records

USGS Publications Warehouse

Douglas, J.; Boore, D.M.

2011-01-01

The influence of noise in strong-motion records is most problematic at low and high frequencies where the signal to noise ratio is commonly low compared to that in the mid-spectrum. The impact of low-frequency noise (5 Hz) on computed pseudo-absolute response spectral accelerations (PSAs). In contrast to the case of low-frequency noise our analysis shows that filtering to remove high-frequency noise is only necessary in certain situations and that PSAs can often be used up to 100 Hz even if much lower high-cut corner frequencies are required to remove the noise. This apparent contradiction can be explained by the fact that PSAs are often controlled by ground accelerations associated with much lower frequencies than the natural frequency of the oscillator because path and site attenuation (often modelled by Q and κ, respectively) have removed the highest frequencies. We demonstrate that if high-cut filters are to be used, then their corner frequencies should be selected on an individual basis, as has been done in a few recent studies.

Auditory frequency generalization in the goldfish (Carassius auratus)1

PubMed Central

Fay, Richard R.

1970-01-01

Auditory frequency generalization in the goldfish was studied at five points within the best hearing range through the use of classical respiratory conditioning. Each experimental group received single-stimulus conditioning sessions at one of five stimulus frequencies (100, 200, 400, 800, and 1600 Hz), and were subsequently tested for generalization at eight neighboring frequencies. All stimuli were presented 30 db above absolute threshold. Significant generalization decrements were found for all subjects. For the subjects conditioned in the range between 100 and 800 Hz, a nearly complete failure to generalize was found at one octave above and below the training frequency. The subjects conditioned at 1600 Hz produced relatively more flat gradients between 900 and 2000 Hz. The widths of the generalization gradients, expressed in Hz, increased as a power function of frequency with a slope greater than one. PMID:16811481

Multi-sensor image fusion algorithm based on multi-objective particle swarm optimization algorithm

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xie, Xia-zhu; Xu, Ya-wei

2017-11-01

On the basis of DT-CWT (Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform - DT-CWT) theory, an approach based on MOPSO (Multi-objective Particle Swarm Optimization Algorithm) was proposed to objectively choose the fused weights of low frequency sub-bands. High and low frequency sub-bands were produced by DT-CWT. Absolute value of coefficients was adopted as fusion rule to fuse high frequency sub-bands. Fusion weights in low frequency sub-bands were used as particles in MOPSO. Spatial Frequency and Average Gradient were adopted as two kinds of fitness functions in MOPSO. The experimental result shows that the proposed approach performances better than Average Fusion and fusion methods based on local variance and local energy respectively in brightness, clarity and quantitative evaluation which includes Entropy, Spatial Frequency, Average Gradient and QAB/F.

Input signal shaping based on harmonic frequency response function for suppressing nonlinear optical frequency in frequency-scanning interferometry

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhu, Yu; Liu, Zhigang; Deng, Wen; Deng, Zhongwen

2018-05-01

Frequency-scanning interferometry (FSI) using an external cavity diode laser (ECDL) is essential for many applications of the absolute distance measurement. However, owing to the hysteresis and creep of the piezoelectric actuator inherent in the ECDL, the optical frequency scanning exhibits a nonlinearity that seriously affects the phase extraction accuracy of the interference signal and results in the reduction of the measurement accuracy. To suppress the optical frequency nonlinearity, a harmonic frequency synthesis method for shaping the desired input signal instead of the original triangular wave is presented. The effectiveness of the presented shaping method is demonstrated through the comparison of the experimental results. Compared with an incremental Renishaw interferometer, the standard deviation of the displacement measurement of the FSI system is less than 2.4 μm when driven by the shaped signal.

Spectral Evolution of Intensive Microwave Bursts at Centimeter-Millimeter Wavelengths

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Melnikov, V. F.; Magun, A.

The dynamics of the frequency spectrum of intensive broad band microwave bursts with one spectral maximum and simple time profiles are investigated. The aim of the study is to correlate the temporal evolution of the microwave burst spectrum above and below the spectral peak frequency f_p, as well as to compare these features with theoretical expectations. The analysis was carried out by using the data from the patrol instruments of IAP, Bern University and NIRFI, Nizhnii Novgorod (10 fixed frequencies in the range 1-50 GHz). It has been found for the majority of these bursts that: a) during the rise phase of the burst flux there is an anticorrelation of the absolute values of the spectral indices above and below peak frequency whereas a good correlation during the decay phase was found; b) time delays between flux profiles at neighbouring frequencies change sign under the transition from low to high frequencies. As a rule the lower frequency emission is delayed at frequencies below f_p whereas at high frequencies (f>f_p) the higher frequency emission is delayed (see also Melnikov and Magun, 1998). Qualitatively these results fit well the calculated spectral evolution of the gyrosynchrotron if one takes into account the flattening of the electron energy spectrum in a flare loop (Melnikov and Magun, 1996) due to Coulomb collisions (Vilmer et al., 1982), and uses values for the background plasma density derived from hard X-ray data (Aschwanden et al., 1997). For some of the bursts, however, quantitative discrepancies with the predictions of the homogeneous model have been found. For these bursts the absolute value of the spectral index at low frequencies is remarkably smaller, and the time delay remarkably higher than expected. We have investigated several possibilities to obtain an agremeent between theory and observations. Special attention is paid to model calculations taking into account the dynamics of energetic electrons in flare loops with an inhomogeneous magnetic field and plasma density. In this context the capabilities of the models for the diagnostics of the physical conditions in flare loops using observations with high spatial

Mutations Altering Chloroplast Ribosome Phenotype in Chlamydomonas, I. Non-Mendelian Mutations*

PubMed Central

Gillham, Nicholas W.; Boynton, John E.; Burkholder, Barbara

1970-01-01

Uniparentally inherited mutations to antibiotic resistance and dependence in Chlamydomonas reinhardi exhibit an altered chloroplast ribosome phenotype. Genetic studies demonstrate an absolute correlation between the drug resistance or dependence and the ribosome phenotype in two such mutants. Images PMID:5289000

Digital quadrature phase detection

DOEpatents

Smith, James A.; Johnson, John A.

1992-01-01

A system for detecting the phase of a frequency of phase modulated signal that includes digital quadrature sampling of the frequency or phase modulated signal at two times that are one quarter of a cycle of a reference signal apart, determination of the arctangent of the ratio of a first sampling of the frequency or phase modulated signal to the second sampling of the frequency or phase modulated signal, and a determination of quadrant in which the phase determination is increased by 2.pi. when the quadrant changes from the first quadrant to the fourth quadrant and decreased by 2.pi. when the quadrant changes from the fourth quadrant to the first quadrant whereby the absolute phase of the frequency or phase modulated signal can be determined using an arbitrary reference convention.

Mode-resolved frequency comb interferometry for high-accuracy long distance measurement

PubMed Central

van den Berg, Steven. A.; van Eldik, Sjoerd; Bhattacharya, Nandini

2015-01-01

Optical frequency combs have developed into powerful tools for distance metrology. In this paper we demonstrate absolute long distance measurement using a single femtosecond frequency comb laser as a multi-wavelength source. By applying a high-resolution spectrometer based on a virtually imaged phased array, the frequency comb modes are resolved spectrally to the level of an individual mode. Having the frequency comb stabilized against an atomic clock, thousands of accurately known wavelengths are available for interferometry. From the spectrally resolved output of a Michelson interferometer a distance is derived. The presented measurement method combines spectral interferometry, white light interferometry and multi-wavelength interferometry in a single scheme. Comparison with a fringe counting laser interferometer shows an agreement within <10−8 for a distance of 50 m. PMID:26419282

Frequency Measurements of Superradiance from the Strontium Clock Transition

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Norcia, Matthew A.; Cline, Julia R. K.; Muniz, Juan A.; Robinson, John M.; Hutson, Ross B.; Goban, Akihisa; Marti, G. Edward; Ye, Jun; Thompson, James K.

2018-04-01

We present the first characterization of the spectral properties of superradiant light emitted from the ultranarrow, 1-mHz-linewidth optical clock transition in an ensemble of cold Sr 87 atoms. Such a light source has been proposed as a next-generation active atomic frequency reference, with the potential to enable high-precision optical frequency references to be used outside laboratory environments. By comparing the frequency of our superradiant source to that of a state-of-the-art cavity-stabilized laser and optical lattice clock, we observe a fractional Allan deviation of 6.7 (1 )×10-16 at 1 s of averaging, establish absolute accuracy at the 2-Hz (4 ×10-15 fractional frequency) level, and demonstrate insensitivity to key environmental perturbations.

Digital quadrature phase detection

DOEpatents

Smith, J.A.; Johnson, J.A.

1992-05-26

A system for detecting the phase of a frequency or phase modulated signal that includes digital quadrature sampling of the frequency or phase modulated signal at two times that are one quarter of a cycle of a reference signal apart, determination of the arctangent of the ratio of a first sampling of the frequency or phase modulated signal to the second sampling of the frequency or phase modulated signal, and a determination of quadrant in which the phase determination is increased by 2[pi] when the quadrant changes from the first quadrant to the fourth quadrant and decreased by 2[pi] when the quadrant changes from the fourth quadrant to the first quadrant whereby the absolute phase of the frequency or phase modulated signal can be determined using an arbitrary reference convention. 6 figs.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Davidson, J.

Relative and absolute populations of 19 levels in beam-foil--excited neutral helium at 0.275 MeV have been measured. The singlet angular-momentum sequences show dependences on principal quantum number consistent with n$sup -3$, but the triplet sequences do not. Singlet and triplet angular-momentum sequences show similar dependences on level excitation energy. Excitation functions for six representative levels were measured in the range 0.160 to 0.500 MeV. The absolute level populations increase with energy, whereas the neutral fraction of the beam decreases with energy. Further, the P angular-momentum levels are found to be overpopulated with respect to the S and D levels. Themore » overpopulation decreases with increasing principal quantum number.« less

The Female Naval Officer. A Recruiter’s Guide to the American Woman.

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-06-01

traditional " women’s roles ". Only 39% reported this factor as being very important or important to her decision to join the Navy, while 33% indicated not very...ITEMS (ETC.) ITEM 1 REASON-ESCAPE TRADITIONAL WOMEN’S ROLES RELATIVE ADJUSTED CUMULATIVE ABSOLUTE FREQUENCY FREQUENCY ADJ FREQ CATEGORY LABEL...63 Regarding their desires to get away from traditional " women’s roles ". the same number of black officers stated that it was important as did those

VizieR Online Data Catalog: Absolute polarimetry observations of 33 pulsars (Force+, 2015)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Force, M. M.; Demorest, P.; Rankin, J. M.

2017-11-01

The observations were carried out in the summer of 2011 using the 100-m Robert C. Byrd GBT and the Green Bank Ultimate Pulsar Processing Instrument (GUPPI) in coherent filterbank mode. Full-Stokes spectra were acquired in an 800 MHz bandwidth centred at 1500 MHz radio frequency; the ~1200-1300 MHz airport radar analogue filter was used, resulting in a ~700 MHz effective bandwidth. The filterbank frequency resolution was 1.5 MHz, or 512 channels across the full band. (2 data files).

Wavelength-modulated differential photoacoustic radar imager (WM-DPARI): accurate monitoring of absolute hemoglobin oxygen saturation

PubMed Central

Choi, Sung Soo Sean; Lashkari, Bahman; Dovlo, Edem; Mandelis, Andreas

2016-01-01

Accurate monitoring of blood oxy-saturation level (SO2) in human breast tissues is clinically important for predicting and evaluating possible tumor growth at the site. In this work, four different non-invasive frequency-domain photoacoustic (PA) imaging modalities were compared for their absolute SO2 characterization capability using an in-vitro sheep blood circulation system. Among different PA modes, a new WM-DPAR imaging modality could estimate the SO2 with great accuracy when compared to a commercial blood gas analyzer. The developed WM-DPARI theory was further validated by constructing SO2 tomographic images of a blood-containing plastisol phantom. PMID:27446691

Nucleotide pools dictate the identity and frequency of ribonucleotide incorporation in mitochondrial DNA

PubMed Central

Hoberg, Emily; Szilagyi, Zsolt; Taylor, Robert W.; Gustafsson, Claes M.; Falkenberg, Maria

2017-01-01

Previous work has demonstrated the presence of ribonucleotides in human mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and in the present study we use a genome-wide approach to precisely map the location of these. We find that ribonucleotides are distributed evenly between the heavy- and light-strand of mtDNA. The relative levels of incorporated ribonucleotides reflect that DNA polymerase γ discriminates the four ribonucleotides differentially during DNA synthesis. The observed pattern is also dependent on the mitochondrial deoxyribonucleotide (dNTP) pools and disease-causing mutations that change these pools alter both the absolute and relative levels of incorporated ribonucleotides. Our analyses strongly suggest that DNA polymerase γ-dependent incorporation is the main source of ribonucleotides in mtDNA and argues against the existence of a mitochondrial ribonucleotide excision repair pathway in human cells. Furthermore, we clearly demonstrate that when dNTP pools are limiting, ribonucleotides serve as a source of building blocks to maintain DNA replication. Increased levels of embedded ribonucleotides in patient cells with disturbed nucleotide pools may contribute to a pathogenic mechanism that affects mtDNA stability and impair new rounds of mtDNA replication. PMID:28207748

The dependency of timbre on fundamental frequency

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Marozeau, Jeremy; de Cheveigné, Alain; McAdams, Stephen; Winsberg, Suzanne

2003-11-01

The dependency of the timbre of musical sounds on their fundamental frequency (F0) was examined in three experiments. In experiment I subjects compared the timbres of stimuli produced by a set of 12 musical instruments with equal F0, duration, and loudness. There were three sessions, each at a different F0. In experiment II the same stimuli were rearranged in pairs, each with the same difference in F0, and subjects had to ignore the constant difference in pitch. In experiment III, instruments were paired both with and without an F0 difference within the same session, and subjects had to ignore the variable differences in pitch. Experiment I yielded dissimilarity matrices that were similar at different F0's, suggesting that instruments kept their relative positions within timbre space. Experiment II found that subjects were able to ignore the salient pitch difference while rating timbre dissimilarity. Dissimilarity matrices were symmetrical, suggesting further that the absolute displacement of the set of instruments within timbre space was small. Experiment III extended this result to the case where the pitch difference varied from trial to trial. Multidimensional scaling (MDS) of dissimilarity scores produced solutions (timbre spaces) that varied little across conditions and experiments. MDS solutions were used to test the validity of signal-based predictors of timbre, and in particular their stability as a function of F0. Taken together, the results suggest that timbre differences are perceived independently from differences of pitch, at least for F0 differences smaller than an octave. Timbre differences can be measured between stimuli with different F0's.

Development and Dematerialization: An International Study

PubMed Central

Steinberger, Julia K.; Krausmann, Fridolin; Getzner, Michael; Schandl, Heinz; West, Jim

2013-01-01

Economic development and growth depend on growing levels of resource use, and result in environmental impacts from large scale resource extraction and emissions of waste. In this study, we examine the resource dependency of economic activities over the past several decades for a set of countries comprising developing, emerging and mature industrialized economies. Rather than a single universal industrial development pathway, we find a diversity of economic dependencies on material use, made evident through cluster analysis. We conduct tests for relative and absolute decoupling of the economy from material use, and compare these with similar tests for decoupling from carbon emissions, both for single countries and country groupings using panel analysis. We show that, over the longer term, emerging and developing countries tend to have significantly larger material-economic coupling than mature industrialized economies (although this effect may be enhanced by trade patterns), but that the contrary is true for short-term coupling. Moreover, we demonstrate that absolute dematerialization limits economic growth rates, while the successful industrialization of developing countries inevitably requires a strong material component. Alternative development priorities are thus urgently needed both for mature and emerging economies: reducing absolute consumption levels for the former, and avoiding the trap of resource-intensive economic and human development for the latter. PMID:24204555

Spectral and temporal characterization of a fused-quartz-microresonator optical frequency comb

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Papp, Scott B.; Diddams, Scott A.

2011-11-15

We report on the fabrication of high-Q, fused-quartz microresonators and the parametric generation of a frequency comb with 36-GHz line spacing using them. We have characterized the intrinsic stability of the comb in both the time and frequency domains to assess its suitability for future precision metrology applications. Intensity autocorrelation measurements and line-by-line comb control reveal near-transform-limited picosecond pulse trains that are associated with good relative phase and amplitude stability of the comb lines. The comb's 36-GHz line spacing can be readily photodetected, which enables measurements of its intrinsic and absolute phase fluctuations.

Frequency standard stability for Doppler measurements on-board the shuttle

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Harton, P. L.

1974-01-01

The short and long term stability characteristics of crystal and atomic standards are described. Emphasis is placed on crystal oscillators because of the selection which was made for the shuttle baseline and the complexities which are introduced by the shuttle environment. Attention is given, first, to the definitions of stability and the application of these definitions to the shuttle system and its mission. Data from time domain measurements are used to illustrate the definitions. Results of a literature survey to determine environmental effects on frequency reference sources are then presented. Finally, methods of standard frequency dissemination over radio frequency carriers are noted as a possible means of measuring absolute accuracy and long term stability characteristics during on one way Doppler equipment.

Frequency Stabilization of DFB Laser Diodes at 1572 nm for Spaceborne Lidar Measurements of CO2

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Numata, Kenji; Chen, Jeffrey R.; Wu, Stewart T.; Abshire, James B.; Krainak, Michael A.

2010-01-01

We report a fiber-based, pulsed laser seeder system that rapidly switches among 6 wavelengths across atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO2) absorption line near 1572.3 nm for measurements of global CO2 mixing ratios to 1-ppmv precision. One master DFB laser diode has been frequency-locked to the CO2 line center using a frequency modulation technique, suppressing its peak-to-peak frequency drifts to 0.3 MHz at 0.8 sec averaging time over 72 hours. Four online DFB laser diodes have been offset-locked to the master laser using phase locked loops, with virtually the same sub-MHz absolute accuracy. The 6 lasers were externally modulated and then combined to produce the measurement pulse train.

Drug resistance following irradiation of RIF-1 tumors: Influence of the interval between irradiation and drug treatment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Hopwood, L.E.; Davies, B.M.; Moulder, J.E.

1990-09-01

RIF-1 tumors contain a small number of cells (1 to 100 per 10(6) cells) that are resistant to 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, or adriamycin. The frequency of drug-resistant cells among individual untreated tumors is highly variable. Radiation, delivered in vivo at doses of 3 to 12 Gy, increases the frequency of methotrexate- and 5-fluorouracil-resistant cells, but not the frequency of adriamycin-resistant cells. The magnitude of induction of 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate resistance shows a complex dependence on the radiation dose and on the interval between irradiation and assessment of drug resistance. For a dose of 3 Gy, induced 5-fluorouracil and methotrexate resistance ismore » seen only after an interval of 5 to 7 days, whereas for a dose of 12 Gy, high levels of induced resistance are observed 1 to 3 days after irradiation. The maximum absolute risk for induction of resistance is 4 per 10(4) cells per Gy for methotrexate, and 3 per 10(6) cells per Gy for 5-fluorouracil. These results indicate that tumor hypoxia may play a role in the increased levels of drug resistance seen after irradiation, and that both genetic and environmental factors may influence radiation-induction of drug resistance. These studies provide essential data for models of the development of tumor drug resistance, and imply that some of the drug resistance seen when chemotherapy follows radiotherapy may be caused by radiation-induced drug resistance.« less

Absolute vibrational excitation cross sections for 1-18 eV electron scattering from condensed dimethyl phosphate (DMP)

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lemelin, V.; Bass, A. D.; Wagner, J. R.; Sanche, L.

2017-12-01

Absolute cross sections (CSs) for vibrational excitation by 1-18 eV electrons incident on condensed dimethyl phosphate (DMP) were measured with a high-resolution electron energy loss (EEL) spectrometer. Absolute CSs were extracted from EEL spectra of DMP condensed on multilayer film of Ar held at about 20 K under ultra-high vacuum (˜1 × 10-11 Torr). Structures observed in the energy dependence of the CSs around 2, 4, 7, and 12 eV were compared with previous results of gas- and solid-phase experiments and with theoretical studies on dimethyl phosphate and related molecules. These structures were attributed to the formation of shape resonances.

Developing a Relationship Between LIBS Ablation and Pit Volume for In Situ Dating of Geologic Samples

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Devismes, D.; Cohen, B. A.; Gillot, P.-Y.

2015-01-01

In planetary exploration, in situ absolute geochronology is an important measurement. Thus far, on Mars, the age of the surface has largely been determined by crater density counting, which gives relative ages. These ages can have significant uncertainty as they depend on many poorly constrained parameters. More than that, the curves must be tied to absolute ages to relate geologic timescales on Mars to the rest of the solar system. Thus far, only the lost lander Beagle 2 was designed to conduct absolute geochronology measurements, though some recent attempts using MSL Curiosity show that this investigation is feasible (Reference Farley here) and should be strongly encouraged for future flight.

Behavior of Multiclass Pesticide Residue Concentrations during the Transformation from Rose Petals to Rose Absolute.

PubMed

Tascone, Oriane; Fillâtre, Yoann; Roy, Céline; Meierhenrich, Uwe J

2015-05-27

This study investigates the concentrations of 54 multiclass pesticides during the transformation processes from rose petal to concrete and absolute using roses spiked with pesticides as a model. The concentrations of the pesticides were followed during the process of transforming the spiked rose flowers from an organic field into concrete and then into absolute. The rose flowers, the concrete, and the absolute, as well as their transformation intermediates, were analyzed for pesticide content using gas chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. We observed that all the pesticides were extracted and concentrated in the absolute, with the exception of three molecules: fenthion, fenamiphos, and phorate. Typical pesticides were found to be concentrated by a factor of 100-300 from the rose flowers to the rose absolute. The observed effect of pesticide enrichment was also studied in roses and their extracts from four classically phytosanitary treated fields. Seventeen pesticides were detected in at least one of the extracts. Like the case for the spiked samples in our model, the pesticides present in the rose flowers from Turkey were concentrated in the absolute. Two pesticides, methidathion and chlorpyrifos, were quantified in the rose flowers at approximately 0.01 and 0.01-0.05 mg kg(-1), respectively, depending on the treated field. The concentrations determined for the corresponding rose absolutes were 4.7 mg kg(-1) for methidathion and 0.65-27.25 mg kg(-1) for chlorpyrifos.

Determination of Delta m(d) and absolute calibration of flavor taggers for the Delta m(s) analysis, in fully reconstructed decays at the CDF experiment

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Gomez, Jonatan Piedra

2005-04-21

The new trigger processor, the Silicon Vertex Tracking (SVT), has dramatically improved the B physics capabilities of the upgraded CDF II Detector; for the first time in a hadron collider, the SVT has enabled the access to non-lepton-triggered B meson decays. Within the new available range of decay modes, the Bmore » $$0\\atop{s}$$ → D$$-\\atop{s}$$π + signature is of paramount importance in the measurement of the Δm s mixing frequency. The analysis reported here is a step towards the measurement of this frequency; two where our goals: carrying out the absolute calibration of the opposite side flavor taggers, used in the Δm s measurement; and measuring the B$$0\\atop{d}$$ mixing frequency in a B → Dπ sample, establishing the feasibility of the mixing measurement in this sample whose decay-length is strongly biased by the selective SVT trigger. We analyze a total integrated luminosity of 355 pb -1 collected with the CDF II Detector. By triggering on muons, using the conventional di-muon trigger; or displaced tracks, using the SVT trigger, we gather a sample rich in bottom and charm mesons.« less

Vegetation and Terrain Relationships in South-Central New Mexico and Western Texas

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-11-01

to Mi. Kevin von Finger, Ecologist, and to Mr. James Conyers, Chief of Environmental Office, Directorate of Facilities Engineering, U.S. Army Air...with ground cover ranging from 6 to 25 percent. The associate, less frequently observed shrub species (40 to 60 percent absolute frequency) waere A

Upper Limit of Weights in TAI Computation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thomas, Claudine; Azoubib, Jacques

1996-01-01

The international reference time scale International Atomic Time (TAI) computed by the Bureau International des Poids et Mesures (BIPM) relies on a weighted average of data from a large number of atomic clocks. In it, the weight attributed to a given clock depends on its long-term stability. In this paper the TAI algorithm is used as the basis for a discussion of how to implement an upper limit of weight for clocks contributing to the ensemble time. This problem is approached through the comparison of two different techniques. In one case, a maximum relative weight is fixed: no individual clock can contribute more than a given fraction to the resulting time scale. The weight of each clock is then adjusted according to the qualities of the whole set of contributing elements. In the other case, a parameter characteristic of frequency stability is chosen: no individual clock can appear more stable than the stated limit. This is equivalent to choosing an absolute limit of weight and attributing this to to the most stable clocks independently of the other elements of the ensemble. The first technique is more robust than the second and automatically optimizes the stability of the resulting time scale, but leads to a more complicated computatio. The second technique has been used in the TAI algorithm since the very beginning. Careful analysis of tests on real clock data shows that improvement of the stability of the time scale requires revision from time to time of the fixed value chosen for the upper limit of absolute weight. In particular, we present results which confirm the decision of the CCDS Working Group on TAI to increase the absolute upper limit by a factor of 2.5. We also show that the use of an upper relative contribution further helps to improve the stability and may be a useful step towards better use of the massive ensemble of HP 507IA clocks now contributing to TAI.

Quantitative EEG in Children and Adults With Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder: Comparison of Absolute and Relative Power Spectra and Theta/Beta Ratio.

PubMed

Markovska-Simoska, Silvana; Pop-Jordanova, Nada

2017-01-01

In recent decades, resting state electroencephalographic (EEG) measures have been widely used to document underlying neurophysiological dysfunction in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Although most EEG studies focus on children, there is a growing interest in adults with ADHD too. The aim of this study was to objectively assess and compare the absolute and relative EEG power as well as the theta/beta ratio in children and adults with ADHD. The evaluated sample comprised 30 male children and 30 male adults with ADHD diagnosed according to DSM-IV criteria. They were compared with 30 boys and 30 male adults matched by age. The mean age (±SD) of the children's group was 9 (±2.44) years and the adult group 35.8 (±8.65) years. EEG was recorded during an eyes-open condition. Spectral analysis of absolute (μV 2 ) and relative power (%) was carried out for 4 frequency bands: delta (2-4 Hz), theta (4-8 Hz), alpha (8-13 Hz), and beta (13-21 Hz). The findings obtained for ADHD children are increased absolute power of slow waves (theta and delta), whereas adults exhibited no differences compared with normal subjects. For the relative power spectra there were no differences between the ADHD and control groups. Across groups, the children showed greater relative power than the adults in the delta and theta bands, but for the higher frequency bands (alpha and beta) the adults showed more relative power than children. Only ADHD children showed greater theta/beta ratio compared to the normal group. Classification analysis showed that ADHD children could be differentiated from the control group by the absolute theta values and theta/beta ratio at Cz, but this was not the case with ADHD adults. The question that should be further explored is if these differences are mainly due to maturation processes or if there is a core difference in cortical arousal between ADHD children and adults. © EEG and Clinical Neuroscience Society (ECNS) 2016.

Beam-plasma instabilities and the beam-plasma discharge

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Kellogg, P. J.; Boswell, R. W.

1986-01-01

Using a new waves on magnetized beams and turbulence (WOMBAT) 0-450 eV electron gun, measurements bearing on the generation of beam-plasma discharge (BPD) are made. The new gun has a narrower divergence angle than the old, and the BPD ignition current is found to be proportional to the cross-sectional area of the plasma. The high-frequency instabilities are identified with the two Trivelpiece-Gould modes, (1959). The upper frequency is identified as a Cerenkov resonance with the upper Trivelpiece-Gould mode, and the lower frequency with a cyclotron resonance with the lower mode, in agreement with theoretical expectations. Convective growth rates are found to be small. A mechanism involving the conversion of a convective instability to an absolute one by trapping of the unstable waves in the density perturbations of the low-frequency waves, is suggested for the low-frequency wave control of the onset of the high frequency precursors to the BPD.

A stabilized optical frequency comb based on an Er-doped fiber femtosecond laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xia, Chuanqing; Wu, Tengfei; Zhao, Chunbo; Xing, Shuai

2018-03-01

An optical frequency comb based on a 250 MHz home-made Er-doped fiber femtosecond laser is presented in this paper. The Er-doped fiber laser has a ring cavity and operates mode-locked in femtosecond regime with the technique of nonlinear polarization rotation. The pulse duration is 118 fs and the spectral width is 30 nm. A part of the femtosecond laser is amplified in Er-doped fiber amplifier before propagating through a piece of highly nonlinear fiber for expanding the spectrum. The carrier-envelope offset frequency of the comb which has a signal-to-noise ratio more than 35 dB is extracted by means of f-2f beating. It demonstrates that both carrier-envelope offset frequency and repetition frequency keep phase locked to a Rubidium atomic clock simultaneously for 2 hours. The frequency stabilized fiber combs will be increasingly applied in optical metrology, attosecond pulse generation, and absolute distance measurement.

Phase-Coherent Measurement of the Hydrogen 1S-2S Transition Frequency with an Optical Frequency Interval Divider Chain

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Udem, Th.; Huber, A.; Gross, B.; Reichert, J.; Prevedelli, M.; Weitz, M.; Hänsch, T. W.

1997-10-01

We have measured the absolute frequency of the hydrogen 1S-2S two-photon resonance with an accuracy of 3.4 parts in 1013 by comparing it with the 28th harmonic of a methane-stabilized 3.39 μm He-Ne laser. A frequency mismatch of 2.1 THz at the 7th harmonic is bridged with a phase-locked chain of five optical frequency interval dividers. From the measured frequency f1S-2S = 2 466 061 413 187.34\\(84\\) kHz and published data of other authors we derive precise new values of the Rydberg constant, R∞ = 10 973 731.568 639\\(91\\) m-1 and of the Lamb shift of the 1S ground state, L1S = 8172.876\\(29\\) MHz. These are now the most accurate values available.

Frequency domain technique for a two-dimensional mapping of optical tissue properties

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bocher, Thomas; Beuthan, Juergen; Minet, Olaf; Naber, Rolf-Dieter; Mueller, Gerhard J.

1995-12-01

Locally and individually varying optical tissue parameters (mu) a, (mu) s, and g are responsible for non-neglectible uncertainties in the interpretation of spectroscopic data in optical biopsy techniques. The intrinsic fluorescence signal for instance doesn't depend only on the fluorophore concentration but also on the amount of other background absorbers and on alterations of scattering properties. Therefore neither a correct relative nor an absolute mapping of the lateral fluorophore concentration can be derived from the intrinsic fluorescence signal alone. Using MC-simulations it can be shown that in time-resolved LIFS the simultaneously measured backscattered signal of the excitation wavelength (UV) can be used to develop a special, linearized rescaling algorithm to take into account the most dominant of these varying tissue parameters which is (mu) a,ex. In combination with biochemical calibration measurements we were able to perform fiberbased quantitative NADH- concentration measurements. In this paper a new rescaling method for VIS and IR light in the frequency domain is proposed. It can be applied within the validity range of the diffusion approximation and provides full (mu) a and (mu) s rescaling possibility in a 2- dimensional, non-contact mapping mode. The scanning device is planned to be used in combination with a standard operation microscope of ZEISS, Germany.

Rapid and precise determination of zero-field splittings by terahertz time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy.

PubMed

Lu, Jian; Ozel, I Ozge; Belvin, Carina A; Li, Xian; Skorupskii, Grigorii; Sun, Lei; Ofori-Okai, Benjamin K; Dincă, Mircea; Gedik, Nuh; Nelson, Keith A

2017-11-01

Zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters are fundamentally tied to the geometries of metal ion complexes. Despite their critical importance for understanding the magnetism and spectroscopy of metal complexes, they are not routinely available through general laboratory-based techniques, and are often inferred from magnetism data. Here we demonstrate a simple tabletop experimental approach that enables direct and reliable determination of ZFS parameters in the terahertz (THz) regime. We report time-domain measurements of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals associated with THz-frequency ZFSs in molecular complexes containing high-spin transition-metal ions. We measure the temporal profiles of the free-induction decays of spin resonances in the complexes at zero and nonzero external magnetic fields, and we derive the EPR spectra via numerical Fourier transformation of the time-domain signals. In most cases, absolute values of the ZFS parameters are extracted from the measured zero-field EPR frequencies, and the signs can be determined by zero-field measurements at two different temperatures. Field-dependent EPR measurements further allow refined determination of the ZFS parameters and access to the g -factor. The results show good agreement with those obtained by other methods. The simplicity of the method portends wide applicability in chemistry, biology and material science.

Association of Lis1 with outer arm dynein is modulated in response to alterations in flagellar motility

PubMed Central

Rompolas, Panteleimon; Patel-King, Ramila S.; King, Stephen M.

2012-01-01

The cytoplasmic dynein regulatory factor Lis1, which induces a persistent tight binding to microtubules and allows for transport of cargoes under high-load conditions, is also present in motile cilia/flagella. We observed that Lis1 levels in flagella of Chlamydomonas strains that exhibit defective motility due to mutation of various axonemal substructures were greatly enhanced compared with wild type; this increase was absolutely dependent on the presence within the flagellum of the outer arm dynein α heavy chain/light chain 5 thioredoxin unit. To assess whether cells might interpret defective motility as a “high-load environment,” we reduced the flagellar beat frequency of wild-type cells through enhanced viscous load and by reductive stress; both treatments resulted in increased levels of flagellar Lis1, which altered the intrinsic beat frequency of the trans flagellum. Differential extraction of Lis1 from wild-type and mutant axonemes suggests that the affinity of outer arm dynein for Lis1 is directly modulated. In cytoplasm, Lis1 localized to two punctate structures, one of which was located near the base of the flagella. These data reveal that the cell actively monitors motility and dynamically modulates flagellar levels of the dynein regulatory factor Lis1 in response to imposed alterations in beat parameters. PMID:22855525

Fifty years of atomic time-keeping at VNIIFTRI

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Domnin, Yu; Gaigerov, B.; Koshelyaevsky, N.; Poushkin, S.; Rusin, F.; Tatarenkov, V.; Yolkin, G.

2005-06-01

Time metrology in Russia in the second half of the twentieth century has been marked, as in other advanced countries, by the rapid development of time and frequency quantum standards and the beginning of atomic time-keeping. This brief review presents the main developments and studies in time and frequency measurement, and the improvement of accuracy and atomic time-keeping at the VNIIFTRI—the National Metrology Institute keeping primary time and frequency standards and ensuring unification of measurement. The milestones along the way have been the ammonia and hydrogen masers, primary caesium beam and fountain standards and laser frequency standards. For many years, VNIIFTRI was the only world laboratory that applied hydrogen-maser clock ensembles for time-keeping. VNIIFTRI's work on international laser standard frequency comparisons and absolute frequency measurements contributed greatly to the adoption by the CIPM of a highly accurate value for the He-Ne/CH4 laser frequency. VNIIFTRI and the VNIIM were the first to establish a united time, frequency and length standard.

Absolute flux density calibrations of radio sources: 2.3 GHz

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Freiley, A. J.; Batelaan, P. D.; Bathker, D. A.

1977-01-01

A detailed description of a NASA/JPL Deep Space Network program to improve S-band gain calibrations of large aperture antennas is reported. The program is considered unique in at least three ways; first, absolute gain calibrations of high quality suppressed-sidelobe dual mode horns first provide a high accuracy foundation to the foundation to the program. Second, a very careful transfer calibration technique using an artificial far-field coherent-wave source was used to accurately obtain the gain of one large (26 m) aperture. Third, using the calibrated large aperture directly, the absolute flux density of five selected galactic and extragalactic natural radio sources was determined with an absolute accuracy better than 2 percent, now quoted at the familiar 1 sigma confidence level. The follow-on considerations to apply these results to an operational network of ground antennas are discussed. It is concluded that absolute gain accuracies within + or - 0.30 to 0.40 db are possible, depending primarily on the repeatability (scatter) in the field data from Deep Space Network user stations.

The metabolism of plant sterols is disturbed in postmenopausal women with coronary artery disease.

PubMed

Gylling, Helena; Hallikainen, Maarit; Rajaratnam, Radhakrishnan A; Simonen, Piia; Pihlajamäki, Jussi; Laakso, Markku; Miettinen, Tatu A

2009-03-01

In postmenopausal coronary artery disease (CAD) women, serum plant sterols are elevated. Thus, we investigated further whether serum plant sterols reflect absolute cholesterol metabolism in CAD as in other populations and whether the ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes, associated with plant sterol metabolism, were related to the risk of CAD. In free-living postmenopausal women with (n = 47) and without (n = 62) CAD, serum noncholesterol sterols including plant sterols were analyzed with gas-liquid chromatography, cholesterol absorption with peroral isotopes, absolute cholesterol synthesis with sterol balance technique, and bile acid synthesis with quantitating fecal bile acids. In CAD women, serum plant sterol ratios to cholesterol were 21% to 26% (P < .05) higher than in controls despite similar cholesterol absorption efficiency. Absolute cholesterol and bile acid synthesis were reduced. Only in controls were serum plant sterols related to cholesterol absorption (eg, sitosterol; in controls: r = 0.533, P < .001; in CAD: r = 0.296, P = not significant). However, even in CAD women, serum lathosterol (relative synthesis marker) and lathosterol-cholestanol (relative synthesis-absorption marker) were related to absolute synthesis and absorption percentage (P range from .05 to <.001) similarly to controls. Frequencies of the common polymorphisms of ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes did not differ between coronary and control women. In conclusion, plant sterol metabolism is disturbed in CAD women; so serum plant sterols only tended to reflect absolute cholesterol absorption. Other relative markers of cholesterol metabolism were related to the absolute ones in both groups. ABCG5 and ABCG8 genes were not associated with the risk of CAD.

Defibrotide in combination with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor significantly enhances the mobilization of primitive and committed peripheral blood progenitor cells in mice.

PubMed

Carlo-Stella, Carmelo; Di Nicola, Massimo; Magni, Michele; Longoni, Paolo; Milanesi, Marco; Stucchi, Claudio; Cleris, Loredana; Formelli, Franca; Gianni, Massimo A

2002-11-01

Defibrotide is a polydeoxyribonucleotide, which significantly reduces the expression of adhesion molecules on endothelial cells. We investigated the activity of Defibrotide alone or in combination with recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (rhG-CSF) to mobilize peripheral blood progenitor cells (PBPCs) in BALB/c mice. A 5-day treatment with Defibrotide alone (1-15 mg/mouse/day) had no effect on WBC counts, frequencies and absolute numbers of total circulating colony-forming cells (CFCs), i.e., granulocyte-macrophage colony-forming units, erythroid burst-forming units, and multilineage colony-forming units. As compared with mock-injected mice, administration of rhG-CSF alone (5 micro g/mouse/day) for 5 days significantly (P < or = 0.0001) increased WBC counts, CFC frequencies, and CFC absolute numbers by 2-, 13-, and 27-fold, respectively. As compared with control mice, the combined administration of Defibrotide (15 mg/mouse/day) and rhG-CSF significantly (P < or = 0.0001) increased WBC counts, frequencies and absolute numbers of CFCs by 4-, 38-, and 119-fold, respectively. As compared with rhG-CSF alone, administration of Defibrotide plus rhG-CSF resulted in a significant increase (P < or = 0.001) of the frequency of circulating long-term culture-initiating cells. In addition, transplantation of 2 x 10(5) rhG-CSF- or Defibrotide/rhG-CSF-mobilized mononuclear cells rescued 43% and 71% of recipient mice, respectively. Experiments of CFC homing performed in lethally irradiated or nonirradiated recipients showed that marrow homing of transplanted PBPCs was reduced by 3-fold in Defibrotide-treated animals as compared with mock-injected mice (P < or = 0.001), suggesting that the mobilizing effect of Defibrotide might be because of an effect on PBPC trafficking. In conclusion, our data demonstrate that Defibrotide synergizes with rhG-CSF and significantly increases the mobilization of a broad spectrum of PBPCs, including primitive and committed progenitor cells. These data might have relevant implications for autologous and allogeneic anticancer therapy in humans.

Communicating cardiovascular disease risk: an interview study of General Practitioners’ use of absolute risk within tailored communication strategies

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Background Cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevention guidelines encourage assessment of absolute CVD risk - the probability of a CVD event within a fixed time period, based on the most predictive risk factors. However, few General Practitioners (GPs) use absolute CVD risk consistently, and communication difficulties have been identified as a barrier to changing practice. This study aimed to explore GPs’ descriptions of their CVD risk communication strategies, including the role of absolute risk. Methods Semi-structured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 25 GPs in New South Wales, Australia. Transcribed audio-recordings were thematically coded, using the Framework Analysis method to ensure rigour. Results GPs used absolute CVD risk within three different communication strategies: ‘positive’, ‘scare tactic’, and ‘indirect’. A ‘positive’ strategy, which aimed to reassure and motivate, was used for patients with low risk, determination to change lifestyle, and some concern about CVD risk. Absolute risk was used to show how they could reduce risk. A ‘scare tactic’ strategy was used for patients with high risk, lack of motivation, and a dismissive attitude. Absolute risk was used to ‘scare’ them into taking action. An ‘indirect’ strategy, where CVD risk was not the main focus, was used for patients with low risk but some lifestyle risk factors, high anxiety, high resistance to change, or difficulty understanding probabilities. Non-quantitative absolute risk formats were found to be helpful in these situations. Conclusions This study demonstrated how GPs use three different communication strategies to address the issue of CVD risk, depending on their perception of patient risk, motivation and anxiety. Absolute risk played a different role within each strategy. Providing GPs with alternative ways of explaining absolute risk, in order to achieve different communication aims, may improve their use of absolute CVD risk assessment in practice. PMID:24885409

Morphofunctional Experience-Dependent Plasticity in the Honeybee Brain

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrione, Mara; Timberlake, Benjamin F.; Vallortigara, Giorgio; Antolini, Renzo; Haase, Albrecht

2017-01-01

Repeated or prolonged exposure to an odorant without any positive or negative reinforcement produces experience-dependent plasticity, which results in habituation and latent inhibition. In the honeybee ("Apis mellifera"), it has been demonstrated that, even if the absolute neural representation of an odor in the primary olfactory center,…

Finite-frequency sensitivity kernels for head waves

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Zhigang; Shen, Yang; Zhao, Li

2007-11-01

Head waves are extremely important in determining the structure of the predominantly layered Earth. While several recent studies have shown the diffractive nature and the 3-D Fréchet kernels of finite-frequency turning waves, analogues of head waves in a continuous velocity structure, the finite-frequency effects and sensitivity kernels of head waves are yet to be carefully examined. We present the results of a numerical study focusing on the finite-frequency effects of head waves. Our model has a low-velocity layer over a high-velocity half-space and a cylindrical-shaped velocity perturbation placed beneath the interface at different locations. A 3-D finite-difference method is used to calculate synthetic waveforms. Traveltime and amplitude anomalies are measured by the cross-correlation of synthetic seismograms from models with and without the velocity perturbation and are compared to the 3-D sensitivity kernels constructed from full waveform simulations. The results show that the head wave arrival-time and amplitude are influenced by the velocity structure surrounding the ray path in a pattern that is consistent with the Fresnel zones. Unlike the `banana-doughnut' traveltime sensitivity kernels of turning waves, the traveltime sensitivity of the head wave along the ray path below the interface is weak, but non-zero. Below the ray path, the traveltime sensitivity reaches the maximum (absolute value) at a depth that depends on the wavelength and propagation distance. The sensitivity kernels vary with the vertical velocity gradient in the lower layer, but the variation is relatively small at short propagation distances when the vertical velocity gradient is within the range of the commonly accepted values. Finally, the depression or shoaling of the interface results in increased or decreased sensitivities, respectively, beneath the interface topography.

Variation in Tomato spotted wilt virus titer in Frankliniella occidentalis and its association with frequency of transmission.

PubMed

Rotenberg, Dorith; Krishna Kumar, Nallur K; Ullman, Diane E; Montero-Astúa, Mauricio; Willis, David K; German, Thomas L; Whitfield, Anna E

2009-04-01

Tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is transmitted in a persistent propagative manner by Frankliniella occidentalis, the western flower thrips. While it is well established that vector competence depends on TSWV acquisition by young larvae and virus replication within the insect, the biological factors associated with frequency of transmission have not been well characterized. We hypothesized that the number of transmission events by a single adult thrips is determined, in part, by the amount of virus harbored (titer) by the insect. Transmission time-course experiments were conducted using a leaf disk assay to determine the efficiency and frequency of TSWV transmission following 2-day inoculation access periods (IAPs). Virus titer in individual adult thrips was determined by real-time quantitative reverse transcriptase-PCR (qRT-PCR) at the end of the experiments. On average, 59% of adults transmitted the virus during the first IAP (2 to 3 days post adult-eclosion). Male thrips were more efficient at transmitting TSWV multiple times compared with female thrips of the same cohort. However, females harbored two to three times more copies of TSWV-N RNA per insect, indicating that factors other than absolute virus titer in the insect contribute to a successful transmission event. Examination of virus titer in individual insects at the end of the third IAP (7 days post adult-eclosion) revealed significant and consistent positive associations between frequency of transmission and virus titer. Our data support the hypothesis that a viruliferous thrips is more likely to transmit multiple times if it harbors a high titer of virus. This quantitative relationship provides new insights into the biological parameters that may influence the spread of TSWV by thrips.

Dynamics of normalization underlying masking in human visual cortex.

PubMed

Tsai, Jeffrey J; Wade, Alex R; Norcia, Anthony M

2012-02-22

Stimulus visibility can be reduced by other stimuli that overlap the same region of visual space, a process known as masking. Here we studied the neural mechanisms of masking in humans using source-imaged steady state visual evoked potentials and frequency-domain analysis over a wide range of relative stimulus strengths of test and mask stimuli. Test and mask stimuli were tagged with distinct temporal frequencies and we quantified spectral response components associated with the individual stimuli (self terms) and responses due to interaction between stimuli (intermodulation terms). In early visual cortex, masking alters the self terms in a manner consistent with a reduction of input contrast. We also identify a novel signature of masking: a robust intermodulation term that peaks when the test and mask stimuli have equal contrast and disappears when they are widely different. We fit all of our data simultaneously with family of a divisive gain control models that differed only in their dynamics. Models with either very short or very long temporal integration constants for the gain pool performed worse than a model with an integration time of ∼30 ms. Finally, the absolute magnitudes of the response were controlled by the ratio of the stimulus contrasts, not their absolute values. This contrast-contrast invariance suggests that many neurons in early visual cortex code relative rather than absolute contrast. Together, these results provide a more complete description of masking within the normalization framework of contrast gain control and suggest that contrast normalization accomplishes multiple functional goals.

Transcutaneous calf-muscle electro-stimulation: A prospective treatment for diabetic claudicants?

PubMed

Ellul, Christian; Gatt, Alfred

2016-11-01

First-line therapy for claudicants with diabetes include supervised exercise programmes to improve walking distance. However, exercise comes with a number of barriers and may be contraindicated in certain conditions. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether calf-muscle electro-stimulation improves claudication distance. A prospective, one-group, pretest-posttest study design was employed on 40 participants living with type 2 diabetes mellitus, peripheral artery disease (ankle-brachial pressure index < 0.90) and calf-muscle claudication. Calf-muscle electro-stimulation of varying frequencies (1-250 Hz) was applied on both ischaemic limbs (N = 80) for 1 h per day for 12 consecutive weeks. The absolute claudication distance was measured at baseline and following the intervention. The cohort (n = 40; 30 males; mean age = 71 years; mean ankle-brachial pressure index = 0.70) registered a mean baseline absolute claudication distance of 333.71 m (standard deviation = 208). Following 91.68 days (standard deviation = 6.23) of electrical stimulation, a significant mean increase of 137 m (standard deviation = 136) in the absolute claudication distance was registered (p = 0.000, Wilcoxon signed rank test). Electrical stimulation of varying low to high frequencies on ischaemic calf muscles significantly increased the maximal walking capacity in claudicants with type 2 diabetes. This therapeutic approach may be considered in patients with impaired exercise tolerance or as an adjunct treatment modality. © The Author(s) 2016.

Absolute ozone densities in a radio-frequency driven atmospheric pressure plasma using two-beam UV-LED absorption spectroscopy and numerical simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wijaikhum, A.; Schröder, D.; Schröter, S.; Gibson, A. R.; Niemi, K.; Friderich, J.; Greb, A.; Schulz-von der Gathen, V.; O'Connell, D.; Gans, T.

2017-11-01

The efficient generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cold atmospheric pressure plasma jets (APPJs) is an increasingly important topic, e.g. for the treatment of temperature sensitive biological samples in the field of plasma medicine. A 13.56 MHz radio-frequency (rf) driven APPJ device operated with helium feed gas and small admixtures of oxygen (up to 1%), generating a homogeneous glow-mode plasma at low gas temperatures, was investigated. Absolute densities of ozone, one of the most prominent ROS, were measured across the 11 mm wide discharge channel by means of broadband absorption spectroscopy using the Hartley band centred at λ = 255 nm. A two-beam setup with a reference beam in Mach-Zehnder configuration is employed for improved signal-to-noise ratio allowing high-sensitivity measurements in the investigated single-pass weak-absorbance regime. The results are correlated to gas temperature measurements, deduced from the rotational temperature of the N2 (C 3 {{{\\Pi }}}u+ \\to B 3 {{{\\Pi }}}g+, υ = 0 \\to 2) optical emission from introduced air impurities. The observed opposing trends of both quantities as a function of rf power input and oxygen admixture are analysed and explained in terms of a zero-dimensional plasma-chemical kinetics simulation. It is found that the gas temperature as well as the densities of O and O2(b{}1{{{Σ }}}g+) influence the absolute O3 densities when the rf power is varied.

Test-retest reliability and validity of a web-based food-frequency questionnaire for adolescents aged 13-14 to be used in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa).

PubMed

Overby, Nina Cecilie; Johannesen, Elisabeth; Jensen, Grete; Skjaevesland, Anne-Kirsti; Haugen, Margaretha

2014-01-01

The assessment of food intake is challenging and prone to errors; it is therefore important to consider the reliability and validity of the assessment methods. The aim of this study was to analyze the reproducibility and validity of a developed food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for use among adolescents. In total, 58 students (aged 13-14) from four different schools in the southern part of Norway participated in the reproducibility study of filling out the FFQ 4 weeks apart. In addition, 93 students participated in the relative validity study where the FFQ was compared to 2×24-hour dietary recalls, while 92 students participated in the absolute validity study where the intakes of fatty acids and vitamin D from the FFQ were compared to fatty acids and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 in whole blood. The median Spearman correlation coefficient for all nutrients in the test-retest reliability study was 0.57. The median Spearman correlation for all nutrients in the relative validity study was 0.26, while the correlations coefficients were low in the absolute validity study with n-3 fatty acid coefficients ranging from 0.05 to 0.25, and absent for vitamin D (r=0.000). The test-retest reproducibility was considered good, the relative validity was considered poor to good, and the absolute validity was considered poor. However, the results are comparable to other studies among adolescents.

Microwave measurements of the absolute values of absorption by water vapour in the atmosphere.

PubMed

Hogg, D C; Guiraud, F O

1979-05-31

MEASUREMENT of the absolute value of absorption by water vapour at microwave frequencies is difficult because the effect is so small. Far in the wings of the absorption lines, in the so-called 'windows' of the spectrum, it is especially difficult to achieve high accuracy in the free atmosphere. But it is in these windows that the behaviour of the absorption is important from both applied and scientific points of view. Satellite communications, remote sensing of the atmosphere, and radioastronomy, are all influenced by this behaviour. Measurements on an Earth-space path are reported here; the results indicate a nonlinear relationship between absorption and water-vapour content.

Dimer motion on a periodic substrate: spontaneous symmetry breaking and absolute negative mobility.

PubMed

Speer, David; Eichhorn, Ralf; Evstigneev, Mykhaylo; Reimann, Peter

2012-06-01

We consider two coupled particles moving along a periodic substrate potential with negligible inertia effects (overdamped limit). Even when the particles are identical and the substrate spatially symmetric, a sinusoidal external driving of appropriate amplitude and frequency may lead to spontaneous symmetry breaking in the form of a permanent directed motion of the dimer. Thermal noise restores ergodicity and thus zero net velocity, but entails arbitrarily fast diffusion of the dimer for sufficiently weak noise. Moreover, upon application of a static bias force, the dimer exhibits a motion opposite to that force (absolute negative mobility). The key requirement for all these effects is a nonconvex interaction potential of the two particles.

Anomalous gain in an isotopically mixed CO2 laser and application to absolute wavelength calibration

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hewagama, Tilak; Oppenheim, Uri P.; Mumma, Michael J.

1991-01-01

Measurements are reported on a grating-tuned CO2 laser, containing an isotropic mixture of O-16C-12O-16, O-16C-12O-18, and O-18C-12O-18. The P6 and R14 lines of O-16C-12O-16 were found to have anomalously high intensities. These anomalies are produced by the near coincidence of the transition frequencies in two distinct isotopes, permitting them to act as a single indistinguishable population. These two lines can be used to identify the rotational quantum numbers in the P and R branch spectra, thereby permitting absolute wavelength calibration to be achieved.

Sci-Sat AM: Radiation Dosimetry and Practical Therapy Solutions - 03: Energy dependence of a clinical probe-format calorimeter and its pertinence to absolute photon and electron beam dosimetry

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Renaud, James; Seuntjens, Jan; Sarfehnia, Arman

Purpose: To evaluate the intrinsic and absorbed-dose energy dependence of a small-scale graphite calorimeter probe (GPC) developed for use as a routine clinical dosimeter. The influence of charge deposition on the response of the GPC was also assessed by performing absolute dosimetry in clinical linac-based electron beams. Methods: Intrinsic energy dependence was determined by performing constant-temperature calorimetry dose measurements in a water-equivalent solid phantom, under otherwise reference conditions, in five high-energy photon (63.5 < %dd(10){sub X} < 76.3), and five electron (2.3 cm < R{sub 50} < 8.3 cm) beams. Reference dosimetry was performed for all beams in question usingmore » an Exradin A19 ion chamber with a calibration traceable to national standards. The absorbed-dose component of the overall energy dependence was calculated using the EGSnrc egs-chamber user code. Results: A total of 72 measurements were performed with the GPC, resulting in a standard error on the mean absorbed dose of better than 0.3 % for all ten beams. For both the photon and electron beams, no statistically-significant energy dependence was observed experimentally. Peak-to-peak, variations in the relative response of the GPC across all beam qualities of a given radiation type were on the order of 1 %. No effects, either transient or permanent, were attributable to the charge deposited by the electron beams. Conclusions: The GPC’s apparent energy-independence, combined with its well-established linearity and dose rate independence, make it a potentially useful dosimetry system capable measuring photon and electron doses in absolute terms at the clinical level.« less

Drug Treated Schizophrenia, Schizoaffective and Bipolar Disorder Patients Evaluated by qEEG Absolute Spectral Power and Mean Frequency Analysis.

PubMed

Wix-Ramos, Richard; Moreno, Xiomara; Capote, Eduardo; González, Gilbert; Uribe, Ezequiel; Eblen-Zajjur, Antonio

2014-04-01

Research of electroencephalograph (EEG) power spectrum and mean frequency has shown inconsistent results in patients with schizophrenic, schizoaffective and bipolar disorders during medication when compared to normal subjects thus; the characterization of these parameters is an important task. We applied quantitative EEG (qEEG) to investigate 38 control, 15 schizophrenic, 7 schizoaffective and 11 bipolar disorder subjects which remaine under the administration of psychotropic drugs (except control group). Absolute spectral power (ASP), mean frequency and hemispheric electrical asymmetry were measured by 19 derivation qEEG. Group mean values were compared with non parametrical Mann-Whitney test and spectral EEG maps with z-score method at p < 0.05. Most frequent drug treatments for schizophrenic patients were neuroleptic+antiepileptic (40% of cases) or 2 neuroleptics (33.3%). Schizoaffective patients received neuroleptic+benzodiazepine (71.4%) and for bipolar disorder patients neuroleptic+antiepileptic (81.8%). Schizophrenic (at all derivations except for Fp1, Fp2, F8 and T6) and schizoaffective (only at C3) show higher values of ASP (+57.7% and +86.1% respectively) compared to control group. ASP of bipolar disorder patients did not show differences against control group. The mean frequency was higher at Fp1 (+14.2%) and Fp2 (+17.4%) in bipolar disorder patients than control group, but no differences were found in frequencies between schizophrenic or schizoaffective patients against the control group. Majority of spectral differences were found at the left hemisphere in schizophrenic and schizoaffective but not in bipolar disorder subjects. The present report contributes to characterize quantitatively the qEEG in drug treated schizophrenic, schizoaffective or bipolar disorder patients.

Planck 2013 results. VIII. HFI photometric calibration and mapmaking

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Planck Collaboration; Ade, P. A. R.; Aghanim, N.; Armitage-Caplan, C.; Arnaud, M.; Ashdown, M.; Atrio-Barandela, F.; Aumont, J.; Baccigalupi, C.; Banday, A. J.; Barreiro, R. B.; Battaner, E.; Benabed, K.; Benoît, A.; Benoit-Lévy, A.; Bernard, J.-P.; Bersanelli, M.; Bertincourt, B.; Bielewicz, P.; Bobin, J.; Bock, J. J.; Bond, J. R.; Borrill, J.; Bouchet, F. R.; Boulanger, F.; Bridges, M.; Bucher, M.; Burigana, C.; Cardoso, J.-F.; Catalano, A.; Challinor, A.; Chamballu, A.; Chary, R.-R.; Chen, X.; Chiang, H. C.; Chiang, L.-Y.; Christensen, P. R.; Church, S.; Clements, D. L.; Colombi, S.; Colombo, L. P. L.; Combet, C.; Couchot, F.; Coulais, A.; Crill, B. P.; Curto, A.; Cuttaia, F.; Danese, L.; Davies, R. D.; de Bernardis, P.; de Rosa, A.; de Zotti, G.; Delabrouille, J.; Delouis, J.-M.; Désert, F.-X.; Dickinson, C.; Diego, J. M.; Dole, H.; Donzelli, S.; Doré, O.; Douspis, M.; Dupac, X.; Efstathiou, G.; Enßlin, T. A.; Eriksen, H. K.; Filliard, C.; Finelli, F.; Forni, O.; Frailis, M.; Franceschi, E.; Galeotta, S.; Ganga, K.; Giard, M.; Giardino, G.; Giraud-Héraud, Y.; González-Nuevo, J.; Górski, K. M.; Gratton, S.; Gregorio, A.; Gruppuso, A.; Hansen, F. K.; Hanson, D.; Harrison, D.; Helou, G.; Henrot-Versillé, S.; Hernández-Monteagudo, C.; Herranz, D.; Hildebrandt, S. R.; Hivon, E.; Hobson, M.; Holmes, W. A.; Hornstrup, A.; Hovest, W.; Huffenberger, K. M.; Jaffe, A. H.; Jaffe, T. R.; Jones, W. C.; Juvela, M.; Keihänen, E.; Keskitalo, R.; Kisner, T. S.; Kneissl, R.; Knoche, J.; Knox, L.; Kunz, M.; Kurki-Suonio, H.; Lagache, G.; Lamarre, J.-M.; Lasenby, A.; Laureijs, R. J.; Lawrence, C. R.; Le Jeune, M.; Lellouch, E.; Leonardi, R.; Leroy, C.; Lesgourgues, J.; Liguori, M.; Lilje, P. B.; Linden-Vørnle, M.; López-Caniego, M.; Lubin, P. M.; Macías-Pérez, J. F.; Maffei, B.; Mandolesi, N.; Maris, M.; Marshall, D. J.; Martin, P. G.; Martínez-González, E.; Masi, S.; Massardi, M.; Matarrese, S.; Matthai, F.; Maurin, L.; Mazzotta, P.; McGehee, P.; Meinhold, P. R.; Melchiorri, A.; Mendes, L.; Mennella, A.; Migliaccio, M.; Mitra, S.; Miville-Deschênes, M.-A.; Moneti, A.; Montier, L.; Moreno, R.; Morgante, G.; Mortlock, D.; Munshi, D.; Murphy, J. A.; Naselsky, P.; Nati, F.; Natoli, P.; Netterfield, C. B.; Nørgaard-Nielsen, H. U.; Noviello, F.; Novikov, D.; Novikov, I.; Osborne, S.; Oxborrow, C. A.; Paci, F.; Pagano, L.; Pajot, F.; Paladini, R.; Paoletti, D.; Partridge, B.; Pasian, F.; Patanchon, G.; Pearson, T. J.; Perdereau, O.; Perotto, L.; Perrotta, F.; Piacentini, F.; Piat, M.; Pierpaoli, E.; Pietrobon, D.; Plaszczynski, S.; Pointecouteau, E.; Polenta, G.; Ponthieu, N.; Popa, L.; Poutanen, T.; Pratt, G. W.; Prézeau, G.; Prunet, S.; Puget, J.-L.; Rachen, J. P.; Reinecke, M.; Remazeilles, M.; Renault, C.; Ricciardi, S.; Riller, T.; Ristorcelli, I.; Rocha, G.; Rosset, C.; Roudier, G.; Rusholme, B.; Santos, D.; Savini, G.; Scott, D.; Shellard, E. P. S.; Spencer, L. D.; Starck, J.-L.; Stolyarov, V.; Stompor, R.; Sudiwala, R.; Sunyaev, R.; Sureau, F.; Sutton, D.; Suur-Uski, A.-S.; Sygnet, J.-F.; Tauber, J. A.; Tavagnacco, D.; Techene, S.; Terenzi, L.; Tomasi, M.; Tristram, M.; Tucci, M.; Umana, G.; Valenziano, L.; Valiviita, J.; Van Tent, B.; Vielva, P.; Villa, F.; Vittorio, N.; Wade, L. A.; Wandelt, B. D.; Yvon, D.; Zacchei, A.; Zonca, A.

2014-11-01

This paper describes the methods used to produce photometrically calibrated maps from the Planck High Frequency Instrument (HFI) cleaned, time-ordered information. HFI observes the sky over a broad range of frequencies, from 100 to 857 GHz. To obtain the best calibration accuracy over such a large range, two different photometric calibration schemes have to be used. The 545 and 857 GHz data are calibrated by comparing flux-density measurements of Uranus and Neptune with models of their atmospheric emission. The lower frequencies (below 353 GHz) are calibrated using the solar dipole. A component of this anisotropy is time-variable, owing to the orbital motion of the satellite in the solar system. Photometric calibration is thus tightly linked to mapmaking, which also addresses low-frequency noise removal. By comparing observations taken more than one year apart in the same configuration, we have identified apparent gain variations with time. These variations are induced by non-linearities in the read-out electronics chain. We have developed an effective correction to limit their effect on calibration. We present several methods to estimate the precision of the photometric calibration. We distinguish relative uncertainties (between detectors, or between frequencies) and absolute uncertainties. Absolute uncertainties lie in the range from 0.54% to 10% from 100 to 857 GHz. We describe the pipeline used to produce the maps from the HFI timelines, based on the photometric calibration parameters, and the scheme used to set the zero level of the maps a posteriori. We also discuss the cross-calibration between HFI and the SPIRE instrument on board Herschel. Finally we summarize the basic characteristics of the set of HFI maps included in the 2013 Planck data release.

Antiausterity activity of arctigenin enantiomers: importance of (2R,3R)-absolute configuration.

PubMed

Awale, Suresh; Kato, Mamoru; Dibwe, Dya Fita; Li, Feng; Miyoshi, Chika; Esumi, Hiroyasu; Kadota, Shigetoshi; Tezuka, Yasuhiro

2014-01-01

From a MeOH extract of powdered roots of Wikstroemia indica, six dibenzyl-gamma-butyrolactone-type lignans with (2S,3S)-absolute configuration [(+)-arctigenin (1), (+)-matairesinol (2), (+)-trachelogenin (3), (+)-nortrachelogenin (4), (+)-hinokinin (5), and (+)-kusunokinin (6)] were isolated, whereas three dibenzyl-gamma-butyrolactone-type lignans with (2R,3R)-absolute configuration [(-)-arctigenin (1*), (-)-matairesinol (2*), (-)-trachelogenin (3*)] were isolated from Trachelospermum asiaticum. The in vitro preferential cytotoxic activity of the nine compounds was evaluated against human pancreatic PANC-1 cancer cells in nutrient-deprived medium (NDM), but none of the six lignans (1-6) with (2S,3S)-absolute configuration showed preferential cytotoxicity. On the other hand, three lignans (1*-3*) with (2R,3R)-absolute configuration exhibited preferential cytotoxicity in a concentration-dependent manner with PC50 values of 0.54, 6.82, and 5.85 microM, respectively. Furthermore, the effect of (-)- and (+)-arctigenin was evaluated against the activation of Akt, which is a key process in the tolerance to nutrition starvation. Interestingly, only (-)-arctigenin (1*) strongly suppressed the activation of Akt. These results indicate that the (2R,3R)-absolute configuration of (-)-enantiomers should be required for the preferential cytotoxicity through the inhibition of Akt activation.

Phantom motor execution facilitated by machine learning and augmented reality as treatment for phantom limb pain: a single group, clinical trial in patients with chronic intractable phantom limb pain.

PubMed

Ortiz-Catalan, Max; Guðmundsdóttir, Rannveig A; Kristoffersen, Morten B; Zepeda-Echavarria, Alejandra; Caine-Winterberger, Kerstin; Kulbacka-Ortiz, Katarzyna; Widehammar, Cathrine; Eriksson, Karin; Stockselius, Anita; Ragnö, Christina; Pihlar, Zdenka; Burger, Helena; Hermansson, Liselotte

2016-12-10

Phantom limb pain is a debilitating condition for which no effective treatment has been found. We hypothesised that re-engagement of central and peripheral circuitry involved in motor execution could reduce phantom limb pain via competitive plasticity and reversal of cortical reorganisation. Patients with upper limb amputation and known chronic intractable phantom limb pain were recruited at three clinics in Sweden and one in Slovenia. Patients received 12 sessions of phantom motor execution using machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, and serious gaming. Changes in intensity, frequency, duration, quality, and intrusion of phantom limb pain were assessed by the use of the numeric rating scale, the pain rating index, the weighted pain distribution scale, and a study-specific frequency scale before each session and at follow-up interviews 1, 3, and 6 months after the last session. Changes in medication and prostheses were also monitored. Results are reported using descriptive statistics and analysed by non-parametric tests. The trial is registered at ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02281539. Between Sept 15, 2014, and April 10, 2015, 14 patients with intractable chronic phantom limb pain, for whom conventional treatments failed, were enrolled. After 12 sessions, patients showed statistically and clinically significant improvements in all metrics of phantom limb pain. Phantom limb pain decreased from pre-treatment to the last treatment session by 47% (SD 39; absolute mean change 1·0 [0·8]; p=0·001) for weighted pain distribution, 32% (38; absolute mean change 1·6 [1·8]; p=0·007) for the numeric rating scale, and 51% (33; absolute mean change 9·6 [8·1]; p=0·0001) for the pain rating index. The numeric rating scale score for intrusion of phantom limb pain in activities of daily living and sleep was reduced by 43% (SD 37; absolute mean change 2·4 [2·3]; p=0·004) and 61% (39; absolute mean change 2·3 [1·8]; p=0·001), respectively. Two of four patients who were on medication reduced their intake by 81% (absolute reduction 1300 mg, gabapentin) and 33% (absolute reduction 75 mg, pregabalin). Improvements remained 6 months after the last treatment. Our findings suggest potential value in motor execution of the phantom limb as a treatment for phantom limb pain. Promotion of phantom motor execution aided by machine learning, augmented and virtual reality, and gaming is a non-invasive, non-pharmacological, and engaging treatment with no identified side-effects at present. Promobilia Foundation, VINNOVA, Jimmy Dahlstens Fond, PicoSolve, and Innovationskontor Väst. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Absolute shielding scales for Al, Ga, and In and revised nuclear magnetic dipole moments of {sup 27}Al, {sup 69}Ga, {sup 71}Ga, {sup 113}In, and {sup 115}In nuclei

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Antušek, A., E-mail: andrej.antusek@stuba.sk; Holka, F., E-mail: filip.holka@stuba.sk

2015-08-21

We present coupled cluster calculations of NMR shielding constants of aluminum, gallium, and indium in water-ion clusters. In addition, relativistic and dynamical corrections and the influence of the second solvation shell are evaluated. The final NMR shielding constants define new absolute shielding scales, 600.0 ± 4.1 ppm, 2044.4 ± 31.4 ppm, and 4507.7 ± 63.7 ppm for aluminum, gallium, and indium, respectively. The nuclear magnetic dipole moments for {sup 27}Al, {sup 69}Ga, {sup 71}Ga, {sup 113}In, and {sup 115}In isotopes are corrected by combining the computed shielding constants with experimental NMR frequencies. The absolute magnitude of the correction increases alongmore » the series and for indium isotopes it reaches approximately −8.0 × 10{sup −3} of the nuclear magneton.« less

Spin Manipulating Vector and Tensor Polarized Deuterons Stored in COSY

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morozov, Vassili; Krisch, Alan; Leonova, Maria; Raymond, Richard; Sivers, Dennis; Wong, Victor; Yonehara, Katsuya; Bechstedt, Ulf; Gebel, Ralf; Lehrach, Andreas; Lorentz, Bernd; Maier, Rudolf; Schnase, Alexander; Stockhorst, Hans; Eversheim, Dieter; Hinterberger, Frank; Rohdjess, Heiko; Ulbrich, Kay

2004-05-01

We recently studied spin flipping and spin manipulation of a simultaneously vector and tensor polarized deuteron beam stored in the COSY Cooler Synchrotron at 1.85 GeV/c. Using the EDDA detector we calibrated vector and tensor analyzing powers, which were earlier unknown at this energy; thus, we were able to obtain the absolute values for both the vector and tensor polarizations. We manipulated the deuteron's polarization using a new water-cooled ferrite rf dipole, by adiabatically sweeping its frequency through an rf-induced spin resonance. We first experimentally determined the resonance's frequency and then varied the dipole's frequency range and frequency ramp time. This allowed us to maximize the vector polarization spin-flip efficiency to about 97 ± 1%. We also studied the interesting tensor polarization manipulation in considerable detail.

Absolutism in diaries of suicides.

PubMed

Lester, David

2006-08-01

Two diaries, one from a completed suicide and one from an attempted suicide, were examined for the use of three words indicating absolutist thinking (perfect, always, and never). The diary of the attempted suicide had a significantly higher frequency use of "never" (2.75 per 1,000 words versus 1.73) but not the other words.

Backscatter calibration of high-frequency multibeam echosounder using a reference single-beam system, on natural seafloor

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Eleftherakis, Dimitrios; Berger, Laurent; Le Bouffant, Naig; Pacault, Anne; Augustin, Jean-Marie; Lurton, Xavier

2018-06-01

The calibration of multibeam echosounders for backscatter measurements can be conducted efficiently and accurately using data from surveys over a reference natural area, implying appropriate measurements of the local absolute values of backscatter. Such a shallow area (20-m mean depth) has been defined and qualified in the Bay of Brest (France), and chosen as a reference area for multibeam systems operating at 200 and 300 kHz. The absolute reflectivity over the area was measured using a calibrated single-beam fishery echosounder (Simrad EK60) tilted at incidence angles varying between 0° and 60° with a step of 3°. This reference backscatter level is then compared to the average backscatter values obtained by a multibeam echosounder (here a Kongsberg EM 2040-D) at a close frequency and measured as a function of angle; the difference gives the angular bias applicable to the multibeam system for recorded level calibration. The method is validated by checking the single- and multibeam data obtained on other areas with sediment types different from the reference area.

Auditory processing in absolute pitch possessors

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

McKetton, Larissa; Schneider, Keith A.

2018-05-01

Absolute pitch (AP) is a rare ability in classifying a musical pitch without a reference standard. It has been of great interest to researchers studying auditory processing and music cognition since it is seldom expressed and sheds light on influences pertaining to neurodevelopmental biological predispositions and the onset of musical training. We investigated the smallest frequency that could be detected or just noticeable difference (JND) between two pitches. Here, we report significant differences in JND thresholds in AP musicians and non-AP musicians compared to non-musician control groups at both 1000 Hz and 987.76 Hz testing frequencies. Although the AP-musicians did better than non-AP musicians, the difference was not significant. In addition, we looked at neuro-anatomical correlates of musicianship and AP using structural MRI. We report increased cortical thickness of the left Heschl's Gyrus (HG) and decreased cortical thickness of the inferior frontal opercular gyrus (IFO) and circular insular sulcus volume (CIS) in AP compared to non-AP musicians and controls. These structures may therefore be optimally enhanced and reduced to form the most efficient network for AP to emerge.

Metrological properties of {CO 2}/{OsO 4} optical frequency standard

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Acef, O.

1997-02-01

Recent progress on the metrological performance of the BNM-LPTF {CO 2}/{OsO 4} frequency standards in the {28}/{29}THz range, using OsO 4 molecular transitions as a frequency reference is reported. Significant improvements in terms of both short-term stability ( {6.6×10 -14}/{τup to τ=300s }) and long-term stability (4 × 10 -15 up to τ = 1 000 s, Δν ˜ 0.1 Hz) are obtained. Long term reproducibility (over more than 18 months) of about 3 × 10 -13 has been achieved. This high level enables the transfer, in terms of absolute frequency at the 3 × 10 -13 level of uncertainty, from primary frequency standards in the microwave domain to near infrared and visible domains, using frequency chains with {CO 2}/{OsO 4} as a transfer frequency standard. Preliminary estimates of the main effects which may shift the OsO 4 center line are reported.

Vibrational correlation between conjugated carbonyl and diazo modes studied by single- and dual-frequency two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Maekawa, Hiroaki; Sul, Soohwan; Ge, Nien-Hui

2013-08-01

We have applied infrared three-pulse photon echo and single- and dual-frequency 2D IR spectroscopy to the ester Cdbnd O and diazo Ndbnd N stretching modes in ethyl diazoacetate (EDA), and investigated their vibrational frequency fluctuations and correlation. The two modes exhibit different vibrational dynamics and 2D lineshape, which are well simulated by frequency-frequency correlation functions (FFCFs) with two decaying components. Although the FT IR spectrum shows a single Cdbnd O band, absolute magnitude 2D IR nonrephasing spectrum displays spectral signatures supporting the presence of cis and trans conformations. The cross-peak inclined toward the anti-diagonal in the dual-frequency 2D IR spectrum, indicating that the frequency fluctuations of the two modes are anticorrelated. This behavior is attributed to anticorrelated change in the bond orders when solvent and structural fluctuations causes EDA to adopt a different mixture of the two dominant resonance structures. The effects of cross FFCF on the cross-peak line shape are discussed.

Frequency comb transferred by surface plasmon resonance

PubMed Central

Geng, Xiao Tao; Chun, Byung Jae; Seo, Ji Hoon; Seo, Kwanyong; Yoon, Hana; Kim, Dong-Eon; Kim, Young-Jin; Kim, Seungchul

2016-01-01

Frequency combs, millions of narrow-linewidth optical modes referenced to an atomic clock, have shown remarkable potential in time/frequency metrology, atomic/molecular spectroscopy and precision LIDARs. Applications have extended to coherent nonlinear Raman spectroscopy of molecules and quantum metrology for entangled atomic qubits. Frequency combs will create novel possibilities in nano-photonics and plasmonics; however, its interrelation with surface plasmons is unexplored despite the important role that plasmonics plays in nonlinear spectroscopy and quantum optics through the manipulation of light on a subwavelength scale. Here, we demonstrate that a frequency comb can be transformed to a plasmonic comb in plasmonic nanostructures and reverted to the original frequency comb without noticeable degradation of <6.51 × 10−19 in absolute position, 2.92 × 10−19 in stability and 1 Hz in linewidth. The results indicate that the superior performance of a well-defined frequency comb can be applied to nanoplasmonic spectroscopy, quantum metrology and subwavelength photonic circuits. PMID:26898307

Evolution of CMB spectral distortion anisotropies and tests of primordial non-Gaussianity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Chluba, Jens; Dimastrogiovanni, Emanuela; Amin, Mustafa A.; Kamionkowski, Marc

2017-04-01

Anisotropies in distortions to the frequency spectrum of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) can be created through spatially varying heating processes in the early Universe. For instance, the dissipation of small-scale acoustic modes does create distortion anisotropies, in particular for non-Gaussian primordial perturbations. In this work, we derive approximations that allow describing the associated distortion field. We provide a systematic formulation of the problem using Fourier-space window functions, clarifying and generalizing previous approximations. Our expressions highlight the fact that the amplitudes of the spectral-distortion fluctuations induced by non-Gaussianity depend also on the homogeneous value of those distortions. Absolute measurements are thus required to obtain model-independent distortion constraints on primordial non-Gaussianity. We also include a simple description for the evolution of distortions through photon diffusion, showing that these corrections can usually be neglected. Our formulation provides a systematic framework for computing higher order correlation functions of distortions with CMB temperature anisotropies and can be extended to describe correlations with polarization anisotropies.

Diverse Electron-Induced Optical Emissions from Space Observatory Materials at Low Temperatures

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Dennison, J.R.; Jensen, Amberly Evans; Wilson, Gregory; Dekany, Justin; Bowers, Charles W.; Meloy, Robert

2013-01-01

Electron irradiation experiments have investigated the diverse electron-induced optical and electrical signatures observed in ground-based tests of various space observatory materials at low temperature. Three types of light emission were observed: (i); long-duration cathodoluminescence which persisted as long as the electron beam was on (ii) short-duration (<1 s) arcing, resulting from electrostatic discharge; and (iii) intermediate-duration (100 s) glow-termed "flares". We discuss how the electron currents and arcing-as well as light emission absolute intensity and frequency-depend on electron beam energy, power, and flux and the temperature and thickness of different bulk (polyimides, epoxy resins, and silica glasses) and composite dielectric materials (disordered SiO2 thin films, carbon- and fiberglass-epoxy composites, and macroscopically-conductive carbon-loaded polyimides). We conclude that electron-induced optical emissions resulting from interactions between observatory materials and the space environment electron flux can, in specific circumstances, make significant contributions to the stray light background that could possibly adversely affect the performance of space-based observatories.

The role of service areas in the optimization of FSS orbital and frequency assignments

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Levis, C. A.; Wang, C.-W.; Yamamura, Y.; Reilly, C. H.; Gonsalvez, D. J.

1986-01-01

An implicit relationship is derived which relates the topocentric separation of two satellites required for a given level of single-entry protection to the separation and orientation of their service areas. The results are presented explicitly for circular beams and topocentric angles. A computational approach is given for elliptical beams and for use with longitude and latitude variables. It is found that the geocentric separation depends primarily on the service area separation, secondarily on a parameter which characterizes the electrical design, and only slightly on the mean orbital position of the satellites. Both linear programming and mixed integer programming algorithms are implemented. Possible objective function choices are discussed, and explicit formulations are presented for the choice of the sum of the absolute deviations of the orbital locations from some prescribed 'ideal' location set. A test problem involving six service areas is examined with results that are encouraging with respect to applying the linear programming procedure to larger scenarios.

Continued investigation of LDEF's structural frame and thermal blankets by the Meteoroid and Debris Special Investigation Group

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

See, Thomas H.; Mack, Kimberly S.; Warren, Jack L.; Zolensky, Michael E.; Zook, Herbert A.

1993-01-01

This report focuses on the data acquired by detailed examination of LDEF intercostals, 68 of which are now in possession of the Meteoroid and Debris Special Investigation Group (M&D SIG) at JSC. In addition, limited data will be presented for several small sections from the A0178 thermal control blankets that were examined/counted prior to being shipped to Principal Investigators (PI's) for scientific study. The data presented here are limited to measurements of crater and penetration-hole diameters and their frequency of occurrence which permits, yet also constrains, more model-dependent, interpretative efforts. Such efforts will focus on the conversion of crater and penetration-hole sizes to projectile diameters (and masses), on absolute particle fluxes, and on the distribution of particle-encounter velocities. These are all complex issues that presently cannot be pursued without making various assumptions which relate, in part, to crater-scaling relationships, and to assumed trajectories of natural and man-made particle populations in LEO that control the initial impact conditions.

LCD denoise and the vector mutual information method in the application of the gear fault diagnosis under different working conditions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xiangfeng, Zhang; Hong, Jiang

2018-03-01

In this paper, the full vector LCD method is proposed to solve the misjudgment problem caused by the change of the working condition. First, the signal from different working condition is decomposed by LCD, to obtain the Intrinsic Scale Component (ISC)whose instantaneous frequency with physical significance. Then, calculate of the cross correlation coefficient between ISC and the original signal, signal denoising based on the principle of mutual information minimum. At last, calculate the sum of absolute Vector mutual information of the sample under different working condition and the denoised ISC as the characteristics to classify by use of Support vector machine (SVM). The wind turbines vibration platform gear box experiment proves that this method can identify fault characteristics under different working conditions. The advantage of this method is that it reduce dependence of man’s subjective experience, identify fault directly from the original data of vibration signal. It will has high engineering value.

Potential energy hypersurface and molecular flexibility

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koča, Jaroslav

1993-02-01

The molecular flexibility phenomenon is discussed from the conformational potential energy(hyper) surface (PES) point of view. Flexibility is considered as a product of three terms: thermodynamic, kinetic and geometrical. Several expressions characterizing absolute and relative molecular flexibility are introduced, depending on a subspace studied of the entire conformational space, energy level E of PES as well as absolute temperature. Results obtained by programs DAISY, CICADA and PANIC in conjunction with molecular mechanics program MMX for flexibility analysis of isopentane, 2,2-dimethylpentane and isohexane molecules are introduced.

Absolute pitch does not depend on early musical training.

PubMed

Ross, David A; Olson, Ingrid R; Gore, John C

2003-11-01

The etiology and defining characteristics of absolute pitch (AP) have been controversial. To test the importance of musical training in the development of this skill, we developed a new paradigm for identifying AP that is independent of a subject's musical experience. We confirm the efficacy of the paradigm using classically defined AP and non-AP musicians. We then present data from a nonmusician who nevertheless appears to possess AP. We conclude that musical training is not necessary for the development of AP.

Ultra-wideband tunable resonator based on varactor-loaded complementary split-ring resonators on a substrate-integrated waveguide for microwave sensor applications.

PubMed

Sam, Somarith; Lim, Sungjoon

2013-04-01

This paper presents the modeling, design, fabrication, and measurement of an ultra-wideband tunable twoport resonator in which the substrate-integrated waveguide, complementary split-ring resonators (CSRRs), and varactors are embedded on the same planar platform. The tuning of the passband frequency is generated by a simple single dc voltage of 0 to 36 V, which is applied to each varactor on the CSRRs. Different capacitance values and resonant frequencies are produced while a nearly constant absolute bandwidth is maintained. The resonant frequency is varied between 0.83 and 1.58 GHz and has a wide tuning ratio of 90%.

Absolute frequency atlas from 915 nm to 985 nm based on laser absorption spectroscopy of iodine

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Nölleke, Christian; Raab, Christoph; Neuhaus, Rudolf; Falke, Stephan

2018-04-01

This article reports on laser absorption spectroscopy of iodine gas between 915 nm and 985 nm. This wavelength range is scanned utilizing a narrow linewidth and mode-hop-free tunable diode-laser whose frequency is actively controlled using a calibrated wavelength meter. This allows us to provide an iodine atlas that contains almost 10,000 experimentally observed reference lines with an uncertainty of 50 MHz. For common lines, good agreement is found with a publication by Gerstenkorn and Luc (1978). The new rich dataset allows existing models of the iodine molecule to be refined and can serve as a reference for laser frequency calibration and stabilization.

First pure frequency measurement of an optical transition in helium: Lamb shift on the 23S1 metastable level

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pavone, F. S.; Marin, F.; de Natale, P.; Inguscio, M.; Biraben, F.

1994-07-01

The 23S1-33P40He transition at λ0=389 nm is measured with respect to a previously frequency calibrated 87Rb two-photon transition at 2λ0=778 nm. The 4He absolute frequency is 770 732 839 058 (190) kHz, with an accuracy of 2.4 parts in 1010. A Lamb shift value of +4057.61 (79) MHz, with 600 kHz uncertainty arising from the theoretical position of the 33P0 energy level, is extracted for the 23S1 level. This value is more than 2 orders of magnitude more accurate than the current best theoretical predictions.

Sequence dependence of electron-induced DNA strand breakage revealed by DNA nanoarrays

PubMed Central

Keller, Adrian; Rackwitz, Jenny; Cauët, Emilie; Liévin, Jacques; Körzdörfer, Thomas; Rotaru, Alexandru; Gothelf, Kurt V.; Besenbacher, Flemming; Bald, Ilko

2014-01-01

The electronic structure of DNA is determined by its nucleotide sequence, which is for instance exploited in molecular electronics. Here we demonstrate that also the DNA strand breakage induced by low-energy electrons (18 eV) depends on the nucleotide sequence. To determine the absolute cross sections for electron induced single strand breaks in specific 13 mer oligonucleotides we used atomic force microscopy analysis of DNA origami based DNA nanoarrays. We investigated the DNA sequences 5′-TT(XYX)3TT with X = A, G, C and Y = T, BrU 5-bromouracil and found absolute strand break cross sections between 2.66 · 10−14 cm2 and 7.06 · 10−14 cm2. The highest cross section was found for 5′-TT(ATA)3TT and 5′-TT(ABrUA)3TT, respectively. BrU is a radiosensitizer, which was discussed to be used in cancer radiation therapy. The replacement of T by BrU into the investigated DNA sequences leads to a slight increase of the absolute strand break cross sections resulting in sequence-dependent enhancement factors between 1.14 and 1.66. Nevertheless, the variation of strand break cross sections due to the specific nucleotide sequence is considerably higher. Thus, the present results suggest the development of targeted radiosensitizers for cancer radiation therapy. PMID:25487346

Epistemic Uncertainty and Limitations of the Kappa0 model for Near-surface Attenuation at Hard Rock Sites

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Edwards, Benjamin

2016-04-01

The determination of near-surface attenuation for hard rock sites is an important issue in a wide range of seismological applications, particularly seismic hazard analysis. In this article we choose six hard to very-hard rock sites (Vs30 1030 to 3000 m/s) and apply a range of analysis methods to measure the observed attenuation at distance based on a simple exponential decay model with whole-path attenuation operator κ. The κ values are subsequently decoupled from path attenuation (Q) so as to obtain estimates of near-surface attenuation (κ0). Five methods are employed to measure κ which can be split into two groups: broadband methods and high-frequency methods. Each of the applied methods has advantages and disadvantages, which are explored and discussed through the comparison of results from common datasets. In our first step we examine the variability of the individual measured κ values. Some variation between methods is expected due to simplifications of source, path, and site effects. However, we find that significant differences arise between attenuation measured on individual recordings, depending on the method employed or the modelling decisions made during a particular approach. Some of the differences can be explained through site amplification effects: although usually weak at rock sites, amplification may still lead to bias of the measured κ due to the chosen fitting frequency bandwidth, which often varies between methods. At some sites the observed high-frequency spectral shape was clearly different to the typical κ attenuation model, with curved or bi-linear rather than linear decay at high frequencies. In addition to amplification effects this could be related to frequency-dependent attenuation effects (e.g., Q(f)): since the κ model is implicitly frequency independent, κ will in this case be dependent on the selected analysis bandwidth. In our second step, using the whole-path κ datasets from the five approaches, we investigate the robustness of the near-surface attenuation parameter κ0 and the influence of constraints, such as assuming a value for the regional crustal attenuation (Q). We do this by using a variety of fitting methods: least-squares, absolute amplitude, and regressions with and without fixing Q to an a priori value. We find that the value to which we fix Q strongly influences the near-surface attenuation term κ0. Differences in Q derived from the data at the six sites under investigation could not be reconciled with the average values found previously over the wider Swiss region. This led to starkly different κ0 values, depending on whether we allowed for a data-driven Q, or whether we forced Q to be consistent with existing simulation models or GMPEs valid for the wider region. Considering all the possible approaches we found that the contribution to epistemic uncertainty for κ0 determination at the six hard-rock sites in Switzerland could be represented by a normal distribution with standard deviation σκ0=0.0083±0.0014 s.

Methods, computer readable media, and graphical user interfaces for analysis of frequency selective surfaces

DOEpatents

Kotter, Dale K [Shelley, ID; Rohrbaugh, David T [Idaho Falls, ID

2010-09-07

A frequency selective surface (FSS) and associated methods for modeling, analyzing and designing the FSS are disclosed. The FSS includes a pattern of conductive material formed on a substrate to form an array of resonance elements. At least one aspect of the frequency selective surface is determined by defining a frequency range including multiple frequency values, determining a frequency dependent permittivity across the frequency range for the substrate, determining a frequency dependent conductivity across the frequency range for the conductive material, and analyzing the frequency selective surface using a method of moments analysis at each of the multiple frequency values for an incident electromagnetic energy impinging on the frequency selective surface. The frequency dependent permittivity and the frequency dependent conductivity are included in the method of moments analysis.

Application of Individualized Speed Thresholds to Interpret Position Specific Running Demands in Elite Professional Rugby Union: A GPS Study

PubMed Central

Reardon, Cillian; Tobin, Daniel P.; Delahunt, Eamonn

2015-01-01

A number of studies have used GPS technology to categorise rugby union locomotive demands. However, the utility of the results of these studies is confounded by small sample sizes, sub-elite player status and the global application of absolute speed thresholds to all player positions. Furthermore, many of these studies have used GPS units with low sampling frequencies. The aim of the present study was to compare and contrast the high speed running (HSR) demands of professional rugby union when utilizing micro-technology units sampling at 10 Hz and applying relative or individualised speed zones. The results of this study indicate that application of individualised speed zones results in a significant shift in the interpretation of the HSR demands of both forwards and backs and positional sub-categories therein. When considering the use of an absolute in comparison to an individualised HSR threshold, there was a significant underestimation for forwards of HSR distance (HSRD) (absolute = 269 ± 172.02, individualised = 354.72 ± 99.22, p < 0.001), HSR% (absolute = 5.15 ± 3.18, individualised = 7.06 ± 2.48, p < 0.001) and HSR efforts (HSRE) (absolute = 18.81 ± 12.25; individualised = 24.78 ± 8.30, p < 0.001). In contrast, there was a significant overestimation of the same HSR metrics for backs with the use of an absolute threshold (HSRD absolute = 697.79 ± 198.11, individualised = 570.02 ± 171.14, p < 0.001; HSR% absolute = 10.85 ± 2.82, individualised = 8.95 ± 2.76, p < 0.001; HSRE absolute = 41.55 ± 11.25; individualised = 34.54 ± 9.24, p < 0.001). This under- or overestimation associated with an absolute speed zone applies to varying degrees across the ten positional sub-categories analyzed and also to individuals within the same positional sub-category. The results of the present study indicated that although use of an individulised HSR threshold improves the interpretation of the HSR demands on a positional basis, inter-individual variability in maximum velocity within positional sub-categories means that players need to be considered on an individual basis to accurately gauge the HSR demands of rugby union. PMID:26208315

Assessing the high frequency behavior of non-polarizable electrodes for spectral induced polarization measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Abdulsamad, Feras; Florsch, Nicolas; Schmutz, Myriam; Camerlynck, Christian

2016-12-01

During the last decades, the usage of spectral induced polarization (SIP) measurements in hydrogeology and detecting environmental problems has been extensively increased. However, the physical mechanisms which are responsible for the induced polarization response over the usual frequency range (typically 1 mHz to 10-20 kHz) require better understanding. The phase shift observed at high frequencies is sometimes attributed to the so-called Maxwell-Wagner polarization which takes place when charges cross an interface. However, SIP measurements of tap water show a phase shift at frequencies higher than 1 kHz, where no Maxwell-Wagner polarization may occur. In this paper, we enlighten the possible origin of this phase shift and deduce its likely relationship with the types of the measuring electrodes. SIP Laboratory measurements of tap water using different types of measuring electrodes (polarizable and non-polarizable electrodes) are carried out to detect the origin of the phase shift at high frequencies and the influence of the measuring electrodes types on the observed complex resistivity. Sodium chloride is used to change the conductivity of the medium in order to quantify the solution conductivity role. The results of these measurements are clearly showing the impact of the measuring electrodes type on the measured phase spectrum while the influence on the amplitude spectrum is negligible. The phenomenon appearing on the phase spectrum at high frequency (> 1 kHz) whatever the electrode type is, the phase shows an increase compared to the theoretical response, and the discrepancy (at least in absolute value) increases with frequency, but it is less severe when medium conductivity is larger. Additionally, the frequency corner is shifted upward in frequency. The dependence of this phenomenon on the conductivity and the measuring electrodes type (electrode-electrolyte interface) seems to be due to some dielectric effects (as an electrical double layer of small relaxation time formed at the electrodes interface). Therefore, this dielectric response should be taken into account at high frequency to better analytically separate the medium own response from that linked to the measuring electrodes used. We modeled this effect by adding a capacitance connected in parallel with the traditional equivalent electric circuit used to describe the dielectric response of medium.

Recent Experiments Leading to the Characterization of the Performance of Portable (He-Ne)/CH4 Lasers: Part II: Results of the 1986 LPTF Absolute Frequency Measurements

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Clairon, A.; Dahmani, B.; Acef, O.; Granveaud, M.; Domnin, Yu S.; Pouchkine, S. B.; Tatarenkov, V. M.; Felder, R.

1988-01-01

Comparison of the VNIIFTRI and LPTF frequency multiplication chains has been carried out through the measurement of the frequency of a portable VNIIFTRI (He-Ne)/CH4 laser. Agreement is within 100 Hz (1.1 parts in 1012) and is secured by the very good medium-term frequency repeatability of the (He-Ne)/CH4 VNIIFTRI portable laser (a few parts in 1013). On the same occasion a measurement of the frequency of the BIPM (He-Ne)/CH4 reference laser (B.3) has been performed at LPTF. Other experiments carried out on the BIPM laser show that the reproducibility of the (He-Ne)/CH4 system could be improved by a systematic study and then by a better control of the various perturbing factors which influence the shape of the methane-saturated absorption peak.

Acoustic reflection log in transversely isotropic formations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ronquillo Jarillo, G.; Markova, I.; Markov, M.

2018-01-01

We have calculated the waveforms of sonic reflection logging for a fluid-filled borehole located in a transversely isotropic rock. Calculations have been performed for an acoustic impulse source with the characteristic frequency of tens of kilohertz that is considerably less than the frequencies of acoustic borehole imaging tools. It is assumed that the borehole axis coincides with the axis of symmetry of the transversely isotropic rock. It was shown that the reflected wave was excited most efficiently at resonant frequencies. These frequencies are close to the frequencies of oscillations of a fluid column located in an absolutely rigid hollow cylinder. We have shown that the acoustic reverberation is controlled by the acoustic impedance of the rock Z = Vphρs for fixed parameters of the borehole fluid, where Vph is the velocity of horizontally propagating P-wave; ρs is the rock density. The methods of waveform processing to determine the parameters characterizing the reflected wave have been discussed.

[Influence of human personal features on acoustic correlates of speech emotional intonation characteristics].

PubMed

Dmitrieva, E S; Gel'man, V Ia; Zaĭtseva, K A; Orlov, A M

2009-01-01

Comparative study of acoustic correlates of emotional intonation was conducted on two types of speech material: sensible speech utterances and short meaningless words. The corpus of speech signals of different emotional intonations (happy, angry, frightened, sad and neutral) was created using the actor's method of simulation of emotions. Native Russian 20-70-year-old speakers (both professional actors and non-actors) participated in the study. In the corpus, the following characteristics were analyzed: mean values and standard deviations of the power, fundamental frequency, frequencies of the first and second formants, and utterance duration. Comparison of each emotional intonation with "neutral" utterances showed the greatest deviations of the fundamental frequency and frequencies of the first formant. The direction of these deviations was independent of the semantic content of speech utterance and its duration, age, gender, and being actor or non-actor, though the personal features of the speakers affected the absolute values of these frequencies.

Performance of a laser frequency comb calibration system with a high-resolution solar echelle spectrograph

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Doerr, H.-P.; Kentischer, T. J.; Steinmetz, T.; Probst, R. A.; Franz, M.; Holzwarth, R.; Udem, Th.; Hänsch, T. W.; Schmidt, W.

2012-09-01

Laser frequency combs (LFC) provide a direct link between the radio frequency (RF) and the optical frequency regime. The comb-like spectrum of an LFC is formed by exact equidistant laser modes, whose absolute optical frequencies are controlled by RF-references such as atomic clocks or GPS receivers. While nowadays LFCs are routinely used in metrological and spectroscopic fields, their application in astronomy was delayed until recently when systems became available with a mode spacing and wavelength coverage suitable for calibration of astronomical spectrographs. We developed a LFC based calibration system for the high-resolution echelle spectrograph at the German Vacuum Tower Telescope (VTT), located at the Teide observatory, Tenerife, Canary Islands. To characterize the calibration performance of the instrument, we use an all-fiber setup where sunlight and calibration light are fed to the spectrograph by the same single-mode fiber, eliminating systematic effects related to variable grating illumination.

United time-frequency spectroscopy for dynamics and global structure.

PubMed

Marian, Adela; Stowe, Matthew C; Lawall, John R; Felinto, Daniel; Ye, Jun

2004-12-17

Ultrashort laser pulses have thus far been used in two distinct modes. In the time domain, the pulses have allowed probing and manipulation of dynamics on a subpicosecond time scale. More recently, phase stabilization has produced optical frequency combs with absolute frequency reference across a broad bandwidth. Here we combine these two applications in a spectroscopic study of rubidium atoms. A wide-bandwidth, phase-stabilized femtosecond laser is used to monitor the real-time dynamic evolution of population transfer. Coherent pulse accumulation and quantum interference effects are observed and well modeled by theory. At the same time, the narrow linewidth of individual comb lines permits a precise and efficient determination of the global energy-level structure, providing a direct connection among the optical, terahertz, and radio-frequency domains. The mechanical action of the optical frequency comb on the atomic sample is explored and controlled, leading to precision spectroscopy with an appreciable reduction in systematic errors.

Resection plane-dependent error in computed tomography volumetry of the right hepatic lobe in living liver donors.

PubMed

Kwon, Heon-Ju; Kim, Kyoung Won; Kim, Bohyun; Kim, So Yeon; Lee, Chul Seung; Lee, Jeongjin; Song, Gi Won; Lee, Sung Gyu

2018-03-01

Computed tomography (CT) hepatic volumetry is currently accepted as the most reliable method for preoperative estimation of graft weight in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, several factors can cause inaccuracies in CT volumetry compared to real graft weight. The purpose of this study was to determine the frequency and degree of resection plane-dependent error in CT volumetry of the right hepatic lobe in LDLT. Forty-six living liver donors underwent CT before donor surgery and on postoperative day 7. Prospective CT volumetry (V P ) was measured via the assumptive hepatectomy plane. Retrospective liver volume (V R ) was measured using the actual plane by comparing preoperative and postoperative CT. Compared with intraoperatively measured weight (W), errors in percentage (%) V P and V R were evaluated. Plane-dependent error in V P was defined as the absolute difference between V P and V R . % plane-dependent error was defined as follows: |V P -V R |/W∙100. Mean V P , V R , and W were 761.9 mL, 755.0 mL, and 696.9 g. Mean and % errors in V P were 73.3 mL and 10.7%. Mean error and % error in V R were 64.4 mL and 9.3%. Mean plane-dependent error in V P was 32.4 mL. Mean % plane-dependent error was 4.7%. Plane-dependent error in V P exceeded 10% of W in approximately 10% of the subjects in our study. There was approximately 5% plane-dependent error in liver V P on CT volumetry. Plane-dependent error in V P exceeded 10% of W in approximately 10% of LDLT donors in our study. This error should be considered, especially when CT volumetry is performed by a less experienced operator who is not well acquainted with the donor hepatectomy plane.

A comparison of Solar Mesosphere Explorer and Stratosphere Aerosol and Gas Experiment II ozone densities near the stratopause

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Rusch, D. W.; Clancy, R. T.; Mccormick, M. P.; Zawodny, J. M.

1990-01-01

Ozone measurements made by the SME UV Spectrometer and the Stratosphere Aerosol and Gas Experiment II (SAGE II) spectometer are compared at 1.0 mbar for the time period from October 1984 to December 1986, using a model of the diurnal variation of ozone to correct for the difference in local times of the two measurements. The absolute values of the ozone mixing ratio measured by the two spectrometers were found to agree to better than 5 percent, with no significant divergence between the instruments. It is concluded that, since the SAGE II data are not dependent on the absolute calibration of the instrument, these data can be used as time-dependent 'ground truth' measurements for comparisons with other instruments.

Transfer of absolute and relative predictiveness in human contingency learning.

PubMed

Kattner, Florian

2015-03-01

Previous animal-learning studies have shown that the effect of the predictive history of a cue on its associability depends on whether priority was set to the absolute or relative predictiveness of that cue. The present study tested this assumption in a human contingency-learning task. In both experiments, one group of participants was trained with predictive and nonpredictive cues that were presented according to an absolute-predictiveness principle (either continuously or partially reinforced cue configurations), whereas a second group was trained with co-occurring cues that differed in predictiveness (emphasizing the relative predictive validity of the cues). In both groups, later test discriminations were learned more readily if the discriminative cues had been predictive in the previous learning stage than if they had been nonpredictive. These results imply that both the absolute and relative predictiveness of a cue lead positive transfer with regard to its associability. The data are discussed with respect to attentional models of associative learning.

VUV photoionization cross sections of HO2, H2O2, and H2CO.

PubMed

Dodson, Leah G; Shen, Linhan; Savee, John D; Eddingsaas, Nathan C; Welz, Oliver; Taatjes, Craig A; Osborn, David L; Sander, Stanley P; Okumura, Mitchio

2015-02-26

The absolute vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) photoionization spectra of the hydroperoxyl radical (HO2), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and formaldehyde (H2CO) have been measured from their first ionization thresholds to 12.008 eV. HO2, H2O2, and H2CO were generated from the oxidation of methanol initiated by pulsed-laser-photolysis of Cl2 in a low-pressure slow flow reactor. Reactants, intermediates, and products were detected by time-resolved multiplexed synchrotron photoionization mass spectrometry. Absolute concentrations were obtained from the time-dependent photoion signals by modeling the kinetics of the methanol oxidation chemistry. Photoionization cross sections were determined at several photon energies relative to the cross section of methanol, which was in turn determined relative to that of propene. These measurements were used to place relative photoionization spectra of HO2, H2O2, and H2CO on an absolute scale, resulting in absolute photoionization spectra.

How regularity representations of short sound patterns that are based on relative or absolute pitch information establish over time: An EEG study.

PubMed

Bader, Maria; Schröger, Erich; Grimm, Sabine

2017-01-01

The recognition of sound patterns in speech or music (e.g., a melody that is played in different keys) requires knowledge about pitch relations between successive sounds. We investigated the formation of regularity representations for sound patterns in an event-related potential (ERP) study. A pattern, which consisted of six concatenated 50 ms tone segments differing in fundamental frequency, was presented 1, 2, 3, 6, or 12 times and then replaced by another pattern by randomly changing the pitch of the tonal segments (roving standard paradigm). In an absolute repetition condition, patterns were repeated identically, whereas in a transposed condition, only the pitch relations of the tonal segments of the patterns were repeated, while the entire patterns were shifted up or down in pitch. During ERP measurement participants were not informed about the pattern repetition rule, but were instructed to discriminate rarely occurring targets of lower or higher sound intensity. EPRs for pattern changes (mismatch negativity, MMN; and P3a) and for pattern repetitions (repetition positivity, RP) revealed that the auditory system is able to rapidly extract regularities from unfamiliar complex sound patterns even when absolute pitch varies. Yet, enhanced RP and P3a amplitudes, and improved behavioral performance measured in a post-hoc test, in the absolute as compared with the transposed condition suggest that it is more difficult to encode patterns without absolute pitch information. This is explained by dissociable processing of standards and deviants as well as a back propagation mechanism to early sensory processing stages, which is effective after less repetitions of a standard stimulus for absolute pitch.

How regularity representations of short sound patterns that are based on relative or absolute pitch information establish over time: An EEG study

PubMed Central

Schröger, Erich; Grimm, Sabine

2017-01-01

The recognition of sound patterns in speech or music (e.g., a melody that is played in different keys) requires knowledge about pitch relations between successive sounds. We investigated the formation of regularity representations for sound patterns in an event-related potential (ERP) study. A pattern, which consisted of six concatenated 50 ms tone segments differing in fundamental frequency, was presented 1, 2, 3, 6, or 12 times and then replaced by another pattern by randomly changing the pitch of the tonal segments (roving standard paradigm). In an absolute repetition condition, patterns were repeated identically, whereas in a transposed condition, only the pitch relations of the tonal segments of the patterns were repeated, while the entire patterns were shifted up or down in pitch. During ERP measurement participants were not informed about the pattern repetition rule, but were instructed to discriminate rarely occurring targets of lower or higher sound intensity. EPRs for pattern changes (mismatch negativity, MMN; and P3a) and for pattern repetitions (repetition positivity, RP) revealed that the auditory system is able to rapidly extract regularities from unfamiliar complex sound patterns even when absolute pitch varies. Yet, enhanced RP and P3a amplitudes, and improved behavioral performance measured in a post-hoc test, in the absolute as compared with the transposed condition suggest that it is more difficult to encode patterns without absolute pitch information. This is explained by dissociable processing of standards and deviants as well as a back propagation mechanism to early sensory processing stages, which is effective after less repetitions of a standard stimulus for absolute pitch. PMID:28472146

On the analysis of EEG power, frequency and asymmetry in Parkinson's disease during emotion processing.

PubMed

Yuvaraj, Rajamanickam; Murugappan, Murugappan; Mohamed Ibrahim, Norlinah; Iqbal, Mohd; Sundaraj, Kenneth; Mohamad, Khairiyah; Palaniappan, Ramaswamy; Mesquita, Edgar; Satiyan, Marimuthu

2014-04-09

While Parkinson's disease (PD) has traditionally been described as a movement disorder, there is growing evidence of disruption in emotion information processing associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are specific electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics that discriminate PD patients and normal controls during emotion information processing. EEG recordings from 14 scalp sites were collected from 20 PD patients and 30 age-matched normal controls. Multimodal (audio-visual) stimuli were presented to evoke specific targeted emotional states such as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. Absolute and relative power, frequency and asymmetry measures derived from spectrally analyzed EEGs were subjected to repeated ANOVA measures for group comparisons as well as to discriminate function analysis to examine their utility as classification indices. In addition, subjective ratings were obtained for the used emotional stimuli. Behaviorally, PD patients showed no impairments in emotion recognition as measured by subjective ratings. Compared with normal controls, PD patients evidenced smaller overall relative delta, theta, alpha and beta power, and at bilateral anterior regions smaller absolute theta, alpha, and beta power and higher mean total spectrum frequency across different emotional states. Inter-hemispheric theta, alpha, and beta power asymmetry index differences were noted, with controls exhibiting greater right than left hemisphere activation. Whereas intra-hemispheric alpha power asymmetry reduction was exhibited in patients bilaterally at all regions. Discriminant analysis correctly classified 95.0% of the patients and controls during emotional stimuli. These distributed spectral powers in different frequency bands might provide meaningful information about emotional processing in PD patients.

Sustained attention and heart rate variability in children and adolescents with ADHD.

PubMed

Griffiths, Kristi R; Quintana, Daniel S; Hermens, Daniel F; Spooner, Chris; Tsang, Tracey W; Clarke, Simon; Kohn, Michael R

2017-03-01

The autonomic nervous system (ANS) plays an important role in attention and self-regulation by modulating physiological arousal to meet environmental demands. Core symptoms of ADHD such as inattention and behavioral disinhibition may be related to dysregulation of the ANS, however previous findings have been equivocal. We examined autonomic activity and reactivity by assessing heart rate variability (HRV) in a large sample of un-medicated children and adolescents (6-19 years) with ADHD (n=229) compared to typically-developing controls (n=244) during rest and sustained attention. Four heart rate variability measures were extracted: Root mean square of successive differences between inter-beat-intervals (rMSSD), absolute high frequency (HFA) power, absolute low frequency (LFA) power and ratio of low frequency power to high frequency power (LF/HF). There were no group differences in HFA or rMSSD, even when assessing across child and adolescent groups separately, by gender or ADHD subtype. LF/HF however was higher in ADHD during both rest and sustained attention conditions, particularly in male children. Sustained attention was impaired in ADHD relative to controls, and a higher LF/HF ratio during sustained attention was associated with poorer performance in both groups. Lower rMSSD and HFA were associated with higher anxiety, oppositional behaviors and social problems, supporting prevailing theories that these measures index emotion regulation and adaptive social behavior. Different measures of heart rate variability provide important insights into the sustained attention and emotional and behavioral regulation impairments observed in ADHD and may aid in delineating ADHD pathophysiology. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Korean, Japanese, and Chinese populations featured similar genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters: a DMET Plus microarray assessment.

PubMed

Yi, SoJeong; An, Hyungmi; Lee, Howard; Lee, Sangin; Ieiri, Ichiro; Lee, Youngjo; Cho, Joo-Youn; Hirota, Takeshi; Fukae, Masato; Yoshida, Kenji; Nagatsuka, Shinichiro; Kimura, Miyuki; Irie, Shin; Sugiyama, Yuichi; Shin, Dong Wan; Lim, Kyoung Soo; Chung, Jae-Yong; Yu, Kyung-Sang; Jang, In-Jin

2014-10-01

Interethnic differences in genetic polymorphism in genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters are one of the major factors that cause ethnic differences in drug response. This study aimed to investigate genetic polymorphisms in genes involved in drug metabolism, transport, and excretion among Korean, Japanese, and Chinese populations, the three major East Asian ethnic groups. The frequencies of 1936 variants representing 225 genes encoding drug-metabolizing enzymes and transporters were determined from 786 healthy participants (448 Korean, 208 Japanese, and 130 Chinese) using the Affymetrix Drug-Metabolizing Enzymes and Transporters Plus microarray. To compare allele or genotype frequencies in the high-dimensional data among the three East Asian ethnic groups, multiple testing, principal component analysis (PCA), and regularized multinomial logit model through least absolute shrinkage and selection operator were used. On microarray analysis, 1071 of 1936 variants (>50% of markers) were found to be monomorphic. In a large number of genetic variants, the fixation index and Pearson's correlation coefficient of minor allele frequencies were less than 0.034 and greater than 0.95, respectively, among the three ethnic groups. PCA identified 47 genetic variants with multiple testing, but was unable to discriminate ethnic groups by the first three components. Multinomial least absolute shrinkage and selection operator analysis identified 269 genetic variants that showed different frequencies among the three ethnic groups. However, none of those variants distinguished between the three ethnic groups during subsequent PCA. Korean, Japanese, and Chinese populations are not pharmacogenetically distant from one another, at least with regard to drug disposition, metabolism, and elimination.

Study of Transition Mechanism in a Wake Behind an Airfoil with a Small Angle of Attack by Using a Towing Wind Tunnel

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Morita, Toshiyuki; Maekawa, Hiroshi

This paper describes an experimental investigation of the transitional mechanism of a wake generated behind a thin airfoil with a small angle of attack in a towing wind tunnel. A linear stability analysis shows that the wake is characterized by a region of absolute instability in the near wake (x=30mm) and one of convective instability further downstream. When the airfoil starts to run in the tunnel, boundary layers develop on the upper/lower airfoil surfaces with different thickness. Since the asymmetric wake is generated, starting vortices of a single row are observed first in the wake, which is different from the Karman vortex street. The experimental results show that time-harmonic fluctuations of the starting vortex sustain in the natural transition process due to a self sustained resonance in the absolutely unstable region behind the trailing edge. The wake profile in the saturation steady state yields the vortex street structure, where the fluctuation frequency defined as the fundamental unstable mode is found in the final saturation steady state. The growth of the fundamental unstable mode in the convectively unstable region suppresses the high frequency fluctuations associated with the starting vortex generation. On the other hand, low-frequency fluctuations in the quasi-steady state sustaining in the saturation state grow gradually during the vortex street formation, which lead to the vortex deformation downstream.

Support vector machine and fuzzy C-mean clustering-based comparative evaluation of changes in motor cortex electroencephalogram under chronic alcoholism.

PubMed

Kumar, Surendra; Ghosh, Subhojit; Tetarway, Suhash; Sinha, Rakesh Kumar

2015-07-01

In this study, the magnitude and spatial distribution of frequency spectrum in the resting electroencephalogram (EEG) were examined to address the problem of detecting alcoholism in the cerebral motor cortex. The EEG signals were recorded from chronic alcoholic conditions (n = 20) and the control group (n = 20). Data were taken from motor cortex region and divided into five sub-bands (delta, theta, alpha, beta-1 and beta-2). Three methodologies were adopted for feature extraction: (1) absolute power, (2) relative power and (3) peak power frequency. The dimension of the extracted features is reduced by linear discrimination analysis and classified by support vector machine (SVM) and fuzzy C-mean clustering. The maximum classification accuracy (88 %) with SVM clustering was achieved with the EEG spectral features with absolute power frequency on F4 channel. Among the bands, relatively higher classification accuracy was found over theta band and beta-2 band in most of the channels when computed with the EEG features of relative power. Electrodes wise CZ, C3 and P4 were having more alteration. Considering the good classification accuracy obtained by SVM with relative band power features in most of the EEG channels of motor cortex, it can be suggested that the noninvasive automated online diagnostic system for the chronic alcoholic condition can be developed with the help of EEG signals.

Analyzing the Impact of Different Pcv Calibration Models on Height Determination Using Gps/Glonass Observations from Asg-Eupos Network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dawidowicz, Karol

2014-12-01

The integration of GPS with GLONASS is very important in satellite-based positioning because it can clearly improve reliability and availability. However, unlike GPS, GLONASS satellites transmit signals at different frequencies. This results in significant difficulties in modeling and ambiguity resolution for integrated GNSS positioning. There are also some difficulties related to the antenna Phase Center Variations (PCV) problem because, as is well known, the PCV is dependent on the received signal frequency dependent. Thus, processing simultaneous observations from different positioning systems, e.g. GPS and GLONASS, we can expect complications resulting from the different structure of signals and differences in satellite constellations. The ASG-EUPOS multifunctional system for precise satellite positioning is a part of the EUPOS project involving countries of Central and Eastern Europe. The number of its users is increasing rapidly. Currently 31 of 101 reference stations are equipped with GPS/GLONASS receivers and the number is still increasing. The aim of this paper is to study the height solution differences caused by using different PCV calibration models in integrated GPS/GLONASS observation processing. Studies were conducted based on the datasets from the ASG-EUPOS network. Since the study was intended to evaluate the impact on height determination from the users' point of view, a so-called "commercial" software was chosen for post-processing. The analysis was done in a baseline mode: 3 days of GNSS data collected with three different receivers and antennas were used. For the purposes of research the daily observations were divided into different sessions with a session length of one hour. The results show that switching between relative and absolute PCV models may cause an obvious effect on height determination. This issue is particularly important when mixed GPS/GLONASS observations are post-processed.

In situ measurement of gas composition changes in radio frequency plasmas using a quartz sensor

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Suzuki, Atsushi; Nonaka, Hidehiko

2009-09-15

A simple method using a quartz sensor (Q-sensor) was developed to observe gas composition changes in radio frequency (rf) plasmas. The output depends on the gases' absolute pressure, molecular weight, and viscosity. The pressure-normalized quartz sensor output depends only on the molecular weight and viscosity of the gas. Consequently, gas composition changes can be detected in the plasmas if a sensor can be used in the plasmas. Influences imparted by the plasmas on the sensor, such as those by reactive particles (e.g., radicals and ions), excited species, electrons, temperature, and electric potentials during measurements were investigated to test the applicabilitymore » of this quartz sensor measurement to plasma. The Q-sensor measurement results for rf plasmas with argon, hydrogen, and their mixtures are reproducible, demonstrating that the Q-sensor measurement is applicable for plasmas. In this work, pressure- and temperature-normalized Q-sensor output (NQO) were used to obtain the gas composition information of plasma. Temperature-normalization of the Q-sensor output enabled quartz sensor measurements near plasma electrodes, where the quartz sensor temperature increases. The changes in NQO agreed with results obtained by gas analysis using a quadrupole mass spectrometer. Results confirmed that the change in NQO is mainly attributable to changes in the densities and kinds of gas molecules in the plasma gas phase, not by other extrinsic influences of plasma. For argon, hydrogen, and argon-hydrogen plasmas, these changes correspond to reduction in nitrogen, production of carbon monoxide, and dissociation of hydrogen molecules, respectively. These changes in NQO qualitatively and somewhat quantitatively agreed with results obtained using gas analysis, indicting that the measurement has a potential application to obtain the gas composition in plasmas without disturbing industrial plasma processes.« less

Relationship between delta power and the electrocardiogram-derived cardiopulmonary spectrogram: possible implications for assessing the effectiveness of sleep.

PubMed

Thomas, Robert Joseph; Mietus, Joseph E; Peng, Chung-Kang; Guo, Dan; Gozal, David; Montgomery-Downs, Hawley; Gottlieb, Daniel J; Wang, Cheng-Yen; Goldberger, Ary L

2014-01-01

The physiologic relationship between slow-wave activity (SWA) (0-4 Hz) on the electroencephalogram (EEG) and high-frequency (0.1-0.4 Hz) cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) derived from electrocardiogram (ECG) sleep spectrograms is not known. Because high-frequency CPC appears to be a biomarker of stable sleep, we tested the hypothesis that that slow-wave EEG power would show a relatively fixed-time relationship to periods of high-frequency CPC. Furthermore, we speculated that this correlation would be independent of conventional nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep stages. We analyzed selected datasets from an archived polysomnography (PSG) database, the Sleep Heart Health Study I (SHHS-I). We employed the cross-correlation technique to measure the degree of which 2 signals are correlated as a function of a time lag between them. Correlation analyses between high-frequency CPC and delta power (computed both as absolute and normalized values) from 3150 subjects with an apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) of ≤5 events per hour of sleep were performed. The overall correlation (r) between delta power and high-frequency coupling (HFC) power was 0.40±0.18 (P=.001). Normalized delta power provided improved correlation relative to absolute delta power. Correlations were somewhat reduced in the second half relative to the first half of the night (r=0.45±0.20 vs r=0.34±0.23). Correlations were only affected by age in the eighth decade. There were no sex differences and only small racial or ethnic differences were noted. These results support a tight temporal relationship between slow wave power, both within and outside conventional slow wave sleep periods, and high frequency cardiopulmonary coupling, an ECG-derived biomarker of "stable" sleep. These findings raise mechanistic questions regarding the cross-system integration of neural and cardiopulmonary control during sleep. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

New Wavenumber Calibration Tables From Heterodyne Frequency Measurements

PubMed Central

Maki, Arthur G.; Wells, Joseph S.

1992-01-01

This new calibration atlas is based on frequency rather than wavelength calibration techniques for absolute references. Since a limited number of absolute frequency measurements is possible, additional data from alternate methodology are used for difference frequency measurements within each band investigated by the frequency measurements techniques. Data from these complementary techniques include the best Fourier transform measurements available. Included in the text relating to the atlas are a description of the heterodyne frequency measurement techniques and details of the analysis, including the Hamiltonians and least-squares-fitting and calculation. Also included are other relevant considerations such as intensities and lincshape parameters. A 390-entry bibliography which contains all data sources used and a subsequent section on errors conclude the text portion. The primary calibration molecules are the linear triatomics, carbonyl sulfide and nitrous oxide, which cover portions of the infrared spectrum ranging from 488 to 3120 cm−1. Some gaps in the coverage afforded by OCS and N2O are partially covered by NO, CO, and CS2. An additional region from 4000 to 4400 cm−1 is also included. The tabular portion of the atlas is too lengthy to include in an archival journal. Furthermore, different users have different requirements for such an atlas. In an effort to satisfy most users, we have made two different options available. The first is NIST Special Publication 821, which has a spectral map/facing table format. The spectral maps (as well as the facing tables) are calculated from molecular constants derived for the work. A complete list of all of the molecular transitions that went into making the maps is too long (perhaps by a factor of 4 or 5) to include in the facing tables. The second option for those not interested in maps (or perhaps to supplement Special Publication 821) is the complete list (tables-only) which is available in computerized format as NIST Standard Reference Database #39, Wavelength Calibration Tables. PMID:28053441

A study of frequency band structure in two-dimensional homogeneous anisotropic phononic K3-metamaterials

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gorshkov, V. N.; Navadeh, N.; Fallah, A. S.

2017-09-01

Phononic metamaterials are synthesised materials in which locally resonant units are arranged in a particular geometry of a substratum lattice and connected in a predefined topology. This study investigates dispersion surfaces in two-dimensional anisotropic acoustic metamaterials involving mass-in-mass units connected by massless springs in K3 topology. The reasons behind the particular choice of this topology are explained. Two sets of solutions for the eigenvalue problem | {\\boldsymbol{D}}({ω }2,{\\boldsymbol{k}})| =0 are obtained and the existence of absolutely different mechanisms of gap formation between acoustic and optical surface frequencies is shown as a bright display of quantum effects like strong coupling, energy splitting, and level crossings in classical mechanical systems. It has been concluded that a single dimensionless parameter i.e. relative mass controls the order of formation of gaps between different frequency surfaces. If the internal mass of the locally resonant mass-in-mass unit, m, increases relative to its external mass, M, then the coupling between the internal and external vibrations in the whole system rises sharply, and a threshold {μ }* is reached so that for m/M> {μ }* the optical vibrations break the continuous spectrum of ‘acoustic phonons’ creating the gap between them for any value of other system parameters. The methods to control gap parameters and polarisation properties of the optical vibrations created over these gaps were investigated. Dependencies of morphology and width of gaps for several anisotropic cases have been expounded and the physical meaning of singularity at the point of tangential contact between two adjacent frequency surfaces has been provided. Repulsion between different frequency band curves, as planar projections of surfaces, has been explained. The limiting case of isotropy has been discussed and it has been shown that, in the isotropic case, the lower gap always forms, irrespective of the value of relative mass.

Autoregressive processes with exponentially decaying probability distribution functions: applications to daily variations of a stock market index.

PubMed

Porto, Markus; Roman, H Eduardo

2002-04-01

We consider autoregressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) processes in which the variance sigma(2)(y) depends linearly on the absolute value of the random variable y as sigma(2)(y) = a+b absolute value of y. While for the standard model, where sigma(2)(y) = a + b y(2), the corresponding probability distribution function (PDF) P(y) decays as a power law for absolute value of y-->infinity, in the linear case it decays exponentially as P(y) approximately exp(-alpha absolute value of y), with alpha = 2/b. We extend these results to the more general case sigma(2)(y) = a+b absolute value of y(q), with 0 < q < 2. We find stretched exponential decay for 1 < q < 2 and stretched Gaussian behavior for 0 < q < 1. As an application, we consider the case q=1 as our starting scheme for modeling the PDF of daily (logarithmic) variations in the Dow Jones stock market index. When the history of the ARCH process is taken into account, the resulting PDF becomes a stretched exponential even for q = 1, with a stretched exponent beta = 2/3, in a much better agreement with the empirical data.

Absolute measurements of the triplet-triplet annihilation rate and the charge-carrier recombination layer thickness in working polymer light-emitting diodes based on polyspirobifluorene

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rothe, C.; Al Attar, H. A.; Monkman, A. P.

2005-10-01

The triplet exciton densities in electroluminescent devices prepared from two polyspirobifluorene derivatives have been investigated by means of time-resolved transient triplet absorption as a function of optical and electrical excitation power at 20 K. Because of the low mobility of the triplet excitons at this temperature, the triplet generation profile within the active polymer layer is preserved throughout the triplet lifetime and as a consequence the absolute triplet-triplet annihilation efficiency is not homogeneously distributed but depends on position within the active layer. This then gives a method to measure the charge-carrier recombination layer after electrical excitation relative to the light penetration depth, which is identical to the triplet generation layer after optical excitation. With the latter being obtained from ellipsometry, an absolute value of 5 nm is found for the exciton formation layer in polyspirobifluorene devices. This layer increases to 11 nm if the balance between the electron and the hole mobility is improved by chemically modifying the polymer backbone. Also, and consistent with previous work, triplet diffusion is dispersive at low temperature. As a consequence of this, the triplet-triplet annihilation rate is not a constant in the classical sense but depends on the triplet excitation dose. At 20 K and for typical excitation doses, absolute values of the latter rate are of the order of 10-14cm3s-1 .

Short-term market reaction after trading halts in Chinese stock market

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Xu, Hai-Chuan; Zhang, Wei; Liu, Yi-Fang

2014-05-01

In this paper, we study the dynamics of absolute return, trading volume and bid-ask spread after the trading halts using high-frequency data from the Shanghai Stock Exchange. We deal with all three types of trading halts, namely intraday halts, one-day halts and inter-day halts, of 203 stocks in Shanghai Stock Exchange from August 2009 to 2011. We find that absolute return, trading volume, and in case of bid-ask spread around intraday halts share the same pattern with a sharp peak and a power law relaxation after that. While for different types of trading halts, the peaks’ height and the relaxation exponents are different. From the perspective of halt reasons or halt durations, the relaxation exponents of absolute return after inter-day halts are larger than those after intraday halts and one-day halts, which implies that inter-day halts are most effective. From the perspective of price trends, the relaxation exponents of excess absolute return and excess volume for positive events are larger than those for negative events in case of intraday halts and one-day halts, implying that positive events are more effective than negative events for intraday halts and one-day halts. In contrast, negative events are more effective than positive events for inter-day halts.

Improved absolute calibration of LOPES measurements and its impact on the comparison with REAS 3.11 and CoREAS simulations

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Apel, W. D.; Arteaga-Velázquez, J. C.; Bähren, L.; Bekk, K.; Bertaina, M.; Biermann, P. L.; Blümer, J.; Bozdog, H.; Brancus, I. M.; Cantoni, E.; Chiavassa, A.; Daumiller, K.; de Souza, V.; Di Pierro, F.; Doll, P.; Engel, R.; Falcke, H.; Fuchs, B.; Gemmeke, H.; Grupen, C.; Haungs, A.; Heck, D.; Hiller, R.; Hörandel, J. R.; Horneffer, A.; Huber, D.; Huege, T.; Isar, P. G.; Kampert, K.-H.; Kang, D.; Krömer, O.; Kuijpers, J.; Link, K.; Łuczak, P.; Ludwig, M.; Mathes, H. J.; Melissas, M.; Morello, C.; Nehls, S.; Oehlschläger, J.; Palmieri, N.; Pierog, T.; Rautenberg, J.; Rebel, H.; Roth, M.; Rühle, C.; Saftoiu, A.; Schieler, H.; Schmidt, A.; Schoo, S.; Schröder, F. G.; Sima, O.; Toma, G.; Trinchero, G. C.; Weindl, A.; Wochele, J.; Zabierowski, J.; Zensus, J. A.

2016-02-01

LOPES was a digital antenna array detecting the radio emission of cosmic-ray air showers. The calibration of the absolute amplitude scale of the measurements was done using an external, commercial reference source, which emits a frequency comb with defined amplitudes. Recently, we obtained improved reference values by the manufacturer of the reference source, which significantly changed the absolute calibration of LOPES. We reanalyzed previously published LOPES measurements, studying the impact of the changed calibration. The main effect is an overall decrease of the LOPES amplitude scale by a factor of 2.6 ± 0.2, affecting all previously published values for measurements of the electric-field strength. This results in a major change in the conclusion of the paper 'Comparing LOPES measurements of air-shower radio emission with REAS 3.11 and CoREAS simulations' published by Apel et al. (2013) : With the revised calibration, LOPES measurements now are compatible with CoREAS simulations, but in tension with REAS 3.11 simulations. Since CoREAS is the latest version of the simulation code incorporating the current state of knowledge on the radio emission of air showers, this new result indicates that the absolute amplitude prediction of current simulations now is in agreement with experimental data.

Study of ground state optical transfer for ultracold alkali dimers

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouloufa-Maafa, Nadia; Londono, Beatriz; Borsalino, Dimitri; Vexiau, Romain; Mahecha, Jorge; Dulieu, Olivier; Luc-Koenig, Eliane

2013-05-01

Control of molecular states by laser pulses offer promising potential applications. The manipulation of molecules by external fields requires precise knowledge of the molecular structure. Our motivation is to perform a detailed analysis of the spectroscopic properties of alkali dimers, with the aim to determine efficient optical paths to form molecules in the absolute ground state and to determine the optimal parameters of the optical lattices where those molecules are manipulated to avoid losses by collisions. To this end, we use state of the art molecular potentials, R-dependent spin-orbit coupling and transition dipole moment to perform our calculations. R-dependent SO coupling are of crucial importance because the transitions occur at internuclear distances where they are affected by this R-dependence. Efficient schemes to transfer RbCs, KRb and KCs to the absolute ground state as well as the optimal parameters of the optical lattices will be presented. This work was supported in part by ``Triangle de la Physique'' under contract 2008-007T-QCCM (Quantum Control of Cold Molecules).

Modeling impurity production and transport during ELM transients in a DIII-D lower single null configuration.

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hogan, J.; Fenstermacher, M.; Groth, M.; West, P.; Coster, D.; Thomas, P.

2003-10-01

Better understanding of carbon production and eventual pathways is an important need for ITER. ELM events can provide a significant carbon source, and small scale experiments predict significant dependence of C production rates on incident deuterium flux and surface temperature, quantities which change significantly during an ELM event. Thus, development of better quantitative models has been hampered by lack of sufficient time resolution during ELMs. Recent progress on DIII-D has significantly improved the spectroscopic resolution [1, 2]. Measured CIII evolution during low- and high-density DIII-D LSN ELMy H-modes (type I and type I-III, respectively) has been compared with modeling using the solps5.0/Eirene99 coupled edge code, and the CASTEM- 2000 3-D, time dependent thermal analysis code. The latter provides time-resolved absolute surface temperature distributions for the cases described in [2]. Comparison with observations using the Roth et al annealing model for chemical sputtering finds qualitative agreement. However, the transition in ELM type/frequency as density increases is the most important factor, and this is an input to the calculation given the present state of first principles ELM models. [1] M Fenstermacher et al EPS2003 [2] M Groth et al J Nucl Mater 2003

Measurements of stiff-material compliance on the nanoscale using ultrasonic force microscopy

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dinelli, F.; Biswas, S. K.; Briggs, G. A. D.; Kolosov, O. V.

2000-05-01

Ultrasonic force microscopy (UFM) was introduced to probe nanoscale mechanical properties of stiff materials. This was achieved by vibrating the sample far above the first resonance of the probing atomic force microscope cantilever where the cantilever becomes dynamically rigid. By operating UFM at different set force values, it is possible to directly measure the absolute values of the tip-surface contact stiffness. From this an evaluation of surface elastic properties can be carried out assuming a suitable solid-solid contact model. In this paper we present curves of stiffness as a function of the normal load in the range of 0-300 nN. The dependence of stiffness on the relative humidity has also been investigated. Materials with different elastic constants (such as sapphire lithium fluoride, and silicon) have been successfully differentiated. Continuum mechanics models cannot however explain the dependence of stiffness on the normal force and on the relative humidity. In this high-frequency regime, it is likely that viscous forces might play an important role modifying the tip-surface interaction. Plastic deformation might also occur due to the high strain rates applied when ultrasonically vibrating the sample. Another possible cause of these discrepancies might be the presence of water in between the two bodies in contact organizing in a solidlike way and partially sustaining the load.

Performance Analysis of Control Signal Transmission Technique for Cognitive Radios in Dynamic Spectrum Access Networks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Sakata, Ren; Tomioka, Tazuko; Kobayashi, Takahiro

When cognitive radio (CR) systems dynamically use the frequency band, a control signal is necessary to indicate which carrier frequencies are currently available in the network. In order to keep efficient spectrum utilization, this control signal also should be transmitted based on the channel conditions. If transmitters dynamically select carrier frequencies, receivers have to receive control signals without knowledge of their carrier frequencies. To enable such transmission and reception, this paper proposes a novel scheme called DCPT (Differential Code Parallel Transmission). With DCPT, receivers can receive low-rate information with no knowledge of the carrier frequencies. The transmitter transmits two signals whose carrier frequencies are spaced by a predefined value. The absolute values of the carrier frequencies can be varied. When the receiver acquires the DCPT signal, it multiplies the signal by a frequency-shifted version of the signal; this yields a DC component that represents the data signal which is then demodulated. The performance was evaluated by means of numerical analysis and computer simulation. We confirmed that DCPT operates successfully even under severe interference if its parameters are appropriately configured.

Absolute charge calibration of scintillating screens for relativistic electron detection

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Buck, A.; Zeil, K.; Popp, A.; Schmid, K.; Jochmann, A.; Kraft, S. D.; Hidding, B.; Kudyakov, T.; Sears, C. M. S.; Veisz, L.; Karsch, S.; Pawelke, J.; Sauerbrey, R.; Cowan, T.; Krausz, F.; Schramm, U.

2010-03-01

We report on new charge calibrations and linearity tests with high-dynamic range for eight different scintillating screens typically used for the detection of relativistic electrons from laser-plasma based acceleration schemes. The absolute charge calibration was done with picosecond electron bunches at the ELBE linear accelerator in Dresden. The lower detection limit in our setup for the most sensitive scintillating screen (KODAK Biomax MS) was 10 fC/mm2. The screens showed a linear photon-to-charge dependency over several orders of magnitude. An onset of saturation effects starting around 10-100 pC/mm2 was found for some of the screens. Additionally, a constant light source was employed as a luminosity reference to simplify the transfer of a one-time absolute calibration to different experimental setups.

Developmental Differences in Frequency Judgments of Words and Pictures.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ghatala, Elizabeth S.; Levin, Joel R.

Children in kindergarten, third grade, and fifth grade were presented a list of either pictures or words (with items presented varying numbers of times on the study trail). In both picture and word conditions, half of the subjects estimated how many times each item had been presented (absolute judgments) and the other half judged which of two…

Stability analysis of nonlinear systems with slope restricted nonlinearities.

PubMed

Liu, Xian; Du, Jiajia; Gao, Qing

2014-01-01

The problem of absolute stability of Lur'e systems with sector and slope restricted nonlinearities is revisited. Novel time-domain and frequency-domain criteria are established by using the Lyapunov method and the well-known Kalman-Yakubovich-Popov (KYP) lemma. The criteria strengthen some existing results. Simulations are given to illustrate the efficiency of the results.

Quantification of absolute blood velocity using LDA

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Borozdova, M. A.; Fedosov, I. V.; Tuchin, V. V.

2018-04-01

We developed novel schematics of a Laser Doppler anemometer where measuring volume is comparable with the red blood cell (RBC) size and a small period of interference fringes improves device resolution. The technique was used to estimate Doppler frequency shift at flow velocity measurements. It has been shown that technique is applicable for measurements in whole blood.

Poster — Thur Eve — 72: Clinical Subtleties of Flattening-Filter-Free Beams

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Corns, Robert; Thomas, Steven; Huang, Vicky

2014-08-15

Flattening-filter-free (fff) beams offer superior dose rates, reducing treatment times for important techniques that utilize small field sizes, such as stereotactic ablative radiotherapy (SABR). The impact of ion collection efficiency (P{sub ion}) on the percent depth dose (PDD) has been discussed at length in the literature. Relative corrections of the order of l%–2% are possible. In the process of commissioning 6fff and 10fff beams, we identified a number of other important details that influence commissioning. We looked at the absolute dose difference between corrected and uncorrected PDD. We discovered a curve with a broad maximum between 10 and 20 cm.more » We wondered about the consequences of this PDD correction on the absolute dose calibration of the linac because the TG-51 protocol does not correct the PDD curve. The quality factor k{sub Q} depends on the PDD, so in principle, a correction to the PDD will alter the absolute calibration of the linac. Finally, there are other clinical tables, such as TMR, which are derived from PDD. Attention to details on how this computation is performed is important because different corrections are possible depending the method of calculation.« less

Estimating riparian understory vegetation cover with beta regression and copula models

USGS Publications Warehouse

Eskelson, Bianca N.I.; Madsen, Lisa; Hagar, Joan C.; Temesgen, Hailemariam

2011-01-01

Understory vegetation communities are critical components of forest ecosystems. As a result, the importance of modeling understory vegetation characteristics in forested landscapes has become more apparent. Abundance measures such as shrub cover are bounded between 0 and 1, exhibit heteroscedastic error variance, and are often subject to spatial dependence. These distributional features tend to be ignored when shrub cover data are analyzed. The beta distribution has been used successfully to describe the frequency distribution of vegetation cover. Beta regression models ignoring spatial dependence (BR) and accounting for spatial dependence (BRdep) were used to estimate percent shrub cover as a function of topographic conditions and overstory vegetation structure in riparian zones in western Oregon. The BR models showed poor explanatory power (pseudo-R2 ≤ 0.34) but outperformed ordinary least-squares (OLS) and generalized least-squares (GLS) regression models with logit-transformed response in terms of mean square prediction error and absolute bias. We introduce a copula (COP) model that is based on the beta distribution and accounts for spatial dependence. A simulation study was designed to illustrate the effects of incorrectly assuming normality, equal variance, and spatial independence. It showed that BR, BRdep, and COP models provide unbiased parameter estimates, whereas OLS and GLS models result in slightly biased estimates for two of the three parameters. On the basis of the simulation study, 93–97% of the GLS, BRdep, and COP confidence intervals covered the true parameters, whereas OLS and BR only resulted in 84–88% coverage, which demonstrated the superiority of GLS, BRdep, and COP over OLS and BR models in providing standard errors for the parameter estimates in the presence of spatial dependence.

Absolute irradiance of the Moon for on-orbit calibration

USGS Publications Warehouse

Stone, T.C.; Kieffer, H.H.; ,

2002-01-01

The recognized need for on-orbit calibration of remote sensing imaging instruments drives the ROLO project effort to characterize the Moon for use as an absolute radiance source. For over 5 years the ground-based ROLO telescopes have acquired spatially-resolved lunar images in 23 VNIR (Moon diameter ???500 pixels) and 9 SWIR (???250 pixels) passbands at phase angles within ??90 degrees. A numerical model for lunar irradiance has been developed which fits hundreds of ROLO images in each band, corrected for atmospheric extinction and calibrated to absolute radiance, then integrated to irradiance. The band-coupled extinction algorithm uses absorption spectra of several gases and aerosols derived from MODTRAN to fit time-dependent component abundances to nightly observations of standard stars. The absolute radiance scale is based upon independent telescopic measurements of the star Vega. The fitting process yields uncertainties in lunar relative irradiance over small ranges of phase angle and the full range of lunar libration well under 0.5%. A larger source of uncertainty enters in the absolute solar spectral irradiance, especially in the SWIR, where solar models disagree by up to 6%. Results of ROLO model direct comparisons to spacecraft observations demonstrate the ability of the technique to track sensor responsivity drifts to sub-percent precision. Intercomparisons among instruments provide key insights into both calibration issues and the absolute scale for lunar irradiance.

Recent progress of the research work on frequency and time at the NIM. [China

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Bingying, H.

1979-01-01

Chinese activities reported include (1) research and development on the primary cesium beam standard and the high precision crystal oscillator; (2) keeping the atomic time and calibrating frequency standards; (3) determining methods for transferring the standard frequency at the highest precision. The primary beam installation gives an accuracy of 1.2 x 10 to the minus 12 power (1 sigma). Improvements are being made to attain an uncertainity goal of the order of 10 to the minus 13 power. Two experiments conducted are described. One involved standard frequency transfer via TV color subcarrier; the other involved time synchronization via Symphonie satellite. The best results are the random fluctuation of direct measurement data is 1 sigma sub r (RMS) 10 ns, and the absolute error of clock synchronization is 1 sigma sub A (RMS) 30 ns.

Vortex shedding from obstacles: theoretical frequency prediction

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Pier, Benoît

2001-11-01

The existence of self-sustained oscillations in spatially developing systems is closely related to the presence of a locally absolutely unstable region. A recent investigation of a ``synthetic wake'' (a wake with no solid obstacle and no reverse flow region) has proved [Pier and Huerre, J. Fluid Mech. 435, 145 (2001)] that the observed Kármán vortex street is a nonlinear elephant global mode. The same criterion is now shown to hold for real obstacles. Local properties are derived from the unperturbed basic flow computed by enforcing a symmetry condition on the central line. Application of the theoretical criterion then yields the expected Strouhal vortex shedding frequency. The thus predicted frequency is in excellent agreement with direct numerical simulations of the complete flow. The use of the frequency selection mechanism to control the vortex shedding will also be discussed.

Interpreting Popov criteria in Lure´ systems with complex scaling stability analysis

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhou, J.

2018-06-01

The paper presents a novel frequency-domain interpretation of Popov criteria for absolute stability in Lure´ systems by means of what we call complex scaling stability analysis. The complex scaling technique is developed for exponential/asymptotic stability in LTI feedback systems, which dispenses open-loop poles distribution, contour/locus orientation and prior frequency sweeping. Exploiting the technique for alternatively revealing positive realness of transfer functions, re-interpreting Popov criteria is explicated. More specifically, the suggested frequency-domain stability conditions are conformable both in scalar and multivariable cases, and can be implemented either graphically with locus plotting or numerically without; in particular, the latter is suitable as a design tool with auxiliary parameter freedom. The interpretation also reveals further frequency-domain facts about Lure´ systems. Numerical examples are included to illustrate the main results.

Generation of narrowband, high-intensity, carrier-envelope phase-stable pulses tunable between 4 and 18  THz.

PubMed

Liu, B; Bromberger, H; Cartella, A; Gebert, T; Först, M; Cavalleri, A

2017-01-01

We report on the generation of high-energy (1.9 μJ) far-infrared pulses tunable between 4 and 18 THz frequency. Emphasis is placed on tunability and on minimizing the bandwidth of these pulses to less than 1 THz, as achieved by difference-frequency mixing of two linearly chirped near-infrared pulses in the organic nonlinear crystal DSTMS. As the two near-infrared pulses are derived from amplification of the same white light continuum, their carrier envelope phase fluctuations are mutually correlated, and hence the difference-frequency THz field exhibits absolute phase stability. This source opens up new possibilities for the control of condensed matter and chemical systems by selective excitation of low-energy modes in a frequency range that has, to date, been difficult to access.

High-efficiency frequency doubling of continuous-wave laser light.

PubMed

Ast, Stefan; Nia, Ramon Moghadas; Schönbeck, Axel; Lastzka, Nico; Steinlechner, Jessica; Eberle, Tobias; Mehmet, Moritz; Steinlechner, Sebastian; Schnabel, Roman

2011-09-01

We report on the observation of high-efficiency frequency doubling of 1550 nm continuous-wave laser light in a nonlinear cavity containing a periodically poled potassium titanyl phosphate crystal (PPKTP). The fundamental field had a power of 1.10 W and was converted into 1.05 W at 775 nm, yielding a total external conversion efficiency of 95±1%. The latter value is based on the measured depletion of the fundamental field being consistent with the absolute values derived from numerical simulations. According to our model, the conversion efficiency achieved was limited by the nonperfect mode matching into the nonlinear cavity and by the nonperfect impedance matching for the maximum input power available. Our result shows that cavity-assisted frequency conversion based on PPKTP is well suited for low-decoherence frequency conversion of quantum states of light.

Dynamical features of hazardous near-Earth objects

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Emel'yanenko, V. V.; Naroenkov, S. A.

2015-07-01

We discuss the dynamical features of near-Earth objects moving in dangerous proximity to Earth. We report the computation results for the motions of all observed near-Earth objects over a 600-year-long time period: 300 years in the past and 300 years in the future. We analyze the dynamical features of Earth-approaching objects. In particular, we established that the observed distribution of geocentric velocities of dangerous objects depends on their size. No bodies with geocentric velocities smaller that 5 kms-1 have been found among hazardous objects with absolute magnitudes H <18, whereas 9% of observed objects with H <27 pass near Earth moving at such velocities. On the other hand, we found a tendency for geocentric velocities to increase at H >29. We estimated the distribution of absolute magnitudes of hazardous objects based on our analysis of the data for the asteroids that have passed close to Earth. We inferred the Earth-impact frequencies for objects of different sizes. Impacts of objects with H <18 with Earth occur on average once every 0.53 Myr, and impacts of objects with H <27—once every 130-240 years. We show that currently about 0.1% of all near-Earth objects with diameters greater than 10 m have been discovered. We point out the discrepancies between the estimates of impact rates of Chelyabinsk-type objects, determined from fireball observations and from the data of telescopic asteroid tracking surveys. These estimates can be reconciled assuming that Chelyabinsk-sized asteroids have very low albedos (about 0.02 on average).

Test–retest reliability and validity of a web-based food-frequency questionnaire for adolescents aged 13–14 to be used in the Norwegian Mother and Child Cohort Study (MoBa)

PubMed Central

Øverby, Nina Cecilie; Johannesen, Elisabeth; Jensen, Grete; Skjaevesland, Anne-Kirsti; Haugen, Margaretha

2014-01-01

Background The assessment of food intake is challenging and prone to errors; it is therefore important to consider the reliability and validity of the assessment methods. Objective The aim of this study was to analyze the reproducibility and validity of a developed food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ) for use among adolescents. Design In total, 58 students (aged 13–14) from four different schools in the southern part of Norway participated in the reproducibility study of filling out the FFQ 4 weeks apart. In addition, 93 students participated in the relative validity study where the FFQ was compared to 2×24-hour dietary recalls, while 92 students participated in the absolute validity study where the intakes of fatty acids and vitamin D from the FFQ were compared to fatty acids and 25-hydroxy-vitamin D3 in whole blood. Results The median Spearman correlation coefficient for all nutrients in the test–retest reliability study was 0.57. The median Spearman correlation for all nutrients in the relative validity study was 0.26, while the correlations coefficients were low in the absolute validity study with n-3 fatty acid coefficients ranging from 0.05 to 0.25, and absent for vitamin D (r=0.000). Conclusion The test–retest reproducibility was considered good, the relative validity was considered poor to good, and the absolute validity was considered poor. However, the results are comparable to other studies among adolescents. PMID:25371661

Improved argument-FFT frequency offset estimation for QPSK coherent optical Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Han, Jilong; Li, Wei; Yuan, Zhilin; Li, Haitao; Huang, Liyan; Hu, Qianggao

2016-02-01

A frequency offset estimation (FOE) algorithm based on fast Fourier transform (FFT) of the signal's argument is investigated, which does not require removing the modulated data phase. In this paper, we analyze the flaw of the argument-FFT algorithm and propose a combined FOE algorithm, in which the absolute of frequency offset (FO) is accurately calculated by argument-FFT algorithm with a relatively large number of samples and the sign of FO is determined by FFT-based interpolation discrete Fourier transformation (DFT) algorithm with a relatively small number of samples. Compared with the previous algorithms based on argument-FFT, the proposed one has low complexity and can still effectively work with a relatively less number of samples.

Nonlinear optical response of a gold surface in the visible range: A study by two-color sum-frequency generation spectroscopy. I. Experimental determination

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Dalstein, L.; Revel, A.; Humbert, C.; Busson, B.

2018-04-01

We experimentally determine the effective nonlinear second-order susceptibility of gold over the visible spectral range. To reach that goal, we probe by vibrational two-color sum-frequency generation spectroscopy the methyl stretching region of a dodecanethiol self-assembled monolayer adsorbed on a gold film. The sum-frequency generation spectra show a remarkable shape reversal when the visible probe wavelength is tuned from 435 to 705 nm. After correcting from Fresnel effects, the methyl stretching vibrations serve as an internal reference, allowing to extract the dispersion of the absolute phase and relative amplitude of the effective nonlinear optical response of gold in the visible range.

Frequency-domain method for measuring spectral properties in multiple-scattering media: methemoglobin absorption spectrum in a tissuelike phantom

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fishkin, Joshua B.; So, Peter T. C.; Cerussi, Albert E.; Gratton, Enrico; Fantini, Sergio; Franceschini, Maria Angela

1995-03-01

We have measured the optical absorption and scattering coefficient spectra of a multiple-scattering medium (i.e., a biological tissue-simulating phantom comprising a lipid colloid) containing methemoglobin by using frequency-domain techniques. The methemoglobin absorption spectrum determined in the multiple-scattering medium is in excellent agreement with a corrected methemoglobin absorption spectrum obtained from a steady-state spectrophotometer measurement of the optical density of a minimally scattering medium. The determination of the corrected methemoglobin absorption spectrum takes into account the scattering from impurities in the methemoglobin solution containing no lipid colloid. Frequency-domain techniques allow for the separation of the absorbing from the scattering properties of multiple-scattering media, and these techniques thus provide an absolute

Heterodyne frequency measurements on N2O at 5.3 and 9.0 microns

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wells, J. S.; Jennings, D. A.; Hinz, A.; Murray, J. S.; Maki, A. G.

1985-01-01

Heterodyne frequency measurements on the 01(1)1-00(0)0 band of N2O have been made with the use of a tunable-diode laser, CO laser transfer oscillator, and a CO2 laser frequency synthesizer. A beat frequency was measured between a CO laser and tunable-diode laser whose frequency was locked to the peak of N2O absorption features. The frequency of the CO laser was simultaneously determined by neasuring the beat frequency with respect to a reference synthesized from two CO2 lasers. New rovibrational constants are given for the 01(1)1 state of N2O, which are in excellent agreement with previous results, although the band center is 4 MHz higher than in the previous measurements. A table for the line frequencies and their absolute uncertainties is given for the N2O absorption lines in the wave-number region from 1830 to 1920 kaysers. Some additional frequency measurements near the lower-frequency end of the 02(0)0-00(0)0 band have also been made with respect to a C-12)(0-18)2 laser.

Wavelength references for interferometry in air

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Fox, Richard W.; Washburn, Brian R.; Newbury, Nathan R.; Hollberg, Leo

2005-12-01

Cavity-mode wavelengths in air are determined by measuring a laser's frequency while it is locked to the mode in vacuum during a calibration step and subsequently correcting the mode wavelength for atmospheric pressure compression, temperature difference, and material aging. Using a Zerodur ring cavity, we demonstrate a repeatability of ±2×10-8 (3σ), with the wavelength accuracy limited to ±4×10-8 by knowledge of the absolute helium gas temperature during the pressure calibration. Mirror cleaning perturbed the mode frequency by less than Δ ν/ν˜3×10-9, limited by temperature correction residuals.

High sensitive vectorial B-probe for low frequency plasma waves.

PubMed

Ullrich, Stefan; Grulke, Olaf; Klinger, Thomas; Rahbarnia, Kian

2013-11-01

A miniaturized multidimensional magnetic probe is developed for application in a low-temperature plasma environment. A very high sensitivity for low-frequency magnetic field fluctuations with constant phase run, a very good signal-to-noise ratio combined with an efficient electrostatic pickup rejection, renders the probe superior compared with any commercial solution. A two-step calibration allows for absolute measurement of amplitude and direction of magnetic field fluctuations. The excellent probe performance is demonstrated by measurements of the parallel current pattern of coherent electrostatic drift wave modes in the VINETA (versatile instrument for studies on nonlinearity, electromagnetism, turbulence, and applications) experiment.

Sideband analysis and seismic detection in a large ring laser

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stedman, G. E.; Li, Z.; Bilger, H. R.

1995-08-01

A ring laser unlocked by the Earth's Sagnac effect has attained a frequency resolution of 1 part in 3 \\times 1021 and a rotational resolution of 300 prad. We discuss both theoretically and experimentally the sideband structure of the Earth rotation-induced spectral line induced in the microhertz-hertz region by frequency modulation associated with extra mechanical motion, such as seismic events. The relative sideband height is an absolute measure of the rotational amplitude of that Fourier component. An initial analysis is given of the ring laser record from the Arthur's Pass-Coleridge seismic event of 18 June 1994.

Transfer-function-parameter estimation from frequency response data: A FORTRAN program

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Seidel, R. C.

1975-01-01

A FORTRAN computer program designed to fit a linear transfer function model to given frequency response magnitude and phase data is presented. A conjugate gradient search is used that minimizes the integral of the absolute value of the error squared between the model and the data. The search is constrained to insure model stability. A scaling of the model parameters by their own magnitude aids search convergence. Efficient computer algorithms result in a small and fast program suitable for a minicomputer. A sample problem with different model structures and parameter estimates is reported.

Wavelength references for interferometry in air

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Fox, Richard W.; Washburn, Brian R.; Newbury, Nathan R.

2005-12-20

Cavity-mode wavelengths in air are determined by measuring a laser's frequency while it is locked to the mode in vacuum during a calibration step and subsequently correcting the mode wavelength for atmospheric pressure compression, temperature difference, and material aging. Using a Zerodur ring cavity, we demonstrate a repeatability of {+-}2x10-8(3{sigma}), with the wavelength accuracy limited to {+-}4x10-8by knowledge of the absolute helium gas temperature during the pressure calibration. Mirror cleaning perturbed the mode frequency by less than {delta} {nu}/{nu}{approx}3x10-9, limited by temperature correction residuals.

Wavelength references for interferometry in air.

PubMed

Fox, Richard W; Washburn, Brian R; Newbury, Nathan R; Hollberg, Leo

2005-12-20

Cavity-mode wavelengths in air are determined by measuring a laser's frequency while it is locked to the mode in vacuum during a calibration step and subsequently correcting the mode wavelength for atmospheric pressure compression, temperature difference, and material aging. Using a Zerodur ring cavity, we demonstrate a repeatability of +/- 2 x 10(-8) (3sigma), with the wavelength accuracy limited to +/- 4 x 10(-8) by knowledge of the absolute helium gas temperature during the pressure calibration. Mirror cleaning perturbed the mode frequency by less than deltav/v approximately 3 x 10(-9), limited by temperature correction residuals.

Non-destructive method for determining neutron exposure

DOEpatents

Gold, R.; McElroy, W.N.

1983-11-01

A non-destructive method for determination of neutron exposure in an object, such as a reactor pressure vessel, is based on the observation of characteristic gamma-rays emitted by activation products in the object by using a unique continuous gamma-ray spectrometer. The spectrometer views the object through appropriate collimators to determine the absolute emission rate of these characteristic gamma-rays, thereby ascertaining the absolute activity of given activation products in the object. These data can then be used to deduce the spatial and angular dependence of neutron exposure at regions of interest within the object.

Strings on a Violin: Location Dependence of Frequency Tuning in Active Dendrites.

PubMed

Das, Anindita; Rathour, Rahul K; Narayanan, Rishikesh

2017-01-01

Strings on a violin are tuned to generate distinct sound frequencies in a manner that is firmly dependent on finger location along the fingerboard. Sound frequencies emerging from different violins could be very different based on their architecture, the nature of strings and their tuning. Analogously, active neuronal dendrites, dendrites endowed with active channel conductances, are tuned to distinct input frequencies in a manner that is dependent on the dendritic location of the synaptic inputs. Further, disparate channel expression profiles and differences in morphological characteristics could result in dendrites on different neurons of the same subtype tuned to distinct frequency ranges. Alternately, similar location-dependence along dendritic structures could be achieved through disparate combinations of channel profiles and morphological characteristics, leading to degeneracy in active dendritic spectral tuning. Akin to strings on a violin being tuned to different frequencies than those on a viola or a cello, different neuronal subtypes exhibit distinct channel profiles and disparate morphological characteristics endowing each neuronal subtype with unique location-dependent frequency selectivity. Finally, similar to the tunability of musical instruments to elicit distinct location-dependent sounds, neuronal frequency selectivity and its location-dependence are tunable through activity-dependent plasticity of ion channels and morphology. In this morceau, we explore the origins of neuronal frequency selectivity, and survey the literature on the mechanisms behind the emergence of location-dependence in distinct forms of frequency tuning. As a coda to this composition, we present some future directions for this exciting convergence of biophysical mechanisms that endow a neuron with frequency multiplexing capabilities.

Evaluating stability and change in personality and depression.

PubMed

Santor, D A; Bagby, R M; Joffe, R T

1997-12-01

Critics have argued that personality factors believed to represent a vulnerability to depression are not stable and are therefore state dependent. However, conclusions regarding the stability of personality and the relation between personality and depression have been drawn (a) without differentiating relative stability among individual differences from absolute stability of change scores and (b) without explicitly modeling change in personality as a function of change in depression. The relation between neuroticism and depression was examined in a sample of depressed outpatients (N = 71) receiving a 5-week trial of pharmacotherapy. Measures of neuroticism and extraversion demonstrated both relative stability and absolute change, and changes in neuroticism and extraversion scores were modestly or not at all accounted for by changes in depression scores. Claims that personality scores are not stable and are state dependent must be reconsidered.

Muscle Activation During Exercise in Severe Acute Hypoxia: Role of Absolute and Relative Intensity

PubMed Central

Torres-Peralta, Rafael; Losa-Reyna, José; González-Izal, Miriam; Perez-Suarez, Ismael; Calle-Herrero, Jaime; Izquierdo, Mikel

2014-01-01

Abstract Torres-Peralta, Rafael, José Losa-Reyna, Miriam González-Izal, Ismael Perez-Suarez, Jaime Calle-Herrero, Mikel Izquierdo, and José A.L. Calbet. Muscle activation during exercise in severe acute hypoxia: Role of absolute and relative intensity. High Alt Med Biol 15:472–482, 2014.—The aim of this study was to determine the influence of severe acute hypoxia on muscle activation during whole body dynamic exercise. Eleven young men performed four incremental cycle ergometer tests to exhaustion breathing normoxic (FIo2=0.21, two tests) or hypoxic gas (FIo2=0.108, two tests). Surface electromyography (EMG) activities of rectus femoris (RF), vastus medialis (VL), vastus lateralis (VL), and biceps femoris (BF) were recorded. The two normoxic and the two hypoxic tests were averaged to reduce EMG variability. Peak Vo2 was 34% lower in hypoxia than in normoxia (p<0.05). The EMG root mean square (RMS) increased with exercise intensity in all muscles (p<0.05), with greater effect in hypoxia than in normoxia in the RF and VM (p<0.05), and a similar trend in VL (p=0.10). At the same relative intensity, the RMS was greater in normoxia than in hypoxia in RF, VL, and BF (p<0.05), with a similar trend in VM (p=0.08). Median frequency increased with exercise intensity (p<0.05), and was higher in hypoxia than in normoxia in VL (p<0.05). Muscle contraction burst duration increased with exercise intensity in VM and VL (p<0.05), without clear effects of FIo2. No significant FIo2 effects on frequency domain indices were observed when compared at the same relative intensity. In conclusion, muscle activation during whole body exercise increases almost linearly with exercise intensity, following a muscle-specific pattern, which is adjusted depending on the FIo2 and the relative intensity of exercise. Both VL and VM are increasingly involved in power output generation with the increase of intensity and the reduction in FIo2. PMID:25225839

On the origin of vorticity in magnetic particle suspensions subjected to triaxial fields

DOE PAGES

Martin, James E.

2016-06-06

We have recently reported that two classes of time-dependent triaxial magnetic fields can induce vorticity in magnetic particle suspensions. The first class – symmetry-breaking fields – is comprised of two ac components and one dc component. The second class – rational triad fields – is comprised of three ac components. In both cases deterministic vorticity occurs when the ratios of the field frequencies form rational numbers. A strange aspect of these fields is that they produce fluid vorticity without generally having a circulating field vector, such as would occur in a rotating field. It has been shown, however, that themore » symmetry of the field trajectory, considered jointly with that of the converse field, allows vorticity to occur around one particular field axis. This axis might be any of the field components, and is determined by the relative frequencies of the field components. However, the symmetry theories give absolutely no insight into why vorticity should occur. In this paper we propose a particle-based model of vorticity in these driven fluids. This model proposes that particles form volatile chains that follow, but lag behind, the dynamic field vector. Furthermore, this model is consistent with the predictions of symmetry theory and gives reasonable agreement with previously reported torque density measurements for a variety of triaxial fields.« less

Multicoaxial cylindrical inclusions in locally resonant phononic crystals

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Larabi, H.; Pennec, Y.; Djafari-Rouhani, B.; Vasseur, J. O.

2007-06-01

It is known that the transmission spectrum of the so-called locally resonant phononic crystal can exhibit absolute sharp dips in the sonic frequency range due to the resonance scattering of elastic waves. In this paper, we study theoretically, using a finite difference time domain method, the propagation of acoustic waves through a two-dimensional locally resonant crystal in which the matrix is a fluid (such as water) instead of being a solid as in most of the previous papers. The transmission is shown to be dependent upon the fluid or solid nature of the matrix as well as upon the nature of the coating material in contact with the matrix. The other main purpose of this paper is to consider inclusions constituted by coaxial cylindrical multilayers consisting of several alternate shells of a soft material (such as a soft rubber) and a hard material (such as steel). With respect to the usual case of a hard core coated with a soft rubber, the transmission spectrum can exhibit in the same frequency range several peaks instead of one. If two or more phononic crystals are associated together, we find that the structure displays all the zeros of transmission resulting from each individual crystal. Moreover, we show that it is possible to overlap the dips by an appropriate combination of phononic crystals and create a larger acoustic stop band.

Rapid and precise determination of zero-field splittings by terahertz time-domain electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy† †Electronic supplementary information (ESI) available. See DOI: 10.1039/c7sc00830a Click here for additional data file.

PubMed Central

Lu, Jian; Ozel, I. Ozge; Belvin, Carina A.; Li, Xian; Skorupskii, Grigorii; Sun, Lei; Ofori-Okai, Benjamin K.; Dincă, Mircea; Gedik, Nuh

2017-01-01

Zero-field splitting (ZFS) parameters are fundamentally tied to the geometries of metal ion complexes. Despite their critical importance for understanding the magnetism and spectroscopy of metal complexes, they are not routinely available through general laboratory-based techniques, and are often inferred from magnetism data. Here we demonstrate a simple tabletop experimental approach that enables direct and reliable determination of ZFS parameters in the terahertz (THz) regime. We report time-domain measurements of electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) signals associated with THz-frequency ZFSs in molecular complexes containing high-spin transition-metal ions. We measure the temporal profiles of the free-induction decays of spin resonances in the complexes at zero and nonzero external magnetic fields, and we derive the EPR spectra via numerical Fourier transformation of the time-domain signals. In most cases, absolute values of the ZFS parameters are extracted from the measured zero-field EPR frequencies, and the signs can be determined by zero-field measurements at two different temperatures. Field-dependent EPR measurements further allow refined determination of the ZFS parameters and access to the g-factor. The results show good agreement with those obtained by other methods. The simplicity of the method portends wide applicability in chemistry, biology and material science. PMID:29163882

Incidence of adrenal insufficiency and impact of corticosteroid supplementation in critically ill children with systemic inflammatory syndrome and vasopressor-dependent shock.

PubMed

Hebbar, Kiran B; Stockwell, Jana A; Leong, Traci; Fortenberry, James D

2011-05-01

Adrenal insufficiency may be common in adults and children with vasopressor-resistant shock. We developed a protocolized approach to low-dose adrenocorticotropin testing and empirical low-dose glucocorticoid/mineralocorticoid supplementation in children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and persistent hypotension following fluid resuscitation and vasopressor infusion. We hypothesized that absolute and relative adrenal insufficiency was common in children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome requiring vasopressor support and that steroid administration would be associated with decreased vasopressor need. Retrospective review of pediatric patients with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and vasopressor-dependent shock receiving protocol-based adrenocorticotropin testing and low-dose steroid supplementation. The incidence of absolute and relative adrenal insufficiency was determined using several definitions. Vasopressor dose requirements were evaluated before, and following, initiation of corticosteroids. Seventy-eight patients met inclusion criteria for systemic inflammatory response syndrome and shock; 40 had septic shock. Median age was 84 months (range, 0.5-295). By adrenocorticotropin testing, 44 (56%) had absolute adrenal insufficiency, 39 (50%) had relative adrenal insufficiency, and 69 (88%) had either form of adrenal insufficiency. Adrenal insufficiency incidence was significantly higher in children >2 yrs (p = .0209). Therapeutic interventions included median 80-mL/kg fluid resuscitation; 65% of patients required dopamine, 58% norepinephrine, and 49% dopamine plus norepinephrine. With steroid supplementation, median dopamine dose decreased from 10 to 4 μg/kg/min at 4 hrs (p = .0001), and median dose of norepinephrine decreased from 0.175 μg/kg/min to 0.05 μg/kg/min at 4 hrs (p = .039). Absolute and relative adrenal insufficiency was prevalent in this cohort of children with systemic inflammatory response syndrome and vasopressor-dependent shock and increased with age. Introduction of steroids produced a significant reduction in vasopressor duration and dosage. Use of low-dose adrenocorticotropin testing may help further delineate populations who require steroid supplementation.

Engineering frequency-dependent superfluidity in Bose-Fermi mixtures

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Arzamasovs, Maksims; Liu, Bo

2018-04-01

Unconventional superconductivity and superfluidity are among the most exciting and fascinating quantum phenomena in condensed-matter physics. Usually such states are characterized by nontrivial spin or spatial symmetry of the pairing order parameter, such as "spin triplet" or "p wave." However, besides spin and spatial dependence the order parameter may have unconventional frequency dependence which is also permitted by Fermi-Dirac statistics. Odd-frequency fermionic pairing is an exciting paradigm when discussing exotic superfluidity or superconductivity and is yet to be realized in experiments. In this paper we propose a symmetry-based method of controlling frequency dependence of the pairing order parameter via manipulating the inversion symmetry of the system. First, a toy model is introduced to illustrate that frequency dependence of the order parameter can be achieved through our proposed approach. Second, by taking advantage of recent rapid developments in producing spin-orbit-coupled dispersions in ultracold gases, we propose a Bose-Fermi mixture to realize such frequency-dependent superfluid. The key idea is introducing the frequency-dependent attraction between fermions mediated by Bogoliubov phonons with asymmetric dispersion. Our proposal should pave an alternative way for exploring frequency-dependent superfluids with cold atoms.

Computational method for exact frequency-dependent rays on the basis of the solution of the Helmholtz equation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Protasov, M.; Gadylshin, K.

2017-07-01

A numerical method is proposed for the calculation of exact frequency-dependent rays when the solution of the Helmholtz equation is known. The properties of frequency-dependent rays are analysed and compared with classical ray theory and with the method of finite-difference modelling for the first time. In this paper, we study the dependence of these rays on the frequency of signals and show the convergence of the exact rays to the classical rays with increasing frequency. A number of numerical experiments demonstrate the distinctive features of exact frequency-dependent rays, in particular, their ability to penetrate into shadow zones that are impenetrable for classical rays.

Challenging process to make the Lateglacial tree-ring chronologies from Europe absolute - an inventory

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kaiser, Klaus Felix; Friedrich, Michael; Miramont, Cécile; Kromer, Bernd; Sgier, Mario; Schaub, Matthias; Boeren, Ilse; Remmele, Sabine; Talamo, Sahra; Guibal, Frédéric; Sivan, Olivier

2012-03-01

Here we present the entire range of Lateglacial tree-ring chronologies from Switzerland, Germany, France, covering the Lateglacial north and west of the Alps without interruption as well as finds from northern Italy, complemented by a 14C data set of the Swiss chronologies. Geographical expansion of cross-matched European Lateglacial chronologies, limits and prospects of teleconnection between remote sites and extension of the absolute tree-ring chronology are discussed. High frequency signals and long-term fluctuations are revealed by the ring-width data sets of the newly constructed Swiss Late-glacial Master Chronology (SWILM) as well as the Central European Lateglacial Master Chronology (CELM) spanning 1606 years. They agree well with the characteristics of Boelling/Alleroed (GI-1) and the transition into Younger Dryas (GS-1). The regional chronologies of Central Europe may provide improved interconnection to other terrestrial or marine high-resolution archives. Nevertheless the breakthrough to a continuous absolute chronology back to Boelling (GI-1e) has not yet been achieved. A gap remains, even though it is covered by several floating chronologies from France and Switzerland.

Modeling of Hurricane Impacts

DTIC Science & Technology

2007-09-01

terms on the RHS). The wave number k is obtained from the eikonal equations (e.g. Dingemans, 1993): ⎟⎟ ⎠ ⎞ ⎜⎜ ⎝ ⎛ ∂ ∂ − ∂ ∂ −= ∂ ∂ + ∂ ∂ y k x k c xt...components and ω represents the absolute radial frequency. The RHS of the eikonal equations ensures the irrotationality of wave number vector field (pers

Catalan speakers' perception of word stress in unaccented contexts.

PubMed

Ortega-Llebaria, Marta; del Mar Vanrell, Maria; Prieto, Pilar

2010-01-01

In unaccented contexts, formant frequency differences related to vowel reduction constitute a consistent cue to word stress in English, whereas in languages such as Spanish that have no systematic vowel reduction, stress perception is based on duration and intensity cues. This article examines the perception of word stress by speakers of Central Catalan, in which, due to its vowel reduction patterns, words either alternate stressed open vowels with unstressed mid-central vowels as in English or contain no vowel quality cues to stress, as in Spanish. Results show that Catalan listeners perceive stress based mainly on duration cues in both word types. Other cues pattern together with duration to make stress perception more robust. However, no single cue is absolutely necessary and trading effects compensate for a lack of differentiation in one dimension by changes in another dimension. In particular, speakers identify longer mid-central vowels as more stressed than shorter open vowels. These results and those obtained in other stress-accent languages provide cumulative evidence that word stress is perceived independently of pitch accents by relying on a set of cues with trading effects so that no single cue, including formant frequency differences related to vowel reduction, is absolutely necessary for stress perception.

Comparison of Lyman-alpha and LI-COR infrared hygrometers for airborne measurement of turbulent fluctuations of water vapour

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lampert, Astrid; Hartmann, Jörg; Pätzold, Falk; Lobitz, Lennart; Hecker, Peter; Kohnert, Katrin; Larmanou, Eric; Serafimovich, Andrei; Sachs, Torsten

2018-05-01

To investigate if the LI-COR humidity sensor can be used as a replacement of the Lyman-alpha sensor for airborne applications, the measurement data of the Lyman-alpha and several LI-COR sensors are analysed in direct intercomparison flights on different airborne platforms. One vibration isolated closed-path and two non-isolated open-path LI-COR sensors were installed on a Dornier 128 twin engine turbo-prop aircraft. The closed-path sensor provided absolute values and fluctuations of the water vapour mixing ratio in good agreement with the Lyman-alpha. The signals of the two open-path sensors showed considerable high-frequency noise, and the absolute value of the mixing ratio was observed to drift with time in this vibrational environment. On the helicopter-towed sensor system Helipod, with very low vibration levels, the open-path LI-COR sensor agreed very well with the Lyman-alpha sensor over the entire frequency range up to 3 Hz. The results show that the LI-COR sensors are well suited for airborne measurements of humidity fluctuations, provided that a vibrationless environment is given, and this turns out to be more important than close sensor spacing.

Antimicrobial Effect of Ozone Made by KP Syringe of High-Frequency Ozone Generator

PubMed Central

Prebeg, Domagoj; Katunarić, Marina; Budimir, Ana; Šegović, Sanja; Anić, Ivica

2016-01-01

Aim The aim of this study was to evaluate in vitro the antibacterial effect of ozone on suspension of three different bacteria inoculated in prepared canals of extracted human teeth. Material and methods Ozone was produced by special KP syringe of high frequency ozone generator Ozonytron (Biozonix, München, Germany) from aspirated atmospheric air by dielectric barrier discharge and applied through the tip of the syringe to the prepared root canal. The microorganisms used were Enterococcus faecalis, Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Results However, none of the methods was 100% effective against the three bacterial types in suspension. Application of ozone significantly decreased the absolute count of microorganisms (89.3%), as well as the count of each type of bacteria separately (Staphylococcus aureus 94.0%; Staphylococcus epidermidis 88.6% and Enterococcus faecalis 79.7%). Ozone generated by KP syringe was statistically more effective compared to NaOCl as positive control, for Staphylococcus aureus and Staphylococcus epidermidis. Conclusion The absolute count of Enterococcus faecalis was statistically decreased without a statistically significant difference between the tested group and positive control, respectively. Among the three types of bacteria in suspension, KP probe had the lowest antimicrobial effect against Enterococcus faecalis. PMID:27789911

Controlling the emission profile of an H2 discharge lamp to simulate interstellar radiation fields

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ligterink, N. F. W.; Paardekooper, D. M.; Chuang, K.-J.; Both, M. L.; Cruz-Diaz, G. A.; van Helden, J. H.; Linnartz, H.

2015-12-01

Context. Microwave discharge hydrogen-flow lamps have been used for more than half a century to simulate interstellar ultraviolet radiation fields in the laboratory. Recent discrepancies between identical measurements in different laboratories, as well as clear wavelength dependent results obtained in monochromatic (synchrotron) experiments, hint at a more elaborate dependence on the exact discharge settings than assumed so far. Aims: We have investigated systematically two lamp geometries in full dependence of a large number of different running conditions and the spectral emission patterns are characterized for the first time with fully calibrated absolute flux numbers. Methods: A sophisticated plasma lamp calibration set-up has been used to record the vacuum-ultraviolet emission spectra with a spectral resolution of 0.5 nm and bandwidth of 1.6 nm in the 116-220 nm region. Spectra are compared with the output of a calibrated D2-lamp which allows a derivation of absolute radiance values. Results: The general findings of over 200 individual measurements are presented, illustrating how the lamp emission pattern depends on i) microwave power; ii) gas and gas mixing ratios; iii) discharge lamp geometry; iv) cavity positioning; and v) gas pressure.

Absolute Calibration of Si iRMs used for Measurements of Si Paleo-nutrient proxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Vocke, R. D., Jr.; Rabb, S. A.

2016-12-01

Silicon isotope variations (reported as δ30Si and δ29Si, relative to NBS28) in silicic acid dissolved in ocean waters, in biogenic silica and in diatoms are extremely informative paleo-nutrient proxies. The resolution and comparability of such measurements depend on the quality of the isotopic Reference Materials (iRMs) defining the delta scale. We report new absolute Si isotopic measurements on the iRMs NBS28 (RM 8546 - Silica Sand), Diatomite, and Big Batch using the Avogadro measurement approach and comparing them with prior assessments of these iRMs. The Avogadro Si measurement technique was developed by the German Physikalish-Technische Bundesanstalt (PTB) to provide a precise and highly accurate method to measure absolute isotopic ratios in highly enriched 28Si (99.996%) material. These measurements are part of an international effort to redefine the kg and mole based on the Planck constant h and the Avogadro constant NA, respectively (Vocke et al., 2014 Metrologia 51, 361, Azuma et al., 2015 Metrologia 52 360). This approach produces absolute Si isotope ratio data with lower levels of uncertainty when compared to the traditional "Atomic Weights" method of absolute isotope ratio measurement calibration. This is illustrated in Fig. 1 where absolute Si isotopic measurements on SRM 990, separated by 40+ years of advances in instrumentation, are compared. The availability of this new technique does not say that absolute Si isotopic ratios are or ever will be better for normal Si isotopic measurements when seeking isotopic variations in nature, because they are not. However, by determining the absolute isotopic ratios of all the Si iRM scale artifacts, such iRMs become traceable to the metric system (SI); thereby automatically conferring on all the artifact-based δ30Si and δ29Si measurements traceability to the base SI unit, the mole. Such traceability should help reduce the potential of bias between different iRMs and facilitate the replacement of delta-scale artefacts when they run out. Fig. 1 Comparison of absolute isotopic measurements of SRM 990 using two radically different approaches to absolute calibration and mass bias corrections.

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation Improves Walking Performance in Patients With Intermittent Claudication.

PubMed

Seenan, Chris; McSwiggan, Steve; Roche, Patricia A; Tan, Chee-Wee; Mercer, Tom; Belch, Jill J F

2016-01-01

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 2 types of transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) on walking distance and measures of pain in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) and intermittent claudication (IC). In a phase 2a study, 40 participants with PAD and IC completed a graded treadmill test on 2 separate testing occasions. Active TENS was applied to the lower limb on the first occasion; and placebo TENS, on the second. The participants were divided into 2 experimental groups. One group received high-frequency TENS; and the other, low-frequency TENS. Measures taken were initial claudication distance, functional claudication distance, and absolute claudication distance. The McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) vocabulary was completed at the end of the intervention, and the MPQ-Pain Rating Index score was calculated. Four participants were excluded from the final analysis because of noncompletion of the experimental procedure. Median walking distance increased with high-frequency TENS for all measures (P < .05, Wilcoxon signed rank test, all measures). Only absolute claudication distance increased significantly with low-frequency TENS compared with placebo (median, 179-228; Ws = 39; z = 2.025; P = .043; r = 0.48). No difference was observed between reported median MPQ-Pain Rating Index scores: 21.5 with placebo TENS and 21.5 with active TENS (P = .41). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation applied to the lower limb of the patients with PAD and IC was associated with increased walking distance on a treadmill but not with any reduction in pain. Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation may be a useful adjunctive intervention to help increase walking performance in patients with IC.

High Resolution Topography of Age-Related Changes in Non-Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Electroencephalography

PubMed Central

Sprecher, Kate E.; Riedner, Brady A.; Smith, Richard F.; Tononi, Giulio; Davidson, Richard J.; Benca, Ruth M.

2016-01-01

Sleeping brain activity reflects brain anatomy and physiology. The aim of this study was to use high density (256 channel) electroencephalography (EEG) during sleep to characterize topographic changes in sleep EEG power across normal aging, with high spatial resolution. Sleep was evaluated in 92 healthy adults aged 18–65 years old using full polysomnography and high density EEG. After artifact removal, spectral power density was calculated for standard frequency bands for all channels, averaged across the NREM periods of the first 3 sleep cycles. To quantify topographic changes with age, maps were generated of the Pearson’s coefficient of the correlation between power and age at each electrode. Significant correlations were determined by statistical non-parametric mapping. Absolute slow wave power declined significantly with increasing age across the entire scalp, whereas declines in theta and sigma power were significant only in frontal regions. Power in fast spindle frequencies declined significantly with increasing age frontally, whereas absolute power of slow spindle frequencies showed no significant change with age. When EEG power was normalized across the scalp, a left centro-parietal region showed significantly less age-related decline in power than the rest of the scalp. This partial preservation was particularly significant in the slow wave and sigma bands. The effect of age on sleep EEG varies substantially by region and frequency band. This non-uniformity should inform the design of future investigations of aging and sleep. This study provides normative data on the effect of age on sleep EEG topography, and provides a basis from which to explore the mechanisms of normal aging as well as neurodegenerative disorders for which age is a risk factor. PMID:26901503

On the analysis of EEG power, frequency and asymmetry in Parkinson’s disease during emotion processing

PubMed Central

2014-01-01

Objective While Parkinson’s disease (PD) has traditionally been described as a movement disorder, there is growing evidence of disruption in emotion information processing associated with the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate whether there are specific electroencephalographic (EEG) characteristics that discriminate PD patients and normal controls during emotion information processing. Method EEG recordings from 14 scalp sites were collected from 20 PD patients and 30 age-matched normal controls. Multimodal (audio-visual) stimuli were presented to evoke specific targeted emotional states such as happiness, sadness, fear, anger, surprise and disgust. Absolute and relative power, frequency and asymmetry measures derived from spectrally analyzed EEGs were subjected to repeated ANOVA measures for group comparisons as well as to discriminate function analysis to examine their utility as classification indices. In addition, subjective ratings were obtained for the used emotional stimuli. Results Behaviorally, PD patients showed no impairments in emotion recognition as measured by subjective ratings. Compared with normal controls, PD patients evidenced smaller overall relative delta, theta, alpha and beta power, and at bilateral anterior regions smaller absolute theta, alpha, and beta power and higher mean total spectrum frequency across different emotional states. Inter-hemispheric theta, alpha, and beta power asymmetry index differences were noted, with controls exhibiting greater right than left hemisphere activation. Whereas intra-hemispheric alpha power asymmetry reduction was exhibited in patients bilaterally at all regions. Discriminant analysis correctly classified 95.0% of the patients and controls during emotional stimuli. Conclusion These distributed spectral powers in different frequency bands might provide meaningful information about emotional processing in PD patients. PMID:24716619

Empirical Green's function analysis: Taking the next step

USGS Publications Warehouse

Hough, S.E.

1997-01-01

An extension of the empirical Green's function (EGF) method is presented that involves determination of source parameters using standard EGF deconvolution, followed by inversion for a common attenuation parameter for a set of colocated events. Recordings of three or more colocated events can thus be used to constrain a single path attenuation estimate. I apply this method to recordings from the 1995-1996 Ridgecrest, California, earthquake sequence; I analyze four clusters consisting of 13 total events with magnitudes between 2.6 and 4.9. I first obtain corner frequencies, which are used to infer Brune stress drop estimates. I obtain stress drop values of 0.3-53 MPa (with all but one between 0.3 and 11 MPa), with no resolved increase of stress drop with moment. With the corner frequencies constrained, the inferred attenuation parameters are very consistent; they imply an average shear wave quality factor of approximately 20-25 for alluvial sediments within the Indian Wells Valley. Although the resultant spectral fitting (using corner frequency and ??) is good, the residuals are consistent among the clusters analyzed. Their spectral shape is similar to the the theoretical one-dimensional response of a layered low-velocity structure in the valley (an absolute site response cannot be determined by this method, because of an ambiguity between absolute response and source spectral amplitudes). I show that even this subtle site response can significantly bias estimates of corner frequency and ??, if it is ignored in an inversion for only source and path effects. The multiple-EGF method presented in this paper is analogous to a joint inversion for source, path, and site effects; the use of colocated sets of earthquakes appears to offer significant advantages in improving resolution of all three estimates, especially if data are from a single site or sites with similar site response.

Fixed-dose combination PRO 160/120 of sabal and urtica extracts improves nocturia in men with LUTS suggestive of BPH: re-evaluation of four controlled clinical studies.

PubMed

Oelke, Matthias; Berges, Richard; Schläfke, Sandra; Burkart, Martin

2014-10-01

To determine the effects of the herbal fixed-dose combination PRO 160/120 (extracts from saw palmetto fruits and stinging nettle roots) on nocturnal voiding frequency, as measured by question 7 of the IPSS questionnaire, in patients with moderate-to-severe LUTS/BPH after 24 weeks of treatment compared to placebo, to the α-blocker tamsulosin, or to the 5α-reductase inhibitor finasteride. The study is about post hoc evaluation of four published randomized, double-blind clinical trials on PRO 160/120, two compared with placebo, one with finasteride and one with tamsulosin. In addition, a pooled data analysis of the two placebo-controlled trials was conducted. We analyzed data from a total of 922 patients with a mean age of 66 years and a mean baseline nocturnal voiding frequency of 2.1. In the pooled analysis of placebo-controlled trials, nocturnal voids improved by 0.8 (29 %) with PRO 160/120 compared to 0.6 (18 %) with placebo (p = 0.015, Wilcoxon test, one-tailed). The 69 % responder rate to PRO 160/120 was significantly superior to the placebo response (52 %; p = 0.003, χ (2)-test, two-tailed). The majority of responders improved by 1 void/night. Absolute improvements and response rates were consistently higher with PRO 160/120 than with placebo over a range of baseline nocturnal voiding frequencies. There were no differences between PRO 160/120 and finasteride or tamsulosin regarding absolute improvement of nocturnal voids or responds rates. PRO 160/120 significantly improved nocturnal voiding frequency compared to placebo and similar to tamsulosin or finasteride.

HLA-A and -B alleles and haplotypes in hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity in central Alabama.

PubMed

Barton, James C; Acton, Ronald T

2002-10-07

We wanted to quantify HLA-A and -B allele and haplotype frequencies in Alabama hemochromatosis probands with HFE C282Y homozygosity and controls, and to compare results to those in other populations. Alleles were detected using DNA-based typing (probands) and microlymphocytotoxicity (controls). Alleles were determined in 139 probands (1,321 controls) and haplotypes in 118 probands (605 controls). In probands, A*03 positivity was 0.7482 (0.2739 controls; p = or < 0.0001; odds ratio (OR) 7.9); positivity for B*07, B*14, and B*56 was also increased. In probands, haplotypes A*03-B*07 and A*03-B*14 were more frequent (p < 0.0001, respectively; OR = 12.3 and 11.1, respectively). The haplotypes A*01-B*60, A*02-B*39, A*02-B*62, A*03-B*13, A*03-B*15, A*03-B*27, A*03-B*35, A*03-B*44, A*03-B*47, and A*03-B*57 were also significantly more frequent in probands. 37.3% of probands were HLA-haploidentical with other proband(s). A*03 and A*03-B*07 frequencies are increased in Alabama probands, as in other hemochromatosis cohorts. Increased absolute frequencies of A*03-B*35 have been reported only in the present Alabama probands and in hemochromatosis patients in Italy. Increased absolute frequencies of A*01-B*60, A*02-B*39, A*02-B*62, A*03-B*13, A*03-B*15, A*03-B*27, A*03-B*44, A*03-B*47, and A*03-B*57 in hemochromatosis cohorts have not been reported previously.