Multiple time-scale diffusion models of starfish and coral state changes over the whole great barrier reef

A model is developed to investigate starfish and coral dynamics at the macro-scale of the whole Great Barrier Reef. This stochastic near-equilibrium theory is consistent with all available data for the mean rates of change of reef-state relative to abundances of the starfishAcanthaster planci and the scleractinian corals upon which it preys. This result is in striking contrast to the stably cyclic behaviour which dominates the meso-scale of individual reefs as reported previously by the authors. For the first time, a number of important numerical estimates have been made and are reported here. Generally, the starfish dynamics is dominated by randomness, being indistinguishable from Brownian motion in the state-space. On the other hand, the coral process is embedded in a drift field which is always directed towards the low coral state. In fact, the high coral state is inaccessible on the Great Barrier Reef.     

InxGa1−xAs (x=0.25–0.35) grown at low temperature

In_xGa_1−xAs (x=0.25–0.35) grown at low temperature on GaAs by molecular beam epitaxy is characterized by Hall effect, transmission electron microscopy, and ultrafast optical testing. As with low temperature (LT) GaAs, the resistivity is generally higher after a brief anneal at 600°C. High-resolution transmission electron microscopy shows all the as-grown epilayers to be heavily dislocated due to the large lattice mismatch (2–3%). When the layers are annealed, in addition to the dislocations, precipitates are also generally observed. As with LT-GaAs, the lifetime shortens as growth temperature is reduced through the range 300–120°C; also, the lifetime in LT-In_xGa_1−xAs is generally shorter in as-grown samples relative to annealed samples. Metal-semiconductor-metal photodetectors fabricated on the material exhibit response times of 1–2 picoseconds, comparable to results reported on GaAs grown at low temperature, and the fastest ever reported in the wavelength range of 1.0–1.3 μm.     

Testing of multi-output circuits by means of signature analyzer

Let a circuit havem outputs,m>1. There are two ways to test this circuit by means of a signature analyzer: use a single input analyzer for each output or use anm-input analyzer to test all outputs simultaneously. The main goal of this letter is to demonstrate that for fault output sequences with small multiplicity of errors and long length the second approach is more effective.     

Determination of organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl residues in fatty fish by tandem solid-phase extraction cleanup

A rapid, multiresidue solid-phase extraction (SPE) technique for determination of organochlorine pesticide and polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) residues in nonfatty fish was modified for use with fatty fish. In the modified procedures, samples are extracted with acetonitrile, and the extract is cleaned up with both C18 and Florisil SPE columns. Residues are determined by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. The original method was modified for use with fatty fish by reducing the amount of tissue extracted and by using an improved Florisil SPE cleanup. Recovery data are presented for 24 fortified organochlorine pesticide residues (0.12 ppm) and 3 fortified PCB residues (0.80 ppm) from flounder, bluefish, and shad samples, which contained 0.8, 5.4, and 22.6% fat, respectively. For the 3 types of fish, recoveries of 23 of 24 fortified organochlorine pesticide residues ranged from 55 to 129%, and recoveries of 3 fortified PCB residues ranged from 55 to 104%. There were no significant differences in recovery based on fish species and/or fat content for the majority of residues studied. This SPE method and the official AOAC method yielded comparable results for fish containing incurred organochlorine residues.     

Anti-CD38 prevents the development of the adaptive response induced by X-rays in human lymphocytes

Irradiation of human lymphocytes (1 cGy X-rays, 37 degrees C) evoked an approximately 30% decrease in the frequency of micronuclei upon subsequent X-irradiation (1.5 Gy). The response was reflected in a lower micronucleus frequency but not in the DNA repair rate measured by the comet assay directly after the challenge dose. Treatment of lymphocytes with anti-CD38 antibody 1 h before irradiation with the adaptive dose prevented the development of the adaptive response measured as micronuclei frequency, but adaptation was not reflected in a lower rate of DNA repair, measured by the alkaline version of the 'comet' assay. In lymphocytes that were anti-CD38-treated and irradiated and or irradiated with the adaptive dose the rate of DNA repair was not changed. However, the mean DNA damage level in adapted anti-CD38-treated lymphocytes was significantly lower than that in the control lymphocytes at all time points. We conclude that ligation of CD38 by antibody initiates signalling that prevents the development of the adaptive response induced by X-rays. Lower chromosome damage revealed by the cytokinesis block-micronucleus test in the adapted lymphocytes is unrelated to DNA repair rate.     

Accurate determination of magnetic field gradients from four pointvector measurements. I. Use of natural constraints on vector dataobtained from a single spinning spacecraft

Cluster introduces a new generation of spacecraft that will measure the spatial gradients of the magnetic field in the Earth's magnetosphere. As gradients require knowledge of differences, small errors resulting from an inadequate knowledge of the orientations, zero levels and the scale factors of the magnetometer sensors affect the calculation of field gradients disproportionately and must be removed with high accuracy. We show that twelve calibration parameters are required for each of the spacecraft (for a total of 48 for the four spacecraft) to correctly infer the measured magnetic fields at each of the spacecraft. By application of a Fourier transform technique, some of the parameters can be recovered. We show that errors in eight of the twelve calibration parameters generate coherent monochromatic signals at the first and the second harmonics of the spin frequency in the despun data. We relate the real and the imaginary parts of the monochromatic signals to the eight calibration parameters. We then present a least squares scheme that improves the eight calibration parameters by iteration until the power of the coherent signal superimposed above the broad-band background is minimized     

Representing context, cognition, and crew performance in a shutdown risk assessment

This paper presents a potentially practical treatment of dynamic operator-system interactions. The approach employs a dynamic event tree framework to explicitly address plant dynamics, system indications, crew-plant interactions, time available, crew cognition, errors of commission (mistakes), and multiple planning and diagnosis possibilities. The approach is applied in an analysis of a hypothesize medium break loss of coolant accident for a test reactor that occurs during plant shutdown. This transient was selected on the basis of: a significant cognitive component being present, high consequences being associated with operator actions, and the importance of event timing to scenario progression. The results presented show how quantitative risk predictions are affected by the treatment of dynamics, and demonstrate how non-proceduralized recovery actions and a number of performance shaping factors (e.g., crew experience, stress, and confidence) can be explicitly treated. Insights and lessons learned regarding the performance of a dynamic assessment are also presented.     

Sequential discrete multilevel automated system for recording electron-diffraction patterns

This article considers a discrete sequential multilevel automated system for recording electron-diffraction patterns. A comparative analysis is presented, along with experimental results that make it possible to evaluate the effectiveness of the technical decisions on which the device is based. The general design of the system is presented. Translated from Izmeritel'naya Tekhnika No. 5, pp. 16–18, May, 1996.