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At least 1,801 records · Page 100

THE ARIZONA RADIO OBSERVATORY CO MAPPING SURVEY OF GALACTIC MOLECULAR CLOUDS. IV. THE NGC 1333 CLOUD IN PERSEUS IN CO J = 2-1 AND {sup 13}CO J = 2-1

We mapped the NGC 1333 section of the Perseus Molecular Cloud in the J = 2-1 emission lines of {sup 12}CO and {sup 13}CO over a 50' × 60' region (3.4 × 4.1 pc at the cloud distance of 235 pc), using the Arizona Radio Observatory Heinrich Hertz Submillimeter Telescope. The angular resolution is 38'' (0.04 pc) and velocity resolution is 0.3 km s{sup –1}. We compare our velocity moment maps with known positions of young stellar objects (YSOs) and (sub)millimeter dust continuum emission. The CO emission is brightest at the center of the cluster of YSOs, but is detected over the full extent of the mapped region at ≥10 × rms. The morphology of the CO channel maps shows a kinematically complex structure, with many elongated features extending from the YSO cluster outward by ∼1 pc. One notable feature appears as a narrow serpentine structure that curves and doubles back, with a total length of ∼3 pc. The {sup 13}CO velocity channel maps show evidence for many low-density cavities surrounded by partial shell-like structures, consistent with previous studies. Maps of the velocity moments show localized effects of bipolar outflows from embedded YSOs, as well as a large-scale velocity gradient around the central core of YSOs, suggestive of large-scale turbulent cloud motions determining the location of current star formation. The CO/{sup 13}CO intensity ratios show the distribution of the CO opacity, which exhibits a complex kinematic structure. Identified YSOs are located mainly at the positions of greatest CO opacity. The maps are available for download as FITS files.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Specific features of waveguide recombination in laser structures with asymmetric barrier layers

The spatial distribution of the intensity of the emission caused by recombination appearing at a high injection level (up to 30 kA/cm{sup 2}) in the waveguide layer of a GaAs/AlGaAs laser structure with GaInP and AlGaInAs asymmetric barrier layers is studied by means of near-field scanning optical microscopy. It is found that the waveguide luminescence in such a laser, which is on the whole less intense as compared to that observed in a similar laser without asymmetric barriers, is non-uniformly distributed in the waveguide, so that the distribution maximum is shifted closer to the p-type cladding layer. This can be attributed to the ability of the GaInP barrier adjoining the quantum well on the side of the n-type cladding layer to suppress the hole transport.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Transport properties of cobalt monosilicide and its alloys at low temperatures

The electrical resistivity and thermopower of cobalt monosilicide (CoSi) and dilute alloys of CoSi with iron at temperatures from 2 to 370 K are experimentally investigated. CoSi is a semimetal and considered to be a promising thermoelectric material. It crystallizes into the cubic structure without an inversion center. This feature suggests the existence of topologically nontrivial electronic states and makes CoSi a candidate for the Weyl semimetal class. The main goal of the study is to find experimental confirmation of this assignment. It is shown that the experimental temperature dependences of the electrical resistivity and thermopower of CoSi and Co{sub 1–x}Fe{sub x}Si (x = 0.04) at low temperatures cannot be interpreted within the standard theory of conductivity in metals and may be related to topological features of the electronic structure of this compound.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Crystallographic Features of the α-Phase Structure in Hafnium and Hafnium–Titanium Alloys

The structure of a hafnium crystal undergoing β → α (bcc → hcp) polymorphic transformation upon gradual cooling and the structure of Hf{sub 55}Ti{sub 45} and Hf{sub 30}Ti{sub 70} alloys formed under various kinetic conditions of polymorphic transformation are studied. The structure of the α phase in cast hafnium is shown to consist of lath crystals grouped into packets. The misorientations between separate laths in a packet are less than 1°. The Hf–Ti alloys in the cast state exhibit a mixed structure consisting of α-phase crystals of several morphological types. A structure of packet martensite is observed in the Hf–Ti alloys after quenching. Each packet includes laths of several crystallographic orientations. There is no regular alternation of differently orientated laths in the packet. The same set of α-phase orientations within an initial β-phase grain is observed independently of the cooling rate of the Hf–Ti alloys upon β → α polymorphic transformation. The misorientation of substructural elements within an α-phase crystal in the Hf–Ti alloys is ~5° for the cast state and ~2.2° after quenching.

75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS, SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND↗

Baroclinic adjustment and midlatitude temperature profiles

A baroclinic adjustment that alters the vertical temperature structure and shows how features of the observed midlatitude temperature structure can be understood in terms of such an adjustment is presented. The formulation of the adjustment and its properties are described, giving a comparison between observed and adjusted profiles. Results from a simple model for the midlatitude atmosphere's vertical temperature structure that display such an adjustment are presented, and a comparison is made between the adjustment and two-layer model stability. The results suggest that vertical heat fluxes from baroclinically unstable waves can produce significant variations of midlatitude lapse rates in both height and time. Midlatitude models that omit these variations may be missing an important aspect of wave-mean flow interaction.

Gutowski, W. J., Jr.↗

A possible radiation-resistant solar cell geometry using superlattices

A solar cell structure is proposed which uses a GaAs nipi doping superlattice. An important feature of this structure is that photogenerated minority carriers are very quickly collected in a time shorter than bulk lifetime in the fairly heavily doped n and p layers and these carriers are then transported parallel to the superlattice layers to selective ohmic contacts. Assuming that these already-separated carriers have very long recombination lifetimes, due to their across an indirect bandgap in real space, it is argued that the proposed structure may exhibit superior radiation tolerance along with reasonably high beginning-of-life efficiency.

Goradia, C.↗

A proposed GaAs-based superlattice solar cell structure with high efficiency and high radiation tolerance

A solar cell structure is proposed which uses a GaAs nipi doping superlattice. An important feature of this structure is that photogenerated minority carriers are very quickly collected in a time shorter than bulk lifetime in the fairly heavily doped n and p layers and these carriers are then transported parallel to the superlattice layers to selective ohmic contacts. Assuming that these already-separated carriers have very long recombination lifetimes, due to their being across an indirect bandgap in real space, it is argued that the proposed structure may exhibit superior radiation tolerance along with reasonably high beginning-of-life efficiency.

Goradia, Chandra↗

Mid-infrared Study of Stones from the Sutters Mill Meteorite

The Sutter's Mill meteorite fell in northern California on April 22, 2012, and numerous pieces have been recovered and studied with several analytical techniques [1]. We present a Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy analysis of fragments from several stones of the meteorite. Methods and analysis: Infrared spectra of samples SM2 and SM12 were recorded with a Nicolet iN10 MX FTIR microscope in the mid-IR range (4000-650/cm; spectral resolution 4/cm), while samples SM20 and SM30 were analyzed with a synchrotron-based Nicolet Continuum IR microscope in the same range. Samples were deposited on a clean glass slide, crushed with either a stainless steel roller tool or between 2 slides, and placed directly on the focal plane of the microscopes. Results: IR spectra of non-fusion crust samples show several absorption features associated with minerals such as olivines, phyllosilicates, carbonates (calcite and dolomite), and pyroxenes, as well as organics [2]. The carbonates display a main, broad band centered at 1433/cm, with additional bands at 2515/cm, 1797/cm, 882/cm, and 715/cm. Features associated with phyllosilicates include a symmetric Si-O stretching mode band centered at 1011/cm and several O-H stretching mode bands―a broad band centered at 3415/cm that is probably due to adsorbed H2O, and occasionally a much weaker, narrower feature centered near 3680/cm due to structural O-H. Features observed in the 2985-2855/cm range suggest the presence of aliphatic -CH3 and -CH2- groups. However, some of these bands show unusual relative intensities, mainly because of carbonate overtone bands that fall in the same spectral range, which can make the identification of C-H stretching bands problematic. The positions and relative strengths of the aliphatic -CH2- and -CH3 features, where they can be distinguished from overlapping carbonate bands, are consistent with those in interplanetary dust particles (IDPs) and Murchison. Finally, the absence of a strong C=O absorption feature near 1700/cm distinguishes the organics in the Sutter's Mill meteorite from that in most IDPs and in Murchison, but is consistent with the organic matter in Tagish Lake.

mid-infrared study↗

Security system

A security system includes a structure having a structural surface. The structure is sized to contain an asset therein and configured to provide a forceful breaching delay. The structure has an opening formed therein to permit predetermined access to the asset contained within the structure. The structure includes intrusion detection features within or associated with the structure that are activated in response to at least a partial breach of the structure.

42 ENGINEERING↗

Structural Similarities and Differences between Two Functionally Distinct SecA Proteins, Mycobacterium tuberculosis SecA1 and SecA2

While SecA is the ATPase component of the major bacterial secretory (Sec) system, mycobacteria and some Gram-positive pathogens have a second paralog, SecA2. In bacteria with two SecA paralogs, each SecA is functionally distinct, and they cannot compensate for one another. Compared to SecA1, SecA2 exports a distinct and smaller set of substrates, some of which have roles in virulence. In the mycobacterial system, some SecA2-dependent substrates lack a signal peptide, while others contain a signal peptide but possess features in the mature protein that necessitate a role for SecA2 in their export. It is unclear how SecA2 functions in protein export, and one open question is whether SecA2 works with the canonical SecYEG channel to export proteins. In this study, we report the structure of Mycobacterium tuberculosis SecA2 (MtbSecA2), which is the first structure of any SecA2 protein. A high level of structural similarity is observed between SecA2 and SecA1. The major structural difference is the absence of the helical wing domain, which is likely to play a role in how MtbSecA2 recognizes its unique substrates. Importantly, structural features critical to the interaction between SecA1 and SecYEG are preserved in SecA2. Furthermore, suppressor mutations of a dominant-negative secA2 mutant map to the surface of SecA2 and help identify functional regions of SecA2 that may promote interactions with SecYEG or the translocating polypeptide substrate. Here, these results support a model in which the mycobacterial SecA2 works with SecYEG. SecA2 is a paralog of SecA1, which is the ATPase of the canonical bacterial Sec secretion system. SecA2 has a nonredundant function with SecA1, and SecA2 exports a distinct and smaller set of substrates than SecA1. This work reports the crystal structure of SecA2 of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the first SecA2 structure reported for any organism). Many of the structural features of SecA1 are conserved in the SecA2 structure, including putative contacts with the SecYEG channel. Several structural differences are also identified that could relate to the unique function and selectivity of SecA2. Suppressor mutations of a secA2 mutant map to the surface of SecA2 and help identify functional regions of SecA2 that may promote interactions with SecYEG.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Enhanced Imaging of Corrosion in Aircraft Structures with Reverse Geometry X-ray(registered tm)

The application of Reverse Geometry X-ray to the detection and characterization of corrosion in aircraft structures is presented. Reverse Geometry X-ray is a unique system that utilizes an electronically scanned x-ray source and a discrete detector for real time radiographic imaging of a structure. The scanned source system has several advantages when compared to conventional radiography. First, the discrete x-ray detector can be miniaturized and easily positioned inside a complex structure (such as an aircraft wing) enabling images of each surface of the structure to be obtained separately. Second, using a measurement configuration with multiple detectors enables the simultaneous acquisition of data from several different perspectives without moving the structure or the measurement system. This provides a means for locating the position of flaws and enhances separation of features at the surface from features inside the structure. Data is presented on aircraft specimens with corrosion in the lap joint. Advanced laminographic imaging techniques utilizing data from multiple detectors are demonstrated to be capable of separating surface features from corrosion in the lap joint and locating the corrosion in multilayer structures. Results of this technique are compared to computed tomography cross sections obtained from a microfocus x-ray tomography system. A method is presented for calibration of the detectors of the Reverse Geometry X-ray system to enable quantification of the corrosion to within 2%.

Winfree, William P.↗

An extended N-H bond, driven by a conserved second-order interaction, orients the flavin N5 orbital in cholesterol oxidase

The protein microenvironment surrounding the flavin cofactor in flavoenzymes is key to the efficiency and diversity of reactions catalysed by this class of enzymes. X-ray diffraction structures of oxidoreductase flavoenzymes have revealed recurrent features which facilitate catalysis, such as a hydrogen bond between a main chain nitrogen atom and the flavin redox center (N5). A neutron diffraction study of cholesterol oxidase has revealed an unusual elongated main chain nitrogen to hydrogen bond distance positioning the hydrogen atom towards the flavin N5 reactive center. Investigation of the structural features which could cause such an unusual occurrence revealed a positively charged lysine side chain, conserved in other flavin mediated oxidoreductases, in a second shell away from the FAD cofactor acting to polarize the peptide bond through interaction with the carbonyl oxygen atom. Double-hybrid density functional theory calculations confirm that this electrostatic arrangement affects the N-H bond length in the region of the flavin reactive center. We propose a novel second-order partial-charge interaction network which enables the correct orientation of the hydride receiving orbital of N5. The implications of these observations for flavin mediated redox chemistry are discussed.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Advanced Data Structures for Improved Cyber Resilience and Awareness in Untrusted Environments: LDRD Report

This report summarizes the work performed under the project "Advanced Data Structures for Improved Cyber Resilience and Awareness in Untrusted Environments." The goal of the project was to design, analyze, and test new data structures for cybersecurity applications. We had two major thrusts: 1) using new/improved write-optimized data structures and/or algorithms to better man- age and analyze high-speed massive-volume cyberstreams, and 2) adding security features to data structures at minimum cost. Write optimization allows data structures to better use secondary memory to store and search a larger amount of useful information. Secondary memory is large compared to main memory, but data movement to and from secondary memory must be carefully managed to run quickly enough to keep up with fast streams. The first thrust included managing cyberstreams in parallel, both multi-threaded and distributed, and improving the benchmarking infrastructure for testing new streaming data structures. We considered both (near) real-time discovery of particular patterns, and improved logging for improved forensics. We considered two kinds of security-feature problem. The first was high-performance history- independent external-memory data structures. These provide certain protections to data if a disk is stolen. We also prove some trade-offs between speed and security in this setting. The second data-security problem is more secure data look-up in secret-shared data bases. This report summarizes the project's major accomplishments, with the background to under- stand these accomplishments. It gathers the abstracts and references for the six refereed publications that have appeared as part of this work. We summarize several accomplishments that will be submitted for publication. We then archive one piece of partial work that is not likely to be published in the near future: validation of history-independent data structure implementations.

97 MATHEMATICS AND COMPUTING↗

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