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At least 19 records

The Iterative Processing Framework: A New Paradigm for Automatic Event Building

Abstract In a traditional data-processing pipeline, waveforms are acquired, a detector makes the signal detections (i.e., arrival times, slownesses, and azimuths) and passes them to an associator. The associator then links the detections to the fitting-event hypotheses to generate an event bulletin. Most of the time, this traditional pipeline requires substantial human-analyst involvement to improve the quality of the resulting event bulletin. For the year 2017, for instance, International Data Center (IDC) analysts rejected about 40% of the events in the automatic bulletin and manually built 30% of the legitimate events. Here, we introduce an iterative processing framework (IPF) that includes a new data-processing module that incorporates automatic analyst behaviors (auto analyst [AA]) into the event-building pipeline. In the proposed framework, through an iterative process, the AA takes over many of the tasks traditionally performed by human analysts. These tasks can be grouped into two major processes: (1) evaluating small events with a low number of location-defining arrival phases to improve their formation; and (2) scanning for and exploiting unassociated arrivals to form potential events missed by previous association runs. To test the proposed framework, we processed a two-week period (15–28 May 2010) of the signal-detections dataset from the IDC. Comparison with an expert analyst-reviewed bulletin for the same time period suggests that IPF performs better than the traditional pipelines (IDC and baseline pipelines). The majority of the additional events built by the AA are low-magnitude events that were missed by these traditional pipelines. The AA also adds additional signal detections to existing events, which saves analyst time, even if the event locations are not significantly affected.

58 GEOSCIENCES↗

Development of remote sensing technology in New Zealand, part 1. Seismotectonic, structural, volcanologic and geomorphic study of New Zealand, part 2. Indigenous forest assessment, part 3. Mapping land use and environmental studies in New Zealand, part 4. New Zealand forest service LANDSAT projects, part 5. Vegetation map and landform map of Aupouri Peninsula, Northland, part 6. Geographical applications of LANDSAT mapping, part 7

The author has identified the following significant results. Inspection of pixels obtained from LANDSAT of New Zealand revealed that not only can ships and their wakes be detected, but that information on the size, state of motion, and direction of movement was inferred by calculating the total number of pixels occupied by the vessel and wake, the orientation of these pixels, and the sum of their radiance values above the background level. Computer enhanced images showing the Waimihia State Forest and much of Kaingaroa State Forest on 22 December 1975 were examined. Most major forest categories were distinguished on LANDSAT imagery. However, the LANDSAT imagery seemed to be most useful for updating and checking existing forest maps, rather than making new maps with many forest categories. Snow studies were performed using two basins: Six Mile Creek and Mt. Robert. The differences in radiance levels indicated that a greater areal snow cover in Six Mile Creek Basin with the effect of lower radiance values from vegetation/snow regions. A comparison of the two visible bands (MSS 4 and 5) demonstrate this difference for the two basins.

Probine, M. C.↗

New materials: Fountainhead for new technologies and new science

The role of materials as the benchmark technologies which give epochs of human history their names continues into the present. The discovery of new materials has nearly always been the source of new materials science, and frequently of new technologies. This paper analyzes the actual processes by which new materials are synthesized, i.e. whether driven by serendipitous observations, new knowledge is pulled by the market, or integrated into a technological thrust. This analysis focuses on modern ceramic materials discoveries, since World War 2 and uses 45 years experience in materials synthesis in the author's own laboratory as case studies. A dozen different families of materials or processes are involved: hydrothermal reactions; sol-gel processing; clays and zeolites; electroceramics; zero expansion ceramics; diamond films; and radioactive waste host phases. Nanocomposite concepts introduced by the author a decade ago offer an entire, large, new class of materials which will dominate synthesis for the next period. The future of materials research for the next 25 years cannot be extrapolated from the past 25 years. We are near the asymptote for materials utilization in most metals. Likewise we are approaching saturation in improvement of many useful properties. Justifying much further 'basic' R/D for incremental improvement in civilian-oriented industries will not be easy. In materials synthesis, the near-term future is sure to emphasize not new phases, but tailored micro- and nanocomposites for chemical, electrical, optical, and magnetic uses. Unexpected new discoveries such as the Lanxide process may offer rarer chances for step function advances. The new structure of knowledge management will rely less on local research than on integration of worldwide inputs. Better scientific and technological opportunities will lie in designing knowledge intensive materials to meet the new environmental and conservation goals, and the human needs of the very large numbers at the bottom of the socio-economic structures of the world.

Rustum, Roy↗

Liebermannite, KAlSi3 O8 , a new shock-metamorphic, high-pressure mineral from the Zagami Martian meteorite

© The Meteoritical Society, 2017. In this paper, we discuss the occurrence of liebermannite (IMA 2013-128), KAlSi3O8, a new, shock-generated, high-pressure tetragonal hollandite-type structure silicate mineral, in the Zagami basaltic shergottite meteorite. Liebermannite crystallizes in space group I4/m with Z = 2, cell dimensions of a = 9.15 ± 0.14 (1σ) Å, c = 2.74 ± 0.13 Å, and a cell volume of 229 ± 19 Å3 (for the type material), as revealed by synchrotron diffraction. In Zagami, liebermannite likely formed via solid-state transformation of primary igneous K-feldspar during an impact event that achieved pressures of ~20 GPa or more. The mineral name is in honor of Robert C. Liebermann, a high-pressure mineral physicist at Stony Brook University, New York, USA.

Ma, Chi↗

New Type of 2D Perovskites with Alternating Cations in the Interlayer Space, (C(NH 2 ) 3 )(CH 3 NH 3 ) n Pb n I 3 n +1 : Structure, Properties, and Photovoltaic Performance

In this study, we present the new homologous series (C(NH 2 ) 3 )(CH 3 NH 3 ) n Pb n I3 n+1 (n = 1, 2, 3) of layered 2D perovskites. Structural characterization by single-crystal X-ray diffraction reveals that these compounds adopt an unprecedented structure type, which is stabilized by the alternating ordering of the guanidinium and methylammonium cations in the interlayer space (ACI). Compared to the more common Ruddlesden–Popper (RP) 2D perovskites, the ACI perovskites have a different stacking motif and adopt a higher crystal symmetry. The higher symmetry of the ACI perovskites is expressed in their physical properties, which show a characteristic decrease of the bandgap with respect to their RP perovskite counterparts with the same perovskite layer thickness (n). The compounds show a monotonic decrease in the optical gap as n increases: E g = 2.27 eV for n = 1 to E g = 1.99 eV for n = 2 and E g = 1.73 eV for n = 3, which show slightly narrower gaps compared to the corresponding RP perovskites. First-principles theoretical electronic structure calculations confirm the experimental optical gap trends suggesting that the ACI perovskites are direct bandgap semiconductors with wide valence and conduction bandwidths. To assess the potential of the ACI perovskites toward solar cell applications, we studied the (C(NH 2 ) 3 )(CH 3 NH 3 ) 3 Pb 3 I 10 (n = 3) compound. Compact thin films from the (C(NH 2 ) 3 )(CH 3 NH 3 ) 3 Pb 3 I 10 compound with excellent surface coverage can be obtained from the antisolvent dripping method. Planar photovoltaic devices from optimized ACI perovskite films yield a power-conversion-efficiency of 7.26% with a high open-circuit voltage of ~1 V and a striking fill factor of ~80%.

14 SOLAR ENERGY↗

Seismotectonic, structural, volcanologic, and geomorphic study of New Zealand; indigenous forest assessment in New Zealand; mapping, land use, and environmental studies in New Zealand, volume 1

The author has identified the following significant results. Results of the atmospheric extinction measurements show clearly the greater opacity of the atmosphere in MSS band 4 which is due to Rayleigh scattering. Atmospheric water vapor absorbs strongly in a wide region between 900 nm and 1000 nm, and this results in a consistently higher extinction coefficient than would otherwise be expected in MSS band 7. The short term fluctuations tend to be greater in band 7 than in the other bands, and this effect is probably due to variations of water vapor concentration in the instrument line of sight. These high extinction coefficients and short term fluctuations in band 7 were observed at Menindee which is in a semi-desert region in western New South Wales.

Probine, M. C.↗

Primordial lithium - New reaction rates, new abundances, new constraints

Newly measured nuclear reaction rates for H-3(alpha, gamma)Li-7 (higher than previous values) and Li-7(p, alpha)He-4 (lower than previous values) are shown to increase the Li-7 yield from big band nucleosynthesis for lower baryon-to-photon ratio (less than about 4 x 10 to the 10th). Recent revisions in the He-3(alpha, gamma)Be-7 and the D(p, gamma)He-3 rates enhance the high (greater than 4 x 10 to the 10th) Li-7(Be) production. New, independent determinations of Li abundances in extreme population II stars are in excellent agreement with the work of Spites and give continued confidence in the use of Li-7 in big bang baryon density determinations.

Kawano, Lawrence↗

Post-Viking microbiology: new approaches, new data, new insights

In the 20 years since the Viking experiments, major advances have been made in the areas of microbial systematics, microbial metabolism, microbial survival capacity, and the definition of environments on earth, suggesting that life is more versatile and tenacious than was previously appreciated. Almost all niches on earth which have available energy, and which are compatible with the chemistry of carbon-carbon bonds, are known to be inhabited by bacteria. The oldest known bacteria on earth apparently evolved soon after the formation of the planet, and are heat loving, hydrogen and/or sulfur metabolizing forms. Among the two microbial domains (kingdoms) is a great deal of metabolic diversity, with members of these forms being able to grow on almost any known energy source, organic or inorganic, and to utilize an impressive array of electron acceptors for anaerobic respiration. Both hydrothermal environments and the deep subsurface environments have been shown to support large populations of bacteria, growing on energy supplied by geothermal energy, thus isolating these ecosystems from the rest of the global biogeochemical cycles. This knowledge, coupled with new insights into the history of the solar system, allow one to speculate on possible evolution and survival of life forms on Mars.

Review↗

Scale tests of the new DUNE data pipeline

In preparation for the second runs of the ProtoDUNE detectors at CERN (NP02 and NP04)[1], DUNE has established a new data pipeline for bringing the data from the EHN-1 experimental hall at CERN to primary tape storage at Fermilab and CERN, and then spreading it out to a distributed disk data store at many locations around the world. This system includes a new Ingest Daemon and a new Declaration Daemon. The Rucio[2] replica catalog, and FTS3 transport are used to transport all files. All file metadata is declared to the new MetaCat[3] metadata service. All of these new components have been successfully tested at a scale equal to the expected output of the detector data acquisition system (~2-4 GB/s), and the expected network bandwidth out of the experimental hall. We present the procedure that was used to test and the results of the test.

Timm, Steven↗

Solar Models in Light of New High Metallicity Measurements from Solar Wind Data

We study the impact of new metallicity measurements, from solar wind data, on the solar model. The “solar modeling problem” refers to the persisting discrepancy between helioseismological observations and predictions of solar models computed implementing state-of-the-art photospheric abundances. We critically reassess the problem, in particular considering the new set of abundances of von Steiger and Zurbuchen, determined through the in situ collection of solar wind samples from polar coronal holes. This new set of abundances indicates a solar metallicity Z{sub ⊙}⩾0.0196±0.0014, significantly higher than the currently established value. The new values hint at an abundance of volatile elements (i.e., C, N, O, Ne) close to previous results of Grevesse and Sauval, whereas the abundance of refractory elements (i.e., Mg, Si, S, Fe) is considerably increased. Using the Linear Solar Model formalism, we determine the variation of helioseismological observables in response to the changes in elemental abundances, in order to explore the consistency of these new measurements with constraints from helioseismology. We find that for observables that are particularly sensitive to the abundance of volatile elements, in particular the radius of the convective zone boundary (CZB) and the sound speed around the radius of CZB, improved agreement over previous models is obtained. Conversely, the high abundance of refractories correlates with a higher core temperature, resulting in an overproduction of neutrinos and a huge increase in the surface helium abundance. We conclude that the “solar modeling problem” remains unsolved.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

First-Principles Prediction of New Electrides with Nontrivial Band Topology Based on One-Dimensional Building Blocks

In this work, we introduce a new class of electrides with nontrivial band topology by coupling materials database searches and first-principles-calculations-based analysis. Cs 3 O and Ba 3 N are for the first time identified as a new class of electrides, consisting of one-dimensional (1D) nanorod building blocks. Their crystal structures mimic β-TiCl 3 with the position of anions and cations exchanged. Unlike the weakly coupled nanorods of β-TiCl 3 , Cs 3 O and Ba 3 N retain 1D anionic electrons along the hollow interrod sites; additionally, a strong interrod interaction in C 3 O and Ba 3 N induces band inversion in a 2D superatomic triangular lattice, resulting in Dirac-node lines. The new class of electrides can serve as a prototype for new electrides with a large cavity space that can be utilized for various applications such as gas storage, ion transport, and metal intercalation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

Opening New Frontiers in Space: Choices for the Next New Frontiers Announcement of Opportunity

NASA has initiated two missions in the New Frontiers Program and plans to issue an announcement of opportunity in 2008 to enable teams led by a principal investigator to compete for the third New Frontiers mission. NASA has asked the National Research Council to provide criteria and guiding principles for determining the list of candidate missions for this new competition. The New Frontiers Program was established at the recommendation of the 2003 National Research Council solar system exploration decadal survey, New Frontiers in the Solar System: An Integrated Exploration Strategy.1 The decadal survey recommended five medium-size missions as options for the New Frontiers Program. Three of those options remain to be implemented. In addition, the decadal survey listed five other medium-size missions that it did not specifically recommend for implementation. The Committee on New Opportunities in Solar System Exploration has sought to follow the guidance of the decadal survey in recommending principles for the next New Frontiers competition.

Source record↗

New York City Panel on Climate Change 2019 Report Chapter 2: New Methods for Assessing Extreme Temperatures, Heavy Downpours, and Drought

This New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC3) chapter builds on the projections developed by the second New York City Panel on Climate Change (NPCC2) (Horton et al., 2015). It confirms NPCC2 projections as those of record for the City of New York, presents new methodology related to climate extremes, and describes new methods for developing the next generation of climate projections for the New York metropolitan region. These may be used by the City of New York as it continues to develop flexible adaptation pathways to cope with climate change. The main topics of the climate science chapter are: (1) Comparison of observed temperature and precipitation trends to NPCC2 2015 projections. (2) New methodology for analysis of historical and future projections of heatwaves, humidity, and cold snaps. (3) Improved characterization of observed heavy downpours. (4) Characterization of observed drought using paleoclimate data. (5) Suggested methods for next generation climate risk information.

Gonzalez, Jorge E.↗

A new process sensitivity index to identify important system processes under process model and parametric uncertainty

Hydrological models are always composed of multiple components that represent processes key to intended model applications. When a process can be simulated by multiple conceptual-mathematical models (process models), model uncertainty in representing the process arises. While global sensitivity analysis methods have been widely used for identifying important processes in hydrologic modeling, the existing methods consider only parametric uncertainty but ignore the model uncertainty for process representation. To address this problem, this study develops a new method to probe multimodel process sensitivity by integrating the model averaging methods into the framework of variance-based global sensitivity analysis, given that the model averaging methods quantify both parametric and model uncertainty. A new process sensitivity index is derived as a metric of relative process importance, and the index includes variance in model outputs caused by uncertainty in both process models and model parameters. For demonstration, the new index is used to evaluate the processes of recharge and geology in a synthetic study of groundwater reactive transport modeling. The recharge process is simulated by two models that converting precipitation to recharge, and the geology process is also simulated by two models of different parameterizations of hydraulic conductivity; each process model has its own random parameters. The new process sensitivity index is mathematically general, and can be applied to a wide range of problems in hydrology and beyond.

Dai, Heng↗