Low-latitude ionospheric turbulence observed by Aureol-3 satellite

Using PSD (Power Spectral Density) data on electron density and electric field variations observed on board Aureol-3 satellite at low-to-mid-latitude ionosphere we analyze a scale distribution of the ionospheric turbulence in a form <i>k<sup>-α</sup></i>, where <i>k</i> is the wave number and α is the spectral index. At first, high-resolution data in the near-equator region for several orbits have been processed. In this case the frequency range is from 6Hz to 100Hz (corresponding spatial scales from 80m to 1.3km), each power spectrum obeys a single power law fairly well, and the mean spectral indices are rather stable with α<sub><i>N</i></sub>=2.2±0.3 and α<sub><i>E</i></sub>=1.8±0.2, for the density and electric field, respectively. Then we produce a statistical study of 96 electric field bursts in the frequency range 10-100Hz from low-time resolution data (filter bank envelope). These bursts concentrate on the side of the Equatorial Anomaly crest (geomagnetic latitude 30-40°). Spectral indices of the bursts vary in the interval α<sub><i>E</i></sub>=2.0-2.5 but are fairly stable in seasons and local times. The electric field power of the burst has rather a large variability but has a relative increase in mean values for the summer and winter, as well as the daytime. The effect of major seismic activities toward the ionospheric turbulence is not conclusive either for the refractive index or for the electric field power. However, the mean value for the electric field power of bursts during seismic periods is larger than that for non seismic periods, and the statistical difference of the mean values is rather significant

Improved model for the analysis of air fluorescence induced by electrons

A model recently proposed for the calculation of air-fluorescence yield excited by electrons is revisited. Improved energy distributions of secondary electrons and a more realistic Monte Carlo simulation including some additional processes have allowed us to obtain more accurate results. The model is used to study in detail the relationship between fluorescence intensity and deposited energy in a wide range of primary energy (keVs - GeVs). In addition, predictions on the absolute value of the fluorescence efficiency in the absence of collisional quenching will be presented and compared with available experimental data.Comment: Contribution to the 5th Fluorescence Workshop, El Escorial, Madrid, Spain, September 2007, to appear in Nuclear Instruments and Methods A. Revised version.- More details on the comparison with experimental dat

Search for the disappearance of muon antineutrinos in the NuMI neutrino beam

We report constraints on muon antineutrino oscillation parameters that were obtained by using the two MINOS detectors to measure the 7% antineutrino component of the NuMI neutrino beam. In the Far Detector, we select 130 events in the charged-current muon antineutrino sample, compared to a prediction of 136.4 +/- 11.7(stat) ^{+10.2}_{-8.9}(syst) events under the assumption |dm2bar|=2.32x10^-3 eV^2, snthetabar=1.0. A fit to the two-flavor oscillation approximation constrains |dm2bar|<3.37x10^-3 eV^2 at the 90% confidence level with snthetabar=1.0

Possible seismo-ionosphere perturbations revealed by VLF signals collected on ground and on a satellite

The results of the monitoring of three VLF/LF signals collected in Petropavlovsk station (Kamchatka, Russia) and one VLF signal collected on board of the DEMETER French satellite are presented. Two periods of the seismic activity occurred in the Japan-Kamchatka area during November–December 2004 and July–September 2005 were investigated and the earthquakes with M≥6.0 in the Japan-Kamchatka area, located inside one or more of the third Fresnel zones of the three radio paths were considered. The ground data were analysed using residual signal of phase <i>dP</i> or of amplitude <i>dA</i>, defined as the difference between the signal and the average of few quiet days (±5 days) immediately preceding or following the current day. Also the satellite data were processed by a method based on the difference between the real signal and the reference one, but in order to obtain this last signal it was necessary to construct previously a model of the signal distribution over the selected area. The method consists: (a) in averaging all the data available in the considered region over a period characterized by low level seismicity, regardless of the global disturbances, in particular, of the magnetic activity; (b) in computing a polynomial expression for the surface as a function of the longitude and the latitude. The model well describes the real data in condition of their completeness and in absence of magnetic storms or seismic forcing. In the quoted periods of seismic activity clear anomalies both in the ground and in satellite data were revealed. The influence of the geomagnetic activity cannot to be excluded, but the seismic forcing seems more probable

Building governance and energy efficiency: Mapping the interdisciplinary challenge

Improving the energy efficiency of multi-owned properties (MoPs)—commonly known as apartment or condominium buildings—is central to the achievement of European energy targets. However, little work to date has focused on how to facilitate retrofit in this context. Drawing on interdisciplinary Social Sciences and Humanities expertise in academia, policy and practice, this chapter posits that decision-making processes within MoPs might provide a key to the retrofit challenge. Existing theories or models of decision-making, applied in the MoP context, might help to explain how collective retrofit decisions are taken—or overlooked. Insights from case studies and practitioners are also key. Theories of change might then be employed to develop strategies to facilitate positive retrofit decisions. The chapter maps the issues and sets an agenda for further interdisciplinary research in this novel area

The relationship between auroral hiss at high altitudes over the polar caps and the substorm dynamics of aurora

Strong variations of intensity and cutoff frequency of the auroral hiss were observed by INTERBALL-2 and POLAR satellites at high altitudes, poleward from the auroral oval. The hiss intensifications are correlated with the auroral activations during substorms and/or pseudo-breakups. The low cutoff frequency of auroral hiss increases with the distance between the aurora and the satellite footprint. Multicomponent wave measurements of the hiss emissions on board the POLAR spacecraft show that the horizontal component of the Poynting flux of auroral hiss changes its direction in good accordance with longitudinal displacements of the bright auroras. The vertical component of the Poynting flux is directed upward from the aurora region, indicating that hiss could be generated by upgoing electron beams. This relationship between hiss and the aurora dynamics means that the upgoing electron beams are closely related to downgoing electron beams which produce the aurora. During the auroral activations the upgoing and downgoing beams move and change their intensities simultaneously.<br><br> <b>Keywords.</b> Magnetospheric physics (Auroral phenomena; Plasma waves and instabilities; Storms and substorms

Comparison of available measurements of the absolute fluorescence yield

The uncertainty in the absolute value of the fluorescence yield is still one of the main contributions to the total error in the reconstruction of the primary energy of ultra-energetic air showers using the fluorescence technique. A significant number of experimental values of the fluorescence yield have been published in the last years, however reported results are given very often in different units (photons/MeV or photons/m) and for different wavelength intervals. In this work we present a comparison of available results normalized to its value in photons/MeV for the 337 nm band at 800 hPa and 293 K. The conversion of photons/m to photons/MeV requires an accurate determination of the energy deposited by the electrons in the field of view of the experimental setup. We have calculated the energy deposition for each experiment by means of a detailed Monte Carlo simulation including when possible the geometrical details of the particular setup. Our predictions on deposited energy, as well as on some geometrical factors, have been compared with those reported by the authors of the corresponding experiments and possible corrections to the fluorescence yields are proposed.Comment: 29 pages, 5 figures Revised version submitted to Astroparticle Physic

Search for the disappearance of muon antineutrinos in the NuMI neutrino beam

We report constraints on antineutrino oscillation parameters that were obtained by using the two MINOS detectors to measure the 7% muon antineutrino component of the NuMI neutrino beam. In the Far Detector, we select 130 events in the charged-current muon antineutrino sample, compared to a prediction of 136.4 ± 11.7(stat)^(+10.2)_(-8.9)(syst) events under the assumption │Δm^2│ = 2.32 X 10^(-3) eV^2, sin^2(2θ) = 1.0

Functional and symptom impact of trametinib versus chemotherapy in BRAF V600E advanced or metastatic melanoma: quality-of-life analyses of the METRIC study

We report the first quality-of-life assessment of a MEK inhibitor in metastatic melanoma from a phase III study. Trametinib prolonged progression-free survival and improved overall survival versus chemotherapy in patients with BRAF V600 mutation-positive melanoma. Less functional impairment, smaller declines in health status, and less exacerbation of symptoms were observed with trametini