Energy determination of gamma-ray induced air showers observed by an extensive air shower array

ASTRI SST-2M is one of the prototypes of the small size class of telescopes proposed for the Cherenkov Telescope Array. Its optical design is based on a dual-mirror Schwarzschild-Couder configuration, and the camera is composed by a matrix of monolithic multipixel silicon photomultipliers managed by ad-hoc tailored front-end electronics. This paper describes the procedures for the gain calibration on the ASTRI SST-2M. Since the SiPM gain depends on the operative voltage and the temperature, we adjust the operative voltages for all sensors to have equal gains at a reference temperature. We then correct gain variations caused by temperature changes by adjusting the operating voltage of each sensor. For that purpose the SiPM gain dependence on operating voltage and on temperature have been measured. In addition, we present the calibration procedures and the results of the experimental measurements to evaluate, for each pixel, the parameters necessary to make the trigger uniform over the whole focal plane.     

Extracellular release of β-lactamase by osmotic shock inSynechococcus transformant

A unicellular cyanobacteriumSynechococcus sp. strain PCC 7002 was transformed with plasmid pQL1, on which β-lactamase gene (bla) and β-galactosidase gene (lacZ) were encoded. The transformant cells released β-lactamase into medium by an abrupt drop of osmotic pressure. This result indicates that this cyanobacterium recognizes and processes the signal sequence of β-lactamase, and accumulates the enzyme in periplasm. Repeated release of β-lactamase was possible by repeated osmotic shocks wihout, impairing cell viability. On the other hand, most of the β-galactosidase remained in cytoplasm under the osmotic shock.

     

Numerical simulation of a possible origin of the positive radial metallicity gradient of the thick disk

We analyze the radial and vertical metallicity and [α/Fe] gradients of the disk stars of a disk galaxy simulated in a fully cosmological setting with the chemodynamical galaxy evolution code GCD+. We study how the radial abundance gradients vary as a function of height above the plane and find that the metallicity([α/Fe]) gradient becomes more positive(negative) with increasing height, changing sign around1.5 kpc above the plane. At the largest vertical height(2 |z| 3 kpc), our simulated galaxy shows a positive radial metallicity gradient. We find that the positive metallicity gradient is caused by the age-metallicity and age-velocity dispersion relation, where younger stars have higher metallicity and lower velocity dispersion. Due to the agevelocity dispersion relation, a greater fraction of younger stars reaches |z| 2 kpc at the outer region, because of the lower gravitational restoring force of the disk, i.e.flaring. As a result, the fraction of younger stars with higher metallicity due to the age-metallicity relation becomes higher at the outer radii, which makes the median metallicity higher at the outer radii. Combining this result with the recently observed age-metallicity and age-velocity dispersion relation for the Milky Way thick disk stars suggested by Haywood et al., we argue that the observed(small) positive radial metallicity gradient at large heights of the Milky Way disk stars can be explained by flaring of the younger thick and/or thin disk stars.     

Thermal emission from a multiple scattering model of Saturn's rings

Models of Saturn's B ring have been investigated which include the shadowing mechanism, realistic phase functions for the ring particles, and the effects of multiple scattering and a particle size dispersion. These models are based on the assumption that the rings form a layer many particles thick. A power law relation dn ∝ ?^?s is used for the size dispersion law of the ring particles, where dn is the number of particles with radii between ? and ? + d?. In the calculation of the infrared brightness temperature of the rings, the effect of mutual heating among the ring particles is considered quantitatively for the first time. The parameters of the polydisperse s = 2 model can be chosen to satisfy both optical (λ ? 1.1 μ) and infrared data, but the situation could be much clarified if a good phase curve for the rings were available in the red, if the ring brightness were known accurately for λ > 1 μ, and if it could be established whether the ring particles are rotating synchronously.     

Damage to coastal villages due to the 1992 Flores Island earthquake tsunami

A field survey of the 1992 Flores Island earthquake tsunami was conducted during December 29, 1992 to January 5, 1993 along the north coast of the eastern part of Flores Island. We visited over 40 villages, measured tsunami heights, and interviewed the inhabitants. It was clarified that the first wave attacked the coast within five minutes at most of the surveyed villages. The crust was uplifted west of the Cape of Batumanuk, and subsided east of it. In the residential area of Wuring, which is located on a sand spit with ground height of 2 meters, most wooden houses built on stilts collapsed and 87 people were killed even though the tsunami height reached only 3.2 meters. In the two villages on Babi Island, the tsunami swept away all wooden houses and killed 263 of 1,093 inhabitants. Tsunami height at Riang-Kroko village on the northeastern end of Flores Island reached 26.2 meters and 137 of the 406 inhabitants were killed by the tsumani. Evidence of landslides was detected at a few points on the coast of Hading Bay, and the huge tsunami was probably formed by earthquake-induced landslides. The relationship between tsunami height and mortality was checked for seven villages. The efficiencies of trees arranged in front of coastal villages, and coral reefs in dissipating the tsunami energy are discussed.     

A method for estimating casualties due to the tsunami inundation flow

This study develops a method for estimating the number of casualties that may occur while people evacuate from an inundation zone when a tsunami has inundated an area. The method is based on a simple model of hydrodynamic forces as they affect the human body. The method uses a Tsunami casualty index (TCI) computed at each grid point of a numerical tsunami model to determine locations and times within the tsunami inundation zone where evacuation during the tsunami inundation is not possible and therefore where casualties are likely to occur. The locations and times can be combined with information about population density to compute the potential number of casualties. This information is useful in developing tsunami evacuation routes that avoid such locations. To illustrate the method, it is applied to the Seattle waterfront in Washington State, USA, that is under the threat of possible tsunami disasters due to Seattle Fault earthquakes. Preliminary results suggest that the tsunami casualties may occur within the Seattle waterfront for 15 min, during the time interval from 3 to 18 min after a large Seattle Fault tsunami is generated when the background tide level is mean high water.