Amorphous oxide thin films play a fundamental role in state-of-the art interferometry experiments, such as gravitational wave detectors where these films compose the high reflectance mirrors of end ...and input masses. The sensitivity of these detectors is affected by thermal noise in the mirrors with its main source being the mechanical loss of the high index layers. These thermally driven fluctuations are a fundamental limit to optical interferometry experiments and there is a pressing need to understand the underlying processes that lead to mechanical dissipation in materials at room temperature. Two strategies are known to lower the mechanical loss: employing a mixture of Ta\(_2\)O\(_5\) with \(\approx\) 20\% of TiO\(_2\) and post-deposition annealing, but the reasons behind this are not completely understood. In this work, we present a systematic study of the structural and optical properties of ion beam sputtered TiO\(_2\)-doped Ta\(_2\)O\(_5\) films as a function of the annealing temperature. We show for the first time that low mechanical loss is associated with a material morphology that consists of nanometer sized Ar-rich bubbles embedded into an atomically homogeneous mixed titanium-tantalum oxide. When the Ti cation ratio is high, however, phase separation occurs in the film which leads to increased mechanical loss. These results indicate that for designing low mechanical loss mixed oxide coatings for interferometry applications it would be beneficial to identify materials with the ability to form ternary compounds while the dopant ratio needs to be kept low to avoid phase separation.
The sensitivity of current and planned gravitational wave interferometric detectors is limited, in the most critical frequency region around 100 Hz, by a combination of quantum noise and thermal ...noise. The latter is dominated by Brownian noise: thermal motion originating from the elastic energy dissipation in the dielectric coatings used in the interferometer mirrors. The energy dissipation is a material property characterized by the mechanical loss angle. We have identified mixtures of titanium dioxide (TiO\(_2\)) and germanium dioxide (GeO\(_2\)) that show internal dissipations at a level of 1 \(\times 10^{-4}\), low enough to provide almost a factor of two improvement on the level of Brownian noise with respect to the state-of-the-art materials. We show that by using a mixture of 44% TiO\(_2\) and 56% GeO\(_2\) in the high refractive index layers of the interferometer mirrors, it would be possible to achieve a thermal noise level in line with the design requirements. These results are a crucial step forward to produce the mirrors needed to meet the thermal noise requirements for the planned upgrades of the Advanced LIGO and Virgo detectors.
Using clinical, psychological methods and MRI, 199 patients with vascular (VE) and posttraumatic encephalopathy (PE) have been studied. It is shown that atherosclerosis, essential hypertension and ...their combination become relevant at the age of 40 years. Multiple microfocal white matter lesions, leukoaraiosis, extensive bilateral atrophic changes and dilatation of subarachnoid spaces were characteristic of patients with VE (mean age 67+/-10 years). In patients with PE, mean age 22+/-7 years, the local dilatation of subarachnoid space, unilateral dilatation of lateral ventricle and cystic changes in subarachnoid spaces were detected.
Recent gravitational-wave observations from the LIGO and Virgo observatories have brought a sense of great excitement to scientists and citizens the world over. Since September 2015,10 binary black ...hole coalescences and one binary neutron star coalescence have been observed. They have provided remarkable, revolutionary insight into the "gravitational Universe" and have greatly extended the field of multi-messenger astronomy. At present, Advanced LIGO can see binary black hole coalescences out to redshift 0.6 and binary neutron star coalescences to redshift 0.05. This probes only a very small fraction of the volume of the observable Universe. However, current technologies can be extended to construct "\(3^\mathrm{rd}\) Generation" (3G) gravitational-wave observatories that would extend our reach to the very edge of the observable Universe. The event rates over such a large volume would be in the hundreds of thousands per year (i.e.tens per hour). Such 3G detectors would have a 10-fold improvement in strain sensitivity over the current generation of instruments, yielding signal-to-noise ratios of 1000 for events like those already seen. Several concepts are being studied for which engineering studies and reliable cost estimates will be developed in the next 5 years.
The paper analyzes the techniques for assessing efficiencies and results of federal conditional programs implemented at regional levels, as well as projects and special economic zones. We show that ...assessment of efficiency is made only at the stage of choosing the tools to be applied. However, the monitoring of programs and projects are conducted only concerning the indicators of allocation and launching investment resources. We present our proposals on how to improve such practice to have an opportunity to assess the tools of regional policy in more adequate manner.
Monoclonal antibodies (MABs) to a new drug Dalargin (Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-Leu-Arg) enhancing ulcer healing have been produced. Dalargin is a synthetic analog of Leu-enkephalin. With about 40 compounds ...tested in competition radioimmunoassay it has been shown that specificity of the MABs is directed against the N-terminal tetrapeptide of the molecule. The MABs are sensitive to amino acid substitutions in any of the positions of the fragment and have no cross-reactivity with endogenous opioids. Their further application in pharmacokinetic studies in humans and for characterization of opioid receptors is discussed.
One foreign and two Russian recombinant enzyme immunoassay test-systems were comparatively investigated under conditions of an encoded experiment. Sensitivity in the experiment with the Russian ...test-systems Borreliosis-ELISA-IgG and Lyme Best was 63.8 and 68.8% respectively. As for the test-system Borrelia IgG Recombinant, it was 47.5%. All the test-systems were highly specific (94.4 to 99.5%). The test-systems Lyme Best and Borrelia IgG Recombinant revealed partial cross reactions with sera from patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and leptospirosis.
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