Study of young stellar objects and associated filamentary structures in the inner Galaxy

Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) in the inner Galactic region $10^0 < l < 15^0$ and $-1^0 < b < 1^0$ are studied using GLIMPSE images and GLIMPSE data catalogue. A total number of 1107 Class I and 1566 Class II sources are identified in this Galactic region. With the help of GLIMPSE 5.8 $\mu$m & 8 $\mu$m images, we have identified the presence of 10 major star forming sites in the Galactic midplane, of which 8 of them are filamentary while 2 are possible clusters of Class I & II sources. The length of the identified filaments are estimated as 8'-33' ($\sim$ 9 - 56 pc). Occurrence of Hub-Filamentary System (HFS) is observed in many filamentary star forming sites. Most of the Class I sources are found to be aligned along the length of these filamentary structures, while Class II sources have a random distribution. Mass and age distribution of 425 Class I and 241 Class II sources associated with filaments & clusters are studied through their SED analysis. Most of the Class I sources detected have mass $>$ 8M$_\odot$, while Class II sources have relatively low mass regime. Class I sources have ages $\le$ 0.5 Myr, while Class II sources have ages in the range $\sim$0.1 - 3 Myr. Along with the help of high mass star forming tracers, we demonstrate that the 10 regions studied here are forming a large number of high-mass stars.Comment: 19 pages, 18 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Genome sequence of a novel alloherpesvirus isolated from glass catfish (Kryptopterus bicirrhis)

The 149,343-bp genome of silurid herpesvirus 1, which was isolated in Thailand from glass catfish, was sequenced. The genome was most closely related to that of ictalurid herpesvirus 2, which infects black bullhead catfish. To our knowledge, this was the first silurid catfish alloherpesvirus genome to be sequenced

Setting Real Time WIP Levels in Production Lines

A new algorithm is developed for setting WIP level in production lines. It is a pull policy that determines when to authorize a job to be processed. Dynamic information in the system such as machine failures and repairs, and demand variations are taken into consideration to provide an efficient method to dynamically determine the WIP level. Two types of production lines are examined in this paper. The first is production lines which have few random interruptions and the second production line is exposed to frequent interruptions. Experiment results from these two types of production lines illustrate that the new algorithm generates higher service level with lower WIP compared to the CONWIP policy. In addition, the superiority of the new algorithm is more significant when the production line is exposed to frequent random interruptions.Singapore-MIT Alliance (SMA

A multiscale model for dilute turbulent gas-particle flows based on the equilibration of energy concept

The objective of this study is to improve Eulerian-Eulerian models of particle-laden turbulent flow. We begin by understanding the behavior of two existing models—one proposed by Simonin [von Kármán Institute of Fluid Dynamics Lecture Series, 1996], and the other by Ahmadi [Int. J. Multiphase Flow16, 323 (1990)]—in the limiting case of statistically homogeneous particle-laden turbulent flow. The decay of particle-phase and fluid-phase turbulent kinetic energy (TKE) is compared with direct numerical simulation results. Even this simple flow poses a significant challenge to current models, which have difficulty reproducing important physical phenomena such as the variation of turbulent kinetic energy decay with increasing particle Stokes number. The model for the interphase TKE transfer time scale is identified as one source of this difficulty. A new model for the interphase transfer time scale is proposed that accounts for the interaction of particles with a range of fluid turbulence scales. A new multiphase turbulence model—the equilibration of energy model (EEM)—is proposed, which incorporates this multiscale interphase transfer time scale. The model for Reynolds stress in both fluid and particle phases is derived in this work. The new EEM model is validated in decaying homogeneous particle-laden turbulence, and in particle-laden homogeneous shear flow. The particle and fluid TKE evolution predicted by the EEM model correctly reproduce the trends with important nondimensional parameters, such as particle Stokes number

Influence of convex and concave curvatures in a coastal dike line on wave run-up

Due to climatic change and the increased usage of coastal areas, there is an increasing risk of dike failures along the coasts worldwide. Wave run-up plays a key role in the planning and design of a coastal structure. Coastal engineers use empirical equations for the determination of wave run-up. These formulae generally include the influence of various hydraulic, geometrical and structural parameters, but neglect the effect of the curvature of coastal dikes on wave run-up and overtopping. The scope of this research is to find the effects of the dike curvature on wave run-up for regular wave attack by employing numerical model studies for various dike-opening angles and comparing it with physical model test results. A numerical simulation is carried out using DualSPHysics, a mesh-less model and OpenFOAM, a mesh-based model. A new influence factor is introduced to determine the influence of curvature along a dike line. For convexly curved dikes (ad = 210° to 270°) under perpendicular wave attack, a higher wave run-up was observed for larger opening angles at the center of curvature whereas for concavely curved dikes (ad = 90° to 150°) under perpendicular wave attack, wave run-up increases at the center of curvature as the opening angle decreases. This research aims to contribute a more precise analysis and understanding the influence of the curvature in a dike line and thus ensuring a higher level of protection in the future development of coastal structures.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Genome sequence of an alphaherpesvirus from a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas)

Beluga whale alphaherpesvirus 1 was isolated from a blowhole swab taken from a juvenile beluga whale. The genome is 144,144 bp in size and contains 86 putative genes. The virus groups phylogenetically with members of the genus Varicellovirus in subfamily Alphaherpesvirinae and is the first alphaherpesvirus sequenced from a marine mammal

Electrical transport and low-temperature scanning tunneling microscopy of microsoldered graphene

Using the recently developed technique of microsoldering, we perform a systematic transport study of the influence of PMMA on graphene flakes revealing a doping effect of up to 3.8x10^12 1/cm^2, but a negligible influence on mobility and gate voltage induced hysteresis. Moreover, we show that the microsoldered graphene is free of contamination and exhibits a very similar intrinsic rippling as has been found for lithographically contacted flakes. Finally, we demonstrate a current induced closing of the previously found phonon gap appearing in scanning tunneling spectroscopy experiments, strongly non-linear features at higher bias probably caused by vibrations of the flake and a B-field induced double peak attributed to the 0.Landau level of graphene.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figure

Replacing the Transfusion of 1-2 Units of Blood with Plasma Expanders that Increase Oxygen Delivery Capacity: Evidence from Experimental Studies.

At least a third of the blood supply in the world is used to transfuse 1-2 units of packed red blood cells for each intervention and most clinical trials of blood substitutes have been carried out at this level of oxygen carrying capacity (OCC) restoration. However, the increase of oxygenation achieved is marginal or none at all for molecular hemoglobin (Hb) products, due to their lingering vasoactivity. This has provided the impetus for the development of "oxygen therapeutics" using Hb-based molecules that have high oxygen affinity and target delivery of oxygen to anoxic areas. However it is still unclear how these oxygen carriers counteract or mitigate the functional effects of anemia due to obstruction, vasoconstriction and under-perfusion. Indeed, they are administered as a low dosage/low volume therapeutic Hb (subsequently further diluted in the circulatory pool) and hence induce extremely small OCC changes. Hyperviscous plasma expanders provide an alternative to oxygen therapeutics by increasing the oxygen delivery capacity (ODC); in anemia they induce supra-perfusion and increase tissue perfusion (flow) by as much as 50%. Polyethylene glycol conjugate albumin (PEG-Alb) accomplishes this by enhancing the shear thinning behavior of diluted blood, which increases microvascular endothelial shear stress, causes vasodilation and lowering peripheral vascular resistance thus facilitating cardiac function. Induction of supra-perfusion takes advantage of the fact that ODC is the product of OCC and blood flow and hence can be maintained by increasing either or both. Animal studies suggest that this approach may save a considerable fraction of the blood supply. It has an additional benefit of enhancing tissue clearance of toxic metabolites

Lineage dynamics of murine pancreatic development at single-cell resolution.

Organogenesis requires the complex interactions of multiple cell lineages that coordinate their expansion, differentiation, and maturation over time. Here, we profile the cell types within the epithelial and mesenchymal compartments of the murine pancreas across developmental time using a combination of single-cell RNA sequencing, immunofluorescence, in situ hybridization, and genetic lineage tracing. We identify previously underappreciated cellular heterogeneity of the developing mesenchyme and reconstruct potential lineage relationships among the pancreatic mesothelium and mesenchymal cell types. Within the epithelium, we find a previously undescribed endocrine progenitor population, as well as an analogous population in both human fetal tissue and human embryonic stem cells differentiating toward a pancreatic beta cell fate. Further, we identify candidate transcriptional regulators along the differentiation trajectory of this population toward the alpha or beta cell lineages. This work establishes a roadmap of pancreatic development and demonstrates the broad utility of this approach for understanding lineage dynamics in developing organs