278 research outputs found
New Measure of the Dissipation Region in Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection
A new measure to identify a small-scale dissipation region in collisionless
magnetic reconnection is proposed. The energy transfer from the electromagnetic
field to plasmas in the electron's rest frame is formulated as a
Lorentz-invariant scalar quantity. The measure is tested by two-dimensional
particle-in-cell simulations in typical configurations: symmetric and
asymmetric reconnection, with and without the guide field. The innermost region
surrounding the reconnection site is accurately located in all cases. We
further discuss implications for nonideal MHD dissipation
Record of a 10-year old European Wildcat Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777 (Mammalia: Carnivora: Felidae) from Mt. Etna, Sicily, Italy
We recaptured the Wildcat after nine years, hence we think that 10 years is the minimum reasonable age estimation for this individual. This age estimate still lies at the lower range when compared to ages of captive Wildcats ranging from 12–16 year
A non-invasive monitoring on European wildcat (Felis silvestris silvestris Schreber, 1777) in Sicily using hair trapping and camera trapping: does scented lure work?
An hair trapping protocol, with camera trapping surveillance, was carried out on the south-western side of the Etna, inhabited by an abundant population of the European wildcat. We aimed to collect hair for genetic analysis on the base of a field study conducted in Switzerland, where valerian tincture had been used to attract wildcats to rub again wooden sticks and therefore leaving hairs. We placed 18 hair trapping stations, plus one camera trap per scented wooden stick, 1 km away from each other for 60 days (October 29 2010 to December 28 2010). The rate of "capture" success (1 capture / 24.5 trap-days) by camera trapping was substantially the same as those obtained during previous surveys performed in the same study area without the use of any attractants. No wildcats were photographed while rubbing against the wooden sticks, neither any wildcat was interested in the scent lure. We discuss limitations of the hair trapping, providing possible explanations on the failure of valerian tincture, while suggesting some field advices for future monitorings
On Electrostatic Positron Acceleration In The Accretion Flow Onto Neutron Stars
As first shown by Shvartsman (1970), a neutron star accreting close to the
Eddington limit must acquire a positive charge in order for electrons and
protons to move at the same speed. The resulting electrostatic field may
contribute to accelerating positrons produced near the star surface in
conjunction with the radiative force. We reconsider the balance between energy
gains and losses, including inverse Compton (IC), bremsstrahlung and
non--radiative scatterings. It is found that, even accounting for IC losses
only, the maximum positron energy never exceeds keV. The
electrostatic field alone may produce energies keV at most. We
also show that Coulomb collisions and annihilation with accreting electrons
severely limit the number of positrons that escape to infinity.Comment: 9 pages plus 3 postscript figures, to be published in Ap
Equation of State in Relativistic Magnetohydrodynamics: variable versus constant adiabatic index
The role of the equation of state for a perfectly conducting, relativistic
magnetized fluid is the main subject of this work. The ideal constant
-law equation of state, commonly adopted in a wide range of
astrophysical applications, is compared with a more realistic equation of state
that better approximates the single-specie relativistic gas. The paper focus on
three different topics. First, the influence of a more realistic equation of
state on the propagation of fast magneto-sonic shocks is investigated. This
calls into question the validity of the constant -law equation of state
in problems where the temperature of the gas substantially changes across
hydromagnetic waves. Second, we present a new inversion scheme to recover
primitive variables (such as rest-mass density and pressure) from conservative
ones that allows for a general equation of state and avoids catastrophic
numerical cancellations in the non-relativistic and ultrarelativistic limits.
Finally, selected numerical tests of astrophysical relevance (including
magnetized accretion flows around Kerr black holes) are compared using
different equations of state. Our main conclusion is that the choice of a
realistic equation of state can considerably bear upon the solution when
transitions from cold to hot gas (or viceversa) are present. Under these
circumstances, a polytropic equation of state can significantly endanger the
solution.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figure
Nonequilibrium corrections in the pressure tensor due to an energy flux
The physical interpretation of the nonequilibrium corrections in the pressure
tensor for radiation submitted to an energy flux obtained in some previous
works is revisited. Such pressure tensor is shown to describe a moving
equilibrium system but not a real nonequilibrium situation.Comment: 4 pages, REVTeX, Brief Report to appear in PRE Dec 9
Conservative 3+1 General Relativistic Variable Eddington Tensor Radiation Transport Equations
We present conservative 3+1 general relativistic variable Eddington tensor
radiation transport equations, including greater elaboration of the momentum
space divergence (that is, the energy derivative term) than in previous work.
These equations are intended for use in simulations involving numerical
relativity, particularly in the absence of spherical symmetry. The independent
variables are the lab frame coordinate basis spacetime position coordinates and
the particle energy measured in the comoving frame. With an eye towards
astrophysical applications---such as core-collapse supernovae and compact
object mergers---in which the fluid includes nuclei and/or nuclear matter at
finite temperature, and in which the transported particles are neutrinos, we
pay special attention to the consistency of four-momentum and lepton number
exchange between neutrinos and the fluid, showing the term-by-term
cancellations that must occur for this consistency to be achieved.Comment: Version accepted by Phys. Rev.
Magnetohydrodynamics in full general relativity: Formulation and tests
A new implementation for magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) simulations in full
general relativity (involving dynamical spacetimes) is presented. In our
implementation, Einstein's evolution equations are evolved by a BSSN formalism,
MHD equations by a high-resolution central scheme, and induction equation by a
constraint transport method. We perform numerical simulations for standard test
problems in relativistic MHD, including special relativistic magnetized shocks,
general relativistic magnetized Bondi flow in stationary spacetime, and a
longterm evolution for self-gravitating system composed of a neutron star and a
magnetized disk in full general relativity. In the final test, we illustrate
that our implementation can follow winding-up of the magnetic field lines of
magnetized and differentially rotating accretion disks around a compact object
until saturation, after which magnetically driven wind and angular momentum
transport inside the disk turn on.Comment: 28 pages, to be published in Phys. Rev.
Vortical and Wave Modes in 3D Rotating Stratified Flows: Random Large Scale Forcing
Utilizing an eigenfunction decomposition, we study the growth and spectra of
energy in the vortical and wave modes of a 3D rotating stratified fluid as a
function of . Working in regimes characterized by moderate
Burger numbers, i.e. or , our results
indicate profound change in the character of vortical and wave mode
interactions with respect to . As with the reference state of
, for the wave mode energy saturates quite quickly
and the ensuing forward cascade continues to act as an efficient means of
dissipating ageostrophic energy. Further, these saturated spectra steepen as
decreases: we see a shift from to scaling for
(where and are the forcing and dissipation scales,
respectively). On the other hand, when the wave mode energy
never saturates and comes to dominate the total energy in the system. In fact,
in a sense the wave modes behave in an asymmetric manner about .
With regard to the vortical modes, for , the signatures of 3D
quasigeostrophy are clearly evident. Specifically, we see a scaling
for and, in accord with an inverse transfer of energy, the
vortical mode energy never saturates but rather increases for all . In
contrast, for and increasing, the vortical modes contain a
progressively smaller fraction of the total energy indicating that the 3D
quasigeostrophic subsystem plays an energetically smaller role in the overall
dynamics.Comment: 18 pages, 6 figs. (abbreviated abstract
Mechanisms of endothelial cell dysfunction in cystic fibrosis
Although cystic fibrosis (CF) patients exhibit signs of endothelial perturbation, the functions of the cystic fibrosis
conductance regulator (CFTR) in vascular endothelial cells (EC) are poorly defined. We sought to uncover
biological activities of endothelial CFTR, relevant for vascular homeostasis and inflammation. We examined cells
from human umbilical cords (HUVEC) and pulmonary artery isolated from non-cystic fibrosis (PAEC) and CF
human lungs (CF-PAEC), under static conditions or physiological shear. CFTR activity, clearly detected in
HUVEC and PAEC, was markedly reduced in CF-PAEC. CFTR blockade increased endothelial permeability to
macromolecules and reduced trans‑endothelial electrical resistance (TEER). Consistent with this, CF-PAEC displayed
lower TEER compared to PAEC. Under shear, CFTR blockade reduced VE-cadherin and p120 catenin
membrane expression and triggered the formation of paxillin- and vinculin-enriched membrane blebs that
evolved in shrinking of the cell body and disruption of cell-cell contacts. These changes were accompanied by
enhanced release of microvesicles, which displayed reduced capability to stimulate proliferation in recipient EC.
CFTR blockade also suppressed insulin-induced NO generation by EC, likely by inhibiting eNOS and AKT
phosphorylation, whereas it enhanced IL-8 release. Remarkably, phosphodiesterase inhibitors in combination
with a β2 adrenergic receptor agonist corrected functional and morphological changes triggered by CFTR dysfunction
in EC. Our results uncover regulatory functions of CFTR in EC, suggesting a physiological role of CFTR
in the maintenance EC homeostasis and its involvement in pathogenetic aspects of CF. Moreover, our findings
open avenues for novel pharmacology to control endothelial dysfunction and its consequences in CF
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