70,056 research outputs found
Distributions of Long-Lived Radioactive Nuclei Provided by Star Forming Environments
Radioactive nuclei play an important role in planetary evolution by providing
an internal heat source, which affects planetary structure and helps facilitate
plate tectonics. A minimum level of nuclear activity is thought to be necessary
--- but not sufficient --- for planets to be habitable. Extending previous work
that focused on short-lived nuclei, this paper considers the delivery of
long-lived radioactive nuclei to circumstellar disks in star forming regions.
Although the long-lived nuclear species are always present, their abundances
can be enhanced through multiple mechanisms. Most stars form in embedded
cluster environments, so that disks can be enriched directly by intercepting
ejecta from supernovae within the birth clusters. In addition, molecular clouds
often provide multiple episodes of star formation, so that nuclear abundances
can accumulate within the cloud; subsequent generations of stars can thus
receive elevated levels of radioactive nuclei through this distributed
enrichment scenario. This paper calculates the distribution of additional
enrichment for K, the most abundant of the long-lived radioactive
nuclei. We find that distributed enrichment is more effective than direct
enrichment. For the latter mechanism, ideal conditions lead to about 1 in 200
solar systems being directly enriched in K at the level inferred for the
early solar nebula (thereby doubling the abundance). For distributed enrichment
from adjacent clusters, about 1 in 80 solar systems are enriched at the same
level. Distributed enrichment over the entire molecular cloud is more
uncertain, but can be even more effective.Comment: 24 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Pretreatment method for anti-wettable materials
Anti-wettable materials brazing processes using titanium and zirconium for surface pretreatmen
Narrative Analysis of Sexual Etiquette in Teenage Magazines
Expanding on existing research on women\u27s magazines, this essay examines the sexual etiquette developed in advice columns in magazines popular among teenage women. Over a span of 20 years, the advice has changed very little. Serving the rhetorical function of field guides and training manuals, teen magazines limit women\u27s sociality and sexuality within narrowly defined heterosexual norms and practices. The rhetoric of sexual etiquette encourages young women to be sex objects and teachers of interpersonal communication rather than lovers, friends, and partners. Young women are being taught to subordinate self for others and to be contained
Growth, age and size of the Jurassic pachycormid Leedsichthys problematicus (Osteichthyes: Actinopterygii)
The Jurassic pachycormid osteichthyan Leedsichthys problematicus is renowned for having been able to achieve
prodigious size for a bony fish. Building on work of MARTILL (1986a), a thorough examination of all known
material was conducted in order to constrain estimates of the size of this animal and examine its rate of growth.
Important specimens of Leedsichthys are described for the first time. The histology of Leedsichthys is reviewed, and
the presence of growth annuli is used to establish ages for five specimens. Age and growth data were obtained
from gill rakers (n = 4) and lepidotrichia (n = 2). Lepidotrichia show upward curvilinear growth profiles and
ages ranging from 21 to 40 annuli, which are assumed to represent years. Both growth profiles start at a small
size (0.26 and 0.33 mm radial distance), which is assumed to represent age 1. However, annuli can be lost near
the margins of the elements. Gill rakers exhibit a sigmoidal growth profile. Age of gill rakers was estimated by
adjusting the alignment of the inflection points of the growth profiles thereby giving adjusted ages. Gill rakers
ranged in age from 19–38 annuli, but all show evidence of reabsorption of annuli near the focal points and at the
margins of most elements. Sizes for the five individuals range from 8.0-16.5 m for ages of 19-40 years. Growth
rate (0.01-0.05 K) was relatively slow as expected for a large, long-lived fish. At age 1, individuals were 1.6 m in
length. Estimates for the length of L. problematicus compare well with published lengths of other large suspension
feeders such as those for basking and whale sharks
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