9,297 research outputs found
No Persistent Pulsations in Aquila X-1 as it Fades into Quiescence
We searched for coherent X-ray pulsations from Aql X-1 in a series of RXTE observations taken shortly after a recent outburst. During the course of these observations, Aql X-1 passes through an apparent "propeller" phase as its luminosity fades to its quiescent value. No pulsations were detected, and we place upper limits (ranging from 0.52% to 9.0%) on the fractional rms amplitude of any periodic signal contained in the various data sets searched. This result has implications for the geometry of the system, if the quiescent luminosity is due to continued low-level accretion. Alternatively, our result supports the idea that the quiescent luminosity may be due to thermal emission
VLA Observations of the Infrared Dark Cloud G19.30+0.07
We present Very Large Array observations of ammonia (NH3) (1,1), (2,2), and
CCS (2_1-1_0) emission toward the Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) G19.30+0.07 at
~22GHz. The NH3 emission closely follows the 8 micron extinction. The NH3 (1,1)
and (2,2) lines provide diagnostics of the temperature and density structure
within the IRDC, with typical rotation temperatures of ~10 to 20K and NH3
column densities of ~10^15 cm^-2. The estimated total mass of G19.30+0.07 is
~1130 Msun. The cloud comprises four compact NH3 clumps of mass ~30 to 160
Msun. Two coincide with 24 micron emission, indicating heating by protostars,
and show evidence of outflow in the NH3 emission. We report a water maser
associated with a third clump; the fourth clump is apparently starless. A
non-detection of 8.4GHz emission suggests that the IRDC contains no bright HII
regions, and places a limit on the spectral type of an embedded ZAMS star to
early-B or later. From the NH3 emission we find G19.30+0.07 is composed of
three distinct velocity components, or "subclouds." One velocity component
contains the two 24 micron sources and the starless clump, another contains the
clump with the water maser, while the third velocity component is diffuse, with
no significant high-density peaks. The spatial distribution of NH3 and CCS
emission from G19.30+0.07 is highly anti-correlated, with the NH3 predominantly
in the high-density clumps, and the CCS tracing lower-density envelopes around
those clumps. This spatial distribution is consistent with theories of
evolution for chemically young low-mass cores, in which CCS has not yet been
processed to other species and/or depleted in high-density regions.Comment: 29 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication by ApJ. Please contact
the authors for higher resolution versions of the figure
Microcanonical Origin of the Maximum Entropy Principle for Open Systems
The canonical ensemble describes an open system in equilibrium with a heat
bath of fixed temperature. The probability distribution of such a system, the
Boltzmann distribution, is derived from the uniform probability distribution of
the closed universe consisting of the open system and the heat bath, by taking
the limit where the heat bath is much larger than the system of interest.
Alternatively, the Boltzmann distribution can be derived from the Maximum
Entropy Principle, where the Gibbs-Shannon entropy is maximized under the
constraint that the mean energy of the open system is fixed. To make the
connection between these two apparently distinct methods for deriving the
Boltzmann distribution, it is first shown that the uniform distribution for a
microcanonical distribution is obtained from the Maximum Entropy Principle
applied to a closed system. Then I show that the target function in the Maximum
Entropy Principle for the open system, is obtained by partial maximization of
Gibbs-Shannon entropy of the closed universe over the microstate probability
distributions of the heat bath. Thus, microcanonical origin of the Entropy
Maximization procedure for an open system, is established in a rigorous manner,
showing the equivalence between apparently two distinct approaches for deriving
the Boltzmann distribution. By extending the mathematical formalism to
dynamical paths, the result may also provide an alternative justification for
the principle of path entropy maximization as well.Comment: 12 pages, no figur
Network synchronization of groups
In this paper we study synchronized motions in complex networks in which
there are distinct groups of nodes where the dynamical systems on each node
within a group are the same but are different for nodes in different groups.
Both continuous time and discrete time systems are considered. We initially
focus on the case where two groups are present and the network has bipartite
topology (i.e., links exist between nodes in different groups but not between
nodes in the same group). We also show that group synchronous motions are
compatible with more general network topologies, where there are also
connections within the groups
Out-Of-Focus Holography at the Green Bank Telescope
We describe phase-retrieval holography measurements of the 100-m diameter
Green Bank Telescope using astronomical sources and an astronomical receiver
operating at a wavelength of 7 mm. We use the technique with parameterization
of the aperture in terms of Zernike polynomials and employing a large defocus,
as described by Nikolic, Hills & Richer (2006). Individual measurements take
around 25 minutes and from the resulting beam maps (which have peak signal to
noise ratios of 200:1) we show that it is possible to produce low-resolution
maps of the wavefront errors with accuracy around a hundredth of a wavelength.
Using such measurements over a wide range of elevations, we have calculated a
model for the wavefront-errors due to the uncompensated gravitational
deformation of the telescope. This model produces a significant improvement at
low elevations, where these errors are expected to be the largest; after
applying the model, the aperture efficiency is largely independent of
elevation. We have also demonstrated that the technique can be used to measure
and largely correct for thermal deformations of the antenna, which often exceed
the uncompensated gravitational deformations during daytime observing.
We conclude that the aberrations induced by gravity and thermal effects are
large-scale and the technique used here is particularly suitable for measuring
such deformations in large millimetre wave radio telescopes.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures (accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysics
Recommended from our members
The use of the Continuously Regenerating Trap (CRT<sup>TM</sup>) and SCRT<sup>TM</sup> Systems to meet future emissions legislation
The progressive tightening of particulate matter (PM) legislation presents challenges to the engine development and aftertreatment communities. The Continuously Regenerating Trap (CRTTM) has been developed to enable diesel engines to meet the proposed future legislation. This passive filter system combines an oxidation catalyst with a Diesel Particulate Filter (DPF); the filter traps the PM and the oxidation catalyst generates NO2 which combusts the trapped PM at substantially lower temperatures than is possible using oxygen.
This paper outlines the operating principle of the CRTTM, and describes the performance of the system. It has been shown that the very high PM conversions obtained with the CRTTM can enable even Euro 1 engines to meet the PM limits proposed for introduction in Europe in 2005. In addition, the system removes PM across the whole particle size range, including ultrafine particulates. These results will be discussed, as will in-field durability studies which have shown that the system is still capable of converting 90% of PM after very high mileage operation (up to 600,000 km).
In addition to requiring very high PM conversion, the proposed future legislation requires substantial reductions in NOx emissions form heavy duty diesel vehicles. To meet these challenges the SCRTTM has been developed. This combines the CRTTM with SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) technology, and enables very high simultaneous conversions of CO, HC, PM and NOx to be achieved. The SCRTTM system is described, and its operating characteristics are discussed. It has been shown that the SCRTTM can potentially meet the legislative limits proposed for introduction in Europe in 2008
The Chemistry and Biology of Bactobolin: A 10-Year Collaboration with Natural Product Chemist Extraordinaire Jon Clardy
This document is the Accepted Manuscript version of a Published Work that appeared in final form in Journal of Natural Products, copyright © American Chemical Society after peer review and technical editing by the publisher. To access the final edited and published work see doi.org/10.1021/acs.jnatprod.9b01237.Bactobolin is a hybrid natural product with potent cytotoxic activity. Its production from Burkholderia thailandensis was reported as part of a collaboration between the Greenberg and Clardy laboratories in 2010. The collaboration sparked a series of studies leading to the discovery of new analogues and associated structure–activity relationships, the identification of the bactobolin biosynthetic gene cluster and assembly of its unusual amino acid building block, the molecular target of and resistance to the antibiotic, and finally an X-ray crystal structure of the ribosome–bactobolin complex. Herein, we review the collaborations that led to our current understanding of the chemistry and biology of bactobolin
cr sn: the significance of macroconidiation for mutant hunts
cr sn: significance of macroconidiation for mutant hunt
Noninvasive Prenatal Diagnosis of Single-Gene Diseases: The Next Frontier
BACKGROUND: Cell-free fetal DNA (cffDNA) is present in the maternal blood from around 4 weeks gestation and makes up 5%-20% of the total circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) in maternal plasma. Presence of cffDNA has allowed development of noninvasive prenatal diagnosis (NIPD) for single-gene disorders. This can be performed from 9 weeks gestation and offers a definitive diagnosis without the miscarriage risk associated with invasive procedures. One of the major challenges is distinguishing fetal mutations in the high background of maternal cfDNA, and research is currently focusing on the technological advances required to solve this problem. CONTENT: Here, we review the literature to describe the current status of NIPD for monogenic disorders and discuss how the evolving methodologies and technologies are expected to impact this field in both the commercial and public healthcare setting. SUMMARY: NIPD for single-gene diseases was first reported in 2000 and took 12 years to be approved for use in a public health service. Implementation has remained slow but is expected to increase as this testing becomes cheaper, faster, and more accurate. There are still many technical and analytical challenges ahead, and it is vital that discussions surrounding the ethical and social impact of NIPD take account of the considerations required to implement these services safely into the healthcare setting, while keeping up with the technological advances
- …