10,611 research outputs found
O stars and Wolf-Rayet stars
Basic information is given about O and Wolf-Rayet stars indicating how these stars are defined and what their chief observable properties are. Part 2 of the volume discussed four related themes pertaining to the hottest and most luminous stars. Presented are: an observational overview of the spectroscopic classification and extrinsic properties of O and Wolf-Rayet stars; the intrinsic parameters of luminosity, effective temperature, mass, and composition of the stars, and a discussion of their viability; stellar wind properties; and the related issues concerning the efforts of stellar radiation and wind on the immediate interstellar environment are presented
Polarization and energy dynamics in ultrafocused optical Kerr propagation
Developing a complete vectorial description of optical nonparaxial propagation of highly focused beams in Kerr media, we disclose a family of new phenomena. These phenomena appear to emerge as a consequence of the mutual coupling of all three components of the optical field. This circumstance, which is intrinsic to the very nature of Kerr propagation, was previously discarded on the basis of the conjecture that a reduced system is possible in which only one transverse field component interacts with the longitudinal component
Homogenization in magnetic-shape-memory polymer composites
Magnetic-shape-memory materials (e.g. specific NiMnGa alloys) react with a
large change of shape to the presence of an external magnetic field. As an
alternative for the difficult to manifacture single crystal of these alloys we
study composite materials in which small magnetic-shape-memory particles are
embedded in a polymer matrix. The macroscopic properties of the composite
depend strongly on the geometry of the microstructure and on the
characteristics of the particles and the polymer.
We present a variational model based on micromagnetism and elasticity, and
derive via homogenization an effective macroscopic model under the assumption
that the microstructure is periodic. We then study numerically the resulting
cell problem, and discuss the effect of the microstructure on the macroscopic
material behavior. Our results may be used to optimize the shape of the
particles and the microstructure.Comment: 17 pages, 4 figure
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Functional selectivity of GPCR-directed drug action through location bias.
G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) are increasingly recognized to operate from intracellular membranes as well as the plasma membrane. The β 2 -adrenergic GPCR can activate G s -linked cyclic AMP (G s -cAMP) signaling from endosomes. We show here that the homologous human β 1 -adrenergic receptor initiates an internal G s -cAMP signal from the Golgi apparatus. By developing a chemical method to acutely squelch G-protein coupling at defined membrane locations, we demonstrate that Golgi activation contributes significantly to the overall cellular cAMP response. Golgi signaling utilizes a preexisting receptor pool rather than receptors delivered from the cell surface, requiring separate access of extracellular ligands. Epinephrine, a hydrophilic endogenous ligand, accesses the Golgi-localized receptor pool by facilitated transport requiring the organic cation transporter 3 (OCT3), whereas drugs can access the Golgi pool by passive diffusion according to hydrophobicity. We demonstrate marked differences, among both agonist and antagonist drugs, in Golgi-localized receptor access and show that β-blocker drugs currently used in the clinic differ markedly in ability to antagonize the Golgi signal. We propose \u27location bias\u27 as a new principle for achieving functional selectivity of GPCR-directed drug action
Experimental measurement of photothermal effect in Fabry-Perot cavities
We report the experimental observation of the photothermal effect. The
measurements are performed by modulating the laser power absorbed by the
mirrors of two high-finesse Fabry-Perot cavities. The results are very well
described by a recently proposed theoretical model [M. Cerdonio, L. Conti, A.
Heidmann and M. Pinard, Phys. Rev. D 63 (2001) 082003], confirming the
correctness of such calculations. Our observations and quantitative
characterization of the photothermal effect demonstrate its critical importance
for high sensitivity interferometric displacement measurements, as those
necessary for gravitational wave detection.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. Let
The Cauchy problems for Einstein metrics and parallel spinors
We show that in the analytic category, given a Riemannian metric on a
hypersurface and a symmetric tensor on , the metric
can be locally extended to a Riemannian Einstein metric on with second
fundamental form , provided that and satisfy the constraints on
imposed by the contracted Codazzi equations. We use this fact to study the
Cauchy problem for metrics with parallel spinors in the real analytic category
and give an affirmative answer to a question raised in B\"ar, Gauduchon,
Moroianu (2005). We also answer negatively the corresponding questions in the
smooth category.Comment: 28 pages; final versio
Bioactivity of the Andean aromatic plants Aloysia citriodora and Bursera graveolens essential oils against the blowfly Calliphora vomitoria
Tropical Andes is a biodiversity hot spot rich in aromatic plant species, whose potential as a source
of active compounds for insect pests’ control is still largely underexploited. Here, the Essential Oils
(EOs) extracted from two Ecuadorian plants, the shrub Aloysia citriodora (Verbenaceae) and the
tree Bursera graveolens (Burseraceae), were chemically analysed and tested for their bioactivity
against the blue blowfly Calliphora vomitoria (Linnaeus, 1758) (Diptera: Calliphoridae). This fly is a
vector of pathogenic microorganisms, dangerous in factories and stores where fresh meat is
processed, stored, and sold. The main components of the A. citriodora EO are geranial and
limonene, while in the B. graveolens EO they are limonene and α-terpineol. The effects of the two
EOs were evaluated against C. vomitoria by a behavioural assay in a two-choice olfactometer
(concentrations range 0.07-2.8 μL L-1 air). Besides, the insecticidal properties of the two EOs were
tested by fumigation (EOs concentrations from 6.06 to 36.36 μL L-1 air), by contact with topical
applications using a Burkard micro dispenser (EOs dose from 0.10 to 0.60 μl EO/fly), and by
ingestion of a mucilage containing EOs (from 15 to 75 μl EO mL-1 mucilage), sucrose, and agarose.
Furthermore, the ovicidal activity was assessed (concentrations from 0.006 to 0.075 μL EO cm-2 of
filter paper). The results of the behavioural assay showed a stronger repellent effect exerted by
the A. citriodora EO, while all the toxicity tests revealed dose-dependent mortality of the blowflies
and eggs
The frustrated Brownian motion of nonlocal solitary waves
We investigate the evolution of solitary waves in a nonlocal medium in the
presence of disorder. By using a perturbational approach, we show that an
increasing degree of nonlocality may largely hamper the Brownian motion of
self-trapped wave-packets. The result is valid for any kind of nonlocality and
in the presence of non-paraxial effects. Analytical predictions are compared
with numerical simulations based on stochastic partial differential equationComment: 4 pages, 3 figures
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Associated reading skills in children with a history of Specific Language Impairment (SLI)
A large cohort of 200 eleven-year-old children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) were assessed on basic reading accuracy and on reading comprehension as well as language tasks. Reading skills were examined descriptively and in relation to early language and literacy factors. Using stepwise regression analyses in which age and nonverbal IQ were controlled for, it was found that a single word reading measure taken at 7 years was unsurprisingly a strong predictor of the two different types of reading ability. However, even with this measure included, a receptive syntax task (TROG) entered when reading accuracy score was the DV. Furthermore, a test of expressive syntax/narrative and a receptive syntax task completed at 7 years entered into the model for word reading accuracy. When early reading accuracy was excluded from the analyses, early phonological skills also entered as a predictor of both reading accuracy and comprehension at 11 years. The group of children with a history of SLI were then divided into those with no literacy difficulties at 11 and those with some persisting literacy impairment. Using stepwise logistic regression, and again controlling for IQ and age, 7 years receptive syntax score (but not tests of phonology, expressive vocabulary or expressive syntax/narrative) entered as a positive predictor of membership of the ‘no literacy problems’ group regardless of whether early reading accuracy was controlled for in step one. The findings are discussed in relation to the overlap of SLI and dyslexia and the long term sequelae of language impairment
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