2,171 research outputs found
A population study of type II bursts in the Rapid Burster
Type II bursts are thought to arise from instabilities in the accretion flow
onto a neutron star in an X-ray binary. Despite having been known for almost 40
years, no model can yet satisfactorily account for all their properties. To
shed light on the nature of this phenomenon and provide a reference for future
theoretical work, we study the entire sample of Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer
data of type II bursts from the Rapid Burster (MXB 1730-335). We find that type
II bursts are Eddington-limited in flux, that a larger amount of energy goes in
the bursts than in the persistent emission, that type II bursts can be as short
as 0.130 s, and that the distribution of recurrence times drops abruptly below
15-18 s. We highlight the complicated feedback between type II bursts and the
NS surface thermonuclear explosions known as type I bursts, and between type II
bursts and the persistent emission. We review a number of models for type II
bursts. While no model can reproduce all the observed burst properties and
explain the source uniqueness, models involving a gating role for the magnetic
field come closest to matching the properties of our sample. The uniqueness of
the source may be explained by a special combination of magnetic field
strength, stellar spin period and alignment between the magnetic field and the
spin axis.Comment: Accepted 2015 February 12. Received 2015 February 10; in original
form 2014 December 1
Nested-grid calculations of disk-planet interaction
We study the evolution of embedded protoplanets in a protostellar disk using very high resolution nested-grid computations. This method allows us to perform global simulations of planets orbiting in disks and, at the same time, to resolve in detail the dynamics of the flow inside the Roche lobe of the planet. The primary interest of this work lies in the analysis of the gravitational torque balance acting on the planet. For this purpose we study planets of different masses, ranging from one Earth-mass up to one Jupiter-mass, assuming typical parameters of the protostellar disk. The high resolution of the method allows a precise determination of the mass flow onto the planet and the resulting torques. The obtained migration time scales are in the range from few times 10^4 years, for intermediate mass planets, to 10^6 years, for very low and high mass planets. Typical growth time scales depend strongly on the planetary mass, ranging from a few hundred years, in the case of Earth-type planets, to several ten thousand years, in the case of Jupiter-type planets
Effect of multimode entanglement on lossy optical quantum metrology
In optical interferometry multimode entanglement is often assumed to be the driving force behind quantum enhanced measurements. Recent work has shown this assumption to be false: single-mode quantum states perform just as well as their multimode entangled counterparts. We go beyond this to show that when photon losses occur, an inevitability in any realistic system, multimode entanglement is actually detrimental to obtaining quantum enhanced measurements. We specifically apply this idea to a superposition of coherent states, demonstrating that these states show a robustness to loss that allows them to significantly outperform their competitors in realistic systems. A practically viable measurement scheme is then presented that allows measurements close to the theoretical bound, even with loss. These results promote an alternate way of approaching optical quantum metrology using single-mode states that we expect to have great implications for the future
Current status of laboratory and imaging diagnosis of neonatal necrotizing enterocolitis
Necrotizing enterocolitis continues to be a devastating disease process for very low birth weight infants in Neonatal Intensive Care Units. The aetiology and pathogenesis of necrotizing enterocolitis are not definitively understood. It is known that necrotizing enterocolitis is secondary to a complex interaction of multiple factors that results in mucosal damage, which leads to intestinal ischemia and necrosis. Advances in neonatal care, including resuscitation and ventilation support technology, have seen increased survival rates among premature neonates and a concomitant detection in the incidence of this intestinal disease.Diagnosis can be difficult, and identifying infants at the onset of disease remains a challenge. Early diagnosis, which relies on imaging findings, and initiation of prompt therapy are essential to limit morbidity and mortality. Moreover, early management is critical and life-saving.This review summarizes what is known on the laboratory and instrumental diagnostic strategies needed to improve neonatal outcomes and, possibily, to prevent the onset of an overt necrotizing enterocolitis
Multi-year particle fluxes in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard
Abstract. High-latitude regions are
warming faster than other areas due to reduction of snow cover and sea ice
loss and changes in atmospheric and ocean circulation. The combination of
these processes, collectively known as polar amplification, provides an
extraordinary opportunity to document the ongoing thermal destabilisation of
the terrestrial cryosphere and the release of land-derived material into the
aquatic environment. This study presents a 6-year time series (2010â2016) of
physical parameters and particle fluxes collected by an oceanographic mooring
in Kongsfjorden (Spitsbergen, Svalbard). In recent decades, Kongsfjorden has
been experiencing rapid loss of sea ice coverage and retreat of local
glaciers as a result of the progressive increase in ocean and air
temperatures. The overarching goal of this study was to continuously monitor
the inner fjord particle sinking and to understand to what extent the
temporal evolution of particulate fluxes was linked to the progressive
changes in both Atlantic and freshwater input. Our data show high peaks of
settling particles during warm seasons, in terms of both organic and
inorganic matter. The different sources of suspended particles were described
as a mixing of glacier carbonate, glacier siliciclastic and autochthonous marine input. The glacier releasing
sediments into the fjord was the predominant source, while the sediment input
by rivers was reduced at the mooring site. Our time series showed that the
seasonal sunlight exerted first-order control on the particulate fluxes in
the inner fjord. The marine fraction peaked when the solar radiation was at a
maximum in MayâJune while the land-derived fluxes exhibited a 1â2-month lag
consistent with the maximum air temperature and glacier melting. The
inter-annual time-weighted total mass fluxes varied by 2 orders of magnitude
over time, with relatively higher values in 2011, 2013, and 2015. Our results
suggest that the land-derived input will remarkably increase over time in a
warming scenario. Further studies are therefore needed to understand the
future response of the Kongsfjorden ecosystem alterations with respect to the
enhanced release of glacier-derived material
Histamine H3 Receptors Expressed in Ventral Horns Modulate Spinal Motor Output
Motoneuron activity is modulated by histamine receptors. While H1 and H2 receptors have been widely explored, H3 histamine receptors (H3Rs) have not been sufficiently characterized. This paper targets the effects of the selective activation of H3Rs and their expression on the membranes of large ventral horn cells. The application of selective pharmacological agents to spinal cords isolated from neonatal rats was used to identify the presence of functional H3Rs on the membrane of physiologically identified lumbar motoneurons. Intra and extracellular recordings revealed that H3R agonist, \u3b1-methylhistamine, depolarized both single motoneurons and ventral roots, even in the presence of tetrodotoxin, an effect prevented by H3R antagonist, thioperamide. Finally, immunohistochemistry located the expression of H3Rs on a subpopulation of large cells in lamina IX. This study identifies H3Rs as a new exploitable pharmacological target against motor disturbances
Effect of heliox breathing on flow limitation in chronic heart failure patients
Patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) exhibit orthopnoea and tidal expiratory flow limitation in the supine position. It is not known whether the flow-limiting segment occurs in the peripheral or central part of the tracheobronchial tree. The location of the flow-limiting segment can be inferred from the effects of heliox (80% helium/20% oxygen) administration. If maximal expiratory flow increases with this low-density mixture, the choke point should be located in the central airways, where the wave-speed mechanism dominates. If the choke point were located in the peripheral airways, where maximal flow is limited by a viscous mechanism, heliox should have no effect on flow limitation and dynamic hyperinflation.
Tidal expiratory flow limitation, dynamic hyperinflation and breathing pattern were assessed in 14 stable CHF patients during air and heliox breathing at rest in the sitting and supine position.
No patient was flow-limited in the sitting position. In the supine posture, eight patients exhibited tidal expiratory flow limitation on air. Heliox had no effect on flow limitation and dynamic hyperinflation and only minor effects on the breathing pattern.
The lack of density dependence of maximal expiratory flow implies that, in CHF patients, the choke point is located in the peripheral airways
Nonlinear Interaction of Transversal Modes in a CO2 Laser
We show the possibility of achieving experimentally a Takens-Bogdanov
bifurcation for the nonlinear interaction of two transverse modes ()
in a laser. The system has a basic O(2) symmetry which is perturbed by
some symmetry-breaking effects that still preserve the symmetry. The
pattern dynamics near this codimension two bifurcation under such symmetries is
described. This dynamics changes drastically when the laser properties are
modified.Comment: 16 pages, 0 figure
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