284 research outputs found
Effect of strontium and cooling rate upon eutectic temperatures of A319 aluminum alloy
DTA analysis was used to investigate the solidification reactions of alloy A319 with either 12 or 136 ppm of Sr added. Strontium does not affect primary solidification of (Al) dendrites but modifies the kinetics of the (Al)âSi eutectic. The effects of Sr level and of cooling rate on the characteristic temperatures for the (Al)âSi and other eutectic reactions are described
Spatially resolved integral field spectroscopy of the ionized gas in IZw18
We present a detailed 2D study of the ionized ISM of IZw18 using new PMAS-IFU
optical observations. IZw18 is a high-ionization galaxy which is among the most
metal-poor starbursts in the local Universe. This makes IZw18 a local benchmark
for understanding the properties most closely resembling those prevailing at
distant starbursts. Our IFU-aperture (~ 1.4 kpc x 1.4 kpc) samples the entire
IZw18 main body and an extended region of its ionized gas. Maps of relevant
emission lines and emission line ratios show that higher-excitation gas is
preferentially located close to the NW knot and thereabouts. We detect a
Wolf-Rayet feature near the NW knot. We derive spatially resolved and
integrated physical-chemical properties for the ionized gas in IZw18. We find
no dependence between the metallicity-indicator R23 and the ionization
parameter (as traced by [OIII]/[OII]) across IZw18. Over ~ 0.30 kpc^2, using
the [OIII]4363 line, we compute Te[OIII] values (~ 15000 - 25000 K), and oxygen
abundances are derived from the direct determinations of Te[OIII]. More than
70% of the higher-Te[OIII] (> 22000 K) spaxels are HeII4686-emitting spaxels
too. From a statistical analysis, we study the presence of variations in the
ISM physical-chemical properties. A galaxy-wide homogeneity, across hundreds of
parsecs, is seen in O/H. Based on spaxel-by-spaxel measurements, the
error-weighted mean of 12 + log(O/H) = 7.11 +/- 0.01 is taken as the
representative O/H for IZw18. Aperture effects on the derivation of O/H are
discussed. Using our IFU data we obtain, for the first time, the IZw18
integrated spectrum.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 13 pages, 10 figures, 4 table
The extended HeII4686-emitting region in IZw18 unveiled: clues for peculiar ionizing sources
New integral field spectroscopy has been obtained for IZw18, the nearby
lowest-metallicity galaxy considered our best local analog of systems forming
at high-z. Here we report the spatially resolved spectral map of the nebular
HeII4686 emission in IZw18, from which we derived for the first time its total
HeII-ionizing flux. Nebular HeII emission implies the existence of a hard
radiation field. HeII-emitters are observed to be more frequent among high-z
galaxies than for local objects. So investigating the HeII-ionizing source(s)
in IZw18 may reveal the ionization processes at high-z. HeII emission in
star-forming galaxies, has been suggested to be mainly associated with
Wolf-Rayet stars (WRs), but WRs cannot satisfactorily explain the
HeII-ionization at all times, in particular at lowest metallicities. Shocks
from supernova remnants, or X-ray binaries, have been proposed as additional
potential sources of HeII-ionizing photons. Our data indicate that conventional
HeII-ionizing sources (WRs, shocks, X-ray binaries) are not sufficient to
explain the observed nebular HeII4686 emission in IZw18. We find that the
HeII-ionizing radiation expected from models for either low-metallicity
super-massive O stars or rotating metal-free stars could account for the
HeII-ionization budget measured, while only the latter models could explain the
highest values of HeII4686/Hbeta observed. The presence of such peculiar stars
in IZw18 is suggestive and further investigation in this regard is needed. This
letter highlights that some of the clues of the early Universe can be found
here in our cosmic backyard.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
AKARI/IRC Broadband Mid-infrared data as an indicator of Star Formation Rate
AKARI/Infrared Camera (IRC) Point Source Catalog provides a large amount of
flux data at {\it S9W} () and {\it L18W} ()
bands. With the goal of constructing Star-Formation Rate(SFR) calculations
using IRC data, we analyzed an IR selected
GALEX-SDSS-2MASS-AKARI(IRC/Far-Infrared Surveyor) sample of 153 nearby
galaxies. The far-infrared fluxes were obtained from AKARI diffuse maps to
correct the underestimation for extended sources raised by the point-spread
function photometry. SFRs of these galaxies were derived by the spectral energy
distribution fitting program CIGALE. In spite of complicated features contained
in these bands, both the {\it S9W} and {\it L18W} emission correlate with the
SFR of galaxies. The SFR calibrations using {\it S9W} and {\it L18W} are
presented for the first time. These calibrations agree well with previous works
based on Spitzer data within the scatters, and should be applicable to
dust-rich galaxies.Comment: PASJ, in pres
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Latitudinal gradients in butterfly population variability are influenced by landscape heterogeneity
The variability of populations over time is positively associated with their risk of local extinction. Previous work has shown that populations at the high-latitude boundary of speciesâ ranges show higher inter-annual variability, consistent with increased sensitivity and exposure to adverse climatic conditions. However, patterns of population variability at both high- and low-latitude species range boundaries have not yet been concurrently examined. Here, we assess the inter-annual population variability of 28 butterfly species between 1994 and 2009 at 351 and 18 sites in the United Kingdom and Catalonia, Spain, respectively. Local population variability is examined with respect to the position of the speciesâ bioclimatic envelopes (i.e. whether the population falls within areas of the âcoreâ climatic suitability or is a climatically âmarginalâ population), and in relation to local landscape heterogeneity, which may influence these range location â population dynamic relationships. We found that butterfly species consistently show latitudinal gradients in population variability, with increased variability in the more northerly UK. This pattern is even more marked for southerly distributed species with âmarginalâ climatic suitability in the UK but âcoreâ climatic suitability in Catalonia. In addition, local landscape heterogeneity did influence these range location â population dynamic relationships. Habitat heterogeneity was associated with dampened population dynamics, especially for populations in the UK. Our results suggest that promoting habitat heterogeneity may promote the persistence of populations at high-latitude range boundaries, which may potentially aid northwards expansion under climate warming. We did not find evidence that population variability increases towards southern range boundaries. Sample sizes for this region were low, but there was tentative evidence, in line with previous ecological theory, that local landscape heterogeneity may promote persistence in these retracting low-latitude range boundary populations
Seismic structure of the southern Gulf of California from Los Cabos block to the East Pacific Rise
Multichannel reflection and coincident wide-angle seismic data collected during the 2002 Premier Experiment, Sea of Cortez, Addressing the Development of Oblique Rifting (PESCADOR) experiment provide the most detailed seismic structure to date of the southern Gulf of California. Multichannel seismic (MCS) data were recorded with a 6-km-long streamer, 480-channel, aboard the R/V Maurice Ewing, and wide-angle data was recorded by 19 instruments spaced every similar to 12 km along the transect. The MCS and wide-angle data reveal the seismic structure across the continent-ocean transition of the rifted margin. Typical continental and oceanic crust are separated by a similar to 75-km-wide zone of extended continental crust dominated by block-faulted basement. Little lateral variation in crustal thicknesses and seismic velocities is observed in the oceanic crust, suggesting a constant rate of magmatic productivity since seafloor spreading began. Oceanic crustal thickness and mean crustal velocities suggest normal mantle temperature (1300 degrees C) and passive mantle upwelling at the early stages of seafloor spreading. The crustal thickness, width of extended continental crust, and predicted temperature conditions all indicate a narrow rift mode of extension. On the basis of upper and lower crust stretching factors, an excess of lower crust was found in the extended continental crust. Total extension along transect 5W is estimated to be similar to 35 km. Following crustal extension, new oceanic crust similar to 6.4-km-thick was formed at a rate of similar to 48 mm a(-1) to accommodate plate separation
Vitamins C and E attenuate plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) expression in a hypercholesterolemic porcine model of angioplasty
BACKGROUND: The plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), which modulates fibrinolysis and cell migration, may influence proteolysis and neointimal formation in the arterial wall contributing to restenosis after vascular injury. Antioxidants have been proposed as inhibiting multiple proatherogenic events. We explore the effect of vitamins C and E on PAI-1 expression in an experimental model of angioplasty in hypercholesterolemic pigs.
METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 44 Yucatan minipigs were divided into three diet groups: a normal-cholesterol (NC), a high-cholesterol (HC), and a high-cholesterol plus vitamins C+E (HCV) group. Balloon injury was induced in the right internal iliac artery 4 weeks after initiation of either dietary regimen, and plasma and tissue samples were taken at different time periods to measure PAI-1 activity and vascular inhibitor expression. The cholesterol-rich diet induced an increased in vascular PAI-1 expression in the intima, media and adventitia which was markedly reduced in the HCV group. After injury, severe structural changes were observed in NC and HC animals associated with increased systemic PAI-1 activity (P<0.001) and local PAI-1 expression being more intense in HC group. Vitamins C and E significantly reduced plasma PAI-1 activity (P=0.018) and attenuated the inhibitor expression as compared with HC.
CONCLUSIONS: This experimental study in a porcine model of hypercholesterolemia demonstrates that vitamins C and E reduce local and systemic PAI-1 induced after angioplasty as well as the hypercholesterolemia-induced vascular PAI-1
The Local Universe as Seen in Far-Infrared and in Far-Ultraviolet: A Global Point of View on the Local Recent Star Formation
We select far-infrared (FIR-60 microns) and far-ultraviolet (FUV-1530 A)
samples of nearby galaxies in order to discuss the biases encountered by
monochromatic surveys (FIR or FUV). Very different volumes are sampled by each
selection and much care is taken to apply volume corrections to all the
analyses. The distributions of the bolometric luminosity of young stars are
compared for both samples: they are found to be consistent with each other for
galaxies of intermediate luminosities but some differences are found for high
(>5 10^{10} L_sun) luminosities. The shallowness of the IRAS survey prevents us
from securing comparison at low luminosities (<2 10^9 L_sun). The ratio of the
total infrared (TIR) luminosity to the FUV luminosity is found to increase with
the bolometric luminosity in a similar way for both samples up to 5 10^{10}
L_sun. Brighter galaxies are found to have a different behavior according to
their selection: the L_TIR/L_FUV ratio of the FUV-selected galaxies brighter
than 5 10^{10} L_sun reaches a plateau whereas L_TIR/L_FUV continues to
increase with the luminosity of bright galaxies selected in FIR. The
volume-averaged specific star formation rate (SFR per unit galaxy stellar mass,
SSFR) is found to decrease toward massive galaxies within each selection. The
SSFR is found to be larger than that measured for optical and NIR-selected
sample over the whole mass range for the FIR selection, and for masses larger
than 10^{10} M_sun for the FUV selection. Luminous and massive galaxies
selected in FIR appear as active as galaxies with similar characteristics
detected at z ~ 0.7.Comment: 32 pages, 9 figures, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal
Supplement series dedicated to GALEX result
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