1,763 research outputs found
Measuring eccentricity in binary black hole inspirals with gravitational waves
When binary black holes form in the field, it is expected that their orbits
typically circularize before coalescence. In galactic nuclei and globular
clusters, binary black holes can form dynamically. Recent results suggest that
of mergers in globular clusters result from three-body
interactions. These three-body interactions are expected to induce significant
orbital eccentricity when they enter the Advanced LIGO band at a
gravitational-wave frequency of 10 Hz. Measurements of binary black hole
eccentricity therefore provide a means for determining whether or not dynamic
formation is the primary channel for producing binary black hole mergers. We
present a framework for performing Bayesian parameter estimation on
gravitational-wave observations of black hole inspirals. Using this framework,
and employing the non-spinning, inspiral-only EccentricFD waveform approximant,
we determine the minimum detectable eccentricity for an event with masses and
distance similar to GW150914. At design sensitivity, we find that the current
generation of advanced observatories will be sensitive to orbital
eccentricities of at a gravitational-wave frequency of 10 Hz,
demonstrating that existing detectors can use eccentricity to distinguish
between circular field binaries and globular cluster triples. We compare this
result to eccentricity distributions predicted to result from three black hole
binary formation channels, showing that measurements of eccentricity could be
used to infer the population properties of binary black holes.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 2 table
Stability and Quasinormal Modes of Black holes in Tensor-Vector-Scalar theory: Scalar Field Perturbations
The imminent detection of gravitational waves will trigger precision tests of
gravity through observations of quasinormal ringing of black holes. While
General Relativity predicts just two polarizations of gravitational waves, the
so-called plus and cross polarizations, numerous alternative theories of
gravity predict up to six different polarizations which will potentially be
observed in current and future generations of gravitational wave detectors.
Bekenstein's Tensor-Vector-Scalar (TeVeS) theory and its generalization fall
into one such class of theory that predict the full gamut of six polarizations
of gravitational waves. In this paper we begin the study of quasinormal modes
(QNMs) in TeVeS by studying perturbations of the scalar field in a spherically
symmetric background. We show that, at least in the case where superluminal
propagation of perturbations is not present, black holes are generically stable
to this kind of perturbation. We also make a unique prediction that, as the
limit of the various coupling parameters of the theory tend to zero, the QNM
spectrum tends to times the QNM spectrum induced by scalar
perturbations of a Schwarzschild black hole in General Relativity due to the
intrinsic presence of the background vector field. We further show that the QNM
spectrum does not vary significantly from this value for small values of the
theory's coupling parameters, however can vary by as much as a few percent for
larger, but still physically relevant parameters.Comment: Published in Physical Review
Natural variation in abiotic stress responsive gene expression and local adaptation to climate in Arabidopsis thaliana.
Gene expression varies widely in natural populations, yet the proximate and ultimate causes of this variation are poorly known. Understanding how variation in gene expression affects abiotic stress tolerance, fitness, and adaptation is central to the field of evolutionary genetics. We tested the hypothesis that genes with natural genetic variation in their expression responses to abiotic stress are likely to be involved in local adaptation to climate in Arabidopsis thaliana. Specifically, we compared genes with consistent expression responses to environmental stress (expression stress responsive, "eSR") to genes with genetically variable responses to abiotic stress (expression genotype-by-environment interaction, "eGEI"). We found that on average genes that exhibited eGEI in response to drought or cold had greater polymorphism in promoter regions and stronger associations with climate than those of eSR genes or genomic controls. We also found that transcription factor binding sites known to respond to environmental stressors, especially abscisic acid responsive elements, showed significantly higher polymorphism in drought eGEI genes in comparison to eSR genes. By contrast, eSR genes tended to exhibit relatively greater pairwise haplotype sharing, lower promoter diversity, and fewer nonsynonymous polymorphisms, suggesting purifying selection or selective sweeps. Our results indicate that cis-regulatory evolution and genetic variation in stress responsive gene expression may be important mechanisms of local adaptation to climatic selective gradients
Gravitational collapse of spherically symmetric plasmas in Einstein-Maxwell spacetimes
We utilize a recent formulation of a spherically symmetric spacetime endowed
with a general decomposition of the energy momentum tensor [Phys. Rev. D, 75,
024031 (2007)] to derive equations governing spherically symmetric
distributions of electromagnetic matter. We show the system reduces to the
Reissner-Nordstrom spacetime in general, spherically symmetric coordinates in
the vacuum limit. Furthermore, we show reduction to the charged Vaidya
spacetime in non-null coordinates when certain equations of states are chosen.
A model of gravitational collapse is discussed whereby a charged fluid resides
within a boundary of finite radial extent on the initial hypersurface, and is
allowed to radiate charged particles. Our formalism allows for the discussion
of all regions in this model without the need for complicated matching schemes
at the interfaces between successive regions. As further examples we consider
the collapse of a thin shell of charged matter onto a Reissner-Nordstrom black
hole. Finally, we reduce the entire system of equations to the static case such
that we have the equations for hydrostatic equilibrium of a charged fluid.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.
Spherically Symmetric Gravitational Collapse of General Fluids
We express Einstein's field equations for a spherically symmetric ball of
general fluid such that they are conducive to an initial value problem. We show
how the equations reduce to the Vaidya spacetime in a non-null coordinate
frame, simply by designating specific equations of state. Furthermore, this
reduces to the Schwarzschild spacetime when all matter variables vanish. We
then describe the formulation of an initial value problem, whereby a general
fluid ball with vacuum exterior is established on an initial spacelike slice.
As the system evolves, the fluid ball collapses and emanates null radiation
such that a region of Vaidya spacetime develops. Therefore, on any subsequent
spacelike slice there exists three regions; general fluid, Vaidya and
Schwarzschild, all expressed in a single coordinate patch with two
free-boundaries determined by the equations. This implies complicated matching
schemes are not required at the interfaces between the regions, instead, one
simply requires the matter variables tend to the appropriate equations of
state. We also show the reduction of the system of equations to the static
cases, and show staticity necessarily implies zero ``heat flux''. Furthermore,
the static equations include a generalization of the Tolman-Oppenheimer-Volkoff
equations for hydrostatic equilibrium to include anisotropic stresses in
general coordinates.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Volumetric and anatomical MRI for hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy: relationship to hypothermia therapy and neurosensory impairments.
OBJECTIVE: To relate volumetric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings to hypothermia therapy and neurosensory impairments.
STUDY DESIGN: Newborns \u3e or =36 weeks\u27 gestation with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy who participated in the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development hypothermia randomized trial at our center were eligible. We determined the relationship between hypothermia treatment and usual care (control) to absolute and relative cerebral tissue volumes. Furthermore, we correlated brain volumes with death or neurosensory impairments at 18 to 22 months.
RESULT: Both treatment groups were comparable before randomization. Total brain tissue volumes did not differ in relation to treatment assignment. However, relative volumes of subcortical white matter were significantly larger in hypothermia-treated than control infants. Furthermore, relative total brain volumes correlated significantly with death or neurosensory impairments. Relative volumes of the cortical gray and subcortical white matter also correlated significantly with Bayley Scales psychomotor development index.
CONCLUSION: Selected volumetric MRI findings correlated with hypothermia therapy and neurosensory impairments. Larger studies using MRI brain volumes as a secondary outcome measure are needed
Pleiotropy of FRIGIDA enhances the potential for multivariate adaptation.
An evolutionary response to selection requires genetic variation; however, even if it exists, then the genetic details of the variation can constrain adaptation. In the simplest case, unlinked loci and uncorrelated phenotypes respond directly to multivariate selection and permit unrestricted paths to adaptive peaks. By contrast, 'antagonistic' pleiotropic loci may constrain adaptation by affecting variation of many traits and limiting the direction of trait correlations to vectors that are not favoured by selection. However, certain pleiotropic configurations may improve the conditions for adaptive evolution. Here, we present evidence that the Arabidopsis thaliana gene FRI (FRIGIDA) exhibits 'adaptive' pleiotropy, producing trait correlations along an axis that results in two adaptive strategies. Derived, low expression FRI alleles confer a 'drought escape' strategy owing to fast growth, low water use efficiency and early flowering. By contrast, a dehydration avoidance strategy is conferred by the ancestral phenotype of late flowering, slow growth and efficient water use during photosynthesis. The dehydration avoidant phenotype was recovered when genotypes with null FRI alleles were transformed with functional alleles. Our findings indicate that the well-documented effects of FRI on phenology result from differences in physiology, not only a simple developmental switch
Effects of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy and whole-body hypothermia on neonatal auditory function: a pilot study.
We assessed the effects of hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) and whole-body hypothermia therapy on auditory brain stem evoked responses (ABRs) and distortion product otoacoustic emissions (DPOAEs). We performed serial assessments of ABRs and DPOAEs in newborns with moderate or severe HIE, randomized to hypothermia ( N = 4) or usual care ( N = 5). Participants were five boys and four girls with mean gestational age (standard deviation) of 38.9 (1.8) weeks. During the first week of life, peripheral auditory function, as measured by the DPOAEs, was disrupted in all nine subjects. ABRs were delayed but central transmission was intact, suggesting a peripheral rather than a central neural insult. By 3 weeks of age, peripheral auditory function normalized. Hypothermia temporarily prolonged the ABR, more so for waves generated higher in the brain stem but the effects reversed quickly on rewarming. Neonatal audiometric testing is feasible, noninvasive, and capable of enhancing our understanding of the effects of HIE and hypothermia on auditory function
Changes in the PQRST intervals and heart rate variability associated with rewarming in two newborns undergoing hypothermia therapy.
BACKGROUND: Little is known about the effects of hypothermia therapy and subsequent rewarming on the PQRST intervals and heart rate variability (HRV) in term newborns with hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE).
OBJECTIVES: This study describes the changes in the PQRST intervals and HRV during rewarming to normal core body temperature of 2 newborns with HIE after hypothermia therapy.
METHODS: Within 6 h after birth, 2 newborns with HIE were cooled to a core body temperature of 33.5 degrees C for 72 h using a cooling blanket, followed by gradual rewarming (0.5 degrees C per hour) until the body temperature reached 36.5 degrees C. Custom instrumentation recorded the electrocardiogram from the leads used for clinical monitoring of vital signs. Generalized linear mixed models were calculated to estimate temperature-related changes in PQRST intervals and HRV. Results: For every 1 degrees C increase in body temperature, the heart rate increased by 9.2 bpm (95% CI 6.8-11.6), the QTc interval decreased by 21.6 ms (95% CI 17.3-25.9), and low and high frequency HRV decreased by 0.480 dB (95% CI 0.052-0.907) and 0.938 dB (95% CI 0.460-1.416), respectively.
CONCLUSIONS: Hypothermia-induced changes in the electrocardiogram should be monitored carefully in future studies
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