399 research outputs found
A Gravitational Instability-Driven Viscosity in Self-Gravitating Accretion Disks
We derive a viscosity from gravitational instability in self-gravitating
accretion disks, which has the required properties to account for the observed
fast formation of the first super-massive black holes in highly redshifted
quasars and for the cosmological evolution of the black hole-mass distribution.Comment: 14 pages, 1 figure, ApJ Letters (in press
Discovery of a Magnetic White Dwarf in the Symbiotic Binary Z Andromedae
We report the first result from our survey of rapid variability in symbiotic
binaries: the discovery of a persistent oscillation at P=1682.6 +- 0.6 s in the
optical emission from the prototype symbiotic, Z Andromedae. The oscillation
was detected on all 8 occasions on which the source was observed over a
timespan of nearly a year, making it the first such persistent periodic pulse
found in a symbiotic binary. The amplitude was typically 2 - 5 mmag, and it was
correlated with the optical brightness during a relatively small outburst of
the system. The most natural explanation is that the oscillation arises from
the rotation of an accreting, magnetic (B_S > 10^5 G) white dwarf. This
discovery constrains the outburst mechanisms, since the oscillation emission
region near the surface of the white dwarf was visible during the outburst.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal (6 pages,
including 4 figures), LaTe
Evolution of brown dwarf disks: A Spitzer survey in Upper Scorpius
We have carried out a Spitzer survey for brown dwarf (BD) disks in the ~5 Myr
old Upper Scorpius (UpSco) star forming region, using IRS spectroscopy from 8
to 12\mu m and MIPS photometry at 24\mu m. Our sample consists of 35 confirmed
very low mass members of UpSco. Thirteen objects in this sample show clear
excess flux at 24\mu m, explained by dust emission from a circum-sub-stellar
disk. Objects without excess emission either have no disks at all or disks with
inner opacity holes of at least ~5 AU radii. Our disk frequency of 37\pm 9% is
higher than what has been derived previously for K0-M5 stars in the same region
(on a 1.8 sigma confidence level), suggesting a mass-dependent disk lifetime in
UpSco. The clear distinction between objects with and without disks as well as
the lack of transition objects shows that disk dissipation inside 5 AU occurs
rapidly, probably on timescales of <~10^5 years. For the objects with disks,
most SEDs are uniformly flat with flux levels of a few mJy, well modeled as
emission from dusty disks affected by dust settling to the midplane, which also
provides indirect evidence for grain growth. The silicate feature around 10\mu
m is either absent or weak in our SEDs, arguing for a lack of hot, small dust
grains. Compared with younger objects in Taurus, BD disks in UpSco show less
flaring. Taken together, these results clearly demonstrate that we see disks in
an advanced evolutionary state: Dust settling and grain growth are ubiquituous
in circum-sub-stellar disks at ages of 5 Myr, arguing for planet forming
processes in BD disks. For almost all our targets, results from high-resolution
spectroscopy and high-spatial resolution imaging have been published before,
thus providing a large sample of BDs for which information about disks,
accretion, and binarity is available. (abridged)Comment: 39 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Spinning compact binary inspiral II: Conservative angular dynamics
We establish the evolution equations of the set of independent variables
characterizing the 2PN rigorous conservative dynamics of a spinning compact
binary, with the inclusion of the leading order spin-orbit, spin-spin and mass
quadrupole - mass monopole effects, for generic (noncircular, nonspherical)
orbits. More specifically, we give a closed system of first order ordinary
differential equations for the orbital elements of the osculating ellipse and
for the angles characterizing the spin orientations with respect to the
osculating orbit. We also prove that (i) the relative angle of the spins stays
constant for equal mass black holes, irrespective of their orientation, and
(ii) the special configuration of equal mass black holes with equal, but
antialigned spins, both laying in the plane of motion (leading to the largest
recoil found in numerical simulations) is preserved at 2PN level of accuracy,
with leading order spin-orbit, spin-spin and mass quadrupolar contributions
included.Comment: v2: 19 pages, extended, improved, published versio
Ram pressure stripping and galaxy orbits: The case of the Virgo cluster
We investigate the role of ram pressure stripping in the Virgo cluster using
N-body simulations. Radial orbits within the Virgo cluster's gravitational
potential are modeled and analyzed with respect to ram pressure stripping. The
N-body model consists of 10000 gas cloud complexes which can have inelastic
collisions. Ram pressure is modeled as an additional acceleration on the clouds
located at the surface of the gas distribution in the direction of the galaxy's
motion within the cluster. We made several simulations changing the orbital
parameters in order to recover different stripping scenarios using realistic
temporal ram pressure profiles. We investigate systematically the influence of
the inclination angle between the disk and the orbital plane of the galaxy on
the gas dynamics. We show that ram pressure can lead to a temporary increase of
the central gas surface density. In some cases a considerable part of the total
atomic gas mass (several 10^8 M_solar) can fall back onto the galactic disk
after the stripping event. A quantitative relation between the orbit parameters
and the resulting HI deficiency is derived containing explicitly the
inclination angle between the disk and the orbital plane. The comparison
between existing HI observations and the results of our simulations shows that
the HI deficiency depends strongly on galaxy orbits. It is concluded that the
scenario where ram pressure stripping is responsible for the observed HI
deficiency is consistent with all HI 21cm observations in the Virgo cluster.Comment: 29 pages with 21 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
Multi-fractional analysis of molecular diffusion in polymer multilayers by FRAP: a new simulation-based approach
Comprehensive analysis of the multifractional molecular diffusion provides a deeper understanding of the diffusion phenomenon in the fields of material science, molecular and cell biology, advanced biomaterials, etc. Fluorescence recovery after photobleaching (FRAP) is commonly employed to probe the molecular diffusion. Despite FRAP being a very popular method, it is not easy to assess multifractional molecular diffusion due to limited possibilities of approaches for analysis. Here we present a novel simulation-optimization-based approach (S-approach) that significantly broadens possibilities of the analysis. In the S-approach, possible fluorescence recovery scenarios are primarily simulated and afterward compared with a real measurement while optimizing parameters of a model until a sufficient match is achieved. This makes it possible to reveal multifractional molecular diffusion. Fluorescent latex particles of different size and fluorescein isothiocyanate in an aqueous medium were utilized as test systems. Finally, the S-approach has been used to evaluate diffusion of cytochrome c loaded into multilayers made of hyaluronan and polylysine. Software for evaluation of multifractional molecular diffusion by S-approach has been developed aiming to offer maximal versatility and user-friendly way for analysis
The Structure of the Homunculus. III. Forming a Disk and Bipolar Lobes in a Rotating Surface Explosion
We present a semi-analytic model for shaping the nebula around eta Carinae
that accounts for the simultaneous production of bipolar lobes and an
equatorial disk through a rotating surface explosion. Material is launched
normal to the surface of an oblate rotating star with an initial kick velocity
that scales approximately with the local escape speed. Thereafter, ejecta
follow ballistic orbital trajectories, feeling only a central force
corresponding to a radiatively reduced gravity. Our model is conceptually
similar to the wind-compressed disk model of Bjorkman & Cassinelli, but we
modify it to an explosion instead of a steady line-driven wind, we include a
rotationally-distorted star, and we treat the dynamics somewhat differently.
Continuum-driving avoids the disk inhibition that normally operates in
line-driven winds. Our model provides a simple method by which rotating hot
stars can simultaneously produce intrinsically bipolar and equatorial mass
ejections, without an aspherical environment or magnetic fields. Although
motivated by eta Carinae, the model may have generic application to other LBVs,
B[e] stars, or SN1987A's nebula. When near-Eddington radiative driving is less
influential, our model generalizes to produce bipolar morphologies without
disks, as seen in many PNe.Comment: ApJ accepted, 9 page
Protostellar collapse: rotation and disk formation
We present some important conclusions from recent calculations pertaining to
the collapse of rotating molecular cloud cores with axial symmetry,
corresponding to evolution of young stellar objects through classes 0 and begin
of class I. Three main issues have been addressed: (1) The typical timescale
for building up a preplanetary disk - once more it turned out that it is of the
order of one free-fall time which is decisively shorter than the widely assumed
timescale related to the so-called 'inside-out collapse'; (2) Redistribution of
angular momentum and the accompanying dissipation of kinetic (rotational)
energy - together these processes govern the mechanical and thermal evolution
of the protostellar core to a large extent; (3) The origin of
calcium-aluminium-rich inclusions (CAIs) - due to the specific pattern of the
accretion flow, material that has undergone substantial chemical and
mineralogical modifications in the hot (exceeding 900 K) interior of the
protostellar core may have a good chance to be advectively transported outward
into the cooler remote parts (beyond 4 AU, say) of the growing disk and to
survive there until it is incorporated into a meteoritic body.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Mechanisms of particles in sensitization, effector function and therapy of allergic disease
Humans have always been in contact with natural airborne particles from many sources including biologic particulate matter (PM) which can exhibit allergenic properties. With industrialization, anthropogenic and combustion-derived particles have become a major fraction. Currently, an ever-growing number of diverse and innovative materials containing engineered nanoparticles (NPs) are being developed with great expectations in technology and medicine. Nanomaterials have entered everyday products including cosmetics, textiles, electronics, sports equipment, as well as food, and food packaging. As part of natural evolution humans have adapted to the exposure to particulate matter, aiming to protect the individual's integrity and health. At the respiratory barrier, complications can arise, when allergic sensitization and pulmonary diseases occur in response to particle exposure. Particulate matter in the form of plant pollen, dust mites feces, animal dander, but also aerosols arising from industrial processes in occupational settings including diverse mixtures thereof can exert such effects. This review article gives an overview of the allergic immune response and addresses specifically the mechanisms of particulates in the context of allergic sensitization, effector function and therapy. In regard of the first theme (i), an overview on exposure to particulates and the functionalities of the relevant immune cells involved in allergic sensitization as well as their interactions in innate and adaptive responses are described. As relevant for human disease, we aim to outline (ii) the potential effector mechanisms that lead to the aggravation of an ongoing immune deviation (such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, etc.) by inhaled particulates, including NPs. Even though adverse effects can be exerted by (nano)particles, leading to allergic sensitization, and the exacerbation of allergic symptoms, promising potential has been shown for their use in (iii) therapeutic approaches of allergic disease, for example as adjuvants. Hence, allergen-specific immunotherapy (AIT) is introduced and the role of adjuvants such as alum as well as the current understanding of their mechanisms of action is reviewed. Finally, future prospects of nanomedicines in allergy treatment are described, which involve modern platform technologies combining immunomodulatory effects at several (immuno-)functional levels
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