753 research outputs found
The kinematics of the most oxygen-poor planetary nebula PN G135.9+55.9
PN G135.9+55.9 is a compact, high excitation nebula that has been identified
recently as the most oxygen-poor halo planetary nebula. Given its very peculiar
characteristics and potential implications in the realms of stellar and
Galactic evolution, additional data are needed to firmly establish its true
nature and evolutionary history. Here we present the first long-slit, high
spectral resolution observations of this object in the lines of H and
He II 4686. The position-velocity data are shown to be compatible with the
interpretation of PN G135.9+55.9 being a halo planetary nebula. In both
emission lines, we find the same two velocity components that characterize the
kinematics as that of an expanding elliptical envelope. The kinematics is
consistent with a prolate ellipsoidal model with axis ratio about 2:1, a
radially decreasing emissivity distribution, a velocity distribution that is
radial, and an expansion velocity of 30 km/s for the bulk of the material. To
fit the observed line profiles, this model requires an asymmetric matter
distribution, with the blue-shifted emission considerably stronger than the
red-shifted emission. We find that the widths of the two velocity components
are substantially wider than those expected due to thermal motions, but
kinematic structure in the projected area covered by the slit appears to be
sufficient to explain the line widths. The present data also rule out the
possible presence of an accretion disk in the system that could have been
responsible for a fraction of the H flux, further supporting the
planetary nebula nature of PN G135.9+55.9.Comment: accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysic
Agronomic Performance and Nutritive Value of Mucuna Legume (Stilozobium Deeringianum (Bort) Merr.) as Influenced by Cutting Dates in Peruvian Central Coast
The agronomic performance and nutritive value of Mucuna legume (Stilozobium deeringianum (Bort) Merr.) in five stages were evaluated under climatic conditions of Peruvian central coast to estimate optimum stage of use. Five cutting ages were: 21, 42, 63, 84 and 105 days. Crop growing, forage yield, chemical composition, vitro dry matter digestibility and net energy for lactation of Mucuna were evaluated. The optimum cutting age was 84 days with 25633.3 kg. Ha-1 of fresh matter and 6422.6 kg-1 ha-1 of dry matter. In this age crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber and in vitro dry matter digestibility contents were 14.94%, 44.80%, 33.15% and 66.12 %. Net energy for lactation was 1.43 Mcal.kg-1. These results show that Mucuna was well adapted to Peruvian Central Coast with high forage yield and nutritive value
U Geminorum: a test case for orbital parameters determination
High-resolution spectroscopy of U Gem was obtained during quiescence. We did
not find a hot spot or gas stream around the outer boundaries of the accretion
disk. Instead, we detected a strong narrow emission near the location of the
secondary star. We measured the radial velocity curve from the wings of the
double-peaked H emission line, and obtained a semi-amplitude value that
is in excellent agreement with the obtained from observations in the
ultraviolet spectral region by Sion et al. (1998). We present also a new method
to obtain K_2, which enhances the detection of absorption or emission features
arising in the late-type companion. Our results are compared with published
values derived from the near-infrared NaI line doublet. From a comparison of
the TiO band with those of late type M stars, we find that a best fit is
obtained for a M6V star, contributing 5 percent of the total light at that
spectral region. Assuming that the radial velocity semi-amplitudes reflect
accurately the motion of the binary components, then from our results: K_em =
107+/-2 km/s; K_abs = 310+/-5 km/s, and using the inclination angle given by
Zhang & Robinson(1987); i = 69.7+/-0.7, the system parameters become: M_WD =
1.20+/-0.05 M_sun,; M_RD = 0.42+/-0.04 M_sun; and a = 1.55+/- 0.02 R_sun. Based
on the separation of the double emission peaks, we calculate an outer disk
radius of R_out/a ~0.61, close to the distance of the inner Lagrangian point
L_1/a~0.63. Therefore we suggest that, at the time of observations, the
accretion disk was filling the Roche-Lobe of the primary, and that the matter
leaving the L_1 point was colliding with the disc directly, producing the hot
spot at this location.Comment: 36 pages, 14 figures, ccepted for publication in A
Matching factorization theorems with an inverse-error weighting
We propose a new fast method to match factorization theorems applicable in different kinematical regions, such as the transverse-momentum-dependent and the collinear factorization theorems in Quantum Chromodynamics. At variance with well-known approaches relying on their simple addition and subsequent subtraction of double-counted contributions, ours simply builds on their weighting using the theory uncertainties deduced from the factorization theorems themselves. This allows us to estimate the unknown complete matched cross section from an inverse-error-weighted average. The method is simple and provides an evaluation of the theoretical uncertainty of the matched cross section associated with the uncertainties from the power corrections to the factorization theorems (additional uncertainties, such as the nonperturbative ones, should be added for a proper comparison with experimental data). Its usage is illustrated with several basic examples, such as Z boson, W boson, H0 boson and Drell–Yan lepton-pair production in hadronic collisions, and compared to the state-of-the-art Collins–Soper–Sterman subtraction scheme. It is also not limited to the transverse-momentum spectrum, and can straightforwardly be extended to match any (un)polarized cross section differential in other variables, including multi-differential measurements
RF Feedback and Detuning Studies for the BESSY Variable Pulse Length Storage Ring Higher Harmonic SC Cavities
For the feasibility of the BESSY VSR upgrade project of BESSY II two higher harmonic systems at a factor of 3 and 3.5 of the ring s RF fundamental of 500 MHz will be installed in the ring. Operating in continuous wave at high average accelerating field of 20 MV m and phased at zerocrossing, the superconducting cavities have to be detuned within tight margins to ensure stable operation and lowpower consumption at a loaded Q of 5 107. The field variation of the cavities is mainly driven by the repetitive transient beam loading of the envisaged complex bunch fill pattern in the ring. Within this work combined LLRF cavity and longitudinal beam dynamics simulation will demonstrate the limits for stable operation, especially the coupling between synchrotron oscillation and RF feedback settings. Further impact by beam current decay and top up injection shots are being simulate
Very Large Telescope Observations of the peculiar globular cluster NGC6712. Discovery of a UV, H-alpha excess star in the core
We present results from multi-band observations in the central region of the
cluster NGC6712 with the ESO-Very Large Telescope. Using high resolution images
we have identified three UV-excess stars. In particular two of them are within
the cluster core, a few arcsec apart: the first object is star "S" which
previous studies identified as the best candidate to the optical counterpart to
the luminous X-ray source detected in this cluster. The other UV object shows
clearcut H-alpha emission and, for this reason, is an additional promising
interacting binary candidate (a quiescent LMXB or a CV). The presence of two
unrelated interacting binary systems a few arcsec apart in the core of this
low-density cluster is somewhat surprising and supports the hypothesis that the
(internal) dynamical history of the cluster and/or the (external) interaction
with the Galaxy might play a fundamental role in the formation of these
peculiar objects.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures. ApJL in pres
Evidence of magnetic accretion in an SW Sex star: discovery of variable circular polarization in LS Pegasi
We report on the discovery of variable circular polarization in the SW Sex
star LS Pegasi. The observed modulation has an amplitude of ~0.3 % and a period
of 29.6 minutes, which we assume as the spin period of the magnetic white
dwarf. We also detected periodic flaring in the blue wing of Hbeta, with a
period of 33.5 minutes. The difference between both frequencies is just the
orbital frequency, so we relate the 33.5-min modulation to the beat between the
orbital and spin period. We propose a new accretion scenario in SW Sex stars,
based on the shock of the disk-overflown gas stream against the white dwarf's
magnetosphere, which extends to the corotation radius. From this geometry, we
estimate a magnetic field strength of B(1) ~ 5-15 MG. Our results indicate that
magnetic accretion plays an important role in SW Sex stars and we suggest that
these systems are probably Intermediate Polars with the highest mass accretion
rates.Comment: Accepted by ApJ Letters. LaTeX, 14 pages, 3 PostScript figure
Targeting Aquaporin Function:Potent Inhibition of Aquaglyceroporin-3 by a Gold-Based Compound
Aquaporins (AQPs) are membrane channels that conduct water and small solutes such as glycerol and are involved in many physiological functions. Aquaporin-based modulator drugs are predicted to be of broad potential utility in the treatment of several diseases. Until today few AQP inhibitors have been described as suitable candidates for clinical development. Here we report on the potent inhibition of AQP3 channels by gold(III) complexes screened on human red blood cells (hRBC) and AQP3-transfected PC12 cells by a stopped-flow method. Among the various metal compounds tested, Auphen is the most active on AQP3 (IC(50) = 0.8±0.08 µM in hRBC). Interestingly, the compound poorly affects the water permeability of AQP1. The mechanism of gold inhibition is related to the ability of Au(III) to interact with sulphydryls groups of proteins such as the thiolates of cysteine residues. Additional DFT and modeling studies on possible gold compound/AQP adducts provide a tentative description of the system at a molecular level. The mapping of the periplasmic surface of an homology model of human AQP3 evidenced the thiol group of Cys40 as a likely candidate for binding to gold(III) complexes. Moreover, the investigation of non-covalent binding of Au complexes by docking approaches revealed their preferential binding to AQP3 with respect to AQP1. The high selectivity and low concentration dependent inhibitory effect of Auphen (in the nanomolar range) together with its high water solubility makes the compound a suitable drug lead for future in vivo studies. These results may present novel metal-based scaffolds for AQP drug development
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