871 research outputs found
Theory of Dispersed Fixed-Delay Interferometry for Radial Velocity Exoplanet Searches
The dispersed fixed-delay interferometer (DFDI) represents a new instrument
concept for high-precision radial velocity (RV) surveys for extrasolar planets.
A combination of Michelson interferometer and medium-resolution spectrograph,
it has the potential for performing multi-object surveys, where most previous
RV techniques have been limited to observing only one target at a time. Because
of the large sample of extrasolar planets needed to better understand planetary
formation, evolution, and prevalence, this new technique represents a logical
next step in instrumentation for RV extrasolar planet searches, and has been
proven with the single-object Exoplanet Tracker (ET) at Kitt Peak National
Observatory, and the multi-object W. M. Keck/MARVELS Exoplanet Tracker at
Apache Point Observatory. The development of the ET instruments has
necessitated fleshing out a detailed understanding of the physical principles
of the DFDI technique. Here we summarize the fundamental theoretical material
needed to understand the technique and provide an overview of the physics
underlying the instrument's working. We also derive some useful analytical
formulae that can be used to estimate the level of various sources of error
generic to the technique, such as photon shot noise when using a fiducial
reference spectrum, contamination by secondary spectra (e.g., crowded sources,
spectroscopic binaries, or moonlight contamination), residual interferometer
comb, and reference cross-talk error. Following this, we show that the use of a
traditional gas absorption fiducial reference with a DFDI can incur significant
systematic errors that must be taken into account at the precision levels
required to detect extrasolar planets.Comment: 58 pages, 11 figures, 1 table, 3 appendices. Accepted for publication
in ApJS. Minor typographical corrections; update to acknowledgment
Magnetic power spectra from Faraday rotation maps - REALMAF and its use on Hydra A
We develop a novel maximum-a-posteriori method to measure magnetic power
spectra from Faraday rotation data and implement it in the REALMAF code. A
sophisticated model for the magnetic autocorrelation in real space permits us
to alleviate previously required simplifying assumptions in the processing. We
also introduce a way to treat the divergence relation of the magnetic field
with a multiplicative factor in Fourier space, with which we can model the
magnetic autocorrelation as a spherically symmetric function. Applied to the
dataset of Hydra A north, we find a power law power spectrum on spatial scales
between 0.3 kpc and 8 kpc, with no visible turnover at large scales within this
range and a spectral index consistent with a Kolmogorov-like power law regime.
The magnetic field strength profile seems to follow the electron density
profile with an index alpha=1. A variation of alpha from 0.5 to 1.5 would lead
to a spectral index between 1.55 and 2.05. The extrapolated magnetic field
strength in the cluster centre highly depends on the assumed projection angle
of the jet. For an angle of 45 degree we derive extrapolated 36 muG in the
centre and directly probed 16 muG at 50 kpc radius.Comment: 13 pages, 13 figures, version accepted by A&A with restructured
introduction and language improvement
The intracluster magnetic field power spectrum in A2199
We investigate the magnetic field power spectrum in the cool core galaxy
cluster A2199 by analyzing the polarized emission of the central radio source
3C338. The polarized radiation from the radio emitting plasma is modified by
the Faraday rotation as it passes through the magneto-ionic intracluster
medium. We use Very Large Array observations between 1665 and 8415 MHz to
produce detailed Faraday rotation measure and fractional polarization images of
the radio galaxy. We simulate Gaussian random three-dimensional magnetic field
models with different power-law power spectra and we assume that the field
strength decreases radially with the thermal gas density as n_e^{\eta}. By
comparing the synthetic and the observed images with a Bayesian approach, we
constrain the strength and structure of the magnetic field associated with the
intracluster medium. We find that the Faraday rotation toward 3C338 in A2199 is
consistent with a magnetic field power law power spectrum characterized by an
index n=(2.8 \pm 1.3) between a maximum and a minimum scale of fluctuation of
\Lambda_{max}=(35 \pm 28) kpc and \Lambda_{min}=(0.7 \pm 0.1) kpc,
respectively. By including in the modeling X-ray cavities coincident with the
radio galaxy lobes, we find a magnetic field strength of =(11.7 \pm 9.0)
\mu G at the cluster center. Further out, the field decreases with the radius
following the gas density to the power of \eta=(0.9 \pm 0.5).Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, A&A accepte
Measuring the Cluster Magnetic Field Power Spectra from Faraday Rotation Maps of Abell 400, Abell 2634 and Hydra A
We apply a novel technique of Faraday Rotation measure (RM) map analysis to
three galaxy clusters, Abell 400, Abell 2634 and Hydra A, in order to estimate
cluster magnetic field strengths, length scales and power spectra. This
analysis is based on the assumption that the magnetic fields are statistically
isotropically distributed across the Faraday screen. We investigate the
difficulties involved in the application of the analysis to observational data.
We derive magnetic power spectra for the three clusters and discuss influences
on their shapes. We show that magnetic fluctuations are probed on length scales
ranging over at least one order of magnitude. Using this range for the
determination of central cluster magnetic field strength yields 3 muG in Abell
2634, 6 muG in Abell 400 and 12 muG in Hydra A. The magnetic field
autocorrelation length was determined to be 4.9 kpc for Abell 2634, 3.6 kpc for
Abell 400 and 0.9 kpc for Hydra A. We show that the RM autocorrelation length
is larger than the magnetic field autocorrelation length. We investigate in a
response analysis if it is possible to determine spectral slopes of the power
spectra. We find that integrated numbers can be determined from this analysis
but differential parameters such as spectral slopes have to be treated
differently. Our response analysis results in spectral slopes of the power
spectra of spectral indices alpha = 1.6 to 2.0 suggesting that Kolmogorov
spectra are possible but flatter spectral slopes than alpha = 1.3 can be
excluded.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, accepted by A&
Interaction of Fanaroff-Riley class II radio jets with a randomly magnetised intra-cluster medium
A combination of three-dimensional (3D) magnetohydrodynamics (MHD) and
synthetic numerical simulations are presented to follow the evolution of a
randomly magnetised plasma that models the intra-cluster medium (ICM), under
the isolated effects of powerful, light, hypersonic and bipolar Fanaroff-Riley
class II (FR II) jets. We prescribe the cluster magnetic field (CMF) as a
Gaussian random field with a Kolmogorov-like energy spectrum. Both the power of
the jets and the viewing angle that is used for the synthetic Rotation Measure
(RM) observations are investigated. We find the model radio sources introduce
and amplify fluctuations on the RM statistical properties which we analyse as a
function of time as well as the viewing angle. The average RM and the RM
standard deviation are increased by the action of the jets. Energetics, RM
statistics and magnetic power spectral analysis consistently show that the
effects also correlate with the jets' power, and that the lightest, fastest
jets produce the strongest changes in their environment. We see jets distort
and amplify the CMFs especially near the edges of the lobes and the jets'
heads. This process leads to a flattening of the RM structure functions at
scales comparable to the source size. The edge features we find are similar to
ones observed in Hydra A. The results show that jet-produced RM enhancements
are more apparent in quasars than in radio galaxies. Globally, jets tend to
enhance the RM standard deviation which may lead to overestimations of the
CMFs' strength by about 70%. This study means to serve as a pathfinder for the
SKA, EVLA and LOFAR to follow the evolution of cosmic magnetic fields.Comment: Accepted for publication in the MNRAS. 21 pages, 15 figure
A Bayesian view on Faraday rotation maps - Seeing the magnetic power spectra in galaxy clusters
We present a Bayesian maximum likelihood analysis of Faraday rotation measure
(RM) maps of extended radio sources to determine magnetic field power spectra
in clusters of galaxies. Using this approach, it is possible to determine the
uncertainties in the measurements. We apply this approach to the RM map of
Hydra A and derive the power spectrum of the cluster magnetic field. For Hydra
A, we measure a spectral index of -5/3 over at least one order of magnitude
implying Kolmogorov type turbulence. We find a dominant scale of about 3 kpc on
which the magnetic power is concentrated, since the magnetic autocorrelation
length is lambda_B = 3 +/- 0.5 kpc. Furthermore, we investigate the influences
of the assumption about the sampling volume (described by a window function) on
the magnetic power spectrum. The central magnetic field strength was determined
to be about 7 +/- 2 muG for the most likely geometries.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A&
A Keck HIRES Doppler Search for Planets Orbiting Metal-Poor Dwarfs. II. On the Frequency of Giant Planets in the Metal-Poor Regime
We present an analysis of three years of precision radial velocity
measurements of 160 metal-poor stars observed with HIRES on the Keck 1
telescope. We report on variability and long-term velocity trends for each star
in our sample. We identify several long-term, low-amplitude radial-velocity
variables worthy of follow-up with direct imaging techniques. We place lower
limits on the detectable companion mass as a function of orbital period. Our
survey would have detected, with a 99.5% confidence level, over 95% of all
companions on low-eccentricity orbits with velocity semi-amplitude K > 100 m/s,
or M_p*sin(i) > 3.0 M_JUP*(P/yr)^(1/3), for orbital periods P< 3 yr. None of
the stars in our sample exhibits radial-velocity variations compatible with the
presence of Jovian planets with periods shorter than the survey duration. The
resulting average frequency of gas giants orbiting metal-poor dwarfs with -2.0
< [Fe/H] < -0.6 is f_p<0.67% (at the 1-sigma confidence level). We examine the
implications of this null result in the context of the observed correlation
between the rate of occurrence of giant planets and the metallicity of their
main-sequence solar-type stellar hosts. By combining our dataset with the
Fischer & Valenti (2005) uniform sample, we confirm that the likelihood of a
star to harbor a planet more massive than Jupiter within 2 AU is a steeply
rising function of the host's metallicity. However, the data for stars with
-1.0 < [Fe/H] < 0.0 are compatible, in a statistical sense, with a constant
occurrence rate f_p~1%. Our results can usefully inform theoretical studies of
the process of giant planet formation across two orders of magnitude in
metallicity.Comment: 59 pages, 7 tables, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
SECTM1 Produced by Tumor Cells Attracts Human Monocytes via CD7-Mediated Activation of the PI3K Pathway
Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have essential roles in tumor progression and metastasis. Tumor cells recruit myeloid progenitors and monocytes to the tumor site, where they differentiate into TAMs; however, this process is not well studied in humans. Here we show that human CD7, a T-cell and NK cell receptor, is highly expressed by monocytes and macrophages. Expression of CD7 decreases in M-CSF-differentiated macrophages and in melanoma-conditioned medium–induced macrophages (MCMI/Mφ) in comparison to monocytes. A ligand for CD7, SECTM1 (secreted and transmembrane protein 1), is highly expressed in many tumors, including melanoma cells. We show that SECTM1 binds to CD7 and significantly increases monocyte migration by activation of the PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase) pathway. In human melanoma tissues, tumor-infiltrating macrophages expressing CD7 are present. These melanomas, with CD7-positive inflammatory cell infiltrations, frequently highly express SECTM1, including an N-terminal, soluble form, which can be detected in the sera of metastatic melanoma patients but not in normal sera. Taken together, our data demonstrate that CD7 is present on monocytes and tumor macrophages and that its ligand, SECTM1, is frequently expressed in corresponding melanoma tissues, possibly acting as a chemoattractant for monocytes to modulate the melanoma microenvironment
The shorter zinc finger protein ZNF230 gene message is transcribed in fertile male testes and may be related to human spermatogenesis
Split tendon transfers for the correction of spastic varus foot deformity: a case series study
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Overactivity of anterior and/or posterior tibial tendon may be a causative factor of spastic varus foot deformity. The prevalence of their dysfunction has been reported with not well defined results. Although gait analysis and dynamic electromyography provide useful information for the assessment of the patients, they are not available in every hospital. The purpose of the current study is to identify the causative muscle producing the deformity and apply the most suitable technique for its correction.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We retrospectively evaluated 48 consecutive ambulant patients (52 feet) with spastic paralysis due to cerebral palsy. The average age at the time of the operation was 12,4 yrs (9-18) and the mean follow-up 7,8 yrs (4-14). Eigtheen feet presented equinus hind foot deformity due to gastrocnemius and soleus shortening. According to the deformity, the feet were divided in two groups (Group I with forefoot and midfoot inversion and Group II with hindfoot varus). The deformities were flexible in all cases in both groups. Split anterior tibial tendon transfer (SPLATT) was performed in Group I (11 feet), while split posterior tibial tendon transfer (SPOTT) was performed in Group II (38 feet). In 3 feet both procedures were performed. Achilles tendon sliding lengthening (Hoke procedure) was done in 18 feet either preoperatively or concomitantly with the index procedure.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The results in Group I, were rated according to Hoffer's clinical criteria as excellent in 8 feet and satisfactory in 3, while in Group II according to Kling's clinical criteria were rated as excellent in 20 feet, good in 14 and poor in 4. The feet with poor results presented residual varus deformity due to intraoperative technical errors.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Overactivity of the anterior tibial tendon produces inversion most prominent in the forefoot and midfoot and similarly overactivity of the posterior tibial tendon produces hindfoot varus. The deformity can be clinically unidentifiable in some cases when Achilles shortening co-exists producing foot equinus. By identifying the muscle causing the deformity and performing the appropriate technique, very satisfying results were achieved in the majority of our cases. In three feet both muscles contributed to a combined deformity and simultaneous SPLATT and SPOTT were considered necessary. For complex foot deformities where the component of cavus co-exists, supplementary procedures are required along with the index operation to obtain the best result.</p
- …