601 research outputs found
On the evolution of anomalous X-ray pulsars and soft gamma ray repeaters with fallback disks
We show that the period clustering of anomalous X-ray pulsars (AXPs) and soft
gamma-ray repeaters (SGRs), their X-ray luminosities, ages and statistics can
be explained with fallback disks with large initial specific angular momentum.
The disk evolution models are developed by comparison to self-similar
analytical models. The initial disk mass and angular momentum set the viscous
timescale. An efficient torque, with (1 - w^2) dependence on the fastness
parameter w leads to period clustering in the observed AXP-SGR period range
under a wide range of initial conditions. The timescale t_0 for the early
evolution of the fallback disk, and the final stages of fallback disk
evolution, when the disk becomes passive, are the crucial determinants of the
evolution. The disk becomes passive at temperatures around 100 K, which
provides a natural cutoff for the X-ray luminosity and defines the end of
evolution in the observable AXP and SGR phase. This low value for the minimum
temperature for active disk turbulence indicates that the fallback disks are
active up to a large radius greater than ~10^{12} cm. We find that transient
AXPs and SGRs are likely to be older than their persistent cousins. A fallback
disk with mass transfer rates corresponding to the low quiescent X-ray
luminosities of the transient sources in early evolutionary phases would have a
relatively lower initial mass, such that the mass-flow rate in the disk is not
sufficient for the inner disk to penetrate into the light cylinder of the young
neutron star, making mass accretion onto the neutron star impossible. The
transient AXP phase therefore must start later. The model results imply that
the transient AXP/SGRs, although older, are likely to be similar in number to
persistent sources (abridged).Comment: 42 pages, 22 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
Security in Wireless Sensor Networks: Issues and Challenges
Wireless Sensor Network (WSN) is an emerging technology that shows great
promise for various futuristic applications both for mass public and military.
The sensing technology combined with processing power and wireless
communication makes it lucrative for being exploited in abundance in future.
The inclusion of wireless communication technology also incurs various types of
security threats. The intent of this paper is to investigate the security
related issues and challenges in wireless sensor networks. We identify the
security threats, review proposed security mechanisms for wireless sensor
networks. We also discuss the holistic view of security for ensuring layered
and robust security in wireless sensor networks.Comment: 6 page
Stereochemical Studies on a New Ciramadol Analogue by NMR-Spectroscopy
The absol. configuration of a Ciramadol analogue obtained from (-)-menthone
is established by 'H-NMR-. simulated NMR-, COSY-90-, and NOEmeasurements.
The final compound 2-(a-1 -pyrrolidino)benzy 1-4-isopropyl-
1 -methyl-cyclohexan-3-one (4b), e.g.. has 1R.2S,4S.l IS-configuration
due to stereoselective Michael-type addition of pyrrolidine to the pertinent
benzylidene intermediate 3.
Die absol. Konfiguration einer Ciramadol-analogen Verbindung aus (-)-
Menthon wurde durch 'H-NMR-. simulierte NMR-. COSY-90- und NOEUntersuchungen
geklärt. Danach hat die als Beispiel untersuchte Verbindung
2-(a-1 -Pyrrolidino)benzyl-4-isopropyl-1 -methyl-cyclohexan-3-on
(4b) 1R,2S.4S.l IS-Konfiguration, die durch eine stereoselektive Michael-analoge
Addition des Pyrrolidins an die entspr. Benzyliden-Verbindung 3
entsteht
On the X-Ray Light Curve, Pulsed-Radio Emission, and Spin Frequency Evolution of the Transient Anomalous X-Ray Pulsar Xte J1810--197 During its X-Ray Outburst
We show that: (i) the long-term X-ray outburst light curve of the transient
AXP XTE J1810-197 can be accounted for by a fallback disk that is evolving
towards quiescence through a disk instability after having been heated by a
soft gamma-ray burst, (ii) the spin-frequency evolution of this source in the
same period can also be explained by the disk torque acting on the
magnetosphere of the neutron star, (iii) most significantly, recently observed
pulsed-radio emission from this source coincides with the epoch of minimum
X-ray luminosity. This is natural in terms of a fallback disk model, as the
accretion power becomes so low that it is not sufficient to suppress the beamed
radio emission from XTE J1810-197.Comment: 13 pages, 2 Figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Evaluating Enzymatic Productivity—The Missing Link to Enzyme Utility
Kinetic productivity analysis is critical to the characterization of enzyme catalytic performance and capacity. However, productivity analysis has been largely overlooked in the published literature. Less than 0.01% of studies which report on enzyme characterization present productivity analysis, despite the fact that this is the only measurement method that provides a reliable indicator of potential commercial utility. Here, we argue that reporting productivity data involving native, modified, and immobilized enzymes under different reaction conditions will be of immense value in optimizing enzymatic processes, with a view to accelerating biotechnological applications. With the use of examples from wide‐ranging studies, we demonstrate that productivity is a measure of critical importance to the translational and commercial use of enzymes and processes that employ them. We conclude the review by suggesting steps to maximize the productivity of enzyme catalyzed reactions
The use of isothermal titration calorimetry for the assay of enzyme activity: Application in higher education practical classes
Determination of enzyme activity is crucial for discovery, research, and development in life sciences. The activity of enzymes is routinely determined using spectrophotometric assays that measure rates of substrate consumption or product formation. Though colorimetric-based detection systems are simple, rapid, and economical to perform, the majority of enzymes are unsuitable for this technique as their substrates/products do not absorb in the UV or visible range. This limitation can be addressed by the use of coupled-enzyme assays or artificial chromogenic substrates; however these approaches have their own drawbacks. Here, we describe a method based on the use of an isothermal titration calorimeter (ITC) to measure the heat produced or absorbed during any enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The concept of calorimetric enzyme assays was demonstrated for the determination of enzyme hexokinase activity, which cannot be monitored colorimetrically without first coupling it to another enzymatic reaction. The assay is suitable for incorporation into undergraduate laboratory classes, providing students with an appreciation for; the versatility and ease of use of ITC assays; ITC as a flexible generic method for exploring the functional characteristics of uncharacterized enzymes; an activity detection parameter suitable for enzymes that either have no straightforward colorimetric methods available or require the use of nonartificial chromogenic substrates
Cyber Threats and NATO 2030: Horizon Scanning and Analysis
The book includes 13 chapters that look ahead to how NATO can best address the cyber threats, as well as opportunities and challenges from emerging and disruptive technologies in the cyber domain over the next decade.
The present volume addresses these conceptual and practical requirements and contributes constructively to the NATO 2030 discussions. The book is arranged in five short parts...All the chapters in this book have undergone double-blind peer review by at least two external experts.https://scholarworks.wm.edu/asbook/1038/thumbnail.jp
Isolation and characterization of Dehalobacter sp. strain TeCB1 including identification of TcbA: A novel tetra- and trichlorobenzene reductive Dehalogenase
© 2017 Alfán-Guzmán, Ertan, Manefield and Lee. Dehalobacter sp. strain TeCB1 was isolated from groundwater near Sydney, Australia, that is polluted with a range of organochlorines. The isolated strain is able to grow by reductive dechlorination of 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene to 1,3- and 1,4-dichlorobenzene with 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene being the intermediate daughter product. Transient production of 1,2-dichlorobenzene was detected with subsequent conversion to monochlorobenzene. The dehalogenation capability of strain TeCB1 to respire 23 alternative organochlorines was examined and shown to be limited to the use of 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene. Growth on 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene resulted in the production of predominantly 1,3- and 1,4-dichlorobenzene. The inability of strain TeCB1 to grow on 1,2-dichlorobenzene indicated that the production of monochlorobenzene during growth on 1,2,4,5-tetarchlorobezene was cometabolic. The annotated genome of strain TeCB1 contained only one detectable 16S rRNA gene copy and genes for 23 full-length and one truncated Reductive Dehalogenase (RDase) homologs, five unique to strain TeCB1. Identification and functional characterization of the 1,2,4,5-tetrachlorobenzene and 1,2,4-trichlorobenzene RDase (TcbA) was achieved using native-PAGE coupled with liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. Interestingly, TcbA showed higher amino acid identity with tetrachloroethene reductases PceA (95% identity) from Dehalobacter restrictus PER-K23 and Desulfitobacterium hafniense Y51 than with the only other chlorinated benzene reductase [i.e., CbrA (30% identity)] functionally characterized to date
The Anomalous X-Ray Pulsar 4U 0142+61: A Neutron Star with a Gaseous Fallback Disk
The recent detection of the anomalous X-ray pulsar (AXP) 4U 0142+61 in the
mid-infrared with the {\it Spitzer} observatory by Z.Wang and coworkers
constitutes the first instance of a disk around an AXP. We show, by analyzing
earlier optical and near-IR data together with the recent data, that the
overall broadband data set can be reproduced by a single model of an irradiated
and viscously heated disk.Comment: 22 pages, 3 figures, minor revisons, appeared in Ap
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