475 research outputs found
Zonal flow scaling in rapidly-rotating compressible convection
The surface winds of Jupiter and Saturn are primarily zonal. Each planet
exhibits strong prograde equatorial flow flanked by multiple alternating zonal
winds at higher latitudes. The depth to which these flows penetrate has long
been debated and is still an unsolved problem. Previous rotating convection
models that obtained multiple high latitude zonal jets comparable to those on
the giant planets assumed an incompressible (Boussinesq) fluid, which is
unrealistic for gas giant planets. Later models of compressible rotating
convection obtained only few high latitude jets which were not amenable to
scaling analysis.
Here we present 3-D numerical simulations of compressible convection in
rapidly-rotating spherical shells. To explore the formation and scaling of
high-latitude zonal jets, we consider models with a strong radial density
variation and a range of Ekman numbers, while maintaining a zonal flow Rossby
number characteristic of Saturn.
All of our simulations show a strong prograde equatorial jet outside the
tangent cylinder. At low Ekman numbers several alternating jets form in each
hemisphere inside the tangent cylinder. To analyse jet scaling of our numerical
models and of Jupiter and Saturn, we extend Rhines scaling based on a
topographic -parameter, which was previously applied to an
incompressible fluid in a spherical shell, to compressible fluids. The
jet-widths predicted by this modified Rhines length are found to be in
relatively good agreement with our numerical model results and with cloud
tracking observations of Jupiter and Saturn.Comment: 17 pages, 12 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in PEP
Characteristic scales of earthquake rupture from numerical models
International audienceNumerical models of earthquake rupture are used to investigate characteristic length scales and size distributions of repeated earthquakes on vertical, planar fault segments. The models are based on exact solutions of static three-dimensional (3-D) elasticity. Dynamical rupture is approximated by allowing the static stress field to expand from slip motions at a single velocity. To show how the vertical fault width affects earthquake size distributions for a broad range of fault behaviors, two different fault strength models are used; a smooth model and a heterogeneous asperity model. The smooth model is a simplified version of the Dieterich-Ruina rate and state dependent friction law. The heterogeneous asperity model uses a slip-dependent random powerlaw strength distribution. It is shown that the characteristic scale of fault segmentation is proportional to the vertical width of a seismogenic fault. This conclusion holds for both the smooth and the heterogeneous models. For the smooth models characteristic quake distributions result, with populations of large events that are obviously distinct from smaller events. The distributions of large events have well-defined mean lengths and moments. The heterogeneous models result in Gutenberg-Richter (GR) powerlaw distributions of event sizes up to a characteristic quake size. Quakes larger than the characteristic size fall off the GR distribution such that the powerlaw would greatly overestimate the probability of occurrence of the larger events
Explaining Jupiter's magnetic field and equatorial jet dynamics
Spacecraft data reveal a very Earth-like Jovian magnetic field. This is
surprising since numerical simulations have shown that the vastly different
interiors of terrestrial and gas planets can strongly affect the internal
dynamo process. Here we present the first numerical dynamo that manages to
match the structure and strength of the observed magnetic field by embracing
the newest models for Jupiter's interior. Simulated dynamo action primarily
occurs in the deep high electrical conductivity region while zonal flows are
dynamically constrained to a strong equatorial jet in the outer envelope of low
conductivity. Our model reproduces the structure and strength of the observed
global magnetic field and predicts that secondary dynamo action associated to
the equatorial jet produces banded magnetic features likely observable by the
Juno mission. Secular variation in our model scales to about 2000 nT per year
and should also be observable during the one year nominal mission duration.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Geophysical Research
Letter
Factors Limiting the Spread of the Protective Symbiont \u3cem\u3eHamiltonella defensa\u3c/em\u3e in \u3cem\u3eAphis craccivora\u3c/em\u3e Aphids
Many insects are associated with heritable symbionts that mediate ecological interactions, including host protection against natural enemies. The cowpea aphid, Aphis craccivora, is a polyphagous pest that harbors Hamiltonella defensa, which defends against parasitic wasps. Despite this protective benefit, this symbiont occurs only at intermediate frequencies in field populations. To identify factors constraining H. defensa invasion in Ap. craccivora, we estimated symbiont transmission rates, performed fitness assays, and measured infection dynamics in population cages to evaluate effects of infection. Similar to results with the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum, we found no consistent costs to infection using component fitness assays, but we did identify clear costs to infection in population cages when no enemies were present. Maternal transmission rates of H. defensa in Ap. craccivora were high (ca. 99%) but not perfect. Transmission failures and infection costs likely limit the spread of protective H. defensa in Ap. craccivora. We also characterized several parameters of H. defensa infection potentially relevant to the protective phenotype. We confirmed the presence of H. defensa in aphid hemolymph, where it potentially interacts with endoparasites, and performed real-time quantitative PCR (qPCR) to estimate symbiont and phage abundance during aphid development. We also examined strain variation of H. defensa and its bacteriophage at multiple loci, and despite our lines being collected in different regions of North America, they were infected with a nearly identical strains of H. defensa and APSE4 phage. The limited strain diversity observed for these defensive elements may result in relatively static protection profile for this defensive symbiosis
Bulky extramedullary hematopoiesis is not a rare complication of congenital dyserythropoietic anemia
Distribution of \u3cem\u3eCotesia rubecula\u3c/em\u3e (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) and Its Displacement of \u3cem\u3eCotesia glomerata\u3c/em\u3e in Eastern North America
A survey was conducted from May to Oct of 2011 of the parasitoid community of the imported cabbageworm, Pieris rapae (Lepidoptera: Pieridae), in cole crops in part of the eastern United States and southeastern Canada. The findings of our survey indicate that Cotesia rubecula (Hymenoptera: Braconidae) now occurs as far west as North Dakota and has become the dominant parasitoid of P. rapae in the northeastern and north central United States and adjacent parts of southeastern Canada, where it has displaced the previously common parasitoid Cotesia glomerata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae). Cotesia glomerata remains the dominant parasitoid in the mid-Atlantic states, from Virginia to North Carolina and westward to southern Illinois, below latitude N 38° 48′. This pattern suggests that the released populations of C. rubecula presently have a lower latitudinal limit south of which they are not adapted
Egg size-number trade-off and a decline in oviposition site choice quality: Female Pararge aegeria butterflies pay a cost of having males present at oviposition
Once mated, the optimal strategy for females of the monandrous butterfly, Pararge aegeria, is to avoid male contact and devote as much time as possible to ovipositing, as there is little advantage for females to engage in multiple matings. In other butterfly species the presence of males during egg laying has been shown to affect aspects of oviposition behavior and it has been suggested that repeated interference from males has the potential to reduce reproductive output. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of male presence during oviposition on reproductive output and behavior of a population of P. aegeria obtained from Madeira Island, Portugal, and maintained in the laboratory. Two experiments were performed where females were housed individually in small cages. Experiment 1 examined how social factors influenced the egg laying behavior of females. To do this the presence or absence of males was manipulated and egg size and number was measured over the first 14 days of oviposition. It was observed that when males were present during oviposition females made a trade-off between egg size and number. Experiment 2 examined how social factors affected oviposition site choice. Again, male presence/absence was manipulated, but in this experiment where the female laid her egg in relation to host quality was scored, and the size of the egg laid was measured. In the absence of males females selectively positioned their larger eggs on good quality host plants. However, selective oviposition was no longer observed when females were in the presence of males. We suggest that P. aegeria females from the Madeira Island population are adapted for a flexible oviposition strategy, governed by external cues, allowing a trade-off between egg size and number when the time available for egg laying is limiting
Choosing Organic Pesticides over Synthetic Pesticides May Not Effectively Mitigate Environmental Risk in Soybeans
Background: Selection of pesticides with small ecological footprints is a key factor in developing sustainable agricultural systems. Policy guiding the selection of pesticides often emphasizes natural products and organic-certified pesticides to increase sustainability, because of the prevailing public opinion that natural products are uniformly safer, and thus more environmentally friendly, than synthetic chemicals. Methodology/Principal Findings: We report the results of a study examining the environmental impact of several new synthetic and certified organic insecticides under consideration as reduced-risk insecticides for soybean aphid (Aphis glycines) control, using established and novel methodologies to directly quantify pesticide impact in terms of biocontrol services. We found that in addition to reduced efficacy against aphids compared to novel synthetic insecticides, organic approved insecticides had a similar or even greater negative impact on several natural enemy species in lab studies, were more detrimental to biological control organisms in field experiments, and had higher Environmental Impact Quotients at field use rates. Conclusions/Significance: These data bring into caution the widely held assumption that organic pesticides are more environmentally benign than synthetic ones. All pesticides must be evaluated using an empirically-based risk assessment
Long-term outcome of patients with newly diagnosed chronic myeloid leukemia: a randomized comparison of stem cell transplantation with drug treatment.
Tyrosine kinase inhibitors represent today's treatment of choice in chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is regarded as salvage therapy. This prospective randomized CML-study IIIA recruited 669 patients with newly diagnosed CML between July 1997 and January 2004 from 143 centers. Of these, 427 patients were considered eligible for HSCT and were randomized by availability of a matched family donor between primary HSCT (group A; N=166 patients) and best available drug treatment (group B; N=261). Primary end point was long-term survival. Survival probabilities were not different between groups A and B (10-year survival: 0.76 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.69-0.82) vs 0.69 (95% CI: 0.61-0.76)), but influenced by disease and transplant risk. Patients with a low transplant risk showed superior survival compared with patients with high- (P<0.001) and non-high-risk disease (P=0.047) in group B; after entering blast crisis, survival was not different with or without HSCT. Significantly more patients in group A were in molecular remission (56% vs 39%; P=0.005) and free of drug treatment (56% vs 6%; P<0.001). Differences in symptoms and Karnofsky score were not significant. In the era of tyrosine kinase inhibitors, HSCT remains a valid option when both disease and transplant risk are considered
Critical Dynamics in Genetic Regulatory Networks: Examples from Four Kingdoms
The coordinated expression of the different genes in an organism is essential to sustain functionality under the random external perturbations to which the organism might be subjected. To cope with such external variability, the global dynamics of the genetic network must possess two central properties. (a) It must be robust enough as to guarantee stability under a broad range of external conditions, and (b) it must be flexible enough to recognize and integrate specific external signals that may help the organism to change and adapt to different environments. This compromise between robustness and adaptability has been observed in dynamical systems operating at the brink of a phase transition between order and chaos. Such systems are termed critical. Thus, criticality, a precise, measurable, and well characterized property of dynamical systems, makes it possible for robustness and adaptability to coexist in living organisms. In this work we investigate the dynamical properties of the gene transcription networks reported for S. cerevisiae, E. coli, and B. subtilis, as well as the network of segment polarity genes of D. melanogaster, and the network of flower development of A. thaliana. We use hundreds of microarray experiments to infer the nature of the regulatory interactions among genes, and implement these data into the Boolean models of the genetic networks. Our results show that, to the best of the current experimental data available, the five networks under study indeed operate close to criticality. The generality of this result suggests that criticality at the genetic level might constitute a fundamental evolutionary mechanism that generates the great diversity of dynamically robust living forms that we observe around us
- …