8,317 research outputs found
Advanced Thermal Control & Systems Design Enable Long Duration, Continuous Lunar Surface Operation of Robotic Science Landers and Payloads
No abstract availabl
Multi-site observations of Delta Scuti stars 7 Aql and 8 Aql (a new Delta Scuti variable): The twelfth STEPHI campaign in 2003
We present an analysis of the pulsation behaviour of the Delta Scuti stars 7
Aql (HD 174532) and 8 Aql (HD 174589) -- a new variable star -- observed in the
framework of STEPHI XII campaign during 2003 June--July. 183 hours of high
precision photometry were acquired by using four-channel photometers at three
sites on three continents during 21 days. The light curves and amplitude
spectra were obtained following a classical scheme of multi-channel photometry.
Observations in different filters were also obtained and analyzed. Six and
three frequencies have been unambiguously detected above a 99% confidence level
in the range 0.090 mHz--0.300 mHz and 0.100 mHz-- 0.145 mHz in 7 Aql and 8 Aql
respectively. A comparison of observed and theoretical frequencies shows that 7
Aql and 8 Aql may oscillate with p modes of low radial orders, typical among
Delta Scuti stars. In terms of radial oscillations the range of 8 Aql goes from
n=1 to n=3 while for 7 Aql the range spans from n=4 to n=7. Non-radial
oscillations have to be present in both stars as well. The expected range of
excited modes according to a non adiabatic analysis goes from n=1 to n=6 in
both stars.Comment: 8 pages, 7 fugures, 5 tables, accepted for publication in
Astronomical Journa
Pulsational frequencies of the eclipsing delta-Scuti star HD 172189
The eclipsing delta-Scuti star HD 172189 is a probable member of the open
cluster IC 4756 and a promising candidate target for the CoRoT mission.
The detection of pulsation modes is the first step in the asteroseismological
study of the star. Further, the calculation of the orbital parameters of the
binary system allows us to make a dynamical determination of the mass of the
star, which works as an important constraint to test and calibrate the
asteroseismological models.
From a detailed frequency analysis of 210 hours of photometric data of HD
172189 obtained from the STEPHI XIII campaign we have identified six pulsation
frequencies with a confidence level of 99% and a seventh with a 65% confidence
level in the range between 100-300 uHz. In addiction, three eclipses were
observed during the campaign, allowing us to improve the determination of the
orbital period of the system.Comment: 6 pages, 7 figure
J-PLUS: analysis of the intracluster light in the Coma cluster
The intracluster light (ICL) is a luminous component of galaxy clusters
composed of stars that are gravitationally bound to the cluster potential but
do not belong to the individual galaxies. Previous studies of the ICL have
shown that its formation and evolution are intimately linked to the
evolutionary stage of the cluster. Thus, the analysis of the ICL in the Coma
cluster will give insights into the main processes driving the dynamics in this
highly complex system. Using a recently developed technique, we measure the ICL
fraction in Coma at several wavelengths, using the J-PLUS unique filter system.
The combination of narrow- and broadband filters provides valuable information
on the dynamical state of the cluster, the ICL stellar types, and the
morphology of the diffuse light. We use the Chebyshev-Fourier Intracluster
Light Estimator (CICLE) to disentangle the ICL from the light of the galaxies,
and to robustly measure the ICL fraction in seven J-PLUS filters. We obtain the
ICL fraction distribution of the Coma cluster at different optical wavelengths,
which varies from , showing the highest values in the narrowband
filters J0395, J0410, and J0430. This ICL fraction excess is distinctive
pattern recently observed in dynamically active clusters (mergers), indicating
a higher amount of bluer stars in the ICL compared to the cluster galaxies.
Both the high ICL fractions and the excess in the bluer filters are indicative
of a merging state. The presence of younger/lower-metallicity stars the ICL
suggests that the main mechanism of ICL formation for the Coma cluster is the
stripping of the stars in the outskirts of infalling galaxies and, possibly,
the disruption of dwarf galaxies during past/ongoing mergers.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, 1 table. Accepted for publication in A&
Subjects With Early-Onset Type 2 Diabetes Show Defective Activation of the Skeletal Muscle PGC-1α/Mitofusin-2 Regulatory Pathway in Response to Physical Activity
Objective: Type 2 diabetes is associated with insulin resistance and skeletal muscle mitochondrial dysfunction. We have found that subjects with early-onset type 2 diabetes show incapacity to increase Vo2max in response to chronic exercise. This suggests a defect in muscle mitochondrial response to exercise. Here, we have explored the nature of the mechanisms involved. Research design and methods: Muscle biopsies were collected from young type 2 diabetic subjects and obese control subjects before and after acute or chronic exercise protocols, and the expression of genes and/or proteins relevant to mitochondrial function was measured. In particular, the regulatory pathway peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator (PGC)-1alpha/mitofusin-2 (Mfn2) was analyzed. Results: At baseline, subjects with diabetes showed reduced expression (by 26%) of the mitochondrial fusion protein Mfn2 and a 39% reduction of the alpha-subunit of ATP synthase. Porin expression was unchanged, consistent with normal mitochondrial mass. Chronic exercise led to a 2.8-fold increase in Mfn2, as well as increases in porin, and the alpha-subunit of ATP synthase in muscle from control subjects. However, Mfn2 was unchanged after chronic exercise in individuals with diabetes, whereas porin and alpha-subunit of ATP synthase were increased. Acute exercise caused a fourfold increase in PGC-1alpha expression in muscle from control subjects but not in subjects with diabetes. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate alterations in the regulatory pathway that controls PGC-1alpha expression and induction of Mfn2 in muscle from patients with early-onset type 2 diabetes. Patients with early-onset type 2 diabetes display abnormalities in the exercise-dependent pathway that regulates the expression of PGC-1alpha and Mfn2.</p
Amélioration de la précision et réduction des zones masquéees de capteurs à ultrasons grâce à l'utilistation de séquences complémentaires de Golay
Les systèmes sensoriels basés sur les capteurs à ultrasons présentent certaines contraintes qui ont tendance à
réduire leur performance. Parmi les problèmes typiques, nous pouvons citer la faible précision des mesures et
l'existence à l'avant des capteurs de zones masquées, zones où les réflecteurs ne peuvent pas être détectés si les
capteurs sont utilisés comme émetteurs et récepteurs. Dans le but d'améliorer la précision des mesures réalisées par
ces capteurs, les émissions sont le plus souvent codées par des séquences binaires. Les distances peuvent être alors
déterminées en faisant appel à des techniques de corrélation.
Dans ce cadre, ce travail présente les résultats obtenus lors de l'utilisation de séquences complémentaires de Golay,
lesquelles permettent d'augmenter de manière significative la précision obtenue à partir d'un capteur à ultrasons isolé.
Elles permettent également d'éliminer les zones masquées précédemment citées grâce à leurs caractéristiques d'autocorrélation.
Ces deux fonctions seront très intéressantes dans l'optique d'une utilisation de capteurs à ultrasons dans le
cadre d'associations sensorielles plus complexes.Sensorial systems based on ultrasonic transducers present some constraints, which reduce their
performances. Typical problems are low precision in measurements, and the existence of a blind zone in
front of transducers, where reflectors can not be detected if transducers are used as emitters and receivers.
In order to improve the precision achieved by these transducers, binary sequences are often used to code
the emission, so afterwards, distances can be determined using correlation techniques. The usage of Golay
complementary sequences allows to increase remarkably the precision obtained by an isolated ultrasonic
transducer. Also, it permits to eliminate the mentioned blind zone, thanks to their auto-correlation
characteristics. These two features are very interesting in order to use ultrasonic transducers in more
complex sensorial associations
New multisite observations of Delta Scuti stars V624 Tauri and HD 23194
The preliminary results of STEPHI 2006 campaign are reported.Comment: To be published in Communications in Asteroseismolgy: Special Issu
Towards a combined use of geophysics and remote sensing techniques for the characterization of a singular building: “El Torreón” (the tower) at Ulaca oppidum (Solosancho, Ávila, Spain)
This research focuses on the study of the ruins of a large building known as “El Torreón” (the Tower), belonging to the Ulaca oppidum (Solosancho, Province of Ávila, Spain). Different remote sensing and geophysical approaches have been used to fulfil this objective, providing a better understanding of the building’s functionality in this town, which belongs to the Late Iron Age (ca. 300–50 BCE). In this sense, the outer limits of the ruins have been identified using photogrammetry and convergent drone flights. An additional drone flight was conducted in the surrounding area to find additional data that could be used for more global interpretations. Magnetometry was used to analyze the underground bedrock structure and ground penetrating radar (GPR) was employed to evaluate the internal layout of the ruins. The combination of these digital methodologies (surface and underground) has provided a new perspective for the improved interpretation of “El Torreón” and its characteristics. Research of this type presents additional guidelines for better understanding of the role of this structure with regards to other buildings in the Ulaca oppidum. The results of these studies will additionally allow archaeologists to better plan future interventions while presenting new data that can be used for the interpretation of this archaeological complex on a larger scale
Holography in asymptotically flat space-times and the BMS group
In a previous paper (hep-th/0306142) we have started to explore the
holographic principle in the case of asymptotically flat space-times and
analyzed in particular different aspects of the Bondi-Metzner-Sachs (BMS)
group, namely the asymptotic symmetry group of any asymptotically flat
space-time. We continue this investigation in this paper. Having in mind a
S-matrix approach with future and past null infinity playing the role of
holographic screens on which the BMS group acts, we connect the IR sectors of
the gravitational field with the representation theory of the BMS group. We
analyze the (complicated) mapping between bulk and boundary symmetries pointing
out differences with respect to the AdS/CFT set up. Finally we construct a BMS
phase space and a free hamiltonian for fields transforming w.r.t BMS
representations. The last step is supposed to be an explorative investigation
of the boundary data living on the degenerate null manifold at infinity.Comment: 31 pages, several changes in section 3 and 7 and references update
- …