3,743 research outputs found
Blue Straggler Stars: The Spectacular Population in M80
Using HST-WFPC2 observations in two ultraviolet (UV) filters (F225W and
F336W) of the central region of the high density Galactic Globular cluster
(GGC) M80 we have identified 305 Blue Straggler Stars (BSS) which represents
the largest and most concentrated population of BSS ever observed in a GGC. We
also identify the largest, clean sample of evolved BSS yet found. The high
stellar density alone cannot explain the BSS, and we suggest that in M80 we are
witnessing a transient dynamical state, during which stellar interactions are
delaying the core-collapse process leading to an exceptionally large population
of collisional-BSS.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures, Astrophysical Journal Letters, in pres
Stellar Collisions and the Interior Structure of Blue Stragglers
Collisions of main sequence stars occur frequently in dense star clusters. In
open and globular clusters, these collisions produce merger remnants that may
be observed as blue stragglers. Detailed theoretical models of this process
require lengthy hydrodynamic computations in three dimensions. However, a less
computationally expensive approach, which we present here, is to approximate
the merger process (including shock heating, hydrodynamic mixing, mass
ejection, and angular momentum transfer) with simple algorithms based on
conservation laws and a basic qualitative understanding of the hydrodynamics.
These algorithms have been fine tuned through comparisons with the results of
our previous hydrodynamic simulations. We find that the thermodynamic and
chemical composition profiles of our simple models agree very well with those
from recent SPH (smoothed particle hydrodynamics) calculations of stellar
collisions, and the subsequent stellar evolution of our simple models also
matches closely that of the more accurate hydrodynamic models. Our algorithms
have been implemented in an easy to use software package, which we are making
publicly available (see http://vassun.vassar.edu/~lombardi/mmas/). This
software could be used in combination with realistic dynamical simulations of
star clusters that must take into account stellar collisions.Comment: This revised version has 37 pages, 13 figures, 4 tables; submitted to
ApJ; for associated software package, see
http://vassun.vassar.edu/~lombardi/mmas/ This revised version presents
additional comparisons with SPH results and slightly improved merger recipe
Another Non-segregated Blue Straggler Population in a Globular Cluster: the Case of NGC 2419
We have used a combination of ACS-HST high-resolution and wide-field SUBARU
data in order to study the Blue Straggler Star (BSS) population over the entire
extension of the remote Galactic globular cluster NGC 2419. The BSS population
presented here is among the largest ever observed in any stellar system, with
more than 230 BSS in the brightest portion of the sequence. The radial
distribution of the selected BSS is essentially the same as that of the other
cluster stars. In this sense the BSS radial distribution is similar to that of
omega Centauri and unlike that of all Galactic globular clusters studied to
date, which have highly centrally segregated distributions and, in most cases,
a pronounced upturn in the external regions. As in the case of omega Centauri,
this evidence indicates that NGC 2419 is not yet relaxed even in the central
regions. This observational fact is in agreement with estimated half-mass
relaxation time, which is of the order of the cluster age.Comment: in press in the Ap
The surprising external upturn of the Blue Straggler radial distribution in M55
By combining high-resolution HST and wide-field ground based observations, in
ultraviolet and optical bands, we study the Blue Straggler Star (BSS)
population of the low density galactic globular cluster M55 (NGC 6809) over its
entire radial extent. The BSS projected radial distribution is found to be
bimodal, with a central peak, a broad minimum at intermediate radii, and an
upturn at large radii. Similar bimodal distributions have been found in other
globular clusters (M3, 47 Tucanae, NGC 6752, M5), but the external upturn in
M55 is the largest found to date. This might indicate a large fraction of
primordial binaries in the outer regions of M55, which seems somehow in
contrast with the relatively low (\sim 10%) binary fraction recently measured
in the core of this cluster.Comment: in press on Ap
Effect of hot water immersion on acute physiological responses following resistance exercise
Purpose: Hot water immersion (HWI) is a strategy theorised to enhance exercise recovery. However, the acute physiological responses to HWI following resistance exercise are yet to be determined.
Methods: The effect of HWI on intramuscular temperature (IMT), muscle function, muscle soreness and blood markers of muscle cell disruption and inflammatory processes after resistance exercise was assessed. Sixteen resistance trained males performed resistance exercise, followed by either 10 min HWI at 40°C or 10 min passive recovery (PAS).
Results: Post-intervention, the increase in IMT at all depths was greater for HWI compared to PAS, however this difference had disappeared by 1 h post at depths of 1 and 2 cm, and by 2 h post at a depth of 3 cm. There were no differences between groups for muscle function, muscle soreness or any blood markers.
Conclusion: These results suggest that HWI is a viable means of heat therapy to support a greater IMT following resistance exercise. Recovery of muscle function and muscle soreness is independent of acute changes in IMT associated with HWI
A Derivation of Three-Dimensional Inertial Transformations
The derivation of the transformations between inertial frames made by
Mansouri and Sexl is generalised to three dimensions for an arbitrary direction
of the velocity. Assuming lenght contraction and time dilation to have their
relativistic values, a set of transformations kinematically equivalent to
special relativity is obtained. The ``clock hypothesis'' allows the derivation
to be extended to accelerated systems. A theory of inertial transformations
maintaining an absolute simultaneity is shown to be the only one logically
consistent with accelerated movements. Algebraic properties of these
transformations are discussed. Keywords: special relativity, synchronization,
one-way velocity of light, ether, clock hypothesis.Comment: 16 pages (A5), Latex, one figure, to be published in Found. Phys.
Lett. (1997
Global three-dimensional flow of a neutron superfluid in a spherical shell in a neutron star
We integrate for the first time the hydrodynamic
Hall-Vinen-Bekarevich-Khalatnikov equations of motion of a -paired
neutron superfluid in a rotating spherical shell, using a pseudospectral
collocation algorithm coupled with a time-split fractional scheme. Numerical
instabilities are smoothed by spectral filtering. Three numerical experiments
are conducted, with the following results. (i) When the inner and outer spheres
are put into steady differential rotation, the viscous torque exerted on the
spheres oscillates quasiperiodically and persistently (after an initial
transient). The fractional oscillation amplitude () increases
with the angular shear and decreases with the gap width. (ii) When the outer
sphere is accelerated impulsively after an interval of steady differential
rotation, the torque increases suddenly, relaxes exponentially, then oscillates
persistently as in (i). The relaxation time-scale is determined principally by
the angular velocity jump, whereas the oscillation amplitude is determined
principally by the gap width. (iii) When the mutual friction force changes
suddenly from Hall-Vinen to Gorter-Mellink form, as happens when a rectilinear
array of quantized Feynman-Onsager vortices is destabilized by a counterflow to
form a reconnecting vortex tangle, the relaxation time-scale is reduced by a
factor of compared to (ii), and the system reaches a stationary state
where the torque oscillates with fractional amplitude about a
constant mean value. Preliminary scalings are computed for observable
quantities like angular velocity and acceleration as functions of Reynolds
number, angular shear, and gap width. The results are applied to the timing
irregularities (e.g., glitches and timing noise) observed in radio pulsars.Comment: 6 figures, 23 pages. Accepted for publication in Astrophysical
Journa
Competition intensity and fatigue in elite fencing
As yet, no studies have characterised fencing competitions. This was investigated in nine elite male foilists across two competitions, where countermovement jump (CMJ) height, testosterone (T), cortisol (C), alpha-amylase (AA) and immunoglobulin A (IgA), were obtained. Heart rate (HR) was measured throughout competitions and blood lactate (BL) and rating of perceived exertion (RPE) were measured post bouts. Average (Âą SD) scores for RPE, BL and HR (average, max and percentage of time ⼠80% HRmax) were highest in the knockout bouts compared to poules (8.5 Âą 1.3 vs. 5.7 Âą 1.3, 3.6 Âą 1.0 vs. 3.1 Âą 1.4 mmol/L, 171 Âą 5 vs. 168 Âą 8 bpm, 195 Âą 7 vs. 192 Âą 7 bpm, 74 vs. 68%) however, only significant (p .05), increased throughout competition and dropped thereafter. While responses of C, AA and IgA showed a tendency to increase during competition and drop thereafter (T and T:C doing the opposite), no significant differences were noted for any analyte. Results suggest that fencing is a high-intensity anaerobic sport, relying on alactic energy sources, however, some bouts evoke BL values of ⼠4 mmol/L and thus derive energy from anaerobic glycolysis. High HRâs appear possible on account of ample within and between-bout rest. The small competition load associated with fencing competitions may explain the non-significant findings found
A new model of a tidally disrupted star
A new semi-analytical model of a star evolving in a tidal field is proposed.
The model is a generalization of the so-called 'affine' stellar model. In our
model the star is composed of elliptical shells with different parameters and
different orientations, depending on time and on the radial Lagrangian
coordinate of the shell. The evolution equations of this model are derived from
the virial relations under certain assumptions, and the integrals of motion are
identified. It is shown that the evolution equations can be deduced from a
variational principle. The evolution equations are solved numerically and
compared quantitatively with the results of 3D numerical computations of the
tidal interaction of a star with a supermassive black hole. The comparison
shows very good agreement between the main ``integral'' characteristics
describing the tidal interaction event in our model and in the 3D computations.
Our model is effectively a one-dimensional Lagrangian model from the point of
view of numerical computations, and therefore it can be evolved numerically
times faster than the 3D approach allows. This makes our model
well suited for intensive calculations covering the whole parameter space of
the problem.Comment: This version is accepted for publication in ApJ. Stylistic and
grammatical changes, new Appendix adde
Investigation of factors influencing the immunogenicity of hCG as a potential cancer vaccine
Human hCG and its βâsubunit (hCGβ) are tumour autocrine growth factors whose presence in the serum of cancer patients has been linked to poorer prognosis. Previous studies have shown that vaccines, which target these molecules and/or the 37 amino acid Câterminal hCGβ peptide (hCGβCTP), induce antibody responses in a majority of human recipients. Here we explored whether the immunogenicity of vaccines containing an hCGβ mutant (hCGβR68E, designed to eliminate crossâreactivity with luteinizing hormone) or hCGβCTP could be enhanced by coupling the immunogen to different carriers (KLH or Hsp70) using different crossâlinkers (EDC or GAD) and formulated with different adjuvants (RIBI or Montanide ISA720).
While there was little to choose between KLH and Hsp70 as carriers, their influence on the effectiveness of a vaccine containing the BAChCGβR68E mutant was less marked, presumably because being a foreign species, this mutant protein itself might provide Tâhelper epitopes. The mutant provided a significantly better vaccine than the hCGβCTP peptide irrespective of the carrier used, how it was crossâlinked to the carrier or which adjuvant was used when hCG was the target. Nonetheless, for use in humans where hCG is a tolerated selfâprotein, the need for a carrier is of fundamental importance. Highest antibody titres were obtained by linking the BAChCGβR68E to Hsp70 as a carrier by GAD and using RIBI as the adjuvant, which also resulted in antibodies with significantly higher affinity than those elicited by hCGβCTP peptide vaccine. This makes this mutant vaccine a promising candidate for therapeutic studies in hCGβâpositive cancer patients
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