760 research outputs found
Collisionless galaxy simulations
Three-dimensional fully self-consistent computer models were used to determine the evolution of galaxies consisting of 100 000 simulation stars. Comparison of two-dimensional simulations with three-dimensional simulations showed only a very slight stabilizing effect due to the additional degree of freedom. The addition of a fully self-consistent, nonrotating, exponential core/halo component resulted in considerable stabilization. A second series of computer experiments was performed to determine the collapse and relaxation of initially spherical, uniform density and uniform velocity dispersion stellar systems. The evolution of the system was followed for various amounts of angular momentum in solid body rotation. For initally low values of the angular momentum satisfying the Ostriker-Peebles stability criterion, the systems quickly relax to an axisymmetric shape and resemble elliptical galaxies in appearance. For larger values of the initial angular momentum bars develop and the systems undergo a much more drastic evolution
Electron dynamics in a plasma focus
Results are presented of a numerical integration of the three-dimensional relativistic equations of motion of electrons subject to given electric and magnetic fields deduced from experiments. Fields due to two different models are investigated. For the first model, the fields are those due to a circular distribution of axial current filaments. As the current filaments collapse toward the axis, large azimuthal magnetic and axial electric fields are induced. These fields effectively heat the electrons to a temperature of approximately 8 keV and accelerate electrons within the radius of the filaments to high axial velocities. Similar results are obtained for the current-reduction phase of focus formation. For the second model, the fields are those due to a uniform current distribution. Both the current-reduction and the compression phases were studied. These is little heating or acceleration of electrons during the compression phase because the electrons are tied to the magnetic field. However, during the current-reduction phase, electrons near the axis are accelerated toward the center electrode and reach energies of 100 keV. A criterion is obtained which limits the runaway electron current to about 400 A
a new Pc-C boundary section
The widespread, terminal Ediacaran Dengying Formation (~ 551–~ 542 Ma) of
South China hosts one of the most prominent negative carbonate carbon isotope
excursions in Earth's history and thus bears on the correlation of the
Precambrian–Cambrian boundary worldwide. The dominantly carbonate strata of
the Dengying Formation are largely studied for their unique preservation of
its terminal Ediacaran fauna but their geochemical context is poorly known.
This study presents the first high-resolution stable isotope record (δ13C,
δ18O) of calcareous siliciclastic shallow-water deposits of the Gaojiashan
section (Shaanxi Province). The section includes (in ascending order) the
Algal Dolomite Member, the Gaojiashan Member and the Beiwan Member of the
Dengying Formation. Our data record a major δ13Ccarb negative excursion to −6
‰ in the uppermost Gaojiashan Member which is comparable in shape and
magnitude to the global Precambrian–Cambrian boundary negative δ13C excursion.
Our data set is consistent with a "shallow-water anoxia" scenario which is
thought to contribute to the "Cambrian explosion". The stratigraphic
occurrence of Cloudina and a large negative δ13C excursion suggest that the
Precambrian–Cambrian boundary is located near the top of the Gaojiashan Member
and, consequently, that overlying carbonates and dolomites of the Beiwan
Member are of earliest Cambrian age. Thus the Gaojiashan section may represent
a new shallow-water section spanning the Precambrian–Cambrian boundary.
Although bio- and chemostratigraphic data support this novel interpretation,
we cannot exclude the possibility that the key excursions may represent a
local perturbation indicating a restricted-basin environment
Chaotic hysteresis in an adiabatically oscillating double well
We consider the motion of a damped particle in a potential oscillating slowly
between a simple and a double well. The system displays hysteresis effects
which can be of periodic or chaotic type. We explain this behaviour by
computing an analytic expression of a Poincar'e map.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX, 3 PS figs, uses psfig.sty. Submitted to Phys. Rev.
Letters. PS file also available at
http://dpwww.epfl.ch/instituts/ipt/berglund.htm
Dynamics of modal power distribution in a multimode semiconductor laser with optical feedback
The dynamics of power distribution between longitudinal modes of a multimode
semiconductor laser subjected to external optical feedback is experimentally
analyzed in the low-frequency fluctuation regime. Power dropouts in the total
light intensity are invariably accompanied by sudden activations of several
longitudinal modes. These activations are seen not to be simultaneous to the
dropouts, but to occur after them. The phenomenon is statistically analysed in
a systematic way, and the corresponding delay is estimated.Comment: 3 pages, 4 figures, revte
Structural insights into Legionella RidL-Vps29 retromer subunit interaction reveal displacement of the regulator TBC1D5
Legionella pneumophila can cause Legionnaires’ disease and replicates intracellularly in a distinct Legionella-containing vacuole (LCV). LCV formation is a complex process that involves a plethora of type IV-secreted effector proteins. The effector RidL binds the Vps29 retromer subunit, blocks retrograde vesicle trafficking, and promotes intracellular bacterial replication. Here, we reveal that the 29-kDa N-terminal domain of RidL (RidL2–281) adopts a “foot-like” fold comprising a protruding β-hairpin at its “heel”. The deletion of the β-hairpin, the exchange to Glu of Ile170 in the β-hairpin, or Leu152 in Vps29 abolishes the interaction in eukaryotic cells and in vitro. RidL2–281 or RidL displace the Rab7 GTPase-activating protein (GAP) TBC1D5 from the retromer and LCVs, respectively, and TBC1D5 promotes the intracellular growth of L. pneumophila. Thus, the hydrophobic β-hairpin of RidL is critical for binding of the L. pneumophila effector to the Vps29 retromer subunit and displacement of the regulator TBC1D5
Quasi-equilibria in one-dimensional self-gravitating many body systems
The microscopic dynamics of one-dimensional self-gravitating many-body
systems is studied. We examine two courses of the evolution which has the
isothermal and stationary water-bag distribution as initial conditions. We
investigate the evolution of the systems toward thermal equilibrium. It is
found that when the number of degrees of freedom of the system is increased,
the water-bag distribution becomes a quasi-equilibrium, and also the
stochasticity of the system reduces. This results suggest that the phase space
of the system is effectively not ergodic and the system with large degreees of
freedom approaches to the near-integrable one.Comment: 21pages + 7 figures (available upon request), revtex, submitted to
Physical Review
Small Things Matter: Relevance of MicroRNAs in Cardiovascular Disease
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are short sequences of non-coding RNA that play an important role in the regulation of gene expression and thereby in many physiological and pathological processes. Furthermore, miRNAs are released in the extracellular space, for example in vesicles, and are detectable in various biological fluids, such as serum, plasma, and urine. Over the last years, it has been shown that miRNAs are crucial in the development of several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). This review discusses the (patho)physiological implications of miRNAs in CVD, ranging from cardiovascular risk factors (i.e., hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia), to atherosclerosis, myocardial infarction, and cardiac remodeling. Moreover, the intriguing possibility of their use as disease-specific diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers for human CVDs will be discussed in detail. Finally, as several approaches have been developed to alter miRNA expression and function (i.e., mimics, antagomirs, and target-site blockers), we will highlight the miRNAs with the most promising therapeutic potential that may represent suitable candidates for therapeutic intervention in future translational studies and ultimately in clinical trials. All in all, this review gives a comprehensive overview of the most relevant miRNAs in CVD and discusses their potential use as biomarkers and even therapeutic targets
Secular Evolution of Galaxy Morphologies
Today we have numerous evidences that spirals evolve dynamically through
various secular or episodic processes, such as bar formation and destruction,
bulge growth and mergers, sometimes over much shorter periods than the standard
galaxy age of 10-15 Gyr. This, coupled to the known properties of the Hubble
sequence, leads to a unique sense of evolution: from Sm to Sa. Linking this to
the known mass components provides new indications on the nature of dark matter
in galaxies. The existence of large amounts of yet undetected dark gas appears
as the most natural option. Bounds on the amount of dark stars can be given
since their formation is mostly irreversible and requires obviously a same
amount of gas.Comment: 8 pages, Latex2e, crckapb.sty macros, 1 Postscript figure, replaced
with TeX source; To be published in the proceeedings of the "Dust-Morphology"
conference, Johannesburg, 22-26 January, 1996, D. Block (ed.), (Kluwer
Dordrecht
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