892 research outputs found
MOJAVE: Monitoring of Jets in Active Galactic Nuclei with VLBA Experiments. VI. Kinematics Analysis of a Complete Sample of Blazar Jets
We discuss the jet kinematics of a complete flux-density-limited sample of
135 radio-loud active galactic nuclei (AGN) resulting from a 13 year program to
investigate the structure and evolution of parsec-scale jet phenomena. Our
analysis is based on new 2 cm Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) images obtained
between 2002 and 2007, but includes our previously published observations made
at the same wavelength, and is supplemented by VLBA archive data. In all, we
have used 2424 images spanning the years 1994-2007 to study and determine the
motions of 526 separate jet features in 127 jets. The data quality and temporal
coverage (a median of 15 epochs per source) of this complete AGN jet sample
represents a significant advance over previous kinematics surveys. In all but
five AGNs, the jets appear one-sided, most likely the result of differential
Doppler boosting. In general the observed motions are directed along the jet
ridge line, outward from the optically thick core feature. We directly observe
changes in speed and/or direction in one third of the well-sampled jet
components in our survey. While there is some spread in the apparent speeds of
separate features within an individual jet, the dispersion is about three times
smaller than the overall dispersion of speeds among all jets. This supports the
idea that there is a characteristic flow that describes each jet, which we have
characterized by the fastest observed component speed. The observed maximum
speed distribution is peaked at ~10c, with a tail that extends out to ~50c.
This requires a distribution of intrinsic Lorentz factors in the parent
population that range up to ~50. We also note the presence of some rare
low-pattern speeds or even stationary features in otherwise rapidly flowing
jets... (abridged)Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, 2 tables, accepted by the Astronomical Journal;
online only material is available from
http://www.cv.nrao.edu/2cmVLBA/pub/MOJAVE_VI_suppl.zi
MOJAVE: Monitoring of Jets in AGN with VLBA Experiments. VII. Blazar Jet Acceleration
We discuss acceleration measurements for a large sample of extragalactic
radio jets from the MOJAVE program which studies the parsec-scale jet structure
and kinematics of a complete, flux-density-limited sample of Active Galactic
Nuclei (AGN). Accelerations are measured from the apparent motion of individual
jet features or "components" which may represent patterns in the jet flow. We
find that significant accelerations are common both parallel and perpendicular
to the observed component velocities. Parallel accelerations, representing
changes in apparent speed, are generally larger than perpendicular acceleration
that represent changes in apparent direction. The trend for larger parallel
accelerations indicates that a significant fraction of these changes in
apparent speed are due to changes in intrinsic speed of the component rather
than changes in direction to the line of sight. We find an overall tendency for
components with increasing apparent speed to be closer to the base of their
jets than components with decreasing apparent speed. This suggests a link
between the observed pattern motions and the underlying flow which, in some
cases, may increase in speed close to the base and decrease in speed further
out; however, common hydro-dynamical processes for propagating shocks may also
play a role. About half of the components show "non-radial" motion, or a
misalignment between the component's structural position angle and its velocity
direction, and these misalignments generally better align the component motion
with the downstream emission. Perpendicular accelerations are closely linked
with non-radial motion. When observed together, perpendicular accelerations are
usually in the correct direction to have caused the observed misalignment.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, 1 table, accepted by the Astrophysical Journa
Multifrequency VLBA Monitoring of 3C 273 during the INTEGRAL Campaign in 2003 - I. Kinematics of the Parsec Scale Jet from 43 GHz Data
In this first of a series of papers describing polarimetric multifrequency
Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) monitoring of 3C 273 during a simultaneous
campaign with the INTEGRAL gamma-ray satellite in 2003, we present 5 Stokes I
images and source models at 7 mm. We show that a part of the inner jet (1-2
milliarcseconds from the core) is resolved in a direction transverse to the
flow, and we analyse the kinematics of the jet within the first 10 mas. Based
on the VLBA data and simultaneous single-dish flux density monitoring, we
determine an accurate value for the Doppler factor of the parsec scale jet, and
using this value with observed proper motions, we calculate the Lorentz factors
and the viewing angles for the emission components in the jet. Our data
indicates a significant velocity gradient across the jet with the components
travelling near the southern edge being faster than the components with more
northern path. We discuss our observations in the light of jet precession model
and growing plasma instabilities.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 16 pages, 15
figure
Direct Distance Measurements to Superluminal Radio Sources
We present a new technique for directly measuring the distances to
superluminal radio sources. By comparing the observed proper motions of
components in a parsec scale radio jet to their measured Doppler factors, we
can deduce the distance to the radio source independent of the standard rungs
in the cosmological distance ladder. This technique requires that the jet angle
to the line of sight and the ratio of pattern to flow velocities are
sufficiently constrained. We evaluate a number of possibilities for
constraining these parameters and demonstrate the technique on a well defined
component in the parsec scale jet of the quasar 3C279 (z = 0.536). We find an
angular size distance to 3C279 of greater than 1.8 (+0.5,-0.3) n^{1/8} Gpc,
where n is the ratio of the energy density in the magnetic field to the energy
density in the radiating particles in that jet component. For an Einstein-de
Sitter Universe, this measurement would constrain the Hubble constant to be H <
65 n^{-1/8} km/s/Mpc at the two sigma level. Similar measurements on higher
redshift sources may help discriminate between cosmological models.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, to be published in The Astrophysical Journa
Cell Shape Dynamics: From Waves to Migration
We observe and quantify wave-like characteristics of amoeboid migration. Using the amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, a model system for the study of chemotaxis, we demonstrate that cell shape changes in a wave-like manner. Cells have regions of high boundary curvature that propagate from the leading edge toward the back, usually along alternating sides of the cell. Curvature waves are easily seen in cells that do not adhere to a surface, such as cells that are electrostatically repelled from surfaces or cells that extend over the edge of micro-fabricated cliffs. Without surface contact, curvature waves travel from the leading edge to the back of a cell at âŒ35 ”m/min. Non-adherent myosin II null cells do not exhibit these curvature waves. At the leading edge of adherent cells, curvature waves are associated with protrusive activity. Like regions of high curvature, protrusive activity travels along the boundary in a wave-like manner. Upon contact with a surface, the protrusions stop moving relative to the surface, and the boundary shape thus reflects the history of protrusive motion. The wave-like character of protrusions provides a plausible mechanism for the zig-zagging of pseudopods and for the ability of cells both to swim in viscous fluids and to navigate complex three dimensional topography
Chandra and Swift observations of the quasi-persistent neutron star transient EXO 0748-676 back to quiescence
The quasi-persistent neutron star X-ray transient and eclipsing binary EXO
0748-676 recently started the transition to quiescence following an accretion
outburst that lasted more than 24 years. We report on two Chandra and twelve
Swift observations performed within five months after the end of the outburst.
The Chandra spectrum is composed of a soft, thermal component that fits to a
neutron star atmosphere model with kT^inf~0.12 keV, joined by a hard powerlaw
tail that contributes ~20% of the total 0.5-10 keV unabsorbed flux. The
combined Chandra/Swift data set reveals a relatively hot and luminous quiescent
system with a temperature of kT^inf~0.11-0.13 keV and a bolometric thermal
luminosity of ~8.1E33-1.6E34 (d/7.4 kpc)^2 erg/s. We discuss our results in the
context of cooling neutron star models.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letters, moderate revision
according to referee report, added one plot to figure 2 and included new
Swift observations, 5 pages, 2 figure
In silico druggability assessment of the NUDIX hydrolase protein family as a workflow for target prioritization
Computational chemistry has now been widely accepted as a useful tool for shortening lead times in early drug discovery. When selecting new potential drug targets, it is important to assess the likelihood of finding suitable starting points for lead generation before pursuing costly high-throughput screening campaigns. By exploiting available high-resolution crystal structures, an in silico druggability assessment can facilitate the decision of whether, and in cases where several protein family members exist, which of these to pursue experimentally. Many of the algorithms and software suites commonly applied for in silico druggability assessment are complex, technically challenging and not always user-friendly. Here we applied the intuitive open access servers of DoGSite, FTMap and CryptoSite to comprehensively predict ligand binding pockets, druggability scores and conformationally active regions of the NUDIX protein family. In parallel we analyzed potential ligand binding sites, their druggability and pocket parameter using Schrödinger's SiteMap. Then an in silico docking cascade of a subset of the ZINC FragNow library using the Glide docking program was performed to assess identified pockets for large-scale small-molecule binding. Subsequently, this initial dual ranking of druggable sites within the NUDIX protein family was benchmarked against experimental hit rates obtained both in-house and by others from traditional biochemical and fragment screening campaigns. The observed correlation suggests that the presented user-friendly workflow of a dual parallel in silico druggability assessment is applicable as a standalone method for decision on target prioritization and exclusion in future screening campaigns
Possible Detection of Apparent Superluminal inward motion in Markarian 421 after the Giant X-ray flare in February, 2010
We report on the VLBI follow-up observations using the Japanese VLBI Network
(JVN) array at 22 GHz for the largest X-ray flare of TeV blazar Mrk 421 that
occurred in mid-February, 2010. The total of five epochs of observations were
performed at intervals of about 20 days between March 7 and May 31, 2010. No
new-born component associated with the flare was seen directly in the total
intensity images obtained by our multi-epoch VLBI observations. However, one
jet component located at ~1 mas north-west from the core was able to be
identified, and its proper motion can be measured as -1.66+/-0.46 mas yr^-1,
which corresponds to an apparent velocity of -3.48+/-0.97 c. Here, this
negative velocity indicates that the jet component was apparently moving toward
the core. As the most plausible explanation, we discuss that the apparent
negative velocity was possibly caused by the ejection of a new component, which
could not be resolved with our observations. In this case, the obtained Doppler
factor of the new component is around 10 to 20, which is consistent with the
ones typically estimated by model fittings of spectral energy distribution for
this source.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables, accepted for publication in Ap
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