3,146 research outputs found
A method for reconstructing the PDF of a 3D turbulent density field from 2D observations
We introduce a method for calculating the probability density function (PDF)
of a turbulent density field in three dimensions using only information
contained in the projected two-dimensional column density field. We test the
method by applying it to numerical simulations of hydrodynamic and
magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in molecular clouds. To a good approximation,
the PDF of log(normalised column density) is a compressed, shifted version of
the PDF of log(normalised density). The degree of compression can be determined
observationally from the column density power spectrum, under the assumption of
statistical isotropy of the turbulence.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter
A method for reconstructing the variance of a 3D physical field from 2D observations: Application to turbulence in the ISM
We introduce and test an expression for calculating the variance of a
physical field in three dimensions using only information contained in the
two-dimensional projection of the field. The method is general but assumes
statistical isotropy. To test the method we apply it to numerical simulations
of hydrodynamic and magnetohydrodynamic turbulence in molecular clouds, and
demonstrate that it can recover the 3D normalised density variance with ~10%
accuracy if the assumption of isotropy is valid. We show that the assumption of
isotropy breaks down at low sonic Mach number if the turbulence is
sub-Alfvenic. Theoretical predictions suggest that the 3D density variance
should increase proportionally to the square of the Mach number of the
turbulence. Application of our method will allow this prediction to be tested
observationally and therefore constrain a large body of analytic models of star
formation that rely on it.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
The structure of molecular gas associated with NGC2264: wide-field 12CO and H2 imaging
We present wide-field, high-resolution imaging observations in 12CO 3-2 and
H2 1-0 S(1) towards a ~1 square degree region of NGC2264. We identify 46 H2
emission objects, of which 35 are new discoveries. We characterize several
cores as protostellar, reducing the previously observed ratio of
prestellar/protostellar cores in the NGC2264 clusters. The length of H2 jets
increases the previously reported spatial extent of the clusters. In each
cluster, <0.5% of cloud material has been perturbed by outflow activity. A
principal component analysis of the 12CO data suggests that turbulence is
driven on scales >2.6 pc, which is larger than the extent of the outflows. We
obtain an exponent alpha=0.74 for the size-linewidth relation, possibly due to
the high surface density of NGC2264. In this very active, mixed-mass star
forming region, our observations suggest that protostellar outflow activity is
not injecting energy and momentum on a large enough scale to be the dominant
source of turbulence.Comment: MNRAS accepte
Isotropically Driven versus Outflow Driven Turbulence: Observational Consequences for Molecular Clouds
Feedback from protostellar outflows can influence the nature of turbulence in
star forming regions even if they are not the primary source of velocity
dispersion for all scales of molecular clouds. For the rate and power expected
in star forming regions, we previously (Carroll et al. 2009) demonstrated that
outflows could drive supersonic turbulence at levels consistent with the
scaling relations from Matzner 2007 although with a steeper velocity power
spectrum than expected for an isotropically driven supersonic turbulent
cascade. Here we perform higher resolution simulations and combine simulations
of outflow driven turbulence with those of isotropically forced turbulence. We
find that the presence of outflows within an ambient isotropically driven
turbulent environment produces a knee in the velocity power spectrum at the
outflow scale and a steeper slope at sub-outflow scales than for a purely
isotropically forced case. We also find that the presence of outflows flattens
the density spectrum at large scales effectively reducing the formation of
large scale turbulent density structures. These effects are qualitatively
independent of resolution. We have also carried out Principal Component
Analysis (PCA) for synthetic data from our simulations. We find that PCA as a
tool for identifying the driving scale of turbulence has a misleading bias
toward low amplitude large scale velocity structures even when they are not
necessarily the dominant energy containing scales. This bias is absent for
isotropically forced turbulence but manifests strongly for collimated outflow
driven turbulence.Comment: 30 pages, 10 figures, Submitted to Ap
Characterizing precursors to stellar clusters with Herschel
Context. Despite their profound effect on the universe, the formation of massive stars and stellar clusters remains elusive. Recent advances in observing facilities and computing power have brought us closer to understanding this formation process. In the past decade, compelling evidence has emerged that suggests infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) may be precursors to stellar clusters. However, the usual method for identifying IRDCs is biased by the requirement that they are seen in absorption against background mid-IR emission, whereas dust continuum observations allow cold, dense pre-stellar-clusters to be identified anywhere. Aims: We aim to understand what dust temperatures and column densities characterize and distinguish IRDCs, to explore the population of dust continuum sources that are not IRDCs, and to roughly characterize the level of star formation activity in these dust continuum sources. Methods: We use Hi-GAL 70 to 500 m bright sources at the warmest. Finally, we identify five candidate IRDC-like sources on the far-side of the Galaxy. These are cold (20 K), high column density (N(H) gt 10 cm) clouds identified with Hi-GAL which, despite bright surrounding mid-IR emission, show little to no absorption at 8 $m. These are the first inner Galaxy far-side candidate IRDCs of which the authors are aware. Herschel in an ESA space observatory with science instruments provided by European-led Principal Investigator consortia and with important participation by NASA.The FITS files discussed in the paper would be released publicly WITH the Hi-GAL data (on the Hi-GAL website) when the Hi-GAL data is released publicly.Peer reviewe
Air pollution, deprivation and health: Understanding relationships to add value to local air quality management policy and practice in Wales, UK
© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Faculty of Public Health. All rights reserved. Background Air pollution exposure reduces life expectancy. Air pollution, deprivation and poor-health status combinations can create increased and disproportionate disease burdens. Problems and solutions are rarely considered in a broad public health context, but doing so can add value to air quality management efforts by reducing air pollution risks, impacts and inequalities. Methods An ecological study assessed small-area associations between air pollution (nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter), deprivation status and health outcomes in Wales, UK. Results Air pollution concentrations were highest in 'most' deprived areas. When considered separately, deprivation-health associations were stronger than air pollution-health associations. Considered simultaneously, air pollution added to deprivation-health associations; interactions between air pollution and deprivation modified and strengthened associations with all-cause and respiratory disease mortality, especially in 'most' deprived areas where most-vulnerable people lived and where health needs were greatest. Conclusion There is a need to reduce air pollution-related risks for all. However, it is also the case that greater health gains can result from considering local air pollution problems and solutions in the context of wider health-determinants and acting on a better understanding of relationships. Informed and co-ordinated air pollution mitigation and public health action in high deprivation and pollution areas can reduce risks and inequalities. To achieve this, greater public health integration and collaboration in local air quality management policy and practice is needed
Propensity Score-Matched Analysis of Open Surgical and Endovascular Repair for Type B Aortic Dissection
Objective. To identify national outcomes of thoracic endovascular aortic repair (TEVAR) for type B aortic dissections (TBADs).
Methods. The Nationwide Inpatient Sample database was examined from 2005 to 2008 using ICD-9 codes to identify patients with TBAD who underwent TEVAR or open surgical repair. We constructed separate propensity models for emergently and electively admitted patients and calculated mortality and complication rates for propensity score-matched cohorts of TEVAR and open repair patients.
Results. In-hospital mortality was significantly higher following open repair than TEVAR (17.5% versus 10.8%, P = .045) in emergently admitted TBAD. There was no in-hospital mortality difference between open repair and TEVAR (5.6% versus 3.3%, P = .464) for elective admissions. Hospitals performing thirty or more TEVAR procedures annually had lower mortality for emergent TBAD than hospitals with fewer than thirty procedures.
Conclusions. TEVAR produces better in-hospital outcomes in emergent TBAD than open repair, but further longitudinal analysis is required
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