1,297 research outputs found
Spherically symmetric relativistic MHD simulations of pulsar wind nebulae in supernova remnants
Pulsars, formed during supernova explosions, are known to be sources of
relativistic magnetized winds whose interaction with the expanding supernova
remnants (SNRs) gives rise to a pulsar wind nebula (PWN). We present
spherically symmetric relativistic magnetohydrodynamics (RMHD) simulations of
the interaction of a pulsar wind with the surrounding SNR, both in particle and
magnetically dominated regimes. As shown by previous simulations, the evolution
can be divided in three phases: free expansion, a transient phase characterized
by the compression and reverberation of the reverse shock, and a final Sedov
expansion. The evolution of the contact discontinuity between the PWN and the
SNR (and consequently of the SNR itself) is almost independent of the
magnetization of the nebula as long as the total (magnetic plus particle)
energy is the same. However, a different behaviour of the PWN internal
structure is observable during the compression-reverberation phase, depending
on the degree of magnetization=2E The simulations were performed using the
third order conservative scheme by Del Zanna et al. (2003).Comment: 11 pages, Latex, 22 Encapsulated PostScript figures, accepted f or
publication on A&
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Characterization of Two Distinct Lymphoproliferative Diseases Caused by Ectopic Expression of the Notch Ligand DLL4 on T Cells
Notch signaling is essential for the development of T cell progenitors through the interaction of NOTCH1 receptor on their surface with the ligand, Delta-like 4 (DLL4), which is expressed by the thymic epithelial cells. Notch signaling is quickly shut down once the cells pass β-selection, and CD4/CD8 double positive (DP) cells are unresponsive to Notch. Over the past two decades a number of papers reported that over-activation of Notch signaling causes T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), a cancer that prominently features circulating monoclonal CD4/CD8 double positive T cells in different mouse models. However, the possible outcomes of Notch over-activation at different stages of T cell development are unknown, and the fine timing of Notch signaling that results in T-ALL is poorly understood. Here we report, by using a murine model that ectopically expresses DLL4 on developing T cells, that the T-ALL onset is highly dependent on a sustained Notch activity throughout the DP stage, which induces additional mutations to further boost the signaling. In contrast, a shorter period of Notch activation that terminates at the DP stage causes a polyclonal, non-transmissible lymphoproliferative disorder that is also lethal. These observations resolved the discrepancy of previous papers on DLL4 driven hematological diseases in mice, and show the critical importance of the timing and duration of Notch activity
The effects of spin-down on the structure and evolution of pulsar wind nebulae
We present high resolution spherically symmetric relativistic
magnetohydrodynamical simulations of the evolution of a pulsar wind nebula
inside the free expanding ejecta of the supernova progenitor. The evolution is
followed starting from a few years after the supernova explosion and up to an
age of the remnant of 1500 years. We consider different values of the pulsar
wind magnetization parameter and also different braking indices for the
spin-down process. We compare the numerical results with those derived through
an approximate semi-analytical approach that allows us to trace the time
evolution of the positions of both the pulsar wind termination shock and the
contact discontinuity between the nebula and the supernova ejecta. We also
discuss, whenever a comparison is possible, to what extent our numerical
results agree with former self-similar models, and how these models could be
adapted to take into account the temporal evolution of the system. The inferred
magnetization of the pulsar wind could be an order of magnitude lower than that
derived from time independent analytic models.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, Accepted for publication on A&
A well-balanced scheme for two-fluid flows in variable cross-section ducts
International audienceWe propose a finite volume scheme for computing two-fluid flows in variable cross-section ducts. Our scheme satisfies a well-balanced property. It is based on the VFRoe approach. The VFRoe variables are the Riemann invariants of the stationnary wave and the cross-section. In order to avoid spurious pressure oscillations, the well-balanced approach is coupled with an ALE (Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian) technique at the interface and a random sampling remap
Comparative characterization of the PvuRts1I family of restriction enzymes and their application in mapping genomic 5-hydroxymethylcytosine
PvuRts1I is a modification-dependent restriction endonuclease that recognizes 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC) as well as 5-glucosylhydroxymethylcytosine (5ghmC) in double-stranded DNA. Using PvuRts1I as the founding member, we define a family of homologous proteins with similar DNA modification-dependent recognition properties. At the sequence level, these proteins share a few uniquely conserved features. We show that these enzymes introduce a double-stranded cleavage at the 3′-side away from the recognized modified cytosine. The distances between the cleavage sites and the modified cytosine are fixed within a narrow range, with the majority being 11–13 nt away in the top strand and 9–10 nt away in the bottom strand. The recognition sites of these enzymes generally require two cytosines on opposite strand around the cleavage sites, i.e. 5′-CN11–13↓N9–10G-3′/3′-GN9–10↓N11–13C-5′, with at least one cytosine being modified for efficient cleavage. As one potential application for these enzymes is to provide useful tools for selectively mapping 5hmC sites, we have compared the relative selectivity of a few PvuRts1I family members towards different forms of modified cytosines. Our results show that the inherently different relative selectivity towards modified cytosines can have practical implications for their application. By using AbaSDFI, a PvuRts1I homolog with the highest relative selectivity towards 5ghmC, to analyze rat brain DNA, we show it is feasible to map genomic 5hmC sites close to base resolution. Our study offers unique tools for determining more accurate hydroxymethylomes in mammalian cells
Intramolecular evolution from a locally excited state to an excimer-like state in a multichromophoric dendrimer evidenced by a femtosecond fluorescence upconversion study
A time-resolved fluorescence upconversion study on a polyphenylene dendrimer with eight peryleneimide chromophores on the surface and on a monochromophoric model compound is reported. The time-dependent fluorescence spectra of the dendrimer show that the initial excitation is into a locally excited chromophore. They further indicate the existence of a decay channel that leads to excited state interaction between chromophores in one dendrimer which takes place on a 5 ps timescale
Interlayer Registry Determines the Sliding Potential of Layered Metal Dichalcogenides: The case of 2H-MoS2
We provide a simple and intuitive explanation for the interlayer sliding
energy landscape of metal dichalcogenides. Based on the recently introduced
registry index (RI) concept, we define a purely geometrical parameter which
quantifies the degree of interlayer commensurability in the layered phase of
molybdenum disulphide (2HMoS2). A direct relation between the sliding energy
landscape and the corresponding interlayer registry surface of 2H-MoS2 is
discovered thus marking the registry index as a computationally efficient means
for studying the tribology of complex nanoscale material interfaces in the
wearless friction regime.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figure
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