The Central Region in M100: Observations and Modeling

We present new high-resolution observations of the center of the late-type spiral M100 (NGC 4321) supplemented by 3D numerical modeling of stellar and gas dynamics, including star formation (SF). NIR imaging has revealed a stellar bar, previously inferred from optical and 21 cm observations, and an ovally-shaped ring-like structure in the plane of the disk. The K isophotes become progressively elongated and skewed to the position angle of the bar (outside and inside the `ring') forming an inner bar-like region. The galaxy exhibits a circumnuclear starburst in the inner part of the K `ring'. Two maxima of the K emission have been observed to lie symmetrically with respect to the nucleus and equidistant from it slightly leading the stellar bar. We interpret the twists in the K isophotes as being indicative of the presence of a double inner Lindblad resonance (ILR) and test this hypothesis by modeling the gas flow in a self-consistent gas + stars disk embedded in a halo, with an overall NGC4321-like mass distribution. We have reproduced the basic morphology of the region (the bar, the large scale trailing shocks, two symmetric K peaks corresponding to gas compression maxima which lie at the caustic formed by the interaction of a pair of trailing and leading shocks in the vicinity of the inner ILR, both peaks being sites of SF, and two additional zones of SF corresponding to the gas compression maxima, referred usually as `twin peaks').Comment: 31 pages, postscript, compressed, uuencoded. 21 figures available in postscript, compressed form by anonymous ftp from ftp://asta.pa.uky.edu/shlosman/main100 , mget *.ps.Z. To appear in Ap.

Experiment selection for the discrimination of semi-quantitative models of dynamical systems

AbstractModeling an experimental system often results in a number of alternative models that are all justified by the available experimental data. To discriminate among these models, additional experiments are needed. Existing methods for the selection of discriminatory experiments in statistics and in artificial intelligence are often based on an entropy criterion, the so-called information increment. A limitation of these methods is that they are not well-adapted to discriminating models of dynamical systems under conditions of limited measurability. Moreover, there are no generic procedures for computing the information increment of an experiment when the models are qualitative or semi-quantitative. This has motivated the development of a method for the selection of experiments to discriminate among semi-quantitative models of dynamical systems. The method has been implemented on top of existing implementations of the qualitative and semi-quantitative simulation techniques QSIM, Q2, and Q3. The applicability of the method to real-world problems is illustrated by means of an example in population biology: the discrimination of four competing models of the growth of phytoplankton in a bioreactor. The models have traditionally been considered equivalent for all practical purposes. Using our model discrimination approach and experimental data we show, however, that two of them are superior for describing phytoplankton growth under a wide range of experimental conditions

A Morphological-type dependence in the mu_0-log(h) plane of Spiral galaxy disks

We present observational evidence for a galaxy `Type' dependence to the location of a spiral galaxy's disk parameters in the mu_0-log(h) (central disk surface-brightness - disk scale-length) plane. With a sample of ~40 Low Surface Brightness galaxies (both bulge- and disk-dominated) and ~80 High Surface Brightness galaxies, the early-type disk galaxies (<=Sc) tend to define a bright envelope in the mu_0-log(h) plane, while the late-type (>=Scd) spiral galaxies have, in general, smaller and fainter disks. Below the defining surface brightness threshold for a Low Surface Brightness galaxy (i.e. more than 1 mag fainter than the 21.65 B-mag arcsec^(-2) Freeman value), the early-type spiral galaxies have scale-lengths greater than 8-9 kpc, while the late-type spiral galaxies have smaller scale-lengths. All galaxies have been modelled with a seeing-convolved Sersic r^(1/n) bulge and exponential disk model. We show that the trend of decreasing bulge shape parameter (n) with increasing Hubble type and decreasing bulge-to-disk luminosity ratio, which has been observed amongst the High Surface Brightness galaxies, extends to the Low Surface Brightness galaxies, revealing a continuous range of structural parameters.Comment: To be published in ApJ. Inc. three two-part figure

Magnetic Field Effect on the Supercurrent of an SNS junction

In this paper we study the effect of a Zeeman field on the supercurrent of a mesoscopic SNS junction. It is shown that the supercurrent suppression is due to a redistribution of current-carrying states in energy space. A dramatic consequence is that (part of the) the suppressed supercurrent can be recovered with a suitable non-equilibrium distribution of quasiparticles.Comment: 4 figures in postscrip

A Normal Stellar Disk in the Galaxy Malin 1

Since its discovery, Malin 1 has been considered the prototype and most extreme example of the class of giant low surface brightness disk galaxies. Examination of an archival Hubble Space Telescope I-band image reveals that Malin 1 contains a normal stellar disk that was not previously recognized, having a central I-band surface brightness of mu_0 = 20.1 mag arcsec^-2 and a scale length of 4.8 kpc. Out to a radius of ~10 kpc, the structure of Malin 1 is that of a typical SB0/a galaxy. The remarkably extended, faint outer structure detected out to r~100 kpc appears to be a photometrically distinct component and not a simple extension of the inner disk. In terms of its disk scale length and central surface brightness, Malin 1 was originally found to be a very remote outlier relative to all other known disk galaxies. The presence of a disk of normal size and surface brightness in Malin 1 suggests that such extreme outliers in disk properties probably do not exist, but underscores the importance of the extended outer disk regions for a full understanding of the structure and formation of spiral galaxies.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures. To appear in AJ. Typographical error correcte

Cone beam computed tomography for detecting residual stones in percutaneous nephrolithotomy, a randomized controlled trial (CAPTURE) protocol

Abstract Introduction Percutaneous nephrolithotomy (PCNL) is the standard surgical treatment method for large kidney stones. Its aim is to achieve a stone-free status, since any residual fragments (RFs) after PCNL are likely to cause additional morbidity or stone growth. Enhancing intraoperative detectability of RFs could lead to increased stone-free rates and decreased re-intervention rates. Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) has recently been introduced in urology as a feasible method for intraoperatively imaging RFs. The aim of this trial is to determine the added value of CBCT in percutaneous nephrolithotomy, by measuring differences in stone-related morbidity for patients with procedures in which a CBCT is used versus patients with procedures without the use of CBCT. Methods The CAPTURE trial is an investigator-initiated single-center, randomized controlled trial (RCT) in adult patients who have an indication for percutaneous nephrolithotomy. A contemporary percutaneous nephrolithotomy is performed. Once the surgeon is convinced of a stone-free status by means of fluoroscopy and nephroscopy, randomization allocates patients to either the study group in whom an intraoperative CBCT scan is performed or to the control group in whom no intraoperative CBCT scan is performed. The main endpoint is the stone-free status as assessed four weeks postoperatively by low-dose non-contrast abdominal CT, as a standard follow-up procedure. Secondary endpoints include the number of PCNL procedures required and the number of stone-related events (SREs) registered. The total study population will consist of 320 patients that undergo PCNL and are eligible for randomization for an intraoperative CBCT scan. Discussion We deem a randomized controlled trial to be the most effective and reliable method to assess the efficacy of CBCT in PCNL. Though some bias may occur due to the impossibility of blinding the urologist at randomization, we estimate that the pragmatic nature of the study, standardized circumstances, and follow-up methods with pre-defined outcome measures will result in a high level of evidence. Trial registration Netherlands Trial Register (NTR) NL8168 , ABR NL70728.042.19. Registered on 15 October 2019. Prospectively registered

X-Ray and Infrared Enhancement of Anomalous X-ray Pulsar 1E 2259+58

The long term (~1.5 years) X-ray enhancement and the accompanying infrared enhancement light curves of the anomalous X-ray pulsar 1E 2259+58 following the major bursting epoch can be accounted for by the relaxation of a fall back disk that has been pushed back by a gamma-ray flare. The required burst energy estimated from the results of our model fits is low enough for such a burst to have remained below the detection limits. We find that an irradiated disk model with a low irradiation efficiency is in good agreement with both X-ray and infrared data. Non-irradiated disk models also give a good fit to the X-ray light curve, but are not consistent with the infrared data for the first week of the enhancement.Comment: 17 pages, 3 figures, accepted for publication in Ap

Quartic double solids with ordinary singularities

We study the mixed Hodge structure on the third homology group of a threefold which is the double cover of projective three-space ramified over a quartic surface with a double conic. We deal with the Torelli problem for such threefolds.Comment: 14 pages, presented at the Conference Arnol'd 7