580 research outputs found
Spatially Resolved Spitzer-IRS Spectral Maps of the Superwind in M82
We have mapped the superwind/halo region of the nearby starburst galaxy M82
in the mid-infrared with . The spectral regions covered include
the H, [NeII], [NeIII] emission lines and PAH features. We
estimate the total warm H mass and the kinetic energy of the outflowing
warm molecular gas to be between M and
erg. Using the ratios of the 6.2, 7.7 and 11.3
micron PAH features in the IRS spectra, we are able to estimate the average
size and ionization state of the small grains in the superwind. There are large
variations in the PAH flux ratios throughout the outflow. The 11.3/7.7 and the
6.2/7.7 PAH ratios both vary by more than a factor of five across the wind
region. The Northern part of the wind has a significant population of PAH's
with smaller 6.2/7.7 ratios than either the starburst disk or the Southern
wind, indicating that on average, PAH emitters are larger and more ionized. The
warm molecular gas to PAH flux ratios (H) are enhanced in the outflow
by factors of 10-100 as compared to the starburst disk. This enhancement in the
H ratio does not seem to follow the ionization of the atomic gas (as
measured with the [NeIII]/[NeII] line flux ratio) in the outflow. This suggests
that much of the warm H in the outflow is excited by shocks. The observed
H line intensities can be reproduced with low velocity shocks ( km
s) driven into moderately dense molecular gas (
cm) entrained in the outflow.Comment: 19 pages and 12 figures; accepted in MNRA
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FRAMES Software System: Linking to the Statistical Package R
This document provides requirements, design, data-file specifications, test plan, and Quality Assurance/Quality Control protocol for the linkage between the statistical package R and the Framework for Risk Analysis in Multimedia Environmental Systems (FRAMES) Versions 1.x and 2.0. The requirements identify the attributes of the system. The design describes how the system will be structured to meet those requirements. The specification presents the specific modifications to FRAMES to meet the requirements and design. The test plan confirms that the basic functionality listed in the requirements (black box testing) actually functions as designed, and QA/QC confirms that the software meets the client’s needs
Seed-Specific Gene Activation Mediated by the Cre/lox Site-Specific Recombination System
A Population of Metal-Poor Galaxies with ~L* Luminosities at Intermediate Redshifts
We present new spectroscopy and metallicity estimates for a sample of 15
star-forming galaxies with redshifts in the range 0.29 - 0.42. These objects
were selected in the KPNO International Spectroscopic Survey via their strong
emission lines seen in red objective-prism spectra. Originally thought to be
intermediate-redshift Seyfert 2 galaxies, our new spectroscopy in the far red
has revealed these objects to be metal-poor star-forming galaxies. These
galaxies follow a luminosity-metallicity (L-Z) relation that parallels the one
defined by low-redshift galaxies, but is offset by a factor of more than ten to
lower abundances. The amount of chemical and/or luminosity evolution required
to place these galaxies on the local L-Z relation is extreme, suggesting that
these galaxies are in a very special stage of their evolution. They may be
late-forming massive systems, which would challenge the current paradigm of
galaxy formation. Alternatively, they may represent intense starbursts in
dwarf-dwarf mergers or a major infall episode of pristine gas into a
pre-existing galaxy. In any case, these objects represent an extreme stage of
galaxy evolution taking place at relatively low redshift.Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures; to appear in 10 April 2009 ApJ
Parental bonding and identity style as correlates of self-esteem among adult adoptees and nonadoptees
Adult adoptees (n equals 100) and non-adoptees (n equals 100) were compared with regard to selfesteem, identity processing style, and parental bonding. While some differences were found with regard to self-esteem, maternal care, and maternal overprotection, these differences were
qualified by reunion status such that only reunited adoptees differed significantly from nonadoptees.
Moreover, hierarchical regression analyses indicated that parental bonding and identity processing style were more important than adoptive status per se in predicting self esteem. Implications for practitioners who work with adoptees are discussed
Microarray analysis of the in vivo sequence preferences of a minor groove binding drug
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Minor groove binding drugs (MGBDs) interact with DNA in a sequence-specific manner and can cause changes in gene expression at the level of transcription. They serve as valuable models for protein interactions with DNA and form an important class of antitumor, antiviral, antitrypanosomal and antibacterial drugs. There is a need to extend knowledge of the sequence requirements for MGBDs from <it>in vitro </it>DNA binding studies to living cells.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Here we describe the use of microarray analysis to discover yeast genes that are affected by treatment with the MGBD berenil, thereby allowing the investigation of its sequence requirements for binding <it>in vivo</it>. A novel approach to sequence analysis allowed us to address hypotheses about genes that were directly or indirectly affected by drug binding. The results show that the sequence features of A/T richness and heteropolymeric character discovered by <it>in vitro </it>berenil binding studies are found upstream of genes hypothesized to be directly affected by berenil but not upstream of those hypothesized to be indirectly affected or those shown to be unaffected.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The data support the conclusion that effects of berenil on gene expression in yeast cells can be explained by sequence patterns discovered by <it>in vitro </it>binding experiments. The results shed light on the sequence and structural rules by which berenil binds to DNA and affects the transcriptional regulation of genes and contribute generally to the development of MGBDs as tools for basic and applied research.</p
The Optical Structure of the Starburst Galaxy M82. II. Nebular Properties of the Disk and Inner-Wind
(Abridged) In this second paper of the series, we present the results from
optical Gemini-North GMOS-IFU and WIYN DensePak IFU spectroscopic observations
of the starburst and inner wind zones of M82, with a focus on the state of the
T~10^4 K ionized interstellar medium. Our electron density maps show peaks of a
few 1000 cm-3, local small spatial-scale variations, and a fall-off in the
minor axis direction. We discuss the implications of these results with regards
to the conditions/locations that may favour the escape of individual cluster
winds. Our findings imply that the starburst environment is highly fragmented
into a range of clouds from small/dense clumps with low filling factors (<1pc,
n_e>10^4 cm-3) to larger filling factor, less dense gas. The near-constant
state of the ionization state of the ~10^4 K gas throughout the starburst can
be explained as a consequence of the small cloud sizes, which allow the gas
conditions to respond quickly to any changes. We have examined in more detail
both the broad (FWHM 150-350 km/s) line component found in Paper I that we
associated with emission from turbulent mixing layers on the gas clouds, and
the discrete outflow channel identified within the inner wind. The channel
appears as a coherent, expanding cylindrical structure of length >120 pc and
and width 35-50 pc and the walls maintain an approximately constant (but
subsonic) expansion velocity of ~60 km/s. We use the channel to examine further
the relationship between the narrow and broad component emitting gas within the
inner wind. Within the starburst energy injection zone, we find that turbulent
motions (as traced by the broad component) appear to play an increasing role
with height.Comment: 27 pages, 18 figures (13 in colour), accepted for publication in Ap
Diffuse far-infrared and ultraviolet emission in the NGC4435/4438 system: tidal stream or Galactic cirrus?
We report the discovery of diffuse far-infrared and far-ultraviolet emission
projected near the interacting pair NGC4435/4438, in the Virgo cluster. This
feature spatially coincides with a well known low surface-brightness optical
plume, usually interpreted as tidal debris. If extragalactic, this stream would
represent not only one of the clearest examples of intracluster dust, but also
a rare case of intracluster molecular hydrogen and large-scale intracluster
star formation. However, the ultraviolet, far-infrared, HI and CO emission as
well as the dynamics of this feature are extremely unusual for tidal streams
but are typical of Galactic cirrus clouds. In support to the cirrus scenario,
we show that a strong spatial correlation between far-infrared and
far-ultraviolet cirrus emission is observed across the center of the Virgo
cluster, over a scale of several degrees. This study demonstrates how dramatic
Galactic cirrus contamination can be, even at optical and ultraviolet
wavelengths and at high galactic latitudes. If ignored, the presence of diffuse
light scattered by Galactic dust clouds could significantly bias our
interpretation of low surface-brightness features and diffuse light observed
around galaxies and in clusters of galaxies.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter
Escape of Lyman alpha Emission in the Starburst Galaxy Mkn 357 - a Wind's Far Side
HST imaging and slitless spectroscopy are used to examine where the strong
Lyman alpha emission escapes from the interstellar medium in the starburst
galaxy Mkn 357. An H-alpha image shows that the ionized gas is mostly in a
global wind, rather than associated with the individual star-forming regions
seen in the optical and UV continuum. The Lyman alpha emission comes
predominantly from the northwest side of the wind structure spatially, and
shows a significant redshift relative to the optical lines. Both of these
properties are signatures of seeing the line photons backscattered from the far
side of a prolate or bipolar starburst wind, fitting both with escape
calculations and evidence for winds in high-redshift galaxies with net Lyman
alpha emission. Scattering is most important within this wind itself, rather
than involving a surrounding neutral medium, as shown by the decreasing
relative redshift of the line peak from 250 to 30 km/s between the center and
edge of the detected emission. The Lyman alpha emission exhibits strong
asymmetry in comparison with both the starlight and H-alpha structures. These
results add to the evidence that kinematics, rather than gas metallicity or
dust content, are the dominant effect in determining which galaxies have strong
Lyman alpha emission, and that powerful (and perhaps episodic) starbursts are
common among Lyman-break galaxies as well as those discovered from Lyman alpha
line emission.Comment: Accepted for Astron.J., April 200
BioDiVinE: A Framework for Parallel Analysis of Biological Models
In this paper a novel tool BioDiVinEfor parallel analysis of biological
models is presented. The tool allows analysis of biological models specified in
terms of a set of chemical reactions. Chemical reactions are transformed into a
system of multi-affine differential equations. BioDiVinE employs techniques for
finite discrete abstraction of the continuous state space. At that level,
parallel analysis algorithms based on model checking are provided. In the
paper, the key tool features are described and their application is
demonstrated by means of a case study
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