2,047 research outputs found
Cluster approximations for infection dynamics on random networks
In this paper, we consider a simple stochastic epidemic model on large
regular random graphs and the stochastic process that corresponds to this
dynamics in the standard pair approximation. Using the fact that the nodes of a
pair are unlikely to share neighbors, we derive the master equation for this
process and obtain from the system size expansion the power spectrum of the
fluctuations in the quasi-stationary state. We show that whenever the pair
approximation deterministic equations give an accurate description of the
behavior of the system in the thermodynamic limit, the power spectrum of the
fluctuations measured in long simulations is well approximated by the
analytical power spectrum. If this assumption breaks down, then the cluster
approximation must be carried out beyond the level of pairs. We construct an
uncorrelated triplet approximation that captures the behavior of the system in
a region of parameter space where the pair approximation fails to give a good
quantitative or even qualitative agreement. For these parameter values, the
power spectrum of the fluctuations in finite systems can be computed
analytically from the master equation of the corresponding stochastic process.Comment: the notation has been changed; Ref. [26] and a new paragraph in
Section IV have been adde
An Evolutionary Sequence of Expanding Hydrogen Shells in Galaxy Discs
Large HI shells, with diameters of hundreds of pc and expansion velocities of
10-20kms-1 are well observed features of local gas rich galaxies. These shells
could well be predicted as a result of the impact of OB associations on the
ISM, but doubt has been cast on this scenario by the apparent absence of OB
stars close to the centres of a large fraction of these shells in recent
observations of the SMC. Using Fabry-Perot scanned Halpha emission line mapping
of nearby galaxy discs we have detected, in all the HII regions where the
observations yield sufficient angular resolution and S:N ratio, dominant Halpha
shells with radii a few tens of pc, expanding at velocities of 50-100kms-1. We
have applied a simple dynamically consistent framework in which we can
extrapolate the properties of the observed Halpha shells to a few 10^7yr after
the formation of the OB stars. The framework includes the dynamical inputs of
both winds and SNe on the surrounding ISM. The results give quantitative
statistical support to the hypothesis that the Halpha emitting shells are
generic progenitors of the HI shells. During the time taken for an expanding
shell to reach the size of a typical HI shell, the OB association may well lose
its most luminous stars so the absence of such stars near the centres of many
of the HI shells is well explained in this scenario.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
HI holes in galactic disks: Tracing the dark matter distribution
Multiple SN explosions in disk galaxies efficiently evacuate gas and form
cavities with the sizes and shapes of the surrounding envelopes determined by
the total amount of injected energy and by the initial gas distribution. Such
cavities are seen as HI holes when observed in face-on galaxies. Gas
hydrodynamics simulations are performed to obtain the quantitative
characteristics of HI holes that could serve for the determination of the gas
vertical scale height and the corresponding dark matter content and its
distribution. Among these characteristics is the ratio of the maximum column
density in the HI ring surrounding the hole to the background HI column density
and the vertical expansion velocity of gas in the HI ring. We show that in some
cases the extragalactic background ionizing radiation may produce HI holes in
the outer regions of galaxies, and can account for the existence of HI holes in
nearby face-on galaxies with the apparent lack of an underlying stellar
population.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy &
Astrophysic
GMC formation by agglomeration and self gravity
We investigate the formation of GMCs in spiral galaxies through both
agglomeration of clouds in the spiral arms, and self gravity. The simulations
presented include two-fluid models, which contain both cold and warm gas,
although there is no heating or cooling between them. We find agglomeration is
predominant when both the warm and cold components of the ISM are effectively
stable to gravitational instabilities. In this case, the spacing (and
consequently mass) of clouds and spurs along the spiral arms is determined by
the orbits of the gas particles and correlates with their epicyclic radii (or
equivalently spiral shock strength). Notably GMCs formed primarily by
agglomeration tend to be unbound associations of many smaller clouds, which
disperse upon leaving the spiral arms. These GMCs are likely to be more massive
in galaxies with stronger spiral shocks or higher surface densities. GMCs
formed by agglomeration are also found to exhibit both prograde and retrograde
rotation, a consequence of the clumpiness of the gas. At higher surface
densities, self gravity becomes more important in arranging both the warm and
cold gas into clouds and spurs, and determining the properties of the most
massive GMCs. These massive GMCs can be distinguished by their higher angular
momentum, exhibit prograde rotation and are more bound. For a 20 M
pc disc, the spacing between the GMCs fits both the agglomeration and
self gravity scenarios, as the maximum unstable wavelength of gravitational
perturbations in the warm gas is similar to the spacing found when GMCs form
solely by agglomeration.Comment: 16 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in MNRAS. Version with
higher resolution figures available at
http://www.astro.ex.ac.uk/people/dobbs/Dobbsgr.pd
ROSAT PSPC view of the hot interstellar medium of the Magellanic Clouds
Diffuse X-ray emission from the Magellanic Clouds (MCs) is studied by using
all the archival data of pointed ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter
(PSPC) observations. For this purpose, contributions from the point and
point-like sources in the ROSAT High Resolution Imager (HRI) and PSPC source
catalogues are eliminated and periods of high solar activity are excluded. The
spectral analysis yielded characteristic temperatures of 10^6 - 10^7 K for the
hot thin plasma of the ISM which extends over the whole Large Magellanic Cloud
(LMC) and the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). The total unabsorbed luminosity in
the 0.1 - 2.4 keV band within the observed area amounts to 3.2 x 10^38 erg s^-1
in the LMC and 1.1 x 10^37 erg s^-1 in the SMC, each with an uncertainty of
-40%, +100%. The X-ray luminosity of the LMC is comparable to that of other
nearby galaxies with pronounced star formation. In the LMC, hot regions were
found especially around the supergiant shell (SGS) LMC 4 and in the field
covering SGS LMC 2 and LMC 3. Highest temperatures for the SMC were derived in
the southwestern part of the galaxy. The diffuse X-ray emission is most likely
a superposition of the emission from the hot gas in the interior of shells and
supershells as well as from the halo of these galaxies.Comment: accepted by A&
In an in vitro model of human tuberculosis, monocyte-microglial networks regulate matrix metalloproteinase-1 and -3 gene expression and secretion via a p38 mitogen activated protein kinase-dependent pathway.
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) of the central nervous system (CNS) is characterized by extensive tissue inflammation, driven by molecules that cleave extracellular matrix such as matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-1 and MMP-3. However, relatively little is known about the regulation of these MMPs in the CNS. METHODS: Using a cellular model of CNS TB, we stimulated a human microglial cell line (CHME3) with conditioned medium from Mycobacterium tuberculosis-infected primary human monocytes (CoMTb). MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion was detected using ELISAs confirmed with casein zymography or western blotting. Key results of a phospho-array profile that detects a wide range of kinase activity were confirmed with phospho-Western blotting. Chemical inhibition (SB203580) of microglial cells allowed investigation of expression and secretion of MMP-1 and MMP-3. Finally we used promoter reporter assays employing full length and MMP-3 promoter deletion constructs. Student's t-test was used for comparison of continuous variables and multiple intervention experiments were compared by one-way ANOVA with Tukey's correction for multiple pairwise comparisons. RESULTS: CoMTb up-regulated microglial MMP-1 and MMP-3 secretion in a dose- and time-dependent manner. The phospho-array profiling showed that the major increase in kinase activity due to CoMTb stimulation was in p38 mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), principally the α and γ subunits. p38 phosphorylation was detected at 15 minutes, with a second peak of activity at 120 minutes. High basal extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity was further increased by CoMTb. Secretion and expression of MMP-1 and MMP-3 were both p38 dependent. CoMTb stimulation of full length and MMP-3 promoter deletion constructs demonstrated up-regulation of activity in the wild type but a suppression site between -2183 and -1612 bp. CONCLUSIONS: Monocyte-microglial network-dependent MMP-1 and MMP-3 gene expression and secretion are dependent upon p38 MAPK in tuberculosis. p38 is therefore a potential target for adjuvant therapy in CNS TB
Embedded metal nanopatterns for near-field scattering-enhanced optical absorption
Simulations of metal nanopatterns embedded in a thin photovoltaic absorber
show significantly enhanced absorbance within the semiconductor, with a more
than 300% increase for {\lambda} = 800 nm. Integrating with AM1.5 solar
irradiation, this yields a 70% increase in simulated short circuit current
density in a 60 nm amorphous silicon film. Embedding such metal patterns inside
an absorber maximally utilizes enhanced electric fields that result from
intense, spatially organized, near-field scattering in the vicinity of the
pattern. Appropriately configured (i.e. with a thin insulating coating), this
optical metamedium architecture may be useful for increasing photovoltaic
efficiency in thin film solar cells, including offering prospects for realistic
ultrathin hot electron cells.Comment: Accepted for publication in Phys. Status Solidi A (2012). 17 pp, 3
fig
Digital thErapy For Improved tiNnitus carE Study (DEFINE): protocol for a randomised controlled trial
Tinnitus is a common health condition, affecting approximately 15% of the UK population. The tinnitus treatment with the strongest evidence base is Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), with standard tinnitus therapy typically augmented with education, relaxation and other techniques. Availability of CBT and conventional tinnitus therapy more broadly is limited for tinnitus sufferers. The DEFINE trial aims to assess whether smartphone-delivered tinnitus therapy, the Oto app, is as effective as current standard care, one-to-one therapist-delivered tinnitus treatment for the treatment of tinnitus in adults. The trial is registered in the ISRCTN Registry: ISRCTN99577932. DEFINE is an open-label, non-inferiority, prospective, parallel design, randomised-controlled trial. Recruitment, interventions and assessments will be remote, enabling UK-wide participant involvement. 198 participants aged 18 years or more will be recruited via social media advertisement or via primary care physicians. A screening process will identify those with tinnitus that impacts health-related quality of life, and following consent smartphone-based audiometry will be performed. Randomisation 1:1 to the Oto app or one-to-one therapist-led tinnitus therapy will be performed centrally by computer, matching groups for age, sex and hearing level. Following participant allocation, the Oto app will be provided for immediate use, or a one-to-one remote therapy appointment booked to occur within approximately 1 week, with up to 6 sessions delivered. Participant outcomes will be collected at 4,12, 26 and 52 weeks via questionnaire and phone call. The primary outcome is the change in Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) total score measured at 26 weeks following allocation. Adverse events will be recorded. A health economic evaluation in the form of a cost-utility analysis will be performed using data from participant submitted EuroQol 5D-5L and Health Utilities Index Mark 3 scores and resource use data. Trial results will be made publicly available, including a plain English summary
Magnetic Fields in Large Diameter HII Regions Revealed by the Faraday Rotation of Compact Extragalactic Radio Sources
We present a study of the line-of-sight magnetic fields in five
large-diameter Galactic HII regions. Using the Faraday rotation of background
polarized radio sources, as well as dust-corrected H-alpha surface brightness
as a probe of electron density, we estimated the strength and orientation of
the magnetic field along 93 individual sight-lines through the HII regions.
Each of the HII regions displayed a coherent magnetic field. The magnetic field
strength (line-of-sight component) in the regions ranges from 2 to 6
microgauss, which is similar to the typical magnetic field strength in the
diffuse interstellar medium. We investigated the relationship between magnetic
field strength and electron density in the 5 HII regions. The slope of magnetic
field vs. density in the low-density regime (0.8 < n_e < 30 per cubic cm) is
very slightly above zero. We also calculated the ratio of thermal to magnetic
pressure, beta_th, for each data point, which fell in the range 1.01 < beta_th
< 25. Finally, we studied the orientation of the magnetic field in the solar
neighborhood (d < 1.1 kpc) using our data from 5 HII regions along with
existing measurements of the line-of-sight magnetic field strength from
polarized pulsars whose distances have been determined from their annual
parallax. We identify a net direction for the magnetic field in the solar
neighborhood, but find no evidence for a preferred vertical direction of the
magnetic field above or below the Galactic plane.Comment: Accepted to the Astrophysical Journal, June 4th 201
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