10,826 research outputs found
A Physical Model for SN 2001ay, a normal, bright, extremely slowly declining Type Ia supernova
We present a study of the peculiar Type Ia supernova 2001ay (SN 2001ay). The
defining features of its peculiarity are: high velocity, broad lines, and a
fast rising light curve, combined with the slowest known rate of decline. It is
one magnitude dimmer than would be predicted from its observed value of
Delta-m15, and shows broad spectral features. We base our analysis on detailed
calculations for the explosion, light curves, and spectra. We demonstrate that
consistency is key for both validating the models and probing the underlying
physics. We show that this SN can be understood within the physics underlying
the Delta-m15 relation, and in the framework of pulsating delayed detonation
models originating from a Chandrasekhar mass, white dwarf, but with a
progenitor core composed of 80% carbon. We suggest a possible scenario for
stellar evolution which leads to such a progenitor. We show that the unusual
light curve decline can be understood with the same physics as has been used to
understand the Delta-m15 relation for normal SNe Ia. The decline relation can
be explained by a combination of the temperature dependence of the opacity and
excess or deficit of the peak luminosity, alpha, measured relative to the
instantaneous rate of radiative decay energy generation. What differentiates SN
2001ay from normal SNe Ia is a higher explosion energy which leads to a shift
of the Ni56 distribution towards higher velocity and alpha < 1. This result is
responsible for the fast rise and slow decline. We define a class of SN
2001ay-like SNe Ia, which will show an anti-Phillips relation.Comment: 35 pages, 14 figures, ApJ, in pres
Centrifugal quantum states of neutrons
We propose a method for observation of the quasi-stationary states of
neutrons, localized near the curved mirror surface. The bounding effective well
is formed by the centrifugal potential and the mirror Fermi-potential. This
phenomenon is an example of an exactly solvable "quantum bouncer" problem that
could be studied experimentally. It could provide a promising tool for studying
fundamental neutron-matter interactions, as well as quantum neutron optics and
surface physics effects. We develop formalism, which describes quantitatively
the neutron motion near the mirror surface. The effects of mirror roughness are
taken into account.Comment: 13 pages, 10 figure
Genetic characterization of a bacterial locus involved in the activity of the N function of phage [lambda]
We report the genetic mapping of a locus of the Escherichia coli chromosome involved in the expression of the N gene function of phage [lambda]. This phage specified function regulates the subsequent transcription of most of the [lambda] genome. The bacterial locus involved in N expression, called nus for N utilization substance, maps between aspB at minute 62 and argG at minute 61 of the E. coli chromosome.Two different bacterial variants in which [lambda] N function is not active have been used in mapping the nus locus, a mutant of E. coli K12, Nus, and a hybrid bacterium formed by genetic transfer between E. coli and S. typhosa. Although these two bacterial variants exhibit slightly different phenotypes, chromosome transfer studies demonstrate that the same genetic region is involved in the observed N-ineffective phenotype.Dominance studies show that in the case of the Nus mutant, the nus+ allele is dominant. This suggests that the nus+ allele is responsible for the expression of a function necessary for N product activity. In the case of transfer of the nus region from a Nus mutant to an E. coli-S. typhosa hybrid, the resulting hybrid assumes the phenotype of the Nus mutant. Genetic studies using P1 transduction demonstrate that the same genetic region is involved in the N-ineffective phenotype of the two bacterial variants.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/22397/1/0000847.pd
Spectral Models for Early Time SN 2011fe Observations
We use observed UV through near IR spectra to examine whether SN 2011fe can
be understood in the framework of Branch-normal SNe Ia and to examine its
individual peculiarities. As a benchmark, we use a delayed-detonation model
with a progenitor metallicity of Z_solar/20. We study the sensitivity of
features to variations in progenitor metallicity, the outer density profile,
and the distribution of radioactive nickel. The effect of metallicity
variations in the progenitor have a relatively small effect on the synthetic
spectra. We also find that the abundance stratification of SN 2011fe resembles
closely that of a delayed detonation model with a transition density that has
been fit to other Branch-normal Type Ia supernovae. At early times, the model
photosphere is formed in material with velocities that are too high, indicating
that the photosphere recedes too slowly or that SN 2011fe has a lower specific
energy in the outer ~0.1 M_sun than does the model. We discuss several
explanations for the discrepancies. Finally, we examine variations in both the
spectral energy distribution and in the colors due to variations in the
progenitor metallicity, which suggests that colors are only weak indicators for
the progenitor metallicity, in the particular explosion model that we have
studied. We do find that the flux in the U band is significantly higher at
maximum light in the solar metallicity model than in the lower metallicity
model and the lower metallicity model much better matches the observed
spectrum.Comment: 9 pages, 14 figures, MNRAS, in press, fixed typ
The Atomic Physics Underlying the Spectroscopic Analysis of Massive Stars and Supernovae
We have developed a radiative transfer code, CMFGEN, which allows us to model
the spectra of massive stars and supernovae. Using CMFGEN we can derive
fundamental parameters such as effective temperatures and surface gravities,
derive abundances, and place constraints on stellar wind properties. The last
of these is important since all massive stars are losing mass via a stellar
wind that is driven from the star by radiation pressure, and this mass loss can
substantially influence the spectral appearance and evolution of the star.
Recently we have extended CMFGEN to allow us to undertake time-dependent
radiative transfer calculations of supernovae. Such calculations will be used
to place constraints on the supernova progenitor, to place constraints on the
supernova explosion and nucleosynthesis, and to derive distances using a
physical approach called the "Expanding Photosphere Method". We describe the
assumptions underlying the code and the atomic processes involved. A crucial
ingredient in the code is the atomic data. For the modeling we require accurate
transition wavelengths, oscillator strengths, photoionization cross-sections,
collision strengths, autoionization rates, and charge exchange rates for
virtually all species up to, and including, cobalt. Presently, the available
atomic data varies substantially in both quantity and quality.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space
Scienc
Thermodynamic aspects of materials' hardness: prediction of novel superhard high-pressure phases
In the present work we have proposed the method that allows one to easily
estimate hardness and bulk modulus of known or hypothetical solid phases from
the data on Gibbs energy of atomization of the elements and corresponding
covalent radii. It has been shown that hardness and bulk moduli of compounds
strongly correlate with their thermodynamic and structural properties. The
proposed method may be used for a large number of compounds with various types
of chemical bonding and structures; moreover, the temperature dependence of
hardness may be calculated, that has been performed for diamond and cubic boron
nitride. The correctness of this approach has been shown for the recently
synthesized superhard diamond-like BC5. It has been predicted that the
hypothetical forms of B2O3, diamond-like boron, BCx and COx, which could be
synthesized at high pressures and temperatures, should have extreme hardness
Measuring Empathizing and Systemizing with a Large US Sample
A large number of people completed one of two versions of the empathizing quotient (EQ) and systemizing quotient (SQ). One version had the negatively phrased items all re-worded. These re-worded items were answered more rapidly than the original items, and for the SQ produced a more reliable scale. Subjects gave self-assessments of empathizing and systemizing, and these were moderately correlated, r≈.6, with their respective quotients. Females had on average higher empathizing scores and males had on average higher systemizing scores. If a female-male pair was chosen at random, the female would have the higher empathizing score about two-thirds of the time, and the males would have the higher systemizing score about two-thirds of the time
A survey to investigate the association of pain, foot disability and quality of life with corns
Background
Corns are a common foot problem affecting a large proportion of the population. This study describes the characteristics of corns experienced by 201 participants taking part in a randomised controlled trial to investigate associations between demographic and corn parameters on pain, foot related disability and quality of life (QoL).
Methods
Pain from the main (index) corn was measured using a visual analogue scale (VAS); foot related disability was assessed with the Foot Disability Questionnaire (now known as the Manchester Foot Pain and Disability Index) and quality of life was recorded with the EQ-5D questionnaire. The effect of demographic and corn parameters on the pain and quality of life outcomes was assessed with analysis of variance (ANOVA) methods. The effect of the same factors on a linear combination of the foot-related disability outcome measures was assessed using multivariate ANOVA methods. Pain was also tested for its mediating properties on the causal pathway between the independent variables and quality of life.
Results
The mean pain score was 5.29 points on a 10 cm VAS, with females reporting substantively higher pain levels than males. Age affected foot-related disability, with lower levels on all domains of the MFPDI reported in older participants; each year of advancing age was associated with falls of: 0.009 points on the Concern about Appearance (CA) domain; 0.047 points on the Functional Limitation (FL) domain and 0.048 points on the Pain Intensity (PI) domain. Sex and corn type also affected disability, with higher scores reported by females and participants with plantar corns.
Conclusions
The effect of pain was shown to mediate the relationship between sex and foot-related disability. The presence of plantar corns has a more detrimental effect on QoL than dorsal/inter-digital corns
Passive Optical Networks for the Distribution of Timed Signals in Particle Physics Experiments
A passive optical network for timing distribution applications based on FPGAs has been successfully demonstrated. Deterministic latency was achieved in the critical downstream direction where triggers are distributed while a burst mode receiver was successfully implemented in the upstream direction. Finally, a simple and efficient protocol was introduced for the communication between the OLT and the ONUs in the network that maximizes bandwidth utilization
Computed tomography segmental calcium score (SCS) to predict stenosis severity of calcified coronary lesions
To estimate the probability of a parts per thousand yen50 % coronary stenoses based on computed tomography (CT) segmental calcium score (SCS) and clinical factors. The Institutional Review Board approved the study. A training sample of 201 patients underwent CT calcium scoring and conventional coronary angiography (CCA). All patients consented to undergo CT before CCA after being informed of the additional radiation dose. SCS and calcification morphology were assessed in individual coronary segments. We explored the predictive value of patient's symptoms, clinical history, SCS and calcification morphology. We developed a prediction model in the training sample based on these variables then tested it in an independent test sample. The odds ratio (OR) for a parts per thousand yen50 % coronary stenosis was 1.8-fold greater (p = 0.006) in patients with typical chest pain, twofold (p = 0.014) greater in patients with acute coronary syndromes, twofold greater (p < 0.001) in patients with prior myocardial infarction. Spotty calcifications had an OR for a parts per thousand yen50 % stenosis 2.3-fold (p < 0.001) greater than the absence of calcifications, wide calcifications 2.7-fold (p < 0.001) greater, diffuse calcifications 4.6-fold (p < 0.001) greater. In middle segments, each unit of SCS had an OR 1.2-fold (p < 0.001) greater than in distal segments; in proximal segments the OR was 1.1-fold greater (p = 0.021). The ROC curve area of the prediction model was 0.795 (0.95 confidence interval 0.602-0.843). Validation in a test sample of 201 independent patients showed consistent diagnostic performance. In conjunction with calcification morphology, anatomical location, patient's symptoms and clinical history, SCS can be helpful to estimate the probability of a parts per thousand yen50 % coronary stenosis
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