10,339 research outputs found
Multiple Components in Narrow Planetary Rings
The phase-space volume of regions of regular or trapped motion, for bounded
or scattering systems with two degrees of freedom respectively, displays
universal properties. In particular, drastic reductions in the volume (gaps)
are observed at specific values of a control parameter. Using the stability
resonances we show that they, and not the mean-motion resonances, account for
the position of these gaps. For more degrees of freedom, exciting these
resonances divides the regions of trapped motion. For planetary rings, we
demonstrate that this mechanism yields rings with multiple components.Comment: 4 pages, 7 figures (some in colors
Chandra X-ray Sources in the LALA Cetus Field
The 174 ks Chandra Advanced CCD Imaging Spectrometer exposure of the Large
Area Lyman Alpha Survey (LALA) Cetus field is the second of the two deep
Chandra images on LALA fields. In this paper we present the Chandra X-ray
sources detected in the Cetus field, along with an analysis of X-ray source
counts, stacked X-ray spectrum, and optical identifications. A total of 188
X-ray sources were detected: 174 in the 0.5-7.0 keV band, 154 in the 0.5-2.0
keV band, and 113 in the 2.0-7.0 keV band. The X-ray source counts were derived
and compared with LALA Bootes field (172 ks exposure). Interestingly, we find
consistent hard band X-ray source density, but 36+-12% higher soft band X-ray
source density in Cetus field. The weighted stacked spectrum of the detected
X-ray sources can be fitted by a powerlaw with photon index Gamma = 1.55. Based
on the weighted stacked spectrum, we find that the resolved fraction of the
X-ray background drops from 72+-1% at 0.5-1.0 keV to 63+-4% at 6.0-8.0 keV. The
unresolved spectrum can be fitted by a powerlaw over the range 0.5-7 keV, with
a photon index Gamma = 1.22. We also present optical counterparts for 154 of
the X-ray sources, down to a limiting magnitude of r' = 25.9 (Vega), using a
deep r' band image obtained with the MMT.Comment: 21 pages, including 6 figures, 1 table, ApJ accepte
[CII] line emission in BRI1335-0417 at z=4.4
Using the 12m APEX telescope, we have detected redshifted emission from the
157.74micron [CII] line in the z=4.4074 quasar BRI1335-0417. The linewidth and
redshift are in good agreement with previous observations of high-J CO line
emission. We measure a [CII] line luminosity, L_[CII] = (16.4 +/- 2.6)x10^9
Lsun, making BRI~1335-0417 the most luminous, unlensed [CII] line emitter known
at high-redshift. The [CII]-to-FIR luminosity ratio of (5.3+/-0.8)x10^-4 is ~3x
higher than expected for an average object with a FIR luminosity L_FIR =
3.1x10^13 Lsun, if this ratio were to follow the trend observed in other
FIR-bright galaxies that have been detected in [CII] line emission. These new
data suggest that the scatter in the [CII]-to-FIR luminosity ratio could be
larger than previously expected for high luminosity objects. BR1335-0417 has a
similar FIR luminosity and [CII]/CO luminosity compared to local ULIRGS and
appears to be a gas-rich merger forming stars at a rate of a few thousand solar
masses per year.Comment: A&A accepte
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Relationships Between Chemoreflex Responses, Sleep Quality, and Hematocrit in Andean Men and Women.
Andean highlanders are challenged by chronic hypoxia and many exhibit elevated hematocrit (Hct) and blunted ventilation compared to other high-altitude populations. While many Andeans develop Chronic Mountain Sickness (CMS) and excessive erythrocytosis, Hct varies markedly within Andean men and women and may be driven by individual differences in ventilatory control and/or sleep events which exacerbate hypoxemia. To test this hypothesis, we quantified relationships between resting ventilation and ventilatory chemoreflexes, sleep desaturation, breathing disturbance, and Hct in Andean men and women. Ventilatory measures were made in 109 individuals (n = 63 men; n = 46 women), and sleep measures in 45 of these participants (n = 22 men; n = 23 women). In both men and women, high Hct was associated with low daytime SpO2 (p < 0.001 and p < 0.002, respectively) and decreased sleep SpO2 (mean, nadir, and time <80%; all p < 0.02). In men, high Hct was also associated with increased end-tidal PCO2 (p < 0.009). While ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia did not predict Hct, decreased hypoxic ventilatory responses were associated with lower daytime SpO2 in men (p < 0.01) and women (p < 0.009) and with lower nadir sleep SpO2 in women (p < 0.02). Decreased ventilatory responses to CO2 were associated with more time below 80% SpO2 during sleep in men (p < 0.05). The obstructive apnea index and apnea-hypopnea index also predicted Hct and CMS scores in men after accounting for age, BMI, and SpO2 during sleep. Finally, heart rate response to hypoxia was lower in men with higher Hct (p < 0.0001). These data support the idea that hypoventilation and decreased ventilatory sensitivity to hypoxia are associated with decreased day time and nighttime SpO2 levels that may exacerbate the stimulus for erythropoiesis in Andean men and women. However, interventional and longitudinal studies are required to establish the causal relationships between these associations
Stars in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field
We identified 46 unresolved source candidates in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field,
down to i775 = 29.5. Unresolved objects were identified using a parameter S,
which measures the deviation from the curve-of-growth of a point source.
Extensive testing of this parameter was carried out, including the effects of
decreasing signal-to-noise and of the apparent motions of stars, which
demonstrated that stars brighter than i775 = 27.0 could be robustly identified.
Low resolution grism spectra of the 28 objects brighter than i775 = 27.0
identify 18 M and later stellar type dwarfs, 2 candidate L-dwarfs, 2 QSOs, and
4 white dwarfs. Using the observed population of dwarfs with spectral type M4
or later, we derive a Galactic disk scale height of 400 \pm 100 pc for M and L
stars. The local white dwarf density is computed to be as high as (1.1 \pm 0.3)
x10^(-2) stars/pc^3. Based on observations taken 73 days apart, we determined
that no object in the field has a proper motion larger than 0.027"/year (3
sigma detection limit). No high velocity white dwarfs were identified in the
HUDF, and all four candidates appear more likely to be part of the Galactic
thick disk. The lack of detected halo white dwarfs implies that, if the dark
matter halo is 12 Gyr old, white dwarfs account for less than 10% of the dark
matter halo mass.Comment: 35 pages, 11 figures, accepted by Ap
Cognitive function and mood at high altitude following acclimatization and use of supplemental oxygen and adaptive servoventilation sleep treatments.
Impairments in cognitive function, mood, and sleep quality occur following ascent to high altitude. Low oxygen (hypoxia) and poor sleep quality are both linked to impaired cognitive performance, but their independent contributions at high altitude remain unknown. Adaptive servoventilation (ASV) improves sleep quality by stabilizing breathing and preventing central apneas without supplemental oxygen. We compared the efficacy of ASV and supplemental oxygen sleep treatments for improving daytime cognitive function and mood in high-altitude visitors (N = 18) during acclimatization to 3,800 m. Each night, subjects were randomly provided with ASV, supplemental oxygen (SpO2 > 95%), or no treatment. Each morning subjects completed a series of cognitive function tests and questionnaires to assess mood and multiple aspects of cognitive performance. We found that both ASV and supplemental oxygen (O2) improved daytime feelings of confusion (ASV: p < 0.01; O2: p < 0.05) and fatigue (ASV: p < 0.01; O2: p < 0.01) but did not improve other measures of cognitive performance at high altitude. However, performance improved on the trail making tests (TMT) A and B (p < 0.001), the balloon analog risk test (p < 0.0001), and the psychomotor vigilance test (p < 0.01) over the course of three days at altitude after controlling for effects of sleep treatments. Compared to sea level, subjects reported higher levels of confusion (p < 0.01) and performed worse on the TMT A (p < 0.05) and the emotion recognition test (p < 0.05) on nights when they received no treatment at high altitude. These results suggest that stabilizing breathing (ASV) or increasing oxygenation (supplemental oxygen) during sleep can reduce feelings of fatigue and confusion, but that daytime hypoxia may play a larger role in other cognitive impairments reported at high altitude. Furthermore, this study provides evidence that some aspects of cognition (executive control, risk inhibition, sustained attention) improve with acclimatization
Clues to AGN Growth from Optically Variable Objects in the Hubble Ultra Deep Field
We present a photometric search for objects with point-source components that
are optically variable on timescales of weeks--months in the Hubble Ultra Deep
Field (HUDF) to i'(AB)=28.0 mag. The data are split into four sub-stacks of
approximately equal exposure times. Objects exhibiting the signature of optical
variability are selected by studying the photometric error distribution between
the four different epochs, and selecting 622 candidates as 3.0 sigma outliers
from the original catalog of 4644 objects. Of these, 45 are visually confirmed
as free of contamination from close neighbors or various types of image
defects. Four lie within the positional error boxes of Chandra X-ray sources,
and two of these are spectroscopically confirmed AGN. The photometric redshift
distribution of the selected variable sample is compared to that of field
galaxies, and we find that a constant fraction of ~1% of all field objects show
variability over the range of 0.1<z<4.5. Combined with other recent HUDF
results, as well as those of recent state-of-the-art numerical simulations, we
discuss a potential link between the hierarchical merging of galaxies and the
growth of AGN.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical
Journal, minor changes to reference
Optical to mid-IR observations of Lyman-alpha galaxies at redshift 5 in the HUDF: a young and low mass population
High redshift galaxies selected on the basis of their strong Lyman-alpha
emission tend to be young ages and small physical sizes. We show this by
analyzing the spectral energy distribution (SED) of 9 Lyman-alpha emitting
(LAE) galaxies at 4.0 < z < 5.7 n the Hubble Ultra Deep Field (HUDF).
Rest-frame UV to optical 700A < lambda < 7500A luminosities, or upper limits,
are used to constrain old stellar populations. We derive best fit, as well as
maximally massive and maximally old, properties of all 9 objects. We show that
these faint and distant objects are all very young, being most likely only a
few millions years old, and not massive, the mass in stars being ~10^6-10^8
M_sun. Deep Spitzer Infrared Array Camera (IRAC) observations of these objects,
even in cases where objects were not detected, were crucial in constraining the
masses of these objects. The space density of these objects, ~1.25x10^-4 Mpc^-3
is comparable to previously reported space density of LAEs at moderate to high
redshifts. These Lyman-alpha galaxies show modest star formation rates of ~8
M_sun yr^-1, which is nevertheless strong enough to have allowed these galaxies
to assemble their stellar mass in less than a few x10^6 years. These sources
appear to have small physical sizes, usually smaller than 1 Kpc, and are also
rather concentrated. They are likely to be some of the least massive and
youngest high redshift galaxies observed to date.Comment: 27 pages. Accepted. To appear in The Astrophysical Journa
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