9,218 research outputs found
Mechanical Feedback from Active Galactic Nuclei in Galaxies, Groups, and Clusters
The radiative cooling timescales at the centers of hot atmospheres
surrounding elliptical galaxies, groups, and clusters are much shorter than
their ages. Therefore, hot atmospheres are expected to cool and to form stars.
Cold gas and star formation are observed in central cluster galaxies but at
levels below those expected from an unimpeded cooling flow. X-ray observations
have shown that wholesale cooling is being offset by mechanical heating from
radio active galactic nuclei. Feedback is widely considered to be an important
and perhaps unavoidable consequence of the evolution of galaxies and
supermassive black holes. We show that cooling X-ray atmospheres and the
ensuing star formation and nuclear activity are probably coupled to a
self-regulated feedback loop. While the energetics are now reasonably well
understood, other aspects of feedback are not. We highlight the problems of
atmospheric heating and transport processes, accretion, and nuclear activity,
and we discuss the potential role of black hole spin. We discuss X-ray imagery
showing that the chemical elements produced by central galaxies are being
dispersed on large scales by outflows launched from the vicinity of
supermassive black holes. Finally, we comment on the growing evidence for
mechanical heating of distant cluster atmospheres by radio jets and its
potential consequences for the excess entropy in hot halos and a possible
decline in the number of distant cooling flows.Comment: Accepted for publication in New Journal of Physics Focus Issue on
Clusters of Galaxie
Genomic regions associated with common root rot resistance in the barley variety Delta
Common root rot (CRR) caused by Bipolaris sorokiniana is a serious disease constraint in the dry temperate cereal growing regions of the world. Currently little is known about the genetic control of resistance to CRR in cereals. In this study based on a Delta/Lindwall barley population we have undertaken a bulked segregant analysis (BSA) and whole genome mapping approach utilising Diversity Arrays Technology (DArT) to identified quantitative trait loci (QTL) associated with CRR expression. One QTL each was identified on chromosomes 4HL and 5HL explaining 12 and 11% of the phenotypic variance, respectively
Emerging Investigators Series: Pyrolysis Removes Common Microconstituents Triclocarban, Triclosan, and Nonylphenol from Biosolids
Reusing biosolids is vital for the sustainability of wastewater management. Pyrolysis is an anoxic thermal degradation process that can be used to convert biosolids into energy rich py-gas and py-oil, and a beneficial soil amendment, biochar. Batch biosolids pyrolysis (60 minutes) revealed that triclocarban and triclosan were removed (to below quantification limit) at 200 °C and 300 °C, respectively. Substantial removal (\u3e90%) of nonylphenol was achieved at 300 °C as well, but 600 °C was required to remove nonylphenol to below the quantification limit. At 500 °C, the pyrolysis reaction time to remove \u3e90% of microconstituents was less than 5 minutes. Fate studies revealed that microconstituents were both volatilized and thermochemically transformed during pyrolysis; microconstituents with higher vapor pressures were more likely to volatilize and leave the pyrolysis reactor before being transformed than compounds with lower vapor pressures. Reductive dehalogenation products of triclocarban and suspected dehalogenation products of triclosan were identified in py-gas. Application of biosolids-derived biochar to soil in place of biosolids has potential to minimize organic microconstituents discharged to the environment provided appropriate management of py-gas and py-oil
Farm-gate nitrogen balances on intensive dairy farms in the south west of Ireland
peer-reviewedNitrogen management and farm-gate N balances were evaluated on 21 intensive dairy farms in the south west of Ireland for each of four years (2003 to 2006). The mean annual stocking density was equivalent to 202 kg/ha (s.d. 29.6) of N excreted by livestock on the farm. The mean annual farm-gate N surplus (imports – exports) declined between 2003 and 2006 (277 to 232 kg/ha, s.e. 6.8; P < 0.001) due to a decline in annual N imports (fertilizer, feed and imported manures; 335 to 288 kg/ha, s.e. 6.9; P < 0.001).
Overall annual fertilizer N use on the farms decreased during the study period (266 to 223 kg/ha, s.e. 6.5; P < 0.001) mainly due to lower inputs for the first application in spring and for the production of first-cut silage. These decreases were partly offset by applying more slurry in spring for early grazing and for first-cut silage. The introduction of white clover resulted in lower N imports on four farms. Export of N from farms was unaffected by reductions in N imports. The mean efficiency of N use tended to increase over time (0.18 in 2003 to 0.20 in 2006). The large variation in quantities of fertilizer N applied on farms with similar stocking densities suggests potential for further improvements in the efficiency of N use. In terms of fertilizer N use, complying with S.I. No. 378 of 2006 did not require major changes in the N management practiceson 19 of the farms.This project was part-funded by the European Research and Development Fund under INTERREG IIIB: Green Dairy Project N° 100 and partly by the Dairy Levy. Financial support for post-graduate students involved in this study was provided by the Teagasc Walsh Fellowship Scheme
Support Requirements and Effects of Supervision on Telephone Counsellors
The aim of this research was to examine the effects of the implementation of direct one-on-one supervision in a prominent telephone counselling organization and the support requirements of their telephone counsellors. Ninety-three telephone counsellors participated in this research. The results showed that more experienced telephone counsellors were more satisfied than less experienced telephone counsellors with the support offered by the organization. Furthermore, female telephone counsellors showed significantly more satisfaction with the support offered by the organisation than their male counterparts. Implications of these findings are discussed in relation to the organisation and other helping organisations within the wider community
Biodiversity, distribution and patterns of extinction of the last odontopleurid tilobites during the Devonian (Givetian, Frasnian)
Biostratigraphical ranges and palaeogeographical distribution of mid-Givetian to end-Frasnian odontopleurids are investigated. The discovery of Leonaspis rhenohercynica sp. nov. in mid-Givetian strata extends this genus unexpectedly up to the late Middle Devonian. New material of Radiaspis radiata (Goldfuss, 1843) and the first koneprusiine in Britain, Koneprusia? sp., are described from the famous Lummaton shell-bed, Torquay, Devon. New taxa of Koneprusia, K. serrensis, K. aboussalamae, K. brevispina, and K. sp. A and K. sp. B are defined. Ceratocephala (Leonaspis) harborti Richter & Richter, 1926, is revised and reassigned to Gondwanaspis Feist, 2002. Two new species of Gondwanaspis, G. dracula and G. spinosa, plus three others left in open nomenclature, are described from the late Frasnian of Western Australia. A further species of Gondwanaspis, G. prisca, is described from the early Frasnian of Montagne Noire. Species of Gondwanaspis are shown to possess a number of paedomorphic features. A functional analysis suggests that, unlike other odontopleurids, Gondwanaspis actively fed and rested with the same cephalic orientation. The sole odontopleurid survivors of the severe terminal mid-Givetian biocrisis (‘Taghanic Event’) belong to the koneprusiine Koneprusia in the late Givetian and Frasnian, and, of cryptogenic origin, the acidaspidine Gondwanaspis in the Frasnian. Whereas the former became extinct in the late Frasnian at the Lower Kellwasser Event, the latter disappeared, and with it the entire Odontopleuroidea, at the terminal Frasnian Upper Kellwasser global biocrisis
The mass-L_x relation for moderate luminosity X-ray clusters
We present measurements of the masses of a sample of 25 moderate X-ray
luminosity clusters of galaxies from the 160 square degree ROSAT survey. The
masses were obtained from a weak lensing analysis of deep F814W images obtained
using the Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS). We present an accurate empirical
correction for the effect of charge transfer (in)efficiency on the shapes of
faint galaxies. A significant lensing signal is detected around most of the
clusters. The lensing mass correlates tightly with the cluster richness. We
measured the intrinsic scatter in the scaling relation between M_2500 and L_X
and find the best fit power law slope and normalisation to be alpha=0.68+-0.07
and M_X=(1.2+-0.12)10^14M_sun (for L_X=2x10^44 erg/s). These results agree well
with a number of recent studies, but the normalisation is lower compared to the
study of Rykoff et al. (2008b). One explanation for this difference may be the
fact that (sub)structures projected along the line-of-sight boost both the
galaxy counts and the lensing mass. Such superpositions lead to an increased
mass at a given L_X when clusters are binned by richness.Comment: accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal; 15 pages, 11
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