711 research outputs found
The Stromlo Missing Satellites Survey
The Stromlo Missing Satellites (SMS) program is a critical endeavor to
investigate whether cold dark matter cosmology is flawed in its ability to
describe the matter distribution on galaxy scales or proves itself once again
as a powerful theory to make observational predictions. The project will
deliver unprecedented results on Milky Way satellite numbers, their
distribution and physical properties. It is the deepest, most extended survey
for optically elusive dwarf satellite galaxies to date, covering the entire
20,000 sq deg of the Southern hemisphere. 150TB of CCD images will be analysed
in six photometric bands, 0.5-1.0 mag fainter than SDSS produced by the ANU
SkyMapper telescope over the next five years. (For more details see:
http://msowww.anu.edu.au/~jerjen/SMS_Survey.html)Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, in "Galaxies in the Local Volume" (Sydney, 8-13
July 2007), eds B. Koribalski and H. Jerjen, Springer Astrophysics and Space
Science Proceedings, p. 18
Exploring the links between secondary metabolites and leaf spectral reflectance in a diverse genus of Amazonian trees
Plant defense chemistry is often hypothesized to drive ecological and evolutionary success in diverse tropical forests, yet detailed characterizations of plant secondary metabolites in tropical plants are logistically challenging. Here, we explore a new integrative approach that combines visible-to-shortwave infrared (VSWIR) spectral reflectance data with detailed plant metabolomics data from 19 Protium (Burseraceae) tree species. Building on the discovery that different Protium species have unique chemistries yet share many secondary metabolites, we devised a method to test for associations between metabolites and VSWIR spectral data. Given species-level variation in metabolite abundance, we correlated the concentration of particular chemicals with the reflectance of the spectral bands in a wavelength band per secondary metabolite matrix. We included 45 metabolites that were shared by at least 5 Protium species and correlated their per-species foliar abundances against each one of 210 wavelength bands of field-measured VSWIR spectra. Finally, we tested whether classes of similar metabolites showed similar relationships with spectral patterns. We found that many secondary metabolites yielded strong correlations with VSWIR spectra of Protium. Furthermore, important Protium metabolite classes such as procyanidins (condensed tannins) and phytosterols were grouped together in a hierarchical clustering analysis (Wardâs algorithm), confirming similarity in their associations with plant spectral patterns. We also found a significant correlation in the phenolics content between juvenile and canopy trees of the same species, suggesting that species-level variation in defense chemistry is consistent across life stages and geographic distribution. We conclude that the integration of spectral and metabolic approaches could represent a powerful and economical method to characterize important aspects of tropical plant defense chemistry
A Vast Thin Plane of Co-rotating Dwarf Galaxies Orbiting the Andromeda Galaxy
Dwarf satellite galaxies are thought to be the remnants of the population of
primordial structures that coalesced to form giant galaxies like the Milky Way.
An early analysis noted that dwarf galaxies may not be isotropically
distributed around our Galaxy, as several are correlated with streams of HI
emission, and possibly form co-planar groups. These suspicions are supported by
recent analyses, and it has been claimed that the apparently planar
distribution of satellites is not predicted within standard cosmology, and
cannot simply represent a memory of past coherent accretion. However, other
studies dispute this conclusion. Here we report the existence (99.998%
significance) of a planar sub-group of satellites in the Andromeda galaxy,
comprising approximately 50% of the population. The structure is vast: at least
400 kpc in diameter, but also extremely thin, with a perpendicular scatter
<14.1 kpc (99% confidence). Radial velocity measurements reveal that the
satellites in this structure have the same sense of rotation about their host.
This finding shows conclusively that substantial numbers of dwarf satellite
galaxies share the same dynamical orbital properties and direction of angular
momentum, a new insight for our understanding of the origin of these most dark
matter dominated of galaxies. Intriguingly, the plane we identify is
approximately aligned with the pole of the Milky Way's disk and is co-planar
with the Milky Way to Andromeda position vector. The existence of such
extensive coherent kinematic structures within the halos of massive galaxies is
a fact that must be explained within the framework of galaxy formation and
cosmology.Comment: Published in the 3rd Jan 2013 issue of Nature. 19 pages, 4 figures, 1
three-dimensional interactive figure. To view and manipulate the 3-D figure,
an Adobe Reader browser plug-in is required; alternatively save to disk and
view with Adobe Reade
Two-particle interference of electron pairs on a molecular level
We investigate the photo-doubleionization of molecules with 400 eV
photons. We find that the emitted electrons do not show any sign of two-center
interference fringes in their angular emission distributions if considered
separately. In contrast, the quasi-particle consisting of both electrons (i.e.
the "dielectron") does. The work highlights the fact that non-local effects are
embedded everywhere in nature where many-particle processes are involved
Hot Interstellar Gas and Stellar Energy Feedback in the Antennae Galaxies
We have analyzed Chandra archival observations of the Antennae galaxies to
study the distribution and physical properties of its hot interstellar gas.
Eleven distinct diffuse X-ray emission regions are selected according to their
underlying interstellar structures and star formation activity. The X-ray
spectra of these regions are used to determine their thermal energy contents
and cooling timescales. Young star clusters in these regions are also
identified and their photometric measurements are compared to evolutionary
stellar population synthesis models to assess their masses and ages. The
cluster properties are then used to determine the stellar wind and supernova
energies injected into the ISM. Comparisons between the thermal energy in the
hot ISM and the expected stellar energy input show that young star clusters are
sufficient to power the X-ray-emitting gas in some, but not all, active star
formation regions. Super-star clusters, with masses >= 1x10^5 M_sol, heat the
ISM, but the yield of hot interstellar gas is not directly proportional to the
cluster mass. Finally, there exist diffuse X-ray emission regions which do not
show active star formation or massive young star clusters. These regions may be
powered by field stars or low-mass clusters formed within the last ~100 Myr.Comment: 36 pages, 6 figures, 8 tables, 2 appendices, to appear in the
Astrophysical Journal, April 20 issu
Local-Group tests of dark-matter Concordance Cosmology: Towards a new paradigm for structure formation
(abridged) Predictions of the Concordance Cosmological Model (CCM) of the
structures in the environment of large spiral galaxies are compared with
observed properties of Local Group galaxies. Five new most probably
irreconcilable problems are uncovered. However, the Local Group properties
provide hints that may lead to a solution of the above problems The DoS and
bulge--satellite correlation suggest that dissipational events forming bulges
are related to the processes forming phase-space correlated satellite
populations. Such events are well known to occur since in galaxy encounters
energy and angular momentum are expelled in the form of tidal tails, which can
fragment to form populations of tidal-dwarf galaxies (TDGs) and associated star
clusters. If Local Group satellite galaxies are to be interpreted as TDGs then
the sub-structure predictions of CCM are internally in conflict. All findings
thus suggest that the CCM does not account for the Local Group observations and
that therefore existing as well as new viable alternatives have to be further
explored. These are discussed and natural solutions for the above problems
emerge.Comment: A and A, in press, 25 pages, 9 figures; new version contains minor
text adjustments for conformity with the published version and additional
minor changes resulting from reader's feedback. The speculation on a dark
force has been added. Also, the Fritz Zwicky Paradox is now included to agree
with the published versio
Calculation of valence electron momentum densities using the projector augmented-wave method
We present valence electron Compton profiles calculated within the
density-functional theory using the all-electron full-potential projector
augmented-wave method (PAW). Our results for covalent (Si), metallic (Li, Al)
and hydrogen-bonded ((H_2O)_2) systems agree well with experiments and
computational results obtained with other band-structure and basis set schemes.
The PAW basis set describes the high-momentum Fourier components of the valence
wave functions accurately when compared with other basis set schemes and
previous all-electron calculations.Comment: Submitted to Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids on September
17 2004. Revised version submitted on December 13 200
Effects of sports drinks on the maintenance of physical performance during 3 tennis matches: A randomized controlled study
Background: Tennis tournaments often involve playing several consecutive matches interspersed with short periods of recovery.
Objective: The objective of this study was firstly to assess the impact of several successive tennis matches on the physical performance of competitive players and secondly to evaluate the potential of sports drinks to minimize the fatigue induced by repeated matches.
Methods: This was a crossover, randomized controlled study. Eight male regionally-ranked tennis players participated in this study. Players underwent a series of physical tests to assess their strength, speed, power and endurance following the completion of three tennis matches each of two hours duration played over three consecutive half-days (1.5 day period for each condition). In the first condition the players consumed a sports drink before, during and after each match; in the second, they drank an identical volume of placebo water. The results obtained were compared with the third 'rest' condition in which the subjects did not play any tennis. Main outcomes measured were maximal isometric strength and fatigability of knee and elbow extensors, 20-m sprint speed, jumping height, specific repeated sprint ability test and hand grip strength.
Results: The physical test results for the lower limbs showed no significant differences between the three conditions. Conversely, on the upper limbs the EMG data showed greater fatigue of the triceps brachii in the placebo condition compared to the rest condition, while the ingestion of sports drinks attenuated this fatigue.
Conclusions: This study has demonstrated for the first time that, when tennis players are adequately hydrated and ingest balanced meals between matches, then no large drop in physical performance is observed even during consecutive competitive matches
A Wide Field Survey of Satellite Galaxies around the Spiral Galaxy M106
We present a wide field survey of satellite galaxies in M106 (NGC 4258)
covering a 1.7\degr \times 2\degr field around M106 using
Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope/MegaCam. We find 16 satellite galaxy candidates
of M106.
Eight of these galaxies are found to be dwarf galaxies that are much smaller
and fainter than the remaining galaxies. Four of these galaxies are new
findings. Surface brightness profiles of 15 out of 16 satellite galaxies can be
represented well by an exponential disk profile with varying scale length. We
derive the surface number density distribution of these satellite galaxies. The
central number density profile (d kpc) is well fitted by a power-law
with a power index of , similar to the expected power index of
isothermal distribution. The luminosity function of these satellites is
represented well by the Schechter function with a faint end slope of
. Integrated photometric properties (total luminosity,
total colour, and disk scale length) and the spatial distribution of these
satellite galaxies are found to be roughly similar to those of the Milky Way
and M31.Comment: Accepted by MNRA
A comparison of the hypoglycemic effect of insulin with systemic venous and portal venous administration
The hyperglycemic effect of insulin by prolonged intraportal and systemic infusion was measured in unanesthetized dogs with a modified portacaval transposition. There was no significant difference in response with the two routes of administration. The relation of these results to research directed to surgical therapy of diabetes is discussed. © 1963 W. B. Saunders Company
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