302 research outputs found
Properties of active galactic star-forming regions probed by imaging spectroscopy with the Fourier transform spectrometer (FTS) onboard AKARI
We investigate the structure of the interstellar medium (ISM) and identify
the location of possible embedded excitation sources from far-infrared (FIR)
line and mid-infrared continuum emission maps. We carried out imaging
spectroscopic observations of four giant Galactic star-forming regions with the
Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) onboard AKARI. We obtained [OIII] 88
micron and [CII] 158 micron line intensity maps of all the regions:
G3.270-0.101, G333.6-0.2, NGC3603, and M17. For G3.270-0.101, we obtained
high-spatial-resolution [OIII] 88 micron line-emission maps and a FIR continuum
map for the first time, which imply that [OIII] 88 micron emission identifies
the excitation sources more clearly than the radio continuum emission. In
G333.6-0.2, we found a local [OIII] 88 micron emission peak, which is
indicative of an excitation source. This is supported by the 18 micron
continuum emission, which is considered to trace the hot dust distribution. For
all regions, the [CII] 158 micron emission is distributed widely as suggested
by previous observations of star-forming regions. We conclude that [OIII] 88
micron emission traces the excitation sources more accurately than the radio
continuum emission, especially where there is a high density and/or column
density gradient. The FIR spectroscopy provides a promising means of
understanding the nature of star-forming regions.Comment: 14 pages with 15 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysic
Molecular line mapping of the giant molecular cloud associated with RCW 106 - III. Multi-molecular line mapping
We present multi-molecular line maps obtained with the Mopra Telescope
towards the southern giant molecular cloud (GMC) complex G333, associated with
the HII region RCW 106. We have characterised the GMC by decomposing the 3D
data cubes with GAUSSCLUMPS, and investigated spatial correlations among
different molecules with principal component analysis (PCA). We find no
correlation between clump size and line width, but a strong correlation between
emission luminosity and line width. PCA classifies molecules into high and low
density tracers, and reveals that HCO+ and N2H+ are anti-correlated.Comment: 24 pages, 21 figures accepted by MNRA
The star-forming content of the W3 giant molecular cloud
We have surveyed a ~0.9-square-degree area of the W3 giant molecular cloud
and star-forming region in the 850-micron continuum, using the SCUBA bolometer
array on the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. A complete sample of 316 dense
clumps was detected with a mass range from around 13 to 2500 Msun. Part of the
W3 GMC is subject to an interaction with the HII region and fast stellar winds
generated by the nearby W4 OB association. We find that the fraction of total
gas mass in dense, 850-micron traced structures is significantly altered by
this interaction, being around 5% to 13% in the undisturbed cloud but ~25 - 37%
in the feedback-affected region. The mass distribution in the detected clump
sample depends somewhat on assumptions of dust temperature and is not a simple,
single power law but contains significant structure at intermediate masses.
This structure is likely to be due to crowding of sources near or below the
spatial resolution of the observations. There is little evidence of any
difference between the index of the high-mass end of the clump mass function in
the compressed region and in the unaffected cloud. The consequences of these
results are discussed in terms of current models of triggered star formation.Comment: 13 pages, 8 figures, 1 table (full source table available on
request). Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal
Astronomical Society (Main Journal
Direct detection of a flared disk around a young massive star HD200775 and its 10 to 1000AU scale properties
We made mid-infrared observations of the 10Msun Herbig Be star HD200775 with
the Cooled Mid-Infrared Camera and Spectrometer (COMICS) on the 8.2m Subaru
Telescope. We discovered diffuse emission of an elliptical shape extended in
the north-south direction inabout 1000AU radius around unresolved excess
emission. The diffuse emission is perpendicular to the cavity wall formed by
the past outflow activity and is parallel to the projected major axis of the
central close binary orbit. The centers of the ellipse contours of the diffuse
emission are shifted from the stellar position and the amount of the shift
increases as the contour brightness level decreases. The diffuse emission is
well explained in all of geometry, size, and configuration by an inclined
flared disk where only its surface emits the mid-infrared photons. Our results
give the first well-resolved infrared disk images around a massive star and
strongly support that HD200775 is formed through the disk accretion. The disk
survives the main accretion phase and shows a structure similar to that around
lower-mass stars with 'disk atmosphere'. At the same time, the disk also shows
properties characteristic to massive stars such as photoevaporation traced by
the 3.4mm free-free emission and unusual silicate emission with a peak at
9.2micron, which is shorter than that of many astronomical objects. It provides
a good place to compare the disk properties between massive and lower-mass
stars.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, accepted by The Astrophysical Journa
Saturn's Seasonal Variability from Four Decades of Ground-Based Mid-Infrared Observations
A multi-decade record of ground-based mid-infrared (7-25 m) images of
Saturn is used to explore seasonal and non-seasonal variability in thermal
emission over more than a Saturnian year (1984-2022). Thermal emission measured
by 3-m and 8-m-class observatories compares favourably with synthetic images
based on both Cassini-derived temperature records and the predictions of
radiative climate models. 8-m class facilities are capable of resolving thermal
contrasts on the scale of Saturn's belts, zones, polar hexagon, and polar
cyclones, superimposed onto large-scale seasonal asymmetries. Seasonal changes
in brightness temperatures of K in the stratosphere and K in
the upper troposphere are observed, as the northern and southern polar
stratospheric vortices (NPSV and SPSV) form in spring and dissipate in autumn.
The timings of the first appearance of the warm polar vortices is successfully
reproduced by radiative climate models, confirming them to be radiative
phenomena, albeit entrained within sharp boundaries influenced by dynamics.
Axisymmetric thermal bands (4-5 per hemisphere) display temperature gradients
that are strongly correlated with Saturn's zonal winds, indicating winds that
decay in strength with altitude, and implying meridional circulation cells
forming the system of cool zones and warm belts. Saturn's thermal structure is
largely repeatable from year to year (via comparison of infrared images in 1989
and 2018), with the exception of low-latitudes. Here we find evidence of
inter-annual variations because the equatorial banding at 7.9 m is
inconsistent with a -year period for Saturn's equatorial stratospheric
oscillation, i.e., it is not strictly semi-annual. Finally, observations
between 2017-2022 extend the legacy of the Cassini mission, revealing the
continued warming of the NPSV during northern summer. [Abr.]Comment: 25 pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Icaru
Metformin Preconditioning Improves Hepatobiliary Function and Reduces Injury in a Rat Model of Normothermic Machine Perfusion and Orthotopic Transplantation
Background. Preconditioning of donor livers before organ retrieval may improve organ quality after transplantation. We investigated whether preconditioning with metformin reduces preservation injury and improves hepatobiliary function in rat donor livers during ex situ normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) and after orthotopic liver transplantation. Methods. Lewis rats were administered metformin via oral gavage, after which a donor hepatectomy was performed followed by a standardized cold storage period of 4 hours. Graft assessment was performed using NMP via double perfusion of the hepatic artery and portal vein. In an additional experiment, rat donor livers preconditioned with metformin were stored on ice for 4 hours and transplanted to confirm postoperative liver function and survival. Data were analyzed and compared with sham-fed controls. Results. Graft assessment using NMP confirmed that preconditioning significantly improved ATP production, markers for hepatobiliary function (total bile production, biliary bilirubin, and bicarbonate), and significantly lowered levels of lactate, glucose, and apoptosis. After orthotopic liver transplantation, metformin preconditioning significantly reduced transaminase levels. Conclusions. Preconditioning with metformin lowers hepatobiliary injury and improves hepatobiliary function in an in situ and ex situ model of rat donor liver transplantation
Unexpected Long-Term Variability in Jupiter's Tropospheric Temperatures
An essential component of planetary climatology is knowledge of the
tropospheric temperature field and its variability. Previous studies of Jupiter
hinted at periodic behavior that was non-seasonal, as well as dynamical
relationships between tropospheric and stratospheric temperatures. However,
these observations were made over time frames shorter than Jupiter's orbit or
they used sparse sampling. We derived upper-tropospheric (300-mbar)
temperatures over 40 years, extending those studies to cover several orbits of
Jupiter, revealing unexpected results. Periodicities of 4, 7 8-9 and 10-14
years were discovered that involved different latitude bands and seem
disconnected from seasonal changes in solar heating. Anti-correlations of
variability in opposite hemispheres were particularly striking at 16, 22 and 30
degrees from the equator. Equatorial temperature variations are also
anticorrelated with those 60-70 km above. Such behavior suggests a top-down
control of equatorial tropospheric temperatures from stratospheric dynamics.
Realistic future global climate models must address the origins of these
variations in preparation for their extension to a wider array of gas-giant
exoplanets.Comment: Primary file: 16 pages, 5 figures. Supplemental File (attached): 12
pages, 3 figures, 1 tabl
Pretransplant sequential hypo- and normothermic machine perfusion of suboptimal livers donated after circulatory death using a hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier perfusion solution
Ex situ dual hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (DHOPE) and normothermic machine perfusion (NMP) of donor livers may have a complementary effect when applied sequentially. While DHOPE resuscitates the mitochondria and increases hepatic adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content, NMP enables hepatobiliary viability assessment prior to transplantation. In contrast to DHOPE, NMP requires a perfusion solution with an oxygen carrier, for which red blood cells (RBC) have been used in most series. RBC, however, have limitations and cannot be used cold. We, therefore, established a protocol of sequential DHOPE, controlled oxygenated rewarming (COR), and NMP using a new hemoglobin-based oxygen carrier (HBOC)-based perfusion fluid (DHOPE-COR-NMP trial, NTR5972). Seven livers from donation after circulatory death (DCD) donors, which were initially declined for transplantation nationwide, underwent DHOPE-COR-NMP. Livers were considered transplantable if perfusate pH and lactate normalized, bile production was >= 10 mL and biliary pH > 7.45 within 150 minutes of NMP. Based on these criteria five livers were transplanted. The primary endpoint, 3-month graft survival, was a 100%. In conclusion, sequential DHOPE-COR-NMP using an HBOC-based perfusion fluid offers a novel method of liver machine perfusion for combined resuscitation and viability testing of suboptimal livers prior to transplantation
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