493 research outputs found
On Echo Outbursts and ER UMa Supercycles in SU UMa-type Cataclysmic Variables
I present a variation on Osaki's tidal-thermal-instability model for SU UMa
behavior. I suggest that in systems with the lowest mass ratios, the
angular-momentum dissipation in an eccentric disk is unable to sustain the disk
on the hot side of the thermal instability. This decoupling of the tidal and
thermal instabilities in systems with q < 0.07 allows a better explanation of
the `echo' outbursts of EG Cnc and the short supercycles of RZ LMi and DI UMa.
The idea might also apply to the soft X-ray transients.Comment: To appear in PASP, April 2001 (6 pages, 4 figs
Characteristics of Pro-c Analogies and Blends between Research Publications
Dr Inventor is a tool that aims to enhance the professional (Pro-c) creativity of researchers by suggesting novel hypotheses, arising from analogies between publications. Dr Inventor processes original research documents using a combination of lexical analysis and cognitive computation to identify novel comparisons that suggest new research hypotheses, with the objective of supporting a novel research publication. Research on analogical reasoning strongly suggests that the value of analogy-based comparisons depends primarily on the strength of the mapping (or counterpart projection) between the two analogs. An evaluation study of a number of computer generated comparisons attracted creativity ratings from a group of practising researchers. This paper explores a variety of theoretically motivated metrics operating on different conceptual spaces, identifying some weak associations with user's creativity ratings. Surprisingly, our results show that metrics focused on the mapping appear to have less relevance to creativity than metrics assessing the inferences (blended space). This paper includes a brief description of a research project currently exploring the best research hypothesis generated during this evaluation. Finally, we explore PCA as a means of specifying a combined multiple metrics from several blending spaces as a basis for detecting comparisons to enhance researchers’ creativity
Persistence in Cluster--Cluster Aggregation
Persistence is considered in diffusion--limited cluster--cluster aggregation,
in one dimension and when the diffusion coefficient of a cluster depends on its
size as . The empty and filled site persistences are
defined as the probabilities, that a site has been either empty or covered by a
cluster all the time whereas the cluster persistence gives the probability of a
cluster to remain intact. The filled site one is nonuniversal. The empty site
and cluster persistences are found to be universal, as supported by analytical
arguments and simulations. The empty site case decays algebraically with the
exponent . The cluster persistence is related to the
small behavior of the cluster size distribution and behaves also
algebraically for while for the behavior is
stretched exponential. In the scaling limit and with fixed the distribution of intervals of size between
persistent regions scales as , where is the average interval size and . For finite the
scaling is poor for , due to the insufficient separation of the two
length scales: the distances between clusters, , and that between
persistent regions, . For the size distribution of persistent regions
the time and size dependences separate, the latter being independent of the
diffusion exponent but depending on the initial cluster size
distribution.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, RevTeX, submitted to Phys. Rev.
Possible detection of two giant extrasolar planets orbiting the eclipsing polar UZ Fornacis
We present new high-speed, multi-observatory, multi-instrument photometry of
the eclipsing polar UZ For in order to measure precise mid-eclipse times with
the aim of detecting any orbital period variations. When combined with
published eclipse times and archival data spanning ~27 years, we detect
departures from a linear and quadratic trend of ~60 s. The departures are
strongly suggestive of two cyclic variations of 16(3) and 5.25(25) years. The
two favoured mechanisms to drive the periodicities are either two giant
extrasolar planets as companions to the binary (with minimum masses of
6.3(1.5)M(Jupiter) and 7.7(1.2)M(Jupiter)) or a magnetic cycle mechanism (e.g.
Applegate's mechanism) of the secondary star. Applegate's mechanism would
require the entire radiant energy output of the secondary and would therefore
seem to be the least likely of the two, barring any further refinements in the
effect of magnetic fieilds (e.g. those of Lanza et al.). The two planet model
can provide realistic solutions but it does not quite capture all of the
eclipse times measurements. A highly eccentric orbit for the outer planet would
fit the data nicely, but we find that such a solution would be unstable. It is
also possible that the periodicities are driven by some combination of both
mechanisms. Further observations of this system are encouraged.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figures, 2 table
A Circumbinary Planet in Orbit Around the Short-Period White-Dwarf Eclipsing Binary RR Cae
By using six new determined mid-eclipse times together with those collected
from the literature, we found that the Observed-Calculated (O-C) curve of RR
Cae shows a cyclic change with a period of 11.9 years and an amplitude of
14.3s, while it undergoes an upward parabolic variation (revealing a long-term
period increase at a rate of dP/dt =+4.18(+-0.20)x10^(-12). The cyclic change
was analyzed for the light-travel time effect that arises from the
gravitational influence of a third companion. The mass of the third body was
determined to be M_3*sin i' = 4.2(+-0.4) M_{Jup} suggesting that it is a
circumbinary giant planet when its orbital inclination is larger than 17.6
degree. The orbital separation of the circumbinary planet from the central
eclipsing binary is about 5.3(+-0.6)AU. The period increase is opposite to the
changes caused by angular momentum loss via magnetic braking or/and
gravitational radiation, nor can it be explained by the mass transfer between
both components because of its detached configuration. These indicate that the
observed upward parabolic change is only a part of a long-period (longer than
26.3 years) cyclic variation, which may reveal the presence of another giant
circumbinary planet in a wide orbit.Comment: It will be published in the MNRA
Survival probability of a diffusing particle in the presence of Poisson-distributed mobile traps
The problem of a diffusing particle moving among diffusing traps is analyzed
in general space dimension d. We consider the case where the traps are
initially randomly distributed in space, with uniform density rho, and derive
upper and lower bounds for the probability Q(t) (averaged over all particle and
trap trajectories) that the particle survives up to time t. We show that, for
1<=d<2, the bounds converge asymptotically to give where and D
is the diffusion constant of the traps, and that for d=2. For d>2 bounds can still be derived, but they no longer
converge for large t. For 1<=d<=2, these asymptotic form are independent of the
diffusion constant of the particle. The results are compared with simulation
results obtained using a new algorithm [V. Mehra and P. Grassberger, Phys. Rev.
E v65 050101 (2002)] which is described in detail. Deviations from the
predicted asymptotic forms are found to be large even for very small values of
Q(t), indicating slowly decaying corrections whose form is consistent with the
bounds. We also present results in d=1 for the case where the trap densities on
either side of the particle are different. For this case we can still obtain
exact bounds but they no longer converge.Comment: 13 pages, RevTeX4, 6 figures. Figures and references updated;
equations corrected; discussion clarifie
Unusual Dynamical Scaling in the Spatial Distribution of Persistent Sites in 1D Potts Models
The distribution, n(k,t), of the interval sizes, k, between clusters of
persistent sites in the dynamical evolution of the one-dimensional q-state
Potts model is studied using a combination of numerical simulations, scaling
arguments, and exact analysis. It is shown to have the scaling form n(k,t) =
t^{-2z} f(k/t^z), with z= max(1/2,theta), where theta(q) is the persistence
exponent which characterizes the fraction of sites which have not changed their
state up to time t. When theta > 1/2, the scaling length, t^theta, for the
interval-size distribution is larger than the coarsening length scale, t^{1/2},
that characterizes spatial correlations of the Potts variables.Comment: RevTex, 11 page
A model of superoutbursts in binaries of SU UMa type
A new mechanism explaining superoutbursts in binaries of SU UMa type is
proposed. In the framework of this mechanism the accretion rate increase
leading to the superoutburst is associated with formation of a spiral wave of a
new "precessional" type in inner gasdynamically unperturbed parts of the
accretion disc. The possibility of existence of this type of waves was
suggested in our previous work (astro-ph/0403053). The features of the
"precessional" spiral wave allow explaining both the energy release during the
outburst and all its observational manifestations. The distinctive
characteristic of a superoutburst in a SU UMa type star is the appearance of
the superhump on the light curve. The proposed model reproduces well the
formation of the superhump as well as its observational features, such as the
period that is 3-7% longer than the orbital one and the detectability of
superhumps regardless of the binary inclination.Comment: LaTeX, 20 pages, 4 figures, to be published in Astron. Z
Evidence for Superhumps in the Radio Light Curve of Algol and a New Model for Magnetic Activity in Algol Systems
Extensive radio data of two Algol systems and two RS CVn binaries were
re-analyzed. We found evidence for a new periodicity that we interpret as a
superhump in Algol, in which it may have been expected according to its
semi-detached nature and low binary mass ratio. This is the first detection of
the superhump phenomenon in the radio and the first observation of superhumps
in Algol systems. According to our result, the accretion disk in Algol
precesses in spite of its non-Keplerian nature and therefore this phenomenon is
not restricted to the classical Keplerian disks in compact binaries.We propose
that in Algol systems with short orbital periods, the disk is magnetically
active as well as the secondary star. The magnetic field in the disk originates
from amplification of the seed field in the magnetized material transferred
from the secondary. The disk and stellar fields interact with each other, with
reconnection of the field lines causing flares and particle acceleration.
Relativistic particles are trapped in the field and directed toward the polar
regions of the secondary star because of the dipole structure of its magnetic
field. Our proposed model for the magnetic activity in Algol systems provides a
simple explanation to the observed properties of Algol in the radio
wavelengths, and to the presence of quiescent gyrosynchrotron emission near the
polar region of the secondary star, where electrons are difficult to be
confined if the field lines are open as in normal single magnetic stars. We
propose that the superhump variation in the radio is generated by enhanced
reconnection when the elongated side of the elliptic disk is the closest to the
cool star. This leads to flares and enhancement in particle acceleration and is
manifested as stronger gyrosynchrotron radiation.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures, ApJ, accepted, uses apjfonts.sty and
emulateapj5.sty, full abstract in pape
Human Galectins Induce Conversion of Dermal Fibroblasts into Myofibroblasts and Production of Extracellular Matrix: Potential Application in Tissue Engineering and Wound Repair
Members of the galectin family of endogenous lectins are potent adhesion/growth-regulatory effectors. Their multi-functionality opens possibilities for their use in bioapplications. We studied whether human galectins induce the conversion of human dermal fibroblasts into myofibroblasts (MFBs) and the production of a bioactive extracellular matrix scaffold is suitable for cell culture. Testing a panel of galectins of all three subgroups, including natural and engineered variants, we detected activity for the proto-type galectin-1 and galectin-7, the chimera-type galectin-3 and the tandem-repeat-type galectin-4. The activity of galectin-1 required the integrity of the carbohydrate recognition domain. It was independent of the presence of TGF-beta 1, but it yielded an additive effect. The resulting MFBs, relevant, for example, for tumor progression, generated a matrix scaffold rich in fibronectin and galectin-1 that supported keratinocyte culture without feeder cells. Of note, keratinocytes cultured on this substratum presented a stem-like cell phenotype with small size and keratin-19 expression. In vivo in rats, galectin-1 had a positive effect on skin wound closure 21 days after surgery. In conclusion, we describe the differential potential of certain human galectins to induce the conversion of dermal fibroblasts into MFBs and the generation of a bioactive cell culture substratum. Copyright (C) 2011 S. Karger AG, Base
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