140,686 research outputs found
Active Gel Model of Amoeboid Cell Motility
We develop a model of amoeboid cell motility based on active gel theory.
Modeling the motile apparatus of a eukaryotic cell as a confined layer of
finite length of poroelastic active gel permeated by a solvent, we first show
that, due to active stress and gel turnover, an initially static and
homogeneous layer can undergo a contractile-type instability to a polarized
moving state in which the rear is enriched in gel polymer. This agrees
qualitatively with motile cells containing an actomyosin-rich uropod at their
rear. We find that the gel layer settles into a steadily moving, inhomogeneous
state at long times, sustained by a balance between contractility and filament
turnover. In addition, our model predicts an optimal value of the
gel-susbstrate adhesion leading to maximum layer speed, in agreement with cell
motility assays. The model may be relevant to motility of cells translocating
in complex, confining environments that can be mimicked experimentally by cell
migration through microchannels.Comment: To appear in New Journal of Physic
Chandra Observation of M84, Radio Lobe Elliptical in Virgo cluster
We analyzed a deep Chandra observation of M84, a bright elliptical galaxy in
the core of the Virgo cluster. We find that the spatial distribution of the
soft X-ray emission is defined by the radio structure of the galaxy. In
particular we find two low density regions associated with the radio lobes and
surrounded by higher density X-ray filaments. In addition to a central AGN and
a population of galactic sources, we find a diffuse hard source filling the
central 10 kpc region. Since the morphology of the hard source appears round
and is different from that seen in the radio or in soft X-rays, we propose that
it is hot gas heated by the central AGN. Finally, we find that the central
elemental abundance in the X-ray gas is comparable to that measured optically.Comment: accepted to ApJ Letters, Oct 2000. 5 pages in emulateap
Portable tool cleans pipes and tubing
Portable tool cleans and polishes the external surfaces of tubes and pipes without contaminating the interior areas with loose particles. The tool is driven by an electric drill and is connected to a vacuum source that removes debris resulting from the cleaning and polishing action
Emulation of multivariate simulators using thin-plate splines with application to atmospheric dispersion
It is often desirable to build a statistical emulator of a complex computer simulator in order to perform analysis which would otherwise be computationally infeasible. We propose methodology to model multivariate output from a computer simulator taking into account output structure in the responses. The utility of this approach is demonstrated by applying it to a chemical and biological hazard prediction model. Predicting the hazard area which results from an accidental or deliberate chemical or biological release is imperative in civil and military planning and also in emergency response. The hazard area resulting from such a release is highly structured in space and we therefore propose the use of a thin-plate spline to capture the spatial structure and fit a Gaussian process emulator to the coefficients of the resultant basis functions. We compare and contrast four different techniques for emulating multivariate output: dimension-reduction using (i) a fully Bayesian approach with a principal component basis, (ii) a fully Bayesian approach with a thin-plate spline basis, assuming that the basis coefficients are independent, and (iii) a “plug-in” Bayesian approach with a thin-plate spline basis and a separable covariance structure; and (iv) a functional data modeling approach using a tensor-product (separable) Gaussian process. We develop methodology for the two thin-plate spline emulators and demonstrate that these emulators significantly outperform the principal component emulator. Further, the separable thin-plate spline emulator, which accounts for the dependence between basis coefficients, provides substantially more realistic quantification of uncertainty, and is also computationally more tractable, allowing fast emulation. For high resolution output data, it also offers substantial predictive and computational ad- vantages over the tensor-product Gaussian process emulator
Benchmark ultra-cool dwarfs in widely separated binary systems
Ultra-cool dwarfs as wide companions to subgiants, giants, white dwarfs and
main sequence stars can be very good benchmark objects, for which we can infer
physical properties with minimal reference to theoretical models, through
association with the primary stars. We have searched for benchmark ultra-cool
dwarfs in widely separated binary systems using SDSS, UKIDSS, and 2MASS. We
then estimate spectral types using SDSS spectroscopy and multi-band colors,
place constraints on distance, and perform proper motions calculations for all
candidates which have sufficient epoch baseline coverage. Analysis of the
proper motion and distance constraints show that eight of our ultra-cool dwarfs
are members of widely separated binary systems. Another L3.5 dwarf, SDSS 0832,
is shown to be a companion to the bright K3 giant Eta Cancri. Such primaries
can provide age and metallicity constraints for any companion objects, yielding
excellent benchmark objects. This is the first wide ultra-cool dwarf + giant
binary system identified.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, conference, "New Technologies for Probing the
Diversity of Brown Dwarfs and Exoplanets", oral tal
Identifying Ultra-Cool Dwarfs at Low Galactic Latitudes: A Southern Candidate Catalogue
We present an Ultra-Cool Dwarf (UCD) catalogue compiled from low southern
Galactic latitudes and mid-plane, from a cross-correlation of the 2MASS and
SuperCOSMOS surveys. The catalogue contains 246 members identified from 5042
sq. deg. within 220 deg. <= l <= 360 deg. and 0 deg. < l <= 30 deg., for |b| <=
15 deg. Sixteen candidates are spectroscopically confirmed in the near-IR as
UCDs with spectral types from M7.5V to L9. Our catalogue selection method is
presented enabling UCDs from ~M8V to the L-T transition to be selected down to
a 2MASS limiting magnitude of Ks ~= 14.5 mag. This method does not require
candidates to have optical detections for catalogue inclusion. An optimal set
of optical/near-IR and reduced proper-motion selection criteria have been
defined that includes: an Rf and Ivn photometric surface gravity test, a dual
Rf-band variability check, and an additional photometric classification scheme
to selectively limit contaminants. We identify four candidates as possible
companions to nearby Hipparcos stars -- observations are needed to identify
these as potential benchmark UCD companions. We also identify twelve UCDs
within a possible distance 20 pc, three are previously unknown of which two are
estimated within 10 pc, complimenting the nearby volume-limited census of UCDs.
An analysis of the catalogue spatial completeness provides estimates for
distance completeness over three UCD MJ ranges, while Monte-Carlo simulations
provide an estimate of catalogue areal completeness at the 75 per cent level.
We estimate a UCD space density of Rho (total) = (6.41+-3.01)x10^3/pc^3 over
the range of 10.5 <= MJ ~< 14.9, similar to values measured at higher Galactic
latitudes (|b| ~> 10 deg.) in the field population and obtained from more
robust spectroscopically confirmed UCD samples.Comment: MNRAS accepted April 2012. Contains 30 figures and 11 tables. Tables
2 and 6 to be published in full and on-line only. The on-line tables can also
be obtained by contacting the author
Hot Gas Structure in the Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4472
We present X-ray spectroscopic and morphological analyses using Chandra ACIS
and ROSAT observations of the giant elliptical galaxy NGC 4472 in the Virgo
cluster. We discuss previously unobserved X-ray structures within the extended
galactic corona. In the inner 2' of the galaxy, we find X-ray holes or cavities
with radii of ~2 kpc, corresponding to the position of radio lobes. These holes
were produced during a period of nuclear activity that began 1.2 x 10^7 years
ago and may be ongoing. We also find an asymmetrical edge in the galaxy X-ray
emission 3' (14 kpc) northeast of the core and an ~8' tail (36 kpc) extending
southwest of the galaxy. These two features probably result from the
interaction of NGC 4472 gas with the Virgo gas, which produces compression in
the direction of NGC 4472's infall and an extended tail from ram pressure
stripping. Assuming the tail is in pressure equilibrium with the surrounding
gas, we compute its angle to our line of sight and estimate that its true
extent exceeds 100 kpc. Finally, in addition to emission from the nucleus
(first detected by Soldatenkov, Vikhlinin & Pavlinsky), we detect two small
extended sources within 10'' of the nucleus of the galaxy, both of which have
luminosities of ~7 x 10^38 erg/s.Comment: 25 pages, 11 figures, accepted by Ap
Recommended from our members
Length-length and weight-length relationships of seven deep-water fishes in the Gulf of Mexico
Regression coefficients for equations of the form Y = a + bX were estimated for total length (TL) and whole weight (W) as a function of standard length (SL) and fork length (FL) and vice versa for seven deep-water fishes. All lengths were measured in millimeters and all weights in grams. There was a significant correlation between weight and length and the types of length measurements for all species. However, the amount of variation explained by each regression varied among species. Weight-length regressions were less precise than length-length regression, as they generally are, because weights of small fish measured at sea are more inaccurate than those of large fish.Marine Scienc
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