495 research outputs found
Shadows and cavities in protoplanetary disks: HD163296, HD141569A, and HD150193A in polarized light
The morphological evolution of dusty disks around young (few Myr-old) stars
is pivotal to better understand planet formation. Since both dust grains and
the global disk geometry evolve on short timescale, high-resolution imaging of
a sample of objects may provide important hints towards such an evolution. We
enlarge the sample of protoplanetary disks imaged in polarized light with
high-resolution by observing the Herbig Ae/Be stars HD163296, HD141569A, and
HD150193A. We integrate our data with previous datasets to paint a larger
picture of their morphology. We report a weak detection of the disk around
HD163296 in both H and Ks band. The disk is resolved as a broken ring structure
with a significan surface brightness drop inward of 0.6 arcsec. No sign of
extended polarized emission is detected from the disk around HD141569A and
HD150193A. We propose that the absence of scattered light in the inner 0.6
arcsec around HD163296 and the non-detection of the disk around HD150193A may
be due to similar geometric factors. Since these disks are known to be flat or
only moderately flared, self-shadowing by the disk inner wall is the favored
explanation. We show that the polarized brightness of a number of disks is
indeed related to their flaring angle. Other scenarios (such as dust grain
growth or interaction with icy molecules) are also discussed. On the other
hand, the non-detection of HD141569A is consistent with previous datasets
revealing the presence of a huge cavity in the dusty disk.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures; accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysic
Small vs large dust grains in transitional disks: do different cavity sizes indicate a planet?
Transitional disks represent a short stage of the evolution of circumstellar
material. Studies of dust grains in these objects can provide pivotal
information on the mechanisms of planet formation. Dissimilarities in the
spatial distribution of small (micron-size) and large (millimeter-size) dust
grains have recently been pointed out. Constraints on the small dust grains can
be obtained by imaging the distribution of scattered light at near-infrared
wavelengths. We aim at resolving structures in the surface layer of
transitional disks (with particular emphasis on the inner 10 - 50 AU), thus
increasing the scarce sample of high resolution images of these objects. We
obtained VLT/NACO near-IR high-resolution polarimetric differential imaging
observations of SAO 206462 (HD135344B). This technique allows one to image the
polarized scattered light from the disk without any occulting mask and to reach
an inner working angle of 0.1''. A face-on disk is detected in H and Ks bands
between 0.1'' and 0.9''. No significant differences are seen between the H and
Ks images. In addition to the spiral arms, these new data allow us to resolve
for the first time an inner cavity for small dust grains. The cavity size
(about 28 AU) is much smaller than what is inferred for large dust grains from
(sub)mm observations (39 to 50 AU). The interaction between the disk and
potential orbiting companion(s) can explain both the spiral arm structure and
the discrepant cavity sizes for small and large dust grains. One planet may be
carving out the gas (and, thus, the small grains) at 28 AU, and generating a
pressure bump at larger radii (39 AU), which holds back the large grains. We
analytically estimate that, in this scenario, a single giant planet (with a
mass between 5 and 15 Jupiter masses) at 17 to 20 AU from the star is
consistent with the observed cavity sizes.Comment: 11 pages, 6 figures; accepted for publication in A&
Giant Keplerate molecule Fe30 - the first octopole magnet
The multipole expansion technique is applied to one of the largest magnetic
molecules, Fe30. The molecule's dipole, toroid and quadrupole magnetic moments
are equal to zero (in the absence of magnetic field) so the multipole expansion
starts from the octopole moment. Probably the Fe30 molecule is the most
symmetrical magnetic body synthesized so far. The magnetization process is
considered theoretically in different geometries. Some components of the
octopole moment experience a jump while the magnetization rises linearly up to
its saturation value. An elementary octopole moment consisting of four magnetic
dipoles is proposed as a hint for designing of an experiment for measurement of
octopole magnetic moment components.Comment: 7 pages, 9 figure
Regulatory T Cells and IL-10 Independently Counterregulate Cytotoxic T Lymphocyte Responses Induced by Transcutaneous Immunization
The imidazoquinoline derivate imiquimod induces inflammatory responses and protection against transplanted tumors when applied to the skin in combination with a cognate peptide epitope (transcutaneous immunization, TCI). Here we investigated the role of regulatory T cells (T(reg)) and the suppressive cytokine IL-10 in restricting TCI-induced cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) responses.TCI was performed with an ointment containing the TLR7 agonist imiquimod and a CTL epitope was applied to the depilated back skin of C57BL/6 mice. Using specific antibodies and FoxP3-diphteria toxin receptor transgenic (DEREG) mice, we interrogated inhibiting factors after TCI: by depleting FoxP3(+) regulatory T cells we found that specific CTL-responses were greatly enhanced. Beyond this, in IL-10 deficient (IL-10(-/-)) mice or after blocking of IL-10 signalling with an IL-10 receptor specific antibody, the TCI induced CTL response is greatly enhanced indicating an important role for this cytokine in TCI. However, by transfer of T(reg) in IL-10(-/-) mice and the use of B cell deficient JHT(-/-) mice, we can exclude T(reg) and B cells as source of IL-10 in the setting of TCI.We identify T(reg) and IL-10 as two important and independently acting suppressors of CTL-responses induced by transcutaneous immunization. Advanced vaccination strategies inhibiting T(reg) function and IL-10 release may lead the development of effective vaccination protocols aiming at the induction of T cell responses suitable for the prophylaxis or treatment of persistent infections or tumors
Association Between Changes in Post-hospital Cardiac Symptoms and Changes in Acute Coronary Syndrome-Induced Symptoms of Post-traumatic Stress.
Background
After acute coronary syndrome (ACS), one in eight patients develops clinically significant symptoms of Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). We hypothesized that changes in cardiac symptoms from 3 to 12 months after ACS are associated with changes in ACS-induced PTSD symptoms.
Methods
At 3 (n = 154) and/or 12 months (n = 106) post-ACS, patients (n = 156, mean age 59 years, 85% men) completed a clinical interview assessing chest tightness/pain (at rest and/or during exertion), heartbeat symptoms (heart palpitations, racing of heart, heart stumbling or skipping a beat) and PTSD symptoms during the prior 4 weeks. Random mixed regression models examined the association between the onset (or remission) from 3 to 12 months in cardiac symptoms with changes in PTSD symptoms, adjusting for a range of potential predictors of ACS-induced PTSD symptoms.
Results
The onset of chest tightness/pain [estimate = 0.588, 95% confidence interval: 0.275, 0.090; p < 0.001] and of heartbeat symptoms [0.548 (0.165, 0.931); p = 0.005] from 3 to 12 months was independently associated with an increase in total PTSD symptoms. There were also independent associations between the onset of chest tightness/pain and heartbeat symptoms with an increase in PTSD symptom clusters. Specifically, the onset of chest tightness/pain showed associations with an increase in re-experiencing [0.450 (0.167, 0.733); p = 0.027] and avoidance/numbing [0.287 (0.001, 0.574); p = 0.049]. The onset of heartbeat symptoms showed associations with an increase in re-experiencing [0.392 (0.045, 0.739); p = 0.002], avoidance/numbing [0.513 (0.161, 0.864); p = 0.004] and hyperarousal [0.355 (0.051, 0.659); p = 0.022]. An increase in the total number of cardiac symptoms (score range 0-6) was also associated with an increase in total PTSD symptoms [0.343 (0.202, 0.484); p < 0.001]. Psychotherapy in the post-hospital period moderated the association between the change in heartbeat symptoms and the change in total PTSD symptoms [-0.813 (-1.553, -0.074); p = 0.031 for interaction]; the association between the onset of heart beat symptoms and an increase in total PTSD symptoms was weaker in patients who attended psychotherapy [0.437 (-0.178, 1.052); p = 0.16] than in those who did not [0.825 (0.341, 1.309); p < 0.001].
Conclusion
Changes in cardiac symptoms between 3 and 12 months after hospitalization are associated with changes in ACS-induced PTSD symptoms. ClinicalTrials.gov #NCT01781247
Fluctuating diamagnetism in underdoped high temperature superconductors
The fluctuation induced diamagnetism of underdoped high temperature
superconductors is studied in the framework of the Lawrence-Doniach model. By
taking into account the fluctuations of the phase of the order parameter only,
the latter reduces to a layered XY-model describing a liquid of vortices which
can be either thermally excited or induced by the external magnetic field. The
diamagnetic response is given by a current-current correlation function which
is evaluated using the Coulomb gas analogy. Our results are then applied to
recent measurements of fluctuation diamagnetism in underdoped YBCO. They allow
to understand both the observed anomalous temperature dependence of the
zero-field susceptibility and the two distinct regimes appearing in the
magnetic field dependence of the magnetization.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figures included, accepted for publication in PR
Editorial Note
Social Ontology encompasses a wide variety of inquiries into the nature, structure and perhaps essence of social phenomena, and their role and place in our world. Topics of research in Social Ontology range from small-scale interactions to large-scale institutions, from spontaneous teamwork to the functioning of formal organizations, and from unintended consequences to institutional design. Social Ontology brings together theoretical work from a large number of disciplines. This rapidly evolving field of research has attracted increasing attention over the last couple of decades, and the conceptual tools recent research in Social Ontology has provided have proved to be useful in a large number of domains, such as the study of the evolution of communication, the structure of social norms, social structure, and social change, the nature of collective responsibility, and the status of corporate agents.
The Journal of Social Ontology aims to further this research. It provides a forum of exchange between scholars of diverse disciplinary, scholarly, and methodological backgrounds, and invites submissions from all branches of Social Ontology. The Journal of Social Ontology adopts strict standards of selection and relies heavily on its carefully selected referees.
In a world in which publication strategies and outlets are changing at a tremendous pace, it is difficult to say what the future of scholarly publication will look like. With a generous grant from the University of Vienna for the start-up phase, the Journal of Social Ontology now appears as an Open Access Journal with De Gruyter, thus combining professional support by an established publisher with unlimited accessibility. In addition, the Journal of Social Ontology has been founded together with the International Social Ontology Society (ISOS) that supports the work of this journal.
We wish to express our thanks to our supporters, contributors, and referees; we hope that our joint effort will grant the work published in this journal the impact it deserves
Relativistic nature of a magnetoelectric modulus of Cr_2O_3-crystals: a new 4-dimensional pseudoscalar and its measurement
Earlier, the magnetoelectric effect of chromium sesquioxide Cr_2O_3 has been
determined experimentally as a function of temperature. One measures the
electric field-induced magnetization on Cr_2O_3 crystals or the magnetic
field-induced polarization. From the magnetoelectric moduli of Cr_2O_3 we
extract a 4-dimensional relativistic invariant pseudoscalar
. It is temperature dependent and of the order of
10^{-4}/Z_0, with Z_0 as vacuum impedance. We show that the new pseudoscalar is
odd under parity transformation and odd under time inversion. Moreover,
is for Cr_2O_3 what Tellegen's gyrator is for two port
theory, the axion field for axion electrodynamics, and the PEMC (perfect
electromagnetic conductor) for electrical engineering.Comment: Revtex, 36 pages, 9 figures (submitted in low resolution, better
quality figures are available from the authors
Magnetodielectric Effects from Spin Fluctuations in Isostructural Ferromagnetic and Antiferromagnetic Systems
We report on the effects of spin fluctuations, magnetic ordering, and
external magnetic field on the dielectric constant of the ferromagnet SeCuO3,
and the antiferromagnet TeCuO3. A model based on the coupling between uniform
polarization and the q-dependent spin-spin correlation function is presented to
explain the different behaviors for these isostructural compounds. The large
magnetocapacitance near the transition temperature in the ferromagnet SeCuO3
suggests routes to enhancing the magnetodielectric response for practical
applications.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figure
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