4,907 research outputs found
Enhancement of the advanced Fenton process (Fe0/H2O2) by ultrasound for the mineralization of phenol
In this study, a successful mineralization of phenol was achieved by means of coupling zero-valent iron (ZVI) particles, hydrogen peroxide and a short input of ultrasonic irradiation. This short sono-advanced Fenton process (AFP) provided a better performance of ZVI in a subsequent silent degradation stage, which involves neither extra cost of energy nor additional oxidant. The short input of ultrasound (US) irradiation enhanced the activity of the Fe0/H2O2 system in terms of the total organic carbon (TOC) removal. Then, the TOC mineralization continued during the silent stage, even after the total consumption of hydrogen peroxide, reaching values of ca. 90% TOC conversions over 24 h. This remarkable activity is attributed to the capacity of the ZVI/iron oxide composite formed during the degradation for the generation of oxidizing radical species and to the formation of another reactive oxidant species, such as the ferryl ion. The modification of the initial conditions of the sono-AFP system such as the ultrasonic irradiation time and the hydrogen peroxide dosage, showed significant variations in terms of TOC mineralization for the ongoing silent degradation stage. An appropriate selection of operation conditions will lead to an economical and highly efficient technology with eventual large-scale commercial applications for the degradation organic pollutants in aqueous effluents
A Morphological Diagnostic for Dynamical Evolution of Wolf-Rayet Bubbles
We have observed H-alpha and [OIII] emission from eight of the most well
defined Wolf-Rayet ring nebulae in the Galaxy. We find that in many cases the
outermost edge of the [OIII] emission leads the H-alpha emission. We suggest
that these offsets, when present, are due to the shock from the Wolf-Rayet
bubble expanding into the circumstellar envelope. Thus, the details of the WR
bubble morphology at H-alpha and [OIII] can then be used to better understand
the physical condition and evolutionary stage of the nebulae around Wolf-Rayet
stars, as well as place constraints on the nature of the stellar progenitor and
its mass loss history.Comment: 11 pages, LaTex, 8 figures, accepted for publication in AJ, November
200
What Produced the Ultraluminous Supernova Remnant in NGC 6946?
The ultraluminous supernova remnant (SNR) in NGC 6946 is the brightest known
SNR in X-rays, ~1000 times brighter than Cas A. To probe the nature of this
remnant and its progenitor, we have obtained high-dispersion optical echelle
spectra. The echelle spectra detect H-alpha, [N II], and [O III] lines, and
resolve these lines into a narrow (FWHM ~20--40 km/s) component from un-shocked
material and a broad (FWHM ~250 km/s) component from shocked material. Both
narrow and broad components have unusually high [N II]/H-alpha ratios, ~1.
Using the echelle observation, archival HST images, and archival ROSAT X-ray
observations, we conclude that the SNR was produced by a normal supernova,
whose progenitor was a massive star, either a WN star or a luminous blue
variable. The high luminosity of the remnant is caused by the supernova ejecta
expanding into a dense, nitrogen-rich circumstellar nebula created by the
progenitor.Comment: 20 pages, 5 figures. To be published in The Astronomical Journal,
March 200
Reliable Computation of the Zeros of Solutions of Second Order Linear ODEs Using a Fourth Order Method
A fourth order fixed point method to compute the zeros of solutions of second order
homogeneous linear ODEs is obtained from the approximate integration of the Riccati equation
associated with the ODE. The method requires the evaluation of the logarithmic derivative of the
function and also uses the coefficients of the ODE. An algorithm to compute with certainty all the
zeros in an interval is given which provides a fast, reliable, and accurate method of computation.
The method is illustrated by the computation of the zeros of Gauss hypergeometric functions (including
Jacobi polynomials) and confluent hypergeometric functions (Laguerre polynomials, Hermite
polynomials, and Bessel functions included) among others. The examples show that typically 4 or 5
iterations per root are enough to provide more than 100 digits of accuracy, without requiring a priori
estimations of the roots
Interplay Between ncRNAs and Cellular Communication: A Proposal for Understanding Cell-Specific Signaling Pathways
Cancer; Cell signaling; EpigeneticsCà ncer; Comunicació cel·lular; EpigenèticaCáncer; Comunicación celular; EpigenéticaIntercellular communication is essential for the development of specialized cells, tissues, and organs and is critical in a variety of diseases including cancer. Current knowledge states that different cell types communicate by ligand-receptor interactions: hormones, growth factors, and cytokines are released into the extracellular space and act on receptors, which are often expressed in a cell-type-specific manner. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are emerging as newly identified communicating factors in both physiological and pathological states. This class of RNA encompasses microRNAs (miRNAs, well-studied post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression), long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) and other ncRNAs. lncRNAs are diverse in length, sequence, and structure (linear or circular), and their functions are described as transcriptional regulation, induction of epigenetic changes and even direct regulation of protein activity. They have also been reported to act as miRNA sponges, interacting with miRNA and modulating its availability to endogenous mRNA targets. Importantly, lncRNAs may have a cell-type-specific expression pattern. In this paper, we propose that lncRNA-miRNA interactions, analogous to receptor-ligand interactions, are responsible for cell-type-specific outcomes. Specific binding of miRNAs to lncRNAs may drive cell-type-specific signaling cascades and modulate biochemical feedback loops that ultimately determine cell identity and response to stress factors
High-pressure structural investigation of several zircon-type orthovanadates
Room temperature angle-dispersive x-ray diffraction measurements on
zircon-type EuVO4, LuVO4, and ScVO4 were performed up to 27 GPa. In the three
compounds we found evidence of a pressure-induced structural phase
transformation from zircon to a scheelite-type structure. The onset of the
transition is near 8 GPa, but the transition is sluggish and the low- and
high-pressure phases coexist in a pressure range of about 10 GPa. In EuVO4 and
LuVO4 a second transition to a M-fergusonite-type phase was found near 21 GPa.
The equations of state for the zircon and scheelite phases are also determined.
Among the three studied compounds, we found that ScVO4 is less compressible
than EuVO4 and LuVO4, being the most incompressible orthovanadate studied to
date. The sequence of structural transitions and compressibilities are
discussed in comparison with other zircon-type oxides.Comment: 34 pages, 2 Tables, 11 Figure
Physical Structure of Small Wolf-Rayet Ring Nebulae
We have selected the seven most well-defined WR ring nebulae in the LMC (Br
2, Br 10, Br 13, Br 40a, Br 48, Br 52, and Br 100) to study their physical
nature and evolutionary stages. New CCD imaging and echelle observations have
been obtained for five of these nebulae; previous photographic imaging and
echelle observations are available for the remaining two nebulae. Using the
nebular dynamics and abundances, we find that the Br 13 nebula is a
circumstellar bubble, and that the Br 2 nebula may represent a circumstellar
bubble merging with a fossil main-sequence interstellar bubble. The nebulae
around Br 10, Br 52, and Br 100 all show influence of the ambient interstellar
medium. Their regular expansion patterns suggest that they still contain
significant amounts of circumstellar material. Their nebular abundances would
be extremely interesting, as their central stars are WC5 and WN3-4 stars whose
nebular abundances have not been derived previously. Intriguing and tantalizing
implications are obtained from comparisons of the LMC WR ring nebulae with ring
nebulae around Galactic WR stars, Galactic LBVs, LMC LBVs, and LMC BSGs;
however, these implications may be limited by small-number statistics. A SNR
candidate close to Br 2 is diagnosed by its large expansion velocity and
nonthermal radio emission. There is no indication that Br 2's ring nebula
interacts dynamically with this SNR candidate.Comment: 20 pages, Latex (aaspp4.sty), 2 figures, accepted by the Astronomical
Journal (March 99 issue
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