151 research outputs found
Thermal evolution and lifetime of intrinsic magnetic fields of Super Earths in habitable zones
We have numerically studied the thermal evolution of various-mass terrestrial
planets in habitable zones, focusing on duration of dynamo activity to generate
their intrinsic magnetic fields, which may be one of key factors in
habitability on the planets. In particular, we are concerned with super-Earths,
observations of which are rapidly developing. We calculated evolution of
temperature distributions in planetary interior, using Vinet equations of
state, Arrhenius-type formula for mantle viscosity, and the astrophysical
mixing length theory for convective heat transfer modified for mantle
convection. After calibrating the model with terrestrial planets in the Solar
system, we apply it for 0.1-- rocky planets with surface
temperature of 300~\mbox{K} (in habitable zones) and the Earth-like
compositions. With the criterion for heat flux at the CMB (core-mantle
boundary), the lifetime of the magnetic fields is evaluated from the calculated
thermal evolution. We found that the lifetime slowly increases with the
planetary mass () independent of initial temperature gap at the
core-mantle boundary () but beyond a critical value
() it abruptly declines by the mantle viscosity
enhancement due to the pressure effect. We derived as a function of
and a rheological parameter (activation volume, ).
Thus, the magnetic field lifetime of super-Earths with
sensitively depends on , which reflects planetary
accretion, and , which has uncertainty at very high pressure. More
advanced high-pressure experiments and first-principle simulation as well as
planetary accretion simulation are needed to discuss habitability of
super-Earths.Comment: 19pages, 15 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Nodal gap structure of BaFe_2(As_{1-x}P_x)_2 from angle-resolved thermal conductivity in a magnetic field
The structure of the superconducting order parameter in the iron-pnictide
superconductor BaFe(AsP) (\,K) with line
nodes is studied by the angle-resolved thermal conductivity measurements in a
magnetic field rotated within the basal plane. We find that the thermal
conductivity displays distinct fourfold oscillations with minima when the field
is directed at with respect to the tetragonal a-axis. We discuss
possible gap structures that can account for the data, and conclude that the
observed results are most consistent with the closed nodal loops located at the
flat parts of the electron Fermi surface with high Fermi velocity.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Line nodes in the energy gap of high-temperature superconducting BaFe_2(As_{1-x}P_x)_2 from penetration depth and thermal conductivity measurements
We report magnetic penetration depth and thermal conductivity data for
high-quality single crystals of BaFe(AsP) (\,K)
which provide strong evidence that this material has line nodes in its energy
gap. This is distinctly different from the nodeless gap found for
(Ba,K)FeAs which has similar and phase diagram. Our results
indicate that repulsive electronic interactions play an essential role for
Fe-based high- superconductivity but that uniquely there are distinctly
different pairing states, with and without nodes, which have comparable .Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, revised version to be published in Phys. Rev. B
Rapid Communicatio
Mid-infrared emissivity of partially dehydrated asteroid (162173) Ryugu shows strong signs of aqueous alteration
The near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu, the target of Hayabusa2 space mission, was observed via both orbiter and the lander instruments. The infrared radiometer on the MASCOT lander (MARA) is the only instrument providing spectrally resolved mid-infrared (MIR) data, which is crucial for establishing a link between the asteroid material and meteorites found on Earth. Earlier studies revealed that the single boulder investigated by the lander belongs to the most common type found on Ryugu. Here we show the spectral variation of Ryugu’s emissivity using the complete set of in-situ MIR data and compare it to those of various carbonaceous chondritic meteorites, revealing similarities to the most aqueously altered ones, as well as to asteroid (101955) Bennu. The results show that Ryugu experienced strong aqueous alteration prior to any dehydration
Superconducting Gap Structure of LaFePO Studied by Thermal Conductivity
The superconducting gap structure of LaFePO (K) is studied by
thermal conductivity () at low temperatures in fields parallel and
perpendicular to the c axis. A clear two-step field dependence of
with a characteristic field Oe) much lower than the upper
critical field is observed. In spite of large anisotropy of ,
in both -directions is nearly identical below . Above
, grows gradually with with a convex curvature, followed
by a steep increase with strong upward curvature near . These results
indicate the multigap superconductivity with active two-dimensional (2D) and
passive 3D bands having contrasting gap values. Together with the recent
penetration depth results, we suggest that the 2D bands consist of nodal and
nodeless ones, consistent with the extended s-wave symmetry
Peptidylarginine deiminase isoforms expressed in the synovial membrane of rheumatoid arthritis patients
Thermal Infrared Imaging Experiments of C-Type Asteroid 162173 Ryugu on Hayabusa2
The thermal infrared imager TIR onboard Hayabusa2 has been developed to investigate thermo-physical properties of C-type, near-Earth asteroid 162173 Ryugu. TIR is one of the remote science instruments on Hayabusa2 designed to understand the nature of a volatile-rich solar system small body, but it also has significant mission objectives to provide information on surface physical properties and conditions for sampling site selection as well as the assessment of safe landing operations. TIR is based on a two-dimensional uncooled micro-bolometer array inherited from the Longwave Infrared Camera LIR on Akatsuki (Fukuhara et al., 2011). TIR takes images of thermal infrared emission in 8 to 12 μm with a field of view of 16×12∘ and a spatial resolution of 0.05∘ per pixel. TIR covers the temperature range from 150 to 460 K, including the well calibrated range from 230 to 420 K. Temperature accuracy is within 2 K or better for summed images, and the relative accuracy or noise equivalent temperature difference (NETD) at each of pixels is 0.4 K or lower for the well-calibrated temperature range. TIR takes a couple of images with shutter open and closed, the corresponding dark frame, and provides a true thermal image by dark frame subtraction. Data processing involves summation of multiple images, image processing including the StarPixel compression (Hihara et al., 2014), and transfer to the data recorder in the spacecraft digital electronics (DE). We report the scientific and mission objectives of TIR, the requirements and constraints for the instrument specifications, the designed instrumentation and the pre-flight and in-flight performances of TIR, as well as its observation plan during the Hayabusa2 mission
Potential Role for Peptidylarginine Deiminase 2 (PAD2) in Citrullination of Canine Mammary Epithelial Cell Histones
Peptidylarginine Deiminases (PADs) convert arginine residues on substrate proteins to citrulline. Previous reports have documented that PAD2 expression and activity varies across the estrous cycle in the rodent uterus and pituitary gland, however, the expression and function of PAD2 in mammary tissue has not been previously reported. To gain more insight into potential reproductive roles for PAD2, in this study we evaluated PAD2 expression and localization throughout the estrous cycle in canine mammary tissue and then identified possible PAD2 enzymatic targets. Immunohistochemical and immunofluorescence analysis found PAD2 expression is low in anestrus, limited to a distinct, yet sparse, subset of epithelial cells within ductal alveoli during estrus/early diestrus, and encompasses the entire epithelium of the mammary duct in late diestrus. At the subcellular level, PAD2 is expressed in the cytoplasm, and to a lesser extent, the nucleus of these epithelial cells. Surprisingly, stimulation of canine mammary tumor cells (CMT25) shows that EGF, but not estrogen or progesterone, upregulates PAD2 transcription and translation suggesting EGF regulation of PAD2 and possibly citrullination in vivo. To identify potential PAD2 targets, anti-pan citrulline western blots were performed and results showed that citrullination activity is limited to diestrus with histones appearing to represent major enzymatic targets. Use of site-specific anti-citrullinated histone antibodies found that the N-terminus of histone H3, but not H4, appears to be the primary target of PAD activity in mammary epithelium. This observation supports the hypothesis that PAD2 may play a regulatory role in the expression of lactation related genes via histone citrullination during diestrus
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