795 research outputs found
Binary coalescence from case A evolution -- mergers and blue stragglers
We constructed some main-sequence mergers from case A binary evolution and
studied their characteristics via Eggleton's stellar evolution code. Both total
mass and orbital angular momentum are conservative in our binary evolutions.
Some mergers might be on the left of the ZAMS as defined by normal surface
composition on a CMD because of enhanced surface helium content. The study also
shows that central hydrogen content of the mergers is independent of mass. As a
consequence, we fit the formula of magnitude and B-V of the mergers when they
return back to thermal equilibrium with maximum error 0.29 and 0.037,
respectively. Employing the consequences above, we performed Monte Carlo
simulations to examine our models in NGC 2682 and NGC 2660. In NGC 2682, binary
mergers from our models cover the region with high luminosity, but its
importance is much less than that of AML. Our results are well-matched to the
observations of NGC2660 if there is about 0.5Mo of mass loss in the merger
process.Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures. accepted by MNRA
The radio lighthouse CU Virginis: the spindown of a single main sequence star
The fast rotating star CU Virginis is a magnetic chemically peculiar star
with an oblique dipolar magnetic field. The continuum radio emission has been
interpreted as gyrosyncrotron emission arising from a thin magnetospheric
layer. Previous radio observations at 1.4 GHz showed that a 100% circular
polarized and highly directive emission component overlaps to the continuum
emission two times per rotation, when the magnetic axis lies in the plane of
the sky. This sort of radio lighthouse has been proposed to be due to cyclotron
maser emission generated above the magnetic pole and propagating
perpendicularly to the magnetic axis. Observations carried out with the
Australia Telescope Compact Array at 1.4 and 2.5 GHz one year after this
discovery show that this radio emission is still present, meaning that the
phenomenon responsible for this process is steady on a timescale of years. The
emitted radiation spans at least 1 GHz, being observed from 1.4 to 2.5 GHz. On
the light of recent results on the physics of the magnetosphere of this star,
the possibility of plasma radiation is ruled out. The characteristics of this
radio lighthouse provides us a good marker of the rotation period, since the
peaks are visible at particular rotational phases. After one year, they show a
delay of about 15 minutes. This is interpreted as a new abrupt spinning down of
the star. Among several possibilities, a quick emptying of the equatorial
magnetic belt after reaching the maximum density can account for the magnitude
of the breaking. The study of the coherent emission in stars like CU Vir, as
well as in pre main sequence stars, can give important insight into the angular
momentum evolution in young stars. This is a promising field of investigation
that high sensitivity radio interferometers such as SKA can exploit.Comment: Accepted to MNRAS, 8 pages, 7 figures, updated versio
Photoreceptor Inner Segment Morphology in Best Vitelliform Macular Dystrophy
PURPOSE
To characterize outer retina structure in best vitelliform macular dystrophy (BVMD) and to determine the effect of macular lesions on overlying and adjacent photoreceptors.
METHODS
Five individuals with BVMD were followed prospectively with spectral domain optical coherence tomography and confocal and nonconfocal split-detector adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscopy (AOSLO). The AOSLO cone photoreceptor mosaic images were obtained within and around retinal lesions. Cone density was measured inside and outside lesions. In 2 subjects, densities were compared with published measurements acquired ∼2.5 years before. One subject was imaged 3 times over a 5-month period.
RESULTS
The AOSLO imaging demonstrated that photoreceptor morphology within BVMD retinal lesions was highly variable depending on the disease stage, with photoreceptor structure present even in advanced disease. The AOSLO imaging was repeatable even in severe disease over short-time and long-time intervals. Photoreceptor density was normal in retinal areas immediately adjacent to lesions and stable over ∼2.5 years. Mobile disk-like structures possibly representing subretinal macrophages were also observed.
CONCLUSION
Combined confocal and nonconfocal split-detector AOSLO imaging reveals substantial variability within clinical lesions in all stages of BVMD. Longitudinal cellular photoreceptor imaging could prove a powerful tool for understanding disease progression and monitoring emerging therapeutic treatment response in inherited degenerations such as BVMD
Localisation of the human hSuv3p helicase in the mitochondrial matrix and its preferential unwinding of dsDNA
We characterised the human hSuv3p protein belonging to the family of NTPases/helicases. In yeast mitochondria the hSUV3 orthologue is a component of the degradosome complex and participates in mtRNA turnover and processing, while in Caenorhabditis elegans the hSUV3 orthologue is necessary for viability of early embryos. Using immunofluorescence analysis, an in vitro mitochondrial uptake assay and sub‐fractionation of human mitochondria we show hSuv3p to be a soluble protein localised in the mitochondrial matrix. We expressed and purified recombinant hSuv3p protein from a bacterial expression system. The purified enzyme was capable of hydrolysing ATP with a Km of 41.9 µM and the activity was only modestly stimulated by polynucleotides. hSuv3p unwound partly hybridised dsRNA and dsDNA structures with a very strong preference for the latter. The presented analysis of the hSuv3p NTPase/helicase suggests that new functions of the protein have been acquired in the course of evolution
Shrinking binary and planetary orbits by Kozai cycles with tidal friction
At least two arguments suggest that the orbits of a large fraction of binary
stars and extrasolar planets shrank by 1-2 orders of magnitude after formation:
(i) the physical radius of a star shrinks by a large factor from birth to the
main sequence, yet many main-sequence stars have companions orbiting only a few
stellar radii away, and (ii) in current theories of planet formation, the
region within ~0.1 AU of a protostar is too hot and rarefied for a Jupiter-mass
planet to form, yet many "hot Jupiters" are observed at such distances. We
investigate orbital shrinkage by the combined effects of secular perturbations
from a distant companion star (Kozai oscillations) and tidal friction. We
integrate the relevant equations of motion to predict the distribution of
orbital elements produced by this process. Binary stars with orbital periods of
0.1 to 10 days, with a median of ~2 d, are produced from binaries with much
longer periods (10 d to 10^5 d), consistent with observations indicating that
most or all short-period binaries have distant companions (tertiaries). We also
make two new testable predictions: (1) For periods between 3 and 10 d, the
distribution of the mutual inclination between the inner binary and the
tertiary orbit should peak strongly near 40 deg and 140 deg. (2) Extrasolar
planets whose host stars have a distant binary companion may also undergo this
process, in which case the orbit of the resulting hot Jupiter will typically be
misaligned with the equator of its host star.Comment: Submitted to ApJ; 18 pages, 10 figure
Microscopic Inner Retinal Hyper-reflective Phenotypes in Retinal and Neurologic Disease
Purpose.
We surveyed inner retinal microscopic features in retinal and neurologic disease using a reflectance confocal adaptive optics scanning light ophthalmoscope (AOSLO).
Methods.
Inner retinal images from 101 subjects affected by one of 38 retinal or neurologic conditions and 11 subjects with no known eye disease were examined for the presence of hyper-reflective features other than vasculature, retinal nerve fiber layer, and foveal pit reflex. The hyper-reflective features in the AOSLO images were grouped based on size, location, and subjective texture. Clinical imaging, including optical coherence tomography (OCT), scanning laser ophthalmoscopy, and fundus photography was analyzed for comparison.
Results.
Seven categories of hyper-reflective inner retinal structures were identified, namely punctate reflectivity, nummular (disc-shaped) reflectivity, granular membrane, waxy membrane, vessel-associated membrane, microcysts, and striate reflectivity. Punctate and nummular reflectivity also was found commonly in normal volunteers, but the features in the remaining five categories were found only in subjects with retinal or neurologic disease. Some of the features were found to change substantially between follow up imaging months apart.
Conclusions.
Confocal reflectance AOSLO imaging revealed a diverse spectrum of normal and pathologic hyper-reflective inner and epiretinal features, some of which were previously unreported. Notably, these features were not disease-specific, suggesting that they might correspond to common mechanisms of degeneration or repair in pathologic states. Although prospective studies with larger and better characterized populations, along with imaging of more extensive retinal areas are needed, the hyper-reflective structures reported here could be used as disease biomarkers, provided their specificity is studied further
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