10,435 research outputs found

    Tracing Quasar Narrow-Line Regions Across Redshift: A Library of High S/N Optical Spectra

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    In a single optical spectrum, the quasar narrow-line region (NLR) reveals low density, photoionized gas in the host galaxy interstellar medium, while the immediate vicinity of the central engine generates the accretion disk continuum and broad emission lines. To isolate these two components, we construct a library of high S/N optical composite spectra created from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-DR7). We divide the sample into bins of continuum luminosity and Hbeta FWHM that are used to construct median composites at different redshift steps up to 0.75. We measure the luminosities of the narrow-emission lines [NeV]3427, [NeIII]3870, [OIII]5007, and [OII]3728 with ionization potentials (IPs) of 97, 40, 35, and 13.6 eV respectively. The high IP lines' luminosities show no evidence of increase with redshift consistent with no evolution in the AGN SED or the host galaxy ISM illuminated by the continuum. In contrast, we find that the [OII] line becomes stronger at higher redshifts, and we interpret this as a consequence of enhanced star formation contributing to the [OII] emission in host galaxies at higher redshifts. The SFRs estimated from the [OII] luminosities show a flatter increase with z than non-AGN galaxies given our assumed AGN contribution to the [OII] luminosity. Finally, we confirm an inverse correlation between the strength of the FeII4570 complex and both the [OIII] EW (though not the luminosity) and the width of the Hbeta line as known from the eigenvector 1 correlations.Comment: 17 pages, colour figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

    Seeking large-scale magnetic fields in a pure-disk dwarf galaxy NGC 2976

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    It is still unknown how magnetic field-generation mechanisms could operate in low-mass dwarf galaxies. Here, we present a detailed study of a nearby pure-disk dwarf galaxy NGC 2976. Unlike previously observed dwarf objects, this galaxy possesses a clearly defined disk. For the purpose of our studies, we performed deep multi-frequency polarimetric observations of NGC 2976 with the VLA and Effelsberg radio telescopes. Additionally, we supplement them with re-imaged data from the WSRT-SINGS survey. The magnetic field morphology discovered in NGC 2976 consists of a southern polarized ridge. This structure does not seem to be due to just a pure large-scale dynamo process (possibly cosmic-ray driven) at work in this object, as indicated by the RM data and dynamo number calculations. Instead, the field of NGC 2976 is modified by past gravitational interactions and possibly also by ram pressure inside the M 81 galaxy group environment. The estimates of total (7 muG) and ordered (3 muG) magnetic field strengths, as well as degree of field order (0.46), which is similar to those observed in spirals, suggest that tidally generated magnetized gas flows can further enhance dynamo action in the object. NGC 2976 is apparently a good candidate for the efficient magnetization of its neighbourhood. It is able to provide an ordered (perhaps also regular) magnetic field into the intergalactic space up to a distance of about 5 kpc. Tidal interactions (and possibly also ram pressure) can lead to the formation of unusual magnetic field morphologies (like polarized ridges) in galaxies out of the star-forming disks, which do not follow any observed component of the interstellar medium (ISM), as observed in NGC 2976. These galaxies are able to provide ordered magnetic fields far out of their main disks.Comment: 16 page

    Strongly correlated gases of Rydberg-dressed atoms: quantum and classical dynamics

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    We discuss techniques to generate long-range interactions in a gas of groundstate alkali atoms, by weakly admixing excited Rydberg states with laser light. This provides a tool to engineer strongly correlated phases with reduced decoherence from inelastic collisions and spontaneous emission. As an illustration, we discuss the quantum phases of dressed atoms with dipole-dipole interactions confined in a harmonic potential, as relevant to experiments. We show that residual spontaneous emission from the Rydberg state acts as a heating mechanism, leading to a quantum-classical crossover.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

    Heparin oligosaccharides: inhibitors of the biological activity of bFGF on Caco-2 cells.

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    A number of growth factors, including members of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family - hepatocyte growth factor, vascular endothelial growth factor and heparin-binding epidermal growth factor - are dependent on heparan sulphate (HS) for biological activity mediated through their high-affinity signal-transducing receptors. This obligate requirement for HS prompted the search for antagonists of HS function that could be used as anti-growth factor drugs for the treatment of cancer. Basic FGF (bFGF) was the focus of this study. Caco-2, a human colon carcinoma cell line, was adapted to growth in serum-free medium so that investigation of its growth factor requirements for growth and migration could be performed in defined conditions (Jayson GC, Evans GS, Pemberton PW, Lobley RW, Allen T 1994, Cancer Res, 54, 5718-5723). This cell line multiplied and moved in a dose-dependent manner in response to bFGF. Here, we show that the mitogenic response to bFGF is dependent on the presence of heparan sulphate. A library of heparin oligosaccharides with uniform composition but variable length was generated [general formula [IdoA(2S)-GlcNS(6S)n], and oligosaccharides of defined lengths were tested for their ability to inhibit the biological activity of bFGF. While intact heparin and heparin-derived fragments of 12 monosaccharide units did not affect bFGF-induced cell division or bFGF-induced cell migration, octasaccharides and decasaccharides potently inhibited the bFGF-induced growth and migration responses. In particular, octasaccharides completely inhibited these biological activities at 10 microg ml-, a clinically achievable and tolerable concentration. This study shows that the length of an oligosaccharide determines its ability to block the biological activity of bFGF. The observation that the biological activity of cell-surface heparan sulphate can be antagonized in this way in a human carcinoma cell line suggests that oligosaccharides should be investigated further as anti-growth factor agents for the treatment of cancer. In addition, the results suggest that the clinical evaluation of low-molecular weight heparin (LMWH) as an anti-cancer agent might benefit from subfractionation of the LMWH, to remove oligosaccharides of 12 or more residues

    Synthesis and analysis of jet fuel from shale oil and coal syncrudes

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    Thirty-two jet fuel samples of varying properties were produced from shale oil and coal syncrudes, and analyzed to assess their suitability for use. TOSCO II shale oil and H-COAL and COED syncrudes were used as starting materials. The processes used were among those commonly in use in petroleum processing-distillation, hydrogenation and catalytic hydrocracking. The processing conditions required to meet two levels of specifications regarding aromatic, hydrogen, sulfur and nitrogen contents at two yield levels were determined and found to be more demanding than normally required in petroleum processing. Analysis of the samples produced indicated that if the more stringent specifications of 13.5% hydrogen (min.) and 0.02% nitrogen (max.) were met, products similar in properties to conventional jet fuels were obtained. In general, shale oil was easier to process (catalyst deactivation was seen when processing coal syncrudes), consumed less hydrogen and yielded superior products. Based on these considerations, shale oil appears to be preferred to coal as a petroleum substitute for jet fuel production

    Clustering of solutions in the random satisfiability problem

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    Using elementary rigorous methods we prove the existence of a clustered phase in the random KK-SAT problem, for K≥8K\geq 8. In this phase the solutions are grouped into clusters which are far away from each other. The results are in agreement with previous predictions of the cavity method and give a rigorous confirmation to one of its main building blocks. It can be generalized to other systems of both physical and computational interest.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figur

    Dynamics of Low-Density Ultracold Rydberg Gases

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    Population dynamics in weakly-excited clouds of ultracold 87^{87}Rb Rydberg atoms were studied by means of trap loss, fluorescence detection, and state dependent stimulated emission. Rydberg atoms were excited to various nl Rydberg states via continuous two-photon excitation from a magneto-optical trap. A stimulated emission probe laser was then used to bring the Rydberg atoms down to the 6P3/2_{3/2} state, allowing state-dependent detection of the Rydberg atoms. Measurements of trap loss and fluorescent emission reveal information about the evolution of the Rydberg populations. In particular, population in the initial Rydberg state quickly transfers to other Rydberg states by a non-collisional mechanism, likely superradiant emission. The trap-loss measurements are consistent with black-body ionization as the dominant loss mechanism.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figure
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