1,087 research outputs found
Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Giant Planets, Oscillations, Rotation, and Massive Stars
We substantially update the capabilities of the open source software package
Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA), and its one-dimensional
stellar evolution module, MESA Star. Improvements in MESA Star's ability to
model the evolution of giant planets now extends its applicability down to
masses as low as one-tenth that of Jupiter. The dramatic improvement in
asteroseismology enabled by the space-based Kepler and CoRoT missions motivates
our full coupling of the ADIPLS adiabatic pulsation code with MESA Star. This
also motivates a numerical recasting of the Ledoux criterion that is more
easily implemented when many nuclei are present at non-negligible abundances.
This impacts the way in which MESA Star calculates semi-convective and
thermohaline mixing. We exhibit the evolution of 3-8 Msun stars through the end
of core He burning, the onset of He thermal pulses, and arrival on the white
dwarf cooling sequence. We implement diffusion of angular momentum and chemical
abundances that enable calculations of rotating-star models, which we compare
thoroughly with earlier work. We introduce a new treatment of
radiation-dominated envelopes that allows the uninterrupted evolution of
massive stars to core collapse. This enables the generation of new sets of
supernovae, long gamma-ray burst, and pair-instability progenitor models. We
substantially modify the way in which MESA Star solves the fully coupled
stellar structure and composition equations, and we show how this has improved
MESA's performance scaling on multi-core processors. Updates to the modules for
equation of state, opacity, nuclear reaction rates, and atmospheric boundary
conditions are also provided. We describe the MESA Software Development Kit
(SDK) that packages all the required components needed to form a unified and
maintained build environment for MESA. [Abridged]Comment: Accepted for publication in The ApJ Supplement Series. Extra
informations required to reproduce the calculations in this paper are
available at http://mesastar.org/results/mesa
Modules for Experiments in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA): Convective Boundaries, Element Diffusion, and Massive Star Explosions
We update the capabilities of the software instrument Modules for Experiments
in Stellar Astrophysics (MESA) and enhance its ease of use and availability.
Our new approach to locating convective boundaries is consistent with the
physics of convection, and yields reliable values of the convective core mass
during both hydrogen and helium burning phases. Stars with
become white dwarfs and cool to the point where the electrons are degenerate
and the ions are strongly coupled, a realm now available to study with MESA due
to improved treatments of element diffusion, latent heat release, and blending
of equations of state. Studies of the final fates of massive stars are extended
in MESA by our addition of an approximate Riemann solver that captures shocks
and conserves energy to high accuracy during dynamic epochs. We also introduce
a 1D capability for modeling the effects of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities that,
in combination with the coupling to a public version of the STELLA radiation
transfer instrument, creates new avenues for exploring Type II supernovae
properties. These capabilities are exhibited with exploratory models of
pair-instability supernova, pulsational pair-instability supernova, and the
formation of stellar mass black holes. The applicability of MESA is now widened
by the capability of importing multi-dimensional hydrodynamic models into MESA.
We close by introducing software modules for handling floating point exceptions
and stellar model optimization, and four new software tools -- MESAWeb,
MESA-Docker, pyMESA, and mesastar.org -- to enhance MESA's education and
research impact.Comment: 64 pages, 61 figures; Accepted to AAS Journal
The Structure of the Homunculus. III. Forming a Disk and Bipolar Lobes in a Rotating Surface Explosion
We present a semi-analytic model for shaping the nebula around eta Carinae
that accounts for the simultaneous production of bipolar lobes and an
equatorial disk through a rotating surface explosion. Material is launched
normal to the surface of an oblate rotating star with an initial kick velocity
that scales approximately with the local escape speed. Thereafter, ejecta
follow ballistic orbital trajectories, feeling only a central force
corresponding to a radiatively reduced gravity. Our model is conceptually
similar to the wind-compressed disk model of Bjorkman & Cassinelli, but we
modify it to an explosion instead of a steady line-driven wind, we include a
rotationally-distorted star, and we treat the dynamics somewhat differently.
Continuum-driving avoids the disk inhibition that normally operates in
line-driven winds. Our model provides a simple method by which rotating hot
stars can simultaneously produce intrinsically bipolar and equatorial mass
ejections, without an aspherical environment or magnetic fields. Although
motivated by eta Carinae, the model may have generic application to other LBVs,
B[e] stars, or SN1987A's nebula. When near-Eddington radiative driving is less
influential, our model generalizes to produce bipolar morphologies without
disks, as seen in many PNe.Comment: ApJ accepted, 9 page
Structure and expression of the human globin genes and murine histocompatibility antigen genes
Electronic structure of NiSSe across the phase transition
We report very highly resolved photoemission spectra of NiS(1-x)Se(x) across
the so-called metal-insulator transition as a function of temperature as well
as composition. The present results convincingly demonstrate that the low
temperature, antiferromagnetic phase is metallic, with a reduced density of
states at E. This decrease is possibly due to the opening of gaps along
specific directions in the Brillouin zone caused by the antiferromagnetic
ordering.Comment: Revtex, 4 pages, 3 postscript figure
High-Resolution Chandra X-Ray Imaging And Spectroscopy Of The Sigma Orionis Cluster
We present results of a 90 ks Chandra X-ray observation of the young sigma Orionis cluster ( age similar to 3 Myr) obtained with the HETGS. We use the high-resolution grating spectrum and moderate-resolution CCD spectrum of the massive central star sigma Ori AB (O9.5 V + B0.5 V) to test wind shock theories of X-ray emission and also analyze the high spatial resolution zero-order ACIS-S image of the central cluster region. Chandra detected 42 X-ray sources on the primary CCD (ACIS-S3). All but five have near-IR or optical counterparts and about one-fourth are variable. Notable high-mass stellar detections are sigma Ori AB, the magnetic B star sigma Ori E, and the B5 V binary HD 37525. Most of the other detections have properties consistent with lower mass K- or M-type stars. We present the first X-ray spectrum of the unusual infrared source IRS 1, located approximate to 3 \u27\u27 north of sigma Ori AB. Its X-ray properties and elongated mid-IR morphology suggest that it is an embedded low-mass T Tauri star whose disk/envelope is being photoevaporated by sigma Ori AB. We focus on the radiative wind shock interpretation of the soft luminous X-ray emission from sigma Ori AB, but also consider possible alternatives including magnetically confined wind shocks and colliding wind shocks. Its emission lines show no significant asymmetries or centroid shifts and are moderately broadened to HWHM approximate to 264 km s(-1), or one-fourth the terminal wind speed. Forbidden lines in He-like ions are formally undetected, implying strong UV suppression. The Mg XI triplet forms in the wind acceleration zone within one stellar radius above the surface. These X-ray properties are consistent in several respects with the predictions of radiative wind shock theory for an optically thin wind, but explaining the narrow line widths presents a challenge to the theory
Expression of murine H-2Kb histocompatibility antigen in cells transformed with cloned H-2 genes
Nature-Based Interventions for Improving Health and Wellbeing : The Purpose, the People and the Outcomes
Engagement with nature is an important part of many people's lives, and the health and wellbeing benefits of nature-based activities are becoming increasingly recognised across disciplines from city planning to medicine. Despite this, urbanisation, challenges of modern life and environmental degradation are leading to a reduction in both the quantity and the quality of nature experiences. Nature-based health interventions (NBIs) can facilitate behavioural change through a somewhat structured promotion of nature-based experiences and, in doing so, promote improved physical, mental and social health and wellbeing. We conducted a Delphi expert elicitation process with 19 experts from seven countries (all named authors on this paper) to identify the different forms that such interventions take, the potential health outcomes and the target beneficiaries. In total, 27 NBIs were identified, aiming to prevent illness, promote wellbeing and treat specific physical, mental or social health and wellbeing conditions. These interventions were broadly categorized into those that change the environment in which people live, work, learn, recreate or heal (for example, the provision of gardens in hospitals or parks in cities) and those that change behaviour (for example, engaging people through organized programmes or other activities). We also noted the range of factors (such as socioeconomic variation) that will inevitably influence the extent to which these interventions succeed. We conclude with a call for research to identify the drivers influencing the effectiveness of NBIs in enhancing health and wellbeing.Peer reviewe
Photochemical Fingerprinting Is a Sensitive Probe for the Detection of Synthetic Cannabinoid Receptor Agonists; Toward Robust Point-of-Care Detection
With synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) use still prevalent across Europe and structurally advanced generations emerging, it is imperative that drug detection methods advance in parallel. SCRAs are a chemically diverse and evolving group, which makes rapid detection challenging. We have previously shown that fluorescence spectral fingerprinting (FSF) has the potential to provide rapid assessment of SCRA presence directly from street material with minimal processing and in saliva. Enhancing the sensitivity and discriminatory ability of this approach has high potential to accelerate the delivery of a point-of-care technology that can be used confidently by a range of stakeholders, from medical to prison staff. We demonstrate that a range of structurally distinct SCRAs are photochemically active and give rise to distinct FSFs after irradiation. To explore this in detail, we have synthesized a model series of compounds which mimic specific structural features of AM-694. Our data show that FSFs are sensitive to chemically conservative changes, with evidence that this relates to shifts in the electronic structure and cross-conjugation. Crucially, we find that the photochemical degradation rate is sensitive to individual structures and gives rise to a specific major product, the mechanism and identification of which we elucidate through density-functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT. We test the potential of our hybrid "photochemical fingerprinting"approach to discriminate SCRAs by demonstrating SCRA detection from a simulated smoking apparatus in saliva. Our study shows the potential of tracking photochemical reactivity via FSFs for enhanced discrimination of SCRAs, with successful integration into a portable device.</p
Photochemical fingerprinting is a sensitive probe for the detection of synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonists; towards robust point-of-care detection
With synthetic cannabinoid receptor agonist (SCRA) use still prevalent across Europe and structurally advanced generations emerging, it is imperative that drug detection methods advance in parallel. SCRAs are a chemically diverse and evolving group, which makes rapid detection challenging. We have previously shown that fluorescence spectral fingerprinting (FSF) has the potential to provide rapid assessment of SCRA presence directly from street material with minimal processing and in saliva. Enhancing the sensitivity and discriminatory ability of this approach has high potential to accelerate the delivery of a point-of-care technology that can be used confidently by a range of stakeholders, from medical to prison staff. We demonstrate that a range of structurally distinct SCRAs are photochemically active and give rise to distinct FSFs after irradiation. To explore this in detail, we have synthesized a model series of compounds which mimic specific structural features of AM-694. Our data show that FSFs are sensitive to chemically conservative changes, with evidence that this relates to shifts in the electronic structure and cross-conjugation. Crucially, we find that the photochemical degradation rate is sensitive to individual structures and gives rise to a specific major product, the mechanism and identification of which we elucidate through density-functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT. We test the potential of our hybrid “photochemical fingerprinting” approach to discriminate SCRAs by demonstrating SCRA detection from a simulated smoking apparatus in saliva. Our study shows the potential of tracking photochemical reactivity via FSFs for enhanced discrimination of SCRAs, with successful integration into a portable device
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