239 research outputs found
A Multi-Wavelength High Resolution Study of the S255 Star Forming Region. General structure and kinematics
We present observational data for two main components (S255IR and S255N) of
the S255 high mass star forming region in continuum and molecular lines
obtained at 1.3 mm and 1.1 mm with the SMA, at 1.3 cm with the VLA and at 23
and 50 cm with the GMRT. The angular resolution was from ~ 2" to ~ 5" for all
instruments. With the SMA we detected a total of about 50 spectral lines of 20
different molecules (including isotopologues). About half of the lines and half
of the species (in particular N2H+, SiO, C34S, DCN, DNC, DCO+, HC3N, H2CO,
H2CS, SO2) have not been previously reported in S255IR and partly in S255N at
high angular resolution. Our data reveal several new clumps in the S255IR and
S255N areas by their millimeter wave continuum emission. Masses of these clumps
are estimated at a few solar masses. The line widths greatly exceed expected
thermal widths. These clumps have practically no association with NIR or radio
continuum sources, implying a very early stage of evolution. At the same time,
our SiO data indicate the presence of high-velocity outflows related to some of
these clumps. In some cases, strong molecular emission at velocities of the
quiescent gas has no detectable counterpart in the continuum. We discuss the
main features of the distribution of NH3, N2H+, and deuterated molecules. We
estimate properties of decimeter wave radio continuum sources and their
relationship with the molecular material.Comment: 21 pages, 26 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical
Journa
Molecular line radiative transfer in protoplanetary disks: Monte Carlo simulations versus approximate methods
We analyze the line radiative transfer in protoplanetary disks using several
approximate methods and a well-tested Accelerated Monte Carlo code. A low-mass
flaring disk model with uniform as well as stratified molecular abundances is
adopted. Radiative transfer in low and high rotational lines of CO, C18O, HCO+,
DCO+, HCN, CS, and H2CO is simulated. The corresponding excitation
temperatures, synthetic spectra, and channel maps are derived and compared to
the results of the Monte Carlo calculations. A simple scheme that describes the
conditions of the line excitation for a chosen molecular transition is
elaborated. We find that the simple LTE approach can safely be applied for the
low molecular transitions only, while it significantly overestimates the
intensities of the upper lines. In contrast, the Full Escape Probability (FEP)
approximation can safely be used for the upper transitions (J_{\rm up} \ga 3)
but it is not appropriate for the lowest transitions because of the maser
effect. In general, the molecular lines in protoplanetary disks are partly
subthermally excited and require more sophisticated approximate line radiative
transfer methods. We analyze a number of approximate methods, namely, LVG, VEP
(Vertical Escape Probability) and VOR (Vertical One Ray) and discuss their
algorithms in detail. In addition, two modifications to the canonical Monte
Carlo algorithm that allow a significant speed up of the line radiative
transfer modeling in rotating configurations by a factor of 10--50 are
described.Comment: 47 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Motivating university students for sport competitions
Objective of the study was to analyze benefits of the Belgorod State National Research University academic incentives system for the GTO Complex trainings and test
Right Ventricular Tissue Doppler Assessment in Space During Circulating Volume Modification using the Braslet-M Device
This joint U.S. - Russian work aims to establish a methodology for assessing cardiac function in microgravity in association with manipulation of central circulating volume. Russian Braslet-M occlusion cuffs were used to temporarily increase the volume of blood in the lower extremities, which effectively reduces the volume returning to the heart in the central circulation. A novel methodology was tested on the International Space Station (ISS) to assess the volume status of crewmembers by evaluating the responses to application and release of the Braslet-on-occlusion cuffs, as well as to modified Valsalva and Mueller maneuvers. Baseline echocardiographic tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) of the right ventricular free wall with no Braslet applied shows early diastolic E' (16 cm/sec), late diastolic A' (14 cm/sec), and systolic (12 cm/sec) velocities compatible with normal subjects on Earth. TDI of the RV free wall with Braslet applied shows that early diastolic E' decreased by 50% (8 cm/sec), late diastolic A' increased by 45%, and systolic S' remains unchanged. TDI of the RV free wall approximately 8 beats after the Braslet was released shows early diastolic E' (8 cm/sec), late diastolic A' (12 cm/sec), and systolic S' (13 cm/sec) velocities. During this portion of the release, early diastolic E' did not recover to baseline values but late diastolic A' and systolic S' recovered to pre-Braslet values. The pre-systolic cross-sectional area of the internal jugular vein with Braslet off was 1.07 cm(sup 2) and 1.13 cm(sup 2) 10 min after the Braslet was applied. The presystolic cross-sectional area of the common femoral vein with Braslet off was 0.50 cm(sup 2), and was 0.54 cm(sup 2) 10 min after the Braslet was applied. The right ventricular myocardial performance Tei index also was calculated for comparison with typical values found in healthy subjects on Earth. Baseline and Braslet-on values for Tei index were 0.25 and 0.22 respectively. Braslet Tei indices are within normal ranges found in healthy subjects and temporarily become greater than 0.4 during the dynamic Braslet release portion of this study. Tissue Doppler imaging of the right ventricle revealed that the Braslet influenced cardiac preload and that fluid was sequestered in the lower-extremity interstitial and vascular space after only 10 minutes of application. This report demonstrates that Braslet application affects right ventricular physiology in long-duration space flight based on TDI and that this effect is in part due to venous hemodynamics
Space-VLBI observations of OH maser OH34.26+0.15: low interstellar scattering
We report on the first space-VLBI observations of the OH34.26+0.15 maser in
two main line OH transitions at 1665 and 1667 MHz. The observations involved
the space radiotelescope on board the Japanese satellite HALCA and an array of
ground radio telescopes. The map of the maser region and images of individual
maser spots were produced with an angular resolution of 1 milliarcsec which is
several times higher than the angular resolution available on the ground. The
maser spots were only partly resolved and a lower limit to the brightness
temperature 6x10^{12} K was obtained. The maser seems to be located in the
direction of low interstellar scattering, an order of magnitude lower than the
scattering of a nearby extragalactic source and pulsar.Comment: 8 pages, 2 tables, 9 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
Directional Sensitivity of the NEWSdm Experiment to Cosmic Ray Boosted Dark Matter
We present a study of a directional search for Dark Matter boosted forward
when scattered by cosmic-ray nuclei, using a module of the NEWSdm experiment.
The boosted Dark Matter flux at the edge of the Earth's atmosphere is expected
to be pointing to the Galactic Center, with a flux 15 to 20 times larger than
in the transverse direction.
The module of the NEWSdm experiment consists of a 10 kg stack of Nano Imaging
Trackers, i.e.~newly developed nuclear emulsions with AgBr crystal sizes down
to a few tens of nanometers. The module is installed on an equatorial
telescope. The relatively long recoil tracks induced by boosted Dark Matter,
combined with the nanometric granularity of the emulsion, result in an
extremely low background. This makes an installation at the INFN Gran Sasso
laboratory, both on the surface and underground, viable. A comparison between
the two locations is made. The angular distribution of nuclear recoils induced
by boosted Dark Matter in the emulsion films at the surface laboratory is
expected to show an excess with a factor of 3.5 in the direction of the
Galactic Center. This excess allows for a Dark Matter search with directional
sensitivity. The surface laboratory configuration prevents the deterioration of
the signal in the rock overburden and it emerges as the most powerful approach
for a directional observation of boosted Dark Matter with high sensitivity. We
show that, with this approach, a 10 kg module of the NEWSdm experiment exposed
for one year at the Gran Sasso surface laboratory can probe Dark Matter masses
between 1 keV/c and 1 GeV/c and cross-section values down to
~cm with a directional sensitive search.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures, updated references, clarified discussion in
intro section. Submitted to JCA
Molecular excitation in the Interstellar Medium: recent advances in collisional, radiative and chemical processes
We review the different excitation processes in the interstellar mediumComment: Accepted in Chem. Re
Preparation and properties of silicon- and titanium-containing hybrid nanocomposite films based on ethyl cellulose
Ionic immune suppression within the tumour microenvironment limits T cell effector function.
Tumours progress despite being infiltrated by tumour-specific effector T cells. Tumours contain areas of cellular necrosis, which are associated with poor survival in a variety of cancers. Here, we show that necrosis releases intracellular potassium ions into the extracellular fluid of mouse and human tumours, causing profound suppression of T cell effector function. Elevation of the extracellular potassium concentration ([K+]e) impairs T cell receptor (TCR)-driven Akt-mTOR phosphorylation and effector programmes. Potassium-mediated suppression of Akt-mTOR signalling and T cell function is dependent upon the activity of the serine/threonine phosphatase PP2A. Although the suppressive effect mediated by elevated [K+]e is independent of changes in plasma membrane potential (Vm), it requires an increase in intracellular potassium ([K+]i). Accordingly, augmenting potassium efflux in tumour-specific T cells by overexpressing the potassium channel Kv1.3 lowers [K+]i and improves effector functions in vitro and in vivo and enhances tumour clearance and survival in melanoma-bearing mice. These results uncover an ionic checkpoint that blocks T cell function in tumours and identify potential new strategies for cancer immunotherapy
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