29,645 research outputs found
The core helium flash revisited: II. Two and three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations
We study turbulent convection during the core helium flash close to its peak
by comparing the results of two and three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations.
We use a multidimensional Eulerian hydrodynamics code based on
state-of-the-art numerical techniques to simulate the evolution of the helium
core of a Pop I star.
Our three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of the evolution of a star
during the peak of the core helium flash do not show any explosive behavior.
The convective flow patterns developing in the three-dimensional models are
structurally different from those of the corresponding two-dimensional models,
and the typical convective velocities are smaller than those found in their
two-dimensional counterparts. Three-dimensional models also tend to agree
better with the predictions of mixing length theory. Our hydrodynamic
simulations show the presence of turbulent entrainment that results in a growth
of the convection zone on a dynamic time scale. Contrary to mixing length
theory, the outer part of the convection zone is characterized by a
sub-adiabatic temperature gradient.Comment: 19 pages, 18 figure
Mercury in the environs of the north slope of Alaska
The analysis of Greenland ice suggests that the flux of mercury from the continents
to the atmosphere has increased in recent times, perhaps partly as a result of the many of
man’s activities that effect an alteration of terrestrial surfaces. Upon the exposure of fresh
crustal matter, the natural outgassing of mercury vapor from the earth’s surface could be
enhanced.
Accordingly, mercury was measured in a variety of environmental materials gathered
from the North Slope of Alaska to provide background data prior to the anticipated increase
of activity in this environment. The materials were collected during the U. S. Coast Guard
WEBSEC 72-73 cruises as well as through the facilities provided by Naval Arctic Research
Laboratory in the spring of 1973.
The method of measurement depended upon radioactivation of mercury with neutrons
and the subsequent quantification of characteristic gamma radiations after radiochemical
purification.
Mercury concentrations in seawater at several locations in the vicinity of 151°W,
71°N averaged 20 parts per trillion. The waters from all stations east of this location showed
a significantly smaller concentration. This difference may relate to penetration o f Bering-
Chukchi Sea water into the southern Beaufort Sea to 151°W. Marine sediments on the shelf
and slope between 143°W and 153°W contained about 100 parts per billion mercury, except
for those on the continental shelf between Barter Island and the Canning River, where the
concentration was less than half this value. These results are consistent with sediment input
from the respective rivers when their mercury content and mineralogy are considered. The
mercury content of river waters was 18 ppt and in reasonable agreement with the average of
snow samples (13 ppt). The burden of mercury in plankton was 37 ppb.This work was supported by the office of Naval Research under grant N R 083-290
Potential landscapes and induced charges near metallic islands in three dimensions
We calculate electrostatic potential landscapes for an external probe charge
in the presence of a set of metallic islands. Our numerical calculation in
three dimensions (3D)uses an efficient grid relaxation technique. The
well-known relaxation algorithm for solving the Poisson equation in two
dimensions is generalized to 3D. In addition,all charges on the system, free as
well as induced charges,are determined accurately and self-consistently to
satisfy the desired boundary conditions. This allows the straightforward
calculation of the potential on the outer boundary using the free space
electrostatic Green's function,as well as the calculation of the entire
capacitance matrix of the system. Physically interesting examples of nanoscale
systems are presented and analyzed.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figures, submitted to PR
The innermost region of the water megamaser radio galaxy 3C403
The standard unified scheme of active galactic nuclei requires the presence
of high column densities of gas and dust potentially obscuring the central
engine. So far, few direct subarcsecond resolution studies of this material
have been performed toward radio galaxies. The goal of this paper is to
elucidate the nuclear environment of the prototypical X-shaped Fanaroff-Riley
type II radio galaxy 3C403, the only powerful radio galaxy known to host a
water megamaser. Very Large Array A-array and single-dish Green Bank and
Effelsberg 1.3 cm measurements were performed to locate and monitor the water
maser emission. Very Long Baseline Interferometry 6 cm continuum observations
were taken to analyze the spatial structure of the nuclear environment at even
smaller scales, while the CO J=1-0 and 2-1 transitions were observed with the
IRAM 30-m telescope to search for thermal emission from a spatially extended,
moderately dense gas component.[abridged]Comment: 11 pages, 12 figures, accepted by A&A. For a version with high
quality figures, see http://erg.ca.astro.it/~atarchi/3C403
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Absence of ZAP-70 prevents signaling through the antigen receptor on peripheral blood T cells but not on thymocytes.
Recently, a severe combined immunodeficiency syndrome with a deficiency of CD8+ peripheral T cells and a TCR signal transduction defect in peripheral CD4+ T cells was associated with mutations in ZAP-70. Since TCR signaling is required in developmental decisions resulting in mature CD4 (and CD8) T cells, the presence of peripheral CD4+ T cells expressing TCRs incapable of signaling in these patients is paradoxical. Here, we show that the TCRs on thymocytes, but not peripheral T cells, from a ZAP-70-deficient patient are capable of signaling. Moreover, the TCR on a thymocyte line derived from this patient can signal, and the homologous kinase Syk is present at high levels and is tyrosine phosphorylated after TCR stimulation. Thus, Syk may compensate for the loss of ZAP-70 and account for the thymic selection of at least a subset of T cells (CD4+) in ZAP-70-deficient patients
Monte Carlo simulations reveal the straightening up of an end-grafted flexible chain with a rigid side chain
We have studied the conformational properties of a flexible end-grafted chain
(length ) with a rigid side chain (length ) by means of Monte Carlo
simulations. Depending on the lengths and and the branching site, ,
we observe a considerable straightening of the flexible backbone as quantified
via the gyration tensor. For , i.e. when attaching the side chain to the
free end of the flexible backbone, the effect was strongest
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