2,022 research outputs found
Structure and Composition of Molecular Clouds with CN Zeeman Detections I: W3OH
We have carried out a multi-species study of a region which has had previous
measurements of strong magnetic fields through the CN Zeeman effect in order to
to explore the relationship between CN and NH, both of which have
evidence that they remain in the gas phase at densities of 10 - 10
cm. To achieve this we map the 1 arcmin region around the UCHII
region of W3(OH) using the Combined Array for Millimeter-wave Astronomy
(CARMA). Approximately 105 hours of data were collected in multiple array
configurations to produce maps with an effective resolution of
2.5\arcsec at high signal-to-noise in CN, CO, HCN, HCO, NH,
and two continuum bands (91.2 GHz and 112 GHz). These data allow us to compare
tracer molecules associated with both low and high density regions to infer gas
properties. We determine that CARMA resolves out approximately 35% of the CN
emission around W3(OH) when compared with spectra obtained from the IRAM-30
meter telescope. The presence of strong absorption lines towards the continuum
source in three of the molecular transitions infers the presence of a cold,
dark, optically thick region in front of the continuum source. In addition, the
presence of high-velocity emission lines near the continuum source shows the
presence of hot clumpy emission behind the continuum source. These data
determine that future high-resolution interferometric CN Zeeman measurements
which cannot currently be performed (due to technical limitations of current
telescopes) are feasible. We confirm that CN is indeed a good tracer for high
density regions; with certain objects such as W3(OH) it appears to be a more
accurate tracer than NH.Comment: 33 pages, 16 figures. Accepted by Ap
Dictionary Learning and Sparse Coding-based Denoising for High-Resolution Task Functional Connectivity MRI Analysis
We propose a novel denoising framework for task functional Magnetic Resonance
Imaging (tfMRI) data to delineate the high-resolution spatial pattern of the
brain functional connectivity via dictionary learning and sparse coding (DLSC).
In order to address the limitations of the unsupervised DLSC-based fMRI
studies, we utilize the prior knowledge of task paradigm in the learning step
to train a data-driven dictionary and to model the sparse representation. We
apply the proposed DLSC-based method to Human Connectome Project (HCP) motor
tfMRI dataset. Studies on the functional connectivity of cerebrocerebellar
circuits in somatomotor networks show that the DLSC-based denoising framework
can significantly improve the prominent connectivity patterns, in comparison to
the temporal non-local means (tNLM)-based denoising method as well as the case
without denoising, which is consistent and neuroscientifically meaningful
within motor area. The promising results show that the proposed method can
provide an important foundation for the high-resolution functional connectivity
analysis, and provide a better approach for fMRI preprocessing.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, MLMI201
Cosmetic colouring by Bearded Vultures Gypaetus barbatus: still no evidence for an antibacterial function
Bearded Vultures regularly visit ferruginous springs for cosmetic purposes to obtain their reddish plumage colouration. Different hypotheses have been proposed to explain this deliberate application of adventitious colouration: (1) to signal individual dominance status; (2) to exploit an anti-bacterial effect of iron oxides or ochre to reduce feather degradation by bacteria and, in parallel (3) to enable incubating birds to transfer this protection to their developing embryos to increase hatching success. Here, we re-evaluate the antibacterial hypothesis using three experimental approaches: (a) by applying feather-degrading bacteria to stained and unstained bearded vulture feathers; (b) by assessing the antibacterial activity of ochre; and (c) by comparing the breeding success of orange individuals with pale ones. Our findings suggest that the in vitro addition of feather degrading Bacillus licheniformis to naturally stained Bearded Vulture feathers did not retard feather degradation compared to controls. Iron particles from red soil (ochre) or iron salts had no antibacterial effect on the growth of three species
of bacteria (Escherichia coli, Kocuria rhizophila and Bacillus licheniformis), incubated either in the dark or under visible light. Finally, breeding success did not differ between territories occupied by pale individuals versus orange ones. These results run counter to the hypothesis that iron oxides have an antibacterial role in Bearded Vultures. The use of red soils by Bearded Vultures may function as a territorial status signal, but may also be involved in other processes, such as pair formation and the long-term maintenance of the pair bond, as suggested for the closely related Egyptian vulture Neophron percnopterus
Fostering Preservice Teacher Identity in Science through a Student-Selected Project
This article addresses the problem of authentic student engagement in the science classroom by incorporating a semester long research and writing assignment that enables students to investigate scientific topics related to strong personal, career, or health interests
Yang-Mills glueball masses from spectral reconstruction
We compute masses of the two lightest glueballs from spectral reconstructions
of timelike interaction channels of the four-gluon vertex in Landau gauge
Yang-Mills theory. The Euclidean spacelike dressings of the vertex are
calculated with the functional renormalisation group. For the spectral
reconstruction of these Euclidean data, we employ Gaussian process regression.
The glueball resonances can be identified straightforwardly and we obtain
MeV as well as MeV, in accordance
with functional bound state and lattice calculations.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure
A high throughput microscopy toxicity pathway reporter platform for chemical safety assessment
Toxicolog
A multi-particle model of the 3C 48 host
The first successful multi-particle model for the host of the well-known
quasi-stellar object (QSO) 3C 48 is reported. It shows that the morphology and
the stellar velocity field of the 3C 48 host can be reproduced by the merger of
two disk galaxies. The conditions of the interaction are similar to those used
for interpreting the appearance of the ''Antennae'' (NGC 4038/39) but seen from
a different viewing angle. The model supports the controversial hypothesis that
3C 48A is the second nucleus of a merging galaxy, and it suggests a simple
solution for the problem of the missing counter tidal tail.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in A&
- …