437 research outputs found
Kinematics of W UMa-type binaries and evidences on the two types of formation
The kinematics of 129 W UMa binaries is studied and its implications on the
contact binary evolution is discussed. The sample is found to be heterogeneous
in the velocity space that kinematically younger and older contact binaries
exist in the sample. Kinematically young (0.5 Gyr) sub-sample (MG) is formed by
selecting the systems which are satisfying the kinematical criteria of moving
groups. After removing the possible MG members and the systems which are known
to be members of open clusters, the rest of the sample is called Field Contact
Binaries (FCB). The FCB has further divided into four groups according to The
orbital period ranges. Then a correlation has been found in the sense that
shorter period less massive systems have larger velocity dispersions than the
longer period more massive systems. Dispersions in the velocity space indicates
5.47 Gyr kinematical age for the FCB group. Comparing with the field
chromospherically active binaries (CAB), presumably detached binary progenitors
of the contact systems, the FCB appears to be 1.61 Gyr older. Assuming an
equilibrium in the formation and destruction of CAB and W UMa systems in the
Galaxy, this age difference is treated as empirically deduced lifetime of the
contact stage. Since the kinematical ages of the four sub groups of FCB are
much longer than the 1.61 Gyr lifetime of the contact stage, the pre-contact
stages of FCB must dominantly be producing the large dispersions. The
kinematically young (0.5 Gyr) MG group covers the same total mass, period and
spectral ranges as the FCB. But, the very young age of this group does not
leave enough room for pre-contact stages, thus it is most likely that those
systems were formed in the beginning of the main-sequence or during the
pre-main-sequence contraction phase.Comment: 19 pages, including 11 figures and 5 tables, accepted for publication
in MNRA
Kinematics of the chromospherically active binaries and evidence of an orbital period decrease in binary evolution
Kinematics of 237 Chromospherically Active Binaries (CAB) were studied. The
sample is heterogeneous with different orbits and physically different
components from F to M spectral type main sequence stars to G and K giants and
super giants. The computed , , space velocities indicate the sample
is also heterogeneous in the velocity space. That is, both kinematically
younger and older systems exist among the non-evolved main sequence and the
evolved binaries containing giants and sub giants. The kinematically young
(0.95 Gyr) sub-sample (N=95), which is formed according to the kinematical
criteria of moving groups, was compared to the rest (N=142) of the sample (3.86
Gyr) in order to investigate observational clues of the binary evolution.
Comparing the orbital period histograms between the younger and older
sub-samples, evidences were found supporting Demircan's (1999) finding that the
CAB binaries lose mass (and angular momentum) and evolve towards shorter
orbital periods. The evidence of mass loss is noticeable on the histograms of
the total mass (), which is compared between the younger
(available only N=53 systems) and older sub-samples (available only N=66
systems). The orbital period decrease during binary evolution is found to be
clearly indicated by the kinematical ages of 6.69, 5.19, and 3.02 Gyr which
were found in the sub samples according to the period ranges of ,
, and among the binaries in the older sub
sample.Comment: 26 pages, including 11 figures and 5 tables, 2004, MNRAS, 349, 106
Structural Synthesis for GXW Specifications
We define the GXW fragment of linear temporal logic (LTL) as the basis for
synthesizing embedded control software for safety-critical applications. Since
GXW includes the use of a weak-until operator we are able to specify a number
of diverse programmable logic control (PLC) problems, which we have compiled
from industrial training sets. For GXW controller specifications, we develop a
novel approach for synthesizing a set of synchronously communicating
actor-based controllers. This synthesis algorithm proceeds by means of
recursing over the structure of GXW specifications, and generates a set of
dedicated and synchronously communicating sub-controllers according to the
formula structure. In a subsequent step, 2QBF constraint solving identifies and
tries to resolve potential conflicts between individual GXW specifications.
This structural approach to GXW synthesis supports traceability between
requirements and the generated control code as mandated by certification
regimes for safety-critical software. Synthesis for GXW specifications is in
PSPACE compared to 2EXPTIME-completeness of full-fledged LTL synthesis. Indeed
our experimental results suggest that GXW synthesis scales well to
industrial-sized control synthesis problems with 20 input and output ports and
beyond.Comment: The long (including appendix) version being reviewed by CAV'16
program committee. Compared to the submitted version, one author (out of her
wish) is moved to the Acknowledgement. (v2) Corrected typos. (v3) Add an
additional remark over environment assumption and easy corner case
Optimization of double pulse pumping for Ni-like Sm x-ray lasers
We report a systematic study of double pulse pumping of the Ni-like Sm x-ray laser at 73 Angstrom, currently the shortest wavelength saturated x-ray laser. It is found that the Sm x-ray laser output can change by orders of magnitude when the intensity ratio of the pumping pulses and their relative delay are varied. Optimum pumping conditions are found and interpreted in terms of a simple model. (C) 1999 American Institute of Physics. [S0021-8979(99)07102-9]
Dynamical evolution of active detached binaries on log Jo - log M diagram and contact binary formation
Orbital angular momentum (Jo), systemic mass (M) and orbital period (P)
distributions of chromospherically active binaries (CAB) and W Ursae Majoris (W
UMa) systems were investigated. The diagrams of log Jo - log P, log M - log P
and log Jo-log M were formed from 119 CAB and 102 W UMa stars. The log Jo-log M
diagram is found to be most meaningful in demonstrating dynamical evolution of
binary star orbits. A slightly curved borderline (contact border) separating
the detached and the contact systems was discovered on the log Jo - log M
diagram. Since orbital size (a) and period (P) of binaries are determined by
their current Jo, M and mass ratio q, the rates of orbital angular momentum
loss (dlog Jo/dt) and mass loss (dlog M/dt) are primary parameters to determine
the direction and the speed of the dynamical evolution. A detached system
becomes a contact system if its own dynamical evolution enables it to pass the
contact border on the log Jo - log M diagram. Evolution of q for a mass loosing
detached system is unknown unless mass loss rate for each component is known.
Assuming q is constant in the first approximation and using the mean decreasing
rates of Jo and M from the kinematical ages of CAB stars, it has been predicted
that 11, 23 and 39 cent of current CAB stars would transform to W UMa systems
if their nuclear evolution permits them to live 2, 4 and 6 Gyrs respectively.Comment: 28 pages, including 6 figures and 2 tables, accepted for publication
in MNRA
Internet-based psychoeducation for bipolar disorder: a qualitative analysis of feasibility, acceptability and impact
<p>Background: In a recent exploratory randomised trial we found that a novel, internet-based psychoeducation programme for bipolar disorder (Beating Bipolar) was relatively easy to deliver and had a modest effect on psychological quality of life. We sought to explore the experiences of participants with respect to feasibility, acceptability and impact of Beating Bipolar.</p>
<p>Methods: Participants were invited to take part in a semi-structured interview. Thematic analysis techniques were employed; to explore and describe participants’ experiences, the data were analysed for emerging themes which were identified and coded.</p>
<p>Results: The programme was feasible to deliver and acceptable to participants where they felt comfortable using a computer. It was found to impact upon insight into illness, health behaviour, personal routines and positive attitudes towards medication. Many participants regarded the programme as likely to be most beneficial for those recently diagnosed.</p>
<p>Conclusions: An online psychoeducation package for bipolar disorder, such as Beating Bipolar, is feasible and acceptable to patients, has a positive impact on self-management behaviours and may be particularly suited to early intervention. Alternative (non-internet) formats should also be made available to patients.</p>
Prototyping the Semantics of a DSL using ASF+SDF: Link to Formal Verification of DSL Models
A formal definition of the semantics of a domain-specific language (DSL) is a
key prerequisite for the verification of the correctness of models specified
using such a DSL and of transformations applied to these models. For this
reason, we implemented a prototype of the semantics of a DSL for the
specification of systems consisting of concurrent, communicating objects. Using
this prototype, models specified in the DSL can be transformed to labeled
transition systems (LTS). This approach of transforming models to LTSs allows
us to apply existing tools for visualization and verification to models with
little or no further effort. The prototype is implemented using the ASF+SDF
Meta-Environment, an IDE for the algebraic specification language ASF+SDF,
which offers efficient execution of the transformation as well as the ability
to read models and produce LTSs without any additional pre or post processing.Comment: In Proceedings AMMSE 2011, arXiv:1106.596
A Taxonomy of Causality-Based Biological Properties
We formally characterize a set of causality-based properties of metabolic
networks. This set of properties aims at making precise several notions on the
production of metabolites, which are familiar in the biologists' terminology.
From a theoretical point of view, biochemical reactions are abstractly
represented as causal implications and the produced metabolites as causal
consequences of the implication representing the corresponding reaction. The
fact that a reactant is produced is represented by means of the chain of
reactions that have made it exist. Such representation abstracts away from
quantities, stoichiometric and thermodynamic parameters and constitutes the
basis for the characterization of our properties. Moreover, we propose an
effective method for verifying our properties based on an abstract model of
system dynamics. This consists of a new abstract semantics for the system seen
as a concurrent network and expressed using the Chemical Ground Form calculus.
We illustrate an application of this framework to a portion of a real
metabolic pathway
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