82 research outputs found
Periodic Optical Variability of Radio Detected Ultracool Dwarfs
A fraction of very low mass stars and brown dwarfs are known to be radio
active, in some cases producing periodic pulses. Extensive studies of two such
objects have also revealed optical periodic variability and the nature of this
variability remains unclear. Here we report on multi-epoch optical photometric
monitoring of six radio detected dwarfs, spanning the M8 - L3.5 spectral
range, conducted to investigate the ubiquity of periodic optical variability in
radio detected ultracool dwarfs. This survey is the most sensitive ground-based
study carried out to date in search of periodic optical variability from
late-type dwarfs, where we obtained 250 hours of monitoring, delivering
photometric precision as low as 0.15%. Five of the six targets exhibit
clear periodicity, in all cases likely associated with the rotation period of
the dwarf, with a marginal detection found for the sixth. Our data points to a
likely association between radio and optical periodic variability in
late-M/early-L dwarfs, although the underlying physical cause of this
correlation remains unclear. In one case, we have multiple epochs of monitoring
of the archetype of pulsing radio dwarfs, the M9 TVLM 513-46546, spanning a
period of 5 years, which is sufficiently stable in phase to allow us to
establish a period of 1.95958 0.00005 hours. This phase stability may be
associated with a large-scale stable magnetic field, further strengthening the
correlation between radio activity and periodic optical variability. Finally,
we find a tentative spin-orbit alignment of one component of the very low mass
binary LP 349-25.Comment: Accepted to The Astrophysical Journal; 22 pages; 12 figure
Interferometry of Aurigae: Characterization of the asymmetric eclipsing disk
We report on a total of 106 nights of optical interferometric observations of
the Aurigae system taken during the last 14 years by four beam
combiners at three different interferometric facilities. This long sequence of
data provides an ideal assessment of the system prior to, during, and after the
recent 2009-2011 eclipse. We have reconstructed model-independent images from
the 10 in-eclipse epochs which show that a disk-like object is indeed
responsible for the eclipse. Using new 3D, time-dependent modeling software, we
derive the properties of the F-star (diameter, limb darkening), determine
previously unknown orbital elements (, ), and access the global
structures of the optically thick portion of the eclipsing disk using both
geometric models and approximations of astrophysically relevant density
distributions. These models may be useful in future hydrodynamical modeling of
the system. Lastly, we address several outstanding research questions including
mid-eclipse brightening, possible shrinking of the F-type primary, and any
warps or sub-features within the disk.Comment: 105 pages, 57 figures. This is an author-created, un-copyedited
version of an article accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal
Supplement Series. IOP Publishing Ltd is not responsible for any errors or
omissions in this version of the manuscript or any version derived from i
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Faraday Rotation Measure Gradients from a Helical Magnetic Field in 3C273
Using high frequency (12-22 GHz) VLBA observations we confirm the existence of a Faraday rotation measure gradient of {approx}500 rad m{sup -2} mas{sup -1} transverse to the jet axis in the quasar 3C273. The gradient is seen in two epochs spaced roughly six months apart. This stable transverse rotation measure gradient is expected if a helical magnetic field wraps around the jet. The overall order to the magnetic field in the inner projected 40 parsecs is consistent with a helical field. However, we find an unexpected increase in fractional polarization along the edges of the source, contrary to expectations. This high fractional polarization rules out internal Faraday rotation, but is not readily explained by a helical field. After correcting for the rotation measure, the intrinsic magnetic field direction in the jet of 3C273 changes from parallel to nearly perpendicular to the projected jet motion at two locations. If a helical magnetic field causes the observed rotation measure gradient then the synchrotron emitting electrons must be separate from the helical field region. The presence or absence of transverse rotation measure gradients in other sources is also discussed
Methane Emissions from Process Equipment at Natural Gas Production Sites in the United States: Liquid Unloadings
Methane emissions from liquid unloadings were measured at 107 wells in natural gas production regions throughout the United States. Liquid unloadings clear wells of accumulated liquids to increase production, employing a variety of liquid lifting mechanisms. In this work, wells with and without plunger lifts were sampled. Most wells without plunger lifts unload less than 10 times per year with emissions averaging 21â000â35â000 scf methane (0.4â0.7 Mg) per event (95% confidence limits of 10â000â50â000 scf/event). For wells with plunger lifts, emissions averaged 1000â10â000 scf methane (0.02â0.2 Mg) per event (95% confidence limits of 500â12â000 scf/event). Some wells with plunger lifts are automatically triggered and unload thousands of times per year and these wells account for the majority of the emissions from all wells with liquid unloadings. If the data collected in this work are assumed to be representative of national populations, the data suggest that the central estimate of emissions from unloadings (270 Gg/yr, 95% confidence range of 190â400 Gg) are within a few percent of the emissions estimated in the EPA 2012 Greenhouse Gas National Emission Inventory (released in 2014), with emissions dominated by wells with high frequencies of unloadings
Talaromyces atroroseus, a new species efficiently producing industrially relevant red pigments
Some species of Talaromyces secrete large amounts of red pigments. Literature has linked this character to species such as Talaromyces purpurogenus, T. albobiverticillius, T. marneffei, and T. minioluteus often under earlier Penicillium names. Isolates identified as T. purpurogenus have been reported to be interesting industrially and they can produce extracellular enzymes and red pigments, but they can also produce mycotoxins such as rubratoxin A and B and luteoskyrin. Production of mycotoxins limits the use of isolates of a particular species in biotechnology. Talaromyces atroroseus sp. nov., described in this study, produces the azaphilone biosynthetic families mitorubrins and Monascus pigments without any production of mycotoxins. Within the red pigment producing clade, T. atroroseus resolved in a distinct clade separate from all the other species in multigene phylogenies (ITS, ÎČ-tubulin and RPB1), which confirm its unique nature. Talaromyces atroroseus resembles T. purpurogenus and T. albobiverticillius in producing red diffusible pigments, but differs from the latter two species by the production of glauconic acid, purpuride and ZG-1494α and by the dull to dark green, thick walled ellipsoidal conidia produced. The type strain of Talaromyces atroroseus is CBS 133442
Measuring progress and projecting attainment on the basis of past trends of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals in 188 countries: an analysis from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016
The UNâs Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are grounded in the global ambition of âleaving no one behindâ. Understanding todayâs gains and gaps for the health-related SDGs is essential for decision makers as they aim to improve the health of populations. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2016 (GBD 2016), we measured 37 of the 50 health-related SDG indicators over the period 1990â2016 for 188 countries, and then on the basis of these past trends, we projected indicators to 2030
Measuring progress from 1990 to 2017 and projecting attainment to 2030 of the health-related Sustainable Development Goals for 195 countries and territories: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017
Background: Efforts to establish the 2015 baseline and monitor early implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight both great potential for and threats to improving health by 2030. To fully deliver on the SDG aim of âleaving no one behindâ, it is increasingly important to examine the health-related SDGs beyond national-level estimates. As part of the Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2017 (GBD 2017), we measured progress on 41 of 52 health-related SDG indicators and estimated the health-related SDG index for 195 countries and territories for the period 1990â2017, projected indicators to 2030, and analysed global attainment. Methods: We measured progress on 41 health-related SDG indicators from 1990 to 2017, an increase of four indicators since GBD 2016 (new indicators were health worker density, sexual violence by non-intimate partners, population census status, and prevalence of physical and sexual violence [reported separately]). We also improved the measurement of several previously reported indicators. We constructed national-level estimates and, for a subset of health-related SDGs, examined indicator-level differences by sex and Socio-demographic Index (SDI) quintile. We also did subnational assessments of performance for selected countries. To construct the health-related SDG index, we transformed the value for each indicator on a scale of 0â100, with 0 as the 2\ub75th percentile and 100 as the 97\ub75th percentile of 1000 draws calculated from 1990 to 2030, and took the geometric mean of the scaled indicators by target. To generate projections through 2030, we used a forecasting framework that drew estimates from the broader GBD study and used weighted averages of indicator-specific and country-specific annualised rates of change from 1990 to 2017 to inform future estimates. We assessed attainment of indicators with defined targets in two ways: first, using mean values projected for 2030, and then using the probability of attainment in 2030 calculated from 1000 draws. We also did a global attainment analysis of the feasibility of attaining SDG targets on the basis of past trends. Using 2015 global averages of indicators with defined SDG targets, we calculated the global annualised rates of change required from 2015 to 2030 to meet these targets, and then identified in what percentiles the required global annualised rates of change fell in the distribution of country-level rates of change from 1990 to 2015. We took the mean of these global percentile values across indicators and applied the past rate of change at this mean global percentile to all health-related SDG indicators, irrespective of target definition, to estimate the equivalent 2030 global average value and percentage change from 2015 to 2030 for each indicator. Findings: The global median health-related SDG index in 2017 was 59\ub74 (IQR 35\ub74â67\ub73), ranging from a low of 11\ub76 (95% uncertainty interval 9\ub76â14\ub70) to a high of 84\ub79 (83\ub71â86\ub77). SDG index values in countries assessed at the subnational level varied substantially, particularly in China and India, although scores in Japan and the UK were more homogeneous. Indicators also varied by SDI quintile and sex, with males having worse outcomes than females for non-communicable disease (NCD) mortality, alcohol use, and smoking, among others. Most countries were projected to have a higher health-related SDG index in 2030 than in 2017, while country-level probabilities of attainment by 2030 varied widely by indicator. Under-5 mortality, neonatal mortality, maternal mortality ratio, and malaria indicators had the most countries with at least 95% probability of target attainment. Other indicators, including NCD mortality and suicide mortality, had no countries projected to meet corresponding SDG targets on the basis of projected mean values for 2030 but showed some probability of attainment by 2030. For some indicators, including child malnutrition, several infectious diseases, and most violence measures, the annualised rates of change required to meet SDG targets far exceeded the pace of progress achieved by any country in the recent past. We found that applying the mean global annualised rate of change to indicators without defined targets would equate to about 19% and 22% reductions in global smoking and alcohol consumption, respectively; a 47% decline in adolescent birth rates; and a more than 85% increase in health worker density per 1000 population by 2030. Interpretation: The GBD study offers a unique, robust platform for monitoring the health-related SDGs across demographic and geographic dimensions. Our findings underscore the importance of increased collection and analysis of disaggregated data and highlight where more deliberate design or targeting of interventions could accelerate progress in attaining the SDGs. Current projections show that many health-related SDG indicators, NCDs, NCD-related risks, and violence-related indicators will require a concerted shift away from what might have driven past gainsâcurative interventions in the case of NCDsâtowards multisectoral, prevention-oriented policy action and investments to achieve SDG aims. Notably, several targets, if they are to be met by 2030, demand a pace of progress that no country has achieved in the recent past. The future is fundamentally uncertain, and no model can fully predict what breakthroughs or events might alter the course of the SDGs. What is clear is that our actionsâor inactionâtoday will ultimately dictate how close the world, collectively, can get to leaving no one behind by 2030
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