1,986 research outputs found
Simulations of two-planet systems through all phases of stellar evolution: implications for the instability boundary and white dwarf pollution
Exoplanets have been observed at many stages of their host star's life,
including the main sequence (MS), subgiant and red giant branch stages. Also,
polluted white dwarfs (WDs) likely represent dynamically active systems at late
times. Here, we perform 3-body simulations which include realistic post-MS
stellar mass loss and span the entire lifetime of exosystems with two massive
planets, from the endpoint of formation to several Gyr into the WD phase of the
host star. We find that both MS and WD systems experience ejections and
star-planet collisions (Lagrange instability) even if the planet-planet
separation well-exceeds the analytical orbit-crossing (Hill instability)
boundary. Consequently, MS-stable planets do not need to be closely-packed to
experience instability during the WD phase. This instability may pollute the WD
directly through collisions, or, more likely, indirectly through increased
scattering of smaller bodies such as asteroids or comets. Our simulations show
that this instability occurs predominately between tens of Myr to a few Gyrs of
WD cooling.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS; 24 pages, 19 figure
Variable Hard X-ray Emission from the Candidate Accreting Black Hole in Dwarf Galaxy Henize 2-10
We present an analysis of the X-ray spectrum and long-term variability of the
nearby dwarf starburst galaxy Henize 2-10. Recent observations suggest that
this galaxy hosts an actively accreting black hole with mass ~10^6 M_sun. The
presence of an AGN in a low-mass starburst galaxy marks a new environment for
active galactic nuclei (AGNs), with implications for the processes by which
"seed" black holes may form in the early Universe. In this paper, we analyze
four epochs of X-ray observations of Henize 2-10, to characterize the long-term
behavior of its hard nuclear emission. We analyze observations with Chandra
from 2001 and XMM-Newton from 2004 and 2011, as well as an earlier, less
sensitive observation with ASCA from 1997. Based on detailed analysis of the
source and background, we find that the hard (2-10 keV) flux of the putative
AGN has decreased by approximately an order of magnitude between the 2001
Chandra observation and exposures with XMM-Newton in 2004 and 2011. The
observed variability confirms that the emission is due to a single source. It
is unlikely that the variable flux is due to a supernova or ultraluminous X-ray
source, based on the observed long-term behavior of the X-ray and radio
emission, while the observed X-ray variability is consistent with the behavior
of well-studied AGNs.Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, 2 tables; accepted for publication in Ap
Unidirectional heterologous receptor desensitization between both the fMLP and C5a receptor and the ILâ8 receptor
During inflammation neutrophils receive multiple signals that are integrated, allowing a single modified response. One mechanism for this discrimination is receptor desensitization, a process whereby ligandâreceptor binding is disassociated from cell activation. We examined the effect of heterologous receptor desensitization on neutrophil Chemotaxis, calcium mobilization, and arachidonic acid production, using interleukinâ8 (ILâ8), C5a, and Nâformylâmethionylâleucylâphenylalanine (fMLP). We observed reciprocal inhibition with respect to Chemotaxis. We demonstrated that homologous desensitization, with respect to the mobilization of intracellular calcium stores, lasted approximately 15 min. Heterologous desensitization between the fMLP receptor and the C5a receptor was reciprocal; either stimulant would diminish the cells9 response to stimulation by the other for approximately 3â5 min. However, we observed a unidirectional heterologous desensitization of the ILâ8 receptor by both the fMLP and the C5a receptor. This unidirectional heterologous desensitization was observed with respect to both calcium mobilization and arachidonic acid production (i.e., prestimulation of the ILâ8 receptor had no effect on subsequent stimulation by either fMLP or C5a).Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/141009/1/jlb0088.pd
Viscosity and Thermal Conductivity of Stable Graphite Suspensions Near Percolation
Nanofluids have received much attention in part due to the range of properties possible with different combinations of nanoparticles and base fluids. In this work, we measure the viscosity of suspensions of graphite particles in ethylene glycol as a function of the volume fraction, shear rate, and temperature below and above the percolation threshold. We also measure and contrast the trends observed in the viscosity with increasing volume fraction to the thermal conductivity behavior of the same suspensions: above the percolation threshold, the slope that describes the rate of thermal conductivity enhancement with concentration reduces compared to below the percolation threshold, whereas that of the viscosity enhancement increases. While the thermal conductivity enhancement is independent of temperature, the viscosity changes show a strong dependence on temperature and exhibit different trends with respect to the temperature at different shear rates above the percolation threshold. Interpretation of the experimental observations is provided within the framework of Stokesian dynamics simulations of the suspension microstructure and suggests that although diffusive contributions are not important for the observed thermal conductivity enhancement, they are important for understanding the variations in the viscosity with changes of temperature and shear rate above the percolation threshold. The experimental results can be collapsed to a single master curve through calculation of a single dimensionless parameter (a PĂ©clet number based on the rotary diffusivity of the graphite particles).United States. Air Force Office of Scientific Research (FA9550-11-1-0174)National Natural Science Foundation (China) (51036003
Wind Tunnel Testing of a 120th Scale Large Civil Tilt-Rotor Model in Airplane and Helicopter Modes
In April 2012 and October 2013, NASA and the U.S. Army jointly conducted a wind tunnel test program examining two notional large tilt rotor designs: NASA's Large Civil Tilt Rotor and the Army's High Efficiency Tilt Rotor. The approximately 6%-scale airframe models (unpowered) were tested without rotors in the U.S. Army 7- by 10-foot wind tunnel at NASA Ames Research Center. Measurements of all six forces and moments acting on the airframe were taken using the wind tunnel scale system. In addition to force and moment measurements, flow visualization using tufts, infrared thermography and oil flow were used to identify flow trajectories, boundary layer transition and areas of flow separation. The purpose of this test was to collect data for the validation of computational fluid dynamics tools, for the development of flight dynamics simulation models, and to validate performance predictions made during conceptual design. This paper focuses on the results for the Large Civil Tilt Rotor model in an airplane mode configuration up to 200 knots of wind tunnel speed. Results are presented with the full airframe model with various wing tip and nacelle configurations, and for a wing-only case also with various wing tip and nacelle configurations. Key results show that the addition of a wing extension outboard of the nacelles produces a significant increase in the lift-to-drag ratio, and interestingly decreases the drag compared to the case where the wing extension is not present. The drag decrease is likely due to complex aerodynamic interactions between the nacelle and wing extension that results in a significant drag benefit
The carotid body as a therapeutic target for the treatment of sympathetically mediated diseases
Amitriptyline at low-dose and titrated for irritable bowel syndrome as second-line treatment (The ATLANTIS trial):protocol for a randomised double-blind placebo-controlled trial in primary care
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