10,794 research outputs found
Accretion disks around binary black holes of unequal mass: GRMHD simulations near decoupling
We report on simulations in general relativity of magnetized disks onto black
hole binaries. We vary the binary mass ratio from 1:1 to 1:10 and evolve the
systems when they orbit near the binary-disk decoupling radius. We compare
(surface) density profiles, accretion rates (relative to a single, non-spinning
black hole), variability, effective -stress levels and luminosities as
functions of the mass ratio. We treat the disks in two limiting regimes: rapid
radiative cooling and no radiative cooling. The magnetic field lines clearly
reveal jets emerging from both black hole horizons and merging into one common
jet at large distances. The magnetic fields give rise to much stronger shock
heating than the pure hydrodynamic flows, completely alter the disk structure,
and boost accretion rates and luminosities. Accretion streams near the horizons
are among the densest structures; in fact, the 1:10 no-cooling evolution
results in a refilling of the cavity. The typical effective temperature in the
bulk of the disk is yielding characteristic thermal frequencies . These systems are
thus promising targets for many extragalactic optical surveys, such as LSST,
WFIRST, and PanSTARRS.Comment: 29 pages, 23 captioned figures, 3 tables, submitted to PR
Integrating multiple representations: fighting asthma
This paper seeks to engage debates about integrating pluralisms regarding multiple forms/representations and how they might function smoothly if they are closely aligned. This paper offers, narrative poetry with an artistic impression aimed at seeing how these might interact with each other. Like poetry, visual images are unique and can evoke particular kinds of emotional and visceral responses. By offering narrative poetry together with an artistic representation it is not meant to de-value the importance of either, but it is aimed at seeing how these arts-based methods and creative analytical practices might unite as a narrative to offer knew ways of ‘knowing’ and ‘seeing
Accretion disks around binary black holes of unequal mass: GRMHD simulations of postdecoupling and merger
We report results from simulations in general relativity of magnetized disks
accreting onto merging black hole binaries, starting from relaxed disk initial
data. The simulations feature an effective, rapid radiative cooling scheme as a
limiting case of future treatments with radiative transfer. Here we evolve the
systems after binary-disk decoupling through inspiral and merger, and analyze
the dependence on the binary mass ratio with and . We find that the luminosity associated with local
cooling is larger than the luminosity associated with matter kinetic outflows,
while the electromagnetic (Poynting) luminosity associated with bulk transport
of magnetic field energy is the smallest. The cooling luminosity around merger
is only marginally smaller than that of a single, non-spinning black hole.
Incipient jets are launched independently of the mass ratio, while the same
initial disk accreting on a single non-spinning black hole does not lead to a
jet, as expected. For all mass ratios we see a transient behavior in the
collimated, magnetized outflows lasting after
merger: the outflows become increasingly magnetically dominated and accelerated
to higher velocities, boosting the Poynting luminosity. These sudden changes
can alter the electromagnetic emission across the jet and potentially help
distinguish mergers of black holes in AGNs from single accreting black holes
based on jet morphology alone.Comment: 15 pages, 6 figures, matches published versio
Suspension systems for ground testing large space structures
A research program is documented for the development of improved suspension techniques for ground vibration testing of large, flexible space structures. The suspension system must support the weight of the structure and simultaneously allow simulation of the unconstrained rigid-body movement as in the space environment. Exploratory analytical and experimental studies were conducted for suspension systems designed to provide minimum vertical, horizontal, and rotational degrees of freedom. The effects of active feedback control added to the passive system were also investigated. An experimental suspension apparatus was designed, fabricated, and tested. This test apparatus included a zero spring rate mechanism (ZSRM) designed to support a range of weights from 50 to 300 lbs and provide vertical suspension mode frequencies less than 0.1 Hz. The lateral suspension consisted of a pendulum suspended from a moving cart (linear bearing) which served to increase the effective length of the pendulum. The torsion suspension concept involved dual pendulum cables attached from above to a pivoting support (bicycle wheel). A simple test structure having variable weight and stiffness characteristics was used to simulate the vibration characteristics of a large space structure. The suspension hardware for the individual degrees of freedom was analyzed and tested separately and then combined to achieve a 3 degree of freedom suspension system. Results from the exploratory studies should provide useful guidelines for the development of future suspension systems for ground vibration testing of large space structures
Opposite Thermodynamic Arrows of Time
A model in which two weakly coupled systems maintain opposite running
thermodynamic arrows of time is exhibited. Each experiences its own retarded
electromagnetic interaction and can be seen by the other. The possibility of
opposite-arrow systems at stellar distances is explored and a relation to dark
matter suggested.Comment: To appear in Phys. Rev. Let
Radiation from low-momentum zoom-whirl orbits
We study zoom-whirl behaviour of equal mass, non-spinning black hole binaries
in full general relativity. The magnitude of the linear momentum of the initial
data is fixed to that of a quasi-circular orbit, and its direction is varied.
We find a global maximum in radiated energy for a configuration which completes
roughly one orbit. The radiated energy in this case exceeds the value of a
quasi-circular binary with the same momentum by 15%. The direction parameter
only requires minor tuning for the localization of the maximum. There is
non-trivial dependence of the energy radiated on eccentricity (several local
maxima and minima). Correlations with orbital dynamics shortly before merger
are discussed. While being strongly gauge dependent, these findings are
intuitive from a physical point of view and support basic ideas about the
efficiency of gravitational radiation from a binary system.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures, Amaldi8 conference proceedings as publishe
"Othering" the health worker: self-stigmatization of HIV/AIDS care among health workers in Swaziland
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>HIV is an important factor affecting healthcare workforce capacity in high-prevalence countries, such as Swaziland. It contributes to loss of valuable healthcare providers directly through death and absenteeism and indirectly by affecting family members, increasing work volume and decreasing performance. This study explored perceived barriers to accessing HIV/AIDS care and prevention services among health workers in Swaziland. We asked health workers about their views on how HIV affects Swaziland's health workforce and what barriers and strategies health workers have for addressing HIV and using healthcare treatment facilities.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Thirty-four semi-structured, in-depth interviews, including a limited set of quantitative questions, were conducted among health workers at health facilities representing the mixture of facility type, level and location found in the Swaziland health system. Data were collected by a team of Swazi nurses who had received training in research methods. Study sites were selected using a purposive sampling method while health workers were sampled conveniently with attention to representing a mixture of different cadres. Data were analyzed using Nvivo qualitative analysis software and Excel.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Health workers reported that HIV had a range of negative impacts on their colleagues and identified HIV testing and care as one of the most important services to offer health workers. They overwhelmingly wanted to know their own HIV status. However, they also indicated that in general, health workers were reluctant to access testing or care as they feared stigmatization by patients <it>and </it>colleagues and breaches of confidentiality. They described a self-stigmatization related to a professional need to maintain a HIV-free status, contrasting with the HIV-vulnerable general population. Breaching of this boundary included feelings of professional embarrassment and fear of colleagues' and patients' judgements.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>While care is available and relatively accessible, Swaziland health workers still face unique usage barriers that relate to a self-stigmatizing process of boundary maintenance - described here as a form of "othering" from the HIV-vulnerable general population - and a lack of trust in privacy and confidentiality. Interventions that target health workers should address these issues.</p
KINETIC, SPATIAL, AND TEMPORAL ASSESSENT OF OVERSPEED TOWING WITH ELASTIC TUBING
Subjects (N = 15) performed sprints over force platforms in a normal condition and in three overspeed conditions of differing elastic tube stretch length. Kinetic and kinematic data were derived. A 3 x 4 RM ANOVA was used to analyze the results. The horizontal and vertical ground reaction force (GRF), and the ratio of horizontal to vertical GRF did not differ among conditions (p ˃ 0.05). However, ground contact time was 8.3% to 10.4% shorter, time between steps was 1.4% to 2.7% lower, distance between steps was up to 1.2% greater, and velocity was 3.7% higher in some overspeed towing conditions compared to the normal condition (p ≤ 0.05). Longer tube conditions were more optimal in most cases. Compared to normal running, overspeed towing results in increased sprinting velocity despite no differences in horizontal or vertical kinetics compared to normal running
Pseudo-Dipole Signal Removal from WMAP Data
It is discovered in our previous work that different observational
systematics, e.g., errors of antenna pointing directions, asynchronous between
the attitude and science data, can generate pseudo-dipole signal in full-sky
maps of the cosmic microwave background (CMB) anisotropy published by The
Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) team. Now the antenna sidelobe
response to the Doppler signal is found to be able to produce similar effect as
well. In this work, independent to the sources, we uniformly model the
pseudo-dipole signal and remove it from published WMAP7 CMB maps by model
fitting. The result demonstrates that most of the released WMAP CMB quadrupole
is artificial.Comment: V3: using WMAP7 dat
BIOMECHANICAL ANALYSIS OF TIRE FLIPPING WITH TIRES OF DIFFERENT MASSES AND THEIR POTENTIAL SPECIFICITY TO SPRINTING
This study compared the kinetics of tire flipping with different mass tires and sprinting to evaluate the potential specificity of this training stimulus. Subjects (N=15) performed tire flips with a 54.3 kg tire, a 102.1 kg tire, and sprinted on two large force platforms. Dependent variables included peak horizontal ground reaction force (HGRF), peak vertical GRF (VGRF), horizontal to vertical GRF ratio (H:V), and rate of vertical GRF development (VRFD). A RM ANOVA was used to analyze the data. Significant main effects were found for all dependent variables (p ≤ 0.03). Post-hoc analysis showed that the tires were different (p ≤ 0.04) for all dependent variables except for VRFD (p = 0.99). Post-hoc analysis showed that the 54.3 kg tire was more similar to the kinetics of sprinting for HGRF, VGRF, and H:V. Only tire flipping with a lighter tire was similar to key kinetic parameters of sprinting
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