28 research outputs found
The Emission Structure of Formaldehyde MegaMasers
The formaldehyde MegaMaser emission has been mapped for the three host
galaxies IC\,860. IRAS\,151070724, and Arp\,220. Elongated emission
components are found at the nuclear centres of all galaxies with an extent
ranging between 30 to 100 pc. These components are superposed on the peaks of
the nuclear continuum. Additional isolated emission components are found
superposed in the outskirts of the radio continuum structure. The brightness
temperatures of the detected features ranges from 0.6 to 13.4
K, which confirms their masering nature. The masering scenario is interpreted
as amplification of the radio continuum by foreground molecular gas that is
pumped by far-infrared radiation fields in these starburst environments of the
host galaxies.Comment: Accepted MNRA
Arp 220 - IC 4553/4: understanding the system and diagnosing the ISM
Arp220 is a nearby system in final stages of galaxy merger with powerful
ongoing star-formation at and surrounding the two nuclei. Arp 220 was detected
in HI absorption and OH Megamaser emission and later recognized as the nearest
ultra-luminous infrared galaxy also showing powerful molecular and X-ray
emissions. In this paper we review the available radio and mm-wave
observational data of Arp 220 in order to obtain an integrated picture of the
dense interstellar medium that forms the location of the powerful
star-formation at the two nuclei.Comment: 9 pages, 4 figures, to appear in: IAU Symposium 242 Astrophysical
Masers and their Environment
Green Low-Carbon Technology for Metalliferous Minerals
Metalliferous minerals play a central role in the global economy. They will continue to provide the raw materials we need for industrial processes. Significant challenges will likely emerge if the climate-driven green and low-carbon development transition of metalliferous mineral exploitation is not managed responsibly and sustainably. Green low-carbon technology is vital to promote the development of metalliferous mineral resources shifting from extensive and destructive mining to clean and energy-saving mining in future decades. Global mining scientists and engineers have conducted a lot of research in related fields, such as green mining, ecological mining, energy-saving mining, and mining solid waste recycling, and have achieved a great deal of innovative progress and achievements. This Special Issue intends to collect the latest developments in the green low-carbon mining field, written by well-known researchers who have contributed to the innovation of new technologies, process optimization methods, or energy-saving techniques in metalliferous minerals development
Detection of a methanol megamaser in a major-merger galaxy
We have detected emission from both the 4_{-1}-3_{0} E (36.2~GHz) class I and
7_{-2}-8_{-1} E (37.7~GHz) class II methanol transitions towards the centre of
the closest ultra-luminous infrared galaxy Arp 220. The emission in both the
methanol transitions show narrow spectral features and have luminosities
approximately 8 orders of magnitude stronger than that observed from typical
class I methanol masers observed in Galactic star formation regions. The
emission is also orders of magnitude stronger than the expected intensity of
thermal emission from these transitions and based on these findings we suggest
that the emission from the two transitions are masers. These observations
provides the first detection of a methanol megamaser in the 36.2 and 37.7 GHz
transitions and represents only the second detection of a methanol megamaser,
following the recent report of an 84 GHz methanol megamaser in NGC1068. We find
the methanol megamasers are significantly offset from the nuclear region and
arise towards regions where there is Ha emission, suggesting that it is
associated with starburst activity. The high degree of correlation between the
spatial distribution of the 36.2 GHz methanol and X-ray plume emission suggests
that the production of strong extragalactic class I methanol masers is related
to galactic outflow driven shocks and perhaps cosmic rays. In contrast to OH
and H2O megamasers which originate close to the nucleus, methanol megamasers
provide a new probe of feedback (e.g. outflows) processes on larger-scales and
of star formation beyond the circumnuclear starburst regions of active
galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ
Thermal Degradation of Chemical Warfare Agents Utilizing Pyrolyzed Cotton Balls
Since the Chemical Warfare Convention (CWC) Treaty was established in 1997, it has been prohibited for countries to stockpile, produce, or use chemical warfare agents (CWAs). However, it can be assumed that not every country or group is in accordance with these regulations, and therefore a method to deactivate and destroy these agents is necessary for international security. Current methods for destroying chemical warfare agents have predominantly relied up hydrolysis, high pressure peroxides, or oxidation reactions utilizing bleaching agents. While these methods are effective, they require a large quantity of decontamination agents relative to the amount of CWA present and can produce secondary hazardous byproducts. By utilizing pyrolyzed cotton balls as a vessel for igniting the agents with napalm, it is possible to quickly and effectively destroy a wide variety of chemical warfare agents with limited residue or byproducts. This presents a simple, low cost, and effective method to rapidly decompose large quantities of CWAs with limited waste or cross contamination
Advanced Technologies for Oral Controlled Release: Cyclodextrins for oral controlled release
Cyclodextrins (CDs) are used in oral pharmaceutical formulations, by means of inclusion complexes formation, with the following advantages for the drugs: (1) solubility, dissolution rate, stability and bioavailability enhancement; (2) to modify the drug release site and/or time profile; and (3) to reduce or prevent gastrointestinal side effects and unpleasant smell or taste, to prevent drug-drug or drug-additive interactions, or even to convert oil and liquid drugs into microcrystalline or amorphous powders. A more recent trend focuses on the use of CDs as nanocarriers, a strategy that aims to design versatile delivery systems that can encapsulate drugs with better physicochemical properties for oral delivery. Thus, the aim of this work was to review the applications of the CDs and their hydrophilic derivatives on the solubility enhancement of poorly water soluble drugs in order to increase their dissolution rate and get immediate release, as well as their ability to control (to prolong or to delay) the release of drugs from solid dosage forms, either as complexes with the hydrophilic (e.g. as osmotic pumps) and/ or hydrophobic CDs. New controlled delivery systems based on nanotechonology carriers (nanoparticles and conjugates) have also been reviewed
The OH Megamaser Emission in Arp\,220: the rest of the story
The OH Megamaser emission in the merging galaxy Arp220 has been re-observed
with the Multi-Element Radio Linked Interferometer Network (MERLIN) and the
European VLBI Network (EVN). Imaging results of the OH line emission at the two
nuclei are found to be consistent with earlier observations and confirm
additional extended emission structures surrounding the nuclei. Detailed
information about the distributed emission components around the two nuclei has
been obtained using a concatenated MERLIN and EVN database with intermediate
(40 mas) spatial resolution. Continuum imaging shows a relatively compact West
nucleus and a more extended East nucleus in addition to an extended continuum
ridge stretching below and beyond the two nuclei. Spectral line imaging show
extended emission regions at both nuclei together with compact components and
additional weaker components north and south of the West nucleus. Spectral line
analysis indicates that the dominant OH line emission originates in foreground
molecular material that is part of a large-scale molecular structure that
engulfs the whole nuclear region. Compact OH components are representative of
star formation regions within the two nearly edge-on nuclei and define the
systemic velocities of East and West as 5425 km/s and 5360 km/s.
The foreground material at East and West has a 100 km/s lower velocity at
5314 and 5254 km/s. These emission results confirm a maser amplification
scenario where the background continuum and the line emission of the star
formation regions are amplified by foreground masering material that is excited
by the FIR radiation field originating in the two nuclear regions.Comment: 17 pages, 18 figure
Noise assisted directed motion at the molecular level - 2
The term noise is used to describe fluctuations about the mean deterministic stationary value of a physical quantity. It is now being increasingly realised that noise is an important ingredient to bring order in dynamical processes. Though it appears counterintuitive, noise seems to help in directing transport processes in biological systems at the molecular level. In Part 2 of the article, we discuss some more examples of noise assisted directed motion