Aspect ratio dependence of heat transfer and large-scale flow in turbulent convection

The heat transport and corresponding changes in the large-scale circulation (LSC) in turbulent Rayleigh-B\'{e}nard convection are studied by means of three-dimensional direct numerical simulations as a function of the aspect ratio $\Gamma$ of a closed cylindrical cell and the Rayleigh number $Ra$. For small and moderate aspect ratios, the global heat transfer law $Nu=A\times Ra^{\beta}$ shows a power law dependence of both fit coefficients $A$ and $\beta$ on the aspect ratio. A minimum Nusselt number coincides with the point where the LSC undergoes a transition from a single-roll to a double-roll pattern. With increasing aspect ratio, we detect complex multi-roll LSC configurations. The aspect ratio dependence of the turbulent heat transfer for small and moderate $\Gamma$ is in line with a varying amount of energy contained in the LSC, as quantified by the Proper Orthogonal Decomposition analysis. For $\Gamma\gtrsim 8$ the heat transfer becomes independent of the aspect ratio.Comment: 17 pages, 11 Postscript figures (in parts downscaled), accepted for J. Fluid Mec

Detection of a Super Star Cluster as the Ionizing Source in the Low Luminosity AGN NGC 4303

HST UV STIS imaging and spectroscopy of the low luminosity AGN (LLAGN) NGC 4303 have identified the previously detected UV-bright nucleus of this galaxy, as a compact, massive and luminous stellar cluster. The cluster with a size (FWHM) of 3.1 pc, and an ultraviolet luminosity log L (1500 A}(erg/s/A)= 38.33 is identified as a nuclear super star cluster (SSC) like those detected in the circumnuclear regions of spirals and starburst galaxies. The UV spectrum showing the characteristic broad P Cygni lines produced by the winds of massive young stars, is best fitted by the spectral energy distribution of a massive cluster of 1e5 Msol generated in an instantaneous burst 4 Myr ago. No evidence for an additional non-thermal ionizing source associated with an accreting black hole is detected in the ultraviolet. We hypothesize that at least some LLAGNs in spirals could be understood as the result of the combined ionizing radiation emitted by an evolving SSC and a black hole (BH) accreting with low radiative efficiency, coexisting in the inner few parsecs region.Comment: 4 figure

Increase in pertussis cases along with high prevalence of two emerging genotypes of Bordetella pertussis in Perú, 2012

As has occurred in many regions worldwide, in 2012 the incidence of pertussis increased in Perú. This epidemiologic situation has been associated with a waning vaccine-induced immunity and the adaptation of Bordetella pertussis to vaccine-induced immunity along with improved diagnostic methods. Methods: The study comprised a total of 840 pertussis-suspected cases reported in Perú during 2012. We summarize here the distribution of pertussis cases according to age and immunization status along with the immunization-coverage rate. Laboratory diagnosis was performed by culture test and real-time polymerase-chain reaction (PCR). B. pertussis bacteria recovered from infected patients were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), and the DNA sequencing of the pertussis-toxin (promoter and subunit A), pertactin, and fimbriae (fim2 and fim3) genes. Results: From the total pertussis-suspected cases, 191 (22.7 %) infections were confirmed by real-time PCR and 18 through cultivation of B. pertussis (2.1 %), while one infection of B. parapertussis (0.11 %) was also detected by culture. Pertussis was significantly higher in patients that had had 0-3 vaccine doses (pentavalent vaccine alone) than in those who had had 4-5 vaccine doses (pentavalent plus DwPT boosters) at 94.3 vs. 5.7 %, respectively (p < 0.00001). The relative risk (RR) for patients with 4-5 doses compared to those with fewer than 4 doses or no dose was 0.23 (95 % Confidence Interval: 0.11-0.44), while the vaccine effectiveness was 77 % and coverage 50.5 %. Genetic analysis of B. pertussis isolates from different Peruvian regions detected two clonal groups as identified by PFGE. Those two groups corresponded to the B. pertussis genotypes emerging worldwide ptxP3-ptxA1-prn2 or 9-fim3-1 and ptxP3-ptxA1-prn2 or 9-fim3-2. Conclusions: Two emerging B. pertussis genotypes similar to isolates involved in worldwide epidemics were detected in Perú. Low vaccine coverage (<50 %) and genetic divergence between the vaccine-producing strain and the local isolates could contribute to this pertussal epidemic.Fil: Bailon, H. Instituto Nacional de Salud; PerúFil: León-Janampa, N. Instituto Nacional de Salud; PerúFil: Padilla, C.. Instituto Nacional de Salud; PerúFil: Hozbor, Daniela Flavia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Biotecnología y Biología Molecular; Argentin

XMM-Newton view of the double-peaked Fe K-alpha complex in E1821+643

We present the results of the analysis of the hard band XMM-Newton spectra of the luminous, L(2-10keV)~3.4E+45 erg/s, radio-quiet quasar, E1821+643. Two emission features were observed in the 6-7 keV rest frame band, confirming previous Chandra detection of these structures. We interpret these features as two single emission lines, one consistent with the neutral Fe K-alpha line at 6.4 keV and the other most likely due to FeXXVI. If related to the quasar, the high-energy emission line should originate in highly ionised matter, i.e. the accretion disc or the clouds of the emission line regions. Alternatively, it may be related to the intergalactic medium of the rich galaxy cluster in which E1821+643 is embedded. A composite broad emission line in combination with an absorption line model, however, also fits the data well. We discuss the possible physical interpretations of the origin of these features.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A, 7 pages and 7 figure

The XMM-Newton view of PG quasars: II. Properties of the Fe K-alpha line

The properties of the fluorescence Fe K-alpha emission lines of a sample of 38 quasars (QSOs) observed with XMM-Newton are studied. These objects are included in the optically selected sample from the Palomar-Green (PG) Bright Quasar Survey with an X-ray luminosity 1.3E43<L(2-10 keV)<5.1E45 ergs/s and z<1.72. For each object in the sample, we investigated the presence of both narrow and broad iron lines in detail. A total of 20 out of the 38 QSOs show evidence of an Fe K-alpha emission line with a narrow profile. The majority of the lines are consistent with an origin in low ionization material, which is likely to be located in the outer parts of the accretion disk, the molecular torus, and/or the Broad Line Region. The average properties of the narrow Fe K-alpha emission line observed in the sample are similar to those of Seyfert type galaxies as inferred from recent XMM-Newton and Chandra studies. A broad line has been significantly detected in only three objects. Furthermore, we studied the relationship between the equivalent width (EW) of the iron line and the hard band X-ray luminosity for radio quiet quasars. The analysis indicates that no clear correlation between the strength of the line and the hard X-ray luminosity is present, and our results do not show compelling evidence for an anticorrelation between these two quantities, i.e. the so-called X-ray Baldwin effect.Comment: 10 pages, 3 figures, accepted by A&