On the relationship between the non-local clustering mechanism and preferential concentration

`Preferential concentration' (\emph{Phys. Fluids} \textbf{A3}:1169--78, 1991) refers to the clustering of inertial particles in the high-strain, low-rotation regions of turbulence. The `centrifuge mechanism' of Maxey (\emph{J. Fluid Mech.} \textbf{174}:441--65, 1987) appears to explain this phenomenon. In a recent paper, Bragg \& Collins (\emph{New J. Phys.} \textbf{16}:055013, 2014) showed that the centrifuge mechanism is dominant only in the regime ${St\ll1}$, where $St$ is the Stokes number based on the Kolmogorov time scale. Outside this regime, the centrifuge mechanism gives way to a non-local, path-history symmetry breaking mechanism. However, despite the change in the clustering mechanism, the instantaneous particle positions continue to correlate with high-strain, low-rotation regions of the turbulence. In this paper, we analyze the exact equation governing the radial distribution function and show how the non-local clustering mechanism is influenced by, but not dependent upon, the preferential sampling of the fluid velocity gradient tensor along the particle path-histories in such a way as to generate a bias for clustering in high-strain regions of the turbulence. We also show how the non-local mechanism still generates clustering, but without preferential concentration, in the limit where the timescales of the fluid velocity gradient tensor measured along the inertial particle trajectories approaches zero (such as white-noise flows or for particles in turbulence settling under strong gravity). Finally, we use data from a direct numerical simulation of inertial particles suspended in Navier-Stokes turbulence to validate the arguments presented in this study.Comment: 16 pages, 4 figure

Differential cross section analysis in kaon photoproduction using associated legendre polynomials

Angular distributions of differential cross sections from the latest CLAS data sets \cite{bradford}, for the reaction ${\gamma}+p {\to} K^{+} + {\Lambda}$ have been analyzed using associated Legendre polynomials. This analysis is based upon theoretical calculations in Ref. \cite{fasano} where all sixteen observables in kaon photoproduction can be classified into four Legendre classes. Each observable can be described by an expansion of associated Legendre polynomial functions. One of the questions to be addressed is how many associated Legendre polynomials are required to describe the data. In this preliminary analysis, we used data models with different numbers of associated Legendre polynomials. We then compared these models by calculating posterior probabilities of the models. We found that the CLAS data set needs no more than four associated Legendre polynomials to describe the differential cross section data. In addition, we also show the extracted coefficients of the best model.Comment: Talk given at APFB08, Depok, Indonesia, August, 19-23, 200

Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase–3 (TIMP-3) induces FAS dependent apoptosis in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Over expression of Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinases-3 (TIMP-3) in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) induces apoptosis and reduces neointima formation occurring after saphenous vein interposition grafting or coronary stenting. In studies to address the mechanism of TIMP-3-driven apoptosis in human VSMCs we find that TIMP-3 increased activation of caspase-8 and apoptosis was inhibited by expression of Cytokine response modifier A (CrmA) and dominant negative FAS-Associated protein with Death Domain (FADD). TIMP-3 induced apoptosis did not cause mitochondrial depolarisation, increase activation of caspase-9 and was not inhibited by over-expression of B-cell Lymphoma 2 (Bcl2), indicating a mitochondrial independent/type-I death receptor pathway. TIMP-3 increased levels of the First Apoptosis Signal receptor (FAS) and depletion of FAS with shRNA showed TIMP-3-induced apoptosis was FAS dependent. TIMP-3 induced formation of the Death-Inducing Signalling Complex (DISC), as detected by immunoprecipitation and by immunofluorescence. Cellular-FADD-like IL-1 converting enzyme-Like Inhibitory Protein (c-FLIP) localised with FAS at the cell periphery in the absence of TIMP-3 and this localisation was lost on TIMP-3 expression with c-FLIP adopting a perinuclear localisation. Although TIMP-3 inhibited FAS shedding, this did not increase total surface levels of FAS but instead increased FAS levels within localised regions at the cell surface. A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17) is inhibited by TIMP-3 and depletion of ADAM17 with shRNA significantly decreased FAS shedding. However ADAM17 depletion did not induce apoptosis or replicate the effects of TIMP-3 by increasing localised clustering of cell surface FAS. ADAM17-depleted cells could activate caspase-3 when expressing levels of TIMP-3 that were otherwise sub-apoptotic, suggesting a partial role for ADAM17 mediated ectodomain shedding in TIMP-3 mediated apoptosis. We conclude that TIMP-3 induced apoptosis in VSMCs is highly dependent on FAS and is associated with changes in FAS and c-FLIP localisation, but is not solely dependent on shedding of the FAS ectodomain

Kaon Photoproduction and the Λ\Lambda Decay Parameter α−\alpha_-

The weak decay parameter $\alpha_-$ of the $\Lambda$ is an important quantity for the extraction of polarization observables in various experiments. Moreover, in combination with $\alpha_+$ from $\bar\Lambda$ decay it provides a measure for matter-antimatter asymmetry. The weak decay parameter also affects the decay parameters of the $\Xi$ and $\Omega$ baryons and, in general, any quantity in which the polarization of the $\Lambda$ is relevant. The recently reported value by the BESIII collaboration of $0.750(9)(4)$ is significantly larger than the previous PDG value of $0.642(13)$ that had been accepted and used for over 40 years. In this work we make an independent estimate of $\alpha_-$, using an extensive set of polarization data measured in kaon photoproduction in the baryon resonance region and constraints set by spin algebra. The obtained value is 0.721(6)(5). The result is corroborated by multiple statistical tests as well as a modern phenomenological model, showing that our new value yields the best description of the data in question. Our analysis supports the new BESIII finding that $\alpha_-$ is significantly larger than the previous PDG value. Any experimental quantity relying on the value of $\alpha_-$ should therefore be re-considered.Comment: 6 pages, 1 figure

Discovery of spatial periodicities in a coronal loop using automated edge-tracking algorithms

A new method for automated coronal loop tracking, in both spatial and temporal domains, is presented. Applying this technique to TRACE data, obtained using the 171 Å filter on 1998 July 14, we detect a coronal loop undergoing a 270 s kink-mode oscillation, as previously found by Aschwanden et al. However, we also detect flare-induced, and previously unnoticed, spatial periodicities on a scale of 3500 km, which occur along the coronal loop edge. Furthermore, we establish a reduction in oscillatory power for these spatial periodicities of 45% over a 222 s interval. We relate the reduction in detected oscillatory power to the physical damping of these loop-top oscillations

Born Again Protoplanetary Disk Around Mira B

The Mira AB system is a nearby (~107 pc) example of a wind accreting binary star system. In this class of system, the wind from a mass-losing red giant star (Mira A) is accreted onto a companion (Mira B), as indicated by an accretion shock signature in spectra at ultraviolet and X-ray wavelengths. Using novel imaging techniques, we report the detection of emission at mid-infrared wavelengths between 9.7 and 18.3 $\mu$m from the vicinity of Mira B but with a peak at a radial position about 10 AU closer to the primary Mira A. We interpret the mid-infrared emission as the edge of an optically-thick accretion disk heated by Mira A. The discovery of this new class of accretion disk fed by M-giant mass loss implies a potential population of young planetary systems in white-dwarf binaries which has been little explored, despite being relatively common in the solar neighborhood.Comment: Accepted for Ap