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At least 1,621 records · Page 90

Older and colder: The impact of starspots on pre-main-sequence stellar evolution

We assess the impact of starspots on the evolution of late-type stars during the pre-main sequence (pre-MS) using a modified stellar evolution code. We find that heavily spotted models of mass 0.1–1.2 M{sub ⊙} are inflated by up to 10% during the pre-MS, and up to 4% and 9% for fully and partially convective stars at the zero-age MS, consistent with measurements from active eclipsing binary systems. Spots similarly decrease stellar luminosity and T{sub eff}, causing isochrone-derived masses to be underestimated by up to a factor of 2×, and ages to be underestimated by a factor of 2–10, at 3 Myr. Consequently, pre-MS clusters and their active stars are systematically older and more massive than often reported. Cluster ages derived with the lithium depletion boundary technique are erroneously young by ∼15% and 10% at 30 and 100 Myr, respectively, if stars with 50% spots are interpreted with unspotted models. Finally, lithium depletion is suppressed in spotted stars with radiative cores, leading to a fixed-temperature lithium dispersion on the MS if a range of spot properties are present on the pre-MS. Such dispersions are large enough to explain Li abundance spreads seen in young open clusters, and imply a range of radii at fixed mass and age during the pre-MS Li-burning epoch. By extension, this implies that mass, composition, and age do not uniquely specify the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram location of pre-MS stars.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

The distances to open clusters from main-sequence fitting. V. Extension of color calibration and test using cool and metal-rich stars in NGC 6791

We extend our effort to calibrate stellar isochrones in the Johnson–Cousins (BVI{sub C}) and the 2MASS (JHK{sub s}) filter systems based on observations of well-studied open clusters. Using cool main-sequence (MS) stars in Praesepe, we define empirical corrections to the Lejeune et al. color–effective temperature (T{sub eff}) relations down to T{sub eff}∼3600 K, complementing our previous work based on the Hyades and the Pleiades. We apply empirically corrected isochrones to existing optical and near-infrared photometry of cool (T{sub eff}≲5500 K) and metal-rich ([Fe/H]= +0.37) MS stars in NGC 6791. The current methodology relies on an assumption that color–T{sub eff} corrections are independent of metallicity, but we find that estimates of color excess and distance from color–magnitude diagrams with different color indices converge on each other at the precisely known metallicity of the cluster. Along with a satisfactory agreement with eclipsing binary data in the cluster, we view the improved internal consistency as a validation of our calibrated isochrones at super-solar metallicities. For very cool stars (T{sub eff}≲4800 K), however, we find that B − V colors of our models are systematically redder than the cluster photometry by ∼0.02 mag. We use color–T{sub eff} transformations from the infrared flux method and alternative photometry to examine a potential color-scale error in the input cluster photometry. After excluding B − V photometry of these cool MS stars, we derive E(B − V)=0.105±0.014, [M/H] = +0.42±0.07, (m − M){sub 0}=13.04±0.08, and the age of 9.5 ± 0.3 Gyr for NGC 6791.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

THE EVOLVED MAIN-SEQUENCE CHANNEL: HST AND LBT OBSERVATIONS OF CSS 120422:111127+571239

The “evolved main-sequence (EMS)” channel is thought to contribute significantly to the population of AM CVn-type systems in the Galaxy, and also to the number of cataclysmic variables (CVs) detected below the period minimum for hydrogen rich systems. CSS 120422:J111127+571239 was discovered by the Catalina Sky Survey in 2012 April. Its period was found to be 56 minutes, well below the minimum, and the optical spectrum is clearly depleted in hydrogen relative to helium, but still has two orders of magnitude more hydrogen than AM CVn stars. Doppler tomography of the Hα line hinted at a spiral structure existing in the disk. Here we present spectroscopy of CSS 120422:J111127+571239 using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph FUV instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope and using the MODS spectrograph on the Large Binocular Telescope. The UV spectrum shows Si iv, N v, and He ii, but no detectable C iv. The anomalous nitrogen/carbon ratio is seen in a small number of other CVs and confirms a unique binary evolution. We also present and compare the optical spectrum of V418 Ser and advocate that it is also an EMS system.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Segmental relaxation of sequence defined polymers

For this work, the dynamical behavior of sequence defined polymers, P(C n EG 4 ), was studied using dielectric spectroscopy showing one segmental relaxation in addition to a secondary relaxation. In case of segmental relaxation, the relaxation times strongly depend on the molecular weight at low temperatures, while at higher temperatures, unlike to linear homo polymers, this effect levels out. With increasing length of C-units, the segmental relaxation accelerates. This is also reflected in the glass transition temperature, extracted from dielectric spectroscopy. With increasing length of C-units the glass transition temperature decreases, compatible with the accelerated segmental relaxation.

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE↗

COMMON WARM DUST TEMPERATURES AROUND MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS

We compare the properties of warm dust emission from a sample of main-sequence A-type stars (B8-A7) to those of dust around solar-type stars (F5-K0) with similar Spitzer Space Telescope Infrared Spectrograph/MIPS data and similar ages. Both samples include stars with sources with infrared spectral energy distributions that show evidence of multiple components. Over the range of stellar types considered, we obtain nearly the same characteristic dust temperatures ({approx}190 K and {approx}60 K for the inner and outer dust components, respectively)-slightly above the ice evaporation temperature for the inner belts. The warm inner dust temperature is readily explained if populations of small grains are being released by sublimation of ice from icy planetesimals. Evaporation of low-eccentricity icy bodies at {approx}150 K can deposit particles into an inner/warm belt, where the small grains are heated to T{sub dust} {approx} 190 K. Alternatively, enhanced collisional processing of an asteroid belt-like system of parent planetesimals just interior to the snow line may account for the observed uniformity in dust temperature. The similarity in temperature of the warmer dust across our B8-K0 stellar sample strongly suggests that dust-producing planetesimals are not found at similar radial locations around all stars, but that dust production is favored at a characteristic temperature horizon.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

THE INFRARED EYE OF THE WIDE-FIELD CAMERA 3 ON THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE REVEALS MULTIPLE MAIN SEQUENCES OF VERY LOW MASS STARS IN NGC 2808

We use images taken with the infrared channel of the Wide Field Camera 3 on the Hubble Space Telescope to study the multiple main sequences (MSs) of NGC 2808. Below the turnoff, the red, the middle, and the blue MS, previously detected from visual-band photometry, are visible over an interval of about 3.5 F160W magnitudes. The three MSs merge together at the level of the MS bend. At fainter magnitudes, the MS again splits into two components containing {approx}65% and {approx}35% of stars, with the most-populated MS being the bluest one. Theoretical isochrones suggest that the latter is connected to the red MS discovered in the optical color-magnitude diagram (CMD) and hence corresponds to the first stellar generation, having primordial helium and enhanced carbon and oxygen abundances. The less-populated MS in the faint part of the near-IR CMD is helium-rich and poor in carbon and oxygen, and it can be associated with the middle and the blue MS of the optical CMD. The finding that the photometric signature of abundance anti-correlation is also present in fully convective MS stars reinforces the inference that they have a primordial origin.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

HABITABLE ZONES AROUND MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS: DEPENDENCE ON PLANETARY MASS

The ongoing discoveries of extra-solar planets are unveiling a wide range of terrestrial mass (size) planets around their host stars. In this Letter, we present estimates of habitable zones (HZs) around stars with stellar effective temperatures in the range 2600 K-7200 K, for planetary masses between 0.1 M {sub ⊕} and 5 M {sub ⊕}. Assuming H{sub 2}O-(inner HZ) and CO{sub 2}-(outer HZ) dominated atmospheres, and scaling the background N{sub 2} atmospheric pressure with the radius of the planet, our results indicate that larger planets have wider HZs than do smaller ones. Specifically, with the assumption that smaller planets will have less dense atmospheres, the inner edge of the HZ (runaway greenhouse limit) moves outward (∼10% lower than Earth flux) for low mass planets due to larger greenhouse effect arising from the increased H{sub 2}O column depth. For larger planets, the H{sub 2}O column depth is smaller, and higher temperatures are needed before water vapor completely dominates the outgoing longwave radiation. Hence the inner edge moves inward (∼7% higher than Earth's flux). The outer HZ changes little due to the competing effects of the greenhouse effect and an increase in albedo. New, three-dimensional climate model results from other groups are also summarized, and we argue that further, independent studies are needed to verify their predictions. Combined with our previous work, the results presented here provide refined estimates of HZs around main-sequence stars and provide a step toward a more comprehensive analysis of HZs.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

AN OBJECTIVE DEFINITION FOR THE MAIN SEQUENCE OF STAR-FORMING GALAXIES

The main sequence (MS) of star-forming (SF) galaxies plays a fundamental role in driving galaxy evolution and our efforts to understand it. However, different studies find significant differences in the normalization, slope, and shape of the MS. These discrepancies arise mainly from the different selection criteria adopted to isolate SF galaxies, which may include or exclude galaxies with a specific star formation rate (SFR) substantially below the MS value. To obviate this limitation of all current criteria, we propose an objective definition of the MS that does not rely at all on a pre-selection of SF galaxies. Constructing the 3D SFR–mass–number plot, the MS is then defined as the ridge line of the SF peak, as illustrated with various figures. The advantages of such a definition are manifold. If generally adopted, it will facilitate the inter-comparison of results from different groups using the same SFR and stellar mass diagnostics, or it will highlight the relative systematics of different diagnostics. All of this could help to understand MS galaxies as systems in a quasi-steady state equilibrium and would also provide a more objective criterion for identifying quenching galaxies.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

A HIGHER EFFICIENCY OF CONVERTING GAS TO STARS PUSHES GALAXIES AT z ∼ 1.6 WELL ABOVE THE STAR-FORMING MAIN SEQUENCE

Local starbursts have a higher efficiency of converting gas into stars, as compared to typical star-forming galaxies at a given stellar mass, possibly indicative of different modes of star formation. With the peak epoch of galaxy formation occurring at z > 1, it remains to be established whether such an efficient mode of star formation is occurring at high redshift. To address this issue, we measure the molecular gas content of seven high-redshift (z ∼ 1.6) starburst galaxies with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array and IRAM/Plateau de Bure Interferometer. Our targets are selected from the sample of Herschel far-infrared-detected galaxies having star formation rates (∼300–800 M{sub ⊙} yr{sup −1}) elevated (≳4×) above the star-forming main sequence (MS) and included in the FMOS-COSMOS near-infrared spectroscopic survey of star-forming galaxies at z ∼ 1.6 with Subaru. We detect CO emission in all cases at high levels of significance, indicative of high gas fractions (∼30%–50%). Even more compelling, we firmly establish with a clean and systematic selection that starbursts, identified as MS outliers, at high redshift generally have a lower ratio of CO to total infrared luminosity as compared to typical MS star-forming galaxies, although with a smaller offset than expected based on past studies of local starbursts. We put forward a hypothesis that there exists a continuous increase in star formation efficiency with elevation from the MS with galaxy mergers as a possible physical driver. Along with a heightened star formation efficiency, our high-redshift sample is similar in other respects to local starbursts, such as being metal rich and having a higher ionization state of the interstellar medium.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

ON THE DIFFERENTIAL ROTATION OF MASSIVE MAIN-SEQUENCE STARS

To date, asteroseismology has provided core-to-surface differential rotation measurements in eight main-sequence stars. These stars, ranging in mass from ∼1.5–9 M{sub ⊙}, show rotation profiles ranging from uniform to counter-rotation. Although they have a variety of masses, these stars all have convective cores and overlying radiative regions, conducive to angular momentum transport by internal gravity waves (IGWs). Using two-dimensional numerical simulations, we show that angular momentum transport by IGWs can explain all of these rotation profiles. We further predict that, should high mass, faster rotating stars be observed, the core-to-envelope differential rotation will be positive, but less than one.

79 ASTRONOMY AND ASTROPHYSICS↗

Chromosome assembled and annotated genome sequence of Aspergillus flavus NRRL 3357

Abstract Aspergillus flavus is an opportunistic pathogen of crops, including peanuts and maize, and is the second leading cause of aspergillosis in immunocompromised patients. A. flavus is also a major producer of the mycotoxin, aflatoxin, a potent carcinogen, which results in significant crop losses annually. The A. flavus isolate NRRL 3357 was originally isolated from peanut and has been used as a model organism for understanding the regulation and production of secondary metabolites, such as aflatoxin. A draft genome of NRRL 3357 was previously constructed, enabling the development of molecular tools and for understanding population biology of this particular species. Here, we describe an updated, near complete, telomere-to-telomere assembly and re-annotation of the eight chromosomes of A. flavus NRRL 3357 genome, accomplished via long-read PacBio and Oxford Nanopore technologies combined with Illumina short-read sequencing. A total of 13,715 protein-coding genes were predicted. Using RNA-seq data, a significant improvement was achieved in predicted 5’ and 3’ untranslated regions, which were incorporated into the new gene models.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Comparison of Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum Rake Receiver with a Maximum Ratio Combining Multicarrier Spread Spectrum Receiver

This paper presents a theoretical analysis of the performance of a filter bank-based multicarrier spread spectrum (FB-MC-SS) system. We consider an FB-MC-SS setup where each data symbol is spread across multiple subcarriers, but there is no spreading in time. The results are then compared with those of the well-known direct sequence spread spectrum (DS-SS) system with a rake receiver for its best performance. We compare the two systems when the channel noise is white. We prove that as the processing gains of the two systems tend to infinity both approach the same performance. However, numerical simulations show that, in practice, where processing gain is limited, FB-MC-SS outperforms DS-SS.

99 GENERAL AND MISCELLANEOUS↗

Cooperative Game Approach to Optimal Merging Sequence and On-Ramp Merging Control of Connected and Automated Vehicles

Vehicle merging is one of the main causes of reduced traffic efficiency, increased risk of collision, and fuel consumption. Connected and automated vehicles (CAVs) can improve traffic efficiency, increase safety, and reduce the negative environmental impacts through effective communication and control. Therefore, to improve the traffic efficiency and reduce the fuel consumption in on-ramp scenarios, this paper addresses the global and optimal coordination of the CAVs in a merging zone. In this work, a cooperative multi-player game-based optimization framework and an algorithm are presented to coordinate vehicles and achieve minimum values for the global pay-off conditions. Fuel consumption, passenger comfort, and travel time within the merging control zone were used as the pay-off conditions. After analyzing the characteristics of the merging control zone and selecting the appropriate control decision duration, multi-player games were decomposed into multiple two-player games. An optimal merging strategy was, thereby, derived from a pay-off matrix, and minimum payoffs were predicted for a number of different potential strategies. The optimal trajectory corresponding to the predicted minimum payoffs was then utilized as the control law to coordinate the vehicles merging. The proposed control scheme derives an optimal merging sequence and an optimal trajectory for each vehicle. The effectiveness of the proposed model is validated through simulation. Finally, the proposed controller is compared with two alternative methods to demonstrate its potential to reduce fuel consumption and travel time and to improve passenger comfort and traffic efficiency.

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATI↗

The Sphagnome Project: enabling ecological and evolutionary insights through a genus-level sequencing project

Considerable progress has been made in ecological and evolutionary genetics with studies demonstrating how genes underlying plant and microbial traits can influence adaptation and even ‘extend’ to influence community structure and ecosystem level processes. The progress in this area is limited to model systems with deep genetic and genomic resources that often have negligible ecological impact or interest. Therefore, important linkages between genetic adaptations and their consequences at organismal and ecological scales are often lacking. We introduce the Sphagnome Project, which incorporates genomics into a long-running history of Sphagnum research that has documented unparalleled contributions to peatland ecology, carbon sequestration, biogeochemistry, microbiome research, niche construction, and ecosystem engineering. The Sphagnome Project encompasses a genus-level sequencing effort that represents a new type of model system driven not only by genetic tractability, but by ecologically relevant questions and hypotheses.

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES↗

Sequencing and functional validation of the JGI Brachypodium distachyon T-DNA collection

Due to a large and growing collection of genomic and experimental resources, Brachypodium distachyon has emerged as a powerful experimental model for the grasses. To add to these resources we sequenced 21 165 T-DNA lines, 15 569 of which were produced in this study. This increased the number of unique insertion sites in the T-DNA collection by 21 078, bringing the overall total to 26 112. Thirty-seven per cent (9754) of these insertion sites are within genes (including untranslated regions and introns) and 28% (7217) are within 500 bp of a gene. Approximately 31% of the genes in the v.2.1 annotation have been tagged in this population. To demonstrate the utility of this collection, we phenotypically characterized six T-DNA lines with insertions in genes previously shown in other systems to be involved in cellulose biosynthesis, hemicellulose biosynthesis, secondary cell wall development, DNA damage repair, wax biosynthesis and chloroplast synthesis. In all cases, the phenotypes observed supported previous studies, demonstrating the utility of this collection for plant functional genomics. The Brachypodium T-DNA collection can be accessed at http://jgi.doe.gov/our-science/science-programs/plant-genomics/brachypodium/brachypodium-t-dna-collection/.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗

Genome Sequence of the Mucoromycotina Fungus Umbelopsis isabellina, an Effective Producer of Lipids

Umbelopsis isabellina is a fungus in the subdivision Mucoromycotina, many members of which have been shown to be oleaginous and have become important organisms for producing oil because of their high level of intracellular lipid accumulation from various feedstocks. The genome sequence of U. isabellina NBRC 7884 was determined and annotated, and this information might provide insights into the oleaginous properties of this fungus.

Genome Sequence of the Mucoromycotina Fungus Umbel↗

Complete Genome Sequence and Updated Annotation of Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20

Desulfovibrio alaskensis G20 (formerly desulfuricans G20) is a Gram-negative mesophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium (SRB), known to corrode ferrous metals and to reduce toxic radionuclides and metals such as uranium and chromium to sparingly soluble and less toxic forms. We present the 3.7 Mb genome sequence to provide insights into its physiology.

59 BASIC BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES↗