Tight Spirals Research Articles

Extremely Relativistic Tidal Disruption Events

Extreme tidal disruption events (eTDEs), which occur when a star passes very close to a supermassive black hole, may provide a way to observe a long-sought general relativistic effect: orbits that wind several times around a black hole and then leave. Through general relativistic hydrodynamics simulations, we show that such eTDEs are easily distinguished from most tidal disruptions, in which stars come close, but not so close, to the black hole. Following the stellar orbit, the debris is initially distributed in a crescent, it then turns into a set of tight spirals circling the black hole, which merge into a shell expanding radially outwards. Some mass later falls back toward the black hole, while the remainder is ejected. Internal shocks within the infalling debris power the observed emission. The resulting lightcurve rises rapidly to roughly the Eddington luminosity, maintains this level for between a few weeks and a year (depending on both the stellar mass and the black hole mass), and then drops. Most of its power is in thermal X-rays at a temperature ∼(1–2) × 106 K (∼100–200 eV). The debris evolution and observational features of eTDEs are qualitatively different from ordinary TDEs, making eTDEs a new type of TDE. Although eTDEs are relatively rare for lower-mass black holes, most tidal disruptions around higher-mass black holes are extreme. Their detection offers a view of an exotic relativistic phenomenon previously inaccessible.

An Investigation of Spiral Gravity Waves Radiating from Tropical Cyclones Using a Linear, Nonhydrostatic Model

AbstractA recent study showed observational and numerical evidence for small-scale gravity waves that radiate outward from tropical cyclones. These waves are wrapped into tight spirals by the radial and vertical shears of the tangential wind field. Reexamination of the previously studied tropical cyclone simulations suggests that the dominant source for these waves are convective asymmetries rotating along the eyewall, modulated in intensity by the preferred convection region on the left side of the environmental wind shear vector. A linearized, nonhydrostatic model for perturbations to a balanced vortex is used to study the waves. Forcing the linear model with rotating and pulsing asymmetric heat sources generates radiating gravity waves with multiple vertical and horizontal structures. The pulsation of the rotating heat source generates two types of waves: fast, deep waves with larger radial wavelengths, and slower, secondary waves with shorter radial and vertical wavelengths. The deeper waves produce surface pressure oscillations that have time scales consistent with surface observations, whereas the shorter waves have little surface indication but produce oscillations in vertical velocity with shorter radial wavelengths that are consistent with aircraft observations. Convective forcing that is either not pulsing or not rotating produces gravity waves but they are not as similar to the observed or simulated waves. The effects of varying the intensity of the cyclone, the asymmetry of the forcing, and the static stability of the surrounding atmosphere are explored.

Leafy branches of Gangamopteris from the Gzhelian–Asselian of westernmost Gondwana

The first reconstructions of glossopterids interpreted this Gondwanan group as arborescent, deciduous plants, with leaves and reproductive structures inserted on short shoots, which were arranged on long branches. The leaves are its most abundant organ in the fossil record, but they are mainly found isolated. The arrangement of the leaves as terminal whorls or tight spirals has been the most accepted phyllotaxis hypothesis. The few examples of leaf impressions preserved in connection with axes correspond mainly to leaves of Glossopteris Brongniart, and mostly without clear evidence of the type of insertion. Several specimens of Gangamopteris McCoy leaves attached to axes from the Bajo de Véliz Formation (Latest Carboniferous–Earliest Cisuralian) facilitate reconstruction of the foliar arrangement of the genus, to date known mostly from isolated leaves. The available evidence from the new specimens confirms a variation from well-spaced to dense helical insertion of the leaves without forming true whorls, and discards the early notion that they were mainly clustered apically on short shoots in a similar manner to the extant Ginkgoales.

Spiral gravity waves radiating from tropical cyclones

AbstractInternal gravity waves are continuously generated by deep moist convection around the globe. Satellite images suggest that tropical cyclones produce short‐wavelength, high‐frequency waves that radiate outward, with the wave fronts wrapped into tight spirals by the large differential advection of the sheared tangential flow. This letter presents new in situ observations of such waves from two sources: flight level data from research aircraft that show radial wavelengths of 2–10 km and vertical velocity magnitudes from 0.1 to 1.0 ms−1 and surface observations from a research buoy in the Pacific that indicate the passage of gravity waves overhead as tropical cyclones pass by at distances of 100 to 300 km. Numerical simulations are used to interpret these observations and to understand the broader horizontal and vertical structures of the radiating waves. The simulations suggest a correlation between wave amplitude and cyclone intensity, which could be used to make remote estimates of peak wind speeds.

Phenotypic and genotypic validation of the rare species Sphaerospermopsis eucompacta comb. nov. (Nostocales, Cyanobacteria) isolated from China

:The heterocystous cyanobacterium Anabaena eucompacta R. Li & M. Watanabe was found in China, and two unialgal strains were isolated. The species was characterized by its twisted and tight spirals and the relative position of spherical akinetes to heterocysts (adjacent to one or both sides of heterocysts). However, the taxonomic and phylogenetic position of the species remained to be characterized because of the lack of molecular data. In this study, we used a polyphasic approach, based on both morphological and molecular characters (sequences of 16S rRNA and 16S-23S rRNA), to evaluate its taxonomic position. Our results showed that A. eucompacta was a distinct species and that it should be transferred to the recently established genus Sphaerospermopsis as S. eucompacta (R. Li & M. Watanabe) X. Li & R. Li comb. nov.

Whole-Plant Reconstruction and Phylogenetic Relationships of Elatides zhoui sp. nov. (Cupressaceae) from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia

Premise of research. Exceptionally well-preserved lignified fossils from the Early Cretaceous of Mongolia include abundant conifer leafy shoots with attached pollen cones and seed cones. A whole-plant reconstruction based on these fossils enables a critical evaluation of the relationship of this extinct plant with extant conifers.Methodology. Bulk lignite samples collected from the Tugrug lignite mine were disaggregated in water, cleaned with hydrochloric and hydrofluoric acids, washed, and dried in air. Fossils were then examined using light and scanning electron microscopy.Pivotal results. Elatides zhoui sp. nov. has helically arranged leaves with two narrow lateral stomatal bands, predominantly on the adaxial leaf surface. Pollen cones are usually borne laterally on shoots in tight spirals; each microsporophyll bears three pollen sacs that produce nonsaccate pollen with a small circular aperture. Seed cones have numerous bract-scale complexes, each with a small membranous ovuliferous scale and four to ...

The effect of the Earth’s oblateness on the Moon’s physical libration in latitude

The Moon’s physical libration in latitude generated by gravitational forces caused by the Earth’s oblateness has been examined by a vector analytical method. Libration oscillations are described by a close set of five linear inhomogeneous differential equations, the dispersion equation has five roots, one of which is zero. A complete solution is obtained. It is revealed that the Earth’s oblateness: a) has little effect on the instantaneous axis of Moon’s rotation, but causes an oscillatory rotation of the body of the Moon with an amplitude of 0.072″ and pulsation period of 16.88 Julian years; b) causes small nutations of poles of the orbit and of the ecliptic along tight spirals, which occupy a disk with a cut in a center and with radius of 0.072″. Perturbations caused by the spherical Earth generate: a) physical librations in latitude with an amplitude of 34.275″; b) nutational motion for centers of small spiral nutations of orbit (ecliptic) pole over ellipses with semi-major axes of 113.850″ (85.158″) and the first pole rotates round the second one along a circle with radius of 28.691″; c) nutation of the Moon’s celestial pole over an ellipse with a semi-major axis of 45.04″ and with an axes ratio of about 0.004 with a period of T = 27.212 days. The principal ellipse’s axis is directed tangentially with respect to the precession circumference, along which the celestial pole moves nonuniformly nearly in one dimension. In contrast to the accepted concept, the latitude does not change while the Moon’s poles of rotation move. The dynamical reason for the inclination of the Moon’s mean equator with respect to the ecliptic is oblateness of the body of the Moon.

Bacillus subtilis Mutants with Knockouts of the Genes Encoding Ribonucleases RNase Y and RNase J1 Are Viable, with Major Defects in Cell Morphology, Sporulation, and Competence

The genes encoding the ribonucleases RNase J1 and RNase Y have long been considered essential for Bacillus subtilis cell viability, even before there was concrete knowledge of their function as two of the most important enzymes for RNA turnover in this organism. Here we show that this characterization is incorrect and that ΔrnjA and Δrny mutants are both viable. As expected, both strains grow relatively slowly, with doubling times in the hour range in rich medium. Knockout mutants have major defects in their sporulation and competence development programs. Both mutants are hypersensitive to a wide range of antibiotics and have dramatic alterations to their cell morphologies, suggestive of cell envelope defects. Indeed, RNase Y mutants are significantly smaller in diameter than wild-type strains and have a very disordered peptidoglycan layer. Strains lacking RNase J1 form long filaments in tight spirals, reminiscent of mutants of the actin-like proteins (Mre) involved in cell shape determination. Finally, we combined the rnjA and rny mutations with mutations in other components of the degradation machinery and show that many of these strains are also viable. The implications for the two known RNA degradation pathways of B. subtilis are discussed.

Anatomy of Fusion

Anatomy of Fusion

Comparison of the Activities of the Truncated Halichondrin B Analog NSC 707389 (E7389) with Those of the Parent Compound and a Proposed Binding Site on Tubulin

The complex marine natural product halichondrin B was compared with NSC 707389 (E7389), a structurally simplified, synthetic macrocyclic ketone analog, which has been selected for clinical trials in human patients. NSC 707389 was invariably more potent than halichondrin B in its interactions with tubulin. Both compounds inhibited tubulin assembly, inhibited nucleotide exchange on beta-tubulin, and were noncompetitive inhibitors of the binding of radiolabeled vinblastine and dolastatin 10 to tubulin. Neither compound seemed to induce an aberrant tubulin assembly reaction, as occurs with vinblastine (tight spirals) or dolastatin 10 (aggregated rings and spirals). We modeled the two compounds into a shared binding site on tubulin consistent with their biochemical properties. Of the two tubulin structures available, we selected for modeling the complex of a stathmin fragment with two tubulin heterodimers with two bound colchicinoid molecules and a single bound vinblastine between the two heterodimers (Nature (Lond) 435:519-522, 2005). Halichondrin B and NSC 707389 fit snugly between the two heterodimers adjacent to the exchangeable site nucleotide. Fitting the compounds into this site, which was also close to the vinblastine site, resulted in enough movement of amino acid residues at the vinblastine site to cause the latter compound to bind less well to tubulin. The model suggests that halichondrin B and NSC 707389 most likely form highly unstable, small aberrant tubulin polymers rather than the massive stable structures observed with vinca alkaloids and antimitotic peptides.

Spiral galaxies observed in the near-infraredK band

Deep surface photometry in the K band was obtained for 54 normal spiral galaxies, with the aim of quantifying the percentage of faint bars and studying the morphology of spiral arms. The sample was chosen to cover a wider range of morphological types while inclination angles and distances were limited to allow a detailed investigation of the internal structure of their disks and future observations and studies of the disk kinematics. An additional constraint for a well defined subsample was that no bar structure was seen on images in the visual bands. Accurate sky projection parameters were determined from the K maps comparing several different methods. The surface brightness distribution was decomposed into axisymmetric components while bars and spiral structures were analyzed using Fourier techniques. Bulges were best represented by a Sersic r l/n law with an index in the typical range of 1-2. The central surface brightness of the exponential disk and bulge-to-disk ratio only showed weak correlation with Hubble type. Indications of a central point source were found in many of the galaxies. An additional central, steep, exponential disk improved the fit for more than 80% of the galaxies suggesting that many of the bulges are oblate. Bars down to the detection level at a relative amplitude of 3% were detected in 26 of 30 galaxies in a subsample classified as ordinary SA spirals. This would correspond to only 5% of all spiral galaxies being non-barred at this level. In several cases, bars are significantly offset compared to the starting points of the main spiral pattern which indicates that bar and spiral have different pattern speeds. A small fraction (∼10%) of the sample has complex central structures consisting of several sets of bars, arcs or spirals. A majority of the galaxies (∼60%) displays a two-armed, grand-design spiral pattern in their inner parts which often breaks up into multiple arms in their outer regions. Phase shifts between the inner and outer patterns suggest in some cases that they belong to different spiral modes. The pitch angles of the main two-armed symmetric spiral pattern in the galaxies have a typical range of 5-30°. The sample shows a lack of strong, tight spirals which could indicate that such patterns are damped by non-linear, dynamical effects due to their high radial force perturbations.

Culture and characteristics of Helicobacter bizzozeronii, a new canine gastric Helicobacter sp.

Organisms whose cells were large, tight spirals were isolated from gastric biopsies of dogs. Touch cytology samples from all of the dogs contained large spiral organisms. Characteristics of 10 strains are described. These organisms were 5 to 10 microns long by 0.3 microns wide, and each cell had 10 to 20 sheathed flagella at both ends of the cell. The cells did not have periplasmic fibrils. These organisms were microaerophilic and grew at 37 and 42 degrees C but not at 25 degrees C on brain heart infusion agar containing blood. They did not grow on brucella blood agar. They were catalase and oxidase positive, hydrolyzed urea but not hippurate, reduced nitrate, and were resistant to nalidixic acid but susceptible to cephalothin and metronidazole. In contrast to Helicobacter felis, they hydrolyzed indoxyl acetate. The sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis protein profiles of all of the strains were similar, and the protein patterns of these organisms differed from those of other Helicobacter spp. Dot blot DNA-DNA hybridization experiments revealed that the new strains were closely related to each other but clearly different from H. felis, Helicobacter pylori, Helicobacter mustelae, and Campylobacter jejuni. The name Helicobacter bizzozeronii sp. nov. is proposed for these organisms. Our results suggest that other "uncultured" gastric helicobacters may be cultured if optimal culture conditions are found.

Restricted Neutron Transmission through a Cylindrical Guide Tube

The transmission and the number of reflections of successful neutron trajectories through a straight cylindrical tube with a coaxial aperture at its entrance have been calculated, assuming that a beam with a conical angular divergence is incident along the axis of the cylinder. The calculation models neutron transmission measurements through tubes that have been defined by a cadmium aperture placed at the entrance of the tube. The addition of an aperture not only lowers the acceptance, but also reduces the average number of reflections relative to unrestricted transmission. The aperture prevents neutrons having trajectories with tight spirals down the tube from entering near the periphery of the tube. This model might also be useful for understanding the reduced transmission through a tube with slightly crimped edges or through imperfectly cut glass polycapillaries.

Decomposition of Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Carcasses in a Forest Stream Ecosystem Inhabited only by Nonanadromous Fish Populations

The overall dynamics of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) carcass decomposition in a woodland stream ecosystem was examined in two experiments conducted in the West Fork of Mink Creek, Idaho: one during winter–spring (mean water temperature 4.2 °C) and one during summer (mean water temperature 8.6 °C). Relative weight loss (%AFDW) from fish during both periods was essentially constant. In spring, mean daily loss per day was 1.5%. Although this rate is comparable with the decay of high-quality ("fast") leaves, it took much longer than expected (> 120 d) for the even higher quality fish protein. In summer, decay was more rapid (4.9%/d) and was completed in less than half the time (~50 d). Most decay appeared to progress from inside the carcasses outward to the skin. The skin remained intact throughout most of both experiments. Nutrients leached from the fish appeared to be utilized rapidly by microbes associated with the carcass, since no stimulation of algal growth occurred immediately downstream of the carcasses. This suggests extremely tight nutrient spirals and high nutrient retention in Mink Creek and other comparable Rocky Mountain headwater streams.

Perception of rotating spiral patterns by pigeons

The ability of pigeons to discriminate indepth moving stimuli was studied with the rotating spiral illusion. Trained with tightly wound spirals, the birds were able to distinguish apparently approaching from apparently retreating spirals. Discrimination also persisted with loosely wound spirals, even though these did not induce an equivalent illusion in humans. Analysis of the optic flow created by the spirals indicates that the relevant cues were local divergent/convergent motion patterns. Global flow patterns, similar to those arising with approaching/retreating scenes, were only generated by tightly wound spirals. An unidimensional parameter τ could be derived that typified each and all the stimuli used. It is equivalent to the τ that has been used to characterize the optic flow of really approaching objects, indicating the time to collision. With a stationary rotating logarithmic spiral, τ is a joint function of winding tightness and rotation velocity. The τs associated with the rotation speeds yielding threshold discrimination gauged the effectiveness of spirals with different winding inclinations. Threshold τs were high with tight spirals and decreased with loose spirals. This indicates that both local and global kinetic cues must contribute to the detection of in-depth movement by pigeons. Even though the cue efficiency of local flow patterns alone is less than that of global flow patterns the former may be of value when they are dealing with scene elements looming at different rates or with looming objects that are partially occluded.

Ultrastructure and motion analysis of permeabilized Paramecium capable of motility and regulation of motility.

Structural and behavioral features of intact and permeabilized Paramecium tetraurelia have been defined as a basis for study of Ca2+ control of ciliary reversal. Motion analysis of living paramecia shows that all the cells in a population swim forward with gently curving spirals at speeds averaging 369 +/- 19 microns/second. Ciliary reversal occurs in 10% of the cell population per second. Living paramecia, quick-fixed for scanning electron microscopy (SEM), show metachronal waves and an effective stroke obliquely toward the posterior end of the cell. Upon treatment with Triton X-100, swimming ceases and both scanning and transmission electron microscopy reveal cilia that uniformly project perpendicularly from the cell surface. Thin sections of these cells indicate that the ciliary, cell, and outer alveolar membranes are greatly disrupted or entirely missing and that the cytoplasm is also disrupted. These permeabilized paramecia can be reactivated and are capable of motility and regulation of motility. Motion analysis of cells reactivated with Mg2+ and ATP in low Ca2+ buffer (pCa greater than 7) shows that 71% swim forward in straight or curved paths at speeds averaging 221 +/- 20 microns/second. When these cells are quick-fixed for SEM the metachronal wave patterns of living, forward swimming cells reappear. Motion analysis of permeabilized cells reactivated in high Ca2+ buffers (pCa 5.5) shows that 94% swim backward in tight spirals at a velocity averaging 156 +/- 7 microns/second. SEM reveals a metachronal wave pattern with an effective stroke toward the anterior region. Although the permeabilized cells do not reverse spontaneously, the pCa response is preserved and the Ca2+ switch remains intact. The ciliary axonemes are largely exposed to the external environment. Therefore, the behavioral responses of these permeabilized cells depend on interaction of Ca2+ with molecules that remain bound to the axonemes throughout the extraction and reactivation procedures.

A dispersion relation for open spiral galaxies

The Lin-Shu dispersion relation is applicable in the (asymptotic) case of tight spirals (large wave numberkR). Here we reconsider the various steps leading to the Lin-Shu dispersion relation in higher approximation, under the assumption that the wave numberkR is not large [(kRr) =O(1)], and derive a new dispersion relation. This is valid for open spiral waves and bars. We prove that this dispersion relation is the appropriate limit of the nonlinear self-consistency condition in the case where the linear theory is applicable.

The arrangement of the connective tissue in the stroma iridis of man and monkey

The arrangement of the connective-tissue fibres in the stroma of the iris of man and monkey ( Macaca sp.) was studied with the scanning electron microscope. The stroma consists of a series of wide-meshed networks of collagenous connective-tissue bundles which run parallel to the surfaces of the iris. The rectangular areas isolated by the fibres of these networks are orientated in adjacent layers to form anterior-posterior canals. These canals communicate directly with the anterior chamber of the eye and extend to the muscles of the iris. The blood vessels of the iris are enveloped in sheaths of connective tissue. These sheaths consist of a number of layers of tightly woven networks of collagen fibres. Around the vascular tube the fibre bundles form more or less tight spirals and coil in alternate directions in conseeutive layers. The possible functional significance of this arrangement of the connective tissue in the stroma iridis is discussed.

The Non-Linear Theory of Spiral Structure

AbstractThe main steps of the non-linear theory of spiral structure are described. Near each of the main resonances the basic periodic orbits are calculated, and the sets of non-periodic orbits that follow them are found. A different integral of motion is applicable for each set, besides the Jacobi integral. Then the initial distribution function, f, is expressed as a function of the two integrals and the corresponding angles. The final distribution function is found by averaging over the angles:Then by integratingover all velocities we find the response density σresp. In order that σrespshould be equal to the imposed density, σimpwe must adjust the parameters of the imposed spiral field. The form of σrespaway from resonances can be derived explicitely for tight ana open spirals or bars; however near the resonances σrespcan be only calculated numerically. If the imposed field has almost constant amplitude, then the amplitude of the response is very large near the Inner Lindblad Resonance. In the case of a tight spiral the azimuth of the response density maximum with respect to the imposed density maximum tends to zero outside the ILR, while it tends to -90° inside the ILR. One possible self-consistent solution has zero amplitude inside the ILR both in the case of tight spirals and of bars. Finally an important quadrupole term was found near the ILR.

Disruption of ideal geometry in the growth of receptaculitids: a natural experiment in theoretical morphology

Facets of the Silurian receptaculitidIschadites barrandeiare arranged in circlets about a nucleus. They form a set of spirals, originally eight in number, but increasing by the intercalation of new facets (initiating new spirals) in later circlets. We have simulated the surficial geometry of this alga by assuming, as much evidence indicates, that facets are limited in final size and that new spirals must therefore be intercalated in order to cover the surface with a fully tesselated pattern. We use only five parameters in our simulation: nature of the surface (radius of a sphere), tightness of the spirals (assumed to be logarithmic) and rate of increase in facet width (three parameters of an equation fitted to actual data). The program draws facets in circlets and intercalates new ones whenever the sum of facet diameters is at least a facet less than the circumference of the circlet. By holding all but one parameter constant, we can test the influence of single factors upon the pattern of intercalation. We compare these figures with actual patterns of intercalation for eight specimens. Variation in tightness of the spiral seems to affect the pattern most radically—tight spirals intercalate fewer facets because new circlets stay near the pole of the sphere. The morphology of intercalation supports the interpretation of Rietschel (1969,contraNitecki, 1972 and Byrnes, 1968) that the nuclear circlets are the oldest part of the plant and that new circlets are generated at the opposite pole. Our simulation represents a basic pattern in nature, not a specific feature of receptaculitids. All structures that fill space with spirals and impose limits upon the size of individual units must add new spirals. Bryozoans subject to similar constraints but growing in a completely different way (peripheral growth in radial rows) display the same final pattern.