55 research outputs found
A Search for Kinematic Evidence of Radial Gas Flows in Spiral Galaxies
CO and HI velocity fields of seven nearby spiral galaxies, derived from
radio-interferometric observations, are decomposed into Fourier components
whose radial variation is used to search for evidence of radial gas flows.
Additional information provided by optical or near-infrared isophotes is also
considered, including the relationship between the morphological and kinematic
position angles. To assist in interpreting the data, we present detailed
modeling that demonstrates the effects of bar streaming, inflow, and a warp on
the observed Fourier components. We find in all of the galaxies evidence for
either elliptical streaming or a warped disk over some range in radius, with
deviations from pure circular rotation at the level of ~20-60 km/s. Evidence
for kinematic warps is observed in several cases well inside R_{25}. No
unambiguous evidence for radial inflows is seen in any of the seven galaxies,
and we are able to place an upper limit of ~5-10 km/s (3-5% of the circular
speed) on the magnitude of any radial inflow in the inner regions of NGC 4414,
5033 and 5055. We conclude that the inherent non-axisymmetry of spiral galaxies
is the greatest limitation to the direct detection of radial inflows.Comment: 22 emulateapj pages with bitmapped colour figures, to appear in ApJ
(April 2004). For full resolution figures go to
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/twong/preprints
H-alpha Kinematics of the SINGS Nearby Galaxies Survey. II
This is the second part of an H-alpha kinematics follow-up survey of the
Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS) sample. The aim of this program
is to shed new light on the role of baryons and their kinematics and on the
dark/luminous matter relation in the star forming regions of galaxies, in
relation with studies at other wavelengths. The data for 37 galaxies are
presented. The observations were made using Fabry-Perot interferometry with the
photon-counting camera FaNTOmM on 4 different telescopes, namely the
Canada-France-Hawaii 3.6m, the ESO La Silla 3.6m, the William Herschel 4.2m,
and the Observatoire du mont Megantic 1.6m telescopes. The velocity fields are
computed using custom IDL routines designed for an optimal use of the data. The
kinematical parameters and rotation curves are derived using the GIPSY
software. It is shown that non-circular motions associated with galactic bars
affect the kinematical parameters fitting and the velocity gradient of the
rotation curves. This leads to incorrect determinations of the baryonic and
dark matter distributions in the mass models derived from those rotation
curves.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figures, 4 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRAS. All
high-res. figures are available at
http://www.astro.umontreal.ca/fantomm/singsII
The Relationship Between Gas Content and Star Formation in Molecule-Rich Spiral Galaxies
We investigate the relationship between HI, H_2, and the star formation rate
(SFR) using azimuthally averaged data for seven CO-bright spiral galaxies.
Contrary to some earlier studies based on global fluxes, we find that the SFR
surface density exhibits a much stronger correlation with the H_2 than with the
HI, as the HI surface density saturates at a value of 10 Msol pc^{-2} or
even declines at large SFR surface densities. Hence the good correlation
between the SFR surface density and the total (HI+H_2) gas surface density is
driven by the molecular component in these galaxies. We find no clear evidence
for a link between the gravitational instability parameter for the gas disk
(Q_g) and the SFR, and suggest that Q_g be considered a measure of the gas
fraction. This implies that for a state of marginal gravitational stability to
exist in galaxies with low gas fractions, it must be due to instability of the
stellar disk. In regions where we have both HI and CO measurements, the ratio
of HI to H_2 surface density scales with radius R as roughly R^{1.5}, and we
suggest that the balance between HI and H_2 is determined primarily by the
midplane interstellar pressure. These results favor a "law" of star formation
in quiescent disks in which the ambient pressure and metallicity control the
formation of molecular clouds from HI, with star formation then occurring at a
roughly constant rate per unit H_2 mass. (abstract abridged)Comment: To appear in ApJ. 28 pages with 16 figures (emulateapj5). Full
resolution figures available at
http://www.atnf.csiro.au/people/twong/preprints
In-Vitro Activity of Polymyxin B, Rifampicin, Tigecycline Alone and in Combination against Carbapenem-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii in Singapore
OBJECTIVE: Carbapenem-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (CR-AB) is an emerging cause of nosocomial infections worldwide. Combination therapy may be the only viable option until new antibiotics become available. The objective of this study is to identify potential antimicrobial combinations against CR-AB isolated from our local hospitals. METHODS: AB isolates from all public hospitals in Singapore were systematically collected between 2006 and 2007. MICs were determined according to CLSI guidelines. All CR-AB isolates were genotyped using a PCR-based method. Clonal relationship was elucidated. Time-kill studies (TKS) were conducted with polymyxin B, rifampicin and tigecycline alone and in combination using clinically relevant (achievable) unbound concentrations. RESULTS: 31 CR AB isolates were identified. They are multidrug-resistant, but are susceptible to polymyxin B. From clonal typing, 8 clonal groups were identified and 11 isolates exhibited clonal diversity. In single TKS, polymyxin B, rifampicin and tigecycline alone did not exhibit bactericidal activity at 24 hours. In combination TKS, polymyxin plus rifampicin, polymyxin B plus tigecycline and tigecycline plus rifampicin exhibited bactericidal killing in 13/31, 9/31 and 7/31 isolates respectively at 24 hours. Within a clonal group, there may be no consensus with the types of antibiotics combinations that could still kill effectively. CONCLUSION: Monotherapy with polymyxin B may not be adequate against polymyxin B susceptible AB isolates. These findings demonstrate that in-vitro synergy of antibiotic combinations in CR AB may be strain dependant. It may guide us in choosing a pre-emptive therapy for CR AB infections and warrants further investigations
Combination of cisplatin and bromelain exerts synergistic cytotoxic effects against breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231 in vitro
Ability of T1 lipase to degrade amorphous P(3HB): structural and functional study
An enzyme with broad substrate specificity would be an asset for industrial application. T1 lipase apparently has the same active site residues as polyhydroxyalkanoates (PHA) depolymerase. Sequences of both enzymes were studied and compared, and a conserved lipase box pentapeptide region around the nucleophilic serine was detected. The alignment of 3-D structures for both enzymes showed their active site residues were well aligned with an RMSD value of 1.981 Å despite their sequence similarity of only 53.8%. Docking of T1 lipase with P(3HB) gave forth high binding energy of 5.4 kcal/mol, with the distance of 4.05 Å between serine hydroxyl (OH) group of TI lipase to the carbonyl carbon of the substrate, similar to the native PhaZ7 Pl . This suggests the possible ability of T1 lipase to bind P(3HB) in its active site. The ability of T1 lipase in degrading amorphous P(3HB) was investigated on 0.2% (w/v) P(3HB) plate. Halo zone was observed around the colony containing the enzyme which confirms that T1 lipase is indeed able to degrade amorphous P(3HB). Results obtained in this study highlight the fact that T1 lipase is a versatile hydrolase enzyme which does not only record triglyceride degradation activity but amorphous P(3HB) degradation activity as well
Identification of rare germline copy number variations over-represented in five human cancer types
Ramucirumab plus docetaxel versus placebo plus docetaxel in patients with locally advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma after platinum-based therapy (RANGE): a randomised, double-blind, phase 3 trial
Few treatments with a distinct mechanism of action are available for patients with platinum-refractory advanced or metastatic urothelial carcinoma. We assessed the efficacy and safety of treatment with docetaxel plus either ramucirumab-a human IgG1 VEGFR-2 antagonist-or placebo in this patient population
Shear bond strength of denture teeth to base: A comparative study
Quintessence International276425-42
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