23,582 research outputs found
Metabolomic profiling and stable isotope labelling of Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus reveal major differences in amino acid metabolism including the production of 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid, cystathionine and S-methylcysteine
Trichomonas vaginalis and Tritrichomonas foetus are pathogens that parasitise, respectively, human and bovine urogenital tracts causing disease. Using LC-MS, reference metabolomic profiles were obtained for both species and stable isotope labelling with D-[U-13C6] glucose was used to analyse central carbon metabolism. This facilitated a comparison of the metabolic pathways of T. vaginalis and T. foetus, extending earlier targeted biochemical studies. 43 metabolites, whose identities were confirmed by comparison of their retention times with authentic standards, occurred at more than 3-fold difference in peak intensity between T. vaginalis and T. foetus. 18 metabolites that were removed from or released into the medium during growth also showed more than 3-fold difference between the species. Major differences were observed in cysteine and methionine metabolism in which homocysteine, produced as a bi-product of trans-methylation, is catabolised by methionine Îł-lyase in T. vaginalis but converted to cystathionine in T. foetus. Both species synthesise methylthioadenosine by an unusual mechanism, but it is not used as a substrate for methionine recycling. T. vaginalis also produces and exports high levels of S-methylcysteine, whereas only negligible levels were found in T. foetus which maintains significantly higher intracellular levels of cysteine. 13C-labeling confirmed that both cysteine and S-methylcysteine are synthesised by T. vaginalis; S-methylcysteine can be generated by recombinant T. vaginalis cysteine synthase using phosphoserine and methanethiol. T. foetus contained higher levels of ornithine and citrulline than T. vaginalis and exported increased levels of putrescine, suggesting greater flux through the arginine dihydrolase pathway. T. vaginalis produced and exported hydroxy acid derivatives of certain amino acids, particularly 2-hydroxyisocaproic acid derived from leucine, whereas negligible levels of these metabolites occurred in T. foetus
Variable stars in the Fornax dSph Galaxy. I. The Globular Cluster Fornax 4
Variable stars have been identified for the first time in Fornax 4, the
globular cluster located near the center of the Fornax dwarf spheroidal galaxy.
By applying the image subtraction technique to B,V time series photometry
obtained with the MagIC camera of the 6.5-m Magellan/Clay telescope and with
the wide field imager of the 4-m Blanco/CTIO telescope, we detected 27 RR Lyrae
stars (22 fundamental mode, 3 first overtone, and 2 double-mode pulsators) in a
2.4'x2.4' area centered on Fornax 4. The average and minimum periods of the
ab-type RR Lyrae stars, = 0.594 d and P(ab,min)=0.5191 d, respectively, as
well as the revised position of the cluster in the horizontal branch
type--metallicity plane, all consistently point to an Oosterhoff-intermediate
status for the cluster, unlike what is seen for the vast majority of Galactic
globular clusters, but in agreement with previous indications for the other
globular clusters in Fornax.
The average apparent magnitude of the RR Lyrae stars located within 30 arcsec
from the cluster center is =21.43 +/- 0.03 mag (sigma=0.10 mag, average
on 12 stars), leading to a true distance modulus of (m-M)o=20.64 +/- 0.09 mag
or (m-M)o=20.53 +/- 0.09 mag, depending on whether a low ([Fe/H]=-2.0) or a
moderately high ([Fe/H]=-1.5) metallicity is adopted.Comment: Apj, in pres
Microstructural analysis of phase separation in iron chalcogenide superconductors
The interplay between superconductivity, magnetism and crystal structure in
iron-based superconductors is a topic of great interest amongst the condensed
matter physics community as it is thought to be the key to understanding the
mechanisms responsible for high temperature superconductivity. Alkali metal
doped iron chalcogenide superconductors exhibit several unique characteristics
which are not found in other iron-based superconducting materials such as
antiferromagnetic ordering at room temperature, the presence of ordered iron
vacancies and high resistivity normal state properties. Detailed
microstructural analysis is essential in order to understand the origin of
these unusual properties. Here we have used a range of complementary scanning
electron microscope based techniques, including high-resolution electron
backscatter di raction mapping, to assess local variations in composition and
lattice parameter with high precision and sub-micron spatial resolution. Phase
separation is observed in the Csx Fe2-ySe2 crystals, with the minor phase
distributed in a plate-like morphology throughout the crystal. Our results are
consistent with superconductivity occurring only in the minority phase.Comment: Accepted for publication in a special edition of Supercond. Sci.
Techno
Density of some titanium-bearing silicate liquids and the compositional dependence of the partial molar volume of TiO2
The densities of thirteen silicate liquids along the Na2SiO3-TiO2 and CaSiO3-TiO2 joins and six other titanium-bearing silicate liquids of the general formula TiSiO5 (where X = Li, Na, K, Rb, Cs, Ca, Sr, Ba) have been measured in equilibrium with air using the double Pt bob Archimedean method. The Na2SiO3-TiO2 join was investigated from 10â50 mole% TiO2 in the temperature range 1000â1150°C whereas the CaSiO3-TiO2 join was investigated from 10â80 mole% TiO2 in the temperature range of 1400â1625°C. Density increases with TiO2 content along both joins.
Partial molar volumes of the binary endmembers, Na2SiO3 and CaSiO3, and of TiO2 have been computed. The partial molar volume of Na2SiO3 agrees well with that determined by Bockris et al. (1955). The partial molar volume of CaSiO3 is in disagreement with that of Tomlinson et al. (1958). The partial molar volume of TiO2 derived from a linear fit to the Na2SiO3-TiO2 join is 27.6(3) cm3/mole at 1150°C. The partial molar volume of TiO2 derived from linear extrapolation of the CaSiO3-TiO2 data to TiO2 at 1600°C is 24.3(4) cm3/mole. Comparison of the partial molar volume data from these binary joins with TiO2 liquid density data (Dingwell, 1991) requires the existence of a large positive excess volume in the Na2SiO3-TiO2 system at 1150°C
Extremely metal-poor stars in SDSS fields
Some insight on the first generation of stars can be obtained from the
chemical composition of their direct descendants, extremely metal-poor stars
(EMP), with metallicity less than or equal to 1/1000 of the solar metalllicity.
Such stars are exceedingly rare, the most successful surveys, for this purpose,
have so far provided only about 100 stars with 1/1000 the solar metallicity and
4 stars with about 1/10000 of the solar metallicity. The Sloan Digital Sky
Survey has the potential to provide a large number of candidates of extremely
low metallicity. X-Shooter has the unique capability of performing the
necessary follow-up spectroscopy providing accurate metallicities and abundance
ratios for several elements (Mg, Al, Ca, Ti, Cr, Sr,...) for EMP candidates. We
here report on the results for the first two stars observed in the course of
our franco-italian X-Shooter GTO. The two stars were targeted to be of
metallicity around -3.0, the analysis of the X-Shooter spectra showed them to
be of metallicity around -2.0, but with a low alpha to iron ratio, which
explains the underestimate of the metallicity from the SDSS spectra. The
efficiency of X-Shooter allows an in situ study of the outer Halo, for the two
stars studied here we estimate distances of 3.9 and 9.1 Kpc, these are likely
the most distant dwarf stars studied in detail to date.Comment: Invited review at the Conference: X-shooter 2010: in memory of R.
Pallavicini, To be published on Astronomische Nachrichten, 1 reference
changed, tables 2 and 3 sorted by atomic numbe
The origin of aubrites: Evidence from lithophile trace element abundances and oxygen isotope compositions
We report the abundances of a selected set of âlithophileâ trace elements (including lanthanides, actinides and high field strength elements) and high-precision oxygen isotope analyses of a comprehensive suite of aubrites. Two distinct groups of aubrites can be distinguished: (a) the main-group aubrites display flat or light-REE depleted REE patterns with variable Eu and Y anomalies; their pyroxenes are light-REE depleted and show marked negative Eu anomalies; (b) the Mount Egerton enstatites and the silicate fraction from Larned display distinctive light-REE enrichments, and high Th/Sm ratios; Mount Egerton pyroxenes have much less pronounced negative Eu anomalies than pyroxenes from the main-group aubrites.
Leaching experiments were undertaken to investigate the contribution of sulfides to the whole rock budget of the main-group aubrites. Sulfides contain in most cases at least 50% of the REEs and of the actinides. Among the elements we have analyzed, those displaying the strongest lithophile behaviors are Rb, Ba, Sr and Sc.
The homogeneity of the Î17O values obtained for main-group aubrite falls [Î17O = +0.009 ± 0.010â° (2Ï)] suggests that they originated from a single parent body whose differentiation involved an early phase of large-scale melting that may have led to the development of a magma ocean. This interpretation is at first glance in agreement with the limited variability of the shapes of the REE patterns of these aubrites. However, the trace element concentrations of their phases cannot be used to discuss this hypothesis, because their igneous trace-element signatures have been modified by subsolidus exchange. Finally, despite similar O isotopic compositions, the marked light-REE enrichments displayed by Mount Egerton and Larned suggest that they are unrelated to the main-group aubrites and probably originated from a distinct parent body
A Sample of Very Young Field L Dwarfs and Implications for the Brown Dwarf "Lithium Test" at Early Ages
Using a large sample of optical spectra of late-type dwarfs, we identify a
subset of late-M through L field dwarfs that, because of the presence of
low-gravity features in their spectra, are believed to be unusually young. From
a combined sample of 303 field L dwarfs, we find observationally that
7.6+/-1.6% are younger than 100 Myr. This percentage is in agreement with
theoretical predictions once observing biases are taken into account. We find
that these young L dwarfs tend to fall in the southern hemisphere (Dec < 0 deg)
and may be previously unrecognized, low-mass members of nearby, young
associations like Tucana-Horologium, TW Hydrae, beta Pictoris, and AB Doradus.
We use a homogeneously observed sample of roughly one hundred and fifty
6300-10000 Angstrom spectra of L and T dwarfs taken with the Low-Resolution
Imaging Spectrometer at the W. M. Keck Observatory to examine the strength of
the 6708-A Li I line as a function of spectral type and further corroborate the
trends noted by Kirkpatrick et al. (2000). We use our low-gravity spectra to
investigate the strength of the Li I line as a function of age. The data weakly
suggest that for early- to mid-L dwarfs the line strength reaches a maximum for
a few 100 Myr, whereas for much older (few Gyr) and much younger (<100 Myr) L
dwarfs the line is weaker or undetectable. We show that a weakening of lithium
at lower gravities is predicted by model atmosphere calculations, an effect
partially corroborated by existing observational data. Larger samples
containing L dwarfs of well determined ages are needed to further test this
empirically. If verified, this result would reinforce the caveat first cited in
Kirkpatrick et al. (2006) that the lithium test should be used with caution
when attempting to confirm the substellar nature of the youngest brown dwarfs.Comment: 73 pages with 22 figures; to appear in ApJ (Dec 20, 2008, v689n2
issue
An Airborne Gamma Ray Survey of Parts of SW Scotland in February 1993. Final Report
An airborne gamma ray survey was conducted for the Scottish Office Environment Department of coastal and inland parts of SW Scotland to define existing background levels, to locate features worthy of further attention, and to demonstrate the emergency response capabilities of radiometric methods. Coastal areas were surveyed with 500 m line spacing. Inland areas were specified to 2 km line spacing, however it was possible to achieve 1 km line spacing in the majority of the inland zone.
Fieldwork was conducted between the 1st and 16th February 1993. A total of over 17,000 gamma ray spectra were recorded, using a 16 litre NaI spectrometer mounted in a helicopter flying at 50-75m ground clearance and 120kph. A total area of 3650 km2 was surveyed in 41.6 flying hours, from roughly 4370 line kilometres. The data were reduced in the field using standard SURRC procedures for background subtraction, stripping of spectral interferences, altitude correction, and calibration. Preliminary maps of the distribution of 137Cs, 40K, 214Bi, 208Tl, and estimated ground level gamma dose rate were produced during the fieldwork period using working calibration values derived from previous surveys. A set of core samples was collected from Wigtown Merse, Longbridgemuir and Caerlaverock merse for calibration purposes, and aerial observations were performed at these sites.
Further soil sampling and ground level in-situ gamma spectrometry was performed in the summer of 1993 to investigate the applicability of the calibration to a range of upland soil types and topographical environments. These locations received peak deposition from the Chernobyl accident, are vulnerable to wet deposition, and are difficult to monitor rapidly using ground based methods. A total of 76 soil cores, subdivided into 168 separate samples was thus collected for high resolution gamma spectrometry in the laboratory. This was conducted from April to November 1993.
For the terrestrial sites the aerial survey estimates based on the working calibration, were in good agreement with both in-situ gamma spectrometry and the results of core analysis. This validates the preliminary maps in these contexts, and confirms that a general calibration is sufficient for fallout mapping under emergency response conditions. On coastal salt marsh sites (merse), where aged deposits of Sellafield derived activity have accumulated, subsurface activity profiles for 137Cs and 241Am and the presence of superficial levels of 134Cs were observed from the soil cores. Similar features have been observed in previous surveys. In these cases the effects of source burial must be taken into account to avoid underestimation of activity levels by both ground-based and aerial gamma spectrometry. A separate set of detailed maps for the principal merse sites was therefore prepared using a calibration factor derived from the soil cores from this context. There are prospects for developing spectral analysis procedures to account for source depth in aerial surveys. Source burial on the merse also has implications for sampling techniques, and for dose rate measurement, which would merit further consideration.
The radiometric maps show clearly the distributions of each individual nuclide and indicate the contribution which individual localised features make to the overall gamma ray dose rate. Naturally occurring nuclides reflect the underlying geological and geomorphological contexts of the landscape. The main granite intrusions, most notably at Cairnsmore of Fleet, the Loch Doon Granodiorite, Glencairn of Carsphairn, the Dalbeattie granite, and Criffel Pluton are readily visible in 40K, 214Bi and 208Tl maps, and control their local radiation environments. A number of areas of enhanced 214Bi, which may reflect radon potential, were noted. A transient radon associated 214Bi signal was observed on the west of the Wigtown peninsular during the survey. Examination of spectral data in the vicinity of Dundrennan has confirmed that there is no evidence of widespread terrestrial contamination arising from the use of depleted uranium projectiles on the range.
The 137Cs map indicates the environmental distribution of this nuclide in considerable detail. Levels of 137Cs range from approximately 2 kBq m-2, a level consistent with global weaponsâ testing fallout, from 2-40kBq m-2 on terrestrial sites affected by deposition from the Chernobyl accident, and from 40 kBq m-2 to over 200 kBq m-2 on tide washed pastures which have accumulated marine sediments from the Irish Sea. All three levels are represented within the survey zone, in a manner which is consistent with the findings of previous aerial surveys in adjacent areas, and with ground based studies.
The main Chernobyl deposition in Dumfries and Galloway appears to have occurred between an area just east of the Nith, and Glenluce. The northern limit has not yet been defined, and there may be grounds for considering extension of the northern and particularly eastern limits of the inland survey zone. Within the survey zone the deposition pattern is complex, including both upland and lowland components. The plume trajectories for deposition inferred from these observations are oriented northwards rather than in the NW directions predicted by meteorological derived estimates. This may explain the contradiction between results from the Central Highlands and the estimated fallout patterns. The data presented here both add to previous knowledge, and serve as a baseline against which any future changes can be measured.
The survey provides systematic coverage of the sedimentary and terrestrial coastal system for the first time, and has identified a number of merse sites which have accumulated radioactivity from past marine discharges from Sellafield, and which are not routinely monitored under existing Scottish Office arrangements. Some of these locations are extensive and fall within SSIâs; furthermore they are key sites for studying future deposition trends. It would seem prudent to review radiological assessments in the light of this work to ensure that the patterns of occupancy and sensitive ecologies of the merse are taken fully into account.
The emergency response potential of aerial radiometrics has been clearly demonstrated in this project. It provides the only practical means of providing comprehensive environmental measurements of remote and upland landscapes on a short time scale, with an effective area sampling density some 106-107 times greater than soil sampling. Results are compatible with ground based approaches, and could focus ground based efforts effectively under emergency conditions. Modern approaches to data recording and analysis are able to produce maps during the survey period. National baseline mapping in Scotland, at 1 km resolution, would require less than 800 flying hours; 20 km line spacing would take roughly 40 hours of flight time. A long term programme of high resolution national baseline mapping, coupled to an emergency response standby arrangement, would provide an extremely cost effective way of preserving the capability developed since the Chernobyl accident, while producing high quality environmental data for research purpos
High dispersion spectroscopy of two A supergiant systems in the Small Magellanic Cloud with novel properties
We present the results of a spectroscopic investigation of two novel variable
bright blue stars in the SMC, OGLE004336.91-732637.7 (SMC-SC3) and the
periodically occulted star OGLE004633.76-731204.3 (SMC-SC4), whose photometric
properties were reported by Mennickent et al. (2010). High-resolution spectra
in the optical and far-UV show that both objects are actually A + B type
binaries. Three spectra of SMC-SC4 show radial velocity variations, consistent
with the photometric period of 184.26 days found in Mennickent et al. 2010. The
optical spectra of the metallic lines in both systems show combined absorption
and emission components that imply that they are formed in a flattened
envelope. A comparison of the radial velocity variations in SMC-SC4 and the
separation of the V and R emission components in the Halpha emission profile
indicate that this envelope, and probably also the envelope around SMC-SC3, is
a circumbinary disk with a characteristic orbital radius some three times the
radius of the binary system. The optical spectra of SMC-SC3 and SMC-SC4 show,
respectively, HeI emission lines and discrete Blue Absorption Components (BACs)
in metallic lines. The high excitations of the HeI lines in the SMC-SC3
spectrum and the complicated variations of FeII emission and absorption
components with orbital phase in the spectrum of SMC-SC4 suggests that shocks
occur between the winds and various static regions of the stars' co-rotating
binary-disk complexes. We suggest that BACs arise from wind shocks from the A
star impacting the circumbinary disk and a stream of former wind-efflux from
the B star accreting onto the A star. We dub these objects prototype of a small
group of Magellanic Cloud wind-interacting A + B binaries.Comment: To be published in MNRA
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