1,668 research outputs found
New Constraints on Cosmic Reionization from the 2012 Hubble Ultra Deep Field Campaign
Understanding cosmic reionization requires the identification and
characterization of early sources of hydrogen-ionizing photons. The 2012 Hubble
Ultra Deep Field (UDF12) campaign has acquired the deepest infrared images with
the Wide Field Camera 3 aboard Hubble Space Telescope and, for the first time,
systematically explored the galaxy population deep into the era when cosmic
microwave background (CMB) data indicates reionization was underway. The UDF12
campaign thus provides the best constraints to date on the abundance,
luminosity distribution, and spectral properties of early star-forming
galaxies. We synthesize the new UDF12 results with the most recent constraints
from CMB observations to infer redshift-dependent ultraviolet (UV) luminosity
densities, reionization histories, and electron scattering optical depth
evolution consistent with the available data. Under reasonable assumptions
about the escape fraction of hydrogen ionizing photons and the intergalactic
medium clumping factor, we find that to fully reionize the universe by redshift
z~6 the population of star-forming galaxies at redshifts z~7-9 likely must
extend in luminosity below the UDF12 limits to absolute UV magnitudes of
M_UV\sim -13 or fainter. Moreover, low levels of star formation extending to
redshifts z~15-25, as suggested by the normal UV colors of z\simeq7-8 galaxies
and the smooth decline in abundance with redshift observed by UDF12 to
z\simeq10, are additionally likely required to reproduce the optical depth to
electron scattering inferred from CMB observations.Comment: Version accepted by ApJ (originally submitted Jan 5, 2013). The UDF12
website can be found at http://udf12.arizona.ed
Unveiling the sensory and interneuronal pathways of the neuroendocrine connectome in Drosophila.
Neuroendocrine systems in animals maintain organismal homeostasis and regulate stress response. Although a great deal of work has been done on the neuropeptides and hormones that are released and act on target organs in the periphery, the synaptic inputs onto these neuroendocrine outputs in the brain are less well understood. Here, we use the transmission electron microscopy reconstruction of a whole central nervous system in the Drosophila larva to elucidate the sensory pathways and the interneurons that provide synaptic input to the neurosecretory cells projecting to the endocrine organs. Predicted by network modeling, we also identify a new carbon dioxide-responsive network that acts on a specific set of neurosecretory cells and that includes those expressing corazonin (Crz) and diuretic hormone 44 (Dh44) neuropeptides. Our analysis reveals a neuronal network architecture for combinatorial action based on sensory and interneuronal pathways that converge onto distinct combinations of neuroendocrine outputs
Recommended from our members
Unveiling the sensory and interneuronal pathways of the neuroendocrine connectome in <i>Drosophila</i>.
Neuroendocrine systems in animals maintain organismal homeostasis and regulate stress response. Although a great deal of work has been done on the neuropeptides and hormones that are released and act on target organs in the periphery, the synaptic inputs onto these neuroendocrine outputs in the brain are less well understood. Here, we use the transmission electron microscopy reconstruction of a whole central nervous system in the Drosophila larva to elucidate the sensory pathways and the interneurons that provide synaptic input to the neurosecretory cells projecting to the endocrine organs. Predicted by network modeling, we also identify a new carbon dioxide-responsive network that acts on a specific set of neurosecretory cells and that includes those expressing corazonin (Crz) and diuretic hormone 44 (Dh44) neuropeptides. Our analysis reveals a neuronal network architecture for combinatorial action based on sensory and interneuronal pathways that converge onto distinct combinations of neuroendocrine outputs
Angle- and polarization-resolved luminescence from suspended and hexagonal boron nitride encapsulated MoSe2 monolayers
The polarized photoluminescence from atomically thin transition metal dichalcogenides is a frequently applied tool to scrutinize optical selection rules and valley physics, yet it is known to sensibly depend on a variety of internal and external material and sample properties. In this work, we apply combined angle- and polarization-resolved spectroscopy to explore the interplay of excitonic physics and phenomena arising from the commonly utilized encapsulation procedure on the optical properties of atomically thinMoSe2.We probe monolayers prepared in both suspended and encapsulated manners.We show that the hBN encapsulation significantly enhances the linear polarization of exciton photoluminescence emission at large emission angles. This degree of linear polarization of excitons can increase up to ∼17% in the hBN encapsulated samples. As we confirm by finite-difference time-domain simulations, it can be directly connected to the optical anisotropy of the hBN layers. In comparison, the linear polarization at finite exciton momenta is significantly reduced in a suspendedMoSe2 monolayer, and becomes notable only in cryogenic conditions. This phenomenon strongly suggests that the effect is rooted in the k-dependent anisotropic exchange coupling inherent in2Dexcitons.Our results have strong implications on further studies on valley contrasting selection rules and valley coherence phenomena using standard suspended and encapsulated samples
Observational Limits on Type 1 AGN Accretion Rate in COSMOS
We present black hole masses and accretion rates for 182 Type 1 AGN in
COSMOS. We estimate masses using the scaling relations for the broad Hb, MgII,
and CIV emission lines in the redshift ranges 0.16<z<0.88, 1<z<2.4, and
2.7<z<4.9. We estimate the accretion rate using an Eddington ratio L_I/L_Edd
estimated from optical and X-ray data. We find that very few Type 1 AGN accrete
below L_I/L_Edd ~ 0.01, despite simulations of synthetic spectra which show
that the survey is sensitive to such Type 1 AGN. At lower accretion rates the
BLR may become obscured, diluted or nonexistent. We find evidence that Type 1
AGN at higher accretion rates have higher optical luminosities, as more of
their emission comes from the cool (optical) accretion disk with respect to
shorter wavelengths. We measure a larger range in accretion rate than previous
works, suggesting that COSMOS is more efficient at finding low accretion rate
Type 1 AGN. However the measured range in accretion rate is still comparable to
the intrinsic scatter from the scaling relations, suggesting that Type 1 AGN
accrete at a narrow range of Eddington ratio, with L_I/L_Edd ~ 0.1.Comment: Accepted for pulication in ApJ. 7 pages, 5 figures, table 1 available
on reques
Negative correlation of single-cell PAX3:FOXO1 expression with tumorigenicity in rhabdomyosarcoma
Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are phenotypically and functionally heterogeneous. Both primary human RMS cultures and low-passage Myf6Cre,Pax3:Foxo1,p53 mouse RMS cell lines, which express the fusion oncoprotein Pax3:Foxo1 and lack the tumor suppressor Tp53 (Myf6Cre,Pax3:Foxo1,p53), exhibit marked heterogeneity in PAX3:FOXO1 (P3F) expression at the single cell level. In mouse RMS cells, P3F expression is directed by the Pax3 promoter and coupled to eYFP. YFPlow/P3Flow mouse RMS cells included 87% G0/G1 cells and reorganized their actin cytoskeleton to produce a cellular phenotype characterized by more efficient adhesion and migration. This translated into higher tumor-propagating cell frequencies of YFPlow/P3Flow compared with YFPhigh/P3Fhigh cells. Both YFPlow/P3Flow and YFPhigh/P3Fhigh cells gave rise to mixed clones in vitro, consistent with fluctuations in P3F expression over time. Exposure to the anti-tropomyosin compound TR100 disrupted the cytoskeleton and reversed enhanced migration and adhesion of YFPlow/P3Flow RMS cells. Heterogeneous expression of PAX3:FOXO1 at the single cell level may provide a critical advantage during tumor progression
Molecular Identification of a Malaria Merozoite Surface Sheddase
Proteolytic shedding of surface proteins during invasion by apicomplexan parasites is a widespread phenomenon, thought to represent a mechanism by which the parasites disengage adhesin-receptor complexes in order to gain entry into their host cell. Erythrocyte invasion by merozoites of the malaria parasite Plasmodium falciparum requires the shedding of ectodomain components of two essential surface proteins, called MSP1 and AMA1. Both are released by the same merozoite surface “sheddase,” but the molecular identity and mode of action of this protease is unknown. Here we identify it as PfSUB2, an integral membrane subtilisin-like protease (subtilase). We show that PfSUB2 is stored in apical secretory organelles called micronemes. Upon merozoite release it is secreted onto the parasite surface and translocates to its posterior pole in an actin-dependent manner, a trafficking pattern predicted of the sheddase. Subtilase propeptides are usually selective inhibitors of their cognate protease, and the PfSUB2 propeptide is no exception; we show that recombinant PfSUB2 propeptide binds specifically to mature parasite-derived PfSUB2 and is a potent, selective inhibitor of MSP1 and AMA1 shedding, directly establishing PfSUB2 as the sheddase. PfSUB2 is a new potential target for drugs designed to prevent erythrocyte invasion by the malaria parasite
Transverse Electronic Transport through DNA Nucleotides with Functionalized Graphene Electrodes
Graphene nanogaps and nanopores show potential for the purpose of electrical
DNA sequencing, in particular because single-base resolution appears to be
readily achievable. Here, we evaluated from first principles the advantages of
a nanogap setup with functionalized graphene edges. To this end, we employed
density functional theory and the non-equilibrium Green's function method to
investigate the transverse conductance properties of the four nucleotides
occurring in DNA when located between the opposing functionalized graphene
electrodes. In particular, we determined the electrical tunneling current
variation as a function of the applied bias and the associated differential
conductance at a voltage which appears suitable to distinguish between the four
nucleotides. Intriguingly, we observe for one of the nucleotides a negative
differential resistance effect.Comment: 19 pages, 7 figure
Limits to Rest-Frame Ultraviolet Emission From Far-Infrared-Luminous z~6 Quasar Hosts
We report on a Hubble Space Telescope search for rest-frame ultraviolet
emission from the host galaxies of five far-infrared-luminous
quasars and the hot-dust free quasar SDSS J0005-0006. We perform 2D
surface brightness modeling for each quasar using a Markov-Chain Monte-Carlo
estimator, to simultaneously fit and subtract the quasar point source in order
to constrain the underlying host galaxy emission. We measure upper limits for
the quasar host galaxies of mag and mag, corresponding to
stellar masses of . These stellar mass limits are
consistent with the local - relation. Our flux limits
are consistent with those predicted for the UV stellar populations of
host galaxies, but likely in the presence of significant dust
( mag). We also detect a total of up
to 9 potential quasar companion galaxies surrounding five of the six
quasars, separated from the quasars by 1.4''-3.2'', or 8.4-19.4 kpc, which may
be interacting with the quasar hosts. These nearby companion galaxies have UV
absolute magnitudes of -22.1 to -19.9 mag, and UV spectral slopes of
-2.0 to -0.2, consistent with luminous star-forming galaxies at .
These results suggest that the quasars are in dense environments typical of
luminous galaxies. However, we cannot rule out the possibility that
some of these companions are foreground interlopers. Infrared observations with
the James Webb Space Telescope will be needed to detect the quasar
host galaxies and better constrain their stellar mass and dust content.Comment: 22 pages, 13 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap
- …