471 research outputs found
Peculiar double-periodic pulsation in RR Lyrae stars of the OGLE collection. I. Long-period stars with dominant radial fundamental mode
We present the discovery of a new, peculiar form of double-periodic pulsation
in RR Lyrae stars. In four, long-period ( d) stars observed by the
Optical Gravitational Lensing Experiment, and classified as fundamental mode
pulsators (RRab), we detect additional, low-amplitude variability, with period
shorter than fundamental mode period. The period ratios fall in a range similar
to double-mode fundamental and first overtone RR Lyrae stars (RRd), with the
exception of one star, in which the period ratio is significantly lower and
nearly exactly equals 0.7. Although period ratios are fairly different for the
four stars, the light curve shapes corresponding to the dominant, fundamental
mode are very similar. The peak-to-peak amplitudes and amplitude ratios
(Fourier parameters and ) are among the highest observed in
RRab stars of similar period, while Fourier phases ( and
) are among the lowest observed in RRab stars.
If the additional variability is interpreted as due to radial first overtone,
then, the four stars are the most extreme RRd variables of the longest
pulsation periods known. Indeed, the observed period ratios can be well
modelled with high metallicity pulsation models. However, at such long
pulsation periods, first overtone is typically damped.
Five other candidates, with weak signature of additional variability, sharing
the same characteristics, were also detected and are briefly discussed.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
IX Draconis - a curious ER UMa-type dwarf nova
We report results of an extensive world-wide observing campaign devoted to a
very active dwarf nova star - IX Draconis. We investigated photometric
behaviour of the system to derive its basic outburst properties and understand
peculiarities of IX Dra as well as other active cataclysmic variables, in
particular dwarf novae of the ER Uma-type. In order to measure fundamental
parameters of the system, we carried out analyses of the light curve, O-C
diagram, and power spectra. During over two months of observations we detected
two superoutbursts and several normal outbursts. The V magnitude of the star
varied in the range 14.6 - 18.2 mag. Superoutbursts occur regularly with the
supercycle length of 58.5+/-0.5 d. When analysing data over the past 20 years,
we found that the supercycle length is increasing at a rate of P_dot = 1.8 *
10^{-3}. Normal outbursts appear to be irregular, with typical occurrence times
in the range 3.1 - 4.1 d. We detected a double-peaked structure of superhumps
during superoutburst, with the secondary maximum becoming dominant near the end
of the superoutburst. The mean superhump period observed during superoutbursts
equals 0.066982(36) d, which is constant over the last two decades of
observations. Based on the power spectrum analysis, the evaluation of the
orbital period was problematic. We found two possible values: the first one,
0.06641(3) d, which is in agreement with previous studies and our O-C analysis
(0.06646(2) d), and the second one, 0.06482(3) d, which is less likely. The
evolutionary status of the object depends dramatically on the choice between
these two values. A spectroscopic determination of the orbital period is
needed. We updated available information on ER UMa-type stars and present a new
set of their basic statistics. Thereby, we provide evidence that this class of
stars is not uniform.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS; 15 pages, 15 figures, 6 tables;
typo correcte
HT Cas - eclipsing dwarf nova during its superoutburst in 2010
We present results of a world-wide observing campaign of the eclipsing dwarf
nova - HT Cas during its superoutburst in November 2010. Using collected data
we were able to conduct analysis of the light curves and we calculated
diagrams.
The CCD photometric observations enabled us to derive the superhump period
and with the timings of eclipses the orbital period was calculated. Based on
superhump and orbital period estimations the period excess and mass ratio of
the system were obtained
Revealing stable processing products from ribosome-associated small RNAs by deep-sequencing data analysis
The exploration of the non-protein-coding RNA (ncRNA) transcriptome is currently focused on profiling of microRNA expression and detection of novel ncRNA transcription units. However, recent studies suggest that RNA processing can be a multi-layer process leading to the generation of ncRNAs of diverse functions from a single primary transcript. Up to date no methodology has been presented to distinguish stable functional RNA species from rapidly degraded side products of nucleases. Thus the correct assessment of widespread RNA processing events is one of the major obstacles in transcriptome research. Here, we present a novel automated computational pipeline, named APART, providing a complete workflow for the reliable detection of RNA processing products from next-generation-sequencing data. The major features include efficient handling of non-unique reads, detection of novel stable ncRNA transcripts and processing products and annotation of known transcripts based on multiple sources of information. To disclose the potential of APART, we have analyzed a cDNA library derived from small ribosome-associated RNAs in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. By employing the APART pipeline, we were able to detect and confirm by independent experimental methods multiple novel stable RNA molecules differentially processed from well known ncRNAs, like rRNAs, tRNAs or snoRNAs, in a stress-dependent manne
SPG20 protein spartin is recruited to midbodies by ESCRT-III protein Ist1 and participates in cytokinesis.
Hereditary spastic paraplegias (HSPs, SPG1-46) are inherited neurological disorders characterized by lower extremity spastic weakness. Loss-of-function SPG20 gene mutations cause an autosomal recessive HSP known as Troyer syndrome. The SPG20 protein spartin localizes to lipid droplets and endosomes, and it interacts with tail interacting protein 47 (TIP47) as well as the ubiquitin E3 ligases atrophin-1-interacting protein (AIP)4 and AIP5. Spartin harbors a domain contained within microtubule-interacting and trafficking molecules (MIT) at its N-terminus, and most proteins with MIT domains interact with specific ESCRT-III proteins. Using yeast two-hybrid and in vitro surface plasmon resonance assays, we demonstrate that the spartin MIT domain binds with micromolar affinity to the endosomal sorting complex required for transport (ESCRT)-III protein increased sodium tolerance (Ist)1 but not to ESCRT-III proteins charged multivesicular body proteins 1-7. Spartin colocalizes with Ist1 at the midbody, and depletion of Ist1 in cells by small interfering RNA significantly decreases the number of cells where spartin is present at midbodies. Depletion of spartin does not affect Ist1 localization to midbodies but markedly impairs cytokinesis. A structure-based amino acid substitution in the spartin MIT domain (F24D) blocks the spartin-Ist1 interaction. Spartin F24D does not localize to the midbody and acts in a dominant-negative manner to impair cytokinesis. These data suggest that Ist1 interaction is important for spartin recruitment to the midbody and that spartin participates in cytokinesis
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