864 research outputs found
Spherical collapse model in agegraphic dark energy cosmologies
Under the commonly used spherical collapse model, we study how dark energy
affects the growth of large scale structures of the Universe in the context of
agegraphic dark energy models. The dynamics of the spherical collapse of dark
matter halos in nonlinear regimes is determined by the properties of the dark
energy model. We show that the main parameters of the spherical collapse model
are directly affected by the evolution of dark energy in the agegraphic dark
energy models. We compute the spherical collapse quantities for different
values of agegraphic model parameter in two different scenarios:
first, when dark energy does not exhibit fluctuations on cluster scales, and
second, when dark energy inside the overdense region collapses similar to dark
matter. Using the Sheth-Tormen and Reed mass functions, we investigate the
abundance of dark matter halos in the framework of agegraphic dark energy
cosmologies. The model parameter is a crucial parameter in order to
count the abundance of dark matter halos. Specifically, the present analysis
suggests that the agegraphic dark energy model with bigger (smaller) value of
predicts less (more) virialized halos with respect to that of
CDM cosmology. We also show that in agegraphic dark energy models, the
number of halos strongly depends on clustered or uniformed distributions of
dark energy.Comment: 14 pages, 7 figures. Accepted in Physical Review
Evidence for the Evolution of Reduced Mycorrhizal Dependence During Plant Invasion
Introduced species inevitably experience novel selection pressures in their new environments as a result of changes in mutualist and antagonist relationships. While most previous work has examined how escape from specialist enemies has influenced herbivore or pathogen resistance of exotic species, post-introduction shifts in exotic dependence on mutualists have not been considered. In a common environment, we compared dependence on AM fungi of North American and European populations of Hypericum perforatum (St. John\u27s Wort), a forb native to Europe. Introduced North American populations responded less to inoculation with AM fungi than did European populations. Root architecture was strongly correlated with mycorrhizal response, and introduced populations had finer root architecture than native populations. Finally, introduced populations exhibited decreased root and increased reproductive allocation relative to European populations, consistent with a transition to a weedier life history; however, biomass allocation patterns were uncorrelated with mycorrhizal response. These findings are the first demonstration of a genetically based reduction of mycorrhizal dependence and shift in root architecture in an introduced species
Evidence for the evolution of reduced mycorrhizal dependence during plant invasion
Introduced species inevitably experience novel selection pressures in their new environments as a result of changes in mutualist and antagonist relationships. While most previous work has examined how escape from specialist enemies has influenced herbivore or pathogen resistance of exotic species, post-introduction shifts in exotic dependence on mutualists have not been considered. In a common environment, we compared dependence on AM fungi of North American and European populations of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort), a forb native to Europe. Introduced North American populations responded less to inoculation with AM fungi than did European populations. Root architecture was strongly correlated with mycorrhizal response, and introduced populations had finer root architecture than native populations. Finally, introduced populations exhibited decreased root and increased reproductive allocation relative to European populations, consistent with a transition to a weedier life history; however, biomass allocation patterns were uncorrelated with mycorrhizal response. These findings are the first demonstration of a genetically based reduction of mycorrhizal dependence and shift in root architecture in an introduced species
Adult hematopoietic progenitors are pluripotent in chimeric mice
18 pages, 7 figures.Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and adult somatic cells, induced to pluripotency (iPSCs) by genetic manipulation, display high self-Âârenewal potential and the capacity to differentiate into multiple cell lineages. We asked whether there are in adult mammals natural stem cells that are pluripotent. We previously reported that normal adult mammalian bone marrow contains a sub-Ââpopulation of CD34+ cells, that naturally expresses genes characteristic of ESCs and those required to generate iPSCs, but have a limited lifespan and do not form teratomas. In addition, these CD34+ cells spontaneously express, without genetic manipulation, genes characteristic of the three embryonic germ layers: i.e., ectodermal neural, mesodermal cardiac muscle, and endodermal pancreatic and intestinal lineage genes (Pessac, B, et al. 2011. Hematopoietic progenitors express embryonic stem cell and germ layer genes. Comptes Rendus Biologies 334: 300-Ââ306). This suggested that these cells may be pluripotent. Here we have transplanted these CD34+ bone marrow stem cells from adult male C56Bl/6J ROSA mice, that carry two markers: the Ă-Ââgalactosidase gene and the male Y chromosome, into blastocysts of wildtype C57Bl/6J mice. These blastocysts develop normally and give rise to healthy adult chimeric mice. Each female ROSA chimeric mouse had a distinct pattern of male organs expressing Ă-Ââgalactosidase derived from each of the three embryonic germ layers: ectodermal brain, dorsal root ganglia and skin; mesodermal heart, bone and bone marrow; and endodermal pancreas, intestine, and liver. Thus, adult mammals still carry cells that appear to exhibit a developmental potential comparable to ESCs and iPSCs suggesting that CD34+ cells from adult bone marrow could be used for cell therapy
Investigation of groundwater salinity using geophysical and geochemical approaches: Heuningnes catchment coastal aquifer. Western Cape Province, South Africa
Seawater intrusion is recognised as a major factor affecting the quality of groundwater in coastal aquifers around the world. To determine the occurrence and extent of saline groundwater intrusion prevailing in the Heuningnes Catchment, a 2D resistivity imaging survey was carried out in three sites within the catchment. Eleven resistivity profile lines were conducted using the multi-electrode ABEM SAS resistivity meter system, employing the Wenner Array to map the extent of saline groundwater. A 2D resistivity image was acquired for these resistivity profile lines and the data were processed using Res2DINV software to produce the 2D inverse resistivity models. The interpretation of the resistivity models revealed three resistivity zones. The first zone is characterised by low resistivity (1â3 Ω.m); this represents an aquifer filled with saline water. The second resistivity zone has values ranging from (3â30 Ω.m); this represents a brackish saturated formation. The third resistivity zone denotes a sandy layer/sandstone saturated with freshwater having high resistivity values above 30 Ω.m. Geochemical analysis results of water samples at 11 locations along the electrical resistivity profile lines also suggest high salinity, indicated by high levels of Clâ, Na+, Total Dissolved Solids, and Electrical Conductivity
Mass and Angular Momentum Transfer in the Massive Algol Binary RY Persei
We present an investigation of H-alpha emission line variations observed in
the massive Algol binary, RY Per. We give new radial velocity data for the
secondary based upon our optical spectra and for the primary based upon high
dispersion UV spectra. We present revised orbital elements and an estimate of
the primary's projected rotational velocity (which indicates that the primary
is rotating 7 times faster than synchronous). We use a Doppler tomography
algorithm to reconstruct the individual primary and secondary spectra in the
region of H-alpha, and we subtract the latter from each of our observations to
obtain profiles of the primary and its disk alone. Our H-alpha observations of
RY Per show that the mass gaining primary is surrounded by a persistent but
time variable accretion disk. The profile that is observed outside-of-eclipse
has weak, double-peaked emission flanking a deep central absorption, and we
find that these properties can be reproduced by a disk model that includes the
absorption of photospheric light by the band of the disk seen in projection
against the face of the star. We developed a new method to reconstruct the disk
surface density distribution from the ensemble of H-alpha profiles observed
around the orbit, and this method accounts for the effects of disk occultation
by the stellar components, the obscuration of the primary by the disk, and flux
contributions from optically thick disk elements. The resulting surface density
distribution is elongated along the axis joining the stars, in the same way as
seen in hydrodynamical simulations of gas flows that strike the mass gainer
near trailing edge of the star. This type of gas stream configuration is
optimal for the transfer of angular momentum, and we show that rapid rotation
is found in other Algols that have passed through a similar stage.Comment: 39 pages, 12 figures, ApJ in press, 2004 June 20 issu
Evidence for the evolution of reduced mycorrhizal dependence during plant invasion. Ecology
Abstract. Introduced species inevitably experience novel selection pressures in their new environments as a result of changes in mutualist and antagonist relationships. While most previous work has examined how escape from specialist enemies has influenced herbivore or pathogen resistance of exotic species, post-introduction shifts in exotic dependence on mutualists have not been considered. In a common environment, we compared dependence on AM fungi of North American and European populations of Hypericum perforatum (St. John's Wort), a forb native to Europe. Introduced North American populations responded less to inoculation with AM fungi than did European populations. Root architecture was strongly correlated with mycorrhizal response, and introduced populations had finer root architecture than native populations. Finally, introduced populations exhibited decreased root and increased reproductive allocation relative to European populations, consistent with a transition to a weedier life history; however, biomass allocation patterns were uncorrelated with mycorrhizal response. These findings are the first demonstration of a genetically based reduction of mycorrhizal dependence and shift in root architecture in an introduced species
X-Ray Binary Populations: The Luminosity Function of NGC1569
Using the population synthesis code StarTrack we construct the first
synthetic X-ray binary populations for direct comparison with the X-ray
luminosity function (XLF) of NGC 1569 observed with Chandra.
Our main goal is to examine whether it is possible to reproduce the XLF shape
with our models, given the current knowledge for the star-formation history of
this starburst galaxy. We thus produce hybrid models meant to represent the two
stellar populations: one old, metal-poor with continuous star-formation for 1.5
Gyr and another recent and metal-rich population. To examine the validity of
the models we compare XLFs calculated for varying ages of the populations and
varying relative weights for the star-formation rates in the two populations.
We find that, for typical binary evolution parameters, it is indeed possible
to quite closely match the observed XLF shape.
The robust match is achieved for an age of the young population and a ratio
of star formation rates in the two populations that are within factors of 1.5
and 2, respectively, of those inferred from HST observations of NGC 1569.
In view of this encouraging first step, we discuss the implications of our
X-ray binary models and their potential as tools to study binary populations in
galaxies.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted to ApJ Let
How long can you hold the filler:Maintenance and retrieval
This study attempts to reveal the mechanisms behind the online formation of Wh-Filler-Gap Dependencies (WhFGD). Specifically, we aim to uncover the way in which maintenance and retrieval work in WhFGD processing, by paying special attention to the information that is retrieved when the gap is recognized. We use the agreement attraction phenomenon (Wagers, M. W., Lau, E. F., & Phillips, C. (2009). Agreement attraction in comprehension: Representations and processes. Journal of Memory and Language, 61(2), 206-237) as a probe. The first and second experiments examined the type of information that is maintained and how maintenance is motivated, investigating the retrieved information at the gap for reactivated fillers and definite NPs. The third experiment examined the role of the retrieval, comparing reactivated and active fillers. We contend that the information being accessed reflects the extent to which the filler is maintained, where the reader is able to access fine-grained information including category information as well as a representation of both the head and the modifier at the verb
- âŠ