322 research outputs found
The RAG1 V(D)J Recombinase/Ubiquitin Ligase Promotes Ubiquitylation of Acetylated, Phosphorylated Histone 3.3
Histone variant H3.3 is associated with transcriptionally active chromatin and accumulates at loci undergoing preparation for V(D)J recombination, a DNA rearrangement required for the assembly of antigen receptors and development of B and T lymphocytes. Here we demonstrate that the RAG1 V(D)J recombinase protein promotes ubiquitylation of H3.3 that has been heavily acetylated and phosphorylated on serine 31 (acetyl-H3.3 S31p). A fragment of RAG1 promoted formation of a mono-ubiquitylated H3 product that was identified using mass spectrometry as ubiquitylated acetyl-H3.3 S31p. H3 was ubiquitylated at multiple lysine residues, and correspondingly, di-, tri- and higher-order ubiquitylated products were detected at low levels. Ubiquitylation was dependent on an intact RAG1 RING finger/ubiquitin ligase domain and required additional regions of the RAG1 amino terminus that are likely to interact with H3. Acetylated residues within the H3 amino terminal tail were also required. Purified, recombinant H3.1 and H3.3 were not good substrates, suggesting that post-translational modifications enhance recognition by RAG1. A complex including damage-DNA binding protein has also been shown to ubiquitylate H3 in response to UV treatment, suggesting the H3 ubiquitylation may be a common step in multiple DNA repair pathways
Revised Stellar Properties of Kepler Targets for the Quarter 1-16 Transit Detection Run
We present revised properties for 196,468 stars observed by the NASA Kepler
Mission and used in the analysis of Quarter 1-16 (Q1-Q16) data to detect and
characterize transiting exoplanets. The catalog is based on a compilation of
literature values for atmospheric properties (temperature, surface gravity, and
metallicity) derived from different observational techniques (photometry,
spectroscopy, asteroseismology, and exoplanet transits), which were then
homogeneously fitted to a grid of Dartmouth stellar isochrones. We use
broadband photometry and asteroseismology to characterize 11,532 Kepler targets
which were previously unclassified in the Kepler Input Catalog (KIC). We report
the detection of oscillations in 2,762 of these targets, classifying them as
giant stars and increasing the number of known oscillating giant stars observed
by Kepler by ~20% to a total of ~15,500 stars. Typical uncertainties in derived
radii and masses are ~40% and ~20%, respectively, for stars with photometric
constraints only, and 5-15% and ~10% for stars based on spectroscopy and/or
asteroseismology, although these uncertainties vary strongly with spectral type
and luminosity class. A comparison with the Q1-Q12 catalog shows a systematic
decrease in radii for M dwarfs, while radii for K dwarfs decrease or increase
depending on the Q1-Q12 provenance (KIC or Yonsei-Yale isochrones). Radii of
F-G dwarfs are on average unchanged, with the exception of newly identified
giants. The Q1-Q16 star properties catalog is a first step towards an improved
characterization of all Kepler targets to support planet occurrence studies.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, 5 tables; accepted for publication in ApJS;
electronic versions of Tables 4 and 5 are available as ancillary files (see
sidebar on the right), and an interactive version of Table 5 is available at
the NASA Exoplanet Archive (http://exoplanetarchive.ipac.caltech.edu/
Characterization of Titanium Alloys Produced by Electron Beam Directed Energy Deposition
Functionally graded materials offer the potential to improve structural efficiency by allowing the material composition and/or microstructural features to spatially vary within a component. Additive manufacturing techniques enable the fabrication of such graded materials and structures. While examining several titanium alloys, this paper focuses on Ti-8Al-1Er as it has a unique microstructure that is only feasible when produced by rapid solidification methods like electron beam directed energy deposition, an additive manufacturing process. The results show that, when mixed, Ti-8Al-1Er and commercially-pure titanium uniformly mix at various ratios and the resultant static tensile properties of the mixed alloys behave according to rule-of-mixtures. At discontinuous interfaces between Ti-8Al-1Er and commercially-pure titanium, the crack growth behavior progresses smoothly across the discontinuity as the crack transitions from one crack growth regime into another. Studies on monolithic samples shows the mechanisms of damage in the Ti-8Al-1Er; specifically, that strain localization occurs near grain boundaries of high mis-orientation on the microscale and that twinning and dislocation density is concentrated near erbia-strengthening particles (Er2O3) on the nanoscale
Molecular tools enabling pennycress (\u3ci\u3eThlaspi arvense\u3c/i\u3e) as a model plant and oilseed cash cover crop
Thlapsi arvense L. (pennycress) is being developed as a profitable oilseed cover crop for the winter fallow period throughout the temperate regions of the world, controlling soil erosion and nutrients run-off on otherwise barren farmland. We demonstrate that pennycress can serve as a user-friendly model system akin to Arabidopsis that is well-suited for both laboratory and field experimentation. We sequenced the diploid genome of the spring-type Spring 32-10 inbred line (1C DNA content of 539 Mb; 2n = 14), identifying variation that may explain phenotypic differences with winter-type pennycress, as well as predominantly a one-to-one correspondence with Arabidopsis genes, which makes translational research straightforward. We developed an Agrobacterium-mediated floral dip transformation method (0.5% transformation efficiency) and introduced CRISPR-Cas9 constructs to produce indel mutations in the putative FATTY ACID ELONGATION1 (FAE1) gene, thereby abolishing erucic acid production and creating an edible seed oil comparable to that of canola. We also stably transformed pennycress with the Euonymus alatus diacylglycerol acetyltransferase (EaDAcT) gene, producing low-viscosity acetyltriacylglycerol- containing seed oil suitable as a diesel-engine drop-in fuel. Adoption of pennycress as a model system will accelerate oilseed-crop translational research and facilitate pennycress’ rapid domestication to meet the growing sustainable food and fuel demands
The deglacial history of 79N glacier and the Northeast Greenland Ice Stream
Acknowledgements This work was funded by NERC Standard Grant NE/N011228/1. We thank the Alfred Wegner Institute, and particularly Hicham Rafiq and Daniel Steinhage, for their significant logistic support through the iGRIFF project. Additional support was provided from Station Nord (Jørgen Skafte), Nordland Air, Air Greenland, the Joint Arctic Command and the Department of Geography, Durham University. Naalakkersuisut, Government of Greenland, provided Scientific Survey (VU-00121) and Export (046/2017) licences for this work. We would also like to thank our Field Ranger Isak (Nanu-Travel) and dog Ooni for keeping us safe in the field. TCN Sample preparation was carried out at the National Environmental Isotope Facility, Scottish Universities Environmental Research Centre under grant allocation 9185.0814. Chris Orton in the Cartographic Unit, Geography, Durham University edited several figures. This paper is dedicated to Mr Arnold Jones – a true Quaternarist.Peer reviewe
Planetary Candidates Observed by Kepler IV: Planet Sample From Q1-Q8 (22 Months)
We provide updates to the Kepler planet candidate sample based upon nearly
two years of high-precision photometry (i.e., Q1-Q8). From an initial list of
nearly 13,400 Threshold Crossing Events (TCEs), 480 new host stars are
identified from their flux time series as consistent with hosting transiting
planets. Potential transit signals are subjected to further analysis using the
pixel-level data, which allows background eclipsing binaries to be identified
through small image position shifts during transit. We also re-evaluate Kepler
Objects of Interest (KOI) 1-1609, which were identified early in the mission,
using substantially more data to test for background false positives and to
find additional multiple systems. Combining the new and previous KOI samples,
we provide updated parameters for 2,738 Kepler planet candidates distributed
across 2,017 host stars. From the combined Kepler planet candidates, 472 are
new from the Q1-Q8 data examined in this study. The new Kepler planet
candidates represent ~40% of the sample with Rp~1 Rearth and represent ~40% of
the low equilibrium temperature (Teq<300 K) sample. We review the known biases
in the current sample of Kepler planet candidates relevant to evaluating planet
population statistics with the current Kepler planet candidate sample.Comment: 12 pages, 8 figures, Accepted ApJ Supplemen
Planetary Candidates Observed by Kepler, III: Analysis of the First 16 Months of Data
New transiting planet candidates are identified in sixteen months (May 2009 -
September 2010) of data from the Kepler spacecraft. Nearly five thousand
periodic transit-like signals are vetted against astrophysical and instrumental
false positives yielding 1,091 viable new planet candidates, bringing the total
count up to over 2,300. Improved vetting metrics are employed, contributing to
higher catalog reliability. Most notable is the noise-weighted robust averaging
of multi-quarter photo-center offsets derived from difference image analysis
which identifies likely background eclipsing binaries. Twenty-two months of
photometry are used for the purpose of characterizing each of the new
candidates. Ephemerides (transit epoch, T_0, and orbital period, P) are
tabulated as well as the products of light curve modeling: reduced radius
(Rp/R*), reduced semi-major axis (d/R*), and impact parameter (b). The largest
fractional increases are seen for the smallest planet candidates (197% for
candidates smaller than 2Re compared to 52% for candidates larger than 2Re) and
those at longer orbital periods (123% for candidates outside of 50-day orbits
versus 85% for candidates inside of 50-day orbits). The gains are larger than
expected from increasing the observing window from thirteen months (Quarter 1--
Quarter 5) to sixteen months (Quarter 1 -- Quarter 6). This demonstrates the
benefit of continued development of pipeline analysis software. The fraction of
all host stars with multiple candidates has grown from 17% to 20%, and the
paucity of short-period giant planets in multiple systems is still evident. The
progression toward smaller planets at longer orbital periods with each new
catalog release suggests that Earth-size planets in the Habitable Zone are
forthcoming if, indeed, such planets are abundant.Comment: Submitted to ApJS. Machine-readable tables are available at
http://kepler.nasa.gov, http://archive.stsci.edu/kepler/results.html, and the
NASA Exoplanet Archiv
Anterior Cruciate Ligament Rehabilitation for the 10- to 18-Year-Old Adolescent Athlete:Practice Guidelines Based on International Delphi Consensus
Background:There are 2 treatment options for adolescent athletes with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries—rehabilitation alone (nonsurgical treatment) or ACL reconstruction plus rehabilitation. However, there is no clear consensus on how to include strength and neuromuscular training during each phase of rehabilitation.Purpose:To develop a practical consensus for adolescent ACL rehabilitation to help provide care to this age group using an international Delphi panel.Study Design:Consensus statement.Methods:A 3-round online international Delphi consensus study was conducted. A mix of open and closed literature-based statements were formulated and sent out to an international panel of 20 ACL rehabilitation experts. Statements were divided into 3 domains as follows: (1) nonsurgical rehabilitation; (2) prehabilitation; and (3) postoperative rehabilitation. Consensus was defined as 70% agreement between panel members.Results:Panel members agreed that rehabilitation should consist of 3 criterion-based phases, with continued injury prevention serving as a fourth phase. They also reached a consensus on rehabilitation being different for 10- to 16-year-olds compared with 17- and 18-year-olds, with a need to distinguish between prepubertal (Tanner stage 1) and mid- to postpubertal (Tanner stages 2-5) athletes. The panel members reached a consensus on the following topics: educational topics during rehabilitation; psychological interventions during rehabilitation; additional consultation of the orthopaedic surgeon; duration of postoperative rehabilitation; exercises during phase 1 of nonsurgical and postoperative rehabilitation; criteria for progression from phase 1 to phase 2; resistance training during phase 2; jumping exercises during phase 2; criteria for progression from phase 2 to phase 3; and criteria for return to sports (RTS). The most notable differences in recommendations for prepubertal compared with mid- to postpubertal athletes were described for resistance training and RTS criteria.Conclusion:Together with available evidence, this international Delphi statement provides a framework based on expert consensus and describes a practice guideline for adolescent ACL rehabilitation, which can be used in day-to-day practice. This is an important step toward reducing practice inconsistencies, improving the quality of rehabilitation after adolescent ACL injuries, and closing the evidence-practice gap while waiting for further studies to provide clarity
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