157 research outputs found
A Spitzer Census of Star Formation Activity in the Pipe Nebula
The Pipe Nebula, a large nearby molecular cloud lacks obvious signposts of
star formation in all but one of more than 130 dust extinction cores that have
been identified within it. In order to quantitatively determine the current
level of star formation activity in the Pipe Nebula, we analyzed 13 square
degrees of sensitive mid-infrared maps of the entire cloud, obtained with the
Multiband Imaging Photometer for Spitzer (MIPS) at wavelengths of 24 micron and
70 micron to search for candidate Young Stellar Objects (YSOs) in the
high-extinction regions. We argue that our search is complete for class I and
typical class II YSOs with luminosities of Lbol~0.2 Lo and greater. We find
only 18 candidate YSOs in the high-extinction regions of the entire Pipe cloud.
Twelve of these sources are previously known members of a small cluster
associated with Barnard 59, the largest and most massive dense core in the
cloud. With only six candidate class I and class II YSOs detected towards
extinction cores outside of this cluster, our findings emphatically confirm the
notion of an extremely low level of star formation activity in the Pipe Nebula.
The resulting star formation efficiency for the entire cloud mass is only ~0.06
%.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
The Age, Stellar Content and Star Formation Timescale of the B59 Dense Core
We have used moderate resolution, near-infrared spectra from the SpeX
spectrograph on the NASA Infrared Telescope facility to characterize the
stellar content of Barnard 59 (B59), the most active star-forming core in the
Pipe Nebula. Measuring luminosity and temperature sensitive features in the
spectra of 20 candidate YSOs, we identified likely background giant stars and
measured each star's spectral type, extinction, and NIR continuum excess. We
find that B59 is composed of late type (K4-M6) low-mass (0.9--0.1 M_sun) YSOs
whose median stellar age is comparable to, if not slightly older than, that of
YSOs within the Rho Oph, Taurus, and Chameleon star forming regions. Deriving
absolute age estimates from pre-main sequence models computed by D'Antona et
al., and accounting only for statistical uncertainties, we measure B59's median
stellar age to be 2.6+/-0.8 Myrs. Including potential systematic effects
increases the error budget for B59's median (DM98) stellar age to 2.6+4.1/-2.6
Myrs. We also find that the relative age orderings implied by pre-main sequence
evolutionary tracks depend on the range of stellar masses sampled, as model
isochrones possess significantly different mass dependencies. The maximum
likelihood median stellar age we measure for B59, and the region's observed gas
properties, suggest that the B59 dense core has been stable against global
collapse for roughly 6 dynamical timescales, and is actively forming stars with
a star formation efficiency per dynamical time of ~6%. This maximum likelihood
value agrees well with recent star formation simulations that incorporate
various forms of support against collapse, such as sub-critical magnetic
fields, outflows, and radiative feedback from protostellar heating. [abridged]Comment: 20 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journal; updated to amend acknowledgment
Filamentary structure of star-forming complexes
The nearest young stellar groups are associated with "hubs" of column density
exceeding 10^22 cm^-2, according to recent observations. These hubs radiate
multiple "filaments" of parsec length, having lower column density and fewer
stars. Systems with many filaments tend to have parallel filaments with similar
spacing. Such "hub-filament structure" is associated with all of the nine young
stellar groups within 300 pc, forming low-mass stars. Similar properties are
seen in infrared dark clouds forming more massive stars. In a new model, an
initial clump in a uniform medium is compressed into a self-gravitating,
modulated layer. The outer layer resembles the modulated equilibrium of
Schmid-Burgk (1967) with nearly parallel filaments. The filaments converge onto
the compressed clump, which collapses to form stars with high efficiency. The
initial medium and condensations have densities similar to those in nearby
star-forming clouds and clumps. The predicted structures resemble observed
hub-filament systems in their size, shape, and column density, and in the
appearance of their filaments. These results suggest that hub-filament
structure associated with young stellar groups may arise from compression of
clumpy gas in molecular clouds.Comment: accepted by ApJ, to appear August 10, 200
Rapid Determination of Myosin Heavy Chain Expression in Rat, Mouse, and Human Skeletal Muscle Using Multicolor Immunofluorescence Analysis
Skeletal muscle is a heterogeneous tissue comprised of fibers with different morphological, functional, and metabolic properties. Different muscles contain varying proportions of fiber types; therefore, accurate identification is important. A number of histochemical methods are used to determine muscle fiber type; however, these techniques have several disadvantages. Immunofluorescence analysis is a sensitive method that allows for simultaneous evaluation of multiple MHC isoforms on a large number of fibers on a single cross-section, and offers a more precise means of identifying fiber types. In this investigation we characterized pure and hybrid fiber type distribution in 10 rat and 10 mouse skeletal muscles, as well as human vastus lateralis (VL) using multicolor immunofluorescence analysis. In addition, we determined fiber type-specific cross-sectional area (CSA), succinate dehydrogenase (SDH) activity, and α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (GPD) activity. Using this procedure we were able to easily identify pure and hybrid fiber populations in rat, mouse, and human muscle. Hybrid fibers were identified in all species and made up a significant portion of the total population in some rat and mouse muscles. For example, rat mixed gastrocnemius (MG) contained 12.2% hybrid fibers whereas mouse white tibialis anterior (WTA) contained 12.1% hybrid fibers. Collectively, we outline a simple and time-efficient method for determining MHC expression in skeletal muscle of multiple species. In addition, we provide a useful resource of the pure and hybrid fiber type distribution, fiber CSA, and relative fiber type-specific SDH and GPD activity in a number of rat and mouse muscles
Integrated regulation of nonpoint pollution: Combining managerial controls and economic instruments under multiple environmental targets
Relationship among fibre type, myosin ATPase activity and contractile properties
At least two types of skeletal muscle myosin have been described which differ in ATPase activity and stability in alkaline or acidic media. Differences in ATPase characteristics distinguish Type I and Type II fibres histochemically. In this study, ATPase activity of myosin from muscles of several species with known histochemical and contractile properties has been determined to test the hypothesis that (1) myosin ATPase activity, (2) histochemical determination of fibre types and (3) maximum shortening velocity, all provide equivalent estimates of contractile properties in muscles of mixed fibre types. Maximum shortening velocity appears to be proportional to ATPase activity as expected from previous reports by Barany. However, both myosin ATPase and the maximum shortening velocity exhibit curvilinear relationships to the fraction of cross-sectional area occupied by Type II fibres. Therefore, we reject the hypothesis and conclude that histochemically determined myofibrillar ATPase does not accurately reflect the intrinsic ATPase activity or shortening velocity in muscles of mixed fibre types. Our data are consistent with the presence of more than two myosin isozymes or with a mixture of isozymes within single muscle fibres.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/42851/1/10735_2005_Article_BF01005238.pd
Elective cancer surgery in COVID-19-free surgical pathways during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic: An international, multicenter, comparative cohort study
PURPOSE As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19–free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19–free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19–free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19–free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score–matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19–free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19–free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks
Elective Cancer Surgery in COVID-19-Free Surgical Pathways During the SARS-CoV-2 Pandemic: An International, Multicenter, Comparative Cohort Study.
PURPOSE: As cancer surgery restarts after the first COVID-19 wave, health care providers urgently require data to determine where elective surgery is best performed. This study aimed to determine whether COVID-19-free surgical pathways were associated with lower postoperative pulmonary complication rates compared with hospitals with no defined pathway. PATIENTS AND METHODS: This international, multicenter cohort study included patients who underwent elective surgery for 10 solid cancer types without preoperative suspicion of SARS-CoV-2. Participating hospitals included patients from local emergence of SARS-CoV-2 until April 19, 2020. At the time of surgery, hospitals were defined as having a COVID-19-free surgical pathway (complete segregation of the operating theater, critical care, and inpatient ward areas) or no defined pathway (incomplete or no segregation, areas shared with patients with COVID-19). The primary outcome was 30-day postoperative pulmonary complications (pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, unexpected ventilation). RESULTS: Of 9,171 patients from 447 hospitals in 55 countries, 2,481 were operated on in COVID-19-free surgical pathways. Patients who underwent surgery within COVID-19-free surgical pathways were younger with fewer comorbidities than those in hospitals with no defined pathway but with similar proportions of major surgery. After adjustment, pulmonary complication rates were lower with COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.2% v 4.9%; adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 0.62; 95% CI, 0.44 to 0.86). This was consistent in sensitivity analyses for low-risk patients (American Society of Anesthesiologists grade 1/2), propensity score-matched models, and patients with negative SARS-CoV-2 preoperative tests. The postoperative SARS-CoV-2 infection rate was also lower in COVID-19-free surgical pathways (2.1% v 3.6%; aOR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.36 to 0.76). CONCLUSION: Within available resources, dedicated COVID-19-free surgical pathways should be established to provide safe elective cancer surgery during current and before future SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks
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