237 research outputs found
A Bit-String Model for Biological Aging
We present a simple model for biological aging. We studied it through
computer simulations and we have found this model to reflect some features of
real populations.Comment: LaTeX file, 4 PS figures include
Fabrication of One-Dimensional Programmable-Height Nanostructures via Dynamic Stencil Deposition
Dynamic stencil deposition (DSD) techniques offer a variety of fabrication
advantages not possible with traditional lithographic processing, such as the
the ability to directly deposit nanostructures with programmable height
profiles. However, DSD systems have not enjoyed widespread usage due to their
complexity. We demonstrate a simple, low-profile, portable, one-dimensional
nanotranslation system that facilitates access to nanoscale DSD abilities.
Furthermore we show a variety of fabricated programmable-height nanostructures,
including parallel arrays of such structures, and suggest other applications
that exploit the unique capabilities of DSD fabrication methods.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figure
Induced defenses in response to an invading crab predator: An explanation of historical and geographic phenotypic change
The expression of defensive morphologies in prey often is correlated with predator abundance or diversity over a range of temporal and spatial scales. These patterns are assumed to reflect natural selection via differential predation on genetically determined, fixed phenotypes. Phenotypic variation, however, also can reflect within-generation developmental responses to environmental cues (phenotypic plasticity). For example, water-borne effluents from predators can induce the production of defensive morphologies in many prey taxa. This phenomenon, however, has been examined only on narrow scales. Here, we demonstrate adaptive phenotypic plasticity in prey from geographically separated populations that were reared in the presence of an introduced predator. Marine snails exposed to predatory crab effluent in the field increased shell thickness rapidly compared with controls. Induced changes were comparable to (i) historical transitions in thickness previously attributed to selection by the invading predator and (ii) present-day clinal variation predicted from water temperature differences. Thus, predator-induced phenotypic plasticity may explain broad-scale geographic and temporal phenotypic variation. If inducible defenses are heritable, then selection on the reaction norm may influence coevolution between predator and prey. Trade-offs may explain why inducible rather than constitutive defenses have evolved in several gastropod species
Ca II Triplet Spectroscopy of Small Magellanic Cloud Red Giants. I. Abundances and Velocities for a Sample of Clusters
We have obtained near-infrared spectra covering the Ca II triplet lines for a
number of stars associated with 16 SMC clusters using the VLT + FORS2. These
data compose the largest available sample of SMC clusters with
spectroscopically derived abundances and velocities. Our clusters span a wide
range of ages and provide good areal coverage of the galaxy. Cluster members
are selected using a combination of their positions relative to the cluster
center as well as their abundances and radial velocities. We determine mean
cluster velocities to typically 2.7 km/s and metallicities to 0.05 dex (random
errors), from an average of 6.4 members per cluster. (continued in paper)Comment: 68 pages, 15 figures, Accepted to AJ Reason for the replacement:
section 7 and fig. 9 have been modified according referee suggestion
The Chandra survey of the SMC "Bar": II. Optical counterparts of X-ray sources
We present the most likely optical counterparts of 113 X-ray sources detected
in our Chandra survey of the central region of the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC)
based on the OGLE-II and MCPS catalogs. We estimate that the foreground
contamination and chance coincidence probability are minimal for the bright
optical counterparts (corresponding to OB type stars; 35 in total). We propose
here for the first time 13 High-Mass X-ray Binaries (HMXBs), of which 4 are
Be/X-ray binaries (Be-XRBs), and we confirm the previous classification of 18
Be-XRBs. We estimate that the new candidate Be-XRBs have an age of 15-85 Myr,
consistent with the age of Be stars. We also examine the "overabundance" of
Be-XRBs in the SMC fields covered by Chandra, in comparison with the Galaxy. In
luminosities down to about 10^{34} erg/s, we find that SMC Be-XRBs are 1.5
times more common when compared to the Milky Way even after taking into account
the difference in the formation rates of OB stars. This residual excess can be
attributed to the lower metallicity of the SMC. Finally, we find that the
mixing of Be-XRBs with other than their natal stellar population is not an
issue in our comparisons of Be-XRBs and stellar populations in the SMC.
Instead, we find indication for variation of the SMC XRB populations on
kiloparsec scales, related to local variations of the formation rate of OB
stars and slight variation of their age, which results in different relative
numbers of Be stars and therefore XRBs.Comment: 94 pages, 10 figures, submitted to Ap
The GALEX Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS). II. Constraints on star formation in ram-pressure stripped gas
Context: Several galaxies in the Virgo cluster are known to have large HI gas
tails related to a recent ram-pressure stripping event. The Virgo cluster has
been extensively observed at 1539 A in the far-ultraviolet for the GALEX
Ultraviolet Virgo Cluster Survey (GUViCS), and in the optical for the Next
Generation Virgo Survey (NGVS), allowing a study of the stellar emission
potentially associated with the gas tails of 8 cluster members. On the
theoretical side, models of ram-pressure stripping events have started to
include the physics of star formation. Aim: We aim to provide quantitative
constraints on the amount of star formation taking place in the ram-pressure
stripped gas, mainly on the basis of the far-UV emission found in the GUViCS
images in relation with the gas content of the tails. Methods: We have
performed three comparisons of the young stars emission with the gas column
density: visual, pixel-by-pixel and global. We have compared our results to
other observational and theoretical studies. Results: We find that the level of
star formation taking place in the gas stripped from galaxies by ram-pressure
is low with respect to the available amount of gas. Star formation is lower by
at least a factor 10 compared to the predictions of the Schmidt Law as
determined in regular spiral galaxy disks. It is also lower than measured in
dwarfs galaxies and the outer regions of spirals, and than predicted by some
numerical simulations. We provide constraints on the star formation efficiency
in the ram-pressure stripped gas tails, and compare these with current models.Comment: Accepted in A&A, 17 pages (including the appendix and "on-line"
figures of the paper
Matching Watershed and Otolith Chemistry to Establish Natal Origin of an Endangered Desert Lake Sucker
Metal enrichment processes
There are many processes that can transport gas from the galaxies to their
environment and enrich the environment in this way with metals. These metal
enrichment processes have a large influence on the evolution of both the
galaxies and their environment. Various processes can contribute to the gas
transfer: ram-pressure stripping, galactic winds, AGN outflows, galaxy-galaxy
interactions and others. We review their observational evidence, corresponding
simulations, their efficiencies, and their time scales as far as they are known
to date. It seems that all processes can contribute to the enrichment. There is
not a single process that always dominates the enrichment, because the
efficiencies of the processes vary strongly with galaxy and environmental
properties.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Space Science
Reviews, special issue "Clusters of galaxies: beyond the thermal view",
Editor J.S. Kaastra, Chapter 17; work done by an international team at the
International Space Science Institute (ISSI), Bern, organised by J.S.
Kaastra, A.M. Bykov, S. Schindler & J.A.M. Bleeke
The role of the freshwater shrimp atyaephyra desmarestii in leaf litter breakdown in streams
This version does not correspond to the published one. To access the final version go to: http://www.springerlink.com/content/a31518u452m03286/In aquatic ecosystems, microorganisms and invertebrates provide critical links between plant detritus and higher trophic levels. Atyaephyra desmarestii is an omnivorous decapod that inhabits freshwaters and exhibits high tolerance to temperature oscillations and high ability to colonize new habitats. Although A. desmarestii is able to ingest a variety of foods, few studies have been conducted to elucidate the role of this freshwater shrimp on detritus breakdown in streams. In this study, A. desmarestii was allowed to feed on conditioned or unconditioned alder and eucalyptus leaves in microcosms with or without access to its fecal pellets. At the end of the experiment, total body length of the animals was measured, and the remaining leaves and fecal pellets were used for dry mass quantification and assessment of bacterial and fungal diversity by denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE). Cluster analyses of DGGE fingerprints indicated that the major differences in microbial communities on leaves were between leaf types, while on fecal pellets were between conditioned and unconditioned leaves. However, the consumption rate by the shrimp did not differ between leaf types, and was significantly higher on leaves conditioned by microorganisms and in treatments without access to feces. In treatments without access to feces, the production of feces and fine particulate organic matter was also significantly higher for conditioned leaves. Overall, our results support the feeding plasticity of A. desmarestii and its potential role in plant litter breakdown in streams. This might have implications for maintaining stream ecosystem functioning, particularly if more vulnerable shredders decline.The Portuguese Foundation for the
Science and Technology supported S. Duarte (SFRH/BPD/47574/2008
Doctorâpatient communication in a Southeast Asian setting: the conflict between ideal and reality
Doctorâpatient communication has been extensively studied in non-Western contexts and in relation to patientsâ cultural and education backgrounds. This study explores the perceived ideal communication style for doctorâpatient consultations and the reality of actual practice in a Southeast Asian context. We conducted the study in a teaching hospital in Indonesia, using a qualitative and a quantitative design. In-depth interviews were conducted with ten internal medicine specialists, ten internal medicine residents, 16 patients in two groups based on education level and ten most senior medical students. The contributions of doctors and patients to the communication during consultations were observed and rated quantitatively by thirty internal medicine residents, 393 patients with different educational backgrounds and ten senior medical students. The âinformed and shared decision makingâ is the central observation in this quantitative study. The results of the interviews showed that Southeast Asian stakeholders are in favor of a partnership style of communication and revealed barriers to achieving this: doctors and patients are not prepared for a participatory style and high patient load due to an inefficient health care system does not allow sufficient time for this type of communication. The results of the quantitative study showed a sharp contrast between observed and ideal communication styles. A paternalistic style seems to prevail, irrespective of patientsâ educational background. We found a sharp conflict between ideal and reality concerning doctorâpatient communication in a Southeast Asian context. Further studies should examine ways to change the prevailing communication style in the desired direction
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