4,730 research outputs found
A possible cyclotron resonance scattering feature near 0.7 keV in X1822-371
We analyse all available X-ray observations of X1822-371 made with
XMM-Newton, Chandra, Suzaku and INTEGRAL satellites. The observations were not
simultaneous. The Suzaku and INTEGRAL broad band energy coverage allows us to
constrain the spectral shape of the continuum emission well. We use the model
already proposed for this source, consisting of a Comptonised component
absorbed by interstellar matter and partially absorbed by local neutral matter,
and we added a Gaussian feature in absorption at keV. This addition
significantly improves the fit and flattens the residuals between 0.6 and 0.8
keV. We interpret the Gaussian feature in absorption as a cyclotron resonant
scattering feature (CRSF) produced close to the neutron star surface and derive
the magnetic field strength at the surface of the neutron star, G for a radius of 10 km. We derive the pulse period in the
EPIC-pn data to be 0.5928850(6) s and estimate that the spin period derivative
of X1822-371 is s/s using all available
pulse period measurements. Assuming that the intrinsic luminosity of
X1822-371is at the Eddington limit and using the values of spin period and spin
period derivative of the source, we constrain the neutron star and companion
star masses. We find the neutron star and the companion star masses to be M and M, respectively, for a
neutron star radius of 10 km.In a self-consistent scenario in which X1822-371
is spinning-up and accretes at the Eddington limit, we estimate that the
magnetic field of the neutron star is G for a
neutron star radius of 10 km. If our interpretation is correct, the Gaussian
absorption feature near 0.7 keV is the very first detection of a CRSF below 1
keV in a LMXB. (abridged)Comment: 14 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Flood susceptibility assessment in a highly urbanized alluvial fan: the case study of Sala Consilina (southern Italy)
Abstract. This paper deals with the risk assessment to alluvial fan flooding at the piedmont zone of carbonate massifs of the southern Apennines chain (southern Italy). These areas are prime spots for urban development and are generally considered to be safer than the valley floors. As a result, villages and towns have been built on alluvial fans which, during intense storms, may be affected by flooding and/or debris flow processes. The study area is located at the foothills of the Maddalena mountains, an elongated NW-SE trending ridge which bounds to the east the wide intermontane basin of Vallo di Diano. The area comprises a wide detrital talus (bajada) made up by coalescent alluvial fans, ranging in age from the Middle Pleistocene to the Holocene. Historical analysis was carried out to ascertain the state of activity of the fans and to identify and map the zones most hit by past flooding. According to the information gathered, the Sala Consilina fans would appear prone to debris flows; in the past these processes have produced extensive damage and loss of life in the urban area. The watershed basins feeding the fans have very low response times and may produce debris flow events with high magnitudes. Taking into account the historical damage, the fan surface morphology, and the present urban development (street orientation and hydraulic network), the piedmont area was zoned and various susceptibility classes were detected. These results may represent a useful tool for studies aiming at territorial hazard mapping and civil protection interventions
Plants and Small Molecules: An Up-and-Coming Synergy
The emergence of Arabidopsis thaliana as a model system has led to a rapid and wide improvement in molecular genetics techniques for studying gene function and regulation. However, there are still several drawbacks that cannot be easily solved with molecular genetic approaches, such as the study of unfriendly species, which are of increasing agronomic interest but are not easily transformed, thus are not prone to many molecular techniques. Chemical genetics represents a methodology able to fill this gap. Chemical genetics lies between chemistry and biology and relies on small molecules to phenocopy genetic mutations addressing specific targets. Advances in recent decades have greatly improved both target specificity and activity, expanding the application of this approach to any biological process. As for classical genetics, chemical genetics also proceeds with a forward or reverse approach depending on the nature of the study. In this review, we addressed this topic in the study of plant photomorphogenesis, stress responses and epigenetic processes. We have dealt with some cases of repurposing compounds whose activity has been previously proven in human cells and, conversely, studies where plants have been a tool for the characterization of small molecules. In addition, we delved into the chemical synthesis and improvement of some of the compounds described
Bacterial virulence factor inhibits caspase-4/11 activation in intestinal epithelial cells
The human pathogen enteropathogenic Escherichia coli (EPEC), as well as the mouse pathogen Citrobacter rodentium, colonize the gut mucosa via attaching and effacing lesion formation and cause diarrheal diseases. EPEC and C. rodentium type III secretion system (T3SS) effectors repress innate immune responses and infiltration of immune cells. Inflammatory caspases such as caspase-1 and caspase-4/11 are crucial mediators of host defense and inflammation in the gut via their ability to process cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-1β and IL-18. Here we report that the effector NleF binds the catalytic domain of caspase-4 and inhibits its proteolytic activity. Following infection of intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) EPEC inhibited caspase-4 and IL-18 processing in an NleF-dependent manner. Depletion of caspase-4 in IECs prevented the secretion of mature IL-18 in response to infection with EPECΔnleF. NleF-dependent inhibition of caspase-11 in colons of mice prevented IL-18 secretion and neutrophil influx at early stages of C. rodentium infection. Neither wild-type C. rodentium nor C. rodentiumΔnleF triggered neutrophil infiltration or IL-18 secretion in Cas11 or Casp1/11-deficient mice. Thus, IECs have a key role in modulating early innate immune responses in the gut via a caspase-4/11—IL-18 axis, which is targeted by virulence factors encoded by enteric pathogens
Reaction mechanisms for weakly-bound, stable nuclei and unstable, halo nuclei on medium-mass targets
An experimental overview of reactions induced by the stable, but weakly-bound
nuclei 6Li, 7Li and 9Be, and by the exotic, halo nuclei 6He, 8B, 11Be and 17F
on medium-mass targets, such as 58Ni, 59Co or 64Zn, is presented. Existing data
on elastic scattering, total reaction cross sections, fusion processes, breakup
and transfer channels are discussed in the framework of a CDCC approach taking
into account the breakup degree of freedom.Comment: 7 pages, 6 figures, Invited Talk given by C. Beck to the 10th
International Conference on Nucleus-Nucleus Collisions, August 16-21, 2009
Beijing, China; Paper submitted to the NN2009 Proceedings, Nuclear Physics A
(to be published
Role of a Novel Heparanase Inhibitor on the Balance between Apoptosis and Autophagy in U87 Human Glioblastoma Cells
Background: Heparanase (HPSE) is an endo-& beta;-glucuronidase that cleaves heparan sulfate side chains, leading to the disassembly of the extracellular matrix, facilitating cell invasion and metastasis dissemination. In this research, we investigated the role of a new HPSE inhibitor, RDS 3337, in the regulation of the autophagic process and the balance between apoptosis and autophagy in U87 glioblastoma cells. Methods: After treatment with RDS 3337, cell lysates were analyzed for autophagy and apoptosis-related proteins by Western blot. Results: We observed, firstly, that LC3II expression increased in U87 cells incubated with RDS 3337, together with a significant increase of p62/SQSTM1 levels, indicating that RDS 3337 could act through the inhibition of autophagic-lysosomal flux of LC3-II, thereby leading to accumulation of lipidated LC3-II form. Conversely, the suppression of autophagic flux could activate apoptosis mechanisms, as revealed by the activation of caspase 3, the increased level of cleaved Parp1, and DNA fragmentation. Conclusions: These findings support the notion that HPSE promotes autophagy, providing evidence that RDS 3337 blocks autophagic flux. It indicates a role for HPSE inhibitors in the balance between apoptosis and autophagy in U87 human glioblastoma cells, suggesting a potential role for this new class of compounds in the control of tumor growth progression
Hypoglycemic activity of curcumin synthetic analogues in alloxan-induced diabetic rats.
The currently available therapies for type 2 diabetes have been unable to achieve normoglycemic status in the majority of patients. The reason may be attributed to the limitations of the drug itself or its side effects. In an effort to develop potent and safe oral antidiabetic agents, we evaluated the in vitro and in vivo hypoglycemic effects of 10 synthetic polyphenolic curcumin analogues on alloxan-induced male diabetic albino rats. In vitro studies showed 7-bis(3,4-dimethoxyphenyl)hepta-1,6-diene-3,5-dione (4) to be the most potential hypoglycemic agent followed by 1,5-bis(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)penta-1,4-dien-3-one (10). Structure activity relationship (SAR) of the tested compounds was elucidated and the results were interpreted in terms of in vitro hypoglycemic activities. Furthermore, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) with compounds 4, 10 and reference hypoglycemic drug glipizide showed that compound 4 and glipizide had relatively similar effects on the reduction of blood glucose levels within 2 h. Thus, compound 4 might be regarded as a potential hypoglycemic agent being able to reduce glucose concentration both in vitro and in vivo
Electronic structure of MAPbI3 and MAPbCl3: importance of band alignment
Since their first appearance, organic-inorganic perovskite absorbers have been capturing the attention of the scientific community. While high efficiency devices highlight the importance of band level alignment, very little is known on the origin of the strong n-doping character observed in the perovskite. Here, by means of a highly accurate photoemission study, we shed light on the energy alignment in perovskite-based devices. Our results suggest that the interaction with the substrate may be the driver for the observed doping in the perovskite samples
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