5,762 research outputs found
Lifting the Veil on Obscured Accretion: Active Galactic Nuclei Number Counts and Survey Strategies for Imaging Hard X-Ray Missions
Finding and characterizing the population of active galactic nuclei (AGNs) that produces the X-ray background (XRB) is necessary to connect the history of accretion to observations of galaxy evolution at longer wavelengths. The year 2012 will see the deployment of the first hard X-ray imaging telescope which, through deep extragalactic surveys, will be able to measure the AGN population at the energies where the XRB peaks (~20-30 keV). Here, we present predictions of AGN number counts in three hard X-ray bandpasses: 6-10 keV, 10-30 keV, and 30-60 keV. Separate predictions are presented for the number counts of Compton thick AGNs, the most heavily obscured active galaxies. The number counts are calculated for five different models of the XRB that differ in the assumed hard X-ray luminosity function, the evolution of the Compton thick AGNs, and the underlying AGN spectral model. The majority of the hard X-ray number counts will be Compton thin AGNs, but there is a greater than tenfold increase in the Compton thick number counts from the 6-10 keV to the 10-30 keV band. The Compton thick population shows enough variation that a hard X-ray number counts measurement will constrain the models. The computed number counts are used to consider various survey strategies for the NuSTAR mission, assuming a total exposure time of 6.2 Ms. We find that multiple surveys will allow a measurement of Compton thick evolution. The predictions presented here should be useful for all future imaging hard X-ray missions
Using Rheo-Small-Angle Neutron Scattering to Understand How Functionalised Dipeptides Form Gels
We explore the use of rheo-small-angle neutron scattering as a method to collect structural information from neutron scattering simultaneously with rheology to understand how low-molecular-weight hydrogels form and behave under shear. We examine three different gelling hydrogel systems to assess what structures are formed and how these influence the rheology. Furthermore, we probe what is happening to the network during syneresis and why the gels do not recover after an applied strain. All this information is vital when considering gels for applications such as 3D-printing and injection
Are Ferroan Anorthosites Direct Products of the Lunar Magma Ocean?
According to Lunar Magma Ocean (LMO) theory, lunar samples that fall into the ferroan anorthosite (FAN) category represent the only samples we have of of the primordial crust of the Moon. Modeling indicates that plagioclase crystallizes after >70% LMO crystallization and formed a flotation crust, depending upon starting composition. The FAN group of highlands materials has been subdivided into mafic-magnesian, mafic-ferroan, anorthositic- sodic, and anorthositic-ferroan, although it is not clear how these subgroups are related. Recent radiogenic isotope work has suggested the range in FAN ages and isotopic systematics are inconsistent with formation of all FANs from the LMO. While an insulating lid could have theoretically extend the life of the LMO to explain the range of the published ages, are the FAN compositions consistent with crystallization from the LMO? As part of a funded Emerging Worlds proposal (NNX15AH76G), we examine this question through analysis of FAN samples. We compare the results with various LMO crystallization models, including those that incorporate the influence of garnet
Decuplet Baryon Structure from Lattice QCD
The electromagnetic properties of the SU(3)-flavor baryon decuplet are
examined within a lattice simulation of quenched QCD. Electric charge radii,
magnetic moments, and magnetic radii are extracted from the E0 and M1 form
factors. Preliminary results for the E2 and M3 moments are presented giving the
first model independent insight to the shape of the quark distribution in the
baryon ground state. As in our octet baryon analysis, the lattice results give
evidence of spin-dependent forces and mass effects in the electromagnetic
properties. The quark charge distribution radii indicate these effects act in
opposing directions. Some baryon dependence of the effective quark magnetic
moments is seen. However, this dependence in decuplet baryons is more subtle
than that for octet baryons. Of particular interest are the lattice predictions
for the magnetic moments of and for which new recent
experimental measurements are available. The lattice prediction of the
ratio appears larger than the experimental ratio, while the
lattice prediction for the magnetic moment ratio is in good
agreement with the experimental ratio.Comment: RevTeX manuscript, 34 pages plus 21 figures (available upon request
Impact of Environmental Factors on Bacteriocin Promoter Activity in Gut-Derived Lactobacillus salivarius
peer-reviewedBacteriocin production is regarded as a desirable probiotic trait that aids in colonization and persistence in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). Strains of Lactobacillus salivarius, a species associated with the GIT, are regarded as promising probiotic candidates and have a number of associated bacteriocins documented to date. These include multiple class IIb bacteriocins (salivaricin T, salivaricin P, and ABP-118) and the class IId bacteriocin bactofencin A, which show activity against medically important pathogens. However, the production of a bacteriocin in laboratory media does not ensure production under stressful environmental conditions, such as those encountered within the GIT. To allow this issue to be addressed, the promoter regions located upstream of the structural genes encoding the L. salivarius bacteriocins mentioned above were fused to a number of reporter proteins (green fluorescent protein [GFP], red fluorescent protein [RFP], and luciferase [Lux]). Of these, only transcriptional fusions to GFP generated signals of sufficient strength to enable the study of promoter activity in L. salivarius. While analysis of the class IIb bacteriocin promoter regions indicated relatively weak GFP expression, assessment of the promoter of the antistaphylococcal bacteriocin bactofencin A revealed a strong promoter that is most active in the absence of the antimicrobial peptide and is positively induced in the presence of mild environmental stresses, including simulated gastric fluid. Taken together, these data provide information on factors that influence bacteriocin production, which will assist in the development of strategies to optimize in vivo and in vitro production of these antimicrobials.This work was funded by a SFI PI award “Obesibiotics” (11/PI/1137) to PD
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Vacuum Properties of Mesons in a Linear Sigma Model with Vector Mesons and Global Chiral Invariance
We present a two-flavour linear sigma model with global chiral symmetry and
vector and axial-vector mesons. We calculate pion-pion scattering lengths and
the decay widths of scalar, vector, and axial-vector mesons. It is demonstrated
that vector and axial-vector meson degrees of freedom play an important role in
these low-energy processes and that a reasonable theoretical description
requires globally chirally invariant terms other than the vector meson mass
term. An important question for meson vacuum phenomenology is the quark content
of the physical scalar f0(600) and a0(980) mesons. We investigate this question
by assigning the quark-antiquark sigma and a0 states of our model with these
physical mesons. We show via a detailed comparison with experimental data that
this scenario can describe all vacuum properties studied here except for the
decay width of the sigma, which turns out to be too small. We also study the
alternative assignment f0(1370) and a0(1450) for the scalar mesons. In this
case the decay width agrees with the experimental value, but the pion-pion
scattering length is too small. This indicates the necessity to
extend our model by additional scalar degrees of freedom.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figure
Baryon Octet to Decuplet Electromagnetic Transitions
The electromagnetic transition moments of the -flavor baryon octet to
decuplet are examined within a lattice simulation of quenched QCD. The magnetic
transition moment for the channel is found to be in
agreement with recent experimental analyses. The lattice results indicate
. In terms of the Particle Data Group
convention, GeV for
transitions. Lattice predictions for the hyperon transition moments agree
with those of a simple quark model. However the manner in which the quarks
contribute to the transition moments in the lattice simulation is different
from that anticipated by quark model calculations. The scalar quadrupole form
factor exhibits a behavior consistent with previous multipole analyses. The
multipole transition moment ratios are also determined. The lattice
results suggest \% for
transitions. Of particular interest are significant
nonvanishing signals for the ratio in and
electromagnetic transitions.Comment: PostScript file, 37 pages including figures. U. MD PP #93-085, U. KY
PP #UK/92-09, TRIUMF PP #TRI-PP-92-12
Listeriolysin S, a Novel Peptide Haemolysin Associated with a Subset of Lineage I Listeria monocytogenes
peer-reviewedStreptolysin S (SLS) is a bacteriocin-like haemolytic and cytotoxic virulence factor that plays a key role in the virulence of Group A Streptococcus (GAS), the causative agent of pharyngitis, impetigo, necrotizing fasciitis and streptococcal toxic shock syndrome. Although it has long been thought that SLS and related peptides are produced by GAS and related streptococci only, there is evidence to suggest that a number of the most notorious Gram-positive pathogenic bacteria, including Listeria monocytogenes, Clostridium botulinum and Staphylococcus aureus, produce related peptides. The distribution of the L. monocytogenes cluster is particularly noteworthy in that it is found exclusively among a subset of lineage I strains; i.e., those responsible for the majority of outbreaks of listeriosis. Expression of these genes results in the production of a haemolytic and cytotoxic factor, designated Listeriolysin S, which contributes to virulence of the pathogen as assessed by murine- and human polymorphonuclear neutrophil–based studies. Thus, in the process of establishing the existence of an extended family of SLS-like modified virulence peptides (MVPs), the genetic basis for the enhanced virulence of a proportion of lineage I L. monocytogenes may have been revealed.Work is funded by the Irish Government under the National Development Plan, through a Science Foundation Ireland Investigator award to CH, PR and PC (06/IN.1/B98)
Game On? Smoking Cessation Through the Gamification of mHealth: A Longitudinal Qualitative Study
BACKGROUND: Finding ways to increase and sustain engagement with mHealth interventions has become a challenge during application development. While gamification shows promise and has proven effective in many fields, critical questions remain concerning how to use gamification to modify health behavior. OBJECTIVE: The objective of this study is to investigate how the gamification of mHealth interventions leads to a change in health behavior, specifically with respect to smoking cessation. METHODS: We conducted a qualitative longitudinal study using a sample of 16 smokers divided into 2 cohorts (one used a gamified intervention and the other used a nongamified intervention). Each participant underwent 4 semistructured interviews over a period of 5 weeks. Semistructured interviews were also conducted with 4 experts in gamification, mHealth, and smoking cessation. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and thematic analysis undertaken. RESULTS: Results indicated perceived behavioral control and intrinsic motivation acted as positive drivers to game engagement and consequently positive health behavior. Importantly, external social influences exerted a negative effect. We identified 3 critical factors, whose presence was necessary for game engagement: purpose (explicit purpose known by the user), user alignment (congruency of game and user objectives), and functional utility (a well-designed game). We summarize these findings in a framework to guide the future development of gamified mHealth interventions. CONCLUSIONS: Gamification holds the potential for a low-cost, highly effective mHealth solution that may replace or supplement the behavioral support component found in current smoking cessation programs. The framework reported here has been built on evidence specific to smoking cessation, however it can be adapted to health interventions in other disease categories. Future research is required to evaluate the generalizability and effectiveness of the framework, directly against current behavioral support therapy interventions in smoking cessation and beyond
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