1,323 research outputs found
4. The School Develops
Between 1947 and 1953, when M.P. Catherwood left the deanship to become New York’s industrial commissioner, the ILR School developed into a full fledged enterprise. These pages attempt to capture some of the excitement of this period of the school’s history, which was characterized by vigor, growth, and innovation. Includes: Alumni Recall Their Lives as Students; The Faculty Were Giants; Alice Cook: Lifelong Scholar, Consummate Teacher; Frances Perkins; Visits and Visitors; Tenth Anniversary: Reflection and Change; The Emergence of Departments at ILR; Development of International Programs and Outreach
Spitzer Mid-Infrared Spectroscopy of Infrared Luminous Galaxies at z~2 III: Far-IR to Radio Properties and Optical Spectral Diagnostics
We present the far-IR, millimeter, and radio photometry as well as optical
and near-IR spectroscopy of a sample of 48 z~1-3 Spitzer-selected ULIRGs with
IRS mid-IR spectra. Our goals are to compute their bolometric emission, and to
determine both the presence and relative strength of their AGN and starburst
components. We find that strong-PAH sources tend to have higher 160um and 1.2mm
fluxes than weak-PAH sources. The depth of the 9.7um silicate feature does not
affect MAMBO detectability. We fit the far-IR SEDs of our sample and find an
average ~7x10^{12}Lsun for our z>1.5 sources. Spectral decomposition
suggests that strong-PAH sources typically have ~20-30% AGN fractions. Weak-PAH
sources by contrast tend to have >~70% AGN fractions, with a few sources having
comparable contributions of AGN and starbursts. The optical line diagnostics
support the presence of AGN in the bulk of the weak-PAH sources. With one
exception, our sources are narrow-line sources, show no obvious correspondence
between the optical extinction and the silicate feature depth, and, in two
cases, show evidence for outflows. Radio AGN are present in both strong-PAH and
weak-PAH sources. This is supported by our sample's far-IR-to-radio ratios (q)
being consistently below the average value of 2.34 for local star-forming
galaxies. We use survival analysis to include the lower-limits given by the
radio-undetected sources, arriving at =2.07+/-0.01 for our z>1.5 sample. In
total, radio and, where available, optical line diagnostics support the
presence of AGN in 57% of the z>1.5 sources, independent of IR-based
diagnostics. For higher-z sources, the AGN luminosities alone are estimated to
be >10^{12}Lsun, which, supported by the [OIII] luminosities, implies that the
bulk of our sources host obscured quasars.Comment: 22 pages, 14 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Large Area Mapping at 850 Microns. IV. Analysis of the Clump Distribution in the Orion B South Molecular Cloud
We present results from a survey of a 1300 arcmin^2 region of the Orion B
South molecular cloud, including NGC 2024, NGC 2023, and the Horsehead Nebula
(B33), obtained using the Submillimetre Common-User Bolometer Array (SCUBA) on
the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope. Submillimeter continuum observations at 450
microns and 850 microns are discussed. Using an automated algorithm, 57
discrete emission features (``clumps'') are identified in the 850 micron map.
The physical conditions within these clumps are investigated under the
assumption that the objects are in quasi-hydrostatic equilibrium. The best fit
dust temperature for the clumps is found to be T_d = 18 +/- 4 K, with the
exception of those associated with the few known far infrared sources residing
in NGC 2024. The latter internally heated sources are found to be much warmer.
In the region surrounding NGC 2023, the clump dust temperatures agree with
clump gas temperatures determined from molecular line excitation measurements
of the CO molecule. The bounding pressure on the clumps lies in the range
log(k^-1 P cm^3 K^-1) = 6.1 +/- 0.3. The cumulative mass distribution is steep
at the high mass end, as is the stellar Initial Mass Function. The distribution
flattens significantly at lower masses, with a turn-over around 3 -- 10 M_sun.Comment: 41 pages, 16 figures, accepted by Ap
A Submillimeter Study of the Star-Forming Region NGC7129
New molecular (13CO J=3-2) and dust continuum (450 and 850 micron) SCUBA maps
of the NGC7129 star forming region are presented, complemented by C18O J=3-2
spectra at several positions within the mapped region. The maps include the
Herbig Ae/Be star LkHalpha 234, the far-infrared source NGC 7129 FIRS2 and
several other pre-stellar sources embedded within the molecular ridge.
The SCUBA maps help us understand the nature of the pre-main sequence stars
in this actively star forming region. A deeply embedded submillimeter source,
SMM2, not clearly seen in any earlier data set, is shown to be a pre-stellar
core or possibly a protostar. The highest continuum peak emission is identified
with the deeply embedded source IRS6, a few arcseconds away from LkHalpha 234,
and also responsible for both the optical jet and the molecular outflow. The
gas and dust masses are found to be consistent, suggesting little or no CO
depletion onto grains. The dust emissivity index is lower towards the dense
compact sources, beta ~1 - 1.6, and higher, beta ~ 2.0, in the surrounding
cloud, implying small size grains in the PDR ridge, whose mantles have been
evaporated by the intense UV radiation.Comment: Accepted by Ap
The Nature of Infrared Emission in the Local Group Dwarf Galaxy NGC 6822 As Revealed by Spitzer
We present Spitzer imaging of the metal-deficient (Z ~30% Z_sun) Local Group
dwarf galaxy NGC 6822. On spatial scales of ~130 pc, we study the nature of IR,
H alpha, HI, and radio continuum emission. Nebular emission strength correlates
with IR surface brightness; however, roughly half of the IR emission is
associated with diffuse regions not luminous at H alpha (as found in previous
studies). The global ratio of dust to HI gas in the ISM, while uncertain at the
factor of ~2 level, is ~25 times lower than the global values derived for
spiral galaxies using similar modeling techniques; localized ratios of dust to
HI gas are about a factor of five higher than the global value in NGC 6822.
There are strong variations (factors of ~10) in the relative ratios of H alpha
and IR flux throughout the central disk; the low dust content of NGC 6822 is
likely responsible for the different H alpha/IR ratios compared to those found
in more metal-rich environments. The H alpha and IR emission is associated with
high-column density (> ~1E21 cm^-2) neutral gas. Increases in IR surface
brightness appear to be affected by both increased radiation field strength and
increased local gas density. Individual regions and the galaxy as a whole fall
within the observed scatter of recent high-resolution studies of the radio-far
IR correlation in nearby spiral galaxies; this is likely the result of depleted
radio and far-IR emission strengths in the ISM of this dwarf galaxy.Comment: ApJ, in press; please retrieve full-resolution version from
http://www.astro.wesleyan.edu/~cannon/pubs.htm
Meta-analysis of the Parkinson’s disease gut microbiome suggests alterations linked to intestinal inflammation
The gut microbiota is emerging as an important modulator of neurodegenerative diseases, and accumulating evidence has linked gut microbes to Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptomatology and pathophysiology. PD is often preceded by gastrointestinal symptoms and alterations of the enteric nervous system accompany the disease. Several studies have analyzed the gut microbiome in PD, but a consensus on the features of the PD-specific microbiota is missing. Here, we conduct a meta-analysis re-analyzing the ten currently available 16S microbiome datasets to investigate whether common alterations in the gut microbiota of PD patients exist across cohorts. We found significant alterations in the PD-associated microbiome, which are robust to study-specific technical heterogeneities, although differences in microbiome structure between PD and controls are small. Enrichment of the genera Lactobacillus, Akkermansia, and Bifidobacterium and depletion of bacteria belonging to the Lachnospiraceae family and the Faecalibacterium genus, both important short-chain fatty acids producers, emerged as the most consistent PD gut microbiome alterations. This dysbiosis might result in a pro-inflammatory status which could be linked to the recurrent gastrointestinal symptoms affecting PD patients
Observations of Arp 220 using Herschel-SPIRE: An Unprecedented View of the Molecular Gas in an Extreme Star Formation Environment
We present Herschel SPIRE-FTS observations of Arp~220, a nearby ULIRG. The
FTS continuously covers 190 -- 670 microns, providing a good measurement of the
continuum and detection of several molecular and atomic species. We detect
luminous CO (J = 4-3 to 13-12) and water ladders with comparable total
luminosity; very high-J HCN absorption; OH+, H2O+, and HF in absorption; and CI
and NII. Modeling of the continuum yields warm dust, with T = 66 K, and an
unusually large optical depth of ~5 at 100 microns. Non-LTE modeling of the CO
shows two temperature components: cold molecular gas at T ~ 50 K and warm
molecular gas at T ~1350 K. The mass of the warm gas is 10% of the cold gas,
but dominates the luminosity of the CO ladder. The temperature of the warm gas
is in excellent agreement with H2 rotational lines. At 1350 K, H2 dominates the
cooling (~20 L_sun/M_sun) in the ISM compared to CO (~0.4 L_sun/M_sun). We
found that only a non-ionizing source such as the mechanical energy from
supernovae and stellar winds can excite the warm gas and satisfy the energy
budget of ~20 L_sun/M_sun. We detect a massive molecular outflow in Arp 220
from the analysis of strong P-Cygni line profiles observed in OH+, H2O+, and
H2O. The outflow has a mass > 10^{7} M_sun and is bound to the nuclei with
velocity < 250 km/s. The large column densities observed for these molecular
ions strongly favor the existence of an X-ray luminous AGN (10^{44} ergs/s) in
Arp 220.Comment: Accepted in ApJ on September 1, 201
Computational modeling of vibration-induced systemic hydration of vocal folds over a range of phonation conditions
Predicting phonation conditions that are benign to voice health remains a biomechanically relevant problem.Our objective is to provide insight into vocal fold (VF) hydration based on continuum-based VF models thatare able to compute VF stresses during phonation and a scheme for the extraction and generalization of suchcomputational data based on the principle of linear superposition. Because VF tissue is poroelastic, spatialgradients of VF hydrostatic stresses computed for a given phonation condition determine VF interstitial fluidflow. The present approach transforms, based on linear superposition principles, the computed interstitialfluid velocities at the particular phonation to those at an arbitrary phonation condition. Intersititial fluidflow characteristics for a range of phonation conditions are compared. For phonation conditions with noor moderate collision, no dehydration per vibration cycle is predicted throughout the VF. For more severecollision conditions, tissue dehydration is restricted to a region close to the glottal surface. Interstitial fluiddisplacement in the VF is found to be heterogeneous and strongly dependent on the phonation condition.A phonation condition is found to exist for which dehydration peaks. The proposed method significantlyexpands the scope and relevance of conducting isolated numerical simulations of VF vibration
Extracellular Matrix Survival Signals Transduced by Focal Adhesion Kinase Suppress p53-mediated Apoptosis
In many malignant cells, both the anchorage requirement for survival and the function of the p53 tumor suppressor gene are subverted. These effects are consistent with the hypothesis that survival signals from extracellular matrix (ECM) suppress a p53-regulated cell death pathway. We report that survival signals from fibronectin are transduced by the focal adhesion kinase (FAK). If FAK or the correct ECM is absent, cells enter apoptosis through a p53-dependent pathway activated by protein kinase C λ/ι and cytosolic phospholipase A2. This pathway is suppressible by dominant-negative p53 and Bcl2 but not CrmA. Upon inactivation of p53, cells survive even if they lack matrix signals or FAK. This is the first report that p53 monitors survival signals from ECM/FAK in anchorage- dependent cells
Role of aggrecanase 1 in Lyme arthritis
Objective Arthritis is one of the hallmarks of late-stage Lyme disease. Previous studies have shown that infection with Borrelia burgdorferi , the causative agent of Lyme disease, results in degradation of proteoglycans and collagen in cartilage. B burgdorferi do not appear to produce any exported proteases capable of digesting proteoglycans and collagen, but instead, induce and activate host proteases, such as matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), which results in cartilage degradation. The role of aggrecanases in Lyme arthritis has not yet been determined. We therefore sought to delineate the contribution of aggrecanases to joint destruction in Lyme arthritis. Methods We examined the expression patterns of aggrecanases 1 and 2 (ADAMTS 4 and 5, respectively) in B burgdorferi –infected primary human chondrocyte cell cultures, in synovial fluid samples from patients with active Lyme arthritis, and in the joints of mice by real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction and immunoblotting techniques. Bovine cartilage explants were used to determine the role of aggrecanases in B burgdorferi –induced cartilage degradation. Results ADAMTS-4, but not ADAMTS-5, was induced in human chondrocytes infected with B burgdorferi . The active forms of ADAMTS-4 were increased in synovial fluid samples from patients with active Lyme arthritis and were elevated in the joints of mice infected with B burgdorferi . Using cartilage explant models of Lyme arthritis, it appeared that the cleavage of aggrecan was predominantly mediated by “aggrecanases” rather than MMPs. Conclusion The induction of ADAMTS-4 by B burgdorferi results in the cleavage of aggrecan, which may be an important first step that leads to permanent degradation of cartilage.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/55825/1/22128_ftp.pd
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