497 research outputs found
Cepheid Variables in the Maser-Host Galaxy NGC 4258
We present results of a ground-based survey for Cepheid variables in NGC
4258. This galaxy plays a key role in the Extragalactic Distance Scale due to
its very precise and accurate distance determination via VLBI observations of
water masers. We imaged two fields within this galaxy using the Gemini North
telescope and GMOS, obtaining 16 epochs of data in the SDSS gri bands over 4
years. We carried out PSF photometry and detected 94 Cepheids with periods
between 7 and 127 days, as well as an additional 215 variables which may be
Cepheids or Population II pulsators. We used the Cepheid sample to test the
absolute calibration of theoretical gri Period-Luminosity relations and found
good agreement with the maser distance to this galaxy. The expected data
products from the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope (LSST) should enable Cepheid
searches out to at least 10 Mpc.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journa
Optical Identification of Cepheids in 19 Host Galaxies of Type Ia Supernovae and NGC 4258 with the Hubble Space Telescope
We present results of an optical search for Cepheid variable stars using the
Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in 19 hosts of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and the
maser-host galaxy NGC 4258, conducted as part of the SH0ES project (Supernovae
and H0 for the Equation of State of dark energy). The targets include 9 newly
imaged SN Ia hosts using a novel strategy based on a long-pass filter that
minimizes the number of HST orbits required to detect and accurately determine
Cepheid properties. We carried out a homogeneous reduction and analysis of all
observations, including new universal variability searches in all SN Ia hosts,
that yielded a total of 2200 variables with well-defined selection criteria --
the largest such sample identified outside the Local Group. These objects are
used in a companion paper to determine the local value of H0 with a total
uncertainty of 2.4%.Comment: ApJ, in press. v2 adds missing co-author to arXiv metadata and text
in acknowledgment
Optical Identification of Cepheids in 19 Host Galaxies of Type Ia Supernovae and NGC 4258 with the hubble space telescope
We present results of an optical search conducted as part of the SH0ES project (Supernovae and H0 for the Equation of State of dark energy) for Cepheid variable stars using the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) in 19 hosts of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) and the maser-host galaxy NGC 4258. The targets include nine newly imaged SN Ia hosts using a novel strategy based on a long-pass filter that minimizes the number of HST orbits required to detect and accurately determine Cepheid properties. We carried out a homogeneous reduction and analysis of all observations, including new universal variability searches in all SN Ia hosts, which yielded a total of 2200 variables with well-defined selection criteria, the largest such sample identified outside the Local Group. These objects are used in a companion paper to determine the local value of H0 with a total uncertainty of 2.4%
The Cepheid Distance to the Narrow-Line Seyfert 1 Galaxy NGC 4051
We derive a distance of ~Mpc (~mag) to
the archetypal narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC 4051 based on Cepheid
Period--Luminosity relations and new Hubble Space Telescope multiband imaging.
We identify 419 Cepheid candidates and estimate the distance at both optical
and near-infrared wavelengths using subsamples of precisely-photometered
variables (123 and 47 in the optical and near-infrared subsamples,
respectively). We compare our independent photometric procedures and
distance-estimation methods to those used by the SH0ES team and find agreement
to 0.01~mag. The distance we obtain suggests an Eddington ratio for NGC 4051, typical of narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies, unlike
the seemingly-odd value implied by previous distance estimates. We derive a
peculiar velocity of ~km~s for NGC 4051, consistent with the
overall motion of the Ursa Major Cluster in which it resides. We also revisit
the energetics of the NGC 4051 nucleus, including its outflow and mass
accretion rates.Comment: 15 pages, 12 figures, 6 tables, accepted for publication in Ap
Has land use pushed terrestrial biodiversity beyond the planetary boundary? A global assessment
Land use and related pressures have reduced local terrestrial biodiversity, but it is unclear how the magnitude of change relates to the recently proposed planetary boundary (âsafe limitâ). We estimate that land use and related pressures have already reduced local biodiversity intactnessâthe average proportion of natural biodiversity remaining in local ecosystemsâbeyond its recently proposed planetary boundary across 58.1% of the worldâs land surface, where 71.4% of the human population live. Biodiversity intactness within most biomes (especially grassland biomes), most biodiversity hotspots, and even some wilderness areas is inferred to be beyond the boundary. Such widespread transgression of safe limits suggests that biodiversity loss, if unchecked, will undermine efforts toward long-term sustainable development
Quantitative Analysis of Lipid Droplet Fusion: Inefficient Steady State Fusion but Rapid Stimulation by Chemical Fusogens
Lipid droplets (LDs) are dynamic cytoplasmic organelles containing neutral lipids and bounded by a phospholipid monolayer. Previous studies have suggested that LDs can undergo constitutive homotypic fusion, a process linked to the inhibitory effects of fatty acids on glucose transporter trafficking. Using strict quantitative criteria for LD fusion together with refined light microscopic methods and real-time analysis, we now show that LDs in diverse cell types show low constitutive fusogenic activity under normal growth conditions. To investigate the possible modulation of LD fusion, we screened for agents that can trigger fusion. A number of pharmacological agents caused homotypic fusion of lipid droplets in a variety of cell types. This provided a novel cell system to study rapid regulated fusion between homotypic phospholipid monolayers. LD fusion involved an initial step in which the two adjacent membranes became continuous (<10 s), followed by the slower merging (100 s) of the neutral lipid cores to produce a single spherical LD. These fusion events were accompanied by changes to the LD surface organization. Measurements of LDs undergoing homotypic fusion showed that fused LDs maintained their initial volume, with a corresponding decrease in surface area suggesting rapid removal of membrane from the fused LD. This study provides estimates for the level of constitutive LD fusion in cells and questions the role of LD fusion in vivo. In addition, it highlights the extent of LD restructuring which occurs when homotypic LD fusion is triggered in a variety of cell types
- âŠ