573 research outputs found
Survey of Period Variations of Superhumps in SU UMa-Type Dwarf Novae. VIII: The Eighth Year (2015-2016)
Continuing the project described by Kato et al. (2009, arXiv:0905.1757), we
collected times of superhump maxima for 128 SU UMa-type dwarf novae observed
mainly during the 2015-2016 season and characterized these objects. The data
have improved the distribution of orbital periods, the relation between the
orbital period and the variation of superhumps, the relation between period
variations and the rebrightening type in WZ Sge-type objects. Coupled with new
measurements of mass ratios using growing stages of superhumps, we now have a
clearer and statistically greatly improved evolutionary path near the terminal
stage of evolution of cataclysmic variables. Three objects (V452 Cas, KK Tel,
ASASSN-15cl) appear to have slowly growing superhumps, which is proposed to
reflect the slow growth of the 3:1 resonance near the stability border.
ASASSN-15sl, ASASSN-15ux, SDSS J074859.55+312512.6 and CRTS J200331.3-284941
are newly identified eclipsing SU UMa-type (or WZ Sge-type) dwarf novae.
ASASSN-15cy has a short (~0.050 d) superhump period and appears to belong to EI
Psc-type objects with compact secondaries having an evolved core. ASASSN-15gn,
ASASSN-15hn, ASASSN-15kh and ASASSN-16bu are candidate period bouncers with
superhump periods longer than 0.06 d. We have newly obtained superhump periods
for 79 objects and 13 orbital periods, including periods from early superhumps.
In order that the future observations will be more astrophysically beneficial
and rewarding to observers, we propose guidelines how to organize observations
of various superoutbursts.Comment: 123 pages, 162 figures, 119 tables, accepted for publication in PASJ
(including supplementary information
LTBP2 null mutations in an autosomal recessive ocular syndrome with megalocornea, spherophakia, and secondary glaucoma
The latent TGFβ-binding proteins (LTBPs) and fibrillins are a superfamily of large, multidomain proteins with structural and TGFβ-signalling roles in the extracellular matrix. Their importance is underscored by fibrillin-1 mutations responsible for Marfan syndrome, but their respective roles are still incompletely understood. We report here on two families where children from healthy, consanguineous parents, presented with megalocornea and impaired vision associated with small, round, dislocated lenses (microspherophakia and ectopia lentis) and myopia, as well as a high-arched palate, and, in older children, tall stature with an abnormally large arm span over body height ratio, that is, associated features of Marfan syndrome. Glaucoma was not present at birth, but was diagnosed in older children. Whole genome homozygosity mapping followed by candidate gene analysis identified homozygous truncating mutations of LTBP2 gene in patients from both families. Fibroblast mRNA analysis was consistent with nonsense-mediated mRNA decay, with no evidence of mutated exon skipping. We conclude that biallelic null LTBP2 mutations cause the ocular phenotype in both families and could lead to Marfan-like features in older children. We suggest that intraocular pressures should be followed-up in young children with an ocular phenotype consisting of megalocornea, spherophakia and/or lens dislocation, and recommend LTBP2 gene analysis in these patients
Surfactant controlled zwitterionic cellulose nanofibril dispersions
Zwitterionic cellulose nanofibrils (ZCNF) with isoelectric point of 3.4 were obtained by grafting glycidyltrimethylammonium chloride onto TEMPO/NaBr/NaOCl-oxidised cellulose nanofibrils. ZCNF aqueous dispersions were characterized via transmission electron microscopy, rheology and small angle neutron scattering, revealing a fibril-bundle structure with pronounced aggregation at pH 7. Surfactants were successfully employed to tune the stability of the ZCNF dispersions. Upon addition of the anionic surfactant, sodium dodecyl sulfate, the ZCNF dispersion shows individualized fibrils due to electrostatic stabilization. On the contrary, upon addition of the cationic species dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide, the dispersion undergoes charge neutralization, leading to more pronounced flocculation
First LIGO search for gravitational wave bursts from cosmic (super)strings
We report on a matched-filter search for gravitational wave bursts from
cosmic string cusps using LIGO data from the fourth science run (S4) which took
place in February and March 2005. No gravitational waves were detected in 14.9
days of data from times when all three LIGO detectors were operating. We
interpret the result in terms of a frequentist upper limit on the rate of
gravitational wave bursts and use the limits on the rate to constrain the
parameter space (string tension, reconnection probability, and loop sizes) of
cosmic string models.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures. Replaced with version submitted to PR
Stacked Search for Gravitational Waves from the 2006 SGR 1900+14 Storm
We present the results of a LIGO search for short-duration gravitational
waves (GWs) associated with the 2006 March 29 SGR 1900+14 storm. A new search
method is used, "stacking'' the GW data around the times of individual
soft-gamma bursts in the storm to enhance sensitivity for models in which
multiple bursts are accompanied by GW emission. We assume that variation in the
time difference between burst electromagnetic emission and potential burst GW
emission is small relative to the GW signal duration, and we time-align GW
excess power time-frequency tilings containing individual burst triggers to
their corresponding electromagnetic emissions. We use two GW emission models in
our search: a fluence-weighted model and a flat (unweighted) model for the most
electromagnetically energetic bursts. We find no evidence of GWs associated
with either model. Model-dependent GW strain, isotropic GW emission energy
E_GW, and \gamma = E_GW / E_EM upper limits are estimated using a variety of
assumed waveforms. The stacking method allows us to set the most stringent
model-dependent limits on transient GW strain published to date. We find E_GW
upper limit estimates (at a nominal distance of 10 kpc) of between 2x10^45 erg
and 6x10^50 erg depending on waveform type. These limits are an order of
magnitude lower than upper limits published previously for this storm and
overlap with the range of electromagnetic energies emitted in SGR giant flares.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure
Comparison of Gene Expression Profiles in Chromate Transformed BEAS-2B Cells
Hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] is a potent human carcinogen.
Occupational exposure has been associated with increased risk of respiratory
cancer. Multiple mechanisms have been shown to contribute to Cr(VI) induced
carcinogenesis, including DNA damage, genomic instability, and epigenetic
modulation, however, the molecular mechanism and downstream genes mediating
chromium's carcinogenicity remain to be elucidated.We established chromate transformed cell lines by chronic exposure of normal
human bronchial epithelial BEAS-2B cells to low doses of Cr(VI) followed by
anchorage-independent growth. These transformed cell lines not only
exhibited consistent morphological changes but also acquired altered and
distinct gene expression patterns compared with normal BEAS-2B cells and
control cell lines (untreated) that arose spontaneously in soft agar.
Interestingly, the gene expression profiles of six Cr(VI) transformed cell
lines were remarkably similar to each other yet differed significantly from
that of either control cell lines or normal BEAS-2B cells. A total of 409
differentially expressed genes were identified in Cr(VI) transformed cells
compared to control cells. Genes related to cell-to-cell junction were
upregulated in all Cr(VI) transformed cells, while genes associated with the
interaction between cells and their extracellular matrices were
down-regulated. Additionally, expression of genes involved in cell
proliferation and apoptosis were also changed.This study is the first to report gene expression profiling of Cr(VI)
transformed cells. The gene expression changes across individual chromate
exposed clones were remarkably similar to each other but differed
significantly from the gene expression found in anchorage-independent clones
that arose spontaneously. Our analysis identified many novel gene expression
changes that may contribute to chromate induced cell transformation, and
collectively this type of information will provide a better understanding of
the mechanism underlying chromate carcinogenicity
Search for Gravitational Waves from Low Mass Compact Binary Coalescence in LIGO's Sixth Science Run and Virgo's Science Runs 2 and 3
We report on a search for gravitational waves from coalescing compact
binaries using LIGO and Virgo observations between July 7, 2009 and October 20,
2010. We searched for signals from binaries with total mass between 2 and 25
solar masses; this includes binary neutron stars, binary black holes, and
binaries consisting of a black hole and neutron star. The detectors were
sensitive to systems up to 40 Mpc distant for binary neutron stars, and further
for higher mass systems. No gravitational-wave signals were detected. We report
upper limits on the rate of compact binary coalescence as a function of total
mass, including the results from previous LIGO and Virgo observations. The
cumulative 90%-confidence rate upper limits of the binary coalescence of binary
neutron star, neutron star- black hole and binary black hole systems are 1.3 x
10^{-4}, 3.1 x 10^{-5} and 6.4 x 10^{-6} Mpc^{-3}yr^{-1}, respectively. These
upper limits are up to a factor 1.4 lower than previously derived limits. We
also report on results from a blind injection challenge.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures. For a repository of data used in the
publication, go to:
. Also see the
announcement for this paper on ligo.org at:
<http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-S6CBCLowMass/index.php
Implications For The Origin Of GRB 051103 From LIGO Observations
We present the results of a LIGO search for gravitational waves (GWs)
associated with GRB 051103, a short-duration hard-spectrum gamma-ray burst
(GRB) whose electromagnetically determined sky position is coincident with the
spiral galaxy M81, which is 3.6 Mpc from Earth. Possible progenitors for
short-hard GRBs include compact object mergers and soft gamma repeater (SGR)
giant flares. A merger progenitor would produce a characteristic GW signal that
should be detectable at the distance of M81, while GW emission from an SGR is
not expected to be detectable at that distance. We found no evidence of a GW
signal associated with GRB 051103. Assuming weakly beamed gamma-ray emission
with a jet semi-angle of 30 deg we exclude a binary neutron star merger in M81
as the progenitor with a confidence of 98%. Neutron star-black hole mergers are
excluded with > 99% confidence. If the event occurred in M81 our findings
support the the hypothesis that GRB 051103 was due to an SGR giant flare,
making it the most distant extragalactic magnetar observed to date.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures. For a repository of data used in the publication,
go to: https://dcc.ligo.org/cgi-bin/DocDB/ShowDocument?docid=15166 . Also see
the announcement for this paper on ligo.org at:
http://www.ligo.org/science/Publication-GRB051103/index.ph
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