SD 1313-0019 -- Another second-generation star with [Fe/H] = -5.0, observed with the Magellan Telescope

We present a Magellan/MIKE high-resolution (R ~ 35,000) spectrum of the ancient star SD 1313-0019 which has an iron abundance of [Fe/H] = -5.0, paired with a carbon enhancement of [C/Fe] ~ 3.0. The star was initially identified by Allende Prieto et al. in the BOSS survey. Its medium-resolution spectrum suggested a higher metallicity of [Fe/H] = -4.3 due to the CaII K line blending with a CH feature which is a common issue related to the search for the most iron-poor stars. This star joins several other, similar stars with [Fe/H] < -5.0 that all display a combination of low iron and high carbon abundances. Other elemental abundances of SD 1313-0019 follow that of more metal-rich halo stars. From fitting the abundance pattern with yields of Population III supernova, we conclude that SD 1313-0019 had only one massive progenitor star with 20 - 30 M_sun that must have undergone a mixing and fallback episode. Overall, there are now five stars known with [Fe/H] < -5.0 (1D LTE abundances). This population of second-generation stars strongly suggests massive first stars that almost exclusively produced large amounts of carbon through stellar winds and/or their mixing and fallback supernova explosions. As a consequence, their natal clouds -- presumably some early minihalo structures -- contained ample amounts of carbon and oxygen that likely facilitated the formation of these first low-mass stars.Comment: 7 pages and 3 figures, accepted by ApJ

Fidelity of SNP array genotyping using Epstein Barr virus-transformed B-lymphocyte cell lines: Implications for genome-wide association studies

Background: As availability of primary cells can be limited for genetic studies of human disease, lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCL) are common sources of genomic DNA. LCL are created in a transformation process that entails in vitro infection of human B-lymphocytes with the Epstein-Barr Virus (EBV). Methodology/Principal Findings: To test for genotypic errors potentially induced by the Epstein-Barr Virus transformation process, we compared single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) genotype calls in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) and LCL from the same individuals. The average mismatch rate across 19 comparisons was 0.12% for SNPs with a population call rate of at least 95%, and 0.03% at SNPs with a call rate of at least 99%. Mismatch rates were not correlated across genotype subarrays run on all sample pairs. Conclusions/Significance: Genotypic discrepancies found in PBMC and LCL pairs were not significantly different than control pairs, and were not correlated across subarrays. These results suggest that mismatch rates are minimal with stringent quality control, and that most genotypic discrepancies are due to technical artifacts rather than the EBV transformation process. Thus, LCL likely constitute a reliable DNA source for host genotype analysis. © 2009 Herbeck et al

Exploring human adenosine A₃ receptor complementarity and activity for adenosine analogues modified in the ribose and purine moiety

In this paper we investigated the influence on affinity, selectivity and intrinsic activity upon modification of the adenosine agonist scaffold at the 3′- and 5′-positions of the ribofuranosyl moiety and the 2- and N(6)-positions of the purine base. This resulted in the synthesis of various analogues, that is, 3–12 and 24–33, with good hA(3)AR selectivity and moderate-to-high affinities (as in 32, K(i) = 27 nM). Interesting was the ability to tune the intrinsic activity depending on the substituent introduced at the 3′-position

P21^WAF1/CIP1 RNA expression in highly HIV-1 exposed, uninfected individuals

Some individuals remain HIV-1 antibody and PCR negative after repeated exposures to the virus, and are referred to as HIV-exposed seronegatives (HESN). However, the causes of resistance to HIV-1 infection in cases other than those with a homozygous CCR5Δ32 deletion are unclear. We hypothesized that human p21WAF1/CIP1 (a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor) could play a role in resistance to HIV-1 infection in HESN, as p21 expression has been associated with suppression of HIV-1 in elite controllers and reported to block HIV-1 integration in cell culture. We measured p21 RNA expression in PBMC from 40 HESN and 40 low exposure HIV-1 seroconverters (LESC) prior to their infection using a real-time PCR assay. Comparing the 20 HESN with the highest exposure risk (median = 111 partners/2.5 years prior to the 20 LESC with the lowest exposure risk (median = 1 partner/2.5 years prior), p21 expression trended higher in HESN in only one of two experiments (P = 0.11 vs. P = 0.80). Additionally, comparison of p21 expression in the top 40 HESN (median = 73 partners/year) and lowest 40 LESC (median = 2 partners/year) showed no difference between the groups (P = 0.84). There was a weak linear trend between risk of infection after exposure and increasing p21 gene expression (R2 = 0.02, P = 0.12), but again only in one experiment. Hence, if p21 expression contributes to the resistance to viral infection in HESN, it likely plays a minor role evident only in those with extremely high levels of exposure to HIV-1

Synthesis and Structure-Activity Relationships of Pyridoxal-6-arylazo-5'-phosphate and Phosphonate Derivatives as P2 Receptor Antagonists.

Novel analogs of the P2 receptor antagonist pyridoxal-5'-phosphate-6-phenylazo-2',4'-disulfonate (PPADS) were synthesized. Modifications were made through functional group substitution on the sulfophenyl ring and at the phosphate moiety through the inclusion of phosphonates, demonstrating that a phosphate linkage is not required for P2 receptor antagonism. Substituted 6-phenylazo and 6-naphthylazo derivatives were also evaluated. Among the 6-phenylazo derivatives, 5'-methyl, ethyl, propyl, vinyl, and allyl phosphonates were included. The compounds were tested as antagonists at turkey erythrocyte and guinea-pig taenia coli P2Y(1) receptors, in guinea-pig vas deferens and bladder P2X(1) receptors, and in ion flux experiments by using recombinant rat P2X(2) receptors expressed in Xenopus oocytes. Competitive binding assay at human P2X(1) receptors in differentiated HL-60 cell membranes was carried out by using [(35)S]ATP-?-S. A 2'-chloro-5'-sulfo analog of PPADS (C(14)H(12)O(9)N(3)ClPSNa), a vinyl phosphonate derivative (C(15)H(12)O(11)N(3)PS(2)Na(3)), and a naphthylazo derivative (C(18)H(14)O(12)N(3)PS(2)Na(2)), were particularly potent in binding to human P2X(1) receptors. The potencies of phosphate derivatives at P2Y(1) receptors were generally similar to PPADS itself, except for the p-carboxyphenylazo phosphate derivative C(15)H(13)O(8)N(3)PNa and its m-chloro analog C(15)H(12)O(8)N(3)ClPNa, which were selective for P2X vs. P2Y(1) receptors. C(15)H(12)O(8)N(3)ClPNa was very potent at rat P2X(2) receptors with an IC(50) value of 0.82 ?M. Among the phosphonate derivatives, [4-formyl-3-hydroxy-2-methyl-6-(2-chloro-5-sulfonylphenylazo)-pyrid-5-yl]methylphosphonic acid (C(14)H(12)-O(8)N(3)ClPSNa) showed high potency at P2Y(1) receptors with an IC(50) of 7.23 ?M. The corresponding 2,5-disulfonylphenyl derivative was nearly inactive at turkey erythrocyte P2Y(1) receptors, whereas at recombinant P2X(2) receptors had an IC(50) value of 1.1 ?M. An ethyl phosphonate derivative (C(15)H(15)O(11)N(3)PS(2)Na(3)), whereas inactive at turkey erythrocyte P2Y(1) receptors, was particularly potent at recombinant P2X(2) receptors

Fermions Tunneling from Apparent Horizon of FRW Universe

In the paper [arXiv:0809.1554], the scalar particles' Hawking radiation from the apparent horizon of Friedmann-Robertson-Walker(FRW) universe was investigated by using the tunneling formalism. They obtained the Hawking temperature associated with the apparent horizon, which was extensively applied in investigating the relationship between the first law of thermodynamics and Friedmann equations. In this paper, we calculate Fermions' Hawking radiation from the apparent horizon of FRW universe via tunneling formalism. Applying WKB approximation to the general covariant Dirac equation in FRW spacetime background, the radiation spectrum and Hawking temperature of apparent horizon are correctly recovered, which supports the arguments presented in the paper [arXiv:0809.1554].Comment: 8 pages, no figure

Air Pollutant Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings (APECAB) Project: Indiana Data

To address the need for gas, odor, and particulate matter (PM) emission from animal production buildings, funding was secured in the fall of 2001 by a six-state research team for a USDA project entitled Air Pollutants Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings, or APECAB. The main objective of the APECAB project was to quantify long-term (yearly) air pollutant emissions from confined animal buildings and establish methodologies for real time measurement of these emissions and build a database of air emissions for US livestock and poultry buildings. The APECAB study was a collaboration of land-grant universities in Minnesota (lead institution), Indiana, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, and North Carolina. Extensive planning occurred during the first nine months for protocol development and equipment selection and purchase. Data collection began at various times during the fall of 2002 for each of the cooperating universities and ended at various times in 2004. The immediate goal of the study was a 15-month sampling period to assure that long-term emissions from actual animal production buildings were determined. Long-term measurements revealed the variations in air emissions due to seasonal effects, animal growth cycles, diurnal variations, and manure handling systems

Air Pollutant Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings (APECAB) Project: Minnesota Data

To address the need for gas, odor, and particulate matter (PM) emission from animal production buildings, funding was secured in the fall of 2001 by a six-state research team for a USDA project entitled Air Pollutants Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings, or APECAB. The main objective of the APECAB project was to quantify long-term (yearly) air pollutant emissions from confined animal buildings and establish methodologies for real time measurement of these emissions and build a database of air emissions for US livestock and poultry buildings. The APECAB study was a collaboration of land-grant universities in Minnesota (lead institution), Indiana, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, and North Carolina. Extensive planning occurred during the first nine months for protocol development and equipment selection and purchase. Data collection began at various times during the fall of 2002 for each of the cooperating universities and ended at various times in 2004. The immediate goal of the study was a 15-month sampling period to assure that long-term emissions from actual animal production buildings were determined. Long-term measurements revealed the variations in air emissions due to seasonal effects, animal growth cycles, diurnal variations, and manure handling systems

Air Pollutant Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings (APECAB) Project: Iowa Data

To address the need for gas, odor, and particulate matter (PM) emission from animal production buildings, funding was secured in the fall of 2001 by a six-state research team for a USDA project entitled Air Pollutants Emissions from Confined Animal Buildings, or APECAB. The main objective of the APECAB project was to quantify long-term (yearly) air pollutant emissions from confined animal buildings and establish methodologies for real time measurement of these emissions and build a database of air emissions for US livestock and poultry buildings. The APECAB study was a collaboration of land-grant universities in Minnesota (lead institution), Indiana, Illinois, Texas, Iowa, and North Carolina. Extensive planning occurred during the first nine months for protocol development and equipment selection and purchase. Data collection began at various times during the fall of 2002 for each of the cooperating universities and ended at various times in 2004. The immediate goal of the study was a 15-month sampling period to assure that long-term emissions from actual animal production buildings were determined. Long-term measurements revealed the variations in air emissions due to seasonal effects, animal growth cycles, diurnal variations, and manure handling systems

Quality Assured Measurements of Animal Building Emissions: Odor Concentrations

Standard protocols for sampling and measuring odor emissions from livestock buildings are needed to guide scientists, consultants, regulators, and policy-makers. A federally funded, multistate project has conducted field studies in six states to measure emissions of odor, coarse particulate matter (PM10), total suspended particulates, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, and carbon dioxide from swine and poultry production buildings. The focus of this paper is on the intermittent measurement of odor concentrations at nearly identical pairs of buildings in each state and on protocols to minimize variations in these measurements. Air was collected from pig and poultry barns in small (10 L) Tedlar bags through a gas sampling system located in an instrument trailer housing gas and dust analyzers. The samples were analyzed within 30 hr by a dynamic dilution forced-choice olfactometer (a dilution apparatus). The olfactometers (AC’SCENT International Olfactometer, St. Croix Sensory, Inc.) used by all participating laboratories meet the olfactometry standards (American Society for Testing and Materials and European Committee for Standardization [CEN]) in the United States and Europe. Trained panelists (four to eight) at each laboratory measured odor concentrations (dilution to thresholds [DT]) from the bag samples. Odor emissions were calculated by multiplying odor concentration differences between inlet and outlet air by standardized (20 °C and 1 atm) building airflow rates