817 research outputs found
Evidence for magnetic clusters in NiV close to the quantum critical concentration
The d-metal alloy NiV undergoes a quantum phase transition from
a ferromagnetic ground state to a paramagnetic ground state as the vanadium
concentration is increased. We present magnetization, ac-susceptibility and
muon-spin relaxation data at several vanadium concentrations near the critical
concentration at which the onset of ferromagnetic order is
suppressed to zero temperature. Below , the muon data reveal a broad
magnetic field distribution indicative of long-range ordered ferromagnetic
state with spatial disorder. We show evidence of magnetic clusters in the
ferromagnetic phase and close to the phase boundary in this disordered
itinerant system as an important generic ingredient of a disordered quantum
phase transition. In contrast, the temperature dependence of the magnetic
susceptibility above is best described in terms of a magnetic quantum
Griffiths phase with a power-law distribution of fluctuation rates of dynamic
magnetic clusters. At the lowest temperatures, the onset of a short-range
ordered cluster-glass phase is recognized by an increase in the muon
depolarization in transverse fields and maxima in ac-susceptibility.Comment: 6 pages, 5 figures, submitted to Proceedings of SCES 201
Is the Gut Microbiota a New Factor Contributing to Obesity and Its Metabolic Disorders?
The gut microbiota refers to the trillions of microorganisms residing in the intestine and is integral in multiple physiological processes of the host. Recent research has shown that gut bacteria play a role in metabolic disorders such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular diseases. The mechanisms by which the gut microbiota affects metabolic diseases are by two major routes: (1) the innate immune response to the structural components of bacteria (e.g., lipopolysaccharide) resulting in inflammation and (2) bacterial metabolites of dietary compounds (e.g., SCFA from fiber), which have biological activities that regulate host functions. Gut microbiota has evolved with humans as a mutualistic partner, but dysbiosis in a form of altered gut metagenome and collected microbial activities, in combination with classic genetic and environmental factors, may promote the development of metabolic disorders. This paper reviews the available literature about the gut microbiota and aforementioned metabolic disorders and reveals the gaps in knowledge for future study
Erratum to “Is the Gut Microbiota a New Factor Contributing to Obesity and Its Metabolic Disorders?”
An Sp1/KLF binding site is important for the activity of a Polycomb group response element from the Drosophila engrailed gene
Polycomb-group response elements (PREs) are DNA elements through which the Polycomb-group (PcG) of transcriptional repressors act. Many of the PcG proteins are associated with two protein complexes that repress gene expression by modifying chromatin. Both of these protein complexes specifically associate with PREs in vivo, however, it is not known how they are recruited or held at the PRE. PREs are complex elements, made up of binding sites for many proteins. Our laboratory has been working to define all the sequences and DNA binding proteins required for the activity of a 181 bp PRE from the Drosophila engrailed gene. Here we show that one of the sites necessary for PRE activity, Site 2, can be bound by members of the Sp1/KLF family of zinc finger proteins. There are 10 Sp1/KLF family members in Drosophila, and nine of them bind to Site 2. We derive a consensus binding site for the Sp1/KLF Drosophila family members and show that this consensus sequence is present in most of the molecularly characterized PREs. These data suggest that one or more Sp1/KLF family members play a role in PRE function in Drosophila
Mid-Infrared Photometry and Spectra of Three High Mass Protostellar Candidates at IRAS 18151-1208 and IRAS 20343+4129
We present arcsecond-scale mid-ir photometry (in the 10.5 micron N band and
at 24.8 microns), and low resolution spectra in the N band (R~100) of a
candidate high mass protostellar object (HMPO) in IRAS 18151-1208 and of two
HMPO candidates in IRAS 20343+4129, IRS 1 and IRS 3. In addition we present
high resolution mid-ir spectra (R~80000) of the two HMPO candidates in IRAS
20343+4129. These data are fitted with simple models to estimate the masses of
gas and dust associated with the mid-ir emitting clumps, the column densities
of overlying absorbing dust and gas, the luminosities of the HMPO candidates,
and the likely spectral type of the HMPO candidate for which [Ne II] 12.8
micron emission was detected (IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 3). We suggest that IRAS
18151-1208 is a pre-ultracompact HII region HMPO, IRAS 20343+4129 IRS 1 is an
embedded young stellar object with the luminosity of a B3 star, and IRAS
20343+4129 IRS 3 is a B2 ZAMS star that has formed an ultracompact HII region
and disrupted its natal envelope.Comment: 40 pages, 8 figures, 3 tables. Accepted for publication in
Astrophysical Journal (Part 1
P-Element Homing Is Facilitated by engrailed Polycomb-Group Response Elements in Drosophila melanogaster
P-element vectors are commonly used to make transgenic Drosophila and generally insert in the genome in a nonselective manner. However, when specific fragments of regulatory DNA from a few Drosophila genes are incorporated into P-transposons, they cause the vectors to be inserted near the gene from which the DNA fragment was derived. This is called P-element homing. We mapped the minimal DNA fragment that could mediate homing to the engrailed/invected region of the genome. A 1.6 kb fragment of engrailed regulatory DNA that contains two Polycomb-group response elements (PREs) was sufficient for homing. We made flies that contain a 1.5kb deletion of engrailed DNA (enΔ1.5) in situ, including the PREs and the majority of the fragment that mediates homing. Remarkably, homing still occurs onto the enΔ1. 5 chromosome. In addition to homing to en, P[en] inserts near Polycomb group target genes at an increased frequency compared to P[EPgy2], a vector used to generate 18,214 insertions for the Drosophila gene disruption project. We suggest that homing is mediated by interactions between multiple proteins bound to the homing fragment and proteins bound to multiple areas of the engrailed/invected chromatin domain. Chromatin structure may also play a role in homing
Thermal Dust Emission from Proplyds, Unresolved Disks, and Shocks in the Orion Nebula
We present a new 11.7 micron mosaic image of the Orion nebula obtained with
T-ReCS on Gemini South. The map includes the BN/KL region, the Trapezium, and
OMC-1 South. Excluding BN/KL, we detect 91 point sources, with 27 known
proplyds and over 30 ``naked'' stars showing no extended structure in HST
images. Within the region we surveyed, 80 percent of known proplyds show
detectable emission, almost 40 percent of naked stars are detected at 11.7
micron, and the fraction of all visible sources with IR excess emission is
roughly 50 percent. Thermal dust emission from stars with no extended structure
in HST images means that they have dust disks comparable to the size of our
solar system. Proplyds and stars with IR excess show a clear anti-correlation
in their spatial distribution, with proplyds clustered close to theta1C, and
other infrared sources found farther away. We suspect that the clustered
proplyds trace the youngest 0.5 Myr age group associated with the Trapezium,
while the more uniformly-distributed sources trace the older 1-2 Myr population
of the ONC. This suggests that small disks persist for a few Myr in irradiated
environments, and hints that hierarchical sub-clustering has been important.
Within 30 arcsec of theta1C, all proplyds are detected at 11.7 micron. The star
theta1D is associated with the most prominent mid-IR dust arc in the nebula. We
propose that this arc is the consequence of theta1D being the closest member of
the Trapezium to the background cloud. Finally, we detect dust emission from HH
jets in Orion, including HH202, HH529, HH513, and HH514. This is the first
detection of mid-IR continuum emission from dust in the body of a collimated HH
jet or bow shock.Comment: accepted by AJ. 27 pages, 11 figs, 4 color figs. If you actually want
to see the figures, download this version:
ftp://origins.colorado.edu/pub/nathans/smith.trecs.pd
If you could see what we see, would it bother you?
Objective
The purpose of our study was to determine whether the anatomic threshold for pelvic organ prolapse (POP) diagnosis and surgical success remains valid when the patient sees what we see on exam.
Methods
Two hundred participants were assigned, by computer-generated block randomization, to see one of four videos. Each video contained the same six clips representative of various degrees of anterior vaginal wall support. Participants were asked questions immediately after each clip. They were asked: “In your opinion, does this patient have a bulge or something falling out that she can see or feel in the vaginal area?” Similarly, they were asked to give their opinion on surgical outcome on a 4-point Likert scale.
Results
The proportion of participants who identified the presence of a vaginal bulge increased substantially at the level of early stage 2 prolapse (1 cm above the hymen), with 67 % answering yes to the question regarding bulge. The proportion of participants who felt that surgical outcome was less desirable also increased substantially at early stage 2 prolapse (1 cm above the hymen), with 52 % describing that outcome as “not at all” or “somewhat” successful.
Conclusion
Early stage 2 POP (1 cm above the hymen) is the anatomic threshold at which women identify both a vaginal bulge and a less desirable surgical outcome when they see what we see on examination
Dust Emission from Evolved and Unevolved HII Regions in the Large Magellanic Cloud
We present a study of the dust properties of 12 classical and superbubble HII
regions in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We use infrared photometry from Spitzer
(8, 24, 70, and 160 \mum bands), obtained as part of the Surveying the Agents
of a Galaxy's Evolution (SAGE) program, along with archival spectroscopic
classifications of the ionizing stars to examine the role of stellar sources on
dust heating and processing. Our infrared observations show surprisingly little
correlation between the emission properties of the dust and the effective
temperatures or bolometric magnitudes of stars in the HII regions, suggesting
that the HII region evolutionary timescale is not on the order of the dust
processing timescale. We find that the infrared emission of superbubbles and
classical HII regions shows little differentiation between the two classes,
despite the significant differences in age and morphology. We do detect a
correlation of the 24 \mum emission from hot dust with the ratio of 70 to 160
\mum flux. This correlation can be modeled as a trend in the temperature of a
minority hot dust component, while a majority of the dust remains significantly
cooler.Comment: 15 pages, 5 figures. Accepted to Ap
Trumpler 20 - an old and rich open cluster
We show that the open cluster Trumpler 20, contrary to the earlier findings,
is actually an old Galactic open cluster. New CCD photometry and
high-resolution spectroscopy are used to derive the main parameters of this
cluster. At [Fe/H]=-0.11 for a single red giant star, the metallicity is
slightly subsolar. The best fit to the color-magnitude diagrams is achieved
using a 1.3 Gyr isochrone with convective overshoot. The cluster appears to
have a significant reddening at E(B-V)=0.46 (for B0 spectral type), although
for red giants this high reddening yields the color temperature exceeding the
spectroscopic T_eff by about 200 K. Trumpler 20 is a very rich open cluster,
containing at least 700 members brighter than M_V=+4. It may extend over the
field-of-view available in our study at 20'x20'.Comment: 7 pages, 5 figures; accepted for publication in MNRA
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