1,843 research outputs found
Novel implications of Lingo-1 signaling in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus of perinatal phencyclidine treated rats in a neurodevelopmental model of schizophrenia
Abstract of a poster presentation
Constraints on the Progenitor of SN 2010jl and Pre-Existing Hot Dust in its Surrounding Medium
A search for the progenitor of SN~2010jl, an unusually luminous core-collapse
supernova of Type~IIn, using pre-explosion {\it Hubble}/WFPC2 and {\it
Spitzer}/IRAC images of the region, yielded upper limits on the UV and
near-infrared (IR) fluxes from any candidate star. These upper limits constrain
the luminosity and effective temperature of the progenitor, the mass of any
preexisting dust in its surrounding circumstellar medium (CSM), and dust
proximity to the star. A {\it lower} limit on the CSM dust mass is required to
hide a luminous progenitor from detection by {\it Hubble}. {\it Upper} limits
on the CSM dust mass and constraints on its proximity to the star are set by
requiring that the absorbed and reradiated IR emission not exceed the IRAC
upper limits. Using the combined extinction-IR emission constraints we present
viable combinations, where and are the CSM dust mass and
its inner radius. These depend on the CSM outer radius, dust composition and
grain size, and the properties of the progenitor. The results constrain the
pre-supernova evolution of the progenitor, and the nature and origin of the
observed post-explosion IR emission from SN~2010jl. In particular, an
~Car-type progenitor will require at least 4~mag of visual extinction to
avoid detection by the {\it Hubble}. This can be achieved with dust masses
~\msun\ (less than the estimated 0.2-0.5~\msun\ around
~Car) which must be located at distances of ~cm from the
star to avoid detection by {\it Spitzer}.Comment: Accepted for publication in the ApJ. 14 pages 10 figures. The
complete figure set for Figure 10 (24 images) is available in the online
journa
Endurance of SN 2005ip after a decade: X-rays, radio, and H-alpha like SN 1988Z require long-lived pre-supernova mass loss
SN2005ip was a TypeIIn event notable for its sustained strong interaction
with circumstellar material (CSM), coronal emission lines, and IR excess,
interpreted as shock interaction with the very dense and clumpy wind of an
extreme red supergiant. We present a series of late-time spectra of SN2005ip
and a first radio detection of this SN, plus late-time X-rays, all of which
indicate that its CSM interaction is still strong a decade post-explosion. We
also present and discuss new spectra of geriatric SNe with continued CSM
interaction: SN1988Z, SN1993J, and SN1998S. From 3-10 yr post-explosion,
SN2005ip's H-alpha luminosity and other observed characteristics were nearly
identical to those of the radio-luminous SN1988Z, and much more luminous than
SNe1993J and 1998S. At 10 yr after explosion, SN2005ip showed a drop in
H luminosity, followed by a quick resurgence over several months. We
interpret this variability as ejecta crashing into a dense shell located at
around 0.05 pc from the star, which may be the same shell that caused the IR
echo at earlier epochs. The extreme H-alpha luminosities in SN2005ip and
SN1988Z are still dominated by the forward shock at 10 yr post-explosion,
whereas SN1993J and SN1998S are dominated by the reverse shock at a similar
age. Continuous strong CSM interaction in SNe~2005ip and 1988Z is indicative of
enhanced mass loss for about 1e3 yr before core collapse, longer than Ne, O, or
Si burning phases. Instead, the episodic mass loss must extend back through C
burning and perhaps even part of He burning.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figs. accepted in MNRA
Application of advanced technologies to small, short-haul aircraft
The results of a preliminary design study which investigates the use of selected advanced technologies to achieve low cost design for small (50-passenger), short haul (50 to 1000 mile) transports are reported. The largest single item in the cost of manufacturing an airplane of this type is labor. A careful examination of advanced technology to airframe structure was performed since one of the most labor-intensive parts of the airplane is structures. Also, preliminary investigation of advanced aerodynamics flight controls, ride control and gust load alleviation systems, aircraft systems and turbo-prop propulsion systems was performed. The most beneficial advanced technology examined was bonded aluminum primary structure. The use of this structure in large wing panels and body sections resulted in a greatly reduced number of parts and fasteners and therefore, labor hours. The resultant cost of assembled airplane structure was reduced by 40% and the total airplane manufacturing cost by 16% - a major cost reduction. With further development, test verification and optimization appreciable weight saving is also achievable. Other advanced technology items which showed significant gains are as follows: (1) advanced turboprop-reduced block fuel by 15.30% depending on range; (2) configuration revisions (vee-tail)-empennage cost reduction of 25%; (3) leading-edge flap addition-weight reduction of 2500 pounds
SN 2017ein and the Possible First Identification of a Type Ic Supernova Progenitor
We have identified a progenitor candidate in archival Hubble Space Telescope
(HST) images for the Type Ic SN 2017ein in NGC 3938, pinpointing the
candidate's location via HST Target-of-Opportunity imaging of the SN itself.
This would be the first identification of a stellar-like object as a progenitor
candidate for any Type Ic supernova to date. We also present observations of SN
2017ein during the first ~49 days since explosion. We find that SN 2017ein most
resembles the well-studied Type Ic SN 2007gr. We infer that SN 2017ein
experienced a total visual extinction of A_V~1.0--1.9 mag, predominantly
because of dust within the host galaxy. Although the distance is not well
known, if this object is the progenitor, it was likely of high initial mass,
~47--48 M_sun if a single star, or ~60--80 M_sun if in a binary system.
However, we also find that the progenitor candidate could be a very blue and
young compact cluster, further implying a very massive (>65 M_sun) progenitor.
Furthermore, the actual progenitor might not be associated with the candidate
at all and could be far less massive. From the immediate stellar environment,
we find possible evidence for three different populations; if the SN progenitor
was a member of the youngest population, this would be consistent with an
initial mass of ~57 M_sun. After it has faded, the SN should be reobserved at
high spatial resolution and sensitivity, to determine whether the candidate is
indeed the progenitor.Comment: Revised, following referee's comments, and accepted to ApJ; 21 pages,
10 figure
SN2013fs and SN2013fr: Exploring the circumstellar-material diversity in Type II supernovae
We present photometry and spectroscopy of SN2013fs and SN2013fr in the first
100 days post-explosion. Both objects showed transient, relatively narrow
H emission lines characteristic of SNeIIn, but later resembled normal
SNeII-P or SNeII-L, indicative of fleeting interaction with circumstellar
material (CSM). SN2013fs was discovered within 8hr of explosion. Its light
curve exhibits a plateau, with spectra revealing strong CSM interaction at
early times. It is a less luminous version of the transitional SNIIn PTF11iqb,
further demonstrating a continuum of CSM interaction intensity between SNeII-P
and IIn. It requires dense CSM within 6.510~cm of the
progenitor, from a phase of advanced pre-SN mass loss shortly before explosion.
Spectropolarimetry of SN2013fs shows little continuum polarization, but
noticeable line polarization during the plateau phase. SN2013fr morphed from a
SNIIn at early times to a SNII-L. After the first epoch its narrow lines
probably arose from host-galaxy emission, but the bright, narrow H
emission at early times may be intrinsic. As for SN2013fs, this would point to
a short-lived phase of strong CSM interaction if proven to be intrinsic,
suggesting a continuum between SNeIIn and II-L. It is a low-velocity SNII-L,
like SN2009kr but more luminous. SN2013fr also developed an IR excess at later
times, due to warm CSM dust that require a more sustained phase of strong
pre-SN mass loss.Comment: MNRAS accepted. 28 pages, 23 figures, 8 table
Genetic and epigenetic regulation in Lingo-1 : Effects on cognitive function and white matter microstructure in a case-control study for schizophrenia
Leucine-rich repeat and immunoglobulin domain-containing protein (Lingo-1) plays a vital role in a large number of neuronal processes underlying learning and memory, which are known to be disrupted in schizophrenia. However, Lingo-1 has never been examined in the context of schizophrenia. The genetic association of a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP, rs3144) and methylation (CpG sites) in the Lingo-1 3′-UTR region was examined, with the testing of cognitive dysfunction and white matter (WM) integrity in a schizophrenia case-control cohort (n = 268/group). A large subset of subjects (97 control and 161 schizophrenia subjects) underwent structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain scans to assess WM integrity. Frequency of the rs3144 minor allele was overrepresented in the schizophrenia population (p = 0.03), with an odds ratio of 1.39 (95% CI 1.016–1.901). CpG sites surrounding rs3144 were hypermethylated in the control population (p = 0.032) compared to the schizophrenia group. rs3144 genotype was predictive of membership to a subclass of schizophrenia subjects with generalized cognitive deficits (p < 0.05), in addition to having associations with WM integrity (p = 0.018). This is the first study reporting a potential implication of genetic and epigenetic risk factors in Lingo-1 in schizophrenia. Both of these genetic and epigenetic alterations may also have associations with cognitive dysfunction and WM integrity in the context of the schizophrenia pathophysiology
Starting School: a large-scale start of school assessment within the ‘Born in Bradford’ longitudinal cohort [version 1; peer review: 1 approved with reservations]
The Born in Bradford (BiB) cohort of 13,776 children born between 2007-2011 and their parents provides a rich data resource for researchers exploring protective and risk factors influencing long-term developmental and health outcomes. Educational attainment is a critical factor related to later health. Literacy and communication, fine motor skills and social and emotional health are key ‘early’ predictors of educational attainment and can be used to identify children in need of additional support. We describe our BiB ‘Starting School’ data collection protocol which assessed literacy and communication, fine motor skills and social and emotional health on 3,444 BiB children aged 4-5 years old. These measures supplement the existing dataset, and complement the routine educational, health and social care data available for the cohort
Prevalence of disease related prion protein in anonymous tonsil specimens in Britain: cross sectional opportunistic survey
Objective To establish with improved accuracy the prevalence of disease related prion protein (PrPCJD) in the population of Britain and thereby guide a proportionate public health response to limit the threat of healthcare associated transmission of variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (vCJD)
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