1,932 research outputs found
Worker policing by egg eating in the ponerine ant Pachycondyla inversa
We investigated worker policing by egg eating in the ponerine ant Pachycondyla inversa, a species with
morphologically distinct queens and workers. Colonies were split into one half with the queen and one
half without. Workers in queenless colony fragments started laying unfertilized male eggs after three weeks.
Worker-laid eggs and queen-laid eggs were introduced into five other queenright colonies with a single
queen and three colonies with multiple queens, and their fate was observed for 30 min. Significantly more
worker-laid eggs (range of 35–62%, mean of 46%) than queen-laid eggs (range of 5–31%, mean of 15%)
were eaten by workers in single-queen colonies, and the same trend was seen in multiple-queen colonies.
This seems to be the first well-documented study of ants with a distinct caste polymorphism to show that
workers kill worker-laid eggs in preference to queen-laid eggs. Chemical analyses showed that the surfaces
of queen-laid and worker-laid eggs have different chemical profiles as a result of different relative proportions
of several hydrocarbons. Such differences might provide the information necessary for differential
treatment of eggs. One particular alkane, 3,11-dimeC27, was significantly more abundant on the surfaces
of queen-laid eggs. This substance is also the most abundant compound on the cuticles of egg layers
Cepheid and Tip of the Red Giant Branch Distances To the Dwarf Irregular Galaxy IC10
We present color-magnitude diagrams and luminosity functions of stars in the
nearby galaxy IC 10, based on VI CCD photometry acquired with the COSMIC
prime-focus camera on the Palomar 5m telescope. The apparent I-band luminosity
function of stars in the halo of IC 10 shows an identifiable rise at I~21.7
mag. This is interpreted as being the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) at
M_V~-4 mag. Since IC 10 is at a very low Galactic latitude, its foreground
extinction is expected to be high and the uncertainty associated with that
correction is the largest contributor to the error associated with its distance
determination. Multi-wavelength observations of Cepheid variable stars in IC 10
give a Population I distance modulus of 24.1 +- 0.2 mag, which corresponds to a
linear distance of 660 +- 66 kpc for a total line-of-sight reddening of E(B-V)
= 1.16 +- 0.08 mag, derived self-consistently from the Cepheid data alone.
Applying this Population I reddening to the Population II halo stars gives a
TRGB distance modulus of 23.5 +- 0.2 mag, corresponding to 500 +- 50 kpc. We
consider this to be a lower limit on the TRGB distance. Reconciling the Cepheid
and TRGB distances would require that the reddening to the halo is
E(B-V) = 0.31 mag lower than that into the main body of the galaxy.
This then suggests that the Galactic extinction in the direction of IC10 is
(B-V) ~ 0.85
Magnetic properties of HO2 thin films
We report on the magnetic and transport studies of hafnium oxide thin films
grown by pulsed-laser deposition on sapphire substrates under different oxygen
pressures, ranging from 10-7 to 10-1 mbar. Some physical properties of these
thin films appear to depend on the oxygen pressure during growth: the film
grown at low oxygen pressure (P ~= 10-7 mbar) has a metallic aspect and is
conducting, with a positive Hall signal, while those grown under higher oxygen
pressures (7 x 10-5 <= P <= 0.4 mbar) are insulating. However, no intrinsic
ferromagnetic signal could be attributed to the HfO2 films, irrespective of the
oxygen pressure during the deposition.Comment: 1
Self-consistent model for ambipolar tunneling in quantum-well systems
We present a self-consistent approach to describe ambipolar tunneling in
asymmetrical double quantum wells under steady-state excitation and extend the
results to the case of tunneling from a near-surface quantum well to surface
states. The results of the model compare very well with the behavior observed
in photoluminescence experiments in asymmetric double quantum
wells and in near-surface single quantum wells.Comment: 10 pages, REVTeX 3.
Carrier relaxation mechanisms in self-assembled (In,Ga)As/GaAs quantum dots: Efficient P -> S Auger relaxation of electrons
We calculate the P-shell--to-S-shell decay lifetime \tau(P->S) of electrons
in lens-shaped self-assembled (In,Ga)As/GaAs dots due to Auger electron-hole
scattering within an atomistic pseudopotential-based approach. We find that
this relaxation mechanism leads to fast decay of \tau(P->S)~1-7 ps for dots of
different sizes. Our calculated Auger-type P-shell--to-S-shell decay lifetimes
\tau(P->S) compare well to data in (In,Ga)As/GaAs dots, showing that as long as
holes are present there is no need for an alternative polaron mechanism.Comment: Version published in Phys. Rev.
Coordinated thermal and optical observations of Trans-Neptunian object (20000) Varuna from Sierra Nevada
We report on coordinated thermal and optical measurements of trans-Neptunian
object (20000) Varuna obtained in January-February 2002, respectively from the
IRAM 30-m and IAA 1.5 m telescopes. The optical data show a lightcurve with a
period of 3.176+/-0.010 hr, a mean V magnitude of 20.37+/-0.08 and a
0.42+/-0.01 magnitude amplitude. They also tentatively indicate that the
lightcurve is asymmetric and double-peaked. The thermal observations indicate a
1.12+/-0.41 mJy flux, averaged over the object's rotation. Combining the two
datasets, we infer that Varuna has a mean 1060(+180/-220) km diameter and a
mean 0.038(+0.022/-0.010) V geometric albedo, in general agreement with an
earlier determination using the same technique.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics (7 pages,
including 3 figures
In Vitro Susceptibility of Canine Influenza A (H3N8) Virus to Nitazoxanide and Tizoxanide
Infection of dogs with canine influenza virus (CIV) is considered widespread throughout the United States following the first isolation of CIV in 2004. While vaccination against influenza A infection is a common and important practice for disease control, antiviral therapy can serve as a valuable adjunct in controlling the impact of the disease. In this study, we examined the antiviral activity of nitazoxanide (NTZ) and tizoxanide (TIZ) against three CIV isolates in vitro. NTZ and TIZ inhibited virus replication of all CIVs with 50% and 90% inhibitory concentrations ranging from 0.17 to 0.21 μM and from 0.60 to 0.76 μM, respectively. These results suggest that NTZ and TIZ are effective against CIV and may be useful for treatment of canine influenza in dogs but further investigation of the in vivo efficacy against CIV as well as the drug's potential for toxicity in dogs is needed
Unveiling the nature of three INTEGRAL sources through optical spectroscopy
The results of an optical spectroscopy campaign performed at the Astronomical
Observatory of Bologna in Loiano (Italy) on three hard X-ray sources detected
by INTEGRAL (IGR J17303-0601, IGR J18027-1455 and IGR J21247+5058) are
presented. These data have allowed a determination of the nature for two of
them, with IGR J17303-0601 being a low mass X-ray binary in the Galaxy and IGR
J18027-1455 a background Type 1 Seyfert galaxy at redshift z = 0.035. IGR
J21247+5058, instead, has a quite puzzling spectroscopic appearance, with a
broad, redshifted H_alpha complex superimposed onto a `normal' F/G-type
Galactic star continuum: these features, together with the spatially coincident
extended radio emission, might suggest a chance alignment between a relatively
nearby star and a background radio galaxy. These results underline the still
non-negligible importance of smaller telescopes in modern astrophysics.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in A&A Letter
II Zwicky 23 and Family
II Zwicky 23 (UGC 3179) is a luminous, nearby compact narrow emission line
starburst galaxy with blue optical colors and strong emission lines. We present
a photometric and morphological study of II Zw 23 and its interacting
companions using data obtained with the WIYN 3.5-m telescope in Kitt Peak,
Arizona. II Zwicky 23 has a highly disturbed outer structure with long trails
of debris that may be feeding tidal dwarfs. Its central regions appear disky, a
structure that is consistent with the overall rotation pattern observed in the
H-alpha velocity field measured from Densepak observations obtained with WIYN.
We discuss the structure of II Zwicky 23 and its set of companions and possible
scenarios of debris formation in this system.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. To appear in the proceedings of ESO Astrophysics
Symposia: "Groups of Galaxies in the Nearby Universe", eds. I. Saviane, V.
Ivanov, J. Burissova (Springer
Super Star Clusters in the Blue Dwarf Galaxy UM 462
I present optical observations of the Blue Compact Dwarf Galaxy UM 462. The
images of this galaxy show several bright compact sources. A careful study of
these sources has revealed their nature of young Super Star Clusters. The ages
determined from the analysis of the stellar continuum and are between
few and few tens Myr. The total star formation taking place into the clusters
is about 0.05 . The clusters seem to be located at the
edges of two large round-like structures, possibly shells originated in a
previous episode of star formation. The sizes of the shells compare well with
the ages of the clusters. Evidence for the presence of an evolved underlying
stellar population is found.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
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