282 research outputs found
Effects of Liposomes Contained in Thermosensitive Hydrogels as Biomaterials Useful in Neural Tissue Engineering
Indexación: Scopus.Advances in the generation of suitable thermosensitive hydrogels for the delivery of cells in neural tissue engineering demonstrate a delicate relationship between physical properties and capabilities to promote cell proliferation and differentiation. To improve the properties of these materials, it is possible to add liposomes for the controlled release of bioactive elements, which in turn can affect the physical and biological properties of the hydrogels. In the present investigation, different hydrogels based on Pluronic F127 have been formulated with the incorporation of chitosan and two types of liposomes of two different sizes. The rheological and thermal properties and their relation with the neurite proliferation and growth of the PC12 cell line were evaluated. Our results show that the incorporation of liposomes modifies the properties of the hydrogels dependent on the concentration of chitosan and the lipid type in the liposomes, which directly affect the capabilities of the hydrogels to promote the viability and differentiation of PC12 cells. © 2017 by the authors.http://www.mdpi.com/1996-1944/10/10/112
Detection of a multi-shell planetary nebula around the hot subdwarf O-type star 2MASS J19310888+4324577
(Abridged) The origin of hot subdwarf O-type stars (sdOs) remains unclear
since their discovery in 1947. Among others, a post-Asymptotic Giant Branch
(post-AGB) origin is possible for a fraction of sdOs. We are involved in a
comprehensive ongoing study to search for and to analyze planetary nebulae
(PNe) around sdOs with the aim of establishing the fraction and properties of
sdOs with a post-AGB origin. We use deep Halpha and [OIII] images of sdOs to
detect nebular emission and intermediate resolution, long-slit optical
spectroscopy of the detected nebulae and their sdO central stars. These data
are complemented with other observations for further analysis of the detected
nebulae. We report the detection of an extremely faint, complex PN around 2MASS
J19310888+4324577 (2M1931+4324), a star classified as sdO in a binary system.
The PN shows a bipolar and an elliptical shell, whose major axes are oriented
perpendicular to each other, and high-excitation structures outside the two
shells. WISE archive images show faint, extended emission at 12 and 22 microns
in the inner nebular regions. The internal nebular kinematics is consistent
with a bipolar and a cylindrical/ellipsoidal shell, in both cases with the main
axis mainly perpendicular to the line of sight. The nebular spectrum only
exhibits Halpha, Hbeta and [OIII]4959,5007 emission lines, but suggests a very
low-excitation ([OIII]/Hbeta = 1.5), in strong contrast with the absence of
low-excitation emission lines. The spectrum of 2M1931+4324 presents narrow,
ionized helium absorptions that confirm the previous sdO classification and
suggest an effective temperature >= 60000 K. The binary nature of 2M1931+4324,
its association with a complex PN, and several properties of the system provide
strong support for the idea that binary central stars are a crucial ingredient
in the formation of complex PNe.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Interaction of landscape varibles on the potential geographical distribution of parrots in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico
La interacción de las variables del paisaje en la distribución geográfica potencial de los loros en la península de Yucatán, México
La pérdida, degradación y fragmentación de las zonas boscosas están poniendo en peligro a las poblaciones de loros. En este estudio se determinó la influencia de la fragmentación en relación con la cobertura vegetal, los usos del suelo y la configuración espacial de los fragmentos, sobre los modelos de distribución geográfica potencial de los loros en la península de Yucatán, México. Se utilizó la distribución geográfica potencial de ocho especies de loros, teniendo en cuenta los mapas publicados recientemente y obtenidos con el algoritmo de máxima entropía, y se incorporó el mapa de probabilidad de distribución de cada especie. Se calcularon 71 parámetros y variables que evalúan la fragmentación forestal, la configuración espacial de los fragmentos, la proporción ocupada por vegetación y los usos del suelo en 100 parcelas de aproximadamente 29 km² distribuidas al azar dentro de las zonas de presencia y ausencia predichas para cada especie. Además, se tuvo en cuenta la relación entre las variables ambientales y la probabilidad de distribución de las especies. Se empleó una regresión de mínimos cuadrados parciales para analizar la relación existente entre las variables empleadas y los modelos de distribución potencial. Ninguna de las variables ambientales analizadas determina por sí sola la presencia, la ausencia ni la probabilidad de distribución de los loros en la península. Se observó que para las ocho especies, ya sea debido a la presencia y la ausencia o a la probabilidad de distribución, las variables explicativas más importantes son la interacción entre tres variables, en especial la interacción entre la superficie forestal total, la longitud total de los perímetros de los fragmentos y la cantidad de bosque tropical subperennifolio de altura mediana. La fragmentación del hábitat influye sobre la distribución geográfica potencial de estas especies en combinación con otros factores ambientales asociados a la misma, como son la proporción de las diferentes coberturas vegetales y los usos del suelo que se desarrollan en las áreas deforestadas.La interacción de las variables del paisaje en la distribución geográfica potencial de los loros en la península de Yucatán, México
La pérdida, degradación y fragmentación de las zonas boscosas están poniendo en peligro a las poblaciones de loros. En este estudio se determinó la influencia de la fragmentación en relación con la cobertura vegetal, los usos del suelo y la configuración espacial de los fragmentos, sobre los modelos de distribución geográfica potencial de los loros en la península de Yucatán, México. Se utilizó la distribución geográfica potencial de ocho especies de loros, teniendo en cuenta los mapas publicados recientemente y obtenidos con el algoritmo de máxima entropía, y se incorporó el mapa de probabilidad de distribución de cada especie. Se calcularon 71 parámetros y variables que evalúan la fragmentación forestal, la configuración espacial de los fragmentos, la proporción ocupada por vegetación y los usos del suelo en 100 parcelas de aproximadamente 29 km² distribuidas al azar dentro de las zonas de presencia y ausencia predichas para cada especie. Además, se tuvo en cuenta la relación entre las variables ambientales y la probabilidad de distribución de las especies. Se empleó una regresión de mínimos cuadrados parciales para analizar la relación existente entre las variables empleadas y los modelos de distribución potencial. Ninguna de las variables ambientales analizadas determina por sí sola la presencia, la ausencia ni la probabilidad de distribución de los loros en la península. Se observó que para las ocho especies, ya sea debido a la presencia y la ausencia o a la probabilidad de distribución, las variables explicativas más importantes son la interacción entre tres variables, en especial la interacción entre la superficie forestal total, la longitud total de los perímetros de los fragmentos y la cantidad de bosque tropical subperennifolio de altura mediana. La fragmentación del hábitat influye sobre la distribución geográfica potencial de estas especies en combinación con otros factores ambientales asociados a la misma, como son la proporción de las diferentes coberturas vegetales y los usos del suelo que se desarrollan en las áreas deforestadas.The loss, degradation, and fragmentation of forested areas are endangering parrot populations. In this study, we determined the influence of fragmentation in relation to vegetation cover, land use, and spatial configuration of fragments on the potential geographical distribution patterns of parrots in the Yucatan Peninsula, Mexico. We used the potential geographical distribution for eight parrot species, considering the recently published maps obtained with the maximum entropy algorithm, and we incorporated the probability distribution for each species. We calculated 71 metrics/variables that evaluate forest fragmentation, spatial configuration of fragments, the ratio occupied by vegetation, and the land use in 100 plots of approximately 29 km², randomly distributed within the presence and absence areas predicted for each species. We also considered the relationship between environmental variables and the distribution probability of species. We used a partial least squares regression to explore patterns between the variables used and the potential distribution models. None of the environmental variables analyzed alone determined the presence/absence or the probability distribution of parrots in the Peninsula. We found that for the eight species, either due to the presence/absence or the probability distribution, the most important explanatory variables were the interaction among three variables, particularly the interactions among the total forest area, the total edge, and the tropical semi–evergreen medium– height forest. Habitat fragmentation influenced the potential geographical distribution of these species in terms of the characteristics of other environmental factors that are expressed together with the geographical division, such as the different vegetation cover ratio and land uses in deforested areas
The origin of the planetary nebula M 1-16. A morphokinematic and chemical analysis
We investigated the origin of the Planetary Nebula (PN) M 1-16 using
narrow-band optical imaging, and high- and low-resolution optical spectra to
perform a detailed morpho-kinematic and chemical studies. M 1-16 is revealed to
be a multipolar PN that predominantly emits in [O III] in the inner part of the
nebula and [N II] in the lobes. A novel spectral unsharp masking technique was
applied to the position-velocity (PV) maps to reveal a set of multiple
structures at the centre of M 1-16 spanning radial velocities from
40kms to 20kms, with respect to the systemic velocity.
The morpho-kinematic model indicates that the deprojected velocity of the lobe
outflows are 100kms, and particularly the larger lobes and
knots have a deprojected velocity of 350kms; the inner
ellipsoidal component has a deprojected velocity of 29kms. A
kinematical age of 8700yr has been obtained from the model assuming a
homologous velocity expansion law and a distance of 6.21.9kpc. The
chemical analysis indicates that M 1-16 is a Type I PN with a central star of
PN (CSPN) mass in the range of 0.618-0.713M and an initial mass
for the progenitor star between 2.0 and 3.0M (depending on
metallicity). An 140000K and log=2.3
was estimated using the 3MdB photoionisation models to reproduce the ionisation
stage of the PN. All of these results have led us to suggest that M 1-16 is an
evolved PN, contrary to the scenario of proto-PN suggested in previous studies.
We propose that the mechanism responsible for the morphology of M 1-16 is
related to the binary (or multiple star) evolution scenario.Comment: A&A in press. 11 pages, 9 figure
Multiple and Precessing Collimated Outflows in the Planetary Nebula IC 4634
With its remarkable double-S shape, IC 4634 is an archetype of
point-symmetric planetary nebulae (PN). In this paper, we present a detailed
study of this PN using archival HST WFPC2 and ground-based narrow-band images
to investigate its morphology, and long-slit spectroscopic observations to
determine its kinematics and to derive its physical conditions and excitation.
The data reveal new structural components, including a distant string of knots
distributed along an arc-like feature 40"-60" from the center of the nebula, a
skin of enhanced [O III]/H-alpha ratio enveloping the inner shell and the
double-S feature, and a triple-shell structure. The spatio-kinematical study
also finds an equatorial component of the main nebula that is kinematically
independent from the bright inner S-shaped arc. We have investigated in detail
the bow shock-like features in IC 4634 and found that their morphological,
kinematical and emission properties are consistent with the interaction of a
collimated outflow with surrounding material. Indeed, the morphology and
kinematics of some of these features can be interpreted using a 3D numerical
simulation of a collimated outflow precessing at a moderate, time-dependent
velocity. Apparently, IC 4634 has experienced several episodes of
point-symmetric ejections oriented at different directions with the outer
S-shaped feature being related to an earlier point-symmetric ejection and the
outermost arc-like string of knots being the relic of an even much earlier
point-symmetric ejection. There is tantalizing evidence that the action of
these collimated outflows has also taken part in the shaping of the innermost
shell and inner S-shaped arc of IC 4634.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical
Journa
Observational Study of the Multistructured Planetary Nebula NGC 7354
We present an observational study of the planetary nebula (PN) NGC 7354
consisting of narrowband Halpha and [NII]6584 imaging as well as low- and
high-dispersion long-slit spectroscopy and VLA-D radio continuum. According to
our imaging and spectroscopic data, NGC 7354 has four main structures: a quite
round outer shell and an elliptical inner shell, a collection of low-excitation
bright knots roughly concentrated on the equatorial region of the nebula, and
two symmetrical jet-like features, not aligned either with the shells' axes, or
with each other. We have obtained physical parameters like electron temperature
and electron density as well as ionic and elemental abundances for these
different structures. Electron temperature and electron density slightly vary
throughout the nebula. The local extinction coefficient c_Hbeta shows an
increasing gradient from south to north and a decreasing gradient from east to
west consistent with the number of equatorial bright knots present in each
direction. Abundance values show slight internal variations but most of them
are within the estimated uncertainties. In general, abundance values are in
good agreement with the ones expected for PNe. Radio continuum data are
consistent with optically thin thermal emission. We have used the interactive
three-dimensional modeling tool SHAPE to reproduce the observed morphokinematic
structures in NGC 7354 with different geometrical components. Our SHAPE model
is in very good agreement with our imaging and spectroscopic observations.
Finally, after modeling NGC 7354 with SHAPE, we suggest a possible scenario for
the formation of the nebula.Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ, 12 pages, 8 figure
Unveiling the structure of the planetary nebula M 2-48: Kinematics and physical conditions
The kinematics and physical conditions of the bipolar planetary nebula M 2-48
are analysed from high and low dispersion long-slit spectra. Previous CCD
narrow-band optical observations have suggested that this nebula is mainly
formed by a pair of symmetric bow-shocks, an off-center semi-circular shell,
and an internal bipolar structure. The bipolar outflow has a complex structure,
characterised by a series of shocked regions located between the bright core
and the polar tips. There is an apparent kinematic discontinuity between the
bright bipolar core and the outer regions. The fragmented ring around the
bright bipolar region presents a low expansion velocity and could be associated
to ejection in the AGB-PN transition phase, although its nature remains
unclear. The chemical abundances of the central region are derived, showing
that M 2-48 is a Type I planetary nebula (PN)
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