6,903 research outputs found
A new interpretation of the period-luminosity sequences of long-period variables
Period-luminosity (PL) sequences of long period variables (LPVs) are commonly
interpreted as different pulsation modes, but there is disagreement on the
modal assignment. Here, we re-examine the observed PL sequences in the Large
Magellanic Cloud, including the sequence of long secondary periods (LSPs), and
their associated pulsation modes. Firstly, we theoretically model the sequences
using linear, radial, non-adiabatic pulsation models and a population synthesis
model of the LMC red giants. Then, we use a semi-empirical approach to assign
modes to the pulsation sequences by exploiting observed multi-mode pulsators.
As a result of the combined approaches, we consistently find that sequences B
and C both correspond to first overtone pulsation, although there
are some fundamental mode pulsators at low luminosities on both sequences. The
masses of these fundamental mode pulsators are larger at a given luminosity
than the mass of the first overtone pulsators. These two sequences B and
C are separated by a small period interval in which large amplitude
pulsation in a long secondary period (sequence D variability) occurs, meaning
that the first overtone pulsation is not seen as the primary mode of pulsation.
Observationally, this leads to the splitting of the first overtone pulsation
sequence into the two observed sequences B and C. Our two
independent examinations also show that sequences A, A and C
correspond to third overtone, second overtone and fundamental mode pulsation,
respectively.Comment: 10 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
The Limits of Liability in Promoting Safe Geologic Sequestration of CO2
Deployment of new technologies is vital to climate change policy, but it invariably poses difficult tradeoffs. Carbon capture and storage (âCCSâ), which involves the capture and permanent burial of CO2 emissions, exemplifies this problem. This article provides an overview of CCS in Part I, focusing on geologic sequestration, and analyzes the scientific work on the potential for releases of CO2 and brine from sequestrian reservoirs. Part II evaluates the comparative advantages of government regulation and common law liability. Part III examines the relative efficiencies of different doctrines of common law liability when applied to likely releases from sequestrian sites. The authors propose a hybrid legal framework in Part IV that combines a traditional regulatory regime with a novel two-tiered system of liability that is calibrated to objective site characteristics.The Kay Bailey Hutchison Center for Energy, Law, and Busines
Association of Cumulative Lead Exposure with Parkinson's Disease
BACKGROUND. Research using reconstructed exposure histories has suggested an association between heavy metal exposures, including lead, and Parkinson's disease (PD), but the only study that used bone lead, a biomarker of cumulative lead exposure, found a nonsignificant increase in risk of PD with increasing bone lead. OBJECTIVES. We sought to assess the association between bone lead and PD. METHODS. Bone lead concentrations were measured using 109Cd excited K-shell X-ray fluorescence from 330 PD patients (216 men, 114 women) and 308 controls (172 men, 136 women) recruited from four clinics for movement disorders and general-community cohorts. Adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for PD were calculated using logistic regression. RESULTS. The average age of cases and controls at bone lead measurement was 67 (SD = 10) and 69 (SD = 9) years of age, respectively. In primary analyses of cases and controls recruited from the same groups, compared with the lowest quartile of tibia lead, the OR for PD in the highest quartile was 3.21 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.17-8.83]. Results were similar but slightly weaker in analyses restricted to cases and controls recruited from the movement disorders clinics only (fourth-quartile OR = 2.57; 95% CI, 1.11-5.93) or when we included controls recruited from sites that did not also contribute cases (fourth-quartile OR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.01-3.60). We found no association with patella bone lead. CONCLUSIONS. These findings, using an objective biological marker of cumulative lead exposure among typical PD patients seen in our movement disorders clinics, strengthen the evidence that cumulative exposure to lead increases the risk of PD.National Institutes of Health (R01-ES010798, K01-ES01265
Novel prokaryotic expression of thioredoxin-fused insulinoma associated protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (IA-2), its characterization and immunodiagnostic application
Background
The insulinoma associated protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (IA-2) is one of the immunodominant autoantigens involved in the autoimmune attack to the beta-cell in Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus. In this work we have developed a complete and original process for the production and recovery of the properly folded intracellular domain of IA-2 fused to thioredoxin (TrxIA-2ic) in Escherichia coli GI698 and GI724 strains. We have also carried out the biochemical and immunochemical characterization of TrxIA-2icand design variants of non-radiometric immunoassays for the efficient detection of IA-2 autoantibodies (IA-2A).
Results
The main findings can be summarized in the following statements: i) TrxIA-2ic expression after 3 h of induction on GI724 strain yieldedâââ10 mg of highly pure TrxIA-2ic/L of culture medium by a single step purification by affinity chromatography, ii) the molecular weight of TrxIA-2ic (55,358 Da) could be estimated by SDS-PAGE, size exclusion chromatography and mass spectrometry, iii) TrxIA-2ic was properly identified by western blot and mass spectrometric analysis of proteolytic digestions (63.25 % total coverage), iv) excellent immunochemical behavior of properly folded full TrxIA-2ic was legitimized by inhibition or displacement of [35S]IA-2 binding from IA-2A present in Argentinian Type 1 Diabetic patients, v) great stability over time was found under proper storage conditions and vi) low cost and environmentally harmless ELISA methods for IA-2A assessment were developed, with colorimetric or chemiluminescent detection.
Conclusions
E. coli GI724 strain emerged as a handy source of recombinant IA-2ic, achieving high levels of expression as a thioredoxin fusion protein, adequately validated and applicable to the development of innovative and cost-effective immunoassays for IA-2A detection in most laboratories.Fil: Guerra, Luciano Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Faccinetti, Natalia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Trabucchi, Aldana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Rovitto, Bruno David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Sabljic, Adriana Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Poskus, Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Iacono, Ruben Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; ArgentinaFil: Valdez, Silvina Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentin
Prokaryotic expression and characterization of the heterodimeric construction of ZnT8 and its application for autoantibodies detection in diabetes mellitus
Background: In the present work we described the recombinant production and characterization of heterodimeric construction ZnT8-Arg-Trp325 fused to thioredoxin using a high-performance expression system such as Escherichia coli. In addition, we apply this novel recombinant antigen in a non-radiometric method, with high sensitivity, low operational complexity and lower costs. Results: ZnT8 was expressed in E. coli as a fusion protein with thioredoxin (TrxZnT8). After 3 h for induction, recombinant protein was obtained from the intracellular soluble fraction and from inclusion bodies and purified by affinity chromatography. The expression and purification steps, analyzed by SDS-PAGE and western blot, revealed a band compatible with TrxZnT8 expected theoretical molecular weight (â 36.8 kDa). The immunochemical ability of TrxZnT8 to compete with [35S]ZnT8 (synthesized with rabbit reticulocyte lysate system) was assessed qualitatively by incubating ZnT8A positive patient sera in the presence of 0.2-0.3 ÎŒM TrxZnT8. Results were expressed as standard deviation scores (SDs). All sera became virtually negative under antigen excess (19.26-1.29 for TrxZnT8). Also, radiometric quantitative competition assays with ZnT8A positive patient sera were performed by adding TrxZnT8 (37.0 pM-2.2 ÎŒM), using [35S]ZnT8. All dose-response curves showed similar protein concentration that caused 50% inhibition (14.9-0.15 nM for TrxZnT8). On the other hand, preincubated bridge ELISA for ZnT8A detection was developed. This assay showed 51.7% of sensitivity and 97.1% of specificity. Conclusions: It was possible to obtain with high-yield purified heterodimeric construction of ZnT8 in E. coli and it was applied in cost-effective immunoassay for ZnT8A detection.Fil: Faccinetti, Natalia Ines. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Guerra, Luciano Lucas. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Sabljic, Adriana Victoria. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Bombicino, Silvina Sonia. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Rovitto, Bruno David. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Iacono, Ruben Francisco. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Poskus, Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Trabucchi, Aldana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; ArgentinaFil: Valdez, Silvina Noemi. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Oficina de CoordinaciĂłn Administrativa Houssay. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral Prof. Ricardo A. Margni; Argentina. Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y BioquĂmica. Departamento de MicrobiologĂa, InmunologĂa y BiotecnologĂa; Argentin
Optical spectroscopy and X-ray observations of the D-type symbiotic star EF Aql
We performed high-resolution optical spectroscopy and X-ray observations of
the recently identified Mira-type symbiotic star EF Aql. Based on
high-resolution optical spectroscopy obtained with SALT, we determine the
temperature (55 000 K) and the luminosity ( 5.3 ) of the
hot component in the system. The heliocentric radial velocities of the emission
lines in the spectra reveal possible stratification of the chemical elements.
We also estimate the mass-loss rate of the Mira donor star. Our Swift
observation did not detect EF Aql in X-rays. The upper limit of the X-ray
observations is 10 erg cm s, which means that EF Aql is
consistent with the faintest X-ray systems detected so far. Otherwise we
detected it with the UVOT instrument with an average UVM2 magnitude of 14.05.
During the exposure, EF Aql became approximately 0.2 UVM2 magnitudes fainter.
The periodogram analysis of the V-band data reveals an improved period of
320.40.3 d caused by the pulsations of the Mira-type donor star. The
spectra are available upon request from the authors.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA
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