8,903 research outputs found
ATP-dependent chromatosome remodeling
Chromatin serves to package, protect and organize the complex eukaryotic genomes to assure their stable inheritance over many cell generations. At the same time, chromatin must be dynamic to allow continued use of DNA during a cell's lifetime. One important principle that endows chromatin with flexibility involves ATP-dependent `remodeling' factors, which alter DNA-histone interactions to form, disrupt or move nucleosomes. Remodeling is well documented at the nucleosomal level, but little is known about the action of remodeling factors in a more physiological chromatin environment. Recent findings suggest that some remodeling machines can reorganize even folded chromatin fibers containing the linker histone H1, extending the potential scope of remodeling reactions to the bulk of euchromatin
Advances on Matroid Secretary Problems: Free Order Model and Laminar Case
The most well-known conjecture in the context of matroid secretary problems
claims the existence of a constant-factor approximation applicable to any
matroid. Whereas this conjecture remains open, modified forms of it were shown
to be true, when assuming that the assignment of weights to the secretaries is
not adversarial but uniformly random (Soto [SODA 2011], Oveis Gharan and
Vondr\'ak [ESA 2011]). However, so far, there was no variant of the matroid
secretary problem with adversarial weight assignment for which a
constant-factor approximation was found. We address this point by presenting a
9-approximation for the \emph{free order model}, a model suggested shortly
after the introduction of the matroid secretary problem, and for which no
constant-factor approximation was known so far. The free order model is a
relaxed version of the original matroid secretary problem, with the only
difference that one can choose the order in which secretaries are interviewed.
Furthermore, we consider the classical matroid secretary problem for the
special case of laminar matroids. Only recently, a constant-factor
approximation has been found for this case, using a clever but rather involved
method and analysis (Im and Wang, [SODA 2011]) that leads to a
16000/3-approximation. This is arguably the most involved special case of the
matroid secretary problem for which a constant-factor approximation is known.
We present a considerably simpler and stronger -approximation, based on reducing the problem to a matroid secretary
problem on a partition matroid
Absolute properties of the main-sequence eclipsing binary FM Leo
First spectroscopic and new photometric observations of the eclipsing binary
FM Leo are presented. The main aims were to determine orbital and stellar
parameters of two components and their evolutionary stage. First spectroscopic
observations of the system were obtained with DDO and PST spectrographs. The
results of the orbital solution from radial velocity curves are combined with
those derived from the light-curve analysis (ASAS-3 photometry and
supplementary observations of eclipses with 1 m and 0.35 m telescopes) to
derive orbital and stellar parameters. JKTEBOP, Wilson-Devinney binary
modelling codes and a two-dimensional cross-correlation (TODCOR) method were
applied for the analysis. We find the masses to be M_1 = 1.318 0.007 and
M_2 = 1.287 0.007 M_sun, the radii to be R_1 = 1.648 0.043 and R_2
= 1.511 0.049 R_sun for primary and secondary stars, respectively. The
evolutionary stage of the system is briefly discussed by comparing physical
parameters with current stellar evolution models. We find the components are
located at the main sequence, with an age of about 3 Gyr.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, to appear in MNRA
The importance of submalleolar deformity in determining leg length discrepancy
Background and purposeThe association of leg length discrepancy (LLD) with a number of clinical disorders has made its determination a significant part of the physical examination. We believe that submalleolar causes of LLD may be under-acknowledged. The most common clinical method used to measure LLD is by tape from the anterior superior iliac spine (ASIS) to medial malleolus which disregards the potential for LLD arising from asymmetry in the foot distal to the tibiotalar joint.MethodsThe present pilot study involves a group of 5 volunteers (experimental group) and a group of 3 patients with flexible flat feet (clinical study). The differences in tibial tubercle height from the ground between full pronation and full supination were measured using the CODA MPX 30® system (Charnwood Dynamics Limited, Leicestershire, England). Correlations of the patterns within each group were produced.ResultsA significant relationship with leg lengths was found in the experimental group when they induced maximum pronation (R-squared = 0.62, p = 0.007) while an inverse relationship occurred with supination, although marginally significant (R-squared = 0.37, p = 0.064).ConclusionsWe have demonstrated that significant leg length discrepancy can occur in patients who do not have obvious deformity when non weight bearing. We recommend using the blocks method routinely. Appropriately measuring LLD is of vital importance to properly diagnosing and treating patients with unequal leg lengths or related symptoms
Revising the Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI) and testing for factorial invariance
In this study, we revised the Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI), a self-report instrument designed to assess students’ awareness of reading strategies when reading school-related materials. We collected evidence of structural, generalizability, and external aspects of validity for the revised inventory (MARSI-R). We first conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of the MARSI instrument, which resulted in the reduction of the number of strategy statements from 30 to 15. We then tested MARSI-R for factorial invariance across gender and ethnic groups and found that there is a uniformity in student interpretation of the reading strategy statements across these groups, thus allowing for their comparison on levels of metacognitive processing skills. We found evidence of the external validity aspect of MARSI-R data through correlations of such data with a measure of the students’ perceived reading ability. Given that this journal is oriented to second language learning and teaching, our article also includes comments on the Survey of Reading Strategies (SORS), which was based on the original MARSI and was designed to assess adolescents’ and adults’ metacognitive awareness and perceived use of ESL reading strategies. We provide a copy of the MARSI-R instrument and discuss the implications of the study’s findings in light of new and emerging insights relative to assessing students’ metacognitive awareness and perceived use of reading strategies
Revising the Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI) and Testing for Factorial Invariance
In this study, we revised the Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies Inventory (MARSI), a self-report instrument designed to assess students’ awareness of reading strategies when reading school-related materials. We collected evidence of structural, generalizability, and external aspects of validity for the revised inventory (MARSI-R). We first conducted a confirmatory factor analysis of the MARSI instrument, which resulted in the reduction of the number of strategy statements from 30 to 15. We then tested MARSI-R for factorial invariance across gender and ethnic groups and found that there is a uniformity in student interpretation of the reading strategy statements across these groups, thus allowing for their comparison on levels of metacognitive processing skills. We found evidence of the external validity aspect of MARSI-R data through correlations of such data with a measure of the students’ perceived reading ability. Given that this journal is oriented to second language learning and teaching, our article also includes comments on the Survey of Reading Strategies (SORS), which was based on the original MARSI and was designed to assess adolescents’ and adults’ metacognitive awareness and perceived use of ESL reading strategies. We provide a copy of the MARSI-R instrument and discuss the implications of the study’s findings in light of new and emerging insights relative to assessing students’ metacognitive awareness and perceived use of reading strategies
Photometric and spectroscopic variability of the FUor star V582 Aurigae
We carried out BVRI CCD photometric observations in the field of V582 Aur
from 2009 August to 2013 February. We acquired high-, medium-, and
low-resolution spectroscopy of V582 Aur during this period. To study the
pre-outburst variability of the target and construct its historical light
curve, we searched for archival observations in photographic plate collections.
Both CCD and photographic observations were analyzed using a sequence of 14
stars in the field of V582 Aur calibrated in BVRI. The pre-outburst
photographic observations of V582 Aur show low-amplitude light variations
typical of T Tauri stars. Archival photographic observations indicate that the
increase in brightness began in late 1984 or early 1985 and the star reached
the maximum level of brightness at 1986 January. The spectral type of V582 Aur
can be defined as G0I with strong P Cyg profiles of H alpha and Na I D lines,
which are typical of FU Orionis objects. Our BVRI photometric observations show
large amplitude variations V~2.8 mag. during the 3.5 year period of
observations. Most of the time, however, the star remains in a state close to
the maximum brightness. The deepest drop in brightness was observed in the
spring of 2012, when the brightness of the star fell to a level close to the
pre-outburst. The multicolor photometric data show a color reversal during the
minimum in brightness, which is typical of UX Ori variables. The corresponding
spectral observations show strong variability in the profiles and intensities
of the spectral lines (especially H alpha), which indicate significant changes
in the accretion rate. On the basis of photometric monitoring performed over
the past three years, the spectral properties of the maximal light, and the
shape of the long-term light curve, we confirm the affiliation of V582 Aur to
the group of FU Orionis objects.Comment: 9 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in A&
Multi-site, multi-year monitoring of the oscillating Algol-type eclipsing binary CT Her
We present the results of a multi-site photometric campaign carried out in
2004-2008 for the Algol-type eclipsing binary system CT Her, the primary
component of which shows Delta Scuti-type oscillations. Our data consist of
differential light curves collected in the filters B and V which have been
analysed using the method of Wilson-Devinney (PHOEBE). After identification of
an adequate binary model and removal of the best-matching light curve solution,
we performed a Fourier analysis of the residual B and V light curves to
investigate the pulsational behaviour. We confirm the presence of rapid
pulsations with a main period of 27.2 min. Up to eight significant frequencies
with semi-amplitudes in the range 3 to 1 mmag were detected, all of which
surprisingly lie in the frequency range 43.5-53.5 c\d. This result is
independent from the choice of the primary's effective temperature (8200 or
8700 K) since the light curve models for the binary are very similar in both
cases. This is yet another case of a complex frequency spectrum observed for an
accreting Delta Scuti-type star (after Y Cam). In addition, we demonstrate that
the amplitudes of several of these pulsation frequencies show evidence of
variability on time scales as short as 1-2 years, perhaps even less. Moreover,
our analysis takes into account some recently acquired spectra, from which we
obtained the corresponding radial velocities for the years 2007-2009.
Investigation of the O-C diagram shows that further monitoring of the epochs of
eclipse minima of CT Her will cast a new light on the evolution of its orbital
period.Comment: 13 pages, 13 encapsulated Postscript figures. Tables~3, 4, 9 and 12
will be available in electronic form only. Astronomy and Astrophysics, in
process (2011). Replaced the abstract with its final versio
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