36 research outputs found
A neutral hydrogen survey of polar ring galaxies IV. Parkes observations
A total of 33 polar ring galaxies and polar ring galaxy candidates were
observed in the 21-cm HI line with the 64-m Parkes radio telescope. The
objects, selected by their optical morphology, are all south of declination -39
degrees and in only 5 of them HI had been reported previously. HI line emission
was detected towards 18 objects, though in 3 cases the detection may be
confused by another galaxy in the telescope beam, and one is a marginal
detection. Eight objects were detected for the first time in HI, of which 5 did
not have previously known redshifts.Comment: Accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysics, 12/2/2002; new references
added on 20/2/200
Axi-symmetric models of ultraviolet radiative transfer with applications to circumstellar disk chemistry
A new two-dimensional axi-symmetric ultraviolet radiative transfer code is
presented, which is used to calculate photodissociation and ionization rates
for use in chemistry models of flaring circumstellar disks. Scattering and
absorption of photons from the central star and from the interstellar radiation
field are taken into account. The molecules are effectively photodissociated in
the surface layer of the disk, but can exist in the intermediate, moderately
warm layers. A comparison has been made with an approximate 2D ray-tracing
method and it was found that the latter underestimates the ultraviolet field
and thus the molecular photodissociation rates below the disk surface. The full
2D results show significantly higher abundances of radicals such as CN and C2H
than previous work, partly due to the fact that CO is dissociated to greater
depths. Results for different stellar radiation fields are also presented. The
CN/HCN ratio shows a strong dependence on the stellar spectrum, whereas other
ratios such as HCO+/CO show only little variation.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures, 2 tables. Accepted for publication in A&
Clumpy photon-dominated regions in Carina. I. [CI] and mid-J CO lines in two 4'x4' fields
The Carina region is an excellent astrophysical laboratory for studying the
feedback mechanisms of newly born, very massive stars within their natal giant
molecular clouds (GMCs) at only 2.35 kpc distance. We use a clumpy PDR model to
analyse the observed intensities of atomic carbon and CO and to derive the
excitation conditions of the gas. The NANTEN2-4m submillimeter telescope was
used to map the [CI] 3P1-3P0, 3P2-3P1 and CO 4-3, 7-6 lines in two 4'x4'
regions of Carina where molecular material interfaces with radiation from the
massive star clusters. One region is the northern molecular cloud near the
compact OB cluster Tr14, and the second region is in the molecular cloud south
of etaCar and Tr16. These data were combined with 13CO SEST spectra, HIRES/IRAS
60um and 100um maps of the FIR continuum, and maps of 8um IRAC/Spitzer and MSX
emission. We used the HIRES far-infrared dust data to create a map of the FUV
field heating the gas. The northern region shows an FUV field of a few 1000 in
Draine units while the field of the southern region is about a factor 10
weaker. We constructed models consisting of an ensemble of small spherically
symmetric PDR clumps within the 38" beam (0.43pc), which follow canonical
power-law mass and mass-size distributions. We find that an average local clump
density of 2x10**5 cm-3 is needed to reproduce the observed line emission at
two selected interface positions. Stationary, clumpy PDR models reproduce the
observed cooling lines of atomic carbon and CO at two positions in the Carina
Nebula.Comment: accepted by A&
Soy Isoflavones Genistein and Daidzein Exert Anti-Apoptotic Actions via a Selective ER-mediated Mechanism in Neurons following HIV-1 Tat1–86 Exposure
HIV-1 viral protein Tat partially mediates the neural dysfunction and neuronal cell death associated with HIV-1 induced neurodegeneration and neurocognitive disorders. Soy isoflavones provide protection against various neurotoxic insults to maintain neuronal function and thus help preserve neurocognitive capacity.We demonstrate in primary cortical cell cultures that 17β-estradiol or isoflavones (genistein or daidzein) attenuate Tat(1-86)-induced expression of apoptotic proteins and subsequent cell death. Exposure of cultured neurons to the estrogen receptor antagonist ICI 182,780 abolished the anti-apoptotic actions of isoflavones. Use of ERα or ERβ specific antagonists determined the involvement of both ER isoforms in genistein and daidzein inhibition of caspase activity; ERβ selectively mediated downregulation of mitochondrial pro-apoptotic protein Bax. The findings suggest soy isoflavones effectively diminished HIV-1 Tat-induced apoptotic signaling.Collectively, our results suggest that soy isoflavones represent an adjunctive therapeutic option with combination anti-retroviral therapy (cART) to preserve neuronal functioning and sustain neurocognitive abilities of HIV-1 infected persons
Health-related quality of life dynamics of HIV-positive South African women up to ART initiation : evidence from the CAPRISA 002 acute infection cohort study.
CAPRISA, 2014.Few studies have investigated the long-term dynamics in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among HIV-positive persons from acute infection. From 2004, 160 women were enrolled into the CAPRISA 002 Acute Infection study at two sites in the province of KwaZulu-Natal and underwent 3–6 monthly HRQoL assessments using the functional assessment of HIV infection (FAHI) instrument. Overall and 5 sub-scale FAHI scores [physical well-being (PWB), emotional well-being (EWB), functional
and global well-being (FGWB), social well-being (SWB) and cognitive functioning (CF)] were calculated up to antiretroviral therapy (ART) initiation and scores at enrollment were compared to the acute, early and established infection phases. Mixed-effects regression models adjusting for behavioral and clinical factors were applied to assess HRQoL trends and the proportion of women meeting minimally important differences was calculated. Our analyses revealed that overall/sub-scale scores improved over time, except from PWB and CF. A higher educational status, contraceptive use and a higher BMI were the strongest predictors of higher overall/sub-scale FAHI scores. CD4 count and HIV viral load were strongly associated with PWB and CF, but not overall FAHI and other sub-scales. Women newly diagnosed with acute HIV infection face profound HRQoL challenges. While early ART delivery may be important for PWB and CF, factors such as education, contraception provision and good nutritional status should be promoted to maximize HRQoL in HIV positive individuals
ESA Voyage 2050 white paper: A complete census of the gas phases in and around galaxies, far-UV spectropolarimetry as a prime tool for understanding galaxy evolution and star formation
(abridged) The far-UV wavelength range (912-2000A) provides access to atomic and molecular transitions of many species the interstellar medium (ISM), circumgalactic medium (CGM), and intergalactic medium, within phases spanning a wide range of ionization, density, temperature, and molecular gas fraction. Far-UV space telescopes have enabled detailed studies of the ISM in the Milky Way thanks to absorption features appearing in the UV spectra of hot stars and yielding fundamental insights into the composition and physical characteristics of all phases of the ISM along with the processes that influence them. However, we have yet to design a spectrometer able to observe the full UV domain at resolving power R>10^5 with a signal-to-noise ratio SNR>500. Such a resolution is necessary to resolve lines from both the cold molecular hydrogen and the warm metal ions with a turbulent velocity of about 1 km s-1, and to differentiate distinct velocity components. Future UV spectroscopic studies of the Milky Way ISM must revolutionize our understanding of the ISM as a dynamical, unstable, and magnetized medium, and rise to the challenge brought forward by current theories. Another interesting prospect is to transpose the same level of details that has been reached for the Milky Way to the ISM in external galaxies, in particular in metal-poor galaxies, where the ISM chemical composition, physical conditions, and topology change dramatically, with significant consequences on the star-formation properties. Finally, we need to be able to perform statistical analyses of background quasar lines of sight intersecting the CGM of galaxies at various redshifts and to comprehend the role of gas exchanges and flows for galaxy evolution