100 research outputs found
Strong Lensing Analysis of A1689 from Deep Advanced Camera Images
We analyse deep multi-colour Advanced Camera images of the largest known
gravitational lens, A1689. Radial and tangential arcs delineate the critical
curves in unprecedented detail and many small counter-images are found near the
center of mass. We construct a flexible light deflection field to predict the
appearance and positions of counter-images. The model is refined as new
counter-images are identified and incorporated to improve the model, yielding a
total of 106 images of 30 multiply lensed background galaxies, spanning a wide
redshift range, 1.0z5.5. The resulting mass map is more circular in
projection than the clumpy distribution of cluster galaxies and the light is
more concentrated than the mass within . The projected mass profile
flattens steadily towards the center with a shallow mean slope of
, over the observed range,
r, matching well an NFW profile, but with a relatively high
concentration, . A softened isothermal profile
(\arcs) is not conclusively excluded, illustrating that
lensing constrains only projected quantities. Regarding cosmology, we clearly
detect the purely geometric increase of bend-angles with redshift. The
dependence on the cosmological parameters is weak due to the proximity of
A1689, , constraining the locus, .
This consistency with standard cosmology provides independent support for our
model, because the redshift information is not required to derive an accurate
mass map. Similarly, the relative fluxes of the multiple images are reproduced
well by our best fitting lens model.Comment: Accepted by ApJ. For high quality figures see
http://wise-obs.tau.ac.il/~kerens/A168
Epidemiology of vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus in Goiás, central Brazil: re-evaluation based on G-L intergenic region
Abstract
Background
Vampire bat related rabies harms both livestock industry and public health sector in central Brazil. The geographical distributions of vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus variants are delimited by mountain chains. These findings were elucidated by analyzing a high conserved nucleoprotein gene. This study aims to elucidate the detailed epidemiological characters of vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus by phylogenetic methods based on 619-nt sequence including unconserved G-L intergenic region.
Findings
The vampire bat-transmitted rabies virus isolates divided into 8 phylogenetic lineages in the previous nucleoprotein gene analysis were divided into 10 phylogenetic lineages with significant bootstrap values. The distributions of most variants were reconfirmed to be delimited by mountain chains. Furthermore, variants in undulating areas have narrow distributions and are apparently separated by mountain ridges.
Conclusions
This study demonstrates that the 619-nt sequence including G-L intergenic region is more useful for a state-level phylogenetic analysis of rabies virus than the partial nucleoprotein gene, and simultaneously that the distribution of vampire bat-transmitted RABV variants tends to be separated not only by mountain chains but also by mountain ridges, thus suggesting that the diversity of vampire bat-transmitted RABV variants was delimited by geographical undulations
Sustained receptor activation and hyperproliferation in response to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in mice with a severe congenital neutropenia/acute myeloid leukemia-derived mutation in the G-CSF receptor gene
In approximately 20% of cases of severe congenital neutropenia (SCN),
mutations are found in the gene encoding the granulocyte
colony-stimulating factor receptor (G-CSF-R). These mutations introduce
premature stop codons, which result in truncation of 82-98 COOH-terminal
amino acids of the receptor. SCN patients who develop secondary
myelodysplastic syndrome and acute myeloid leukemia almost invariably
acquired a GCSFR mutation, suggesting that this genetic alteration
represents a key step in leukemogenesis. Here we show that an equivalent
mutation targeted in mice (gcsfr-Delta715) results in the selective
expansion of the G-CSF- responsive progenitor (G-CFC) compartment in the
bone marrow. In addition, in vivo treatment of gcsfr-Delta715 mice with
G-CSF results in increased production of neutrophils leading to a
sustained neutrophilia. This hyperproliferative response to G-CSF is
accompanied by prolonged activation of signal transducer and activator of
transcription (STAT) complexes and extended cell surface expression of
mutant receptors due to defective internalization. In view of the
continuous G-CSF treatment of SCN patients, these data provide insight
into why progenitor cells expressing truncated receptors clonally expand
in vivo, and why these cells may be targets for additional genetic events
leading to leukemia
Dietary intake patterns of children aged 6 years and their association with socioeconomic and demographic characteristics, early feeding practices and body mass index
Bats in the anthropogenic matrix: Challenges and opportunities for the conservation of chiroptera and their ecosystem services in agricultural landscapes
Intensification in land-use and farming practices has had largely negative effects on bats, leading to population declines and concomitant losses of ecosystem services. Current trends in land-use change suggest that agricultural areas will further expand, while production systems may either experience further intensification
(particularly in developing nations) or become more environmentally friendly (especially in Europe). In this chapter, we review the existing literature on how agricultural management affects the bat assemblages and the behavior of individual bat species, as well as the literature on provision of ecosystem services by bats (pest insect suppression and pollination) in agricultural systems. Bats show highly variable responses to habitat conversion, with no significant change in species
richness or measures of activity or abundance. In contrast, intensification within agricultural systems (i.e., increased agrochemical inputs, reduction of natural structuring elements such as hedges, woods, and marshes) had more consistently negative
effects on abundance and species richness. Agroforestry systems appear to mitigate negative consequences of habitat conversion and intensification, often having higher abundances and activity levels than natural areas. Across biomes, bats play key roles in limiting populations of arthropods by consuming various agricultural pests. In tropical areas, bats are key pollinators of several commercial fruit species. However, these substantial benefits may go unrecognized by farmers, who sometimes associate bats with ecosystem disservices such as crop raiding. Given the importance of bats for global food production, future agricultural management should focus on “wildlife-friendly” farming practices that allow more bats to exploit and persist
in the anthropogenic matrix so as to enhance provision of ecosystem services. Pressing research topics include (1) a better understanding of how local-level versus
landscape-level management practices interact to structure bat assemblages,
(2) the effects of new pesticide classes and GM crops on bat populations, and (3) how increased documentation and valuation of the ecosystem services provided by bats could improve attitudes of producers toward their conservation
The social patterning of risk factors for noncommunicable diseases in five countries: evidence from the modeling the epidemiologic transition study (METS)
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