423 research outputs found
Interplay between gut lymphatic vessels and microbiota
Lymphatic vessels play a distinctive role in draining fluid, molecules and even cells from interstitial and serosal spaces back to the blood circulation. Lymph vessels of the gut, and especially those located in the villi (called lacteals), not only serve this primary function, but are also responsible for the transport of lipid moieties absorbed by the intestinal mucosa and serve as a second line of defence against possible bacterial infections. Here, we briefly review the current knowledge of the general mechanisms allowing lymph drainage and propulsion and will focus on the most recent findings on the mutual relationship between lacteals and intestinal microbiota
Mediterranean olive orchards under climate change: A review of future impacts and adaptation strategies
The olive tree (Olea europaea L.) is an ancient traditional crop in the Mediterranean Basin. In the Mediterranean region, traditional olive orchards are distinguishable by their prevailing climatic conditions. Olive trees are indeed considered one of the most suitable and best-adapted species to the Mediterranean-type climate. However, new challenges are predicted to arise from climate change, threatening this traditional crop. The Mediterranean Basin is considered a climate change “hotspot,” as future projections hint at considerable warming and drying trends. Changes in olive tree suitability have already been reported over the last few decades. In this context, climate change may become particularly challenging for olive growers. The growing evidence for significant climate change in the upcoming decades urges adaptation measures to be taken. To effectively cope with the projected changes, both short and long-term adaptation strategies must be timely planned by the sector stakeholders and decision-makers to adapt for a warmer and dryer future. The current manuscript is devoted to illustrating the main impacts of climate change on olive tree cultivation in the Mediterranean Basin, by reviewing the most recent studies on this subject. Additionally, an analysis of possible adaptation strategies against the potentially negative impacts of climate change was also performed
Circumnuclear Gas in Seyfert 1 Galaxies: Morphology, Kinematics, and Direct Measurement of Black Hole Masses
(Abridged) The two-dimensional distribution and kinematics of the molecular,
ionized, and highly ionized gas in the nuclear regions of Seyfert 1 galaxies
have been measured using high spatial resolution (~0''.09) near-infrared
spectroscopy from NIRSPEC with adaptive optics on the Keck telescope. Molecular
hydrogen, H2, is detected in all nine Seyfert 1 galaxies and, in the majority
of galaxies, has a spatially resolved flux distribution. In contrast, the
narrow component of the BrG emission has a distribution consistent with that of
the K-band continuum. In general, the kinematics of H2 are consistent with thin
disk rotation, with a velocity gradient of over 100 km/s measured across the
central 0''.5 in three galaxies, and across the central 1''.5 in two galaxies.
The kinematics of BrG are in agreement with the H2 rotation, except in all four
cases the central 0''.5 is either blue- or redshifted by more than 75 km/s. The
highly ionized gas, measured with the [Ca VIII] and [Si VII] coronal lines, is
spatially and kinematically consistent with BrG in the central 0''.5. Dynamical
models have been fitted to the two-dimensional H2 kinematics, taking into
account the stellar mass distribution, the emission line flux distribution, and
the point spread function. For NGC 3227 the modeling indicates a black hole
mass of Mbh = 2.0{+1.0/-0.4} x 10^7 Msun, and for NGC 4151 Mbh =
3.0{+0.75/-2.2} x 10^7 Msun. In NGC 7469 the best fit model gives Mbh < 5.0 x
10^7 Msun. In all three galaxies, modeling suggests a near face-on disk
inclination angle, which is consistent with the unification theory of active
galaxies. The direct black hole mass estimates verify that masses determined
from the technique of reverberation mapping are accurate to within a factor of
three with no additional systematic errors.Comment: 43 pages, including 47 figures; Accepted for publication in ApJ. All
2-D maps (in high resolution) are available at
http://www.astro.ucla.edu/~ehicks . Minor changes to the text and updated
reverberation mapped black hole mass estimates; the conclusions are unchange
The Disks of Galaxies with Seyfert and Starburst Nuclei: II. Near-Infrared Structural Properties
We have derived the near-infrared structural components of a sample of
Seyfert and starburst (SBN) host galaxies by fitting the images of Hunt et al.
(1997,ApJS,108,229) with a new two-dimensional decomposition algorithm. An
analysis of the fitted parameters shows that Seyfert 1 and SBN bulges resemble
normal early-type bulges in structure and color, with (J-K)^c_b about 0.1 mag
redder than disk (J-K)^c_d. Seyfert 2 bulges, instead, are bluer than normal
with (J-K)^c_b ~ (J-K)^c_d. Seyfert disks (especially Type 1), but not those of
SBNs, are abnormally bright (in surface brightness), significantly more so than
even the brightest normal disks. Seyfert disks are also compact, but similar to
those in normal early-type spirals. For a given mass, Seyferts and especially
SBNs are abnormally rich in neutral hydrogen, and there is strong, albeit
indirect, evidence for lower mass-to-light (M/L) ratios in Seyfert and SBN
disks, but for normal M/Ls in their bulges. In Seyferts and SBNs, HI mass
fractions and M/L ratios are anticorrelated, and we attribute the high gas mass
fractions and low M/Ls in SBNs and several Seyferts to ongoing star formation.
Such abundant gas in Seyferts would be expected to inhibit bar formation, which
may explain why active galaxies are not always barred.Comment: 25 pgs (two-column, single-spaced) including 8 incorporated figures
and 2 tables (aas2pp4, amssym, epsfig). Accepted for publication in Ap
Biodiversity of grapevines (Vitis vinifera L.) grown in the Aosta Valley
The PCR-based DNA microsatellite analysis has been applied to define genetic relationships among 19 most representative grapevine cultivars in the Aosta valley. Eighteen varieties grown nearby, in the Savoy (France), Valais (Switzerland) and Piedmont (Italy) regions, were also analysed, to verify the correlations with the Aosta cultivars inferred by the analysis of synonyms and/or morphology. Results were obtained by analysing 12 DNA microsatellite loci. High biodiversity has been recorded amongst the analysed grapevines. In some cases cultivars known with different names in the Valley and in the nearby regions displayed the same SSR allele size, proving the occurrence of synonyms. In other case, identical denominations did not correspond with the genomic identity.
The Radio/Optical Catalog of the SSA13 Field
We present a 1.4-GHz catalog of 810 radio sources (560 sources in the
complete sample) with 1.8" resolution found within a 17' radius in the SSA13
field (RA=13h12m,DEC=42d38'). The radio image from the VLA has an rms noise
level of 4.82 microJy/beam at the field center, and Subaru optical images in
r-band (6300A) and z-band (9200A) have a three-sigma detection magnitude of
26.1 and 24.9, respectively. 88% of the radio sources are identified with an
optical counterpart, and there is significantly more reddening for objects
fainter than 24-mag. The radio and optical parameters are tabulated, and source
morphologies are displayed by radio contours overlaying optical false-color
images. The radio structures show a wealth of complexity and these are
classified into a small number of categories. About one-third of the radio
sources are larger than 1.2" and their orientation is often similar to that of
the associated galaxy or binary-galaxy system. The density of sources in the
SSA13 field above 75 microJy is 0.40 per square arcmin, with a slope of -2.43
in the differential counts. The radio spectral index may steepen for sources
below 75 microJy. We estimate that at most 40% of the microJansky radio sources
are dominated by AGN processes.Comment: 50 pages, 14 figures of which fig 6 contains 33 parts. In press,
Astrophysical Journal, Supp
The Clustering of Extragalactic Extremely Red Objects
We have measured the angular and spatial clustering of 671 K5
Extremely Red Objects (EROs) from a 0.98 square degree sub-region of the NOAO
Deep Wide-Field Survey (NDWFS). Our study covers nearly 5 times the area and
has twice the sample size of any previous ERO clustering study. The wide field
of view and BwRIK passbands of the NDWFS allow us to place improved constraints
on the clustering of z=1 EROs. We find the angular clustering of EROs is
slightly weaker than in previous measurements, and w(1')=0.25+/-0.05 for
K<18.40 EROs. We find no significant correlation of ERO spatial clustering with
redshift, apparent color or absolute magnitude, although given the
uncertainties, such correlations remain plausible. We find the spatial
clustering of K5 EROs is well approximated by a power-law, with
r_0=9.7+/-1.1 Mpc/h in comoving coordinates. This is comparable to the
clustering of 4L* early-type galaxies at z<1, and is consistent with the
brightest EROs being the progenitors of the most massive ellipticals. There is
evidence of the angular clustering of EROs decreasing with increasing apparent
magnitude, when NDWFS measurements of ERO clustering are combined with those
from the literature. Unless the redshift distribution of K>20 EROs is very
broad, the spatial clustering of EROs decreases from r_0=9.7+/-1.1 Mpc/h for
K20 EROs.Comment: Accepted for publication in the ApJ. 29 pages with 10 figures. The
NOAO Deep Wide-Field Survey Bootes data release is available online at
http://www.noao.edu/noao/noaodeep
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