Optical Spectra of SNR Candidates in NGC 300

We present moderate-resolution (<5A) long-slit optical spectra of 51 nebular objects in the nearby Sculptor Group galaxy NGC 300 obtained with the 2.3 meter Advanced Technology Telescope at Siding Spring Observatory, Australia. Adopting the criterion of [SII]/Ha>=0.4 to confirm supernova remnants (SNRs) from optical spectra, we find that of 28 objects previously proposed as SNRs from optical observations, 22 meet this criterion with six showing [SII]/Ha of less than 0.4. Of 27 objects suggested as SNRs from radio data, four are associated with the 28 previously proposed SNRs. Of these four, three (included in the 22 above) meet the criterion. In all, 22 of the 51 nebular objects meet the [SII]/Ha criterion as SNRs while the nature of the remaining 29 objects remains undetermined by these observations.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astrophysics & Space Scienc

Two Mathematically Equivalent Versions of Maxwell's Equations

This paper is a review of the canonical proper-time approach to relativistic mechanics and classical electrodynamics. The purpose is to provide a physically complete classical background for a new approach to relativistic quantum theory. Here, we first show that there are two versions of Maxwell's equations. The new version fixes the clock of the field source for all inertial observers. However now, the (natural definition of the effective) speed of light is no longer an invariant for all observers, but depends on the motion of the source. This approach allows us to account for radiation reaction without the Lorentz-Dirac equation, self-energy (divergence), advanced potentials or any assumptions about the structure of the source. The theory provides a new invariance group which, in general, is a nonlinear and nonlocal representation of the Lorentz group. This approach also provides a natural (and unique) definition of simultaneity for all observers. The corresponding particle theory is independent of particle number, noninvariant under time reversal (arrow of time), compatible with quantum mechanics and has a corresponding positive definite canonical Hamiltonian associated with the clock of the source. We also provide a brief review of our work on the foundational aspects of the corresponding relativistic quantum theory. Here, we show that the standard square-root and the Dirac equations are actually two distinct spin-$\tfrac{1}{2}$ particle equations.Comment: Appeared: Foundations of Physic

Effect of a reduced fat and sugar maternal dietary intervention during lactation on the infant gut microbiome

PUBLISHED 17 August 2022Objective: A growing body of literature has shown that maternal diet during pregnancy is associated with infant gut bacterial composition. However, whether maternal diet during lactation affects the exclusively breastfed infant gut microbiome remains understudied. This study sets out to determine whether a two-week of a reduced fat and sugar maternal dietary intervention during lactation is associated with changes in the infant gut microbiome composition and function. Design: Stool samples were collected from four female and six male (n = 10) infants immediately before and after the intervention. Maternal baseline diet from healthy mothers aged 22–37 was assessed using 24-h dietary recall. During the 2-week dietary intervention, mothers were provided with meals and their dietary intake was calculated using FoodWorks 10 Software. Shotgun metagenomic sequencing was used to characterize the infant gut microbiome composition and function. Results: In all but one participant, maternal fat and sugar intake during the intervention were significantly lower than at baseline. The functional capacity of the infant gut microbiome was significantly altered by the intervention, with increased levels of genes associated with 28 bacterial metabolic pathways involved in biosynthesis of vitamins (p = 0.003), amino acids (p = 0.005), carbohydrates (p = 0.01), and fatty acids and lipids (p = 0.01). Although the dietary intervention did not affect the bacterial composition of the infant gut microbiome, relative difference in maternal fiber intake was positively associated with increased abundance of genes involved in biosynthesis of storage compounds (p = 0.016), such as cyanophycin. Relative difference in maternal protein intake was negatively associated with Veillonella parvula (p = 0.006), while positively associated with Klebsiella michiganensis (p = 0.047). Relative difference in maternal sugar intake was positively associated with Lactobacillus paracasei (p = 0.022). Relative difference in maternal fat intake was positively associated with genes involved in the biosynthesis of storage compounds (p = 0.015), fatty acid and lipid (p = 0.039), and metabolic regulator (p = 0.038) metabolic pathways. Conclusion: This pilot study demonstrates that a short-term maternal dietary intervention during lactation can significantly alter the functional potential, but not bacterial taxonomy, of the breastfed infant gut microbiome. While the overall diet itself was not able to change the composition of the infant gut microbiome, changes in intakes of maternal protein and sugar during lactation were correlated with changes in the relative abundances of certain bacterial species. Clinical trial registration: Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry (ACTRN12619000606189).Azhar S. Sindi, Lisa F. Stinson, Soo Sum Lean, Yit-Heng Chooi, Gabriela E. Leghi, Merryn J. Netting, Mary E. Wlodek, Beverly S. Muhlhausler, Donna T. Geddes and Matthew S. Payn

Expressed Protein Selenoester Ligation

Herein, we describe the development and application of a novel expressed protein selenoester ligation (EPSL) methodology for the one-pot semi-synthesis of modified proteins. EPSL harnesses the rapid kinetics of ligation reactions between modified synthetic selenopeptides and protein aryl selenoesters (generated from expressed intein fusion precursors) followed by in situ chemoselective deselenization to afford target proteins at concentrations that preclude the use of traditional ligation methods. The utility of the EPSL technology is showcased through the efficient semi-synthesis of ubiquitinated polypeptides, lipidated analogues of the membrane-associated GTPase YPT6, and site-specifically phosphorylated variants of the oligomeric chaperone protein Hsp27 at high dilution.Sameer S. Kulkarni, Emma E. Watson, Joshua W. C. Maxwell, Gerhard Niederacher, Jason Johansen-Leete, Susanne Huhmann, Somnath Mukherjee, Alexander R. Norman, Julia Kriegesmann, Christian F. W. Becker, and Richard J. Payn

Equation of state and phonon frequency calculations of diamond at high pressures

The pressure-volume relationship and the zone-center optical phonon frequency of cubic diamond at pressures up to 600 GPa have been calculated based on Density Functional Theory within the Local Density Approximation and the Generalized Gradient Approximation. Three different approaches, viz. a pseudopotential method applied in the basis of plane waves, an all-electron method relying on Augmented Plane Waves plus Local Orbitals, and an intermediate approach implemented in the basis of Projector Augmented Waves have been used. All these methods and approximations yield consistent results for the pressure derivative of the bulk modulus and the volume dependence of the mode Grueneisen parameter of diamond. The results are at variance with recent precise measurements up to 140 GPa. Possible implications for the experimental pressure determination based on the ruby luminescence method are discussed.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

The Intentional Use of Service Recovery Strategies to Influence Consumer Emotion, Cognition and Behaviour

Service recovery strategies have been identified as a critical factor in the success of. service organizations. This study develops a conceptual frame work to investigate how specific service recovery strategies influence the emotional, cognitive and negative behavioural responses of . consumers., as well as how emotion and cognition influence negative behavior. Understanding the impact of specific service recovery strategies will allow service providers' to more deliberately and intentionally engage in strategies that result in positive organizational outcomes. This study was conducted using a 2 x 2 between-subjects quasi-experimental design. The results suggest that service recovery has a significant impact on emotion, cognition and negative behavior. Similarly, satisfaction, negative emotion and positive emotion all influence negative behavior but distributive justice has no effect

Measurement of the B0-anti-B0-Oscillation Frequency with Inclusive Dilepton Events

The $B^0$-$\bar B^0$ oscillation frequency has been measured with a sample of 23 million \B\bar B pairs collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric B Factory at SLAC. In this sample, we select events in which both B mesons decay semileptonically and use the charge of the leptons to identify the flavor of each B meson. A simultaneous fit to the decay time difference distributions for opposite- and same-sign dilepton events gives $\Delta m_d = 0.493 \pm 0.012{(stat)}\pm 0.009{(syst)}$ ps$^{-1}$.Comment: 7 pages, 1 figure, submitted to Physical Review Letter

Study of CP violation in Dalitz-plot analyses of B0 --> K+K-KS, B+ --> K+K-K+, and B+ --> KSKSK+

We perform amplitude analyses of the decays $B^0 \to K^+K^-K^0_S$, $B^+ \rightarrow K^+K^-K^+$, and $B^+ \to K^0_S K^0_S K^+$, and measure CP-violating parameters and partial branching fractions. The results are based on a data sample of approximately $470\times 10^6$ $B\bar{B}$ decays, collected with the BABAR detector at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy $B$ factory at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. For $B^+ \to K^+K^-K^+$, we find a direct CP asymmetry in $B^+ \to \phi(1020)K^+$ of $A_{CP}= (12.8\pm 4.4 \pm 1.3)$, which differs from zero by $2.8 \sigma$. For $B^0 \to K^+K^-K^0_S$, we measure the CP-violating phase $\beta_{\rm eff} (\phi(1020)K^0_S) = (21\pm 6 \pm 2)^\circ$. For $B^+ \to K^0_S K^0_S K^+$, we measure an overall direct CP asymmetry of $A_{CP} = (4 ^{+4}_{-5} \pm 2)$. We also perform an angular-moment analysis of the three channels, and determine that the $f_X(1500)$ state can be described well by the sum of the resonances $f_0(1500)$, $f_2^{\prime}(1525)$, and $f_0(1710)$.Comment: 35 pages, 68 postscript figures. v3 - minor modifications to agree with published versio

Epithelial IL-6 trans-signaling defines a new asthma phenotype with increased airway inflammation

Background: Although several studies link high levels of IL-6 and soluble IL-6 receptor (sIL-6R) to asthma severity and decreased lung function, the role of IL-6 trans-signaling (IL-6TS) in asthmatic patients is unclear. Objective: We sought to explore the association between epithelial IL-6TS pathway activation and molecular and clinical phenotypes in asthmatic patients. Methods: An IL-6TS gene signature obtained from air-liquid interface cultures of human bronchial epithelial cells stimulated with IL-6 and sIL-6R was used to stratify lung epithelial transcriptomic data (Unbiased Biomarkers in Prediction of Respiratory Disease Outcomes [U-BIOPRED] cohorts) by means of hierarchical clustering. IL-6TS-specific protein markers were used to stratify sputum biomarker data (Wessex cohort). Molecular phenotyping was based on transcriptional profiling of epithelial brushings, pathway analysis, and immunohistochemical analysis of bronchial biopsy specimens. Results: Activation of IL-6TS in air-liquid interface cultures reduced epithelial integrity and induced a specific gene signature enriched in genes associated with airway remodeling. The IL-6TS signature identified a subset of patients with IL-6TS-high asthma with increased epithelial expression of IL-6TS-inducible genes in the absence of systemic inflammation. The IL-6TS-high subset had an overrepresentation of frequent exacerbators, blood eosinophilia, and submucosal infiltration of T cells and macrophages. In bronchial brushings Toll-like receptor pathway genes were upregulated, whereas expression of cell junction genes was reduced. Sputum sIL-6R and IL-6 levels correlated with sputum markers of remodeling and innate immune activation, in particular YKL-40, matrix metalloproteinase 3, macrophage inflammatory protein 1 beta, IL-8, and IL-1 beta. Conclusions: Local lung epithelial IL-6TS activation in the absence of type 2 airway inflammation defines a novel subset of asthmatic patients and might drive airway inflammation and epithelial dysfunction in these patients.Peer reviewe