Emission-Line Properties of the Optical Filaments of NGC 1275

Extended nebular filaments are seen at optical wavelengths in NGC 1275, the central galaxy in the Perseus cluster. The agents responsible for the excitation of these filaments remain poorly understood. In this paper we investigate possible mechanisms for powering the filaments, using measurements from an extensive spectroscopic data set acquired at the Lick Observatory 3-m Shane telescope. The results show that the filaments are in an extremely low ionization and excitation state. The high signal-to-noise ratio of the spectra allows us to measure or place sensitive upper limits on weak but important diagnostic lines. We compare the observed line intensity ratios to the predictions of various ionization models, including photoionization by an active galactic nucleus, shock heating, stellar photoionization, and photoionization by the intracluster medium. We also investigate possible roles for cluster extreme-ultraviolet emission, and filtering of cluster soft X-ray emission by an ionized screen, in the energetics of the filaments. None of these mechanisms provides an entirely satisfactory explanation for the physical state of the nebulae. Heating and ionization by reconnection of the intracluster magnetic field remains a potentially viable alternative, which merits further investigation through Faraday rotation studies.Comment: Accepted for publication in Ap

The coronal line regions of planetary nebulae NGC6302 and NGC6537: 3-13um grating and echelle spectroscopy

We report on advances in the study of the cores of NGC6302 and NGC6537 using infrared grating and echelle spectroscopy. In NGC6302, emission lines from species spanning a large range of ionization potential, and in particular [SiIX]3.934um, are interpreted using photoionization models (including CLOUDY), which allow us to reestimate the central star's temperature to be about 250000K. All of the detected lines are consistent with this value, except for [AlV] and [AlVI]. Aluminium is found to be depleted to one hundredth of the solar abundance, which provides further evidence for some dust being mixed with the highly ionized gas (with photons harder than 154eV). A similar depletion pattern is observed in NGC6537. Echelle spectroscopy of IR coronal ions in NGC6302 reveals a stratified structure in ionization potential, which confirms photoionization to be the dominant ionization mechanism. The lines are narrow (< 22km/s FWHM), with no evidence of the broad wings found in optical lines from species with similar ionization potentials, such as [NeV]3426A. We note the absence of a hot bubble, or a wind blown bipolar cavity filled with a hot plasma, at least on 1'' and 10km/s scales. We also provide accurate new wavelengths for several of the infrared coronal lines observed with the echelle.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

A chromosomal reference genome sequence for the malaria mosquito Anopheles gambiae, Giles, 1902, Ifakara strain

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Anopheles gambiae (the malaria mosquito; Arthropoda; Insecta; Diptera; Culicidae), Ifakara strain. The genome sequence is 264 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into three chromosomal pseudomolecules with the X sex chromosome assembled. The complete mitochondrial genome was also assembled and is 15.4 kilobases in length

The genome sequence of the European robin, Erithacus rubecula Linnaeus 1758

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Erithacus rubecula (the European robin; Chordata; Aves; Passeriformes; Turdidae). The genome sequence is 1.09 gigabases in span. The majority of the assembly is scaffolded into 36 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with both W and Z sex chromosomes assembled

The genome sequence of the European turtle dove, Streptopelia turtur Linnaeus 1758

We present a genome assembly from an individual female Streptopelia turtur (the European turtle dove; Chordata; Aves; Columbidae). The genome sequence is 1.18 gigabases in span. The majority of the assembly is scaffolded into 35 chromosomal pseudomolecules, with the W and Z sex chromosomes assembled

Sixteen diverse laboratory mouse reference genomes define strain-specific haplotypes and novel functional loci.

We report full-length draft de novo genome assemblies for 16 widely used inbred mouse strains and find extensive strain-specific haplotype variation. We identify and characterize 2,567 regions on the current mouse reference genome exhibiting the greatest sequence diversity. These regions are enriched for genes involved in pathogen defence and immunity and exhibit enrichment of transposable elements and signatures of recent retrotransposition events. Combinations of alleles and genes unique to an individual strain are commonly observed at these loci, reflecting distinct strain phenotypes. We used these genomes to improve the mouse reference genome, resulting in the completion of 10 new gene structures. Also, 62 new coding loci were added to the reference genome annotation. These genomes identified a large, previously unannotated, gene (Efcab3-like) encoding 5,874 amino acids. Mutant Efcab3-like mice display anomalies in multiple brain regions, suggesting a possible role for this gene in the regulation of brain development

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Remarkably high surface visco-elasticity of adsorption layers of triterpenoid saponins

Saponins are natural surfactants, with molecules composed of a hydrophobic steroid or triterpenoid group, and one or several hydrophilic oligosaccharide chains attached to this group. Saponins are used in cosmetic, food and pharmaceutical products, due to their excellent ability to stabilize emulsions and foams, and to solubilize bulky hydrophobic molecules. The foam and emulsion applications call for a better understanding of the surface properties of saponin adsorption layers, including their rheological properties. Of particular interest is the relation between the molecular structure of the various saponins and their surface properties. Here, we study a series of eight triterpenoid and three steroid saponins, with different numbers of oligosaccharide chains. The surface rheological properties of adsorption layers at the air-water interface, subjected to creep-recovery and oscillatory shear deformations, are investigated. The experiments showed that all steroid saponins exhibited no shear elasticity and had negligible surface viscosity. In contrast, most of the triterpenoid saponins showed complex visco-elastic behavior with extremely high elastic modulus (up to 1100 mN m(-1)) and viscosity (130 N s m(-1)). Although the magnitude of the surface modulus differed significantly for the various saponins, they all shared qualitatively similar rheological properties: (1) the elastic modulus was much higher than the viscous one. (2) Up to a certain critical value of surface stress, sC, the single master curve described the dependence of the creep compliance versus time. This rheological response was described well by the compound Voigt model. (3) On increasing the surface stress above sC, the compliance decreased with the applied stress, and eventually, all layers became purely viscous, indicating a loss in the layer structure, responsible for the elastic properties. The saponin extracts, showing the highest elastic moduli, were those of Escin, Tea saponins and Berry saponins, all containing predominantly monodesmosidic triterpenoid saponins. Similarly, a high surface modulus was measured for Ginsenosides extracts, containing bidesmosidic triterpenoid saponins with short sugar chains

Electrospinning short polymer micro-fibres with average aspect ratios in the range of 10-200

Ultra fine short fibres have a variety of applications. Short aligned fibres or a mixture of short and long fibres can reinforce brittle materials, alter the appearance, texture and durability of synthetic fibres, and adjust the strength, toughness and stiffness of a composite material. Among electrospun products, short fibres are usually produced by secondary processing of continuous as-spun fibres. However, this is not entirely straightforward or cost-effective due to the efficiency of the secondary process and the relatively low tensile strength of the electrospun ultrafine fibres. Besides, sub-micrometre size fibres with an average aspect ratio (AR) 3000 under the same spinning conditions. © 2011 Springer Science+Business Media B.V