567 research outputs found
The Ultraviolet Detection of Diffuse Gas in Galaxy Groups
A small survey of the UV-absorbing gas in 12 low- galaxy groups has been
conducted using the Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (COS) on-board the Hubble Space
Telescope (HST). Targets were selected from a large, homogeneously-selected
sample of groups found in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). A critical
selection criterion excluded sight lines that pass close ( virial radii)
to a group galaxy, to ensure absorber association with the group as a whole.
Deeper galaxy redshift observations are used both to search for closer galaxies
and also to characterize these to groups, the
most massive of which are highly-virialized with numerous early-type galaxies
(ETGs). This sample also includes two spiral-rich groups, not yet
fully-virialized. At group-centric impact parameters of 0.3-2 Mpc, these
-30 spectra detected HI absorption in 7 of 12 groups; high
(OVI) and low (SiIII) ion metal lines are present in 2/3 of the absorption
components. None of the three most highly-virialized, ETG-dominated groups are
detected in absorption. Covering fractions % are seen at all impact
parameters probed, but do not require large filling factors despite an enormous
extent. Unlike halo clouds in individual galaxies, group absorbers have radial
velocities which are too low to escape the group potential well without doubt.
This suggests that these groups are "closed boxes" for galactic evolution in
the current epoch. Evidence is presented that the cool and warm group absorbers
are not a pervasive intra-group medium (IGrM), requiring a hotter (
to K) IGrM to be present to close the baryon accounting.Comment: Resubmitted to ApJS after first review; 82 pages (27 for main text,
rest are Appendices and supplemental figures and tables), 47 figures, 21
table
Measuring velocity ratios with correlation functions
We show how to determine the ratio of the transverse velocity of a source to
the velocity of emitted particles, using split-bin correlation functions. The
technique is to measure and , subtract the contributions from
the single-particle distribution, and take the ratio as the bin size goes to
zero. We demonstrate the technique for two cases: each source decays into two
particles, and each source emits a large number of particles.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX, 2 PostScript figure
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Neuronal O-GlcNAcylation Improves Cognitive Function in the Aged Mouse Brain.
Mounting evidence in animal models indicates potential for rejuvenation of cellular and cognitive functions in the aging brain. However, the ability to utilize this potential is predicated on identifying molecular targets that reverse the effects of aging in vulnerable regions of the brain, such as the hippocampus. The dynamic post-translational modification O-linked N-Acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) has emerged as an attractive target for regulating aging-specific synaptic alterations as well as neurodegeneration. While speculation exists about the role of O-GlcNAc in neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's disease, its role in physiological brain aging remains largely unexplored. Here, we report that countering age-related decreased O-GlcNAc transferase (OGT) expression and O-GlcNAcylation ameliorates cognitive impairments in aged mice. Mimicking an aged condition in young adults by abrogating OGT, using a temporally controlled neuron-specific conditional knockout mouse model, recapitulated cellular and cognitive features of brain aging. Conversely, overexpressing OGT in mature hippocampal neurons using a viral-mediated approach enhanced associative fear memory in young adult mice. Excitingly, in aged mice overexpressing neuronal OGT in the aged hippocampus rescued in part age-related impairments in spatial learning and memory as well as associative fear memory. Our data identify O-GlcNAcylaton as a key molecular mediator promoting cognitive rejuvenation
Specificity and Mechanism of Mandelamide Hydrolase Catalysis
The best-studied amidase signature (AS) enzyme is probably fatty acid amide hydrolase (FAAH). Closely related to FAAH is mandelamide hydrolase (MAH), whose substrate specificity and mechanism of catalysis are described in this paper. First, we developed a convenient chromogenic substrate, 4-nitrophenylacetamide, for MAH. The lack of reactivity of MAH with the corresponding ethyl ester confirmed the very limited size of the MAH leaving group site. The reactivity of MAH with 4-nitrophenyl acetate and methyl 4-nitrophenyl carbonate, therefore, suggested formation of an “inverse” acyl-enzyme where the small acyl-group occupies the normal leaving group site. We have interpreted the specificity of MAH for phenylacetamide substrates and small leaving groups in terms of its active site structure, using a homology model based on a FAAH crystal structure. The relevant structural elements were compared with those of FAAH. Phenylmethylboronic acid is a potent inhibitor of MAH (Ki = 27 nM), presumably because it forms a transition state analogue structure with the enzyme. O-Acyl hydroxamates were not irreversible inactivators of MAH but some were found to be transient inhibitors
Searching for periodicities in the MACHO light curve of LMC X-2
Using the exceptional long-term monitoring capabilities of the MACHO project,
we present here the optical history of LMC X-2 for a continuous 6-yr period.
These data were used to investigate the previously claimed periodicities for
this source of 8.15 h and 12.54 d : we find upper amplitude limits of 0.10 mag
and 0.09 mag, respectively.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures. Minor changes, including title. MNRAS, in pres
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