77 research outputs found
NGC 3310, a galaxy merger?
The HI structure and kinematics of the peculiar starburst galaxy NGC 3310
(Arp 217, UGC 5786) are discussed. New evidence bearing on the origin of the
starburst is presented. The bulk of HI coincides with the bright optical disk
and shows differential rotation. Its velocity dispersion is, however, unusually
large for a spiral galaxy (up to 40 km/s), suggesting that the disk is highly
perturbed as already indicated by optical emission line spectroscopy. There
are, in addition, two prominent HI tails, one extending to the north-west and
the other, somewhat patchy, to the south. These HI tails, the perturbed
kinematics and the peculiar optical morphology strongly suggest a recent merger
between two gas-rich galaxies. This seems to have been a major merger in which
most of the gas in the inner parts has been preserved in neutral atomic form
and either one of the progenitor disks has survived or a new disk has formed.Comment: 10 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&
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Bayesian inference for thermal response test parameter estimation and uncertainty assessment
The effective ground thermal conductivity and borehole thermal resistance constitute information needed to design a ground-source heat pump (GSHP). In situ thermal response tests (TRTs) are considered reliable to obtain these parameters, but interpreting TRT data by a deterministic approach may result in significant uncertainties in the estimates. In light of the impact of the two parameters on GSHP applications, the quantification of uncertainties is necessary. For this purpose, in this study, we develop a stochastic method based on Bayesian inference to estimate the two parameters and associated uncertainties. Numerically generated noisy TRT data and reference sandbox TRT data were used to verify the proposed method. The posterior probability density functions obtained were used to extract the point estimates of the parameters and their credible intervals. Following its verification, the proposed method was applied to in situ TRT data, and the relationship between test time and estimation accuracy was examined. The minimum TRT time of 36 h recommended by ASHRAE produced an uncertainty of ~ ± 21% for effective thermal conductivity. However, the uncertainty of estimation decreased exponentially with increasing TRT time, and was ± 8.3% after a TRT time of 54 h, lower than the generally acceptable range of uncertainty of ± 10%. Based on the obtained results, a minimum TRT time of 50 h is suggested and that of 72 h is expected to produce sufficiently accurate estimates for most cases.This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) (KAKENHI, grant numbers 26709041 and P16074)
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Bayesian inference of structural error in inverse models of thermal response tests
For the design of ground-source heat pumps (GSHPs), two design parameters, namely the ground thermal conductivity and borehole thermal resistance are estimated by interpreting thermal response test (TRT) data using a physical model. In most cases, the parameters are fitted to the measured data assuming that the chosen model can fully reproduce the actual physical response. However, two significant sources of error make the estimation uncertain: random error from experiments and structural bias error that describes the discrepancy between the model and actual physical phenomena. Generally, these two error sources are not evaluated separately. As a result, the suitability of selected models to correctly infer parameters from TRTs are not well understood. In this study, the Bayesian calibration framework proposed by Kennedy and O'Hagan is employed to estimate the GSHP design parameters and quantify the random and structural errors in the inference. The calibration framework enables us to examine structural errors in the commonly used infinite line source model arising due to the conditions in which the TRT takes place. Two in situ TRT datasets were used: TRT1, influenced by contextual disturbances from the outdoor environment, and TRT2, influenced by a strong groundwater flow caused by heavy rainfall. We show that the Bayesian calibration framework is able to quantify the structural errors in the TRT interpretation and therefore can yield more accurate estimates of design parameters with full quantification of uncertainties
Acatalasemic mice are mildly susceptible to adriamycin nephropathy and exhibit increased albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis
Background: Catalase is an important antioxidant enzyme that regulates the level of intracellular hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals. The effects of catalase deficiency on albuminuria and progressive glomerulosclerosis have not yet been fully elucidated. The adriamycin (ADR) nephropathy model is considered to be an experimental model of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. A functional catalase deficiency was hypothesized to exacerbate albuminuria and the progression of glomerulosclerosis in this model.
Methods: ADR was intravenously administered to both homozygous acatalasemic mutant mice (C3H/AnLCs(b)Cs(b)) and control wild-type mice (C3H/AnLCs(a)Cs(a)). The functional and morphological alterations of the kidneys, including albuminuria, renal function, podocytic, glomerular and tubulointerstitial injuries, and the activities of catalase were then compared between the two groups up to 8 weeks after disease induction. Moreover, the presence of a mutation of the toll-like receptor 4 (tlr4) gene, which was previously reported in the C3H/HeJ strain, was investigated in both groups.
Results: The ADR-treated mice developed significant albuminuria and glomerulosclerosis, and the degree of these conditions in the ADR-treated acatalasemic mice was higher than that in the wild-type mice. ADR induced progressive renal fibrosis, renal atrophy and lipid peroxide accumulation only in the acatalasemic mice. In addition, the level of catalase activity was significantly lower in the kidneys of the acatalasemic mice than in the wild-type mice during the experimental period. The catalase activity increased after ADR injection in wild-type mice, but the acatalasemic mice did not have the ability to increase their catalase activity under oxidative stress. The C3H/AnL strain was found to be negative for the tlr4 gene mutation.
Conclusions: These data indicate that catalase deficiency plays an important role in the progression of renal injury in the ADR nephropathy model
Characterization of an OmpA-like outer membrane protein of the acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium, Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans
An OmpA family protein (FopA) previously reported as one of the major outer membrane proteins of an acidophilic iron-oxidizing bacterium Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans was characterized with emphasis on the modification by heat and the interaction with peptidoglycan. A 30-kDa band corresponding to the FopA protein was detected in outer membrane proteins extracted at 75°C or heated to 100°C for 10 min prior to sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE). However, the band was not detected in outer membrane proteins extracted at ≤40°C and without boiling prior to electrophoresis. By Western blot analysis using the polyclonal antibody against the recombinant FopA, FopA was detected as bands with apparent molecular masses of 30 and 90 kDa, suggesting that FopA existed as an oligomeric form in the outer membrane of A. ferrooxidans. Although the fopA gene with a sequence encoding the signal peptide was successfully expressed in the outer membrane of Escherichia coli, the recombinant FopA existed as a monomer in the outer membrane of E. coli. FopA was detected in peptidoglycan-associated proteins from A. ferrooxidans. The recombinant FopA also showed the peptidoglycan-binding activity
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Marine oxygen production and open water supported an active nitrogen cycle during the Marinoan Snowball Earth
The Neoproterozoic Earth was punctuated by two low-latitude Snowball Earth glaciations. Models permit oceans with either total ice cover or substantial areas of open water. Total ice cover would make an anoxic ocean likely, and would be a formidable barrier to biologic survival. However, there are no direct data constraining either the redox state of the ocean or marine biological productivity during the glacials. Here we present iron-speciation, redox-sensitive trace element, and nitrogen isotope data from a Neoproterozoic (Marinoan) glacial episode. Iron-speciation indicates deeper waters were anoxic and Fe-rich, while trace element concentrations indicate surface waters were in contact with an oxygenated atmosphere. Furthermore, synglacial sedimentary nitrogen is isotopically heavier than the modern atmosphere, requiring a biologic cycle with nitrogen fixation, nitrification and denitrification. Our results indicate significant regions of open marine water and active biologic productivity throughout one of the harshest glaciations in Earth history
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