1,169 research outputs found
The ERE of the "Red Rectangle" revisited
We present in this paper high signal-to-noise long-slit optical spectra of
the Extended Red Emission (ERE) in the "Red Rectangle" (RR) nebula. These
spectra, obtained at different positions in the nebula, reveal an extremely
complex emission pattern on top of the broad ERE continuum. It is well known
that three features converge at large distance from the central object, in
wavelength and profile to the diffuse interstellar bands (DIBs) at 5797, 5849.8
and 6614 ang., (e.g. Sarre et al., 1995). In this paper we give a detailed
inventory of all spectral subfeatures observed in the 5550--6850 ang. spectral
range. Thanks to our high S/N spectra, we propose 5 new features in the RR that
can be associated with DIBs. For the 5550--6200 ang. spectral range our slit
position was on top of the NE spike of the X shaped nebula. A detailed
description of the spatial profile-changes is given of the strongest features
revealing that even far out in the nebula at 24 arcsec from the central star,
there remains a small shift in wavelength of 1 respectively 2 ang between the
ERE subfeatures and the DIB wavelengths of 5797.11 and 5849.78 ang.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures accepted by Astronomy and Astrophysic
Quantitative perfusion MRI of tumor model in mouse
INTRODUCTION: Perfusion in the body provides valuable information about physiological status and disease progression. Measuring perfusion in tumors is considered important with the recognition of angiogenesis, the process of developing new blood vessels, as a key element in the pathophysiology of tumor growth and metastasis1. Many studies have used Gd contrast agents to evaluate tumor blood flow and vasculature but quantification has been complicated and model/agent dependent. Arterial spin labeling (ASL) is a noninvasive and quantitative technique that measures perfusion by magnetically labeling water as a freely diffusible endogenous tracer. Application of ASL to measure perfusion in tumor is a challenge due to the low perfusion values and artifacts caused by …postprintThe 19th Annual Meeting & Exhibition of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine (ISMRM 2011), Montréal, QC., 7-13 May 2011. In Proceedings of the International Society for Magnetic Resonance in Medicine, 2011, v. 19, p. 108
A Revised Model for the Formation of Disk Galaxies: Low Spin and Dark-Halo Expansion
We use observed rotation velocity-luminosity (VL) and size-luminosity (RL)
relations to single out a specific scenario for disk galaxy formation in the
LCDM cosmology. Our model involves four independent log-normal random
variables: dark-halo concentration c, disk spin lam_gal, disk mass fraction
m_gal, and stellar mass-to-light ratio M/L_I. A simultaneous match of the VL
and RL zero points with adiabatic contraction requires low-c halos, but this
model has V_2.2~1.8 V_vir (where V_2.2 and V_vir are the circular velocity at
2.2 disk scale lengths and the virial radius, respectively) which will be
unable to match the luminosity function (LF). Similarly models without
adiabatic contraction but standard c also predict high values of V_2.2/V_vir.
Models in which disk formation induces an expansion rather than the commonly
assumed contraction of the dark-matter halos have V_2.2~1.2 V_vir which allows
a simultaneous fit of the LF. This may result from non-spherical, clumpy gas
accretion, where dynamical friction transfers energy from the gas to the dark
matter. This model requires low lam_gal and m_gal values, contrary to naive
expectations. However, the low lam_gal is consistent with the notion that disk
galaxies predominantly survive in halos with a quiet merger history, while a
low m_gal is also indicated by galaxy-galaxy lensing. The smaller than expected
scatter in the RL relation, and the lack of correlation between the residuals
of the VL and RL relations, respectively, imply that the scatter in lam_gal and
in c need to be smaller than predicted for LCDM halos, again consistent with
the idea that disk galaxies preferentially reside in halos with a quiet merger
history.Comment: 28 pages, 16 figures, ApJ accepted, minor changes from unpublished
version, uses emulateapj.cls, high-resolution version available at
http://www.ucolick.org/~dutton/65200/hi-res-version/ms.dutton.v2_hr.p
A Deep Chandra Observation of the Distant Galaxy Cluster MS1137.5+6625
We present results from a deep Chandra observation of MS1137.5+66, a distant
(z=0.783) and massive cluster of galaxies. Only a few similarly massive
clusters are currently known at such high redshifts; accordingly, this
observation provides much-needed information on the dynamical state of these
rare systems. The cluster appears both regular and symmetric in the X-ray
image. However, our analysis of the spectral and spatial X-ray data in
conjunction with interferometric Sunyaev-Zel'dovich effect data and published
deep optical imaging suggests the cluster has a fairly complex structure. The
angular diameter distance we calculate from the Chandra and Sunyaev-Zel'dovich
effect data assuming an isothermal, spherically symmetric cluster implies a low
value for the Hubble constant for which we explore possible explanations.Comment: 16 pages, 6 figures, submitted to Ap
Age-related endothelial dysfunction in human skeletal muscle feed arteries: the role of free radicals derived from mitochondria in the vasculature
Aim
This study sought to determine the role of free radicals derived from mitochondria in the vasculature in the recognized age-related endothelial dysfunction of human skeletal muscle feed arteries (SMFAs). Methods
A total of 44 SMFAs were studied with and without acute exposure to the mitochondria-targeted antioxidant MitoQ and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) blockade. The relative abundance of proteins from the electron transport chain, phosphorylated (p-) to endothelial (e) NOS ratio, manganese superoxide dismutase (MnSOD) and the mitochondria-derived superoxide () levels were assessed in SMFA. Endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent SMFA vasodilation was assessed in response to flow-induced shear stress, acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Results
MitoQ restored endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the old to that of the young when stimulated by both flow (young: 68 ± 5; old: 25 ± 7; old + MitoQ 65 ± 9%) and ACh (young: 97 ± 4; old: 59 ± 10; old + MitoQ: 98 ± 5%), but did not alter the initially uncompromised, endothelium-independent vasodilation (SNP). Compared to the young, MitoQ in the old diminished the initially elevated mitochondria-derived levels and appeared to attenuate the breakdown of MnSOD. Furthermore, MitoQ increased the ratio of p-eNOS to NOS and the restoration of endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the old by MitoQ was ablated by NOS blockade. Conclusion
This study demonstrated that MitoQ reverses age-related vascular dysfunction by what appears to be an NO-dependent mechanism in human SMFAs. These findings suggest that mitochondria-targeted antioxidants may have utility in terms of counteracting the attenuated blood flow and vascular dysfunction associated with advancing age
Study of KIC 8561221 observed by Kepler: an early red giant showing depressed dipolar modes
The continuous high-precision photometric observations provided by the CoRoT
and Kepler space missions have allowed us to better understand the structure
and dynamics of red giants using asteroseismic techniques. A small fraction of
these stars shows dipole modes with unexpectedly low amplitudes. The reduction
in amplitude is more pronounced for stars with higher frequency of maximum
power. In this work we want to characterize KIC 8561221 in order to confirm
that it is currently the least evolved star among this peculiar subset and to
discuss several hypotheses that could help explain the reduction of the dipole
mode amplitudes. We used Kepler short- and long-cadence data combined with
spectroscopic observations to infer the stellar structure and dynamics of KIC
8561221. We then discussed different scenarios that could contribute to the
reduction of the dipole amplitudes such as a fast rotating interior or the
effect of a magnetic field on the properties of the modes. We also performed a
detailed study of the inertia and damping of the modes. We have been able to
characterize 37 oscillations modes, in particular, a few dipole modes above
nu_max that exhibit nearly normal amplitudes. We have inferred a surface
rotation period of around 91 days and uncovered the existence of a variation in
the surface magnetic activity during the last 4 years. As expected, the
internal regions of the star probed by the l = 2 and 3 modes spin 4 to 8 times
faster than the surface. With our grid of standard models we are able to
properly fit the observed frequencies. Our model calculation of mode inertia
and damping give no explanation for the depressed dipole modes. A fast rotating
core is also ruled out as a possible explanation. Finally, we do not have any
observational evidence of the presence of a strong deep magnetic field inside
the star.Comment: Accepted in A&A. 17 pages, 16 figure
Vasodilatory and vascular mitochondrial respiratory function with advancing age: evidence of a free radically mediated link in the human vasculature
Recognizing the age-related decline in skeletal muscle feed artery (SMFA) vasodilatory function, this study examined the link between vasodilatory and mitochondrial respiratory function in the human vasculature. Twenty-four SMFAs were harvested from young (35 ± 6 yr, n = 9) and old (71 ± 9 yr, n = 15) subjects. Vasodilation in SMFAs was assessed, by pressure myography, in response to flow-induced shear stress, acetylcholine (ACh), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) while mitochondrial respiration was measured, by respirometry, in permeabilized SMFAs. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was significantly attenuated in the old, induced by both flow (young: 92 ± 3, old: 45 ± 4%) and ACh (young: 92 ± 3, old: 54 ± 5%), with no significant difference in endothelium-independent vasodilation. Complex I and I + II state 3 respiration was significantly lower in the old (CI young: 10.1 ± 0.8, old: 7.0 ± 0.4 pmol·s−1·mg−1; CI + II young: 12.3 ± 0.6, old: 7.6 ± 0.4 pmol·s−1·mg−1). The respiratory control ratio (RCR) was also significantly attenuated in the old (young: 2.2 ± 0.1, old: 1.1 ± 0.1). Furthermore, state 3 (CI + II) and 4 respiration, as well as RCR, were significantly correlated (r = 0.49–0.86) with endothelium-dependent, but not endothelium-independent, function. Finally, the direct intervention with mitochondrial-targeted antioxidant (MitoQ) significantly improved endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the old but not in the young. Thus, the age-related decline in vasodilatory function is linked to attenuated vascular mitochondrial respiratory function, likely by augmented free radicals
Vascular mitochondrial respiratory function: the impact of advancing age
Little is known about vascular mitochondrial respiratory function and the impact of age. Therefore, skeletal muscle feed arteries were harvested from young (33 ± 7 yr, n = 10), middle-aged (54 ± 5 yr, n = 10), and old (70 ± 7 yr, n = 10) subjects, and mitochondrial respiration as well as citrate synthase (CS) activity were assessed. Complex I (CI) and complex I + II (CI+II) state 3 respiration were greater in young (CI: 10.4 ± 0.8 pmol·s−1·mg−1 and CI+II: 12.4 ± 0.8 pmol·s−1·mg−1, P \u3c 0.05) than middle-aged (CI: 7 ± 0.6 pmol·s−1·mg−1 and CI+II: 8.3 ± 0.5 pmol·s−1·mg−1) and old (CI: 7.2 ± 0.4 pmol·s−1·mg−1 and CI+II: 7.6 ± 0.5 pmol·s−1·mg−1) subjects and, as in the case of complex II (CII) state 3 respiration, were inversely correlated with age [r = −0.56 (CI), r = −0.7 (CI+II), and r = 0.4 (CII), P \u3c 0.05]. In contrast, state 4 respiration and mitochondria-specific superoxide levels were not different across groups. The respiratory control ratio was greater in young (2.2 ± 0.2, P \u3c 0.05) than middle-aged and old (1.4 ± 0.1 and 1.1 ± 0.1, respectively) subjects and inversely correlated with age (r = −0.71, P \u3c 0.05). As CS activity was inversely correlated with age (r = −0.54, P \u3c 0.05), when normalized for mitochondrial content, the age-related differences and relationships with state 3 respiration were ablated. In contrast, mitochondrion-specific state 4 respiration was now lower in young (15 ± 1.4 pmol·s−1·mg−1·U CS−1, P \u3c 0.05) than middle-aged and old (23.4 ± 3.6 and 27.9 ± 3.4 pmol·s−1·mg−1·U CS−1, respectively) subjects and correlated with age (r = 0.46, P \u3c 0.05). Similarly, superoxide/CS levels were lower in young (0.07 ± 0.01) than old (0.19 ± 0.41) subjects and correlated with age (r = 0.44, P \u3c 0.05). Therefore, with aging, vascular mitochondrial respiratory function declines, predominantly as a consequence of falling mitochondrial content. However, per mitochondrion, aging likely results in greater mitochondrion-derived oxidative stress, which may contribute to age-related vascular dysfunction
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