1,732 research outputs found
A near-infrared variability campaign of TMR-1: New light on the nature of the candidate protoplanet TMR-1C
(abridged) We present a near-infrared (NIR) photometric variability study of
the candidate protoplanet, TMR-1C, located at a separation of about 10" (~1000
AU) from the Class I protobinary TMR-1AB in the Taurus molecular cloud. Our
campaign was conducted between October, 2011, and January, 2012. We were able
to obtain 44 epochs of observations in each of the H and Ks filters. Based on
the final accuracy of our observations, we do not find any strong evidence of
short-term NIR variability at amplitudes of >0.15-0.2 mag for TMR-1C or
TMR-1AB. Our present observations, however, have reconfirmed the
large-amplitude long-term variations in the NIR emission for TMR-1C, which were
earlier observed between 1998 and 2002, and have also shown that no particular
correlation exists between the brightness and the color changes. TMR-1C became
brighter in the H-band by ~1.8 mag between 1998 and 2002, and then fainter
again by ~0.7 mag between 2002 and 2011. In contrast, it has persistently
become brighter in the Ks-band in the period between 1998 and 2011. The (H-Ks)
color for TMR-1C shows large variations, from a red value of 1.3+/-0.07 and
1.6+/-0.05 mag in 1998 and 2000, to a much bluer color of -0.1+/-0.5 mag in
2002, and then again a red color of 1.1+/-0.08 mag in 2011. The observed
variability from 1998 to 2011 suggests that TMR-1C becomes fainter when it gets
redder, as expected from variable extinction, while the brightening observed in
the Ks-band could be due to physical variations in its inner disk structure.
The NIR colors for TMR-1C obtained using the high precision photometry from
1998, 2000, and 2011 observations are similar to the protostars in Taurus,
suggesting that it could be a faint dusty Class I source. Our study has also
revealed two new variable sources in the vicinity of TMR-1AB, which show
long-term variations of ~1-2 mag in the NIR colors between 2002 and 2011.Comment: Accepted in A&
Completeness of case ascertainment and survival time error in English cancer registries: impact on 1-year survival estimates.
BACKGROUND: It has been suggested that cancer registries in England are too dependent on processing of information from death certificates, and consequently that cancer survival statistics reported for England are systematically biased and too low. METHODS: We have linked routine cancer registration records for colorectal, lung, and breast cancer patients with information from the Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) database for the period 2001-2007. Based on record linkage with the HES database, records missing in the cancer register were identified, and dates of diagnosis were revised. The effects of those revisions on the estimated survival time and proportion of patients surviving for 1 year or more were studied. Cases that were absent in the cancer register and present in the HES data with a relevant diagnosis code and a relevant surgery code were used to estimate (a) the completeness of the cancer register. Differences in survival times calculated from the two data sources were used to estimate (b) the possible extent of error in the recorded survival time in the cancer register. Finally, we combined (a) and (b) to estimate (c) the resulting differences in 1-year cumulative survival estimates. RESULTS: Completeness of case ascertainment in English cancer registries is high, around 98-99%. Using HES data added 1.9%, 0.4% and 2.0% to the number of colorectal, lung, and breast cancer registrations, respectively. Around 5-6% of rapidly fatal cancer registrations had survival time extended by more than a month, and almost 3% of rapidly fatal breast cancer records were extended by more than a year. The resulting impact on estimates of 1-year survival was small, amounting to 1.0, 0.8, and 0.4 percentage points for colorectal, lung, and breast cancer, respectively. INTERPRETATION: English cancer registration data cannot be dismissed as unfit for the purpose of cancer survival analysis. However, investigators should retain a critical attitude to data quality and sources of error in international cancer survival studies
Effect of Alkyl Chain Length and Linker Atom on the Crystal Packing in 6,12-Dialkoxy- And 6,12-Dialkylsulfanyl-Benzo[1,2- b:4,5- b′]bis[ b]benzothiophenes
The effect of varying the chain length on the solid state conformation and packing of 6,12-dialkoxy- and 6,12-dialkylsulfanyl-benzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]bis[b]benzothiophenes has been studied. The compounds were prepared by SNAr reaction of 6,12-difluorbenzo[1,2-b:4,5-b′]bis[b]benzothiophene with alkoxides or alkanethiolates derived from C7-C10 alcohols and alkanethiols. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis revealed that all but two compounds crystallize in the triclinic space group P1. Two compounds were obtained as monoclinic crystals with space group P21/c. The alkoxy substituted compounds adopted a molecular conformation with a step from the core and a gauche conformation about the C1′-C2′ bond placing the alkyl chains close to parallel with the pentacyclic arene ring system, whereas in the alkylsufanyl derivatives, the alkyl chains were arranged strongly deviated from the plane of the ring, with the sulfur atom antiperiplanar to C3′ of the alkyl chain. NMR measurement of T1 relaxation in CDCl3 showed both the alkoxy and alkylsulfanyl substituents to be freely rotating at ambient temperature in solution, indicating the orientation of the chains in the solid state was due to packing interactions during crystallization
Water poverty in the northeastern hill region (India): potential alleviation through multiple-use water systems: cross-learnings from Nepal Hills
Water poverty index / Construction / Multiple use / Water storage / Farming systems / Villages / Social aspects / Drip irrigation / India / Nepal / Nagaland / Mon district / Lampong Sheanghah
First Confirmed Detection of a Bipolar Molecular Outflow from a Young Brown Dwarf
Studying the earliest stages in the birth of stars is crucial for
understanding how they form. Brown dwarfs with masses between that of stars and
planets are not massive enough to maintain stable hydrogen-burning fusion
reactions during most of their lifetime. Their origins are subject to much
debate in recent literature because their masses are far below the typical mass
where core collapse is expected to occur. We present the first confirmed
evidence that brown dwarfs undergo a phase of molecular outflow that is typical
of young stars. Using the Submillimeter Array, we have obtained a map of a
bipolar molecular outflow from a young brown dwarf. We estimate an outflow mass
of 1.6 x 10^-4 M_Sun and a mass-loss rate of 1.4 x 10^-9 M_Sun. These values
are over two orders of magnitude smaller than the typical ones for T Tauri
stars. From our millimiter continuum data and our own analysis of Spitzer
infrared photometry, we estimate that the brown dwarf has a disk with a mass of
8 x 10^-3 M_Sun and an outer disk radius of 80 AU. Our results demonstrate that
the bipolar molecular outflow operates down to planetary masses, occurring in
brown dwarfs as a scaled-down version of the universal process seen in young
stars.Comment: accepted by ApJ Letter
Na + /H + exchanger isoform 1-induced osteopontin expression facilitates cardiac hypertrophy through p90 ribosomal S6 kinase
Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide. One in three cases of heart failure is due to dilated cardiomyopathy. The Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 1 (NHE1), a multifunctional protein and the key pH regulator in the heart, has been demonstrated to be increased in this condition. We have previously demonstrated that elevated NHE1 activity induced cardiac hypertrophy in vivo. Furthermore, the overexpression of active NHE1 elicited modulation of gene expression in cardiomyocytes including an upregulation of myocardial osteopontin (OPN) expression. To determine the role of OPN in inducing NHE1-mediated cardiomyocyte hypertrophy, double transgenic mice expressing active NHE1 and OPN knockout were generated and assessed by echocardiography and the cardiac phenotype. Our studies showed that hearts expressing active NHE1 exhibited cardiac remodeling indicated by increased systolic and diastolic left ventricular internal diameter and increased ventricular volume. Moreover, these hearts demonstrated impaired function with decreased fractional shortening and ejection fraction. Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) mRNA was upregulated, and there was an increase in heart cell cross-sectional area confirming the cardiac hypertrophic effect. Moreover, NHE1 transgenic mice also showed increased collagen deposition, upregulation of CD44 and phosphorylation of p90 ribosomal s6 kinase (RSK), effects that were regressed in OPN knockout mice. In conclusion, we developed an interesting comparative model of active NHE1 transgenic mouse lines which express a dilated hypertrophic phenotype expressing CD44 and phosphorylated RSK, effects which were regressed in absence of OPN.Scopu
The radial distribution of dust species in young brown dwarf disks
We present a study of the radial distribution of dust species in young brown
dwarf disks. Our work is based on a compositional analysis of the 10 and 20
micron silicate emission features for brown dwarfs in the Taurus-Auriga
star-forming region. A fundamental finding of our work is that brown dwarfs
exhibit stronger signs of dust processing in the cold component of the disk,
compared to the higher mass T Tauri stars in Taurus. For nearly all of our
targets, we find a flat disk structure, which is consistent with the stronger
signs of dust processing observed in these disks. For the case of one brown
dwarf, 2M04230607, we find the forsterite mass fraction to be a factor of ~3
higher in the outer disk compared to the inner disk region. Simple large-scale
radial mixing cannot account for this gradient in the dust chemical
composition, and some local crystalline formation mechanism may be effective in
this disk. The relatively high abundance of crystalline silicates in the outer
cold regions of brown dwarf disks provides an interesting analogy to comets. In
this context, we have discussed the applicability of the various mechanisms
that have been proposed for comets on the formation and the outward transport
of high-temperature material. We also present Chandra X-ray observations for
two Taurus brown dwarfs, 2M04414825 and CFHT-BD-Tau 9. We find 2M04414825,
which has a ~12% crystalline mass fraction, to be more than an order of
magnitude brighter in X-ray than CFHT-BD-Tau 9, which has a ~35% crystalline
mass fraction. Combining with previous X-ray data, we find the inner disk
crystalline mass fractions to be anti-correlated with the X-ray strength.Comment: Accepted in MNRA
Studies on bioactivity of Chara braunii C. C. Gmelin (Charophyta)
Chara braunii a freshwater green algae belonging to the division Charophyta was collected from different freshwater habitats of Faisalabad region of Pakistan. Its antifungal activity was determined by using agar well diffusion method against ten fungal cultures. The results showed a significant response and promising antifungal activity of Ch. braunii against the tested fungal species. The present research work is highly significant in terms of understanding the response of important new natural sources of bioactive compounds for pharmaceutical industry and it is first comprehensive report from Faisalabad region.Chara braunii – пресноводный вид водорослей из отдела Charophyta, был собран в различных пресноводных местообитаниях Фейсалабадской области Пакистана. Антигрибковую активность этого вида изучали методом диффузии на агаре культур 10 штаммов грибов. Установлено влияние Ch. braunii на исследуемые культуры, свидетельствующее об ее антифунгальном характере. Результаты исследования важны для поиска новых природных источников биоактивных веществ, применяемых в фармацевтической промышленности. Это первое подобное исследование в регионе
A Test of Pre-Main-Sequence Lithium Depletion Models
Despite the extensive study of lithium depletion during pre-main-sequence
contraction, studies of individual stars show discrepancies between ages
determined from the HR diagram and ages determined from lithium depletion (Song
et al. 2002, White & Hillenbrand 2005) indicating open questions in the
pre-main-sequence evolutionary models. To further test these models, we present
high resolution spectra for members of the Beta Pictoris Moving Group (BPMG),
which is young and nearby. We measure equivalent widths of the 6707.8 Angstrom
Li I line in these stars and use them to determine lithium abundances. We
combine the lithium abundance with the predictions of pre-main-sequence
evolutionary models in order to calculate a lithium depletion age for each
star. We compare this age to the age predicted by the HR diagram of the same
model. We find that the evolutionary models under-predict the amount of lithium
depletion for the BPMG given its nominal HR diagram age of ~12 Myr (Zuckerman
et al. 2001), particularly for the mid-M stars, which have no observable Li I
line. This results in systematically older ages calculated from lithium
depletion isochrones than from the HR diagram. We suggest that this discrepancy
may be related to the discrepancy between measured M-dwarf radii and the
smaller radii predicted by evolutionary models.Comment: Accepted by ApJ; 21 pages, 5 figure
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