882 research outputs found
UV+IR Star Formation Rates: Hickson Compact Groups with Swift and Spitzer
We present Swift UVOT (1600-3000A) 3-band photometry for 41 galaxies in 11
nearby (<4500km/s) Hickson Compact Groups (HCGs) of galaxies. We use the
uvw2-band (2000A) to estimate the dust-unobscured component, SFR_UV, of the
total star-formation rate, SFR_T. We use Spitzer MIPS 24-micron photometry to
estimate SFR_IR, the dust-obscured component of SFR_T. We obtain
SFR_T=SFR_UV+SFR_IR. Using 2MASS K_s band based stellar mass, M*, estimates, we
calculate specific SFRs, SSFR=SFR_T/M*. SSFR values show a clear and
significant bimodality, with a gap between low (<~3.2x10^-11 / yr) and high
SSFR (>~1.2x10^-10 / yr) systems. All galaxies with MIR activity index a_IRAC
0) are in the high- (low-) SSFR locus, as expected if high levels of
star-formation power MIR emission from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon
molecules and a hot dust continuum. All elliptical/S0 galaxies are in the
low-SSFR locus, while 22 out of 24 spirals/irregulars are in the high-SSFR
locus, with two borderline cases. We divide our sample into three subsamples
(I, II and III) according to decreasing HI-richness of the parent galaxy group
to which a galaxy belongs. Consistent with the SSFR and a_IRAC bimodality, 12
out of 15 type-I (11 out of 12 type-III) galaxies are in the high- (low-) SSFR
locus, while type II galaxies span almost the full range of SSFR values. Unlike
HCG galaxies, galaxies in a comparison quiescent SINGS sub-sample are
continuously distributed both in SSFR and a_IRAC. Any uncertainties can only
further enhance the SSFR bimodality. These results suggest that an environment
characterized by high galaxy number-densities and low galaxy
velocity-dispersions, such as the one found in compact groups, plays a key role
in accelerating galaxy evolution by enhancing star-formation processes in
galaxies and favoring a fast transition to quiescence.(abridged)Comment: Accepted by ApJ. [8 Tables, 16 Figures. Color figures have reduced
size for ArXiv - emulateapj v. 2/16/10
Mycolactone-dependent depletion of endothelial cell thrombomodulin is strongly associated with fibrin deposition in Buruli ulcer lesions
A well-known histopathological feature of diseased skin in Buruli ulcer (BU) is coagulative necrosis caused by the Mycobacterium ulcerans macrolide exotoxin mycolactone. Since the underlying mechanism is not known, we have investigated the effect of mycolactone on endothelial cells, focussing on the expression of surface anticoagulant molecules involved in the protein C anticoagulant pathway. Congenital deficiencies in this natural anticoagulant pathway are known to induce thrombotic complications such as purpura fulimans and spontaneous necrosis. Mycolactone profoundly decreased thrombomodulin (TM) expression on the surface of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HDMVEC) at doses as low as 2ng/ml and as early as 8hrs after exposure. TM activates protein C by altering thrombin's substrate specificity, and exposure of HDMVEC to mycolactone for 24 hours resulted in an almost complete loss of the cells' ability to produce activated protein C. Loss of TM was shown to be due to a previously described mechanism involving mycolactone-dependent blockade of Sec61 translocation that results in proteasome-dependent degradation of newly synthesised ER-transiting proteins. Indeed, depletion from cells determined by live-cell imaging of cells stably expressing a recombinant TM-GFP fusion protein occurred at the known turnover rate. In order to determine the relevance of these findings to BU disease, immunohistochemistry of punch biopsies from 40 BU lesions (31 ulcers, nine plaques) was performed. TM abundance was profoundly reduced in the subcutis of 78% of biopsies. Furthermore, it was confirmed that fibrin deposition is a common feature of BU lesions, particularly in the necrotic areas. These findings indicate that there is decreased ability to control thrombin generation in BU skin. Mycolactone's effects on normal endothelial cell function, including its ability to activate the protein C anticoagulant pathway are strongly associated with this. Fibrin-driven tisischemia could contribute to the development of the tissue necrosis seen in BU lesions
Constraints on the Nucleon Strange Form Factors at Q^2 ~ 0.1 GeV^2
We report the most precise measurement to date of a parity-violating
asymmetry in elastic electron-proton scattering. The measurement was carried
out with a beam energy of 3.03 GeV and a scattering angle =6
degrees, with the result A_PV = -1.14 +/- 0.24 (stat) +/- 0.06 (syst) parts per
million. From this we extract, at Q^2 = 0.099 GeV^2, the strange form factor
combination G_E^s + 0.080 G_M^s = 0.030 +/- 0.025 (stat) +/- 0.006 (syst) +/-
0.012 (FF) where the first two errors are experimental and the last error is
due to the uncertainty in the neutron electromagnetic form factor. This result
significantly improves current knowledge of G_E^s and G_M^s at Q^2 ~0.1 GeV^2.
A consistent picture emerges when several measurements at about the same Q^2
value are combined: G_E^s is consistent with zero while G_M^s prefers positive
values though G_E^s=G_M^s=0 is compatible with the data at 95% C.L.Comment: minor wording changes for clarity, updated references, dropped one
figure to improve focu
Deuteron and antideuteron production in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV
The production of deuterons and antideuterons in the transverse momentum
range 1.1 < p_T < 4.3 GeV/c at mid-rapidity in Au + Au collisions at
sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV has been studied by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. A
coalescence analysis comparing the deuteron and antideuteron spectra with those
of protons and antiprotons, has been performed. The coalescence probability is
equal for both deuterons and antideuterons and increases as a function of p_T,
which is consistent with an expanding collision zone. Comparing (anti)proton
yields p_bar/p = 0.73 +/- 0.01, with (anti)deuteron yields: d_bar/d = 0.47 +/-
0.03, we estimate that n_bar/n = 0.64 +/- 0.04.Comment: 326 authors, 6 pages text, 5 figures, 1 Table. Submitted to PRL.
Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and
previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Mid-Rapidity Direct-Photon Production in p+p Collisions at sqrt(s) = 200 GeV
A measurement of direct photons in p+p collisions at sqrt(s)=200 GeV is
presented. A photon excess above background from pi^0 --> gamma+gamma, eta -->
gamma+gamma, and other decays is observed in the transverse momentum range 5.5
< p_T < 7 GeV/c. The result is compared to a next-to-leading-order perturbative
QCD calculation. Within errors, good agreement is found between the QCD
calculation and the measured result.Comment: 330 authors, 7 pages text, RevTeX, 2 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to
Physical Review D. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures
for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available
at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Suppressed pi^0 Production at Large Transverse Momentum in Central Au+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
Transverse momentum spectra of neutral pions in the range 1 < p_T < 10 GeV/c
have been measured at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC in Au+Au
collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. The pi^0 multiplicity in central reactions
is significantly below the yields measured at the same sqrt(s_NN) in peripheral
Au+Au and p+p reactions scaled by the number of nucleon-nucleon collisions. For
the most central bin, the suppression factor is ~2.5 at p_T = 2 GeV/c and
increases to ~4-5 at p_T ~= 4 GeV/c. At larger p_T, the suppression remains
constant within errors. The deficit is already apparent in semi-peripheral
reactions and increases smoothly with centrality.Comment: 326 authors, 6 pages text, RevTeX, 3 figures, 2 tables. Submitted to
PRL. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and
previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Scaling properties of proton and anti-proton production in sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV Au + Au collisions
We report on the yield of protons and anti-protons, as a function of
centrality and transverse momentum, in Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
measured at mid-rapidity by the PHENIX experiment at RHIC. In central
collisions at intermediate transverse momenta (1.5 < p_T < 4.5 GeV/c) a
significant fraction of all produced particles are protons and anti-protons.
They show a centrality-scaling behavior different from that of pions. The
p-bar/pion and p/pion ratios are enhanced compared to peripheral Au+Au, p+p,
and electron+positron collisions. This enhancement is limited to p_T < 5 GeV/c
as deduced from the ratio of charged hadrons to pi^0 measured in the range 1.5
< p_T < 9 GeV/c.Comment: 325 authors, 6 pages text, 4 figures, RevTeX 4. Minor changes to text
and figures to meet PRL length restrictions; no changes to figures;
resubmitted to PRL. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures
for this and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available
at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Centrality dependence of charged hadron production in deuteron+gold and nucleon+gold collisions at sqrt(s_NN)=200 GeV
We present transverse momentum (p_T) spectra of charged hadrons measured in
deuteron-gold and nucleon-gold collisions at \sqrts = 200 GeV for four
centrality classes. Nucleon-gold collisions were selected by tagging events in
which a spectator nucleon was observed in one of two forward rapidity
detectors. The spectra and yields were investigated as a function of the number
of binary nucleon-nucleon collisions, \nu, suffered by deuteron nucleons. A
comparison of charged particle yields to those in p+p collisions show that the
yield per nucleon-nucleon collision saturates with \nu for high momentum
particles. We also present the charged hadron to neutral pion ratios as a
function of p_T.Comment: 330 authors, 15 pages text, 16 figures, 3 tables. Submitted to Phys.
Rev. Lett. v2 has minor changes to reflect revisions during review process.
Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this and
previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
Azimuthal Angle Correlations for Rapidity Separated Hadron Pairs in d+Au Collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV
We report on two-particle azimuthal angle correlations between charged
hadrons at forward/backward (deuteron/gold going direction) rapidity and
charged hadrons at mid-rapidity in deuteron-gold (d+Au) and proton-proton (p+p)
collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV. Jet structures are observed in the
correlations which we quantify in terms of the conditional yield and angular
width of away side partners. The kinematic region studied here samples partons
in the gold nucleus carrying nucleon momentum fraction x~0.1 to x~0.01. Within
this range, we find no x dependence of the jet structure in d+Au collisions.Comment: 330 authors, 6 pages text, 4 figures, no tables. Submitted to Phys.
Rev. Lett. Plain text data tables for the points plotted in figures for this
and previous PHENIX publications are (or will be) publicly available at
http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
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