147 research outputs found
Dust in the Photospheric Environment II. Effect on the Near Infrared Spectra of L and T Dwarfs
We report an attempt to interpret the spectra of L and T dwarfs with the use
of the Unified Cloudy Model (UCM). For this purpose, we extend the grid of the
UCMs to the cases of log g = 4.5 and 5.5. The dust column density relative to
the gas column density in the observable photosphere is larger at the higher
gravities, and molecular line intensity is generally smaller at the higher
gravities. The overall spectral energy distributions (SEDs) are f_{J} < f_{H} <
f_{K} in middle and late L dwarfs, f_{J} f_{K} in early T dwarfs (L/T
transition objects), and finally f_{J} > f_{H} > f_{K} in middle and late T
dwarfs, where f_{J}, f_{H}, and f_{K} are the peak fluxes at J, H, and K bands,
respectively, in f_{nu} unit. This tendency is the opposite to what is expected
for the temperature effect, but can be accounted for as the effect of thin dust
clouds formed deep in the photosphere together with the effect of the gaseous
opacities including H_2 (CIA), H_2O, CH_4, and K I. Although the UCMs are
semi-empirical models based on a simple assumption that thin dust clouds form
in the region of T_{cr} < T < T_{cond} (T_{cr} = 1800K is an only empirical
parameter while T_{cond} about 2000K is fixed by the thermodynamical data), the
major observations including the overall SEDs as well as the strengths of the
major spectral features are consistently accounted for throughout L and T
dwarfs. In view of the formidable complexities of the cloud formation, we hope
that our UCM can be of some use as a guide for future modelings of the
ultracool dwarfs as well as for interpretation of observed data of L and T
dwarfs.Comment: 43 pages, 13 figures, to appear in Astrophys. J. (May 20, 2004) Some
minor corrections including the address of our web site, which is now read
Spectropolarimetric Study on Circumstellar Structure of Microquasar LS I +61deg 303
We present optical linear spectropolarimetry of the microquasar LS I
+61 303. The continuum emission is mildly polarized (up to 1.3 %) and
shows almost no temporal change. We find a distinct change of polarization
across the H emission line, indicating the existence of polarization
component intrinsic to the microquasar. We estimate the interstellar
polarization (ISP) component from polarization of the H line and derive
the intrinsic polarization component. The wavelength dependence of the
intrinsic component is well explained by Thomson scattering in equatorial disk
of the Be-type mass donor. The position angle (PA) of the intrinsic
polarization represents the rotational axis of the Be disk.
This PA is nearly perpendicular to the PA of the radio jet found during
quiescent phases. Assuming an orthogonal disk-jet geometry around the compact
star, the rotational axis of the accretion disk is almost perpendicular to that
of the Be disk. Moreover, according to the orbital parameters of the
microquasar, the compact star is likely to get across the Be disk around their
periastron passage. We discuss the peculiar circumstellar structure of this
microquasar inferred from our observation and possible connection with its
high-energy activities.Comment: 17pages, 7figures; accepted for Publications of the Astronomical
Society of Japa
Optical and Near-Infrared Photometry of Nova V2362 Cyg : Rebrightening Event and Dust Formation
We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) photometry of a classical nova,
V2362 Cyg (= Nova Cygni 2006). V2362 Cyg experienced a peculiar rebrightening
with a long duration from 100 to 240 d after the maximum of the nova. Our
multicolor observation indicates an emergence of a pseudophotosphere with an
effective temperature of 9000 K at the rebrightening maximum. After the
rebrightening maximum, the object showed a slow fading homogeneously in all of
the used bands for one week. This implies that the fading just after the
rebrightening maximum ( less or equal 1 week ) was caused by a slowly shrinking
pseudophotosphere. Then, the NIR flux drastically increased, while the optical
flux steeply declined. The optical and NIR flux was consistent with blackbody
radiation with a temperature of 1500 K during this NIR rising phase. These
facts are likely to be explained by dust formation in the nova ejecta. Assuming
an optically thin case, we estimate the dust mass of 10^(-8) -- 10^(-10)
M_solar, which is less than those in typical dust-forming novae. These results
support the senario that a second, long-lasting outflow, which caused the
rebrightening, interacted with a fraction of the initial outflow and formed
dust grains.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, 2010, PASJ, 62, 1103--1108, in pres
Simultaneous MITSuME gRI monitoring of S5 0716+714
We present results of our intra-night optical flux monitoring observations of
S5 0716+714 done simultaneously in gRI filters. The observations were done
using Multicolor Imaging Telescopes for Survey and Monstrous Explosions
(MITSuME) instrument on the 50 cm telescope at the Okayama Astrophysical
Observatory over 30 nights between 11 March 2008 and 8 May 2008. Of these 30
nights, 22 nights have continuous (without any break) observations with
duration ranging from 1 to 6 hours and hence were considered for intra-night
optical variability (INOV). In total we have 4888 datapoints which were
simultaneous in gR and I filters. Of the 22 nights considered for INOV, the
object showed flux variability on 19 nights with the amplitude of variability
in the I-band ranging from ~4% to ~55%. The duty cycle for INOV was thus found
to be 83%. No time lag between different bands was noticed on most of the
nights, except for 3 nights where the variation in g was found to lead that of
the I band by 0.3 to 1.5 hrs. On inter-night timescales, no lag was found
between g and I bands. On inter-night timescales as well as intra-night
timescales on most of the nights, the amplitude of variability was found to
increase toward shorter wavelengths. The flux variations in the different bands
were not achromatic, with the blazar tending to become bluer when brighter both
on inter-night and intra-night timescales; and this might be attributed to the
larger amplitude variation at shorter wavelengths. A clear periodic variation
of 3.3 hrs was found on 1 April 2008 and a hint for another possible periodic
variability of 4 hrs was found on 31 March 2008. During our 30 days of
observations over a 2 month period the source has varied with an amplitude of
variability as large as ~80%.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures and 5 tables, Accepted in MNRA
The 2006 November outburst of EG Aquarii: the SU UMa nature revealed
We report time-resolved CCD photometry of the cataclysmic variable EG Aquarii
during the 2006 November outburst During the outburst, superhumps were
unambiguously detected with a mean period of 0.078828(6) days, firstly
classifying the object as an SU UMa-type dwarf nova. It also turned out that
the outburst contained a precursor. At the end of the precursor, immature
profiles of humps were observed. By a phase analysis of these humps, we
interpreted the features as superhumps. This is the second example that the
superhumps were shown during a precursor. Near the maximum stage of the
outburst, we discovered an abrupt shift of the superhump period by
0.002 days. After the supermaximum, the superhump period decreased at the rate
of =, which is typical for SU UMa-type dwarf
novae. Although the outburst light curve was characteristic of SU UMa-type
dwarf novae, long-term monitoring of the variable shows no outbursts over the
past decade. We note on the basic properties of long period and inactive SU
UMa-type dwarf novae.Comment: 9 pages, 7 figures, accepted for PAS
Exogenous Addition of a C-Xylopyranoside Derivative Stimulates Keratinocyte Dermatan Sulfate Synthesis and Promotes Migration
As C-Xyloside has been suggested to be an initiator of glycosaminoglycan (GAG) synthesis, and GAGs such as Dermatan sulfate (DS) are potent enhancers of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) - 10 action, we investigated if a C-Xylopyranoside derivative, (C-β-D-xylopyranoside-2-hydroxy-propane, C-Xyloside), could promote DS production by cultured normal human keratinocytes, how this occurs and if C-Xyloside could also stimulate FGF-dependent cell migration and proliferation. C-Xyloside-treated keratinocytes greatly increased secretion of total sulfated GAGs. Majority of the induced GAG was chondroitin sulfate/dermatan sulfate (CS/DS) of which the major secreted GAG was DS. Cells lacking xylosyltransferase enzymatic activity demonstrated that C-Xyloside was able to stimulate GAG synthesis without addition to core proteins. Consistent with the observed increase in DS, keratinocytes treated with C-Xyloside showed enhanced migration in response to FGF-10 and secreted into their culture media GAGs that promoted FGF-10-dependent cellular proliferation. These results indicate that C-Xyloside may enhance epithelial repair by serving as an initiator of DS synthesis
Effect of troglitazone on tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis development of the mouse osteosarcoma cell line LM8
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Osteosarcoma often develops micrometastases in the lung prior to diagnosis, causing a fatal outcome. Therefore, the prevention of pulmonary metastases is critical for the improvement of the prognosis of patients with osteosarcoma. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether troglitazone (TGZ) is considered as possible therapeutics in the treatment of growth and metastasis of osteosarcoma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>LM8 cells were treated for 3 days with various concentrations of TGZ. The effect of TGZ on cell proliferation was determined by DNA measurement in the cultures and 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine incorporation study. The assay of cell invasion and motility was performed using either the Matrigel-coated cell culture inserts or the uncoated cell culture inserts in the invasion chambers. The effect of TGZ on Akt signaling was assessed by Western blot analysis of Akt and p-Akt. The effects of oral administration of either TGZ (TGZ group) or ethanol (control group) on the growth of primary tumor and the development of pulmonary metastasis were examined in nude mice implanted with LM8 cells on their backs. The expression and activity of matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2) within the tumor were determined by immunohistochemistry and zymography. The microvessel density (MVD) within the tumor was determined by immunohistochemistry for CD34.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>TGZ dose-dependently inhibits cell proliferation. TGZ-treated cells were less invasive and less motile than untreated cells. The activity of MMP-2 secreted by TGZ-treated cells was lower than that secreted by untreated cells. TGZ decreased the level of p-Akt. The primary tumor mass was smaller in the TGZ group than in the control group. The TGZ group had less metastatic tumors in the lung compared with the control group. The expression and activity of MMP-2 within the tumor of the TGZ group were lower than those of the control group. The MVD within the tumor of the TGZ group was lower than that of the control group.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Inhibition of Akt signaling by TGZ may decrease the secretion of MMP-2, resulting in the decrease of invasiveness and motility in LM8 cells. Treatment of tumor-bearing mice with TGZ decreases the expression and activity of MMP-2 within the tumor, and inhibits primary tumor growth and pulmonary metastasis development. TGZ may offer a new approach in chemotherapy for osteosarcoma.</p
Diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma and AL amyloidosis with focus on improvement of renal lesion
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