429 research outputs found
Dynamical evolution of escaped plutinos, another source of Centaurs
It was shown in previous works the existence of weakly chaotic orbits in the
plutino population that diffuse very slowly. These orbits correspond to
long-term plutino escapers and then represent the plutinos that are escaping
from the resonance at present. In this paper we perform numerical simulations
in order to explore the dynamical evolution of plutinos recently escaped from
the resonance. The numerical simulations were divided in two parts. In the
first one we evolved 20,000 test particles in the resonance in order to detect
and select the long-term escapers. In the second one, we numerically integrate
the selected escaped plutinos in order to study their dynamical post escaped
behavior. Our main results include the characterization of the routes of escape
of plutinos and their evolution in the Centaur zone. We obtained a present rate
of escape of plutinos between 1 and 10 every 10 years. The escaped plutinos
have a mean lifetime in the Centaur zone of 108 Myr and their contribution to
the Centaur population would be a fraction of less than 6 % of the total
Centaur population. In this way, escaped plutinos would be a secondary source
of Centaurs.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&
Planet-star interactions with precise transit timing: II. The radial-velocity tides and a tighter constraint on the orbital decay rate in the WASP-18 system
From its discovery, the WASP-18 system with its massive transiting planet on a tight orbit was identified as a unique laboratory for studies on tidal planet-star interactions. In an analysis of Doppler data, which include five new measurements obtained with the HIRES/Keck-I instrument between 2012 and 2018, we show that the radial velocity signal of the photosphere following the planetary tidal potential can be distilled for the host star. Its amplitude is in agreement with both theoretical predictions of the equilibriumtide approximation and an ellipsoidalmodulation observed in an orbital phase curve. Assuming a circular orbit, we refine system parameters using photometric time series from TESS. With a new ground-based photometric observation, we extend the span of transit timing observations to 28 yr in order to probe the rate of the orbital period shortening. Since we found no departure from a constant-period model, we conclude that the modified tidal quality parameter of the host star must be greater than 3.9Ă—106with 95% confidence. This result is in line with conclusions drawn from studies of the population of hot Jupiters, predicting that the efficiency of tidal dissipation is 1 or 2 orders of magnitude weaker. As the WASP-18 system is one of the prime candidates for detection of orbital decay, further timing observations are expected to push the boundaries of our knowledge on stellar interiors.Fil: Maciejewski, G.. Nicolaus Copernicus University; PoloniaFil: Knutson, H. A.. California Institute of Technology; Estados UnidosFil: Howard, A. W.. University of Hawaii; Estados UnidosFil: Isaacson, H.. University of California at Berkeley; Estados UnidosFil: Fernandez Lajus, Eduardo Eusebio. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de AstrofĂsica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias AstronĂłmicas y GeofĂsicas. Instituto de AstrofĂsica La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Di Sisto, Romina Paula. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones CientĂficas y TĂ©cnicas. Centro CientĂfico TecnolĂłgico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de AstrofĂsica La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias AstronĂłmicas y GeofĂsicas. Instituto de AstrofĂsica La Plata; ArgentinaFil: Migaszewski, C.. Nicolaus Copernicus University; Poloni
Synthesis and evaluation of thymol-based synthetic derivatives as dual-action inhibitors against different strains of h. pylori and AGS cell line
Following a similar approach on carvacrol-based derivatives, we investigated the synthesis and the microbiological screening against eight strains of H. pylori, and the cytotoxic activity against human gastric adenocarcinoma (AGS) cells of a new series of ether compounds based on the structure of thymol. Structural analysis comprehended elemental analysis and 1H/13C/19F NMR spectra. The analysis of structure-activity relationships within this molecular library of 38 structurally-related compounds reported that some chemical modifications of the OH group of thymol led to broad-spectrum growth inhibition on all isolates. Preferred substitutions were benzyl groups compared to alkyl chains, and the specific presence of functional groups at para position of the benzyl moiety such as 4-CN and 4-Ph endowed the most anti-H. pylori activity toward all the strains with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values up to 4 µg/mL. Poly-substitution on the benzyl ring was not essential. Moreover, several compounds characterized by the lowest minimum inhibitory concentration/minimum bactericidal concentration (MIC/MBC) values against H. pylori were also tested in order to verify a cytotoxic effect against AGS cells with respect to 5-fluorouracil and carvacrol. Three derivatives can be considered as new lead compounds alternative to current therapy to manage H. pylori infection, preventing the occurrence of severe gastric diseases. The present work confirms the possibility to use natural compounds as templates for the medicinal semi-synthesis
Drug Loaded Gingival Mesenchymal Stromal Cells (GinPa-MSCs) Inhibit In Vitro Proliferation of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.
Comparison of perioperative parameters in one-handed rotational phacoemulsification versus conventional phacoemulsification and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery
AIM: To compare perioperative parameters of one-handed rotational phacoemulsification technique (one-handed phaco-roll) with each of other two techniques, “Divide et Conquer” and femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery (FLACS) METHODS: In this retrospective and comparative cohort study, eyes with uncomplicated cataract (nuclear density grade 2 to 3) treated routinely with one-handed phaco-roll (n=23; Group 1) or “Divide et Conquer” (n=23; Group 2) or FLACS (n=23; Group 3) were enrolled. Intraoperative parameters including effective phaco-time (EPt), ultrasound time (USt), aspiration time, surgical time, phacoemulsification (phaco)-power, balanced salt solution (BSS) use, cumulative dissipated energy (CDE) were recorded and compared. Clinical outcomes including best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), corneal endothelial cell density (ECD), endothelial cell loss (ECL), central corneal thickness (CCT) and central macular thickness (CMT), were assessed and compared pre-operatively and at 1mo after surgery. RESULTS: Aspiration and surgical time, and BSS used were lower in Group 1 (P<0.01) than other groups. EPt, phaco-power and CDE were lower in Group 1 (P<0.05) than Group 2 but not significantly different from Group 3. In Group 1, USt was lower (P<0.05) than Group 2 but higher (P<0.05) than Group 3. BCVA improved in all groups without significant difference between Group 1 and the other ones. No significant differences regarding all post-operative morphologic outcomes (ECD, ECL, CCT, CMT) were reported. No clinical complications occurred. CONCLUSION: One-handed phaco-roll seems to be less time-consuming than “Divide et Conquer” and FLACS and less energy-consuming than “Divide et Conquer”. Furthermore, one-handed phaco-roll seems to have an equal safety profile compared to the other two techniques
Contemporary presence of dynamical and statistical production of intermediate mass fragments in midperipheral Ni+Ni collisions at 30 MeV/nucleon
The reaction at 30 MeV/nucleon has been experimentally
investigated at the Superconducting Cyclotron of the INFN Laboratori Nazionali
del Sud. In midperipheral collisions the production of massive fragments
(4Z12), consistent with the statistical fragmentation of the
projectile-like residue and the dynamical formation of a neck, joining
projectile-like and target-like residues, has been observed. The fragments
coming from these different processes differ both in charge distribution and
isotopic composition. In particular it is shown that these mechanisms leading
to fragment production act contemporarily inside the same event.Comment: 9 pages, minor correction
The scattering of small bodies in planetary systems: constraints on the possible orbits of cometary material
The scattering of small bodies by planets is an important dynamical process
in planetary systems. We present an analytical model to describe this process
using the simplifying assumption that each particle's dynamics is dominated by
a single planet at a time. As such the scattering process can be considered as
a series of three body problems during each of which the Tisserand parameter
with respect to the relevant planet is conserved. This constrains the orbital
parameter space into which a particle can be scattered. Such arguments have
previously been applied to the process by which comets are scattered to the
inner Solar System from the Kuiper belt. Our analysis generalises this for an
arbitrary planetary system. For particles scattered from an outer belt directly
along a chain of planets, based on the initial value of the Tisserand
parameter, we find that it is possible to (i) determine which planets can eject
the particles from the system, (ii) define a minimum stellar distance to which
particles can be scattered, and (iii) constrain range of particle inclinations
(and hence the disc height) at different distances. Applying this to the Solar
System, we determine that the planets are close to optimally separated for
scattering particles between them. Concerning warm dust found around stars that
also have Kuiper belt analogues, we show that, if there is to be a dynamical
link between the outer and inner regions, then certain architectures for the
intervening planetary system are incapable of producing the observations.
Furthermore we show that for certain planetary systems, comets can be scattered
from an outer belt, or with fewer constraints, from an Oort cloud analogue,
onto star-grazing orbits, in support of a planetary origin to the metal
pollution and dustiness of some nearby white dwarfs
The role of TcdB and TccC subunits in secretion of the photorhabdus Tcd toxin complex
The Toxin Complex (TC) is a large multi-subunit toxin encoded by a range of bacterial pathogens. The best-characterized examples are from the insect pathogens Photorhabdus, Xenorhabdus and Yersinia. They consist of three large protein subunits, designated A, B and C that assemble in a 5:1:1 stoichiometry. Oral toxicity to a range of insects means that some have the potential to be developed as pest control technology. The three subunit proteins do not encode any recognisable export sequences and as such little progress has been made in understanding their secretion. We have developed heterologous TC production and secretion models in E. coli and used them to ascribe functions to different domains of the crucial B+C sub-complex. We have determined that the B and C subunits use a secretion mechanism that is either encoded by the proteins themselves or employ an as yet undefined system common to laboratory strains of E. coli. We demonstrate that both the N-terminal domains of the B and C subunits are required for secretion of the whole complex. We propose a model whereby the N-terminus of the C-subunit toxin exports the B+C sub-complex across the inner membrane while that of the B-subunit allows passage across the outer membrane. We also demonstrate that even in the absence of the B-subunit, that the C-subunit can also facilitate secretion of the larger A-subunit. The recognition of this novel export system is likely to be of importance to future protein secretion studies. Finally, the identification of homologues of B and C subunits in diverse bacterial pathogens, including Burkholderia and Pseudomonas, suggests that these toxins are likely to be important in a range of different hosts, including man
Presence of Legionella spp. in human dental plaque
Aims. The aim of this research is to verify the presence of Legionella in human dental plaque. Methods. 65 adult patients not treated with systemic or local antibiotics at least 2 months before the time of sample collection were enrolled for plaque collection between September 2015 and December 2016. A brief questionnaire about lifestyle and health risks was administered. Legionella spp. detection has been executed by semi- nested PCR. Results. 8 out of 65 plaque samples (12.3%) were positive for Legionella spp. As regards health risks and lifestyle aspects, no relevant difference was observed between patients involved in our study, except for two positive patients who have reported a COPD ongoing and a pneumonia in the past. Conclusions. This study represents a step forward in the knowledge of reservoirs of the microorganism and richness of oral microbiot
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