50 research outputs found
Astrobiologically Interesting Stars within 10 parsecs of the Sun
The existence of life based on carbon chemistry and water oceans relies upon
planetary properties, chiefly climate stability, and stellar properties, such
as mass, age, metallicity and Galactic orbits. The latter can be well
constrained with present knowledge. We present a detailed, up-to-date
compilation of the atmospheric parameters, chemical composition, multiplicity
and degree of chromospheric activity for the astrobiologically interesting
solar-type stars within 10 parsecs of the Sun. We determine their state of
evolution, masses, ages and space velocities, and produce an optimized list of
candidates that merit serious scientific consideration by the future
space-based interferometry probes aimed at directly detecting Earth-sized
extrasolar planets and seeking spectroscopic infrared biomarkers as evidence of
photosynthetic life. The initially selected stars number 33 solar-type within
the population of 182 stars (excluding late M-dwarfs) closer than 10 pc. A
comprehensive and detailed data compilation for these objects is still
essentially lacking: a considerable amount of recent data has so far gone
unexplored in this context. We present 13 objects as the nearest "biostars",
after eliminating multiple stars, young, chromospherically active, hard X-ray
emitting stars, and low metallicity objects. Three of these "biostars", HD
1581, 109358 and 115617, closely reproduce most of the solar properties and are
considered as premier targets. We show that approximately 7% of the nearby
stars are optimally interesting targets for exobiology.Comment: 36 pages, recommended for publication in Astrobiolog
Discovery of the benchmark metal poor T8 dwarf BD+01 2920B
We have searched the WISE first data release for widely separated (<10,000AU)
late T dwarf companions to Hipparcos and Gliese stars. We have discovered a new
binary system containing a K-band suppressed T8p dwarf WISEP J1423+0116 and the
mildly metal poor ([Fe/H]=-0.38+-0.06) primary BD+01 2920 (Hip 70319), a G1
dwarf at a distance of 17.2pc. This new benchmark has Teff=680+-55K and a mass
of 20-50 Mjup. Its spectral properties are well modelled except for known
discrepancies in the Y and K bands. Based on the well determined metallicity of
its companion, the properties of BD+01 2920B imply that the currently known T
dwarfs are dominated by young low-mass objects. We also present an accurate
proper motion for the T8.5 dwarf WISEP J075003.84+272544.8.Comment: MNRAS, accepted 2012 January 1
Bare and Polymer-Coated Indium Tin Oxide as Working Electrodes for Manganese Cathodic Stripping Voltammetry
Passenger or Driver? A Cross-National Examination of Media Coverage and Civil War Interventions
Sources of Humanitarian Intervention: Beliefs, Information, and Advocacy in the U.S. Decisions on Somalia and Bosnia
Co-expression in Helicobacter pylori of cagA and non-opsonic neutrophil activation enhances the association with peptic ulcer disease
AimsâTo investigate the association of cagA positivity and non-opsonic neutrophil activation capacity in wild-type Helicobacter pylori strains with peptic ulcer disease or chronic gastritis only. MethodsâHelicobacter pylori were isolated from antral biopsies of 53 consecutive patients with chronic antral gastritis, of whom 24 had peptic ulcer disease endoscopically. The presence of cagA, a marker for the cag pathogenicity island, was determined by polymerase chain reaction with specific oligonucleotide primers, and non-opsonic neutrophil activation capacity by luminol enhanced chemiluminescence. ResultsâThe cagA gene was present in 39 of 53 (73.6%) strains, 20 of which (83.3%) were from the 24 patients with peptic ulcer disease and 19 (65.5%) from the 29 patients with chronic gastritis only. Non-opsonic neutrophil activation was found in 29 (54.7%) strains, 16 of which (66.7%) were from patients with peptic ulcer disease, and 13 (44.8%) from those with chronic gastritis. Non-opsonic neutrophil activation was found more frequently in cagA(+) than cagA(-) strains (59% v 42.9%). Whereas four of the 14 cagA(-) strains and eight of the 24 non-opsonic neutrophil activation negative strains were from patients with peptic ulcer disease, only two of 24 (8.3%) peptic ulcer disease strains expressed neither cagA nor non-opsonic neutrophil activation. The cagA gene and non-opsonic neutrophil activation capacity were co-expressed in 14 of 24 (58.3%) strains from patients with peptic ulcer disease, and in nine of 29 (31%) strains from individuals with chronic gastritis. ConclusionsâPositivity for cagA and non-opsonic neutrophil activation occur independently in wild-type H pylori strains. However, co-expression of the two markers enhanced the prediction of peptic ulcer disease. Key Words: Helicobacter pylori âą neutrophil âą cag