247 research outputs found
Genome sequence of the organohalide-respiring Dehalogenimonas alkenigignens type strain (IP3-3(T))
Dehalogenimonas alkenigignens IP3-3(T) is a strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, Gram negative staining bacterium that grows by organohalide respiration, coupling the oxidation of H-2 to the reductive dehalogenation of polychlorinated alkanes. Growth has not been observed with any non-polyhalogenated alkane electron acceptors. Here we describe the features of strain IP3-3(T) together with genome sequence information and its annotation. The 1,849,792 bp high-quality-draft genome contains 1936 predicted protein coding genes, 47 tRNA genes, a single large subunit rRNA (23S-5S) locus, and a single, orphan, small unit rRNA (16S) locus. The genome contains 29 predicted reductive dehalogenase genes, a large majority of which lack cognate genes encoding membrane anchoring proteins.
The McDonald Accelerating Stars Survey (MASS): White Dwarf Companions Accelerating the Sun-like Stars 12 Psc and HD 159062
We present the discovery of a white dwarf companion to the G1 V star 12 Psc
found as part of a Keck adaptive optics imaging survey of long-term
accelerating stars from the McDonald Observatory Planet Search Program. Twenty
years of precise radial-velocity monitoring of 12 Psc with the Tull
Spectrograph at the Harlan J. Smith telescope reveals a moderate radial
acceleration (10 m s yr ), which together with relative
astrometry from Keck/NIRC2 and the astrometric acceleration between
and DR2 yields a dynamical mass of = 0.605
for 12 Psc B, a semi-major axis of 40 AU, and an
eccentricity of 0.840.08. We also report an updated orbit fit of the white
dwarf companion to the metal-poor (but barium-rich) G9 V dwarf HD 159062 based
on new radial velocity observations from the High-Resolution Spectrograph at
the Hobby-Eberly Telescope and astrometry from Keck/NIRC2. A joint fit of the
available relative astrometry, radial velocities, and tangential astrometric
acceleration yields a dynamical mass of = 0.609
for HD 159062 B, a semi-major axis of 60 AU, and
preference for circular orbits (0.42 at 95% confidence). 12 Psc B and HD
159062 B join a small list of resolved "Sirius-like" benchmark white dwarfs
with precise dynamical mass measurements which serve as valuable tests of white
dwarf mass-radius cooling models and probes of AGB wind accretion onto their
main-sequence companions.Comment: Accepted to A
The McDonald Accelerating Stars Survey (MASS): White Dwarf Companions Accelerating the Sun-like Stars 12 Psc and HD 159062
We present the discovery of a white dwarf companion to the G1 V star 12 Psc found as part of a Keck adaptive optics imaging survey of long-term accelerating stars from the McDonald Observatory Planet Search Program. Twenty years of precise radial-velocity monitoring of 12 Psc with the Tull Spectrograph at the Harlan J. Smith telescope reveals a moderate radial acceleration (≈10 m s⁻¹ yr ⁻¹), which together with relative astrometry from Keck/NIRC2 and the astrometric acceleration between Hipparcos and Gaia DR2 yields a dynamical mass of M_B = 0.605^(+0.021)_(−0.022) M ⊙ for 12 Psc B, a semimajor axis of 40⁺²₋₄ au, and an eccentricity of 0.84 ± 0.08. We also report an updated orbital fit of the white dwarf companion to the metal-poor (but barium-rich) G9 V dwarf HD 159062 based on new radial-velocity observations from the High-Resolution Spectrograph at the Hobby–Eberly Telescope and astrometry from Keck/NIRC2. A joint fit of the available relative astrometry, radial velocities, and tangential astrometric acceleration yields a dynamical mass of M_B = 0.609^(+0.010)_(−0.011) M⊙ for HD 159062 B, a semimajor axis of 60⁺⁵₋₇ au, and preference for circular orbits (e < 0.42 at 95% confidence). 12 Psc B and HD 159062 B join a small list of resolved Sirius-like benchmark white dwarfs with precise dynamical mass measurements which serve as valuable tests of white dwarf mass–radius cooling models and probes of AGB wind accretion onto their main-sequence companions
Two Extraordinary Substellar Binaries at the T/Y Transition and the Y-Band Fluxes of the Coolest Brown Dwarfs
Using Keck laser guide star adaptive optics imaging, we have found that the
T9 dwarf WISE J1217+1626 and T8 dwarf WISE J1711+3500 are exceptional binaries,
with unusually wide separations (~0.8 arcsec, 8-15 AU), large near-IR flux
ratios (~2-3 mags), and small mass ratios (~0.5) compared to previously known
field ultracool binaries. Keck/NIRSPEC H-band spectra give a spectral type of
Y0 for WISE J1217+1626B, and photometric estimates suggest T9.5 for WISE
J1711+3500B. The WISE J1217+1626AB system is very similar to the T9+Y0 binary
CFBDSIR J1458+1013AB; these two systems are the coldest known substellar
multiples, having secondary components of ~400 K and being planetary-mass
binaries if their ages are <~1 Gyr. Both WISE J1217+1626B and CFBDSIR
J1458+1013B have strikingly blue Y-J colors compared to previously known T
dwarfs, including their T9 primaries. Combining all available data, we find
that Y-J color drops precipitously between the very latest T dwarfs and the Y
dwarfs. The fact that this is seen in (coeval, mono-metallicity) binaries
demonstrates that the color drop arises from a change in temperature, not
surface gravity or metallicity variations among the field population. Thus, the
T/Y transition established by near-IR spectra coincides with a significant
change in the ~1 micron fluxes of ultracool photospheres. One explanation is
the depletion of potassium, whose broad absorption wings dominate the far-red
optical spectra of T dwarfs. This large color change suggests that far-red data
may be valuable for classifying objects of <~500 K.Comment: ApJ, in press (accepted Aug 1, 2012). Small cosmetic changes in
version 2 to match final publicatio
RANK/RANKL/OPG pathway: genetic associations with stress fracture period prevalence in elite athletes
Context: The RANK/RANKL/OPG signalling pathway is important in the regulation of bone turnover, with single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in genes within this pathway associated with bone phenotypic adaptations.
Objective: To determine whether four SNPs associated with genes in the RANK/RANKL/OPG signalling pathway were associated with stress fracture injury in elite athletes.
Design, Participants, and Methods: Radiologically confirmed stress fracture history was reported in 518 elite athletes, forming the Stress Fracture Elite Athlete (SFEA) cohort. Data were analysed for the whole group, and were sub-stratified into male and cases of multiple stress fracture group. Genotypes were determined using proprietary fluorescence-based competitive allele-specific PCR assays.
Results: SNPs rs3018362 (RANK) and rs1021188 (RANKL) were associated with stress fracture injury (p<0.05). 8.1% of stress fracture group and 2.8% of the non-stress fracture group were homozygote for the rare allele of rs1021188. Allele frequency, heterozygotes and homozygotes for the rare allele of rs3018362 were associated with stress fracture period prevalence (p<0.05). Analysis of the male only group showed 8.2% of rs1021188 rare allele homozygotes to have suffered a stress fracture while 2.5% of the non-stress fracture group were homozygous. In cases of multiple stress fractures, homozygotes for the rare allele of rs1021188, and individuals possessing at least one copy of the rare allele of rs4355801 (OPG) were shown to be associated with stress fracture injury (p<0.05).
Conclusions: The data support an association between SNPs in the RANK/RANKL/OPG signalling pathway and the development of stress fracture injury. The association of rs3018362 (RANK) and rs1021188 (RANKL) with stress fracture injury susceptibility supports their role in the maintenance of bone health, and offers potential targets for therapeutic interventions
Improved Dynamical Masses for Six Brown Dwarf Companions Using Hipparcos and Gaia EDR3
We present comprehensive orbital analyses and dynamical masses for the
substellar companions Gl~229~B, Gl~758~B, HD~13724~B, HD~19467~B, HD~33632~Ab,
and HD~72946~B. Our dynamical fits incorporate radial velocities, relative
astrometry, and most importantly calibrated Hipparcos-Gaia EDR3 accelerations.
For HD~33632~A and HD~72946 we perform three-body fits that account for their
outer stellar companions. We present new relative astrometry of Gl~229~B with
Keck/NIRC2, extending its observed baseline to 25 years. We obtain a 1\%
mass measurement of for the first T dwarf Gl~229~B
and a 1.2\% mass measurement of its host star ()
that agrees with the high-mass-end of the M dwarf mass-luminosity relation. We
perform a homogeneous analysis of the host stars' ages and use them, along with
the companions' measured masses and luminosities, to test substellar
evolutionary models. Gl~229~B is the most discrepant, as models predict that an
object this massive cannot cool to such a low luminosity within a Hubble time,
implying that it may be an unresolved binary. The other companions are
generally consistent with models, except for HD~13724~B that has a host-star
activity age 3.8 older than its substellar cooling age. Examining our
results in context with other mass-age-luminosity benchmarks, we find no trend
with spectral type but instead note that younger or lower-mass brown dwarfs are
over-luminous compared to models, while older or higher-mass brown dwarfs are
under-luminous. The presented mass measurements for some companions are so
precise that the stellar host ages, not the masses, limit the analysis.Comment: Accepted for publication in AJ. References updated in version 2. See
the journal version for the full quality figures. Figure sets and the MCMC
chains (reduced to just 1000 samples however) are included with the journal
version of the article, and pre-publication at
https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1_A8QYn9NyPgmGqJaY5sMHyT_wAS3uRRK?usp=sharin
Tier-Scalable Reconnaissance Missions For The Autonomous Exploration Of Planetary Bodies
A fundamentally new (scientific) reconnaissance mission concept, termed tier-scalable reconnaissance, for remote planetary (including Earth) atmospheric, surface and subsurface exploration recently has been devised that soon will replace the engineering and safety constrained mission designs of the past, allowing for optimal acquisition of geologic, paleohydrologic, paleoclimatic, and possible astrobiologic information of Venus, Mars, Europa, Ganymede, Titan, Enceladus, Triton, and other extraterrestrial targets. This paradigm is equally applicable to potentially hazardous or inaccessible operational areas on Earth such as those related to military or terrorist activities, or areas that have been exposed to biochemical agents, radiation, or natural disasters. Traditional missions have performed local, ground-level reconnaissance through rovers and immobile landers, or global mapping performed by an orbiter. The former is safety and engineering constrained, affording limited detailed reconnaissance of a single site at the expense of a regional understanding, while the latter returns immense datasets, often overlooking detailed information of local and regional significance
The McDonald Accelerating Stars Survey (MASS):Discovery of a Long-Period Substellar Companion Orbiting the Old Solar Analog HD 47127
Brown dwarfs with well-determined ages, luminosities, and masses provide rare
but valuable tests of low-temperature atmospheric and evolutionary models. We
present the discovery and dynamical mass measurement of a substellar companion
to HD 47127, an old (7-10 Gyr) G5 main sequence star with a mass
similar to the Sun. Radial velocities of the host star with the Harlan J. Smith
Telescope uncovered a low-amplitude acceleration of 1.93 0.08 m s
yr based on 20 years of monitoring. We subsequently recovered a faint
(=13.14 0.15 mag) co-moving companion at 1.95 (52 AU) with
follow-up Keck/NIRC2 adaptive optics imaging. The radial acceleration of HD
47127 together with its tangential acceleration from Hipparcos and Gaia EDR3
astrometry provide a direct measurement of the three-dimensional acceleration
vector of the host star, enabling a dynamical mass constraint for HD 47127 B
(67.5-177 at 95% confidence) despite the small fractional
orbital coverage of the observations. The absolute -band magnitude of HD
47127 B is fainter than the benchmark T dwarfs HD 19467 B and Gl 229 B but
brighter than Gl 758 B and HD 4113 C, suggesting a late-T spectral type.
Altogether the mass limits for HD 47127 B from its dynamical mass and the
substellar boundary imply a range of 67-78 assuming it is
single, although a preference for high masses of 100
from dynamical constraints hints at the possibility that HD 47127 B could
itself be a binary pair of brown dwarfs or that another massive companion
resides closer in. Regardless, HD 47127 B will be an excellent target for more
refined orbital and atmospheric characterization in the future.Comment: Accepted to ApJ Letter
Functional polymorphisms in the P2X7 receptor gene are associated with stress fracture injury
Context: Military recruits and elite athletes are susceptible to stress fracture injuries. Genetic predisposition has been postulated to have a role in their development. The P2X7 receptor (P2X7R) gene, a key regulator of bone remodelling, is a genetic candidate that may contribute to stress fracture predisposition.
Objective: To evaluate the putative contribution of P2X7R to stress fracture injury in two separate cohorts, military personnel and elite athletes.
Methods: In 210 Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) military conscripts, stress fracture injury was diagnosed (n=43) based on symptoms and a positive bone scan. In a separate cohort of 518 elite athletes, self-reported medical imaging scan-certified stress fracture injuries were recorded (n=125). Non-stress fracture controls were identified from these cohorts who had a normal bone scan or no history or symptoms of stress fracture injury. Study participants were genotyped for functional SNPs within the P2X7R gene using proprietary fluorescence-based competitive allele-specific PCR assay. Pearson Chi-square (χ2) tests, corrected for multiple comparisons, were used to assess associations in genotype frequencies.
Results: The variant allele of P2X7R SNP rs3751143 (Glu496Ala- loss of function) was associated with stress fracture injury, while the variant allele of rs1718119 (Ala348Thr- gain of function) was associated with a reduced occurrence of stress fracture injury in military conscripts (P<0.05). The association of the variant allele of rs3751143 with stress fractures was replicated in elite athletes (P<0.05), whereas the variant allele of rs1718119 was also associated with reduced multiple stress fracture cases in elite athletes (P<0.05).
Conclusions: The association between independent P2X7R polymorphisms with stress fracture prevalence supports the role of a genetic predisposition in the development of stress fracture injury
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