Signatures of Interstellar-Intracluster Medium Interactions: Spiral Galaxy Rotation Curves in Abell 2029

We investigate the rich cluster Abell 2029 (z~0.08) using optical imaging and long-slit spectral observations of 52 disk galaxies distributed throughout the cluster field. No strong emission-line galaxies are present within ~400 kpc of the cluster center, a region largely dominated by the similarly-shaped X-ray and low surface brightness optical envelopes centered on the giant cD galaxy. However, two-thirds of the galaxies observed outside the cluster core exhibit line emission. H-alpha rotation curves of 14 cluster members are used in conjunction with a deep I band image to study the environmental dependence of the Tully-Fisher relation. The Tully-Fisher zero-point of Abell 2029 matches that of clusters at lower redshifts, although we do observe a relatively larger scatter about the Tully-Fisher relation. We do not observe any systematic variation in the data with projected distance to the cluster center: we see no environmental dependence of Tully-Fisher residuals, R-I color, H-alpha equivalent width, and the shape and extent of the rotation curves.Comment: 22 pages, 6 figures, 3 tables; to appear in the August 2000 Astronomical Journa

Signatures of Galaxy-Cluster Interactions: Tully-Fisher Observations at z~0.1

We have obtained new optical imaging and spectroscopic observations of 78 galaxies in the fields of the rich clusters Abell 1413 (z = 0.14), Abell 2218 (z = 0.18) and Abell 2670 (z = 0.08). We have detected line emission from 25 cluster galaxies plus an additional six galaxies in the foreground and background, a much lower success rate than what was found (65%) for a sample of 52 lower-richness Abell clusters in the range 0.02 < z < 0.08. We have combined these data with our previous observations of Abell 2029 and Abell 2295 (both at z = 0.08), which yields a sample of 156 galaxies. We evaluate several parameters as a function of cluster environment: Tully-Fisher residuals, H-alpha equivalent width, and rotation curve asymmetry, shape and extent. Although H-alpha is more easily detectable in galaxies that are located further from the cluster cores, we fail to detect a correlation between H-alpha extent and galaxy location in those where it is detected, again in contrast with what is found in the clusters of lesser richness. We fail to detect any statistically significant trends for the other parameters in this study. The zero-point in the z~0.1 Tully-Fisher relation is marginally fainter (by 1.5 sigma) than that found in nearby clusters, but the scatter is essentially unchanged.Comment: 27 pages including 5 figures; accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journa

Spontaneous formation of Au-Pt alloyed nanoparticles using pure nano-counterparts as starters: a ligand and size dependent process

In this work we investigate the formation of PtAu monodisperse alloyed nanoparticles by ageing pure metallic Au and Pt small nanoparticles (sNPs), nanoparticle size <5 nm, under certain conditions. We demonstrate that those bimetallic entities can be obtained by controlling the size of the initial metallic sNPs separately prepared and by selecting their appropriate capping agents. The formation of this spontaneous phenomenon was studied using HR-STEM, EDS, ionic conductivity, UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Depending on the type of capping agent used and the size of the initial Au sNPs, three different materials were obtained: (i) AuPt bimetallic sNPs showing a surface rich in Au atoms, (ii) segregated Au and Pt sNPs and (iii) a mixture of bimetallic nanoparticles as well as Pt sNPs and Au NPs. Surface segregation energies and the nature of the reaction environment are the driving forces to direct the distribution of atoms in the bimetallic sNPs. PtAu alloyed nanoparticles were obtained after 150 h of reaction at room temperature if a weak capping agent was used for the stabilization of the nanoparticles. It was also found that Au atoms diffuse towards Pt sNPs, producing a surface enriched in Au atoms. This study shows that even pure nanoparticles are prone to be modified by the surrounding nanoparticles to give rise to new nanomaterials if atomic diffusion is feasible

Beyond gold: rediscovering tetrakis-(hydroxymethyl)-phosphonium chloride (THPC) as an effective agent for the synthesis of ultra-small noble metal nanoparticles and Pt-containing nanoalloys

The use of tetrakis-(hydroxymethyl)-phosphonium chloride (THPC) as simultaneous reducing agent and stabilizing ligand has been extended to the single-step synthesis at room temperature of a wide variety of monometallic nanoparticles and bi-/tri- metallic nanoalloys containing noble metals with potential application in catalysis. The colloidal suspensions exhibit mean diameters below 4 nm with narrow size distributions and high stability in aqueous solution for long periods of time

Puesta a punto de la metodología de ejercicios de intercomparación para análisis de fertilidad de suelos. Primeros resultados

Este trabajo recoge la metodología de realización de un ejercicio de intercomparación entre laboratorios españoles que ofertan análisis de la fertilidad de los suelos. Se prepararon alícuotas de cada una de las dos muestras de gran volumen, tomadas en dos suelos con marcadas diferencias entre sí. Una vez testada la homogeneidad de alícuotas se envió una de cada suelo a cada uno de los veintiún laboratorios participantes, junto con instrucciones y un formato para remisión de resultados. En todo el proceso se veló especialmente por la confidencialidad de los resultados de cada participante. Recibidas las respuestas se procedió al análisis de resultados, asignación de valores de consenso y evaluación de cada resultado mediante el indicador “z-score”. El ejercicio ha sido muy bien recibido en un colectivo de laboratorios que no mantenía apenas contacto, y se ha mostrado muy eficaz en la caracterización de la calidad de los resultados emitidos. Se ha puesto en evidencia que hay parámetros con resultados muy homogéneos (pH) frente a otros con diferencias incompatibles con el uso agronómico fiable de los análisis (granulometría, fósforo asimilable, etc.). Queda de manifiesto la urgente necesidad de mantener periódicamente este tipo de ejercicio, como un control de calidad externo que aumente la fiabilidad de los laboratorios. This work includes the methodology for carrying out a proficiency testing program between Spanish laboratories that offer soil fertility analysis. Aliquots of each of the two large volume samples were prepared, taken from two surface horizons of soils with marked differences between them. Once the homogeneity of aliquots was tested, one sample of each soil was sent to each of the twenty-one participating laboratories, together with the instructions and a format for the submission of results. Throughout the process, special care was taken to ensure the confidentiality of the results of each individual participant. Once the responses were received, the results were analyzed, consensus values were assigned and each result was evaluated using the "z-score" indicator. The exercise was very well received by the participating laboratories, and has been very effective in characterizing the quality of the results issued. It has been shown that there are parameters with very homogeneous results (pH) compared to others with differences incompatible with the reliable agronomic use of analyses (granulometry, assimilable phosphorus, etc.). The urgent need to maintain this type of intercomparison exercise periodically, as an external quality control that increases the reliability of laboratories, is evident

Continuous synthesis of drug-loaded nanoparticles using microchannel emulsification and numerical modeling: Effect of passive mixing

By using interdigital microfluidic reactors, monodisperse poly(d, l lactic-co-glycolic acid) nanoparticles (NPs) can be produced in a continuous manner and at a large scale (~10 g/h). An optimized synthesis protocol was obtained by selecting the appropriated passive mixer and fluid flow conditions to produce monodisperse NPs. A reduced NP polydispersity was obtained when using the microfluidic platform compared with the one obtained with NPs produced in a conventional discontinuous batch reactor. Cyclosporin, an immunosuppressant drug, was used as a model to validate the efficiency of the microfluidic platform to produce drug-loaded monodisperse poly(d, l lactic-co-glycolic acid) NPs. The influence of the mixer geometries and temperatures were analyzed, and the experimental results were corroborated by using computational fluid dynamic three-dimensional simulations. Flow patterns, mixing times, and mixing efficiencies were calculated, and the model supported with experimental results. The progress of mixing in the interdigital mixer was quantified by using the volume fractions of the organic and aqueous phases used during the emulsification–evaporation process. The developed model and methods were applied to determine the required time for achieving a complete mixing in each microreactor at different fluid flow conditions, temperatures, and mixing rates

Plasmodium falciparum Apicomplexan-Specific Glucosamine-6-Phosphate N-Acetyltransferase Is Key for Amino Sugar Metabolism and Asexual Blood Stage Development

UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), the main product of the hexosamine biosynthetic pathway, is an important metabolite in protozoan parasites since its sugar moiety is incorporated into glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI) glycolipids and N- and O-linked glycans. Apicomplexan parasites have a hexosamine pathway comparable to other eukaryotic organisms, with the exception of the glucosamine-phosphate N-acetyltransferase (GNA1) enzymatic step that has an independent evolutionary origin and significant differences from nonapicomplexan GNA1s. By using conditional genetic engineering, we demonstrate the requirement of GNA1 for the generation of a pool of UDP-GlcNAc and for the development of intraerythrocytic asexual Plasmodium falciparum parasites. Furthermore, we present the 1.95 A resolution structure of the GNA1 ortholog from Cryptosporidium parvum, an apicomplexan parasite which is a leading cause of diarrhea in developing countries, as a surrogate for P. falciparum GNA1. The indepth analysis of the crystal shows the presence of specific residues relevant for GNA1 enzymatic activity that are further investigated by the creation of site-specific mutants. The experiments reveal distinct features in apicomplexan GNA1 enzymes that could be exploitable for the generation of selective inhibitors against these parasites, by targeting the hexosamine pathway. This work underscores the potential of apicomplexan GNA1 as a drug target against malaria. IMPORTANCE Apicomplexan parasites cause a major burden on global health and economy. The absence of treatments, the emergence of resistances against available therapies, and the parasite''s ability to manipulate host cells and evade immune systems highlight the urgent need to characterize new drug targets to treat infections caused by these parasites. We demonstrate that glucosamine-6-phosphate N-acetyltransferase (GNA1), required for the biosynthesis of UDP-N-acetylglucosamine (UDP-GlcNAc), is essential for P. falciparum asexual blood stage development and that the disruption of the gene encoding this enzyme quickly causes the death of the parasite within a life cycle. The high-resolution crystal structure of the GNA1 ortholog from the apicomplexan parasite C. parvum, used here as a surrogate, highlights significant differences from human GNA1. These divergences can be exploited for the design of specific inhibitors against the malaria parasite

X-ray observations of the galaxy cluster Abell 2029 to the virial radius

We present Suzaku observations of the galaxy cluster Abell 2029, which exploit Suzaku's low particle background to probe the ICM to radii beyond those possible with previous observations (reaching out to the virial radius), and with better azimuthal coverage. We find significant anisotropies in the temperature and entropy profiles, with a region of lower temperature and entropy occurring to the south east, possibly the result of accretion activity in this direction. Away from this cold feature, the thermodynamic properties are consistent with an entropy profile which rises, but less steeply than the predictions of purely gravitational hierarchical structure formation. Excess emission in the northern direction can be explained due to the overlap of the emission from the outskirts of Abell 2029 and nearby Abell 2033 (which is at slightly higher redshift). These observations suggest that the assumptions of spherical symmetry and hydrostatic equilibrium break down in the outskirts of galaxy clusters, which poses challenges for modelling cluster masses at large radii and presents opportunities for studying the formation and accretion history of clusters.Comment: 15 pages, 14 figures. Accepted for publication in the Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Societ

[1,2-Bis(diphenyl­phosphino)-1,2-dicarba-closo-dodeca­borane-κ2 P,P′][7,8-bis­(di­phenyl­phosphino)-7,8-dicarba-nido-undeca­borato-κ2 P,P′]gold(I)–dichloro­methane–water (2/1/1)

The title compound, [Au(C26H30B10P2)(C26H30B9P2)]·0.5CH2Cl2·0.5H2O, contains two independent complex mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit. The gold(I) centres display a distorted tetra­hedral geometry. The complex is stablized through weak intra­molecular π–π stacking (Cg⋯Cg = 4.17 Å) and edge-to-face inter­actions (H⋯Cg = 3.21 Å). Adjacent mol­ecules inter­act through C—H⋯π (H⋯Cg = 2.88 Å) and B—H⋯π (H⋯Cg = 3.15 Å) contacts, forming a three-dimensional network, with solvent mol­ecules occupying the cavities. One of the phenyl groups was disordered over two sites with occupancy factors of 0.65 and 0.35