104 research outputs found
Influence of surface roughness on interdiffusion processes in InGaP/Ge heteroepitaxial thin films
VLBI observations of SN2011dh: imaging of the youngest radio supernova
We report on the VLBI detection of supernova SN2011dh at 22GHz using a subset
of the EVN array. The observations took place 14 days after the discovery of
the supernova, thus resulting in a VLBI image of the youngest radio-loud
supernova ever. We provide revised coordinates for the supernova with
milli-arcsecond precision, linked to the ICRF. The recovered flux density is a
factor 2 below the EVLA flux density reported by other authors at the same
frequency and epoch of our observations. This discrepancy could be due to
extended emission detected with the EVLA or to calibration problems in the VLBI
and/or EVLA observations.Comment: Letter. Accepted in A&
Unique metabolites protect earthworms against plant polyphenols
All higher plants produce polyphenols, for defence against above-ground herbivory. These polyphenols also influence the soil micro- and macro-fauna that break down plant leaf litter. Polyphenols therefore indirectly affect the fluxes of soil nutrients and, ultimately, carbon turnover and ecosystem functioning in soils. It is unknown how earthworms, the major component of animal biomass in many soils, cope with high-polyphenol diets. Here, we show that earthworms possess a class of unique surface-active metabolites in their gut, which we term ‘drilodefensins’. These compounds counteract the inhibitory effects of polyphenols on earthworm gut enzymes, and high-polyphenol diets increase drilodefensin concentrations in both laboratory and field populations. This shows that drilodefensins protect earthworms from the harmful effects of ingested polyphenols. We have identified the key mechanism for adaptation to a dietary challenge in an animal group that has a major role in organic matter recycling in soils worldwide
Extensive Spectroscopy and Photometry of the Type IIP Supernova 2013ej
We present extensive optical (, , and open CCD) and
near-infrared () photometry for the very nearby Type IIP SN ~2013ej
extending from +1 to +461 days after shock breakout, estimated to be MJD
. Substantial time series ultraviolet and optical spectroscopy
obtained from +8 to +135 days are also presented. Considering well-observed SNe
IIP from the literature, we derive bolometric calibrations from
and unfiltered measurements that potentially reach 2\% precision with a
color-dependent correction. We observe moderately strong Si II
as early as +8 days. The photospheric velocity () is
determined by modeling the spectra in the vicinity of Fe II
whenever observed, and interpolating at photometric epochs based on a
semianalytic method. This gives km s at +50
days. We also observe spectral homogeneity of ultraviolet spectra at +10--12
days for SNe IIP, while variations are evident a week after explosion. Using
the expanding photosphere method, from combined analysis of SN 2013ej and SN
2002ap, we estimate the distance to the host galaxy to be
Mpc, consistent with distance estimates from other methods. Photometric and
spectroscopic analysis during the plateau phase, which we estimated to be
days long, yields an explosion energy of
ergs, a final pre-explosion progenitor mass of ~M and a
radius of ~R. We observe a broken exponential profile beyond
+120 days, with a break point at + days. Measurements beyond this
break time yield a Ni mass of ~M.Comment: 29 pages, 23 figures, 15 tables, Published in The Astrophisical
Journa
Analysis of Drosophila Atg8 proteins reveals multiple lipidation-independent roles
Yeast Atg8 and its homologs are involved in autophagosome biogenesis in all eukaryotes. These are the most widely used markers for autophagy thanks to the association of their lipidated forms with autophagic membranes. The Atg8 protein family expanded in animals and plants, with most Drosophila species having two Atg8 homologs. In this Brief Report, we use clear-cut genetic analysis in Drosophila melanogaster to show that lipidated Atg8a is required for autophagy, while its non-lipidated form is essential for developmentally programmed larval midgut elimination and viability. In contrast, expression of Atg8b is restricted to the male germline and its loss causes male sterility without affecting autophagy. We find that high expression of non-lipidated Atg8b in the male germline is required for fertility. Consistent with these non-canonical functions of Atg8 proteins, loss of Atg genes required for Atg8 lipidation lead to autophagy defects but do not cause lethality or male sterility
The effect of dopamine agonists on adaptive and aberrant salience in Parkinson's disease
Clinical evidence suggests that after initiation of dopaminergic medications some patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) develop psychotic symptoms, such as hallucinations and delusions. Here, we tested the hypothesis that the neurocognitive basis of this phenomenon can be defined as the formation of arbitrary and illusory associations between conditioned stimuli and reward signals, called aberrant salience. Young, never-medicated PD patients and matched controls were assessed on a speeded reaction time task in which the probe stimulus was preceded by conditioned stimuli that could signal monetary reward by color or shape. The patients and controls were re-evaluated after 12 weeks during which the patients received a dopamine agonist (pramipexole or ropinirole). Results indicated that dopamine agonists increased both adaptive and aberrant salience in PD patients, that is, formation of real and illusory associations between conditioned stimuli and reward, respectively. This effect was present when associations were assessed by means of faster responding after conditioned stimuli signaling reward (implicit salience) and overt rating of stimulus-reward links (explicit salience). However, unusual feelings and experiences, which are subclinical manifestations of psychotic-like symptoms, were specifically related to irrelevant and illusory stimulus-reward associations (aberrant salience) in PD patients receiving dopamine agonists. The learning of relevant and real stimulus-reward associations (adaptive salience) was not related to unusual experiences. These results suggest that dopamine agonists may increase psychotic-like experiences in young patients with PD, possibly by facilitating dopaminergic transmission in the ventral striatum, which results in aberrant associations between conditioned stimuli and reward
SN 2005cs in M51 II. Complete Evolution in the Optical and the Near-Infrared
We present the results of the one year long observational campaign of the
type II-plateau SN 2005cs, which exploded in the nearby spiral galaxy M51 (the
Whirlpool Galaxy). This extensive dataset makes SN 2005cs the best observed
low-luminosity, 56Ni-poor type II-plateau event so far and one of the best
core-collapse supernovae ever. The optical and near-infrared spectra show
narrow P-Cygni lines characteristic of this SN family, which are indicative of
a very low expansion velocity (about 1000 km/s) of the ejected material. The
optical light curves cover both the plateau phase and the late-time radioactive
tail, until about 380 days after core-collapse. Numerous unfiltered
observations obtained by amateur astronomers give us the rare opportunity to
monitor the fast rise to maximum light, lasting about 2 days. In addition to
optical observations, we also present near-infrared light curves that (together
with already published UV observations) allow us to construct for the first
time a reliable bolometric light curve for an object of this class. Finally,
comparing the observed data with those derived from a semi-analytic model, we
infer for SN 2005cs a 56Ni mass of about 0.003 solar masses, a total ejected
mass of 8-13 solar masses and an explosion energy of about 3 x 10^50 erg.Comment: 18 pages, 18 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA
The study of protein conformation in solution via direct sampling by desorption electrospray ionization mass spectrometry
Effects of Tailored Surface Chemistry on Desorption Electrospray Ionization Mass Spectrometry: a Surface-Analytical Study by XPS and AFM
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