1,160 research outputs found
Morphogenesis of the vulva and the vulval-uterine connection
The C. elegans hermaphrodite vulva is an established model system to study mechanisms of cell fate specification and tissue morphogenesis. The adult vulva is a tubular shaped organ composed of seven concentric toroids that arise from selective fusion between differentiated vulval progeny. The dorsal end of the vulval tubule is connected to the uterus via a multinucleate syncytium utse (uterine-seam) cell. The vulval tubule and utse are formed as a result of changes in morphogenetic processes such as cell polarity, adhesion, and invagination. A number of genes controlling these processes are conserved all the way up to human and function in similar developmental contexts. This makes it possible to extend the findings to other metazoan systems. Gene expression studies in the vulval and uterine cells have revealed the presence of regulatory networks specifying distinct cell fates. Thus, these two cell types serve as a good system to understand how gene networks confer unique cell identities both experimentally and computationally. This chapter focuses on morphogenetic processes during the formation of the vulva and its connection to uterus
Morphogenesis of the vulva and the vulval-uterine connection
The C. elegans hermaphrodite vulva is an established model system to study mechanisms of cell fate specification and tissue morphogenesis. The adult vulva is a tubular shaped organ composed of seven concentric toroids that arise from selective fusion between differentiated vulval progeny. The dorsal end of the vulval tubule is connected to the uterus via a multinucleate syncytium utse (uterine-seam) cell. The vulval tubule and utse are formed as a result of changes in morphogenetic processes such as cell polarity, adhesion, and invagination. A number of genes controlling these processes are conserved all the way up to human and function in similar developmental contexts. This makes it possible to extend the findings to other metazoan systems. Gene expression studies in the vulval and uterine cells have revealed the presence of regulatory networks specifying distinct cell fates. Thus, these two cell types serve as a good system to understand how gene networks confer unique cell identities both experimentally and computationally. This chapter focuses on morphogenetic processes during the formation of the vulva and its connection to uterus
PRELIMINARY OUTCOMES OF FEASIBILITY AND EFFICACY OF BRIEF RESILIENCE STRESS TRAINING: A PILOT STUDY OF THE MARST PROGRAM
Human service professionals are at risk for stress-related psychological problems. Whilst there has been considerable research of the causes and effects of these problems, little research has been conducted on brief interventions to cultivate resilience in this at risk occupational group. Mindfulness-based interventions, which have shown promise in cultivating resilience, are also widely accepted as efficacious in the treatment of psychological disorders. The aims of this paper were to gather preliminary information regarding the feasibility of implementing a brief Mindful Awareness Resilience Skills Training program (MARST) to enhance resilience, mindfulness and positive emotions in human service professionals. The program consisted of resilience and mindfulness enhancement strategies. Twenty-two participants completed the two x oneday group training sessions over two weeks. Data were analyzed using repeated measures analysis of variance, which indicated a significant main effect of intervention. Post hoc analysis showed significant improvements between pre and post intervention scores on measures of resilience (p = .02) mindfulness (p < .001), positive reappraisal (p = .01) and positive emotions (p = .03). When comparisons were made between pre-MARST and one month follow up, positive effects of intervention were found on the measures of resilience (p < .001), mindfulness (p < .001), positive reappraisal (p < .001) and the reduction of negative emotions (p = .02). The participants provided positive feedback on the content and delivery of the MARST program. The results from this study provide preliminary support for the MARST program to enhance resilience, mindfulness, positive reappraisal and positive emotions and amongst human service professionals
Nicotinamide is an Endogenous Agonist for a C. elegans TRPV OSM-9 and OCR-4 Channel
TRPV ion channels are directly activated by sensory stimuli and participate in thermo-, mechano- and chemo-sensation. They are also hypothesized to respond to endogenous agonists that would modulate sensory responses. Here, we show that the nicotinamide (NAM) form of vitamin B3 is an agonist of a Caenorhabditis elegans TRPV channel. Using heterologous expression in Xenopus oocytes, we demonstrate that NAM is a soluble agonist for a channel consisting of the well-studied OSM-9 TRPV subunit and relatively uncharacterized OCR-4 TRPV subunit as well as the orthologous Drosophila Nan-Iav TRPV channel, and we examine stoichiometry of subunit assembly. Finally, we show that behaviours mediated by these C. elegans and Drosophila channels are responsive to NAM, suggesting conservation of activity of this soluble endogenous metabolite on TRPV activity. Our results in combination with the role of NAM in NAD+ metabolism suggest an intriguing link between metabolic regulation and TRPV channel activity
Natural Resistance-Associated Macrophage Protein Is a Cellular Receptor for Sindbis Virus in Both Insect and Mammalian Hosts
SummaryAlphaviruses, including several emerging human pathogens, are a large family of mosquito-borne viruses with Sindbis virus being a prototypical member of the genus. The host factor requirements and receptors for entry of this class of viruses remain obscure. Using a Drosophila system, we identified the divalent metal ion transporter natural resistance-associated macrophage protein (NRAMP) as a host cell surface molecule required for Sindbis virus binding and entry into Drosophila cells. Consequently, flies mutant for dNRAMP were protected from virus infection. NRAMP2, the ubiquitously expressed vertebrate homolog, mediated binding and infection of Sindbis virus into mammalian cells, and murine cells deficient for NRAMP2 were nonpermissive to infection. Alphavirus glycoprotein chimeras demonstrated that the requirement for NRAMP2 is at the level of Sindbis virus entry. Given the conserved structure of alphavirus glycoproteins, and the widespread use of transporters for viral entry, other alphaviruses may use conserved multipass membrane proteins for infection
A Search for Dark Matter Annihilation with the Whipple 10m Telescope
We present observations of the dwarf galaxies Draco and Ursa Minor, the local
group galaxies M32 and M33, and the globular cluster M15 conducted with the
Whipple 10m gamma-ray telescope to search for the gamma-ray signature of
self-annihilating weakly interacting massive particles (WIMPs) which may
constitute astrophysical dark matter (DM). We review the motivations for
selecting these sources based on their unique astrophysical environments and
report the results of the data analysis which produced upper limits on excess
rate of gamma rays for each source. We consider models for the DM distribution
in each source based on the available observational constraints and discuss
possible scenarios for the enhancement of the gamma-ray luminosity. Limits on
the thermally averaged product of the total self-annihilation cross section and
velocity of the WIMP, , are derived using conservative estimates for
the magnitude of the astrophysical contribution to the gamma-ray flux. Although
these limits do not constrain predictions from the currently favored
theoretical models of supersymmetry (SUSY), future observations with VERITAS
will probe a larger region of the WIMP parameter phase space, and
WIMP particle mass (m_\chi).Comment: 33 pages, 12 figures, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical
Journa
The First VERITAS Telescope
The first atmospheric Cherenkov telescope of VERITAS (the Very Energetic
Radiation Imaging Telescope Array System) has been in operation since February
2005. We present here a technical description of the instrument and a summary
of its performance. The calibration methods are described, along with the
results of Monte Carlo simulations of the telescope and comparisons between
real and simulated data. The analysis of TeV -ray observations of the
Crab Nebula, including the reconstructed energy spectrum, is shown to give
results consistent with earlier measurements. The telescope is operating as
expected and has met or exceeded all design specifications.Comment: Accepted by Astroparticle Physic
Multiwavelength Observations of the Blazar Mrk 421 in December 2002 and January 2003
We report on a multiwavelength campaign on the TeV gamma-ray blazar Markarian
(Mrk) 421 performed during December 2002 and January 2003. These target of
opportunity observations were initiated by the detection of X-ray and TeV
gamma-ray flares with the All Sky Monitor (ASM) on board the Rossi X-ray Timing
Explorer (RXTE) and the 10 m Whipple gamma-ray telescope.The campaign included
observational coverage in the radio (University of Michigan Radio Astronomy
Observatory), optical (Boltwood, La Palma KVA 0.6m, WIYN 0.9m), X-ray (RXTE
pointed telescopes), and TeV gamma-ray (Whipple and HEGRA) bands.
At TeV energies, the observations revealed several flares at intermediate
flux levels, peaking between 1 and 1.5 times the flux from the Crab Nebula.
While the time averaged spectrum can be fitted with a single power law of
photon index Gamma =2.8, we find some evidence for spectral variability.
Confirming earlier results, the campaign reveals a rather loose correlation
between the X-ray and TeV gamma-ray fluxes. In one case, a very strong X-ray
flare is not accompanied by a comparable TeV gamma-ray flare. Although the
source flux was variable in the optical and radio bands, the sparse sampling of
the optical and radio light curves does not allow us to study the correlation
properties in detail.
We present a simple analysis of the data with a synchrotron-self Compton
model, emphasizing that models with very high Doppler factors and low magnetic
fields can describe the data.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa
A connection between star formation activity and cosmic rays in the starburst galaxy M 82
Although Galactic cosmic rays (protons and nuclei) are widely believed to be
dominantly accelerated by the winds and supernovae of massive stars, definitive
evidence of this origin remains elusive nearly a century after their discovery
[1]. The active regions of starburst galaxies have exceptionally high rates of
star formation, and their large size, more than 50 times the diameter of
similar Galactic regions, uniquely enables reliable calorimetric measurements
of their potentially high cosmic-ray density [2]. The cosmic rays produced in
the formation, life, and death of their massive stars are expected to
eventually produce diffuse gamma-ray emission via their interactions with
interstellar gas and radiation. M 82, the prototype small starburst galaxy, is
predicted to be the brightest starburst galaxy in gamma rays [3, 4]. Here we
report the detection of >700 GeV gamma rays from M 82. From these data we
determine a cosmic-ray density of 250 eV cm-3 in the starburst core of M 82, or
about 500 times the average Galactic density. This result strongly supports
that cosmic-ray acceleration is tied to star formation activity, and that
supernovae and massive-star winds are the dominant accelerators.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures; published in Nature; Version is prior to
Nature's in-house style editing (differences are minimal
VERITAS Observations of the BL Lac Object 1ES 1218+304
The VERITAS collaboration reports the detection of very-high-energy (VHE)
gamma-ray emission from the high-frequency-peaked BL Lac object 1ES 1218+304
located at a redshift of z=0.182. A gamma-ray signal was detected with high
statistical significance for the observations taken during several months in
the 2006-2007 observing season. The photon spectrum between ~160 GeV and ~1.8
TeV is well described by a power law with an index of Gamma = 3.08 +/-
0.34(stat) +/- 0.2(sys). The integral flux above 200 GeV corresponds to ~6% of
that of the Crab Nebula. The light curve does not show any evidence for VHE
flux variability. Using lower limits on the density of the extragalactic
background light (EBL) in the near-IR to mid-IR we are able to limit the range
of intrinsic energy spectra for 1ES 1218+304. We show that the intrinsic photon
spectrum is harder than a power law with an index of Gamma = 2.32 +/- 0.37.
When including constraints from the spectra of 1ES 1101-232 and 1ES 0229+200,
the spectrum of 1ES 1218+304 is likely to be harder than Gamma = 1.86 +/- 0.37.Comment: Submitted to Proceedings of "4th Heidelberg International Symposium
on High Energy Gamma-Ray Astronomy 2008
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