1,108 research outputs found
The spectral-curvature parameter: an alternative tool for the analysis of synchrotron spectra
The so-called Spectral Curvature Parameter(SCP), when plotted versus the
high-frequency spectral index () of synchrotron sources, provides
crucial parameters on the continuum spectrum of synchrotron radiation without
the more complex modeling of spectral ageing scenarios. An important merit of
the SCP- diagram is the enhanced reliability of extracting multiple
injection spectra, . Different from the colour-colour diagram,
tracks of different s, especially when the synchrotron particles
are young, exhibit less overlap and less smearing in the SCP- diagram.
Three giant radio galaxies(GRGs) and a sample of Compact steep spectrum(CSS)
souces are presented. GRGs exhibit asymmetries of their injection spectral
indices in the SCP- diagram. The obtained
s and the trends in the sources are cross-checked with the
literature and show remarkable confidence. Besides the spectral steepening,
spectral flattening is prominent in the radio lobes. The spectral flattening is
a clue to efficient re-acceleration processes in the lobes. It implies
interaction with the surrounding intergalactic or intra-cluster medium is an
important characteristic of GRGs. In the SW lobe of DA240, there is a clear
sign of CI and KP/JP bifurcation at the source extremity. This indicates a
highly relativistic energy transportation from the core or in situ acceleration
in this typical FR I lobe. Our analysis proves, if exists, KP spectra imply the
existence of strong field with . In the CSS
sources, our result confirms the CI model and . The
synchrotron self-absorption is significant in the CSS sample.Comment: to be published in A&
The role of proteomics in defining the human embryonic secretome
Non-invasive gamete and embryo assessment is considered an important focus in assisted reproductive technologies (ART). Currently, the selection of embryos for transfer is based on morphological indices. Though successful, the field of ART would benefit from a non-invasive quantitative method of viability determination. Omics technologies, including transcriptomics, proteomics and metabolomics, have already begun providing evidence that viable gametes and embryos possess unique molecular profiles with potential biomarkers that can be utilized for developmental and/or viability selection. Unlike the human genome that is relatively fixed and steady throughout the human body, the human proteome, estimated at over a million proteins, is more complex, diverse and dynamic. It is the proteins themselves that contribute to the physiological homeostasis in any cell or tissue. Of particular interest in ART is the secretome, those proteins that are produced within the embryo and secreted into the surrounding environment. Defining the human embryonic secretome has the potential to expand our knowledge of embryonic cellular processes, including the complex dialogue between the developing embryo and its maternal environment, and may also assist in identifying those embryos with the highest implantation potential. Advances in proteomic technologies have allowed the non-invasive profiling of the human embryonic secretome with ongoing research focused on correlation with outcome. From a clinical perspective, embryo selection based on morphological assessment and non-invasive analysis of the human embryonic secretome may improve IVF success and lead to routine single embryo transfers
Statistical Characterization of Temperature Patterns in Anisotropic Cosmologies
We consider the issue of characterizing the coherent large-scale patterns
from CMB temperature maps in globally anisotropic cosmologies. The methods we
investigate are reasonably general; the particular models we test them on are
the homogeneous but anisotropic relativistic cosmologies described by the
Bianchi classification. Although the temperature variations produced in these
models are not stochastic, they give rise to a "non-Gaussian" distribution of
temperature fluctuations over the sky that is a partial diagnostic of the
model. We explore two methods for quantifying non-Gaussian and/or
non-stationary fluctuation fields in order to see how they respond to the
Bianchi models.We first investigate the behavior of phase correlations between
the spherical harmonic modes of the maps. Then we examine the behavior of the
multipole vectors of the temperature distribution which, though defined in
harmonic space, can indicate the presence of a preferred direction in real
space, i.e. on the 2-sphere. These methods give extremely clear signals of the
presence of anisotropy when applied to the models we discuss, suggesting that
they have some promise as diagnostics of the presence of global asymmetry in
the Universe.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables, accepted by MNRA
The lives of FR I radio galaxies
After a brief introduction to the morphological properties of FRI radio
sources, we discuss the possibility that FRI jets are relativistic at their
bases and decelerate quickly to non-relativistic velocities. From two-frequency
data we determine spectral index distributions and consequently the ages of FRI
sources. We show that in the large majority of cases synchrotron theory
provides unambiguous and plausible answers; in a few objects re-acceleration of
electrons may be needed. The derived ages are of the order 10^7-10^8 years, 2-4
times larger than the ages inferred from dynamical arguments and a factor 5-10
larger than the ages of FRII sources. The linear sizes of FRI and FRII sources
make it unlikely that many FRII's evolve into FRI's. A brief discussion is
given of the possibility that radio sources go through different cycles of
activity.Comment: 19 pages, including 13 figures, to appear in `Life Cycles of Radio
Galaxies', ed. J. Biretta et al., New Astronomy Review
Coaxial Jets and Sheaths in Wide-Angle-Tail Radio Galaxies
We add 20, 6 and 3.6 cm wavelength VLA observations of two WATs, 1231+674 and
1433+553, to existing VLA data at 6 and 20 cm, in order to study the variations
of spectral index as a function of position. We apply the spectral tomography
process that we introduced in our analysis of 3C67, 3C190 and 3C449. Both
spectral tomography and polarization maps indicate that there are two distinct
extended components in each source. As in the case of 3C449, we find that each
source has a flat spectrum jet surrounded by a steeper spectrum sheath. The
steep components tend to be more highly polarized than the flat components. We
discuss a number of possibilities for the dynamics of the jet/sheath systems,
and the evolution of their relativistic electron populations. While the exact
nature of these two coaxial components is still uncertain, their existence
requires new models of jets in FR I sources and may also have implications for
the dichotomy between FR Is and FR IIs.Comment: 29 text pages plus 13 figures. Scheduled for publication in May 10,
1999 Ap
Expression of EpsteinâBarr VirusâEncoded Small RNA (by the EBER-1 Gene) in Liver Specimens from Transplant Recipients with Post-Transplantation Lymphoproliferative Disease
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)âassociated post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD) develops in 1 to 10 percent of transplant recipients, in whom it can be treated by a reduction in the level of immunosuppression. We postulated that the tissue expression of the small RNA transcribed by the EBER-1 gene during latent EBV infection would identify patients at risk for PTLD. We studied EBER-1 gene expression in liver specimens obtained from 24 patients 2 days to 22 months before the development of PTLD, using in situ hybridization with an oligonucleotide probe. Control specimens were obtained from 20 recipients of allografts with signs of injury due to organ retrieval, acute graft rejection, or viral hepatitis in whom PTLD had not developed 9 to 71 months after the biopsy. Of the 24 patients with PTLD, 17 (71 percent) had specimens in which 1 to 40 percent of mononuclear cells were positive for the EBER-1 gene. In addition, 10 of these 17 patients (59 percent) had specimens with histopathological changes suggestive of EBV hepatitis. In every case, EBER-1âpositive cells were found within the lymphoproliferative lesions identified at autopsy. Only 2 of the 20 controls (10 percent) had specimens with EBER-1âpositive cells (P<0.001), and such cells were rare. EBER-1 gene expression in liver tissue precedes the occurrence of clinical and histologic PTLD. The possibility of identifying patients at risk by the method we describe here and preventing the occurrence of PTLD by a timely reduction of immunosuppression needs to be addressed by future prospective studies. (N Engl J Med 1992;327:1710â4.), POST-TRANSPLANTATION lymphoproliferative disease (PTLD), either polyclonal or monoclonal, complicates the clinical course of 1 to 10 percent of organ-transplant recipients.123 Immunohistochemical studies have demonstrated that the lymphoid cells within the lesions of PTLD almost invariably contain EpsteinâBarr virus (EBV), primarily in a state of latent infection.4,5 The EBER-1 gene is expressed early during latent EBV infection and codes for a small messenger RNA (mRNA) expressed at up to 107 copies per cell.6 We and others have previously demonstrated the value of the detection of EBER-1 RNA for identifying EBV-infected cells in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissues.7,8 In the current investigation, we used⊠© 1992, Massachusetts Medical Society. All rights reserved
Challenges of open innovation: the paradox of firm investment in open-source software
Open innovation is a powerful framework encompassing the generation, capture, and employment of intellectual property at the firm level. We identify three fundamental challenges for firms in applying the concept of open innovation: finding creative ways to exploit internal innovation, incorporating external innovation into internal development, and motivating outsiders to supply an ongoing stream of external innovations. This latter challenge involves a paradox, why would firms spend money on R&D efforts if the results of these efforts are available to rival firms? To explore these challenges, we examine the activity of firms in opensource software to support their innovation strategies. Firms involved in open-source software often make investments that will be shared with real and potential rivals. We identify four strategies firms employ â pooled R&D/product development, spinouts, selling complements and attracting donated complements â and discuss how they address the three key challenges of open innovation. We conclude with suggestions for how similar strategies may apply in other industries and offer some possible avenues for future research on open innovation
Stress induced grooming in the rat -- An endorphin mediated syndrome
Exposure of adult male Sprague--Dawley rats to a non-traumatic noise-light stress procedure subsequently increased grooming behavior in a novel environment. The grooming syndrome was marginally facilitated by adrenalectomy and by hypophysectomy. Opiate blockade by naltrexone returned grooming to basal levels. This suggests that stress induced grooming is not dependent upon pituitary-adrenal integrity for its expression, although it may be modulated by the latter. On the other hand this form of grooming may depend upon an endogenous opiate system.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/23542/1/0000501.pd
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