Looking at the bright side - The story of AA Dor as revealed by its cool companion

Irradiation effects in close binaries are crucial for a reliable determination of system parameters and understanding the close binary evolution. We study irradiated light originating from the low mass component of an eclipsing system comprising a hot subdwarf primary and a low mass companion, to precisely interpret their high precision photometric and spectroscopic data, and accurately determine their system and surface parameters. We re-analyse the archival VLT/UVES spectra of AA Dor system where irradiation features have already been detected. After removing the predominant contribution of the hot subdwarf primary, the residual spectra reveal more than 100 emission lines from the heated side of the secondary with maximum intensity close to the phases around secondary eclipse. We analyse 22 narrow emission lines of the irradiated secondary, mainly of OII, with a few CII lines. Their phase profiles constrain the emission region of the heated side to a radius $\geq$ 95% of the radius of the secondary. The shape of their velocity profiles reveals two distinct asymmetry features one at the quadrature and the other at the secondary eclipse. We identify more than 70 weaker emission lines originating from HeI, NII, SiIII, CaII and MgII. We correct the radial velocity semi-amplitude of the center-of-light to the centre-of-mass of the secondary and calculate accurate masses of both components. The resulting masses $M_{1}$=0.46 $\pm$ 0.01$M_{\odot}$ and $M_{2}$=0.079 $\pm$ 0.002$M_{\odot}$ are in perfect accordance with those of a canonical hot subdwarf primary and a low mass star just at the substellar limit for the companion. We compute a first generation atmosphere model of the irradiated low mass secondary, which matches the observed spectrum well. We find an indication of an extended atmosphere of the irradiated secondary star.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in A&

ANACAMPTODON SPLACHNOIDES (AMBLYSTEGIACEAE): HUNGARIAN POPULATIONS OF A MOSS SPECIES WITH A PECULIAR HABITAT

Twenty-seven colonies of Anacamptodon splachnoides, a rare and endangered species throughout its distributional range, and protected by law in Hungary, were discovered in the Transdanubian Mountain Range, Balaton Uplands, Vértes and Gerecse Mts, as well as in the North Hungarian Mountains, Börzsöny Mts. Th ey grow in decaying hollows of Quercus cerris fi lled with rain water (dend ro tel ma) or in wet holes without standing water. Th e sites are enumerated, the size of populations is estimated, and distribution maps, illustrations and a short description of the species are provided

Twinning of cubic diamond explains reported nanodiamond polymorphs

The unusual physical properties and formation conditions attributed to h-, i-, m-, and n-nanodiamond polymorphs has resulted in their receiving much attention in the materials and planetary science literature. Their identification is based on diffraction features that are absent in ordinary cubic (c-) diamond (space group: Fd-3m). We show, using ultra-high-resolution transmission electron microscope (HRTEM) images of natural and synthetic nanodiamonds, that the diffraction features attributed to the reported polymorphs are consistent with c-diamond containing abundant defects. Combinations of {113} reflection and rotation twins produce HRTEM images and d-spacings that match those attributed to h-, i-, and m-diamond. The diagnostic features of n-diamond in TEM images can arise from thickness effects of c-diamonds. Our data and interpretations strongly suggest that the reported nanodiamond polymorphs are in fact twinned c-diamond. We also report a new type of twin ( rotational), which can give rise to grains with dodecagonal symmetry. Our results show that twins are widespread in diamond nanocrystals. A high density of twins could strongly influence their applications

REVISION OF THE RED LIST STATUS OF HUNGARIAN BRYOPHYTES 1. NEW OCCURRENCES OF SPECIES PREVIOUSLY THOUGHT TO BE REGIONALLY EXTINCT OR WITHOUT RECENT DATA

For 37 species that have been without recent data and therefore listed in the categories regionally extinct (RE) and data defi cient (DD, DD-va), new occurrences have been detected. Th ese are documented with precise localities, date of collection, collectors, herbarium specimens, associated bryophytes, and taxonomic annotations where appropriate. Some are also illustrated by photographs, and for three of them we include distribution maps. According to the present state of knowledge and IUCN criteria, of these 37 species 10 are critically endangered, 14 are endangered, 2 are vulnerable and 5 are near threatened. In spite of the new occurrences, 6 species are rated data defi cient (DD)

Design of Fault-Tolerant Control for Trajectory Tracking

International audienceThe paper proposes a fault-tolerant integrated control system with the brake and the steering for developing a driver assistance system. The purpose is to design a fault-tolerant control which is able to guarantee the trajectory tracking and lateral stability of the vehicle against actuator fault scenarios. Since both actuators affect the lateral dynamics of the vehicle, in the control design a balance and priority between them must be achieved. The method is extended with a fault-tolerant feature based on a robust LPV method, into which the detected fault information are incorporated. The control design is performed by using the Matlab/Simulink software and the verification of the designed controller is performed by using the CarSim software

The receptor RAGE: Bridging inflammation and cancer

The receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE) is a single transmembrane receptor of the immunoglobulin superfamily that is mainly expressed on immune cells, neurons, activated endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells, bone forming cells, and a variety of cancer cells. RAGE is a multifunctional receptor that binds a broad repertoire of ligands and mediates responses to cell damage and stress conditions. It activates programs responsible for acute and chronic inflammation, and is implicated in a number of pathological diseases, including diabetic complications, stroke, atheriosclerosis, arthritis, and neurodegenerative disorders. The availability of Rage knockout mice has not only advanced our knowledge on signalling pathways within these pathophysiological conditions, but also on the functional importance of the receptor in processes of cancer. Here, we will summarize molecular mechanisms through which RAGE signalling contributes to the establishment of a pro-tumourigenic microenvironment. Moreover, we will review recent findings that provide genetic evidence for an important role of RAGE in bridging inflammation and cancer

Remarkable finds of bryophytes in Hungary during the last two years (2015-2017)

Extant occurrences of 9 species without recent data (DD, DD-va in the Hungarian bryophyte redlist of 2010) were discovered in the period 2015-2017: Brachythecium campestre (Börzsöny: 8180.1, Mecsek: 9875.2, Vendvidék: 9163.2, Tiszántúl: 8496.2), B. plumosum (Zempléni-hg.: 7594.1, Mátra: 8186.1, Vértes: 8476.3), Bryum archangelicum (Börzsöny: 8179.1), Ephemerum serratum (=E. stoloniferum (Hedw.) L.T. Ellis & M.J. Price) (Börzsöny: 8080.3, Őrség: 9164.3), Jungermannia subulata (Mecsek: 9776.4), Marsupella emarginata (Börzsöny: 8079.2), Orthotrichum rogeri (Zemplénihg.: 7894.3), Pseudoleskea saviana (Mátra: 8186.1, Börzsöny: 8079.2, 8079.4), Schistidium confertum (Börzsöny: 8079.2, Mátra: 8186.1). 22 taxa were first recorded in Hungary since november 2015: Barbilophozia hatcheri (Budai-hg.: 8579.2), Brachythecium curtum (Zempléni-hg.: 7594.1, Börzsöny: 8079.4), Bryum tenuisetum (Csepel-sziget: 8679.2, Belső Somogy: 9971.1, Kemeneshát: 8768.1, Kőszegi-hg.: 8665.2), Campylopus subulatus (Kemeneshát: 8967.1), Crossidium squamiferum (Börzsöny: 8279.2), Didymodon tophaceus subsp. erosus (Duna-Tiszaköze: 9786.1), D. tophaceus subsp. sicculus (Duna-Tisza-közé: 9786.1, 9280.4, 8781.1), Ditrichum lineare (Zempléni-hg.: 7494.4), Fissidens bambergeri (Zempléni-hg.: 7494.2, Bükk: 8088.1, Börzsöny: 7979.4, 8179.1, 8180.1, Visegrádi-hg.: 8279.2, 8280.3, Budaihg.: 8479.1, 8479.4, Gerecse: 8377.1, Vértes: 8675.2, Kőszegi-hg.: 8664.4, 8665.1, Vendvidék: 9162.2, Zala: 9166.4), F. crispus (Börzsöny: 8079.2), Fossombronia incurva (Visegrádi-hg.: 8279.3, Őrség: 9164.3, Geresdi-dombság: 9777.3), Heterocladium heteropterum (Kőszegi-hg.: 8664.2), Pellia neesiana (Vendvidék: 9062.4, 9162.2), Plagiothecium latebricola (Kőszegi-hg.: 8664.2), Rhabdoweisia crispata (Kőszegi-hg.: 8664.2), Riccia beyrichiana (Visegrádi-hg.: 8279.2), Seligeria acutifolia (Pilis: 8279.4), Sematophyllum adnatum (Kemeneshát: 8967.1), Syntrichia ruralis var. epilosa (Keszthelyi-hg.: 9270.1, Kőszegi-hg.: 8665.1), Ulota crispula (Zempléni-hg.: 7594.1, Mátra: 8085.3, Börzsöny: 8080.1, Balatonfelvidék: 9171.1, Kőszegi-hg.: 8664.2, 8664.4, 8665.1, 8565.3, Vendvidék: 9062.4, 9163.1, Őrség: 9263.2, Kemeneshát: 8967.1, Zselic: 9873.2), U. intermedia (Zempléni-hg.: 7594.3, Börzsöny: 8079.2, Kőszegi-hg.: 8664.2, Vas-hegycsoport: 8764.4, Vendvidék: 9062.4, Őrség: 9164.3, 9264.1, Zselic: 9873.2), and Zygodon forsteri (Balatonfelvidék: 9071.3, 9171.1)

Identification of the Rage-dependent gene regulatory network in a mouse model of skin inflammation

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In the past, molecular mechanisms that drive the initiation of an inflammatory response have been studied intensively. However, corresponding mechanisms that sustain the expression of inflammatory response genes and hence contribute to the establishment of chronic disorders remain poorly understood. Recently, we provided genetic evidence that signaling via the receptor for advanced glycation end products (Rage) drives the strength and maintenance of an inflammatory reaction. In order to decipher the mode of Rage function on gene transcription levels during inflammation, we applied global gene expression profiling on time-resolved samples of mouse back skin, which had been treated with the phorbol ester TPA, a potent inducer of skin inflammation.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ranking of TPA-regulated genes according to their time average mean and peak expression and superimposition of data sets from wild-type (<it>wt</it>) and <it>Rage</it>-deficient mice revealed that Rage signaling is not essential for initial changes in TPA-induced transcription, but absolutely required for sustained alterations in transcript levels. Next, we used a data set of differentially expressed genes between TPA-treated <it>wt </it>and <it>Rage</it>-deficient skin and performed computational analysis of their proximal promoter regions. We found a highly significant enrichment for several transcription factor binding sites (TFBS) leading to the prediction that corresponding transcription factors, such as Sp1, Tcfap2, E2f, Myc and Egr, are regulated by Rage signaling. Accordingly, we could confirm aberrant expression and regulation of members of the E2f protein family in epidermal keratinocytes of Rage-deficient mice.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In summary, our data support the model that engagement of Rage converts a transient cellular stimulation into sustained cellular dysfunction and highlight a novel role of the Rb-E2f pathway in Rage-dependent inflammation during pathological conditions.</p