• 천문학논총
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.237-240
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• 2015

Classical novae (CNe) are interacting binary systems whose outbursts are powered by a thermonuclear runaway in accreted material onto the surface of a white dwarf (WD). The secondary star in such systems fills its Roche lobe and material is transferred onto the WD primary star via an accretion disk. Recurrent novae (RNe) show many similarities to CNe, but have had more than one recorded outburst. RNe play an important role as one of the suspected progenitor systems of Type Ia supernovae, which are used as primary distance indicators in cosmology. Thus, it is important to investigate the nature of their central binary systems to determine the relation between the parameters of the central system and the outburst type, and finally ascertain the population of novae that might be available to give rise to the progenitors of Type Ia SNe. A low outburst amplitude is adopted as a criterion that may help distinguish RNe from CNe and was therefore used to select targets for observations from ground-based observatories including the Liverpool Telescope and the Southern African Large Telescope as well as the full-sky space-based archive of the Solar Mass Ejection Imager (SMEI). We found that at least four objects currently classified as CNe are possibly RNe candidates based on their quiescent spectra. We also searched the SMEI archive for additional outbursts of bright CNe that might otherwise have been missed but did not find a conclusive example.

• 천문학회보
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• 제37권2호
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• pp.75.2-75.2
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• 2012

SNe Ia are a well-known powerful distance indicator. Type Ia supernova (SN) 2011fe was discovered in the nearby spiral galaxy M101 in 2011. It was discovered in less than one day after its explosion and is one of the nearest SNe Ia. Therefore SN 2011fe plays a significant role for calibrating the luminosity of the SNe Ia as well as for studying the progenitors of SNe Ia. However, previous estimates of the distance to M101 based on various methods show a large range. We present a new determination of the distance to M101 using the tip of the red giant branch (TRGB) method. We measure the distance from the F555W and F814W images of nine fields taken with the HST/ACS and HST/WFPC2 available in the HST archive. We derive a distance estimate with much smaller errors than previous studies. We discuss the implication of our results in relation with the calibration of optical and near-infrared maximum magnitudes of SNe Ia and the Hubble Constant.

• Molecules and Cells
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• 제41권8호
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• pp.753-761
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• 2018

Tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 6 (TRAF6) is identified as a signaling adaptor protein that regulates bone metabolism, immunity, and the development of several tissues. Therefore, its functions are closely associated with multiple diseases. TRAF6 is also involved in the regulation of hematopoiesis under steady-state conditions, but the role of TRAF6 in modulating hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs) during the developmental stages remains unknown. Here, we report that the deletion of TRAF6 in hematopoietic lineage cells resulted in the upregulation of HSPCs in the fetal liver at the prenatal period. However, in the early postnatal period, deletion of TRAF6 drastically diminished HSPCs in the bone marrow (BM), with severe defects in BM development and extramedullary hematopoiesis in the spleen being identified. In the analysis of adult HSPCs in a BM reconstitution setting, TRAF6 played no significant role in HSPC homeostasis, albeit it affected the development of T cells. Taken together, our results suggest that the role of TRAF6 in regulating HSPCs is altered in a spatial and temporal manner during the developmental course of mice.

• BMB Reports
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• 제52권8호
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• pp.514-519
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• 2019

Osteoclasts are multinucleated giant cells derived from myeloid progenitors. Excessive bone resorption by osteoclasts can result in serious clinical outcomes for which better treatment options are needed. Here, we identified fibronectin leucine-rich transmembrane protein 2 (Flrt2), a ligand of the Unc5 receptor family for neurons, as a novel target associated with the late/maturation stage of osteoclast differentiation. Flrt2 expression is induced by stimulation with receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL). Flrt2 deficiency in osteoclasts results in reduced hyper-multinucleation, which could be restored by RNAi-mediated knockdown of Unc5b. Treatment with Netrin1, another ligand of Unc5b which negatively controls osteoclast multinucleation through down regulation of RANKL-induced Rac1 activation, showed no inhibitory effects on Flrt2-deficient cells. In addition, RANKL-induced Rac1 activation was attenuated in Flrt2-deficient cells. Taken together, these results suggest that Flrt2 regulates osteoclast multinucleation by interfering with Netrin 1-Unc5b interaction and may be a suitable therapeutic target for diseases associated with bone remodeling.

• 천문학회보
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• 제44권1호
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• pp.46.3-46.3
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• 2019

We present our observational and theoretical investigation of Raman-scattered features in symbiotic stars (SySts). SySts are long interacting binaries, consisting of a hot compact star and an evolved giant, whose interaction via accretion process is at the origin of a tangled network of gas and dust nebulae. These systems are ideal objects to study a variety of important astrophysical problems, and have also been proposed as possible progenitors of type Ia supernova. In this talk, we emphasize that Raman-scattered features are exclusive spectroscopic tools to probe the stellar wind accretion processes in SySts. We studied mass transfer and mass loss processes in SySts using high resolution spectra obtained with 1.8m telescope at Mt. Bohyun and the 6.5m Magellan-Clay telescope combining with the theoretical modeling of radiative transfer of Raman-scattered features. We also note that there are a much smaller number of SySts known in our Galaxy, implying the necessity of systematic search programs. In view of the fact that Raman O VI features at $6830{\AA}$ are found in only bona fide SySts, we will carry out a photometric search of objects with Raman O VI features using a narrow band filter centered at $6830{\AA}$ in Local group galaxies.

• BMB Reports
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• 제55권6호
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• pp.251-258
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• 2022

Innovative genome editing techniques developed in recent decades have revolutionized the biomedical research field. Liver is the most favored target organ for genome editing owing to its ability to regenerate. The regenerative capacity of the liver enables ex vivo gene editing in which the mutated gene in hepatocytes isolated from the animal model of genetic disease is repaired. The edited hepatocytes are injected back into the animal to mitigate the disease. Furthermore, the liver is considered as the easiest target organ for gene editing as it absorbs almost all foreign molecules. The mRNA vaccines, which have been developed to manage the COVID-19 pandemic, have provided a novel gene editing strategy using Cas mRNA. A single injection of gene editing components with Cas mRNA is reported to be efficient in the treatment of patients with genetic liver diseases. In this review, we first discuss previously reported gene editing tools and cases managed using them, as well as liver diseases caused by genetic mutations. Next, we summarize the recent successes of ex vivo and in vivo gene editing approaches in ameliorating liver diseases in animals and humans.

• 천문학회보
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• 제46권1호
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• pp.27.3-27.3
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• 2021

Supernova (SN) cosmology is based on the assumption that the width-luminosity relation (WLR) in the type Ia SN luminosity standardization would not vary with progenitor age. Unlike this expectation, recent age datings of stellar populations in host galaxies have shown significant correlations between progenitor age and Hubble residual (HR). It was not clear, however, how this correlation arises from the SN luminosity standardization process, and how this would impact the cosmological result. Here we show that this correlation originates from a strong progenitor age dependence of the WLR and color-luminosity relation (CLR), in the sense that SNe from younger progenitors are fainter each at given light-curve parameters x1 and c. This is reminiscent of Baade's discovery of two Cepheid period-luminosity relations, and, as such, causes a serious systematic bias with redshift in SN cosmology. We illustrate that the differences between the high-z and low-z SNe in the WLR and CLR, and in HR after the standardization, are fully comparable to those between the correspondingly young and old SNe at intermediate redshift, indicating that the observed dimming of SNe with redshift is most likely an artifact of over-correction in the luminosity standardization. When this systematic bias with redshift is properly taken into account, there is no evidence left for an accelerating universe, and the SN data now support a decelerating cosmic expansion. Since the SN cosmology has long been considered as the most direct evidence for an accelerating universe with dark energy, this finding poses a serious question to one of the cornerstones of the concordance model.

• 천문학회보
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.70.1-70.1
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• 2020

A type IIb supernova (SN IIb) is the result of core-collapse of a massive star which lost most of its hydrogen-rich envelope during its evolution. The pre-SN progenitor properties, such as the total radius and the mass of the hydrogen-rich envelope, can widely vary due to the mass-loss history of the progenitors. Optical light curves of SNe IIb are dominated by energy released by the hydrogen recombination and the radioactive decay of 56Ni in the early and late epochs respectively. This may result in distinctive double peaked light curves like the one observed in SN 1993J. The first peak, caused by the hydrogen recombination, can be modelled with numerical simulations providing information on the pre-SN progenitor properties. We compare two radiation-hydrodynamics codes, STELLA and SNEC, that are frequently used in SNe modelling, and investigate the effect of opacity treatment on the temporal evolution of the color temperature of SNe and eventually on the optical light curves. We find that with a proper treatment of the scattering opacity, SNe IIb models exploded from the progenitor models evolved with latest stellar evolution model hardly match the observational data. We also discuss the smaller scale features found in the models during hydrogen recombination phase.

• 천문학회보
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.70.4-71
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• 2020

One of the distinctive characteristics of the evolution of binary systems would be mass transfer. Close binary systems experience so-called Case A mass transfer during the main-sequence. We have performed calculations of the evolution of massive Case A (with the initial period 1.5 ~ 4.5 days) binary systems with the initial mass of 10 ~ 20 solar masses and mass ratio 0.5 ~ 0.95 using the MESA code. We find that in some systems, after the first mass transfer, the secondary stars evolve faster than the primary stars and undergo so-called 'reverse' mass transfer. Such phenomena tend to occur in relatively low-mass (initial mass < 16 solar masses) and close (initial period < 3 day) systems. Unless a system enters the common-envelope phase, the primary star would become a single helium star after the secondary star ends its life if the system were unbound by the neutron star kick. We find the various evolutionary implications of the remaining primary stars. In addition to the evolution into the compact single helium star progenitor, there is a possibility that the remaining primary star could evolve into a helium giant star, which could be a promising candidate for Type Ibn supernova progenitor, depending on the core mass. Further, we find that some primary stars satisfy the conditions for the formation of electron-capture supernova progenitor.

• 천문학회보
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• 제46권2호
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• pp.80.1-80.1
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• 2021

Intensive Monitoring Survey of Nearby Galaxies (IMSNG) is a program monitoring nearby galaxies with a high cadence within a day. The main goal of the project is to constrain the SNe explosion mechanism and properties of their progenitors by catching the early lights from the shock-heated cooling emission. The observation campaign began in 2014 with two 1-m class telescopes in the northern hemisphere. Now more than ten telescopes are monitoring galaxies with 60 IMSNG targets, which have a high probability of supernova explosion every night all around the world. Since the project started, the following observations have been carried out on 14 SNe Ia(including -pec), 27 core-collapse supernovae (CCSNe), and around 40 transients in other types. In this poster, we present the current status of IMSNG SNe data first and then focus more on the CCSNe. CCSNe are the explosion of massive stars, more massive than eight times of the Sun. They have been studied for more than a half decades but still have key questions to be solved, such as distinct types, the characteristics driving their diversity, and so on. Here, we show our ongoing studies of CCSNe in IMSNG, focusing on their usefulness as distance indicators and properties of early light curves.