Correlated radio/X-ray behaviour of Cyg X-3

In order to test the recently proposed classification of the radio/X-ray states of the X-ray binary Cyg X-3, we present an analysis of the radio data available for the system at much higher spatial resolutions than used for defining the states. The radio data set consists of archival VLBA data at 5 and 15 GHz and new e-EVN data at 5 GHz. In the X-ray regime we use data that are quasi-simultaneous with radio, monitoring and pointed RXTE observations. We find that when the radio emission from both jet and core is globally considered, the behaviour of Cyg X-3 at milliarcsecond scales is consistent with that described at arcsecond scales. However, when the radio emission is disentangled in a core component and a jet component the situation changes. It becomes clear that in active states the radio emission from the jet is dominating that from the core. This shows that in these states the overall radio flux cannot be used as a direct tracer of the accretion state

A weak compact jet in a soft state of Cygnus X-1

We present evidence for the presence of a weak compact jet during a soft X-ray state of Cygnus X-1. Very-high-resolution radio observations were taken with the VLBA, EVN and MERLIN during a hard-to-soft spectral state change, showing the hard state jet to be suppressed by a factor of about 3-5 in radio flux and unresolved to direct imaging observations (i.e. < 1 mas at 4 cm). High time-resolution X-ray observations with the RXTE-PCA were also taken during the radio monitoring period, showing the source to make the transition from the hard state to a softer state (via an intermediate state), although the source may never have reached the canonical soft state. Using astrometric VLBI analysis and removing proper motion, parallax and orbital motion signatures, the residual positions show a scatter of ~0.2 mas (at 4 cm) and ~3 mas (at 13 cm) along the position angle of the known jet axis; these residuals suggest there is a weak unresolved outflow, with varying size or opacity, during intermediate and soft X-ray states. Furthermore, no evidence was found for extended knots or shocks forming within the jet during the state transition, suggesting the change in outflow rate may not be sufficiently high to produce superluminal knots.Comment: Accepted in MNRAS; 4 figures and 1 tabl

Probing the behaviour of the X-ray binary Cygnus X-3 with very-long-baseline radio interferometry

In order to test the recently proposed classification of the radio/X-ray states of the X-ray binary Cyg X-3, we present an analysis of the radio data available for the system at much higher spatial resolutions than used for defining the states. The radio data set consists of archival VLBA data at 5 or 15 GHz and new e-EVN data at 5 GHz. We also present 5 GHz MERLIN observations of an outburst of Cyg X-3. In the X-ray regime we use quasi-simultaneous with radio, monitoring and pointed RXTE observations. We find that when the radio emission from both jet and core is globally considered, the behaviour of Cyg X-3 at milliarcsecond scales is consistent with that described at arcsecond scales. However, when the radio emission is disentangled in a core component and a jet component the situation changes. It becomes clear that in active states the radio emission from the jet is dominating that from the core. This shows that in these states the overall radio flux cannot be used as a direct tracer of the accretion state.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRA

Status Update and Interim Results from the Asymptomatic Carotid Surgery Trial-2 (ACST-2)

Objectives: ACST-2 is currently the largest trial ever conducted to compare carotid artery stenting (CAS) with carotid endarterectomy (CEA) in patients with severe asymptomatic carotid stenosis requiring revascularization. Methods: Patients are entered into ACST-2 when revascularization is felt to be clearly indicated, when CEA and CAS are both possible, but where there is substantial uncertainty as to which is most appropriate. Trial surgeons and interventionalists are expected to use their usual techniques and CE-approved devices. We report baseline characteristics and blinded combined interim results for 30-day mortality and major morbidity for 986 patients in the ongoing trial up to September 2012. Results: A total of 986 patients (687 men, 299 women), mean age 68.7 years (SD ± 8.1) were randomized equally to CEA or CAS. Most (96%) had ipsilateral stenosis of 70-99% (median 80%) with contralateral stenoses of 50-99% in 30% and contralateral occlusion in 8%. Patients were on appropriate medical treatment. For 691 patients undergoing intervention with at least 1-month follow-up and Rankin scoring at 6 months for any stroke, the overall serious cardiovascular event rate of periprocedural (within 30 days) disabling stroke, fatal myocardial infarction, and death at 30 days was 1.0%. Conclusions: Early ACST-2 results suggest contemporary carotid intervention for asymptomatic stenosis has a low risk of serious morbidity and mortality, on par with other recent trials. The trial continues to recruit, to monitor periprocedural events and all types of stroke, aiming to randomize up to 5,000 patients to determine any differential outcomes between interventions. Clinical trial: ISRCTN21144362. © 2013 European Society for Vascular Surgery. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

Second asymptomatic carotid surgery trial (ACST-2): a randomised comparison of carotid artery stenting versus carotid endarterectomy

Background: Among asymptomatic patients with severe carotid artery stenosis but no recent stroke or transient cerebral ischaemia, either carotid artery stenting (CAS) or carotid endarterectomy (CEA) can restore patency and reduce long-term stroke risks. However, from recent national registry data, each option causes about 1% procedural risk of disabling stroke or death. Comparison of their long-term protective effects requires large-scale randomised evidence. Methods: ACST-2 is an international multicentre randomised trial of CAS versus CEA among asymptomatic patients with severe stenosis thought to require intervention, interpreted with all other relevant trials. Patients were eligible if they had severe unilateral or bilateral carotid artery stenosis and both doctor and patient agreed that a carotid procedure should be undertaken, but they were substantially uncertain which one to choose. Patients were randomly allocated to CAS or CEA and followed up at 1 month and then annually, for a mean 5 years. Procedural events were those within 30 days of the intervention. Intention-to-treat analyses are provided. Analyses including procedural hazards use tabular methods. Analyses and meta-analyses of non-procedural strokes use Kaplan-Meier and log-rank methods. The trial is registered with the ISRCTN registry, ISRCTN21144362. Findings: Between Jan 15, 2008, and Dec 31, 2020, 3625 patients in 130 centres were randomly allocated, 1811 to CAS and 1814 to CEA, with good compliance, good medical therapy and a mean 5 years of follow-up. Overall, 1% had disabling stroke or death procedurally (15 allocated to CAS and 18 to CEA) and 2% had non-disabling procedural stroke (48 allocated to CAS and 29 to CEA). Kaplan-Meier estimates of 5-year non-procedural stroke were 2·5% in each group for fatal or disabling stroke, and 5·3% with CAS versus 4·5% with CEA for any stroke (rate ratio [RR] 1·16, 95% CI 0·86–1·57; p=0·33). Combining RRs for any non-procedural stroke in all CAS versus CEA trials, the RR was similar in symptomatic and asymptomatic patients (overall RR 1·11, 95% CI 0·91–1·32; p=0·21). Interpretation: Serious complications are similarly uncommon after competent CAS and CEA, and the long-term effects of these two carotid artery procedures on fatal or disabling stroke are comparable. Funding: UK Medical Research Council and Health Technology Assessment Programme

Multi-wavelength observations of blazar AO 0235+164 in the 2008-2009 flaring state

The blazar AO 0235+164 (z = 0.94) has been one of the most active objects observed by Fermi Large Area Telescope (LAT) since its launch in Summer 2008. In addition to the continuous coverage by Fermi, contemporaneous observations were carried out from the radio to γ-ray bands between 2008 September and 2009 February. In this paper, we summarize the rich multi-wavelength data collected during the campaign (including F-GAMMA, GASP-WEBT, Kanata, OVRO, RXTE, SMARTS, Swift, and other instruments), examine the cross-correlation between the light curves measured in the different energy bands, and interpret the resulting spectral energy distributions in the context of well-known blazar emission models. We find that the γ-ray activity is well correlated with a series of near-IR/optical flares, accompanied by an increase in the optical polarization degree. On the other hand, the X-ray light curve shows a distinct 20 day high state of unusually soft spectrum, which does not match the extrapolation of the optical/UV synchrotron spectrum. We tentatively interpret this feature as the bulk Compton emission by cold electrons contained in the jet, which requires an accretion disk corona with an effective covering factor of 19% at a distance of 100 R g. We model the broadband spectra with a leptonic model with external radiation dominated by the infrared emission from the dusty torus. © 2012. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved

Wpływ nawożenia dolistnego azotem i magnezem na zawartość makroskłaników popelnich w bulwach ziemniaka

The paper contains a discussion of the results of an experiment concerning the effect of foliar nitrogen and magnesium fertilization on the concentration of ash macronutrients in edible potato tubers of a medium-early cultivar called Zebra. The trials were based on a three-year, two-factorial field experiment, carried out in 2005–2007 at the Research Station in Tomaszkowo, owned by the University of Warmia and Mazury in Olsztyn. The applied fertilization consisted of 80 kgN, 35 kgP and 100 kgK ha–1. The first experimental factor comprised foliar nitrogen fertilization in the range of doses 8–40 kgN ha–1 accompanied by simultaneously diminished doses of soil nitrogen fertilization. The second factor included three series: without magnesium, with magnesium introduced to soil in a rate of 24 kg ha–1 and with magnesium sprayed over potato leaves in a rate of 12 kgMg ha–1. Tuber samples were analyzed for the concentrations of phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and sodium. The content of these macronutrients tended to decrease under the influence of the increasing nitrogen fertilization, with the exception of phosphorus, whose concentration rose in the series unfertilized with magnesium under the effect of 8 and 16 kgN, and the concentration of sodium, which continued to increase in the Mg fertilized series up to the rate of 24 kg of N applied as a foliar fertilizer. The mean Ca : P = 0.28, Ca : Mg = 0.39 and K : Ca = 11.9 ratios suggest very poor calcium supply of the potato cultivar. In contrast, very broad ratios between K : (Ca + Mg) = 3.32 and K : Mg = 4.60 prove that the concentrations of potassium and magnesium were relatively high. The foliar application of nitrogen, tested in this experiment, had a significant effect on the ratios between ash elements in tubers. It has been demonstrated that as the top-dressing rate of nitrogen increased, the Ca : P and Ca : Mg ratios narrowed while the ratios of K : (Ca + Mg) and K : Ca were broader. The applied fertilization had no effect on the K : Mg ratio.W pracy przedstawiono wyniki badań dotyczące oddziaływania dolistnego nawożenia azotem i magnezem na zawartość makroskładników popielnych w bulwach ziemniaka jadalnego średnio wczesnej odmiany Zebra. Za podstawę badań przyjęto 3-letnie, II-czynnikowe doświadczenie polowe, które realizowano w latach 2005-2007 na polu Ośrodka Dydaktyczno-Doświadczalnego w Tomaszowie, należącego do Uniwersytetu Warmińsko-Mazurskiego w Olsztynie. Zastosowane nawożenie wynosiło 80 kgN, 35 kgP ha-1 i 100 kgK ha-1. Czynnik I doświadczenia obejmował nawożenie dolistne azotem w zakresie (8; 40) kgN ha-1 zmniejszając jednocześnie doglebową dawkę azotu. Czynnik drugi uwzględniał trzy serie: bez magnezu, z magnezem stosowanym doglebowo 24 kgMg ha-1 oraz z magnezem stosowanym dolistnie w dawce 12 kgMg ha-1. Próby bulw analizowano na zawartość fosforu, potasu, wapnia, magnezu i sodu. Zawartość makroskładników w bulwach pod wpływem wzrastającego dolistnego nawożenia azotem generalnie ulegała obniżeniu. Wyjątek stanowiła zawartość fosforu, która wzrosła w serii nienawożonej magnezem pod wpływem 8 i 16 kgN oraz zawartość sodu, która w serii nawożonej Mg rosła do dawki 24 kgN stosowanego dolistnie. Średnie stosunki Ca : P = 0,28, Ca : Mg = 0,39 i K : Ca = 11,9 wskazują na bardzo słabe zaopatrzenie uprawianej odmiany w wapń, natomiast szerokie stosunki K : (Ca + Mg) = 3,32 i K : Mg = 4,60 świadczą o relatywnie wysokiej zawartości potasu i magnezu. Zastosowany dolistnie azot w istotny sposób wpłynął na kształtowanie stosunków pomiędzy składnikami popielnymi w bulwach. Stwierdzono, że raz ze wzrostem pogłównej dawki N następowało zawężanie stosunku Ca : P i Ca : Mg oraz poszerzenie K : (Ca + Mg) oraz K : Ca. Zastosowane nawożenie nie miało wpływu na stosunek K : Mg

Steroidogenic capacity of the placenta as a supplemental source of progesterone during pregnancy in domestic cats.

BACKGROUND: Until recently, the corpus luteum (CL) was considered to be the main source of progesterone (P4) during pregnancy in the domestic cat (Felis catus). However, other possible sources of P4 have not been ruled out. Although feline placental homogenates were found to be capable of synthesizing P4, expression of the respective steroidogenic enzymes has not been investigated at the molecular level. Therefore, in the present study, expression of the two major factors involved in the synthesis of P4 - 3beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (3betaHSD) and steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) - was investigated in the feline CL and placenta during the course of pseudopregnancy and pregnancy. METHODS: The mRNA levels of StAR and 3betaHSD were determined using Real Time PCR and their localizations were determined by immunohistochemistry. Placental P4 concentrations, after ethyl extraction, were measured by EIA. RESULTS: Luteal 3betaHSD and StAR mRNA levels were strongly time-dependent, peaking during mid-pregnancy. The placental 3betaHSD mRNA level was significantly upregulated towards the end of pregnancy. In the CL, 3betaHSD and StAR protein were localized in the luteal cells whereas in the placenta they were localized to the maternal decidual cells. Placental P4 concentrations were low in early pregnant queens, but increased along with gestational age. CONCLUSIONS: These results confirm that the placenta is an additional source of P4 in pregnant queens and can thereby be considered as an important endocrine organ supporting feline pregnancy

UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) PoS(EXPReS09)018 Correlated radio/X-ray behaviour of Cyg X-3 * PoS(EXPReS09)018 PoS(EXPReS09)018

Correlated radio/X-ray behaviour of Cyg X-3 Tudose, V.M.; Miller Jones, J.C.A.; Fender, R.P.; Paragi, Z.; Sakari, C.; Szostek, A.; Garrett, M.; Dhawan, V.; Rushton, A.; Spencer, R.; van der Klis, M.B.M. Published in: Proceedings of Science Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Tudose, V., Miller-Jones, J., Fender, R., Paragi, Z., Sakari, C., Szostek, A., ... van der Klis, M. (2009). Correlated radio/X-ray behaviour of Cyg X-3. Proceedings of Science, 82, 018. General rights It is not permitted to download or to forward/distribute the text or part of it without the consent of the author(s) and/or copyright holder(s), other than for strictly personal, individual use, unless the work is under an open content license (like Creative Commons). Disclaimer/Complaints regulations If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: https://uba.uva.nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible. PoS(EXPReS09)018 In order to test the recently proposed classification of the radio/X-ray states of the X-ray binary Cyg X-3, we present an analysis of the radio data available for the system at much higher spatial resolutions than used for defining the states. The radio data set consists of archival VLBA data at 5 and 15 GHz and new e-EVN data at 5 GHz. In the X-ray regime we use data that are quasi-simultaneous with radio, monitoring and pointed RXTE observations. We find that when the radio emission from both jet and core is globally considered, the behaviour of Cyg X-3 at milliarcsecond scales is consistent with that described at arcsecond scales. However, when the radio emission is disentangled in a core component and a jet component the situation changes. It becomes clear that in active states the radio emission from the jet is dominating that from the core. This shows that in these states the overall radio flux cannot be used as a direct tracer of the accretion state