Mass-loss rates for 21 Wolf–Rayet stars

Mass-loss rates have been derived for 21 WR stars encompassing most subtypes in the WN and WC sequences, from measurements of their infrared free–free fluxes. The resultant mass-loss rates show a range of only a factor of 4. WC stars generally have larger mass-loss rates than WN stars, the mean rates being M˙(WC)=4.1×10−5M⊙yr−1 and M˙(WN)=2.7×10−5M⊙yr−1⁠. Optical and ultraviolet data have been used to estimate bolometric luminosities for a range of WR spectral types, and it is shown that the derived mass loss rates are too large to be powered by radiation pressure. The total kinetic energy injected into the interstellar medium through mass loss during the WR phase of a massive star is estimated to be 7 × 1050 erg, comparable to that of a supernova event

Rheological Droplet Interface Bilayers (rheo-DIBs): Probing the Unstirred Water Layer Effect on Membrane Permeability via Spinning Disk Induced Shear Stress

A new rheological droplet interface bilayer (rheo-DIB) device is presented as a tool to apply shear stress on biological lipid membranes. Despite their exciting potential for affecting high-throughput membrane translocation studies, permeability assays conducted using DIBs have neglected the effect of the unstirred water layer (UWL). However as demonstrated in this study, neglecting this phenomenon can cause significant underestimates in membrane permeability measurements which in turn limits their ability to predict key processes such as drug translocation rates across lipid membranes. With the use of the rheo-DIB chip, the effective bilayer permeability can be modulated by applying shear stress to the droplet interfaces, inducing flow parallel to the DIB membranes. By analysing the relation between the effective membrane permeability and the applied stress, both the intrinsic membrane permeability and UWL thickness can be determined for the first time using this model membrane approach, thereby unlocking the potential of DIBs for undertaking diffusion assays. The results are also validated with numerical simulations

The remarkable asymmetric outflow from the Cygnus Egg Nebula

We present ground based continuum images in the infrared, from 1.2 to 19µm, and an H2 2.122µm line emission image of the post-AGB star AFGL2688, the Cygnus Egg Nebula. We show that the standard model of this source, comprising a fast wind focussed by a dense, equatorial, dusty torus into a bipolar flow at position angle 15$^\circ$ and close to the plane of the sky, cannot explain the combination of kinematic information from previous studies and morphological information in our own observations. Nor are the images consistent with a classical bipolar flow, since the apex of the two lobes observed in scattered light in the visible and near-IR are offset in R.A. with respect to one another. We suggest a model which is physically similar, but substantially different geometrically, in which there is a bipolar flow at a position angle closer to 60$^\circ$, rather than 15$^\circ$, still collimated by a dense, equatorial, dusty torus, but the opening angle of the cones out of which the fast bipolar flow is directed is closer to 90$^\circ$, rather than 20$^\circ$ or so as previously suggested. The bipolar flow axis is inclined by about 20-30$^\circ$, rather than in the plane of the sky as in previous models. The dust distribution in the nebula has to be extremely clumpy, and there is evidence that large scale mass loss from the progenitor AGB star occurred in discrete phases, recurring on a timescale of $\sim$750 years. This model implies a much lower velocity for the 'fast' bipolar outflow than does the standard model, which is consistent with very recent Nobeyama Millimetre Array images in 13CO emission. In support of our new model, we present a full radiative transfer model for the source, in axial symmetry, which reveals that the final phase of heavy mass loss included a superwind phase which lasted about two hundred years and removed about 0.7 M$_{\odot}$ from the envelope of the progenitor AGB star. Our results imply that the progenitor star must have been a relatively high mass AGB star. Our radiative transfer model also demonstrates convincingly that, in contrast with previous models, the core of the nebula has to be exceptionally optically thick, with an optical depth greater than unity even at 10µm

The 1979 outburst of U Scorpii

Optical and ultraviolet observations are presented of the 1979 outburst of the recurrent nova U Sco. For the first time the evolution through outburst is documented photometrically and spectroscopically. Lines of the following ions are identified: H I, He II, C IV, N III, N IV, N V, O IV, O VI and Si IV. No forbidden lines were observed. Mg I was seen in absorption at a late stage in the decline. The Balmer lines have broad and narrow components which change with time. There is evidence that nitrogen is overabundant with respect to carbon and the helium to hydrogen number ratio is about 2

Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer Spectroscopy of the O VI Resonance Doublet in Sand 2 (WO)

We present Far Ultraviolet Spectroscopic Explorer spectroscopy of Sand 2, an LMC WO-type Wolf-Rayet star, revealing the O VI resonance P Cygni doublet at 1032-1038 Å. These data are combined with Hubble Space Telescope Faint Object Spectrograph ultraviolet and Mount Stromlo 2.3 m optical spectroscopy and analyzed using a spherical, non-LTE, line-blanketed code. Our study reveals exceptional stellar parameters: T* ~ 150,000 K, v∞ = 4100 km s-1, log(L/L☉) = 5.3, andimg1.gif = 1 × 10-5 M☉ yr-1, if we adopt a volume filling factor of 10%. Elemental abundances of C/He ~ 0.7 ± 0.2 and O/He ~ 0.15img2.gif by number qualitatively support previous recombination line studies. We confirm that Sand 2 is more chemically enriched in carbon than LMC WC stars and that it is expected to undergo a supernova explosion within the next 5 × 104 yr

Dynamic design: manipulation of millisecond timescale motions on the energy landscape of cyclophilin A

Proteins need to interconvert between many conformations in order to function, many of which are formed transiently, and sparsely populated. Particularly when the lifetimes of these states approach the millisecond timescale, identifying the relevant structures and the mechanism by which they interconvert remains a tremendous challenge. Here we introduce a novel combination of accelerated MD (aMD) simulations and Markov state modelling (MSM) to explore these ‘excited’ conformational states. Applying this to the highly dynamic protein CypA, a protein involved in immune response and associated with HIV infection, we identify five principally populated conformational states and the atomistic mechanism by which they interconvert. A rational design strategy predicted that the mutant D66A should stabilise the minor conformations and substantially alter the dynamics, whereas the similar mutant H70A should leave the landscape broadly unchanged. These predictions are confirmed using CPMG and R1ρ solution state NMR measurements. By efficiently exploring functionally relevant, but sparsely populated conformations with millisecond lifetimes in silico, our aMD/MSM method has tremendous promise for the design of dynamic protein free energy landscapes for both protein engineering and drug discovery

Stabilization of myeloid-derived HIFs promotes vascular regeneration in retinal ischemia

The retinal vasculature is tightly organized in a structure that provides for the high metabolic demand of neurons while minimizing interference with incident light. The adverse impact of retinal vascular insufficiency is mitigated by adaptive vascular regeneration but exacerbated by pathological neovascularization. Aberrant growth of neovessels in the retina is responsible for impairment of sight in common blinding disorders including retinopathy of prematurity, proliferative diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. Myeloid cells are key players in this process, with diverse roles that can either promote or protect against ocular neovascularization. We have previously demonstrated that myeloid-derived VEGF, HIF1, and HIF2 are not essential for pathological retinal neovascularization. Here, however, we show by cell-specific depletion of Vhl in a mouse model of retinal ischemia (oxygen-induced retinopathy, OIR) that myeloid-derived HIFs promote VEGF and bFGF expression and enhance vascular regeneration in association with improved density and organization of the astrocytic network

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder

Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors have proven efficacy in the treatment of panic disorder, obsessive–compulsive disorder, post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder. Accumulating data shows that selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment can also be efficacious in patients with generalized anxiety disorder. This review summarizes the findings of randomized controlled trials of selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor treatment for generalized anxiety disorder, examines the strengths and weaknesses of other therapeutic approaches and considers potential new treatments for patients with this chronic and disabling anxiety disorder

Enteric Neurospheres Are Not Specific to Neural Crest Cultures: Implications for Neural Stem Cell Therapies

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