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Nuclear Dbf2-related protein kinases (NDRs) in isolated cardiac myocytes and the myocardium: activation by cellular stresses and by phosphoprotein serine-/threonine-phosphatase inhibitors
The nuclear Dbf2-related protein kinases 1 and 2 (NDR1/2) are closely-related AGC family kinases that are strongly conserved through evolution. In mammals, they are activated inter alia by phosphorylation of an hydrophobic domain threonine-residue [NDR1(Thr-444)/NDR2(Thr-442)] by an extrinsic protein kinase followed by autophosphorylation of a catalytic domain serine-residue [NDR1(Ser-281)/NDR2(Ser-282)]. We examined NDR1/2 expression and regulation in primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiac myocytes and in perfused adult rat hearts. In myocytes, transcripts for NDR2, but not NDR1, were induced by the hypertrophic agonist, endothelin-1. NDR1(Thr-444) and NDR2(Thr-442) were rapidly phosphorylated (maximal in 15-30 min) in myocytes exposed to some phosphoprotein Ser-/Thr-phosphatase 1/2 inhibitors (calyculin A, okadaic acid) and, to a lesser extent, by hyperosmotic shock, low concentrations of H(2)O(2), or chelerythrine. In myocytes adenovirally-transduced to express FLAG-NDR2 (which exhibited a mainly-cytoplasmic localisation), the same agents increased FLAG-NDR2 activity as assessed by in vitro protein kinase assays, indicative of FLAG-NDR2(Ser-282/Thr-442) phosphorylation. Calyculin A-induced phosphorylation of NDR1(Thr-444)/NDR2(Thr-442) and activation of FLAG-NDR2 were inhibited by staurosporine, but not by other protein kinase inhibitors tested. In ex vivo rat hearts, NDR1(Thr-444)/NDR2(Thr-442) were phosphorylated in response to ischaemia-reperfusion or calyculin A. From a pathological viewpoint, we conclude that activities of NDR1 and NDR2 are responsive to cytotoxic stresses in heart preparations and this may represent a previously-unidentified response to myocardial ischaemia in vivo
Surface-Cross-Linked Micelles as Multifunctionalized Organic Nanoparticles for Controlled Release, Light Harvesting, and Catalysis
Surfactant micelles are dynamic entities with a rapid exchange of monomers. By “clicking” tripropargylammonium-containing surfactants with diazide cross-linkers, we obtained surface-cross-linked micelles (SCMs) that could be multifunctionalized for different applications. They triggered membrane fusion through tunable electrostatic interactions with lipid bilayers. Antenna chromophores could be installed on them to create artificial light-harvesting complexes with efficient energy migration among tens to hundreds of chromophores. When cleavable cross-linkers were used, the SCMs could break apart in response to redox or pH signals, ejecting entrapped contents quickly as a result of built-in electrostatic stress. They served as caged surfactants whose surface activity was turned on by environmental stimuli. They crossed cell membranes readily. Encapsulated fluorophores showed enhanced photophysical properties including improved quantum yields and greatly expanded Stokes shifts. Catalytic groups could be installed on the surface or in the interior, covalently attached or physically entrapped. As enzyme mimics, the SCMs enabled rational engineering of the microenvironment around the catalysts to afford activity and selectivity not possible with conventional catalysts
Copepod species abundance from the Southern Ocean and other regions (1980–2005) – a legacy
This data collection originates from the efforts of Sigrid
Schnack-Schiel (1946–2016), a zooplankton ecologist with great expertise
in life cycle strategies of Antarctic calanoid copepods, who also
investigated zooplankton communities in tropical and subtropical marine
environments. Here, we present 33 data sets with abundances of planktonic
copepods from 20 expeditions to the Southern Ocean (Weddell Sea, Scotia Sea,
Amundsen Sea, Bellingshausen Sea, Antarctic Peninsula), one expedition to
the Magellan region, one latitudinal transect in the eastern Atlantic Ocean,
one expedition to the Great Meteor Bank, and one expedition to the northern
Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba as part of her scientific legacy. A total of 349
stations from 1980 to 2005 were archived. During most expeditions
depth-stratified samples were taken with a Hydrobios multinet with five or
nine nets, thus allowing inter-comparability between the different expeditions.
A Nansen or a Bongo net was deployed only during four cruises. Maximum
sampling depth varied greatly among stations due to different bottom depths.
However, during 11 cruises to the Southern Ocean the maximum sampling
depth was restricted to 1000 m, even at locations with greater bottom
depths. In the eastern Atlantic Ocean (PS63) sampling depth was restricted
to the upper 300 m. All data are now freely available at PANGAEA via the
persistent identifier https://doi.org/10.1594/PANGAEA.884619.Abundance and distribution data for 284 calanoid copepod species and 28 taxa
of other copepod orders are provided. For selected species the abundance
distribution at all stations was explored, revealing for example that species
within a genus may have contrasting distribution patterns (Ctenocalanus, Stephos). In
combination with the corresponding metadata (sampling data and time,
latitude, longitude, bottom depth, sampling depth interval) the analysis of
the data sets may add to a better understanding how the environment
(currents, temperature, depths, season) interacts with copepod abundance,
distribution and diversity. For each calanoid copepod species, females, males
and copepodites were counted separately, providing a unique resource for
biodiversity and modelling studies. For selected species the five
copepodite stages were also counted separately, thus also allowing the
data to be used to study life cycle strategies of abundant or key species.</p
The optical system of the H.E.S.S. imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, Part I: layout and components of the system
H.E.S.S. -- the High Energy Stereoscopic System -- is a new system of large
imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, with about 100 m^2 mirror area for
each of four telescopes, and photomultiplier cameras with a large field of view
(5 degr.) and small pixels (0.16 degr.). The dish and reflector are designed to
provide good imaging properties over the full field of view, combined with
mechanical stability. The paper describes the design criteria and
specifications of the system, and the individual components -- dish, mirrors,
and Winston cones -- as well as their characteristics. The optical performance
of the telescope as a whole is the subject of a companion paper.Comment: 28 pages, 20 figure
A systemic model for differentiating school technology integration
School technology integration rarely begins with school or educator choice. It is part of a wider context where external and internal factors have direct influence on the goals and tools that are adopted over time. The objective of this study is to investigate the systemic conditions that contribute or inhibit the development of different activities by teachers making use of new media. We compiled a list of well-known conditions for technology integration success and mapped these in the historical and culturally bound perspective of activity theory (cultural historical activity theory). We conducted a multiple case study analysis of four schools, public and private. The results point to unique and distinctive scenarios even when homogeneity would be expected, reinforcing the argument that material conditions do not determine pedagogical outcomes nor do they determine changes in practice. Beyond this, the study proposes a methodology that can help elicit tensions in technology integration, pointing to avenues for school development
First detection of a VHE gamma-ray spectral maximum from a Cosmic source: H.E.S.S. discovery of the Vela X nebula
The Vela supernova remnant (SNR) is a complex region containing a number of
sources of non-thermal radiation. The inner section of this SNR, within 2
degrees of the pulsar PSR B0833-45, has been observed by the H.E.S.S. gamma-ray
atmospheric Cherenkov detector in 2004 and 2005. A strong signal is seen from
an extended region to the south of the pulsar, within an integration region of
radius 0.8 deg. around the position (RA = 08h 35m 00s, dec = -45 deg. 36'
J2000.0). The excess coincides with a region of hard X-ray emission seen by the
ROSAT and ASCA satellites. The observed energy spectrum of the source between
550 GeV and 65 TeV is well fit by a power law function with photon index = 1.45
+/- 0.09(stat) +/- 0.2(sys) and an exponential cutoff at an energy of 13.8 +/-
2.3(stat) +/- 4.1(sys) TeV. The integral flux above 1 TeV is (1.28 +/- 0.17
(stat) +/- 0.38(sys)) x 10^{-11} cm^{-2} s^{-1}. This result is the first clear
measurement of a peak in the spectral energy distribution from a VHE gamma-ray
source, likely related to inverse Compton emission. A fit of an Inverse Compton
model to the H.E.S.S. spectral energy distribution gives a total energy in
non-thermal electrons of ~2 x 10^{45} erg between 5 TeV and 100 TeV, assuming a
distance of 290 parsec to the pulsar. The best fit electron power law index is
2.0, with a spectral break at 67 TeV.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and
Astrophysics letter
Very high energy gamma rays from the direction of Sagittarius A*.
We report the detection of a point-like source of very high energy (VHE) -rays coincident within 1' of Sgr A *, obtained with the HESS array of Cherenkov telescopes. The -rays exhibit a power-law energy spectrum with a spectral index of and a flux above the 165 GeV threshold of m -2 s -1. The measured flux and spectrum differ substantially from recent results reported in particular by the CANGAROO collaboration
Observations of Mkn 421 in 2004 with H.E.S.S. at large zenith angles
Mkn 421 was observed during a high flux state for nine nights in April and
May 2004 with the fully operational High Energy Stereoscopic System (H.E.S.S.)
in Namibia. The observations were carried out at zenith angles of
60--65, which result in an average energy threshold of 1.5 TeV
and a collection area reaching 2~km at 10~TeV. Roughly 7000 photons from
Mkn~421 were accumulated with an average gamma-ray rate of 8 photons/min. The
overall significance of the detection exceeds 100 standard deviations. The
light-curve of integrated fluxes above 2~TeV shows changes of the diurnal flux
up to a factor of 4.3. For nights of high flux, intra-night variability is
detected with a decay time of less than 1 hour. The time averaged energy
spectrum is curved and is well described by a power-law with a photon index
\egamm and an exponential cutoff at \ecut~TeV and an average integral flux
above 2~TeV of 3 Crab flux units. Significant variations of the spectral shape
are detected with a spectral hardening as the flux increases. Contemporaneous
multi-wavelength observations at lower energies (X-rays and gamma-rays above
~GeV) indicate smaller relative variability amplitudes than seen
above 2~TeV during high flux state observed in April 2004.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figures, published in A&
Discovery of the Binary Pulsar PSR B1259-63 in Very-High-Energy Gamma Rays around Periastron with H.E.S.S
We report the discovery of very-high-energy (VHE) gamma-ray emission of the
binary system PSR B1259-63/SS 2883 of a radio pulsar orbiting a massive,
luminous Be star in a highly eccentric orbit. The observations around the 2004
periastron passage of the pulsar were performed with the four 13 m Cherenkov
telescopes of the H.E.S.S. experiment, recently installed in Namibia and in
full operation since December 2003. Between February and June 2004, a gamma-ray
signal from the binary system was detected with a total significance above 13
sigma. The flux was found to vary significantly on timescales of days which
makes PSR B1259-63 the first variable galactic source of VHE gamma-rays
observed so far. Strong emission signals were observed in pre- and
post-periastron phases with a flux minimum around periastron, followed by a
gradual flux decrease in the months after. The measured time-averaged energy
spectrum above a mean threshold energy of 380 GeV can be fitted by a simple
power law F_0(E/1 TeV)^-Gamma with a photon index Gamma =
2.7+-0.2_stat+-0.2_sys and flux normalisation F_0 = (1.3+-0.1_stat+-0.3_sys)
10^-12 TeV^-1 cm^-2 s^-1. This detection of VHE gamma-rays provides unambiguous
evidence for particle acceleration to multi-TeV energies in the binary system.
In combination with coeval observations of the X-ray synchrotron emission by
the RXTE and INTEGRAL instruments, and assuming the VHE gamma-ray emission to
be produced by the inverse Compton mechanism, the magnetic field strength can
be directly estimated to be of the order of 1 G.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, accepted in Astronomy and Astrophysics on 2 June
2005, replace: document unchanged, replaced author field in astro-ph entry -
authors are all members of the H.E.S.S. collaboration and three additional
authors (99+3, see document
A possible association of the new VHE gamma-ray source HESS J1825--137 with the pulsar wind nebula G18.0--0.7
We report on a possible association of the recently discovered very
high-energy -ray source HESS J1825--137 with the pulsar wind nebula
(commonly referred to as G 18.0--0.7) of the year old
Vela-like pulsar PSR B1823--13. HESS J1825--137 was detected with a
significance of 8.1 in the Galactic Plane survey conducted with the
H.E.S.S. instrument in 2004. The centroid position of HESS J1825--137 is offset
by 11\arcmin south of the pulsar position. \emph{XMM-Newton} observations have
revealed X-ray synchrotron emission of an asymmetric pulsar wind nebula
extending to the south of the pulsar. We argue that the observed morphology and
TeV spectral index suggest that HESS J1825--137 and G 18.0--0.7 may be
associated: the lifetime of TeV emitting electrons is expected to be longer
compared to the {\it XMM-Newton} X-ray emitting electrons, resulting in
electrons from earlier epochs (when the spin-down power was larger)
contributing to the present TeV flux. These electrons are expected to be
synchrotron cooled, which explains the observed photon index of , and
the longer lifetime of TeV emitting electrons naturally explains why the TeV
nebula is larger than the X-ray size. Finally, supernova remnant expansion into
an inhomogeneous medium is expected to create reverse shocks interacting at
different times with the pulsar wind nebula, resulting in the offset X-ray and
TeV -ray morphology.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, to appear in Astronomy and Astrophysics Letter
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