8,663 research outputs found
Mucin glycosylation and sulphation in airway epithelial cells is not influenced by cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator expression
Abnormalities in mucus properties and clearance make a major contribution to the pathology of cystic fibrosis (CF). Our aim was to test the hypothesis that the defects in CF mucus are a direct result of mutations in the CF transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) protein. We evaluated a single mucin molecule MUC1F/5ACTR that carries tandem repeat sequence from MUC5AC, a major secreted airway mucin, in a MUC1 mucin vector. To establish whether the presence of mutant or normal CFTR directly influences the O-glycosylation and sulphation of mucins in airway epithelial cells, we used the CFT1-LC3 (DeltaF508 CFTR mutant) and CFT1-LCFSN (wild-type CFTR corrected) human airway epithelial cell lines. MUC1F/5ACTR mucin was immunoprecipitated, centricon purified, and O-glycosylation was evaluated by Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization and electrospray tandem mass spectrometry to determine the composition of different carbohydrate structures. Mass spectrometry data showed the same O-glycans in both CFTR mutant and wild-type CFTR corrected cells. Metabolic labeling assays were performed to evaluate gross glycosylation and sulphation of the mucins and showed no significant difference in mucin synthesized in six independent clones of these cell lines. Our results show that the absence of functional CFTR protein causes neither an abnormality in mucin O-glycosylation nor an increase in mucin sulphation
Complicated variations of early optical afterglow of GRB 090726
We report on a detection of an early rising phase of optical afterglow (OA)
of a long GRB 090726. We resolve a complicated profile of the optical light
curve. We also investigate the relation of the optical and X-ray emission of
this event. We make use of the optical photometry of this OA obtained by the
0.5 m telescope of AI AS CR, supplemented by the data obtained by other
observers, and the X-ray Swift/XRT data.
The optical emission peaked at ~ 17.5 mag (R) at t-T0 ~ 500 s. We find a
complex profile of the light curve during the early phase of this OA: an
approximately power-law rise, a rapid transition to a plateau, a weak flare
superimposed on the center of this plateau, and a slowly steepening early
decline followed by a power-law decay. We discuss several possibilities to
explain the short flare on the flat top of the optical light curve at t-T0 ~
500 s; activity of the central engine is favored although reverse shock cannot
be ruled out. We show that power-law outflow with Theta_obs/Theta_c > 2.5 is
the best case for OA of GRB 090726. The initial Lorentz factor is Gamma_0 ~
230-530 in case of propagation of the blast wave in a homogeneous medium, while
propagation of this wave in a wind environment gives Gamma_0 ~ 80-300. The
value of Gamma_0 in GRB 090726 thus falls into the lower half of the range
observed in GRBs and it may even lie on the lower end. We also show that both
the optical and X-ray emission decayed simultaneously and that the spectral
profile from X-ray to the optical band did not vary. This OA belongs to the
least luminous ones in the phase of its power-law decay corresponding to that
observed for the ensemble of OAs of long GRBs.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, accepted to A&
(In)finite extent of stationary perfect fluids in Newtonian theory
For stationary, barotropic fluids in Newtonian gravity we give simple
criteria on the equation of state and the "law of motion" which guarantee
finite or infinite extent of the fluid region (providing a priori estimates for
the corresponding stationary Newton-Euler system). Under more restrictive
conditions, we can also exclude the presence of "hollow" configurations. Our
main result, which does not assume axial symmetry, uses the virial theorem as
the key ingredient and generalises a known result in the static case. In the
axially symmetric case stronger results are obtained and examples are
discussed.Comment: Corrections according to the version accepted by Ann. Henri Poincar
Combustion waves in a model with chain branching reaction and their stability
In this paper the travelling wave solutions in the adiabatic model with
two-step chain branching reaction mechanism are investigated both numerically
and analytically in the limit of equal diffusivity of reactant, radicals and
heat. The properties of these solutions and their stability are investigated in
detail. The behaviour of combustion waves are demonstrated to have similarities
with the properties of nonadiabatic one-step combustion waves in that there is
a residual amount of fuel left behind the travelling waves and the solutions
can exhibit extinction. The difference between the nonadiabatic one-step and
adiabatic two-step models is found in the behaviour of the combustion waves
near the extinction condition. It is shown that the flame velocity drops down
to zero and a standing combustion wave is formed as the extinction condition is
reached. Prospects of further work are also discussed.Comment: pages 32, figures 2
Rough ends of infinite primitive permutation groups
If G is a group of permutations of a set Omega , then the suborbits of G are the orbits of point-stabilisers G_\alpha acting on Omega. The cardinalities of these suborbits are the subdegrees of G. Every infinite primitive permutation group G with finite subdegrees acts faithfully as a group of automorphisms of a locally-finite connected vertex-primitive directed graph Gamma with vertex set Omega, and there is consequently a natural action of G on the ends of Gamma.
We show that if G is closed in the permutation topology of pointwise convergence, then the structure of G is determined by the length of any orbit of G acting on the ends of Gamma.
Examining the ends of a Cayley graph of a finitely generated group to determine the structure of the group is often fruitful. B. Krƶn and R. G. Mƶller have recently generalised the Cayley graph to
what they call a rough Cayley graph, and they call the ends of this graph the rough ends of the group.
It transpires that the ends of Gamma are the rough ends of G, and so our result is equivalent to saying that the structure of a closed primitive group G whose subdegrees are all finite is determined by the length of any orbit of G on its rough ends
A Systematic Search for Molecular Outflows Toward Candidate Low-Luminosity Protostars and Very Low Luminosity Objects
We present a systematic single-dish search for molecular outflows toward a
sample of 9 candidate low-luminosity protostars and 30 candidate Very Low
Luminosity Objects (VeLLOs; L_int < 0.1 L_sun). The sources are identified
using data from the Spitzer Space Telescope catalogued by Dunham et al. toward
nearby (D < 400 pc) star forming regions. Each object was observed in 12CO and
13CO J = 2-1 simultaneously using the sideband separating ALMA Band-6 prototype
receiver on the Heinrich Hertz Telescope at 30 arcsecond resolution. Using
5-point grid maps we identify five new potential outflow candidates and make
on-the-fly maps of the regions surrounding sources in the dense cores B59,
L1148, L1228, and L1165. Of these new outflow candidates, only the map of B59
shows a candidate blue outflow lobe associated with a source in our survey. We
also present larger and more sensitive maps of the previously detected L673-7
and the L1251-A IRS4 outflows and analyze their properties in comparison to
other outflows from VeLLOs. The accretion luminosities derived from the outflow
properties of the VeLLOs with detected CO outflows are higher than the observed
internal luminosity of the protostars, indicating that these sources likely had
higher accretion rates in the past. The known L1251-A IRS3 outflow is detected
but not remapped. We do not detect clear, unconfused signatures of red and blue
molecular wings toward the other 31 sources in the survey indicating that
large-scale, distinct outflows are rare toward this sample of candidate
protostars. Several potential outflows are confused with kinematic structure in
the surrounding core and cloud. Interferometric imaging is needed to
disentangle large-scale molecular cloud kinematics from these potentially weak
protostellar outflows.Comment: 42 pages, 19 figures, Accepted for publication in the Astronomical
Journa
Enabling Hospital Staff to Care for People with Dementia
This is the fourth and final article in a short series that presents case study examples of the positive work achieved by trusts who participated in the Royal College of Nursingās development programme to improve dementia care in acute hospitals. Dementia training in hospitals is often inadequate
and staff do not always have sufficient knowledge of dementia to provide appropriate care. It can also be difficult for them to identify when patients with dementia are in pain, especially when their communication skills deteriorate. The case studies
presented illustrate how two NHS trusts have worked to ensure that their staff are fully equipped to care for people with dementia in hospital. Basildon and Thurrock University hospitals NHS Foundation Trust in Essex made dementia training
a priority by including dementia awareness in staff induction across a range of roles and providing additional training activities tailored to meet staff needs. Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust focused on pain assessment, aiming to standardise its approach for patients with dementia. The pain assessment in advanced dementia tool was chosen and piloted, and is being implemented across the trust after a positive response
Improving Activity and Engagement for Patients with Dementia
This is the second in a short series that presents case study examples of the positive work achieved by trusts that participated in the Royal College of Nursingās development programme to improve dementia care in acute hospitals. Staff often think that there is insufficient time to get to know patients and carers, especially with large and challenging workloads.
Combined with a lack of activities and stimulation for patients with dementia in hospital, this can result in poor engagement and a disconnect between staff and patients. To improve these relationships and give staff more time with patients, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust has introduced bay nursing for patients with dementia, where one nurse is responsible for monitoring a bay alongside a healthcare assistant for an entire shift. Part of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Glan Clwyd Hospital in North Wales has focused on improving stimulation by creating an activity room with a specially trained activity worker, providing a relaxed and friendly setting where patients with dementia can take part in a range of activities and have lunch together
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