Antenna of the space radiotelescope KRT-3

The questions of antenna design with a diameter of 3 m for space radio-interferometry are examined. The basic characteristics of the antenna are determined, on the basis of which a model of the antenna of a space radiotelescope of 3.1 m KRT-3 is developed and prepared. The technological peculiarities of the antenna preparation are examined. The results of measurement of the reflecting surfaces of the telescope are cited, which point to the fact that the antenna may operate to wave lengths in the order of 2 mm

Chronic GLP-1 receptor activation by exendin-4 induces expansion of pancreatic duct glands in rats and accelerates formation of dysplastic lesions and chronic pancreatitis in the Kras(G12D) mouse model.

Pancreatic duct glands (PDGs) have been hypothesized to give rise to pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PanIN). Treatment with the glucagon-like peptide (GLP)-1 analog, exendin-4, for 12 weeks induced the expansion of PDGs with mucinous metaplasia and columnar cell atypia resembling low-grade PanIN in rats. In the pancreata of Pdx1-Cre; LSL-Kras(G12D) mice, exendin-4 led to acceleration of the disruption of exocrine architecture and chronic pancreatitis with mucinous metaplasia and increased formation of murine PanIN lesions. PDGs and PanIN lesions in rodent and human pancreata express the GLP-1 receptor. Exendin-4 induced proproliferative signaling pathways in human pancreatic duct cells, cAMP-protein kinase A and mitogen-activated protein kinase phosphorylation of cAMP-responsive element-binding protein, and increased cyclin D1 expression. These GLP-1 effects were more pronounced in the presence of an activating mutation of Kras and were inhibited by metformin. These data reveal that GLP-1 mimetic therapy may induce focal proliferation in the exocrine pancreas and, in the context of exocrine dysplasia, may accelerate formation of neoplastic PanIN lesions and exacerbate chronic pancreatitis

β-Cell failure in type 2 diabetes: a case of asking too much of too few?

The islet in type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is characterized by a deficit in β-cells, increased β-cell apoptosis, and extracellular amyloid deposits derived from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). In the absence of longitudinal studies, it is unknown if the low β-cell mass in T2DM precedes diabetes onset (is a risk factor for diabetes) or develops as a consequence of the disease process. Although insulin resistance is a risk factor for T2DM, most individuals who are insulin resistant do not develop diabetes. By inference, an increased β-cell workload results in T2DM in some but not all individuals. We propose that the extent of the β-cell mass that develops during childhood may underlie subsequent successful or failed adaptation to insulin resistance in later life. We propose that a low innate β-cell mass in the face of subsequent insulin resistance may expose β-cells to a burden of insulin and IAPP biosynthetic demand that exceeds the cellular capacity for protein folding and trafficking. If this threshold is crossed, intracellular toxic IAPP membrane permeant oligomers (cylindrins) may form, compromising β-cell function and inducing β-cell apoptosis

β-cell dysfunctional ERAD/ubiquitin/proteasome system in type 2 diabetes mediated by islet amyloid polypeptide-induced UCH-L1 deficiency.

ObjectiveThe islet in type 2 diabetes is characterized by β-cell apoptosis, β-cell endoplasmic reticulum stress, and islet amyloid deposits derived from islet amyloid polypeptide (IAPP). Toxic oligomers of IAPP form intracellularly in β-cells in humans with type 2 diabetes, suggesting impaired clearance of misfolded proteins. In this study, we investigated whether human-IAPP (h-IAPP) disrupts the endoplasmic reticulum-associated degradation/ubiquitin/proteasome system.Research design and methodsWe used pancreatic tissue from humans with and without type 2 diabetes, isolated islets from h-IAPP transgenic rats, isolated human islets, and INS 832/13 cells transduced with adenoviruses expressing either h-IAPP or a comparable expression of rodent-IAPP. Immunofluorescence and Western blotting were used to detect polyubiquitinated proteins and ubiquitin carboxyl-terminal hydrolase L1 (UCH-L1) protein levels. Proteasome activity was measured in isolated rat and human islets. UCH-L1 was knocked down by small-interfering RNA in INS 832/13 cells and apoptosis was evaluated.ResultsWe report accumulation of polyubiquinated proteins and UCH-L1 deficiency in β-cells of humans with type 2 diabetes. These findings were reproduced by expression of oligomeric h-IAPP but not soluble rat-IAPP. Downregulation of UCH-L1 expression and activity to reproduce that caused by h-IAPP in β-cells induced endoplasmic reticulum stress leading to apoptosis.ConclusionsOur results indicate that defective protein degradation in β-cells in type 2 diabetes can, at least in part, be attributed to misfolded h-IAPP leading to UCH-L1 deficiency, which in turn further compromises β-cell viability

Gamma-ray Flares and VLBI Outbursts of Blazars

A model is developed for the time dependent electromagnetic - radio to gamma-ray - emission of active galactic nuclei, specifically, the blazars, based on the acceleration and creation of leptons at a propagating discontinuity or {\it front} of a Poynting flux jet. The front corresponds to a discrete relativistic jet component as observed with very-long-baseline-interferometry (VLBI). Equations are derived for the number, momentum, and energy of particles in the front taking into account synchrotron, synchrotron-self-Compton (SSC), and inverse-Compton processes as well as photon-photon pair production. The apparent synchrotron, SSC, and inverse-Compton luminosities as functions of time are determined. Predictions of the model are compared with observations in the gamma, optical and radio bands. The delay between the high-energy gamma-ray flare and the onset of the radio is explained by self-absorption and/or free-free absorption by external plasma. Two types of gamma-ray flares are predicted depending on pair creation in the front.Comment: 11 pages, submitted to ApJ. 10 figures can be obtained from R. Lovelace by sending postal address to [email protected]

VLBI imaging of a flare in the Crab Nebula: More than just a spot

We report on very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations of the radio emission from the inner region of the Crab Nebula, made at 1.6 GHz and 5 GHz after a recent high-energy flare in this object. The 5 GHz data have provided only upper limits of 0.4 milli-Jansky (mJy) on the flux density of the pulsar and 0.4 mJy/beam on the brightness of the putative flaring region. The 1.6 GHz data have enabled imaging the inner regions of the nebula on scales of up to ~40". The emission from the inner "wisps" is detected for the first time with VLBI observations. A likely radio counterpart (designated "C1") of the putative flaring region observed with Chandra and HST is detected in the radio image, with an estimated flux density of $0.5\pm 0.3$\,mJy and a size of 0.2-0.6". Another compact feature ("C2") is also detected in the VLBI image closer to the pulsar, with an estimated flux density of 0.4 +- 0.2 mJy and a size smaller than 0{\farcs}2. Combined with the broad-band SED of the flare, the radio properties of C1 yield a lower limit of ~0.5 mG for the magnetic field and a total minimum energy of 1.2*10^41 ergs vested in the flare (corresponding to using about 0.2% of the pulsar spin-down power). The 1.6 GHz observations provide upper limits for the brightness (0.2 mJy/beam) and total flux density (0.4 mJy) of the optical Knot 1 located at 0.6" from the pulsar. The absolute position of the Crab pulsar is determined, and an estimate of the pulsar proper motion is obtained.Comment: Astronomy & Astrophysics; accepted; 10 pages, 8 figure

Observations of Lensed Relativistic Jets as a Tool of Constraining Lens Galaxy Parameters

The possibility of using lensed relativistic jets on very small angular scales to construct proper models of spiral lens galaxies and to independently determine the Hubble constant is considered. The system B0218+357 is used as an example to illustrate that there exists a great choice of model parameters adequately reproducing its observed large-scale properties but leading to a significant spread in the Hubble constant. The jet image position angle is suggested as an additional parameter that allows the range of models under consideration to be limited. It is shown that the models for which the jet image position angles differ by at least $40^o$ can be distinguished between themselves during observations on very small angular scales. The possibility of observing the geometric properties of lensed relativistic jets and measuring the superluminal velocities of knot images on time scales of several months with very long baseline space interferometers is discussed.Comment: 11 pages, 3 figures, Will be published in the Astronomy Letters, V.37, PP.483-490, 201

6.7 GHz methanol absorption toward the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3079

The detection of the 6.7 GHz line of methanol (CH3OH) is reported for the first time toward an object beyond the Magellanic Clouds. Using the Effelsberg 100 m telescope, two absorption features were identified toward the Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 3079. Both components probably originated on lines-of-sight toward the central region, presumably absorbing the radio continuum of the nuclear sources A, B, and E of NGC 3079. One absorption feature, at the systemic velocity, is narrow and may arise from gas not related to the nuclear environment of the galaxy. The weaker blue-shifted component is wider and may trace outflowing gas. Total A-type CH3OH column densities are estimated to be between a few times 10^13 and a few times 10^15 cm^-2. Because of a highly frequency-dependent continuum background, the overall similarity of HI, OH, and CH3OH absorption profiles hints at molecular clouds that cover the entire area occupied by the nuclear radio continuum sources ~ 4 pc.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure, accepted for publication in A&A Letter

The brightest OH maser in the sky: a flare of emission in W75 N

A flare of maser radio emission in the OH-line 1665 MHz has been discovered in the star forming region W75 N in 2003, with the flux density of about 1000 Jy. At the time it was the strongest OH maser detected during the whole history of observations since the discovery of cosmic masers in 1965. The flare emission is linearly polarized with a degree of polarization near 100%. A weaker flare with a flux of 145 Jy was observed in this source in 2000 - 2001, which was probably a precursor of the powerful flare. Intensity of two other spectral features has decreased after beginning of the flare. Such variation of the intensity of maser condensation emission (increasing of one and decreasing of the other) can be explained by passing of the magneto hydrodynamic shock across regions of enhanced gas concentration.Comment: 9 pages with 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy Letter