6,404 research outputs found
Early Science with the Large Millimetre Telescope: Molecules in the Extreme Outflow of a proto-Planetary Nebula
Extremely high velocity emission likely related to jets is known to occur in
some proto-Planetary Nebulae. However, the molecular complexity of this
kinematic component is largely unknown. We observed the known extreme outflow
from the proto-Planetary Nebula IRAS 16342-3814, a prototype water fountain, in
the full frequency range from 73 to 111 GHz with the RSR receiver on the Large
Millimetre Telescope. We detected the molecules SiO, HCN, SO, and CO.
All molecular transitions, with the exception of the latter are detected for
the first time in this source, and all present emission with velocities up to a
few hundred km s. IRAS 16342-3814 is therefore the only source of this
kind presenting extreme outflow activity simultaneously in all these molecules,
with SO and SiO emission showing the highest velocities found of these species
in proto-Planetary Nebulae. To be confirmed is a tentative weak SO component
with a FWHM 700 km s. The extreme outflow gas consists of dense
gas (n 10--10 cm), with a mass larger than
0.02--0.15 M. The relatively high abundances of SiO and SO may
be an indication of an oxygen-rich extreme high velocity gas.Comment: Accepted for publication in Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical
Society Letter
Characterization of the cytotoxic effects of the combination of cisplatin and flavanol (-)-epicatechin on human lung cancer cell line A549. An isobolographic approach
Background: Among malignancies, lung cancer is a leading cause of death. Platinum-based therapeutic compounds used to treat lung cancer have not been able to increase the survival of patients and such compounds have a high incidence of adverse and toxic effects. It has been proposed that flavonoids such as catechins may significantly reduce the risk of developing cancer, alongside with other health benefits. The aim of this work was to determine the effect of (-)-epicatechin, the main flavanol found in cocoa, on the proliferation of the lung non-small cell adenocarcinoma cancer cell line A549, and to determine its effects when added simultaneously with cisplatin. Materials and Methods: Concentration-response curves for cisplatin and epicatechin were obtained, inhibitory concentrations calculated and an isobolographic analysis was then performed. Results: We found that epicatechin has a concentration-dependent inhibitory effect on proliferation of tumor cells and the isobolographic analysis reveals that the effect of its combination with cisplatin is synergistic. It was also observed that epicatechin promotes cell death by apoptosis. Conclusions: Epicatechin might be considered for future studies to explore its possible use as coadjuvant in cisplatin-based treatments
A population-based controlled experiment assessing the epidemiological impact of digital contact tracing
While Digital contact tracing (DCT) has been argued to be a valuable complement to manual tracing in the containment of COVID-19, no empirical evidence of its effectiveness is available to date. Here, we report the results of a 4-week population-based controlled experiment that took place in La Gomera (Canary Islands, Spain) between June and July 2020, where we assessed the epidemiological impact of the Spanish DCT app Radar Covid. After a substantial communication campaign, we estimate that at least 33% of the population adopted the technology and further showed relatively high adherence and compliance as well as a quick turnaround time. The app detects about 6.3 close-contacts per primary simulated infection, a significant percentage being contacts with strangers, although the spontaneous follow-up rate of these notified cases is low. Overall, these results provide experimental evidence of the potential usefulness of DCT during an epidemic outbreak in a real population
CD69 is a TGF-β/1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 target gene in monocytes
CD69 is a transmembrane lectin that can be expressed on most hematopoietic cells. In monocytes, it has been functionally linked to the 5-lipoxygenase pathway in which the leukotrienes, a class of highly potent inflammatory mediators, are produced. However, regarding CD69 gene expression and its regulatory mechanisms in monocytes, only scarce data are available. Here, we report that CD69 mRNA expression, analogous to that of 5-lipoxygenase, is induced by the physiologic stimuli transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1α,25(OH)2D3) in monocytic cells. Comparison with T- and B-cell lines showed that the effect was specific for monocytes. CD69 expression levels were increased in a concentration-dependent manner, and kinetic analysis revealed a rapid onset of mRNA expression, indicating that CD69 is a primary TGF-β/1α,25(OH)2D3 target gene. PCR analysis of different regions of the CD69 mRNA revealed that de novo transcription was initiated and proximal and distal parts were induced concomitantly. In common with 5-lipoxygenase, no activation of 0.7 kb or ~2.3 kb promoter fragments by TGF-β and 1α,25(OH)2D3 could be observed in transient reporter assays for CD69. Analysis of mRNA stability using a transcription inhibitor and a 3′UTR reporter construct showed that TGF-β and 1α,25(OH)2D3 do not influence CD69 mRNA stability. Functional knockdown of Smad3 clearly demonstrated that upregulation of CD69 mRNA, in contrast to 5-LO, depends on Smad3. Comparative studies with different inhibitors for mitogen activated protein kinases (MAPKs) revealed that MAPK signalling is involved in CD69 gene regulation, whereas 5-lipoxygenase gene expression was only partly affected. Mechanistically, we found evidence that CD69 gene upregulation depends on TAK1-mediated p38 activation. In summary, our data indicate that CD69 gene expression, conforming with 5-lipoxygenase, is regulated monocyte-specifically by the physiologic stimuli TGF-β and 1α,25(OH)2D3 on mRNA level, although different mechanisms account for the upregulation of each gene
Transition from Fireball to Poynting-flux-dominated Outflow in Three-Episode GRB 160625B
The ejecta composition is an open question in gamma-ray bursts (GRB) physics.
Some GRBs possess a quasi-thermal spectral component in the time-resolved
spectral analysis, suggesting a hot fireball origin. Others show a featureless
non-thermal spectrum known as the "Band" function, consistent with a
synchrotron radiation origin and suggesting that the jet is
Poynting-flux-dominated at the central engine and likely in the emission region
as well. There are also bursts showing a sub-dominant thermal component and a
dominant synchrotron component suggesting a likely hybrid jet composition. Here
we report an extraordinarily bright GRB 160625B, simultaneously observed in
gamma-rays and optical wavelengths, whose prompt emission consists of three
isolated episodes separated by long quiescent intervals, with the durations of
each "sub-burst" being 0.8 s, 35 s, and 212 s, respectively. Its high
brightness (with isotropic peak luminosity L
erg/s) allows us to conduct detailed time-resolved spectral analysis in each
episode, from precursor to main burst and to extended emission. The spectral
properties of the first two sub-bursts are distinctly different, allowing us to
observe the transition from thermal to non-thermal radiation between
well-separated emission episodes within a single GRB. Such a transition is a
clear indication of the change of jet composition from a fireball to a
Poynting-flux-dominated jet.Comment: Revised version reflecting the referees' comments. 27 pages, 11
figures, 5 tables. The final edited version will appear in Nature Astronom
Direct Observation and Anisotropy of the Contribution of Gap nodes in the Low Temperature Specific Heat of YBa_2Cu_3O_7
The specific heat due to line nodes in the superconducting gap of YBa2Cu3O7
has been obscured up to now by magnetic terms of extrinsic origin, even for
high quality crystals. We report the specific heat of a new single crystal
grown in a non-corrosive BaZrO3 crucible, for which paramagnetic terms are
reduced to less than one spin-1/2 center for 20'000 Cu atoms. The contribution
of line nodes shows up directly in the difference C(B,T) - C(0,T) at fixed
temperatures (T < 5 K) as a function of the magnetic field parallel to the
c-axis (B<=14 T). These data illustrate the smooth crossover from C propotional
to T^2 at low fields to C propotional to TB^1/2 at high fields, and provide new
values for gap parameters which are quantitatively consistent with tunneling
spectroscopy and thermal conductivity in the framework of dx^2-y^2 pairing
symmetry. Data for B along the nodal and antinodal directions in the ab-plane
are also provided. The in-plane anisotropy predicted in the clean limit is not
observed.Comment: 29 pages(using Revtex style), 14 postscript figures, submitted to
Phys. Rev. B Content of the file changed after replacin
Prompt, early, and afterglow optical observations of five gamma-ray bursts (GRBs 100901A, 100902A, 100905A, 100906A, and 101020A)
We present results of the prompt, early, and afterglow optical observations
of five gamma-ray bursts, GRBs 100901A, 100902A, 100905A, 100906A, and 101020A,
made with the Mobile Astronomical System of TElescope-Robots in Russia
(MASTER-II net), the 1.5-m telescope of Sierra-Nevada Observatory, and the
2.56-m Nordic Optical Telescope. For two sources, GRB 100901A and GRB 100906A,
we detected optical counterparts and obtained light curves starting before
cessation of gamma-ray emission, at 113 s and 48 s after the trigger,
respectively. Observations of GRB 100906A were conducted with two polarizing
filters. Observations of the other three bursts gave the upper limits on the
optical flux; their properties are briefly discussed. More detailed analysis of
GRB 100901A and GRB 100906A supplemented by Swift data provides the following
results and indicates different origins of the prompt optical radiation in the
two bursts. The light curves patterns and spectral distributions suggest a
common production site of the prompt optical and high-energy emission in GRB
100901A. Results of spectral fits for GRB 100901A in the range from the optical
to X-rays favor power-law energy distributions with similar values of the
optical extinction in the host galaxy. GRB 100906A produced a smoothly peaking
optical light curve suggesting that the prompt optical radiation in this GRB
originated in a front shock. This is supported by a spectral analysis. We have
found that the Amati and Ghirlanda relations are satisfied for GRB 100906A. An
upper limit on the value of the optical extinction on the host of GRB 100906A
is obtained.Comment: 18 pages, 14 figures, 14 tables, 5 machine readable tables; accepted
for publication in MNRA
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