1,893 research outputs found
OH (1720 MHz) Masers: A Multiwavelength Study of the Interaction between the W51C Supernova Remnant and the W51B Star Forming Region
We present a comprehensive view of the W51B HII region complex and the W51C
supernova remnant (SNR) using new radio observations from the VLA, VLBA,
MERLIN, JCMT, and CSO along with archival data from Spitzer, ROSAT, ASCA, and
Chandra. Our VLA data include the first 400 cm (74 MHz) continuum image of W51
at high resolution (88 arcsec). The 400 cm image shows non-thermal emission
surrounding the G49.2-0.3 HII region, and a compact source of non-thermal
emission (W51B_NT) coincident with the previously-identified OH (1720 MHz)
maser spots, non-thermal 21 and 90 cm emission, and a hard X-ray source.
W51B_NT falls within the region of high likelihood for the position of TeV
gamma-ray emission. Using the VLBA three OH (1720 MHz) maser spots are detected
in the vicinity of W51B_NT with sizes of 60 to 300 AU and Zeeman effect
magnetic field strengths of 1.5 to 2.2 mG. The multiwavelength data demonstrate
that the northern end of the W51B HII region complex has been partly enveloped
by the advancing W51C SNR and this interaction explains the presence of W51B_NT
and the OH masers. This interaction also appears in the thermal molecular gas
which partially encircles W51B_NT and exhibits narrow pre-shock (DeltaV 5 km/s)
and broad post-shock (DeltaV 20 km/s) velocity components. RADEX radiative
transfer modeling of these two components yield physical conditions consistent
with the passage of a non-dissociative C-type shock. Confirmation of the
W51B/W51C interaction provides additional evidence in favor of this region
being one of the best candidates for hadronic particle acceleration known thus
far.Comment: Accepted to Ap
Recommended from our members
A Whole-Genome RNA Interference Screen Reveals a Role for Spry2 in Insulin Transcription and the Unfolded Protein Response.
Insulin production by the pancreatic β-cell is required for normal glucose homeostasis. While key transcription factors that bind to the insulin promoter are known, relatively little is known about the upstream regulators of insulin transcription. Using a whole-genome RNA interference screen, we uncovered 26 novel regulators of insulin transcription that regulate diverse processes including oxidative phosphorylation, vesicle traffic, and the unfolded protein response (UPR). We focused on Spry2-a gene implicated in human type 2 diabetes by genome-wide association studies but without a clear connection to glucose homeostasis. We showed that Spry2 is a novel UPR target and its upregulation is dependent on PERK. Knockdown of Spry2 resulted in reduced expression of Serca2, reduced endoplasmic reticulum calcium levels, and induction of the UPR. Spry2 deletion in the adult mouse β-cell caused hyperglycemia and hypoinsulinemia. Our study greatly expands the compendium of insulin promoter regulators and demonstrates a novel β-cell link between Spry2 and human diabetes
Effects of rapid thermal annealing on GaAs 1-x
The effects of rapid thermal annealing on the optical and structural properties of GaAs1-xBix alloys for x ranging from 0.022 to 0.065 were investigated. At room temperature, the annealed GaAs1-xBix showed modest improvement (∼3 times) in photoluminescence (PL) while the PL peak wavelength remained relatively unchanged. It was found that bismuth related defects are not easily removed by annealing and the PL improvement may be dominated by the reduction of other types of defects including arsenic and gallium related defects. Also, the optimum annealing temperature is Bi composition dependent. For samples with x < 0.048, the optimum annealing temperature is 700 °C but reduces to 600 °C for higher compositions
Estimating cost-effectiveness using alternative preference-based scores and within-trial methods : exploring the dynamics of the Quality-Adjusted Life-Year using the EQ-5D 5-level version and Recovering Quality of Life Utility Index
Objectives
This study aimed to explore quality-adjusted life-year (QALY) and subsequent cost-effectiveness estimates based on the more physical health–focused EQ-5D 5-level version (EQ-5D-5L) value set for England or cross-walked EQ-5D 3-level version UK value set scores or more mental health recovery-focused Recovering Quality of Life Utility Index (ReQoL-UI), when using alternative within-trial statistical methods. We describe possible reasons for the different QALY estimates based on the interaction between item scores, health state profiles, preference-based scores, and mathematical and statistical methods chosen.
Methods
QALYs are calculated over 8 weeks from a case study 2:1 (intervention:control) randomized controlled trial in patients with anxiety or depression. Complete case and with missing cases imputed using multiple-imputation analyses are conducted, using unadjusted and regression baseline-adjusted QALYs. Cost-effectiveness is judged using incremental cost-effectiveness ratios and acceptability curves. We use previously established psychometric results to reflect on estimated QALYs.
Results
A total of 361 people (241:120) were randomized. EQ-5D-5L crosswalk produced higher incremental QALYs than the value set for England or ReQoL-UI, which produced similar unadjusted QALYs, but contrasting baseline-adjusted QALYs. Probability of cost-effectiveness <£30 000 per QALY ranged from 6% (complete case ReQoL-UI baseline-adjusted QALYs) to 64.3% (multiple-imputation EQ-5D-5L crosswalk unadjusted QALYs). The control arm improved more on average than the intervention arm on the ReQoL-UI, a result not mirrored on the EQ-5D-5L nor condition-specific (Patient-Health Questionnaire-9, depression; Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, anxiety) measures.
Conclusions
ReQoL-UI produced contradictory cost-effectiveness results relative to the EQ-5D-5L. The EQ-5D-5L’s better responsiveness and “anxiety/depression” and “usual activities” items drove the incremental QALY results. The ReQoL-UI’s single physical health item and “personal recovery” construct may have influenced its lower 8-week incremental QALY estimates in this patient sample
Novel polymorphisms influencing transcription of the human CHRM2 gene in airway smooth muscle
Muscarinic receptors are a functionally important family of G-protein-coupled receptors. Using a combination of rapid amplification of 5′ cDNA ends and reporter gene assays, we characterized the 5′ untranslated region of the CHRM2 gene as expressed in human airway smooth muscle (HASM) cells. A splice site is present 46 bp upstream from the ATG start codon. Five exons with alternative splicing patterns are present upstream of this splice site, separated by introns ranging from 87 bp to > 145 kb. There is evidence for the gene being under the control of a TATA-less promoter with Sp1, GATA, and activator protein-2 binding sites. Multiple transcription start sites (TSSs) were identified. We identified a novel 0.5-kb hypervariable region located 648 bp upstream of the most 5′ TSS, a multiallelic (CA) tandem repeat 96 bp downstream of the most 5′ TSS, and a common C→A SNP located 136 bp upstream of the most 5′ TSS. Functional studies in primary HASM cells and the BEAS-2B cell line demonstrated highest promoter activity to be upstream of the most 3′ TSS, with potential repressor elements operating in a cell type-dependent manner, located upstream of the most 5′ TSS. We present functional data to show that the CA repeat may influence the transcription of the gene in HASM and BEAS-2B cells.peer-reviewe
Engineered biosynthesis of bacteriochlorophyll b in Rhodobacter sphaeroides.
Bacteriochlorophyll b has the most red-shifted absorbance maximum of all naturally occurring photopigments. It has a characteristic ethylidene group at the C8 position in place of the more common ethyl group, the product of a C8-vinyl reductase, which is carried by the majority of chlorophylls and bacteriochlorophylls used in photosynthesis. The subsequent and first step exclusive to bacteriochlorophyll biosynthesis, the reduction of the C7=C8 bond, is catalyzed by chlorophyllide oxidoreductase. It has been demonstrated that the enzyme from bacteriochlorophyll a-utilizing bacteria can catalyze the formation of compounds carrying an ethyl group at C8 from both ethyl- and vinyl-carrying substrates, indicating a surprising additional C8-vinyl reductase function, while the enzyme from organisms producing BChl b could only catalyze C7=C8 reduction with a vinyl substrate, but this product carried an ethylidene group at the C8 position. We have replaced the native chlorophyllide oxidoreductase-encoding genes of Rhodobacter sphaeroides with those from Blastochloris viridis, but the switch from bacteriochlorophyll a to b biosynthesis is only detected when the native conventional C8-vinyl reductase is absent. We propose a non-enzymatic mechanism for ethylidene group formation based on the absence of cellular C8-vinyl reductase activity
Women's knowledge and beliefs regarding breast cancer
Approximately 20–30% of women delay for 12 weeks or more from self-discovery of a breast symptom to presentation to a health care provider, and such delay intervals are associated with poorer survival. Understanding the factors that influence patient delay is important for the development of an effective, targeted health intervention programme to shorten patient delay. The aim of the study was to elicit knowledge and beliefs about breast cancer among a sample of the general female population, and examine age and socio-economic variations in responses. Participants were randomly selected through the Postal Address File, and data were collected through the Office of National Statistics. Geographically distributed throughout the UK, 996 women participated in a short structured interview to elicit their knowledge of breast cancer risk, breast cancer symptoms, and their perceptions of the management and outcomes associated with breast cancer. Women had limited knowledge of their relative risk of developing breast cancer, of associated risk factors and of the diversity of potential breast cancer-related symptoms. Older women were particularly poor at identifying symptoms of breast cancer, risk factors associated with breast cancer and their personal risk of developing the disease. Poorer knowledge of symptoms and risks among older women may help to explain the strong association between older age and delay in help-seeking. If these findings are confirmed they suggest that any intervention programme should target older women in particular, given that advancing age is a risk factor for both developing breast cancer and for subsequent delayed presentation
- …