The organic chemistry in the innermost, infalling envelope of the Class 0 protostar L483

Context: The protostellar envelopes, outflow and large-scale chemistry of Class~0 and Class~I objects have been well-studied, but while previous works have hinted at or found a few Keplerian disks at the Class~0 stage, it remains to be seen if their presence in this early stage is the norm. Likewise, while complex organics have been detected toward some Class~0 objects, their distribution is unknown as they could reside in the hottest parts of the envelope, in the emerging disk itself or in other components of the protostellar system, such as shocked regions related to outflows. Aims: In this work, we aim to address two related issues regarding protostars: when rotationally supported disks form around deeply embedded protostars and where complex organic molecules reside in such objects. Methods: We observed the deeply embedded protostar, L483, using Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) Band~7 data from Cycles~1 and 3 with a high angular resolution down to $\sim$~0.1$^{\prime\prime}$ (20~au) scales. Results: We find that the kinematics of CS~$J=7$--$6$ and H$^{13}$CN~$J=4$--$3$ are best fitted by the velocity profile from infall under conservation of angular momentum and not by a Keplerian profile. The spatial extents of the observed complex organics are consistent with an estimated ice sublimation radius of the envelope at $\sim$~50~au, suggesting that the complex organics exist in the hot corino of L483. Conclusions: We find that L483 does not harbor a Keplerian disk down to at least $15$~au in radius. Instead, the innermost regions of L483 are undergoing a rotating collapse. This result highlights that some Class~0 objects contain only very small disks, or none at all, with the complex organic chemistry taking place on scales inside the hot corino of the envelope, in a region larger than the emerging disk.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figure

Radiocarbon Dating of the Human Eye Lens Crystallines Reveal Proteins without Carbon Turnover throughout Life

BACKGROUND: Lens crystallines are special proteins in the eye lens. Because the epithelial basement membrane (lens capsule) completely encloses the lens, desquamation of aging cells is impossible, and due to the complete absence of blood vessels or transport of metabolites in this area, there is no subsequent remodelling of these fibers, nor removal of degraded lens fibers. Human tissue ultimately derives its (14)C content from the atmospheric carbon dioxide. The (14)C content of the lens proteins thus reflects the atmospheric content of (14)C when the lens crystallines were formed. Precise radiocarbon dating is made possible by comparing the (14)C content of the lens crystallines to the so-called bomb pulse, i.e. a plot of the atmospheric (14)C content since the Second World War, when there was a significant increase due to nuclear-bomb testing. Since the change in concentration is significant even on a yearly basis this allows very accurate dating. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: Our results allow us to conclude that the crystalline formation in the lens nucleus almost entirely takes place around the time of birth, with a very small, and decreasing, continuous formation throughout life. The close relationship may be further expressed as a mathematical model, which takes into account the timing of the crystalline formation. CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: Such a life-long permanence of human tissue has hitherto only been described for dental enamel. In confront to dental enamel it must be held in mind that the eye lens is a soft structure, subjected to almost continuous deformation, due to lens accommodation, yet its most important constituent, the lens crystalline, is never subject to turnover or remodelling once formed. The determination of the (14)C content of various tissues may be used to assess turnover rates and degree of substitution (for example for brain cell DNA). Potential targets may be nervous tissues in terms of senile or pre-senile degradation, as well as other highly specialised structures of the eyes. The precision with which the year of birth may be calculated points to forensic uses of this technique

Hepatic toxicity assessment of cationic liposome exposure in healthy and chronic alcohol fed mice

The utilisation of nanoparticles as the means of targeted delivery of therapeutics and/or imaging agents could greatly enhance the specific transport of biologically active payloads to target tissues while avoiding or reducing undesired side-effects. To allow for this to become a reality, the question of potential toxicological effects needs to be addressed. In the present investigation, a cationic liposome with prospective for medical applications was constructed and thoroughly assessed for any material-induced hepatic adverse effects in vivo − in healthy and alcoholic hepatic disease models and in vitro − (HepG2 cells). The data demonstrated that intravenous injection of liposomes did not cause any significant in vivo hepatic toxicity (inflammation, alterations in blood parameters, anti-oxidant depletion, acute phase response and histopathology) at doses of 200 μg per mouse in either healthy or chronically alcohol fed mice. Additionally, the in vitro material-induced adverse effects (cytotoxicity, inflammation or albumin secretion) were all also minimal. The data from this study demonstrated that the intravenous injection of cationic liposomes does not cause hepatic toxicity. This investigation is important as it investigates the toxicity of a nano-sized material in a model of alcoholic hepatic disease in vitro and in vivo. This is an area of research in the field of nanotoxicology that is currently almost entirely overlooked. Keywords: Toxicology, Nanoparticles, Pharmaceutical scienc

What is the role of clinical tests and ultrasound in acetabular labral tear diagnostics?

Background and purpose An acetabular labral tear is a diagnostic challenge. Various clinical tests have been described, but little is known about their diagnostic sensitivity and specificity. We investigated the diagnostic validity of clinical tests and ultra-sound as compared with MR arthrography

Squaring the energy efficiency circle: evaluating industry energy efficiency policy in a hybrid model setting

Improving energy efficiency within the industry will play a central role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels. Nevertheless, the ex-ante evaluation of energy-efficiency policies largely remains an unresolved challenge. Understood within a theoretical economic framework, the root of the challenge is the simultaneity and interaction between three primary effects: an activity, a price, and a technical effect. This paper demonstrates how the IntERACT model, a Danish hybrid model, captures each effect and their interactions endogenously. The paper finds that a specific energy efficiency policy leads to an additional reduction in industrial energy use of around 5% in the year 2030, of which a policy-induced reduction in the energy efficiency gap accounts for half. The results reflect a total rebound effect of 12.5% and an implied elasticity of energy service demand of 16 around 15% across industrial sectors

Squaring the energy efficiency circle: evaluating industry energy efficiency policy in a hybrid model setting

Improving energy efficiency within the industry will play a central role in mitigating greenhouse gas emissions by reducing the use of fossil fuels. Nevertheless, the ex-ante evaluation of energy-efficiency policies largely remains an unresolved challenge. Understood within a theoretical economic framework, the root of the challenge is the simultaneity and interaction between three primary effects: an activity, a price, and a technical effect. This paper demonstrates how the IntERACT model, a Danish hybrid model, captures each effect and their interactions endogenously. The paper finds that a specific energy efficiency policy leads to an additional reduction in industrial energy use of around 5% in the year 2030, of which a policy-induced reduction in the energy efficiency gap accounts for half. The results reflect a total rebound effect of 12.5% and an implied elasticity of energy service demand of 16 around 15% across industrial sectors

Lung inflammation and genotoxicity following pulmonary exposure to nanoparticles in ApoE-/- mice

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The toxic and inflammatory potential of 5 different types of nanoparticles were studied in a sensitive model for pulmonary effects in apolipoprotein E knockout mice (ApoE^-/-). We studied the effects instillation or inhalation Printex 90 of carbon black (CB) and compared CB instillation in ApoE-/- and C57 mice. Three and 24 h after pulmonary exposure, inflammation was assessed by mRNA levels of cytokines in lung tissue, cell composition, genotoxicity, protein and lactate dehydrogenase activity in broncho-alveolar lavage (BAL) fluid.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Firstly, we found that intratracheal instillation of CB caused far more pulmonary toxicity in ApoE^-/-mice than in C57 mice. Secondly, we showed that instillation of CB was more toxic than inhalation of a presumed similar dose with respect to inflammation in the lungs of ApoE^-/-mice. Thirdly, we compared effects of instillation in ApoE^-/-mice of three carbonaceous particles; CB, fullerenes C₆₀(C₆₀) and single walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) as well as gold particles and quantum dots (QDs). Characterization of the instillation media revealed that all particles were delivered as agglomerates and aggregates. Significant increases in <it>Il-6, Mip-2 </it>and <it>Mcp-1 </it>mRNA were detected in lung tissue, 3 h and 24 h following instillation of SWCNT, CB and QDs. DNA damage in BAL cells, the fraction of neutrophils in BAL cells and protein in BAL fluid increased statistically significantly. Gold and C₆₀particles caused much weaker inflammatory responses.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data suggest that ApoE^-/-model is sensitive for evaluating particle induced inflammation. Overall QDs had greatest effects followed by CB and SWCNT with C₆₀and gold being least inflammatory and DNA-damaging. However the gold was used at a much lower mass dose than the other particles. The strong effects of QDs were likely due to Cd release. The surface area of the instilled dose correlated well the inflammatory response for low toxicity particles.</p