Cyclic Variability of the Circumstellar Disc of the Be Star ζ\zeta Tau. II. Testing the 2D Global Disc Oscillation Model

Aims. In this paper we model, in a self-consistent way, polarimetric, photometric, spectrophotometric and interferometric observations of the classical Be star $\zeta$ Tauri. Our primary goal is to conduct a critical quantitative test of the global oscillation scenario. Methods. We have carried out detailed three-dimensional, NLTE radiative transfer calculations using the radiative transfer code HDUST. For the input for the code we have used the most up-to-date research on Be stars to include a physically realistic description for the central star and the circumstellar disc. We adopt a rotationally deformed, gravity darkened central star, surrounded by a disc whose unperturbed state is given by a steady-state viscous decretion disc model. We further assume that disc is in vertical hydrostatic equilibrium. Results. By adopting a viscous decretion disc model for $\zeta$ Tauri and a rigorous solution of the radiative transfer, we have obtained a very good fit of the time-average properties of the disc. This provides strong theoretical evidence that the viscous decretion disc model is the mechanism responsible for disc formation. With the global oscillation model we have successfully fitted spatially resolved VLTI/AMBER observations and the temporal V/R variations of the H$\alpha$ and Br$\gamma$ lines. This result convincingly demonstrates that the oscillation pattern in the disc is a one-armed spiral. Possible model shortcomings, as well as suggestions for future improvements, are also discussed.Comment: 14 pages, 9 figures, accepted to A&

A Novel p.Leu(381)Phe Mutation in Presenilin 1 is Associated with Very Early Onset and Unusually Fast Progressing Dementia as well as Lysosomal Inclusions Typically Seen in Kufs Disease

Whole exome sequencing in a family with suspected dominant Kufs disease identified a novel Presenilin 1 mutation p.Leu(381)Phe in three brothers who, along with their father, developed progressive dementia and motor deficits in their early 30s. All affected relatives had unusually rapid disease progression (on average 3.6 years from disease onset to death). In silico analysis of mutation p.Leu(381)Phe predicted more detrimental effects when compared to the common Presenilin 1 mutation p.Glu(280)Ala. Electron microscopy study of peripheral fibroblast cells of the proband showed lysosomal inclusions typical for Kufs disease. However his brain autopsy demonstrated typical changes of Alzheimer disease

Optical variabilities in Be/X-ray binary system:GRO J2058+42

We present an analysis of long-term optical monitoring observations and optical spectroscopic observations of the counterpart to CXOU J205847.5+414637 (high mass X-ray binary system). We search for a variability in the light curve of Be star. We used differential magnitudes in the time series analysis. The variability search in the optical light curve was made by using different algorithms. The reduction and analysis of spectra were done by using MIDAS and its suitable packages. We have performed a frequency search which gave us the value 2.404 1/day. This value is attributed to the non-radial pulsation of Be star. H alpha emission line profiles always show double-peaked emissions with a mean equivalent width of 2.31 \pm 0.19 \AA ~and a peak separation of 516 \pm 45 km/s. This suggests that Be star disk is still present. CXOU J205847.5+414637 is in X-ray quiescent state.Comment: 8 pages, 9 figures. To appear at Astronomy and Astrophysic

Solution structure of the N-terminal dsRBD of Drosophila ADAR and interaction studies with RNA

Adenosine deaminases that act on RNA (ADAR) catalyze adenosine to inosine (A-to-I) editing in double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) substrates. Inosine is read as guanosine by the translation machinery; therefore A-to-I editing events in coding sequences may result in recoding genetic information. Whereas vertebrates have two catalytically active enzymes, namely ADAR1 and ADAR2, Drosophila has a single ADAR protein (dADAR) related to ADAR2. The structural determinants controlling substrate recognition and editing of a specific adenosine within dsRNA substrates are only partially understood. Here, we report the solution structure of the N-terminal dsRNA binding domain (dsRBD) of dADAR and use NMR chemical shift perturbations to identify the protein surface involved in RNA binding. Additionally, we show that Drosophila ADAR edits the R/G site in the mammalian GluR-2 pre-mRNA which is naturally modified by both ADAR1 and ADAR2. We then constructed a model showing how dADAR dsRBD1 binds to the GluR-2 R/G stem-loop. This model revealed that most side chains interacting with the RNA sugar-phosphate backbone need only small displacement to adapt for dsRNA binding and are thus ready to bind to their dsRNA target. It also predicts that dADAR dsRBD1 would bind to dsRNA with less sequence specificity than dsRBDs of ADAR2. Altogether, this study gives new insights into dsRNA substrate recognition by Drosophila ADAR

Collective pulsational velocity broadening due to gravity modes as a physical explanation for macroturbulence in hot massive stars

We aimed at finding a physical explanation for the occurrence of macroturbulence in the atmospheres of hot massive stars, a phenomenon found in observations since more than a decade but yet unexplained. We computed time series of line profiles for evolved massive stars broadened by rotation and by hundreds of low-amplitude nonradial gravity-mode pulsations which are predicted to be excited for evolved massive stars. In general, line profiles based on macrotubulent broadening can mimic those subject to pulsational broadening. In several cases, though, good fits require macroturbulent velocities that pass the speed of sound for realistic pulsation amplitudes. Moreover, we find that the rotation velocity can be seriously underestimated by using a simple parameter description for macroturbulence rather than an appropriate pulsational model description to fit the line profiles. We conclude that macroturbulence is a likely signature of the collective effect of pulsations. We provide line diagnostics and their typical values to decide whether or not pulsational broadening is present in observed line profiles, as well as a procedure to avoid an inaccurate estimation of the rotation velocity.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication by Astronomy and Astrophysic

On the periodicities present in the optical light curves of SMC Be/X-ray binaries

We present a comprehensive study of the periodic variations observed in OGLE I-band light curves of SMC Be/X-ray binaries, discovering new optical periodicities in 9 systems. We find that these periodicities derive from a number of mechanisms, notably disturbance of the decretion disk on the orbital period of the system, and aliased non-radial pulsations. We develop metrics that allow these mechanisms to be distinguished on the basis of the shape of the folded optical light curve, and use these metrics to categorise the periodicities present in \sim 50 SMC binary systems. We conclude that extreme care must be taken in the interpretation of the OGLE light curves since only around 30% of the periodicities present can be unambiguously attributed to orbital periods.Comment: 16 pages, 17 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

School librarians as literacy educators within a complex role

Librarians in schools are expected to play an important role as literacy educators, and have a positive impact on young people’s literacy learning. However in the context of their diverse workload, relatively little is known about how this aspect of their role sits within its competing demands, and the exact scope of the literacy educator requirements. Using a hybrid approach to content analysis, this article analyses 40 recent job description documents to identify the nature and prevalence of different aspects of the role, and to explore the literacy educator aspect of this profession. Findings suggest that while the literacy educator aspect is one of the most common role requirements, it sits within a complex workload, and the literacy educator aspect is itself multi-faceted and demanding

Beta Cephei stars in the ASAS-3 data. I. Long-term variations of periods and amplitudes

We analysed V-filter ASAS-3 photometry of 41 known Beta Cephei-type stars. The ASAS-3 photometry was combined with the archival data, if available, to determine long-term stability of periods and amplitudes of excited modes. We detected amplitude changes in three Beta Cephei stars, BW Cru, V836 Cen, and V348 Nor. Period changes were found in KK Vel and V836 Cen. Our analysis shows that intrinsic period changes are more common among multiperiodic stars, apparently because they are caused by some kind of mode interaction. In addition, we found new modes for seven stars, and for ten others we provide new solutions or remove ambiguities in the detected frequencies. One candidate hybrid Beta Cephei/SPB star, HD133823, is discovered.Comment: 22 pages, 11 figures, accepted for publication in A&