A 3D study of the photosphere of HD 99563 - I. Pulsation analysis

We have used high-speed spectroscopy of the rapidly oscillating Ap (roAp) star HD 99563 to study the pulsation amplitude and phase behaviour of elements in its stratified atmosphere over one 2.91-d rotation cycle. We identify spectral features related to patches in the surface distribution of chemical elements and study the pulsation amplitudes and phases as the patches move across the stellar disc. The variations are consistent with a distorted non-radial dipole pulsation mode. We measure a 1.6 km s−1 rotational variation in the mean radial velocities of Hα and argue that this is the first observation of Hα abundance spots caused by He settling through suppression of convection by the magnetic field on an oblique rotator, in support of a prime theory for the excitation mechanism of roAp star pulsation. We demonstrate that HD 99563 is the second roAp star to show aspect dependence of blue-to-red running wave line profile variations in Nd iii spots

Subcellular heterogeneity of ryanodine receptor properties in ventricular myocytes with low T-tubule density

Rationale: In ventricular myocytes of large mammals, not all ryanodine receptor (RyR) clusters are associated with T-tubules (TTs); this fraction increases with cellular remodeling after myocardial infarction (MI). Objective: To characterize RyR functional properties in relation to TT proximity, at baseline and after MI. Methods: Myocytes were isolated from left ventricle of healthy pigs (CTRL) or from the area adjacent to a myocardial infarction (MI). Ca2+ transients were measured under whole-cell voltage clamp during confocal linescan imaging (fluo-3) and segmented according to proximity of TTs (sites of early Ca2+ release, F>F50 within 20 ms) or their absence (delayed areas). Spontaneous Ca2+ release events during diastole, Ca2+ sparks, reflecting RyR activity and properties, were subsequently assigned to either category. Results: In CTRL, spark frequency was higher in proximity of TTs, but spark duration was significantly shorter. Block of Na+/Ca2+ exchanger (NCX) prolonged spark duration selectively near TTs, while block of Ca2+ influx via Ca2+ channels did not affect sparks properties. In MI, total spark mass was increased in line with higher SR Ca2+ content. Extremely long sparks (>47.6 ms) occurred more frequently. The fraction of near-TT sparks was reduced; frequency increased mainly in delayed sites. Increased duration was seen in near-TT sparks only; Ca2+ removal by NCX at the membrane was significantly lower in MI. Conclusion: TT proximity modulates RyR cluster properties resulting in intracellular heterogeneity of diastolic spark activity. Remodeling in the area adjacent to MI differentially affects these RyR subpopulations. Reduction of the number of sparks near TTs and reduced local NCX removal limit cellular Ca2+ loss and raise SR Ca2+ content, but may promote Ca2+ waves

Asteroseismology with the WIRE satellite. I. Combining Ground- and Space-based Photometry of the Delta Scuti Star Epsilon Cephei

We have analysed ground-based multi-colour Stromgren photometry and single-filter photometry from the star tracker on the WIRE satellite of the delta scuti star Epsilon Cephei. The ground-based data set consists of 16 nights of data collected over 164 days, while the satellite data are nearly continuous coverage of the star during 14 days. The spectral window and noise level of the satellite data are superior to the ground-based data and this data set is used to locate the frequencies. However, we can use the ground-based data to improve the accuracy of the frequencies due to the much longer time baseline. We detect 26 oscillation frequencies in the WIRE data set, but only some of these can be seen clearly in the ground-based data. We have used the multi-colour ground-based photometry to determine amplitude and phase differences in the Stromgren b-y colour and the y filter in an attempt to identify the radial degree of the oscillation frequencies. We conclude that the accuracies of the amplitudes and phases are not sufficient to constrain theoretical models of Epsilon Cephei. We find no evidence for rotational splitting or the large separation among the frequencies detected in the WIRE data set. To be able to identify oscillation frequencies in delta scuti stars with the method we have applied, it is crucial to obtain more complete coverage from multi-site campaigns with a long time baseline and in multiple filters. This is important when planning photometric and spectroscopic ground-based support for future satellite missions like COROT and KEPLER.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables. Fig. 4 reduced in quality. Accepted by A&

Usefulness of electroanatomical mapping during transseptal endocardial left ventricular lead implantation

AimFailure rate to implant left ventricular (LV) lead transvenously is 4-8% in cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) patients. Epicardial lead placement is an alternative method and if not applicable case reports and small series showed the feasibility of endocardial LV lead implantation. Electroanatomical mapping might be a useful tool to guide this procedure.Methods and resultsFour patients had undergone endocardial LV lead implantation after unsuccessful transvenous implantation or epicardial LV lead dysfunction using the transseptal approach. Electroanatomical mapping was used to mark the location of the transseptal puncture. This location point guided the mapping catheter from the subclavian access and facilitated positioning of the LV lead at the adjacent latest activation area of the left ventricle detected by activation mapping. Endocardial active fixation LV leads were successfully implanted in all patients with stable electrical parameters immediately after implantation and over a mean follow-up of 18.3 months (lead impedance 520 +/- 177 vs. 439 +/- 119 Omega and pacing threshold 0.8 +/- 0.2 V, 0.5 ms vs. 0.6 +/- 0.1 V, 0.5 ms, respectively). Patients were maintained on anticoagulation therapy with a target international normalized ratio of 3.5-4.5 and did not show any thromboembolic, haemorrhagic events, or infection. Echocardiography showed significant improvement of LV systolic function with marked improvement of the functional status.ConclusionsElectroanatomical mapping is a useful technical tool to guide endocardial LV lead implantation. It helps to identify the location of the transseptal puncture and the use of activation mapping might facilitate location of the optimal lead positions during CRT

Towards ensemble asteroseismology of the young open clusters Chi Persei and NGC 6910

As a result of the variability survey in Chi Persei and NGC6910, the number of Beta Cep stars that are members of these two open clusters is increased to twenty stars, nine in NGC6910 and eleven in Chi Persei. We compare pulsational properties, in particular the frequency spectra, of Beta Cep stars in both clusters and explain the differences in terms of the global parameters of the clusters. We also indicate that the more complicated pattern of the variability among B type stars in Chi Persei is very likely caused by higher rotational velocities of stars in this cluster. We conclude that the sample of pulsating stars in the two open clusters constitutes a very good starting point for the ensemble asteroseismology of Beta Cep-type stars and maybe also for other B-type pulsators.Comment: 4 pages, Astronomische Nachrichten, HELAS IV Conference, Arecife, Lanzarote, Feb 2010, submitte

Избранные вопросы состояния клеточных факторов резистентности при клещевых природно-очаговых микст-инфекциях

The authors of the article are trying to generalize the literary data that characterizing proinflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines production of peripheral blood immune cells during tick-borne neuroinfections: Lyme borreliosis, associated with tick- borne encephalitis. The immune response development to antigens of a tick-borne encephalitis virus and Borrelia burgdorferi in pa- tients with a mixed-infection essentially differs from those during monoinfections.Авторами статьи предпринята попытка обобщить данные литературы, характеризующие продукцию провоспалитель- ных и противовоспалительных цитокинов иммуноцитами периферической крови при природно-очаговых клещевых нейро- инфекциях: иксодовом клещевом боррелиозе, ассоциированном с клещевым энцефалитом. Развитие иммунного ответа на антигены вируса клещевого энцефалита и боррелий у больных микст-инфекцией существенно отличается от таковых при моноинфекциях

ОСОБЕННОСТИ И ХАРАКТЕРИСТИКА ПОКАЗАТЕЛЕЙ ЗАБОЛЕВАЕМОСТИ РАКОМ ЩИТОВИДНОЙ ЖЕЛЕЗЫ У ЖИТЕЛЕЙ Г. ТОМСКА И ТОМСКОЙ ОБЛАСТИ

The analysis of thyroid cancer incidence and its structure among different populations of Tomsk region is presented. We studied the report documents, the database of the Tomsk regional oncologic dispensary for the period 2008 to 2012. The clinical characteristics of patients with thyroid cancer were summarizes according to sex, age and place of residence. The papillary cancer was the most often diagnosed. It was found that in young patients, thyroid cancer was diagnosed more often in the stage 1 and 2. On the other hand, in elderly patients (above 60 years), thyroid cancer diagnosed at stage 3 and 4. In the Tomsk region, as elsewhere in the world, thyroid cancer is detected more often in women.Представлены результаты анализа заболеваемости раком щитовидной железы среди жителей Томской области, особенности ее структуры среди различных контингентов населения. Были изучены база данных и отчетные документы Томского областного онкологического диспансера за период 2008–2012 гг. Обобщена клиническая характеристика больных раком щитовидной железы в зависимости от пола, возраста и места проживания. В результате анализа установлено, что лидирующее место в морфологической структуре рака щитовидной железы принадлежит папиллярному раку. Выявлено увеличение количества вновь выявленных больных, установлено, что рак щитовидной железы в молодом возрасте чаще диагностируется на ранних стадиях, стадии 3 и 4 при первичной диагностике встречаются преимущественно у лиц старше 60 лет. В Томской области, как и во всем мире, среди больных раком щитовидной железы превалируют женщины

D=4 supergravity dynamically coupled to a massless superparticle in a superfield Lagrangian approach

We consider the interacting system of D=4 N=1 supergravity and the Brink-Schwarz massless superparticle as described by the sum of their superfield actions, and derive the complete set of superfield equations of motion for the coupled dynamical system. These include source terms given by derivatives of a vector superfield current density with support on the worldline. This current density is constructed from the spin 3/2 and spin 2 current density `prepotentials'. We analyze the gauge symmetry of the coupled action and show that it is possible to fix the gauge in such a way that the equations of motion reduce to those of the supergravity-bosonic particle coupled system.Comment: a few misprints corrected. Published in PRD 67, 065003-1-23 To appear in Phys. Rev.