383 research outputs found
Examining the effects of gestational exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid on the developing and differentiating mammary gland, their consequences, and the possible modes of action by which they are mediated
Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) is a persistent industrial compound, which is commonly detected in human and wildlife sera. Low-dose prenatal PFOA exposure negatively affects postnatal growth and survival with little prenatal effect, indicating the potential for PFOA to alter lactation in the nursing dam. These studies aim to understand the impact PFOA has on development and differentiation of the mammary gland (MG). To address this, timed-pregnant CD-1 mice were gestationally exposed to 0 or 5 mg PFOA/kg body weight. PFOA-treated dams exhibited significant histopathologic delays in MG lactational differentiation and alterations in milk protein gene expression, and their exposed female offspring displayed stunted mammary epithelial branching and growth. The roles of timing and route of exposure were then addressed by cross-fostering litters, and the 5 mg/kg dose, under either lactational- or intrauterine-only exposures, was determined sufficient to delay MG development as early as postnatal day (PND) 1, with effects persisting beyond PND63. The consequences to F1 lactational function and subsequent development of F2 offspring were investigated, and F1 dams exhibited delayed lactational differentiation, though no effect of early-life exposure on milk production or F2 offspring body weight was detected. Finally, the potential mode of action for the effects of PFOA on the MG was investigated, by treating pregnant wild-type (WT) and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARα) knock-out (KO) mice similarly with PFOA. At weaning, PFOA treatment caused diminished lactational differentiation in WT, but not KO dams. In offspring, however, effects of PFOA exposure were apparent in both strains at weaning, suggesting a non-PPARα mode of action may be responsible for offspring MG effects. In total, these studies defined a window of MG sensitivity in late fetal and early neonatal life, as well as the persistence of MG effects beyond the age at which serum PFOA concentrations reach background levels. This suggests a permanent, non-PPARα mediated effect in the offspring, though without clear functional consequences. The characterization of MG effects in light of PFOA dosimetry data, as well as the discovery that MG effects are not strictly controlled by PPARα, will greatly assist in the regulation of this compound
Discovery of a Classic FR-II Broad Absorption Line Quasar from the FIRST Survey
We have discovered a remarkable quasar, FIRST J101614.3+520916, whose optical
spectrum shows unambiguous broad absorption features while its double-lobed
radio morphology and luminosity clearly indicate a classic Fanaroff-Riley Type
II radio source. Its radio luminosity places it at the extreme of the recently
established class of radio-loud broad absorption line quasars (Becker et al.
1997, 2000; Brotherton et al. 1998). Because of its hybrid nature, we speculate
that FIRST J101614.3+520916 is a typical FR-II quasar which has been
rejuvenated as a broad absorption line (BAL) quasar with a Compact Steep
Spectrum core. The direction of the jet axis of FIRST J101614.3+520916 can be
estimated from its radio structure and optical brightness, indicating that we
are viewing the system at a viewing angle of > 40 degrees. The position angles
of the radio jet and optical polarization are not well-aligned, differing by 20
to 30 degrees. When combined with the evidence presented by Becker et al.
(2000) for a sample of 29 BAL quasars showing that at least some BAL quasars
are viewed along the jet axis, the implication is that no preferred viewing
orientation is necessary to observe BAL systems in a quasar's spectrum. This,
and the probable young nature of compact steep spectrum sources, leads
naturally to the alternate hypothesis that BALs are an early stage in the lives
of quasars.Comment: 14 pages, 6 postscript figures; accepted for publication in the
Astrophysical Journa
What Determines the Depth of BALs? Keck HIRES Observations of BALQSO 1603+300
We find that the depth and shape of the broad absorption lines (BALs) in
BALQSO 1603+3002 are determined largely by the fraction of the emitting source
which is covered by the BAL flow. In addition, the observed depth of the BALs
is poorly correlated with their real optical depth. The implication of this
result is that abundance studies based on direct extraction of column densities
from the depth of the absorption troughs are unreliable. Our conclusion is
based on analysis of unblended absorption features of two lines from the same
ion (in this case the Si IV doublet), which allows unambiguous separation of
covering factor and optical depth effects. The complex morphology of the
covering factor as a function of velocity suggests that the BALs are produced
by several physically separated outflows. The covering factor is ion dependent
in both depth and velocity width. We also find evidence that in BALQSO
1603+3002 the flow does not cover the broad emission line region.Comment: 13 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
Keck Hires Observations of the QSO First J104459.6+365605: Evidence for a Large Scale Outflow
This paper presents an analysis of a Keck HIRES spectrum of the QSO FIRST
J104459.6+365605. The line of sight towards the QSO contains two clusters of
outflowing clouds that give rise to broad blue shifted absorption lines. The
outflow velocities of the clouds range from -200 to -1200 km/s and from -3400
to -5200 km/s, respectively. The width of the individual absorption lines
ranges from 50 to more than 1000 km/s. The most prominent absorption lines are
those of Mg II, Mg I, and Fe II. The low ionization absorption lines occur at
the same velocities as the most saturated Mg II lines, showing that the Fe II,
Mg I and Mg II line forming regions must be closely associated. Many absorption
lines from excited states of Fe II are present, allowing a determination of the
population of several low lying energy levels. From this we determine an
electron density in the Fe II line forming regions of 4000 per cubic cm.
Modelling the ionization state of the absorbing gas with this value of the
electron density as a constraint, we find that the distance between the Fe II
and Mg I line forming region and the continuum source is of order 700 parsec.
From the correspondence in velocity between the Fe II, Mg I and Mg II lines
we infer that the Mg II lines must be formed at the same distance. The Mg II
absorption fulfills the criteria for Broad Absorption Lines defined by Weymann
et al. (1991). This large distance is surprising, since BALs are generally
thought to be formed in outflows at a much smaller distance from the nucleus.Comment: 34 pages, 11 figures. Accepted by The Astrophysical Journa
Discrimination, labour markets and the Labour Market Prospects of Older Workers: What Can a Legal Case Teach us?
As governments become increasingly concerned about the fiscal implications of the ageing population, labour market policies have sought to encourage mature workers to remain in the labour force. The âhuman capitalâ discourses motivating these policies rest on the assumption that older workers armed with motivation and vocational skills will be able to return to fulfilling work. This paper uses the post-redundancy recruitment experiences of former Ansett Airlines
flight attendants to develop a critique of these expectations. It suggests that policies to increase
older workersâ labour market participation will not succeed while persistent socially constructed age- and gender- typing shape labour demand. The conclusion argues for policies sensitive to the institutional structures that shape employer preferences, the competitive rationality of
discriminatory practices, and the irresolvable tension between workersâ human rights and employersâ property rights
Gestational and Chronic Low-Dose PFOA Exposures and Mammary Gland Growth and Differentiation in Three Generations of CD-1 Mice
Background: Prenatal exposure to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), a ubiquitous industrial surfactant, has been reported to delay mammary gland development in female mouse offspring (F1) and the treated lactating dam (P0) after gestational treatments at 3 and 5 mg PFOA/kg/day
The structural response of the cornea to changes in stromal hydration
The primary aim of this study was to quantify the relationship between corneal structure and hydration in humans and pigs. X-ray scattering data were collected from human and porcine corneas equilibrated with polyethylene glycol (PEG) to varying levels of hydration, to obtain measurements of collagen fibril diameter, interfibrillar spacing and intermolecular spacing. Both species showed a strong positive linear correlation between hydration and interfibrillar spacing2 and a non-linear, bi-phasic relationship between hydration and fibril diameter, whereby fibril diameter increased up to approximately physiological hydration, H = 3.0, with little change thereafter. Above H = 3.0, porcine corneas exhibited a larger fibril diameter than human corneas (p < 0.001). Intermolecular spacing also varied with hydration in a bi-phasic manner but reached a maximum value at a lower hydration (H = 1.5) than fibril diameter. Human corneas displayed a higher intermolecular spacing than porcine corneas at all hydrations (p < 0.0001). Human and porcine corneas required a similar PEG concentration to reach physiological hydration, suggesting that the total fixed charge that gives rise to the swelling pressure is the same. The difference in their structural responses to hydration can be explained by variations in molecular crosslinking and intra/interfibrillar water partitioning
The lay health worker-patient relationship in promoting pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) in COPD: What makes it work?
Lay health workers (LHWs) can improve access to services and adherence to treatment, as well as promoting
self-care and prevention. Their effect in promoting uptake and adherence in pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) for
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has not been tested. PR is the most effective treatment for the
symptoms and disability of COPD, but this effectiveness is undermined by poor rates of completion. Trained
LHWs with COPD, who also have first-hand experience of PR, are well placed to help overcome the
documented barriers to its completion. The relationship between LHWs and patients may be one of the
keys to their effectiveness but it has been little explored. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were used with
the aim of examining the LHW-patient partnership in a feasibility study of trained PR-experienced LHWs used
to support COPD patients referred to PR. Twelve volunteers with COPD who completed LHW training
supported 66 patients referred for PR. All 12 of these LHWs gave end-of-study interviews, 21 COPD patients
supported by LHWs were also interviewed. Patients reported that the LHWs were keen to share their
experiences of PR, and that this had a positive impact. The enthusiasm of the LHWs for PR was striking.
The common bond between LHWs and patients of having COPD together with the LHWs positive, first-hand
experience of PR were dominant and recurring themes in their relationship.This article presents independent research funded by the NIHR under its Research for Patient Benefit (RfPB) Programme (Grant Reference Number PB-PG0214-30052). SL receives additional funding from the South African Medical Research Council. SJCT was supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Collaboration for Leadership in Applied Health Research and Care (CLAHRC) North Thames at Bartâs Health NHS Trust
The FIRST Bright Quasar Survey. II. 60 Nights and 1200 Spectra Later
We have used the VLA FIRST survey and the APM catalog of the POSS-I plates as
the basis for constructing a new radio-selected sample of optically bright
quasars. This is the first radio-selected sample that is competitive in size
with current optically selected quasar surveys. Using only two basic criteria,
radio-optical positional coincidence and optical morphology, quasars and BL
Lacs can be identified with 60% selection efficiency; the efficiency increases
to 70% for objects fainter than magnitude 17. We show that a more sophisticated
selection scheme can predict with better than 85% reliability which candidates
will turn out to be quasars.
This paper presents the second installment of the FIRST Bright Quasar Survey
with a catalog of 636 quasars distributed over 2682 square degrees. The quasar
sample is characterized and all spectra are displayed. The FBQS detects both
radio-loud and radio-quiet quasars out to a redshift z>3. We find a large
population of objects of intermediate radio-loudness; there is no evidence in
our sample for a bimodal distribution of radio characteristics. The sample
includes ~29 broad absorption line quasars, both high and low ionization, and a
number of new objects with remarkable optical spectra.Comment: 41 pages plus 39 gifs which contain all quasar spectra. Accepted for
publication in the Astrophysical Journal Supplement Serie
- âŠ