Quantifying Stellar Mass Loss with High Angular Resolution Imaging

Mass is constantly being recycled in the universe. One of the most powerful recycling paths is via stellar mass-loss. All stars exhibit mass loss with rates ranging from ~10(-14) to 10(-4) M(sun) yr-1, depending on spectral type, luminosity class, rotation rate, companion proximity, and evolutionary stage. The first generation of stars consisted mostly of hydrogen and helium. These shed material - via massive winds, planetary nebulae and supernova explosions - seeding the interstellar medium with heavier elements. Subsequent generations of stars incorporated this material, changing how stars burn and providing material for planet formation. An understanding of mass loss is critical for modeling individual stars as well as answering larger astrophysical questions. Understanding mass loss is essential for following the evolution of single stars, binaries, star clusters, and galaxies. Mass loss is one of our weakest areas in the modeling of fundamental stellar processes. In large part this is owing to lack of confrontation with detailed observations of stellar photospheres and the mass-loss process. High resolution optical imagery with telescope arrays is beginning to provide these data and, combined with spectroscopy and broad infrared and sub-mm coverage, supporting more sophisticated models on fast computers and promising a new era in mass-loss studies.Comment: Science white paper prepared for Astro201

Intestinal schistosomiasis in Uganda at high altitude (>1400 m): malacological and epidemiological surveys on Mount Elgon and in Fort Portal crater lakes reveal extra preventive chemotherapy needs

Background Intestinal schistosomiasis is of public health importance in Uganda but communities living above 1400 m are not targeted for control as natural transmission is thought unlikely. To assess altitudinal boundaries and at-risk populations, conjoint malacological and epidemiological surveys were undertaken on Mount Elgon (1139 m–3937 m), in Fort Portal crater lakes and in the Rwenzori Mountains (1123 m–4050 m). Methods Seventy freshwater habitats [Mount Elgon (37), Fort Portal crater lakes (23), Rwenzori Mountains (8) and Lake Albert (2)] were inspected for Biomphalaria species. Water temperature, pH and conductivity were recorded. A parasitological examination of 756 schoolchildren [Mount Elgon (300), Fort Portal crater lakes (456)] by faecal microscopy of duplicate Kato-Katz smears from two consecutive stool samples was bolstered by antigen (urine-CCA dipstick) and antibody (SEA-ELISA) diagnostic assays. Results Biomphalaria spp. was found up to 1951 m on Mount Elgon and 1567 m in the Fort Portal crater lakes. Although no snail from Mount Elgon shed cercariae, molecular analysis judged 7.1% of snails sampled at altitudes above 1400 m as having DNA of Schistosoma mansoni; in Fort Portal crater lakes three snails shed schistosome cercariae. Prevalence of intestinal schistosomiasis as measured in schoolchildren by Kato-Katz (Mount Elgon = 5.3% v. Fort Portal crater lakes = 10.7%), CCA urine-dipsticks (18.3% v. 34.4%) and SEA-ELISA (42.3% v. 63.7%) showed negative associations with increasing altitude with some evidence of infection up to 2000 m. Conclusions Contrary to expectations, these surveys clearly show that natural transmission of intestinal schistosomiasis occurs above 1400 m, possibly extending up to 2000 m. Using spatial epidemiological predictions, this now places some extra six million people at-risk, denoting an expansion of preventive chemotherapy needs in Uganda

Autonomic reactivity to television viewing in preschoolers and its relationship to their anger assessment inventory score

he purpose of this study was to examine the effect television may have on several physiological responses mediated by the autonomic nervous system and to assess the relationship between anger and these responses- A sample of preschoolers (N=18) ages A-6 years enrolled in day care programs in Knoxville, Tennessee were assessed with a 15- item Anger Assessment Inventory Scale by their teachers- This was followed by viewing approximately 10 minutes of network television programming consisting of both neutral and violent, aggressive content. The mean age of the children was 4-6 years with 55-655 being male and 44-455 being female- Ninety-four percent of the population was black- The mean AAI score achieved on the scale was 36.5 +/- 3.8, with a median split of AAI scores yielded the two groups with means of 23.7 +/- 2.1 and 49.2 +/- 4.0. The results of the study showed a significant main effects of condition in HR, condition and time in ST, and time alone in SBP- The main effect of condition (television content) supports the hypothesis that children are reactive to television and its content- The effect of time was also significant, although this probably was a result of habituation over the television viewing period- However, in the measurements observed in the split AAI groups (N=9/9) score was a main effect in both HR and SBP- These results suggest high anger children iv tend to be more reactive. Time and score were also a main effect in DBP, although Tukey\u27s analysis failed to show the source of the interaction. Overall, the study did show autonomic reactivity in the children in response to the television programming they viewed, with and without the effects of anger, and suggests that high anger children may be more reactive

Model file name: alpha helix 0.7.dae

Model file name: alpha helix 0.7.dae Authors: Michelle E Howell, Rebecca L Roston This is a teaching model of a stick representation of a protein α-helix (PDB: 3vjo). This model can accompany a corresponding space fill representation, a kinked α-helix, and a β-sheet. These models were designed to accompany a teaching module illustrating protein secondary structure and function. The printable model is already uploaded to Shapeways.com in the MacroMolecules shop under the name “Alpha Helix_Thick”. This model has been printed successfully using these parameters on Shapeways’ binder jetting printer in the Coated Full Color Sandstone material

Crambin: Model file name: 2fd7-crambin-stick_sc1-5.stl

This is a teaching model of cytochrome c (PDB: 2FD7). It is designed in a stick representation to explore protein secondary structure and how much space the protein takes up. The printable model is already uploaded to Shapeways.com in the MacroMolecules shop under the name “Crambin” and is intended to accompany the “Lipoprotein signal peptidase II”, “Cytochrome c”, and “3 water molecules” models. This model has been printed successfully using these parameters on Shapeways’ laser sintering printer in the following material: Processed Versatile Plastic (Strong & Flexible Plastic)

Lipoprotein signal peptidase II: Model file name: 5dir-LipoII-reps_sc1-5.stl

This is a teaching model of lipoprotein signal peptidase II (PDB: 5DIR). It is designed with different regions of the protein depicted in space-filling, ribbon, stick, and backbone-only representations to explore protein secondary structure and illustrate how much space the protein takes up. The printable model is already uploaded to Shapeways.com in the MacroMolecules shop under the name “Lipoprotein signal peptidase II” and is intended to accompany the “Crambin”, “Cytochrome c” and “3 water molecules” models. This model has been printed successfully using these parameters on Shapeways’ laser sintering printer in the following material: Processed Versatile Plastic (Strong & Flexible Plastic)

Amino acid pop-set: Model file name: amino-acid-WGRP-pop_sc3.stl

This is a teaching model for protein primary structure. It consists of four amino acids (tryptophan, proline, arginine, and glycine) depicted in stick and space-fill representations, five peptide bonds depicted in space-fill, and an N-terminus and a C-terminus depicted in space-fill. It is designed so that students can make various peptides to explore the amount of space of the electron clouds of the amino acids and bonds, and explore the psi and phi angles for the peptides. The printable model is already uploaded to Shapeways.com in the MacroMolecules shop under the name “Amino acid pop-set”. This model has been printed successfully using these parameters on Shapeways’ laser sintering printer in the following material: Processed Versatile Plastic (Strong & Flexible Plastic). After printing, one will have to cut the wire connecting each piece to produce a useable model set. We recommend printing 2 models in two contrasting colors so that each set can have the amino acids in one color and the peptide bonds and termini in the opposing color

Model file name: alpha helix pro-gly 0.7.dae

Model file name: alpha helix pro-gly 0.7.dae Authors: Michelle E Howell, Rebecca L Roston This is a teaching model of a stick representation of a protein α-helix with proline and glycine residues highlighted (PDB: 3vjo). This model is designed to accompany a straight α-helix in space fill representation, a straight α-helix in stick representation, and a stick β-sheet model as well as a teaching module illustrating protein secondary structure and function. The printable model is already uploaded to Shapeways.com in the MacroMolecules shop under the name “Alpha Helix_Pro-Gly”. This model has been printed successfully using these parameters on Shapeways’ binder jetting printer in the Coated Full Color Sandstone material

Model file name: alpha helix pro-gly 0.7.dae

Model file name: alpha helix pro-gly 0.7.dae Authors: Michelle E Howell, Rebecca L Roston This is a teaching model of a stick representation of a protein α-helix with proline and glycine residues highlighted (PDB: 3vjo). This model is designed to accompany a straight α-helix in space fill representation, a straight α-helix in stick representation, and a stick β-sheet model as well as a teaching module illustrating protein secondary structure and function. The printable model is already uploaded to Shapeways.com in the MacroMolecules shop under the name “Alpha Helix_Pro-Gly”. This model has been printed successfully using these parameters on Shapeways’ binder jetting printer in the Coated Full Color Sandstone material

Human Hexokinase I - Allosteric regulation: Model file name: 1DGK-editB22-allostery_sc06.stl

This is a teaching model of human Hexokinase I in a surface representation with small molecules ADP and G6P included (PDB: 1DGK). It is designed to be hollow with a lever to mimic allosteric regulation. The printable model is already uploaded to Shapeways.com in the MacroMolecules shop under the name “Human Hexokinase I - Allosteric regulation model”. This model has been printed successfully using these parameters on Shapeways’ laser sintering printer in the following material: Processed Versatile Plastic (Strong & Flexible Plastic)