Minutes-duration optical flares with supernova luminosities.

In recent years, certain luminous extragalactic optical transients have been observed to last only a few days. Their short observed duration implies a different powering mechanism from the most common luminous extragalactic transients (supernovae), whose timescale is weeks. Some short-duration transients, most notably AT2018cow (ref.

A very luminous jet from the disruption of a star by a massive black hole.

Tidal disruption events (TDEs) are bursts of electromagnetic energy that are released when supermassive black holes at the centres of galaxies violently disrupt a star that passes too close. TDEs provide a window through which to study accretion onto supermassive black holes; in some rare cases, this accretion leads to launching of a relativistic jet, but the necessary conditions are not fully understood. The best-studied jetted TDE so far is Swift J1644+57, which was discovered in γ-rays, but was too obscured by dust to be seen at optical wavelengths.

Predation by signal crayfish Pacifastacus leniusculus on fish eggs and its consequences for coregonid recruitment.

The character and magnitude of predation by the invasive, ectothermic Pacifastacus leniusculus, a crayfish widely introduced to Europe and Japan from North America, on the eggs of coregonid fishes, vendace Coregonus albula and whitefish Coregonus lavaretus were examined by experimentation, modelling and field data. The present results showed that P. leniusculus has the potential to be very efficient predator of fish eggs under winter conditions, but the predation by P.

Distribution and epidemiology of genotypes of the crayfish plague agent Aphanomyces astaci from noble crayfish Astacus astacus in Finland.

The crayfish plague agent Aphanomyces astaci was isolated from 69 noble crayfish Astacus astacus samples in Finland between 1996 and 2006. All isolates were genotyped using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA-polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). Altogether, 43 isolates belonged to the genotype group of Astacus strains (As), which is assumed to represent the genotype originally introduced into Europe around 1860 and into Finland in 1893.

Comparison of a new immunoturbidometric assay of human serum lipoprotein (a) to the ELISA and the IRMA methods.

In the present work we have tested a new immunoturbidometric (IT) lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) assay and compared it with two other Lp(a) assay systems (IRMA and ELISA) commonly used in clinical chemistry laboratories. In addition, we have examined the effects of long-term storage and plasminogen on the results of Lp(a). Intra-assay and inter-assay coefficients of variation of the IT method were from 1.

Low-density lipoprotein activates the protease region of recombinant apo(a).

The interaction of recombinant apo(a) (r-apo(a)) with low-density lipoprotein (LDL) has been examined using ultracentrifugation and affinity chromatography. R-apo(a) forms a non-covalent complex with human LDL. This LDL-r-apo(a) complex, reconstituted Lp(a), r-Lp(a), which can be isolated by ultracentrifugation, has protease activity.

Haemostatic factors and lipoprotein (a) in three geographical areas in Finland: the Finrisk Haemostasis Study.

Background: An increasing volume of evidence suggests that haemostatic factors play a role in the risk of coronary heart disease. It is not known, however, whether between-population differences in haemostatic factors correspond with the differences in mortality related to coronary heart disease. We examined this question in Finland, where, in North Karelia (in the eastern part of the country), the mortality from coronary heart disease is 1.

Proteolytic degradation of low-density lipoprotein by lipoprotein(a) and by recombinant apo(a).

The plasma concentration of lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is correlated with the risk of atherosclerosis, and both Lp(a) and LDL are present in atherosclerotic lesions. Lp(a) is similar in structure to LDL, its distinguishing feature from LDL being the presence of one additional glycoprotein, apo(a), that is linked to apoB-100. Upon incubation of 125I-LDL with isolated Lp(a), we found a dose and time-dependent increase in the proportion of TCA-soluble radioactive material, demonstrating degradation of LDL.

Lipoprotein(A), a unique atherogenic lipoprotein, review on the literature and methodology.

Epidemiological, experimental, and clinical studies have established a strong correlation between plasma levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) and risk of coronary heart disease. LDL particles are composed of a core of cholesterol ester surrounded by a large apolipoprotein designated apoB-100.