A non-linear resonance model for the black hole and neutron star QPOs: theory supported by observations

Kilohertz Quasi-Periodic Oscillations (QPOs) have been detected in many accreting X-ray binaries. It has been suggested that the highest QPO frequencies observed in the modulation of the X-ray flux reflect a non-linear resonance between two modes of accreting disk oscillation. This hypothesis implies certain very general predictions, several of which have been borne out by observations. Some of these follow from properties of non-linear oscillators, while the others are specific to oscillations of fluid in strong gravity. A 3:2 resonant ratio of frequencies can be clearly recognized in the black-hole as well as in the neutron-star QPO data.Comment: 8 pages, 8 figures, to appear in Proceedings of the Albert Einstein Century International Conferenc

The Kepler view of magnetic chemically peculiar stars

Magnetic chemically peculiar (mCP) stars exhibit complex atmospheres that allow the investigation of such diverse phenomena as atomic diffusion, magnetic fields, and stellar rotation. The advent of space-based photometry provides the opportunity for the first precise characterizations of the photometric variability properties of these stars. We carried out a search for new mCP stars in the Kepler field with the ultimate aim of investigating their photometric variability properties using Kepler data. As an aside, we describe criteria for selecting mCP star candidates based on light curve properties, and assess the accuracy of the spectral classifications provided by the MKCLASS code. As only very few known mCP stars are situated in the Kepler field, we had to depend largely on alternative (nonspectroscopic) means of identifying suitable candidates that rely mostly on light curve properties; in particular we relied on monoperiodic variability and light curve stability. Newly acquired and archival spectra were used to confirm most of our mCP star candidates. Linear ephemeris parameters and effective amplitudes were derived from detrended Kepler data. Our final sample consists of 41 spectroscopically confirmed mCP stars of which 39 are new discoveries, 5 candidate mCP stars, and 7 stars in which no chemical peculiarities could be established. Our targets populate the whole age range from zero-age main sequence to terminal-age main sequence and are distributed in the mass interval from 1.5 M_sun to 4 M_sun. About 25% of the mCP stars show a hitherto unobserved wealth of detail in their light curves indicative of complex surface structures. We identified light curve stability as a primary criterion for identifying mCP star candidates among early-type stars in large photometric surveys, and prove the reliability of the spectral classifications provided by the MKCLASS code.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics. 20 pages, 12 figures, 5 tables. Given above is a slightly shortened version of the abstract; for the full abstract, please refer to the pape

Menstrual Blood as a Potential Source of Endometrial Derived CD3+ T Cells

Studies of T cell-mediated immunity in the human female genital tract have been problematic due to difficulties associated with the collection of mucosal samples. Consequently, most studies rely on biopsies from the lower female genital tract or remnant tissue from hysterectomies. Availability of samples from healthy women is limited, as most studies are carried out in women with underlying pathologies. Menstruation is the cyclical sloughing off of endometrial tissue, and thus it should be a source of endometrial cells without the need for a biopsy. We isolated and phenotyped T cells from menstrual and peripheral blood and from endometrial biopsy-derived tissue from healthy women to determine the types of T cells present in this compartment. Our data demonstrated that T cells isolated from menstrual blood are a heterogeneous population of cells with markers reminiscent of blood and mucosal cells as well as unique phenotypes not represented in either compartment. T cells isolated from menstrual blood expressed increased levels of HLA-DR, αEβ7 and CXCR4 and reduced levels of CD62L relative to peripheral blood. Menstrual blood CD4+ T cells were enriched for cells expressing both CCR7 and CD45RA, markers identifying naïve T cells and were functional as determined by antigen-specific intracellular cytokine production assays. These data may open new avenues of investigation for cell mediated immune studies involving the female reproductive tract without the need for biopsies

Influence of insulin on glucose metabolism and energy expenditure in septic patients

INTRODUCTION: It is recognized that administration of insulin with glucose decreases catabolic response in sepsis. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of two levels of insulinaemia on glucose metabolism and energy expenditure in septic patients and volunteers. METHODS: Glucose uptake, oxidation and storage, and energy expenditure were measured, using indirect calorimetry, in 20 stable septic patients and 10 volunteers in a two-step hyperinsulinaemic (serum insulin levels 250 and 1250 mIU/l), euglycaemic (blood glucose concentration 5 mmol/l) clamp. Differences between steps of the clamp (from serum insulin 1250 to 250 mIU/l) for all parameters were calculated for each individual, and compared between septic patients and volunteers using the Wilcoxon nonpaired test. RESULTS: Differences in glucose uptake and storage were significantly less in septic patients. The differences in glucose oxidation between the groups were not statistically significant. Baseline energy expenditure was significantly higher in septic patients, and there was no significant increase in either step of the clamp in this group; when comparing the two groups, the differences between steps were significantly greater in volunteers. CONCLUSION: A hyperdynamic state of sepsis leads to a decrease in glucose uptake and storage in comparison with healthy volunteers. An increase in insulinaemia leads to an increase in all parameters of glucose metabolism, but the increases in glucose uptake and storage are significantly lower in septic patients. A high level of insulinaemia in sepsis increases glucose uptake and oxidation significantly, but not energy expenditure, in comparison with volunteers

Religiosity and Mental Health:A Contribution to Understanding the Heterogeneity of Research Findings

Most studies report positive associations between religiosity and spirituality and aspects of mental health, while a small proportion report mixed or fully negative associations. The aim of this study was to assess the associations of religiosity measured more specifically, with mental health in a secular environment, using a nationally representative sample of Czech adults (n = 1795). We measured religious affiliation, conversion experience, non-religious attitudes and the stability of these attitudes, mental health problems, and anxiety levels. Compared to stable non-religious respondents, unstable non-religious and converted respondents who perceived God as distant were more likely to experience anxiety in close relationships, and had higher risks of worse mental health. Our findings support the idea that the heterogeneity of findings in associations between religiosity/spirituality and mental health could be due to measurement problems and variation in the degree of secularity. A shift towards religiosity could be expected to be seen in a substantial part of non-religious respondents in problematic times

Ultrasound-controlled cryoneurolysis for peripheral mononeuropathies: a retrospective cohort study.

Aim: Cryoneurolysis is a potential therapy for peripheral mononeuropathies, but randomized studies of its effects on the duration of pain reduction are lacking. Methods: This retrospective cohort study evaluated the analgesic effects of cryoneurolysis on patients with refractory peripheral mononeuropathy. We included 24 patients who underwent ultrasound-guided cryoneurolysis between June 2018 and July 2022. The daily maximum pain level was recorded using a numerical rating scale before and 1, 3 and 6 months after the procedure. Results: At 1 month, 54.2% of patients reported pain reduction of at least 30%. This percentage was significantly lower at 3 and 6 months (13.8 and 9.1%, respectively). Conclusion: Our results suggest that repeated cryoneurolysis may be a viable treatment for refractory mononeuropathy. Further investigations are needed