2,041 research outputs found
Sequence analysis and genomic organization of Aphid lethal paralysis virus: a new member of the family Dicistroviridae
The complete nucleotide sequence of the genomic RNA of an aphid-infecting virus, Aphid lethal paralysis virus (ALPV), has been determined. The genome is 9812 nt in length and contains two long open reading frames (ORFs), which are separated by an intergenic region of 163 nt. The first ORF (5' ORF) is preceded by an untranslated leader sequence of 506 nt, while an untranslated region of 571 nt follows the second ORF (3' ORF). The deduced amino acid sequences of the 5' ORF and 3' ORF products respectively showed similarity to the non-structural and structural proteins of members of the newly recognized genus Cripavirus (family Dicistroviridae). On the basis of the observed sequence similarities and identical genome organization, it is proposed that ALPV belongs to this genus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that ALPV is most closely related to Rhopalosiphum padi virus, and groups in a cluster with Drosophila C virus and Cricket paralysis virus, while the other members of this genus are more distantly related. Infectivity experiments showed that ALPV can not only infect aphid species but is also able to infect the whitefly Trialeurodes vaporariorum, extending its host range to another family of the order Hemipter
Mitral regurgitation:when to intervene? A historical perspective
Although mitral regurgitation (MR) is the most common valvular heart disease, it should be regarded as a complex multifactorial disease that involves multiple entities. Optimal medical therapy alone does not hinder the progression of the disease, and in the 1980s it was already recognised that corrective surgery is indicated if MR is severe and patients are symptomatic (except for those with the most severe left ventricle dysfunction). Later on, asymptomatic patients with deterioration of the left ventricular ejection fraction were also operated on to avoid irreversible left ventricular dysfunction, heart failure and eventually death. However, a major drawback remains the fact that a significant group of patients is considered to have a high perioperative risk due to their advanced age or severe comorbidities. Since less invasive, percutaneous interventions have been developed and recently thoroughly investigated in the MITRA-FR and the COAPT studies, the type of intervention and also the timing have become more crucial. In this critical review of the literature, we describe what we should have learned from the past and which (haemodynamic) parameters can best predict the outcome in patients with MR
Characterisation of the melting layer variability in an Alpine valley based on polarimetric X-band radar scans
The melting layer designates the transition region from solid to liquid
precipitation, and is a typical feature of the vertical structure of
stratiform precipitation. As it is characterised by a well-known signature in
polarimetric radar variables, it can be identified by automatic detection
algorithms. Though often assumed to be uniform in space and time for
applications such as vertical profile correction, the spatial variability of
the melting layer remains poorly documented. This work aims to
characterise and quantify the spatial and temporal variability of the melting
layer using a method based on the Fourier transform, which is applied to
high-resolution X-band polarimetric radar data from two measurement campaigns in
Switzerland. It is first demonstrated that the proposed method can accurately
and concisely describe the spatial variability of the melting layer and may
therefore be used as a tool for comparison. The method is then used to
characterise the melting layer variability in summer precipitation on the
relatively flat Swiss Plateau and in winter precipitation in a large inner
Alpine valley (the Rhone valley in the Swiss Alps). Results indicate a higher
contribution of smaller spatial scales to the total melting layer variability
in the case of the Alpine environment. The same method is also applied to data from vertical scans in order to study the temporal variability of the
melting layer. The variability in space and time is then compared to
investigate the spatio-temporal coherence of the melting layer variability in
the two study areas, which was found to be more consistent with the
assumption of pure advection for the case of the plateau.</p
Tackling ageing continence through theory, tools & technology (TACT3)
This is the author's accepted manuscript. The final published article is available from the link below. Copyright @ 2012 Common Ground.After dementia, nothing is more feared by older people than the loss of continence. It is often the reason many people enter care facilities and can contribute to the breakdown of caring relationships. This paper reports on a three-year research project funded by the UK New Dynamics of Aging programme, which has explored three key issues in the predicament of maintaining continence from the âuserâsâ perspective. Firstly, understanding how continence services operated by the UK National Health Service can be improved to offer cost effective benefits that encourage people to report this sometimes embarrassing condition with confidence. Secondly, working directly with the US Simon Foundation, the project has developed user-requested, assistive devices that target the most embarrassing aspects of the condition, namely issues of personal odor control and urine leakage from continence pads. Lastly, understanding the challenges of managing continence in daily living outside of the home, with particular reference to accessing publicly accessible toilet facilities. The paper will highlight the research that has provided the basis for innovative design solutions.ESRC, EPSRC, BBSRC, MRC, and AHRC
Tackling Ageing Continence through Theory, Tools & Technology
Originally presented at âAging and Society: An Interdisciplinary Conferenceâ, University of California, Berkeley (2011), this article was double-blind peer reviewed, receiving scores of 96% and 73%. It outlines the interdisciplinary research of the cross-Research-Council-funded New Dynamics of Ageing Tackling Ageing Continence through Theory Tools & Technology (TACT3) project (2008â12), which brought together designers, social scientists, bio-engineers, chemists and care-management services to understand the challenges faced by an ageing population in the management of continence. Bichardâs Work Package, âChallenging Environmental Barriers to Continenceâ, explored the need for public toilet provision as essential for quality of life, health and well-being. It developed a life-course methodology that considered ageing from birth through to advanced age (0â101 years), and involved inclusive design research with members of the public and providers of facilities to assess public expectations and provider limitations in service provision.
As co-investigator on TACT3, this research built on Bichardâs previous work for the VivaCity2020 consortium (Bichard REF Output 2). Whereas the VivaCity2020 work focused on architectural barriers in toilet provision, the TACT3 project examined the problem in service provision, and how, through inclusive design research, service-design solutions might be explored and implemented.
Bichardâs contribution to the TACT3 project produced The Great British Public Toilet Map (http://greatbritishpublictoiletmap.rca.ac.uk/), a public participation website that provides information and locations of public toilets, encouraging members of the public to contact relevant local authorities that have not released information in the format of Open Data. Secondary analysis of TACT3 data for references to issues of personal safety and community initiative in toilet provision was used for the ESRC-funded Robust Accessible Toilets (RATs) project (2011) and produced Publicly Accessible Toilets: An Inclusive Design Guide (2011). Related published conference papers include those in âCumulus 2010â (China) and âInclude 2011â (UK)
Evolution of Neutron-Star, Carbon-Oxygen White-Dwarf Binaries
At least one, but more likely two or more, eccentric neutron-star,
carbon-oxygen white-dwarf binaries with an unrecycled pulsar have been
observed. According to the standard scenario for evolving neutron stars which
are recycled in common envelope evolution we expect to observe \gsim 50 such
circular neutron star-carbon oxygen white dwarf binaries, since their formation
rate is roughly equal to that of the eccentric binaries and the time over which
they can be observed is two orders of magnitude longer, as we shall outline. We
observe at most one or two such circular binaries and from that we conclude
that the standard scenario must be revised. Introducing hypercritical accretion
into common envelope evolution removes the discrepancy by converting the
neutron star into a black hole which does not emit radio waves, and therefore
would not be observed.Comment: 25 pages, 1 figure, accepted in Ap
Transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of tricuspid regurgitation in the Netherlands:state of the art and future perspectives
Despite the high prevalence and adverse clinical outcomes of severe tricuspid regurgitation (TR), conventional treatment options, surgical or pharmacological, are limited. Surgery is associated with a high peri-operative risk and medical treatment has not clearly resulted in clinical improvements. Therefore, there is a high unmet need to reduce morbidity and mortality in patients with severe TR. During recent years, several transcatheter solutions have been studied. This review focuses on the transcatheter edge-to-edge repair of TR (TTVR) with respect to patient selection, the procedure, pre- and peri-procedural echocardiographic assessments and clinical outcomes. Furthermore, we highlight the current status of TTVR in the Netherlands and provide data from our initial experience at the University Medical Centre Groningen
La influencia de la institucionalizaciĂłn sobre la percepciĂłn de la autonomĂa y la calidad de vida en ancianos
Objetivo Evaluar la influencia de la institucionalizaciĂłn en la autonomĂa y la calidad de vida percibida entre ancianos institucionalizados. MĂ©todo Estudio casi-experimental (serie temporal interrumpida) y longitudinal. La muestra estuvo compuesta de 104 añosos de tres centros residenciales de Santander, España. A fin de evaluar la calidad de vida y la dependencia fueron utilizadas dos escalas: el Ăndice de Barthel y el Ăndice de Lawton. Resultados Se observĂł una relaciĂłn significativa entre la autonomĂa y la independencia y su declinio en virtud de la institucionalizaciĂłn, como los aspectos fĂsicos y sociales. ConclusiĂłn La dependencia de las personas mayores es un fenĂłmeno complejo, que demanda distintos tipos de intervenciĂłn, incluyĂ©ndose las acciones de apoyo comĂșn, que tienden a cubrir la ausencia de autonomĂa en la vida cuotidiana, sin recurrir a la institucionalizaciĂłn.Objective To evaluate the influence exercised by institutionalization on the autonomy and perception of quality of life among the institutionalized elderly. Method The study is quasi-experimental (interrupted time series) and longitudinal. The sample is composed for 104 elderly people who went into a three nursing home in Santander, Spain. To assess the quality of life and dependence two scales were used: the Barthel Index and Lawton Index. Results There was an important relationship between autonomy and independence and their deterioration due to their institutionalisation, such as the physical and social aspects. Conclusion ItÂŽs important to point out that the dependence of the elderly is a complex phenomenon, which admits many types of intervention, including the customary ones referring to more classic welfare actions which tend to supplant the absence of autonomy in everyday life by facilitating services and attention to make up for this need, without having to resort to institutionalization.Objetivo Avaliar a influĂȘncia da institucionalização na autonomia e na qualidade de vida percebida entre idosos institucionalizados. MĂ©todo Estudo quase-experimental (sĂ©rie temporal interrompida) e longitudinal. A amostra foi composta de 104 idosos de trĂȘs centros residenciais de Santander na Espanha. Para avaliar a qualidade de vida e a dependĂȘncia foram utilizadas duas escalas: o Ăndice de Barthel e o Ăndice de Lawton. Resultados Observou-se uma relação significativa entre autonomia e independĂȘncia e seu declĂnio devido Ă institucionalização, como os aspectos fĂsicos e sociais. ConclusĂŁo A dependĂȘncia dos idosos Ă© um fenĂŽmeno complexo, que demanda vĂĄrios tipos de intervenção, incluindo as açÔes de apoio comum, que tendem a cobrir a ausĂȘncia de autonomia na vida cotidiana, sem recorrer a institucionalização
The host galaxy of GRB010222: The strongest damped Lyman-alpha system known
Analysis of the absorption lines in the afterglow spectrum of the gamma-ray
burst GRB010222 indicates that its host galaxy (at a redshift of z=1.476) is
the strongest damped Lyman-alpha (DLA) system known, having a very low
metallicity and modest dust content. This conclusion is based on the detection
of the red wing of Lyman-alpha plus a comparison of the equivalent widths of
ultraviolet Mg I, Mg II, and Fe II lines with those in other DLAs. The column
density of H I, deduced from a fit to the wing of Lyman-alpha, is (5 +/- 2)
10^22 cm^-2. The ratio of the column densities of Zn and Cr lines suggests that
the dust content in our line of sight through the galaxy is low. This could be
due to either dust destruction by the ultraviolet emission of the afterglow or
to an initial dust composition different to that of the diffuse interstellar
material, or a combination of both.Comment: Submitted to MNRAS 12 page
SN 2005hj: Evidence for Two Classes of Normal-Bright SNe Ia and Implications for Cosmology
HET Optical spectra covering the evolution from about 6 days before to about
5 weeks after maximum light and the ROTSE-IIIb unfiltered light curve of the
"Branch-normal" Type Ia Supernova SN 2005hj are presented. The host galaxy
shows HII region lines at redshift of z=0.0574, which puts the peak unfiltered
absolute magnitude at a somewhat over-luminous -19.6. The spectra show weak and
narrow SiII lines, and for a period of at least 10 days beginning around
maximum light these profiles do not change in width or depth and they indicate
a constant expansion velocity of ~10,600 km/s. We analyzed the observations
based on detailed radiation dynamical models in the literature. Whereas delayed
detonation and deflagration models have been used to explain the majority of
SNe Ia, they do not predict a long velocity plateau in the SiII minimum with an
unvarying line profile. Pulsating delayed detonations and merger scenarios form
shell-like density structures with properties mostly related to the mass of the
shell, M_shell, and we discuss how these models may explain the observed SiII
line evolution; however, these models are based on spherical calculations and
other possibilities may exist. SN 2005hj is consistent with respect to the
onset, duration, and velocity of the plateau, the peak luminosity and, within
the uncertainties, with the intrinsic colors for models with M_shell=0.2 M_sun.
Our analysis suggests a distinct class of events hidden within the
Branch-normal SNe Ia. If the predicted relations between observables are
confirmed, they may provide a way to separate these two groups. We discuss the
implications of two distinct progenitor classes on cosmological studies
employing SNe Ia, including possible differences in the peak luminosity to
light curve width relation.Comment: ApJ accepted, 31 page
- âŠ