168 research outputs found
A deep Chandra observation of the interacting star-forming galaxy Arp 299
We present results from a 90 ks Chandra ACIS-S observation of the X-ray
luminous interacting galaxy system Arp 299 (NGC 3690/IC 694). We detect 25
discrete X-ray sources with luminosities above 4.0x10^38 erg s^-1 covering the
entire Ultra Luminous X-ray source (ULX) regime. Based on the hard X-ray
spectra of the non-nuclear discrete sources identified in Arp 299, and their
association with young, actively star-forming region of Arp 299 we identify
them as HMXBs. We find in total 20 off-nuclear sources with luminosities above
the ULX limit, 14 of which are point-like sources. Furthermore we observe a
marginally significant deficit in the number of ULXs, with respect to the
number expected from scaling relations of X-ray binaries with the star
formation rate (SFR). Although the high metalicity of the galaxy could result
in lower ULX numbers, the good agreement between the observed total X-ray
luminosity of ULXs, and that expected from the relevant scaling relation
indicates that this deficit could be the result of confusion effects. The
integrated spectrum of the galaxy shows the presence of a hot gaseous component
with kT = 0.72+-0.03 keV, contributing 20% of the soft (0.1-2.0 keV) unabsorbed
luminosity of the galaxy. A plume of soft X-ray emission in the west of the
galaxy indicates a large scale outflow. We find that the AGN in NGC 3690
contributes only 22% of the observed broad-band X-ray luminosity of Arp 299.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, 9 tables. Accepted for publication in MNRA
Validation and comparison of two methods to Assess Human Energy Expenditure during Free-Living Activities
Background:
The measurement of activity energy expenditure (AEE) via accelerometry is the most commonly used objective method for assessing human daily physical activity and has gained increasing importance in the medical, sports and psychological science research in recent years.
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine which of the following procedures is more accurate to determine the energy cost during the most common everyday life activities; a single regression or an activity based approach. For this we used a device that utilizes single regression models (GT3X, ActiGraph Manufacturing Technology Inc., FL., USA) and a device using activity-dependent calculation models (move II, movisens GmbH, Karlsruhe, Germany).
Material and Methods:
Nineteen adults (11 male, 8 female; 30.469.0 years) wore the activity monitors attached to the waist and a portable indirect calorimeter (IC) as reference measure for AEE while performing several typical daily activities. The accuracy of the two devices for estimating AEE was assessed as the mean differences between their output and the reference and evaluated using Bland-Altman analysis.
Results:
The GT3X overestimated the AEE of walking (GT3X minus reference, 1.26 kcal/min), walking fast (1.72 kcal/min), walking up2/downhill (1.45 kcal/min) and walking upstairs (1.92 kcal/min) and underestimated the AEE of jogging (2 1.30 kcal/min) and walking upstairs (22.46 kcal/min). The errors for move II were smaller than those for GT3X for all activities. The move II overestimated AEE of walking (move II minus reference, 0.21 kcal/min), walking up2/downhill (0.06 kcal/min) and stair walking (upstairs: 0.13 kcal/min; downstairs: 0.29 kcal/min) and underestimated AEE of walking fast (20.11 kcal/min) and jogging (20.93 kcal/min).
Conclusions:
Our data suggest that the activity monitor using activity-dependent calculation models is more appropriate for predicting AEE in daily life than the activity monitor using a single regression model
New Fisheries-related data from the Mediterranean Sea (November, 2016)
In this fourth Collective Article, with fisheries-related data from the Mediterranean, we present weight-length relationships for eight deep-sea fish species (Brama brama, Conger conger, Etmopterus spinax, Molva macrophthalma, Mora moro, Pagellus bogaraveo, Phycis blennoides) from the Eastern Ionian Sea; Scyliorhinus canicula from various locations in the Mediterranean Sea and weight-length relationships and condition factor of five Mugilidae species (Liza aurata, Liza saliens, Liza ramada, Mugil cephalus, Chelon labrosus) from a Mediterranean lagoon in the Ionian Sea. Moreover, we present otolith weight, fish length and otolith length relationships of the red mullet (Mullus barbatus) in the Aegean and Ionian Sea and otolith weight relationships in European hake (Merluccius merluccius) from the Greek Seas
The diet and feeding ecology of Conger conger (L. 1758) in the deep waters of the Eastern Ionian Sea
The diet of the European conger eel Conger conger was investigated for the first time in the Eastern Mediterranean. Fish dominated the European conger eel diet in the deep waters of E. Ionian Sea. All other prey taxa were identified as accidental preys. However, intestine analysis showed that Natantia, Brachyura and Cephalopoda might have a more important contribution in the diet of the species. C. conger exhibited a benthopelagic feeding behavior as it preyed upon both demersal and mesopelagic taxa. The high vacuity index and the low stomach and intestine fullness indicated that the feeding intensity of the species in the deep waters of Eastern Ionian Sea was quite low. C. conger feeding strategy was characterised by specialisation in various resource items. A between-phenotype contribution to niche width was observed for some prey categories. European Conger eel feeding specialisation seemed to be an adaptation to a food-scarce environment, as typified in deep-water habitat
Abundance and temperature of the outer hot circum-Galactic medium: The SRG/eROSITA view of the soft X-ray background in the eFEDS field
Despite their vital importance to understand galaxy evolution and our own
Galactic ecosystem, our knowledge of the physical properties of the hot phase
of the Milky Way is still inadequate. However, sensitive SRG/eROSITA large area
surveys are now providing us with the long sought-after data needed to mend
this state of affairs. We present the properties of the soft X-ray emission as
observed by eROSITA in the eFEDS field. We measure the temperature and metal
abundance of the hot circum-Galactic medium (CGM) to be within
keV and , depending on
the contribution of solar wind charge exchange (SWCX). Slightly larger CGM
abundances are possible, considering the
uncertain extrapolation of the extragalactic Cosmic X-ray background (CXB)
emission below keV. To recover CGM abundances as large as
, it must be postulated the presence of an additional component,
likely associated with the warm-hot intergalactic medium, providing
% of the flux in the soft X-ray band. The emission in the soft band
is dominated by the CGM, with contributions from the CXB and the local hot
bubble. Moreover, the eROSITA data require the presence of an additional
component associated with the elusive Galactic corona plus a possible
contribution from unresolved M dwarf stars. This component has a temperature of
keV and it might be out of thermal equilibrium. It contributes
% to the total emission in the 0.6--2 keV band, therefore it is a likely
candidate to produce part of the unresolved CXB flux observed in X-ray
ultra-deep fields. We also observe a significant contribution to the soft X-ray
flux due to SWCX, during periods characterised by stronger solar wind activity,
and causing the largest uncertainty on the determination of the CGM
temperature.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic
Severe steroid-related neuropsychiatric symptoms during paediatric acute lymphoblastic leukaemia therapy—An observational Ponte di Legno Toxicity Working Group Study
\ua9 2024 The Author(s). British Journal of Haematology published by British Society for Haematology and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.Steroids are a mainstay in the treatment of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) in children and adolescents; however, their use can cause clinically significant steroid-related neuropsychiatric symptoms (SRNS). As current knowledge on SRNS during ALL treatment is limited, we mapped the phenotypes, occurrence and treatment strategies using a database created by the international Ponte di Legno Neurotoxicity Working Group including data on toxicity in the central nervous system (CNS) in patients treated with frontline ALL protocols between 2000 and 2017. Ninety-four of 1813 patients in the CNS toxicity database (5.2%) experienced clinically significant SRNS with two peaks: one during induction and one during intensification phase. Dexamethasone was implicated in 86% of SRNS episodes. The most common symptoms were psychosis (52%), agitation (44%) and aggression (31%). Pharmacological treatment, mainly antipsychotics and benzodiazepines, was given to 87% of patients while 38% were hospitalised due to their symptoms. Recurrence of symptoms was reported in 29% of patients and two previously healthy patients required ongoing pharmacological treatment at the last follow up. Awareness of SRNS during ALL treatment and recommendation on treatment strategies merit further studies and consensus
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