The light-curve modulation of XY And and UZ Vir - Two Blazhko RR Lyrae stars with additional frequencies

A thorough analysis of multicolour CCD observations of two modulated RRab-type variables, XY And and UZ Vir is presented. These Blazhko stars show relatively simple light-curve modulation with the usual multiplet structures in their Fourier spectra. One additional, independent frequency with linear-combination terms of the pulsation frequency is also detected in the residual spectrum of each of the two stars. The amplitude and phase relations of the triplet components are studied in detail. Most of the epoch-independent phase differences show a slight, systematic colour dependence, however, these trends have the opposite sign in the two stars. The mean values of the global physical parameters and their changes with Blazhko phase are determined utilizing the Inverse Photometric Method (IPM). The modulation properties and the IPM results are compared for the two variables. The pulsation period of XY And is the shortest when its pulsation amplitude is the highest, while UZ Vir has the longest pulsation period at this phase of the modulation. Despite this opposite behaviour, the phase relations of their mean-physical-parameter variations are similar. These results are not in accord with the predictions of the Blazhko model of Stothers (2006, ApJ, 652, 643).Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS. The paper contains 7 figures and 12 tables. Tables 5, 6 and A1-A5 will be published in full online only. See electronic data on http://konkoly.hu/24/publications/ als

Structures and properties of bioorgano-clays

Interactions between microbial matter and clays are a common interfacial phenomenon in soil and sediment environments. However, fundamental mechanisms governing the formation and interactions of clay minerals with microbial-derived organic substances are still poorly understood. Therefore, our central aim was to study the formation of bioorgano-clay composites and their specific material properties and compare these properties with those of well-studied organo-clays. Pure organic cations (e.g., alkylammonium homologues) and complex microbial biomass (e.g., fungal biomass from Aphanocladium sp.) were used to prepare organo- and bioorgano-clays by varying the amount of clay (montmorillonite) and organic materials used. Interaction mechanisms between organic materials and clay and the resulting structure and physicochemical properties were explored by multiple experimental methods (e.g. IR spectroscopy, contact angle, zeta potential, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy) in a combination with molecular modelling to determine the structure, composition, and properties of the prepared bioorgano-clays. Depending on origin, type, and size of the organic material and the clay, two basic types of bioorgano-clays were found: (i) bioorgano-clays having their clay particles coated by bioorganic matter with only limited or no penetration into interlayer galleries and (ii) bioorgano-clays having bioorganic matter distributed in the interlayer galleries and/or on the external surfaces of clay particles. Both types show heterogeneous arrangements of the amended organic matter inducing differences in shape and size of organo-clay particles. Consequently, changes in pore volumes, stability, and elemental interface properties can be verified. Compared to organo-clays, bioorgano-clays provided e.g. a higher adsorption capacity for uranyl, suggesting that modification of clays by rather unspecific microbial compounds significantly enhanced the number of exchange sites. Bioorganic-clays, although being less specific in nature, might therefore be applied more broadly in situations where a high sorption capacity, e.g., for contaminants, is required

Fitting Blazhko light curves

The correct amplitude and phase modulation formalism of the Blazhko modulation is given. The harmonic order dependent amplitude and phase modulation form is equivalent with the Fourier decomposition of multiplets. The amplitude and phase modulation formalism used in electronic transmission technique as introduced by Benk\H{o}, Szab\'o and Papar\'o (2011, MNRAS 417, 974) for Blazhko stars oversimplifies the amplitude and phase modulation functions thus it does not describe the light variation in full detail. The results of the different formalisms are compared and documented by fitting the light curve of a real Blazhko star, CM UMa.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figures. Accepted for publication in MNRA

Longitudinal changes of blood parameters and weight in inoperable stage III NSCLC patients treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy followed by maintenance treatment with durvalumab

Background Investigating dynamic changes in blood-parameters and weight in patients with locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving durvalumab maintenance therapy after chemoradiotherapy (cCRT). Laboratory outcomes were determined based on the number of durvalumab administrations received. Methods Twenty-two patients completed platinum-based cCRT followed by maintenance treatment with durvalumab. Different parameters such as hemoglobin (Hb), leukocytes, Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), C-reactive protein (CRP), body weight and albumin were analyzed before cCRT, after cCRT, 3, 6, 9 and 12 months after starting durvalumab maintenance. Results Sixteen (72.7%) patients were male; twelve (54.5%) and fifteen (68.2%) patients had non-squamous histology and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage IIIB-C disease, respectively. Median follow-up time was 24.4 months; 12- and 18-months- progression-free and overall-survival rates were 55.0% and 45.0 as well as 90.2 and 85.0%, respectively. During maintenance treatment Hb increased by 1.93 mg/dl (17.53%) after 9 months ( p < 0.001) and 2.02 mg/dl (18.46%) after 12 months compared to the start of durvalumab ( p < 0.001). LDH decreased by 29.86 U/l (− 11.74%) after 3 months ( p = 0.022). Receipt of at least 12 cycles of durvalumab was beneficial in terms of Hb-recovery (Hb 6 months: 12.64 vs. 10.86 [mg/dl]; Hb 9 months: 13.33 vs 11.74 [mg/dl]; ( p = 0.03)). Median weight change [kilogram (kg)] was + 6.06% (range: − 8.89 − + 18.75%) after 12 months. The number of durvalumab cycles significantly correlated with total weight gain [kg] (Spearman-Rho-correlation: r = 0.502*). Conclusion In the investigated cohort, no severe hematologic toxicity occurred by laboratory blood tests within 1 year of durvalumab maintenance therapy after cCRT for unresectable stage III NSCLC. Receiving at least 12 cycles of durvalumab appears to have a significant effect on recovery of hemoglobin levels and body weight

Using urban climate modelling and improved land use classifications to support climate change adaptation in urban environments: A case study for the city of Klagenfurt, Austria

This study outlines the results of current and future climate scenarios, and potentially realizable climate adaptation measures, for the city of Klagenfurt, Austria. For this purpose, we used the microscale urban climate model (MUKLIMO_3), in conjunction with the cuboid method, to calculate climate indices such as the average number of summer and hot days per year. For the baseline simulation, we used meteorological measurements from 1981 to 2010 from the weather station located at Klagenfurt Airport. Individual building structures and canopy cover from several land monitoring services were used to derive accurate properties for land use classes in the study domain. To characterize the effectiveness of climate adaptation strategies, we compared changes in the climate indices for several (future) climate adaptation scenarios to the reference simulation. Specifically, we considered two major adaptation pathways: (i) an increase in the albedo values of sealed areas (i.e., roofs, walls and streets) and (ii) an increase in green surfaces (i.e., lawns on streets and at roof level) and high vegetated areas (i.e., trees). The results indicate that some climate adaptation measures show higher potential in mitigating hot days than others, varying between reductions of 2.3 to 11.0%. An overall combination of adaptation measures leads to a maximum reduction of up to 44.0%, indicating a clear potential for reduction/mitigation of urban heat loads. Furthermore, the results for the future scenarios reveal the possibility to remain at the current level of urban heat load during the daytime over the next three decades for the overall combination of measures

Enzyme in Bewegung ? - Verlagerung von extrazellulären Enzymen mit dem Sickerwasser

Extrazelluläre Enzyme tragen wesentlich zum Umsatz organischen Materials im Boden bei. Durch die Bestimmung Ihrer Aktivität können Aussagen zum Nährstoffstatus und Umsatzbedingungen im Boden getroffen werden. Die meisten Studien, die sich bisher mit Aktivitäten von extrazellulären Enzymen beschäftigt haben, legten ihren Fokus auf die Rolle und Funktion der Enzyme im Nährstoffumsatz, wohingegen nur wenige Studien Verlagerungen von Enzymen, zum Beispiel mit dem Sickerwasserstrom untersuchten. Durch eine mögliche Verlagerung können extrazelluläre Enzyme in tiefere Horizonte des Bodens eingetragen werden und hier zum Abbau der nur in geringen Mengen vorhandenen organischen Substanz beitragen. Um diesen möglichen Eintrag abschätzen zu können, werden im Rahmen der SUBSOM-Forschergruppe Sickerwasserproben aus drei unterschiedlichen Tiefen (10, 50, 150cm) einer Braunerde unter Buchenwald (40km nordwestlich von Hannover, Niedersachsen) entnommen. Die Sickerwasserproben wurden mit Hilfe von Saugplatten aus drei am Standort eingebauten Lysimetern (Durchmesser: 1,5m; Tiefe: 2,00m) gewonnen und anschließend im Hinblick auf die Aktivität unterschiedlicher extrazellulärer Enzyme aus dem C-, N-, und P-Kreislauf im Labor analysiert. Vorläufige Ergebnisse zeigen, dass die Gesamtaktivität der extrazellulären Enzyme im Sickerwasser in allen Tiefen mit 0,59-371 pmol ml h-1 im Vergleich zum Boden sehr gering ist. Die Aktivitäten von β-Xylosidase und Leucine-Aminopeptidase konnten in allen Tiefen nachgewiesen werden, während Phosphatase nur in Tiefe 10 und 50cm aktiv war. Im oberen Unterboden (10cm) konnten keine Aktivitäten von Sulfatase, α-Glucosidase, β-Cellobiosidase, Arginin-Aminopeptidase and Tyrosin-Aminopeptidase gemessen werden, obwohl sie in der Tiefe 50 und 150cm wieder auftraten. Generell zeigte sich, dass extrazelluläre Enzyme im Sickerwasser aktiv sind und somit in tiefere Bodenhorizonte verlagert werden können und dort zum Nährstoffumsatz beitragen könnten

Sorption and fractionation of dissolved organic matter and associated phosphorus in agricultural soil

Molibility of dissolved organic matter (DOM) strongly affects the export of nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) from oils to surface waters. To study the sorption an mobility of dissolved organic C and P (DOC, DOP) in soil, the pH-dependent sorption of DOM to samples from Ap, EB, and Bt horizons from a Danish agircultural Humic Hapludult was investigated and a kinetic model applicable in field-scale model tested. Sorption experiments of 1 to 72 h duration were conducted at two pH levels (pH 5.0 and 7.0) and six initial DOC concentrtions (0-4.7 mmol L-1). Most sorption/desorption occurred during the first few hours. Dissolved organic carbon and DOP sorption decreased strongly with increased pH and desorption dominated at pH 7, especially for DOC. Due to fractionation during DOM sorption/desorption at DOC concentrations up to 2 mmol L-1, the solution fraction of DOM was enriched in P indicating preferred leaching of DOP. The kinetics of sorption was expressed as a function of how far the solution DOC or DOP concentrations deviate from "equilibrium". The model was able to simulate the kinetics of DOC and DOP sorption/desorption at all concentrations investigated and at both pH levels making it useful for incorporation in field-scale models for quantifying DOC and DOP dynamics