25 research outputs found
Measurement of key resonance states for the 40P(p,g)31S reaction rate, and the production of intermediate-mass elements in nova explosions
We report the first experimental constraints on spectroscopic factors and strengths of key resonances in the 30P(p, Îł)31Sreaction critical for determining the production of intermediate-mass elements up to Ca in nova ejecta. The 30P(d, n)31Sreaction was studied in inverse kinematics using the GRETINA Îł-ray array to measure the angle-integrated cross-sections of states above the proton threshold. In general, negative-parity states are found to be most strongly produced but the absolute values of spectroscopic factors are typically an order of magnitude lower than predicted by the shell-model calculations employing WBP Hamiltonian for the negative-parity states. The results clearly indicate the dominance of a single 3/2âresonance state at 196 keV in the region of nova burning Tâ0.10â0.17GK, well within the region of interest for nova nucleosynthesis. Hydrodynamic simulations of nova explosions have been performed to demonstrate the effect on the composition of nova ejecta.Postprint (published version
A Solve-RD ClinVar-based reanalysis of 1522 index cases from ERN-ITHACA reveals common pitfalls and misinterpretations in exome sequencing
Purpose
Within the Solve-RD project (https://solve-rd.eu/), the European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies aimed to investigate whether a reanalysis of exomes from unsolved cases based on ClinVar annotations could establish additional diagnoses. We present the results of the âClinVar low-hanging fruitâ reanalysis, reasons for the failure of previous analyses, and lessons learned.
Methods
Data from the first 3576 exomes (1522 probands and 2054 relatives) collected from European Reference Network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies was reanalyzed by the Solve-RD consortium by evaluating for the presence of single-nucleotide variant, and small insertions and deletions already reported as (likely) pathogenic in ClinVar. Variants were filtered according to frequency, genotype, and mode of inheritance and reinterpreted.
Results
We identified causal variants in 59 cases (3.9%), 50 of them also raised by other approaches and 9 leading to new diagnoses, highlighting interpretation challenges: variants in genes not known to be involved in human disease at the time of the first analysis, misleading genotypes, or variants undetected by local pipelines (variants in off-target regions, low quality filters, low allelic balance, or high frequency).
Conclusion
The âClinVar low-hanging fruitâ analysis represents an effective, fast, and easy approach to recover causal variants from exome sequencing data, herewith contributing to the reduction of the diagnostic deadlock
Bioremediation Modeling of an Aquifer Contaminated by Benzene Using the Slow-Release Oxygen Source Technique
Les effets de la structure de la forĂȘt sur le risque de dommages causĂ©s par le vent au niveau du paysage dans un Ă©cosystĂšme forestier borĂ©al
Measurement of key resonance states for the 40P(p,g)31S reaction rate, and the production of intermediate-mass elements in nova explosions
We report the first experimental constraints on spectroscopic factors and strengths of key resonances in the 30P(p, Îł)31Sreaction critical for determining the production of intermediate-mass elements up to Ca in nova ejecta. The 30P(d, n)31Sreaction was studied in inverse kinematics using the GRETINA Îł-ray array to measure the angle-integrated cross-sections of states above the proton threshold. In general, negative-parity states are found to be most strongly produced but the absolute values of spectroscopic factors are typically an order of magnitude lower than predicted by the shell-model calculations employing WBP Hamiltonian for the negative-parity states. The results clearly indicate the dominance of a single 3/2âresonance state at 196 keV in the region of nova burning Tâ0.10â0.17GK, well within the region of interest for nova nucleosynthesis. Hydrodynamic simulations of nova explosions have been performed to demonstrate the effect on the composition of nova ejecta
Genetic variation for carbon isotope composition in Juglans regia L.: relationships with growth, phenology and climate of origin
âąâAmong the traits of breeding interest for the common walnut tree Juglans regia L.,
characteristics such as timing of budbreak and leaf fall, water-use
efficiency and growth performance are regarded as being of utmost relevance
in Mediterranean conditions.
âąâThe authors evaluated intraspecific variation in C
(carbon isotope composition, surrogate of intrinsic water-use
efficiency, WUE) for 22 J. regia families grown in a progeny test under
supplementary irrigation, and investigated whether such variation correlated
with climatic indicators of native habitats. The genetic relationships
between C, growth and phenology were also assessed during
two consecutive years.
âąâOverall, the most water-use-efficient families (i.e. with higher C), which originated mainly from drought-prone provenance regions
which have a high vapour pressure deficit and low rainfall, exhibited less
height growth and smaller DBH. Using a stepwise regression
procedure, C was included as the main
explanatory variable of genotypic variation in growth traits, together with
growing season duration (for DBH in both years) and flushing (for height in
2007).
âąâIt was concluded that WUE is largely unconnected to phenology
effects in the explanation of growth performance for J. regia, therefore suggesting
the opportunity of simultaneously selecting for low WUE and extended
growing period to maximise productivity in non-water-limited environments.Variation génétique de la composition
isotopique du carbone chez Juglans regia L.: relations avec la croissance, la
phĂ©nologie et le climat d'origine. âąâParmi les traits d'intĂ©rĂȘt pour la sĂ©lection de noyer commun
Juglans regia, des caractéristiques telles que la précocité de débourrement
et la date de chute des feuilles, l'efficience d'utilisation de l'eau et la
performance de croissance sont considérées comme étant
importantes dans les conditions méditerranéennes.
âąâLes auteurs ont Ă©valuĂ© la variation intraspĂ©cifique de
composition isotopique en 13C (C, substitut de l'efficience
intrinsĂšque d'utilisation de l'eau, WUE) dans 22 familles de
Juglans regia cultivées dans un essai de descendance avec une irrigation d'appoint,
et ils ont examiné si la variation était corrélée avec les
indicateurs du climat des habitats d'origine. Les relations
génétiques entre C, croissance et phénologie ont
également été évaluées au cours de deux années
consécutives.
âąâEn gĂ©nĂ©ral, les familles prĂ©sentant les plus fortes valeurs de
WUE (c'est-Ă -dire avec le C le plus
élevé), qui proviennent essentiellement des régions de
provenance à sécheresse élevée et à fort déficit de
pression de vapeur et faibles précipitations, présentent une
croissance en hauteur moindre et un plus faible diamĂštre Ă 1,3 m. En
utilisant une procédure de régression par étapes, C a été inclus en tant que principale variable explicative
de la variation génotypique des caractéristiques de croissance, de
concert avec la durée de la saison de croissance (pour le diamÚtre
à 1,3 m) et le débourrement (pour la hauteur en 2007).
âąâIl a Ă©tĂ© conclu que WUE est en grande partie sans rapport
avec la phénologie dans l'explication de la performance de croissance
pour J. regia, suggérant donc la possibilité de sélectionner
simultanément pour de faibles niveaux de WUE et une période de
croissance prolongée pour maximiser la productivité dans des
environnements oĂč l'eau n'est pas limitante
Expert consensus statements for the management of COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure using a Delphi method
Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused unprecedented pressure on healthcare system globally. Lack of high-quality evidence on the respiratory management of COVID-19-related acute respiratory failure (C-ARF) has resulted in wide variation in clinical practice. Methods: Using a Delphi process, an international panel of 39 experts developed clinical practice statements on the respiratory management of C-ARF in areas where evidence is absent or limited. Agreement was defined as achieved when > 70% experts voted for a given option on the Likert scale statement or > 80% voted for a particular option in multiple-choice questions. Stability was assessed between the two concluding rounds for each statement, using the non-parametric Chi-square (Ï) test (p < 0·05 was considered as unstable). Results: Agreement was achieved for 27 (73%) management strategies which were then used to develop expert clinical practice statements. Experts agreed that COVID-19-related acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is clinically similar to other forms of ARDS. The Delphi process yielded strong suggestions for use of systemic corticosteroids for critical COVID-19; awake self-proning to improve oxygenation and high flow nasal oxygen to potentially reduce tracheal intubation; non-invasive ventilation for patients with mixed hypoxemic-hypercapnic respiratory failure; tracheal intubation for poor mentation, hemodynamic instability or severe hypoxemia; closed suction systems; lung protective ventilation; prone ventilation (for 16-24 h per day) to improve oxygenation; neuromuscular blocking agents for patient-ventilator dyssynchrony; avoiding delay in extubation for the risk of reintubation; and similar timing of tracheostomy as in non-COVID-19 patients. There was no agreement on positive end expiratory pressure titration or the choice of personal protective equipment. Conclusion: Using a Delphi method, an agreement among experts was reached for 27 statements from which 20 expert clinical practice statements were derived on the respiratory management of C-ARF, addressing important decisions for patient management in areas where evidence is either absent or limited. Trial registration: The study was registered with Clinical trials.gov Identifier: NCT04534569
F4 Fimbriae Expressed by Porcine Enterotoxigenic <i>Escherichia coli</i>, an Example of an Eccentric Fimbrial System?
Measurement of baryon acoustic oscillations in the Lyman-α forest fluctuations in BOSS data release 9
We use the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) Data Release 9 (DR9) to detect and measure the position of the Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation (BAO) feature in the three-dimensional correlation function in the Lyman-α flux fluctuations at a redshift zeff = 2.4. The feature is clearly detected at significance between 3 and 5 sigma (depending on the broadband model and method of error covariance matrix estimation) and is consistent with predictions of the standard ÎCDM model. We assess the biases in our method, stability of the error covariance matrix and possible systematic effects. We fit the resulting correlation function with several models that decouple the broadband and acoustic scale information. For an isotropic dilation factor, we measure 100 Ă (αiso - 1) = -1.6+2.0 +4.3 +7.4-2.0 -4.1 -6.8 (stat.) ±1.0 (syst.) (multiple statistical errors denote 1,2 and 3 sigma confidence limits) with respect to the acoustic scale in the fiducial cosmological model (flat ÎCDM with Ωm = 0.27, h = 0.7). When fitting separately for the radial and transversal dilation factors we find marginalised constraints 100 Ă (α|| - 1) = -1.3+3.5 +7.6 +12.3-3.3 -6.7 -10.2 (stat.) ±2.0 (syst.) and 100 Ă (α℠- 1) = -2.2+7.4 +17-7.1 -15 (stat.) ±3.0 (syst.). The dilation factor measurements are significantly correlated with cross-correlation coefficient of ~ -0.55. Errors become significantly non-Gaussian for deviations over 3 standard deviations from best fit value. Because of the data cuts and analysis method, these measurements give tighter constraints than a previous BAO analysis of the BOSS DR9 Lyman-α sample, providing an important consistency test of the standard cosmological model in a new redshift regime