Magnesium Isotopes in Metal-Poor Dwarfs, the Rise of AGB Stars and the Formation Timescale of the Galactic Halo

We have determined magnesium isotopic ratios (^{25,26}Mg/Mg) in metal-poor (-2.6 [Fe/H] -1.3) halo dwarfs employing high S/N (90-280) high spectral resolution (R = 10^5) Keck HIRES spectra. Unlike previous claims of an important contribution from intermediate-mass AGB stars at low metallicities, we find that the rise of the AGB contribution in the Galactic halo did not occur until intermediate metallicities ([Fe/H] ~> -1.5).Comment: ApJ Letters, in pres

The Cape Triage Score - a triage system for South Africa

The Cape Triage Score (CTS) has been derived by the Cape Triage Group (CTG) for use in emergency units throughout South Africa. It can also be used in the pre-hospital setting, although it is not designed for mass casualty situations. The CTS comprises a physiologically based scoring system and a list of discriminators, designed to triage patients into one of five priority groups for medical attention. Three versions have been developed, for adults, children and infants. As part of the ongoing assessment process the CTG would value feedback from the readers of this Journal

Modelling the evolution of distributions : an application to major league baseball

We develop Bayesian techniques for modelling the evolution of entire distributions over time and apply them to the distribution of team performance in Major League baseball for the period 1901-2000. Such models offer insight into many key issues (e.g. competitive balance) in a way that regression-based models cannot. The models involve discretizing the distribution and then modelling the evolution of the bins over time through transition probability matrices. We allow for these matrices to vary over time and across teams. We find that, with one exception, the transition probability matrices (and, hence, competitive balance) have been remarkably constant across time and over teams. The one exception is the Yankees, who have outperformed all other teams

Lipopolysaccharide induces recurrence of arthritis in rat joints previously injured by peptidoglycan-polysaccharide

Rat ankle joints injected intraarticularly with 5 micrograms of group A streptococcal peptidoglycan-polysaccharide (PG-APS) developed an acute course of arthritis. Recurrence of arthritis was induced in 100% of these joints by intravenous injection of as little as 10 micrograms of Salmonella typhimurium lipopolysaccharide (LPS) 3 wk after intraarticular injection. This reaction was similar in athymic and euthymic rats. Buffalo rats were less susceptible than Lewis or Sprague- Dawley rats. Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Yersinia enterocolitica, and Escherichia coli LPS, and S. typhimurium Re mutant LPS, were also active. Re mutant LPS activity was greatly reduced by mixing with polymyxin B. E. coli lipid A was weakly active. An acute synovitis of much less incidence, severity, and duration was seen in contralateral joints injected initially with saline, and in ankle joints of naive, previously uninjected rats after intravenous LPS injection. The intravenous injection of the muramidase mutanolysin on day 0 or 7 after intraarticular PG-APS injection prevented LPS-induced recurrence of arthritis. These studies suggest that the phlogistic activities of lipid A and peptidoglycan might interact in an inflammatory disease process, and that LPS may play a role in recurrent episodes of rheumatoid arthritis or reactive arthritis

The FeH Wing-Ford Band in Spectra of M Stars

We study the FeH Wing-Ford band at 9850 - 10200 Angstrons by means of the fit of synthetic spectra to the observations of M stars, employing recent model atmospheres. On the basis of the spectrum synthesis, we analyze the dependence of the band upon atmospheric parameters. FeH lines are a very sensitive surface gravity indicator, being stronger in dwarfs. They are also sensitive to metallicity (Allard & Hauschildt 1995). The blending with CN lines, which are stronger in giants, does not affect the response of the Wing-Ford band to surface gravity at low resolution (or high velocity dispersions) because CN lines, which are spread all along the spectrum, are smeared out at convolutions of FWHM \simgreat 3 Angstrons. We conclude that the Wing-Ford band is a suitable dwarf/giant indicator for the study of composite stellar populations.Comment: 23 pages + 11 figures in postscript format + 3 ps figures (Nos. 2, 6 and 7) available under request to [email protected]. Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journa

Association of Increased Serum Lipopolysaccharide, But Not Microbial Dysbiosis, With Obesity-Related Osteoarthritis

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that an altered gut microbiota (dysbiosis) plays a role in obesity-associated osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS: Stool and blood samples were collected from 92 participants with a body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2 , recruited from the Johnston County Osteoarthritis Project. OA patients (n=50) had hand and knee OA (Kellgren/Lawrence [K/L] grade≥2 or arthroplasty). Controls (n=42) had no hand OA and a K/L grade of 0-1 for the knees. Compositional analysis of stool samples was carried out by 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequencing. Alpha- and beta-diversity and differences in taxa relative abundances were determined. Blood samples were used for multiplex cytokine analysis and measures of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and LPS binding protein. Germ-free mice were gavaged with patient- or control-pooled fecal samples and fed a 40% fat, high-sucrose diet for 40weeks. Knee OA was evaluated histologically. RESULTS: On average, OA patients were slightly older than the controls, consisted of more women, and had a higher mean BMI, higher mean Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index pain score, and higher mean K/L grade. There were no significant differences in alpha or beta-diversity or genus level composition between patients and controls. Patients had higher plasma levels of osteopontin (P=0.01) and serum LPS (P<0.0001) compared to controls. Mice transplanted with patient or control microbiota exhibited a significant difference in alpha diversity (P=0.02) and beta diversity, but no differences in OA severity were observed. CONCLUSION: The lack of differences in the gut microbiota, but increased serum LPS levels, suggest the possibility that increased intestinal permeability allowing for greater absorption of LPS, rather than a dysbiotic microbiota, may contribute to the development of OA associated with obesity

Metabolic and crystal arthropathies: 112. Rapid Improvement in Health-Related Quality of Life in Gouty Arthritis Patients Treated with Canakinumab (ACZ885) Compared to Triamcinolone Acetonide

Background: Canakinumab, a fully human anti-IL-1β antibody has been shown to control inflammation in gouty arthritis. This study evaluated changes in health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in patients treated with canakinumab or triamcinolone acetonide (TA). Methods: An 8-wk, dose-ranging, active controlled, single-blind study in patients (≥18 to ≤80 years) with acute gouty arthritis flare, refractory to or contraindicated to NSAlDs and/or colchicine, were randomized to canakinumab 10, 25, 50, 90, 150 mg sc or TA 40 mg im. HRQoL was assessed using patient reported outcomes evaluating PCS and MCS, and subscale scores of SF-36® [acute version 2]) and functional disability (HAQ-DI©). Results: In canakinumab 150 mg group, the most severe impairment at baseline was reported for physical functioning and bodily pain; levels of 41.5 and 36.0, respectively, which improved in 7 days to 80.0 and 72.2 (mean increases of 39.0 and 35.6) and at 8 wks improved to 86.1 and 86.6 (mean increases of 44.6 and 50.6); these were higher than levels seen in the general US population. TA group, showed less improvement in 7 days (mean increases of 23.3 and 21.3 for physical function and bodily pain). Functional disability scores, measured by the HAQ-DI© decreased in both treatment groups (Table 1). Conclusions: Gouty arthritis patients treated with canakinumab showed a rapid improvement in physical and mental well-being based on SF-36® scores. In contrast to the TA group, patients treated with canakinumab showed improvement in 7 days in physical function and bodily pain approaching levels of the general population. Disclosure statement: U.A., A.F., V.M., D.R., P.S. and K.S. are employees and shareholders of Novartis Pharma AG. A.P. has received research support from Novartis Pharma AG. N.S. has received research support and consultancy fees from Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation, has served on advisory boards for Novartis, Takeda, Savient, URL Pharma and EnzymeRx, and is/has been a member of a speakers' bureau for Takeda. A.S. has received consultation fees from Novartis Pharma AG, Abbott, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Essex, Pfizer, MSD, Roche, UCB and Wyeth. All other authors have declared no conflicts of interes

Scattering length of the ground state Mg+Mg collision

We have constructed the X 1SIGMAg+ potential for the collision between two ground state Mg atoms and analyzed the effect of uncertainties in the shape of the potential on scattering properties at ultra-cold temperatures. This potential reproduces the experimental term values to 0.2 inverse cm and has a scattering length of +1.4(5) nm where the error is prodominantly due to the uncertainty in the dissociation energy and the C6 dispersion coefficient. A positive sign of the scattering length suggests that a Bose-Einstein condensate of ground state Mg atoms is stable.Comment: 15 pages, 3 figures, Submitted Phys. Rev.

WireWall – a new approach to measuring coastal wave hazard

In the UK £150bn of assets and 4 million people are at risk from coastal flooding, whilst the construction of sea wall defence schemes typically cost at least £10,000 per linear meter. With reductions in public funding, rising sea level, changing storm conditions and 3200 km of coastal defences (i.e. about £3bn), cost savings are required that do not cause a reduction in flood resistance. The design of new coastal flood defences and the setting of tolerable hazard thresholds requires site-specific information of wave overtopping during storms of varying severity. By converting an existing wave measurement technology into a prototype overtopping monitoring system "WireWall", field observations of the wave-by-wave horizontal overtopping speeds and volumes were made at our case study site Crosby, in the North West of England. The new data quantify the wave overtopping conditions observed, which varied with the wind, waves and tide, allowing better understanding of how wave hazard at Crosby changes with the local conditions