The CARMENES search for exoplanets around M dwarfs High-resolution optical and near-infrared spectroscopy of 324 survey stars

The CARMENES radial velocity (RV) survey is observing 324 M dwarfs to search for any orbiting planets. In this paper, we present the survey sample by publishing one CARMENES spectrum for each M dwarf. These spectra cover the wavelength range 520–1710 nm at a resolution of at least R >80 000, and we measure its RV, Hα emission, and projected rotation velocity. We present an atlas of high-resolution M-dwarf spectra and compare the spectra to atmospheric models. To quantify the RV precision that can be achieved in low-mass stars over the CARMENES wavelength range, we analyze our empirical information on the RV precision from more than 6500 observations. We compare our high-resolution M-dwarf spectra to atmospheric models where we determine the spectroscopic RV information content, Q, and signal-to-noise ratio. We find that for all M-type dwarfs, the highest RV precision can be reached in the wavelength range 700–900 nm. Observations at longer wavelengths are equally precise only at the very latest spectral types (M8 and M9). We demonstrate that in this spectroscopic range, the large amount of absorption features compensates for the intrinsic faintness of an M7 star. To reach an RV precision of 1 m s−1 in very low mass M dwarfs at longer wavelengths likely requires the use of a 10 m class telescope. For spectral types M6 and earlier, the combination of a red visual and a near-infrared spectrograph is ideal to search for low-mass planets and to distinguish between planets and stellar variability. At a 4 m class telescope, an instrument like CARMENES has the potential to push the RV precision well below the typical jitter level of 3–4 m s−1

CARMENES: high-resolution spectra and precise radial velocities in the red and infrared

SPIE Astronomical Telescopes + Instrumentation (2018, Austin, Texas, United States

A web-based diagnostic reference centre for the European Reference Network “EpiCare”: recommendations of the eNeuropathology working group

Epilepsy surgery is a valuable treatment strategy for a selected group of patients with drug-resistant focal epilepsy. While reliable disease classification is essential for the optimal management of patients in general and crucial for the development of more personalized therapies in the future, arriving at a precise diagnosis often poses considerable difficulties due to the broad and variant-rich spectrum of epilepsy-associated brain lesions. Given the scarcity of European institutions diagnostically focusing on the histopathology of epilepsy surgery cases, the provision of subspecialty expertise as well as training opportunities remains logistically and financially challenging. To improve this situation, the European Reference Network's (ERN) epilepsy care program (EpiCare, http://epi-care.eu) has set out to develop a web-based microscopy referral and teaching framework. This paper reviews the aspects of digital microscopy, data storage, and image analysis technology relevant to the practice of neuropathology. Cognizant of the European data security requirements and regulations, we propose a collaborative, diagnostic network initiative (the eNeuropathology reference centre) and delineate a roadmap for its implementation favouring open-source, vendor-independent browser platforms

Evidence for a progenitor cell population in the human pituitary

The ability to isolate and propagate adult stem/progenitor cells from the human brain opens novel avenues for cell replacement therapy. This will also apply to the pituitary gland, i.e., following tumor induced endocrine deficiency. Herein, we examine autopsy derived pituitaries to unravel a putative stem/progenitor cell population in humans. In tissue sections of the anterior lobe nestin immunoreactive cells co-expressing smooth muscle actin (SMA) were identified in the perivascular space, indicating a pericytic differentiation. Under clonal conditions, this particular cell population generated primary and secondary cell aggregates (spheres). Pituitary cell cultures maintained a stable cell cycle length with a doubling time of 10 days for over eight months. Forskolin treatment induced a prolactin-expressing phenotype in the majority of cell progenies as well as few betaIII-tubulin (Tuj1) expressing cells of putative neuronal lineage. The presence of sphere-forming, nestin-immunoreactive cells and their ability to generate differentiated cell lineages indicates the existence of a progenitor cell population persisting in the adult human pituitary. Further studies are needed to characterize this cell population in more detail and to clarify their potential to initiate neoplastic transformation for example in the cellular pathogenesis of pituitary adenoma

GAD-antibody associated temporal lobe epilepsy: T cells kill neurons, plasma cells and antibodies are bystanders

Bien C, Troescher A, Mair K, et al. GAD-antibody associated temporal lobe epilepsy: T cells kill neurons, plasma cells and antibodies are bystanders. European Journal of Neurology . 2022;29(Suppl. 1):99-100