2,013 research outputs found
A Robust Determination of the Time Delay in 0957+561A,B and a Measurement of the Global Value of Hubble's Constant
Photometric monitoring of the gravitational lens system 0957+561A,B in the g
and r bands with the Apache Point Observatory (APO) 3.5 m telescope during 1996
shows a sharp g band event in the trailing (B) image light curve at the precise
time predicted from the observation of an event during 1995 in the leading (A)
image with a delay of 415 days. This success confirms the "short delay," and
the lack of any feature at a delay near 540 days rejects the "long delay" for
this system, resolving a long-standing controversy. A series of statistical
analyses of our light curve data yield a best fit delay of 417 +/- 3 days (95%
confidence interval). Recent improvements in the modeling of the lens system
(consisting of a galaxy and cluster) allow us to derive a value of the global
(at z = 0.36) value of Hubble's constant H_0 using Refsdal's method, a simple
and direct distance determination based on securely understood physics and
geometry. The result is H_0 = 63 +/- 12 km/s/Mpc (for Omega = 1) where this 95%
confidence interval is dominated by remaining lens model uncertainties.Comment: accepted by ApJ, AASTeX 4.0 preprint, 4 PostScript figure
Single-Dose Zoliflodacin (ETX0914) for Treatment of Urogenital Gonorrhea
BACKGROUND
Antibiotic-resistant Neisseria gonorrhoeae has prompted the development of new therapies. Zoliflodacin is a new antibiotic that inhibits DNA biosynthesis. In this multicenter, phase 2 trial, zoliflodacin was evaluated for the treatment of uncomplicated gonorrhea.
METHODS
We randomly assigned eligible men and women who had signs or symptoms of uncomplicated urogenital gonorrhea or untreated urogenital gonorrhea or who had had sexual contact in the preceding 14 days with a person who had gonorrhea to receive a single oral dose of zoliflodacin (2 g or 3 g) or a single 500-mg intramuscular dose of ceftriaxone in a ratio of approximately 70:70:40. A test of cure occurred within 6Âą2 days after treatment, followed by a safety visit 31Âą2 days after treatment. The primary efficacy outcome measure was the proportion of urogenital microbiologic cure in the microbiologic intention-to-treat (micro-ITT) population.
RESULTS
From November 2014 through December 2015, a total of 179 participants (167 men and 12 women) were enrolled. Among the 141 participants in the micro-ITT population who could be evaluated, microbiologic cure at urogenital sites was documented in 55 of 57 (96%) who received 2 g of zoliflodacin, 54 of 56 (96%) who received 3 g of zoliflodacin, and 28 of 28 (100%) who received ceftriaxone. All rectal infections were cured in all 5 participants who received 2 g of zoliflodacin and all 7 who received 3 g, and in all 3 participants in the group that received ceftriaxone. Pharyngeal infections were cured in 4 of 8 participants (50%), 9 of 11 participants (82%), and 4 of 4 participants (100%) in the groups that received 2 g of zoliflodacin, 3 g of zoliflodacin, and ceftriaxone, respectively. A total of 84 adverse events were reported: 24 in the group that received 2 g of zoliflodacin, 37 in the group that received 3 g of zoliflodacin, and 23 in the group that received ceftriaxone. According to investigators, a total of 21 adverse events were thought to be related to zoliflodacin, and most such events were gastrointestinal.
CONCLUSIONS
The majority of uncomplicated urogenital and rectal gonococcal infections were successfully treated with oral zoliflodacin, but this agent was less efficacious in the treatment of pharyngeal infections
Young Stellar Object Candidates in IC 417
IC 417 is in the Galactic Plane, and likely part of the Aur OB2 association;
it is ~2 kpc away. Stock 8 is one of the densest cluster constituents; off of
it to the East, there is a 'Nebulous Stream' (NS) that is dramatic in the
infrared (IR). We have assembled a list of literature-identified young stellar
objects (YSOs), new candidate YSOs from the NS, and new candidate YSOs from IR
excesses. We vetted this list via inspection of the images, spectral energy
distributions (SEDs), and color-color/color-magnitude diagrams. We placed the
710 surviving YSOs and candidate YSOs in ranked bins, nearly two-thirds of
which have more than 20 points defining their SEDs. The lowest-ranked bins
include stars that are confused, or likely carbon stars. There are 503 in the
higher-ranked bins; half are SED Class III, and 40\% are SED Class II.
Our results agree with the literature in that we find that the NS and Stock 8
are at about the same distance as each other (and as the rest of the YSOs), and
that the NS is the youngest region, with Stock 8 a little older. We do not find
any evidence for an age spread within the NS, consistent with the idea that the
star formation trigger came from the north. We do not find that the other
literature-identified clusters here are as young as either the NS or Stock 8;
at best they are older than Stock 8, and they may not all be legitimate
clusters.Comment: Accepted by AAS Journal
Release of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Nuclear Import Block Enhances Host Transcription in Human Lung Cells
The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus accessory protein ORF6 antagonizes interferon signaling by blocking karyopherin-mediated nuclear import processes. Viral nuclear import antagonists, expressed by several highly pathogenic RNA viruses, likely mediate pleiotropic effects on host gene expression, presumably interfering with transcription factors, cytokines, hormones, and/or signaling cascades that occur in response to infection. By bioinformatic and systems biology approaches, we evaluated the impact of nuclear import antagonism on host expression networks by using human lung epithelial cells infected with either wild-type virus or a mutant that does not express ORF6 protein. Microarray analysis revealed significant changes in differential gene expression, with approximately twice as many upregulated genes in the mutant virus samples by 48 h postinfection, despite identical viral titers. Our data demonstrated that ORF6 protein expression attenuates the activity of numerous karyopherin-dependent host transcription factors (VDR, CREB1, SMAD4, p53, EpasI, and Oct3/4) that are critical for establishing antiviral responses and regulating key host responses during virus infection. Results were confirmed by proteomic and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay analyses and in parallel microarray studies using infected primary human airway epithelial cell cultures. The data strongly support the hypothesis that viral antagonists of nuclear import actively manipulate host responses in specific hierarchical patterns, contributing to the viral pathogenic potential in vivo. Importantly, these studies and modeling approaches not only provide templates for evaluating virus antagonism of nuclear import processes but also can reveal candidate cellular genes and pathways that may significantly influence disease outcomes following severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus infection in vivo
Identification of a predominant isolate of Mycobacterium tuberculosis using molecular and clinical epidemiology tools and in vitro cytokine responses
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) surveillance programs in Canada have established that TB in Canada is becoming a disease of geographically and demographically distinct groups. In 1995, treaty status aboriginals from the province of Manitoba accounted for 46% of the disease burden of this sub-group in Canada. The TB incidence rates are dramatically high in certain reserves of Manitoba and are equivalent to rates in African countries. The objective of our study was to identify prevalent isolates of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in the patient population of Manitoba using molecular epidemiology tools, studying the patient demographics associated with the prevalent strain and studying the in vitro cytokine profiles post-infection with the predominant strain. METHODS: Molecular typing was performed on all isolates available between 1992 to1997. A clinical database was generated using patient information from Manitoba. THP-1 cells were infected using strains of M. tuberculosis and cytokine profiles were determined using immunoassays for cytokines IL-1β, IL-10, IL-12, IFN-γ and TNF-ι. RESULTS: In Manitoba, 24% of the disease burden is due to a particular M. tuberculosis strain (Type1). The strain is common in patients of aboriginal decent and is responsible for at least 87% of these cases. Cytokine assays indicate that the Type1 strain induces comparatively lower titers of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-ι in infected THP-1 cells as compared to H37Ra and H37Rv strains. CONCLUSION: In Manitoba, Type1 strain is predominant in TB patients. The majority of the cases infected with this particular strain are newly active with a high incidence of respiratory disease, positive chest radiographs and pulmonary cavities. In vitro secretion of IL-1β, IFN-γ and TNF-ι is suppressed in Type1 infected culture samples when compared to H37Ra and H37Rv infected cells
Identification of a Circadian Clock-Controlled Neural Pathway in the Rabbit Retina
Background: Although the circadian clock in the mammalian retina regulates many physiological processes in the retina, it is not known whether and how the clock controls the neuronal pathways involved in visual processing. Methodology/Principal Findings: By recording the light responses of rabbit axonless (A-type) horizontal cells under darkadapted conditions in both the day and night, we found that rod input to these cells was substantially increased at night under control conditions and following selective blockade of dopamine D2, but not D1, receptors during the day, so that the horizontal cells responded to very dim light at night but not in the day. Using neurobiotin tracer labeling, we also found that the extent of tracer coupling between rabbit rods and cones was more extensive during the night, compared to the day, and more extensive in the day following D 2 receptor blockade. Because A-type horizontal cells make synaptic contact exclusively with cones, these observations indicate that the circadian clock in the mammalian retina substantially increases rod input to A-type horizontal cells at night by enhancing rod-cone coupling. Moreover, the clock-induced increase in D2 receptor activation during the day decreases rod-cone coupling so that rod input to A-type horizontal cells is minimal. Conclusions/Significance: Considered together, these results identify the rod-cone gap junction as a key site in mammals through which the retinal clock, using dopamine activation of D2 receptors, controls signal flow in the day and night fro
The incorporation of14Câglycerol into different species of diglycerides and triglycerides in rat liver slices
The relative rates of de novo synthesis of species of diglycerides and triglycerides from14Câglycerol were examined in rat liver slices. Diglycerides containing one or two double bonds per molecule and triglycerides containing four or more double bonds per molecule represented 70% and 60% respectively of the newly synthesized diglycerides and triglycerides. The newly synthesized triglycerides were more unsaturated than the endogenous triglycerides. Our results suggest that a nonrandom synthesis of species of diglycerides occurred followed by an almost random utilization of the various diglyceride species for the biosynthesis of triglycerides.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/142207/1/lipd0411.pd
The Lantern Vol. 50, No. 2, Spring 1984
⢠The Storm ⢠Je ne sais pas ⢠The Ghetious Blastious ⢠An Empty Cradle ⢠The Playing Hands ⢠Battle Hymn ⢠A Limerick ⢠Parting Thoughts ⢠The River ⢠Miss You ⢠De la Tristeza ⢠Two So Special ⢠Time of the Unicorn ⢠The Absence ⢠Thru The Breeze ⢠Is the World Really a Round Ball? ⢠Brother ⢠To Michael ⢠Gravity ⢠Refuge ⢠Der Witwer ⢠Plastic Flowers Never Die ⢠Book on the Shelfhttps://digitalcommons.ursinus.edu/lantern/1124/thumbnail.jp
Search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu channel in pp collisions at sqrt(s) = 7 TeV
A search for the standard model Higgs boson in the H to ZZ to 2l 2nu decay
channel, where l = e or mu, in pp collisions at a center-of-mass energy of 7
TeV is presented. The data were collected at the LHC, with the CMS detector,
and correspond to an integrated luminosity of 4.6 inverse femtobarns. No
significant excess is observed above the background expectation, and upper
limits are set on the Higgs boson production cross section. The presence of the
standard model Higgs boson with a mass in the 270-440 GeV range is excluded at
95% confidence level.Comment: Submitted to JHE
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