Simulating the universe(s) Ill: observables for the full bubble collision spacetime

This is the third paper in a series establishing a quantitative relation between inflationary scalar field potential landscapes and the relic perturbations left by the collision between bubbles produced during eternal inflation. We introduce a new method for computing cosmological observables from numerical relativity simulations of bubble collisions in one space and one time dimension. This method tiles comoving hypersurfaces with locally-perturbed Friedmann-Robertson-Walker coordinate patches. The method extends previous work, which was limited to the spacetime region just inside the future light cone of the collision, and allows us to explore the full bubble-collision spacetime. We validate our new methods against previous work, and present a full set of predictions for the comoving curvature perturbation and local negative spatial curvature produced by identical and non-identical bubble collisions, in single scalar field models of eternal inflation. In both collision types, there is a non-zero contribution to the spatial curvature and cosmic microwave background quadrupole. Some collisions between non-identical bubbles excite wall modes, giving extra structure to the predicted temperature anisotropies. We comment on the implications of our results for future observational searches. For non-identical bubble collisions, we also find that the surfaces of constant field can readjust in the presence of a collision to produce spatially infinite sections that become nearly homogeneous deep into the region affected by the collision. Contrary to previous assumptions, this is true even in the bubble into which the domain wall is accelerating

Accelerometer use in young people with Down syndrome: A preliminary cross-validation and reliability study

Background Inadequate physical activity is a problem for people with Down syndrome and objective monitoring using accelerometers may be inaccurate in this population. Method This was a cross-validation and reliability study comparing two triaxial accelerometers (the SenseWear and RT3) to a criterion measure (the OxyCon Mobile) in 10 young people (M age = 20 ± 2) with Down syndrome. A ROC curve analysis was conducted to determine intensity thresholds from RT3 activity counts. Results During self-selected pace walking, the accelerometers overestimated energy expenditure and had large limits of agreement (SenseWear: −0.5–3.6 METs; RT3: −0.2–2.7 METs). At this pace, SenseWear armband step counts were highly correlated with observed steps (r = .98) but underestimated steps by up to 12%. We developed RT3 thresholds that demonstrated good to excellent sensitivity and specificity in classifying physical activity intensity. Conclusions SenseWear steps and RT3 activity count thresholds can be used to monitor physical activity in young people with Down syndrome, although energy expenditure estimates should be used with caution in this population

Polarity of influenza H5N1 virus infection in respiratory epithelial cells and the impact of basolateral release of cytokines in disease pathogenesis

Poster Presentations: Virus Host Interaction/PathogenesisINTRODUCTION: Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (H5N1) is the first avian influenza virus that documented to cause respiratory disease and death in human. The biological basis for the severe human disease and high fatality rate remains unclear. We have previously demonstrated that when compared to human H1N1 and H3N2 influenza viruses, infection of influenza H5N1 virus led to the hyper-induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines in human primary macrophages and ...postprin

Influenza viruses in healthy wild birds in Hong Kong

Poster Presentations: Animal Influenza EcologyWild waterfowl are considered the natural reservoir of influenza A viruses. The recent outbreak of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 in Asia which has now spread as far as Africa highlights the importance of defining the influenza virus gene pool in these birds and understanding the potential role played by migratory waterfowl in such HPAI outbreaks. Seventy-three influenza viruses were isolated from 16,724 samples collected from feral waterfowls or their fecal droppings during 2003-7 at Mai Po Marshes and Lok Ma Chau in Hong Kong. A diversity of influenza viruses representing hemagglutinin subtypes of H1, H2, H4, H5, H6, H7, H8, H9, H10 and H11; neuramidinase subtypes of N1, N2, N3, N4, N6, N7, N8 and N9, were isolated. Seventy-two of these 73 positive isolates were collected during the winter period coinciding with the southern migration of waterfowl along the East Asian flyway. No HPAI H5N1 viruses were isolated from healthy birds sampled in this study, though H5N1 viruses have been isolated from dead wild birds found in Hong Kong. Phylogenetic analyses of the HA gene of the H5 viruses isolated in the study showed that they clustered with other LP H5 viruses isolated from Hokkaido, Mongolia and Siberia but they seemed not to be very closely related to the HP H5N1. Six of 150 blood sample collected from wild ducks and one of 43 from shorebirds were tested to have antibody by neutralization tests for H5 subtype hemagglutinin.postprin

Naturally occurring antiviral drug resistance in Avian H5N1 virus

Oral Presentations - Antivirals and ResistanceResistance to the neuraminidase inhibitor, oseltamivir, was found in H5N1 virus isolated from infected patients in Vietnam but no recent avian H5N1 isolates have been reported to possess known neuraminidase inhibitor resistance mutations. It is still not clear whether the NA1 gene neuraminidase mutation, His274Tyr, detected in H5N1 infected human cases originated during disease treatment or came from the avian virus source. A 2002 HK chicken H5N1 isolate was found to contain the His274Tyr mutation on NA1 and resistance to oseltamivir was confirmed using a cell-based assay. To investigate if His274Tyr might naturally occur at low levels mixed with wild type in H5N1 poultry infections we examined isolates from different hosts and geographical locations using a differential RT-PCR assay. The His274Ty quasi species was more frequently recognized in isolates from infected chickens than in isolates from ducks and geese, but no geographical difference was observed. Close surveillance of mutants in the virus population, combined with pursuit of alternative therapies, is essential to H5N1 pandemic containment strategies.postprin

Additional Saturday rehabilitation improves functional independence and quality of life and reduces length of stay: a randomised controlled trial

Background Many inpatients receive little or no rehabilitation on weekends. Our aim was to determine what effect providing additional Saturday rehabilitation during inpatient rehabilitation had on functional independence, quality of life and length of stay compared to 5 days per week of rehabilitation.MethodsThis was a multicenter, single-blind (assessors) randomized controlled trial with concealed allocation and 12-month follow-up conducted in two publically funded metropolitan inpatient rehabilitation facilities in Melbourne, Australia. Patients were eligible if they were adults (aged &ge;18 years) admitted for rehabilitation for any orthopedic, neurological or other disabling conditions excluding those admitted for slow stream rehabilitation/geriatric evaluation and management. Participants were randomly allocated to usual care Monday to Friday rehabilitation (control) or to Monday to Saturday rehabilitation (intervention). The additional Saturday rehabilitation comprised physiotherapy and occupational therapy. The primary outcomes were functional independence (functional independence measure (FIM); measured on an 18 to 126 point scale), health-related quality of life (EQ-5D utility index; measured on a 0 to 1 scale, and EQ-5D visual analog scale; measured on a 0 to 100 scale), and patient length of stay. Outcome measures were assessed on admission, discharge (primary endpoint), and at 6 and 12 months post discharge.ResultsWe randomly assigned 996 adults (mean (SD) age 74 (13) years) to Monday to Saturday rehabilitation (n&thinsp;=&thinsp;496) or usual care Monday to Friday rehabilitation (n&thinsp;=&thinsp;500). Relative to admission scores, intervention group participants had higher functional independence (mean difference (MD) 2.3, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.5 to 4.1, P&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.01) and health-related quality of life (MD 0.04, 95% CI 0.01 to 0.07, P&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.009) on discharge and may have had a shorter length of stay by 2 days (95% CI 0 to 4, P&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.1) when compared to control group participants. Intervention group participants were 17% more likely to have achieved a clinically significant change in functional independence of 22 FIM points or more (risk ratio (RR) 1.17, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.34) and 18% more likely to have achieved a clinically significant change in health-related quality of life (RR 1.18, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.34) on discharge compared to the control group. There was some maintenance of effect for functional independence and health-related quality of life at 6-month follow-up but not at 12-month follow-up. There was no difference in the number of adverse events between the groups (incidence rate ratio&thinsp;=&thinsp;0.81, 95% CI 0.61 to 1.08).ConclusionsProviding an additional day of rehabilitation improved functional independence and health-related quality of life at discharge and may have reduced length of stay for patients receiving inpatient rehabilitation.&nbsp;</p

Distribution of amantadine-resistant H5N1 avian influenza variants in Asia

We examined the distribution of genetic mutations associated with resistance to the M2 ion channel-blocking adamantane derivatives, amantadine and rimantadine, among H5N1 viruses isolated in Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, Indonesia, Hong Kong, and China. More than 95% of the viruses isolated in Vietnam and Thailand contained resistance mutations, but resistant mutants were less commonly isolated in Indonesia (6.3% of isolates) and China (8.9% of isolates), where human infection was recently reported. The dual mutation motif Leu26Ile-Ser31Asn (leucine→isoleucine at aa 26 and serine→asparagine at aa 31) was found almost exclusively in all resistant isolates from Vietnam, Thailand, and Cambodia, suggesting the biological selection of these mutations. © 2006 by the Infectious Diseases Society of America. All rights reserved.published_or_final_versio

Role of polymorphisms of the inflammatory response genes and DC-SIGNR in genetic susceptibility to SARS and other infections.

Research Fund for the Control of Infectious Diseases: Research Dissemination Reports (Series 2)1. A genetic risk-association study involving more than 1200 subjects showed individuals homozygous for L-SIGN tandem repeats are less susceptible to SARS infection. 2. This was supported by in vitro binding studies that demonstrated homozygous L-SIGN, compared to heterozygous, had higher binding capacity for SARS coronavirus (SARS-CoV), with higher proteasome-dependent viral degradation. In contrast, homozygous L-SIGN demonstrated lower binding capacity for HIV1-gp120.3. Genetic-association studies for single nucleotide polymorphisms of the inflammatory response genes, namely TNF-alpha, INF-alpha, INF-beta, INF-gamma, IL1-alpha, IL1-beta, IL-4, IL-6 and iNOS, failed to show a significant association with SARS clinical outcomes or susceptibility.published_or_final_versio

A correlation of the cosmic microwave sky with large scale structure

We cross correlate the large-scale cosmic microwave background (CMB) sky measured by WMAP with two probes of large-scale structure at z ~ 1. The hard X-ray background, measured by the HEAO-1 satellite, is positively correlated with the WMAP data at the 2.5-3.0 sigma level. The number counts of radio galaxies in the NVSS survey are also correlated at a slightly weaker level (2.-2.5 sigma). These correlations appear to arise from both hemispheres on the sky and are resilient to changes in the levels of masking of the Galaxy and point sources, suggesting that foregrounds are not responsible for the signal. The implication is that some of the observed CMB fluctuations arise at low redshifts. The level of the correlations is consistent with that expected for the cosmological constant (Omega_Lambda = 0.72) concordance model resulting from the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect. Thus, we may be observing dark energy's effect on the growth of structure.Comment: 8 pages, 3 postscript figure