2,386 research outputs found
Cerebral small vessel disease burden is associated with poststroke depressive symptoms: A 15-month prospective study
Objective: All types of cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) markers including lacune, white matter hyperintensities (WMH), cerebral microbleeds, and perivascular spaces were found to be associated with poststroke depressive symptoms (PDS). This study explored whether the combination of the four markers constituting an overall SVD burden was associated with PDS.
Methods: A cohort of 563 patients with acute ischemic stroke were followed over a 15-month period after the index stroke. A score of _7 on the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale was defined as clinically significant PDS. Scores of the four SVD markers ascertained on magnetic resonance imaging were summed up to represent total SVD burden. The association between SVD burden and PDS was assessed with generalized estimating equation models.
Results: The study sample had a mean age of 67.0 _ 10.2 years and mild-moderate stroke [National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score: 3, interquartile, 1â5]. PDS were found in 18.3%, 11.6%, and 12.3% of the sample at 3, 9, and 15 months after stroke, respectively. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, vascular risk factors, social support, stroke severity, physical and cognitive functions, and size and locations of stroke, the SVD burden was associated with an increased risk of PDS [odds ratio = 1.30; 95% confidence interval = 1.07â1.58; p = 0.010]. Other significant predictors of PDS were time of assessment, female sex, smoking, number of acute infarcts, functional independence, and social support.
Conclusion: SVD burden was associated with PDS examined over a 15-month follow-up in patients with mild to moderate acute ischemic stroke
Triggered Star Formation by Massive Stars
We present our diagnosis of the role that massive stars play in the formation
of low- and intermediate-mass stars in OB associations (the Lambda Ori region,
Ori OB1, and Lac OB1 associations). We find that the classical T Tauri stars
and Herbig Ae/Be stars tend to line up between luminous O stars and
bright-rimmed or comet-shaped clouds; the closer to a cloud the progressively
younger they are. Our positional and chronological study lends support to the
validity of the radiation-driven implosion mechanism, where the Lyman continuum
photons from a luminous O star create expanding ionization fronts to evaporate
and compress nearby clouds into bright-rimmed or comet-shaped clouds. Implosive
pressure then causes dense clumps to collapse, prompting the formation of
low-mass stars on the cloud surface (i.e., the bright rim) and
intermediate-mass stars somewhat deeper in the cloud. These stars are a
signpost of current star formation; no young stars are seen leading the
ionization fronts further into the cloud. Young stars in bright-rimmed or
comet-shaped clouds are likely to have been formed by triggering, which would
result in an age spread of several megayears between the member stars or star
groups formed in the sequence.Comment: 2007, ApJ, 657, 88
Greatly enhancing the modeling accuracy for distributed parameter systems by nonlinear time/space separation
An effective modeling method for nonlinear distributed parameter systems
(DPSs) is critical for both physical system analysis and industrial
engineering. In this Rapid Communication, we propose a novel DPS modeling
approach, in which a high-order nonlinear Volterra series is used to separate
the time/space variables. With almost no additional computational complexity,
the modeling accuracy is improved more than 20 times in average comparing with
the traditional method.Comment: 10 figures, 5 page
Study on the One-Proton Halo Structure in Al
The Glauber theory has been used to investigate the reaction cross section of
proton-rich nucleus Al. A core plus a proton structure is assumed for
Al. HO-type density distribution is used for the core while the density
distribution for the valence proton is calculated by solving the eigenvalue
problem of Woods-Saxon potential. The transparency function in an analytical
expression is obtained adopting multi-Gaussian expansion for the density
distribution. Coulomb correction and finite-range interaction are introduced.
This modified Glauber model is apt for halo nuclei. A dominate s-wave is
suggested for the last proton in Al from our analysis which is possible
in the RMF calculation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure
Optical Monitoring of BL Lacertae Object OJ 287: a 40-Day Period?
We present the results of our optical monitoring of the BL Lacertae object OJ
287 during the first half of 2005. The source did not show large-amplitude
variations during this period and was in a relatively quiescent state. A
possible period of 40 days was derived from its light curves in three BATC
wavebands. A bluer-when-brighter chromatism was discovered, which is different
from the extremely stable color during the outburst in 1994--96. The different
color behaviors imply different variation mechanisms in the two states. We then
re-visited the optical data on OJ 287 from the OJ-94 project and found as well
a probable period of 40 days in its optical variability during the late-1994
outburst. The results suggest that two components contribute to the variability
of OJ 287 during its outburst state. The first component is the normal {\sl
blazar} variation. This component has an amplitude similar to that of the
quiescent state and also may share a similar periodicity. The second component
can be taken as a `low-frequency modulation' to the first component. It may be
induced by the interaction of the assumed binary black holes in the center of
this object. The 40-day period may be related to the helical structure of the
magnetic field at the base of the jet, or to the orbital motion close to the
central primary black hole.Comment: 31 pages, 8 figures, accepted by A
Interactions Between the Gut Microbiota and the Host Innate Immune Response Against Pathogens
The mammalian intestine is colonized by over a trillion microbes that comprise the âgut microbiota,â a microbial community which has co-evolved with the host to form a mutually beneficial relationship. Accumulating evidence indicates that the gut microbiota participates in immune system maturation and also plays a central role in host defense against pathogens. Here we review some of the mechanisms employed by the gut microbiota to boost the innate immune response against pathogens present on epithelial mucosal surfaces. Antimicrobial peptide secretion, inflammasome activation and induction of host IL-22, IL-17, and IL-10 production are the most commonly observed strategies employed by the gut microbiota for host anti-pathogen defense. Taken together, the body of evidence suggests that the host gut microbiota can elicit innate immunity against pathogens
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