A rocky planet transiting a nearby low-mass star

M-dwarf stars -- hydrogen-burning stars that are smaller than 60 per cent of the size of the Sun -- are the most common class of star in our Galaxy and outnumber Sun-like stars by a ratio of 12:1. Recent results have shown that M dwarfs host Earth-sized planets in great numbers: the average number of M-dwarf planets that are between 0.5 to 1.5 times the size of Earth is at least 1.4 per star. The nearest such planets known to transit their star are 39 parsecs away, too distant for detailed follow-up observations to measure the planetary masses or to study their atmospheres. Here we report observations of GJ 1132b, a planet with a size of 1.2 Earth radii that is transiting a small star 12 parsecs away. Our Doppler mass measurement of GJ 1132b yields a density consistent with an Earth-like bulk composition, similar to the compositions of the six known exoplanets with masses less than six times that of the Earth and precisely measured densities. Receiving 19 times more stellar radiation than the Earth, the planet is too hot to be habitable but is cool enough to support a substantial atmosphere, one that has probably been considerably depleted of hydrogen. Because the host star is nearby and only 21 per cent the radius of the Sun, existing and upcoming telescopes will be able to observe the composition and dynamics of the planetary atmosphere.Comment: Published in Nature on 12 November 2015, available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1038/nature15762. This is the authors' version of the manuscrip

Regorafenib treatment for advanced, refractory gastrointestinal stromal tumor: a report of the UK managed access program

BACKGROUND: Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKI) have revolutionized the treatment of gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) although most patients develop resistance to first and second-line therapies. Regorafenib, an oral multi-targeted TKI, has demonstrated benefit in previously treated GIST patients. METHODS: We assessed safety and activity of regorafenib in patients treated within the Managed Access Program (MAP). All consecutive patients with advanced GIST who had progressed on or were intolerant to imatinib and sunitinib were recruited from the Royal Marsden and University College Hospitals. We retrospectively reviewed the data for response, toxicity, treatment duration and survival. Response was assessed by RECIST and Choi criteria. Toxicity was graded according to CTCAE v4.0 criteria. RESULTS: 20 patients were included in the MAP in the UK between 3/2013 and 9/2013. Median age was 68 (range 45–87), 65% of patients were male. Performance Status was 0–1 for 18 patients (90%), 2 for 2 patients (10%). The median treatment duration was 9.25 months (range 0.1-15.33). 18 patients were assessable for response and all patients attained a best response of at least stable disease. At a median follow-up of 12.6 months, there were 2 partial responses (11%) by RECIST and 7 partial responses (39%) according to Choi criteria. 7 patients remain on regorafenib. 3 patients discontinued treatment due to unacceptable adverse events; fistulation, myalgia and fatigue. 10 (50%) patients had grade 3 toxicities and 11 (55%) patients required a dose reduction. Median PFS was 9.4 months (95% Cl: 6.2-not calculable) and median OS was 12.2 months (95% Cl: 10.5-not calculable). Notably, prolonged stable disease was seen in 1 patient with exon 9 mutation and 1 patient with PDGFR D842V mutation. CONCLUSIONS: These data demonstrate encouraging activity and tolerability of regorafenib in routine clinical practice. The documented adverse events are in line with previous trial data

Austrian Lives

Writing biographies (life stories) for a long time had been a male hegemonic project-writing the lives of great (white) men. Ever since Plutarch and Sueton composed their vitae of the greats of classical antiquity, to the medieval obsession with the hagiographies of holy men (and a few women) and saints, Vasari's lives of great Renaissance artists, down to the French encyclopedists, Dr. Johnson and Lytton Strachey, as well as Ranke and Droysen the genre of biographical writing (“the representation of self ” or “the reconstruction of a human life”) has become increasingly more refined. In the twentieth century male predominance has become contested and the (collective) lives of women, minorities and ordinary people are now the focus of biographical writing. This volume of Contemporary Austrian Studies offers a cross section of Austrian lives and biographical approaches to recent Austrian history. Here are what may be called traditional biographies of leading political figures through the twentieth century. We also suggest that the intellectual biographies (lives of the mind) of thinkers and professionals are fertile soil for biographical study. Moreover, the prosopographic study of common folks in the Austrian population lifts these lives from the dark matter of anonymous masses and gives rich insights into the lives ordinary Austrians have been leading.Das Verfassen von Biographien war lange Zeit eine Domäne der Männer. Von den antiken Biographien des Plutarch oder Sueton, über die mittelalterlichen Lebensbeschreibungen von Heiligen und die französischen Enzyklopädisten hat sich das biographische Schreiben zusehends verfeinert. Im 20. Jahrhundert werden vermehrt Frauen, Minderheiten und einfache Menschen Inhalt von Biographien. Dieser Band der Contemporary Austrian Studies bietet einen Querschnitt österreichischer Vitae der Zeitgeschichte. Neben traditionellen Biographien von hochrangigen PolitikerInnen wie Ignaz Seipel, Bruno Kreisky oder Alois Mock und DenkerInnen wie Viktor Frankl und Eugenie Schwarzwald oder Künstler wie Günther Anders beschreiben gewöhnliche Lebensläufe von Soldaten, Kriegsgefangenen und Bauern Österreich im 20. Jahrhundert

Austrian Lives

Writing biographies (life stories) for a long time had been a male hegemonic project-writing the lives of great (white) men. Ever since Plutarch and Sueton composed their vitae of the greats of classical antiquity, to the medieval obsession with the hagiographies of holy men (and a few women) and saints, Vasari's lives of great Renaissance artists, down to the French encyclopedists, Dr. Johnson and Lytton Strachey, as well as Ranke and Droysen the genre of biographical writing (“the representation of self ” or “the reconstruction of a human life”) has become increasingly more refined. In the twentieth century male predominance has become contested and the (collective) lives of women, minorities and ordinary people are now the focus of biographical writing. This volume of Contemporary Austrian Studies offers a cross section of Austrian lives and biographical approaches to recent Austrian history. Here are what may be called traditional biographies of leading political figures through the twentieth century. We also suggest that the intellectual biographies (lives of the mind) of thinkers and professionals are fertile soil for biographical study. Moreover, the prosopographic study of common folks in the Austrian population lifts these lives from the dark matter of anonymous masses and gives rich insights into the lives ordinary Austrians have been leading.Das Verfassen von Biographien war lange Zeit eine Domäne der Männer. Von den antiken Biographien des Plutarch oder Sueton, über die mittelalterlichen Lebensbeschreibungen von Heiligen und die französischen Enzyklopädisten hat sich das biographische Schreiben zusehends verfeinert. Im 20. Jahrhundert werden vermehrt Frauen, Minderheiten und einfache Menschen Inhalt von Biographien. Dieser Band der Contemporary Austrian Studies bietet einen Querschnitt österreichischer Vitae der Zeitgeschichte. Neben traditionellen Biographien von hochrangigen PolitikerInnen wie Ignaz Seipel, Bruno Kreisky oder Alois Mock und DenkerInnen wie Viktor Frankl und Eugenie Schwarzwald oder Künstler wie Günther Anders beschreiben gewöhnliche Lebensläufe von Soldaten, Kriegsgefangenen und Bauern Österreich im 20. Jahrhundert

Austrian Lives

Writing biographies (life stories) for a long time had been a male hegemonic project-writing the lives of great (white) men. Ever since Plutarch and Sueton composed their vitae of the greats of classical antiquity, to the medieval obsession with the hagiographies of holy men (and a few women) and saints, Vasari's lives of great Renaissance artists, down to the French encyclopedists, Dr. Johnson and Lytton Strachey, as well as Ranke and Droysen the genre of biographical writing (“the representation of self ” or “the reconstruction of a human life”) has become increasingly more refined. In the twentieth century male predominance has become contested and the (collective) lives of women, minorities and ordinary people are now the focus of biographical writing. This volume of Contemporary Austrian Studies offers a cross section of Austrian lives and biographical approaches to recent Austrian history. Here are what may be called traditional biographies of leading political figures through the twentieth century. We also suggest that the intellectual biographies (lives of the mind) of thinkers and professionals are fertile soil for biographical study. Moreover, the prosopographic study of common folks in the Austrian population lifts these lives from the dark matter of anonymous masses and gives rich insights into the lives ordinary Austrians have been leading.Das Verfassen von Biographien war lange Zeit eine Domäne der Männer. Von den antiken Biographien des Plutarch oder Sueton, über die mittelalterlichen Lebensbeschreibungen von Heiligen und die französischen Enzyklopädisten hat sich das biographische Schreiben zusehends verfeinert. Im 20. Jahrhundert werden vermehrt Frauen, Minderheiten und einfache Menschen Inhalt von Biographien. Dieser Band der Contemporary Austrian Studies bietet einen Querschnitt österreichischer Vitae der Zeitgeschichte. Neben traditionellen Biographien von hochrangigen PolitikerInnen wie Ignaz Seipel, Bruno Kreisky oder Alois Mock und DenkerInnen wie Viktor Frankl und Eugenie Schwarzwald oder Künstler wie Günther Anders beschreiben gewöhnliche Lebensläufe von Soldaten, Kriegsgefangenen und Bauern Österreich im 20. Jahrhundert