361 research outputs found
Volatile Organic Compound and Metabolite Signatures as Pathogen Identifiers and Biomarkers of Infectious Disease
Volatile organic compound (VOC)-based diagnostics have great potential to be the next generation of screening tools for pathogen identification and infectious disease management. VOCs are low molecular weight metabolic compounds that have high vapor pressures and low boiling points, both of which facilitate evaporation at ambient temperatures. There is increasing evidence that particular VOCs, or profiles of VOCs, are unique to various disease states. Different pathogenic species have been found to produce characteristic profiles of VOCs by virtue of their distinct metabolisms. The detection of these metabolite profiles from patient samples could provide an effective means of rapid, non-invasive pathogen identification, thus enabling early diagnosis and treatment. In this review, we will discuss the potential of VOC profiles to be utilized as biomarkers of pathogenic infection, with a focus on bacterial pathogens. Herein we describe the common methods for clinical VOC sample collection, provide an overview of the various instruments and techniques used for VOC detection and analysis, and summarize the key findings of recent studies that have investigated VOC biomarkers in various infectious diseases. We will also discuss the challenges associated with translating VOC analysis into a clinical diagnostic tool
Environments of Redshift Survey Compact Groups of Galaxies
Redshift Survey Compact Groups (RSCGs) are tight knots of N >= 3 galaxies
selected from the CfA2+SSRS2 redshift survey. The selection is based on
physical extent and association in redshift space alone. We measured 300 new
redshifts of fainter galaxies within 1 h^{-1} Mpc of 14 RSCGs to explore the
relationship between RSCGs and their environments. 13 of 14 RSCGs are embedded
in overdense regions of redshift space. The systems range from a loose group of
5 members to an Abell cluster. The remaining group, RSCG 64, appears isolated.
RSCGs are isolated and distinct from their surroundings to varying degrees, as
are the Hickson Compact Groups. Among the 13 embedded RSCGs, 3 are distinct
from their general environments (RSCG 9, RSCG 11 and RSCG 85).Comment: 35 pages, including 10 figures and 5 tables, accepted for publication
in the Astronomical Journa
Tidally Triggered Star Formation in Close Pairs of Galaxies: Major and Minor Interactions
We study star formation in a sample of 345 galaxies in 167 pairs and compact
groups drawn from the original CfA2 Redshift Survey and from a follow-up search
for companions. We construct our sample with attention to including pairs with
luminosity contrast |\Delta m_R| >= 2. These 57 galaxies with |\Delta m_R| >= 2
provide a set of nearby representative cases of minor interactions, a central
feature of the hierarchical galaxy formation model. Here we report the
redshifts and positions of the 345 galaxies in our sample, and of 136 galaxies
in apparent pairs that are superpositions. In the pairs sample as a whole,
there are strong correlations between the equivalent width of the H\alpha
emission line and the projected spatial and the line-of-sight velocity
separation of the pair. For pairs of small luminosity contrast, |\Delta m_R| <
2, the member galaxies show a correlation between the equivalent width of
H\alpha and the projected spatial separation of the pair. However, for pairs
with large luminosity contrast, |\Delta m_R| >= 2, we detect no correlation
between the equivalent width of H\alpha and the projected spatial separation.
The relative luminosity of the companion galaxy is more important in a
gravitational tidal interaction than the intrinsic luminosity of the galaxy.
Central star formation across the entire pairs sample depends strongly on the
luminosity ratio, |\Delta m_R|, a reasonable proxy for the mass ratio of the
pair; pairs composed of similarly luminous galaxies produce the strongest
bursts of star formation. Pairs with |\Delta m_R| >= 2 rarely have EW(H\alpha)
>~ 70 Ang.Comment: Minor revisions following journal proof
Kinematic Effects of Tidal Interaction on Galaxy Rotation Curves
We use self-consistent N-body models, in conjunction with models of test
particles moving in galaxy potentials, to explore the initial effects of
interactions on the rotation curves of spiral galaxies. Using nearly
self-consistent disk/bulge/halo galaxy models (Kuijken & Dubinski 1995), we
simulate the first pass of galaxies on nearly parabolic orbits; we vary orbit
inclinations, galaxy halo masses and impact parameters. For each simulation, we
mimic observed rotation curves of the model galaxies. Transient
interaction-induced features of the curves include distinctly rising or falling
profiles at large radii and pronounced bumps in the central regions. Remarkably
similar features occur in our statistical sample of optical emission-line
rotation curves of spiral galaxies in tight pairs and n-tuples.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
Incidence and Risk Factors for Pelvic Pain After Mesh Implant Surgery for the Treatment of Pelvic Floor Disorders
Our aim was to assess incidence and risk factors for pelvic pain after pelvic mesh implantation
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Iterative Cognitive Interview Design to Uncover Children\u27s Spatial Reasoning
Cognitive interviews play an important role in articulating the intended construct of educational assessments. This paper describes the iterative development of protocols for cognitive interviews with kindergarten through second-grade children to understand how their spatial reasoning skill development aligns with intended constructs. We describe the procedures used to gather evidence of construct relevance and improved alignment to task-based interview items through multiple pilot rounds before conducting cognitive interviews. We found improved alignment and reduced construct irrelevant variance after protocol revisions
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