Editorial

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KSZ tomography and the bispectrum

Several statistics have been proposed for measuring the kSZ effect by combining the small-scale CMB with galaxy surveys. We review five such statistics, and show that they are all mathematically equivalent to the optimal bispectrum estimator of type $\langle ggT \rangle$. Reinterpreting these kSZ statistics as special cases of bispectrum estimation makes many aspects transparent, for example optimally weighting the estimator, or incorporating photometric redshift errors. We analyze the information content of the bispectrum and show that there are two observables: the small-scale galaxy-electron power spectrum $P_{ge}(k_S)$, and the large-scale galaxy-velocity power spectrum $P_{gv}(k)$. The cosmological constraining power of the kSZ arises from its sensitivity to fluctuations on large length scales, where its effective noise level can be much better than galaxy surveys.Comment: 39 page

The Regulatory Repertoire of Pseudomonas aeruginosa AmpC ß-Lactamase Regulator AmpR Includes Virulence Genes

In Enterobacteriaceae, the transcriptional regulator AmpR, a member of the LysR family, regulates the expression of a chromosomal β-lactamase AmpC. The regulatory repertoire of AmpR is broader in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic pathogen responsible for numerous acute and chronic infections including cystic fibrosis. In addition to regulating ampC, P. aeruginosa AmpR regulates the sigma factor AlgT/U and production of some quorum sensing (QS)-regulated virulence factors. In order to better understand the ampR regulon, we compared the transcriptional profile generated using DNA microarrays of the prototypic P. aeruginosa PAO1 strain with its isogenic ampR deletion mutant, PAOΔampR. Transcriptome analysis demonstrates that the AmpR regulon is much more extensive than previously thought, with the deletion of ampR influencing the differential expression of over 500 genes. In addition to regulating resistance to β-lactam antibiotics via AmpC, AmpR also regulates non-β-lactam antibiotic resistance by modulating the MexEF-OprN efflux pump. Other virulence mechanisms including biofilm formation and QS-regulated acute virulence factors are AmpR-regulated. Real-time PCR and phenotypic assays confirmed the microarray data. Further, using a Caenorhabditis elegans model, we demonstrate that a functional AmpR is required for P. aeruginosa pathogenicity. AmpR, a member of the core genome, also regulates genes in the regions of genome plasticity that are acquired by horizontal gene transfer. Further, we show differential regulation of other transcriptional regulators and sigma factors by AmpR, accounting for the extensive AmpR regulon. The data demonstrates that AmpR functions as a global regulator in P. aeruginosa and is a positive regulator of acute virulence while negatively regulating biofilm formation, a chronic infection phenotype. Unraveling this complex regulatory circuit will provide a better understanding of the bacterial response to antibiotics and how the organism coordinately regulates a myriad of virulence factors in response to antibiotic exposure

Being an author

Digitalitzat per Artypla

Morphoea Profunda Presenting with Atrophic Skin Lesions in a 26 Year Old Female: A Case Report

Morphoea Profunda is a rare variant of Morphoea that presents clinically as a solitary fibrotic plaque. Morphoea Profunda presenting with atrophic lesions has rarely been reported in literature. We report the case of a 26 year old Nepalese lady who presented to us with multiple non-inflammatory atrophic lesions on her body without significant skin induration, pigmentation and texture change. The findings on histopathology confirmed a diagnosis of Morphoea Profunda. Hence, Morphoea Profunda should be considered in the differential diagnosis of anyone presenting with asymptomatic atrophy of the skin

Effects of Compton Cooling on the Hydrodynamic and the Spectral Properties of a Two Component Accretion Flow around a Black Hole

We carry out a time dependent numerical simulation where both the hydrodynamics and the radiative transfer are coupled together. We consider a two-component accretion flow in which the Keplerian disk is immersed inside an accreting low angular momentum flow (halo) around a black hole. The injected soft photons from the Keplerian disk are reprocessed by the electrons in the halo. We show that in presence of an axisymmetric soft-photon source, the spherically symmetric Bondi flow losses its symmetry and becomes axisymmetric. The low angular momentum flow was observed to slow down close to the axis and formed a centrifugal barrier which added new features into the spectrum. Using the Monte Carlo method, we generated the radiated spectra as functions of the accretion rates. We find that the transitions from a hard state to a soft state is determined by the mass accretion rates of the disk and the halo. We separate out the signature of the bulk motion Comptonization and discuss its significance. We study how the net spectrum is contributed by photons suffering different number of scatterings and spending different amounts of time inside the Compton cloud. We study the directional dependence of the emitted spectrum as well.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figures, Accepted for publication in MNRA

Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Highlights 2012-2013

This report represents the 35th annual edition of the Nebraska Farm Real Estate Market Developments series. It has continued to provide an important informational role regarding agricultural land market dynamics for the many stakeholders. As stated in the introduction of the first annual report: “The dynamics of the farm real estate market, particularly in recent years, suggests that accurate and complete information concerning this market is of great importance. From the standpoint of the public interest as well as that of individual participants, all land market decisions should be based upon a sound understanding of the current market situation.” 1 In today’s market, where market transactions exceeding a million dollars are the norm, objective market information and analysis is more critical than ever. The annual February 1st University of Nebraska-Lincoln Nebraska Farm Real Estate survey provides the foundation for that effort. This year, the February 2013 survey of over 100 expert-panel reporters from across the state provided current information and insight regarding the agricultural land market conditions in their areas. The panel members have been selected on the basis of being closely affiliated with agricultural land markets as certified agricultural appraisers, professional farm managers, agricultural lenders, etc. Moreover, the vast majority of panelists have reported annually for a number of years; which provides valuable historical consistency and context to the information provided. Based on their knowledge of market activity, reporters provide point-in-time estimates of current agricultural land values and cash rental rates for a variety of land types and classes. Comparing these current measures against previous year’s results provides important trend analysis over time. The historical UNL data series for Nebraska agricultural land values going back to 1978; the agricultural cash rental rate series back to 1981; and the USDA historical all-land value series are included in the appendix to this report. In addition to the point-in-time estimates, panel reporters provide details regarding actual sales transactions which have occurred over the previous 12 months. This year, our panel provided information on 520 sales that were considered representative of the recent agricultural land market. This gives important insight into the characteristics of recent sales as well as benchmark indicators for studying trends over time. Because the state is quite diverse in land resource characteristics and agricultural patterns, most of the market information is provided down to sub-state levels which are the Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Districts (See Figure 1). This provides greater geographically-appropriate detail that is not available from other data sources, such as quarterly value estimates from the Kansas City Federal Reserve and the Economic Research Service-USDA annual Farm Value and Cash Rent series for the state as a whole. But this is not to say that even sub-state levels of values and cash rents appropriately reflect the conditions of any local market in that geographic area. In fact, local differences in values and rents can be extreme. So, the information and analysis to follow here is a more realistic measure of general patterns and trends. Should one need information down to a specific parcel, we strongly recommend they seek out the services of a certified agricultural appraiser and/or a professional farm management firm

5-Aminoimidazole-4-Carboxamide-1-β-4-Ribofuranoside Inhibits Proinflammatory Response in Glial Cells: A Possible Role of AMP-Activated Protein Kinase

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is tightly regulated by the cellular AMP:ATP ratio and plays a central role in the regulation of energy homeostasis and metabolic stress. A pharmacological activator of AMPK, 5-amino-4-imidazole carboxamide riboside (AICAR) inhibited lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced expression of proinflammatory cytokines (tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin-1β, and interleukin-6) and inducible nitric oxide synthase in primary rat astrocytes, microglia, and peritoneal macrophages. AICAR attenuates the LPS-induced activation of nuclear factor κB via downregulation of IκB kinase α/β activity. It also inhibits nuclear translocation of CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP) transcription factor by inhibiting the expression of C/EBP-δ in brain glial cells. The dominant negative form of AMPKα2 (D157A) and its antisense documents a possible role of AMPK in the regulation of the cellular proinflammatory process. AICAR also inhibited the production of inflammatory mediators in serum and their expression in CNS of rats injected with a sublethal dose of LPS by intraperitoneal injection. These observations in cultured cells as well as in the animal model suggest that AICAR may be of therapeutic value in treating inflammatory diseases

Cardiovascular magnetic resonance in wet beriberi

The clinical presentation of beriberi can be quite varied. In the extreme form, profound cardiovascular involvement leads to circulatory collapse and death. This case report is of a 72 year-old male who was admitted to the Neurology inpatient ward with progressive bilateral lower extremity weakness and parasthesia. He subsequently developed pulmonary edema and high output cardiac failure requiring intubation and blood pressure support. With the constellation of peripheral neuropathy, encephalopathy, ophthalmoplegia, unexplained heart failure, and lactic acidosis, thiamine deficiency was suspected. He was empirically initiated on thiamine replacement therapy and his thiamine level pre-therapy was found to be 23 nmol/L (Normal: 80-150 nmol/L), consistent with the diagnosis of beriberi. Cardiovascular magnetic resonance (CMR) showed severe left ventricular systolic dysfunction, markedly increased myocardial T2, and minimal late gadolinium enhancement (LGE). After 5 days of daily 100 mg IV thiamine and supportive care, the hypotension resolved and the patient was extubated and was released from the hospital 3 weeks later. Our case shows via CMR profound myocardial edema associated with wet beriberi