Smart Fly

SLOWLY and carefully I studied the signature sprawling lazily across the bottom of the page in grandiose style, so typical of Latin penmanship. Brushing aside an inquisitive fly, I reread the note and pondered at length upon its awkward phrasing. Yes, I said, at last addressing the buzzing marauder, :\u27Carlos is licking his wounds, all right. It was all between the lines, his strained gaiety, a vain attempt to disguise the frustration, the bitter disappointment that was gnawing at his heart. Of course, the question that persisted in bothering me was whether his simple melancholy was justifiable. From the sidelines it appeared that congratulations, rather than condolences, were in order for my friend, Carlos

Increase of plasma erythroferrone levels during high-altitude exposure: A sub-analysis of the TOP OF HOMe study

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Plasma biomarkers outperform echocardiographic measurements for cardiovascular risk prediction in kidney transplant recipients: results of the HOME ALONE study

Background Since kidney transplant recipients (KTRs) have a high cardiovascular disease burden, adequate risk prediction is of importance. Whether echocardiographic parameters and plasma biomarkers, natriuretic peptides [N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP)] and troponin T provide complementary or overlapping prognostic information on cardiovascular events remains uncertain. Methods The prospective Heterogeneity of Monocytes and Echocardiography Among Allograft Recipients in Nephrology (HOME ALONE) study followed 177 KTRs for 5.4 ± 1.7 years. Predefined endpoints were hospitalization for acute decompensated heart failure or all-cause death (HF/D) and major atherosclerotic cardiovascular events or all-cause death (MACE/D). At baseline, plasma NT-proBNP, plasma troponin T and echocardiographic parameters [left atrial volume index, left ventricular (LV) mass index, LV ejection fraction, and LV filling pressure] were assessed. Results Among all echocardiographic and plasma biomarkers measured, only NT-proBNP was consistently associated with HF/D in univariate and multivariate {third versus first tertile: hazard ratio [HR] 4.20 [95% confidence interval (CI) 1.02–17.27]} analysis, and only troponin T was consistently associated with MACE/D in univariate and multivariate [third versus first tertile: HR 8.15 (95% CI 2.75–24.18)] analysis. Conclusion Our data suggest that plasma biomarkers are robust and independent predictors of heart failure and atherosclerotic cardiovascular events after kidney transplantation, whereas standard echocardiographic follow-up does not add to risk prediction

Markers of cholesterol synthesis to cholesterol absorption across the spectrum of non-dialysis CKD: An observational study

In dialysis patients, cholesterol-lowering therapy with statins is less effective than in other high-risk patients. This may be explained by a shift from cholesterol synthesis toward cholesterol absorption. In line, markers of cholesterol absorption-such as campesterol-better predict atherosclerotic cardiovascular events than markers of cholesterol synthesis-such as lathosterol-in dialysis patients. To test the association between markers of cholesterol absorption such as campesterol-and markers of cholesterol synthesis-such as lathosterol-against cardiovascular events in non-dialysis CKD patients. Altogether 251 patients those not on lipid-lowering agents were followed annually for the composite endpoint atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) and all-cause death. During follow-up of 5.2 ± 2.1 years, 61 participants reached the primary endpoint atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease/all-cause death [ASCVD/D], 47 participants suffered from ASCVD, and 46 participants died. In univariate Cox regression analysis, campesterol/lathosterol ratio did not significantly predict ASCVD/D (HR 0.643; 0.358-1.155; 3rd vs. 1st tertile), all-cause death (HR 1.309; 0.604-2.838; 3rd vs. 1st tertile) nor ASCVD (HR 0.589; 0.311-1.118; 3rd vs. 1st tertile). We did not observe a shift from cholesterol synthesis to cholesterol absorption across the spectrum of non-dialysis CKD. Campesterol/lathosterol ratio did not predict future ASCVD or all-cause death in non-dialysis CKD

Safe, Affordable, Nuclear Thermal Propulsion Systems

The fundamental capability of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) is game changing for space exploration. A first generation Nuclear Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (NCPS) based on NTP could provide high thrust at a specific impulse above 900 s, roughly double that of state of the art chemical engines. Characteristics of fission and NTP indicate that useful first generation systems will provide a foundation for future systems with extremely high performance. The role of the NCPS in the development of advanced nuclear propulsion systems could be analogous to the role of the DC-3 in the development of advanced aviation. Progress made under the NCPS project could help enable both advanced NTP and advanced Nuclear Electric Propulsion (NEP)

The SKA Particle Array Prototype: The First Particle Detector at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory

We report on the design, deployment, and first results from a scintillation detector deployed at the Murchison Radio-astronomy Observatory (MRO). The detector is a prototype for a larger array -- the Square Kilometre Array Particle Array (SKAPA) -- planned to allow the radio-detection of cosmic rays with the Murchison Widefield Array and the low-frequency component of the Square Kilometre Array. The prototype design has been driven by stringent limits on radio emissions at the MRO, and to ensure survivability in a desert environment. Using data taken from Nov.\ 2018 to Feb.\ 2019, we characterize the detector response while accounting for the effects of temperature fluctuations, and calibrate the sensitivity of the prototype detector to through-going muons. This verifies the feasibility of cosmic ray detection at the MRO. We then estimate the required parameters of a planned array of eight such detectors to be used to trigger radio observations by the Murchison Widefield Array.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, 3 table

Nuclear Cryogenic Propulsion Stage

The fundamental capability of Nuclear Thermal Propulsion (NTP) is game changing for space exploration. A first generation Nuclear Cryogenic Propulsion Stage (NCPS) based on NTP could provide high thrust at a specific impulse above 900 s, roughly double that of state of the art chemical engines. Characteristics of fission and NTP indicate that useful first generation systems will provide a foundation for future systems with extremely high performance. The role of the NCPS in the development of advanced nuclear propulsion systems could be analogous to the role of the DC-3 in the development of advanced aviation. Progress made under the NCPS project could help enable both advanced NTP and advanced NEP

Experimental evidence of genome-wide impact of ecological selection during early stages of speciation-with-gene-flow

Theory predicts that speciation-with-gene-flow is more likely when the consequences of selection for population divergence transitions from mainly direct effects of selection acting on individual genes to a collective property of all selected genes in the genome. Thus, understanding the direct impacts of ecologically based selection, as well as the indirect effects due to correlations among loci, is critical to understanding speciation. Here, we measure the genome-wide impacts of host-associated selection between hawthorn and apple host races of Rhagoletis pomonella (Diptera: Tephritidae), a model for contemporary speciation-with-gene-flow. Allele frequency shifts of 32 455 SNPs induced in a selection experiment based on host phenology were genome wide and highly concordant with genetic divergence between co-occurring apple and hawthorn flies in nature. This striking genome-wide similarity between experimental and natural populations of R. pomonella underscores the importance of ecological selection at early stages of divergence and calls for further integration of studies of eco-evolutionary dynamics and genome divergence