3,990 research outputs found
Evidence of triggered star formation in G327.3-0.6. Dust-continuum mapping of an infrared dark cloud with P-ArT\'eMiS
Aims. Expanding HII regions and propagating shocks are common in the
environment of young high-mass star-forming complexes. They can compress a
pre-existing molecular cloud and trigger the formation of dense cores. We
investigate whether these phenomena can explain the formation of high-mass
protostars within an infrared dark cloud located at the position of G327.3-0.6
in the Galactic plane, in between two large infrared bubbles and two HII
regions. Methods: The region of G327.3-0.6 was imaged at 450 ? m with the CEA
P-ArT\'eMiS bolometer array on the Atacama Pathfinder EXperiment telescope in
Chile. APEX/LABOCA and APEX-2A, and Spitzer/IRAC and MIPS archives data were
used in this study. Results: Ten massive cores were detected in the P-ArT\'eMiS
image, embedded within the infrared dark cloud seen in absorption at both 8 and
24 ?m. Their luminosities and masses indicate that they form high-mass stars.
The kinematical study of the region suggests that the infrared bubbles expand
toward the infrared dark cloud. Conclusions: Under the influence of expanding
bubbles, star formation occurs in the infrared dark areas at the border of HII
regions and infrared bubbles.Comment: 4 page
Bivalirudin started during emergency transport for primary PCI.
BACKGROUND: Bivalirudin, as compared with heparin and glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors, has been shown to reduce rates of bleeding and death in patients undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Whether these benefits persist in contemporary practice characterized by prehospital initiation of treatment, optional use of glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors and novel P2Y12 inhibitors, and radial-artery PCI access use is unknown. METHODS: We randomly assigned 2218 patients with ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) who were being transported for primary PCI to receive either bivalirudin or unfractionated or low-molecular-weight heparin with optional glycoprotein IIb/IIIa inhibitors (control group). The primary outcome at 30 days was a composite of death or major bleeding not associated with coronary-artery bypass grafting (CABG), and the principal secondary outcome was a composite of death, reinfarction, or non-CABG major bleeding. RESULTS: Bivalirudin, as compared with the control intervention, reduced the risk of the primary outcome (5.1% vs. 8.5%; relative risk, 0.60; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.43 to 0.82; P=0.001) and the principal secondary outcome (6.6% vs. 9.2%; relative risk, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.96; P=0.02). Bivalirudin also reduced the risk of major bleeding (2.6% vs. 6.0%; relative risk, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.28 to 0.66; P<0.001). The risk of acute stent thrombosis was higher with bivalirudin (1.1% vs. 0.2%; relative risk, 6.11; 95% CI, 1.37 to 27.24; P=0.007). There was no significant difference in rates of death (2.9% vs. 3.1%) or reinfarction (1.7% vs. 0.9%). Results were consistent across subgroups of patients. CONCLUSIONS: Bivalirudin, started during transport for primary PCI, improved 30-day clinical outcomes with a reduction in major bleeding but with an increase in acute stent thrombosis. (Funded by the Medicines Company; EUROMAX ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT01087723.)
Bushfire smoke is pro-inflammatory and suppresses macrophage phagocytic function
Bushfires are increasing in frequency and severity worldwide. Bushfire smoke contains organic/inorganic compounds including aldehydes and acrolein. We described suppressive effects of tobacco smoke on the phagocytic capacity of airway macrophages, linked to secondary necrosis of uncleared apoptotic epithelial cells, persistence of non-typeable H. influenzae (NTHi), and inflammation. We hypothesised that bushfire smoke extract (BFSE) would similarly impair macrophage function. THP-1 or monocyte-derived macrophages (MDM) were exposed to 1-10% BFSE prepared from foliage of 5 common Australian native plants (genus Acacia or Eucalyptus), or 10% cigarette smoke extract (CSE). Phagocytic recognition receptors were measured by flow cytometry; pro-inflammatory cytokines and caspase 1 by immunofluorescence or cytometric bead array; viability by LDH assay; and capsase-3/PARP by western blot. BFSE significantly decreased phagocytosis of apoptotic cells or NTHi by both THP-1 macrophages and MDM vs air control, consistent with the effects of CSE. BFSE significantly decreased MDM expression of CD36, CD44, SR-A1, CD206 and TLR-2 and increased active IL-1ÎČ, caspase-1 and secreted IL-8. BFSE dose-dependently decreased THP-1 macrophage viability (5-fold increase in LDH at 10%) and significantly increased active caspase-3. BFSE impairs macrophage function to a similar extent as CSE, highlighting the need for further research, especially in patients with pre-existing lung disease.Rhys Hamon, Hai B. Tran, Eugene Roscioli, Miranda Ween, Hubertus Jersmann, Sandra Hodg
Silent cerebral infarct after cardiac catheterization as detected by diffusion weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging: a randomized comparison of radial and femoral arterial approaches
Background and objective: Cerebral microembolism detected by transcranial Doppler (TCD) occurs systematically
during cardiac catheterization, but its clinical relevance, remains unknown. Studies suggest that asymptomatic embolic
cerebral infarction detectable by diffusion-weighted (DW) MRI might exist after percutaneous cardiac interventions with
a frequency as high as 15 to 22% of cases. We have set up, for the first time, a prospective multicenter trial to assess the
rate of silent cerebral infarction after cardiac catheterization and to compare the impact of the arterial access site,
comparing radial and femoral access, on this phenomenon.
Study design: This prospective study will be performed in patients with severe aortic valve stenosis. To assess the
occurrence of cerebral infarction, all patients will undergo cerebral DW-MRI and neurological assessment within 24
hours before, and 48 hours after cardiac catheterization and retrograde catheterization of the aortic valve.
Randomization for the access site will be performed before coronary angiography. A subgroup will be monitored by
transcranial power M-mode Doppler during cardiac catheterization to observe cerebral blood flow and track emboli.
Neuropsychological tests will also be recorded in a subgroup of patients before and after the interventional procedures
to assess the impact of silent brain injury on potential cognitive decline. The primary end-point of the study is a direct
comparison of ischemic cerebral lesions as detected by serial cerebral DW-MRI between patients explored by radial
access and patients explored by femoral access. Secondary end-points include comparison of neuropsychological test
performance and number of microembolism signals observed in the two groups.
Implications: Using serial DW-MRI, silent cerebral infarction rate will be defined and the potential influence of vascular
access site will be evaluated. Silent cerebral infarction might be a major concern during cardiac catheterization and its
potential relationship to cognitive decline needs to be assessed.
Study registration: The SCIPION study is registered through National Institutes of Health-sponsored clinical trials
registry and has been assigned the Identifier: NCT 00329979
Interventional low-dose azithromycin attenuates cigarette smoke-induced emphysema and lung inflammation in mice
Cigarette smoke (CS)-induced emphysema is an important contributor to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We have shown the efficacy of azithromycin in reducing airway inflammation in COPD and in reducing exacerbations in severe asthma; however, the effects of long-term azithromycin on emphysema development have not been shown. We employed live animal imaging to monitor emphysema-like development and the effects of interventional azithromycin treatment in CS-exposed mice. BALB/c mice (female, 10 weeks; n = 10) were exposed to CS for 1 hr twice daily, 5 days/week, and for 12 weeks (CS). Half were cotreated with low-dose azithromycin during weeks 7-12 (CS + Azi; 0.2 mg kg-1  day-1 ). Microcomputed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans were acquired longitudinally. Histological examinations were performed post mortem (mean linear intercept (Lm) and leukocyte infiltration). CS increased median Lm (CS: 42.45 ”m versus control: 34.7 ”m; p = .0317), this was recovered in CS + Azi mice (33.03 ”m). Average CT values were reduced in CS mice (CS: -399.5 Hounsfield units (HU) versus control: -384.9 HU; p = .0286) but not in CS + Azi mice (-377.3 HU). CT values negatively correlated with Lm (r = -.7972; p = .0029) and T2 -weighted MRI (r = -.6434; p = .0278). MRI also showed significant CS-induced inflammatory changes that were attenuated by azithromycin in the lungs, and positively correlated with Lm (r = .7622; p = .0055) and inflammatory foci counts (r = .6503; p = .0257). Monitoring of emphysema development is possible via micro-CT and MRI. Interventional azithromycin treatment in CS-exposed mice attenuated the development of pulmonary emphysema-like changes.Matthew G. Macowan, Hong Liu, Miranda Ween, Rhys Hamon, Hai B. Tran
Sandra Hodge ... et al
The Australian and New Zealand experience of terrestrial ecological risk assessment and potential methods to address current limitations
Extended abstract.Michael Warne, Rebecca Hamon, Mike KcLaughlin, Kathryn O'Halloran, Helen Davies, Elvin Wong, John Chapman, Rai Kookana, Carine Saiso
Cross Sections for the Reactions e+e- --> K+ K- pi+pi-, K+ K- pi0pi0, and K+ K- K+ K- Measured Using Initial-State Radiation Events
We study the processes e+e- --> K+ K- pi+pi-gamma, K+ K- pi0pi0gamma, and K+
K- K+ K-gamma, where the photon is radiated from the initial state. About
84000, 8000, and 4200 fully reconstructed events, respectively, are selected
from 454 fb-1 of BaBar data. The invariant mass of the hadronic final state
defines the \epem center-of-mass energy, so that the K+ K- pi+pi- data can be
compared with direct measurements of the e+e- --> K+ K- pi+pi- reaction. No
direct measurements exist for the e+e- --> K+ K-pi0pi0 or e+e- --> K+ K-K+ K-
reactions, and we present an update of our previous result with doubled
statistics. Studying the structure of these events, we find contributions from
a number of intermediate states, and extract their cross sections. In
particular, we perform a more detailed study of the e+e- --> phi(1020)pipigamma
reaction, and confirm the presence of the Y(2175) resonance in the phi(1020)
f0(980) and K+K-f0(980) modes. In the charmonium region, we observe the J/psi
in all three final states and in several intermediate states, as well as the
psi(2S) in some modes, and measure the corresponding product of branching
fraction and electron width.Comment: 35 pages, 42 figure
Study of Upsilon(3S,2S) -> eta Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(3S,2S) -> pi+pi- Upsilon(1S) hadronic trasitions
We study the Upsilon(3S,2S)->eta Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(3S,2S)->pi+pi-
Upsilon(1S) transitions with 122 million Upsilon(3S) and 100 million
Upsilon(2S) mesons collected by the BaBar detector at the PEP-II asymmetric
energy e+e- collider. We measure B[Upsilon(2S)->eta
Upsilon(1S)]=(2.39+/-0.31(stat.)+/-0.14(syst.))10^-4 and Gamma[Upsilon(2S)->eta
Upsilon(1S)]/Gamma[Upsilon(2S)-> pi+pi-
Upsilon(1S)]=(1.35+/-0.17(stat.)+/-0.08(syst.))10^-3. We find no evidence for
Upsilon(3S)->eta Upsilon(1S) and obtain B[Upsilon(3S)->eta Upsilon(1S)]<1.0
10^-4 and Gamma[Upsilon(3S)->eta Upsilon(1S)]/Gamma[Upsilon(3S)->pi+pi-
Upsilon(1S)]<2.3 10^-3 as upper limits at the 90% confidence level. We also
provide improved measurements of the Upsilon(2S) - Upsilon(1S) and Upsilon(3S)
- Upsilon(1S) mass differences, 562.170+/-0.007(stat.)+/-0.088(syst.) MeV/c^2
and 893.813+/-0.015(stat.)+/-0.107(syst.) MeV/c^2 respectively.Comment: 8 pages, 16 encapsulated postscript figures, submitted to Phys.Rev.
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Measurement of B(B-->X_s {\gamma}), the B-->X_s {\gamma} photon energy spectrum, and the direct CP asymmetry in B-->X_{s+d} {\gamma} decays
The photon spectrum in B --> X_s {\gamma} decay, where X_s is any strange
hadronic state, is studied using a data sample of (382.8\pm 4.2) \times 10^6
e^+ e^- --> \Upsilon(4S) --> BBbar events collected by the BABAR experiment at
the PEP-II collider. The spectrum is used to measure the branching fraction B(B
--> X_s \gamma) = (3.21 \pm 0.15 \pm 0.29 \pm 0.08)\times 10^{-4} and the
first, second, and third moments = 2.267 \pm 0.019 \pm 0.032 \pm
0.003 GeV,, )^2> = 0.0484 \pm 0.0053 \pm 0.0077 \pm
0.0005 GeV^2, and )^3> = -0.0048 \pm 0.0011 \pm 0.0011
\pm 0.0004 GeV^3, for the range E_\gamma > 1.8 GeV, where E_{\gamma} is the
photon energy in the B-meson rest frame. Results are also presented for
narrower E_{\gamma} ranges. In addition, the direct CP asymmetry A_{CP}(B -->
X_{s+d} \gamma) is measured to be 0.057 \pm 0.063. The spectrum itself is also
unfolded to the B-meson rest frame; that is the frame in which theoretical
predictions for its shape are made.Comment: 37 pages, 19 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. D. No
analysis or results have changed from previous version. Some changes to
improve clarity based on interactions with Phys. Rev. D referees, including
one new Figure (Fig. 13), and some minor wording/punctuation/spelling
mistakes fixe
Measurement of CP Asymmetries and Branching Fractions in Charmless Two-Body B-Meson Decays to Pions and Kaons
We present improved measurements of CP-violation parameters in the decays
, , and , and of
the branching fractions for and . The
results are obtained with the full data set collected at the
resonance by the BABAR experiment at the PEP-II asymmetric-energy factory
at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, corresponding to
million pairs. We find the CP-violation parameter values and
branching fractions where in each case, the first uncertainties are statistical
and the second are systematic. We observe CP violation with a significance of
6.7 standard deviations for and 6.1 standard deviations for
, including systematic uncertainties. Constraints on the
Unitarity Triangle angle are determined from the isospin relations
among the rates and asymmetries. Considering only the solution
preferred by the Standard Model, we find to be in the range
at the 68% confidence level.Comment: 18 pages, 11 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.
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