The Contribution of Blazars to the Extragalactic Diffuse Gamma-ray Background and Their Future Spatial Resolution

We examine the constraints on the luminosity-dependent density evolution model for the evolution of blazars given the observed spectrum of the diffuse gamma-ray background (DGRB), blazar source-count distribution, and the blazar spectral energy distribution sequence model, which relates the observed the blazar spectrum to its luminosity. We show that the DGRB observed by the Large Area Telescope (LAT) aboard the Fermi Gamma Ray Space Telescope can be produced entirely by gamma-ray emission from blazars and nonblazar active galactic nuclei, and that our blazar evolution model is consistent with and constrained by the spectrum of the DGRB and flux source-count distribution function of blazars observed by Fermi-LAT. Our results are consistent with previous work that used EGRET spectral data to forecast the Fermi-LAT DGRB. The model includes only three free parameters, and forecasts that >~ 95% of the flux from blazars will be resolved into point sources by Fermi-LAT with 5 years of observation, with a corresponding reduction of the flux in the DGRB by a factor of ~2 to 3 (95% confidence level), which has implications for the Fermi-LAT's sensitivity to dark matter annihilation photons.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures; v3: minor changes, matches version to appear in Phys. Rev.

The Burrell-Optical-Kepler-Survey (BOKS). I. Survey Description and Initial Results

We present the initial results of a 40 night contiguous ground-based campaign of time series photometric observations of a 1.39 deg^2 field located within the NASA Kepler Mission field of view. The goal of this pre-launch survey was to search for transiting extrasolar planets and to provide independent variability information of stellar sources. We have gathered a data set containing light curves of 54,687 stars from which we have created a statistical sub-sample of 13,786 stars between 14 < r < 18.5 and have statistically examined each light curve to test for variability. We present a summary of our preliminary photometric findings including the overall level and content of stellar variability in this portion of the Kepler field and give some examples of unusual variable stars found within. We present a preliminary catalog of 2,457 candidate variable stars, of which 776 show signs of periodicity. We also present three potential exoplanet candidates, all of which should be observable by the Kepler mission

3D printed fluidics with embedded analytic functionality for automated reaction optimisation

Additive manufacturing or ‘3D printing’ is being developed as a novel manufacturing process for the production of bespoke micro- and milliscale fluidic devices. When coupled with online monitoring and optimisation software, this offers an advanced, customised method for performing automated chemical synthesis. This paper reports the use of two additive manufacturing processes, stereolithography and selective laser melting, to create multifunctional fluidic devices with embedded reaction monitoring capability. The selectively laser melted parts are the first published examples of multifunctional 3D printed metal fluidic devices. These devices allow high temperature and pressure chemistry to be performed in solvent systems destructive to the majority of devices manufactured via stereolithography, polymer jetting and fused deposition modelling processes previously utilised for this application. These devices were integrated with commercially available flow chemistry, chromatographic and spectroscopic analysis equipment, allowing automated online and inline optimisation of the reaction medium. This set-up allowed the optimisation of two reactions, a ketone functional group interconversion and a fused polycyclic heterocycle formation, via spectroscopic and chromatographic analysis

An Early Beaker funerary monument at Porton Down, Wiltshire

Excavation of an Early Beaker-Early Bronze Age funerary monument at Porton Down revealed an unusually complex burial sequence of 12 individuals, spanning four centuries, including eight neonates or infants and only one probable male, surrounded by a segmented ring-ditch. In the centre was a large grave which contained the disturbed remains of an adult female, accompanied by a Beaker, which had probably been placed within a timber chamber and later ‘revisited’ on one or more occasions. This primary burial and an antler pick from the base of the ring-ditch provided identical Early Beaker radiocarbon dates. Two burials were accompanied by a Food Vessel and a miniature Collared Urn respectively, others were unaccompanied, and there was a single and a double cremation burial, both within inverted Collared Urns. A C-shaped enclosure nearby may have been contemporary with the funerary monument, but its date and function are uncertain. Other features included an Early Neolithic pit which contained a significant assemblage of worked flint, and several Middle Bronze Age ditches and a Late Bronze Age ‘Wessex Linear’ ditch that reflect later prehistoric land divisions probably related to stock control

A rational roadmap for SARS-CoV-2/COVID-19 pharmacotherapeutic research and development: IUPHAR Review 29.

In this review, we identify opportunities for drug discovery in the treatment of COVID-19 and, in so doing, provide a rational roadmap whereby pharmacology and pharmacologists can mitigate against the global pandemic. We assess the scope for targeting key host and viral targets in the mid-term, by first screening these targets against drugs already licensed, an agenda for drug repurposing, which should allow rapid translation to clinical trials. A simultaneous, multi-pronged approach using conventional drug discovery methods aimed at discovering novel chemical and biological means of targeting a short list of host and viral entities which should extend the arsenal of anti-SARS-CoV-2 agents. This longer term strategy would provide a deeper pool of drug choices for future-proofing against acquired drug resistance. Second, there will be further viral threats, which will inevitably evade existing vaccines. This will require a coherent therapeutic strategy which pharmacology and pharmacologists are best placed to provide. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue on The Pharmacology of COVID-19. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.21/issuetoc.Welcome Trust 107715/Z/15/

Cancer-Related Fatigue in Head and Neck Cancer Survivors: Longitudinal Findings from the Head and Neck 5000 Prospective Clinical Cohort.

Cancer-related fatigue (CRF) is a common side-effect of cancer and its treatments. For head and neck cancer (HNC), CRF may exacerbate the symptom burden and poor quality-of-life. Using data from the Head and Neck 5000 prospective clinical cohort, we investigated clinically important CRF over a year post-diagnosis, assessing temporal trends, CRF by HNC site and treatment received, and subgroups at higher risk of CRF. Recruitment was undertaken in 2011-2014. Socio-demographic and clinical data, and patient-reported CRF (EORTC QLQ-C30 fatigue subscale score ≥39 of a possible 100) were collected at baseline (pre-treatment) and 4- and 12- months post-baseline. Mixed-effects logistic multivariable regression was used to investigate time trends, compare cancer sites and treatment groups, and identify associations between clinical, socio-demographic and lifestyle variables and CRF. At baseline, 27.8% of 2847 patients scored in the range for clinically important CRF. This was 44.7% at 4 months and 29.6% at 12 months. In the multivariable model, after adjusting for time-point, the odds of having CRF over 12 months were significantly increased in females and current smokers; those with stage 3/4 disease, comorbidities and multimodal treatment; and those who had depression at baseline. The high prevalence of clinically important CRF indicates the need for additional interventions and supports for affected HNC patients. These findings also identified patient subgroups towards whom such interventions could be targeted

SDSS Standard Star Catalog for Stripe 82: the Dawn of Industrial 1% Optical Photometry

We describe a standard star catalog constructed using multiple SDSS photometric observations (at least four per band, with a median of ten) in the $ugriz$ system. The catalog includes 1.01 million non-variable unresolved objects from the equatorial stripe 82 ($|\delta_{J2000}|<$ 1.266$^\circ$) in the RA range 20h 34m to 4h 00m, and with the corresponding $r$ band (approximately Johnson V band) magnitudes in the range 14--22. The distributions of measurements for individual sources demonstrate that the photometric pipeline correctly estimates random photometric errors, which are below 0.01 mag for stars brighter than (19.5, 20.5, 20.5, 20, 18.5) in $ugriz$, respectively (about twice as good as for individual SDSS runs). Several independent tests of the internal consistency suggest that the spatial variation of photometric zeropoints is not larger than $\sim$0.01 mag (rms). In addition to being the largest available dataset with optical photometry internally consistent at the $\sim$1% level, this catalog provides practical definition of the SDSS photometric system. Using this catalog, we show that photometric zeropoints for SDSS observing runs can be calibrated within nominal uncertainty of 2% even for data obtained through 1 mag thick clouds, and demonstrate the existence of He and H white dwarf sequences using photometric data alone. Based on the properties of this catalog, we conclude that upcoming large-scale optical surveys such as the Large Synoptic Survey Telescope will be capable of delivering robust 1% photometry for billions of sources.Comment: 63 pages, 24 figures, submitted to AJ, version with correct figures and catalog available from http://www.astro.washington.edu/ivezic/sdss/catalogs/stripe82.htm

Angiotensin-converting enzyme genotype and late respiratory complications of mustard gas exposure

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Exposure to mustard gas frequently results in long-term respiratory complications. However the factors which drive the development and progression of these complications remain unclear. The Renin Angiotensin System (RAS) has been implicated in lung inflammatory and fibrotic responses. Genetic variation within the gene coding for the Angiotensin Converting Enzyme (ACE), specifically the Insertion/Deletion polymorphism (I/D), is associated with variable levels of ACE and with the severity of several acute and chronic respiratory diseases. We hypothesized that the ACE genotype might influence the severity of late respiratory complications of mustard gas exposure.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>208 Kurdish patients who had suffered high exposure to mustard gas, as defined by cutaneous lesions at initial assessment, in Sardasht, Iran on June 29 1987, underwent clinical examination, spirometric evaluation and ACE Insertion/Deletion genotyping in September 2005.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>ACE genotype was determined in 207 subjects. As a continuous variable, FEV₁% predicted tended to be higher in association with the D allele 68.03 ± 20.5%, 69.4 ± 21.4% and 74.8 ± 20.1% for II, ID and DD genotypes respectively. Median FEV₁% predicted was 73 and this was taken as a cut off between groups defined as having better or worse lung function. The ACE DD genotype was overrepresented in the better spirometry group (Chi²4.9 p = 0.03). Increasing age at the time of exposure was associated with reduced FEV₁%predicted (p = 0.001), whereas gender was not (p = 0.43).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The ACE D allele is associated with higher FEV₁% predicted when assessed 18 years after high exposure to mustard gas.</p