305 research outputs found
Herschel observations of embedded protostellar clusters in the Rosette molecular cloud
The Herschel OB young stellar objects survey (HOBYS) has observed the Rosette molecular cloud, providing an unprecedented view of its star formation activity. These new far-infrared data reveal a population of compact young stellar objects whose physical properties we aim to characterise. We compiled a sample of protostars and their spectral energy distributions that covers the near-infrared to submillimetre wavelength range. These were used to constrain key properties in the protostellar evolution, bolometric luminosity, and envelope mass and to build an evolutionary diagram. Several clusters are distinguished including the cloud centre, the embedded clusters in the vicinity of luminous infrared sources, and the interaction region. The analysed protostellar population in Rosette ranges from 0.1 to about 15âM_â with luminosities between 1 and 150âL_â, which extends the evolutionary diagram from low-mass protostars into the high-mass regime. Some sources lack counterparts at near- to mid-infrared wavelengths, indicating extreme youth. The central cluster and the Phelps & Lada 7 cluster appear less evolved than the remainder of the analysed protostellar population. For the central cluster, we find indications that about 25% of the protostars classified as ClassâI from near- to mid-infrared data are actually candidate Classâ0 objects. As a showcase for protostellar evolution, we analysed four protostars of low- to intermediate-mass in a single dense core, and they represent different evolutionary stages from Classâ0 to ClassâI. Their mid- to far-infrared spectral slopes flatten towards the ClassâI stage, and the 160 to 70âÎŒm flux ratio is greatest for the presumed Classâ0 source. This shows that the Herschel observations characterise the earliest stages of protostellar evolution in detail
Generation of wheat gluten hydrolysates with dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory properties
peer-reviewedWheat gluten, a Pro-rich dietary protein, was investigated for its potential to produce dipeptidyl peptidase IV (DPP-IV) inhibitory peptides during enzymatic hydrolysis with Debitrase HYW20. Nine gluten hydrolysates (H1âH9) were generated using a 2 factor Ă 3 level design of experiments (DOE) including the incubation temperature (40, 50 and 60 °C) and the enzyme: substrate ratio (E:S, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% (w/w)). Their DPP-IV half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) ranged from 0.24 ± 0.02 (H9) to 0.66 ± 0.06 mg mLâ1 (H2A and H7) and their degree of hydrolysis (DH) from 31.7 ± 0.9 (H7) to 62.2 ± 3.0% (H6). Gluten and H9, the most potent DPP-IV inhibitory hydrolysate, were subjected to simulated gastrointestinal digestion (SGID), yielding Gluten_CorPP and H9_CorPP, respectively. H9_CorPP had a higher DPP-IV inhibitory potency than Gluten_CorPP (i.e., DPP-IV IC50 values of 0.33 ± 0.03 vs. 1.45 ± 0.26 mg mLâ1, respectively). H9 and H9_CorPP both contained relatively potent DPP-IV inhibitory peptides such as Val-Pro-Leu, Trp-Leu and Trp-Pro which were identified by liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). In addition, several sequences possessing features of DPP-IV inhibitory peptides, mostly consisting of a penultimate or C-terminal Pro, were identified within H9. The presence of Pro-containing peptides within H9 may contribute to its stability to digestive enzymes. Gluten hydrolysates may have antidiabetic potential for human
Forensic, legal, and clinical aspects of deaths associated with implanted cardiac devices
As the population ages, the prevalence of heart failure and individuals wearing an
implanted cardiac device is increasing. The combination of different underlying
pathophysiologies and (the combination of) implanted cardiac devices can
become a challenge with regard to the determination of cause and manner of
death in such individuals. Additionally, heart disease is frequently associated with
mental disease, ranging from anxiety and depression to suicidality and suicide
(attempts). At the same time, the correct diagnosis of cause and manner of death
is the basis for quality assurance, further therapeutic advances, legal safety, and
suicide prevention. By that, an interdisciplinary field between legal medicine,
clinicians, and law enforcement opens up. In this field, the different participants
can simultaneously benefit from and need each other. For example, legal medicine
experts need investigatory results and clinical expertise for the interpretation of
readout data of implanted cardiac devices in order to correctly determine the
cause of death. A correctly determined cause of death can assist law enforcement
and help clinicians to further improve various therapeutic approaches based on
correct mortality data collection. In addition, it is the basis for identification of
suicides of device carriers, allowing psychological and psychiatric experts to
better understand the burden of mental disease in this particular cohort. Against
this interdisciplinary background, this manuscript summarizes information about
psychiatric comorbidities and suicidality while being on a device. Thereby, basic
information on complications and malfunctions of implanted cardiac devices,
device-associated deaths with particular emphasis on device manipulation is
displayed as basic information needed for correct determination of the cause
of death. Also, legal and ethical issues in this field are outlined. The final result is
a proposal of an interdisciplinary assessment workflow for a conjoint approach
to improve the diagnosis of deaths associated with implanted cardiac devices. It
will allow for a differentiation between an individual who died with or due to the
device
World citation and collaboration networks: uncovering the role of geography in science
Modern information and communication technologies, especially the Internet,
have diminished the role of spatial distances and territorial boundaries on the
access and transmissibility of information. This has enabled scientists for
closer collaboration and internationalization. Nevertheless, geography remains
an important factor affecting the dynamics of science. Here we present a
systematic analysis of citation and collaboration networks between cities and
countries, by assigning papers to the geographic locations of their authors'
affiliations. The citation flows as well as the collaboration strengths between
cities decrease with the distance between them and follow gravity laws. In
addition, the total research impact of a country grows linearly with the amount
of national funding for research & development. However, the average impact
reveals a peculiar threshold effect: the scientific output of a country may
reach an impact larger than the world average only if the country invests more
than about 100,000 USD per researcher annually.Comment: Published version. 9 pages, 5 figures + Appendix, The world citation
and collaboration networks at both city and country level are available at
http://becs.aalto.fi/~rajkp/datasets.htm
Herschel observations of embedded protostellar clusters in the Rosette Molecular Cloud
The Herschel OB young stellar objects survey (HOBYS) has observed the Rosette
molecular cloud, providing an unprecedented view of its star formation
activity. These new far-infrared data reveal a population of compact young
stellar objects whose physical properties we aim to characterise. We compiled a
sample of protostars and their spectral energy distributions that covers the
near-infrared to submillimetre wavelength range. These were used to constrain
key properties in the protostellar evolution, bolometric luminosity, and
envelope mass and to build an evolutionary diagram. Several clusters are
distinguished including the cloud centre, the embedded clusters in the vicinity
of luminous infrared sources, and the interaction region. The analysed
protostellar population in Rosette ranges from 0.1 to about 15 Msun with
luminosities between 1 and 150 Lsun, which extends the evolutionary diagram
from low-mass protostars into the high-mass regime. Some sources lack
counterparts at near- to mid-infrared wavelengths, indicating extreme youth.
The central cluster and the Phelps & Lada 7 cluster appear less evolved than
the remainder of the analysed protostellar population. For the central cluster,
we find indications that about 25% of the protostars classified as Class I from
near- to mid-infrared data are actually candidate Class 0 objects. As a
showcase for protostellar evolution, we analysed four protostars of low- to
intermediate-mass in a single dense core, and they represent different
evolutionary stages from Class 0 to Class I. Their mid- to far-infrared
spectral slopes flatten towards the Class I stage, and the 160 to 70um flux
ratio is greatest for the presumed Class 0 source. This shows that the Herschel
observations characterise the earliest stages of protostellar evolution in
detail.Comment: Astronomy & Astrophysics letter, 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for
publication in the Special Issue for Herschel first result
The receptor tyrosine kinase RON and its isoforms as therapeutic targets in Ewing sarcoma
Animal science
Phase II Study of Cetuximab in Combination with Docetaxel in Patients with Recurrent and/or Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck after Platinum-Containing Therapy: A Multicenter Study of the Arbeitsgemeinschaft Internistische Onkologie
Background: Cetuximab and docetaxel have single-agent activity in squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). The efficacy of their combination was evaluated in platinum-pretreated patients with recurrent and/or metastatic SCCHN. Patients and Methods: A total of 84 patients were treated with docetaxel 35 mg/m2 weekly for a maximum of 6 cycles and concomitant cetuximab 250 mg/m2 weekly until disease progression or unacceptable toxicity. The primary endpoint was the objective response rate and secondary endpoints included the response rate in relation to platinum sensitivity, progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS) and toxicity. Results: Nine (11%) patients achieved a partial response and 34 (40%) stable disease, resulting in a disease control rate of 51%. Response to treatment was 49% in previously platinum-sensitive and 50% in previously platinum-resistant disease. The median PFS was 3.1 months and the median OS 6.7 months. The most common grade 3 or 4 adverse events were mucositis (8%), pneumonia (8%), fatigue (8%) and skin reactions (14%). Sepsis occurred in 3 patients. Conclusion: Cetuximab plus docetaxel is an active treatment regimen with moderate toxicity in SCCHN patients. However, no superiority in comparison with monotherapy could be shown. Responsiveness and survival were independent of previous platinum sensitivity
Forensic, legal, and clinical aspects of deaths associated with implanted cardiac devices
As the population ages, the prevalence of heart failure and individuals wearing an implanted cardiac device is increasing. The combination of different underlying pathophysiologies and (the combination of) implanted cardiac devices can become a challenge with regard to the determination of cause and manner of death in such individuals. Additionally, heart disease is frequently associated with mental disease, ranging from anxiety and depression to suicidality and suicide (attempts). At the same time, the correct diagnosis of cause and manner of death is the basis for quality assurance, further therapeutic advances, legal safety, and suicide prevention. By that, an interdisciplinary field between legal medicine, clinicians, and law enforcement opens up. In this field, the different participants can simultaneously benefit from and need each other. For example, legal medicine experts need investigatory results and clinical expertise for the interpretation of readout data of implanted cardiac devices in order to correctly determine the cause of death. A correctly determined cause of death can assist law enforcement and help clinicians to further improve various therapeutic approaches based on correct mortality data collection. In addition, it is the basis for identification of suicides of device carriers, allowing psychological and psychiatric experts to better understand the burden of mental disease in this particular cohort. Against this interdisciplinary background, this manuscript summarizes information about psychiatric comorbidities and suicidality while being on a device. Thereby, basic information on complications and malfunctions of implanted cardiac devices, device-associated deaths with particular emphasis on device manipulation is displayed as basic information needed for correct determination of the cause of death. Also, legal and ethical issues in this field are outlined. The final result is a proposal of an interdisciplinary assessment workflow for a conjoint approach to improve the diagnosis of deaths associated with implanted cardiac devices. It will allow for a differentiation between an individual who died with or due to the device
Granulocyte-colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) for stroke: an individual patient data meta-analysis
Granulocyte colony stimulating factor (G-CSF) may enhance recovery from stroke through neuroprotective mechanisms if administered early, or neurorepair if given later. Several small trials suggest administration is safe but effects on efficacy are unclear. We searched for randomised controlled trials (RCT) assessing G-CSF in patients with hyperacute, acute, subacute or chronic stroke, and asked Investigators to share individual patient data on baseline characteristics, stroke severity and type, end-of trial modified Rankin Scale (mRS), Barthel Index, haematological parameters, serious adverse events and death. Multiple variable analyses were adjusted for age, sex, baseline severity and time-to-treatment. Individual patient data were obtained for 6 of 10 RCTs comprising 196 stroke patients (116 G-CSF, 80 placebo), mean age 67.1 (SD 12.9), 92% ischaemic, median NIHSS 10 (IQR 5-15), randomised 11 days (interquartile range IQR 4-238) post ictus; data from three commercial trials were not shared. G-CSF did not improve mRS (ordinal regression), odds ratio OR 1.12 (95% confidence interval 0.64 to 1.96, p=0.62). There were more patients with a serious adverse event in the G-CSF group (29.6% versus 7.5%, p=0.07) with no significant difference in all-cause mortality (G-CSF 11.2%, placebo 7.6%, p=0.4). Overall, G-CSF did not improve stroke outcome in this individual patient data meta-analysis
Relação entre os nĂveis de aflatoxina detectados em fĂgados e valores de AST e CK nos sorsos de frangos de corte
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