1,545 research outputs found
On the kinematics of the Local cosmic void
We collected the existing data on the distances and radial velocities of
galaxies around the Local Void in the Aquila/Hercules to examine the peculiar
velocity field induced by its underdensity. A sample of 1056 galaxies with
distances measured from the Tip of the Red Giant Branch, the Cepheid
luminosity, the SNIa luminosity, the surface brightness fluctuation method, and
the Tully-Fisher relation has been used for this purpose. The amplitude of
outflow is found to be ~300 km/s. The galaxies located within the void produce
the mean intra-void number density about 1/5 of the mean external number
density of galaxies. The void's population has a lower luminosity and a later
morphological type with the medians: M_B = -15.7^m and T = 8 (Sdm),
respectively.Comment: Version 1. 14 pages, 8 figures, 2 tables. Accepted to Astrophysics,
Volume 54, Issue
The lived experience of women living with HIV regarding intimate relationship power and reproductive decision-making
The purpose of this research study was to understand the truths and the realities of women living with HIV (WLWH) regarding their intimate relationship power and reproductive decision-making. To meet the objective of this research study, the nurse researcher used the philosophical underpinnings of Husserl’s phenomenology to guide this qualitative descriptive phenomenological study. Nine WLWH from two urban cities in North Carolina were interviewed, face-to-face, for the study. The interviews were transcribed and then analyzed using the Listening Guide, a voice-centered relational method. Data analysis yielded three thematic categories: The three themes revealed are as follows: (a) I have my tribe, (b) I have the power, and (c) I am positive, but I am normal, and I am informed. These WLWH had influential sources of support and were capable of disclosing their HIV status to their significant others, therefore demonstrating personal power. This feeling of power lead to favorable intimate relationship power dynamics between the women and their partners which had a positive impact on sexual and reproductive decision-making. The study findings have implications for nursing practice and provide direction for future needed research
Understanding extreme sea levels for broad-scale coastal impact and adaptation analysis
One of the main consequences of mean sea level rise (SLR) on human settlements is an increase in flood risk due to an increase in the intensity and frequency of extreme sea levels (ESL). While substantial research efforts are directed towards quantifying projections and uncertainties of future global and regional SLR, corresponding uncertainties in contemporary ESL have not been assessed and projections are limited. Here we quantify, for the first time at global scale, the uncertainties in present-day ESL estimates, which have by default been ignored in broad-scale sea-level rise impact assessments to date. ESL uncertainties exceed those from global SLR projections and, assuming that we meet the Paris agreement goals, the projected SLR itself by the end of the century in many regions. Both uncertainties in SLR projections and ESL estimates need to be understood and combined to fully assess potential impacts and adaptation needs
Ecological Niche and Geographic Distribution of Human Monkeypox in Africa
Monkeypox virus, a zoonotic member of the genus Orthopoxviridae, can cause a severe, smallpox-like illness in humans. Monkeypox virus is thought to be endemic to forested areas of western and Central Africa. Considerably more is known about human monkeypox disease occurrence than about natural sylvatic cycles of this virus in non-human animal hosts. We use human monkeypox case data from Africa for 1970–2003 in an ecological niche modeling framework to construct predictive models of the ecological requirements and geographic distribution of monkeypox virus across West and Central Africa. Tests of internal predictive ability using different subsets of input data show the model to be highly robust and suggest that the distinct phylogenetic lineages of monkeypox in West Africa and Central Africa occupy similar ecological niches. High mean annual precipitation and low elevations were shown to be highly correlated with human monkeypox disease occurrence. The synthetic picture of the potential geographic distribution of human monkeypox in Africa resulting from this study should support ongoing epidemiologic and ecological studies, as well as help to guide public health intervention strategies to areas at highest risk for human monkeypox
Molecular signatures of liver dysfunction are distinct in fungal and bacterial infections in mice
Rationale: The liver is a central organ not only for metabolism but also immune function. Life-threatening infections of both bacterial and fungal origin can affect liver function but it is yet unknown whether molecular changes differ depending on the pathogen. We aimed to determine whether the hepatic host response to bacterial and fungal infections differs in terms of hepatic metabolism and liver function. //
Methods: We compared murine models of infection, including bacterial peritoneal contamination and infection (PCI), intraperitoneal and systemic C. albicans infection, at 6 and 24 h post-infection, to sham controls. The molecular hepatic host response was investigated by the detection of regulatory modules based on large-scale protein-protein interaction networks and expression data. Topological analysis of these regulatory modules was used to reveal infection-specific biological processes and molecular mechanisms. Intravital microscopy and immunofluorescence microscopy were used to further analyze specific aspects of pathophysiology such as cholestasis. //
Results: Down-regulation of lipid catabolism and bile acid synthesis was observed after 6 h in all infection groups. Alterations in lipid catabolism were characterized by accumulation of long chain acylcarnitines and defective beta-oxidation, which affected metabolism by 6 h. While PCI led to an accumulation of unconjugated bile acids (BA), C. albicans infection caused accumulation of conjugated BA independent of the route of infection. Hepatic dye clearance and transporter expression revealed reduced hepatic uptake in fungal infections vs. defects in secretion following polybacterial infection. //
Conclusion: Molecular phenotypes of lipid accumulation and cholestasis allow differentiation between pathogens as well as routes of infection at early stages in mice. Targeted metabolomics could be a useful tool for the profiling of infected/septic patients and the type of pathogen, with subsequent customization and targeting of therapy
- …