438 research outputs found
Macroscopic and microscopic lesions in pigs with experimentally induced non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis
Macroscopic and microscopic lesions in pigs with experimentally induced non-bacterial thrombotic endocarditis
Patients with Long-QT Syndrome Caused by Impaired hERG -Encoded Kv11.1 Potassium Channel Have Exaggerated Endocrine Pancreatic and Incretin Function Associated with Reactive Hypoglycemia
Fundamental Properties of Kepler Planet-Candidate Host Stars using Asteroseismology
We have used asteroseismology to determine fundamental properties for 66
Kepler planet-candidate host stars, with typical uncertainties of 3% and 7% in
radius and mass, respectively. The results include new asteroseismic solutions
for four host stars with confirmed planets (Kepler-4, Kepler-14, Kepler-23 and
Kepler-25) and increase the total number of Kepler host stars with
asteroseismic solutions to 77. A comparison with stellar properties in the
planet-candidate catalog by Batalha et al. shows that radii for subgiants and
giants obtained from spectroscopic follow-up are systematically too low by up
to a factor of 1.5, while the properties for unevolved stars are in good
agreement. We furthermore apply asteroseismology to confirm that a large
majority of cool main-sequence hosts are indeed dwarfs and not misclassified
giants. Using the revised stellar properties, we recalculate the radii for 107
planet candidates in our sample, and comment on candidates for which the radii
change from a previously giant-planet/brown-dwarf/stellar regime to a
sub-Jupiter size, or vice versa. A comparison of stellar densities from
asteroseismology with densities derived from transit models in Batalha et al.
assuming circular orbits shows significant disagreement for more than half of
the sample due to systematics in the modeled impact parameters, or due to
planet candidates which may be in eccentric orbits. Finally, we investigate
tentative correlations between host-star masses and planet candidate radii,
orbital periods, and multiplicity, but caution that these results may be
influenced by the small sample size and detection biases.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, 4 tables; accepted for publication in ApJ;
machine-readable versions of tables 1-3 are available as ancillary files or
in the source code; v2: minor changes to match published versio
Quark Gluon Plasma an Color Glass Condensate at RHIC? The perspective from the BRAHMS experiment
We review the main results obtained by the BRAHMS collaboration on the
properties of hot and dense hadronic and partonic matter produced in
ultrarelativistic heavy ion collisions at RHIC. A particular focus of this
paper is to discuss to what extent the results collected so far by BRAHMS, and
by the other three experiments at RHIC, can be taken as evidence for the
formation of a state of deconfined partonic matter, the so called
quark-gluon-plasma (QGP). We also discuss evidence for a possible precursor
state to the QGP, i.e. the proposed Color Glass Condensate.Comment: 32 pages, 18 figure
Advancing Research for the Management of Long-Lived Species: A Case Study on the Greenland Shark
Long-lived species share life history traits such as slow growth, late maturity, and low fecundity, which lead to slow recovery rates and increase a population’s vulnerability to disturbance. The Greenland shark (Somniosus microcephalus) has recently been recognized as the world’s longest-lived vertebrate, but many questions regarding its biology, physiology, and ecology remain unanswered. Here we review how current and future research will fill knowledge gaps about the Greenland shark and provide an overall framework to guide research and management priorities for this species. Key advances include the potential for specialized aging techniques and demographic studies to shed light on the distribution and age-class structure of Greenland shark populations. Advances in population genetics and genomics will reveal key factors contributing to the Greenland shark’s extreme longevity, range and population size, and susceptibility to environmental change. New tagging technologies and improvements in experimental and analytical design will allow detailed monitoring of movement behaviors and interactions among Greenland sharks and other marine species, while shedding light on habitat use and susceptibility to fisheries interactions. Interdisciplinary approaches, such as the combined use of stable isotope analysis and high-tech data-logging devices (i.e., accelerometers and acoustic hydrophones) have the potential to improve knowledge of feeding strategies, predatory capabilities, and the trophic role of Greenland sharks. Measures of physiology, including estimation of metabolic rate, as well as heart rate and function, will advance our understanding of the causes and consequences of long lifespans. Determining the extent and effects of current threats (as well as potential mitigation measures) will assist the development of policies, recommendations, and actions relevant for the management of this potentially vulnerable species. Through an interdisciplinary lens, we propose innovative approaches to direct the future study of Greenland sharks and promote the consideration of longevity as an important factor in research on aquatic and terrestrial predators
Masses, radii, and orbits of small Kepler planets : The transition from gaseous to rocky planets
We report on the masses, sizes, and orbits of the planets orbiting 22 Kepler stars. There are 49 planet candidates around these stars, including 42 detected through transits and 7 revealed by precise Doppler measurements of the host stars. Based on an analysis of the Kepler brightness measurements, along with high-resolution imaging and spectroscopy, Doppler spectroscopy, and (for 11 stars) asteroseismology, we establish low false-positive probabilities (FPPs) for all of the transiting planets (41 of 42 have an FPP under 1%), and we constrain their sizes and masses. Most of the transiting planets are smaller than three times the size of Earth. For 16 planets, the Doppler signal was securely detected, providing a direct measurement of the planet's mass. For the other 26 planets we provide either marginal mass measurements or upper limits to their masses and densities; in many cases we can rule out a rocky composition. We identify six planets with densities above 5 g cm-3, suggesting a mostly rocky interior for them. Indeed, the only planets that are compatible with a purely rocky composition are smaller than 2 R ⊕. Larger planets evidently contain a larger fraction of low-density material (H, He, and H2O).Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio
The perinatal health challenges of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases: A narrative review
The world has seen numerous infectious disease outbreaks in the past decade. In many cases these outbreaks have had considerable perinatal health consequences including increased risk of preterm delivery (e.g., influenza, measles, and COVID-19), and the delivery of low birth weight or small for gestational age babies (e.g., influenza, COVID-19). Furthermore, severe perinatal outcomes including perinatal and infant death are a known consequence of multiple infectious diseases (e.g., Ebola virus disease, Zika virus disease, pertussis, and measles). In addition to vaccination during pregnancy (where possible), pregnant women, are provided some level of protection from the adverse effects of infection through community-level application of evidence-based transmission-control methods. This review demonstrates that it takes almost 2 years for the perinatal impacts of an infectious disease outbreak to be reported. However, many infectious disease outbreaks between 2010 and 2020 have no associated pregnancy data reported in the scientific literature, or pregnancy data is reported in the form of case-studies only. This lack of systematic data collection and reporting has a negative impact on our understanding of these diseases and the implications they may have for pregnant women and their unborn infants. Monitoring perinatal health is an essential aspect of national and global healthcare strategies as perinatal life has a critical impact on early life mortality as well as possible effects on later life health. The unpredictable nature of emerging infections and the potential for adverse perinatal outcomes necessitate that we thoroughly assess pregnancy and perinatal health implications of disease outbreaks and their public health interventions in tandem with outbreak response efforts. Disease surveillance programs should incorporate perinatal health monitoring and health systems around the world should endeavor to continuously collect perinatal health data in order to quickly update pregnancy care protocols as needed
Planet Occurrence within 0.25 AU of Solar-type Stars from Kepler
We report the distribution of planets as a function of planet radius (R_p),
orbital period (P), and stellar effective temperature (Teff) for P < 50 day
orbits around GK stars. These results are based on the 1,235 planets (formally
"planet candidates") from the Kepler mission that include a nearly complete set
of detected planets as small as 2 Earth radii (Re). For each of the 156,000
target stars we assess the detectability of planets as a function of R_p and P.
We also correct for the geometric probability of transit, R*/a. We consider
first stars within the "solar subset" having Teff = 4100-6100 K, logg =
4.0-4.9, and Kepler magnitude Kp < 15 mag. We include only those stars having
noise low enough to permit detection of planets down to 2 Re. We count planets
in small domains of R_p and P and divide by the included target stars to
calculate planet occurrence in each domain. Occurrence of planets varies by
more than three orders of magnitude and increases substantially down to the
smallest radius (2 Re) and out to the longest orbital period (50 days, ~0.25
AU) in our study. For P < 50 days, the radius distribution is given by a power
law, df/dlogR= k R^\alpha. This rapid increase in planet occurrence with
decreasing planet size agrees with core-accretion, but disagrees with
population synthesis models. We fit occurrence as a function of P to a power
law model with an exponential cutoff below a critical period P_0. For smaller
planets, P_0 has larger values, suggesting that the "parking distance" for
migrating planets moves outward with decreasing planet size. We also measured
planet occurrence over Teff = 3600-7100 K, spanning M0 to F2 dwarfs. The
occurrence of 2-4 Re planets in the Kepler field increases with decreasing
Teff, making these small planets seven times more abundant around cool stars
than the hottest stars in our sample. [abridged]Comment: Submitted to ApJ, 22 pages, 10 figure
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