Loss of testosterone impairs anti-tumor neutrophil function.

In men, the incidence of melanoma rises rapidly after age 50, and nearly two thirds of melanoma deaths are male. The immune system is known to play a key role in controlling the growth and spread of malignancies, but whether age- and sex-dependent changes in immune cell function account for this effect remains unknown. Here, we show that in castrated male mice, neutrophil maturation and function are impaired, leading to elevated metastatic burden in two models of melanoma. Replacement of testosterone effectively normalized the tumor burden in castrated male mice. Further, the aberrant neutrophil phenotype was also observed in prostate cancer patients receiving androgen deprivation therapy, highlighting the evolutionary conservation and clinical relevance of the phenotype. Taken together, these results provide a better understanding of the role of androgen signaling in neutrophil function and the impact of this biology on immune control of malignancies

Ultrastructural characterization of calcification onset and progression in subdermally implanted aortic valves. Histochemical and spectrometric data

Detailed characterization of the subdermal model is a significant tool for better understanding of calcification mechanisms occurring in heart valves. In previous ultrastructural investigation on six-week-implantated aortic valve leaflets, modified pre-embedding glutaraldehyde-cuprolinic-blue reactions (GA-CB) enabled sample decalcification with concurrent retention/staining of lipid-containing polyanionic material, which lined cells and cell-derived matrix-vesicle-like bodies (phthalocyanin-positive layers: PPLs) co-localizing with the earliest apatite nucleation sites. Additional post-embedding silver staining (GA-CB-S) revealed PPLs to contain calcium-binding sites. This investigation concerns valve leaflets subjected to shorter implantation times to shed light on the modifications associated with PPLs generation and calcification onset/progression. Spectrometric estimations revealed time-dependent calcium increase, for unreacted samples, and copper modifications indicating an increase in acidic, non-glycanic material, for GA-CB-reacted samples. Two-day-implant thin sections showed emission and subsequent reabsorption of lamellipodium-like protrusions by cells, originating ECM-containing vacuoles, and/or degeneration stages characterized by the appearance of GA-CB-S-reactive, organule-derived dense bodies and progressive dissolution of all cell membranes. In one-week-implants, the first PPL-lined cells were found to co-exist with cells where GA-CB-S-reactive material accumulated, or exudated towards their edges, or outcropped at the ECM milieu, so acquiring PPL features. PPL-derived material was observed increasingly to affect the ECM on thin sections of one-week- to six-week-implants. These results show an endogenous source for PPLs and reveal that a peculiar cascade of cell degenerative steps is associated with valve mineralization in the subdermal model, providing new useful parameters for more reliable comparison of this experimental calcification process versus the physiological and pathological processes

One of the closest exoplanet pairs to the 3:2 Mean Motion Resonance: K2-19b \& c

The K2 mission has recently begun to discover new and diverse planetary systems. In December 2014 Campaign 1 data from the mission was released, providing high-precision photometry for ~22000 objects over an 80 day timespan. We searched these data with the aim of detecting further important new objects. Our search through two separate pipelines led to the independent discovery of K2-19b \& c, a two-planet system of Neptune sized objects (4.2 and 7.2 $R_\oplus$), orbiting a K dwarf extremely close to the 3:2 mean motion resonance. The two planets each show transits, sometimes simultaneously due to their proximity to resonance and alignment of conjunctions. We obtain further ground based photometry of the larger planet with the NITES telescope, demonstrating the presence of large transit timing variations (TTVs), and use the observed TTVs to place mass constraints on the transiting objects under the hypothesis that the objects are near but not in resonance. We then statistically validate the planets through the \texttt{PASTIS} tool, independently of the TTV analysis.Comment: 18 pages, 10 figures, accepted to A&A, updated to match published versio

Male Imprisoned Firesetters Have Different Characteristics than Other Imprisoned Offenders and Require Specialist Treatment

Objective: This study investigated whether a group of firesetters (n = 68) could be distinguished, psychologically, from a matched group of non-firesetting offenders (n = 68). Method: Participants completed measures examining psychological variables relating to fire, emotional/ self-regulation, social competency, self-concept, boredom proneness, and impression management. Official prison records were also examined to record offending history and other offense-related variables. A series of MANOVAs were conducted with conceptually related measures identified as the dependent variables. Follow up discriminant function and clinical cut-off score analyses were also conducted to examine the best discriminating variables for firesetters. Results: Firesetters were clearly distinguishable, statistically, from non-firesetters on three groups of conceptually related measures relating to: fire, emotional/self-regulation, and self-concept. The most successful variables for the discrimination of firesetters determined via statistical and clinical significance testing were higher levels of anger-related cognition, interest in serious fires, and identification with fire and lower levels of perceived fire safety awareness, general self-esteem, and external locus of control. Conclusions: Firesetters appear to be a specialist group of offenders who hold unique psychological characteristics. Firesetters are likely to require specialist treatment to target these psychological needs as opposed to generic offending behavior programs

Histoire naturelle d'un virus zoonotique en mode insulaire : cas de la propagation du virus grippal pandémique H1N1p 2009 à la Réunion, de l'homme au porc, il n'y a qu'un pas

Bien que n'ayant jamais été identifié chez le porc avant d'être détecté chez l'Homme, il a été craint, dès l'émergence du virus influenza A/H1N1 responsable de la pandémie de 2009 (pH1N1), que ce multi-réassortant n'ait la capacité de transgresser facilement la barrière d'espèce Homme/porc puisque tous ses gènes proviennent de virus influenza préalablement adaptés à l'espèce porcine. Peu de temps après son identification chez l'Homme fin avril 2009, des élevages étaient d'ailleurs déclarés infectés en Amérique du Nord, puis partout dans le monde. A l'issue de la phase pandémique en août 2010, des cas étaient rapportés dans une vingtaine de pays. L'Homme a été suspecté être à l'origine de l'infection dans la majorité d'entre eux. Les porcs touchés ont généralement développé un syndrome grippal commun, sans mortalité. On relèvera que certains cas ont également été détectés dans le cadre de programmes de surveillance active menée chez des porcs asymptomatiques. Des inoculations expérimentales ont par ailleurs confirmé la grande sensibilité des porcins. Les animaux inoculés ont présenté de l'hyperthermie, de l'apathie, des difficultés respiratoires et des lésions pulmonaires caractéristiques des infections à virus influenza chez le porc. Du virus a été retrouvé dans les sécrétions nasales jusqu'à 10 jours post-infection et a été transmis à des porcs sentinelles. Considérant ces données, il était légitime de craindre que le pH1N1 s'adapte à l'espèce porcine, comme d'ailleurs les virus responsables des pandémies de 1918 et 1968, la transmission des virus influenza de l'Homme vers le porc étant en outre favorisée lorsque la pression d'infection est très forte. Des investigations sérologiques ont donc été menées sur des animaux reproducteurs, la mise en évidence d'anticorps spécifiques chez ces animaux pouvant révéler l'éventuel passage du virus pH1N1 dans la population porcine. Ainsi, 120 reproducteurs (115 truies de réforme et 5 verrats) âgés de 3 à 5 ans et provenant de 57 élevages différents, ont été prélevés suite à tirage au sort dans l'unique abattoir de l'île, entre novembre 2009 et février 2010. 98/120 sérums (81,6% de l'échantillon analysé) se sont révélés contenir des anticorps anti-virus pH1N1, ceci à des titres relativement élevés puisque 54,2 % d'entre eux ont présenté un titre IHA supérieur ou égal à 160. Une deuxième étude, menée en juin-juillet 2010, a alors porté sur 390 porcs charcutiers, âgés au maximum de 7 mois, c'est dire nés au plus tôt en novembre 2009 et n'ayant donc pas pu être infectés par l'Homme, le virus ne circulant plus de manière significative dans la population humaine à compter de cette date. L'objectif de cette enquête était i) de déterminer le statut sérologique de cette génération de porcs charcutiers vis-à-vis du pH1N1 et ii) de tenter, par des analyses virologiques, de détecter le virus en cas de circulation active. Des anticorps ont été détectés dans 9/320 sérums analysés (soit 2,8%), à des titres allant de 20 à 160. Les analyses virales ont été effectuées par RT-PCR sur le gène M puis H1 et N1 ; du génome de virus influenza A pH1N1 a été détecté dans 14 / 390 prélèvements, lesquels provenaient de 5 élevages différents. Les caractérisations antigéniques (par tests IHA) et génétiques (séquençage des gènes HA et NA) de cet isolat (A/Sw/LaRéunion/0164/10) ont confirmé son appartenance au lignage pH1N1. Depuis la surveillance est maintenue mais les cas d'infection des porcs avec le virus Influenza A pH1N1 restent sporadiques. (Texte intégral

Pion-Xi correlations in Au-Au collisions at STAR

We present pion-Xi correlation analysis in Au-Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN)= 200 GeV and sqrt(s_NN) = 62.4 GeV, performed using the STAR detector at RHIC. A Xi*(1530) resonance signal is observed for the first time in Au-Au collisions. Experimental data are compared with theoretical predictions. The strength of the Xi* peak is reproduced in the correlation function assuming that pions and Xis emerge from a system in collective expansion.Comment: To appear in the proceedings of 18th Nuclear Physics Division Conference of the EPS (NPDC18),Prague, 23.8.-29.8. 200

Partonic flow and ϕ\phi-meson production in Au+Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}} = 200 GeV

We present first measurements of the $\phi$-meson elliptic flow ($v_{2}(p_{T})$) and high statistics $p_{T}$ distributions for different centralities from $\sqrt{s_{NN}}$ = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC. In minimum bias collisions the $v_{2}$ of the $\phi$ meson is consistent with the trend observed for mesons. The ratio of the yields of the $\Omega$ to those of the $\phi$ as a function of transverse momentum is consistent with a model based on the recombination of thermal $s$ quarks up to $p_{T}\sim 4$ GeV/$c$, but disagrees at higher momenta. The nuclear modification factor ($R_{CP}$) of $\phi$ follows the trend observed in the $K^{0}_{S}$ mesons rather than in $\Lambda$ baryons, supporting baryon-meson scaling. Since $\phi$-mesons are made via coalescence of seemingly thermalized $s$ quarks in central Au+Au collisions, the observations imply hot and dense matter with partonic collectivity has been formed at RHIC.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, submit to PR

A new conceptual framework for revenge firesetting

Revenge has frequently been acknowledged to account for a relatively large proportion of motives in deliberate firesetting. However, very little is actually known about the aetiology of revenge firesetting. Theoretical approaches to revenge-seeking behaviour are discussed. A brief review of how revenge is accounted for in existing theoretical explanations of deliberate firesetting and the known characteristics of revenge firesetters are provided. On this basis, the authors suggest, as a motive, revenge firesetting has to date been misconceptualised. A new conceptual framework is thus proposed, paying particular attention to the contextual, affective, cognitive, volitional and behavioural factors which may influence and generate a single episode of revenge firesetting. Treatment implications and suggestions for future research are also provided

Measurement of open charm production in dd+Au collisions at sNN\sqrt{s_{NN}}=200 GeV

We present the first comprehensive measurement of $D^{0}, D^{+}, D^{*+}$ and their charge conjugate states at mid-rapidity in $d$+Au collisions at $\sqrt{s_{_{NN}}}$=200 GeV using the STAR TPC. The directly measured open charm multiplicity distribution covers a broad transverse momentum region of 0$<p_{T}<11$ GeV/$c$. The measured $dN/dy$ at mid-rapidity for $D^{0}$ is $0.0265\pm 0.0036 (stat.) \pm 0.0071 (syst.)$ and the measured $D^{*+}/D^{0}$ and $D^{+}/D^{0}$ ratios are approximately equal with a magnitude of $0.40\pm 0.09(stat.) \pm 0.13(syst.)$. The total $c\bar{c}$ cross section per nucleon-nucleon collision extracted from this study is $1.18 \pm 0.21(stat.) \pm 0.39(syst.)$mb. The direct measurement of open charm production is consistent with STAR single electron data. This cross section is higher than expectations from PYTHIA and other pQCD calculations. The measured $p_{T}$ distribution is harder than the pQCD prediction using the Peterson fragmentation function.Comment: Quark Matter 2004 Proceeding