837 research outputs found
Elliptical Galaxies with Emission Lines from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey
We present the results of 11 elliptical galaxies with strong nebular emission
lines during our study of star formation history along the Hubble sequence.
After removing the dilution from the underlying old stellar populations by use
of stellar population synthesis model, we derive the accurate fluxes of all
emission lines for these objects, which are later classified with emission line
ratios into one Seyfert 2, six LINERs and four HII galaxies. We also identify
one HII galaxy (A1216+04) as a hitherto unknown Wolf-Rayet galaxy from the
presence of the Wolf-Rayet broad bump at 4650 \AA. We propose that the
star-forming activities in elliptical galaxies are triggered by either
galaxy-galaxy interaction or the merging of a small satellite/a massive star
cluster, as already suggested by recent numerical simulations
Degree and connectivity of the Internet's scale-free topology
In this paper we theoretically and empirically study the degree and
connectivity of the Internet's scale-free topology at the autonomous system
(AS) level. The basic features of the scale-free network have influence on the
normalization constant of the degree distribution p(k). We develop a
mathematics model of the Internet's scale-free topology. On this model we
theoretically get the formulas of the average degree, the ratios of the
kmin-degree (minimum degree) nodes and the kmax-degree (maximum degree) nodes,
the fraction of the degrees (or links) in the hands of the richer (top
best-connected) nodes. We find the average degree is larger for smaller
power-law exponent {\lambda} and larger minimum or maximum degree. The ratio of
the kmin-degree nodes is larger for larger {\lambda} and smaller kmin or kmax.
The ratio of the kmax-degree ones is larger for smaller {\lambda} and kmax or
larger kmin. The richer nodes hold most of the total degrees of the AS-level
Internet topology. In addition, we reveal the ratio of the kmin-degree nodes or
the rate of the increase of the average degree has power-law decay with the
increase of the kmin. The ratio of the kmax-degree nodes has power-law decay
with the increase of the kmax, and the fraction of the degrees in the hands of
the richer 27% nodes is about 73% (the '73/27 rule'). At last, we empirically
calculate, based on empirical data extracted from BGP, the average degree and
the ratio and fraction using our method and other methods, and find that our
method is rigorous and effective for the AS-level Internet topology.Comment: 22 pages, 8 figure
In-cloud formation of secondary species in iron-containing particles
The increase in secondary species through cloud processing potentially
increases aerosol iron (Fe) bioavailability. In this study, a ground-based
counterflow virtual impactor coupled with a real-time single-particle aerosol
mass spectrometer was used to characterize the formation of secondary species
in Fe-containing cloud residues (dried cloud droplets) at a mountain site in
southern China for nearly 1 month during the autumn of 2016. Fe-rich,
Fe-dust, Fe-elemental carbon (Fe-EC), and Fe-vanadium (Fe-V) cloud residual
types were obtained in this study. The Fe-rich particles, related to
combustion sources, contributed 84 % (by number) to the Fe-containing
cloud residues, and the Fe-dust particles represented 12 %. The remaining
4 % consisted of the Fe-EC and Fe-V particles. It was found that above
90 % (by number) of Fe-containing particles had already contained sulfate
before cloud events, leading to no distinct change in number fraction (NF) of
sulfate during cloud events. Cloud processing contributed to the enhanced NFs
of nitrate, chloride, and oxalate in the Fe-containing cloud residues.
However, the in-cloud formation of nitrate and chloride in the Fe-rich type
was less obvious relative to the Fe-dust type. The increased NF of oxalate in
the Fe-rich cloud residues was produced via aqueous oxidation of oxalate
precursors (e.g., glyoxylate). Moreover, Fe-driven Fenton reactions likely
increase the formation rate of aqueous-phase OH, improving the conversion of
the precursors to oxalate in the Fe-rich cloud residues. During daytime, the
decreased NF of oxalate in the Fe-rich cloud residues was supposed to be due
to the photolysis of Fe-oxalate complexes. This work emphasizes the role of
combustion Fe sources in participating in cloud processing and has important
implications for evaluating Fe bioavailability from combustion sources during
cloud processing.</p
PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ Inhibition by IPI-145 Abrogates Immune Responses and Suppresses Activity in Autoimmune and Inflammatory Disease Models
SummaryPhosphoinositide-3 kinase (PI3K)-δ and PI3K-γ are preferentially expressed in immune cells, and inhibitors targeting these isoforms are hypothesized to have anti-inflammatory activity by affecting the adaptive and innate immune response. We report on a potent oral PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ inhibitor (IPI-145) and characterize this compound in biochemical, cellular, and in vivo assays. These studies demonstrate that IPI-145 exerts profound effects on adaptive and innate immunity by inhibiting B and T cell proliferation, blocking neutrophil migration, and inhibiting basophil activation. We explored the therapeutic value of combined PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ blockade, and IPI-145 showed potent activity in collagen-induced arthritis, ovalbumin-induced asthma, and systemic lupus erythematosus rodent models. These findings support the hypothesis that inhibition of immune function can be achieved through PI3K-δ and PI3K-γ blockade, potentially leading to significant therapeutic effects in multiple inflammatory, autoimmune, and hematologic diseases
Sentinel lymph node biopsy as guidance for radical trachelectomy in young patients with early stage cervical cancer
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The purpose of this study was to assess the feasibility and accuracy of sentinel lymph nodes (SLNs) detection using 99mTc phytate in predicting pelvic lymph nodes status for radical abdominal trachelectomy (RAT) in patients with early stage cervical cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sixty-eight women with stage IA2-IB1 cervical cancer and scheduled to undergo fertility-sparing surgery enrolled in this study. 99mTc-labeled phytate was injected before surgery. Intraoperatively, SLNs were identified, excised, and submitted to fast frozen section. Systematic bilateral pelvic lymphadenectomy and/or para-aortic lymph node dissection was performed. Then RAT was performed in patients with negative SLNs. All nodes were sent for routine pathological examination and immunostained with anti-cytokeratin antibody to detect micrometastases. Outcomes of follow up and fertility were observed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>SLNs were identified in 64 of 68 patients (94.1%). Of these, SLNs of 8 patients (11.8%) were positive on frozen sections and proved to be metastasis by final pathologic examination. The sensitivity, accuracy, and false negative rates were 100%, 100%, and 0%, respectively. All 60 patients with negative SLN underwent RAT successfully. Two relapses occurred and no one died of tumor progression during follow-up. Five of the 15 patients with procreative desire conceived 8 pregnancies (3 term delivery, 2 premature birth, 1 spontaneous abortion, and 2 were still in the duration of pregnancy) after surgery.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The identification of SLN using 99mTc-labeled phytate is accurate and safe to assess pelvic nodes status in patients with early cervical cancer. SLNs biopsy guided RAT is feasible for patients who desire to have fertility preservation.</p
Healthcare in schizophrenia: effectiveness and progress of a redesigned care network
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The aim of this study was designed to investigate the care-effectiveness of different healthcare models for schizophrenic patients and the impact of it on caregivers.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sample cases were randomly selected from southern Taiwan, 257 patients in redesigned care network, including a general hospital, a chronic ward, 10 outpatient clinics, and multialternative community programs, was compared to 247 patients in other traditional healthcare provider that were utilized as the control group. The quality of life (QOL) questionnaire and the Chinese health questionnaire (CHQ) were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The controls had longer duration of illness (<it>p </it>= 0.001) and were older (<it>p </it>= 0.004). The average resource utilization in the study group (US 2041) (<it>t </it>= 7.91, <it>p </it>< 0.001). For the study group, the average length of stay was shorter, but the admission rate was higher. The QOL of the patients in the study group was better than that of the controls (<it>p </it>= 0.01). The family burden of the study group was lower (<it>p </it>= 0.035) and the score of general health questionnaire higher (<it>p </it>= 0.019).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>We found that patients in the redesigned care network had a better QOL, lower family burden, decreased days of hospital stay, higher medical resource utilization and less frequent admission to a hospital, and the caregivers had better mental health. Although the costs were higher, the continued care network was more helpful in providing comprehensive mental illness services.</p
Genomewide association study of leprosy.
BACKGROUND: The narrow host range of Mycobacterium leprae and the fact that it is refractory to growth in culture has limited research on and the biologic understanding of leprosy. Host genetic factors are thought to influence susceptibility to infection as well as disease progression. METHODS: We performed a two-stage genomewide association study by genotyping 706 patients and 1225 controls using the Human610-Quad BeadChip (Illumina). We then tested three independent replication sets for an association between the presence of leprosy and 93 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that were most strongly associated with the disease in the genomewide association study. Together, these replication sets comprised 3254 patients and 5955 controls. We also carried out tests of heterogeneity of the associations (or lack thereof) between these 93 SNPs and disease, stratified according to clinical subtype (multibacillary vs. paucibacillary). RESULTS: We observed a significant association (P<1.00x10(-10)) between SNPs in the genes CCDC122, C13orf31, NOD2, TNFSF15, HLA-DR, and RIPK2 and a trend toward an association (P=5.10x10(-5)) with a SNP in LRRK2. The associations between the SNPs in C13orf31, LRRK2, NOD2, and RIPK2 and multibacillary leprosy were stronger than the associations between these SNPs and paucibacillary leprosy. CONCLUSIONS: Variants of genes in the NOD2-mediated signaling pathway (which regulates the innate immune response) are associated with susceptibility to infection with M. leprae
Deep underground laboratory measurement of C(,)O in the Gamow windows of the - and -processes
The C(,)O reaction is the main neutron source for
the slow-neutron-capture (s-) process in Asymptotic Giant Branch stars and for
the intermediate (i-) process. Direct measurements at astrophysical energies in
above-ground laboratories are hindered by the extremely small cross sections
and vast cosmic-ray induced background. We performed the first consistent
direct measurement in the range of 0.24 MeV to 1.9 MeV using the
accelerators at the China Jinping Underground Laboratory (CJPL) and Sichuan
University. Our measurement covers almost the entire i-process Gamow window in
which the large uncertainty of the previous experiments has been reduced from
60\% down to 15\%, eliminates the large systematic uncertainty in the
extrapolation arising from the inconsistency of existing data sets, and
provides a more reliable reaction rate for the studies of the s- and
i-processes along with the first direct determination of the alpha strength for
the near-threshold state
- …