Mid-infrared observations of the ultraluminous galaxies IRAS14348-1447, IRAS19254-7245, and IRAS23128-5919

We present a study of the three ultraluminous infrared galaxies IRAS14348-1447, IRAS19254-7245, and IRAS23128-5919, based on mid-infrared (MIR) spectro-imaging (5-18microns) observations performed with ISOCAM. We find that the MIR emission from each system, which consists of a pair of interacting late type galaxies, is principally confined to the nuclear regions with diameters of 1-2kpc and can account for more than 95% of their IRAS 12micron flux. In each interacting system, the galaxy hosting an active galactic nucleus (AGN) dominates the total spectrum and shows stronger dust continuum (12-16microns) relative to the Unidentified Infrared Band (UIB) emission (6-9microns), suggestive of its enhanced radiation field. The MIR dominant galaxy also exhibits elevated 15micron/Halpha and 15micron/K ratios which trace the high extinction due to the large quantities of molecular gas and dust present in its central regions. Using only diagnostics based on our mid-infrared spectra, we can establish that the Seyfert galaxy IRAS19254-7245 exhibits MIR spectral features of an AGN while the MIR spectrum of the Seyfert (or LINER) member of IRAS23128-5919 is characteristic of dust emission principally heated by star forming regions.Comment: Accepted for publication in Astronomy & Astrophysics, 13 pages, 9 figure

Patient Satisfaction with a Pilot Chronic Pain Management Programme in Cape Town, South Africa

Background: The goals of a chronic pain management clinic includeincreasing patient knowledge about pain, developing pain management skillsand increasing patients’ confidence in their pain management abilities.A Chronic Pain Management Programme (CPMP) based on evidence basedguidelines was developed at a chronic pain management clinic to facilitatepatient discharge to a primary healthcare level. Aim: The aim of this study was to explore patient satisfaction with, acceptability of and the perceived success which could be due to the CPMP developed at the Chronic Pain Management Clinic of Groote Schuur Hospital,Cape Town.Methods: Patients (n=14) were referred to the pilot study from the Chronic Pain Management Clinic. A s a pilot, four courses were run over a period ofone year. In order to reach the research aim, an eleven-question, structuredopen-ended interview was conducted with all participants. Results: Fourteen patients enrolled in the CPMP. Responses were favourable with participants emphasising the roleof increased knowledge about pain, the role of exercise and of stress management techniques. Participants also recog-nised a positive change in behaviours and attitudes following participation in the CPMP.Conclusions: Findings suggest that participants found the format of the course acceptable as regards course content,structure and delivery. Participant responses suggest that the course was acceptable and perceived as useful. However,future courses would benefit from refresher courses or structured support groups

Herschel and JCMT observations of the early-type dwarf galaxy NGC 205

We present Herschel dust continuum, James Clerk Maxwell Telescope CO(3-2) observations and a search for [CII] 158 micron and [OI] 63 micron spectral line emission for the brightest early-type dwarf satellite of Andromeda, NGC 205. While direct gas measurements (Mgas ~ 1.5e+6 Msun, HI + CO(1-0)) have proven to be inconsistent with theoretical predictions of the current gas reservoir in NGC 205 (> 1e+7 Msun), we revise the missing interstellar medium mass problem based on new gas mass estimates (CO(3-2), [CII], [OI]) and indirect measurements of the interstellar medium content through dust continuum emission. Based on Herschel observations, covering a wide wavelength range from 70 to 500 micron, we are able to probe the entire dust content in NGC 205 (Mdust ~ 1.1-1.8e+4 Msun at Tdust ~ 18-22 K) and rule out the presence of a massive cold dust component (Mdust ~ 5e+5 Msun, Tdust ~ 12 K), which was suggested based on millimeter observations from the inner 18.4 arcsec. Assuming a reasonable gas-to-dust ratio of ~ 400, the dust mass in NGC 205 translates into a gas mass Mgas ~ 4-7e+6 Msun. The non-detection of [OI] and the low L_[CII]-to-L_CO(1-0) line intensity ratio (~ 1850) imply that the molecular gas phase is well traced by CO molecules in NGC 205. We estimate an atomic gas mass of 1.5e+4 Msun associated with the [CII] emitting PDR regions in NGC 205. From the partial CO(3-2) map of the northern region in NGC 205, we derive a molecular gas mass of M_H2 ~ 1.3e+5 Msun. [abridged]Comment: 16 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

DSM-IV defined conduct disorder and oppositional defiant disorder: An investigation of shared liability in female twins

BACKGROUND: DSM-IV specifies a hierarchal diagnostic structure such that an ODD diagnosis is applied only if criteria are not met for CD. Genetic studies of ODD and CD support a combination of shared genetic and environmental influences, but largely ignore the imposed diagnostic structure. METHODS: We examined whether ODD and CD share an underlying etiology while accounting for DSM-IV diagnostic specifications. Data from 1446 female twin pairs, aged 11–19, were fitted to two-stage models adhering to the DSM-IV diagnostic hierarchy. RESULTS: Models suggested that DSM-IV ODD-CD covariation is attributed largely to shared genetic influences. CONCLUSIONS: This is the first study, to our knowledge, to examine genetic and environmental overlap among these disorders while maintaining DSM-IV hierarchical structure. Findings reflect primarily shared genetic influences and specific (i.e., uncorrelated) shared/familial environmental effects on these DSM-IV defined behaviors. These results have implications for how best to define CD and ODD for future genetically-informed analyses

Circulating endothelial microparticles reduce in concentration following an exercise programme in women with polycystic ovary syndrome

Purpose: Endothelial dysfunction is a known comorbidity in women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). The aim was to assess if supervised, moderate intensity exercise could potentially impact markers of endothelial disruption; endothelial cell derived microparticles (EMP). Methods: The current study investigated the effects of a supervised 8-week moderate intensity exercise programme on EMP in women with PCOS (n=11) and control women free from any known disease (n=10). EMP were enumerated via specific antibody (CD105, CD106) labelling and flow cytometry.Results: CD105+MP significantly reduced in women with PCOS from pre to post exercise programme, with CD105+ MP reducing from 2114 CD105+ MP per µl platelet free plasma (PFP) to 424 CD105+ MP per µl PFP (p = 0.025). Control women showed no significant change in CD105+ MP (p = 0.25) after completing the same exercise programme. CD106+ MP showed no change in either PCOS (p = 0.95) or control groups (p = 0.99). No significant correlations existed with the changes in endothelial microparticles (EMP) compared to body composition changes as a result of exercise. Conclusion: Supervised, moderate intensity exercise independent of substantial weight loss reduced circulating CD105+MP, likely reflecting an improvement in endothelial function in women with PCOS compared to healthy control women. Additionally, EMP may be a useful marker for physical improvement in exercise programmes for clinical populations

Gas-to-Dust mass ratios in local galaxies over a 2 dex metallicity range

This paper analyses the behaviour of the gas-to-dust mass ratio (G/D) of local Universe galaxies over a large metallicity range. We combine three samples: the Dwarf Galaxy Survey, the KINGFISH survey and a subsample from Galametz et al. (2011) totalling 126 galaxies, covering a 2 dex metallicity range, with 30% of the sample with 12+log(O/H) < 8.0. The dust masses are homogeneously determined with a semi-empirical dust model, including submm constraints. The atomic and molecular gas masses are compiled from the literature. Two XCO are used to estimate molecular gas masses: the Galactic XCO, and a XCO depending on the metallicity (as Z^{-2}). Correlations with morphological types, stellar masses, star formation rates and specific star formation rates are discussed. The trend between G/D and metallicity is empirically modelled using power-laws (slope of -1 and free) and a broken power-law. We compare the evolution of the G/D with predictions from chemical evolution models. We find that out of the five tested galactic parameters, metallicity is the galactic property driving the observed G/D. The G/D versus metallicity relation cannot be represented by a power-law with a slope of -1 over the whole metallicity range. The observed trend is steeper for metallicities lower than ~ 8.0. A large scatter is observed in the G/D for a given metallicity, with a dispersion of 0.37 dex in metallicity bins of ~0.1 dex. The broken power-law reproduces best the observed G/D and provides estimates of the G/D that are accurate to a factor of 1.6. The good agreement of the G/D and its scatter with the three tested chemical evolution models shows that the scatter is intrinsic to galactic properties, reflecting the different star formation histories, dust destruction efficiencies, dust grain size distributions and chemical compositions across the sample. (abriged)Comment: 23 pages, 12 figures, accepted in Astronomy & Astrophysic

Quantification of the relationship between the environment and Fusarium head blight, Fusarium pathogen density, and mycotoxins in winter wheat in Europe

Measurements of local environmental conditions, intensity of Fusarium head blight (FHB) in wheat spikes, biomass of Fusarium graminearum, F. culmorum, and F. poae (pathogens causing FHB) and concentration of the mycotoxins deoxynivalenol (DON) and nivalenol (NIV) in harvested wheat grain were obtained in a total of 150 location-years, originating in three European countries (Hungary, Ireland, United Kingdom) from 2001 to 2004. Through window-pane methodology, the length and starting time of temporal windows where the environmental variables were significantly associated with the biological variables were identified. Window lengths of 5 to 30 days were evaluated, with starting times from 18 days before anthesis to harvest. Associations were quantified with nonparametric Spearman correlation coefficients. All biological variables were significantly associated with at least one evaluated environmental variable (P≤0.05). Moisture-related variables (e.g., average relative humidity, hours of relative humidity above 80%) had the highest positive correlations with the biological variables, but there also was a significant negative correlation between average temperature and several biological variables. When significant correlations were found, they were generally for all window lengths, but for a limited number of window start times (generally before anthesis for disease index and after anthesis for the toxins and late-season fungal biomasses). Semi-partial Spearman correlation coefficients were used to evaluate the relationship between the environmental variables and the concentration of DON and NIV after the effects of FHB intensity and fungal biomass on the mycotoxins were removed. Significant semi-partial correlations were found between relative humidity variables and DON, and between temperature and relative humidity variables and NIV for time windows that started after anthesis (and not for any earlier time windows). Results confirm that the environment influences disease, fungal biomass, and mycotoxin production, and help refine the time windows where the association is greatest. However, variability in the relationships was high, indicating that no single environmental variable is sufficient for prediction of disease or mycotoxin contamination

Cold Dust but Warm Gas in the Unusual Elliptical Galaxy NGC 4125

Data from the Herschel Space Observatory have revealed an unusual elliptical galaxy, NGC 4125, which has strong and extended submillimeter emission from cold dust but only very strict upper limits to its CO and Hi emission. Depending on the dust emissivity, the total dust mass is 2-5 x 10(6) M-circle dot. While the neutral gas-to-dust mass ratio is extremely low (= 10(4) K faster than the dust is evaporated. If galaxies like NGC 4125, where the far-infrared emission does not trace neutral gas in the usual manner, are common at higher redshift, this could have significant implications for our understanding of high redshift galaxies and galaxy evolution.Canadian Space AgencyNatural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of CanadaAgenzia Spaziale Italiana (ASI) I/005/11/0BMVIT (Austria)ESA-PRODEX (Belgium)CEA/CNES (France)DLR (Germany)ASI/INAF (Italy)CICYT/MCYT (Spain)CSA (Canada)NAOC (China)CEA, (France)CNES (France)CNRS (France)ASI (Italy)MCINN (Spain)SNSB (Sweden)STFC (UK)NASA (USA)National Aeronautics and Space AdministrationAstronom