The star formation rates of QSOs

We examine the far-IR properties of a sample of 5391 optically selected QSOs in the 0.5 44.7, using SPIRE data from Herschel-ATLAS. We split the sample in a grid of 74 luminosity-redshift bins and compute the average optical–infrared spectral energy distribution (SED) in each bin. By normalising an intrinsic AGN template to the AGN optical power (at 5100˚A) we decompose the total infrared emission (LIR; 8—1000µm) into an AGN (LIR,AGN) and star-forming component (LIR,SF). We find that the AGN contribution to LIR increases as a function of AGN power which manifests as a reduction of the ‘far-IR bump’ in the average QSO SEDs. We note that LIR,SF does not correlate with AGN power; the mean star formation rates (SFRs) of AGN host galaxies are a function of redshift only and they range from ∼6 M⊙/yr at z ∼ 0 to a plateau of . 200 M⊙/yr at z ∼ 2.6

Constructive activism in the dark web: cryptomarkets and illicit drugs in the digital ‘demimonde’

This paper explores activism enacted through Silk Road, a now defunct cryptomarket where illicit drugs were sold in the dark web. Drawing on a digital ethnography of Silk Road, we develop the notion of constructive activism to extend the lexicon of concepts available to discuss forms of online activism. Monitoring of the cryptomarket took place between June 2011 and its closure in October 2013. Just before and after the closure of the marketplace we conducted anonymous online interviews with 17 people who reported buying drugs on Silk Road (1.0). These interviews were conducted synchronously and interactively through encrypted instant messaging. Participants discussed harnessing and developing the technological tools needed to access Silk Road and engage within the Silk Road community. For participants Silk Road was not just a market for trading drugs: it facilitated a shared experience of personal freedom within a libertarian philosophical framework, where open discussions about stigmatized behaviours were encouraged and supported. Tensions between public activism against drug prohibition and the need to hide one's identity as a drug user from public scrutiny were partially resolved through community actions that internalized these politics, rather than engaging in forms of online activism that are intended to have real-world political effects. Most aptly described through van de Sande's (2015) concept of prefigurative politics, they sought to transform their values into built environments that were designed to socially engineer a more permissive digital reality, which we refer to as constructive activism

Transdisciplinary and arts-centred approaches to stewardship and sustainability of urban nature.

This paper explores case studies of how artists working with scientists and land managers affiliated with the Urban Field Station Collaborative Arts Program (UFS Arts) are fostering new relations of care with urban nature and thereby informing landscape decisions. The 'wicked' problems related to sustainability demand novel, holistic approaches to transformation that engage multiple ways of knowing. We present 4 examples from UFS Arts by triangulating data across programmatic documentation, evaluation, and ethnographic materials from 2016-present. Matthew López-Jensen's Tree Love and Nikki Lindt’s Underground Sound Project sensitise us to the capacities of trees and forests through image and sound. Mary Mattingly’s Swale is a floating food forest that enacts new forms of community stewardship. The exhibition Who Takes Care of New York? maps the stories and practices of civic environmental groups. Three themes in these works suggest opportunities for transformation throughout the knowledge production cycle: posing novel questions, engaging multiple methodologies, and communicating ideas with the public. Through these transdisciplinary works, we learn things we could not have learned via traditional disciplinary or interdisciplinary work and assert that stewardship offers a pathway towards sustainability transforming management practices and landscape decisions by reshaping our relationships to community and the land

Outpatient prescription practices in patients with atrial fibrillation (from the NCDR PINNACLE registry)

This study sought to evaluate inappropriate prescribing practices in an atrial fibrillation (AF) population, as outlined by the 2016 ACC/AHA Clinical Performance and Quality Measures for Adults with Atrial Fibrillation or Atrial Flutter document. The 2016 AF quality measures document specified medications to avoid in certain AF populations, including aspirin and anticoagulant combination therapy in patients without cardiovascular disease, and non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blockers in patients with reduced ejection fraction. Using data from the NCDR PINNACLE registry, a national outpatient cardiology practice registry, we assessed rates of inappropriate prescription of two types of medications among AF outpatients from 5/1/2008-5/1/2016. Overall rates of inappropriate prescription and variation by practice were calculated. Patient and practice factors associated with inappropriate prescription were assessed in adjusted analyses. A total of 107,759 of 658,250 (16.4%) patients without cardiovascular disease were inappropriately prescribed an antiplatelet and anticoagulant together, and 5,731 of 150,079 (3.8%) patients with reduced ejection fraction were inappropriately prescribed a non-dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker. Overall, 14.8% of AF patients were prescribed medications that were not recommended. Both patient and practice factors were associated with inappropriate prescribing, and the adjusted practice-level median odds ratio for inappropriate prescription was 1.70 (95% CI: 1.61-1.82), indicating a 70% likelihood that 2 random practices would treat identical AF patients differently. In a large registry of AF patients treated in cardiology practices, overall rates of inappropriate prescription practices, as defined by the 2016 AF quality measures, were relatively low, but significant practice variation was present

Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography perfusion parameters of canine suspected brain tumors at baseline and during radiotherapy might be different depending on tumor location but not associated with survival

IntroductionTreatment of brain tumors in dogs can be associated with significant morbidity and reliable prognostic factors are lacking. Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCECT) can be used to assess tumor perfusion. The objectives of this study were to assess perfusion parameters and change in size of suspected brain tumors before and during radiotherapy (RT) depending on their location and find a potential correlation with survival.MethodsSeventeen client-owned dogs with suspected brain tumors were prospectively recruited. All dogs had a baseline DCECT to assess mass size, blood volume (BV), blood flow (BF), and transit time (TT). Twelve dogs had a repeat DCECT after 12 Gy of megavoltage RT. Survival times were calculated.ResultsIntra-axial masses had lower BF (p = 0.005) and BV (p p = 0.001) and BV (p = 0.004) than extra-axial masses. The volume of the mass was positively associated with TT (p = 0.001) but not with BF and BV. Intra-axial masses showed a more marked decrease in size than extra-axial and pituitary masses during RT (p = 0.022 for length, p = 0.05 for height). Extra-axial masses showed a greater decrease in BF (p = 0.011) and BV (p = 0.012) during RT than pituitary masses and intra-axial masses. Heavier dogs had a shorter survival time (p = 0.011). Perfusion parameters were not correlated with survival.ConclusionDCECT perfusion parameters and change in size of brain masses during RT might be different based on the location of the mass

Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography in dogs with nasal tumors

BackgroundTreatment of nasal tumors in dogs is associated with high morbidity and reliable prognostic factors are lacking. Dynamic contrast-enhanced computed tomography (DCECT) can be used to assess tumor perfusion.ObjectivesTo assess perfusion parameters of nasal tumors (correlating with tumor type) before and during radiotherapy (RT) and find potential correlation with survival.AnimalsTwenty-four client-owned dogs with nasal tumors, including 16 epithelial tumors and 8 sarcomas.MethodsProspective cross-sectional study. All dogs had baseline DCECT to assess fractional vascular volume (BV), blood flow (BF), and transit time (TT). Thirteen dogs had repeat DCECT after 12 Gy of megavoltage RT. Survival times were calculated.ResultsMedian BV was 17.83 mL/100 g (range, 3.63-66.02), median BF was 122.63 mL/100 g/minute (range, 23.65-279.99), and median TT was 8.91 seconds (range, 4.57-14.23). Sarcomas had a significantly lower BF than adenocarcinomas (P = .002), carcinomas (P = .01), and other carcinomas (P = .001), and significantly lower BV than adenocarcinomas (P = .03) and other carcinomas (P = .004). Significant associations were found between epithelial tumors and sarcoma for change in tumor volume (P = .01), width (P = .004), and length (P = .02) in that epithelial tumors decreased in volume whereas sarcomas increased in volume. Perfusion parameters were not correlated with survival.Conclusions and clinical importanceNasal sarcomas have lower BV and BF than nasal carcinomas, and sarcomas have a lower size reduction than carcinomas early on during RT. Baseline results and changes in perfusion parameters may not be correlated with survival