67 research outputs found
Black Hole Masses and Star Formation Rates of z >1 Dust Obscured Galaxies (DOGs): Results from Keck OSIRIS Integral Field Spectroscopy
We have obtained high spatial resolution Keck OSIRIS integral field
spectroscopy of four z~1.5 ultra-luminous infrared galaxies that exhibit broad
H-alpha emission lines indicative of strong AGN activity. The observations were
made with the Keck laser guide star adaptive optics system giving a spatial
resolution of 0.1", or <1 kpc at these redshifts. These high spatial resolution
observations help to spatially separate the extended narrow-line regions ---
possibly powered by star formation --- from the nuclear regions, which may be
powered by both star formation and AGN activity. There is no evidence for
extended, rotating gas disks in these four galaxies. Assuming dust correction
factors as high as A(H-alpha)=4.8 mag, the observations suggest lower limits on
the black hole masses of (1 - 9) x 10^8 solar masses, and star formation rates
<100 solar masses per year. The black hole masses and star formation rates of
the sample galaxies appear low in comparison to other high-z galaxies with
similar host luminosities. We explore possible explanations for these
observations including, host galaxy fading, black hole growth, and the shut
down of star formation.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal. 12 pages, 6
figures, 5 table
Identification of improved IL28B SNPs and haplotypes for prediction of drug response in treatment of hepatitis C using massively parallel sequencing in a cross-sectional European cohort
Repeated exposure to socioeconomic disadvantage and health selection as life course pathways to mid-life depressive and anxiety disorders
The biomedical examination was funded by
Medical Research Council [G0000934], awarded under the Health of
the Public initiative. Charlotte Clark is supported by an Engineering
and Physical Sciences Research Fellowship. Bryan Rodgers is supported
by Research Fellowships Nos 148948 and 366758 and by
Program Grant No. 179805 from the National Health and Medical
Research Council of Australia. Research at the Institute of Child
Health and Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS Trust
benefits from R&D funding received from the NHS Executive
MBOAT7 rs641738 increases risk of liver inflammation and transition to fibrosis in chronic hepatitis C
Cirrhosis likely shares common pathophysiological pathways despite arising from a variety of liver diseases. A recent GWAS identified rs641738, a polymorphism in the MBOAT7 locus, as being associated with the development of alcoholic cirrhosis. Here we explore the role of this variant on liver inflammation and fibrosis in two cohorts of patients with chronic hepatitis C. In 2,051 patients, rs641738 associated with severe hepatic inflammation and increased risk of fibrosis, as well as fast fibrosis progression. At functional level, rs641738 associated with MBOAT7 transcript and protein levels in liver and blood, and with serum inflammatory, oxidative stress and macrophage activation markers. MBOAT7 was expressed in immune cell subsets, implying a role in hepatic inflammation. We conclude that the MBOAT7 rs641738 polymorphism is a novel risk variant for liver inflammation in hepatitis C, and thereby for liver fibrosis
Interferon-λ rs12979860 genotype and liver fibrosis in viral and non-viral chronic liver disease
IFN-λ3, not IFN-λ4, likely mediates IFNL3âIFNL4 haplotypeâdependent hepatic inflammation and fibrosis
The International Liver Disease Genetics Consortium (ILDGC).Genetic variation in the IFNL3âIFNL4 (interferon-λ3âinterferon-λ4) region is associated with hepatic inflammation and fibrosis1,2,3,4. Whether IFN-λ3 or IFN-λ4 protein drives this association is not known. We demonstrate that hepatic inflammation, fibrosis stage, fibrosis progression rate, hepatic infiltration of immune cells, IFN-λ3 expression, and serum sCD163 levels (a marker of activated macrophages) are greater in individuals with the IFNL3âIFNL4 risk haplotype that does not produce IFN-λ4, but produces IFN-λ3. No difference in these features was observed according to genotype at rs117648444, which encodes a substitution at position 70 of the IFN-λ4 protein and reduces IFN-λ4 activity, or between patients encoding functionally defective IFN-λ4 (IFN-λ4âSer70) and those encoding fully active IFN-λ4âPro70. The two proposed functional variants (rs368234815 and rs4803217)5,6 were not superior to the discovery SNP rs12979860 with respect to liver inflammation or fibrosis phenotype. IFN-λ3 rather than IFN-λ4 likely mediates IFNL3âIFNL4 haplotypeâdependent hepatic inflammation and fibrosis.M.E., M.D., and J.G. are supported by the Robert W. Storr Bequest to the Sydney Medical Foundation, University of Sydney, and by a National Health and Medical Research Council of Australia (NHMRC) Program Grant (1053206) and NHMRC Project Grants (APP1107178 and APP1108422). G.D. is supported by an NHMRC Fellowship (1028432)
Comparative genomics of the major parasitic worms
Parasitic nematodes (roundworms) and platyhelminths (flatworms) cause debilitating chronic infections of humans and animals, decimate crop production and are a major impediment to socioeconomic development. Here we report a broad comparative study of 81 genomes of parasitic and non-parasitic worms. We have identified gene family births and hundreds of expanded gene families at key nodes in the phylogeny that are relevant to parasitism. Examples include gene families that modulate host immune responses, enable parasite migration though host tissues or allow the parasite to feed. We reveal extensive lineage-specific differences in core metabolism and protein families historically targeted for drug development. From an in silico screen, we have identified and prioritized new potential drug targets and compounds for testing. This comparative genomics resource provides a much-needed boost for the research community to understand and combat parasitic worms
Marine mammal hotspots across the circumpolar Arctic
Aim: Identify hotspots and areas of high species richness for Arctic marine mammals. Location: Circumpolar Arctic. Methods: A total of 2115 biologging devices were deployed on marine mammals from 13 species in the Arctic from 2005 to 2019. Getis-Ord Gi* hotspots were calculated based on the number of individuals in grid cells for each species and for phyloge-netic groups (nine pinnipeds, three cetaceans, all species) and areas with high spe-cies richness were identified for summer (Jun-Nov), winter (Dec-May) and the entire year. Seasonal habitat differences among speciesâ hotspots were investigated using Principal Component Analysis. Results: Hotspots and areas with high species richness occurred within the Arctic continental-shelf seas and within the marginal ice zone, particularly in the âArctic gatewaysâ of the north Atlantic and Pacific oceans. Summer hotspots were generally found further north than winter hotspots, but there were exceptions to this pattern, including bowhead whales in the Greenland-Barents Seas and species with coastal distributions in Svalbard, Norway and East Greenland. Areas with high species rich-ness generally overlapped high-density hotspots. Large regional and seasonal dif-ferences in habitat features of hotspots were found among species but also within species from different regions. Gap analysis (discrepancy between hotspots and IUCN ranges) identified species and regions where more research is required. Main conclusions: This study identified important areas (and habitat types) for Arctic marine mammals using available biotelemetry data. The results herein serve as a benchmark to measure future distributional shifts. Expanded monitoring and teleme-try studies are needed on Arctic species to understand the impacts of climate change and concomitant ecosystem changes (synergistic effects of multiple stressors). While efforts should be made to fill knowledge gaps, including regional gaps and more com-plete sex and age coverage, hotspots identified herein can inform management ef-forts to mitigate the impacts of human activities and ecological changes, including creation of protected areas
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