750 research outputs found
Identification of candidate protein markers of Bovine Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 infection using an in vitro model
Planetary systems around close binary stars: the case of the very dusty, Sun-like, spectroscopic binary BD+20 307
Field star BD+20 307 is the dustiest known main sequence star, based on the
fraction of its bolometric luminosity, 4%, that is emitted at infrared
wavelengths. The particles that carry this large IR luminosity are unusually
warm, comparable to the temperature of the zodiacal dust in the solar system,
and their existence is likely to be a consequence of a fairly recent collision
of large objects such as planets or planetary embryos. Thus, the age of BD+20
307 is potentially of interest in constraining the era of terrestrial planet
formation. The present project was initiated with an attempt to derive this age
using the Chandra X-ray Observatory to measure the X-ray flux of BD+20 307 in
conjunction with extensive photometric and spectroscopic monitoring
observations from Fairborn Observatory. However, the recent realization that
BD+20 307 is a short period, double-line, spectroscopic binary whose components
have very different lithium abundances, vitiates standard methods of age
determination. We find the system to be metal-poor; this, combined with its
measured lithium abundances, indicates that BD+20 307 may be several to many
Gyr old. BD+20 307 affords astronomy a rare peek into a mature planetary system
in orbit around a close binary star (because such systems are not amenable to
study by the precision radial velocity technique).Comment: accepted for ApJ, December 10, 200
Error Avoiding Quantum Codes and Dynamical Stabilization of Grover's Algorithm
An error avoiding quantum code is presented which is capable of stabilizing
Grover's quantum search algorithm against a particular class of coherent
errors. This error avoiding code consists of states only which are factorizable
in the computational basis. Furthermore, its redundancy is smaller than the one
which is achievable with a general error correcting quantum code saturating the
quantum Hamming bound. The fact that this code consists of factorizable states
only may offer advantages for the implementation of quantum gates in the error
free subspace
Abnormal small heat shock protein interactions involving neuropathy-associated HSP22 (HSPB8) mutants
Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154632/1/fsb2fj065911fje.pd
High serum immunoglobulin g and m levels predict freedom from adverse cardiovascular events in hypertension: a nested case-control substudy of the Anglo-Scandinavian cardiac outcomes trial
Aims:
We aimed to determine whether the levels of total serum IgM and IgG, together with specific antibodies against malondialdehyde-conjugated low-density lipoprotein (MDA-LDL), can improve cardiovascular risk discrimination.
Methods and Results:
The Anglo-Scandinavian Cardiac Outcomes Trial (ASCOT) randomized 9098 patients in the UK and Ireland into the Blood Pressure-Lowering Arm. 485 patients that had cardiovascular (CV) events over 5.5 years were age and sex matched with 1367 controls. Higher baseline total serum IgG, and to a lesser extent IgM, were associated with decreased risk of CV events (IgG odds ratio (OR) per one standard deviation (SD) 0.80 [95% confidence interval, CI 0.72,0.89], p < 0.0001; IgM 0.83[0.75,0.93], p = 0.001), and particularly events due to coronary heart disease (CHD) (IgG OR 0.66 (0.57,0.76); p < 0.0001, IgM OR 0.81 (0.71,0.93); p = 0.002). The association persisted after adjustment for a basic model with variables in the Framingham Risk Score (FRS) as well as following inclusion of C-reactive protein (CRP) and N-terminal pro-B-type natriuretic peptide (NtProBNP). IgG and IgM antibodies against MDA-LDL were also associated with CV events but their significance was lost following adjustment for total serum IgG and IgM respectively. The area under the receiver operator curve for CV events was improved from the basic risk model when adding in total serum IgG, and there was improvement in continuous and categorical net reclassification (17.6% and 7.5% respectively) as well as in the integrated discrimination index.
Conclusion:
High total serum IgG levels are an independent predictor of freedom from adverse cardiovascular events, particularly those attributed to CHD, in patients with hypertension
Evidence Against the Sciama Model of Radiative Decay of Massive Neutrinos
We report on spectral observations of the night sky in the band around 900
angstroms where the emission line in the Sciama model of radiatively decaying
massive neutrinos would be present. The data were obtained with a high
resolution, high sensitivity spectrometer flown on the Spanish MINISAT
satellite. The observed emission is far less intense than that expected in the
Sciama model.Comment: 9 pages, accepted to Ap
Definition of medical event is to be based on the total source strength for evaluation of permanent prostate brachytherapy: A report from the American Society for Radiation Oncology
AbstractPurposeThe Nuclear Regulatory Commission deems it to be a medical event (ME) if the total dose delivered differs from the prescribed dose by 20% or more. A dose-based definition of ME is not appropriate for permanent prostate brachytherapy as it generates too many spurious MEs and thereby creates unnecessary apprehension in patients, and ties up regulatory bodies and the licensees in unnecessary and burdensome investigations. A more suitable definition of ME is required for permanent prostate brachytherapy.Methods and MaterialsThe American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) formed a working group of experienced clinicians to review the literature, assess the validity of current regulations, and make specific recommendations about the definition of an ME in permanent prostate brachytherapy.ResultsThe working group found that the current definition of ME in §35.3045 as âthe total dose delivered differs from the prescribed dose by 20 percent or moreâ was not suitable for permanent prostate brachytherapy since the prostate volume (and hence the resultant calculated prostate dose) is dependent on the timing of the imaging, the imaging modality used, the observer variability in prostate contouring, the planning margins used, inadequacies of brachytherapy treatment planning systems to calculate tissue doses, and seed migration within and outside the prostate. If a dose-based definition for permanent implants is applied strictly, many properly executed implants would be improperly classified as an ME leading to a detrimental effect on brachytherapy. The working group found that a source strength-based criterion, of >20% of source strength prescribed in the post-procedure written directive being implanted outside the planning target volume is more appropriate for defining ME in permanent prostate brachytherapy.ConclusionsASTRO recommends that the definition of ME for permanent prostate brachytherapy should not be dose based but should be based upon the source strength (air-kerma strength) administered
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