80 research outputs found
An X-Ray View of the Jet-Cycle in the Radio Loud AGN 3C120
We present a study of the central engine in the broad-line radio galaxy 3C120
using a multi-epoch analysis of a deep XMM-Newton observation and two deep
Suzaku pointings (in 2012). In order to place our spectral data into the
context of the disk-disruption/jet-ejection cycles displayed by this object, we
monitor the source in the UV/X-ray bands, and in the radio band. We find three
statistically acceptable spectral models, a disk-reflection model, a jet-model
and a jet+disk model. Despite being good descriptions of the data, the
disk-reflection model violates the radio constraints on the inclination, and
the jet-model has a fine-tuning problem, requiring a jet contribution exceeding
that expected. Thus, we argue for a composite jet+disk model. Within the
context of this model, we verify the basic predictions of the jet-cycle
paradigm, finding a truncated/refilling disk during the Suzaku observations and
a complete disk extending down to the innermost stable circular orbit (ISCO)
during the XMM-Newton observation. The idea of a refilling disk is further
supported by the detection of the ejection of a new jet knot approximately one
month after the Suzaku pointings. We also discover a step-like event in one of
the Suzaku pointings in which the soft band lags the hard band. We suggest that
we are witnessing the propagation of a disturbance from the disk into the jet
on a timescale set by the magnetic field.Comment: 14 pages, 10 figures, accepted for publication in Ap
New Multiwavelength Observations of PKS 2155-304 and Implications for the Coordinated Variability Patterns of Blazars
The TeV blazar PKS 2155--304 was the subject of an intensive 2 week optical
and near-infrared observing campaign in 2004 August with the CTIO 0.9m
telescope. During this time, simultaneous X-ray data from RXTE were also
obtained. We compare the results of our observations to the results from two
previous simultaneous multiwavelength campaigns on PKS 2155-304. We conclude
that the correlation between the X-ray and UV/optical variability is strongest
and the time lag is shortest (only a few hours) when the object is brightest.
As the object becomes fainter, the correlations are weaker and the lags longer,
increasing to a few days. Based on the results of four campaigns, we find
evidence for a linear relationship between the mean optical brightness and lag
time of X-ray and UV/optical events. Furthermore, we assert that this behavior,
along with the different multiwavelength flare lag times across different flux
states is consistent with a highly relativistic shock propagating down the jet
producing the flares observed during a high state. In a quiescent state, the
variability is likely to be due to a number of factors including both the jet
and contributions outside of the jet, such as the accretion disk.Comment: 23 pages, 8 figures, to be published in the Astrophysical Journal,
volume 67
Disk-Jet Connection in the Radio Galaxy 3C 120
We present the results of extensive multi-frequency monitoring of the radio
galaxy 3C 120 between 2002 and 2007 at X-ray, optical, and radio wave bands, as
well as imaging with the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA). Over the 5 yr of
observation, significant dips in the X-ray light curve are followed by
ejections of bright superluminal knots in the VLBA images. Consistent with
this, the X-ray flux and 37 GHz flux are anti-correlated with X-ray leading the
radio variations. This implies that, in this radio galaxy, the radiative state
of accretion disk plus corona system, where the X-rays are produced, has a
direct effect on the events in the jet, where the radio emission originates.
The X-ray power spectral density of 3C 120 shows a break, with steeper slope at
shorter timescale and the break timescale is commensurate with the mass of the
central black hole based on observations of Seyfert galaxies and black hole
X-ray binaries. These findings provide support for the paradigm that black hole
X-ray binaries and active galactic nuclei are fundamentally similar systems,
with characteristic time and size scales linearly proportional to the mass of
the central black hole. The X-ray and optical variations are strongly
correlated in 3C 120, which implies that the optical emission in this object
arises from the same general region as the X-rays, i.e., in the accretion
disk-corona system. We numerically model multi-wavelength light curves of 3C
120 from such a system with the optical-UV emission produced in the disk and
the X-rays generated by scattering of thermal photons by hot electrons in the
corona. From the comparison of the temporal properties of the model light
curves to that of the observed variability, we constrain the physical size of
the corona and the distances of the emitting regions from the central BH.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journal. 28 pages, 21
figures, 2 table
Sleep oscillation-specific associations with Alzheimer’s disease CSF biomarkers : novel roles for sleep spindles and tau
Background: Based on associations between sleep spindles, cognition, and sleep-dependent memory processing,
here we evaluated potential relationships between levels of CSF Aβ42, P-tau, and T-tau with sleep spindle density
and other biophysical properties of sleep spindles in a sample of cognitively normal elderly individuals.
Methods: One-night in-lab nocturnal polysomnography (NPSG) and morning to early afternoon CSF collection
were performed to measure CSF Aβ42, P-tau and T-tau. Seven days of actigraphy were collected to assess habitual
total sleep time.
Results: Spindle density during NREM stage 2 (N2) sleep was negatively correlated with CSF Aβ42, P-tau and T-tau.
From the three, CSF T-tau was the most significantly associated with spindle density, after adjusting for age, sex and
ApoE4. Spindle duration, count and fast spindle density were also negatively correlated with T-tau levels. Sleep
duration and other measures of sleep quality were not correlated with spindle characteristics and did not modify
the associations between sleep spindle characteristics and the CSF biomarkers of AD.
Conclusions: Reduced spindles during N2 sleep may represent an early dysfunction related to tau, possibly
reflecting axonal damage or altered neuronal tau secretion, rendering it a potentially novel biomarker for early
neuronal dysfunction. Given their putative role in memory consolidation and neuroplasticity, sleep spindles may
represent a mechanism by which tau impairs memory consolidation, as well as a possible target for therapeutic
interventions in cognitive decline
Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial
Background
Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy
Mental health in elite athletes: International Olympic Committee consensus statement (2019)
Mental health symptoms and disorders are common among elite athletes, may have sport related manifestations within this population and impair performance. Mental health cannot be separated from physical health, as evidenced by mental health symptoms and disorders increasing the risk of physical injury and delaying subsequent recovery. There are no evidence or consensus based guidelines for diagnosis and management of mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes. Diagnosis must differentiate character traits particular to elite athletes from psychosocial maladaptations. Management strategies should address all contributors to mental health symptoms and consider biopsychosocial factors relevant to athletes to maximise benefit and minimise harm. Management must involve both treatment of affected individual athletes and optimising environments in which all elite athletes train and compete. To advance a more standardised, evidence based approach to mental health symptoms and disorders in elite athletes, an International Olympic Committee Consensus Work Group critically evaluated the current state of science and provided recommendations
Obstructive Sleep Apnea Severity Affects Amyloid Burden in Cognitively Normal Elderly. A Longitudinal Study
Rationale: Recent evidence suggests that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be a risk factor for developing mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer’s disease. However, how sleep apnea affects longitudinal risk for Alzheimer’s disease is less well understood.
Objectives: To test the hypothesis that there is an association between severity of OSA and longitudinal increase in amyloid burden in cognitively normal elderly.
Methods: Data were derived from a 2-year prospective longitudinal study that sampled community-dwelling healthy cognitively normal elderly. Subjects were healthy volunteers between the ages of 55 and 90, were nondepressed, and had a consensus clinical diagnosis of cognitively normal. Cerebrospinal fluid amyloid β was measured using ELISA. Subjects received Pittsburgh compound B positron emission tomography scans following standardized procedures. Monitoring of OSA was completed using a home sleep recording device.
Measurements and Main Results: We found that severity of OSA indices (AHIall [F1,88 = 4.26; P < 0.05] and AHI4% [F1,87 = 4.36; P < 0.05]) were associated with annual rate of change of cerebrospinal fluid amyloid β42 using linear regression after adjusting for age, sex, body mass index, and apolipoprotein E4 status. AHIall and AHI4% were not associated with increases in ADPiB-mask (Alzheimer’s disease vulnerable regions of interest Pittsburg compound B positron emission tomography mask) most likely because of the small sample size, although there was a trend for AHIall (F1,28 = 2.96, P = 0.09; and F1,28 = 2.32, not significant, respectively).
Conclusions: In a sample of cognitively normal elderly, OSA was associated with markers of increased amyloid burden over the 2-year follow-up. Sleep fragmentation and/or intermittent hypoxia from OSA are likely candidate mechanisms. If confirmed, clinical interventions for OSA may be useful in preventing amyloid build-up in cognitively normal elderly
Analysis of whole genome sequencing for the Escherichia coli O157:H7 typing phages
Background:
Shiga toxin producing Escherichia coli O157 can cause severe bloody diarrhea and haemolytic uraemic syndrome. Phage typing of E. coli O157 facilitates public health surveillance and outbreak investigations, certain phage types are more likely to occupy specific niches and are associated with specific age groups and disease severity. The aim of this study was to analyse the genome sequences of 16 (fourteen T4 and two T7) E. coli O157 typing phages and to determine the genes responsible for the subtle differences in phage type profiles.
Results:
The typing phages were sequenced using paired-end Illumina sequencing at The Genome Analysis Centre and the Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency and bioinformatics programs including Velvet, Brig and Easyfig were used to analyse them. A two-way Euclidian cluster analysis highlighted the associations between groups of phage types and typing phages. The analysis showed that the T7 typing phages (9 and 10) differed by only three genes and that the T4 typing phages formed three distinct groups of similar genomic sequences: Group 1 (1, 8, 11, 12 and 15, 16), Group 2 (3, 6, 7 and 13) and Group 3 (2, 4, 5 and 14). The E. coli O157 phage typing scheme exhibited a significantly modular network linked to the genetic similarity of each group showing that these groups are specialised to infect a subset of phage types.
Conclusion:
Sequencing the typing phage has enabled us to identify the variable genes within each group and to determine how this corresponds to changes in phage type.Public Health EnglandNational Institute for Health Research scientific research development fundBiotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC
A obliteração da cultura e a naturalização da escolha nas confabulações da psicologia evolucionista
- …