Astronomical Distance Determination in the Space Age: Secondary Distance Indicators

The formal division of the distance indicators into primary and secondary leads to difficulties in description of methods which can actually be used in two ways: with, and without the support of the other methods for scaling. Thus instead of concentrating on the scaling requirement we concentrate on all methods of distance determination to extragalactic sources which are designated, at least formally, to use for individual sources. Among those, the Supernovae Ia is clearly the leader due to its enormous success in determination of the expansion rate of the Universe. However, new methods are rapidly developing, and there is also a progress in more traditional methods. We give a general overview of the methods but we mostly concentrate on the most recent developments in each field, and future expectations. © 2018, The Author(s)

Genetic effects on the timing of parturition and links to fetal birth weight.

This is the final version. Available from Nature Research via the DOI in this record. Data availability: Cohorts should be contacted individually for access to raw genotype and phenotype data, as each cohort has different data access policies. Summary statistics from the meta-analysis, excluding 23andMe, are available at the EGG website (https://egg-consortium.org/), and access to the weights for constructing the polygenic score of gestational duration excluding 23andMe are available at the PGS Catalog (https://www.pgscatalog.org/, score ID: PGS002806). Access to the full set, including 23andMe results, can be obtained after approval from 23andMe is presented to the corresponding author or by completion of a Data Transfer Agreement (https://research.23andme.com/dataset-access/), which exists to protect the privacy of 23andMe participants. Access to the Danish National Birth Cohort (phs000103.v1.p1), Hyperglycemia and Adverse Pregnancy Outcome (phs000096.v4.p1) and Genomic and Proteomic Network (phs000714.v1.p1) individual-level phenotype and genetic data can be obtained through dbGaP Authorized Access portal (https://dbgap.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/dbgap/aa/wga.cgi?page=login). The informed consent under which the data or samples were collected is the basis for determining the appropriateness of sharing data through unrestricted-access databases or NIH-designated controlled-access data repositories. The summary statistics used in this publication other than the one generated are available at the following links: fetal GWAS of gestational duration (http://egg-consortium.org/gestational-duration-2019.html), fetal and maternal GWAS of birth weight (http://egg-consortium.org/birth-weight-2019.html), miscarriage (http://www.geenivaramu.ee/tools/misc_sumstats.zip), age at first birth, estradiol (women), endometriosis, number of live births and age at menarche (http://www.nealelab.is), age at menopause (https://www.reprogen.org), testosterone (women)58, SHBG, testosterone and CBAT (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.c.5304500.v1), pelvic organ prolapse and leiomyoma of the uterus (https://www.finngen.fi/fi), polycystic ovary syndrome (https://www.repository.cam.ac.uk/handle/1810/283491 and https://www.finngen.fi/fi) and pre-eclampsia (European Genome-phenome Archive, https://ega-archive.org, EGAD00010001984). Pan-UK Biobank data are available at https://pan.ukbb.broadinstitute.org/. Precomputed LD scores for European populations (https://data.broadinstitute.org/alkesgroup/LDSCORE/eur_w_ld_chr.tar.bz2) and multi-tissue gene expression precomputed stratified LD scores (https://alkesgroup.broadinstitute.org/LDSCORE/LDSC_SEG_ldscores/Multi_tissue_gene_expr_1000Gv3_ldscores.tgz) are available. eQTL data from GTEx are available at https://gtexportal.org/home/ and from endometrium at http://reproductivegenomics.com.au/shiny/endo_eqtl_rna/. Protein QTL data were obtained from https://www.omicscience.org/apps/pgwas/. Genome Reference Consortium Human Build 37 (hg19) available at https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/data-hub/genome/GCF_000001405.13/.Code availability: Code for this project has been structured using a Snakemake workflow65 and is available at https://github.com/PerinatalLab/metaGWAS. A public release of it has been deposited in Zenodo (https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.7311977).The timing of parturition is crucial for neonatal survival and infant health. Yet, its genetic basis remains largely unresolved. We present a maternal genome-wide meta-analysis of gestational duration (n = 195,555), identifying 22 associated loci (24 independent variants) and an enrichment in genes differentially expressed during labor. A meta-analysis of preterm delivery (18,797 cases, 260,246 controls) revealed six associated loci and large genetic similarities with gestational duration. Analysis of the parental transmitted and nontransmitted alleles (n = 136,833) shows that 15 of the gestational duration genetic variants act through the maternal genome, whereas 7 act both through the maternal and fetal genomes and 2 act only via the fetal genome. Finally, the maternal effects on gestational duration show signs of antagonistic pleiotropy with the fetal effects on birth weight: maternal alleles that increase gestational duration have negative fetal effects on birth weight. The present study provides insights into the genetic effects on the timing of parturition and the complex maternal-fetal relationship between gestational duration and birth weight.Swedish Research CouncilSwedish Research CouncilResearch Council of NorwayResearch Council of NorwayMarch of Dimesunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute Of Child Health & Human Development of the National Institutes of HealthNorwegian Diabetes AssociationNils Normans minnegaveNorwegian Research CouncilMedical Research CouncilBritish Heart FoundationResearch Council of NorwayBritish Heart FoundationDaniel B. Burke Chair for Diabetes Research and NIHCHOPEuropean Regional Development Fund and the programme Mobilitas PlussWellcome Trust and Royal Society Sir Henry Dale FellowshipWellcome TrustOak FoundationFonds de la recherche du Québec en santéUS National Institutes of HealthNovo Nordisk FoundationNovo Nordisk FoundationNovo Nordisk Foundatio

Ocena stanu zanieczyszczenia powietrza wybranymi radioizotopami w pobliżu cementowni z użyciem metody woreczkowej

Mining and processing industry represents a potential source of radioisotopes contaminating the nearest environment. In order to estimate conditions of the environment in the vicinity of cement plant moss bag biomonitoring method was used. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship between the extent of air pollution with 40K, 137Cs, 210Pb and the distance from the cement plant. The share of various radiation sources in the total 210Pb activity concentration in mosses after exposure was also analyzed. Sampling sites were located in the forest near Opole (PL), in a line and at different distances from the cement plant. In test two types of moss bags, exposed simultaneously in the same places, were used. In the studies, activity concentrations of gamma-radioactive isotopes were determined in samples of moss before and after the exposure. In investigations the gamma-spectrometer with a germanium detector was used. From the obtained results the Relative Accumulation Factors (RAF) were calculated. In order to assess the extent to which radionuclides activity depends on the distance from the cement plant, correlation coefficients were calculated. It is hard to estimate the trends of radionuclides activity concentration changes with distance from the cement plant due to substantial discrepancies in the results. No significant relationship of radionuclides deposition on the distance from the cement plant was noticed.Przemysł wydobywczy i przetwórczy stanowi potencjalne źródło izotopów promieniotwórczych zanieczyszczających najbliższe środowisko. W celu oceny stanu środowiska w okolicy cementowni zastosowano metodę woreczkową z mchami. Celem doświadczenia było zbadanie zależności pomiędzy stopniem zanieczyszczenia powietrza 40K, 137Cs i 210Pb a odległością od cementowni. Przeanalizowano również udział różnych źródeł promieniowania w sumarycznej aktywności 210Pb w mchach po ekspozycji. Punkty pomiarowe zlokalizowane były w lesie niedaleko Opola, w jednej linii i w różnych odległościach od cementowni. W badaniu wykorzystano dwa typy woreczków wywieszone jednocześnie w tych samych miejscach. Zmierzono aktywność izotopów gamma-promieniotwórczych w próbkach mchów przed i po ekspozycji, wykorzystując gamma spektrometr z detektorem germanowym. Z uzyskanych wyników wyliczono względne współczynniki akumulacji (RAF). Chcąc ocenić w jakim stopniu aktywność radionuklidów zależy od odległości od cementowni, wyznaczono współczynniki korelacji liniowej. Ze względu na znaczną rozbieżność wyników w wariantach trudno jest ocenić trend wzrostu aktywności radionuklidów wraz ze zmianą odległości od cementowni. Nie zauważono wyraźnych zależności wielkości depozycji radionuklidów od odległości od cementowni

Studies of kefir rheological properties

Celem pracy było oszacowanie możliwości wykorzystania metod reologicznych do oceny właściwości płynnych produktów spożywczych. Opisano najczęściej spotykane rodzaje cieczy rzeczywistych oraz metody badawcze służące do ich identyfikacji. Rozważania teoretyczne uzupełniono prezentacją wyników badań polegających na prześledzeniu zmian właściwości reologicznych kefiru podczas przechowywania. Badania przeprowadzono na jednym rodzaju komercyjnie dostępnego kefiru. Badania właściwości reologicznych przeprowadzono z wykorzystaniem wiskozymetru rotacyjnego DV2T RV firmy Brookfield typu stożek-płytka, wyposażonego we wrzeciono pomiarowe CPA-42Z. Dokonanie analizy wyników badań pozwoliło na zakwalifikowanie badanego materiału do jednej z reologicznych grup płynów oraz ocenę zmiany jego cech reologicznych po otwarciu, podczas 8-dniowego okresu przechowywania w warunkach chłodniczych. Stwierdzono, że badany kefir należy do nienewtonowskich płynów rozrzedzanych ścinaniem, pozbawionych granicy płynięcia (pseudoplastycznych) i wykazujących zjawisko tiksotropii. Właściwości reologiczne otwartego produktu mlecznego zmieniają się wraz z czasem przechowywania.The aim of the study was to assess the possibility of rheological methods application in liquid food products properties evaluation. The most common types of real liquids and methods of their identification were described. Additionally to the theoretical considerations the research results of changes in the rheological properties of kefir during storage were described. In tests a commercially available kefir type was used. Rheological properties investigations were carried out using a rotational viscometer DV2T RV from Brookfield, cone-plate, equipped with a measuring spindle CPA-42Z. Analysis of the test results allowed classification of the material to one of the rheological groups of fluids and assessment of changes in the rheological characteristics of the opening. It has been found that the kefir considered to be non-Newtonian shear thinning fluid, without yield point (pseudoplastic), and exhibiting a thixotropic effect. The results indicates changes in the rheological properties of the opened kefir while storage

The age of the moraine ridges in the eastern part of Fláajökull foreland (SE Iceland) based on the results of lichenometric dating

Wyniki datowania lichenometrycznego trzech wałów morenowych położonych we wschodniej części przedpola lodowca Fláa zostały opracowane w oparciu o pomiary plech Rhizocarpon przy zastosowaniu: i) analizy gradientu rozkładu częstości populacji (GSF), ii) metody największej plechy (LL), iii) metody średniej z pięciu największych plech oraz (5LL) iv) metody pojedynczej przewidywanej plechy (1-IN-1000). Stwierdzono, że maksymalny zasięg lodowca Fláa w małej epoce lodowej przypada na przełom XIX i XX w. Ponadto wykazano niejednorodne tempo recesji czoła lodowca w obrębie jednego lobu oraz wyraźny wpływ warunków mikrośrodowiskowych na liczebność porostów i tempo ich wzrostu.The results of lichenometric dating of Fláajökull moraine ridges located in the eastern part of its marginal zone have been carried out on the base of measurements of the Rhizocarpon thalli and using analyses of: i) the size-frequency distribution gradient (GSF), ii) the largest lichen (LL), iii) the five largest lichens (5LL), and iv) “1-IN-1000” method. It was found that the maximum extent of the glacier in the Little Ice Age occurred at the turn of 19th and 20th centuries. Moreover, the results indicate that the glacier recession rate was not consistent in all parts of the snout and that micro-environmental conditions significantly influence lichen populations and the lichen growth rate