High Atomic Carbon Abundance in Molecular Clouds in the Galactic Center Region

This letter presents a Nyquist-sampled, high-resolution [CI] 3P1-3P0 map of the -0.2 deg < l < 1.2 deg x -0.1 deg < b < 0 deg region in the Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) taken with the Atacama Submillimeter Telescope Experiment (ASTE) 10 m telescope. We have found that molecular clouds in the CMZ can be classified into two groups according to their [CI]/13CO intensity ratios: a bulk component consisting with clouds with a low, uniform [CI]/13CO ratio (0.45) and another component consisting of clouds with high [CI]/13CO ratios (> 0.8). The [CI]-enhanced regions appear in M-0.02-0.07, the circumnuclear disk, the 180-pc ring and the high velocity compact cloud CO+0.02-0.02. We have carried out a large velocity gradient (LVG) analysis and have derived the C^0/CO column density ratio for M-0.02-0.07 as 0.47, which is approximately twice that of the bulk component of the CMZ (0.26). We propose several hypotheses on the origin of high C^0 abundance in M-0.02-0.07, including cosmic-ray/X-ray dissociation and mechanical dissociation of CO in the pre-existing molecular clouds. We also suggest the possibility that M-0.02-0.07 is a cloud at an early stage of chemical evolution from diffuse gas, which was possibly formed by the bar-induced mass inflow in the Galactic Center region.Comment: 16 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in Astrophysical Journal Letter

Sexual dimorphism of brown adipose tissue function

ObjectiveTo determine whether brown adipose tissue (BAT) activity in school-age children differs between the sexes and to explore the impact of dietary intake, sedentary behavior, and picky/fussy eating.Study designChildren aged 8.5-11.8 years of age (n = 36) underwent infrared thermography to determine the temperature of the skin overlying the main superficial BAT depot in the supraclavicular region before and after 5 minutes of mild cold exposure (single-hand immersion in cool tap water at about 20°C). The relationships between the supraclavicular region temperature and parental reports of food consumption, eating behavior, and inactivity were explored.ResultsThe supraclavicular region temperature was higher in boys (n = 16) at baseline, and after cold exposure. Boys displayed a greater thermogenic response to cold. Strong negative correlations were observed between the supraclavicular region temperature and body mass index percentile, and differences in supraclavicular region temperature between girls and boys persisted after adjustment for body mass index percentile. A negative linear relationship was observed between protein and vegetable intake and supraclavicular region temperature in girls only, but did not persist after adjustment for multiple comparisons. There was no difference in the adjusted supraclavicular region temperature between active or inactive children, or picky and nonpicky eaters.ConclusionsThese findings indicate sexual dimorphism in BAT thermogenic activity and a sex-specific impact of diet. Future studies should aim to quantify the contribution of BAT to childhood energy expenditure, energy imbalance, and any role in the origins of childhood obesity

The origin of carbon: Low-mass stars and an evolving, initially top-heavy IMF?

Multi-zone chemical evolution models (CEMs), differing in the nucleosynthesis prescriptions (yields) and prescriptions of star formation, have been computed for the Milky Way. All models fit the observed O/H and Fe/H gradients well and reproduce the main characteristics of the gas distribution, but they are also designed to do so. For the C/H gradient the results are inconclusive with regards to yields and star formation. The C/Fe and O/Fe vs. Fe/H, as well as C/O vs. O/H trends predicted by the models for the solar neighbourhood zone were compared with stellar abundances from the literature. For O/Fe vs. Fe/H all models fit the data, but for C/O vs. O/H, only models with increased carbon yields for zero-metallicity stars or an evolving initial mass function provide good fits. Furthermore, a steep star formation threshold in the disc can be ruled out since it predicts a steep fall-off in all abundance gradients beyond a certain galactocentric distance (~ 13 kpc) and cannot explain the possible flattening of the C/H and Fe/H gradients in the outer disc seen in observations. Since in the best-fit models the enrichment scenario is such that carbon is primarily produced in low-mass stars, it is suggested that in every environment where the peak of star formation happened a few Gyr back in time, winds of carbon-stars are responsible for most of the carbon enrichment. However, a significant contribution by zero-metallicity stars, especially at very early stages, and by winds of high-mass stars, which are increasing in strength with metallicity, cannot be ruled out by the CEMs presented here. In the solar neighbourhood, as much as 80%, or as little as 40% of the carbon may have been injected to the interstellar medium by low- and intermediate-mass stars. The stellar origin of carbon remains an open question, although production in low- and intermediate-mass stars appears to be the simplest explanation of observed carbon abundance trends.Comment: 13 pages, 9 figures. Accepted by Astronomy & Astrophysic

Tools and methods for providing assurance of clonality for legacy cell lines

Over the last several years demonstration of cell line clonality has been a topic of many industry and regulatory presentations and papers. Guidance has been provided by the regulatory authorities, especially the FDA, on a path forward for providing evidence of clonality with high probability. It has been recommended that two-rounds of limiting dilution cloning (LDC) at sufficiently low seeding densities (≤0.5 cells/well) provides sufficient evidence that a cell line is clonal. Furthermore, one-round of LDC may also suffice if supplemental data from a characterized FACS or plate-imaging workflow are also included in the package. Cell lines generated by methods that do not demonstrate high probability of clonal derivation, including legacy cell lines, may require additional studies to provide assurance and/or process control strategies to satisfy regulatory expectations. Within the Biologics function of the IQ Consortium the “Clonality” Working Group is focusing on methods and tools which could be utilized to provide a high assurance of clonality for legacy cell lines. The presentation will outline a three tier approach to address legacy cell line clonality assurance: standard practices already used in industry to support limit of in vitro cell age studies, enhanced control strategies to ensure process consistency, and emerging technologies that could be used to further support cell line clonality

Multiple novel prostate cancer susceptibility signals identified by fine-mapping of known risk loci among Europeans

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified numerous common prostate cancer (PrCa) susceptibility loci. We have fine-mapped 64 GWAS regions known at the conclusion of the iCOGS study using large-scale genotyping and imputation in 25 723 PrCa cases and 26 274 controls of European ancestry. We detected evidence for multiple independent signals at 16 regions, 12 of which contained additional newly identified significant associations. A single signal comprising a spectrum of correlated variation was observed at 39 regions; 35 of which are now described by a novel more significantly associated lead SNP, while the originally reported variant remained as the lead SNP only in 4 regions. We also confirmed two association signals in Europeans that had been previously reported only in East-Asian GWAS. Based on statistical evidence and linkage disequilibrium (LD) structure, we have curated and narrowed down the list of the most likely candidate causal variants for each region. Functional annotation using data from ENCODE filtered for PrCa cell lines and eQTL analysis demonstrated significant enrichment for overlap with bio-features within this set. By incorporating the novel risk variants identified here alongside the refined data for existing association signals, we estimate that these loci now explain ∼38.9% of the familial relative risk of PrCa, an 8.9% improvement over the previously reported GWAS tag SNPs. This suggests that a significant fraction of the heritability of PrCa may have been hidden during the discovery phase of GWAS, in particular due to the presence of multiple independent signals within the same regio

Assessment of gas hydrate saturations in the Makran accretionary prism using the offset dependence of seismic amplitudes

We estimate the saturations of gas hydrate and free gas based on measurements of seismic-reflection amplitude variation with offset (AVO) for a bottom-simulating reflector coupled with rock-physics modeling. When we apply the approach to data from a seismic line in the Makran accretionary prism in the Arabian Sea, the results reveal lateral variations of gas-hydrate and free-gas saturations of 4–29% and 1–7.5%, respectively, depending on the rock-physics model used to relate seismic velocity to saturation. Our approach is simple and easy to implement

Teaching English in difficult circumstances : a conversation with Dr Richard Smith

Dr. Richard Smith is a Reader in ELT and Applied Linguistics at the University of Warwick, UK. He is also Deputy Chair of the A.S. Hornby Educational Trust and ‘Key Concepts’ editor of the ELT Journal. He co-founded the Teaching English in Large Classes (TELC) network (http://bit.ly/telcnet-home) with Dr Fauzia Shamim in 2008 – it now has around 2,000 members internationally. In recent years, he has given workshops and been involved in projects with teachers from Cameroon and Chile as well as Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan with a focus on issues connected with teaching in difficult circumstances, including at the NELTA conference in 2013 and two Hornby Regional Schools in Kathmandu, in 2013 and 2014. This is the interview our NELTA ELT Forum member, Laxmi Pd. Ojha took with Dr. Smith virtually

Dietitians and naturopaths require evidence-based nutrition information on organic food

A pilot survey was undertaken to identify dietitians' and naturopaths' attitudes to and advice about organic foods, and to ascertain whether nutrition education is required. A questionnaire, which was not validated, was mailed to 240 randomly selected private practice dietitians and naturopaths in Australia. The responses were analysed by chi-squared and independent two-samples t-test. Each group had a response rate of 50%. More dietitians (n = 52) than naturopaths (n = 18) (P < 0.01) indicated a lack of difference in protein (88% vs 30%), fat (83% vs 33% where n = 49 dietitians and 20 naturopaths) and carbohydrate (85% vs 38%, n = 50 dietitians and 23 naturopaths) between organic and conventional foods. Significantly more naturopaths (P < 0.01) than dietitians indicated that organic foods contained more vitamins (85% vs 32%, n = 51 naturopaths and 19 dietitians), minerals (82% vs 25%, n = 49 naturopaths and 15 dietitians) and phytochemicals (72% vs 32%, n = 43 naturopaths and 19 dietitians) compared with conventionally produced foods. The majority of naturopaths indicated that organic foods have a favourable effect on health (97%, n = 58) and differ in taste (82%, n = 49). Dietitians were less certain with n = 21 thinking there is an effect on health and n = 15 indicating that there is a difference in taste (P < 0.01). More naturopaths (77%, n = 46) than dietitians (31%, n = 18) indicated that they have sufficient knowledge of organic food. Naturopaths discuss the topic of organic food with their clients 'sometimes' (55%, n = 33) or 'always' (32%, n = 19) whereas the majority of dietitians 'seldom' (51%, n = 30) or 'never' (7%, n = 4) do so. Naturopaths recommend organic foods more often than dietitians (P < 0.001). The survey results suggest that evidence-based educational programs would be useful for both groups of health professionals.6 page(s

Agriculture, Natural Resources and Food Security: Lessons from Nepal

Addresses the challenges in sustainable food security Covers components of food production and food security Provides broad relevance to the Global Sout