2,378 research outputs found
Dynamics of Cortical Degeneration Over a Decade in Huntington's Disease
BACKGROUND: Characterizing changing brain structure in neurodegeneration is fundamental to understanding longterm effects of pathology and ultimately providing therapeutic targets. It is well established that Huntington’s disease
(HD) gene carriers undergo progressive brain changes during the course of disease, yet the long-term trajectory of
cortical atrophy is not well defined. Given that genetic therapies currently tested in HD are primarily expected to
target the cortex, understanding atrophy across this region is essential.
METHODS: Capitalizing on a unique longitudinal dataset with a minimum of 3 and maximum of 7 brain scans from 49
HD gene carriers and 49 age-matched control subjects, we implemented a novel dynamical systems approach to
infer patterns of regional neurodegeneration over 10 years. We use Bayesian hierarchical modeling to map
participant- and group-level trajectories of atrophy spatially and temporally, additionally relating atrophy to the
genetic marker of HD (CAG-repeat length) and motor and cognitive symptoms.
RESULTS: We show, for the first time, that neurodegenerative changes exhibit complex temporal dynamics with
substantial regional variation around the point of clinical diagnosis. Although widespread group differences were seen
across the cortex, the occipital and parietal regions undergo the greatest rate of cortical atrophy. We have established
links between atrophy and genetic markers of HD while demonstrating that specific cortical changes predict decline in
motor and cognitive performance.
CONCLUSIONS: HD gene carriers display regional variability in the spatial pattern of cortical atrophy, which relates to
genetic factors and motor and cognitive symptoms. Our findings indicate a complex pattern of neuronal loss, which
enables greater characterization of HD progression
High eccentricity planets from the Anglo-Australian Planet Search
We report Doppler measurements of the stars HD187085 and HD20782 which
indicate two high eccentricity low-mass companions to the stars. We find
HD187085 has a Jupiter-mass companion with a ~1000d orbit. Our formal `best
fit' solution suggests an eccentricity of 0.47, however, it does not sample the
periastron passage of the companion and we find that orbital solutions with
eccentricities between 0.1 and 0.8 give only slightly poorer fits (based on RMS
and chi^2) and are thus plausible. Observations made during periastron passage
in 2007 June should allow for the reliable determination of the orbital
eccentricity for the companion to HD187085. Our dataset for HD20782 does sample
periastron and so the orbit for its companion can be more reliably determined.
We find the companion to HD20782 has M sin i=1.77+/-0.22M_JUP, an orbital
period of 595.86+/-0.03d and an orbit with an eccentricity of 0.92+/-0.03. The
detection of such high-eccentricity (and relatively low velocity amplitude)
exoplanets appears to be facilitated by the long-term precision of the
Anglo-Australian Planet Search. Looking at exoplanet detections as a whole, we
find that those with higher eccentricity seem to have relatively higher
velocity amplitudes indicating higher mass planets and/or an observational bias
against the detection of high eccentricity systems.Comment: to appear in MNRA
Lupus-TR-3b: A Low-Mass Transiting Hot Jupiter in the Galactic Plane?
We present a strong case for a transiting Hot Jupiter planet identified
during a single-field transit survey towards the Lupus Galactic plane. The
object, Lupus-TR-3b, transits a V=17.4 K1V host star every 3.91405d.
Spectroscopy and stellar colors indicate a host star with effective temperature
5000 +/- 150K, with a stellar mass and radius of 0.87 +/- 0.04M_sun and 0.82
+/- 0.05R_sun, respectively. Limb-darkened transit fitting yields a companion
radius of 0.89 +/- 0.07R_J and an orbital inclination of 88.3 +1.3/-0.8 deg.
Magellan 6.5m MIKE radial velocity measurements reveal a 2.4 sigma K=114 +/-
25m/s sinusoidal variation in phase with the transit ephemeris. The resulting
mass is 0.81 +/- 0.18M_J and density 1.4 +/- 0.4g/cm^3. Y-band PANIC image
deconvolution reveal a V>=21 red neighbor 0.4'' away which, although highly
unlikely, we cannot conclusively rule out as a blended binary with current
data. However, blend simulations show that only the most unusual binary system
can reproduce our observations. This object is very likely a planet, detected
from a highly efficient observational strategy. Lupus-TR-3b constitutes the
faintest ground-based detection to date, and one of the lowest mass Hot
Jupiters known.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in ApJ
Phase-resolved Crab Studies with a Cryogenic TES Spectrophotometer
We are developing time- and energy-resolved near-IR/optical/UV photon
detectors based on sharp superconducting-normal transition edges in thin films.
We report observations of the Crab pulsar made during prototype testing at the
McDonald 2.7m telescope with a fiber-coupled transition-edge sensor (TES)
system. These data show substantial (d[alpha]~0.3), rapid variations in the
spectral index through the pulse profile, with a strong phase-varying IR break
across our energy band. These variations correlate with X-ray spectral
variations, but no single synchrotron population can account for the full
Spectral Energy Distribution (SED). We also describe test
spectrophotopolarimetry observations probing the energy dependence of the
polarization sweep; this may provide a new key to understanding the radiating
particle population.Comment: 12 pages, 10 figures -- to appear in ApJ V56
First Arkansas Records for Bigscale Logperch Percina macrolepida Stevenson (Pisces: Percidae), with Comments on Habitat Preference and Distinctive Characters
Fish samples were collected with seines and rotenone from 21 localities representing five major habitat types along the Red River in Arkansas. The bigscale logperch, Percina macrolepida, was found at 11 of those sites, providing the first records ofthat species from the state. The primary preferred habitat parameters for bigscale logperch are no current, a sand and/or silt substrate, and a water depth of 1.0-2.0 m. Percina macrolepida is morphologically very similar to the widespread and common logperch, P. caprodes, but can be distinguished from all forms of that species in Arkansas by a combination of characters. Snout shape and the presence of scales on the breast, prepectoral area, and along the posterior edge of the preopercle in P. macrolepida are the most useful distinguishing features
Transmission Dynamics of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at Lake Constance (Europe) During the Outbreak of Winter 2005-2006
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 poses a serious threat to domestic animals. Despite the large number of studies on influenza A virus in waterbirds, little is still known about the transmission dynamics, including prevalence, behavior, and spread of these viruses in the wild waterbird population. From January to April 2006, the HPAI H5N1 virus was confirmed in 82 dead wild waterbirds at the shores of Lake Constance. In this study, we present simple mathematical models to examine this outbreak and to investigate the transmission dynamics of HPAI in wild waterbirds. The population dynamics model of wintering birds was best represented by a sinusoidal function. This model was considered the most adequate to represent the susceptible compartment of the SIR model. The three transmission models predict a basic reproduction ratio (R 0) with value of approximately 1.6, indicating a small epidemic, which ended with the migration of susceptible wild waterbirds at the end of the winter. With this study, we quantify for the first time the transmission of HPAI H5N1 virus at Lake Constance during the outbreak of winter 2005-2006. It is a step toward the improvement of the knowledge of transmission of the virus among wild waterbird
Transmission Dynamics of Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza at Lake Constance (Europe) During the Outbreak of Winter 2005–2006
Highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAI) H5N1 poses a serious threat to domestic animals. Despite the large number of studies on influenza A virus in waterbirds, little is still known about the transmission dynamics, including prevalence, behavior, and spread of these viruses in the wild waterbird population. From January to April 2006, the HPAI H5N1 virus was confirmed in 82 dead wild waterbirds at the shores of Lake Constance. In this study, we present simple mathematical models to examine this outbreak and to investigate the transmission dynamics of HPAI in wild waterbirds. The population dynamics model of wintering birds was best represented by a sinusoidal function. This model was considered the most adequate to represent the susceptible compartment of the SIR model. The three transmission models predict a basic reproduction ratio (R0) with value of approximately 1.6, indicating a small epidemic, which ended with the migration of susceptible wild waterbirds at the end of the winter. With this study, we quantify for the first time the transmission of HPAI H5N1 virus at Lake Constance during the outbreak of winter 2005–2006. It is a step toward the improvement of the knowledge of transmission of the virus among wild waterbirds
Results of an experiment at Rothamsted testing farmyard manure and N, P and K fertilizers on five arable crops I. Yields
RESP-484
Introducing service improvement to the initial training of clinical staff
BACKGROUND: It is well recognised in healthcare settings that clinical staff have a major influence over change in how services are provided. If a culture of systematic service improvement is to be established, it is essential that clinical staff have an understanding of what is required and their role in its application. METHODS: This paper describes the development of short educational interventions (a module of 6-8 contact hours or a longer module of 18-30 h) for inclusion in the initial training of future clinical staff (nursing, medicine, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietetics, social work, operating department practice, public health and clinical psychology) and presents the results of an evaluation of their introduction. Each module included teaching on process/systems thinking, initiating and sustaining change, personal and organisational development, and public and patient involvement. RESULTS: Over 90% of students considered the modules relevant to their career. Nearly 90% of students felt that they could put their learning into practice, although the actual rate of implementation of changes during the pilot period was much lower. The barriers to implementation most commonly cited were blocks presented by existing staff, lack of time and lack of status of students within the workforce. CONCLUSION: This pilot demonstrates that short educational interventions focused on service improvement are valued by students and that those completing them feel ready to contribute. Nevertheless, the rate of translation into practice is low. While this may reflect the status of students in the health service, further research is needed to understand how this might be enhanced
Tomographic Separation of Composite Spectra. IX. The Massive Close Binary HD 115071
We present the first orbital elements for the massive close binary, HD
115071, a double-lined spectroscopic binary in a circular orbit with a period
of 2.73135 +/- 0.00003 days. The orbital semiamplitudes indicate a mass ratio
of M_2/M_1 = 0.58 +/- 0.02 and yet the stars have similar luminosities. We used
a Doppler tomography algorithm to reconstruct the individual component optical
spectra, and we applied well known criteria to arrive at classifications of
O9.5 V and B0.2 III for the primary and secondary, respectively. We present
models of the Hipparcos light curve of the ellipsoidal variations caused by the
tidal distortion of the secondary, and the best fit model for a Roche-filling
secondary occurs for an inclination of i = 48.7 +/- 2.1 degrees. The resulting
masses are 11.6 +/- 1.1 and 6.7 +/- 0.7 solar masses for the primary and
secondary, respectively, so that both stars are very overluminous for their
mass. The system is one of only a few known semi-detached, Algol-type binaries
that contain O-stars. We suggest that the binary has recently emerged from
extensive mass transfer (possibly through a delayed contact and common envelope
process).Comment: Submitted to Ap
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