The location of an active nucleus and a shadow of a tidal tail in the ULIRG Mrk 273

Analysis of data from the Chandra X-ray Observatory for the double nucleus ULIRG Mrk 273 reveals an absorbed hard X-ray source coincident with the southwest nucleus, implying that this unresolved, near-infrared source is where an active nucleus resides, while the northern nuclear region contains a powerful starburst that dominates the far infrared luminosity. There is evidence of a slight image extension in the 6–7 keV band, where an Fe K line is present, towards the northern nucleus. A large-scale, diffuse emission nebula detected in soft X-rays contains a dark lane that spatially coincides with a high surface-brightness tidal tail extending ~50 arcsec (40 kpc) to the south. The soft X-ray source is likely located behind the tidal tail, which absorbs X-ray photons along the line of sight. The estimated column density of cold gas in the tidal tail responsible for shadowing the soft X-rays is N_H ≥ 6 × 10^(21) cm^(-2), consistent with the tidal tail having an edge-on orientation

Amniotic Membrane Transplantation for Ocular Surface Reconstruction

The purpose of this study is to analyze the clinical experience and the effect of human amniotic membrane transplantation on pterygium excision and bullous keratopathy. From January 1999 to January 2001 at University Hospital »Sestre milosrdnice« amniotic membrane transplantation was performed consecutively in 21 eyes: 11 eyes with bullous keratopathy and 10 with recurrent pterygia. In the group with bullous keratopathy epithelization took place in 19.6 days in 72.7% and the reduction of pain was satisfactory. Recurrence rate in group with recurrent pterygia was 20%. Based on the presented results it could be concluded that amniotic membrane transplantation can be considered as an effective alternative for treating severe ocular surface diseases and as an alternative for penetrating keratoplasty if there is a lack of graft

Effect of TiO2 on the Sintering Process of Magnesium Oxide from Seawater

U radu je ispitivan utjecaj dodatka TiO2 na svojstva magnezijeva oksida dobivenog iz morske vode nestehiometrijskim načinom taloženja uz dodatak 80% od stehiometrijski potrebne količine dolomitnog vapna, kao taložnog sredstva. U pripremi uzoraka primijenjen je kombinirani način ispiranja taloga magnezijeva hidroksida (3 + 2), tj. ispiranje dekantacijom provedeno je tri puta zaluženom destiliranom vodom, pH =12,50, i dva puta destiliranom vodom, pH = 6,74. Višekratno ispiranje na filtar-papiru (pet puta) obavljeno je istim sredstvom za ispiranje (svježa destilirana voda pH = 6,74). Zatim su izotermno i aktivirano sintetizirani uzorci MgO (80%-tno taloženje) bez dodatka TiO2 i uz dodatak w(TiO2) = 5 i 8% pri temperaturi 1700 °C u trajanju 1 sat, kako bi se utvrdila svojstva ovih uzoraka ponajviše s obzirom na udjel B2O3 u uzorcima nakon procesa sinteriranja. Rezultati ispitivanja ukazuju da dodatak w(TiO2) = 5 i 8% izrazito utječe na smanjenje udjela B2O3 tijekom aktiviranog sinteriranja magnezijeva oksida iz morske vode, te se uzorci mogu karakterizirati kao vatrostalni materijal veoma niskog udjela B2O3. Dodatak TiO2 u količini w = 5 % dovoljan je da veže prisutni CaO i time utječe na zamjetno isparavanje B2O3 u procesu aktiviranog sinteriranja magnezijeva oksida dobivenog iz morske vode nestehiometrijskim načinom taloženja. Tijekom sinteriranja postignuto je znatno zgušnjavanje uzoraka, tj. svi ispitivani uzorci imaju malo otvorenih pora.This study examines the effect of the addition of TiO2 on the properties of magnesium oxide obtained from seawater by substoichiometrical precipitation with 80 % of the stoichiometrically required quantity of dolomite lime as the precipitation agent. Magnesium oxide obtained from seawater by substoichiometrical precipitation contains boron(III) oxide as an impurity. During the precipitation of magnesium hydroxide, the boron present in seawater (in the form of non-dissociated orthoboric acid H3BO3, and partly as borate ion H2BO3 –) adsorbs onto the magnesium hydroxide precipitate, and therefore has to be reduced as much as possible using the appropriate method of rinsing the magnesium hydroxide precipitate. B2O3 is an undesirable admixture in seawater magnesium oxide. Specifically, the properties of special purpose magnesium oxide, i. e. high strength magnesium oxide, are affected significantly by the content of boron in the product. Good quality sintered magnesium oxide contains a very small amount of B2O3. The impurity should not exceed w(B2O3) = 0.005 % in refractory magnesium oxide. The combined method of rinsing the magnesium hydroxide precipitate (3+2) was used in sample preparation, i. e. rinsing by decanting was done three times with alkalized distilled water of pH = 12.50 and twice with distilled water of pH = 6.74. Multiple rinsing on filter paper (five times) was done using the same rinsing agent (fresh distilled water of pH = 6.74). The MgO (80 % precipitation) samples were then subjected to isothermal and activated sintering without TiO2 addition, as well as with the addition of TiO2, w(TiO2) =5 and 8 %, at the temperature of 1700 oC for 1 hour, with the aim of determining the properties of these samples primarily with regard to the B2O3content in the samples after sintering. The results indicate that the addition of TiO2 strongly affects the reduction of the B2O3 content during activated sintering of seawater magnesium oxide, and that the samples can be characterized as refractory material with very low B2O3 content. The addition of TiO2, w(TiO2)=5 %, is sufficient to bind the present CaO and thereby lead to greater evaporation of B2O3 in the process of activated sintering of seawater magnesium oxide. The samples thickened significantly during sintering, i. e. all the samples examined had a very small amount of open pores

Safety and efficacy of apremilast through 104 weeks in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis who continued on apremilast or switched from etanercept treatment: findings from the LIBERATE study

Background Apremilast, an oral phosphodiesterase‐4 inhibitor, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis. Objective To evaluate long‐term efficacy and safety of apremilast in biologic‐naive patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis and safety of switching from etanercept to apremilast in the phase 3b LIBERATE trial. Methods Two hundred fifty patients were randomized to placebo, apremilast 30 mg BID or etanercept 50 mg QW through Week 16; thereafter, all patients continued or switched to apremilast through Week 104 (extension phase). Skin, scalp and nail involvement at Weeks 16, 52 and 104 were assessed using the Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI; 0–72), Scalp Physician Global Assessment (ScPGA; 0–5) and Nail Psoriasis Severity Index (NAPSI; 0–8); patient‐reported outcomes (PROs) were assessed using the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI; 0–32) and pruritus visual analog scale (VAS; 0–100 mm). Results The apremilast‐extension phase (Weeks 16–104) included 226 patients in the placebo/apremilast (n = 73), apremilast/apremilast (n = 74) and etanercept/apremilast (n = 79) groups, and at Week 104, 50.7%, 45.9% and 51.9% of these patients, respectively, maintained ≥75% reduction from baseline in PASI score (based on last‐observation‐carried‐forward analysis). Across treatment groups, ScPGA 0 (clear) or 1 (minimal) was achieved by 50.0%–59.2% of patients; NAPSI mean change from baseline was −48.1% to −51.1%; DLQI score ≤5 was achieved by 66.0%–72.5% of patients; and pruritus VAS mean change from baseline was −24.4 to −32.3. AEs in ≥5% of patients (diarrhoea, nausea, nasopharyngitis, upper respiratory tract infection and headache) did not increase with prolonged apremilast exposure. Conclusions Apremilast demonstrated significant and sustained improvements in skin, scalp, nails and PROs (pruritus and quality of life) over 104 weeks in patients with moderate to severe plaque psoriasis. Safety was consistent with the known safety profile of apremilast

Advanced Electrocardiography Can Identify Occult Cardiomyopathy in Doberman Pinschers

Recently, multiple advanced resting electrocardiographic (A-ECG) techniques have improved the diagnostic value of short-duration ECG in detection of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) in humans. This study investigated whether 12-lead A-ECG recordings could accurately identify the occult phase of DCM in dogs. Short-duration (3-5 min) high-fidelity 12-lead ECG recordings were obtained from 31 privately-owned, clinically healthy Doberman Pinschers (5.4 +/- 1.7 years, 11/20 males/females). Dogs were divided into 2 groups: 1) 19 healthy dogs with normal echocardiographic M-mode measurements: left ventricular internal diameter in diastole (LVIDd . 47mm) and in systole (LVIDs . 38mm) and normal 24-hour ECG recordings (100 VPCs/24h; 1/12 dogs had only abnormal 24-hour ECG recordings (>100 VPCs/24h). ECG recordings were evaluated via custom software programs to calculate multiple parameters of high-frequency (HF) QRS ECG, heart rate variability, QT variability, waveform complexity and 3-D ECG. Student's t-tests determined 19 ECG parameters that were significantly different (P < 0.05) between groups. Principal component factor analysis identified a 5-factor model with 81.4% explained variance. QRS dipolar and non-dipolar voltages, Cornell voltage criteria and QRS waveform residuum were increased significantly (P < 0.05), whereas mean HF QRS amplitude was decreased significantly (P < 0.05) in dogs with occult DCM. For the 5 selected parameters the prediction of occult DCM was performed using a binary logistic regression model with Chi-square tested significance (P < 0.01). ROC analyses showed that the five selected ECG parameters could identify occult ECG with sensitivity 89% and specificity 83%. Results suggest that 12-lead A-ECG might improve diagnostic value of short-duration ECG in earlier detection of canine DCM as five selected ECG parameters can with reasonable accuracy identify occult DCM in Doberman Pinschers. Future extensive clinical studies need to clarify if 12-lead A-ECG could be useful as an additional screening test for canine DCM

Mid-Infrared Spectral Diagnostics of Luminous Infrared Galaxies

We present a statistical analysis of the mid-infrared (MIR) spectra of 248 luminous infrared (IR) galaxies (LIRGs) which comprise the Great Observatories All-sky LIRG Survey (GOALS) observed with the Infrared Spectrograph (IRS) on-board the Spitzer Space Telescope. The GOALS sample enables a direct measurement of the relative contributions of star-formation and active galactic nuclei (AGN) to the total IR emission from a large sample of local LIRGs. The AGN contribution to the MIR emission (f-AGN) is estimated by employing several diagnostics based on the properties of the [NeV], [OIV] and [NeII] fine structure gas emission lines, the 6.2 microns PAH and the shape of the MIR continuum. We find that 18% of all LIRGs contain an AGN and that in 10% of all sources the AGN contributes more than 50% of the total IR luminosity. Summing up the total IR luminosity contributed by AGN in all our sources suggests that AGN supply ~12% of the total energy emitted by LIRGs. The average spectrum of sources with an AGN looks similar to the average spectrum of sources without an AGN, but it has lower PAH emission and a flatter MIR continuum. AGN dominated LIRGs have higher IR luminosities, warmer MIR colors and are found in interacting systems more often than pure starbursts LIRGs. However we find no linear correlations between these properties and f-AGN. We used the IRAC colors of LIRGs to confirm that finding AGN on the basis of their MIR colors may miss ~40% of AGN dominated (U)LIRGsComment: accepted for publication in ApJ, 34 pages, 12 figure

The Spatial Extent of (U)LIRGs in the mid-Infrared I: The Continuum Emission

We present an analysis of the extended mid-infrared (MIR) emission of the Great Observatories All-Sky LIRG Survey (GOALS) sample based on 5-15um low resolution spectra obtained with the IRS on Spitzer. We calculate the fraction of extended emission as a function of wavelength for the galaxies in the sample, FEE_lambda. We can identify 3 general types of FEE_lambda: one where it is constant, one where features due to emission lines and PAHs appear more extended than the continuum, and a third which is characteristic of sources with deep silicate absorption at 9.7um. More than 30% of the galaxies have a median FEE_lambda larger than 0.5 implying that at least half of their MIR emission is extended. Luminous Infrared Galaxies (LIRGs) display a wide range of FEE in their warm dust continuum (0<=FEE_13.2um<=0.85). The large values of FEE_13.2um that we find in many LIRGs suggest that their extended MIR continuum emission originates in scales up to 10kpc. The mean size of the LIRG cores at 13.2um is 2.6kpc. However, once the LIR of the systems reaches the threshold of ~10^11.8Lsun, all sources become clearly more compact, with FEE_13.2um<=0.2, and their cores are unresolved. Our estimated upper limit for the core size of ULIRGs is less than 1.5kpc. The analysis indicates that the compactness of systems with LIR>~10^11.25Lsun strongly increases in those classified as mergers in their final stage of interaction. The FEE_13.2um is also related to the contribution of an active galactic nucleus (AGN) to the MIR. Galaxies which are more AGN-dominated are less extended, independently of their LIR. We finally find that the extent of the MIR continuum emission is correlated with the far-IR IRAS log(f_60um/f_100um) color. This enables us to place a lower limit to the area in a galaxy from where the cold dust emission may originate, a prediction which can be tested soon with the Herschel Space Telescope.Comment: 18 pages, 8 figures, accepted for publication in Ap