The MicroJansky Radio Galaxy Population

We use highly spectroscopically complete observations of the radio sources from the VLA 1.4 GHz survey of the HDF-N region to study the faint radio galaxy population and its evolution. We spectrally classify the sources into four spectral types: absorbers, star formers, Seyfert galaxies, and broad-line AGNs, and we analyze their properties by type. We supplement the spectroscopic redshifts with photometric redshifts measured from the rest-frame UV to MIR spectral energy distributions. Using deep X-ray observations of the field, we do not confirm the existence of an X-ray-radio correlation for star-forming galaxies. We also do not observe any correlations between 1.4 GHz flux and R magnitude or redshift. We find that the radio powers of the host galaxies rise dramatically with increasing redshift, while the optical properties of the host galaxies show at most small changes. Assuming that the locally determined FIR-radio correlation holds at high redshifts, we estimate total FIR luminosities for the radio sources. We note that the FIR luminosity estimates for any radio-loud AGNs will be overestimates. Considering only the radio sources with quasar-like bolometric luminosities, we find a maximum ratio of candidate highly-obscured AGNs to X-ray-luminous (>10^42 ergs/s) sources of about 1.9. We use source-stacking analyses to measure the X-ray surface brightnesses of various X-ray and radio populations. We find the contributions to the 4-8 keV light from our candidate highly-obscured AGNs to be very small, and hence these sources are unable to account for the light that has been suggested may be missing at these energies.Comment: 20 pages, Accepted by The Astrophysical Journal (scheduled for 1 Jan 2007), color figures 2 and 3 can be found at http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~barger/radiopaper.htm

Prevalence of Peyronie's Disease-Like Symptoms in Men Presenting With Dupuytren Contractures.

IntroductionPeyronie's disease (PD) and Dupuytren contractures (DC) are often comorbid and are believed to have a similar underlying pathophysiologic mechanism.AimTo investigate the prevalence of PD-like symptoms (PDLS) in men with DC.MethodsFrom October 2013 to December 2016, men who were seen and evaluated for DC were offered the opportunity to participate in an anonymous survey. The survey assessed several basic demographic and sexual health factors and included items from the International Index of Erectile Function and the Erection Hardness Scale. Men who reported PDLS were asked a series of questions derived from the Peyronie's Disease Questionnaire and for their opinions on theoretical treatment modalities for sexual problems and penile deformity.Main outcome measurePrevalence of PDLS in men with DC.ResultsOne hundred forty men with DC were invited to participate; 85 surveys were returned (response rate = 61%). Twenty-two respondents (26%, 95% confidence interval = 17-35) reported PDLS. Approximately one fourth of all respondents had an Erection Hardness Scale score lower than 3. The most common specific PDLS concerns were penile curvature (91%), length loss (55%), narrowing (36%), and hinging (32%). In men with PDLS, 73% felt at least a little bothered by the symptoms when attempting sexual activity and 40% reported having sex less frequently because of the symptoms. Just 27% of men with PDLS had ever used a treatment for a sexual concern. In terms of treatments for penile deformities, 64% of men with PDLS expressed an interest in treatment administered in the form of an in-office procedure; 41% were potentially amenable to a surgical procedure.ConclusionThe prevalence of PDLS in men with DC is similar to the prevalence of DC in men diagnosed with PD. A substantial number of these men have distress and would consider standard-of-care treatments for PD. Shindel AW, Sweet G, Thieu W, et al. Prevalence of Peyronie's Disease-Like Symptoms in Men Presenting With Dupuytren Contractures. Sex Med 2017;5:e135-e141

Rapid communication: Genetic linkage and physical mapping of the porcine cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) gene

Source and Description of Primers. The conserved sequences of human and rabbit cholesteryl ester transfer protein gene (CETP) (GenBank accession numbers NM000078 and M27486, respectively) were used to design primers to PCR amplify porcine CETP. The primers amplified a 970-bp fragment of porcine CETP gene spanning an intron between exon 1 and exon 2. The porcine CETP sequence (GenBank accession number AF333037) determined from this fragment showed 80.9%(34/42) and 78.6% (33/42) nucleotide identity to the corresponding human and rabbit CETP exon 2 sequence, respectively. To physically map porcine CETP by PCR testing pig/ rodent somatic cell hybrid panel (SCHP) and to develop PCR-RFLP marker for linkage mapping in PigMaP reference families, a pig-specific reverse primer was designed based on the new generated porcine intron 1 sequence

Multiple Cyclotron Lines in the Spectrum of 4U 0115+63

We report phase resolved spectroscopy of the transient accreting pulsar, 4U0115+63. For the first time, more than two cylotron resonance scattering features are detected in the spectrum of an X-ray pulsar. The shape of the fundamental line appears to be complex, and this is in agreement with predictions of Monte-Carlo models. As in other pulsars, the line energies and optical depths are strong functions of pulse phase. One possible model for this is an offset of the dipole of the neutron star magnetic field.Comment: 5 pages. To appear in "Proceedings of the 5th Compton Symposium

Propulsion system advances that enable a reusable Liquid Fly Back Booster (LFBB)

This paper provides an overview of the booster propulsion system for the Liquid Fly Back Booster (LFBB). This includes, system requirements, design approach, concept of operations, reliability, safety and cost assumptions. The paper summarizes the findings of the Boeing propulsion team that has been studying the LFBB feasibility as a booster replacement for the Space Shuttle. This paper will discuss recent advances including a new generation of kerosene and oxygen rich pre-burner staged combustion cycle main rocket engines. The engine reliability and safety is expected to be much higher than current standards by adding extra operating margins into the design and normally operating the engines at 75% of engine rated power. This allows for engine out capability. The new generation of main engines operates at significantly higher chamber pressure than the prior generation of gas generator cycle engines. The oxygen rich pre-burner engine cycle, unlike the fuel rich gas generator cycle, results in internally self-cleaning firings which facilitates reusability. Maintenance is further enhanced with integrated health monitoring to improve safety and turn-around efficiency. The maintainability of the LFBB LOX/kerosene engines is being improved by designing the vehicle/engine interfaces for easy access to key engine components

Disappearing Pulses in Vela X-1

We present results from a 20 h RXTE observation of Vela X-1, ncluding a peculiar low state of a few hours duration, during which the pulsation of the X-ray emission ceased, while significant non-pulsed emission remained. This ``quiescent state'' was preceded by a ``normal state'' without any unusual signs and followed by a ``high state'' of several hours of increased activity with strong, flaring pulsations. while there is clear spectral evolution from the normal state to the low state, the spectra of the following high state are surprisingly similar to those of the low state.Comment: 5 pages, 5 figures, Proceedings of the 5th Compton Symposium, AIP, in pres

Discovery of a Cyclotron Resonance Scattering Feature in the X-ray Spectrum of XTE J1946+274

Observations of the transient accreting pulsar XTE J1946+274 made with the Rossi X-ray Timing Explorer during the course of the 1998 September-November outburst, reveal a cyclotron resonance scattering feature (or "cyclotron line") in the hard X-ray spectrum near 35 keV. We determine a centroid energy of 36.2 +0.5/-0.7 keV, which implies a magnetic field strength of 3.1(1+z)x10^12 G, where z is the gravitational redshift of the scattering region. The optical depth, Tau = 0.33 +0.07/-0.06, and width, sigma = 3.37 +0.92/-0.75 keV, are typical of known cyclotron lines in other pulsars. This discovery makes XTE J1946+274 one of thirteen pulsars with securely detected cyclotron lines resulting in direct magnetic field measurements.Comment: Five pages including four postscript figures and two tables. Uses emulateapj5. Published in ApJ Letters: http://adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-bib_query?bibcode=2001ApJ...563L..35