229 research outputs found
Submergence of magnetic flux in interaction of sunspot groups
Submergence of magnetic flux is demonstrated in the process of evolution
of sunspot groups NOAA 6850 (26 Sep.-07 Oct. 1991)
and 7220/22 (06-17 July 1992). In both cases new magnetic flux emerges
immediately behind an existing spotgroup. The new flux does not interact with
the old one, as can be seen in YOHKOH X-ray images, so no significant flare
activity occurs, although umbrae of different magnetic polarity collide. In both
cases the quickly forward moving p-spots of the new flux force the submergence
of the f-spots of the older region, these being squeezed from two sides between the
old and new p-spots. This leads to the disappearance of about 16 1021
Mx of f-polarity in AR 6850. In the case of this region the submerged flux
interacts with newly emerging magnetic fields and in the next rotation continues its
life as the complex and eruptive AR 6891. In AR 7220/22, spots of both polarities submerge
in the intermediate part of the complex between the old leader of AR 7220 and the
quickly growing AR 7222, leaving in the next rotation a bipolar-looking group (AR 7248),
consisting of two p-polarity spots. So, submergence of magnetic flux due
to interaction of old and new activity may play an important role in
the decay of sunspot groups
Supersymmetric Pair Correlation Function of Wilson Loops
We give a path integral derivation of the annulus diagram in a supersymmetric
theory of open and closed strings with Dbranes. We compute the pair correlation
function of Wilson loops in the generic weakly coupled supersymmetric flat
spacetime background with Dbranes. We obtain a -u^4/r^9 potential between heavy
nonrelativistic sources in a supersymmetric gauge theory at short distances.Comment: 18 pages, Revte
Culture-enriched metagenomic sequencing enables in-depth profiling of the cystic fibrosis lung microbiota
Amplicon sequencing (for example, of the 16S rRNA gene) identifies the presence and relative abundance of microbial community members. However, metagenomic sequencing is needed to identify the genetic content and functional potential of a community. Metagenomics is challenging in samples dominated by host DNA, such as those from the skin, tissue and respiratory tract. Here, we combine advances in amplicon and metagenomic sequencing with culture-enriched molecular profiling to study the human microbiota. Using the cystic fibrosis lung as an example, we cultured an average of 82.13% of the operational taxonomic units representing 99.3% of the relative abundance identified in direct sequencing of sputum samples; importantly, culture enrichment identified 63.3% more operational taxonomic units than direct sequencing. We developed the PLate Coverage Algorithm (PLCA) to determine a representative subset of culture plates on which to conduct culture-enriched metagenomics, resulting in the recovery of greater taxonomic diversity—including of low-abundance taxa—with better metagenome-assembled genomes, longer contigs and better functional annotations when compared to culture-independent methods. The PLCA is also applied as a proof of principle to a previously published gut microbiota dataset. Culture-enriched molecular profiling can be used to better understand the role of the human microbiota in health and disease
The airway microbiome of persons with cystic fibrosis correlates with acquisition and microbiological outcomes of incident Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infection
RationaleChronic infection with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in persons with cystic fibrosis (pwCF) has been linked to an increased risk of pulmonary exacerbations and lung function decline. We sought to establish whether baseline sputum microbiome associates with risk of S. maltophilia incident infection and persistence in pwCF.MethodspwCF experiencing incident S. maltophilia infections attending the Calgary Adult CF Clinic from 2010–2018 were compared with S. maltophilia-negative sex, age (+/−2 years), and birth-cohort-matched controls. Infection outcomes were classified as persistent (when the pathogen was recovered in ≥50% of cultures in the subsequent year) or transient. We assessed microbial communities from prospectively biobanked sputum using V3-V4 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing, in the year preceding (Pre) (n = 57), at (At) (n = 22), and after (Post) (n = 31) incident infection. We verified relative abundance data using S. maltophilia-specific qPCR and 16S rRNA-targeted qPCR to assess bioburden. Strains were typed using pulse-field gel electrophoresis.ResultsTwenty-five pwCF with incident S. maltophilia (56% female, median 29 years, median FEV1 61%) with 33 total episodes were compared with 56 uninfected pwCF controls. Demographics and clinical characteristics were similar between cohorts. Among those with incident S. maltophilia infection, sputum communities did not cluster based on infection timeline (Pre, At, Post). Communities differed between the infection cohort and controls (n = 56) based on Shannon Diversity Index (SDI, p = 0.04) and clustered based on Aitchison distance (PERMANOVA, p = 0.01) prior to infection. At the time of incident S. maltophilia isolation, communities did not differ in SDI but clustered based on Aitchison distance (PERMANOVA, p = 0.03) in those that ultimately developed persistent infection versus those that were transient. S. maltophilia abundance within sputum was increased in samples from patients (Pre) relative to controls, measuring both relative (p = 0.004) and absolute (p = 0.001). Furthermore, S. maltophilia abundance was increased in sputum at incident infection in those who ultimately developed persistent infection relative to those with transient infection, measured relatively (p = 0.04) or absolute (p = 0.04), respectively.ConclusionMicrobial community composition of CF sputum associates with S. maltophilia infection acquisition as well as infection outcome. Our study suggests sputum microbiome may serve as a surrogate for identifying infection risk and persistence risk
Solar Intranetwork Magnetic Elements: bipolar flux appearance
The current study aims to quantify characteristic features of bipolar flux
appearance of solar intranetwork (IN) magnetic elements. To attack such a
problem, we use the Narrow-band Filter Imager (NFI) magnetograms from the Solar
Optical Telescope (SOT) on board \emph{Hinode}; these data are from quiet and
an enhanced network areas. Cluster emergence of mixed polarities and IN
ephemeral regions (ERs) are the most conspicuous forms of bipolar flux
appearance within the network. Each of the clusters is characterized by a few
well-developed ERs that are partially or fully co-aligned in magnetic axis
orientation. On average, the sampled IN ERs have total maximum unsigned flux of
several 10^{17} Mx, separation of 3-4 arcsec, and a lifetime of 10-15 minutes.
The smallest IN ERs have a maximum unsigned flux of several 10^{16} Mx,
separations less than 1 arcsec, and lifetimes as short as 5 minutes. Most IN
ERs exhibit a rotation of their magnetic axis of more than 10 degrees during
flux emergence. Peculiar flux appearance, e.g., bipole shrinkage followed by
growth or the reverse, is not unusual. A few examples show repeated
shrinkage-growth or growth-shrinkage, like magnetic floats in the dynamic
photosphere. The observed bipolar behavior seems to carry rich information on
magneto-convection in the sub-photospheric layer.Comment: 26 pages, 14 figure
Small-scale solar magnetic fields
As we resolve ever smaller structures in the solar atmosphere, it has become
clear that magnetism is an important component of those small structures.
Small-scale magnetism holds the key to many poorly understood facets of solar
magnetism on all scales, such as the existence of a local dynamo, chromospheric
heating, and flux emergence, to name a few. Here, we review our knowledge of
small-scale photospheric fields, with particular emphasis on quiet-sun field,
and discuss the implications of several results obtained recently using new
instruments, as well as future prospects in this field of research.Comment: 43 pages, 18 figure
Treatment of Aspergillus fumigatus in Patients with Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Pilot Study
Many patients with cystic fibrosis develop persistent airway infection/colonization with Aspergillus fumigatus, however the impact of A. fumigatus on clinical outcomes remains unclear. The objective of this study was to determine whether treatment directed against Aspergillus fumigatus improves pulmonary function and clinical outcomes in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF).We performed a double-blind randomized placebo-controlled pilot clinical trial involving 35 patients with CF whose sputum cultures were chronically positive for A. fumigatus. Participants were centrally randomized to receive either oral itraconazole 5 mg/kg/d (N = 18) or placebo (N = 17) for 24 weeks. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients who experienced a respiratory exacerbation requiring intravenous antibiotics over the 24 week treatment period. Secondary outcomes included changes in FEV(1) and quality of life.Over the 24 week treatment period, 4 of 18 (22%) patients randomized to itraconazole experienced a respiratory exacerbation requiring intravenous antibiotics, compared to 5 of 16 (31%) placebo treated patients, P = 0.70. FEV(1) declined by 4.62% over 24 weeks in the patients randomized to itraconazole, compared to a 0.32% improvement in the placebo group (between group difference = -4.94%, 95% CI: -15.33 to 5.45, P = 0.34). Quality of life did not differ between the 2 treatment groups throughout the study. Therapeutic itraconazole blood levels were not achieved in 43% of patients randomized to itraconazole.We did not identify clinical benefit from itraconazole treatment for CF patients whose sputum was chronically colonized with A. fumigatus. Limitations of this pilot study were its small sample size, and failure to achieve therapeutic levels of itraconazole in many patients.ClinicalTrials.gov NCT00528190
Quality improvement of community pharmacy services:a prioritisation exercise
Funded by NHS Education for ScotlandPeer reviewedPublisher PD
De Novo ZMYND8 variants result in an autosomal dominant neurodevelopmental disorder with cardiac malformations
Purpose: ZMYND8 encodes a multidomain protein that serves as a central interactive hub for coordinating critical roles in transcription regulation, chromatin remodeling, regulation of superenhancers, DNA damage response and tumor suppression. We delineate a novel neurocognitive disorder caused by variants in the ZMYND8 gene. Methods: An international collaboration, exome sequencing, molecular modeling, yeast twohybrid assays, analysis of available transcriptomic data and a knockdown Drosophila model were used to characterize the ZMYND8 variants. Results: ZMYND8 variants were identified in 11 unrelated individuals; 10 occurred de novo and one suspected de novo; 2 were truncating, 9 were missense, of which one was recurrent. The disorder is characterized by intellectual disability with variable cardiovascular, ophthalmologic and minor skeletal anomalies. Missense variants in the PWWP domain of ZMYND8 abolish the interaction with Drebrin and missense variants in the MYND domain disrupt the interaction with GATAD2A. ZMYND8 is broadly expressed across cell types in all brain regions and shows highest expression in the early stages of brain development. Neuronal knockdown of the Drosophila ZMYND8 ortholog results in decreased habituation learning, consistent with a role in cognitive function. Conclusion: We present genomic and functional evidence for disruption of ZMYND8 as a novel etiology of syndromic intellectual disability
Surrounded by sound: noise, rights and environments
Noise was probably the first environmental pollutant (apart from human waste) in the Ancient world. Yet today, by comparison with other environmental matters, noise and protection from its effects are often overlooked, except in specialist fields such as architecture or planning. One major reason for this may be that noise does not possess the same ability to spread that is characteristic of other forms of pollution. Noise is also an unusual form of environmental pollution in having a physical impact – it is ‘heard’ and can be ‘felt’ – but is predominantly interpreted subjectively. The impact and consequences of anthropogenic noise for humans and biodiversity in general, are currently under-investigated in criminology and are under-addressed in both public and private international environmental law. Here we question why noise has not (so far) been explored within green criminology and only tentatively explored within cultural criminology. The objectives are to provide an overview of noise as a topic, connecting media, culture, anti- and pro-social behaviour, and to unearth interconnections between the matter of noise and its implications for the environment
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