The Complementarity of Redshift-space Distortions and the Integrated Sachs-Wolfe Effect: A 3D Spherical Analysis

Assuming General Relativity is correct on large-scales, Redshift-Space Distortions (RSDs) and the Integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect (ISW) are both sensitive to the time derivative of the linear growth function. We investigate the extent to which these probes provide complementary or redundant information when they are combined to constrain the evolution of the linear velocity power spectrum, often quantified by the function $f(z)\sigma_8(z)$, where $f$ is the logarithmic derivative of $\sigma_8$ with respect to $(1+z)$. Using a spherical Fourier-Bessel (SFB) expansion for galaxy number counts and a spherical harmonic expansion for the CMB anisotropy, we compute the covariance matrices of the signals for a large galaxy redshift survey combined with a CMB survey like Planck. The SFB basis allows accurate ISW estimates by avoiding the plane-parallel approximation, and it retains RSD information that is otherwise lost when projecting angular clustering onto redshift shells. It also allows straightforward calculations of covariance with the CMB. We find that the correlation between the ISW and RSD signals are low since the probes are sensitive to different modes. For our default surveys, on large scales (k<0.05 \Mpc/h), the ISW can improve constraints on $f\sigma_8$ by more than 10% compared to using RSDs alone. In the future, when precision RSD measurements are available on smaller scales, the cosmological constraints from ISW measurements will not be competitive; however, they will remain a useful consistency test for possible systematic contamination and alternative models of gravity.Comment: 11 pages, 7 figures, published in MNRA

Results of pancreas transplantation after steroid withdrawal under tacrolimus immunosuppression

Purpose. The results of steroid withdrawal in pancreas transplant recipients under tacrolimus immunosuppression were analyzed. Methods. From July 4, 1994 until April 30, 1998, 147 pancreas transplantations were performed in 141 patients, including 126 simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantations, 13 pancreas after kidney transplantation, and 8 pancreas transplantations alone. Baseline immunosuppression consisted of tacrolimus and steroids without antilymphocyte induction. Twenty-three patients were excluded from analysis because of early graft loss in 17 cases, retransplantation in 5 cases, and simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation after heart transplantation in 1 patient. Results. With a mean follow-up of 2.8±1.1 years (range 1.0 to 4.8 years), complete steroid withdrawal was achieved in 58 (47%) patients with a mean time to steroid withdrawal of 15.2±8 months (range 4 to 40 months after transplantation). Of the entire cohort of 141 patients, overall 1-, 2-, and 4-year patient survival rates were 98%, 95.5%, and 86%, respectively. Overall 1-, 2-, and 4- year graft survival rates were 83%, 80%, and 71% (pancreas) and 95%, 91%, and 84% (kidney), respectively. Of the 124 patients analyzed for steroid withdrawal, 1-, 2-, and 4-year patient survival rates were 98%, 97%, and 92%, respectively. Overall 1-, 2-, and 4-year graft survival rates were 98%, 91.5%, 83% (pancreas) and 97%, 95%, and 91% (kidney). Patient, pancreas, and kidney survival rates at 1 year were 100%, 100%, and 98% (off steroids) versus 97%, 91%, and 96% (on steroids, all NS) and at 4 years were 100%, 94%, and 95% (off steroids) versus 78%, 68%, and 85% (on steroids, P=0.01, 0.002, and NS, respectively). The cumulative risk of rejection at the time of follow-up was 76% for patients on steroids versus 74% for patients off steroids (P=NS). Seven patients originally tapered off steroids were treated for subsequent rejection episodes, which were all steroid sensitive, and two of these seven patients are currently off steroids. Thirteen patients received antilymphocyte therapy for steroid-resistant rejection, five of whom are now off steroids. Tacrolimus trough levels were 9.3±2.4 ng/ml (off steroids) and 9.7±4.3 (on steroids, P=NS). Mean fasting glucose levels were 98±34 mg/dl (off steroids) and 110±41 mg/dl (on steroids, P=NS). Mean glycosylated hemoglobin levels were 5.2±0.9% (off steroids) and 6.2±2.1% (on steroids, P=0.02), and mean serum creatinine levels were 1.4±0.8 mg/dl (off steroids) and 1.7±1.0 mg/dl (on steroids, P=0.02). Conclusion. These data show for the first time that steroid withdrawal can be safely accomplished in pancreas transplant recipients maintained on tacrolimus-based immunosuppression. Steroid withdrawal is associated with excellent patient and graft survival with no increase in the cumulative risk of rejection

Characterizing Single Polymeric and Protein Nanoparticles with Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging Measurements

Near-infrared surface plasmon resonance imaging (SPRI) microscopy is used to detect and characterize the adsorption of single polymeric and protein nanoparticles (PPNPs) onto chemically modified gold thin films in real time. The single-nanoparticle SPRI responses, Δ%R_(NP), from several hundred adsorbed nanoparticles are collected in a single SPRI adsorption measurement. Analysis of Δ%R_(NP) frequency distribution histograms is used to provide information on the size, material content, and interparticle interactions of the PPNPs. Examples include the measurement of log-normal Δ%R_(NP) distributions for mixtures of polystyrene nanoparticles, the quantitation of bioaffinity uptake into and aggregation of porous NIPAm-based (N-isopropylacrylamide) hydrogel nanoparticles specifically engineered to bind peptides and proteins, and the characterization of the negative single-nanoparticle SPRI response and log-normal Δ%R_(NP) distributions obtained for three different types of genetically encoded gas-filled protein nanostructures derived from bacteria

Processing and Transmission of Information

Contains research objectives and summary of research.U. S. Army Research Office - Durham (Contract DAHC04-69-C-0042)U. S. Army Research Office - Durham Contract DAHCO4-71 -C-0039)Joint Services Electronics Program (Contract DAAB07-71-C-0300)National Science Foundation (Grant GK-37582)National Aeronautics and Space Administration (Grant NGL 22-009-013

Enhancing the Care Navigation Model: Potential Roles for Health Sciences Librarians

This study analyzed the overlap between roles and activities that health care navigators perform and competencies identified by the Medical Library Association\u27s (MLA\u27s) educational policy statement. Roles and activities that health care navigators perform were gleaned from published literature. Once common roles and activities that health care navigators perform were identified, MLA competencies were mapped against those roles and activities to identify areas of overlap. The greatest extent of correspondence occurred in patient empowerment and support. Further research is warranted to determine the extent to which health sciences librarians might assume responsibility for roles and activities that health care navigators perform

Mutagenic nucleotide incorporation and hindered translocation by a food carcinogen C8-dG adduct in Sulfolobus solfataricus P2 DNA polymerase IV (Dpo4): modeling and dynamics studies

Bulky carcinogen-DNA adducts commonly cause replicative polymerases to stall, leading to a switch to bypass polymerases. We have investigated nucleotide incorporation opposite the major adduct of 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) in the DinB family polymerase, Dpo4, using molecular modeling and molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. PhIP, the most prevalent heterocyclic aromatic amine formed by cooking of proteinaceous food, is mutagenic in mammalian cells and is implicated in mammary and colon tumors. Our results show that the dG-C8-PhIP adduct can be accommodated in the spacious major groove Dpo4 open pocket, with Dpo4 capable of incorporating dCTP, dTTP or dATP opposite the adduct reasonably well. However, the PhIP ring system on the minor groove side would seriously disturb the active site, regardless of the presence and identity of dNTP. Furthermore, the simulations indicate that dATP and dTTP are better incorporated in the damaged system than in their respective mismatched but unmodified controls, suggesting that the PhIP adduct enhances incorporation of these mismatches. Finally, bulky C8-dG adducts, situated in the major groove, are likely to impede translocation in this polymerase (Rechkoblit et al. (2006), PLoS Biol., 4, e11). However, N(2)-dG adducts, which can reside on the minor groove side, appear to cause less hindrance when in this position

The Role of the Gouy Phase in the Coherent Phase Control of the Photoionization and Photodissociation of Vinyl Chloride

We demonstrate theoretically and experimentally that the Gouy phase of a focused laser beam may be used to control the photo-induced reactions of a polyatomic molecule. Quantum mechanical interference between one- and three-photon excitation of vinyl chloride produces a small phase lag between the dissociation and ionization channels on the axis of the molecular beam. Away from the axis, the Gouy phase introduces a much larger phase lag that agrees quantitatively with theory without any adjustable parameters.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure