The influence of massive stars in the interstellar medium of IC 1613: the supernova remnant S8 and the nebula S3 associated with a WO star

We present a detailed kinematical analysis of two selected nebulae in the Local Group irregular galaxy IC 1613. The nebulae are: S8, the only known supernova remnant in this galaxy, and S3, a Wolf-Rayet nebula associated with the only WO star in this galaxy. For S8, we have obtained and analyzed its radial velocity field, where we found complex profiles which can be fitted by several velocity components. These profiles also show the presence of high velocity, low density gas. From this, we have obtained the expansion velocity, estimated the preshock density and calculated the basic kinematical parameters of this SNR. We suggest that in S8 we are seing a SNR partially hidden by dust. This suggestion comes from the fact that the SNR is located between two superbubbles where a ridge of obscured material unveils the existence of dust. Moreover, we show that this hypothesis prevails when energetic arguments are taken into account. In the case of S3, this nebula shows bipolar structure. By means of its kinematics, we have analyzed its two lobes, the ``waist'', as well as its relation with the nearest superbubbles. For the first time we are able to see closed the NW lobe, showing a clover leaf shape. This fact allows a better quantitative knowledge of the nebula as a whole. Furthermore, we found evidence of an expansion motion in the NW lobe. In the light of our results, we can express that these nebulae are the product of very massive stellar evolution. It is surprising the influence these stars still have in shaping their surrounding gas, and on the energy liberation towards the interstellar medium of this galaxy.Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal, July issue. 11 pages, 12 figures. High resolution figures can be found at http://www.inaoep.mx/~mago/PAPERS/AJ

Infectious agents and inflammation. The role of microbiota in autoimmune arthritis

In higher vertebrates, mucosal sites at the border between the internal and external environments, directly interact with bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Through co-evolution, hosts developed mechanisms of tolerance or ignorance toward some infectious agents, because hosts established "gain of function" interactions with symbiotic bacteria. Indeed, some bacteria assist hosts in different functions, among which are digestion of complex carbohydrates, and absorption and supply of vitamins. There is no doubt that microbiota modulate innate and acquired immune responses starting at birth. However, variations in quality and quantity of bacterial species interfere with the equilibrium between inflammation and tolerance. In fact, correlations between gut bacteria composition and the severity of inflammation were first described for inflammatory bowel diseases and later extended to other pathologies. The genetic background, environmental factors (e.g., stress or smoking), and diet can induce strong changes in the resident bacteria which can expose the intestinal epithelium to a variety of different metabolites, many of which have unknown functions and consequences. In addition, alterations in gut permeability may allow pathogens entry, thereby triggering infection and/or chronic inflammation. In this context, a local event occurring at a mucosal site may be the triggering cause of an autoimmune reaction that eventually involves distant sites or organs. Recently, several studies attributed a pathogenic role to altered oral microbiota in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and to gut dysbiosis in spondyloarthritis (SpA). There is also growing evidence that different drugs, such as antibiotics and immunosuppressants, can influence and be influenced by the diversity and composition of microbiota in RA and SpA patients. Hence, in complex disorders such RA and SpA, not only the genetic background, gender, and immunologic context of the individual are relevant, but also the history of infections and the structure of the microbial community at mucosal sites should be considered. Here the role of the microbiota and infections in the initiation and progression of chronic arthritis is discussed, as well as how these factors can influence a patient's response to synthetic and biologic immunosuppressive therapy

The catalogue of OB associations in IC 1613

We present a catalogue of OB associations in IC 1613. Using an automatic and objective method (Battinelli's 1991 technique) 60 objects were found. The size distribution reveals a significant peak at about 60 parsecs if a distance modulus of 24.27 mag is assumed. Spatial distributions of the detected associations and H II regions are strongly correlated.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figures, A&A accepte

Cytokine release syndrome in COVID-19 patients, a new scenario for an old concern. The fragile balance between infections and autoimmunity

On 7 January 2020, researchers isolated and sequenced in China from patients with severe pneumonitis a novel coronavirus, then called SARS-CoV-2, which rapidly spread worldwide, becoming a global health emergency. Typical manifestations consist of flu-like symptoms such as fever, cough, fatigue, and dyspnea. However, in about 20% of patients, the infection progresses to severe interstitial pneumonia and can induce an uncontrolled host-immune response, leading to a life-threatening condition called cytokine release syndrome (CRS). CRS represents an emergency scenario of a frequent challenge, which is the complex and interwoven link between infections and autoimmunity. Indeed, treatment of CRS involves the use of both antivirals to control the underlying infection and immunosuppressive agents to dampen the aberrant pro-inflammatory response of the host. Several trials, evaluating the safety and effectiveness of immunosuppressants commonly used in rheumatic diseases, are ongoing in patients with COVID-19 and CRS, some of which are achieving promising results. However, such a use should follow a multidisciplinary approach, be accompanied by close monitoring, be tailored to patient’s clinical and serological features, and be initiated at the right time to reach the best results. Autoimmune patients receiving immunosuppressants could be prone to SARS-CoV-2 infections; however, suspension of the ongoing therapy is contraindicated to avoid disease flares and a consequent increase in the infection risk

Outside the Police Station: Dealing with the Potential for Self-Incrimination in Juvenile Court

Youth in the justice system are at risk of self-incrimination, and the attendant consequence of prosecution, in ways that are distinct from those faced by adult criminal defendants. For example, the current trend to screen and assess court-involved youth (often before the youth are adjudicated delinquent) for mental health and substance abuse problems, using instruments that inquire about a wide range of offending behavior, raises the real possibility that youth will incriminate themselves. Under many states‘ transfer/waiver processes, juveniles facing prosecution as adults must submit to psychological or psychosocial evaluations in order to sustain their burden of showing that they are amenable to treatment in the juvenile court. Evaluators will typically question the youth about the charged offense(s) as well as their past criminal conduct. Part I briefly reviews the constitutional right against self-incrimination. Part II of this Article explains how that right is implicated when youth in the justice system are screened and assessed for behavioral health problems, and examines the recent and successful efforts in a half a dozen states to enact statutes that prohibit the admission into evidence of elicited statements. Part III examines the risk of self-incrimination in the transfer/waiver context and discusses recent successful challenges—in Nevada and Pennsylvania—to transfer/waiver processes that violated the right against self-incrimination. Part IV reviews statutes that set forth procedures and criteria for finding that a youth is incompetent to stand trial in order to determine whether these statutory schemes adequately protect youth from the adverse use of uch statements. Finally, Part V describes legal strategies for preventing the use of statements made in court-ordered treatment

Hα\alpha Kinematics of Superbubbles and Supernova Remnants of the Dwarf galaxy NGC 4214

We analysed the ionised gas kinematics of the dwarf galaxy NGC 4214 using high resolution Fabry-Perot interferometry observations and present a set of narrowband images in the H$\alpha$, [SII] $\lambda$6717 $\r{A}$, [NII] $\lambda$6584 $\r{A}$ and [OIII] $\lambda$5007 $\r{A}$ emission lines. The high-resolution Fabry-Perot observations of the H$\alpha$ emission line, allowed us to derive the velocity field, the velocity dispersion $\sigma$, and the rotation curve of the galaxy. We also present for the first time, three-dimensional kinematic maps of the complexes NGC 4214-I and NGC 4214-II and analysed the kinematics of the ionised gas of two new superbubbles, as well as the supernova remnants previously detected in this galaxy by other authors, in radio, optical and X-ray emission. We computed the expansion velocities of the superbubbles and supernova remnants fitting their velocity profiles and obtained their respective physical parameters. We found that the superbubbles have an expansion velocity of ~50 km s$^{-1}$, dynamical age about $\sim$2 Myr and wind luminosity L$_W$ of ~9X10$^{38}$ erg s$^{-1}$ produced probably by massive stars in OB associations. For supernova remnants, their expansion velocities are between $\sim$48 to $\sim$80 km s$^{-1}$ with ages of about 10$^{4}$ years and kinetic energy of about 10$^{51}$ erg assuming they are in the radiative phase of evolution.Comment: 17 pages, 11 figures, accepted in MNRA