96 research outputs found
An Untriggered Search for Optical Bursts
We present an untriggered search for optical bursts with the ROTSE-I
telephoto array. Observations were taken which monitor an effective 256 square
degree field continuously over 125 hours to m_{ROTSE}=15.7. The uniquely large
field, moderate limiting magnitude and fast cadence of 10 minutes permits
transient searches in a new region of sensitivity. Our search reveals no
candidate events. To quantify this result, we simulate potential optical bursts
with peak magnitude, m_{p}, at t=10 s, which fade as f=(\frac{t}{t_{0}})
^{\alpha_{t}}, where \alpha_t < 0. Simple estimates based on observational
evidence indicate that a search of this sensitivity begins to probe the
possible region occupied by GRB orphan afterglows. Our observing protocol and
image sensitivity result in a broad region of high detection efficiency for
light curves to the bright and slowly varying side of a boundary running from
[\alpha_{t},m_{p}]=[-2.0,6.0] to [-0.3,13.2]. Within this region, the
integrated rate of brief optical bursts is less than 1.1\times 10^{-8} {\rm
s}^{-1} {\rm deg}^{-2}. At 22 times the observed GRB rate from BATSE,
this suggests a limit on \frac{\theta_{opt}}{\theta_{\gamma}}\lesssim 5 where
\theta_{opt} and \theta_{\gamma} are the optical and gamma-ray collimation
angles, respectively. Several effects might explain the absence of optical
bursts, and a search of the kind described here but more sensitive by about 4
magnitudes should offer a more definitive probe.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, 1 tabl
A Search for Early Optical Emission from Short and Long Duration Gamma-ray Bursts
Gamma-ray bursts of short duration may harbor vital clues to the range of
phenomena producing bursts. However, recent progress from the observation of
optical counterparts has not benefitted the study of short bursts. We have
searched for early optical emission from six gamma-ray bursts using the ROTSE-I
telephoto array. Three of these events were of short duration, including GRB
980527 which is among the brightest short bursts yet observed. The data consist
of unfiltered CCD optical images taken in response to BATSE triggers delivered
via the GCN. For the first time, we have analyzed the entire 16 degree by 16
degree field covered for five of these bursts. In addition, we discuss a search
for the optical counterpart to GRB 000201, a well-localized long burst. Single
image sensitivities range from 13th to 14th magnitude around 10 s after the
initial burst detection, and 14 - 15.8 one hour later. No new optical
counterparts were discovered in this analysis suggesting short burst optical
and gamma-ray fluxes are uncorrelated.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, subm. to ApJ Let
Prompt Optical Observations of Gamma-ray Bursts
The Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment (ROTSE) seeks to measure
simultaneous and early afterglow optical emission from gamma-ray bursts (GRBs).
A search for optical counterparts to six GRBs with localization errors of 1
square degree or better produced no detections. The earliest limiting
sensitivity is m(ROTSE) > 13.1 at 10.85 seconds (5 second exposure) after the
gamma-ray rise, and the best limit is m(ROTSE) > 16.0 at 62 minutes (897 second
exposure). These are the most stringent limits obtained for GRB optical
counterpart brightness in the first hour after the burst. Consideration of the
gamma-ray fluence and peak flux for these bursts and for GRB990123 indicates
that there is not a strong positive correlation between optical flux and
gamma-ray emission.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures, submitted to ApJ Letter
Transnational agricultural land acquisitions threaten biodiversity in the Global South
Agricultural large-scale land acquisitions have been linked with enhanced deforestation and land
use change. Yet the extent to which transnational agricultural large-scale land acquisitions
(TALSLAs) contribute toâor merely correlate withâdeforestation, and the expected biodiversity
impacts of the intended land use changes across ecosystems, remains unclear. We examine 178
georeferenced TALSLA locations in 40 countries to address this gap. While forest cover within
TALSLAs decreased by 17% between 2000 and 2018 and became more fragmented, the
spatio-temporal patterns of deforestation varied substantially across regions. While deforestation
rates within initially forested TALSLAs were 1.5 (Asia) to 2 times (Africa) higher than immediately
surrounding areas, we detected no such difference in Europe and Latin America. Our findings
suggest that, whereas TALSLAs may have accelerated forest loss in Asia, a different mechanism
might emerge in Africa where TALSLAs target areas already experiencing elevated deforestation.
Regarding biodiversity (here focused on vertebrate species), we find that nearly all (91%) studied
deals will likely experience substantial losses in relative species richness (â14.1% on average within
each deal)âwith mixed outcomes for relative abundanceâdue to the intended land use
transitions. We also find that 39% of TALSLAs fall at least partially within biodiversity hotspots,
placing these areas at heightened risk of biodiversity loss. Taken together, these findings suggest
distinct regional differences in the nature of the association between TALSLAs and forest loss and
provide new evidence of TALSLAs as an emerging threat to biodiversity in the Global South
The Vascular Impairment of Cognition Classification Consensus Study
H. Jokinen työryhmÀn jÀsenenÀ.Introduction: Numerous diagnostic criteria have tried to tackle the variability in clinical manifestations and problematic diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) but none have been universally accepted. These criteria have not been readily comparable, impacting on clinical diagnosis rates and in turn prevalence estimates, research, and treatment. Methods: The Vascular Impairment of Cognition Classification Consensus Study (VICCCS) involved participants (81% academic researchers) from 27 countries in an online Delphi consensus study. Participants reviewed previously proposed concepts to develop new guidelines. Results: VICCCS had a mean of 122 (98-153) respondents across the study and a 67% threshold to represent consensus. VICCCS redefined VCI including classification of mild and major forms of VCI and subtypes. It proposes new standardized VCI-associated terminology and future research priorities to address gaps in current knowledge. Discussion: VICCCS proposes a consensus-based updated conceptualization of VCI intended to facilitate standardization in research. (C) 2016 the Alzheimer's Association. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.Peer reviewe
The ROTSE detection of early optical light from GRBâ990123
An overview is given of the Robotic Optical Transient Search Experiment, a ground-based observational astronomy project intended to detect visible radiation from gamma-ray bursts. The major result of the project was the detection of an early bright optical transient from a GRB. (AIP) © 1999 American Institute of Physics.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/87569/2/82_1.pd
Analysis of common and rare VPS13C variants in late-onset Parkinson disease
Objective
We aimed to study the role of coding VPS13C variants in a large cohort of patients with lateonset Parkinson disease (PD) (LOPD).
Methods
VPS13C and its untranslated regions were sequenced using targeted next-generation sequencing in 1,567 patients with PD and 1,667 controls from 3 cohorts. Association tests of rare
potential homozygous and compound heterozygous variants and burden tests for rare heterozygous variants were performed. Common variants were analyzed using logistic regression
adjusted for age and sex in each of the cohorts, followed by a meta-analysis.
Results
No biallelic carriers of rare VPS13C variants were found among patients, and 2 carriers of
compound heterozygous variants were found in 2 controls. There was no statistically significant
burden of rare (minor allele frequency [MAF] <1%) or very rare (MAF <0.1%) coding VPS13C
variants in PD. A VPS13C haplotype including the p.R153H-p.I398I-p.I1132V-p.Q2376Q
variants was nominally associated with a reduced risk for PD (meta-analysis of the tagging SNP
p.I1132V [odds ratio = 0.48, 95% confidence interval = 0.28â0.82, p = 0.0052]). This haplotype
was not in linkage disequilibrium with the known genome-wide association study top hit.
Conclusions
Our results do not support a role for rare heterozygous or biallelic VPS13C variants in LOPD.
Additional genetic replication and functional studies are needed to examine the role of the
haplotype identified here associated with reduced risk for PD
Progress toward standardized diagnosis of vascular cognitive impairment: Guidelines from the Vascular Impairment of Cognition Classification Consensus Study
INTRODUCTION:
Progress in understanding and management of vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) has been hampered by lack of consensus on diagnosis, reflecting the use of multiple different assessment protocols. A large multinational group of clinicians and researchers participated in a two-phase Vascular Impairment of Cognition Classification Consensus Study (VICCCS) to agree on principles (VICCCS-1) and protocols (VICCCS-2) for diagnosis of VCI. We present VICCCS-2.
METHODS:
We used VICCCS-1 principles and published diagnostic guidelines as points of reference for an online Delphi survey aimed at achieving consensus on clinical diagnosis of VCI.
RESULTS:
Six survey rounds comprising 65-79 participants agreed guidelines for diagnosis of VICCCS-revised mild and major forms of VCI and endorsed the National Institute of Neurological Disorders-Canadian Stroke Network neuropsychological assessment protocols and recommendations for imaging.
DISCUSSION:
The VICCCS-2 suggests standardized use of the National Institute of Neurological Disorders-Canadian Stroke Network recommendations on neuropsychological and imaging assessment for diagnosis of VCI so as to promote research collaboration
New insights into the genetic etiology of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias
Characterization of the genetic landscape of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and related dementias (ADD) provides a unique opportunity for a better understanding of the associated pathophysiological processes. We performed a two-stage genome-wide association study totaling 111,326 clinically diagnosed/'proxy' AD cases and 677,663 controls. We found 75 risk loci, of which 42 were new at the time of analysis. Pathway enrichment analyses confirmed the involvement of amyloid/tau pathways and highlighted microglia implication. Gene prioritization in the new loci identified 31 genes that were suggestive of new genetically associated processes, including the tumor necrosis factor alpha pathway through the linear ubiquitin chain assembly complex. We also built a new genetic risk score associated with the risk of future AD/dementia or progression from mild cognitive impairment to AD/dementia. The improvement in prediction led to a 1.6- to 1.9-fold increase in AD risk from the lowest to the highest decile, in addition to effects of age and the APOE Δ4 allele
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