On the afterglow from the receding jet of gamma-ray burst

According to popular progenitor models of gamma-ray bursts, twin jets should be launched by the central engine, with a forward jet moving toward the observer and a receding jet (or the counter jet) moving backwardly. However, in calculating the afterglows, usually only the emission from the forward jet is considered. Here we present a detailed numerical study on the afterglow from the receding jet. Our calculation is based on a generic dynamical description, and includes some delicate ingredients such as the effect of the equal arrival time surface. It is found that the emission from the receding jet is generally rather weak. In radio bands, it usually peaks at a time of $t \geq 1000$ d, with the peak flux nearly 4 orders of magnitude lower than the peak flux of the forward jet. Also, it usually manifests as a short plateau in the total afterglow light curve, but not as an obvious rebrightening as once expected. In optical bands, the contribution from the receding jet is even weaker, with the peak flux being $\sim 8$ orders of magnitude lower than the peak flux of the forward jet. We thus argue that the emission from the receding jet is very difficult to detect. However, in some special cases, i.e., when the circum-burst medium density is very high, or if the parameters of the receding jet is quite different from those of the forward jet, the emission from the receding jet can be significantly enhanced and may still emerge as a marked rebrightening. We suggest that the search for receding jet emission should mostly concentrate on nearby gamma-ray bursts, and the observation campaign should last for at least several hundred days for each event.Comment: A few citations added, together with a few minor revisions, main conclusions unchanged, accepted for publication in A&A, 7 figures, 10 Page

Measuring the beaming angle of GRB 030329 by fitting the rebrightenings in its multiband afterglow

Multiple rebrightenings have been observed in the multiband afterglow of GRB 030329. Especially, a marked and quick rebrightening occurred at about t ~ 1.2 * 10^5 s. Energy injection from late and slow shells seems to be the best interpretation for these rebrightenings. Usually it is assumed that the energy is injected into the whole external shock. However, in the case of GRB 030329, the rebrightenings are so quick that the usual consideration fails to give a satisfactory fit to the observed light curves. Actually, since these late/slow shells coast freely in the wake of the external shock, they should be cold and may not expand laterally. The energy injection then should only occur at the central region of the external shock. Considering this effect, we numerically re-fit the quick rebrightenings observed in GRB 030329. By doing this, we were able to derive the beaming angle of the energy injection process. Our result, with a relative residual of only 5% - 10% during the major rebrightening, is better than any previous modeling. The derived energy injection angle is about 0.035. We assume that these late shells are ejected by the central engine via the same mechanism as those early shells that produce the prompt gamma-ray burst. The main difference is that their velocities are much slower, so that they catch up with the external shock very lately and manifest as the observed quick rebrightenings. If this were true, then the derived energy injection angle can give a good measure of the beaming angle of the prompt gamma-ray emission. Our study may hopefully provide a novel method to measure the beaming angle of gamma-ray bursts.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, Has been accepted by RAA (Research in Astronomy and Astrophysics

Systematic review and meta-analysis of Chinese herbal formula Tongxie Yaofang for diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome: Evidence for clinical practice and future trials

Introduction: Diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D) significantly decreases the quality of life of patients and their families, and affects patients’ mental health. No specific western medications are available. Ancient classical Chinese medical texts have recognized Tongxie Yaofang (TXYF) as a therapy for diarrhea which is widely used in clinical practice. Standard TXYF prescription (S-TXYF) is composed of four herbal medicines: Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. [Asteraceae; Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae.], Paeonia lactiflora Pall. [Ranunculaceae; Paeoniae Radix Alba], Citrus × aurantium L. [Rutaceae; Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium] and Saposhnikovia divaricata (Turcz. ex Ledeb.) Schischk. [Umbelliferae; Saposhnikoviae Radix]. This review aimed to evaluate the therapeutic effects and safety of S-TXYF for IBS-D. Methods: Eight English and Chinese electronic databases were searched from their inception to 25 December 2021 for randomized controlled trials (RCTs) comparing S-TXYF with placebo, western medications or no treatment for IBS-D. The primary outcome was the global improvement of IBS-D symptoms. Data were analyzed using Cochrane’s Revman 5.4 software. Evidence certainty was assessed using the online GRADEpro tool for the primary outcome. Results: Eleven RCTs involving 985 adults with IBS-D were included. For global improvement of symptoms, S-TXYF was superior to western medication and placebo (moderate evidence by GRADE). Regarding the improvement of stool consistency, stool frequency and abdominal pain, S-TXYF was significantly effective than placebo. In addition, S-TXYF was superior to western medication on improving the quality of life and relieving anxiety. Six trials reported adverse events: five of them reported (non-serious) adverse events occurred in both groups, and one trial reported that 3 cases with adverse events (constipation, elevation in liver-enzyme, nausea) occurred in S-TXYF group and 3 cases with adverse events (abdominal distension, nausea) occurred in placebo group. Conclusion: Although current results showed that S-TXYF may have potential to treat IBS-D and its use appears to be safe, no a clear and confirmed conclusion can be drawn from our review as the overall inadequate design of the included trials reviewed. So more rigorous trials are warranted to establish confirmed evidence on its benefits and safety

A Marr's Three‐Level Analytical Framework for Neuromorphic Electronic Systems

Neuromorphic electronics, an emerging field that aims for building electronic mimics of the biological brain, holds promise for reshaping the frontiers of information technology and enabling a more intelligent and efficient computing paradigm. As their biological brain counterpart, the neuromorphic electronic systems are complex, having multiple levels of organization. Inspired by David Marr's famous three-level analytical framework developed for neuroscience, the advances in neuromorphic electronic systems are selectively surveyed and given significance to these research endeavors as appropriate from the computational level, algorithmic level, or implementation level. Under this framework, the problem of how to build a neuromorphic electronic system is defined in a tractable way. In conclusion, the development of neuromorphic electronic systems confronts a similar challenge to the one neuroscience confronts, that is, the limited constructability of the low-level knowledge (implementations and algorithms) to achieve high-level brain-like (human-level) computational functions. An opportunity arises from the communication among different levels and their codesign. Neuroscience lab-on-neuromorphic chip platforms offer additional opportunity for mutual benefit between the two disciplines

Immune checkpoint inhibitors and acute kidney injury

As a new type of anti-tumor immunotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have improved the prognosis of multiple malignancies. However, renal complications are becoming more frequent. Nephrotoxicity often manifests as acute kidney injury (AKI), and the most common histopathological type is acute tubulointerstitial nephritis (ATIN). Based on previous studies of the incidence and potential risk factors for nephrotoxicity, in this review, we describe the mechanism of AKI after ICIs treatment, summarize the incidence, risk factors, and outcomes of AKI, and discuss the diagnosis and management of immune checkpoint inhibitors-associated acute kidney injury (ICI-AKI). In addition, we review the current status of ICIs rechallenge and the therapeutic strategies of ICIs applied in kidney transplant recipients. Finally, we emphasize the importance of collaboration between nephrologists and oncologists to guide the treatment of ICIs and the management of renal complications

Toll‐like receptor‐mediated IRE1α activation as a therapeutic target for inflammatory arthritis

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/1/embj2013183-sup-0004-SourceData-S4.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/2/embj2013183-sup-0001.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/3/embj2013183-sup-0008-SourceData-S8.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/4/embj2013183-sup-0005-SourceData-S5.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/5/embj2013183-sup-0001-SourceData-S1.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/6/embj2013183-sup-0009-SourceData-S9.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/7/embj2013183-sup-0006-SourceData-S6.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/8/embj2013183-sup-0002-SourceData-S2.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/9/embj2013183-sup-0010-SourceData-S10.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/10/embj2013183-sup-0007-SourceData-S7.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/11/embj2013183-sup-0003-SourceData-S3.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/12/embj2013183.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/13/embj2013183.reviewer_comments.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/102185/14/embj2013183-sup-0011-SourceData-S11.pd

Current Mathematical Methods Used in QSAR/QSPR Studies

This paper gives an overview of the mathematical methods currently used in quantitative structure-activity/property relationship (QASR/QSPR) studies. Recently, the mathematical methods applied to the regression of QASR/QSPR models are developing very fast, and new methods, such as Gene Expression Programming (GEP), Project Pursuit Regression (PPR) and Local Lazy Regression (LLR) have appeared on the QASR/QSPR stage. At the same time, the earlier methods, including Multiple Linear Regression (MLR), Partial Least Squares (PLS), Neural Networks (NN), Support Vector Machine (SVM) and so on, are being upgraded to improve their performance in QASR/QSPR studies. These new and upgraded methods and algorithms are described in detail, and their advantages and disadvantages are evaluated and discussed, to show their application potential in QASR/QSPR studies in the future

Pharmaceuticals in tap water: human health risk assessment and proposed monitoring framework in China

Background: Pharmaceuticals are known to contaminate tap water worldwide, but the relevant human health risks have not been assessed in China. Objectives: We monitored 32 pharmaceuticals in Chinese tap water and evaluated the life-long human health risks of exposure in order to provide information for future prioritization and risk management. Methods: We analyzed samples (n = 113) from 13 cities and compared detected concentrations with existing or newly-derived safety levels for assessing risk quotients (RQs) at different life stages, excluding the prenatal stage. Results: We detected 17 pharmaceuticals in 89% of samples, with most detectable concentrations (92%) at < 50 ng/L. Caffeine (median-maximum, nanograms per liter: 24.4-564), metronidazole (1.8-19.3), salicylic acid (16.6-41.2), clofibric acid (1.2-3.3), carbamazepine (1.3-6.7), and dimetridazole (6.9-14.7) were found in ≥ 20% of samples. Cities within the Yangtze River region and Guangzhou were regarded as contamination hot spots because of elevated levels and frequent positive detections. Of the 17 pharmaceuticals detected, 13 showed very low risk levels, but 4 (i.e., dimetridazole, thiamphenicol, sulfamethazine, and clarithromycin) were found to have at least one life-stage RQ ≥ 0.01, especially for the infant and child life stages, and should be considered of high priority for management. We propose an indicator-based monitoring framework for providing information for source identification, water treatment effectiveness, and water safety management in China. Conclusion: Chinese tap water is an additional route of human exposure to pharmaceuticals, particularly for dimetridazole, although the risk to human health is low based on current toxicity data. Pharmaceutical detection and application of the proposed monitoring framework can be used for water source protection and risk management in China and elsewhere