39 research outputs found
Large-Scale Features of the CON Galaxy NGC4418 with MUSE
Compact obscured nuclei (CONs) are relatively common in the centers of local
(U)LIRGs, yet their nature remains unknown. Both AGN activity and extreme
nuclear starbursts have been suggested as plausible nuclear power sources. The
prevalence of outflows in these systems suggest that CONs represent a key phase
in the nuclear feedback cycle, in which material is ejected from the central
regions of the galaxy. Here, we present results from MUSE for the confirmed
local CON galaxy NGC4418. For the first time we spatially map the spectral
features and kinematics of the galaxy in the optical, revealing several
previously unknown structures. In particular, we discover a bilateral outflow
along the minor axis, an outflowing bubble, several knot structures and a
receding outflow partially obscured by the galactic disk. Based on the
properties of these features, we conclude that the CON in NGC4418 is most
likely powered by an AGN.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figure
Visceral Leishmaniasis Relapse in Southern Sudan (1999–2007): A Retrospective Study of Risk Factors and Trends
Visceral leishmaniasis (kala-azar) caused by Leishmania donovani is spread from person to person by Phlebotomus sandflies. Major epidemics of visceral leishmaniasis have occurred in Southern Sudan during the 20th century. The worst of these killed 100,000 people in the western Upper Nile area of Southern Sudan from 1984–1994, a loss of one-third of the population. Médecins Sans Frontières has treated 40,000 kala-azar patients in Southern Sudan since the late 1980's. In this study we used routinely collected clinical data to investigate why some patients relapse after treatment. We found that patients with severely enlarged spleens (splenomegaly) are more likely to relapse. Patients treated for 17 days with a combination of two drugs (sodium stibogluconate and paromomycin) were more likely to relapse (but less likely to die) than patients treated for 30 days with a single drug (sodium stibogluconate). However, the transition from sodium stibogluconate to the sodium stibogluconate/paromomycin combination as standard treatment between 2001–2003 has not led to a significant increase in visceral leishmaniasis relapse
New genetic loci link adipose and insulin biology to body fat distribution.
Body fat distribution is a heritable trait and a well-established predictor of adverse metabolic outcomes, independent of overall adiposity. To increase our understanding of the genetic basis of body fat distribution and its molecular links to cardiometabolic traits, here we conduct genome-wide association meta-analyses of traits related to waist and hip circumferences in up to 224,459 individuals. We identify 49 loci (33 new) associated with waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for body mass index (BMI), and an additional 19 loci newly associated with related waist and hip circumference measures (P < 5 × 10(-8)). In total, 20 of the 49 waist-to-hip ratio adjusted for BMI loci show significant sexual dimorphism, 19 of which display a stronger effect in women. The identified loci were enriched for genes expressed in adipose tissue and for putative regulatory elements in adipocytes. Pathway analyses implicated adipogenesis, angiogenesis, transcriptional regulation and insulin resistance as processes affecting fat distribution, providing insight into potential pathophysiological mechanisms