Metal-poor stars towards the Galactic bulge:a population potpourri

We present a comprehensive chemical abundance analysis of five red giants and two horizontal branch (HB) stars towards the southern edge of the Galactic bulge, at (l, b) ~ (0°,−11°). Based on high-resolution spectroscopy obtained with the Magellan/MIKE spectrograph, we derived up to 23 chemical element abundances and identify a mixed bag of stars, representing various populations in the central regions of the Galaxy. Although cosmological simulations predict that the inner Galaxy was host to the first stars in the Universe, we see no chemical evidence of the ensuing massive supernova explosions: all of our targets exhibit halo-like, solar [Sc/Fe] ratios, which is in contrast to the low values predicted from Population III nucleosynthesis. One of the targets is a CEMP-s star at [Fe/H] = −2.52 dex, and another target is a moderately metal-poor ([Fe/H] = −1.53 dex) CH star with strong enrichment in s-process elements (e.g., [Ba/Fe] = 1.35). These individuals provide the first contenders of these classes of stars towards the bulge. Four of the carbon-normal stars exhibit abundance patterns reminiscent of halo star across a metallicity range spanning −2.0 to −2.6 dex, i.e., enhanced α-elements and solar Fe-peak and neutron-capture elements, and the remaining one is a regular metal-rich bulge giant. The position, distance, and radial velocity of one of the metal-poor HB stars coincides with simulations of the old trailing arm of the disrupted Sagittarius dwarf galaxy. While their highly uncertain proper motions prohibit a clear kinematic separation, the stars’ chemical abundances and distances suggest that these metal-poor candidates, albeit located towards the bulge, are not of the bulge, but rather inner halo stars on orbits that make them pass through the central regions. Thus, we caution similar claims of detections of metal-poor stars as true habitants of the bulge

Increasing Skin Infections and Staphylococcus aureus Complications in Children, England, 1997-2006

During 1997-2006, general practitioner consultations for skin conditions for children <18 years of age in England increased 19%, from 128.5 to 152.9/1,000 child-years, and antistaphylococcal drug prescription rates increased 64%, from 17.8 to 29.1/1,000 child-years. During the same time period, hospital admissions for Staphylococcus aureus infections rose 49% from 53.4 to 79.3/100,000 child-years.link_to_subscribed_fulltex

Rational design and characterization of nitric oxide biosensors in E. coli Nissle 1917 and Mini SimCells

Nitric oxide (NO) is an important disease biomarker found in many chronic inflammatory diseases and cancers. A well-characterized nitric sensing system is useful to aid the rapid development of bacteria therapy and synthetic biology. In this work, we engineered a set of NO-responsive biosensors based on the PnorV promoter and its NorR regulator in the norRVW operon; the circuits were characterized and optimized in probiotic Escherichia coli Nissle 1917 and mini SimCells (minicells containing designed gene circuits for specific tasks). Interestingly, the expression level of NorR displayed an inverse correlation to the PnorV promoter activation, as a strong expression of the NorR regulator resulted in a low amplitude of NO-inducible gene expression. This could be explained by a competitive binding mechanism where the activated and inactivated NorR competitively bind to the same site on the PnorV promoter. To overcome such issues, the NO induction performance was further improved by making a positive feedback loop that fine-tuned the level of NorR. In addition, by examining two integration host factor (IHF) binding sites of the PnorV promoter, we demonstrated that the deletion of the second IHF site increased the maximum signal output by 25% (500 μM DETA/NO) with no notable increase in the basal expression level. The optimized NO-sensing gene circuit in anucleate mini SimCells exhibited increased robustness against external fluctuation in medium composition. The NO detection limit of the optimized gene circuit pPnorVβ was also improved from 25.6 to 1.3 nM in mini SimCells. Moreover, lyophilized mini SimCells can maintain function for over 2 months. Hence, SimCell-based NO biosensors could be used as safe sensor chassis for synthetic biology

The Abundances Of Neutron-Capture Species In The Very Metal-Poor Globular Cluster M15: A Uniform Analysis Of Red Giant Branch And Red Horizontal Branch Stars

The globular cluster M15 is unique in its display of star-to-star variations in the neutron-capture elements. Comprehensive abundance surveys have been previously conducted for handfuls of M15 red giant branch (RGB) and red horizontal branch (RHB) stars. No attempt has been made to perform a single, self-consistent analysis of these stars, which exhibit a wide range in atmospheric parameters. In the current effort, a new comparative abundance derivation is presented for three RGB and six RHB members of the cluster. The analysis employs an updated version of the line transfer code MOOG, which now appropriately treats coherent, isotropic scattering. The apparent discrepancy in the previously reported values for the metallicity of M15 RGB and RHB stars is addressed and a resolute disparity of Delta(RHB-RGB) approximate to 0.1 dex in the iron abundance was found. The anti-correlative behavior of the light neutron-capture elements (Sr, Y, Zr) is clearly demonstrated with both Ba and Eu, standard markers of the s- and r-process, respectively. No conclusive detection of Pb was made in the RGB targets. Consequently for the M15 cluster, this suggests that the main component of the s-process has made a negligible contribution to those elements normally dominated by this process in solar system material. Additionally for the M15 sample, a large Eu abundance spread is confirmed, which is comparable to that of the halo field at the same metallicity. These abundance results are considered in the discussion of the chemical inhomogeneity and nucleosynthetic history of M15.National Science Foundation AST 07-07447, AST 09-08978Astronom

The Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search Program

We are undertaking an astrometric search for gas giant planets and brown dwarfs orbiting nearby low mass dwarf stars with the 2.5-m du Pont telescope at the Las Campanas Observatory in Chile. We have built two specialized astrometric cameras, the Carnegie Astrometric Planet Search Cameras (CAPSCam-S and CAPSCam-N), using two Teledyne Hawaii-2RG HyViSI arrays, with the cameras' design having been optimized for high accuracy astrometry of M dwarf stars. We describe two independent CAPSCam data reduction approaches and present a detailed analysis of the observations to date of one of our target stars, NLTT 48256. Observations of NLTT 48256 taken since July 2007 with CAPSCam-S imply that astrometric accuracies of around 0.3 milliarcsec per hour are achievable, sufficient to detect a Jupiter-mass companion orbiting 1 AU from a late M dwarf 10 pc away with a signal-to-noise ratio of about 4. We plan to follow about 100 nearby (primarily within about 10 pc) low mass stars, principally late M, L, and T dwarfs, for 10 years or more, in order to detect very low mass companions with orbital periods long enough to permit the existence of habitable, Earth-like planets on shorter-period orbits. These stars are generally too faint and red to be included in ground-based Doppler planet surveys, which are often optimized for FGK dwarfs. The smaller masses of late M dwarfs also yield correspondingly larger astrometric signals for a given mass planet. Our search will help to determine whether gas giant planets form primarily by core accretion or by disk instability around late M dwarf stars.Comment: 48 pages, 9 figures. in press, Publ. Astron. Soc. Pacifi

Evaluation of outpatient treatment for non-hospitalised patients with COVID-19: The experience of a regional centre in the UK

IntroductionAntivirals, such as molnupiravir, and SARS-CoV-2 neutralising monoclonal antibodies (nMAbs), such as sotrovimab, reduced the risk of hospitalisation and death in clinical trials of high-risk non-hospitalised patients with Covid-19. However, the real-world benefits of these drugs are unclear.AimsTo evaluate the characteristics and outcomes of high-risk patients referred for outpatient antiviral or nMAb treatment for symptomatic Covid-19.MethodsThe records of patients referred to a large UK Covid Medicines Delivery Unit (CMDU) over nine weeks (December 2021-February 2022) were reviewed. Data were collected on demographics, referral indications, vaccination, deprivation, treatment, complications, hospital admission, and mortality.Results1820 patients were referred to the CMDU, with 604 (33.2%) suitable for further assessment. 169 patients received sotrovimab, 80 patients received molnupiravir, 70 patients declined treatment, and 266 were ineligible for treatment because of resolving symptoms. There were trends towards higher proportions of female and white patients, lower deprivation scores, and malignancy- or transplant-related indications in the groups receiving treatment compared with untreated patients. Covid-19-related hospitalisations occurred in 1.2% of the treated group and 3.0% of the untreated group indicating a potential treatment effect, however Covid-related hospitalisations were lower than reported in the original clinical trials (2.2% compared with 7–10%).ConclusionThe referral pathways for outpatient treatment of Covid-19 are inefficient, and the UK system may not be serving all groups equitably. Hospitalisation with Covid-19 was rare regardless of treatment. Ongoing service evaluation is required to ensure efficient use of resources for the outpatient management of Covid-19

Reviews

Reviews of International and comparative industrial relations, Tatau Tatau - one big union altogether, Remedy for present evils: a history of the New Zealand Public Service Association from 1890, Sexual harassment in the workplace, Employee selection, Legislating for workplace hazards in New Zealand: overseas experience and our present and future needs, People and enterprises - human behaviour in New Zealand organisations and From school to unemployment? The labour market for young peopl

Examination of Fluconazole-Induced Alopecia in an Animal Model and Human Cohort.

Fluconazole-induced alopecia is a significant problem for patients receiving long-term therapy. We evaluated the hair cycle changes of fluconazole in a rat model and investigated potential molecular mechanisms. Plasma and tissue levels of retinoic acid were not found to be causal. Human patients with alopecia attributed to fluconazole also underwent detailed assessment and in both our murine model and human cohort fluconazole induced telogen effluvium. Future work further examining the mechanism of fluconazole-induced alopecia should be undertaken