63 research outputs found
Detection of Extended Red Emisson in the Diffuse Interstellar Medium
Extended Red Emission (ERE) has been detected in many dusty astrophysical
objects and this raises the question: Is ERE present only in discrete objects
or is it an observational feature of all dust, i.e. present in the diffuse
interstellar medium? In order to answer this question, we determined the blue
and red intensities of the radiation from the diffuse interstellar medium (ISM)
and examined the red intensity for the presence of an excess above that
expected for scattered light. The diffuse ISM blue and red intensities were
obtained by subtracting the integrated star and galaxy intensities from the
blue and red measurements made by the Imaging Photopolarimeter (IPP) aboard the
Pioneer 10 and 11 spacecraft. The color of the diffuse ISM was found to be
redder than the Pioneer intensities, contrary to that expected for scattered
light (Diffuse Galactic Light [DGL]). The red DGL was calculated using the blue
diffuse ISM intensities and the approximately invariant color of the DGL
calculated with the DGL model. Subtracting the calculated red DGL from the red
diffuse ISM intensities resulted in the detection of an excess red intensity.
This represents the likely detection of ERE in the diffuse ISM since H-alpha
emission cannot account for the strength of this excess and the only other
known emission process applicable to the diffuse ISM is ERE. Thus, ERE appears
to be a general characteristic of dust. From the correlation between N_HI and
ERE intensity the ERE photon conversion efficiency was estimated at 10 +/- 3%.Comment: 44 pages (41 figures included), to be published in the ApJ, new
version corrected for small error in fig. 2
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Pregnancy outcomes and vaccine effectiveness during the period of omicron as the variant of concern, INTERCOVID-2022: a multinational, observational study.
BACKGROUND: In 2021, we showed an increased risk associated with COVID-19 in pregnancy. Since then, the SARS-CoV-2 virus has undergone genetic mutations. We aimed to examine the effects on maternal and perinatal outcomes of COVID-19 during pregnancy, and evaluate vaccine effectiveness, when omicron (B.1.1.529) was the variant of concern. METHODS: INTERCOVID-2022 is a large, prospective, observational study, involving 41 hospitals across 18 countries. Each woman with real-time PCR or rapid test, laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 in pregnancy was compared with two unmatched women without a COVID-19 diagnosis who were recruited concomitantly and consecutively in pregnancy or at delivery. Mother and neonate dyads were followed until hospital discharge. Primary outcomes were maternal morbidity and mortality index (MMMI), severe neonatal morbidity index (SNMI), and severe perinatal morbidity and mortality index (SPMMI). Vaccine effectiveness was estimated, adjusted by maternal risk profile. FINDINGS: We enrolled 4618 pregnant women from Nov 27, 2021 (the day after WHO declared omicron a variant of concern), to June 30, 2022: 1545 (33%) women had a COVID-19 diagnosis (median gestation 36·7 weeks [IQR 29·0-38·9]) and 3073 (67%) women, with similar demographic characteristics, did not have a COVID-19 diagnosis. Overall, women with a diagnosis had an increased risk for MMMI (relative risk [RR] 1·16 [95% CI 1·03-1·31]) and SPMMI (RR 1·21 [95% CI 1·00-1·46]). Women with a diagnosis, compared with those without a diagnosis, also had increased risks of SNMI (RR 1·23 [95% CI 0·88-1·71]), although the lower bounds of the 95% CI crossed unity. Unvaccinated women with a COVID-19 diagnosis had a greater risk of MMMI (RR 1·36 [95% CI 1·12-1·65]). Severe COVID-19 symptoms in the total sample increased the risk of severe maternal complications (RR 2·51 [95% CI 1·84-3·43]), perinatal complications (RR 1·84 [95% CI 1·02-3·34]), and referral, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, or death (RR 11·83 [95% CI 6·67-20·97]). Severe COVID-19 symptoms in unvaccinated women increased the risk of MMMI (RR 2·88 [95% CI 2·02-4·12]) and referral, ICU admission, or death (RR 20·82 [95% CI 10·44-41·54]). 2886 (63%) of 4618 total participants had at least a single dose of any vaccine, and 2476 (54%) of 4618 had either complete or booster doses. Vaccine effectiveness (all vaccines combined) for severe complications of COVID-19 for all women with a complete regimen was 48% (95% CI 22-65) and 76% (47-89) after a booster dose. For women with a COVID-19 diagnosis, vaccine effectiveness of all vaccines combined for women with a complete regimen was 74% (95% CI 48-87) and 91% (65-98) after a booster dose. INTERPRETATION: COVID-19 in pregnancy, during the first 6 months of omicron as the variant of concern, was associated with increased risk of severe maternal morbidity and mortality, especially among symptomatic and unvaccinated women. Women with complete or boosted vaccine doses had reduced risk for severe symptoms, complications, and death. Vaccination coverage among pregnant women remains a priority. FUNDING: None
Liquid biopsies come of age: towards implementation of circulating tumour DNA
Improvements in genomic and molecular methods are expanding the range of potential applications for circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), both in a research setting and as a ‘liquid biopsy’ for cancer management. Proof-of-principle studies have demonstrated the translational potential of ctDNA for prognostication, molecular profiling and monitoring. The field is now in an exciting transitional period in which ctDNA analysis is beginning to be applied clinically, although there is still much to learn about the biology of cell-free DNA. This is an opportune time to appraise potential approaches to ctDNA analysis, and to consider their applications in personalized oncology and in cancer research.We would like to acknowledge the support of The University of Cambridge, Cancer Research UK (grant numbers A11906, A20240, A15601) (to N.R., J.D.B.), the European Research Council under the European Union's Seventh Framework Programme (FP/2007-2013)/ERC Grant Agreement n. 337905 (to N.R.), the Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, and Hutchison Whampoa Limited (to N.R.), AstraZeneca (to R.B., S.P.), the Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre (ECMC) (to R.B., S.P.), and NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC) (to R.B., S.P.). J.G.C. acknowledges clinical fellowship support from SEOM
HEAVY METAL ACCUMULATION IN SOILS AROUND A SALT LAKE IN TURKEY
The heavy metal (Pb, Cr, Cu, Mn, Ni, Zn and Cd) accumulation around soils of Salt Lake in Turkey were evaluated, accounting for major sources including atmospheric deposition, sewage systems, livestock manures, fertilizers, traffic and industrial by-product wastes. The heavy metal concentrations were determined by using Varian model Inductively Coupled Plasma and statistically evaluated with SPSS 11.5 statistical program. The heavy metal concentrations were investigated monthly except winter months. The lowest and the highest accumulation levels were observed in April and in August, respectively. The soils were also evaluated according to zonation around the lake and the relations between the four selected stations. There is a correlation between the heavy metals and their sources. There should be some precautions taken against the heavy metal pollution around Salt Lake because of the ecological, agricultural and economical importance of the area
The Impact of the D727e Polymorphism has no Significant Role in Multi Nodular Goiter
Interactions between individual genetic and environ- mental factors determine the onset of the multi nodular goiter (MNG). The thyroid-stimulating hormone receptor (TSHR) gene is a convincing candidate gene in the pathogenesis of certain thyroid diseases including MNG. We investigated the codon 727 polymorphism (p.Asp727Glu, p.D727E) of the human TSHR gene using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphim (PCR-RFLP) methods in 31 Turkish patients with MNG and in 30 control subjects, aiming to evaluate the relationship between this polymorphism and MNG. After genomic DNA isolation, PCR amplification was performed using a pair of primers in exon 10 of the TSHR gene that contains the p.D727E polymorphism and digested by the NlaIII (Hin1II) restriction enzyme. We found the CC and CG genotype incidence for the patient group to be 0.71 and 0.29, respectively, and for the control group to be 0.8 and 0.2, respectively. No statistically significant difference was found between the genotype and allele distribution of both groups (p = 0.417 and p = 0.449, respectively). However, the polymorphism is significantly correlated with the low serum level of the TSH (p = 0.047). These results suggest that the p.D727E polymorphism of the TSHR gene may not contribute to the pathogenesis of nontoxic MNG diseases
An ecological and syntaxonomical overview of Castanea sativa and a new association in Turkey
Abstract: Castanea sativa Mill. is thought to be originated from Turkey. It is an important deciduous angiosperm with edible fruits and valuable wood. It has a wide distribution from east Black sea to Marmara and Aegean Regions. Because of its wide distribution, C. sativa grows on different ecological, geological, climatic and edaphic condition and these results in different associations with different companion species evaluated in different upper units. In this paper, the status of Turkish C. sativa forests, their ecological and syntaxonomical characteristics were overviewed. The C. sativa associations described so far and a new one from Black Sea region were grouped in various alliances of two distinct classes, Querco-Fagetea and Quercetea pubescentis
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