1,865 research outputs found
PS42. Does Endovascular Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Confer Survival Benefits Over Open Repair?
Discovery of HE 1523-0901, a Strongly r-Process Enhanced Metal-Poor Star with Detected Uranium
We present age estimates for the newly discovered very r-process enhanced
metal-poor star HE 1523-0901 ([Fe/H]=-2.95) based on the radioactive decay of
Th and U. The bright (V=11.1) giant was found amongst a sample of bright
metal-poor stars selected from the Hamburg/ESO survey. From an abundance
analysis of a high-resolution (R=75,000) VLT/UVES spectrum we find HE 1523-0901
to be strongly overabundant in r-process elements ([r/Fe]=1.8). The abundances
of heavy neutron-capture elements (Z>56) measured in HE 1523-0901 match the
scaled solar r-process pattern extremely well. We detect the strongest optical
U line at 3859.57 A. For the first time, we are able to employ several
different chronometers, such as the U/Th, U/Ir, Th/Eu and Th/Os ratios to
measure the age of a star. The weighted average age of HE 1523-0901 is 13.2
Gyr. Several sources of uncertainties are assessed in detail.Comment: 7 pages, 2 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
Scaling of the specific heat in superfluid films
We study the specific heat of the model on lattices with (i.e. on lattices representing a film geometry) using the
Cluster Monte--Carlo method. In the --direction we apply Dirichlet boundary
conditions so that the order parameter in the top and bottom layers is zero. We
find that our results for the specific heat of various thickness size
collapse on the same universal scaling function. The extracted scaling function
of the specific heat is in good agreement with the experimentally determined
universal scaling function using no free parameters.Comment: 4 pages, uuencoded compressed PostScrip
Nitrate- and silicate-competition among antarctic phytoplankton
Natural phytoplankton from antarctic waters in the Drake Passage were used for competition experiments in semicontinuous cultures. The outcome of interspecific competition for silicate and nitrate was studied at a range of Si:N ratios (from 2.6:1 to 425:1) and at three different dilution rates. For five species Monod kinetics of silicate-and nitrate-limited growth has been established. Comparison between theoretical predictions derived from Monod kinetics and the outcome of competition experiments showed only minor deviations. Contrary to literature data, considerable depletion of nitrate was found in antarctic seawater. Both the concentrations of soluble silicate and of nitrate were too low to support maximum growth rates of some of the diatom species under investigation
Ozone production and trace gas correlations during the June 2000 MINATROC intensive measurement campaign at Mt. Cimone
An intensive measurement campaign was performed in June 2000 at the Mt. Cimone station (44°11' N-10°42' E, 2165 m asl, the highest mountain in the northern Italian Apennines) to study photochemical ozone production in the lower free troposphere. In general, average mixing ratios of important trace gases were not very high (121 ± 20 ppbv CO, 0.284 ± 0.220 ppbv NOx, 1.15 ± 0.8 ppbv NOy, 58 ± 9 ppbv O<sub>3</sub>), which indicates a small contribution by local pollution. Those trace gas levels are representative of continental background air, which is further supported by the analysis of VOCs (e.g.: C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>6</sub> = (905 ± 200) pptv, C<sub>3</sub>H<sub>8</sub> = (268 ±110) pptv, C<sub>2</sub>H<sub>2</sub> = (201 ± 102) pptv, C<sub>5</sub>H<sub>8</sub> = (111 ± 124) pptv, benzene = (65 ± 33) pptv). Furthermore, significant diurnal variations for a number of trace gases (O<sub>3</sub>, CO, NOx, NOy, HCHO) indicate the presence of free tropospheric airmasses at nighttime as a consequence of local catabatic winds. Average mid-day peroxy radical concentrations at Mt. Cimone are of the order of 30 pptv. At mean NO concentrations of the order of 40 pptv this gives rise to significant in situ net O<sub>3</sub> production of 0.1-0.3 ppbv/hr. The importance of O<sub>3 </sub>production is supported by correlations between O<sub>3</sub>, CO, NOz, and HCHO, and between HCHO, CO and NOy
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Cost-effectiveness of genotype-guided and dual antiplatelet therapies in acute coronary syndrome.
BackgroundThe choice of antiplatelet therapy after acute coronary syndrome (ACS) is complicated: Ticagrelor and prasugrel are novel alternatives to clopidogrel, patients with some genotypes may not respond to clopidogrel, and low-cost generic formulations of clopidogrel are available.ObjectiveTo determine the most cost-effective strategy for dual antiplatelet therapy after percutaneous coronary intervention for ACS.DesignDecision-analytic model.Data sourcesPublished literature, Medicare claims, and life tables.Target populationPatients having percutaneous coronary intervention for ACS.Time horizonLifetime.PerspectiveSocietal.InterventionFive strategies were examined: generic clopidogrel, prasugrel, ticagrelor, and genotyping for polymorphisms of CYP2C19 with carriers of loss-of-function alleles receiving either ticagrelor (genotyping with ticagrelor) or prasugrel (genotyping with prasugrel) and noncarriers receiving clopidogrel.Outcome measuresDirect medical costs, quality-adjusted life years(QALYs), and incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICERs).Results of base-case analysisThe clopidogrel strategy produced35 800 per QALY relative to clopidogrel. Genotyping with ticagrelor was more effective than genotyping with prasugrel (52 600 per QALY relative to genotyping with ticagrelor).Results of sensitivity analysisStronger associations between genotype and thrombotic outcomes rendered ticagrelor substantially less cost-effective ($104 800 per QALY). Genotyping with prasugrel was the preferred therapy among patients who could not tolerate ticagrelor.LimitationNo randomized trials have directly compared genotyping strategies or prasugrel with ticagrelor.ConclusionGenotype-guided personalization may improve the cost-effectiveness of prasugrel and ticagrelor after percutaneous coronary intervention for ACS, but ticagrelor for all patients may bean economically reasonable alternative in some settings
The Dynamics of the Merging Galaxy Cluster System A2256: Evidence for a New Subcluster
We present 236 new radial velocities of galaxies in the cluster A2256 measured with the WIYN Hydra Multi-Object Spectrograph. Combined with the previous work of Fabricant, Kent, & Kurtz, we have velocities for a total of 319 galaxies, of which 277 are cluster members. In addition to the new radial velocities, we present a 3 × 3 image mosaic in the R band of the central 19′ × 19′ region of A2256, from which we obtained photometry for 861 galaxies. These data provide strong evidence for a merger event between two groups. In addition, we present evidence for the presence of a third group, on the outer reaches of the system, that is just now beginning to merge with the system
Finite-Size Scaling in Two-Dimensional Superfluids
Using the model and a non-local updating scheme called cluster Monte
Carlo, we calculate the superfluid density of a two dimensional superfluid on
large-size square lattices up to . This technique
allows us to approach temperatures close to the critical point, and by studying
a wide range of values and applying finite-size scaling theory we are able
to extract the critical properties of the system. We calculate the superfluid
density and from that we extract the renormalization group beta function. We
derive finite-size scaling expressions using the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Nelson
Renormalization Group equations and show that they are in very good agreement
with our numerical results. This allows us to extrapolate our results to the
infinite-size limit. We also find that the universal discontinuity of the
superfluid density at the critical temperature is in very good agreement with
the Kosterlitz-Thouless-Nelson calculation and experiments.Comment: 13 pages, postscript fil
The SPEAR Instrument and On-Orbit Performance
The SPEAR (or 'FIMS') instrumentation has been used to conduct the first
large-scale spectral mapping of diffuse cosmic far ultraviolet (FUV, 900-1750
AA) emission, including important diagnostics of interstellar hot (10^4 K -
10^6 K) and photoionized plasmas, H_2, and dust scattered starlight. The
instrumentation's performance has allowed for the unprecedented detection of
astrophysical diffuse far UV emission lines. A spectral resolution of 550 and
an imaging resolution of 5' is achieved on-orbit in the Short (900 - 1175 AA)
and Long (1335 - 1750 AA) bandpass channels within their respective 7.4 deg x
4.3' and 4.0 deg x 4.6' fields of view. We describe the SPEAR imaging
spectrographs, their performance, and the nature and handling of their data
Photoswitchable diacylglycerols enable optical control of protein kinase C.
Increased levels of the second messenger lipid diacylglycerol (DAG) induce downstream signaling events including the translocation of C1-domain-containing proteins toward the plasma membrane. Here, we introduce three light-sensitive DAGs, termed PhoDAGs, which feature a photoswitchable acyl chain. The PhoDAGs are inactive in the dark and promote the translocation of proteins that feature C1 domains toward the plasma membrane upon a flash of UV-A light. This effect is quickly reversed after the termination of photostimulation or by irradiation with blue light, permitting the generation of oscillation patterns. Both protein kinase C and Munc13 can thus be put under optical control. PhoDAGs control vesicle release in excitable cells, such as mouse pancreatic islets and hippocampal neurons, and modulate synaptic transmission in Caenorhabditis elegans. As such, the PhoDAGs afford an unprecedented degree of spatiotemporal control and are broadly applicable tools to study DAG signaling
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