Parsec-scale radio morphology and variability of a changing-look AGN: the case of Mrk 590

We investigate the origin of the parsec-scale radio emission from the changing-look active galactic nucleus (AGN) of Mrk 590, and examine whether the radio power has faded concurrently with the dramatic decrease in accretion rates observed between the 1990s and the present. We detect a compact core at 1.6 GHz and 8.4 GHz using new Very Long Baseline Array observations, finding no significant extended, jet-like features down to $\sim$1 pc scales. The flat spectral index ($\alpha_{1.6}^{8.4} = 0.03$) and high brightness temperature ($T_{\rm b} \sim 10^{8}\,\rm K$) indicate self-absorbed synchrotron emission from the AGN. The radio to X-ray luminosity ratio of ${\rm log}(L_{\rm R}/L_{\rm X}) \sim -5$, similar to that in coronally active stars, suggests emission from magnetized coronal winds, although unresolved radio jets are also consistent with the data. Comparing new Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array measurements with archival and published radio flux densities, we find $46\%$, $34\%$, and (insignificantly) $13\%$ flux density decreases between the 1990s and the year 2015 at 1.4 GHz, 5 GHz and 8.4 GHz respectively. This trend, possibly due to the expansion and fading of internal shocks within the radio-emitting outflow after a recent outburst, is consistent with the decline of the optical-UV and X-ray luminosities over the same period. Such correlated variability demonstrates the AGN accretion-outflow connection, confirming that the changing-look behaviour in Mrk 590 originates from variable accretion rates rather than dust obscuration. The present radio and X-ray luminosity correlation, consistent with low/hard state accretion, suggests that the black hole may now be accreting in a radiatively inefficient mode.Comment: 14 pages, 5 tables, 5 figures, accepted for publication in MNRA

Why is the IMF at an impasse, and what can be done about it?

The International Monetary Fund is at an impasse, acutely short of secure lending resources. The main reason is that the US Congress is blocking ratification of an agreement reached in 2010 by all member states that would almost double its permanent loanable funds (its quota). World leaders should be worried that the Fund is currently relying on the good will of countries to supply it with short-term loans which it can on-lend to countries in crisis. This is not a solid foundation for the nearest thing the world system has to an international lender-of-last- resort. Since the IMF's multilateral functions cannot be readily replicated, it is important to find a way out. All solutions lead back to the US veto, the US being the only state (Treasury or Congress) able to veto supermajority decisions. The prospect of more financial crises ahead while the Fund is chronically short of secure lending resources should focus all minds on how to end the US veto. Otherwise the Fund will follow the WTO towards irrelevance, to the benefit of the few countries at the strong end of bilateral and regional arrangements

The influence of persistent organic pollutants in the traditional Inuit diet on markers of inflammation

Concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are high in Inuit living predominately on the traditional marine diet. Adverse effects of POPs include disruption of the immune system and cardiovascular diseases that are frequent in Greenland Inuit. We aimed to assess the association between exposure to POPs from the marine diet and inflammation, taking into account other factors such as vitamin D. We invited Inuit and non-Inuit living in settlements or the town in rural East Greenland or in the capital city Nuuk. Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire and donated a blood sample for measurement of the two markers of inflammation YKL-40 and hsCRP, 25-hydroxy-vitamin D, eleven organochlorine pesticides (OCPs), fourteen polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), one polybrominated biphenyl, and nine polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) adjusted to the serum lipid content. Participants were 50 through 69 years old, living in settlements, town or city (n = 151/173/211; 95% participation rate). ΣOCP, ΣPCB and ΣPBDE serum levels were higher in Inuit than in non-Inuit (p<0.001/ p<0.001/ p<0.001), in older individuals (p<0.001/p<0.001/p = 0.002) and in participants with the highest intake of Greenlandic food items (p<0.001/p<0.001/p<0.001). Both YKL-40 and hsCRP serum levels were higher in Inuit compared to non-Inuit (p<0.001/p = 0.001), and increased with age (p<0.001/p = 0.001) and with the intake of Greenlandic food items (p<0.001/p = 0.002). Multivariate analysis conformed to a marked influence on both YKL-40 and hsCRP by ΣOCP (p<0.001/p<0.001) and ΣPCBs (p<0.001/p = 0.001) after adjusting for age, BMI, vitamin D, alcohol and smoking. POP levels were associated with the intake of the traditional Inuit diet and with markers of inflammation. This supports a pro-inflammatory role of POPs to promote chronic diseases common to populations in Greenland. These data inform guidelines on 'the Arctic dilemma' and encourage follow-up on the ageing Arctic populations

A MMT/Hectospec Redshift Survey of 24 Micron Sources in the Spitzer First Look Survey

We present a spectroscopic survey using the MMT/Hectospec fiber spectrograph of 24 micron sources selected with the Spitzer Space Telescope in the Spitzer First Look Survey. We report 1296 new redshifts for 24 micron sources, including 599 with f(24micron) > 1 mJy. Combined with 291 additional redshifts for sources from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS), our observing program was highly efficient and is ~90% complete for i' 1 mJy, and is 35% complete for i' < 20.5 mag and 0.3 mJy < f(24micron) < 1 mJy. Our Hectospec survey includes 1078 and 168 objects spectroscopically classified as galaxies and QSOs, respectively. Combining the Hectospec and SDSS samples, we find 24 micron-selected galaxies to z < 0.98 and QSOs to z < 3.6, with mean redshifts of = 0.27 and =1.1. As part of this publication, we include the redshift catalogs and the reduced spectra; these are also available online (http://mips.as.arizona.edu/~papovich/fls) and through the NASA/IPAC Infrared Science Archive (http://irsa.ipac.caltech.edu).Comment: Accepted for publication in the Astronomical Journal, AASTEX format, 23 pages, 7 figures (some in color). This replacement is the accepted version, and includes minor changes from previous version. Data tables and spectra available at http://mips.as.arizona.edu/~papovich/fls or at http://irsa.ipac.caltech.ed

Evaluation of a phosphate kinetics model in hemodialysis therapy-Assessment of the temporal robustness of model predictions

In-depth understanding of intra- and postdialytic phosphate kinetics is important to adjust treatment regimens in hemodialysis. We aimed to modify and validate a three-compartment phosphate kinetic model to individual patient data and assess the temporal robustness. Intradialytic phosphate samples were collected from the plasma and dialysate of 12 patients during two treatments (HD1 and HD2). 2-h postdialytic plasma samples were collected in four of the patients. First, the model was fitted to HD1 samples from each patient to estimate the mass transfer coefficients. Second, the best fitted model in each patient case was validated on HD2 samples. The best model fits were determined from the coefficient of determination (R2 ) values. When fitted to intradialytic samples only, the median (interquartile range) R2 values were 0.985 (0.959-0.997) and 0.992 (0.984-0.994) for HD1 and HD2, respectively. When fitted to both intra- and postdialytic samples, the results were 0.882 (0.838-0.929) and 0.963 (0.951-0.976) for HD1 and HD2, respectively. Eight patients demonstrated a higher R2 value for HD2 than for HD1. The model seems promising to predict individual plasma phosphate in hemodialysis patients. The results also show good temporal robustness of the model. Further modifications and validation on a larger sample are needed.</p