ISO observations of obscured Asymptotic Giant Branch stars in the Large Magellanic Cloud

We present ISO photometric and spectroscopic observations of a sample of 57 bright Asymptotic Giant Branch stars and red supergiants in the Large Magellanic Cloud, selected on the basis of IRAS colours indicative of high mass-loss rates. PHOT-P and PHOT-C photometry at 12, 25 and 60 $\mu$m and CAM photometry at 12 $\mu$m are used in combination with quasi-simultaneous ground-based near-IR photometry to construct colour-colour diagrams for all stars in our sample. PHOT-S and CAM-CVF spectra in the 3 to 14 $\mu$m region are presented for 23 stars. From the colour-colour diagrams and the spectra, we establish the chemical types of the dust around 49 stars in this sample. Many stars have carbon-rich dust. The most luminous carbon star in the Magellanic Clouds has also a (minor) oxygen-rich component. OH/IR stars have silicate absorption with emission wings. The unique dataset presented here allows a detailed study of a representative sample of thermal-pulsing AGB stars with well-determined luminosities.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysics Main Journa

1001–24 Local Delivery of Urokinase to Porcine Coronary Arteries Using the Localmed Infusion Sleeve

Local Delivery of thrombolytic agents may reduce thrombus formation after balloon angioplasty. The Localmed Infusion Sleeve enables localized infusion of urokinase to be performed at the time of balloon angioplasty without the need for catheter exchange.MethodsBalloon angioplasty was performed on 13 coronary arteries of 5 pigs at 4 atmospheres with a balloon to artery ratio of approximately 1.1 to 1. After angioplasty the Infusion Sleeve was advanced over the dilatation balloon and the balloon was reinflated to 2 atmospheres to appose the sleeve to the vessel wall. 50,000 Units (8 cc) of 123l-urokinase was infused through the microperforations in the sleeve for 10 seconds by a computer controlled pump. The coronaries were then excised and counted in a gamma counter.ResultsConclusions(1) The Localmed Infusion Sleeve enables drug infusion to be uncoupled from balloon dilatation. (2) Successful delivery of Urokinase to the vessel wall may be achieved using this device without the need for catheter exchange. (3) Persistence of urokinase within the vessel wall occurs after local delivery

Ten-Micron Observations of Nearby Young Stars

(abridged) We present new 10-micron photometry of 21 nearby young stars obtained at the Palomar 5-meter and at the Keck I 10-meter telescopes as part of a program to search for dust in the habitable zone of young stars. Thirteen of the stars are in the F-K spectral type range ("solar analogs"), 4 have B or A spectral types, and 4 have spectral type M. We confirm existing IRAS 12-micron and ground-based 10-micron photometry for 10 of the stars, and present new insight into this spectral regime for the rest. Excess emission at 10 micron is not found in any of the young solar analogs, except for a possible 2.4-sigma detection in the G5V star HD 88638. The G2V star HD 107146, which does not display a 10-micron excess, is identified as a new Vega-like candidate, based on our 10-micron photospheric detection, combined with previously unidentified 60-micron and 100-micron IRAS excesses. Among the early-type stars, a 10-micron excess is detected only in HD 109573A (HR 4796A), confirming prior observations; among the M dwarfs, excesses are confirmed in AA Tau, CD -40 8434, and Hen 3-600A. A previously suggested N band excess in the M3 dwarf CD -33 7795 is shown to be consistent with photospheric emission.Comment: 40 pages, 4 figures, 5 tables. To appear in the January 1, 2004 issue of Ap

P-glycoprotein, but not multidrug resistance protein 4, plays a role in the systemic clearance of irinotecan and SN-38 in mice

The ATP-binding cassette transporters P-glycoprotein (ABCB1, MDR1) and multidrug resistance protein 4 (MRP4) efflux irinotecan and its active metabolite SN-38 in vitro, and thus may contribute to system clearance of these compounds. Mdr1a/b(-/-), Mrp4(-/-), and wild-type mice were administered 20 or 40 mg/kg irinotecan, and plasma samples were collected for 6 hours. Irinotecan and SN-38 lactone and carboxylate were quantitated and data were analyzed with nonlinear mixed-effects modeling. Mdr1a/b genotype was a significant covariate for the clearance of both irinotecan lactone and SN-38 lactone. Exposures to irinotecan lactone and SN-38 lactone after a 40 mg/kg dose were 1.6-fold higher in Mdr1a/b(-/-) mice compared to wild-type mice. Plasma concentrations of irinotecan lactone, irinotecan carboxylate, and SN-38 lactone in Mrp4(-/-) mice were similar to the wild-type controls. These results suggest that P-gp plays a role in irinotecan and SN-38 elimination, but Mrp4 does not affect irinotecan or SN-38 plasma pharmacokinetics.Fil: Tagen, Michael. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Zhuang, Yanli. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Zhang, Fan. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Harstead, K. Elaine. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Shen, Jun. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Schaiquevich, Paula Susana. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas; Argentina. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Fraga, Charles H.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Panetta, John C.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Waters, Christopher M.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados UnidosFil: Stewart, Clinton F.. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Estados Unido

Minimising soil organic carbon erosion by wind is critical for land degradation neutrality

The Land Degradation-Neutrality (LDN) framework of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD) is underpinned by three complementary interactive indicators (metrics: vegetation cover, net primary productivity; NPP and soil organic carbon; SOC) as proxies for change in land-based natural capital. The LDN framework assumes that SOC changes slowly primarily by decomposition and respiration of CO2 to the atmosphere. However, there is growing evidence that soil erosion by wind, water and tillage also reduces SOC stocks rapidly after land use and cover change. Here we modify a physically-based sediment transport model to estimate wind erosion and better represent the vegetation cover (using land surface aerodynamic roughness; that is the plant canopy coverage, stone cover, soil aggregates, etc. that protects the soil surface from wind erosion) and quantify the contribution of wind erosion to global SOC erosion (2001-2016). We use the wind erosion model to identify global dryland regions where SOC erosion by wind may be a significant problem for achieving LDN. Selected sites in global drylands show SOC erosion by wind accelerating over time. Without targeting and reducing SOC erosion, management practices in these regions will fail to sequester SOC and reduce land degradation. We describe the interrelated nature of the LDN indicators, the importance of including SOC erosion by wind erosion and how by explicitly accounting for wind erosion processes, we can better represent the physical effects of changing land cover on land degradation. Our results for Earth’s drylands show that modelling SOC stock reduction by wind erosion is better than using land cover and SOC independently. Furthermore, emphasising the role of wind erosion in UNCCD and Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) reporting will better support LDN and climate change mitigation and adaptation globall

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) and CT perfusion changes

Posterior reversible encephalopathy syndrome (PRES) can present with focal neurologic deficits, mimicking a stroke and can often represent a diagnostic challenge when presenting atypically. A high degree of suspicion is required in the clinical setting in order to yield the diagnosis. Cerebral CT perfusion (CTP) is utilized in many institutions as the first line in acute stroke imaging. CTP has proved to be a very sensitive measure of cerebral blood flow dynamics, most commonly employed to delineate the infarcted tissue from penumbra (at-risk tissue) in ischemic strokes. But abnormal CTP is also seen in stroke mimics such as seizures, hypoglycemia, tumors, migraines and PRES. In this article we describe a case of PRES in an elderly bone marrow transplant recipient who presented with focal neurological deficits concerning for a cerebrovascular accident. CTP played a pivotal role in the diagnosis and initiation of appropriate management. We also briefly discuss the pathophysiology of PRES

The Time-Domain Spectroscopic Survey: Understanding the Optically Variable Sky with SEQUELS in SDSS-III

The Time-Domain Spectroscopic Survey (TDSS) is an SDSS-IV eBOSS subproject primarily aimed at obtaining identification spectra of ~220,000 optically-variable objects systematically selected from SDSS/Pan-STARRS1 multi-epoch imaging. We present a preview of the science enabled by TDSS, based on TDSS spectra taken over ~320 deg^2 of sky as part of the SEQUELS survey in SDSS-III, which is in part a pilot survey for eBOSS in SDSS-IV. Using the 15,746 TDSS-selected single-epoch spectra of photometrically variable objects in SEQUELS, we determine the demographics of our variability-selected sample, and investigate the unique spectral characteristics inherent in samples selected by variability. We show that variability-based selection of quasars complements color-based selection by selecting additional redder quasars, and mitigates redshift biases to produce a smooth quasar redshift distribution over a wide range of redshifts. The resulting quasar sample contains systematically higher fractions of blazars and broad absorption line quasars than from color-selected samples. Similarly, we show that M-dwarfs in the TDSS-selected stellar sample have systematically higher chromospheric active fractions than the underlying M-dwarf population, based on their H-alpha emission. TDSS also contains a large number of RR Lyrae and eclipsing binary stars with main-sequence colors, including a few composite-spectrum binaries. Finally, our visual inspection of TDSS spectra uncovers a significant number of peculiar spectra, and we highlight a few cases of these interesting objects. With a factor of ~15 more spectra, the main TDSS survey in SDSS-IV will leverage the lessons learned from these early results for a variety of time-domain science applications.Comment: 17 pages, 14 figures, submitted to Ap

A clinical prediction model for long-term functional outcome after traumatic spinal cord injury based on acute clinical and imaging factors.

To improve clinicians\u27 ability to predict outcome after spinal cord injury (SCI) and to help classify patients within clinical trials, we have created a novel prediction model relating acute clinical and imaging information to functional outcome at 1 year. Data were obtained from two large prospective SCI datasets. Functional independence measure (FIM) motor score at 1 year follow-up was the primary outcome, and functional independence (score ≥ 6 for each FIM motor item) was the secondary outcome. A linear regression model was created with the primary outcome modeled relative to clinical and imaging predictors obtained within 3 days of injury. A logistic model was then created using the dichotomized secondary outcome and the same predictor variables. Model validation was performed using a bootstrap resampling procedure. Of 729 patients, 376 met the inclusion criteria. The mean FIM motor score at 1 year was 62.9 (±28.6). Better functional status was predicted by less severe initial American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) Impairment Scale grade, and by an ASIA motor score \u3e50 at admission. In contrast, older age and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) signal characteristics consistent with spinal cord edema or hemorrhage predicted worse functional outcome. The linear model predicting FIM motor score demonstrated an R-square of 0.52 in the original dataset, and 0.52 (95% CI 0.52,0.53) across the 200 bootstraps. Functional independence was achieved by 148 patients (39.4%). For the logistic model, the area under the curve was 0.93 in the original dataset, and 0.92 (95% CI 0.92,0.93) across the bootstraps, indicating excellent predictive discrimination. These models will have important clinical impact to guide decision making and to counsel patients and families

A close halo of large transparent grains around extreme red giant stars

Intermediate-mass stars end their lives by ejecting the bulk of their envelope via a slow dense wind back into the interstellar medium, to form the next generation of stars and planets. Stellar pulsations are thought to elevate gas to an altitude cool enough for the condensation of dust, which is then accelerated by radiation pressure from starlight, entraining the gas and driving the wind. However accounting for the mass loss has been a problem due to the difficulty in observing tenuous gas and dust tens of milliarcseconds from the star, and there is accordingly no consensus on the way sufficient momentum is transferred from the starlight to the outflow. Here, we present spatially-resolved, multi-wavelength observations of circumstellar dust shells of three stars on the asymptotic giant branch of the HR diagram. When imaged in scattered light, dust shells were found at remarkably small radii (<~ 2 stellar radii) and with unexpectedly large grains (~300 nm radius). This proximity to the photosphere argues for dust species that are transparent to starlight and therefore resistant to sublimation by the intense radiation field. While transparency usually implies insufficient radiative pressure to drive a wind, the radiation field can accelerate these large grains via photon scattering rather than absorption - a plausible mass-loss mechanism for lower-amplitude pulsating stars.Comment: 13 pages, 1 table, 6 figure

Identification and validation of oncologic miRNA biomarkers for Luminal A-like breast cancer

Introduction: Breast cancer is a common disease with distinct tumor subtypes phenotypically characterized by ER and HER2/neu receptor status. MiRNAs play regulatory roles in tumor initiation and progression, and altered miRNA expression has been demonstrated in a variety of cancer states presenting the potential for exploitation as cancer biomarkers. Blood provides an excellent medium for biomarker discovery. This study investigated systemic miRNAs differentially expressed in Luminal A-like (ER+PR+HER2/neu-) breast cancer and their effectiveness as oncologic biomarkers in the clinical setting. Methods: Blood samples were prospectively collected from patients with Luminal A-like breast cancer (n=54) and controls (n=56). RNA was extracted, reverse transcribed and subjected to microarray analysis (n=10 Luminal A-like; n=10 Control). Differentially expressed miRNAs were identified by artificial neural network (ANN) data-mining algorithms. Expression of specific miRNAs was validated by RQ-PCR (n=44 Luminal A; n=46 Control) and potential relationships between circulating miRNA levels and clinicopathological features of breast cancer were investigated. Results: Microarray analysis identified 76 differentially expressed miRNAs. ANN revealed 10 miRNAs for further analysis ( miR-19b, miR-29a, miR-93, miR-181a, miR-182, miR-223, miR-301a, miR-423-5p, miR-486-5 and miR-652 ). The biomarker potential of 4 miRNAs ( miR-29a, miR-181a , miR-223 and miR-652 ) was confirmed by RQ-PCR, with significantly reduced expression in blood of women with Luminal A-like breast tumors compared to healthy controls (p=0.001, 0.004, 0.009 and 0.004 respectively). Binary logistic regression confirmed that combination of 3 of these miRNAs ( miR-29a, miR-181a and miR-652 ) could reliably differentiate between cancers and controls with an AUC of 0.80. Conclusion: This study provides insight into the underlying molecular portrait of Luminal A-like breast cancer subtype. From an initial 76 miRNAs, 4 were validated with altered expression in the blood of women with Luminal A-like breast cancer. The expression profiles of these 3 miRNAs, in combination with mammography, has potential to facilitate accurate subtype- specific breast tumor detection