The Supershell-Molecular Cloud Connection in the Milky Way and Beyond

The role of large-scale stellar feedback in the formation of molecular clouds has been investigated observationally by examining the relationship between HI and 12CO(J=1-0) in supershells. Detailed parsec-resolution case studies of two Milky Way supershells demonstrate an enhanced level of molecularisation over both objects, and hence provide the first quantitative observational evidence of increased molecular cloud production in volumes of space affected by supershell activity. Recent results on supergiant shells in the LMC suggest that while they do indeed help to organise the ISM into over-dense structures, their global contribution to molecular cloud formation is of the order of only ~10%.Comment: Proceedings of IAUS 292 - Molecular Gas, Dust, and Star Formation in Galaxies, eds. T. Wong & J. Ott. 4 pages, 3 figure

Supergiant Shells and Molecular Cloud Formation in the LMC

We investigate the influence of large-scale stellar feedback on the formation of molecular clouds in the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC). Examining the relationship between HI and 12CO(J=1-0) in supergiant shells (SGSs), we find that the molecular fraction in the total volume occupied by SGSs is not enhanced with respect to the rest of the LMC disk. However, the majority of objects (~70% by mass) are more molecular than their local surroundings, implying that the presence of a supergiant shell does on average have a positive effect on the molecular gas fraction. Averaged over the full SGS sample, our results suggest that ~12-25% of the molecular mass in supergiant shell systems was formed as a direct result of the stellar feedback that created the shells. This corresponds to ~4-11% of the total molecular mass of the galaxy. These figures are an approximate lower limit to the total contribution of stellar feedback to molecular cloud formation in the LMC, and constitute one of the first quantitative measurements of feedback-triggered molecular cloud formation in a galactic system.Comment: 14 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Ap

Disparities and guideline adherence for HPV testing among patients with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma, NCDB, and SEER

BACKGROUND: Human papilloma virus testing for oropharyngeal squamous-cell carcinoma has been recommended by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network since 2012. We examine disparities, reported rates of human papillomavirus (HPV) testing, and the impact on these findings of limitations with the variable in database registries. METHODS: The HPV variable was queried for patients with oropharyngeal squamous carcinoma (OPSCC) from 2013 to 2016 in National Cancer Data Base (NCDB) and Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). Multivariable regression was used to identify disparities based on sociodemographic variables. Sensitivity analyses were used to investigate limitations of the variable. RESULTS: Despite limitations in the HPV variable in the databases, there was less than 100% adherence to recommended testing, and there were significant disparities in multiple sociodemographic variables. For example, in NCDB 70% of white versus 60.4% of black patients were tested (odds ratio [OR] 0.75, confidence interval [CI] 0.66-0.85, p ≤ 0.0001); in SEER 59.8% of white and 47.6% of black patients were tested (OR 0.73, CI 0.67-0.81; p ≤ 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: Disparities exist among patients undergoing testing for HPV-associated OPSCC and adherence to guideline recommended HPV testing has been suboptimal. In addition, the HPV variable definition, especially as it relates to p16 positivity, and use in these two registries should be improved

Discovery of a pulsar-powered bow shock nebula in the Small Magellanic Cloud supernova remnant DEMS5

We report the discovery of a new Small Magellanic Cloud pulsar wind nebula (PWN) at the edge of the supernova remnant (SNR) DEMS5. The pulsar powered object has a cometary morphology similar to the Galactic PWN analogues PSR B1951+32 and ´the mouse´. It is travelling supersonically through the interstellar medium.We estimate the pulsar kick velocity to be in the range of 700-2000 km s-1 for an age between 28 and 10 kyr. The radio spectral index for this SNR-PWN-pulsar system is flat (-0.29 ± 0.01) consistent with other similar objects. We infer that the putative pulsar has a radio spectral index of -1.8, which is typical for Galactic pulsars. We searched for dispersion measures up to 1000 cm-3 pc but found no convincing candidates with an S/N greater than 8. We produce a polarization map for this PWN at 5500 MHz and find a mean fractional polarization of P ∼ 23 per cent. The X-ray power-law spectrum (τ ∼ 2) is indicative of non-thermal synchrotron emission as is expected from PWN-pulsar system. Finally, we detect DEMS5 in infrared (IR) bands. Our IR photometric measurements strongly indicate the presence of shocked gas that is expected for SNRs. However, it is unusual to detect such IR emission in an SNR with a supersonic bow shock PWN.We also find a low-velocity HI cloud of ∼107 km s-1 that is possibly interacting with DEMS5. SNR DEMS5 is the first confirmed detection of a pulsar-powered bow shock nebula found outside the Galaxy.Fil: Alsaberi, Rami Z. E.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Maitra, C.. Max Planck Institut Für Extraterrestrische Physik; AlemaniaFil: Filipovic, M. D.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Bozzetto, L.M.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Haberl, F.. Max Planck Institut Für Extraterrestrische Physik; AlemaniaFil: Maggi, P.. Université de Strasbourg; FranciaFil: Sasaki, M.. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; AlemaniaFil: Manjolovic, P.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Velovic, V.. University Of Belgrade; SerbiaFil: Kavanagh, P.. Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies; IrlandaFil: Maxted, N. I.. University Of New South Wales (unsw) Australia; AustraliaFil: Urosevic, D.. Isaac Newton Institute Of Chile; ChileFil: Rowell, G. P.. University of Adelaide; AustraliaFil: Wong, G. F.. University Of New South Wales (unsw) Australia; AustraliaFil: For, B. Q.. The University Ofwestern Australia; AustraliaFil: O'Brien, A. N.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Galvin, T. J.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Staveley-Smith, L.. The University Ofwestern Australia; AustraliaFil: Norris, R. P.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Jarrett, T.. University Of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Kothes, R.. National Research Council Canada; CanadáFil: Luken, K. J.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Hurley-Walker, N.. Curtin University; AustraliaFil: Sano, H.. Nagoya University; JapónFil: Onic, D.. University Of Belgrade; SerbiaFil: Dai, S. T.. Australia Telescope National Facility; AustraliaFil: Pannuti, G.. Morehead State University; Estados UnidosFil: Tothill, N. F. H.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Crawford, Evan. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Yew, M.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Bojicic, I.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Dénes, H.. Netherlands Foundation For Research In Astronomy; BélgicaFil: McClure-Griffiths, N.. Australian National University; AustraliaFil: Gurovich, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Fukui, Y.. Nagoya University; Japó

Abeta42-Induced Neurodegeneration via an Age-Dependent Autophagic-Lysosomal Injury in Drosophila

The mechanism of widespread neuronal death occurring in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains enigmatic even after extensive investigation during the last two decades. Amyloid beta 42 peptide (Aβ1–42) is believed to play a causative role in the development of AD. Here we expressed human Aβ1–42 and amyloid beta 40 (Aβ1–40) in Drosophila neurons. Aβ1–42 but not Aβ1–40 causes an extensive accumulation of autophagic vesicles that become increasingly dysfunctional with age. Aβ1–42-induced impairment of the degradative function, as well as the structural integrity, of post-lysosomal autophagic vesicles triggers a neurodegenerative cascade that can be enhanced by autophagy activation or partially rescued by autophagy inhibition. Compromise and leakage from post-lysosomal vesicles result in cytosolic acidification, additional damage to membranes and organelles, and erosive destruction of cytoplasm leading to eventual neuron death. Neuronal autophagy initially appears to play a pro-survival role that changes in an age-dependent way to a pro-death role in the context of Aβ1–42 expression. Our in vivo observations provide a mechanistic understanding for the differential neurotoxicity of Aβ1–42 and Aβ1–40, and reveal an Aβ1–42-induced death execution pathway mediated by an age-dependent autophagic-lysosomal injury

Detection of IL28B SNP DNA from Buccal Epithelial Cells, Small Amounts of Serum, and Dried Blood Spots

Background & Aims: Point mutations in the coding region of the interleukin 28 gene (rs12979860) have recently been identified for predicting the outcome of treatment of hepatitis C virus infection. This polymorphism detection was based on whole blood DNA extraction. Alternatively, DNA for genetic diagnosis has been derived from buccal epithelial cells (BEC), dried blood spots (DBS), and genomic DNA from serum. The aim of the study was to investigate the reliability and accuracy of alternative routes of testing for single nucleotide polymorphism allele rs12979860CC. Methods: Blood, plasma, and sera samples from 200 patients were extracted (400 mL). Buccal smears were tested using an FTA card. To simulate postal delay, we tested the influence of storage at ambient temperature on the different sources of DNA at five time points (baseline, 48 h, 6 days, 9 days, and 12 days) Results: There was 100 % concordance between blood, plasma, sera, and BEC, validating the use of DNA extracted from BEC collected on cytology brushes for genetic testing. Genetic variations in HPTR1 gene were detected using smear technique in blood smear (3620 copies) as well as in buccal smears (5870 copies). These results are similar to those for whole blood diluted at 1/10. A minimum of 0.04 mL, 4 mL, and 40 mL was necessary to obtain exploitable results respectively for whole blood, sera, and plasma. No significant variation between each time point was observed for the different sources of DNA. IL28B SNPs analysis at these different time points showed the same results using the four sources of DNA

Star-formation masers in the Magellanic Clouds: A multibeam survey with new detections and maser abundance estimates

The results of the first complete survey for 6668-MHz CH3OH and 6035-MHz excited-state OH masers in the Small and Large Magellanic Clouds are presented. A new 6668-MHz CH3OH maser in the Large Magellanic Cloud has been detected towards the star-forming region N 160a, together with a new 6035-MHz excited-state OH maser detected towards N 157a. We also re-observed the previously known 6668-MHz CH3OH masers and the single known 6035-MHz OH maser. Neither maser transition was detected above ~0.13 Jy in the Small Magellanic Cloud. All observations were initially made using the CH3OH Multibeam (MMB) survey receiver on the 64-m Parkes radio telescope as part of the overall MMB project. Accurate positions were measured with the Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA). In a comparison of the star formation maser populations in the Magellanic Clouds and our Galaxy, the LMC maser populations are demonstrated to be smaller than their Milky Way counterparts. CH3OH masers are under-abundant by a factor of ~50, whilst OH and H2O masers are a factor of ~10 less abundant than our Galaxy

Comparing lumbo-pelvic kinematics in people with and without back pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Background: Clinicians commonly examine posture and movement in people with the belief that correcting dysfunctional movement may reduce pain. If dysfunctional movement is to be accurately identified, clinicians should know what constitutes normal movement and how this differs in people with low back pain (LBP). This systematic review examined studies that compared biomechanical aspects of lumbo-pelvic movement in people with and without LBP. Methods. MEDLINE, Cochrane Central, EMBASE, AMI, CINAHL, Scopus, AMED, ISI Web of Science were searched from inception until January 2014 for relevant studies. Studies had to compare adults with and without LBP using skin surface measurement techniques to measure lumbo-pelvic posture or movement. Two reviewers independently applied inclusion and exclusion criteria, and identified and extracted data. Standardised mean differences and 95% confidence intervals were estimated for group differences between people with and without LBP, and where possible, meta-analyses were performed. Within-group variability in all measurements was also compared. Results: The search identified 43 eligible studies. Compared to people without LBP, on average, people with LBP display: (i) no difference in lordosis angle (8 studies), (ii) reduced lumbar ROM (19 studies), (iii) no difference in lumbar relative to hip contribution to end-range flexion (4 studies), (iv) no difference in standing pelvic tilt angle (3 studies), (v) slower movement (8 studies), and (vi) reduced proprioception (17 studies). Movement variability appeared greater for people with LBP for flexion, lateral flexion and rotation ROM, and movement speed, but not for other movement characteristics. Considerable heterogeneity exists between studies, including a lack of detail or standardization between studies on the criteria used to define participants as people with LBP (cases) or without LBP (controls). Conclusions: On average, people with LBP have reduced lumbar ROM and proprioception, and move more slowly compared to people without LBP. Whether these deficits exist prior to LBP onset is unknown