The detection and photometric redshift determination of distant galaxies using SIRTF's Infrared Array Camera

We investigate the ability of the Space Infrared Telescope Facility's Infrared Array Camera to detect distant (z ~ 3)galaxies and measure their photometric redshifts. Our analysis shows that changing the original long wavelength filter specifications provides significant improvements in performance in this and other areas.Comment: 28 pages incl 12 figures; to appear in June 1999 PASP. Fig.12 replaced with corrected versio

Flood risk management of a small urban river using a sustainable urban drainage system: Wortley Beck, Leeds, UK

This paper explores potential flood resilience approaches for the highly urbanised Wortley Beck river basin, south west of the City of Leeds, UK. Integrated 1D and 2D hydrodynamic modelling, using the ISIS and TUFLOW has been utilised to explore potential impact of SuDS on the flood hazard for three (1:15, 1:50 and 1:100) flood events. A direct rainfall runoff modelling approach has been employed to implicitly incorporate SuDS features within the case study region. Results indicate that SuDS reduce the flood hazard in downstream for all three (1:15, 1:50 and 1:100) flood events, with the effect more pronounced for the lowest rainfall (1:15) event

Oscillation frequencies and mode lifetimes in alpha Centauri A

We analyse our recently-published velocity measurements of alpha Cen A (Butler et al. 2004). After adjusting the weights on a night-by-night basis in order to optimize the window function to minimize sidelobes, we extract 42 oscillation frequencies with l=0 to 3 and measure the large and small frequency separations. We give fitted relations to these frequencies that can be compared with theoretical models and conclude that the observed scatter about these fits is due to the finite lifetimes of the oscillation modes. We estimate the mode lifetimes to be 1-2 d, substantially shorter than in the Sun.Comment: Accepted by Ap

The N2K Consortium. II. A Transiting Hot Saturn Around HD 149026 With a Large Dense Core

Doppler measurements from Subaru and Keck have revealed radial velocity variations in the V=8.15, G0IV star HD 149026 consistent with a Saturn-Mass planet in a 2.8766 day orbit. Photometric observations at Fairborn Observatory have detected three complete transit events with depths of 0.003 mag at the predicted times of conjunction. HD 149026 is now the second brightest star with a transiting extrasolar planet. The mass of the star, based on interpolation of stellar evolutionary models, is 1.3 +/- 0.1 solar masses; together with the Doppler amplitude, K=43.3 m s^-1, we derive a planet mass Msin(i)=0.36 Mjup, and orbital radius of 0.042 AU. HD 149026 is chromospherically inactive and metal-rich with spectroscopically derived [Fe/H]=+0.36, Teff=6147 K, log g=4.26 and vsin(i)=6.0 km s^-1. Based on Teff and the stellar luminosity of 2.72 Lsun, we derive a stellar radius of 1.45 Rsun. Modeling of the three photometric transits provides an orbital inclination of 85.3 +/- 1.0 degrees and (including the uncertainty in the stellar radius) a planet radius of 0.725 +/- 0.05 Rjup. Models for this planet mass and radius suggest the presence of a ~67 Mearth core composed of elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. This substantial planet core would be difficult to construct by gravitational instability.Comment: 25 pages, 5 figures, accepted by the Astrophysical Journa

Dynamical Dark Energy or Simply Cosmic Curvature?

We show that the assumption of a flat universe induces critically large errors in reconstructing the dark energy equation of state at z>~0.9 even if the true cosmic curvature is very small, O(1%) or less. The spuriously reconstructed w(z) shows a range of unusual behaviour, including crossing of the phantom divide and mimicking of standard tracking quintessence models. For 1% curvature and LCDM, the error in w grows rapidly above z~0.9 reaching (50%,100%) by redshifts of (2.5,2.9) respectively, due to the long cosmological lever arm. Interestingly, the w(z) reconstructed from distance data and Hubble rate measurements have opposite trends due to the asymmetric influence of the curved geodesics. These results show that including curvature as a free parameter is imperative in any future analyses attempting to pin down the dynamics of dark energy, especially at moderate or high redshifts.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures. To appear in JCA

Two-fermion bound state in a Bose-Einstein condensate

A nonlinear Schr\"odinger equation is derived for the dynamics of a beam of ultracold fermionic atoms traversing a Bose-Einstein condensate. The condensate phonon modes are shown to provide a nonlinear medium for the fermionic atoms. A two-fermion bound state is predicted to arise, and the signature of the bound state in a nonlinear atom optics experiment is discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 1 figure

Intramuscular Olanzapine – a UK case series of early cases

BACKGROUND: Clinical trials assessing efficacy and safety of Intramuscular (IM) Olanzapine in acute schizophrenia and acute mania have previously been undertaken in studies required for drug registration in patients who were required to give informed consent. These patients may have less severe forms of psychosis than patients treated in routine practice. Data derived from naturalistic practice following the launch of IM olanzapine may be helpful for clinicians in assessing efficacy and safety of IM olanzapine. The PANSS-EC scale used in the clinical studies may represent a tool that could be used in routine clinical practice. CASE PRESENTATION: We report on an early unselected case series of 7 patients who received IM olanzapine in routine clinical practice settings in the UK. In this case series, olanzapine IM was generally effective, and no adverse events were reported. Adjunctive benzodiazepines were given concomitantly in 1 of the 7 subjects. This is relevant as concomitant benzodiazepines are not recommended for a minimum of 1 hour post IM olanzapine administration. PANSS-EC data was collected in 2 of the 7 subjects. CONCLUSION: Although patients had greater severity of psychosis than clinical trial patients there were no unexpected findings. In addition the PANSS-EC scale is a scale that may be useful in assessing the efficacy of IM antipsychotics in routine clinical practice

Sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood

: Externalizing disorders, such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), account for the majority of the child/adolescent referrals to mental health services and increase risk for later-life psychopathology. Although the expression of externalizing disorders is more common among males, few studies have addressed how sex modifies associations between metal exposure and adolescent externalizing symptoms. This study aimed to examine sex-specific associations between co-exposure to multiple metals and externalizing symptoms in adolescence and young adulthood. Among 150 adolescents and young adults (55% female, ages: 15-25 years) enrolled in the Public Health Impact of Metals Exposure (PHIME) study in Brescia, Italy, we measured five metals (manganese (Mn), lead (Pb), copper (Cu), chromium (Cr), nickel (Ni)) in four biological matrices (blood, urine, hair, and saliva). Externalizing symptoms were assessed using the Achenbach System of Empirically Based Assessment (ASEBA) Youth Self-Report (YSR) or Adult Self Report (ASR). Using generalized weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, we investigated the moderating effect of sex (i.e., assigned at birth) on associations between the joint effect of exposure to the metal mixture and externalizing symptoms, adjusting for age and socioeconomic status. We observed that metal mixture exposure was differentially associated with aggressive behavior in males compared to females (β = -0.058, 95% CI [-0.126, -0.009]). In males, exposure was significantly associated with more externalizing problems, and aggressive and intrusive behaviors, driven by Pb, Cu and Cr. In females, exposure was not significantly associated with any externalizing symptoms. These findings suggest that the effect of metal exposure on externalizing symptoms differs in magnitude between the sexes, with males being more vulnerable to increased externalizing symptoms following metal exposure. Furthermore, our findings support the hypothesis that sex-specific vulnerabilities to mixed metal exposure during adolescence/young adulthood may play a role in sex disparities observed in mental health disorders, particularly those characterized by externalizing symptoms

Longevity - Extending the lifespan of long-lived mice

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/62803/1/414412a0.pd

Linking protein to phenotype with Mendelian Randomization detects 38 proteins with causal roles in human diseases and traits

To efficiently transform genetic associations into drug targets requires evidence that a particular gene, and its encoded protein, contribute causally to a disease. To achieve this, we employ a three-step proteome-by-phenome Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach. In step one, 154 protein quantitative trait loci (pQTLs) were identified and independently replicated. From these pQTLs, 64 replicated locally-acting variants were used as instrumental variables for proteome-by-phenome MR across 846 traits (step two). When its assumptions are met, proteome-by-phenome MR, is equivalent to simultaneously running many randomized controlled trials. Step 2 yielded 38 proteins that significantly predicted variation in traits and diseases in 509 instances. Step 3 revealed that amongst the 271 instances from GeneAtlas (UK Biobank), 77 showed little evidence of pleiotropy (HEIDI), and 92 evidence of colocalization (eCAVIAR). Results were wide ranging: including, for example, new evidence for a causal role of tyrosine-protein phosphatase non-receptor type substrate 1 (SHPS1; SIRPA) in schizophrenia, and a new finding that intestinal fatty acid binding protein (FABP2) abundance contributes to the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. We also demonstrated confirmatory evidence for the causal role of four further proteins (FGF5, IL6R, LPL, LTA) in cardiovascular disease risk