70 research outputs found
Deep Spitzer spectroscopy of the `Flying Saucer' edge-on disk: Large grains beyond 50 AU
We present deep Spitzer-IRS low-resolution (lambda/Delta lambda ~ 100) 5-35
micron spectroscopy of the edge-on disk ``the Flying Saucer'' (2MASS
J16281370-2431391) in the Ophiuchus molecular cloud. The spectral energy
distribution exhibits the characteristic two-peak shape predicted for a
circumstellar disk viewed very close to edge-on. The short-wavelength peak is
entirely due to photons scattered off the surface of the disk, while the
long-wavelength peak is due to thermal emission from the disk itself. The
Spitzer spectrum represents the first spectroscopic detection of scattered
light out to 15 micron from a bona-fide, isolated edge-on disk around a T Tauri
star. The depth and the wavelength of the mid-infrared "valley" of the SED give
direct constraints on the size distribution of large grains in the disk. Using
a 2D continuum radiative transfer model, we find that a significant amount of
5-10 micron-sized grains is required in the surface layers of the disk at radii
of 50-300 AU. The detection of relatively large grains in the upper layers
implies that vertical mixing is effective, since grain growth models predict
the grains would otherwise settle deep in the disk on short time scales.
Additionally, we tentatively detect the 9.66 micron S(3) line of H2 and the
11.2 micron emission feature due to PAHs.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ Letter
The utility of peripheral blood leucocyte ratios as biomarkers in infectious diseases:a systematic review and meta-analysis
C2D Spitzer-IRS spectra of disks around T Tauri stars: I. Silicate emission and grain growth
Infrared ~5--35 um spectra for 40 solar-mass T Tauri stars and 7
intermediate-mass Herbig Ae stars with circumstellar disks were obtained using
the Spitzer Space Telescope as part of the c2d IRS survey. This work
complements prior spectroscopic studies of silicate infrared emission from
disks, which were focused on intermediate-mass stars, with observations of
solar-mass stars limited primarily to the 10 um region. The observed 10 and 20
um silicate feature strengths/shapes are consistent with source-to-source
variations in grain size. A large fraction of the features are weak and flat,
consistent with um-sized grains indicating fast grain growth (from 0.1--1.0 um
in radius). In addition, approximately half of the T Tauri star spectra show
crystalline silicate features near 28 and 33 um indicating significant
processing when compared to interstellar grains. A few sources show large
10-to-20 um ratios and require even larger grains emitting at 20 um than at 10
um. This size difference may arise from the difference in the depth into the
disk probed by the two silicate emission bands in disks where dust settling has
occurred. The 10 um feature strength vs. shape trend is not correlated with age
or Halpha equivalent width, suggesting that some amount of turbulent mixing and
regeneration of small grains is occurring. The strength vs. shape trend is
related to spectral type, however, with M stars showing significantly flatter
10 um features (larger grain sizes) than A/B stars. The connection between
spectral type and grain size is interpreted in terms of the variation in the
silicate emission radius as a function of stellar luminosity, but could also be
indicative of other spectral-type dependent factors (e.g, X-rays, UV radiation,
stellar/disk winds, etc.).Comment: 17 pages, 13 figures, accepted for publication by ApJ, formatted with
emulateapj using revtex4 v4.
Evaluation of genetic susceptibility to childhood allergy and asthma in an African American urban population
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Asthma and allergy represent complex phenotypes, which disproportionately burden ethnic minorities in the United States. Strong evidence for genomic factors predisposing subjects to asthma/allergy is available. However, methods to utilize this information to identify high risk groups are variable and replication of genetic associations in African Americans is warranted.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We evaluated 41 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP) and a deletion corresponding to 11 genes demonstrating association with asthma in the literature, for association with asthma, atopy, testing positive for food allergens, eosinophilia, and total serum IgE among 141 African American children living in Detroit, Michigan. Independent SNP and haplotype associations were investigated for association with each trait, and subsequently assessed in concert using a genetic risk score (GRS).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Statistically significant associations with asthma were observed for SNPs in <it>GSTM1, MS4A2</it>, and <it>GSTP1 </it>genes, after correction for multiple testing. Chromosome 11 haplotype CTACGAGGCC (corresponding to <it>MS4A2 </it>rs574700, rs1441586, rs556917, rs502581, rs502419 and <it>GSTP1 </it>rs6591256, rs17593068, rs1695, rs1871042, rs947895) was associated with a nearly five-fold increase in the odds of asthma (Odds Ratio (OR) = 4.8, <it>p </it>= 0.007). The GRS was significantly associated with a higher odds of asthma (OR = 1.61, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.21, 2.13; <it>p </it>= 0.001).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Variation in genes associated with asthma in predominantly non-African ethnic groups contributed to increased odds of asthma in this African American study population. Evaluating all significant variants in concert helped to identify the highest risk subset of this group.</p
Large-scale ICU data sharing for global collaboration: the first 1633 critically ill COVID-19 patients in the Dutch Data Warehouse
An Analysis of Two Genome-wide Association Meta-analyses Identifies a New Locus for Broad Depression Phenotype
AbstractBackgroundThe genetics of depression has been explored in genome-wide association studies that focused on either major depressive disorder or depressive symptoms with mostly negative findings. A broad depression phenotype including both phenotypes has not been tested previously using a genome-wide association approach. We aimed to identify genetic polymorphisms significantly associated with a broad phenotype from depressive symptoms to major depressive disorder.MethodsWe analyzed two prior studies of 70,017 participants of European ancestry from general and clinical populations in the discovery stage. We performed a replication meta-analysis of 28,328 participants. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-based heritability and genetic correlations were calculated using linkage disequilibrium score regression. Discovery and replication analyses were performed using a p-value-based meta-analysis. Lifetime major depressive disorder and depressive symptom scores were used as the outcome measures.ResultsThe SNP-based heritability of major depressive disorder was 0.21 (SE = 0.02), the SNP-based heritability of depressive symptoms was 0.04 (SE = 0.01), and their genetic correlation was 1.001 (SE = 0.2). We found one genome-wide significant locus related to the broad depression phenotype (rs9825823, chromosome 3: 61,082,153, p = 8.2 × 10–9) located in an intron of the FHIT gene. We replicated this SNP in independent samples (p = .02) and the overall meta-analysis of the discovery and replication cohorts (1.0 × 10–9).ConclusionsThis large study identified a new locus for depression. Our results support a continuum between depressive symptoms and major depressive disorder. A phenotypically more inclusive approach may help to achieve the large sample sizes needed to detect susceptibility loci for depression
Associations of autozygosity with a broad range of human phenotypes
In many species, the offspring of related parents suffer reduced reproductive success, a phenomenon known as inbreeding depression. In humans, the importance of this effect has remained unclear, partly because reproduction between close relatives is both rare and frequently associated with confounding social factors. Here, using genomic inbreeding coefficients (F-ROH) for >1.4 million individuals, we show that F-ROH is significantly associated (p <0.0005) with apparently deleterious changes in 32 out of 100 traits analysed. These changes are associated with runs of homozygosity (ROH), but not with common variant homozygosity, suggesting that genetic variants associated with inbreeding depression are predominantly rare. The effect on fertility is striking: F-ROH equivalent to the offspring of first cousins is associated with a 55% decrease [95% CI 44-66%] in the odds of having children. Finally, the effects of F-ROH are confirmed within full-sibling pairs, where the variation in F-ROH is independent of all environmental confounding.Peer reviewe
Chronic Q fever diagnosis—consensus guideline versus expert opinion
Chronic Q fever, caused by Coxiella burnetii, has high mortality and morbidity rates if left untreated. Controversy about the diagnosis of this complex disease has emerged recently. We applied the guideline from the Dutch Q Fever Consensus Group and a set of diagnostic criteria proposed by Didier Raoult to all 284 chronic Q fever patients included in the Dutch National Chronic Q Fever Database during 2006–2012. Of the patients who had proven cases of chronic Q fever by the Dutch guideline, 46 (30.5%) would not have received a diagnosis by the alternative criteria designed by Raoult, and 14 (4.9%) would have been considered to have possible chronic Q fever. Six patients with proven chronic Q fever died of related causes. Until results from future studies are available, by which current guidelines can be modified, we believe that the Dutch literature-based consensus guideline is more sensitive and easier to use in clinical practice
Detection and localization of early- and late-stage cancers using platelet RNA
Cancer patients benefit from early tumor detection since treatment outcomes are more favorable for less advanced cancers. Platelets are involved in cancer progression and are considered a promising biosource for cancer detection, as they alter their RNA content upon local and systemic cues. We show that tumor-educated platelet (TEP) RNA-based blood tests enable the detection of 18 cancer types. With 99% specificity in asymptomatic controls, thromboSeq correctly detected the presence of cancer in two-thirds of 1,096 blood samples from stage I–IV cancer patients and in half of 352 stage I–III tumors. Symptomatic controls, including inflammatory and cardiovascular diseases, and benign tumors had increased false-positive test results with an average specificity of 78%. Moreover, thromboSeq determined the tumor site of origin in five different tumor types correctly in over 80% of the cancer patients. These results highlight the potential properties of TEP-derived RNA panels to supplement current approaches for blood-based cancer screening
The value of the neutrophil-lymphocyte count ratio in the diagnosis of sepsis in patients admitted to the Intensive Care Unit: A retrospective cohort study
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