2,308 research outputs found
Editorial:Plant Phenotyping and Phenomics for Plant Breeding
publishersversionPeer reviewe
Frailty is associated with objectively assessed sedentary behaviour patterns in older adults: Evidence from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging (TSHA)
Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association of sedentary behaviour patterns with frailty in older people. Setting: Clinical setting. Design: Cross-sectional, observational study. Participants and measurements: A triaxial accelerometer was used in a subsample from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging (519 participants, 67–97 years) to assess several sedentary behaviour patterns including sedentary time per day, the number and duration (min) of breaks in sedentary time per day, and the proportion of the day spent in sedentary bouts of 10 minutes or more. Frailty was assessed using the Frailty Trait Scale (FTS). Regression analysis was used to ascertain the associations between sedentary behaviour patterns and frailty. Results: Sedentary time per day and the proportion of the day spent in sedentary bouts of 10 minutes or more, were positively associated with frailty in the study sample. Conversely, the time spent in breaks in sedentary time was negatively associated with frailty. Conclusion: In summary, breaking up sedentary time and time spent in sedentary behaviour are associated with frailty in older people
On The GeV & TeV Detections of the Starburst Galaxies M82 & NGC 253
The GeV and TeV emission from M82 and NGC 253 observed by Fermi, HESS, and
VERITAS constrains the physics of cosmic rays (CRs) in these dense starbursts.
We argue that the gamma rays are predominantly hadronic in origin, as expected
by previous studies. The measured fluxes imply that pionic losses are efficient
for CR protons in both galaxies: we show that a fraction F_cal ~ 0.2 - 0.4 of
the energy injected in high energy primary CR protons is lost to inelastic
proton-proton collisions (pion production) before escape, producing gamma rays,
neutrinos, and secondary electrons and positrons. We discuss the factor ~2
uncertainties in this estimate, including supernova rate and leptonic
contributions to the GeV-TeV emission. We argue that gamma-ray data on ULIRGs
like Arp 220 can test whether M82 and NGC 253 are truly calorimetric, and we
present upper limits on Arp 220 from the Fermi data. We show that the observed
ratio of the GeV to GHz fluxes of the starbursts suggests that non-synchrotron
cooling processes are important for cooling the CR electron/positron
population. We briefly reconsider previous predictions in light of the
gamma-ray detections, including the starburst contribution to the gamma-ray
background and CR energy densities. Finally, as a guide for future studies, we
list the brightest star-forming galaxies on the sky and present updated
predictions for their gamma-ray and neutrino fluxes.Comment: 15 pages, emulateapj format, accepted to ApJ, Table 1 fixe
A Methodological Approach for Implementing an Integrated Multimorbidity Care Model: Results from the Pre-Implementation Stage of Joint Action CHRODIS-PLUS
Patients with multimorbidity (defined as the co-occurrence of multiple chronic diseases) frequently experience fragmented care, which increases the risk of negative outcomes. A recently proposed Integrated Multimorbidity Care Model aims to overcome many issues related to fragmented care. In the context of Joint Action CHRODIS-PLUS, an implementation methodology was developed for the care model, which is being piloted in five sites. We aim to (1) explain the methodology used to implement the care model and (2) describe how the pilot sites have adapted and applied the proposed methodology. The model is being implemented in Spain (Andalusia and Aragon), Lithuania (Vilnius and Kaunas), and Italy (Rome). Local implementation working groups at each site adapted the model to local needs, goals, and resources using the same methodological steps: (1) Scope analysis; (2) situation analysis-"strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, threats" (SWOT) analysis; (3) development and improvement of implementation methodology; and (4) final development of an action plan. This common implementation strategy shows how care models can be adapted according to local and regional specificities. Analysis of the common key outcome indicators at the post-implementation phase will help to demonstrate the clinical effectiveness, as well as highlight any difficulties in adapting a common Integrated Multimorbidity Care Model in different countries and clinical settings
MAGIC J0616+225 as delayed TeV emission of cosmic-rays diffusing from SNR IC 443
We present a theoretical model that explains the high energy phenomenology of
the neighborhood of SNR IC 443, as observed with the Major Atmospheric Gamma
Imaging Cherenkov (MAGIC) telescope and the Energetic Gamma-Ray Experiment
Telescope (EGRET). We interpret MAGIC J0616+225 as delayed TeV emission of
cosmic-rays diffusing from IC 443 and interacting with a known cloud located at
a distance of about 20 pc in the foreground of the remnant. This scenario
naturally explains the displacement between EGRET and MAGIC sources, their
fluxes, and their spectra. We compare this model with others recently
presented, and discuss how it can be tested with observations by the Gamma-ray
Large Area Telescope (GLAST).Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS Letter
Cosmic-ray energy densities in star-forming galaxies
The energy density of cosmic ray protons in star forming galaxies can be estimated from π0-decay γ-ray emission, synchrotron radio emission, and supernova rates. To galaxies for which these methods can be applied, the three methods yield consistent energy densities ranging from Up ~ 0.1 − 1 eV cm−3 to Up ~ 102 − 103 eV cm−3 in galaxies with low to high star-formation rates, respectively
Poly(β-Amino Ester)-Nanoparticle Mediated Transfection of Retinal Pigment Epithelial Cells In Vitro and In Vivo
A variety of genetic diseases in the retina, including retinitis pigmentosa and leber congenital amaurosis, might be excellent targets for gene delivery as treatment. A major challenge in non-viral gene delivery remains finding a safe and effective delivery system. Poly(beta-amino ester)s (PBAEs) have shown great potential as gene delivery reagents because they are easily synthesized and they transfect a wide variety of cell types with high efficacy in vitro. We synthesized a combinatorial library of PBAEs and evaluated them for transfection efficacy and toxicity in retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells to identify lead polymer structures and transfection formulations. Our optimal polymer (B5-S5-E7 at 60 w/w polymer∶DNA ratio) transfected ARPE-19 cells with 44±5% transfection efficacy, significantly higher than with optimized formulations of leading commercially available reagents Lipofectamine 2000 (26±7%) and X-tremeGENE HP DNA (22±6%); (p<0.001 for both). Ten formulations exceeded 30% transfection efficacy. This high non-viral efficacy was achieved with comparable cytotoxicity (23±6%) to controls; optimized formulations of Lipofectamine 2000 and X-tremeGENE HP DNA showed 15±3% and 32±9% toxicity respectively (p>0.05 for both). Our optimal polymer was also significantly better than a gold standard polymeric transfection reagent, branched 25 kDa polyethyleneimine (PEI), which achieved only 8±1% transfection efficacy with 25±6% cytotoxicity. Subretinal injections using lyophilized GFP-PBAE nanoparticles resulted in 1.1±1×103-fold and 1.5±0.7×103-fold increased GFP expression in the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE)/choroid and neural retina respectively, compared to injection of DNA alone (p = 0.003 for RPE/choroid, p<0.001 for neural retina). The successful transfection of the RPE in vivo suggests that these nanoparticles could be used to study a number of genetic diseases in the laboratory with the potential to treat debilitating eye diseases
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