Galaxy Zoo Morphology and Photometric Redshifts in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey

It has recently been demonstrated that one can accurately derive galaxy morphology from particular primary and secondary isophotal shape estimates in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey imaging catalog. This was accomplished by applying Machine Learning techniques to the Galaxy Zoo morphology catalog. Using the broad bandpass photometry of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey in combination with with precise knowledge of galaxy morphology should help in estimating more accurate photometric redshifts for galaxies. Using the Galaxy Zoo separation for spirals and ellipticals in combination with Sloan Digital Sky Survey photometry we attempt to calculate photometric redshifts. In the best case we find that the root mean square error for Luminous Red Galaxies classified as ellipticals is as low as 0.0118. Given these promising results we believe better photometric redshift estimates for all galaxies in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey ($\sim$350 million) will be feasible if researchers can also leverage their derived morphologies via Machine Learning. These initial results look to be promising for those interested in estimating Weak-Lensing, Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation, and other fields dependent upon accurate photometric redshifts.Comment: Submitted to ApJL, 4 pages, 3 figure

Constant sign and nodal solutions for a class of nonlinear Dirichlet problems

We consider a nonlinear Dirichlet problem with a Carathéodory reaction which has arbitrary growth from below. We show that the problem has at least three nontrivial smooth solutions, two of constant sign and the third nodal. In the semilinear case (i.e., p =2), with the reaction f(z, .)being C1and with subcritical growth, we show that there is a second nodal solution, for a total of four nontrivial smooth solutions. Finally,when the reaction has concave terms and is subcritical and for the nonlinear problem (i.e., 1 <p <∞) we show that again we can have the existence of three nontrivial smooth solutions, two of constant sign and a third nodal

Emergence of Progressive Mutations in SARS-CoV-2 From a Hematologic Patient With Prolonged Viral Replication

We documented a hematologic patient with prolonged SARS-CoV-2 viral replication in whom emergence of viral mutations was documented after the consecutive use of antivirals and convalescent plasma. The virus detected in the last of 12 clinical samples (day 237) had accumulated 22 changes in amino acids and 29 in nucleotides. Some of these changes, such as the E484Q, were mutations of concern as defined by WHO. This finding represents an enormous epidemiological threat and poses a major clinical challenge. Combined antiviral strategies, as well as specific strategies related to the diagnostic approach of prolonged infections for this specific population, may be needed.This work has been financed by funds for research ad hoc COVID-19 from patronage provided by citizens and organizations to Hospital Clínic de Barcelona-Fundació Clínic per a la Recerca Biomèdica. This work received support from FONDO-COVID19 (ISCIII Grant number: COV20-00679), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (PI21/01640) and by European Region (ERDF, “A way to make Europe”). PP-A [JR20/00012 and PI21/00498], NG-P [FI19/00133], have also received research grants from the Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo, Instituto de Salud Carlos III. The funders had neither a specific role in study design or collection of data, nor in writing of the paper or decision to submit.S

Urinary exosomes reveal protein signatures in hypertensive patients with albuminuria

Albuminuria is an indicator of cardiovascular risk and renal damage in hypertensive individuals. Chronic renin-angiotensin system (RAS) suppression facilitates blood pressure control and prevents development of new-onset-albuminuria. A significant number of patients, however, develop albuminuria despite chronic RAS blockade, and the physiopathological mechanisms are underexplored. Urinary exosomes reflect pathological changes taking place in the kidney. The objective of this work was to examine exosomal protein alterations in hypertensive patients with albuminuria in the presence of chronic RAS suppression, to find novel clues underlying its development. Patients were followed-up for three years and were classified as: a) patients with persistent normoalbuminuria; b) patients developing de novo albuminuria; and c) patients with maintained albuminuria. Exosomal protein alterations between groups were identified by isobaric tag quantitation (iTRAQ). Confirmation was approached by target analysis (SRM). In total, 487 proteins were identified with high confidence. Specifically, 48 proteins showed an altered pattern in response to hypertension and/or albuminuria. Out of them, 21 proteins interact together in three main functional clusters: glycosaminoglycan degradation, coagulation and complement system, and oxidative stress. The identified proteins constitute potential targets for drug development and may help to define therapeutic strategies to evade albuminuria progression in hypertensive patients chronically treated.Instituto de Salud Carlos III, fondos FEDER/FSE (PI11/01401, PI13/01873, PI14/01841, IF08/3667-1, PI11-02239, PI 14/0917, PI11/02432, PI13/01746, PI14/01650, PI16/01334, PT13/0001/0013, CP09/00229, CP15/00129, CPII15/00027), Fundacion SENEFRO, Fundacion Conchita Rabago de Jimenez Diaz, and Redes Tematicas de Investigacion Cooperativa (fondos FEDER/FSE, RD12/0021/0001, RD12/0042/0071). These results are lined up with the Spanish initiative on the Human Proteome Project (SpHPP).S

Plasma Molecular Signatures in Hypertensive Patients With Renin-Angiotensin System Suppression: New Predictors of Renal Damage and De Novo Albuminuria Indicators

Albuminuria is a risk factor strongly associated with cardiovascular disease, the first cause of death in the general population. It is well established that renin-angiotensin system suppressors prevent the development of new-onset albuminuria in naïf hypertensive patients and diminish its excretion, but we cannot forget the percentage of hypertensive patients who develop de novo albuminuria. Here, we applied multiple proteomic strategy with the purpose to elucidate specific molecular pathways involved in the pathogenesis and provide predictors and chronic organ damage indicators. Briefly, 1143 patients were followed up for a minimum period of 3 years. One hundred and twenty-nine hypertensive patients chronically renin-angiotensin system suppressed were recruited, classified in 3 different groups depending on their albuminuria levels (normoalbuminuria, de novo albuminuria, and sustained albuminuria), and investigated by multiple proteomic strategies. Our strategy allowed us to perform one of the deepest plasma proteomic analysis to date, which has shown 2 proteomic signatures: (1) with predictive value of de novo albuminuria and (2) sustained albuminuria indicator proteins. These proteins are involved in inflammation, immune as well as in the proteasome activation occurring in situations of endoplasmic reticulum stress. Furthermore, these results open the possibility of a future strategy based on anti-immune therapy to treat hypertension which could help to prevent the development of albuminuria and, hence, the progression of kidney damage.N

Prevalence of disability in a composite ≥75 year-old population in Spain: A screening survey based on the International Classification of Functioning

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The prevalence and predictors of functional status and disability of elderly people have been studied in several European countries including Spain. However, there has been no population-based study incorporating the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) framework as the basis for assessing disability. The present study reports prevalence rates for mild, moderate, and severe/extreme disability by the domains of activities and participation of the ICF.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Nine populations surveyed in previous prevalence studies contributed probabilistic and geographically defined samples in June 2005. The study sample was composed of 503 subjects aged ≥75 years. We implemented a two-phase screening design using the MMSE and the World Health Organization-Disability Assessment Schedule 2^ndedition (WHO-DAS II, 12 items) as cognitive and disability screening tools, respectively. Participants scoring within the positive range of the disability screening were administered the full WHO-DAS II (36 items; score range: 0-100) assessing the following areas: Understanding and communication, Getting along with people, Life activities, Getting around, Participation in society, and Self-care. Each disability area assessed by WHO-DAS II (36 items) was reported according to the ICF severity ranges (No problem, 0-4; Mild disability, 5-24; Moderate disability, 25-49; Severe/Extreme disability, 50-100).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The age-adjusted disability prevalence figures were: 39.17 ± 2.18%, 15.31 ± 1.61%, and 10.14 ± 1.35% for mild, moderate, and severe/extreme disability, respectively. Severe and extreme disability prevalence in mobility and life activities was three times higher than the average, and highest among women. Sex variations were minimal, although life activities for women of 85 years and over had more severe/extreme disability as compared to men (OR = 5.15 95% CI 3.19-8.32).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Disability is highly prevalent among the Spanish elderly. Sex- and age-specific variations of disability are associated with particular disability domains.</p

Dynamical dark energy in light of the latest observations

A flat Friedmann-Robertson-Walker universe dominated by a cosmological constant (Λ) and cold dark matter (CDM) has been the working model preferred by cosmologists since the discovery of cosmic acceleration1,2. However, tensions of various degrees ofsignificance are known to be present among existing datasets within the ΛCDM framework3-11. In particular, the Lyman-α forest measurement of the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) by the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey3 prefers a smaller value of the matter density fraction ΩM than that preferred by cosmic microwave background (CMB). Also, the recently measured value of the Hubble constant, H0 = 73.24 ±1.74 km s-1 Mpc-1 (ref. 12), is 3.4σ higher than the 66.93 ± 0.62 km s-1Mpc-1 inferred from the Planck CMB data7. In this work, we investigate whether these tensions can be interpreted as evidence for a non-constant dynamical dark energy. Using the Kullback-Leibler divergence13 to quantify the tension between datasets, we find that the tensions are relieved by an evolving dark energy, with the dynamical dark energy model preferred at a 3.5σ significance level based on the improvement in the fit alone. While, at present, the Bayesian evidence for the dynamical dark energy is insufficient to favour it over ΛCDM, we show that, if the current best-fit dark energy happened to be the true model, it would be decisively detected by the upcoming Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument survey14.PostprintPeer reviewe

Single-molecule experiments in biological physics: methods and applications

I review single-molecule experiments (SME) in biological physics. Recent technological developments have provided the tools to design and build scientific instruments of high enough sensitivity and precision to manipulate and visualize individual molecules and measure microscopic forces. Using SME it is possible to: manipulate molecules one at a time and measure distributions describing molecular properties; characterize the kinetics of biomolecular reactions and; detect molecular intermediates. SME provide the additional information about thermodynamics and kinetics of biomolecular processes. This complements information obtained in traditional bulk assays. In SME it is also possible to measure small energies and detect large Brownian deviations in biomolecular reactions, thereby offering new methods and systems to scrutinize the basic foundations of statistical mechanics. This review is written at a very introductory level emphasizing the importance of SME to scientists interested in knowing the common playground of ideas and the interdisciplinary topics accessible by these techniques. The review discusses SME from an experimental perspective, first exposing the most common experimental methodologies and later presenting various molecular systems where such techniques have been applied. I briefly discuss experimental techniques such as atomic-force microscopy (AFM), laser optical tweezers (LOT), magnetic tweezers (MT), biomembrane force probe (BFP) and single-molecule fluorescence (SMF). I then present several applications of SME to the study of nucleic acids (DNA, RNA and DNA condensation), proteins (protein-protein interactions, protein folding and molecular motors). Finally, I discuss applications of SME to the study of the nonequilibrium thermodynamics of small systems and the experimental verification of fluctuation theorems. I conclude with a discussion of open questions and future perspectives.Comment: Latex, 60 pages, 12 figures, Topical Review for J. Phys. C (Cond. Matt

Red, straight, no bends: primordial power spectrum reconstruction from CMB and large-scale structure

We present a minimally parametric, model independent reconstruction of the shape of the primordial power spectrum. Our smoothing spline technique is well-suited to search for smooth features such as deviations from scale invariance, and deviations from a power law such as running of the spectral index or small-scale power suppression. We use a comprehensive set of the state-of the art cosmological data: Planck observations of the temperature and polarisation anisotropies of the cosmic microwave background, WiggleZ and Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 galaxy power spectra and the Canada-France-Hawaii Lensing Survey correlation function. This reconstruction strongly supports the evidence for a power law primordial power spectrum with a red tilt and disfavours deviations from a power law power spectrum including small-scale power suppression such as that induced by significantly massive neutrinos. This offers a powerful confirmation of the inflationary paradigm, justifying the adoption of the inflationary prior in cosmological analyses

Inadequate control of thyroid hormones sensitizes to hepatocarcinogenesis and unhealthy aging

An inverse correlation between thyroid hormone levels and longevity has been reported in several species and reduced thyroid hormone levels have been proposed as a biomarker for healthy aging and metabolic fitness. However, hypothyroidism is a medical condition associated with compromised health and reduced life expectancy. Herein, we show, using wild-type and the Pax8 ablated model of hypothyroidism in mice, that hyperthyroidism and severe hypothyroidism are associated with an overall unhealthy status and shorter lifespan. Mild hypothyroid Pax8 +/- mice were heavier and displayed insulin resistance, hepatic steatosis and increased prevalence of liver cancer yet had normal lifespan. These pathophysiological conditions were precipitated by hepatic mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative damage accumulation. These findings indicate that individuals carrying mutations on PAX8 may be susceptible to develop liver cancer and/or diabetes and raise concerns regarding the development of interventions aiming to modulate thyroid hormones to promote healthy aging or lifespan in mammals