131 research outputs found
Primates in Print: Popularizing Interspecies Kinship in Huxley's 'Evidence as to Man's Place in Nature'
This paper examines the bibliographic features of Thomas H. Huxley’s 1863 work Evidence as to Man’s Place in Nature in order to focalize Huxley’s public engagement with non-professional audiences and consumerist market forces. Huxley’s shaping of Victorian scientific practices and his cultural contributions to natural history have been thoroughly documented, yet the hermeneutic potential of the popular work’s bibliographic and visual elements has not been adequately addressed. When amalgamated through a re-conceived process of reading, the textual and visual features of Evidence materialize the evidence of evolutionary processes to which humans themselves are subject to. After confronting humans and primates in print, Huxley’s audience understood that the socio-cultural barriers to the dismantling of animal/human dichotomies imposed by humanist ideology were made available to rational critique. Because of its wide-ranging success as a catalyst of public—not just professional—acknowledgment of evolution, I contend that Evidence’s physical and visual features should not be overlooked as major contributing factors in the dissemination and acceptance of natural explanation. This research engages with pressing questions concerning the interclass popularization of Victorian science: how did tactile decisions about the object fashion its own reception? Can evolution be presented via visual rather than purely conceptual means? How immersed was Huxley’s product in burgeoning capitalistic forces? Ultimately, understanding Evidence’s status as a marketable visual product sheds light on how Victorians (professional and colloquial subjects alike) propagated, absorbed, and contemplated the ramifications of evolution.
A new era of fine structure constant measurements at high redshift
New observations of the quasar HE05154414 have been made using the HARPS
spectrograph on the ESO 3.6m telescope, aided by the Laser Frequency Comb
(LFC). We present three important advances for measurements in quasar
absorption spectra from these observations. Firstly, the data have been
wavelength calibrated using LFC and ThAr methods. The LFC wavelength
calibration residuals are six times smaller than when using the standard ThAr
calibration. We give a direct comparison between measurements made
using the two methods. Secondly, spectral modelling was performed using
Artificial Intelligence (fully automated, all human bias eliminated), including
a temperature parameter for each absorption component. Thirdly, in contrast to
previous work, additional model parameters were assigned to measure
for each individual absorption component. The increase in statistical
uncertainty from the larger number of model parameters is small and the method
allows a substantial advantage; outliers that would otherwise contribute a
significant systematic, possibly corrupting the entire measurement, are
identified and removed, permitting a more robust overall result. The absorption system along the HE05154414 sightline yields 40 new
measurements. We constrain spatial fluctuations in to be
on scales , corresponding to kpc if the system
arises in a Mpc cluster. Collectively, the 40 measurements yield
, consistent with no variation.Comment: Published in MNRAS, 500 1 1. 10 pages, 7 figures. Online
supplementary material is available upon reques
Sub-Subgiants in the Old Open Cluster M67?
We report the discovery of two spectroscopic binaries in the field of the old
open cluster M67 -- S1063 and S1113 -- whose positions in the color-magnitude
diagram place them approximately 1 mag below the subgiant branch. A ROSAT study
of M67 independently discovered these stars to be X-ray sources. Both have
proper-motion membership probabilities greater than 97%; precise center-of-mass
velocities are consistent with the cluster mean radial velocity. S1063 is also
projected within one core radius of the cluster center. S1063 is a single-lined
binary with a period of 18.396 days and an orbital eccentricity of 0.206. S1113
is a double-lined system with a circular orbit having a period of 2.823094
days. The primary stars of both binaries are subgiants. The secondary of S1113
is likely a 0.9 Mo main-sequence star, which implies a 1.3 Mo primary star. We
have been unable to explain securely the low apparent luminosities of the
primary stars; neither binary contain stars presently limited in radius by
their Roche lobes. We speculate that S1063 and S1113 may be the products of
close stellar encounters involving binaries in the cluster environment, and may
define alternative stellar evolutionary tracks associated with mass-transfer
episodes, mergers, and/or dynamical stellar exchanges
Estimation of Spatiotemporal Gait Parameters in Walking on a Photoelectric System: Validation on Healthy Children by Standard Gait Analysis
The use of stereophotogrammetry systems is challenging when targeting children's gait analysis due to the time required and the need to keep physical markers in place. For this reason, marker-less photoelectric systems appear to be a solution for accurate and fast gait analysis in youth. The aim of this study is to validate a photoelectric system and its configurations (LED filter setting) on healthy children, comparing the kinematic gait parameters with those obtained from a three-dimensional stereophotogrammetry system. Twenty-seven healthy children were enrolled. Three LED filter settings for the OptoGait were compared to the BTS P6000. The analysis included the non-parametric 80% limits of agreement and the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Additionally, normalised limits of agreement and bias (NLoAs and Nbias) were compared to the clinical experience of physical therapists (i.e., assuming an error lower than 5% is acceptable). ICCs showed excellent consistency for most of the parameters and filter settings; NLoAs varied between 1.39% and 12.62%. An inverse association between the number of LEDs for filter setting and the bias values was also observed. Observations confirm the validity of the OptoGait system for the evaluation of spatiotemporal gait parameters in children
Planet Populations as a Function of Stellar Properties
Exoplanets around different types of stars provide a window into the diverse
environments in which planets form. This chapter describes the observed
relations between exoplanet populations and stellar properties and how they
connect to planet formation in protoplanetary disks. Giant planets occur more
frequently around more metal-rich and more massive stars. These findings
support the core accretion theory of planet formation, in which the cores of
giant planets form more rapidly in more metal-rich and more massive
protoplanetary disks. Smaller planets, those with sizes roughly between Earth
and Neptune, exhibit different scaling relations with stellar properties. These
planets are found around stars with a wide range of metallicities and occur
more frequently around lower mass stars. This indicates that planet formation
takes place in a wide range of environments, yet it is not clear why planets
form more efficiently around low mass stars. Going forward, exoplanet surveys
targeting M dwarfs will characterize the exoplanet population around the lowest
mass stars. In combination with ongoing stellar characterization, this will
help us understand the formation of planets in a large range of environments.Comment: Accepted for Publication in the Handbook of Exoplanet
A large scale hearing loss screen reveals an extensive unexplored genetic landscape for auditory dysfunction
The developmental and physiological complexity of the auditory system is likely reflected in the underlying set of genes involved in auditory function. In humans, over 150 non-syndromic loci have been identified, and there are more than 400 human genetic syndromes with a hearing loss component. Over 100 non-syndromic hearing loss genes have been identified in mouse and human, but we remain ignorant of the full extent of the genetic landscape involved in auditory dysfunction. As part of the International Mouse Phenotyping Consortium, we undertook a hearing loss screen in a cohort of 3006 mouse knockout strains. In total, we identify 67 candidate hearing loss genes. We detect known hearing loss genes, but the vast majority, 52, of the candidate genes were novel. Our analysis reveals a large and unexplored genetic landscape involved with auditory function
Increasing Use of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation in Patients Aged 70 Years and Older in the United States
In this study, we evaluated trends and outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in adults ≥ 70 years with hematologic malignancies across the United States. Adults ≥ 70 years with a hematologic malignancy undergoing first allogeneic HCT in the United States between 2000 and 2013 and reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research were eligible. Transplant utilization and transplant outcomes, including overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and transplant-related mortality (TRM) were studied. One thousand one hundred and six patients ≥ 70 years underwent HCT across 103 transplant centers. The number and proportion of allografts performed in this population rose markedly over the past decade, accounting for 0.1% of transplants in 2000 to 3.85% (N = 298) in 2013. Acute myeloid leukemia and myelodysplastic syndromes represented the most common disease indications. Two-year OS and PFS significantly improved over time (OS: 26% [95% confidence interval (CI), 21% to 33%] in 2000-2007 to 39% [95% CI, 35% to 42%] in 2008-2013, P \u3c .001; PFS: 22% [16% to 28%] in 2000-2007 to 32% [95% CI, 29% to 36%] in 2008-2013, P = .003). Two-year TRM ranged from 33% to 35% and was unchanged over time (P = .54). Multivariable analysis of OS in the modern era of 2008-2013 revealed higher comorbidity by HCT comorbidity index ≥ 3 (hazard ratio [HR], 1.27; P = .006), umbilical cord blood graft (HR, 1.97; P = .0002), and myeloablative conditioning (HR, 1.61; P = .0002) as adverse factors. Over the past decade, utilization and survival after allogeneic transplant have increased in patients ≥ 70 years. Select adults ≥70 years with hematologic malignancies should be considered for transplant
HLA-Identical Sibling Allogeneic Transplants versus Chemotherapy in Acute Myelogenous Leukemia with t(8;21) in First Complete Remission: Collaborative Study between the German AML Intergroup and CIBMTR
AbstractWe studied the role of HLA-matched sibling hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) in treating t(8;21) acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) in first remission. Outcomes of 118 patients receiving HCT and reported to the Center for International Blood and Marrow Transplant Research were compared with 132 similar patients receiving chemotherapy selected from 8 German AML Intergroup multicenter trials. Characteristics of the cohorts were similar except that chemotherapy recipients were significantly older. To adjust for time to treatment bias, outcomes were compared using left-truncated Cox regression models. Transplants were associated with higher treatment-related mortality (TRM; relative risk [RR] 6.76, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.95-15.45, P < .001), lower relapse (RR 0.47, 95% CI 0.25-0.85, P = .01), and similar relapse-free survival (P = .2). Loss of sex chromosomes (LOS) in addition to t(8;21) had a negative impact on overall survival (OS) in patients receiving chemotherapy. Patients without LOS experienced shorter survival after HCT comparing to chemotherapy (RR 3.05, P = .02), whereas patients with LOS had similar survival regardless of postremission therapy. In both cohorts, white blood cell count (WBC) at diagnosis >25 × 109/L was associated with a higher relapse risk (RR = 2.09, P = .03), lower relapse-free (RR = 1.9, P = .008), and OS (RR = 1.91, P = .01). In this cohort of patients with t(8;21) AML, HCT did not improve OS, because reduction of relapse was offset by high TRM. In the group without LOS, survival after chemotherapy was far superior to HCT. These results suggest that patients with t(8;21) AML without poor prognostic factors have higher rates of survival after chemotherapy as a post remission therapy compared to HCT
The Hot Stars of Old Open Clusters: M67, NGC 188 and NGC6791
We analyze ultraviolet (~1500 A) images of the old open clusters M67, NGC
188, and NGC 6791 obtained with Ultraviolet Imaging Telescope (UIT) during the
second flight of the Astro observatory in March 1995. Twenty stars are detected
on the UIT image of M67, including 11 blue stragglers, seven white dwarf
candidates, and the yellow giant -- white dwarf binary S1040. The ultraviolet
photometry of the blue stragglers F90 (S975) and F131 (S1082) suggests that
these stars have hot subluminous companions. We present a semi-empirical
integrated ultraviolet spectrum of M67, and show that the blue stragglers
dominate the integrated spectrum at wavelengths shorter than 2600 A. The number
of white dwarfs in M67 is roughly consistent with the number expected from
white dwarf cooling models. Eight candidate sdB/sdO stars are detected in NGC
6791, and two are detected in NGC 188. The luminosity range 1.10 < log L/Lsun <
1.27, derived from the ultraviolet photometry of the six sdB candidates, is
consistent with theoretical models of metal-rich hot horizontal branch (HB)
stars. The fraction of hot HB stars in both NGC 6791 and NGC 188 is about 30%,
implying that the integrated spectra of both clusters should show a UV turnup
at least as strong as that observed in any elliptical galaxy.Comment: 34 pages incl. 6 postscript figures, accepted for publication in A
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