Super-resolution in astronomical images: enhancing object detection

Using paired images of JAST/T80 Telescope in OAJ and of Hubble Space Telescope we aim at increasing the resolution of JAST/T80 images with the objective of enhancing object detection. Higher resolution versions of JAST/T80 images in crowded areas of the sky will significantly increase the number of stars and/or galaxies detected, enabling a better measurement of their photometry. We pre-processed both low-resolution and high-resolution images to build a dataset of paired crops, which is used to train the Real-ESRGAN neural network. We are able to get super-resolved images with a 4× scale and a FSIM=0.8903, showing an improvement in the source detection in crowded areas. However, visual inspection of bright stars and nearby galaxies reveals that there is room for learning a better model that can reproduce the PSF and the details of the extended objects

Bone Status in Patients with Phenylketonuria: A Systematic Review

Phenylketonuria (PKU) is the most common inborn error of amino acid metabolism. Although dietary and, in some cases, pharmacological treatment has been successful in preventing intellectual disability in PKU patients who are treated early, suboptimal outcomes have been reported, including bone mineral disease. In this systematic review, we summarize the available evidence on bone health in PKU patients, including data on bone mineral density (BMD) and bone turnover marker data. Data from cohort and cross-sectional studies of children and adults (up to 40 years of age) were obtained by searching the MEDLINE and SCOPUS databases following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. For each selected study, quality assessment was performed applying the Risk Of Bias In Non-randomized Studies of Interventions (ROBINS I) tool. We found that mean BMD was lower in PKU patients than in reference groups, but was within the normal range in most patients when expressed as Z-score values. Furthermore, data revealed a trend towards an imbalance between bone formation and bone resorption, favoring bone removal. Data on serum levels of minerals and hormones involved in bone metabolism were very heterogeneous, and the analyses were inconclusive. Clinical trials that include the analysis of fracture rates, especially in older patients, are needed to gather more evidence on the clinical implications of lower BMD in PKU patients

San Pedro Martir observations of microvariability in obscured quasars

Fast brightness variations are a unique tool to probe the innermost regions of active galactic nuclei (AGN). These variations are called microvariability or intra-night variability, and this phenomenon has been monitored in samples of blazars and unobscured AGNs. Detecting optical microvariations in targets hidden by the obscuring torus is a challenging task because the region responsible for the variations is hidden from our sight. However, there have been reports of fast variations in obscured Seyfert galaxies in X-rays, which rises the question whether microvariations can also be detected in obscured AGNs in the optical regime. Because the expected variations are very small and can easily be lost within the noise, the analysis requires a statistical approach. We report the use of a one-way analysis of variance, ANOVA, with which we searched for microvariability. ANOVA was successfully employed in previous studies of unobscured AGNs. As a result, we found microvariable events during three observing blocks: in two we observed the same object (Mrk 477), and in another, J0759+5050. The results on Mrk 477 confirm previous findings. However, since Mrk 477 is quite a peculiar target with hidden broad-line regions, we cannot rule out the possibility that we have serendipitously chosen a target prone to variations.Comment: Research note, 5 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Accuracy of periodontitis diagnosis obtained using multiple molecular biomarkers in oral fluids: A systematic review and meta‐analysis

Aim To determine the accuracy of biomarker combinations in gingival crevicular fluid (GCF) and saliva through meta-analysis to diagnose periodontitis in systemically healthy subjects. Methods Studies on combining two or more biomarkers providing a binary classification table, sensitivity/specificity values or group sizes in subjects diagnosed with periodontitis were included. The search was performed in August 2022 through PUBMED, EMBASE, Cochrane, LILACS, SCOPUS and Web of Science. The methodological quality of the articles selected was evaluated using the QUADAS-2 checklist. Hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic modelling was employed to perform the meta-analyses (CRD42020175021). Results Twenty-one combinations in GCF and 47 in saliva were evaluated. Meta-analyses were possible for six salivary combinations (median sensitivity/specificity values): IL-6 with MMP-8 (86.2%/80.5%); IL-1β with IL-6 (83.0%/83.7%); IL-1β with MMP-8 (82.7%/80.8%); MIP-1α with MMP-8 (71.0%/75.6%); IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-8 (81.8%/84.3%); and IL-1β, IL-6, MIP-1α and MMP-8 (76.6%/79.7%). Conclusions Two-biomarker combinations in oral fluids show high diagnostic accuracy for periodontitis, which is not substantially improved by incorporating more biomarkers. In saliva, the dual combinations of IL-1β, IL-6 and MMP-8 have an excellent ability to detect periodontitis and a good capacity to detect non-periodontitis. Because of the limited number of biomarker combinations evaluated, further research is required to corroborate these observationsThis study was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII) through the project PI21/00588 and co-funded by the European UnionS

Similarities between acylcarnitine profiles in large for gestational age newborns and obesity

Large for gestational age (LGA) newborns have an increased risk of obesity, insulin resistance, and metabolic syndrome. Acylcarnitine profiles in obese children and adults are characterized by increased levels of C3, C5, and certain medium-chain (C12) and long-chain (C14:1 and C16) acylcarnitines. C2 is also increased in insulin-resistant states. In this 1-year observational study of 2514 newborns (246 LGA newborns, 250 small for gestational age (GA) newborns, and 2018 appropriate for GA newborns), we analyzed and compared postnatal acylcarnitine profiles in LGA newborns with profiles described for obese individuals. Acylcarnitine analysis was performed by tandem mass spectrometry on dried-blood spots collected on day 3 of life. LGA newborns had higher levels of total short-chain acylcarnitines (p < 0.001), C2 (p < 0.01) and C3 (p < 0.001) acylcarnitines, and all C12, C14, and C16 acylcarnitines except C12:1. They also had a higher tendency towards carnitine insufficiency (p < 0.05) and carnitine deficiency (p < 0.001). No significant differences were observed between LGA newborns born to mothers with or without a history of gestational diabetes. This novel study describes a postnatal acylcarnitine profile in LGA with higher levels of C2, C3, total acylcarnitines, and total short-chain acylcarnitines that is characteristic of childhood and adult obesity and linked to an unhealthy metabolic phenotype.Dr Lopez has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme (FP7/2007-2013) under grant agreement no. 281854 -the ObERStress project, Xunta de Galicia (2015-CP079 and 2016-PG068), MINECO co-funded by FEDER (SAF2015-71026-R and BFU2015-70454-REDT/Adipoplast)S

FIR-detected Lyman break galaxies at z ~ 3: Dust attenuation and dust correction factors at high redshift

Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) represent one of the kinds of star-forming galaxies that are found in the high-redshift universe. The detection of LBGs in the FIR domain can provide very important clues on their dust attenuation and total SFR, allowing a more detailed study than those performed so far. In this work we explore the FIR emission of a sample of 16 LBGs at z ~ 3 in the GOODS-North and GOODS-South fields that are individually detected in PACS-100um or PACS-160um. These detections demonstrate the possibility of measuring the dust emission of LBGs at high redshift. We find that PACS-detected LBGs at z ~ 3 are highly obscured galaxies which belong to the Ultra luminous IR galaxies or Hyper luminous IR galaxies class. Their total SFR cannot be recovered with the dust attenuation factors obtained from their UV continuum slope or their SED-derived dust attenuation employing Bruzual & Charlot (2003) templates. Both methods underestimate the results for most of the galaxies. Comparing with a sample of PACS-detected LBGs at z ~ 1 we find evidences that the FIR emission of LBGs might have changed with redshift in the sense that the dustiest LBGs found at z ~ 3 have more prominent FIR emission, are dustier for a given UV slope, and have higher SFR for a given stellar mass than the dustiest LBGs found at z ~ 1.Comment: Accepted for publication in A&A letter

Lyman break and ultraviolet-selected galaxies at z ̃ 1-I. Stellar populations from the ALHAMBRA survey

We take advantage of the exceptional photometric coverage provided by the combination of GALEX data in the ultraviolet (UV) and the ALHAMBRA survey in the optical and near-infrared to analyse the physical properties of a sample of 1225 GALEX-selected Lyman break galaxies (LBGs) at 0.8 ≲ z ≲ 1.2 that are located in the COSMOS field. This is the largest sample of LBGs studied in this redshift range to date. According to a spectral energy distribution (SED) fitting with synthetic stellar population templates, we find that LBGs at z ̃ 1 are mostly young galaxies with a median age of 341 Myr and have intermediate dust attenuation, (Es(B - V)) ̃ 0.20. Owing to the selection criterion, LBGs at z ̃ 1 are UV-bright galaxies and have a high dust-corrected total star formation rate (SFR), with a median value of 16.9M⊙ yr-1. Their median stellar mass is log (M*/M⊙) = 9.74. We find that the dustcorrected total SFR of LBGs increases with stellar mass and that the specific SFR is lower for more massive galaxies (downsizing scenario). Only 2 per cent of the galaxies selected through the Lyman break criterion have an active galactic nucleus nature. LBGs at z ̃ 1 are located mostly over the blue cloud of the colour-magnitude diagram of galaxies at their redshift, with only the oldest and/or the dustiest deviating towards the green valley and red sequence. Morphologically, 69 per cent of LBGs are disc-like galaxies, with the fractions of interacting, compact, or irregular systems being much lower, below 12 per cent. LBGs have a median effective radius of 2.5 kpc, and larger galaxies have a higher total SFR and stellar mass. Compared with their high-redshift analogues, we find evidence that LBGs at lower redshifts are larger, redder in the UV continuum, and have a major presence of older stellar populations in their SEDs. However, we do not find significant differences in the distributions of stellar mass or dust attenuation.NASA NAS5-26555NASA Office of Space Science NNX09AF08GEuropean Southern Observatory LP175.A-0839.Junta de Andalucia TIC-114, P08-TIC03531Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad AYA2011-29517-C03- 01, AYA2010-1516

Inflammatory myopathy in the context of an unusual overlapping laminopathy

Laminopathies are genetic disorders associated with alterations in nuclear envelope proteins, known as lamins. The LMNA gene encodes lamins A and C, and LMNA mutations have been linked to diseases involving fat (type 2 familial partial lipodystrophy [FPLD2]), muscle (type 2 Emery–Dreifuss muscular dystrophy [EDMD2], type 1B limb-girdle muscular dystrophy [LGMD1B], and dilated cardiomyopathy), nerves (type 2B1 Charcot–Marie–Tooth disease), and premature aging syndromes. Moreover, overlapping syndromes have been reported. This study aimed to determine the genetic basis of an overlapping syndrome in a patient with heart disease, myopathy, and features of lipodystrophy, combined with severe metabolic syndrome. We evaluated a 54-year-old woman with rheumatoid arthritis, chronic hypercortisolism (endogenous and exogenous), and a history of cured adrenal Cushing syndrome. The patient presented with a complex disorder, including metabolic syndrome associated with mild partial lipodystrophy (Köbberling-like); mild hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with Wolff–Parkinson– White syndrome and atrial fibrillation; and limb-girdle inflammatory myopathy. Mutational analysis of the LMNA gene showed a heterozygous c.1634G>A (p.R545H) variant in exon 10 of LMNA. This variant has previously been independently associated with FPLD2, EDMD2, LGMD1B, and heart disease. We describe a new, LMNA-associated, complex overlapping syndrome in which fat, muscle, and cardiac disturbances are related to a p.R545H variant.This work was funded by the Instituto de Salud Carlos III (grant number: PI081449) and the European Regional Development Fund, FEDER. In addition, SRG was awarded a Research Fellowship granted by the Asociación Española de Familiares y Afectados de Lipodistrofias (AELIP)S

The OTELO survey. A case study of [O III]4959,5007 emitters at <z> = 0.83

The OTELO survey is a very deep, blind exploration of a selected region of the Extended Groth Strip and is designed for finding emission-line sources (ELSs). The survey design, observations, data reduction, astrometry, and photometry, as well as the correlation with ancillary data used to obtain a final catalogue, including photo-z estimates and a preliminary selection of ELS, were described in a previous contribution. Here, we aim to determine the main properties and luminosity function (LF) of the [O III] ELS sample of OTELO as a scientific demonstration of its capabilities, advantages, and complementarity with respect to other surveys. The selection and analysis procedures of ELS candidates obtained using tunable filter (TF) pseudo-spectra are described. We performed simulations in the parameter space of the survey to obtain emission-line detection probabilities. Relevant characteristics of [O III] emitters and the LF([O III]), including the main selection biases and uncertainties, are presented. A total of 184 sources were confirmed as [O III] emitters at a mean redshift z=0.83. The minimum detectable line flux and equivalent width (EW) in this ELS sample are $\sim$5 $\times$ 10$^{-19}$ erg s$^{-1}$ cm$^{2}$ and $\sim$6 \AA, respectively. We are able to constrain the faint-end slope ($\alpha = -1.03\pm0.08$) of the observed LF([O III]) at z=0.83. This LF reaches values that are approximately ten times lower than those from other surveys. The vast majority (84\%) of the morphologically classified [O III] ELSs are disc-like sources, and 87\% of this sample is comprised of galaxies with stellar masses of M$_\star$ $<$ 10$^{10}$ M$_{\odot}$.Comment: v1: 16 pages, 6 figures. Accepted in Astronomy \& Astrophysics. v2: Author added in metadat