Kepler-22b: A 2.4 Earth-radius Planet in the Habitable Zone of a Sun-like Star

A search of the time-series photometry from NASA's Kepler spacecraft reveals a transiting planet candidate orbiting the 11th magnitude G5 dwarf KIC 10593626 with a period of 290 days. The characteristics of the host star are well constrained by high-resolution spectroscopy combined with an asteroseismic analysis of the Kepler photometry, leading to an estimated mass and radius of 0.970 +/- 0.060 MSun and 0.979 +/- 0.020 RSun. The depth of 492 +/- 10ppm for the three observed transits yields a radius of 2.38 +/- 0.13 REarth for the planet. The system passes a battery of tests for false positives, including reconnaissance spectroscopy, high-resolution imaging, and centroid motion. A full BLENDER analysis provides further validation of the planet interpretation by showing that contamination of the target by an eclipsing system would rarely mimic the observed shape of the transits. The final validation of the planet is provided by 16 radial velocities obtained with HIRES on Keck 1 over a one year span. Although the velocities do not lead to a reliable orbit and mass determination, they are able to constrain the mass to a 3{\sigma} upper limit of 124 MEarth, safely in the regime of planetary masses, thus earning the designation Kepler-22b. The radiative equilibrium temperature is 262K for a planet in Kepler-22b's orbit. Although there is no evidence that Kepler-22b is a rocky planet, it is the first confirmed planet with a measured radius to orbit in the Habitable Zone of any star other than the Sun.Comment: Accepted to Ap

Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks, 1990-2015: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

Background: The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 provides an up-to-date synthesis of the evidence for risk factor exposure and the attributable burden of disease. By providing national and subnational assessments spanning the past 25 years, this study can inform debates on the importance of addressing risks in context. Methods: We used the comparative risk assessment framework developed for previous iterations of the Global Burden of Disease Study to estimate attributable deaths, disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), and trends in exposure by age group, sex, year, and geography for 79 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks from 1990 to 2015. This study included 388 risk-outcome pairs that met World Cancer Research Fund-defined criteria for convincing or probable evidence. We extracted relative risk and exposure estimates from randomised controlled trials, cohorts, pooled cohorts, household surveys, census data, satellite data, and other sources. We used statistical models to pool data, adjust for bias, and incorporate covariates. We developed a metric that allows comparisons of exposure across risk factors—the summary exposure value. Using the counterfactual scenario of theoretical minimum risk level, we estimated the portion of deaths and DALYs that could be attributed to a given risk. We decomposed trends in attributable burden into contributions from population growth, population age structure, risk exposure, and risk-deleted cause-specific DALY rates. We characterised risk exposure in relation to a Socio-demographic Index (SDI). Findings: Between 1990 and 2015, global exposure to unsafe sanitation, household air pollution, childhood underweight, childhood stunting, and smoking each decreased by more than 25%. Global exposure for several occupational risks, high body-mass index (BMI), and drug use increased by more than 25% over the same period. All risks jointly evaluated in 2015 accounted for 57·8% (95% CI 56·6–58·8) of global deaths and 41·2% (39·8–42·8) of DALYs. In 2015, the ten largest contributors to global DALYs among Level 3 risks were high systolic blood pressure (211·8 million [192·7 million to 231·1 million] global DALYs), smoking (148·6 million [134·2 million to 163·1 million]), high fasting plasma glucose (143·1 million [125·1 million to 163·5 million]), high BMI (120·1 million [83·8 million to 158·4 million]), childhood undernutrition (113·3 million [103·9 million to 123·4 million]), ambient particulate matter (103·1 million [90·8 million to 115·1 million]), high total cholesterol (88·7 million [74·6 million to 105·7 million]), household air pollution (85·6 million [66·7 million to 106·1 million]), alcohol use (85·0 million [77·2 million to 93·0 million]), and diets high in sodium (83·0 million [49·3 million to 127·5 million]). From 1990 to 2015, attributable DALYs declined for micronutrient deficiencies, childhood undernutrition, unsafe sanitation and water, and household air pollution; reductions in risk-deleted DALY rates rather than reductions in exposure drove these declines. Rising exposure contributed to notable increases in attributable DALYs from high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, occupational carcinogens, and drug use. Environmental risks and childhood undernutrition declined steadily with SDI; low physical activity, high BMI, and high fasting plasma glucose increased with SDI. In 119 countries, metabolic risks, such as high BMI and fasting plasma glucose, contributed the most attributable DALYs in 2015. Regionally, smoking still ranked among the leading five risk factors for attributable DALYs in 109 countries; childhood underweight and unsafe sex remained primary drivers of early death and disability in much of sub-Saharan Africa. Interpretation: Declines in some key environmental risks have contributed to declines in critical infectious diseases. Some risks appear to be invariant to SDI. Increasing risks, including high BMI, high fasting plasma glucose, drug use, and some occupational exposures, contribute to rising burden from some conditions, but also provide opportunities for intervention. Some highly preventable risks, such as smoking, remain major causes of attributable DALYs, even as exposure is declining. Public policy makers need to pay attention to the risks that are increasingly major contributors to global burden. Funding: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

Erratum: Global, regional, and national comparative risk assessment of 84 behavioural, environmental and occupational, and metabolic risks or clusters of risks for 195 countries and territories, 1990–2017: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2017

Interpretation: By quantifying levels and trends in exposures to risk factors and the resulting disease burden, this assessment offers insight into where past policy and programme efforts might have been successful and highlights current priorities for public health action. Decreases in behavioural, environmental, and occupational risks have largely offset the effects of population growth and ageing, in relation to trends in absolute burden. Conversely, the combination of increasing metabolic risks and population ageing will probably continue to drive the increasing trends in non-communicable diseases at the global level, which presents both a public health challenge and opportunity. We see considerable spatiotemporal heterogeneity in levels of risk exposure and risk-attributable burden. Although levels of development underlie some of this heterogeneity, O/E ratios show risks for which countries are overperforming or underperforming relative to their level of development. As such, these ratios provide a benchmarking tool to help to focus local decision making. Our findings reinforce the importance of both risk exposure monitoring and epidemiological research to assess causal connections between risks and health outcomes, and they highlight the usefulness of the GBD study in synthesising data to draw comprehensive and robust conclusions that help to inform good policy and strategic health planning

Petrographic Characteristics and their Bearing on the Origin and Correlation of Indian Coals

Like the pattern in the quality of the seams occurring in the various Gondwana Coalfields of the country shown by the author earlier [1], scanning of the available petroghaphic data of Indian coals also indicates a pattern in the petrographic make-up as shown in the present paper. It has been shown that the inertinite content of the various stages of the Damuda Coals and the Tertiary coals of Upper Assam appears to be very distinctive so much so that the coals of Karharbari Stage are characterized by an inertinite content of 35 to 55%, those of Barakar Stage by 20% to 35%, those of Raniganj Stage by 12 to 20% and those of Tertiary coals of upper Assam by less than 10%. This make-up seems to substantiate the megascopic characteristics of the coals. This is revealing and will go a long way in understanding more accurately the physical and chemical properties and the technological behaviour of the coals. In addition, this pattern of petrographic make-up, which appears to hold good by and large, will be of particular significance in regard to the correlation of the coal-bearing stages. Eventually, it may perhaps be possible to extent the application even to the correlation of the seams. On the basis of the petrographic make-up of the coals, an attempt has also been made to throw light on the probable conditions of deposition and the subsequent transformation of vegetable matter to coal

Serum electrolytes in senile cataract patients

Introduction: Cataract refers to opacification of crystalline lens in the human eye. Globally, cataract accounts for 50% of blindness and remains the leading cause of visual impairment all over the world, despite improvements in surgical outcomes. Age is the strongest known non-modifiable risk factor for cataract formation. One of the proposed risk factors for cataract formation is rise in serum sodium ion level. Role of potassium and chloride are inconclusive Even though ageing cannot be prevented, physiological changes that occur in electrolytes can be modified. The aim of the study was to estimate serum electrolyte levels in senile cataract patients as compared to those without cataract. Methods: This study includes hundred senile cataract patients and age matched hundred healthy people without cataract. Serum electrolytes were estimated by using an electrolyte analyzer which works on the principle of ion selective electrodes. Results: We noted a highly significant (p<0.0001) rise in sodium levels in cases (146.35 ± 3.49 meq/l) as compared to controls (142.77 ± 3.75meq/l).Chloride levels were also significantly elevated (p<0.05) in cases (102.32 ± 4.10meq/l) as compared to controls (100.82 ± 4.12 meq/l). Serum potassium level, even though elevated in cases, it was statistically insignificant. Conclusion: From this study we can conclude that sodium and chloride may be used as markers of senile cataract formation. Dietary salt restriction may help to lower the sodium and chloride levels and delay the process of cataract formation

Studies on the Selective Preparation of Indian Coals for Carbonization

The variation in the proximate analysis petrographic composition, plastic and swelling properties different crushed and screened fractions on the preparation of two Indian coals was studied. Marked difference has been observed in the plastic and swelling properties of the different fractions. The finer fractions have lower ash and show higher values for maximum fluidity and higher percentage of expansion. With a decrease in the size, there is a progressive decrease in the brights and increase in the durains, the fusain remaining about the same. Finer fractions are found more easily grindable too