Radio-Continuum study of the Nearby Sculptor Group Galaxies. Part 1: NGC 300 at lambda = 20 cm

A series of new radio-continuum (lambda=20 cm) mosaic images focused on the NGC 300 galactic system were produced using archived observational data from the VLA and/or ATCA. These new images are both very sensitive (rms=60 microJy) and feature high angular resolution (<10"). The most prominent new feature is the galaxy's extended radio-continuum emission, which does not match its optical appearance. Using these newly created images a number of previously unidentified discrete sources have been discovered. Furthermore, we demonstrate that a joint deconvolution approach to imaging this complete data-set is inferior when compared to an immerge approach.Comment: 13 pages, 12 figures, accepted to APSS, new version to correct the missing reference

best practices in bioassay development to support registration of biopharmaceuticals

Biological activity is a critical quality attribute for biopharmaceuticals, which is accurately measured using an appropriate relative potency bioassay. Developing a bioassay is a complex, rigorous undertaking that needs to address several challenges including modelling all of the mechanisms of action associated with the biotherapeutic. Bioassay development is also an exciting and fast evolving field, not only from a scientific, medical and technological point of view, but also in terms of statistical approaches and regulatory expectations. This has led to an industry-wide discussion on the most appropriate ways to develop, validate and control the bioassays throughout the drug lifecycle

Double‐blind, randomized, phase 2 trial of maintenance sunitinib versus placebo after response to chemotherapy in patients with advanced urothelial carcinoma

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/106126/1/cncr28477.pd

Radio-Continuum Study of the Nearby Sculptor Group Galaxies. Part 2: NGC 55 at {\lambda}=20, 13, 6 and 3 cm

A series of new radio-continuum ({\lambda}=20, 13, 6 and 3 cm) mosaic images focused on the NGC55 galactic system were produced using archived observational data from the Australia Telescope Compact Array. These new images are both very sensitive (down to rms=33 {\mu}Jy) and feature high angular resolution (down to <4"). Using these newly created images, 66 previously unidentified discrete sources are identified. Of these sources, 46 were classified as background sources, 11 as HII regions and 6 as supernova remnant candidates. This relatively low number of SNR candidates detected coupled with the low number of large HII regions is consistent with the estimated low star formation rate of the galaxy at 0.06 solar masses per year. Our spectral index map shows that the core of galaxy appears to have a shallow spectral index between {\alpha} = -0.2 and -0.4. This indicates that the core of the galaxy is a region of high thermal radiation output.Comment: 11 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Scienc

The Surgical Infection Society revised guidelines on the management of intra-abdominal infection

Background: Previous evidence-based guidelines on the management of intra-abdominal infection (IAI) were published by the Surgical Infection Society (SIS) in 1992, 2002, and 2010. At the time the most recent guideline was released, the plan was to update the guideline every five years to ensure the timeliness and appropriateness of the recommendations. Methods: Based on the previous guidelines, the task force outlined a number of topics related to the treatment of patients with IAI and then developed key questions on these various topics. All questions were approached using general and specific literature searches, focusing on articles and other information published since 2008. These publications and additional materials published before 2008 were reviewed by the task force as a whole or by individual subgroups as to relevance to individual questions. Recommendations were developed by a process of iterative consensus, with all task force members voting to accept or reject each recommendation. Grading was based on the GRADE (Grades of Recommendation Assessment, Development, and Evaluation) system; the quality of the evidence was graded as high, moderate, or weak, and the strength of the recommendation was graded as strong or weak. Review of the document was performed by members of the SIS who were not on the task force. After responses were made to all critiques, the document was approved as an official guideline of the SIS by the Executive Council. Results: This guideline summarizes the current recommendations developed by the task force on the treatment of patients who have IAI. Evidence-based recommendations have been made regarding risk assessment in individual patients; source control; the timing, selection, and duration of antimicrobial therapy; and suggested approaches to patients who fail initial therapy. Additional recommendations related to the treatment of pediatric patients with IAI have been included. Summary: The current recommendations of the SIS regarding the treatment of patients with IAI are provided in this guideline

Characterization of the apoptotic response of human leukemia cells to organosulfur compounds

Background: Novel therapeutic agents that selectively induce tumor cell death are urgently needed in the clinical management of cancers. Such agents would constitute effective adjuvant approaches to traditional chemotherapy regimens. Organosulfur compounds (OSCs), such as diallyl disulfide, have demonstrated anti-proliferative effects on cancer cells. We have previously shown that synthesized relatives of dysoxysulfone, a natural OSC derived from the Fijian medicinal plant, Dysoxylum richi, possess tumor-specific antiproliferative effects and are thus promising lead candidates. Methods: Because our structure-activity analyses showed that regions flanking the disulfide bond mediated specificity, we synthesized 18 novel OSCs by structural modification of the most promising dysoxysulfone derivatives. These compounds were tested for anti-proliferative and apoptotic activity in both normal and leukemic cells. Results: Six OSCs exhibited tumor-specific killing, having no effect on normal bone marrow, and are thus candidates for future toxicity studies. We then employed mRNA expression profiling to characterize the mechanisms by which different OSCs induce apoptosis. Using Gene Ontology analysis we show that each OSC altered a unique set of pathways, and that these differences could be partially rationalized from a transcription factor binding site analysis. For example, five compounds altered genes with a large enrichment of p53 binding sites in their promoter regions (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Taken together, these data establish OSCs derivatized from dysoxysulfone as a novel group of compounds for development as anti-cancer agents

Discovery of a pulsar-powered bow shock nebula in the Small Magellanic Cloud supernova remnant DEMS5

We report the discovery of a new Small Magellanic Cloud pulsar wind nebula (PWN) at the edge of the supernova remnant (SNR) DEMS5. The pulsar powered object has a cometary morphology similar to the Galactic PWN analogues PSR B1951+32 and ´the mouse´. It is travelling supersonically through the interstellar medium.We estimate the pulsar kick velocity to be in the range of 700-2000 km s-1 for an age between 28 and 10 kyr. The radio spectral index for this SNR-PWN-pulsar system is flat (-0.29 ± 0.01) consistent with other similar objects. We infer that the putative pulsar has a radio spectral index of -1.8, which is typical for Galactic pulsars. We searched for dispersion measures up to 1000 cm-3 pc but found no convincing candidates with an S/N greater than 8. We produce a polarization map for this PWN at 5500 MHz and find a mean fractional polarization of P ∼ 23 per cent. The X-ray power-law spectrum (τ ∼ 2) is indicative of non-thermal synchrotron emission as is expected from PWN-pulsar system. Finally, we detect DEMS5 in infrared (IR) bands. Our IR photometric measurements strongly indicate the presence of shocked gas that is expected for SNRs. However, it is unusual to detect such IR emission in an SNR with a supersonic bow shock PWN.We also find a low-velocity HI cloud of ∼107 km s-1 that is possibly interacting with DEMS5. SNR DEMS5 is the first confirmed detection of a pulsar-powered bow shock nebula found outside the Galaxy.Fil: Alsaberi, Rami Z. E.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Maitra, C.. Max Planck Institut Für Extraterrestrische Physik; AlemaniaFil: Filipovic, M. D.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Bozzetto, L.M.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Haberl, F.. Max Planck Institut Für Extraterrestrische Physik; AlemaniaFil: Maggi, P.. Université de Strasbourg; FranciaFil: Sasaki, M.. Universitat Erlangen-Nuremberg; AlemaniaFil: Manjolovic, P.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Velovic, V.. University Of Belgrade; SerbiaFil: Kavanagh, P.. Dublin Institute For Advanced Studies; IrlandaFil: Maxted, N. I.. University Of New South Wales (unsw) Australia; AustraliaFil: Urosevic, D.. Isaac Newton Institute Of Chile; ChileFil: Rowell, G. P.. University of Adelaide; AustraliaFil: Wong, G. F.. University Of New South Wales (unsw) Australia; AustraliaFil: For, B. Q.. The University Ofwestern Australia; AustraliaFil: O'Brien, A. N.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Galvin, T. J.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Staveley-Smith, L.. The University Ofwestern Australia; AustraliaFil: Norris, R. P.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Jarrett, T.. University Of Cape Town; SudáfricaFil: Kothes, R.. National Research Council Canada; CanadáFil: Luken, K. J.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Hurley-Walker, N.. Curtin University; AustraliaFil: Sano, H.. Nagoya University; JapónFil: Onic, D.. University Of Belgrade; SerbiaFil: Dai, S. T.. Australia Telescope National Facility; AustraliaFil: Pannuti, G.. Morehead State University; Estados UnidosFil: Tothill, N. F. H.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Crawford, Evan. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Yew, M.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Bojicic, I.. Western Sydney University; AustraliaFil: Dénes, H.. Netherlands Foundation For Research In Astronomy; BélgicaFil: McClure-Griffiths, N.. Australian National University; AustraliaFil: Gurovich, Sebastian. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Observatorio Astronómico de Córdoba. Instituto de Astronomía Teórica y Experimental; ArgentinaFil: Fukui, Y.. Nagoya University; Japó

Orbital decay in an accreting and eclipsing 13.7 minute orbital period binary with a luminous donor

We report the discovery of ZTF J0127+5258, a compact mass-transferring binary with an orbital period of 13.7 minutes. The system contains a white dwarf accretor, which likely originated as a post-common envelope carbon-oxygen (CO) white dwarf, and a warm donor ($T_{\rm eff,\,donor}= 16,400\pm1000\,\rm K$). The donor probably formed during a common envelope phase between the CO white dwarf and an evolving giant which left behind a helium star or helium white dwarf in a close orbit with the CO white dwarf. We measure gravitational wave-driven orbital inspiral with $\sim 35\sigma$ significance, which yields a joint constraint on the component masses and mass transfer rate. While the accretion disk in the system is dominated by ionized helium emission, the donor exhibits a mixture of hydrogen and helium absorption lines. Phase-resolved spectroscopy yields a donor radial-velocity semi-amplitude of $771\pm27\,\rm km\, s^{-1}$, and high-speed photometry reveals that the system is eclipsing. We detect a {\it Chandra} X-ray counterpart with $L_{X}\sim 3\times 10^{31}\,\rm erg\,s^{-1}$. Depending on the mass-transfer rate, the system will likely evolve into either a stably mass-transferring helium CV, merge to become an R Crb star, or explode as a Type Ia supernova in the next million years. We predict that the Laser Space Interferometer Antenna (LISA) will detect the source with a signal-to-noise ratio of $24\pm6$ after 4 years of observations. The system is the first \emph{LISA}-loud mass-transferring binary with an intrinsically luminous donor, a class of sources that provide the opportunity to leverage the synergy between optical and infrared time domain surveys, X-ray facilities, and gravitational-wave observatories to probe general relativity, accretion physics, and binary evolution.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, 2 tables, submitted to ApJ

Development and validation of a Surgical Prioritization and Ranking Tool and Navigation Aid for Head and Neck Cancer (SPARTAN‐HN) in a scarce resource setting: Response to the COVID‐19 pandemic

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163412/2/cncr33114_am.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/163412/1/cncr33114.pd