Context. X-ray reflection off the accretion disc surrounding a black hole, together with the associated broad iron Kα line, has been widely used to constrain the innermost accretion-flow geometry and ...black hole spin. Some recent measurements have revealed steep reflection emissivity profiles in a number of active galactic nuclei and X-ray binaries. Aims. We explore the physically motivated conditions that give rise to the observed steep disc-reflection emissivity profiles. Methods. We perform a set of simulations based on the configuration of a possible future high-resolution X-ray mission. Computations are carried out for typical X-ray bright Seyfert-1 galaxies. Results. We find that steep emissivity profiles with q ~ 4−5 (where the emissivity is ϵ(r) ∝ r−q) are produced considering either i) a lamp-post scenario where a primary compact X-ray source is located close to the black hole, or ii) the radial dependence of the disc ionisation state. If both effects are taken into account, emissivity profiles as steep as q ~ 7 can be obtained from X-ray spectra modelled via conventional reflection models. We also highlight the role of the reflection angular emissivity: the radial emissivity index q is overestimated when the standard limb-darkening law is used to describe the data. Conclusions. Very steep emissivity profiles with q ≥ 7 are naturally obtained by applying reflection models that take into account the radial profile ξ(r) of the disc ionisation induced by a compact X-ray source located close to the central black hole.
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FMFMET, NUK, UL, UM, UPUK
Background and Purpose
Prokineticin 2 (PK2) has recently been shown to acutely reduce food intake in rodents. We aimed to determine the CNS sites and receptors that mediate the anorectic effects of ...peripherally administered PK2 and its chronic effects on glucose and energy homeostasis.
Experimental Approach
We investigated neuronal activation following i.p. administration of PK2 using c‐Fos‐like immunoreactivity (CFL‐IR). The anorectic effect of PK2 was examined in mice with targeted deletion of either prokineticin receptor 1 (PKR1) or prokineticin receptor 2 (PKR2), and in wild‐type mice following administration of the PKR1 antagonist, PC1. The effect of IP PK2 administration on glucose homeostasis was investigated. Finally, the effect of long‐term administration of PK2 on glucose and energy homeostasis in diet‐induced obese (DIO) mice was determined.
Key Results
I.p. PK2 administration significantly increased CFL‐IR in the dorsal motor vagal nucleus of the brainstem. The anorectic effect of PK2 was maintained in mice lacking the PKR2 but abolished in mice lacking PKR1 and in wild‐type mice pre‐treated with PC1. DIO mice treated chronically with PK2 had no changes in glucose levels but significantly reduced food intake and body weight compared to controls.
Conclusions and Implications
Together, our data suggest that the anorectic effects of peripherally administered PK2 are mediated via the brainstem and this effect requires PKR1 but not PKR2 signalling. Chronic administration of PK2 reduces food intake and body weight in a mouse model of human obesity, suggesting that PKR1‐selective agonists have potential to be novel therapeutics for the treatment of obesity.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK
•Selenium doped tin sulfide (SnS0.25Se0.75) ternary alloy crystals were synthesized by direct vapor transport technique.•The SnS0.25Se0.75 crystals were characterized to investigate the ...compositional, structural and electrical properties.•Photosensitive properties were observed under different intensities of white light at 0 V and 1 mV bias.•The enhanced photoconversion efficiency was observed by using alloy engineering approach.
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In the current decade, Metal chalcogenides have achieved immense importance due to their tunable bandgaps, excellent optical absorption and outstanding optoelectronic behavior. Specifically, pristine and doped SnS (tin sulfide) crystals have fascinated noteworthy consideration mainly due to their potential applications in photodetectors, photovoltaic devices, holographic recording devices and field-effect transistors. In that view, selenium doped tin sulfide crystals were synthesized by direct vapor transport (DVT) technique. The elemental composition was confirmed by energy dispersive analysis of X-ray (EDAX). The structural characterization reveals a layer type growth mechanism of grown SnS0.25Se0.75 crystals. The powder X-ray diffraction reveals the orthorhombic phase and high crystallinity of synthesized crystals. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analysis confirmed the formation of SnS0.25S0.75 structure and binding energy of the elements in the samples. The temperature dependent in-plane and out-of-plane resistivity measurements determined the anisotropic charge conduction of grown crystals. The carrier concentration and mobility came out to be 6.19 × 1015 cm−3 and 31.48 cm2 V−1 s−1 calculated from hall effect measurement. The photosensitive properties of SnS0.25Se0.75 crystal-based photodetector were also investigated under different biasing conditions. The device exhibited an excellent response time of 0.6 s along with good photocurrent and responsivity as compared with previous reports. Additionally, air stability after 1 month under 0 V and 1 mV biasing have been reported. This study assigned that Se doping played a major role in enhancing optoelectronic properties and the composition can be used in potential optoelectronic devices for future applications.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Transition metal chalcogenides have become highly accessible nowadays for their outstanding sensing ability. Specifically, tin sulfide (SnS) and tin selenide (SnSe) are effective candidates for ...future electronic devices. Here, we synthesized P-type SnS and SnSe-layered crystals. The layered growth mechanism, high crystallanity, and phase transition of grown materials were confirmed by SEM, HR-TEM, and XRD, respectively. The X-ray diffractogram reveals the orthorhombic phase of grown SnX (X = S, Se). The formation of structure and binding energy were confirmed by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The study of temperature-dependent vibrational mode is carried out for SnX (X = S, Se). The temperature-dependent resistivity measurement was performed. The hall effect measurement was performed at room temperature to calculate the carrier concentration, conductivity, and mobility. The optical properties of SnS and SnSe have been studied. This study estimates the suitability of the SnX (S, Se) crystals for the fabrication of optoelectronic devices.
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
The central nervous system and gut peptide neuromedin U (NMU) inhibits feeding after intracerebroventricular injection. This study explored the hypothalamic actions of NMU on feeding and the ...hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis. Intraparaventricular nucleus (intra-PVN) NMU dose-dependently inhibited food intake, with a minimum effective dose of 0.1 nmol and a robust effect at 0.3 nmol. Feeding inhibition was mapped by NMU injection into eight hypothalamic areas. NMU (0.3 nmol) inhibited food intake in the PVN (0–1 h, 59 ± 6.9% of the control value; P < 0.001) and arcuate nucleus (0–1 h, 76 ± 10.4% of the control value; P < 0.05). Intra-PVN NMU markedly increased grooming and locomotor behavior and dose-dependently increased plasma ACTH (0.3 nmol NMU, 24.8 ± 1.9 pg/ml; saline, 11.4 ± 1.0; P < 0.001) and corticosterone (0.3 nmol NMU, 275.4 ± 40.5 ng/ml; saline, 129.4 ± 25.0; P < 0.01). Using hypothalamic explants in vitro, NMU stimulated CRH (100 nm NMU, 5.9 ± 0.95 pmol/explant; basal, 3.8 ± 0.39; P < 0.01) and arginine vasopressin release (100 nm NMU, 124.5 ± 21.8 fmol/explant; basal, 74.5 ± 7.6; P < 0.01). Leptin stimulated NMU release (141.9 ± 20.4 fmol/explant; basal, 92.9 ± 9.4; P < 0.01). Thus, we describe a novel role for NMU in the PVN to stimulate the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal axis and locomotor and grooming behavior and to inhibit feeding.
Although gastrointestinal involvement is the most common site for extra-genital endometriosis, deep infiltrative endometriosis, which affects the mucosal layer, is very rare.
We present a case of a ...41-year-old white woman with cyclic rectal bleeding. Magnetic resonance imaging was done, together with colonoscopy and histologic staining of biopsied samples, which led to the final diagnosis of intestinal invasive endometriosis with recto-sigmoid stricture. Our patient was treated symptomatically with stool softeners.
This case provides a rare example of catamenial bleeding. It is important to keep invasive endometriosis on the differential diagnosis whenever a premenopausal woman has cyclical rectal bleeding.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
SnSe nanoparticles were synthesized using the sonochemical exfoliation technique, employing SnSe single crystals. Various analysis, including Energy Dispersive Analysis of X-rays-Elemental mapping, ...X-ray Diffraction (XRD), High-Resolution Transmission Electron Microscopy, Ultra-Violet Diffused Reflectance Spectroscopy-Photoluminescence measurements, Raman spectroscopy, and X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy, were conducted to determine the chemical composition, crystalline phase, morphological characteristics, optical properties, vibrational modes, and oxidation states of the synthesized nanoparticles. The XRD peak broadening analysis, specifically employing Williamson–Hall (W-H), Size–Strain Plot (SSP), and Halder–Wagner Method (H-W), was employed to examine particle size and intrinsic strain. Additionally, three models within the W-H method, namely the uniform deformation model (UDM), uniform stress deformation model (USDM), and uniform deformation energy density model (UDEDM), were used to investigate physical and microstructural parameters such as strain, stress, and energy density. A comprehensive comparison of the average particle size results obtained from Williamson–Hall, Size–Strain, and Halder–Wagner Methods, along with results from HR-TEM and Particle Size Analysis, was carried out. The comprehensive comparison of results from different techniques adds credibility to the reported findings.
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GEOZS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, UILJ, UL, UM, UPCLJ, UPUK, ZAGLJ, ZRSKP
Background
Universal infant free school meals (UIFSM) were introduced in September 2014 and are available to all key stage 1 (4–7 years) children attending state‐maintained infant and primary schools ...in England. The present study aimed to investigate the school‐based factors, child and family socio‐demographic characteristics, and parental beliefs associated with UIFSM take up in an urban community.
Methods
A cross‐sectional questionnaire survey was completed in October to November 2015, amongst parents whose children attended eligible schools in Leicester, England. A questionnaire about school meals was also completed by each school.
Results
Parents reported their child did not take (non‐UIFSM, n = 159) or took (UIFSM, n = 517) a UIFSM on most days. The non‐UIFSM group were more likely to be White‐British, have a higher socio‐economic status, have English as a first language, and involve their child in the decision over whether or not to take UIFSM, compared to the UIFSM group. Cluster analysis revealed that non‐UIFSM parents were either concerned over quality of meals and what/how much their child ate, concerned only by what/how much their child ate or whether their child did not like the food provided. Two subsets of parents in the UIFSM group were either very positive about UIFSM or appeared to take meals because they were free. Schools used a variety of measures to increase and maintain UIFSM take up.
Conclusions
Parents like to have control over what their child eats at school and children need to enjoy their school meals. Using a range of interventions to target subsets of parents may help local authorities, schools and caterers to increase UIFSM take up.
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BFBNIB, FZAB, GIS, IJS, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, UL, UM, UPUK
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