Abstract
We report on the results of a new spectroscopic monitoring campaign of the quasar PG 0026+129 at the Calar Alto Observatory 2.2 m telescope from 2017 July to 2020 February. Significant ...variations in the fluxes of the continuum and broad emission lines, including H
β
and He
ii
, were observed in the first and third years, and clear time lags between them are measured. The broad H
β
line profile consists of two Gaussian components: an intermediate-width H
with an FWHM of 1964 ± 18
and another very broad H
with an FWHM of 7570 ± 83
. H
has long time lags of ∼40–60 days in the rest frame, while H
shows nearly zero time delay with respect to the optical continuum at 5100 Å. The velocity-resolved delays show consistent results: lags of ∼30–50 days at the core of the broad H
β
line and roughly zero lags at the wings. H
has a redshift of ∼400
, which seems to be stable for nearly 30 yr by comparing with archived spectra, and may originate from an infall. The rms spectrum of H
shows a double-peaked profile with brighter blue peak and extended red wing in the first year, which matches the signature of a thin disk. Both the double-peaked profile and the near-zero lag suggest that H
comes from a region associated with the part of the accretion disk that emits the optical continuum. Adopting the FWHM (in the rms spectrum) and the time lag measured for the total H
β
line, and a virial factor of 1.5, we obtain a virial mass of
for the central black hole in this quasar.
Abstract
In this work, we present the first results of the long-term high-cadence spectroscopic monitoring of 15 PG quasars with relatively strong Fe
ii
emission, as a part of a broader reverberation ...mapping campaign performed using the Calar Alto Observatory’s 2.2 m telescope. The
V
-band, 5100 Å continuum, and H
β
broad emission line light curves are measured for a set of quasars for periods ranging from dozens to more than a hundred epochs between 2017 May and 2020 July. Accurate time lags between the variations of the H
β
broad-line fluxes and the optical continuum strength are obtained for all 15 quasars, ranging from
17.0
−
3.2
+
2.5
to
95.9
−
23.9
+
7.1
days in the rest frame. The virial masses of the central supermassive black holes are derived for all 15 quasars, ranging between
0.50
−
0.19
+
0.18
and
19.17
−
2.73
+
2.98
in units of 10
7
M
⊙
. For 11 of the objects in our sample, this is the first reverberation analysis to be published. Of the rest, two objects have been the subject of previous reverberation studies, but we determine time lags for these that are only half as long as those found in the earlier investigations, which had only been able to sample much more sparsely. The remaining two objects have previously been monitored with high sampling rates. Our results here are consistent with the earlier findings, in the sense that the time lag and the line width vary inversely, consistent with virialization.
Abstract
We report the results of a multiyear spectroscopic and photometric monitoring campaign of two luminous quasars, PG 0923+201 and PG 1001+291, both located at the high-luminosity end of the ...broad-line region (BLR) size–luminosity relation with optical luminosities above 10
45
erg s
−1
. PG 0923+201 is monitored for the first time, while PG 1001+291 was previously monitored but our campaign has a much longer temporal baseline. We detect time lags of variations of the broad H
β
, H
γ
, and Fe
ii
lines with respect to those of the 5100 Å continuum. The velocity-resolved delay map of H
β
in PG 0923+201 indicates a complicated structure with a mix of Keplerian disk-like motion and outflow, and the map of H
β
in PG 1001+291 shows a signature of Keplerian disk-like motion. Assuming a virial factor of
f
BLR
= 1 and FWHM line widths, we measure the black hole mass to be
118
−
16
+
11
×
10
7
M
⊙
for PG 0923+201 and
3.33
−
0.54
+
0.62
×
10
7
M
⊙
for PG 1001+291. Their respective accretion rates are estimated to be
0.21
−
0.07
+
0.06
×
L
Edd
c
−
2
and
679
−
227
+
259
×
L
Edd
c
−
2
, indicating that PG 0923+201 is a sub-Eddington accretor and PG 1001+291 is a super-Eddington accretor. While the H
β
time lag of PG 0923+201 agrees with the size–luminosity relation, the time lag of PG 1001+291 shows a significant deviation, confirming that in high-luminosity active galactic nuclei (AGNs), the BLR size depends on both luminosity and Eddington ratio. Black hole mass estimates from single-AGN spectra will be overestimated at high luminosities and redshifts if this effect is not taken into account.
Pain has been found to promote reward‐seeking behaviors, which might be a consequence of modulated brain activities in the reward neural circuitry in a painful state. The present study investigated ...how pain affected reward processing and reward‐related neural activities using fMRI technique. A total of 50 healthy participants were recruited and used for data analyses, with half being treated with topical capsaicin cream and the other half with hand cream (treatment: pain or control). The participants were asked to perform a card‐guessing game when their brain activities responding to feedbacks (outcome: win or loss) were recorded. Behavioral results showed that participants in pain group overestimated their correct choices in the card‐guess game. Whole‐brain fMRI analysis revealed that the main effect of outcome (win vs. loss) activated a typical network of the reward neural circuitry, including the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and the bilateral nucleus accumbens (NAcc). Importantly, the region of interest analysis revealed a significant interaction of treatment and outcome in the mPFC, with increased mPFC neural activity responding to win outcome in pain condition. Moreover, the functional connectivity between the mPFC and the NAcc was decreased in pain condition. We conclude that the pain‐induced modulation of the mPFC activity could result in alterations of both the emotional response to and the cognitive evaluation of reward.
Most stretchable film strain sensors generally present nonlinear electrical responses to applied strain, leading to an inaccurate acquisition of sophisticated signals, difficult signal processing, ...and zero‐calibration, which hampers practical applications severely. Here, a Janus hetero‐structured microarray film sensor is developed by in‐situ growth of silver nanoparticles on the surface of micro‐patterned elastomer films fabricated via low‐temperature imprinting followed by scraping‐induced particle trapping. Heterogeneous property designs in both modulus and electrical conductivity via introducing polymer microarrays enable modulating the electron transport manner in the conductive layer of elastic Janus films upon stretching, allowing to tune signal linearity effectively. Therefore, such a hetero‐structured film sensor shows good signal linearity (fluctuation of gauge factor GF below ±0.02) and relatively high sensitivity (GF > 10) within 55% strain, a detection limit of 0.2% strain, and a response/recovery time of 16.3/46.9 ms, respectively. Correspondingly, it enables monitoring human respiration and body motion with higher resolution compared with the nonlinear one, meanwhile, it is capable of detecting tiny pressure to discriminate braille alphabets via touch identification. Overall, it unveils a simple strategy to fabricate film strain sensors for high‐resolution healthcare and body motion monitoring, as well as electronic skins toward tactile sensing and touch identification.
A Janus hetero‐structured microarray film strain sensor with linear and sensitive resistive response to strain is developed via low‐temperature imprinting followed by scraping‐induced particle trapping for healthcare and braille identification.
We report the results of reverberation mapping of three bright Seyfert galaxies, Mrk 79, NGC 3227, and Mrk 841, from a campaign conducted from 2016 December to 2017 May with the Wyoming Infrared ...Observatory (WIRO) 2.3 m telescope. All three of these targets have shown asymmetric broad Hβ emission lines in the past, although their emission lines were relatively symmetric during our observations. We measured Hβ time lags for all three targets and estimated masses of their black holes-for the first time in the case of Mrk 841. For Mrk 79 and NGC 3227, the data are of sufficient quality to resolve distinct time lags as a function of velocity and to compute two-dimensional velocity-delay maps. Mrk 79 shows smaller time lags for high-velocity gas, but the distribution is not symmetric, and its complex velocity-delay map could result from the combination of both inflowing and outflowing Hβ emitting disks that may be part of a single larger structure. NGC 3227 shows the largest time lags for blueshifted gas, and the two-dimensional velocity-delay map suggests a disk with some inflow. We compare our results with previous work and find evidence for different time lags despite similar luminosities, as well as evolving broad-line region structures.
Objective
Distal clavicle fracture classification directly affects the treatment decisions. It is unclear whether the classification systems implemented differ depending on surgeons' backgrounds. ...This study aimed to compare the interobserver agreement of four classification systems used for lateral clavicle fractures by shoulder specialists and general trauma surgeons.
Methods
Radiographs of 20 lateral clavicle fractures representing a full spectrum of adult fracture patterns were analyzed by eight experienced shoulder specialists and eight general trauma surgeons from 10 different hospitals. All cases were graded according to the Orthopedic Trauma Association (OTA), Neer, Jäger/Breitner, and Gongji classification systems. To measure observer agreement, Fleiss' kappa coefficient (κ) was applied and assessed.
Results
When only X‐ray films were presented, both groups achieved fair agreement. However, when the 3D‐CT scan images were provided, improved interobserver agreement was found in the specialist group when the OTA, Jäger/Breitner, and Gongji classification systems were used. In the generalist groups, improved agreement was found when using the Gongji classification system. In terms of interobserver reliability, the OTA, Neer, and Jäger/Breitner classification systems showed better agreement among shoulder specialists, while a slightly lower level of agreement was found using the Gongji classification system. For the OTA classification system, interobserver agreement had a mean kappa value of 0.418, ranging from 0.446 (specialist group) to 0.402 (generalist group). For the Neer classification system, interobserver agreement had a mean kappa value of 0.368, ranging from 0.402 (specialist group) to 0.390 (generalist group). For the Jäger/Breitner classification system, the inter‐observer agreement had a mean kappa value of 0.380, ranging from 0.413 (specialist group) to 0.404 (generalist group). For the Gongji classification system, interobserver agreement had a mean kappa value of 0.455, ranging from 0.480 (specialist group) to 0.485 (generalist group).
Conclusion
Generally speaking, 3D‐CT scans provide a richer experience that can lead to better results in most classification systems of lateral clavicle fractures, highlighting the value of digitization and specialization in diagnosis and treatment. Competitive interobserver agreement was exhibited in the generalist group using the Gongji classification system, suggesting that the Gongji classification is suitable for general trauma surgeons who are not highly experienced in the shoulder field.
A smartphone‐based survey was designed to verify the difference in therapeutic experience between shoulder specialists and general trauma surgeons and to compare the interobserver agreement of four classification systems for lateral clavicle fractures between these two groups of surgeons. The results showed that, when only the X‐ray films were presented, both groups achieved fair agreement. However, when the 3D‐CT scan images were provided, improved interobserver agreement was found in specialists group using the OTA, Jäger/Breitner, and Gongji classification systems and in generalist group using Gongji classification system. The interobserver reliability of the OTA, the Neer, and the Jäger/Breitner classification system showed a better agreement in shoulder specialists, while a competitive agreement between the two groups were found in the Gongji classification system, which may possibly suggest that the Gongji classification is more easy to grasp for general trauma surgeons who are not highly experienced in shoulder field.
Photosynthetic microalgae are of burgeoning interest in the generation of commercial bioproducts. Microalgae accumulate high lipid content under adverse conditions, which in turn compromise their ...growth and hinder their commercial potential. Hence, it is necessary to engineer microalgae to mitigate elevated lipid accumulation and biomass. In this study, we identified acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACCase) in oleaginous microalga
Phaeodactylum tricornutum
(PtACC2) and expressed constitutively in the chloroplast to demonstrate the potential of chloroplast engineering. Molecular characterization of transplastomic microalgae revealed that PtACC2 was integrated, transcribed and expressed successfully, and localized in the chloroplast. Enzymatic activity of ACCase was elevated by 3.3-fold, and the relative neutral lipid content increased substantially by 1.77-fold, and lipid content reached up to 40.8% of dry weight. Accordingly, the number and size of oil bodies markedly increased. Fatty acid profiling showed that the content of monounsaturated fatty acids increased, while polyunsaturated fatty acids decreased. This method provides a valuable genetic engineering toolbox for microalgal bioreactors with industrial significance.
There has been growing interest in using microalgae as production hosts for a wide range of value‐added compounds. However, microalgal genetic improvement is impeded by lack of genetic tools to ...concurrently control multiple genes. Here, we identified two novel strong promoters, designated Pt202 and Pt667, and delineated their potential role on simultaneously driving the expression of key lipogenic genes in Phaeodactylum tricornutum. In silico analyses of the identified promoter sequences predicted the presence of essential core cis elements such as TATA and CAAT boxes. Regulatory role of the promoters was preliminarily assessed by using GUS reporter which demonstrated strong GUS expression. Thereafter, two key lipogenic genes including malic enzyme (PtME) and 5‐desaturase (PtD5b), were overexpressed by the two promoters Pt202 and Pt667, respectively, in P. tricornutum. Combinatorial gene overexpression did not impair general physiological performance, meanwhile neutral lipid content was remarkably increased by 2.4‐fold. GC‐MS analysis of fatty acid methyl esters revealed that eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA; C20:5) was increased significantly. The findings augment a crucial kit to microalgal genetic tools that could facilitate the multiple‐gene expression driven by various promoters, and promote microalgae for industrial bioproduction.
There has been growing interest in using microalgae as production hosts for a wide range of value‐added compounds. However, microalgal genetic improvement is impeded by lack of genetic tools to concurrently control multiple genes. Here, we identified two novel strong promoters, designated Pt202 and Pt667, and delineated their potential role on simultaneously driving the expression of key lipogenic genes in Phaeodactylum tricornutum.
Summary
Objective
Liver cirrhosis (LC) was associated with an increased risk of osteoporosis; however, the association between LC and fracture risk was inconclusive. Therefore, this systematic review ...and meta‐analysis aims to explore the association between LC and fracture risk.
Design
To identify related literature, a systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Web of science and the Cochrane Library from 1965 to July 2017 without language limitation was performed. The random‐effects model described by DerSimonian and Laird was used to calculate pooled odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs).
Results
Eventually, 5 cohort and 3 case‐control studies were identified, which included 321 035 subjects and 31 272 fracture cases. The pooled OR of the association between LC and any fracture risk, hip fracture, spine/trunk fracture and limb fracture was 1.94 (95% CI, 1.59‐2.37), 2.11 (95% CI, 1.34‐3.32), 2.00 (95% CI, 1.50‐2.67) and 1.82 (95% CI, 1.65‐2.01), respectively.
Conclusion
In conclusion, this study indicates that cirrhotic patients have an increased risk of fracture. Preventive measures should be instituted as early as possible.
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