ABSTRACT
To better understand the origin and evolution of the Milky Way bulge, we have conducted a survey of bulge red giant branch and clump stars using the High Efficiency and Resolution ...Multi-Element Spectrograph on the Anglo–Australian Telescope. We targeted ARGOS survey stars with predetermined bulge memberships, covering the full metallicity distribution function. The spectra have signal-to-noise ratios comparable to, and were analysed using the same methods as the GALAH survey. In this work, we present the survey design, stellar parameters, distribution of metallicity, and alpha-element abundances along the minor bulge axis at latitudes b = −10°, − 7.5°, and −5°. Our analysis of ARGOS stars indicates that the centroids of ARGOS metallicity components should be located ≈0.09 dex closer together. The vertical distribution of α-element abundances is consistent with the varying contributions of the different metallicity components. Closer to the plane, alpha abundance ratios are lower as the metal-rich population dominates. At higher latitudes, the alpha abundance ratios increase as the number of metal-poor stars increases. However, we find that the trend of alpha-enrichment with respect to metallicity is independent of latitude. Comparison of our results with those of GALAH DR2 revealed that for Fe/H ≈ −0.8, the bulge shares the same abundance trend as the high-α disc population. However, the metal-poor bulge population (Fe/H ≲ −0.8) show enhanced alpha abundance ratios compared to the disc/halo. These observations point to fairly rapid chemical evolution in the bulge, and that the metal-poor bulge population does not share the same similarity with the disc as the more metal-rich populations.
The Gaia-ESO Survey was designed to target all major Galactic components (i.e. bulge, thin and thick discs, halo and clusters), with the goal of constraining the chemical and dynamical evolution of ...the Milky Way. This paper presents the methodology and considerations that drive the selection of the targeted, allocated and successfully observed Milky Way field stars. The detailed understanding of the survey construction, specifically the influence of target selection criteria on observed Milky Way field stars is required in order to analyse and interpret the survey data correctly. We present the target selection process for the Milky Way field stars observed with Very Large Telescope/Fibre Large Array Multi Element Spectrograph and provide the weights that characterize the survey target selection. The weights can be used to account for the selection effects in the Gaia-ESO Survey data for scientific studies. We provide a couple of simple examples to highlight the necessity of including such information in studies of the stellar populations in the Milky Way.
Chemical abundance studies of the Sun and solar twins have demonstrated that the solar composition of refractory elements is depleted when compared to volatile elements, which could be due to the ...formation of terrestrial planets. In order to further examine this scenario, we conducted a line-by-line differential chemical abundance analysis of the terrestrial planet host Kepler-10 and 14 of its stellar twins. Stellar parameters and elemental abundances of Kepler-10 and its stellar twins were obtained with very high precision using a strictly differential analysis of high quality Canada–France–Hawaii Telescope, Hobby–Eberly Telescope and Magellan spectra. When compared to the majority of thick disc twins, Kepler-10 shows a depletion in the refractory elements relative to the volatile elements, which could be due to the formation of terrestrial planets in the Kepler-10 system. The average abundance pattern corresponds to ∼13 Earth masses, while the two known planets in Kepler-10 system have a combined ∼20 Earth masses. For two of the eight thick disc twins, however, no depletion patterns are found. Although our results demonstrate that several factors e.g. planet signature, stellar age, stellar birth location and Galactic chemical evolution (GCE) could lead to or affect abundance trends with condensation temperature, we find that the trends give further support for the planetary signature hypothesis.
Rationale
How striatal dopamine synthesis capacity (DSC) contributes to the pathogenesis of negative symptoms in first-episode schizophrenia (SZ) and delusional disorder (DD) has seldom been ...explored. As negative symptoms during active psychotic episodes can be complicated by secondary influences, such as positive symptoms, longitudinal investigations may help to clarify the relationship between striatal DSC and negative symptoms and differentiate between primary and secondary negative symptoms.
Objective
A longitudinal study was conducted to examine whether baseline striatal DSC would be related to negative symptoms at 3 months in first-episode SZ and DD patients.
Methods
Twenty-three first-episode age- and gender-matched patients (11 DD and 12 SZ) were consecutively recruited through an early intervention service for psychosis in Hong Kong. Among them, 19 (82.6%) patients (9 DD and 10 SZ) were followed up at 3 months. All patients received an
18
F-DOPA PET/MR scan at baseline.
Results
Baseline striatal DSC (
K
occ;30–60
) was inversely associated with negative symptoms at 3 months in first-episode SZ patients (
r
s
= − 0.80,
p
= 0.010). This association remained in SZ patients even when controlling for baseline negative, positive, and depressive symptoms, as well as cumulative antipsychotic dosage (
β
= − 0.69,
p
= 0.012). Such associations were not observed in first-episode DD patients. Meanwhile, the severity of negative symptoms at 3 months was associated with more positive symptoms in DD patients (
r
s
= 0.74,
p
= 0.010) and not in SZ patients.
Conclusions
These findings highlight the role of striatal DSC in negative symptoms upon resolution of active psychotic episodes among first-episode SZ patients. Baseline striatal dopamine activity may inform future symptom expression with important treatment implications.
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•B. bassiana (Bb) is an important natural enemy of coffee berry borer (CBB) in Hawai’i.•CBB populations were sampled at low-, intermediate-, and high-elevation field sites.•Direct ...relationships were found between elevation (climatic conditions) and Bb prevalence.•Attributes of the pest, pathogen, and coffee plant are important drivers of Bb prevalence.•Epizootics of feral Bb did not hold CBB populations below economic thresholds.
Beauveria bassiana (Bb) strain GHA is a major component of an areawide pest management program for coffee berry borer (CBB) in Hawai’i. Recent studies have aimed to provide comprehensive assessments of the efficacy of the Bb-spray component of these programs for economic analyses; however, evaluations have been complicated by activity of naturally-occurring strains of this pathogen infecting CBB. Investigations were therefore undertaken to characterize these strains, assess their natural epizootic potential, and account for their contribution to CBB population suppression. A number of field sites were encountered with no history of significant use of commercial Bb-based biopesticides and where strain GHA was not detectable. Sampling of these sites was conducted early in the coffee season. Greatest activity of wild-type Bb strains was observed on high-elevation farms (>500 m), where 24–42% of foundress beetles in green coffee berries were infected. In contrast, infection rates did not exceed 4% on farms at low elevations (<300 m). Rates of 23–29% infection, comparable to those on high-elevation farms, were recorded in a stand of feral coffee at 293 m elevation, but the coffee was completely shaded and ventilation restricted by a dense overstory of vegetation. Despite high activity of naturally-occurring Bb at some sites (primarily sites at high elevations with humid, moderate-temperature environments and dense pest populations), these fungi did not prevent CBB from exceeding the economic threshold for commercial spray applications. Nevertheless, the high natural epizootic potential of these fungal strains suggests strong potential for development as microbial biocontrol agents.
While not specifically designed as a planetary mission, NASA's Parker Solar Probe (PSP) mission uses a series of Venus gravity assists (VGAs) in order to reduce its perihelion distance. These orbital ...maneuvers provide the opportunity for direct measurements of the Venus plasma environment at high cadence. We present first observations of kinetic scale turbulence in the Venus magnetosheath from the first two VGAs. In VGA1, PSP observed a quasi‐parallel shock, β ∼ 1 magnetosheath plasma, and a kinetic range scaling of k−2.9. VGA2 was characterized by a quasi‐perpendicular shock with β ∼ 10, and a steep k−3.4 spectral scaling. Temperature anisotropy measurements from VGA2 suggest an active mirror mode instability. Significant coherent waves are present in both encounters at sub‐ion and electron scales. Using conditioning techniques to exclude these electromagnetic wave events suggests the presence of developed sub‐ion kinetic turbulence in both magnetosheath encounters.
Key Points
Observations from Parker Solar Probe reveal kinetic scale turbulence in the Venus magnetosheath
Differences in kinetic range spectral indices between flyby‐encounters are possibly due to shock geometry and kinetic plasma instabilities
Cosmological models predict the oldest stars in the Galaxy should be found closest to the centre of the potential well, in the bulge. The Extremely Metal-poor BuLge stars with AAOmega survey (EMBLA) ...successfully searched for these old, metal-poor stars by making use of the distinctive SkyMapper photometric filters to discover candidate metal-poor stars in the bulge. Their metal-poor nature was then confirmed using the AAOmega spectrograph on the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Here we present an abundance analysis of 10 bulge stars with −2.8 < Fe/H < −1.7 from MIKE/Magellan observations, in total determining the abundances of 22 elements. Combining these results with our previous high-resolution data taken as part of the Gaia-ESO Survey, we have started to put together a picture of the chemical and kinematic nature of the most metal-poor stars in the bulge. The currently available kinematic data are consistent with the stars belonging to the bulge, although more accurate measurements are needed to constrain the stars’ orbits. The chemistry of these bulge stars deviates from that found in halo stars of the same metallicity. Two notable differences are the absence of carbon-enhanced metal-poor bulge stars, and the α element abundances exhibit a large intrinsic scatter and include stars which are underabundant in these typically enhanced elements.
Objectives: More than 40 drugs are available to treat affective disorders. Individual selection of the optimal drug and dose is required to attain the highest possible efficacy and acceptable ...tolerability for every patient.
Methods: This review, which includes more than 500 articles selected by 30 experts, combines relevant knowledge on studies investigating the pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics and pharmacogenetics of 33 antidepressant drugs and of 4 drugs approved for augmentation in cases of insufficient response to antidepressant monotherapy. Such studies typically measure drug concentrations in blood (i.e. therapeutic drug monitoring) and genotype relevant genetic polymorphisms of enzymes, transporters or receptors involved in drug metabolism or mechanism of action. Imaging studies, primarily positron emission tomography that relates drug concentrations in blood and radioligand binding, are considered to quantify target structure occupancy by the antidepressant drugs in vivo.
Results: Evidence is given that in vivo imaging, therapeutic drug monitoring and genotyping and/or phenotyping of drug metabolising enzymes should be an integral part in the development of any new antidepressant drug.
Conclusions: To guide antidepressant drug therapy in everyday practice, there are multiple indications such as uncertain adherence, polypharmacy, nonresponse and/or adverse reactions under therapeutically recommended doses, where therapeutic drug monitoring and cytochrome P450 genotyping and/or phenotyping should be applied as valid tools of precision medicine.
The cognitive and socioemotional development of 733 children was examined longitudinally from ages 4 to 8 years as a function of the quality of their preschool experiences in community child-care ...centers, after adjusting for family selection factors related to child-care quality and development. These results provide evidence that child-care quality has a modest long-term effect on children's patterns of cognitive and socioemotional development at least through kindergarten, and in some cases, through second grade. Differential effects on children's development were found for two aspects of child-care quality. Observed classroom practices were related to children's language and academic skills, whereas the closeness of the teacher-child relationship was related to both cognitive and social skills, with the strongest effects for the latter. Moderating influences of family characteristics were observed for some outcomes, indicating stronger positive effects of child-care quality for children from more at-risk backgrounds. These findings contribute further evidence of the long-term influences of the quality of child-care environments on children's cognitive and social skills through the elementary school years and are consistent with a bioecological model of development that considers the multiple environmental contexts that the child experiences.
In a randomized trial, 5988 patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction were assigned to receive either empagliflozin or placebo in addition to usual therapy. At a median of 26 ...months, the empagliflozin group had a lower incidence of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure than the placebo group.
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