Abstract
We present the detection of three super-Earths transiting the cool star LP415-17, monitored by K2 mission in its 13th campaign. High-resolution spectra obtained with High Accuracy Radial ...velocity Planet Searcher-North/Telescopio Nazionale Galileo (HARPS-N/TNG) showed that the star is a mid-late K dwarf. Using spectral synthesis models, we infer its effective temperature, surface gravity, and metallicity, and subsequently determined from evolutionary models a stellar radius of 0.58 R⊙. The planets have radii of 1.8, 2.6, and 1.9 R⊕ and orbital periods of 6.34, 13.85, and 40.72 d. High-resolution images discard any significant contamination by an intervening star in the line of sight. The orbit of the furthest planet has radius of 0.18 au, close to the inner edge of the habitable zone. The system is suitable to improve our understanding of formation and dynamical evolution of super-Earth systems in the rocky–gaseous threshold, their atmospheres, internal structure, composition, and interactions with host stars.
If neutrinos are their own antiparticles the otherwise-forbidden nuclear reaction known as neutrinoless double beta decay can occur. The very long lifetime expected for these exceptional events makes ...its detection a daunting task. In order to conduct an almost background-free experiment, the NEXT collaboration is investigating novel synthetic molecular sensors that may capture the Ba dication produced in the decay of certain Xe isotopes in a high-pressure gas experiment. The use of such molecular detectors immobilized on surfaces must be explored in the ultra-dry environment of a xenon gas chamber. Here, using a combination of highly sensitive surface science techniques in ultra-high vacuum, we demonstrate the possibility of employing the so-called Fluorescent Bicolor Indicator as the molecular component of the sensor. We unravel the ion capture process for these molecular indicators immobilized on a surface and explain the origin of the emission fluorescence shift associated to the ion trapping.
Bubble‐plume diffusers are increasingly used to add dissolved oxygen (DO) to the hypolimnion of lakes and reservoirs. Bubble plumes are successful at replenishing hypolimnetic DO, but they also ...introduce mixing energy that induces subtle changes in the thermal structure of the reservoir, driving changes in plume behavior. To account for this complex plume‐reservoir interaction, a double bubble‐plume model is coupled with a three‐dimensional hydrodynamic model. The coupled model is used to reassess a field‐scale analysis of the bubble‐plume diffuser in two‐basin Amisk Lake, aiming at evaluating the relative role of bubble‐induced circulation and internal‐seiching in driving inter‐basin transport under stratified conditions. A large‐scale plume‐induced circulation was previously thought to be the main driver of inter‐basin oxygen transport. This interpretation was based on the attribution of the time‐averaged circulation in the channel due to plume operation. However, the intrinsic complexity of the hydraulic system and the sparseness of the field data introduced large uncertainties in the previous analysis. Here, we demonstrate that the time‐averaged circulation is primarily the result of wind‐driven internal seiches. Oxygen exchange is shown to be controlled by the interaction between internal seiche‐driven horizontal transport along the channel, and, the rate at which added oxygen reaches the layers above the sill, which is mainly controlled by plume‐induced circulation. Internal‐seiche driven transport through basin constrictions will vary depending on the magnitude of the wind forcing, depth of the thermocline and the channel geometry. These results highlight the importance of understanding water movement prior to introducing restoration actions in lakes.
Plain Language Summary
Dissolved oxygen bubble‐plume diffusers are commonly used to alleviate low oxygen levels in deeper lakes or reservoirs during summer stratification or under ice cover. Bubble plumes induce large‐scale mixing as a result of the added energy, altering the density structure of the lake, which, in turn, alters plume behavior. To simulate this complex interaction in a two‐basin lake (Amisk Lake, Canada), a three‐dimensional coupled bubble‐plume reservoir model is used. Our goal is to revisit the attribution exercise conducted earlier by Lawrence et al. (1997), based on field data collected during a 30‐day operational period in June 1991. Although plume‐induced circulation was previously thought to be primarily responsible for oxygen transport between the two basins under stratified conditions, here we demonstrate that oxygen transport across the sill is largely driven by internal‐seiching and not by the plume.
Key Points
The role of plume‐induced circulation in oxygen transport in a two‐basin lake is assessed with a coupled bubble‐plume and hydrodynamic model
Large‐scale plume‐induced circulation was previously thought to be the main driver of inter‐basin oxygen transport
The time‐averaged circulation in the channel is shown to be driven by internal waves and not the plume
Purpose
Evaluate real‐life experience with eslicarbazepine acetate (ESL) after first monotherapy failure in a large series of patients with focal epilepsy.
Method
Multicentre, retrospective, 1‐year, ...observational study in patients older than 18 years, with focal epilepsy, who had failed first antiepileptic drug monotherapy and who received ESL. Data from clinical records were analysed at baseline, 3, 6 and 12 months to assess effectiveness and tolerability.
Results
Eslicarbazepine acetate was initiated in 253 patients. The 1‐year retention rate was 92.9%, and the final median dose of ESL was 800 mg. At 12 months, 62.3% of patients had been seizure free for 6 months; 37.3% had been seizure free for 1 year. During follow‐up, 31.6% of the patients reported ESL‐related adverse events (AEs), most commonly somnolence (8.7%) and dizziness (5.1%), and 3.6% discontinued due to AEs. Hyponatraemia was observed in seven patients (2.8%). After starting ESL, 137 patients (54.2%) withdrew the prior monotherapy and converted to ESL monotherapy; 75.9% were seizure free, 87.6% were responders, 4.4% worsened, and 23.4% reported ESL‐related AEs.
Conclusion
Use of ESL after first monotherapy failure was associated with an optimal seizure control and tolerability profile. Over half of patients were converted to ESL monotherapy during follow‐up.
We present the design, data and results from the NEXT prototype for Double Beta and Dark Matter (NEXT-DBDM) detector, a high-pressure gaseous natural xenon electroluminescent time projection chamber ...(TPC) that was built at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. It is a prototype of the planned NEXT-100 136Xe neutrino-less double beta decay (0νββ) experiment with the main objectives of demonstrating near-intrinsic energy resolution at energies up to 662 keV and of optimizing the NEXT-100 detector design and operating parameters. Energy resolutions of ∼1% FWHM for 662 keV gamma rays were obtained at 10 and 15 atm and ∼5% FWHM for 30 keV fluorescence xenon X-rays. These results demonstrate that 0.5% FWHM resolutions for the 2459 keV hypothetical neutrino-less double beta decay peak are realizable. This energy resolution is a factor 7-20 better than that of the current leading 0νββ experiments using liquid xenon and thus represents a significant advancement. We present also first results from a track imaging system consisting of 64 silicon photo-multipliers recently installed in NEXT-DBDM that, along with the excellent energy resolution, demonstrates the key functionalities required for the NEXT-100 0νββ search
Summary Background Eggs are a major source of dietary cholesterol and their consumption has been sometimes discouraged. A relationship between egg consumption and the incidence of cardiovascular ...disease (CVD) has been suggested to be present exclusively among patients with type-2 diabetes. Aims To assess the association between egg consumption and CVD in a large Mediterranean cohort where approximately 50% of participants had type 2 diabetes. Methods We prospectively followed 7216 participants (55–80 years old) at high cardiovascular risk from the PREDIMED (PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea) study for a mean of 5.8 years. All participants were initially free of CVD. Yearly repeated measurements of dietary information with a validated 137-item food-frequency questionnaire were used to assess egg consumption and other dietary exposures. The endpoint was the rate of major cardiovascular events (myocardial infarction, stroke or death from cardiovascular causes). Results A major cardiovascular event occurred in 342 participants. Baseline egg consumption was not significantly associated with cardiovascular events in the total population. Non-diabetic participants who ate on average >4 eggs/week had a hazard ratio (HR) of 0.96 (95% confidence interval, 0.33–2.76) in the fully adjusted multivariable model when compared with non-diabetic participants who reported the lowest egg consumption (<2 eggs/week). Among diabetic participants, the HR was 1.33 (0.72–2.46). There was no evidence of interaction by diabetic status. HRs per 500 eggs of cumulative consumption during follow-up were 0.94 (0.66–1.33) in non-diabetics and 1.18 (0.90–1.55) in diabetics. Conclusions Low to moderated egg consumption was not associated with an increased CVD risk in diabetic or non-diabetic individuals at high cardiovascular risk. This trial was registered at controlled-trials.com as ISRCTN35739639.
The effect of β-glucans 1,3/1,6 from
Saccharomyces cerevisiae
yeast at different inclusion percentages (0.0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, and 0.8%) in the diet for tropical gar (
Atractosteus tropicus
) larvae was ...evaluated on growth, digestive enzyme activity and, relative expression of the immune system genes. The bioassay started on the third day after hatching (DAH) and lasted 21 days, using a total of 1500 larvae of 0.055 ± 0.008 g and, a total length of 2.46 ± 0.26 cm. Larviculture was carried out in a recirculation system with 15 tanks of 70 L using a density of 100 organisms per experimental unit. No significant differences in larval growth were observed by the inclusion of β-glucans (
p
> 0.05). Digestive enzymes showed changes in lipase and trypsin activities, presenting higher values in fish fed 0.6% and 0.8% β-glucans diets compared to the other treatments (
p
< 0.05). Leucine-aminopeptidase, chymotrypsin, acid phosphatase, and alkaline phosphatase activity showed higher activities in larvae fed with a 0.4% β-glucan diet compared to the control group. The relative expression of intestinal membrane integrity (mucin 2)
muc-2
, (occludins)
occ
, (nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain)
nod-2
, and immune system
lys
(lysosome) genes showed over-expression in larvae fed the 0.4% β-glucan diet to the rest of the treatments (
p
< 0.05). The inclusion of β-glucans at 0.4–0.6% in diets for
A. tropicus
larvae could improve larviculture, as effects on the increase in the activity of several digestive enzymes and the expression of genes of the immune system.
The efficacy of naltrexone in the treatment of alcohol use disorder (AUD) has been associated with a set of variables not directly related with the expression of opioid receptors. All the variables ...have been found to be highly associated with AUD itself or more severe clinical levels of AUD.
Given the high association between alcohol metabolizing enzymes (AME) and the outcome of AUD, the present study aims to investigate the role of AME genotype variants in the treatment of AUD with naltrexone.
We carried out a 12-week longitudinal clinical trial based on the treatment of AUD patients with naltrexone (N = 101), stratified by different alcohol metabolization genotypes. Genotyping was performed after the inclusion of the patients in the study, based on the individual presence of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the
and
,
and
genes. The outcome of alcohol use has been monitored employing the timeline follow-back during the treatment.
The
(Ile350Val, rs698) and
(Glu504Lys, rs671) polymorphisms were associated with a better response to naltrexone treatment, whereas the
(Arg370Cys, rs2066702) allelic variant showed a negative outcome.
The present study explores a genomic setting for the treatment of AUD with naltrexone. According to our findings, the association between
and
variants and better outcomes suggests a successful treatment, whereas the
mutated allele might lead to an unsuccessful treatment. Further studies should be performed to investigate the relationship between alcohol metabolizing genotypes, the family history of alcohol use disorders and the effect of naltrexone on the outcomes. Genotyping may be a valuable tool for precision-medicine and individualized approach, especially in the context of alcohol use disorders. The small number of subjects was the main limitation of the present study.
ABSTRACT We present two new planetary systems found around cool dwarf stars with data from the K2 mission. The first system was found in K2-239 (EPIC 248545986), characterized in this work as M3.0V ...and observed in the 14th campaign of K2. It consists of three Earth-sized transiting planets with radii of 1.1, 1.0, and 1.1 R⊕, showing a compact configuration with orbital periods of 5.24, 7.78, and 10.1 d, close to 2:3:4 resonances. The second was found in K2-240 (EPIC 249801827), characterized in this work as M0.5V and observed in the 15th campaign. It consists of two transiting super-Earths with radii 2.0 and 1.8 R⊕ and orbital periods of 6.03 and 20.5 d. The equilibrium temperatures of the atmospheres of these planets are estimated to be in the range of 380–600 K and the amplitudes of signals in transmission spectroscopy are estimated at ∼10 ppm.
Determination of the main nutritional requirements at different developmental stages is a prerequisite in the formulation of feeds for newly cultured fish species. In the present study, the lipid and ...protein requirements of larvae of a native Mexican fish, the three-spot cichlid
Cichlasoma trimaculatum
, were assessed using a two-factor experimental design that considered four protein (35, 40, 45, and 50%) and two lipid levels (16 and 22%) on growth, survival, and digestive enzyme activities. The best growth and feed efficiency results were obtained when larvae were fed diets including 45% protein and 22% lipids. Comprehensive evaluation of the profile of digestive enzymes using multivariate analysis also demonstrated significant differences in nutritional condition generated by varying inclusion of nutrients. Thus, an increase in protein led to an increase in alkaline protease activity and a reduction in leucine aminopeptidase activity, and the reduction of dietary lipid content led to a significant increase in lipase and trypsin enzymatic activities. Based on our results,
C. trimaculatum
larvae have a high capacity to hydrolyze both nutrients (protein and lipids) for the high digestive enzyme activities and increase their growth, particularly with a diet containing 45% protein and 22% lipids.
PDF
