Investigating slow earthquake activity in subduction zones provides insight into the slip behavior of megathrusts, which can provide important clues about the rupture extent of future great ...earthquakes. Using the S-net ocean-bottom seismograph network along the Japan Trench, we mapped a detailed distribution of tectonic tremors, which coincided with very-low-frequency earthquakes and a slow slip event. Compiling these and other related observations, including repeating earthquakes and earthquake swarms, we found that the slow earthquake distribution is complementary to the Tohoku-Oki earthquake rupture. We used our observations to divide the megathrust in the Japan Trench into three along-strike segments characterized by different slip behaviors. We found that the rupture of the Tohoku-Oki earthquake, which nucleated in the central segment, was terminated by the two adjacent segments.
We present an investigation into how well the properties of the accretion flow on to a supermassive black hole may be coupled to those of the overlying hot corona. To do so, we specifically measure ...the characteristic spectral index, Γ, of a power-law energy distribution, over an energy range of 2-10 keV, for X-ray selected, broad-lined radio-quiet active galactic nuclei (AGN) up to z ∼ 2 in Cosmic Evolution Survey (COSMOS) and Extended Chandra Deep Field South (E-CDF-S). We test the previously reported dependence between Γ and black hole mass, full width at half-maximum (FWHM) and Eddington ratio using a sample of AGN covering a broad range in these parameters based on both the Mg ii and Hα emission lines with the later afforded by recent near-infrared spectroscopic observations using Subaru/Fibre Multi Object Spectrograph. We calculate the Eddington ratios, λEdd, for sources where a bolometric luminosity (L
Bol) has been presented in the literature, based on spectral energy distribution fitting, or, for sources where these data do not exist, we calculate L
Bol using a bolometric correction to the X-ray luminosity, derived from a relationship between the bolometric correction and L
X/L
3000. From a sample of 69 X-ray bright sources (>250 counts), where Γ can be measured with greatest precision, with an estimate of L
Bol, we find a statistically significant correlation between Γ and λEdd, which is highly significant with a chance probability of 6.59× 10−8. A statistically significant correlation between Γ and the FWHM of the optical lines is confirmed, but at lower significance than with λEdd indicating that λEdd is the key parameter driving conditions in the corona. Linear regression analysis reveals that Γ = (0.32 ± 0.05) log10λEdd + (2.27 ± 0.06) and Γ = (−0.69 ± 0.11) log10(FWHM/km s−1) + (4.44 ± 0.42). Our results on Γ-λEdd are in very good agreement with previous results. While the Γ-λEdd relationship means that X-ray spectroscopy may be used to estimate black hole accretion rate, considerable dispersion in the correlation does not make this viable for single sources, however could be valuable for large X-ray spectral samples, such as those to be produced by eROSITA.
Summary
Immunoglobulin (Ig)A is the most abundant immunoglobulin in humans, and in the airway mucosa secretory IgA (sIgA) plays a pivotal role in first‐line defense against invading pathogens and ...antigens. IgA has been reported to also have pathogenic effects, including possible worsening of the prognosis of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). However, the precise effects of IgA on lung fibroblasts remain unclear, and we aimed to elucidate how IgA activates human lung fibroblasts. We found that sIgA, but not monomeric IgA (mIgA), induced interleukin (IL)‐6, IL‐8, monocyte chemoattractant protein (MCP)‐1 and granulocyte–macrophage colony‐stimulating factor (GM‐CSF) production by normal human lung fibroblasts (NHLFs) at both the protein and mRNA levels. sIgA also promoted proliferation of NHLFs and collagen gel contraction comparable to with transforming growth factor (TGF)‐β, which is involved in fibrogenesis in IPF. Also, Western blot analysis and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (PCR) revealed that sIgA enhanced production of α‐smooth muscle actin (α‐SMA) and collagen type I (Col I) by NHLFs. Flow cytometry showed that NHLFs bound sIgA, and among the known IgA receptors, NHLFs significantly expressed CD71 (transferrin receptor). Transfection of siRNA targeting CD71 partially but significantly suppressed cytokine production by NHLFs co‐cultured with sIgA. Our findings suggest that sIgA may promote human lung inflammation and fibrosis by enhancing production of inflammatory or fibrogenic cytokines as well as extracellular matrix, inducing fibroblast differentiation into myofibroblasts and promoting human lung fibroblast proliferation. sIgA’s enhancement of cytokine production may be due partially to its binding to CD71 or the secretory component.
Secretory IgA in airway mucosa plays a pivotal role in first‐line defense against invading pathogens and antigens, but IgA has been reported to also have pathogenic effects. Here we show that sIgA, but not monomeric IgA, induced normal human lung fibroblasts to produce inflammatory cytokines and undergo activation by enhancing proliferation and differentiation into myofibroblasts. Secretory IgA’s enhancement of cytokine production may be partially due to its binding to CD71 or the secretory component.
In the field of spintronics, researchers have manipulated magnetization using spin-polarized currents. Another option is to use a voltage-induced symmetry change in a ferromagnetic material to cause ...changes in magnetization or in magnetic anisotropy. However, a significant improvement in efficiency is needed before this approach can be used in memory devices with ultralow power consumption. Here, we show that a relatively small electric field (less than 100 mV nm(-1)) can cause a large change (approximately 40%) in the magnetic anisotropy of a bcc Fe(001)/MgO(001) junction. The effect is tentatively attributed to the change in the relative occupation of 3d orbitals of Fe atoms adjacent to the MgO barrier. Simulations confirm that voltage-controlled magnetization switching in magnetic tunnel junctions is possible using the anisotropy change demonstrated here, which could be of use in the development of low-power logic devices and non-volatile memory cells.
Background
Omalizumab, a humanized anti‐IgE monoclonal antibody, has demonstrated efficacy in patients with severe allergic asthma. However, treatment responses vary widely among individuals. Despite ...a lack of data, free serum IgE levels following omalizumab treatment have been proposed as a marker of treatment responsiveness.
Methods
In this prospective, observational study, we assessed the utility of biomarkers of type 2 inflammation in predicting omalizumab treatment responses, as determined by the absence of asthma exacerbation during the first year of treatment. Free serum IgE levels were monitored for 2 years to examine their association with baseline biomarker levels and the number of exacerbations.
Results
We enrolled thirty patients who had been treated with omalizumab for at least 1 year, of whom 27 were treated for 2 years. Baseline serum periostin levels and blood eosinophil counts were significantly higher in patients without exacerbations during the first year of treatment than in patients with exacerbations. Baseline serum periostin levels, but not eosinophil counts, were negatively associated with free serum IgE levels after 16 or 32 weeks of treatment. Reduced free serum IgE levels during treatment from those at baseline were associated with reduced exacerbation numbers at 2 years. In 14 patients who continued to have exacerbations during the first year of treatment, exacerbation numbers gradually and significantly decreased over the 2‐year study period, with concurrent significant reductions in free serum IgE levels.
Conclusion
Baseline serum periostin levels and serum free IgE levels during treatment follow‐up may be useful in evaluating responses to omalizumab treatment.
Summary
Background
Chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps is generally characterized by local Th2 inflammation and is categorized into two subtypes in Japan: eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis ...(similar to chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in western countries) and non‐eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis (characterized by Th1‐dominant inflammation).
Objective
To investigate local IgE production and class switch recombination to IgE in these two subtypes of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
Methods
The identity of IgE‐positive cells was determined using double‐immunofluorescent staining for IgE and cell‐type‐specific molecular markers. To investigate the local class switch recombination to IgE and IgE synthesis in the mucosa, we performed real‐time polymerase chain reaction to examine the mRNA expression of Th2 cytokines and class‐switch‐related molecules, including IL‐4, IL‐5, IL‐13, ε germline gene transcripts, IgE mature transcript, IgG mature transcript, RAG1, RAG2 and activation‐induced cytidine deaminase in eosinophilic polyps, non‐eosinophilic polyps and controls.
Results
The concentrations of total IgE and number of IgE‐positive cells were significantly higher in the eosinophilic polyps compared with control and non‐eosinophilic polyps. IgE‐positive cells were predominantly mast cells in eosinophilic polyps and significantly correlated with the number of FcεR1‐positive cells in the subepithelial layer. IL‐5 and IL‐13 mRNA and ε germline gene transcripts expression levels were significantly higher in eosinophilic polyps compared with control and non‐eosinophilic polyps. In contrast, the number of plasma cells and the expression of IgG mature transcripts were increased in non‐eosinophilic polyps compared with eosinophilic polyps. RAG2 mRNA was significantly increased in both eosinophilic and non‐eosinophilic polyps compared with control mucosa.
Conclusion and Clinical Relevance
The current study suggests local class switching to IgE, production of IgE and IgE localization to the surface of mast cells in eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis in the Japanese population. The difference in the IgE‐related profiles between eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis and non‐eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis suggests heterogeneity in the pathogenesis of chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps.
Asthma is a serious health problem throughout the world. During the past two decades, many scientific advances have improved our understanding of asthma and ability to manage and control it ...effectively. However, recommendations for asthma care need to be adapted to local conditions, resources and services. Since it was formed in 1993, the Global Initiative for Asthma, a network of individuals, organisations and public health officials, has played a leading role in disseminating information about the care of patients with asthma based on a process of continuous review of published scientific investigations. A comprehensive workshop report entitled "A Global Strategy for Asthma Management and Prevention", first published in 1995, has been widely adopted, translated and reproduced, and forms the basis for many national guidelines. The 2006 report contains important new themes. First, it asserts that "it is reasonable to expect that in most patients with asthma, control of the disease can and should be achieved and maintained," and recommends a change in approach to asthma management, with asthma control, rather than asthma severity, being the focus of treatment decisions. The importance of the patient-care giver partnership and guided self-management, along with setting goals for treatment, are also emphasised.
We present observations of the stellar and molecular gas mass of SDSS J163909+282447.1, a luminous quasar at z = 3.84 with an extreme mass for a supermassive black hole (SMBH; MBH = 2.5 × 1010 M ). ...The local SMBH mass-galaxy mass relation predicts a massive host galaxy with Mstellar 1012 M for this quasar. Based on sensitive near-infrared imaging with adaptive optics (AO) using Subaru, the stellar light from the host is undetected, thus resulting in an upper limit on the mass, Mstellar < 6.3 × 1010 M , a factor of 16 less than expected. The CO(4 − 3) observations at 0 2 resolution using the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array indicate a molecular gas mass from CO of M and a dynamical mass within a radius of 0.45 0.2 kpc of M . With the SMBH accounting for ∼60% of the dynamical mass and considering the amount of molecular gas, we find an upper limit on the stellar mass to be Mstellar 1.5 × 1010 M , a value consistent with the limit from Subaru AO imaging. Based on these results, this SMBH has one of the largest host stellar mass deficits known given its SMBH mass; hence, it is unclear how to grow a SMBH/host galaxy to such a state since there is not enough molecular gas available to form a substantial amount of stellar mass to make up for the difference. Any physical model is likely to require an earlier phase of super-Eddington accretion onto the SMBH.
Tidal Response in Shallow Tectonic Tremors Katakami, S.; Yamashita, Y.; Yakihara, H. ...
Geophysical research letters,
16 October 2017, Volume:
44, Issue:
19
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Various types of slow earthquakes (e.g., tectonic tremors and slow slip events) have been reported in tectonic zones, especially in the subduction zone. The tidal response of a tremor is considered ...to be strongly related to the weak friction state of the plate interface, and many studies have reported observational evidence of such correlation between tides and deep tremor activity. Here we used the modified frequency scanning method at a single station to detect micro tectonic tremors that have not been previously reported in southern Kyushu. In the early stage of the tremor activity, tremors are mostly modulated by slow slip events. In contrast, we found a seismic response to ocean tides during the later stage in the shallower part of the subduction zone. This might indicate that the tremors are triggered by tidal changes caused by fault weakening due to slow slip events as same as deeper condition.
Key Points
Modified frequency scanning method detects very weak amplitude and shallow tectonic tremors
Shallow tremors also show tidal responses that are typical for deep tremors
Tidal responses of tremors appeared in the latter part of the migration episode, suggesting fault weakening caused by slow slip event
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