Context.
We present a systematic X-ray spectral-timing study of the recently discovered, exceptionally bright black hole X-ray binary system MAXI J1820+070. Our analysis focuses on the first part of ...the 2018 outburst, covering the rise throughout the hard state, the bright hard and hard-intermediate states, and the transition to the soft-intermediate state.
Aims.
We address the issue of constraining the geometry of the innermost accretion flow and its evolution throughout an outburst.
Methods.
We employed two independent X-ray spectral-timing methods applied to archival NICER data of MAXI J1820+070. We first identified and tracked the evolution of a characteristic frequency of soft X-ray thermal reverberation lags (lags of the thermally reprocessed disc emission after the irradiation of variable hard X-ray photons). This frequency is sensitive to intrinsic changes in the relative distance between the X-ray source and the disc. Then, we studied the spectral evolution of the quasi-thermal component responsible for the observed thermal reverberation lags. We did so by analysing high-frequency covariance spectra, which single out spectral components that vary in a linearly correlated way on the shortest sampled timescales and are thus produced in the innermost regions of the accretion flow.
Results.
The frequency of thermal reverberation lags steadily increases throughout most of the outburst, implying that the relative distance between the X-ray source and the disc decreases as the source softens. However, near transition this evolution breaks, showing a sudden increase (decrease) in lag amplitude (frequency). On the other hand, the temperature of the quasi-thermal component in covariance spectra, due to disc irradiation and responsible for the observed soft reverberation lags, consistently increases throughout all the analysed observations.
Conclusions.
This study proposes an alternative interpretation to the recently proposed contracting corona scenario. Assuming a constant height for the X-ray source, the steady increase in the reverberation lag frequency and in the irradiated disc temperature in high-frequency covariance spectra can be explained in terms of a decrease in the disc inner radius as the source softens. The behaviour of thermal reverberation lags near transition might be related to the relativistic plasma ejections detected at radio wavelengths, suggesting a causal connection between the two phenomena. Throughout most of the hard and hard-intermediate state, the disc is consistent with being truncated (with an inner radius
R
in
≳ 10
R
g
), reaching close to the innermost stable circular orbit only near transition.
This book recovers Dionysus and Apollo as the twin conceptual personae of life's dual rhythm in an attempt to redesign contemporary theory through the reciprocal but differential affirmation of event ...and form, body and thought, dance and philosophy.
Most perennial crops sensitive to water scarcity, such as citrus, can benefit from efficient water management, which allows for reduced water consumption while increasing crop production on a ...long-term basis. However, when implementing water-saving strategies, it is necessary to monitor soil and/or plant water status in order to determine crop water demand. A plethora of devices providing indirect measurements of volumetric soil water content, such as the “drill and drop” multi-sensors probes (Sentek, Inc., Stepney, Australia), have been developed over the last decade.
The objective of the paper was to analyse time-series of soil water content profiles and meteorological data collected in an adult citrus orchard over three years of field observations (2017–2020) in order to estimate actual crop evapotranspiration and derive crop coefficients. Simultaneous measurements of sap fluxes also allowed for the estimation of the basal crop coefficient, Kcb, used as a control variable.
The temporal dynamics of soil water content profiles following rainfall or irrigation events provided information on soil evaporation, root water uptake, and actual crop transpiration. After soil wetting events, in particular, it was possible to recognize patterns of actual crop evapotranspiration similar to those detected with sap flow sensors. The knowledge of actual crop evapotranspiration at the daily time-step, in conjunction with the corresponding reference crop evapotranspiration, allowed for appropriate estimations of the crop coefficient associated with the various development stages. The proposed method provided interesting insights into the dynamics of root water uptake and crop evapotranspiration of the studied citrus orchard, and it represents a promising tool for precise irrigation scheduling in other agroecosystems.
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•Monitoring Soil-Plant-Atmosphere continuum is crucial for irrigation management.•Time-series of soil water content provides suitable values of actual crop transpiration.•Analysis of soil water content includes information on the presence of ground cover.•Irrigation system affects the distribution of soil water content in the root zone.•The examined models allow estimating growth stages specific crop coefficients.
Pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMPs) trigger host immune response by activating pattern recognition receptors like toll-like receptors (TLRs). However, the mechanism whereby several ...pathogens, including viruses, activate TLRs via a non-PAMP mechanism is unclear. Endogenous "inflammatory mediators" called damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) have been implicated in regulating immune response and inflammation. However, the role of DAMPs in inflammation/immunity during virus infection has not been studied. We have identified a DAMP molecule, S100A9 (also known as Calgranulin B or MRP-14), as an endogenous non-PAMP activator of TLR signaling during influenza A virus (IAV) infection. S100A9 was released from undamaged IAV-infected cells and extracellular S100A9 acted as a critical host-derived molecular pattern to regulate inflammatory response outcome and disease during infection by exaggerating pro-inflammatory response, cell-death and virus pathogenesis. Genetic studies showed that the DDX21-TRIF signaling pathway is required for S100A9 gene expression/production during infection. Furthermore, the inflammatory activity of extracellular S100A9 was mediated by activation of the TLR4-MyD88 pathway. Our studies have thus, underscored the role of a DAMP molecule (i.e. extracellular S100A9) in regulating virus-associated inflammation and uncovered a previously unknown function of the DDX21-TRIF-S100A9-TLR4-MyD88 signaling network in regulating inflammation during infection.
Hydraulic properties control plant responses to climate and are likely to be under strong selective pressure, but their macro‐evolutionary history remains poorly characterised. To fill this gap, we ...compiled a global dataset of hydraulic traits describing xylem conductivity (Ks), xylem resistance to embolism (P50), sapwood allocation relative to leaf area (Hv) and drought exposure (ψmin), and matched it with global seed plant phylogenies. Individually, these traits present medium to high levels of phylogenetic signal, partly related to environmental selective pressures shaping lineage evolution. Most of these traits evolved independently of each other, being co‐selected by the same environmental pressures. However, the evolutionary correlations between P50 and ψmin and between Ks and Hv show signs of deeper evolutionary integration because of functional, developmental or genetic constraints, conforming to evolutionary modules. We do not detect evolutionary integration between conductivity and resistance to embolism, rejecting a hardwired trade‐off for this pair of traits.
We compiled a global dataset of hydraulic traits describing xylem conductivity (Ks), xylem resistance to embolism (P50), sapwood allocation relative to leaf area (Hv) and drought exposure (ψmin), and matched it with global seed plant phylogenies. Individually, these traits present medium to high levels of phylogenetic signal, partly related to environmental selective pressures shaping lineage evolution. Most of these traits evolved independently of each other, being co‐selected by the same environmental pressures. However, the evolutionary correlations between P50 and ψmin and between Ks and Hv show signs of deeper evolutionary integration because of functional, developmental or genetic constraints, conforming to evolutionary modules. We do not detect evolutionary integration between conductivity and resistance to embolism, rejecting a hardwired trade‐off for this pair of traits.
We study the spectral energy distribution (SED) of the radio continuum (RC) emission from the Key Insight in Nearby Galaxies Emitting in Radio (KINGFISHER) sample of nearby galaxies to understand the ...energetics and origin of this emission. Effelsberg multi-wavelength observations at 1.4, 4.8, 8.4, and 10.5 GHz combined with archive data allow us, for the first time, to determine the mid-RC (1-10 GHz, MRC) bolometric luminosities and further present calibration relations versus the monochromatic radio luminosities. The 1-10 GHz radio SED is fitted using a Bayesian Markov Chain Monte Carlo technique leading to measurements for the nonthermal spectral index ( ) and the thermal fraction ( ) with mean values of for the total spectral index) and = (10 9)% at 1.4 GHz. The MRC luminosity changes over ∼3 orders of magnitude in the sample, MRC . The thermal emission is responsible for ∼23% of the MRC on average. We also compare the extinction-corrected diagnostics of the star-formation rate (SFR) with the thermal and nonthermal radio tracers and derive the first star-formation calibration relations using the MRC radio luminosity. The nonthermal spectral index flattens with increasing SFR surface density, indicating the effect of the star-formation feedback on the cosmic-ray electron population in galaxies. Comparing the radio and IR SEDs, we find that the FIR-to-MRC ratio could decrease with SFR, due to the amplification of the magnetic fields in star-forming regions. This particularly implies a decrease in the ratio at high redshifts, where mostly luminous/star-forming galaxies are detected.
Latinxs are substantially impacted by depression. The research literature has documented barriers (e.g., stigma, limited English proficiency, and lack of transportation) contributing to the ...underutilization of behavioral health services among Spanish-speaking Latinxs (SSLs). Telehealth can be broadly defined as the provision of healthcare information and services through the use of telecommunications technology. Behavioral Activation (BA) has well established empirical support for reducing symptoms of depression among ethnic minority groups. The unprecedent challenges associated with accessing in-person behavioral health services during the COVID-19 pandemic have underscored the need to examine alternate methods for treatment delivery. Thus, the proposed study aimed to conduct a feasibility study to determine the viability of telehealth-delivered BA for SSLs. Twenty-five SSL participants met eligibility criteria and were enrolled in the intervention and 17 participants completed treatment. The majority of participants experienced significant improvements in depressive symptoms and positive affect. These treatment gains were sustained at one-month follow-up. The present study offers promising preliminary data to support the acceptability and feasibility of telehealth-delivered BA, with the potential to lessen barriers to care by offering readily accessible behavioral health services for depressed individuals in underserved communities.
•Depression impacts a significant number of individuals in the U.S.•Overall, people of color (POC) account for low enrollment rates in clinical trials.•Prevalence rates of depression among POC is ...mixed.•Behavioral activation (BA) is an empirically supported treatment for depression.•Inclusion rates of POC in BA clinical trials are low, except for African Americans.
As of the last available NIH report, people of color (POC) constituted 28.1% of enrollment across all U.S. domestic clinical trials. The literature on prevalence rates of depression among POC is mixed. While the prevalence rates of depression may vary across POC, it remains unknown to what degree POC have been included in outcome clinical trials of depression since NIH’s mandates for inclusion of minorities in clinical outcome research. Following PRISMA guidelines, the present review identified randomized controlled trials of behavioral activation from 1989 to 2021 using the following search engines: PsycINFO, EMBASE, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials. We reviewed 5,247 articles and included 28 articles that met full inclusion criteria (n = 5,169 participants). Across studies included in this review, 70% were non-Latinx White, 14.1% were African American, 8.9% were Latinx, 0.5% were Asian, 2.9% were other, and 3.7% were unknown. Results indicated an increase in representation of ethnoracial inclusion rates across time and that recruitment method was not associated with adequate inclusion of POC. However, the university setting was associated with inadequate representation of POC.
is an atypical bacterial respiratory pathogen known to cause a range of airway inflammation and lung and extrapulmonary pathologies. We recently reported that an
-derived ADP-ribosylating and ...vacuolating toxin called community-acquired respiratory distress syndrome (CARDS) toxin is capable of triggering NLRP3 (NLR-family, leucine-rich repeat protein 3) inflammasome activation and interleukin-1β (IL-1β) secretion in macrophages. However, it is unclear whether the NLRP3 inflammasome is important for the immune response during
acute infection. In the current study, we utilized
and
models of
infection to characterize the role of the NLRP3 inflammasome during acute infection.
infected macrophages deficient for inflammasome components NLRP3, ASC (apoptosis speck-like protein containing a caspase activation and recruitment domain), or caspase-1 failed to process and secrete IL-1β. The MyD88/NF-κB signaling pathway was found to be critical for proinflammatory gene expression in macrophages infected with
C57BL/6 mice deficient for NLRP3 expression were unable to produce IL-1β in the airways during acute infection, and lack of this inflammatory response led to deficient immune cell activation and delayed bacterial clearance. These findings are the first to report the importance of the NLRP3 inflammasome in regulating the inflammatory response and influencing the progression of
during acute infection.