ABSTRACT
We present an analysis of a new 120 deg2 radio continuum image of the Large Magellanic Cloud (LMC) at 888 MHz with a bandwidth of 288 MHz and beam size of ...13${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$9 × 12${_{.}^{\prime\prime}}$1 from the Australian Square Kilometre Array Pathfinder processed as part of the Evolutionary Map of the Universe survey. The median root mean squared noise is 58 $\mu$Jy beam−1. We present a catalogue of 54 612 sources, divided over a Gold list (30 866 sources) complete down to 0.5 mJy uniformly across the field, a Silver list (22 080 sources) reaching down to <0.2 mJy, and a Bronze list (1666 sources) of visually inspected sources in areas of high noise and/or near bright complex emission. We discuss detections of planetary nebulae and their radio luminosity function, young stellar objects showing a correlation between radio luminosity and gas temperature, novae and X-ray binaries in the LMC, and active stars in the Galactic foreground that may become a significant population below this flux level. We present examples of diffuse emission in the LMC (H ii regions, supernova remnants, bubbles) and distant galaxies showcasing spectacular interaction between jets and intracluster medium. Among 14 333 infrared counterparts of the predominantly background radio source population, we find that star-forming galaxies become more prominent below 3 mJy compared to active galactic nuclei. We combine the new 888 MHz data with archival Australia Telescope Compact Array data at 1.4 GHz to determine spectral indices; the vast majority display synchrotron emission but flatter spectra occur too. We argue that the most extreme spectral index values are due to variability.
Since amphibian declines were first proposed as a global phenomenon over a quarter century ago, the conservation community has made little progress in halting or reversing these trends. The early ...search for a "smoking gun" was replaced with the expectation that declines are caused by multiple drivers. While field observations and experiments have identified factors leading to increased local extinction risk, evidence for effects of these drivers is lacking at large spatial scales. Here, we use observations of 389 time-series of 83 species and complexes from 61 study areas across North America to test the effects of 4 of the major hypothesized drivers of declines. While we find that local amphibian populations are being lost from metapopulations at an average rate of 3.79% per year, these declines are not related to any particular threat at the continental scale; likewise the effect of each stressor is variable at regional scales. This result - that exposure to threats varies spatially, and populations vary in their response - provides little generality in the development of conservation strategies. Greater emphasis on local solutions to this globally shared phenomenon is needed.
Bone differs from other connective tissues; it is isolated by a layer of osteoblasts that are connected by tight and gap junctions. This allows bone to create dense lamellar type I collagen, control ...pH, mineral deposition, and regulate water content forming a compact and strong structure. New woven bone formed after degradation of mineralized cartilage is rapidly degraded and resynthesized to impart structural order for local bone strength. Ossification is regulated by thickness of bone units and by patterning via bone morphogenetic receptors including activin, other bone morphogenetic protein receptors, transforming growth factor-β receptors, all part of a receptor superfamily. This superfamily interacts with receptors for additional signals in bone differentiation. Important features of the osteoblast environment were established using recent tools including osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Osteoblasts deposit matrix protein, over 90% type I collagen, in lamellae with orientation alternating parallel or orthogonal to the main stress axis of the bone. Into this organic matrix, mineral is deposited as hydroxyapatite. Mineral matrix matures from amorphous to crystalline hydroxyapatite. This process includes at least two-phase changes of the calcium-phosphate mineral as well as intermediates involving tropocollagen fibrils to form the bone composite. Beginning with initiation of mineral deposition, there is uncertainty regarding cardinal processes, but the driving force is not merely exceeding the calcium-phosphate solubility product. It occurs behind a epithelial-like layer of osteoblasts, which generate phosphate and remove protons liberated during calcium-phosphate salt deposition. The forming bone matrix is discontinuous from the general extracellular fluid. Required adjustment of ionic concentrations and water removal from bone matrix are important details remaining to be addressed.
We present H-band polarized scattered light imagery and JHK high-contrast spectroscopy of the protoplanetary disk around HD 163296 observed with the High-Contrast Coronographic Imager for Adaptive ...Optics (HiCIAO) and Subaru Coronagraphic Extreme Adaptive Optics (SCExAO)/Coronagraphic High Angular Resolution Imaging Spectrograph (CHARIS) instruments at Subaru Observatory. The polarimetric imagery resolve a broken ring structure surrounding HD 163296 that peaks at a distance along the major axis of 0 65 (66 au) and extends out to 0 98 (100 au) along the major axis. Our 2011 H-band data exhibit clear axisymmetry, with the NW and SE side of the disk exhibiting similar intensities. Our data are clearly different from 2016 epoch H-band observations of the Very Large Telescope (VLT)/Spectro-Polarimetric High-contrast Exoplanet REsearch (SPHERE), which found a strong 2.7× asymmetry between the NW and SE side of the disk. Collectively, these results indicate the presence of time-variable, non-azimuthally symmetric illumination of the outer disk. While our SCExAO/CHARIS data are sensitive enough to recover the planet candidate identified from NIRC2 in the thermal infrared (IR), we fail to detect an object with JHK brightness nominally consistent with this object. This suggests that the candidate is either fainter in JHK bands than model predictions, possibly due to extinction from the disk or atmospheric dust/clouds, or that it is an artifact of the data set/data processing, such as a residual speckle or partially subtracted disk feature. Assuming standard hot-start evolutionary models and a system age of 5 Myr, we set new, direct mass limits for the inner (outer) Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA)-predicted protoplanet candidate along the major (minor) disk axis of of 1.5 (2) MJ.
Objective
Conduct a multi-site, retrospective investigation of predictive bias and disparate impact post-implementation of the Indiana Risk Assessment System-Pretrial Assessment Tool (IRAS-PAT).
...Methods
Black and White defendants who received IRAS-PAT assessments (
n
= 2,570) were matched to two comparison conditions (
n
= 1,527 and
n
= 3,107) of defendants who did not receive assessments. Area under the curve statistics and multivariable logistic regression models tested for predictive bias. Weighted, multivariable mixed-effects models examined effects of assessments on release decisions by race.
Results
IRAS-PAT assessments produced lower levels of predictive validity for Black defendants relative to White defendants. Although there were disparities in pretrial release rates, bond amount, and days in detention, there was no evidence that effects of pretrial risk assessments differed by race.
Conclusions
Even a tool producing biased assessments of risk can improve pretrial release outcomes for defendants irrespective of race and relative to practice as usual.
We conducted a multi-site, quasi-experimental investigation of the effects of pretrial risk assessments on pretrial release decisions and misconduct outcomes relative to practice as usual.
Using a ...multiple non-equivalent comparison group design, we matched 2631 pretrial defendants who received a risk assessment during a 1-year pilot period to two comparison groups of defendants who did not receive a risk assessment and were processed in the same year (n = 1580) or in the year prior to the pilot period (n = 3185). Weighted multilevel regression analyses were conducted separately for each comparison to examine effects of the pilot risk assessment condition on pretrial release and pretrial misconduct outcomes.
Relative to comparison groups, defendants with risk assessments were more likely to receive non-financial release. When risk assessment-guided decisions adhered to structured guidelines, defendants with risk assessments had higher rates of pretrial release and spent less time in pretrial detention. Risk assessments were associated with slightly higher rates of non-violent and new re-arrests, but not failure to appear, relative to comparison conditions.
Pretrial risk assessments can facilitate non-financial release, though with a potentially higher rate of pretrial re-arrest. Structured guidelines may help maximize pretrial release while minimizing misconduct.
•Use of pretrial risk assessments increases likelihood of non-financial release.•Use of pretrial risk assessments slightly increases rates of nonviolent re-arrest.•Adherence to structured guidelines improves utility of pretrial risk assessments.
Abstract only Background: Analysis from a 2013-2016 dietary survey by the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Several found that less than 50% of Americans consume sufficient magnesium. ...Multiple studies have identified a link between dietary magnesium and inflammation associated with multiple pathologies including hypertension, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular disease. Additionally, magnesium sulfate inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation in human macrophages. We have previously shown that activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome is a key component of salt-sensitive hypertension. In this study, we hypothesize that a magnesium-deficient diet could promote NLRP3 inflammasome activation in myeloid cells and systemic hypertension. Materials and Methods: In vivo studies were performed on mice with an SV/129 background given either a normal-magnesium (Norm-Mg 2+ ) diet (0.08%, as magnesium oxide) or low-magnesium (Low-Mg 2+ ) diet (0.01%) for 5 weeks. Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was monitored on a weekly basis by tail-cuff. Results: Mice fed a Low-Mg 2+ diet had a significant increase in SBP compared to the Norm-Mg 2+ diet fed mice (105.8 ± 11.3 to 130.4 ± 7.4 mmHg vs 106.5 ± 9.4 to 121.8 ± 6.5 mmHg, n=7, p=0.0071, 2 way ANOVA). Using flow cytometry, we observed an increase in NLRP3 (34.1 ± 2.5 vs 7.4 ± 0.6 % of DCs, n=5-7, p=0.0025, Mann-Whitney test) and IL-1β (41.9 ± 6.6 vs 15.86 ± 6.6 % of DCs, n=5-7, p=0.048, Mann-Whitney test) expression in renal dendritic cells (DCs) of Low-Mg 2+ mice compared to Norm-Mg 2+ mice. There was a similar increase in IsoLG-adduct formation in renal DCs (8.5 ± 2.0 vs 0.6 ± 0.05 % of DCs, n=5-7, p=0.0025, Mann-Whitney test). Interestingly, we found no difference in NLRP3 (24.92 ± 5.3 vs 31.54 ± 3.1 % of monocytes, n=5-7, p=0.1376, Mann-Whitney test), IL-1β (9.5 ± 4.3 vs 4.6 ± 0.4 % of monocytes, n=5-7, p=0.7551, Mann-Whitney test), or IsoLG-adduct formation (29.42 ± 3.6 vs 31.9 ± 3.6 % of monocytes, n=5-7, p=<0.999, Mann-Whitney test) in renal monocytes. Conclusions: Our findings suggest a magnesium-deficient diet induces a hypertensive response and activates the NLRP3 inflammasome in renal DCs but not monocytes.
Northern Canada is warming at 3 times the global rate. Thus, changing diversity and distribution of vectors and pathogens is an increasing health concern. California serogroup (CSG) viruses are ...mosquitoborne arboviruses; wildlife reservoirs in northern ecosystems have not been identified. We detected CSG virus antibodies in 63% (95% CI 58%-67%) of caribou (n = 517), 4% (95% CI 2%-7%) of Arctic foxes (n = 297), 12% (95% CI 6%-21%) of red foxes (n = 77), and 28% (95% CI 24%-33%) of polar bears (n = 377). Sex, age, and summer temperatures were positively associated with polar bear exposure; location, year, and ecotype were associated with caribou exposure. Exposure was highest in boreal caribou and increased from baseline in polar bears after warmer summers. CSG virus exposure of wildlife is linked to climate change in northern Canada and sustained surveillance could be used to measure human health risks.
In lung cancer, enrichment of the lower airway microbiota with oral commensals commonly occurs, and
models support that some of these bacteria can trigger host transcriptomic signatures associated ...with carcinogenesis. Here, we show that this lower airway dysbiotic signature was more prevalent in the stage IIIB-IV tumor-node-metastasis lung cancer group and is associated with poor prognosis, as shown by decreased survival among subjects with early-stage disease (I-IIIA) and worse tumor progression as measured by RECIST scores among subjects with stage IIIB-IV disease. In addition, this lower airway microbiota signature was associated with upregulation of the IL17, PI3K, MAPK, and ERK pathways in airway transcriptome, and we identified
as the most abundant taxon driving this association. In a KP lung cancer model, lower airway dysbiosis with
led to decreased survival, increased tumor burden, IL17 inflammatory phenotype, and activation of checkpoint inhibitor markers. SIGNIFICANCE: Multiple lines of investigation have shown that the gut microbiota affects host immune response to immunotherapy in cancer. Here, we support that the local airway microbiota modulates the host immune tone in lung cancer, affecting tumor progression and prognosis.
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Statin-associated muscle symptoms (SAMS) are one of the principal reasons for statin non-adherence and/or discontinuation, contributing to adverse cardiovascular outcomes. This European ...Atherosclerosis Society (EAS) Consensus Panel overviews current understanding of the pathophysiology of statin-associated myopathy, and provides guidance for diagnosis and management of SAMS. Statin-associated myopathy, with significant elevation of serum creatine kinase (CK), is a rare but serious side effect of statins, affecting 1 per 1000 to 1 per 10 000 people on standard statin doses. Statin-associated muscle symptoms cover a broader range of clinical presentations, usually with normal or minimally elevated CK levels, with a prevalence of 7-29% in registries and observational studies. Preclinical studies show that statins decrease mitochondrial function, attenuate energy production, and alter muscle protein degradation, thereby providing a potential link between statins and muscle symptoms; controlled mechanistic and genetic studies in humans are necessary to further understanding. The Panel proposes to identify SAMS by symptoms typical of statin myalgia (i.e. muscle pain or aching) and their temporal association with discontinuation and response to repetitive statin re-challenge. In people with SAMS, the Panel recommends the use of a maximally tolerated statin dose combined with non-statin lipid-lowering therapies to attain recommended low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets. The Panel recommends a structured work-up to identify individuals with clinically relevant SAMS generally to at least three different statins, so that they can be offered therapeutic regimens to satisfactorily address their cardiovascular risk. Further research into the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms may offer future therapeutic potential.
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