In this article, we analyze the impacts of climate change on Antarctic marine ecosystems. Observations demonstrate large-scale changes in the physical variables and circulation of the Southern Ocean ...driven by warming, stratospheric ozone depletion, and a positive Southern Annular Mode. Alterations in the physical environment are driving change through all levels of Antarctic marine food webs, which differ regionally. The distributions of key species, such as Antarctic krill, are also changing. Differential responses among predators reflect differences in species ecology. The impacts of climate change on Antarctic biodiversity will likely vary for different communities and depend on species range. Coastal communities and those of sub-Antarctic islands, especially range-restricted endemic communities, will likely suffer the greatest negative consequences of climate change. Simultaneously, ecosystem services in the Southern Ocean will likely increase. Such decoupling of ecosystem services and endemic species will require consideration in the management of human activities such as fishing in Antarctic marine ecosystems.
ABSTRACT
We report on the discovery and validation of TOI 813 b (TIC 55525572 b), a transiting exoplanet identified by citizen scientists in data from NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite ...(TESS) and the first planet discovered by the Planet Hunters TESS project. The host star is a bright (V = 10.3 mag) subgiant ($R_\star =1.94\, R_\odot$, $M_\star =1.32\, M_\odot$). It was observed almost continuously by TESS during its first year of operations, during which time four individual transit events were detected. The candidate passed all the standard light curve-based vetting checks, and ground-based follow-up spectroscopy and speckle imaging enabled us to place an upper limit of $2\, M_{\rm Jup}$ (99 per cent confidence) on the mass of the companion, and to statistically validate its planetary nature. Detailed modelling of the transits yields a period of $83.8911 _{ - 0.0031 } ^ { + 0.0027 }$ d, a planet radius of 6.71 ± 0.38 R⊕ and a semimajor axis of $0.423 _{ - 0.037 } ^ { + 0.031 }$ AU. The planet’s orbital period combined with the evolved nature of the host star places this object in a relatively underexplored region of parameter space. We estimate that TOI 813 b induces a reflex motion in its host star with a semi-amplitude of ∼6 m s−1, making this a promising system to measure the mass of a relatively long-period transiting planet.
This study evaluated the potential of circadian measures as early markers of mood disorders subtypes. Patients with bipolar disorders had significantly lower levels and later onset of melatonin ...secretion than those with unipolar depression. Furthermore, abnormal phase angles between sleep, melatonin and temperature were found in several patients.
We report the discovery and analysis of a massive, compact, hierarchical triple system (TIC 470710327) initially identified by citizen scientists in data obtained by NASA’s Transiting Exoplanet ...Survey Satellite (TESS). Spectroscopic follow-up observations obtained with the HERMES spectrograph, combined with eclipse-timing variations (ETVs), confirm that the system is comprised of three OB stars, with a compact 1.10 d eclipsing binary and a non-eclipsing tertiary on a 52.04 d orbit. Dynamical modelling of the system (from radial velocity and ETVs) reveal a rare configuration wherein the tertiary star (O9.5-B0.5V; 14–17 Mꙩ) is more massive than the combined mass of the inner binary (10.9–13.2 Mꙩ). Given the high mass of the tertiary, we predict that this system will undergo multiple phases of mass transfer in the future, and likely end up as a double neutron star gravitational wave progenitor or an exotic Thorne–Żytkow object. Further observational characterization of this system promises constraints on both formation scenarios of massive stars as well as their exotic evolutionary end-products.
Summary In this review article we examine the role of inflammation-related genes in osteoarthritis (OA) from the perspective of genetics, epigenetics and gene expression. There have been great ...strides in such genomic analyses of OA in recent years thanks to the study of adequately powered patient cohorts, the detailed analysis of candidate genes, and the application of genome-wide approaches. These have led to some unexpected and therefore exciting discoveries, implicating pathways that would not necessarily have been predicted to have a role in this common arthritis. Inflammatory-related genes sit firmly in the candidate camp based on prior observations that the OA disease process can have an inflammatory component. What is clear from the genetic studies published to date is that there is no compelling evidence that DNA variation in inflammatory genes is an OA risk factor. This conclusion may of course change as ever more powerful association studies are conducted. There is, however, compelling evidence that epigenetic effects involving inflammatory genes are a component of OA and that alteration in the expression of these genes is also highly relevant to the disease process. We may in fact be close to demonstrating, at the genomic level, a clear separation of OA patients into those in whom inflammation is a key driver of the disease and those in whom it is not. This has obvious implications for the design of trials of novel OA interventions and may also guide the intelligent re-purposing of anti-inflammatory therapies.
Background
Thermal imaging is a useful modality for identifying preulcerative lesions (“hot spots”) in diabetic foot patients. Despite its recognised potential, at present, there is no readily ...available instrument for routine podiatric assessment of patients at risk. To address this need, a novel thermal imaging system was recently developed. This paper reports the reliability of this device for temperature assessment of healthy feet.
Methods
Plantar skin foot temperatures were measured with the novel thermal imaging device (Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention System (DFUPS), constructed by Photometrix Imaging Ltd) and also with a hand‐held infrared spot thermometer (Thermofocus® 01500A3, Tecnimed, Italy) after 20 min of barefoot resting with legs supported and extended in 105 subjects (52 males and 53 females; age range 18 to 69 years) as part of a multicentre clinical trial. The temperature differences between the right and left foot at five regions of interest (ROIs), including 1st and 4th toes, 1st, 3rd and 5th metatarsal heads were calculated. The intra‐instrument agreement (three repeated measures) and the inter‐instrument agreement (hand‐held thermometer and thermal imaging device) were quantified using intra‐class correlation coefficients (ICCs) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Results
Both devices showed almost perfect agreement in replication by instrument. The intra‐instrument ICCs for the thermal imaging device at all five ROIs ranged from 0.95 to 0.97 and the intra‐instrument ICCs for the hand‐held‐thermometer ranged from 0.94 to 0.97. There was substantial to perfect inter‐instrument agreement between the hand‐held thermometer and the thermal imaging device and the ICCs at all five ROIs ranged between 0.94 and 0.97.
Conclusions
This study reports the performance of a novel thermal imaging device in the assessment of foot temperatures in healthy volunteers in comparison with a hand‐held infrared thermometer. The newly developed thermal imaging device showed very good agreement in repeated temperature assessments at defined ROIs as well as substantial to perfect agreement in temperature assessment with the hand‐held infrared thermometer. In addition to the reported non‐inferior performance in temperature assessment, the thermal imaging device holds the potential to provide an instantaneous thermal image of all sites of the feet (plantar, dorsal, lateral and medial views).
Trial registration
Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention System NCT02317835, registered December 10, 2014
Well-reacted geopolymers with good compressive strengths (44–58 MPa) were formed from highly alkaline residue from red mud (the residue remaining after extraction of alumina from bauxite by the Bayer ...Process) without the addition of strength-promoting components, such as fly ash or ground slag, by adjusting the composition to an optimal SiO₂/Al₂O₃ ratio of about 3 with silica fume. The formation of these geopolymers is extremely energy-efficient since thermal dehydroxylation of the red mud is not required. The environment of the Si and Al in the geopolymers was shown by ²⁷Al and ²⁹Si NMR spectroscopy to be consistent with reasonably well-reacted aluminosilicate materials, suggesting that the red mud forms geopolymers by reaction of aluminate and silicate species in a process not dissimilar to that of alkali-activated kaolin. The presence of high concentrations of iron in the red mud principally in the form of hematite did not interfere with geopolymer formation, since it was shown by XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy to remain largely unaltered and not participate in the reaction. Analogous experiments with bauxite from which red mud is derived by alkali treatment, produce geopolymers of significantly lower strength (up to 28 MPa), suggesting that the action of the alkali during bauxite processing facilitates the formation of the geopolymer binder, possibly by increasing the reactivity of the red mud, as occurs in alkali-treated kaolinite.
Aim
To assess the usefulness of monthly thermography and standard foot care to reduce diabetic foot ulcer recurrence.
Methods
People with diabetes (n = 110), neuropathy and history of ≥ 1 foot ulcer ...participated in a single‐blind multicentre clinical trial. Feet were imaged with a novel thermal imaging device (Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention System). Participants were randomized to intervention (active thermography + standard foot care) or control (blinded thermography + standard foot care) and were followed up monthly until ulcer recurrence or for 12 months. Foot thermograms of participants from the intervention group were assessed for hot spots (areas with temperature ≥ 2.2°C higher than the corresponding contralateral site) and acted upon as per local standards.
Results
After 12 months, 62% of participants were ulcer‐free in the intervention group and 56% in the control group. The odds ratios of ulcer recurrence (intervention vs control) were 0.82 (95% CI 0.38, 1.8; P = 0.62) and 0.55 (95% CI 0.21, 1.4; P = 0.22) in univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses, respectively. The hazard ratios for the time to ulcer recurrence (intervention vs control) were 0.84 (95% CI 0.45, 1.6; P = 0.58) and 0.67 (95% CI 0.34, 1.3; P = 0.24) in univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses, respectively.
Conclusions
Monthly intervention with thermal imaging did not result in a significant reduction in ulcer recurrence rate or increased ulcer‐free survival in this cohort at high risk of foot ulcers. This trial has, however, informed the design of a refined study with longer follow‐up and group stratification, further aiming to assess the efficacy of thermography to reduce ulcer recurrence.
What's new?
Areas of the foot with raised skin temperatures may be an indication of pre‐ulcerative inflammation in people with diabetes.
We evaluated the utility of a novel thermal imaging device (the Diabetic Foot Ulcer Prevention System) in reducing foot ulcer recurrence in people with diabetes and history of ≥ 1 ulcer. Participants were randomized to intervention (active thermography + standard foot care) or control (blinded thermography + standard foot care) and assessed monthly until they developed a foot ulcer or for 12 months.
Monthly intervention with thermography did not show a significant reduction in ulcer recurrence rate or increased ulcer‐free survival in this cohort at risk of foot ulcers.
The dark colors of Jupiter's North Equatorial Belt (NEB, 7-17degN) appeared to expand northward into the neighboring one in 2015, consistent with a 35 year cycle. Inversions of thermal-IR imaging ...from the Very Large Telescope revealed a moderate warming and reduction of aerosol opacity at the cloud tops at 17-20degN, suggesting subsidence and drying in the expanded sector. Two new thermal waves were identified during this period: (i) an upper tropospheric thermal wave (wave number 16-17, amplitude 2.5 K at 170 mbar) in the mid-NEB that was anticorrelated with haze reflectivity; and (ii) a stratospheric wave (wave number 13-14, amplitude 7.3 K at 5 mbar) at 20-30degN. Both were quasi-stationary, confined to regions of eastward zonal flow, and are morphologically similar to waves observed during previous expansion events.
We report the results of a study exploring the stellar populations of 13 luminous (L > 1.2L*), spectroscopically confirmed, galaxies in the redshift interval 5.5 < z < 6.5, all with Hubble Space ...Telescope (HST) Wide Field Camera 3/infrared and Spitzer Infrared Array Camera imaging from the HST/Cosmic Assembly Near-infrared Deep Survey and Spitzer Extended Deep Survey. Based on fitting the observed photometry with galaxy spectral energy distribution (SED) templates covering a wide range of different star formation histories, including exponentially increasing star formation rates and a self-consistent treatment of Lyα emission, we find that the derived stellar masses lie within the range of 109< M
* < 1010 M and are robust to within a factor of 2. In contrast, we confirm previous reports that the ages of the stellar populations are poorly constrained. Although the best-fitting models for 3/13 of the sample have ages of 300 Myr, the degeneracies introduced by dust extinction mean that only two of these objects actually require a 300 Myr old stellar population to reproduce the observed photometry. We also explore SED fitting with more general, two-component models (burst plus ongoing star formation), thereby relaxing the requirement that the current star formation rate and assembled stellar mass must be coupled, and allow for nebular line+continuum emission. On average, the inclusion of nebular emission leads to lower stellar mass estimates (median offset 0.18 dex), moderately higher specific star formation rates, and allows for a wider range of plausible stellar ages. However, based on our SED modelling, we find no strong evidence for extremely young ages in our sample (i.e. <50 Myr). Finally, considering all of the different star formation histories explored, we find that the median best-fitting ages are of the order of 200-300 Myr and that the objects with the tightest constraints indicate ages in the range of 50-200 Myr.
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