We use high‐resolution data from dayside passes of the Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission to create for the first time a comprehensive listing of encounters with the electron diffusion region ...(EDR), as evidenced by electron agyrotropy, ion jet reversals, and j • E′ > 0. We present an overview of these 32 EDR or near‐EDR events, which demonstrate a wide variety of observed plasma behavior inside and surrounding the reconnection site. We analyze in detail three of the 21 new EDR encounters, which occurred within a 1‐min‐long interval on 23 November 2016. The three events, which resulted from a relatively low and oscillating magnetopause velocity, exhibited large electric fields (up to ~100 mV/m), crescent‐shaped electron velocity phase space densities, large currents (≥2 μA/m2), and Ohmic heating of the plasma (~10 nW/m3). We include an Ohm's law analysis, in which we show that the divergence of the electron pressure term usually dominates the nonideal terms and is much more turbulent on the magnetosphere versus the magnetosheath side of the EDR.
Plain Language Summary
NASA's Magnetospheric Multiscale (MMS) mission was designed to study magnetic reconnection, a process in which oppositely directed magnetic fields embedded within two neighboring plasma populations annihilate, dumping magnetic energy into the plasmas. Previous missions studying reconnection in space were not fully equipped to analyze how the electrons in the plasma behave near the core of a reconnection site. This study provides MMS researchers with many new reconnection events to dissect, and calls special attention to three events that occurred back to back. Each event included is very unique and helps to fill in another piece of the reconnection puzzle. Perhaps the ultimate goal of these studies is to provide insight into methods of shutting down the reconnection process, which is known to impede attempts toward a stable nuclear fusion engine. A blueprint for stable nuclear fusion could solve mankind's energy needs forever.
Key Points
MMS mapped the EDR and near‐EDR several times during a sequence of new dayside encounters
Turbulence in Ohm's law terms is greatest on the magnetospheric‐side EDR, near the plane containing the X line and boundary normal vector
Thirty‐two EDR or near‐EDR encounters show crescent‐like enhancements in electron velocity space perpendicular to the local magnetic field
The Zwicky Transient Facility (ZTF) is performing a three-day cadence survey of the visible northern sky (∼3π) with newly found transient candidates announced via public alerts. The ZTF Bright ...Transient Survey (BTS) is a large spectroscopic campaign to complement the photometric survey. BTS endeavors to spectroscopically classify all extragalactic transients with mpeak ≤ 18.5 mag in either the gZTF or rZTF filters, and publicly announce said classifications. BTS discoveries are predominantly supernovae (SNe), making this the largest flux-limited SN survey to date. Here we present a catalog of 761 SNe, classified during the first nine months of ZTF (2018 April 1-2018 December 31). We report BTS SN redshifts from SN template matching and spectroscopic host-galaxy redshifts when available. We analyze the redshift completeness of local galaxy catalogs, the redshift completeness fraction (RCF; the ratio of SN host galaxies with known spectroscopic redshift prior to SN discovery to the total number of SN hosts). Of the 512 host galaxies with SNe Ia, 227 had previously known spectroscopic redshifts, yielding an RCF estimate of 44% 4%. The RCF decreases with increasing distance and decreasing galaxy luminosity (for z < 0.05, or ∼200 Mpc, RCF 0.6). Prospects for dramatically increasing the RCF are limited to new multifiber spectroscopic instruments or wide-field narrowband surveys. Existing galaxy redshift catalogs are only ∼50% complete at r 16.9 mag. Pushing this limit several magnitudes deeper will pay huge dividends when searching for electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave events or sources of ultra-high-energy cosmic rays or neutrinos.
Summary
Background
Dupilumab (monoclonal antibody inhibiting IL‐4/IL‐13 signalling) is approved for use in adolescents aged ≥ 12 years with inadequately controlled moderate‐to‐severe atopic ...dermatitis (AD). Dupilumab significantly improved AD signs/symptoms in a 16‐week, randomised, placebo‐controlled phase III trial in adolescents (NCT03054428).
Objectives
To characterize the pharmacokinetics of dupilumab, and long‐term safety and efficacy in adolescents.
Methods
This was a global, multicentre, phase IIa, open‐label, ascending‐dose, sequential cohort study with a phase III open‐label extension (OLE) in adolescents with moderate‐to‐severe AD. In the phase IIa study, patients received one dupilumab dose (2 mg kg−1 or 4 mg kg−1) and 8 weeks of pharmacokinetic sampling. Thereafter, patients received the same dose weekly for 4 weeks, with 8‐week safety follow‐up. Patients then enrolled in the OLE, continuing 2 mg kg−1 or 4 mg kg−1 dupilumab weekly. Primary end points were dupilumab concentration–time profile and incidence of treatment‐emergent adverse events (TEAEs). Secondary outcomes included Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI).
Results
Forty adolescents received dupilumab in the phase IIa study; 36 enrolled in the OLE. Dupilumab showed nonlinear, target‐mediated pharmacokinetics. Mean ± SD trough dupilumab concentrations in serum at week 48 (OLE) were 74 ± 19 mg L−1 and 161 ± 60 mg L−1 for 2 mg kg−1 and 4 mg kg−1, respectively. Dupilumab was well tolerated over 52 weeks; the most common TEAEs were nasopharyngitis (week 52: 41% 2 mg kg−1, 47% 4 mg kg−1) and AD exacerbation (29%, 42%). After one dupilumab dose in the phase IIa study, EASI improved from baseline to week 2 mean ± SD reduction −34% ± 20% (2 mg kg−1) and −51% ± 29% (4 mg kg−1). With continuing treatment, EASI scores improved further week 52: −85% ± 12% (2 mg kg−1) and −84% ± 20% (4 mg kg−1).
Conclusions
In adolescents with moderate‐to‐severe AD, dupilumab's pharmacokinetic profile was similar to that in adults. These 52‐week safety and efficacy data support long‐term use of dupilumab in this patient population.
What's already known about this topic?
Adolescents with moderate‐to‐severe atopic dermatitis (AD) have high unmet medical need, with significant disease burden and limited treatment options.
Dupilumab (monoclonal antibody against interleukin‐4 receptor α) is approved for the treatment of adolescents with moderate‐to‐severe AD who are inadequately responsive to standard of care (U.S.A.) or candidates for systemic therapy (European Union).
A 16‐week, randomized, placebo‐controlled phase III trial in adolescents demonstrated significant improvements in AD signs/symptoms with an acceptable safety profile.
What does this study add?
These studies demonstrate the long‐term safety and efficacy of dupilumab in adolescents with moderate‐to‐severe AD for up to 52 weeks of treatment, thus extending and reinforcing the findings from the 16‐week dupilumab phase III trial.
The data from these studies also support the use of dupilumab in combination with current standard of care (topical corticosteroids), which was not evaluated in the 16‐week phase III monotherapy trial.
Linked Comment: Sibbald. Br J Dermatol 2020; 182:12–13.
Plain language summary available online
SN 2013dy is a Type Ia supernova (SN Ia) for which we have compiled an extraordinary data set spanning from 0.1 to ∼ 500 d after explosion. We present 10 epochs of ultraviolet (UV) through ...near-infrared (NIR) spectra with Hubble Space Telescope/Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph, 47 epochs of optical spectra (15 of them having high resolution), and more than 500 photometric observations in the BVrRiIZYJH bands. SN 2013dy has a broad and slowly declining light curve (Δm
15(B) = 0.92 mag), shallow
$\mathrm{Si}\,\small {II}\,\lambda 6355$
absorption, and a low velocity gradient. We detect strong C ii in our earliest spectra, probing unburned progenitor material in the outermost layers of the SN ejecta, but this feature fades within a few days. The UV continuum of SN 2013dy, which is strongly affected by the metal abundance of the progenitor star, suggests that SN 2013dy had a relatively high-metallicity progenitor. Examining one of the largest single set of high-resolution spectra for an SN Ia, we find no evidence of variable absorption from circumstellar material. Combining our UV spectra, NIR photometry, and high-cadence optical photometry, we construct a bolometric light curve, showing that SN 2013dy had a maximum luminosity of
$10.0^{+4.8}_{-3.8} \times 10^{42}$
erg s−1. We compare the synthetic light curves and spectra of several models to SN 2013dy, finding that SN 2013dy is in good agreement with a solar-metallicity W7 model.
The Galaxy and Mass Assembly (GAMA) survey has been operating since 2008 February on the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope using the AAOmega fibre-fed spectrograph facility to acquire spectra with a ...resolution of R≈ 1300 for 120 862 Sloan Digital Sky Survey selected galaxies. The target catalogue constitutes three contiguous equatorial regions centred at 9h (G09), 12h (G12) and 14.5h (G15) each of 12 × 4 deg2 to limiting fluxes of r
pet < 19.4, r
pet < 19.8 and r
pet < 19.4 mag, respectively (and additional limits at other wavelengths). Spectra and reliable redshifts have been acquired for over 98 per cent of the galaxies within these limits. Here we present the survey footprint, progression, data reduction, redshifting, re-redshifting, an assessment of data quality after 3 yr, additional image analysis products (including ugrizYJHK photometry, Sérsic profiles and photometric redshifts), observing mask and construction of our core survey catalogue (GamaCore). From this we create three science-ready catalogues: GamaCoreDR1 for public release, which includes data acquired during year 1 of operations within specified magnitude limits (2008 February to April); GamaCoreMainSurvey containing all data above our survey limits for use by the GAMA Team and collaborators; and GamaCoreAtlasSV containing year 1, 2 and 3 data matched to Herschel-ATLAS science demonstration data. These catalogues along with the associated spectra, stamps and profiles can be accessed via the GAMA website: http://www.gama-survey.org/
Abstract
A critical challenge during volcanic emergencies is responding to rapid changes in eruptive behaviour. Actionable advice, essential in times of rising uncertainty, demands the rapid ...synthesis and communication of multiple datasets with prognoses. The 2020–2021 eruption of La Soufrière volcano exemplifies these challenges: a series of explosions from 9–22 April 2021 was preceded by three months of effusive activity, which commenced with a remarkably low level of detected unrest. Here we show how the development of an evolving conceptual model, and the expression of uncertainties via both elicitation and scenarios associated with this model, were key to anticipating this transition. This not only required input from multiple monitoring datasets but contextualisation via state-of-the-art hazard assessments, and evidence-based knowledge of critical decision-making timescales and community needs. In addition, we share strategies employed as a consequence of constraints on recognising and responding to eruptive transitions in a resource-constrained setting, which may guide similarly challenged volcano observatories worldwide.
We report on the results from the first six months of the Catalina Real-Time Transient Survey (CRTS). In order to search for optical transients (OTs) with timescales of minutes to years, the CRTS ...analyses data from the Catalina Sky Survey which repeatedly covers 26,000 of square degrees on the sky. The CRTS provides a public stream of transients that are bright enough to be followed up using small telescopes. Since the beginning of the survey, all CRTS transients have been made available to astronomers around the world in real time using HTML tables,RSS feeds, and VOEvents. As part of our public outreach program, the detections are now also available in Keyhole Markup Language through Google Sky. The initial discoveries include over 350 unique OTs rising more than 2 mag from past measurements. Sixty two of these are classified as supernovae (SNe), based on light curves, prior deep imaging and spectroscopic data. Seventy seven are due to cataclysmic variables (CVs; only 13 previously known), while an additional 100 transients were too infrequently sampled to distinguish between faint CVs and SNe. The remaining OTs include active galactic nucleus, blazars, high-proper-motions stars, highly variable stars (such as UV Ceti stars), and transients of an unknown nature. Our results suggest that there is a large population of SNe missed by many current SN surveys because of selection biases. These objects appear to be associated with faint host galaxies. We also discuss the unexpected discovery of white dwarf binary systems through dramatic eclipses.
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