Purpose. To provide a practical quantitative tool for appraising the quality of cost-effectiveness (CE) studies. Methods. A committee comprised of health economists selected a set of criteria for the ...instrument from an item pool. Data collected with a conjoint analysis survey on 120 international health economists were used to estimate weights for each criterion with a random effects regression model. To validate the grading system, a survey was sent to 60 individuals with health economics expertise. Participants first rated the quality of three CE studies on a visual analogue scale, and then evaluated each study using the grading system. Spearman rho and Wilcoxon tests were used to detect convergent validity and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) for discriminant validity. Agreement between the global rating by experts and the grading system was also examined. Results. Sixteen criteria were selected. Their coefficient estimates ranged from 1.2 to 8.9, with a sum of 93.5 on a 100-point scale. The only insignificant criterion was "use of subgroup analyses." Both convergent validity and discriminant validity of the grading system were shown by the results of the Spearman rho (correlation coefficient = 0.78, P <0.0001), Wilcoxon test (P = 0.53), and ANCOVA ($F_{3,146}=5.97$, P = 0.001). The grading system had good agreement with global rating by experts. Conclusions. The instrument appears to be simple, internally consistent, and valid for measuring the perceived quality of CE studies. Applicability for use in clinical and resource allocation decision-making deserves further study.
Three short-period Jupiters from TESS Nielsen, L D; Brahm, R; Bouchy, F ...
Astronomy and astrophysics (Berlin),
07/2020, Letnik:
639
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
We report the confirmation and mass determination of three hot Jupiters discovered by the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) mission: HIP 65Ab (TOI-129, TIC-201248411) is an ...ultra-short-period Jupiter orbiting a bright (V = 11.1 mag) K4-dwarf every 0.98 days. It is a massive 3.213 ± 0.078 MJ planet in a grazing transit configuration with an impact parameter of b = 1.17−0.08+0.10. As a result the radius is poorly constrained, 2.03−0.49+0.61RJ. The planet’s distance to its host star is less than twice the separation at which it would be destroyed by Roche lobe overflow. It is expected to spiral into HIP 65A on a timescale ranging from 80 Myr to a few gigayears, assuming a reduced tidal dissipation quality factor of Qs′ = 107 − 109. We performed a full phase-curve analysis of the TESS data and detected both illumination- and ellipsoidal variations as well as Doppler boosting. HIP 65A is part of a binary stellar system, with HIP 65B separated by 269 AU (3.95 arcsec on sky). TOI-157b (TIC 140691463) is a typical hot Jupiter with a mass of 1.18 ± 0.13 MJ and a radius of 1.29 ± 0.02 RJ. It has a period of 2.08 days, which corresponds to a separation of just 0.03 AU. This makes TOI-157 an interesting system, as the host star is an evolved G9 sub-giant star (V = 12.7). TOI-169b (TIC 183120439) is a bloated Jupiter orbiting a V = 12.4 G-type star. It has a mass of 0.79 ±0.06 MJ and a radius of 1.09−0.05+0.08RJ. Despite having the longest orbital period (P = 2.26 days) of the three planets, TOI-169b receives the most irradiation and is situated on the edge of the Neptune desert. All three host stars are metal rich with Fe / H ranging from 0.18 to0.24.
As the continuation of Fungal Diversity Notes series, the current paper is the 16th contribution to this series. A total of 103 taxa from seven classes in
Ascomycota
and
Basidiomycota
are included ...here. Of these 101 taxa, four new genera, 89 new species, one new combination, one new name and six new records are described in detail along with information of hosts and geographic distributions. The four genera newly introduced are
Ascoglobospora
,
Atheliella
,
Rufoboletus
and
Tenuimyces
. Newly described species are
Akanthomyces xixiuensis
,
Agaricus agharkarii
,
A. albostipitatus
,
Amphisphaeria guttulata
,
Ascoglobospora marina
,
Astrothelium peudostraminicolor
,
Athelia naviculispora
,
Atheliella conifericola
,
Athelopsis
subglaucina
,
Aureoboletus minimus
,
A. nanlingensis
,
Autophagomyces incertus
,
Beltrania liliiferae
,
Beltraniella jiangxiensis
,
Botryobasidium coniferarum
,
Calocybella sribuabanensis
,
Calonarius caesiofulvus
,
C. nobilis
,
C. pacificus
,
C. pulcher
,
C. subcorrosus
,
Cortinarius flaureifolius
,
C. floridaensis
,
C. subiodes
,
Crustomyces juniperi
,
C. scytinostromoides
,
Cystostereum subsirmaurense
,
Dimorphomyces seemanii
,
Fulvoderma microporum
,
Ginnsia laricicola
,
Gomphus zamorinorum
,
Halobyssothecium sichuanense
,
Hemileccinum duriusculum
,
Henningsomyces hengduanensis
,
Hygronarius californicus
,
Kneiffiella pseudoabdita
,
K. pseudoalutacea
,
Laboulbenia bifida
,
L. tschirnhausii
,
L. tuberculata
,
Lambertella dipterocarpacearum
,
Laxitextum subrubrum
,
Lyomyces austro-occidentalis
,
L. crystallina
,
L. guttulatus
,
L. niveus
,
L. tasmanicus
,
Marasmius centrocinnamomeus
,
M. ferrugineodiscus
,
Megasporoporia tamilnaduensis
,
Meruliopsis crystallina
,
Metuloidea imbricata
,
Moniliophthora atlantica
,
Mystinarius ochrobrunneus
,
Neomycoleptodiscus alishanense
,
Nigrograna kunmingensis
,
Paracremonium aquaticum
,
Parahelicomyces dictyosporus
,
Peniophorella sidera
,
P. subreticulata
,
Phlegmacium fennicum
,
P. pallidocaeruleum
,
Pholiota betulicola
,
P. subcaespitosa
,
Pleurotheciella hyalospora
,
Pleurothecium aseptatum
,
Resupinatus porrigens
,
Russula chlorina
,
R. chrysea
,
R. cruenta
,
R. haematina
,
R. luteocarpa
,
R. sanguinolenta
,
Synnemellisia punensis
,
Tenuimyces bambusicola
,
Thaxterogaster americanoporphyropus
,
T. obscurovibratilis
,
Thermoascus endophyticus
,
Trechispora alba
,
T. perminispora
,
T. subfarinacea
,
T. tuberculata
,
Tremella sairandhriana
,
Tropicoporus natarajaniae
,
T. subramaniae
,
Usnea kriegeriana
,
Wolfiporiella macrospora
and
Xylodon muchuanensis
.
Rufoboletus hainanensis
is newly transferred from
Butyriboletus
, while a new name
Russula albocarpa
is proposed for
Russula leucocarpa
G.J. Li & Chun Y. Deng an illegitimate later homonym of
Russula leucocarpa
(T. Lebel) T. Lebel. The new geographic distribution regions are recorded for
Agaricus bambusetorum
,
Bipolaris heliconiae
,
Crinipellis trichialis
,
Leucocoprinus cretaceus
,
Halobyssothecium cangshanense
and
Parasola setulosa
. Corresponding to morphological characters, phylogenetic evidence is also utilized to place the above-mentioned taxa in appropriate taxonomic positions. The current morphological and phylogenetic data is helpful for further clarification of species diversity and exploration of evolutionary relationships in the related fungal groups.
New pyrrolidino derivatives of both diamagnetic and paramagnetic trimetallic nitride templated endohedral metallofullerenes were synthesized by the Prato reaction, isolated and characterized by means ...of MALDI-TOF MS, NMR and UV-vis spectroscopies.
Since 2018, the ESPRESSO spectrograph at the VLT has been hunting for planets in the Southern skies via the RV method. One of its goals is to follow up candidate planets from transit surveys such as ...the TESS mission, particularly small planets. We analyzed photometry from TESS and ground-based facilities, high-resolution imaging, and RVs from ESPRESSO, HARPS, and HIRES, to confirm and characterize three new planets: TOI-260 b, transiting a late K-dwarf, and TOI-286 b and c, orbiting an early K-dwarf. We also update parameters for the known super-Earth TOI-134 b , hosted by an M-dwarf. TOI-260 b has a \(13.475853^{+0.000013}_{-0.000011}\) d period, \(4.23 \pm1.60 \mathrm{M_\oplus}\) mass and \(1.71\pm0.08\mathrm{R_\oplus}\) radius. For TOI-286 b we find a \(4.5117244^{+0.0000031}_{-0.0000027}\) d period, \(4.53\pm0.78\mathrm{M_\oplus}\) mass and \(1.42\pm0.10\mathrm{R_\oplus}\) radius; for TOI-286 c, a \(39.361826^{+0.000070}_{-0.000081}\) d period, \(3.72\pm2.22\mathrm{M_\oplus}\) mass and \(1.88\pm 0.12\mathrm{R_\oplus}\) radius. For TOI-134 b we obtain a \(1.40152604^{+0.00000074}_{-0.00000082}\) d period, \(4.07\pm0.45\mathrm{M_\oplus}\) mass, and \(1.63\pm0.14\mathrm{R_\oplus}\) radius. Circular models are preferred for all, although for TOI-260 b the eccentricity is not well-constrained. We compute bulk densities and place the planets in the context of composition models. TOI-260 b lies within the radius valley, and is most likely a rocky planet. However, the uncertainty on the eccentricity and thus on the mass renders its composition hard to determine. TOI-286 b and c span the radius valley, with TOI-286 b lying below it and having a likely rocky composition, while TOI-286 c is within the valley, close to the upper border, and probably has a significant water fraction. With our updated parameters for TOI-134 b, we obtain a lower density than previous findings, giving a rocky or Earth-like composition.
In addition to high-fat diet (HFD) and inactivity, inflammation and microbiota composition contribute to obesity. Inhibitory immune receptors, such as NLRP12, dampen inflammation and are important ...for resolving inflammation, but their role in obesity is unknown. We show that obesity in humans correlates with reduced expression of adipose tissue NLRP12. Similarly, Nlrp12−/− mice show increased weight gain, adipose deposition, blood glucose, NF-κB/MAPK activation, and M1-macrophage polarization. Additionally, NLRP12 is required to mitigate HFD-induced inflammasome activation. Co-housing with wild-type animals, antibiotic treatment, or germ-free condition was sufficient to restrain inflammation, obesity, and insulin tolerance in Nlrp12−/− mice, implicating the microbiota. HFD-fed Nlrp12−/− mice display dysbiosis marked by increased obesity-associated Erysipelotrichaceae, but reduced Lachnospiraceae family and the associated enzymes required for short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) synthesis. Lachnospiraceae or SCFA administration attenuates obesity, inflammation, and dysbiosis. These findings reveal that Nlrp12 reduces HFD-induced obesity by maintaining beneficial microbiota.
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•NLRP12 expression is reduced in the adipose tissue of humans with increased obesity•Nlrp12−/− mice show increased weight gain and adipose tissue inflammation•Nlrp12-mediated protection from obesity and inflammation is microbiota dependent•Lachnospiraceae and short-chain fatty acids mitigate obesity and insulin resistance
Truax et al. show that myeloid-expressed NLRP12 restrains high-fat-diet-induced obesity and type 2 diabetes by attenuating TNF, IL-6, NF-kB, MAPK, M1-macrophage polarization, and inflammasome activation in adipose tissue. This protective function of NLRP12 is microbiota dependent, and is associated with Lachnospiraceae and their metabolites, which mitigate obesity.
Sensory hair cells, the mechanoreceptors of the auditory and vestibular systems, harbor two specialized elaborations of the apical surface, the hair bundle and the cuticular plate. In contrast to the ...extensively studied mechanosensory hair bundle, the cuticular plate is not as well understood. It is believed to provide a rigid foundation for stereocilia motion, but specifics about its function, especially the significance of its integrity for long-term maintenance of hair cell mechanotransduction, are not known. We discovered that a hair cell protein called LIM only protein 7 (LMO7) is specifically localized in the cuticular plate and the cell junction. Lmo7 KO mice suffer multiple cuticular plate deficiencies, including reduced filamentous actin density and abnormal stereociliar rootlets. In addition to the cuticular plate defects, older Lmo7 KO mice develop abnormalities in inner hair cell stereocilia. Together, these defects affect cochlear tuning and sensitivity and give rise to late-onset progressive hearing loss.
In vitro data suggest that a subgroup of NLR proteins, including NLRP12, inhibits the transcription factor NF-κB, although physiologic and disease-relevant evidence is largely missing. Dysregulated ...NF-κB activity is associated with colonic inflammation and cancer, and we found Nlrp12−/− mice were highly susceptible to colitis and colitis-associated colon cancer. Polyps isolated from Nlrp12−/− mice showed elevated noncanonical NF-κB activation and increased expression of target genes that were associated with cancer, including Cxcl13 and Cxcl12. NLRP12 negatively regulated ERK and AKT signaling pathways in affected tumor tissues. Both hematopoietic- and nonhematopoietic-derived NLRP12 contributed to inflammation, but the latter dominantly contributed to tumorigenesis. The noncanonical NF-κB pathway was regulated upon degradation of TRAF3 and activation of NIK. NLRP12 interacted with both NIK and TRAF3, and Nlrp12−/− cells have constitutively elevated NIK, p100 processing to p52 and reduced TRAF3. Thus, NLRP12 is a checkpoint of noncanonical NF-κB, inflammation, and tumorigenesis.
► Nlrp12−/− mice are significantly more susceptible to colitis-associated colon cancer ► NLRP12 is a negative regulator NIK, CXCL12, CXCL13, ERK, and AKT in vivo ► Hematopoietic and nonhematopoietic compartments contribute to Nlrp12−/− phenotype ► NLRP12 functionally interacts with and alters the balance of NIK and TRAF3
Pre-existing immunity to seasonal endemic coronaviruses could have profound consequences for antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2, induced from natural infection or vaccination. A first step to establish ...whether pre-existing responses can impact SARS-CoV-2 infection is to understand the nature and extent of cross-reactivity in humans to coronaviruses. Here we compare serum antibody and memory B cell responses to coronavirus spike proteins from pre-pandemic and SARS-CoV-2 convalescent donors using binding and functional assays. We show weak evidence of pre-existing SARS-CoV-2 cross-reactive serum antibodies in pre-pandemic donors. However, we find evidence of pre-existing cross-reactive memory B cells that are activated during SARS-CoV-2 infection. Monoclonal antibodies show varying degrees of cross-reactivity with betacoronaviruses, including SARS-CoV-1 and endemic coronaviruses. We identify one cross-reactive neutralizing antibody specific to the S2 subunit of the S protein. Our results suggest that pre-existing immunity to endemic coronaviruses should be considered in evaluating antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2.
There is now compelling evidence that the normal state of
superconducting overdoped cuprates is a strange metal comprising two
distinct charge sectors, one governed by coherent quasiparticle
...excitations, the other seemingly incoherent and characterized by
non-quasiparticle (Planckian) dissipation. The zero-temperature
superfluid density
n_s(0)
n
s
(
0
)
of overdoped cuprates exhibits an anomalous depletion with increased
hole doping
p
p
,
falling to zero at the edge of the superconducting dome. Over the same
doping range, the effective zero-temperature Hall number
n_{\rm H}
(0)
transitions from
p
p
to 1 +
p
p
.
By taking into account the presence of these two charge sectors, we
demonstrate that in the overdoped cuprates
Tl
_2
2
Ba
_2
2
CuO
_{6+\delta}
6
+
δ
and La
_{2-x}
2
−
x
Sr
_x
x
CuO
_4
4
,
the growth in
n_s(0)
n
s
(
0
)
as
p
p
is decreased from the overdoped side may be compensated by the loss of
carriers in the coherent sector. Such a correspondence is contrary to
expectations from conventional BCS theory and implies that
superconductivity in overdoped cuprates emerges uniquely from the sector
that exhibits incoherent transport in the normal state.
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