Aims.I deduced a 3D sunspot model that is in full agreement with spectropolarimetric observations, in order to address the question of a possible penumbral heating process by the repetitive rise of ...hot flow channels. Methods.I performed inversions of spectropolarimetric data taken simultaneously in infrared (1.5 μm) and visible (630 nm) spectral lines. I used two independent magnetic components inside each pixel to reproduce the irregular Stokes profiles in the penumbra and studied the averaged and individual properties of the two components. By integrating the field inclination to the surface, I developed a 3D model of the spot from inversion results without intrinsic height information. Results.I find that the Evershed flow is harbored by the weaker of the two field components. This component forms flow channels that show upstreams in the inner and mid penumbra, continue almost horizontally as slightly elevated loops throughout the penumbra, and finally bend down in the outer penumbra. I find several examples where two or more flow channels are found along a radial cut from the umbra to the outer boundary of the spot. Conclusions.I find that a model of horizontal flow channels in a static background field is in good agreement with the observed spectra. The properties of the flow channels correspond very well to the moving tube simulations of Schlichenmaier et al. (1998, A&A, 337, 897). From the temporal evolution in intensity images and the properties of the flow channels in the inversion, I conclude that interchange convection of rising hot flux tubes in a thick penumbra still seems a possible mechanism for maintaining the penumbral energy balance.
Systematically review and synthesize guidelines, systematic reviews, or randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published between April 1, 2019 and April 30, 2020 which evaluated or made recommendations ...for rehabilitation of persons with osteoarthritis.
Five electronic databases (Medline, EMBASE, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINHAL, Web of Science) were searched with a comprehensive search strategy. Guidelines for rehabilitation of persons with osteoarthritis, and systematic reviews and RCTs evaluating osteoarthritis rehabilitation that included at least one patient-reported outcome measure and/or clinical test of function were included. Two authors independently screened records and assessed methodological quality using the AGREE-II (guidelines), AMSTAR-2 (systematic reviews) or PEDro scale (RCTs). Data were extracted to summarize included records and a narrative synthesis of findings related to core recommended osteoarthritis rehabilitation treatments performed.
Of 2,479 potential records, 253 records were reviewed. Two guidelines, 18 systematic reviews and 38 RCTs were included. 84% (n = 49) of included records related to knee osteoarthritis, 13% (n = 8) to hip, 10% (n = 6) to hand, 3% (n = 2) to mixed, and 1% (n = 1) to foot osteoarthritis. Exercise-therapy, methods to deliver exercise-therapy remotely, and approaches to facilitate exercise-therapy behaviour change were the most commonly evaluated interventions (n = 27). 94% of systematic reviews and 63% of RCTs rated high-quality.
Osteoarthritis rehabilitation research continues to focus on knee osteoarthritis and exercise-based interventions. Emerging topics include rehabilitation of comorbid populations, exercise behaviour change and technology supports. A better understanding of rehabilitation of osteoarthritis in joints other than the knee, and methods to determine and promote ideal exercise-therapy prescription are needed.
Roughly 2.8% of annual hospitalizations are a result of adverse drug interactions in the United States, representing more than 245,000 hospitalizations. Drug-drug interactions commonly arise from ...major cytochrome P450 (CYP) inhibition. Various approaches are routinely employed in order to reduce the incidence of adverse interactions, such as altering drug dosing schemes and/or minimizing the number of drugs prescribed; however, often, a reduction in the number of medications cannot be achieved without impacting therapeutic outcomes. Nearly 80% of drugs fail in development due to pharmacokinetic issues, outlining the importance of examining cytochrome interactions during preclinical drug design. In this review, we examined the physiochemical and structural properties of small molecule inhibitors of CYPs 3A4, 2D6, 2C19, 2C9, and 1A2. Although CYP inhibitors tend to have distinct physiochemical properties and structural features, these descriptors alone are insufficient to predict major cytochrome inhibition probability and affinity. Machine learning based in silico approaches may be employed as a more robust and accurate way of predicting CYP inhibition. These various approaches are highlighted in the review.
Approximately 13% of women experience postpartum depression. Early recognition is one of the most difficult challenges with this mood disorder because of how covertly it is suffered.
The purpose of ...this meta-analysis was to update the findings of an earlier meta-analysis of postpartum depression predictors that had synthesized the results of studies conducted mostly in the 1980s.
A meta-analysis of 84 studies published in the decade of the 1990s was conducted to determine the magnitude of the relationships between postpartum depression and various risk factors. Using the software system Advanced Basic Meta-Analysis, effect sizes were calculated three ways: unweighted, weighted by sample size, and weighted by quality index score.
Thirteen significant predictors of postpartum depression were revealed. Ten of the 13 risk factors had moderate effect sizes while three predictors had small effect sizes. The mean effect size indicator ranges for each risk factor were as follows: prenatal depression (.44 to .46), self esteem (.45 to. 47), childcare stress (.45 to .46), prenatal anxiety (.41 to .45), life stress (.38 to .40), social support (.36 to .41), marital relationship (.38 to .39), history of previous depression (.38 to .39), infant temperament (.33 to .34), maternity blues (.25 to .31), marital status (.21 to .35), socioeconomic status (.19 to .22), and unplanned/unwanted pregnancy (.14 to .17).
Results confirmed findings of an earlier meta-analysis and in addition revealed four new predictors of postpartum depression: self-esteem, marital status, socioeconomic status, and unplanned/unwanted pregnancy.
Leukocyte residence in lymphoid organs is controlled by a balance between retention and egress-promoting chemoattractants sensed by pertussis toxin (PTX)-sensitive Gαi protein-coupled receptors ...(GPCRs). Here, we use two-photon intravital microscopy to show that immature B cell retention within bone marrow (BM) was strictly dependent on amoeboid motility mediated by CXCR4 and CXCL12 and by α4β1 integrin-mediated adhesion to VCAM-1. However, B lineage cell egress from BM is independent of PTX-sensitive GPCR signaling. B lineage cells expressing PTX rapidly exited BM even though their motility within BM parenchyma was significantly reduced. Our experiments reveal that when immature B cells are near BM sinusoids their motility is reduced, their morphology is predominantly rounded, and cells reverse transmigrate across sinusoidal endothelium in a largely nonamoeboid manner. Immature B cell egress from BM was dependent on a twofold CXCR4 down-regulation that was antagonized by antigen-induced BCR signaling. This passive mode of cell egress from BM also contributes significantly to the export of other hematopoietic cells, including granulocytes, monocytes, and NK cells, and is reminiscent of erythrocyte egress.
Context. The penumbra of sunspots has a complex magnetic field topology whose three-dimensional organization remains unclear after more than a century of investigation. Aims. I derive a geometrical ...model of the penumbral magnetic field topology from an uncombed inversion setup designed to reproduce the net circular polarization (NCP) of simultaneous spectra in near-infrared (IR; 1.56 μm) and visible (VIS; 630 nm) spectral lines. Methods. I inverted the co-spatial spectra of five photospheric lines with a model that mimicked vertically interlaced magnetic fields with two distinct components, labeled background field and flow channels because of their characteristic properties (flow velocity, field inclination). The flow channels were modeled as a perturbation of the constant background field with a Gaussian shape using the SIRGAUS code. The location and extension of the Gaussian perturbation in the optical depth scale retrieved by the inversion code were then converted to a geometrical height scale. By estimating the geometrical size of the flow channels, I investigated the relative amount of magnetic flux in the flow channels and the background field atmosphere. Results. The uncombed model is able to reproduce the NCP well on the limb side of the spot and less successfully on the center side; the VIS lines are better reproduced than the near-IR lines. I find that the Evershed flow happens along nearly horizontal field lines close to the solar surface given by optical depth unity. The magnetic flux that is related to the flow channels constitutes about 20−50% of the total magnetic flux in the penumbra. Conclusions. The gradients that can be produced by a Gaussian perturbation are too small for a perfect reproduction of the NCP in the IR lines with their small formation height range, where a step function seems to be required. Two peculiarities of the observed NCP, a sign change in the NCP of the VIS lines on the center side and a ring structure around the umbra with opposite signs of the NCP in the Ti i line at 630.37 nm and the Fe i line at 1565.2 nm, deserve closer attention in future modeling attempts. The large fraction of magnetic flux related to the flow channel component could suffice to replenish the penumbral radiative losses in the flux tube picture.
We used spectropolarimetric observations of a sunspot in the active region NOAA 11809 in the Ca ii line at 854.2 nm taken with the SpectroPolarimeter for Optical and Infrared Regions at the Dunn ...Solar Telescope to infer thermodynamic parameters along 100 super-penumbral fibrils that harbor the inverse Evershed flow. The fibrils were identified in line-of-sight (LOS) velocity and line-core intensity maps. The chromospheric LOS velocity abruptly decreases from 3 to 15 km s−1 to zero at the inner footpoints of the fibrils that are located from the mid penumbra to about 1.4 spot radii. The spectra often show multiple absorption components, indicating spatially or vertically unresolved structures. Synthetic spectra with a 100% fill factor of a flow channel in the upper atmosphere yield strongly asymmetric profiles but no multiple separate components. The line-core intensity always peaks slightly closer to the umbra than the LOS velocity. Using the CAlcium Inversion using a Spectral ARchive code, we find that the fibrils make an angle of 30°-60° to the local vertical away from the umbra. The temperature near the downflow points is enhanced by 200 K at log and up to 2000 K at log τ ∼ (−6) compared to the quiet Sun, without any signature in the low photosphere. Our results are consistent with a critical, i.e., sonic, or supersonic siphon flow along super-penumbral flux tubes in which accelerating plasma abruptly attains subcritical velocity through a standing shock in or near the penumbra.
Extracellular matrix (ECM)-based materials are attractive for regenerative medicine in their ability to potentially aid in stem cell recruitment, infiltration, and differentiation without added ...biological factors. In musculoskeletal tissue engineering, demineralized bone matrix is widely used, but recently cartilage matrix has been attracting attention as a potentially chondroinductive material. The aim of this study was thus to establish a chemical decellularization method for use with articular cartilage to quantify removal of cells and analyze the cartilage biochemical content at various stages during the decellularization process, which included a physically devitalization step. To study the cellular response to the cartilage matrix, rat bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rBMSCs) were cultured in cell pellets containing cells only (control), chondrogenic differentiation medium (TGF-β), chemically decellularized cartilage particles (DCC), or physically devitalized cartilage particles (DVC). The chemical decellularization process removed the vast majority of DNA and about half of the glycosaminoglycans (GAG) within the matrix, but had no significant effect on the amount of hydroxyproline. Most notably, the DCC group significantly outperformed TGF-β in chondroinduction of rBMSCs, with collagen II gene expression an order of magnitude or more higher. While DVC did not exhibit a chondrogenic response to the extent that DCC did, DVC had a greater down regulation of collagen I, collagen X and Runx2. A new protocol has been introduced for cartilage devitalization and decellularization in the current study, with evidence of chondroinductivity. Such bioactivity along with providing the 'raw material' building blocks of regenerating cartilage may suggest a promising role for DCC in biomaterials that rely on recruiting endogenous cell recruitment and differentiation for cartilage regeneration.
Methane-utilizing bacteria (methanotrophs) are capable of growth on methane and are attractive systems for bio-catalysis. However, the application of natural methanotrophic strains to large-scale ...production of value-added chemicals/biofuels requires a number of physiological and genetic alterations. An accurate metabolic model coupled with flux balance analysis can provide a solid interpretative framework for experimental data analyses and integration.
A stoichiometric flux balance model of Methylomicrobium buryatense strain 5G(B1) was constructed and used for evaluating metabolic engineering strategies for biofuels and chemical production with a methanotrophic bacterium as the catalytic platform. The initial metabolic reconstruction was based on whole-genome predictions. Each metabolic step was manually verified, gapfilled, and modified in accordance with genome-wide expression data. The final model incorporates a total of 841 reactions (in 167 metabolic pathways). Of these, up to 400 reactions were recruited to produce 118 intracellular metabolites. The flux balance simulations suggest that only the transfer of electrons from methanol oxidation to methane oxidation steps can support measured growth and methane/oxygen consumption parameters, while the scenario employing NADH as a possible source of electrons for particulate methane monooxygenase cannot. Direct coupling between methane oxidation and methanol oxidation accounts for most of the membrane-associated methane monooxygenase activity. However the best fit to experimental results is achieved only after assuming that the efficiency of direct coupling depends on growth conditions and additional NADH input (about 0.1-0.2 mol of incremental NADH per one mol of methane oxidized). The additional input is proposed to cover loss of electrons through inefficiency and to sustain methane oxidation at perturbations or support uphill electron transfer. Finally, the model was used for testing the carbon conversion efficiency of different pathways for C1-utilization, including different variants of the ribulose monophosphate pathway and the serine cycle.
We demonstrate that the metabolic model can provide an effective tool for predicting metabolic parameters for different nutrients and genetic perturbations, and as such, should be valuable for metabolic engineering of the central metabolism of M. buryatense strains.
NOAA, through the Joint Polar Satellite System (JPSS) program, in partnership with the National Aeronautical and Space Administration, launched the Suomi National Polar‐orbiting Partnership (S‐NPP) ...satellite, a risk reduction and data continuity mission, on 28 October 2011. The JPSS program is executing the S‐NPP Calibration and Validation program to ensure that the data products comply with the requirements of the sponsoring agencies. The Ozone Mapping and Profiler Suite (OMPS) consists of two telescopes feeding three detectors measuring solar radiance scattered by the Earth's atmosphere directly and solar irradiance by using diffusers. The measurements are used to generate estimates of total column ozone and vertical ozone profiles for use in near‐real‐time applications and extension of ozone climate data records. The calibration and validation efforts are progressing well, and both Level 1 (Sensor Data Records) and Level 2 (Ozone Environmental Data Records) have advanced to release at Provisional Maturity. This paper provides information on the product performance over the first 22 months of the mission. The products are evaluated through the use of internal consistency analysis techniques and comparisons to other satellite instrument and ground‐based products. The initial performance finds total ozone showing negative bias of 2 to 4% with respect to correlative products and ozone profiles often within ±5% in the middle and upper stratosphere of current operational products. Potential improvements in the measurements and algorithms are identified. These will be implemented in coming months to reduce the differences further.
Key Points
OMPS nadir total column ozone and ozone profile products are performing well
Deficiencies have been identified but the remedies are known
Further improvements to the SDR will be implemented in the system soon
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