We present the first results from an ongoing survey for damped Lyman-α systems (DLAs) in the spectra of z > 2 quasars observed in the course of the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS), ...which is part of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) III. Our full (non-statistical) sample, based on Data Release 9, comprises 12 081 systems with log N(H i) ≥ 20, out of which 6839 have log N(H i) ≥ 20.3. This is the largest DLA sample ever compiled, superseding that from SDSS-II by a factor of seven. Using a statistical sub-sample and estimating systematics from realistic mock data, we probe the N(H i) distribution at ⟨z⟩ = 2.5. Contrary to what is generally believed, the distribution extends beyond 1022 cm-2 with a moderate slope of index ≈−3.5. This result matches the opacity-corrected distribution observed at z = 0 surprisingly well. The cosmological mass density of neutral gas in DLAs is found to be \hbox{$\omegagdla \approx 10^{-3}$}ΩgDLA≈10-3, evolving only mildly over the past 12 billion years.
We use high-quality, medium-resolution Hubble Space Telescope/Cosmic Origins Spectrograph (HST/COS) observations of 82 UV-bright active galactic nuclei (AGNs) at redshifts zAGN < 0.85 to construct ...the largest survey of the low-redshift intergalactic medium (IGM) to date: 5138 individual extragalactic absorption lines in H i and 25 different metal-ion species grouped into 2611 distinct redshift systems at zabs < 0.75 covering total redshift pathlengths ?zH i = 21.7 and zO vi = 14.5. Our semi-automated line-finding and measurement technique renders the catalog as objectively defined as possible. We find substantial clustering of H i absorbers on scales of v = 50-300 km s-1 with no significant clustering at v gsim 1000 km s-1. Splitting the sample into strong and weak absorbers, we see that most of the clustering occurs in strong, NH i gsim 1013.5 cm-2, metal-bearing IGM systems.
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a lethal disorder characterized by the gradual degeneration of motor neurons in the cerebrospinal axis. Whether upper motor neuron hyperexcitability, which is a ...feature of ALS, provokes dysfunction of glutamate metabolism and degeneration of lower motor neurons via an anterograde process is undetermined. To examine whether early changes in upper motor neuron activity occur in association with glutamatergic alterations, we performed whole-cell patch-clamp recordings to analyze excitatory properties of Layer V cortical motor neurons and excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) in presymptomatic G93A mice modeling familial ALS (fALS). We found that G93A Layer V pyramidal neurons exhibited altered EPSC frequency and rheobase values indicative of their hyperexcitability status. Biocytin loading of these hyperexcitable neurons revealed an expansion of their basal dendrite arborization. Moreover, we detected increased expression levels of the vesicular glutamate transporter 2 in cortical Layer V of G93A mice. Altogether our data show that functional and structural neuronal alterations associate with abnormal glutamatergic activity in motor cortex of presymptomatic G93A mice. These abnormalities, expected to enhance glutamate release and to favor its accumulation in the motor cortex, provide strong support for the view that upper motor neurons are involved early on in the pathogenesis of ALS.
We report a detection of the baryon acoustic oscillation (BAO) feature in the three-dimensional correlation function of the transmitted flux fraction in the Lyα forest of high-redshift quasars. The ...study uses 48 640 quasars in the redshift range 2.1 ≤ z ≤ 3.5 from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic Survey (BOSS) of the third generation of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III). At a mean redshift z = 2.3, we measure the monopole and quadrupole components of the correlation function for separations in the range 20 h-1 Mpc < r < 200 h-1 Mpc. A peak in the correlation function is seen at a separation equal to (1.01 ± 0.03) times the distance expected for the BAO peak within a concordance ΛCDM cosmology. This first detection of the BAO peak at high redshift, when the universe was strongly matter dominated, results in constraints on the angular diameter distance DA and the expansion rate H at z = 2.3 that, combined with priors on H0 and the baryon density, require the existence of dark energy. Combined with constraints derived from cosmic microwave background observations, this result implies H(z = 2.3) = (224 ± 8) km s-1 Mpc-1, indicating that the time derivative of the cosmological scale parameter ȧ = H(z = 2.3)/(1 + z) is significantly greater than that measured with BAO at z ~ 0.5. This demonstrates that the expansion was decelerating in the range 0.7 < z < 2.3, as expected from the matter domination during this epoch. Combined with measurements of H0, one sees the pattern of deceleration followed by acceleration characteristic of a dark-energy dominated universe.
We present a study of ~100 high redshift (z ~ 2−4) extremely strong damped Lyman-α systems (ESDLA, with N(H i) ≥ 0.5 × 1022cm-2) detected in quasar spectra from the Baryon Oscillation Spectroscopic ...Survey (BOSS) of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS-III) Data Release 11. We study the neutral hydrogen, metal, and dust content of this elusive population of absorbers and confirm our previous finding that the high column density end of the N(H i) frequency distribution has a relatively shallow slope with power-law index −3.6, similar to what is seen from 21-cm maps in nearby galaxies. The stacked absorption spectrum indicates a typical metallicity ~1/20th solar, similar to the mean metallicity of the overall DLA population. The relatively small velocity extent of the low-ionisation lines suggests that ESDLAs do not arise from large-scale flows of neutral gas. The high column densities involved are in turn more similar to what is seen in DLAs associated with gamma-ray burst afterglows (GRB-DLAs), which are known to occur close to star-forming regions. This indicates that ESDLAs arise from a line of sight passing at very small impact parameters from the host galaxy, as observed in nearby galaxies. This is also supported by simple theoretical considerations and recent high-z hydrodynamical simulations. We strongly substantiate this picture by the first statistical detection of Ly α emission with ⟨LESDLA(Ly α)⟩ ≃ (0.6 ± 0.2) × 1042 erg s-1 in the core of ESDLAs (corresponding to about 0.1 L⋆ at z ~ 2−3), obtained through stacking the fibre spectra (of radius 1 ″ corresponding to ~8 kpc at z ~ 2.5). Statistical errors on the Ly α luminosity are of the order of 0.1 × 1042 erg s-1 but we caution that the measured Ly α luminosity may be overestimated by ~35% due to sky light residuals and/or FUV emission from the quasar host and that we have neglected flux-calibration uncertainties. We estimate a more conservative uncertainty of 0.2 × 1042 erg s-1. The properties of the Ly α line (luminosity distribution, velocity width and velocity offset compared to systemic redshift) are very similar to that of the population of Lyman-α emitting galaxies (LAEs) with LLAE(Ly α) ≥ 1041erg s-1 detected in long-slit spectroscopy or narrow-band imaging surveys. By matching the incidence of ESDLAs with that of the LAEs population, we estimate the high column density gas radius to be about rgas = 2.5 kpc, i.e., significantly smaller than the radius corresponding to the BOSS fibre aperture, making fibre losses likely negligible. Finally, the average measured Ly α luminosity indicates a star-formation rate consistent with the Schmidt-Kennicutt law, SFR (M⊙ yr-1) ≈ 0.6 /fesc, where fesc < 1 is the Ly α escape fraction. Assuming the typical escape fraction of LAEs, fesc ~ 0.3, the Schmidt-Kennicutt law implies a galaxy radius of about rgal ≈ 2.5 kpc. Finally, we note that possible overestimation of the Ly α emission would result in both smaller rgas and rgal. Our results support a close association between LAEs and strong DLA host galaxies.
Introduction
Cariprazine (CAR) is a D2, D3, 5HT1A receptor partial agonist and a 5HT2A, 5HT2B antagonist, used to treat Schizophrenia and Bipolar disorder. Interindividual variability in therapeutic ...and side effects of antipsychotics is difficult to predict, due to non-genetic and genetic factors. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) are the main source of genetic variability, the ones in dopamine and serotonin receptors to which CAR binds are indeed likely to determine response to treatment.
Objectives
The aim of the study is to define a relationship between CAR clinical efficacy and SNPs in dopamine and serotonin receptors genes of patients affected by schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Methods
We recruited 16 patients starting a monotherapy with CAR, evaluated at baseline and after 2, 4 and 8 weeks through BPRS rating scale. We selected a panel of SNPs in DR2, DR3, 5HT1A and 5HT2A receptors, with a frequency higher that 10% in Caucasians and functionally characterized. Cut-off for response to treatment was a 50% reduction of BPRS score. Statistical analysis was performed with one-way ANOVA followed by the test for linear trend between columns.
Results
All subjects achieved response after 8 weeks of treatment, but 6 patients after 4 weeks. Early responders have a genetic profile associated with increased dopamine and serotonin receptor expression and/or binding affinity for their specific ligands. The association don’t reach statistical significance, probably due to low number of patients.
Conclusions
Preliminary results suggest that an array of dopamine and serotonin receptors SNPs could predict time to respond to CAR in schizophrenia and bipolar disorder.
Disclosure
The study is founded by Recordati AG, that commercialize the drug under study (Cariprazine) in Switzerland. Funding covers the costs for genetic analysis and other procedures of the study, no financial compensation is planned for investigators/authors.
The agronomic use of charcoal from biomass pyrolysis (biochar) represents an interesting option for increasing soil fertility and sequestering atmospheric CO2. However, before moving toward ...large-scale biochar applications, additional research must evaluate all possible land-atmosphere feedbacks. Despite the increasing number of studies investigating the effect of biochar on soil physical, chemical and biological properties, only a few have been done on surface albedo variations on agricultural lands. The present work had the aim of characterizing the annual albedo cycle for a durum wheat crop in Central Italy, by means of a spectroradiometer measurement campaign. Plots treated with biochar, at a rate of 30-60 t ha−1, showed a surface albedo decrease of up to 80% (after the application) with respect to the control in bare soil conditions, while this difference tended to decrease during the crop growing season, because of the prevailing effect of canopy development on the radiometer response. After the post-harvesting tillage, the soil treated with biochar again showed a lower surface albedo value (<20-26% than the control), while the measurements taken in the second year after application suggested a clear decrease of biochar influence on soil color. The modeling of the surface energy balance highlighted changes in the partitioning of heat fluxes and in particular a substantial increase of ground heat fluxes on an annual basis.
In the context of aphasia rehabilitation, there is a perceived need for interventions with a reduced linguistic demand targeting well-being. Mind-body and creative arts approaches are holistic and ...person-centred approaches, primarily relying on means other than verbal exchanges and promoting self-regulation strategies.
This mixed-method systematic review aimed to evaluate the availability, feasibility and effectiveness of mind-body and creative arts therapies in promoting well-being for people with aphasia. Eight databases were searched using subject headings and keywords. Full-text screening, critical appraisal and data extraction were conducted independently by two reviewers. A segregated synthesis approach was used (i.e., Revised Effect Direction Plot technique and Thematic Synthesis approach). Findings are presented in a narrative and visual form.
Twenty-two studies were included (Mind-body: n = 11; Creative arts: n = 11). Heterogeneity of study design and quality, intervention type, procedures and dosage, outcomes, and level of offered communication support were identified. Improvements were noted across a wide range of well-being outcomes with more consistent positive results for anxiety and communication. One hundred and twenty-eight findings were extracted and synthesised in three broad themes: positive impact on self, empowering multifaceted experience, and relevance of needs-centred adjustments.
Provisional findings about the benefits of mind-body and creative arts interventions on aspects of well-being for some individuals with aphasia were identified. However, findings are complex and need to be interpreted cautiously. Facilitators and barriers to these therapies are highlighted with related recommendations for practice. This review poses a demand for further research in the field, implementing rigorous methodology and aphasia-specific support to facilitate inclusion and engagement.
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