bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Variability in hematology of white‐spotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) in different living environments
Authors: Parkinson Lily A. , Alexander Amy B. , Campbell Terry W.
Published: June 2017

Elasmobranch hematology continues to reveal new peculiarities within this specialized field. This report compares total hematologic values from the same white‐spotted bamboo sharks (Chiloscyllium plagiosum) housed in different environments. We compared the hemograms one year apart, using a standardized Natt‐Herrick's technique. The total white blood cell (WBC) counts of the sharks were statistically different between the two time points (initial median total WBC count = 18,920 leukocytes/μl, SD = 8,108; 1 year later total WBC count = 1,815 leukocytes/μl, SD = 1,309). The packed cell volumes were additionally found to be statistically different (19%, SD = 2.9 vs. 22%, SD = 2.0). Analysis revealed the only differences between the time points were the temperature and stocking densities at which these sharks were housed. This report emphasizes the need for a thorough understanding of the husbandry of an elasmobranch prior to interpretation of a hemogram and suggests that reference intervals should be created for each environment.
Post-diagnosis serum insulin-like growth factors in relation to dietary and lifestyle changes in the Prostate testing for cancer and Treatment (ProtecT) trial
Authors: Er Vanessa , Biernacka Kalina , Simpkin Andrew J. , Martin Richard M. , Jeffreys Mona , Emmett Pauline , Gilbert Rebecca , Avery Kerry N. L. , Walsh Eleanor , Davis Michael , Donovan Jenny L. , Neal David E. , Hamdy Freddie C. , Holly Jeff M. P. , Lane J. Athene
Published: June 2017

Purpose

The insulin-like growth factor (IGF) system is modifiable by diet and lifestyle, and has been linked to prostate cancer development and progression.

Methods

We conducted a prospective cohort study of 621 men diagnosed with localized prostate cancer to investigate the associations of dietary and lifestyle changes with post-diagnosis circulating levels of IGF-I and IGFBP-3. We used analysis of covariance to estimate the associations, controlling for baseline IGF-I or IGFBP-3, respectively.

Results

Mean IGF-I levels were 6.5% (95% CI −12.8, −0.3%,p = 0.04) lower in men who decreased their protein intake after diagnosis compared to men who did not change. Men who changed their fruit and vegetable intake had lower IGF-I levels compared to non-changers [Decreased intake: −10.1%, 95% CI −18.4, −1.8%,p = 0.02; Increased intake: −12.0%, 95% CI −18.4, −1.8%,p = 0.002]. IGFBP-3 was 14.6% (95% CI −24.5, −4.8%,p = 0.004) lower in men who achieved a healthy body mass index after diagnosis. Men who became inactive had 9.5% higher average IGF-I levels (95% CI 0.1, 18.9%,p = 0.05).

Conclusions

Decreased protein intake and body mass index, and increased physical activity and fruit and vegetable intake, following a prostate cancer diagnosis were associated with reduced post-diagnosis serum IGF-I and IGFBP-3. Counterintuitively, reduced fruit and vegetable intake was also associated with reduced IGF-I, but with weak statistical support, possibly implicating chance. If confirmed in other studies, our findings may inform potential lifestyle interventions in prostate cancer. ProtecT was registered at International Standard Randomised Controlled Trial Registry,http://isrctn.orgas ISRCTN20141297.
Technology challenges of stealth unmanned combat aerial vehicles
Authors: Sepulveda E. , Smith H.
Published: June 2017

The ever-changing battlefield environment, as well as the emergence of global command and control architectures currently used by armed forces around the globe, requires the use of robust and adaptive technologies integrated into a reliable platform. Unmanned Combat Aerial Vehicles (UCAVs) aim to integrate such advanced technologies while also increasing the tactical capabilities of combat aircraft. This paper provides a summary of the technical and operational design challenges specific to UCAVs, focusing on high-performance, and stealth designs. After a brief historical overview, the main technology demonstrator programmes currently under development are presented. The key technologies affecting UCAV design are identified and discussed. Finally, this paper briefly presents the main issues related to airworthiness, navigation, and ethical concerns behind UAV/UCAV operations.
Study of air-core vortical flow structure induced by a plughole vortex
Authors: Ahmed Rayhan , Lim Heechang
Published: June 2017

This paper describes a study of the generation of a plughole vortex and its consequences in a drainpipe during drainage of water from a stationary rectangular tank. The critical and minimum depths of water above the inlet of the drainpipe, where a surface dip starts to develop for drainpipes of various diameters, were examined parametrically. This study explored the following naturally occurring phenomena arising from a plughole vortex. (i) A plughole vortex initially causes a surface dip to develop towards the inlet of the drainpipe and as the surface dip approaches the inlet of the drainpipe it creates a droplet-shaped air bubble. (ii) A unique bubble transformation, i.e. from a droplet-shaped to a donut-shaped bubble ring, occurs just after the separation of the droplet-shaped air bubble from the surface dip. (iii) The donut-shaped bubble ring flows with the drain water and initially causes bubbly flow in the drainpipe. (iv) As the water head above the inlet of the drainpipe decreases, the droplet-shaped bubble size increases, and consequently, the bubble ring size increases and causes slug flow in the drainpipe. (v) As the slugs combine, the flow of the draining water eventually becomes annular flow in the drainpipe. Sounds, such as that of instantaneous fizz and bubble sink draining, were observed to be produced as a result of the bubble formation process. Temporal changes in the shape and size of the air bubbles were studied. Within the range of 0.45–0.6, the ratio of the bubble diameter to the bubble length was found to be linearly proportional to the ratio of the water depth to the diameter of the drainpipe. Several drainage cases were simulated numerically to observe the physics of these naturally occurring phenomena. The shapes and sizes of the vortices induced by plugholes have been visualised and analysed using the vortex core method.
The stability of compressible swirling pipe flows with density stratification
Authors: Yadav Navneet K. , Samanta Arnab
Published: June 2017

We investigate the spatial stability of compressible, viscous pipe flows with radius-dependent mean density profiles, subjected to solid body rotations. For a fixed Rossby number $\unicode[STIX]{x1D716}$ (inverse of the rotational speed), as the Reynolds number $Re$ is increased, the flow transitions from being stable to convectively unstable, usually leading to absolute instability. If flow compressibility is unimportant and $Re$ is held constant, there appears to be a maximum $Re$ below which the flow remains stable irrespective of any rotational speed, or a minimum azimuthal Reynolds number $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}}$ $(=Re/\unicode[STIX]{x1D716})$ is required for any occurrence of absolute instabilities. Once compressible forces are significant, the effect of pressure–density coupling is found to be more severe below a critical $Re$, where as rotational speeds are raised, a stable flow almost directly transitions to an absolutely unstable state. This happens at a critical $Re_{\unicode[STIX]{x1D703}}$ which reduces with increased flow Mach number, pointing to compressibility aiding in the instability at these lower Reynolds numbers. However, at higher $Re$, above the critical value, the traditional stabilizing role of compressibility is recovered if mean density stratification exists, where the gradients of density play an equally important role, more so at the higher azimuthal modes. A total disturbance energy-based formulation is used to obtain mechanistic understanding at these stability states, where we find the entropic energy perturbations to dominate as the primary instability mechanism, in sharp contrast to the energy due to axial shear, known to play a leading role in incompressible swirling flows.
New model for acoustic waves propagating through a vortical flow
Authors: Thomas Jim
Published: June 2017

A new amplitude equation is derived for high-frequency acoustic waves propagating through an incompressible vortical flow using multi-time-scale asymptotic analysis. The reduced model is derived without an explicit spatial-scale separation ansatz between the wave and vortical fields. As a consequence, the model is seen to capture very well the features of the wave field in the regime where the spatial scales of the wave and vortical fields are comparable, a regime for which an optimal reduced model does not seem to be available.
PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS OF INFERTILITY IN TURKEY: EVIDENCE FROM DEMOGRAPHIC AND HEALTH SURVEYS, 1993–2013
Authors: Sarac Melike , Koc Ismet
Published: June 2017

The inability to have children affects couples worldwide and causes emotional and psychological distress in both men and women. Turkey is a country that lays particular emphasis on the issue of infertility, especially after experiencing a dramatic fertility decline over the last two decades. This study aimed to understand the changes in the prevalence of infertility in Turkey using three different approaches: the DHS Approach, the Constructed Approach and the Current Duration Approach. Furthermore, the factors contributing to elevated risks of infertility as derived from the Constructed Approach were investigated using four different logistic regression models. The data came from the 1993, 1998, 2003, 2008 and 2013 Demographic and Health Surveys conducted by the Hacettepe University Institute of Population Studies. The findings of the Constructed and Current Duration Approaches suggested that the prevalence of infertility decreased markedly from 1993 to 2013 in Turkey. This decline was the result of improvements in maternal health care services in Turkey, as well as an increase in the use of Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART), from 1.9% in 2008 to 4.1% in 2013. The results of the final logistic regression model suggested that the risk of infertility was significantly higher among women aged between 35 and 49 (p<0.01), uneducated women (p<0.01), women whose age at first marriage was over 30 (p<0.01), women defined as overweight (p<0.05) and women whose age at menarche was less than 12 years (p<0.05). This is the first nationwide study to examine the prevalence of infertility and its socio-demographic risk factors in Turkey, a developing country; previous studies have established these risk factors mainly in developed countries.
Molecular detection of Sarcocystis lutrae in the European badger (Meles meles) in Scotland
Authors: LEPORE T. , BARTLEY P. M. , CHIANINI F. , MACRAE A. I. , INNES E. A. , KATZER F.
Published: June 2017

Neck samples from 54 badgers and 32 tongue samples of the same badgers (Meles meles), collected in the Lothians and Borders regions of Scotland, were tested using polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) directed against the 18S ribosomal DNA and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS1) region of protozoan parasites of the family Sarcocystidae. Positive results were obtained from 36/54 (67%) neck and 24/32 (75%) tongue samples using an 18S rDNA PCR. A 468 base pair consensus sequence that was generated from the 18S rDNA PCR amplicons (KX229728) showed 100% identity to Sarcocystis lutrae. The ITS1 PCR results revealed that 12/20 (60%) neck and 10/20 (50%) tongue samples were positive for Sarcocystidae DNA. A 1074 bp consensus sequence was generated from the ITS1 PCR amplicons (KX431307) and showed 100% identity to S. lutrae. Multiple sequence alignments and phylogenetic analysis support the finding that the rDNA found in badgers is identical to that of S. lutrae. This parasite has not been previously reported in badgers or in the UK. Sarcocystis lutrae has previously only been detected in tongue, skeletal muscle and diaphragm samples of the Eurasian otter (Lutra lutra) in Norway and potentially in the Arctic fox (Vulpes lagopus).
Prevalence and genetic diversity of blood parasite mixed infections in Spanish terrapins, Mauremys leprosa
Authors: MARZAL ALFONSO , IBÁÑEZ ALEJANDRO , GONZÁLEZ-BLÁZQUEZ MANUEL , LÓPEZ PILAR , MARTÍN JOSÉ
Published: June 2017

Blood parasites such as haemogregarines and haemosporidians have been identified in almost all groups of vertebrates and may cause serious damages to their hosts. However, very little is known about biodiversity of these parasites and their effects on some groups of reptiles such as terrapins. Moreover, the information on virulence from blood parasites mixed infection is largely unknown in reptiles. With this aim, we investigated for the first time the prevalence and genetic diversity of blood parasites from one genus of haemoparasitic aplicomplexan (Hepatozoon) in two populations of Spanish terrapins (Mauremys leprosa), a semi-aquatic turtle from southwestern Europe with a vulnerable conservation status. We also examined the association between mixed blood parasite infection and indicators of health of terrapins (body condition, haematocrit values and immune response). Blood parasite infection with Hepatozoon spp was detected in 46·4% of 140 examined terrapins. The prevalence of blood parasites infection differed between populations. We found two different lineages of blood parasite, which have not been found in previous studies. Of the turtles with infection, 5·7% harboured mixed infection by the two lineages. There was no difference in body condition between uninfected, single-infected and mixed-infected turtles, but mixed-infected individuals had the lowest values of haematocrit, thus revealing the negative effects of blood parasite mixed infections. Immune response varied among terrapins with different infection status, where mixed infected individuals had higher immune response than uninfected or single-infected terrapins.
HEALTH TECHNOLOGY PERFORMANCE ASSESSMENT: REAL-WORLD EVIDENCE FOR PUBLIC HEALTHCARE SUSTAINABILITY
Authors: Guerra-Júnior Augusto Afonso , Pires de Lemos Lívia Lovato , Godman Brian , Bennie Marion , Osorio-de-Castro Cláudia Garcia Serpa , Alvares Juliana , Heaney Aine , Vassallo Carlos Alberto , Wettermark Björn , Benguria-Arrate Gaizka , Gutierrez-Ibarluzea Iñaki , Santos Vania Cristina Canuto , Petramale Clarice Alegre , Acurcio Fransciso de Assis
Published: June 2017

Objectives:Health technology financing is often based on randomized controlled trials (RCTs), which are often the same ones used for licensing. Because they are designed to show the best possible results, typically Phase III studies are conducted under ideal and highly controlled conditions. Consequently, it is not surprising that technologies do not always perform in real life in the same way as controlled conditions. Because financing (and price paid) decisions can be made with overestimated results, health authorities need to ask whether health systems achieve the results they expect when they choose to pay for a technology. The optimal way to answer this question is to assess the performance of financed technologies in real-world settings. Health technology performance assessment (HTpA) refers to the systematic evaluation of the properties, effects, and/or impact of a health intervention or health technology in the real world to provide information for investment/disinvestment decisions and clinical guideline updates. The objective is to describe the development and principal aspects of the Guideline for HTpA commissioned by the Brazilian Ministry of Health.

Methods:Our methods used include extensive literature review, refinement with experts across countries, and public consultation.

Results:A comprehensive guideline was developed, which has been adopted by the Brazilian government.

Conclusion:We believe the guideline, with its particular focus on disinvestment, along with the creation of a specific program for HTpA, will allow the institutionalization and continuous improvement of the scientific methods to use real-world evidence to optimize available resources not only in Brazil but across countries.
Foucault Retires to the Gym: Understanding Embodied Aging in the Third Age
Authors: Allain Kristi A. , Marshall Barbara
Published: June 2017

Des pressions sociales récentes ont amené une nouvelle conception du « troisième âge », qui est maintenant vu comme une période d’activité constante, et non de repos ou de relaxation. Cet article explore les pressions exercées sur les individus, qui sont poussés vers le vieillissement « réussi » à travers la pratique d’activités physiques, malgré leur avancée en âge. Il examine, par l’intermédiaire d’entretiens semi-directifs avec 15 personnes à la retraite ou en préretraite fréquentant les gyms (8 femmes, 7 hommes), comment cet appel à une activité accrue influence la perception que des adultes d’âge moyen et avancé ont d’eux-mêmes et des autres. En prenant appui sur la nature productive du pouvoir, tel que conçu par Foucault, cet article fait valoir que les individus qui se perçoivent comme des adeptes du vieillissement actif et réussi se considèrent en opposition à leurs pairs inactifs. Dans un cadre néolibéral, ces participants se définissent comme des citoyens moralement responsables qui, par leur engagement dans des activités de mise en forme physique, sont autorisés à juger et à discipliner les corps de ces « autres » qui ne peuvent pratiquer ou qui ne pratiqueront pas une activité physique régulière.
To Have and To Hold … Or Not? Deaccessioning Policies, Practices, and the Question of the Public’s Interest
Authors: Mann Deandra Rose
Published: June 2017

Shockwaves echoed through the media and the arts community when the Delaware Art Museum chose to deaccession pieces from its collection and when the public learned that the Detroit Institute of Arts might be forced to do the same. Further concern arose when financial troubles compelled the Corcoran Gallery of Art to merge with the National Gallery of Art and George Washington University. An examination of the climate and legal battles surrounding these events shows how these institutions chose to cope with the financial adversity that put their collections at risk and illustrates the precarious position of works in a museum’s collection when that museum experiences financial distress. This article explores the ethical, judicial, and legislative frameworks currently governing deaccessioning and ultimately advocates for new legislative solutions to guide the deaccession process in order to provide the opportunity to maintain these works in the public sphere.
INEQUALITY, INFORMALITY, AND CREDIT MARKET IMPERFECTIONS
Authors: Dell'Anno Roberto
Published: June 2017

This paper develops a microfounded macroeconomic modeling framework to investigate the relationship between informality and the income distribution. We show that multiple equilibria may rise if credit markets are imperfect and that there is a nondivisible entry cost in the formal economy. The theoretical analysis demonstrates that in the steady state, low levels of inequality are negatively correlated with high informality; conversely, high inequality exacerbates informality. This finding supports the hypothesis of an optimal level of inequality that minimizes the informal economy relative to the impact of other levels of inequality. However, for ordinary income distributions, changes in the level of inequality have only a slight effect on the informality rate. We calibrate the model using data on the U.S. and Mexican economies to estimate the level of inequality that minimizes the informality rate. The self-employment rate emerges as the most relevant determinant of the informality rate.
Association between level of exposure to death and dying and professional quality of life among palliative care workers
Authors: Samson Tali , Shvartzman Pesach
Published: June 2017

Background:

Exposure to the death and dying of others is an anxiety-provoking condition that can contribute to psychological stress. However, the results of empirical studies that evaluated work-related outcomes among physicians and nurses with repeated exposure to dying patients are not consistent.

Objective:

Our aim was to evaluate whether a high level of exposure to death and dying (LED) can increase the risk for poor professional quality of life (ProQoL) in most healthcare workers, but it can also improve ProQoL in a subset of healthcare workers with specific characteristics.

Method:

We employed a cross-sectional survey designed to better understand the role of LED as a predictor of ProQoL among healthcare workers.

Setting and Participants:

Comparison of physicians and nurses with high LED (home-based palliative care units) with a matched group of physicians and nurses with low LED (primary care units) and evaluation of possible interaction effects among LED, death anxiety (DA), and engagement as predictors of ProQoL.

Results:

The final sample included 110 questionnaires from the high-LED group (response rate = 39%) and 131 from the low-LED (response rate = 24%) group. Workers with high LED reported an increased level of compassion satisfaction (CS) and low to moderate levels of burnout (BU) and secondary traumatic stress (STS), with no significant differences with respect to other healthcare providers. Although levels of CS, STS, and BU did not differ between groups, a univariate MANOVA revealed that the interaction effect of LED × Engagement reduced levels of CS and that the interaction effect of LED × DA increased STS among workers with high LED.

Significance of results:

LED was significantly correlated with ProQoL among healthcare workers with high LED due to the reported interaction effect. These findings imply, for the first time, that there is a possible correlation between engagement and the risk for poor ProQoL among workers with high LED. Further research is essential to gain a better understanding of this issue.
Cancer-bereaved siblings' positive and negative memories and experiences of illness and death: A nationwide follow-up
Authors: Eilertsen Mary-Elizabeth Bradley , Lövgren Malin , Wallin Alexandra Eilegård , Kreicbergs Ulrika
Published: June 2017

Objective:

Our aim was to explore bereaved siblings' positive and negative memories and experiences of their brother's or sister's illness and death.

Method:

In our nationwide Swedish study, 174 of 240 (73%) bereaved siblings participated, and 70% responded to two open-ended statements, which focused on siblings' positive and negative memories and experiences of illness and death. The data were analyzed using systematic text condensation.

Results:

The bereaved siblings' responses were categorized into four different themes: (1) endurance versus vulnerability, (2) family cohesion versus family conflicts, (3) growth versus stagnation, and (4) professional support versus lack of professional support. The first theme expressed endurance as the influence that the ill siblings' strong willpower, good mood, and stamina in their difficult situation had on healthy siblings, whereas vulnerability was expressed as the feeling of emptiness and loneliness involved with having an ill and dying sibling. In the second theme, family cohesion was expressed as the bonds being strengthened between family members, whereas family conflicts often led siblings to feel invisible and unacknowledged. In the third theme, most siblings expressed the feeling that they grew as individuals in the process of their brother's or sister's illness and death, whereas others experienced stagnation because of the physical and mental distress they bore throughout this time, often feeling forgotten. In the last theme—professional support—most siblings perceived physicians and staff at the hospital as being warm, kind, and honest, while some siblings had negative experiences.

Significance of results:

The study shows that bereaved siblings can have positive memories and experiences. The significance of the positive buffering effect on bereaved siblings' own endurance, personal growth, family cohesion, and social support should be noted. This knowledge can be valuable in showing healthcare professionals the importance of supporting the siblings of children with cancer throughout the cancer trajectory and afterwards into bereavement.
MORMONS, GENDER, AND THE NEW COMMERCIAL ENTERTAINMENTS, 1890–1920
Authors: Talbot Christine
Published: June 2017

In the early twentieth century, new forms of commercial entertainment—dance halls, movie theaters, amusement halls and parks, saloons and the like—emerged in urban areas, providing new ways for young Americans to amuse themselves. This essay explores the distinctive Mormon response to these new forms of amusement. Mormon leaders took up other progressive reformers’ concerns about early twentieth-century amusements, but refracted them through a distinctively Mormon lens that was at once gendered and uniquely religious. Mormons rejected the progressive double standard that sought to constrain women's, more than men's, participation in these new entertainments, focusing on restraining both genders equally. While many progressives held women more responsible for the sexual transgressions they worried resulted from these new forms of entertainment, Mormons held men and women equally accountable. Moreover, while other progressives sought (and largely failed) to provide alternative, more wholesome, entertainment for American youth, Mormons successfully provided family and Church amusements that kept their youth safely ensconced within the Church community. By the end of the 1910s, Church leaders had officially institutionalized the provision of amusement for its members and the Church formally became a social as well as religious organization.
Spectroscopy of candidate electromagnetic counterparts to gravitational wave sources
Authors: Steele Iain A. , Copperwheat Chris M. , Piascik Andrzej S.
Published: June 2017

A programme of worldwide, multi-wavelength electromagnetic follow-up of sources detected by gravitational wave detectors is in place. Following the discovery of GW150914 and GW151226, wide field imaging of their sky localisations identified a number of candidate optical counterparts which were then spectrally classified. The majority of candidates were found to be supernovae at redshift ranges similar to the GW events and were thereby ruled out as a genuine counterpart. Other candidates ruled out include AGN and Solar System objects. Given the GW sources were black hole binary mergers, the lack of an identified electromagnetic counterpart is not surprising. However the observations show that it is possible to organise and execute a campaign that can eliminate the majority of potential counterparts. Finally we note the existence of a “classification gap” with a significant fraction of candidates going unclassified.
Particle-in-cell Simulations of Global Relativistic Jets with Helical Magnetic Fields
Authors: Duţan Ioana , Nishikawa Ken-Ichi , Mizuno Yosuke , Niemiec Jacek , Kobzar Oleh , Pohl Martin , Gómez Jose L. , Pe’er Asaf , Frederiksen Jacob T. , Nordlund Åke , Meli Athina , Sol Helene , Hardee Philip E. , Hartmann Dieter H.
Published: June 2017

We study the interaction of relativistic jets with their environment, using 3-dimen- sional relativistic particle-in-cell simulations for two cases of jet composition: (i) electron-proton (e− − p+) and (ii) electron-positron (e±) plasmas containing helical magnetic fields. We have performed simulations of “global” jets containing helical magnetic fields in order to examine how helical magnetic fields affect kinetic instabilities such as the Weibel instability, the kinetic Kelvin-Helmholtz instability and the Mushroom instability. We have found that these kinetic instabilities are suppressed and new types of instabilities can grow. For the e− − p+ jet, a recollimation-like instability occurs and jet electrons are strongly perturbed, whereas for the e± jet, a recollimation-like instability occurs at early times followed by kinetic instability and the general structure is similar to a simulation without a helical magnetic field. We plan to perform further simulations using much larger systems to confirm these new findings.
Where is the electric current driven in the Blandford-Znajek process?
Authors: Toma Kenji , Takahara Fumio
Published: June 2017

The Blandford-Znajek process, the steady electromagnetic energy extraction from a rotating black hole, is widely believed to work for driving relativistic jets, although it is still under debate where the electric current is driven. We address this issue analytically by investigating the time-dependent state in the Boyer-Lindquist and Kerr-Schild coordinate systems. This analysis suggests that a non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic region is required in the time-dependent state, while not in the steady state.
Quantum electromagnetic phenomena far from small evaporating black holes
Authors: Emelyanov Slava
Published: June 2017

One might expect far away from physical black holes that quantum field quantisation performed in Minkowski space is a good approximation. Indeed, all experimental tests in particle colliders reveal no deviations so far. Nevertheless, the black holes should leave certain imprints of their presence in quantum processes. In this paper, we shall discuss several local imprints of small, primordial evaporating black holes in quantum electrodynamics in the weak gravity regime. Physically this can be interpreted as being macroscopic manifestations of vacuum fluctuations.
Black holes in Einstein-Gauß-Bonnet-dilaton theory
Authors: Blázquez-Salcedo Jose Luis , Cardoso Vitor , Ferrari Valeria , Gualtieri Leonardo , Kanti Panagiota , Khoo Fech Scen , Kleihaus Burkhard , Kunz Jutta , Macedo Caio F. B. , Mojica Sindy , Pani Paolo , Radu Eugen
Published: June 2017

Generalizations of the Schwarzschild and Kerr black holes are discussed in an astrophysically viable generalized theory of gravity, which includes higher curvature corrections in the form of the Gauss-Bonnet term, coupled to a dilaton. The angular momentum of these black holes can slightly exceed the Kerr bound. The location and the orbital frequency of particles in their innermost stable circular orbits can deviate significantly from the respective Kerr values. Study of the quasinormal modes of the static black holes gives strong evidence that they are mode stable against polar and axial perturbations. Future gravitational wave observations should improve the current bound on the Gauss-Bonnet coupling constant, based on observations of the low-mass x-ray binary A 0620-00.
Open our eyes to wider fields in VLBI surveys
Authors: Rozgonyi Kristóf , Frey Sándor
Published: June 2017

The observation and imaging of hundreds or thousands of radio sources with the technique of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) is a computationally intensive task. However, these surveys allow us to conduct statistical investigations of large source samples, and also to discover new phenomena or types of objects. The field of view of these high-resolution VLBI imaging observations is typically a few arcseconds at cm wavelengths. For practical reasons, often a much smaller fraction of the field, the central region is imaged only. With an automated process we imaged the ~1.5-arcsec radius fields around more than 1000 radio sources, and found a variety of extended radio structures. Some of them are yet unknown in the literature.
Unveiling early black holes with JWST
Authors: Natarajan Priyamvada
Published: June 2017

The formation of direct collapse black hole seeds with masses ~104 − 105 ~M⊙ could help explain the assembly of supermassive black holes powering high redshift quasars. Conditions conducive to the formation of these massive initial seeds exist at high redshift. Halos hosting these massive seeds merge promptly with a nearby galaxy. These early stage mergers at high redshift produce a new class of transient galaxies that contain an accreting black hole that is over-massive compared to the newly acquired stellar component - Obese Black hole Galaxies (OBGs). During this phase, the accretion luminosity of the direct collapse black hole seed exceeds that of the acquired stellar component. Here we calculate the multi-wavelength spectrum of this short-lived OBG stage, and show that there exist unique observational signatures in long wavelengths spanning near, mid to far-infrared that should be detectable by instruments aboard the upcoming James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).
Ensemble quasar spectral variability from the XMM-Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue
Authors: Serafinelli Roberto , Vagnetti Fausto , Middei Riccardo
Published: June 2017

Variations of the X-ray spectral slope have been found in many Active Galactic Nuclei (AGN) at moderate luminosities and redshifts, typically showing a “softer when brighter” behaviour. However, similar studies are not usually performed for high-luminosity AGNs. We present an analysis of the spectral variability based on a large sample of quasars in wide intervals of luminosity and redshift, measured at several different epochs, extracted from the fifth release of the XMM Newton Serendipitous Source Catalogue. Our analysis confirms a “softer when brighter” trend also for our sample, extending to high luminosity and redshift the general behaviour previously found. These results can be understood in light of current spectral models, such as intrinsic variations of the X-ray primary radiation, or superposition with a constant reflection component.
Radio and γ-ray loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies in the spotlight
Authors: Karamanavis V. , Angelakis E. , Komossa S. , Myserlis I. , Blinov D. , Zensus J. A.
Published: June 2017

Narrow-line Seyfert 1 (NLS1) galaxies provide us with unique insights into the drivers of AGN activity under extreme conditions. Given their low black hole (BH) masses and near-Eddington accretion rates, they represent a class of galaxies with rapidly growing supermassive BHs in the local universe. Here, we present the results from our multi-frequency radio monitoring of a sample of γ-ray loud NLS1 galaxies (γNLS1s), including systems discovered only recently, and featuring both the nearest and the most distant γNLS1s known to date. We also present high-resolution radio imaging of 1H 0323+342, which is remarkable for its spiral or ring-like host. Finally, we present new radio data of the candidate γ-emitting NLS1 galaxy RX J2314.9+2243, characterized by a very steep radio spectrum, unlike other γNLS1s.
What can Fermi LAT observation of the Galactic Centre tell us about its active past?
Authors: Zaharijas Gabrijela , Petrović Jovana , Serpico Pasquale
Published: June 2017

The Fermi-LAT gamma-ray data in the inner Galaxy region show several prominent features possibly related to the past activity of the Milky Way’s super massive black hole. At a large, 50 deg scale, the Fermi LAT revealed symmetric hour glass structures with hard energy spectra extending up to 100 GeV (and dubbed ‘the Fermi bubbles’). More recently and closer to the Galactic centre, at the 10 deg scale, several groups have claimed evidence for excess gamma-ray emission that appears symmetric around the Galactic center and has an energy spectrum peaking at few GeVs. We explore here the possibility that this emission originates in inverse Compton emission from high-energy electrons produced in a short duration, burst-like event injecting 1052 − 1053 erg, roughly 106 yrs ago. Several lines of evidence suggest that a series of ‘burst like’ events happened in the vicinity of our black hole in the past and gamma-ray observations may offer a new view of that scenario.
Doppler Boosting Effect on the Jet Radiation of Gamma-Ray Bursts and Active Galactic Nuclei
Authors: Huang Xiao-Li , Zhang Hai-Ming , Zhong Shu-Qing , Liang En-Wei
Published: June 2017

High energy photon radiations of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) and active galactic nuclei (AGNs) are dominated by their jet radiations. It was suggested that relativistic jets powered by different mass-scale black holes may share the same physical laws. A tight relation among the peak luminosity, the peak photon energy in the νfν spectrum, and the initial Lorentz factor is found for GRBs. With samples of GeV-TeV BL Lacs, FSRQs, and NLS1 galaxies, we show that these sources do not follow this relation. This may be attributed to the jet geometry and continuous/episodic jet as well as radiation physics for different kinds of sources.
Lorentz Factor Evolution Patterns within Relativistic Jets of GRBs and AGNs
Authors: Zhang Hai-Ming , Lin Da-Bin , Lin Ting-Ting , Liu Bao-Rong , Huang Xiao-Li , Zhong Shu-Qing , Lu Rui-Jing , Liang En-Wei
Published: June 2017

The Lorentz factor (Γ) is an important parameter related to the relativistic jet physics. We study the evolution patterns of Γ within gamma-ray burst (GRB) and active galactic nuclear jets for individual GRB 090168, GRB 140508A, and 3C 454.3. By estimating the Γ values for well-separated pulses in GRBs 090618 and 140508A with an empirical relation derived from typical GRBs, we find that the Γ evolution pattern in the two GRBs are different. The increasing-to-coasting evolution pattern of Γ in GRB 090618 likely indicates that the GRB fireball is still being accelerated in the prompt phase. The clear decrease evolution pattern of Γ in GRB 140508A suggests the deceleration of the fireball components. By deriving the Γ value through fitting their spectral energy distribution in different flares of 3C 454.3, a pattern of Γ-tracking-γ-ray flux is clearly found, likely indicating that the observed gamma-ray flares are being due to the Doppler boosting effect to the jet emission.
A thin disk model for the high efficiency jet in powerful lobe-dominated FRII radio galaxies
Authors: Li Shuang-Liang
Published: June 2017

We propose a thin accretion disk with magnetically driven winds model to investigate the high jet efficiency phenomenon in lobe-dominated luminous FRII radio galaxies, which was reported by Fernandes et al. (2011) and Punsly (2011). It was found that the temperature of a thin disk with winds was much lower comparing with that of a standard thin disk because the winds take the most of energy released in the disk away, resulting in a much smaller raditive efficiency. Therefore, the jet efficiency can be very high even for conventional jet power. Our model can explain the observations quite well.
Search for UHE neutrinos in coincidence with LIGO GW150914 event with the Pierre Auger Observatory
Authors: Yang Lili ,   for the Pierre Auger Collaboration
Published: June 2017

The first gravitational wave transient GW150914 was observed by Advanced LIGO on September 14th, 2015 at 09:50:45 Universal Time. In addition to follow-up electromagnetic observations, the detection of neutrinos will probe deeply and more on the nature of astrophysical sources, especially in the ultra-high energy regime. Neutrinos in the EeV energy range were searched in data collected at the surface detector of the Pierre Auger Observatory within ± 500 s and 1 day after the GW150914 event. No neutrino candidates were found. Based on this non-observation, we derive the first and only neutrino fluence upper limit at EeV energies for this event at 90% CL, and report constraints on existence of accretion disk around mergers.
The jet detection in radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies
Authors: Gu Minfeng
Published: June 2017

With relatively small black hole masses and high accretion rates, narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies are thought to be young AGNs. About 7% of them are radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (RLNLS1s). RLNLS1s allow us to re-address some of the key questions regarding the physics of jet formation. As the first step of the systematic study on the jet properties of RLNLS1s, we present the radio structure of fourteen RLNLS1s from VLBA observations at 5 GHz in 2013. Although all these sources are very radio-loud with R > 100, their jet properties are diverse, in terms of their pc-scale morphology and overall radio spectral shape. The core brightness temperatures of our sources are significantly lower than those of blazars, therefore, the beaming effect is generally not significant, compared to blazars. This implies that the bulk jet speed may likely be low in our sources.
On the gamma-ray burst – gravitational wave association in GW150914
Authors: Janiuk Agnieszka , Charzynski Szymon , Bejger Michal
Published: June 2017

Hyperaccreting disks around black holes are the engines that drive outflows and jets in gamma ray bursts (GRBs). The torus formed after the core collapse or a compact binary merger is composed of free nucleons, Helium, electron-positron pairs, and is cooled by neutrinos rather than photon emission. Hyperaccretion powers the ultra-relativistic jets, where the GRB prompt emission originates. The neutrons produced in the disk and also in the outflowing material are necessary for the production of heavier nuclei. We discuss here the observable consequences of nucleosynthesis and we also apply the scenario of hyperaccretion to the gravitational wave source, GW150914. Temporal coincidence reported by the Fermi satellite suggested that the black hole merger might be accompanied with a GRB. We propose that a collapsing massive star and a black hole in a close binary could lead to such event. Gravitational wave emission due to the merger of collapsed core and the companion black hole might then coincide with a weak GRB.
Elusive Accretion Discs in Low Luminosity AGN
Authors: Fernández-Ontiveros J.A. , Escudero M.A. Prieto , Markoff S. , Reb L. , Espada D. , González-Martín O.
Published: June 2017

Low luminosity AGN (LLAGN) represent the vast majority of the AGN population in the near universe. However, they show intrinsic differences when compared to the Unified Model scenario, i.e. a lack of both the big blue bump and the IR bump in their spectral energy distribution (SED), which are the signatures of an accretion disk and a torus, respectively. In this work we present SED for a sample of six LLAGN in the nearby Universe obtained from subarcsec resolution observations. The nature of the IR continuum emission is discussed in the context of non-thermal radiation powered by compact jets.
Quasi-Periodicities at Year Time Scales in Blazars
Authors: Covino Stefano , Sandrinelli Angela , Treves Aldo
Published: June 2017

We examine the 2008-2016 gamma-ray and optical light curves of a number of bright Fermi blazars. In a fraction of them, the periodograms show possible evidence of quasi-periodicities related in the two bands. This coincidence strengthens their physical meaning. Comparing with results from the periodicity search of quasars, the presence of quasi-periodicities in blazars suggests that the basic condition for its observability is related to the relativistic jet in the observer direction, but the overall picture remains uncertain.
The tetravalent formulation of domain III‐capsid proteins recalls memory B‐ and T‐cell responses induced in monkeys by an experimental dengue virus infection
Authors: Gil Lázaro , Lazo Laura , Valdés Iris , Suzarte Edith , Yen Phuong , Ramírez Rosa , Álvarez Mayling , Dung Le T , Cobas Karem , Marcos Ernesto , Pérez Yusleidi , Guzmán María G , D Hien Ngyen , Guillén Gerardo , Hermida Lisset
Published: June 2017

Tetra DIIIC is a vaccine candidate against dengue virus (DENV) composed by four chimeric proteins that fuse the domain III of the envelope protein of each virus to the corresponding capsid protein. Containing B‐ and T‐cell epitopes, these proteins form aggregates after the incubation with an immunostimulatory oligodeoxynucleotide, and their tetravalent formulation induces neutralizing antibodies and cellular immune response in mice and monkeys. Also, Tetra DIIIC protects mice after challenge with each DENV, and the monovalent formulation obtained from DENV‐2 protects monkeys upon homologous viral challenge. However, in the last years, new evidences have arisen regarding domain III of DENV envelope protein as irrelevant target for neutralizing antibodies in humans. Nevertheless, vaccination with domain III induces a neutralizing antibody response that confers protection against re‐infection. In addition, it has been demonstrated that the induction of a cellular immune response is essential to protect during the infection. This response can also avoid severe manifestations of dengue disease, associated to the antibody‐dependent enhancement of the infection. In this study, we observed that Tetra DIIIC was able to boost the antiviral and neutralizing antibody responses previously generated in monkeys during an experimental DENV infection, demonstrating that domain III is targeted by B cells during the viral infection. Additionally, Tetra DIIIC successfully boosted the cellular immune response generated by the viruses, probably against T‐cells epitopes in the capsid proteins. These results highlight the functionality of Tetra DIIIC as a vaccine candidate against DENV.
Zika virus pathogenesis in rhesus macaques is unaffected by pre-existing immunity to dengue virus
Authors: Pantoja Petraleigh , Pérez-Guzmán Erick X. , Rodríguez Idia V. , White Laura J. , González Olga , Serrano Crisanta , Giavedoni Luis , Hodara Vida , Cruz Lorna , Arana Teresa , Martínez Melween I. , Hassert Mariah A. , Brien James D. , Pinto Amelia K. , de Silva Aravinda , Sariol Carlos A.
Published: June 2017

Zika virus (ZIKV) is a re-emerging virus that has recently spread into dengue virus (DENV) endemic regions and cross-reactive antibodies (Abs) could potentially affect ZIKV pathogenesis. Using DENV-immune serum, it has been shown in vitro that antibody-dependent enhancement (ADE) of ZIKV infection can occur. Here we study the effects of pre-existing DENV immunity on ZIKV infection in vivo. We infect two cohorts of rhesus macaques with ZIKV; one cohort has been exposed to DENV 2.8 years earlier and a second control cohort is naïve to flaviviral infection. Our results, while confirming ADE in vitro, suggest that pre-existing DENV immunity does not result in more severe ZIKV disease. Rather our results show a reduction in the number of days of ZIKV viremia compared to naïve macaques and that the previous exposure to DENV may result in modulation of the immune response without resulting in enhancement of ZIKV pathogenesis.
Optogenetic rewiring of thalamocortical circuits to restore function in the stroke injured brain
Authors: Tennant Kelly A. , Taylor Stephanie L. , White Emily R. , Brown Craig E.
Published: June 2017

To regain sensorimotor functions after stroke, surviving neural circuits must reorganize and form new connections. Although the thalamus is critical for processing and relaying sensory information to the cortex, little is known about how stroke affects the structure and function of these connections, or whether a therapeutic approach targeting these circuits can improve recovery. Here we reveal with in vivo calcium imaging that stroke in somatosensory cortex dampens the excitability of surviving thalamocortical circuits. Given this deficit, we hypothesized that chronic transcranial window optogenetic stimulation of thalamocortical axons could facilitate recovery. Using two-photon imaging, we show that optogenetic stimulation promotes the formation of new and stable thalamocortical synaptic boutons, without impacting axon branch dynamics. Stimulation also enhances the recovery of somatosensory cortical circuit function and forepaw sensorimotor abilities. These results demonstrate that an optogenetic approach can rewire thalamocortical circuits and restore function in the damaged brain.