| 1. |
- Ademuyiwa, Adesoji O., et al.
(author)
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Determinants of morbidity and mortality following emergency abdominal surgery in children in low-income and middle-income countries
- 2016
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In: BMJ Global Health. - : BMJ Publishing Group Ltd. - 2059-7908. ; 1:4
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background: Child health is a key priority on the global health agenda, yet the provision of essential and emergency surgery in children is patchy in resource-poor regions. This study was aimed to determine the mortality risk for emergency abdominal paediatric surgery in low-income countries globally.Methods: Multicentre, international, prospective, cohort study. Self-selected surgical units performing emergency abdominal surgery submitted prespecified data for consecutive children aged <16 years during a 2-week period between July and December 2014. The United Nation's Human Development Index (HDI) was used to stratify countries. The main outcome measure was 30-day postoperative mortality, analysed by multilevel logistic regression.Results: This study included 1409 patients from 253 centres in 43 countries; 282 children were under 2 years of age. Among them, 265 (18.8%) were from low-HDI, 450 (31.9%) from middle-HDI and 694 (49.3%) from high-HDI countries. The most common operations performed were appendectomy, small bowel resection, pyloromyotomy and correction of intussusception. After adjustment for patient and hospital risk factors, child mortality at 30 days was significantly higher in low-HDI (adjusted OR 7.14 (95% CI 2.52 to 20.23), p<0.001) and middle-HDI (4.42 (1.44 to 13.56), p=0.009) countries compared with high-HDI countries, translating to 40 excess deaths per 1000 procedures performed.Conclusions: Adjusted mortality in children following emergency abdominal surgery may be as high as 7 times greater in low-HDI and middle-HDI countries compared with high-HDI countries. Effective provision of emergency essential surgery should be a key priority for global child health agendas.
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| 2. |
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| 3. |
- Naghavi, Mohsen, et al.
(author)
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Global, regional, and national age-sex specific all-cause and cause-specific mortality for 240 causes of death, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013
- 2015
-
In: The Lancet. - 1474-547X .- 0140-6736. ; 385:9963, s. 117-171
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Up-to-date evidence on levels and trends for age-sex-specifi c all-cause and cause-specifi c mortality is essential for the formation of global, regional, and national health policies. In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013) we estimated yearly deaths for 188 countries between 1990, and 2013. We used the results to assess whether there is epidemiological convergence across countries. Methods We estimated age-sex-specifi c all-cause mortality using the GBD 2010 methods with some refinements to improve accuracy applied to an updated database of vital registration, survey, and census data. We generally estimated cause of death as in the GBD 2010. Key improvements included the addition of more recent vital registration data for 72 countries, an updated verbal autopsy literature review, two new and detailed data systems for China, and more detail for Mexico, UK, Turkey, and Russia. We improved statistical models for garbage code redistribution. We used six different modelling strategies across the 240 causes; cause of death ensemble modelling (CODEm) was the dominant strategy for causes with sufficient information. Trends for Alzheimer's disease and other dementias were informed by meta-regression of prevalence studies. For pathogen-specifi c causes of diarrhoea and lower respiratory infections we used a counterfactual approach. We computed two measures of convergence (inequality) across countries: the average relative difference across all pairs of countries (Gini coefficient) and the average absolute difference across countries. To summarise broad findings, we used multiple decrement life-tables to decompose probabilities of death from birth to exact age 15 years, from exact age 15 years to exact age 50 years, and from exact age 50 years to exact age 75 years, and life expectancy at birth into major causes. For all quantities reported, we computed 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). We constrained cause-specific fractions within each age-sex-country-year group to sum to all-cause mortality based on draws from the uncertainty distributions. Findings Global life expectancy for both sexes increased from 65.3 years (UI 65.0-65.6) in 1990, to 71.5 years (UI 71.0-71.9) in 2013, while the number of deaths increased from 47.5 million (UI 46.8-48.2) to 54.9 million (UI 53.6-56.3) over the same interval. Global progress masked variation by age and sex: for children, average absolute diff erences between countries decreased but relative diff erences increased. For women aged 25-39 years and older than 75 years and for men aged 20-49 years and 65 years and older, both absolute and relative diff erences increased. Decomposition of global and regional life expectancy showed the prominent role of reductions in age-standardised death rates for cardiovascular diseases and cancers in high-income regions, and reductions in child deaths from diarrhoea, lower respiratory infections, and neonatal causes in low-income regions. HIV/AIDS reduced life expectancy in southern sub-Saharan Africa. For most communicable causes of death both numbers of deaths and age-standardised death rates fell whereas for most non-communicable causes, demographic shifts have increased numbers of deaths but decreased age-standardised death rates. Global deaths from injury increased by 10.7%, from 4.3 million deaths in 1990 to 4.8 million in 2013; but age-standardised rates declined over the same period by 21%. For some causes of more than 100 000 deaths per year in 2013, age-standardised death rates increased between 1990 and 2013, including HIV/AIDS, pancreatic cancer, atrial fibrillation and flutter, drug use disorders, diabetes, chronic kidney disease, and sickle-cell anaemias. Diarrhoeal diseases, lower respiratory infections, neonatal causes, and malaria are still in the top five causes of death in children younger than 5 years. The most important pathogens are rotavirus for diarrhoea and pneumococcus for lower respiratory infections. Country-specific probabilities of death over three phases of life were substantially varied between and within regions. Interpretation For most countries, the general pattern of reductions in age-sex specifi c mortality has been associated with a progressive shift towards a larger share of the remaining deaths caused by non-communicable disease and injuries. Assessing epidemiological convergence across countries depends on whether an absolute or relative measure of inequality is used. Nevertheless, age-standardised death rates for seven substantial causes are increasing, suggesting the potential for reversals in some countries. Important gaps exist in the empirical data for cause of death estimates for some countries; for example, no national data for India are available for the past decade.
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| 4. |
- Vos, Theo, et al.
(author)
-
Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 301 acute and chronic diseases and injuries in 188 countries, 1990-2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013
- 2015
-
In: The Lancet. - 1474-547X .- 0140-6736. ; 386:9995, s. 743-800
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Background Up-to-date evidence about levels and trends in disease and injury incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability (YLDs) is an essential input into global, regional, and national health policies. In the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013 (GBD 2013), we estimated these quantities for acute and chronic diseases and injuries for 188 countries between 1990 and 2013. Methods Estimates were calculated for disease and injury incidence, prevalence, and YLDs using GBD 2010 methods with some important refinements. Results for incidence of acute disorders and prevalence of chronic disorders are new additions to the analysis. Key improvements include expansion to the cause and sequelae list, updated systematic reviews, use of detailed injury codes, improvements to the Bayesian meta-regression method (DisMod-MR), and use of severity splits for various causes. An index of data representativeness, showing data availability, was calculated for each cause and impairment during three periods globally and at the country level for 2013. In total, 35 620 distinct sources of data were used and documented to calculated estimates for 301 diseases and injuries and 2337 sequelae. The comorbidity simulation provides estimates for the number of sequelae, concurrently, by individuals by country, year, age, and sex. Disability weights were updated with the addition of new population-based survey data from four countries. Findings Disease and injury were highly prevalent; only a small fraction of individuals had no sequelae. Comorbidity rose substantially with age and in absolute terms from 1990 to 2013. Incidence of acute sequelae were predominantly infectious diseases and short-term injuries, with over 2 billion cases of upper respiratory infections and diarrhoeal disease episodes in 2013, with the notable exception of tooth pain due to permanent caries with more than 200 million incident cases in 2013. Conversely, leading chronic sequelae were largely attributable to non-communicable diseases, with prevalence estimates for asymptomatic permanent caries and tension-type headache of 2.4 billion and 1.6 billion, respectively. The distribution of the number of sequelae in populations varied widely across regions, with an expected relation between age and disease prevalence. YLDs for both sexes increased from 537.6 million in 1990 to 764.8 million in 2013 due to population growth and ageing, whereas the age-standardised rate decreased little from 114.87 per 1000 people to 110.31 per 1000 people between 1990 and 2013. Leading causes of YLDs included low back pain and major depressive disorder among the top ten causes of YLDs in every country. YLD rates per person, by major cause groups, indicated the main drivers of increases were due to musculoskeletal, mental, and substance use disorders, neurological disorders, and chronic respiratory diseases; however HIV/AIDS was a notable driver of increasing YLDs in sub-Saharan Africa. Also, the proportion of disability-adjusted life years due to YLDs increased globally from 21.1% in 1990 to 31.2% in 2013. Interpretation Ageing of the world's population is leading to a substantial increase in the numbers of individuals with sequelae of diseases and injuries. Rates of YLDs are declining much more slowly than mortality rates. The non-fatal dimensions of disease and injury will require more and more attention from health systems. The transition to non-fatal outcomes as the dominant source of burden of disease is occurring rapidly outside of sub-Saharan Africa. Our results can guide future health initiatives through examination of epidemiological trends and a better understanding of variation across countries.
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| 5. |
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- 2019
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)
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| 6. |
- Barnes, Ashley T., et al.
(author)
-
Mother of dragons: A massive, quiescent core in the dragon cloud (IRDC G028.37+00.07)
- 2023
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 675
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Core accretion models of massive star formation require the existence of massive, starless cores within molecular clouds. Yet, only a small number of candidates for such truly massive, monolithic cores are currently known. Aims. Here we analyse a massive core in the well-studied infrared-dark cloud (IRDC) called the dragon clouda'(also known as G028.37+00.07 or Cloud Ca). This core (C2c1) sits at the end of a chain of a roughly equally spaced actively star-forming cores near the center of the IRDC. Methods. We present new high-angular-resolution 1 mm ALMA dust continuum and molecular line observations of the massive core. Results. The high-angular-resolution observations show that this region fragments into two cores, C2c1a and C2c1b, which retain significant background-subtracted masses of 23 M· and 2 M· (31 M· and 6 M· without background subtraction), respectively. The cores do not appear to fragment further on the scales of our highest-angular-resolution images (0.2 , 0.005 pc ∼ 1000 AU). We find that these cores are very dense (nH2 > 106 cm-3) and have only trans-sonic non-thermal motions ( 3s ∼ 1). Together the mass, density, and internal motions imply a virial parameter of
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| 7. |
- Beal, Jacob, et al.
(author)
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Robust estimation of bacterial cell count from optical density
- 2020
-
In: Communications Biology. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2399-3642. ; 3:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Optical density (OD) is widely used to estimate the density of cells in liquid culture, but cannot be compared between instruments without a standardized calibration protocol and is challenging to relate to actual cell count. We address this with an interlaboratory study comparing three simple, low-cost, and highly accessible OD calibration protocols across 244 laboratories, applied to eight strains of constitutive GFP-expressing E. coli. Based on our results, we recommend calibrating OD to estimated cell count using serial dilution of silica microspheres, which produces highly precise calibration (95.5% of residuals <1.2-fold), is easily assessed for quality control, also assesses instrument effective linear range, and can be combined with fluorescence calibration to obtain units of Molecules of Equivalent Fluorescein (MEFL) per cell, allowing direct comparison and data fusion with flow cytometry measurements: in our study, fluorescence per cell measurements showed only a 1.07-fold mean difference between plate reader and flow cytometry data.
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| 8. |
- Cosentino, Giuliana, 1990, et al.
(author)
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Deuterium fractionation across the infrared-dark cloud G034.77-00.55 interacting with the supernova remnant W44
- 2023
-
In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 675
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Supernova remnants (SNRs) may regulate star formation in galaxies. For example, SNR-driven shocks may form new molecular gas or compress pre-existing clouds and trigger the formation of new stars. Aims. To test this scenario, we measured the deuteration of N2H+, DNfrac 2H+- a well-studied tracer of pre-stellar cores - across the infrared-dark cloud (IRDC) G034.77-00.55, which is known to be experiencing a shock interaction with the SNR W44. Methods. We use N2H+ and N2D+ J = 1-0 single pointing observations obtained with the 30m antenna at the Instituto de Radioastronomia Millimetrica to infer DN2H+ frac towards five positions across the cloud, namely a massive core, different regions across the shock front, a dense clump, and ambient gas. Results. We find DN2H+ frac in the range 0.03-0.1, which is several orders of magnitude larger than the cosmic D/H ratio (∼10-5). The DN2H+ frac across the shock front is enhanced by more than a factor of 2 (DNfrac 2H+∼ 0.05-0.07) with respect to the ambient gas (=0.03) and similar to that measured generally in pre-stellar cores. Indeed, in the massive core and dense clump regions of this IRDC we measure DN2H+ frac ∼ 0.1.
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| 9. |
- Cosentino, Giuliana, et al.
(author)
-
Interstellar Plunging Waves: ALMA Resolves the Physical Structure of Nonstationary MHD Shocks
- 2019
-
In: Astrophysical Journal Letters. - : American Astronomical Society. - 2041-8213 .- 2041-8205. ; 881:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) shocks are violent events that inject large amounts of energy in the interstellar medium dramatically modifying its physical properties and chemical composition. Indirect evidence for the presence of such shocks has been reported from the especial chemistry detected toward a variety of astrophysical shocked environments. However, the internal physical structure of these shocks remains unresolved since their expected spatial scales are too small to be measured with current instrumentation. Here we report the first detection of a fully spatially resolved, MHD shock toward the infrared dark cloud (IRDC) G034.77-00.55. The shock, probed by silicon monoxide (SiO) and observed with the Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA), is associated with the collision between the dense molecular gas of the cloud and a molecular gas flow pushed toward the IRDC by the nearby supernova remnant (SNR) W44. The interaction is occurring on subparsec spatial scales thanks to the enhanced magnetic field of the SNR, making the dissipation region of the MHD shock large enough to be resolved with ALMA. Our observations suggest that molecular flow-flow collisions can be triggered by stellar feedback, inducing shocked molecular gas densities compatible with those required for massive star formation.
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| 10. |
- Entekhabi, N., et al.
(author)
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Astrochemical modelling of infrared dark clouds
- 2022
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In: Astronomy and Astrophysics. - : EDP Sciences. - 0004-6361 .- 1432-0746. ; 662
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Context. Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are cold, dense regions of the interstellar medium (ISM) that are likely to represent the initial conditions for massive star and star cluster formation. It is thus important to study the physical and chemical conditions of IRDCs to provide constraints and inputs for theoretical models of these processes. Aims. We aim to determine the astrochemical conditions, especially the cosmic ray ionisation rate (CRIR) and chemical age, in different regions of the massive IRDC G28.37+00.07 by comparing observed abundances of multiple molecules and molecular ions with the predictions of astrochemical models. Methods. We have computed a series of single-zone, time-dependent, astrochemical models with a gas-grain network that systematically explores the parameter space of the density, temperature, CRIR, and visual extinction. We have also investigated the effects of choices of CO ice binding energy and temperatures achieved in the transient heating of grains when struck by cosmic rays. We selected ten positions across the IRDC that are known to have a variety of star formation activity. We utilised mid-infrared extinction maps and sub-millimetre (sub-mm) emission maps to measure the mass surface densities of these regions needed for abundance and volume density estimates. The sub-mm emission maps were also used to measure temperatures. We then used Instituto de Radioas-tromía Milimétrica (IRAM) 30 m observations of various tracers, especially C18O(1-0), H13CO+(1-0), HC18O+(1-0), and N2H+(1-0), to estimate column densities and thus abundances. Finally, we investigated the range of astrochemical conditions that are consistent with the observed abundances. Results. The typical physical conditions of the IRDC regions are nH ∼ 3 ×-104 to 105 cm-3 and T ∼ 10 to 15 K. Strong emission of H13CO+(1-0) and N2H+(1-0) is detected towards all the positions and these species are used to define relatively narrow velocity ranges of the IRDC regions, which are used for estimates of CO abundances, via C18O(1-0). We would like to note that CO depletion factors are estimated to be in the range fD ∼ 3 to 10. Using estimates of the abundances of CO, HCO+, and N2H+, we find consistency with astrochemical models that have relatively low CRIRs of ζ ∼ 10-18 to ∼10-17 s-1, with no evidence for systematic variation with the level of star formation activity. Astrochemical ages, which are defined with a reference to an initial condition of all H in H2, all C in CO, and all other species in atomic form, are found to be <1 Myr. We also explore the effects of using other detected species, that is HCN, HNC, HNCO, CH3OH, and H2CO, to constrain the models. These generally lead to implied conditions with higher levels of CRIRs and older chemical ages. Considering the observed fD versus nH relation of the ten positions, which we find to have relatively little scatter, we discuss potential ways in which the astrochemical models can match such a relation as a quasi-equilibrium limit valid at ages of at least a few free-fall times, that is 3;0.3 Myr, including the effect of CO envelope contamination, small variations in temperature history near 15 K, CO-ice binding energy uncertainties, and CR-induced desorption. We find general consistency with the data of ∼0.5 Myr-old models that have ζ ∼ 2-5-10-18 s-1 and CO abundances set by a balance of freeze-out with CR-induced desorption. Conclusions. We have constrained the astrochemical conditions in ten regions in a massive IRDC, finding evidence for relatively low values of CRIR compared to diffuse ISM levels. We have not seen clear evidence for variation in the CRIR with the level of star formation activity. We favour models that involve relatively low CRIRs (≲ 10-17 s-1) and relatively old chemical ages (≳ 3;0.3 Myr, i.e. 3;3tff). We discuss potential sources of systematic uncertainties in these results and the overall implications for IRDC evolutionary history and astrochemical models.
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| 11. |
- Jones, Benedict C, et al.
(author)
-
To which world regions does the valence-dominance model of social perception apply?
- 2021
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In: Nature Human Behaviour. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 2397-3374. ; 5:1, s. 159-169
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Over the past 10 years, Oosterhof and Todorov's valence-dominance model has emerged as the most prominent account of how people evaluate faces on social dimensions. In this model, two dimensions (valence and dominance) underpin social judgements of faces. Because this model has primarily been developed and tested in Western regions, it is unclear whether these findings apply to other regions. We addressed this question by replicating Oosterhof and Todorov's methodology across 11 world regions, 41 countries and 11,570 participants. When we used Oosterhof and Todorov's original analysis strategy, the valence-dominance model generalized across regions. When we used an alternative methodology to allow for correlated dimensions, we observed much less generalization. Collectively, these results suggest that, while the valence-dominance model generalizes very well across regions when dimensions are forced to be orthogonal, regional differences are revealed when we use different extraction methods and correlate and rotate the dimension reduction solution. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: The stage 1 protocol for this Registered Report was accepted in principle on 5 November 2018. The protocol, as accepted by the journal, can be found at https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.7611443.v1 .
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| 12. |
- Law, Chi Yan, 1990, et al.
(author)
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Polarized Light from Massive Protoclusters (POLIMAP). I. Dissecting the Role of Magnetic Fields in the Massive Infrared Dark Cloud G28.37+0.07
- 2024
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 967:2
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Magnetic fields may play a crucial role in setting the initial conditions of massive star and star cluster formation. To investigate this, we report SOFIA-HAWC+ 214 μm observations of polarized thermal dust emission and high-resolution GBT-Argus C18O(1-0) observations toward the massive Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) G28.37+0.07. Considering the local dispersion of B-field orientations, we produce a map of the B-field strength of the IRDC, which exhibits values between ∼0.03 and 1 mG based on a refined Davis-Chandrasekhar-Fermi method proposed by Skalidis & Tassis. Comparing to a map of inferred density, the IRDC exhibits a B-n relation with a power-law index of 0.51 ± 0.02, which is consistent with a scenario of magnetically regulated anisotropic collapse. Consideration of the mass-to-flux ratio map indicates that magnetic fields are dynamically important in most regions of the IRDC. A virial analysis of a sample of massive, dense cores in the IRDC, including evaluation of magnetic and kinetic internal and surface terms, indicates consistency with virial equilibrium, sub-Alfvénic conditions, and a dominant role for B-fields in regulating collapse. A clear alignment of magnetic field morphology with the direction of the steepest column density gradient is also detected. However, there is no preferred orientation of protostellar outflow directions with the B-field. Overall, these results indicate that magnetic fields play a crucial role in regulating massive star and star cluster formation, and therefore they need to be accounted for in theoretical models of these processes.
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| 13. |
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| 14. |
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| 15. |
- Andersen, M., et al.
(author)
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The Stellar Content of the Infalling Molecular Clump G286.21+0.17
- 2017
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 850:1, s. 12-19
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved. The early evolution during massive star cluster formation is still uncertain. Observing embedded clusters at their earliest stages of formation can provide insight into the spatial and temporal distribution of the stars and thus probe different star cluster formation models. We present near-infrared imaging of an 8′ × 13′ (5.4 pc × 8.7 pc) region around the massive infalling clump G286.21+0.17 (also known as BYF73). The stellar content across the field is determined and photometry is derived in order to obtain stellar parameters for the cluster members. We find evidence for some sub-structure (on scales less than a parsec in diameter) within the region with apparently at least three different sub-clusters associated with the molecular clump based on differences in extinction and disk fractions. At the center of the clump we identify a deeply embedded sub-cluster. Near-infrared excess is detected for 39%-44% in the two sub-clusters associated with molecular material and 27% for the exposed cluster. Using the disk excess as a proxy for age, this suggests the clusters are very young. The current total stellar mass is estimated to be at least 200 M o . The molecular core hosts a rich population of pre-main-sequence stars. There is evidence for multiple events of star formation both in terms of the spatial distribution within the star-forming region and possibly from the disk frequency.
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| 16. |
- Appel, Sabrina M., et al.
(author)
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What Sets the Star Formation Rate of Molecular Clouds? The Density Distribution as a Fingerprint of Compression and Expansion Rates
- 2023
-
In: Astrophysical Journal. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 954:1
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We use a suite of 3D simulations of star-forming molecular clouds, with and without stellar feedback, magnetic fields, and driven turbulence, to study the compression and expansion rates of the gas as functions of density. We show that, around the mean density, supersonic turbulence promotes rough equilibrium between the amounts of compressing and expanding gas, consistent with continuous gas cycling between high- and low-density states. We find that the inclusion of protostellar jets produces rapidly expanding and compressing low-density gas. We find that the gas mass flux peaks at the transition between the lognormal and power-law forms of the density probability distribution function (PDF). This is consistent with the transition density tracking the post-shock density, which promotes an enhancement of mass at this density (i.e., shock compression and filament formation). At high densities, the gas dynamics are dominated by self-gravity: the compression rate in all of our runs matches the rate of the run with only gravity, suggesting that processes other than self-gravity have little effect at these densities. The net gas mass flux becomes constant at a density below the sink formation threshold, where it equals the star formation rate. The density at which the net gas mass flux equals the star formation rate is one order of magnitude lower than our sink threshold density, corresponds to the formation of the second power-law tail in the density PDF, and sets the overall star formation rates of these simulations.
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| 17. |
- Banik, Nilanjan, et al.
(author)
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The formation of supermassive black holes from Population III.1 seeds. I. Cosmic formation histories and clustering properties
- 2019
-
In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 483:3, s. 3592-3606
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We calculate cosmic distributions in space and time of the formation sites of the first, 'Pop III.1' stars, exploring a model in which these are the progenitors of all supermassive black holes (SMBHs), seen in the centres of most large galaxies. Pop III.1 stars are defined to form from primordial composition gas in dark matter minihaloes with similar to 10(6) M-circle dot that are isolated from neighbouring astrophysical sources by a given isolation distance, d(iso). We assume Pop III.1 sources are seeds of SMBHs, based on protostellar support by dark matter annihilation heating that allows them to accrete a large fraction of their minihalo gas, i.e. similar to 10(5) M-circle dot. Exploring d(iso) from 10 to 100 kpc (proper distances), we predict the redshift evolution of Pop III.1 source and SMBH remnant number densities. The local, z = 0 density of SMBH sconstrains d(iso) less than or similar to 100 kpc (i.e. 3 Mpc comoving distance at z similar or equal to 30). In our simulated (similar to 60 Mpc)(3) comoving volume, Pop III.1 stars start forming just after z = 40. Their formation is largely complete by z similar or equal to 25-20 for d(iso) = 100-50 kpc. We follow source evolution to z = 10, by which point most SMBHs reside in haloes with greater than or similar to 10(8) M-circle dot. Over this period, there is relatively limited merging of SMBHs for these values of d(iso). We also predict SMBH clustering properties at z = 10: feedback suppression of neighbouring sources leads to relatively flat angular correlation functions.
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| 18. |
- Barnes, A. T., et al.
(author)
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ALMA-IRDC: dense gas mass distribution from cloud to core scales
- 2021
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In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 503:3, s. 4601-4626
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Infrared dark clouds (IRDCs) are potential hosts of the elusive early phases of high mass star formation (HMSF). Here, we conduct an in-depth analysis of the fragmentation properties of a sample of 10 IRDCs, which have been highlighted as some of the best candidates to study HMSF within the Milky Way. To do so, we have obtained a set of large mosaics covering these IRDCs with Atacama Large Millimeter/submillimeter Array (ALMA) at Band 3 (or 3 mm). These observations have a high angular resolution (similar to 3 arcsec; similar to 0.05 pc), and high continuum and spectral line sensitivity (similar to 0.15 mJy beam(-1) and similar to 0.2 K per 0.1 km s(-1) channel at the N2H+ (1 - 0) transition). From the dust continuum emission, we identify 96 cores ranging from low to high mass (M = 3.4-50.9M(circle dot)) that are gravitationally bound (alpha(vir) = 0.3-1.3) and which would require magnetic field strengths of B = 0.3-1.0 mG to be in virial equilibrium. We combine these results with a homogenized catalogue of literature cores to recover the hierarchical structure within these clouds over four orders of magnitude in spatial scale (0.01-10 pc). Using supplementary observations at an even higher angular resolution, we find that the smallest fragments (<0.02 pc) within this hierarchy do not currently have the mass and/or the density required to form high-mass stars. None the less, the new ALMA observations presented in this paper have facilitated the identification of 19 (6 quiescent and 13 star-forming) cores that retain >16M(circle dot) without further fragmentation. These high-mass cores contain trans-sonic non-thermal motions, are kinematically sub-virial, and require moderate magnetic field strengths for support against collapse. The identification of these potential sites of HMSF represents a key step in allowing us to test the predictions from high-mass star and cluster formation theories.
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| 19. |
- Bisbas, T.G., et al.
(author)
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GMC Collisions as Triggers of Star Formation. V. Observational Signatures
- 2017
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In: Astrophysical Journal. - : American Astronomical Society. - 1538-4357 .- 0004-637X. ; 850:1, s. 23-32
-
Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- © 2017. The American Astronomical Society. All rights reserved.. We present calculations of molecular, atomic, and ionic line emission from simulations of giant molecular cloud (GMC) collisions. We post-process snapshots of the magnetohydrodynamical simulations presented in an earlier paper in this series by Wu et al. of colliding and non-colliding GMCs. Using photodissociation region (PDR) chemistry and radiative transfer, we calculate the level populations and emission properties of the transitions of 12 CO J = 1-0, [C i] at 609 μm, [C ii] 158 μm, and [O i] at 63 μm. From emission maps of integrated intensity and position-velocity diagrams, we find that fine-structure lines, particularly [C ii] 158 μm, can be used as a diagnostic tracer for cloud-cloud collision activity. These results hold even in more evolved systems in which the collision signature in molecular lines has been diminished.
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| 20. |
- Bisbas, Thomas G., et al.
(author)
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Photodissociation region diagnostics across galactic environments
- 2021
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In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 502:2, s. 2701-2732
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present three-dimensional astrochemical simulations and synthetic observations of magnetized, turbulent, self-gravitating molecular clouds. We explore various galactic interstellar medium environments, including cosmic ray ionization rates in the range of zeta(CR) = 10(-17)-10(-14)S(-1), far-UV intensities in the range of G(theta) = 1-10(3) and metallicities in the range of Z = 0.1-2Z(circle dot). The simulations also probe a range of densities and levels of turbulence, including cases where the gas has undergone recent compression due to cloud-cloud collisions. We examine: (i) the column densities of carbon species across the cycle of CII, CI, and CO, along with OI, in relation to the H I-to-H-2 transition; (ii) the velocity-integrated emission of [CII] 158 mu m, [C-13 II] 158 mu m, [C I] 609 mu m and 370 mu m, [O I] 63 mu m and 146 mu m, and of the first ten (CO)-C-12 rotational transitions; (iii) the corresponding Spectral Line Energy Distributions; (iv) the usage of [C II] and [O I] 63 mu m to describe the dynamical state of the clouds; (v) the behaviour of the most commonly used ratios between transitions of CO and [CI]; and (vi) the conversion factors for using CO and CI as H-2-gas tracers. We find that enhanced cosmic ray energy densities enhance all aforementioned line intensities. At low metallicities, the emission of [C11] is well connected with the H-2 column, making it a promising new H-2 tracer in metal-poor environments. The conversion factors of X-CO and X-CI depend on metallicity and the cosmic ray ionization rate, but not on FUV intensity. In the era of ALMA, SOFIA, and the forthcoming CCAT-prime telescope, our results can be used to understand better the behaviour of systems in a wide range of galactic and extragalactic environments.
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| 21. |
- Bisbas, T. G., et al.
(author)
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The inception of star cluster formation revealed by [C ii] emission around an Infrared Dark Cloud
- 2018
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In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society: Letters. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 1745-3925 .- 1745-3933. ; 478:1, s. L54-L59
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We present SOFIA-upGREAT observations of [C ii] emission of Infrared Dark Cloud (IRDC) G035.39-00.33, designed to trace its atomic gas envelope and thus test models of the origins of such clouds. Several velocity components of [C ii] emission are detected, tracing structures that are at a wide range of distances in the Galactic plane. We find a main component that is likely associated with the IRDC and its immediate surroundings. This strongest emission component has a velocity similar to that of the 13CO(2-1) emission of the IRDC, but offset by ∼3 km s-1 and with a larger velocity width of ∼9 km s-1. The spatial distribution of the [C ii] emission of this component is also offset predominantly to one side of the dense filamentary structure of the IRDC. The C ii column density is estimated to be of the order of ∼1017-1018 cm-2. We compare these results to the [C ii] emission from numerical simulations of magnetized, dense gas filaments formed from giant molecular cloud (GMC) collisions, finding similar spatial and kinematic offsets. These observations and modellingof [C ii] add further to the evidence that IRDC G035.39-00.33 has been formed by a process of GMC-GMC collision, which may thus be an important mechanism for initiating star cluster formation.
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| 22. |
- Cable, Jennifer, et al.
(author)
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Sleep and circadian rhythms : pillars of health-a Keystone Symposia report
- 2021
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In: Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0077-8923 .- 1749-6632. ; 1506:1, s. 18-34
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The human circadian system consists of the master clock in the suprachiasmatic nuclei of the hypothalamus as well as in peripheral molecular clocks located in organs throughout the body. This system plays a major role in the temporal organization of biological and physiological processes, such as body temperature, blood pressure, hormone secretion, gene expression, and immune functions, which all manifest consistent diurnal patterns. Many facets of modern life, such as work schedules, travel, and social activities, can lead to sleep/wake and eating schedules that are misaligned relative to the biological clock. This misalignment can disrupt and impair physiological and psychological parameters that may ultimately put people at higher risk for chronic diseases like cancer, cardiovascular disease, and other metabolic disorders. Understanding the mechanisms that regulate sleep circadian rhythms may ultimately lead to insights on behavioral interventions that can lower the risk of these diseases. On February 25, 2021, experts in sleep, circadian rhythms, and chronobiology met virtually for the Keystone eSymposium "Sleep & Circadian Rhythms: Pillars of Health" to discuss the latest research for understanding the bidirectional relationships between sleep, circadian rhythms, and health and disease.
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| 23. |
- Cai, Maxwell X., et al.
(author)
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Inside-out planet formation: VI. oligarchic coagulation of planetesimals from a pebble ring?
- 2022
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In: Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. - : Oxford University Press (OUP). - 0035-8711 .- 1365-2966. ; 510:4, s. 5486-5499
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Inside-Out Planet Formation (IOPF) is a theory addressing the origin of Systems of Tightly-Packed Inner Planets (STIPs) via in situ formation and growth of the planets. It predicts that a pebble ring is established at the pressure maximum associated with the dead zone inner boundary (DZIB) with an inner disc magnetorotational instability (MRI)-active region. Using direct N -body simulations, we study the collisional evolution of planetesimals formed from such a pebble ring, in particular, examining whether a single dominant planet emerges. We consider a variety of models, including some in which the planetesimals are continuing to grow via pebble accretion. We find that the planetesimal ring undergoes oligarchic evolution, and typically turns into 2 or 3 surviving oligarchs on nearly coplanar and circular orbits, independent of the explored initial conditions or form of pebble accretion. The most massive oligarchs typically consist of about 70 per cent of the total mass, with the building-up process typically finishing within ∼10 5 yr. Ho we ver, a relati vely massi ve secondary planet al w ays remains with ∼30 -65 per cent of the mass of the primary. Such secondary planets have properties that are inconsistent with the observed properties of the innermost pairs of planets in STIPs. Thus, for IOPF to be a viable theory for STIP formation, it needs to be sho wn ho w oligarchic growth of a relatively massive secondary from the initial pebble ring can be a v oided. We discuss some potential additional physical processes that should be included in the modelling and explored as next steps.
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| 24. |
- Calabrese, Claudia, et al.
(author)
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Genomic basis for RNA alterations in cancer
- 2020
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In: Nature. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 0028-0836 .- 1476-4687. ; 578:7793, s. 129-136
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Transcript alterations often result from somatic changes in cancer genomes1. Various forms of RNA alterations have been described in cancer, including overexpression2, altered splicing3 and gene fusions4; however, it is difficult to attribute these to underlying genomic changes owing to heterogeneity among patients and tumour types, and the relatively small cohorts of patients for whom samples have been analysed by both transcriptome and whole-genome sequencing. Here we present, to our knowledge, the most comprehensive catalogue of cancer-associated gene alterations to date, obtained by characterizing tumour transcriptomes from 1,188 donors of the Pan-Cancer Analysis of Whole Genomes (PCAWG) Consortium of the International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA)5. Using matched whole-genome sequencing data, we associated several categories of RNA alterations with germline and somatic DNA alterations, and identified probable genetic mechanisms. Somatic copy-number alterations were the major drivers of variations in total gene and allele-specific expression. We identified 649 associations of somatic single-nucleotide variants with gene expression in cis, of which 68.4% involved associations with flanking non-coding regions of the gene. We found 1,900 splicing alterations associated with somatic mutations, including the formation of exons within introns in proximity to Alu elements. In addition, 82% of gene fusions were associated with structural variants, including 75 of a new class, termed 'bridged' fusions, in which a third genomic location bridges two genes. We observed transcriptomic alteration signatures that differ between cancer types and have associations with variations in DNA mutational signatures. This compendium of RNA alterations in the genomic context provides a rich resource for identifying genes and mechanisms that are functionally implicated in cancer.
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| 25. |
- Caretta, Martina Angela, et al.
(author)
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Water
- 2022
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In: Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability : Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change - Contribution of Working Group II to the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change.
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Book chapter (other academic/artistic)
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