Active Period Research Articles

Photosynthetic activity of crops and sequestration of atmospheric carbon by meadow clover and spring wheat in crop rotation

The purpose of the research is to estimate the intensity of absorption of light energy by crop rotation crops during the growing season and determine the amount of atmospheric carbon absorbed during photosynthesis. In a long-term stationary experiment, the absorption of photosynthetically active radiation (FAR) by crops of meadow clover for 2 years of use and spring wheat in variants without fertilizers and when applying N60P60K60 was studied. Chlorophyll A, chlorophyll B and carotene, which serve as photoreceptors-pigments of photosynthesis in higher plants, were used to assess the intensity of absorption of light energy. The most active period of absorption of HEADLIGHTS by meadow clover leaves was noted from the stalking phase to flowering, the amount of chlorophyll A and B in the leaves was 11.08…14.32 mg/g dry weight, carotene – 2.2…3.3 mg/g dry weight. During photosynthesis, the carbon content in clover leaves varied in the range of 40.4…45.5 %. The content of the main products of photosynthesis, sugars, decreased from 9.8 % in the stalking phase to 3.4 % during seed formation. The most intensive process of photosynthesis of spring wheat took place during the period from the tillering phase to the beginning of maturation, the chlorophyll content was 9.14…11.90 mg/g dry weight, carotene was 2.5…4.3 times lower. Most sugars were noted at the beginning of entering the tube: without fertilizers – 15.3 %, when applying NPK of 60 kg d. v./ ha – 17.2 %. The amount of carbon absorbed by meadow clover crops during photosynthesis during the growing season, depending on the experimental options, was 2.26…2.42 t/ha (8.09…8.66 t/ha CO2), spring wheat – 1.49…1.93 t/ha (5.33…6.90 t/ha CO2).

Deciphering East Atlantic Low-Pressure System Formations: Exploring the Nexus of Tropical Jet Streams and Active Monsoon Phases

The formation of low-pressure systems (LPSs) over the eastern Atlantic Ocean, near the coast of West Africa, is an exceptional meteorological/climatological feature that can lead to the development of hurricanes. The upper level diffluence induced by the Tropical Easterly Jet (TEJ) plays a crucial role in the formation of LPSs over the eastern Atlantic Ocean, off the coast of West Africa. However, the exact influence of the enhanced TEJ and diffluence in relation to cyclogenesis remains unclear. An active precipitation period over the Indian subcontinent and Africa induces an intensification of the TEJ, African Easterly Jet, and the bifurcation of diffluence off the coast of Africa. Over the past five years (2019–2023), a delayed correlation has been observed between the formation of LPSs over the eastern Atlantic Ocean (7.5° N–20° N, 15° W–41° W), the TEJ over the Indian subcontinent (approximately 2 to 3 days), and the AEJ over Africa (approximately 1 day). This correlation is further linked to the bifurcation of diffluence at the 200 mb level.

Mammal hibernation as a strategy for adaptation to unfavorable environmental conditions

To analyse the literature data on the survival pathways of heterothermic endotherms in unfavorable environmental conditions, during periods of low availability of food resources.The article provides data on the differences between daily and seasonal heterothermy. The features of preparation for hibernation in facultative and obligate hibernators are highlighted. Hypotheses of the origin and evolution of heterothermy are considered. The most probable causes of periodic awakenings of animals from hibernation during the hibernation period are summarised. Considerable attention is paid to the restructuring of energy metabolism during hibernation – the transition from carbohydrate to lipid metabolism. Data have been analysed indicating the importance of fatty acids obtained from food during the active summer period, both for the synthesis of reserve fats and in the regulation of hibernation. Based on data on the accumulation of monoenoic fatty acids in tissues during hibernation, it has been suggested that they have an adaptive significance aimed at limiting oxidative stress and preserving vital cell functions.The data presented can be used both for conducting fundamental research on the adaptive mechanisms of interaction of an organism with its environment, and for solving practical problems, especially when choosing models of calorie restriction or intermittent fasting, as well as studying tissue tolerance to oxidative stress and resistance to the damaging effects of ischemia – reperfusion.

Exploring actigraphy as a digital phenotyping measure: A study on differentiating psychomotor agitation and retardation in depression.

Psychomotor activity stands out as a crucial symptom in characterizing behaviors associated with depression. This study aims to explore the potential of actigraphy as a tool for digital phenotyping in characterizing symptoms of psychomotor agitation and retardation, which are clinically challenging dimensions to capture, in patients diagnosed with major depressive episode (MDE) according to DSM-5 criteria. We compared rest-activity circadian rhythm biomarkers measured by the Motion Watch 8 actigraphy between 58 (78.4%) patients with MDE and psychomotor retardation (PMR), and 16 (21.6%) patients with MDE and psychomotor agitation (PMA), according to DSM-5 criteria. Actigraphy allowed to objectively report PMA through heightened activity over a 24-h period, while PMR manifests as reduced activity during the most active 10 h. Lower rest-activity rhythm (RAR) amplitude in PMR was accompanied by increased irregularities in intra- and inter-day rhythms. Interestingly, actigraphy emerges as an objective tool to measure the characteristics of the active and rest periods, free from the confounding effects of sleep disturbances. Indeed, no differences in sleep disturbances were identified between patients exhibiting psychomotor agitation and those displaying PMR. Digital phenotyping through actigraphy may aid in distinguishing psychomotor retardation and psychomotor agitation allowing for a more precise characterization of the depression phenotype. When integrated with clinical assessment, measurements from actigraphy could offer additional insights into activity rhythms alongside subjective assessments and hold the potential to augment existing clinical decision-making processes in psychiatry.

Efficacy and safety of a novel weekly topical metformin-loaded peel-off mask in the treatment of melasma: a split-face, placebo-controlled study.

Melasma is a common condition that affects a patient's quality of life. Metformin is a cheap, well-tolerated and relatively safe medication that is widely prescribed for the treatment of diabetes. Topical metformin has shown promising results in treating melasma as well as several other dermatological conditions such as acne and recalcitrant central centrifugal cicatricial alopecia. To study the efficacy and safety of a once-weekly topical metformin-30%-loaded peel-off mask for treating melasma. Twenty female patients with melasma were recruited for the application of a metformin mask and placebo mask to either side of the face once weekly for 12 weeks. The hemi-Melasma Area Severity Index (hemi-MASI) was calculated at baseline, at each visit and 12 weeks after the end of treatment. At baseline, the hemi-MASI score matched between both metformin and placebo sides [7.1 (SD 2.6) and 7.1 (SD 2.6), respectively, P = 0.99]. At the end of the active treatment period, the metformin side showed a significantly better improvement in hemi-MASI score in comparison with placebo [68% (SD 0.2%) improvement on the metformin side in contrast to 20% (SD 0.2%) on the placebo side]. Although scores decreased 3 months after stopping the active treatment [52% (SD 0.2%) improvement on the metformin side compared with the placebo side 15% (SD 0.2%)], they were still significantly better than baseline. No adverse effects were reported. Topical metformin-loaded peel-off masks can be a promising, safe and effective treatment for melasma. Although applied only once weekly, metformin peel-off masks show comparable efficacy to previously reported daily usage formulations.

Increased susceptibility to kainate-induced seizures in a mouse model of tuberous sclerosis complex: Importance of sex and circadian cycle.

Comorbidity of epilepsy and autism in tuberous sclerosis complex 2 (TSC2) is very frequent, but the link between these conditions is still poorly understood. To study neurological problems related to autism, the scientific community has been using an animal model of TSC2, Tsc2+/- mice. However, it is still unknown whether this model has the propensity to exhibit increased seizure susceptibility. Further, the importance of sex and/or the circadian cycle in this biological process has never been addressed. This research aimed to determine whether male and female Tsc2+/- mice have altered seizure susceptibility at light and dark phases. We assessed seizure susceptibility and progression in a Tsc2+/- mouse model using the chemical convulsant kainic acid (KA), a potent agonist of the AMPA/kainate class of glutamate receptors. Both male and female animals at adult age were evaluated during non-active and active periods. Seizure severity was determined by integrating individual scores per mouse according to a modified Racine scale. Locomotor behavior was monitored during control and after KA administration. We found increased seizure susceptibility in Tsc2+/- mice with a significant influence of sex and circadian cycle on seizure onset, progression, and behavioral outcomes. While, compared to controls, Tsc2+/- males overall exhibited higher susceptibility independently of circadian cycle, Tsc2+/- females were more susceptible during the dark and post-ovulatory phase. Interestingly, sexual dimorphisms related to KA susceptibility were always reported during light phase independently of the genetic background, with females being the most vulnerable. The enhanced susceptibility in the Tsc2 mouse model suggests that other neurological alterations, beside brain lesions, may be involved in seizure occurrence for TSC. Importantly, our work highlighted the importance of considering biological sex and circadian cycle for further studies of TSC-related epilepsy research. Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disorder. It causes brain lesions and is linked to epilepsy, intellectual disability, and autism. We wanted to investigate epilepsy in this model. We found that these mice have more induced seizures than control animals. Our results show that these mice can be used in future epilepsy research for this disorder. We also found that sex and time of day can influence the results. This must be considered in this type of research.

Rape, law and stories of trauma: representations of sexual violence in The Australian Women’s Weekly, 1970–82

The 1970s ushered in a period of significant feminist activism, public debate and judicial reform on issues of rape and child sexual abuse. In this article, I examine how The Australian Women’s Weekly raised and navigated the issue of rape from its commercial position as a conservative-leaning publication between 1970 and 1982. It seeks to understand mainstream Australian women’s attitudes towards sexual assault and how they evolved under emerging feminist critique.

Examination of the Effect of Dimethyl Trisulfide in Acute Stress Mouse Model with the Potential Involvement of the TRPA1 Ion Channel.

Polysulfides are endogenously produced in mammals and generally associated with protective functions. Our aim was to investigate the effect of dimethyl trisulfide (DMTS) in a mouse model of acute stress. DMTS activates transient receptor potential ankyrin 1 (TRPA1) channels and leads to neuropeptide release, potentially that of substance P (SP). We hypothesize that DMTS might inhibit the degrading enzymes of endocannabinoids, so this system was also investigated as another possible pathway for mediating the effects of DMTS. Trpa1 gene wild-type (WT) and knockout (KO) mice were used to confirm the role of the TRPA1 ion channel in mediating the effects of DMTS. C57BL/6J, NK1 gene KO, and Tac1 gene KO mice were used to evaluate the effect of DMTS on the release and expression of SP. Some C57BL/6J animals were treated with AM251, an inhibitor of the cannabinoid CB1 receptor, to elucidate the role of the endocannabinoid system in these processes. Open field test (OFT) and forced swim test (FST) were performed in each mouse strain. A tail suspension test (TST) was performed in Trpa1 WT and KO animals. C-FOS immunohistochemistry was carried out on Trpa1 WT and KO animals. The DMTS treatment increased the number of highly active periods and decreased immobility time in the FST in WT animals, but had no effect on the Trpa1 KO mice. The DMTS administration induced neuronal activation in the Trpa1 WT mice in the stress-related brain areas, such as the locus coeruleus, dorsal raphe nucleus, lateral septum, paraventricular nucleus of the thalamus, and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus. DMTS may have a potential role in the regulation of stress-related processes, and the TRPA1 ion channel may also be involved in mediating the effects of DMTS. DMTS can be an ideal candidate for further study as a potential remedy for stress-related disorders.

Not all shell beds are made equal: Recognizing singular event‐concentrations in megalakes

ABSTRACTEvent deposition accounts for a large part of the preserved sedimentary record. Tempestites, tsunamites and turbidites are among the most common event deposits in marine and lacustrine systems. While facies models exist for these deposits, the challenge lies in the fact that diverse triggers can give rise to analogous depositional processes and comparable taphonomic features, making it difficult to pinpoint the precise trigger for an event bed. Hence, five distinct modern‐type shell concentrations are studied in Permian strata from the Paraná Basin, West Gondwana, to access the parameters to discriminate event phenomena, and their associated depositional and taphonomic processes. During this time interval, the basin underwent continuous continentalization due to orogenic events, leading to the entrapment of epeiric marine waters and the transformation of the system into a megalake, supporting a diverse and endemic freshwater bivalve fauna. While sedimentation was primarily influenced by meteorological events, certain stratigraphic intervals were also affected by tectonically active periods and meteor impact events. The different products are categorized into bioclastic sandstone, shell bed, shell‐rich phosclast rudstone and shell‐rich conglomerate that are interpreted as proximal and distal tempestites and tsunamites, respectively. Finally, the products and the processes that lead to the deposition of tempestites and tsunamites are compared to establish diagnostic signatures that may be applied to differentiate these event concentrations in analogous settings from the geological record.

Screening of Reference Genes for Quantitative Real-Time PCR Analysis in Tissues and during Testis Development, and Application to Analyze the Expression of kifc1 in Hemibarbus labeo (Teleostei, Cypriniformes, Cyprinidae).

The selection of proper reference genes is vital for ensuring precise quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR) assays. This study evaluates the stability of the expression of nine candidate reference genes in different tissues and during testicular development in H. labeo. The results show that eef1a is recommended as a reference gene for qPCR analysis in tissues and during testicular development. Furthermore, we evaluated the optimal number of reference genes needed when calculating gene expression levels using the geomean method, revealing that two reference genes are sufficient. Specifically, eef1a and rps27 are recommended for analysis of gene expression in tissues, whereas eef1a and actb are advised for evaluating gene expression during testicular development. In addition, we examined the expression pattern of kifc1, a kinesin involved in the reshaping of spermatids. We detected peak expression levels of kifc1 in testes, with its expression initially increasing before decreasing throughout testicular development. The highest expression of kifc1 was observed in stage IV testes, the active period of spermiogenesis, suggesting a possible role for kifc1 in the regulation of the reshaping of spermatids and hence testicular development. This study represents the first investigation of reference genes for H. labeo, providing a foundation for studying gene expression patterns and investigating gene expression regulation during testicular development.

Clinical trial designs to assess treatment effects on glomerular filtration rate decline

Glomerular filtration rate (GFR) decline is used as surrogate endpoint for kidney failure. Interventions that reduce chronic kidney disease (CKD) progression often exert acute GFR reductions which differ from their long-term benefits and complicate the estimation of long-term benefit. Here, we assessed the utility of two alternative trial designs (wash-out design and active run-in randomized withdrawal design) that attempt to exclude the impact of acute effects. Post-hoc analyses of two clinical trials that characterized the effect of an intervention with acute reductions in GFR were conducted. The two trials included a wash-out period (EMPAREG-Outcome testing empagliflozin vs placebo) or an active run-in period with a randomized withdrawal (SONAR testing atrasentan vs placebo). We compared the drug effect on GFR decline calculated from the first on-treatment visit to the end-of-treatment (chronic effect in a standard randomized trial design) with GFR change calculated from randomization to end-of-wash-out, or GFR change from treatment specific baseline GFR values (GFR at start-of-run-in for placebo and end-of-run-in for atrasentan) until end-of-treatment. The effect of empagliflozin versus placebo on chronic GFR slope was 1.72 (95% confidence interval 1.49-1.94) mL/min/1.73m2 /year, similar to total GFR decline from baseline to the end of wash-out period using a linear mixed model 1.64 (1.44-1.85) mL/min/1.73m2 /year). The effect of atrasentan versus placebo on chronic GFR slope was 0.72 (0.32-1.11) mL/min/1.73m2 /year, similar to total slope from a single slope model when estimated from treatment specific baseline GFR values 0.77 (0.39-1.14) mL/min/1.73m2 /year). Statistical power of the two designs outperformed the standard randomized design. Thus, wash-out and active-run-in randomized-withdrawal trial designs are appropriate models to compute treatment effects on GFR decline.

The Whole Genome DNA Methylation Signatures of Hindlimb Muscles in Chinese Alligators during Hibernation and Active Periods.

Many ectotherms hibernate to increase their chances of survival during harsh winter conditions. The role of DNA methylation in regulating gene expression related to hibernation in ectotherms remains unclear. Here, we employed whole-genome bisulfite sequencing (WGBS) technology to construct a comprehensive genome-wide DNA methylation landscape of the hindlimb muscles in the Chinese alligator during hibernation and active periods. The results indicated that methylation modifications were most abundant at CG sites, identifying 9447 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) and 2329 differentially methylated genes (DMGs). KEGG pathway enrichment analysis of the DMGs revealed significant enrichment in major pathways such as the neurotrophin signaling pathway, the MAPK signaling pathway, the GnRH signaling pathway, the biosynthesis of amino acids, and the regulation of the actin cytoskeleton, which are closely related to lipid metabolism, energy metabolism, and amino acid metabolism. Among these, 412 differentially methylated genes were located in promoter regions, including genes related to energy metabolism such as ATP5F1C, ATP5MD, PDK3, ANGPTL1, and ANGPTL2, and genes related to ubiquitin-proteasome degradation such as FBXO28, FBXO43, KLHL40, and PSMD5. These findings suggest that methylation in promoter regions may play a significant role in regulating the adaptive hibernation mechanisms in the Chinese alligator. This study contributes to a further understanding of the epigenetic mechanisms behind the hibernation of the Chinese alligator.

The role of selenium in the pathogenesis and therapy of inflammatory bowel diseases

In recent decades, Russia, as well as around the world, has recorded a steady increase in the incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases, which include ulcerative colitis and Crohn’s disease. The incidence of inflammatory bowel diseases in Russia accounts for 4.1 per 100 thousand of the population for ulcerative colitis and 0.8 per 100 thousand – for Crohn’s disease. The prevalence of inflammatory bowel diseases in Russia is 19.3–29.8 cases per 100 thousand of the population for ulcerative colitis and 3.0–4.5 per 100 thousand – for Crohn’s disease. In recent years, selenium has attracted the attention of researchers due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties as well as its ability to influence the intestinal flora. There is evidence that inflammatory bowel diseases has deficiency of trace elements, which is more often detected during active period of the disease than during remission. The purpose of the review is to summarize and analyze current literature data on the relationship between selenium and inflammatory bowel diseases, with special emphasis on the mechanism and function of selenium in intestinal inflammation as well as to discuss the possible therapeutic use of selenium in inflammatory bowel diseases. The authors conducted a search for publications in the electronic databases PubMed and eLibrary. After the selection procedure, 87 studies were included in the review. Due to its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, the concentration of selenium can be crucial in the occurrence and development of inflammatory bowel diseases. Dietary recommendations with the inclusion of selenium gradually improve the quality of life of patients with inflammatory bowel diseases. The development and use of selenium drugs have also provided new therapy strategies. In the future, a large number of experimental and clinical studies are still needed to confirm the relationship between selenium and inflammatory bowel diseases, which, in turn, will mark a new turn in the prevention and treatment of these severe chronic diseases.

MCU-based Safer Coagulation Mode by Nonfixed Duty Cycle for an Electrosurgery Inverter.

The arcing-involved pulsating coagulation mode with both active and blank periods is essential for modern electrosurgery. This paper begins with a comprehensive introduction to such a pulsating mode, followed by its implementation challenges. Then, an industrial-scale low-speed microcontroller unit (MCU), TMS320F28379D, is utilized to exemplify the proposed output sampling and data-transferring strategy on a gallium nitride (GaN)-based high-frequency inverter that enables coagulation mode with interweaved active periods and blank periods. The inverter prototype fills the active period with 390 kHz sinusoids of amplitude ranging from hundreds to thousands of Volts, while maintaining null outputs during blank periods. The strategy of sampling the above-mentioned sinusoidal outputs, coupled with their data transfer facilitated by direct memory access (DMA), is also articulated for subsequential power computation. Besides that, a novel nonfixed duty cycle approach, featuring an alterable number of sinusoids as the active period, is proposed and integrated into the GaN-based inverter to enhance mode safety. Finally, the power tracking performance of the mode is evaluated initially on resistive load, secondarily on resistive plus capacitive load (R-C), and thirdly on fresh biotissue with the appearance of electrical arcing. The existing necessity of the null blank periods is examined at the end of the paper.

Petrology and geochemistry of Mount Lurus lavas: evidence for alkaline to subalkaline transition in the rear arc of Java, Sunda Arc

Abstract Mount Lurus, a small Quaternary volcanic center in the rear of Java Island, Sunda arc, has erupted both alkaline and subalkaline lavas in a short span of active period. Furthermore, this small volcanic edifice, together with its neighboring alkaline volcanic center of Ringgit-Beser, corresponds to a shallower slab depth (∼160 km) than Muria in Central Java (270 km). We report the mineralogical and geochemical characteristics of Lurus lavas and compare them to the Ringgit-Beser lavas. All Lurus lavas show typical characteristics of island arcs with elevated Ba, Sr, Pb, and K and negative anomalies of Nb and Ti. The older Lurus edifice (Old Lurus) produces alkaline lavas with high alkalinity, which are trachyandesite and phonotephrite in composition. The younger Lurus (Young Lurus) generates calc-alkaline lavas with basaltic andesite composition. Both groups have plagioclase, clinopyroxene, olivine, and opaque minerals as phenocrysts phase. Leucite is found in one sample of Old Lurus with the lowest SiO2 content (48.92 wt%) and highest alkali content (5.38 wt%). Old Lurus lavas tend to show higher contents of incompatible elements (Pb, Ba, Nd, and Rb) than Young Lurus. The mineralogical and compositional differences between these lavas suggest that these magmas are sourced from at least three magma chambers of distinct composition: highly potassic magma chamber (comparable to the evolved-K series of Ringgit-Beser) and hydrous-potassic magma which fed Old Lurus edifice; and calc-alkaline magma chamber which fed Young Lurus edifice.

Longitudinal Assessment of Seasonal Impacts and Depression Associations on Circadian Rhythm Using Multimodal Wearable Sensing: Retrospective Analysis.

Previous mobile health (mHealth) studies have revealed significant links between depression and circadian rhythm features measured via wearables. However, the comprehensive impact of seasonal variations was not fully considered in these studies, potentially biasing interpretations in real-world settings. This study aims to explore the associations between depression severity and wearable-measured circadian rhythms while accounting for seasonal impacts. Data were sourced from a large longitudinal mHealth study, wherein participants' depression severity was assessed biweekly using the 8-item Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-8), and participants' behaviors, including sleep, step count, and heart rate (HR), were tracked via Fitbit devices for up to 2 years. We extracted 12 circadian rhythm features from the 14-day Fitbit data preceding each PHQ-8 assessment, including cosinor variables, such as HR peak timing (HR acrophase), and nonparametric features, such as the onset of the most active continuous 10-hour period (M10 onset). To investigate the association between depression severity and circadian rhythms while also assessing the seasonal impacts, we used three nested linear mixed-effects models for each circadian rhythm feature: (1) incorporating the PHQ-8 score as an independent variable, (2) adding seasonality, and (3) adding an interaction term between season and the PHQ-8 score. Analyzing 10,018 PHQ-8 records alongside Fitbit data from 543 participants (n=414, 76.2% female; median age 48, IQR 32-58 years), we found that after adjusting for seasonal effects, higher PHQ-8 scores were associated with reduced daily steps (β=-93.61, P<.001), increased sleep variability (β=0.96, P<.001), and delayed circadian rhythms (ie, sleep onset: β=0.55, P=.001; sleep offset: β=1.12, P<.001; M10 onset: β=0.73, P=.003; HR acrophase: β=0.71, P=.001). Notably, the negative association with daily steps was more pronounced in spring (β of PHQ-8 × spring = -31.51, P=.002) and summer (β of PHQ-8 × summer = -42.61, P<.001) compared with winter. Additionally, the significant correlation with delayed M10 onset was observed solely in summer (β of PHQ-8 × summer = 1.06, P=.008). Moreover, compared with winter, participants experienced a shorter sleep duration by 16.6 minutes, an increase in daily steps by 394.5, a delay in M10 onset by 20.5 minutes, and a delay in HR peak time by 67.9 minutes during summer. Our findings highlight significant seasonal influences on human circadian rhythms and their associations with depression, underscoring the importance of considering seasonal variations in mHealth research for real-world applications. This study also indicates the potential of wearable-measured circadian rhythms as digital biomarkers for depression.

Lower Thermospheric Temperature Response to Geomagnetic Activity at High Latitudes

AbstractThe magnetosphere‐ionosphere‐thermosphere system is externally driven by the energy input from the solar wind. A part of the solar wind energy deposited in the magnetosphere during geomagnetically active periods dissipates into the thermosphere. Previous studies have reported temperature perturbations in the lower thermosphere during geomagnetic storms. The present study aims to assess the climatological spatial pattern of the lower thermospheric response to geomagnetic activity at high latitudes based on 21 years of temperature measurements by the SABER (Sounding of the Atmosphere using Broadband Emission Radiometry) instrument onboard the TIMED (Thermosphere Ionosphere Mesosphere Energetics and Dynamics) satellite and their comparison with the recently developed half‐hourly geomagnetic activity index Hp30. The temperature response to geomagnetic activity, evaluated at different seasons and altitudes, is better organized in magnetic coordinates than in geographic coordinates. At 110 km, the temperature increases with Hp30 at all magnetic local times, but with a prominent dusk‐dawn asymmetry in the magnitude. That is, the temperature variation per unit Hp30 is larger in the dusk sector than in the dawn sector. At 106 km, the response in the dawn sector is further reduced or even negative. These results provide observational evidence to support earlier theoretical predictions; according to which, both storm‐induced vertical wind and Joule heating contribute to the temperature increase in the dusk sector, while in the dawn sector, the vertical wind acts to cool the air and thus counteracts Joule heating.

Analyses of academician cohorts generate biased pandemic excess death estimates

ObjectiveDeath data from cohorts of academicians have been used to estimate pandemic excess deaths. We aimed to evaluate the validity of this approach. Study Design and SettingData were analyzed from living and deceased member lists from Mainland China, UK and Greece academies; and Nobel laureates (and US subset thereof). Samples of early elected academicians were probed for unrecorded deaths; datasets overtly missing deaths were excluded from further analyses. Actuarial risks were compared against the general population in the same country in respective age strata. Relative incidence risk increases in death in active pandemic periods were compared to population-wide pandemic excess death estimates for the same country. ResultsRoyal Society and Academy of Athens datasets overtly missed deaths. Prepandemic death rates were 4- to 12-fold lower in the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) vs respective age strata of the Mainland China population. A +158% relative increase in death risk was seen in CAE data during the first 12-month of wide viral spread. Both increases (+34% in British Academy) and decreases (−27% in US Nobel laureates) in death rates occurred in pandemic (2020-22) vs prepandemic (2017-19) years; point estimates were far from known excess deaths in the respective countries (+6% and +14%, respectively). Published excess death estimates for urban-dwelling Mainland China selectively analyzed CAE that had double the pandemic death rates than another Chinese academy (Chinese Academy of Sciences). ConclusionMissingness, lack of representativeness, large uncertainty, and selective analysis reporting make data from academy rosters unreliable for estimating general population excess deaths.

Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST) science: Surveying the distant Universe.

During the most active period of star formation in galaxies, which occurs in the redshift range 1 < z < 3, strong bursts of star formation result in significant quantities of dust, which obscures new stars being formed as their UV/optical light is absorbed and then re-emitted in the infrared, which redshifts into the mm/sub-mm bands for these early times. To get a complete picture of the high- z galaxy population, we need to survey a large patch of the sky in the sub-mm with sufficient angular resolution to resolve all galaxies, but we also need the depth to fully sample their cosmic evolution, and therefore obtain their redshifts using direct mm spectroscopy with a very wide frequency coverage. This requires a large single-dish sub-mm telescope with fast mapping speeds at high sensitivity and angular resolution, a large bandwidth with good spectral resolution and multiplex spectroscopic capabilities. The proposed 50-m Atacama Large Aperture Submillimeter Telescope (AtLAST) will deliver these specifications. We discuss how AtLAST allows us to study the whole population of high-z galaxies, including the dusty star-forming ones which can only be detected and studied in the sub-mm, and obtain a wealth of information for each of these up to z ∼ 7: gas content, cooling budget, star formation rate, dust mass, and dust temperature. We present worked examples of surveys that AtLAST can perform, both deep and wide, and also focused on galaxies in proto-clusters. In addition we show how such surveys with AtLAST can measure the growth rate f σ 8 and the Hubble constant with high accuracy, and demonstrate the power of the line-intensity mapping method in the mm/sub-mm wavebands to constrain the cosmic expansion history at high redshifts, as good examples of what can uniquely be done by AtLAST in this research field.

Intravenous methylprednisolone in patients with episodic cluster headache non-responders to oral steroids: results from an observational, interventional, single-center study

Background: Verapamil is the drug of choice in the prophylaxis of episodic cluster headache (ECH), and oral corticosteroids are frequently prescribed as concurrent bridging therapy. Approximately 25% of the patients do not respond to oral treatment. The aim of this study was to assess safety and efficacy of high dose intravenous methylprednisolone (MPD) in ECH patients who had not responded to combined oral therapy with prednisone and verapamil. Methods: Forty-four ECH patients – non responders to oral therapy – were treated with intravenous MPD (500 mg/day for 5 days) and verapamil during cluster headache active periods. No serious adverse event was reported. Results: After 5 days of intravenous therapy, the 24-hour frequency of cluster headache attacks significantly decreased. Sixty-eight percent of patients became headache-free, and 25% experienced a reduction of more than 50% in daily attacks. No clinical benefit was reported in the remaining three patients. Conclusions: Our study shows that intravenous MPD is a safe, effective, and reproducible treatment for ECH patients not responding to oral therapy.