A fast radio burst source at a complex magnetized site in a barred galaxy.

Fast radio bursts (FRBs) are highly dispersed, millisecond-duration radio bursts1-3. Recent observations of a Galactic FRB4-8 suggest that at least some FRBs originate from magnetars, but the origin of cosmological FRBs is still not settled. Here we report the detection of 1,863 bursts in 82 h over 54 days from the repeating source FRB 20201124A (ref. 9). These observations show irregular short-time variation of the Faraday rotation measure (RM), which scrutinizes the density-weighted line-of-sight magnetic field strength, of individual bursts during the first 36 days, followed by a constant RM. We detected circular polarization in more than half of the burst sample, including one burst reaching a high fractional circular polarization of 75%. Oscillations in fractional linear and circular polarizations, as well as polarization angle as a function of wavelength, were detected. All of these features provide evidence for a complicated, dynamically evolving, magnetized immediate environment within about an astronomical unit (AU; Earth-Sun distance) of the source. Our optical observations of its Milky-Way-sized, metal-rich host galaxy10-12 show a barred spiral, with the FRB source residing in a low-stellar-density interarm region at an intermediate galactocentric distance. This environment is inconsistent with a young magnetar engine formed during an extreme explosion of a massive star that resulted in a long gamma-ray burst or superluminous supernova.

A repeating fast radio burst associated with a persistent radio source.

The dispersive sweep of fast radio bursts (FRBs) has been used to probe the ionized baryon content of the intergalactic medium1, which is assumed to dominate the total extragalactic dispersion. Although the host-galaxy contributions to the dispersion measure appear to be small for most FRBs2, in at least one case there is evidence for an extreme magneto-ionic local environment3,4 and a compact persistent radio source5. Here we report the detection and localization of the repeating FRB 20190520B, which is co-located with a compact, persistent radio source and associated with a dwarf host galaxy of high specific-star-formation rate at a redshift of 0.241 ± 0.001. The estimated host-galaxy dispersion measure of approximately [Formula: see text] parsecs per cubic centimetre, which is nearly an order of magnitude higher than the average of FRB host galaxies2,6, far exceeds the dispersion-measure contribution of the intergalactic medium. Caution is thus warranted in inferring redshifts for FRBs without accurate host-galaxy identifications.

Periprocedural vascular access complications associated with percutaneous femoral arterial access using the modified Seldinger's technique in dogs during cardiac catheterization: a single-center experience.

BACKGROUND: The primary objective of this study is to evaluate the peri-procedural major and minor complications associated with percutaneous femoral arterial access using modified Seldinger's technique in dogs that underwent cardiac catheterization. METHODS: Medical records of 62 client owned dogs that underwent percutaneous femoral arterial access for interventional cardiac procedures were retrospectively evaluated. Post-procedural manual compression was used for hemostasis. Peri-procedural vascular access complications (that occurred from procedure time to discharge) were evaluated. Vascular access complications were divided into two groups: minor complications that did not require specific therapy and major complications that did require an intervention to address the complication associated with vascular access. RESULTS: The minor complication rate was 30.6% (19/62) with most dogs experiencing minor bruising and small hematomas. The major complication rate was 3.2% (2/62). Both major complications were associated with bleeding with one dog requiring blood transfusion and the other dog requiring fluid therapy. No peri-procedural mortality associated with vascular access was noted. CONCLUSION: This retrospective study suggests that percutaneous femoral arterial access using the modified Seldinger's technique with post-procedural manual compression for hemostasis is viable option for vascular access during cardiac catheterization and associated with no peri-procedural mortality in dogs. The lower rate of complications noted in this study may be related to operator experiences and as such complication rate at a single center may not reflect the experience at other centers.

Candidate Electromagnetic Counterpart to the Binary Black Hole Merger Gravitational-Wave Event S190521g.

We report the first plausible optical electromagnetic counterpart to a (candidate) binary black hole merger. Detected by the Zwicky Transient Facility, the electromagnetic flare is consistent with expectations for a kicked binary black hole merger in the accretion disk of an active galactic nucleus [B. McKernan, K. E. S. Ford, I. Bartos et al., Astrophys. J. Lett. 884, L50 (2019)AJLEEY2041-821310.3847/2041-8213/ab4886] and is unlikely [

Pulmonary hypertension and valvular heart disease.

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is an important contributor to morbidity and mortality in patients with left-sided heart disease, including valvular heart disease. In this context, elevated left atrial pressure primarily leads to the development of post-capillary PH. Despite the fact that repair of left-sided valvular heart disease by surgical or interventional approaches will improve PH, recent studies have highlighted that PH (pre- or post-interventional) remains an important predictor of long-term outcome. Here, we review the current knowledge on PH in valvular heart disease taking into account new hemodynamic PH definitions, and the distinction between post- and pre-capillary components of PH. A specific focus is on the precise characterization of hemodynamics and cardiopulmonary interaction, and on potential strategies for the management of residual PH after mitral or aortic valve interventions. In addition, we highlight the clinical significance of tricuspid regurgitation, which may occur as a primary condition or as a consequence of PH and right heart dilatation (functional). In this context, proper patient selection for potential tricuspid valve interventions is crucial. Finally, the article highlights gaps in evidence, and points toward future perspectives.

The multiple merger assembly of a hyperluminous obscured quasar at redshift 4.6.

Galaxy mergers and gas accretion from the cosmic web drove the growth of galaxies and their central black holes at early epochs. We report spectroscopic imaging of a multiple merger event in the most luminous known galaxy, WISE J224607.56-052634.9 (W2246-0526), a dust-obscured quasar at redshift 4.6, 1.3 billion years after the Big Bang. Far-infrared dust continuum observations show three galaxy companions around W2246-0526 with disturbed morphologies, connected by streams of dust likely produced by the dynamical interaction. The detection of tidal dusty bridges shows that W2246-0526 is accreting its neighbors, suggesting that merger activity may be a dominant mechanism through which the most luminous galaxies simultaneously obscure and feed their central supermassive black holes.

[Bedside implantation of a new temporary vena cava inferior filter : German results from the European ANGEL registry]. / Bettseitige Implantation eines neuen passageren V.-cava-inferior-Filters : Deutsche Daten aus dem europäischen ANGEL-Register.

BACKGROUND: Pulmonary embolism (PE) is a frequently occurring complication in critically ill patients, and the simultaneous occurrence of PE and life-threatening bleeding is a therapeutic dilemma. Inferior vena cava filters (IVCF) may represent an important therapeutic alternative in these cases. The Angel® catheter (Bio2 Medical Inc., San Antonio, TX, USA) is a novel IVCF that provides temporary protection from PE and is implanted at bedside without fluoroscopy. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The European Angel® Catheter Registry is an observational, multicenter study. In our German substudy, we investigated patients from three German hospitals and four intensive care units, who underwent Angel® catheter implantation between February 2016 and December 2016. RESULTS: A total of 23 critically ill patients (68 ± 9 years, 43% male) were included. The main indication for implantation was a high risk for or an established PE, combined with contraindications for prophylactic or therapeutic anticoagulation due to either an increased risk of bleeding (81%) or active bleeding (13%). The Angel® catheter was successfully inserted in all patients at bedside. No PE occurred in patients with an indwelling Angel® catheter. Clots with a diameter larger the 20 mm, indicating clot migration, were detected in 5% of the patients by cavography before filter retrieval. Filter retrieval was uneventful in all of our cases, while filter dislocation occurred in 3% of the patients. CONCLUSION: The German data from the multicenter European Angel® Catheter Registry show that the Angel® catheter is a safe and effective approach for critically ill patients with a high risk for the development of PE or an established PE, when an anticoagulation therapy is contraindicated.

Early 68GA-PSMA PET/MRI acquisition: assessment of lesion detectability and PET metrics in patients with prostate cancer undergoing same-day late PET/CT.

AIM: To compare lesion detectability and positron-emission tomography (PET) metric measurements between early-PET/magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) acquisition and same-day PET/computed tomography (CT). MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study was approved by the institutional review board and written informed consent was obtained from all patients. Twenty-one patients underwent non-time-of-flight (TOF) PET/MRI immediately following 68GA-prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA) tracer injection in two steps: firstly, early prostate PET/MRI (pPET/MRI) and early whole-body (WB) PET/MRI (wbPET/MR) followed by WB TOF PET/CT (wbPET/CT). Lesion detectability was compared between wbPET/MRI and wbPET/CT while PET metric measurements were compared between pPET/MR, wbPET/MRI, and wbPET/CT. RESULTS: Sixty-one and 63 lesions were found on wbPET/MRI and wbPET/CT, respectively (K=0.95, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.89-1.0) with very good correlation between PET metric measurements (r=0.91; p=0.001). Bland-Altman plots demonstrated a mean percentage difference between wbPET/CT with wbPET/MRI of 34.4% with 95% limits of agreement (LOA) between -39% to 107.9% for metabolic tumour volume (MTV) and a mean difference of 30% with LOA between -13.4% to 73.4% for peak standardised uptake value (SUVpeak). CONCLUSION: Early PET/MRI demonstrates very good lesion detectability agreement and correlation with PET metrics compared to same-day PET/CT. Nevertheless, LOA are far beyond the clinically acceptable range, and therefore, PET/CT and early PET/MRI metrics cannot be used interchangeably.

Association of the missense variant p.Arg203Trp in PACS1 as a cause of intellectual disability and seizures.

Graphical abstract key: ADHD, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder; ASD, atrial septal defect; DD, developmental delay; EEG, electroencephalogram; Ht, height; ID, intellectual disability; OCD, obsessive-compulsive disorder; OFC, open fontanelle; PDA, patent ductus arteriosis; PFO, patent foramen ovale; VSD, ventricular septal defect; Wt, weight.

Supernovae. 44Ti gamma-ray emission lines from SN1987A reveal an asymmetric explosion.

In core-collapse supernovae, titanium-44 ((44)Ti) is produced in the innermost ejecta, in the layer of material directly on top of the newly formed compact object. As such, it provides a direct probe of the supernova engine. Observations of supernova 1987A (SN1987A) have resolved the 67.87- and 78.32-kilo-electron volt emission lines from decay of (44)Ti produced in the supernova explosion. These lines are narrow and redshifted with a Doppler velocity of ~700 kilometers per second, direct evidence of large-scale asymmetry in the explosion.

Is waist circumference per body mass index rising differentially across the United States, England, China and Mexico?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Little is known about whether waist circumference (WC) has increased disproportionately relative to body mass index (BMI) around the world. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data came from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1988-1994 and 2007-2010), Health Survey for England (1992-1993 and 2008-2009); the Mexican Nutrition Survey (1999) and the Mexican National Health and Nutrition Survey (NHNS 2012); and the China Health and Nutrition Survey (1993 and 2011). Country- and sex-stratified (for the United States, also race-/ethnicity-stratified) multivariable linear regressions were used to estimate mean difference in WC over time relative to BMI at specified overweight and obesity cutoff points, adjusting for age and survey year. RESULTS: Although mean WC and BMI shifted upward over time in all age-sex subpopulations in all four countries, trends in overweight prevalence were less consistent. However, WC relative to BMI increased at varying magnitudes across all countries and subpopulations, except US Black men. The magnitude of increase was largest for women in the youngest age group (20-29 years), particularly for women in Mexico (+6.6 cm, P<0.0001) and China (+4.6 cm, P<0.0001) (holding BMI constant at 25 kg/m(2)). For men, the increase was primarily evident among Chinese men (+4.8 cm, P<0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: WC has increased disproportionately over time relative to overall body mass across the United States, England, Mexico and China, particularly among young women, with the largest increases occurring in the middle-income countries of Mexico and China. These patterns are potentially a cause for concern especially for countries undergoing rapid economic and nutritional transitions.

Cough during infancy and subsequent childhood asthma.

OBJECTIVES: Wheezing in infancy has been associated with subsequent asthma, but whether cough similarly influences asthma risk has been little studied. We sought to determine whether prolonged cough and cough without cold in the first year of life are associated with childhood asthma. METHODS: Participants in the Infant Immune Study, a non-selected birth cohort, were surveyed 7 times in the first 9 months of life regarding the presence of wheeze and cough. Cough for more than 28 days was defined as prolonged. Parents were asked at 1 year if the child ever coughed without a cold. Asthma was defined as parental report of physician diagnosis of asthma, with symptoms or medication use between 2 and 9 years. Logistic regression was used to assess adjusted odds for asthma associated with cough characteristics. RESULTS: A total of 24% (97) of children experienced prolonged cough and 23% (95) cough without cold in the first 9 months, respectively. Prolonged cough was associated with increased risk of asthma relative to brief cough (OR 3.57, CI: 1.88, 6.76), with the risk being particularly high among children of asthmatic mothers. Cough without cold (OR 3.13, 95% CI: 1.76, 5.57) was also independently associated with risk of childhood asthma. Both relations persisted after adjustment for wheeze and total IgE at age 1. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Prolonged cough in infancy and cough without cold are associated with childhood asthma, independent of infant wheeze. These findings suggest that characteristics of cough in infancy are early markers of asthma susceptibility, particularly among children with maternal asthma.

Isolation and culture of spinal cord motor neurons.

Isolated spinal motoneurons are a powerful tool for studying basic mechanisms of neurite growth and survival. Since motoneurons are a minor population of developing spinal cord cells, they need to be purified and enriched to separate them from non-neuronal cells. Therefore, the particular feature of embryonic motoneurons to express the low affinity neurotrophin receptor p75(NTR) is used to separate the motoneurons from other contaminating cells. Two ways are described to isolate embryonic motoneurons: the basic protocol taking advantage of the ability of p75(NTR) to bind lectin, and an alternative method using an antibody against p75(NTR) for a panning procedure. These protocols comprise suggestions for the cultivation of the isolated motoneurons for experiments regarding neural outgrowth and survival as well as instruction for the preparation of proteins of the cells.

Galaxy evolution. Black hole feedback in the luminous quasar PDS 456.

The evolution of galaxies is connected to the growth of supermassive black holes in their centers. During the quasar phase, a huge luminosity is released as matter falls onto the black hole, and radiation-driven winds can transfer most of this energy back to the host galaxy. Over five different epochs, we detected the signatures of a nearly spherical stream of highly ionized gas in the broadband x-ray spectra of the luminous quasar PDS 456. This persistent wind is expelled at relativistic speeds from the inner accretion disk, and its wide aperture suggests an effective coupling with the ambient gas. The outflow's kinetic power larger than 10(46) ergs per second is enough to provide the feedback required by models of black hole and host galaxy coevolution.

An ultraluminous X-ray source powered by an accreting neutron star.

The majority of ultraluminous X-ray sources are point sources that are spatially offset from the nuclei of nearby galaxies and whose X-ray luminosities exceed the theoretical maximum for spherical infall (the Eddington limit) onto stellar-mass black holes. Their X-ray luminosities in the 0.5-10 kiloelectronvolt energy band range from 10(39) to 10(41) ergs per second. Because higher masses imply less extreme ratios of the luminosity to the isotropic Eddington limit, theoretical models have focused on black hole rather than neutron star systems. The most challenging sources to explain are those at the luminous end of the range (more than 10(40) ergs per second), which require black hole masses of 50-100 times the solar value or significant departures from the standard thin disk accretion that powers bright Galactic X-ray binaries, or both. Here we report broadband X-ray observations of the nuclear region of the galaxy M82 that reveal pulsations with an average period of 1.37 seconds and a 2.5-day sinusoidal modulation. The pulsations result from the rotation of a magnetized neutron star, and the modulation arises from its binary orbit. The pulsed flux alone corresponds to an X-ray luminosity in the 3-30 kiloelectronvolt range of 4.9 × 10(39) ergs per second. The pulsating source is spatially coincident with a variable source that can reach an X-ray luminosity in the 0.3-10 kiloelectronvolt range of 1.8 × 10(40) ergs per second. This association implies a luminosity of about 100 times the Eddington limit for a 1.4-solar-mass object, or more than ten times brighter than any known accreting pulsar. This implies that neutron stars may not be rare in the ultraluminous X-ray population, and it challenges physical models for the accretion of matter onto magnetized compact objects.

Changes in waist circumference relative to body mass index in Chinese adults, 1993-2009.

BACKGROUND: Although body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC) are correlated, the relationship between WC and BMI may have changed over time. OBJECTIVES: To describe temporal trends in BMI and WC distributions and quantify the increase in WC at a given BMI over time. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Data on adults aged 20-59 years from two waves (1993 and 2009) of the China Health and Nutrition Survey were used in a pooled cross-sectional analysis. Quantile regression examined age-adjusted temporal trends in the distributions of BMI and WC. Linear regression examined changes in mean WC over time, adjusting for BMI, age at survey and survey year. All models were stratified by gender. RESULTS: There was a significant increase in BMI and WC over time, particularly at the 95th quantile: on average, men had 2.8 kg m(-2) (95% confidence interval (CI): 2.4, 3.3) and women 1.5 kg m(-)(2) (95% CI: 1.1, 2.0) higher BMI in 2009 compared with their counterparts in 1993. WC increased by 9.0 cm (95% CI: 7.5, 10.1) and 5.0 cm (95% CI: 3.4, 6.6) for men and women, respectively. On average, men and women had a 3.2 cm (95% CI: 2.8, 3.7) and 2.1 cm (95% CI: 1.7, 2.5) higher WC in 2009 compared with their counterparts in 1993, holding BMI and age constant. WC adjusted for BMI increased to a larger extent among obese versus lean individuals and among younger versus older women. CONCLUSIONS: For both genders, BMI and WC increased significantly over time, with particularly greatest increase in magnitude in the upper tail of the BMI and WC distributions. Furthermore, WC at equivalent BMIs was higher in 2009, compared with their counterparts in 1993. Our findings suggest that even if BMI remained constant from 1993 to 2009, adults in 2009 might be at increased cardiometabolic risk as a result of their higher WC.

Asymmetries in core-collapse supernovae from maps of radioactive 44Ti in Cassiopeia A.

Asymmetry is required by most numerical simulations of stellar core-collapse explosions, but the form it takes differs significantly among models. The spatial distribution of radioactive (44)Ti, synthesized in an exploding star near the boundary between material falling back onto the collapsing core and that ejected into the surrounding medium, directly probes the explosion asymmetries. Cassiopeia A is a young, nearby, core-collapse remnant from which (44)Ti emission has previously been detected but not imaged. Asymmetries in the explosion have been indirectly inferred from a high ratio of observed (44)Ti emission to estimated (56)Ni emission, from optical light echoes, and from jet-like features seen in the X-ray and optical ejecta. Here we report spatial maps and spectral properties of the (44)Ti in Cassiopeia A. This may explain the unexpected lack of correlation between the (44)Ti and iron X-ray emission, the latter being visible only in shock-heated material. The observed spatial distribution rules out symmetric explosions even with a high level of convective mixing, as well as highly asymmetric bipolar explosions resulting from a fast-rotating progenitor. Instead, these observations provide strong evidence for the development of low-mode convective instabilities in core-collapse supernovae.

Quantitative vertebral morphometry based on parametric modeling of vertebral bodies in 3D.

UNLABELLED: Quantitative vertebral morphometry (QVM) was performed by parametric modeling of vertebral bodies in three dimensions (3D). INTRODUCTION: Identification of vertebral fractures in two dimensions is a challenging task due to the projective nature of radiographic images and variability in the vertebral shape. By generating detailed 3D anatomical images, computed tomography (CT) enables accurate measurement of vertebral deformations and fractures. METHODS: A detailed 3D representation of the vertebral body shape is obtained by automatically aligning a parametric 3D model to vertebral bodies in CT images. The parameters of the 3D model describe clinically meaningful morphometric vertebral body features, and QVM in 3D is performed by comparing the parameters to their statistical values. Thresholds and parameters that best discriminate between normal and fractured vertebral bodies are determined by applying statistical classification analysis. RESULTS: The proposed QVM in 3D was applied to 454 normal and 228 fractured vertebral bodies, yielding classification sensitivity of 92.5% at 7.5% specificity, with corresponding accuracy of 92.5% and precision of 86.1%. The 3D shape parameters that provided the best separation between normal and fractured vertebral bodies were the vertebral body height and the inclination and concavity of both vertebral endplates. CONCLUSION: The described QVM in 3D is able to efficiently and objectively discriminate between normal and fractured vertebral bodies and identify morphological cases (wedge, (bi)concavity, or crush) and grades (1, 2, or 3) of vertebral body fractures. It may be therefore valuable for diagnosing and predicting vertebral fractures in patients who are at risk of osteoporosis.