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Galaxies are thought to be fed by the continuous accretion of intergalactic gas, but direct observational evidence has been elusive. The accreted gas is expected to orbit about the galaxy's halo, delivering not just fuel for star formation but also angular momentum to the galaxy, leading to distinct kinematic signatures. We report observations showing these distinct signatures near a typical distant star-forming galaxy, where the gas is detected using a background quasar passing 26 kiloparsecs from the host. Our observations indicate that gas accretion plays a major role in galaxy growth because the estimated accretion rate is comparable to the star-formation rate.

Major depressive disorder (MDD) represents a major social and economic health issue and constitutes a major risk factor for suicide. The molecular pathology of suicidal depression remains poorly understood, although it has been hypothesised that regulatory genomic processes are involved in the pathology of both MDD and suicidality. In this study, genome-wide patterns of DNA methylation were assessed in depressed suicide completers ( n =20) and compared with non-psychiatric, sudden-death controls ( n =20) using tissue from two cortical brain regions (Brodmann Area 11 (BA11) and Brodmann Area 25 (BA25)). Analyses focused on identifying differentially methylated regions (DMRs) associated with suicidal depression and epigenetic variation were explored in the context of polygenic risk scores for major depression and suicide. Weighted gene co-methylation network analysis was used to identify modules of co-methylated loci associated with depressed suicide completers and polygenic burden for MDD and suicide attempt. We identified a DMR upstream of the PSORS1C3 gene, subsequently validated using bisulfite pyrosequencing and replicated in a second set of suicide samples, which is characterised by significant hypomethylation in both cortical brain regions in MDD suicide cases. We also identified discrete modules of co-methylated loci associated with polygenic risk burden for suicide attempt, but not major depression. Suicide-associated co-methylation modules were enriched among gene networks implicating biological processes relevant to depression and suicidality, including nervous system development and mitochondria function. Our data suggest that there are coordinated changes in DNA methylation associated with suicide that may offer novel insights into the molecular pathology associated with depressed suicide completers.

Background Wetlands store a substantial amount of carbon (C) in deep soil organic matter deposits, and play an important role in global fluxes of carbon dioxide and methane. Fine roots (i.e., ephemeral roots that are active in water and nutrient uptake) are recognized as important components of biogeochemical cycles in nutrient-limited wetland ecosystems. However, quantification of fine-root dynamics in wetlands has generally been limited to destructive approaches, possibly because of methodological difficulties associated with the unique environmental, soil, and plant community characteristics of these systems. Non-destructive minirhizotron technology has rarely been used in wetland ecosystems. Scope Our goal was to develop a consensus on, and a methodological framework for, the appropriate installation and use of minirhizotron technology in wetland ecosystems. Here, we discuss a number of potential solutions for the challenges associated with the deployment of minirhizotron technology in wetlands, including minirhizotron installation and anchorage, capture and analysis of minirhizotron images, and upscaling of minirhizotron data for analysis of biogeochemical pools and parameterization of land surface models. Conclusions The appropriate use of minirhizotron technology to examine relatively understudied fineroot dynamics in wetlands will advance our knowledge of ecosystem C and nutrient cycling in these globally important ecosystems.

Plasmaspheric plumes created during disturbed geomagnetic conditions have been suggested as a major cause of increased occurrences of electromagnetic ion cyclotron (EMIC) waves at these times. We have catalogued occurrences of strong Pc1 EMIC waves from 1996 through 2003 at three automated geophysical observatories operated by the British Antarctic Survey at auroral zone latitudes in Antarctica (L = 6.28, 7.68, and 8.07) and have compared them to the occurrence of plasmaspheric plumes in space, using simultaneous data from the Magnetospheric Plasma Analyzer on the Los Alamos National Laboratory 1990–095 spacecraft, in geosynchronous orbit at the same magnetic longitude. A superposed epoch analysis of these data was conducted for several categories of disturbed geomagnetic conditions, including magnetic storms, high‐speed streams, and storm sudden commencements. We found only a weak correspondence between the occurrence of strong Pc1 waves observed on the ground and either plasmaspheric plumes or intervals of extended plasmasphere at geosynchronous orbit before, during, or after the onset of any of these categories. Strong Pc1 activity peaked near or slightly after local noon during all storm phases, consistent with equatorial observations by the Active Magnetospheric Particle Tracer Explorers/Charge Composition Explorer satellite at these L shells. The highest Pc1 occurrence probability was at or 1–2 days before storm onset and during the late recovery phase. Occurrence was lowest during the early recovery phase, consistent with the decrease in solar wind pressure often seen at this time. The peak at onset is consistent with earlier observations of waves in the outer magnetosphere stimulated by sudden impulses and magnetospheric compressions.

An elicitor prepared from the autoclaved cell walls of Phytophthora sp. induced O2- generation and H2O2 accumulation by cultured cells of Rosa damascena Mill. cv Gloire de Guilan. N,N-Diethyldithiocarbamate, a superoxide dismutase inhibitor, blocked H2O2 accumulation and caused a dramatic accumulation of O2- by elicitor-treated rose cells. In the absence of N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate no detectable O2- was accumulated. Diphenyleneiodonium, quinacrine, pyridine, and imidazole, inhibitors of the mammalian neutrophil NADPH oxidase responsible for the generation of O2- during phagocytosis, inhibited O2- generation by elicitor-treated rose cells. Diphenyleneiodonium also inhibited NADH-dependent O2- production by plasma membranes isolated from rose cells. None of the four compounds inhibited the peroxidase activity in the cell-suspension medium. These results demonstrate that elicitor-stimulated accumulation of H2O2 comes only from superoxide dismutase-catalyzed dismutation of O2-. The data are inconsistent with the hypothesis that the synthesis of O2- is catalyzed by extracellular peroxidase and suggest that the enzyme responsible for the synthesis of O2- by elicitor-treated rose cells might be similar to the mammalian neutrophil NADPH oxidase

State-of-the-art 19th century spectroscopy led to the discovery of quantum mechanics, and 20th century spectroscopy led to the confirmation of quantum electrodynamics. State-of-the-art 21st century astrophysical spectrographs, especially ANDES at ESO’s ELT, have another opportunity to play a key role in the search for, and characterization of, the new physics which is known to be out there, waiting to be discovered. We rely on detailed simulations and forecast techniques to discuss four important examples of this point: big bang nucleosynthesis, the evolution of the cosmic microwave background temperature, tests of the universality of physical laws, and a real-time model-independent mapping of the expansion history of the universe (also known as the redshift drift). The last two are among the flagship science drivers for the ELT. We also highlight what is required for the ESO community to be able to play a meaningful role in 2030s fundamental cosmology and show that, even if ANDES only provides null results, such ‘minimum guaranteed science’ will be in the form of constraints on key cosmological paradigms: these are independent from, and can be competitive with, those obtained from traditional cosmological probes.

Background Steroids in transforaminal epidural injections are widely used to ease radicular pain in both cervical and lumbar radiculopathy. Concerns have been articulated about the use of particulate steroids for this intervention, as a number of case reports have been published linking them with post procedural paralysis, possibly due to spinal ischaemia secondary to a steroid particulate embolism. Non-particulate, or soluble steroids, are mooted as an alternative; however, their effectiveness relative to particulate steroids has not been conclusively proven. Study design We review the evidence in the published literature regarding the efficacy of non-particulate steroids in epidural injections compared to particulate steroids, and synthesise it to gauge the qualitative outcomes from level one evidence (visual analogue scales, numerical pain scores and Oswestry Disability Index) from baseline to specified follow up. Methods The PRISMA guidelines were utilised for this review. An internet search was performed to collate the available literature from medical databases PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science and the Cochrane library. We used a broad search term [epidural (and) steroid] to ensure a wide capture of articles. No limitations in terms of language or date of publication were implemented. The reference lists of articles included for full text review were searched for any additional primary or review publications. Results Four online libraries were searched, with a combined total of 11,353 titles reviewed, not excluding duplicates. Post title abstract and full text review, nine articles were identified as suitable for inclusion for qualitative synthesis. Four of these were suitable for quantitative synthesis, with a total of 300 participants, 147 in the particulate group and 153 in the non-particulate group. Using a random effects model, the pooled standard mean difference of VAS score diminution was not significant between groups (0.31 in favour of particulates, 95 % CI −0.68 to 1.30). From our qualitative synthesis, there was a trend for greater improvement in pain scores within the particulate group. The type of steroid used did not appear to have an effect on the disability score given by patients. Conclusion Particulate steroids are not demonstrably better in relieving pain compared to their non-particulate counterparts. In view of the concerns over the safety profile of particulate steroids, it may be prudent to switch to non particulates, or at the very least the dangers and alternatives should be flagged with the patient group as part of a shared decision making process.

The molecular identification and histopathology are described for the parasitic larvae of a nematode species present in the abdominal cavity of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) grilse caught in fish traps on their natal river in the west of Ireland and post-smolts collected during experimental trawls on the continental shelf edge of the northeast Atlantic Ocean. Larvae in the adult and juvenile salmon were identified as Anisakis simplex sensu stricto by PCR amplification and RFLP and sequencing of the ITS gene and PCR amplification and sequencing of the cox2 gene. Parasitic nematode larvae in the grilse were either encapsulated in the abdominal mesentery associated with the pyloric ceca or on the serosal surface of the liver and in the vent region. In some fish, larvae were found in the parenchyma of the liver and muscularis circularis of the intestine. In general, the larvae induced a limited cellular response apart from the occurrence of focal melanin macrophage aggregates and individual eosinophilic granular cells in the connective tissue capsule. Melanin macrophage aggregates were also present among the hepatocytes adjacent to encapsulated larvae in the liver. The reaction to the parasites was more severe in the wall of the intestine. Encapsulated nematode larvae caused displacement, vacuolation, and necrosis of the circular muscle fibers. The stratum compactum was also disrupted with focal areas of degeneration. Overall, the intestinal wall had a hypercellular appearance with extensive cellular infiltration comprising eosinophilic granular cells, macrophages, lymphocytes, and fibrocytes. The post-smolts were caught in May during the early oceanic phase of their life cycle. In these fish, A. simplex sensu stricto larvae were found lying free on the serosal surface of the intestine and liver without any apparent histologic changes. This is the earliest in the marine migration of Atlantic salmon that A. simplex sensu stricto infection has been recorded.

Cultured cells of rose (Rosa damascena) treated with an elicitor derived from Phytophthora spp. and suspension-cultured cells of French bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) treated with an elicitor derived from the cell walls of Colletotrichum lindemuthianum both produced H2O2. It has been hypothesized that in rose cells H2O2 is produced by a plasma membrane NAD(P)H oxidase (superoxide synthase), whereas in bean cells H2O2 is derived directly from cell wall peroxidases following extracellular alkalinization and the appearance of a reductant. In the rose/Phytophthora spp. system treated with N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate, superoxide was detected by a N,N'-dimethyl-9,9'-biacridium dinitrate-dependent chemiluminescence; in contrast, in the bean/C. lindemuthianum system, no superoxide was detected, with or without N,N-diethyldithiocarbamate. When rose cells were washed free of medium (containing cell wall peroxidase) and then treated with Phytophthora spp. elicitor, they accumulated a higher maximum concentration of H2O2 than when treated without the washing procedure. In contrast, a washing treatment reduced the H2O2 accumulated by French bean cells treated with C. lindemuthianum elicitor. Rose cells produced reductant capable of stimulating horseradish (Armoracia lapathifolia) peroxidase to form H2O2 but did not have a peroxidase capable of forming H2O2 in the presence of reductant. Rose and French bean cells thus appear to be responding by different mechanisms to generate the oxidative burst

I used data from a 10-yr study of Eastern Kingbirds (Tyrannus tyrannus) breeding in three habitats in the Charlotte Valley of central New York to describe population trends, and to examine how population dynamics varied with habitat-specific estimates of reproductive output, adult dispersal, and survival. Although breeding date was slightly earlier on the floodplain than the upland, my other comparisons showed that clutch size, egg mass, or the number of young lost to starvation or predators did not vary with habitat. However, floodplain pairs had the lowest annual productivity because significantly more of their eggs were eaten by predators during incubation. Males tended to exhibit higher survival and site fidelity than females, but in both sexes, survival was highest on the floodplain and lowest in the upland. Most dispersing individuals of both sexes moved toward the creek (significant in males). As a result of this and the moderately high survival of adults that bred along the creek, the creek population remained stable between 1989 and 1998, whereas the floodplain, upland, and total population tended to decline (2.5%/yr). Counts of kingbirds from Breeding Bird Surveys (1989-1996) conducted within 100 km of the study site also showed significant declines. Population size within the Charlotte Valley was positively associated with local adult male survival and seasonal productivity, and the declines in population size seemed to be linked most strongly to a drop in male survival during the latter half of the study. Calculation of habitat-specific population growth rates suggested that all three habitats, and thus the entire Charlotte Valley system, was a population sink whose numbers were supplemented substantially by outside immigration. However, productivity along the creek (and upland) was density dependent, suggesting also that the creek may function as a \"pseudosink.\" My results suggest that spatial and temporal (i.e., successional) changes in habitat quality may have led to increased permanent emigration of adults, and declines in population size. The importance of outside immigration also suggests that population dynamics can only be understood by evaluating local trends within a larger geographic context.