Search

We present the first targeted measurement of the power spectrum of anisotropies of the radio synchrotron background, at 140 MHz, where it is the overwhelmingly dominant photon background. This measurement is important for understanding the background level of radio sky brightness, which is dominated by steep-spectrum synchrotron radiation at frequencies below ν ∼ 0.5 GHz and has been measured to be significantly higher than that produced by known classes of extragalactic sources and most models of Galactic halo emission. We determine the anisotropy power spectrum on scales ranging from 2° to 0.2 arcmin with Low-Frequency Array observations of two 18-deg2 fields – one centred on the Northern hemisphere's coldest patch of radio sky where the Galactic contribution is smallest and the other offset from that location by 15°. We find that the anisotropy power is higher than that attributable to the distribution of point sources above 100  |$\mu$| Jy in flux. This level of radio anisotropy power indicates that if it results from point sources, those sources are likely at low fluxes and incredibly numerous, and likely clustered in a specific manner. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Syphilis, caused by Treponema pallidum, is transmitted both sexually and transplacentally. Untreated syphilis is a progressive disease that may result in death or disability in children and adults. Syphilis diagnosis requires 2-stage serologic testing for nontreponemal and treponemal antibodies. Congenital syphilis diagnosis requires careful review of maternal testing and treatment, comparison of maternal and neonatal nontreponemal antibody titers, and clinical evaluation of the neonate. In this review, we present the current epidemiology of syphilis, and the clinical manifestations, diagnosis, and management of syphilis as they relate to pediatric practice, specifically, congenital syphilis and acquired syphilis in adolescents and pregnant women., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Allergic asthma refers to a chronic reversible bronchoconstriction influenced by an allergic trigger, leading to symptoms of cough, wheezing, shortness of breath, and chest tightness. Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis is a complex hypersensitivity reaction, often in patients with asthma or cystic fibrosis, occurring when bronchi become colonized by Aspergillus species. The clinical picture is dominated by asthma complicated by recurrent episodes of bronchial obstruction, fever, malaise, mucus production, and peripheral blood eosinophilia. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is a syndrome associated with lung inflammation from the inhalation of airborne antigens, such as molds and dust., (Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Background: Recently, in vivo gene transfer with electroporation (electro-gene transfer) has emerged as a leading technology for developing nonviral gene therapies and nucleic acid vaccines. The widely hypothesized mechanism is that electroporation induces structural defects in the membrane and provides an electrophoretic force to facilitate DNA crossing the permeabilized membrane. In this study, we have designed a device and experiments to test the hypothesis., Methods: In this study, we have designed a device that alternates the polarity of the applied electric field to elucidate the mechanism of in vivo electro-gene transfer. We also designed experiments to challenge the theory that the low-voltage (LV) pulses cannot permeabilize the membrane and are only involved in DNA electrophoresis, and answer the arguments that (1) the reversed polarity pulses can cause opposing sides of the cell membrane to become permeabilized and provide the electrophoresis for DNA entry; or (2) once DNA enters cytoplasmic/endosomal compartments after electroporation, it may bind to cellular entities and might not be reversibly extracted. Thus a gradual buildup of the DNA in the cell still seems quite possible even under the condition of the rapid reversal of polarity., Results: Our results indicate that electrophoresis does not play an important role in in vivo electro-gene transfer., Conclusions: This study provides new insights into the mechanism of electro-gene transfer, and may allow the definition of newer and more efficient conditions for in vivo electroporation.