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Multiwavelength variability studies of active galactic nuclei (AGN) can be used to probe their inner regions which are not directly resolvable. Dust reverberation mapping (DRM) estimates the size of the dust emitting region by measuring the delays between the infrared (IR) response to variability in the optical light curves. We measure DRM lags of Zw229-015 between optical ground-based and Kepler light curves and concurrent IR Spitzer 3.6 and 4.5 $\mu$m light curves from 2010-2015, finding an overall mean rest-frame lag of 18.3 $\pm$ 4.5 days. Each combination of optical and IR light curve returns lags that are consistent with each other within 1$\sigma$, which implies that the different wavelengths are dominated by the same hot dust emission. The lags measured for Zw229-015 are found to be consistently smaller than predictions using the lag-luminosity relationship. Also, the overall IR response to the optical emission actually depends on the geometry and structure of the dust emitting region as well, so we use Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) modelling to simulate the dust distribution to further estimate these structural and geometrical properties. We find that a large increase in flux between the 2011-2012 observation seasons, which is more dramatic in the IR light curve, is not well simulated by a single dust component. When excluding this increase in flux, the modelling consistently suggests that the dust is distributed in an extended flat disk, and finds a mean inclination angle of 49$^{+3}_{-13}$ degrees., Comment: 32 pages, 32 Figures, 7 Tables; Accepted for publication in MNRAS

Heart failure with preserved left ventricular ejection fraction (HFpEF) is a serious condition with a constantly increasing prevalence which is in correlation with the increase of this disease's risk factors incidence (obesity, arterial hypertension, diabetes, etc.) and the aging of the population. The first challenge is the diagnosis of HFpEF. Two score-based algorithms have been proposed by the European (ESC HFA-PEFF score) and the American (ACC/AHA H2FpEF score) Cardiology Societies to help the clinician in the differential diagnosis of exertional dyspnea; these scores include the association of various signs of elevated ventricular filling pressures at rest and/or during exercise. According to the ESC recommendations, the management of HFpEF is currently based on symptomatic treatment with diuretics, treatment of co-morbidities and treatment of the underlying etiology if it is identified at the end of the diagnostic approach. The prognosis of this disease is pejorative because no treatment had demonstrated its effectiveness for all HFpEF phenotypes in controlled studies until now. The management algorithm could change soon due to the publication of the EMPEROR-Preserved study, which demonstrated the efficacy of empagliflozin, an SGLT2 inhibitor, concerning a significant reduction of the mortality rate and cardiac hospitalization, regardless of left ventricular ejection fraction. That said, there are many ongoing studies in the field, and treatment prospects will likely be more targeted on the HFpEF phenotype in a near future, due to the heterogeneous nature of this clinical entity.L’insuffisance cardiaque à fraction d’éjection du ventricule gauche préservée (HFpEF) est une affection grave dont l’incidence est en constante majoration en relation avec l’augmentation de la prévalence des facteurs de risque de la maladie (obésité, hypertension artérielle, diabète, ...) et du vieillissement de la population. La première difficulté est de poser le diagnostic d’HFpEF. Deux algorithmes basés sur des scores ont été proposés par les Sociétés Européenne (ESC HFA–PEFF score) et Américaine (ACC/AHA H2FpEF score) de Cardiologie afin d’aider le clinicien dans le diagnostic différentiel d’une dyspnée d’effort. Ces algorithmes recherchent l’association de différents signes d’élévation des pressions de remplissage ventriculaire gauche au repos et/ou à l’effort. La prise en charge de l’HFpEF selon les recommandations de la Société Européenne de Cardiologie (ESC) reste actuellement basée sur le traitement symptomatique par les diurétiques, le traitement des comorbidités, et sur le traitement de l’étiologie sous-jacente si elle est identifiée au terme de la mise au point diagnostique. Le pronostic de cette maladie est péjoratif puisque, jusqu’à présent, aucun traitement n’avait prouvé son efficacité pour tous les phénotypes d’HFpEF dans des études contrôlées. L’algorithme de prise en charge pourrait évoluer prochainement en raison de la publication de l’étude EMPEROR-Preserved qui a démontré l’efficacité de l’empagliflozine, un inhibiteur SGLT2, par une réduction significative du taux de mortalité et d’hospitalisation pour cause cardiaque, indépendamment de la fraction d’éjection du ventricule gauche. Cela dit, de nombreuses études sont en cours dans le domaine, et les perspectives de traitement seront probablement plus ciblées en fonction du phénotype d’HFpEF, car cette entité clinique présente un caractère hétérogène.

ZusammenfassungGegenstand dieses Fallbeispiels aus dem Jahr 2017 war es, dasARRI Fusion Networkzu einer zentralen Plattform in der Filmdistribution auszubauen. DasFusion Networkdient momentan hauptsächlich zur Verwaltung von Spielstätten und Filmdistribution. ARRI Media steht als Intermediär zwischen den Filmverleihern und den Spielstätten und ist verantwortlich für die Distribution der Filme. Dem Verleiher stehen zur Übertragung der Aufträge mehrere Wege, wie die Beauftragung imARRI Fusion Network,zur Verfügung. Somit ist der Verleiher der zahlende Kunde von ARRI: Die aktuelle Distribution der Filme mit einer Festplatte über einen Lieferservice ist durch den geringen Automatisierungsgrad sehr aufwendig. Filme müssen auf Festplatten kopiert, physisch versendet, am Zielort eingespielt und die Festplatte wieder zurückversendet werden. Dadurch entsteht viel manueller Aufwand, der mit einereDelivery-Lösung deutlich reduziert werden könnte. Das Versenden der Filme übereDeliverysieht den Einsatz von Internet- oder Satellitenverbindungen vor. Allerdings isteDeliveryaufgrund eines unzureichenden Breitbandausbaus in Deutschland und zu teurer Betriebskosten noch nicht rentabel. Die neue Plattform soll Filmverleiher und Kinobetreiber näher zusammenrücken lassen und die Position von ARRI in der Filmdistribution stärken.

Cardio-oncology is a new interdisciplinary specialty that has emerged over the past ten years. With the development of increasingly potent cancer therapies which improve cancer survival, but at the cost of cardiovascular toxicity, the demand for specialized cardio-oncology services has emerged. Also, cardiovascular diseases are more common and more serious in cancer patients than in the general population. Cardio-oncology focuses on the prevention, detection, monitoring, and treatment of cardiovascular diseases in cancer patients, mostly those occurring as a side effect of chemo- and radiotherapy.La cardio-oncologie est une nouvelle spécialité interdisciplinaire apparue au cours des dix dernières années. Avec le développement de thérapies anticancéreuses de plus en plus puissantes qui améliorent la survie au cancer, mais régulièrement au prix d’une toxicité cardiovasculaire, est apparue une demande de services spécialisés en cardio-oncologie. Par ailleurs, les maladies cardiovasculaires sont plus fréquentes et plus graves chez les patients atteints de cancer que dans la population générale. La cardio-oncologie se concentre sur la prévention, la détection, la surveillance et le traitement des maladies cardiovasculaires survenant chez les patients atteints de cancer et, principalement, la prise en charge des effets secondaires de la chimiothérapie et de la radiothérapie.

We report velocity-delay maps for prominent broad emission lines, Ly_alpha, CIV, HeII and H_beta, in the spectrum of NGC5548. The emission-line responses inhabit the interior of a virial envelope. The velocity-delay maps reveal stratified ionization structure. The HeII response inside 5-10 light-days has a broad single-peaked velocity profile. The Ly_alpha, CIV, and H_beta responses peak inside 10 light-days, extend outside 20 light-days, and exhibit a velocity profile with two peaks separated by 5000 km/s in the 10 to 20 light-day delay range. The velocity-delay maps show that the M-shaped lag vs velocity structure found in previous cross-correlation analysis is the signature of a Keplerian disk with a well-defined outer edge at R=20 light-days. The outer wings of the M arise from the virial envelope, and the U-shaped interior of the M is the lower half of an ellipse in the velocity-delay plane. The far-side response is weaker than that from the near side, so that we see clearly the lower half, but only faintly the upper half, of the velocity--delay ellipse. The delay tau=(R/c)(1-sin(i))=5 light-days at line center is from the near edge of the inclined ring, giving the inclination i=45 deg. A black hole mass of M=7x10^7 Msun is consistent with the velocity-delay structure. A barber-pole pattern with stripes moving from red to blue across the CIV and possibly Ly_alpha line profiles suggests the presence of azimuthal structure rotating around the far side of the broad-line region and may be the signature of precession or orbital motion of structures in the inner disk. Further HST observations of NGC 5548 over a multi-year timespan but with a cadence of perhaps 10 days rather than 1 day could help to clarify the nature of this new AGN phenomenon., 19 pages, 9 figures, ApJ in press

The work presented in this paper is part of an interdisciplinary research project named SolDuGri dealing with the reinforcement of asphalt concrete pavements using glass fibre grids. We present in ...

We report the results of reverberation mapping three bright Seyfert galaxies, Mrk 79, NGC 3227, and Mrk 841, from a campaign conducted from December 2016 to May 2017 with the Wyoming Infrared Observatory (WIRO) 2.3-meter telescope. All three of these targets have shown asymmetric broad H$\beta$ emission lines in the past, although their emission lines were relatively symmetric during our observations. We measured H\beta\ time lags for all three targets and estimated masses of their black holes -- for the first time in the case of Mrk 841. For Mrk 79 and NGC 3227, the data are of sufficient quality to resolve distinct time lags as a function of velocity and to compute two-dimensional velocity-delay maps. Mrk 79 shows smaller time lags for high-velocity gas but the distribution is not symmetric, and its complex velocity-delay map could result from the combination of both inflowing and outflowing H\beta\ emitting disks that may be part of a single larger structure. NGC 3227 shows the largest time lags for blueshifted gas and the two-dimensional velocity-delay map suggests a disk with some inflow. We compare our results with previous work and find evidence for different time lags despite similar luminosities, as well as evolving broad line region structures., Comment: 18 pages, 9 figures, 7 tables (table 3 is machine-readable and may be found in the source files as table3.txt), accepted by ApJ

We present geometric and dynamical modeling of the broad line region for the multi-wavelength reverberation mapping campaign focused on NGC 5548 in 2014. The dataset includes photometric and spectroscopic monitoring in the optical and ultraviolet, covering the H$\beta$, C IV, and Ly$\alpha$ broad emission lines. We find an extended disk-like H$\beta$ BLR with a mixture of near-circular and outflowing gas trajectories, while the C IV and Ly$\alpha$ BLRs are much less extended and resemble shell-like structures. There is clear radial structure in the BLR, with C IV and Ly$\alpha$ emission arising at smaller radii than the H$\beta$ emission. Using the three lines, we make three independent black hole mass measurements, all of which are consistent. Combining these results gives a joint inference of $\log_{10}(M_{\rm BH}/M_\odot) = 7.64^{+0.21}_{-0.18}$. We examine the effect of using the $V$ band instead of the UV continuum light curve on the results and find a size difference that is consistent with the measured UV-optical time lag, but the other structural and kinematic parameters remain unchanged, suggesting that the $V$ band is a suitable proxy for the ionizing continuum when exploring the BLR structure and kinematics. Finally, we compare the H$\beta$ results to similar models of data obtained in 2008 when the AGN was at a lower luminosity state. We find that the size of the emitting region increased during this time period, but the geometry and black hole mass remain unchanged, which confirms that the BLR kinematics suitably gauge the gravitational field of the central black hole., Comment: 26 pages, 19 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in ApJ

The diagnosis of heart failure can sometimes be challenging for the clinician because presentation circumstances and heart failure phenotypes are varied. The identification and validation of sensitive and specific biomarkers for this condition are still a subject of intensive research. Among them, natriuretic peptides (ANP, BNP, NTproBNP) are widely used and validated as markers of heart failure. Their appropriate use and correct interpretation, however, require knowledge of their indications, specificities and limitations. The European Society of Cardiology has recently issued recommendations in this regard. This article summarizes them in order to facilitate the understanding and the use of natriuretic peptides in clinical practice. It also discusses their use in the etiological diagnosis of pleural effusions caused by heart failure.Le diagnostic d’insuffisance cardiaque peut parfois mettre en difficulté le clinicien tant les circonstances de présentation et les phénotypes de cette pathologie sont variés. L’identification et la validation de biomarqueurs sensibles et spécifiques à cette condition particulière font toujours l’objet d’une recherche intensive. Parmi eux, les peptides natriurétiques (ANP, BNP, NTproBNP) sont largement utilisés et validés comme marqueurs de l’insuffisance cardiaque. Leur usage approprié et leur interprétation correcte requièrent, toutefois, la connaissance de leurs indications, spécificités et limitations. La Société Européenne de Cardiologie a récemment publié des recommandations à cet égard. Cet article propose d’en résumer les lignes principales afin de faciliter l’utilisation des peptides natriurétiques en pratique clinique. Il aborde, aussi, leur utilisation dans le diagnostic étiologique des épanchements pleuraux.

The introduction of basic treatment for heart failure dates to the late 1990s. Since that time, apart from a few new developments reserved for selected patients, there has been little progress. During these years, the epidemiology of the disease has evolved. The number of patients is constantly increasing and the prognosis is often darker than most oncological pathologies. With the arrival of the sacubitril/valsartan combination, Entresto®, a new therapeutic class has emerged. It has shown a significant reduction in mortality and hospitalizations for heart failure. The additional benefits to be expected from this molecule are still being evaluated. Significant positive remodeling seems to be a reality for many patients. This spectacular advance, however, is not the final solution. In addition, patients with preserved heart failure do not seem to benefit the same from this molecule. Other advances are being assessed. Sacubitril/valsartan is the first revolution, perhaps, in a long series.L’introduction du traitement de base de l’insuffisance cardiaque remonte à la fin des années 90. Depuis cette époque, à part quelques nouveautés réservées à certains patients, on ne retient que peu d’évolution. Pendant ces années, l’épidémiologie de la maladie a évolué. Le nombre de patients est en constante augmentation et le pronostic est, bien souvent, plus sombre que la plupart des pathologies oncologiques. Avec l’arrivée récente de l’association sacubitril/valsartan, Entresto®, une nouvelle classe thérapeutique est apparue. Elle a démontré une diminution significative de la mortalité et des hospitalisations dans l’insuffisance cardiaque à fonction altérée. Les bénéfices complémentaires à attendre de cette molécule sont toujours en cours d’évaluation. Un remodelage positif significatif semble être une réalité pour bon nombre de patients. Cette avancée spectaculaire n’est, cependant, pas la solution définitive. De plus, les patients insuffisants cardiaque à fonction préservée ne semblent pas tirer le même bénéfice de cette molécule. D’autres avancées sont en cours d’expertise. Le sacubitril/valsartan est la première révolution, peut-être, d’une longue série.

Eighteen years after the birth of the concept, TAVI (Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation) has established itself as the treatment of choice for symptomatic patients with severe aortic valve stenosis at high surgical risk. Unlike surgical prosthesis, the benefit of which has been validated in observational studies, indications for TAVI are now based on the results of large randomized trials. The TAVI revolution continues today with the miniaturization of the equipment, the development of new closure systems, the availability of a wider range of prosthesis sizes and the growing experience of operators, all contributing to the widening of indications to lower risk patients.Dix-huit ans après la naissance du concept, le TAVI («Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation») s’est affirmé comme un traitement de choix chez les patients symptomatiques avec rétrécissement valvulaire aortique serré à haut risque chirurgical. Contrairement aux prothèses chirurgicales, dont le bénéfice a été validé dans des études observationnelles, les indications concernant le TAVI s’appuient, aujourd’hui, sur les résultats de larges essais randomisés. La révolution du TAVI continue encore actuellement avec la miniaturisation du matériel, le développement de nouveaux systèmes de fermeture, la disponibilité d’un plus large éventail de tailles de prothèse et l’expérience croissante des opérateurs, le tout contribuant à l’élargissement des indications aux patients à risque intermédiaire.

The «Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ARB Global Outcomes in HF with Preserved Ejection Fraction» (PARAGON HF) trial is a multicenter, randomized, double-blind study comparing the incidence of heart failure hospitalization and cardiovascular mortality in patients with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) treated with sacubitril/valsartan (Entresto®) versus valsartan alone. After a median follow-up of 35 months, the primary endpoint was reduced by 13 % in the sacubitril/valsartan group compared to the valsartan group (relative risk: 0.87, 95 % IC: 0.753-1.005, p = 0.058). Despite this lack of significance, the incidence of hospitalizations for heart failure was reduced (RR 0.85, 95 % CI: 0.72-1.00), whereas no benefit was observed on cardiovascular mortality. A subgroup analysis suggested that women and patients with an intermediate ejection fraction could get more benefit from the treatment. Concerning secondary criteria, a significant improvement in quality of life and in heart failure symptoms was observed in the group sacubitril/valsartan. There was a greater incidence of arterial hypotension and angioneurotic edema, but a lower incidence of hyperkalemia in the group sacubitril/valsartan.L’étude PARAGON HF («Prospective Comparison of ARNI with ARB Global Outcomes in HF with Preserved Ejection Fraction») a comparé le sacubitril / valsartan (Entresto®) au valsartan seul, chez les patients insuffisants cardiaques (IC) à fraction d’éjection préservée (HFpEF), sur base d’un critère de jugement principal composite associant le total des hospitalisations pour IC et la mortalité cardiovasculaire. Après un suivi médian de 35 mois, une réduction non significative de 13 % du critère de jugement principal a été observée dans le groupe sacubitril/valsartan comparativement au groupe valsartan seul (risque relatif : 0,87, IC 95 % : 0,753-1,005, p = 0,058). En dépit de l’absence de significativité, la réduction du risque n’en demeure pas moins importante puisqu’elle concerne surtout les hospitalisations pour IC (RR 0,85, IC 95 % : 0,72-1,00), alors qu’aucun bénéfice n’est observé sur la mortalité cardiovasculaire. Une analyse de sous-groupe suggère que les femmes et les patients ayant une fraction d’éjection intermédiaire tirent davantage de bénéfice du traitement par sacubitril/valsartan. Concernant les critères secondaires, on notait une amélioration significative de la qualité de vie, une réduction de la symptomatologie liée à l’IC ainsi qu’une amélioration de la fonction rénale. Enfin, les patients dans le groupe sacubitril/valsartan avaient une incidence plus importante d’hypotension artérielle et d’œdème angioneurotique, mais une plus faible incidence d’hyperkaliémie, comparativement au groupe valsartan seul.

Anemia and iron deficiency are two common comorbidities in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) and are associated with a poor prognosis. In contrast to iron oral supplementation, administration of intravenous ferric carboxymaltose (Injectafer®) improves quality of life, exercise capacity, and seems to reduce hospitalizations for heart failure. Unfortunately, although anaphylactic reactions are extremely rare, it is recommended to administer Injectafer® in a suitable medical environment. This limitation hinders Injectafer® administration and may cause reluctance from both physician and patient. The aim of this article is to optimize and harmonize management of iron deficiency in heart failure, by proposing a simple solution for the patient and the practitioner.L’anémie et la carence martiale sont deux comorbidités fréquentes dans l’insuffisance cardiaque à fraction d’éjection réduite (HFrEF) et sont associées à un moins bon pronostic. Contrairement à la supplémentation martiale per os, l’administration de carboxymaltose ferrique intraveineux (Injectafer®) améliore la qualité de vie, la capacité à l’effort et semble réduire les hospitalisations pour insuffisance cardiaque. Bien que les réactions anaphylactiques soient extrêmement rares, il est recommandé d’administrer l’Injectafer® dans un environnement médical adapté. Ceci entraîne des contraintes d’administration qui peuvent susciter une réticence de la part du médecin et du patient. Cet article a pour objectif d’optimaliser et d’harmoniser la prise en charge de la carence martiale dans l’insuffisance cardiaque, en proposant une solution simple pour le patient et le soignant.

Clubroot disease, which is caused by Plasmodiophora brassicae Wor., a soil-borne microorganism, is one of the most severe diseases of Brassica crops. Combining of two and more dominant resistance loci is an efficient method in breeding for clubroot resistance. Several clubroot resistance loci were earlier identified on linkage groups 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8 of Brassica rapa by different research groups. In our previous studies, we found a dominant monogenic resistance locus in an inbred line 20-2ccl of Chinese cabbage. In this study, a SCAR marker tau_cBrCR404 tightly linked to clubroot resistance locus (2.9 cM) was identified by a bulked segregant analysis (BSA) of a backcross population (BC1). The position of this clubroot resistance locus, named CrrA5, was determined on the linkage group 5 of B. rapa genome using genetic mapping. The efficiency of the tau_cBrCR404 marker in marker-assisted selection was validated using a collection of different Chinese cabbage accessions.

Seed propagation of phalaenopsis is carried out by sowing seeds on artificial nutrient media. In the work, the influence of the basic composition of the nutrient medium, the addition of liquid endosperm of coconut, activated carbon, growth regulators and sucrose concentration on the germination of seeds and the effectiveness of the formation of seed progeny plants was studied. The best result was obtained by cultivating seeds on a B5 nutrient medium supplemented with 35 g/l of sucrose and 7 g/l of agar and amounted to 92.1% of germination and 34.4% of mature plants.

Resume En France, le transport des matieres dangereuses par route est reglemente par l’arrete du 29 mai 2009 dit « Arrete TMD » qui rend applicable l’Accord europeen relatif au transport international des marchandises dangereuses par route, dit « Accord ADR » ou « ADR ». Cette reglementation permet la circulation sur le territoire francais de colis de substances radioactives, y compris celles reservees a un usage medical dont font partie les produits radiopharmaceutiques (medicaments radiopharmaceutiques, generateurs, precurseurs). Cependant, cette reglementation est peu ou mal connue des radiopharmaciens et des personnels de medecine nucleaire qui y sont pourtant quotidiennement confrontes en tant qu’expediteurs ou destinataires. L’objectif de ce travail est de mettre en evidence les dispositions reglementaires relatives au transport des matieres radioactives qui s’appliquent aux produits radiopharmaceutiques et d’etablir des recommandations concernant la reception et l’expedition des colis de produits radiopharmaceutiques.

We model the ultraviolet spectra of the Seyfert 1 galaxy NGC~5548 obtained with the Hubble Space Telescope during the 6-month reverberation-mapping campaign in 2014. Our model of the emission from NGC 5548 corrects for overlying absorption and deblends the individual emission lines. Using the modeled spectra, we measure the response to continuum variations for the deblended and absorption-corrected individual broad emission lines, the velocity-dependent profiles of Ly$\alpha$ and C IV, and the narrow and broad intrinsic absorption features. We find that the time lags for the corrected emission lines are comparable to those for the original data. The velocity-binned lag profiles of Ly$\alpha$ and C IV have a double-peaked structure indicative of a truncated Keplerian disk. The narrow absorption lines show delayed response to continuum variations corresponding to recombination in gas with a density of $\sim 10^5~\rm cm^{-3}$. The high-ionization narrow absorption lines decorrelate from continuum variations during the same period as the broad emission lines. Analyzing the response of these absorption lines during this period shows that the ionizing flux is diminished in strength relative to the far-ultraviolet continuum. The broad absorption lines associated with the X-ray obscurer decrease in strength during this same time interval. The appearance of X-ray obscuration in $\sim\,2012$ corresponds with an increase in the luminosity of NGC 5548 following an extended low state. We suggest that the obscurer is a disk wind triggered by the brightening of NGC 5548 following the decrease in size of the broad-line region during the preceding low-luminosity state., Comment: 50 pages, 30 figures, uses aastex62.cls. Accepted for publication in ApJ, 07/06/2019. High-level products page in MAST will go live after 7/15/2019. Replaced Figure 4 on 7/12/2019 to be more red/green color-blind friendly

We have started a long-term reverberation mapping project using the Wyoming Infrared Observatory 2.3 meter telescope titled "Monitoring AGNs with H\beta\ Asymmetry" (MAHA). The motivations of the project are to explore the geometry and kinematics of the gas responsible for complex H\beta\ emission-line profiles, ideally leading to an understanding of the structures and origins of the broad-line region (BLR). Furthermore, such a project provides the opportunity to search for evidence of close binary supermassive black holes. We describe MAHA and report initial results from our first campaign, from December 2016 to May 2017, highlighting velocity-resolved time lags for four AGNs with asymmetric H\beta\ lines. We find that 3C 120, Ark 120, and Mrk 6 display complex features different from the simple signatures expected for pure outflow, inflow, or a Keplerian disk. While three of the objects have been previously reverberation mapped, including velocity-resolved time lags in the cases of 3C 120 and Mrk 6, we report a time lag and corresponding black hole mass measurement for SBS 1518+593 for the first time. Furthermore, SBS 1518+593, the least asymmetric of the four, does show velocity-resolved time lags characteristic of a Keplerian disk or virialized motion more generally. Also, the velocity-resolved time lags of 3C 120 have significantly changed since previously observed, indicating an evolution of its BLR structure. Future analyses of the data for these objects and others in MAHA will explore the full diversity of H\beta\ lines and the physics of AGN BLRs., Comment: 19 pages, 6 figures, 7 tables, accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal

We present the first results from a reverberation-mapping campaign undertaken during the first half of 2012, with additional data on one AGN (NGC 3227) from a 2014 campaign. Our main goals are (1) to determine the black hole masses from continuum-Hbeta reverberation signatures, and (2) to look for velocity-dependent time delays that might be indicators of the gross kinematics of the broad-line region. We successfully measure Hbeta time delays and black hole masses for five AGNs, four of which have previous reverberation mass measurements. The values measured here are in agreement with earlier estimates, though there is some intrinsic scatter beyond the formal measurement errors. We observe velocity dependent Hbeta lags in each case, and find that the patterns have changed in the intervening five years for three AGNs that were also observed in 2007., Accepted for publication on ApJ; 32 pages, 16 figures, 10 tables

We present the results of an optical spectroscopic monitoring program targeting NGC 5548 as part of a larger multi-wavelength reverberation mapping campaign. The campaign spanned six months and achieved an almost daily cadence with observations from five ground-based telescopes. The H$\beta$ and He II $\lambda$4686 broad emission-line light curves lag that of the 5100 $\AA$ optical continuum by $4.17^{+0.36}_{-0.36}$ days and $0.79^{+0.35}_{-0.34}$ days, respectively. The H$\beta$ lag relative to the 1158 $\AA$ ultraviolet continuum light curve measured by the Hubble Space Telescope is roughly $\sim$50% longer than that measured against the optical continuum, and the lag difference is consistent with the observed lag between the optical and ultraviolet continua. This suggests that the characteristic radius of the broad-line region is $\sim$50% larger than the value inferred from optical data alone. We also measured velocity-resolved emission-line lags for H$\beta$ and found a complex velocity-lag structure with shorter lags in the line wings, indicative of a broad-line region dominated by Keplerian motion. The responses of both the H$\beta$ and He II $\lambda$4686 emission lines to the driving continuum changed significantly halfway through the campaign, a phenomenon also observed for C IV, Ly $\alpha$, He II(+O III]), and Si IV(+O IV]) during the same monitoring period. Finally, given the optical luminosity of NGC 5548 during our campaign, the measured H$\beta$ lag is a factor of five shorter than the expected value implied by the $R_\mathrm{BLR} - L_\mathrm{AGN}$ relation based on the past behavior of NGC 5548., Comment: 22 pages, 13 figures, accepted to ApJ

This paper deals with a method to evaluate and optimize the design of railway wheels subjected to multiparameter variable fatigue loading. The fatigue loads are statistically evaluated from in-service measurements. Representative realistic loading paths are built from the knowledge of the influence of various factors (such as train speed and track curvature). Using these paths, the method combines finite element computations and the fatigue equivalence method for damage evaluation in the structure. An extension of the Dang Van fatigue criterion in the high-cycle fatigue finite life domain associated with a damage accumulation law is adopted. The probability of failure of the structure is directly obtained from the interference between a local fatigue equivalent stress and fatigue strength distributions (based on the stress-strength interference approach). The result is useful for the optimization during the design stage or the validation of the fatigue strength of structures.

The results of tomato lines resistance test to tomato spotted wilt virus and its comparison to molecular marker SCAR Sw421 genotyping data is shown. A molecular marker SCAR Sw421 analysis allowed identifying homozygous and heterozygous tomato genotypes possessing Sw5 alleles in segregating populations. Selected tomato lines possessing dominant homozygous alleles of Sw5 gene represent a tomato germplasm resistant to tomato spotted wilt virus and would be useful for following crop improvement.

Objectives To report indications and risk factors for effective termination of pregnancy (TOP) when multidisciplinary prenatal diagnosis centers refuse request for TOP. Methods This is a retrospective study from a French national registry between 2005 and 2009. Indication groups for TOP refusal were created. Risk factors for pregnancy outcomes and effective TOP were determined by multinomial logistic regression model. Results The overall number of TOP refusals was 573. Indications were single malformations (37%), chromosomal abnormalities (16.6%), hygroma (5.2%), potential fetopathies (11%), maternal indications (17.4%), and other indications (12.7%). Pregnancy outcomes were live infants (35.1%), effective TOP (36.3%), intra-uterine fetal death (5.4%), and lost to follow-up (23.2%). Logistic regression model showed an increased likelihood of effective TOP in groups with single malformations [odds ratio (OR) 3.4, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.6–7.4], chromosomal abnormalities (OR 3, 95% CI 1.2–7.2), and hygromas (OR 19.6, 95% CI 2.3–16.8) compared with other groups. An increased likelihood of effective TOP was also reported when the request was made at first (OR 29.5, 95% CI 10–16.7) and second (OR 6.3, 95% CI 2.3–16.7) trimesters compared with the third trimester. Conclusions Effective TOP is particularly frequent when requested during the first trimester and in cases of structural anomalies of the fetus. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Chronic high caloric intake has contributed to the increased prevalence of pediatric obesity and related morbidities. Most overweight or obese children, however, do not present with frank metabolic disease but rather insulin resistance or subclinical precursors. The innate immune system plays a role in the pathophysiology of type 2 diabetes but how it contributes to early metabolic dysfunction in children on chronic high-fat diet (HFD) is unclear. We hypothesize that such inflammation is present in the pancreas of children and is associated with early insulin resistance. We used nonhuman primate (NHP) juveniles exposed to chronic HFD as a model of early pediatric metabolic disease to demonstrate increased pancreatic inflammatory markers before the onset of significant obesity or glucose dysregulation. Pancreata from 13-month-old Japanese macaques exposed to a HFD fromin uteroto necropsy were analyzed for expression of cytokines and islet-associated macrophages. Parameters from an intravenous glucose tolerance test were correlated with cytokine expression. Before significant glucose dysregulation, the HFD cohort had a twofold increase in interleukin 6 (IL6), associated with decreased first-phase insulin response and a sexually dimorphic (male) increase in IL1β correlating with increased fasting glucose levels. The number of islet-associated macrophages was also increased. Pancreata from juvenile NHP exposed to HFD have increased inflammatory markers and evidence of innate immune infiltration before the onset of significant obesity or glucose dysregulation. Given the parallel development of metabolic disease between humans and NHPs, these findings have strong relevance to the early metabolic disease driven by a chronic HFD in children.

Web-based testing has become a ubiquitous self-assessment method for online learning. One useful feature that is missing from today's web-based testing systems is the reliable capability to fulfill different assessment requirements of students based on a large-scale question data set. A promising approach for supporting large-scale web-based testing is static test generation (STG), which generates a test paper automatically according to user specification based on multiple assessment criteria. And the generated test paper can then be attempted over the web by users for assessment purpose. Generating high-quality test papers under multiobjective constraints is a challenging task. It is a 0-1 integer linear programming (ILP) that is not only NP-hard but also need to be solved efficiently. Current popular optimization software and heuristic-based intelligent techniques are ineffective for STG, as they generally do not have guarantee for high-quality solutions of solving the large-scale 0-1 ILP of STG. To that end, we propose an efficient ILP approach for STG, called branch-and-cut for static test generation (BAC-STG). Our experimental study on various data sets and a user evaluation on generated test paper quality have shown that the BAC-STG approach is more effective and efficient than the current STG techniques.

We present the first results from an optical reverberation mapping campaign executed in 2014, targeting the active galactic nuclei (AGN) MCG+08-11-011, NGC 2617, NGC 4051, 3C 382, and Mrk 374. Our targets have diverse and interesting observational properties, including a "changing look" AGN and a broad-line radio galaxy. Based on continuum-H$\beta$ lags, we measure black hole masses for all five targets. We also obtain H$\gamma$ and He{\sc ii}\,$\lambda 4686$ lags for all objects except 3C 382. The He{\sc ii}\,$\lambda 4686$ lags indicate radial stratification of the BLR, and the masses derived from different emission lines are in general agreement. The relative responsivities of these lines are also in qualitative agreement with photoionization models. These spectra have extremely high signal-to-noise ratios (100--300 per pixel) and there are excellent prospects for obtaining velocity-resolved reverberation signatures., Comment: 34 pages, 12 figures, published in ApJ. For a video summarizing the main results, see https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KaC-jPsIY0Q

International audience; An efficient stabilized nonlinear LATIN solver dedicated to frictional cracks in the X-FEM framework is proposed. The performance of such a solver has already been emphasized in detail in a previous paper of Gravouil et al. [Stabilized global–local X-FEM for 3D non-planar frictional crack using relevant meshes, Int. J. Numer. Methods Eng. 88 (2011)1449–1475] Here, an optimization of the search direction of the LATIN solver is proposed. Intrinsic a priori formulas are proposed independently on the friction coefficient, the finite element mesh, the geometry and the boundary conditions. About one hundred thousand of calculations have been carried out in order to show the existence of a unique set of parameters ensuring the optimal convergence rate. The number of iterations required to reach the given level of accuracy is plotted versus two numerical parameters introduced, the search direction k and the stabilization operator . A considerable decrease in the number of iterations and thus in the computing time is obtained, an important condition to carry out with a maximum efficiency of 3D simulations.

Treatment outcomes for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), defined as TB caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis strains resistant to both isoniazid (INH) and rifampin (RMP), are significantly worse than for drug-susceptible TB, but have varied widely.1–4 Moreover, patients documented as having a good outcome do not always do well over time.5–8 However, few reports have documented longer term follow-up of patients uniformly treated with second-line agents. Extensively drug-resistant TB (XDR-TB), defined as MDR-TB that is additionally resistant to a fluoroquinolone and an injectable second-line drug (SLD), is even more difficult to treat than MDR-TB;9–13 however, relatively little has been documented about the risks of developing XDR-TB during and after the treatment of MDR-TB.14 Political change and economic difficulties in Russia in the 1990s contributed to difficulties obtaining medications, which increased the incidence of MDR-TB.15 By 2000, the prevalence of MDR-TB among newly treated patients in some oblasts exceeded 9%.16 Treatment success, and risk factors associated with outcome, among patients in MDR-TB treatment programs in countries of the former Soviet Union have varied.4,9,17,18 A better appreciation of these differences in treatment outcome may help elucidate reasons for treatment success or failure, and guide programmatic policy. The Orel Oblast DOTS-Plus Tuberculosis Treatment Project was one of the first Green Light Committee (GLC) approved programs in the Russian Federation specifically designed to treat MDR-TB with individualized regimens. The first cohort began enrollment in 2002, and the program has been active since. The purpose of this analysis was to investigate factors associated with poor treatment outcome in a cohort of MDR-TB cases enrolled in a DOTS-Plus project in Orel Oblast, Russia, and to describe cases with progression to XDR-TB during or after treatment.

Single-port laparoscopic surgery has been described for various colorectal conditions. Here, we report the first 4 single-port laparoscopic sigmoid colostomies for fecal diversion.A 1.5-cm-round incision was made on the skin at a previously marked colostomy site. A wound retractor was inserted and an access platform with four 5-mm trocars was attached to the wound retractor. The sigmoid colon was mobilized using electrocautery, laparoscopic scissors, or an advanced bipolar device. A standard Brooke colostomy was created through the initial skin incision.Four elective single-port laparoscopic diverting colostomies were performed. Indications included obstructing colon and rectal cancers and intractable Crohn's proctitis. The average operative time was 73 minutes (range, 53-105), and blood loss was minimal (50 mL). There were no intraoperative complications. Three of 4 patients received oral analgesia, and one patient received patient-controlled intravenous analgesia postoperatively. The average time to passage of flatus was 1 day. Diet was advanced either on the day of surgery or on postoperative day 1. The length of hospital stay ranged from 0 to 15 days.Single-port laparoscopic sigmoid colostomy is an effective technique that allows full intra-abdominal visualization and colonic mobilization while eliminating the need for additional skin incisions other than the colostomy site itself.

We present optical continuum lags for two Seyfert 1 galaxies, MCG+08-11-011 and NGC 2617, using monitoring data from a reverberation mapping campaign carried out in 2014. Our light curves span the ugriz filters over four months, with median cadences of 1.0 and 0.6 days for MCG+08-11-011 and NGC\,2617, respectively, combined with roughly daily X-ray and near-UV data from Swift for NGC 2617. We find lags consistent with geometrically thin accretion-disk models that predict a lag-wavelength relation of $\tau \propto \lambda^{4/3}$. However, the observed lags are larger than predictions based on standard thin-disk theory by factors of 3.3 for MCG+08-11-011 and 2.3 for NGC\,2617. These differences can be explained if the mass accretion rates are larger than inferred from the optical luminosity by a factor of 4.3 in MCG+08-11-011 and a factor of 1.3 in NGC\,2617, although uncertainty in the SMBH masses determines the significance of this result. While the X-ray variability in NGC\,2617 precedes the UV/optical variability, the long 2.6 day lag is problematic for coronal reprocessing models., Comment: Accepted to ApJ, please send comments to faus@mit.edu. 24 pages, 8 figures

Fatigue design of structures for high temperature service resorts to modelling based on elasto-viscoplasticity constitutive laws. The new model describes complex anisothermal cyclic loadings, accounting for viscosity on a large range of strain. The new constitutive law that has been developed for nodular cast iron, is intended for the design of automotive parts for high temperature service.

A 3-month field experiment comparing nitrogen (N) losses from and the agronomic efficiency of various N fertilizers was conducted on a sandy loam (Typic Hapludand) soil at Ruakura AgResearch farm, Hamilton, New Zealand during October to December 2003. Three replicates of seven treatments: urea, urea + the urease inhibitor N-(n-butyl) thiophosphoric triamide (trade name Agrotain), urea + Agrotain + elemental sulphur (S), urea + double inhibitor [DI; i.e., Agrotain + dicyandiamide (DCD)], diammonium phosphate (DAP), DAP + S, each applied at 150 kg N ha−1, and control (no N). After fertilizer application, soil ammonium ( $$ \operatorname{NH} ^{ + }_{4} $$ ) and nitrate ( $$ \operatorname{NO} ^{ - }_{3} $$ ) concentrations (7.5-cm soil depth), ammonia (NH3) volatilization, nitrate ( $$ \operatorname{NO} ^{ - }_{3} $$ ) leaching, nitrous oxide (N2O) emission, pasture dry matter, and N uptake were monitored at different timings. Urea applied with Agrotain or Agrotain + S delayed urea hydrolysis and released soil $$ \operatorname{NH} ^{ + }_{4} $$ at a slower rate than urea alone or urea + DI. Urea applied with DI increased NH3 volatilization by 29% over urea alone, while urea + Agrotain and urea + Agrotain + S reduced NH3 volatilization by 45 and 48%, respectively. Ammonia volatilization losses from DAP were lower than those from urea with or without inhibitors. Total reduction in $$ \operatorname{NO} ^{ - }_{3} $$ leaching losses for urea + DI and urea + Agrotain compared to urea alone were 89% and 47%, respectively. Application of S with urea + Agrotain reduced $$ \operatorname{NO} ^{ - }_{3} $$ leaching losses by an additional 6%. Nitrous oxide emissions were higher from the DAP and urea alone treatments. Urea applied with DI and urea + Agrotain reduced N2O emissions by 37 and 5%, respectively, over urea alone. Compared to urea alone, total pasture production increased by 20, 17, and 15% for urea + Agrotain + S, urea + Agrotain, and urea + DI treatments, respectively, representing 86, 71, and 64% increases in N response efficiency. Total N uptake in urea + Agrotain, urea + Agrotain + S, and urea + DI increased by 29, 22, and 20%, respectively, compared to urea alone. These results suggest that the combination of both urease and nitrification inhibitors may have the most potential to reduce N losses and improve pasture production in intensively grazed systems.

N transformation rates in soil from a riparian wetland that receives runoff from adjacent pastoral land were investigated in a short-term (250 min), anaerobic laboratory incubation (20°C). A joint 15N tracing-isotope dilution technique was employed that used paired incubations of labelled (99 atom % 15N) NO3 –-unlabelled NH4 + and unlabelled NO3 –-labelled (99 atom % 15N) NH4 + at three N input levels (0.4, 4 and 24 μg N g–1 soil). At each N input level NO3 – and NH4 + were added in equal proportions (0.2, 2 and 12 μg N g–1 soil). Soil and gas samples were analysed after 10, 70 and 250 min, and the fate of 15N and N transformation rates were determined for each time period; 0–10 min (phase 1), 10–70 min (phase 2) and 70–250 min (phase 3). N transformation rates for all processes except gross NH4 + mineralisation were very high during phase 1. Processes favoured by aerobic conditions, NO3 – immobilisation (0–17% NO3 – removal, 0–8.2 μg N g–1 soil h–1), autotrophic nitrification (~2% NH4 + removal, 0.58–0.88 μg N g–1 soil h–1) and heterotrophic nitrification (11–35 μg N g–1 soil h–1) increased with increased N input while the anaerobic dissimilatory NO3 – reduction to NH4 + process (1–6% NO3 – removal, 0.48–0.62 μg N g–1 soil h–1) decreased, presumably due to the oxidising effect of higher NO3 – inputs. Denitrification (8–78% NO3 – removal, 3.8–9.6 μg N g–1 soil h–1) exhibited no clear trend related to N input levels. NH4 + immobilisation (39–72% NH4 + removal, 15–19 μg N g–1 soil h–1) was higher than NO3 – immobilisation. Gross NH4 + mineralisation (0.27–0.80 μg N g–1 soil h–1) was the only process not detected in phase 1 and one of few processes measurable in phases 2 or 3.

Background: The toxicity outcome of cancer patients receiving chemotherapy is difficult to predict. In this study the influence of malnutrition and inflammation on acute haematological toxicity was investigated. Patients and methods: Between January 1999 and January 2000, 48 consecutive cancer patients experienced severe haematological toxicity (SHT), either neutropenic fever or severe thrombocytopenia, following various chemotherapy regimens. Their baseline characteristics were compared with those of 59 control patients. Previous chemotherapy regimens, type of chemotherapy, performance status (PS), calculated creatinine clearance, bilirubin, C-reactive protein (1), alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (2), albumin (3), pre-albumin (4) and the nutritional and inflammatory status (NIS) ratio [NIS = (1 × 2)/(3 x 4)] were studied. Statistical analysis was carried out using either a t-test or a chi-square test. A receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve determined the cut-off value for NIS. Results: Patients experiencing SHT had a higher PS (P

High titers of Ag-specific human IgG were consistently achieved in SCID mice reconstituted with human splenocytes that had been primed with Ag in vitro and then boosted with Ag after engraftment into SCID mice. Specific human IgG titers in the hu-SPL-SCID mice reached approximately 1:4 × 105 when the mice were immunized with a neo-antigen, whereas titers reached 1:2 × 106 when recall responses were induced. Booster immunizations with Ag 21 days after the initial in vivo boost further enhanced this response, and specific human IgG titers of 1:17 × 106 were achieved. This represented an essentially monospecific IgG population. These responses were CD4+ T cell dependent. In addition, affinity maturation of the human Ab responses was observed. Spleens of hu-SPL-SCID mice with Ag-specific titers ≤1:1 × 106 were often significantly enlarged and often displayed visible tumors. Fourteen of sixteen B cell tumors removed from spleens of five such hu-SPL-SCID mice, produced Abs that were specific for the immunizing Ags. From such tumor, cloned cell lines were established. One such mAb, MLN-7 (γ1,κ), was raised to tetanus toxoid and had no identified cross-reactivity.

Ammoniacal nitrogen (ammonia and ammonium) in agricultural wastewaters can promote eutrophication of receiving waters and be potentially toxic to fish and other aquatic life. Zeolites, which are hydrated aluminum‐silicate minerals, have an affinity for ammonium ions (NH4 +) and are, therefore, potentially useful in removing this contaminant from wastewaters. The major objectives of this study were to evaluate the capacity of two natural New Zealand zeolites (clinoptilolite and mordenite) to remove NH4 + from a range of wastewaters under both batch and flow‐through conditions. Effects of two zeolite particle size ranges (0.25–0.50 mm and 2.0–2.83 mm) on NH4 + removal performance were also investigated. Results obtained from the batch adsorption experiments indicated that both zeolites tested, regardless of their particle sizes, were equally effective (87–98%) at NH4 + removal from domestic wastewaters or synthetic solutions containing NH4 + concentrations of up to 150 gNH4‐N m−3. However, mordenit...

A simulated rainfall study carried out as part of a larger grazing experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of a 2–3 day cattle‐treading event in winter on soil physical properties and contaminant (sediment and nutrient) runoff in topographically variable hill land. Measurements were made on two land zones: easy contoured ridges and gullies (15–24° slope) and steep inter‐track land (28–39° slope). Simulated rainfall was applied to 16 plots (0.5 m2) with a range of treading damage for each land zone within 14 days of the treading event. Simulated rainfall was repeated on the same plots in the following summer and winter to assess the recovery of soil from treading damage. Treading damage reduced water infiltration rate, particularly in the steep zone. It also caused a significant increase in the transport of suspended solids (SS), total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN), and total phosphorus (TP) from the plots during simulated runoff. On the steep inter‐track zone, damaged areas had a 46% lower ...

Know the impact of the unplanned deliveries in a town of medium size, the characteristics of these women and maternal and neonatal risks.This was a retrospective study conducted between January 2002 and December 2009. Unexpected delivery was defined as any delivery taking place outside of a non-elective way maternity. Each unexpected delivery was matched at nearest delivery of equivalent term, at the CHU maternity, with an onset of spontaneous labour.Ninety-four women gave birth unexpectedly for a total of 48,721 births (incidence of 0.19%). There was a significant difference between cases and controls for parity (1.8 versus 0.9), the lack of follow-up of pregnancy (21.3% versus 1.1%), tobacco (57.4% versus 25.5%), the socio-economic level, the type of feeding (artificial: 61.7% versus 30.6%), the home-hospital distance and obstetric follow-up. We found a significant increase in perinatal mortality (6.4% versus 1%) and stay in Neonatal ICU (19.1% versus 9.2%). The main neonatal morbidity was hypothermia.It is difficult to target a population at risk because the type of these women is non-specific. Prevention of unplanned deliveries and their morbidities through information of patients on the grounds of urgent consultation and support of the newborn to limit hypothermia.

Radiopharmaceuticals extravasation is rare but may have serious clinical issues. Because no specific recommendations are being proposed to date, the goals of our working group created within the French Society of Radiopharmacy are to determine preventive measures and to establish a pragmatic management of extravasation of these drugs. Our preventive measures are to recognize the symptoms (erythema, venous discoloration, swelling), to know the risk factors (which are related to radiopharmaceutical, patient, site of injection, injection technique) and severity (from erythema to skin necrosis, depending on the radionuclide) and how to avoid them (training and awareness of staff, choice of injection site, route of drug administration test, use of a catheter for administration of therapeutic radiopharmaceuticals). Management should be immediate. It can be facilitated by a specific emergency kit. General measures recommended are the immediate cessation of injection, aspiration of fluid extravasation, delimitation of the extravasated area with an indelible pen, informing the doctor. Specific measures taking into account the radiotoxicity of the radionuclide and the type of radiopharmaceutical were also established. The patient should be informed by the doctor about the risks and how to take care of. Traceability of the incident must be ensured. A multidisciplinary reflexion is essential to manage the extravasation as early and effectively as possible.

SUMMARYA field plot experiment of 271 days duration was conducted on New Zealand irrigated pastures, commencing in the summer (January) 1988, on a Templeton silt loam soil (Udic Ustochrept) by applying35sulphur (35S)-labelled urine (250 μCi/g S with 1300 μg S/ml) to field plots (600 × 600 mm) at a rate equivalent to that normally occurring in sheep urine patches (150 ml/0·03 m2) to investigate the distribution, transformations and recovery of urinary S in pasture soil–plant systems and sources of plant-available soil S as influenced by the available soil moisture at the time of urine application and varying amounts of applied irrigation water. Results obtained showed thatc.55–90% of35S-labelled urine was incorporated into soil sulphate (SO42−), ester SO42− and carbon (C)-bonded S fractions within the major plant rooting zone (0–300 mm), as early as 27 days after urine application. Hydriodic acid (Hl)-reducible and C-bonded soil S fractions showed no consistent trend of incorporation. On day 271, labelled-S was found in soil SO42−, Hl-reducible S and C-bonded S fractions to a soil depth of 500 mm, indicating that not only SO42− but also organic S fractions from soils and35S-labelled urine were leached beyond the major rooting zone. A large proportion (c.59–75%) of35S-labelled urine was not recovered in pasture soil–plant systems over a 271-day period, presumably due to leaching losses beyond the 0–300 mm soil depth. This estimated leaching loss was comparable to that (75%) predicted using the S model developed by the New Zealand Ministry of Agriculture. The recovery of urinary S in soil–plant systems over a 271-day period was not affected by different amounts of irrigation water applied 7 days after urine application to soil at either 50 or 75% available water holding capacity (AWHC). However, significantly lower S recovery occurred when urinary S was applied to the soil at 25% AWHC than at field capacity, suggesting that urinary S applied at field capacity might not have sufficient time to be adsorbed by soil particles, enter soil micropores or be immobilized by soil micro-organisms. Both soil ester SO42− and calcium phosphate-extractable soil S in urine-treated soils were found to be major S sources for pasture S uptake. Labelled S from35S-labelled urine accounted forc.12–47% of total S in pasture herbage.

The Seyfert 1 galaxy Zw 229-015 is among the brightest active galaxies being monitored by the Kepler mission. In order to determine the black hole mass in Zw 229-015 from H-beta reverberation mapping, we have carried out nightly observations with the Kast Spectrograph at the Lick 3m telescope during the dark runs from June through December 2010, obtaining 54 spectroscopic observations in total. We have also obtained nightly V-band imaging with the Katzman Automatic Imaging Telescope at Lick Observatory and with the 0.9m telescope at the Brigham Young University West Mountain Observatory over the same period. We detect strong variability in the source, which exhibited more than a factor of 2 change in broad H-beta flux. From cross-correlation measurements, we find that the H-beta light curve has a rest-frame lag of 3.86(+0.69,-0.90) days with respect to the V-band continuum variations. We also measure reverberation lags for H-alpha and H-gamma and find an upper limit to the H-delta lag. Combining the H-beta lag measurement with a broad H-beta width of sigma = 1590+/-47 km/s measured from the root-mean-square variability spectrum, we obtain a virial estimate of M_BH = 1.00(-0.24,+0.19)*10^7 solar masses for the black hole in Zw 229-015. As a Kepler target, Zw 229-015 will eventually have one of the highest-quality optical light curves ever measured for any active galaxy, and the black hole mass determined from reverberation mapping will serve as a benchmark for testing relationships between black hole mass and continuum variability characteristics in active galactic nuclei., 13 pages, 8 figures. Accepted for publication in ApJ

Water is a vital but poorly studied component of livestock production. It is estimated that livestock industries consume 8% of the global water supply, with most of that water being used for intensive, feed-based production. This study takes a broad perspective of livestock production as a component of the human food chain, and considers the efficiency of its water use. Global models are in the early stages of development and do not distinguish between developing and developed countries, or the production systems within them. However, preliminary indications are that, when protein production is adjusted for biological value in the human diet, no plant protein is significantly more efficient at using water than protein produced from eggs, and only soybean is more water efficient than milk and goat and chicken meat. In some regions, especially developing countries, animals are not used solely for food production but also provide draught power, fibre and fertiliser for crops. In addition, animals make use of crop by-products that would otherwise go to waste. The livestock sector is the fastest-growing agricultural sector, which has led to increasing industrialisation and, in some cases, reduced environmental constraints. In emerging economies, increasing involvement in livestock is related to improving rural wealth and increasing consumption of animal protein. Water usage for livestock production should be considered an integral part of agricultural water resource management, taking into account the type of production system (e.g. grain-fed or mixed crop-livestock) and scale (intensive or extensive), the species and breeds of livestock, and the social and cultural aspects of livestock farming in various countries.