Background: There is growing body of evidence linking abnormal eye movements in people with multiple sclerosis (MS) to disease severity and cognition which could better detect disease progression. The objective of this study is to determine if a novel eye-tracking tool can accurately predict disease severity and cognitive status based on eye movement metrics and characterize how they evolve with progression. Methods: Persons with MS (n=132) will be followed over 4 years with clinical assessments every 6 months. Eye movements are also assessed while performing oculomotor tasks using Innodem Neurosciences’ patented eye-tracking technology. The eye movement metrics will be inputted into machine learning classifying algorithms to identify which metrics can serve as reliable Eye Movement Biomarkers (EMB) for MS progression and cognitive status. Results: There were 16 participants recruited as of January 2022 with mean age 47. 3 (SD 10.4; range 26-67), gender (12F/4M), EDSS 2.59 (SD 1.49; range 1.5-6.5), SDMT 51.4 (SD 14.1, range 24-78). With current enrollment, there is a negative correlation between EDSS and SDMT (r = -0.47) as observed in the literature. Conclusions: This trial will demonstrate the utility of EMBs for monitoring MS progression by improving physicians’ access to a reliable, non-invasive, sensitive and accessible marker of disease progression.

We propose a semi-analytical solution for the advection–diffusion equation in cylindrical domains, with an aim towards extracting blood flow rates from contrast variations in a coronary computed tomography angiography image. The solution proposed in this work, in contrast with existing methods, which only consider advection, incorporates both radial velocity variation and diffusion. By means of a Galerkin approach using Bessel functions, a solution for a three-dimensional concentration field at a single time point is obtained after a Laplace transformation. This semi-analytical solution forms the basis for a novel advection–diffusion flow estimation (ADFE) method. The ADFE is derived, validated through numerical spectral-element method computations, and shown to exhibit improved accuracy against the state-of-the-art method for image-based blood flow extraction.

AA amyloidosis (AAA) is a disease known as amyloid arthropathy in chicken, which represents substantial economic losses, in addition to welfare concerns. Enterococcus faecalis (E. faecalis) is the major pathogen found in field outbreaks of amyloid arthropathy and its specific association with this disease has been extensively confirmed. The following review discusses the sequence types of E. faecalis associated with AAA that have been identified and characterised both poultry and humans and provide different hypotheses and theories about pathogenesis and transmission of this disease. This article covers the pathology both in field and induced cases of avian amyloidosis and concludes with approaches for a possible treatment, needs for further research and future perspectives. This paper is a consolidation of current knowledge on AAA in chickens which has been obtained over the last twenty years.

The radiocarbon content of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in rivers, lakes, and other non-saline waters can provide valuable information on carbon cycling dynamics in the environment. DOC is typically prepared for 14C analysis by accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) either by ultraviolet (UV) oxidation or by freeze-drying and sealed tube combustion. We present here a new method for the rapid analysis of 14C of DOC using wet chemical oxidation (WCO) and automated headspace sampling of CO2. The approach is an adaption of recently developed methods using aqueous persulfate oxidant to determine the δ13C of DOC in non-saline water samples and the 14C content of volatile organic acids. One advantage of the current method over UV oxidation is higher throughput: 22 samples and 10 processing standards can be prepared in one day and analyzed in a second day, allowing a full suite of 14C processing standards and blanks to be run in conjunction with samples. A second advantage is that there is less potential for cross-contamination between samples.

The present study examined the possibilities and consequences of selecting pigs for reduced aggression and desirable maternal behaviour. Data were recorded from 798 purebred Large White gilts, with an age of 217±17.7 (mean±SD) days, which were observed at mixing with unfamiliar conspecifics. The reaction of the sows towards separation from their litter was assessed for 2022 litters from 848 Large White sows. Sows’ performance during their time in the farrowing unit was scored based on the traits farrowing behaviour (i.e. need of birth assistance), rearing performance (i.e. litter quality at day 10 postpartum (pp)), usability (i.e. additional labour input during lactation period e.g. for treatments) and udder quality of the sow (i.e. udder attachment). For agonistic behaviour, traits heritabilities of h2=0.11±0.04 to h2=0.28±0.06 were estimated. For the sow’s reaction towards separation from her litter low heritabilities were found (h2=0.03±0.03 for separation test on day 1 pp and h2=0.02±0.03 for separation test on day 10 pp). Heritabilities for lactating sow’s performance (farrowing behaviour, rearing performance, usability of the sow and udder quality) in the farrowing unit ranged from h2=0.03±0.02 to h2=0.19±0.03. Due to these results it can be assumed that selection for these traits, for example, for udder quality or reduced aggression, is possible. Antagonistic associations were found between separation test on day 1 pp and different measures of aggressiveness (rg=−0.22±0.26 aggressive attack and rg=−0.41±0.33 reciprocal fighting). Future studies should determine economic as well as welfare-related values of these traits in order to decide whether selection for these traits will be reasonable.

Our team at the University of Barcelona has contributed since the early phases of the mission to the definition, evaluation and calibration modelling of the Gaia photometry. To maximise the Gaia scientific exploitation, we have frequently shared many different tools and data with the astronomical community. Among this information we have defined several relationships among colours involving Gaia magnitudes and colours from other commonly used photometric systems (Johnson-Cousins, SDSS, Hipparcos, Tycho and 2MASS) for several types of stars (including white dwarfs). These relationships can be used for planning scientific exploitation of Gaia data, performing simulations of the Gaia-like sky, planning ground-based complementary observations and for building catalogues with auxiliary validation data. During the commissioning phase our team (as part of the Payload Experts group) has been intensively checking the first photometric data to analyse the health and properties of the real instrument. These preliminary analyses allowed us to monitor the throughput variations with time, assess the spectral resolution and re-evaluate the performances of the end-of-mission photometry. The Payload Experts group activities continue beyond the commissioning phase aiming to optimize the operations onboard for maximizing the scientific return. Some example of first spectra and photometry are shown.

In 2011, Bailes et al. reported on the discovery of a detached companion in a 131 minute orbit around PSR J1719–1438, a 173 Hz millisecond pulsar. The combination of the very low mass function and such a short orbital period is unique. The discoverers suggested that the progenitor system could be an ultracompact X-ray binary (UCXB), which is a binary with a sub-hour orbital period in which a (semi-)degenerate donor fills its Roche lobe and transfers mass to a neutron star. The standard gravitational-wave driven UCXB scenario, however, cannot produce a system like PSR J1719–1438 as it would take longer than the age of the Universe to reach an orbital period of 131 min. We investigate two modifications to the standard UCXB evolution that may resolve this discrepancy. The first involves significant heating and bloating of the donor by pulsar irradiation, and in the second modification the system loses orbital angular momentum via a fast stellar wind from the irradiated donor, additional to the losses via the usual gravitational wave radiation. In particular a donor wind is effective in accelerating orbital expansion, and even a mild wind could produce the 131 minute period within the age of the Universe. We note that UCXBs could be an important class of progenitors of solitary millisecond radio pulsars.

Ultracompact X-ray binaries (UCXBs) have orbital periods shorter than about 80 minutes and typically consist of a neutron star that accretes hydrogen-poor matter from a white dwarf companion. Angular momentum loss via gravitational wave radiation drives mass transfer via Roche-lobe overflow. The late-time evolution of UCXBs is poorly understood – all 13 known systems are relatively young and it is not clear why. One question is whether old UCXBs actually still exist, or have they become disrupted at some point? Alternatively they may be simply too faint to see. To investigate this, we apply the theories of dynamical instability, the magnetic propeller effect, and evaporation of the donor, to the UCXB evolution. We find that both the propeller effect and evaporation are promising explanations for the absence of observed long-period UCXBs.

Recent studies have claimed the existence of very massive stars (VMS) up to 300 M⊙ in the local Universe. As this finding may represent a paradigm shift for the canonical stellar upper-mass limit of 150 M⊙, it is timely to discuss the status of the data, as well as the far-reaching implications of such objects. We held a Joint Discussion at the General Assembly in Beijing to discuss (i) the determination of the current masses of the most massive stars, (ii) the formation of VMS, (iii) their mass loss, and (iv) their evolution and final fate. The prime aim was to reach broad consensus between observers and theorists on how to identify and quantify the dominant physical processes.

In this work the one-band effective Hamiltonian governing the electronic states of a quantum dot/ring in a homogenous magnetic field is used to derive a pair/quadruple of nonlinear eigenvalue problems corresponding to different spin orientations and in case of rotational symmetry additionally to quantum number -L•i. We show, that each of those pair/quadruple of nonlinear problems allows for the min-max characterization of its eigenvalues under certain conditions, which are satisfied for our examples and the common InAs/GaAs heterojunction. Exploiting the minmax property we devise efficient iterative projection methods simultaneously handling the pair/quadruple of nonlinear problems and thereby saving up to 40% of the computational time as compared to the nonlinear Arnoldi method applied to each of the problems separately.

The behaviour of a miniature calorimetric sensor, which is under consideration for catheter-based coronary-artery-flow assessment, is investigated in both steady and pulsatile tube flows. The sensor is composed of a heating element operated at constant power and two thermopiles that measure flow-induced temperature differences over the sensor surface. An analytical sensor model is developed, which includes axial heat conduction in the fluid and a simple representation of the solid wall, assuming a quasi-steady sensor response to the pulsatile flow. To reduce the mathematical problem, described by a two-dimensional advection–diffusion equation, a spectral method is applied. A Fourier transform is then used to solve the resulting set of ordinary differential equations and an analytical expression for the fluid temperature is found. To validate the analytical model, experiments with the sensor mounted in a tube have been performed in steady and pulsatile water flows with various amplitudes and Strouhal numbers. Experimental results are generally in good agreement with theory and show a quasi-steady sensor response in the coronary-flow regime. The model can therefore be used to optimize the sensor design for coronary-flow assessment.