Search for post-merger gravitational waves from the remnant of the binary neutron star merger GW170817

In Advanced LIGO, detection and astrophysical source parameter estimation of the binary black hole merger GW150914 requires a calibrated estimate of the gravitational-wave strain sensed by the detectors. Producing an estimate from each detector's differential arm length control loop readout signals requires applying time domain filters, which are designed from a frequency domain model of the detector's gravitational-wave response. The gravitational-wave response model is determined by the detector's opto-mechanical response and the properties of its feedback control system. The measurements used to validate the model and characterize its uncertainty are derived primarily from a dedicated photon radiation pressure actuator, with cross-checks provided by optical and radio frequency references. We describe how the gravitational-wave readout signal is calibrated into equivalent gravitational-wave-induced strain and how the statistical uncertainties and systematic errors are assessed. Detector data collected over 38 calendar days, from September 12 to October 20, 2015, contain the event GW150914 and approximately 16 of coincident data used to estimate the event false alarm probability. The calibration uncertainty is less than 10% in magnitude and 10 degrees in phase across the relevant frequency band 20 Hz to 1 kHz

Dual modification of Alzheimer’s disease PHF-tau protein by lysine methylation and ubiquitylation: a mass spectrometry approach

In sporadic Alzheimer’s disease (AD), neurofibrillary lesion formation is preceded by extensive post-translational modification of the microtubule associated protein tau. To identify the modification signature associated with tau lesion formation at single amino acid resolution, immunopurified paired helical filaments were isolated from AD brain and subjected to nanoflow liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis. The resulting spectra identified monomethylation of lysine residues as a new tau modification. The methyl-lysine was distributed among seven residues located in the projection and microtubule binding repeat regions of tau protein, with one site, K254, being a substrate for a competing lysine modification, ubiquitylation. To characterize methyl lysine content in intact tissue, hippocampal sections prepared from post mortem late-stage AD cases were subjected to double-label confocal fluorescence microscopy using anti-tau and anti-methyl lysine antibodies. Anti-methyl lysine immunoreactivity colocalized with 78 ± 13% of neurofibrillary tangles in these specimens. Together these data provide the first evidence that tau in neurofibrillary lesions is post-translationally modified by lysine methylation

First narrow-band search for continuous gravitational waves from known pulsars in advanced detector data

In Advanced LIGO, detection and astrophysical source parameter estimation of the binary black hole merger GW150914 requires a calibrated estimate of the gravitational-wave strain sensed by the detectors. Producing an estimate from each detector's differential arm length control loop readout signals requires applying time domain filters, which are designed from a frequency domain model of the detector's gravitational-wave response. The gravitational-wave response model is determined by the detector's opto-mechanical response and the properties of its feedback control system. The measurements used to validate the model and characterize its uncertainty are derived primarily from a dedicated photon radiation pressure actuator, with cross-checks provided by optical and radio frequency references. We describe how the gravitational-wave readout signal is calibrated into equivalent gravitational-wave-induced strain and how the statistical uncertainties and systematic errors are assessed. Detector data collected over 38 calendar days, from September 12 to October 20, 2015, contain the event GW150914 and approximately 16 of coincident data used to estimate the event false alarm probability. The calibration uncertainty is less than 10% in magnitude and 10 degrees in phase across the relevant frequency band 20 Hz to 1 kHz

To what extent do England's local offer websites adhere to the statutory guidance as set out in the special educational needs and disabilities code of practice?

In England the 2014 Children and Families Act introduced wide ranging changes to the assessment of and provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Guidance underpinning implementation was then published in the Code of Practice (DfE & DoH, 2015). Our study focuses on a key component of that legislation, known as the “local offer”, which requires local authorities to establish and maintain, clear, comprehensive, accessible, and up to date information for children and young people with SEND, and their families, about available SEND provision. Local authorities are expected to involve children and young people and their families in co-designing and reviewing their local offer, alongside other key stakeholders, to ensure provision is responsive to local needs and aspirations. To support our assessment of local offers we first established six categories based on the criteria in the Code of Practice about expected availability of SEND-related information (e.g. financial support, health service information, accessibility information). We used these categories to evaluate the relevant local offer websites of all 151 English local authorities with legal responsibilities for SEND assessment and provision. We further assessed whether each local offer website included three common website accessibility functions. Our findings demonstrate variation in the availability of information at local authority level, therefore limiting the ability for some young people and families to make informed decisions about the support available to them. This provides further evidence to support growing concerns about ‘postcode lottery’ inequities for families and their children with SEND

Multimodality imaging approach by speckle tracking echocardiography and cardiac magnetic resonance of heart failure with preserved ejection fraction, a step forward

Abstract Funding Acknowledgements Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Project No. PN-III-P1-1-TE-2016-0669, within PNCDI III, and grant 5/2018 and 83/2018 Background. Heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), defined by 2016 guidelines and new 2019 scoring system, is one of the most challenging diagnosis in cardiology. A better understanding of this entity might provide us a better way to treat. Myocardial work (MW) by speckle-tracking echocardiography (STE) might be a promising tool for analysis of myocardial function. However, there is no data on MW changes in HFpEF patients. Methods. We assessed 94 patients (67 ± 9 yrs, 33 men) with HFpEF (NTproBNP of 349 ± 418 pg/ml), by 2D and STE, and compared them with 25 normal, age-matched, subjects; 80 patients had also a CMR evaluation. We measured LV ejection fraction (LVEF), mean E’ (E’m), E/E’, sPAP, left atrial volume indexed (LAVi), and global longitudinal stain (GLS). We assessed MW by 2DSTE: global constructive work (GCW), as the "positive" work of the heart; global wasted work (GWW), as the "negative work"; global work efficiency (GWE), as GCW/(GCW + GWW) in %. We evaluated by CMR LVEFcmr, LV mass, T1 mapping with mean extracellular volume (ECVm), and pre-gadolinium times quantification (preGDT1m) as markers of myocardial fibrosis. Results. Feasibility of the MW analysis was 97%. As expected, E/E’ and sPAP were higher, while GLS was lower in HFpEF patients. GCW did not change, whereas GWW increased and GWE decreased significantly in HFpEF patients (Table). NTproBNP correlated with sPAP, LAVi, preGDT1m, and ECVm. ECVm was the only independent predictor of NTproBNP level (r = 0.40, p = 0.04). GWE corelated significantly with E’m, LVEFcmr, LV mass, and preGDT1m (all r &amp;gt; 0.40, p = 0.001). GWW corelated significantly with sPAP, E/E’ ratio and E’m, LVEFcmr and LVmass, preGDT1m, and ECVm  (all r &amp;gt; 0.4, p &amp;lt; 0.05). GWW was best predicted by a model composed by E"m, LVmass, preGDT1m (r = 0.5, r2 = 0.25, p = 0.003).  Conclusion. MWE decreases, whereas WW increases in HFpEF. Both parameters corelates significantly with diastolic dysfunction parameters, LV mass, LVEF, and most important with myocardial fibrosis markers evaluated by CMR. ECVm by CMR was the only independent predictor of NTproBNP. Therefore, new parameters of myocardial work, derived from 2DSTE, might provide a better understanding of HFpEF. Table.Comparison between groups Group LVEF (%) E/E’ sPAP (mmHg) GLS (%) GWE (%) GCW (mmHg%) GWW (mmHg%) Controls (25) 58 ± 6 7.3 ± 2.4 23.2 ± 8.1 -21.5 ± 2 95.5 ± 1.8 2282 ± 552 87.9 ± 39.6 HFpEF (91) 60 ± 5.7 11.3 ± 3.5 34.3 ± 8.3 -18.2 ± 3 93.7 ± 3.9 2295 ± 279 119.6 ± 79.8 P value 0.09 &amp;lt;0.001 &amp;lt;0.001 0.01 0.03 0.90 0.03 Abstract Figure. Myocardial work assessment </jats:sec