Prompt Detection of Fast Optical Bursts with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory

The transient optical sky has remained largely unexplored on very short timescales. While there have been some experiments searching for optical transients from minutes to years, none have had the capability to distinguish millisecond Fast Optical Bursts (FOB). Such very fast transients could be the optical counterparts of Fast Radio Bursts (FRB), the prompt emission from $\gamma$-Ray Bursts (GRB), or other previously unknown phenomena. Here, we investigate a novel approach to the serendipitous detection of FOBs, which relies on searching for anomalous spatial images. In particular, due to their short duration, the seeing distorted images of FOBs should look characteristically different than those of steady sources in a standard optical exposure of finite duration. We apply this idea to simulated observations with the Vera C. Rubin Observatory, produced by tracing individual photons through a turbulent atmosphere, and down through the optics and camera of the Rubin telescope. We compare these simulated images to steady-source star simulations in 15 s integrations, the nominal Rubin exposure time. We report the classification accuracy results of a Neural Network classifier for distinguishing FOBs from steady sources. From this classifier, we derive constraints in duration-intensity parameter space for unambiguously identifying FOBs in Rubin observations. We conclude with estimates of the total number of detections of FOB counterparts to FRBs expected during the 10-year Rubin Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST).Comment: 7 pages, 4 figures, submitted to the Astrophysical Journa

Therapeutic targeting of HER2–CB2R heteromers in HER2-positive breast cancer

There is a subtype of breast cancer characterized by the overexpression of the oncogene HER2. Although most patients with this diagnosis benefit from HER2-targeted treatments, some do not respond to these therapies and others develop resistance with time. New tools are therefore warranted for the treatment of this patient population, and for early identification of those individuals at a higher risk of developing innate or acquired resistance to current treatments. Here, we show that HER2 forms heteromer complexes with the cannabinoid receptor CB2R, the expression of these structures correlates with poor patient prognosis, and their disruption promotes antitumor responses. Collectively, our results support HER2–CB2R heteromers as new therapeutic targets and prognostic tools in HER2+ breast cancer

Scientific challenges of convective-scale numerical weather prediction

Numerical weather prediction (NWP) models are increasing in resolution and becoming capable of explicitly representing individual convective storms. Is this increase in resolution leading to better forecasts? Unfortunately, we do not have sufficient theoretical understanding about this weather regime to make full use of these NWPs. After extensive efforts over the course of a decade, convective–scale weather forecasts with horizontal grid spacings of 1–5 km are now operational at national weather services around the world, accompanied by ensemble prediction systems (EPSs). However, though already operational, the capacity of forecasts for this scale is still to be fully exploited by overcoming the fundamental difficulty in prediction: the fully three–dimensional and turbulent nature of the atmosphere. The prediction of this scale is totally different from that of the synoptic scale (103 km) with slowly–evolving semi–geostrophic dynamics and relatively long predictability on the order of a few days. Even theoretically, very little is understood about the convective scale compared to our extensive knowledge of the synoptic-scale weather regime as a partial–differential equation system, as well as in terms of the fluid mechanics, predictability, uncertainties, and stochasticity. Furthermore, there is a requirement for a drastic modification of data assimilation methodologies, physics (e.g., microphysics), parameterizations, as well as the numerics for use at the convective scale. We need to focus on more fundamental theoretical issues: the Liouville principle and Bayesian probability for probabilistic forecasts; and more fundamental turbulence research to provide robust numerics for the full variety of turbulent flows. The present essay reviews those basic theoretical challenges as comprehensibly as possible. The breadth of the problems that we face is a challenge in itself: an attempt to reduce these into a single critical agenda should be avoided

Gender differences in mental health during the economic crisis

Background: Economic crises have a negative effect on mental health. Little evidence has been published on the impact of economic downturns on male and female. The aim of the study was to analyze gender differences in specific mental disorders in primary care during the current economic recession in Spain. Method: A total of 7, 914 patients in 2006 and 5, 876 patients in 2010 were recruited to collect sociodemographic data and the Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Results: Between 2006 and 2010 the prevalence of Major Depressive Disorder increased 155.7% in men and 104.9% in women; Generalized Anxiety Disorder increased 98.3% in men and 71.3% in women; and Multisomatoform Disorder increased 100.05% in men and 37% in women. The effect of the Employment confounder was significant across all comparisons: Major Depressive Disorder Generalized Odds Ratio=2.557 for Men (p<.001), 2.046 for Women (p=.002); Generalized Anxiety Disorder Generalized Odds Ratio= 2.153 (p<.001) for Men, 1.546 for Women (p<.001); and for Non-specific Multisomatoform Disorder Generalized Odds Ratio=1.680 for Men (p<.001) and 1.301 for women (p=.014). Conclusion: Overall prevalence of mental disorders increased significantly between 2006 and 2010, especially in males, who are more sensitive to the effect of the current economic recession than women. Antecedentes: el impacto de las crisis económicas sobre la salud mental está bien documentado, pero hay poca evidencia sobre el efecto diferencial que pueda tener entre hombres y mujeres. El objetivo fue analizar las diferencias de género en la prevalencia de trastornos mentales en atención primaria durante la recesión económica en España. Método: 7.914 pacientes en 2006-2007 y 5.876 en 2010-2011 fueron encuestados para recoger datos sociodemográficos y completar la entrevista Primary Care Evaluation of Mental Disorders. Resultados: entre 2006 y 2010 la prevalencia del Trastorno Depresivo Mayor incrementó 155, 7% en hombres y un 104, 9% en mujeres; el Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada aumentó 98, 3% en hombres y 71, 3% en mujeres; el Trastorno Multisomatomorfo incrementó 100, 05% en hombres y 37% en mujeres. El desempleo fue significativo en todos los análisis: Trastorno Depresivo Odds Ratio Generalizados= 2.557 en hombres (p<.001), 2.046 en mujeres (p= .002); Trastorno de Ansiedad Generalizada Odds Ratio Generalizados= 2.153 (p<.001) en hombres, 1.546 en mujeres (p<.001); Trastorno Multisomatoformo indiferenciado Odds Ratio Generalizados= 1.680 en hombres (p<.001) y 1.301 en mujeres (p= .014). Conclusiones: la prevalencia de los trastornos mentales se incrementó entre 2006 y 2010 en ambos sexos, pero especialmente en hombres, quienes son más sensibles a los efectos de la crisis económica

Pentobarbital versus thiopental in the treatment of refractory intracranial hypertension in patients with traumatic brain injury: a randomized controlled trial

Introduction: Experimental research has demonstrated that the level of neuroprotection conferred by the various barbiturates is not equal. Until now no controlled studies have been conducted to compare their effectiveness, even though the Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines recommend that such studies be undertaken. The objectives of the present study were to assess the effectiveness of pentobarbital and thiopental in terms of controlling refractory intracranial hypertension in patients with severe traumatic brain injury, and to evaluate the adverse effects of treatment. Methods: This was a prospective, randomized, cohort study comparing two treatments: pentobarbital and thiopental. Patients who had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury (Glasgow Coma Scale score after resuscitation ≤ 8 points or neurological deterioration during the first week after trauma) and with refractory intracranial hypertension (intracranial pressure > 20 mmHg) first-tier measures, in accordance with the Brain Trauma Foundation Guidelines. Results: A total of 44 patients (22 in each group) were included over a 5-year period. There were no statistically significant differences in ' baseline characteristics, except for admission computed cranial tomography characteristics, using the Traumatic Coma Data Bank classification. Uncontrollable intracranial pressure occurred in 11 patients (50%) in the thiopental treatment group and in 18 patients (82%) in the pentobarbital group (P = 0.03). Under logistic regression analysis - undertaken in an effort to adjust for the cranial tomography characteristics, which were unfavourable for pentobarbital - thiopental was more effective than pentobarbital in terms of controlling intracranial pressure (odds ratio = 5.1, 95% confidence interval 1.2 to 21.9; P = 0.027). There were no significant differences between the two groups with respect to the incidence of arterial hypotension or infection. Conclusions: Thiopental appeared to be more effective than pentobarbital in controlling intracranial hypertension refractory to first-tier measures. These findings should be interpreted with caution because of the imbalance in cranial tomography characteristics and the different dosages employed in the two arms of the study. The incidence of adverse effects was similar in both groups

Mediterranean cyclones: current knowledge and open questions on dynamics, prediction, climatology and impacts

A large number of intense cyclones occur every year in the Mediterranean basin, one of the climate change hotspots. Producing a broad range of severe socio-economic and environmental impacts in such a densely populated re- gion, Mediterranean cyclones call for coordinated and in- terdisciplinary research efforts. This article aims at support- ing these efforts by reviewing the status of knowledge in the broad field of Mediterranean cyclones. First, we focus on the climatology of Mediterranean cy- clone tracks, their relationship to large-scale atmospheric circulation and their future trends. Second, we discuss the dynamics and atmospheric processes that govern the gene- sis and development of Mediterranean cyclones. Then, we present the different subtypes of Mediterranean cyclones, de- voting special attention to medicanes, i.e. cyclones with trop- ical characteristics and subjects of numerous recent studies. In a subsequent section, we review the state of the art in fore- casting cyclones and relevant high-impact weather, and we discuss in detail the challenges and recent efforts to increase their forecast skill. Finally, we discuss the main impacts pro- duced by cyclones, namely heavy precipitation, windstorms, dust transport, storm surges and sea wave extremes. In the last section of this review article, we thoroughly out- line the future directions of research that would advance the broader field of Mediterranean cyclones