Inference of inhomogeneous clouds in an exoplaent atmosphere

We present new visible and infrared observations of the hot Jupiter Kepler-7b to determine its atmospheric properties. Our analysis allows us to (1) refine Kepler-7b's relatively large geometric albedo of Ag = 0.35 ± 0.02, (2) place upper limits on Kepler-7b thermal emission that remains undetected in both Spitzer bandpasses and (3) report a westward shift in the Kepler optical phase curve. We argue that Kepler-7b's visible flux cannot be due to thermal emission or Rayleigh scattering from H2 molecules. We therefore conclude that high altitude, optically reflective clouds located west from the substellar point are present in its atmosphere. We find that a silicate-based cloud composition is a possible candidate. Kepler-7b exhibits several properties that may make it particularly amenable to cloud formation in its upper atmosphere. These include a hot deep atmosphere that avoids a cloud cold trap, very low surface gravity to suppress cloud sedimentation, and a planetary equilibrium temperature in a range that allows for silicate clouds to potentially form in the visible atmosphere probed by Kepler. Our analysis does not only present evidence of optically thick clouds on Kepler-7b but also yields the first map of clouds in an exoplanet atmosphere.

Advantages and controversies of depot antipsychotics in the treatment of patients with schizophrenia

BACKGROUND The objective of this article is to give an overview of the advantages and disadvantages of the use of depot antipsychotics in the treatment of schizophrenia. The focus is on efficacy, tolerability, relapse prevention, patient compliance and satisfaction compared to oral administration forms. MATERIAL AND METHODS A literature search was conducted in medical databases. The results of meta-analyses, randomized controlled trials and systematic reviews from the years 1999-2014 were included. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION Depot antipsychotics ensure maintenance of constant blood levels and a continuous medication delivery. The efficacy and tolerability of depot antipsychotics are comparable to oral administration forms. Due to an improved medication compliance a reduction of relapse and hospitalization rates can be achieved. This is a key focus for improving outcomes and reducing costs in the treatment of schizophrenia.

Functional Characterization and Comparison of Intercellular Communication in Stem Cell-Derived Cardiomyocytes

One novel treatment strategy for the diseased heart focuses on the use of pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (SC-CMs) to overcome the heart's innate deficiency for self-repair. However, targeted application of SC-CMs requires in-depth characterization of their true cardiogenic potential in terms of excitability and intercellular coupling at cellular level and in multicellular preparations. In this study, we elucidated the electrical characteristics of single SC-CMs and intercellular coupling quality of cell pairs, and concomitantly compared them with well-characterized murine native neonatal and immortalized HL-1 cardiomyocytes. Firstly, we investigated the electrical properties and Ca2+ signaling mechanisms specific to cardiac contraction in single SC-CMs. Despite heterogeneity of the new cardiac cell population, their electrophysiological activity and Ca2+ handling were similar to native cells. Secondly, we investigated the capability of paired SC-CMs to form an adequate subunit of a functional syncytium and analyzed gap junctions and signal transmission by dye transfer in cell pairs. We discovered significantly diminished coupling in SC-CMs compared with native cells, which could not be enhanced by a coculture approach combining SC-CMs and primary CMs. Moreover, quantitative and structural analysis of gap junctions presented significantly reduced connexin expression levels compared with native CMs. Strong dependence of intercellular coupling on gap junction density was further confirmed by computational simulations. These novel findings demonstrate that despite the cardiogenic electrophysiological profile, SC-CMs present significant limitations in intercellular communication. Inadequate coupling may severely impair functional integration and signal transmission, which needs to be carefully considered for the prospective use of SC-CMs in cardiac repair.

Experiences with a voluntary surveillance system for early detection of equine diseases in Switzerland

Clinical observations made by practitioners and reported using web- and mobile-based technologies may benefit disease surveillance by improving the timeliness of outbreak detection. Equinella is a voluntary electronic reporting and information system established for the early detection of infectious equine diseases in Switzerland. Sentinel veterinary practitioners have been able to report cases of non-notifiable diseases and clinical symptoms to an internet-based platform since November 2013. Telephone interviews were carried out during the first year to understand the motivating and constraining factors affecting voluntary reporting and the use of mobile devices in a sentinel network. We found that non-monetary incentives attract sentinel practitioners; however, insufficient understanding of the reporting system and of its relevance, as well as concerns over the electronic dissemination of health data were identified as potential challenges to sustainable reporting. Many practitioners are not yet aware of the advantages of mobile-based surveillance and may require some time to become accustomed to novel reporting methods. Finally, our study highlights the need for continued information feedback loops within voluntary sentinel networks.

Extreme River Floods in Western Switzerland and the Lake of Constance Region in the Period Prior to Instrumental Measurements

The floods that occurred on the Aare and Rhine rivers in May 2015 and the mostly successful handling of this event in terms of flood protection measures are a good reminder of how important it is to comprehend the causes and processes involved in such natural hazards. While the needed data series of gauge measurements and peak discharge calculations reach back to the 19th century, historical records dating further back in time can provide additional and useful information to help understanding extreme flood events and to evaluate prevention measures such as river dams and corrections undertaken prior to instrumental measurements. In my PhD project I will use a wide range of historical sources to assess and quantify past extreme flood events. It is part of the SNF-funded project “Reconstruction of the Genesis, Process and Impact of Major Pre-instrumental Flood Events of Major Swiss Rivers Including a Peak Discharge Quantification” and will cover the research locations Fribourg (Saane R.), Burgdorf (Emme R.), Thun, Bern (both Aare R.), and the Lake of Constance at the locations Lindau, Constance and Rorschach. My main goals are to provide a long time series of quantitative data for extreme flood events, to discuss the occurring changes in these data, and to evaluate the impact of the aforementioned human influences on the drainage system. Extracting information given in account books from the towns of Basel and Solothurn may also enable me to assess the frequency and seasonality of less severe river floods. Finally, historical information will be used for remodeling the historical hydrological regime to homogenize the historical data series to modern day conditions and thus make it comparable to the data provided by instrumental measurements. The method I will apply for processing all information provided by historical sources such as chronicles, newspapers, institutional records, as well as flood marks, paintings and archeological evidence has been developed and successfully applied to the site of Basel by Wetter et al. (2011). They have also shown that data homogenization is possible by reconstructing previous stream flow conditions using historical river profiles and by carefully observing and re-constructing human changes of the river bed and its surroundings. Taken all information into account, peak discharges for past extreme flood events will be calculated with a one-dimensional hydrological model.