Computer Code for the Determination of Ejection Seat/Man Aerodynamic Parameters.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-08-28

ARMS, and LES (computer code -- .,. ,... ,, ..,.., .: . .. ... ,-." . ;.’ -- I- ta names) and Seat consisted of 4 panels SEAT, BACK, PADD , and SIDE. An... general application of Eq. (I) is for blunt bodies at hypersonic speed, because accuracy of this equation becomes better at higher Mach number. Therefore...pressure coefficient is set equal to zero on those portions of the body that are invisible to a distant observer who views the body from the direction

The effects of sildenafil in liver and kidney injury in a rat model of severe scald burn: a biochemical and histopathological study.

PubMed

Gökakın, Ali Kağan; Atabey, Mustafa; Deveci, Koksal; Sancakdar, Enver; Tuzcu, Mehmet; Duger, Cevdet; Topcu, Omer

2014-09-01

Severe burn induces systemic inflammation and reactive oxygen species leading to lipid peroxidation which may play role in remote organs injury. Sildenafil is a selective and potent inhibitor of cyclic guanosine monophosphate specific phosphodiesterase-5. Sildenafil reduces oxidative stress and inflammation in distant organs. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of different dosages of sildenafil in remote organs injury. A total of thirty-two rats were randomly divided into four equal groups. The groups were designated as follows: Sham, Control, 10, and T20 mg/kg sildenafil treatment groups. Levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), VEGF receptor (Flt-1), activities of glutathione peroxidase (Gpx), levels of total antioxidative capacity (TAC), and total oxidant status (TOS) were measured in both tissues and serum, and a semi-quantitative scoring system was used for the evaluation of histopathological findings. Sildenafil increased levels of Gpx, and Flt-1, and decreased MDA and VEGF levels in tissues. Sildenafil also increased serum levels of TAC and Flt-1 and decreased TOS, OSI, and VEGF. Sildenafil decreased inflammation scores in remote organs in histopathological evaluation. It has protective effects in severe burn-related remote organ injuries by decreasing oxidative stress and inflammation.

The 4 Ms CHANDRA Deep Field-South Number Counts Apportioned by Source Class: Pervasive Active Galactic Nuclei and the Ascent of Normal Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lehmer, Bret D.; Xue, Y. Q.; Brandt, W. N.; Alexander, D. M.; Bauer, F. E.; Brusa, M.; Comastri, A.; Gilli, R.; Hornschemeier, A. E.; Luo, B.;

Experiential benefits, place meanings, and environmental setting preferences between proximate and distant visitors to a national scenic trail.

PubMed

Kil, Namyun; Holland, Stephen M; Stein, Taylor V

2015-05-01

Effective management of conserved natural areas often requires a good understanding of recreation visitors who possess various values for those areas. This study examined differences in experiential benefits sought, place meanings, and environmental setting preferences between proximate and distant visitors to a publicly managed national scenic trail, which transects a variety of conserved public lands. Data were collected using on-site post-hike interviews with visitors at low, moderate, and high use trailheads. Proximate visitors sought mental and physical health more strongly than distant visitors, while distant visitors sought environmental exploration more strongly than proximate visitors. No significant difference in family bonding and achievement benefits existed between the two groups. Meanings related to place dependence, family identity, community identity, and place identity were more strongly ascribed by proximate visitors, and both groups rated ecological integrity meanings highly. Distant visitors showed stronger tendencies toward preferring a lesser level of trail development, lower level of encounters with other groups, and higher level of natural landscapes, which indicated an inclination toward natural settings. These findings indicate a managerially relevant role of the degree of proximity to environmental resources on individuals' recreation behaviors, meanings ascribed to the resources and setting conditions. Understanding differences and similarities between groups dichotomized by proximity to natural resources should advance more effective management of recreation and benefit opportunities for diverse visitor groups.

Experiential Benefits, Place Meanings, and Environmental Setting Preferences Between Proximate and Distant Visitors to a National Scenic Trail

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kil, Namyun; Holland, Stephen M.; Stein, Taylor V.

2015-05-01

Effective management of conserved natural areas often requires a good understanding of recreation visitors who possess various values for those areas. This study examined differences in experiential benefits sought, place meanings, and environmental setting preferences between proximate and distant visitors to a publicly managed national scenic trail, which transects a variety of conserved public lands. Data were collected using on-site post-hike interviews with visitors at low, moderate, and high use trailheads. Proximate visitors sought mental and physical health more strongly than distant visitors, while distant visitors sought environmental exploration more strongly than proximate visitors. No significant difference in family bonding and achievement benefits existed between the two groups. Meanings related to place dependence, family identity, community identity, and place identity were more strongly ascribed by proximate visitors, and both groups rated ecological integrity meanings highly. Distant visitors showed stronger tendencies toward preferring a lesser level of trail development, lower level of encounters with other groups, and higher level of natural landscapes, which indicated an inclination toward natural settings. These findings indicate a managerially relevant role of the degree of proximity to environmental resources on individuals' recreation behaviors, meanings ascribed to the resources and setting conditions. Understanding differences and similarities between groups dichotomized by proximity to natural resources should advance more effective management of recreation and benefit opportunities for diverse visitor groups.

Statistical properties of the Strehl ratio as a function of pupil diameter and level of adaptive optics correction following atmospheric propagation.

PubMed

Shellan, Jeffrey B

2004-08-01

The propagation of an optical beam through atmospheric turbulence produces wave-front aberrations that can reduce the power incident on an illuminated target or degrade the image of a distant target. The purpose of the work described here was to determine by computer simulation the statistical properties of the normalized on-axis intensity--defined as (D/r0)2 SR--as a function of D/r0 and the level of adaptive optics (AO) correction, where D is the telescope diameter, r0 is the Fried coherence diameter, and SR is the Strehl ratio. Plots were generated of (D/r0)2 (SR) and sigmaSR/(SR), where (SR) and sigma(SR) are the mean and standard deviation, respectively, of the SR versus D/r0 for a wide range of both modal and zonal AO correction. The level of modal correction was characterized by the number of Zernike radial modes that were corrected. The amount of zonal AO correction was quantified by the number of actuators on the deformable mirror and the resolution of the Hartmann wave-front sensor. These results can be used to determine the optimum telescope diameter, in units of r0, as a function of the AO design. For the zonal AO model, we found that maximum on-axis intensity was achieved when the telescope diameter was sized so that the actuator spacing was equal to approximately 2r0. For modal correction, we found that the optimum value of D/r0 (maximum mean on-axis intensity) was equal to 1.79Nr + 2.86, where Nr is the highest Zernike radial mode corrected.

Regional lymph node metastases are a strong risk factor for venous thromboembolism: results from the Vienna Cancer and Thrombosis Study

PubMed Central

Dickmann, Boris; Ahlbrecht, Jonas; Ay, Cihan; Dunkler, Daniela; Thaler, Johannes; Scheithauer, Werner; Quehenberger, Peter; Zielinski, Christoph; Pabinger, Ingrid

2013-01-01

Advanced cancer is a risk factor for venous thromboembolism. However, lymph node metastases are usually not considered an established risk factor. In the framework of the prospective, observational Vienna Cancer and Thrombosis Study we investigated the association between local (N0), regional (N1–3), and distant (M1) cancer stages and the occurrence of venous thromboembolism. Furthermore, we were specifically interested in the relationship between stage and biomarkers that have been reported to be associated with venous thromboembolism. We followed 832 patients with solid tumors for a median of 527 days. The study end-point was symptomatic venous thromboembolism. At study inclusion, 241 patients had local, 138 regional, and 453 distant stage cancer. The cumulative probability of venous thromboembolism after 6 months in patients with local, regional and distant stage cancer was 2.1%, 6.5% and 6.0%, respectively (P=0.002). Compared to patients with local stage disease, patients with regional and distant stage disease had a significantly higher risk of venous thromboembolism in multivariable Cox-regression analysis including age, newly diagnosed cancer (versus progression of disease), surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy (regional: HR=3.7, 95% CI: 1.5–9.6; distant: HR=5.4, 95% CI: 2.3–12.9). Furthermore, patients with regional or distant stage disease had significantly higher levels of D-dimer, factor VIII, and platelets, and lower hemoglobin levels than those with local stage disease. These results demonstrate an increased risk of venous thromboembolism in patients with regional disease. Elevated levels of predictive biomarkers in patients with regional disease underpin the results and are in line with the activation of the hemostatic system in the early phase of metastatic dissemination. PMID:23585523

A versatile entropic measure of grey level inhomogeneity

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Piasecki, Ryszard

2009-06-01

An entropic measure for the analysis of grey level inhomogeneity (GLI) is proposed as a function of length scale. It allows us to quantify the statistical dissimilarity of the actual macrostate and the maximizing entropy of the reference one. The maximums (minimums) of the measure indicate those scales at which higher (lower) average grey level inhomogeneity appears compared to neighbour scales. Even a deeply hidden statistical grey level periodicity can be detected by the equally distant minimums of the measure. The striking effect of multiple intersecting curves (MICs) of the measure has been revealed for pairs of simulated patterns, which differ in shades of grey or symmetry properties only. In turn, for evolving photosphere granulation patterns, the stability in time of the first peak position has been found. Interestingly, the third peak is dominant at initial steps of the evolution. This indicates a temporary grouping of granules at a length scale that may belong to the mesogranulation phenomenon. This behaviour has similarities with that reported by Consolini, Berrilli et al. [G. Consolini, F. Berrilli, A. Florio, E. Pietropaolo, L.A. Smaldone, Astron. Astrophys. 402 (2003) 1115; F. Berrilli, D. Del Moro, S. Russo, G. Consolini, Th. Straus, Astrophys. J. 632 (2005) 677] for binarized granulation images of a different data set.

Genetic characterization of Russian honey bee stock selected for improved resistance to Varroa destructor.

PubMed

Bourgeois, A Lelania; Rinderer, Thomas E

2009-06-01

Maintenance of genetic diversity among breeding lines is important in selective breeding and stock management. The Russian Honey Bee Breeding Program has strived to maintain high levels of heterozygosity among its breeding lines since its inception in 1997. After numerous rounds of selection for resistance to tracheal and varroa mites and improved honey production, 18 lines were selected as the core of the program. These lines were grouped into three breeding blocks that were crossbred to improve overall heterozygosity levels of the population. Microsatellite DNA data demonstrated that the program has been successful. Heterozygosity and allelic richness values are high and there are no indications of inbreeding among the three blocks. There were significant levels of genetic structure measured among the three blocks. Block C was genetically distinct from both blocks A and B (F(ST) = 0.0238), whereas blocks A and B did not differ from each other (F(ST) = 0.0074). The same pattern was seen for genic (based on numbers of alleles) differentiation. Genetic distance, as measured by chord distance, indicates that all of the 18 lines are equally distant, with minimal clustering. The data indicate that the overall design of the breeding program has been successful in maintaining high levels of diversity and avoiding problems associated with inbreeding.

Influencing Attitudes Toward Near and Distant Objects

PubMed Central

Fujita, Kentaro; Eyal, Tal; Chaiken, Shelly; Trope, Yaacov; Liberman, Nira

2008-01-01

It is argued that the temporal distance of attitude objects systematically changes how the object is mentally represented, and thus influences the strength of particular persuasive appeals. Three experiments tested the hypothesis that people preferentially attend to arguments that highlight primary, abstract (high-level) vs. incidental, concrete (low-level) features when attitude objects are temporally distant vs. near. Results suggested that when attitude objects are temporally distant vs. near, arguments emphasizing primary vs. secondary features (Study 1), desirability vs. feasibility features (Study 2), and general classes vs. specific cases are more persuasive (Study 3). The relation of construal theory to dual process theories of persuasion and persuasion phenomena, such as personal relevance effects and functional matching effects, are discussed. PMID:19884971

Anti-thyroid peroxidase antibodies are associated with the absence of distant metastases in patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer.

PubMed

Farahati, Jamshid; Roggenbuck, Dirk; Gilman, Elena; Schütte, Martin; Jagminaite, Elena; Seyed Zakavi, Rasoul; Löning, Thomas; Heissen, Eberhard

2012-04-01

The presence of thyroid peroxidase antibodies (TPOab) are reported to be associated with improved outcome among breast cancer patients. We evaluated the correlation between TPOab and diagnostic parameters among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients. Three hundred and fourteen newly diagnosed patients with breast cancer, diagnosed and treated in Bethesda Essen between January 2002 and June 2006, were included in this study; 258 (82.2%) without TPOab (≤100 IU/mL) and 56 (17.8%) with TPOab (>100 IU/mL). Blood analysis was performed to measure serum levels of carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), cancer antigen 15-3 (CA-15-3), free triiodothyronine (fT3), free thyroxine (fT4), thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) and TPOab by radioimmunoassay. Data regarding age, tumor size, grading, TNM classification, receptor status, lymph node, and distant metastases were collected and analyzed from patient reports. Statistics were performed using Pearson’s χ2-test and logistic regression analysis. There were no incidences of distant metastasis among 56 patients with TPOab, whereas 17 (6.6%) of 258 cases without TPOab displayed distant metastases (p=0.04). Logistic regression showed an inverse association of TPOab with CA-15-3 and CEA levels (p<0.001, respectively). Both groups, with and without TPOab, revealed no significant differences with respect to age, tumor size, grading, TNM classification, fT3, fT4, and receptor status. TPOab positive patients had higher TSH levels (2.55±3.58), compared to TPOab negative cases (1.20±1.15) (p<0.001). TPOab occurrence is associated with significantly lower frequency of distant metastases in breast cancer. TPOab level inversely correlates with the conventional tumor markers CA-15-3 and CEA.

Non-Selective Lexical Access in Late Arabic-English Bilinguals: Evidence from Gating.

PubMed

Boudelaa, Sami

2018-02-07

Previous research suggests that late bilinguals who speak typologically distant languages are the least likely to show evidence of non-selective lexical access processes. This study puts this claim to test by using the gating task to determine whether words beginning with speech sounds that are phonetically similar in Arabic and English (e.g., [b,d,m,n]) give rise to selective or non-selective lexical access processes in late Arabic-English bilinguals. The results show that an acoustic-phonetic input (e.g., [bæ]) that is consistent with words in Arabic (e.g., [bædrun] "moon") and English (e.g., [bæd] "bad") activates lexical representations in both languages of the bilingual. This non-selective activation holds equally well for mixed lists with words from both Arabic and English and blocked lists consisting only of Arabic or English words. These results suggest that non-selective lexical access processes are the default mechanism even in late bilinguals of typologically distant languages.

Intralesional Mycobacterium w Vaccine Versus Cryotherapy in Treatment of Refractory Extragenital Warts: A Randomized, Open-Label, Comparative Study.

PubMed

Dhakar, Ashok K; Dogra, Sunil; Vinay, Keshavamurthy; Sarangal, Rishu; Kanwar, Amrinder J; Singh, Mini P

2016-01-01

Initial reports of immunotherapy using intralesional Mycobacterium w (Mw) vaccine have documented its useful role in treatment of genital and extragenital warts. To compare the efficacy and safety of intralesional Mw vaccine versus cryotherapy in the treatment of refractory extragenital warts. This was a prospective, randomized, comparative study of 66 patients. The outcome was assessed in terms of complete clearance of warts and change in Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) score. Complete clearance of treated warts was seen in 66.7% (20/30) and 65.5% (19/29) of patients in the Mw and cryotherapy groups, respectively (P = .769). Clearance of distant warts was significantly (P = .004) high in the Mw group. Improvement in DLQI was greater in the Mw group. Both treatment modalities were well tolerated, and no major side effects occurred. Mw vaccine and cryotherapy are equally efficacious in treatment of refractory extragenital warts. Mw vaccine has an added advantage of clearance of distant warts. © The Author(s) 2015.

Prostate tissue metal levels and prostate cancer recurrence in smokers.

PubMed

Neslund-Dudas, Christine; Kandegedara, Ashoka; Kryvenko, Oleksandr N; Gupta, Nilesh; Rogers, Craig; Rybicki, Benjamin A; Dou, Q Ping; Mitra, Bharati

2014-02-01

Although smoking is not associated with prostate cancer risk overall, smoking is associated with prostate cancer recurrence and mortality. Increased cadmium (Cd) exposure from smoking may play a role in progression of the disease. In this study, inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry was used to determine Cd, arsenic (As), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) levels in formalin-fixed paraffin embedded tumor and tumor-adjacent non-neoplastic tissue of never- and ever-smokers with prostate cancer. In smokers, metal levels were also evaluated with regard to biochemical and distant recurrence of disease. Smokers (N = 25) had significantly higher Cd (median ppb, p = 0.03) and lower Zn (p = 0.002) in non-neoplastic tissue than never-smokers (N = 21). Metal levels were not significantly different in tumor tissue of smokers and non-smokers. Among smokers, Cd level did not differ by recurrence status. However, the ratio of Cd ppb to Pb ppb was significantly higher in both tumor and adjacent tissue of cases with distant recurrence when compared with cases without distant recurrence (tumor tissue Cd/Pb, 6.36 vs. 1.19, p = 0.009, adjacent non-neoplastic tissue Cd/Pb, 6.36 vs. 1.02, p = 0.038). Tissue Zn levels were also higher in smokers with distant recurrence (tumor, p = 0.039 and adjacent non-neoplastic, p = 0.028). These initial findings suggest that prostate tissue metal levels may differ in smokers with and without recurrence. If these findings are confirmed in larger studies, additional work will be needed to determine whether variations in metal levels are drivers of disease progression or are simply passengers of the disease process.

A method of real-time detection for distant moving obstacles by monocular vision

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Jia, Bao-zhi; Zhu, Ming

2013-12-01

In this paper, we propose an approach for detection of distant moving obstacles like cars and bicycles by a monocular camera to cooperate with ultrasonic sensors in low-cost condition. We are aiming at detecting distant obstacles that move toward our autonomous navigation car in order to give alarm and keep away from them. Method of frame differencing is applied to find obstacles after compensation of camera's ego-motion. Meanwhile, each obstacle is separated from others in an independent area and given a confidence level to indicate whether it is coming closer. The results on an open dataset and our own autonomous navigation car have proved that the method is effective for detection of distant moving obstacles in real-time.

Negative and positive life events are associated with small but lasting change in neuroticism.

PubMed

Jeronimus, B F; Ormel, J; Aleman, A; Penninx, B W J H; Riese, H

2013-11-01

High neuroticism is prospectively associated with psychopathology and physical health. However, within-subject changes in neuroticism due to life experiences (LEs) or state effects of current psychopathology are largely unexplored. In this 2-year follow-up study, four hypotheses were tested: (1) positive LEs (PLEs) decrease and negative LEs (NLEs) increase neuroticism; (2) LE-driven change in neuroticism is partly long-lasting; and (3) partly independent of LE-driven changes in anxiety/depression; and (4) childhood adversity (before age 16 years) moderates the influence of NLEs/PLEs on neuroticism scores in adult life. Data came from the Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety [NESDA, n = 2981, mean age 41.99 years (s.d. = 13.08), 66.6% women]. At follow-up (T₂) we assessed PLEs/NLEs with the List of Threatening Experiences (LTE) over the prior 24 months and categorized them over recent and distant PLE/NLE measures (1-3 and 4-24 months prior to T₂ respectively) to distinguish distant NLE/PLE-driven change in trait neuroticism (using the Dutch version of the Neuroticism-Extroversion-Openness Five Factor Inventory, NEO-FFI) from state deviations due to changes in symptoms of depression (self-rated version of the 30-item Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology, IDS-SR30) and anxiety (Beck Anxiety Inventory, BAI). Distant NLEs were associated with higher and distant PLEs with lower neuroticism scores. The effects of distant LEs were weak but long-lasting, especially for distant PLEs. Distant NLE-driven change in neuroticism was associated with change in symptoms of anxiety/depression whereas the effect of distant PLEs on neuroticism was independent of any such changes. Childhood adversity weakened the impact of distant NLEs but enhanced the impact of distant PLEs on neuroticism. Distant PLEs are associated with small but long-lasting decreases in neuroticism regardless of changes in symptom levels of anxiety/depression. Long-lasting increases in neuroticism associated with distant NLEs are mediated by anxiety/depression.

Learning and memory for sequences of pictures, words, and spatial locations: an exploration of serial position effects.

PubMed

Bonk, William J; Healy, Alice F

2010-01-01

A serial reproduction of order with distractors task was developed to make it possible to observe successive snapshots of the learning process at each serial position. The new task was used to explore the effect of several variables on serial memory performance: stimulus content (words, blanks, and pictures), presentation condition (spatial information vs. none), semantically categorized item clustering (grouped vs. ungrouped), and number of distractors relative to targets (none, equal, double). These encoding and retrieval variables, along with learning attempt number, affected both overall performance levels and the shape of the serial position function, although a large and extensive primacy advantage and a small 1-item recency advantage were found in each case. These results were explained well by a version of the scale-independent memory, perception, and learning model that accounted for improved performance by increasing the value of only a single parameter that reflects reduced interference from distant items.

Large-scale kinetic energy spectra from Eulerian analysis of EOLE wind data

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Desbois, M.

1975-01-01

A data set of 56,000 winds determined from the horizontal displacements of EOLE balloons at the 200 mb level in the Southern Hemisphere during the period October 1971-February 1972 is utilized for the computation of planetary- and synoptic-scale kinetic energy space spectra. However, the random distribution of measurements in space and time presents some problems for the spectral analysis. Two different approaches are used, i.e., a harmonic analysis of daily wind values at equi-distant points obtained by space-time interpolation of the data, and a correlation method using the direct measurements. Both methods give similar results for small wavenumbers, but the second is more accurate for higher wavenumbers (k above or equal to 10). The spectra show a maximum at wavenumbers 5 and 6 due to baroclinic instability and then decrease for high wavenumbers up to wavenumber 35 (which is the limit of the analysis), according to the inverse power law k to the negative p, with p close to 3.

Breast-conserving therapy versus mastectomy in T1-2N2 stage breast cancer: a population-based study on 10-year overall, relative, and distant metastasis-free survival in 3071 patients.

PubMed

van Maaren, M C; de Munck, L; Jobsen, J J; Poortmans, P; de Bock, G H; Siesling, S; Strobbe, L J A

2016-12-01

Our previous study demonstrated breast-conserving surgery with radiation therapy (BCT) to be at least equivalent to mastectomy in T1-2N0-1 breast cancer. Yet, 10-year survival rates after BCT and mastectomy with radiation therapy (MAST) in T1-2N2 breast cancer specifically have not been examined. Our study aimed to determine 10-year overall (OS), relative (RS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS) in T1-2N2 breast cancer after BCT and MAST, stratified for T category. All women diagnosed with primary invasive T1-2N2 breast cancer in 2000-2004, treated with BCT or MAST, both with axillary dissection and RT, were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Ten-year OS and DMFS were estimated using multivariable Cox regression. Excess mortality ratios (EMR) were calculated to estimate RS, using life tables of the general population. OS and RS were determined on the whole cohort, and DMFS on the 2003 cohort with completed follow-up. Missing data were imputed. Of 3071 patients, 1055 (34.4 %) received BCT and 2016 (65.7 %) MAST. BCT and MAST showed equal 10-year OS and RS. After stratification, BCT was significantly associated with improved 10-year OS [HR adjusted 0.82 (95 % CI 0.71-0.96)] and RS (EMR adjusted 0.81 (95 % CI 0.67-0.97]) in T2N2, but not in T1N2. Ten-year DMFS was equal for both treatments [HR adjusted 0.87 (95 % CI 0.64-1.18)] in the 2003 cohort (n = 594), which was representative for the full cohort. BCT showed at least equal 10-year OS, RS, and DMFS compared to MAST. These results confirm that BCT is a good treatment option in T1-2N2 breast cancer.

Social learning across psychological distance.

PubMed

Kalkstein, David A; Kleiman, Tali; Wakslak, Cheryl J; Liberman, Nira; Trope, Yaacov

2016-01-01

While those we learn from are often close to us, more and more our learning environments are shifting to include more distant and dissimilar others. The question we examine in 5 studies is how whom we learn from influences what we learn and how what we learn influences from whom we choose to learn it. In Study 1, we show that social learning, in and of itself, promotes higher level (more abstract) learning than does learning based on one's own direct experience. In Studies 2 and 3, we show that when people learn from and emulate others, they tend to do so at a higher level when learning from a distant model than from a near model. Studies 4 and 5 show that thinking about learning at a higher (compared to a lower) level leads individuals to expand the range of others that they will consider learning from. Study 6 shows that when given an actual choice, people prefer to learn low-level information from near sources and high-level information from distant sources. These results demonstrate a basic link between level of learning and psychological distance in social learning processes. (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Toxicity and taste: unequal chemical defences in a mimicry ring.

PubMed

Winters, Anne E; Wilson, Nerida G; van den Berg, Cedric P; How, Martin J; Endler, John A; Marshall, N Justin; White, Andrew M; Garson, Mary J; Cheney, Karen L

2018-06-13

Mimicry of warning signals is common, and can be mutualistic when mimetic species harbour equal levels of defence (Müllerian), or parasitic when mimics are undefended but still gain protection from their resemblance to the model (Batesian). However, whether chemically defended mimics should be similar in terms of toxicity (i.e. causing damage to the consumer) and/or unpalatability (i.e. distasteful to consumer) is unclear and in many studies remains undifferentiated. In this study, we investigated the evolution of visual signals and chemical defences in a putative mimicry ring of nudibranch molluscs. First, we demonstrated that the appearance of a group of red spotted nudibranchs molluscs was similar from the perspective of potential fish predators using visual modelling and pattern analysis. Second, using phylogenetic reconstruction, we demonstrated that this colour pattern has evolved multiple times in distantly related individuals. Third, we showed that these nudibranchs contained different chemical profiles used for defensive purposes. Finally, we demonstrated that although levels of distastefulness towards Palaemon shrimp remained relatively constant between species, toxicity levels towards brine shrimp varied significantly. We highlight the need to disentangle toxicity and taste when considering chemical defences in aposematic and mimetic species, and discuss the implications for aposematic and mimicry signal evolution. © 2018 The Author(s).

Discovery, Orbit and Orbital Evolution of the Distant Object (463368) 2012 VU85

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wlodarczyk, I.; Černis, K.; Boyle, R. P.

2017-03-01

We present the discovery and time evolution of orbital elements of the distant Centaur-type object (463368) 2012 VU85. From all 2135 distant objects listed in the Minor Planet Center we select all 347 numbered distant object and integrate their equations of motion in the 1 Gyr forward and backward integration. The asteroid (463368) 2012 VU85 lies on the border of the group of 347 distant objects, which have a semimajor axis about 44 a.u., eccentricity 0.1 and inclination between 0° and 30°. We show that after 1 Gyr of forward integration, about half of the objects are expelled from the Solar System, \\ie their median lifetime is about 1 Gyr. We note that the long-lived distant objects are mainly located between the regions where Neptune controls aphelia of asteroids and the asteroids are in the mean motion resonance 2/3 with Neptune. We find eight almost regular approaches of clones of the asteroid (463368) 2012 VU85 to Neptune and several generally shorter in time regular approaches to Uranus. For other outer planets we did not detect any approaches below 5 a.u. for a period of 15 000 yr in forward and backward integrations. In our calculations we find eight episodes, each lasting about 3000 yr when the value of inclination oscillates around its average. These changes look similar to the changes of semimajor axis during the occurrence of orbital mean motion resonance with a planet. We find that half of the clones of the asteroid (463368) 2012 VU85 remain in the Solar System for a forward integration of 44 Myr, and for a backward integration of 34 Myr. This is a significantly shorter escape time as compared to the group of distant objects. Almost all long-lived clones have value of Tisserand parameter with respect to Neptune smaller than 3 during the whole 1 Gyr forward and backward integrations. This implies that there are several clones of the asteroid (463368) 2012 VU85 that cross the orbits of Neptune and Uranus. We find many orbital mean motion resonances lasting up to several Myr in the motion of the asteroid (463368) 2012 VU85. According to our computations the presence of the Kozai resonance protects the asteroid from the close approaches with Uranus and Neptune. The Lyapunov time for the asteroid (463368) 2012 VU85 is equal to 4260 years.

Thyroxine to triiodothyronine hyperconversion thyrotoxicosis in patients with large metastases of follicular thyroid carcinoma.

PubMed

Takano, Toru; Miyauchi, Akira; Ito, Yasuhiro; Amino, Nobuyuki

2006-06-01

We experienced two cases of follicular thyroid carcinoma with distant metastases, which showed high levels of free triiodothyronine (T(3)) while free thyroxine (T(4)) levels remained in the low or normal range. In this report, we described the detail of these cases and examined the cause of T(3) thyrotoxicosis. In one of the cases, quantitative measurement of types I and II iodothyronine deiodinase mRNAs was performed using a surgically dissected tissue from the primary tumor and a distant metastasis. In the both tissues, types I and II iodothyronine deiodinase mRNAs were expressed in the same level as in the normal thyroid tissues. These results suggest that T(3) thyrotoxicosis in our patients was caused by hyperconversion of administered levothyroxine to T(3). In the follow-up of patients with distant metastases of follicular carcinoma, not only free T(4), but also free T(3) should be tested to avoid the excessive administration of levothyroxine.

Depression, anxiety and quality of life in suicide survivors: a comparison of close and distant relationships.

PubMed

Mitchell, Ann M; Sakraida, Teresa J; Kim, Yookyung; Bullian, Leann; Chiappetta, Laurel

2009-02-01

The study's purpose was to describe and compare depression, anxiety, and quality of life, by degree of relationship, between closely related and distantly related survivors (persons close to the suicide victim, or "suicide survivors"; N = 60) during the acute phase of bereavement (within 1 month of the death). The close relationship category included spouses, parents, children, and siblings, whereas the distant relationship category included in-laws, aunts/uncles, and nieces/nephews. Analysis of covariance examined differences between the two groups on the symptom measures. Results indicate that, after controlling for age and gender effects, closely related survivors had significantly higher mean levels of depression and anxiety and had lower levels of mental health quality of life. There were no statistically significant differences on the physical health quality of life subscale.

Plasma entry into the earth's magnetosphere

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Frank, L. A.

1972-01-01

Both high- and low-altitude measurements are used to establish the salient features of the three regions presently thought to be the best candidates for the entry of magnetosheath plasma into the magnetosphere, and hence the primal sources of charged particles for the plasma sheet and its earthward termination in the ring current. These three regions are (1) the polar cusps and their extensions into the nighttime magnetosphere, (2) the downstream flanks of the magnetosphere at geocentric radial distances approximately equal to 10 to 50 earth radii along the plasma sheet-magnetosheath interface, and (3) the distant magnetotail at radial distances greater than or approximately equal to 50 earth radii. Present observational knowledge of each of these regions is discussed critically as to evidences for charged particle entry into the magnetosphere from the magnetosheath. The possibility that all three of these magnetospheric domains share an intimate topological relationship is also examined.

Effects of Distant Green Space on Physical Activity in Sydney, Australia.

PubMed

Chong, Shanley; Byun, Roy; Mazumdar, Soumya; Bauman, Adrian; Jalaludin, Bin

2017-01-01

The aim was to investigate the association between distant green space and physical activity modified by local green space. Information about physical activity, demographic and socioeconomic background at the individual level was extracted from the New South Wales Population Health Survey. The proportion of a postcode that was parkland was used as a proxy measure for access to parklands and was calculated for each individual. There was a significant relationship between distant green space and engaging in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) at least once a week. No significant relationship was found between adequate physical activity and distant green space. No significant relationships were found between adequate physical activity, engaging in MVPA, and local green space. However, if respondents lived in greater local green space (≥25%), there was a significant relationship between engaging in MVPA at least once a week and distance green space of ≥20%. This study highlights the important effect of distant green space on physical activity. Our findings also suggest that moderate size of local green space together with moderate size of distant green space are important levers for participation of physical activity.

Hepatic Radiofrequency Ablation–induced Stimulation of Distant Tumor Growth Is Suppressed by c-Met Inhibition

PubMed Central

Kumar, Gaurav; Moussa, Marwan; Wang, Yuanguo; Rozenblum, Nir; Galun, Eithan; Goldberg, S. Nahum

2016-01-01

Purpose To elucidate how hepatic radiofrequency (RF) ablation affects distant extrahepatic tumor growth by means of two key molecular pathways. Materials and Methods Rats were used in this institutional animal care and use committee–approved study. First, the effect of hepatic RF ablation on distant subcutaneous in situ R3230 and MATBIII breast tumors was evaluated. Animals were randomly assigned to standardized RF ablation, sham procedure, or no treatment. Tumor growth rate was measured for 3½ to 7 days. Then, tissue was harvested for Ki-67 proliferative indexes and CD34 microvascular density. Second, hepatic RF ablation was performed for hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and c-Met receptor expression measurement in periablational rim, serum, and distant tumor 24 hours to 7 days after ablation. Third, hepatic RF ablation was combined with either a c-Met inhibitor (PHA-665752) or VEGF receptor inhibitor (semaxanib) and compared with sham or drug alone arms to assess distant tumor growth and growth factor levels. Finally, hepatic RF ablation was performed in rats with c-Met–negative R3230 tumors for comparison with the native c-Met–positive line. Tumor size and immunohistochemical quantification at day 0 and at sacrifice were compared with analysis of variance and the two-tailed Student t test. Tumor growth curves before and after treatment were analyzed with linear regression analysis to determine mean slopes of pre- and posttreatment growth curves on a per-tumor basis and were compared with analysis of variance and paired two-tailed t tests. Results After RF ablation of normal liver, distant R3230 tumors were substantially larger at 7 days compared with tumors treated with the sham procedure and untreated tumors, with higher growth rates and tumor cell proliferation. Similar findings were observed in MATBIII tumors. Hepatic RF ablation predominantly increased periablational and serum HGF and downstream distant tumor VEGF levels. Compared with RF ablation alone, RF ablation combined with adjuvant PHA-665752 or semaxanib reduced distant tumor growth, proliferation, and microvascular density. For c-Met–negative tumors, hepatic RF ablation did not increase distant tumor growth, proliferation, or microvascular density compared with sham treatment. Conclusion RF ablation of normal liver can stimulate distant subcutaneous tumor growth mediated by HGF/c-Met pathway and VEGF activation. This effect was not observed in c-Met–negative tumors and can be blocked with adjuvant c-Met and VEGF inhibitors. © RSNA, 2015 PMID:26418615

The Distant Type Ia Supernova Rate

DOE R&D Accomplishments Database

Pain, R.; Fabbro, S.; Sullivan, M.; Ellis, R. S.; Aldering, G.; Astier, P.; Deustua, S. E.; Fruchter, A. S.; Goldhaber, G.; Goobar, A.; Groom, D. E.; Hardin, D.; Hook, I. M.; Howell, D. A.; Irwin, M. J.; Kim, A. G.; Kim, M. Y.; Knop, R. A.; Lee, J. C.; Perlmutter, S.; Ruiz-Lapuente, P.; Schahmaneche, K.; Schaefer, B.; Walton, N. A.

2002-05-28

We present a measurement of the rate of distant Type Ia supernovae derived using 4 large subsets of data from the Supernova Cosmology Project. Within this fiducial sample, which surveyed about 12 square degrees, thirty-eight supernovae were detected at redshifts 0.25--0.85. In a spatially flat cosmological model consistent with the results obtained by the Supernova Cosmology Project, we derive a rest-frame Type Ia supernova rate at a mean red shift z {approx_equal} 0.55 of 1.53 {sub -0.25}{sub -0.31}{sup 0.28}{sup 0.32} x 10{sup -4} h{sup 3} Mpc{sup -3} yr{sup -1} or 0.58{sub -0.09}{sub -0.09}{sup +0.10}{sup +0.10} h{sup 2} SNu(1 SNu = 1 supernova per century per 10{sup 10} L{sub B}sun), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second includes systematic effects. The dependence of the rate on the assumed cosmological parameters is studied and the redshift dependence of the rate per unit comoving volume is contrasted with local estimates in the context of possible cosmic star formation histories and progenitor models.

Cost implications of unwarranted imaging for distant metastasis in women with early-stage breast cancer in Ontario.

PubMed

Thavorn, K; Wang, Z; Fergusson, D; van Katwyk, S; Arnaout, A; Clemons, M

2016-02-01

Despite the publication of multiple evidence-based guidelines recommending against routine imaging for distant metastasis in patients with early-stage (i/ii) breast cancer, such imaging is frequently performed. The present retrospective cohort study was conducted to estimate the cost of unnecessary imaging tests in women with stage i and ii breast cancer diagnosed between 1 January 2007 and 31 December 2012 in Ontario. We obtained patient-level demographic and tumour data from a large provincial dataset. The total cost of unwarranted imaging tests (in 2015 Canadian dollars) was considered to be equal to the sum of imaging costs incurred between 2007 and 2012 and was stratified by disease stage, imaging modality, and body site. Of the 26,547 identified patients with early-stage breast cancer, 22,811 (85.9%) underwent at least 1 imaging test, with an average of 3.7 tests per patient (3.2 for stage i patients and 4.0 for stage ii patients) over 5 years. At least 1 imaging test was performed in 79.6% of stage i and 92.7% of stage ii patients. During a 5-year period, the cost of unwarranted imaging in patients with early-stage breast cancer ranged from CA$4,418,139 to CA$6,865,856, depending on guideline recommendations. Our study highlights the substantial cost of excess imaging that could be saved and re-allocated to patient care if evidence-based guidelines are followed. Future studies should assess strategies to ensure that evidence-based guidelines are followed and to increase awareness of the cost implications of nonadherence to guidelines.

Clinical and Organizational Factors in the Initial Evaluation of Patients With Lung Cancer

PubMed Central

Jim Yeung, Sai-Ching; Tanoue, Lynn T.; Gould, Michael K.

2013-01-01

Background: This guideline is intended to provide an evidence-based approach to the initial evaluation of patients with known or suspected lung cancer. It also includes an assessment of the impact of timeliness of care and multidisciplinary teams on outcome. Methods: The applicable current medical literature was identified by a computerized search and evaluated using standardized methods. Recommendations were framed using the approach described by the Guidelines Oversight Committee of the American College of Chest Physicians. Data sources included MEDLINE and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Results: Initial evaluation should include a thorough history and physical examination; CT imaging; pulmonary function tests; and hemoglobin, electrolyte, liver function, and calcium levels. Additional testing for distant metastases and paraneoplastic syndromes should be determined on the basis of these results. Paraneoplastic syndromes may have an adverse impact on cancer treatment, so they should be controlled rapidly with the goal of proceeding with definitive cancer treatment in a timely manner. Although the relationship between timeliness of care and survival is difficult to quantify, efforts to deliver timely care are reasonable and should be balanced with the need to attend to other dimensions of health-care quality (eg, safety, effectiveness, efficiency, equality, consistency with patient values and preferences). Quality care will require multiple disciplines. Although it is difficult to assess the impact, we suggest that a multidisciplinary team approach to care be used, particularly for patients requiring multimodality therapy. Conclusions: The initial evaluation of patients with lung cancer should include a thorough history and physical examination, pulmonary function tests, CT imaging, basic laboratory tests, and selective testing for distant metastases and paraneoplastic syndromes. PMID:23649435

Comparative analyses of quaternary arrangements in homo-oligomeric proteins in superfamilies: Functional implications.

PubMed

Sudha, Govindarajan; Srinivasan, Narayanaswamy

2016-09-01

A comprehensive analysis of the quaternary features of distantly related homo-oligomeric proteins is the focus of the current study. This study has been performed at the levels of quaternary state, symmetry, and quaternary structure. Quaternary state and quaternary structure refers to the number of subunits and spatial arrangements of subunits, respectively. Using a large dataset of available 3D structures of biologically relevant assemblies, we show that only 53% of the distantly related homo-oligomeric proteins have the same quaternary state. Considering these homologous homo-oligomers with the same quaternary state, conservation of quaternary structures is observed only in 38% of the pairs. In 36% of the pairs of distantly related homo-oligomers with different quaternary states the larger assembly in a pair shows high structural similarity with the entire quaternary structure of the related protein with lower quaternary state and it is referred as "Russian doll effect." The differences in quaternary state and structure have been suggested to contribute to the functional diversity. Detailed investigations show that even though the gross functions of many distantly related homo-oligomers are the same, finer level differences in molecular functions are manifested by differences in quaternary states and structures. Comparison of structures of biological assemblies in distantly and closely related homo-oligomeric proteins throughout the study differentiates the effects of sequence divergence on the quaternary structures and function. Knowledge inferred from this study can provide insights for improved protein structure classification and function prediction of homo-oligomers. Proteins 2016; 84:1190-1202. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Do Global Cities Enable Global Views? Using Twitter to Quantify the Level of Geographical Awareness of U.S. Cities.

PubMed

Han, Su Yeon; Tsou, Ming-Hsiang; Clarke, Keith C

2015-01-01

Dynamic social media content, such as Twitter messages, can be used to examine individuals' beliefs and perceptions. By analyzing Twitter messages, this study examines how Twitter users exchanged and recognized toponyms (city names) for different cities in the United States. The frequency and variety of city names found in their online conversations were used to identify the unique spatiotemporal patterns of "geographical awareness" for Twitter users. A new analytic method, Knowledge Discovery in Cyberspace for Geographical Awareness (KDCGA), is introduced to help identify the dynamic spatiotemporal patterns of geographic awareness among social media conversations. Twitter data were collected across 50 U.S. cities. Thousands of city names around the world were extracted from a large volume of Twitter messages (over 5 million tweets) by using the Twitter Application Programming Interface (APIs) and Python language computer programs. The percentages of distant city names (cities located in distant states or other countries far away from the locations of Twitter users) were used to estimate the level of global geographical awareness for Twitter users in each U.S. city. A Global awareness index (GAI) was developed to quantify the level of geographical awareness of Twitter users from within the same city. Our findings are that: (1) the level of geographical awareness varies depending on when and where Twitter messages are posted, yet Twitter users from big cities are more aware of the names of international cities or distant US cities than users from mid-size cities; (2) Twitter users have an increased awareness of other city names far away from their home city during holiday seasons; and (3) Twitter users are more aware of nearby city names than distant city names, and more aware of big city names rather than small city names.

Galectin-9 as a prognostic factor with antimetastatic potential in breast cancer.

PubMed

Irie, Akemi; Yamauchi, Akira; Kontani, Keiichi; Kihara, Minoru; Liu, Dage; Shirato, Yukako; Seki, Masako; Nishi, Nozomu; Nakamura, Takanori; Yokomise, Hiroyasu; Hirashima, Mitsuomi

2005-04-15

Galectin-9, a member of the beta-galactoside-binding galectin family, induces aggregation of certain cell types. We assessed the contribution of galectin-9 to the aggregation of breast cancer cells as well as the relation between galectin-9 expression in tumor tissue and distant metastasis in patients with breast cancer. Subclones of MCF-7 breast cancer cells with high or low levels of galectin-9 expression were established and either cultured on plastic dishes or transplanted into nude mice. The tumors of 84 patients with breast cancer were tested for galectin-9 expression by immunohistochemistry. The patients were followed up for 14 years. MCF-7 subclones with a high level of galectin-9 expression formed tight clusters during proliferation in vitro, whereas a subclone (K10) with the lowest level of galectin-9 expression did not. However, K10 cells stably transfected with a galectin-9 expression vector aggregated in culture and in nude mice. Ectopic expression of galectin-9 also reduced MCF-7 cell adhesion to extracellular matrix proteins. Tumors of 42 of the 84 patients were galectin-9 positive, and those of 19 of the 21 patients with distant metastasis were galectin-9 negative. None of the 13 patients with galectin-9-positive tumors and lymph node metastasis up to level II manifested distant metastasis. The cumulative disease-free survival ratio for galectin-9-positive patients was more favorable than that for the galectin-9-negative group (P < 0.0001). Multivariate analysis revealed that galectin-9 status influenced distant metastasis independently of and to a greater extent than lymph node metastasis. Galectin-9 is a possible prognostic factor with antimetastatic potential in breast cancer.

Visual Impairment Screening at the Geriatric Frailty Clinic for Assessment of Frailty and Prevention of Disability at the Gérontopôle.

PubMed

Soler, V; Sourdet, S; Balardy, L; Abellan van Kan, G; Brechemier, D; Rougé-Bugat, M E; Tavassoli, N; Cassagne, M; Malecaze, F; Nourhashémi, F; Vellas, B

2016-01-01

To evaluate visual performance and factors associated with abnormal vision in patients screened for frailty at the Geriatric Frailty Clinic (GFC) for Assessment of Frailty and Prevention of Disability at Toulouse University Hospital. Retrospective, observational cross-sectional, single-centre study. Institutional practice. Patients were screened for frailty during a single-day hospital stay between October 2011 and October 2014 (n = 1648). Collected medical records included sociodemographic data (including living environment and educational level), anthropometric data, and clinical data. The general evaluation included the patient's functional status using the Activities of Daily Living (ADL) scale and the Instrumental Activity of Daily Living (IADL) scale, the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) for cognition testing, and the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB) for physical performance. We also examined Body Mass Index (BMI), the Mini-Nutritional Assessment (MNA), and the Hearing Handicap Inventory for the Elderly Screening (HHIE-S) tool. The ophthalmologic evaluation included assessing visual acuity using the Snellen decimal chart for distant vision, and the Parinaud chart for near vision. Patients were divided into groups based on normal distant/near vision (NDV and NNV groups) and abnormal distant/near vision (ADV and ANV groups). Abnormal distant or near vision was defined as visual acuity inferior to 20/40 or superior to a Parinaud score of 2, in at least one eye. Associations with frailty-associated factors were evaluated in both groups. The mean age of the population was 82.6 ± 6.2 years. The gender distribution was 1,061 females (64.4%) and 587 males (35.6%). According to the Fried criteria, 619 patients (41.1%) were pre-frail and 771 (51.1%) were frail. Distant and near vision data were available for 1425 and 1426 patients, respectively. Distant vision was abnormal for 437 patients (30.7%). Near vision was abnormal for 199 patients (14%). Multiple regression analysis showed that abnormal distant vision as well as abnormal near vision were independently associated with greater age (P < 0.01), lower educational level (P < 0.05), lower performance on the MMSE (P < 0.001), and lower autonomy (P < 0.02), after controlling for age, gender, educational level, Fried criteria, and MMSE score. The high prevalence of visual disorders observed in the study population and their association with lower autonomy and cognitive impairment emphasises the need for systematic screening of visual impairments in the elderly. Frailty was not found to be independently associated with abnormal vision.

Going that extra mile: individuals travel further to maintain face-to-face contact with highly related kin than with less related kin.

PubMed

Pollet, Thomas V; Roberts, Sam G B; Dunbar, Robin I M

2013-01-01

The theory of inclusive fitness has transformed our understanding of cooperation and altruism. However, the proximate psychological underpinnings of altruism are less well understood, and it has been argued that emotional closeness mediates the relationship between genetic relatedness and altruism. In this study, we use a real-life costly behaviour (travel time) to dissociate the effects of genetic relatedness from emotional closeness. Participants travelled further to see more closely related kin, as compared to more distantly related kin. For distantly related kin, the level of emotional closeness mediated this relationship--when emotional closeness was controlled for, there was no effect of genetic relatedness on travel time. However, participants were willing to travel further to visit parents, children and siblings as compared to more distantly related kin, even when emotional closeness was controlled for. This suggests that the mediating effect of emotional closeness on altruism varies with levels of genetic relatedness.

The expression of chemokine receptors CCR6, CXCR2 and CXCR4 is not organ-specific for distant metastasis in colorectal cancer: a comparative study.

PubMed

Hu, Dongzhi; Du, Changzheng; Xue, Weicheng; Dou, Fangyuan; Yao, Yunfeng; Gu, Jin

2013-08-01

The liver and lung are the organs most commonly affected by metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC), and the interaction of chemokines and chemokine receptors (CKRs) plays an important role in the metastatic process. The aim of this study was to investigate the organ specificity of CKRs in CRC distant metastasis. Surgical specimens of primary tumours from 46 patients with metachronous distant metastases were retrieved retrospectively (20 lung metastases; 26 liver metastases). As a control, the records of 29 patients without distant metastases were randomly retrieved from our database, and their specimens were reassessed. The expression rates of CKRs, including CCR6, CXCR2, and CXCR4, were determined by immunohistochemistry, and were compared among the groups. The expression rates of CCR6 and CXCR2 were both significantly higher in the metastasis group than in the non-metastasis group (P < 0.05), but there was no statistical difference between the lung metastasis and liver metastasis subgroups. The expression of CXCR4 was not significantly different between the metastasis and non-metastasis groups. Multivariable analysis suggested that preoperative serum carcinoembryonic antigen level, CCR6 and CXCR2 were independent factors associated with distant metastasis. The expression of CCR6 and CXCR2 in CRC could predict metachronous distant metastasis, but they have no organ specificity for metastasis. © 2013 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu, Jianguo; Hull, Vanessa; Batistella, Mateus

Interactions between distant places are increasingly widespread and influential, often leading to unexpected outcomes with profound implications for sustainability. Numerous sustainability studies have been conducted within a particular place with little attention to the impacts of distant interactions on sustainability in multiple places. Although distant forces have been studied, they are usually treated as exogenous variables and feedbacks have been rarely considered. To understand and integrate various distant interactions better, we propose an integrated framework based on telecoupling – an umbrella concept that refers to socioeconomic and environmental interactions over distances. The concept of telecoupling is a logical extension ofmore » research on coupled human and natural systems, in which human and natural systems interact within particular places. The telecoupling framework contains five major interrelated components (coupled human and natural systems, agents, flows, causes, and effects). We illustrate the framework using two examples of distant interactions, highlight the implications of the framework, and discuss research needs and approaches to move research on telecouplings forward. The framework can help better analyze system components and their interrelationships, identify research gaps, detect hidden costs and untapped benefits, provide a useful means to incorporate feedbacks as well as trade-offs and synergies across multiple places (sending, receiving, and spillover systems), and improve the understanding of distant interactions and the effectiveness of policies for socioeconomic and environmental sustainability from local to global levels.« less

Salvage Radiation Therapy Dose Response for Biochemical Failure of Prostate Cancer After Prostatectomy—A Multi-Institutional Observational Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pisansky, Thomas M., E-mail: pisansky.thomas@mayo.edu; Agrawal, Shree; Hamstra, Daniel A.

Purpose: To determine whether a dose-response relationship exists for salvage radiation therapy (RT) of biochemical failure after prostatectomy for prostate cancer. Methods and Materials: Individual data from 1108 patients who underwent salvage RT at 10 academic centers were pooled. The cohort was enriched for selection criteria more likely associated with tumor recurrence in the prostate bed (margin positive and pre-RT prostate-specific antigen [PSA] level of ≤2.0 ng/mL) and without the confounding of planned androgen suppression. The cumulative incidence of biochemical failure and distant metastasis over time was computed, and competing risks hazard regression models were used to investigate the association betweenmore » potential predictors and these outcomes. The association of radiation dose with outcomes was the primary focus. Results: With a 65.2-month follow-up duration, the 5- and 10-year estimates of freedom from post-RT biochemical failure (PSA level >0.2 ng/mL and rising) was 63.5% and 49.8%, respectively, and the cumulative incidence of distant metastasis was 12.4% by 10 years. A Gleason score of ≥7, higher pre-RT PSA level, extraprostatic tumor extension, and seminal vesicle invasion were associated with worse biochemical failure and distant metastasis outcomes. A salvage radiation dose of ≥66.0 Gy was associated with a reduced cumulative incidence of biochemical failure, but not of distant metastasis. Conclusions: The use of salvage radiation doses of ≥66.0 Gy are supported by evidence presented in the present multicenter pooled analysis of individual patient data. The observational reporting method, limited sample size, few distant metastasis events, modest follow-up duration, and elective use of salvage therapy might have diminished the opportunity to identify an association between the radiation dose and this endpoint.« less

Generation of long-living entanglement between two distant three-level atoms in non-Markovian environments.

PubMed

Li, Chuang; Yang, Sen; Song, Jie; Xia, Yan; Ding, Weiqiang

2017-05-15

In this paper, a scheme for the generation of long-living entanglement between two distant Λ-type three-level atoms separately trapped in two dissipative cavities is proposed. In this scheme, two dissipative cavities are coupled to their own non-Markovian environments and two three-level atoms are driven by the classical fields. The entangled state between the two atoms is produced by performing Bell state measurement (BSM) on photons leaving the dissipative cavities. Using the time-dependent Schördinger equation, we obtain the analytical results for the evolution of the entanglement. It is revealed that, by manipulating the detunings of classical field, the long-living stationary entanglement between two atoms can be generated in the presence of dissipation.

Macro-level gender equality and alcohol consumption: a multi-level analysis across U.S. States.

PubMed

Roberts, Sarah C M

2012-07-01

Higher levels of women's alcohol consumption have long been attributed to increases in gender equality. However, only limited research examines the relationship between gender equality and alcohol consumption. This study examined associations between five measures of state-level gender equality and five alcohol consumption measures in the United States. Survey data regarding men's and women's alcohol consumption from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were linked to state-level indicators of gender equality. Gender equality indicators included state-level women's socioeconomic status, gender equality in socioeconomic status, reproductive rights, policies relating to violence against women, and women's political participation. Alcohol consumption measures included past 30-day drinker status, drinking frequency, binge drinking, volume, and risky drinking. Other than drinker status, consumption is measured for drinkers only. Multi-level linear and logistic regression models adjusted for individual demographics as well as state-level income inequality, median income, and % Evangelical Protestant/Mormon. All gender equality indicators were positively associated with both women's and men's drinker status in models adjusting only for individual-level covariates; associations were not significant in models adjusting for other state-level characteristics. All other associations between gender equality and alcohol consumption were either negative or non-significant for both women and men in models adjusting for other state-level factors. Findings do not support the hypothesis that higher levels of gender equality are associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption by women or by men. In fact, most significant findings suggest that higher levels of equality are associated with less alcohol consumption overall. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

How do probiotics and prebiotics function at distant sites?

PubMed

Reid, G; Abrahamsson, T; Bailey, M; Bindels, L B; Bubnov, R; Ganguli, K; Martoni, C; O'Neill, C; Savignac, H M; Stanton, C; Ship, N; Surette, M; Tuohy, K; van Hemert, S

2017-08-24

The realisation that microbes regarded as beneficial to the host can impart effects at sites distant from their habitat, has raised many possibilities for treatment of diseases. The objective of a workshop hosted in Turku, Finland, by the International Scientific Association for Probiotics and Prebiotics, was to assess the evidence for these effects and the extent to which early life microbiome programming influences how the gut microbiota communicates with distant sites. In addition, we examined how probiotics and prebiotics might affect the skin, airways, heart, brain and metabolism. The growing levels of scientific and clinical evidence showing how microbes influence the physiology of many body sites, leads us to call for more funding to advance a potentially exciting avenue for novel therapies for many chronic diseases.

Photoinduction of cyclosis-mediated interactions between distant chloroplasts.

PubMed

Bulychev, Alexander A; Komarova, Anna V

2015-01-01

Communications between chloroplasts and other organelles based on the exchange of metabolites, including redox active substances, are recognized as a part of intracellular regulation, chlororespiration, and defense against oxidative stress. Similar communications may operate between spatially distant chloroplasts in large cells where photosynthetic and respiratory activities are distributed unevenly under fluctuating patterned illumination. Microfluorometry of chlorophyll fluorescence in vivo in internodal cells of the alga Chara corallina revealed that a 30-s pulse of localized light induces a transient increase (~25%) in F' fluorescence of remote cell parts exposed to dim background light at a 1.5-mm distance on the downstream side from the illuminated spot in the plane of unilateral cytoplasmic streaming but has no effect on F' at equal distance on the upstream side. An abrupt arrest of cytoplasmic streaming for about 30s by triggering the action potential extended either the ascending or descending fronts of the F' fluorescence response, depending on the exact moment of streaming cessation. The response of F' fluorescence to localized illumination of a distant cell region was absent in dark-adapted internodes, when the localized light was applied within the first minute after switching on continuous background illumination of the whole cell, but it appeared in full after longer exposures to continuous background light. These results and the elimination of the F' response by methyl viologen known to redirect electron transport pathways beyond photosystem I indicate the importance of photosynthetic induction and the stromal redox state for long-distance communications of chloroplasts in vivo. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Starlight

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Robinson, Keith

These days the story of stellar evolution could almost read like a Hollywood epic - and why not?! It is a story that probably began back at the time of the Renaissance in Europe, when the stars were first suspected as being distant suns. Over the centuries the "script" has been written by countless astronomers, both amateur and professional, some well-known and many unsung heroes. It now stands as one of the greatest of all astronomical tales, equaled probably only by the story of the origin and evolution of the universe itself, and just like that great story, the story of the river of starlight still has a long way to go before we can write "the end."

The impact of finite-area inhomogeneities on resistive and Hall measurement

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Koon, Daniel

2013-03-01

I derive an iterative expression for the electric potential in an otherwise homogeneous thin specimen as the result of a finite-area inhomogeneity in either the direct conductance, the Hall conductance, or both. This expression extends to the finite-area regime the calculation of the effect of such inhomogeneities on the measurement error in the sheet resistance and Hall sheet resistance. I then test these results on the exactly-solvable case of a circular inhomogeneity equally distant from the four electrodes of either a square four-point-probe array on an infinitely large conducting specimen or a circular van der Pauw specimen with symmetrically-placed electrodes.

On the folding phenomenon of comet tail rays

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ershkovich, A. I.

1982-01-01

It is shown that the folding phenomenon of the comet tail rays is compatible with the Ferraro isorotation law if the comet tail magnetic field has no azimuthal component, that is, Bphi (the polar angle) equals zero. Considering electric drift due to convectional electric fields, a formula is obtained for the angular rate of a ray closure which reduces to that of Ness and Donn (1966) if the velocity profile across the tail is linear. The magnetic field B of approximately 20-40 gammas in the coma and less than about 10 gammas in the distant tail is estimated under typical solar wind conditions at 1 AU.

Apparatus Producing an Even Distribution of Strain into Carries

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hrabovský, Leopold

2017-10-01

In many high-rise residential buildings or multi-storey warehouses, machinery, so called lifts, is used for the vertical transportation of people or weights between two or more altitudinally distant places. Carriers used for lifts are steel ropes or sprocket chains, on which a cage or a counterbalance is hinged. Apparatus of all carriers, attached to the hinge of the cage or counterbalance, should be even. This can be made only by hammer hinge. Fixed or springe hinge cannot be a perfect equalizing apparatus. This article describes an apparatus, which allows an even distribution of the strain into lift carriers, which use springe hinge of carrier ropes.

Collisions between quasi-parallel shocks

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Cargill, Peter J.

1991-01-01

The collision between pairs of quasi-parallel shocks is examined using hybrid numerical simulations. In the interaction, the two shocks are transmitted through each other leaving behind a hot plasma with a population of particles with energies in excess of 40 E0, where E0 is the kinetic energy of particles in the shock frame prior to the collision. The energization is more efficient for quasi-parallel shocks than parallel shocks. Collisions between shocks of equal strengths are more efficient than those that are unequal. The results are of importance for phenomena during the impulsive phase of solar flares, in the distant solar wind and at planetary bow shocks.

Macro-level gender equality and alcohol consumption: A multi-level analysis across U.S. States

PubMed Central

Roberts, Sarah C.M.

2014-01-01

Higher levels of women’s alcohol consumption have long been attributed to increases in gender equality. However, only limited research examines the relationship between gender equality and alcohol consumption. This study examined associations between five measures of state-level gender equality and five alcohol consumption measures in the United States. Survey data regarding men’s and women’s alcohol consumption from the 2005 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were linked to state-level indicators of gender equality. Gender equality indicators included state-level women’s socioeconomic status, gender equality in socioeconomic status, reproductive rights, policies relating to violence against women, and women’s political participation. Alcohol consumption measures included past 30-day drinker status, drinking frequency, binge drinking, volume, and risky drinking. Other than drinker status, consumption is measured for drinkers only. Multi-level linear and logistic regression models adjusted for individual demographics as well as state-level income inequality, median income, and % Evangelical Protestant/Mormon. All gender equality indicators were positively associated with both women’s and men’s drinker status in models adjusting only for individual-level covariates; associations were not significant in models adjusting for other state-level characteristics. All other associations between gender equality and alcohol consumption were either negative or non-significant for both women and men in models adjusting for other state-level factors. Findings do not support the hypothesis that higher levels of gender equality are associated with higher levels of alcohol consumption by women or by men. In fact, most significant findings suggest that higher levels of equality are associated with less alcohol consumption overall. PMID:22521679

[Distant healing and diabetes mellitus. A pilot study].

PubMed

Ebneter, M; Binder, M; Kristof, O; Walach, H; Saller, R

2002-02-01

The Institut für Grenzgebiete der Psychologie und Psychohygiene, Freiburg (IGPP) in cooperation with the Abteilung Naturheilkunde, University Hospital, Zürich investigated whether Distant Healing has a beneficial effect on patients with diabetes mellitus regarding the state of the disease and quality of life. The goal of the pilot study was to observe the progression of the disease with various medical and psychological measures and to explore which of them might be sensitive for measuring possible treatment effects. 14 diabetic patients were observed for a period of 16 weeks. Within this time they underwent a treatment of 4 consecutive weeks (weeks 9-12) by 5 experienced and trustworthy healers each. Patients were informed about the duration of the treatment but not about the time point of its beginning. Patients and healers never met and there was no contact between researchers and patients during the study period. With regard to medical parameters, reduction in fructosamine level was observed during the healing period, increasing fructosamine level after the end of the healing period. Sensitivity, measured only at the beginning and at the end of the study period, decreased significantly. The other parameters showed some significant changes but there was no correlation to the Distant Healing intervention. Regarding the psychological data, only improvements were observed. The results indicate the possibility that a Distant Healing intervention could have certain effects on patients with diabetes mellitus. Copyright 2002 S. Karger GmbH, Freiburg

The distant type Ia supernova rate

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Pain, R.; Fabbro, S.; Sullivan, M.

2002-05-20

We present a measurement of the rate of distant Type Ia supernovae derived using 4 large subsets of data from the Supernova Cosmology Project. Within this fiducial sample,which surveyed about 12 square degrees, thirty-eight supernovae were detected at redshifts 0.25--0.85. In a spatially flat cosmological model consistent with the results obtained by the Supernova Cosmology Project, we derive a rest-frame Type Ia supernova rate at a mean red shift z {approx_equal} 0.55 of 1.53 {sub -0.25}{sub -0.31}{sup 0.28}{sup 0.32} x 10{sup -4} h{sup 3} Mpc{sup -3} yr{sup -1} or 0.58{sub -0.09}{sub -0.09}{sup +0.10}{sup +0.10} h{sup 2} SNu(1 SNu = 1more » supernova per century per 10{sup 10} L{sub B}sun), where the first uncertainty is statistical and the second includes systematic effects. The dependence of the rate on the assumed cosmological parameters is studied and the redshift dependence of the rate per unit comoving volume is contrasted with local estimates in the context of possible cosmic star formation histories and progenitor models.« less

Precision sizing of moving large particles using diffraction splitting of Doppler lines

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kononenko, Vadim L.

1999-02-01

It is shown, that the Doppler line from a single large particle moving with a constant velocity through a finite- width laser beam, undergoes a doublet-type splitting under specific observation conditions. A general requirement is that particle size 2a is not negligibly small, compared with beam diameter 2w$0. Three optical mechanisms of line splitting are considered. The first one is based on nonsymmetric diffraction of a bounded laser beam by a moving particle. The second arises from the transient geometry of diffraction. The third mechanism, of photometric nature, originates from specific time variation of total illuminance of moving particles when 2a>Lambda, the interference fringe spacing in the measuring volume. The diffraction splitting is observed when a detector is placed near one of diffraction minima corresponding to either of probing beams, and 2a equals (n0.5)Lambda for n equals 1,2. The photometric splitting is observed with an image-forming optics, when 2a equals n(Lambda) . That gives the possibility of distant particles sizing based on the Doppler line splitting phenomenon. A general theory of line splitting is developed, and used to explain the experimental observations quantitatively. The influence of the scattering angels and observation angle on the line splitting characteristics is studied analytically and numerically.

Abstract Mindsets Increase Believability of Spatially Distant Online Messages

PubMed Central

Sungur, Hande; Hartmann, Tilo; van Koningsbruggen, Guido M.

2016-01-01

Growing evidence from online credibility research reveals that online users rely on heuristic processes to evaluate the credibility of online information. The current paper, which is based on the construal level theory (CLT), proposes that congruency between the psychological distance of a stimulus and the way it is mentally construed can act as a heuristic for believability. According to CLT, psychologically close (e.g., spatially, temporally, socially) stimuli are represented concretely whereas psychologically distant stimuli are represented abstractly. The level of mental construals and the psychological distance of information have been shown to influence people’s truth judgments in offline contexts. This study tests whether congruency between the construal level of people’s mindsets (abstract vs. concrete) and the psychological distance implied in an online message (far vs. close) enhances message believability. By partially confirming CLT predictions, we found that believability of an online news item about a distant location increased when people maintained an abstract mindset rather than a concrete one. The effect of a concrete mindset on believability was not significant for the close psychological distance condition. Our findings provide initial evidence that congruency between the construal level of people’s mindsets and psychological distance cues in online messages can act as a heuristic for believability. We discuss the potential of applying the CLT framework to the growing literature on online cognitive heuristics in the area of online information credibility. PMID:27468272

Review of the leafhopper genus Penthimia Germar (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae) from the Indian subcontinent with description of seven new species.

PubMed

Shobharani, M; Viraktamath, C A; Webb, M D

2018-01-02

Species of the leafhopper genus Penthimia Germar known from the Indian subcontinent are reviewed based on the examination of type specimens. Seven new species of the genus, Penthimia curvata sp. nov. (Karnataka: Bandipur), P. meghalayensis sp. nov. (Meghalaya: Nangpoh), P. neoattenuata sp. nov. (India: Tamil Nadu), P. ribhoi sp. nov. (India: Meghalaya), P. sahyadrica sp. nov. (Karnataka: Dharmasthala, Agumbe; Kerala: Thekkady), P. spiculata sp. nov. (Karnataka: Nagarahole) and P. tumida sp. nov. (Tamil Nadu: Ootacamund; Kerala: Munnar) are described. The following nomenclatorial changes are proposed: Penthimia alba Zahniser, McKamey Dmitriev, 2012 (replacement name for P. thoracica Distant, 1918, nec Panzer, 1799), syn. nov. of P. quadrinotata Distant, 1918; Neodartus scutellatus Distant, 1908 syn. nov. of Penthimia ereba Distant 1908; P. nilgiriensis Distant, 1918 syn. nov. of P. montana Distant, 1918; P. scutellata (Distant) comb. nov. (from genus Neodartus); a lectotype is designated for P. maculosa Distant, stat. revived, thereby removing its synonymy with P. scapularis Distant. The following other lectotypes are designated: P. attenuata Distant, P. subniger Distant, P. scapularis Distant, P. distanti Baker, P. ereba Distant, N. scutellatus Distant, P. fraterna Distant, P. funebris Distant, P. juno Distant, P. maculosa Distant, P. montana Distant, P. noctua Distant, P. quadrinotata Distant, P. alba Zahniser, McKamey Dmitriev. Examination of types of Penthimia rufopunctata Motschulsky revealed that it belongs to Penthimia and hence it is transferred back to that genus from Neodartus, revised placement. The following species previously included in the genus Penthimia are transferred to the genera Tambila Distant and Vulturnus Kirkaldy: Tambila badia (Distant) comb. nov., T. majuscula (Distant) comb. nov., T. vittatifrons (Distant) comb. nov., T. variabilis (Distant) comb. nov. and Vulturnus flavocapitata (Distant) comb. nov. Three species are treated in a new Penthimia compacta Walker complex, i.e., Penthimia compacta Walker 1851, Penthimia subniger Distant 1908 and Penthimia scapularis Distant 1908. All taxa are described and a key to Penthimiini genera found in the subcontinent and also a key to species of Penthimia are included.

Do Global Cities Enable Global Views? Using Twitter to Quantify the Level of Geographical Awareness of U.S. Cities

PubMed Central

Han, Su Yeon; Tsou, Ming-Hsiang; Clarke, Keith C.

2015-01-01

Dynamic social media content, such as Twitter messages, can be used to examine individuals’ beliefs and perceptions. By analyzing Twitter messages, this study examines how Twitter users exchanged and recognized toponyms (city names) for different cities in the United States. The frequency and variety of city names found in their online conversations were used to identify the unique spatiotemporal patterns of “geographical awareness” for Twitter users. A new analytic method, Knowledge Discovery in Cyberspace for Geographical Awareness (KDCGA), is introduced to help identify the dynamic spatiotemporal patterns of geographic awareness among social media conversations. Twitter data were collected across 50 U.S. cities. Thousands of city names around the world were extracted from a large volume of Twitter messages (over 5 million tweets) by using the Twitter Application Programming Interface (APIs) and Python language computer programs. The percentages of distant city names (cities located in distant states or other countries far away from the locations of Twitter users) were used to estimate the level of global geographical awareness for Twitter users in each U.S. city. A Global awareness index (GAI) was developed to quantify the level of geographical awareness of Twitter users from within the same city. Our findings are that: (1) the level of geographical awareness varies depending on when and where Twitter messages are posted, yet Twitter users from big cities are more aware of the names of international cities or distant US cities than users from mid-size cities; (2) Twitter users have an increased awareness of other city names far away from their home city during holiday seasons; and (3) Twitter users are more aware of nearby city names than distant city names, and more aware of big city names rather than small city names. PMID:26167942

A mechanism for sustained groundwater pressure changes induced by distant earthquakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Brodsky, E.E.; Roeloffs, E.; Woodcock, D.; Gall, I.; Manga, M.

2003-01-01

Large sustained well water level changes (>10 cm) in response to distant (more than hundreds of kilometers) earthquakes have proven enigmatic for over 30 years. Here we use high sampling rates at a well near Grants Pass, Oregon, to perform the first simultaneous analysis of both the dynamic response of water level and sustained changes, or steps. We observe a factor of 40 increase in the ratio of water level amplitude to seismic wave ground velocity during a sudden coseismic step. On the basis of this observation we propose a new model for coseismic pore pressure steps in which a temporary barrier deposited by groundwater flow is entrained and removed by the more rapid flow induced by the seismic waves. In hydrothermal areas, this mechanism could lead to 4 ?? 10-2 MPa pressure changes and triggered seismicity.

The impact of geographic unit of analysis on socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival and distant summary stage - a population-based study.

PubMed

Tervonen, Hanna E; Morrell, Stephen; Aranda, Sanchia; Roder, David; You, Hui; Niyonsenga, Theo; Walton, Richard; Baker, Deborah; Currow, David

2016-12-13

When using area-level disadvantage measures, size of geographic unit can have major effects on recorded socioeconomic cancer disparities. This study examined the extent of changes in recorded socioeconomic inequalities in cancer survival and distant stage when the measure of socioeconomic disadvantage was based on smaller Census Collection Districts (CDs) instead of Statistical Local Areas (SLAs). Population-based New South Wales Cancer Registry data were used to identify cases diagnosed with primary invasive cancer in 2000-2008 (n=264,236). Logistic regression and competing risk regression modelling were performed to examine socioeconomic differences in odds of distant stage and hazard of cancer death for all sites combined and separately for breast, prostate, colorectal and lung cancers. For all sites collectively, associations between socioeconomic disadvantage and cancer survival and distant stage were stronger when the CD-based socioeconomic disadvantage measure was used compared with the SLA-based measure. The CD-based measure showed a more consistent socioeconomic gradient with a linear upward trend of risk of cancer death/distant stage with increasing socioeconomic disadvantage. Site-specific analyses provided similar findings for the risk of death but less consistent results for the likelihood of distant stage. The use of socioeconomic disadvantage measure based on the smallest available spatial unit should be encouraged in the future. Implications for Public Health: Disadvantage measures based on small spatial units can more accurately identify socioeconomic cancer disparities to inform priority settings in service planning. © 2016 Public Health Association of Australia.

A Hard X-ray View on Two Distant VHE Blazars: 1ES 1101-232 and 1ES 1553+113

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Reimer, A.; Costamente, L.; /Stanford U., HEPL /KIPAC, Menlo Park

2008-05-02

TeV-blazars are known as prominent non-thermal emitters across the entire electromagnetic spectrum with their photon power peaking in the X-ray and TeV-band. If distant, absorption of -ray photons by the extragalactic background light (EBL) alters the intrinsic TeV spectral shape, thereby affecting the overall interpretation. Suzaku observations for two of the more distant TeV-blazars known to date, 1ES 1101-232 and 1ES 1553+113, were carried out in May and July 2006, respectively, including a quasi-simultaneous coverage with the state of the art Cherenkov telescope facilities. We report on the resulting data sets with emphasis on the X-ray band, and set intomore » context to their historical behavior. During our campaign, we did not detect any significant X-ray or {gamma}-ray variability. 1ES 1101-232 was found in a quiescent state with the lowest X-ray flux ever measured. The combined XIS and HXD PIN data for 1ES 1101-232 and 1ES 1553+113 clearly indicate spectral curvature up to the highest hard X-ray data point ({approx} 30 keV), manifesting as softening with increasing energy. We describe this spectral shape by either a broken power law or a log-parabolic fit with equal statistical goodness of fits. The combined 1ES 1553+113 very high energy spectrum (90-500 GeV) did not show any significant changes with respect to earlier observations. The resulting contemporaneous broadband spectral energy distributions of both TeV-blazars are discussed in view of implications for intrinsic blazar parameter values, taking into account the {gamma}-ray absorption in the EBL.« less

Clear cell hidradenocarcinoma of the breast: a very rare breast skin tumor.

PubMed

Mezzabotta, Maurizio; Declich, Paolo; Cardarelli, Mery; Bellone, Stefano; Pacilli, Paolo; Riggio, Eliana; Pallino, Antonio

2012-01-01

Hidradenocarcinoma is an uncommon malignant intradermal tumor of sweat gland origin with a predilection for the face and extremities. It is encountered equally in males and females, usually in the second half of life. These tumors tend to be locally aggressive. In our case, the tumor was located relatively superficially but without any apparent connection to the overlying skin. The typical disease course includes local and sometimes multiple recurrences, and some patients develop regional lymph node and distant metastases. These type of tumors in the parenchyma of the breast are extremely rare. We report a case of hidradenocarcinoma in a 77-year-old woman who presented with a palpable inflammatory nodule in the right breast.

Equality as a central concept of nursing ethics: a systematic literature review.

PubMed

Kangasniemi, Mari

2010-12-01

Equality is a central concept in the Western way of thinking and in health care. In ethics research within nursing science, equality is a key concept but the meaning of its contents is more or less presumptive. The purpose of this study was to define the concept of equality as a value of nursing ethics research. Data were collected through systematic literature review and analysed using deductive and inductive content analysis. Equality has been studied as a concept and in relation to ethical theories. In nursing ethics, research on equality on theoretical and functional level is presented. These levels consist of dimensions, i.e. themes, that equality is related to. The dimensions of the theoretical level are the equality of being, i.e. universal human value, and distributive equality, i.e. equal opportunities, circumstances and results. The dimensions of functional equality included themes such as critique of distributive equality, context, difference, power and care. Critique is aimed at incompatibility of theoretical level with practice. Context raises questions of each nursing situation in relation to equality. Variation within context is closely related to differences involving parties to nursing, and it is a starting point to questions of equality. Power is understood as comprising knowledge, skills and authority that create differences and questions of equality between nurses and patients and nurses and other professionals or students. Nursing as care always includes relationship between two or more persons and needs to be inspected from the point of view of equality. The concept of equality has been complex to achieve in practice. The dimensions of the levels of equality defined in this study provide an opportunity to reach a better understanding of equality in nursing ethics. There is still a great demand for more research on the concept of equality. © 2010 The Author. Scandinavian Journal of Caring Sciences © 2010 Nordic College of Caring Science.

A 27-month periodicity in the low latitude geomagnetic field and its connection to the stratospheric QBO

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Olsen, N.

1994-06-01

Geomagnetic daily variations are produced at a height of about 100 to 130 km due to dynamo action of thermospheric winds in combination with the ionospheric conductivity. They are influenced by longterm variability of thermospheric dynamics and are used as tool for investigating a QBO (Quasi-Biennial-Oscillation) in thermospheric winds. Power spectrum analysis has been applied to monthly means of the daily range of the geomagnetic field. In addition to an annual modulation (and subharmonics) there is clear evidence for a sharp peak at about 27 months in the H-component at low-latitude observatories (delta H approximately equal to 0.5 nT). Atmore » single observatories, statistical significance is at the 99% confidence level, squared coherency between distant observatories is highly significant, too. However, there is no global modulation of the S(sub q) current system because: (1) the D-component contain no 27-month periodicity; and (2) the oscillation is not present at mid-latitude observatories. In order to explain the observations, a 27-month oscillation in the low-latitude prevailing zonal winds with an amplitude of few m/s at a height of about 100-130 km is postulated. Squared Coherency between geomagnetic variations and prevailing winds in the equatorial stratosphere is significant at the 95%-level.« less

SLP-2 overexpression is associated with tumour distant metastasis and poor prognosis in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Chang, Dong; Ma, Kai; Gong, Min; Cui, Yong; Liu, Zhi-hua; Zhou, Xiao-ge; Zhou, Chuan-nong; Wang, Tian-you

2010-03-01

To investigate the role of stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2), a novel cancer-related gene, in pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (PSCC) and its implications. Immunohistochemical detection of SLP-2 was performed on 96 cases of PSCC with a tissue microarray. SLP-2 was overexpressed in lung cancer compared with normal lung tissue (p <0.001). High-level SLP-2 expression was significantly correlated with distant metastasis (p = 0.025), decreased overall survival (p = 0.018) and disease-free survival (p = 0.017). SLP-2 overexpression was an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis using the Cox regression model (p <0.05). SLP-2 overexpression is associated with tumour distant metastasis and poor prognosis in PSCC. SLP-2 could be regarded as a new significant prognostic biomarker for patients with PSCC.

Random mating and reproductive compatibility among Argentinean and southern Brazilian populations of Anastrepha fraterculus (Diptera: Tephritidae).

PubMed

Rull, J; Abraham, S; Kovaleski, A; Segura, D F; Islam, A; Wornoayporn, V; Dammalage, T; Tomas, U Santo; Vera, M T

2012-08-01

As a prerequisite for area-wide application of the sterile insect technique in an area encompassing northern Argentina and southern Brazil, prezygotic and postzygotic reproductive compatibility among three geographically distant populations in the area was tested. In field cages, sexually mature adults of each population were found to be sexually compatible, mating duration was not affected by fly origin and there was no clear evidence of spatial partition of mating location. In the laboratory, homotypic and heterotypic crosses for all possible combinations displayed similar levels of fertility and yielded F1 adults without distortion of the sex ratio. Finally, F1 hybrid and parental adults produced equally viable F2 eggs. Put together, our results and those from earlier studies suggest that a large area, ranging from Buenos Aires to the surroundings of São Paulo, could be managed using a single A. fraterculus mass-reared strain. At the northern margin of this area, two A. fraterculus morphotypes appear to coexist in sympatry. We delineate future research to further delimit the distribution of the aff1 morphotype (Argentina-southern Brazil) and to gain insight into evolutionary patterns producing divergence and radiation of tropical fruit fly species.

Polymethylmethacrylate dermal fillers: evaluation of the systemic toxicity in rats.

PubMed

Medeiros, C C G; Borghetti, R L; Nicoletti, N; da Silva, V D; Cherubini, K; Salum, F G; de Figueiredo, M A Z

2014-01-01

This study evaluated local and systemic reactions after an intravascular injection of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) at two concentrations in a murine model. Thirty rats were divided equally into three groups: 2% PMMA, 30% PMMA, and a control group (normal saline only injection). The filler was injected into the ranine vein. The rats were sedated at 7 and 90 days and a clinical evaluation performed. After euthanasia, the right lung, liver, and right kidney were removed, weighed, and microscopically analyzed. The submandibular lymph nodes and tongue were removed and examined microscopically. Serum was subjected to liver and kidney function tests. No groups showed clinical alterations. Microspheres were not observed at any distant organ. Two samples from the 2% PMMA group showed a local inflammatory response at day 7 and another two samples from the 30% PMMA group at day 90. The group injected with 30% PMMA presented higher levels of alanine aminotransferase (P = 0.047) after 90 days when compared with the other groups. The data obtained in this study demonstrate that intravascular injections of PMMA fillers show potential health risks such as chronic inflammation at the implantation site. Copyright © 2013 International Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Ultrastable optical frequency dissemination on a multi-access fibre network

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bercy, Anthony; Lopez, Olivier; Pottie, Paul-Eric; Amy-Klein, Anne

2016-07-01

We report a laboratory demonstration of the dissemination of an ultrastable optical frequency signal to two distant users simultaneously using a branching network. The ultrastable signal is extracted along a main fibre link; it is optically tracked by a narrow linewidth laser diode, which light is injected in a secondary link. The propagation noise of both links is actively compensated. We implement this scheme with two links of 50-km fibre spools, the extraction being set up at the mid-point of the main link. We show that the extracted signal at the end of the secondary link exhibits a fractional frequency instability of 1.4 × 10-15 at 1-s measurement time, almost equal to the 1.3 × 10-15 instability of the main link output end. The long-term instabilities are also very similar, at a level of 3-5 × 10-20 at 3 × 104-s integration time. We also show that the setting up of this extraction device, or of a simpler one, at the main link input, can test the proper functioning of the noise rejection on this main link. This work is a significant step towards a robust and flexible ultrastable network for multi-users dissemination.

Area beam equalization: optimization and performance of an automated prototype system for chest radiography.

PubMed

Xu, Tong; Shikhaliev, Polad M; Berenji, Gholam R; Tehranzadeh, Jamshid; Saremi, Farhood; Molloi, Sabee

2004-04-01

To evaluate the feasibility and performance of an x-ray beam equalization system for chest radiography using anthropomorphic phantoms. Area beam equalization involves the process of the initial unequalized image acquisition, attenuator thickness calculation, mask generation using a 16 x 16 piston array, and final equalized image acquisition. Chest radiographs of three different anthropomorphic phantoms were acquired with no beam equalization and equalization levels of 4.8, 11.3, and 21. Six radiologists evaluated the images by scoring them from 1-5 using 13 different criteria. The dose was calculated using the known attenuator material thickness and the mAs of the x-ray tube. The visibility of anatomic structures in the under-penetrated regions of the chest radiographs was shown to be significantly (P < .01) improved after beam equalization. An equalization level of 4.8 provided most of the improvements with moderate increases in patient dose and tube loading. Higher levels of beam equalization did not show much improvement in the visibility of anatomic structures in the under-penetrated regions. A moderate level of x-ray beam equalization in chest radiography is superior to both conventional radiographs and radiographs with high levels of beam equalization. X-ray beam equalization can significantly improve the visibility of anatomic structures in the under-penetrated regions while maintaining good image quality in the lung region.

Twin peak high-frequency quasi-periodic oscillations as a spectral imprint of dual oscillation modes of accretion tori

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bakala, P.; Goluchová, K.; Török, G.; Šrámková, E.; Abramowicz, M. A.; Vincent, F. H.; Mazur, G. P.

2015-09-01

Context. High-frequency (millisecond) quasi-periodic oscillations (HF QPOs) are observed in the X-ray power-density spectra of several microquasars and low-mass X-ray binaries. Two distinct QPO peaks, so-called twin peak QPOs, are often detected simultaneously exhibiting their frequency ratio close or equal to 3:2. A widely discussed class of proposed QPOs models is based on oscillations of accretion toroidal structures orbiting in the close vicinity of black holes or neutron stars. Aims: Following the analytic theory and previous studies of observable spectral signatures, we aim to model the twin peak QPOs as a spectral imprint of specific dual oscillation regime defined by a combination of the lowest radial and vertical oscillation mode of slender tori. We consider the model of an optically thick slender accretion torus with constant specific angular momentum. We examined power spectra and fluorescent Kα iron line profiles for two different simulation setups with the mode frequency relations corresponding to the epicyclic resonance HF QPOs model and modified relativistic precession QPOs model. Methods: We used relativistic ray-tracing implemented in the parallel simulation code LSDplus. In the background of the Kerr spacetime geometry, we analyzed the influence of the distant observer inclination and the spin of the central compact object. Relativistic optical projection of the oscillating slender torus is illustrated by images in false colours related to the frequency shift. Results: We show that performed simulations yield power spectra with the pair of dominant peaks that correspond to the frequencies of radial and vertical oscillation modes and with the peak frequency ratio equal to the proper value 3:2 on a wide range of inclinations and spin values. We also discuss exceptional cases of a very low and very high inclination, as well as unstable high spin relativistic precession-like configurations that predict a constant frequency ratio equal to 1:2. We demonstrate a significant dependency of broadened Kα iron line profiles on the inclination of the distant observer. Conclusions: This study presents a further step towards the proper model of oscillating accretion tori producing HF QPOs. More realistic future simulations should be based on incorporating the resonant coupling of oscillation modes, the influence of torus opacity, and the pressure effects on the mode frequencies and the torus shape.

Emission-line galaxies in the third list of the Case Low-Dispersion Northern Sky Survey

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weistrop, Donna; Downes, Ronald A.

1991-01-01

Observations of 47 galaxies in the third Case list are reported. Thirty-five of the galaxies in the sample were selected for the presence of emission lines on the objective prism plates. At the higher spectral dispersion of the data, significant line emission was found in 46 of the 47 galaxies. Twenty-six galaxies are found to be undergoing significant bursts of star formation. Ten additional galaxies may be starburst galaxies with low-excitation spectra. Two galaxies are probably type Seyfert 2. The most distant object, CG 200, at a redshift of 0.144, has a strong broad H-alpha emission line, and is probably a Seyfert 1. Seventeen of the galaxies have been detected by IRAS. Eight of the IRAS galaxies have H-II-region-type spectra and eight have low-ionization starburst spectra. The galaxies represent a mixture of types, ranging from intrinsically faint dwarf galaxies with Mb equalling -16 mag, to powerful galaxies with MB equalling -23 mag. Galaxies CG 234 and CG 235 are interacting, as are galaxies CG 269 and CG 270.

Gender differences in public and private drinking contexts: a multi-level GENACIS analysis.

PubMed

Bond, Jason C; Roberts, Sarah C M; Greenfield, Thomas K; Korcha, Rachael; Ye, Yu; Nayak, Madhabika B

2010-05-01

This multi-national study hypothesized that higher levels of country-level gender equality would predict smaller differences in the frequency of women's compared to men's drinking in public (like bars and restaurants) settings and possibly private (home or party) settings. GENACIS project survey data with drinking contexts included 22 countries in Europe (8); the Americas (7); Asia (3); Australasia (2), and Africa (2), analyzed using hierarchical linear models (individuals nested within country). Age, gender and marital status were individual predictors; country-level gender equality as well as equality in economic participation, education, and political participation, and reproductive autonomy and context of violence against women measures were country-level variables. In separate models, more reproductive autonomy, economic participation, and educational attainment and less violence against women predicted smaller differences in drinking in public settings. Once controlling for country-level economic status, only equality in economic participation predicted the size of the gender difference. Most country-level variables did not explain the gender difference in frequency of drinking in private settings. Where gender equality predicted this difference, the direction of the findings was opposite from the direction in public settings, with more equality predicting a larger gender difference, although this relationship was no longer significant after controlling for country-level economic status. Findings suggest that country-level gender equality may influence gender differences in drinking. However, the effects of gender equality on drinking may depend on the specific alcohol measure, in this case drinking context, as well as on the aspect of gender equality considered. Similar studies that use only global measures of gender equality may miss key relationships. We consider potential implications for alcohol related consequences, policy and public health.

T-category remains an important prognostic factor for oropharyngeal carcinoma in the era of human papillomavirus.

PubMed

Mackenzie, P; Pryor, D; Burmeister, E; Foote, M; Panizza, B; Burmeister, B; Porceddu, S

2014-10-01

To determine prognostic factors for locoregional relapse (LRR), distant relapse and all-cause death in a contemporary cohort of locoregionally advanced oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) treated with definitive chemoradiotherapy or radiotherapy alone. OSCC patients treated with definitive radiotherapy between 2005 and 2010 were identified from a prospective head and neck database. Patient age, gender, smoking history, human papillomavirus (HPV) status, T- and N-category, lowest involved nodal level and gross tumour volume of the primary (GTV-p) and nodal (GTV-n) disease were analysed in relation to LRR, distant relapse and death by way of univariate and multivariate analysis. In total, 130 patients were identified, 88 HPV positive, with a median follow-up of 42 months. On multivariate analysis HPV status was a significant predictor of LRR (hazard ratio 0.15; 95% confidence interval 0.05-0.51) and death (hazard ratio 0.29; 95% confidence interval 0.14-0.59) but not distant relapse (hazard ratio 0.53, 95% confidence interval 0.22-1.27). Increasing T-category was associated with a higher risk of LRR (hazard ratio 1.80 for T3/4 versus T1/2; 95% confidence interval 1.08-2.99), death (hazard ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.06-1.77) and distant relapse (hazard ratio 1.35; 95% confidence interval 1.00-1.83). Increasing GTV-p was associated with increased risk of distant relapse and death. N3 disease and low neck nodes were significant for LRR, distant relapse and death on univariate analysis only. Tumour HPV status was the strongest predictor of LRR and death. T-category is more predictive of distant relapse and may provide additional prognostic value for LRR and death when accounting for HPV status. Copyright © 2014 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Water-level changes induced by local and distant earthquakes at Long Valley caldera, California

USGS Publications Warehouse

Roeloffs, Evelyn A.; Sneed, Michelle; Galloway, Devin L.; Sorey, Michael L.; Farrar, Christopher D.; Howle, James F.; Hughes, J.

2003-01-01

Distant as well as local earthquakes have induced groundwater-level changes persisting for days to weeks at Long Valley caldera, California. Four wells open to formations as deep as 300 m have responded to 16 earthquakes, and responses to two earthquakes in the 3-km-deep Long Valley Exploratory Well (LVEW) show that these changes are not limited to weathered or unconsolidated near-surface rocks. All five wells exhibit water-level variations in response to earth tides, indicating they can be used as low-resolution strainmeters. Earthquakes induce gradual water-level changes that increase in amplitude for as long as 30 days, then return more slowly to pre-earthquake levels. The gradual water-level changes are always drops at wells LKT, LVEW, and CH-10B, and always rises at well CW-3. At a dilatometer just outside the caldera, earthquake-induced strain responses consist of either a step followed by a contractional strain-rate increase, or a transient contractional signal that reaches a maximum in about seven days and then returns toward the pre-earthquake value. The sizes of the gradual water-level changes generally increase with earthquake magnitude and decrease with hypocentral distance. Local earthquakes in Long Valley produce coseismic water-level steps; otherwise the responses to local earthquakes and distant earthquakes are indistinguishable. In particular, water-level and strain changes in Long Valley following the 1992 M7.3 Landers earthquake, 450 km distant, closely resemble those initiated by a M4.9 local earthquake on November 22, 1997, during a seismic swarm with features indicative of fluid involvement. At the LKT well, many of the response time histories are identical for 20 days after each earthquake, and can be matched by a theoretical solution giving the pore pressure as a function of time due to diffusion of a nearby, instantaneous, pressure drop. Such pressure drops could be produced by accelerated inflation of the resurgent dome by amounts too small to be detected by the two-color electronic distance-measuring network. Opening-mode displacement in the south moat, inferred to have followed a M4.9 earthquake on November 22, 1997, could also create extensional strain on the dome and lead to water-level changes similar to those following dome inflation. Contractional strain that could account for earthquake-induced water-level rises at the CW-3 well is inconsistent with geodetic observations. We instead attribute these water-level rises to diffusion of elevated fluid pressure localized in the south moat thermal aquifer. For hydraulic diffusivities appropriate to the upper few hundred meters at Long Valley, an influx of material at temperatures of 300°C can thermally generate pressure of 6 m of water or more, an order of magnitude larger than needed to account for the CW-3 water-level rises. If magma or hot aqueous fluid rises to within 1 km of the surface in the eastern part of the south moat, then hydraulic diffusivities are high enough to allow fluid pressure to propagate to CW-3 on the time scale observed. The data indicate that seismic waves from large distant earthquakes can stimulate upward movement of fluid in the hydrothermal system at Long Valley.

A gender more vulnerable.

PubMed

Basu, A M

1991-12-01

The greater risks of death faced by females in India are discussed in terms of the differences between the norther and southern regions of India, culture compounding inequality, and intervention strategies. When the assumption of a sex ratio of equality of 950/1000 is make, every region in the north is below (ranging from 874-913), and every region in the south above (ranging from 960-1040). The same north/south division remains for the male probability of dying by age 5 as a proportion of female probability (rural) in 1981. 2 explanations are given for female's greater survival changes in the south. 1) Marriage and kinship systems are different. Girls in the north typically marry earlier; many times marriage is to a stranger in a distant area so that family contact is reduced. The consequence is a reduction in female autonomy and status in both her father's and her husband's home. 2) Economic roles are different. Research has revealed that male/female survival equality occurs in states with high female labor force participation rates. At the micro level, working women's children tend to have more equal death rates. Physical devaluation is not only evidenced in death and survival, but also in the disparity in schooling. The states with the greatest gender differentials in mortality also have the greatest differences in literacy. This has been interpreted as household resources are disproportionately invested in males. Cultural inhibitions about the physical freedoms of girls also are involuntary reasons for the sex differential. The example is given of the apprehension generated for a male doctor's examination of a girl, a coeducational school environment, or a school located a distance from the home. There is the tradition of female seclusion and inhibition. In combination with the dependence on sons to limit the choices open to women, and to limit the growth and development, the product is inequality. Amniocentesis has lead to the increase in numbers of sex determination and abortion clinics. There is evidence that aborted fetuses are primarily female. Without change in these practices, there will not be a reversal in the sex ratio. Interventions suggested include increasing the number of facilities for the equal development of girls and women. There must be increases in female medical staff, more girl's schools in villages, and more nutrition programs for girls, Women's economic independence must be enhanced.

A Distant, X-Ray Luminous Cluster of Galaxies at Redshift 0.83

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Donahue, Megan

1999-01-01

We have observed the most distant (= 0.829) cluster of galaxies in the Einstein Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey (EMSS), with the ASCA and ROSAT satellites. We find an X-ray temperature of 12.3(sup 3.1, sub 2.2) keV for this cluster, and the ROSAT map reveals significant substructure. The high temperature of MS1054-0321 is consistent with both its approximate velocity dispersion, based on the redshifts of 12 cluster members we have obtained at the Keck and the Canada-France-Hawaii telescopes, and with its weak lensing signature. The X-ray temperature of this cluster implies a virial mass approximately 7.4 x 10(exp 14) /h solar mass, if the mean matter density in the universe equals the critical value (OMEGA(sub 0) = 1), or larger if OMEGA(sub 0) < 1. Finding such a hot, massive cluster in the EMSS is extremely improbable if clusters grew from Gaussian perturbations in an OMEGA(sub 0) = 1 universe. Combining the assumptions that OMEGA(sub 0) = 1 and that the initial perturbations were Gaussian with the observed X-ray temperature function at low redshift, we show that this probability of this cluster occurring in the volume sampled by the EMSS is less than a few times 10(exp -5). Nor is MS1054-0321 the only hot cluster at high redshift; the only two other z > 0.5 EMSS clusters already observed with ASCA also have temperatures exceeding 8 keV. Assuming again that the initial perturbations were Gaussian and OMEGA(sub 0) = 1, we find that each one is improbable at the < 10(exp -2) level. These observations, along with the fact that these luminosities and temperatures of the high-z clusters all agree with the low-z L(sub x) - T(sub x) relation, argue strongly that OMEGA(sub 0) < 1. Otherwise, the initial perturbations must be non-Gaussian, if these clusters' temperatures do indeed reflect their gravitational potentials.

Perceptual distance and the moon illusion.

PubMed

Kaufman, Lloyd; Vassiliades, Vassias; Noble, Richard; Alexander, Robert; Kaufman, James; Edlund, Stefan

2007-01-01

The elevated moon usually appears smaller than the horizon moon of equal angular size. This is the moon illusion. Distance cues may enable the perceptual system to place the horizon moon at an effectively greater distance than the elevated moon, thus making it appear as larger. This explanation is related to the size-distance invariance hypothesis. However, the larger horizon moon is usually judged as closer than the smaller zenith moon. A bias to expect an apparently large object to be closer than a smaller object may account for this conflict. We designed experiments to determine if unbiased sensitivity to illusory differences in the size and distance of the moon (as measured by d') is consistent with SDIH. A moon above a 'terrain' was compared in both distance and size to an infinitely distant moon in empty space (the reduction moon). At a short distance the terrain moon was adjudged as both closer and smaller than the reduction moon. But these differences could not be detected at somewhat greater distances. At still greater distances the terrain moon was perceived as both more distant and larger than the reduction moon. The distances at which these transitions occurred were essentially the same for both distance and size discrimination tasks, thus supporting SDIH.

Auditory and behavioral responses of bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) and a beluga whale (Delphinapterus leucas) to impulsive sounds resembling distant signatures of underwater explosions.

PubMed

Finneran, J J; Schlundt, C E; Carder, D A; Clark, J A; Young, J A; Gaspin, J B; Ridgway, S H

2000-07-01

A behavioral response paradigm was used to measure masked underwater hearing thresholds in two bottlenose dolphins and one beluga whale before and after exposure to impulsive underwater sounds with waveforms resembling distant signatures of underwater explosions. An array of piezoelectric transducers was used to generate impulsive sounds with waveforms approximating those predicted from 5 or 500 kg HBX-1 charges at ranges from 1.5 to 55.6 km. At the conclusion of the study, no temporary shifts in masked-hearing thresholds (MTTSs), defined as a 6-dB or larger increase in threshold over pre-exposure levels, had been observed at the highest impulse level generated (500 kg at 1.7 km, peak pressure 70 kPa); however, disruptions of the animals' trained behaviors began to occur at exposures corresponding to 5 kg at 9.3 km and 5 kg at 1.5 km for the dolphins and 500 kg at 1.9 km for the beluga whale. These data are the first direct information regarding the effects of distant underwater explosion signatures on the hearing abilities of odontocetes.

CO detections and IRAS observations of bright radio spiral galaxies at cz equal or less than 9000 kilometers per second

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Sanders, D. B.; Mirabel, I. F.

1985-01-01

CO emission has been detected from 20 of 21 bright radio spirals with strong extended nuclear sources, including the most distant (NGC 7674) and the most luminous (IC 4553 = Arp 220, NGC 6240) galaxies yet detected in CO. All of these galaxies are rich in molecular gas, with M total(H2) = 3 x 10 to the 8th - 2 x 10 to the 10th solar masses. IRAS observations show that they have a strong far-infrared (FIR) excess, with L(FIR)/L(B) approximately equal to 1-35 and L(FIR) (40-400 microns) approximately equal to 10 to the 10th - 10 to the 12th L solar masses. The primary luminosity source for these radio cores appears to be star formation in molecular clouds. A strong correlation is found between the FIR and extended 21 cm continuum flux, implying that the fraction of massive stars formed is independent of the star formation rate. The ratio L(FIR)/M(H2) provides a measure of the current rate of star formation, which is found to be a factor 3-20 larger in these galaxies than for the ensemble of molecular clouds in the Milky Way. At these rates their molecular gas will be depleted in about 10 to the 8th yr.

The antecedents and consequences of a beyond-choice view of decision situations: A construal level theory perspective.

PubMed

Halamish, Vered; Borovoi, Leah; Liberman, Nira

2017-02-01

Evaluating alternatives and comparing them to each other are integral to decision-making. In addition, however, decision makers may adopt a view that goes beyond choice and make inferences about the entire set of alternatives, about the dimensions that are relevant in similar decisions, and about the range of values on a specific dimension. We examined some antecedents and consequences of adopting a beyond-choice view of decision situations. Based on Construal Level Theory we suggest that a beyond-choice view entails high (vs. low) level of construal of the decision situation and hence is more likely to occur for decisions that are more psychologically distant. We further suggest that a consequence of a beyond-choice view might be a later difficulty to remember which attribute belongs to which alternative. To examine these predictions we conducted an experiment in which participants evaluated decision scenarios that were described as being relevant for the distant (vs. the near) future. One day later they answered a decision-related source recognition test in which they were asked to remember which attribute belongs to which alternative. As predicted, people had more source-memory errors in the distant than in the near future condition. These results suggest that a beyond-choice view of decision situations is an important consequence of psychological distance (vs. proximity). Copyright © 2016 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Audiovisual Delay as a Novel Cue to Visual Distance.

PubMed

Jaekl, Philip; Seidlitz, Jakob; Harris, Laurence R; Tadin, Duje

2015-01-01

For audiovisual sensory events, sound arrives with a delay relative to light that increases with event distance. It is unknown, however, whether humans can use these ubiquitous sound delays as an information source for distance computation. Here, we tested the hypothesis that audiovisual delays can both bias and improve human perceptual distance discrimination, such that visual stimuli paired with auditory delays are perceived as more distant and are thereby an ordinal distance cue. In two experiments, participants judged the relative distance of two repetitively displayed three-dimensional dot clusters, both presented with sounds of varying delays. In the first experiment, dot clusters presented with a sound delay were judged to be more distant than dot clusters paired with equivalent sound leads. In the second experiment, we confirmed that the presence of a sound delay was sufficient to cause stimuli to appear as more distant. Additionally, we found that ecologically congruent pairing of more distant events with a sound delay resulted in an increase in the precision of distance judgments. A control experiment determined that the sound delay duration influencing these distance judgments was not detectable, thereby eliminating decision-level influence. In sum, we present evidence that audiovisual delays can be an ordinal cue to visual distance.

Shell feature: a new radiomics descriptor for predicting distant failure after radiotherapy in non-small cell lung cancer and cervix cancer

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Hao, Hongxia; Zhou, Zhiguo; Li, Shulong; Maquilan, Genevieve; Folkert, Michael R.; Iyengar, Puneeth; Westover, Kenneth D.; Albuquerque, Kevin; Liu, Fang; Choy, Hak; Timmerman, Robert; Yang, Lin; Wang, Jing

2018-05-01

Distant failure is the main cause of human cancer-related mortalities. To develop a model for predicting distant failure in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and cervix cancer (CC) patients, a shell feature, consisting of outer voxels around the tumor boundary, was constructed using pre-treatment positron emission tomography (PET) images from 48 NSCLC patients received stereotactic body radiation therapy and 52 CC patients underwent external beam radiation therapy and concurrent chemotherapy followed with high-dose-rate intracavitary brachytherapy. The hypothesis behind this feature is that non-invasive and invasive tumors may have different morphologic patterns in the tumor periphery, in turn reflecting the differences in radiological presentations in the PET images. The utility of the shell was evaluated by the support vector machine classifier in comparison with intensity, geometry, gray level co-occurrence matrix-based texture, neighborhood gray tone difference matrix-based texture, and a combination of these four features. The results were assessed in terms of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and AUC. Collectively, the shell feature showed better predictive performance than all the other features for distant failure prediction in both NSCLC and CC cohorts.

Deep HST imaging of distant weak radio and field galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Windhorst, R. A.; Gordon, J. M.; Pascarelle, S. M.; Schmidtke, P. C.; Keel, W. C.; Burkey, J. M.; Dunlop, J. S.

1994-01-01

We present deep Hubble Space Telescope (HST) Wide-Field Camera (WFC) V- and I-band images of three distant weak radio galaxies with z = 0.311-2.390 and seven field galaxies with z = 0.131-0.58. The images were deconvolved with both the Lucy and multiresolution CLEAN methods, which yield a restoring Full Width at Half Maximum (FWHM) of less than or equal to 0.2 sec, (nearly) preserve photons and signal-to-noise ratio at low spatial frequencies, and produce consistent light profiles down to our 2 sigma surface brightness sensitivity limit of V approximately 27.2 and I approximately 25.9 mag/sq arcsec. Multi-component image modeling was used to provide deconvolution-independent estimates of structural parameters for symmetric galaxies. We present 12-band (m(sub 2750) UBVRIgriJHK) photometry for a subset of the galaxies and bootstrap the unknown FOC/48 zero point at 2750 A in three independent ways (yielding m(sub 2750) = 21.34 +/- 0.09 mag for 1.0 e(-)/s). Two radio galaxies with z = 0.311 and 0.528, as well as one field galaxy with z = 0.58, have the colors and spectra of early-type galaxies, and a(exp 1/4)-like light profiles in the HST images. The two at z greater than 0.5 have little or no color gradients in V - I and are likely giant ellipticals, while the z = 0.311 radio galaxy has a dim exponential disk and is likely an S0. Six of the seven field galaxies have light profiles that indicate (small) inner bulges following a(exp 1/4) laws and outer exponential disks, both with little or no color gradients. These are (early-type) spiral galaxies with z = 0.131-0.528. About half have faint companions or bars. One shows lumpy structure, possibly a merger. The compact narrow-line galaxy 53W002 at z = 2.390 has less than or = 30% +/- 10% of its HST V and I flux in the central kiloparsec (due to its weak Active Galactic Nucleus (AGN)). Most of its light (V approximately equal to 23.3) occurs in a symmetric envelope with a regular a(exp 1/4)-like profile of effective radius a approximately equal to 1.1 sec (approximately equal to 12 kpc for H(sub 0) = 50, q(sub 0) = 0.1. Its (HST) V - I color varies at most from approximately 0.3 mag at a approximately equal to 0.2 sec to approximately 1.2 mag at a approximately greater than 0.4 sec, and possibly to approximately greater than 2.2 mag at a approximately greater than 1.2 sec. Together with its I - K color (approximately equal to 2.5 mag for a approximately greater than 1.0 sec-2.0 sec), this is consistent with an aging stellar population approximately 0.3-0.5 Gyr old in the galaxy center (a approx. less than 2 kpc radius), and possibly approximately 0.5-1.0 Gyr old at a approximately greater than 10 kpc radius. While its outer part may thus have started to collapse at z = 2.5-4, its inner part still is aligned with its redshifted Ly(alpha) cloud and its radio axis, possibly caused by star formation associated with the radio jet, or by reflection from its AGN cone.

mHealth Security

PubMed Central

Bajwa, Mohammad

2014-01-01

With the implementation of Electronic Health Record (EHR), the patients’ health information will reside on the network of computers that can be accessed through a variety of techniques and technologies. One of the widely used present-day communication technology is the mobile/cell phone that has great potential in the healthcare delivery and management as the healthcare providers can remotely access electronically stored health information of patients from anywhere anytime. One of the greatest advantages of the mobile health technology is convenience of time-independent communication from geographically distant places with the healthcare centers and patients that enhances healthcare quality at reduced cost. However, its equally great disadvantage lies in sending and receiving the health information wirelessly through atmosphere which can be easily intercepted, eavesdropped, interjected, modified or even destroyed. PMID:25097542

The future is now: prospective temporal self-appraisals among defensive pessimists and optimists.

PubMed

Sanna, Lawrence J; Chang, Edward C; Carter, Seth E; Small, Eulena M

2006-06-01

Three studies found that prospective temporal self-appraisals can be part of defensive pessimists' strategy; they felt closer to equally distant negative than positive futures. In Study 1, defensive pessimists felt closer to future failures and reported more negative affect than those considering success. In Study 2, when manipulated negative futures were close, defensive pessimists felt bad and performed well; results suggested that viewing negative futures as close may be part of their natural strategy. Study 3 found that prospective self-appraisals influenced performances through felt preparation. Optimists did not use prospective self-appraisals (Study 1) and their performances were unaffected by manipulated temporal distance (Studies 2 and 3). Discussion centers on prospective self-appraisals and multiple strategies of defensive pessimists.

mHealth Security.

PubMed

Bajwa, Mohammad

2014-07-01

With the implementation of Electronic Health Record (EHR), the patients' health information will reside on the network of computers that can be accessed through a variety of techniques and technologies. One of the widely used present-day communication technology is the mobile/cell phone that has great potential in the healthcare delivery and management as the healthcare providers can remotely access electronically stored health information of patients from anywhere anytime. One of the greatest advantages of the mobile health technology is convenience of time-independent communication from geographically distant places with the healthcare centers and patients that enhances healthcare quality at reduced cost. However, its equally great disadvantage lies in sending and receiving the health information wirelessly through atmosphere which can be easily intercepted, eavesdropped, interjected, modified or even destroyed.

Rio Grande Basin and the modern world: Understanding scale and context

Treesearch

Joseph A. Tainter

1999-01-01

Environmental problems are social issues, embedded in economic and political contexts at the local, regional, national, and global levels. Placing environmental issues on the scale from local to global clarifies conflicts between the level at which problems originate and the level at which they must be addressed. Local issues today often originate in sources distant in...

Pioneers and laggards - is the effect of gender equality on health dependent on context?

PubMed

Backhans, Mona Christina; Burström, Bo; Lindholm, Lars; Månsdotter, Anna

2009-04-01

This study combines data at individual and area level to examine interactions between equality within couples and gender equality in the municipality in which individuals live. The research question is whether the context impacts on the association between gender equality and health. The material consists of data on 37,423 men and 37,616 women in 279 Swedish municipalities, who had their first child in 1978. The couples were classified according to indicators of their level of gender equality in 1980 in the public sphere (occupation and income) and private sphere (child care leave and parental leave) compared to that of their municipality. The health outcome is compensated days from sickness insurance during 1986-1999 with a cut-off at the 85% percentile. Data were analysed using logistic regression with the overall odds as reference. The results concerning gender equality in the private sphere show that among fathers, those who are equal in an equal municipality have lower levels of sick leave than the average while laggards (less equal than their municipality) and modest laggards have higher levels. In the public sphere, pioneers (more equal t han their municipality) fare better than the average while laggards fare worse. For mothers, those who are traditional in their roles in the public sphere are protected from high levels of sick leave, while the reverse is true for those who are equal. Traditional mothers in a traditional municipality have the lowest level of sick leave and pioneers the highest. These results show that there are distinct benefits as well as disadvantages to being a gender pioneer and/or a laggard in comparison to your municipality. The associations are markedly different for men and women.

Systemic siRNA Nanoparticle-Based Drugs Combined with Radiofrequency Ablation for Cancer Therapy

PubMed Central

Ahmed, Muneeb; Kumar, Gaurav; Navarro, Gemma; Wang, Yuanguo; Gourevitch, Svetlana; Moussa, Marwan H.; Rozenblum, Nir; Levchenko, Tatyana; Galun, Eithan; Torchilin, Vladimir P.; Goldberg, S. Nahum

2015-01-01

Purpose Radiofrequency thermal ablation (RFA) of hepatic and renal tumors can be accompanied by non-desired tumorigenesis in residual, untreated tumor. Here, we studied the use of micelle-encapsulated siRNA to suppress IL-6-mediated local and systemic secondary effects of RFA. Methods We compared standardized hepatic or renal RFA (laparotomy, 1 cm active tip at 70±2°C for 5 min) and sham procedures without and with administration of 150nm micelle-like nanoparticle (MNP) anti-IL6 siRNA (DOPE-PEI conjugates, single IP dose 15 min post-RFA, C57Bl mouse:3.5 ug/100ml, Fisher 344 rat: 20ug/200ul), RFA/scrambled siRNA, and RFA/empty MNPs. Outcome measures included: local periablational cellular infiltration (α-SMA+ stellate cells), regional hepatocyte proliferation, serum/tissue IL-6 and VEGF levels at 6-72hr, and distant tumor growth, tumor proliferation (Ki-67) and microvascular density (MVD, CD34) in subcutaneous R3230 and MATBIII breast adenocarcinoma models at 7 days. Results For liver RFA, adjuvant MNP anti-IL6 siRNA reduced RFA-induced increases in tissue IL-6 levels, α-SMA+ stellate cell infiltration, and regional hepatocyte proliferation to baseline (p<0.04, all comparisons). Moreover, adjuvant MNP anti-IL6- siRNA suppressed increased distant tumor growth and Ki-67 observed in R3230 and MATBIII tumors post hepatic RFA (p<0.01). Anti-IL6 siRNA also reduced RFA-induced elevation in VEGF and tumor MVD (p<0.01). Likewise, renal RFA-induced increases in serum IL-6 levels and distant R3230 tumor growth was suppressed with anti-IL6 siRNA (p<0.01). Conclusions Adjuvant nanoparticle-encapsulated siRNA against IL-6 can be used to modulate local and regional effects of hepatic RFA to block potential unwanted pro-oncogenic effects of hepatic or renal RFA on distant tumor. PMID:26154425

Mutations in the haemagglutinin protein and their effect in transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H5N1 virus in sub-optimally vaccinated chickens.

PubMed

Sitaras, Ioannis; Rousou, Xanthoula; Peeters, Ben; de Jong, Mart C M

2016-11-04

Transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) viruses in poultry flocks is associated with huge economic losses, culling of millions of birds, as well as human infections and deaths. In the cases where vaccination against avian influenza is used as a control measure, it has been found to be ineffective in preventing transmission of field strains. Reports suggest that one of the reasons for this is the use of vaccine doses much lower than the ones recommended by the manufacturer, resulting in very low levels of immunity. In a previous study, we selected for immune escape mutants using homologous polyclonal sera and used them as vaccines in transmission experiments. We concluded that provided a threshold of immunity is reached, antigenic distance between vaccine and challenge strains due to selection need not result in vaccine escape. Here, we evaluate the effect that the mutations in the haemagglutinin protein of our most antigenically-distant mutant may have in the transmission efficiency of this mutant to chickens vaccinated against the parent strain, under sub-optimal vaccination conditions resembling those often found in the field. In this study we employed reverse genetics techniques and transmission experiments to examine if the HA mutations of our most antigenically-distant mutant affect its efficiency to transmit to vaccinated chickens. In addition, we simulated sub-optimal vaccination conditions in the field, by using a very low vaccine dose. We find that the mutations in the HA protein of our most antigenically-distant mutant are not enough to allow it to evade even low levels of vaccination-induced immunity. Our results suggest that - for the antigenic distances we investigated - vaccination can reduce transmission of an antigenically-distant strain compared to the unvaccinated groups, even when low vaccine doses are used, resulting in low levels of immunity. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Stochastic analyses to identify wellfield withdrawal effects on surface-water and groundwater in Miami-Dade County, Florida.

PubMed

Swain, Eric

2012-12-30

Several stochastic analyses were conducted in Miami-Dade County, Florida, to evaluate the effects of wellfield withdrawal on aquifer water levels, canal stage, and canal flow. Multiyear data for withdrawals at four water-supply wellfields, water levels at the S-121 canal control structure and groundwater head at a nearby monitoring well were used to determine the interrelation between wellfield withdrawals and water levels in the canal and aquifer. A spectral analysis was performed first on the wellfield withdrawals, showing similar patterns of fluctuations, but no well-defined seasonality. In order to compare water-level response with withdrawals at each wellfield, the intercorrelation effects between wellfields was removed through a 'causal chain' approach where the inter-wellfield correlation is used to isolate the wellfield/water-level correlation. Most computed correlations have magnitudes less than 5 percent, but with statistical significance above 90 percent. Results indicate that withdrawals from the wellfields most distant from the canal had no significant correlation to the canal levels. However the highest correlation was not at the wellfield closest to the canal, but at the two wellfields at the intermediate distance that have higher withdrawal rates. The hydraulic interconnectivity of the canal with the rest of the canal network, covering the study area, allows the canal equalizes with all connected canals. This explains why proximity to a particular canal location does not appear to be as important a factor as the withdrawal rate. Groundwater levels are more highly correlated to a wellfield on the same side of the canal, and to pumping wells in the same wellfield on the same side of the canal. This indicates that canals are an effective barrier and source/sink for the groundwater. Further nonlinear correlation analysis indicates that high withdrawal rates disproportionally affect water levels and are the predominant effect on the canal. Published by Elsevier Ltd.

[Sex differences of spatial-temporal organization of biopotentials of the brain in adults and child 5-6 years old].

PubMed

Panasevich, E A; Tsitseroshin, M N

2011-01-01

Research of topical features of spatial structure of EEG distant relationships has been performed with correlation and coherent analyses of EEG for 26 children of 5-6 years old (12 boys and 14 girls) in comparison to the data at 33 adult subjects (15 men and 18 women). Men have much higher level of EEG intrahemispherical relations of posttemporal and frontal regions of the left hemisphere whereas women have the higher level prevalence of interhemispheric interactions, especially of bilateral-symmetrical arials of both hemispheres. Preschoolers have another character of sex differences in the system organization of inter-regional interactions of brain biopotentials than adults. In particularly the girls have exceeding of EEG distant relations in the same zones of left hemispheres, where at men such relations have exceeding in comparison with woman. The obtained data shows that the pronounced sexual dimorphism of inter-regional interactions of cortical biopotentials at adults and at children is formed, first of all, owing to of EEG distant relations topology differing in males and females subject. Investigation sex differences of spatial-temporal organization of biopotentials of the brain in children can promote forming of more hole and deep understanding of role of sex factor in development of human brain system activity.

Distant and Regional Atmospheric Circulation Influences Governing Integrated Water Vapor Transport and the Occurrence of Extreme Precipitation Events

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bosart, L. F.; Papin, P. P.; Bentley, A. M.

2017-12-01

This presentation will show how the evolution of the large-scale and regional-scale atmospheric circulation contributes to the occurrence of extreme precipitation events (EPEs). An EPE requires that tropospheric moisture flux convergence (MFC) and the associated removal of hydrometeors be balanced by moisture replenishment via integrated (water) vapor transport (IVT) to continuously replenish condensed moisture. Moisture source regions may be distant or regional. Distant moisture sources may require the interaction of lower- and upper-level jet streams with a pre-existing mobile atmospheric disturbance to produce sufficient lift to condense moisture. Pre-existing regional moisture sources may require frontal lifting the presence of MFC to condense moisture. In cases of long-range IVT, such as moisture from a western North Pacific typhoon being drawn poleward along an atmospheric river (AR) toward the west coast of North America, moisture may be transported 1000s of kilometers along a low-level jet before a combination of dynamic and orographic lift results in an EPE. Alternatively, in the case of a typical summer warm and humid air mass over the continental United States, unused moisture may exist for several days in this air mass before sufficient MFC associated with a thermally direct mesoscale frontal circulation can concentrate and condense the moisture. In this case, there may be no long-range IVT via ARs. Instead, the atmospheric circulations may evolve to produce sustained MFC associated with mesoscale frontal circulations, especially in the presence of complex terrain, to produce an EPE. During this presentation, examples of EPEs associated with long-range IVT and distant MFC versus EPEs associated with regional MFC and mesoscale frontal circulations will be illustrated.

Heralded quantum controlled-phase gates with dissipative dynamics in macroscopically distant resonators

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Qin, Wei; Wang, Xin; Miranowicz, Adam; Zhong, Zhirong; Nori, Franco

2017-07-01

Heralded near-deterministic multiqubit controlled-phase gates with integrated error detection have recently been proposed by Borregaard et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 114, 110502 (2015), 10.1103/PhysRevLett.114.110502]. This protocol is based on a single four-level atom (a heralding quartit) and N three-level atoms (operational qutrits) coupled to a single-resonator mode acting as a cavity bus. Here we generalize this method for two distant resonators without the cavity bus between the heralding and operational atoms. Specifically, we analyze the two-qubit controlled-Z gate and its multiqubit-controlled generalization (i.e., a Toffoli-like gate) acting on the two-lowest levels of N qutrits inside one resonator, with their successful actions being heralded by an auxiliary microwave-driven quartit inside the other resonator. Moreover, we propose a circuit-quantum-electrodynamics realization of the protocol with flux and phase qudits in linearly coupled transmission-line resonators with dissipation. These methods offer a quadratic fidelity improvement compared to cavity-assisted deterministic gates.

Hybrid acousto-optic and digital equalization for microwave digital radio channels

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Anderson, C. S.; Vanderlugt, A.

1990-11-01

Digital radio transmission systems use complex modulation schemes that require powerful signal-processing techniques to correct channel distortions and to minimize BERs. This paper proposes combining the computation power of acoustooptic processing and the accuracy of digital processing to produce a hybrid channel equalizer that exceeds the performance of digital equalization alone. Analysis shows that a hybrid equalizer for 256-level quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) performs better than a digital equalizer for 64-level QAM.

Direct handling of equality constraints in multilevel optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Renaud, John E.; Gabriele, Gary A.

1990-01-01

In recent years there have been several hierarchic multilevel optimization algorithms proposed and implemented in design studies. Equality constraints are often imposed between levels in these multilevel optimizations to maintain system and subsystem variable continuity. Equality constraints of this nature will be referred to as coupling equality constraints. In many implementation studies these coupling equality constraints have been handled indirectly. This indirect handling has been accomplished using the coupling equality constraints' explicit functional relations to eliminate design variables (generally at the subsystem level), with the resulting optimization taking place in a reduced design space. In one multilevel optimization study where the coupling equality constraints were handled directly, the researchers encountered numerical difficulties which prevented their multilevel optimization from reaching the same minimum found in conventional single level solutions. The researchers did not explain the exact nature of the numerical difficulties other than to associate them with the direct handling of the coupling equality constraints. The coupling equality constraints are handled directly, by employing the Generalized Reduced Gradient (GRG) method as the optimizer within a multilevel linear decomposition scheme based on the Sobieski hierarchic algorithm. Two engineering design examples are solved using this approach. The results show that the direct handling of coupling equality constraints in a multilevel optimization does not introduce any problems when the GRG method is employed as the internal optimizer. The optimums achieved are comparable to those achieved in single level solutions and in multilevel studies where the equality constraints have been handled indirectly.

Proposed Lymph Node Staging System Using the International Consensus Guidelines for Lymph Node Levels Is Predictive for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Patients From Endemic Areas Treated With Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Li, Wen-Fei; Sun, Ying; Mao, Yan-Ping

2013-06-01

Purpose: To propose a lymph node (N) staging system for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) based on the International Consensus Guidelines for lymph node (LN) levels and MRI-determined nodal variables. Methods and Materials: The MRI scans and medical records of 749 NPC patients receiving intensity modulated radiation therapy with or without chemotherapy were retrospectively reviewed. The prognostic significance of nodal level, laterality, maximal axial diameter, extracapsular spread, necrosis, and Union for International Cancer Control/American Joint Committee on Cancer (UICC/AJCC) size criteria were analyzed. Results: Nodal level and laterality were the only independent prognostic factors for distant failure and disease failure in multivariatemore » analysis. Compared with unilateral levels Ib, II, III, and/or Va involvement (hazard ratio [HR] 1), retropharyngeal lymph node involvement alone had a similar prognostic value (HR 0.71; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.43-1.17; P=.17), whereas bilateral levels Ib, II, III, and/or Va involvement (HR 1.65; 95% CI 1.06-2.58; P=.03) and levels IV, Vb, and/or supraclavicular fossa involvement (HR 3.47; 95% CI 1.92-6.29; P<.01) both significantly increased the HR for distant failure. Thus we propose that the N category criteria could be revised as follows: N0, no regional LN metastasis; N1, retropharyngeal lymph node involvement, and/or unilateral levels Ib, II, III, and/or Va involvement; N2, bilateral levels Ib, II, III, and/or Va involvement; N3, levels IV, Vb, and/or supraclavicular fossa involvement. Compared with the 7th edition of the UICC/AJCC criteria, the proposed N staging system provides a more satisfactory distinction between the HRs for regional failure, distant failure, and disease failure in each N category. Conclusions: The proposed N staging system defined by the International Consensus Guidelines and laterality is predictive and practical. However, because of no measurements of the maximal nodal diameter on MRI slices, the prognostic significance of LN size needs further evaluation.« less

Reduced ING1 levels in breast cancer promotes metastasis.

PubMed

Thakur, Satbir; Singla, Arvind K; Chen, Jie; Tran, Uyen; Yang, Yang; Salazar, Carolina; Magliocco, Anthony; Klimowicz, Alexander; Jirik, Frank; Riabowol, Karl

2014-06-30

INhibitor of Growth 1 (ING1) expression is repressed in breast carcinomas, but its role in breast cancer development and metastasis is unknown. ING1 levels were quantified in >500 patient samples using automated quantitative fluorescence immunohistochemistry, and data were analysed for correlations to patient outcome. Effects of altering ING levels were examined in microarrays and metastasis assays in vitro, and in a mouse metastasis model in vivo. ING1 levels were lower in tumors compared to adjacent normal breast tissue and correlated with tumor size (p=0.019) and distant recurrence (p=0.001) in ER- or Her2+ patients. In these patients ING1 predicted disease-specific and distant metastasis-free survival. Transcriptome analysis showed that the pathway most affected by ING1 was breast cancer (p = 0.0008). Decreasing levels of ING1 increased, and increasing levels decreased, migration and invasion of MDA-MB231 cells in vitro. ING1 overexpression also blocked cancer cell metastasis in vivo and eliminated tumor-induced mortality in mouse models. Our data show that ING1 protein levels are downregulated in breast cancer and for the first time, we show that altering their levels regulates metastasis in vitro and in vivo, which indicates that ING1 may have a therapeutic role for inhibiting metastasis of breast cancer.

Social Distance, Framing, and Judgment: A Construal Level Perspective

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Nan, Xiaoli

2007-01-01

Drawing upon construal level theory, this research investigates the influence of social distance on individuals' responses to persuasive messages. Experiment 1 (N = 133) demonstrates that the persuasive impact of a gain frame becomes stronger when people make judgments for socially distant (e.g., others) versus proximal entities (e.g., selves). On…

Psychological distance reduces literal imitation: Evidence from an imitation-learning paradigm.

PubMed

Hansen, Jochim; Alves, Hans; Trope, Yaacov

2016-03-01

The present experiments tested the hypothesis that observers engage in more literal imitation of a model when the model is psychologically near to (vs. distant from) the observer. Participants learned to fold a dog out of towels by watching a model performing this task. Temporal (Experiment 1) and spatial (Experiment 2) distance from the model were manipulated. As predicted, participants copied more of the model's specific movements when the model was near (vs. distant). Experiment 3 replicated this finding with a paper-folding task, suggesting that distance from a model also affects imitation of less complex tasks. Perceived task difficulty, motivation, and the quality of the end product were not affected by distance. We interpret the findings as reflecting different levels of construal of the model's performance: When the model is psychologically distant, social learners focus more on the model's goal and devise their own means for achieving the goal, and as a result show less literal imitation of the model. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2016 APA, all rights reserved).

Host- and stage-dependent secretome of the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus Rhizophagus irregularis.

PubMed

Zeng, Tian; Holmer, Rens; Hontelez, Jan; Te Lintel-Hekkert, Bas; Marufu, Lucky; de Zeeuw, Thijs; Wu, Fangyuan; Schijlen, Elio; Bisseling, Ton; Limpens, Erik

2018-05-01

Arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi form the most wide-spread endosymbiosis with plants. There is very little host specificity in this interaction, however host preferences as well as varying symbiotic efficiencies have been observed. We hypothesize that secreted proteins (SPs) may act as fungal effectors to control symbiotic efficiency in a host-dependent manner. Therefore, we studied whether arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi adjust their secretome in a host- and stage-dependent manner to contribute to their extremely wide host range. We investigated the expression of SP-encoding genes of Rhizophagus irregularis in three evolutionary distantly related plant species, Medicago truncatula, Nicotiana benthamiana and Allium schoenoprasum. In addition we used laser microdissection in combination with RNA-seq to study SP expression at different stages of the interaction in Medicago. Our data indicate that most expressed SPs show roughly equal expression levels in the interaction with all three host plants. In addition, a subset shows significant differential expression depending on the host plant. Furthermore, SP expression is controlled locally in the hyphal network in response to host-dependent cues. Overall, this study presents a comprehensive analysis of the R. irregularis secretome, which now offers a solid basis to direct functional studies on the role of fungal SPs in AM symbiosis. © 2018 The Authors The Plant Journal © 2018 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Destruction of a distal hypoxia response element abolishes trans-activation of the PAG1 gene mediated by HIF-independent chromatin looping

PubMed Central

Schörg, Alexandra; Santambrogio, Sara; Platt, James L.; Schödel, Johannes; Lindenmeyer, Maja T.; Cohen, Clemens D.; Schrödter, Katrin; Mole, David R.; Wenger, Roland H.; Hoogewijs, David

2015-01-01

A crucial step in the cellular adaptation to oxygen deficiency is the binding of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) to hypoxia response elements (HREs) of oxygen-regulated genes. Genome-wide HIF-1α/2α/β DNA-binding studies revealed that the majority of HREs reside distant to the promoter regions, but the function of these distal HREs has only been marginally studied in the genomic context. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), gene editing (TALEN) and chromosome conformation capture (3C) to localize and functionally characterize a 82 kb upstream HRE that solely drives oxygen-regulated expression of the newly identified HIF target gene PAG1. PAG1, a transmembrane adaptor protein involved in Src signalling, was hypoxically induced in various cell lines and mouse tissues. ChIP and reporter gene assays demonstrated that the −82 kb HRE regulates PAG1, but not an equally distant gene further upstream, by direct interaction with HIF. Ablation of the consensus HRE motif abolished the hypoxic induction of PAG1 but not general oxygen signalling. 3C assays revealed that the −82 kb HRE physically associates with the PAG1 promoter region, independent of HIF-DNA interaction. These results demonstrate a constitutive interaction between the −82 kb HRE and the PAG1 promoter, suggesting a physiologically important rapid response to hypoxia. PMID:26007655

Total half-body systemic irradiation for occult metastases in non-small cell lung cancer: an Eastern Cooperative Oncology group pilot report

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Salazar, O.M.; Scarantino, C.W.; Rubin, P.

1980-11-01

There is a high probability for patients with locally advanced, unresectable, nonmetastatic, nonsmall-cell bronchogenic carcinoma (NSCBC) to harbor subclinical distant metastases at diagnosis. Approximately 30% will disseminate in the first three months and an additional 50% will disseminate before a year has elapsed. Twenty advanced nonmetastatic patients wtith NSCBC were treated with localized split-course chest irradiation (LCI) plus total body (upper and lower half-body) irradiation for occult metastases. Thirty equally advanced, nonmetastatic patients, who were treated with only localized split-course chest irradiation, were matched and served as a retrospective control group. Apparently, the median recurrence free survival, metastatic free interval,more » and median survival were significantly prolonged, and there was a decrease in the incidence of liver metastases in patients receiving HBI for occult metastases over the patients of the control group. Although elective HBI seems to delay the appearance of distant metastases, it did not prevent their occurrence, alter patterns of first relapse, or significantly improve the overall survival. Nevertheless, a therapeutic gain may have been achieved and is discussed. The incidence of radiation pneumonitis with 800 rad of UHBI corrected for lung transmission was 9%. A hypothesis and a rationale for a more effective combined modality therapy in these patients is given.« less

Identifying the potential long-term survivors among breast cancer patients with distant metastasis.

PubMed

Lee, E S; Jung, S Y; Kim, J Y; Kim, J J; Yoo, T K; Kim, Y G; Lee, K S; Lee, E S; Kim, E K; Min, J W; Han, W; Noh, D Y; Moon, H G

2016-05-01

We aimed to develop a prediction model to identify long-term survivors after developing distant metastasis from breast cancer. From the institution's database, we collected data of 547 patients who developed distant metastasis during their follow-ups. We developed a model that predicts the post-metastasis overall survival (PMOS) based on the clinicopathologic factors of the primary tumors and the characteristics of the distant metastasis. For validation, the survival data of 254 patients from four independent institutions were used. The median duration of the PMOS was 31.0 months. The characteristics of the initial primary tumor, such as tumor stage, hormone receptor status, and Ki-67 expression level, and the characteristics of the distant metastasis presentation including the duration of disease-free interval, the site of metastasis, and the presence of metastasis-related symptoms were independent prognostic factors determining the PMOS. The association between tumor stage and the PMOS was only seen in tumors with early relapses. The PMOS score, which was developed based on the above six factors, successfully identified patients with superior survival after metastasis. The median PMOS for patients with a PMOS score of <2 and for patients with a PMOS score of >5 were 71.0 and 12 months, respectively. The clinical significance of the PMOS score was further validated using independent multicenter datasets. We have developed a novel prediction model that can classify breast cancer patients with distant metastasis according to their survival after metastasis. Our model can be a valuable tool to identify long-term survivors who can be potential candidates for more intensive multidisciplinary approaches. Furthermore, our model can provide a more reliable survival information for both physicians and patients during their informed decision-making process. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

Migration of icy planetesimals to forming terrestrial planets

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ipatov, Sergei I.; Marov, Mikhail

2016-07-01

Our studies of migration of planetesimals from the feeding zone of Jupiter and Saturn to forming terrestrial planets were based on computer simulations of the orbital evolution of 10^4 planetesimals under the gravitational influence of planets. In series JN, all planets were considered in present orbits with present masses, and in series JS, Uranus and Neptune were excluded. Initial eccentricities and inclinations of planetesimals were 0.3 and 0.15 rad, respectively. Their initial semi-major axes were between 4.5 and 12 AU. Masses of planets moving in the orbits of the terrestrial planets were equal to present masses of the planets in series JS and JN, and were smaller by a factor of 10 in series JS_{01} and JN_{01}. The obtained results show that the ratio of the fraction of the planetesimals collided with an embryo of the Earth's embryo was about 2\\cdot10^{-6} and 4\\cdot10^{-7} for the mass of the embryo equal to the Earth mass and to 10% of the Earth mass, respectively. We concluded that during the growth of the mass of the Earth's embryo up to a half of the present mass of the Earth, the amount of water delivered to the embryo could be about 30% of all water delivered to the Earth from the feeding zone of Jupiter and Saturn. The total mass of water delivered to the Earth from the feeding zones of the giant planets and beyond these zones could be comparable with the mass of the Earth's oceans. A half of this water could come from the feeding zone of Jupiter and Saturn, and another half from more distant regions. Most of the water that was delivered from the distant regions to the Earth's embryo came when its mass was not small (e.g., was mainly greater than a half of the Earth mass). In series JS, the ratio of the mass of water delivered to a planet to the mass of the planet for the Earth was smaller by a factor of 2, 1.25, and 1.3 than for Mars, Venus and Mercury, respectively. For series JN, the above values of the factor were equal to 3.4, 0.7 i 0.8. For the growth of the Earth's embryo of mass m by accretion of planetesimals that came from the feeding zone of Jupiter and Saturn, the increase of its mass was proportional to m^{0.74}.

Feasibility of infrared Earth tracking for deep-space optical communications.

PubMed

Chen, Yijiang; Hemmati, Hamid; Ortiz, Gerry G

2012-01-01

Infrared (IR) Earth thermal tracking is a viable option for optical communications to distant planet and outer-planetary missions. However, blurring due to finite receiver aperture size distorts IR Earth images in the presence of Earth's nonuniform thermal emission and limits its applicability. We demonstrate a deconvolution algorithm that can overcome this limitation and reduce the error from blurring to a negligible level. The algorithm is applied successfully to Earth thermal images taken by the Mars Odyssey spacecraft. With the solution to this critical issue, IR Earth tracking is established as a viable means for distant planet and outer-planetary optical communications. © 2012 Optical Society of America

Pretreatment Carbohydrate Antigen 19-9 Level Indicates Tumor Response, Early Distant Metastasis, Overall Survival, and Therapeutic Selection in Localized and Unresectable Pancreatic Cancer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yoo, Tae; Lee, Woo Jin; Woo, Sang Myung

2011-11-15

Purpose: The use of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for localized and unresectable pancreatic cancer has been disputed because of high probability of distant metastasis. Thus, we analyzed the effect of clinical parameters on tumor response, early distant metastasis within 3 months (DM{sup 3m}), and overall survival to identify an indicator for selecting patients who would benefit from CRT. Methods and Materials: This study retrospectively analyzed the data from 84 patients with localized and unresectable pancreatic cancer who underwent CRT between August 2002 and October 2009. Sex, age, tumor size, histological differentiation, N classification, pre- and post-treatment carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19-9 level, andmore » CA 19-9 percent decrease were analyzed to identify risk factors associated with tumor response, DM{sup 3m}, and overall survival. Results: For all 84 patients, the median survival time was 12.5 months (range, 2-31.9 months), objective response (complete response or partial response) to CRT was observed in 28 patients (33.3%), and DM{sup 3m} occurred in 24 patients (28.6%). Multivariate analysis showed that pretreatment CA 19-9 level ({<=}400 vs. >400 U/ml) was significantly associated with tumor response (45.1% vs. 15.2%), DM{sup 3m} (19.6% vs. 42.4%), and median overall survival time (15.1 vs. 9.7 months) (p < 0.05 for all three parameters). Conclusion: For patients with localized and unresectable pancreatic cancer, pretreatment CA 19-9 level could be helpful in predicting tumor response, DM{sup 3m}, and overall survival and identifying patients who will benefit from CRT.« less

Persistence of Neighborhood Demographic Influences over Long Phylogenetic Distances May Help Drive Post-Speciation Adaptation in Tropical Forests

PubMed Central

Wills, Christopher; Harms, Kyle E.; Wiegand, Thorsten; Punchi-Manage, Ruwan; Gilbert, Gregory S.; Erickson, David; Kress, W. John; Hubbell, Stephen P.; Gunatilleke, C. V. Savitri; Gunatilleke, I. A. U. Nimal

2016-01-01

Studies of forest dynamics plots (FDPs) have revealed a variety of negative density-dependent (NDD) demographic interactions, especially among conspecific trees. These interactions can affect growth rate, recruitment and mortality, and they play a central role in the maintenance of species diversity in these complex ecosystems. Here we use an equal area annulus (EAA) point-pattern method to comprehensively analyze data from two tropical FDPs, Barro Colorado Island in Panama and Sinharaja in Sri Lanka. We show that these NDD interactions also influence the continued evolutionary diversification of even distantly related tree species in these FDPs. We examine the details of a wide range of these interactions between individual trees and the trees that surround them. All these interactions, and their cumulative effects, are strongest among conspecific focal and surrounding tree species in both FDPs. They diminish in magnitude with increasing phylogenetic distance between heterospecific focal and surrounding trees, but do not disappear or change the pattern of their dependence on size, density, frequency or physical distance even among the most distantly related trees. The phylogenetic persistence of all these effects provides evidence that interactions between tree species that share an ecosystem may continue to promote adaptive divergence even after the species’ gene pools have become separated. Adaptive divergence among taxa would operate in stark contrast to an alternative possibility that has previously been suggested, that distantly related species with dispersal-limited distributions and confronted with unpredictable neighbors will tend to converge on common strategies of resource use. In addition, we have also uncovered a positive density-dependent effect: growth rates of large trees are boosted in the presence of a smaller basal area of surrounding trees. We also show that many of the NDD interactions switch sign rapidly as focal trees grow in size, and that their cumulative effect can strongly influence the distributions and species composition of the trees that surround the focal trees during the focal trees’ lifetimes. PMID:27305092

Persistence of Neighborhood Demographic Influences over Long Phylogenetic Distances May Help Drive Post-Speciation Adaptation in Tropical Forests.

PubMed

Wills, Christopher; Harms, Kyle E; Wiegand, Thorsten; Punchi-Manage, Ruwan; Gilbert, Gregory S; Erickson, David; Kress, W John; Hubbell, Stephen P; Gunatilleke, C V Savitri; Gunatilleke, I A U Nimal

2016-01-01

Studies of forest dynamics plots (FDPs) have revealed a variety of negative density-dependent (NDD) demographic interactions, especially among conspecific trees. These interactions can affect growth rate, recruitment and mortality, and they play a central role in the maintenance of species diversity in these complex ecosystems. Here we use an equal area annulus (EAA) point-pattern method to comprehensively analyze data from two tropical FDPs, Barro Colorado Island in Panama and Sinharaja in Sri Lanka. We show that these NDD interactions also influence the continued evolutionary diversification of even distantly related tree species in these FDPs. We examine the details of a wide range of these interactions between individual trees and the trees that surround them. All these interactions, and their cumulative effects, are strongest among conspecific focal and surrounding tree species in both FDPs. They diminish in magnitude with increasing phylogenetic distance between heterospecific focal and surrounding trees, but do not disappear or change the pattern of their dependence on size, density, frequency or physical distance even among the most distantly related trees. The phylogenetic persistence of all these effects provides evidence that interactions between tree species that share an ecosystem may continue to promote adaptive divergence even after the species' gene pools have become separated. Adaptive divergence among taxa would operate in stark contrast to an alternative possibility that has previously been suggested, that distantly related species with dispersal-limited distributions and confronted with unpredictable neighbors will tend to converge on common strategies of resource use. In addition, we have also uncovered a positive density-dependent effect: growth rates of large trees are boosted in the presence of a smaller basal area of surrounding trees. We also show that many of the NDD interactions switch sign rapidly as focal trees grow in size, and that their cumulative effect can strongly influence the distributions and species composition of the trees that surround the focal trees during the focal trees' lifetimes.

Robert Hooke, 1635-1703.

PubMed

Rowbury, Robin

2012-01-01

Robert Hooke was a polymath whose expertise during the 17th century spanned many different scientific areas. As a schoolboy on the Isle of Wight he was obsessed with the possibility of human flight and later became equally absorbed in cosmology and planetary motion. His skills as an artist were put to good use both as an architect following the Great Fire of London and before that in Micrographia. Although that book is best known for demonstrating the power of Hooke's microscope, Micrographia describes distant planetary bodies, the wave theory of light, the organic origin of fossils, and various other philosophical and scientific interests of its author The following thumbnail sketches of Hooke reveal him to be a man of enormous energy and imagination whose ideas were often pirated or under-rated.

Noise effects on entanglement distribution by separable state

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bordbar, Najmeh Tabe; Memarzadeh, Laleh

2018-02-01

We investigate noise effects on the performance of entanglement distribution by separable state. We consider a realistic situation in which the mediating particle between two distant nodes of the network goes through a noisy channel. For a large class of noise models, we show that the average value of distributed entanglement between two parties is equal to entanglement between particular bipartite partitions of target qubits and exchange qubit in intermediate steps of the protocol. This result is valid for distributing two-qubit/qudit and three-qubit entangled states. In explicit examples of the noise family, we show that there exists a critical value of noise parameter beyond which distribution of distillable entanglement is not possible. Furthermore, we determine how this critical value increases in terms of Hilbert space dimension, when distributing d-dimensional Bell states.

Regulating Emotional Responses to Climate Change – A Construal Level Perspective

PubMed Central

Ejelöv, Emma; Hansla, André; Bergquist, Magnus; Nilsson, Andreas

2018-01-01

This experimental study (N = 139) examines the role of emotions in climate change risk communication. Drawing on Construal Level Theory, we tested how abstract vs. concrete descriptions of climate threat affect basic and self-conscious emotions and three emotion regulation strategies: changing oneself, repairing the situation and distancing oneself. In a 2 × 2 between subjects factorial design, climate change consequences were described as concrete/abstract and depicted as spatially proximate/distant. Results showed that, as hypothesized, increased self-conscious emotions mediate overall positive effects of abstract description on self-change and repair attempts. Unexpectedly and independent of any emotional process, a concrete description of a spatially distant consequence is shown to directly increase self-change and repair attempts, while it has no such effects when the consequence is spatially proximate. “Concretizing the remote” might refer to a potentially effective strategy for overcoming spatial distance barriers and motivating mitigating behavior. PMID:29780340

Regulating Emotional Responses to Climate Change - A Construal Level Perspective.

PubMed

Ejelöv, Emma; Hansla, André; Bergquist, Magnus; Nilsson, Andreas

2018-01-01

This experimental study ( N = 139) examines the role of emotions in climate change risk communication. Drawing on Construal Level Theory, we tested how abstract vs. concrete descriptions of climate threat affect basic and self-conscious emotions and three emotion regulation strategies: changing oneself, repairing the situation and distancing oneself. In a 2 × 2 between subjects factorial design, climate change consequences were described as concrete/abstract and depicted as spatially proximate/distant. Results showed that, as hypothesized, increased self-conscious emotions mediate overall positive effects of abstract description on self-change and repair attempts. Unexpectedly and independent of any emotional process, a concrete description of a spatially distant consequence is shown to directly increase self-change and repair attempts, while it has no such effects when the consequence is spatially proximate. "Concretizing the remote" might refer to a potentially effective strategy for overcoming spatial distance barriers and motivating mitigating behavior.

Distant stereoacuity in children with anisometropic amblyopia.

PubMed

Chung, Yeon Woong; Park, Shin Hae; Shin, Sun Young

2017-09-01

To characterize changes in distant stereoacuity using Frisby-Davis Distance test (FD2) and Distant Randot test (DR) during treatment for anisometropic amblyopia, to determine factors that influence posttreatment stereoacuity and to compare the two distant stereotests. Fifty-eight anisometropic amblyopic patients with an interocular difference of ≥1.00 diopter who achieved the visual acuity 20/20 following amblyopia treatment were retrospectively included. Stereoacuity using FD2 and DR for distant and Titmus test for near measurement were assessed and compared at the initial, intermediate, and final visit. Multivariate regression models were used to identify factors associated with initial and final stereoacuity. The two distant stereotests revealed a significant improvement in distant stereoacuity after successful amblyopia treatment. Distant stereoacuity using FD2 showed the greatest improvement during the follow up period. The number of nil scores was higher in DR than FD2 at each period. In multivariate analysis, better final stereoacuity was associated with better initial amblyopic eye acuity in both distant stereotests, but not in the Titmus test. Comparing the two distant stereotests, final stereoacuity using FD2 was associated with initial stereoacuity and was moderately related with the Titmus test at each period, but final stereoacuity using DR was not. Distant stereoacuity measured with both FD2 and DR showed significant improvement when the visual acuity of the amblyopic eye achieved 20/20. Changes in distant stereoacuity by FD2 and DR during the amblyopia treatment were somewhat different.

Equal Opportunity Leadership Training for Company-Level Chain of Command

DTIC Science & Technology

1981-01-01

Relations/ Equal Opportunity Training in USAREUR, ARI Technical Report TR-78-B10, Alexandria, Va.: US. Army Research Institute for the Behavioral and Social ...Behavioral and Social Sciences, 1978. Marcia A. Gilbert and Peter G. Nordlie, An Analysis of Race Relations/ Equal Opportunity Training in USAREUR, ARI...Technical Report 534 - EQUAL OPPORTUNITY LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR COMPANY-LEVEL CHAIN OF COMMAND Dale K. Brown, Silas J. White, Exequiel R. Sevilla

Potential surrogate endpoints for prostate cancer survival: analysis of a phase III randomized trial.

PubMed

Ray, Michael E; Bae, Kyounghwa; Hussain, Maha H A; Hanks, Gerald E; Shipley, William U; Sandler, Howard M

2009-02-18

The identification of surrogate endpoints for prostate cancer-specific survival may shorten the length of clinical trials for prostate cancer. We evaluated distant metastasis and general clinical treatment failure as potential surrogates for prostate cancer-specific survival by use of data from the Radiation Therapy and Oncology Group 92-02 randomized trial. Patients (n = 1554 randomly assigned and 1521 evaluable for this analysis) with locally advanced prostate cancer had been treated with 4 months of neoadjuvant and concurrent androgen deprivation therapy with external beam radiation therapy and then randomly assigned to no additional therapy (control arm) or 24 additional months of androgen deprivation therapy (experimental arm). Data from landmark analyses at 3 and 5 years for general clinical treatment failure (defined as documented local disease progression, regional or distant metastasis, initiation of androgen deprivation therapy, or a prostate-specific antigen level of 25 ng/mL or higher after radiation therapy) and/or distant metastasis were tested as surrogate endpoints for prostate cancer-specific survival at 10 years by use of Prentice's four criteria. All statistical tests were two-sided. At 3 years, 1364 patients were alive and contributed data for analysis. Both distant metastasis and general clinical treatment failure at 3 years were consistent with all four of Prentice's criteria for being surrogate endpoints for prostate cancer-specific survival at 10 years. At 5 years, 1178 patients were alive and contributed data for analysis. Although prostate cancer-specific survival was not statistically significantly different between treatment arms at 5 years (P = .08), both endpoints were consistent with Prentice's remaining criteria. Distant metastasis and general clinical treatment failure at 3 years may be candidate surrogate endpoints for prostate cancer-specific survival at 10 years. These endpoints, however, must be validated in other datasets.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Ng, Sweet Ping, E-mail: sweet.ng@petermac.org; David, Steven; Alamgeer, Muhammad

Purpose: To assess the diagnostic performance of pretreatment {sup 18}F-fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography ({sup 18}F-FDG PET/CT) and its impact on radiation therapy treatment decisions in patients with locally advanced breast cancer (LABC). Methods and Materials: Patients with LABC with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status <2 and no contraindication to neoadjuvant chemotherapy, surgery, and adjuvant radiation therapy were enrolled on a prospective trial. All patients had pretreatment conventional imaging (CI) performed, including bilateral breast mammography and ultrasound, bone scan, and CT chest, abdomen, and pelvis scans performed. Informed consent was obtained before enrolment. Pretreatment whole-body {sup 18}F-FDG PET/CT scansmore » were performed on all patients, and results were compared with CI findings. Results: A total of 154 patients with LABC with no clinical or radiologic evidence of distant metastases on CI were enrolled. Median age was 49 years (range, 26-70 years). Imaging with PET/CT detected distant metastatic disease and/or locoregional disease not visualized on CI in 32 patients (20.8%). Distant metastatic disease was detected in 17 patients (11.0%): 6 had bony metastases, 5 had intrathoracic metastases (pulmonary/mediastinal), 2 had distant nodal metastases, 2 had liver metastases, 1 had pulmonary and bony metastases, and 1 had mediastinal and distant nodal metastases. Of the remaining 139 patients, nodal disease outside conventional radiation therapy fields was detected on PET/CT in 15 patients (10.8%), with involvement of ipsilateral internal mammary nodes in 13 and ipsilateral level 5 cervical nodes in 2. Conclusions: Imaging with PET/CT provides superior diagnostic and staging information in patients with LABC compared with CI, which has significant therapeutic implications with respect to radiation therapy management. Imaging with PET/CT should be considered in all patients undergoing primary staging for LABC.« less

High E6 Gene Expression Predicts for Distant Metastasis and Poor Survival in Patients With HPV-Positive Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Khwaja, Shariq S.; Baker, Callie; Haynes, Wesley

Purpose: Patients with human papillomavirus (HPV)–positive oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) have a favorable prognosis. As a result, de-escalation clinical trials are under way. However, approximately 10% of patients will experience distant recurrence even with standard-of-care treatment. Here, we sought to identify novel biomarkers to better risk-stratify HPV-positive patients with OPSCC. Methods and Materials: Gene expression profiling by RNA sequencing (RNA-seq) and quantitative polymerase chain reaction was performed on HPV-positive OPSCC primary tumor specimens from patients with and without distant metastasis (DM). Results: RNA-seq analysis of 39 HPV-positive OPSCC specimens revealed that patients with DM had 2-fold higher E6 genemore » expression levels than did patients without DM (P=.029). This observation was confirmed in a validation cohort comprising 93 patients with HPV-positive OPSCC. The mean normalized E6 expression level in the 17 recurring primary specimens was 13 ± 2 compared with 8 ± 1 in the remaining 76 nonrecurring primaries (P=.001). Receiver operating characteristic analysis established an E6 expression level of 7.3 as a cutoff for worse recurrence-free survival (RFS). Patients from this cohort with high E6 gene expression (E6-high) (n=51, 55%) had more cancer-related deaths (23% vs 2%, P<.001) and DM (26% vs 5%, P<.001) than did patients with low E6 gene expression (E6-low) (n=42, 45%). Kaplan-Meier survival analysis revealed that E6-high had worse RFS (95% vs 69%, P=.004) and cancer-specific survival (97% vs 79%, P=.007). E6-high maintained statistical significance in multivariate regression models balancing surgery, chemotherapy, nodal stage, and smoking status. Gene set enrichment analysis demonstrated that tumors with high E6 expression were associated with P53, epidermal growth factor receptor, activating transcription factor-2, and transforming growth factor-β signaling pathways. Conclusion: High E6 gene expression level identifies HPV-positive OPSCC patients with 5-fold greater risk of distant disease recurrence and worse cancer-specific survival. Validation in a multi-institutional prospective clinical trial is required to assess the utility of E6 gene expression as a clinically useful prognostic biomarker.« less

Extracting PICO Sentences from Clinical Trial Reports using Supervised Distant Supervision

PubMed Central

Wallace, Byron C.; Kuiper, Joël; Sharma, Aakash; Zhu, Mingxi (Brian); Marshall, Iain J.

2016-01-01

Systematic reviews underpin Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) by addressing precise clinical questions via comprehensive synthesis of all relevant published evidence. Authors of systematic reviews typically define a Population/Problem, Intervention, Comparator, and Outcome (a PICO criteria) of interest, and then retrieve, appraise and synthesize results from all reports of clinical trials that meet these criteria. Identifying PICO elements in the full-texts of trial reports is thus a critical yet time-consuming step in the systematic review process. We seek to expedite evidence synthesis by developing machine learning models to automatically extract sentences from articles relevant to PICO elements. Collecting a large corpus of training data for this task would be prohibitively expensive. Therefore, we derive distant supervision (DS) with which to train models using previously conducted reviews. DS entails heuristically deriving ‘soft’ labels from an available structured resource. However, we have access only to unstructured, free-text summaries of PICO elements for corresponding articles; we must derive from these the desired sentence-level annotations. To this end, we propose a novel method – supervised distant supervision (SDS) – that uses a small amount of direct supervision to better exploit a large corpus of distantly labeled instances by learning to pseudo-annotate articles using the available DS. We show that this approach tends to outperform existing methods with respect to automated PICO extraction. PMID:27746703

Sickness absence in gender-equal companies: a register study at organizational level.

PubMed

Sörlin, Ann; Ohman, Ann; Lindholm, Lars

2011-07-11

The differences in sickness absence between men and women in Sweden have attracted a great deal of interest nationally in the media and among policymakers over a long period. The fact that women have much higher levels of sickness absence has been explained in various ways. These explanations are contextual and one of the theories points to the lack of gender equality as an explanation. In this study, we evaluate the impact of gender equality on health at organizational level. Gender equality is measured by an index ranking companies at organizational level; health is measured as days on sickness benefit. Gender equality was measured using the Organizational Gender Gap Index or OGGI, which is constructed on the basis of six variables accessible in Swedish official registers. Each variable corresponds to a key word illustrating the interim objectives of the "National Plan for Gender Equality", implemented by the Swedish Parliament in 2006. Health is measured by a variable, days on sickness benefit, also accessible in the same registers. We found significant associations between company gender equality and days on sickness benefit. In gender-equal companies, the risk for days on sickness benefit was 1.7 (95% CI 1.6-1.8) higher than in gender-unequal companies. The differences were greater for men than for women: OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.7-2.0) compared to OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.3-1.5). Even though employees at gender-equal companies had more days on sickness benefit, the differences between men and women in this measure were smaller in gender-equal companies. Gender equality appears to alter health patterns, converging the differences between men and women.

Sickness absence in gender-equal companies A register study at organizational level

PubMed Central

2011-01-01

Background The differences in sickness absence between men and women in Sweden have attracted a great deal of interest nationally in the media and among policymakers over a long period. The fact that women have much higher levels of sickness absence has been explained in various ways. These explanations are contextual and one of the theories points to the lack of gender equality as an explanation. In this study, we evaluate the impact of gender equality on health at organizational level. Gender equality is measured by an index ranking companies at organizational level; health is measured as days on sickness benefit. Methods Gender equality was measured using the Organizational Gender Gap Index or OGGI, which is constructed on the basis of six variables accessible in Swedish official registers. Each variable corresponds to a key word illustrating the interim objectives of the "National Plan for Gender Equality", implemented by the Swedish Parliament in 2006. Health is measured by a variable, days on sickness benefit, also accessible in the same registers. Results We found significant associations between company gender equality and days on sickness benefit. In gender-equal companies, the risk for days on sickness benefit was 1.7 (95% CI 1.6-1.8) higher than in gender-unequal companies. The differences were greater for men than for women: OR 1.8 (95% CI 1.7-2.0) compared to OR 1.4 (95% CI 1.3-1.5). Conclusions Even though employees at gender-equal companies had more days on sickness benefit, the differences between men and women in this measure were smaller in gender-equal companies. Gender equality appears to alter health patterns, converging the differences between men and women. PMID:21745375

Distant hybridization leads to different ploidy fishes.

PubMed

Liu, ShaoJun

2010-04-01

Distant hybridization makes it possible to transfer the genome of one species to another, which results in changes in phenotypes and genotypes of the progenies. This study shows that distant hybridization or the combination of this method with gynogenesis or androgenesis lead to different ploidy fishes with genetic variation, including fertile tetraploid hybrids, sterile triploid hybrids, fertile diploid hybrids, fertile diploid gynogenetic fish, and their derived progenies. The formations of the different ploidy fishes depend on the genetic relationship between the parents. In this study, several types of distant hybridization, including red crucian carp (Carassius auratus red var.) (2n=100, abbreviated as RCC) (female) x common carp (Cyprinus carpio L.) (2n=100, abbreviated as CC) (male), and RCC (2n=100) (female) x blunt snout bream (Megalobrama amblycephala) (2n=48, abbreviated as BSB) (male) are described. In the distant hybridization of RCC (female) x CC (male), bisexual fertile F(3)-F(18) allotetraploid hybrids (4n=200, abbreviated as 4nAT) were formed. The diploid hybrid eggs and diploid sperm generated by the females and males of 4nAT developed into diploid gynogenetic hybrids and diploid androgenetic hybrids, respectively, by gynogenesis and androgenesis, without treatment for doubling the chromosome. Improved tetraploid hybrids and improved diploid fishes with genetic variation were derived from the gynogenetic hybrid line. The improved diploid fishes included the high-body RCC and high-body goldfish. The formation of the tetraploid hybrids was related to the occurrence of unreduced gametes generated from the diploid hybrids, which involved in premeiotic endoreduplication, endomitosis, or fusion of germ cells. The sterile triploid hybrids (3n=150) were produced on a large scale by crossing the males of tetraploid hybrids with females of diploid fish (2n=100). In another distant hybridization of RCC (female) x BSB (male), different ploidy fishes were obtained, including diploid bisexual fertile natural gynogenetic fish (2n=100), sterile triploid hybrids (3n=124), and bisexual fertile tetraploid hybrids (4n=148). Furthermore, two kinds of pentaploid hybrids (5n=172 and 5n=198) were formed. The biological characteristics and the mechanisms of formation of the different ploidy fish were compared and discussed at the cellular and molecular level. The results indicated distant hybridization or the combination of this method with gynogenesis or androgenesis affects the formation of different ploidy fish with genetic variation.

Scheme for generating the singlet state of three atoms trapped in distant cavities coupled by optical fibers

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Wang, Dong-Yang; Wen, Jing-Ji; Bai, Cheng-Hua

2015-09-15

An effective scheme is proposed to generate the singlet state with three four-level atoms trapped in three distant cavities connected with each other by three optical fibers, respectively. After a series of appropriate atom–cavity interactions, which can be arbitrarily controlled via the selective pairing of Raman transitions and corresponding optical switches, a three-atom singlet state can be successfully generated. The influence of atomic spontaneous decay, photon leakage of cavities and optical fibers on the fidelity of the state is numerically simulated showing that the three-atom singlet state can be generated with high fidelity by choosing the experimental parameters appropriately.

Clinical value of 18 FDG PET/CT in screening for distant metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Deurvorst, S E; Hoekstra, O S; Castelijns, J A; Witte, B I; Leemans, C R; de Bree, R

2018-06-01

The detection of distant metastases is of major importance in management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients. All patients underwent 18 FDG PET/CT for the detection of distant metastases. Retrospective single-centre study. Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients with high-risk factors for distant metastases. Accuracy of 18 FDG PET/CT for the detection of distant metastases using clinical development of distant metastases and a minimal follow-up of twelve months as reference standard. Comparison of overall survival between patients diagnosed with distant metastases during initial screening and patients diagnosed with distant metastases during follow-up. In 23 (12%) of the 190 patients, 18 FDG PET/CT detected distant metastases at screening. Sensitivity and negative predictive value were 46.2% (95% CI 32.6-59.7) and 82.6% (95% CI 76.8-88.5). No difference in median overall survival from the time of distant metastases detection was found between patients diagnosed with DM during work-up or during follow-up. In head and neck squamous cell carcinoma patients with high-risk factors, 18 FDG PET/CT has a high negative predictive value for the detection of distant metastases and should be used in daily clinical practice, although the sensitivity is limited when long-term follow-up is used as reference standard. © 2018 The Authors. Clinical Otolaryngology Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Measuring Structural Gender Equality in Mexico: A State Level Analysis

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Frias, Sonia M.

2008-01-01

The main goal of this article is to assess the level of gender equality across the 32 Mexican states. After reviewing conceptual and methodological issues related to previous measures of structural inequality I detail the logic and methodology involved in the construction of a composite and multidimensional measure of gender equality, at the…

Near-threshold equal-loudness contours for harbor seals (Phoca vitulina) derived from reaction times during underwater audiometry: a preliminary study.

PubMed

Kastelein, Ronald A; Wensveen, Paul J; Terhune, John M; de Jong, Christ A F

2011-01-01

Equal-loudness functions describe relationships between the frequencies of sounds and their perceived loudness. This pilot study investigated the possibility of deriving equal-loudness contours based on the assumption that sounds of equal perceived loudness elicit equal reaction times (RTs). During a psychoacoustic underwater hearing study, the responses of two young female harbor seals to tonal signals between 0.125 and 100 kHz were filmed. Frame-by-frame analysis was used to quantify RT (the time between the onset of the sound stimulus and the onset of movement of the seal away from the listening station). Near-threshold equal-latency contours, as surrogates for equal-loudness contours, were estimated from RT-level functions fitted to mean RT data. The closer the received sound pressure level was to the 50% detection hearing threshold, the more slowly the animals reacted to the signal (RT range: 188-982 ms). Equal-latency contours were calculated relative to the RTs shown by each seal at sound levels of 0, 10, and 20 dB above the detection threshold at 1 kHz. Fifty percent detection thresholds are obtained with well-trained subjects actively listening for faint familiar sounds. When calculating audibility ranges of sounds for harbor seals in nature, it may be appropriate to consider levels 20 dB above this threshold.

Regulated Extracellular Choline Acetyltransferase Activity— The Plausible Missing Link of the Distant Action of Acetylcholine in the Cholinergic Anti-Inflammatory Pathway

PubMed Central

Aeinehband, Shahin; Behbahani, Homira; Grandien, Alf; Nilsson, Bo; Ekdahl, Kristina N.; Lindblom, Rickard P. F.; Piehl, Fredrik; Darreh-Shori, Taher

2013-01-01

Acetylcholine (ACh), the classical neurotransmitter, also affects a variety of nonexcitable cells, such as endothelia, microglia, astrocytes and lymphocytes in both the nervous system and secondary lymphoid organs. Most of these cells are very distant from cholinergic synapses. The action of ACh on these distant cells is unlikely to occur through diffusion, given that ACh is very short-lived in the presence of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), two extremely efficient ACh-degrading enzymes abundantly present in extracellular fluids. In this study, we show compelling evidence for presence of a high concentration and activity of the ACh-synthesizing enzyme, choline-acetyltransferase (ChAT) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and plasma. We show that ChAT levels are physiologically balanced to the levels of its counteracting enzymes, AChE and BuChE in the human plasma and CSF. Equilibrium analyses show that soluble ChAT maintains a steady-state ACh level in the presence of physiological levels of fully active ACh-degrading enzymes. We show that ChAT is secreted by cultured human-brain astrocytes, and that activated spleen lymphocytes release ChAT itself rather than ACh. We further report differential CSF levels of ChAT in relation to Alzheimer’s disease risk genotypes, as well as in patients with multiple sclerosis, a chronic neuroinflammatory disease, compared to controls. Interestingly, soluble CSF ChAT levels show strong correlation with soluble complement factor levels, supporting a role in inflammatory regulation. This study provides a plausible explanation for the long-distance action of ACh through continuous renewal of ACh in extracellular fluids by the soluble ChAT and thereby maintenance of steady-state equilibrium between hydrolysis and synthesis of this ubiquitous cholinergic signal substance in the brain and peripheral compartments. These findings may have important implications for the role of cholinergic signaling in states of inflammation in general and in neurodegenerative disease, such as Alzheimer’s disease and multiple sclerosis in particular. PMID:23840379

Distant influences of amygdala lesion on visual cortical activation during emotional face processing.

PubMed

Vuilleumier, Patrik; Richardson, Mark P; Armony, Jorge L; Driver, Jon; Dolan, Raymond J

2004-11-01

Emotional visual stimuli evoke enhanced responses in the visual cortex. To test whether this reflects modulatory influences from the amygdala on sensory processing, we used event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in human patients with medial temporal lobe sclerosis. Twenty-six patients with lesions in the amygdala, the hippocampus or both, plus 13 matched healthy controls, were shown pictures of fearful or neutral faces in task-releant or task-irrelevant positions on the display. All subjects showed increased fusiform cortex activation when the faces were in task-relevant positions. Both healthy individuals and those with hippocampal damage showed increased activation in the fusiform and occipital cortex when they were shown fearful faces, but this was not the case for individuals with damage to the amygdala, even though visual areas were structurally intact. The distant influence of the amygdala was also evidenced by the parametric relationship between amygdala damage and the level of emotional activation in the fusiform cortex. Our data show that combining the fMRI and lesion approaches can help reveal the source of functional modulatory influences between distant but interconnected brain regions.

Self-control and Task Timing Shift Self-efficacy and Influence Willingness to Engage in Effortful Tasks

PubMed Central

Ein-Gar, Danit; Steinhart, Yael

2017-01-01

Self-efficacy constitutes a key factor that influences people's inclination to engage in effortful tasks. In this study, we focus on an interesting interplay between two prominent factors known to influence engagement in effortful tasks: the timing of the task (i.e., whether the task is scheduled to take place in the near or distant future) and individuals' levels of self-control. Across three studies, we show that these two factors have an interacting effect on self-efficacy. Low self-control (LSC) individuals report higher self-efficacy for distant-future effortful tasks than for near-future tasks, whereas high self-control (HSC) individuals report higher self-efficacy for near-future tasks than for distant future tasks. We further demonstrate how self-efficacy then molds individuals' willingness to engage in those effortful tasks. Given that a particular task may comprise effortful aspects alongside more enjoyable aspects, we show that the effects we observe emerge with regard to a task whose effortful aspects are salient and that the effects are eliminated when the enjoyable aspects of that same task are highlighted. PMID:29075225

The Happiest Kids on Earth. Gender Equality and Adolescent Life Satisfaction in Europe and North America.

PubMed

Looze, M E de; Huijts, T; Stevens, G W J M; Torsheim, T; Vollebergh, W A M

2018-05-01

Cross-national differences in adolescent life satisfaction in Europe and North America are consistent, but remain poorly understood. While previous studies have predominantly focused on the explanatory role of economic factors, such as national wealth and income equality, they revealed weak associations, at most. This study examines whether societal gender equality can explain the observed cross-national variability in adolescent life satisfaction. Based on the assumption that gender equality fosters a supportive social context, for example within families through a more equal involvement of fathers and mothers in child care tasks, adolescent life satisfaction was expected to be higher in more gender-equal countries. To test this hypothesis, national-level data of gender equality (i.e., women's share in political participation, decision making power, economic participation and command over resources) were linked to data from 175,470 adolescents aged 11-16 years old (M age  = 13.6, SD = 1.64, 52% girls) from 34 European and North American countries involved in the 2009/10 Health Behaviour in School-aged Children (HBSC) study. Results of linear multilevel regression analyses indicate that adolescents in countries with relatively high levels of gender equality report higher life satisfaction than their peers in countries with lower levels of gender equality. The association between gender equality and adolescent life satisfaction remained significant after controlling for national wealth and income equality. It was equally strong for boys and girls. Moreover, the association between gender equality and life satisfaction was explained by social support in the family, peer and school context. This analysis suggests that gender equality fosters social support among members of a society, which in turn contributes to adolescent life satisfaction. Thus, promoting gender equality is likely to benefit all members of a society; not just by giving equal rights to women and girls, but also by fostering a supportive social climate for all.

The magnetic topology of the plasmoid flux rope in a MHD-simulation of magnetotail reconnection

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Birn, J.; Hesse, M.

1990-01-01

On the basis of a 3D MHD simulation, the magnetic topology of a plasmoid that forms by a localized reconnection process in a magnetotail configuration (including a net dawn-dusk magnetic field component B sub y N is discussed. As a consequence of B sub y N not equalling 0, the plasmoid assumes a helical flux rope structure rather than an isolated island or bubble structure. Initially all field lines of the plasmoid flux rope remain connected with the earth, while at later times a gradually increasing amount of flux tubes becomes separated, connecting to either the distant boundary or to the flank boundaries. In this stage, topologically different flux tubes become tangled and wrapped around each other, consistent with predictions on the basis of an ad hoc plasmoid model.

Gravitational lensing by clusters of galaxies - Constraining the mass distribution

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Miralda-Escude, Jordi

1991-01-01

The possibility of placing constraints on the mass distribution of a cluster of galaxies by analyzing the cluster's gravitational lensing effect on the images of more distant galaxies is investigated theoretically in the limit of weak distortion. The steps in the proposed analysis are examined in detail, and it is concluded that detectable distortion can be produced by clusters with line-of-sight velocity dispersions of over 500 km/sec. Hence it should be possible to determine (1) the cluster center position (with accuracy equal to the mean separation of the background galaxies), (2) the cluster-potential quadrupole moment (to within about 20 percent of the total potential if velocity dispersion is 1000 km/sec), and (3) the power law for the outer-cluster density profile (if enough background galaxies in the surrounding region are observed).

Metastatic patterns and metastatic sites in mucosal melanoma: a retrospective study.

PubMed

Grözinger, Gerd; Mann, Steven; Mehra, Tarun; Klumpp, Bernhard; Grosse, Ulrich; Nikolaou, Konstantin; Garbe, Claus; Clasen, Stephan

2016-06-01

Melanomas arising from mucosa are rare and associated with a poor prognosis. This study aims to provide an analysis of metastatic pathways, time intervals, factors influencing metastatic spread and organs for distant metastases. A total of 116 patients with mucosal melanomas of different sites were included. The mean follow-up interval was 47 ± 52 months. Patients were assigned to two different metastatic pathways, either presenting loco-regional lymph node metastases as first spread or direct distant metastases. The distribution of distant metastases was assessed. Twenty-six patients presented with a pre-existing metastatic spread and were not assigned to pathways. Of the included patients, 44 developed metastases after treatment of the primary tumour; 25 patients directly developed distant metastases; 16 patients developed regional lymph node metastases prior to distant metastases. Location of the primary tumour in the upper airway or GI tract and advanced T stage were significant risk factors of direct distant metastases. Distant metastases are mainly located in the lung, the liver and non-regional lymph nodes. Mucosal melanomas show a high rate of direct distant metastases rather than regional lymph node metastases. Thus the follow-up should always include a whole-body cross-sectional imaging in high-risk tumours. • Mucosal melanomas show a high rate of direct distant metastases. • T stage and primary location are predictors for direct distant metastases. • Distant metastases were mainly found in lung, liver and lymph nodes. • Follow-up of a high-risk mucosal melanoma should include whole-body imaging.

What can alcohol researchers learn from research about the relationship between macro-level gender equality and violence against women?

PubMed

Roberts, Sarah C M

2011-01-01

This systematic review focuses on research about macro-level gender equality and violence against women (VAW) and identifies conceptually and theoretically driven hypotheses as well as lessons relevant for alcohol research. Hypotheses include: amelioration--increased equality decreases VAW; backlash--increased equality increases VAW; and convergence--increased equality reduces the gender gap; and hypotheses that distinguish between relative and absolute status, with relative status comparing men's and women's status and absolute status measuring women's status without regard to men. Systematic review of studies published through June 2009 identified through PubMed and Web of Science, as well as citing and cited articles. A total of 30 studies are included. Of 85 findings examining amelioration/backlash, 25% support amelioration, 22% backlash; and 53% are null. Of 13 findings examining convergence, 31% support and 23% are inconsistent with convergence; 46% are null. Neither the existence nor the direction of the equality and VAW relationship can be assumed. This suggests that the relationship between macro-level gender equality and alcohol should also not be assumed, but rather investigated through research.

Local functional connectivity suggests functional immaturity in children with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder.

PubMed

Marcos-Vidal, Luis; Martínez-García, Magdalena; Pretus, Clara; Garcia-Garcia, David; Martínez, Kenia; Janssen, Joost; Vilarroya, Oscar; Castellanos, Francisco X; Desco, Manuel; Sepulcre, Jorge; Carmona, Susanna

2018-06-01

Previous studies have associated Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) with a maturational lag of brain functional networks. Functional connectivity of the human brain changes from primarily local to more distant connectivity patterns during typical development. Under the maturational lag hypothesis, we expect children with ADHD to exhibit increased local connectivity and decreased distant connectivity compared with neurotypically developing (ND) children. We applied a graph-theory method to compute local and distant connectivity levels and cross-sectionally compared them in a sample of 120 children with ADHD and 120 age-matched ND children (age range = 7-17 years). In addition, we measured if potential group differences in local and distant connectivity were stable across the age range considered. Finally, we assessed the clinical relevance of observed group differences by correlating the connectivity levels and ADHD symptoms severity separately for each group. Children with ADHD exhibited more local connectivity than age-matched ND children in multiple brain regions, mainly overlapping with default mode, fronto-parietal and ventral attentional functional networks (p < .05- threshold free-cluster enhancement-family-wise error). We detected an atypical developmental pattern of local connectivity in somatomotor regions, that is, decreases with age in ND children, and increases with age in children with ADHD. Furthermore, local connectivity within somatomotor areas correlated positively with clinical severity of ADHD symptoms, both in ADHD and ND children. Results suggest an immature functional state of multiple brain networks in children with ADHD. Whereas the ADHD diagnosis is associated with the integrity of the system comprising the fronto-parietal, default mode and ventral attentional networks, the severity of clinical symptoms is related to atypical functional connectivity within somatomotor areas. Additionally, our findings are in line with the view of ADHD as a disorder of deviated maturational trajectories, mainly affecting somatomotor areas, rather than delays that normalize with age. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A Distant Mirror: Solar Oscillations Observed on Neptune by the Kepler K2 Mission

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Gaulme, P.; Rowe, J. F.; Bedding, T. R.; Benomar, O.; Corsaro, E.; Davies, G. R.; Hale, S. J.; Howe, R.; Garcia, R. A.; Huber, D.;

Children Who Kill.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Natale, Jo Anna

1999-01-01

Two recent books, "When Good Kids Kill," by Michael D. Kelleher, and "Lost Boys," by James Garbarino, explore how children become killers and suggest ways to reduce our high-pressure society's epidemic levels of youth violence. Physically or psychologically distant parents and unaffirmative media messages are negative…

Destruction of a distal hypoxia response element abolishes trans-activation of the PAG1 gene mediated by HIF-independent chromatin looping.

PubMed

Schörg, Alexandra; Santambrogio, Sara; Platt, James L; Schödel, Johannes; Lindenmeyer, Maja T; Cohen, Clemens D; Schrödter, Katrin; Mole, David R; Wenger, Roland H; Hoogewijs, David

2015-07-13

A crucial step in the cellular adaptation to oxygen deficiency is the binding of hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) to hypoxia response elements (HREs) of oxygen-regulated genes. Genome-wide HIF-1α/2α/β DNA-binding studies revealed that the majority of HREs reside distant to the promoter regions, but the function of these distal HREs has only been marginally studied in the genomic context. We used chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP), gene editing (TALEN) and chromosome conformation capture (3C) to localize and functionally characterize a 82 kb upstream HRE that solely drives oxygen-regulated expression of the newly identified HIF target gene PAG1. PAG1, a transmembrane adaptor protein involved in Src signalling, was hypoxically induced in various cell lines and mouse tissues. ChIP and reporter gene assays demonstrated that the -82 kb HRE regulates PAG1, but not an equally distant gene further upstream, by direct interaction with HIF. Ablation of the consensus HRE motif abolished the hypoxic induction of PAG1 but not general oxygen signalling. 3C assays revealed that the -82 kb HRE physically associates with the PAG1 promoter region, independent of HIF-DNA interaction. These results demonstrate a constitutive interaction between the -82 kb HRE and the PAG1 promoter, suggesting a physiologically important rapid response to hypoxia. © The Author(s) 2015. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Nucleic Acids Research.

A clinical study of 407 cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Hong Kong

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Teo, P.; Tsao, S.Y.; Shiu, W.

Four hundred and seven cases of nasopharyngeal carcinoma were analyzed retrospectively; 403/407 were evaluable for recurrence and survival. Parapharyngeal boost significantly decreased local recurrences in parapharyngeal diseases without base of skull involvement (T2p), but not with base of skull involvement (T3p). Enhanced local control of T2p with boost was significant without neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Tumors localized within the nasopharynx (T1) and tumors with nasal involvement (T2n) suffering from local persistences after external radiation therapy were treated with an intracavitary afterloading method. They had survival and recurrence rates comparable to complete responders to external radiation therapy. Patients with bulky cervical nodes (maximalmore » diameter greater than or equal to 4 cm, N1-N3), treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy with cis-diamminedichloroplatinum II and 5-fluorouracil, had a regional failure rate, distant metastasis rate, actuarial survival rate, and disease-free survival rate comparable to those with smaller nodes treated with external radiation therapy alone. A simple modification of the Ho's classification by regrouping the T-stages into 'early T-stages' and 'advanced T-stages' and by combining the N1 and the N2 has greatly increased the power of the system in predicting local recurrence and distant metastasis, respectively. There was an overall improvement of the actuarial survival rate and disease-free survival rate over the historical control, and its significance is discussed.« less

Numerical difficulties associated with using equality constraints to achieve multi-level decomposition in structural optimization

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Thareja, R.; Haftka, R. T.

1986-01-01

There has been recent interest in multidisciplinary multilevel optimization applied to large engineering systems. The usual approach is to divide the system into a hierarchy of subsystems with ever increasing detail in the analysis focus. Equality constraints are usually placed on various design quantities at every successive level to ensure consistency between levels. In many previous applications these equality constraints were eliminated by reducing the number of design variables. In complex systems this may not be possible and these equality constraints may have to be retained in the optimization process. In this paper the impact of such a retention is examined for a simple portal frame problem. It is shown that the equality constraints introduce numerical difficulties, and that the numerical solution becomes very sensitive to optimization parameters for a wide range of optimization algorithms.

Evaluation of Distant Education Programs with Regards to Various Shareholder Opinions

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Tonbuloglu, Betül; Gürol, Aysun

2016-01-01

The strong demand and rapid increase in the number of programs concerning distant education programs has put the quality problem of distant education services into the agenda. It is crucial to determine the strengths and weaknesses of distant education programs, the problems encountered by these programs and making the required improvements. The…

Active Tobacco Smoking and Distant Metastasis in Patients With Oropharyngeal Cancer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

McBride, Sean M.; Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; Ali, Nawal N.

Purpose: Distant metastasis is the site of first relapse in approximately one-third of patients with locally advanced oropharyngeal carcinoma, irrespective of human papillomavirus status. Yet the risk factors associated with distant metastasis are not well characterized. We sought to characterize the relationship between smoking status and distant metastasis. Methods and Materials: We evaluated the association between tobacco smoking status and distant metastasis in a retrospective cohort study of 132 patients who underwent definitive radiation therapy and chemotherapy for Stage III-IVA/B oropharyngeal cancer. Information on tobacco smoking was prospectively collected by patient questionnaires and physician notes at the time of diagnosis.more » Thirty-three percent of the patients were nonsmokers, 51% were former smokers, 16% were active smokers. The cumulative lifetime tobacco smoking in pack-years was 20 (range, 0-150). Results: With a median follow-up time of 52 months, the overall rate of distant metastasis at 4 years was 8%. Distant metastasis was the most common first site of relapse, occurring in 56% of the patients with recurrences. Active smokers had higher rates of distant metastasis than non-active smokers (including never- and former smokers; 31% vs. 4%, p < 0.001) and former smokers (31% vs. 3%, p < 0.001). There was no statistically significant difference in the risk of distant metastasis for patients with lifetime cumulative pack-years >20 and {<=}20 (10% vs. 4%, p = 0.19). In univariate analysis, active smoking (p = 0.0004) and N category (p = 0.009) were predictive of increased risk of distant metastasis. In multivariate analysis, active smoking was the most significant predictive factor for increased risk of distant metastasis (hazard ratio, 12.7, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: This study identified a strong association between active smoking and distant metastasis in patients with oropharyngeal cancer.« less

Learning in professionally 'distant' contexts: opportunities and challenges.

PubMed

Mausz, Justin; Tavares, Walter

2017-08-01

The changing nature of healthcare education and delivery is such that clinicians will increasingly find themselves practicing in contexts that are physically and/or conceptually different from the settings in which they were trained, a practice that conflicts on some level with socio-cultural theories of learning that emphasize learning in context. Our objective was therefore to explore learning in 'professionally distant' contexts. Using paramedic education, where portions of training occur in hospital settings despite preparing students for out-of-hospital work, fifty-three informants (11 current students, 13 recent graduates, 16 paramedic program faculty and 13 program coordinators/directors) took part in five semi-structured focus groups. Participants reflected on the value and role of hospital placements in paramedic student development. All sessions were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. In this context six educational advantages and two challenges were identified when using professionally distant learning environments. Learning could still be associated with features such as (a) engagement through "authenticity", (b) technical skill development, (c) interpersonal skill development, (d) psychological resilience, (e) healthcare system knowledge and (f) scaffolding. Variability in learning and misalignment with learning goals were identified as potential threats. Learning environments that are professionally distant from eventual practice settings may prove meaningful by providing learners with foundational and preparatory learning experiences for competencies that may be transferrable. This suggests that where learning occurs may be less important than how the experience contributes to the learner's development and the meaning or value he/she derives from it.

A Noninvasive Test for MicroRNA Expression in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma.

PubMed

Gissi, Davide B; Morandi, Luca; Gabusi, Andrea; Tarsitano, Achille; Marchetti, Claudio; Cura, Francesca; Palmieri, Annalisa; Montebugnoli, Lucio; Asioli, Sofia; Foschini, Maria P; Scapoli, Luca

2018-06-16

MicroRNAs have recently been proposed as non-invasive biomarkers in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). The aim of this study was to analyze the expression of a panel of miRNAs in epithelial cells collected by oral brushing from OSCCs from regenerative areas after OSCC surgical resection and from their respective normal distant mucosa. Oral brushing specimens were collected from 24 healthy donors, 14 OSCC patients with specimens from tumour and normal distant mucosa, and from 13 patients who had OSCC resection, with samples from regenerative areas after OSCC resection and normal distant mucosa. Expression levels of eight targets (miR-21, miR-375, miR-345, miR-181b, miR-146a, miR-649, miR-518b, and miR-191) were evaluated by real-time Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR). A highly significant between-group difference was found for miR-21 (F = 6.58, p < 0.001), miR-146a (F = 6.974, p < 0.001), and miR-191 (F = 17.07, p < 0.001). The major difference was observed between samples from healthy donors and from OSCC brushing, whereas no significant differences were observed between areas infiltrated by OSCC and their respective normal distant mucosa. Furthermore, altered expression of miR-146a and miR-191 was also observed in regenerative areas after OSCC resection. Oral brushing could be proposed as a noninvasive method to study microRNA expression in oral mucosa in OSCC patients.

Nodal Lymphangiogenesis and Metastasis

PubMed Central

Hirakawa, Satoshi; Detmar, Michael; Kerjaschki, Dontscho; Nagamatsu, Shogo; Matsuo, Keitaro; Tanemura, Atsushi; Kamata, Nobuyuki; Higashikawa, Koichiro; Okazaki, Hidenori; Kameda, Kenji; Nishida-Fukuda, Hisayo; Mori, Hideki; Hanakawa, Yasushi; Sayama, Koji; Shirakata, Yuji; Tohyama, Mikiko; Tokumaru, Sho; Katayama, Ichiro; Hashimoto, Koji

2009-01-01

Nodal lymphangiogenesis promotes distant lymph node (LN) metastasis in experimental cancer models. However, the role of nodal lymphangiogenesis in distant metastasis and in the overall survival of cancer patients remains unknown. Therefore, we investigated mechanisms that might facilitate regional and distant LN metastasis in extramammary Paget’s disease (EMPD). We retrospectively analyzed the impact of tumor-induced lymphatic vessel activation on the survival of 116 patients, the largest cohort with EMPD studied to date. Nodal lymphangiogenesis was significantly increased in metastatic, compared with tumor-free, LNs (P = 0.022). Increased lymphatic invasion within regional LNs was significantly associated with distant metastasis in LN (P = 0.047) and organs (P = 0.003). Thus, invasion within regional LNs is a powerful indicator of systemic tumor spread and reduced patient survival in EMPD (P = 0.0004). Lymphatic vessels associated with tumors expressed stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1), whereas CXCR4 was expressed on invasive Paget cells undergoing epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-like process. A431 cells overexpressing Snail expressed increased levels of CXCR4 in the presence of transforming growth factor-β1. Haptotactic migration assays confirmed that Snail-induced EMT-like process promotes tumor cell motility via the CXCR4-SDF-1 axis. Sinusoidal lymphatic endothelial cells and macrophages expressed SDF-1 in subcapsular sinuses of lymph nodes before Paget cell arrival. Our findings reveal that EMT-related features likely promote lymphatic metastasis of EMPD by activating the CXCR4-SDF-1 axis. PMID:19815713

Macro-level gender equality and depression in men and women in Europe.

PubMed

Van de Velde, Sarah; Huijts, Tim; Bracke, Piet; Bambra, Clare

2013-06-01

A recurrent finding in international literature is a greater prevalence of depression in women than in men. While explanations for this gender gap have been studied extensively at the individual level, few researchers have studied macro-level determinants of depression in men and women. In the current study we aim to examine the micro-macro linkage of the relationship between gender equality and depression by gender in Europe, using data from the European Social Survey, 2006-2007 (N=39,891). Using a multilevel framework we find that a high degree of macro-level gender equality is related to lower levels of depression in both women and men. It is also related to a smaller gender difference in depression, but only for certain social subgroups and only for specific dimensions of gender equality. © 2013 The Authors. Sociology of Health & Illness © 2013 Foundation for the Sociology of Health & Illness/John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Elective Nodal Irradiation and Patterns of Failure in Head and Neck Cancer After Primary Radiation Therapy

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kjems, Julie; Gothelf, Anita B.; Håkansson, Katrin

Purpose: The delineation of elective clinical target volumes in head and neck cancer (HNC) is important; however, the extent of lymph node levels necessary to include is debated. A comprehensive analysis of recurrence patterns in a large cohort of patients with HNC was performed, with an emphasis on recurrence in the retropharyngeal region and level IB. Methods and Materials: From 2005 to 2012, 942 patients with oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, laryngeal or oral cavity carcinomas were curatively treated with primary radiation therapy. The median follow-up period was 34 months, and 77% of the patients underwent intensity modulated radiation therapy. The retropharyngeal region wasmore » only routinely included in cases of involvement of the posterior pharynx wall and level IB only in cases of involvement of the oral cavity. In patients with regional recurrence, the anatomic site of the recurrence was assessed from the surgical descriptions or computed tomography scans and compared with the original radiation treatment plan (available from 2007 onward). The p16 status was available for 282 oropharynx carcinoma cases, with 65% p16-positive. Results: Of the 942 patients, 376 (40%) developed recurrences: 228 (24.2%) local, 123 (13.1%) regional, and 109 (11.6%) distant. In 700 patients with available treatment plans, retropharyngeal and level IB recurrence was observed in 2 and 7 patients, respectively. Eight patients (1.1%) had recurrence in a lymph node level not included in their primary treatment plan. For oropharynx carcinoma, the locoregional control rate (90% vs 70%) but not distant control rate (92% vs 87%), was significantly better in the p16-positive than in the p16-negative patients. Although fewer recurrences developed in the p16-positive group, patients with recurrence of p16-positive tumors were more likely to develop recurrence in distant sites. Conclusions: Retropharyngeal or level IB recurrence after primary HNC radiation therapy is rare. Thus, inclusion of these regions in the elective treatment volumes should be limited to patients with involvement of the posterior pharyngeal wall or oral cavity.« less

Oxidative stress may be involved in distant organ failure in tourniquet shock model mice.

PubMed

Nishikata, Rie; Kato, Naho; Hiraiwa, Kouichi

2014-03-01

Crush syndrome is characterized by prolonged shock resulting from extensive muscle damage and multiple organ failure. However, the pathogenesis of multiple organ failure has not yet been completely elucidated. Therefore, we investigated the molecular biological and histopathological aspects of distant organ injury in crush syndrome by using tourniquet shock model mice. DNA microarray analysis of the soleus muscle showed an increase in the mRNA levels of Cox-2, Hsp70, c-fos, and IL-6, at 3h after ischemia/reperfusion injury at the lower extremity. In vivo staining with hematoxylin and eosin (HE) showed edema and degeneration in the soleus muscle, but no change in the distant organs. Immunohistological staining of the HSP70 protein revealed nuclear translocation in the soleus muscle, kidney, liver, and lung. The c-fos mRNA levels were elevated in the soleus muscle, kidney, and liver, displaying nuclear translocation of c-FOS protein. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick-end labeling (TUNEL) analysis suggested the involvement of apoptosis in ischemia/reperfusion injury in the soleus muscle. Apoptotic cells were not found in greater quantities in the kidney. Oxidative stress, as determined using a free radical elective evaluator (d-ROM test), markedly increased after ischemia/reperfusion injury. Therefore, examination of immunohistological changes and determination of oxidative stress are proposed to be useful in evaluating the extent of tourniquet shock, even before changes are observed by HE staining. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Temporal construal effects on abstract and concrete thinking: consequences for insight and creative cognition.

PubMed

Förster, Jens; Friedman, Ronald S; Liberman, Nira

2004-08-01

Six studies investigate whether and how distant future time perspective facilitates abstract thinking and impedes concrete thinking by altering the level at which mental representations are construed. In Experiments 1-3, participants who envisioned their lives and imagined themselves engaging in a task 1 year later as opposed to the next day subsequently performed better on a series of insight tasks. In Experiments 4 and 5 a distal perspective was found to improve creative generation of abstract solutions. Moreover, Experiment 5 demonstrated a similar effect with temporal distance manipulated indirectly, by making participants imagine their lives in general a year from now versus tomorrow prior to performance. In Experiment 6, distant time perspective undermined rather than enhanced analytical problem solving.

Ecological studies of Eastern Australian fruit flies (Diptera: Tephritidae) in their endemic habitat : II. The spatial pattern of abundance.

PubMed

Zalucki, M P; Drew, R A I; Hooper, G H S

1984-10-01

11 fruit fly species captured at 47 sites in a natural forest area at Cooloola (south-east Queensland) revealed specific patterns of spatial abundance. Although all species were collected throughout the study area, D. bryoniae, D. mayi, D. neohumeralis and D. tryoni were more prevalent (average number caught per trap) in the open Eucalypt forest than the rainforest, whereas C. aequalis, D. absonifacies and D. endiandrae were more prevalent in the rainforest. D. cacuminatus, D. choristus, D. quadratus and D. signatifrons were equally prevalent throughout both forest types. Fly numbers were not distributed randomly throughout the trap sites. The clumped dispersion patterns seemed to be species specific as assessed and summarised by Taylor's Power Law. The exponent (b) relating mean spatial abundance to its variance ranged from 1.6-5.11 for the 11 species captured. Changing patterns of trap catches from one sampling period to another were analysed using correlograms for the 6 most abundant species (D. tryoni, D. neohumeralis, D. endiandrae, C. aequalis, D. cacuminatus and D. mayi). These revealed changing patterns of relative spatial abundance which can be related, in part, to changing population abundance levels. The various spatial patterns recognised are related to each species movement, breeding and feeding behaviour. It is proposed that flies migrate into the rainforest area from distant locations and that the rainforest habitat is an important adult feeding site.

37 CFR 256.2 - Royalty fee for compulsory license for secondary transmission by cable systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2013 CFR

2013-07-01

... receipts for the first distant signal equivalent; (3) .668 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for each of the second, third and fourth distant signal equivalents; and (4) .314 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for the fifth distant signal equivalent and each additional distant signal equivalent...

37 CFR 256.2 - Royalty fee for compulsory license for secondary transmission by cable systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2012 CFR

2012-07-01

... receipts for the first distant signal equivalent; (3) .668 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for each of the second, third and fourth distant signal equivalents; and (4) .314 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for the fifth distant signal equivalent and each additional distant signal equivalent...

37 CFR 256.2 - Royalty fee for compulsory license for secondary transmission by cable systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2011 CFR

2011-07-01

... receipts for the first distant signal equivalent; (3) .668 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for each of the second, third and fourth distant signal equivalents; and (4) .314 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for the fifth distant signal equivalent and each additional distant signal equivalent...

37 CFR 256.2 - Royalty fee for compulsory license for secondary transmission by cable systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2014 CFR

2014-07-01

... gross receipts for the first distant signal equivalent; (3) .668 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for each of the second, third and fourth distant signal equivalents; and (4) .314 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for the fifth distant signal equivalent and each additional distant signal...

37 CFR 256.2 - Royalty fee for compulsory license for secondary transmission by cable systems.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-07-01

... receipts for the first distant signal equivalent; (3) .668 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for each of the second, third and fourth distant signal equivalents; and (4) .314 of 1 per centum of such gross receipts for the fifth distant signal equivalent and each additional distant signal equivalent...

What Can Alcohol Researchers Learn from Research about the Relationship Between Macro-Level Gender Equality and Violence against Women?

PubMed Central

Roberts, Sarah C.M.

2011-01-01

Aims: This systematic review focuses on research about macro-level gender equality and violence against women (VAW) and identifies conceptually and theoretically driven hypotheses as well as lessons relevant for alcohol research. Hypotheses include: amelioration—increased equality decreases VAW; backlash—increased equality increases VAW; and convergence—increased equality reduces the gender gap; and hypotheses that distinguish between relative and absolute status, with relative status comparing men's and women's status and absolute status measuring women's status without regard to men. Methods: Systematic review of studies published through June 2009 identified through PubMed and Web of Science, as well as citing and cited articles. Results: A total of 30 studies are included. Of 85 findings examining amelioration/backlash, 25% support amelioration, 22% backlash; and 53% are null. Of 13 findings examining convergence, 31% support and 23% are inconsistent with convergence; 46% are null. Conclusion: Neither the existence nor the direction of the equality and VAW relationship can be assumed. This suggests that the relationship between macro-level gender equality and alcohol should also not be assumed, but rather investigated through research. PMID:21239417

Algorithm to find distant repeats in a single protein sequence

PubMed Central

Banerjee, Nirjhar; Sarani, Rangarajan; Ranjani, Chellamuthu Vasuki; Sowmiya, Govindaraj; Michael, Daliah; Balakrishnan, Narayanasamy; Sekar, Kanagaraj

2008-01-01

Distant repeats in protein sequence play an important role in various aspects of protein analysis. A keen analysis of the distant repeats would enable to establish a firm relation of the repeats with respect to their function and three-dimensional structure during the evolutionary process. Further, it enlightens the diversity of duplication during the evolution. To this end, an algorithm has been developed to find all distant repeats in a protein sequence. The scores from Point Accepted Mutation (PAM) matrix has been deployed for the identification of amino acid substitutions while detecting the distant repeats. Due to the biological importance of distant repeats, the proposed algorithm will be of importance to structural biologists, molecular biologists, biochemists and researchers involved in phylogenetic and evolutionary studies. PMID:19052663

A new molecular predictor of distant recurrence in ER-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer adds independent information to conventional clinical risk factors.

PubMed

Filipits, Martin; Rudas, Margaretha; Jakesz, Raimund; Dubsky, Peter; Fitzal, Florian; Singer, Christian F; Dietze, Otto; Greil, Richard; Jelen, Andrea; Sevelda, Paul; Freibauer, Christa; Müller, Volkmar; Jänicke, Fritz; Schmidt, Marcus; Kölbl, Heinz; Rody, Achim; Kaufmann, Manfred; Schroth, Werner; Brauch, Hiltrud; Schwab, Matthias; Fritz, Peter; Weber, Karsten E; Feder, Inke S; Hennig, Guido; Kronenwett, Ralf; Gehrmann, Mathias; Gnant, Michael

2011-09-15

According to current guidelines, molecular tests predicting the outcome of breast cancer patients can be used to assist in making treatment decisions after consideration of conventional markers. We developed and validated a gene expression signature predicting the likelihood of distant recurrence in patients with estrogen receptor (ER)-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer treated with adjuvant endocrine therapy. RNA levels assessed by quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor tissue were used to calculate a risk score (Endopredict, EP) consisting of eight cancer-related and three reference genes. EP was combined with nodal status and tumor size into a comprehensive risk score, EPclin. Both prespecified risk scores including cutoff values to determine a risk group for each patient (low and high) were validated independently in patients from two large randomized phase III trials [Austrian Breast and Colorectal Cancer Study Group (ABCSG)-6: n = 378, ABCSG-8: n = 1,324]. In both validation cohorts, continuous EP was an independent predictor of distant recurrence in multivariate analysis (ABCSG-6: P = 0.010, ABCSG-8: P < 0.001). Combining Adjuvant!Online, quantitative ER, Ki67, and treatment with EP yielded a prognostic power significantly superior to the clinicopathologic factors alone [c-indices: 0.764 vs. 0.750, P = 0.024 (ABCSG-6) and 0.726 vs. 0.701, P = 0.003 (ABCSG-8)]. EPclin had c-indices of 0.788 and 0.732 and resulted in 10-year distant recurrence rates of 4% and 4% in EPclin low-risk and 28% and 22% in EPclin high-risk patients in ABCSG-6 (P < 0.001) and ABCSG-8 (P < 0.001), respectively. The multigene EP risk score provided additional prognostic information to the risk of distant recurrence of breast cancer patients, independent from clinicopathologic parameters. The EPclin score outperformed all conventional clinicopathologic risk factors. ©2011 AACR.

Regional traumatic limb hypothermia attenuates distant hepatic and renal injury following blast limb trauma in rats.

PubMed

Zhao, Hongzhi; Ning, Jiaolin; Duan, Jiaxiang; Gu, Jianteng; Yi, Bin; Lu, Kaizhi; Mo, Liwen; Lai, Xinan; Hennah, Lindsay; Ma, Daqing

2014-09-01

Blast limb injury was reported to result in distant organ injury including the lungs, which can be attenuated with transient regional hypothermia (RH) to the injured limb. We aimed to further study hepatic and renal injuries following blast limb trauma and also to evaluate the protective effects of regional traumatic limb hypothermia on such injuries in rats. Blast limb trauma (BLT) was created using chartaceous electricity detonators in anesthetized male Sprague-Dawley rats. The BLT rats were randomly allocated to undergo regional traumatic limb hypothermic treatment (RH) for 30 minutes, 60 minutes, or 6 hours immediately after the onset of blast or without RH (n = 8 per group). The severity of hepatic and renal injury was assessed through histologic examination and water content (wet/dry weight) in all animals 6 hours later. The level of plasma tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), interleukin 6, hydrogen sulfide (H2S), and myeloperoxidase (MPO) together with hepatic and renal MPO, malondialdehyde (MDA), superoxide dismutase, and total antioxidant capacity were measured 6 hours after the blast injury. Following BLT, hepatic injury was evidenced by histopathologic changes, increased water content, as well as plasma alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase. Renal histopathologic but not functional changes were also found. RH treatment for all durations attenuated this distant renal injury, but only RH treatment for 60 minutes and 6 hours attenuated distant hepatic injury following BLT. RH treatment for all durations decreased plasma TNF-α and interleukin 6, reduced liver and kidney MPO activity and kidney MDA, and elevated superoxide dismutase and total antioxidant capacity in both liver and kidneys. RH treatment for 60 minutes is the most effective duration to reduce hepatic MPO activity, plasma TNF-α, and kidney MDA. This study indicates that BLT-induced distant renal and hepatic injury could be attenuated by RH treatment through reduction of cytokine release and inhibition of neutrophil accumulation and oxidative stress.

A multigene assay to predict recurrence of tamoxifen-treated, node-negative breast cancer.

PubMed

Paik, Soonmyung; Shak, Steven; Tang, Gong; Kim, Chungyeul; Baker, Joffre; Cronin, Maureen; Baehner, Frederick L; Walker, Michael G; Watson, Drew; Park, Taesung; Hiller, William; Fisher, Edwin R; Wickerham, D Lawrence; Bryant, John; Wolmark, Norman

2004-12-30

The likelihood of distant recurrence in patients with breast cancer who have no involved lymph nodes and estrogen-receptor-positive tumors is poorly defined by clinical and histopathological measures. We tested whether the results of a reverse-transcriptase-polymerase-chain-reaction (RT-PCR) assay of 21 prospectively selected genes in paraffin-embedded tumor tissue would correlate with the likelihood of distant recurrence in patients with node-negative, tamoxifen-treated breast cancer who were enrolled in the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project clinical trial B-14. The levels of expression of 16 cancer-related genes and 5 reference genes were used in a prospectively defined algorithm to calculate a recurrence score and to determine a risk group (low, intermediate, or high) for each patient. Adequate RT-PCR profiles were obtained in 668 of 675 tumor blocks. The proportions of patients categorized as having a low, intermediate, or high risk by the RT-PCR assay were 51, 22, and 27 percent, respectively. The Kaplan-Meier estimates of the rates of distant recurrence at 10 years in the low-risk, intermediate-risk, and high-risk groups were 6.8 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 4.0 to 9.6), 14.3 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 8.3 to 20.3), and 30.5 percent (95 percent confidence interval, 23.6 to 37.4). The rate in the low-risk group was significantly lower than that in the high-risk group (P<0.001). In a multivariate Cox model, the recurrence score provided significant predictive power that was independent of age and tumor size (P<0.001). The recurrence score was also predictive of overall survival (P<0.001) and could be used as a continuous function to predict distant recurrence in individual patients. The recurrence score has been validated as quantifying the likelihood of distant recurrence in tamoxifen-treated patients with node-negative, estrogen-receptor-positive breast cancer. Copyright 2004 Massachusetts Medical Society.

Pushing Economies (and Students) outside the Factor Price Equalization Zone

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Oslington, Paul; Towers, Isaac

2009-01-01

Despite overwhelming empirical evidence of the failure of factor price equalization, most teaching of international trade theory (even at the graduate level) assumes that economies are incompletely specialized and that factor price equalization holds. The behavior of trading economies in the absence of factor price equalization is not well…

Clinical significance of preoperative and postoperative cytokeratin 19 messenger RNA level in peripheral blood of esophageal cancer patients.

PubMed

Qiao, Y-F; Chen, C-G; Yue, J; Ma, Z; Yu, Z-T

2016-11-01

The purpose of this study is to analyze the correlation between preoperative/postoperative Cytokeratin 19 (CK19) messenger RNA (mRNA) level in peripheral blood (PB) and the clinical significance in esophageal cancer patients with different clinicopathological factors. We detected the preoperative and postoperative CK19 mRNA level in the PB of 139 esophageal cancer patients who underwent complete resection and evaluated its clinical significance. We found that both the preoperative and postoperative CK19 mRNA level increased in the esophageal cancer patients with lymph node metastasis, relapse or distant metastasis compared with that in cancers without lymph node metastasis, relapse or distant metastasis. High postoperative CK19 mRNA levels indicate a short disease-free survival (DFS) for the whole cohort esophageal cancer patients, whereas the high preoperative CK19 mRNA levels only indicate a short DFS for the esophageal cancer patients with squamous cell carcinoma, TNM III stage, and lymph node metastasis. The dynamic change of CK19 mRNA levels could indicate the prognosis of esophageal cancer patients. The patients with decreasing CK19 mRNA level after surgery had good prognosis, and the patients with changeless CK19 mRNA level had poor prognosis. Taken together, CK19 mRNA levels could be a promising marker in assessing prognosis or assigning treatment for the esophageal cancer patients according to different clinicopathological factors. © 2015 International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus.

Incidence and sites of distant metastases from head and neck cancer.

PubMed

Ferlito, A; Shaha, A R; Silver, C E; Rinaldo, A; Mondin, V

2001-01-01

The incidence of distant metastases in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is relatively small in comparison to other malignancies. Distant metastases adversely impact survival and may significantly affect treatment planning. The incidence of distant metastases is influenced by location of the primary tumor, initial T and N stage of the neoplasm, and the presence or absence of regional control above the clavicle. Patients with advanced nodal disease have a high incidence of distant metastases, particularly in the presence of jugular vein invasion or extensive soft tissue disease in the neck. Primary tumors of advanced T stages in the hypopharynx, oropharynx and oral cavity are associated with the highest incidence of distant metastases. Pulmonary metastases are the most frequent in SCC, accounting for 66% of distant metastases. It may be difficult to distinguish pulmonary metastasis from a new primary tumor, particularly if solitary. Other metastatic sites include bone (22%), liver (10%), skin, mediastinum and bone marrow. An important question remains as to how intensely pre- and postoperative screening for distant metastases should be performed. Preoperative chest X-ray is warranted in all cases. If the primary tumor and nodal status place the patient at high risk for pulmonary metastasis, then preoperative computed tomography scan of the chest should be done. Screening for distant metastases at other sites is usually not indicated in SCC of the upper aerodigestive tract. Postoperatively, annual X-rays of the chest are usually sufficient, but in high-risk situations a chest X-ray performed every 3-6 months may be beneficial. Certain histologic types of primary tumor have greater or lesser propensity to metastasize distantly, and have a different natural history. Adenoid cystic carcinoma metastasizes frequently, even in the absence of extensive local or regional disease. Basaloid squamous cell carcinoma and neuroendocrine carcinomas also metastasize widely. Extensive evaluation for distant metastases is justified for these tumors. Knowledge of the natural history of various neoplasms and the factors that contribute to distant metastases as well as good judgement are essential for cost-effective treatment planning and decision-making with regard to pre- and postoperative evaluation for distant metastases in cancer of the head and neck. Copyright 2001 S. Karger AG, Basel

Ocean Basin Impact of Ambient Noise on Marine Mammal Detectability, Distribution, and Acoustic Communication - YIP

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-09-30

soundscape into frequency categories and sound level percentiles allowed for detailed examination of the acoustic environment that would not have been...patterns and trends across sound level parameters and frequency at a single location, it is recommended that the soundscape of any region be...joined to better understand the contribution and variation in distant shipping noise to local soundscapes (Ainslie & Miksis-Olds, 2013) REFERENCES

High-level SLP-2 expression and HER-2/neu protein expression are associated with decreased breast cancer patient survival.

PubMed

Cao, Wenfeng; Zhang, Bin; Liu, Yanxue; Li, Hongtao; Zhang, Shiwu; Fu, Li; Niu, Yun; Ning, Liansheng; Cao, Xuchen; Liu, Zhihua; Sun, Baocun

2007-09-01

There is sufficient evidence that human stomatin-like protein 2 (SLP-2) is a novel cancer-related gene. Its protein is overexpressed in many human cancers. SLP-2 can contribute to the promotion of cell growth, cell adhesion, and tumorigenesis in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and lymph node metastasis in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. Immunohistochemical detection of SLP-2, estrogen and progesterone receptors, and HER-2/neu were performed on 263 cases of primary invasive breast cancer with a tissue microarray. Of 263 cases, 138 (52.5%) showed high expression of SLP-2 protein, and 125 (47.5%) showed low or absent expression. In addition, there were significant positive associations between tumor stage and size (P = .020), lymph node metastasis (P < .001), clinical stage (P < .001), distant metastasis (P = .002), and HER-2/neu protein expression (P = .037) and high-level SLP-2 expression. High-level SLP-2 expression was associated with decreased overall survival (P = .011) and was more often found in patients with tumors larger than 20 mm, lymph node metastasis, advanced clinical stage, distant metastasis, and HER-2/neu protein-positive expression. More important, lymph node metastasis, HER-2/neu-positive expression, and high-level SLP-2 expression were associated with significantly decreased survival.

The natural history and patterns of metastases from mucosal melanoma: an analysis of 706 prospectively-followed patients.

PubMed

Lian, B; Cui, C L; Zhou, L; Song, X; Zhang, X S; Wu, D; Si, L; Chi, Z H; Sheng, X N; Mao, L L; Wang, X; Tang, B X; Yan, X Q; Kong, Y; Dai, J; Li, S M; Bai, X; Zheng, N; Balch, C M; Guo, J

2017-04-01

We examined whether mucosal melanomas are different in their clinical course and patterns of metastases when arising from different anatomic sites. Our hypothesis was that metastatic behavior would differ from primary mucosal melanomas at different anatomical sites. Clinical and pathological data from 706 patients were compared for their stage distribution, patterns of metastases, CKIT/BRAF mutation status, and overall survival for different anatomical sites. The anatomic sites of the primary mucosal melanomas were from the lower GI tract (26.5%), nasal cavity and paranasal sinuses (23%), gynecological sites (22.5%), oral cavity (15%), urological sites (5%), upper GI tract (5%), and other sites (3.0%). At initial diagnosis, 14.5% were stage I disease, 41% Stage II, 21.5% Stage III, and 23.0% stage IV. Predominant metastatic sites were regional lymph nodes (21.5%), lung (21%), liver (18.5%), and distant nodes (9%). Oral cavity mucosal melanoma had a higher incidence of regional nodal metastases (31.7% versus 19.8%, P = 0.009), and a higher incidence of lung metastases (32.5% versus 18.5%, P = 0.007) compared to other primary mucosal melanomas. There was a 10% incidence of CKIT mutation and 12% BRAF mutation. Mucosal melanomas from nasal pharyngeal and oral, gastrointestinal, gynecological, and urological had a similar survival with a 1-year survival rate (88%, 83%, 86%), 2-year survival rate (66%, 57%, 61%), 5-year survival rate (27%, 16%, 20%), respectively. The largest sample size allows, for the first time, a comparison of primary melanoma stage and patterns of metastases across anatomical sites. With few exceptions, the presenting stages, incidence of nodal and distant metastases, the site of predilection of distant metastases, or overall survival were similar despite different primary anatomic sites. These findings suggest that clinical trials involving mucosal melanomas and the administration of systemic therapy can be applied equally to mucosal melanomas regardless of their primary anatomic site. © The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Society for Medical Oncology. All rights reserved. For permissions, please email: journals.permissions@oup.com.

High Pretreatment Plasma D-dimer Levels Are Associated With Poor Prognosis in Patients With Ovarian Cancer Independently of Venous Thromboembolism and Tumor Extension.

PubMed

Sakurai, Manabu; Satoh, Toyomi; Matsumoto, Koji; Michikami, Hiroo; Nakamura, Yuko; Nakao, Sari; Ochi, Hiroyuki; Onuki, Mamiko; Minaguchi, Takeo; Yoshikawa, Hiroyuki

2015-05-01

Elevated plasma D-dimer (DD) is associated with decreased survival among patients with breast, lung, and colon cancers. The present study clarifies the prognostic significance of pretreatment plasma DD levels in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC). We investigated pretreatment DD levels and other variables for overall survival using univariate and multivariate analyses in 134 consecutive patients with EOC stages II to IV who were initially treated between November 2004 and December 2010. The median follow-up period was 53 (7-106) months. Univariate analysis significantly associated elevated pretreatment DD (≥2.0 μg/mL) levels to poor 5-year overall survival rates irrespective of previously treated venous thromboembolism (72.2% vs 52.6%, P = 0.039). Cancer antigen 125 levels of 200 U/mL or higher (P = 0.011), distant metastases (P = 0.0004), residual tumors (P < 0.0001), and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage III/IV (P = 0.0033) were also poor prognostic factors. Multivariate analysis independently associated DD levels of 2.0 μg/mL or higher (P = 0.041), distant metastases (P = 0.013), and residual tumors (P < 0.0001) with poor overall survival. High pretreatment DD levels are associated with poor overall survival in patients with EOC independently of venous thromboembolism and tumor extension and might comprise a promising prognostic biomarker for patients with EOC.

Effects of Distant Reiki On Pain, Anxiety and Fatigue in Oncology Patients in Turkey: A Pilot Study.

PubMed

Demir, Melike; Can, Gulbeyaz; Kelam, Ayhan; Aydıner, Aydın

2015-01-01

Fatigue, stress and pain are common symptoms among cancer patients, affecting the quality of life. The purpose of the present study was to determine the effect of distant Reiki on pain, anxiety and fatigue in oncology patients. Participants in the control group received usual medical and nursing care during their stay. The intervention group received usual care plus five distant Reiki sessions, one each night for 30 min. A face to face interview was performed and patient personal and illness related characteristics were evaluated using the Patient Characteristics form. Pain, stress and fatigue were evaluated according to a numeric rating scale. The experimental group was predominantly composed of women (71.4%), married individuals (40%), and primary school graduates (40%). The control group was predominantly male (72.7%), married (60%), and primary school graduates (60%). The control group demonstrated greater levels of pain (p=0.002), stress (p=0.001) and fatigue (p=0.001). The Reiki group pain score (p<0.0001), stress score (p<0.001) and fatigue score were also significantly lower. The results of this study indicate that Reiki may decreasepain, anxiety and fatigue in oncology patients.

Hydrodynamical Modeling of Large Circumstellar Disks

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kurfürst, P.; Krtǐcka, J.

2016-11-01

Direct centrifugal ejection from a critically or near-critically rotating surface forms a gaseous equatorial decretion disk. Anomalous viscosity provides the efficient mechanism for transporting the angular momentum outwards. The outer part of the disk can extend up to a very large distance from the parent star. We study the evolution of density, radial and azimuthal velocity, and angular momentum loss rate of equatorial decretion disks out to very distant regions. We investigate how the physical characteristics of the disk depend on the distribution of temperature and viscosity. We also study the magnetorotational instability, which is considered to be the origin of anomalous viscosity in outflowing disks. We use analytical calculations to study the stability of outflowing disks submerged to the magnetic field. At large radii the instability disappears in the region where the disk orbital velocity is roughly equal to the sound speed. Therefore, the disk sonic radius can be roughly considered as an outer disk radius.

ABCB1 identifies a subpopulation of uveal melanoma cells with high metastatic propensity

PubMed Central

Landreville, Solange; Agapova, Olga A.; Kneass, Zachary T.; Salesse, Christian; Harbour, J. William

2011-01-01

SUMMARY Metastasis of tumor cells to distant organs is the leading cause of death in melanoma. Yet, the mechanisms of metastasis remain poorly understood. One key question is whether all cells in a primary tumor are equally likely to metastasize or whether subpopulations of cells preferentially give rise to metastases. Here, we identified a subpopulation of uveal melanoma cells expressing the multidrug resistance transporter ABCB1 that are highly metastatic compared to ABCB1− bulk tumor cells. ABCB1+ cells also exhibited enhanced clonogenicity, anchorage independent growth, tumorigenicity and mitochondrial activity compared to ABCB1− cells. A375 cutaneous melanoma cells contained a similar subpopulation of highly metastatic ABCB1+ cells. These findings suggest that some uveal melanoma cells have greater potential for metastasis than others, and that a better understanding of such cells may be necessary for more successful therapies for metastatic melanoma. PMID:21575142

Arbitrary Inequality in Reputation Systems

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Frey, Vincenz; van de Rijt, Arnout

2016-12-01

Trust is an essential condition for exchange. Large societies must substitute the trust traditionally provided through kinship and sanctions in small groups to make exchange possible. The rise of internet-supported reputation systems has been celebrated for providing trust at a global scale, enabling the massive volumes of transactions between distant strangers that are characteristic of modern human societies. Here we problematize an overlooked side-effect of reputation systems: Equally trustworthy individuals may realize highly unequal exchange volumes. We report the results of a laboratory experiment that shows emergent differentiation between ex ante equivalent individuals when information on performance in past exchanges is shared. This arbitrary inequality results from cumulative advantage in the reputation-building process: Random initial distinctions grow as parties of good repute are chosen over those lacking a reputation. We conjecture that reputation systems produce artificial concentration in a wide range of markets and leave superior but untried exchange alternatives unexploited.

Influence of phonon-phonon coupling on superconducting state in honeycomb-type crystal lattice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Drzazga, E. A.; Szczȩśniak, R.; Domagalska, I. A.

2018-01-01

We have taken into account the superconducting state inducing in the crystal lattice of the honeycomb-type. In the framework of the Eliashberg theory, we have determined the thermodynamic properties of the system. The phonon spectral function, which is the input parameter in the Eliashberg equations, has been calculated by using the thermodynamic Green functions. We have considered the model of the coupled Einstein oscillators with frequency ω0 = 100 meV. We have shown that the increasing inter-phonon coupling constant (f) causes the rapid growth of the critical temperature ([TC]max = 36.2 K) just below the maximum value of f equal to 0.25ω0. Simultaneously, the order parameter and the thermodynamic critical field take the values increasingly distant from the predictions of the BCS theory, which results from the strong-coupling and the retardation effects.

Correlated Oscillations Due to Similar Multipath Effects Seen in Two Widely Separated Radio Telescopes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Diep, P. N.; Phuong, N. T.; Darriulat, P.; Nhung, P. T.; Anh, P. T.; Dong, P. N.; Hoai, D. T.; Thao, N. T.

2014-07-01

A multipath mechanism similar to that used in Australia sixty years ago by the Sea-cliff Interferometer is shown to generate correlations between the periods of oscillations observed by two distant radio telescopes pointed to the Sun. The oscillations are the result of interferences between the direct wave detected in the main antenna lobe and its reflection on ground detected in a side lobe. A model is made of such oscillations in the case of two observatories located at equal longitudes and opposite tropical latitudes, respectively in Ha Noi (Viet Nam) and Learmonth (Australia), where similar radio telescopes are operated at 1.4 GHz. Simple specular reflection from ground is found to give a good description of the observed oscillations and to explain correlations that had been previously observed and for which no satisfactory interpretation, instrumental or other, had been found.

Adenoid cystic salivary gland carcinoma: treatment with irradiation and surgery

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Simpson, J.R.; Thawley, S.E.; Matsuba, H.M.

1984-05-01

The recrods of 71 patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary glands were reviewed to determine the dose response relationships for this aggressive tumor. Local control after treament was determined for all patients and analyzed with respect to extent of surgery and dose of radiation. Of 70 patients who were available for evaluation of local control, 28 (40%) had a local recurrence and 42 (60%) did not. The highest control rates were found in patients who underwent both radiation therapy and surgery. Patients who received a dose equal to or greater than 6,000 rad (60 Gy) in addition tomore » surgery had significantly higher local control rates than those who received less than 6,000 rad (60 Gy). Distant metastases developed in 50% of patients regardless of local control, with the following distribution: 39% lung, 19% bone, and 10% disseminated soft-tissue metastases.« less

Arbitrary Inequality in Reputation Systems

PubMed Central

Frey, Vincenz; van de Rijt, Arnout

2016-01-01

Trust is an essential condition for exchange. Large societies must substitute the trust traditionally provided through kinship and sanctions in small groups to make exchange possible. The rise of internet-supported reputation systems has been celebrated for providing trust at a global scale, enabling the massive volumes of transactions between distant strangers that are characteristic of modern human societies. Here we problematize an overlooked side-effect of reputation systems: Equally trustworthy individuals may realize highly unequal exchange volumes. We report the results of a laboratory experiment that shows emergent differentiation between ex ante equivalent individuals when information on performance in past exchanges is shared. This arbitrary inequality results from cumulative advantage in the reputation-building process: Random initial distinctions grow as parties of good repute are chosen over those lacking a reputation. We conjecture that reputation systems produce artificial concentration in a wide range of markets and leave superior but untried exchange alternatives unexploited. PMID:27995957

Ocean noise in the tropical and subtropical Pacific Ocean.

PubMed

Sirović, Ana; Wiggins, Sean M; Oleson, Erin M

2013-10-01

Ocean ambient noise is well studied in the North Pacific and North Atlantic but is poorly described for most of the worlds' oceans. Calibrated passive acoustic recordings were collected during 2009-2010 at seven locations in the central and western tropical and subtropical Pacific. Monthly and hourly mean power spectra (15-1000 Hz) were calculated in addition to their skewness, kurtosis, and percentile distributions. Overall, ambient noise at these seven sites was 10-20 dB lower than reported recently for most other locations in the North Pacific. At frequencies <100 Hz, spectrum levels were equivalent to those predicted for remote or light shipping. Noise levels in the 40 Hz band were compared to the presence of nearby and distant ships as reported to the World Meteorological Organization Voluntary Observing Ship Scheme (VOS) project. There was a positive, but nonsignificant correlation between distant shipping and low frequency noise (at 40 Hz). There was a seasonal variation in ambient noise at frequencies >200 Hz with higher levels recorded in the winter than in the summer. Several species of baleen whales, humpback (Megaptera novaeangliae), blue (Balaenoptera musculus), and fin (B. physalus) whales, also contributed seasonally to ambient noise in characteristic frequency bands.

Judging near and distant virtue and vice ☆

PubMed Central

Eyal, Tal; Liberman, Nira; Trope, Yaacov

2009-01-01

We propose that people judge immoral acts as more offensive and moral acts as more virtuous when the acts are psychologically distant than near. This is because people construe more distant situations in terms of moral principles, rather than attenuating situation-specific considerations. Results of four studies support these predictions. Study 1 shows that more temporally distant transgressions (e.g., eating one's dead dog) are construed in terms of moral principles rather than contextual information. Studies 2 and 3 further show that morally offensive actions are judged more severely when imagined from a more distant temporal (Study 2) or social (Study 3) perspective. Finally, Study 4 shows that moral acts (e.g., adopting a disabled child) are judged more positively from temporal distance. The findings suggest that people more readily apply their moral principles to distant rather than proximal behaviors. PMID:19554217

Cryptic postzygotic isolation in an eruptive species of bark beetle (Dendroctonus ponderosae)

Treesearch

Ryan R. Bracewell; Michael E. Pfrender; Karen E. Mock; Barbara J. Bentz

2011-01-01

Studies of postzygotic isolation often involve well-differentiated taxa that show a consistent level of incompatibility, thereby limiting our understanding of the initial stages and development of reproductive barriers. Dendroctonus ponderosae provides an informative system because recent evidence suggests that distant populations produce hybrids with reproductive...

Semantic Priming for Coordinate Distant Concepts in Alzheimer's Disease Patients

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Perri, R.; Zannino, G. D.; Caltagirone, C.; Carlesimo, G. A.

2011-01-01

Semantic priming paradigms have been used to investigate semantic knowledge in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). While priming effects produced by prime-target pairs with associative relatedness reflect processes at both lexical and semantic levels, priming effects produced by words that are semantically related but not associated should…

Integrating Reading and Language Arts.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

French, Michael P., Ed.; Elford, Shirley J., Ed.

1986-01-01

Integrating reading and language arts at all levels is the focus of this journal issue. The articles and their authors are as follows: "Reading and Writing: Close Relatives or Distant Cousins" (Kathryn A. Koch); "The Reading-Writing Relationship: Myths and Realities" (Timothy Shanahan); "The Classroom Teacher as an Action Researcher: Beginning…

Application of software for automated canal management (SacMan) to the WM lateral canal

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Simulation studies have demonstrated that automatic control of canals is more effective when feedforward scheduling, or routing of know demand changes, is combined with centralized, automatic, distant, downstream-water-level control. In practice, few canals use this approach. To help further develop...

Distant Interactions and Their Effects on Children's Physical Activity Levels

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Patterson, Debra L.; van der Mars, Hans

2008-01-01

Background: It has been observed that physical activity patterns of health-related behavior are established in childhood and may continue into adulthood. Recent findings showing a relationship between the onset of chronic diseases and sedentary lifestyles support the importance of examining Moderate to Vigorous Physical Activity (MVPA). One…

Learning in Professionally "Distant" Contexts: Opportunities and Challenges

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mausz, Justin; Tavares, Walter

2017-01-01

The changing nature of healthcare education and delivery is such that clinicians will increasingly find themselves practicing in contexts that are physically and/or conceptually different from the settings in which they were trained, a practice that conflicts on some level with socio-cultural theories of learning that emphasize" learning in…

Cognitive Profile in Low, Medium and High Creative Students

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ferrando, Mercedes; Bermejo, Rosario; Sainz, Marta; Ferrandiz, Carmen; Prieto, Maria Dolores; Soto, Gloria

2012-01-01

Introduction: The aim of the present work is to advance in the study of creativity-intelligence relationship looking into the students' cognitive profiles. It is hypothesized that, if creative ideas emerge as result of connecting distant concepts, and a balanced cognitive profile (without significant differences between ability levels) can…

Student Perspectives: Responses to Internet Opportunities in a Distance Learning Environment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Saunders, Nancy G.; Malm, Loren D.; Malone, Bobby G.; Nay, Fred W.; Oliver, Brad E.; Thompson, Jay C., Jr.

This study examined student attitudes toward interactions with class members on an Internet site supplementing a multimedia graduate-level distance learning course at Ball State University (Indiana). The course, "Elementary School Curriculum" was taught in a studio classroom (of 13 students) and transmitted to five distant sites…

Speech Motor Development: Integrating Muscles, Movements, and Linguistic Units

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Smith, Anne

2006-01-01

A fundamental problem for those interested in human communication is to determine how ideas and the various units of language structure are communicated through speaking. The physiological concepts involved in the control of muscle contraction and movement are theoretically distant from the processing levels and units postulated to exist in…

Variability Selected Low-Luminosity Active Galactic Nuclei in the 4 Ms Chandra Deep Field-South

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Young, M.; Brandt, W. N.; Xue, Y. Q.; Paolillo, D. M.; Alexander, F. E.; Bauer, F. E.; Lehmer, B. D.; Luo, B.; Shemmer, O.; Schneider, D. P.;

Underwater Equal-Latency Contours of a Harbor Porpoise (Phocoena phocoena) for Tonal Signals Between 0.5 and 125 kHz.

PubMed

Wensveen, Paul J; Huijser, Léonie A E; Hoek, Lean; Kastelein, Ronald A

2016-01-01

Loudness perception can be studied based on the assumption that sounds of equal loudness elicit equal reaction time (RT; or "response latency"). We measured the underwater RTs of a harbor porpoise to narrowband frequency-modulated sounds and constructed six equal-latency contours. The contours paralleled the audiogram at low sensation levels (high RTs). At high-sensation levels, contours flattened between 0.5 and 31.5 kHz but dropped substantially (RTs shortened) beyond those frequencies. This study suggests that equal-latency-based frequency weighting can emulate noise perception in porpoises for low and middle frequencies but that the RT-loudness correlation is relatively weak for very high frequencies.

Distant supervision for neural relation extraction integrated with word attention and property features.

PubMed

Qu, Jianfeng; Ouyang, Dantong; Hua, Wen; Ye, Yuxin; Li, Ximing

2018-04-01

Distant supervision for neural relation extraction is an efficient approach to extracting massive relations with reference to plain texts. However, the existing neural methods fail to capture the critical words in sentence encoding and meanwhile lack useful sentence information for some positive training instances. To address the above issues, we propose a novel neural relation extraction model. First, we develop a word-level attention mechanism to distinguish the importance of each individual word in a sentence, increasing the attention weights for those critical words. Second, we investigate the semantic information from word embeddings of target entities, which can be developed as a supplementary feature for the extractor. Experimental results show that our model outperforms previous state-of-the-art baselines. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Upregulation of c-mesenchymal epithelial transition expression and RAS mutations are associated with late lung metastasis and poor prognosis in colorectal carcinoma.

PubMed

Liu, Jianhua; Zeng, Weiqiang; Huang, Chengzhi; Wang, Junjiang; Xu, Lishu; Ma, Dong

2018-05-01

The present study aimed to investigate whether c-mesenchymal epithelial transition factor (C-MET) overexpression combined with RAS (including KRAS, NRAS and HRAS ) or BRAF mutations were associated with late distant metastases and the prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). A total of 374 patients with stage III CRC were classified into 4 groups based on RAS/BRAF and C-MET status for comprehensive analysis. Mutations in RAS / BRAF were determined using Sanger sequencing and C-MET expression was examined using immunohistochemistry. The associations between RAS/BRAF mutations in combination with C-MET overexpression and clinicopathological variables including survival were evaluated. In addition, their predictive value for late distant metastases were statistically analyzed via logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic analysis. Among 374 patients, mutations in KRAS, NRAS, HRAS, BRAF and C-MET overexpression were observed in 43.9, 2.4, 0.3, 5.9 and 71.9% of cases, respectively. Considering RAS/BRAF mutations and C-MET overexpression, vascular invasion (P=0.001), high carcino-embryonic antigen level (P=0.031) and late distant metastases (P<0.001) were more likely to occur in patients of group 4. Furthermore, survival analyses revealed RAS/BRAF mutations may have a more powerful impact on survival than C-MET overexpression, although they were both predictive factors for adverse prognosis. Further logistic regression suggested that RAS/BRAF mutations and C-MET overexpression may predict late distant metastases. In conclusion, RAS/BRAF mutations and C-MET overexpression may serve as predictive indicators for metastatic behavior and poor prognosis of CRC.

Differences in patterns of survival in metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck.

PubMed

van Weert, Stijn; Reinhard, Rinze; Bloemena, Elisabeth; Buter, Jan; Witte, Birgit I; Vergeer, Marije R; Leemans, C René

2017-03-01

We examined the assumption in conventional teaching about metastatic adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) being an indolent type of disease. A single center analysis of 105 cases of ACC was performed. Radiographs were reviewed and tumor response to chemotherapy was measured. Distant disease-free survival (DDFS) and time to death since distant metastases diagnosis were analyzed. Forty-two percent of the patients were diagnosed with distant metastases. DDFS showed significant negative associations with advanced T classification, N+ classification, solid type tumor, and positive surgical margins. Distant metastases (91%) developed in the first 5 years after presentation. Median distant metastatic survival was 13.8 months. The most frequent organ sited was the lung. Solid type ACC showed a preponderance for multiorgan metastases (17/28; 61%). Distant metastases seemed not to occur in case of clear surgical margins. Solid type ACC had a significant poorer survival after development of distant metastases. Metastatic ACC is not always an indolent disease. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Head Neck 39: 456-463, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Effects of exposure equalization on image signal-to-noise ratios in digital mammography: A simulation study with an anthropomorphic breast phantom

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liu Xinming; Lai Chaojen; Whitman, Gary J.

Purpose: The scan equalization digital mammography (SEDM) technique combines slot scanning and exposure equalization to improve low-contrast performance of digital mammography in dense tissue areas. In this study, full-field digital mammography (FFDM) images of an anthropomorphic breast phantom acquired with an anti-scatter grid at various exposure levels were superimposed to simulate SEDM images and investigate the improvement of low-contrast performance as quantified by primary signal-to-noise ratios (PSNRs). Methods: We imaged an anthropomorphic breast phantom (Gammex 169 ''Rachel,'' Gammex RMI, Middleton, WI) at various exposure levels using a FFDM system (Senographe 2000D, GE Medical Systems, Milwaukee, WI). The exposure equalization factorsmore » were computed based on a standard FFDM image acquired in the automatic exposure control (AEC) mode. The equalized image was simulated and constructed by superimposing a selected set of FFDM images acquired at 2, 1, 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/16, and 1/32 times of exposure levels to the standard AEC timed technique (125 mAs) using the equalization factors computed for each region. Finally, the equalized image was renormalized regionally with the exposure equalization factors to result in an appearance similar to that with standard digital mammography. Two sets of FFDM images were acquired to allow for two identically, but independently, formed equalized images to be subtracted from each other to estimate the noise levels. Similarly, two identically but independently acquired standard FFDM images were subtracted to estimate the noise levels. Corrections were applied to remove the excess system noise accumulated during image superimposition in forming the equalized image. PSNRs over the compressed area of breast phantom were computed and used to quantitatively study the effects of exposure equalization on low-contrast performance in digital mammography. Results: We found that the highest achievable PSNR improvement factor was 1.89 for the anthropomorphic breast phantom used in this study. The overall PSNRs were measured to be 79.6 for the FFDM imaging and 107.6 for the simulated SEDM imaging on average in the compressed area of breast phantom, resulting in an average improvement of PSNR by {approx}35% with exposure equalization. We also found that the PSNRs appeared to be largely uniform with exposure equalization, and the standard deviations of PSNRs were estimated to be 10.3 and 7.9 for the FFDM imaging and the simulated SEDM imaging, respectively. The average glandular dose for SEDM was estimated to be 212.5 mrad, {approx}34% lower than that of standard AEC-timed FFDM (323.8 mrad) as a result of exposure equalization for the entire breast phantom. Conclusions: Exposure equalization was found to substantially improve image PSNRs in dense tissue regions and result in more uniform image PSNRs. This improvement may lead to better low-contrast performance in detecting and visualizing soft tissue masses and micro-calcifications in dense tissue areas for breast imaging tasks.« less

Persistent water level changes in a well near Parkfield, California, due to local and distant earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Roeloffs, Evelyn A.

1998-01-01

Coseismic water level rises in the 30-m deep Bourdieu Valley (BV) well near Parkfield, California, have occurred in response to three local and five distant earthquakes. Coseismic changes in static strain cannot explain these water level rises because (1) the well is insensitive to strain at tidal periods; (2) for the distant earthquakes, the expected coseismic static strain is extremely small; and (3) the water level response is of the incorrect sign for the local earthquakes. These water level changes must therefore be caused by seismic waves, but unlike seismic water level oscillations, they are monotonic, persist for days or weeks, and seem to be caused by waves with periods of several seconds rather than long-period surface waves. Other investigators have reported a similar phenomenon in Japan. Certain wells consistently exhibit this type of coseismic water level change, which is always in the same direction, regardless of the earthquake's azimuth or focal mechanism, and approximately proportional to the inverse square of hypocentral distance. To date, the coseismic water level rises in the B V well have never exceeded the seasonal water level maximum, although their sizes are relatively well correlated with earthquake magnitude and distance. The frequency independence of the well's response to barometric pressure in the frequency band 0.1 to 0.7 cpd implies that the aquifer is fairly well confined. High aquifer compressibility, probably due to a gas phase in the pore space, is the most likely reason why the well does not respond to Earth tides. The phase and amplitude relationships between the seasonal water level and precipitation cycles constrain the horizontal hydraulic diffusivity to within a factor of 4.5, bounding hypothetical earthquake-induced changes in aquifer hydraulic properties. Moreover, changes of hydraulic conductivity and/or diffusivity throughout the aquifer would not be expected to change the water level in the same direction at every time of the year. The first 2.5 days of a typical coseismic water level rise could be caused by a small coseismic discharge decrease at a point several tens of meters from the well. Alternatively, the entire coseismic water level signal could represent diffusion of an abrupt coseismic pore pressure increase within several meters of the well, produced by a mechanism akin to that of liquefaction. The coseismic water level changes in the BV well resemble, and may share a mechanism with, coseismic water level, stream discharge, and groundwater temperature changes at other locations where preearthquake changes have also been reported. No preearthquake changes have been observed at the BV well site, however.

Persistent water level changes in a well near Parkfield, California, due to local and distant earthquakes

USGS Publications Warehouse

Roeloffs, E.A.

1998-01-01

Coseismic water level rises in the 30-m deep Bourdieu Valley (BV) well near Parkfield, California, have occurred in response to three local and five distant earthquakes. Coseismic changes in static strain cannot explain these water level rises because (1) the well is insensitive to strain at tidal periods; (2) for the distant earthquakes, the expected coseismic static strain is extremely small; and (3) the water level response is of the incorrect sign for the local earthquakes. These water level changes must therefore be caused by seismic waves, but unlike seismic water level oscillations, they are monotonic, persist for days or weeks, and seem to be caused by waves with periods of several seconds rather than long-period surface waves. Other investigators have reported a similar phenomenon in Japan. Certain wells consistently exhibit this type of coseismic water level change, which is always in the same direction, regardless of the earthquake's azimuth or focal mechanism, and approximately proportional to the inverse square of hypocentral distance. To date, the coseismic water level rises in the BV well have never exceeded the seasonal water level maximum, although their sizes are relatively well correlated with earthquake magnitude and distance. The frequency independence of the well's response to barometric pressure in the frequency band 0.1 to 0.7 cpd implies that the aquifer is fairly well confined. High aquifer compressibility, probably due to a gas phase in the pore space, is the most likely reason why the well does not respond to Earth tides. The phase and amplitude relationships between the seasonal water level and precipitation cycles constrain the horizontal hydraulic diffusivity to within a factor of 4.5, bounding hypothetical earthquake-induced changes in aquifer hydraulic properties. Moreover, changes of hydraulic conductivity and/or diffusivity throughout the aquifer would not be expected to change the water level in the same direction at every time of the year. The first 2.5 days of a typical coseismic water level rise could be caused by a small coseismic discharge decrease at a point several tens of meters from the well. Alternatively, the entire coseismic water level signal could represent diffusion of an abrupt coseismic pore pressure increase within several meters of the well, produced by a mechanism akin to that of liquefaction. The coseismic water level changes in the BV well resemble, and may share a mechanism with, coseismic water level, stream discharge, and groundwater temperature changes at other locations where preearthquake changes have also been reported. No preearthquake changes have been observed at the BV well site, however.

[Impacts of rotating or lifting-thrusting manipulation on distant vision of naked eye in patients of juvenile myopia: a randomized controlled trial].

PubMed

Tao, Xiao-Yan; Zhao, Bai-Yiao; Han, Xiao; Dong, Xiao-Yu; Yan, An; Ren, Xu-Ru; Liu, Yan-Wen; Qu, Chang; Xia, Shu-Fen; Yang, Jia-Le

2014-05-01

To compare the differences in the efficacy on distant version of naked eye in the patients of juvenile myopia between rotating manipulation and lifting-thrusting manipulation of acupuncture. One hundred and twenty cases (240 eyes) were randomized into a rotating manipulation group and a lifting-thrusting manipulation group, 60 cases (120 eyes) in each group. Additionally, a corrective lenses group, 60 cases (120 eyes), was set up as the control. In both manipulation groups, Cuanzhu (BL 2),Yuyao (EX-HN 4), Sizhukong (TE 23), Taiyang (EX-HN 5), Fengchi (GB 20), Zusanli (ST 36), Guangming (GB 37) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6) were punctured, but stimulated with rotating manipulation and lifting-thrusting manipulation respectively three times per week, 10 times as a treatment session and totally one session was required. In the corrective lenses group, the glasses were applied at daytime. The clinical efficacy and the changes in distant vision of naked eye before and after treatment were compared among the three groups. The total effective rate was 87.5% (105/120) in the rotating manipulation group, which was better than 69.2% (83/120) in the lifting-thrusting manipulation group (P < 0.05). The distant vision of naked eye was improved apparently in the rotating manipulation group and the lifting-thrusting manipulation group after treatment (both P < 0.05). But it was not improved in the corrective lenses group (P > 0.05). The distant vision of naked eye was improved more apparently after treatment in the rotating manipulation group as compared with that in the lifting-thrusting manipulation group (0.75 +/- 0.23 vs 0.68 +/- 0.24, P < 0.05). For 96 cases (192 eyes) with acupuncture treatment, in 3-month follow-up, 87.0% (167/192) of the cases maintained the stable vision as the original level and 13.0% (25/192) of them were reduced in the vision In the acupuncture groups, it was found that the improvement of distant vision of naked eye was more obvious after treatment with younger age, better basic vision and shorter duration of sickness (all P < 0.05). Acupuncture achieves the positive and sustainable clinical effect on juvenile myopia, and the results of rotating manipulation are superior to that of lifting-thrusting manipulation. Age, basic vision and duration of sickness impact the clinical efficacy.

α2-adrenergic blockade mimics the enhancing effect of chronic stress on breast cancer progression

PubMed Central

Lamkin, Donald M.; Sung, Ha Yeon; Yang, Gyu Sik; David, John M.; Ma, Jeffrey C.Y.; Cole, Steve W.; Sloan, Erica K.

2014-01-01

Experimental studies in preclinical mouse models of breast cancer have shown that chronic restraint stress can enhance disease progression by increasing catecholamine levels and subsequent signaling of β-adrenergic receptors. Catecholamines also signal α-adrenergic receptors, and greater α-adrenergic signaling has been shown to promote breast cancer in vitro and in vivo. However, antagonism of α-adrenergic receptors can result in elevated catecholamine levels, which may increase β-adrenergic signaling, because pre-synaptic α2-adrenergic receptors mediate an autoinhibition of sympathetic transmission. Given these findings, we examined the effect of α-adrenergic blockade on breast cancer progression under non-stress and stress conditions (chronic restraint) in an orthotopic mouse model with MDA-MB-231HM cells. Chronic restraint increased primary tumor growth and metastasis to distant tissues as expected, and non-selective α-adrenergic blockade by phentolamine significantly inhibited those effects. However, under non-stress conditions, phentolamine increased primary tumor size and distant metastasis. Sympatho-neural gene expression for catecholamine biosynthesis enzymes was elevated by phentolamine under non-stress conditions, and the non-selective β-blocker propranolol inhibited the effect of phentolamine on breast cancer progression. Selective α2-adrenergic blockade by efaroxan also increased primary tumor size and distant metastasis under non-stress conditions, but selective α1-adrenergic blockade by prazosin did not. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that α2-adrenergic signaling can act through an autoreceptor mechanism to inhibit sympathetic catecholamine release and, thus, modulate established effects of β-adrenergic signaling on tumor progression-relevant biology. PMID:25462899

MIGRATION OF SMALL MOONS IN SATURN's RINGS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Bromley, Benjamin C.; Kenyon, Scott J., E-mail: bromley@physics.utah.edu, E-mail: skenyon@cfa.harvard.edu

2013-02-20

The motions of small moons through Saturn's rings provide excellent tests of radial migration models. In theory, torque exchange between these moons and ring particles leads to radial drift. We predict that moons with Hill radii r {sub H} {approx} 2-24 km should migrate through the A ring in 1000 yr. In this size range, moons orbiting in an empty gap or in a full ring eventually migrate at the same rate. Smaller moons or moonlets-such as the propellers-are trapped by diffusion of disk material into corotating orbits, creating inertial drag. Larger moons-such as Pan or Atlas-do not migrate becausemore » of their own inertia. Fast migration of 2-24 km moons should eliminate intermediate-size bodies from the A ring and may be responsible for the observed large-radius cutoff of r {sub H} {approx} 1-2 km in the size distribution of the A ring's propeller moonlets. Although the presence of Daphnis (r {sub H} Almost-Equal-To 5 km) inside the Keeler gap challenges this scenario, numerical simulations demonstrate that orbital resonances and stirring by distant, larger moons (e.g., Mimas) may be important factors. For Daphnis, stirring by distant moons seems the most promising mechanism to halt fast migration. Alternatively, Daphnis may be a recent addition to the ring that is settling into a low inclination orbit in {approx}10{sup 3} yr prior to a phase of rapid migration. We provide predictions of observational constraints required to discriminate among possible scenarios for Daphnis.« less

Creating equal opportunities: the social accountability of medical education.

PubMed

Gibbs, Trevor; McLean, Michelle

2011-01-01

As new developments in medical education move inexorably forward, medical schools are being encouraged to revisit their curricula to ensure quality graduates and match their outcomes against defined standards. These standards may eventually be transferred into global accreditation standards, which allow 'safe passage' of graduates from one country to another [Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) 2010. Requiring medical school accreditation for ECFMG certification--moving accreditation forward. Available from: http://www.ecfmg.org/accreditation/rationale.pdf]. Gaining much attention is the important standard of social accountability--ensuring that graduates' competencies are shaped by the health and social needs of the local, national and even international communities in which they will serve. But, in today's 'global village', if medical schools address the needs of their immediate community, who should address the needs of the wider global community? Should medical educators and their associations be looking beyond national borders into a world of very unequal opportunities in terms of human and financial resources; a world in which distant countries and populations are very quickly affected by medical and social disasters; a world in which the global playing field of medical education is far from level? With medical schools striving to produce fit-for-purpose graduates who will hopefully address the health needs of their country, is it now time for the medical education fraternity to extend their roles of social accountability to level this unlevel playing field? We believe so: the time has come for the profession to embrace a global accountability model and those responsible for all aspects of healthcare professional development to recognise their place within the wider global community.

Relative Positions of Distant Spacecraft

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-04-29

This graphic shows the relative positions of NASA most distant spacecraft in early 2011, looking at the solar system from the side. Voyager 1 is the most distant spacecraft, 10.9 billion miles away from the sun at a northward angle.

Understanding Resource: Maldistribution and Acting on Inequality of Resources

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ochoa, Alberto M.; Pearl, Art

2010-01-01

The United States is both morally and legally obligated to equally educate all of its students. It means that the US has to provide all students with equal access and equal resources. Historically and currently this goal has not been met. To truly provide all students with equal resources would require reformative action at many levels. Leveling…

Behind the Periscope: Leadership in China’s Navy

DTIC Science & Technology

2013-12-01

Spring Festival Distant Sea Voyage: A Complete Account of the North Sea Fleet’s Distant Seas Training Vessel Formation” (zhongguo haijun de ‘chunjie...staff VADM Du Jingchen.596 During the expedition, Yin convened a political working group which created a musical piece called “Song of the Gulf of Aden...Spring Festival Distant Sea Voyage: A Complete Account of the North Sea Fleet’s Distant Seas Training Vessel Formation” (zhongguo haijun de ‘chunjie

Microwave Transversal Equalizer.

DTIC Science & Technology

1980-05-01

AD-AO?7 603 EATONCORP MELVILLE NY AIL DIV F/6 9/5 MICROWAVE TRANSVERSAL EQUALIZER .(U) MAY 80 J WOLCZOK. 6 KANISCHAK F 3 0602-T8-C-0352 UNCLASSIFIED... Equalizer (MTE) Side-lobe distortion Equalization II Automation ABSTRACT (Continue on revere side It necesary and identify by block numb.r) A...Microwave Transversal Equalizer has been designed, fabricated, and installed at RADC and is capable of reducing side-lobe distortion levels of -18 dBm to

Frequency and Correlates of Distant Visual Impairment in Patients with Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, and Major Depressive Disorder.

PubMed

Zheng, W; Tang, L R; Correll, C U; Ungvari, G S; Chiu, H F K; Xiang, Y Q; Xiang, Y T

2015-09-01

Distant visual impairment in the severely mentally ill is under-researched. This study aimed to assess the frequency and correlates of distant visual impairment in a cohort of Chinese psychiatric patients, including its effect on their quality of life. Adult psychiatric inpatients with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depressive disorder consecutively admitted to a psychiatric hospital in Beijing, China underwent assessments of psychopathology (Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale, 16-item Quick Inventory of Depressive Symptomatology [Self-Report]), quality of life (12-item Short-Form Medical Outcomes Study [SF-12], 25-item National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire [NEI-VFQ25]), adverse effects (Udvalg for Kliniske Undersøgelser Side Effect Rating Scale), and presenting (as opposed to uncorrected) distant visual acuity (Logarithm of the Minimum Angle of Resolution [LogMAR] chart with patients wearing spectacles, if they owned them). Distant visual impairment was defined as binocular distant visual acuity of a LogMAR score of ≥ 0.5 (< 6/18 Snellen acuity). Among 356 patients who met the study criteria, the frequency of distant visual impairment was 12.6% (15.2% with schizophrenia, 11.9% with bipolar disorder, 8.8% with major depressive disorder). In multiple logistic regression analysis, distant visual impairment was significantly associated with ocular disease only (p = 0.002, odds ratio = 3.2, 95% confidence interval = 1.5-6.7). Controlling for the confounding effect of ocular disease, patients with distant visual impairment had a lower quality of life in the general vision domain of the NEI-VFQ25 (F[2, 353] = 9.5, p = 0.002) compared with those without. No differences in the physical and mental domains of the SF-12 and in other domains of the NEI-VFQ25 were noted in these 2 groups. One-eighth of middle-aged severely mentally ill patients had distant visual impairment. Considering the impact of distant visual impairment on daily functioning, severely mentally ill patients need to be screened for impaired eyesight as part of their comprehensive health assessment.

Phylogeography and population dynamics of dengue viruses in the Americas.

PubMed

Allicock, Orchid M; Lemey, Philippe; Tatem, Andrew J; Pybus, Oliver G; Bennett, Shannon N; Mueller, Brandi A; Suchard, Marc A; Foster, Jerome E; Rambaut, Andrew; Carrington, Christine V F

2012-06-01

Changes in Dengue virus (DENV) disease patterns in the Americas over recent decades have been attributed, at least in part, to repeated introduction of DENV strains from other regions, resulting in a shift from hypoendemicity to hyperendemicity. Using newly sequenced DENV-1 and DENV-3 envelope (E) gene isolates from 11 Caribbean countries, along with sequences available on GenBank, we sought to document the population genetic and spatiotemporal transmission histories of the four main invading DENV genotypes within the Americas and investigate factors that influence the rate and intensity of DENV transmission. For all genotypes, there was an initial invasion phase characterized by rapid increases in genetic diversity, which coincided with the first confirmed cases of each genotype in the region. Rapid geographic dispersal occurred upon each genotype's introduction, after which individual lineages were locally maintained, and gene flow was primarily observed among neighboring and nearby countries. There were, however, centers of viral diversity (Barbados, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Suriname, Venezuela, and Brazil) that were repeatedly involved in gene flow with more distant locations. For DENV-1 and DENV-2, we found that a "distance-informed" model, which posits that the intensity of virus movement between locations is inversely proportional to the distance between them, provided a better fit than a model assuming equal rates of movement between all pairs of countries. However, for DENV-3 and DENV-4, the more stochastic "equal rates" model was preferred.

Targeting Rural Students with Distance Learning Courses: A Comparative Study of Determinant Attributes and Satisfaction Levels.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Phillips, Melodie R.; Peters, Mary Jane

1999-01-01

A marketing course attended by 65 on-campus students and 30 accessing it via interactive video resulted in no differences in student satisfaction. Onsite students had more problems with instructor accessibility than did offsite students, possibly because instructors overcompensated to avoid isolation of the distant learners. (SK)

Voices of University Students with Disabilities: Inclusive Education on the Tertiary Level -- A Reality or a Distant Dream?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Strnadová, Iva; Hájková, Vanda; Kvetonová, Lea

2015-01-01

Twenty-four university students with disabilities were interviewed about their experiences studying at Czech universities. The interviews were analysed using the grounded theory approach. The most commonly experienced barriers faced by these students were institutional barriers, attitudinal barriers, and disability-specific barriers. The types of…

Reading for Pleasure: More than Just a Distant Possibility?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barber, Karen Slikas

2014-01-01

Much has been written about the importance of extensive reading for the development of language fluency, yet it is not often an activity of choice by students as a means of improving language learning. Many of my multi-level (elementary-intermediate) Adult Migrant English Program (AMEP) Certificates in Spoken and Written English (CSWE) students…

Event construal and temporal distance in natural language.

PubMed

Bhatia, Sudeep; Walasek, Lukasz

2016-07-01

Construal level theory proposes that events that are temporally proximate are represented more concretely than events that are temporally distant. We tested this prediction using two large natural language text corpora. In study 1 we examined posts on Twitter that referenced the future, and found that tweets mentioning temporally proximate dates used more concrete words than those mentioning distant dates. In study 2 we obtained all New York Times articles that referenced U.S. presidential elections between 1987 and 2007. We found that the concreteness of the words in these articles increased with the temporal proximity to their corresponding election. Additionally the reduction in concreteness after the election was much greater than the increase in concreteness leading up to the election, though both changes in concreteness were well described by an exponential function. We replicated this finding with New York Times articles referencing US public holidays. Overall, our results provide strong support for the predictions of construal level theory, and additionally illustrate how large natural language datasets can be used to inform psychological theory. Copyright © 2016 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Method and apparatus for determining return stroke polarity of distant lightning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blakeslee, Richard J. (Inventor); Brook, Marx (Inventor)

1992-01-01

A method is described for determining the return stroke polarity of distant lightning for distances beyond 600 km by detecting the electric field associated with a return stroke of distant lightning, and processing the electric field signal to determine the polarity of the slow tail of the VLF waveform signal associated with the detected electric field. The polarity of the return stroke of distant lightning is determined based upon the polarity of the slow tail portion of the waveform.

Method and apparatus for determining return stroke polarity of distant lightning

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Blakeslee, Richard J. (Inventor); Brook, Marx (Inventor)

1990-01-01

A method is described for determining the return stroke polarity of distant lightning for distances beyond 600 km by detecting the electric field associated with a return stroke of distant lightning, and processing the electric field signal to determine the polarity of the slow tail of the VLF waveform signal associated with the detected electric field. The polarity of the return stroke of distant lightning is determined based upon the polarity of the slow tail portion of the waveform.

Community understandings of and responses to gender equality and empowerment in Rakai, Uganda.

PubMed

Mullinax, Margo; Higgins, Jenny; Wagman, Jennifer; Nakyanjo, Neema; Kigozi, Godfrey; Serwadda, David; Wawer, Maria; Gray, Ronald; Nalugoda, Fred

2013-01-01

Women's rights and gender empowerment programmes are now part of the international agenda for improving global public health, the benefits of which are well documented. However, the public health community has, yet, to address how people define and understand gender equality and how they enact the process of empowerment in their lives. This study uses safe homes and respect for everyone (SHARE), an anti-violence intervention in rural Rakai, Uganda, as a case study to investigate perceptions of gender equality. Investigators analysed 12 focus groups of adult women and men to explore how macro-level concepts of gender equality are being processed on an interpersonal level and the effects on health outcomes. Respondents generally agreed that women lack basic rights. However, they also expressed widespread disagreement about the meanings of gender equality, and reported difficulties integrating the concepts of gender equality into their interpersonal relationships. Community members reported that equality, with the resulting shift in gender norms, could expose women to adverse consequences such as violence, infidelity and abandonment with increased sexual health risks, and potential adverse effects on education. Efforts to increase women's rights must occur in conjunction with community-based work on understandings of gender equality.

Comparison of Annoyance from Railway Noise and Railway Vibration.

PubMed

Ögren, Mikael; Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita; Smith, Michael; Gustavsson, Sara; Persson Waye, Kerstin

2017-07-19

The aim of this study is to compare vibration exposure to noise exposure from railway traffic in terms of equal annoyance, i.e., to determine when a certain noise level is equally annoying as a corresponding vibration velocity. Based on questionnaire data from the Train Vibration and Noise Effects (TVANE) research project from residential areas exposed to railway noise and vibration, the dose response relationship for annoyance was estimated. By comparing the relationships between exposure and annoyance for areas both with and without significant vibration exposure, the noise levels and vibration velocities that had an equal probability of causing annoyance was determined using logistic regression. The comparison gives a continuous mapping between vibration velocity in the ground and a corresponding noise level at the facade that are equally annoying. For equivalent noise level at the facade compared to maximum weighted vibration velocity in the ground the probability of annoyance is approximately 20% for 59 dB or 0.48 mm/s, and about 40% for 63 dB or 0.98 mm/s.

Equality and quality in education. A comparative study of 19 countries.

PubMed

Pfeffer, Fabian T

2015-05-01

This contribution assesses the performance of national education systems along two important dimensions: The degree to which they help individuals develop capabilities necessary for their successful social integration (educational quality) and the degree to which they confer equal opportunities for social advancement (educational equality). It advances a new conceptualization to measure quality and equality in education and then uses it to study the relationship between institutional differentiation and these outcomes. It relies on data on final educational credentials and literacy among adults that circumvent some of the under-appreciated conceptual challenges entailed in the widespread analysis of international student assessment data. The analyses reveal a positive relationship between educational quality and equality and show that education systems with a lower degree of institutional differentiation not only provide more educational equality but are also marked by higher levels of educational quality. While the latter association is partly driven by other institutional and macro-structural factors, I demonstrate that the higher levels of educational equality in less differentiated education systems do not entail an often-assumed trade-off for lower quality. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Equality and Quality in Education. A Comparative Study of 19 Countries

PubMed Central

Pfeffer, Fabian T.

2015-01-01

This contribution assesses the performance of national education systems along two important dimensions: The degree to which they help individuals develop capabilities necessary for their successful social integration (educational quality) and the degree to which they confer equal opportunities for social advancement (educational equality). It advances a new conceptualization to measure quality and equality in education and then uses it to study the relationship between institutional differentiation and these outcomes. It relies on data on final educational credentials and literacy among adults that circumvent some of the under-appreciated conceptual challenges entailed in the widespread analysis of international student assessment data. The analyses reveal a positive relationship between educational quality and equality and show that education systems with a lower degree of institutional differentiation not only provide more educational equality but are also marked by higher levels of educational quality. While the latter association is partly driven by other institutional and macro-structural factors, I demonstrate that the higher levels of educational equality in less differentiated education systems do not entail an often-assumed trade-off for lower quality. PMID:25769872

Ancestral synteny shared between distantly-related plant species from the asterid (Coffea canephora and Solanum Sp.) and rosid (Vitis vinifera) clades

PubMed Central

2012-01-01

Background Coffee trees (Rubiaceae) and tomato (Solanaceae) belong to the Asterid clade, while grapevine (Vitaceae) belongs to the Rosid clade. Coffee and tomato separated from grapevine 125 million years ago, while coffee and tomato diverged 83-89 million years ago. These long periods of divergent evolution should have permitted the genomes to reorganize significantly. So far, very few comparative mappings have been performed between very distantly related species belonging to different clades. We report the first multiple comparison between species from Asterid and Rosid clades, to examine both macro-and microsynteny relationships. Results Thanks to a set of 867 COSII markers, macrosynteny was detected between coffee, tomato and grapevine. While coffee and tomato genomes share 318 orthologous markers and 27 conserved syntenic segments (CSSs), coffee and grapevine also share a similar number of syntenic markers and CSSs: 299 and 29 respectively. Despite large genome macrostructure reorganization, several large chromosome segments showed outstanding macrosynteny shedding new insights into chromosome evolution between Asterids and Rosids. We also analyzed a sequence of 174 kb containing the ovate gene, conserved in a syntenic block between coffee, tomato and grapevine that showed a high-level of microstructure conservation. A higher level of conservation was observed between coffee and grapevine, both woody and long life-cycle plants, than between coffee and tomato. Out of 16 coffee genes of this syntenic segment, 7 and 14 showed complete synteny between coffee and tomato or grapevine, respectively. Conclusions These results show that significant conservation is found between distantly related species from the Asterid (Coffea canephora and Solanum sp.) and Rosid (Vitis vinifera) clades, at the genome macrostructure and microstructure levels. At the ovate locus, conservation did not decline in relation to increasing phylogenetic distance, suggesting that the time factor alone does not explain divergences. Our results are considerably useful for syntenic studies between supposedly remote species for the isolation of important genes for agronomy. PMID:22433423

Thunderstorms observed by radio astronomy Explorer 1 over regions of low man made noise

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Caruso, J. A.; Herman, J. R.

1974-01-01

Radio Astronomy Explorer (RAE) I observations of thunderstorms over regions of low man-made noise levels are analyzed to assess the satellite's capability for noise source differentiation. The investigation of storms over Australia indicates that RAE can resolve noise generation due to thunderstorms from the general noise background over areas of low man-made noise activity. Noise temperatures observed by RAE over stormy regions are on the average 10DB higher than noise temperatures over the same regions in the absence of thunderstorms. In order to determine the extent of noise contamination due to distant transmitters comprehensive three dimensional computer ray tracings were generated. The results indicate that generally, distant transmitters contribute negligibly to the total noise power, being 30DB or more below contributions arriving from an area immediately below the satellite.

77 FR 68862 - Self-Regulatory Organizations; BATS Exchange, Inc.; Notice of Filing and Immediate Effectiveness...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-11-16

... order book in Penny Pilot Securities. The Exchange proposes to decrease the lower volume tier level from... average TCV. The Exchange also proposes to lower the upper volume tier level from an ADV equal to or... Exchange proposes to add an additional volume tier level at an ADV equal to or greater than 1.25% of...

Downregulation of Glutathione Biosynthesis Contributes to Oxidative Stress and Liver Dysfunction in Acute Kidney Injury

PubMed Central

Siow, Yaw L.; Isaak, Cara K.

2016-01-01

Ischemia-reperfusion is a common cause for acute kidney injury and can lead to distant organ dysfunction. Glutathione is a major endogenous antioxidant and its depletion directly correlates to ischemia-reperfusion injury. The liver has high capacity for producing glutathione and is a key organ in modulating local and systemic redox balance. In the present study, we investigated the mechanism by which kidney ischemia-reperfusion led to glutathione depletion and oxidative stress. The left kidney of Sprague-Dawley rats was subjected to 45 min ischemia followed by 6 h reperfusion. Ischemia-reperfusion impaired kidney and liver function. This was accompanied by a decrease in glutathione levels in the liver and plasma and increased hepatic lipid peroxidation and plasma homocysteine levels. Ischemia-reperfusion caused a significant decrease in mRNA and protein levels of hepatic glutamate-cysteine ligase mediated through the inhibition of transcription factor Nrf2. Ischemia-reperfusion inhibited hepatic expression of cystathionine γ-lyase, an enzyme responsible for producing cysteine (an essential precursor for glutathione synthesis) through the transsulfuration pathway. These results suggest that inhibition of glutamate-cysteine ligase expression and downregulation of the transsulfuration pathway lead to reduced hepatic glutathione biosynthesis and elevation of plasma homocysteine levels, which, in turn, may contribute to oxidative stress and distant organ injury during renal ischemia-reperfusion. PMID:27872680

SLP-2 overexpression could serve as a prognostic factor in node positive and HER2 negative breast cancer.

PubMed

Cao, Wenfeng; Zhang, Bin; Li, Jin; Liu, Yanxue; Liu, Zhihua; Sun, Baocun

2011-12-01

This study aimed to evaluate the utility as a prognostic factor of SLP-2 on the outcome of breast cancer patients. We performed immunohistochemical analysis to examine the SLP-2 expression in a large panel of invasive breast cancer samples. Of the 496 samples, 261 showed overexpression of SLP-2. Importantly, there were significant associations between SLP-2 overexpression and tumour size (p = 0.002), lymph node/distant metastases, clinical stage (p < 0.001), HER2/neu expression (p = 0.003). In addition, there were obvious differences in levels of SLP-2 expression within four molecular subtypes of breast cancer (p = 0.011). High level SLP-2 expression was shown in tumour samples of HER2 and luminal B subtypes, and low level SLP-2 expression was shown in luminal A and triple negative subtypes, suggesting that overexpression of SLP-2 was closely correlated with HER2/neu expression, and that both SLP-2 and HER2/neu can play a role in lymph node/distant metastases of breast cancers. Thus lymph node status, HER2/neu and SLP-2 high-level expression can act as independent prognostic factors. There is an obvious link between SLP-2 and HER2/neu expression. Overexpression of SLP-2 is associated with poorer total survival, especially in lymph node positive coupled with HER2/neu negative patients.

Complexity and spectral analysis of the heart rate variability dynamics for distant prediction of paroxysmal atrial fibrillation with artificial intelligence methods.

PubMed

Chesnokov, Yuriy V

2008-06-01

Paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (PAF) is a serious arrhythmia associated with morbidity and mortality. We explore the possibility of distant prediction of PAF by analyzing changes in heart rate variability (HRV) dynamics of non-PAF rhythms immediately before PAF event. We use that model for distant prognosis of PAF onset with artificial intelligence methods. We analyzed 30-min non-PAF HRV records from 51 subjects immediately before PAF onset and at least 45min distant from any PAF event. We used spectral and complexity analysis with sample (SmEn) and approximate (ApEn) entropies and their multiscale versions on extracted HRV data. We used that features to train the artificial neural networks (ANNs) and support vector machine (SVM) classifiers to differentiate the subjects. The trained classifiers were further tested for distant PAF event prognosis on 16 subjects from independent database on non-PAF rhythm lasting from 60 to 320 min before PAF onset classifying the 30-min segments as distant or leading to PAF. We found statistically significant increase in 30-min non-PAF HRV recordings from 51 subjects in the VLF, LF, HF bands and total power (p<0.0001) before PAF event compared to PAF distant ones. The SmEn and ApEn analysis provided significant decrease in complexity (p<0.0001 and p<0.001) before PAF onset. For training ANN and SVM classifiers the data from 51 subjects were randomly split to training, validation and testing. ANN provided better results in terms of sensitivity (Se), specificity (Sp) and positive predictivity (Pp) compared to SVM which became biased towards positive case. The validation results of the ANN classifier we achieved: Se 76%, Sp 93%, Pp 94%. Testing ANN and SVM classifiers on 16 subjects with non-PAF HRV data preceding PAF events we obtained distant prediction of PAF onset with SVM classifier in 10 subjects (58+/-18 min in advance). ANN classifier provided distant prediction of PAF event in 13 subjects (62+/-21 min in advance). From the results of distant PAF prediction we conclude that ANN and SVM classifiers learned the changes in the HRV dynamics immediately before PAF event and successfully identified them during distant PAF prognosis on independent database. This confirms the reported in the literature results that corresponding changes in the HRV data occur about 60 min before PAF onset and proves the possibility of distant PAF prediction with ANN and SVM methods.

Bias and heteroscedastic memory error in self-reported health behavior: an investigation using covariance structure analysis

PubMed Central

Kupek, Emil

2002-01-01

Background Frequent use of self-reports for investigating recent and past behavior in medical research requires statistical techniques capable of analyzing complex sources of bias associated with this methodology. In particular, although decreasing accuracy of recalling more distant past events is commonplace, the bias due to differential in memory errors resulting from it has rarely been modeled statistically. Methods Covariance structure analysis was used to estimate the recall error of self-reported number of sexual partners for past periods of varying duration and its implication for the bias. Results Results indicated increasing levels of inaccuracy for reports about more distant past. Considerable positive bias was found for a small fraction of respondents who reported ten or more partners in the last year, last two years and last five years. This is consistent with the effect of heteroscedastic random error where the majority of partners had been acquired in the more distant past and therefore were recalled less accurately than the partners acquired more recently to the time of interviewing. Conclusions Memory errors of this type depend on the salience of the events recalled and are likely to be present in many areas of health research based on self-reported behavior. PMID:12435276

The Role of TPS and TPA in the Diagnostics of Distant Metastases.

PubMed

Kucera, Radek; Topolcan, Ondrej; Fiala, Ondrej; Kinkorova, Judita; Treska, Vladislav; Zedníková, Ilona; Slouka, David; Simanek, Vaclav; Safanda, Martin; Babuska, Vaclav

2016-02-01

The aim of the study was to assess the degree to which tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) and tissue polypeptide-specific antigen (TPS), as well as carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), can assist in the detection of distant metastases. We assessed 157 patients with colorectal and breast cancer divided into two groups. The first was a group of patients with cancer at stages 1, 2 and 3; the second was a group of patients with cancer at stage 4 with metastasis. We found significantly higher levels of all biomarkers in the metastatic group compared to the group with cancer at stages 1-3 (p<0.0001). The calculated area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve was 0.9929 for TPS, 0.9337 for TPA and 0.7234 for CEA. The cut-off was calculated for each biomarker at 95% specificity, TPS cut-off=255 IU/l (sensitivity 95%), TPA cut-off=200 IU/l (sensitivity 70%) and CEA cut-off=18 μg/l (sensitivity 37%). We suggest combining CEA with TPS or TPA in the detection of distant metastases or using only cytokeratins. This approach can significantly increase the quality of detection of the metastatic process. Copyright© 2016 International Institute of Anticancer Research (Dr. John G. Delinassios), All rights reserved.

Heat shock protein 27 regulates human prostate cancer cell motility and metastatic progression

PubMed Central

Voll, Eric A; Ogden, Irene M; Pavese, Janet M; Huang, XiaoKe; Xu, Li; Jovanovic, Borko D; Bergan, Raymond C

2014-01-01

Prostate cancer (PCa) is the most common form of cancer in American men. Mortality from PCa is caused by the movement of cancer cells from the primary organ to form metastatic tumors at distant sites. Heat shock protein 27 (HSP27) is known to increase human PCa cell invasion and its overexpression is associated with metastatic disease. The role of HSP27 in driving PCa cell movement from the prostate to distant metastatic sites is unknown. Increased HSP27 expression increased metastasis as well as primary tumor mass. In vitro studies further examined the mechanism of HSP27-induced metastatic behavior. HSP27 did not affect cell detachment, adhesion, or migration, but did increase cell invasion. Cell invasion was dependent upon matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), whose expression was increased by HSP27. In vivo, HSP27 induced commensurate changes in MMP-2 expression in tumors. These findings demonstrate that HSP27 drives metastatic spread of cancer cells from the prostate to distant sites, does so across a continuum of expression levels, and identifies HSP27-driven increases in MMP-2 expression as functionally relevant. These findings add to prior studies demonstrating that HSP27 increases PCa cell motility, growth and survival. Together, they demonstrate that HSP27 plays an important role in PCa progression. PMID:24798191

Using distant supervised learning to identify protein subcellular localizations from full-text scientific articles.

PubMed

Zheng, Wu; Blake, Catherine

2015-10-01

Databases of curated biomedical knowledge, such as the protein-locations reflected in the UniProtKB database, provide an accurate and useful resource to researchers and decision makers. Our goal is to augment the manual efforts currently used to curate knowledge bases with automated approaches that leverage the increased availability of full-text scientific articles. This paper describes experiments that use distant supervised learning to identify protein subcellular localizations, which are important to understand protein function and to identify candidate drug targets. Experiments consider Swiss-Prot, the manually annotated subset of the UniProtKB protein knowledge base, and 43,000 full-text articles from the Journal of Biological Chemistry that contain just under 11.5 million sentences. The system achieves 0.81 precision and 0.49 recall at sentence level and an accuracy of 57% on held-out instances in a test set. Moreover, the approach identifies 8210 instances that are not in the UniProtKB knowledge base. Manual inspection of the 50 most likely relations showed that 41 (82%) were valid. These results have immediate benefit to researchers interested in protein function, and suggest that distant supervision should be explored to complement other manual data curation efforts. Copyright © 2015 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Telemedicine for children with developmental disabilities: a more effective clinical process than office-based care.

PubMed

Langkamp, Diane L; McManus, Mark D; Blakemore, Susan D

2015-02-01

The literature on the use of telemedicine for children with developmental disabilities (DD) is limited and mostly describes telemedicine being used to link patients with distant subspecialty multidisciplinary care. Parents generally have reported satisfaction with such care and have perceived it to be equally effective as in-person care. Here we report on the use of school-based asynchronous telemedicine to connect children with DD with primary care providers. We developed Tele-Health-Kids, a school-based program using asynchronous telemedicine to connect children with DD with their primary care physician for the care of minor illnesses. We surveyed parents at enrollment and after the child's first telemedicine visit to assess satisfaction. We describe 4 cases that illustrate benefits, particularly for children with DD and challenging behaviors, suggesting that asynchronous telemedicine may actually be superior to traditional in-office visits in some circumstances. Most parents expressed a high level of satisfaction with the program. Benefits identified include decreased stress to the child and the parents as well as increasing the likelihood of a successful medical examination due to greater cooperation by the child. Visits using asynchronous or "store and forward" telemedicine technology may be superior in some situations by allowing the visit to be performed at a pace that can be adjusted to the needs of the child with DD. More research in the use of asynchronous telemedicine for children and youth with DD, particularly for children with DD and challenging behaviors, is needed.

Thyroid hormone levels in the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) or AIDS-related complex.

PubMed Central

Tang, W W; Kaptein, E M

1989-01-01

Hypothalamic-pituitary dysfunction and thyroid gland cytomegalovirus inclusions have been described in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) and AIDS-related complex (ARC). We evaluated 80 patients with AIDS or ARC for the frequency of hypothalamic-pituitary or thyroid gland failure and altered serum thyroid hormone levels due to nonthyroidal disorders. One patient had subclinical hypothyroidism. Of these patients, 60% had low free triiodothyronine (T3) index values and 4% had low free thyroxine (T4) indexes; none of the latter had hypothalamic-pituitary or thyroid gland failure, since all serum cortisol values were greater than or equal to 552 nmol per liter (greater than or equal to 20 micrograms per dl) and all thyrotropin levels were less than or equal to 3 mU per liter (less than or equal to 3 microU per ml), respectively. Those who died had lower total T4 and T3, free T3 index, and albumin levels than those discharged from hospital. Serum total T4 and T3 levels correlated with albumin levels and total T3 with serum sodium levels. Serum total T3 levels best predicted the outcome of the hospital stay (accuracy = 82%). Thus, abnormal serum thyroid hormone levels in AIDS or ARC patients are most frequently due to nonthyroidal disorders, but hypothalamic-pituitary or thyroid gland failure may occur. PMID:2618039

An assessment of teenagers' perceptions of dental fluorosis using digital simulation and web-based testing.

PubMed

Edwards, Maura; Macpherson, Lorna M D; Simmons, David R; Harper Gilmour, W; Stephen, Kenneth W

2005-08-01

To develop a new model to establish teenagers' perceptions of the aesthetic impact of fluorosis, in the context of overall facial appearance. This web-based model was used to compare different degrees of fluorosis at any one distance, while also comparing the same level of fluorosis at different 'distances'. A 14-year-old subject was used as the model face. Different degrees of fluorosis were 'built-up' on this subject's teeth using digital simulation. A web-based questionnaire showed 30 photographs, displaying four levels of fluorosis, in addition to fluorosis-free, at five different 'distances'. The closest images were shown with and without retractors, while the more distant pictures showed more of the subject's face. Teenage pupils (n = 217) were then asked to grade the acceptability of the appearances and indicate if they would wish treatment for each such appearance. At any one distance, acceptability fell as fluorosis level increased. When the same degree of fluorosis was compared at different distances, acceptability improved as the teeth were viewed from further away. Pictures taken without retractors had higher acceptability than those taken with retractors in place. Teenagers can discriminate between various degrees of fluorosis. However, more distant viewing of fluorosed teeth, within the overall context of the face, improves acceptability of the appearance.

Racial Differences in the Effects of Neighborhood Disadvantage on Residential Mobility in Later Life

PubMed Central

Riley, Alicia; Cagney, Kathleen A.

2016-01-01

Objectives: Past research on the residential mobility of older adults has focused on individual-level factors and life course events. Less attention has been paid to the role of the residential environment in explaining residential mobility in older adults. We sought to understand whether neighborhood disadvantage had predictive utility in explaining residential relocation patterns, and whether associations differed between Whites and non-Whites. Method: Data are from the National Social Life, Health and Aging Project, a nationally representative sample of community-dwelling older adults. Neighborhoods were defined at the census tract level. Local movers (different census tract, same county) and distant movers (different county) were compared with stayers. Results: After adjusting for individual-level factors, neighborhood disadvantage increased the likelihood of a local move, regardless of race/ethnicity. For non-Whites, higher neighborhood disadvantage decreased the likelihood of a distant move. Among local movers, Blacks and Latinos were less likely to improve neighborhood quality than Whites. Discussion: Neighborhood disadvantage may promote local mobility by undermining person–environment fit. Racial differences in access to better neighborhoods persist in later life. Future research should explore how older adults optimize person–environment fit in the face of neighborhood disadvantage when the possibility of relocation to a better neighborhood may be restricted. PMID:27257227

Distant and Distributed Learners Are Two Sides of the Same Coin.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barron, Brette Barclay

2002-01-01

An academic librarian at the University of South Carolina, faced with providing online resources for distant and distributed learners, examines whether there is any difference between distant and distributed learners. Illustrates changes brought on by implementation of information technologies. Discusses seeking a new definition, meeting…

Characteristics of differentiated thyroid carcinoma in children and adolescents with respect to age, gender, and histology.

PubMed

Farahati, J; Bucsky, P; Parlowsky, T; Mäder, U; Reiners, C

1997-12-01

Because of its rarity there have been only a few detailed studies on differentiated thyroid carcinoma (DTC) in children. The current investigation was undertaken to assess the characteristics of DTC with respect to age, gender, and histology in children and adolescents. In a questionnaire-based survey, data from 114 children and adolescents with DTC (age range, 3-18 years) was collected from 65 clinical institutions in Germany. Characteristics of 80 females and 34 males were evaluated and the influence of age, gender, histology, multicentric growth, tumor stage, and lymph node involvement on distant metastases was tested using multivariate discriminant analysis. Comparison between groups was performed using the Student's t test and chi-square test. Correlation between incidence and age was assessed by linear regression analysis. The overall incidence of thyroid carcinoma in females was higher than in males, with a peak of female/male ratio occurring at puberty. The incidence of DTC correlated with age in females < 16 years (correlation coefficient [r] = 0.84; P = 0.0006), which was more pronounced in children with papillary thyroid carcinoma (PTC) (r = 0.83; P = 0.006) but not in those with follicular thyroid carcinoma (FTC) (r = 0.20; P = 0.16). FTC was associated with less advanced disease (P = 0.009), fewer lymph nodes involved (P = 0.007), and fewer metastases (P = 0.02) compared with PTC. Males tended to have a higher risk for distant metastases. However, statistical analysis failed to reach a level of significance (P = 0.08). Multivariate analysis revealed tumor stage as the only powerful factor (P = 0.02) correlated with distant metastasis. The incidence of PTC shows a marked increase in females with the highest female/male ratio occurring at puberty. Childhood thyroid carcinoma frequently is associated with lymph node involvement, distant metastases, and extrathyroidal tumor infiltration. In children FTC appears to be less aggressive than PTC. Advanced local-regional extension stage appears to be the most powerful factor influencing the risk for distant metastases in children.

MDM2 and Ki-67 predict for distant metastasis and mortality in men treated with radiotherapy and androgen deprivation for prostate cancer: RTOG 92-02.

PubMed

Khor, Li-Yan; Bae, Kyounghwa; Paulus, Rebecca; Al-Saleem, Tahseen; Hammond, M Elizabeth; Grignon, David J; Che, Mingxin; Venkatesan, Varagur; Byhardt, Roger W; Rotman, Marvin; Hanks, Gerald E; Sandler, Howard M; Pollack, Alan

2009-07-01

PURPOSE MDM2 regulates p53, which controls cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Both proteins, along with Ki-67, which is an established strong determinant of metastasis, have shown promise in predicting the outcome of men treated with radiation therapy (RT) with or without short-term androgen deprivation (STAD). This report compares the utility of abnormal expression of these biomarkers in estimating progression in a cohort of men treated on RTOG 92-02. PATIENTS AND METHODS Adequate tissue for immunohistochemistry was available for p53, Ki-67, and MDM2 analyses in 478 patient cases. The percentage of tumor nuclei staining positive (PSP) was quantified manually or by image analysis, and the per-sample mean intensity score (MIS) was quantified by image analysis. Cox regression models were used to estimate overall mortality (OM), and Fine and Gray's regressions were applied to the end points of distant metastasis (DM) and cause-specific mortality (CSM). Results In multivariate analyses that adjusted for all markers and treatment covariates, MDM2 overexpression was significantly related to DM (P = .02) and OM (P = .003), and Ki-67 overexpression was significantly related to DM (P < .0001), CSM (P = .0007), and OM (P = .01). P53 overexpression was significantly related to OM (P = .02). When considered in combination, the overexpression of both Ki-67 and MDM2 at high levels was associated with significantly increased failure rates for all end points (P < .001 for DM, CSM, and OM). CONCLUSION Combined MDM2 and Ki-67 expression levels were independently related to distant metastasis and mortality and, if validated, could be considered for risk stratification of patients with prostate cancer in clinical trials.

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

T. R. Saffle; R. G. Mitchell; R. B. Evans

The results of the various monitoring programs for 1998 indicated that radioactivity from the DOE's Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory (INEEL) operations could generally not be distinguished from worldwide fallout and natural radioactivity in the region surrounding the INEEL. Although some radioactive materials were discharged during INEEL operations, concentrations in the offsite environment and doses to the surrounding population were far less than state of Idaho and federal health protection guidelines. Gross alpha and gross beta measurements, used as a screening technique for air filters, were investigated by making statistical comparisons between onsite or boundary location concentrations and themore » distant community group concentrations. Gross alpha activities were generally higher at distant locations than at boundary and onsite locations. Air samples were also analyzed for specific radionuclides. Some human-made radionuclides were detected at offsite locations, but most were near the minimum detectable concentration and their presence was attributable to natural sources, worldwide fallout, and statistical variations in the analytical results rather than to INEEL operations. Low concentrations of 137Cs were found in muscle tissue and liver of some game animals and sheep. These levels were mostly consistent with background concentrations measured in animals sampled onsite and offsite in recent years. Ionizing radiation measured simultaneously at the INEEL boundary and distant locations using environmental dosimeters were similar and showed only background levels. The maximum potential population dose from submersion, ingestion, inhalation, and deposition to the approximately 121,500 people residing within an 80-km (50-mi) radius from the geographical center of the INEEL was estimated to be 0.08 person-rem (8 x 10-4 person-Sv) using the MDIFF air dispersion model. This population dose is less than 0.0002 percent of the estimated 43,7 00 person-rem (437 person-Sv) population dose from background radioactivity.« less

Making Multi-Level Tsunami Evacuation Playbooks Operational in California and Hawaii

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Wilson, R. I.; Peterson, D.; Fryer, G. J.; Miller, K.; Nicolini, T.; Popham, C.; Richards, K.; Whitmore, P.; Wood, N. J.

2016-12-01

In the aftermath of the 2010 Chile, 2011 Japan, and 2012 Haida Gwaii tsunamis in California and Hawaii, coastal emergency managers requested that state and federal tsunami programs investigate providing more detailed information about the flood potential and recommended evacuation for distant-source tsunamis well ahead of their arrival time. Evacuation "Playbooks" for tsunamis of variable sizes and source locations have been developed for some communities in the two states, providing secondary options to an all or nothing approach for evacuation. Playbooks have been finalized for nearly 70% of the coastal communities in California, and have been drafted for evaluation by the communities of Honolulu and Hilo in Hawaii. A key component to determining a recommended level of evacuation during a distant-source tsunami and making the Playbooks operational has been the development of the "FASTER" approach, an acronym for factors that influence the tsunami flood hazard for a community: Forecast Amplitude, Storm, Tides, Error in forecast, and the Run-up potential. Within the first couple hours after a tsunami is generated, the FASTER flood elevation value will be computed and used to select the appropriate minimum tsunami phase evacuation "Playbook" for use by the coastal communities. The states of California and Hawaii, the tsunami warning centers, and local weather service offices are working together to deliver recommendations on the appropriate evacuation Playbook plans for communities to use prior to the arrival of a distant-source tsunami. These partners are working closely with individual communities on developing conservative and consistent protocols on the use of the Playbooks. Playbooks help provide a scientifically-based, minimum response for small- to moderate-size tsunamis which could reduce the potential for over-evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people and save hundreds of millions of dollars in evacuation costs for communities and businesses.

Individual Differences in the Neural Basis of Causal Inferencing

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Prat, Chantel S.; Mason, Robert A.; Just, Marcel Adam

2011-01-01

This study used fMRI to examine individual differences in the neural basis of causal inferencing. Participants with varying language skill levels, as indexed by scores on the vocabulary portion of the Nelson-Denny Reading Test, read four types of two-sentence passages in which causal relatedness (moderate and distant) and presence or absence of…

Focus Framework: A New Guideline for Presenting and Evaluating Lexical Contents in ELT Materials

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Zarifi, Abdolvahed

2015-01-01

Despite the not-so-distant negligence of lexicon in language instruction, it is currently taking on a core role in designing ELT materials. Selection of the lexical content is usually informed by a set of pedagogical and non-pedagogical factors like learnability, usefulness, the level of proficiency targeted, frequency, range, coverage, etc. With…

Association of ABO blood groups with von Willebrand factor, factor VIII and ADAMTS-13 in patients with lung cancer.

PubMed

Liu, Xia; Chen, Xiaogang; Yang, Jiezuan; Guo, Renyong

2017-09-01

Coagulative and fibrinolytic disorders appear to be associated with the development of lung cancer. The aim of the present study was to determine plasma levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF) and a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif 13 (ADAMTS-13), and factor VIII (FVIII) activity, in association with O and non-O blood groups in patients with lung cancer. Plasma levels of VWF and ADAMTS-13, and FVIII activity were measured in 115 patients with lung cancer and 98 healthy subjects. Phenotyping of the ABO blood groups was also performed for the two groups. Significantly increased VWF levels and FVIII activity, as well as significantly decreased ADAMTS-13 levels, were observed in patients with distant metastasis as compared with those without distant metastasis and the healthy controls. Plasma VWF levels and FVIII activity were significantly increased in subjects with non-O type blood compared with those with type O blood in the two groups. However, a significant decrease in ADAMTS-13 levels was observed only in the control group among those with non-O type blood, compared with those with type O blood. The results of the present study indicate that increased VWF and decreased ADAMTS-13 levels facilitate the invasiveness and metastasis of lung cancer. Non-O blood groups constitute a risk factor for increased VWF and FVIII in plasma. Continued monitoring of VWF and ADAMTS-13 levels, and of FVIII activity in patients with lung cancer with distinct blood groups may help to minimize the incidence of thrombotic events and improve assessment of disease progression.

Sustained water-level changes caused by damage and compaction induced by teleseismic earthquakes

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Shalev, Eyal; Kurzon, Ittai; Doan, Mai-Linh; Lyakhovsky, Vladimir

2016-07-01

Sustained water-level increase and decrease induced by distant earthquakes were observed in two wells, Gomè 1 and Meizar 1 in Israel. The Gomè 1 well is located within a damage zone of a major fault zone, and Meizar 1 is relatively far from a fault. The monitored pressure change in both wells shows significant water-level oscillations and sustained water-level changes in response to the passage of the seismic waves. The sustained water-level changes include short-term (minutes) undrained behavior and longer-period (hours and days) drained behavior associated with groundwater flow. We model the short-term undrained response of water pressure oscillations and sustained change to the distant 2013 Mw 7.7 Balochistan earthquake by nonlinear elastic behavior of damaged rocks, accounting for small wave-induced compaction and damage accumulation. We suggest that the rocks are close to failure in both locations and strain oscillations produced by the passing seismic waves periodically push the rock above the yield cap, creating compaction when volumetric strain increases and damage when shear strain increases. Compaction increases pore pressure, whereas damage accumulation decreases pore pressure by fracture dilation. The dominant process depends on the properties of the rock. For highly damaged rocks, dilatancy is dominant and a sustained pressure decrease is expected. For low-damage rocks, compaction is the dominant process creating sustained water-level increase. We calculate damage and porosity changes associated to the Balochistan earthquake in both wells and quantify damage accumulation and compaction during the passage of the seismic waves.

75 FR 29479 - Medicare and Medicaid Programs: Proposed Changes Affecting Hospital and Critical Access Hospital...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2010-05-26

... have to include all adverse events that may result from telemedicine services provided by the distant... adverse events that result from the telemedicine services provided by the distant-site physician or... include all adverse events that result from the telemedicine services provided by the distant-site...

One-step resonant controlled-phase gate on distant transmon qutrits in different 1D superconducting resonators

PubMed Central

Hua, Ming; Tao, Ming-Jie; Deng, Fu-Guo; Lu Long, Gui

2015-01-01

We propose a scheme to construct the controlled-phase (c-phase) gate on distant transmon qutrits hosted in different resonators inter-coupled by a connected transmon qutrit. Different from previous works for entanglement generation and information transfer on two distant qubits in a dispersive regime in the similar systems, our gate is constructed in the resonant regime with one step. The numerical simulation shows that the fidelity of our c-phase gate is 99.5% within 86.3 ns. As an interesting application of our c-phase gate, we propose an effective scheme to complete a conventional square lattice of two-dimensional surface code layout for fault-tolerant quantum computing on the distant transmon qutrits. The four-step coupling between the nearest distant transmon qutrits, small coupling strengths of the distant transmon qutrits, and the non-population on the connection transmon qutrit can reduce the interactions among different parts of the layout effectively, which makes the layout be integrated with a large scale in an easier way. PMID:26486426

Effects of a Hypertension Management Program by Seongcheon Primary Health Care Post in South Korea: An Analysis of Changes in the Level of Knowledge of Hypertension in the Period from 2004 to 2009

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Song, In Han; Kim, Sang-A; Park, Woong-Sub

2012-01-01

The objective of this study was to examine the effects of a hypertension management program provided by a primary health care post located in a distant rural area in South Korea on the level of knowledge of hypertension. The panel data consisted of a total of 319 people or the entire population aged above 40 years of five villages located in…

Development of Distant Learning Laboratory and Creation of Educational Materials

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Considine, Michelle

1995-01-01

The Office of Education's fundamental goal is to disseminate information, mostly that which relates to science and technology. In this attempt, as I have observed, the office has many programs bringing both students and teachers to NASA Langley to expose them to the facilities and to teach them some about the scientific theory and about available modern technology. As a way of expanding the audience that can be reached, as the expense of bringing people in is limiting, Marchelle Canright has proposed establishing a center dedicated to researching and producing distant learning videos. Although distant learning through telecommunications is not a new concept, as many universities, colleges, and precollege level schools offer televised courses, the research in this field has been limited. Many of the standing distant learning broadcasts are simply recordings of teachers in classrooms giving lectures to their own students; they are not aimed at the television audience. In some cases the videos are produced without a Live-lecture atmosphere, but are still only classroom lectures. In either case, however, the full range of capabilities of video production are not being fully utilized. Methods for best relaying educational material have not been explored. Possibilities for including computerized images and video clips for the purpose of showing diagrams and processes, as well as examples in fitting cases, may add considerably to the educational value of these videos. Also, through Internet and satellite links, it is possible for remote students to interact with the teachers during televised sessions. These possibilities might, also, add to the effectiveness of distant learning programs. Ms. Canright's proposed center will be dedicated to researching these possibilities and eventually spreading the results to distant learning program managers. This is the project I was involved in over the summer. As implied, the center is still at the foundation stages. Ms. Canright has proposed four or five possible series that could be developed, each one aimed at a specific age group of students, or group of teachers. I was involved in the design of the series aimed at the youngest children, the Picture Book Science series. My involvement included proposing and researching topics, writing a lesson for the first show, writing the latter portion of the picture book story (the part including the scientific lesson), and illustrating the story. I also designed and collected the materials for the Learning Center's television studio set as well as finished the painting of the main backdrop panels.

A review of the cicada genus Kosemia Matsumura (Hemiptera: Cicadidae).

PubMed

Qi, Shengping; Hayashi, Masami; Wei, Cong

2015-01-21

The genus Kosemia Matsumura is reviewed based on investigation of the described species and the descriptions of two new species, Kosemia castanea sp. n. and Kosemia guanzhongensis sp. n., from Shaanxi Province, China. Two species formerly belonging to the genus Cicadetta Kolenati, C. chinensis (Distant) and C. mogannia (Distant), are transferred to Kosemia Matsumura to become K. chinensis (Distant), comb. n. and K. mogannia (Distant), comb. n.. The male of K. chinensis (Distant), comb. n. is discovered and described for the first time. Melampsalta bifuscata Liu, 1940 is recognized to be a junior synonym of K. chinensis. Leptopsalta rubicosta Chou & Lei, 1997 and Lycurgus sinensis Jacobi, 1944 are recognized to be junior synonyms of K. mogannia. Kosemia radiator (Uhler, 1896) is removed from the Chinese cicada fauna. A key to species of Kosemia is provided. 

Recurrence and death from breast cancer after complete treatments: an experience from hospitals in Northern Thailand.

PubMed

Chairat, Rungnapa; Puttisri, Adisom; Pamarapa, Asani; Wongrach, Nongnoot; Tawichasri, Chamaiporn; Patumanond, Jayanton; Tantraworasin, Apichat; Charoentum, Chaiyut

2014-09-01

To describe the pattern of disease progression and to describe locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and death rates in breast cancer patients after complete treatment. Medical records of women diagnosed with breast cancer at two university affiliated tertiary care hospitals in the Northern Thailand that had complete treatments between 2006 and 2010 were traced. Extracted key information included patient clinical profiles and documented recurrence of cancer The causes of death were verified from breast cancer case registration database, death certificates through The Ministry of Internal Affairs'civil registration, by direct telephone contact, or by distributed prepaid postcards. Medical records of 829 women diagnosed with breast cancer without prior evidence ofdistant metastasis, and had complete recommended treatment were included. Six hundred thirty seven women had not experienced any events up to the end of the follow-up (76.8%). The first occurring events were focused and categorized into three distinct types, locoregional recurrence (n = 83, median follow-up time = 34.2 months), distant recurrence (n = 78, median follow-up time = 35.4 months), and death without any evidences of locoregional or distant recurrences (n = 12, median follow-up time = 36.7 months). Distant recurrence after locoregional recurrence was reported (n = 33). There were 109 patient who had died (breast cancer related death) up to the end of the follow-up (13.2%). The three types of consecutively occurring deaths were death after locoregional recurrence without any distant recurrences (n = 15), death after distant recurrence with locoregional recurrence (n = 21), and death after documenited distant recurrence without any locoregional recurrences (n = 61). The trend was that the rate of the first occurring locoregional recurrence was slightly higher than that of distant recurrence, The death rate in patients without any recurrences was much lower than in those experiencing prior recurrences. The rates of disease progression from local recurrence to distant recurrence and to death were approximately 5 to 7 times faster in patients who had experienced earlierprogressions.

Comparison of Annoyance from Railway Noise and Railway Vibration

PubMed Central

Gidlöf-Gunnarsson, Anita; Gustavsson, Sara

2017-01-01

The aim of this study is to compare vibration exposure to noise exposure from railway traffic in terms of equal annoyance, i.e., to determine when a certain noise level is equally annoying as a corresponding vibration velocity. Based on questionnaire data from the Train Vibration and Noise Effects (TVANE) research project from residential areas exposed to railway noise and vibration, the dose response relationship for annoyance was estimated. By comparing the relationships between exposure and annoyance for areas both with and without significant vibration exposure, the noise levels and vibration velocities that had an equal probability of causing annoyance was determined using logistic regression. The comparison gives a continuous mapping between vibration velocity in the ground and a corresponding noise level at the facade that are equally annoying. For equivalent noise level at the facade compared to maximum weighted vibration velocity in the ground the probability of annoyance is approximately 20% for 59 dB or 0.48 mm/s, and about 40% for 63 dB or 0.98 mm/s. PMID:28753921

Developing leaders' strategic thinking through global work experience: the moderating role of cultural distance.

PubMed

Dragoni, Lisa; Oh, In-Sue; Tesluk, Paul E; Moore, Ozias A; VanKatwyk, Paul; Hazucha, Joy

2014-09-01

To respond to the challenge of how organizations can develop leaders who can think strategically, we investigate the relation of leaders' global work experiences--that is, those experiences that require the role incumbent to transcend national boundaries--to their competency in strategic thinking. We further examine whether leaders' exposure to a country whose culture is quite distinct from the culture of their own country (i.e., one that is culturally distant) moderates these relationships. Our analyses of 231 upper level leaders reveals that the time they have spent in global work experiences positively relates to their strategic thinking competency, particularly for leaders who have had exposure to a more culturally distant country. We discuss these findings in light of the research on international work experiences and leader development. PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2014 APA, all rights reserved.

Star Formation in Distant Red Galaxies: Spitzer Observations in the Hubble Deep Field-South

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Webb, Tracy M. A.; van Dokkum, Pieter; Egami, Eiichi; Fazio, Giovanni; Franx, Marijn; Gawiser, Eric; Herrera, David; Huang, Jiasheng; Labbé, Ivo; Lira, Paulina; Marchesini, Danilo; Maza, José; Quadri, Ryan; Rudnick, Gregory; van der Werf, Paul

2006-01-01

We present Spitzer 24 μm imaging of 1.5~40 μJy and conclude that the bulk of the DRG population is dusty active galaxies. A mid-infrared (MIR) color analysis with IRAC data suggests that the MIR fluxes are not dominated by buried AGNs, and we interpret the high detection rate as evidence for a high average star formation rate of =130+/-30 Msolar yr-1. From this, we infer that DRGs are important contributors to the cosmic star formation rate density at z~2, at a level of ~0.02 Msolar yr-1 Mpc-3 to our completeness limit of KAB=22.9 mag.

Foggy perception slows us down.

PubMed

Pretto, Paolo; Bresciani, Jean-Pierre; Rainer, Gregor; Bülthoff, Heinrich H

2012-10-30

Visual speed is believed to be underestimated at low contrast, which has been proposed as an explanation of excessive driving speed in fog. Combining psychophysics measurements and driving simulation, we confirm that speed is underestimated when contrast is reduced uniformly for all objects of the visual scene independently of their distance from the viewer. However, we show that when contrast is reduced more for distant objects, as is the case in real fog, visual speed is actually overestimated, prompting drivers to decelerate. Using an artificial anti-fog-that is, fog characterized by better visibility for distant than for close objects, we demonstrate for the first time that perceived speed depends on the spatial distribution of contrast over the visual scene rather than the global level of contrast per se. Our results cast new light on how reduced visibility conditions affect perceived speed, providing important insight into the human visual system.DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00031.001.

Clinical study on evaluation of anti-cataract effect of Triphaladi Ghana Vati and Elaneer Kuzhambu Anjana in Timira (immature cataract).

PubMed

Bhati, Hitesh; Manjusha, R

2015-01-01

Senile cataract is the leading cause of blindness according to the World Health Report, 1998. Till date no accepted medical treatment is available for cataract. In Ayurveda visual disturbances are described in the context of Timira, Kacha and Linganasha. Timira is an early stage characterized by blurring of vision and Linganasha is end stage where complete loss of vision occurs. Ancient scholars have advocated different Anjana application and oral medications in the Timira and Kacha stage. To study the efficacy of test drugs Triphaladi Ghana Vati and Elaneer Kuzhambu Anjana in immature cataract. In this trial patients having Senile Immature Cataract were randomized with equal probability to one of the two treatment Groups A and B (n = 20 each). In Group A Triphaladi Ghana Vati 500 mg internally for 3 months and in Group B Triphaladi Ghana Vati 500 mg internally and Elaneer Kuzhambu Anjana for local application were given. Assessment was done on the basis of blurring of vision, visualization of nonexisting things, difficulty in bright light and dim light or night vision, distant visual acuity, pinhole vision, best corrected visual acuity and cataract grading on slit lamp. Both groups showed statistically significant changes in blurring of vision, difficulty in glare, daytime and bright light, distant visual activity, pinhole vision, and best-corrected visual acuity. Group B also showed significant changes in difficulty in night time, visualization of nonexisting things and in nuclear cataract. The study establishes that test drugs can reduce and control the progress of immature cataract, and combined therapy was found more effective. Chakshushya Rasayana, early diagnosis and proper management on Doshic lines can prevent arrest or delay senile cataract.

Clinical study on evaluation of anti-cataract effect of Triphaladi Ghana Vati and Elaneer Kuzhambu Anjana in Timira (immature cataract)

PubMed Central

Bhati, Hitesh; Manjusha, R.

2015-01-01

Introduction: Senile cataract is the leading cause of blindness according to the World Health Report, 1998. Till date no accepted medical treatment is available for cataract. In Ayurveda visual disturbances are described in the context of Timira, Kacha and Linganasha. Timira is an early stage characterized by blurring of vision and Linganasha is end stage where complete loss of vision occurs. Ancient scholars have advocated different Anjana application and oral medications in the Timira and Kacha stage. Aim: To study the efficacy of test drugs Triphaladi Ghana Vati and Elaneer Kuzhambu Anjana in immature cataract. Materials and Methods: In this trial patients having Senile Immature Cataract were randomized with equal probability to one of the two treatment Groups A and B (n = 20 each). In Group A Triphaladi Ghana Vati 500 mg internally for 3 months and in Group B Triphaladi Ghana Vati 500 mg internally and Elaneer Kuzhambu Anjana for local application were given. Assessment was done on the basis of blurring of vision, visualization of nonexisting things, difficulty in bright light and dim light or night vision, distant visual acuity, pinhole vision, best corrected visual acuity and cataract grading on slit lamp. Results: Both groups showed statistically significant changes in blurring of vision, difficulty in glare, daytime and bright light, distant visual activity, pinhole vision, and best-corrected visual acuity. Group B also showed significant changes in difficulty in night time, visualization of nonexisting things and in nuclear cataract. Conclusion: The study establishes that test drugs can reduce and control the progress of immature cataract, and combined therapy was found more effective. Chakshushya Rasayana, early diagnosis and proper management on Doshic lines can prevent arrest or delay senile cataract. PMID:27313415

76 FR 31351 - Safety Requirements and Manning Exemption Eligibility on Distant Water Tuna Fleet Vessels

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-05-31

...The Coast Guard announces the availability of Office of Vessel Activities Policy Letter 11-05 regarding Distant Water Tuna Fleet vessels manning exemption eligibility and safety requirements. This final policy clarifies the requirements to allow a distant water tuna fleet vessel to engage foreign citizens under a temporary manning exemption.

76 FR 3646 - Safety Requirements and Manning Exemption Eligibility on Distant Water Tuna Fleet Vessels

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-01-20

...Pursuant to Section 904 of the 2010 Coast Guard Authorization Act, the Coast Guard announces the availability of a draft policy regarding distant water tuna fleet vessels manning exemption eligibility and safety requirements. We request your comments on the Safety Requirements and Manning Exemption Eligibility on Distant Water Tuna Fleet Vessels.

Saul Perlmutter, Distant Supernovae, Dark Energy, and the Accelerating

Science.gov Websites

, Distant Supernovae, Dark Energy, and the Accelerating Expansion of the Universe Resources with Additional nature of dark energy.'1 'The accelerating expansion means that the universe could expand forever until , in the distant future, it is cold and dark. The teams' discovery led to speculation that there is a

Problem Contexts for Thinking about Equality: An Additional Resource

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Barlow, Angela T.; Harmon, Shannon E.

2012-01-01

It has been well-documented that many students do not understand the meaning of the equal sign. Thus, researchers have called for instruction that specifically addresses misconceptions about the equal sign, and have indicated that such work must start at the elementary level. In response to these recommendations, some state curriculums require…

Equality of Opportunity in American and Canadian Graduate Education: A Comparison of Gender Differences.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Symons, Gladys L.

1980-01-01

Women in Canada and the U.S. enjoy neither equality of access to higher education nor equality of treatment within graduate level institutions. While women in the U.S. have somewhat greater access to graduate study, they are excluded from the sponsorship system in which Canadian women participate. (SB)

Egalitarianism and Marital Happiness: Israeli Wives and Husbands on a Collision Course?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Rabin, Claire; Shapira-Berman, Ofrit

1997-01-01

Investigates the different ways married men and women view the level of equality in their relationship and the connection between different indexes of marital equality and marital satisfaction with Israeli couples (N=150). Results show that, although equal role sharing and decision making were predictive of women's marital satisfaction, these also…

Fair Equality of Opportunity and Selective Secondary Schools

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mason, Andrew

2016-01-01

Can selecting on the basis of academic ability at secondary school level be reconciled with equality of opportunity? One common view is that although the two can be reconciled in principle, for various contingent reasons selection tends to undermine equality of opportunity in practice, for example, it tends to advantage children who have been…

Distant Metastasis Risk Stratification for Patients Undergoing Curative Resection Followed by Adjuvant Chemoradiation for Extrahepatic Bile Duct Cancer

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Kim, Kyubo; Chie, Eui Kyu, E-mail: ekchie93@snu.ac.kr; Jang, Jin-Young

2012-09-01

Purpose: To analyze the prognostic factors predicting distant metastasis in patients undergoing adjuvant chemoradiation for extrahepatic bile duct (EHBD) cancer. Methods and Materials: Between January 1995 and August 2006, 166 patients with EHBD cancer underwent resection with curative intent, followed by adjuvant chemoradiation. There were 120 males and 46 females, and median age was 61 years (range, 34-86). Postoperative radiotherapy was delivered to tumor bed and regional lymph nodes (median dose, 40 Gy; range, 34-56 Gy). A total of 157 patients also received fluoropyrimidine chemotherapy as a radiosensitizer, and fluoropyrimidine-based maintenance chemotherapy was administered to 127 patients. Median follow-up durationmore » was 29 months. Results: The treatment failed for 97 patients, and the major pattern of failure was distant metastasis (76 patients, 78.4%). The 5-year distant metastasis-free survival rate was 49.4%. The most common site of distant failure was the liver (n = 36). On multivariate analysis, hilar tumor, tumor size {>=}2 cm, involved lymph node, and poorly differentiated tumor were associated with inferior distant metastasis-free survival (p = 0.0348, 0.0754, 0.0009, and 0.0078, respectively), whereas T stage was not (p = 0.8081). When patients were divided into four groups based on these risk factors, the 5-year distant metastasis-free survival rates for patients with 0, 1, 2, and 3 risk factors were 86.4%, 59.9%, 32.5%, and 0%, respectively (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: Despite maintenance chemotherapy, distant metastasis was the major pattern of failure in patients undergoing adjuvant chemoradiation for EHBD cancer after resection with curative intent. Intensified chemotherapy is warranted to improve the treatment outcome, especially in those with multiple risk factors.« less

Exploring the Trans-Neptunian Solar System

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

1998-01-01

A profound question for scientists, philosophers and, indeed, all humans concerns how the solar system originated and subsequently evolved. To understand the solar system's formation, it is necessary to document fully the chemical and physical makeup of its components today, particularly those parts thought to retain clues about primordial conditions and processes.] In the past decade, our knowledge of the outermost, or trans-neptunian, region of the solar system has been transformed as a result of Earth-based observations of the Pluto-Charon system, Voyager 2's encounter with Neptune and its satellite Triton, and recent discoveries of dozens of bodies near to or beyond the orbit of Neptune. As a class, these newly detected objects, along with Pluto, Charon, and Triton, occupy the inner region of a hitherto unexplored component of the solar system, the Kuiper Belt. The Kuiper Belt is believed to be a reservoir of primordial objects of the type that formed in the solar nebula and eventually accreted to form the major planets. The Kuiper Belt is also thought to be the source of short-period comets and a population of icy bodies, the Centaurs, with orbits among the giant planets. Additional components of the distant outer solar system, such as dust and the Oort comet cloud, as well as the planet Neptune itself, are not discussed in this report. Our increasing knowledge of the trans-neptunian solar system has been matched by a corresponding increase in our capabilities for remote and in situ observation of these distant regions. Over the next 10 to 15 years, a new generation of ground- and space-based instruments, including the Keck and Gemini telescopes and the Space Infrared Telescope Facility, will greatly expand our ability to search for and conduct physical and chemical studies on these distant bodies. Over the same time span, a new generation of lightweight spacecraft should become available and enable the first missions designed specifically to explore the icy bodies that orbit 30 astronomical units (AU) or more from the Sun. The combination of new knowledge, plus the technological capability to greatly expand this knowledge over the next decade or so, makes this a particularly opportune time to review current understanding of the trans-neptunian solar system and to begin planning for the future exploration of this distant realm. Based on current knowledge, studies of trans-neptunian objects are important for a variety of reasons that can be summarized under five themes: (1) Exploration of new territory; (2) reservoirs of primitive materials; (3) Processes that reveal the solar system's origin and evolution; (4) Links to extrasolar planets; and (5) prebiotic chemistry. These five themes are not on an equal footing. The first three are well-established areas of scientific investigation and are backed up by a substantial body of observational and theoretical understanding. The last two, however are more speculative. They are included here because they raise a number of interesting possibilities that seem particularly suited to an interdisciplinary approach uniting planetary scientists with their colleagues in the astrophysical and life science communities. Although not considered in any detail in this report, the distant outer solar system also has direct relevance to Earth and the other terrestrial planets because it is the source of comets that bring volatiles into the inner solar system. The resulting inevitable impacts between comets and other planetary bodies can play major roles in the evolution of life as suggested by, for example, the Cretaceous-tertiary boundary bolide and the extinction of the dinosaurs.

Outcomes and toxicities in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer treated with brachytherapy alone or brachytherapy and supplemental external beam radiation therapy.

PubMed

Schlussel Markovic, Emily; Buckstein, Michael; Stone, Nelson N; Stock, Richard G

2018-05-01

To evaluate the cancer control outcomes and long-term treatment-related morbidity of brachytherapy as well as combination brachytherapy and external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer. A retrospective review was conducted in a prospectively collected database of patients with intermediate-risk prostate cancer who were treated either with brachytherapy or brachytherapy and EBRT, with or without androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), in the period 1990-2014. Urinary and erectile dysfunction symptoms were measured using the International Prostate Symptom Score (IPSS), the Mount Sinai erectile function scale and the Sexual Health Inventory for Men (SHIM). Cancer control endpoints included biochemical failure and development of distant metastases. All statistical analyses were carried out using the Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). Survival curves were calculated using Kaplan-Meier actuarial methods and compared using log-rank tests. Cox regression multivariate analyses were used to test the effect of multiple variables on treatment outcomes. A total of 902 patients were identified, with a median follow-up of 91 months. Of these, 390 received brachytherapy and 512 received combination therapy with EBRT. In patients with one intermediate-risk factor, the addition of EBRT did not significantly affect freedom from biochemical failure or distant metastases. Among patients with two or three intermediate-risk factors, added EBRT did not improve freedom from biochemical failure. Significant differences in late toxicity between patients treated with brachytherapy vs combination brachytherapy and EBRT were identified including urge incontinence (P < 0.001), haematuria (P < 0.001), dysuria (P < 0.001), and change in quality-of-life IPSS (P = 0.002). These symptoms were reported by patients at any point during treatment follow-up. Analysis of patients who were potent before treatment using actuarial methods showed that patients receiving combination therapy more frequently experienced loss of potency, as measured by the Mount Sinai erectile function scale (P = 0.040). Brachytherapy monotherapy results in equal biochemical and distant control in both patients with one and more than one intermediate-risk features. While no significant benefit was shown, we believe that the addition of EBRT may prevent recurrence in patients with multiple intermediate-risk features and should be considered. © 2018 The Authors BJU International © 2018 BJU International Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Hedonic Benefits of Close and Distant Interaction Partners: The Mediating Roles of Social Approval and Authenticity.

PubMed

Venaglia, Rachel B; Lemay, Edward P

2017-09-01

The current research utilized ecological momentary assessment methodology to examine affective responses to interacting with close versus distant interaction partners during naturally occurring social interactions, and to test predictions regarding the mediating roles of perceived social approval and authenticity. Analysis of 4,602 social interactions reported by 176 participants suggested that, relative to interactions with distant partners, interactions with close partners were characterized by more positive affect. This effect was mediated by perceived social approval and authenticity. These findings suggest that social interactions with close others confer greater hedonic benefits relative to interactions with distant partners due to greater confidence in social approval and feelings of authenticity. Exploratory analyses suggested that interactions with close partners featured warmer and less shy behavior, and that participants who placed more importance on close relationships (as measured by high relational-interdependent self-construal) experienced more approval and authenticity in their interactions, particularly with distant partners.

[Distant mental influence on living organisms].

PubMed

Bonilla, Ernesto

2013-12-01

This article reviews studies of distant mental influence on living organisms, including mental suggestions of sleeping and awakening, mental influence at long distances, mental interactions with remote biological systems, mental effects on physiological activity and the sense of being stared at. Significant effects of distant mental influence have been shown in several randomized controlled trials in humans, animals, plants, bacteria and cells in the laboratory. Although distant mental influence on living organisms appears to contradict our ordinary sense of reality and the laws defined by conventional science, several hypotheses have been proposed to explain the observed effects; they include skeptical, signal transfer, field, multidimensional space/time and quantum mechanics hypotheses. In conclusion, as the progress of physics continues to expand our comprehension of reality, a rational explanation for distant mind-matter interaction will emerge and, as history has shown repeatedly, the supernatural events will evolve into paranormal and then, into normal ones, as the scientific frontiers expand.

Magnification of light from many distant quasars by gravitational lenses.

PubMed

Wyithe, J Stuart B; Loeb, Abraham

2002-06-27

Exceptionally bright quasars with redshifts up to z = 6.28 have recently been discovered. Quasars are thought to be powered by the accretion of gas onto supermassive black holes at the centres of galaxies. Their maximum (Eddington) luminosity depends on the mass of the black hole, and the brighter quasars are inferred to have black holes with masses of more than a few billion solar masses. The existence of such massive black holes poses a challenge to models for the formation of structures in the early Universe, as it requires their formation within one billion years of the Big Bang. Here we show that up to one-third of known quasars with z approximately equal to 6 will have had their observed flux magnified by a factor of ten or more, as a consequence of gravitational lensing by galaxies along the line of sight. The inferred abundance of quasar host galaxies, as well as the luminosity density provided by the quasars, has therefore been substantially overestimated.

Polarized proton spin density images the tyrosyl radical locations in bovine liver catalase.

PubMed

Zimmer, Oliver; Jouve, Hélène M; Stuhrmann, Heinrich B

2016-09-01

A tyrosyl radical, as part of the amino acid chain of bovine liver catalase, supports dynamic proton spin polarization (DNP). Finding the position of the tyrosyl radical within the macromolecule relies on the accumulation of proton polarization close to it, which is readily observed by polarized neutron scattering. The nuclear scattering amplitude due to the polarization of protons less than 10 Å distant from the tyrosyl radical is ten times larger than the amplitude of magnetic neutron scattering from an unpaired polarized electron of the same radical. The direction of DNP was inverted every 5 s, and the initial evolution of the intensity of polarized neutron scattering after each inversion was used to identify those tyrosines which have assumed a radical state. Three radical sites, all of them close to the molecular centre and the haem, appear to be equally possible. Among these is tyr-369, the radical state of which had previously been proven by electron paramagnetic resonance.

Presence of Legionellaceae in warm water supplies and typing of strains by polymerase chain reaction.

PubMed Central

Zietz, B.; Wiese, J.; Brengelmann, F.; Dunkelberg, H.

2001-01-01

Outbreaks of Legionnaire's disease present a public health challenge especially because fatal outcomes still remain frequent. The aim of this study was to describe the abundance and epidemiology of Legionellaceae in the human-made environment. Water was sampled from hot-water taps in private and public buildings across the area of Göttingen, Germany, including distant suburbs. Following isolation, we used polymerase chain reaction in order to generate strain specific banding profiles of legionella isolates. In total, 70 buildings were examined. Of these 18 (26%) had the bacterium in at least one water sample. Legionella pneumophila serogroups 1, 4, 5 and 6 could be identified in the water samples. Most of the buildings were colonized solely by one distinct strain, as proven by PCR. In three cases equal patterns were found in separate buildings. There were two buildings in this study where isolates with different serogroups were found at the same time. PMID:11293675

The Cleveland Clinic experience with adrenal cortical carcinoma.

PubMed

Bodie, B; Novick, A C; Pontes, J E; Straffon, R A; Montie, J E; Babiak, T; Sheeler, L; Schumacher, P

1989-02-01

Between 1936 and 1987, 82 patients with adrenal cortical carcinoma were seen at our clinic. Of these patients 49 (72 per cent) have been seen during the last 25 years. A total of 40 patients (48.8 per cent) presented with a hormonally functional tumor and 42 (51.2 per cent) had a nonfunctional tumor. Forty patients (48.8 per cent) presented with localized disease, 12 (14.6 per cent) with regional disease and 30 (36.6 per cent) with distant metastases. Complete surgical removal of all gross tumor was achieved in 49 patients. Over-all 3 and 5-year patient survival rates in this series were 37.5 and 25.1 per cent, respectively. Survival was significantly improved (43.9 per cent at 5 years, p equals 0.0001) in patients with localized disease that was completely removed surgically; postoperative adjuvant therapy with op'-DDD was of no benefit in these patients. Survival in patients with metastatic disease was poor and was not improved by treatment with op'-DDD, cytotoxic chemotherapy or radiation therapy.

The Seyfert 2 Galaxy NGC 2110: Hard X-Ray Emission Observed by NuStar and Variability of the Iron K-Alpha Line

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Marinucci, A.; Matt, G.; Bianchi, S.; Lu, T. N.; Arevalo, P.; Balokovic, M.; Ballantyne, D.; Bauer, F. E.; Boggs, S. E.; Stern, D.;

Aberrant Cx43 Expression and Mislocalization in Metastatic Human Melanomas.

PubMed

Alaga, Katanya C; Crawford, Melissa; Dagnino, Lina; Laird, Dale W

2017-01-01

At present, it is unclear if melanocytes contain Cx43 gap junctions and whether Cx43 expression is regulated in melanoma onset and progression. To this end, we cultured pure populations of mouse melanocytes and found that they had no detectable Cx43 and exhibited an inability for dye transfer indicating they were devoid of functional gap junctions. Given the evidence that melanomas acquire the expression of other connexin isoforms during tumor progression, we assessed if Cx43 was also expressed and assembled into gap junctions at any stage of human melanoma onset and progression to distant metastases. Nearly all primary melanomas within the epidermis lacked Cx43. In contrast, nodal metastases expressed low levels of Cx43 which was markedly higher in distant metastases that had invaded vital organs. Importantly, in all stages of melanoma progression, Cx43 could be detected in intracellular compartments but was rarely assembled into gap junctions indicative of functional gap junction channels. Overall, these studies suggest that melanocytes do not form Cx43 homocellular gap junctions and even though Cx43 levels increase during melanoma progression, this connexin rarely assembles into gap junction structures.

Aberrant Cx43 Expression and Mislocalization in Metastatic Human Melanomas

PubMed Central

Alaga, Katanya C.; Crawford, Melissa; Dagnino, Lina; Laird, Dale W.

2017-01-01

At present, it is unclear if melanocytes contain Cx43 gap junctions and whether Cx43 expression is regulated in melanoma onset and progression. To this end, we cultured pure populations of mouse melanocytes and found that they had no detectable Cx43 and exhibited an inability for dye transfer indicating they were devoid of functional gap junctions. Given the evidence that melanomas acquire the expression of other connexin isoforms during tumor progression, we assessed if Cx43 was also expressed and assembled into gap junctions at any stage of human melanoma onset and progression to distant metastases. Nearly all primary melanomas within the epidermis lacked Cx43. In contrast, nodal metastases expressed low levels of Cx43 which was markedly higher in distant metastases that had invaded vital organs. Importantly, in all stages of melanoma progression, Cx43 could be detected in intracellular compartments but was rarely assembled into gap junctions indicative of functional gap junction channels. Overall, these studies suggest that melanocytes do not form Cx43 homocellular gap junctions and even though Cx43 levels increase during melanoma progression, this connexin rarely assembles into gap junction structures. PMID:28607585

Long-term effects of musical training and functional plasticity in salience system.

PubMed

Luo, Cheng; Tu, Shipeng; Peng, Yueheng; Gao, Shan; Li, Jianfu; Dong, Li; Li, Gujing; Lai, Yongxiu; Li, Hong; Yao, Dezhong

2014-01-01

Musicians undergoing long-term musical training show improved emotional and cognitive function, which suggests the presence of neuroplasticity. The structural and functional impacts of the human brain have been observed in musicians. In this study, we used data-driven functional connectivity analysis to map local and distant functional connectivity in resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging data from 28 professional musicians and 28 nonmusicians. Compared with nonmusicians, musicians exhibited significantly greater local functional connectivity density in 10 regions, including the bilateral dorsal anterior cingulate cortex, anterior insula, and anterior temporoparietal junction. A distant functional connectivity analysis demonstrated that most of these regions were included in salience system, which is associated with high-level cognitive control and fundamental attentional process. Additionally, musicians had significantly greater functional integration in this system, especially for connections to the left insula. Increased functional connectivity between the left insula and right temporoparietal junction may be a response to long-term musical training. Our findings indicate that the improvement of salience network is involved in musical training. The salience system may represent a new avenue for exploration regarding the underlying foundations of enhanced higher-level cognitive processes in musicians.

Phylogeography and Population Dynamics of Dengue Viruses in the Americas

PubMed Central

Allicock, Orchid M.; Lemey, Philippe; Tatem, Andrew J.; Pybus, Oliver G.; Bennett, Shannon N.; Mueller, Brandi A.; Suchard, Marc A.; Foster, Jerome E.; Rambaut, Andrew; Carrington, Christine V. F.

2012-01-01

Changes in Dengue virus (DENV) disease patterns in the Americas over recent decades have been attributed, at least in part, to repeated introduction of DENV strains from other regions, resulting in a shift from hypoendemicity to hyperendemicity. Using newly sequenced DENV-1 and DENV-3 envelope (E) gene isolates from 11 Caribbean countries, along with sequences available on GenBank, we sought to document the population genetic and spatiotemporal transmission histories of the four main invading DENV genotypes within the Americas and investigate factors that influence the rate and intensity of DENV transmission. For all genotypes, there was an initial invasion phase characterized by rapid increases in genetic diversity, which coincided with the first confirmed cases of each genotype in the region. Rapid geographic dispersal occurred upon each genotype's introduction, after which individual lineages were locally maintained, and gene flow was primarily observed among neighboring and nearby countries. There were, however, centers of viral diversity (Barbados, Puerto Rico, Colombia, Suriname, Venezuela, and Brazil) that were repeatedly involved in gene flow with more distant locations. For DENV-1 and DENV-2, we found that a “distance-informed” model, which posits that the intensity of virus movement between locations is inversely proportional to the distance between them, provided a better fit than a model assuming equal rates of movement between all pairs of countries. However, for DENV-3 and DENV-4, the more stochastic “equal rates” model was preferred. PMID:22319149

Statistical potential-based amino acid similarity matrices for aligning distantly related protein sequences.

PubMed

Tan, Yen Hock; Huang, He; Kihara, Daisuke

2006-08-15

Aligning distantly related protein sequences is a long-standing problem in bioinformatics, and a key for successful protein structure prediction. Its importance is increasing recently in the context of structural genomics projects because more and more experimentally solved structures are available as templates for protein structure modeling. Toward this end, recent structure prediction methods employ profile-profile alignments, and various ways of aligning two profiles have been developed. More fundamentally, a better amino acid similarity matrix can improve a profile itself; thereby resulting in more accurate profile-profile alignments. Here we have developed novel amino acid similarity matrices from knowledge-based amino acid contact potentials. Contact potentials are used because the contact propensity to the other amino acids would be one of the most conserved features of each position of a protein structure. The derived amino acid similarity matrices are tested on benchmark alignments at three different levels, namely, the family, the superfamily, and the fold level. Compared to BLOSUM45 and the other existing matrices, the contact potential-based matrices perform comparably in the family level alignments, but clearly outperform in the fold level alignments. The contact potential-based matrices perform even better when suboptimal alignments are considered. Comparing the matrices themselves with each other revealed that the contact potential-based matrices are very different from BLOSUM45 and the other matrices, indicating that they are located in a different basin in the amino acid similarity matrix space.

Using SEM to Analyze Complex Survey Data: A Comparison between Design-Based Single-Level and Model-Based Multilevel Approaches

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Wu, Jiun-Yu; Kwok, Oi-man

2012-01-01

Both ad-hoc robust sandwich standard error estimators (design-based approach) and multilevel analysis (model-based approach) are commonly used for analyzing complex survey data with nonindependent observations. Although these 2 approaches perform equally well on analyzing complex survey data with equal between- and within-level model structures…

County-Level Poverty Is Equally Associated with Unmet Health Care Needs in Rural and Urban Settings

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Peterson, Lars E.; Litaker, David G.

2010-01-01

Context: Regional poverty is associated with reduced access to health care. Whether this relationship is equally strong in both rural and urban settings or is affected by the contextual and individual-level characteristics that distinguish these areas, is unclear. Purpose: Compare the association between regional poverty with self-reported unmet…

Equal but different: Effects of equality/inclusion and cultural pluralism on intergroup outcomes in multiethnic classrooms.

PubMed

Schwarzenthal, Miriam; Schachner, Maja K; van de Vijver, Fons J R; Juang, Linda P

2018-04-01

Integrating research on intergroup contact and intercultural relations, we investigated effects of 2 types of cultural diversity norms (equality/inclusion and cultural pluralism) on outgroup orientation and perceived discrimination among students of immigrant and nonimmigrant background. Our sample comprised 1,975 6th graders (M age = 11.53, SD age = 0.69, 47% female) in Germany, of whom 1,213 (61%) were of immigrant background, defined as having at least 1 parent born in a different country. A total of 83 countries of origin were represented. We applied a multilevel framework to assess the impact of individual-level and class-level predictors on intergroup outcomes, controlling for the classroom ethnic composition, school track, and individual-level covariates. Immigrant background was treated as a moderator. The 2 types of cultural diversity norms were generally associated with more positive intergroup outcomes. Some of the associations differed in strength between students of immigrant and nonimmigrant background. There were stronger associations of equality/inclusion with higher outgroup orientation among students of nonimmigrant background and with lower perceived discrimination among students of immigrant background. Ethnic composition, as well as the classroom-aggregated diversity norms (diversity climate) showed weaker relations with the outcome variables. Equality/inclusion norms and cultural pluralism norms can make complementary contributions to positive relations between students of immigrant and nonimmigrant background. Equality/inclusion norms foster positive contact and equal treatment, while cultural pluralism norms emphasize that it is also important to value diversity.¹ (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2018 APA, all rights reserved).

Automatic Camera Control System for a Distant Lecture with Videoing a Normal Classroom.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Suganuma, Akira; Nishigori, Shuichiro

The growth of a communication network technology enables students to take part in a distant lecture. Although many lectures are conducted in universities by using Web contents, normal lectures using a blackboard are still held. The latter style lecture is good for a teacher's dynamic explanation. A way to modify it for a distant lecture is to…

Activity in distant comets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Luu, Jane X.

1992-01-01

Activity in distant comets remains a mystery in the sense that we still have no complete theory to explain the various types of activity exhibited by different comets at large distances. This paper explores the factors that should play a role in determining activity in a distant comet, especially in the cases of comet P/Tempel 2, comet Schwassmann-Wachmann 1, and 2060 Chiron.

Argentines' collective memories of the military Junta of 1976: differences and similarities across generations and ideology.

PubMed

Muller, Felipe; Bermejo, Federico; Hirst, William

2016-08-01

Although memories about a nation's past usually are semantic in nature, a distinction needs to be made between lived and distant semantic collective memories. The former refers to memories of community-relevant events occurring during the lifetime of the rememberer, whereas the latter to memories of distant events. Does the content of lived and distant semantic collective memories differ? Employing both free and cued recall, we examined the memories of younger and older Argentines of the Military Junta of 1976. We also examined the effects of political ideology. Content analysis indicated that (1) lived semantic collective memories were more likely to contain personal recollections than distant semantic collective memories, even though those with distant semantic collective memories could have incorporated memories of the parent's personal experience in their recollections, (2) lived semantic collective memories contained more causal statements, and (3) those on the Right with distant semantic collective memories were more likely to claim that they "Don't know" or offer positive accounts of the Junta, suggesting a need to "defend" the reputation of those on the Right. The results are discussed in terms of the goals and plans different generations might have when recollecting their nation's past.

Can Platelet and Leukocyte Indicators Give Us an Idea about Distant Metastasis in Nasopharyngeal Cancer?

PubMed

Arıcıgil, Mitat; Dündar, Mehmet Akif; Yücel, Abitter; Arbağ, Hamdi; Aziz, Suhayb Kuria

This study aimes to evaluate platelet and leucocyte indicators, such as the mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, plateletcrit, white blood cell count, neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio in nasopharyngeal cancer patients and also to evaluate the relationship between these indicators and nasopharyngeal cancer with distant metastasis. The medical records of 118 patients diagnosed with nasopharyngeal cancer in our hospital between January 2006 and August 2015 were reviewed. The nasopharyngeal cancer group was further sub grouped according to the presence or absence of distant metastasis and TNM (tumour - T, node - N, metastasis - M) classification. A control group consisted of 120 healthy patients. The platelet and leucocyte values at the time of the initial diagnosis were recorded. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet distribution width values were significantly higher in the nasopharyngeal cancer group. But only platelet distribution width values were significantly higher in the nasopharyngeal cancer group with distant metastasis compared to the nasopharyngeal cancer group without distant metastasis. Neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio and platelet distribution width values may increase in nasopharyngeal cancer. But only the platelet distribution width values may give us an idea about the distant metastasis in nasopharyngeal cancer.

Country of residence, gender equality and victim blaming attitudes about partner violence: a multilevel analysis in EU.

PubMed

Ivert, Anna-Karin; Merlo, Juan; Gracia, Enrique

2017-09-27

Intimate partner violence against women (IPVAW) is a global and preventable public health problem. Public attitudes, such as victim-blaming, are important for our understanding of differences in the occurrence of IPVAW, as they contribute to its justification. In this paper, we focus on victim-blaming attitudes regarding IPVAW within the EU and we apply multilevel analyses to identify contextual determinants of victim-blaming attitudes. We investigate both the general contextual effect of the country and the specific association between country level of gender equality and individual victim-blaming attitudes, as well as to what extend a possible general contextual effect was explained by county level gender equality. We analyzed data from 26 800 respondents from 27 member states of the European Union who responded to a survey on public perceptions of domestic violence. We applied multilevel logistic regression analysis and measures of variance (intra-class correlation (ICC)) were calculated, as well as the discriminatory accuracy by calculating the area under the receiver operator characteristic curve. Over and above individual characteristics, about 15% of the individual variance in the propensity for having victim-blaming attitudes was found at the country level, and country level of gender equality did not affect the general contextual effect (i.e. ICC) of the country on individual victim-blaming attitudes. The present study shows that there are important between-country differences in victim-blaming attitudes that cannot be explained by differences in individual-level demographics or in gender equality at the country level. More research on attitudes towards IPVAW is needed. © The Author 2017. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the European Public Health Association. All rights reserved.

Vitamin D Supplementation is a Promising Therapy for Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma in Conjunction with Current Chemoradiation Therapy.

PubMed

Mukai, Yosuke; Yamada, Daisaku; Eguchi, Hidetoshi; Iwagami, Yoshifumi; Asaoka, Tadafumi; Noda, Takehiro; Kawamoto, Koichi; Gotoh, Kunihito; Kobayashi, Shogo; Takeda, Yutaka; Tanemura, Masahiro; Mori, Masaki; Doki, Yuichiro

2018-04-19

The cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) are well known to play a dominant role in distant metastasis. Nevertheless, the effect on CAFs with current chemoradiation therapies remains uncertain. This study aimed to reveal the role of CAFs under current chemoradiation therapy (CRT) and investigate the factors regulating CAFs. α-SMA-positive cells in 86 resected PDAC specimens with/without preoperative CRT were evaluated by immunohistochemistry. Various factors, including the plasma levels of vitamin D, were investigated for association with the number of CAFs or distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). Human pancreatic satellite cells (hPSCs) extracted from clinical specimens were used to validate the factors. All PDAC samples contained CAFs but the number varied widely. Multivariate analysis for DMFS indicated a larger number of CAFs was a significant risk factor. Univariate analysis for the number of CAFs identified two clinical factors: preoperative CRT and lower plasma levels of vitamin D. In subgroup analysis, the higher plasma level of vitamin D was a dominant factor for longer DMFS in PDAC patients after preoperative CRT. These results were validated by using extracted hPSCs. Irradiation activated stromal cells into CAFs facilitating malignant characteristics of PDAC and the change was inhibited by vitamin D supplementation in vitro. In conjunction with established current therapies, vitamin D supplementation may be an effective treatment for PDAC patients by inactivating CAFs.

Prognostic value of decreased expression of RBM4 in human gastric cancer.

PubMed

Yong, Hongmei; Zhu, Huijun; Zhang, Shu; Zhao, Wei; Wang, Wei; Chen, Chen; Ding, Guipeng; Zhu, Lun; Zhu, Ziyuan; Liu, Huaidong; Zhang, Yongjie; Wen, Jinbo; Kang, Xing; Zhu, Jin; Feng, Zhenqing; Liu, Baorui

2016-06-21

RNA-binding motif 4 (RBM4) is a multifunctional protein that participates in regulating alternative splicing and mRNA translation. Its reduced expression has been associated with poor overall survival in lung cancer, breast cancer and ovarian cancer. We assessed RBM4 protein expression levels with immunohistochemistry in tissue microarrays containing malignant gastric cancer tissues and benign tissues from 813 patients. We also examined the expression levels of RBM4 mRNA in twenty-five paired gastric cancer samples and adjacent noncancerous tissues. Both RBM4 protein and mRNA expression levels were significantly lower in gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent noncancerous tissues. There was a significant association between reduced RBM4 protein expression and differentiation (P < 0.001), lymph node metastasis (P = 0.026), TNM state (P = 0.014) and distant metastasis (P = 0.036). Patients with reduced RBM4 expression (P < 0.001, CI = 0.315-0.710) and TNM stage III and IV (P < 0.001, CI = 4.757-11.166) had a poor overall survival. These findings suggest that RBM4 is a new biomarker in gastric cancer, as the reduced expression of this protein is correlated with poor differentiation, lymph node status and distant metastasis. Further, lower RBM4 expression is an independent prognostic marker for gastric cancer.

Prognostic impact of RITA expression in patients with anal squamous cell carcinoma treated with chemoradiotherapy.

PubMed

Rödel, Franz; Steinhäuser, Kerstin; Kreis, Nina-Naomi; Friemel, Alexandra; Martin, Daniel; Wieland, Ulrike; Rave-Fränk, Margret; Balermpas, Panagiotis; Fokas, Emmanouil; Louwen, Frank; Rödel, Claus; Yuan, Juping

2018-02-01

RBP-J interacting and tubulin-associated protein (RITA) has been identified as a negative regulator of the Notch signalling pathway and its deregulation is involved in the pathogenesis of several tumour entities. RITA's impact on the response of anal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) to anticancer treatment, however, remains elusive. In our retrospective study immunohistochemical evaluation of RITA was performed on 140 pre-treatment specimens and was correlated with clinical and histopathologic characteristics and clinical endpoints cumulative incidence of local control (LC), distant recurrence (DC), disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS). We observed significant inverse correlations between RITA expression and tumour grading, the levels of HPV-16 virus DNA load, CD8 (+) tumour infiltrating lymphocytes and programmed death protein (PD-1) immunostaining. In univariate analyses, elevated levels of RITA expression were predictive for decreased local control (p = 0.001), decreased distant control (p = 0.040), decreased disease free survival (p = 0.001) and overall survival (p < 0.0001), whereas in multivariate analyses RITA expression remained significant for decreased local control (p = 0.009), disease free survival (p = 0.032) and overall survival (p = 0.012). These data indicate that elevated levels of pretreatment RITA expression are correlated with unfavourable clinical outcome in anal carcinoma treated with concomitant chemoradiotherapy. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Double streams of protons in the distant geomagnetic tail

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Villante, U.; Lazarus, A. J.

1975-01-01

Two intermingled streams of protons have been observed in the distant geomagnetic tail. The number densities of the two streams are comparable, and their velocity difference tends to lie along the field direction. The lower-velocity stream is probably composed of magnetosheath protons which have diffused through the boundary of the distant tail. The higher-velocity stream appears to originate in the field reversal region.

Gene Transfers Between Distantly Related Organisms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Doolittle, Russell F.

2003-01-01

With the completion of numerous microbial genome sequences, reports of individual gene transfers between distantly related prokaryotes have become commonplace. On the other hand, transfers between prokaryotes and eukaryotes still excite the imagination. Many of these claims may be premature, but some are certainly valid. In this chapter, the kinds of supporting data needed to propose transfers between distantly related organisms and cite some interesting examples are considered.

Outcome Analysis of Patients With Oral Cavity Cancer and Extracapsular Spread in Neck Lymph Nodes

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Liao, Chun-Ta, E-mail: liaoct@adm.cgmh.org.tw; Department of Head and Neck Oncology Group, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital and Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan; Lee, Li-Yu

Purpose: Extracapsular spread (ECS) in neck lymph nodes is a major adverse prognostic factor in patients with oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We conducted a retrospective analysis of prognostic factors in this patient group and tried to identify a subset of patients with a worse prognosis suitable for more aggressive therapeutic interventions. Methods and Materials: Enrolled in the study were 255 OSCC patients with ECS in neck nodes and without evidence of distant metastasis. All participants were followed-up for at least 2 years or censored at last follow-up. The 5-year rates of control, distant metastasis, and survival were themore » main outcome measures. Results: Level IV/V lymph node metastases and tumor depth {>=}12 mm were independent predictors of 5-year survival and identified three prognostic groups. In the low-risk group (no level IV/V metastases and tumor depth <12 mm), the 5-year disease-free, disease-specific, and overall survival rates were 60%, 66%, and 50%, respectively. In the intermediate-risk group (no level IV/V metastases and tumor depth {>=}12 mm), the 5-year disease-free, disease-specific, and overall survival rates were 39%, 41%, and 28%, respectively. In the high-risk group (evidence of level IV/V metastases), the 5-year disease-free, disease-specific, and overall survival rates were 14%, 12%, and 10%, respectively. Conclusions: Among OSCC patients with ECS, those with level IV/V metastases appear to have the worst prognosis followed by without level IV/V metastases and tumor depth {>=}12 mm. An aggressive therapeutic approach may be suitable for intermediate- and high-risk patients.« less

77 FR 64217 - Blind Americans Equality Day, 2012

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2012-10-18

... opportunities for students to achieve in math and science classes, the Department of Education is promoting... playing field is level, people with disabilities are equally capable of excelling in these economically...

Studies on mosquito biting risk among migratory rice farmers in rural south-eastern Tanzania and development of a portable mosquito-proof hut.

PubMed

Swai, Johnson K; Finda, Marceline F; Madumla, Edith P; Lingamba, Godfrey F; Moshi, Irene R; Rafiq, Mohamed Y; Majambere, Silas; Okumu, Fredros O

2016-11-22

Subsistence rice farmers in south-eastern Tanzania are often migratory, spending weeks or months tending to crops in distant fields along the river valleys and living in improvised structures known as Shamba huts, not fully protected from mosquitoes. These farmers also experience poor access to organized preventive and curative services due to long distances. Mosquito biting exposure in these rice fields, relative to main village residences was assessed, then a portable mosquito-proof hut was developed and tested for protecting these migratory farmers. Pair-wise mosquito surveys were conducted in four villages in Ulanga district, south-eastern Tanzania in 20 randomly-selected Shamba huts located in the distant rice fields and in 20 matched houses within the main villages, to assess biting densities and Plasmodium infection rates. A portable mosquito-proof hut was designed and tested in semi-field and field settings against Shamba hut replicas, and actual Shamba huts. Also, semi-structured interviews were conducted, timed-participant observations, and focus-group discussions to assess experiences and behaviours of the farmers regarding mosquito-bites and the mosquito-proof huts. There were equal numbers of mosquitoes in Shamba huts and main houses [RR (95% CI) 27 (25.1-31.2), and RR (95% CI) 30 (27.5-33.4)], respectively (P > 0.05). Huts having >1 occupant had more mosquitoes than those with just one occupant, regardless of site [RR (95% CI) 1.57 (1.30-1.9), P < 0.05]. Open eaves [RR (95% CI) 1.15 (1.08-1.23), P < 0.05] and absence of window shutters [RR (95% CI) 2.10 (1.91-2.31), P < 0.05] increased catches of malaria vectors. All Anopheles mosquitoes caught were negative for Plasmodium. Common night-time outdoor activities in the fields included cooking, eating, fetching water or firewood, washing dishes, bathing, and storytelling, mostly between 6 and 11 p.m., when mosquitoes were also biting most. The prototype hut provided 100% protection in semi-field and field settings, while blood-fed mosquitoes were recaptured in Shamba huts, even when occupants used permethrin-impregnated bed nets. Though equal numbers of mosquitoes were caught between main houses and normal Shamba huts, the higher proportions of blood-fed mosquitoes, reduced access to organized healthcare and reduced effectiveness of LLINs, may increase vulnerability of the itinerant farmers. The portable mosquito-proof hut offered sufficient protection against disease-transmitting mosquitoes. Such huts could be improved to expand protection for migratory farmers and possibly other disenfranchised communities.

Photovoltaic system test facility electromagnetic interference measurements

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Johnson, J. A.; Herke, F. P., Jr.; Knapp, W. D.

1977-01-01

Field strength measurements on a single row of panels indicates that the operational mode of the array as configured presents no radiated EMI problems. Only one relatively significant frequency band near 200 kHz showed any degree of intensity (9 muV/m including a background level of 5 muV/m). The level was measured very near the array (at 20 ft distance) while Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations limit spurious emissions to 15 muV/m at 1,000 ft. No field strength readings could be obtained even at 35 ft distant.

Epigenomic reprogramming during pancreatic cancer progression links anabolic glucose metabolism to distant metastasis.

PubMed

McDonald, Oliver G; Li, Xin; Saunders, Tyler; Tryggvadottir, Rakel; Mentch, Samantha J; Warmoes, Marc O; Word, Anna E; Carrer, Alessandro; Salz, Tal H; Natsume, Sonoko; Stauffer, Kimberly M; Makohon-Moore, Alvin; Zhong, Yi; Wu, Hao; Wellen, Kathryn E; Locasale, Jason W; Iacobuzio-Donahue, Christine A; Feinberg, Andrew P

2017-03-01

During the progression of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), heterogeneous subclonal populations emerge that drive primary tumor growth, regional spread, distant metastasis, and patient death. However, the genetics of metastases largely reflects that of the primary tumor in untreated patients, and PDAC driver mutations are shared by all subclones. This raises the possibility that an epigenetic process might operate during metastasis. Here we report large-scale reprogramming of chromatin modifications during the natural evolution of distant metastasis. Changes were targeted to thousands of large chromatin domains across the genome that collectively specified malignant traits, including euchromatin and large organized chromatin histone H3 lysine 9 (H3K9)-modified (LOCK) heterochromatin. Remarkably, distant metastases co-evolved a dependence on the oxidative branch of the pentose phosphate pathway (oxPPP), and oxPPP inhibition selectively reversed reprogrammed chromatin, malignant gene expression programs, and tumorigenesis. These findings suggest a model whereby linked metabolic-epigenetic programs are selected for enhanced tumorigenic fitness during the evolution of distant metastasis.

Teens Working: Turning Earning into Learning. Facilitator Guide [and] Critical Workplace Issues [and] Student Guide.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Northwest Regional Educational Lab., Portland, OR. Education, Career, and Community Program.

These guides are part of a toolkit designed to help young people make connections between the jobs they now hold, the classes they are taking, and the goals they may have for the near and distant future. The guides contain a variety of materials and activities appropriate for all skill levels. The activities in the student guide are grounded in…

Distant testing in laboratory hematology and flow cytometry--the Indian experience.

PubMed

Das Gupta, Amar

2012-06-01

Outsourcing or sending out of patients' samples to other laboratories for hematologic investigations is a common practice these days. Preanalytic variables that alter cellular parameters and levels of analytes in transit and on storage can significantly and adversely affect interpretation of test results in hematology. Awareness of these changes is necessary to avoid misinterpretation of results that in turn could influence medical management decisions.

Aptitude Level and the Acquisition of Skills and Knowledges in a Variety of Military Training Tasks.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Fox, Wayne L.; And Others

To assess the effects of wide aptitude differences on the acquisition of military knowledges and skills, a sample of 183 Army recruits was divided into three maximally distant aptitude groups on the basis of Armed Forces Qualifying Test (AFQT) scores: high aptitude (AFQT 90-99); middle aptitude (AFQT 45-55); low aptitude (AFQT 10-21). Recruits…

Nitrogen deposition: the up and down side for production agriculture.

Treesearch

Pamela Padgett

2009-01-01

Deposition of nitrogen-containing air pollutants contributes as much as 80 kg-N yr-1 to rural lands in proximity to large urban centers. Even in areas distant from pollution sources atmospheric deposition in the US, and much of Europe, is 5 to 10 times higher than natural background levels. Wet deposition in rain, snow, and fog is relatively easy to measure and has...

Plant growth stage-specific injury and economic injury level for verde plant bug, Creontiades signatus (Hemiptera: Miridae), on cotton: Effect of bloom period of infestation

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

The verde plant bug, Creontiades signatus Distant (Hemiptera: Miridae), has emerged as a threat to cotton in South Texas, causing boll damage similar to boll-feeding stink bugs (Hemiptera: Pentatomidae). Verde plant bugs were released into caged cotton for a one-week period to characterize the effec...

Functionally conserved enhancers with divergent sequences in distant vertebrates

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Yang, Song; Oksenberg, Nir; Takayama, Sachiko

To examine the contributions of sequence and function conservation in the evolution of enhancers, we systematically identified enhancers whose sequences are not conserved among distant groups of vertebrate species, but have homologous function and are likely to be derived from a common ancestral sequence. In conclusion, our approach combined comparative genomics and epigenomics to identify potential enhancer sequences in the genomes of three groups of distantly related vertebrate species.

Functionally conserved enhancers with divergent sequences in distant vertebrates

DOE PAGES

Yang, Song; Oksenberg, Nir; Takayama, Sachiko; ...

2015-10-30

To examine the contributions of sequence and function conservation in the evolution of enhancers, we systematically identified enhancers whose sequences are not conserved among distant groups of vertebrate species, but have homologous function and are likely to be derived from a common ancestral sequence. In conclusion, our approach combined comparative genomics and epigenomics to identify potential enhancer sequences in the genomes of three groups of distantly related vertebrate species.

A Multifactorial Analysis of Melanoma: Prognostic Histopathological Features Comparing Clark's and Breslow's Staging Methods

PubMed Central

Balch, Charles M.; Murad, Tariq M.; Soong, Seng-Jaw; Ingalls, Anna Lee; Halpern, Norman B.; Maddox, William A.

1978-01-01

A multifactorial analysis was used to identify the dominant prognostic variables affecting survival from a computerized data base of 339 melanoma patients treated at this institution during the past 17 years. Five of the 13 parameters examined simultaneously were found to independently influence five year survival rates: 1) pathological stage (I vs II, p = 0.0014), 2) lesion ulceration (present vs absent, p = 0.006), 3) surgical treatment (wide excision vs wide excision plus lymphadenectomy, p = 0.024), 4) melanoma thickness (p = 0.032), and 5) location (upper extremity vs lower extremity vs trunk vs head and neck, p = 0.038). Additional factors considered that had either indirect or no influence on survival rates were clinical stage of disease, age, sex, level of invasion, pigmentation, lymphocyte infiltration, growth pattern, and regression. Most of these latter variables derived their prognostic value from correlation with melanoma thickness, except sex which correlated with location (extremity lesions were more frequent on females, trunk lesions on males). This statistical analysis enabled us to derive a mathematical equation for predicting an individual patient's probability of five year survival. Three categories of risk were delineated by measuring tumor thickness (Breslow microstaging) in Stage I patients: 1) thin melanomas (<0.76 mm) were associated with localized disease and a 100% cure rate: 2) intermediate thickness melanomas (0.76-4.00 mm) had an increasing risk (up to 80%) of harboring regional and/or distant metastases and 3) thick melanomas (≥4.00 mm) had a 80% risk of occult distant metastases at the time of initial presentation. The level of invasion (Clark's microstaging) correlated with survival, but was less predictive than measuring tumor thickness. Within each of Clark's Level II, III and IV groups, there were gradations of thickness with statistically different survival rates. Both microstaging methods (Breslow and Clark) were less predictive factors in patients with lymph node or distant metastases. Clinical trials evaluating alternative surgical treatments or adjunctive therapy modalities for melanoma patients should incorporate these parameters into their assessment, especially in Stage I (localized) disease where tumor thickness and the anatomical site of the primary melanoma are dominant prognostic factors. PMID:736651

Assessment of the Initial Response from Tsunami Monitoring Services Provided to the Northeastern Caribbean

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Soto-Cordero, L.; Meltzer, A.

2014-12-01

A mag 6.4 earthquake offshore northern Puerto Rico earlier this year (1/13/14) is a reminder of the high risk of earthquakes and tsunamis in the northeastern Caribbean. Had the magnitude of this event been 0.1 larger (M 6.5) a tsunami warning would have been issued for the Puerto Rico-Virgin Islands (PRVI) region based on the West Coast Alaska Tsunami Warning Center (WCATWC) and Puerto Rico Seismic Network (PRSN) response procedures at the time. Such an alert level would have led local authorities to issue evacuation orders for all PRVI coastal areas. Since the number of deaths associated with tsunamis in the Caribbean region is greater than the total casualties from tsunamis in the entire US (including Hawaii and Alaska coasts) having an effective and redundant warning system is critical in order to save lives and to minimize false alarms that could result in significant economic costs and loss of confidence of Caribbean residents. We are evaluating three fundamental components of tsunami monitoring protocols currently in place in the northeastern Caribbean: 1) preliminary earthquake parameters (used to determine the potential that a tsunami will be generated and the basis of tsunami alert levels), 2) adequacy of the tsunami alert levels, and 3) tsunami message dissemination. We compiled a catalog of earthquake locations (2007-2014) and dissemination times from the PTWC, WCATWC and NEIC (final locations). The events were classified into 3 categories: local [17°-20°N, 63.5°-69°W], regional (Caribbean basin) and distant/teleseismic (Atlantic basin). A total of 104 local earthquakes, 31 regional and 25 distant events were analyzed. We found that in general preliminary epicentral locations have an accuracy of 40 km. 64% of local events were located with an accuracy of 20 km. The depth accuracy of local events shallower than 50 km, regional and distant earthquakes is usually smaller than 30 km. For deeper local events the error distribution shows more variability (-32 to 81 km); preliminary locations tend to underestimate depth. A trade-off between epicentral location and depth was observed for several local events deeper than 50 km.

[Correlations between cellular immunity and invasiveness in differentiated thyroid cancer].

PubMed

Han, Ting; Liang, Jun; Meng, Chao; Yang, Ke; Li, Xiao-yi; Lin, Yan-song

2014-02-01

To investigate the relationship between the immunity and invasiveness in differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). Totally 74 DTC who were treated in Peking Union Medical College Hospital from September 2012 to December 2012 were enrolled in this study. These 74 patients were divided into membrane invasion group (n=36) and without membrane invasion group (n=38); also, they were divided into distant metastasis group (n=18) and without distant metastasis group (n=56). Natural killer (NK) cells and T-cell subsets were chosen as indicators for cellular immunity to investigate the correlation between cellular immunity and invasiveness in DTC. Univariate analysis showed that the membrane invasion (Χ(2)=12.175, P=0.000) and distant metastasis (Χ(2)=8.139, P=0.006) correlated with cell immunity, whereas distant metastasis correlated with lymphocytic thyroiditis (Χ(2)=7.094, P=0.008). Further investigation shows that distant metastasis was associated with the percentage of CD8+T cell subgroup (Χ(2)=5.429, P=0.020), and membrane invasion was significantly associated with NK cells (Χ(2)=2.445, P=0.018) and CD4/CD8 disorder subgroup (Χ(2)=8.079, P=0.002). Multivariate analysis showed that cell immunity disorder was a risk factor for membrane invasion [OR=5.701,95%CI(2.075~15.666), P=0.001] and distant metastasis [OR=5.063,95%CI (1.571~16.320), P=0.008]. Further analysis showed that CD8+T cell was a risk factor for metastasis [OR=2.236,95%CI( 1.084~4.613), P=0.029], and CD4/CD8 disorders were the risk factors for membrane invasion [OR=2.802,95%CI(1.257~6.244), P=0.012]. Cell immunity in thyroid cancer has close relationship with membrane invasion and distant metastasis, especially when the percentage of CD8+T cells decreases and when the NK cells and CD4/CD8 are abnormal, which may lead to membrane invasion and distant metastasis.

Battery Cell By-Pass Circuit

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Mumaw, Susan J. (Inventor); Evers, Jeffrey (Inventor); Craig, Calvin L., Jr. (Inventor); Walker, Stuart D. (Inventor)

2001-01-01

The invention is a circuit and method of limiting the charging current voltage from a power supply net work applied to an individual cell of a plurality of cells making up a battery being charged in series. It is particularly designed for use with batteries that can be damaged by overcharging, such as Lithium-ion type batteries. In detail. the method includes the following steps: 1) sensing the actual voltage level of the individual cell; 2) comparing the actual voltage level of the individual cell with a reference value and providing an error signal representative thereof; and 3) by-passing the charging current around individual cell necessary to keep the individual cell voltage level generally equal a specific voltage level while continuing to charge the remaining cells. Preferably this is accomplished by by-passing the charging current around the individual cell if said actual voltage level is above the specific voltage level and allowing the charging current to the individual cell if the actual voltage level is equal or less than the specific voltage level. In the step of bypassing the charging current, the by-passed current is transferred at a proper voltage level to the power supply. The by-pass circuit a voltage comparison circuit is used to compare the actual voltage level of the individual cell with a reference value and to provide an error signal representative thereof. A third circuit, designed to be responsive to the error signal, is provided for maintaining the individual cell voltage level generally equal to the specific voltage level. Circuitry is provided in the third circuit for bypassing charging current around the individual cell if the actual voltage level is above the specific voltage level and transfers the excess charging current to the power supply net work. The circuitry also allows charging of the individual cell if the actual voltage level is equal or less than the specific voltage level.

Detection of Local, Regional, and Distant Recurrence in Patients With PSA Relapse After External-Beam Radiotherapy Using {sup 11}C-Choline Positron Emission Tomography

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Breeuwsma, Anthonius J., E-mail: a.j.breeuwsma@uro.umcg.n; Departments of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen; Pruim, Jan

2010-05-01

Purpose: An elevated serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level cannot distinguish between local-regional recurrences and the presence of distant metastases after treatment with curative intent for prostate cancer. With the advent of salvage treatment such as cryotherapy, it has become important to localize the site of recurrence (local or distant). In this study, the potential of {sup 11}C-choline positron emission tomography (PET) to identify site of recurrence was investigated in patients with rising PSA after external-beam radiotherapy (EBRT). Methods and Materials: Seventy patients with histologically proven prostate cancer treated with EBRT and showing biochemical recurrence as defined by American Society formore » Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology consensus statement and 10 patients without recurrence underwent a PET scan using 400 MBq {sup 11}C-choline intravenously. Biopsy-proven histology from the site of suspicion, findings with other imaging modalities, clinical follow-up and/or response to adjuvant therapy were used as comparative references. Results: None of the 10 patients without biochemical recurrence had a positive PET scan. Fifty-seven of 70 patients with biochemical recurrence (median PSA 9.1 ng/mL; mean PSA 12.3 ng/mL) showed an abnormal uptake pattern (sensitivity 81%). The site of recurrence was only local in 41 of 57 patients (mean PSA 11.1 ng/mL at scan), locoregionally and/or distant in 16 of 57 patients (mean PSA 17.7 ng/mL). Overall the positive predictive value and negative predictive value for {sup 11}C-choline PET scan were 1.0 and 0.44 respectively. Accuracy was 84%. Conclusions: {sup 11}C-choline PET scan is a sensitive technique to identify the site of recurrence in patients with PSA relapse after EBRT for prostate cancer.« less

Epigenetic Analysis of Heavy-ion Radiation Induced Bystander Effects in Mice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Meng; Sun, Yeqing; Cui, Changna; Xue, Bei

Abstract: Radiation-induced bystander effect was defined as the induction of damage in neighboring non-hit cells by signals released from directly-irradiated cells. Recently, low dose of high LET radiation induced bystander effects in vivo have been reported more and more. It has been indicated that radiation induced bystander effect was localized not only in bystander tissues but also in distant organs. Genomic, epigenetic and proteomics plays significant roles in regulating heavy-ion radiation stress responses in mice. To identify the molecular mechanism that underlies bystander effects of heavy-ion radiation, the male Balb/c and C57BL mice were exposed head-only to 40, 200, 2000mGy dose of (12) C heavy-ion radiation, while the rest of the animal body was shielded. Directly radiation organ ear and the distant organ liver were detected on 1h, 6h, 12h and 24h after radiation, respectively. Methylation-sensitive amplification polymorphism (MSAP) was used to monitor the level of polymorphic genomic DNA methylation changed with dose and time effects. The results show that heavy-ion irradiated mouse head could induce genomic DNA methylation changes significantly in both the directly radiation organ ear and the distant organ liver. The percent of DNA methylation changes were time-dependent and tissue-specific. Demethylation polymorphism rate was highest separately at 1 h in 200 mGy and 6 h in 2000 mGy after irradiation. The global DNA methylation changes tended to occur in the CG sites. The results illustrated that genomic methylation changes of heavy ion radiation-induced bystander effect in liver could be obvious 1 h after radiation and achieved the maximum at 6 h, while the changes could recover gradually at 12 h. The results suggest that mice head exposed to heavy-ion radiation can induce damage and methylation pattern changed in both directly radiation organ ear and distant organ liver. Moreover, our findings are important to understand the molecular mechanism of radiation induced bystander effects in vivo.

Effects of clinical supervision on resident learning and patient care during simulated ICU scenarios.

PubMed

Piquette, Dominique; Tarshis, Jordan; Regehr, Glenn; Fowler, Robert A; Pinto, Ruxandra; LeBlanc, Vicki R

2013-12-01

Closer supervision of residents' clinical activities has been promoted to improve patient safety, but may additionally affect resident participation in patient care and learning. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of closer supervision on patient care, resident participation, and the development of resident ability to care independently for critically ill patients during simulated scenarios. This quantitative study represents a component of a larger mixed-methods study. Residents were randomized to one of three levels of supervision, defined by the physical proximity of the supervisor (distant, immediately available, and direct). Each resident completed a simulation scenario under the supervision of a critical care fellow, immediately followed by a modified scenario of similar content without supervision. The simulation center of a tertiary, university-affiliated academic center in a large urban city. Fifty-three residents completing a critical care rotation and 24 critical care fellows were recruited between April 2009 and June 2010. None. During the supervised scenarios, lower team performance checklist scores were obtained for distant supervision compared with immediately available and direct supervision (mean [SD], direct: 72% [12%] vs immediately available: 77% [10%] vs distant: 61% [11%]; p = 0.0013). The percentage of checklist items completed by the residents themselves was significantly lower during direct supervision (median [interquartile range], direct: 40% [21%] vs immediately available: 58% [16%] vs distant: 55% [11%]; p = 0.005). During unsupervised scenarios, no significant differences were found on the outcome measures. Care delivered in the presence of senior supervising physicians was more comprehensive than care delivered without access to a bedside supervisor, but was associated with lower resident participation. However, subsequent resident performance during unsupervised scenarios was not adversely affected. Direct supervision of residents leads to improved care process and does not diminish the subsequent ability of residents to function independently.

Do pet dogs (Canis familiaris) follow ostensive and non-ostensive human gaze to distant space and to objects?

PubMed

Duranton, Charlotte; Range, Friederike; Virányi, Zsófia

2017-07-01

Dogs are renowned for being skilful at using human-given communicative cues such as pointing. Results are contradictory, however, when it comes to dogs' following human gaze, probably due to methodological discrepancies. Here we investigated whether dogs follow human gaze to one of two food locations better than into distant space even after comparable pre-training. In Experiments 1 and 2, the gazing direction of dogs was recorded in a gaze-following into distant space and in an object-choice task where no choice was allowed, in order to allow a direct comparison between tasks, varying the ostensive nature of the gazes. We found that dogs only followed repeated ostensive human gaze into distant space, whereas they followed all gaze cues in the object-choice task. Dogs followed human gaze better in the object-choice task than when there was no obvious target to look at. In Experiment 3, dogs were tested in another object-choice task and were allowed to approach a container. Ostensive cues facilitated the dogs' following gaze with gaze as well as their choices: we found that dogs in the ostensive group chose the indicated container at chance level, whereas they avoided this container in the non-ostensive group. We propose that dogs may perceive the object-choice task as a competition over food and may interpret non-ostensive gaze as an intentional cue that indicates the experimenter's interest in the food location she has looked at. Whether ostensive cues simply mitigate the competitive perception of this situation or they alter how dogs interpret communicative gaze needs further investigation. Our findings also show that following gaze with one's gaze and actually choosing one of the two containers in an object-choice task need to be considered as different variables. The present study clarifies a number of questions related to gaze-following in dogs and adds to a growing body of evidence showing that human ostensive cues can strongly modify dog behaviour.

The effect of remnant forest on insect successional response in tropical fire-impacted peatland: A bi-taxa comparison.

PubMed

Neoh, Kok-Boon; Bong, Lee-Jin; Muhammad, Ahmad; Itoh, Masayuki; Kozan, Osamu; Takematsu, Yoko; Yoshimura, Tsuyoshi

2017-01-01

Fire has become a common feature in tropical drained peatlands, and it may have detrimental impacts on the overall biodiversity of the forest ecosystem. We investigated the effect of fire on termite and ant assemblages and the importance of remnant forest in restoring species diversity in fire-impacted tropical peat swamp forests. The species loss of both termites and ants was as high as 50% in some fire-impacted peats compared to remnant forests, but in most cases the species richness for termites and ants was statistically equal along the land uses surveyed. However, a pronounced difference in functional group composition of termites was detected. In particular, sites close to remnant forests contained two additional termite feeding groups so that they shared a similar composition structure with remnant forests but were significantly different from sites distant from remnant forests. In general, ants were resilient to fire, and the similarity index showed a high degree of similarity among ant communities in all land uses surveyed. The Shannon diversity index for termites and ants decreased with increasing distance from the remnant forests and level of ecological degradation. Peat vegetation variables and ecological degradation were important in shaping termite and ant communities in the tropical peatlands, but their relative importance was not significant in fire-impacted peats regardless of distance from the remnant forests. This study highlights the importance of remnant forests as a biodiversity repository and natural buffer that can enhance species diversity and recolonization of forest-adapted species.

The effect of remnant forest on insect successional response in tropical fire-impacted peatland: A bi-taxa comparison

PubMed Central

Neoh, Kok-Boon; Bong, Lee-Jin; Muhammad, Ahmad; Itoh, Masayuki; Kozan, Osamu; Takematsu, Yoko; Yoshimura, Tsuyoshi

2017-01-01

Fire has become a common feature in tropical drained peatlands, and it may have detrimental impacts on the overall biodiversity of the forest ecosystem. We investigated the effect of fire on termite and ant assemblages and the importance of remnant forest in restoring species diversity in fire-impacted tropical peat swamp forests. The species loss of both termites and ants was as high as 50% in some fire-impacted peats compared to remnant forests, but in most cases the species richness for termites and ants was statistically equal along the land uses surveyed. However, a pronounced difference in functional group composition of termites was detected. In particular, sites close to remnant forests contained two additional termite feeding groups so that they shared a similar composition structure with remnant forests but were significantly different from sites distant from remnant forests. In general, ants were resilient to fire, and the similarity index showed a high degree of similarity among ant communities in all land uses surveyed. The Shannon diversity index for termites and ants decreased with increasing distance from the remnant forests and level of ecological degradation. Peat vegetation variables and ecological degradation were important in shaping termite and ant communities in the tropical peatlands, but their relative importance was not significant in fire-impacted peats regardless of distance from the remnant forests. This study highlights the importance of remnant forests as a biodiversity repository and natural buffer that can enhance species diversity and recolonization of forest-adapted species. PMID:28334021

A Back-to-Front Derivation: The Equal Spacing of Quantum Levels Is a Proof of Simple Harmonic Oscillator Physics

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Andrews, David L.; Romero, Luciana C. Davila

2009-01-01

The dynamical behaviour of simple harmonic motion can be found in numerous natural phenomena. Within the quantum realm of atomic, molecular and optical systems, two main features are associated with harmonic oscillations: a finite ground-state energy and equally spaced quantum energy levels. Here it is shown that there is in fact a one-to-one…

Americans misperceive racial economic equality.

PubMed

Kraus, Michael W; Rucker, Julian M; Richeson, Jennifer A

2017-09-26

The present research documents the widespread misperception of race-based economic equality in the United States. Across four studies ( n = 1,377) sampling White and Black Americans from the top and bottom of the national income distribution, participants overestimated progress toward Black-White economic equality, largely driven by estimates of greater current equality than actually exists according to national statistics. Overestimates of current levels of racial economic equality, on average, outstripped reality by roughly 25% and were predicted by greater belief in a just world and social network racial diversity (among Black participants). Whereas high-income White respondents tended to overestimate racial economic equality in the past, Black respondents, on average, underestimated the degree of past racial economic equality. Two follow-up experiments further revealed that making societal racial discrimination salient increased the accuracy of Whites' estimates of Black-White economic equality, whereas encouraging Whites to anchor their estimates on their own circumstances increased their tendency to overestimate current racial economic equality. Overall, these findings suggest a profound misperception of and unfounded optimism regarding societal race-based economic equality-a misperception that is likely to have any number of important policy implications.

Small bowel obstruction from distant metastasis of primary breast cancer: a case report.

PubMed

Oh, Seung Jae; Park, Seon Young; Kim, Ji Young; Yim, Hyunee; Jung, Yongsik; Han, Sae Hwan

2018-02-01

Gastrointestinal (GI) tract metastasis of primary breast cancer is very rare. We present a patient with small bowel obstruction from distant metastasis of primary breast cancer. Each characteristic features of concern of GI tract distant metastasis from many pervious studies has been reported differently. We should remember that GI tract metastasis may coexist when patients with breast cancer have intermittent or recurrent abdominal pain with or without obstructive symptoms.

Achieving equal opportunity in NASA: An assessment of needs and recommendations for action

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

1976-01-01

Measures designed by NASA to improve its equal opportunity program are reported. Attempts made to increase the ratios and level of placement of women and minority men in the work force were emphasized, upward mobility for those employees already in the work force was also studied. Ways for improving the track record for NASA's equal opportunity profile are recommended.

Is Equal Access to Higher Education in South Asia and Sub-Saharan Africa Achievable by 2030?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ilie, Sonia; Rose, Pauline

2016-01-01

Higher education is back in the spotlight, with post-2015 sustainable development goals emphasising equality of access. In this paper, we highlight the long distance still to travel to achieve the goal of equal access to higher education for all, with a focus on poorer countries which tend to have lower levels of enrolment in higher education.…

Quality and Equality in Education.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Hanford, George H.

1984-01-01

College Board programs and publications aimed at increasing access to higher education while helping maintain and enhance educational quality are discussed, including the Educational Equality Project on college preparation, Advanced Placement, College-Level Exaination Program, and Options for Excellence. (MSE)

Neck dissection after chemoradiotherapy for oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer: the correlation between cervical lymph node metastasis and prognosis.

PubMed

Hanai, Nobuhiro; Kawakita, Daisuke; Ozawa, Taijiro; Hirakawa, Hitoshi; Kodaira, Takeshi; Hasegawa, Yasuhisa

2014-02-01

Recently, the role of chemoradiotherapy (CRT) for preserving organs in the treatment of head and neck cancer has been increasing. However, the indication for post-CRT neck dissection (ND) and its surgical extent is still controversial. The purpose of this study was to discuss the indications for post-CRT ND and the proper extent of the surgical procedure. We performed a retrospective analysis on N2-3 oropharyngeal and hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OHSCC) patients treated with CRT in our institute from 1995 to 2008, and determined the prognostic impact of post-CRT ND and the distribution of cervical lymph node (CLN) metastasis based on the pathological results of ND. The patients without pathological CLN metastases had good prognoses, whereas patients with pathological CLN metastases exhibited a significantly high recurrence rate (P = 0.033). Based on the pathological results of ND, performing selective ND at levels II-IV can contain 88 and 85 % of CLN metastasis of the oropharynx and hypopharynx, respectively. In all cases, when pathological CLN metastases were found at level V in ND following CRT, distant metastases developed. The presence of pathological CLN metastasis affects prognosis, but also a diffuse distribution of CLN metastasis worsens prognosis; that is, the presence of CLN metastasis at level V after CRT appears to be an indicator of distant metastasis. Post-CRT ND may not make sense as a salvage intervention for improving the prognosis in such situations. We concluded that the proper extent of post-CRT ND of OHSCC is selective ND including levels II-IV.

Lymph-vascular space involvement and outer one-third myometrial invasion are strong predictors of distant haematogeneous failures in patients with stage I-II endometrioid-type endometrial cancer.

PubMed

Gadducci, Angiolo; Cavazzana, Andrea; Cosio, Stefania; DI Cristofano, Claudio; Tana, Roberta; Fanucchi, Antonio; Teti, Giancarlo; Cristofani, Renza; Genazzani, Andrea Riccardo

2009-05-01

The aim of this retrospective study was to assess the predictive value of different clinicopathological variables (patient age, tumour size, FIGO grade, myometrial invasion, lymph-vascular space involvement [LVSI], invasion margins, peri-tumour phlogistic infiltrate and mitotic activity) for the risk of distant haematogenous recurrences in patients with endometrioid-type stage Ib-II endometrial cancer. Between August 1990 and April 2005, 259 patients had undergone laparotomy, peritoneal washing, total abdominal hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy, with or without pelvic +/- para-aortic lymphadenectomy for endometrioid-type endometrial cancer. Thirty-six (13.9%) patients had developed recurrent disease after a median time of 17 months (range, 2-128 months). The relapse had been locoregional in 9, distant in 21 and both locoregional plus distant in 6 cases. This study assessed 12 patients with FIGO stage Ib-II disease who had developed distant haematogenous recurrences and 20 randomly chosen control patients with FIGO stage Ib-II disease who had remained recurrence-free after a median follow-up of 52 months (range, 37-66 months). Adjuvant therapy had been: no further treatment in 15 patients, external pelvic irradiation in 14 patients, adjuvant external pelvic irradiation plus brachytherapy in 2 patients and platinum-based chemotherapy followed by external pelvic irradiation in 1 patient. The site of distant failure had been the lung in 9 patients, liver in 2 patients and lung plus liver in 1 patient. A concomitant locoregional relapse (vagina or lymph nodes) had occurred in 3 patients. The median interval between surgery and the development of distant failure had been 16.5 months (range, 5-113 months). On univariate analysis, a higher incidence of FIGO grade 3 (50% versus 10%, p=0.0114), outer one-third myometrial invasion (91.7% versus 35.0%, p=0.0051) and LVSI (75.0.% versus 20.0%, p=0.0022) was found in the patients who had developed distant haematogeneous metastases compared to the recurrence-free women. Multivariate analysis showed that LVSI (p=0.0264) and deep myometrial invasion (p=0.0345) were independent predictive variables for the risk of distant haematogeneous failure. Patients with these pathological findings should be enrolled in randomised trials designed to assess the role of adjuvant chemotherapy alone or combined with sequential and/or concomitant external pelvic irradiation.

[Prevalence of Hypertriglyceridemia: New Data Across the Russian Population. The PROMETHEUS Study].

PubMed

Karpov On Behalf Of Participants Of The Prometheus Study, Yu A

2016-07-01

The main purpose of the study was to estimate prevalence of subjects with hypertriglyceridemia (HTG) in Russia. Secondary objectives were to explore HTG prevalence by levels, age and sex, and to assess correlation between glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C) and triglyceride (TG) level. Additionally, we analyzed geographical differences in HTG prevalence in regions of Russia. This was a cross-sectional, retrospective, observational study using database of results of lipid profile determination in 357,072 subjects from 254 Russian cities during the 3-year period from 2011 to 2013. Altogether, 29.2% (95% confidence interval [CI] 29.1-29.4%) of Russian individuals had HTG (serum TG more or equal 1.7 mmol/L). The percentage of patients with very high (TG more or equal 5.6 mmol/L) and severe HTG (TG more or equal 10.0mmol/L) was low (0.01% and 0.011%, respectively). At the same time, the portion of subjects with mixed hyperlipidemia (total cholesterol [TC] more or equal 5.2mmol/L, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol [LDL-C] more or equal 3.4 mmol/L, TG more or equal 1.7 mmol/L) was 19% of the study population. Men had 1.25 (95% CI, 1.24-1.26) times higher risk of HTG than women. Prevalence of HTG increased with age: in women TG level was maximal in the age group 60-69 years (34%), whereas in men TG level was maximal in the age group 40-49 years (43%). Prevalence of HTG increased from 2011 to 2013 from 28 to 30% (p<0.0001). Risk of HTG was 1.69 times greater when high HbA1C more or equal 6.5% was present, and vice versa, risk of HbA1C more or equal 6.5% was 2.04 times higher in individuals with HTG. Distribution of HTG and dyslipidemia by regions of Russia had large variability being higher in the south and lower in the northern regions of European part of Russia. Almost a third of Russian population has HTG. Men have higher risk of HTG than women. Prevalence of HTG increases with age and reaches its peak in age groups 60-69 years in (women) and 40-49 years (men). There is a linear association between high HbA- and high level of TG. Prevalence of HTG and dyslipidemia is heterogeneous in Russian regions.

Pathways of equality through education: impact of gender (in)equality and maternal education on exclusive breastfeeding among natives and migrants in Belgium.

PubMed

Vanderlinden, Karen; Van de Putte, Bart

2017-04-01

Even though breastfeeding is typically considered the preferred feeding method for infants worldwide, in Belgium, breastfeeding rates remain low across native and migrant groups while the underlying determinants are unclear. Furthermore, research examining contextual effects, especially regarding gender (in)equality and ideology, has not been conducted. We hypothesized that greater gender equality scores in the country of origin will result in higher breastfeeding chances. Because gender equality does not operate only at the contextual level but can be mediated through individual level resources, we hypothesized the following for maternal education: higher maternal education will be an important positive predictor for exclusive breastfeeding chances in Belgium, but its effects will differ over subsequent origin countries. Based on IKAROS data (GeÏntegreerd Kind Activiteiten en Regio Ondersteunings Systeem), we perform multilevel analyses on 27 936 newborns. Feeding method is indicated by exclusive breastfeeding 3 months after childbirth. We measure gender (in)equality using Global Gender Gap scores from the mother's origin country. Maternal education is a metric variable based on International Standard Classification of Education indicators. Results show that 3.6% of the variation in breastfeeding can be explained by differences between the migrant mother's country of origin. However, the effect of gender (in)equality appears to be non-significant. After adding maternal education, the effect for origin countries scoring low on gender equality turns significant. Maternal education on its own shows strong positive association with exclusive breastfeeding and, furthermore, has different effects for different origin countries. Possible explanations are discussed in-depth setting direction for further research regarding the different pathways gender (in)equality and maternal education affect breastfeeding. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd. © 2016 John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Patterns of gender equality at workplaces and psychological distress.

PubMed

Elwér, Sofia; Harryson, Lisa; Bolin, Malin; Hammarström, Anne

2013-01-01

Research in the field of occupational health often uses a risk factor approach which has been criticized by feminist researchers for not considering the combination of many different variables that are at play simultaneously. To overcome this shortcoming this study aims to identify patterns of gender equality at workplaces and to investigate how these patterns are associated with psychological distress. Questionnaire data from the Northern Swedish Cohort (n = 715) have been analysed and supplemented with register data about the participants' workplaces. The register data were used to create gender equality indicators of women/men ratios of number of employees, educational level, salary and parental leave. Cluster analysis was used to identify patterns of gender equality at the workplaces. Differences in psychological distress between the clusters were analysed by chi-square test and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for individual socio-demographics and previous psychological distress. The cluster analysis resulted in six distinctive clusters with different patterns of gender equality at the workplaces that were associated to psychological distress for women but not for men. For women the highest odds of psychological distress was found on traditionally gender unequal workplaces. The lowest overall occurrence of psychological distress as well as same occurrence for women and men was found on the most gender equal workplaces. The results from this study support the convergence hypothesis as gender equality at the workplace does not only relate to better mental health for women, but also more similar occurrence of mental ill-health between women and men. This study highlights the importance of utilizing a multidimensional view of gender equality to understand its association to health outcomes. Health policies need to consider gender equality at the workplace level as a social determinant of health that is of importance for reducing differences in health outcomes for women and men.

Clinical utility of TERT promoter mutations and ALK rearrangement in thyroid cancer patients with a high prevalence of the BRAF V600E mutation.

PubMed

Bae, Ja Seong; Kim, Yourha; Jeon, Sora; Kim, Se Hee; Kim, Tae Jung; Lee, Sohee; Kim, Min-Hee; Lim, Dong Jun; Lee, Youn Soo; Jung, Chan Kwon

2016-02-09

Mutations in the TERT promoter, ALK rearrangement, and the BRAF V600E mutation are associated with aggressive clinicopathologic features in thyroid cancers. However, little is known about the impact of TERT promoter mutations and ALK rearrangement in thyroid cancer patients with a high prevalence of BRAF mutations. We performed Sanger sequencing to detect BRAF V600E and TERT promoter mutations and both immunohistochemistry and fluorescence in situ hybridization to identify ALK rearrangement on 243 thyroid cancers. TERT promoter mutations were not present in 192 well-differentiated thyroid carcinomas (WDTC) without distant metastasis or in 9 medullary carcinomas. However, the mutations did occur in 40 % (12/30) of WDTC with distant metastasis, 29 % (2/7) of poorly differentiated carcinomas and 60 % (3/5) of anaplastic carcinomas. ALK rearrangement was not present in all thyroid cancers. The BRAF V600E mutation was more frequently found in WDTC without distant metastasis than in WDTC with distant metastasis (p = 0.007). In the cohort of WDTC with distant metastasis, patients with wild-type BRAF and TERT promoter had a significantly higher response rate after radioiodine therapy (p = 0.024), whereas the BRAF V600E mutation was significantly correlated with progressive disease (p = 0.025). The TERT promoter mutation is an independent predictor for distant metastasis of WDTC, but ALK testing is not useful for clinical decision-making in Korean patients with a high prevalence of the BRAF V600E mutation. Radioiodine therapy for distant metastasis of WDTC is most effective in patients without BRAF V600E and TERT promoter mutations.

Age at diagnosis and distant metastasis in breast cancer--a surprising inverse relationship.

PubMed

Purushotham, A; Shamil, E; Cariati, M; Agbaje, O; Muhidin, A; Gillett, C; Mera, A; Sivanadiyan, K; Harries, M; Sullivan, R; Pinder, S E; Garmo, H; Holmberg, L

2014-07-01

Predictors for site of distant metastasis and impact on survival in breast cancer are incompletely understood. Clinico-pathological risk factors for site of distant metastasis and survival were analysed in patients with invasive breast cancer treated between 1986 and 2006. Of 3553 patients, with median follow-up 6.32years, 825 (23%) developed distant metastasis. The site of metastasis was bone in 196/825 (24%), viscera in 540/825 (65%) and unknown in 89 (11%). Larger primary invasive tumour size, higher tumour grade and axillary nodal positivity increased risk of metastasis to all sites. Lobular carcinoma was more likely to first metastasise to bone compared to invasive ductal carcinoma (NST). Oestrogen receptor (ER) negative, progesterone receptor (PgR) negative and/or Human epidermal growth factor (HER2) positive tumours were more likely to metastasise to viscera. A striking relationship between increasing age at diagnosis and a reduction in risk of distant metastasis to bone and viscera was observed. Median time to death from onset of metastatic disease was 1.52 (Interquartile range (IQR) 0.7-2.9)years for patients with bone metastasis and 0.7 (IQR 0.2-1.5)years for visceral metastasis. On multivariate analysis, despite the decrease in risk of distant metastasis with increasing age, there was an elevated hazard for death in patients >50years at diagnosis of metastasis if they developed bone metastasis, with a similar trend observed in the >70years age group if they developed visceral metastasis. These findings indicate that there are biological mechanisms underlying the impact of age on the development of distant metastasis and subsequent death. This may have important implications in the treatment of breast cancer. Copyright © 2014 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

"A Richness Study of 14 Distant X-Ray Clusters from the 160 Square Degree Survey"

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jones, Christine; West, Donald (Technical Monitor)

2001-01-01

We have measured the surface density of galaxies toward 14 X-ray-selected cluster candidates at redshifts z(sub i) 0.46, and we show that they are associated with rich galaxy concentrations. These clusters, having X-ray luminosities of Lx(0.5-2 keV) approx. (0.5 - 2.6) x 10(exp 44) ergs/ sec are among the most distant and luminous in our 160 deg(exp 2) ROSAT Position Sensitive Proportional Counter cluster survey. We find that the clusters range between Abell richness classes 0 and 2 and have a most probable richness class of 1. We compare the richness distribution of our distant clusters to those for three samples of nearby clusters with similar X-ray luminosities. We find that the nearby and distant samples have similar richness distributions, which shows that clusters have apparently not evolved substantially in richness since redshift z=0.5. There is, however, a marginal tendency for the distant clusters to be slightly poorer than nearby clusters, although deeper multicolor data for a large sample would be required to confirm this trend. We compare the distribution of distant X-ray clusters in the L(sub X)-richness plane to the distribution of optically selected clusters from the Palomar Distant Cluster Survey. The optically selected clusters appear overly rich for their X-ray luminosities, when compared to X-ray-selected clusters. Apparently, X-ray and optical surveys do not necessarily sample identical mass concentrations at large redshifts. This may indicate the existence of a population of optically rich clusters with anomalously low X-ray emission, More likely, however, it reflects the tendency for optical surveys to select unvirialized mass concentrations, as might be expected when peering along large-scale filaments.

Presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

PubMed

Inoue, Masanori; Ogasawara, Sadahisa; Chiba, Tetsuhiro; Ooka, Yoshihiko; Wakamatsu, Toru; Kobayashi, Kazufumi; Suzuki, Eiichiro; Tawada, Akinobu; Yokosuka, Osamu

2017-04-01

Gadolinium-ethoxybenzyl-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-EOB-DTPA)-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) performed before curative therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can distinguish between intrahepatic distant recurrence and hypervascularization. This study aimed to retrospectively evaluate the presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on hepatobiliary phase images from Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI as a risk factor of the intrahepatic distant recurrence of early stage HCC following radiofrequency ablation (RFA). A total of 132 patients who underwent preprocedural Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI followed by initial RFA were retrospectively analyzed. Post-RFA intrahepatic distant recurrence, which excluded the hypervascularization of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules detected by preprocedural Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI, was evaluated according to the presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on preprocedural Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI. Intrahepatic distant recurrence rates following RFA were higher in patients with non-hypervascular hypointense nodules (1-year: 22.5%, 2-year: 52.1%, 5-year: 89.1%) compared with in patients without non-hypervascular hypointense nodules (1-year: 7.0%, 2-year: 28.8%, 5-year: 48.7%). The presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules was associated with markedly increased cumulative recurrence rates of both identical and different subsegment intrahepatic distant recurrence, being an independent risk factor for post-RFA identical and different subsegment intrahepatic distant recurrence (identical: HR = 2.365, P = 0.027; different: HR = 3.276, P < 0.001). The presence of non-hypervascular hypointense nodules on hepatobiliary phase images from Gd-EOB-DTPA-enhanced MRI obtained prior to RFA is an important predictive factor of intrahepatic distant recurrence following RFA of HCC. © 2016 Journal of Gastroenterology and Hepatology Foundation and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.

Preablation 131-I scans with SPECT/CT contribute to thyroid cancer risk stratification and 131-I therapy planning.

PubMed

Avram, Anca M; Esfandiari, Nazanene H; Wong, Ka Kit

2015-05-01

The use of preablation diagnostic radioiodine scans for risk stratification and radioiodine therapy planning for differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) remains controversial. The objective was to assess the contribution of preablation diagnostic 131-I scans with SPECT/CT (Dx 131-I scan) to (1) the risk stratification and (2) the postoperative management of DTC. The study was designed as a prospective sequential patient series. The study was conducted at a University hospital. Three hundred twenty patients (pts) with DTC (219F; 101M, mean age 47.3 ± 16.4 y, range 10-90) were studied. Using clinical and histopathology information an endocrinologist performed risk stratification and determined postoperative management with respect to radioiodine therapy (RAI) planning. The decision to withhold or to administer RAI, and the recommended low, medium or high therapeutic 131-I activity were recorded. Dx 131-I scans were performed and interpreted by two nuclear medicine physicians as showing thyroid remnant, cervical nodal, or distant metastases. The endocrinologist then reperformed risk stratification and reformulated management after consideration of Dx 131-I scans and stimulated thyroglobulin (Tg) information. Main outcome measures were changes in risk stratification and management after Dx 131-I scans. Detection of unsuspected nodal and distant metastases and elevated stimulated Tg levels resulted in a change in the estimated risk of recurrence in 15% of patients, and management in 31% of patients, as compared to initial risk stratification and management based on histopathology alone. Both imaging data and stimulated thyroglobulin levels acquired at the time of Dx 131-I scans are consequential for 131-I therapy planning, providing information that changes risk stratification in 15% of patients as compared to recurrence risk estimation based on histopathology alone. Dx 131-I scans contribute to risk stratification by defining residual nodal and distant metastatic disease, changing clinical management in 29.4% of patients.

[Involvement of researchers with patient associations: what is the role of their opinions, their clinical activity and their nature?].

PubMed

Demagny, Lise; Bungener, Martine; Faurisson, François

2015-11-01

Although the involvement of patient associations in biomedical research is well known, conversely, researchers' views and perceptions of these associations have remained unknown. For this reason, Inserm's Patients' Association Liaison Group (GRAM) launched the CAIRNET survey in 2012, based on questionnaires and interviews conducted with researchers working at Inserm. The variety of their opinions made it possible to distinguish four profiles, the committed, the pragmatic, the reticent and the distant. Thus 41 % of respondents reported ongoing relationships with at least one association, 72 % for the committed and 16 % for the distant. Although these relationships are formed more easily among researchers involved in clinical activity, they also encourage collaborations between clinicians and basic researchers. The apparently lower degree of involvement of female researchers proved to be associated with a lower level of clinical activity, limited permanent recruitment, and a lower hierarchical status. © 2015 médecine/sciences – Inserm.

First direct measurements of behavioural responses by Cuvier's beaked whales to mid-frequency active sonar.

PubMed

DeRuiter, Stacy L; Southall, Brandon L; Calambokidis, John; Zimmer, Walter M X; Sadykova, Dinara; Falcone, Erin A; Friedlaender, Ari S; Joseph, John E; Moretti, David; Schorr, Gregory S; Thomas, Len; Tyack, Peter L

2013-08-23

Most marine mammal- strandings coincident with naval sonar exercises have involved Cuvier's beaked whales (Ziphius cavirostris). We recorded animal movement and acoustic data on two tagged Ziphius and obtained the first direct measurements of behavioural responses of this species to mid-frequency active (MFA) sonar signals. Each recording included a 30-min playback (one 1.6-s simulated MFA sonar signal repeated every 25 s); one whale was also incidentally exposed to MFA sonar from distant naval exercises. Whales responded strongly to playbacks at low received levels (RLs; 89-127 dB re 1 µPa): after ceasing normal fluking and echolocation, they swam rapidly, silently away, extending both dive duration and subsequent non-foraging interval. Distant sonar exercises (78-106 dB re 1 µPa) did not elicit such responses, suggesting that context may moderate reactions. The observed responses to playback occurred at RLs well below current regulatory thresholds; equivalent responses to operational sonars could elevate stranding risk and reduce foraging efficiency.

A geometric measure of dark energy with pairs of galaxies.

PubMed

Marinoni, Christian; Buzzi, Adeline

2010-11-25

Observations indicate that the expansion of the Universe is accelerating, which is attributed to a ‘dark energy’ component that opposes gravity. There is a purely geometric test of the expansion of the Universe (the Alcock–Paczynski test), which would provide an independent way of investigating the abundance (Ω(X)) and equation of state (W(X)) of dark energy. It is based on an analysis of the geometrical distortions expected from comparing the real-space and redshift-space shape of distant cosmic structures, but it has proved difficult to implement. Here we report an analysis of the symmetry properties of distant pairs of galaxies from archival data. This allows us to determine that the Universe is flat. By alternately fixing its spatial geometry at Ω(k)≡0 and the dark energy equation-of-state parameter at W(X)≡-1, and using the results of baryon acoustic oscillations, we can establish at the 68.3% confidence level that and -0.85>W(X)>-1.12 and 0.60<Ω(X)<0.80.

Increased expression of EZH2 in Merkel cell carcinoma is associated with disease progression and poorer prognosis.

PubMed

Harms, Kelly L; Chubb, Heather; Zhao, Lili; Fullen, Douglas R; Bichakjian, Christopher K; Johnson, Timothy M; Carskadon, Shannon; Palanisamy, Nallasivam; Harms, Paul W

2017-09-01

Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) is a histone methyltransferase that affects tumorigenesis by epigenetic gene silencing. Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is a rare cutaneous neuroendocrine carcinoma that has a high risk of disease progression with nodal and distant metastases. Here, we evaluated EZH2 expression by immunohistochemistry in a cohort of 85 MCC tumors (29 primary tumors, 41 lymph node metastases, 13 in-transit metastases, and 2 distant metastases) with clinical follow-up. We show strong/moderate EZH2 expression in 54% of tumors. Importantly, weak expression of EZH2 in the primary tumor, but not nodal metastases, correlated with improved prognosis compared to moderate/strong EZH2 expression (5-year MCC-specific survival of 68% versus 22%, respectively, P=.024). In addition, EZH2 was expressed at higher levels in nodal metastases compared to primary tumors (P=.005). Our data demonstrate that EZH2 has prognostic value and may play an oncogenic role in MCC. Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Foggy perception slows us down

PubMed Central

Pretto, Paolo; Bresciani, Jean-Pierre; Rainer, Gregor; Bülthoff, Heinrich H

2012-01-01

Visual speed is believed to be underestimated at low contrast, which has been proposed as an explanation of excessive driving speed in fog. Combining psychophysics measurements and driving simulation, we confirm that speed is underestimated when contrast is reduced uniformly for all objects of the visual scene independently of their distance from the viewer. However, we show that when contrast is reduced more for distant objects, as is the case in real fog, visual speed is actually overestimated, prompting drivers to decelerate. Using an artificial anti-fog—that is, fog characterized by better visibility for distant than for close objects, we demonstrate for the first time that perceived speed depends on the spatial distribution of contrast over the visual scene rather than the global level of contrast per se. Our results cast new light on how reduced visibility conditions affect perceived speed, providing important insight into the human visual system. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.00031.001 PMID:23110253

The effect of emotional distance on psychophysiologic concordance and perceived empathy between patient and interviewer.

PubMed

Marci, Carl D; Orr, Scott P

2006-06-01

This preliminary study investigated the effect of emotional distance on psychophysiologic concordance and perceived empathy in a clinical population. Participants included 20 adult outpatients from a mental health clinic that underwent a brief semi-structured interview with a trained psychiatrist in either an emotionally neutral or an emotionally distant condition. Simultaneous skin conductance (SC) levels of the patient and interviewer were recorded and used to calculate a measure of psychophysiologic concordance. Interviewer gaze was rated by an independent observer and used as a proxy indicator of emotional distance. Observer ratings of interviewer gaze, SC concordance, and patient ratings of perceived interviewer empathy were significantly lower in the emotionally distant condition compared with the emotionally neutral condition (p < 0.05). Results suggest that increased emotional distance is associated with decreased psychophysiologic concordance and reduced subjective ratings of perceived empathy. The observed differences in psychophysiologic concordance support the use of this measure as a potential marker of empathy in a clinical population in an interview setting.

Preliminary Upper Estimate of Peak Currents in Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation at Distant Locations from a TMS Coil

PubMed Central

Makarov, Sergey N.; Yanamadala, Janakinadh; Piazza, Matthew W.; Helderman, Alex M.; Thang, Niang S.; Burnham, Edward H.; Pascual-Leone, Alvaro

2016-01-01

Goals Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is increasingly used as a diagnostic and therapeutic tool for numerous neuropsychiatric disorders. The use of TMS might cause whole-body exposure to undesired induced currents in patients and TMS operators. The aim of the present study is to test and justify a simple analytical model known previously, which may be helpful as an upper estimate of eddy current density at a particular distant observation point for any body composition and any coil setup. Methods We compare the analytical solution with comprehensive adaptive mesh refinement-based FEM simulations of a detailed full-body human model, two coil types, five coil positions, about 100,000 observation points, and two distinct pulse rise times, thus providing a representative number of different data sets for comparison, while also using other numerical data. Results Our simulations reveal that, after a certain modification, the analytical model provides an upper estimate for the eddy current density at any location within the body. In particular, it overestimates the peak eddy currents at distant locations from a TMS coil by a factor of 10 on average. Conclusion The simple analytical model tested in the present study may be valuable as a rapid method to safely estimate levels of TMS currents at different locations within a human body. Significance At present, safe limits of general exposure to TMS electric and magnetic fields are an open subject, including fetal exposure for pregnant women. PMID:26685221

TEMPLATES: Targeting Extremely Magnified Panchromatic Lensed Arcs and Their Extended Star Formation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rigby, Jane; Vieira, Joaquin; Bayliss, M.; Fischer, T.; Florian, M.; Gladders, M.; Gonzalez, A.; Law, D.; Marrone, D.; Phadke, K.; Sharon, K.; Spilker, J.

2017-11-01

We propose high signal-to-noise NIRSpec and MIRI IFU spectroscopy, with accompanying imaging, for 4 gravitationally lensed galaxies at 1

Bacteria may contribute to distant species recognition in ant-aphid mutualistic relationships.

PubMed

Fischer, Christophe Y; Detrain, Claire; Thonart, Philippe; Haubruge, Eric; Francis, Frédéric; Verheggen, François J; Lognay, Georges C

2017-04-01

Mutualistic interactions between ant and aphid species have been the subject of considerable historical and contemporary investigations, the primary benefits being cleaning and protection for the aphids and carbohydrate-rich honeydew for the ants. Questions remained, however, as to the volatile semiochemical factor influencing this relationship. A recent study highlighted the role of bacterial honeydew volatile compounds in ant attraction. Here, ant's ability to distantly discriminate 2 aphid species was investigated based on bacterial honeydew semiochemicals emissions using a two-way olfactometer. Both the mutualistic aphid Aphis fabae L. and the nonmyrmecophilous aphid Acyrthosiphon pisum Harris were found to be attractive for the ant Lasius niger L. The level of attraction was similar in both assays (control vs. one of the aphid species). However, when given a choice between these 2 aphid species, ants showed a significant preference for Aphis fabae. Honeydew volatiles, mostly from bacterial origins, are known to be a key element in ant attraction. Using the same olfactometry protocol, the relative attractiveness of volatiles emitted by honeydews collected from each aphid species and by bacteria isolated from each honeydew was investigated. Again, ants significantly preferred volatiles released by Aphis fabae honeydew and bacteria. This information suggests that microbial honeydew volatiles enable ants to distantly discriminate aphid species. These results strengthen the interest of studying the occurrence and potential impact of microorganisms in insect symbioses. © 2015 Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences.

Soviet Style in War.

DTIC Science & Technology

1982-04-01

distant it is from a reality corrupted by indifference. Indecisiveness :3 If one avoids indifference, one may still not arrive at action, for one may...react without delay to all remarks of his superiors. However, in reality this is not the case. From higher levels orders come down, plans for...the final stage of the offensive of [the Voronezh and South- western] Fronts in the winter of 1943... there were virtually no powerful spearheads to

Asian Universities' Collaboration for Advanced Environmental Engineering via Simultaneous Distant Learning Classes Using Video Playback

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Araki, Mituhiko; Nakamura, Yuichi; Fujii, Shigeo; Tsuno, Hiroshi

Three international simultaneous lectures of the post graduate level in the field of environmental science and engineering are under preparation in Kyoto University. They are planned to be opened in three Asian universities (Tsinghua University in China, University of Malaya in Malaysia, and Kyoto University in Japan) as formal courses. The contents of the lectures, purpose of the project and technical problems are reported.

A review of the genus Kanakia Distant, 1892 (Insecta: Hemiptera, Cicadoidea, Cicadidae) from New Caledonia.

PubMed

Delorme, Quentin; Mille, Christian; Jourdan, Hervé

2016-03-16

Among New Caledonian cicada taxa, the endemic genus Kanakia Distant, 1892 appears as the most spectacular one, especially because of the large size of its species (length up to 50 mm for males). Recent new specimen collections helped to clarify the taxonomy of this spectacular genus. According to morphological characteristics, we were able to redefine and to split the present genus into three distinct genera: Kanakia Distant, 1892, Pseudokanakia Delorme gen. nov. and Panialna Delorme gen. nov. These two new genera are monotypic and have been respectively established from revision of Kanakia flavoannulata (Distant 1920) and Kanakia parva Boulard 1991. Also, the type species, Kanakia typica Distant, 1892, appears to be a complex of cryptic species. New acoustic and morphological observations allowed us to redefine K. typica and to describe four new species in this complex: Kanakia paniensis Delorme sp. nov., Kanakia rana Delorme sp. nov., Kanakia salesnii Delorme sp. nov. and Kanakia fuscocosta Delorme sp. nov. Kanakia gigas Boulard 1988 is also briefly discussed and the female is described. An identification key of the Kanakia species and allied genera is also provided.

Nurse plants transfer more nitrogen to distantly related species.

PubMed

Montesinos-Navarro, Alicia; Verdú, Miguel; Querejeta, José Ignacio; Valiente-Banuet, Alfonso

2017-05-01

Plant facilitative interactions enhance co-occurrence between distant relatives, partly due to limited overlap in resource requirements. We propose a different mechanism for the coexistence of distant relatives based on positive interactions of nutrient sharing. Nutrients move between plants following source-sink gradients driven by plant traits that allow these gradients to establish. Specifically, nitrogen (N) concentration gradients can arise from variation in leaf N content across plants species. As many ecologically relevant traits, we hypothesize that leaf N content is phylogenetically conserved and can result in N gradients promoting N transfer among distant relatives. In a Mexican desert community governed by facilitation, we labelled nurse plants (Mimosa luisana) with 15 N and measured its transfer to 14 other species in the community, spanning the range of phylogenetic distances to the nurse plant. Nurses established steeper N source-sink gradients with distant relatives, increasing 15 N transfer toward these species. Nutrient sharing may provide long-term benefits to facilitated plants and may be an overlooked mechanism maintaining coexistence and increasing the phylogenetic diversity of plant communities. © 2017 by the Ecological Society of America.

Testing the Glucose Hypothesis among Capuchin Monkeys: Does Glucose Boost Self-Control?

PubMed

Parrish, Audrey E; Emerson, Ishara D; Rossettie, Mattea S; Beran, Michael J

2016-08-03

The ego-depletion hypothesis states that self-control diminishes over time and with exertion. Accordingly, the glucose hypothesis attributes this depletion of self-control resources to decreases in blood glucose levels. Research has led to mixed findings among humans and nonhuman animals, with limited evidence for such a link between glucose and self-control among closely-related nonhuman primate species, but some evidence from more distantly related species (e.g., honeybees and dogs). We tested this hypothesis in capuchin monkeys by manipulating the sugar content of a calorie-matched breakfast meal following a nocturnal fast, and then presenting each monkey with the accumulation self-control task. Monkeys were presented with food items one-by-one until the subject retrieved and ate the accumulating items, which required continual inhibition of food retrieval in the face of an increasingly desirable reward. Results indicated no relationship between self-control performance on the accumulation task and glucose ingestion levels following a fast. These results do not provide support for the glucose hypothesis of self-control among capuchin monkeys within the presented paradigm. Further research assessing self-control and its physiological correlates among closely- and distantly-related species is warranted to shed light on the mechanisms underlying self-control behavior.

Frames in contestation: gendering domestic violence policies in five central and eastern European countries.

PubMed

Krizsan, Andrea; Popa, Raluca Maria

2014-07-01

The article looks at the translation of international norms on domestic violence to the national level in five Central and Eastern European countries. It argues that translation brings a concept of domestic violence, which stretches gender equality ideas underpinning international norms so as to be easier to endorse by mainstream policy actors, and results in policies framed in degendered individual rights terms. The potential for keeping gender equality in focus is then guaranteed by gendering policy processes through empowerment of gender equality actors at all stages. Absence of ownership of the policy by gender equality actors risks co-optation by frames contesting gender equality. © The Author(s) 2014.

An Outburst Scenario for the X-ray Spectral Variability in 3C 111

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Tombesi, Francesco; Reeves, J. N.; Reynolds, Christopher S.; Garcia, J.; Lohfink, A.

2013-01-01

We present a combined Suzaku and Swift BAT broad-band E=0.6-200 keV spectral analysis of three 3C 111 observations obtained in 2010. The data are well described with an absorbed power-law continuum and a weak (R approximately equal to 0.2) cold reflection component from distant material. We constrain the continuum cutoff at E(sub C) approximately equal to 150- 200 keV, which is in accordance with X-ray Comptonization corona models and supports claims that the jet emission is only dominant at much higher energies. Fe XXVI Ly alpha emission and absorption lines are also present in the first and second observations, respectively. The modelling and interpretation of the emission line is complex and we explore three possibilities. If originating from ionized disc reflection, this should be emitted at r(sub in) greater than or equal to 50 r(sub g) or, in the lamp-post configuration, the illuminating source should be at a height of h greater than or equal to 30 r(sub g) over the black hole. Alternatively, the line could be modeled with a hot collisionally ionized plasma with temperature kT = 22.0(sup +6.1)(sub -3.2) keV or a photo-ionized plasma with logXi=4.52(sup +0.10)(sub -0.16) erg per second cm, and column density N(sub H) greater than 3×10(sup 23) per square centimeter. However, the first and second scenarios are less favored on statistical and physical grounds, respectively. The blue-shifted absorption line in the second observation can be modelled as an ultra-fast outflow (UFO) with ionization parameter logXi=4.47(sup +0.76) (sub -0.04) erg per second cm, column density NH=(5.3(sup +1.8)(sub -1.3))×10(sup 22) per square centimeter and outflow velocity v(sub out) = 0.104+/-0.006c. Interestingly, the parameters of the photoionized emission model remarkably match those of the absorbing UFO, supporting the possibility that the same material could be responsible for both emission and absorption. We suggest an outburst scenario in which an accretion disc wind, initially lying out of the line of sight and observed in emission, then crosses our view to the source and it is observed in absorption as a mildly-relativistic UFO.

Phase-Tuned Entangled State Generation between Distant Spin Qubits.

PubMed

Stockill, R; Stanley, M J; Huthmacher, L; Clarke, E; Hugues, M; Miller, A J; Matthiesen, C; Le Gall, C; Atatüre, M

2017-07-07

Quantum entanglement between distant qubits is an important feature of quantum networks. Distribution of entanglement over long distances can be enabled through coherently interfacing qubit pairs via photonic channels. Here, we report the realization of optically generated quantum entanglement between electron spin qubits confined in two distant semiconductor quantum dots. The protocol relies on spin-photon entanglement in the trionic Λ system and quantum erasure of the Raman-photon path information. The measurement of a single Raman photon is used to project the spin qubits into a joint quantum state with an interferometrically stabilized and tunable relative phase. We report an average Bell-state fidelity for |ψ^{(+)}⟩ and |ψ^{(-)}⟩ states of 61.6±2.3% and a record-high entanglement generation rate of 7.3 kHz between distant qubits.

Phase-Tuned Entangled State Generation between Distant Spin Qubits

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Stockill, R.; Stanley, M. J.; Huthmacher, L.; Clarke, E.; Hugues, M.; Miller, A. J.; Matthiesen, C.; Le Gall, C.; Atatüre, M.

2017-07-01

Quantum entanglement between distant qubits is an important feature of quantum networks. Distribution of entanglement over long distances can be enabled through coherently interfacing qubit pairs via photonic channels. Here, we report the realization of optically generated quantum entanglement between electron spin qubits confined in two distant semiconductor quantum dots. The protocol relies on spin-photon entanglement in the trionic Λ system and quantum erasure of the Raman-photon path information. The measurement of a single Raman photon is used to project the spin qubits into a joint quantum state with an interferometrically stabilized and tunable relative phase. We report an average Bell-state fidelity for |ψ(+)⟩ and |ψ(-)⟩ states of 61.6 ±2.3 % and a record-high entanglement generation rate of 7.3 kHz between distant qubits.

Report Task Force on Women in the Military

DTIC Science & Technology

1988-01-01

Education, Training, Equal Opportunity, Assignments. SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF THIS PAGE ODEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE REPORT TASK FORCE4I ON WOMEN LN THE...ensure that instruction occurs at all levels of the organization; and, DoD review equal opportu- nity lessons learned for use in combating bixual...Servicewomen becoming full and equal members of their units. Each Service should be required to report the results of these evalua- tions and corrective

Experimental Determination of the Electric Dipole Moment Function of the X Pi-2 Hydroxyl Radical

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Chackerian, C., Jr.; Goorvitch, D.; Abrams, M. C.; Davis, S. P.; Benidar, A.; Farrenq, R.; Guelachvili, G.; Strawa, Anthony W. (Technical Monitor)

1995-01-01

Laboratory infrared emission spectra of X 2piOH obtained with the Solar McMath FTS and the U. Paris (Orsay) FTS are used in an inversion procedure to experimentally determine the electric dipole moment function (EDMF) of the hydroxyl radical. The spectra produced at Kitt Peak show vibrational levels up to v = 10 and rotational lines in the range, -25.5 less than or equal to m less than or equal to 12.5. The following vibrational quantum number ranges were observed: for DELTA v = -1, v prime = 1 - 9, for DELTA v = -2, v prime = 2 - 10, and for DELTA v = - 3, v prime = 6 - 10. The spectra produced at Orsay show DELTA v = -1, with v prime = 1 - 4 and -22.5 less than or equal to m less than or equal to 9.5 as well as DELTA v = 0, with v prime= 1 - 3, and 9.5 less than or equal to m less than or equal to 25.5. The OH rovibrational wavefunctions used in the inversion procedure were calculated using a procedure which reproduces observed rotational constants with a high level of accuracy. Comparisons of our EDMF are made with previous experimental and theoretical work.

Americans misperceive racial economic equality

PubMed Central

Kraus, Michael W.; Rucker, Julian M.; Richeson, Jennifer A.

2017-01-01

The present research documents the widespread misperception of race-based economic equality in the United States. Across four studies (n = 1,377) sampling White and Black Americans from the top and bottom of the national income distribution, participants overestimated progress toward Black–White economic equality, largely driven by estimates of greater current equality than actually exists according to national statistics. Overestimates of current levels of racial economic equality, on average, outstripped reality by roughly 25% and were predicted by greater belief in a just world and social network racial diversity (among Black participants). Whereas high-income White respondents tended to overestimate racial economic equality in the past, Black respondents, on average, underestimated the degree of past racial economic equality. Two follow-up experiments further revealed that making societal racial discrimination salient increased the accuracy of Whites’ estimates of Black–White economic equality, whereas encouraging Whites to anchor their estimates on their own circumstances increased their tendency to overestimate current racial economic equality. Overall, these findings suggest a profound misperception of and unfounded optimism regarding societal race-based economic equality—a misperception that is likely to have any number of important policy implications. PMID:28923915

Prognostic value of lncRNAs in lung carcinoma: a meta-analysis.

PubMed

Fan, Fan; Zhu, Zhengqiu; Gao, Chao; Liu, Yun; Wang, Baoqing; Wang, Ziquan; Feng, Jifeng

2017-10-10

Many different long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be abnormally expressed in lung carcinoma and may thus serve as prognostic biomarkers for this disease. We conducted this meta-analysis, which included a total of 30 studies identified via searches of PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Web of Science and included 2912 patients from China (28), Germany (1), and Japan (1), to investigate the prognostic value of different lncRNAs in lung carcinoma. The results revealed that lncRNA transcription levels were significantly associated with overall survival in lung cancer patients (HR:1.46, 95% CI: 1.16-1.83, P = 0.000). However, lncRNA transcription levels were not associated with progression-free survival (PFS) (HR: 1.55, 95% CI: 0.50-4.80, P = 0.449). Further analysis showed that high lncRNA transcription levels were significantly associated with tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (III/IV vs I/II: RR = 1.339, 95% CI: 1.046-1.716, P = 0.012), lymph node metastasis (positive vs negative: RR = 1.442, 95% CI: 1.103-1.885, P = 0.007), and distant metastasis (yes vs no: RR = 3.187,95% CI: 1.393-7.294, P = 0.006). Taken together, the results of our present meta-analysis revealed that lncRNAs may be useful prognostic markers for lung carcinoma and may also have value as biomarkers for TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis.

Prognostic value of lncRNAs in lung carcinoma: a meta-analysis

PubMed Central

Fan, Fan; Zhu, Zhengqiu; Gao, Chao; Liu, Yun; Wang, Baoqing; Wang, Ziquan; Feng, Jifeng

2017-01-01

Many different long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) have been reported to be abnormally expressed in lung carcinoma and may thus serve as prognostic biomarkers for this disease. We conducted this meta-analysis, which included a total of 30 studies identified via searches of PubMed, Embase, Medline, and Web of Science and included 2912 patients from China (28), Germany (1), and Japan (1), to investigate the prognostic value of different lncRNAs in lung carcinoma. The results revealed that lncRNA transcription levels were significantly associated with overall survival in lung cancer patients (HR:1.46, 95% CI: 1.16–1.83, P = 0.000). However, lncRNA transcription levels were not associated with progression-free survival (PFS) (HR: 1.55, 95% CI: 0.50–4.80, P = 0.449). Further analysis showed that high lncRNA transcription levels were significantly associated with tumour-node-metastasis (TNM) stage (III/IV vs I/II: RR = 1.339, 95% CI: 1.046–1.716, P = 0.012), lymph node metastasis (positive vs negative: RR = 1.442, 95% CI: 1.103–1.885, P = 0.007), and distant metastasis (yes vs no: RR = 3.187,95% CI: 1.393–7.294, P = 0.006). Taken together, the results of our present meta-analysis revealed that lncRNAs may be useful prognostic markers for lung carcinoma and may also have value as biomarkers for TNM stage, lymph node metastasis and distant metastasis. PMID:29137343

12 CFR 1777.20 - Capital classifications.

Code of Federal Regulations, 2010 CFR

2010-01-01

... notice of proposed capital classification, holds core capital equaling or exceeding the minimum capital... classification, holds core capital equaling or exceeding the minimum capital level. (3) Significantly... the date specified in the notice of proposed capital classification, holds core capital less than the...

Analysis of insulin like growth factor 1 and insulin like growth factor binding protein 3 levels in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and serum of patients with lung cancer.

PubMed

Unsal, Ebru; Köksal, Deniz; Yurdakul, Ahmet Selim; Atikcan, Sükran; Cinaz, Peyami

2005-05-01

Insulin like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) is recognized as a potent mitogen for many cancer cell lines and there is good evidence that lung cancer cells produce both IGF-1 and insulin like growth factor binding protein 3 (IGFBP-3). The aim of this study was to investigate the clinical significance of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels in serum and in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid by comparing lung cancer patients with healthy controls. BAL fluid and serum samples were obtained from 24 lung cancer patients and 12 healthy controls, and were analyzed for IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels by a two site immunoradiometric assay. The recovered BAL fluid was standardized by albumin to remove the variable of dilution and the data was expressed in epithelial lining fluid (ELF). Serum IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels were lower in lung cancer patients, but the difference between the groups did not reach a statistical significance. IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio in ELF was significantly lower in lung cancer patients (P=0.035). Mean IGF-1 level in ELF was determined to be significantly lower in patients with distant metastasis (P=0.04). Serum IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio was found to be significantly lower in patients with distant (P=0.04) and nodal metastasis (P=0.03). Tumor stage was negatively correlated with IGF-1 level in ELF (P=0.05, r=-0.4) and serum IGF-1/IGFBP-3 ratio (P=0.04, r=-0.4). IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 levels both in serum and ELF might serve a clinical significance in patients with lung cancer. However, further studies comprising more cases are needed to investigate the clinical significance of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 in lung cancer.

High-Sensitivity C-Reactive Protein Complements Plasma Epstein-Barr Virus Deoxyribonucleic Acid Prognostication in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: A Large-Scale Retrospective and Prospective Cohort Study

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Tang, Lin-Quan; Department of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou; Li, Chao-Feng

Purpose: To evaluate the effects of combining the assessment of circulating high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) with that of Epstein-Barr virus DNA (EBV DNA) in the pretherapy prognostication of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Patients and Methods: Three independent cohorts of NPC patients (training set of n=3113, internal validation set of n=1556, and prospective validation set of n=1668) were studied. Determinants of disease-free survival, distant metastasis–free survival, and overall survival were assessed by multivariate analysis. Hazard ratios and survival probabilities of the patient groups, segregated by clinical stage (T1-2N0-1M0, T3-4N0-1M0, T1-2N2-3M0, and T3-4N2-3M0) and EBV DNA load (low or high) alone, and alsomore » according to hs-CRP level (low or high), were compared. Results: Elevated hs-CRP and EBV DNA levels were significantly correlated with poor disease-free survival, distant metastasis–free survival, and overall survival in both the training and validation sets. Associations were similar and remained significant after excluding patients with cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and chronic hepatitis B. Patients with advanced-stage disease were segregated by high EBV DNA levels and high hs-CRP level into a poorest-risk group, and participants with either high EBV DNA but low hs-CRP level or high hs-CRP but low EBV DNA values had poorer survival compared with the bottom values for both biomarkers. These findings demonstrate a significant improvement in the prognostic ability of conventional advanced NPC staging. Conclusion: Baseline plasma EBV DNA and serum hs-CRP levels were significantly correlated with survival in NPC patients. The combined interpretation of EBV DNA with hs-CRP levels led to refinement of the risks for the patient subsets, with improved risk discrimination in patients with advanced-stage disease.« less

Voice intelligibility in satellite mobile communications

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Wishna, S.

1973-01-01

An amplitude control technique is reported that equalizes low level phonemes in a satellite narrow band FM voice communication system over channels having low carrier to noise ratios. This method presents at the transmitter equal amplitude phonemes so that the low level phonemes, when they are transmitted over the noisey channel, are above the noise and contribute to output intelligibility. The amplitude control technique provides also for squelching of noise when speech is not being transmitted.

1. Distant view, showing bridge in context with agricultural (pastures ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

1. Distant view, showing bridge in context with agricultural (pastures and cornfields) setting; looking southeast. - Eureka Bridge, Spanning Yellow River (Moved to City Park, Castalia), Frankville, Winneshiek County, IA

Differential misclassification bias and dietary recall for the distant past using a food frequency questionnaire.

PubMed

Hislop, T G; Lamb, C W; Ng, V T

1990-01-01

Cases (n = 263) and controls (n = 200) returned self-administered food frequency questionnaires in 1980-1982 and again in 1986 as part of a case-control study of breast cancer. The questionnaire asked about consumption of specific food items as recalled for four different age periods. K-statistics comparing responses in the first and second questionnaires were generally similar for cases and controls and were consistent across the different age periods. The influence of recent dietary change on dietary recall diminished for the more distant past. The food frequency questionnaire was found to be more reliable for specific food items for the distant past than for the more recent past. Differential misclassification bias between cases and controls was less apparent for the more distant past. The frequency and interpretation of missing values is discussed.

Ancient fossil specimens of extinct species are genetically more distant to an outgroup than extant sister species are

PubMed Central

Huang, Shi

2009-01-01

There exists a remarkable correlation between genetic distance as measured by protein or DNA dissimilarity and time of species divergence as inferred from fossil records. This observation has provoked the molecular clock hypothesis. However, data inconsistent with the hypothesis have steadily accumulated in recent years from studies of extant organisms. Here the published DNA and protein sequences from ancient fossil specimens were examined to see if they would support the molecular clock hypothesis. The hypothesis predicts that ancient specimens cannot be genetically more distant to an outgroup than extant sister species are. Also, two distinct ancient specimens cannot be genetically more distant than their extant sister species are. The findings here do not conform to these predictions. Neanderthals are more distant to chimpanzees and gorillas than modern humans are. Dinosaurs are more distant to frogs than extant birds are. Mastodons are more distant to opossums than other placental mammals are. The genetic distance between dinosaurs and mastodons is greater than that between extant birds and mammals. Therefore, while the molecular clock hypothesis is consistent with some data from extant organisms, it has yet to find support from ancient fossils. Far more damaging to the hypothesis than data from extant organisms, which merely question the constancy of mutation rate, the study of ancient fossil organisms here challenges for the first time the fundamental premise of modern evolution theory that genetic distances had always increased with time in the past history of life on Earth. PMID:18600632

Protoplanetary disc response to distant tidal encounters in stellar clusters

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Winter, A. J.; Clarke, C. J.; Rosotti, G.; Booth, R. A.

2018-04-01

The majority of stars form in a clustered environment. This has an impact on the evolution of surrounding protoplanetary discs (PPDs) due to either photoevaporation or tidal truncation. Consequently, the development of planets depends on formation environment. Here, we present the first thorough investigation of tidally induced angular momentum loss in PPDs in the distant regime, partly motivated by claims in the literature for the importance of distant encounters in disc evolution. We employ both theoretical predictions and dynamical/hydrodynamical simulations in 2D and 3D. Our theoretical analysis is based on that of Ostriker (1994) and leads us to conclude that in the limit that the closest approach distance xmin ≫ r, the radius of a particle ring, the fractional change in angular momentum scales as (xmin/r)-5. This asymptotic limit ensures that the cumulative effect of distant encounters is minor in terms of its influence on disc evolution. The angular momentum transfer is dominated by the m = 2 Lindblad resonance for closer encounters and by the m = 1, ω = 0 Lindblad resonance at large xmin/r. We contextualize these results by comparing expected angular momentum loss for the outer edge of a PPD due to distant and close encounters. Contrary to the suggestions of previous works, we do not find that distant encounters contribute significantly to angular momentum loss in PPDs. We define an upper limit for closest approach distance where interactions are significant as a function of arbitrary host to perturber mass ratio M2/M1.

Criteria for a State-of-the-Art Vision Test System

DTIC Science & Technology

1985-05-01

tests are enumerated for possible inclusion in a battery of candidate vision tests to be statistically examined for validity as predictors of aircrew...derived subset thereof) of vision tests may be given to a series of individuals, and statistical tests may be used to determine which visual functions...no target. Statistical analysis of the responses would set a threshold level, which would define the smallest size - (most distant target) or least

Charging system and method for multicell storage batteries

DOEpatents

Cox, Jay A.

1978-01-01

A battery-charging system includes a first charging circuit connected in series with a plurality of battery cells for controlled current charging. A second charging circuit applies a controlled voltage across each individual cell for equalization of the cells to the fully charged condition. This controlled voltage is determined at a level above the fully charged open-circuit voltage but at a sufficiently low level to prevent corrosion of cell components by electrochemical reaction. In this second circuit for cell equalization, a transformer primary receives closely regulated, square-wave voltage which is coupled to a plurality of equal secondary coil windings. Each secondary winding is connected in parallel to each cell of a series-connected pair of cells through half-wave rectifiers and a shared, intermediate conductor.

The CfA-Rosat Survey of Distant Clusters of Galaxies

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

McNamara, Brian

1998-01-01

We (Vikhlinin, McNamara, Forman, Jones, Hornstrup, Quintana) have completed a new survey of distant clusters of galaxies, which we use to to study cluster evolution over cosmological timescales. The clusters were identified as extended X-ray sources in 650 ROSAT PSPC images of high Galactic latitude fields. Our catalog of approximately 230 extended X-ray sources covers 160 square degrees on the sky. Ours is the largest of the several ROSAT serendipitous cluster surveys in progress (e.g. SHARC, Rosati, WARPS etc.). Using V,R,I imagery obtained at several observatories, we find that greater than 90% of the X-ray sources are associated with distant clusters of galaxies. We have obtained spectroscopic redshifts for nearly 80 clusters in our catalog, and we have measured photometric redshifts for the remaining clusters. Our sample contains more than 20 clusters at z > 0.5. I will discuss the logN-logS relationship for our clusters. Because our large survey area, we are able to confirm the evolution of the most luminous distant clusters first seen in the Einstein Extended Medium Sensitivity Survey. In addition, I will discuss the relationships between optical richness, core radius, and X-ray luminosity for distant, X-ray-selected clusters.

Influence of boundary conditions on the hydrodynamic forces of an oscillating sphere

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Mirauda, Domenica; Negri, Marco; Martinelli, Luca; Malavasi, Stefano

2018-06-01

The design of submerged structures in sea currents presents certain problems that are not only connected to the shape of the obstacle but also to the number of acting forces as well as the correct modelling of the structures dynamic response. Currently, the common approach is that of integrated numerical modelling, which considers the contribution of both current and structure. The reliability of such an approach is better verified with experimental tests performed on models of simple geometry. On the basis of these considerations, the present work analyses the hydrodynamic forces acting on a sphere, which is characterised by a low mass ratio and damping. The sphere is immersed in a free surface flow and can oscillate along the streamwise and transverse flow direction. It is located at three different positions inside the current: close to the channel bottom, near the free surface and in the middle, and equally distant from both the bottom and free surface. The obtained results for different boundaries and flow kinematic conditions show a relevant influence of the free surface on the hydrodynamic forces along both the streamwise and transverse flow directions.

Young Women’s Dynamic Family Size Preferences in the Context of Transitioning Fertility

PubMed Central

Yeatman, Sara; Sennott, Christie; Culpepper, Steven

2013-01-01

Dynamic theories of family size preferences posit that they are not a fixed and stable goal but rather are akin to a moving target that changes within individuals over time. Nonetheless, in high-fertility contexts, changes in family size preferences tend to be attributed to low construct validity and measurement error instead of genuine revisions in preferences. To address the appropriateness of this incongruity, the present study examines evidence for the sequential model of fertility among a sample of young Malawian women living in a context of transitioning fertility. Using eight waves of closely spaced data and fixed-effects models, we find that these women frequently change their reported family size preferences and that these changes are often associated with changes in their relationship and reproductive circumstances. The predictability of change gives credence to the argument that ideal family size is a meaningful construct, even in this higher-fertility setting. Changes are not equally predictable across all women, however, and gamma regression results demonstrate that women for whom reproduction is a more distant goal change their fertility preferences in less-predictable ways. PMID:23619999

Young women's dynamic family size preferences in the context of transitioning fertility.

PubMed

Yeatman, Sara; Sennott, Christie; Culpepper, Steven

2013-10-01

Dynamic theories of family size preferences posit that they are not a fixed and stable goal but rather are akin to a moving target that changes within individuals over time. Nonetheless, in high-fertility contexts, changes in family size preferences tend to be attributed to low construct validity and measurement error instead of genuine revisions in preferences. To address the appropriateness of this incongruity, the present study examines evidence for the sequential model of fertility among a sample of young Malawian women living in a context of transitioning fertility. Using eight waves of closely spaced data and fixed-effects models, we find that these women frequently change their reported family size preferences and that these changes are often associated with changes in their relationship and reproductive circumstances. The predictability of change gives credence to the argument that ideal family size is a meaningful construct, even in this higher-fertility setting. Changes are not equally predictable across all women, however, and gamma regression results demonstrate that women for whom reproduction is a more distant goal change their fertility preferences in less-predictable ways.

First Year Results from the Fermi Gamma-Ray Space Telescope

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Hays, Elizabeth

2009-01-01

After one year of survey observations and more than 70 billion triggers, Fermi is revealing an unprecedented view of the high energy gamma-ray sky. The observatory .carries two instruments, the Gamma-ray Burst Monitor (GB, 8 keV - 40 MeV) and the Large Area Telescope (LAT, 20 MeV greater than or equal to 300 GeV), which in combination cover over 7 orders of magnitude in energy for transient phenomena. The LAT provides substantially more sensitivity than previous instruments in this waveband and has opened up the energy window from 10-100 GeV. The first year has produced many important results, from detections of extremely energetic and distant gamma-ray bursts, to monitoring daily variations in emission caused by massive black holes at the cores of galaxies, to identifying a new population of gamma-ray bright pulsars, to measuring the spectrum of diffuse emission from our own. Galaxy and the spectrum of the local cosmic electrons. I'll review highlights from the first year and discuss how the data are answering questions from the past and raising new ones for the future.

Confusing dinosaurs with mammals: tetrapod phylogenetics and anatomical terminology in the world of homology.

PubMed

Harris, Jerald D

2004-12-01

At present, three different systems of anatomical nomenclature are available to researchers describing new tetrapod taxa: a nonstandardized traditional system erected in part by Sir Richard Owen and subsequently elaborated by Alfred Romer; a standardized system created for avians, the Nomina Anatomica Avium (NAA); and a standardized system for extant (crown-group) mammals, the Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria (NAV). Conserved homologous structures widely distributed within the Tetrapoda are often granted different names in each system. The recent shift toward a phylogenetic system based on homology requires a concomitant shift toward a single nomenclatural system also based on both evolutionary and functional morphological homology. Standardized terms employed in the NAA and NAV should be perpetuated as far as possible basally in their respective phylogenies. Thus, NAA terms apply to nonavian archosaurs (or even all diapsids) and NAV terms apply to noncrown-group mammals and more basal synapsids. Taxa equally distant from both avians and crown-group mammals may maintain the traditional nonstandardized terminology until a universal anatomical nomenclature for all tetrapods is constructed. (c) 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Forward calculation of gravity and its gradient using polyhedral representation of density interfaces: an application of spherical or ellipsoidal topographic gravity effect

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Yi; Chen, Chao

2018-02-01

A density interface modeling method using polyhedral representation is proposed to construct 3-D models of spherical or ellipsoidal interfaces such as the terrain surface of the Earth and applied to forward calculating gravity effect of topography and bathymetry for regional or global applications. The method utilizes triangular facets to fit undulation of the target interface. The model maintains almost equal accuracy and resolution at different locations of the globe. Meanwhile, the exterior gravitational field of the model, including its gravity and gravity gradients, is obtained simultaneously using analytic solutions. Additionally, considering the effect of distant relief, an adaptive computation process is introduced to reduce the computational burden. Then features and errors of the method are analyzed. Subsequently, the method is applied to an area for the ellipsoidal Bouguer shell correction as an example and the result is compared to existing methods, which shows our method provides high accuracy and great computational efficiency. Suggestions for further developments and conclusions are drawn at last.

Comparative study on the effect of Saptamrita Lauha and Yoga therapy in myopia.

PubMed

Bansal, Charu

2014-01-01

Myopia is very common ophthalmic disease especially in children and adolescence. In Ayurvedic texts, only by the main feature impairment of distant vision myopia can be correlated with Drishtigata Rogas (2(nd) Patalgata Timira). To compare the effect of Saptamruta Lauha and Yoga therapy in myopia. In present study, a total 60 patients with age group between 8 to 30 years were selected randomly from the out-patient Department of Swasthavritta and Shalakyatantra Department of Government Ayurveda College, Trivandrum, and were divided in two groups. In Group A, Saptamrita Lauha 250 mg twice daily with unequal quantity of honey and Ghrita was administered while in Group B, patients subjected to Yoga therapy (Jala Neti, Nadi Shodhana, Shitali Pranayama and point Tratak) for 3 months duration with 1 month follow-up. The result obtained from the study reveals that there is no significant reduction in the visual acuity and clinical refraction, but associated changes were observed as reduced in group B when compared to group A. However, relief from headache was found to be equally effective in both the groups.

11. View to southeast. More distant overview of bridge in ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

11. View to southeast. More distant overview of bridge in setting; downstream side. (135mm lens) - South Fork Trinity River Bridge, State Highway 299 spanning South Fork Trinity River, Salyer, Trinity County, CA

40. 500,000 POUND STATIC TEST FACILITY: DISTANT VIEW WITH BLOCKHOUSE ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

40. 500,000 POUND STATIC TEST FACILITY: DISTANT VIEW WITH BLOCKHOUSE IN FOREGROUND, LOOKING SOUTHEAST - White Sands Missile Range, V-2 Rocket Facilities, Near Headquarters Area, White Sands, Dona Ana County, NM

Taking on the gender challenge in organisations: what does it take?

PubMed

Henry, Sarah K; Sandler, Joanne; Passerini, Luca; Darmstadt, Gary L

2017-07-01

Clear patterns emerged and are summarised on conditions for success in integrating a gender equality perspective across organisational programmes and culture. In short, organisations should consider five key 'ingredients' when designing their approach to integrating a gender equality perspective: (1) have a clear vision of success with measurable indicators; (2) have high-level, consistent, visible support; (3) take an intentional approach deeply rooted in the organisational culture and competencies; (4) ensure accountability at all levels and (5) invest both financial and technical resources. A vibrant community exists in virtually every region of the world of highly experienced gender equality experts that can support organisations on this path. Late adopters of integrating a gender equality perspective can benefit from decades of practice and a robust evidence base which has shifted focus among development organisations from asking 'why' addressing gender inequalities is important to learning 'how' to most effectively do this in programmes, policies, research and organisational culture while building a strong results framework.

Competence development for the promotion of gender equality in development cooperation: the case of the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA).

PubMed

Hannan-andersson, C

1997-01-01

The Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (SIDA) has created an Action Program for Promoting Equality Between Women and Men in Partner Countries that emphasizes competency development as a means of achieving gender equality. Competency development goes beyond formal training and utilizes existing entry points while creating innovative ones. SIDA's partnership approach requires clear delineation of roles for SIDA personnel and partner countries, with SIDA 1) applying a gender perspective to assessments, 2) initiating a constructive dialogue about gender equality if needed, 3) assessing the need for gender equality promoting competency development, 4) studying the local context, and 5) developing effective local networks. In addition, the needs of different groups within SIDA should be met with appropriate competency development inputs while SIDA continues support to competency development in partner countries by developing local capacity for gender training and gender sensitization at the regional and national levels. At SIDA, gender training has evolved since 1989 to its current focus on the practical and concrete challenges facing participants. In addition, departments and divisions conduct sector- and issue-specific training, and gender equality is integrated in all SIDA training activities on every topic. The challenges for future competency development are to 1) increase the number of men involved in provision of competency development inputs, 2) improve competency at embassy and field levels, and 3) improve competency in policy dialogues.

The role of higher education in equitable human development

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Peercy, Chavanne; Svenson, Nanette

2016-04-01

As developing countries continue to battle poverty despite strong economic growth, understanding the relationship between equity and human development becomes increasingly important. In this context, equity is not equivalent to equality for any specific outcome such as health status, education or income. It is an objective ideal whereby people's achievements are increasingly dependent upon personal effort, choice and initiative rather than predetermined characteristics such as race, gender and socioeconomic background. As such, equity becomes an issue of moral equality based on the belief that people should be treated as equals, with equal access to life chances. This ideal pursues equal access to public services, infrastructure and rights for all citizens, including the right to education. While evidence suggests that education builds healthier, richer, more equitable societies, research on this has focused predominantly on primary and secondary schooling. The authors of this paper begin with an extensive review of existing research and relevant literature. In the second part of their article, they then report on their own study which furthers the discussion by exploring connections between tertiary education and development using equity as a reflection of human development - a holistic extension of economic development. After extracting relevant data from a number of available world reports by the United Nations, the World Bank and other organisations, they carried out a cross-national statistical analysis designed to examine the relationship between tertiary enrolment levels and a composite equity variable. Their results indicate a strong association between higher post-secondary education levels and higher levels of social equity.

Aspects of Equality in Mandatory Partnerships - From the Perspective of Municipal Care in Norway.

PubMed

Kirchhoff, Ralf; Ljunggren, Birgitte

2016-05-18

This paper raises questions about equality in partnerships, since imbalance in partnerships may effect collaboration outcomes in integrated care. We address aspects of equality in mandatory, public-public partnerships, from the perspective of municipal care. We have developed a questionnaire wherein the Norwegian Coordination Reform is an illustrative example. The following research question is addressed: What equality dimensions are important for municipals related to mandatory partnerships with hospitals? Since we did not find any instrument to measure equality in partnerships, an explorative design was chosen. The development of the instrument was based on the theory on partnership and knowledge about the field and context. A national online survey was emitted to all 429 Norwegian municipalities in 2013. The response rate was in total 58 percent (n = 248). The data were mainly analysed using Principal component analysis. It seems that the two dimensions "learning and expertise equality" and "contractual equality" collects reliable and valid data to measure aspects of equality in partnerships. Partnerships are usually based on voluntarism. The results indicate that mandatory partnerships, within a public health care system, can be appropriate to equalize partnerships between health care providers at different care levels.

TNFRSF10C copy number variation is associated with metastatic colorectal cancer

PubMed Central

Tanenbaum, Daniel G.; Hall, William A.; Colbert, Lauren E.; Bastien, Amanda J.; Brat, Daniel J.; Kong, Jun; Kim, Sungjin; Dwivedi, Bhakti; Kowalski, Jeanne; Landry, Jerome C.

2016-01-01

Background Genetic markers for distant metastatic disease in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC) are not well defined. Identification of genetic alterations associated with metastatic CRC could help to guide systemic and local treatment strategies. We evaluated the association of tumor necrosis factor receptor superfamily member 10C (TNFRSF10C) copy number variation (CNV) with distant metastatic disease in patients with CRC using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Methods Genetic sequencing data and clinical characteristics were obtained from TCGA for all available patients with CRC. There were 515 CRC patient samples with CNV and clinical outcome data, including a subset of 144 rectal adenocarcinoma patient samples. Using the TCGA CRC dataset, CNV of TNFRSF10C was evaluated for association with distant metastatic disease (M1 vs. M0). Multivariate logistic regression analysis with odds ratio (OR) using a 95% confidence interval (CI) was performed adjusting for age, T stage, N stage, adjuvant chemotherapy, gender, microsatellite instability (MSI), location, and surgical margin status. Results TNFRSF10C CNV in patients with CRC was associated with distant metastatic disease [OR 4.81 (95% CI, 2.13–10.85) P<0.001] and positive lymph nodes [OR 18.83 (95% CI, 8.42–42.09)]; P<0.001) but not MSI (OR P=0.799). On multivariate analysis, after adjusting for pathologic T stage, N stage, adjuvant chemotherapy, gender, and MSI, TNFRSF10C CNV remained significantly associated with distant metastatic disease (OR P=0.018). Subset analysis revealed that TNFRSF10C CNV was also significantly associated with distant metastatic disease in patients with rectal adenocarcinoma (OR P=0.016). Conclusions TNFRSF10C CNV in patients with CRC is associated with distant metastatic disease. With further validation, such genetic profiles could be used clinically to support optimal systemic treatment strategies versus more aggressive local therapies in patients with CRC, including radiation therapy for rectal adenocarcinoma. PMID:27284460

Distant Tail Behavior During High Speed Solar Wind Streams and Magnetic Storms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ho, C. M.; Tsurutani, B. T.

1997-01-01

We have examined the ISEE 3 distant tail data during three intense magnetic storms and have identified the tail response to high-speed solar wind streams, interplanetary magnetic clouds, and near-Earth storms.

DISTANT VIEW OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES CATHEDRAL, LOOKING NORTH ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

DISTANT VIEW OF ST. FRANCIS DE SALES CATHEDRAL, LOOKING NORTH ALONG MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. WAY FROM 14TH STREET - St. Francis de Sales Church, 2100 Martin Luther King, Jr. Way, Oakland, Alameda County, CA

The use of contact lenses in the civil airman population.

DOT National Transportation Integrated Search

1990-09-01

Federal Aviation Regulations permit the routine use of contact lenses by civilian pilots to satisfy the distant visual acuity requirements for obtaining medical certificates. Specific information identifying the prevalence of both defective distant v...

Distant galaxy formed stars only 250 million years after the Big Bang

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Bouwens, Rychard

2018-05-01

Little is known about the star-birth activity of the earliest galaxies. Observations of a particularly distant galaxy provide evidence for such activity when the Universe was just 2% of its current age.

Review of the genus Signoretia (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Signoretiinae) of the Oriental region with description of nine new species.

PubMed

Viraktamath, C A

2016-11-17

Species of Signoretia Stål from the Oriental region are reviewed and types of five species described by Baker, two species described by Distant and one species described by Schmidt are illustrated. A checklist of 20 species of the genus from the Oriental region including 9 new species is given. The new species described and illustrated are Signoretia dulitensis sp. nov. (Malaysia: Mt Dulit), S. lunglei sp. nov. (India: Mizoram), S. mishmiensis sp. nov. (Myanmar: Mishmi Hills), S. quoinensis sp. nov. (Malaysia: Quoin Hill), S. rubra sp. nov. (Thailand: Chiang Mai), S. sahyadrica sp. nov. (India: Kerala), S. similaris sp. nov. (Vietnam: Fyan), S. sinuata sp. nov. (India: West Bengal) and S. takiyae sp. nov. (India: Andaman Is.). Both S. aureola Distant and S. maculata Baker are redescribed and illustrated. Lectotypes are designated for S. greeni Distant and S. aureola Distant.

Return to Work and Sport Following High Tibial Osteotomy: A Systematic Review.

PubMed

Ekhtiari, Seper; Haldane, Chloe E; de Sa, Darren; Simunovic, Nicole; Musahl, Volker; Ayeni, Olufemi R

2016-09-21

The purpose of this study was to examine (1) timelines for return to sport and work following high tibial osteotomy (HTO), and (2) whether patients return to sport and work at levels similar to preoperative levels. A systematic search was conducted across 3 databases (MEDLINE, Embase, and PubMed). Two reviewers independently screened the results for relevant articles. Data regarding patient demographics, indications, surgical technique, return to work and sport, and complication and failure rates were abstracted from eligible studies. Nineteen studies were included, involving 1,189 patients (64% male, 21% female, 15% unspecified) and 1,224 knees. Mean age was 46.2 years (range, 16 to 80 years). Opening-wedge HTO was most commonly used, followed by closing-wedge HTO and hemicallotasis. Mean follow-up was 65.4 months (range, 8 to 253 months). Overall, 87.2% of patients returned to sport postoperatively, and 78.6% returned at an equal or greater level. Among competitive athletes, 54% returned to competition. Overall, 84.5% of patients returned to work postoperatively, and 65.5% returned at an equal or greater level. Approximately 90% of patients who returned to work or sport did so within 1 year. The complication rate was 5.8%, with infection being the most common complication; 7.0% of patients progressed to a total knee arthroplasty at a mean of 6.7 years (range, 0.8 to 15 years) following HTO. The majority of patients undergoing HTO return to sport and work, and most return within 1 year of the operation. Most patients return to sport at a level equal to or greater than the preoperative level. Approximately two-thirds of patients return to an equal or greater level of physical work. Therapeutic Level IV. See Instructions for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence. Copyright © 2016 by The Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, Incorporated.

The effect of gender equality on happiness: Statistical modeling and analysis.

PubMed

Qian, Ge

2017-02-01

In this article, the researcher presents linear regression models that describe how five gender-equality indexes affect individuals' perceptions of well-being and happiness, controlling for their economic income and weighed by the population of the countries that contribute to the models. The logical premise of this study is that gender equality is not only favorable for women, but it is also conducive to fostering the greatest level of happiness for all people. The researcher believes that most findings confirmed this assumption and the opinion of John Stuart Mill regarding gender equality, while two exceptions are explained by social quality theory and the male breadwinner model.

Therapeutic options in locally advanced thyroid carcinoma. Our experience.

PubMed

Avenia, Nicola; Monacelli, Massimo; Sanguinetti, Alessandro; Santoprete, Stefano; Pecoriello, Roberta; Ragusa, Mark; Puma, Francesco

2012-01-01

Thyroid cancer is the most common endocrine malignancy with an incidence equal to 1% of all malignant tumors. Prognostic factors affecting survival are manifold, including in several classifications (AMES, AGES, CORN and TNM). In this sense, the invasion of adjacent structures is one of the most important variables. The authors describe the experience of a single center in surgical treatment of advanced thyroid cancer. Between 1986 and 2010 , 1565 patients were undergoing surgery with thyroid cancer. In particular, 1403 interventions were made for differentiated cancer, 97 for medullary carcinoma, 25 for insular carcinoma, 29 for anaplastic carcinoma, 2 for plasmacytoma, and 7 for lymphoma and 2 for angiosarcoma. Among these 896 showed invasion of adjacent structures and / or distant metastases. There were no perioperative deaths or major complications. Surgical procedures consisted of: 13 loboistmectomy, 519 total thyroidectomy (TT), 325 TT with lymphadenectomy of the central compartment, 7 TT with radical lymphectomy, 621 TT with functional lymphectomy, 6 TT with breast lumpectomy, 5 TT with with video-assisted lung metastasectomy, 16-TT with resection and tracheal anastomosis, 6 TT with laryngotracheal resection, 3 TT with laryngectomy, 4 TT with trachetomy, 28 TT with respiratory stent placement, 12 tracheotomy. At present, 1328 patients were free of disease, while 104 showed recurrence. Total of 133 deaths were recorded, all linked to disease relapse. The role of surgery in the treatment of advanced thyroid cancer is still undeniable. In the presence of extracapsular trespassing, in fact, the adoption of interventions demolition permits long-term survival, given the lack of aggressiveness of the tumor differentiated representing the majority of cases. The aim of surgical radicalization addition, even in the presence of distant metastases, it is justified by the possibilities offered by the therapeutic radioiodine treatment, which is not feasible in the presence of significant amounts of thyroid tissue which picks. In the presence of undifferentiated tumors, finally, endoscopic or surgical treatment may be indicated by simple purpose of palliation of respiratory symptoms.

Determining Plane-Sweep Sampling Points in Image Space Using the Cross-Ratio for Image-Based Depth Estimation

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Ruf, B.; Erdnuess, B.; Weinmann, M.

2017-08-01

With the emergence of small consumer Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), the importance and interest of image-based depth estimation and model generation from aerial images has greatly increased in the photogrammetric society. In our work, we focus on algorithms that allow an online image-based dense depth estimation from video sequences, which enables the direct and live structural analysis of the depicted scene. Therefore, we use a multi-view plane-sweep algorithm with a semi-global matching (SGM) optimization which is parallelized for general purpose computation on a GPU (GPGPU), reaching sufficient performance to keep up with the key-frames of input sequences. One important aspect to reach good performance is the way to sample the scene space, creating plane hypotheses. A small step size between consecutive planes, which is needed to reconstruct details in the near vicinity of the camera may lead to ambiguities in distant regions, due to the perspective projection of the camera. Furthermore, an equidistant sampling with a small step size produces a large number of plane hypotheses, leading to high computational effort. To overcome these problems, we present a novel methodology to directly determine the sampling points of plane-sweep algorithms in image space. The use of the perspective invariant cross-ratio allows us to derive the location of the sampling planes directly from the image data. With this, we efficiently sample the scene space, achieving higher sampling density in areas which are close to the camera and a lower density in distant regions. We evaluate our approach on a synthetic benchmark dataset for quantitative evaluation and on a real-image dataset consisting of aerial imagery. The experiments reveal that an inverse sampling achieves equal and better results than a linear sampling, with less sampling points and thus less runtime. Our algorithm allows an online computation of depth maps for subsequences of five frames, provided that the relative poses between all frames are given.

Evidence-Based Support for the Characteristics of Tsunami Warning Messages for Local, Regional and Distant Sources

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Gregg, C. E.; Johnston, D. M.; Sorensen, J. H.; Vogt Sorensen, B.; Whitmore, P.

2014-12-01

Many studies since 2004 have documented the dissemination and receipt of risk information for local to distant tsunamis and factors influencing people's responses. A few earlier tsunami studies and numerous studies of other hazards provide additional support for developing effective tsunami messages. This study explores evidence-based approaches to developing such messages for the Pacific and National Tsunami Warning Centers in the US. It extends a message metric developed for the NWS Tsunami Program. People at risk to tsunamis receive information from multiple sources through multiple channels. Sources are official and informal and environmental and social cues. Traditionally, official tsunami messages followed a linear dissemination path through relatively few channels from warning center to emergency management to public and media. However, the digital age has brought about a fundamental change in the dissemination and receipt of official and informal communications. Information is now disseminated in very non-linear paths and all end-user groups may receive the same message simultaneously. Research has demonstrated a range of factors that influence rapid respond to an initial real or perceived threat. Immediate response is less common than one involving delayed protective actions where people first engage in "milling behavior" to exchange information and confirm the warning before taking protective action. The most important message factors to achieve rapid response focus on the content and style of the message and the frequency of dissemination. Previously we developed a tsunami message metric consisting of 21 factors divided into message content and style and receiver characteristics. Initially, each factor was equally weighted to identify gaps, but here we extend the work by weighting specific factors. This utilizes recent research that identifies the most important determinants of protective action. We then discuss the prioritization of message information in the context of potentially limited space in evolving tsunami messages issued by the warning centers.

A comparison of LBGs, DRGs, and BzK galaxies: their contribution to the stellar mass density in the GOODS-MUSIC sample

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Grazian, A.; Salimbeni, S.; Pentericci, L.; Fontana, A.; Nonino, M.; Vanzella, E.; Cristiani, S.; de Santis, C.; Gallozzi, S.; Giallongo, E.; Santini, P.

2007-04-01

Context: The classification scheme for high redshift galaxies is complex at the present time, with simple colour-selection criteria (i.e. EROs, IEROs, LBGs, DRGs, BzKs), resulting in ill-defined properties for the stellar mass and star formation rate of these distant galaxies. Aims: The goal of this work is to investigate the properties of different classes of high-z galaxies, focusing in particular on the stellar masses of LBGs, DRGs, and BzKs, in order to derive their contribution to the total mass budget of the distant Universe. Methods: We used the GOODS-MUSIC catalog, containing ~3000 Ks-selected (~10 000 z-selected) galaxies with multi-wavelength coverage extending from the U band to the Spitzer 8~μm band, with spectroscopic or accurate photometric redshifts. We selected samples of BM/BX/LBGs, DRGs, and BzK galaxies to discuss the overlap and the limitations of these criteria, which can be overridden by a selection criterion based on physical parameters. We then measured the stellar masses of these galaxies and computed the stellar mass density (SMD) for the different samples up to redshift ≃4. Results: We show that the BzK-PE criterion is not optimal for selecting early type galaxies at the faint end. On the other hand, BzK-SF is highly contaminated by passively evolving galaxies at red z-Ks colours. We find that LBGs and DRGs contribute almost equally to the global SMD at z≥ 2 and, in general, that star-forming galaxies form a substantial fraction of the universal SMD. Passively evolving galaxies show a strong negative density evolution from redshift 2 to 3, indicating that we are witnessing the epoch of mass assembly of such objects. Finally we have indications that by pushing the selection to deeper magnitudes, the contribution of less massive DRGs could overtake that of LBGs. Deeper surveys, like the HUDF, are required to confirm this suggestion.

Star Formation: Answering Fundamental Questions During the Spitzer Warm Mission Phase

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Strom, Steve; Allen, Lori; Carpenter, John; Hartmann, Lee; Megeath, S. Thomas; Rebull, Luisa; Stauffer, John R.; Liu, Michael

2007-10-01

Through existing studies of star-forming regions, Spitzer has created rich databases which have already profoundly influenced our ability to understand the star and planet formation process on micro and macro scales. However, it is essential to note that Spitzer observations to date have focused largely on deep observations of regions of recent star formation associated directly with well-known molecular clouds located within 500 pc. What has not been done is to explore to sufficient depth or breadth a representative sample of the much larger regions surrounding the more massive of these molecular clouds. Also, while there have been targeted studies of specific distant star forming regions, in general, there has been little attention devoted to mapping and characterizing the stellar populations and star-forming histories of the surrounding giant molecular clouds (GMCs). As a result, we have yet to develop an understanding of the major physical processes that control star formation on the scale or spiral arms. Doing so will allow much better comparison of star-formation in our galaxy to the star-forming complexes that dominate the spiral arms of external galaxies. The power of Spitzer in the Warm Mission for studies of star formation is its ability to carry out large-scale surveys unbiased by prior knowledge of ongoing star formation or the presence of molecular clouds. The Spitzer Warm Mission will provide two uniquely powerful capabilities that promise equally profound advances : high sensitivity and efficient coverage of many hundreds of square degrees, and angular resolution sufficient to resolve dense groups and clusters of YSOs and to identify contaminating background galaxies whose colors mimic those of young stars. In this contribution, we describe two major programs: a survey of the outer regions of selected nearby OB associations, and a study of distant GMCs and star formation on the scale of a spiral arm.

ICE/ISEE plasma wave data analysis

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Greenstadt, E. W.

1992-01-01

The interval reported on, from Jan. 1990 to Dec. 1991, has been one of continued processing and archiving of ICE plasma wave (pw) data and transition from analysis of ISEE 3 and ICE cometary data to ICE data taken along its cruise trajectory, where coronal mass ejections are the focus of attention. We have continued to examine with great interest the last year of ISEE 3's precomet phase, when it spent considerable time far downwind from Earth, recording conditions upstream, downstream, and across the very weak, distant flank bow shock. Among other motivations was the apparent similarity of some shock and post shock structures to the signatures of the bow wave surrounding comet Giacobini-Zinner, whose ICE-phase data was revisited. While pursuing detailed, second-order scientific inquiries still pending from the late ISEE 3 recordings, we have also sought to position ourselves for study of CME's by instituting a data processing format new to the ISEE 3/ICE pw detector. Processed detector output has always been summarized and archived in 24-hour segments, with all pw channels individually plotted and stacked one above the next down in frequency, with each channel calibrated separately to keep all data patterns equally visible in the plots, regardless of gross differences in energy content at the various frequencies. Since CME's, with their preceding and following solar wind plasmas, can take more than one day to pass by the spacecraft, a more condensed synoptic view of the pw data is required to identify, let alone assess, CME characteristics than has been afforded by the traditional routines. This requirement is addressed in a major new processing initiative in the past two years. Besides our own ongoing and fresh investigations, we have cooperated, within our resources, with studies conducted extramurally by distant colleagues irrespective of the phase of the ISEE 3/ICE mission under scrutiny. The remainder of this report summarizes our processing activities, our investigations, both internal and cooperative, our scientific results, and our publication activity.

Adaptive Nulling for Interferometric Detection of Planets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Lay, Oliver P.; Peters, Robert D.

2010-01-01

An adaptive-nulling method has been proposed to augment the nulling-optical- interferometry method of detection of Earth-like planets around distant stars. The method is intended to reduce the cost of building and aligning the highly precise optical components and assemblies needed for nulling. Typically, at the mid-infrared wavelengths used for detecting planets orbiting distant stars, a star is millions of times brighter than an Earth-sized planet. In order to directly detect the light from the planet, it is necessary to remove most of the light coming from the star. Nulling interferometry is one way to suppress the light from the star without appreciably suppressing the light from the planet. In nulling interferometry in its simplest form, one uses two nominally identical telescopes aimed in the same direction and separated laterally by a suitable distance. The light collected by the two telescopes is processed through optical trains and combined on a detector. The optical trains are designed such that the electric fields produced by an on-axis source (the star) are in anti-phase at the detector while the electric fields from the planet, which is slightly off-axis, combine in phase, so that the contrast ratio between the star and the planet is greatly decreased. If the electric fields from the star are exactly equal in amplitude and opposite in phase, then the star is effectively nulled out. Nulling is effective only if it is complete in the sense that it occurs simultaneously in both polarization states and at all wavelengths of interest. The need to ensure complete nulling translates to extremely tight demands upon the design and fabrication of the complex optical trains: The two telescopes must be highly symmetric, the reflectivities of the many mirrors in the telescopes and other optics must be carefully tailored, the optical coatings must be extremely uniform, sources of contamination must be minimized, optical surfaces must be nearly ideal, and alignments must be extremely precise. Satisfaction of all of these requirements entails substantial cost.

Patterns of Gender Equality at Workplaces and Psychological Distress

PubMed Central

Bolin, Malin; Hammarström, Anne

2013-01-01

Research in the field of occupational health often uses a risk factor approach which has been criticized by feminist researchers for not considering the combination of many different variables that are at play simultaneously. To overcome this shortcoming this study aims to identify patterns of gender equality at workplaces and to investigate how these patterns are associated with psychological distress. Questionnaire data from the Northern Swedish Cohort (n = 715) have been analysed and supplemented with register data about the participants' workplaces. The register data were used to create gender equality indicators of women/men ratios of number of employees, educational level, salary and parental leave. Cluster analysis was used to identify patterns of gender equality at the workplaces. Differences in psychological distress between the clusters were analysed by chi-square test and logistic regression analyses, adjusting for individual socio-demographics and previous psychological distress. The cluster analysis resulted in six distinctive clusters with different patterns of gender equality at the workplaces that were associated to psychological distress for women but not for men. For women the highest odds of psychological distress was found on traditionally gender unequal workplaces. The lowest overall occurrence of psychological distress as well as same occurrence for women and men was found on the most gender equal workplaces. The results from this study support the convergence hypothesis as gender equality at the workplace does not only relate to better mental health for women, but also more similar occurrence of mental ill-health between women and men. This study highlights the importance of utilizing a multidimensional view of gender equality to understand its association to health outcomes. Health policies need to consider gender equality at the workplace level as a social determinant of health that is of importance for reducing differences in health outcomes for women and men. PMID:23326404

The nature of radio emission from distant galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Richards, Eric A.

I describe an observational program aimed at understanding the radio emission from distant, rapidly evolving galaxy populations. These observations were carried out at 1.4 and 8.5 GHz with the VLA centered on the Hubble Deep Field. Further MERLIN observations of the HDF region at 1.4 GHz provided an angular resolution of 0.2'' and when combined with the VLA data produced an image with an unprecedented rms noise of 4 μJy. All radio sources detected in the VLA complete sample are resolved with a median angular size of 1-2''. The differential count of the radio sources is marginally sub-Euclidean (γ = -2.4 +/- 0.1) and fluctuation analysis suggests nearly 60 sources per armin2 are present at the 1 μJy level. A correlation analysis indicates spatial clustering among the 371 radio sources on angular scales of 1-40 arcmin. Optical identifications are made primarily with bright (I = 22) disk systems composed of irregulars, peculiars, interacting/merging galaxies, and a few isolated field spirals. Available redshifts span the range 0.2-3. These clues coupled with the steep spectral index of the 1.4 GHz selected sample are indicative of diffuse synchrotron radiation in distant galactic disks. Thus the evolution in the microjansky radio population is driven principally by star-formation. I have isolated a number of optically faint radio sources (about 25% of the overall sample) which remain unidentified to I = 26-28 in the HDF and flanking optical fields. Several of these objects have extremely red counterparts and constitute a new class of radio sources which are candidate high redshift dusty protogalaxies.

Diverse Forms of RPS9 Splicing Are Part of an Evolving Autoregulatory Circuit

PubMed Central

Plocik, Alex M.; Guthrie, Christine

2012-01-01

Ribosomal proteins are essential to life. While the functions of ribosomal protein-encoding genes (RPGs) are highly conserved, the evolution of their regulatory mechanisms is remarkably dynamic. In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, RPGs are unusual in that they are commonly present as two highly similar gene copies and in that they are over-represented among intron-containing genes. To investigate the role of introns in the regulation of RPG expression, we constructed 16 S. cerevisiae strains with precise deletions of RPG introns. We found that several yeast introns function to repress rather than to increase steady-state mRNA levels. Among these, the RPS9A and RPS9B introns were required for cross-regulation of the two paralogous gene copies, which is consistent with the duplication of an autoregulatory circuit. To test for similar intron function in animals, we performed an experimental test and comparative analyses for autoregulation among distantly related animal RPS9 orthologs. Overexpression of an exogenous RpS9 copy in Drosophila melanogaster S2 cells induced alternative splicing and degradation of the endogenous copy by nonsense-mediated decay (NMD). Also, analysis of expressed sequence tag data from distantly related animals, including Homo sapiens and Ciona intestinalis, revealed diverse alternatively-spliced RPS9 isoforms predicted to elicit NMD. We propose that multiple forms of splicing regulation among RPS9 orthologs from various eukaryotes operate analogously to translational repression of the alpha operon by S4, the distant prokaryotic ortholog. Thus, RPS9 orthologs appear to have independently evolved variations on a fundamental autoregulatory circuit. PMID:22479208

(abstract) The Distant Tail Behavior During High Speed Solar Wind Streams and Magnetic Storms

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ho, C. M.; Tsurutani, B. T.

1996-01-01

We have examined the ISEE-3 distant tail data during three intense magnetic storms and have identified the tail response to high speed solar wind streams, interplanetary magnetic clouds, and near-Earth storms.

1. Distant view of mill ruins with boom crane for ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

1. Distant view of mill ruins with boom crane for unloading sugar cane in foreground, looking W. - Laurel Valley Sugar Plantation, Sugar Mill, 2 miles South of Thibodaux on State Route 308, Thibodaux, Lafourche Parish, LA

Distant Galaxy Bursts with Stars

NASA Image and Video Library

2011-12-21

This image from NASA Hubble telescope shows one of the most distant galaxies known, called GN-108036, dating back to 750 million years after the Big Bang that created our universe. The galaxy light took 12.9 billion years to reach us.

Load-cell based characterization system for a "Violin-Mode" shadow-sensor in advanced LIGO suspensions

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lockerbie, N. A.; Tokmakov, K. V.

2016-07-01

The background to this work was a prototype shadow sensor, which was designed for retro-fitting to an advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) test-mass/mirror suspension, in which 40 kg test-mass/mirrors are each suspended by four approximately 600 mm long by 0.4 mm diameter fused-silica suspension fibres. The shadow sensor comprised a LED source of Near InfraRed (NIR) radiation and a rectangular silicon photodiode detector, which, together, were to bracket the fibre under test. The aim was to detect transverse Violin-Mode resonances in the suspension fibres. Part of the testing procedure involved tensioning a silica fibre sample and translating it transversely through the illuminating NIR beam, so as to measure the DC responsivity of the detection system to fibre displacement. However, an equally important part of the procedure, reported here, was to keep the fibre under test stationary within the beam, whilst trying to detect low-level AC Violin-Mode resonances excited on the fibre, in order to confirm the primary function of the sensor. Therefore, a tensioning system, incorporating a load-cell readout, was built into the test fibre's holder. The fibre then was excited by a signal generator, audio power amplifier, and distant loudspeaker, and clear resonances were detected. A theory for the expected fundamental resonant frequency as a function of fibre tension was developed and is reported here, and this theory was found to match closely with the detected resonant frequencies as they varied with tension. Consequently, the resonances seen were identified as being proper Violin-Mode fundamental resonances of the fibre, and the operation of the Violin-Mode detection system was validated.

Load-cell based characterization system for a "Violin-Mode" shadow-sensor in advanced LIGO suspensions.

PubMed

Lockerbie, N A; Tokmakov, K V

2016-07-01

The background to this work was a prototype shadow sensor, which was designed for retro-fitting to an advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) test-mass/mirror suspension, in which 40 kg test-mass/mirrors are each suspended by four approximately 600 mm long by 0.4 mm diameter fused-silica suspension fibres. The shadow sensor comprised a LED source of Near InfraRed (NIR) radiation and a rectangular silicon photodiode detector, which, together, were to bracket the fibre under test. The aim was to detect transverse Violin-Mode resonances in the suspension fibres. Part of the testing procedure involved tensioning a silica fibre sample and translating it transversely through the illuminating NIR beam, so as to measure the DC responsivity of the detection system to fibre displacement. However, an equally important part of the procedure, reported here, was to keep the fibre under test stationary within the beam, whilst trying to detect low-level AC Violin-Mode resonances excited on the fibre, in order to confirm the primary function of the sensor. Therefore, a tensioning system, incorporating a load-cell readout, was built into the test fibre's holder. The fibre then was excited by a signal generator, audio power amplifier, and distant loudspeaker, and clear resonances were detected. A theory for the expected fundamental resonant frequency as a function of fibre tension was developed and is reported here, and this theory was found to match closely with the detected resonant frequencies as they varied with tension. Consequently, the resonances seen were identified as being proper Violin-Mode fundamental resonances of the fibre, and the operation of the Violin-Mode detection system was validated.

Near-Infrared Photon-Counting Camera for High-Sensitivity Observations

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Jurkovic, Michael

2012-01-01

The dark current of a transferred-electron photocathode with an InGaAs absorber, responsive over the 0.9-to-1.7- micron range, must be reduced to an ultralow level suitable for low signal spectral astrophysical measurements by lowering the temperature of the sensor incorporating the cathode. However, photocathode quantum efficiency (QE) is known to reduce to zero at such low temperatures. Moreover, it has not been demonstrated that the target dark current can be reached at any temperature using existing photocathodes. Changes in the transferred-electron photocathode epistructure (with an In- GaAs absorber lattice-matched to InP and exhibiting responsivity over the 0.9- to-1.7- m range) and fabrication processes were developed and implemented that resulted in a demonstrated >13x reduction in dark current at -40 C while retaining >95% of the approximately equal to 25% saturated room-temperature QE. Further testing at lower temperature is needed to confirm a >25 C predicted reduction in cooling required to achieve an ultralow dark-current target suitable for faint spectral astronomical observations that are not otherwise possible. This reduction in dark current makes it possible to increase the integration time of the imaging sensor, thus enabling a much higher near-infrared (NIR) sensitivity than is possible with current technology. As a result, extremely faint phenomena and NIR signals emitted from distant celestial objects can be now observed and imaged (such as the dynamics of redshifting galaxies, and spectral measurements on extra-solar planets in search of water and bio-markers) that were not previously possible. In addition, the enhanced NIR sensitivity also directly benefits other NIR imaging applications, including drug and bomb detection, stand-off detection of improvised explosive devices (IED's), Raman spectroscopy and microscopy for life/physical science applications, and semiconductor product defect detection.

Not All Particles Are Equal: The Selective Enrichment of Particle-Associated Bacteria from the Mediterranean Sea.

PubMed

López-Pérez, Mario; Kimes, Nikole E; Haro-Moreno, Jose M; Rodriguez-Valera, Francisco

2016-01-01

We have used two metagenomic approaches, direct sequencing of natural samples and sequencing after enrichment, to characterize communities of prokaryotes associated to particles. In the first approximation, different size filters (0.22 and 5 μm) were used to identify prokaryotic microbes of free-living and particle-attached bacterial communities in the Mediterranean water column. A subtractive metagenomic approach was used to characterize the dominant microbial groups in the large size fraction that were not present in the free-living one. They belonged mainly to Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, Flavobacteria and Proteobacteria. In addition, marine microbial communities enriched by incubation with different kinds of particulate material have been studied by metagenomic assembly. Different particle kinds (diatomaceous earth, sand, chitin and cellulose) were colonized by very different communities of bacteria belonging to Roseobacter, Vibrio, Bacteriovorax, and Lacinutrix that were distant relatives of genomes already described from marine habitats. Besides, using assembly from deep metagenomic sequencing from the particle-specific enrichments we were able to determine a total of 20 groups of contigs (eight of them with >50% completeness) and reconstruct de novo five new genomes of novel species within marine clades (>79% completeness and <1.8% contamination). We also describe for the first time the genome of a marine Rhizobiales phage that seems to infect a broad range of Alphaproteobacteria and live in habitats as diverse as soil, marine sediment and water column. The metagenomic recruitment of the communities found by direct sequencing of the large size filter and by enrichment had nearly no overlap. These results indicate that these reconstructed genomes are part of the rare biosphere which exists at nominal levels under natural conditions.

Implementing the 1989 United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child in sub-Saharan Africa: the overlooked socioeconomic and political dilemmas.

PubMed

Mulinge, Munyae M

2002-11-01

The aim of this article is to identify and profile some often overlooked socioeconomic and political factors that render the protection of the rights of the child, as guaranteed through the 1989 United Nations' Convention on the Rights of the Child, a distant dream in most African countries. It is argued that, in most African countries, there are other major impediments to the protection of the child's rights in addition to the frequently cited lack of adequate legislation and of political will. The paper is a review essay and utilizes existing literature from varied sources to advance its main arguments. It draws from such documents to profile the socioeconomic and political barriers to the protection of children's rights in Africa both at the family and at the national levels. CORE ARGUMENT: The ratification of the United Nation's 1989 Convention and the passing of supportive legislation by most state governments, has not resulted in major improvements in the well-being of children. This is as a result of prevailing socioeconomic and political conditions such as social transformations within the family unit, poverty, and rampant corruption. The emergence of HIV/AIDS, civil wars and armed conflicts is a major impediment to the protection of children's rights across most of Africa. The effective implementation of the 1989 United Nations' Convention by African governments requires more than the ratification of the Convention. Governments require the political will to implement its prescriptions by passing supportive legislation. To create the necessary enabling environments, equal emphasis should be placed on the eradication of poverty, corruption and disease; and to ending armed conflicts where they exist.

CO, CH4 and H2O total contents: long-term Russian and Chinese spectroscopic datasets, seasonal, weekly and diurnal variations and temporal tendencies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Rakitin, Vadim; Grechko, Eugeny; Wang, Gengchen; Dzhola, Anatoly; Fokeeva, Ekaterina; Safronov, Alexandr

2016-04-01

Analysis of the CO total column (TC) long-term measurements in Moscow and Beijing for period from 1992 to 2015 years is presented. Similar data of CO, CH4 and H2O columns for Zvenigorod Scientific Station (ZSS) in 1970-2015 years are analyzed. The rate of decrease of anthropogenic portion in CO TC over Moscow was equal to 1.4 % per year for 1992-2015 years in spite of multiple increase of the motor vehicles number. CO TC decrease was observed in Beijing in 1992 - 2015 years with the rate 1.1% per year. Typical levels of atmospheric CO and aerosols pollution in Beijing is 2-5 times stronger in comparison with Moscow ones. Reasonably typical events for Beijing with extreme values of CO TC and aerosols concentrations were observed in Moscow during wild fires of 2002 and 2010 years only. Trajectory cluster analysis using has allowed an investigation of CO and aerosols emissions sources location. Relatively stronger atmospheric pollution of Beijing partially due to the atmospheric transportation from distant industry regions of China located at 100-500 km from Beijing toward south, south-east and east directions. Satellite observations (AIRS v6) have demonstrated the CO TC slow decrease in Moscow rural region and the significant decrease of CO TC over Beijing (2002-2014). Rate of CH4 TC increase in Moscow region is 0.5% per year for 1972-2015. This work was supported by the Russian Scientific Foundation under grant №14-47-00049 and partially by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (grant № 16-05-00287).

Load-cell based characterization system for a “Violin-Mode” shadow-sensor in advanced LIGO suspensions

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Lockerbie, N. A.; Tokmakov, K. V.

The background to this work was a prototype shadow sensor, which was designed for retro-fitting to an advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) test-mass/mirror suspension, in which 40 kg test-mass/mirrors are each suspended by four approximately 600 mm long by 0.4 mm diameter fused-silica suspension fibres. The shadow sensor comprised a LED source of Near InfraRed (NIR) radiation and a rectangular silicon photodiode detector, which, together, were to bracket the fibre under test. The aim was to detect transverse Violin-Mode resonances in the suspension fibres. Part of the testing procedure involved tensioning a silica fibre sample and translating itmore » transversely through the illuminating NIR beam, so as to measure the DC responsivity of the detection system to fibre displacement. However, an equally important part of the procedure, reported here, was to keep the fibre under test stationary within the beam, whilst trying to detect low-level AC Violin-Mode resonances excited on the fibre, in order to confirm the primary function of the sensor. Therefore, a tensioning system, incorporating a load-cell readout, was built into the test fibre’s holder. The fibre then was excited by a signal generator, audio power amplifier, and distant loudspeaker, and clear resonances were detected. A theory for the expected fundamental resonant frequency as a function of fibre tension was developed and is reported here, and this theory was found to match closely with the detected resonant frequencies as they varied with tension. Consequently, the resonances seen were identified as being proper Violin-Mode fundamental resonances of the fibre, and the operation of the Violin-Mode detection system was validated.« less

The Role of DNA Methylation Changes in Radiation-Induced Bystander Effects in cranial irradiated Mice

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Zhang, Meng; Sun, Yeqing; Xue, Bei; Wang, Xinwen; Wang, Jiawen

2016-07-01

Heavy-ion radiation could lead to bystander effect in neighboring non-hit cells by signals released from directly-irradiated cells. The exact mechanisms of radiation-induced bystander effect in distant organ remain obscure, yet accumulating evidence points to the role of DNA methylation changes in bystander effect. To identify the molecular mechanism that underlies bystander effects of heavy-ion radiation, the male Balb/c and C57BL mice were cranial exposed to 40, 200, 2000mGy dose of carbon heavy-ion radiation, while the rest of the animal body was shielded. The γH2AX foci as the DNA damage biomarker in directly irradiation organ ear and the distant organ liver were detected on 0, 1, 2, 6, 12 and 24h after radiation, respectively. Methylation-sensitive amplifcation polymorphism (MSAP) was used to monitor the level of polymorphic genomic DNA methylation changed with dose and time effects. The results show that cranial irradiated mice could induce the γH2AX foci and genomic DNA methylation changes significantly in both the directly irradiation organ ear and the distant organ liver. The percent of DNA methylation changes were time-dependent and tissue-specific. Demethylation polymorphism rate were highest separately at 1 h in 200 mGy and 6 h in 2000 mGy after irradiation in ear. The global DNA methylation changes tended to occur in the CG sites. We also found that the numbers of γH2AX foci and the genomic methylation changes of heavy-ion radiation-induced bystander effect in liver could be obvious 1 h after radiation and achieved the maximum at 6 h, while the changes could recover gradually at 12 h. The results suggest that mice head exposed to heavy-ion radiation can induce damage and methylation pattern changed in both directly radiation organ ear and distant organ liver. Moreover, our findings are important to understand the molecular mechanism of radiation induced bystander effects in vivo. Keywords: Heavy-ion radiation; Bystander effect; DNA methylation; γH2AX; Mice.

Do pet dogs (Canis familiaris) follow ostensive and non-ostensive human gaze to distant space and to objects?

PubMed Central

Range, Friederike; Virányi, Zsófia

2017-01-01

Dogs are renowned for being skilful at using human-given communicative cues such as pointing. Results are contradictory, however, when it comes to dogs' following human gaze, probably due to methodological discrepancies. Here we investigated whether dogs follow human gaze to one of two food locations better than into distant space even after comparable pre-training. In Experiments 1 and 2, the gazing direction of dogs was recorded in a gaze-following into distant space and in an object-choice task where no choice was allowed, in order to allow a direct comparison between tasks, varying the ostensive nature of the gazes. We found that dogs only followed repeated ostensive human gaze into distant space, whereas they followed all gaze cues in the object-choice task. Dogs followed human gaze better in the object-choice task than when there was no obvious target to look at. In Experiment 3, dogs were tested in another object-choice task and were allowed to approach a container. Ostensive cues facilitated the dogs’ following gaze with gaze as well as their choices: we found that dogs in the ostensive group chose the indicated container at chance level, whereas they avoided this container in the non-ostensive group. We propose that dogs may perceive the object-choice task as a competition over food and may interpret non-ostensive gaze as an intentional cue that indicates the experimenter's interest in the food location she has looked at. Whether ostensive cues simply mitigate the competitive perception of this situation or they alter how dogs interpret communicative gaze needs further investigation. Our findings also show that following gaze with one's gaze and actually choosing one of the two containers in an object-choice task need to be considered as different variables. The present study clarifies a number of questions related to gaze-following in dogs and adds to a growing body of evidence showing that human ostensive cues can strongly modify dog behaviour. PMID:28791164

Targeting of CCBE1 by miR-330-3p in human breast cancer promotes metastasis.

PubMed

Mesci, Aruz; Huang, Xiaoyong; Taeb, Samira; Jahangiri, Sahar; Kim, Yohan; Fokas, Emmanouil; Bruce, Jeff; Leong, Hon S; Liu, Stanley K

2017-05-09

MicroRNAs (miRs) are involved in the regulation of many processes that contribute to malignancy, including cell proliferation, radiation resistance, invasion and metastasis. The role of miR-330-3p, an miR upregulated in breast cancer, remains unclear. We examine the association of miR-330-3p with distant relapse-free survival in the Oxford cohort of breast cancer patients. We also study miR-330-3p function using in vitro invasion and ex ovo metastasis assays. Using in vitro luciferase assays, we validate a novel target gene for miR-330-3p, Collagen And Calcium Binding EGF Domains 1 (CCBE1). We assess functional consequences of CCBE1 loss by using siRNA-mediated knockdown followed by in vitro invasion assays. Lastly, we examine the expression profile of CCBE1 in breast carcinomas in the Curtis and TCGA Breast Cancer data sets using Oncomine Platform as well as distant relapse-free and overall survival of patients in the Helsinki University breast cancer data set according to CCBE1 expression status. miR-330-3p is enriched in breast cancer, and higher levels of miR-330-3p expression are associated with lower distant relapse-free survival in a cohort of breast cancer patients. Consistent with these observations, overexpression of miR-330-3p in breast cancer cell lines results in greater invasiveness in vitro, and miR-330-3p-overexpressing cells also metastasise more aggressively ex ovo. We identify CCBE1 as a direct target of miR-330-3p, and show that knockdown of CCBE1 results in a greater invasive capacity. Accordingly, in breast cancer patients CCBE1 is frequently downregulated, and its loss is associated with reduced distant relapse-free and overall survival. We show for the first time that miR-330-3p targets CCBE1 to promote invasion and metastasis. miR-330-3p and CCBE1 may represent promising biomarkers in breast cancer.

Patient engagement in the process of planning and designing outpatient care improvements at the Veterans Administration Health-care System: findings from an online expert panel.

PubMed

Khodyakov, Dmitry; Stockdale, Susan E; Smith, Nina; Booth, Marika; Altman, Lisa; Rubenstein, Lisa V

2017-02-01

There is a strong interest in the Veterans Administration (VA) Health-care System in promoting patient engagement to improve patient care. We solicited expert opinion using an online expert panel system with a modified Delphi structure called ExpertLens ™ . Experts reviewed, rated and discussed eight scenarios, representing four patient engagement roles in designing and improving VA outpatient care (consultant, implementation advisor, equal stakeholder and lead stakeholder) and two VA levels (local and regional). Rating criteria included desirability, feasibility, patient ability, physician/staff acceptance and impact on patient-centredness and care quality. Data were analysed using the RAND/UCLA Appropriateness Method for determining consensus. Experts rated consulting with patients at the local level as the most desirable and feasible patient engagement approach. Engagement at the local level was considered more desirable than engagement at the regional level. Being an equal stakeholder at the local level received the highest ratings on the patient-centredness and health-care quality criteria. Our findings illustrate expert opinion about different approaches to patient engagement and highlight the benefits and challenges posed by each. Although experts rated local consultations with patients on an as-needed basis as most desirable and feasible, they rated being an equal stakeholder at the local level as having the highest potential impact on patient-centredness and care quality. This result highlights a perceived discrepancy between what is most desirable and what is potentially most effective, but suggests that routine local engagement of patients as equal stakeholders may be a desirable first step for promoting high-quality, patient-centred care. © 2016 The Authors. Health Expectations Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

Method and apparatus for communicating computer data from one point to another over a communications medium

DOEpatents

Arneson, Michael R [Chippewa Falls, WI; Bowman, Terrance L [Sumner, WA; Cornett, Frank N [Chippewa Falls, WI; DeRyckere, John F [Eau Claire, WI; Hillert, Brian T [Chippewa Falls, WI; Jenkins, Philip N [Eau Claire, WI; Ma, Nan [Chippewa Falls, WI; Placek, Joseph M [Chippewa Falls, WI; Ruesch, Rodney [Eau Claire, WI; Thorson, Gregory M [Altoona, WI

2007-07-24

The present invention is directed toward a communications channel comprising a link level protocol, a driver, a receiver, and a canceller/equalizer. The link level protocol provides logic for DC-free signal encoding and recovery as well as supporting many features including CRC error detection and message resend to accommodate infrequent bit errors across the medium. The canceller/equalizer provides equalization for destabilized data signals and also provides simultaneous bi-directional data transfer. The receiver provides bit deskewing by removing synchronization error, or skewing, between data signals. The driver provides impedance controlling by monitoring the characteristics of the communications medium, like voltage or temperature, and providing a matching output impedance in the signal driver so that fewer distortions occur while the data travels across the communications medium.

Stroke treatment in rats with tail temperature increase by 40-min moxibustion.

PubMed

Chen, Ri-Xin; Lv, Zhi-Mai; Chen, Ming-Ren; Yi, Fan; An, Xin; Xie, Ding-Yi

2011-10-03

The distant heat induced by suspended moxibustion (SM) for 40 min is confirmed to have a favorable effect in treating diseases such as ischemic brain injury in the clinical setting, but its precise mechanism remains to be explained. Since a similar reaction to the phenomenon of distant heat is found in some transient middle cerebral artery occlusion (tMCAO) rats treated by a 40-min SM session with tail temperature increase (TTI), we hereby study its mechanism by comparing the neuroprotective effect of 40 min's SM with TTI to those without. The experimental results show that 40 min's SM with TTI can significantly reduce the infarct volume and neurological deficit score in tMCAO rats. Western blot demonstrates that a reduction in the levels of cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2), inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in tMCAO rats with TTI is more striking than that of the rats without TTI. The expression of caspase-3 protein is inhibited in tMCAO rats with TTI. The results suggest that the efficacy of SM for 40 min with TTI is higher than that without. Although neuroprotective effects present in tMCAO rats with and without TTI, those with TTI revealed a higher level of anti-inflammation effect and exhibited an anti-apoptosis effect. Copyright © 2011 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.

Intralesional tuberculin (PPD) versus measles, mumps, rubella (MMR) vaccine in treatment of multiple warts: a comparative clinical and immunological study.

PubMed

Shaheen, Maha Adel; Salem, Samar Abdallah M; Fouad, Dina Adel; El-Fatah, Abeer Aly Abd

2015-01-01

Intralesional purified protein derivative (PPD) or mumps, measles, rubella (MMR) were not previously compared regarding their efficacy or mechanism of action in treatment of warts. We aimed to compare their efficacy in treatment of multiple warts and investigate their effect on serum interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-12. Thirty patients with multiple warts were included (10 treated with PPD, 10 with MMR, and 10 with normal saline (control)). Injection was done every 3 weeks until clearance or maximum of three treatments. Clinical response of target and distant warts was evaluated. Serum ILs-4 and -12 were assessed before and after treatment. A significantly higher rate of complete response was found in target and distant warts with PPD (60% each) and MMR (80%, 40%, respectively) compared with controls (0%), with no significant difference between both treatments. After treatment, the control group showed the lowest serum IL-12 and IL-4 levels compared with the MMR- and PPD-treated groups with statistically significant difference in between. MMR resulted in a significantly higher serum IL-12 than PPD. With PPD, IL-4 was increased with statistically significant change compared with pretreat-ment level. Intralesional PPD and MMR show comparable efficacy and safety in treatment of multiple warts. Serum ILs-4 and-12 increase following antigen injection. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

Prediction of stellar occultations by distant solar system bodies in the Gaia era

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Desmars, Josselin; Camargo, Julio; Sicardy, Bruno; Braga-Ribas, Felipe; Vieira-Martins, Roberto; Assafin, Marcelo; Bérard, Diane; Benedetti-Rossi, Gustavo

2018-04-01

Stellar occultations are a unique technique to access physical characteristics of distant solar system objects from the ground. They allow the measure of the size and the shape at kilometric level, the detection of tenuous atmospheres (few nanobars), and the investigation of close vicinity (satellites, rings) of Transneptunian objects and Centaurs. This technique is made successful thanks to accurate predictions of occultations. Accuracy of the predictions depends on the uncertainty in the position of the occulted star and the object's orbit. The Gaia stellar catalogue (Gaia Collaboration (2017)) now allows to get accurate astrometric stellar positions (to the mas level). The main uncertainty remains on the orbit. In this context, we now take advantage of the NIMA method (Desmars et al.(2015)) for the orbit determination and of the Gaia DR1 catalogue for the astrometry. In this document, we show how the orbit determination is improved by reducing current and some past observations with Gaia DR1. Moreover, we also use more than 45 past positive occultations observed in the 2009-2017 period to derive very accurate astrometric positions only depending on the position of the occulted stars (about few mas with Gaia DR1). We use the case of (10199) Chariklo as an illustration. The main limitation lies in the imprecision of the proper motions which is going to be solved by the Gaia DR2 release.

Equality of Educational Opportunities at Public Primary Schools in Argentina

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Adrogue, Cecilia

2013-01-01

This paper assesses the degree of equality of educational opportunities across Argentina's public primary schools. The main finding is that there are inequalities between jurisdictions, but even greater inequalities within them, suggesting the existence of serious problems in the distribution of resources at the sub-national level. Following the…

Bibliography: Equal Educational Opportunity: Myth or Reality?

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Mills, Gladys H.

The stated purpose of this bibliography is to assist school administrators, legislators, governors, and others in identifying documents already in their libraries which might assist in decision making at their respective levels, encourage effective action, and enhance the sense of urgency which the great American dream of equal educational…

Women and Employment. Policies for Equal Opportunities.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development, Paris (France).

This document contains the proceedings of a high-level conference on the Employment of Women, attended by labor ministers and other high officials of countries belonging to the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). Delegates to the conference adopted a 14-point declaration pledging themselves to achieve equality of…

Ecosystem Modeling of Biological Processes to Global Budgets

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Christopher, Potter S.; Condon, Estelle (Technical Monitor)

2000-01-01

From an ecological perspective, the search for life on distant planets begins from several key assumptions. The first of these is that, viewed from a remote location in space, the signature of life on a distant planet will be the result of net gas exchange of organisms with their environment. On the basis of extensive biogeochemical measurements and biogenic trace gas fluxes in modem Earth environments, it is probable that certain groups of organisms both produce and consume the same trace gas(es) within a single bioprofile of Solid (porous) substrate or surface water. The net gas exchange rate with the atmosphere measured at the living surface is frequently the result of competing metabolic reactions, which may carried out by different functional groups of organisms located at dissimilar 'climatic' or chemical microsites within the same bioprofile. Biogenic gases produced at one (deep) level of a bioprofile may be consumed by another functional group of organisms located closer to the level of surface exchange with the atmosphere. A second key assumption is that the net biogenic fluxes of atmospheric gases on Earth can be used to infer relative abundance and functional composition of the major organisms on a distant planet. Examples of this principle include the presence of methanogenic microorganisms abundant today in freshwater ecosystems worldwide, which are major source of atmospheric methane and its seasonal variability in Earth's atmosphere. A third assumption is that scaling up biogenic gas fluxes from a single biological community to the planetary level requires flux measurements at the whole ecosystem level. This implies that measurements of biogenic gas exchange with the global atmosphere cannot be easily inferred from measurements of gas production rates of single organisms, which may have been isolated in some manner from the setting of their native ecosystem. Hence, the unit of biological organization used in modern Earth Science for scaling up to biosphere effects on atmospheric composition is the ecosystem level. These assumptions are the foundation for developing modern emission budgets for biogenic gases such as carbon dioxide, methane, carbon monoxide, isoprene, nitrous and nitric oxide, and ammonia. Such emission budgets commonly include information on seasonal flux patterns, typical diurnal profiles, and spatial resolution of at least one degree latitude/longitude for the globe. On the basis of these budgets, it is possible to compute 'base emission rates' for the major biogenic trace gases from both terrestrial and ocean sources, which may be useful benchmarks for defining the gas production rates of organisms, especially those from early Earth history, which are required to generate a detectable signal on a global atmosphere. This type of analysis is also the starting point for evaluation of the 'biological processes to global gas budget' extrapolation procedure described above for early Earth ecosystems.

Prokaryotic regulatory systems biology: Common principles governing the functional architectures of Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli unveiled by the natural decomposition approach.

PubMed

Freyre-González, Julio A; Treviño-Quintanilla, Luis G; Valtierra-Gutiérrez, Ilse A; Gutiérrez-Ríos, Rosa María; Alonso-Pavón, José A

2012-10-31

Escherichia coli and Bacillus subtilis are two of the best-studied prokaryotic model organisms. Previous analyses of their transcriptional regulatory networks have shown that they exhibit high plasticity during evolution and suggested that both converge to scale-free-like structures. Nevertheless, beyond this suggestion, no analyses have been carried out to identify the common systems-level components and principles governing these organisms. Here we show that these two phylogenetically distant organisms follow a set of common novel biologically consistent systems principles revealed by the mathematically and biologically founded natural decomposition approach. The discovered common functional architecture is a diamond-shaped, matryoshka-like, three-layer (coordination, processing, and integration) hierarchy exhibiting feedback, which is shaped by four systems-level components: global transcription factors (global TFs), locally autonomous modules, basal machinery and intermodular genes. The first mathematical criterion to identify global TFs, the κ-value, was reassessed on B. subtilis and confirmed its high predictive power by identifying all the previously reported, plus three potential, master regulators and eight sigma factors. The functionally conserved cores of modules, basal cell machinery, and a set of non-orthologous common physiological global responses were identified via both orthologous genes and non-orthologous conserved functions. This study reveals novel common systems principles maintained between two phylogenetically distant organisms and provides a comparison of their lifestyle adaptations. Our results shed new light on the systems-level principles and the fundamental functions required by bacteria to sustain life. Copyright © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Racial differences in breast cancer stage at diagnosis in the mammography era.

PubMed

Chatterjee, Neal A; He, Yulei; Keating, Nancy L

2013-01-01

We assessed racial differences in breast cancer mortality by stage at diagnosis, since mammography became available. We calculated adjusted odds of distant (versus local or regional) tumors for 143,249 White and 13,571 Black women aged 50 to 69 years, diagnosed with breast cancer between 1982 and 2007 and living in a Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results region. We compared linear trends in stage at diagnosis before and after 1998. Distant-stage cancer was diagnosed in 5.8% of White and 10.2% of Black participants. The Black-White disparity in distant tumors narrowed until 1998 (1998 adjusted difference = 0.65%), before increasing. Between 1982 and 1997, the proportion of distant tumors decreased for Blacks (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]/y = 0.973; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.960, 0.987) and Whites (AOR/y = 0.978; 95% CI = 0.973, 0.983), with no racial differences (P = .47). From 1998 to 2007, the odds of distant versus local or regional tumors increased for Blacks (AOR/y = 1.036; 95% CI = 1.013, 1.060) and Whites (AOR/y = 1.011; 95% CI = 1.002, 1.021); the rate of increase was greater for Blacks than Whites (P = .04). In the mammography era, racial disparities remain in stage at diagnosis.

Free Radical Production from the Interaction of 2-Chloroethyl Vesicants (Mustard Gas) with Pyridine Nucleotide-Driven Flavoprotein Electron Transport Systems

DTIC Science & Technology

2009-01-01

or HN2 at desired mM levels and 2.4 mM NADPH were introduced with 40 µM cytochrome c in 0.1 M KPO4 buffer pH 7.5 made 0.25 M with respect to NaCl. The...because 4-POBN is a nitrone , the adduct formed occurred at the carbon adjacent to the imino nitrogen of the spin trap, too many bonds distant from...EPR spectrometry with spin trapping. Inclusion of the nitrone 4-POBN in our incubation mixture at the molar level enabled us to observe a six-line 4

Antithyroid peroxidase antibody positivity is associated with lower incidence of metastasis in breast cancer.

PubMed

Kemal, Yasemin; Demirag, Guzin; Ekiz, Kubilay; Yucel, Idris

2015-05-01

Thyroid extracts were first used to treat patients with metastatic breast cancer over a century ago. Since then, a number of studies have investigated the association between thyroid disorders and breast cancer. The presence of antibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOab) was recently reported to be associated with improved outcome in these patients. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between TPOab positivity and clinicopathological characteristics in breast cancer patients. The study included 318 newly diagnosed cases of breast cancer treated at Ondokuz Mayis University Hospital, Samsun, Turkey, between 2008 and 2012. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone, free triiodothyronine and free thyroxine levels were measured at the time of diagnosis. Of the 318 patients, 253 were considered to be TPOab-negative (TPOab ≤34 IU/ml) and 65 TPOab-positive (TPOab >34 IU/ml). No cases with distant metastases were found in the TPOab-positive group. However, 20 (7.9%) of the 253 patients displayed distant metastases in the TPOab-negative group (P=0.01). Therefore, TPOab positivity was found to be associated with a lower incidence of metastasis in breast cancer patients.

Cancer cell-secreted IGF2 instigates fibroblasts and bone marrow-derived vascular progenitor cells to promote cancer progression

PubMed Central

Xu, Wen Wen; Li, Bin; Guan, Xin Yuan; Chung, Sookja K.; Wang, Yang; Yip, Yim Ling; Law, Simon Y. K.; Chan, Kin Tak; Lee, Nikki P. Y.; Chan, Kwok Wah; Xu, Li Yan; Li, En Min; Tsao, Sai Wah; He, Qing-Yu; Cheung, Annie L. M.

2017-01-01

Local interactions between cancer cells and stroma can produce systemic effects on distant organs to govern cancer progression. Here we show that IGF2 secreted by inhibitor of differentiation (Id1)-overexpressing oesophageal cancer cells instigates VEGFR1-positive bone marrow cells in the tumour macroenvironment to form pre-metastatic niches at distant sites by increasing VEGF secretion from cancer-associated fibroblasts. Cancer cells are then attracted to the metastatic site via the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis. Bone marrow cells transplanted from nude mice bearing Id1-overexpressing oesophageal tumours enhance tumour growth and metastasis in recipient mice, whereas systemic administration of VEGFR1 antibody abrogates these effects. Mechanistically, IGF2 regulates VEGF in fibroblasts via miR-29c in a p53-dependent manner. Analysis of patient serum samples showed that concurrent elevation of IGF2 and VEGF levels may serve as a prognostic biomarker for oesophageal cancer. These findings suggest that the Id1/IGF2/VEGF/VEGFR1 cascade plays a critical role in tumour-driven pathophysiological processes underlying cancer progression. PMID:28186102

Scattering and sequestering of blow-up moduli in local string models

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Conlon, Joseph P.; Witkowski, Lukas T.

2011-12-01

We study the scattering and sequestering of blow-up fields - either local to or distant from a visible matter sector - through a CFT computation of the dependence of physical Yukawa couplings on the blow-up moduli. For a visible sector of D3-branes on orbifold singularities we compute the disk correlator left< {tau_s^{{(1)}}tau_s^{{(2)}}...tau_s^{{(n)}}ψ ψ φ } rightrangle between orbifold blow-up moduli and matter Yukawa couplings. For n = 1 we determine the full quantum and classical correlator. This result has the correct factorisation onto lower 3-point functions and also passes numerous other consistency checks. For n > 1 we show that the structure of picture-changing applied to the twist operators establishes the sequestering of distant blow-up moduli at disk level to all orders in α'. We explain how these results are relevant to suppressing soft terms to scales parametrically below the gravitino mass. By giving vevs to the blow-up fields we can move into the smooth limit and thereby derive CFT results for the smooth Swiss-cheese Calabi-Yaus that appear in the Large Volume Scenario.

Cancer cell-secreted IGF2 instigates fibroblasts and bone marrow-derived vascular progenitor cells to promote cancer progression.

PubMed

Xu, Wen Wen; Li, Bin; Guan, Xin Yuan; Chung, Sookja K; Wang, Yang; Yip, Yim Ling; Law, Simon Y K; Chan, Kin Tak; Lee, Nikki P Y; Chan, Kwok Wah; Xu, Li Yan; Li, En Min; Tsao, Sai Wah; He, Qing-Yu; Cheung, Annie L M

2017-02-10

Local interactions between cancer cells and stroma can produce systemic effects on distant organs to govern cancer progression. Here we show that IGF2 secreted by inhibitor of differentiation (Id1)-overexpressing oesophageal cancer cells instigates VEGFR1-positive bone marrow cells in the tumour macroenvironment to form pre-metastatic niches at distant sites by increasing VEGF secretion from cancer-associated fibroblasts. Cancer cells are then attracted to the metastatic site via the CXCL5/CXCR2 axis. Bone marrow cells transplanted from nude mice bearing Id1-overexpressing oesophageal tumours enhance tumour growth and metastasis in recipient mice, whereas systemic administration of VEGFR1 antibody abrogates these effects. Mechanistically, IGF2 regulates VEGF in fibroblasts via miR-29c in a p53-dependent manner. Analysis of patient serum samples showed that concurrent elevation of IGF2 and VEGF levels may serve as a prognostic biomarker for oesophageal cancer. These findings suggest that the Id1/IGF2/VEGF/VEGFR1 cascade plays a critical role in tumour-driven pathophysiological processes underlying cancer progression.

The short-term effects of cisplatin chemotherapy on bone turnover.

PubMed

Young, D R; Virolainen, P; Inoue, N; Frassica, F J; Chao, E Y

1997-11-01

Cisplatin is an effective agent in the treatment of osteosarcoma of bone but little is known of its effects on normal bone turnover. Twenty-four dogs divided into three study groups were used to study the effect of cisplatin on normal bone turnover at the distant site of surgery. Group 1 served as the control group, group 2 received four cycles of cisplatin every 3 weeks before the surgery, and group 3 received four cycles postoperatively. The bone turnover rate was evaluated by measuring levels of systemic bone markers, osteocalcin, alkaline phospohatase, urine pyridinoline cross-links, and by determination histomorphometric indices. Histomorphological analysis showed poor correlation on bone formation with systemic bone markers at distant sites of surgery. Histomorphometrically normal bone turnover was affected by administration of cisplatin, but the effect was temporary, late, and less significant than what occurred at the surgical site. Our data showed that significant effects of cisplatin are observed at the site of active cellular induction and proliferation, such as implant-host interface, and less effects are seen at the sites of normal bone turnover.

A mediation model linking dispatcher leadership and work ownership with safety climate as predictors of truck driver safety performance.

PubMed

Zohar, Dov; Huang, Yueng-hsiang; Lee, Jin; Robertson, Michelle

2014-01-01

The study was designed to test the effect of safety climate on safety behavior among lone employees whose work environment promotes individual rather than consensual or shared climate perceptions. The paper presents a mediation path model linking psychological (individual-level) safety climate antecedents and consequences as predictors of driving safety of long-haul truck drivers. Climate antecedents included dispatcher (distant) leadership and driver work ownership, two contextual attributes of lone work, whereas its proximal consequence included driving safety. Using a prospective design, safety outcomes, consisting of hard-braking frequency (i.e. traffic near-miss events) were collected six months after survey completion, using GPS-based truck deceleration data. Results supported the hypothesized model, indicating that distant leadership style and work ownership promote psychological safety climate perceptions, with subsequent prediction of hard-braking events mediated by driving safety. Theoretical and practical implications for studying safety climate among lone workers in general and professional drivers in particular are discussed. Copyright © 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The systematics and independent evolution of cave ecomorphology in distantly related clades of Bent-toed Geckos (Genus Cyrtodactylus Gray, 1827) from the Mekong Delta and islands in the Gulf of Thailand.

PubMed

Grismer, L Lee; Wood, P L Jr; Tri, Ngo Van; Murdoch, Matthew L

2015-06-26

An integrative taxonomic analysis of the distantly related Cyrtodactylus condorensis and intermedius species complexes of the Mekong Delta revealed that C. paradoxus is a junior synonym of C. condorensis and that C. thochuensis is a junior synonym of C. leegrismeri. Additionally, the analysis revealed that a cave-dwelling ecomorpholgy has evolved independently early on in the evolution of both complexes (represented by C. hontreensis in the intermedius complex and C. grismeri and C. eisenmani in the condorensis complex) and cave ecomorphs exist in sympatry-but not syntopy-with general scansorial ecomorphs. Multiple, recent, cyclical, glacioeustatic driven changes in sea levels across the Sunda Shelf are hypothesized to account for the evolution and distribution of the widely separated, conspecific insular populations of C. condorensis and C. leegrismeri. The independent evolution of cave ecomorphology is proposed to have been driven by competition avoidance. Habitat islands across the Mekong Delta are an important source of endemism and in need of protection.

Probing the Evolution of the Galaxy Interaction/Merger Rate Using Distant Collisional Ring Galaxies

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lavery, Russell J.; Remijan, Anthony J.

We present the initial results from our long-term program of identifying distant collisional ring galaxies (CRGS) in deep HST WFPC-2 images. The unique morphological characteristics of these galaxies make them easily identifiable out to a redshift of z = 1. To date, we have visually scanned 100 WFPC-2 fields and identified 14 excellent collisional ring galaxy (CRG) candidates. Based on estimated redshifts, these 14 galaxies are expected to lie in the redshift interval of 0.1 to 1. We have used this sample of CRGs to estimate the evolution of the galaxy interaction/merger rate with redshift. To account for the number of CRGs we have identified in these fields, the galaxy interaction/merger rate, parameterized as (1 + z)m, must increase steeply with redshift, with m = 5.7 +/- 1.5. We can rule out a non-evolving galaxy merger rate (m = 0) at greater than the 3σ level. We compare our results with other programs to determine the value of m using the evolution of galaxy pairs.

Fiber optic video monitoring system for remote CT/MR scanners clinically accepted

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Tecotzky, Raymond H.; Bazzill, Todd M.; Eldredge, Sandra L.; Tagawa, James; Sayre, James W.

1992-07-01

With the proliferation of CT travel to distant scanners to review images before their patients can be released. We designed a fiber-optic broadband video system to transmit images from seven scanner consoles to fourteen remote monitoring stations in real time. This system has been used clinically by radiologists for over one years. We designed and conducted a user survey to categorize the levels of system use by section (Chest, GI, GU, Bone, Neuro, Peds, etc.), to measure operational utilization and acceptance of the system into the clinical environment, to clarify the system''s importance as a clinical tool for saving radiologists travel-time to distant CT the system''s performance and limitations as a diagnostic tool. The study was administered directly to radiologists using a printed survey form. The results of the survey''s compiled data show a high percentage of system usage by a wide spectrum of radiologists. Clearly, this system has been accepted into the clinical environment as a highly valued diagnostic tool in terms of time savings and functional flexibility.

1. DISTANT VIEW OF FRONT FROM SOUTHWEST SHOWING AREA OF ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

1. DISTANT VIEW OF FRONT FROM SOUTHWEST SHOWING AREA OF COUNCIL CHAMBERS, SHOP WITH PORTION OF WATER TREATMENT PLANT AND TRACK FILL AREA IN RIGHT HAND CORNER - Hardin City Water Works, 101 East Fourth Street, Hardin, Big Horn County, MT

Wireless and acoustic hearing with bone-anchored hearing devices.

PubMed

Bosman, Arjan J; Mylanus, Emmanuel A M; Hol, Myrthe K S; Snik, Ad F M

2015-07-01

The efficacy of wireless connectivity in bone-anchored hearing was studied by comparing the wireless and acoustic performance of the Ponto Plus sound processor from Oticon Medical relative to the acoustic performance of its predecessor, the Ponto Pro. Nineteen subjects with more than two years' experience with a bone-anchored hearing device were included. Thirteen subjects were fitted unilaterally and six bilaterally. Subjects served as their own control. First, subjects were tested with the Ponto Pro processor. After a four-week acclimatization period performance the Ponto Plus processor was measured. In the laboratory wireless and acoustic input levels were made equal. In daily life equal settings of wireless and acoustic input were used when watching TV, however when using the telephone the acoustic input was reduced by 9 dB relative to the wireless input. Speech scores for microphone with Ponto Pro and for both input modes of the Ponto Plus processor were essentially equal when equal input levels of wireless and microphone inputs were used. Only the TV-condition showed a statistically significant (p <5%) lower speech reception threshold for wireless relative to microphone input. In real life, evaluation of speech quality, speech intelligibility in quiet and noise, and annoyance by ambient noise, when using landline phone, mobile telephone, and watching TV showed a clear preference (p <1%) for the Ponto Plus system with streamer over the microphone input. Due to the small number of respondents with landline phone (N = 7) the result for noise annoyance was only significant at the 5% level. Equal input levels for acoustic and wireless inputs results in equal speech scores, showing a (near) equivalence for acoustic and wireless sound transmission with Ponto Pro and Ponto Plus. The default 9-dB difference between microphone and wireless input when using the telephone results in a substantial wireless benefit when using the telephone. The preference of wirelessly transmitted audio when watching TV can be attributed to the relatively poor sound quality of backward facing loudspeakers in flat screen TVs. The ratio of wireless and acoustic input can be easily set to the user's preference with the streamer's volume control.

The effect of teaching medical ethics on medical students' moral reasoning.

PubMed

Self, D J; Wolinsky, F D; Baldwin, D C

1989-12-01

A study assessed the effect of incorporating medical ethics into the medical curriculum and the relative effects of two methods of implementing that curriculum, namely, lecture and case-study discussions. Results indicate a statistically significant increase (p less than or equal to .0001) in the level of moral reasoning of students exposed to the medical ethics course, regardless of format. Moreover, the unadjusted posttest scores indicated that the case-study method was significantly (p less than or equal to .03) more effective than the lecture method in increasing students' level of moral reasoning. When adjustment were made for the pretest scores, however, this difference was not statistically significant (p less than or equal to .18). Regression analysis by linear panel techniques revealed that age, gender, undergraduate grade-point average, and scores on the Medical College Admission Test were not related to the changes in moral-reasoning scores. All of the variance that could be explained was due to the students' being in one of the two experimental groups. In comparison with the control group, the change associated with each experimental format was statistically significant (lecture, p less than or equal to .004; case study, p less than or equal to .0001). Various explanations for these findings and their implications are given.

Preparing CAM-SE for Multi-Tracer Applications: CAM-SE-Cslam

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Lauritzen, P. H.; Taylor, M.; Goldhaber, S.

2014-12-01

The NCAR-DOE spectral element (SE) dynamical core comes from the HOMME (High-Order Modeling Environment; Dennis et al., 2012) and it is available in CAM. The CAM-SE dynamical core is designed with intrinsic mimetic properties guaranteeing total energy conservation (to time-truncation errors) and mass-conservation, and has demonstrated excellent scalability on massively parallel compute platforms (Taylor, 2011). For applications involving many tracers such as chemistry and biochemistry modeling, CAM-SE has been found to be significantly more computationally costly than the current "workhorse" model CAM-FV (Finite-Volume; Lin 2004). Hence a multi-tracer efficient scheme, called the CSLAM (Conservative Semi-Lagrangian Multi-tracer; Lauritzen et al., 2011) scheme, has been implemented in the HOMME (Erath et al., 2012). The CSLAM scheme has recently been cast in flux-form in HOMME so that it can be coupled to the SE dynamical core through conventional flux-coupling methods where the SE dynamical core provides background air mass fluxes to CSLAM. Since the CSLAM scheme makes use of a finite-volume gnomonic cubed-sphere grid and hence does not operate on the SE quadrature grid, the capability of running tracer advection, the physical parameterization suite and dynamics on separate grids has been implemented in CAM-SE. The default CAM-SE-CSLAM setup is to run physics on the quasi-equal area CSLAM grid. The capability of running physics on a different grid than the SE dynamical core may provide a more consistent coupling since the physics grid option operates with quasi-equal-area cell average values rather than non-equi-distant grid-point (SE quadrature point) values. Preliminary results on the performance of CAM-SE-CSLAM will be presented.

CLASH: NEW MULTIPLE IMAGES CONSTRAINING THE INNER MASS PROFILE OF MACS J1206.2-0847

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Zitrin, A.; Rosati, P.; Nonino, M.

2012-04-20

We present a strong-lensing analysis of the galaxy cluster MACS J1206.2-0847 (z = 0.44) using UV, Optical, and IR, HST/ACS/WFC3 data taken as part of the CLASH multi-cycle treasury program, with VLT/VIMOS spectroscopy for some of the multiply lensed arcs. The CLASH observations, combined with our mass model, allow us to identify 47 new multiply lensed images of 12 distant sources. These images, along with the previously known arc, span the redshift range 1 {approx}< z {approx}< 5.5, and thus enable us to derive a detailed mass distribution and to accurately constrain, for the first time, the inner mass profilemore » of this cluster. We find an inner profile slope of dlog {Sigma}/dlog {theta} {approx_equal} -0.55 {+-} 0.1 (in the range [1'', 53''], or 5 kpc {approx}< r {approx}< 300 kpc), as commonly found for relaxed and well-concentrated clusters. Using the many systems uncovered here we derive credible critical curves and Einstein radii for different source redshifts. For a source at z{sub s} {approx_equal} 2.5, the critical curve encloses a large area with an effective Einstein radius of {theta}{sub E} = 28'' {+-} 3'', and a projected mass of (1.34 {+-} 0.15) Multiplication-Sign 10{sup 14} M{sub Sun }. From the current understanding of structure formation in concordance cosmology, these values are relatively high for clusters at z {approx} 0.5, so that detailed studies of the inner mass distribution of clusters such as MACS J1206.2-0847 can provide stringent tests of the {Lambda}CDM paradigm.« less

Detection of GRB 060927 at zeta = 5.47: Implications for the Use of Gamma-Ray Bursts as Probes of the End of the Dark Ages

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Ruiz-Velasco, A. E.; Swan, H.; Troja, E.; Malesani, D.; Fynbo, J. P. U.; Sterling, R. L. C.; Xu, D.; Aharonian, F.; Akerlof, C.; Andersen, M. I.;

[Multifocal phakic intraocular lens implant to correct presbyopia].

PubMed

Baikoff, G; Matach, G; Fontaine, A; Ferraz, C; Spera, C

2005-03-01

Presbyopic surgery is considered as the new frontier in refractive surgery. Different solutions are proposed: myopization of one eye, insertion of an accommodative crystalline lens, scleral surgery, the effects of which are still unknown, and finally multifocal phakic implants. We therefore decided to undertake a prospective study under the Huriet law to determine its efficacy and specify the conditions required for an anterior chamber multifocal phakic implant. Fifty-five eyes of 33 patients received an anterior chamber foldable multifocal phakic implant. Twenty-one females and 12 males underwent surgery. Initial refraction was between -5D and +5D. The implant's single addition was +2.50. Recuperating a distant uncorrected visual acuity of 0.6 or better and near uncorrected vision of Parinaud 3 or better can be considered a very good postoperative result. Average follow-up was 42.6+/-18 weeks. Mean postoperative refraction was -0.12+/-0.51 D. Mean postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was 0.78+/-0.20. Postoperative uncorrected visual acuity was Parinaud 2.3+/-0.6. Eighty-four percent of eyes operated on recuperated 0.6 or better without correction and Parinaud 3 or better without correction. Lenses in four eyes were explanted for different reasons, essentially optical, and no severe anatomical complications were observed. Placing an anterior chamber multifocal phakic implant to correct presbyopia is an effective technique with good predictability and has the advantage of being reversible in case of intolerance, optical parasite effects or undesired complications. Considering the particularity of this surgery, it is imperative to respect very strict inclusion criteria: anterior chamber depth equal to or above 3.1 mm, open angle, endothelial cell count equal to or above 2000 cells/mm2, absence of an incipient cataract or the slightest evidence of macular alteration.

Canine ovarian neoplasms: a clinicopathologic study of 71 cases, including histology of 12 granulosa cell tumors.

PubMed

Patnaik, A K; Greenlee, P G

1987-11-01

In a retrospective study of 71 primary ovarian tumors in the dog, epithelial tumors (46%) were more common than sex cord stromal (34%) and germ cell tumors (20%). There were more adenocarcinomas (64%) than adenomas. Sex cord stromal tumors were equally divided into Sertoli-Leydig (12/24) and granulosa cell tumors (12/24). There were equal numbers (7/14) of dysgerminomas and teratomas among the germ cell tumors. Most teratomas (6/7) were malignant. Most granulosa cell tumors were solid; two were mostly cystic. Patterns included sheets of round and ovoid to spindle-shaped cells separated by thin, fibrovascular stroma; neoplastic cells formed rosettes or Call-Exner bodies. In some areas, neoplastic cells were in cords or columns and formed cyst-like structures. Four granulosa cell tumors were macrofollicular, having cysts lined with granulosa cells. Median ages of dogs with different ovarian neoplasms were similar; all were more than 10 years old, except the dogs with teratoma (mean age, 4 years). Most neoplasms were unilateral (84%), except the Sertoli-Leydig cell tumors, many of which were bilateral (36%). Size of ovarian neoplasms varied (2 cm3 to 15,000 cm3). Twenty-nine percent of neoplasms metastasized; adenocarcinomas (48%) and malignant teratomas (50%) had the highest rates, and distant metastasis was more common in malignant teratoma. Endometrial hyperplasia was in 67% of the dogs; it was most common in dogs with sex cord stromal tumors (95%). Uterine malignancy was not seen in dogs with granulosa cell tumors, although hyperplasia endometrium was in all dogs with this tumor. Cysts in the contralateral ovaries were most common in dogs with sex cord stromal tumors.

The Distant Tail at 200 R(sub E): Comparison Between Geotail Observations and the Results from a Global Magnetohydrodynamic Simulation

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Berchem, J.; Raeder, J.; Ashour-Abdalla, M.; Frank, L. A.; Paterson, W. R.; Ackerson, K. L.; Kokubun, S.; Yamamoto, T.; Lepping, R. P.

1998-01-01

This paper reports a comparison between Geotail observations of plasmas and magnetic fields at 200 R(sub E) in the Earth's magnetotail with results from a time-dependent, global magnetohydrodynamic simulation of the interaction of the solar wind with the magnetosphere. The study focuses on observations from July 7, 1993, during which the Geotail spacecraft crossed the distant tail magnetospheric boundary several times while the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF) was predominantly northward and was marked by slow rotations of its clock angle. Simultaneous IMP 8 observations of solar wind ions and the IMF were used as driving input for the MHD simulation, and the resulting time series were compared directly with those from the Geotail spacecraft. The very good agreement found provided the basis for an investigation of the response of the distant tail associated with the clock angle of the IMF. Results from the simulation show that the stresses imposed by the draping of magnetosheath field lines and the asymmetric removal of magnetic flux tailward of the cusps altered considerably the shape of the distant tail as the solar wind discontinuities convected downstream of Earth. As a result, the cross section of the distant tail was considerably flattened along the direction perpendicular to the IMF clock angle, the direction of the neutral sheet following that of the IMF. The simulation also revealed that the combined action of magnetic reconnection and the slow rotation of the IMF clock angle led to a braiding of the distant tail's magnetic field lines along the axis of the tail, with the plane of the braid lying in the direction of the IMF.

Opposite Effects of Coinjection and Distant Injection of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Breast Tumor Cell Growth.

PubMed

Zheng, Huilin; Zou, Weibin; Shen, Jiaying; Xu, Liang; Wang, Shu; Fu, Yang-Xin; Fan, Weimin

2016-09-01

: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) usually promote tumor growth and metastasis. By using a breast tumor 4T1 cell-based animal model, this study determined that coinjection and distant injection of allogeneic bone marrow-derived MSCs with tumor cells could exert different effects on tumor growth. Whereas the coinjection of MSCs with 4T1 cells promoted tumor growth, surprisingly, the injection of MSCs at a site distant from the 4T1 cell inoculation site suppressed tumor growth. We further observed that, in the distant injection model, MSCs decreased the accumulation of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and regulatory T cells in tumor tissues by enhancing proinflammatory factors such as interferon-γ, tumor necrosis factor-α, Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3, and TLR-4, promoting host antitumor immunity and inhibiting tumor growth. Unlike previous reports, this is the first study reporting that MSCs may exert opposite roles on tumor growth in the same animal model by modulating the host immune system, which may shed light on the potential application of MSCs as vehicles for tumor therapy and other clinical applications. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been widely investigated for their potential roles in tissue engineering, autoimmune diseases, and tumor therapeutics. This study explored the impact of coinjection and distant injection of allogeneic bone marrow-derived MSCs on mouse 4T1 breast cancer cells. The results showed that the coinjection of MSCs and 4T1 cells promoted tumor growth. MSCs might act as the tumor stromal precursors and cause immunosuppression to protect tumor cells from immunosurveillance, which subsequently facilitated tumor metastasis. Interestingly, the distant injection of MSCs and 4T1 cells suppressed tumor growth. Together, the results of this study revealed the dual functions of MSCs in immunoregulation. ©AlphaMed Press.

Patterns of failure and survival in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy in Saudi Arabia.

PubMed

Maklad, Ahmed Marzouk; Bayoumi, Yasser; Senosy Hassan, Mohamed Abdalazez; Elawadi, AbuSaleh A; AlHussain, Hussain; Elyamany, Ashraf; Aldhahri, Saleh F; Al-Qahtani, Khalid Hussain; AlQahtani, Mubarak; Tunio, Mutahir A

2016-01-01

We aimed to investigate the patterns of failure (locoregional and distant metastasis), associated factors, and treatment outcomes in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients treated with intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) combined with chemotherapy. From April 2006 to December 2011, 68 nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were treated with IMRT and chemotherapy at our hospital. Median radiation doses delivered to gross tumor volume and positive neck nodes were 66-70 Gy, 63 Gy to clinical target volume, and 50.4-56 Gy to clinically negative neck. The clinical toxicities, patterns of failures, locoregional control, distant metastasis control, disease-free survival, and overall survival were observed. The median follow-up time was 52.2 months (range: 11-87 months). Epstein-Barr virus infection was positive in 63.2% of patients. Overall disease failure developed in 21 patients, of whom 85.8% belonged to stage III/IV disease. Among these, there were seven locoregional recurrences, three regional recurrences with distant metastases, and eleven distant metastases. The median interval from the date of diagnosis to failure was 26.5 months (range: 16-50 months). Six of ten (60%) locoregional recurrences were treated with reirradiation ± concurrent chemotherapy. The 5-year locoregional control, distant metastasis control, disease-free survival, and overall survival rates of whole cohort were 81.1%, 74.3%, 60.1%, and 73.4%, respectively. Cox regression analyses revealed that neoadjuvant chemotherapy, age, and Epstein-Barr virus were independent predictors for disease-free survival. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by IMRT with or without chemotherapy improves the long-term survival of Saudi patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Distant metastasis was the main pattern of treatment failure. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy, age, and Epstein-Barr virus status before IMRT were important independent prognostic factors.

Adaptation measures to drought in Mongolian rangeland: The long-distant movement of people and livestock

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Kakinuma, K.; Kanae, S.

2015-12-01

Coping with droughts are one of the most important issues in arid and semi-arid regions. Mongolia, where are located in central Asia, are concerned the increase of droughts in the future (IPCC 2014). Mongolia has long history of livestock grazing. Herders have developed the mobile grazing systems to use spatiotemporal variable vegetation. Especially, they often take a rapid and long-distant movement to avoid drought condition ("otor" in Mongolia). The movement is a main adaptation measure to droughts for herders, and it would be applicable to other regions where will be increase the frequency of droughts in the future. However there are few knowledge about processes and actual conditions of the long-distant movement of herders and livestock across Mongolia. Therefore our objective is to discuss the long-distance movement as adaptation measures to droughts. Mongolia has a climatic gradient along the latitude; rainfall variability in southern regions are higher than that in northern regions. Previous theoretical studies predicted that rainfall variability affect the grazing strategies. Based on them, we established two hypotheses about the relationship between climatic variability and the form of long distant movement. (1) The long-distance movement likely occur in southern regions because the frequency of drought are higher in southern regions than in northern regions (2) Cooperation among herders, such as acceptance of livestock that from other prefectures, are likely occur in southern regions while exclusive management are likely occur in northern regions. We interviewed to local herders, decision makers about the long-distant movement, and investigated the number of livestock that across the border of prefectures in recent year across Mongolia. We will discuss long-distant movements as an adaptation measure to drought thorough these results.

Elderly postmenopausal patients with breast cancer are at increased risk for distant recurrence: a tamoxifen exemestane adjuvant multinational study analysis.

PubMed

van de Water, Willemien; Seynaeve, Caroline; Bastiaannet, Esther; Markopoulos, Christos; Jones, Steve E; Rea, Daniel; Hasenburg, Annette; Putter, Hein; Hille, Elysée T M; Paridaens, Robert; de Craen, Anton J M; Westendorp, Rudi G J; van de Velde, Cornelis J H; Liefers, Gerrit-Jan

2013-01-01

For postmenopausal patients with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, outcome is worse with increasing age at diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of breast cancer recurrence (locoregional and distant), and contralateral breast cancer by age at diagnosis. Patients enrolled in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial were included. Primary endpoints were locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and contralateral breast cancer. Age at diagnosis was categorized as younger than 65 years, 65-74 years, and 75 years or older. Overall, 9,766 patients were included, of which 5,349 were younger than 65 years (reference group), 3,060 were 65-74 years, and 1,357 were 75 years or older. With increasing age, a decreased administration of radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery (94%, 92%, and 88%, respectively) and adjuvant chemotherapy (51%, 23%, and 5%, respectively) was observed. Risk of distant recurrence increased with age at diagnosis; multivariable hazard ratio for patients aged 65-74 years was 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00-1.44), hazard ratio for patients aged 75 years or older was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.08-1.79). Risks of locoregional recurrence and contralateral breast cancer were not significantly different across age groups. Elderly patients with breast cancer were at increased risk for distant recurrence. Other studies have shown that the risk of distant recurrence is mainly affected by adjuvant systemic therapy. All TEAM patients received adjuvant endocrine treatment; however, chemotherapy was administered less often in elderly patients. These findings are suggestive for consideration of chemotherapy in relatively fit elderly breast cancer patients with hormone-sensitive disease.

Elderly Postmenopausal Patients With Breast Cancer Are at Increased Risk for Distant Recurrence: A Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational Study Analysis

PubMed Central

van de Water, Willemien; Seynaeve, Caroline; Bastiaannet, Esther; Markopoulos, Christos; Jones, Steve E.; Rea, Daniel; Hasenburg, Annette; Putter, Hein; Hille, Elysée T.M.; Paridaens, Robert; de Craen, Anton J.M.; Westendorp, Rudi G.J.; Liefers, Gerrit-Jan

2013-01-01

Introduction. For postmenopausal patients with hormone-sensitive breast cancer, outcome is worse with increasing age at diagnosis. The aim of this study was to assess the incidence of breast cancer recurrence (locoregional and distant), and contralateral breast cancer by age at diagnosis. Methods. Patients enrolled in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial were included. Primary endpoints were locoregional recurrence, distant recurrence, and contralateral breast cancer. Age at diagnosis was categorized as younger than 65 years, 65–74 years, and 75 years or older. Results. Overall, 9,766 patients were included, of which 5,349 were younger than 65 years (reference group), 3,060 were 65–74 years, and 1,357 were 75 years or older. With increasing age, a decreased administration of radiotherapy after breast conserving surgery (94%, 92%, and 88%, respectively) and adjuvant chemotherapy (51%, 23%, and 5%, respectively) was observed. Risk of distant recurrence increased with age at diagnosis; multivariable hazard ratio for patients aged 65–74 years was 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–1.44), hazard ratio for patients aged 75 years or older was 1.39 (95% CI: 1.08–1.79). Risks of locoregional recurrence and contralateral breast cancer were not significantly different across age groups. Conclusion. Elderly patients with breast cancer were at increased risk for distant recurrence. Other studies have shown that the risk of distant recurrence is mainly affected by adjuvant systemic therapy. All TEAM patients received adjuvant endocrine treatment; however, chemotherapy was administered less often in elderly patients. These findings are suggestive for consideration of chemotherapy in relatively fit elderly breast cancer patients with hormone-sensitive disease. PMID:23263290

20. DISTANT HELICOPTER VIEW TO SOUTHEAST UP LITTLE ROCK CREEK ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

20. DISTANT HELICOPTER VIEW TO SOUTHEAST UP LITTLE ROCK CREEK CANYON, WITH DAM AND RESERVOIR AT RIGHT CENTER. PALMDALE-LITTLEROCK DITCH, MARKED BY DENSE VEGETATION, CROSSES ROAD AT LOWER CENTER - Little Rock Creek Dam, Little Rock Creek, Littlerock, Los Angeles County, CA

The Light and Dark Sides of a Distant Planet

NASA Image and Video Library

2006-10-12

The top graph consists of infrared data from NASA Spitzer Space Telescope. It tells astronomers that a distant planet, called Upsilon Andromedae b, always has a giant hot spot on the side that faces the star, while the other side is cold and dark.

Correlation between severe infection and breast cancer metastases in the EORTC 10994/BIG 1-00 trial: Investigating innate immunity as a tumour suppressor in breast cancer.

PubMed

Touati, Nathan; Tryfonidis, Konstantinos; Caramia, Franco; Bonnefoi, Hervé; Cameron, David; Slaets, Leen; Parker, Belinda S; Loi, Sherene

2017-02-01

Breast cancer cells which express an innate immune signature regulated by interferon regulatory factor 7 (IRF7) have reduced metastatic potential. Infections can induce interferon signalling and may activate an anti-tumour immune response. We investigated whether 'severe infection' can be a clinical surrogate of this phenomenon and/or the presence of high levels of the IRF7 signature at diagnosis before neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) is associated with a reduced distant relapse risk, specifically in bones. Clinical data of the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer 10994/BIG 1-00 phase III trial which randomised 1856 patients treated with NACT between 2001 and 2006, were used. Severe infection was febrile neutropenia or any other grade III-IV infective adverse event during NACT. The IRF7 signature was calculated from gene expression data available for 160 patients on a pre-NACT biopsy. Cox models for distant relapse-free interval (DRFI) investigated the effect of the severe infection and IRF7. Fine and Gray models studied the occurrence of bone metastases as first distant relapse. Median follow-up was 4.8 years. No association between severe infection and DFRI was observed in the entire population (n = 1615 eligible patients) hazard ratio [(HR] = 0.99, 90% CI, confidence interval [CI] = 0.81-1.20). For IRF7 (N = 160), a trend towards an association with DRFI was observed (HR = 0.89 for a 50 unit increase, 90% CI = 0.78-1.02, p = 0.081). Higher levels of the IRF7 signature were significantly associated with a decreased bone metastases risk: (HR = 0.76 for a 50 unit increase, 95% CI, 0.62-0.94, p = 0.012). In this study it was shown that severe infection during NACT was not associated with decreased DRFI while high expression of the IRF7 gene signature was significantly associated with reduced bone relapse. This result may be useful for future adjuvant bisphosphonate/denosumab use. Copyright © 2016 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Spacecraft Charging Considerations and Design Efforts for the Orion Crew Module

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Scully, Bob

2017-01-01

The Orion Crew Module (CM) is nearing completion for the next flight, designated as Exploration Mission 1 (EM-1). For the uncrewed mission, the flight path will take the CM through a Perigee Raise Maneuver (PRM) out to an altitude of approximately 1800 km, followed by a Trans-Lunar Injection burn, a pass through the Van Allen belts then out to the moon for a lunar flyby, a Distant Retrograde Insertion (DRI) burn, a Distant Retrograde Orbit (DRO), a Distant Retrograde Departure (DRD) burn, a second lunar flyby, an Earth Insertion (EI) burn, and finally entry and landing. All of this, with the exception of the DRO associated maneuvers, is similar to the previous Apollo 8 mission in late 1968. In recent discussions, it is now possible that EM-1 will be a crewed mission, and if this happens, the orbit may be quite different from that just described. In this case, the flight path may take the CM on an out and back pass through the Van Allen belts twice, then out to the moon, again passing through the Van Allen belts twice, then finally back home. Even if the current EM-1 mission doesn't end up as a crewed mission, EM-2 and subsequent missions will undoubtedly follow orbital trajectories that offer comparable exposures to heightened vehicle charging effects. Because of this, and regardless of flight path, the CM vehicle will likely experience a wide range of exposures to energetic ions and electrons, essentially covering the gamut between low earth orbit to geosynchronous orbit and beyond. National Aeronautical and Space Administration (NASA) and Lockheed Martin (LM) engineers and scientists have been working to fully understand and characterize the vehicle's immunity level with regard to surface and deep dielectric charging, and the ramifications of that immunity level pertaining to materials and impacts to operational avionics, communications, and navigational systems. This presentation attempts to chronicle these efforts in a summary fashion, and attempts to capture the results of that work as they pertain to the electrical and avionic systems on-board the Orion CM.

The two sides of adversity: the effect of distant versus recent adversity on updating emotional content in working memory.

PubMed

Levens, Sara M; Armstrong, Laura Marie; Orejuela-Dávila, Ana I; Alverio, Tabitha

2017-09-01

Previous research suggests that adversity can have both adaptive and maladaptive effects, yet the emotional and working memory processes that contribute to more or less adaptive outcomes are unclear. The present study sought to investigate how updating emotional content differs in adolescents who have experienced past, recent, or no adversity. Participants who had experienced distant adversity (N = 53), no adversity (N = 58), or recent adversity only (N = 20) performed an emotion n-back task with emotional facial expressions. Results revealed that the distant adversity group exhibited significantly faster reaction times (RTs) than the no adversity and recent adversity only groups. In contrast, the recent adversity only group exhibited significantly slower RTs and more errors than the distant adversity and no adversity groups. These results suggest an emotion and executive control pathway by which both the benefits and negative effects of adversity may be conferred. Results also highlight the importance of time in assessing the impact of adversity.

Analysis of failure in patients with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the head and neck. An international collaborative study.

PubMed

Amit, Moran; Binenbaum, Yoav; Sharma, Kanika; Ramer, Naomi; Ramer, Ilana; Agbetoba, Abib; Miles, Brett; Yang, Xinjie; Lei, Delin; Bjøerndal, Kristine; Godballe, Christian; Mücke, Thomas; Wolff, Klaus-Dietrich; Fliss, Dan; Eckardt, André M; Copelli, Chiara; Sesenna, Enrico; Palmer, Frank; Patel, Snehal; Gil, Ziv

2014-07-01

Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is a locally aggressive tumor with a high prevalence of distant metastases. The purpose of this study was to identify independent predictors of outcome and to characterize the patterns of failure. An international retrospective review was conducted of 489 patients with ACC treated between 1985 and 2011 in 9 cancer centers worldwide. Five-year overall-survival (OS), disease-specific survival (DSS), and disease-free survival (DFS) were 76%, 80%, and 68%, respectively. Independent predictors of OS and DSS were: age, site, N classification, and presence of distant metastases. N classification, age, and bone invasion were associated with DFS on multivariate analysis. Age, tumor site, orbital invasion, and N classification were independent predictors of distant metastases. The clinical course of ACC is slow but persistent. Paranasal sinus origin is associated with the lowest distant metastases rate but with the poorest outcome. These prognostic estimates should be considered when tailoring treatment for patients with ACC. Copyright © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.

A QUANTITATIVE ANALYSIS OF DISTANT OPEN CLUSTERS

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Janes, Kenneth A.; Hoq, Sadia

2011-03-15

The oldest open star clusters are important for tracing the history of the Galactic disk, but many of the more distant clusters are heavily reddened and projected against the rich stellar background of the Galaxy. We have undertaken an investigation of several distant clusters (Berkeley 19, Berkeley 44, King 25, NGC 6802, NGC 6827, Berkeley 52, Berkeley 56, NGC 7142, NGC 7245, and King 9) to develop procedures for separating probable cluster members from the background field. We next created a simple quantitative approach for finding approximate cluster distances, reddenings, and ages. We first conclude that with the possible exceptionmore » of King 25 they are probably all physical clusters. We also find that for these distant clusters our typical errors are about {+-}0.07 in E(B - V), {+-}0.15 in log(age), and {+-}0.25 in (m - M){sub o}. The clusters range in age from 470 Myr to 7 Gyr and range from 7.1 to 16.4 kpc from the Galactic center.« less

76 FR 15049 - Agency Information Collection (Equal Opportunity Compliance Review Report); Activity Under OMB...

Federal Register 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014

2011-03-18

...) of 1995 (44 U.S.C. 3501-21), this notice announces that the Veterans Benefits Administration (VBA... schools below college level. The information is used to assure that participants have equal access to.... Estimated Annual Burden and Average Burden per Respondent: Based on past experience, VBA estimates that 76...

From Absent to Active Voices: Securing Disability Equality within Higher Education

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Beauchamp-Pryor, Karen

2012-01-01

This article discusses the representation and participation of disabled students in the development of higher education policy and provision within the UK, at both a national and institutional level. Findings are drawn from a doctoral study, which identified the importance of student participation in securing equality and inclusion. Power…

Repetitive Behaviors in Autism: Relationships with Associated Clinical Features

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Gabriels, Robin L.; Cuccaro, Michael L.; Hill, Dina E.; Ivers, Bonnie J.; Goldson, Edward

2005-01-01

Relationships between repetitive behaviors (RBs) and associated clinical features (i.e., cognitive and adaptive functioning levels, sleep problems, medication use, and other behavioral problems) were examined in two groups (High nonverbal IQ greater than or equal to 97 versus Low nonverbal IQ less than or equal to 56) of children with autism…

Michigan and Ohio K-12 Educational Financing Systems: Equality and Efficiency

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Conlin, Michael; Thompson, Paul N.

2014-01-01

We consider issues of equality and efficiency in two different school funding systems--a state-level system in Michigan and a foundation system in Ohio. Unlike Ohio, the Michigan system restricts districts from generating property or income tax revenue to fund operating expenditures. In both states, districts fund capital expenditures with local…

Seven Actionable Strategies for Advancing Women in Science, Engineering, and Medicine

PubMed Central

Smith, Kristin A.; Arlotta, Paola; Watt, Fiona M.; Solomon, Susan L.

2015-01-01

Achieving gender equality in science will require devising and implementing strategies to overcome the political, administrative, financial, and cultural challenges that exist in the current environment. In this forum, we propose an initial shortlist of recommendations to promote gender equality in science and stimulate future efforts to level the field. PMID:25748929

An Examination of Alternative Poverty Measures for the Wisconsin Equalization Aid Formula.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Cibulka, James G.

1986-01-01

Wisconsin's guaranteed tax base equalization formula has no direct adjustment for the additional costs of educating poverty level pupils. This paper establishes the need for an adjustment and examines three measures (based on varying poverty definitions) to determine which provides the most equitable funding formula for educating poor children. (9…

A Dozen Economic Facts about K-12 Education. Policy Memo

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Greenstone, Michael; Harris, Max; Li, Karen; Looney, Adam; Patashnik, Jeremy

2012-01-01

The Hamilton Project's mission is advancing opportunity, prosperity, and growth. On both the individual and society-wide levels, a strong public education system enables Americans to achieve those objectives. Indeed, education has historically been the great equalizer and offered students of all backgrounds not the promise of equal outcomes but…

Interest Groups, the Courts, and Educational Equality: A Policy Regimes Approach to "Vergara v. California"

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Superfine, Benjamin Michael; Thompson, Alea R.

2016-01-01

In "Vergara v. California" (2014), a trial-level court ruled that California laws governing teacher tenure and dismissal were unconstitutional. This study analyzes "Vergara" in light of the shifting use of the courts to promote equal educational opportunities and the changing power bases of educational interest groups,…

[Expression and clinical significance of KNSL4 in breast cancer].

PubMed

Feng, Yu-Mei; Wan, Yan-Fang; Li, Xiao-Qing; Cao, Xu-Chen; Li, Xi

2006-06-01

Previous screening of breast cancer metastasis-related genes found that the mRNA level of kinesin-like 4 (KNSL4) gene is down-regulated in metastatic lymph nodes as compared with the paired primary breast cancer. This study was to clarify the correlations of KNSL4 mRNA expression to metastasis and prognosis of breast cancer, and explore the correlation of KNSL4 expression to c-erbB-2 expression to explore potential mechanisms of promoting metastasis by KNSL4. Real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) was used to quantify the mRNA level of KNSL4 in 108 specimens of primary breast cancer. The correlations of KNSL4 mRNA level to metastasis and prognosis of the 108 cases were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry was used to assess c-erbB-2 protien expression in 76 out of the 108 cases, and the correlation of KNSL4 expression to c-erbB-2 expression was analyzed. The mRNA level of KNSL4 was significantly lower in the cases at stages iii-iv than in the cases at stages iii-iv (P<0.001), significantly lower in the cases with more than 3 metastatic lymph nodes than in the cases with 0-3 metastatic positive lymph nodes (P<0.01), slightly lower in the cases with negative estrogen receptor or prognesterone receptor than in the cases with positive receptors (P>0.05), lower in the 6 cases with distant metastasis than in the rest cases without distant metastasis within 24 month follow up, lower in the 3 cases with bilateral breast cancer than in other cases with unilateral breast cancer, and significantly lower in c-erbB-2-positive group than in c-erB-2-negative group (P<0.01). The down-regulation of KNSL4 mRNA level is correlated to prognosis of primary breast cancer. It may enhance metastatic ability of breast cancer cells through promoting c-erbB-2 transcription and translation.

SU-F-R-07: Radiomics of CT Features and Associations and Correlation with Outcomes Following Lung SBRT

DOE Office of Scientific and Technical Information (OSTI.GOV)

Schreibmann, E; Iwinski Sutter, A; Whitaker, D

Objective: To investigate the prognostic significance of image gradients and in predicting clinical outcomes in a patients with non-small cell lung cancer treated with stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) on 71 patients with 83 treated lesions. Methods: The records of patients treated with lung SBRT were retrospectively reviewed. When applicable, SBRT target volumes were modified to exclude any overlap with pleura, chestwall, or mediastinum. The ITK software package was utilized to generate quantitative measures of image intensity, inhomogeneity, shape morphology and first and second-order CT textures. Multivariate and univariate models containing CT features were generated to assess associations with clinicopathologic factors.more » Results: On univariate analysis, tumor size (HR 0.54, p=0.045) sumHU (HR 0.31, p=0.044) and short run grey level emphasis STD (HR 0.22, p=0.019) were associated with regional failure-free survival; meanHU (HR 0.30, p=0.035), long run emphasis (HR 0.21, p=0.011) and long run low grey level emphasis (HR 0.14, p=0.005) was associated with distant failure-free survival (DFFS). No features were significant on multivariate modeling however long run low grey level emphasis had a hazard ratio of 0.12 (p=0.061) for DFFS. Adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma differed with respect to long run emphasis STD (p=0.024), short run low grey level emphasis STD (p<0.001), and long run low grey level emphasis STD (p=0.024). Multivariate modeling of texture features associated with tumor histology was used to estimate histologies of 18 lesions treated without histologic confirmation. Of these, MVA suggested the same histology as a prior metachronous lung malignancy in 3/7 patients. Conclusion: Extracting radiomics features on clinical datasets was feasible with the ITK package with minimal effort to identify pre-treatment quantitative CT features with prognostic factors for distant control after lung SBRT.« less

Intensity-modulated salvage radiotherapy with simultaneous integrated boost for local recurrence of prostate carcinoma: a pilot study on the place of PET-choline for guiding target volume delineation.

PubMed

Wahart, Aurélien; Guy, Jean-Baptiste; Vallard, Alexis; Geissler, Benjamin; Ben Mrad, Majed; Falk, Alexander T; Prevot, Nathalie; de Laroche, Guy; Rancoule, Chloé; Chargari, Cyrus; Magné, Nicolas

2016-01-01

The aim of this study was to report the first cases of salvage radiotherapy (RT) using the intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) with simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) targeted on choline positron emission tomography (PET) uptake in a local recurrent prostate cancer, after a radical prostatectomy. Four patients received salvage irradiation for biochemical relapse that occurred after the initial radical prostatectomy. The relapse occurred from 10 months to 6 years with PSA levels ranging from 2.35 to 4.86 ng ml(-1). For each patient, an (18)F-choline PET-CT showed a focal choline uptake in prostatic fossa, with standardized uptake value calculated on the basis of predicted lean body mass (SUL) max of 3.3-6.8. No involved lymph node or distant metastases were diagnosed. IMRT doses were of 62.7 Gy (1.9 Gy/fraction, 33 fractions), with a SIB of 69.3 Gy (2.1 Gy/fraction, 33 fractions) to a PET-guided target volume. Acute toxicities were limited. We observed no gastrointestinal toxicity ≥grade 2 and only one grade 2 genitourinary toxicity. At 1-month follow-up evaluation, no complication and a decrease in PSA level (6.8-43.8% of the pre-therapeutic level) were reported. After 4 months, a decrease in PSA level was obtained for all the patients, ranging from 30% to 70%. At a median follow-up of 15 months, PSA level was controlled for all the patients, but one of them experienced a distant lymph node recurrence. Salvage irradiation to the prostate bed with SIB guided by PET-CT is feasible, with biological efficacy and no major acute toxicity. IMRT with PET-oriented SIB for salvage treatment of prostate cancer is possible, without major acute toxicity.

Discovery of prognostic biomarkers for predicting lung cancer metastasis using microarray and survival data.

PubMed

Huang, Hui-Ling; Wu, Yu-Chung; Su, Li-Jen; Huang, Yun-Ju; Charoenkwan, Phasit; Chen, Wen-Liang; Lee, Hua-Chin; Chu, William Cheng-Chung; Ho, Shinn-Ying

2015-02-21

Few studies have investigated prognostic biomarkers of distant metastases of lung cancer. One of the central difficulties in identifying biomarkers from microarray data is the availability of only a small number of samples, which results overtraining. Recently obtained evidence reveals that epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) of tumor cells causes metastasis, which is detrimental to patients' survival. This work proposes a novel optimization approach to discovering EMT-related prognostic biomarkers to predict the distant metastasis of lung cancer using both microarray and survival data. This weighted objective function maximizes both the accuracy of prediction of distant metastasis and the area between the disease-free survival curves of the non-distant and distant metastases. Seventy-eight patients with lung cancer and a follow-up time of 120 months are used to identify a set of gene markers and an independent cohort of 26 patients is used to evaluate the identified biomarkers. The medical records of the 78 patients show a significant difference between the disease-free survival times of the 37 non-distant- and the 41 distant-metastasis patients. The experimental results thus obtained are as follows. 1) The use of disease-free survival curves can compensate for the shortcoming of insufficient samples and greatly increase the test accuracy by 11.10%; and 2) the support vector machine with a set of 17 transcripts, such as CCL16 and CDKN2AIP, can yield a leave-one-out cross-validation accuracy of 93.59%, a test accuracy of 76.92%, a large disease-free survival area of 74.81%, and a mean survival prediction error of 3.99 months. The identified putative biomarkers are examined using related studies and signaling pathways to reveal the potential effectiveness of the biomarkers in prospective confirmatory studies. The proposed new optimization approach to identifying prognostic biomarkers by combining multiple sources of data (microarray and survival) can facilitate the accurate selection of biomarkers that are most relevant to the disease while solving the problem of insufficient samples.

Outcomes of surgery for gastric cancer with distant metastases: a retrospective study from the SEER database

PubMed Central

Weng, Shanshan; Dong, Caixia; Zhu, Lizhen; Yang, Ziru; Zhong, Jing; Yuan, Ying

2017-01-01

Background The role of surgical therapy in gastric cancer patients with distant metastases remains controversial. This retrospective analysis was performed to identify whether gastric cancer patients with distant metastases might benefit from surgery. Patients and methods A total of 5185 patients from the SEER database who were initially diagnosed with histologically confirmed gastric cancer with distant metastases from 2004 to 2009 were included. Patients were divided into the following three groups: patients who underwent resection of both the primary tumor and distant metastatic tumors (‘PMTR’ group), patients who only underwent resection of the primary tumor (‘PTR’ group) and patients who did not undergo any surgery (‘No surgery’ group). We employed the Kaplan-Meier analysis, the log-rank test and multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate the survival time of the different groups. Results A total of 5185 patients had a median survival time (MST) of 9.0 months. The improvement in survival of the ‘PMTR’ and ‘PTR’ groups was significantly different compared with that of the ‘No surgery’ group (MST, 12.0 vs 12.0 vs 9.0 months, respectively, P<0.001; 1-year survival rate, 49.6% vs 49.1% vs 30.1%, respectively, P<0.001; 3-year survival rate, 12.5% vs 15.1% vs 5.8%, respectively, P<0.001), whereas no significant difference was found between the ‘PMTR’ group and ‘PTR’ group (P=0.642). Multivariate Cox proportional analysis showed that surgery was an independent prognostic factor (‘PMTR’, hazard ratio (HR) =0.648, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.574-0.733, P<0.001; ‘PTR’, HR=0.631, 95% CI 0.583-0.684, P<0.001). Conclusions This retrospective analysis demonstrated that combined PTR and metastasectomy or PTR alone were independent prognostic factors for survival improvement in gastric cancer patients with distant metastases. Because no statistically significant difference in survival was observed between the ‘PMTR’ group and ‘PTR’ group, PTR, which is a more minor surgery, might be more appropriate than PMTR in clinical practice for gastric cancer patients with distant metastases. PMID:28008147

Maintenance of Epithelial Stem Cells by Cbl Proteins

DTIC Science & Technology

2012-09-01

may be a potential mechanism behind inhibition of MEC differentiation in the absence of Cbl.   7   Figure 1. Flow cytometry analysis of hTERT...results in tumors at the implant site as well as distant metastases To assess whether ErbB2-dependent MPPS1 cells retain their oncogenic potential ...the levels of ErbB2 are not lost in this cell line during culture [ ]. This in itself suggested the potential dependence of oncogenic traits of MPPS1

Preoperative staging of rectal cancer.

PubMed

Yeung, Justin Mc; Ferris, Nicholas J; Lynch, A Craig; Heriot, Alexander G

2009-10-01

Preoperative staging is now an essential factor in the multidisciplinary management of rectal cancer because tumor stage is the strongest predictive factor for recurrence. Preoperative staging of rectal cancer can be divided into either local or distant staging. Local staging incorporates the assessment of mural wall invasion, circumferential resection margin involvement, as well as the nodal status for metastasis. Distant staging assesses for evidence of metastatic disease. The aim of this review is to consider the indications and limitations of the current preoperative imaging modalities for rectal cancer staging including clinical examination, endorectal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography and positron emission tomography-computed tomography, with respect to local and distant disease.

Stirring of a planetesimal swarm - The role of distant encounters

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Weidenschilling, Stuart J.

1989-01-01

The viscous stirring algorithm developed by Stewart and Wetherill (1988) to treat the random velocities induced in planetesimals by their mutual gravitational perturbations encompasses only the scattering of bodies in crossing orbits by close encounters. Expressions are presently derived for the stirring rate due to distant encounters on the basis of three-body formalism, using a stirring rate that has the same mass-dependence as that for close encounters. The relative importance of both the close encounter and distant encounter mechanisms depends on the Safronov number. Perturbations by a planetary embryo in scenarios that involve explosive growth are found capable of affecting planetesimal evolution in noncrossing orbits.

CATV and the Broadcasters.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Flanagan, Bill

Competition between cable television systems (CATV) and regular broadcast stations concerns pay-TV and distant signal importation. The pay-TV that CATV provides competes with the networks by "siphoning" away sports and feature films, while the distant signals that CATV imports to a local market "fragment" the local audience and…

Physics of Galaxy Clusters and How it Affects Cosmological Tests

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Vikhlinin, Alexey; Oliversen, Ronald J. (Technical Monitor)

2002-01-01

We have worked on the analysis of the Chandra observations of the nearby and distant clusters of galaxies, and on the expansion of the sample of distant X-ray clusters based on the archival ROSAT PSPC data. Some of the scientific results are discussed.

DISTANT VIEW, BLM TACK SHED ON LEFT, BLM SEED SHED ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

DISTANT VIEW, BLM TACK SHED ON LEFT, BLM SEED SHED AT LEFT CENTER, FIRE DISPATCH OFFICES 1 AND 2 AT RIGHT CENTER, UTILITY BUILDING "B" ON RIGHT. VIEW TO SOUTHWEST. - Cedar City Automotive Repair Shop, 820 North Main Street, Cedar City, Iron County, UT

DISTANT VIEW, UTILITY BUILDING "B" (EAST SIDE) ON LEFT AND ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

DISTANT VIEW, UTILITY BUILDING "B" (EAST SIDE) ON LEFT AND AUTOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP (EAST AND SOUTH SIDES) ON RIGHT, GASOLINE AND OIL HOUSE VISIBLE IN FAR DISTANCE. VIEW TO NORTHWEST. - Cedar City Automotive Repair Shop, 820 North Main Street, Cedar City, Iron County, UT

Collaborative project to identify direct and distant pedigree relationships in apple

USDA-ARS?s Scientific Manuscript database

Pedigree information is fundamentally important in breeding programs, enabling breeders to know the source of valuable attributes and underlying alleles and to enlarge genetic diversity in a directed way. Many apple cultivars are related to each other through both recent and distant common ancestors...

3. Distant view toward east, west face of perimeter acquisition ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

3. Distant view toward east, west face of perimeter acquisition radar building with data link satellite dish on south side - Stanley R. Mickelsen Safeguard Complex, Perimeter Acquisition Radar Building, Limited Access Area, between Limited Access Patrol Road & Service Road A, Nekoma, Cavalier County, ND

Counties eliminating racial disparities in colorectal cancer mortality.

PubMed

Rust, George; Zhang, Shun; Yu, Zhongyuan; Caplan, Lee; Jain, Sanjay; Ayer, Turgay; McRoy, Luceta; Levine, Robert S

2016-06-01

Although colorectal cancer (CRC) mortality rates are declining, racial-ethnic disparities in CRC mortality nationally are widening. Herein, the authors attempted to identify county-level variations in this pattern, and to characterize counties with improving disparity trends. The authors examined 20-year trends in US county-level black-white disparities in CRC age-adjusted mortality rates during the study period between 1989 and 2010. Using a mixed linear model, counties were grouped into mutually exclusive patterns of black-white racial disparity trends in age-adjusted CRC mortality across 20 three-year rolling average data points. County-level characteristics from census data and from the Area Health Resources File were normalized and entered into a principal component analysis. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to test the relation between these factors (clusters of related contextual variables) and the disparity trend pattern group for each county. Counties were grouped into 4 disparity trend pattern groups: 1) persistent disparity (parallel black and white trend lines); 2) diverging (widening disparity); 3) sustained equality; and 4) converging (moving from disparate outcomes toward equality). The initial principal component analysis clustered the 82 independent variables into a smaller number of components, 6 of which explained 47% of the county-level variation in disparity trend patterns. County-level variation in social determinants, health care workforce, and health systems all were found to contribute to variations in cancer mortality disparity trend patterns from 1990 through 2010. Counties sustaining equality over time or moving from disparities to equality in cancer mortality suggest that disparities are not inevitable, and provide hope that more communities can achieve optimal and equitable cancer outcomes for all. Cancer 2016;122:1735-48. © 2016 American Cancer Society. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

Automatic image equalization and contrast enhancement using Gaussian mixture modeling.

PubMed

Celik, Turgay; Tjahjadi, Tardi

2012-01-01

In this paper, we propose an adaptive image equalization algorithm that automatically enhances the contrast in an input image. The algorithm uses the Gaussian mixture model to model the image gray-level distribution, and the intersection points of the Gaussian components in the model are used to partition the dynamic range of the image into input gray-level intervals. The contrast equalized image is generated by transforming the pixels' gray levels in each input interval to the appropriate output gray-level interval according to the dominant Gaussian component and the cumulative distribution function of the input interval. To take account of the hypothesis that homogeneous regions in the image represent homogeneous silences (or set of Gaussian components) in the image histogram, the Gaussian components with small variances are weighted with smaller values than the Gaussian components with larger variances, and the gray-level distribution is also used to weight the components in the mapping of the input interval to the output interval. Experimental results show that the proposed algorithm produces better or comparable enhanced images than several state-of-the-art algorithms. Unlike the other algorithms, the proposed algorithm is free of parameter setting for a given dynamic range of the enhanced image and can be applied to a wide range of image types.

State-Level Progress in Reducing the Black–White Infant Mortality Gap, United States, 1999–2013

PubMed Central

Goldfarb, Samantha Sittig; Wells, Brittny A.; Beitsch, Leslie; Levine, Robert S.; Rust, George

2017-01-01

Objectives. To assess state-level progress on eliminating racial disparities in infant mortality. Methods. Using linked infant birth–death files from 1999 to 2013, we calculated state-level 3-year rolling average infant mortality rates (IMRs) and Black–White IMR ratios. We also calculated percentage improvement and a projected year for achieving equality if current trend lines are sustained. Results. We found substantial state-level variation in Black IMRs (range = 6.6–13.8) and Black–White rate ratios (1.5–2.7), and also in percentage relative improvement in IMR (range = 2.7% to 36.5% improvement) and in Black–White rate ratios (from 11.7% relative worsening to 24.0% improvement). Thirteen states achieved statistically significant reductions in Black–White IMR disparities. Eliminating the Black–White IMR gap would have saved 64 876 babies during these 15 years. Eighteen states would achieve IMR racial equality by the year 2050 if current trends are sustained. Conclusions. States are achieving varying levels of progress in reducing Black infant mortality and Black–White IMR disparities. Public Health Implications. Racial equality in infant survival is achievable, but will require shifting our focus to determinants of progress and strategies for success. PMID:28323476

CD44 increases the efficiency of distant metastasis of breast cancer

PubMed Central

McFarlane, Suzanne; Coulter, Jonathan A.; Tibbits, Paul; O'Grady, Anthony; McFarlane, Cheryl; Montgomery, Nicola; Hill, Ashleigh; McCarthy, Helen O.; Young, Leonie S.; Kay, Elaine W.; Isacke, Clare M.; Waugh, David J.J.

2015-01-01

Metastasis is the predominant cause of death from cancer yet we have few biomarkers to predict patients at increased risk of metastasis and are unable to effectively treat disseminated disease. Analysis of 448 primary breast tumors determined that expression of the hylauronan receptor CD44 associated with high grade (p = 0.046), ER- (p = 0.001) and PR-negative tumors (p = 0.029), and correlated with increased distant recurrence and reduced disease-free survival in patients with lymph-node positive or large tumors. To determine its functional role in distant metastasis, CD44 was knocked-down in MDA-MB-231 cells using two independent shRNA sequences. Loss of CD44 attenuated tumor cell adhesion to endothelial cells and reduced cell invasion but did not affect proliferation in vitro. To verify the importance of CD44 to post-intravasation events, tumor formation was assessed by quantitative in vivo imaging and post-mortem tissue analysis following an intra-cardiac injection of transfected cells. CD44 knock-down increased survival and decreased overall tumor burden at multiple sites, including the skeleton in vivo. We conclude that elevated CD44 expression on tumour cells within the systemic circulation increases the efficiency of post-intravasation events and distant metastasis in vivo, consistent with its association with increased distant recurrence and reduced disease-free survival in patients. PMID:25888636

The fates of Solar system analogues with one additional distant planet

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

Veras, Dimitri

2016-12-01

The potential existence of a distant planet (`Planet Nine') in the Solar system has prompted a re-think about the evolution of planetary systems. As the Sun transitions from a main-sequence star into a white dwarf, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune are currently assumed to survive in expanded but otherwise unchanged orbits. However, a sufficiently distant and sufficiently massive extra planet would alter this quiescent end scenario through the combined effects of Solar giant branch mass-loss and Galactic tides. Here, I estimate bounds for the mass and orbit of a distant extra planet that would incite future instability in systems with a Sun-like star and giant planets with masses and orbits equivalent to those of Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune. I find that this boundary is diffuse and strongly dependent on each of the distant planet's orbital parameters. Nevertheless, I claim that instability occurs more often than not when the planet is as massive as Jupiter and harbours a semimajor axis exceeding about 300 au, or has a mass of a super-Earth and a semimajor axis exceeding about 3000 au. These results hold for orbital pericentres ranging from 100 to at least 400 au. This instability scenario might represent a common occurrence, as potentially evidenced by the ubiquity of metal pollution in white dwarf atmospheres throughout the Galaxy.

A case of peritoneal metastasis during treatment for hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

PubMed

Wakasaki, Takahiro; Omori, Hirofumi; Sueyoshi, Shintaro; Rikimaru, Fumihide; Toh, Satoshi; Taguchi, Kenichi; Higaki, Yuichiro; Morita, Masaru; Masuda, Muneyuki

2016-10-18

Advanced head and neck squamous cell carcinomas frequently develop distant metastases to limited organs, including the lungs, bone, mediastinal lymph nodes, brain, and liver. Peritoneal carcinomatosis as an initial distant metastasis from hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma is quite rare. A 75-year-old man diagnosed with hypopharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma and his clinical stage was determined as T2N2cM0. Notably, the right retropharyngeal lymph node surrounded more than half of the right internal carotid artery. Concomitant conformal radiation therapy was administered for the primary hypopharyngeal lesion, and the whole neck and tumor response was evaluated at this point according to our algorithm-based chemoradioselection protocol. As the tumor responses at both the primary and lymph nodes were poor, with the right retropharyngeal lymph node in particular demonstrating mild enlargement, we performed a radical surgery: pharyngolaryngectomy, bilateral neck dissection, and reconstruction of the cervical esophagus with a free jejunal flap. Then, postoperative CRT was performed. During these therapies, the patient developed a fever and mild abdominal pain, which was associated with an increased C-reactive protein level. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography from the neck to the pelvis demonstrated mild peritoneal hypertrophy and ascites with no evidence of recurrent and/or metastatic tumor formation. We initially diagnosed acute abdomen symptoms as postoperative ileus. However, cytological examination of the refractory ascites resulted in a diagnosis of peritoneal carcinomatosis. Owing to rapid disease progress, the patient died 1.5 months after abdominal symptom onset. The present case is the second reported case of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma with peritoneal carcinomatosis as an incipient distant metastasis. Therefore, peritoneal carcinomatosis should be considered a differential diagnosis when acute abdomen is noted during treatment for head and neck cancers.

The use of remote presence for health care delivery in a northern Inuit community: a feasibility study

PubMed Central

Mendez, Ivar; Jong, Michael; Keays-White, Debra; Turner, Gail

2013-01-01

Objective To evaluate the feasibility of remote presence for improving the health of residents in a remote northern Inuit community. Study design A pilot study assessed patient's, nurse's and physician's satisfaction with and the use of the remote presence technology aiding delivery of health care to a remote community. A preliminary cost analysis of this technology was also performed. Methods This study deployed a remote presence RP-7 robot to the isolated Inuit community of Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador for 15 months. The RP-7 is wirelessly controlled by a laptop computer equipped with audiovisual capability and a joystick to maneuver the robot in real time to aid in the assessing and care of patients from a distant location. Qualitative data on physician's, patient's, caregiver's and staff's satisfaction were collected as well as information on its use and characteristics and the number of air transports required to the referral center and associated costs. Results A total of 252 remote presence sessions occurred during the study period, with 89% of the sessions involving direct patient assessment or monitoring. Air transport was required in only 40% of the cases that would have been otherwise transported normally. Patients and their caregivers, nurses and physicians all expressed a high level of satisfaction with the remote presence technology and deemed it beneficial for improved patient care, workloads and job satisfaction. Conclusions These results show the feasibility of deploying a remote presence robot in a distant northern community and a high degree of satisfaction with the technology. Remote presence in the Canadian North has potential for delivering a cost-effective health care solution to underserviced communities reducing the need for the transport of patients and caregivers to distant referral centers. PMID:23984292

The use of remote presence for health care delivery in a northern Inuit community: a feasibility study.

PubMed

Mendez, Ivar; Jong, Michael; Keays-White, Debra; Turner, Gail

2013-01-01

To evaluate the feasibility of remote presence for improving the health of residents in a remote northern Inuit community. A pilot study assessed patient's, nurse's and physician's satisfaction with and the use of the remote presence technology aiding delivery of health care to a remote community. A preliminary cost analysis of this technology was also performed. This study deployed a remote presence RP-7 robot to the isolated Inuit community of Nain, Newfoundland and Labrador for 15 months. The RP-7 is wirelessly controlled by a laptop computer equipped with audiovisual capability and a joystick to maneuver the robot in real time to aid in the assessing and care of patients from a distant location. Qualitative data on physician's, patient's, caregiver's and staff's satisfaction were collected as well as information on its use and characteristics and the number of air transports required to the referral center and associated costs. A total of 252 remote presence sessions occurred during the study period, with 89% of the sessions involving direct patient assessment or monitoring. Air transport was required in only 40% of the cases that would have been otherwise transported normally. Patients and their caregivers, nurses and physicians all expressed a high level of satisfaction with the remote presence technology and deemed it beneficial for improved patient care, workloads and job satisfaction. These results show the feasibility of deploying a remote presence robot in a distant northern community and a high degree of satisfaction with the technology. Remote presence in the Canadian North has potential for delivering a cost-effective health care solution to underserviced communities reducing the need for the transport of patients and caregivers to distant referral centers.

Sexual Well-Being Among Partnered Women With Breast Cancer Recurrence

PubMed Central

Andersen, Barbara L.; Carpenter, Kristen M.; Yang, Hae-Chung; Shapiro, Charles L.

2007-01-01

Purpose A woman’s risk for sexual disruption after breast cancer recurrence has received little clinical or research attention. Patients and Methods Breast cancer patients recently diagnosed with recurrence (n = 60) were initially assessed at baseline and completed follow-ups at 4, 8, and 12 months. They were compared by age, stage, and duration and frequency of follow-up with matched patients who remained disease free (n = 120). Using linear mixed modeling, the groups were compared in their trajectories of change on measures of sexuality, relationship satisfaction, cancer-specific stress, and physical functioning. Recurrence subgroups, those with locoregional versus distant disease and those younger versus older than 52 years, were also compared. Results At baseline, the recurrence group had significantly lower intercourse frequency and physical functioning compared with the disease-free group and these differences were maintained. There were no significant differences in the frequencies of kissing or sexual and relationship satisfactions. For the recurrence group patients, the heightened stress of the diagnostic/early recurrence treatment period declined to the lower disease-free levels by 12 months. This effect was largely due to improvement of the patients with distant disease. Finally, sexual changes were most notable for younger patients. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first longitudinal, controlled study of sexuality—sexuality in the context of other quality of life domains—for women coping with recurrence. Despite disruption, patients maintained their sexual lives. Younger and distant recurrence patients, however, may have greatest risk of sexual disruption. The factors contributing to sexual disruption remain unknown, and studies investigating strategies to help patients maintain this aspect of quality of life are needed. PMID:17634495

A new transmission risk index for human African trypanosomiasis and its application in the identification of sites of high transmission of sleeping sickness in the Fontem focus of southwest Cameroon.

PubMed

Njitchouang, G R; Njiokou, F; Nana-Djeunga, H; Asonganyi, T; Fewou-Moundipa, P; Cuny, G; Simo, G

2011-09-01

A new index for the risk for transmission of human African trypanosomiasis was developed from an earlier index by adding terms for the proportion of tsetse infected with Trypanosoma brucei gambiense group 1 and the contribution of animals to tsetse diet. The validity of the new index was then assessed in the Fontem focus of southwest Cameroon. Averages of 0.66 and 4.85 Glossina palpalis palpalis (Diptera: Glossinidae) were caught per trap/day at the end of one rainy season (November) and the start of the next (April), respectively. Of 1596 tsetse flies examined, 4.7% were positive for Trypanosoma brucei s.l. midgut infections and 0.6% for T. b. gambiense group 1. Among 184 bloodmeals identified, 55.1% were from pigs, 25.2% from humans, 17.6% from wild animals and 1.2% from goats. Of the meals taken from humans, 81.5% were taken at sites distant from pigsties. At the end of the rainy season, catches were low and similar between biotopes distant from and close to pigsties, but the risk for transmission was greatest at sites distant from the sties, suggesting that the presence of pigs reduced the risk to humans. At the beginning of the rainy season, catches of tsetse and risk for transmission were greatest close to the sties. In all seasons, there was a strong correlation between the old and new indices, suggesting that both can be used to estimate the level of transmission, but as the new index is the more comprehensive, it may be more accurate. © 2010 The Authors. Medical and Veterinary Entomology © 2010 The Royal Entomological Society.

Violence in the hearts of galaxies: aberration or adolescence?

PubMed

Mundell, Carole G

2002-12-15

Violent activity in the nuclei of galaxies has long been considered a curiosity in its own right; manifestations of this phenomenon include distant quasars in the early Universe and comparatively nearby Seyfert galaxies, both thought to be powered by the release of gravitational potential energy as material from the host galaxy accretes onto a central supermassive black hole (SMBH). Traditionally, the broader study of the formation, structure and evolution of galaxies has largely excluded active galactic nuclei. Recently, however, this situation has changed dramatically, both observationally and theoretically, with the realization that the growth and influence of the SMBH, the origin and development of galaxies and nuclear activity at different epochs in the Universe may be intimately related. The most spectacular fireworks seen in distant quasars may be relatively easy to explain, since the era of greatest quasar activity seems to coincide with turbulent dynamics at the epoch of galaxy formation in the young, gas-rich Universe. Ubiquitous black holes are believed to be a legacy of this violent birth. Alternatively, black holes may be the seeds that drive galaxy formation in the first place. Closer to home, and hence more recently in the history of the Universe, a fraction of comparatively ordinary galaxies, similar to our own, has reignited their central engines, albeit at a lower level of activity. Since these galaxies are more established than their younger and more distant counterparts, the activity here is all the more puzzling. Whatever the mechanisms involved, they are likely to play an important role in galaxy evolution. I review the intriguing evidence for causal links between SMBHs, nuclear activity and the formation and evolution of galaxies, and describe opportunities for testing these relationships using the next generation of earthbound and space-borne astronomical facilities.

Collaborative Accounting Problem Solving via Group Support Systems in a Face-to-Face versus Distant Learning Environment.

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Burke, Jacqueline A.

2001-01-01

Accounting students (n=128) used either face-to-face or distant Group support systems to complete collaborative tasks. Participation and social presence perceptions were significantly higher face to face. Task difficulty did not affect participation in either environment. (Contains 54 references.) (JOW)

5. Photocopy of photograph, 1942. DISTANT VIEW OF U.S. VANADIUM ...

Library of Congress Historic Buildings Survey, Historic Engineering Record, Historic Landscapes Survey

5. Photocopy of photograph, 1942. DISTANT VIEW OF U.S. VANADIUM CORPORATION WORKS WITH EXTANT SMELTER STACK AT LEFT. (Original print in possession of Western Colorado Power Archives. Photographer unknown.) - San Juan & New York Mining & Smelting Company, Smelter Stack, State Route 160, Durango, La Plata County, CO

The Detection and Photometric Redshift Determination of Distant Galaxies using SIRTF's Infrared Array Camera

NASA Technical Reports Server (NTRS)

Simpson, C.; Eisenhardt, P.

1998-01-01

We investigate the ability of the Space Infrared Telescope Facility's Infrared Array Camera to detect distant (z3) galaxies and measure their photometric redshifts. Our analysis shows that changing the original long wavelength filter specifications provides significant improvements in performance in this and other areas.

Constraints on Janus Cosmological model from recent observations of supernovae type Ia

NASA Astrophysics Data System (ADS)

D'Agostini, G.; Petit, J. P.

2018-07-01

From our exact solution of the Janus Cosmological equation we derive the relation of the predicted magnitude of distant sources versus their red shift. The comparison, through this one free parameter model, to the available data from 740 distant supernovae shows an excellent fit.

Development and validation of a gene expression-based signature to predict distant metastasis in locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma: a retrospective, multicentre, cohort study.

PubMed

Tang, Xin-Ran; Li, Ying-Qin; Liang, Shao-Bo; Jiang, Wei; Liu, Fang; Ge, Wen-Xiu; Tang, Ling-Long; Mao, Yan-Ping; He, Qing-Mei; Yang, Xiao-Jing; Zhang, Yuan; Wen, Xin; Zhang, Jian; Wang, Ya-Qin; Zhang, Pan-Pan; Sun, Ying; Yun, Jing-Ping; Zeng, Jing; Li, Li; Liu, Li-Zhi; Liu, Na; Ma, Jun

2018-03-01

Gene expression patterns can be used as prognostic biomarkers in various types of cancers. We aimed to identify a gene expression pattern for individual distant metastatic risk assessment in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In this multicentre, retrospective, cohort analysis, we included 937 patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma from three Chinese hospitals: the Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center (Guangzhou, China), the Affiliated Hospital of Guilin Medical University (Guilin, China), and the First People's Hospital of Foshan (Foshan, China). Using microarray analysis, we profiled mRNA gene expression between 24 paired locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma tumours from patients at Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center with or without distant metastasis after radical treatment. Differentially expressed genes were examined using digital expression profiling in a training cohort (Guangzhou training cohort; n=410) to build a gene classifier using a penalised regression model. We validated the prognostic accuracy of this gene classifier in an internal validation cohort (Guangzhou internal validation cohort, n=204) and two external independent cohorts (Guilin cohort, n=165; Foshan cohort, n=158). The primary endpoint was distant metastasis-free survival. Secondary endpoints were disease-free survival and overall survival. We identified 137 differentially expressed genes between metastatic and non-metastatic locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissues. A distant metastasis gene signature for locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma (DMGN) that consisted of 13 genes was generated to classify patients into high-risk and low-risk groups in the training cohort. Patients with high-risk scores in the training cohort had shorter distant metastasis-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] 4·93, 95% CI 2·99-8·16; p<0·0001), disease-free survival (HR 3·51, 2·43-5·07; p<0·0001), and overall survival (HR 3·22, 2·18-4·76; p<0·0001) than patients with low-risk scores. The prognostic accuracy of DMGN was validated in the internal and external cohorts. Furthermore, among patients with low-risk scores in the combined training and internal cohorts, concurrent chemotherapy improved distant metastasis-free survival compared with those patients who did not receive concurrent chemotherapy (HR 0·40, 95% CI 0·19-0·83; p=0·011), whereas patients with high-risk scores did not benefit from concurrent chemotherapy (HR 1·03, 0·71-1·50; p=0·876). This was also validated in the two external cohorts combined. We developed a nomogram based on the DMGN and other variables that predicted an individual's risk of distant metastasis, which was strengthened by adding Epstein-Barr virus DNA status. The DMGN is a reliable prognostic tool for distant metastasis in patients with locoregionally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma and might be able to predict which patients benefit from concurrent chemotherapy. It has the potential to guide treatment decisions for patients at different risk of distant metastasis. The National Natural Science Foundation of China, the National Science & Technology Pillar Program during the Twelfth Five-year Plan Period, the Natural Science Foundation of Guang Dong Province, the National Key Research and Development Program of China, the Innovation Team Development Plan of the Ministry of Education, the Health & Medical Collaborative Innovation Project of Guangzhou City, China, and the Program of Introducing Talents of Discipline to Universities. Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

GENDER EQUALITY AND THE GENDER GAP IN MATHEMATICS.

PubMed

Tao, Hung-Lin; Michalopoulos, Christos

2018-03-01

A gender gap has been found in mathematics (boys outperform girls) that has prevailed across countries for many decades. Whether this gap results from nature or nurture has been hotly debated. Using the evidence of PISA 2003 and the gender equality index of 2003, some researchers have argued that an improvement in gender equality reduces the gender gap in mathematics. This study used five waves of country-level PISA data and, controlling for country fixed effects, found no evidence to support this argument. Furthermore, individual data for PISA 2012 and the multilevel data model were used. The conclusion drawn also does not support the argument. In fact, the relationship between gender equality and the gender gap in mathematics vanished after PISA 2003.

Fostering Middle School Students' Relational Thinking of the Equal Sign Using GeoGebra

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Ko, Yi-Yin; Karadag, Zekeriya

2013-01-01

Current reforms in mathematics education have called for a stronger emphasis on the teaching and learning of algebra for all students at all grade levels. Succeeding in algebra can prepare students to learn and understand more advanced mathematics in the future. One topic in algebra--the equal sign--has received considerable attention in middle…

Legally and Morally, What Our Gay Students Must Be Given

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Weiler, Erica M.

2004-01-01

Schools have a legal, ethical, and moral obligation to provide to all students equal access to education and equal protection under the law. For many sexual minority students, however, schools are unsafe and survival, not education, is the priority. Schools typically do not have the information, interest, or comfort level to address the needs of…

Legislation and Equality in Basic Education for All in China

ERIC Educational Resources Information Center

Law, Wing-Wah; Pan, Su-Yan

2009-01-01

In China, legislation exists which requires compulsory schooling for all students of school age. This article examines the functions of and the constraints on using law to institutionalize equality in basic education. It argues that, in China, law is a last resort, holding governments of various levels accountable. Law can be a device of social…