212 research outputs found
Concise Reporting of Benign Endometrial Biopsies is an Acceptable Alternative to Descriptive Reporting
In the United Kingdom, endometrial biopsy reports traditionally consist of a morphologic description followed by a conclusion. Recently published consensus guidelines for reporting benign endometrial biopsies advocate the use of standardized terminology. In this project we aimed to assess the acceptability and benefits of this simplified "diagnosis only" format for reporting non-neoplastic endometrial biopsies. Two consultants reported consecutive endometrial biopsies using 1 of 3 possible formats: (i) diagnosis only, (ii) diagnosis plus an accompanying comment, and (iii) the traditional descriptive format. Service users were asked to provide feedback on this approach via an anonymized online survey. The reproducibility of this system was assessed on a set of 53 endometrial biopsies among consultants and senior histopathology trainees. Of 370 consecutive benign endometrial biopsies, 245 (66%) were reported as diagnosis only, 101 (27%) as diagnosis plus a brief comment, and 24 (7%) as diagnosis following a morphologic description. Of the 43 survey respondents (28 gynecologists, 11 pathologists, and 4 clinical nurse specialists), 40 (93%) preferred a diagnosis only, with 3 (7%) being against/uncertain about a diagnosis only report. Among 3 histopathology consultants and 4 senior trainees there was majority agreement on the reporting format in 53/53 (100%) and 52/53 (98%) biopsies. In summary, we found that reporting benign specimens within standardized, well-understood diagnostic categories is an acceptable alternative to traditional descriptive reporting, with the latter reserved for the minority of cases that do not fit into specific categories. This revised approach has the potential to improve reporting uniformity and reproducibility
Astrobiological Complexity with Probabilistic Cellular Automata
Search for extraterrestrial life and intelligence constitutes one of the
major endeavors in science, but has yet been quantitatively modeled only rarely
and in a cursory and superficial fashion. We argue that probabilistic cellular
automata (PCA) represent the best quantitative framework for modeling
astrobiological history of the Milky Way and its Galactic Habitable Zone. The
relevant astrobiological parameters are to be modeled as the elements of the
input probability matrix for the PCA kernel. With the underlying simplicity of
the cellular automata constructs, this approach enables a quick analysis of
large and ambiguous input parameters' space. We perform a simple clustering
analysis of typical astrobiological histories and discuss the relevant boundary
conditions of practical importance for planning and guiding actual empirical
astrobiological and SETI projects. In addition to showing how the present
framework is adaptable to more complex situations and updated observational
databases from current and near-future space missions, we demonstrate how
numerical results could offer a cautious rationale for continuation of
practical SETI searches.Comment: 37 pages, 11 figures, 2 tables; added journal reference belo
CMB Telescopes and Optical Systems
The cosmic microwave background radiation (CMB) is now firmly established as
a fundamental and essential probe of the geometry, constituents, and birth of
the Universe. The CMB is a potent observable because it can be measured with
precision and accuracy. Just as importantly, theoretical models of the Universe
can predict the characteristics of the CMB to high accuracy, and those
predictions can be directly compared to observations. There are multiple
aspects associated with making a precise measurement. In this review, we focus
on optical components for the instrumentation used to measure the CMB
polarization and temperature anisotropy. We begin with an overview of general
considerations for CMB observations and discuss common concepts used in the
community. We next consider a variety of alternatives available for a designer
of a CMB telescope. Our discussion is guided by the ground and balloon-based
instruments that have been implemented over the years. In the same vein, we
compare the arc-minute resolution Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) and the
South Pole Telescope (SPT). CMB interferometers are presented briefly. We
conclude with a comparison of the four CMB satellites, Relikt, COBE, WMAP, and
Planck, to demonstrate a remarkable evolution in design, sensitivity,
resolution, and complexity over the past thirty years.Comment: To appear in: Planets, Stars and Stellar Systems (PSSS), Volume 1:
Telescopes and Instrumentatio
Production of phi mesons at mid-rapidity in sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV Au+Au collisions at RHIC
We present the first results of meson production in the K^+K^- decay channel
from Au+Au collisions at sqrt(s_NN) = 200 GeV as measured at mid-rapidity by
the PHENIX detector at RHIC. Precision resonance centroid and width values are
extracted as a function of collision centrality. No significant variation from
the PDG accepted values is observed. The transverse mass spectra are fitted
with a linear exponential function for which the derived inverse slope
parameter is seen to be constant as a function of centrality. These data are
also fitted by a hydrodynamic model with the result that the freeze-out
temperature and the expansion velocity values are consistent with the values
previously derived from fitting single hadron inclusive data. As a function of
transverse momentum the collisions scaled peripheral.to.central yield ratio RCP
for the is comparable to that of pions rather than that of protons. This result
lends support to theoretical models which distinguish between baryons and
mesons instead of particle mass for explaining the anomalous proton yield.Comment: 326 authors, 24 pages text, 23 figures, 6 tables, RevTeX 4. To be
submitted to Physical Review C as a regular article. Plain text data tables
for the points plotted in figures for this and previous PHENIX publications
are (or will be) publicly available at http://www.phenix.bnl.gov/papers.htm
The relationship between patient physiology, the systemic inflammatory response and survival in patients undergoing curative resection of colorectal cancer
<p>Background: It is increasingly recognised that host-related factors may be important in determining cancer outcome. The aim was to examine the relationship between patient physiology, the systemic inflammatory response and survival after colorectal cancer resection.</p>
<p>Methods: Patients undergoing potentially curative resection of colorectal cancer were identified from a prospectively maintained database. Patient physiology was assessed using the physiological and operative severity score for the enumeration of mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) criteria. The systemic inflammatory response was assessed using the modified Glasgow Prognostic Score (mGPS). Multivariate 5-year survival analysis was carried out with calculation of hazard ratios (HR).</p>
<p>Results: A total of 320 patients were included. During follow-up (median 74 months), there were 136 deaths: 83 colorectal cancer related and 53 non-cancer related. Independent predictors of cancer-specific survival were age (HR: 1.46, P<0.01), Dukes stage (HR: 2.39, P<0.001), mGPS (HR: 1.78, P<0.001) and POSSUM physiology score (HR: 1.38, P=0.02). Predictors of overall survival were age (HR: 1.64, P<0.001), smoking (HR: 1.52, P=0.02), Dukes stage (HR: 1.64, P<0.001), mGPS (HR: 1.60, P<0.001) and POSSUM physiology score (HR: 1.27, P=0.03). A relationship between mGPS and POSSUM physiology score was also established (P<0.006).</p>
<p>Conclusion: The POSSUM physiology score and the systemic inflammatory response are strongly associated and both are independent predictors of cancer specific and overall survival in patients undergoing potentially curative resection of colorectal cancer.</p>
Detection of Polarization in the Cosmic Microwave Background using DASI
We report the detection of polarized anisotropy in the Cosmic Microwave
Background radiation with the Degree Angular Scale Interferometer (DASI),
located at the Amundsen-Scott South Pole research station. Observations in all
four Stokes parameters were obtained within two 3.4 FWHM fields separated by
one hour in Right Ascension. The fields were selected from the subset of fields
observed with DASI in 2000 in which no point sources were detected and are
located in regions of low Galactic synchrotron and dust emission. The
temperature angular power spectrum is consistent with previous measurements and
its measured frequency spectral index is -0.01 (-0.16 -- 0.14 at 68%
confidence), where 0 corresponds to a 2.73 K Planck spectrum. The power
spectrum of the detected polarization is consistent with theoretical
predictions based on the interpretation of CMB anisotropy as arising from
primordial scalar adiabatic fluctuations. Specifically, E-mode polarization is
detected at high confidence (4.9 sigma). Assuming a shape for the power
spectrum consistent with previous temperature measurements, the level found for
the E-mode polarization is 0.80 (0.56 -- 1.10), where the predicted level given
previous temperature data is 0.9 -- 1.1. At 95% confidence, an upper limit of
0.59 is set to the level of B-mode polarization with the same shape and
normalization as the E-mode spectrum. The TE correlation of the temperature and
E-mode polarization is detected at 95% confidence, and also found to be
consistent with predictions. These results provide strong validation of the
underlying theoretical framework for the origin of CMB anisotropy and lend
confidence to the values of the cosmological parameters that have been derived
from CMB measurements.Comment: 20 pages, 6 figure
Efficacy and Safety of Intravitreal Gene Therapy for Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy Treated within 6 Months of Disease Onset
Purpose: To evaluate the efficacy of a single intravitreal injection of rAAV2/2-ND4 in subjects with visual loss from Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON). Design: RESCUE is a multicenter, randomized, double-masked, sham-controlled, phase 3 clinical trial. Participants: Subjects with the m.11778G>A mitochondrial DNA mutation and vision loss ≤6 months from onset in 1 or both eyes were included. Methods: Each subject's right eye was randomly assigned (1:1) to treatment with rAAV2/2-ND4 (single injection of 9 × 1010 viral genomes in 90 μl) or to sham injection. The left eye received the treatment not allocated to the right eye. Main Outcome Measures: The primary end point was the difference of the change from baseline in best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) between rAAV2/2-ND4–treated and sham-treated eyes at week 48. Other outcome measures included contrast sensitivity, Humphrey visual field perimetry, retinal anatomic measures, and quality of life. Follow-up extended to week 96. Results: Efficacy analysis included 38 subjects. Mean age was 36.8 years, and 82% were male. Mean duration of vision loss at time of treatment was 3.6 months and 3.9 months in the rAAV2/2-ND4–treated eyes and sham-treated eyes, respectively. Mean baseline logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (logMAR) BCVA (standard deviation) was 1.31 (0.52) in rAAV2/2-ND4–treated eyes and 1.26 (0.62) in sham-treated eyes, with a range from −0.20 to 2.51. At week 48, the difference of the change in BCVA from baseline between rAAV2/2-ND4–treated and sham-treated eyes was −0.01 logMAR (P = 0.89); the primary end point of a −0.3 logMAR (15-letter) difference was not met. The mean BCVA for both groups deteriorated over the initial weeks, reaching the worst levels at week 24, followed by a plateau phase until week 48, and then an improvement of +10 and +9 Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study letters equivalent from the plateau level in the rAAV2/2-ND4–treated and sham-treated eyes, respectively. Conclusions: At 96 weeks after unilateral injection of rAAV2/2-ND4, LHON subjects carrying the m.11778G>A mutation treated within 6 months after vision loss achieved comparable visual outcomes in the injected and uninjected eyes
Regulatory compliance as fulfilment of corporate social responsibility: an interpretative textual analysis on sustainability reports of two Chinese listed agribusinesses
Genetic characterization of Italian patients with Bardet-Biedl syndrome and correlation to ocular, renal and audio-vestibular phenotype: identification of eleven novel pathogenic sequence variants
DNA methylation in diploid inbred lines of potatoes and its possible role in the regulation of heterosis
Self-incompatible diploid potatoes were altered to self-compatible ones by a function of S-locus inhibitor gene and continued selfing generated highly homozygous inbreds. In this study, this process was investigated for the status of DNA methylation by a simple method using genomic DNA digested by methylation-sensitive restriction enzymes prior to RAPD analysis. We detected 31 methylation-sensitive RAPD bands, of which 11 were newly appeared in the selfed progenies, and 6 of them stably inherited to subsequent generations. Aberrant segregations and paternal- or atavism-like transmission were also found. Segregating methylation-sensitive bands in initial populations became fixed in the advanced selfed progenies by 75.0–93.8%, of which 41.7% were fixed to all present and 58.3% to all absent. Because DNA methylation is generally recognized to suppress gene expression as regulatory factors, homozygosity/heterozygosity of methylated DNA may be involved in inbreeding depression/heterosis
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