There\u27s Nothing In the World Like Love / music by Edward Madden; words by Henriette Blanke-Belcher

Cover: a man standing at the reception desk a woman is the receptionist ; photo inset of Henriette Blanke-Belcher; Publisher: Jerome H. Remick and Co. (New York)https://egrove.olemiss.edu/sharris_b/1091/thumbnail.jp

Voyager 2 Observations of Plasma and Pressure Pulses

This paper provides the latest data from Voyager 2 on plasma characteristics in the heliosheath including the observations of pressure waves in the plasma and particle data. Models and observations show that solar transients drive pressure waves through the heliosphere. Pressure pulses that could drive heliosheath waves are observed near the previous solar maximum upstream of the termination shock. We show that the most recent data is consistent with the presence of pressure waves and compare the heliosheath waves with the pressure increases in the heliosheath. The magnetic field is better correlated with density and galactic cosmic ray intensities in the supersonic solar wind than in the heliosheath. The galactic cosmic rays are correlated with the plasma and particles with a ~30-day lag in both the supersonic wind and heliosheath

Novel penalised likelihood reconstruction of PET in the assessment of histologically verified small pulmonary nodules

OBJECTIVES: Investigate the effect of a novel Bayesian penalised likelihood (BPL) reconstruction algorithm on analysis of pulmonary nodules examined with 18F-FDG PET/CT, and to determine its effect on small, sub-10-mm nodules. METHODS: 18F-FDG PET/CTs performed for nodule evaluation in 104 patients (121 nodules) were retrospectively reconstructed using the new algorithm, and compared to time-of-flight ordered subset expectation maximisation (OSEM) reconstruction. Nodule and background parameters were analysed semi-quantitatively and visually. RESULTS: BPL compared to OSEM resulted in statistically significant increases in nodule SUV(max) (mean 5.3 to 8.1, p < 0.00001), signal-to-background (mean 3.6 to 5.3, p < 0.00001) and signal-to-noise (mean 24 to 41, p < 0.00001). Mean percentage increase in SUV(max) (%ΔSUV(max)) was significantly higher in nodules ≤10 mm (n = 31, mean 73 %) compared to >10 mm (n = 90, mean 42 %) (p = 0.025). Increase in signal-to-noise was higher in nodules ≤10 mm (224 %, mean 12 to 27) compared to >10 mm (165 %, mean 28 to 46). When applying optimum SUV(max) thresholds for detecting malignancy, the sensitivity and accuracy increased using BPL, with the greatest improvements in nodules ≤10 mm. CONCLUSION: BPL results in a significant increase in signal-to-background and signal-to-noise compared to OSEM. When semi-quantitative analyses to diagnose malignancy are applied, higher SUV(max) thresholds may be warranted owing to the SUV(max) increase compared to OSEM. KEY POINTS: • Novel Bayesian penalised likelihood PET reconstruction was applied for lung nodule evaluation. • This was compared to current standard of care OSEM reconstruction. • The novel reconstruction generated significant increases in lung nodule signal-to-background and signal-to-noise. • These increases were highest in small, sub-10-mm pulmonary nodules. • Higher SUV(max)thresholds may be warranted when using semi-quantitative analyses to diagnose malignancy

Mercury Orbiter: Report of the Science Working Team

The results are presented of the Mercury Orbiter Science Working Team which held three workshops in 1988 to 1989 under the auspices of the Space Physics and Planetary Exploration Divisions of NASA Headquarters. Spacecraft engineering and mission design studies at the Jet Propulsion Lab were conducted in parallel with this effort and are detailed elsewhere. The findings of the engineering study, summarized herein, indicate that spin stabilized spacecraft carrying comprehensive particles and fields experiments and key planetology instruments in high elliptical orbits can survive and function in Mercury orbit without costly sun shields and active cooling systems

Voyager 2 Observations Near the Heliopause

This paper discusses plasma characteristics in the heliosheath region before the heliopause (HP), at the HP, and in the very local interstellar medium (VLISM). The Voyager 2 (V2) HP was a sharp boundary where the radial plasma currents went to background levels. The radial flow speeds derived from 53-85 keV (V1) and 28-43 keV (V2) ion data decreased about 2 years (8 AU) before the HP at V1 and V2. A speed decrease was not observed by the V2 plasma instrument until 160 days (1.5 AU) before the HP crossing when V2 entered the plasma boundary layer where the plasma density and 28-43 keV ion intensity increased. We determine the HP orientation based on the plasma flow and magnetic field data and show these observations are consistent with models predicting a blunt HP. Variations are observed in the currents observed in the VLISM; roll data from this region clearly show the plasma instrument observes the interstellar plasma and may be consistent with larger than expected VLISM temperatures near the HP

18F-FDG PET/CT assessment of histopathologically confirmed mediastinal lymph nodes in non-small cell lung cancer using a penalised likelihood reconstruction

Purpose To investigate whether using a Bayesian penalised likelihood reconstruction (BPL) improves signal-to-background (SBR), signal-to-noise (SNR) and SUVmax when evaluating mediastinal nodal disease in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) compared to ordered subset expectation maximum (OSEM) reconstruction. Materials and methods 18F-FDG PET/CT scans for NSCLC staging in 47 patients (112 nodal stations with histopathological confirmation) were reconstructed using BPL and compared to OSEM. Node and multiple background SUV parameters were analysed semi-quantitatively and visually. Results Comparing BPL to OSEM, there were significant increases in SUVmax (mean 3.2–4.0, p<0.0001), SBR (mean 2.2–2.6, p<0.0001) and SNR (mean 27.7–40.9, p<0.0001). Mean background SNR on OSEM was 10.4 (range 7.6–14.0), increasing to 12.4 (range 8.2–16.7, p<0.0001). Changes in background SUVs were minimal (largest mean difference 0.17 for liver SUVmean, p<0.001). There was no significant difference between either algorithm on receiver operating characteristic analysis (p=0.26), although on visual analysis, there was an increase in sensitivity and small decrease in specificity and accuracy on BPL. Conclusion BPL increases SBR, SNR and SUVmax of mediastinal nodes in NSCLC compared to OSEM, but did not improve the accuracy for determining nodal involvement

Voyager 2 Observations Near the Heliopause

This paper discusses plasma characteristics in the heliosheath region before the heliopause (HP), at the HP, and in the very local interstellar medium (VLISM). The Voyager 2 (V2) HP was a sharp boundary where the radial plasma currents went to background levels. The radial flow speeds derived from 53-85 keV (V1) and 28-43 keV (V2) ion data decreased about 2 years (8 AU) before the HP at V1 and V2. A speed decrease was not observed by the V2 plasma instrument until 160 days (1.5 AU) before the HP crossing when V2 entered the plasma boundary layer where the plasma density and 28-43 keV ion intensity increased. We determine the HP orientation based on the plasma flow and magnetic field data and show these observations are consistent with models predicting a blunt HP. Variations are observed in the currents observed in the VLISM; roll data from this region clearly show the plasma instrument observes the interstellar plasma and may be consistent with larger than expected VLISM temperatures near the HP

Mortality in Patients With Gout Treated With Allopurinol: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis

ObjectiveUrate‐lowering therapy (predominantly allopurinol) is highly effective as a treatment for gout, but its wider long‐term effects remain unclear. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aimed to ascertain the association between mortality and the use of allopurinol in patients with gout.MethodMedline, Embase, CINAHL, and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to August 2018. Articles eligible for inclusion used a cohort design and examined cardiovascular or all‐cause mortality in patients diagnosed with gout and prescribed allopurinol. Information on study characteristics, design, sample size, and mortality risk estimates were extracted. Article quality was assessed using the Newcastle‐Ottawa Scale. Included articles were described in a narrative synthesis and, where possible, risk estimate data were pooled.ResultsFour articles reported a hazard ratio (HR) risk estimate for all‐cause mortality in patients with gout using allopurinol, and 2 of these also reported cardiovascular mortality. Two articles found allopurinol to be protective in patients with gout, 1 found no statistically significant association, and 1 found no statistically significant effect of escalation of allopurinol dosage on all‐cause or cardiovascular‐related mortality. Data pooling was possible for all‐cause mortality and found no association between allopurinol use in patients with gout and all‐cause mortality compared to patients with gout not using allopurinol (adjusted HR 0.80 [95% confidence interval 0.60–1.05]).ConclusionThere was no significant association between all‐cause mortality and allopurinol use in people with gout. However, the number of included studies was small, suggesting that further studies are needed

Voyager 2 Observations of Plasma and Pressure Pulses

This paper provides the latest data from Voyager 2 on plasma characteristics in the heliosheath including the observations of pressure waves in the plasma and particle data. Models and observations show that solar transients drive pressure waves through the heliosphere. Pressure pulses that could drive heliosheath waves are observed near the previous solar maximum upstream of the termination shock. We show that the most recent data is consistent with the presence of pressure waves and compare the heliosheath waves with the pressure increases in the heliosheath. The magnetic field is better correlated with density and galactic cosmic ray intensities in the supersonic solar wind than in the heliosheath. The galactic cosmic rays are correlated with the plasma and particles with a ~30-day lag in both the supersonic wind and heliosheath

Gender-specific risk factors for gout: a systematic review of cohort studies

BACKGROUND:Though gout is more prevalent in men than women, it remains unclear whether gender influences risk factors for incident gout. We aimed to systematically review all cohort studies examining risk factors for the development of gout by gender.METHODS: MEDLINE, EMBASE, CINAHL and the Cochrane Library were searched from inception to March 2019. Risk factors for gout examined were: age, ethnicity, consumption of alcohol, meat, seafood, dairy products, purine-rich vegetables, coffee and fructose, vitamin C intake, the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet, metabolic syndrome, BMI, waist and chest circumference, waist-to-hip ratio, weight change, diabetes mellitus, dyslipidaemias, renal disease, psoriasis, hypertension, diuretic use and anti-diabetic medication. Cohort studies were included if examining (at least) one of these risk factors for gout in either gender in the general population or primary care. Sample characteristics from included articles and their reported risk estimates were described using narrative synthesis.RESULTS:Thirty-three articles were included, 20 (60.6%)directly compared risk factors by gender, 10 (30.3%) used men-only samples, 3 (9.1%) used women-only samples. Articles comparing risk across genders found similar increases in most risk factors. However, in men, metabolic syndrome (Hazard Ratio (95% CI) 1.37(1.20-1.58)) presented a risk of incident gout compared to none in women (>?50?years 1.15(0.85-1.54); =50?years 1.29(0.76-2.17)). Compared to men, women showed greater associated risk with higher consumption of fish and shellfish (HR (95% CI) Men: 1.02 (0.86-1.22); Women 1.36 (1.12-1.65)).CONCLUSIONS:Risk factors for developing gout did not typically differ between genders and therefore similar preventative advice can be provided. Exceptions were metabolic syndrome in men and excessive seafood consumption in women, but these singular articles need further examination and in general more research into the risk factors for gout which includes women is required