346 research outputs found
The KMOS Redshift One Spectroscopic Survey (KROSS): the TullyâFisher relation at z ⌠1
We present the stellar mass (M*), and K-corrected K-band absolute magnitude (MK) TullyâFisher relations (TFRs) for subsamples of the 584 galaxies spatially resolved in H α emission by the KMOS Redshift One Spectroscopic Survey (KROSS). We model the velocity field of each of the KROSS galaxies and extract a rotation velocity, V80 at a radius equal to the major axis of an ellipse containing 80 per cent of the total integrated H α flux. The large sample size of KROSS allowed us to select 210 galaxies with well-measured rotation speeds. We extract from this sample a further 56 galaxies that are rotationally supported, using the stringent criterion V80/Ï > 3, where Ï is the flux weighted average velocity dispersion. We find the MK and M* TFRs for this subsample to be MK/mag=(â7.3±0.9)Ă[(log(V80/km sâ1)â2.25]â23.4±0.2MK/mag=(â7.3±0.9)Ă[(logâĄ(V80/km sâ1)â2.25]â23.4±0.2, and log(Mâ/Mâ)=(4.7±0.4)Ă[(log(V80/km sâ1)â2.25]+10.0±0.3logâĄ(Mâ/Mâ)=(4.7±0.4)Ă[(logâĄ(V80/km sâ1)â2.25]+10.0±0.3, respectively. We find an evolution of the M* TFR zero-point of â0.41 ± 0.08 dex over the last âŒ8 billion years. However, we measure no evolution in the MK TFR zero-point over the same period. We conclude that rotationally supported galaxies of a given dynamical mass had less stellar mass at z ⌠1 than the present day, yet emitted the same amounts of K-band light. The ability of KROSS to differentiate, using integral field spectroscopy with KMOS, between those galaxies that are rotationally supported and those that are not explains why our findings are at odds with previous studies without the same capabilities
Screening of esophageal varices by esophageal capsule endoscopy: results of a French multicenter prospective study
BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIM: Esophageal video capsule endoscopy (ECE) is a new technique that allows examination of the esophagus using a noninvasive approach. The aim of this study was to compare ECE with esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) for the diagnosis of esophageal varices in patients with cirrhosis.
PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 330 patients with cirrhosis and with no known esophageal varices were prospectively enrolled. Patients underwent ECE first, followed by EGD (gold standard). The endoscopists who performed EGD were blind to the ECE result. Patient satisfaction was assessed using a visual analog scale (maximum score 100).
RESULTS: A total of 30 patients were excluded from the analysis because they did not undergo any endoscopic examinations. Patients (mean age 56 years; 216 male) had mainly alcoholic (45â%) or viral (27â%) cirrhosis. The diagnostic indices of ECE to diagnose and correctly stage esophageal varices were: sensitivity 76â% and 64â%, specificity 91â% and 93â%, positive predictive value 88â% and 88â%, and negative predictive value 81â% and 78â%, respectively. ECE patient satisfaction scored significantly higher than EGD (87â±â22 vs. 58â±â35; Pâ<â0.0001).
CONCLUSIONS: ECE was well tolerated and safe in patients with liver cirrhosis and suspicion of portal hypertension. The sensitivity of ECE is not currently sufficient to replace EGD as a first exploration in these patients. However, due to its excellent specificity and positive predictive value, ECE may have a role in cases of refusal or contraindication to EGD. ECE might also improve compliance to endoscopic follow-up and aid important therapeutic decision making in the prophylaxis of bleeding.
TRIAL REGISTRATION: EudraCT (ID RCB 2009-A00532-55) and ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT00941421)
Large oesophageal varice screening by a sequential algorithm using a cirrhosis blood test and optionally capsule endoscopy
BACKGROUND & AIMS: Large oesophageal varice (LEV) screening is recommended in cirrhosis. We performed a prospective study to improve non-invasive LEV screening.
DESIGN: 287 patients with cirrhosis had upper gastrointestinal endoscopy (LEV reference), oesophageal capsule endoscopy (ECE), liver elastography and blood marker analyses. CirrhoMeter (cirrhosis blood test), the most accurate non-invasive LEV test, was segmented for cirrhosis (reference comparator) or LEV. VariScreen, a sequential and partially minimally invasive diagnostic algorithm, was developed by multivariate analysis. It uses CirrhoMeter first, then ECE if CirrhoMeter cannot rule LEV out or in, and finally endoscopy if CirrhoMeter+ECE combination remains uninformative.
RESULTS: Diagnostic effectiveness rates for LEV were: cirrhosis-segmented CirrhoMeter: 14.6%, LEV-segmented CirrhoMeter: 34.6%, ECE: 60.6% and VariScreen: 66.4% (P â€Â .001 for overall or pair comparison). The respective missed LEV rates were: 2.8%, 5.6%, 8.3% and 5.6% (P = .789). Spared endoscopy rates were, respectively: 15.6%, 36.0%, 70.6% and 69%, (P < .001 for overall or paired comparison except ECE vs VariScreen: P = .743). VariScreen spared 38% of ECE and reduced missed LEV by 87% compared to classical ECE performed in all patients. Excepting cirrhosis-segmented CirrhoMeter, these spared endoscopy rates were significantly higher than that of the Baveno VI recommendation (using platelets and Fibroscan): 18.4% (P < .001). Ascites and Child-Pugh class independently predicted endoscopy sparing by VariScreen: from 86.0% in compensated Child Pugh class A to 24.1% in Child-Pugh class C with ascites.
CONCLUSION: VariScreen algorithm significantly reduced the missed LEV rate with ECE by 87%, ECE use by 38% and endoscopy requirement by 69%, and even 86% in compensated cirrhosis
The Milky Way Bulge: Observed properties and a comparison to external galaxies
The Milky Way bulge offers a unique opportunity to investigate in detail the
role that different processes such as dynamical instabilities, hierarchical
merging, and dissipational collapse may have played in the history of the
Galaxy formation and evolution based on its resolved stellar population
properties. Large observation programmes and surveys of the bulge are providing
for the first time a look into the global view of the Milky Way bulge that can
be compared with the bulges of other galaxies, and be used as a template for
detailed comparison with models. The Milky Way has been shown to have a
box/peanut (B/P) bulge and recent evidence seems to suggest the presence of an
additional spheroidal component. In this review we summarise the global
chemical abundances, kinematics and structural properties that allow us to
disentangle these multiple components and provide constraints to understand
their origin. The investigation of both detailed and global properties of the
bulge now provide us with the opportunity to characterise the bulge as observed
in models, and to place the mixed component bulge scenario in the general
context of external galaxies. When writing this review, we considered the
perspectives of researchers working with the Milky Way and researchers working
with external galaxies. It is an attempt to approach both communities for a
fruitful exchange of ideas.Comment: Review article to appear in "Galactic Bulges", Editors: Laurikainen
E., Peletier R., Gadotti D., Springer Publishing. 36 pages, 10 figure
Transjugular Intrahepatic Portosystemic Shunts With Covered Stents Increase Transplant-Free Survival of Patients With Cirrhosis and Recurrent Ascites
BACKGROUND & AIMS: There is controversy over the ability of transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunts (TIPS) to increase survival times of patients with cirrhosis and refractory ascites. The high rate of shunt dysfunction with the use of uncovered stents counteracts the benefits of TIPS. We performed a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of TIPS with stents covered with polytetrafluoroethylene in these patients.
METHODS: We performed a prospective study of 62 patients with cirrhosis and at least 2 large-volume paracenteses within a period of at least 3 weeks; the study was performed at 4 tertiary care centers in France from August 2005 through December 2012. Patients were randomly assigned to groups that received covered TIPS (n = 29) or large-volume paracenteses and albumin as necessary (LVP+A, n = 33). All patients maintained a low-salt diet and were examined at 1 month after the procedure then every 3 months until 1 year. At each visit, liver disease-related complications, treatment modifications, and clinical and biochemical variables needed to calculate Child-Pugh and Model for End-Stage Liver Disease scores were recorded. Doppler ultrasonography was performed at the start of the study and then at 6 and 12 months after the procedure. The primary study end point was survival without a liver transplant for 1 year after the procedure.
RESULTS: A higher proportion of patients in the TIPS group (93%) met the primary end point than in the LVP+A group (52%) (PÂ = .003). The total number of paracenteses was 32 in the TIPS group vs 320 in the LVP+A group. Higher proportions of patients in the LVP+A group had portal hypertension-related bleeding (18% vs 0%; PÂ = .01) or hernia-related complications (18% vs 0%; PÂ = .01) than in the TIPS group. Patients in LVP+A group had twice as many days of hospitalization (35 days) as the TIPS group (17 days) (PÂ = .04). The 1-year probability of remaining free of encephalopathy was 65% for each group.
CONCLUSIONS: In a randomized trial, we found covered stents for TIPS to increase the proportion of patients with cirrhosis and recurrent ascites who survive transplantation-free for 1 year, compared with patients given repeated LVP+A. These findings support TIPS as the first-line intervention in such patients. ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT00222014
Differential Therapeutic Outcomes of Community-Based Group Interventions for Women and Children Exposed to Intimate Partner Violence
Two community-based group therapies, emotion focused versus goal oriented, are compared among women exposed to intimate partner violence (n = 46) and their children ( n = 48) aged between 6 and 12 years. A series of repeated measures analyses are employed to evaluate the effects of time from baseline to postintervention following random assignment. Main and treatment effects for women provide support for the relative effectiveness in increasing quality of social support in the emotion-focused intervention and in the reduction of both family conflict and alcohol use for the goal-oriented intervention.Yeshttps://us.sagepub.com/en-us/nam/manuscript-submission-guideline
The Political Economy of US Military Spending
The causes of the dramatic rise in military spending in the post-war era have been the subject of much political and academic controversy. No extant formulation seems to provide a compelling explanation of the dynamics involved in the levels of, and rates of change in, such spending. In light of this, the authors develop a new model, based mainly on a political-business cycle argument, to account for these dynamics. The basic proposition in this model is that variations in national defense spending arise from political considerations which are related to real and desired conditions within the national economy. Applying this model to the experience of the United States 1948-1976, the authors show that it has a large measure of empirical validity. If one removes the effects of war-time mobilization, it is clear that for the United States the principal driving forces in military spending dynamics were (1) the perceived utility of such spending in stabilizing aggregate demand, (2) the political or electoral value of the perceived economic effects arising out of such spending, and (3) the pressures of institutional-constituency demands.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/68958/2/10.1177_002234337901600202.pd
Of Research reviews and practice guides: Translating rapidly growing research on adolescent literacy into updated practice recommendations.
The demand for evidence-based instructional practices has driven a large
supply of research on adolescent literacy. Documenting this supply, Baye,
Inns, Lake, and Slavinâs 2019 article in Reading Research Quarterly synthesized
far more studies, with far more rigorous methodology, than had ever
been collected before. What does this mean for practice? Inspired by this article,
I investigated how this synthesis compared with the 2008 U.S. Institute of
Education Sciences practice guide for adolescent literacy. I also include two
contemporary documents for context: Herrera, Truckenmiller, and Foormanâs
(2016) review and the U.K. Education Endowment Foundationâs 2019 practice
guide for secondary schools. I first examine how these documents define
adolescent, reading, and evidence, and propose more inclusive definitions. I
then compare their respective evidence bases, finding that the quality and
quantity of evidence have dramatically changed. Only one of the 34 studies in
the 2008 U.S. practice guide met Baye et al.âs inclusion criteria in 2019, and
the average sample size in Baye et al.âs studies was 22 times as large as those
in the 2008 U.S. practice guide. I also examine the potential implications for
a new practice guideâs instructional recommendations and comment on the
expansion of research in technology, disciplinary literacy, and writingâtopics
scarcely covered in the 2008 U.S. practice guide but which have been extensively
researched since then. Finally, I call for revision of the U.S. practice
guide and the establishment of standing committees on adolescent literacy to
help educators translate the latest research findings into updated practices
Portion Size: What We Know and What We Need to Know
There is increasing evidence that the portion sizes of many foods have increased and in a laboratory at least this increases the amount eaten. The conclusions are, however, limited by the complexity of the phenomenon. There is a need to consider meals freely chosen over a prolonged period when a range of foods of different energy densities are available. A range of factors will influence the size of the portion size chosen: amongst others packaging, labeling, advertising, and the unit size rather than portion size of the food item. The way portion size interacts with the multitude of factors that determine food intake needs to be established. In particular, the role of portion size on energy intake should be examined as many confounding variables exist and we must be clear that it is portion size that is the major problem. If the approach is to make a practical contribution, then methods of changing portion sizes will need to be developed. This may prove to be a problem in a free market, as it is to be expected that customers will resist the introduction of smaller portion sizes, given that value for money is an important motivator
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