Tidal rectification and frontal circulation on the sides of Georges Bank

Using Wright and Loder\u27s (l985a,b) depth-dependent tidal rectification model and Garrett and Loder\u27s (1981) diagnostic frontal circulation model, predictions of the residual circulation associated with the topographic rectification of tidal currents and the summertime density field on the northwestern and open ocean sides of Georges Bank are made and compared with observations. In general, the estimates of both wintertime and summertime along-isobath currents are in qualitative agreement with observations, but the agreement between predicted and observed cross-isobath currents is poor. The circulation associated with tidal rectification is primarily along isobaths in an anticyclonic sense around the Bank at all depths. The cross-isobath circulation is much weaker and, in the Eulerian specification, is dominated by two cells with opposing current directions. However, a significant Stokes velocity is predicted such that the along-isobath Lagrangian current is generally less than its Eulerian counterpart, and the cross-isobath Lagrangian current is sometimes in the opposite direction to its Eulerian counterpart. Both the along-isobath and cross-isobath currents associated with tidal rectification are predicted to be significantly stronger in summer than in winter due to a reduction in the strength of friction as a result of reduced wind stress and increased density stratification.An additional contribution to the anticyclonic circulation around Georges Bank is associated directly with the summertime tidal front around the Bank. This flow component is predicted to form a second intense along-isobath jet on the northwestern side, slightly off-bank of that due to tidal rectification, and a broader flow on the open ocean side. The associated cross-isobath circulation is predicted to be much weaker than the along-isobath circulation, with a general on-bank bottom flow on both sides of the Bank

One year of nutrient distribution in the Georges Bank region in relation to hydrography, 1975-1976

The distribution of major nutrients in the Georges Bank region was measured during nine cruises betweep July 1975 and August 1976. The sampling included measurement throughout the water column of nitrate, orthophosphate, silicate, temperature, salinity, and dissolved oxygen. The distributions of the variables and their annual cycles are described...

What treatments relieve arthritis and fatigue associated with systemic lupus erythematosus?

Q: What treatments relieve arthritis and fatigue associated with systemic lupus erythematosus? A: Hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine improve the arthritis associated with mild systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)--producing a 50% reduction in arthritis flares and articular involvement--and have few adverse effects (strength of recommendation [SOR]: a, systematic review of randomized controlled trials [RCTs]). Methotrexate reduces arthralgias by as much as 79%, but produces adverse effects in up to 70% of patients (SOR: b, systematic review of RCTs with limited patient-oriented evidence). Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and corticosteroids are often used for SLE joint pain (SOR: c, expert opinion). Omega-3 fatty acids may reduce arthritis symptoms by about 35% (SOR: b, RCTs with inconsistent evidence). Abatacept and dehydroepiandrosterone don't produce clinically meaningful improvements in fatigue associated with SLE, and abatacept causes significant adverse effects (SOR: b, posthoc analysis of a single RCT). Aerobic exercise may help fatigue (SOR: b, systematic review with inconsistent evidence)

Estimating hypothetical estimands with causal inference and missing data estimators in a diabetes trial

The recently published ICH E9 addendum on estimands in clinical trials provides a framework for precisely defining the treatment effect that is to be estimated, but says little about estimation methods. Here we report analyses of a clinical trial in type 2 diabetes, targeting the effects of randomised treatment, handling rescue treatment and discontinuation of randomised treatment using the so-called hypothetical strategy. We show how this can be estimated using mixed models for repeated measures, multiple imputation, inverse probability of treatment weighting, G-formula and G-estimation. We describe their assumptions and practical details of their implementation using packages in R. We report the results of these analyses, broadly finding similar estimates and standard errors across the estimators. We discuss various considerations relevant when choosing an estimation approach, including computational time, how to handle missing data, whether to include post intercurrent event data in the analysis, whether and how to adjust for additional time-varying confounders, and whether and how to model different types of ICE separately

Effect of collecting duct histology on renal cell cancer outcome.

PURPOSE: Collecting duct renal cell carcinoma is a rare entity. Recent surgical series of the condition showed conflicting results. We used an American population based data set to compare the survival experience of patients with collecting duct vs clear cell renal cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Cases of collecting duct and clear cell renal cell carcinoma were identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program (2001 to 2005). Demographic and pathological characteristics at diagnosis were compared. Differences in disease specific survival were compared with univariate and multivariate Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 160 collecting duct renal cell carcinoma cases were present in the database from 2001 to 2005. In that time 33,252 clear cell renal cell carcinoma cases were diagnosed. Collecting duct renal cell carcinoma was more common in black than in white patients (23% vs 9%, p <0.001). Collecting duct renal cell carcinoma was more commonly T3+ than T2/T1 (33% vs 18%, p <0.001) and metastatic than regional/local (28% vs 17%, p = 0.001). Nephrectomy rates were similar (84% and 78%, p = 0.06). The 3-year disease specific survival rate was 58% and 79% for collecting duct and clear cell renal cell carcinoma, respectively. On multivariate analysis there was an increased mortality risk in patients with collecting duct vs clear cell renal cell carcinoma (HR 2.42, 95% CI 1.72-3.39, p = 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Compared to patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma those with collecting duct renal cell carcinoma have higher stage and are more often black. Even after adjusting for demographic, surgical and pathological factors disease specific survival is significantly worse in patients with collecting duct rather than clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Further research into the biology of this rare tumor is required to explain these results

Assessing motor deficits in compressive neuropathy using quantitative electromyography

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Studying the changes that occur in motor unit potential trains (MUPTs) may provide insight into the extent of motor unit loss and neural re-organization resulting from nerve compression injury. The purpose of this study was to determine the feasibility of using decomposition-based quantitative electromyography (DQEMG) to study the pathophysiological changes associated with compression neuropathy.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The model used to examine compression neuropathy was carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) due to its high prevalence and ease of diagnosis. Surface and concentric needle electromyography data were acquired simultaneously from the abductor pollicis brevis muscle in six individuals with severe CTS, eight individuals with mild CTS and nine healthy control subjects. DQEMG was used to detect intramuscular MUPTs during constant-intensity contractions and to estimate parameters associated with the surface- and needle-detected motor unit potentials (SMUPs and MUPs, respectively). MUP morphology and stability, SMUP morphology and motor unit number estimates (MUNEs) were compared among the groups using Kruskal-Wallis tests.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The severe CTS group had larger amplitude and longer duration MUPs and smaller MUNEs than the mild CTS and control groups, suggesting that the individuals with severe CTS had motor unit loss with subsequent collateral reinnervation, and that DQEMG using a constant-intensity protocol was sensitive to these changes. SMUP morphology and MUP complexity and stability did not significantly differ among the groups.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These results provide evidence that MUP amplitude parameters and MUNEs obtained using DQEMG, may be a valuable tool to investigate pathophysiological changes in muscles affected by compressive motor neuropathy to augment information obtained from nerve conduction studies. Although there were trends in many of these measures, in this study, MUP complexity and stability and SMUP parameters were, of limited value.</p

K2-231 b: A sub-Neptune exoplanet transiting a solar twin in Ruprecht 147

We identify a sub-Neptune exoplanet ($R_p = 2.5 \pm 0.2$ R$_\oplus$) transiting a solar twin in the Ruprecht 147 star cluster (3 Gyr, 300 pc, [Fe/H] = +0.1 dex). The ~81 day light curve for EPIC 219800881 (V = 12.71) from K2 Campaign 7 shows six transits with a period of 13.84 days, a depth of ~0.06%, and a duration of ~4 hours. Based on our analysis of high-resolution MIKE spectra, broadband optical and NIR photometry, the cluster parallax and interstellar reddening, and isochrone models from PARSEC, Dartmouth, and MIST, we estimate the following properties for the host star: $M_\star = 1.01 \pm 0.03$ M$_\odot$, $R_\star= 0.95 \pm 0.03$ R$_\odot$, and $T_{\rm eff} = 5695 \pm 50$ K. This star appears to be single, based on our modeling of the photometry, the low radial velocity variability measured over nearly ten years, and Keck/NIRC2 adaptive optics imaging and aperture-masking interferometry. Applying a probabilistic mass-radius relation, we estimate that the mass of this planet is $M_p = 7 +5 -3$ M$_\oplus$, which would cause a RV semi-amplitude of $K = 2 \pm 1$ m s$^{-1}$ that may be measurable with existing precise RV facilities. After statistically validating this planet with BLENDER, we now designate it K2-231 b, making it the second sub-stellar object to be discovered in Ruprecht 147 and the first planet; it joins the small but growing ranks of 23 other planets found in open clusters.Comment: 24 pages, 7 figures, light curve included as separate fil

Global Profiling and Inhibition of Protein Lipidation in Vector and Host Stages of the Sleeping Sickness Parasite Trypanosoma brucei

The enzyme N-myristoyltransferase (NMT) catalyzes the essential fatty acylation of substrate proteins with myristic acid in eukaryotes and is a validated drug target in the parasite Trypanosoma brucei, the causative agent of African trypanosomiasis (sleeping sickness). N-Myristoylation typically mediates membrane localization of proteins and is essential to the function of many. However, only a handful of proteins are experimentally validated as N-myristoylated in T. brucei. Here, we perform metabolic labeling with an alkyne-tagged myristic acid analogue, enabling the capture of lipidated proteins in insect and host life stages of T. brucei. We further compare this with a longer chain palmitate analogue to explore the chain length-specific incorporation of fatty acids into proteins. Finally, we combine the alkynyl-myristate analogue with NMT inhibitors and quantitative chemical proteomics to globally define N-myristoylated proteins in the clinically relevant bloodstream form parasites. This analysis reveals five ARF family small GTPases, calpain-like proteins, phosphatases, and many uncharacterized proteins as substrates of NMT in the parasite, providing a global view of the scope of this important protein modification and further evidence for the crucial and pleiotropic role of NMT in the cell