Compact and lightweight mid-infrared laser spectrometer for balloon-borne water vapor measurements in the UTLS

We describe the development, characterization, and first field deployments of a quantum cascade laser direct absorption spectrometer (QCLAS) for water vapor measurements in the upper troposphere and lower stratosphere (UTLS). The instrument is sufficiently small (30×23×11 cm3) and lightweight (3.9 kg) to be carried by meteorological balloons and used for frequent soundings in the UTLS. The spectrometer is a fully independent system, operating autonomously for the duration of a balloon flight. To achieve the required robustness, while satisfying stringent mass limitations, the concepts for optics and electronics have been fundamentally reconsidered compared to laboratory-based spectrometers. A significant enhancement of the mechanical and optical stability is achieved by integrating a newly designed segmented circular multipass cell which allows for 6 m optical path length in a very compact fashion. The H2O volume mixing ratio is retrieved by calibration-free evaluation of the spectral data, i.e., only relying on SI-traceable measurements and absorption line parameters. The open-path design reduces the risk of contamination and allows for fast response and thus high vertical resolution. Laboratory-based characterization experiments show an agreement within 2 % of reference measurements and a precision of 0.1 % under conditions comparable to the UTLS. The instrument successfully performed two balloon-borne test flights up to 28 km altitude. In the troposphere, the retrieved spectroscopic data show an excellent agreement with the accompanying measurements by a frost point hygrometer (CFH). At higher altitude, the quality of the spectral data remained unchanged, but outgassed water vapor within the instrument enclosure was hindering an accurate measurement of the atmospheric water vapor. Despite this limitation, these test flights demonstrated the operation of a compact laser spectrometer in the UTLS aboard a low-volume meteorological balloon, opening the perspective for future highly resolved, accurate, and cost-efficient soundings.ISSN:1867-1381ISSN:1867-854

Quality of Survivorship in a Rare Disease: Clinicofunctional Outcome and Physical Activity in an Observational Cohort Study of 618 Long-Term Survivors of Ewing Sarcoma

PurposeSignificantly improved survival rates in patients with Ewing sarcoma have raised interest in accessing the quality of long-term survivorship. In this study, subjective and objective measurement tools, preclassified as physical or mental scores, were used to assess clinicofunctional outcome and physical activity after intensive bone tumor treatment.MethodsLong-term outcome of 618 survivors from consecutive Ewing sarcoma trials was assessed by the Toronto Extremity Salvage Score, Short-Form Health Survey (SF-36), Brief Symptom Inventory (BSI), and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale questionnaires and by the accelerometric StepWatch 3 Activity Monitor. Prospective measurements were correlated retrospectively with standardized primary trial data. Results were compared with 316 nonrandom healthy peers by using effect sizes (d). Median observation time was 12.9 years from primary diagnosis (range, 3.7 to 31.2 years).ResultsAbsolute subjective scores were moderate to good for survivors. Compared with control subjects, unfavorable outcome was shown on physical Toronto Extremity Salvage Score, SF-36 Physical Component Summary, and BSI-Somatization scales (|d| 0.50; P <.01), in contrast to SF-36 Mental Component Summary, BSI-Anxiety, BSI-Depression, and Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale mental scales (|d| 0.31). Survivors were less active than control subjects, as demonstrated by a step count difference of 1,742 steps per day (d = -0.43; P <.01); however, on average, the recommended level for an active lifestyle was achieved ( 10,000 steps). Location of pelvic tumor was the major inferior disease-specific prognostic factor in physical scores (P <.01), whereas nondisease-specific inferior factors in questionnaires were older age and female sex (P <.01).ConclusionSurvivors of Ewing sarcoma apparently returned to a normal life with minor limitations. Observed reductions in physical scores should be a focus in future research to optimize treatment strategies to reduce a negative impact on the quality of survivorshi

Recurrence of Ewing sarcoma: Is detection by imaging follow-up protocol associated with survival advantage?

BackgroundThe Cooperative Ewing Sarcoma Study and the Late Effects Surveillance System of the Society for Paediatric Oncology and Haematology recommend a structured follow-up imaging protocol (FUIP) for patients with Ewing sarcoma (EwS) with decreasing frequency of imaging over the first 5 years. The present study aims to assess the effectiveness of the FUIP for EwS patients regarding survival after relapse. Patients and methodsA retrospective multicenter analysis on 160 eligible patients with EwS recurrence was performed. Potential survival differences following recurrence diagnosis between patients with protocol-detected and symptomatic relapse were investigated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Additional subgroup analyses were performed on the relapse type. Overall survival (OS) was calculated from diagnosis of relapse to last follow-up or death. ResultsIn the multicenter analysis, recurrence was detected by FUIP in 77 of 160 patients (48%) and due to symptoms in 83 patients (52%). Regarding the entire study population, OS was significantly superior in patients with protocol-detected relapse compared to patients with symptomatic relapse (median, 2.4 vs. 1.2 years; P<0.001). In the subgroup analyses, patients whose lung recurrences were detected by the FUIP experienced longer survival after recurrence than those whose recurrences were detected symptomatically (P=0.023). In the 83 symptomatic patients, pain was the most prevalent symptom of relapse (72%). ConclusionFUIP may benefit survival in EwS relapse, especially in lung recurrence. Pain was the leading symptom of relapse

Discovery of BGJ398 (3-(2,6-Dichloro-3,5-dimethoxy-phenyl)-1-{6-[4-(4-ethyl-piperazin-1-yl)-phenylamino]-pyrimidin-4-yl}-1-methyl-urea), A Potent and Selective Inhibitor of the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor Family of Receptor Tyrosine Kinase

A novel series of aryl pyrimidin-4-yl ureas has been optimized to afford potent and selective inhibitors of the fibroblast growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases 1, 2 and 3, by rationally designing the substitution pattern of the aryl ring. On the basis of its in vitro profile, compound 2h was selected for in vivo evaluation and showed significant antitumor activity in RT112 bladder cancer xenografts models overexpressing wild-type FGFR3. These results support the potential therapeutic use of 2h as a new anticancer agent

Oryza australiensis leaf transcriptome

De novo transcriptome assembly of Oryza australiensis based on leaf RNAseq data (SRA SRR1178926). Trinity v2.4.0 was used for assembly using default parameters, with Trimmomatic for trimming of reads before assembly.<br