LANDSAT TM image data quality analysis for energy-related applications

This project represents a no-cost agreement between National Aeronautic Space Administration Goddard Space Flight Center (NASA GSFC) and the Pacific Northwest Laboratory (PNL). PNL is a Department of Energy (DOE) national laboratory operted by Battelle Memorial Institute at its Pacific Northwest Laboratories in Richland, Washington. The objective of this investigation is to evaluate LANDSAT's thematic mapper (TM) data quality and utility characteristics from an energy research and technological perspective. Of main interest is the extent to which repetitive TM data might support DOE efforts relating to siting, developing, and monitoring energy-related facilities, and to basic geoscientific research. The investigation utilizes existing staff and facility capabilities, and ongoing programmatic activities at PNL and other DOE national laboratories to cooperatively assess the potential usefulness of the improved experimental TM data. The investigation involves: (1) both LANDSAT 4 and 5 TM data, (2) qualitative and quantitative use consideration, and 3) NASA P (corrected) and A (uncorrected) CCT analysis for a variety of sites of DOE interest. Initial results were presented at the LANDSAT Investigator's Workshops and at specialized LANDSAT TM sessions at various conferences

Earth sciences waste disposal investigations, January--June 1966

An evaluation is given of the ground water contamination resulting from disposal of plant effluents at Hanford. Analytical results are presented for gross beta activity in the unconfined ground water aquifer and gross beta activity at depths in the ground water. Results are given where concentrations of radionuclides are above the routine detection limit for gross beta. The average concentrations detected during the previous report period are listed for comparison. (JSR

Postoperative fluid collection after hybrid debranching and endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectiveHybrid thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (H-TEVAR) to include visceral and renal debranching has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for thoracoabdominal aneurysms (TAAA). This study was performed to characterize the frequently noted development of postoperative fluid collections surrounding the bypass grafts.MethodsAll patients undergoing H-TEVAR from 2000-2010 (n = 39, 43.6% male) were identified. One hundred thirty-two bypasses were constructed (median 4 per patient) using either polyester (30), thin-walled polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE, 100) or saphenous vein (2). Follow-up computed tomography (CT) imaging was routinely performed at 1 and 6 months, and annually thereafter.ResultsOf the 37 patients with one follow-up CT, 20 (54.1%) were found to have fluid collections. The natural history of the 17 patients with collections and further follow-up imaging was variable, with 2 resolving, 6 stable, and 9 enlarging. Two patients with collections developed evidence of graft infection requiring reoperation. Two patients with enlarging sterile collections required evacuation for symptoms. By multivariate analysis, both preoperative creatinine (P = .005) and number of bypasses constructed (P = .04) independently correlated with the development of a fluid collection.ConclusionsPostoperative fluid collections following hybrid debranching procedures identified in this series represent a unique complication not previously described. The subsequent clinical course of these fluid collections is variable and ranges from benign to frank graft infection and relate both to patient factors, as well as specific operative strategies. Longer-term studies with more robust numbers of patient numbers are warranted to determine whether this complication may limit the long-term durability of this procedure

Postoperative fluid collection after hybrid debranching and endovascular repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectiveHybrid thoracic endovascular aneurysm repair (H-TEVAR) to include visceral and renal debranching has emerged as a potential therapeutic option for thoracoabdominal aneurysms (TAAA). This study was performed to characterize the frequently noted development of postoperative fluid collections surrounding the bypass grafts.MethodsAll patients undergoing H-TEVAR from 2000-2010 (n = 39, 43.6% male) were identified. One hundred thirty-two bypasses were constructed (median 4 per patient) using either polyester (30), thin-walled polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE, 100) or saphenous vein (2). Follow-up computed tomography (CT) imaging was routinely performed at 1 and 6 months, and annually thereafter.ResultsOf the 37 patients with one follow-up CT, 20 (54.1%) were found to have fluid collections. The natural history of the 17 patients with collections and further follow-up imaging was variable, with 2 resolving, 6 stable, and 9 enlarging. Two patients with collections developed evidence of graft infection requiring reoperation. Two patients with enlarging sterile collections required evacuation for symptoms. By multivariate analysis, both preoperative creatinine (P = .005) and number of bypasses constructed (P = .04) independently correlated with the development of a fluid collection.ConclusionsPostoperative fluid collections following hybrid debranching procedures identified in this series represent a unique complication not previously described. The subsequent clinical course of these fluid collections is variable and ranges from benign to frank graft infection and relate both to patient factors, as well as specific operative strategies. Longer-term studies with more robust numbers of patient numbers are warranted to determine whether this complication may limit the long-term durability of this procedure

Population-Based Prevalence of CDKN2A Mutations in Utah Melanoma Families

Cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A or p16) is the major melanoma predisposition gene. In order to evaluate the candidacy for genetic testing of CDKN2A mutations among melanoma prone families, it is important to identify characteristics that predict a high likelihood of carrying a CDKN2A mutation. We primarily used a unique Utah genealogical resource to identify independent melanoma prone families whom we tested for mutations in CDKN2A, cyclin-dependent kinase 4, and alternate reading frame. We sampled 60 families which met the inclusion criteria of two or more affected first-degree relatives. We found four different pathogenic CDKN2A mutations in five families, mutations of uncertain significance in two families, and known polymorphisms in three families. One of the mutations of uncertain significance, 5′ untranslated region −25C>T, has not been previously described. Among our population-based set of Utah families, the prevalence of CDKN2A mutations was 8.2% (4/49); the overall prevalence when physician-referred pedigrees were also considered was between 8.3% (5/60) and 10% (6/60). Having four or more first- or second-degree relatives with melanoma, or a family member with ≥3 primary melanomas, correlated strongly with carrying a CDKN2A mutation. We observed a significantly elevated rate of pancreatic cancer in one of four families with a deleterious CDKN2A mutation

Elevating the impact of conservation physiology by building a community devoted to excellence, transparency, ethics, integrity and mutual respect

[Extract] Ten years ago, the journal Conservation Physiology was launched jointly by the Society for Experimental Biology and Oxford University Press. Much has been accomplished since 2012 including publishing over 600 papers in the journal and helping to build a sense of place for aspiring and practicing conservation physiologists (Cooke et al., 2020). Yet, more work is needed to further elevate the impact of conservation physiology as a discipline and community. Here, we summarize what is needed to build and strengthen a community devoted to not only excellence, transparency, ethics, integrity and mutual respect, but also courage to tackle some of the overarching challenges humanity faces. As active voices in the conservation physiology community we hope that this paper will help shape the future of our discipline while also guiding the activities and priorities of the journal and editorial team. Since the term ‘conservation physiology’ was coined by Wikelski and Cooke (2006) it has emerged as an essential component of conservation science and practice. Conservation physiology is about the use of physiological tools, knowledge and concepts to understand and solve conservation problems across diverse taxa (Cooke et al., 2013). It is regarded as being particularly effective at understanding mechanisms, generating cause–effect relationships (e.g. threat X does Y to organism Z), creating predictive tools and testing conservation interventions (Cooke and O’Connor, 2010). Issues relevant to conservation physiology range from very local, focused on recovery of an imperilled population (Birnie-Gauvin et al., 2017), to global-scale issues such as tackling the UN Sustainable Development Goals (Cooke et al., 2020) and the climate crisis (Madliger et al., 2021c). The discipline is now supported by a conceptual framework (Coristine et al., 2014), a journal (https://academic.oup.com/conphys) and a reference book (Madliger et al. 2021a). There is also a growing community of researchers who engage in conservation physiology and even define themselves as conservation physiologists (Madliger et al., 2021b). Moreover, in conservation physiology there are success stories that demonstrate the potential of conservation physiology (Madliger et al., 2016)

Multiple primary melanomas in a CDKN2A mutation carrier exposed to ionizing radiation

Background: Recent research has shown a possible causal relationship between ionizing radiation exposure and melanoma. Individuals with mutations in CDKN2A (cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A), the major melanoma predisposition gene, have an increased susceptibility to melanoma-promoting exposures, such as UV light. We describe a patient from a familial melanoma pedigree with 7 primary melanomas on the right side of her body, the first occurring 5 years after exposure to atmospheric nuclear bomb testing in the 1950s. Observations: Physical examination revealed phototype I skin, red hair, and 26 nevi (14 on the right and 12 on the left side of her body). One nevus was larger than 5 mm, and 2 were clinically atypical. Sequence analysis demonstrated a known deleterious mutation in CDKN2A (G-34T) and homozygosity for a red hair color variant in MC1R (melanocortin 1 receptor) (R151C). Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of blood, fibroblasts, and melanocytes from both upper extremities ruled out mosaicism. Conclusions: Individuals such as this patient, who has CDKN2A and MC1R mutations, are likely to be more susceptible to environmental insults. A careful review of environmental exposures in these vulnerable cases may reveal cancer-promoting agents, such as ionizing radiation, that go unnoticed in less susceptible populations

Bisexual women's understandings of social marginalisation: 'The heterosexuals don't understand US but nor do the lesbians'

Drawing on interviews with 20 self-identified bisexual women, this paper contributes to the limited psychological literature on bisexual women by exploring their experiences of social marginalisation. These (mainly white and middle class) British bisexual women reported that they did not feel at home in either lesbian or lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, nor in the wider (heteronormative) society. They identified a number of understandings - bisexuality as a temporary phase on the path to a fully realised lesbian or heterosexual identity and bisexuals as immature, confused, greedy, untrustworthy, highly sexual and incapable of monogamy - which they reported as arising from lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and the wider society. The women refuted these accounts which they stated did not reflect their experiences of bisexual identity and which positioned bisexuality as invisible and invalid. © The Author(s) 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav