Studying the X-ray hysteresis in GX 339-4: the disc and iron line over one decade

We report on a comprehensive and consistent investigation into the X-ray emission from GX 339-4. All public observations in the 11 year RXTE archive were analysed. Three different types of model - single powerlaw, broken powerlaw and a disc + powerlaw - were fitted to investigate the evolution of the disc, along with a fixed gaussian component at 6.4 keV to investigate any iron line in the spectrum. We show that the relative variation in flux and X-ray colour between the two best sampled outbursts are very similar. The decay of the disc temperature during the outburst is clearly seen in the soft state. The expected decay is S_Disc \propto T^4; we measure T^4.75\pm0.23. This implies that the inner disc radius is approximately constant in the soft state. We also show a significant anti-correlation between the iron line significant width and the X-ray flux in the soft state while in the hard state the EW is independent of the flux. This results in hysteresis in the relation between X-ray flux and both line flux and EW. To compare the X-ray binary outburst to the behaviour seen in AGN, we construct a Disc Fraction Luminosity Diagram for GX 339-4, the first for an X-ray binary. The shape qualitatively matches that produced for AGN. Linking this with the radio emission from GX 339-4 the change in radio spectrum between the disc and power-law dominated states is clearly visible.Comment: Accepted for publication in MNRAS, 20 pages, 17 figures. For high-res version see http://www.astro.soton.ac.uk/~r.j.dunn/publications.htm

The Kinematics and Physical Conditions pf the Ionized Gas in Markarian 509. II. STIS Echelle Observations

We present observations of the UV absorption lines in the luminous Seyfert 1 galaxy Mrk 509, obtained with the medium resolution (lambda/Delta-lambda ~ 40,000) echelle gratings of the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph on the Hubble Space Telescope. The spectra reveal the presence of eight kinematic components of absorption in Ly-alpha, C IV, and N V, at radial velocities of -422, -328, -259, -62, -22, +34, +124, and +210 km s^-1 with respect to an emission-line redshift of z = 0.03440, seven of which were detected in an earlier Far Ultraviolet Spectrographic Explorer (FUSE) spectrum. The component at -22 km s^-1 also shows absorption by Si IV. The covering factor and velocity width of the Si IV lines were lower than those of the higher ionization lines for this component, which is evidence for two separate absorbers at this velocity. We have calculated photoionization models to match the UV column densities in each of these components. Using the predicted O VI column densities, we were able to match the O VI profiles observed in the FUSE spectrum. Based on our results, none of the UV absorbers can produce the X-ray absorption seen in simultaneous Chandra observations; therefore, there must be more highly ionized gas in the radial velocity ranges covered by the UV absorbers.Comment: 30 pages, three figures (Figure 1 is in color). Accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

The Northwest Tropical Atlantic Station (NTAS) : NTAS-1 mooring deployment cruise report

A surface mooring outfitted for meteorological and oceanographic measurement was deployed near 14°50'N, 51°00'W in the northwest tropical Atlantic on 30 March 2001. This was the initial deployment of the Northwest Tropical Atlantic Station (NTAS) project for air–sea flux measurement. These observations will be used to investigate air–sea interaction processes related to climate variability. The deployment was done on R/V Oceanus Cruise 365, Leg 5 by the Upper Ocean Processes Group (UOP) of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The 3-meter discus buoy was outfitted with two Air–Sea Interaction Meteorology (ASIMET) systems. Each system measures, records, and transmits via Argos satellite the surface meteorological variables necessary to compute air–sea fluxes of heat, moisture and momentum. The upper 120 m of the mooring line was outfitted with oceanographic sensors for the measurement of temperature and velocity. This report describes the initial deployment of the NTAS mooring (NTAS-1), including some of the pre-cruise buoy preparations and post cruise data comparisons.Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) through the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Ocean Research (CICOR) under Grant No. NA87RJ0445

The Northwest Tropical Atlantic Station (NTAS) : NTAS-2 mooring turnaround cruise report

The Northwest Tropical Atlantic Station (NTAS) was established to address the need for accurate air-sea flux estimates and upper ocean measurements in a region with strong sea surface temperature anomalies and the likelihood of significant local air–sea interaction on interannual to decadal timescales. The approach is to maintain a surface mooring outfitted for meteorological and oceanographic measurements at a site near 15°N, 51°W by successive mooring turnarounds. These observations will be used to investigate air–sea interaction processes related to climate variability. Deployment of the first NTAS mooring (NTAS-1) at 14°50′ N, 51°00′ W on 30 March 2001 was documented in a previous report (Plueddemann et al., 2001). This report documents recovery of the NTAS-1 mooring and deployment of the NTAS-2 mooring at the same site. Both moorings used 3-meter discus buoys as the surface element. These buoys were outfitted with two Air–Sea Interaction Meteorology (ASIMET) systems. Each system measures, records, and transmits via Argos satellite the surface meteorological variables necessary to compute air–sea fluxes of heat, moisture and momentum. The upper 120 m of the NTAS-1 mooring line, and the upper 150 m of the NTAS-2 mooring line, were outfitted with oceanographic sensors for the measurement of temperature and velocity. The mooring turnaround was done on the NOAA Ship Ronald H. Brown, Cruise RB-02-02, by the Upper Ocean Processes Group of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution. The cruise took place between 2 and 8 March 2002. A SeaBeam bathymetry survey of the site was done first, followed by deployment of the NTAS-2 mooring on 4 March at approximately 14°44.3′ N, 50°56.8′ W in 5043 m of water. A 24-hour intercomparison period followed, after which the NTAS-1 mooring was recovered. This report describes these operations, as well as some of the pre-cruise buoy preparations.Funding was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Cooperative Institute for Climate and Ocean Research (CICOR) under Grant No. NA17RJ1223

Conversion Efficacy and Safety of Intravenous Ibutilide Compared With Intravenous Procainamide in Patients With Atrial Flutter or Fibrillation 11This study was sponsored by Pharmacia & Upjohn, Kalamazoo, Michigan.22See Appendix Afor a complete list of investigators and study sites.

AbstractObjectives. This multicenter study compared the efficacy and safety of ibutilide versus procainamide for conversion of recent-onset atrial flutter or fibrillation.Background. Ibutilide fumarate is an intravenous (IV) class III antiarrhythmic agent that has been shown to be significantly more effective than placebo in the pharmacologic conversion of atrial flutter and fibrillation to sinus rhythm. Procainamide is commonly used for conversion of recent-onset atrial fibrillation to normal sinus rhythm.Methods. One hundred twenty-seven patients (age range 22 to 92 years) with atrial flutter or fibrillation of 3 h to 90 days’ (mean 21 days) duration were randomized to receive either two 10-min IV infusions of 1 mg of ibutilide fumarate, separated by a 10-min infusion of 5% dextrose in sterile water, or three successive 10-min IV infusions of 400 mg of procainamide hydrochloride.Results. Of the 127 patients, 120 were evaluated for efficacy: 35 (58.3%) of 60 in the ibutilide group compared with 11 (18.3%) of 60 in the procainamide group had successful termination within 1.5 h of treatment (p < 0.0001). Seven patients were found to have violated the protocol and were not included in the final evaluation. In the patients with atrial flutter, ibutilide had a significantly higher success rate than procainamide (76% [13 of 17] vs. 14% [3 of 22], p = 0.001). Similarly, in the atrial fibrillation group, ibutilide had a significantly higher success rate than procainamide (51% [22 of 43] vs. 21% [8 of 38], p = 0.005). One patient who received ibutilide, which was found to be a protocol violation, had sustained polymorphic ventricular tachycardia requiring direct current cardioversion. Seven patients who received procainamide became hypotensive.Conclusions. This study establishes the superior efficacy of ibutilide over procainamide when administered to patients to convert either atrial fibrillation or atrial flutter to sinus rhythm. Hypotension was the major adverse effect seen with procainamide. A low incidence of serious proarrhythmia was seen with the administration of ibutilide occurring at the end of infusion

The gynecologic oncologist in academic departments : Report of survey

Now that the subspecialty of gynecologic oncology is well established within the specialty of obstetrics and gynecology, it seems timely to evaluate the pros and cons, the strengths and weaknesses of such a program as it interrelates with other programs in an academic department. A survey is presented which reflects the beliefs of both members and candidate members of the Society of Gynecologic Oncologists on such issues as gynecologic oncologists as chairmen of departments; teaching demands; time commitments to patient care and research in an academic institution; and surgical privileges for gastro-intestinal and urologic procedures in various hospitals. Financial and budgetary items are also discussed. Perspectives from three different points of view are presented as a discussion of the report of the survey.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/24676/1/0000095.pd

1968: Abilene Christian College Bible Lectures - Full Text

CROWNING FIFTY YEARS” Being the Fiftieth Annual ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE BIBLE LECTURES - 1968 J. D. THOMAS, LECTURESHIP DIRECTOR, EDITOR Published by ABILENE CHRISTIAN COLLEGE ACC Station, Abilene, Texas 7960

Salvage therapies for radiation-relapsed isocitrate dehydrogenase-mutant astrocytoma and 1p/19q codeleted oligodendroglioma

BACKGROUND: Optimal management for recurrent IDH-mutant glioma after radiation therapy (RT) is not well-defined. This study assesses practice patterns for managing recurrent IDH-mutant astrocytoma (Astro) and 1p/19q codeleted oligodendroglioma (Oligo) after RT and surveys their clinical outcomes after different salvage approaches. METHODS: Ninety-four recurrent Astro or Oligo patients after RT who received salvage systemic therapy (SST) between 2001 and 2019 at a tertiary cancer center were retrospectively analyzed. SST was defined as either alkylating chemotherapy (AC) or nonalkylating therapy (non-AC). Overall survival (OS) and progression-free survival (PFS) were calculated using the Kaplan-Meier method from the start of SST. Multivariable analysis (MVA) was conducted using Cox regression analysis. RESULTS: Recurrent Oligo (n = 35) had significantly higher PFS (median: 3.1 vs 0.8 years, respectively, CONCLUSIONS: Recurrent radiation-relapsed IDH-mutant gliomas represent a heterogeneous group with variable treatment approaches. Surgery, AC, and reirradiation remain the mainstay of salvage options for retreatment

Phenology of the avian spring migratory passage in Europe and North America : Asymmetric advancement in time and increase in duration

Climate change has been shown to shift the seasonal timing (i.e. phenology) and distribution of species. The phenological effects of climate change on living organisms have often been tested using first occurrence dates, which may be uninformative and biased. More rarely investigated is how different phases of a phenological sequence (e.g. beginning, central tendency and end) or its duration have changed over time. This type of analysis requires continuous observation throughout the phenological event over multiple years, and such data sets are rare. In this study we examined the impact of temperature on long-term change of passage timing and duration of the spring migration period in birds, and which species' traits explain species-specific variation. Data used covered 195 species from 21 European and Canadian bird observatories from which systematic daily sampling protocols were available. Migration dates were negatively associated with early spring temperature and timings had in general advanced in 57 years. Short-distance migrants advanced the beginning of their migration more than long-distance migrants when corrected for phylogenic relatedness, but such a difference was not found in other phases of migration. The advancement of migration has generally been greater for the beginning and median phases of migration relative to the end, leading to extended spring migration seasons. Duration of the migration season increased with increasing temperature. Phenological changes have also been less noticeable in Canada even when corrected for rate of change in temperature. To visualize long-term changes in phenology, we constructed the first multi-species spring migration phenology indicator to describe general changes in median migration dates in the northern hemisphere. The indicator showed an average advancement of one week during five decades across the continents (period 1959-2015). The indicator is easy to update with new data and we therefore encourage future research to investigate whether the trend towards longer periods of occurrence or emergence in spring is also evident in other migratory populations. Such phenological changes may influence detectability in monitoring schemes, and may have broader implications on population and community dynamics.Peer reviewe

The science of clinical practice: disease diagnosis or patient prognosis? Evidence about "what is likely to happen" should shape clinical practice.

BACKGROUND: Diagnosis is the traditional basis for decision-making in clinical practice. Evidence is often lacking about future benefits and harms of these decisions for patients diagnosed with and without disease. We propose that a model of clinical practice focused on patient prognosis and predicting the likelihood of future outcomes may be more useful. DISCUSSION: Disease diagnosis can provide crucial information for clinical decisions that influence outcome in serious acute illness. However, the central role of diagnosis in clinical practice is challenged by evidence that it does not always benefit patients and that factors other than disease are important in determining patient outcome. The concept of disease as a dichotomous 'yes' or 'no' is challenged by the frequent use of diagnostic indicators with continuous distributions, such as blood sugar, which are better understood as contributing information about the probability of a patient's future outcome. Moreover, many illnesses, such as chronic fatigue, cannot usefully be labelled from a disease-diagnosis perspective. In such cases, a prognostic model provides an alternative framework for clinical practice that extends beyond disease and diagnosis and incorporates a wide range of information to predict future patient outcomes and to guide decisions to improve them. Such information embraces non-disease factors and genetic and other biomarkers which influence outcome. SUMMARY: Patient prognosis can provide the framework for modern clinical practice to integrate information from the expanding biological, social, and clinical database for more effective and efficient care