851 research outputs found
Titan's atmosphere as observed by Cassini/VIMS solar occultations: CH, CO and evidence for CH absorption
We present an analysis of the VIMS solar occultations dataset, which allows
us to extract vertically resolved information on the characteristics of Titan's
atmosphere between 100-700 km with a characteristic vertical resolution of 10
km. After a series of data treatment procedures, 4 occultations out of 10 are
retained. This sample covers different seasons and latitudes of Titan. The
transmittances show clearly the evolution of the haze and detect the detached
layer at 310 km in Sept. 2011 at mid-northern latitudes. Through the inversion
of the transmission spectra with a line-by-line radiative transfer code we
retrieve the vertical distribution of CH and CO mixing ratio. The two
methane bands at 1.4 and 1.7 {\mu}m are always in good agreement and yield an
average stratospheric abundance of %. This is significantly less
than the value of 1.48% obtained by the GCMS/Huygens instrument. The analysis
of the residual spectra after the inversion shows that there are additional
absorptions which affect a great part of the VIMS wavelength range. We
attribute many of these additional bands to gaseous ethane, whose near-infrared
spectrum is not well modeled yet. Ethane contributes significantly to the
strong absorption between 3.2-3.5 {\mu}m that was previously attributed only to
C-H stretching bands from aerosols. Ethane bands may affect the surface windows
too, especially at 2.7 {\mu}m. Other residual bands are generated by stretching
modes of C-H, C-C and C-N bonds. In addition to the C-H stretch from aliphatic
hydrocarbons at 3.4 {\mu}m, we detect a strong and narrow absorption at 3.28
{\mu}m which we tentatively attribute to the presence of PAHs in the
stratosphere. C-C and C-N stretching bands are possibly present between 4.3-4.5
{\mu}m. Finally, we obtain the CO mixing ratio between 70-170 km. The average
result of ppm is in good agreement with previous studies.Comment: 51 pages, 28 figure
Benchmark Parameters for CMB Polarization Experiments
The recently detected polarization of the cosmic microwave background (CMB)
holds the potential for revealing the physics of inflation and gravitationally
mapping the large-scale structure of the universe, if so called B-mode signals
below 10^{-7}, or tenths of a uK, can be reliably detected. We provide a
language for describing systematic effects which distort the observed CMB
temperature and polarization fields and so contaminate the B-modes. We identify
7 types of effects, described by 11 distortion fields, and show their
association with known instrumental systematics such as common mode and
differential gain fluctuations, line cross-coupling, pointing errors, and
differential polarized beam effects. Because of aliasing from the small-scale
structure in the CMB, even uncorrelated fluctuations in these effects can
affect the large-scale B modes relevant to gravitational waves. Many of these
problems are greatly reduced by having an instrumental beam that resolves the
primary anisotropies (FWHM << 10'). To reach the ultimate goal of an
inflationary energy scale of 3 \times 10^{15} GeV, polarization distortion
fluctuations must be controlled at the 10^{-2}-10^{-3} level and temperature
leakage to the 10^{-4}-10^{-3} level depending on effect. For example pointing
errors must be controlled to 1.5'' rms for arcminute scale beams or a percent
of the Gaussian beam width for larger beams; low spatial frequency differential
gain fluctuations or line cross-coupling must be eliminated at the level of
10^{-4} rms.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, submitted to PR
Responses of a wetland ecosystem to the controlled introduction of invasive fish
Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136368/1/fwb12900_am.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/136368/2/fwb12900.pd
'Recommendations for deprescribing of medication in the last phase of life: an international Delphi study'.
CONTEXT
Medications may become inappropriate for patients in the last phase of life and may even compromise their quality of life.
OBJECTIVE
To find consensus on recommendations regarding deprescribing of medications for adult patients with a life expectancy of six months or less.
METHODS
Experts working in palliative care or other relevant disciplines were asked to participate in this international Delphi study. Existing tools for deprescribing of medication in the last phase of life were integrated in a list of 42 recommendations regarding potential deprescription of various medication types. In two Delphi rounds, experts were asked to rate their agreement with each recommendation on a 5-point Likert-scale (strongly agree - strongly disagree). Recommendations were accepted, if at least 70% of the experts (strongly) agreed, the interquartile range (IQR) was one or less, and less than 10% strongly disagreed.
RESULTS
47 experts from 10 countries participated (response rate 53%). In most cases (76%), consensus was reached on deprescribing recommendations for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less. The highest level of consensus was reached for recommendations on the deprescription of diuretics in case of decreasing fluid intake or increasing fluid loss, lipid modifying agents if prescribed for primary prevention, and vitamin K antagonists and direct oral anticoagulants in case of high bleeding risk.
CONCLUSION
A high level of consensus was reached on recommendations on potential deprescription of several medications for patients with a life expectancy of six months or less
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Prevalence and risk factors for sexual dysfunction in young women following a cancer diagnosis - a population-based study
Background
Self-reported sex problems among women diagnosed with reproductive and nonreproductive cancers before the age of 40 are not fully understood. This study aimed to determine sexual dysfunction in young women following a cancer diagnosis in relation to women of the general population. Furthermore, to identify factors associated with sexual dysfunction in women diagnosed with cancer.
Materials and Methods
A population-based cross-sectional study with 694 young women was conducted 1.5âyears after being diagnosed with cancer (response rate 72%). Potential participants were identified in national quality registries covering breast and gynecological cancer, lymphoma and brain tumors. The women with cancer were compared to a group of women drawn from the general population (Nâ=â493). Sexual activity and function were assessed with the PROMISÂź SexFS. Logistic regression was used to assess differences between women with cancer and the comparison group, and to identify factors associated with sexual dysfunction.
Results
The majority of the women with cancer (83%) as well as the women from the comparison group (87%) reported having had sex the last month (partner sex and/or masturbation). More than 60% of the women with cancer (all diagnoses) reported sexual dysfunction in at least one of the measured domains. The women with cancer reported statistically significantly more problems than women of the comparison group across domains such as decreased interest in having sex, and vaginal and vulvar discomfort. Women with gynecological or breast cancer and those receiving more intense treatment were at particular high risk of sexual dysfunction (â„2 domains). Concurrent emotional distress and body image disturbance were associated with more dysfunction.
Conclusion
The results underscore the need to routinely assess sexual health in clinical care and follow-up. Based on the results, development of interventions to support women to cope with cancer-related sexual dysfunction is recommended
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Do young adults with cancer receive information about treatment-related impact on sex life? Results from a population-based study
BACKGROUND: Sexual dysfunction is common following a cancer diagnosis in young adulthood (18-39âyears) and problems related to sex life are ranked among the core concerns in this age group. Yet, few studies have investigated to what extent adults younger than 40, receive information from healthcare providers about the potential impact of cancer and its treatment on their sex life.
METHODS: A population-based cross-sectional survey study was conducted with 1010 young adults 1.5âyears after being diagnosed with cancer (response rate 67%). Patients with breast, cervical, ovarian and testicular cancer, lymphoma, and brain tumors were identified in national quality registries. Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with receiving information were examined using multivariable binary logistic regression.
RESULTS: Men to a higher extent than women reported having received information about potential cancer-related impact on their sex life (68% vs. 54%, pâ<â0.001). Receipt of information varied across diagnoses; in separate regression models, using lymphoma as reference, both women and men with brain tumors were less likely to receive information (women: OR 0.10, CIÂ =Â 0.03-0.30; men: OR 0.37, CIÂ =Â 0.16-0.85). More intensive treatment was associated with higher odds of receiving information in both women (OR 1.89; CIÂ =Â 1.28-2.79) and men (OR 2.08; CIÂ =Â 1.09-3.94). None of the sociodemographic factors were associated with receipt of information.
CONCLUSIONS: To improve sexual health communication to young adults with cancer, we recommend diagnosis-specific routines that clarify when in the disease trajectory to discuss these issues with patients and what to address in these conversations
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