Mapping submarine glacial landforms using acoustic methods

The mapping of submarine glacial landforms is largely dependent on marine geophysical survey methods capable of imaging the seafloor and sub-bottom through the water column. Full global coverage of seafloor mapping, equivalent to that which exists for the Earth's land surface, has, to date, only been achieved by deriving bathymetry from radar altimeters on satellites such as GeoSat and ERS-1 (Smith & Sandwell 1997). The horizontal resolution is limited by the footprint of the satellite sensors and the need to average out local wave and wind effects, resulting in a cell size of about 15 km (Sandwell et al. 2001). A further problem in high latitudes is that the altimeter data are extensively contaminated by the presence of sea ice, which degrades the derived bathymetry (McAdoo & Laxon 1997). Consequently, the satellite altimeter method alone is not suitable for mapping submarine glacial landforms, given that their morphological characterization usually requires a much finer level of detail. Acoustic mapping methods based on marine echo-sounding principles are currently the most widely used techniques for mapping submarine glacial landforms because they are capable of mapping at a much higher resolution

The Sensitivity of Ligo to a Stochastic Background, and its Dependance on the Detector Orientations

We analyze the sensitivity of a network of interferometer gravitational-wave detectors to the gravitational-wave stochastic background, and derive the dependence of this sensitivity on the orientations of the detector arms. We build on and extend the recent work of Christensen, but our conclusion for the optimal choice of orientations of a pair of detectors differs from his. For a pair of detectors (such as LIGO) that subtends an angle at the center of the earth of \,\alt 70^\circ, we find that the optimal configuration is for each detector to have its arms make an angle of $45^\circ$ (modulo $90^\circ$) with the arc of the great circle that joins them. For detectors that are farther separated, each detector should instead have one arm aligned with this arc. We also describe in detail the optimal data-analysis algorithm for searching for the stochastic background with a detector network, which is implicit in earlier work of Michelson. The LIGO pair of detectors will be separated by $\sim 3000 \, {\rm km}$. The minimum detectable stochastic energy-density for these detectors with their currently planned orientations is $\sim 3\%$ greater than what it would be if the orientations were optimal.Comment: 56 pages, 10 figures, Caltech preprint GRP-347, submitted to Phys Rev D, uses revtex macro

Infection-related acute care events among patients with glomerular disease

Background and objectives Infections contribute to patient morbidity and mortality in glomerular disease. We sought to describe the incidence of, and identify risk factors for, infection-related acute care events among Cure Glomerulonephropathy Network (CureGN) study participants. Design, setting, participants, & measurements CureGN is a prospective, multicenter, cohort study of children and adults with biopsy sample–proven minimal change disease, FSGS, membranous nephropathy, or IgA nephropathy/vasculitis. Risk factors for time to first infection-related acute care events (hospitalization or emergency department visit) were identified using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression. Results Of 1741 participants (43%female, 41%,18 years, 68%White), 163 (9%) experienced infection-related acute care events over a median follow-up of 17months (interquartile range, 9–26months).Unadjusted incidence rates of infection-related acute care events were 13.2 and 6.2 events per 100 person-years among pediatric and adult participants, respectively. Among participants with versus without corticosteroid exposure at enrollment, unadjusted incidence rates were 50.6 and 28.6 per 100 person-years, respectively, during the first year of follow-up (adjusted hazard ratio for time to first infection, 1.31; 95% CI, 0.89 to 1.93), and 4.1 and 1.1 per 100 person-years, respectively, after 1 year of follow-up (hazard ratio, 2.99; 95%CI, 1.54 to 5.79). Hypoalbuminemia combined with nephrotic-range proteinuria (serum albumin #2.5 g/dl and urinary protein-creatinine ratio.3.5 mg/mg), compared with serumalbumin.2.5 g/dl and urinary protein-creatinine ratio#3.5 mg/mg, was associated with higher risk of time to first infection (adjusted hazard ratio, 2.49; 95% CI, 1.51 to 4.12). Conclusions Among CureGN participants, infection-related acute care events were common and associated with younger age, corticosteroid exposure, and hypoalbuminemia with proteinuria

Cognitive endpoints for therapy development for neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidoses: Results of a consensus procedure

The design and conduct of clinical studies to evaluate the effects of novel therapies on central nervous system manifestations in children with neuronopathic mucopolysaccharidoses is challenging. Owing to the rarity of these disorders, multinational studies are often needed to recruit enough patients to provide meaningful data and statistical power. This can make the consistent collection of reliable data across study sites difficult. To address these challenges, an International MPS Consensus Conference for Cognitive Endpoints was convened to discuss approaches for evaluating cognitive and adaptive function in patients with mucopolysaccharidoses. The goal was to develop a consensus on best practice for the design and conduct of clinical studies investigating novel therapies for these conditions, with particular focus on the most appropriate outcome measures for cognitive function and adaptive behavior. The outcomes from the consensus panel discussion are reported here

Observation of incipient particle formation during flame synthesis by tandem differential mobility analysis-mass spectrometry (DMA-MS)

While flame aerosol reactor (FLAR) synthesis of nanoparticles is widely used to produce a range of nano-materials, incipient particle formation by nucleation and vapor condensation is not well understood. This gap in our knowledge of incipient particle formation is caused by limitations in instruments, where, during measurements, the high diffusivity of sub 3 nm particles significantly affects resolution and transport loss. This work used a high resolution differential mobility analyzer (DMA) and an atmospheric pressure interface-mass spectrometer (APi-TOF) to observe incipient particle formation during flame synthesis. By tandemly applying these two instruments, differential mobility analysis-mass spectrometry (DMA-MS) measured the size and mass of the incipient particles simultaneously, and the effective density of the sub 3 nm particles was estimated. The APi-TOF further provided the chemical compositions of the detected particles based on highly accurate masses and isotope distributions. This study investigated the incipient particle formation in flames with and without the addition of synthesis precursors. Results from FLAR using two types of precursors including tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS) and titanium isopropoxide (TTIP) are presented. The effect of the precursor feed rates on incipient particle growth was also investigated. (C) 2016 by The Combustion Institute. Published by Elsevier Inc.Peer reviewe

Complex relationships among personality traits, job characteristics, and work behaviors

The aim of the study was to investigate the additive, mediating, and moderating effects of personality traits and job characteristics on work behaviors. Job applicants (N = 161) completed personality questionnaires measuring extraversion, neuroticism, achievement motivation, and experience seeking. One and a half years later, supervisors rated the applicants' job performance, and the job incumbents completed questionnaires about skill variety, autonomy, and feedback, work stress, job satisfaction, work self-efficacy, and propensity to leave. LISREL was used to test 15 hypotheses. Perceived feedback mediated the relationship between achievement motivation and job performance. Extraversion predicted work self-efficacy and job satisfaction. Work stress mediated the relationship between neuroticism and job satisfaction. Job satisfaction and experience seeking were related to propensity to leave. Autonomy, skill variety, and feedback were related to job satisfaction

Mucosal Expression of Type 2 and Type 17 Immune Response Genes Distinguishes Ulcerative Colitis From Colon-Only Crohn's Disease in Treatment-Naive Pediatric Patients

Background & Aims There is controversy regarding the role of the type 2 immune response in the pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC)?few data are available from treatment-naive patients. We investigated whether genes associated with a type 2 immune response in the intestinal mucosa are up-regulated in treatment-naive pediatric patients with UC compared with patients with Crohn's disease (CD)-associated colitis or without inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and whether expression levels are associated with clinical outcomes. Methods We used a real-time reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction array to analyze messenger RNA (mRNA) expression patterns in rectal mucosal samples from 138 treatment-naive pediatric patients with IBD and macroscopic rectal disease, as well as those from 49 children without IBD (controls), enrolled in a multicenter prospective observational study from 2008 to 2012. Results were validated in real-time reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction analyses of rectal RNA from an independent cohort of 34 pediatric patients with IBD and macroscopic rectal disease and 17 controls from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Results We measured significant increases in mRNAs associated with a type 2 immune response (interleukin [IL]5 gene, IL13, and IL13RA2) and a type 17 immune response (IL17A and IL23) in mucosal samples from patients with UC compared with patients with colon-only CD. In a regression model, increased expression of IL5 and IL17A mRNAs distinguished patients with UC from patients with colon-only CD (P =.001; area under the receiver operating characteristic curve, 0.72). We identified a gene expression pattern in rectal tissues of patients with UC, characterized by detection of IL13 mRNA, that predicted clinical response to therapy after 6 months (odds ratio [OR], 6.469; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.553?26.94), clinical response after 12 months (OR, 6.125; 95% CI, 1.330?28.22), and remission after 12 months (OR, 5.333; 95% CI, 1.132?25.12). Conclusions In an analysis of rectal tissues from treatment-naive pediatric patients with IBD, we observed activation of a type 2 immune response during the early course of UC. We were able to distinguish patients with UC from those with colon-only CD based on increased mucosal expression of genes that mediate type 2 and type 17 immune responses. Increased expression at diagnosis of genes that mediate a type 2 immune response is associated with response to therapy and remission in pediatric patients with UC

Impact of Chlamydia trachomatis in the reproductive setting: British Fertility Society Guidelines for practice

Chlamydia trachomatis infection of the genital tract is the most common sexually transmitted infection and has a world-wide distribution. The consequences of infection have an adverse effect on the reproductive health of women and are a common cause of infertility. Recent evidence also suggests an adverse effect on male reproduction. There is a need to standardise the approach in managing the impact of C. trachomatis infection on reproductive health. We have surveyed current UK practice towards screening and management of Chlamydia infections in the fertility setting. We found that at least 90% of clinicians surveyed offered screening. The literature on this topic was examined and revealed a paucity of solid evidence for estimating the risks of long-term reproductive sequelae following lower genital tract infection with C. trachomatis. The mechanism for the damage that occurs after Chlamydial infections is uncertain. However, instrumentation of the uterus in women with C. trachomatis infection is associated with a high risk of pelvic inflammatory disease, which can be prevented by appropriate antibiotic treatment and may prevent infected women from being at increased risk of the adverse sequelae, such as ectopic pregnancy and tubal factor infertility. Recommendations for practice have been proposed and the need for further studies is identified

APOL1 genotype-associated morphologic changes among patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis

Background: The G1 and G2 alleles of apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1) are common in the Black population and associated with increased risk of focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The molecular mechanisms linking APOL1 risk variants with FSGS are not clearly understood, and APOL1’s natural absence in laboratory animals makes studying its pathobiology challenging. Methods: In a cohort of 90 Black patients with either FSGS or minimal change disease (MCD) enrolled in the Nephrotic Syndrome Study Network (58% pediatric onset), we used kidney biopsy traits as an intermediate outcome to help illuminate tissue-based consequences of APOL1 risk variants and expression. We tested associations between APOL1 risk alleles or glomerular APOL1 mRNA expression and 83 light- or electron-microscopy traits measuring structural and cellular kidney changes. Results: Under both recessive and dominant models in the FSGS patient subgroup (61%), APOL1 risk variants were significantly correlated (defined as FDR <0.1) with decreased global mesangial hypercellularity, decreased condensation of cytoskeleton, and increased tubular microcysts. No significant correlations were detected in MCD cohort. Independent of risk alleles, glomerular APOL1 expression in FSGS patients was not correlated with morphologic features. Conclusions: While APOL1-associated FSGS is associated with two risk alleles, both one and two risk alleles are associated with cellular/tissue changes in this study of FSGS patients. Our lack of discovery of a large group of tissue differences in FSGS and no significant difference in MCD may be due to the lack of power but also supports investigating whether machine learning methods may more sensitively detect APOL1-associated changes