Wave Inundation on the Coral Coast of Fiji

The roaring winds of the Southern Ocean and the Tasman Sea can generate some large swells, big enough to cause inundation on the Coral Coast in the south west of Viti Levu in Fiji, some 3000 km to the north. These inundation events are sometimes associated with tsunami-like long waves that hit the shore and inundate the coast with brute force. These are locally known as loka waves. To understand the origin of the loka waves and how they become so destructive in a fringing reef environment, this research monitored the waves and water levels, for 2 years, at 4 locations across the reef at a pilot site in Maui Bay on the Coral Coast of Fiji. In order to test the size of waves necessary to cause coastal inundation, a validated numerical model, XBeach, was used to simulate the development, propagation and dissipation of these infragravity waves using different water level scenarios. The result of this analysis is intended as a predictive tool to evaluate the risk of coastal inundation from ocean surface waves that can be used to support an early warning system and coastal management tool for both the tourism industry and coastal communities on the Coral Coast

Waves and Coasts in the Pacific - Cost Analysis of Wave Energy in the Pacific

Ocean waves are often cited as an appealing source of renewable energy in the Pacific but the cost effectiveness of wave energy converters (WECs) is deemed unproven and the technology is rarely considered as a reliable renewable energy resource in Pacific Island countries. However, single/stand-alone WECs could be a competitive option against fossil fuel generators because of the high cost of imported fuel. This study analyses the wave energy resource in the Pacific and calculates the potential cost and power generation of a benchmark WEC in Pacific Island countries. The type of WEC chosen depends largely on the environmental and geophysical characteristics of the wave energy site where it is to be deployed. The aim of this study was not to report on the best device for each site but rather to give advice about the islands that could benefit most from wave energy. Therefore, the cost analysis is based on a single WEC – the Pelamis device. The Pelamis device cost presented here serves as a benchmark for comparison with other WECs in different locations. Due to uncertainties and variations in potential costs across the region, the study evaluated the range of costs applicable to the whole region. The costs of the WEC, transport, installation, operation and management, refit and decommissioning are included. Site-specific potential power generation was calculated, based on a realistic power output dependent on the wave conditions. The study found that Pacific islands south of latitude 20oS receive a substantial amount of wave energy with a mean available wave resource above 20 kilowatts per metre (kW/m) and that many other islands also have potential for wave energy extraction with a mean wave resource above 7 kW/m. This study found that a Pelamis device in the Pacific could cost between USD 6,318,000 and USD 14,104,000 to install and can operate for 25 years. The energy produced by such a device could be up to 1200 megawatt hours (MWh) per year for sites exposed to large swells. Using these values, the range of the total lifetime cost of power generation was calculated to be between USD 200/MWh for exposed sites and USD 1800/MWh for more sheltered sites. The corresponding operation and maintenance generation cost are between USD 40/MWh and USD 900/MWh. These costs are on a par with the cost of generation of other renewable energies, such as wind and solar, and, for exposed sites, on a par with the cost of diesel generation. These findings suggest that wave energy is a genuine contender for the development of renewable energy in the Pacific and should no longer be ignored when planning such development; a concerted effort from all stakeholders should be made in order to benefit from this technology. Further deployment in wave technology will reduce the cost of single wave energy devices, and most small Pacific Islands would not need to deploy large-scale wave farms of ten or more devices, as power production would greatly exceed the demand. With expected rises in fuel prices in the next decades, it would be wise to investigate further the potential of wave energy technology. The deployment of WECs in the Pacific could provide an opportunity for the technology to prove itself in the region and attract the attention of investors, policy makers and decision makers to invest in wave energy development in the Pacific . Page | 2 Waves and Coasts in the Pacific Other recommendations are listed below. 1. French Polynesia, the Austral Islands in particular, should investigate potential wave energy sites. On these islands, wave energy generation could become a major renewable energy resource with a relatively low cost that could even compete with fossil fuel. 2. Tonga, Cook Islands and New Caledonia should also investigate wave energy sites and suitable wave energy devices. Wave energy has a great potential for helping these countries reach their renewable energy targets and supply energy more cheaply than other renewable energy resources. 3. Countries with a mean wave energy flux above 7 kW/m should also investigate wave energy hotspots and wave energy device options, especially in exposed locations. There, wave energy may be able to supply a significant amount of renewable energy and help these countries meet their renewable energy targets. However, wave energy in these locations may be more expensive than other types of renewable energy. 4. Countries with a mean wave energy flux of less than 7 kW/m, such as Papua New Guinea and Solomon islands, are unlikely to benefit from wave energy unless a major technological breakthrough makes wave energy devices much more efficient. These countries should therefore not consider wave energy as a significant renewable energy resource. The WACOP project has provided calculations similar to those presented in this study for more than 200 Pacific locations in wave climate reports that should be consulted as an initial assessment of the wave energy resource available.1 The WACOP project also provides a detailed wave climate analysis for Samoa, Rarotonga in Cook Islands, Tongatapu and 'Eua in Tonga, southern Viti Levu in Fiji, Efate in Vanuatu, and Funafuti in Tuvalu. These analyses include wave energy and cost calculations based on the calculations presented in this report

A Comparative Study of Selected Physical and Biochemical Traits of Wild-Type and Transgenic Sorghum to Reveal Differences Relevant to Grain Quality

Transgenic sorghum featuring RNAi suppression of certain kafirins was developed recently, to address the problem of poor protein digestibility in the grain. However, it was not firmly established if other important quality parameters were adversely affected by this genetic intervention. In the present study several quality parameters were investigated by surveying several important physical and biochemical grain traits. Important differences in grain weight, density and endosperm texture were found that serve to differentiate the transgenic grains from their wild-type counterpart. In addition, ultrastructural analysis of the protein bodies revealed a changed morphology that is indicative of the effect of suppressed kafirins. Importantly, lysine was found to be significantly increased in one of the transgenic lines in comparison to wild-type; while no significant changes in anti-nutritional factors could be detected. The results have been insightful for demonstrating some of the corollary changes in transgenic sorghum grain, that emerge from imposed kafirin suppression

Prevalence and influence on outcome of HER2/neu, HER3 and NRG1 expression in patients with metastatic colorectal cancer

Our aim was to explore the impact of the HER2/neu, HER3 receptor as well as their ligands' neuregulin (NRG1) expression on the outcome of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC). NRG1, HER2/neu and HER3 expression was evaluated in 208 patients with mCRC receiving 5-FU/LV plus irinotecan or irinotecan plus oxaliplatin as the first-line treatment. Biomarker expression was correlated with the outcome of patients. NRG1 (low: 192 vs. high: 16), HER2/neu (low: 201 vs. high: 7) and HER3 (low: 69 vs. high: 139) expressions were assessed in 208 patients. High versus low NRG1 expression significantly affected progression-free survival (PFS) 4.7 vs. 8.2 months, hazard ratio (HR): 2.45; 95{\%} confidence interval (CI): 1.45-4.13; P=0.001, but not overall survival (OS) (15.5 vs. 20.7 months, HR: 1.33; 95{\%} CI: 0.76-2.35; P=0.32). High versus low HER3 expression (PFS: 7.1 vs. 8.8 months, HR: 1.11; 95{\%} CI: 0.82-1.50; P=0.50; OS: 19.8 vs. 21.1 months, HR: 0.95; 95{\%} CI: 0.70-1.30; P=0.75) and high compared with low HER2/neu expression (PFS: 7.7 vs. 8.0 months, HR: 1.07; 95{\%} CI: 0.71-1.60; P=0.75; OS: 16.6 vs. 21.1 months, HR: 1.13; 95{\%} CI: 0.75-1.71; P=0.57) did not influence outcome. High NRG1 expression was associated with inferior PFS in the FIRE-1 trial. We did not detect a prognostic impact of HER2/neu and HER3 overexpression in mCRC. The frequency of overexpression was comparable with other studies

pERK, pAKT and p53 as tissue biomarkers in erlotinib-treated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer: a translational subgroup analysis from AIO-PK0104

Background: The role of pERK, pAKT and p53 as biomarkers in patients with advanced pancreatic cancer has not yet been defined. Methods: Within the phase III study AIO-PK0104 281 patients with advanced pancreatic cancer received an erlotinib-based 1st-line regimen. Archival tissue from 153 patients was available for central immunohistochemistry staining for pERK, pAKT and p53. Within a subgroup analysis, biomarker data were correlated with efficacy endpoints and skin rash using a Cox regression model. Results: Fifty-five out of 153 patients were classified as pERK(low) and 98 patients as pERK(high); median overall survival (OS) was 6.2 months and 5.7 months, respectively (HR 1.29, p = 0.16). When analysing pERK as continuous variable, the pERK score was significantly associated with OS (HR 1.06, 95% CI 1.0-1.12, p = 0.05). Twenty-one of 35 patients were pAKT(low) and 14/35 pAKT(high) with a corresponding median OS of 6.4 months and 6.8 months, respectively (HR 1.03, p = 0.93). Four out of 50 patients had a complete loss of p53 expression, 20 patients a regular expression and 26 patients had tumors with p53 overexpression. The p53 status had no impact on OS (p = 0.91); however, a significant improvement in progression-free survival (PFS) (6.0 vs 1.8 months, HR 0.24, p = 0.02) and a higher rate of skin rash (84% vs 25%, p = 0.02) was observed for patients with a regular p53 expression compared to patients with a complete loss of p53. Conclusion: pERK expression may have an impact on OS in erlotinib-treated patients with advanced pancreatic cancer; p53 should be further investigated for its potential role as a predictive marker for PFS and skin rash

2020-05-14 DAILY UNM GLOBAL HEALTH COVID-19 BRIEFING

Executive Summary: NM restrictions loosen. NM case count. Navajo Nation case count. 9 state parks open. Sunport revenue loss. Trump projects vaccine delivery. Wisconsin court case. Smokers quit. Ireland reopening. Danish schools open. Philippine typhoon evacuation. PPE-induced pressure injuries and facial dermatoses. U.S. mask stockpile. PPE for surgeons. Intubation time with aerosol box. Consumer spending with social restrictions. Suicide increase expected. Undetected virus homeless. Chinese infection control. 5% Spain infected. Sanitizing booth. Healthcare worker infection routes. Kawasaki disease France. CDC Kawaski guidance. Italian deaths characterized. CDC reopening school guidance. COVID-19 and epistemology. Monitoring misleading claims. UN mental health policy brief. CDC vaccination schedules. Guidelines on managing endoscopy units. COVID-19 lab testing (for lab professionals). Cancer surgery triage. Operating room practices. Orthodontic treatment. 3D printed NP swabs effective. Salt-water irrigation reduces duration. Corticosteroids ineffectual. Vaccines require biomanufacturing infrastructure. French pharm giant promises fair vaccine distribution. 26 new trials registered. LDH, lymphocytes and hs-CRP predict mortality. Fibrinogen higher in SARS. Insulin resistance. Glycemic monitoring. Hemostasis abnormalities. New phobia scale. OR global consensus. Inpatient cognitive assessments are challenging. Loud speech increases transmission. Monkeys present similarly. Human-to-dog transmission. Cat transmission

Improved spatio-temporal measurements of visually evoked fields using optically-pumped magnetometers

Recent developments in performance and practicality of optically-pumped magnetometers (OPMs) have enabled new capabilities in non-invasive brain function mapping through magnetoencephalography. In particular, the lack of cryogenic operating conditions allows for more flexible placement of sensor heads closer to the brain, leading to improved spatial resolution and source localisation capabilities. Through recording visually evoked brain fields (VEFs), we demonstrate that the closer sensor proximity can be exploited to improve temporal resolution. We use OPMs, and superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs) for reference, to measure brain responses to flash and pattern reversal stimuli. We find highly reproducible signals with consistency across multiple participants, stimulus paradigms and sensor modalities. The temporal resolution advantage of OPMs is manifest in a twofold improvement, compared to SQUIDs. The capability for improved spatio-temporal signal tracing is illustrated by simultaneous vector recordings of VEFs in the primary and associative visual cortex, where a time lag on the order of 10–20 ms is consistently found. This paves the way for further spatio-temporal studies of neurophysiological signal tracking in visual stimulus processing, and other brain responses, with potentially far-reaching consequences for time-critical mapping of functionality in healthy and pathological brains

Cathepsin D Expression and Gemcitabine Resistance in Pancreatic Cancer.

BackgroundCathepsin-D (CatD), owing to its dual role as a proteolytic enzyme and as a ligand, has been implicated in cancer progression. The role of CatD in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma is unknown.MethodsCatD expression quantified by immunohistochemistry of tumor-tissue microarrays of 403 resected pancreatic cancer patients from the ESPAC-Tplus trial, a translational study within the ESPAC (European Study Group for Pancreatic Cancer) trials, was dichotomously distributed to low and high H scores (cut off 22.35) for survival and multivariable analysis. The validation cohort (n = 69) was recruited based on the hazard ratio of CatD from ESPAC-Tplus. 5-fluorouracil-, and gemcitabine-resistant pancreatic cancer cell lines were employed for mechanistic experiments. All statistical tests were two-sided.ResultsMedian overall survival was 23.75 months and median overall survival for patients with high CatD expression was 21.09 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 17.31 to 24.80) months vs 27.20 (95% CI = 23.75 to 31.90) months for low CatD expression (χ2 LR, 1DF = 4.00; P = .04). Multivariable analysis revealed CatD expression as a predictive marker in gemcitabine-treated (z stat = 2.33; P = .02) but not in 5-fluorouracil-treated (z stat = 0.21; P = .82) patients. An independent validation cohort confirmed CatD as a negative predictive marker for survival (χ2 LR, 1DF = 6.80; P = .009) and as an independent predictive marker in gemcitabine-treated patients with a hazard ratio of 3.38 (95% CI = 1.36 to 8.38, P = .008). Overexpression of CatD was associated with a concomitant suppression of the acid sphingomyelinase, and silencing of CatD resulted in upregulation of acid sphingomyelinase with rescue of gemcitabine resistance.ConclusionsAdjuvant gemcitabine is less effective in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with high CatD expression, and thus CatD could serve as a marker for biomarker-driven therapy