An Inner Gaseous Disk around the Herbig Be Star MWC 147

We present high-spectral-resolution, optical spectra of the Herbig Be star MWC 147, in which we spectrally resolve several emission lines, including the [O I] lines at 6300 and 6363\deg. Their highly symmetric, double-peaked line profiles indicate that the emission originates in a rotating circumstellar disk. We deconvolve the Doppler-broadened [O I] emission lines to obtain a measure of emission as a function of distance from the central star. The resulting radial surface brightness profiles are in agreement with a disk structure consisting of a flat, inner, gaseous disk and a flared, outer, dust disk. The transition between these components at 2 to 3 AU corresponds to the estimated dust sublimation radius. The width of the double-peaked Mg II line at 4481\deg suggests that the inner disk extends to at least 0.10 AU, close to the corotation radius.Comment: accepted for ApJ Letters (Oct. 2010

Circulating antigen tests and urine reagent strips for diagnosis of active schistosomiasis in endemic areas

Background: Point-of-care (POC) tests for diagnosing schistosomiasis include tests based on circulating antigen detection and urine reagent strip tests. If they had sufficient diagnostic accuracy they could replace conventional microscopy as they provide a quicker answer and are easier to use. Objectives: To summarise the diagnostic accuracy of: a) urine reagent strip tests in detecting activeSchistosoma haematobium infection, with microscopy as the reference standard; and b) circulating antigen tests for detecting active Schistosoma infection in geographical regions endemic for Schistosoma mansoni or S. haematobium or both, with microscopy as the reference standard. Search methods: We searched the electronic databases MEDLINE, EMBASE, BIOSIS, MEDION, and Health Technology Assessment (HTA) without language restriction up to 30 June 2014. Selection criteria We included studies that used microscopy as the reference standard: for S. haematobium, microscopy of urine prepared by filtration, centrifugation, or sedimentation methods; and for S. mansoni, microscopy of stool by Kato-Katz thick smear. We included studies on participants residing in endemic areas only. Data collection and analysis: Two review authors independently extracted data, assessed quality of the data using QUADAS-2, and performed meta-analysis where appropriate. Using the variability of test thresholds, we used the hierarchical summary receiver operating characteristic (HSROC) model for all eligible tests (except the circulating cathodic antigen (CCA) POC for S. mansoni, where the bivariate random-effects model was more appropriate). We investigated heterogeneity, and carried out indirect comparisons where data were sufficient. Results for sensitivity and specificity are presented as percentages with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Main results; We included 90 studies; 88 from field settings in Africa. The median S. haematobiuminfection prevalence was 41% (range 1% to 89%) and 36% for S. mansoni (range 8% to 95%). Study design and conduct were poorly reported against current standards. Tests for S. haematobium Urine reagent test strips versus microscopy Compared to microscopy, the detection of microhaematuria on test strips had the highest sensitivity and specificity (sensitivity 75%, 95% CI 71% to 79%; specificity 87%, 95% CI 84% to 90%; 74 studies, 102,447 participants). For proteinuria, sensitivity was 61% and specificity was 82% (82,113 participants); and for leukocyturia, sensitivity was 58% and specificity 61% (1532 participants). However, the difference in overall test accuracy between the urine reagent strips for microhaematuria and proteinuria was not found to be different when we compared separate populations (P = 0.25), or when direct comparisons within the same individuals were performed (paired studies; P = 0.21). When tests were evaluated against the higher quality reference standard (when multiple samples were analysed), sensitivity was marginally lower for microhaematuria (71% vs 75%) and for proteinuria (49% vs 61%). The specificity of these tests was comparable. Antigen assay Compared to microscopy, the CCA test showed considerable heterogeneity; meta-analytic sensitivity estimate was 39%, 95% CI 6% to 73%; specificity 78%, 95% CI 55% to 100% (four studies, 901 participants). Tests for S. mansoni Compared to microscopy, the CCA test meta-analytic estimates for detecting S. mansoni at a single threshold of trace positive were: sensitivity 89% (95% CI 86% to 92%); and specificity 55% (95% CI 46% to 65%; 15 studies, 6091 participants) Against a higher quality reference standard, the sensitivity results were comparable (89% vs 88%) but specificity was higher (66% vs 55%). For the CAA test, sensitivity ranged from 47% to 94%, and specificity from 8% to 100% (four studies, 1583 participants). Authors' conclusions: Among the evaluated tests for S. haematobium infection, microhaematuria correctly detected the largest proportions of infections and non-infections identified by microscopy. The CCA POC test for S. mansoni detects a very large proportion of infections identified by microscopy, but it misclassifies a large proportion of microscopy negatives as positives in endemic areas with a moderate to high prevalence of infection, possibly because the test is potentially more sensitive than microscopy

Slicing:A sustainable approach to structuring samples for analysis in long-term studies

The longitudinal study of populations is a core tool for understanding ecological and evolutionary processes. Long‐term studies typically collect samples repeatedly over individual lifetimes and across generations. These samples are then analysed in batches (e.g. qPCR plates) and clusters (i.e. group of batches) over time in the laboratory. However, these analyses are constrained by cross‐classified data structures introduced biologically or through experimental design. The separation of biological variation from the confounding among‐batch and among‐cluster variation is crucial, yet often ignored. The commonly used approaches to structuring samples for analysis, sequential and randomization, generate bias due to the non‐independence between time of collection and the batch and cluster they are analysed in. We propose a new sample structuring strategy, called slicing, designed to separate confounding among‐batch and among‐cluster variation from biological variation. Through simulations, we tested the statistical power and precision to detect within‐individual, between‐individual, year and cohort effects of this novel approach. Our slicing approach, whereby recently and previously collected samples are sequentially analysed in clusters together, enables the statistical separation of collection time and cluster effects by bridging clusters together, for which we provide a case study. Our simulations show, with reasonable slicing width and angle, similar precision and similar or greater statistical power to detect year, cohort, within‐ and between‐individual effects when samples are sliced across batches, compared with strategies that aggregate longitudinal samples or use randomized allocation. While the best approach to analysing long‐term datasets depends on the structure of the data and questions of interest, it is vital to account for confounding among‐cluster and batch variation. Our slicing approach is simple to apply and creates the necessary statistical independence of batch and cluster from environmental or biological variables of interest. Crucially, it allows sequential analysis of samples and flexible inclusion of current data in later analyses without completely confounding the analysis. Our approach maximizes the scientific value of every sample, as each will optimally contribute to unbiased statistical inference from the data. Slicing thereby maximizes the power of growing biobanks to address important ecological, epidemiological and evolutionary questions

Identifying the severely injured benefitting from a specific level of trauma care in an inclusive network:A multicentre retrospective study

Introduction: Defining major trauma (MT) with an Injury Severity Score (ISS) &gt; 15 has limitations. This threshold is used for concentrating MT care in networks with multiple levels of trauma care. Objective: This study aims to identify subgroups of severely injured patients benefiting on in-hospital mortality and non-fatal clinical outcome measures in an optimal level of trauma care. Methods: A multicentre retrospective cohort study on data of the Dutch National Trauma Registry, region South West, from January 1, 2015 until December 31, 2019 was conducted. Patients ≥ 16 years admitted within 48 h after trauma transported with (H)EMS to a level I trauma centre (TC) or a non-level I trauma facility with a Maximum Abbreviated Injury Scale (MAIS) ≥ 3 were included. Patients with burns or patients of ≥ 65 years with an isolated hip fracture were excluded. Logistic regression models were used for comparing level I with non-level I. Subgroup analysis were done for MT patients (ISS &gt; 15) and non-MT patients (ISS 9–14). Results: A total of 7,493 records were included. In-hospital mortality of patients admitted to a non-level I trauma facility did not differ significantly from patients admitted to the level I TC (adjusted Odds Ratio (OR): 0.94; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68–1.30). This was also applicable for MT patients (OR: 1.06; 95% CI 0.73–1.53) and non-MT patients (OR: 1.30; 95% CI (0.56–3.03). Hospital and ICU LOS were significantly shorter for patients admitted to a non-level I trauma facilities, and patients admitted to a non-level I trauma facility were more likely to be discharged home. Findings were confirmed for MT and non-MT patients, per injured body region. Conclusion: All levels of trauma care performed equally on in-hospital mortality among severely injured patients (MAIS ≥ 3), although patients admitted to the level I TC were more severely injured. Subgroups of patients by body region or ISS, with a survival benefit or more favorable clinical outcome measures were not identified. Subgroups analysis on clinical outcome measures across different levels of trauma care in an inclusive trauma network is too simplistic if subgroups are based on injuries in specific body region or ISS only.</p

Infrared Variability of Two Dusty White Dwarfs

The most heavily polluted white dwarfs often show excess infrared radiation from circumstellar dust disks, which are modeled as a result of tidal disruption of extrasolar minor planets. Interaction of dust, gas, and disintegrating objects can all contribute to the dynamical evolution of these dust disks. Here, we report on two infrared variable dusty white dwarfs, SDSS J1228+1040 and G29-38. For SDSS J1228+1040, compared to the first measurements in 2007, the IRAC [3.6] and [4.5] fluxes decreased by 20% by 2014 to a level also seen in the recent 2018 observations. For G29-38, the infrared flux of the 10 $\mu$m silicate emission feature became 10% stronger between 2004 and 2007, We explore several scenarios that could account for these changes, including tidal disruption events, perturbation from a companion, and runaway accretion. No satisfactory causes are found for the flux drop in SDSS J1228+1040 due to the limited time coverage. Continuous tidal disruption of small planetesimals could increase the mass of small grains and concurrently change the strength of the 10 $\mu$m feature of G29-38. Dust disks around white dwarfs are actively evolving and we speculate that there could be different mechanisms responsible for the temporal changes of these disks.Comment: ApJ, in pres

Rule-based Syntactic Simplifier for Texts in Estonian

Selles bakalaureusetöös tutvustatakse praktilise osana tehtud keeleõppijatele mõeldud veebirakendust, mis lihtsustab eestikeelse teksti lausestruktuuri. Programmi eesmärk on teha liitlausest etteantud reeglite põhjal eesti keele grammatikale vastavad lihtlaused. Rakenduse loomisel toetuti eesti keele analüüsimiseks mõeldud tehnilistele vahenditele, võtmetähtsusega on osalausestaja, kuid kasutati veel süntaksianalüsaatorit, morfoloogilist analüsaatorit ja morfoloogilist süntesaatorit.This Bachelor's thesis introduces an implemented web-based application that simplifies text in Estonian syntactically. The app is meant for language learners and its main propose is to make grammatically correct simple sentences from composite sentences by the given rules. This application relies on tools that are meant for text analysis in Estonian, mainly a clause segmenter, but syntactic and morphological analysers and a morphological synthesizer are used as well