Statistical analysis of thermospheric gravity waves from Fabry-Perot Interferometer measurements of atomic oxygen

Data from the Fabry-Perot Interferometers at KEOPS (Sweden), Sodankylä (Finland), and Svalbard (Norway), have been analysed for gravity wave activity on all the clear nights from 2000 to 2006. A total of 249 nights were available from KEOPS, 133 from Sodankylä and 185 from the Svalbard FPI. A Lomb-Scargle analysis was performed on each of these nights to identify the periods of any wave activity during the night. Comparisons between many nights of data allow the general characteristics of the waves that are present in the high latitude upper thermosphere to be determined. Comparisons were made between the different parameters: the atomic oxygen intensities, the thermospheric winds and temperatures, and for each parameter the distribution of frequencies of the waves was determined. No dependence on the number of waves on geomagnetic activity levels, or position in the solar cycle, was found. All the FPIs have had different detectors at various times, producing different time resolutions of the data, so comparisons between the different years, and between data from different sites, showed how the time resolution determines which waves are observed. In addition to the cutoff due to the Nyquist frequency, poor resolution observations significantly reduce the number of short-period waves (5 h) detected. Comparisons between the number of gravity waves detected at KEOPS and Sodankylä over all the seasons showed a similar proportion of waves to the number of nights used for both sites, as expected since the two sites are at similar latitudes and therefore locations with respect to the auroral oval, confirming this as a likely source region. Svalbard showed fewer waves with short periods than KEOPS data for a season when both had the same time resolution data. This gives a clear indication of the direction of flow of the gravity waves, and corroborates that the source is the auroral oval. This is because the energy is dissipated through heating in each cycle of a wave, therefore, over a given distance, short period waves lose more energy than long and dissipate before they reach their target

High time resolution measurements of the thermosphere from Fabry-Perot Interferometer measurements of atomic oxygen

Recent advances in the performance of CCD detectors have enabled a high time resolution study of the high latitude upper thermosphere with Fabry-Perot Interferometers(FPIs) to be performed. 10-s integration times were used during a campaign in April 2004 on an FPI located in northern Sweden in the auroral oval. The FPI is used to study the thermosphere by measuring the oxygen red line emission at 630.0 nm, which emits at an altitude of approximately 240 km. Previous time resolutions have been 4 min at best, due to the cycle of look directions normally observed. By using 10 s rather than 40 s integration times, and by limiting the number of full cycles in a night, high resolution measurements down to 15 s were achievable. This has allowed the maximum variability of the thermospheric winds and temperatures, and 630.0 nm emission intensities, at approximately 240 km, to be determined as a few minutes. This is a significantly greater variability than the often assumed value of 1 h or more. A Lomb-Scargle analysis of this data has shown evidence of gravity wave activity with waves with short periods. Gravity waves are an important feature of mesospherelower thermosphere (MLT) dynamics, observed using many techniques and providing an important mechanism for energy transfer between atmospheric regions. At high latitudes gravity waves may be generated in-situ by localised auroral activity. Short period waves were detected in all four clear nights when this experiment was performed, in 630.0 nm intensities and thermospheric winds and temperatures. Waves with many periodicities were observed, from periods of several hours, down to 14 min. These waves were seen in all parameters over several nights, implying that this variability is a typical property of the thermosphere

Identification of Cytotoxic Flavor Chemicals in Top-Selling Electronic Cigarette Refill Fluids.

We identified the most popular electronic cigarette (EC) refill fluids using an Internet survey and local and online sales information, quantified their flavor chemicals, and evaluated cytotoxicities of the fluids and flavor chemicals. "Berries/Fruits/Citrus" was the most popular EC refill fluid flavor category. Twenty popular EC refill fluids were purchased from local shops, and the ingredient flavor chemicals were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Total flavor chemical concentrations ranged from 0.6 to 27.9 mg/ml, and in 95% of the fluids, total flavor concentration was greater than nicotine concentration. The 20 most popular refill fluids contained 99 quantifiable flavor chemicals; each refill fluid contained 22 to 47 flavor chemicals, most being esters. Some chemicals were found frequently, and several were present in most products. At a 1% concentration, 80% of the refill fluids were cytotoxic in the MTT assay. Six pure standards of the flavor chemicals found at the highest concentrations in the two most cytotoxic refill fluids were effective in the MTT assay, and ethyl maltol, which was in over 50% of the products, was the most cytotoxic. These data show that the cytotoxicity of some popular refill fluids can be attributed to their high concentrations of flavor chemicals

High concentrations of flavor chemicals are present in electronic cigarette refill fluids.

We characterized the flavor chemicals in a broad sample of commercially available electronic cigarette (EC) refill fluids that were purchased in four different countries. Flavor chemicals in 277 refill fluids were identified and quantified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, and two commonly used flavor chemicals were tested for cytotoxicity with the MTT assay using human lung fibroblasts and epithelial cells. About 85% of the refill fluids had total flavor concentrations >1 mg/ml, and 37% were >10 mg/ml (1% by weight). Of the 155 flavor chemicals identified in the 277 refill fluids, 50 were present at ≥1 mg/ml in at least one sample and 11 were ≥10 mg/ml in 54 of the refill fluids. Sixty-one% (170 out of 277) of the samples contained nicotine, and of these, 56% had a total flavor chemical/nicotine ratio >2. Four chemicals were present in 50% (menthol, triacetin, and cinnamaldehyde) to 80% (ethyl maltol) of the samples. Some products had concentrations of menthol ("Menthol Arctic") and ethyl maltol ("No. 64") that were 30 times (menthol) and 100 times (ethyl maltol) their cytotoxic concentration. One refill fluid contained cinnamaldehyde at ~34% (343 mg/ml), more than 100,000 times its cytotoxic level. High concentrations of some flavor chemicals in EC refill fluids are potentially harmful to users, and continued absence of any regulations regarding flavor chemicals in EC fluids will likely be detrimental to human health

Visual and Text Coverage of Skin Cancer and Recreational Tanning in Popular North American Magazines from 2000 to 2012

Background: Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in North America and its incidence is increasing globally. It is a largely preventable disease through avoiding ultraviolet (UV) exposure and, when detected early, survival is high. The public’s knowledge about skin cancer is poor, and sun protection behaviours and early detection through skin self-examination are infrequent. Moreover, despite the 2006 International Agency for Research on Cancer’s (IARC) report linking indoor tanning and skin cancer, and the classification of indoor tanning as carcinogenic by IARC in 2009, the behaviour remains popular. The mass media is a popular and influential source of health information, including about skin cancer. Moreover, magazines are an important source of information about aesthetic ideals for the body, including tanned skin. Articles in the mass media often are accompanied by visual images, which can influence health behaviours. Little is known about mass media coverage (both article text and images) on skin cancer and tanning. Objectives: The primary objectives of this doctoral research were to: describe and analyze how popular North American magazines report on skin cancer and recreational tanning (i.e., risk factors, UV behaviours, and early detection information); determine how magazine coverage has changed over time relative to the 2006 IARC report linking indoor tanning and skin cancer and the 2009 classification of tanning beds as carcinogenic; test how coverage differed by content type (text vs. images) and target audience (women vs. men, women vs. teenage girls, Canadians vs. Americans); and determine the extent to which constructs from the Health Belief Model (HBM) were conveyed in articles and images about skin cancer and tanning. Methods: Popular Canadian and U.S. magazines (n = 31) were selected for inclusion based on circulation, genre, and target audience. Using online databases and tables of contents, the magazines were searched for articles about skin cancer and tanning published between 2000 and 2012. Articles and their accompanying images were obtained from online databases and library archives. The quantity of articles and images published were determined and, using directed content analysis, detailed information was collected from articles and images. Descriptive statistics were used; chi-square and Fisher’s exact tests enabled comparisons. The codebooks were developed based on previous research and the HBM constructs. Inter-rater reliability was conducted using a 10% sample of articles (n = 86) and images (n = 127) and kappa scores were high (0.82 to 1.00). Results: Between 2000 and 2012, 855 articles (and 1372 accompanying images) were published about skin cancer and tanning in 31 popular North American magazines. The total number of articles about skin cancer and tanning increased modestly after (n = 410) compared to before (n = 351) the IARC report (χ2 = 4.57, df = 1, p < .05); however, key IARC report messages (e.g., avoid indoor tanning, UV exposure as a risk factor) were no more likely to be reported after than before the report. Magazines were more likely to encourage sunscreen use and less likely to promote the tanned look as attractive after the IARC report. The was no change in volume of coverage on skin cancer and recreational tanning before the 2009 classification of tanning beds as carcinogenic (n = 212) vs. after the classification (n = 198) (χ2 = 0.48, df = 1, p = .49). Key related messages (UV exposure is a risk factor; avoid indoor tanning) were not reported on more frequently after the classification, but the promotion of the tanned look as attractive was conveyed more often afterwards, as was the use of high Sun Protection Factor (SPF) sunscreens. In terms of overall coverage of the variables of interest, UV exposure was the most common risk factor mentioned (37.7%) and sunscreen use the most common protection behaviour encouraged (60.0%); coverage of other risk factors and UV protective or avoidance behaviours was uncommon. Just 21.1% of articles, and even fewer images (7.0%), contained information about early detection. For nearly all variables, article text contained more information about risk factors, behaviours, and early detection compared to images. An important exception was that a greater proportion of images (36.9%) promoted the tanned look compared to text (25.2%). Women’s magazines (n = 456) published more articles than men’s magazines (n = 125) (χ2 = 188.57, df = 1, p < .0001) and the nature of the messages differed between them (e.g., women’s magazines more often promoted the tanned look, men’s magazines more often promoted protective clothing). Women’s magazines also published more articles about skin cancer and tanning (n = 79) than teenage girl’s magazines (n = 43) (χ2 = 10.62, df = 1, p = .001), with important differences in coverage (e.g., girls’ magazines more often discouraged indoor tanning). There was no significant difference in the quantity of articles published in Canadian (n = 154) vs. U.S. magazines (n = 178) (χ2 = 1.74, df = 1, p = .188), but the nature of the coverage differed (e.g., there was a greater emphasis on risk factors and early detection in U.S. coverage). Regarding the HBM constructs, perceived susceptibility (48.1%) and severity (60.3%) information was common in text. Perceived benefits (36.4%) and barriers (41.5%) to prevention of skin cancer were equally mentioned in articles; barriers to prevention were also depicted in images (31.7%). Self-efficacy information focused on prevention (48.4%). There was little emphasis on HBM constructs related to early detection and few explicit cues to action. In most cases, HBM constructs were present to a significantly greater extent in text compared to images. Conclusions: Coverage focused narrowly on one risk factor (UV exposure) and one behaviour (sunscreen use), while simultaneously promoting the tanned look as attractive and containing little information about early detection. Key international public health reports and decisions had limited impact on magazine coverage of skin cancer and tanning. Women were targeted with more and different information compared to men. Visual images infrequently offered helpful information and even promoted unhealthy UV behaviours. Magazine skin cancer and tanning content may contribute to inaccurate public understanding of risks, prevention, and early detection, and may not contain sufficient information to positively influence healthy skin behaviours. Cancer educators, public health communication specialists, and journalists should work together to improve mass media messages around skin cancer and tanning. Future Directions: This body of research is the largest content analysis on magazine coverage of skin cancer and recreational to date and one of the only to include visual images. Two promising areas for further study are: to examine skin cancer and tanning messages in social and online media; and to assess the impact of mass media information on the public’s knowledge and behaviours about skin cancer and recreational tanning

SLC19A1 transports immunoreactive cyclic dinucleotides.

The accumulation of DNA in the cytosol serves as a key immunostimulatory signal associated with infections, cancer and genomic damage1,2. Cytosolic DNA triggers immune responses by activating the cyclic GMP-AMP synthase (cGAS)-stimulator of interferon genes (STING) pathway3. The binding of DNA to cGAS activates its enzymatic activity, leading to the synthesis of a second messenger, cyclic guanosine monophosphate-adenosine monophosphate (2'3'-cGAMP)4-7. This cyclic dinucleotide (CDN) activates STING8, which in turn activates the transcription factors interferon regulatory factor 3 (IRF3) and nuclear factor κ-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB), promoting the transcription of genes encoding type I interferons and other cytokines and mediators that stimulate a broader immune response. Exogenous 2'3'-cGAMP produced by malignant cells9 and other CDNs, including those produced by bacteria10-12 and synthetic CDNs used in cancer immunotherapy13,14, must traverse the cell membrane to activate STING in target cells. How these charged CDNs pass through the lipid bilayer is unknown. Here we used a genome-wide CRISPR-interference screen to identify the reduced folate carrier SLC19A1, a folate-organic phosphate antiporter, as the major transporter of CDNs. Depleting SLC19A1 in human cells inhibits CDN uptake and functional responses, and overexpressing SLC19A1 increases both uptake and functional responses. In human cell lines and primary cells ex vivo, CDN uptake is inhibited by folates as well as two medications approved for treatment of inflammatory diseases, sulfasalazine and the antifolate methotrexate. The identification of SLC19A1 as the major transporter of CDNs into cells has implications for the immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer13, host responsiveness to CDN-producing pathogenic microorganisms11 and-potentially-for some inflammatory diseases

Genome-wide homozygosity and multiple sclerosis in Orkney and Shetland Islanders

There is strong evidence for both genetic and environmental risk factors comprising the aetiology of multiple sclerosis (MS). While much progress has been made in recent years in identifying common genetic variants using genome-wide association studies, alternative approaches have remained relatively neglected. The prevalence of MS in Orkney and Shetland is among the highest in the world. Previous studies have suggested that a higher degree of parental relatedness in these isolated communities may contribute to the high rates of MS, indicating that recessive effects have an important role in MS aetiology. The Northern Isles Multiple Sclerosis (NIMS) study investigated the potential role of genome-wide homozygosity in MS risk by genotyping 88 MS patients, 89 controls matched by age, sex and ancestry, and a further 89 controls matched for sex and ancestry, but passed the majority of lifetime risk of developing MS (>70 years of age). Three participants were removed on the basis of pedigree-genomic anomalies (n=263). Three measures of genome-wide homozygosity were generated for each individual, and association with MS was assessed using logistic regression models. No effect of genome-wide homozygosity was detected, indicating that inbreeding and consanguinity are not risk factors for MS in this population

Tracked Vehicle Physics-based Energy Modelling and Series Hybrid System Optimisation for the Bradley Fighting Vehicle

A hybrid electric tracked ground vehicle (HETGV) can reduce military fuel usage, however a review of current tools determined they are not suitable to estimate HEGTV performance. Based on topographic data and vehicle attributes, this research developed an estimation tool by creating a model to determine tracked vehicle energy and fuel requirements, and using these requirements, created a HEGTV cost and performance optimisation for the Bradley fighting vehicle energy system. The optimised design reduced fuel consumption by 15%, and met the vehicle\u27s peak power requirement of 365 kW, with a recommended configuration of a 135 kW generator and 100 kWh battery, and an estimated drivetrain and fuel cost of $155,000. This analysis concludes by articulating the operational and tactical impacts of increased fuel efficiency

Ethyl Maltol, Vanillin, Corylone and other Conventional Confectionery-related Flavour Chemicals Dominate in Some E-cigarette Liquids Labelled ‘tobacco’ flavoured

Background The increased popularity of electronic cigarettes (e-cigarettes) has been linked to the abundance of flavoured products that are attractive to adolescents and young adults. In the last decade, e-cigarette designs have evolved through four generations that include modifications in battery power, e-cigarette liquid (e-liquid) reservoirs and atomiser units. E-liquids have likewise evolved in terms of solvent use/ratios, concentration and number of flavour chemicals, use of nicotine salts and acids, the recent increased use of synthetic cooling agents and the introduction of synthetic nicotine. Our current objective was to evaluate and compare the evolving composition of tobacco-flavoured e-liquids over the last 10 years. Methods Our extensive database of flavour chemicals in e-liquids was used to identify trends and changes in flavour chemical composition and concentrations. Results Tobacco-flavoured products purchased in 2010 and 2011 generally had very few flavour chemicals, and their concentrations were generally very low. In tobacco-flavoured refill fluids purchased in 2019 and Puff Bar Tobacco e-cigarettes, the total number and concentration of flavour chemicals were higher than expected. Products with total flavour chemicals \u3e10 mg/mL contained one to five dominant flavour chemicals (\u3e1 mg/mL). The most frequently used flavour chemicals in tobacco e-liquids were fruity and caramellic. Conclusions There is a need for continuous surveillance of e-liquids, which are evolving in often subtle and harmful ways. Chemical constituents of tobacco flavours should be monitored as they clearly can be doctored by manufacturers to have a taste that would appeal to young users