The Pioneer Dead of 1915

"…selecting those cases for comment where the pioneer had come to the Pacific Coast as early at 1860 or earlier.

The Pioneer Dead of 1916

"Hughes, Mrs. Flora Eloris Payne, died January 9, 1916. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Payne, pioneers of 1853.

The Pioneer Dead of 1916

"Hughes, Mrs. Flora Eloris Payne, died January 9, 1916. She was the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. James H. Payne, pioneers of 1853.

Strange Bodies and Familiar Spaces: W. J. R. Simpson and the threat of disease in Calcutta and the tropical city, 1880 - 1910

This thesis discusses the role of urban sanitation in tropical cities, especially Calcutta. Focusing particularly on the provision of milk, the author argues that hygienic practice, and the culture of nineteenth-century tropical medicine, created more diffuse racial deliniations than usually assumed by historians [abstracted by librarian]

A study of Tycho's SNR at TeV energies with the HEGRA CT-System

Tycho's supernova remnant (SNR) was observed during 1997 and 1998 with the HEGRA Cherenkov Telescope System in a search for gamma-ray emission at energies above ~1 TeV. An analysis of these data, ~65 hours in total, resulted in no evidence for TeV gamma-ray emission. The 3sigma upper limit to the gamma-ray flux (>1 TeV) from Tycho is estimated at 5.78x10^{-13} photons cm^{-2} s^{-1}, or 33 milli-Crab. We interpret our upper limit within the framework of the following scenarios: (1) that the observed hard X-ray tail is due to synchrotron emission. A lower limit on the magnetic field within Tycho may be estimated B>=22 microG, assuming that the RXTE-detected X-rays were due to synchrotron emission. However, using results from a detailed model of the ASCA emission, a more conservative lower limit B>=6 microG is derived. (2) the hadronic model of Drury, Aharonian & Voelk, and (3) the more recent time-dependent kinetic theory of Berezhko & Voelk. Our upper limit lies within the range of predicted values of both hadronic models, according to uncertainties in physical parameters of Tycho, and shock acceleration details. In the latter case, the model was scaled to suit the parameters of Tycho and re-normalised to account for a simplification of the original model. We find that we cannot rule out Tycho as a potential contributor at an average level to the Galactic cosmic-ray flux.Comment: 9 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in Astronomy and Astrophysic

Influence of Lung Reconstruction Algorithms on Interstitial Lung Pattern Recognition on CT.

BACKGROUND  Despite current recommendations, there is no recent scientific study comparing the influence of CT reconstruction kernels on lung pattern recognition in interstitial lung disease (ILD). PURPOSE  To evaluate the sensitivity of lung (i70) and soft (i30) CT kernel algorithms for the diagnosis of ILD patterns. MATERIALS AND METHODS  We retrospectively extracted between 15-25 pattern annotations per case (1 annotation = 15 slices of 1 mm) from 23 subjects resulting in 408 annotation stacks per lung kernel and soft kernel reconstructions. Two subspecialized chest radiologists defined the ground truth in consensus. 4 residents, 2 fellows, and 2 general consultants in radiology with 3 to 13 years of experience in chest imaging performed a blinded readout. In order to account for data clustering, a generalized linear mixed model (GLMM) with random intercept for reader and nested for patient and image and a kernel/experience interaction term was used to analyze the results. RESULTS  The results of the GLMM indicated, that the odds of correct pattern recognition is 12 % lower with lung kernel compared to soft kernel; however, this was not statistically significant (OR 0.88; 95%-CI, 0.73-1.06; p = 0.187). Furthermore, the consultants' odds of correct pattern recognition was 78 % higher than the residents' odds, although this finding did not reach statistical significance either (OR 1.78; 95%-CI, 0.62-5.06; p = 0.283). There was no significant interaction between the two fixed terms kernel and experience. Intra-rater agreement between lung and soft kernel was substantial (κ = 0.63 ± 0.19). The mean inter-rater agreement for lung/soft kernel was κ = 0.37 ± 0.17/κ = 0.38 ± 0.17. CONCLUSION  There is no significant difference between lung and soft kernel reconstructed CT images for the correct pattern recognition in ILD. There are non-significant trends indicating that the use of soft kernels and a higher level of experience lead to a higher probability of correct pattern identification. KEY POINTS   · There is no significant difference between lung and soft kernel reconstructed CT images for the correct pattern recognition in interstitial lung disease.. · There are even non-significant tendencies that the use of soft kernels lead to a higher probability of correct pattern identification.. · These results challenge the current recommendations and the routinely performed separate lung kernel reconstructions for lung parenchyma analysis.. CITATION FORMAT · Klaus JB, Christodoulidis S, Peters AA et al. Influence of Lung Reconstruction Algorithms on Interstitial Lung Pattern Recognition on CT. Fortschr Röntgenstr 2022; DOI: 10.1055/a-1901-7814

A survey by the European Society of Breast Imaging on the utilisation of breast MRI in clinical practice

Objectives: While magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is considered a helpful diagnostic tool in breast imaging, discussions are ongoing about appropriate protocols and indications. The European Society of Breast Imaging (EUSOBI) launched a survey to evaluate the utilisation of breast MRI in clinical practice. Methods: An online survey reviewed by the EUSOBI board and committees was distributed amongst members. The questions encompassed: training and experience; annual breast MRI and MRI-guided-intervention workload; examination protocols; indications; reporting habits and preferences. Data were summarised and subgroups compared using \u3c72test. Results: Of 647 EUSOBI members, 177 (27.4%) answered the survey. The majority were radiologists (90.5%), half of them based in academic centres (51.9%). Common indications for MRI included cancer staging, treatment monitoring, high-risk screening and problem-solving, and differed significantly between countries (p 640.03). Structured reporting and BI-RADS were mostly used. Breast radiologists with 6410 years of experience preferred inclusion of additional techniques, such as T2/STIR (p=0.03) and DWI (p=0.08) in the scan protocol. MRI-guided interventions were performed by a minority of participants (35.4%). Conclusions: The utilisation of breast MRI in clinical practice is generally in line with international recommendations. There are substantial differences between countries. MRI-guided interventions and functional MRI parameters are not widely available. Key points: \u2022 MRI is commonly used for the detection and characterisation of breast lesions. \u2022 Clinical practice standards are generally in line with current recommendations. \u2022 Standardised criteria and diagnostic categories (mainly BI-RADS) are widely adopted. \u2022 Younger radiologists value additional techniques, such as T2/STIR and DWI. \u2022 MRI-guided breast biopsy is not widely available

Cytomegalovirus antibodies in dried blood spots: a minimally invasive method for assessing stress, immune function, and aging

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a prevalent herpesvirus with links to both stress and aging. This paper describes and validates a minimally invasive method for assessing antibodies against CMV in finger stick whole blood spot samples for use as an indirect marker of an aspect of cell-mediated immunity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis of CMV in dried blood spot samples (DBS) was based on modifications of a commercially available protocol for quantifying CMV antibodies in serum or plasma. The method was evaluated through analysis of precision, reliability, linearity, and correlation between matched serum and DBS samples collected from 75 volunteers. Correlation between DBS and plasma values was linear and high (Pearson correlation <it>R </it>= .96), and precision, reliability, and linearity of the DBS assay were within acceptable ranges.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The validity of a DBS assay for CMV antibodies will enable its inclusion in population-based surveys and other studies collecting DBS samples in non-clinical settings, increasing scientific understanding of the interaction of social and biological stress and immune function.</p

Transgene Expression Is Associated with Copy Number and Cytomegalovirus Promoter Methylation in Transgenic Pigs

Transgenic animals have been used for years to study gene function, produce important proteins, and generate models for the study of human diseases. However, inheritance and expression instability of the transgene in transgenic animals is a major limitation. Copy number and promoter methylation are known to regulate gene expression, but no report has systematically examined their effect on transgene expression. In the study, we generated two transgenic pigs by somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) that express green fluorescent protein (GFP) driven by cytomegalovirus (CMV). Absolute quantitative real-time PCR and bisulfite sequencing were performed to determine transgene copy number and promoter methylation level. The correlation of transgene expression with copy number and promoter methylation was analyzed in individual development, fibroblast cells, various tissues, and offspring of the transgenic pigs. Our results demonstrate that transgene expression is associated with copy number and CMV promoter methylation in transgenic pigs