Long-Term Variations in the Growth and Decay Rates of Sunspot Groups

Using the combined Greenwich (1874-1976) and Solar Optical Observatories Network (1977-2009) data on sunspot groups, we study the long-term variations in the mean daily rates of growth and decay of sunspot groups. We find that the minimum and the maximum values of the annually averaged daily mean growth rates are ~52% per day and ~183% per day, respectively, whereas the corresponding values of the annually averaged daily mean decay rates are ~21% per day and ~44% per day, respectively. The average value (over the period 1874-2009) of the growth rate is about 70% more than that of the decay rate. The growth and the decay rates vary by about 35% and 13%, respectively, on a 60-year time-scale. From the beginning of Cycle 23 the growth rate is substantially decreased and near the end (2007-2008) the growth rate is lowest in the past about 100 years.Comment: 1 table, 13 figures, accepted by Solar Physic

Multiple Desmoid Tumors In A Patient With Gardner's Syndrome - Report Of A Case

INTRODUCTION Desmoid tumor (DT) is a common manifestation of Gardner's Syndrome (GS), although it is a rare condition in the general population. DT in patients with GS is usually located in the abdominal wall and/or intra-abdominal cavity. PRESENTATION OF CASE We report a case of a 32 years-old female patient with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), who was already submitted to total colectomy and developed multiple DT, located in the abdominal wall and in the left breast. The patient underwent several surgical procedures, with a multidisciplinary team of surgeons. Wide surgical resections of the left breast and the abdominal wall tumors were performed in separate steps. Polypropylene mesh reconstruction and muscle flaps were needed to cover the defects of the thoracic and abdominal walls. After partial necrosis of the adipose-cutaneous flap in the abdomen that required a new skin graft, she had a satisfactory outcome with complete healing of the surgical incisions. DISCUSSION DT is frequent in GS, however, breast localization is very rare, with few cases reported in the literature. Recurrence of DT is not negligible, even after a wide surgical resection. GS patients must be followed up closely, and clinical examination, associated with imaging studies, should be performed to detect any signs of tumor. CONCLUSION DT represents one of the most significant causes of the morbidity and mortality that affects FAP patients following colectomy. In general, the surgical procedures to excise DT are highly complex, requiring a multidisciplinary team. © 2014 The Authors.57370374Lee, B.D., Lee, W., Oh, S.H., A case report of Gardner syndrome with hereditary widespread osteomatous jaw lesions (2009) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endodontol, 107 (3), pp. 68-72Jonathan, B., Claire, H., Mary, T., Gardner syndrome - Review and report of a case (2005) Oral Oncol Extra, 41, pp. 89-92Fotiadis, C., Tsekouras, D.K., Sfiniadakis, J., Genetzakis, M., Zografos, G.C., Gardner's syndrome: A case report and review of the literature (2005) World Journal of Gastroenterology, 11 (34), pp. 5408-5411Gómez García, E.B., Knoers, N.V., Gardner's syndrome (familial adenomatous polyposis): A cilia-related disorder (2009) Lancet Oncol, 10 (7), pp. 727-735Cristofaro, M.G., Giudice, A., Amantea, M., Gardner's syndrome: A clinical and genetic study of a family (2013) Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol, 115 (3), pp. 1-6Gu, G.L., Wang, S.L., Wei, X.M., Diagnosis and treatment of Gardner syndrome with gastric polyposis: A case report and review of the literature (2008) World J Gastroenterol, 14 (13), pp. 2121-2123(2003) Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, Breast Imaging Atlas, , American College Of Radiology 4th ed. American College of Radiology Reston, VAMerg, A., Lynch, H.T., Lynch, J.F., Hereditary colon cancer-Part i (2005) Curr Probl Surg, 42 (4), pp. 195-256Mao, C., Huang, Y., Howard, J.M., Carcinoma of the ampulla of Vater and mesenteric fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) associated with Gardner's syndrome: Problems in management (1995) Pancreas, 10 (3), pp. 239-245Cruz-Correa, M., Giardiello, F.M., Familial adenomatous polyposis (2003) Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, 58 (6), pp. 885-894. , DOI 10.1016/S0016-5107(03)02336-8, PII S0016510703023368Juhn, E., Khachemoune, A., Gardner syndrome: Skin manifestations, differential diagnosis and management (2010) Am J Clin Drematol, 11 (2), pp. 117-122Turina, M., Pavlik, C.M., Heinimann, K., Recurrent desmoids determine outcome in patients with Gardner syndrome: A cohort study of three generations of an APC mutation-positive family across 30 years (2013) Int J Colorectal Dis, 28 (6), pp. 865-872Brown, C.S., Jeffrey, B., Korentager, R., Desmoid tumors of the bilateral breasts in a patient without Gardner syndrome: A case report and review of literature (2012) Ann Plast Surg, 69 (2), pp. 220-222Leal, R.F., Silva, P.V.V.T., Ayrizono, M.L.S., Desmoid tumor in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (2010) Arq Gastroenterol, 47, pp. 373-378Rammohan, A., Wood, J.J., Desmoid tumour of the breast as a manifestation of Gardner's syndrome (2012) Int J Surg Case Rep, 3 (5), pp. 139-142Escobar, C., Munker, R., Thomas, J.O., Update on desmoid tumors (2012) Ann Oncol, 23 (3), pp. 562-569Camargo, V.P., Keohan, M.L., D'Adamo, D.R., Clinical outcomes of systemic therapy for patients with deep fibromatosis (desmoid tumor) (2010) Cancer, 116 (9), pp. 2258-2265Xu, H.M., Han, J.G., Ma, S.Z., Related citations treatment of massive desmoid tumour and abdominal wall reconstructed with meshes in Gardner's Syndrome (2010) J Plast Recontr Aesthet Surg, 63 (6), pp. 1058-106

PHysical activity Implementation Study In Community-dwelling AduLts (PHISICAL): study protocol

Background: Falls in older people are a leading causes of unintentional injury. Due to an ageing population, injuries are likely to increase unless more is done to reduce older people’s falls risk. In clinical trials, the Falls Management Exercise (FaME) programme has reduced the rate of falls and falls-related injuries in community-dwelling older adults. However, the commissioning of FaME is inconsistent across England, potentially due to a lack of evidence that FaME can be delivered effectively in a ‘real world’ setting. The PHISICAL study is designed to study the implementation of FaME in a range of different settings in England. Methods: The PHISICAL study will use mixed-methods triangulation multi-level design to explore the implementation of FaME. Framework analysis of semi-structured interviews with up to 90 stakeholders (exercise programme users, service providers, referrers and commissioners) and observational data from locally-led communities of practice will identify the factors that influence FaME’s implementation. Quantitative, anonymised, routine service data from up to 650 exercise programme users, including measures of falls and physical activity, will allow assessment of whether the benefits of FaME reported in clinical trials translate to the ‘real world’ setting. Conclusion: The findings from this study will be used to develop a toolkit of resources and guidance to inform the commissioning and delivery of future FaME programmes. This study has the potential to inform public health prevention strategies, and in doing so may reduce the number of falls in the older population, whilst delivering cost savings to health and social care services

The G-O Rule and Waldmeier Effect in the Variations of the Numbers of Large and Small Sunspot Groups

We have analysed the combined Greenwich and Solar Optical Observing Network (SOON) sunspot group data during the period of 1874-2011 and determined variations in the annual numbers (counts) of the small, large and big sunspot groups (these classifications are made on the basis of the maximum areas of the sunspot groups). We found that the amplitude of an even-numbered cycle of the number of large groups is smaller than that of its immediately following odd-numbered cycle. This is consistent with the well known Gnevyshev and Ohl rule or G-O rule of solar cycles, generally described by using the Zurich sunspot number (Rz). During cycles 12-21 the G-O rule holds good for the variation in the number of small groups also, but it is violated by cycle pair (22, 23) as in the case of Rz. This behaviour of the variations in the small groups is largely responsible for the anomalous behaviour of Rz in cycle pair (22, 23). It is also found that the amplitude of an odd-numbered cycle of the number of small groups is larger than that of its immediately following even-numbered cycle. This can be called as `reverse G-O rule'. In the case of the number of the big groups, both cycle pairs (12, 13) and (22, 23) violated the G-O rule. In many cycles the positions of the peaks of the small, large, and big groups are different and considerably differ with respect to the corresponding positions of the Rz peaks. In the case of cycle 23, the corresponding cycles of the small and large groups are largely symmetric/less asymmetric (Waldmeier effect is weak/absent) with their maxima taking place two years later than that of Rz. The corresponding cycle of the big groups is more asymmetric (strong Waldmeier effect) with its maximum epoch taking place at the same time as that of Rz.Comment: 13 pages, 5 figures, 1 table, accepted by Solar Physic

Asymmetric Bethe-Salpeter equation for pairing and condensation

The Martin-Schwinger hierarchy of correlations are reexamined and the three-particle correlations are investigated under various partial summations. Besides the known approximations of screened, ladder and maximally crossed diagrams the pair-pair correlations are considered. It is shown that the recently proposed asymmetric Bethe-Salpeter equation to avoid unphysical repeated collisions is derived as a result of the hierarchical dependencies of correlations. Exceeding the parquet approximation we show that an asymmetry appears in the selfconsistent propagators. This form is superior over the symmetric selfconsistent one since it provides the Nambu-Gorkov equations and gap equation for fermions and the Beliaev equations for bosons while from the symmetric form no gap equation results. The selfenergy diagrams which account for the subtraction of unphysical repeated collisions are derived from the pair-pair correlation in the three-particle Greenfunction. It is suggested to distinguish between two types of selfconsistency, the channel-dressed propagators and the completely dressed propagators, with the help of which the asymmetric expansion completes the Ward identity and is $\Phi$-derivable.Comment: 12 pages. 26 figure

Targeting the K(v)11.1 (hERG) channel with allosteric modulators: synthesis and biological evaluation of three novel series of LUF7346 derivatives

We synthesized and evaluated three novel series of substituted benzophenones for their allosteric modulation of the human K(v)11.1 (hERG) channel. We compared their effects with reference compound LUF7346 previously shown to shorten the action potential of cardiomyocytes derived from human stem cells. Most compounds behaved as negative allosteric modulators (NAMs) of [H-3]dofetilide binding to the channel. Compound 9i was the most potent amongst all ligands, remarkably reducing the affinity of dofetilide in competitive displacement assays. One of the other derivatives (6k) tested in a second radioligand binding set-up, displayed unusual displacement characteristics with a pseudo-Hill coefficient significantly distinct from unity, further indicative of its allosteric effects on the channel. Some compounds were evaluated in a more physiologically relevant context in beating cardiomyocytes derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Surprisingly, the compounds tested showed effects quite different from the reference NAM LUF7346. For instance, compound 5e prolonged, rather than shortened, the field potential duration, while it did not influence this parameter when the field potential was already prolonged by dofetilide. In subsequent patch clamp studies on HEK293 cells expressing the hERG channel the compounds behaved as channel blockers. In conclusion, we successfully synthesized and identified new allosteric modulators of the hERG channel. Unexpectedly, their effects differed from the reference compound in functional assays on hERG-HEK293 cells and human cardiomyocytes, to the extent that the compounds behaved as stand-alone channel blockers. (C) 2020 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS.Stem cells & developmental biolog

Are accelerometers a useful way to measure activity in care home residents?

Introduction: Accurate measurement of activity in care home residents is important for monitoring and evaluating interventions for activity promotion. Accelerometers provide a potential method. However, their usefulness in this population has not been well documented. We aimed to explore the feasibility of these in care home residents. Method: Mobile residents who had fallen in the past year, were asked to wear a tri-axial accelerometer (ActivPAL3TM) on the lower thigh for 7 days. Care staff were trained in device application. Users’ skin and problems with use were checked daily. Activity data sought were: step count, time sedentary, time standing and Metabolic Equivalent of Task. Care records were checked for falls. Results: 10/16 residents agreed to wear accelerometers. 7 wore them for 7 days and the remainder for 4, 5 and 6 days respectively. No falls were recorded. Data indicated 1 resident continuously standing which was verified not to be the case by observation. Problems were: data disturbance through removal/fidgeting, hydrofilm dressing flaccidity, premature detachment, care staff non-compliance to waterproof continuous wear, resident skin check non-compliance, prior leg ache attributed to accelerometers (with no worsening), pink skin and activity restriction by care staff. The accelerometers and attachment materials cost £2062.59. Conclusion: In this small feasibility study of care home residents tri-axial accelerometers were so problematic to be of negligible use and we will not be using them in our definitive trial. Activity levels, where recorded were in keeping with published literature showing care residents to be highly sedentary

The Falls In Care Home study: a feasibility randomized controlled trial of the use of a risk assessment and decision support tool to prevent falls in care homes

Objective:To explore the feasibility of implementing and evaluating the Guide to Action Care Home fall prevention intervention.Design:Two-centre, cluster feasibility randomized controlled trial and process evaluation.Setting:Purposive sample of six diverse old age/learning disability, long stay care homes in Nottinghamshire, UK.Subjects:Residents aged over 50?years, who had fallen at least once in the past year, not bed-bound, hoist-dependent or terminally ill.Interventions:Intervention homes (n?=?3) received Guide to Action Care Home fall prevention intervention training and support. Control homes (n?=?3) received usual care.Outcomes:Recruitment, attrition, baseline and six-month outcome completion, contamination and intervention fidelity, compliance, tolerability, acceptance and impact.Results:A total of 81 of 145 (56%) care homes expressed participatory interest. Six of 22 letter respondent homes (27%) participated. The expected resident recruitment target was achieved by 76% (52/68). Ten (19%) residents did not complete follow-up (seven died, three moved). In intervention homes 36/114 (32%) staff attended training. Two of three (75%) care homes received protocol compliant training. Staff valued the training, but advised greater management involvement to improve intervention implementation. Fall risks were assessed, actioned and recorded in care records. Of 115 recorded falls, 533/570 (93%) of details were complete. Six-month resident fall rates were 1.9 and 4.0 per year for intervention and control homes, respectively.Conclusions:The Guide to Action Care Home is implementable under trial conditions. Recruitment and follow-up rates indicate that a definitive trial can be completed. Falls (primary outcome) can be ascertained reliably from care records

Infrastructure for Detector Research and Development towards the International Linear Collider

The EUDET-project was launched to create an infrastructure for developing and testing new and advanced detector technologies to be used at a future linear collider. The aim was to make possible experimentation and analysis of data for institutes, which otherwise could not be realized due to lack of resources. The infrastructure comprised an analysis and software network, and instrumentation infrastructures for tracking detectors as well as for calorimetry.Comment: 54 pages, 48 picture

Measurement of the Bs0→J/ψKS0B_s^0\to J/\psi K_S^0 branching fraction

The $B_s^0\to J/\psi K_S^0$ branching fraction is measured in a data sample corresponding to 0.41$fb^{-1}$ of integrated luminosity collected with the LHCb detector at the LHC. This channel is sensitive to the penguin contributions affecting the sin2$\beta$ measurement from $B^0\to J/\psi K_S^0$ The time-integrated branching fraction is measured to be $BF(B_s^0\to J/\psi K_S^0)=(1.83\pm0.28)\times10^{-5}$. This is the most precise measurement to date