167 research outputs found
A Search for High-Frequency Coronal Brightness Variations in the 21 August 2017 Total Solar Eclipse
We report on a search for short-period intensity variations in the green-line
FeXIV 530.3 nm emission from the solar corona during the 21 August 2017 total
eclipse viewed from Idaho in the United States. Our experiment was performed
with a much more sensitive detection system, and with better spatial
resolution, than on previous occasions (1999 and 2001 eclipses), allowing fine
details of quiet coronal loops and an active-region loop system to be seen. A
guided 200-mm-aperture Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope was used with a
state-of-the-art CCD camera having 16-bit intensity discrimination and a
field-of-view 0.43 degree x 0.43 degree that encompassed approximately one
third of the visible corona. The camera pixel size was 1.55 arcseconds, while
the seeing during the eclipse enabled features of approx. 2 arcseconds (1450 km
on the Sun) to be resolved. A total of 429 images were recorded during a 122.9
second portion of the totality at a frame rate of 3.49 images per second. In
the analysis, we searched particularly for short-period intensity oscillations
and travelling waves, since theory predicts fast-mode magneto-hydrodynamic
(MHD) waves with short periods may be important in quiet coronal and
active-region heating. Allowing first for various instrumental and photometric
effects, we used a wavelet technique to search for periodicities in some 404
000 pixels in the frequency range 0.5-1.6 Hz (periods: 2 second to 0.6 second).
We also searched for travelling waves along some 65 coronal structures.
However, we found no statistically significant evidence in either. This
negative result considerably refines the limit that we obtained from our
previous analyses, and it indicates that future searches for short-period
coronal waves may be better directed towards Doppler shifts as well as
intensity oscillations
A phase II dose-ranging study of mirabegron in patients with overactive bladder
Introduction and hypothesis Mirabegron is a potent and
selective β3-adrenoceptor agonist that may represent an
alternative treatment option in place of antimuscarinics for
patients with overactive bladder.
Methods Patients completed a single-blinded, 2-week placebo
run-in period followed by 12 weeks of randomized
(n=928) double-blinded treatment with mirabegron oral
controlled absorption system (OCAS) 25, 50, 100, or
200 mg once-daily (QD), placebo or tolterodine extended
release (ER) 4 mg QD. The primary endpoint was
change from baseline to end-of-treatment in mean number
of micturition episodes/24 h. Secondary endpoints
included changes in mean volume voided per micturition;
mean number of urinary incontinence, urgency urinary
incontinence, and urgency episodes/24 h; severity of urgency;
nocturia; and quality of life measures. Safety
parameters included vital signs, adverse events, laboratory
tests, electrocardiogram measurements and post-void residual
volume.
Results Mirabegron 25, 50, 100, and 200 mg resulted in dosedependent
reductions (improvements) from baseline to end-oftreatment
in micturition frequency of 1.9, 2.1, 2.1, and 2.2
micturitions/24 h respectively, versus 1.4 micturitions/24 h with
placebo (p≤0.05 for the mirabegron 50-, 100-, and 200-mg
comparisons). There was a statistically significant improvement
with mirabegron compared with placebo for most secondary
endpoints including quality of life variables. While there was a
significant (p<0.05) increase from baseline in pulse rate in the
mirabegron 100-mg and 200-mg groups, this was not associated
with an increased incidence of cardiovascular adverse events.
Conclusions The favorable efficacy and tolerability of mirabegron
in this phase II dose-finding study has led to its successful
advancement into a phase III clinical development program
A quick approach for rheological evaluation of warm asphalt binders using response surface method
This paper describes a quick approach for quantification of the effects of a chemical warm named Rediset, and its interactions with temperature and aging on the rheological properties of asphalt binders using Response Sur-face Method. The central composite method was applied to design experimental programs for three test temperature conditions, namely; very high temperature (120–180 °C), high temperature (46–82 °C), and intermediate temperature (19–31 °C). Rotational viscosity, G*/sin δ and G*sin δ were selected as parameters to assess the effects of the chemical warm additive on the rheological properties of asphalt binders for different aging conditions. Evaluation of the effects of this additive on the transformed value of G*/sin δ at high temperatures indicates that additive content has significant effect on Ln(G*/sin δ). The results for intermediate temperatures show that this additive has a positive effect on G*sin δ of asphalt binders
ПЕРИОПЕРАЦИОННАЯ ХИМИОТЕРАПИЯ ПРИ ИНВАЗИВНОМ РАКЕ МОЧЕВОГО ПУЗЫРЯ: СОВРЕМЕННЫЕ ПРЕДСТАВЛЕНИЯ И ОБОСНОВАНИЕ НЕОБХОДИМОСТИ ПОИСКА АЛЬТЕРНАТИВНЫХ МЕТОДОВ ЛЕЧЕНИЯ. ИССЛЕДОВАНИЕ MAGNOLIA
The paper gives an overview of peri-operative chemotherapy in patients with muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) as insufficient option, demonstrates a clinical need for the development of more efficacious and safe treatment and introduces a MAGNOLIA study proposed by the European Association of Urology Research Fund in a concept of MIBC immunotherapy. The MAGNOLIA trial conducted in 56 research centers of 10 countries assesses whether adjuvant immunotherapy with recMAGE-A3+AS15 vaccine is safe and effective and improves outcome of patients with MAGE-A3 positive MIBC after cystectomy. 60 of 273 patients have been enrolled. The trial has to be continued to elaborate a general peri-operative treatment strategy for MIBC.Представлены данные II фазы рандомизированного исследования MAGNOLIA, проводившегося в 56 исследовательских центрах в 10 странах. Целью исследования MAGNOLIA является изучение эффективности и безопасности применения вакцины (recMAGEA3+ AS15) у больных инвазивным раком мочевого пузыря (ИРМП). В исследовании приняли участие 342 пациента. На основании полученных данных сделан вывод: периоперационная химиотерапия не может быть рекомендована во всех случаях выявления ИРМП и требуется продолжение исследования для выработки общей стратегии химиотерапевтического воздействия при ИРМП
Occurrence and Functions of PACAP in the Placenta
Pituitary adenylate cyclase activating polypeptide (PACAP) is an endogenous neuropeptide with a widespread distribution both in the nervous system and peripheral organs. The peptide is also present in the female gonadal
system, indicating its role in reproductive functions. While a lot of data are known on PACAP-induced effects in oogenesis and in the regulation of gonadotropin secretion at pituitary level, its placental effects are somewhat
neglected in spite of the documented implantation deficit in mice lacking endogenous PACAP. The aim of the present review is to give a brief summary on the occurrence and actions of PACAP and its receptors in the placenta.
Radioimmunoassay (RIA) measurements revealed increased serum PACAP levels during the third trimester and several changes in placental PACAP content in obstetrical pathological conditions, further supporting the function
of PACAP during pregnancy. Both the peptide and its receptors have been shown in different parts of the
placenta and the umbilical cord. PACAP influences blood vessel and smooth muscle contractility of the uteroplacental unit and is involved in regulation of local hormone secretion. The effects of PACAP on trophoblast cells have been mainly studied in vitro. Effects of PACAP on cell survival, angiogenesis
and invasion/proliferation have been described in different trophoblast cell lines. PACAP increases proliferation and decreases invasion in proliferative
extravillous trophoblast cells, but not in primary trophoblast cells, where PACAP decreased the secretion of various angiogenic markers. PACAP pretreatment enhances survival of non-tumorous primary trophoblast cells exposed to oxidative stress, but it does not influence the cell death-inducing effects of methotrexate in proliferative extravillous cytotrophoblast cells. Interestingly, PACAP has pro-apoptotic effect in choriocarcinoma cells suggesting that the effect of PACAP depends on the type of trophoblast cells. These data strongly support that PACAP plays a role in normal and pathological pregnancies and our review provides an overview of currently available experimental data worth to be further investigated to elucidate the exact role of this peptide in the placenta
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