Experimental investigation on box-wing configuration for UAS

The range for airframe configurations available for UAS is as diverse as those used for manned aircraft and more since the commercial risk in trying unorthodox solutions is less for the UAS manufacturer. This is principally because the UAS airframes are usually much smaller than the manned aircraft and operators are less likely to have a bias against unconventional configurations. One of these unconventional configurations is the box-wing, which is an unconventional solution for the design of the new UAS generation. The existence of two wings separated in different planes that are, however, significantly close together, means that the aerodynamic analysis by theoretical or computational methods is a difficult task, due to the considerable interference existing. Considering the fact that the flight of most UAS takes place at low Reynolds numbers, it is necessary to study the aerodynamics of the box wing configuration by testing different models in a wind tunnel to be able to obtain reasonable results. In the present work, the study is enhanced by varying not only the sweepback angles of the two wings, but also their position along the models’ fuselage. Certain models have shown being more efficient than others, pointing out that certain relative positions of wing exists that can improve the aerodynamics efficiency of the box wing configuration

Breast treatments with Axxent equipment.Comparison with Mammosite for skin, lung and heart dose

Poster Session [EP-1314] Purpose or Objective We have treated 250 patients at our center from May 2015 to September 2017 for breast cancer with Axxent (Xoft Inc.) intraoperativ e radiotherapy (IORT) following the inclusion parameters of the TARGIT study, in this work we compare the doses in the skin of the first 150 patients treated with the 50 kVp source with the skin doses they would have received using the Mammosite kit using an Ir192 source. Material and Methods To the 250 patients treated in our center after removing the tumor, the appropriate balloon size is chosen to cover the tumor area with a dose of 20 Gy on the ball oon surface, the sizes used range fro m 30-65 cm3, after which it is verified that the distance to skin from the 3 closest points of the balloon i s less than 10 mm and then the treatment is carried out with an average duration of 10.3 minutes being the volumes of 30 and 35 cm3 the most used due to the inclusion criteria of the procedure. Treatment plans are previously per formed in a Brachyvision treatment planning system (TPS) (Varian Inc.) for each of the possible volumes. In tur n, another plan is calculated with the Mammosite applicator and Ir192 source, from which the skin dose of each control point is estimated, compared to our results. We present also the cases of acute dermatitis seen for these first 150 patients in a time less than 6 months after the surgical act and irradiation. Results The differences in maximum skin dose for bot h types of treatment are 8.1 ± 1.2 Gy for the case of Mammosite and 5.7 ± 1.5 Gy for patients treated with electronic source, due to the difference in the depht dos e percentage of both types of treatment (Image 1). This, in turn, explains the very few cases of acute dermatitis at 6 months (8 cases of grade 2 and 2 cases of grade 3) (Image 2) with no recurrence to date.We also show the mean and maximum doses (expressed as percentage of prescribed dose) for the left lung and heart in cases of left breast tumor for the volumes of 30 and 35 cm3, which are the most common volumes in our hospital (70% of cases): LEFT LUNG (Left Breast tratment) AXXENT MAMMOSITE Maximun Dose (%PD) 20.4% 29.9% Mean Dose (%PD) 1.0% 3.9% HEART (Left Breast tratment) AXXENT MAMMOSITE Maximun Dose (%PD) 4.1% 10.4% Mean Dose (%PD) 0.8% 3.3% Conclusion It is concluded that the IORT treatments performed with the Axxent equipment with electronic source are a good alternative to those performed with Ir192 and our 250 patients treated to date to the good results presented by other centers are joined.In additi on to the low skin toxicity, there is no recurrence in patients treated so far, which makes us very optimistic about the results

Understanding Circadian and Circannual Behavioral Cycles of Captive Giant Pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca) Can Help to Promote Good Welfare

Circadian and circannual cycles of behavior regulate many aspects of welfare including metabolism, breeding, and behavioral interactions. In this study, we aim to demonstrate how systematically determining circadian and circannual cycles can provide insight into animals’ needs and be part of an evidence-based approach to welfare assessment. We measured and analyzed the observational behavioral data of 13 zoo-housed giant pandas (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), across life stages and between sexes, each month for one year using live camera footage from six zoos across the world. Our results indicate that life stage was associated with changes in overall activity, feeding, locomotion, and pacing, and that sex influenced scent anointing and anogenital rubbing. Overall, the circadian rhythms showed three peaks of activity, including a nocturnal peak, as seen in wild giant pandas. We also found associations between sexual-related, stereotypical/abnormal, and feeding behavior, which are possibly linked to the timing of migration of wild pandas, and elucidated the relationship between a mother and cub, finding that they concentrate maternal behaviors to mainly after closing hours. Understanding these cycle patterns can aid animal care staff in predicting changing needs throughout the day, year, and life cycle and preemptively provide for those needs to best avoid welfare concerns

A placebo-controlled study to investigate the effect of Dog Appeasing Pheromone and other environmental and management factors on the reports of disturbance and house soiling during the night in recently adopted puppies (Canis familiaris]

Disturbance and house soiling during the night are common problems faced by the new puppy dog owner. They may result as consequence of a mismatch between the developmental status of the puppy and its new environment and/or separation distress in a typically social animal. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of Dog Appeasing Pheromone (DAP, Ceva Santé Animale) as well as a range of other management and environmental factors that might affect this process. It has been suggested that DAP may help the puppy settle into the new home by continuing the provision of the maternal appeasing pheromone. In order to test this, a double-blind, placebo-controlled trial of DAP was conducted with 60 pedigree puppies, aged between 6 and 10 weeks, as they entered their new home. A few days prior to the puppy's arrival, volunteer owners were supplied with either a verum or placebo plug-in diffuser designed for the slow release of the pheromone analogue over 4 weeks. Owners reported daily on disturbance and house soiling during the previous night over the following 8 weeks from the puppy's first night in the new home. The effect of the treatment together with the gender of the puppy, its maternal environment, the use of a puppy crate, sleeping with other dogs at night and the experience of the owner were included in a general linear model to explain the total number of nights spent disturbing and house soiling. Sleeping with another dog reduced the puppies' tendency to disturb at night to almost zero. Over 70 of puppies sleeping alone disturbed during the first night. The mean total number of nights of disturbance over the 2 months was between five and six nights, mostly in the first week in the home. A significant effect of DAP treatment was found in the case of the gundog breeds only (p = 0.003), gundogs receiving placebo cried for a median of nine nights, those receiving verum cried for a median of three nights. No effect of DAP treatment was observed on the total number of nights that the puppy soiled the house (p > 0.05). However, puppies that were placed in crates during the night (p = 0.004) or had come from domestic maternal environments (p = 0.006) had significantly fewer reports of house soiling over the first 2 months in the new home. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved

Lineage-specific gene radiations underlie the evolution of novel betalain pigmentation in Caryophyllales.

Betalain pigments are unique to the Caryophyllales and structurally and biosynthetically distinct from anthocyanins. Two key enzymes within the betalain synthesis pathway have been identified: 4,5-dioxygenase (DODA) that catalyzes the formation of betalamic acid and CYP76AD1, a cytochrome P450 gene that catalyzes the formation of cyclo-DOPA. We performed phylogenetic analyses to reveal the evolutionary history of the DODA and CYP76AD1 lineages and in the context of an ancestral reconstruction of pigment states we explored the evolution of these genes in relation to the complex evolution of pigments in Caryophylalles. Duplications within the CYP76AD1 and DODA lineages arose just before the origin of betalain pigmentation in the core Caryophyllales. The duplications gave rise to DODA-α and CYP76AD1-α isoforms that appear specific to betalain synthesis. Both betalain-specific isoforms were then lost or downregulated in the anthocyanic Molluginaceae and Caryophyllaceae. Our findings suggest a single origin of the betalain synthesis pathway, with neofunctionalization following gene duplications in the CYP76AD1 and DODA lineages. Loss of DODA-α and CYP76AD1-α in anthocyanic taxa suggests that betalain pigmentation has been lost twice in Caryophyllales, and exclusion of betalain pigments from anthocyanic taxa is mediated through gene loss or downregulation. [Correction added after online publication 13 May 2015: in the last two paragraphs of the Summary the gene name CYP761A was changed to CYP76AD1.].S.C. was supported by a grant to IRRI from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UKAID. This work was supported by a National Science Foundation award (grant numbers DEB 1354048 and DEB 1352907) to S.F.B., M.J.M. and S.A.S., and a NERC Independent Research Fellowship to S.F.B. The 1000 Plants (1KP) initiative, led by G.K.S.W., is funded by the Alberta Ministry of Enterprise and Advanced Education, Alberta Innovates Technology Futures (AITF), Innovates Centre of Research Excellence (iCORE), Musea Ventures and BGI-Shenzhen.This is the final version of the article. It first appeared from Wiley via http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/nph.1344

Analysis of results of effective dose estimation obtained from RADAR 2017 dose assessment model for nuclear medicine procedures

EP-296 Aim/Introduction: To analyze the results of effective dose (E) estimation of the most frequent procedures using photon emitters in Nuclear Medicine, obtained from RADAR 2017 dose assessment model. To compare these results with those obtained from ICRP 128 (2015) recommendations, and to assess how using each dose assessment model can change E results. Materials and Methods: E estimation data was collected from photon emitter procedures performed during the last year in our department, obtained from RADAR 2017 dose estimation model for age groups: = 1 year old; >1-5 years old ; >5- 10 years old, >10- 15 years old and adults. Injected activity was the one recommended by international guidelines and EANM Pediatric and Dosimetry Committees. Hybrid exams (SPECT / CT) and procedures for which there is no RADAR 2017 dosimetry estimation were excluded. Results for (E) were compared with those obtained by using ICRP 128 (2015) recommendations. Results: With RADAR 2017 dose evaluation model we obtained a lower mean value of E on most of the procedures that were analyzed, being significantly lower for Renogram, Renal scintigraphy on >10-15 years old, Thyroid scintigraphy, Meckel’s scan and Bone Scan (0.12 to 1.16 mSv, 25% to 67%). Brain perfusion and Renal scintigraphy on ages under 10 obtained a significantly greater difference for E (0.33 to 2.85 mSv, 26% to 29%). Conclusion: These results are an updated collection of estimated E values for photon-emitting radiopharmaceuticals commonly used in Nuclear Medicine, considering RADAR 2017 dose assessment model compared to ICRP 128) recommendations. Methodological changes on estimation lead to lower E for most of diagnostic procedures using photon emitters, this is of special interest for patients undergoing repeated ionizing radiation (dosimetry history)

Why Were More Than 200 Subjects Required to Demonstrate the Bioequivalence of a New Formulation of Levothyroxine with an Old One?

At the request of French Regulatory Authorities, a new formulation of Levothyrox® was licensed in France in 2017, with the objective of avoiding the stability deficiencies of an existing licensed formulation. Before launching the new formulation, an average bioequivalence (ABE) trial was conducted, having enrolled 204 subjects and selected for interpretation a narrow a priori bioequivalence range of 0.90–1.11. Bioequivalence was concluded. In a previous publication, we questioned the ability of an ABE trial to guarantee the switchability within patients of the new and old levothyroxine formulations. It was suggested that the two formulations should be compared using the conceptual framework of individual bioequivalence. The present paper is a response to those claiming that, despite the fact that ABE analysis does not formally address the switchability of the two formulations, future patients will nevertheless be fully protected. The basis for this claim is that the ABE study was established in a large trial and analyzed using a stringent a priori acceptance interval of equivalence. These claims are questionable, because the use of a very large number of subjects nullifies the implicit precautionary intention of the European guideline when, for a Narrow Therapeutic Index drug, it recommends shortening the a priori acceptance interval from 0.80–1.25 to 0.90–1.11

A phase II irinotecan–cisplatin combination in advanced pancreatic cancer

We report a cisplatin and irinotecan combination in patients with biopsy-proven advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma. Patients were selected from a specialist centre and required good performance status (KPS>70%), measurable disease on CT scan, and biochemical and haematological parameters within normal limits. Based on a two-stage phase II design, we aimed to treat 22 patients initially. The study was stopped because of the death of the 19th patient during the first treatment cycle, with neutropenic sepsis and multiorgan failure. A total of 89 treatments were administered to 17 patients. Serious grade 3/4 toxicities were haematological (neutropenia) 6%, diarrhoea 6%, nausea 7% and vomiting 6%. Using the clinical benefit response (CBR) criteria, no patients had an overall CBR. For responses confirmed by CT examination, there was one partial response (5%), three stable diseases lasting greater than 6 weeks (16%), with an overall 22% with disease control (PR+SD). The median progression-free and overall survival was 3.1 months (95% CI: 1.3-3.7) and 5.0 (95% CI: 3.9-10.1) months, respectively. Although this synergistic combination has improved the response rates and survival of other solid tumours, we recommend caution when using this combination in the palliation of advanced pancreatic cancer, because of unexpected toxicity