The Calculation of the Heat Required for Wing Thermal Ice Prevention in Specified Icing Conditions

Flight tests were made in natural icing conditions with two 8-ft-chord heated airfoils of different sections. Measurements of meteorological variables conducive to ice formation were made simultaneously with the procurement of airfoil thermal data. The extent of knowledge on the meteorology of icing, the impingement of water drops on airfoil surfaces, and the processes of heat transfer and evaporation from a wetted airfoil surface have been increased to a point where the design of heated wings on a fundamental, wet-air basis now can be undertaken with reasonable certainty

Validation of the SF-36 in patients with endometriosis.

OBJECTIVES: Endometriosis presents with significant pain as the most common symptom. Generic health measures can allow comparisons across diseases or populations. However, the Medical Outcomes Study Short Form 36 (SF-36) has not been validated for this disease. The goal of this study was to validate the SF-36 (version 2) for endometriosis. METHODS: Using data from two clinical trials (N = 252 and 198) of treatment for endometriosis, a full complement of psychometric analyses was performed. Additional instruments included a pain visual analog scale (VAS); a physician-completed questionnaire based on patient interview (modified Biberoglu and Behrman--B&B); clinical global impression of change (CGI-C); and patient satisfaction with treatment. RESULTS: Bodily pain (BP) and the Physical Component Summary Score (PCS) were correlated with the pain VAS at baseline and over time and the B&B at baseline and end of study. In addition, those who had the greatest change in BP and PCS also reported the greatest change on CGI-C and patient satisfaction with treatment. Other subscales showed smaller, but significant, correlations with change in the pain VAS, CGI-C, and patient satisfaction with treatment. CONCLUSIONS: The SF-36--particularly BP and the PCS--appears to be a valid and responsive measure for endometriosis and its treatment

Medical Therapies for Uterine Fibroids - A Systematic Review and Network Meta-Analysis of Randomised Controlled Trials

BACKGROUND: Uterine fibroids are common, often symptomatic and a third of women need repeated time off work. Consequently 25% to 50% of women with fibroids receive surgical treatment, namely myomectomy or hysterectomy. Hysterectomy is the definitive treatment as fibroids are hormone dependent and frequently recurrent. Medical treatment aims to control symptoms in order to replace or delay surgery. This may improve the outcome of surgery and prevent recurrence. PURPOSE: To determine whether any medical treatment can be recommended in the treatment of women with fibroids about to undergo surgery and in those for whom surgery is not planned based on currently available evidence. STUDY SELECTION: Two authors independently identified randomised controlled trials (RCT) of all pharmacological treatments aimed at the treatment of fibroids from a list of references obtained by formal search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane library, Science Citation Index, and ClinicalTrials.gov until December 2013. DATA EXTRACTION: Two authors independently extracted data from identified studies. DATA SYNTHESIS: A Bayesian network meta-analysis was performed following the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence-Decision Support Unit guidelines. Odds ratios, rate ratios, or mean differences with 95% credible intervals (CrI) were calculated. RESULTS AND LIMITATIONS: A total of 75 RCT met the inclusion criteria, 47 of which were included in the network meta-analysis. The overall quality of evidence was very low. The network meta-analysis showed differing results for different outcomes. CONCLUSIONS: There is currently insufficient evidence to recommend any medical treatment in the management of fibroids. Certain treatments have future promise however further, well designed RCTs are needed

NACA Technical Notes

Note presenting a verification of previously derived equations for calculating the rate of heat transfer from airfoils in icing conditions, which have come about as a result of an investigation of the meteorological conditions conducive to the formation of ice on aircraft and a study of the process of airfoil thermal ice prevention. The results indicated that knowledge of these components has increased to a point where the design of heated wings on a fundamental, wet-air basis can now be undertaken with reasonable certainty

Increased incidence of aberrant morphological phenotypes in human embryogenesis--an association with endometriosis.

PURPOSE: After noticing specific aberrant forms of development in preimplantation embryos from women with endometriosis, we embarked upon this study in order to examine the frequency of these events as compared with controls. METHODS: A total of 235 embryos representing 30 women undergoing 56 cycles of in vitro fertilization were retrospectively analyzed on videotape and placed into categories based upon the incidence of specific morphological criteria found during observations made on the first and second days following oocyte retrieval. RESULTS: Several of the aberrant nuclear and cytoplasmic events were found to be statistically increased in the group of embryos from women with endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of defined aberrant phenotypes in embryos from women with laparoscopically documented endometriosis may allow us to identify specific embryotoxic events with reference to endometriosis and other diagnoses

Glioblastoma Stem-Like Cells—Biology and Therapeutic Implications

The cancer stem-cell hypothesis proposes that malignant tumors are likely to encompass a cellular hierarchy that parallels normal tissue and may be responsible for the maintenance and recurrence of glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) in patients. The purpose of this manuscript is to review methods for optimizing the derivation and culturing of stem-like cells also known as tumor stem cells (TSCs) from patient-derived GBM tissue samples. The hallmarks of TSCs are that they must be able to self-renew and retain tumorigenicity. The isolation, optimization and derivation of TSCs as outlined in this review, will be important in understanding biology and therapeutic applications related to these cells

Adapting to Change: Minimising Uncertainty about the Effects of Rapidly-Changing Environmental Conditions on the Queensland Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery

With the severity and intensity of tropical cyclones predicted to increase with global climate change (Webster et al. 2005), the need to understand the effects of these events on fisheries production is paramount. The northern tropical margin of the Australian continent is subject to tropical cyclone influence each monsoon season. Although the increased rainfall that accompanies these events may have positive benefits for some fisheries production (e.g. Halliday et al. 2008; Staunton-Smith et al. 2004), the influence of the many other biophysical changes that accompany tropical cyclones (eg: habitat alteration and water temperature fluctuations) is less certain. One fishery for which anecdote reports negative influences of tropical cyclone impact is the Queensland Coral Reef Fin Fish Fishery (CRFFF). Prior to the impacts of severe TC Hamish in March 2009, popular anecdote reported that the influence of TC Justin (March 1997) on catch rate of the primary target species of the commercial sector, common coral trout (Plectropomus leopardus), were particularly negative and long lasting (up to twelve months). Somewhat surprising, the depressed catch rate of trout was accompanied by a noticeable increase in catch rates of red throat emperor (the secondary target species of the CRFFF) that was acknowledged though not quantified by Leigh et al. (2006).\ud \ud The influence of tropical cyclones on the performance of the CRFFF is an annual event, though mostly restricted to loss of potential fishing days due to the inclement and unpredictable weather that accompanies the monsoon season. The 'average' cyclone that impacts the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area (GBRWHA), within which the CRFFF operates, is generally short lived and crosses the reef structure rapidly in an east to west direction. With the last two decades, most tropical cyclones impacting the GBRWHA have been low intensity systems (category 1 or 2). The influence of these types of systems on reef structure (coral coverage and diversity) and associated small-bodied reef fish communities has been well documented (e.g. Wilson et al. 2009; Emslie et al. 2008). However, as the monitoring used for these reports focuses initially on corals and secondarily small-bodied fish communities, the ability to measure changes in large-bodied reef fish communities is either not attempted, or compromised. As such, no robust assessment has been completed to understand the changes in abundance and availability of CRFFF primary target species in response to cyclone impacts.\ud \ud TC Hamish impacted the southern section of the GBRWHA in March 2009, and quickly galvanised fishers, managers (both fisheries and Marine Park) and research scientists with a common need to understand the initial impacts, as well as possible lagging influences of this truly unique event. TC Hamish was the most severe storm system to impact the GBRWHA in recent decades, rated a category 5 system when first crossing emergent reef structure east of Bowen before a slight dissipation into a category 4 system that tracked southeast neatly bisecting the southern emergent reef structure that supports the majority of fishing effort and catch of the CRFFF. Commercial fishers were the first to witness and verbally document the wide spread structural damage caused by TC Hamish. The destruction, scouring and displacement of reef habitat were significant and widespread covering 3° of latitude (19° to 21° inclusive). In addition to the structural reef damage, commercial fishers were also quick to report depressed catch rates of all species throughout the directly impact areas.\ud \ud The need for this project was clear, a recent unique cyclone event with significant impacts on fisheries productivity and reef structural integrity; an historic cyclone event whose impacts have been acknowledged (Leigh et al. 2006) though not quantified; claims of associated socio-economic hardship; and difficulty for resource managers to appropriately assess and address the situation due to a lack of robust data and assessment methods. As a result the objectives of the project were formulated during two crisis workshops, during which helpful cash contributions from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) (18,000) and James Cook University (JCU) Fishing & Fisheries Research Centre (FFRC) (22,500) were offered.\ud \ud Objective 1, to use a fishery-independent survey technique (UVC) to assess and quantify reef structural damage as well as any changed reef species abundances and community structures, was completed three months following TC Hamish impact. Structural reef damage, unsurprisingly, was documented to be as high as 66%. Surprisingly, in contrast to the anecdotal reporting from commercial fishers of poor overall (but particularly coral trout) catch rates, the UVC methods revealed nominal increases in coral trout abundances and no measurable change in fish community structure on TC Hamish impacted reefs.\ud \ud The outputs of Objectives 2 and 3 however presented a quandary by quantitatively documenting greater than 30% reductions in catch rates of coral trout and red throat emperor throughout all fishery grids in southern GBRWHA waters impacted by Hamish (spanning 3° of latitude). This pattern of depressed catch rates lagged for at least nine months (until December 2009 and possibly beyond), effectively confusing any attempts to relate these changed catch rates to abiotic factors including structural damage and SST. The fish were still on the reef (Objective 1), but were not interacting with the fishery. Some uncertain factor(s) were responsible for changing the ecological behaviours of targeted reef fishes, particularly coral trout.\ud \ud Objective 5 identified historical event TC Justin (March 1997), as having even more pronounced effects on catch rates within the CRFFF than TC Hamish (March 2009). TC Justin was a unique system being long-lived (24 days), though low severity. Structural reef damage was not adequately measured, but was likely minimal relative to TC Hamish. This system was however responsible for a defined and unique cool water anomaly that is considered the likely driver of depressed catch rates of coral trout (greater than 50%) and increased catch rates (up to 200%) of red throat emperor. Some uncertainty exists though, as the spatio-temporal effects of the cool water anomaly and the changed coral trout and red throat emperor catch rates were not aligned.\ud \ud Effort shift was the only adaptive tactic demonstrated by full-time CRFFF commercial fishers. Larger vessels moved more than smaller vessels, though decisions in moving needed to consider lower beach prices in unaffected northern waters as well as the secondary affect of effort congregation. An option existed for fishers to diversify their fishing by targeting other species, however few vessels are appropriately equipped and market price differentials between export live coral trout and domestic fresh fish are too wide to provide sufficient economic returns.\ud \ud The socio-economic surveys of commercial fishers conducted for objective 4 highlighted two relatively consistent themes. Mitigation of the negative impacts on the CRFFF caused by severe tropical cyclones would be best achieved either by government assistance (similar to terrestrial based drought or disaster relief funding) or reviewing the zoning arrangements of the GBRWHA with a view to accessing some reefs currently closed to fishing. The likelihood of either suggestion being enacted is highly uncertain. Some fishers and working group suggestions included removing unnecessary and impeding management controls, as well as the availability of low interest loans. Working groups formed during the life of the project continue to deliberate over suitable options.\ud \ud The project outputs clearly demonstrate catch rates within the CRFFF can be significantly and adversely affected by some cyclone events. Understanding the biophysical drivers of these changed catch rates is difficult due to the variable and unique nature of each cyclone event. However, it is clear from project outputs that the negative effects of a cyclone may significantly alter catch rates and that these effects may linger for at least twelve months post-event. The gradual dominance and reliance for economic viability of the commercial sector on live coral trout, has stifled pre-existing adaptive capacity. The infrastructure investments and fishing behaviours of fishers targeting live coral trout are not amenable to changing market places; an ability that may well offer some adaptive capacity to the commercial sector of the CRFFF. In contrast, recreational and charter fishing sectors with their diversified fishing and targeting practices are immune to cyclone influence.\ud \ud A suggested pro forma for an action plan to track, adaptation plan and possibly mitigate the negative influences of future unique cyclone events is a draft proposal at this time, and will need to be strengthened based on the outcomes from two working groups formed during the last six months. Considerations for further research should include: (1) Identifying the most appropriate data recording system for the CRFFF that will allow timely interrogation of catch data that is not available currently; (2) Canvassing options for building adaptive capacity into a fishery that is currently highly vulnerable to change due to economic reliance on a single species destined for a single market place; and (3) Better understanding the possible drivers of the sustained changes in ecological behaviours of reef fish following cyclone passage