Crisaborole Ointment Improves Quality of Life of Patients with Mild to Moderate Atopic Dermatitis and Their Families.

IntroductionThe impact of crisaborole ointment, a nonsteroidal phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor for the treatment of mild to moderate atopic dermatitis (AD), on quality of life (QoL) was assessed in two identically designed phase 3 studies (AD-301: NCT02118766; AD-302: NCT02118792, both at http://www.clinicaltrials.gov ).MethodsIn both studies, patients aged ≥ 2 years with mild to moderate AD per the Investigator's Static Global Assessment were randomly assigned 2:1 to receive crisaborole or vehicle twice daily for 28 days. QoL was assessed using the Children's Dermatology Life Quality Index (CDLQI) (2-15 years), the Dermatology Life Quality Index (DLQI) (≥ 16 years), and the Dermatitis Family Impact Questionnaire (DFI) (parents/caregivers/family of patients aged 2-17 years). Established QoL score severity bands provided clinical context.ResultsGreater mean improvement in QoL was observed in crisaborole-treated patients than in vehicle-treated patients at day 29 [mean change from baseline (∆BL), CDLQI: - 4.6 vs. - 3.0; P < 0.001; DLQI: - 5.2 vs. - 3.5; P = 0.015]. At baseline, more than half the patients had a "moderate effect" or higher of AD on QoL. At day 29, there was a trend toward more crisaborole- than vehicle-treated patients having "small effect" to "no effect", The QoL of parents/caregivers/family improved more for crisaborole-treated than for vehicle-treated patients (∆BL, DFI: - 3.7 vs. - 2.7; P = 0.003).ConclusionCrisaborole treatment results in clinically meaningful improvement in QoL for patients and their parents/caregivers/families.Trial registrationAD-301: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov , NCT02118766; AD-302: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov , NCT02118792.FundingAnacor Pharmaceuticals, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Pfizer Inc., New York, NY

Natural Training Hydration Status, Sweat Rates, and Perception of Sweat Losses During Crossfit Training

International Journal of Exercise Science 9(5): 576-586, 2016. This study assessed 30 male and 20 female well-trained CrossFit (XF) athletes’ natural hydration statuses, fluid intake, and absolute and estimated sweat losses during training sessions lasting 30-47 min. Participants provided a pre-workout urine sample for assessment of hydration by urine specific gravity (USG). Nude pre- and post-workout body mass and fluid intakes were measured to determine sweat losses. To evaluate perception of total sweat loss, participants were asked to estimate their total sweat loss to compare against actual sweat loss. Mean sweat losses did not exceed 1% body mass for men (range = 0.31-1.58% body mass) or women (range = 0.53-1.34% body mass), but sweat rates were nearly double for men (1.663 ± 0.478 L/h) vs. women (0.886 ± 0.274 L/h). Pre-exercise USG indicated euhydration for the majority of participants (32/50 samples = USG \u3c 1.020). Only one participant had a USG \u3e1.030. Mean sweat loss (0.746 ± 0.305 L) and mean sweat loss prediction (0.655 ± 0.404 L) were not significantly different (p = 0.12), and accuracy did not differ (p = 0.44) between men (-9.5 ± 53.7%) and women (+4.3 ± 70.9). No relationship (r = 0.095) was found between sweat loss prediction and fluid intake. Despite high sweat rates, no athletes lost greater than 2% body mass during a strenuous workout. This data combined with consistently normal pre-exercise USG and high fluid intake during exercise suggests ad libitum fluid intake is sufficient to ensure euhydration in the majority of XF participants

The Multiwavelength Survey by Yale-Chile (MUSYC): Deep Near-Infrared Imaging and the Selection of Distant Galaxies

We present deep near-infrared JHK imaging of four 10'x10' fields. The observations were carried out as part of the Multiwavelength Survey by Yale-Chile (MUSYC) with ISPI on the CTIO 4m telescope. The typical point source limiting depths are J~22.5, H~21.5, and K~21 (5sigma; Vega). The effective seeing in the final images is ~1.0". We combine these data with MUSYC UBVRIz imaging to create K-selected catalogs that are unique for their uniform size, depth, filter coverage, and image quality. We investigate the rest-frame optical colors and photometric redshifts of galaxies that are selected using common color selection techniques, including distant red galaxies (DRGs), star-forming and passive BzKs, and the rest-frame UV-selected BM, BX, and Lyman break galaxies (LBGs). These techniques are effective at isolating large samples of high redshift galaxies, but none provide complete or uniform samples across the targeted redshift ranges. The DRG and BM/BX/LBG criteria identify populations of red and blue galaxies, respectively, as they were designed to do. The star-forming BzKs have a very wide redshift distribution, a wide range of colors, and may include galaxies with very low specific star formation rates. In comparison, the passive BzKs are fewer in number, have a different distribution of K magnitudes, and have a somewhat different redshift distribution. By combining these color selection criteria, it appears possible to define a reasonably complete sample of galaxies to our flux limit over specific redshift ranges. However, the redshift dependence of both the completeness and sampled range of rest-frame colors poses an ultimate limit to the usefulness of these techniques.Comment: 17 pages in emulateapj style, 13 figures. Submitted to the Astronomical Journal. Data will be made available upon publicatio

Phylogeny of Cyperaceae Based on DNA Sequence Data–a New rbcL Analysis

Since the Monocots II meeting in 1998, significant new data have been published that enhance our systematic knowledge of Cyperaceae. Phylogenetic studies in the family have also progressed steadily. For this study, a parsimony analysis was carried out using all rbcL sequences currently available for Cyperaceae, including data for two new genera. One of the four subfamilies (Caricoideae) and seven of the 14 tribes (Bisboeckelereae, Cariceae, Cryptangieae, Dulichieae, Eleocharideae, Sclerieae, Trilepideae) are monophyletic. Subfamily Mapanioideae and tribe Chrysitricheae are monophyletic if, as the evidence suggests, Hellmuthia is considered a member of Cypereae. Some other features of our analysis include: well-supported Trilepideae and Sclerieae–Bisboeckelereae clades; a possible close relationship between Cryptangieae and Schoeneae; polyphyletic tribes Schoeneae and Scirpeae; the occurrence of Cariceae within the Dulichieae–Scirpeae clade, and a strongly supported clade, representing Cyperus and allied genera in Cypereae, sister to a poorly supported Ficinia–Hellmuthia– Isolepis–Scirpoides clade. Such patterns are consistent with other studies based on DNA sequence data. One outcome may be that only two subfamilies, Mapanioideae and Cyperoideae, are recognized. Much further work is needed, with efforts carefully coordinated among researchers. The work should focus on obtaining morphological and molecular data for all genera in the family

34587 Efficacy of ruxolitinib cream for the treatment of atopic dermatitis by anatomic region: Pooled analysis from two randomized phase 3 studies

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a highly pruritic inflammatory skin disease. Two phase 3 studies (TRuE-AD1/TRuE-AD2) enrolled patients aged ≥12 years with AD for ≥2 years, an Investigator’s Global Assessment (IGA) score of 2/3, and 3%–20% affected body surface area. Patients (total N = 1249; median age, 32 years) were randomized (2:2:1) to twice-daily 0.75% ruxolitinib (Janus kinase [JAK] 1/JAK2 inhibitor) cream, 1.5% ruxolitinib cream, or vehicle cream for 8 weeks of double-blind treatment, and thereafter continued in a long-term, 44-week period of the studies. In this pooled analysis, mean percentage change from baseline in Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) anatomic region subscores is reported up to Week 8 (n = 1208). For the head and neck region, patients applying 0.75%/1.5% ruxolitinib cream (vs vehicle) achieved mean improvements of 59.3%/55.8% (vs 13.4%), 70.4%/71.3% (vs 22.4%), and 70.0%/78.7% (vs 45.0%) at Weeks 2, 4, and 8, respectively (all P \u3c.0001). Results were similar for the upper limbs region (48.5%/54.7% [vs 13.3%], 66.6%/70.3% [vs 25.0%], and 73.5%/74.9% [vs 35.1%] all P \u3c.0001). For the trunk region, patients achieved mean improvements of 49.8%/60.0% (vs 12.1%), 67.3%/73.8% (vs 15.0%), and 72.7%/81.0% (vs 15.6%) at Weeks 2, 4, and 8, respectively (all P \u3c.0001). Similar results were observed for the lower limbs region (46.0%/48.2% [vs 16.3%], 65.9%/66.2% [vs 13.9%], and 76.3%/74.9% [vs 39.8%]; all P \u3c.0001). Ruxolitinib cream was well tolerated, with an adverse event profile similar to vehicle. In summary, ruxolitinib cream demonstrated significant improvements vs vehicle in patients with AD across anatomic regions as early as Week 2

Training of Instrumentalists and Development of New Technologies on SOFIA

This white paper is submitted to the Astronomy and Astrophysics 2010 Decadal Survey (Astro2010)1 Committee on the State of the Profession to emphasize the potential of the Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared Astronomy (SOFIA) to contribute to the training of instrumentalists and observers, and to related technology developments. This potential goes beyond the primary mission of SOFIA, which is to carry out unique, high priority astronomical research. SOFIA is a Boeing 747SP aircraft with a 2.5 meter telescope. It will enable astronomical observations anywhere, any time, and at most wavelengths between 0.3 microns and 1.6 mm not accessible from ground-based observatories. These attributes, accruing from the mobility and flight altitude of SOFIA, guarantee a wealth of scientific return. Its instrument teams (nine in the first generation) and guest investigators will do suborbital astronomy in a shirt-sleeve environment. The project will invest $10M per year in science instrument development over a lifetime of 20 years. This, frequent flight opportunities, and operation that enables rapid changes of science instruments and hands-on in-flight access to the instruments, assure a unique and extensive potential - both for training young instrumentalists and for encouraging and deploying nascent technologies. Novel instruments covering optical, infrared, and submillimeter bands can be developed for and tested on SOFIA by their developers (including apprentices) for their own observations and for those of guest observers, to validate technologies and maximize observational effectiveness.Comment: 10 pages, no figures, White Paper for Astro 2010 Survey Committee on State of the Professio

Inducing behavioural change in society through communication and education in sustainable manufacturing

The United Nations considers the mobilization of the broad public to be the essential requirement for achieving a shift towards a more sustainable development. Science can play a vital role in Education for Sustainable Development (ESD) by contributing to ESD-related research and development on the one hand, and by becoming active awareness raisers themselves in education and multiplier networks. Specifically, the use of special Learnstruments, and investment inOpen Educationformats among other educational tools, may pave the way for accelerated apprehension and appreciation of sustainable manufacturing topics among the greater populace

Multi-wavelength lens construction of a Planck and Herschel-detected star-bursting galaxy

We present a source-plane reconstruction of a Herschel and Planck-detected gravitationally lensed dusty star-forming galaxy (DSFG) at z = 1.68 using Hubble, Submillimeter Array (SMA), and Keck observations. The background submillimeter galaxy (SMG) is strongly lensed by a foreground galaxy cluster at z = 0.997 and appears as an arc with a length of ∼15″ in the optical images. The continuum dust emission, as seen by SMA, is limited to a single knot within this arc. We present a lens model with source-plane reconstructions at several wavelengths to show the difference in magnification between the stars and dust, and highlight the importance of multi-wavelength lens models for studies involving lensed DSFGs. We estimate the physical properties of the galaxy by fitting the flux densities to model spectral energy distributions leading to a magnification-corrected starformation rate (SFR) of 390 ± 60 M yr−1 and a stellar mass of 1.1 ± 0.4 10 x 11 M. These values are consistent with high-redshift massive galaxies that have formed most of their stars already. The estimated gas-to-baryon fraction, molecular gas surface density, and SFR surface density have values of 0.43 ± 0.13, 350 ± 200 M pc−2, and ~ 12 7 M yr−1 kpc−2, respectively. The ratio of SFR surface density to molecular gas surface density puts this among the most star-forming systems, similar to other measured SMGs and local ULIRGs

Identification of host cell factors required for intoxication through use of modified cholera toxin

We describe a novel labeling strategy to site-specifically attach fluorophores, biotin, and proteins to the C terminus of the A1 subunit (CTA1) of cholera toxin (CTx) in an otherwise correctly assembled and active CTx complex. Using a biotinylated N-linked glycosylation reporter peptide attached to CTA1, we provide direct evidence that ∼12% of the internalized CTA1 pool reaches the ER. We also explored the sortase labeling method to attach the catalytic subunit of diphtheria toxin as a toxic warhead to CTA1, thus converting CTx into a cytolethal toxin. This new toxin conjugate enabled us to conduct a genetic screen in human cells, which identified ST3GAL5, SLC35A2, B3GALT4, UGCG, and ELF4 as genes essential for CTx intoxication. The first four encode proteins involved in the synthesis of gangliosides, which are known receptors for CTx. Identification and isolation of the ST3GAL5 and SLC35A2 mutant clonal cells uncover a previously unappreciated differential contribution of gangliosides to intoxication by CTx.Fundação para a Ciência e a Tecnologia (Fellowship