The X-ray Spectrum of the Vela Pulsar Resolved with Chandra

We report the results of the spectral analysis of two observations of the Vela pulsar with the Chandra X-ray observatory. The spectrum of the pulsar does not show statistically significant spectral lines in the observed 0.25-8.0 keV band. Similar to middle-aged pulsars with detected thermal emission, the spectrum consists of two distinct components. The softer component can be modeled as a magnetic hydrogen atmosphere spectrum - for the pulsar magnetic field $B=3\times 10^{12}$ G and neutron star mass $M=1.4 M_\odot$ and radius $R^\infty =13$ km, we obtain \tef^\infty =0.68\pm 0.03 MK, $L_{\rm bol}^\infty = (2.6\pm 0.2)\times 10^{32}$ erg s$^{-1}$, $d=210\pm 20$ pc (the effective temperature, bolometric luminosity, and radius are as measured by a distant observer). The effective temperature is lower than that predicted by standard neutron star cooling models. A standard blackbody fit gives $T^\infty =1.49\pm 0.04$ MK, $L_{\rm bol}^\infty=(1.5\pm 0.4)\times 10^{32} d_{250}^2$ erg s$^{-1}$ ($d_{250}$ is the distance in units of 250 pc); the blackbody temperature corresponds to a radius, $R^\infty =(2.1\pm 0.2) d_{250}$ km, much smaller than realistic neutron star radii. The harder component can be modeled as a power-law spectrum, with parameters depending on the model adopted for the soft component - $\gamma=1.5\pm 0.3$, $L_x=(1.5\pm 0.4)\times 10^{31} d_{250}^2$ erg s$^{-1}$ and $\gamma=2.7\pm 0.4$, $L_x=(4.2\pm 0.6)\times 10^{31} d_{250}^2$ erg s$^{-1}$ for the hydrogen atmosphere and blackbody soft component, respectively ($\gamma$ is the photon index, $L_x$ is the luminosity in the 0.2--8 keV band). The extrapolation of the power-law component of the former fit towards lower energies matches the optical flux at $\gamma\simeq 1.35$--1.45.Comment: Submitted to ApJ, three figures; color figure 1 can be found at http://www.xray.mpe.mpg.de/~zavlin/pub_list.htm

Population Pharmacokinetics of Methylphenidate in Healthy Adults Emphasizing Novel and Known Effects of Several Carboxylesterase 1 (<i>CES1</i>) Variants

The aim of this study was to identify demographic and genetic factors that significantly affect methylphenidate (MPH) pharmacokinetics (PK), and may help explain interindividual variability and further increase the safety of MPH. d‐MPH plasma concentrations, demographic covariates, and carboxylesterase 1 (CES1) genotypes were gathered from 122 healthy adults and analyzed using nonlinear mixed effects modeling. The structural model that best described the data was a two‐compartment disposition model with absorption transit compartments. Novel effects of rs115629050 and CES1 diplotypes, as well as previously reported effects of rs71647871 and body weight, were included in the final model. Assessment of the independent and combined effect of CES1 covariates identified several specific risk factors that may result in severely increased d‐MPH plasma exposure

Characteristics of Patients with Late-Stage Parkinsonism who are Nursing Home Residents Compared with those Living at Home

OBJECTIVES: To determine clinical characteristics and treatment complications of patients with late-stage Parkinsonism living in nursing homes compared with those living at home. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: This study is an analysis of 692 patients with late stage Parkinsonism recruited to an in-depth international study, Care of Late-Stage Parkinsonism (CLaSP). MEASURES: Sociodemographic characteristics were compared between patients who were living in a nursing home (n = 194) and those living at home (n = 498). Clinical assessments included the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), the nonmotor symptom scale, the neuropsychiatric inventory, and a structured interview of patients and carers. Predictors of nursing home status were determined in a multivariate analysis. RESULTS: Nursing home placement was strongly associated with more severe cognitive impairment, worse UPDRS motor scores and disability, and with being unmarried and older. Although nursing home residents had significantly higher axial scores, falls were less common. Despite similar levodopa equivalence doses, they had less dyskinesia. Nonmotor symptom burden, particularly delusion, hallucination, and depression scores were higher in nursing home residents, and they were more frequently on psychotropic medication. They had lower rates of dopamine agonist use and lower rates of impulse control disorders. In multivariate analysis, being unmarried, presence of cognitive impairment, worse disease severity as assessed on the UPDRS parts II and III, severity of delusions, and lower rate of dyskinesia were associated with nursing home placement. CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: These clinical characteristics suggest that in patients with Parkinsonsim who are nursing home residents, presence of cognitive impairment and delusions particularly add to the higher overall symptom burden, and more often require specific treatments, including clozapine. Despite similar levodopa equivalent daily dose, motor severity is higher, and dyskinesias, indicative of a response to levodopa, are less common. Falls, however, also occur less commonly, and dopamine agonists are less frequently used, with lower rates of impulse control disorder

The Arecibo Galaxy Environment Survey III: Observations Toward the Galaxy Pair NGC 7332/7339 and the Isolated Galaxy NGC 1156

Two 5 square degree regions around the NGC 7332/9 galaxy pair and the isolated galaxy NGC 1156 have been mapped in the 21-cm line of neutral hydrogen (HI) with the Arecibo L-band Feed Array out to a redshift of ~0.065$(~20,000$ km/s) as part of the Arecibo Galaxy Environment Survey. One of the aims of this survey is to investigate the environment of galaxies by identifying dwarf companions and interaction remnants; both of these areas provide the potential for such discoveries. The neutral hydrogen observations were complemented by optical and radio follow-up observations with a number of telescopes. A total of 87 galaxies were found, of which 39 (45 per cent) were previously cataloged and 15 (17 per cent) have prior redshifts. Two dwarf galaxies have been discovered in the NGC 7332 group and a single dwarf galaxy in the vicinity NGC 1156 . A parallel optical search of the area revealed one further possible dwarf galaxy near NGC 7332.Comment: 18 pages, 17 figures, uses emulateap

The SQ tree SLIT-tablet is highly effective and well tolerated: Results from a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled phase III trial

Background: The SQ tree sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT)tablet (ALK-Abello, Horsholm, Denmark) is developed for treatment of tree pollen-induced allergic rhinoconjunctivitis (ARC).Objective: The aim of this pivotal phase III trial was to demonstrate the efficacy and safety of the SQ tree SLIT-tablet.Methods: This was a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial with 634 subjects (12-65 years) with moderate-to-severe ARC despite use of symptom-relieving medication. Eligible subjects were randomized 1:1 to active or placebo treatment. The primary end point was the average daily ARC total combined score (TCS) during the birch pollen season (BPS) analyzed for subjects with diary data during the BPS. Secondary end points included average daily symptom scores (DSS) during the BPS, average TCS and DSS during the tree pollen season (TPS), and average daily medication scores (DMS) in the BPS and TPS.Results: The primary and key secondary end points demonstrated statistically significant and clinically relevant effects of the SQ tree SLIT-tablet compared with placebo. For the BPS, absolute (relative) differences from placebo were 3.02 (40%) for TCS, 1.32 (37%) for DSS, and 1.58 (49%) for DMS (all P < .0001). For the TPS, absolute (relative) differences from placebo were 2.27 (37%) for TCS, 0.99 (33%) for DSS, and 1.20 (47%) for DMS (all P < .0001). Treatment was well tolerated. The most frequently reported treatment-related adverse events were mild or moderate local reactions related to sublingual administration.Conclusion: The trial demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the SQ tree SLIT-tablet compared with placebo during the BPS and TPS in adolescents and adults with birch pollen-induced ARC (EudraCT 2015-004821-15)

Short-term costs of conventional vs laparoscopic assisted surgery in patients with colorectal cancer (MRC CLASICC trial)

The short-term clinical results of the CLASICC trial indicated that clinical outcomes were similar between laparoscopic and open approaches. This study presents the short-term (3 month) cost analysis undertaken on a subset of patients entered into the CLASICC trial (682 of 794 patients). As expected the costs associated with the operation were higher in the 452 patients randomised to laparoscopic surgery (lap) compared with the 230 randomised to open procedure (open), £1703 vs £1386. This was partially offset by the other hospital (nontheatre) costs, which were lower in the lap group (£2930 vs £3176). The average cost to individuals for reoperations was higher in the lap group (£762 vs £553). Overall costs were slightly higher in the lap group (£6899 vs £6631), with mean difference of £268 (95%CI −689 to 1457). Sensitivity analysis made little difference to these results. The cost of rectal surgery was higher than for colon, for lap (£8259 vs £5586) and open procedures (£7820 vs £5503). The short-term cost analysis for the CLASICC trial indicates that the costs of either laparoscopic or open procedure were similar, lap surgery costing marginally more on average than open surgery

Associations between food and beverage purchases and skin carotenoids among diverse small food retail store customers

Abstract Objective: To determine if customer purchases at small food stores are associated with healthfulness of the diet as approximated by skin carotenoids. Design: Cross-sectional survey of customers in small food stores regarding demographics and food purchases. Food and beverage purchases were classified as “healthy” or “non-healthy” and “carotenoid” versus “non-carotenoid” using a systematic classification scheme. Fruit and vegetable intake was objectively assessed using a non-invasive device to measure skin carotenoids. Associations between variables of interest were examined using Pearson’s correlation coefficients, t-tests, and multiple linear regression analyses. Setting: Twenty-two small food retail stores in rural (n = 7 stores) and urban (n = 15) areas of North Carolina. Participants: Customers of small food stores Results: Of study participants (n = 1,086), 55.1% were male, 60.0% were African American/Black, 4.2% were Hispanic, with a mean age of 43.5 years. Overall, 36% purchased at least one healthy item, and 7.6% of participants purchased a carotenoid-containing food/beverage. Healthy foods and beverages purchased included produce, lean meats, 100% juices, plain popcorn, plain nuts, milk, and yogurt. Unhealthy items included non-100% juices, crackers, chips, candy, cakes, and donuts. Purchase of a healthy or carotenoid-containing item was positively associated with skin carotenoid scores (p=0.002 and 0.006, respectively). Conclusions: A relatively small proportion of customers purchased any healthy or carotenoid-containing foods and beverages, and those who did purchase healthy options had higher skin carotenoid scores. Future research should confirm these findings in different populations

Seminar on Securities Law

Materials from the UK/CLE Seminar on Securities Law held February 14-15, 1986

Recommendations for the Use of the Veggie Meter for Spectroscopy-Based Skin Carotenoid Measurements in the Research Setting

Carotenoids are a class of phytochemical compounds found in a variety of fruits and vegetables (F/V) and, therefore, are commonly used as a biomarker for F/V intake. The Veggie Meter® is a noninvasive research-grade instrument that detects and quantifies carotenoids in the skin. To determine current practices and examine variability among users, a survey was administered to researchers using the device (n&nbsp;=&nbsp;19, response rate&nbsp;=&nbsp;35.8%) and variation in anatomical site preparation, calibration, number of measurements, measurement site, and documentation was observed. A protocol was developed in partnership with Veggie Meter® users to outline the preparation, calibration, and data collection procedures for using this device for research purposes. Although many protocol conditions will benefit from additional validation, this standardized protocol supports the development of a universal data repository to establish usual observed ranges, with the ultimate goal of examining associations between skin carotenoid scores and diet-related health outcomes