Quality of life (QoL) as predictive mediator variable for survival in patients with intracerebral neoplasma during radiotherapy

Background: The prognosis for patients with malignant astrocytoma or brain metastases is often fatal despite intensive therapy. Therefore we wished to elucidate whether the quality of life (QoL) is a determinant of overall survival (OAS). Patients and Methods: From 1997 to 2000 153 patients with brain tumours were screened; 39 patients (26%) refused to participate and further 47 patients were excluded (cerebral impairment 14%, amaurosis/language problems 3%, Karnofsky performance score < 50% 7%, death 8%, non-compliance 7%). Thus, 57 patients were analysed (33 with primary brain tumours, 24 with brain metastases). With the FACT-G questionnaire cancer-specific aspects of health-related QoL were assessed. Results: Patients with metastases showed a lower QoL in the physical sphere than patients with astrocytoma, but there were no significant differences in OAS. Median survival of patients with good QoL was 31.3 months versus 14.2 months in patients with bad QoL. Only the two variables `living with a spouse' and FACT-G sum score had a statistically significant influence on survival (p = 0.033 and p = 0.003) modelled by the Cox-PH regression. Patients who did not live with a spouse had shorter survival times than the other patients. Conclusion: Health-related QoL can serve to identify a patient group with higher risks of death

Observed Ionospheric Effects of 23 October 2011 Van, Turkey Earthquake

On 23 October 2011, a very strong earthquake with a magnitude of Mw = 7.2 shook Eastern Anatolia, and tremors were felt up to 500 km from the epicentre. In this study, we present an early analysis of ionospheric disturbance due to this earthquake using Global Positioning Satellite-Total Electron Content (GPS-TEC). The variability with respect to average quiet day TEC (AQDT) and variability between the consecutive days are measured with symmetric Kullback-Leibler divergence (SKLD). A significant variability in total electron content (TEC) is observed from the GPS stations in the 150 km neighbourhood of the epicentre eight and nine days prior to the earthquake. An ionospheric disturbance is observed from GPS stations even more than 1,000 km to the epicentre, especially those on the North Anatolian fault (NAF). The present results support the existence of lithosphere-atmosphere-ionosphere coupling (LAIC) associated with Van, Turkey earthquake. © 2012 Taylor and Francis Group, LLC

Identification of a gene for an ancient cytokine, interleukin 15-like, in mammals; interleukins 2 and 15 co-evolved with this third family member, all sharing binding motifs for IL-15Rα

Interleukins 2 and 15 (IL-2 and IL-15) are highly differentiated but related cytokines with overlapping, yet also distinct functions, and established benefits for medical drug use. The present study identified a gene for an ancient third IL-2/15 family member in reptiles and mammals, interleukin 15-like (IL-15L), which hitherto was only reported in fish. IL-15L genes with intact open reading frames (ORFs) and evidence of transcription, and a recent past of purifying selection, were found for cattle, horse, sheep, pig and rabbit. In human and mouse the IL-15L ORF is incapacitated. Although deduced IL-15L proteins share only ~21&nbsp;% overall amino acid identity with IL-15, they share many of the IL-15 residues important for binding to receptor chain IL-15R&alpha;, and recombinant bovine IL-15L was shown to interact with IL-15R&alpha; indeed. Comparison of sequence motifs indicates that capacity for binding IL-15R&alpha; is an ancestral characteristic of the IL-2/15/15L family, in accordance with a recent study which showed that in fish both IL-2 and IL-15 can bind IL-15R&alpha;. Evidence reveals that the species lineage leading to mammals started out with three similar cytokines IL-2, IL-15 and IL-15L, and that later in evolution (1) IL-2 and IL-2R&alpha; receptor chain acquired a new and specific binding mode and (2) IL-15L was lost in several but not all groups of mammals. The present study forms an important step forward in understanding this potent family of cytokines, and may help to improve future strategies for their application in veterinarian and human medicine

Space-time interpolation and automatic mapping of TEC using TNPGN-active

Turkish National Permanent GPS Network (TNPGN) is the Reference Station Network of 146 continuously-operating GNSS stations o which are distributed uniformly across Turkey and North Cyprus Turkish Republic since May 2009. IONOLAB group, formed by researchers and students in Hacettepe University, Bilkent University and General Command of Mapping is currently investigating new techniques for space-time interpolation, and automatic mapping of TEC through a TUBITAK research grant. This study presents the developments in monitoring of space weather, and correction of geodetic positioning errors due to ionosphere using TNPGN. © 2011 IEEE

Space weather activities of IONOLAB group using TNPGN GPS Network

Characterization and constant monitoring of variability of the ionosphere is of utmost importance for the performance improvement of HF communication, Satellite communication, navigation and guidance systems, Low Earth Orbit (LEO) satellite systems, Space Craft exit and entry into the atmosphere and space weather. Turkish National Permanent GPS Network (TNPGN) is the Reference Station Network of 146 continuously-operating GNSS stations of which are distributed uniformly across Turkey and North Cyprus Turkish Republic since May 2009. IONOLAB group is currently investigating new techniques for space-time interpolation, and automatic mapping of TEC through a TUBITAK research grant. It is utmost importance to develop regional stochastic models for correction of ionospheric delay in geodetic systems and also form a scientific basis for communication link characterization. This study is a brief summary of the efforts of IONOLAB group in monitoring of space weather, and correction of geodetic positioning errors due to ionosphere using TNPGN. © 2011 IEEE

Where are you from, stranger? The enigmatic biogeography of North African pond turtles (Emys orbicularis) .

Abstract The European pond turtle (Emys orbicularis) is a Nearctic element in the African fauna and thought to have invaded North Africa from the Iberian Peninsula. All North African populations are currently identified with the subspecies E. o. occidentalis. However, a nearly range-wide sampling in North Africa used for analyses of mitochondrial and microsatellite DNA provides evidence that only Moroccan populations belong to this taxon, while eastern Algerian and Tunisian pond turtles represent an undescribed distinct subspecies. These two taxa are most closely related to E. o. galloitalica with a native distribution along the Mediterranean coast of northern Spain through southern France to western and southern Italy. This group is sister to a clade comprising several mitochondrial lineages and subspecies of E. orbicularis from Central and Eastern Europe plus Asia, and the successive sisters are E. o. hellenica and E. trinacris. Our results suggest that E. orbicularis has been present in North Africa longer than on the Iberian Peninsula and that after an initial invasion of North Africa by pond turtles from an unknown European source region, there was a phase of diversification in North Africa, followed by a later re-invasion of Europe by one of the African lineages. The differentiation of pond turtles in North Africa parallels a general phylogeographic paradigm in amphibians and reptiles, with deeply divergent lineages in the western and eastern Maghreb. Acknowledging their genetic similarity, we propose to synonymize the previously recognized Iberian subspecies E. o. fritzjuergenobsti with E. o. occidentalis sensu stricto. The seriously imperiled Moroccan populations of E. o. occidentalis represent two Management Units different in mitochondrial haplotypes and microsatellite markers. The conservation status of eastern Algerian pond turtles is unclear, while Tunisian populations are endangered. Considering that Algerian and Tunisian pond turtles represent an endemic taxon, their situation throughout the historical range should be surveyed to establish a basis for conservation measures

Складові компоненти мовної особистості в контексті міжкультурної комунікації

Стаття присвячена аналізу складових компонентів мовної особистості в контексті міжкультурної комунікації, їх взаємодії та функціонуванню з точки зору прагматичної спрямованості мовленнєвого впливу. Детально розглядаються три рівні структури мовної особистості (структурно-мовний, лінгвокогнітивний ті мотиваційний) із визначенням специфіки їхніх складових компонентів.Статья посвящена анализу составляющих компонентов языковой личности в контексте межкультурной коммуникаций, их взаимодействию и функционированию с точки зрения прагматической направленности речевого воздействия. Детально рассматриваются три уровня структуры языковой личности (структурно-языковой, лингвокогнитивный и мотивационный) с последующим определением специфики их составляющих компонентов.The article is dedicated to the linguistic personality constituent components' analysis in terms of cross-cultural communication, their interaction and functioning with the speech influence pragmatic orientation taken into consideration. The three levels of the linguistic personality (that is, structural linguistic, lingo cognitive and motivation ones) are under analysis with the following their constituent components specificity determinatio