91 research outputs found
A Passive Probe for Subsurface Oceans and Liquid Water in Jupiter's Icy Moons
We describe an interferometric reflectometer method for passive detection of
subsurface oceans and liquid water in Jovian icy moons using Jupiter's
decametric radio emission (DAM). The DAM flux density exceeds 3,000 times the
galactic background in the neighborhood of the Jovian icy moons, providing a
signal that could be used for passive radio sounding. An instrument located
between the icy moon and Jupiter could sample the DAM emission along with its
echoes reflected in the ice layer of the target moon. Cross-correlating the
direct emission with the echoes would provide a measurement of the ice shell
thickness along with its dielectric properties. The interferometric
reflectometer provides a simple solution to sub-Jovian radio sounding of ice
shells that is complementary to ice penetrating radar measurements better
suited to measurements in the anti-Jovian hemisphere that shadows Jupiter's
strong decametric emission. The passive nature of this technique also serves as
risk reduction in case of radar transmitter failure. The interferometric
reflectometer could operate with electrically short antennas, thus extending
ice depth measurements to lower frequencies, and potentially providing a deeper
view into the ice shells of Jovian moons.Comment: Submitted to Icaru
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A 2000-year annual record of snow accumulation rates for Law Dome, East Antarctica
Accurate high-resolution records of snow accumulation rates in Antarctica are crucial for estimating ice sheet mass balance and subsequent sea level change. Snowfall rates at Law Dome, East Antarctica, have been linked with regional atmospheric circulation to the mid-latitudes as well as regional Antarctic snowfall. Here, we extend the length of the Law Dome accumulation record from 750 years to 2035 years, using recent annual layer dating that extends to 22 BCE. Accumulation rates were calculated as the ratio of measured to modelled layer thicknesses, multiplied by the long-term mean accumulation rate. The modelled layer thicknesses were based on a power-law vertical strain rate profile fitted to observed annual layer thickness. The periods 380–442, 727–783 and 1970–2009 CE have above-average snow accumulation rates, while 663–704, 933–975 and 1429–1468 CE were below average, and decadal-scale snow accumulation anomalies were found to be relatively common (74 events in the 2035-year record). The calculated snow accumulation rates show good correlation with atmospheric reanalysis estimates, and significant spatial correlation over a wide expanse of East Antarctica, demonstrating that the Law Dome record captures larger-scale variability across a large region of East Antarctica well beyond the immediate vicinity of the Law Dome summit. Spectral analysis reveals periodicities in the snow accumulation record which may be related to El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and Interdecadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) frequencies
Dermatologist and Patient Preferences in Choosing Treatments for Moderate to Severe Psoriasis
INTRODUCTION: The objective of the study was to determine the relative importance (RI) of treatment attributes psoriasis patients and physicians consider when choosing between biologic therapies based on psoriasis severity.
METHODS: A discrete choice experiment (DCE) weighting preference for eight sets of hypothetical treatments for moderate or severe psoriasis was conducted. DCE hypothetical treatments were defined and varied on combinations of efficacy, safety, and dosing attributes [frequency/setting/route of administration (ROA)].
RESULTS: When assuming moderate psoriasis in the patient DCE, ROA (RI 29%) and efficacy (RI 27%) drive treatment choices. When assuming severe disease in the DCE, patients preferred treatments with higher efficacy (RI 36%); ROA was relatively less important (RI 15%). From the physician perspective, ROA (RI 32%) and efficacy (RI 26%) were most important for moderate psoriasis patients. In the physician model for severe psoriasis, efficacy (RI 42%) was the predominant driver followed by ROA (RI 22%). Regardless of severity, probability of loss of response within 1 year was the least important factor.
CONCLUSIONS: The severity of disease is a critical element in psoriasis treatment selection. There are high levels of alignment between physician- and patient-derived preferences in biologic treatment choice selection for psoriasis.
FUNDING: Janssen Pharmaceuticals
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A 19-SNP coronary heart disease gene score profile in subjects with type 2 diabetes: the coronary heart disease risk in type 2 diabetes (CoRDia study) study baseline characteristics
Background
The coronary risk in diabetes (CoRDia) trial (n = 211) compares the effectiveness of usual diabetes care with a self-management intervention (SMI), with and without personalised risk information (including genetics), on clinical and behavioural outcomes. Here we present an assessment of randomisation, the cardiac risk genotyping assay, and the genetic characteristics of the recruits.
Methods
Ten-year coronary heart disease (CHD) risk was calculated using the UKPDS score. Genetic CHD risk was determined by genotyping 19 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) using Randox’s Cardiac Risk Prediction Array and calculating a gene score (GS). Accuracy of the array was assessed by genotyping a subset of pre-genotyped samples (n = 185).
Results
Overall, 10-year CHD risk ranged from 2–72 % but did not differ between the randomisation groups (p = 0.13). The array results were 99.8 % concordant with the pre-determined genotypes. The GS did not differ between the Caucasian participants in the CoRDia SMI plus risk group (n = 66) (p = 0.80) and a sample of UK healthy men (n = 1360). The GS was also associated with LDL-cholesterol (p = 0.05) and family history (p = 0.03) in a sample of UK healthy men (n = 1360).
Conclusions
CHD risk is high in this group of T2D subjects. The risk array is an accurate genotyping assay, and is suitable for estimating an individual’s genetic CHD risk.
Trial registration
This study has been registered at ClinicalTrials.gov; registration identifier NCT0189178
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