Propagation of HF radio waves over northerly paths: measurements,simulation and systems aspects

Large deviations in the direction of arrival of ionospherically propagating radio signals from the Great Circle Path (GCP) have serious implications for the planning and operation of communications and radiolocation systems operating within the HF-band. Very large deviations are particularly prevalent in the polar and sub-auroral regions where signals often arrive at the receiver with bearings displaced from the great circle direction by up to ±100° or more. Measurements made over several paths are presented in this paper, and the principle causes of off-great circle propagation outlined. Significant progress has been made in modelling the propagation effects and work is now in hand to incorporate the results into tools to aid the planning and operation of HF radio systems operating at northerly latitudes

AB0370 UTILITY OF CRP AND ESR IN THE DIAGNOSIS OF GIANT CELL ARTERITIS RELAPSE IN A PHASE 2 TRIAL OF MAVRILIMUMAB

Background:No universally accepted definition of flare currently exists in giant cell arteritis (GCA). Although relapses are defined mostly on clinical grounds (recurrence of GCA-related signs/symptoms), C-reactive protein (CRP) and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) help clinicians assess disease activity. In fact, >70% of patients on glucocorticoids (GCs) alone have increased CRP or ESR when the disease is active. In contrast, tocilizumab, given its IL-6-blockade effect in the liver, rapidly reduces CRP and ESR levels, rendering them unreliable for disease activity monitoring. Mavrilimumab – a GM-CSF receptor α inhibitor with demonstrated efficacy in a Phase 2 GCA trial1 – downregulates inflammation upstream of IL-6. We hypothesized that mavrilimumab would not interfere with the utility of CRP and ESR in monitoring disease activity and in identifying GCA relapse.Objectives:To analyze the relationship between CRP/ESR and clinical disease activity in GCA patients treated with mavrilimumab.Methods:New-onset and relapsing GCA patients with active disease were recruited. GC-induced remission (no GCA symptoms and CRP <1 mg/dL or ESR <20 mm/hr) was required by baseline. Patients were randomized 3:2 to mavrilimumab 150 mg or placebo subcutaneously every 2 weeks plus a protocol-defined 26-week prednisone taper. The primary efficacy endpoint was time to relapse by Week 26. Relapse (adjudicated) was defined as recurrent GCA-related signs/symptoms, including new/worsening vasculitis on imaging, concurrent with CRP ≥1 mg/dL and/or ESR ≥30 mm/hr. CRP and ESR were also measured periodically during the trial.This post hoc analysis assessed the association of recurrent GCA-related signs/symptoms with concurrent CRP or ESR elevation post-randomization by treatment arm. We also assessed the proportion of patients with CRP or ESR elevation without GCA-related signs/symptoms up to Week 26.Results:Seventy patients were enrolled (mavrilimumab, N=42; placebo, N=28). The association of CRP or ESR elevation with unequivocal GCA-related signs/symptoms post-randomization was consistent regardless of treatment arm: 8/8 in the mavrilimumab group and 13/13 in the placebo group (Table 1). During relapse, median (range) CRP was 1.8 (1.4 – 8.4) mg/dL (mavrilimumab group) and 1.8 (1.1 – 9.0) mg/dL (placebo group). Corresponding ESR values were 39.5 (30 – 102) mm/hr (mavrilimumab group) and 49 (31 – 101) mm/hr (placebo group). Four mavrilimumab recipients had self-limited, equivocal GCA-related signs/symptoms without concurrent CRP or ESR elevation; all 4 completed the prespecified GC taper by Week 26 without need for rescue GCs, so relapse was not confirmed. At least 1 elevated CRP or ESR value in the absence of GCA-related signs/symptoms was observed in 58.8% of mavrilimumab recipients and 93.3% of placebo recipients by Week 26.Conclusion:The observed association of CRP or ESR elevation with GCA-related signs/symptoms is consistent with the upstream mechanism and supports the utility of the stringent protocol definition of relapse. The frequency and magnitude of CRP and ESR elevations at relapse were similar in both treatment groups, suggesting that CRP and ESR remain useful in assessments of disease activity in mavrilimumab-treated patients. CRP and ESR elevations without GCA-related signs/symptoms occurred more often in placebo recipients.References:[1]Cid, Unizony et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2020; 72 (suppl 10)Table 1.CRP and ESR levels in patients with or without GCA relapseAssessment§MavrilimumabPlaceboMavrilimumabPlaceboN=42N=28N=42N=28With RelapseWithout Relapse# of patients8 (19.1)13 (46.4)34 (81.0)15 (53.6) Elevated CRP* or ESR†8 (100.0)13 (100.0)20 (58.8)14 (93.3)  Elevated CRP*7 (87.5)10 (76.9)10 (29.4)11 (73.3)   Median (range) mg/dL1.8 (1.4 - 8.4)1.8 (1.1 - 9.0)2.6 (1.3 – 7.0)2.0 (1.0 – 6.6) Elevated ESR†6 (75.0)9 (69.2)16 (47.1)10 (66.7)  Median (range) mm/hr39.5 (30 - 102)49.0 (31 - 101)41.5 (30 - 110)53.5 (30 - 82)§# (%), except where indicated otherwise.*CRP ≥ 1 mg/dL†ESR ≥ 30 mm/hrDisclosure of Interests:Sebastian Unizony Consultant of: Janssen and Kiniksa, Grant/research support from: Genentech, Maria C. Cid Speakers bureau: Roche and Kiniksa, Paid instructor for: GSK and Vifor, Consultant of: Janssen, GSK, and Abbvie, Grant/research support from: Kiniksa, Elisabeth Brouwer Speakers bureau: Dr. E.Brouwer as an employee of the UMCG received speaker fees and consulting fees from Roche in 2017 2018 which were paid to the UMCG., Consultant of: Dr. E.Brouwer as an employee of the UMCG received speaker fees and consulting fees from Roche in 2017 2018 which were paid to the UMCG., Lorenzo Dagna Speakers bureau: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Glaxo SmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, Consultant of: Abbvie, Amgen, Biogen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Glaxo SmithKline, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI; clinical trial for Kiniksa, Grant/research support from: Abbvie, Amgen, BMS, Celltrion, Galapagos, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sanofi-Genzyme, SOBI, Merk Sharp &Dohme, Janssen, Kiniksa, Bhaskar Dasgupta Paid instructor for: Educational grant symposium/workshop for Roche-chugai, Sanofi, and Abbvie, Consultant of: CI UK for the Kiniksa trial, Grant/research support from: Educational grant symposium/workshop for Roche-chugai, Sanofi, and Abbvie, Bernhard Hellmich Consultant of: Honoraria paid to the institution for participation in the clinical trial, Eamonn Molloy: None declared, Carlo Salvarani: None declared, Bruce C. Trapnell Consultant of: Consultant member of DSMB for Kiniksa., Kenneth J Warrington Consultant of: Clinical trial support from Eli Lilly and Kiniksa, Ian Wicks: None declared, Manoj Samant Shareholder of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Employee of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Teresa Zhou Shareholder of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Employee of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Lara Pupim Shareholder of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Employee of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, John F. Paolini Shareholder of: Kiniksa Pharmaceuticals, Employee of: Kiniksa Pharmaceutical

Fruit crops 1990: a summary of research

Orchard temperature profiles in spring frost conditions / R. D. Brazee, R. D. Fox and D. C. Ferree -- Orchard sprayers: how much spray moves out of the orchard? / R. D. Fox, D. L. Reichard, R. D. Brazee, and F. R. Hall -- Influence of pruning treatments on mature spur-bound 'Starkrimson Delicious' apple trees / D. C. Ferree, J. C. Schmid, J. R. Schupp and I. J. Warrington -- The winter of 1983-84: a test winter for Ohio's fruit crops / C. K. Chandler and D. C. Ferree -- Performance of apple roostock, cultivars and cultural treatments under the stress of the 1988 drought / D. C. Ferree and J. C. Schmid -- Performance of a spur and standard Delicious strain in a slender spindle system / D. C. Ferree and J. C. Schmid -- Survey of Ohio strawberry growers: present practice and future directions / J. C. Scheerens and G. L. Brenneman -- Orchard crop loss assessments: a precondition for improved crop protection decisions / F. R. Hall -- Evaluation of compounds for control of foliar grape phylloxera, Daktulosphaira vitifoliae (Fitch) in Ohio / M. J. McLeod and R. N. Williams -- Marketing Ohio Strawberries / W. T. Rhodus and R. C. Fun

Efficacy and safety of mavrilimumab in giant cell arteritis: a phase 2, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

OBJECTIVES: Granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF) is implicated in pathogenesis of giant cell arteritis. We evaluated the efficacy of the GM-CSF receptor antagonist mavrilimumab in maintaining disease remission. METHODS: This phase 2, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial enrolled patients with biopsy-confirmed or imaging-confirmed giant cell arteritis in 50 centres (North America, Europe, Australia). Active disease within 6 weeks of baseline was required for inclusion. Patients in glucocorticoid-induced remission were randomly assigned (3:2 ratio) to mavrilimumab 150 mg or placebo injected subcutaneously every 2 weeks. Both groups received a 26-week prednisone taper. The primary outcome was time to adjudicated flare by week 26. A prespecified secondary efficacy outcome was sustained remission at week 26 by Kaplan-Meier estimation. Safety was also assessed. RESULTS: Of 42 mavrilimumab recipients, flare occurred in 19% (n=8). Of 28 placebo recipients, flare occurred in 46% (n=13). Median time to flare (primary outcome) was 25.1 weeks in the placebo group, but the median was not reached in the mavrilimumab group (HR 0.38; 95% CI 0.15 to 0.92; p=0.026). Sustained remission at week 26 was 83% for mavrilimumab and 50% for placebo recipients (p=0.0038). Adverse events occurred in 78.6% (n=33) of mavrilimumab and 89.3% (n=25) of placebo recipients. No deaths or vision loss occurred in either group. CONCLUSIONS: Mavrilimumab plus 26 weeks of prednisone was superior to placebo plus 26 weeks of prednisone for time to flare by week 26 and sustained remission in patients with giant cell arteritis. Longer treatment is needed to determine response durability and quantify the glucocorticoid-sparing potential of mavrilimumab. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER: ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT03827018, Europe (EUdraCT number: 2018-001003-36), and Australia (CT-2018-CTN-01 865-1)

Auditory-Visual Object Recognition Time Suggests Specific Processing for Animal Sounds

cote interne IRCAM: Suied09bNone / NoneNational audienceAuditory-visual object recognition time suggests specific processing for animal sound

Head injury from falls in children younger than 6 years of age

The risk of serious head injury (HI) from a fall in a young child is ill defined. The relationship between the object fallen from and prevalence of intracranial injury (ICI) or skull fracture is described. Method Cross-sectional study of HIs from falls in children (<6 years) admitted to UK hospitals, analysed according to the object fallen from and associated Glasgow Coma Score (GCS) or alert, voice, pain, unresponsive (AVPU) and CT scan results. Results Of 1775 cases ascertained (median age 18 months, 54.7% boys), 87% (1552) had a GCS=15/AVPU=alert. 19.3% (342) had a CT scan: 32% (110/342) were abnormal; equivalent to 5.9% of the overall population, 16.9% (58) had isolated skull fractures and 13.7% (47) had ICI (49% (23/47) had an associated skull fracture). The prevalence of ICI increased with neurological compromise; however, 12% of children with a GCS=15/AVPU=alert had ICI. When compared to falls from standing, falls from a person's arms (233 children (mean age 1 year)) had a significant relative OR for a skull fracture/ICI of 6.94 (95% CI 3.54 to 13.6), falls from a building (eg, window or attic) (mean age 3 years) OR 6.84 (95% CI 2.65 to 17.6) and from an infant or child product (mean age 21 months) OR 2.75 (95% CI 1.36 to 5.65). Conclusions Most HIs from a fall in these children admitted to hospital were minor. Infants, dropped from a carer's arms, those who fell from infant products, a window, wall or from an attic had the greatest chance of ICI or skull fracture. These data inform prevention and the assessment of the likelihood of serious injury when the object fallen from is known

“A Hideous Torture on Himself”: Madness and Self-Mutilation in Victorian Literature

This paper suggests that late nineteenth-century definitions of self-mutilation, a new category of psychiatric symptomatology, were heavily influenced by the use of selfinjury as a rhetorical device in the novel, for the literary text held a high status in Victorian psychology. In exploring Dimmesdale’s “self-mutilation” in The Scarlet Letter in conjunction with psychiatric case histories, the paper indicates a number of common techniques and themes in literary and psychiatric texts. As well as illuminating key elements of nineteenth-century conceptions of the self, and the relation of mind and body through ideas of madness, this exploration also serves to highlight the social commentary implicit in many Victorian medical texts. Late nineteenth-century England, like mid-century New England, required the individual to help himself and, simultaneously, others; personal charity and individual philanthropy were encouraged, while state intervention was often presented as dubious. In both novel and psychiatric text, self-mutilation is thus presented as the ultimate act of selfish preoccupation, particularly in cases on the “borderlands” of insanity