Unlocking the Climate Record Stored within Mars’ Polar Layered Deposits

In the icy beds of its polar layered deposits (PLD), Mars likely possesses a record of its recent climate history, analogous to terrestrial ice sheets that contain records of Earth's past climate. Both northern and southern PLDs store information on the climatic and atmospheric state during the deposition of each layer (WPs: Becerra et al.; Smith et al). Reading the climate record stored in these layers requires detailed measurements of layer composition, thickness, isotope variability, and near-surface atmospheric measurements. We identify four fundamental questions that must be answered in order to interpret this climate record and decipher the recent climatic history of Mars: 1. Fluxes: What are the present and past fluxes of volatiles, dust, and other materials into and out of the polar regions? 2. Forcings: How do orbital/axial forcing and exchange with other reservoirs affect those fluxes? 3. Layer Processes: What chemical and physical processes form and modify layers? 4. Record: What is the timespan, completeness, and temporal resolution of the climate history recorded in the PLD? In a peer reviewed report (1), we detailed a sequence of missions, instruments, and architecture needed to answer these questions. Here, we present the science drivers and a mission concept for a polar lander that would enable a future reading of the past few million years of the Martian climate record. The mission addresses as-yet-unachieved science goals of the current Decadal Survey and of MEPAG for obtaining a record of Mars climate and has parallel goals to the NEXSAG and ICE-SAG reports

Using a genetic/clinical risk score to stop smoking (GeTSS): randomised controlled trial

Abstract Background As genetic tests become cheaper, the possibility of their widespread availability must be considered. This study involves a risk score for lung cancer in smokers that is roughly 50% genetic (50% clinical criteria). The risk score has been shown to be effective as a smoking cessation motivator in hospital recruited subjects (not actively seeking cessation services). Methods This was an RCT set in a United Kingdom National Health Service (NHS) smoking cessation clinic. Smokers were identified from medical records. Subjects that wanted to participate were randomised to a test group that was administered a gene-based risk test and given a lung cancer risk score, or a control group where no risk score was performed. Each group had 8 weeks of weekly smoking cessation sessions involving group therapy and advice on smoking cessation pharmacotherapy and follow-up at 6 months. The primary endpoint was smoking cessation at 6 months. Secondary outcomes included ranking of the risk score and other motivators. Results 67 subjects attended the smoking cessation clinic. The 6 months quit rates were 29.4%, (10/34; 95% CI 14.1–44.7%) for the test group and 42.9% (12/28; 95% CI 24.6–61.2%) for the controls. The difference is not significant. However, the quit rate for test group subjects with a “very high” risk score was 89% (8/9; 95% CI 68.4–100%) which was significant when compared with the control group (p = 0.023) and test group subjects with moderate risk scores had a 9.5% quit rate (2/21; 95% CI 2.7–28.9%) which was significantly lower than for above moderate risk score 61.5% (8/13; 95% CI 35.5–82.3; p = 0.03). Conclusions Only the sub-group with the highest risk score showed an increased quit rate. Controls and test group subjects with a moderate risk score were relatively unlikely to have achieved and maintained non-smoker status at 6 months. ClinicalTrials.gov ID NCT01176383 (date of registration: 3 August 2010

Propriétaire d'un coutre. Pas du tout fiché de la catastrophe : Les Travailleurs de la mer

Plume, encre brune et lavis (228 x 150 mn)Placé au début du chapitre « La perle au fond du précipice », cette caricature, proche de celles que dessinent alors Victor Hugo, notamment dans Théâtre de la Gaîté, incarne les réactions d'envieux à la nouvelle de la perte de la Durande : « On entendait ce mot : quel malheur ! Plusieurs visages souriaient. » (T. M., I, VII, I)téléchargeabl

MOESM3 of Using a genetic/clinical risk score to stop smoking (GeTSS): randomised controlled trial

Additional file 3: Appendix S3. Correction of confounding factors

MOESM4 of Using a genetic/clinical risk score to stop smoking (GeTSS): randomised controlled trial

Additional file 4: Appendix S4. Full data set for trial

Dimensions of Sexual Orientation and the Prevalence of Mood and Anxiety Disorders in the United States

Objectives. We used data from a nationally representative sample to examine the associations among 3 dimensions of sexual orientation (identity, attraction, and behavior), lifetime and past-year mood and anxiety disorders, and sex