Photospheric and Coronal Abundances in an X8.3 Class Limb Flare

We analyze solar elemental abundances in coronal post-flare loops of an X8.3 flare (SOL2017-09-10T16:06) observed on the west limb on 2017 September 10 near 18 UT using spectra recorded by the Extreme-ultraviolet Imaging Spectrometer (EIS) on the Hinode spacecraft. The abundances in the corona can differ from photospheric abundances due to the first ionization potential (FIP) effect. In some loops of this flare, we find that the abundances appear to be coronal at the loop apices or cusps, but steadily transform from coronal to photospheric as the loop footpoint is approached. This result is found from the intensity ratio of a low-FIP ion spectral line (Ca XIV) to a high-FIP ion spectral line (Ar XIV) formed at about the same temperature (4–5 MK). Both lines are observed close in wavelength. Temperature, which could alter the interpretation, does not appear to be a factor based on intensity ratios of Ca XV lines to a Ca XIV line. We discuss the abundance result in terms of the Laming model of the FIP effect, which is explained by the action of the ponderomotive force in magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) waves in coronal loops and in the underlying chromosphere

Infused Therapy and Survival in Older Patients Diagnosed with Metastatic Breast Cancer who Received Trastuzumab

We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data (2000-2006) to describe treatment and survival in women diagnosed with metastatic breast cancer (MBC) who received trastuzumab. There were 610 patients with a mean age of 74 years. Overall, 32% received trastuzumab alone and 47% received trastuzumab plus a taxane. In multivariate analysis, trastuzumab plus chemotherapy was associated with a lower adjusted cancer mortality rate (Hazard Ratio [HR] 0.54; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.39-0.74; p < .001) than trastuzumab alone among patients who received trastuzumab as part of first-line therapy. Adding chemotherapy to first-line trastuzumab for metastatic breast cancer is associated with improved cancer survival

Measuring Velocities in the Early Stage of an Eruption: Using “Overlappogram” Data from Hinode EIS

In order to understand the onset phase of a solar eruption, plasma parameter measurements in the early phases are key to constraining models. There are two current instrument types that allow us to make such measurements: narrow-band imagers and spectrometers. In the former case, even narrow-band filters contain multiple emission lines, creating some temperature confusion. With imagers, however, rapid cadences are achievable and the field of view can be large. Velocities of the erupting structures can be measured by feature tracking. In the spectrometer case, slit spectrometers can provide spectrally pure images by "rastering" the slit to build up an image. This method provides limited temporal resolution, but the plasma parameters can be accurately measured, including velocities along the line of sight. Both methods have benefits and are often used in tandem. In this paper we demonstrate for the first time that data from the wide slot on the Hinode EUV Imaging Spectrometer, along with imaging data from AIA, can be used to deconvolve velocity information at the start of an eruption, providing line-of-sight velocities across an extended field of view. Using He ii 256 Å slot data at flare onset, we observe broadening or shift(s) of the emission line of up to ±280 km s−1. These are seen at different locations—the redshifted plasma is seen where the hard X-ray source is later seen (energy deposition site). In addition, blueshifted plasma shows the very early onset of the fast rise of the filament

Metabolic rate and hypoxia tolerance in Girardinichthys multiradiatus (Pisces: Goodeidae), an endemic fish at high altitude in tropical Mexico

Artículo científico JCR Q1The darkedged splitfin (Amarillo fish), Girardinichthys multiradiatus is a vulnerable endemic fish species inhabiting central Mexico's high altitude Upper Lerma Basin, where aquatic hypoxia is exacerbated by low barometric pressures (lower PO2s), large aquatic oxygen changes, poor aquatic systems management and urban, agricultural and industrial pollution. The respiratory physiology of G. multiradiatus under such challenging conditions is unknown - therefore the main goal of the present study was to determine metabolic rates and hypoxia tolerance to elucidate possible physiological adaptations allowing this fish to survive high altitude and increasingly eutrophic conditions. Fish came from two artificial reservoirs – San Elías and Ex Hacienda - considered refuges for this species. Both reservoirs showed high dial PO2 variation, with hypoxic conditions before midday and after 20:00 h, ~4 h of normoxia (15 kPa) from 16:00–20:00, and ~4 h of hyperoxia (16–33 kPa) from 12:00–16:00. Standard metabolic rate at 20 ± 0.5 °C of larvae from Ex Hacienda was significantly higher than those from San Elías, but these differences disappeared in juveniles and adults. Metabolic rate at 20 ± 0.5 °C for adults was 9.8 ± 0.1 SEM μmol O2/g/h. The metabolic scaling exponent for adults was 0.58 for San Elías fish and 0.83 for Ex Hacienda fish, indicating possible ecological effects on this variable. Post-larval fish in Ex Hacienda and all stages in San Elias site showed considerable hypoxia tolerance, with PCrit mean values ranging from 1.9–3.1 kPa, lower than those of many tropical fish at comparable temperatures. Collectively, these data indicate that G. multiradiatus is well adapted for the hypoxia associated with their high-altitude habitat.CONACyT PRODEP-SEP UAEMé

A case of TDP-43 type C pathology presenting as nonfluent variant primary progressive aphasia

We report a case of rapidly progressive nonfluent variant PPA (nfvPPA), age at onset 77 years old and disease duration 3.3 years, who came to post mortem and was found to have TDP-43 type C pathology, an unusual finding for nfvPPA. All prior TDP-43 type C cases from the UCL FTD cohort (n=25) had a semantic variant PPA (svPPA) phenotype, with all having a younger age at onset and longer disease duration than the nfvPPA case. Volumetric analysis of MRI from the nfvPPA case, twelve of the svPPA cases and ten age-matched controls was performed. Whilst left frontal and insular volumes were lower in the nfvPPA case compared with svPPA, cortical and medial temporal lobe volumes were lower (particularly on the right) in the svPPA group compared with the nfvPPA patient. Such anatomical involvement is likely to be consistent with the presence of a nonfluent aphasia (left frontal lobe and insula), and only mild semantic deficit early in the illness (left but not right temporal lobe). Such unique cases add to the heterogeneity of the FTD spectrum

Validation of the UNC OCT Index for the Diagnosis of Early Glaucoma

Purpose:To independently validate the performance of the University of North Carolina Optical Coherence Tomography (UNC OCT) Index in diagnosing and predicting early glaucoma. Methods:Data of 118 normal subjects (118 eyes) and 96 subjects (96 eyes) with early glaucoma defined as visual field mean deviation (MD) greater than -4 decibels (dB), aged 40 to 80 years, and who were enrolled in the Full-Threshold Testing Size III, V, VI comparison study were used in this study. CIRRUS OCT average and quadrants' retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL); optic disc vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR), cup-to-disc area ratio, and rim area; and average, minimum, and six sectoral ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (GCIPL) measurements were run through the UNC OCT Index algorithm. Area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and sensitivities at 95% and 99% specificity were calculated and compared between single parameters and the UNC OCT Index. Results:Mean age was 60.1 ± 11.0 years for normal subjects and 66.5 ± 8.1 years for glaucoma patients (P &lt; 0.001). MD was 0.29 ± 1.04 dB and -1.30 ± 1.35 dB in normal and glaucomatous eyes (P &lt; 0.001), respectively. The AUC of the UNC OCT Index was 0.96. The best single metrics when compared to the UNC OCT Index were VCDR (0.93, P = 0.054), average RNFL (0.92, P = 0.014), and minimum GCIPL (0.91, P = 0.009). The sensitivities at 95% and 99% specificity were 85.4% and 76.0% (UNC OCT Index), 71.9% and 62.5% (VCDR, all P &lt; 0.001), 64.6% and 53.1% (average RNFL, all P &lt; 0.001), and 66.7% and 58.3% (minimum GCIPL, all P &lt; 0.001), respectively. Conclusions:The findings confirm that the UNC OCT Index may provide improved diagnostic perforce over that of single OCT parameters and may be a good tool for detection of early glaucoma. Translational Relevance:The UNC OCT Index algorithm may be incorporated easily into routine clinical practice and be useful for detecting early glaucoma

Validation of the UNC OCT Index for the Diagnosis of Early Glaucoma

Observations of binary stars containing an accreting black hole or neutron star often show x-ray emission extending to high energies (>10 kilo­–electron volts), which is ascribed to an accretion disk corona of energetic particles akin to those seen in the solar corona. Despite their ubiquity, the physical conditions in accretion disk coronae remain poorly constrained. Using simultaneous infrared, optical, x-ray, and radio observations of the Galactic black hole system V404 Cygni, showing a rapid synchrotron cooling event in its 2015 outburst, we present a precise 461 ± 12 gauss magnetic field measurement in the corona. This measurement is substantially lower than previous estimates for such systems, providing constraints on physical models of accretion physics in black hole and neutron star binary systems

Quitting patient care and career break intentions among general practitioners in South West England: findings of a census survey of general practitioners

Objective: Given recent concerns regarding general practitioner (GP) workforce capacity, we aimed to describe GPs’ career intentions, especially those which might impact on GP workforce availability over the next 5 years. Design: Census survey, conducted between April and June 2016 using postal and online responses , of all GPs on the National Health Service performers list and eligible to practise in primary care. Two reminders were used as necessary. Setting: South West England (population 3.5  million), a region with low overall socioeconomic deprivation. Participants: Eligible GPs were 2248 out of 3370 (67 % response rate). Main outcome measures: Reported likelihood of permanently leaving or reducing hours spent in direct patient care or of taking a career break within the next 5 years and present morale weighted for non-response. Results: Responders included 217 7 GPs engaged in patient care. Of these, 863 (37% weighted, 95%  CI 35 % to 39 %) reported a high likelihood of quitting direct patient care within the next 5 years. Overall, 1535 (70% weighted, 95%  CI 68 % to 72 %) respondents reported a career intention that would negatively impact GP workforce capacity over the next 5 years, through permanently leaving or reducing hours spent in direct patient care, or through taking a career break. GP age was an important predictor of career intentions; sharp increases in the proportion of GPs intending to quit patient care were evident from 52 years. Only 305 (14% weighted, 95%  CI 13 % to 16 %) reported high morale, while 1195 ( 54 % weighted, 95%  CI 52 % to 56 %) reported low morale. Low morale was particularly common among GP partners. Current morale strongly predicted GPs’ career intentions; those with very low morale were particularly likely to report intentions to quit patient care or to take a career break. Conclusions: A substantial majority of GPs in South West England report low morale. Many are considering career intentions which, if implemented, would adversely impact GP workforce capacity within a short time period. Study registration: NIHR HS&DR - 14/196/02, UKCRN ID 20700

Agnosia for accents in primary progressive aphasia.

As an example of complex auditory signal processing, the analysis of accented speech is potentially vulnerable in the progressive aphasias. However, the brain basis of accent processing and the effects of neurodegenerative disease on this processing are not well understood. Here we undertook a detailed neuropsychological study of a patient, AA with progressive nonfluent aphasia, in whom agnosia for accents was a prominent clinical feature. We designed a battery to assess AA's ability to process accents in relation to other complex auditory signals. AA's performance was compared with a cohort of 12 healthy age and gender matched control participants and with a second patient, PA, who had semantic dementia with phonagnosia and prosopagnosia but no reported difficulties with accent processing. Relative to healthy controls, the patients showed distinct profiles of accent agnosia. AA showed markedly impaired ability to distinguish change in an individual's accent despite being able to discriminate phonemes and voices (apperceptive accent agnosia); and in addition, a severe deficit of accent identification. In contrast, PA was able to perceive changes in accents, phonemes and voices normally, but showed a relatively mild deficit of accent identification (associative accent agnosia). Both patients showed deficits of voice and environmental sound identification, however PA showed an additional deficit of face identification whereas AA was able to identify (though not name) faces normally. These profiles suggest that AA has conjoint (or interacting) deficits involving both apperceptive and semantic processing of accents, while PA has a primary semantic (associative) deficit affecting accents along with other kinds of auditory objects and extending beyond the auditory modality. Brain MRI revealed left peri-Sylvian atrophy in case AA and relatively focal asymmetric (predominantly right sided) temporal lobe atrophy in case PA. These cases provide further evidence for the fractionation of brain mechanisms for complex sound analysis, and for the stratification of progressive aphasia syndromes according to the signature of nonverbal auditory deficits they produce

An automated multiwell plate reading film microscope for live cell autofluorescence lifetime assays

Fluorescence lifetime imaging (FLIM) is increasingly used to read out cellular autofluorescence originating from the coenzyme NADH in the context of investigating cell metabolic state. We present here an automated multiwell plate reading FLIM microscope optimized for UV illumination with the goal of extending high content fluorescence lifetime assays to readouts of metabolism. We demonstrate its application to automated cellular autofluorescence lifetime imaging and discuss the key practical issues associated with its implementation. In particular, we illustrate its capability to read out the NADH-lifetime response of cells to metabolic modulators, thereby illustrating the potential of the instrument for cytotoxicity studies, assays for drug discovery and stratified medicine