Population testing for cancer predisposing BRCA1/BRCA2 mutations

Background: Technological advances raise the possibility of systematic population-based genetic testing for cancer-predisposing mutations, but it is uncertain whether benefits outweigh disadvantages. We directly compared the psychological/quality-of-life consequences of such an approach to family history (FH)–based testing. Methods: In a randomized controlled trial of BRCA1/2 gene-mutation testing in the Ashkenazi Jewish (AJ) population, we compared testing all participants in the population screening (PS) arm with testing those fulfilling standard FH-based clinical criteria (FH arm). Following a targeted community campaign, AJ participants older than 18 years were recruited by self-referral after pretest genetic counseling. The effects of BRCA1/2 genetic testing on acceptability, psychological impact, and quality-of-life measures were assessed by random effects regression analysis. All statistical tests were two-sided. Results: One thousand, one hundred sixty-eight AJ individuals were counseled, 1042 consented, 1034 were randomly assigned (691 women, 343 men), and 1017 were eligible for analysis. Mean age was 54.3 (SD = 14.66) years. Thirteen BRCA1/2 carriers were identified in the PS arm, nine in the FH arm. Five more carriers were detected among FH-negative FH-arm participants following study completion. There were no statistically significant differences between the FH and PS arms at seven days or three months on measures of anxiety, depression, health anxiety, distress, uncertainty, and quality-of-life. Contrast tests indicated that overall anxiety (P = .0001) and uncertainty (P = .005) associated with genetic testing decreased; positive experience scores increased (P = .0001); quality-of-life and health anxiety did not change with time. Overall, 56% of carriers did not fulfill clinical criteria for genetic testing, and the BRCA1/2 prevalence was 2.45%. Conclusion: Compared with FH-based testing, population-based genetic testing in Ashkenazi Jews doesn’t adversely affect shortterm psychological/quality-of-life outcomes and may detect 56% additional BRCA carriers

The Wardle Instability in Interstellar Shocks: I. Nonlinear Dynamical Evolution

The nonlinear evolution of unstable C-type shocks in weakly ionized plasmas is studied by means of time-dependent magnetohydrodynamical simulations. This study is limited to shocks in magnetically dominated plasmas (in which the Alfven speed in the neutrals greatly exceeds the sound speed), and microphysical processes such as ionization and recombination are not followed. Both two-dimensional simulations of planar perpendicular and oblique C-type shocks, and fully three-dimensional simulation of a perpendicular shock are presented.Comment: 20 pages, 7 Postscript figures, LaTeX, accepted by Ap.

From Baker Street to Tokyo and Back: (para)textual hybridity in translation

This paper addresses the ‘textual web’ surrounding one individual source text, presented here as an example of what is an increasingly common occurrence: while intersemiotic translation (to use Jakobson’s term) boasts a longstanding tradition, it is only relatively recently that Adaptation Studies has emerged as an autonomous field of academic enquiry. Mark O’Thomas defines the difference between adaptations and translations as being the fact that the first take place across media while the latter are produced across cultures (2010:48). This distinction, however, is not always clear cut: we are witnessing the multiplication of ‘hybrid’ texts that move between languages and cultures, while simultaneously playing with both genres and media. Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel, A Study in Scarlet, published in 1887, has been translated into numerous different languages and indeed there are several cases of multiple translations into the same language – there are at least 17 Italian versions, for example. The book has also been widely adapted for both film and television: the majority of these adaptations appears first in English and is subsequently dubbed or subtitled for foreign markets but the opposite is also true. One of these many adaptations, and arguably the most well-known, is the BBC series Sherlock, created by Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, first broadcast in 2010. So far so normal. However, following the popularity of the series around the world, the pseudonymous Japanese artist Jay has produced a series of adaptations including the first episode, A Study in Pink, as Manga in his native Japan (2014). This first manga has now just been published in English (2017), among other languages, but bears some of the distinctive textual and paratextual features of its previous Japanese incarnation (it reads ‘back to front’ and right-to-left, is produced in black and white, has vertical balloons). The hardcopy texts are also surrounded by copious amounts of online material (screenplays, youtube videos, blogs, reviews, fansubs, amateur manga translations, etc.). This paper will analyse the (para)textual features of the volumes and, in particular the English-language edition, highlighting the conscious hybridity of the text. Belying any notion of the homogenizing effects of globalization, these publications are evidence of a dynamic textual exchange, an overlapping of translation and adaptation, a blurring of media and genre, an interlingual and intercultural métissage.Le roman policier Une étude en rouge d’Arthur Conan Doyle, paru en 1887, a été largement traduit et adapté pour le cinéma et la télévision, en particulier dans la série Sherlock pour la BBC. Suite au succès de la série dans le monde entier, l’artiste Jay a produit une adaptation manga dans son Japon natal (2014), par la suite traduite en anglais (2017), parmi plusieurs autres langues, avec certains des traits (para)textuels distinctifs de sa première incarnation japonaise (il se lit « à l’envers » et de droite à gauche, est imprimé en noir et blanc, les bulles sont verticales). Les exemplaires papier sont entourés de contenus en ligne (scénarios, critiques, fansubs, scantrads, etc.). Cet article analyse les traits paratextuels des volumes, notamment ceux en anglais, français et italien, mettant en avant l’hybridité consciente du texte. Ces publications témoignent d’un échange textuel dynamique, un chevauchement entre traduction et adaptation, un gommage des distinctions entre les médias et les genres, un métissage interlinguistique et interculturel

X-ray echoes of infrared flaring in Sgr A*

Sgr A* exhibits flaring in the infrared several times each day, occasionally accompanied by flaring in X-rays. The infrared flares are believed to arise through synchrotron emission from a transient population of accelerated electrons. The X-ray flaring has been interpreted as self-synchrotron-compton, inverse compton, or synchrotron emission associated with the transient electrons. Here I consider the upscattering of infrared flare photons by relativistic thermal electrons in the accretion flow around Sgr A*. Typical profiles of electron density and temperature in the accretion flow are adopted and the X-ray light curves produced by upscattering of infrared flare photons by the accretion flow are computed. Peak X-ray luminosities between 1e33 and 1e34 erg/s are attained for a 10 mJy near-infrared flare, compatible with observed coincident infrared/X-ray flares from Sgr A*. Even if this process is not responsible for the observed flares it still presents a serious constraint on accretion flow models, which must avoid over-producing X-rays and also predicting observable time lags between flaring in infrared and in X-rays. Future high-resolution infrared instrumentation will be able to place the location of the infrared flare and in coordination with the X-ray would severely constrain the disc geometry and the radial profiles of electron density and temperature in the accretion flow.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figures, to appear in The Galactic Center: A Window on the Nuclear Environment of Disk Galaxies, ASP Conference Series, eds: M. Morris, D. Q. Wang and F. Yua

Collisional excitation of OH(6049 MHz) masers in supernova remnant - molecular cloud interactions

OH (1720 MHz) masers serve as indicators of SNR - molecular cloud interaction sites. These masers are collisionally excited in warm (50-100K) shocked gas with densities of order 1e5 cm^-3 when the OH column density is in the range 1e16-1e17 cm^-2. Here I present excitation calculations which show that when the OH column density exceeds 1e17 cm^-2 at similar densities and temperatures, the inversion of the 1720 MHz line switches off and instead the 6049 MHz transition in the first excited rotational state of OH becomes inverted. This line may serve as a complementary signal of warm, shocked gas when the OH column density is large.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figs, iaus.cls. To appear in IAU 242, Astrophysical Masers and Their Environments, eds. J. Chapman & W. Baan. Addition of two references and minor changes to wordin

Socioeconomic status and weight control practices in British adults

Study objective-Attitudes and practices concerning weight control in British adults were examined to test the hypothesis that variation in concern about weight and deliberate weight control might partly explain the socioeconomic status (SES) gradient in obesity. Higher SES groups were hypothesised to show more weight concern and higher levels of dieting.Setting-Data were collected as part of the monthly Omnibus Survey of the Office of National Statistics in March 1999.Participants-A stratified, probability sample of 2690 households was selected by random sampling of addresses in Britain. One randomly selected person in each household was interviewed at their home.Main results-As predicted, higher SES men and women had higher levels of perceived overweight, monitored their weight more closely, and were more likely to be trying to lose weight. Higher SES groups also reported more restrictive dietary practices and more vigorous dietary physical practices activity.Conclusions-The results are consistent with the idea that part of the protection against weight gain in higher SES groups could be a higher frequency of weight monitoring, a lower threshold for defining themselves as overweight, and a greater likelihood of deliberate efforts at weight control

Age and gender differences in children's food preferences

The present study was conducted to examine the developmental patterning of food preferences in a large sample of British schoolchildren and to investigate possible gender differences. Using a cross-sectional survey design, the study was carried out in three primary and three secondary schools in West London, UK. A total of 1291 children aged from 4 to 16 years completed a 115-item food preference questionnaire in class time, supervised by class teachers and assistants. Children indicated whether they had ever tried each item and, if so, how much they liked it. We observed age-related increases in the number of foods tried (P < 0.001), liked (P < 0.005) and disliked (P < 0.05). Controlling for the number of foods tried rendered the increase in dislikes non-significant and reversed the age effect on the number liked. Girls liked fruit (P < 0.05) and vegetables (P < 0.001) more than boys did; boys liked fatty and sugary foods (P < 0.005), meat (P < 0.001), processed meat products (P < 0.001) and eggs (P < 0.05) more than girls did. Some age differences were apparent in liking for categories of food, although the effects were not linear. Across ages and genders, children rated fatty and sugary foods most highly, although ratings for fruit were also high. Children's food preferences overall are not consistent with a healthy diet. Interventions should focus on increasing the familiarity, availability and accessibility of healthy foods and should be mindful of the need to target messages appropriately for boys who have less healthful food preferences than girls at all ages