Flight feasibility assessment of shuttle/LANDSAT-D missions

Because of performance limitations, the shuttle cannot rendezvous with the LANDSAT D satellite in its primary orbit; the actual rendezvous altitude is a function of the performance of the two LANDSAT vehicles and of the shuttle. The feasibility of retrieving LANDSAT D from a 210 n.mi. orbit, following delivery of LANDSAT D to a 200 n.mi. orbit was assessed from an orbital analysis point of view. Parameters such as orbital altitude, phasing and length of rendezvous, which affect flight design for this flight are identified. The results of a study made for delivery to a 235 n. mi. orbit followed by retrieval from 245 n. mi. are included

Tolerogenic vaccines for Multiple Sclerosis

Tolerogenic vaccines represent a new class of vaccine designed to re-establish immunological tolerance, restore immune homeostasis, and thereby reverse autoimmune disease. Tolerogenic vaccines induce long-term, antigen-specific, inhibitory memory that blocks pathogenic T cell responses via loss of effector T cells and gain of regulatory T cell function. Substantial advances have been realized in the generation of tolerogenic vaccines that inhibit experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis in a preclinical setting, and these vaccines may be a prequel of the tolerogenic vaccines that may have therapeutic benefit in Multiple Sclerosis. The purpose here is to provide a snapshot of the current concepts and future prospects of tolerogenic vaccination for Multiple Sclerosis, along with the central challenges to clinical application

Accuracy of nature of call screening tool in identifying patients requiring treatment for out of hospital cardiac arrest

BackgroundA new pre-triage screening tool, Nature of Call (NoC), has been introduced into the telephone triage system of UK ambulance services which employ National Health Service Pathways (NHSP). Its function is to provide rapid recognition of patients who may need immediate ambulance dispatch for out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) and withholding dispatch for other calls while further triage is undertaken. In this study, we evaluated the accuracy of NoC and NHSP in identifying patients with potentially treatable or imminent OHCA.MethodsThis retrospective, observational study reviewed consecutive calls to a UK ambulance service between October 2016 and February 2017 in which NOC, and then NHSP were applied sequentially. Only those calls for which a corresponding electronic Patient Clinical Record was available were included. Sensitivity and specificity of NOC and NHSP for recognition of an OHCA were determined by comparing allocated priority dispositions with an OHCA Treatment Registry (OHCATR).ResultsOf 96 423 calls received, 71 373 were reviewed. For 590 (0.8%) of these calls, the patients received treatment for OHCA. NOC identified 458 OHCATR patients; NHSP identified 467; together they identified 496. NoC captured 29 patients not identified by NHSP; NHSP captured 38 patients not identified by NOC. For NOC sensitivity was 77.6% (95% CI 74.1 to 80.8) and specificity 86.9% (95% CI 86.6 to 87.1). NHSP sensitivity was 79.2% (95% CI 75.7 to 82.2) and specificity 93.4% (95% CI 93.2 to 93.6). NoC and NHSP combined had a sensitivity of 84.1% (95% CI 80.9 to 86.8) and specificity of 85.3% (95% CI 85.1 to 85.6).ConclusionsNoC and NHSP call categorisation each achieved similar sensitivity for the identification of OHCATR, identifying most of the same patients, but each captured unique patients. Using both methods sequentially improved accuracy. The 16% of OHCATR patients not identified by either method present a challenge to ambulance dispatch systems.</jats:sec

PP12 New ‘nature of call’ telephone screening tool, employed prior to nhs pathways triage, can accurately identify those later treated for out of hospital cardiac arrest: analysis of sensitivity and specificity using routine ambulance service data

BackgroundA new pre-triage emergency medical call screening tool, Nature of Call (NoC), has been introduced into UK ambulance services which employ the NHS Pathways (NHSP) triage system. Its current function is to provide a rapid sieve, differentiating between patients who may need treatment for Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest (OHCA), and therefore require immediate ambulance dispatch, and all other calls, for which ambulance dispatch is withheld whilst further triage is undertaken.ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of NoC in identifying patients with potentially treatable OHCA or peri-arrest conditions.MethodsStudy of diagnostic accuracy. The sample was a retrospective cohort of consecutive calls to a UK ambulance service, taken over a four-month period. Sensitivity and specificity were determined, comparing allocated priority dispositions with an OHCA Treatment Registry. Context was supplied by the evaluation of subsequent categorisation by NHSP. The accuracy of the combined NoC and NHSP allocations was also investigated.ResultsA total of 1 87 419 emergency calls were received. Of these, 71 373 were allocated both NoC and NHSP priority dispositions and were associated with electronic Patient Clinical Records. 590 (0.8%) of these patients received treatment for OHCA. NoC, sensitivity=77.6% (95% CI 74.1 to 80.8); specificity=86.9% (95% CI 86.6 to 87.1). NHSP, sensitivity=79.2% (95% CI 75.7 to 82.2); specificity=93.4% (93.2 to 93.6). NoC and NHSP combined, sensitivity=84.1% (95% CI 80.9 to 86.8); specificity=95.0% (95% CI 94.8 to 95.3).ConclusionsNoC and subsequent NHSP call categorisation each achieved relatively high sensitivity for the identification of treated OHCA, predicting similar groups of registry patients (although 6% were identified by NoC alone). Overall accuracy was enhanced when NoC and subsequent NHSP Results were combined. The unidentified group of treated OHCA patients (16%) present a challenge to the current dispatch system which relies on the early recognition of patients who may require treatment for OHCA.</jats:sec

PP13 The NHS pathways (NHSP) medical call triage system and new ‘nature of call’ telephone screening tool, employed prior to NHSP, can accurately identify high acuity patients: analysis of sensitivity and specificity using routine ambulance service data

BackgroundThe NHS Pathways (NHSP) medical call triage system is employed by UK ambulance services. One function is to identify a broad category of ‘high-acuity calls’, distinguishing them from those that do not require an emergency response. A new pre-triage screening tool, Nature of Call (NoC), designed to augment NHSP could be employed as a rapid initial sieve of broad acuity.ObjectivesTo identify the accuracy of NHSP (and NoC) in recognising patients who require an emergency ambulance response (and therefore those who may not).MethodsDiagnostic accuracy. The sample is a retrospective cohort of consecutive calls, over a 4 month period, to a UK ambulance service. Sensitivity and specificity were determined, comparing allocated NoC and NHS Pathways priority dispositions with a composite reference standard comprised of administered medications, procedures, observations and clinical impressions associated with high-acuity, as recorded on ambulance electronic Patient Clinical Records.ResultsA total of 1 87 408 emergency calls were received. Of these, 71 373 were allocated both NoC and NHSP priority dispositions and were associated with electronic Patient Clinical Records. 40 997 (57%) of these patients met the high-acuity reference criteria. NHSP, sensitivity=98.1% (95% CI 98.0 to 98.2); specificity=5.9% (95% CI 5.6 to 6.1). NoC, sensitivity=84.0% (95% CI 83.7 to 84.4); specificity=26.5% (95% CI 26.0 to 27.0).ConclusionsNHSP is effective in identifying high-acuity patients (as is NoC). Sensitivity analysis therefore supports the this function of NHSP and NoC/NHSP to inform initial ambulance dispatch decisions, particularly if NoC categorisation is reviewed in the light of subsequent NHSP triage. However, both systems appear to achieve high sensitivity by also allocating most low-acuity calls to high-acuity categories. This significantly restricts operational application. Only one quarter of low-acuity calls are allocated the lowest priority category by NoC and one-in-seventeen by NHSP, severely restricting the group likely to be considered for alternative care pathways.</jats:sec

Insights into the secondary fraction of the organic aerosol in a Mediterranean urban area: Marseille

A comprehensive aerosol characterization was conducted at Marseille during summer, including organic (OC) and elemental carbon (EC), major ionic species, radiocarbon (¹⁴C), water-soluble OC and HULIS (HUmic LIke Substances), elemental composition and primary and secondary organic markers. This paper is the second paper of a two-part series that uses this dataset to investigate the sources of Organic Aerosol (OA). While the first paper investigates the primary sources (El Haddad et al., 2010), this second paper focuses on the secondary fraction of the organic aerosol. <br><br> In the context of overall OC mass balance, primary OC (POC) contributes on average for only 22% and was dominated by vehicular emissions accounting on average for 17% of OC. As a result, 78% of OC mass cannot be attributed to the major primary sources and remains un-apportioned. Radiocarbon measurements suggest that more than 70% of this fraction is of non-fossil origin, assigned predominantly to biogenic secondary organic carbon (BSOC). Therefore, contributions from three traditional BSOC precursors, isoprene, $\alpha$-pinene and &beta;-caryophyllene, were considered. These were estimated using the ambient concentrations of Secondary Organic Aerosol (SOA) markers from each precursor and laboratory-derived marker mass fraction factors. <br><br> Secondary organic markers derived from isoprene photo-oxidation (ie: 2-methylglyceric acid and 2-methyltetrols) do not exhibit the same temporal trends. This variability was assigned to the influence of NO_x concentration on their formation pathways and to their potential decay by further processing in the atmosphere. The influence of changes in isoprene chemistry on assessment of isoprene SOC contribution was evaluated explicitly. The results suggest a 60-fold variation between the different estimates computed using different isoprene SOC markers, implying that the available profiles do not reflect the actual isoprene SOC composition observed in Marseille. <br><br> Using the marker-based approach, the aggregate contribution from traditional BSOC was estimated at only 4.2% of total OC and was dominated by α-pinene SOC accounting on average for 3.4% of OC. As a result, these estimates underpredict the inexplicably high loadings of OC. This underestimation can be associated with (1) uncertainties underlying the marker-based approach, (2) presence of other SOC precursors and (3) further processing of fresh SOC, as indicated by organosulfates (RSO₄H) and HUmic LIke Substances (HULIS) measurements

How Society Can Maintain Human-Centric Artificial Intelligence

Although not a goal universally held, maintaining human-centric artificial intelligence is necessary for society's long-term stability. Fortunately, the legal and technological problems of maintaining control are actually fairly well understood and amenable to engineering. The real problem is establishing the social and political will for assigning and maintaining accountability for artifacts when these artefacts are generated or used. In this chapter we review the necessity and tractability of maintaining human control, and the mechanisms by which such control can be achieved. What makes the problem both most interesting and most threatening is that achieving consensus around any human-centred approach requires at least some measure of agreement on broad existential concerns

HAGE (DDX43) is a biomarker for poor prognosis and a predictor of chemotherapy response in breast cancer

Background: HAGE protein is a known immunogenic cancer-specific antigen. Methods: The biological, prognostic and predictive values of HAGE expression was studied using immunohistochemistry in three cohorts of patients with BC (n=2147): early primary (EP-BC; n=1676); primary oestrogen receptor-negative (PER-BC; n=275) treated with adjuvant anthracycline-combination therapies (Adjuvant-ACT); and primary locally advanced disease (PLA-BC) who received neo-adjuvant anthracycline-combination therapies (Neo-adjuvant-ACT; n=196). The relationship between HAGE expression and the tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) in matched prechemotherapy and postchemotherapy samples were investigated. Results: Eight percent of patients with EP-BC exhibited high HAGE expression (HAGEþ) and was associated with aggressive clinico-pathological features (Ps<0.01). Furthermore, HAGEþexpression was associated with poor prognosis in both univariate and multivariate analysis (Ps<0.001). Patients with HAGE+ did not benefit from hormonal therapy in high-risk ER-positive disease. HAGE+ and TILs were found to be independent predictors for pathological complete response to neoadjuvant-ACT; P<0.001. A statistically significant loss of HAGE expression following neoadjuvant-ACT was found (P=0.000001), and progression-free survival was worse in those patients who had HAGE+ residual disease (P=0.0003). Conclusions: This is the first report to show HAGE to be a potential prognostic marker and a predictor of response to ACT in patients with BC