Purpose
Ventral hernias (VH) are a common surgical problem associated with significant morbidity. While assessment tools have examined quality-of-life (QoL), the relative change in specific domains ...of hernia-related QoL measures from pre- to post-operative period has yet to be comprehensively examined. Using the Abdominal Hernia-Q (AHQ), this study aims to assess the impact of ventral hernia repair (VHR) on key components of QoL.
Methods
A retrospective chart review was conducted of patients undergoing VHR between September 2017 and September 2019 who had completed at least one pre- and post-operative AHQ. Post-operative intervals were created to capture AHQ responses around standard follow-up visits (< 1.5 months, 1.5–4.5 months, 4.5–11 months, and 11 + months) and scores were statistically analyzed.
Results
A total of 136 patients were included, with an average age of 54.8 years at the time of VHR. Compared to the pre-operative period, the appearance score increased significantly (
p
<
0.05
)
.
The physical domain score increased from < 1.5 month to the 1.5–4.5 month period (
p
=
0.03
) and remained significantly higher in later time period. The appearance score decreased from the 1.5–4.5 month to 4.5–11 month period (
p
=
0.05
).
Conclusions
VHR leads to a sustained multi-dimensional increase in hernia-specific QoL measures during the post-operative course driven by early positive changes in appearance and sustained physical functioning. The initial increase in QoL is mainly driven by an improvement in appearance, while the sustained increase may be due to restored physical function.
The Curious Case of the “Heartworm” Nebula Cotton, W. D.; Camilo, F.; Becker, W. ...
Astrophysical journal/The Astrophysical journal,
07/2022, Letnik:
934, Številka:
1
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Odprti dostop
Abstract
The curious Galactic features near G357.2−0.2 were observed with the MeerKAT radio interferometer array in the UHF and L bands (0.56–1.68 GHz). There are two possibly related features: a ...newly identified faint heart-shaped partial shell (the “heart”), and a series of previously known but now much better imaged narrow, curved features (the “worm”) interior to the heart. Polarized emission suggests that much of the emission is nonthermal and is embedded in a dense plasma. The filaments of the worm appear to be magnetic structures powered by embedded knots that are sites of particle acceleration. The morphology of the worm broadly resembles some known pulsar wind nebulae (PWNe) but there is no known pulsar or PWN which could be powering this structure. We also present eROSITA observations of the field; no part of the nebula is detected in X-rays, but the current limits do not preclude the existence of a pulsar/PWN of intermediate spin-down luminosity.
We present the first data release from the second epoch Molonglo Galactic Plane Survey (MGPS-2). MGPS-2 was carried out with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope at a frequency of 843 MHz and ...with a restoring beam of 45 × 45 arcsec2, making it the highest resolution large-scale radio survey of the southern Galactic plane. It covers the range |b| < 10° and 245° < l < 365°, and is the Galactic counterpart to the Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey (SUMSS) which covers the whole southern sky with δ≤−30° (|b| > 10°). In this paper, we present the MGPS-2 compact source catalogue. The catalogue has 48 850 sources above a limiting peak brightness of 10 mJy beam−1. Positions in the catalogue are accurate to 1–2 arcsec. A full catalogue including extended sources is in preparation. We have carried out an analysis of the compact source density across the Galactic plane and find that the source density is not statistically higher than the density expected from the extragalactic source density alone. We also present version 2.0 of the SUMSS image data and catalogue which is now available online. The data consist of 629 4.3°× 4.3° mosaic images covering the 8100 deg2 of sky with δ≤−30° and |b| > 10°. The catalogue contains 210 412 radio sources to a limiting peak brightness of 6 mJy beam−1 at δ≤−50° and 10 mJy beam−1 at δ > −50°. We describe the updates and improvements made to the SUMSS cataloguing process.
This paper is the second in a series describing the Sydney University Molonglo Sky Survey (SUMSS) being carried out at 843 MHz with the Molonglo Observatory Synthesis Telescope (MOST). The survey ...will consist of ∼590 4.3°× 4.3° mosaic images with 45 × 45 cosec|δ| arcsec2 resolution, and a source catalogue. In this paper we describe the initial release (version 1.0) of the source catalogue consisting of 107 765 radio sources made by fitting elliptical Gaussians in 271 SUMSS 4.3°× 4.3° mosaics to a limiting peak brightness of 6 mJy beam−1 at δ≤−50° and 10 mJy beam−1 at δ > −50°. The catalogue covers approximately 3500 deg2 of the southern sky with δ≤−30°, about 43 per cent of the total survey area. Positions in the catalogue are accurate to within 1–2 arcsec for sources with peak brightness A843≥ 20 mJy beam−1 and are always better than 10 arcsec. The internal flux density scale is accurate to within 3 per cent. Image artefacts have been classified using a decision tree, which correctly identifies and rejects spurious sources in over 96 per cent of cases. Analysis of the catalogue shows that it is highly uniform and is complete to 8 mJy at δ≤−50° and 18 mJy at δ > −50°. In this release of the catalogue about 7000 sources are found in the overlap region with the National Radio Astronomy Observatories Very Large Array Sky Survey at 1.4 GHz. We calculate a median spectral index of α=−0.83 between 1.4 GHz and 843 MHz. This version of the catalogue will be released via the World Wide Web with future updates as new mosaics are released.
To exploit synergies between the Herschel Space Observatory and next generation radio facilities, we have extended the semi-empirical extragalactic radio continuum simulation of Wilman et al. to the ...mid- and far-infrared. Here, we describe the assignment of infrared spectral energy distributions (SEDs) to the star-forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei, using Spitzer 24, 70 and 160 μm and SCUBA 850 μm survey results as the main constraints. Star-forming galaxies dominate the source counts, and a model in which their far-infrared–radio correlation and infrared SED assignment procedure are invariant with redshift underpredicts the observed 24 and 70 μm source counts. The 70 μm deficit can be eliminated if the star-forming galaxies undergo stronger luminosity evolution than originally assumed for the radio simulation, a requirement which may be partially ascribed to known non-linearity in the far-infrared–radio correlation at low luminosity if it evolves with redshift. At 24 μm, the shortfall is reduced if the star-forming galaxies develop SEDs with cooler dust and correspondingly stronger polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon emission features with increasing redshift at a given far-infrared luminosity, but this trend may reverse at z > 1 in order not to overproduce the submillimetre source counts. The resulting model compares favourably with recent Balloon-borne Large Aperture Submillimetre Telescope (BLAST) results, and we have extended the simulation data base to aid the interpretation of Herschel surveys. Such comparisons may also facilitate further model refinement and revised predictions for the Square Kilometre Array and its precursors.
Aim
To observe the variation in accumulation of Fusarium and Alternaria mycotoxins across a topographically heterogeneous field and tested biotic (fungal and bacterial abundance) and abiotic ...(microclimate) parameters as explanatory variables.
Methods and Results
We selected a wheat field characterized by a diversified topography, to be responsible for variations in productivity and in canopy‐driven microclimate. Fusarium and Alternaria mycotoxins where quantified in wheat ears at three sampling dates between flowering and harvest at 40 points. Tenuazonic acid (TeA), alternariol (AOH), alternariol monomethyl ether (AME), tentoxin (TEN), deoxynivalenol (DON), zearalenone (ZEN) and deoxynivalenol‐3‐Glucoside (DON.3G) were quantified. In canopy temperature, air and soil humidity were recorded for each point with data‐loggers. Fusarium spp. as trichothecene producers, Alternaria spp. and fungal abundances were assessed using qPCR. Pseudomonas fluorescens bacteria were quantified with a culture based method. We only found DON, DON.3G, TeA and TEN to be ubiquitous across the whole field, while AME, AOH and ZEN were only occasionally detected. Fusarium was more abundant in spots with high soil humidity, while Alternaria in warmer and drier spots. Mycotoxins correlated differently to the observed explanatory variables: positive correlations between DON accumulation, tri 5 gene and Fusarium abundance were clearly detected. The correlations among the others observed variables, such as microclimatic conditions, varied among the sampling dates. The results of statistical model identification do not exclude that species coexistence could influence mycotoxin production.
Conclusions
Fusarium and Alternaria mycotoxins accumulation varies heavily across the field and the sampling dates, providing the realism of landscape‐scale studies. Mycotoxin concentrations appear to be partially explained by biotic and abiotic variables.
Significance and Impact of the Study
We provide a useful experimental design and useful data for understanding the dynamics of mycotoxin biosynthesis in wheat.
ABSTRACT
The 6dF Galaxy Survey (6dFGS) aims to measure the redshifts of around 150 000 galaxies, and the peculiar velocities of a 15 000‐member subsample, over almost the entire southern sky. When ...complete, it will be the largest redshift survey of the nearby Universe, reaching out to about z∼ 0.15, and more than an order of magnitude larger than any peculiar velocity survey to date. The targets are all galaxies brighter than Ktot= 12.75 in the 2MASS Extended Source Catalog (XSC), supplemented by 2MASS and SuperCOSMOS galaxies that complete the sample to limits of (H, J, rF, bJ) = (13.05, 13.75, 15.6, 16.75). Central to the survey is the Six‐Degree Field (6dF) multifibre spectrograph, an instrument able to record 150 simultaneous spectra over the ‐field of the UK Schmidt Telescope. An adaptive tiling algorithm has been employed to ensure around 95 per cent fibring completeness over the 17 046 deg2 of the southern sky with | b | > 10°. Spectra are obtained in two observations using separate V and R gratings, that together give R∼ 1000 over at least 4000–7500 Å and signal‐to‐noise ratio ∼10 per pixel. Redshift measurements are obtained semi‐automatically, and are assigned a quality value based on visual inspection. The 6dFGS data base is available at http://www‐wfau.roe.ac.uk/6dFGS/, with public data releases occurring after the completion of each third of the survey.
Vertebral compression fractures are very common, especially in the elderly. Benign osteoporotic and malignant vertebral compression fractures have extremely different management and prognostic ...implications. Although there is an overlap in appearances, characteristic imaging features can aid in the distinction between these 2 types of compression fractures. The aim of this review is to characterize the imaging features of benign and malignant vertebral compression fractures seen with CT, PET, SPECT, and MR imaging.