Abstract
Background
The recently developed Spine Oncology Study Group Outcomes Questionnaire (SOSGOQ2.0) was proven a valid and reliable instrument measuring health-related quality of life (HRQOL) ...for patients with spinal malignancies. A German version was not available.
Objective
A cross-cultural adaptation of the SOSGOQ2.0 to the German language and its multicenter evaluation.
Methods
In a multistep process, a cross-cultural adaptation of the SOSGOQ2.0 was conducted. Subsequently, a multicenter, prospective observational cohort study was initiated to assess the reliability and validity of the German adaptation. To assess external construct validity of the cross-cultural adapted questionnaire, a comparison to the established questionnaire QLQ-C30 from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer was conducted. Mean-difference plots were used to measure the agreement between the questionnaires in total score and by domain (deviation from mean up to 10% allowed). Further reliability and validity tests were carried out. Change to baseline was analysed 3–16 weeks later after different interventions occurred. Clinically relevant thresholds in comparison to the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire were evaluated by ROC curve analysis.
Results
We could enroll 113 patients from four different university hospitals (58 females, 55 males). Mean age was 64.11 years (sd 11.9). 80 patients had an ECOG performance status of 2 or higher at baseline. External construct validity in comparison to the EORTC QLQ-C30 questionnaire in total score and by domain was confirmed (range of deviation 4.4 to 9.0%). Good responsiveness for the domains
Physical Functioning
(
P
< .001) and
Pain
(
P
< .001) could be shown. The group mean values also displayed a difference in the domains of
Social Functioning
(
P
= .331) and
Mental Health
(
P
= .130), but not significant. The minimum clinically relevant threshold values for the questionnaire ranged from 4.0 to 7.5 points.
Conclusions
According to our results, the cross-cultural adapted questionnaire is a reliable and valid tool to measure HRQOL in German speaking patients with spinal malignancies. Especially the domains
Physical Functioning
and
Pain
showed overall good psychometric characteristics. In this way, a generic questionnaire, such as the EORTC QLQ-C30, can be usefully supplemented by spine-specific questions to increase the overall accuracy measuring HRQOL in patients with spinal malignancies.
•First olivine-hosted melt inclusion trace-element data for depleted martian meteorites.•Melt inclusions record their original signatures of mantle melting on Mars.•Garnet was an important residual ...phase during final stages of mantle melting.•Rare Earth Element profiles provide evidence for crustal recycling on Mars.
The apparent lack of plate tectonics on all terrestrial planets other than Earth has been used to support the notion that for most planets, once a primitive crust forms, the crust and mantle evolve geochemically-independent through time. This view has had a particularly large impact on models for the evolution of Mars and its silicate interior. Recent data indicating a greater potential that there may have been exchange between the martian crust and mantle has led to a search for additional geochemical evidence to support the alternative hypothesis, that some mechanism of crustal recycling may have operated early in the history of Mars.
In order to study the most juvenile melts available to investigate martian mantle source(s) and melting processes, the trace element compositions of olivine-hosted melt inclusions for two incompatible-element-depleted olivine-phyric shergottites, Yamato 980459 (Y98) and Tissint, and the interstitial glass of Y98, have been measured by Secondary Ionization Mass Spectrometry (SIMS). Chondrite-normalized Rare Earth Element (REE) patterns for both Y98 and Tissint melt inclusions, and the Y98 interstitial glass, are characteristically light-REE depleted and parallel those of their host rock. For Y98, a clear flattening and upward inflection of La and Ce, relative to predictions based on middle and heavier REE, provides evidence for involvement of an enriched component early in their magmatic history; either inherited from a metasomatized mantle or crustal source, early on and prior to extensive host crystallization.
Comparing these melt inclusion and interstitial glass analyses to existing melt inclusion and whole-rock data sets for the shergottite meteorite suite, defines mixing relationships between depleted and enriched end members, analogous to mixing relationships between whole rock Sr and Nd isotopic measurements. When considered in light of their petrologic context, the origin of these trace element enriched and isotopically evolved signatures represents either (1) crustal assimilation during the final few km of melt ascent towards the martian surface, or (2) assimilation soon after melt segregation, through melt–rock interaction with a portion of the martian crust recycled back into the mantle.
Filter strips are widely prescribed to reduce contaminants in surface runoff from agricultural fields. This study compared performance of different filter strip designs on several contaminants and ...evaluated the contributing processes. Different vegetation types and widths were investigated using simulated runoff event on large plots (3 m × 7.5 or 15 m) having fine‐textured soil and a 6 to 7% slope. Filter strips 7.5 and 15 m wide downslope greatly reduced concentrations of sediment in runoff (76–93%) and contaminants strongly associated with sediment (total P, 55–79%; permethrin, 27–83% (3‐phenoxyphenyl) methyl (±)‐cis, trans‐3‐(2,2‐dichloroethenyl)‐2,2‐dimethyicyclopropanecarboxylate). They had less effect on concentrations of primarily dissolved contaminants atrazine, −5–43% (2‐chloro‐4‐ethylamino‐6‐isopropylamino‐s‐triazine); alachlor, 10–61% 2‐chloro‐2′6′‐diethyl‐N‐(methoxymethyl) acetanilide; nitrate, 24–48%; dissolved P, 19–43%; bromide, 13–31%. Dilution of runoff by rainfall accounted for most of the reduction of concentration of dissolved contaminants. Infiltration (36–82% of runoff volume) substantially reduced the mass of contaminants exiting the filter strips. Doubling filter strip width from 7.5 to 15 m doubled infiltration and dilution, but did not improve sediment settling. Young trees and shrubs planted in the lower one‐half of otherwise grass strips had no impact on filter performance. Compared with cultivated sorghum Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench grass clearly reduced concentrations of sediment and associated contaminants in runoff, but not volume of runoff and concentration of dissolved contaminants. Settling, infiltration, and dilution processes can explain performance differences among pollutant types and filter strip designs.
We document the recent reappearance of anadromous sockeye salmon (
Oncorhynchus nerka
) that were thought to have been extirpated by the construction of hydroelectric dams on the Coquitlam and ...Alouette rivers in British Columbia, Canada, in 1914 and 1927, respectively. Unexpected downstream migrations of juveniles during experimental water releases into both rivers in 2005 and 2006 preceded upstream return migrations of adults in 2007 and 2008. Genetic (microsatellite and mitochondrial DNA) markers and stable isotope (δ
34
S and
87
Sr/
86
Sr) patterns in otoliths confirm that both the juvenile downstream migrants and adult upstream migrants were progeny of nonanadromous sockeye salmon (kokanee) that inhabit Coquitlam and Alouette reservoirs. Low genetic diversity and evidence of genetic bottlenecks suggest that the kokanee populations in both reservoirs originated from relatively few anadromous individuals that residualized after downstream migration was largely prevented by the construction of dams. Once given an opportunity for upstream and downstream migration, both populations appear capable of reverting to a successful anadromous form, even after 25 generations.
We present results from an analysis of all data taken by the BICEP2, Keck Array, and BICEP3 CMB polarization experiments up to and including the 2018 observing season. We add additional Keck Array ...observations at 220 GHz and BICEP3 observations at 95 GHz to the previous 95 / 150 / 220 GHz dataset. The Q / U maps now reach depths of 2.8, 2.8, and 8.8 μ KCMB arcmin at 95, 150, and 220 GHz, respectively, over an effective area of ≈ 600 square degrees at 95 GHz and ≈ 400 square degrees at 150 and 220 GHz. The 220 GHz maps now achieve a signal-to-noise ratio on polarized dust emission exceeding that of Planck at 353 GHz. We take auto- and cross-spectra between these maps and publicly available WMAP and Planck maps at frequencies from 23 to 353 GHz and evaluate the joint likelihood of the spectra versus a multicomponent model of lensed Λ CDM + r + dust + synchrotron + noise . The foreground model has seven parameters, and no longer requires a prior on the frequency spectral index of the dust emission taken from measurements on other regions of the sky. This model is an adequate description of the data at the current noise levels. The likelihood analysis yields the constraint r0.05 < 0.036 at 95% confidence. Running maximum likelihood search on simulations we obtain unbiased results and find that σ ( r ) = 0.009 . These are the strongest constraints to date on primordial gravitational waves.
Eiger is the next‐generation single‐photon‐counting pixel detector following the widely used Pilatus detector. Its smaller pixel size of 75 µm × 75 µm, higher frame rate of up to 22 kHz, and ...practically zero dead‐time (∼4 µs) between exposures will further various measurement methods at synchrotron sources. In this article Eiger's suitability for X‐ray photon correlation spectroscopy (XPCS) is demonstrated. By exploiting its high frame rate, complementary small‐angle X‐ray scattering (SAXS) and XPCS data are collected in parallel to determine both the structure factor and collective diffusion coefficient of a nano‐colloid suspension. For the first time, correlation times on the submillisecond time scale are accessible with a large‐area pixel detector.
Incidence rate (IR) of an ipsilateral or contralateral injury after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR) is unknown. The hypotheses were that the IR of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) ...injury after ACLR would be greater than the IR in an uninjured cohort of athletes and would be greater in female athletes after ACLR than male athletes.
Prospective case-control study.
Regional sports community.
Sixty-three subjects who had ACLR and were ready to return to sport (RTS) and 39 control subjects.
Second ACL injury and sex.
Second ACL injury and athletic exposure (AE) was tracked for 12 months after RTS. Sixteen subjects after ACLR and 1 control subject suffered a second ACL injury. Between- and within-group comparisons of second ACL injury rates (per 1000 AEs) were conducted.
The IR of ACL injury after ACLR (1.82/1000 AE) was 15 times greater risk ratio (RR) = 15.24; P = 0.0002) than that of control subjects (0.12/1000 AE). Female ACLR athletes demonstrated 16 times greater rate of injury (RR = 16.02; P = 0.0002) than female control subjects. Female athletes were 4 (RR = 3.65; P = 0.05) times more likely to suffer a second ACL injury and 6 times (RR = 6.21; P = 0.04) more likely to suffer a contralateral injury than male athletes.
An increased rate of second ACL injury after ACLR exists in athletes when compared with a healthy population. Female athletes suffer contralateral ACL injuries at a higher rate than male athletes and seem to suffer contralateral ACL injuries more frequently than graft re-tears. The identification of a high-risk group within a population of ACLR athletes is a critical step to improve outcome after ACLR and RTS.
Summary
Background Health utilities are used to express relevant trade‐offs for resource allocation. The absence of valid and generalizable utilities for atopic eczema (AE) and psoriasis limits the ...validity of previous cost‐utility analyses.
Objectives (i) To assess health utilities of standardized scenarios of controlled and uncontrolled AE and psoriasis in participants from the general population and in patients using the time trade‐off (TTO) method; (ii) to test the association of the utilities obtained with demographic and patient characteristics; and (iii) to compare these utilities with other health economic outcomes utilities assessed on visual analogue scale (VAS), willingness to pay (WTP).
Methods A single‐centre study conducted in 2006 at the Department of Dermatology, Dresden, Germany. Standardized interactive computer‐assisted interviews in a random sample from the general population (n = 139), and patients with AE (n = 58) and psoriasis (n = 62). Information on health states included characteristic clinical pictures and a short text explaining aetiology, signs, symptoms and quality of life impact.
Results In participants from the general population median utilities (TTO) of controlled and uncontrolled AE were 0·97 and 0·64, respectively. For psoriasis the corresponding utilities were 0·93 and 0·56. Utilities were independent of sex and socioeconomic position, and tended to be lower in patients with psoriasis. Correlations between TTO, VAS and WTP responses were weak.
Conclusions To avoid uncontrolled psoriasis or eczema participants chose an approximately 40% shorter life expectancy. This indicates that severe chronic inflammatory skin diseases may be considered as severe as angina pectoris, chronic anxiety, rheumatoid arthritis, multiple sclerosis or regional oesophageal cancer. The different economic outcomes assessed are not interchangeable.
ABSTRACT The Atacama Cosmology Telescope (ACT) makes high angular resolution measurements of anisotropies in the Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) at millimeter wavelengths. We describe ACTPol, an ...upgraded receiver for ACT, which uses feedhorn-coupled, polarization-sensitive detector arrays, a 3° field of view, 100 mK cryogenics with continuous cooling, and meta material antireflection coatings. ACTPol comprises three arrays with separate cryogenic optics: two arrays at a central frequency of 148 GHz and one array operating simultaneously at both 97 GHz and 148 GHz. The combined instrument sensitivity, angular resolution, and sky coverage are optimized for measuring angular power spectra, clusters via the thermal Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) and kinetic SZ signals, and CMB lensing due to large-scale structure. The receiver was commissioned with its first 148 GHz array in 2013, observed with both 148 GHz arrays in 2014, and has recently completed its first full season of operations with the full suite of three arrays. This paper provides an overview of the design and initial performance of the receiver and related systems.
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