The FactSage computer package consists of a series of information, calculation and manipulation modules that enable one to access and manipulate compound and solution databases. With the various ...modules running under Microsoft Windows® one can perform a wide variety of thermochemical calculations and generate tables, graphs and figures of interest to chemical and physical metallurgists, chemical engineers, corrosion engineers, inorganic chemists, geochemists, ceramists, electrochemists, environmentalists, etc. This paper presents a summary of the developments in the FactSage thermochemical software and databases during the last six years. Particular emphasis is placed on the new databases and developments in calculating and manipulating phase diagrams.
Abstract
In this study we examine the radial dependence of the inertial and dissipation range indices, as well as the spectral break separating the inertial and dissipation range in power density ...spectra of interplanetary magnetic field fluctuations using Parker Solar Probe data from the fifth solar encounter between ∼0.1 and ∼0.7 au. The derived break wavenumber compares reasonably well with previous estimates at larger radial distances and is consistent with gyro-resonant damping of Alfvénic fluctuations by thermal protons. We find that the inertial scale power-law index varies between approximately −1.65 and −1.45. This is consistent with either the Kolmogorov (−5/3) or Iroshnikov–Kraichnan (−3/2) values, and has a very weak radial dependence with a possible hint that the spectrum becomes steeper closer to the Sun. The dissipation range power-law index, however, has a clear dependence on radial distance (and turbulence age), decreasing from −3 near 0.7 au (4 days) to −4 ±0.3 at 0.1 au (0.75 days) closer to the Sun.
Developmental pathways first elucidated by genetic studies in the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, are conserved in vertebrates, and disruption of these pathways has been associated with various ...human congenital anomalies. Many developmental genes continue to play an important role in regulation of cell growth and differentiation after embryogenesis, and mutations in some of these genes can result in cancer. Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common type of cancer in humans. Although most BCCs are sporadic, in rare cases, individuals have a hereditary disease, Gorlin syndrome, that predisposes to multiple skin tumors as well as a variety of birth defects. Mutations in the human homolog of a Drosophila gene, patched, underlie Gorlin syndrome. Genetic studies in Drosophila show that patched is part of the hedgehog signaling pathway, important in determining embryonic patterning and cell fate in multiple structures of the developing embryo. Human patched is mutated in sporadic as well as hereditary BCCs, and inactivation of this gene is probably a necessary if not sufficient step for tumor formation. Delineation of the biochemical pathway in which patched functions may lead to rational medical therapy for skin cancer and possibly other tumors.
Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is the most common cancer in humans. The majority of sporadic BCCs have allele loss on chromosome 9q22 implying that inactivation of a tumour suppressor in this region is ...an important step in BCC formation. The gene for nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS), an autosomal dominant disorder characterized by multiple BCCs, maps to the same region and is presumed to be the tumour suppressor inactivated at this site. NBCCS has been identified recently and encodes a protein with strong homology to the Drosophila segment polarity gene, patched. Analysis of Drosophila mutants indicates that patched interacts with the hedgehog signalling pathway, repressing the expression of various hedgehog target genes including wingless, decapentaplegic and patched itself. Using single strand conformational polymorphism (SSCP) to screen human patched in 37 sporadic BCCs, we detected mutations in one-third of the tumours. Direct sequencing of two BCCs without SSCP variants revealed mutations in those tumours as well suggesting that inactivation of patched is probably a necessary step in BCC development. Northern blots and RNA in situ hybridization showed that patched is expressed at high levels in tumour cells but not normal skin suggesting that mutational inactivation of the gene leads to overexpression of mutant transcript owing to failure of a negative feedback mechanism.
Data acquired from synchrotron-based X-ray computed tomography provide complete descriptions of the stochastic positions of each fiber in large bundles within composite samples. The data can be ...accumulated for distances along the nominal fiber direction that are long enough to reveal meandering or misalignment. Data are analyzed for a single fiber bundle consolidated as a mini-composite specimen and a block of fibers embedded within a single ply in a tape laminate specimen. The fibers in these materials differ markedly in their departure from alignment and the patterns formed by fiber deviations. The tape laminate specimen exhibits evidence of fibers that have slipped laterally through the bundle in narrow shear bands, which may be a mechanism of bundle deformation under transverse compression and shear. This pattern is absent in the single-tow specimen, which was not subject to transverse loads in processing. We propose a combination of topological and Euclidean metrics to quantify these and other stochastic bundle characteristics. Topological metrics are based on the neighbor map of fibers, which is constructed on cross-sections of the bundle by Delaunay triangulation (or Voronoi tessellation). Variations of the neighbor map along the fiber direction describe fiber meandering, twist, etc. Euclidean metrics include factors such as local fiber density and fiber orientation. The metrics distinguish bundle types, enable quantification of the effects of the manufacturing history of bundles, and provide target statistics to be matched by virtual specimens that might be generated for use in fiber-scale virtual tests.
Predictors of tanning dependence in white non‐Hispanic females and males Cartmel, B.; Bale, A.E.; Mayne, S.T. ...
JEADV. Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology/Journal of the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology,
July 2017, Volume:
31, Issue:
7
Journal Article
Peer reviewed
Open access
Background
Growing evidence suggests that some individuals may exhibit symptoms of dependence on ultraviolet (UV) light, a known carcinogen, in the context of tanning; however, few studies have ...investigated predictors of tanning dependence (TD).
Objective
To identify predictors of TD.
Methods
Non‐Hispanics of European ancestry who had previously participated in a case–control study of early‐onset basal cell carcinoma completed an online survey to ascertain TD and other behaviours (alcohol dependence, nicotine dependence, seasonal affective disorder (SAD), exercise ‘addiction’ and depression). Information on host factors, such as skin and eye colour and history of sunbathing and indoor tanning, was obtained from a study in which the participants were previously enrolled. Lifetime TD was assessed using the modified Cut down, Annoyed, Guilty, Eye‐opener (mCAGE) and the modified Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition, Text Revision (mDSM‐IV‐TR) questionnaires. Participants were classified as ‘TD’ if positive on both questionnaires and not TD if negative on both questionnaires.
Results
In total, 499 individuals completed the online survey (81.9% participation rate), and 24.4% were classified as ‘TD’. In the multivariate model, women were more likely to be TD odds ratio (OR) 6.93; 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) (3.36–14.27) than men. Alcohol dependence (OR 6.55: 95% CI 3.19–13.42), SAD (OR 2.77; 95% CI 1.26–6.09) and exercise ‘addiction’ (OR 5.47; 95% CI 1.15–26.06) were all significant predictors for TD.
Conclusion
Increased knowledge of those at risk for TD will allow appropriate interventions to be designed.
The FactSage computer package consists of a series of information, calculation and manipulation modules that enable one to access and manipulate compound and solution databases. With the various ...modules running under Microsoft Windows® one can perform a wide variety of thermochemical calculations and generate tables, graphs and figures of interest to chemical and physical metallurgists, chemical engineers, corrosion engineers, inorganic chemists, geochemists, ceramists, electrochemists, environmentalists, etc. This paper presents a summary of the developments in the FactSage thermochemical software and databases during the last six years. Particular emphasis is placed on the new databases and developments in calculating and manipulating phase diagrams.
Summary
Background
Previous epidemiological studies of overall alcohol intake and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) are inconsistent, with some evidence for differences by type of alcoholic beverage. While ...alcohol may enhance the carcinogenicity of ultraviolet (UV) radiation, this has not been evaluated in existing epidemiological studies.
Objectives
To evaluate alcohol intake in relation to early‐onset BCC, and explore potential interactions with UV exposure.
Methods
Basal cell carcinoma cases (n = 380) and controls with benign skin conditions (n = 390) under 40 years of age were identified through Yale Dermatopathology. Participants provided information on lifetime alcohol intake, including type of beverage, during an in‐person interview. Self‐reported data on indoor tanning and outdoor sunbathing were used to categorize UV exposure. We calculated odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using unconditional multivariate logistic regression in the full sample and in women only.
Results
There was no statistically significant association between lifetime alcohol intake and early‐onset BCC overall above median intake vs. no regular alcohol intake (OR 1·10, 95% CI 0·69–1·73) or in women only (OR 1·21, 95% CI 0·73–2·01). Similarly, intake of red wine, white wine, beer or spirits and mixed drinks was not associated with early‐onset BCC. In exploratory analyses, we saw limited evidence for an interaction (Pinteraction = 0·003), with highest risk for high alcohol and high UV exposures, especially in women, but subgroup risk estimates had wide and overlapping CIs.
Conclusions
Overall, we did not observe any clear association between lifetime alcohol intake and early‐onset BCC.
What's already known about this topic?
Existing evidence for an association between alcohol intake and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) is mixed, with several cohort studies finding an increased risk, but one cohort and several case–control studies observing no association.
Some evidence indicates that the association may differ by type of alcoholic beverage.
What does this study add?
This is the first investigation of alcohol intake in relation to early‐onset BCC among people aged < 40 years.
We conducted an exploratory evaluation of effect modification by ultraviolet (UV) exposure, as alcohol may enhance the carcinogenicity of UV radiation.
There was no overall association between alcohol intake and BCC. Our exploratory interaction analyses provide intriguing data for future studies evaluating alcohol, UV and skin cancer.
In the two decades prior to the launch of Cluster, collisionless shocks at which the magnetic field in the unshocked plasma is nearly perpendicular to the shock normal (`quasi-perpendicular shocks') ...received considerable attention. This is due, in part, to their relatively clean, laminar appearance in the time series data. The tendency of the magnetic field to bind particles together owing to their (perpendicular) gyromotion gives rise to this appearance, which facilitated deeper studies into the collisionless processes responsible for the overall thermalization of the principle plasma populations as well as the acceleration of an energetic non-thermal component. Despite the considerable effort, key questions remained unanswered or remained open to interpretation. Single, and at best dual, spacecraft studies were unable to place quantitative limits on the important spatial scales, nor assess the role of non-stationary aspects in the overall shock transition.