Nearly a century after Einstein first predicted the existence of gravitational waves, a global network of Earth-based gravitational wave observatories is seeking to directly detect this faint ...radiation using precision laser interferometry. Photon shot noise, due to the quantum nature of light, imposes a fundamental limit on the attometre-level sensitivity of the kilometre-scale Michelson interferometers deployed for this task. Here, we inject squeezed states to improve the performance of one of the detectors of the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) beyond the quantum noise limit, most notably in the frequency region down to 150 Hz, critically important for several astrophysical sources, with no deterioration of performance observed at any frequency. With the injection of squeezed states, this LIGO detector demonstrated the best broadband sensitivity to gravitational waves ever achieved, with important implications for observing the gravitational-wave Universe with unprecedented sensitivity.
The analysis and combination of data from different gamma-ray instruments involves the use of collaboration proprietary software and case-by-case methods. The effort of defining a common data format ...for high-level data, namely event lists and instrument response functions (IRFs), has recently started for very-high-energy gamma-ray instruments, driven by the upcoming Cherenkov Telescope Array (CTA). In this work we implemented this prototypical data format for a small set of MAGIC, VERITAS, FACT, and H.E.S.S. Crab nebula observations, and we analyzed them with the open-source gammapy software package. By combining data from Fermi-LAT, and from four of the currently operating imaging atmospheric Cherenkov telescopes, we produced a joint maximum likelihood fit of the Crab nebula spectrum. Aspects of the statistical errors and the evaluation of systematic uncertainty are also commented upon, along with the release format of spectral measurements. The results presented in this work are obtained using open-access on-line assets that allow for a long-term reproducibility of the results.
The balance between activity in the left and right frontal cortex, commonly referred to as asymmetric frontal cortical activity, has served as a proxy for an organism's motivational direction (i.e., ...approach vs. avoidance). Many studies have examined the influence of the manipulation of motivational direction on asymmetrical frontal cortical activity and found results consistent with the idea that greater relative left (right) frontal cortical activity is associated with approach (avoidance) motivation. We critically review literature employing physical (versus psychological) manipulations of frontal asymmetry using a variety of methodologies including neurofeedback training, muscular contractions, and non-invasive brain stimulation. These reviewed methods allow us to make stronger causal inferences regarding the role of asymmetric frontal cortical activity in approach and avoidance motivation.
•Asymmetric patterns of frontal cortical activity have served as a proxy for an organism’s motivational direction.•We review manipulations of frontal asymmetry including neurofeedback, muscular contractions and brain stimulation.•These methods allow for stronger causal inferences about the role of a frontal asymmetry in approach-avoidance motivation.
For many years, the Randle glucose fatty acid cycle has been invoked to explain insulin resistance in skeletal muscle of patients with type 2 diabetes or obesity. Increased fat oxidation was ...hypothesized to reduce glucose metabolism. The results of a number of investigations have shown that artificially increasing fat oxidation by provision of excess lipid does decrease glucose oxidation in the whole body. However, results obtained with rodent or human systems that more directly examined muscle fuel selection have found that skeletal muscle in insulin resistance is accompanied by increased, rather than decreased, muscle glucose oxidation under basal conditions and decreased glucose oxidation under insulin-stimulated circumstances, producing a state of "metabolic inflexibility." Such a situation could contribute to the accumulation of triglyceride within the myocyte, as has been observed in insulin resistance. Recent knowledge of insulin receptor signaling indicates that the accumulation of lipid products in muscle can interfere with insulin signaling and produce insulin resistance. Therefore, although the Randle cycle is a valid physiological principle, it may not explain insulin resistance in skeletal muscle.
Human papillomavirus (HPV) is implicated as a causative factor in vulvar squamous cell carcinoma (VSCC). This study evaluates if p16-positivity, a surrogate for HPV, predicts for better response ...rates to chemoradiation therapy and survival.
We conducted a retrospective chart review of women treated with neoadjuvant or definitive chemoradiation (CRT) therapy from 2000 to 2016 for VSCC. p16 stain-positivity was defined as diffuse strong “block” immunoreactivity within invasive tumor.
Seventy-three women with median follow-up of 13.4 months were analyzed. Thirty-three (45.2%) had p16+ tumors. Median age was 73 years (range: 37–89); with p16+ tumors, the median age was 60 years vs 73 years for women with p16− tumors (p < 0.001). The distribution of tumor size and stage by p16−status were similar.
The complete clinical response (cCR) rate for p16+ tumors was 63.6% vs 35.0% for p16− tumors (p = 0.014). The pathologic complete response (pCR) rate for women treated neoadjuvantly was 53.8% vs 31.4% for p16+ vs p16−, respectively (p = 0.067). The combined complete response (cCR orpCR CCR) rate was 63.6% for p16+ and 30.0% for p16− (p = 0.004).
Two-year vulvar control (VC) for women with p16+ tumors was 75.5% vs. 49.5% for p16− (p = 0.008). In women with p16+ tumors who achieved CCR, 2-year VC was 92.3% vs 52.1% for CIR (p = 0.009). For p16− tumors, 2-year VC was 67.3% vs 41.1% for CCR and CIR (p = 0.072). No woman with a p16+ tumor developed distant metastases vs. 7 with p16− tumor (p = 0.013).
OS was not statistically different between p16+ cohorts, but was improved for p16− patients with CR vs CIR, 72.9% vs 18.8% (p = 0.026).
p16-positive tumors appear to have better clinical and pathologic response rates and clinical outcomes.
•The first study of its kind to evaluate the impact of p16 on intact vulvar cancers.•P16 expressing vulvar cancers have higher pathologic response rates.•P16 expressing vulvar cancers have improved local control.
We investigate the longitudinal distribution of the vertical E x B drift velocity and ion density in the low-latitude ionosphere using the first Republic of China Satellite (ROCSAT- 1) data acquired ...during 1999-2004. The ROCSAT-1 observations during daytime demonstrate the presence of the longitudinally periodic patterns of the vertical E x B drift and plasma density on the topside F region (600 km). The four longitude sectors where the peaks in the plasma density are found are coincident with the peaks in the E x B drift. This observation may indicate the association of the large-scale longitudinal density structure with the daytime E-region dynamo electric field. The density structure exists before the occurrence of the pre- reversal enhancement (PRE) and therefore the PRE is not directly related to this phenomenon.
Multi-center, prospective, cohort study.
To assess the validity and reliability of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure (SCIM III) in measuring functional ability in persons with spinal cord injury ...(SCI).
Inpatient rehabilitation hospitals in the United States (US).
Functional ability was measured with the SCIM III during the first week of admittance into inpatient acute rehabilitation and within one week of discharge from the same rehabilitation program. Motor and sensory neurologic impairment was measured with the American Spinal Injury Association Impairment Scale. The Functional Independence Measure (FIM), the default functional measure currently used in most US hospitals, was used as a comparison standard for the SCIM III. Statistical analyses were used to test the validity and reliability of the SCIM III.
Total agreement between raters was above 70% on most SCIM III tasks and all κ-coefficients were statistically significant (P<0.001). The coefficients of Pearson correlation between the paired raters were above 0.81 and intraclass correlation coefficients were above 0.81. Cronbach's-α was above 0.7, with the exception of the respiration task. The coefficient of Pearson correlation between the FIM and SCIM III was 0.8 (P<0.001). For the respiration and sphincter management subscale, the SCIM III was more responsive to change, than the FIM (P<0.0001).
Overall, the SCIM III is a reliable and valid measure of functional change in SCI. However, improved scoring instructions and a few modifications to the scoring categories may reduce variability between raters and enhance clinical utility.
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