Two-Dimensional Helioseismic Power, Phase, and Coherence Spectra of {\it Solar Dynamics Observatory} Photospheric and Chromospheric Observables

While the {\it Helioseismic and Magnetic Imager} (HMI) onboard the {\it Solar Dynamics Observatory} (SDO) provides Doppler velocity [$V$], continuum intensity [$I_C$], and line-depth [$Ld$] observations, each of which is sensitive to the five-minute acoustic spectrum, the {\it Atmospheric Imaging Array} (AIA) also observes at wavelengths -- specifically the 1600 and 1700 Angstrom bands -- that are partly formed in the upper photosphere and have good sensitivity to acoustic modes. In this article we consider the characteristics of the spatio--temporal Fourier spectra in AIA and HMI observables for a 15-degree region around NOAA Active Region 11072. We map the spatio--temporal-power distribution for the different observables and the HMI Line Core [$I_L$], or Continuum minus Line Depth, and the phase and coherence functions for selected observable pairs, as a function of position and frequency. Five-minute oscillation power in all observables is suppressed in the sunspot and also in plage areas. Above the acoustic cut-off frequency, the behaviour is more complicated: power in HMI $I_C$ is still suppressed in the presence of surface magnetic fields, while power in HMI $I_L$ and the AIA bands is suppressed in areas of surface field but enhanced in an extended area around the active region, and power in HMI $V$ is enhanced in a narrow zone around strong-field concentrations and suppressed in a wider surrounding area. The relative phase of the observables, and their cross-coherence functions, are also altered around the active region. These effects may help us to understand the interaction of waves and magnetic fields in the different layers of the photosphere, and will need to be taken into account in multi-wavelength local helioseismic analysis of active regions.Comment: 18 pages, 15 figures, to be published in Solar Physic

Intellectual ability in tuberous sclerosis complex correlates with predicted effects of mutations on TSC1 and TSC2 proteins.

BACKGROUND: Tuberous sclerosis complex is a multisystem genetic disease, caused by mutation in the TSC1 or TSC2 genes, associated with many features, including intellectual disability (ID). We examined psychometric profiles of patients with TSC1 or TSC2 mutations and tested whether different mutation types were associated with different degrees of intellectual ability. METHODS: One hundred subjects with known TSC1/TSC2 mutations were assessed using a range of IQ or developmental quotient (DQ) measures. Effects of mutations on TSC1/TSC2 proteins were inferred from sequence data and published biochemical studies. RESULTS: Most individuals with TSC1 mutations fell on a normal distribution identical to the general population, with ∼10% showing profound ID. Of individuals with TSC2 mutations, 34% showed profound ID, and the remainder a pattern of IQ/DQ more variable and shifted to the left than in TSC1 or the general population. Truncating TSC1 mutations were all predicted to be subject to nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Mutations predicted to result in unstable protein were associated with less severe effects on IQ/DQ. There was a statistically significant negative correlation between length of predicted aberrant C-terminal tails arising from frameshift mutations in TSC1 and IQ/DQ; for TSC2 a positive but not statistically significant correlation was observed. CONCLUSION: We propose a model where (i) IQ/DQ correlates inversely with predicted levels and/or deleterious biochemical effects of mutant TSC1 or TSC2 protein, and (ii) longer aberrant C-terminal tails arising from frameshift mutations are more detrimental for TSC1 and less for TSC2. Predictions of the model require replication and biochemical testing.We thank the Tuberous Sclerosis Association, the Wales Gene Park, the National Research Foundation of South Africa and the Struengmann Fund for financial support. We thank Prof Chris Smith for helpful comments on the manuscript.This is the author accepted manuscript. The final version is available from the British Medical Journal via http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jmedgenet-2015-10315

The Dartmouth Brut: Conservation, Authenticity, Dissemination

This essay describes the conservation process of the Dartmouth Brut manuscript: Dartmouth College, Rauner Special Collections Library, MS 003183. The format alternates between the observations and descriptions of the conservator, Deborah Howe, and those of medievalists Michelle Warren. The essay includes photos of Deborah\u27s process in making a fragile fifteenth-century manuscript useable in the twenty-first century

Bend Community Survey: Fall 1999

The City of Bend enters the new millennium following an unprecedented decade of development. Population was estimated at 47,635 in May of 1999. The city more than doubled its area with its 1998 annexations. Many public and private projects were built during the past decade, and many are in planning stages or under construction at this time. Given this history, it is prudent for city government to determine how well Bend’s citizens feel public services are performing, how they feel about communication with their government, and what their concerns are about Bend’s future course. This document reports a community survey commissioned to the Center for Urban Studies in fall of 1999. It includes demographic profiles and analysis of public assessment of municipal services (including some Parks Bureau services), communication between the government and citizens, and concerns about the future. It compares citizen reactions on these issues according to demographic groupings, particularly older and newly annexed areas of the city

Mathematics and statistics performance and anxiety: an online cognitive behavioural intervention

Prior research shows a complex relationship between mathematics and statistics anxiety, self-efficacy and performance. The interaction of these factors is thought to be counterproductive to mathematics and statistics learning. Methodological problems and conflicting results are evident in intervention research, the majority of which have focused on performance deficits within the classroom. While performance is an important factor, anxiety is a greater determinant of future enrolment and avoidance of maths and stats in university and the workforce. Anxiety also has a negative effect on memory which can further compromise performance. Therefore, Cognitive Behavioural therapies are recommended to combat anxiety. Attrition, time and cost are common deterrents to this approach however. Online Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (OCBT) can address these issues and has been effective in combating a number of anxiety related disorders. The current research developed an OCBT program using short multimedia clips to combat mathematics and statistics anxiety and improve approach behaviours in Psychology students. Initial usability data provided positive feedback about the content, accessibility, and ease of use for this program from participants of different ages and educational backgrounds. Data is currently being collected in a randomised controlled trial of the OCBT program. An improvement in anxiety and reduction of avoidance behaviour for OCBT participants compared to controls is predicted. Preliminary findings will be presented. The program provides a flexible tool for targeting anxiety while reducing time constraints for staff and students

A core outcome set for aphasia treatment research: the ROMA consensus statement

Background: A core outcome set (COS; an agreed, minimum set of outcomes) was needed to address the heterogeneous measurement of outcomes in aphasia treatment research and to facilitate the production of transparent, meaningful and efficient outcome data. Objective: The Research Outcome Measurement in Aphasia (ROMA) consensus statement provides evidence-based recommendations for the measurement of outcomes for adults with post-stroke aphasia within phase I-IV aphasia treatment studies. Methods: This statement was informed by a four-year program of research which comprised investigation of stakeholder-important outcomes using consensus processes, a scoping review of aphasia outcome measurement instruments, and an international consensus meeting. This paper provides an overview of this process and presents the results and recommendations arising from the international consensus meeting. Results: Five essential outcome constructs were identified: Language, communication, patient-reported satisfaction with treatment and impact of treatment, emotional wellbeing, and quality of life. Consensus was reached for the following measurement instruments: Language: The Western Aphasia Battery Revised (WAB-R) (74% consensus); emotional well-being: General Health Questionnaire (GHQ)-12 (83% consensus); quality of life: Stroke and Aphasia Quality of Life Scale (SAQOL-39) (96% consensus). Consensus was unable to be reached for measures of communication (where multiple measures exist) or patient-reported satisfaction with treatment or impact of treatment (where no measures exist). Discussion: Harmonisation of the ROMA COS with other core outcome initiatives in stroke rehabilitation is discussed. Ongoing research and consensus processes are outlined. Conclusion: The WAB-R, GHQ, and SAQOL-39 are recommended to be routinely included within phase I-IV aphasia treatment studies. This consensus statement has been endorsed by the Collaboration of Aphasia Trialists, the British Aphasiology Society, the German Society for Aphasia Research and Therapy, and the Royal College of Speech Language Therapists

Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial

Background Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy

Land Use Innovation: Experiences in the Adoption of Land Use Policies to Promote Active Living

Obesity continues to be a major public health problem in the United States. As of 2007, 28.8% of adolescents were either overweight or obese. The rise in obesity may, in part, be attributable to declines in physical activity (PA) levels. In 2007, only 34.7% of adolescents met the national PA guidelines. Since PA levels decrease between childhood and adolescence, the middle school transition is a particularly vulnerable period that warrants special attention. In 2003, Somerville, Massachusetts organized an Active Living by Design (ALbD) partnership to promote community- wide active living through promotion activities (maps), policy changes, programs to engage immigrant communities, and physical changes to the environment (bike lines), and data gathering to evaluate these activities (student height, weight and fitness measurements). The partnership collaborated with other community initiatives to maximize the collective impact for health promotion. This study evaluates PA among a diverse population of middle school students (6th-8th grades) in Somerville and a neighboring comparison community concurrent with Somerville?s ALbD promotion efforts. Specifically, we will 1) document Somerville PA trends over time; 2) examine between-city differences in meeting PA recommendations; 3) explore the relationship(s) of utilization of recreational space and social support on PA; and 4) discuss the policy implications of our findings

A blood RNA signature for tuberculosis disease risk: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Identification of blood biomarkers that prospectively predict progression of Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection to tuberculosis disease might lead to interventions that combat the tuberculosis epidemic. We aimed to assess whether global gene expression measured in whole blood of healthy people allowed identification of prospective signatures of risk of active tuberculosis disease. METHODS: In this prospective cohort study, we followed up healthy, South African adolescents aged 12-18 years from the adolescent cohort study (ACS) who were infected with M tuberculosis for 2 years. We collected blood samples from study participants every 6 months and monitored the adolescents for progression to tuberculosis disease. A prospective signature of risk was derived from whole blood RNA sequencing data by comparing participants who developed active tuberculosis disease (progressors) with those who remained healthy (matched controls). After adaptation to multiplex quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR), the signature was used to predict tuberculosis disease in untouched adolescent samples and in samples from independent cohorts of South African and Gambian adult progressors and controls. Participants of the independent cohorts were household contacts of adults with active pulmonary tuberculosis disease. FINDINGS: Between July 6, 2005, and April 23, 2007, we enrolled 6363 participants from the ACS study and 4466 from independent South African and Gambian cohorts. 46 progressors and 107 matched controls were identified in the ACS cohort. A 16 gene signature of risk was identified. The signature predicted tuberculosis progression with a sensitivity of 66·1% (95% CI 63·2-68·9) and a specificity of 80·6% (79·2-82·0) in the 12 months preceding tuberculosis diagnosis. The risk signature was validated in an untouched group of adolescents (p=0·018 for RNA sequencing and p=0·0095 for qRT-PCR) and in the independent South African and Gambian cohorts (p values <0·0001 by qRT-PCR) with a sensitivity of 53·7% (42·6-64·3) and a specificity of 82·8% (76·7-86) in the 12 months preceding tuberculosis. INTERPRETATION: The whole blood tuberculosis risk signature prospectively identified people at risk of developing active tuberculosis, opening the possibility for targeted intervention to prevent the disease. FUNDING: Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, Aeras, the European Union, and the South African Medical Research Council