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The nonequilibrium distribution of electrons at thejunction of a scanning tunneling microscope is investigated by detecting photons with energies hv > eV, where V is the bias voltage. Electrons are found at energies exceeding the Fermi level by almost eV. While their distribution deviates from a Fermi-Dirac function it is consistent with a model of hot electrons and holes that diffuse in energy and real space. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: little is known about demographic and clinical characteristics associated with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) or central sleep apnoea (CSA) in community-dwelling elderly. We also examined these (OSA and CSA) associations to all-cause and cardiovascular (CV) mortality.Methods: a total of 331 community-dwelling elderly aged 71–87 years underwent a clinical examination and one-night polygraphic recordings in their homes. Mortality data were collected after seven years.Results: a total of 55% had SDB, 38% had OSA and 17% had CSA. Compared with those with no SDB and OSA, more participants with CSA had a left ventricular ejection fraction <50% (LVEF <50%) ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and transient ischaemic attack (TIA)/stroke. There was no difference in the rate of IHD and TIA/stroke between OSA and no SDB, but more LVEF <50% was found in those with OSA. CSA significantly increased the risk for all-cause (P = 0.002) and CV mortality (P = 0.018) by more than two times. After adjustments for CV disease, diabetes and the biomarker NT-pro-brain natriuretic peptide CSA associations to all-cause mortality and CV mortality lost significance.Conclusion: OSA, in persons >75 years does not appear to be associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) disease or mortality, whereas CSA might be a pathological marker of CVD and impaired systolic function associated with higher mortality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Myeloproliferative Neoplasm Symptom Assessment Form (MPN-SAF) is a validated quality of life (QoL) instrument. In our Swedish cohort of 114 patients the symptomatic burden was found to be severe, with fatigue reported in 88% of the patients and reduced QoL in the majority of patients. Patients with primary myelofibrosis had the highest scores, low QoL, for most MPN-SAF items, compared to patients with polycythemia vera and essential thrombocythemia. Higher age showed significant associations with the BFI (Brief Fatigue Inventory) score, early satiety, concentration problems, dizziness, insomnia, cough and weight loss. Blood values, disease duration and myelosuppressive treatment did not significantly associate with any of the MPN-SAF items, with the exception of higher hemoglobin, which correlated with sad mood. Male patients with MPN scored significantly higher as regards sexual problems and weight loss compared to female patients. Overall, the MPN-SAF was found to be a valid instrument for assessing symptomatic burden among this population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB), cardiovascular disease (CVD) and impaired cardiac function are common in elderly people. We investigated the association of SDB and mortality in a community dwelling elderly population, considering CVD and objectively measured impaired cardiac function have been poorly studied thus far. Aim: To investigate whether SDB is a factor that affects mortality in elderly people, with a focus on those with CVD and/or signs of impaired cardiac function. Methods: A prospective cohort design was used and 331 community dwelling elderly aged 71–87years underwent one-night polygraphic recordings in the subjects’ homes. CVD and systolic function were objectively established. Mortality data were collected after 6years. Results: In the total population there were no significant associations between mortality and SDB. In those with CVD and impaired systolic function, as measured by NT-proBNP, oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ⩾10 was associated with mortality. The hazard ratio of 3.0 (CI 95% 1.1–8.6, p =0.03) remained statistically significant after adjustments for age, gender, diabetes and plasma values of NT-proBNP. Conclusion: SDB in community dwelling elderly has no overall association to mortality irrespective of degree of SDB. However, hypoxic events (i.e., ODI ⩾10) were associated with mortality in the group who had CVD in combination with impaired systolic function. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

We derive expressions for the electromagnetic Green's function for a layered system using a transfer matrix technique. The expressions we arrive at make it possible to study symmetry properties of the Green's function, such as reciprocity symmetry, and the long-range properties of the Green's function which involves plasmon waves as well as boundary waves, also known as Norton waves. We apply the method by calculating the light-scattering cross section off a chain of nanoholes in a thin Au film. The results highlight the importance of nanohole interactions mediated by surface plasmon propagating along the chain of holes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims Heart failure (HF) patients frequently suffer from episodes of deterioration and may need medical treatment. An adequate reaction from the patient is needed to decrease the delay between the onset of deterioration and consulting a medical professional (i.e. consulting behaviour). The aim of the present study was to evaluate whether depressive symptoms are associated with the duration of the delay between the onset of symptoms of worsening HF and hospitalization, and to examine how consulting behaviour correlates to depressive symptoms and delay in HF patients. Methods and results Data on the time between the onset of symptoms of worsening HF and hospitalization, depressive symptoms, and self-care behaviour were collected in 958 HF patients (37% female; age 71 ± 11 years; New York Heart Association functional class II–IV), using validated questionnaires. The median delay time of the total sample was 72 h (ranging from 0 to 243 days). Patients with depressive symptoms delayed longer compared with those without depressive symptoms (120 vs. 54 h, P= 0.001). Patients with depressive symptoms had a 1.5 times higher risk for a delay of ≥72 h, independent of demographic and clinical variables (P= 0.008). Consulting behaviour did not correlate with depressive symptoms but was weakly associated with delay (r= −0.07, P= 0.03). Conclusions Heart failure patients with depressive symptoms have a significantly longer delay between HF deterioration and hospital admission. Interventions designed to improve the consulting behaviour in HF patients with depressive symptoms may have a limited effect on delay. Further research is needed to obtain more insight into the mechanisms underlying the relationship between delay and depression. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: To discover novel drugs for neuroblastoma treatment, we have previously screened a panel of drugs and identified 30 active agents against neuroblastoma cells. Here we performed microarray gene expression analysis to monitor the impact of these agents on a neuroblastoma cell line and used the connectivity map (cMAP) to explore putative mechanism of action of unknown drugs. We first compared the expression profiles of 10 compounds shared in both our dataset and cMAP database and observed the high connectivity scores for 7 of 10 matched drugs regardless of the differences of cell lines utilized. The screen of cMAP for uncharacterized drugs indicated the signature of Epoxy anthraquinone derivative (EAD) matched the profiles of multiple known DNA targeted agents (topoisomerase I/II inhibitors, DNA intercalators, and DNA alkylation agents) as predicted by its structure. Similar result was obtained by querying against our internal NB-cMAP (http://pob.abcc.ncifcrf.gov/cgi-bin/cMAP), a database containing the profiles of 30 active drugs. These results suggest that Epoxy anthraquinone derivative may inhibit neuroblastoma cells by targeting DNA replication inhibition. Experimental data also demonstrate that Epoxy anthraquinone derivative indeed induces DNA double-strand breaks through DNA alkylation and inhibition of topoisomerase activity. Our study indicates that Epoxy anthraquinone derivative may be a novel DNA topoisomerase inhibitor that can be potentially used for treatment of neuroblastoma or other cancer patients. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Aims: The aims of this study are (I) to compare the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and insomnia between elderly with heart failure (HF) and age and gender matched elderly without cardiovascular disease (CVD), and (II) to examine the association between HF, SDB and insomnia, as well as their impact on health related quality of life (Hr-QoL). Methods: Three hundred and thirty-one elderly (71–87years) community-living individuals underwent sleep recordings and echocardiography. Questionnaires assessed insomnia and Hr-QoL. Comparisons were made between age and gender matched individuals with HF (n =36) and without CVD (n =36). Results: The HF group had higher mean apnoea–hypopnoea index (17.6 vs. 6.3, p <0.001). Moderate/severe SDB was found in 42% of those with HF vs. 8% in those without CVD (p =0.001). Those with HF had more difficulties maintaining sleep (DMS) (72% vs. 50%, p =0.05) and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) (25% vs. 8%, p =0.05) and scored worse Hr-QoL in five of eight SF-36 domains. In regression analysis SDB had no association to Hr-QoL. DMS associated to the physical-, and non restorative sleep to the mental domain of Hr-QoL. SDB had no correlations to insomnia or EDS. Conclusions: SDB, DMS and EDS are more common in elderly with HF. SDB is not an obvious cause for sleep complaints or poor Hr-QoL in elderly. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Objective: To describe the prevalence of sleep disordered breathing (SDB) and its relationship to systolic function, different insomnia symptoms as well as excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) in elderly community-living people. This has not been investigated previously. Method: Three hundred thirty-one subjects (71–87 years) healthy enough to be independently living in their own homes underwent echocardiographic examinations and sleep respiratory recordings. Questionnaires were used to evaluate insomnia symptoms and EDS. Results: Mild SDB (AHI 5–15) was found in 32%. Moderate SDB (AHI 15–30) occurred in 16%, and 7% had severe SDB (AHI>30). Median AHI was significantly higher (p <0.001) in those with mildly impaired systolic function (AHI 11.7) and moderately impaired systolic function (AHI 10.9) compared to those with normal systolic function (AHI 5.0). Impaired systolic function was associated with central sleep apnea (CSA) but not with obstructive sleep apnea. Concerning insomnia symptoms and EDS, only difficulties in initiating sleep correlated significantly (p <0.05) with AHI. Conclusion: SDB is common among the elderly. CSA may be related to impaired systolic function/heart failure. However, detection of SDB in this population may be problematic since insomnia symptoms and EDS correlated poorly with SDB. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: The morphology, stratigraphy and composition of the small end moraine ridges were studied in the Pyhä-Luosto fell area, northern Finland. The ridges occur in a restricted area and are formed of unique formations, in groups of ridges with intervals of tens of metres, with the chains of ridges being several kilometres in length. The ridges are composed of two to three till units of which the middle one exhibits shear, thrust and push structures, and sandy or gravelly layers and lenses. Massive boulder-rich flow till units and stratified sediments relating to ice-marginal deposition are also observed. Based on the stratigraphical studies, the formation of the end moraines is due to oscillation of the ice margin in the supra-aquatic environment during the retreat phase of the Late Weichselian Ice Age. The end moraine ridge observations in the Pyhä-Luosto fell area are remarkable because these kinds of moraine deposits are rare in Finland, in the central part of the Last Scandinavian Ice Sheet. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Introduction: Although multi-item health-related quality of life (HRQoL) instruments provide prognostic information, they are rarely used in routine clinical practice. Aim: To examine whether a single question about global perceived health (GPH) was a prognostic indicator of cardiovascular (CV) mortality over 10 years of follow-up in elderly patients with possible heart failure (HF) in primary care. Method: GPH was measured using the first question on the Short-Form-36 concerning current health status. Of the 510 patients who underwent baseline evaluation, 448 patients were included. Results: Cox proportional regression hazard analysis controlled for age, sex, NYHA class, diabetes, ischaemic heart disease, left ventricular ejection fraction and B-type natriuretic peptide plasma concentrations, showed that patients with GPH rated as “poor” or “good” were at four (HR 4.1 CI 95% 1.8–9.4) and three times (HR 3.4 CI 95% 1.4–7.8) the risk of CV mortality, respectively. Conclusion: GPH is an independent predictor of CV mortality in elderly patients with possible HF. As a complement to clinical factors when evaluating severity of HF, GPH could be an important tool for identifying patients at risk of adverse CV events and in need of improved treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is independently associated with an increased risk for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) can reduce mortality and morbidity, but low compliance rates are seen. Aim: To explore and describe the experiences of CPAP-treatment in a young male patient with severe OSAS during a 6-month period from the couple''s perspective. Methods and the case: A single case study with a phenomenographic approach was employed. Diagnostic procedures of OSAS and initiation of treatment with Auto-CPAP, humidifier and a nasal mask were performed during 4 visits. Conceptions were collected at 4 different occasions during the 6-month period (before, and 2 weeks, 3 months, and 6 months after treatment initiation) by means of interviews with a 33-year old male patient and his female partner. Findings: Totally 17 different structural aspects were found to fluctuate during the 6-month period in relation to; influence of stressors, social reactions and adaptation to increase compliance. Conclusion: An increased knowledge about the influence of stressors, the social reactions, and the adaptation can help healthcare personnel to identify and better understand concerns of other patients and spouses during different time phases of the initial 6-month period of CPAP-treatment. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Mutations in the BRAF oncogene occur in the majority of melanomas, leading to the activation of the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway and the transcription of downstream effectors. As BRAF and its effectors could be good melanoma therapy targets, defining the repertoire of genes that are differentially regulated because of BRAF mutational activation is an important objective. Towards this goal, we and others have attempted to determine whether a BRAF mutation-associated gene expression profile exists. Results have been mixed, with some groups reporting a BRAF-signature and another group not. Here we resolve this issue and confirm that while gene-by-gene correlations fail to reveal a specific gene(s) whose expression correlates with BRAF status, a BRAF signature can be distinguished by analysis of global expression patterns. Specifically, we have here applied support vector machine (SVM) analysis to Affymetrix microarray data from a panel of 63 melanoma cell lines. SVMs found a BRAF signature in training samples and predicted BRAF mutation status with high accuracy (AUC = 0.840) in the remaining samples. We verified this is a generalized BRAF signature by repeating the analysis in three published microarray datasets, and again found that SVMs predicted BRAF mutation well (Philadelphia: AUC = 0.788; Zurich: AUC = 0.688; Mannheim: AUC = 0.686). An ensemble of 300 SVMs trained on our data also predicted BRAF mutation status in two of the three published datasets (Philadelphia AUC = 0.778; Zurich AUC = 0.719; Mannheim AUC = 0.564). Taken together, these data support the existence of a BRAF mutation-specific expression signature. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Title. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome – patients' perceptions of their sleep and its effects on their life situation Aim. This paper reports a descriptive study of how untreated patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome perceived their sleep situation and how the syndrome affected their life situation. Background. Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome is a prevalent problem independently associated with an increased risk for hypertension, cardiovascular disease, chronic heart failure and mortality. Increased consumption of healthcare resources can often be seen among patients over a long period of time since many have been undiagnosed and untreated. Methods. A phenomenographic approach was employed. Data were collected by interviews during 2005 with 20 purposively selected participants with untreated obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. Findings. Participants described loud snoring, frequent awakenings, dyspnoea, frustration over nocturia, fear of dying during sleep and partners’ anxiety about the apnoea, as being night-time effects of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome. They described dry and sore throats, tiredness and daytime sleepiness, shame about falling asleep and snoring, thoughts about complications and depressed mood as daytime effects. Needs, such as increased alertness, improved ability to concentrate, improved relationship, adequate information as well as effective treatment, were described. Participants tried self-care strategies such as information-seeking about sleep disturbances and treatment, adapted sleeping routines, change of bedroom arrangements, adapted daily schedules, hyperactivity and avoidance of difficult situations. Conclusion. The perceived effects and needs, as well as tried self-care actions by the patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome in this study, could be used to identify and evaluate concerns of other patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome waiting for treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Introduction: Because of the lack of a cure for patients with chronic heart failure (HF), there has been a progressive interest in the use of health-related quality of life (Hr-QoL) as complementary end-point to mortality and morbidity. Aim: The aim of this review was from a nursing perspective to describe Hr-QoL and the influencing factors of Hr-QoL, as well as to identify interventions aimed at influencing Hr-QoL in HF patients. Method: Medline, Cinahl and PsycInfo databases were searched from 1995 to 2004. A total of 58 papers were included. Results: HF symptoms and activity status influence Hr-QoL negatively. However, several individual characteristics such as personality, gender and age must also be taken into consideration because different values might exist regarding what constitutes a good Hr-QoL. Nurse led interventions based on education, support and exercise can influence Hr-QoL positively. There is also a need of more studies about the effects of depression, sleep disturbances, support as well as education on Hr-QoL. There is also a need of exercise studies with larger sample sizes and older patients in higher NYHA classes. Conclusion: Several individual factors impact Hr-QoL, therefore, must nursing interventions are individually adapted to the patient''s resources. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Background: Sleep disturbances are prevalent among elderly, especially among those with chronic heart failure (CHF) and can affect all dimensions of quality of life (QOL) negatively. Aim: To describe the most common causes leading to sleep disturbances in patients with CHF, their consequences from a holistic perspective and different care actions that can be implemented. Methods: MEDLINE and CINAHL databases were searched from 1989 to July 2004. Findings: Sleep disordered breathing (SDB), and insomnia were the most common causes for sleep disturbances and occurs in 45–82% (SDB) and one-third (insomnia) of all patients with CHF. SDB cause a disturbed sleep structure with frequent awakenings, as well as several adverse effects on the cardiovascular system causing increased morbidity and mortality. Insomnia, caused by anxiety, an unknown life situation in relation to the debut of CHF, or symptoms/deteriorations of CHF can lead to negative effects on all aspects of QOL, as well as daytime sleepiness. Conclusion: The high prevalence of sleep disturbances and their holistic consequences should be taken into account when nurses asses and plan the care for patients with CHF. Randomized studies with large sample sizes evaluating non-pharmacological nursing interventions that improve sleep are needed. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Empirical studies using the PCL-R (Hare, 2003) have shown no intelligence differences between psychopaths and nonpsychopaths. However, Cleckley (1976) argued that psychopaths often show superior intelligence. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the correlation between intelligence and severity of criminal development is the opposite in psychopaths than in nonpsychopathic criminals using a sample of 370 men sentenced for violent (nonsexual) crimes. That pattern would provide a way of explaining the discrepancy between Cleckley's view and later empirical work. The results showed that for nonpsychopaths, higher total IQ and particularly verbal intelligence meant a later start in violent crime. For those diagnosed as psychopaths, however, this association was reversed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Background: Nursing care provided at night has a different purpose and objective to that provided during the day. A review of the literature does not reveal any scientifically tested research instruments for evaluating and comparing the nurse''s assessment of nursing care with the patient''s perception at night. Aims and objectives: The aim of this study was to develop and test an instrument for evaluating nursing care and to compare nurses’ assessments with patients’ perceptions of nursing care provided at night. Design: The study was carried out in two phases; the first had an explorative design and the second an evaluative and comparative design. The Night Nursing Care Instrument (NNCI) included two questionnaires; one for nurses and one for patients. These questionnaires were developed from a nursing framework and covered the following three areas: ‘nursing interventions’, ‘medical interventions’ and ‘evaluation’. Methods: Nurses (n=40) on night duty on a medical ward at a central hospital in southern Sweden were consecutively selected, to participate in the study. The patients (n=80) were selected by means of convenience sampling. In order to achieve construct validity, factor analysis of each individual area was carried out. Reliability in terms of internal consistency was tested by Cronbach''s alpha. Results: The overall NNCI had acceptable reliability and validity. There was no statistically significant difference between nurses’ assessments and patients’ perceptions in any of the three areas of ‘nursing interventions’, ‘medical interventions’ or ‘evaluation’. The patients rated night nursing care as satisfactory for the majority of the items. Relevance to clinical practice: These findings demonstrate that it is possible to create a short instrument with acceptable reliability and validity, which is easy to use in clinical practice. The results also show that night nurses need to improve their ability to assess patients’ needs during the night to increase the quality of night nursing care. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The diagnosis of polycythaemia vera (PV) has been established upon sets of clinical criteria, which require the presence of absolute erythrocytosis (AE). The most recent clinical criteria for PV, published by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2001, also required AE, and stated that the measured red cell mass (RCM) could be replaced by a surrogate marker for AE; a haemoglobin (Hb) value of>18·5 g/dl in males and>16·5 g/dl in females. The present study evaluated the potential of venous haematocrit (Hct) and Hb values as possible surrogate markers for AE in a series of 77 consecutive patients with PV and 66 patients with apparent polycythaemia (AP), in all of whom the RCM had been previously determined. In only 35% of the male PV patients would Hb values>18·5 g/dl indicate the presence of AE. Conversely, 14% of male AP patients would be misdiagnosed as having AE. A Hb > 16·5 g/dl would predict the presence of AE in 63% of the female PV patients, but 35% of female AP cases would be misdiagnosed as having AE. However, when the Hct was≥0·60 an AE was always present, and this was true for both male and female subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two opposing plane turbulent jet flows along a planar surface interact severely in the collision zone above the stagnation point and thereafter form a plane fountainlike merged jet perpendicular to the surface. Direct numerical simulations have been performed to explore the physics of the turbulence field in the collision zone and in the fountain jet formed as a merger of the two originally countercurrent jet streams. It is observed that the turbulence level is exceptionally high in the collision zone, i.e., just above the high-pressure stagnation region. This is ascribed to excess mean shear production arising from the streamline curvature of the bending jets. The turbulence is therefore far from equilibrium and the kinetic energy production exceeds its dissipation rate by a factor of 3. Mean-velocity profiles and second-order moments in the fountain jet compare well with measured data in similar flows. The growth rate of the fountain jet is about 0.15, which is 50% higher than the spreading rate of a conventional plane jet. Several physical aspects of this flow are hard to accommodate in Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes-based turbulence models. To facilitate the strive towards better turbulence closures, data fields for all terms in the kinetic energy budget are provided in this paper. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of the present study was to test whether adult criminals with psychopathy diagnoses, more than those without, have histories of hyperactivity-impulsivity-attention problems (HIA) and conduct problems (CP). We compared psychopathic and nonpsychopathic violent criminal offenders on retrospective reports of conduct problems before the age of 15 and hyperactivity-impulsivity-attention problems before the age of 10. We used a sample of 186 adult men sentenced to prison in Sweden for 4 years or more for violent, nonsexual crimes. The mean age was 30.7 (SD = 9.4). The results showed that a combination of childhood HIA problems and CP was typical for adult psychopathic offenders. They were four times more likely than chance to have had a combination of HIA problems and CP during childhood and only one-fifth as likely than chance to have had neither problem. Nonpsychopathic offenders, on the other hand, were five times more likely than chance to have had neither problem and only one-quarter as likely than chance to have had both problems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inflow boundary conditions for turbulent plane channel flow are generated by solving evolution equations only for the most energetic eddies. The dynamical systems are derived by Galerkin projecting the Navier-Stokes equations onto the subspaces spanned by various sets of the most energetic modes from a proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) of the same flow. Low-energy small-scale POD-modes are added randomly in order to impose some energy in the high wave number range. This is found to he crucial in order to more rapidly establish the correct level of dissipation and achieve a more realistic distribution of energy between the velocity components. The method is tested on a DNS of R* = 180 and a LES of R* = 400. Statistics such as mean velocity, rms-profiles, turbulent shear-stress and energy spectra become close to the fully developed state within 1500 wall units downstream the inlet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have used microarray gene expression profiling and machine learning to predict the presence of BRAF mutations in a panel of 61 melanoma cell lines. The BRAF gene was found to be mutated in 42 samples (69%) and intragenic mutations of the NRAS gene were detected in seven samples (11%). No cell line carried mutations of both genes. Using support vector machines, we have built a classifier that differentiates between melanoma cell lines based on BRAF mutation status. As few as 83 genes are able to discriminate between BRAF mutant and BRAF wild-type samples with clear separation observed using hierarchical clustering. Multidimensional scaling was used to visualize the relationship between a BRAF mutation signature and that of a generalized mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) activation (either BRAF or NRAS mutation) in the context of the discriminating gene list. We observed that samples carrying NRAS mutations lie somewhere between those with or without BRAF mutations. These observations suggest that there are gene-specific mutation signals in addition to a common MAPK activation that result from the pleiotropic effects of either BRAF or NRAS on other signaling pathways, leading to measurably different transcriptional changes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

: Background:Living with chronic heart failure (CHF) is distressful and affects daily life. Because of the lack of a cure for CHF, there has been a progressive interest in using health-related quality of life (Hr-QoL) as an outcome measurement of the treatment in patients with CHF.: Objective:The aim of this review was to describe the instruments/questionnaires used in different studies in the measurement of Hr-QoL in patients with CHF, and how they were put into operation as seen from a nursing perspective.: Method:MEDLINE and CINAHL databases were searched from January 1995 to June 2002, by using the keywords CHF, heart failure, QoL and Hr-QoL. A total of 33 articles were analysed.: Results:Thirty-two different Hr-QoL questionnaires were found. Generic, disease-specific and battery approaches were different ways used to measure Hr-QoL. To assess/describe Hr-QoL, evaluate the impact of interventions and examine relations/predictors were three main objectives. However, different aspects of the concept Hr-QoL, influencing factors, how to implement the questionnaires and a lack of unified CHF criteria existed.: Conclusions:To create a guideline for the measurement of Hr-QoL in CHF patients is of great importance for nurses and might generate homogeneity in the measurement methods and promote the scientific approach in the nursing care process. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Essential thrombocythaemia (ET) is a heterogeneous disorder with respect to plasma erythropoietin concentration at diagnosis and clonality of haematopoiesis. Polycythaemia rubra vera-1 (PRV-1) positivity, i.e. PRV-1 mRNA overexpression, is known to be present in the vast majority of patients with polycythaemia vera and also in some patients with ET. In the present study, PRV-1 expression was quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction in 70 ET patients; 17 of them (24%) were found to be PRV-1 positive. Ten of the 17 PRV-1 positive ET patients had experienced thromboembolic complications compared with 14 of 53 PRV-1 negative patients, the difference between the two groups being statistically significant ( P = 0·02). In addition, the frequency of total vascular complications, thromboembolic events and major bleedings, was significantly higher in the group of PRV-1 positive as compared with PRV-1 negative ET patients ( P = 0·03). The time from diagnosis of ET to the requirement of platelet-lowering therapy was significantly shorter in PRV-1 positive compared with PRV-1 negative ET patients ( P = 0·014). It can be concluded that PRV-1 positive patients appear to suffer from a more aggressive disorder with increased risk for vascular complications and a greater need for platelet-lowering therapy, compared with PRV-1 negative ET patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Approximately 45% of newly diagnosed patients with essential thrombocythaemia (ET) demonstrate subnormal plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentrations, which constitutes a risk factor for occlusive vascular events. In 58 ET patients, a possible association between polycythaemia rubra vera-1 (PRV-1) overexpression and subnormal plasma EPO was investigated, which was always measured prior to the institution of platelet lowering agents. At the time when PRV-1 expression was measured, 28 of 58 (48%) ET patients had received platelet lowering treatment. PRV-1 expression was measured by quantitative real-time reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction assay of mRNA extracted from purified peripheral blood buffy coat. The cycle threshold (CT) value of PRV-1 was determined and was divided with the CT value for the housekeeping GAPDH gene transcript. A quotient <0.93 was defined as PRV-1 positive. Of the ET patients 12 of 58 (21%) were PRV-1 positive and 19 of 58 (33%) demonstrated subnormal plasma EPO. In the 58 ET patients there was a significant association between low plasma EPO and PRV-1 positive results (P = 0.001). The 30 ET patients who had not received any platelet lowering treatment showed a significant (P = 0.005) relation between PRV-1 positivity and subnormal plasma EPO. No such relationship was present in the 28 ET patients who had received prior treatment with the above drugs (P = 0.147). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Equilibrium similarity considerations are applied to the axisymmetric turbulent wake, without the arbitrary assumptions of earlier theoretical studies. Two solutions for the turbulent flow are found: one for infinite local Reynolds number which grows spatially as x[sup 1/3]; and another for small local Reynolds number which grows as x[sup ½]. Both solutions can be dependent on the upstream conditions. Also, the local Reynolds number diminishes with increasing downstream distance, so that even when the initial Reynolds number is large, the flow evolves downstream from one state to the other. Most of the available experimental data are at too low an initial Reynolds number and/or are measured too near the wake generator to provide evidence for the x[sup 1/3] solution. New results, however, from a laboratory experiment on a disk wake and direct numerical simulations (DNS) are in excellent agreement with this solution, once the flow has had large enough downstream distance to evolve. Beyond this the ratio of turbulence intensity to centerline velocity deficit is constant, until the flow unlocks itself from this behavior when the local Reynolds number goes below about 500 and the viscous terms become important. When this happens the turbulence intensity ratio falls slowly until the x[sup ½] region is reached. No experimental data are available far enough downstream to provide unambiguous evidence for the x[sup ½] solution. The prediction that the flow should evolve into such a state, however, is confirmed by recent DNS results which reach the x[sup ½] solution at about 200 000 momentum thicknesses downstream. After this the turbulence intensity ratio is again constant, until box-size affects the calculation and the energy decays exponentially. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To evaluate and improve the quality of care provided, it is of vital importance to investigate the quality of care in the context of health care. Patient satisfaction is a significant indicator of the quality of care. Consequently, quality work includes investigations that map out patient satisfaction with nursing care. To improve the quality of nursing care, the nurse needs to know what factors influence patient satisfaction. The aim of this literature study was to describe the influences on patient satisfaction with regard to nursing care in the context of health care. In the description of nursing care, we have used Henderson's nursing care model. The results describe eight domains that have an influence on patient satisfaction with nursing care: the socio-demographic background of the patients, patients' expectations regarding nursing care, the physical environment, communication and information, participation and involvement, interpersonal relations between nurse and patient, nurses' medical–technical competence, and the influence of the health care organization on both patients and nurses. The bulk of the literature included in the study came from the UK, Sweden and the USA. This means that the results should be applicable to health care in the western world. An important implication for future research is to continue to elucidate the factors that influence satisfaction with nursing care, as seen from the patient's perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) study of the axisymmetric turbulent wake behind a disk has been performed using multipoint hot-wire data. The Reynolds number based on the free stream velocity and disk diameter was kept constant at 28 000. The investigated region spanned from 10 to 50 disk diameters downstream. The hot-wire data were obtained using two rakes: a seven wire fixed array and a six wire array azimuthally traversable to span the cross section of the flow in increments of 15°. The instantaneous streamwise velocity component data were Fourier transformed in time and decomposed in Fourier series in the azimuthal direction to form the kernel for the POD. For all downstream positions, two distinct peaks were found in the first eigenspectrum: one at azimuthal mode 2 at near zero frequency, and another at azimuthal mode 1 at a fixed Strouhal number (fd/U∞) of 0.126. Both peaks decrease in magnitude as the flow evolves downstream, but the peak at the Strouhal number 0.126 decreases more rapidly than the one at near-zero frequency, leaving the latter to eventually dominate. Because of this evolution, the eigenvalues integrated over frequency show an azimuthal mode-1 dominance at x/D = 10 and a mode-2 dominance by x/D = 50. The results are compared to those recently obtained in the axisymmetric far jet, and the results of previous wake investigations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Most frequently, an elevated packed cell volume (PCV) value arouses the suspicion of a polycythaemic state. The aim of the present work was to assess a few readily available variables which could help the clinician to differentiate between polycythaemia vera (PV) and apparent polycythaemia (AP). During a 5-year period, 31 consecutive newly diagnosed patients with PV were identified, and during a 4-year period 38 consecutive subjects were considered to be afflicted with AP. In each subject: (i) the red cell mass (RCM) and plasma volume were measured, (ii) the spleen size was assessed using γ-camera imaging, and (iii) the plasma erythropoietin (EPO) concentration was determined. The diagnosis of PV was based upon recently proposed criteria. By definition, all PV patients had absolute erythrocytosis, i.e. the RCM was greater than 25% above the mean normal predicted value for the individual. There was no statistical difference between the plasma volumes for PV and AP patients. However, the mean measured/predicted plasma volume for subjects with AP was significantly lower than the mean for PV. The means for spleen scan areas (posterior and left lateral projections) for AP patients were identical to the mean reference values for our laboratory. As compared to AP, in PV the spleen scan areas were significantly increased, and the lateral spleen scan area was significantly larger than the posterior area. It was also shown that, in contrast to AP, both spleen scan areas were significantly larger in male than in female PV patients. All PV patients had plasma EPO concentrations below the lower reference limit, and in 68% of the patients undetectable EPO concentrations were present. Most AP patients (84%) had EPO values within the reference range; 8% had slightly subnormal, but not undetectable, plasma EPO levels.Copyright © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, an asymptotic solution to the conjugate heat transfer problem with a flush-mounted heat source on the fluid–solid interface, in the case that the bottom of the solid is perfectly insulated and the velocity profile in the fluid is linear, is presented. The lowest order terms of the asymptotic solution can be naturally classified into contributions from pure convection, from the interaction of convection and the conduction in the solid and from the interaction of convection and the conduction in the fluid. It was found that downstream of the heat source the two leading order terms of the asymptotic expansion stem from pure convection, and that the leading term decays as O(x−2/3), which confirms the result from the analysis by Liu et al. [Int. J. Heat Mass Transfer 37 (17) (1994) 2809] in the case of an adiabatic wall. The third term, however, is a contribution from the interaction of conduction in the solid and convection. If we furthermore neglect the conduction in the fluid we have been able to find the asymptotic solution upstream of the heat source as well, and in this case we find that the temperature decays exponentially with the distance from the heat source. Our results show good agreement with numerical solutions to the problem. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The authors reflect on sleep disordered breathing and its proper diagnosis and treatment and its association with atrial fibrillation. They suggest that sleep disordered breathing is a hidden comorbidity in patients with atrial fibrillation. They argue that medical professionals need to consider several factors when treating patients with both conditions and that those patients can benefit from integrated care.

Introduction: Physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep, that is, 24-h movement behaviors, often change in the transition from work to retirement, which may affect cardiometabolic health. This study investigates the longitudinal associations between changes in 24-h movement behaviors and cardiometabolic biomarkers during the retirement transition. Methods: Retiring public sector workers (n = 212; mean (SD) age, 63.5 (1.1) yr) from the Finnish Retirement and Aging study used a thigh-worn Axivity accelerometer and filled out a diary to obtain data on daily time spent in sedentary behavior (SED), light physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA), and sleep before and after retirement (1 yr in-between). Cardiometabolic biomarkers, including LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, total/HDL-cholesterol ratio, triglycerides, C-reactive protein, fasting glucose, and insulin, were measured. Associations between changes in 24-h movement behaviors and cardiometabolic biomarkers were analyzed using compositional robust regression and isotemporal substitution analysis. Results: Increasing LPA in relation to remaining behaviors was associated with an increase in HDL-cholesterol and decrease in total/HDL-cholesterol ratio ( P < 0.05 for both). For instance, reallocation of 30 min from sleep/SED to LPA was associated with an increase in HDL-cholesterol by 0.02 mmol⋅L-1. Moreover, increasing MVPA in relation to remaining behaviors was associated with a decrease in triglycerides ( P = 0.02). Reallocation of 30 min from SED/sleep to MVPA was associated with 0.07-0.08 mmol⋅L-1 decrease in triglycerides. Findings related to LDL-cholesterol, C-reactive protein, fasting glucose, and insulin were less conclusive. Conclusions: During the transition from work to retirement, increasing physical activity at the expense of passive behaviors was associated with a better lipid profile. Our findings suggest that life transitions like retirement could be utilized more as an optimal time window for promoting physical activity and health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims The aims of this study were to evaluate: (i) the short- and long-term effects of the internet-based cognitive behaviour (iCBT) programme on symptoms of distress and fear disorder in cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients, and (ii) the association between changes in depression and changes in symptoms of distress and fear disorder from baseline to 12-month follow-up. Methods and results Secondary analysis of data collected in a randomized controlled study evaluating the effects on depression of an iCBT programme compared to an online discussion forum (ODF) in CVD patients (n = 144). Data were collected at baseline, at post-intervention (9 weeks), and at 6- and 12-month follow-ups. The results showed that symptoms of distress disorder were statistically significantly more reduced in the iCBT group than in the ODF group. For symptoms of the fear disorder, no differences were found except for avoidance, which showed a statistically significant reduction in the iCBT group. The long-term analysis in the iCBT group showed that CAQ total score and fear decreased from baseline to 6- and 12-month follow-ups, respectively. Avoidance and attention both decreased statistically significantly from baseline to post-intervention, but not between post-intervention and 12-month follow-up. Conclusion The results suggest that the iCBT programme targeted depression in CVD patients successfully reduced symptoms of distress disorder and to a lesser extent symptoms of fear disorder. Change in depression was more strongly associated with a change in distress than a change in fear disorder. Registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT02778074 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Patients with chronic heart failure may require treatment of depressive symptoms to improve self-care behaviour. To investigate the impact of internet-based cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) on self-care behaviour in heart failure patients, and to study the association between changes in depressive symptoms and changes in self-care behaviour. A secondary analysis of data collected in a pilot randomized controlled study. 50 heart failure patients with depressive symptoms were recruited from four hospitals in Sweden. Patients were randomized to nine weeks of internet-based CBT (n = 25) or to an active control group participating in an online discussion forum (n = 25). In week two and three, those in the internet-based CBT group worked with psychoeducation about heart failure and depression, emphasizing heart failure self-care. During the same weeks those in the on-line discussion forum specifically discussed heart failure self-care. Patient Health Questionnaire-9 was used to measure depressive symptoms at baseline and at the nine-week follow-up. The European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale-9 was used to measure self-care behaviour (i.e., the summary score and the subscales autonomous based, provider based and consulting behaviour) at baseline, and at the three-week and nine-week follow-ups. No significant differences were found in self-care between the patients in the internet-based CBT and the patients in the online discussion group at the three- and nine-week follow-up. Within-group analysis of the changes in the European Heart Failure Self-care Behaviour Scale showed that from baseline to week three, the summary score increased significantly for the online discussion group (p = 0.04), but not for the internet-based CBT group (p = 0.15). At the nine-week follow-up, these scores had decreased. Similarly, consulting behaviour improved at week three for the online discussion group (p = 0.04), but not for the internet-based CBT group (p = 0.22). Provider-based adherence at the nine-week follow-up had increased from baseline in the internet-based CBT group (p = 0.05) whereas it had decreased in the on-line discussion group. Improvement in symptoms of depression was significantly associated with improvement in autonomy-based self-care (r = 0.34, p = 0.03). Improvement in depressive symptoms was associated with improved autonomous-based self-care. ICBT for depression in HF may benefit aspects of self-care that are vital to improve symptoms and prognosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) has been shown to be an informative biomarker in melanoma. Here we analysed plasma ctDNA in a real-world metastatic melanoma cohort. We found the kinetics of ctDNA decline are delayed in patients treated with immunotherapy compared to those receiving MAPK inhibitors. Nonetheless, decreasing ctDNA levels within 12 weeks of immunotherapy or BRAF/MEK inhibitors was strongly concordant with treatment response and significantly associated with longer progression-free survival (PFS). Furthermore, exploratory analysis of nine patients commencing anti-PD-1 therapy showed a trend of high tumour mutational burden and neoepitope load in responders compared to non-responders. The results support the use of ctDNA as a dynamic biomarker for assessment of response in melanoma patients. In this study, we evaluated the predictive value of circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA) to inform therapeutic outcomes in metastatic melanoma patients receiving systemic therapies. We analysed 142 plasma samples from metastatic melanoma patients prior to commencement of systemic therapy: 70 were treated with BRAF/MEK inhibitors and 72 with immunotherapies. Patient-specific droplet digital polymerase chain reaction assays were designed for ctDNA detection. Plasma ctDNA was detected in 56% of patients prior to first-line anti-PD1 and/or anti-CTLA-4 treatment. The detection rate in the immunotherapy cohort was comparably lower than those with BRAF inhibitors (76%, p = 0.0149). Decreasing ctDNA levels within 12 weeks of treatment was strongly concordant with treatment response (Cohen's k = 0.798, p < 0.001) and predictive of longer progression free survival. Notably, a slower kinetic of ctDNA decline was observed in patients treated with immunotherapy compared to those on BRAF/MEK inhibitors. Whole exome sequencing of ctDNA was also conducted in 9 patients commencing anti-PD-1 therapy to derive tumour mutational burden (TMB) and neoepitope load measurements. The results showed a trend of high TMB and neoepitope load in responders compared to non-responders. Overall, our data suggest that changes in ctDNA can serve as an early indicator of outcomes in metastatic melanoma patients treated with systemic therapies and therefore may serve as a tool to guide treatment decisions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Selenium and coenzyme Q10 (SeQ10) are important for normal cellular function. Low selenium intake leads to increased cardiovascular mortality. Intervention with these substances with healthy elderly persons over a period of four years in a double-blind, randomised placebo-controlled prospective study showed reduced cardiovascular mortality, increased cardiac function, and a lower level of NT-proBNP. Therefore, we wanted to evaluate changes in biochemical pathways as a result of the intervention with SeQ10 using metabolic profiling. From a population of 443 healthy elderly individuals that were given 200 µg selenium and 200 mg coenzyme Q10, or placebo daily for four years, we selected nine males on active intervention and nine males on placebo for metabolic profiling in the main study. To confirm the results, two validation studies (study 1 n = 60 males, study 2 n = 37 males) were conducted. Principal component analyses were used on clinical and demographic data to select representative sets of samples for analysis and to divide the samples into batches for analysis. Gas chromatography time-of-flight mass spectrometry-based metabolomics was applied. The metabolite data were evaluated using univariate and multivariate approaches, mainly T-tests and orthogonal projections to latent structures (OPLS) analyses. Out of 95 identified metabolites, 19 were significantly decreased due to the intervention after 18 months of intervention. Significant changes could be seen in the pentose phosphate, the mevalonate, the beta-oxidation and the xanthine oxidase pathways. The intervention also resulted in changes in the urea cycle, and increases in the levels of the precursors to neurotransmitters of the brain. This adds information to previous published results reporting decreased oxidative stress and inflammation. This is the first-time metabolic profiling has been applied to elucidate the mechanisms behind an intervention with SeQ10. The study is small and should be regarded as hypothesis-generating; however, the results are interesting and, therefore, further research in the area is needed. This study was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov, with the identifier NCT01443780. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use the stellar fossil record to constrain the stellar metallicity evolution and star-formation histories of the post-starburst (PSB) regions within 45 local PSB galaxies from the MaNGA survey. The direct measurement of the regions' stellar metallicity evolution is achieved by a new two-step metallicity model that allows for stellar metallicity to change at the peak of the starburst. We also employ a Gaussian process noise model that accounts for correlated errors introduced by the observational data reduction or inaccuracies in the models. We find that a majority of PSB regions (69 per cent at >1σ significance) increased in stellar metallicity during the recent starburst, with an average increase of 0.8 dex and a standard deviation of 0.4 dex. A much smaller fraction of PSBs are found to have remained constant (22 per cent) or declined in metallicity (9 per cent, average decrease 0.4 dex, standard deviation 0.3 dex). The pre-burst metallicities of the PSB galaxies are in good agreement with the mass–metallicity (MZ) relation of local star-forming galaxies. These results are consistent with hydrodynamic simulations, which suggest that mergers between gas-rich galaxies are the primary formation mechanism of local PSBs, and rapid metal recycling during the starburst outweighs the impact of dilution by any gas inflows. The final mass-weighted metallicities of the PSB galaxies are consistent with the MZ relation of local passive galaxies. Our results suggest that rapid quenching following a merger-driven starburst is entirely consistent with the observed gap between the stellar mass–metallicity relations of local star-forming and passive galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An apical component of the cell cycle checkpoint and DNA damage repair response is the ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM) Ser/Thr protein kinase. A variant of ATM, Ser49Cys (rs1800054; minor allele frequency = 0.011), has been associated with an elevated risk of melanoma development; however, the functional consequence of this variant is not defined. ATM-dependent signalling in response to DNA damage has been assessed in a panel of patient-derived lymphoblastoid lines and primary human melanocytic cell strains heterozygous for the ATM Ser49Cys variant allele. The ATM Ser49Cys allele appears functional for acute p53-dependent signalling in response to DNA damage. Expression of the variant allele did reduce the efficacy of oncogene expression in inducing senescence. These findings demonstrate that the ATM 146C>G Ser49Cys allele has little discernible effect on the acute response to DNA damage but has reduced function observed in the chronic response to oncogene over-expression. Analysis of melanoma, naevus and skin colour genomics and GWAS analyses have demonstrated no association of this variant with any of these outcomes. The modest loss of function detected suggest that the variant may act as a modifier of other variants of ATM/p53-dependent signalling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The authors regret that the online version of this article contains an error. The MBD4 mutation in sample MM138 was given an incorrect dbSNP ID. The correct ID is rs769076971. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The timing argument connects the motion of a two-body system to its mass in an expanding Universe with a finite age, under the assumption that it has evolved on a self-gravitating orbit. It is commonly applied to the present-day Milky Way (MW)–M31 system in order to infer its unknown mass from the measured kinematics. We use a set of Local Group analogues from the uchuu simulation to investigate the timing argument over cosmic time. We find that the median inferred mass remains almost constant over the past 12 Gyr, even while the haloes themselves grew in mass by more than an order of magnitude. By contrast, we find a closer, and nearly time-invariant agreement between the timing argument value and the mass within a sphere of radius equal to the MW–M31 separation, and we identify this as the total mass of the system. We conclude that the comparatively close present-day agreement between the timing argument and the sum of the halo masses reflects no underlying relation, but merely echoes the fact that the MW and M31 now contain most (but not all) of the mass of the Local Group system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We analyze the three-dimensional shapes and kinematics of the young star cluster population forming in a high-resolution griffin project simulation of a metal-poor dwarf galaxy starburst. The star clusters, which follow a power-law mass distribution, form from the cold phase interstellar medium with an initial mass function sampled with individual stars down to four solar masses at sub-parsec spatial resolution. Massive stars and their important feedback mechanisms are modeled in detail. The simulated clusters follow a surprisingly tight relation between the specific angular momentum and mass with indications of two sub-populations. Massive clusters (Mcl ≳ 3 × 104M⊙) have the highest specific angular momenta at low ellipticities (ϵ ∼ 0.2) and show alignment between their shapes and rotation. Lower mass clusters have lower specific angular momenta with larger scatter, show a broader range of elongations, and are typically misaligned indicating that they are not shaped by rotation. The most massive clusters (M ≳ 105M⊙) accrete gas and protoclusters from a ≲100 pc scale local galactic environment on a t ≲ 10 Myr timescale, inheriting the ambient angular momentum properties. Their two-dimensional kinematic maps show ordered rotation at formation, up to v ∼ 8.5 km s−1, consistent with observed young massive clusters and old globular clusters, which they might evolve into. The massive clusters have angular momentum parameters λR ≲ 0.5 and show Gauss–Hermite coefficients h3 that are anti-correlated with the velocity, indicating asymmetric line-of-sight velocity distributions as a signature of a dissipative formation process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interpolation of data represented in curvilinear coordinates and possibly having some non-trivial, typically Riemannian or semi-Riemannian geometry is a ubiquitous task in all of physics. In this work, we present a covariant generalization of the barycentric coordinates and the barycentric interpolation method for Riemannian and semi-Riemannian spaces of arbitrary dimension. We show that our new method preserves the linear accuracy property of barycentric interpolation in a coordinate-invariant sense. In addition, we show how the method can be used to interpolate constrained quantities so that the given constraint is automatically respected. We showcase the method with two astrophysics related examples situated in the curved Kerr space–time. The first problem is interpolating a locally constant vector field, in which case curvature effects are expected to be maximally important. The second example is a general relativistic magnetohydrodynamics simulation of a turbulent accretion flow around a black hole, wherein high intrinsic variability is expected to be at least as important as curvature effects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Device-based measures often rely on the positive relationship between walking cadence and metabolic equivalents of task (METs) to estimate physical activity. It is unknown whether this relationship remains during jogging/running. The study purpose was to investigate the relationships between METs, cadence, and step length during walking and jogging/running. A treadmill protocol with 5 walking (3.2–6.4 km•hr−1) and 5 jogging/running stages (8.0–11.3 km•hr−1) was completed in 43 adults (23 ± 5 years, 19♀). Predictors of METs during walking and jogging/running were determined by generalized mixed modeling. The strongest prediction models for walking (R2 = 0.72, P <.001) and jogging/running (R2 = 0.75, P <.001) included cadence2, cadence, step length, age, and leg length (all, P <.001). Step length accounted for 49.1% and 78.3% of model variance during walking and jogging/running, respectively. METs are poorly estimated by cadence during jogging/running but step length reduces error. Strategies to measure step length in free-living settings could better predict physical activity intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]