Log10 Ratio Research Articles

Risk Profiling of Patients with Previously Untreated Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma (DLBCL) By Measuring Circulating Tumor DNA (ctDNA): Results from the POLARIX Study

Background: Retrospective studies suggest that change in ctDNA levels after 1-2 cycles of induction therapy in patients (pts) with previously untreated DLBCL is associated with event-free survival and overall survival (OS), using a log-fold change (LFC) cutoff in ctDNA levels of 2.0 (Kurtz DM, et al. J Clin Oncol 2018). The prognostic value of ctDNA has not been prospectively validated; this is a prespecified exploratory analysis of the prognostic value of ctDNA in the POLARIX study (NCT03274492). Methods: Pts in POLARIX had previously untreated DLBCL and were randomized to receive Pola-R-CHP or R-CHOP (Tilly H, et al. N Engl J Med 2022). Plasma ctDNA levels were measured at baseline and Cycle 2 Day 1 (C2D1) using the AVENIO NHL CAPP-Seq assay and are reported as mean mutant molecules per mL (MMPM; Herrera AF, et al. Blood Adv 2022). Plasma-depleted whole blood at baseline was used as a source of germline DNA to filter non-tumor-specific variants. Change in ctDNA levels was characterized as the log10 ratio between baseline and C2D1 MMPM (LFC); a LFC cutoff of 2.0 was used in this analysis. ctDNA clearance was determined with a detection cutoff of p=0.005 (Scherer F, et al. Sci Transl Med 2016). Univariate and multivariate Cox regression were used to identify relationships between ctDNA and progression-free survival (PFS) and OS. Hazard ratios (HR) are reported with 95% confidence intervals. Results: Results for paired ctDNA samples at baseline and C2D1 were available for 319/440 (72.5%; Pola-R-CHP) and 299/439 (68.1%; R-CHOP) pts. A median 135 (range: 1-644) variants were detected per pt. Baseline ctDNA levels were not statistically different between the two arms (median MMPM: Pola-R-CHP, 356; R-CHOP, 237; p=0.2); high baseline MMPM was associated with high baseline IPI score (p<0.001), ABC DLBCL (p<0.001), ECOG performance status >1 (p<0.001), and presence of bulky disease (>7.5cm; p<0.001). In both arms, pts with baseline ctDNA levels above the median MMPM had shorter PFS (Pola-R-CHP: HR, 1.96 [1.21-3.18]; R-CHOP: HR, 1.43 [0.92-2.20]) and OS (Pola-R-CHP: HR, 2.17 [1.07-4.37]; R-CHOP: HR, 2.10 [1.05-4.21]) than pts with baseline ctDNA levels below the median MMPM. Change in ctDNA levels from baseline to C2 as a continuous fold-change value was associated with PFS (HR, 0.75 [0.65-0.87]) and OS (HR, 0.78 [0.63-0.96]) in both arms. Pts with greater reductions in ctDNA levels after one treatment cycle had longer PFS and OS than pts with lower ctDNA reductions after one cycle. LFC ≥2.0 or undetectable ctDNA at C2D1 were achieved by 66.8% (213/319) of Pola-R-CHP-treated pts and 65.6% (196/299) of R-CHOP-treated pts. Stratifying pts at this LFC threshold was strongly prognostic of survival outcomes by arm (LFC <2.0 vs LFC ≥2.0, PFS HR: Pola-R-CHP 1.86 [1.18-2.92], R-CHOP 2.21 [1.43-3.41], OS HR: Pola-R-CHP 1.48 [0.77-2.81], R-CHOP 2.67 [1.34-5.30]). To define an optimal risk cutoff for pts receiving Pola-R-CHP, pts were grouped into training and validation cohorts. A LFC threshold of 2.5 (LFC ≥2.5 Pola-R-CHP: 54.2% [173/319]; R-CHOP: 54.8% [164/299]) was better able to identify pts at risk of poorer outcomes (LFC <2.5 vs LFC ≥2.5, PFS HR 2.89 [1.78-4.69], 24-month estimates 65.7% [58.3-74.0] vs 87.0% [82.0-92.2]; OS HR 1.87 [0.98-3.58], 24-month estimates 86.2% [80.8-92.0] vs 91.8% [87.7-96.0]; Figure A). In the Pola-R-CHP arm, pts with ctDNA clearance at C2D1 had superior outcomes vs pts with detectable ctDNA at C2D1 (not cleared vs cleared, PFS HR 2.98 [1.53-5.80]; OS HR 2.74 [1.07-7.02]). LFC 2.5 and ctDNA clearance were evaluated in separate multivariate analyses; it was found that both LFC 2.5 and ctDNA clearance are prognostic for PFS and OS in Pola-R-CHP treated pts, independent of key baseline risk factors (Figure B). LFC 2.5 and ctDNA clearance were also prognostic in R-CHOP-treated pts. Lastly, the top five commonly mutated genes identified in baseline ctDNA were HIST1H variants, TP53, PIM1, MYD88, and BCL2; analysis of clonal change on- and post-treatment is ongoing. Conclusions: Based on this prespecified exploratory analysis from the POLARIX study, ctDNA analysis has prognostic value for pts with previously untreated DLBCL. Pts who did not achieve ≥2.5 LFC and/or did not have ctDNA clearance following one cycle of Pola-R-CHP had inferior outcomes than those who did. Early changes in ctDNA levels may be of use in risk-adapted trial designs to identify pts in need of alternative treatment. Figure 1View largeDownload PPTFigure 1View largeDownload PPT Close modal

Höwenegg Hippotherium primigenium: geological context, cranial and postcranial morphology, palaeoecological and biogeographic importance

ABSTRACT Höwenegg is an early Vallesian (MN9, 10.3 Ma) vertebrate locality in Hegau, Southwest Germany renowned for its preservation of complete mammalian skeletons, diverse invertebrate and plant fossils. We provide the first to be published photographic images of the Höwenegg Hippotherium primigenium skulls, mandibles and dentitions for describing critical character states used to define hipparion species. We compare these states to those for North American Cormohipparion occidentale, Turkish Cormohipparion sinapensis Algerian ‘Cormohipparion’ africanum, Austrian Pannonian C Hippotherium sp., Austrian locality Inzersdorf Hippotherium primigenium, the China type specimens of Hippotherium weihoense and ‘Hipparion’ chiai, and Moldovan Cremohipparion moldavicum. Also provided are univariate statistical comparisons of cranial-dental characters and Log10 ratio analyses of third metapodials dimensions to better evaluate taxonomic comparisons and define the genetic pool from which Old World hipparions are derived. We concur with previous authors that North American Cormohipparion is the likely source of first occurring Old World hipparions offering alternatives of Cormohipparion occidentale or Cormohipparion quinni as the most closely related species for the Old World Cormohipparion Datum. We find that the best evidence for the chronology of the Cormohipparion Datum suggests and age of 11.4–11.0 Ma, or 11.2–11.1 Ma rather than the 11.5 Ma datum recently alleged for China.

Extent of In Utero Transfer of Tenofovir From Mother to Fetus: A Paired Analysis of Hair Specimens Collected at Birth From a Cohort in the United States.

Understanding in utero transfer of antiretrovirals is critical for interpreting safety. Hair levels measure cumulative exposure. We measured tenofovir (TFV) concentrations in hair at delivery among women living with human immunodeficiency virus receiving TFV disoproxil fumarate-based treatment and their infants, using liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. Among 103 mother-infant pairs, the mean log10 ratio of infant-to-maternal TFV levels was 1.08 (95% confidence interval, .97-1.20). TFV transfer was 60% lower from mothers who had preterm compared with term deliveries and 42% lower from mothers who had cesarean compared with vaginal deliveries. Like prior studies assessing transfer via short-term measures (plasma, cord blood, amniotic fluid), we found high cumulative transfer using hair.

Safety and immunogenicity of a mosquito saliva peptide-based vaccine: a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 1 trial

In animal models, immunity to mosquito salivary proteins protects animals against mosquito-borne disease. These findings provide a rationale to vaccinate against mosquito saliva instead of the pathogen itself. To our knowledge, no vector salivary protein-based vaccine has been tested for safety and immunogenicity in humans. We aimed to assess the safety and immunogenicity of Anopheles gambiae saliva vaccine (AGS-v), a peptide-based vaccine derived from four A gambiae salivary proteins, in humans. In this randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, phase 1 trial, participants were enrolled at the National Institutes of Health Clinical Center in Bethesda, MD, USA. Participants were eligible if they were healthy adults, aged 18-50 years with no history of severe allergic reactions to mosquito bites. Participants were randomly assigned (1:1:1), using block randomisation and a computer-generated randomisation sequence, to treatment with either 200 nmol of AGS-v vaccine alone, 200 nmol of AGS-v with adjuvant (Montanide ISA 51), or sterile water as placebo. Participants and clinicians were masked to treatment assignment. Participants were given a subcutaneous injection of their allocated treatment at day 0 and day 21, followed by exposure to feeding by an uninfected Aedes aegypti mosquito at day 42 to assess subsequent risk to mosquito bites in a controlled setting. The primary endpoints were safety and immunogenicity at day 42 after the first immunisation. Participants who were given at least one dose of assigned treatment were assessed for the primary endpoints and analysis was by intention to treat. The trial was registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03055000, and is closed for accrual. Between Feb 15 and Sept 10, 2017, we enrolled and randomly assigned 49 healthy adult participants to the adjuvanted vaccine (n=17), vaccine alone (n=16), or placebo group (n=16). Five participants did not complete the two-injection regimen with mosquito feeding at day 42, but were included in the safety analyses. No systemic safety concerns were identified; however, one participant in the adjuvanted vaccine group developed a grade 3 erythematous rash at the injection site. Pain, swelling, erythema, and itching were the most commonly reported local symptoms and were significantly increased in the adjuvanted vaccine group compared with both other treatment groups (nine [53%] of 17 participants in the adjuvanted vaccine group, two [13%] of 16 in the vaccine only group, and one [6%] of 16 in the placebo group; p=0·004). By day 42, participants who were given the adjuvanted vaccine had a significant increase in vaccine-specific total IgG antibodies compared with at baseline than did participants who were give vaccine only (absolute difference of log10-fold change of 0·64 [95% CI 0·39 to 0·89]; p=0·0002) and who were given placebo (0·62 [0·34 to 0·91]; p=0·0001). We saw a significant increase in IFN-γ production by peripheral blood mononuclear cells at day 42 in the adjuvanted vaccine group compared with in the placebo group (absolute difference of log10 ratio of vaccine peptide-stimulated vs negative control 0·17 [95% CI 0·061 to 0·27]; p=0·009) but we saw no difference between the IFN-γ production in the vaccine only group compared with the placebo group (0·022 [-0·072 to 0·116]; p=0·63). AGS-v was well tolerated, and, when adjuvanted, immunogenic. These findings suggest that vector-targeted vaccine administration in humans is safe and could be a viable option for the increasing burden of vector-borne disease. Office of the Director and the Division of Intramural Research at the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and National Institutes of Health.

Evolution of Early Equus in Italy, Georgia, the Indian Subcontinent, East Africa, and the Origins of African Zebras

We report here ecological and morphological characterization of the main Old World Equus in North America, Asia, Europe and Africa, by comparing the studied fossil forms with the living Equus grevyi zebra. Equus simplicidens from North America, Equus livenzovenzis, Equus stenonis and Equus stehlini from Italy, Equus sivalensis from India, Equus cf. stenonis and a small Equus from Georgia (Caucasus), Equus oldowayensis, Equus koobiforensis and Equus cf. tabeti from Kenya and the extant Equus grevyi are described in their cranial and dental features and are compared in morphological postcranial dimensions by means of log10 ratio analysis. The occurrence of the two horses at the Dmanisi Homo site in Georgia is reported here for the first time. Our comparative analyses allow to confirm the primitive lineage of the ancient zebras as derivate from Equus simplicidens, and the successive evolution of the stenonine horses in Asia, South Asia, and Europe during the Plio – Pleistocene. The morphological analysis has reveal a clear trend in third metacarpals and third metatarsals of E. simpicidens, the small Equus from Dmanisi and E. grevyi, suggesting a close relationship between these species. The trend of the stenonine Equus from Europe and Asia confirms the possible evolution from the North America Equus simplicidens. The description of all the Old World Equus is integrated with an overview of their paleoecological context, with a referred section for each locality where these fossils were found. This contribution represents a comprehensive review of the present knowledge of the Old World Equus evolutionary history, with some new important data in deciphering the deep origin and evolution of ancient and living zebras.

Elucidation of the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic determinants of fosfomycin activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa using a dynamic in vitro model.

To identify the fosfomycin pharmacokinetic (PK)/pharmacodynamic (PD) index (fT>MIC, fAUC/MIC or fCmax/MIC) most closely correlated with activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa and determine the PK/PD target associated with various extents of bacterial killing and the prevention of emergence of resistance. Dose fractionation was conducted over 24 h in a dynamic one-compartment in vitro PK/PD model utilizing P. aeruginosa ATCC 27853 and two MDR clinical isolates (CR 1005 and CW 7). In total, 35 different dosing regimens were examined across the three strains. Microbiological response was examined by log changes and population analysis profiles. A Hill-type Emax model was fitted to the killing effect data (expressed as the log10 ratio of the area under the cfu/mL curve for treated regimens versus controls). Bacterial killing of no more than ∼3 log10 cfu/mL was achieved irrespective of regimen. The fAUC/MIC was the PK/PD index most closely correlated with efficacy (R2 = 0.80). The fAUC/MIC targets required to achieve 1 and 2 log10 reductions in the area under the cfu/mL curve relative to growth control were 489 and 1024, respectively. No regimen was able to suppress the emergence of resistance, and near-complete replacement of susceptible with resistant subpopulations occurred with virtually all regimens. Bacterial killing for fosfomycin against P. aeruginosa was most closely associated with the fAUC/MIC. Suppression of fosfomycin-resistant subpopulations could not be achieved even with fosfomycin exposures well above those that can be safely achieved clinically.

N2 Gas Flushing Limits the Rise of Antibiotic-Resistant Bacteria in Bovine Raw Milk during Cold Storage.

Antibiotic resistance has been noted to be a major and increasing human health issue. Cold storage of raw milk promotes the thriving of psychrotrophic/psychrotolerant bacteria, which are well known for their ability to produce enzymes that are frequently heat stable. However, these bacteria also carry antibiotic resistance (AR) features. In places, where no cold chain facilities are available and despite existing recommendations numerous adulterants, including antibiotics, are added to raw milk. Previously, N2 gas flushing showed real potential for hindering bacterial growth in raw milk at a storage temperature ranging from 6 to 25°C. Here, the ability of N2 gas (N) to tackle antibiotic- resistant bacteria was tested and compared to that of the activated lactoperoxidase system (HT) for three raw milk samples that were stored at 6°C for 7 days. To that end, the mesophiles and psychrotrophs that were resistant to gentamycin (G), ceftazidime (Ce), levofloxacin (L), and trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole (TS) were enumerated. For the log10 ratio (which is defined as the bacterial counts from a certain condition divided by the counts on the corresponding control), classical Analyses of Variance (ANOVA) was performed, followed by a mean comparison with the Ryan-Einot-Gabriel-Welsch multiple range test (REGWQ). If the storage “time” factor was the major determinant of the recorded effects, cold storage alone or in combination with HT or with N promoted a sample-dependent response in consideration of the AR levels. The efficiency of N in limiting the increase in AR was highest for fresh raw milk and was judged to be equivalent to that of HT for one sample and superior to that of HT for the two other samples; moreover, compared to HT, N seemed to favor a more diverse community at 6°C that was less heavily loaded with antibiotic multi-resistance features. Our results imply that N2 gas flushing could strengthen cold storage of raw milk by tackling the bacterial spoilage potential while simultaneously hindering the increase of bacteria carrying antibiotic resistance/multi-resistance features.

Evaluating the effect of local pH on fluorescence emissions from oral bacteria of the genus Prevotella.

A number of anaerobic oral bacteria, notably Prevotellaceae, exhibit red fluorescence when excited by short-wavelength visible light due to their accumulation of porphyrins, particularly protoporphyrin IX. pH affects the fluorescence of abiotic preparations of porphyrins due to transformations in speciation between monomers, higher aggregates, and dimers. To elucidate whether the porphyrin speciation phenomenon could be manifested within a microbiological system, suspensions of Prevotella intermedia and Prevotella nigrescens were examined by fluorescence spectrophotometry while being titrated against NaOH. The initial pH of the samples was <6, which was then raised toward the maximum found within a diseased periodontal pocket, being ∼pH 8.7. The intensity of the fluorescence emissions increased between 600 and 650 nm with increasing pH. Peak fluorescence emissions occurred at 635±1 nm with a second emission peak developing with increasing pH at 622 nm. A linear relationship was demonstrated between pH and the log10 ratio of 635:622 nm excitation fluorescence intensities. These findings suggest that the pH range found within the oral cavity could affect the fluorescence of oral bacteria in vivo, which may in turn have connotations for any clinical diagnoses that may be inferred from dental plaque fluorescence.

The Maragheh hipparions, late Miocene of Azarbaijan, Iran

Morphological analyses of hipparionine astragali, calcaneum, third phalanx and metapodials from the late Miocene locality of Maragheh, Iran, was carried out using bivariate plots and log10 ratio diagrams. The results, together with previous studies on cranial and dental material, have allowed us to characterise and define the following equid species in the Maragheh assemblage: Hipparion gettyi, aff. Hippotherium brachypus, Cremohipparion aff. moldavicum, Cremohipparion matthewi and Hipparion campbelli. These species are arrayed in three successive biostratigraphic intervals: H. gettyi, late Vallesian Lower Maragheh horizon; aff. H. brachypus and Cr. aff. moldavicum, early Turolian Middle Maragheh levels; and H. campbelli, late early Turolian Upper Maragheh interval. The small hipparion, Cr. matthewi, would appear to range throughout all biostratigraphic intervals of Maragheh. The proposed taxonomic and biostratigraphic resolution here is slightly different from previous studies especially in the recognition of aff. H. brachypus instead of Hipparion prostylum. The Maragheh hipparion assemblages are well correlated to those from Turkey, Greece, the Balkans and Black Sea region and are clearly different from those of Central and Western Europe, central Asia, China and Africa. Maragheh Cremohipparion is related to species of Cremohipparion from Greece, China and the Siwaliks. A clear niche differentiation based on palaeodiet studies has been revealed in Maragheh hipparions, indicative of different environmental adaptations amongst these species.

Respiration gating and Bloch fitting improve pH measurements with acidoCEST MRI in an ovarian orthotopic tumor model.

We have developed a MRI method that can measure extracellular pH in tumor tissues, known as acidoCEST MRI. This method relies on the detection of Chemical Exchange Saturation Transfer (CEST) of iopamidol, an FDA-approved CT contrast agent that has two CEST signals. A log10 ratio of the two CEST signals is linearly correlated with pH, but independent of agent concentration, endogenous T1 relaxation time, and B1 inhomogeneity. Therefore, detecting both CEST effects of iopamidol during in vivo studies can be used to accurately measure the extracellular pH in tumor tissues. Past in vivo studies using acidoCEST MRI have suffered from respiration artifacts in orthotopic and lung tumor models that have corrupted pH measurements. In addition, the non-linear fitting method used to analyze results is unreliable as it is subject to over-fitting especially with noisy CEST spectra. To improve the technique, we have recently developed a respiration gated CEST MRI pulse sequence that has greatly reduced motion artifacts, and we have included both a prescan and post scan to remove endogenous CEST effects. In addition, we fit the results by parameterizing the contrast of the exogenous agent with respect to pH via the Bloch equations modified for chemical exchange, which is less subject to over-fitting than the non-linear method. These advances in the acidoCEST MRI technique and analysis methods have made pH measurements more reliable, especially in areas of the body subject to respiratory motion.

Relative Quantification and Higher-Order Modeling of the Plasma Glycan Cancer Burden Ratio in Ovarian Cancer Case-Control Samples.

An early-stage, population-wide biomarker for ovarian cancer (OVC) is essential to reverse its high mortality rate. Aberrant glycosylation by OVC has been reported, but studies have yet to identify an N-glycan with sufficiently high specificity. We curated a human biorepository of 82 case-control plasma samples, with 27%, 12%, 46%, and 15% falling across stages I-IV, respectively. For relative quantitation, glycans were analyzed by the individuality normalization when labeling with glycan hydrazide tags (INLIGHT) strategy for enhanced electrospray ionization, MS/MS analysis. Sixty-three glycan cancer burden ratios (GBRs), defined as the log10 ratio of the case-control extracted ion chromatogram abundances, were calculated above the limit of detection. The final GBR models, built using stepwise forward regression, included three significant terms: OVC stage, normalized mean GBR, and tag chemical purity; glycan class, fucosylation, or sialylation were not significant variables. After Bonferroni correction, seven N-glycans were identified as significant (p < 0.05), and after false discovery rate correction, an additional four glycans were determined to be significant (p < 0.05), with one borderline (p = 0.05). For all N-glycans, the vectors of the effects from stages II-IV were sequentially reversed, suggesting potential biological changes in OVC morphology or in host response.

Vertical distribution of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in the hyporheic zone of a eutrophic river in North China

Nitrification plays a significant role in the global nitrogen cycle, and this concept has been challenged with the discovery of ammonia-oxidizing archaea (AOA) in the environment. In this paper, the vertical variations of the diversity and abundance of AOA in the hyporheic zone of the Fuyang River in North China were investigated by molecular techniques, including clone libraries, phylogenetic analysis and real-time polymerase chain reaction. The archaeal amoA gene was detected in all sediments along the profile, and all AOA fell within marine group 1.1a and soil group1.1b of the Thaumarchaeota phylum, with the latter being the dominant type. The diversity of AOA decreased with the sediment depth, and there was a shift in AOA community between top-sediments (0-5 cm) and sub-sediments (5-70 cm). The abundance of the archaeal amoA gene (1.48 × 10⁷ to 5.50 × 10⁷ copies g⁻¹ dry sediment) was higher than that of the bacterial amoA gene (4.01 × 10⁴ to 1.75 × 10⁵ copies g⁻¹ dry sediment) in sub-sediments, resulting in a log₁₀ ratio of AOA to ammonia-oxidizing bacteria (AOB) from 2.27 to 2.69, whereas AOB outnumbered AOA in top-sediments with a low log10 ratio of (-0.24). The variations in the AOA community were primarily attributed to the combined effect of the nutrients (ammonium-N, nitrate-N and total organic carbon) and oxygen in sediments. Ammonium-N was the major factor influencing the relative abundance of AOA and AOB, although other factors, such as total organic carbon, were involved. This study helps elucidate the roles of AOA and AOB in the nitrogen cycling of hyporheic zone.

Curcumin Treatment Suppresses IKKβ Kinase Activity of Salivary Cells of Patients with Head and Neck Cancer: A Pilot Study

To determine whether curcumin would inhibit IκB kinase β (IKKβ) kinase activity and suppress expression of proinflammatory cytokines in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cancer (HNSCC) patients. Saliva was collected before and after subjects chewed curcumin tablets. Protein was extracted and IKKβ kinase activity measured. Interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8 levels in the salivary supernatants were measured by ELISA. IL-6, IL-8, and other interleukin were also measured independently with ELISA to confirm the inhibitory effect of curcumin on expression and secretion of salivary cytokines. Curcumin treatment led to a reduction in IKKβ kinase activity in the salivary cells of HNSCC patients (P < 0.05). Treatment of UM-SCC1 cells with curcumin as well as with post-curcumin salivary supernatant showed a reduction of IKKβ kinase activity. Significant reduction of IL-8 levels (P < 0.05) was seen in post-curcumin samples from patients with dental caries. Although there was reduced IL-8 expression in 8 of 21 post-curcumin samples of HNSCC patients, the data did not reach statistical significance. Saliva samples from HNSCC patients were also analyzed in a blinded fashion for expression of cytokines. IL-10, IFN-γ, IL-12p70, and IL-2 clustered together, and granulocyte macrophage colony stimulating factor and TNF-α clustered together. Log₁₀ ratio analysis showed decrease in expression of all nine cytokines in both the salivary supernatant and salivary cells of curcumin-treated samples. Curcumin inhibited IKKβ kinase activity in the saliva of HNSCC patients, and this inhibition correlated with reduced expression of a number of cytokines. IKKβ kinase could be a useful biomarker for detecting the effect of curcumin in head and neck cancer.

Sediment and Shallow Coastal Water Detection Utilizing MODIS Land Channels over Gulf of Martaban

Application of clear waters (Case 1) algorithm to satellite imagery acquired with Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) over turbid coastal waters (Case 2) often results in negative water-leaving radiances over extended areas. Also, the maximum reflectances for ocean color channels are significantly smaller than those for the land channels at similar wavelengths. Because of that, at the bright coastal waters area, ocean color channels (0.488, 0.531 and 0.551 µm) often saturate. The saturation of this channels contribute to the lost of geophysical and biological activities in the data. So, in order to overcome this circumstance, it is reasonable to use MODIS land and atmosphere channels (1 to 7) to derive an algorithm for the detections of turbid and shallow coastal waters area. In order to improve aerosol retrieving algorithm over the ocean, an algorithm to mask out the turbid coastal water area need to be developed. In this paper, a simple algorithm to identify and mask shallow coastal water and high amounts of suspended sediment area in the Gulf of Martaban using MODIS L1B image is suggested and demonstrated. This algorithm uses log10 ratio of two MODIS solar channels that was originally designed for remote sensing over land and cloud properties (band 3 and band 4) centered at 0.47 and 0.55 µm respectively. Shallow coastal water and the area with high amount of suspended sediment are detected by our algorithm have been masked. The result of this algorithm is then evaluated by comparing the masked area with the true color image of the scene.

Dietary Iron, Alcohol Consumption and Serum Ferritin Concentrations in African Americans.

We investigated the relationship of dietary iron and alcohol consumption with serum ferritin concentration among 143 inner-city African-Americans from the community. Seventy-one of the participants reported consuming an average of more than four alcoholic drinks per day and 72 less than two alcoholic drinks per week. The mean age was 47 years for the high alcohol group and 49 years for the low alcohol group. Thirteen (18%) of the participants in the high alcohol group were women compared to 27 (38%) in the low alcohol group. Body mass index and rates of positivity for HIV and hepatitis C virus were similar. Typical daily dietary iron and alcohol consumption was calculated based on a dietary questionnaire that has been validated for use among various ethnic groups (University of Hawaii). The relationship of dietary iron content and alcohol consumption with log10 serum ferritin concentration and with log10 ratio of serum ferritin to AST (ferritin/AST) was examined in multivariate linear regression models that adjusted for age, sex, ferroportin Q248H status, caloric intake and serum concentrations of CRP and ALT. Ferritin/AST has been shown to correlate with hepatic iron concentration in the setting of alcoholic liver disease. Both average daily dietary iron from meat, poulty and fish (P = 0.013) and average daily alcohol consumption (P = 0.015) correlated positively with log10 serum ferritin, but average daily non-heme iron content did not (P = 0.9). Similar findings obtained for log10 ferritin:AST. According to this modeling and holding other variables constant, a 70 kg individual with serum ferritin of 100 ng/ml associated with dietary iron from meat, poultry and fish of 3.5 mg/day would have serum ferritin of 135 ng/ml (95% c.i. 107–172) associated with dietary iron from meat, poultry and fish of 7.0 mg/day. Similarly, a 70 kg individual with serum ferritin 100 ng/ml associated with no alcohol intake would have serum ferritin 124 ng/ml (105–148) associated with alcohol consumption of 56 g/day. Our results are consistent with the hypothesis that the amount of dietary heme iron and the degree of alcohol consumption influence the amount of storage iron in the body as reflected by serum ferritin concentration.