Lung cancer in the Canton of St. Gallen, Eastern Switzerland: sex-associated differences in smoking habits, disease presentation and survival.

BACKGROUND The aim of this study was to assess sex-associated differences in lung cancer patients in Eastern Switzerland. METHODS All 670 lung cancer patients referred to the cancer center in St. Gallen between January 2000 and December 2005 were retrospectively analyzed. We investigated sex-associated differences in age, smoking habits, histology, stage, treatment and survival. RESULTS There were 474 (71%) men and 196 (29%) women with lung cancer. Mean age at the time of diagnosis was 64 years for women and 67 years for men (p = 0.01). Of the patients <55 years of age, 47 (24%) were women and only 65 (14%) were men. Men smoked significantly more than women (median pack-years: 50 vs. 30; p < 0.001). Of the heavy smokers (>40 pack-years), 278 (56%) were men and 68 (33%) were women. More men had squamous cell carcinoma (36%) than women (17%). Conversely, more women presented with adenocarcinoma (48%) than men (27%). No significant sex-associated differences were observed when analyzing first treatments received. Median overall survival was 10 months for both sexes. CONCLUSIONS In Eastern Switzerland, women with lung cancer were younger, more likely to have smoked significantly less and more likely to have adenocarcinoma, compared to men with lung cancer. These findings are consistent with those found in other western populations.

WOCAT - World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies - Preliminary results from Eastern and Southern Africa

The World Overview of Conservation Approaches and Technologies (WOCAT) is a program of the World Association of Soil and Water Conservation (WASWC), organized as a consortium of several international institutions. The overall goal of WOCAT is to contribute to sustainable utilization of soil and water. WOCAT collects and analyzes information on soil and water conservation (SWC) technologies and approaches world-wide, and presents the collected information in computer databases and decision support systems, and in the form of handbooks, reports and maps readily accessible to SWC specialists and policy-makers world-wide. WOCAT has prepared a framework for the evaluation of soil and water conservation and has started data collection. The paper presents preliminary results with promising SWC technologies and approaches used in Eastern and Southern Africa. The first finding is that hardly any promising SWC activities could be found on common grazing lands. Analysis of the cropland shows some of the bio-physical and socioeconomic conditions under which certain SWC technologies and approaches are used, including land use types, climatic zones and land tenure, and looks at issues such as participation and costs. Furthermore, classification criteria for SWC technologies and approaches are discussed.

Prevalence of Subclinical Rheumatic Heart Disease in Eastern Nepal

Importance: Although rheumatic heart disease has been nearly eradicated in high-income countries, 3 in 4 children grow up in parts of the world where it is still endemic. Objectives: To determine the prevalence of clinically silent and manifest rheumatic heart disease as a function of age, sex, and socioeconomic status and to estimate age-specific incidence. Design, Setting, and Participants: In this school-based cross-sectional study with cluster sampling, 26 schools in the Sunsari district in Eastern Nepal with 5467 eligible children 5 to 15 years of age were randomly selected from 595 registered schools. After exclusion of 289 children, 5178 children were enrolled in the present study from December 12, 2012, through September 12, 2014. Data analysis was performed from October 1, 2014, to April 15, 2015. Exposures: Demographic and socioeconomic characteristics were acquired in a standardized interview by means of a questionnaire customized to the age of the children. A focused medical history was followed by a brief physical examination. Cardiac auscultation and transthoracic echocardiography were performed by 2 independent physicians. Main Outcomes and Measures: Rheumatic heart disease according to the World Heart Federation criteria. Results: The median age of the 5178 children enrolled in the study was 10 years (interquartile range, 8-13 years), and 2503 (48.3%) were female. The prevalence of borderline or definite rheumatic heart disease was 10.2 (95% CI, 7.5-13.0) per 1000 children and increased with advancing age from 5.5 (95% CI, 3.5-7.5) per 1000 children 5 years of age to 16.0 (95% CI, 14.9-17.0) in children 15 years of age, whereas the mean incidence remained stable at 1.1 per 1000 children per year. Children with rheumatic heart disease were older than children without rheumatic heart disease (median age [interquartile range], 11 [9-14] years vs 10 [8-13] years; P = .03), more commonly female (34 [64.2%] vs 2469 [48.2%]; P = .02), and more frequently went to governmental schools (40 [75.5%] vs 2792 [54.5%]; P = .002). Silent disease (n = 44) was 5 times more common than manifest disease (n = 9). Conclusions and Relevance: Rheumatic heart disease affects 1 in 100 schoolchildren in Eastern Nepal, is primarily clinically silent, and may be more common among girls. The overall prevalence and the ratio of manifest to subclinical disease increase with advancing age, whereas the incidence remains stable at 1.1 per 1000 children per year. Early detection of silent disease may help prevent progression to severe valvular damage.

Physical and Biological Controls on the Latitudinal Asymmetry of Surface Nutrients and pCO(2) in the Central and Eastern Equatorial Pacific

Surface nutrients and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in the central (CEP) and eastern equatorial Pacific (EEP) show much higher concentrations to the south than to the north of the equator. In this study, the physical and biological controls on this asymmetry are investigated using a coupled physical-biogeochemical model. Two numerical experiments are conducted to examine the effects of asymmetrical photosynthetic efficiency (a) due to asymmetrical iron supply about the equator. The experiment with asymmetrical photosynthesis produces improved results as compared with historical observations. A nitrate budget analysis suggests that in the EEP the divergence of upwelling waters controls the surface nitrate asymmetry with additional contribution from the South Equatorial Current (SEC) carrying nutrient-rich Peru upwelling water. The changes of a affect the surface nitrate distribution but not the overall asymmetry. The SEC further carries excess nitrate to the west and thus extends the asymmetry in the east to the CEP. In the CEP, however, stronger northward than southward transport tends to reduce the nitrate asymmetry, while the asymmetrical photosynthesis would help to maintain it. Similar processes also control the distributions of surface silicate and DIC in the equatorial Pacific, which is also affected by the air-sea CO(2) exchange. The asymmetrical photosynthesis influences the distribution of surface DIC, pCO(2), and the air-sea CO(2) flux, by redistributing about 20% CO(2) flux from the north to the south of the equator. Owing to the adjustment of air-sea CO(2) flux, however, the net surface DIC change is smaller than the direct change associated with primary production.

Validation of a Spatially Continuous EDEN Water-Surface Model for the Everglades, Florida

The Everglades Depth Estimation Network (EDEN) is an integrated network of realtime water-level monitoring, ground-elevation modeling, and water-surface modeling that provides scientists and managers with current (2000-present), online water-stage and water-depth information for the entire freshwater portion of the Greater Everglades. Continuous daily spatial interpolations of the EDEN network stage data are presented on grid with 400-square-meter spacing. EDEN offers a consistent and documented dataset that can be used by scientists and managers to: (1) guide large-scale field operations, (2) integrate hydrologic and ecological responses, and (3) support biological and ecological assessments that measure ecosystem responses to the implementation of the Comprehensive Everglades Restoration Plan (CERP) (U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, 1999). The target users are biologists and ecologists examining trophic level responses to hydrodynamic changes in the Everglades. The first objective of this report is to validate the spatially continuous EDEN water-surface model for the Everglades, Florida developed by Pearlstine et al. (2007) by using an independent field-measured data-set. The second objective is to demonstrate two applications of the EDEN water-surface model: to estimate site-specific ground elevation by using the validated EDEN water-surface model and observed water depth data; and to create water-depth hydrographs for tree islands. We found that there are no statistically significant differences between model-predicted and field-observed water-stage data in both southern Water Conservation Area (WCA) 3A and WCA 3B. Tree island elevations were derived by subtracting field water-depth measurements from the predicted EDEN water-surface. Water-depth hydrographs were then computed by subtracting tree island elevations from the EDEN water stage. Overall, the model is reliable by a root mean square error (RMSE) of 3.31 cm. By region, the RMSE is 2.49 cm and 7.77 cm in WCA 3A and 3B, respectively. This new landscape-scale hydrological model has wide applications for ongoing research and management efforts that are vital to restoration of the Florida Everglades. The accurate, high-resolution hydrological data, generated over broad spatial and temporal scales by the EDEN model, provides a previously missing key to understanding the habitat requirements and linkages among native and invasive populations, including fish, wildlife, wading birds, and plants. The EDEN model is a powerful tool that could be adapted for other ecosystem-scale restoration and management programs worldwide.

Factors Related to Mental Health of Native Americans in Eastern Tribes

This paper is part of a five-year research project funded by the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research (NIDRR) that addresses the health, disability and service needs of Native Americans in eastern tribes. The Participatory Action Research model with a community-based approach was used to facilitate collaboration among the participating tribes. Native American research technicians conducted individual interviews with members of their tribes. Demographics, prevalence of disabilities, and various factors associated with health and mental health are presented. Of the 858 tribal members who responded to survey questions, the third most prominent health problem reported was mental illness.

Life, wanderings and labours in Eastern Africa : with an account of the first successful ascent of the equatorial snow mountain, Kilima Njaro, and remarks upon East African slavery

by Charles New, of the late Livingstone search and relief expedition

Travels and researches among the lakes and mountains of Eastern & Central Africa : from the journals of the late James Frederick Elton

from the journals of the late J. Frederick Elton, F.R.G.S., H.B.M. Consul at Mozambique ; edited and compiled by H.B. Cotterill

Na 1 Nachlass Max Horkheimer, 707 - "German Refugees from Eastern Zone" (p. IX 183.1-2 - IX 184.2-18)

"German Refugees from the Eastern Zone" 1952; 1. "Outline of a Pilot Study of German Refugees from the Eastern Zone Who are presently in Berlin" a) Typoskript, 4 Blatt; b) Typoskript, 3 Blatt; 2. "Budget for a Pilot Study of German Refugees from the Eastern Zone in Berlin" a) 2 Blatt; b) 1 Blatt; c) 1 Blatt; d) 1 Blatt; "Universität und Gesellschaft" 1952-1956; 1. "Universität und Gesellschaft" Teil III: Expertenbefragung. Forschungsbericht, 1953; als Typoskript vervielfältigt und gebunden, 77 Blatt; 2.-7. Allgemeine Darstellung der Untersuchungen; 2. "Einige wichtige Ergebnisse der Universitätsstudie", 1956. Als Typoskript vervielfältigt, 5 Blatt; 3. "Vorläufige Gliederung für den Bericht der Hochschul-Untersuchung" 2 Blatt; 4. "The German University of Today. Progress Report on a Research Project" 02.11.1955 a) Typoskirpt, 12 Blatt; b) Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 12 Blatt; 5. "The German University of Today. A Progress Report on a Research Project" a) Typoskript, 7 Blatt; b) Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 8 Blatt; c) Typoskirpt mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 12 Blatt; 6. "Funktion und Wirklichkeit der Universität heute. Zwischenbericht über drei Studien des Instituts für Sozialforschung an der Johann Wolfgang Goethe- Universität". Typoskript, 25 Blatt; 7. "Pläne einer Untersuchung über die Vorstellung von der Finktion der heutigen deutschen Universität bei bestimmten Personenkreisen" a) Typoskirpt, 11 Blatt; b) Typoskript, 11 Blatt; 8.-10. Studentenbefragung; 8. Fagebogen zur Umfrage "Warum studieren Studenten?", als Typoskript vervielfältigt, 19 Blatt; 9. "The Economic Situation of Students at the Johann Wolfgang Goethe- University in Frankfurt am Main" Resultate der Umfrage vom Winter 1952/43; Januar 1956; a) Typoskript, 43 Blatt; b) 43 Blatt; 10. "Students and Parentl Influence. Results of a Survey" a) Typoskript, 25 Blatt; b) Typoskript mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen von Frederick Pollock, 25 Blatt; 11.-14. Aktennotizen; 11. "Bericht über die Verhandlungen zwischen Herrn Professor Baumgarten, Tenbruck und Habermas am 12.12.1956 im Institut für vergleichende Sozialwissenschaften in Stuttgart. Betreff: Professorenstudie" 13.13.1956 vermutlich 13.03.1956. Typoskript, 2 Blatt; 12. Gembardt, Ulrich: Aktennotiz zur Hochschuluntersuchung. 23.05.1955, Typoskript, 3 Blatt; 13. Gembardt, Ulrich: Bemerkungen zur Aktennotiz vom 23.05.1955, Typoskript, 2 Blatt; 14. "Aktennotiz über die Hochschul-Forschungsprojekte des Göttinger Soziologischen Seminars und des Frankfurter Institut für Sozialforschung, die deim Hauptausschuß der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft am 1. August 1953 zur Finanzierung vorgelegt werden" 20.07.1953. Typoskript, 2 Blatt; 15.-18. Briefe; 15. Löwenthal, Leo: 1 Brief mit Unterschrift an MAx Horkheimer, New York, 20.01.1955, 3 Blatt; 16. Horkheimer, Max [?]: 1 Brief an Chauncy D. Harris, ohne Ort, Januar 1955; a) Typoskirpt, 1 Blatt; b) Typoskirpt mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 1 Blatt; c) Typoskirpt mit handschriftlichen Korrekturen, 1 Blatt; d) Typoskirpt, 1 Blatt; 17. Horkheimer, Max: Drei gleichlautende Briefe an die Rektoren der Universität Bonn, Heidelberg und Koel, ohne Ort, 15.11.1953; a) Typoskript, 6 Blatt; b) Typoskript mit eigenhändigen KOrrekturen, 3 Blatt; 18. Plessner, Helmuth: 1 Brief mit Unterschrift mit Beilage an Max Horkheimer, Göttingen 02.07.1953, 4 Blatt;

Neogene calcareous nannofossils in the Caribbean and the eastern equatorial Pacific

Principal components analysis of nannofossil assemblages in five ODP sites in the Caribbean and the eastern equatorial Pacific was used to monitor Neogene surface water circulation changes. In 15.83-10.71 Ma, floral distributions clearly show the existence of the Circum-tropical Current between the Caribbean and the eastern equatorial Pacific and no surface water communication between the northern and southern Caribbean. In 10.71-9.36 Ma, the Circum-tropical Current weakened and the northward intra-Caribbean current had been initiated. Northern and southern Caribbean surface waters again became separated in 8.35-3.65 Ma and the Circum-tropical Current was regenerated. After 2.76 Ma, the northward intra-Caribbean current has completely been established and the Circum-tropical Current disappeared. This suggests that a barrier to the Circum-tropical Current had formed, indicating the final closure of the Isthmus of Panama.

(Table 1) Insoluble aerosol concentrations and vertical fluxes at the eastern shelf of the Black Sea during breeze circulation in October 1987

Amounts of aerosols transported to the shelf surface were calculated on the basis of in situ measurements of concentrations of eolian matter (insoluble aerosol fraction) and vertical fluxes of settling dust in five areas of the Black Sea shelf from the Danube delta to the Inguri River mouth. More than 8.3 mln t of eolian matter are annually transported from the land over the shelf of the former USSR. At the same time more than 5.4 mln t are supplied to the northwestern shelf area, 1.7 mln t are supplied to the Crimean area, about 0.8 mln t are supplied to the Kerch-Taman' area, and about 0.45 mln t are supplied to the Caucasian area.