QOLP-10. A LONGITUDINAL OBSERVATIONAL STUDY OF EXERCISE BEHAVIOR IN GLIOBLASTOMA PATIENTS TREATED WITH TUMOR-TREATING FIELDS

Glioblastoma (GBM) patients can use tumor-treating fields (TTFs) with adjuvant temozolomide (TMZ) to treat their disease. TTFs involve wearing transfixed transducers to the shaved scalp, and the transducers are wired to a battery pack that is either fixed or carried (weighing 2.7 pounds). EF-14 clinical trial did evaluate health-related quality of life with standardized patient-report outcome measures but did not measure exercise behavior. We sought to evaluate the exercise behavior of GBM patients using TTFs. We consented GBM patients who intended to use TTFs with adjuvant TMZ after completion of chemoradiation. After informed consent and before starting TTFs, patients completed a self-administered questionnaire, Godin Leisure-Time Exercise Questionnaire, to assess exercise behavior/physical function. To calculate our primary outcome of total exercise behavior, the frequency of exercise sessions per week within each intensity category was multiplied by the average reported duration, weighted by an estimate of the MET, summed across all intensities, and expressed as average MET-hr/wk. Prior work has defined that physical function can be compared as < 9 MET-h/wk vs. ≥ 9 MET-h/wk. We evaluated at baseline and up to 24-week exercise behavior in patients with TTFs vs. historical controls not using TTFs. We enrolled 19 total GBM patients, with 14 proceeding to use TTFs. Of the 14 patients on TTFs, seven patients (50%) completed ≥ 9 MET-h/wk of exercise, and this level was maintained 8, 16, and 24 weeks after starting TTFs. Six months after the completion of chemoradiation, mean MET-h/wk was decreased in the TTFs group (n=6) (10.71 sd=7.06) vs. historical controls (n=38) (27.35 sd=46.94). TTFs did not interfere with exercise behavior in our GBM cohort, but when compared to GBM patients not utilizing TTFs, there could be a long-term impact on exercise behavior. More research is needed to evaluate exercise behavior in GBM patients using TTFs.

The Legacy of Hurricanes, Historic Land Cover, and Municipal Ordinances on Urban Tree Canopy in Florida (United States)

Urban Tree Canopy (UTC) greatly enhances the livability of cities by reducing urban heat buildup, mitigating stormwater runoff, and filtering airborne particulates, among other ecological services. These benefits, combined with the relative ease of measuring tree cover from aerial imagery, have led many cities to adopt management strategies based on UTC goals. In this study, we conducted canopy analyses for the 300 largest cities in Florida to assess the impacts of development practices, urban forest ordinances, and hurricanes on tree cover. Within the cities sampled, UTC canopy ranged from 5.9% to 68.7% with a median canopy coverage of 32.3% Our results indicate that the peak gust speeds recorded during past hurricanes events were a significant predictor of canopy coverage (P-value = <0.001) across the sampled cities. As peak gust speeds increased from 152 km/h (i.e., a lower-intensity Category 1 storm) to 225 km/h (lower-intensity Category 4 and the maximum gusts captured in our data), predicted canopy in developed urban areas decreased by 7.7%. Beyond the impacts of hurricanes and tropical storms, we found that historic landcover and two out of eight urban forest ordinances were significant predictors of existing canopy coverage (P-landcover <0.001; P-tree preservation ordinance = 0.02, P-heritage tree ordinance = 0.03). Results indicate that local policies and tree protections can protect or enhance urban tree canopy, even in the face of rapid development and periodic natural disturbances.

A century of geomagnetic storms, CMEs and HSS/SIRs

<p>Geomagnetic storms are mainly driven by the two main solar wind transients: coronal mass ejections (CME) and high-speed solar wind streams with related (corotating) stream interaction regions (HSS/SIR). CMEs are produced by new magnetic flux emerging on solar surface as active regions, and their occurrence follows the occurrence of sunspots quite closely. HSSs are produced by coronal holes, whose occurrence at the ecliptic is maximized in the declining phase of the solar cycle.</p><p>Geomagnetic storms are defined and quantified by the Dst index that measures the intensity of the ring current and is available since 1957. We have corrected some early errors in the Dst index and extended its time interval from 1932 onwards using the same stations as the Dst index (CTO preceding HER). This extended storm index is called the Dxt index. We have also constructed Dxt3 and Dxt2 indices from three/two of the longest-operating Dst stations to extend the storm index back to 1903, covering more than a century of storms.</p><p>We divide the storms into four intensity categories (weak, moderate, intense and major), and use the classification of solar wind by Richardson et al. into CME, HSS/SIR and slow wind -related flows in order to study the drivers of storms of each intensity category since 1964. We also correct and use the list of sudden storm commencements (SSC) collected by Father P. Mayaud, and divide the storms of each category into SSC-related storms and non-SSC storms.</p><p>Studying geomagnetic storms of different intensity category and SSC relation allows us to study the occurrence of CMEs and HSS/SIR over the last century. We also use these results to derive new information on the centennial evolution of the structure of solar magnetic fields.</p>

ECTOPARASITES DIVERSITY OF MICROCHIROPTERA BATS SUBORDER IN JEPANG CAVE, PLAWANGAN HILL, SLEMAN, YOGYAKARTA

Ectoparasites in bats can cause a decrease in health and can be a disease vector. Ectoparasites found in bats are generally members of the Insect Class and Arachnida Class. This study was aim to determine the diversity of ectoparasites in bats of the Microchiroptera suborder in Jepang Cave, Plawangan Hill, Sleman, Yogyakarta and knowing various factors that influence the existence of these ectoparasites in bats. Catching bats is done by mist net, bats are anesthetized and morphometric measurements are carried out. Descriptive methods are used to identify bats and their ectoparasites and analyze the abundance of ectoparasites using prevalence and intensity. Identification of ectoparasites were carried out in the Animal Systematic Laboratory of the Parasitology Section of the Faculty of Biology, Universitas Gadjah Mada, by using the book of ectoparasites identification. Bat species were ound include Miniopterus schreibersii and Rhinolopus pusillus. The results showed that ectoparasite species were found in the bats of the Microchiroptera Suborder from the Subclass Acarina and the Insect Class. The species of Subclass Acarina found were Periglischrus sp., Spinturnix plecotinus, Blattisocius sp., And Glycyphagus sp. Species of the Insect Class found include Megastrebla sp., Stylidia caudata, Basilia sp., and Brachytarsina sp. The prevalence of R. pussilus in Jepang Cave, was 66.67% and it is frequent. The ectoparasite intensity category of Periglischrus sp. was 0.72, meanwhile Glycyphagus sp. and Stylidia caudata were 0.06, which is very low.

Ilhas de calor urbano em cidade do semiárido nordestino

<p>A pesquisa pautou-se nas concepções do Sistema Clima Urbano de Monteiro (1976) e procurou identificar e mapear as ilhas de calor urbano na cidade do Crato-CE, em dois períodos sazonais do ano. Para isso, foram selecionados 10 pontos experimentais distribuídos em bairros na zona urbana da cidade, e aferiram-se dados de temperatura do ar com termohigrômetros instalados em abrigos meteorológicos durante os meses de abril (mês chuvoso) e outubro (mês seco). A partir da coleta de dados, a categoria predominante de intensidade das Ilhas de Calor intra e interurbana para a cidade do Crato foi o de ‘Média magnitude’. O horário que ocorre a maior intensidade da ilha de calor é pela tarde, 14h, com valores superiores a 5ºC de diferença de um local para o outro. Os bairros mais densamente ocupados e com baixa cobertura vegetal apresentaram os maiores valores de temperatura, enquanto que, nos que se localizam mais próximos da encosta da chapada e com vegetação mais densa, ocorreram as temperaturas mais amenas.</p><p>Abstract</p><p>URBAN HEAT ISLANDS IN CITY OF THE NORTHEAST SEMIARID</p><p>The research was based on the conceptions of the Monteiro Urban Climate System (1976) and sought to identify and map the urban heat islands in the city of Crato/ Ce in two seasonal periods of the year. For this, 10 experimental points were selected and distributed in neighborhoods in the urban area of the city and air temperature data was measured with thermohygrometers installed in meteorological shelters during the months of April (rainy month) and October (dry month). From the data collection, the predominant intensity category of the intra and interurban Heat Islands for the city of Crato was that of ‘Medium magnitude’. The time that occurs the greatest intensity of the heat island is in the afternoon, 14h, with values above 5ºC of difference from one place to another. The most densely occupied neighborhoods and with low vegetation cover had the highest temperature values, while those located closer to the slope of the plateau and with more dense vegetation, the milder temperatures occurred.</p>

The Two-Minute Walk Test in Persons with Multiple Sclerosis: Correlations of Cadence with Free-Living Walking Do Not Support Ecological Validity

The two-minute walk test (2MWT) is a frequently used walking capacity test in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS). However, less is known about its relevance with regards to walking capacity during free-living walking performance. Therefore, the ecological validity of the 2MWT was tested by 1. computing free-living minutes with the same intensity (cadence) as during the 2MWT and 2. investigating the relationship between 2MWT cadence and minutes with the same cadence during free-living walking. 20 pwMS aged 44.2 ± 12.2 (Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) score of 3.1 ± 1.4) performed a 2MWT and wore an accelerometer for seven days. The number of pwMS reaching 100%, 90%, 80% or 70% of 2MWT cadence for at least one minute a day and minutes/day with at least 100%, 90%, 80% and 70% of 2MWT cadence during free-living walking was calculated. Six participants reached 100% of the 2MWT cadence for at least one minute/day during free-living walking. A total of 80% 2MWT cadence was the first intensity category that was reached by all participants during free-living walking. No significant correlation was found between cadence in the 2MWT and minutes in which this cadence was reached during free-living walking. Ecological validity with regard to walking intensity could not be confirmed in our study sample.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RAINFALL AND PRECIPITABLE WATER IN THE ANNUAL AND SEMIANNUAL RAINFALL IN THE AREA WITH VARIOUS INTENSITY OF EL NINO (SUMATERA CASE STUDY)

Indonesia has a range of islands in the maritime continent which surrounded by oceans with strong cloud convection. El Nino events at weak, medium, or strong intensity can cause different effects of convection. Based on these conditions, it is necessary to analyze the characteristics of rainfall when El Nino occurred in Sumatra. The analysis was carried out by looking at the percentage of dominant frequency events of Normal (N), Normal (N), and Above Normal (AN) rainfall in El Nino years. The analysis was also carried for the relationship between the content of precipitable water and sea surface temperatures in the Central Pacific (Nino of 3.4 indexes). The results of the analysis show that the effect of El Nino (in the annual rain cycle) is stronger than the region with the semi-annual rain cycle. The annual rain cycle area in the El Nino intensity category is weak, medium, strong (predominantly BN-N rain characteristics). In the semi-annual rainfall cycle (rainfall between N-AN) it is medium (BN-AN), and strong (N-BN). The average composite percentage in the years of EL Nino shows a weak intensity with the average of rain BN between 37-50%, medium (42-53), and strong (42-48%). Whereas in the annual cycle region, the average rainfall characteristics of the BN category are weak (50-58%), moderate (36-56%), and strong (32-60%). Characteristics of different rain characteristics are due to differences in the atmospheric ability to capture moisture. Correlation in the region with the annual rain cycle (June-July-August) between the Nino 3.4 Index and the precipitable water content shows a strong (r) correlation (-0.4 to -0.6). This is in contrast with the region semi-annual rain cycle which shows a weaker correlation (0.2 to 0.3).

Quantifying the Benefits of Nonlinear Methods for Global Statistical Hindcasts of Tropical Cyclones Intensity

While tropical cyclone (TC) track forecasts have become increasingly accurate over recent decades, intensity forecasts from both numerical models and statistical schemes have been trailing behind. Most operational statistical–dynamical forecasts of TC intensity use linear regression to relate the initial TC characteristics and most relevant large-scale environmental parameters along the TC track to the TC intensification rate. Yet, many physical processes involved in TC intensification are nonlinear, hence potentially hindering the skill of those linear schemes. Here, we develop two nonlinear TC intensity hindcast schemes, for the first time globally. These schemes are based on either support vector machine (SVM) or artificial neural network (ANN) algorithms. Contrary to linear schemes, which perform slightly better when trained individually over each TC basin, nonlinear methods perform best when trained globally. Globally trained nonlinear schemes improve TC intensity hindcasts relative to regionally trained linear schemes in all TC-prone basins, especially the SVM scheme for which this improvement reaches ~10% globally. The SVM scheme, in particular, partially corrects the tendency of the linear scheme to underperform for moderate intensity (category 2 and less on the Saffir–Simpson scale) and decaying TCs. Although the TC intensity hindcast skill improvements described above are an upper limit of what could be achieved operationally (when using forecasted TC tracks and environmental parameters), it is comparable to that achieved by operational forecasts over the last 20 years. This improvement is sufficiently large to motivate more testing of nonlinear methods for statistical TC intensity prediction at operational centers.