A migrant girl looks at a light illuminating a camp site of refugees and migrants on the Greek island of Lesbos, 4 October 2015. Photo: Getty Images.
First report on the SDG indicators under FAO custodianship
Four years into the 2030 Agenda and there is a pressing need to understand where the world stands in eradicating hunger and food insecurity, as well as ensuring sustainable [...]
First-order covariance inequalities via Stein’s method
Marie Ernst, Gesine Reinert, Yvik Swan.
Source: Bernoulli, Volume 26, Number 3, 2051--2081.
Abstract:
We propose probabilistic representations for inverse Stein operators (i.e., solutions to Stein equations) under general conditions; in particular, we deduce new simple expressions for the Stein kernel. These representations allow to deduce uniform and nonuniform Stein factors (i.e., bounds on solutions to Stein equations) and lead to new covariance identities expressing the covariance between arbitrary functionals of an arbitrary univariate target in terms of a weighted covariance of the derivatives of the functionals. Our weights are explicit, easily computable in most cases and expressed in terms of objects familiar within the context of Stein’s method. Applications of the Cauchy–Schwarz inequality to these weighted covariance identities lead to sharp upper and lower covariance bounds and, in particular, weighted Poincaré inequalities. Many examples are given and, in particular, classical variance bounds due to Klaassen, Brascamp and Lieb or Otto and Menz are corollaries. Connections with more recent literature are also detailed.
First, they erased our name : a Rohingya speaks / Habiburahman with Sophie Ansel ; translated by Andrea Reece.
First-in-Humans Imaging with 89Zr-Df-IAB22M2C Anti-CD8 Minibody in Patients with Solid Malignancies: Preliminary Pharmacokinetics, Biodistribution, and Lesion Targeting
Immunotherapy is becoming the mainstay for treatment of a variety of malignancies, but only a subset of patients responds to treatment. Tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive (CD8+) T lymphocytes play a central role in antitumor immune responses. Noninvasive imaging of CD8+ T cells may provide new insights into the mechanisms of immunotherapy and potentially predict treatment response. We are studying the safety and utility of 89Zr-IAB22M2C, a radiolabeled minibody against CD8+ T cells, for targeted imaging of CD8+ T cells in patients with cancer. Methods: The initial dose escalation phase of this first-in-humans prospective study included 6 patients (melanoma, 1; lung, 4; hepatocellular carcinoma, 1). Patients received approximately 111 MBq (3 mCi) of 89Zr-IAB22M2C (at minibody mass doses of 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 5, or 10 mg) as a single dose, followed by PET/CT scans at approximately 1–2, 6–8, 24, 48, and 96–144 h after injection. Biodistribution in normal organs, lymph nodes, and lesions was evaluated. In addition, serum samples were obtained at approximately 5, 30, and 60 min and later at the times of imaging. Patients were monitored for safety during infusion and up to the last imaging time point. Results: 89Zr-IAB22M2C infusion was well tolerated, with no immediate or delayed side effects observed after injection. Serum clearance was typically biexponential and dependent on the mass of minibody administered. Areas under the serum time–activity curve, normalized to administered activity, ranged from 1.3 h/L for 0.2 mg to 8.9 h/L for 10 mg. Biodistribution was dependent on the minibody mass administered. The highest uptake was always in spleen, followed by bone marrow. Liver uptake was more pronounced with higher minibody masses. Kidney uptake was typically low. Prominent uptake was seen in multiple normal lymph nodes as early as 2 h after injection, peaking by 24–48 h after injection. Uptake in tumor lesions was seen on imaging as early as 2 h after injection, with most 89Zr-IAB22M2C–positive lesions detectable by 24 h. Lesions were visualized early in patients receiving treatment, with SUV ranging from 5.85 to 22.8 in 6 target lesions. Conclusion: 89Zr-IAB22M2C imaging is safe and has favorable kinetics for early imaging. Biodistribution suggests successful targeting of CD8+ T-cell–rich tissues. The observed targeting of tumor lesions suggests this may be informative for CD8+ T-cell accumulation within tumors. Further evaluation is under way.
First Evidence for a Dose-Response Relationship in Patients Treated with 166Ho Radioembolization: A Prospective Study
166Ho-microspheres have recently been approved for clinical use for hepatic radioembolization in the European Union. The aim of this study was to investigate the absorbed dose–response relationship and its association with overall survival for 166Ho radioembolization in patients with liver metastases. Methods: Patients treated in the HEPAR I and II studies who underwent an 18F-FDG PET/CT scan at baseline, a posttreatment 166Ho SPECT/CT scan, and another 18F-FDG PET/CT scan at the 3-mo follow-up were included for analysis. The posttreatment 166Ho-microsphere activity distributions were estimated with quantitative SPECT/CT reconstructions using a quantitative Monte Carlo–based method. The response of each tumor was based on the change in total lesion glycolysis (TLG) between baseline and follow-up and was placed into 1 of 4 categories, according to the PERCIST criteria, ranging from complete response to progressive disease. Patient-level response was grouped according to the average change in TLG per patient. The absorbed dose–response relationship was assessed using a linear mixed model to account for correlation of tumors within patients. Median overall survival was compared between patients with and without a metabolic liver response, using a log-rank test. Results: Thirty-six patients with a total of 98 tumors were included. The relation between tumor-absorbed dose and both tumor-level and patient-level response was explored. At a tumor level, a significant difference in geometric mean absorbed dose was found between complete response (232 Gy; 95% confidence interval [CI], 178–303 Gy; n = 32) and stable disease (147 Gy; 95% CI, 113–191 Gy; n = 28) (P = 0.01) and between complete response and progressive disease (117 Gy; 95% CI, 87–159 Gy; n = 21) (P = 0.0008). This constitutes a robust absorbed dose–response relationship. At a patient level, a significant difference was found between patients with complete or partial response (210 Gy; 95% CI, 161–274 Gy; n = 13) and patients with progressive disease (116 Gy; 95% CI, 81–165 Gy; n = 9) (P = 0.01). Patients were subsequently grouped according to their average change in TLG. Patients with an objective response (complete or partial) exhibited a significantly higher overall survival than nonresponding patients (stable or progressive disease) (median, 19 mo vs. 7.5 mo; log-rank, P = 0.01). Conclusion: These results confirm a significant absorbed dose–response relationship in 166Ho radioembolization. Treatment response is associated with a higher overall survival.
First-in-Human Trial of Dasatinib-Derivative Tracer for Tumor Kinase-Targeted Positron Emission Tomography
We developed a first-of-kind dasatinib-derivative imaging agent, 18F-SKI-249380 (18F-SKI), and validated its use for noninvasive in vivo tyrosine kinase-targeted tumor detection in preclinical models. In this study, we assess the feasibility of using 18F-SKI for PET imaging in patients with malignancies. Methods: Five patients with a prior diagnosis of breast cancer, renal cell cancer, or leukemia underwent whole-body PET/CT imaging 90 min post-injection of 18F-SKI (mean: 241.24 ± 116.36 MBq) as part of a prospective study. In addition, patients underwent either a 30-min dynamic scan of the upper abdomen including, at least partly, cardiac left ventricle, liver, spleen, and kidney (n = 2) or three 10-min whole-body PET/CT scans (n = 3) immediately post-injection and blood-based radioactivity measurements to determine the time course of tracer distribution and facilitate radiation dose estimates. A subset of three patients had a delayed whole-body PET/CT scan at 180 min. Biodistribution, dosimetry, and tumor uptake were quantified. Absorbed doses were calculated using OLINDA/EXM 1.0. Results: No adverse events occurred after injection of 18F-SKI. A total of 27 tumor lesions were analyzed with median SUVpeak 1.4 (range, 0.7–2.3) and tumor-to-blood ratios of 1.6 (range, 0.8–2.5) at 90 min post-injection. Intratumoral drug concentrations calculated for four reference lesions ranged from 0.03–0.07 nM. In all reference lesions, constant tracer accumulation was observed between 30–90 min post-injection. Blood radio-assay indicated that radiotracer clearance from blood and plasma was initially rapid (blood half-time 1.31 ± 0.81 min, plasma 1.07 ± 0.66 min; n = 4), followed variably by either a prolonged terminal phase (blood half-time 285 ± 148.49 min, plasma 240 ± 84.85 min; n = 2) or a small rise to plateau (n = 2). Like dasatinib, 18F-SKI underwent extensive metabolism post-administration, as evidenced by metabolite analysis. Radioactivity was predominantly cleared via the hepatobiliary route. The highest absorbed dose estimates (mGy/MBq) in normal tissues were to the right colon (0.167 ± 0.04) and small intestine (0.153 ± 0.03). The effective dose was 0.0258 (SD 0.0034) mSv/MBq. Conclusion: 18F-SKI demonstrated significant tumor uptake, distinct image contrast despite low injected doses, and rapid clearance from blood.
First results from NASA's ICESat-2 mission map 16 years of melting ice sheets
(University of Washington) By comparing new measurements from NASA's ICESat-2 mission with the original ICESat mission, which operated from 2003 to 2009, scientists were able to measure precisely how the Greenland and Antarctic ice sheets have changed over 16 years.
First School Allocation Exercise 2020 invites applications for five kindergarten premises in public housing estates
First ever global analysis of refugees’ energy use: High costs and poor supply undermine humanitarian assistance
11 November
2015
About 90 per cent of refugees living in camps have no access to electricity and many lack any form of lighting at night, says a Chatham House report for the Moving Energy Initiative. Energy poverty in refugee settlements is not on the radar of international initiatives and humanitarian agencies are ill-equipped to deal with the scale of need.
Heat Light and Power for Refugees: Saving Lives, Reducing Costs zooms in on the energy needs of refugees and displaced people worldwide, and presents the first ever estimates of the volume and costs of what they use.
'The problem goes beyond electricity. 80 per cent of those in camps rely on firewood for cooking and, as a result, we estimate that some 20,000 people die prematurely each year due to the pollution from indoor fires. Exposure to extremes of cold and heat are also killers for people living in flimsy, temporary shelter,' says Glada Lahn, senior research fellow at Chatham House. 'The current lack of provision for energy undermines the fundamental aims of humanitarian assistance,' she adds.
There are nearly 60 million forcibly displaced people in the world, and they pay staggering costs for energy. The 83,277 households living in Dadaab in Kenya, the world’s largest refugee settlement, spent an estimated $6.2 million on firewood last year, which accounts for approximately 24 per cent of their overall household income. (The average UK household spent 4 per cent of its income on energy in 2011.) In Uganda, almost half of refugee households surveyed by the UNHCR skip meals because they do not have enough fuel to cook with.
'The imperative is to find humane, creative and cost-effective ways to respond to the needs of so many individuals, most of whom are women and children. Improving access to clean, safe and sustainable energy offers a promising way forward,' says Kofi Annan in the report’s foreword.
The report calls for an overhaul in the way that heat, light and power are delivered in humanitarian crises. It makes the case for new partnerships between humanitarian agencies and private providers to increase clean energy access in refugee settlements. Investment in energy infrastructure will also benefit host communities in some of the world’s poorest countries.
'As refugee households spend approximately $2.1 billion on energy each year, developing local markets for energy services could be part of a mix of solutions,' adds Lahn. 'Using green, culturally appropriate technologies could save lives, reduce CO2 emissions by 11 million tonnes per year and radically improve living standards. Introducing even the most basic solutions, such as improved cookstoves and basic solar lanterns, could save $323 million a year in fuel costs.'
Other findings include:
- Rape and violence against women is common in many unlit camps. Only 4 per cent of women and girls in households in the Goudoubo camp in Burkina Faso would go out after dark due to the lack of streetlights.
- Wood equalling around 49,000 football pitches worth of forest (64,700 acres) is burned by displaced families living in camps each year, mainly in countries suffering severe deforestation, because they have no alternative sources of energy.
- Firewood consumption emits nearly twice as much CO2 as liquid petroleum gas and produces little energy in comparison to its carbon intensity.
International Development Minister Grant Shapps said:
‘Across sub-Saharan Africa, hundreds of millions of people still do not have access to electricity. Women and girls are at risk of violence after dark, families are forced to inhale toxic kerosene fumes, and energy remains unaffordable for many.
‘With the technology in place and investors coming on board, the time to act is now. The UK's Energy Africa campaign is already kick-starting a solar revolution across the continent.
‘Supporting the Moving Energy Initiative is another way Britain can help boost access to clean, reliable and affordable energy. This will transform people’s lives and help achieve the UN’s goal of universal energy access by 2030.’
Editor's notes
- Read Heat Light and Power for Refugees: Saving Lives, Reducing Costs by Glada Lahn and Owen Grafham.
- To link back to the report in an article, please use this landing page for the final report.
- The Moving Energy Initiative (MEI) is a collaboration between GVEP International, Chatham House, Practical Action Consulting, the Norwegian Refugee Council (NRC) and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). The report is supported by the UK Department for International Development through the Humanitarian Innovation and Evidence Programme.
- The number of refugee households in Dadaab, Kenya is as of May 2015.
- Chatham House will host a press briefing with MEI programme board member Michael Keating and authors Glada Lahn and Owen Grafham on Thursday 12 November at 10:30-11:30 GMT. To register, or for interview requests, please contact the press office.
- All figures are original and based on estimations and calculations prepared for the Moving Energy Initiative. Chatham House designed a model offering the first estimates of the scale and cost of energy use and CO2 emissions among forcibly displaced households worldwide, not including people affected by natural disasters. For more details on the populations considered in the report and used in the model, contact the authors.
- The authors are available to answer questions from the media. Please contact the press office.
Contacts
First youths test positive for coronavirus in L.A. County juvenile halls
Two youths have tested positive for the novel coronavirus in L.A. County's juvenile halls. The teens were only recently booked and were kept away from the general population, officials say.
Illinois' Alan Griffin gets suspension for stepping on Purdue's Sasha Stefanovic
First-half incident resulted in an ejection for Illini player as he stepped on Boilermakers guard
First image of Seth Rogen as Jewish pickle maker is historically accurate
The Seth Rogen Jewish immigrant pickle movie is still happening, and we now have some striking photo evidence.
First Arab Muslim rider joins Israel’s only professional cycling team
"I joined ICA to fulfil my biggest dream: Racing in the World Tour and Tour De France!" 23-year-old Chokri Elmehdi from Morocco said.
First ever fire brigade nutritionist scoops top award
Brigade nutritionist is honoured to receive award
First Women's Air Jordan gets re-created to celebrate Women's History Month
The shoes featuring L.A. designer Melody Ehsani's touches will be available online starting at 9 a.m. Saturday.
First day of MLB coronavirus protocol involves six feet of separation for Angels
Angels manager Joe Maddon can hardly fathom playing regular-season games in stadiums empty of fans, yet he commented from a six-foot distance of reporters.
First Ride: Newmen's Advanced SL A.30 Carbon Fiber Wheelset
Best known for their aluminum products, Newmen's new carbon fiber wheelset is aimed at enduro riders.
( Photos: 10, Comments: 96 )
First Look: Shimano's New Deore 12-Speed Group & Other 2021 Updates
The 12-speed trickle down continues as Shimano unveils their new Deore drivetrain, along with new brakes and wheels.
( Photos: 14, Comments: 471 )
First Look: ENVE's New, Adjustable-Geometry Rigid Fork
The US-made carbon fiber fork lets you choose between 44mm or 52mm of rake.
( Photos: 4, Comments: 152 )
First Americans arrived at least 16,000 years ago, and probably by boat
Artifacts unearthed in Idaho challenge the idea that the first people to populate the Americas made the journey on foot around the end of the Ice Age.
First Female Cadet Graduates from The Citadel (1999)
For more than 150 years, only male cadets were allowed to attend the Citadel, an elite military college in South Carolina. The first female cadet gained the right to enroll after a legal battle in 1995, but she left after less than a week. The following year, Nancy Mace, the daughter of US Army Brigadier General Emory Mace, enrolled. She went on to become the first female graduate of the Citadel in 1999. How did early female cadets' barrack doors differ from those of male cadets?
First signs of disruption appear in housing; markets ‘calm’
The outbreak of the coronavirus has dealt a shock to the global economy with unprecedented speed as it continues to spread across the world. Here is a look at some of the latest developments Wednesday related to the global economy, particular economic sectors, and the workplace.
Blog 1 Day 33
First of all recalling everything I39ve already seen is going to be difficult. We39ll start with my first impressions of China. My room as of October 1st.When I arri
First day on the road
Well we successfully cycled over San Bernadino Pass and down into Italy biked on to Milan and spent a few days in Italy Lake Maggiore and Tuscany being the highlights. I couldn't really post any updates for a number of reasons Internet not availab
First Class
Yesterday was Orientation and I met my fellow classmates. I was incredibly nervous and really anxious...funny how the shoe changes foot from teacher to student and I really appreciate what they go through. Of course the teacher leading us through the
First ICE Detainee Covid-19 Death Occurred This Week
A 57-year-old man from El Salvador who was being held at the Otay Mesa Detention Center in California died from Covid-19 on Wednesday. This is the first confirmed death from the coronavirus at an ICE detention center. Carlos Escobar-Mejia has been detained at the center since Jan. 10 after having lived in the U.S. for 40 years. While at the detention center, he was on a list of people who are medically vulnerable to the virus and are therefore eligible for immediate release but was hospitalized before the list was fully put together. According to ICE, 705 out of 1,460 detainees tested positive for Covid-19. At the Otay Mesa center alone, there are 140 cases of Covid-19 out of the 649 detainees there, making it the facility with the largest number of positive tests among detainees. The Otay Mesa center is owned by the private prison company CoreCivic, which has not commented on the situation there. ICE maintains that it is caring for its detainees in light of the pandemic, but detainees have said that they do not have enough space to socially distance, that they do not have enough clean masks, and that guards are not adhering to CDC […]
Wildfire preparedness throughout the month of May
First, a big shout out to all of those who participated in Wildfire Community Preparedness Day! We are always in awe of the number of people and organizations that use the day to take action to make a difference in their community. Many of
Doom Eternal $39.99 at Best Buy
First time I’ve seen it discounted. With return windows extended until May 31st, you may be eligible for price match even if you bought it at launch.
Xbox One https://www.bestbuy.com/site/doom-eternal-standard-edition-xbox-one/6255282.p?skuId=6255282
PS4 https://www.bestbuy.com/site/doom-eternal-standard-edition-playstation-4/6255267.p?skuId=6255267
Windows https://www.bestbuy.com/site/doom-eternal-standard-edition-windows/6255255.p?skuId=6255255
First contact?
New story… First contact… Sarah watched the video screen as the rover Odin crawled across the surface of the planet Asgard. It was easy to think the video was in real time, but the reality was that the newly discovered planet Asgard was a little less than a light day from Earth. When Asgard was...
How To Add A Favicon To Your Website
First off what is a favicon? If you look at the browser bar on this webpage just before the sites URL address is a small picture. When it comes to helping make your website or blog stand out there a huge benefit. They allow your readers to find your web pages easily if they have many browser windows and tabs open at once. If a visitor bookmarks your site in their favourites list the standard “e” icon is replaced by your picture helping your link stand out from the rest so they can return to visit. And they can also be used to help brand your site. Who would have thought a tiny 16x16 picture could help that much.
First post and a new video
First off welcome to my site The Razors Edge. If you've been to this site before you were probably expecting to find my old website which delt with post apocalyptic survival. I've decided to do a complete overhaul including the content. Now this site deals with topics such as basic SEO tips ( Search Engine Optimization ) for those new to creating websites and blogs, movie reviews, general tips and advice, videos, and anything and everything in-between. Basically same name completly different taste
First Wargame, well, kind of.
The little chap enjoyed his game with my old Britain’s figures, so I thought I would get him his own. A big bucket of soldiers from Amazon was just the ticket!
I chose the Americans and He chose everything else, including all my heavy weapons. He loved them!
First Look: Disney+ Honors the Star Wars Legacy of Concept Art
Starting on Star Wars Day, for one week you can enjoy artistic renditions of your favorite films and series.
First Church Of God To Host Book Signing
| Kingdom Dynamics Bookstore is getting set to host a book signing featuring Minister Sareta Hayward with her book God’s Got This on Thursday [Feb 20] from 4.30pm to 7.30pm. Marketing Manager Chantel Simons said, “Kingdom Dynamics Bookstore at the First Church of God on North Shore Road will host a book signing featuring Minister Sareta […] |
First Church Of God To Host Book Signing
| Kingdom Dynamics Bookstore will host a book signing featuring Gracelyn Love with her new novel Secrets, Shame, Shackles – Don’t Judge Me on Sunday, December 15. Kingdom Dynamics Bookstore Marketing Manager Chantel Simons said, “On Sunday, December 15, the Bookstore will host a book signing after service for Gracelyn Love for her new novel.” A […] |
First Church of God To Host Book Signing
| Kingdom Dynamics Bookstore will host a book signing featuring Joy Lister Sticca. Marketing Manager for the bookstore Chantel Simons said, “On Thursday, November 21, Kingdom Dynamics Bookstore at the First Church of God on North Shore Road will host a book signing for Joy Lister Sticca on Sunday, November 24 after the church service. “Joy purposefully illustrates in her […] |
First Day Of Goslings International Invitational
| The Goslings International Invitational recently got underway, with Canadian Dennis Hendershott leading after shooting 4 under 67. Hendershott’s round saw him card six birdies, 10 pars and two bogies, while Henry Smart from England is second at 2 under 69. Amateur Nick Maccario shot an opening round 1 over par 72 and finished in third […] |
This Day in Black History: March 15, 1999
First Black chess player earns international ranking.
