First light of the Gemini Planet imager.

The Gemini Planet Imager is a dedicated facility for directly imaging and spectroscopically characterizing extrasolar planets. It combines a very high-order adaptive optics system, a diffraction-suppressing coronagraph, and an integral field spectrograph with low spectral resolution but high spatial resolution. Every aspect of the Gemini Planet Imager has been tuned for maximum sensitivity to faint planets near bright stars. During first-light observations, we achieved an estimated H band Strehl ratio of 0.89 and a 5-σ contrast of 10(6) at 0.75 arcseconds and 10(5) at 0.35 arcseconds. Observations of Beta Pictoris clearly detect the planet, Beta Pictoris b, in a single 60-s exposure with minimal postprocessing. Beta Pictoris b is observed at a separation of 434 ± 6 milliarcseconds (mas) and position angle 211.8 ± 0.5°. Fitting the Keplerian orbit of Beta Pic b using the new position together with previous astrometry gives a factor of 3 improvement in most parameters over previous solutions. The planet orbits at a semimajor axis of [Formula: see text] near the 3:2 resonance with the previously known 6-AU asteroidal belt and is aligned with the inner warped disk. The observations give a 4% probability of a transit of the planet in late 2017.

Preliminary experience with robotic cholecystectomy illustrates feasibility in a canine cadaver model.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the feasibility and describe the relevant differences between robotic cholecystectomy (RC) and laparoscopic cholecystectomy in a canine model. SAMPLE: Canine cadavers (n = 4) weighing between 30 and 42 kg. METHODS: Dogs were positioned in dorsal recumbency. A surgical robot was used to perform the RC and was placed at the cranial aspect of the surgical table. One 12-mm and 3 8-mm robotic ports and 1 5-mm laparoscopic port were placed as needed to perform the RC. The specific steps of the procedure were described and timed. Perceived differences between psychomotor skills between robotics and laparoscopy were noted. RESULTS: RC was successful in all dogs, but minor intraoperative complications did occur during the manipulation of the gallbladder in 1 dog. The median length of time for ports to be appropriately docked was 19.5 minutes, and the median procedure time was 119.5 minutes. Psychomotor skills specific to robotics can be learned during this procedure. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Robotic cholecystectomy is feasible. RC allowed for experience with the different psychomotor skills utilized with robotic instrumentation and may be an appropriate training procedure for veterinary surgeons wishing to gain basic experience with robotic instrumentation.

Robot-assisted radical prostatectomy training: Description of a canine cadaveric model.

BACKGROUND: Assess the relevance of a canine model in robot-assisted radical prostatectomy (RARP) training. METHODS: Step-by-step RARP was performed in five dog cadavers using a Da Vinci Si® Surgical Robot (Intuitive Surgical, Inc.). The steps were defined according to the RARP score, a validated training tool describing 17 key steps and four levels of difficulty; each step was scored to reflect the anatomical and technical similarities, realism of dissection, and face validity of the canine model compared to the human procedure. RESULTS: Fourteen steps were performed during each procedure. Face validity was scored as high or very high for five of the nine steps of difficulty levels 1 and 2 as well as five of the eight steps of difficulty levels 3 and 4, especially nerve preservation, vesicourethral anastomosis and lymph node dissection. CONCLUSIONS: The cadaveric canine model seems to be a realistic and relevant training model for key steps of RARP.

Effects of Aging on Perceived Exertion and Pain During Arm Cranking in Women 70 to 80 YEARS OLD.

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of aging on perceived exertion (PE) and perceived arm pain (PaP) at the end of a maximal graded arm test in 70- to 80-year -old women. Twelve healthy young (mean age 22.9 ± 3.3 years), and 12 healthy elderly (mean age 74.6 ± 3.7 years) women performed a maximal graded test (GXT) on an arm crank ergometer until exhaustion. The results revealed no significant difference between both groups concerning PE (p > 0.05; Effect Size = 0.62) and when heart rate (HR) was expressed as a theoretical maximal heart rate (THRmax) (p > 0.05; Effect Size = 0.17). Nevertheless, PaP was significantly lower (p < 0.05; Effect Size = 2.95) in the elderly compared to the young group. In conclusion, these results suggest that, at the end of GXT, PE is not influenced, whereas PaP may be altered by aging of the women tested in the present study. Therefore, it appears difficult to use PaP in these elderly women to regulate exercise intensity during a training program. Key PointsAt the end of a maximal graded arm test, perceived exertion is not influenced, whereas perceived arm pain may be altered by aging.It appears difficult to use perceived arm pain in elderly women to regulate exercise intensity during a training program.

A specific arm-interval exercise program could improve the health status and walking ability of elderly patients after total hip arthroplasty: a pilot study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the influence of an arm-interval exercise program for the upper limbs on health status and walking ability in elderly patients after total hip arthroplasty. DESIGN: A randomized controlled investigation. After surgery, a control group started a general rehabilitation program, and a training group combined it with an arm-interval exercise program. SUBJECTS: Fourteen patients (age 75.1 +/- 4.8 years) were randomly assigned to the control group (n = 7) and the training group (n = 7). METHODS: A Western Ontario and MacMaster University (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index was completed and an incremental exercise test on an arm crank ergometer was also performed 1 month before (T(-1)) and 2 months after surgery (T2). Moreover, a 6-minute walk test was performed at T2. RESULTS: Both groups significantly improved all dimensions of WOMAC, except in WOMAC physical function subscale in the control group. The training group covered a significantly longer distance in the walking test than the control group and also presented significantly higher VO2 peak value at T2. Correlation analyses indicate that VO2 peak value and the distance covered in the 6-minute walking test were significantly associated with functional status. After calculating the ratio distance covered/score at WOMAC physical function, we observed a significantly higher ratio value in the training group than in the control group. CONCLUSION: Preliminary results indicate that the improvement in physical fitness and functional status of the training group seems to be associated with better health status.

Recovery after total hip joint arthroplasty in elderly patients with osteoarthritis: positive effect of upper limb interval-training.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the influence of an interval training program for the upper limbs on cardiorespiratory fitness and walking ability in elderly patients after total hip joint arthroplasty. DESIGN: A randomized controlled trial. After surgery, control and training groups started general rehabilitation. Training group combined it with an arm-interval exercise program (3 sessions of 30 minutes per week, for 6 weeks). SUBJECTS: Patients were assigned randomly to control (n = 7) and training groups (n = 7). METHODS: Incremental exercise tests were carried out until exhaustion on an arm crank ergometer 1 month before and 2 months after surgery. A 6-minute walk test was also performed 2 months after surgery. RESULTS: VO2 peak increased significantly in the training group (p = 0.0424) and did not change in the control group. The difference in VO2 peak change between the groups was significant (p = 0.0362, +19.2% in the training group and -3.5% in the control group). In the walking test the training group covered a significantly longer distance than did the control group (p = 0.0055, 396.4 metres and 268.1 metres, respectively). CONCLUSION: These results stress the importance of physical training in a rehabilitation program after total hip joint arthroplasty and this should be considered for improving the current practices in rehabilitation.

On Advanced Estimation Techniques for Exoplanet Detection and Characterization Using Ground-based Coronagraphs.

The direct imaging of planets around nearby stars is exceedingly difficult. Only about 14 exoplanets have been imaged to date that have masses less than 13 times that of Jupiter. The next generation of planet-finding coronagraphs, including VLT-SPHERE, the Gemini Planet Imager, Palomar P1640, and Subaru HiCIAO have predicted contrast performance of roughly a thousand times less than would be needed to detect Earth-like planets. In this paper we review the state of the art in exoplanet imaging, most notably the method of Locally Optimized Combination of Images (LOCI), and we investigate the potential of improving the detectability of faint exoplanets through the use of advanced statistical methods based on the concepts of the ideal observer and the Hotelling observer. We propose a formal comparison of techniques using a blind data challenge with an evaluation of performance using the Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) and Localization ROC (LROC) curves. We place particular emphasis on the understanding and modeling of realistic sources of measurement noise in ground-based AO-corrected coronagraphs. The work reported in this paper is the result of interactions between the co-authors during a week-long workshop on exoplanet imaging that was held in Squaw Valley, California, in March of 2012.

Influence of a 6-week arm exercise program on walking ability and health status after hip arthroplasty: a 1-year follow-up pilot study.

The influence of an upper-limb interval-training program after total hip arthroplasty (THA) in elderly patients was studied during a 1 yr follow-up on health status and walking ability. After surgery, 14 patients were randomly assigned to the control group that started a 6 wk general rehabilitation program or the training group that combined it with an interval exercise program on an arm ergometer. A Western Ontario and McMaster Universities (WOMAC) Osteoarthritis Index was completed 1 mo before and 2 mo and 1 yr after surgery. A 6 min walking test was performed at 2 mo and 1 yr after surgery. The training group covered a significantly longer distance than the control group in the 6 min walk test and obtained significantly lower WOMAC scores both at 2 mo and 1 yr after surgery. However, both groups significantly improved in WOMAC and in their performance during the survey. Endurance-type upper-body aerobic training in a rehabilitation program might be important after THA.

Perceived exertion and rehabilitation with arm crank in elderly patients after total hip arthroplasty: a preliminary study.

This preliminary study examined, in a restricted randomized trial, the effects of a 6-week arm-crank rehabilitation training program in elderly osteoarthrosis patients after total hip arthroplasty, first on physiological and perceptual responses and second on physical function. Two groups of patients were studied: a training group (N = 7, mean age = 74.9 yr, standard deviation [SD] = 5.0 yr) who followed a training program in addition to traditional rehabilitation, and a control group who followed traditional rehabilitation only (N = 7 mean age = 75.4 yr, SD = 5.1 yr). At the beginning of the training program, the heart rate and the perceived exertion were not significantly correlated during the exercise session. However, at the end of the training program, five patients had a significant heart rate/perceived exertion relationship (p < 0.05). Furthermore, positive effects of the arm-crank rehabilitation training program were observed on cardioventilatory and functional responses in the training group compared with the control group. These results suggest that after an habituation period, most of our elderly osteoarthrosis patients experienced physical sensations that were connected to physiological responses. Therefore, perceived exertion could be useful in these patients to regulate exercise intensity, especially at the end of and after the rehabilitation period.