bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
(O-28) CHRONOLOGY OF ENDOGENOUS TESTOSTERONE RECOVERY AFTER DISCONTINUATION OF ANDROGEN DEPRIVATION THERAPY - RESULTS FROM A PROSPECTIVE ANALYSIS
Authors: Nascimento B C G , Pedrenho R , Zandoná P C E , Bessa Jr J , Bastos D A , Cordeiro M D , Coelho R , Nahas W C , Hallak J , Mulhall J P , Gomes C M
Published: March 2024

I - Testosterone recovery after different androgen deprivation therapy regimens for prostate cancer varies widely (7-96%) in the literature, with data coming mainly from retrospective studies.

O - Evaluate testosterone recovery after ADT cessation prospectively.

M - This secondary analysis of a neoadjuvant ADT study for high-risk prostate cancer patients collected total testosterone (TT) levels at baseline and up to 12 months post-ADT cessation. Three recovery outcomes were assessed: return to non-castrate (TT > 50 ng/dL), normal (TT ≥ 300 ng/dL), and baseline (BTB - TT ≥ baseline). A time-to-event analysis and multivariate analysis were conducted.

R - 1-year follow-up data from 53 patients (60 with at least 1 follow-up data. Mean age was 64.6 (± 5.89), 28% had diabetes (DM), and 61% had hypertension (HTN). Mean TT levels were 450 ng/dL (± 170) at baseline, 112.7 ± 96.9 at 3 months, 208.5 ± 197 at 6 months, 341.8 ± 172 at 9 months, and 381.1 ± 166 at 12 months. Figure 1 shows the cumulative incidence of each outcome over time. The median time to achieve T > 50 was 5 months, for T > 300 it was 9.1 months, and for BTB it was 13.1 months. At 1 year post-ADT discontinuation, 98.1% had returned to TT > 50, 79.5% had TT > 300, and 33.9% had returned to baseline level. In a multivariate analysis including DM, HTN, age, and baseline T, only baseline T was associated with a higher chance of recovery to normality (baseline T > 450-88.5% vs. 46.9%, HR: 3.06, p < 0.05).

C - In this prospective analysis, after discontinuing 3-month neoadjuvant ADT, most achieved normal T levels (80%) after 1 year, but less than half recovered to baseline levels.

Cumulative Incidence of each outcome

Financing

Janssen-Cilag Farmacêutica Ltda.
(O-33) PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF PATIENTS WITH PENIS CANCER: REPORTS OF PATIENTS ACCOMPANIED AT THE UROLOGY ONCOLOGY OUTPATIENT CLINIC OF THE HOSPITAL DE CLINICAS DA UNICAMP
Authors: Silva I M , Naccarato A M E P , Matheus W E
Published: March 2024

Penile cancer (PC) mainly affects lower socioeconomic groups and those with less education. Patients who develop PC often experience symptoms for months before consult a urologist. The delay of the treatment affects the severity of the prognosis. Penectomy is still the best treatment available.

This study aims to understand the meaning of the experience of patients who had PC and underwent partial or total penectomy treatment.

Patients were approached and invited to participate. Upon acceptance, the nature of the research, objectives and all ethical precautions were explained. All patients were seen by the same psychologist. The technique used was the open interview. We interviewed 7 patients who had and treated penile cancer with partial or total penectomy. Data were collected through recording. Data processing followed the following steps: literal transcription of the interviews; description of interviews in formal language; first reduction seeking the meaning of the reported experiences; listing of the units of meaning of each of the interviews collected. The next step was to specify what is common in the interviewees stories in relation to their lived experience.

It is possible to see that CP is a debilitating experience for those who live it. QoL is affected, as is the experience of masculinity itself. It is a very uncomfortable experience, both before and after the treatment. The patient with CP lives with the symptoms for a long time before seeking a solution. It is concluded that the PC has multiple variables, and the number of reports that talk about how difficult it was to reach at the diagnosis, not only due to the patient's own denial of symptoms, but also due to the inefficient care received in countless consultations, brings the reflection on the quality of knowledge of the professionals who provide assistance to this population in relation to PC.

Financing

CAPES.
Beyond the metropolis: street tree communities and resident perceptions on ecosystem services in small urban centers in India
Authors: Anujan Krishna , Velho Nandini , Kuriakose Giby , Ebin P J , Pandi Vivek , Nagendra Harini
Published: March 2024

Although 41% of the global urban population lives in smaller cities, the nature and trajectories of urban nature, ecosystem services and human-nature connections in smaller centers is relatively unknown. While megacities in developed countries move towards biophilic urban planning and participatory decision making, basic information on tree communities and their perceived services is a bottleneck in achieving these goals in such small urban centers. Through a combination of field measurements (258 transects, 931 trees) and semi-structured interviews (497 individuals), we assessed the street tree community and resident perceptions of ecosystem service values in two coastal cities on the west coast of India that are under rapid change. We found that mean street tree density is low in both cities, and corresponds to perceptions of recent change in tree cover (−28% in Kochi, −11% in Panjim). The street tree community in both cities were dominated by ornamental avenue trees such as Albizia saman and Peltophorum pterocarpum, but native coastal species like Cocos nucifera, Terminalia catappa and Thespesia populnea were also common. Despite recent urban growth, residents in both cities reported low value of trees for food, fodder and medicine, but high value for regulating services like shade and water. Moreover, we found strong evidence for aesthetic and cultural values of trees in both cities. Our study establishes critical baselines for biophilic planning in these small urban centers towards urban sustainability in India.
Prediction of Occult Hemorrhage in the Lower Body Negative Pressure Model: Initial Validation of Machine Learning Approaches
Authors: Rashedi Navid , Sun Yifei , Vaze Vikrant , Shah Parikshit , Halter Ryan , Elliott Jonathan T , Paradis Norman A
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Detection of occult hemorrhage (OH) before progression to clinically apparent changes in vital signs remains an important clinical problem in managing trauma patients. The resource-intensiveness associated with continuous clinical patient monitoring and rescue from frank shock makes accurate early detection and prediction with noninvasive measurement technology a desirable innovation. Despite significant efforts directed toward the development of innovative noninvasive diagnostics, the implementation and performance of the newest bedside technologies remain inadequate. This poor performance may reflect the limitations of univariate systems based on one sensor in one anatomic location. It is possible that when signals are measured with multiple modalities in multiple locations, the resulting multivariate anatomic and temporal patterns of measured signals may provide additional discriminative power over single technology univariate measurements. We evaluated the potential superiority of multivariate methods over univariate methods. Additionally, we utilized machine learning–based models to compare the performance of noninvasive-only to noninvasive-plus-invasive measurements in predicting the onset of OH.

Materials and Methods

We applied machine learning methods to preexisting datasets derived using the lower body negative pressure human model of simulated hemorrhage. Employing multivariate measured physiological signals, we investigated the extent to which machine learning methods can effectively predict the onset of OH. In particular, we applied 2 ensemble learning methods, namely, random forest and gradient boosting.

Results

Analysis of precision, recall, and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve showed a superior performance of multivariate approach to that of the univariate ones. In addition, when using both invasive and noninvasive features, random forest classifier had a recall 95% confidence interval (CI) of 0.81 to 0.86 with a precision 95% CI of 0.65 to 0.72. Interestingly, when only noninvasive features were employed, the results worsened only slightly to a recall 95% CI of 0.80 to 0.85 and a precision 95% CI of 0.61 to 0.73.

Conclusions

Multivariate ensemble machine learning–based approaches for the prediction of hemodynamic instability appear to hold promise for the development of effective solutions. In the lower body negative pressure multivariate hemorrhage model, predictions based only on noninvasive measurements performed comparably to those using both invasive and noninvasive measurements.
Use of the Mucorales qPCR on blood to screen high-risk hematology patients is associated with better survival
Authors: Bellanger Anne-Pauline , Gbaguidi-Haore Houssein , Berceanu Ana , Gouzien Laura , El Machhour Chaima , Bichard Damien , Lanternier Fanny , Scherer Emeline , Millon Laurence ,   French Mycoses Study Group, Chouaki T , Damiani C , Pihet M , Bonhomme J , Nourrisson C , Poirier P , Dalle F , Desbois N , Bouteille B , Durieux M F , Morio F , Hasseine L , Sasso M , Paugam A , Mariani P , Bougnoux M E , Merabet L , Alanio A , Bretagne S , Minoza A , Perraud E , Nicolas M , Toubas D , Huguenin A , Gangneux J P , Raberin H , Mahinc C , Letscher-Bru V , Favennec L , Cassaing S , Bailly E , Chachaty E , Eloy O , Sitbon K , Hermoso D Garcia
Published: March 2024

Our objective was to determine whether the twice-weekly screening of high-risk hematology patients by Mucorales qPCR on serum affects the prognosis of mucormycosis. Results from all serum Mucorales qPCR tests performed on patients from the hematology unit from January 2017 to December 2022 were analyzed. Patients with positive results were classified as having proven, probable or ‘PCR-only’ mucormycosis. One-month mortality for the local cohort was compared with that of a national cohort of cases of mucormycosis collected by the French surveillance network for invasive fungal disease (‘Réseau de surveillances des infections fongiques invasives en France’ (RESSIF)) from 2012 to 2018. From 2017 to 2022, 7825 serum Mucorales qPCR tests were performed for patients from the hematology unit; 107 patients with at least one positive Mucorales qPCR (164 positive samples) were identified. Sixty patients (70 positive samples, median Cq = 40) had no radiological criteria for mucormycosis and were considered not to have invasive fungal disease (70/7825, 0.9% false positives). It was not possible to classify disease status for six patients (12 positive samples, median Cq = 38). Forty-one patients (82 positive samples, median Cq = 35) had a final diagnosis of mucormycosis. In comparison with the RESSIF cohort, the local cohort was independently associated with a 48% lower one-month all-cause mortality rate (age-, sex-, and primary disease-adjusted hazard ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval: 0.29–0.94; P 0.03). Proactive screening for invasive mold diseases in high-risk hematology patients, including twice-weekly Mucorales qPCR on serum, was associated with mucormycosis higher survival.
Origin of the correlation between stellar kinematics and globular cluster system richness in ultradiffuse galaxies
Authors: Pfeffer Joel , Janssens Steven R , Buzzo Maria Luisa , Gannon Jonah S , Bastian Nate , Bekki Kenji , Brodie Jean P , Couch Warrick J , Crain Robert A , Forbes Duncan A , Kruijssen J M Diederik , Romanowsky Aaron J
Published: March 2024

Observational surveys have found that the dynamical masses of ultradiffuse galaxies (UDGs) correlate with the richness of their globular cluster (GC) system. This could be explained if GC-rich galaxies formed in more massive dark matter haloes. We use simulations of galaxies and their GC systems from the E-MOSAICS project to test whether the simulations reproduce such a trend. We find that GC-rich simulated galaxies in galaxy groups have enclosed masses that are consistent with the dynamical masses of observed GC-rich UDGs. However, simulated GC-poor galaxies in galaxy groups have higher enclosed masses than those observed. We argue that GC-poor UDGs with low stellar velocity dispersions are discs observed nearly face on, such that their true mass is underestimated by observations. Using the simulations, we show that galactic star formation conditions resulting in dispersion-supported stellar systems also leads to efficient GC formation. Conversely, conditions leading to rotationally supported discs lead to inefficient GC formation. This result may explain why early-type galaxies typically have richer GC systems than late-type galaxies. This is also supported by comparisons of stellar axis ratios and GC-specific frequencies in observed dwarf galaxy samples, which show GC-rich systems are consistent with being spheroidal, while GC-poor systems are consistent with being discs. Therefore, particularly for GC-poor galaxies, rotation should be included in dynamical mass measurements from stellar dynamics.
Nature of the diffuse emission sources in the H i supershell in the galaxy IC 1613
Authors: Yarovova Anastasiya D , Moiseev Alexei V , Gerasimov Ivan S , Vučetić Milica M , Egorov Oleg V , Ilić Dragana , Mereminskiy Ilya A , Pakhomov Yury V , Sholukhova Olga N
Published: March 2024

We present a study of the nearby low-metallicity dwarf galaxy IC 1613, focusing on the search for massive stars and related feedback processes, as well as for faint supernova remnants (SNR) in late stages of evolution. We obtained the deepest images of IC 1613 in the narrow-band H α, He ii and [S ii] emission lines and new long-slit spectroscopy observations using several facilities (6-m BTA, 2.5m SAI MSU, and 150RTT telescopes), in combination with the multiwavelength archival data from MUSE/VLT, VLA, XMM–Newton, and Swift/XRT. Our deep narrow-band photometry identifies several faint shells in the galaxy, and we further investigate their physical characteristics with the new long-slit spectroscopy observations and the archival multiwavelength data. Based on energy balance calculations and assumptions about their possible nature, we propose that one of the shells is a possible remnant of a supernova explosion. We study five out of eight Wolf–Rayet (WR) star candidates previously published for this galaxy using the He ii emission line mapping, MUSE/VLT archival spectra, and new long-slit spectra. Our analysis discards the considered WR candidates and finds no new ones. We found P Cyg profiles in H α line in two stars, which we classify as Luminous Blue Variable (LBV) star candidates. Overall, the galaxy IC 1613 may have a lower rate of WR star formation than previously suggested.
Magnetic field transport in geometrically thick discs: multidimensional effects on the field strength and inclination angle
Authors: Yamamoto Ryoya , Takasao Shinsuke
Published: March 2024

We theoretically investigate the magnetic flux transport in geometrically thick accretion discs which may form around black holes. We utilize a two-dimensional (2D) kinematic mean-field model for poloidal field transport which is governed by both inward advection and outward diffusion of the field. Assuming a steady state, we analytically show that the multidimensional effects prevent the field accumulation towards the centre and reduce the field inclination angle. We also numerically investigate the radial profile of the field strength and the inclination angle for two geometrically thick discs for which (quasi-)analytical solutions exist: radiatively inefficient accretion flows (RIAFs) and super-Eddington accretion flows. We develop a 2D kinematic mean-field code and perform simulations of flux transport to study the multidimensional effects. The numerical simulations are consistent with our analytical prediction. We also discuss a condition for the external field strength that RIAF can be a magnetically arrested disc. This study could be important for understanding the origin of a large-scale magnetic field that drives jets and disc winds around black holes.
Phase space distribution functions and energy distributions of dark matter particles in haloes
Authors: Gross Axel , Li Zhaozhou , Qian Yong-Zhong
Published: March 2024

For a spherical dark matter halo with isotropic velocity distribution, the phase space distribution function (DF), the energy distribution, and the density profile form a set of self-consistent description of its equilibrium state, and knowing one is sufficient to determine the other two. The Navarro–Frenk–White density profile (NFW profile) is known to be a good approximation to the spherically averaged density distribution in simulated haloes. The DARKexp energy distribution is also known to compare well with the simulated energy distribution. We present a quantitative assessment of the NFW and DARKexp fits to the simulated DF and energy distribution for a wide range of haloes in a dark-matter-only simulation from the IllustrisTNG Project. As expected, we find that the NFW fits work well except at low energy when the density at small radii deviates from the NFW profile. Further, the NFW and DARKexp fits have comparable accuracy in the region where both fit well, but the DARKexp fits are better at low energy because they require matching of the central gravitational potential. We also find an approximate relation between the energy scale parametrizing the DARKexp energy distribution and that defined by the characteristic density and radius of the NFW profile. This relation may be linked to the relaxation process during halo formation.
Chandra and HST studies of the X-ray sources in the globular cluster NGC 362
Authors: Kumawat Gourav , Heinke Craig O , Cohn Haldan N , Lugger Phyllis M
Published: March 2024

We analyse a Chandra observation of the rich globular cluster NGC 362, finding 33 X-ray sources within 1 arcmin (1.2 half-mass radii) of the cluster centre. Spectral analysis of the brightest source (X1) shows blackbody-like emission, indicating it is likely a quiescent low-mass X-ray binary; we find a possible counterpart that falls in the sub-subgiant region. We use Hubble Space Telescope ultraviolet (UV) Globular Cluster Survey photometry to identify 15 potential optical/UV counterparts to these X-ray sources, including two background active galactic nuclei. We identify no likely cataclysmic variables (CVs), probably due to crowding in optical filters in the core, though we predict of order 8 CVs among the detected X-ray sources. We identify three other sub-subgiants and two red straggler counterparts, which are likely powered by coronal activity, along with five other potential coronally active binary counterparts to three X-ray sources. Finally, we note two unusual counterpart candidates that lie to the red of the red giant branch in V606 − I814, and shift well to the blue of the red giant branch in ultraviolet colour–magnitude diagrams. These systems seem to contain a red giant with a distorted evolutionary history, plus a bright blue light source, either a blue straggler star (an Algol-like system) or an accreting white dwarf (a long-period CV, or a symbiotic star).
Simulating emission line galaxies for the next generation of large-scale structure surveys
Authors: Pei Wenxiang , Guo Qi , Li Ming , Wang Qiao , Han Jiaxin , Hu Jia , Su Tong , Gao Liang , Wang Jie , Luo Yu , Wei Chengliang
Published: March 2024

We investigate emission line galaxies across cosmic time by combining the modified L-Galaxies semi-analytical galaxy formation model with the JiuTian cosmological simulation. We improve the tidal disruption model of satellite galaxies in L-Galaxies to address the time dependence problem. We utilize the public code cloudy to compute emission line ratios for a grid of H ii region models. The emission line models assume the same initial mass function as that used to generate the spectral energy distribution of semi-analytical galaxies, ensuring a coherent treatment for modelling the full galaxy spectrum. By incorporating these emission line ratios with galaxy properties, we reproduce observed luminosity functions for H α, H β, [O ii], and [O iii] in the local Universe and at high redshifts. We also find good agreement between model predictions and observations for autocorrelation and cross-correlation functions of [O ii]-selected galaxies, as well as their luminosity dependence. The bias of emission line galaxies depends on both luminosity and redshift. At lower redshifts, it remains constant with increasing luminosity up to around $\sim 10^{42.5}\, {\rm erg\, s^{-1}}$ and then rises steeply for higher luminosities. The transition luminosity increases with redshift and becomes insignificant above z = 1.5. Generally, galaxy bias shows an increasing trend with redshift. However, for luminous galaxies, the bias is higher at low redshifts, as the strong luminosity dependence observed at low redshifts diminishes at higher redshifts. We provide a fitting formula for the bias of emission line galaxies as a function of luminosity and redshift, which can be utilized for large-scale structure studies with future galaxy surveys.
The mass–metallicity and fundamental metallicity relations in non-AGN and AGN-host galaxies
Authors: Li Song-Lin , Grasha Kathryn , Krumholz Mark R , Wisnioski Emily , Sutherland Ralph S , Kewley Lisa J , Chen Yan-Mei , Li Zefeng
Published: March 2024

Galaxies’ stellar masses, gas-phase oxygen abundances (metallicity), and star formation rates (SFRs) obey a series of empirical correlations, most notably the mass–metallicity relation (MZR) and fundamental metallicity relation (FZR), which relates oxygen abundance to a combination of stellar mass and SFR. However, due to the difficulty of measuring oxygen abundances and SFRs in galaxies that host powerful active galactic nuclei (AGN), to date it is unknown to what extent AGN-host galaxies also follow these correlations. In this work, we apply Bayesian methods to the MaNGA integral field spectrographic (IFS) survey that allow us to measure oxygen abundances and SFRs in AGN hosts, and use these measurements to explore how the MZR and FZR differ between galaxies that do and do not host AGN. We find similar MZRs at stellar masses above $10^{10.5} \, \mathrm{M}_\odot$, but that at lower stellar masses AGN hosts show up to $\sim 0.2$ dex higher oxygen abundances. The offset in the FZR is significantly smaller, suggesting that the larger deviation in the MZR is a result of AGN-host galaxies having systematically lower SFRs at fixed stellar mass. However, within the AGN-host sample there is little correlation between SFR and oxygen abundance. These findings support a scenario in which an AGN can halt efficient gas accretion, which drives non-AGN host galaxies to both higher SFR and lower oxygen abundance, resulting in the galaxy evolving off the star-forming main sequence (SFMS). As a consequence, as the SFR declines for an individual system its metallicity remains mostly unchanged.
Supernova remnant properties and luminosity functions in NGC 7793 using MUSE IFS
Authors: Kopsacheili Maria , Jiménez-Palau Cristina , Galbany Lluís , Boumis Panayotis , González-Díaz. Raúl
Published: March 2024

In this study, we use MUSE Integral Field Spectroscopy (IFS), along with multiline diagnostics, for the optical identification of supernova remnants (SNRs) in the galaxy NGC 7793. We find in total 238 SNR candidates, 225 of them new identifications, increasing significantly the number of known SNRs in this galaxy. The velocity dispersion of the candidate SNRs was calculated, giving a mean value of $\rm 27\, km\, s^{-1}$. We construct the H $\rm {\alpha }$, [S ii], [O iii], and [S ii]–H $\rm {\alpha }$ luminosity functions, and for the first time, the [N ii], [N iI]–H $\rm {\alpha }$, [N ii]–[S ii], [O iii]–[S ii], and [O iii]–[N ii] luminosity functions of the candidate SNRs. Shock models, along with the observed multiline information were used, in order to estimate shock velocities. The $\rm \sim 65{{\ \rm per\ cent}}$ of the SNRs present velocities < 300 $\rm km\, s^{-1}$. There is a clear correlation between shock velocity and [O iii]/H $\rm {\beta }$ ratio, and a less clear but still evident correlation in the relation between shock velocity and the [S ii]/H $\rm {\alpha }$, [N ii]/H $\rm {\alpha }$ ratios. We also use the [S ii]6716/31 ratio of the SNR candidates to calculate their post-shock density, assuming different temperatures. The median value of the density of our sample is $\rm \sim 80\, cm^{-3}$, for a temperature of $\rm T = 10^4\, K$. No correlation between shock velocity and density, or density and SNRs with [S ii]/H $\rm {\alpha }$ > 0.4 and [S ii]/H $\rm {\alpha }$ < 0.4 is observed.
Constraints on the origin of the radio synchrotron background via angular correlations
Authors: Todarello Elisa , Regis Marco , Bianchini Federico , Singal Jack , Branchini Enzo , Cowie Fraser J , Heston Sean , Horiuchi Shunsaku , Lucero Danielle , Offringa Andre
Published: March 2024

The origin of the radio synchrotron background (RSB) is currently unknown. Its understanding might have profound implications in fundamental physics or might reveal a new class of radio emitters. In this work, we consider the scenario in which the RSB is due to extragalactic radio sources and measure the angular cross-correlation of Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR) images of the diffuse radio sky with matter tracers at different redshifts, provided by galaxy catalogues and cosmic microwave background lensing. We compare these measured cross-correlations to those expected for models of RSB sources. We find that low-redshift populations of discrete sources are excluded by the data, while higher redshift explanations are compatible with available observations. We also conclude that at least 20 per cent of the RSB surface brightness level must originate from populations tracing the large-scale distribution of matter in the Universe, indicating that at least this fraction of the RSB is of extragalactic origin. Future measurements of the correlation between the RSB and tracers of high-redshift sources will be crucial to constraining the source population of the RSB.
Differences in the properties of disrupted and surviving satellites of Milky-Way-mass galaxies in relation to their host accretion histories
Authors: Grimozzi Salvador E , Font Andreea S , De Rossi María Emilia
Published: March 2024

From the chemodynamical properties of tidal debris in the Milky Way, it has been inferred that the dwarf satellites that have been disrupted had different chemical abundances from their present-day counterparts of similar mass that survive today, specifically, they had lower [Fe/H] and higher [Mg/Fe]. Here we use the Artemis simulations to study the relation between the chemical abundances of disrupted progenitors of MW-mass galaxies and their stellar mass, and the evolution of the stellar mass–metallicity relations (MZR) of this population with redshift. We find that these relations have significant scatter, which correlates with the accretion redshifts (zacc) of satellites, and with their cold gas fractions. We investigate the MZRs of dwarf populations accreted at different redshifts and find that they have similar slopes, and also similar with the slope of the MZR of the surviving population (≈0.32). However, the entire population of disrupted dwarfs displays a steeper MZR, with a slope of ≈0.48, which can be explained by the changes in the mass spectrum of accreted dwarf galaxies with redshift. We find strong relations between the (mass-weighted) 〈zacc〉 of the disrupted populations and their global chemical abundances (〈[Fe/H]〉 and 〈[Mg/Fe]〉), which suggests that chemical diagnostics of disrupted dwarfs can be used to infer the types of merger histories of their hosts. For the case of the MW, our simulations predict that the bulk of the disrupted population was accreted at 〈zacc〉 ≈ 2, in agreement with other findings. We also find that disrupted satellites form and evolve in denser environments, closer to their hosts, than their present-day counterparts.
The morphology of the redshifted 21-cm signal from the Cosmic Dawn
Authors: Ghara Raghunath , Bag Satadru , Zaroubi Saleem , Majumdar Suman
Published: March 2024

The spatial fluctuations in the tomographic maps of the redshifted 21-cm signal from the Cosmic Dawn (CD) crucially depend on the size and distribution of the regions with gas temperatures larger than the radio background temperature. In this article, we study the morphological characteristics of such emission regions and their absorption counterparts using the shape diagnostic tool surfgen2. Using simulated CD brightness temperature cubes of the 21-cm signal, we find that the emission regions percolate at stages with the filling factor of the emission regions $\mathrm{FF}_{\rm emi}\gtrsim 0.15$. Percolation of the absorption regions occurs for $\mathrm{FF}_{\rm abs}\gtrsim 0.05$. The largest emission and absorption regions are topologically complex and highly filamentary for most parts of the CD. The number density of these regions as a function of the volume shows the power-law nature with the power-law indexes $\approx -2$ and $-1.6$ for the emission and absorption regions, respectively. Overall, the planarity, filamentarity, and genus increase with the increase of the volume of both emission and absorption regions.
Diffuse low-grade glioma: What is the optimal linear measure to assess tumor growth?
Authors: Dos Santos Thomas , Deverdun Jeremy , Chaptal Thierry , Darlix Amélie , Duffau Hugues , Van Dokkum Liesjet Elisabeth Henriette , Coget Arthur , Carrière Mathilde , Denis Eve , Verdier Margaux , Menjot de Champfleur Nicolas , Le Bars Emmanuelle
Published: March 2024

Background

Radiological follow-up of diffuse low-grade gliomas (LGGs) growth is challenging. Approximative visual assessment still predominates over objective quantification due to the complexity of the pathology. The infiltrating character, diffuse borders and presence of surgical cavities demand LGG-based linear measurement rules to efficiently and precisely assess LGG evolution over time.

Methods

We compared optimized 1D, 2D, and 3D linear measurements with manual volume segmentation as a reference to assess LGG tumor growth in 36 patients with LGG (340 magnetic resonance imaging scans), using the clinically important mean tumor diameter (MTD) and the velocity diameter expansion (VDE). LGG-specific progression thresholds were established using the high-grade gliomas-based RECIST, Macdonald, and RANO criteria, comparing the sensitivity to identify progression/non-progression for each linear method compared to the ground truth established by the manual segmentation.

Results

3D linear volume approximation correlated strongly with manually segmented volume. It also showed the highest sensitivity for progression detection. The MTD showed a comparable result, whereas the VDE highlighted that caution is warranted in the case of small tumors with multiple residues. Novel LGG-specific progression thresholds, or the critical change in estimated tumor volume, were increased for the 3D (from 40% to 52%) and 2D methods (from 25% to 33%) and decreased for the 1D method (from 20% to 16%). Using the 3D method allowed a ~5-minute time gain.

Conclusions

While manual volumetric assessment remains the gold standard for calculating growth rate, the 3D linear method is the best time-efficient standardized alternative for radiological evaluation of LGGs in routine use.
Is Gamma Knife surgery, omitting adjunct whole brain radiation treatment, feasible for patients with 20 or more brain metastases?
Authors: Jiani Sherry Liu , Karlsson Bengt , Vellayappan Balamurugan , Ang Yvonne , Wu Peng , Yeo Tseng Tsai , Nga Vincent
Published: March 2024

Background

The importance of the number of brain metastases (BM) when deciding between whole brain radiation treatment (WBRT) and radiosurgery is controversial. We hypothesized that the number of BM is of limited importance when deciding radiation strategy, and offered Gamma Knife surgery (GKS) also for selected patients with 20 or more BM.

Methods

The outcome following single session GKS for 75 consecutive patients harboring 20 or more (20+) BM was analyzed. Data was collected both retro- and prospectively.

Results

The median survival time was 9 months. Two grade 3 complications occurred, 1 resolved and 1 did not. Sex and clinical condition at the time of GKS (ECOG value) were the only parameters significantly related to survival time. Eighteen patients developed leptomeningeal dissemination with or without distant recurrences (DR), and another 32 patients developed DR a total of 73 times. DR was managed with GKS 24 times, with WBRT 3 times and with systemic treatment or best supportive care 46 times. The median time to developing DR was unrelated to the number of BM, but significantly longer for patients older than 65 years, as well as for patients with NSCLC.

Conclusions

GKS is a reasonable treatment option for selected patients with 20 or more BM. It is better to decide the optimal management of post-GKS intracranial disease progression once it occurs rather than trying to prevent it by using adjunct WBRT.
H3K4me1 recruits DNA repair proteins in plants
Authors: Quiroz Daniela , Oya Satoyo , Lopez-Mateos Diego , Zhao Kehan , Pierce Alice , Ortega Lissandro , Ali Alissza , Carbonell-Bejerano Pablo , Yarov-Yarovoy Vladimir , Suzuki Sae , Hayashi Gosuke , Osakabe Akihisa , Monroe Grey
Published: March 2024

DNA repair proteins can be recruited by their histone reader domains to specific epigenomic features, with consequences on intragenomic mutation rate variation. Here, we investigated H3K4me1-associated hypomutation in plants. We first examined 2 proteins which, in plants, contain Tudor histone reader domains: PRECOCIOUS DISSOCIATION OF SISTERS 5 (PDS5C), involved in homology-directed repair, and MUTS HOMOLOG 6 (MSH6), a mismatch repair protein. The MSH6 Tudor domain of Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) binds to H3K4me1 as previously demonstrated for PDS5C, which localizes to H3K4me1-rich gene bodies and essential genes. Mutations revealed by ultradeep sequencing of wild-type and msh6 knockout lines in Arabidopsis show that functional MSH6 is critical for the reduced rate of single-base substitution (SBS) mutations in gene bodies and H3K4me1-rich regions. We explored the breadth of these mechanisms among plants by examining a large rice (Oryza sativa) mutation data set. H3K4me1-associated hypomutation is conserved in rice as are the H3K4me1-binding residues of MSH6 and PDS5C Tudor domains. Recruitment of DNA repair proteins by H3K4me1 in plants reveals convergent, but distinct, epigenome-recruited DNA repair mechanisms from those well described in humans. The emergent model of H3K4me1-recruited repair in plants is consistent with evolutionary theory regarding mutation modifier systems and offers mechanistic insight into intragenomic mutation rate variation in plants.
Elevated pain sensitivity is associated with reduced rapid eye movement (REM) sleep in females with comorbid temporomandibular disorder and insomnia
Authors: Reid Matthew J , Hamilton Katrina R , Nilsson Sophie J , Owens Michael Alec , Phillips Jane L , Finan Patrick H , Campbell Claudia M , Giagtzis Alexandros , Abhishek Dave , Haythornthwaite Jennifer A , Smith Michael T
Published: March 2024

Objective

Patients with chronic pain disorders, including Temporomandibular Disorders (TMDs) endorse high levels of sleep disturbances, frequently reporting reduced sleep quality. Despite this, little is known about the effect that daytime pain has on the microstructure and macro-architecture of sleep. Therefore, we aimed to examine the extent to which daytime pain sensitivity, measured using quantitative sensory testing (QST), is associated with objective sleep parameters the following night, including sleep architecture and power spectral density, in women with TMD.

Methods

144 females with myalgia and arthralgia by examination using the Diagnostic criteria for TMD completed a comprehensive QST battery consisting of General Pain Sensitivity, Central Sensitization Index, and Masseter Pressure Pain Threshold assessments. Polysomnography was collected the same night to measure sleep architecture and calculate relative power in delta, theta, alpha, sigma, and beta power bands.

Results

Central Sensitization (B = −3.069, P = .009), General Pain Sensitivity Indices (B = −3.069, P = .007), and Masseter Pain Pressure Threshold (B = 0.030, P = .008) were significantly associated with lower REM% both before and after controlling for covariates. Pain sensitivity measures were not significantly associated with relative power in any of the spectral bands nor with any other sleep architectural stages.

Conclusions

Our findings demonstrate that higher generalized pain sensitivity, masseter pain pressure threshold, as well as central sensitization were associated with a lower percentage of REM in participants with myofascial pain and arthralgia of the masticatory system. These findings provide an important step toward understanding the mechanistic underpinnings of how chronic pain interacts with sleep physiology.
One step too far: social cerebellum in norm-violating navigation
Authors: Li Meijia , Pu Min , Ma Qianying , Heleven Elien , Baeken Chris , Baetens Kris , Deroost Natacha , Van Overwalle Frank
Published: March 2024

Social norms are pivotal in guiding social interactions. The current study investigated the potential contribution of the posterior cerebellum, a critical region involved in perceiving and comprehending the sequential dynamics of social actions, in detecting actions that either conform to or deviate from social norms. Participants engaged in a goal-directed task in which they observed others navigating towards a goal. The trajectories demonstrated either norm-violating (trespassing forbidden zones) or norm-following behaviors (avoiding forbidden zones). Results revealed that observing social norm-violating behaviors engaged the bilateral posterior cerebellar Crus 2 and the right temporoparietal junction (TPJ) from the mentalizing network, and the parahippocampal gyrus (PHG) to a greater extent than observing norm-following behaviors. These mentalizing regions were also activated when comparing social sequences against non-social and non-sequential control conditions. Reproducing norm-violating social trajectories observed earlier, activated the left cerebellar Crus 2 and the right PHG compared to reproducing norm-following trajectories. These findings illuminate the neural mechanisms in the cerebellum associated with detecting norm transgressions during social navigation, emphasizing the role of the posterior cerebellum in detecting and signaling deviations from anticipated sequences.
It’s a Trap! Part II: An Approachable Guide to Constructing and Using Rotating-Arm Air Samplers
Authors: Check Jill C. , Harkness Rebecca J. , Heger Lexi , Chilvers Martin I. , Mahaffee Walter F. , Sakalidis Monique L. , Miles Timothy D.
Published: March 2024

An increasing number of researchers are looking to understand the factors affecting microbial dispersion but are often limited by the costs of commercially available air samplers. Some have reduced these costs by designing self-made versions; however, there are no published sampler designs, and there is limited information provided on the actual construction process. Lack of appropriate reference material limits the use of these self-made samplers by many researchers. This manuscript provides a guide to designing and constructing rotating-arm impaction air samplers by covering (i) environmental considerations, (ii) construction materials and equipment, (iii) the construction process, and (iv) air sampler deployment. Information regarding how to calculate rotational velocity, motor speed, and power supply requirements and to troubleshoot common issues is presented in an approachable format for individuals without experience in electronics or machining. Although many of the components discussed in this guide may change in their availability or be updated over time, this document is intended to serve as a “builder’s guide” for future research into air sampling technology for phytopathology research.
Performance of Outbreak Management Plans for Emerging Plant Diseases: The Case of Almond Leaf Scorch Caused by Xylella fastidiosa in Mainland Spain
Authors: Cendoya Martina , Lázaro Elena , Navarro-Quiles Ana , López-Quílez Antonio , Conesa David , Vicent Antonio
Published: March 2024

Outbreak response to quarantine pathogens and pests in the European Union (EU) is regulated by the EU Plant Health Law, but the performance of outbreak management plans in terms of their effectiveness and efficiency has been quantified only to a limited extent. As a case study, the disease dynamics of almond leaf scorch, caused by Xylella fastidiosa, in the affected area of Alicante, Spain, were approximated using an individual-based spatial epidemiological model. The emergence of this outbreak was dated based on phylogenetic studies, and official surveys were used to delimit the current extent of the disease. Different survey strategies and disease control measures were compared to determine their effectiveness and efficiency for outbreak management in relation to a baseline scenario without interventions. One-step and two-step survey approaches were compared with different confidence levels, buffer zone sizes, and eradication radii, including those set by the EU legislation for X. fastidiosa. The effect of disease control interventions was also considered by decreasing the transmission rate in the buffer zone. All outbreak management plans reduced the number of infected trees (effectiveness), but large differences were observed in the number of susceptible trees not eradicated (efficiency). The two-step survey approach, high confidence level, and the reduction in the transmission rate increased the efficiency. Only the outbreak management plans with the two-step survey approach removed infected trees completely, but they required greater survey efforts. Although control measures reduced disease spread, surveillance was the key factor in the effectiveness and efficiency of the outbreak management plans.

[Formula: see text] Copyright © 2024 The Author(s). This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY 4.0 International license .
Alcohol-Related Care Among Veterans With Unhealthy Alcohol Use: The Role of Long-Term Opioid Therapy Receipt
Authors: Joudrey Paul J. , Wang Melinda , DeRycke Eric , Williams Emily C. , Edelman Eva Jennifer
Published: March 2024

Objectives

Long-term opioid therapy (LTOT) is potentially dangerous among patients with unhealthy alcohol use because of possible adverse interactions. We examined receipt of alcohol-related care among patients with unhealthy alcohol use receiving LTOT and without opioid receipt.

Methods

We use data collected from 2009 to 2017 in the Women Veterans Cohort Study, a national cohort of Veterans engaged in Veterans Health Administration care. We included patients who screened positive for unhealthy alcohol use (score ≥5) using the Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Consumption questionnaire. Our primary exposure was LTOT (receipt of prescribed opioids for ≥90 days) versus no opioid receipt at the time of the first positive Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Consumption. Our primary outcome was receipt of brief intervention within 14 days of positive alcohol screen. Unadjusted and 4 adjusted modified Poisson regression models assessed prevalence and relative rates (RRs) of outcomes.

Results

Among eligible veterans, 6222 of 113,628 (5.5%) received LTOT at screening. Among patients receiving LTOT, 67.5% (95% confidence interval [CI], 66.3%–68.6%) had a documented brief intervention within 14 days of positive screen, compared with 70.1% (95% CI, 69.8%–70.4%) among patients without opioid receipt (RR, 0.96; 95% CI, 0.95–0.98; P < 0.001). Within adjusted models, the rate of brief intervention among patients receiving LTOT remained lower than patients without opioid receipt.

Conclusions

Among patients with unhealthy alcohol use, patients receiving LTOT had significantly lower rates of brief intervention receipt compared with those without opioid receipt, and they should be a focus for interventions to improve alcohol-related care and safer opioid prescribing.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning in axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Adams Lisa C. , Bressem Keno K. , Poddubnyy Denis
Published: March 2024

Purpose of review

To evaluate the current applications and prospects of artificial intelligence and machine learning in diagnosing and managing axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA), focusing on their role in medical imaging, predictive modelling, and patient monitoring.

Recent findings

Artificial intelligence, particularly deep learning, is showing promise in diagnosing axSpA assisting with X-ray, computed tomography (CT) and MRI analyses, with some models matching or outperforming radiologists in detecting sacroiliitis and markers. Moreover, it is increasingly being used in predictive modelling of disease progression and personalized treatment, and could aid risk assessment, treatment response and clinical subtype identification. Variable study designs, sample sizes and the predominance of retrospective, single-centre studies still limit the generalizability of results.

Artificial intelligence technologies have significant potential to advance the diagnosis and treatment of axSpA, providing more accurate, efficient and personalized healthcare solutions. However, their integration into clinical practice requires rigorous validation, ethical and legal considerations, and comprehensive training for healthcare professionals. Future advances in artificial intelligence could complement clinical expertise and improve patient care through improved diagnostic accuracy and tailored therapeutic strategies, but the challenge remains to ensure that these technologies are validated in prospective multicentre trials and ethically integrated into patient care.
Machine Learning Identifies Higher Survival Profile In Extracorporeal Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation*
Authors: Crespo-Diaz Ruben , Wolfson Julian , Yannopoulos Demetris , Bartos Jason A.
Published: March 2024

OBJECTIVES:

Extracorporeal cardiopulmonary resuscitation (ECPR) has been shown to improve neurologically favorable survival in patients with refractory out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA) caused by shockable rhythms. Further refinement of patient selection is needed to focus this resource-intensive therapy on those patients likely to benefit. This study sought to create a selection model using machine learning (ML) tools for refractory cardiac arrest patients undergoing ECPR.

DESIGN:

Retrospective cohort study.

SETTING:

Cardiac ICU in a Quaternary Care Center.

PATIENTS:

Adults 18–75 years old with refractory OHCA caused by a shockable rhythm.

METHODS:

Three hundred seventy-six consecutive patients with refractory OHCA and a shockable presenting rhythm were analyzed, of which 301 underwent ECPR and cannulation for venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation. Clinical variables that were widely available at the time of cannulation were analyzed and ranked on their ability to predict neurologically favorable survival.

INTERVENTIONS:

ML was used to train supervised models and predict favorable neurologic outcomes of ECPR. The best-performing models were internally validated using a holdout test set.

MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS:

Neurologically favorable survival occurred in 119 of 301 patients (40%) receiving ECPR. Rhythm at the time of cannulation, intermittent or sustained return of spontaneous circulation, arrest to extracorporeal membrane oxygenation perfusion time, and lactic acid levels were the most predictive of the 11 variables analyzed. All variables were integrated into a training model that yielded an in-sample area under the receiver-operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.89 and a misclassification rate of 0.19. Out-of-sample validation of the model yielded an AUC of 0.80 and a misclassification rate of 0.23, demonstrating acceptable prediction ability.

CONCLUSIONS:

ML can develop a tiered risk model to guide ECPR patient selection with tailored arrest profiles.