Abstract
Low dimensional quantum magnets are interesting because of the emerging collective behavior arising from strong quantum fluctuations. The one-dimensional (1D)
S
= 1/2 Heisenberg ...antiferromagnet is a paradigmatic example, whose low-energy excitations, known as spinons, carry fractional spin
S
= 1/2. These fractional modes can be reconfined by the application of a staggered magnetic field. Even though considerable progress has been made in the theoretical understanding of such magnets, experimental realizations of this low-dimensional physics are relatively rare. This is particularly true for rare-earth-based magnets because of the large effective spin anisotropy induced by the combination of strong spin–orbit coupling and crystal field splitting. Here, we demonstrate that the rare-earth perovskite YbAlO
3
provides a realization of a quantum spin
S
= 1/2 chain material exhibiting both quantum critical Tomonaga–Luttinger liquid behavior and spinon confinement–deconfinement transitions in different regions of magnetic field–temperature phase diagram.
Objectives
To evaluate the recommendations for multiparametric prostate MRI (mp-MRI) interpretation introduced in the recently updated Prostate Imaging Reporting and Data System version 2 ...(PI-RADSv2), and investigate the impact of pathologic tumour volume on prostate cancer (PCa) detectability on mpMRI.
Methods
This was an institutional review board (IRB)-approved, retrospective study of 150 PCa patients who underwent mp-MRI before prostatectomy; 169 tumours ≥0.5-mL (any Gleason Score GS) and 37 tumours <0.5-mL (GS ≥4+3) identified on whole-mount pathology maps were located on mp-MRI consisting of T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted (DW)-MRI, and dynamic contrast-enhanced (DCE)-MRI. Corresponding PI-RADSv2 scores were assigned on each sequence and combined as recommended by PI-RADSv2. We calculated the proportion of PCa foci on whole-mount pathology correctly identified with PI-RADSv2 (dichotomized scores 1–3 vs. 4–5), stratified by pathologic tumour volume.
Results
PI-RADSv2 allowed correct identification of 118/125 (94 %; 95 %CI: 90–99 %) peripheral zone (PZ) and 42/44 (95 %; 95 %CI: 89–100 %) transition zone (TZ) tumours ≥0.5 mL, but only 7/27 (26 %; 95 %CI: 10–42 %) PZ and 2/10 (20 %; 95 %CI: 0–52 %) TZ tumours with a GS ≥4+3, but <0.5 mL. DCE-MRI aided detection of 4/125 PZ tumours ≥0.5 mL and 0/27 PZ tumours <0.5 mL.
Conclusions
PI-RADSv2 correctly identified 94–95 % of PCa foci ≥0.5 mL, but was limited for the assessment of GS ≥4+3 tumours ≤0.5 mL. DCE-MRI offered limited added value to T2WI+DW-MRI.
Key points
• PI-RADSv2 correctly identified 95 % of PCa foci ≥0.5 mL
• PI-RADSv2 was limited for the assessment of GS ≥4+3 tumours ≤0.5 mL
• DCE-MRI offered limited added value to T2WI+DW-MRI
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EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, VSZLJ, ZAGLJ
Abstract
Pines are the dominant conifers in Mediterranean forests. As long-lived sessile organisms that seasonally have to cope with drought periods, they have developed a variety of adaptive ...responses. However, during last decades, highly intense and long-lasting drought events could have contributed to decay and mortality of the most susceptible trees. Among conifer species,
Pinus pinaster
Ait. shows remarkable ability to adapt to different environments. Previous molecular analysis of a full-sib family designed to study drought response led us to find active transcriptional activity of stress-responding genes even without water deprivation in tolerant genotypes. To improve our knowledge about communication between above- and below-ground organs of maritime pine, we have analyzed four graft-type constructions using two siblings as rootstocks and their progenitors, Gal 1056 and Oria 6, as scions. Transcriptomic profiles of needles from both scions were modified by the rootstock they were grafted on. However, the most significant differential gene expression was observed in drought-sensitive Gal 1056, while in drought-tolerant Oria 6, differential gene expression was very much lower. Furthermore, both scions grafted onto drought-tolerant rootstocks showed activation of genes involved in tolerance to abiotic stress, and is most remarkable in Oria 6 grafts where higher accumulation of transcripts involved in phytohormone action, transcriptional regulation, photosynthesis and signaling has been found. Additionally, processes, such as those related to secondary metabolism, were mainly associated with the scion genotype. This study provides pioneering information about rootstock effects on scion gene expression in conifers.
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IZUM, KILJ, NUK, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, UL, UM, UPUK
Although the Sensititre Yeast-One (SYO) and Etest methods are widely utilized, interpretive criteria are not available for triazole susceptibility testing of
or
species. We collected fluconazole, ...itraconazole, posaconazole, and voriconazole SYO and Etest MICs from 39 laboratories representing all continents for (method/agent-dependent) 11,171
, 215
, 4,418
species complex, 157
(
), 676
(
), 298
(
), 911
, 3,691
species complex, 36
, 110
, 1,854
, 244
, 1,409
, 389
, 130
, 233
, and 302
complex isolates. SYO/Etest MICs for 282 confirmed non-wild-type (non-WT) isolates were included:
(
),
and
(
),
(
), and
and
overexpression (
and
, respectively). Interlaboratory modal agreement was superior by SYO for yeast species and by the Etest for
spp. Distributions fulfilling CLSI criteria for epidemiological cutoff value (ECV) definition were pooled, and we proposed SYO ECVs for
and 9 yeast and 3
species and Etest ECVs for 5 yeast and 4
species. The posaconazole SYO ECV of 0.06 µg/ml for
and the Etest itraconazole ECV of 2 µg/ml for
were the best predictors of non-WT isolates. These findings support the need for method-dependent ECVs, as, overall, the SYO appears to perform better for susceptibility testing of yeast species and the Etest appears to perform better for susceptibility testing of
spp. Further evaluations should be conducted with more
mutants.
To assess the correlation between cognitive impairment and overall vs regional CNS damage, quantified using conventional and diffusion tensor (DT) MRI tractography in multiple sclerosis (MS).
Brain ...dual-echo, T1-weighted, and DT MRI data were acquired from 82 patients with MS. DT tractography was used to produce maps of white matter (WM) tracts involved in cognition. The sensory thalamocortical projections and optic radiations were studied as "control" WM tracts. The contribution of global brain damage (T2 lesion volume, normalized brain volume, gray matter GM volume, WM volume, DT MRI measures of normal-appearing WM and GM damage) and damage to selected WM tracts to overall cognitive impairment and to impairment at individual neuropsychological tests was assessed using a random forest (RF) analysis.
Thirty-three patients had cognitive impairment. The majority of MRI measures differed significantly between cognitively impaired and cognitively preserved (CP) patients. Significant correlations were found between performance in the majority of neuropsychological tests and global or regional brain damage (r ranging from -0.60 to 0.57). The RF analysis showed a high performance in classifying cognitively impaired vs CP patients, with a classification (C)-index = 76.8, as well as in classifying patients' impairment in individual neuropsychological tests (C-index between 75.6% and 86.6%). Measures of lesional damage in cognitive-related tracts, rather than measures of normal-appearing WM damage in the same tracts or global brain/WM/GM damage, resulted in the highest classification accuracy.
Lesions in strategic brain WM tracts contribute to cognitive impairment in MS through a multisystem disconnection syndrome.
Low dimensional quantum magnets are interesting because of the emerging collective behavior arising from strong quantum fluctuations. The one-dimensional (1D) S = 1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet is a ...paradigmatic example, whose low-energy excitations, known as spinons, carry fractional spin S = 1/2. These fractional modes can be reconfined by the application of a staggered magnetic field. Even though considerable progress has been made in the theoretical understanding of such magnets, experimental realizations of this low-dimensional physics are relatively rare. This is particularly true for rare-earth-based magnets because of the large effective spin anisotropy induced by the combination of strong spin-orbit coupling and crystal field splitting. Here, we demonstrate that the rare-earth perovskite YbAlO
provides a realization of a quantum spin S = 1/2 chain material exhibiting both quantum critical Tomonaga-Luttinger liquid behavior and spinon confinement-deconfinement transitions in different regions of magnetic field-temperature phase diagram.
The dietary inflammatory index (DII) is a new tool to assess the inflammatory potential of the diet. In the present study, we aimed to determine the association between the DII and BMI, waist ...circumference and waist:height ratio (WHtR). We conducted a cross-sectional study of 7236 participants recruited into the PREvención con DIeta MEDiterránea trial. Information from a validated 137-item FFQ was used to calculate energy, food and nutrient intakes. A fourteen-item dietary screener was used to assess adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MeDiet). Sex-specific multivariable linear regression models were fitted to estimate differences (and 95 % CI) in BMI, waist circumference and WHtR across the quintiles of the DII. All nutrient intakes, healthy foods and adherence to the MeDiet were higher in the quintile with the lowest DII score (more anti-inflammatory values) except for intakes of animal protein, saturated fat and monounsaturated fat. Although an inverse association between the DII and total energy was apparent, the DII was associated with higher average BMI, waist circumference and WHtR after adjusting for known risk factors. The adjusted difference in the WHtR for women and men between the highest and lowest quintiles of the DII was 1·60 % (95 % CI 0·87, 2·33) and 1·04 % (95 % CI 0·35, 1·74), respectively. Pro-inflammatory scores remained associated with obesity after controlling for the effect that adherence to a MeDiet had on inflammation. In conclusion, the present study shows a direct association between the DII and indices of obesity, and supports the hypothesis that diet may have a role in the development of obesity through inflammatory modulation mechanisms.
Background
Knowledge regarding neuropsychological training in Rett syndrome (RS) is scarce. The aim of this study was to assess the outcome and the duration of the effect of cognitive stimulation on ...topographic electroencephalography (EEG) data in RS.
Methods
Twenty female children diagnosed with RS were included in the analysis. Girls with RS conducted a cognitive task using an eye‐tracker designed to evaluate access and choice skills. EEG data were acquired during the experimental procedure including two 10‐min baseline stages before and after the task. Topographical changes of several EEG spectral markers including absolute and relative powers, Brain Symmetry Index and entropy were assessed.
Results
Topographic significance probability maps suggested statistical decreases on delta activity and increases on beta rhythm associated with the cognitive task. Entropy increased during and after the task, likely related to more complex brain activity. A significant positive interaction was obtained between Brain Symmetry Index and age showing that the improvement of interhemispheric symmetry was higher in younger girls (5–10 years).
Conclusions
According to our findings, significant alterations of brain rhythms were observed during and after cognitive stimulation, suggesting that cognitive stimulation may have effects on brain activity beyond the stimulation period. Finally, our promising results also showed an increase brain symmetry that was especially relevant for the younger group. This could suggest an interaction of the eye‐tracking cognitive task; however, further studies in this field are needed to assess the relation between brain asymmetries and age.
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BFBNIB, DOBA, FZAB, GIS, IJS, IZUM, KILJ, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBMB, SIK, UILJ, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VSZLJ
MeV-scale energy depositions by low-energy photons produced in neutrino-argon interactions have been identified and reconstructed in ArgoNeuT liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC) data. ...ArgoNeuT data collected on the NuMI beam at Fermilab were analyzed to select isolated low-energy depositions in the TPC volume. The total number, reconstructed energies, and positions of these depositions have been compared to those from simulations of neutrino-argon interactions using the fluka Monte Carlo generator. Measured features are consistent with energy depositions from photons produced by deexcitation of the neutrino’s target nucleus and by inelastic scattering of primary neutrons produced by neutrino-argon interactions. This study represents a successful reconstruction of physics at the MeV scale in a LArTPC, a capability of crucial importance for detection and reconstruction of supernova and solar neutrino interactions in future large LArTPCs.
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CMK, CTK, FMFMET, IJS, NUK, PNG, UM
In this multicenter study, a new semiautomatic method for segmenting the cervical cord from C2 to C5 was used to investigate the correlation between cord atrophy and clinical disability in a large ...sample of patients with multiple sclerosis (MS).
T2 and 3-dimensional T1-weighted cervical cord scans and dual-echo brain scans were acquired from 143 healthy controls, 22 patients with clinically isolated syndromes (CIS), 101 patients with relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS), 79 patients with secondary progressive MS (SPMS), 58 patients with benign MS (BMS), and 75 patients with primary progressive MS (PPMS) in 3 European centers. Normalized cervical cord cross-sectional area (CSAn) was measured by an active surface cord model. Between-group comparisons were performed using linear mixed-effect models. A nonparametric kernel estimator was used to obtain smoothed plots of CSA along the cervical cord.
Cord CSAn was significantly lower in PPMS vs healthy controls, BMS vs RRMS, SPMS vs BMS, and RRMS. From C2 to C5, a net separation and definition of the plots of patients with BMS, PPMS, and SPMS was seen with respect to those of the other study groups. CSAn was correlated with Expanded Disability Status Scale (r = -0.49, p < 0.0001), with a differential effect among disease clinical phenotypes: no association in either CIS or in BMS; association in RRMS (r = -0.30, p = 0.001), SPMS (r = -0.34, p = 0.001), and PPMS (r = -0.27, p = 0.01).
Cervical cord atrophy provides a relevant and useful marker for the characterization of clinical heterogeneity of patients with MS. The stability of this measure among different centers supports its use as potential outcome measure to monitor disease progression in multicenter trials.
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