Abstract
Radial velocity (RV) measurements of transiting multiplanet systems allow us to understand the densities and compositions of planets unlike those in the solar system. Kepler-102, which ...consists of five tightly packed transiting planets, is a particularly interesting system since it includes a super-Earth (Kepler-102d) and a sub-Neptune-sized planet (Kepler-102e) for which masses can be measured using RVs. Previous work found a high density for Kepler-102d, suggesting a composition similar to that of Mercury, while Kepler-102e was found to have a density typical of sub-Neptune size planets; however, Kepler-102 is an active star, which can interfere with RV mass measurements. To better measure the mass of these two planets, we obtained 111 new RVs using Keck/HIRES and Telescopio Nazionale Galileo/HARPS-N and modeled Kepler-102's activity using quasiperiodic Gaussian process regression. For Kepler-102d, we report a mass upper limit
M
d
< 5.3
M
⊕
(95% confidence), a best-fit mass
M
d
= 2.5 ± 1.4
M
⊕
, and a density
ρ
d
= 5.6 ± 3.2 g cm
−3
, which is consistent with a rocky composition similar in density to the Earth. For Kepler-102e we report a mass
M
e
= 4.7 ± 1.7
M
⊕
and a density
ρ
e
= 1.8 ± 0.7 g cm
−3
. These measurements suggest that Kepler-102e has a rocky core with a thick gaseous envelope comprising 2%–4% of the planet mass and 16%–50% of its radius. Our study is yet another demonstration that accounting for stellar activity in stars with clear rotation signals can yield more accurate planet masses, enabling a more realistic interpretation of planet interiors.
Purpose Randomized trials have shown that intermittent androgen deprivation therapy for patients with advanced prostate cancer may improve sexual and physical functioning compared to continuous ...androgen deprivation therapy without compromising survival. To our knowledge it is unknown whether intermittent androgen deprivation therapy alters the risk of serious toxicities associated with continuous androgen deprivation therapy. Materials and Methods We performed a population based cohort study of 9,772 men 66 years old or older who were diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer from 2002 to 2011 and treated with androgen deprivation therapy. Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy was defined as a single 90-day interval between 2 androgen deprivation therapy sessions during which patients visited their physicians or underwent prostate specific antigen testing. Outcomes included acute myocardial infarction, stroke, heart failure, type 2 diabetes and fracture. We used Cox proportional hazard models to estimate the HRs of the comparative risk of serious toxicities between intermittent and continuous androgen deprivation therapy. Results A total of 2,113 (22%), 769 (9%) and 899 men (9%) had a new cardiovascular event, diabetes or fracture, respectively, within 5 years of starting androgen deprivation therapy. Compared to the continuous androgen deprivation therapy group, the intermittent therapy group was at lower risk for serious cardiovascular events (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.53–0.77), particularly in reducing the risk of heart failure (HR 0.62, 95% CI 0.49–0.78) and fracture (HR 0.52, 95% CI 0.38–0.70, each p <0.0001). Conclusions Intermittent androgen deprivation therapy was associated with a lower risk of heart failure and fracture compared to continuous androgen deprivation therapy. This raises toxicity concerns for continuous relative to intermittent therapy and suggests that intermittent androgen deprivation therapy may represent a safer therapeutic choice in elderly men with advanced prostate cancer.
A broadband dispersion-free optical cavity using a zero group delay dispersion (zero-GDD) mirror set is demonstrated. In general zero-GDD mirror sets consist of two or more mirrors with opposite ...group delay dispersion (GDD), that when used together, form an optical cavity with vanishing dispersion over an enhanced bandwidth in comparison with traditional low GDD mirrors. More specifically, in this paper, we show a realization of such a two-mirror cavity, where the mirrors show opposite GDD and simultaneously a mirror reflectivity of 99.2% over 100 nm bandwidth (480 nm - 580 nm).
Radial velocity (RV) measurements of transiting multiplanet systems allow us to understand the densities and compositions of planets unlike those in the Solar System. Kepler-102, which consists of 5 ...tightly packed transiting planets, is a particularly interesting system since it includes a super-Earth (Kepler-102d) and a sub-Neptune-sized planet (Kepler-102e) for which masses can be measured using radial velocities. Previous work found a high density for Kepler-102d, suggesting a composition similar to that of Mercury, while Kepler-102e was found to have a density typical of sub-Neptune size planets; however, Kepler-102 is an active star, which can interfere with RV mass measurements. To better measure the mass of these two planets, we obtained 111 new RVs using Keck/HIRES and TNG/HARPS-N and modeled Kepler-102's activity using quasi-periodic Gaussian Process Regression. For Kepler-102d, we report a mass upper limit of M\(_{d} < \)5.3 M\(_{\oplus}\) 95\% confidence, a best-fit mass of M\(_{d}\)=2.5 \(\pm\) 1.4 M\(_{\oplus}\), and a density of \(\rho_{d}\)=5.6 \(\pm\) 3.2 g/cm\(^{3}\) which is consistent with a rocky composition similar in density to the Earth. For Kepler-102e we report a mass of M\(_{e}\)=4.7 \(\pm\) 1.7 M\(_{\oplus}\) and a density of \(\rho_{e}\)=1.8 \(\pm\) 0.7 g/cm\(^{3}\). These measurements suggest that Kepler-102e has a rocky core with a thick gaseous envelope comprising 2-4% of the planet mass and 16-50% of its radius. Our study is yet another demonstration that accounting for stellar activity in stars with clear rotation signals can yield more accurate planet masses, enabling a more realistic interpretation of planet interiors.
ARVD/C: The Triangle of Dysplasia Displaced
Introduction
The traditional description of the Triangle of Dysplasia in Arrhythmogenic Right Ventricular Dysplasia/Cardiomyopathy (ARVD/C) predates ...genetic testing and excludes biventricular phenotypes.
Methods and Results
We analyzed Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) studies of 74 mutation‐positive ARVD/C patients for regional abnormalities on a 5‐segment RV and 17‐segment LV model. The location of electroanatomic endo‐ and epicardial scar and site of successful VT ablation was recorded in 11 ARVD/C subjects. Among 54/74 (73%) subjects with abnormal CMR, the RV was abnormal in almost all (96%), and 52% had biventricular involvement. Isolated LV abnormalities were uncommon (4%). Dyskinetic basal inferior wall (94%) was the most prevalent RV abnormality, followed by basal anterior wall (87%) dyskinesis. Subepicardial fat infiltration in the posterolateral LV (80%) was the most frequent LV abnormality. Similar to CMR data, voltage maps revealed scar (<0.5 mV) in the RV basal inferior wall (100%), followed by the RV basal anterior wall (64%) and LV posterolateral wall (45%). All 16 RV VTs originated from the basal inferior wall (50%) or basal anterior wall (50%). Of 3 LV VTs, 2 localized to the posterolateral wall. In both modalities, RV apical involvement never occurred in isolation.
Conclusion
Mutation‐positive ARVD/C exhibits a previously unrecognized characteristic pattern of disease involving the basal inferior and anterior RV, and the posterolateral LV. The RV apex is only involved in advanced ARVD/C, typically as a part of global RV involvement. These results displace the RV apex from the Triangle of Dysplasia, and provide insights into the pathophysiology of ARVD/C.
We conducted voluntary Covid-19 testing programmes for symptomatic and asymptomatic staff at a UK teaching hospital using naso-/oro-pharyngeal PCR testing and immunoassays for IgG antibodies. ...1128/10,034 (11.2%) staff had evidence of Covid-19 at some time. Using questionnaire data provided on potential risk-factors, staff with a confirmed household contact were at greatest risk (adjusted odds ratio aOR 4.82 95%CI 3.45-6.72). Higher rates of Covid-19 were seen in staff working in Covid-19-facing areas (22.6% vs. 8.6% elsewhere) (aOR 2.47 1.99-3.08). Controlling for Covid-19-facing status, risks were heterogenous across the hospital, with higher rates in acute medicine (1.52 1.07-2.16) and sporadic outbreaks in areas with few or no Covid-19 patients. Covid-19 intensive care unit staff were relatively protected (0.44 0.28-0.69), likely by a bundle of PPE-related measures. Positive results were more likely in Black (1.66 1.25-2.21) and Asian (1.51 1.28-1.77) staff, independent of role or working location, and in porters and cleaners (2.06 1.34-3.15).
We describe the genome sequence of a macrolide-resistant strain (MGAS10394) of serotype M6 group A Streptococcus (GAS). The genome is 1,900,156 bp in length, and 8 prophage-like elements or remnants ...compose 12.4% of the chromosome. A 8.3-kb prophage remnant encodes the SpeA4 variant of streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A. The genome of strain MGAS10394 contains a chimeric genetic element composed of prophage genes and a transposon encoding the mefA gene conferring macrolide resistance. This chimeric element also has a gene encoding a novel surface-exposed protein (designated “R6 protein”), with an LPKTG cell-anchor motif located at the carboxyterminus. Surface expression of this protein was confirmed by flow cytometry. Humans with GAS pharyngitis caused by serotype M6 strains had antibody against the R6 protein present in convalescent, but not acute, serum samples. Our studies add to the theme that GAS prophage-encoded extracellular proteins contribute to host-pathogen interactions in a strain-specific fashion.
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