ABSTRACT
We investigate the formation and early evolution of a protostellar disc from a magnetized prestellar core using non-ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) simulations including ambipolar diffusion ...and Ohmic dissipation. The dynamical contraction of the prestellar core ultimately leads to the formation of a first hydrostatic core, after ambipolar diffusion decouples the magnetic field from the predominantly neutral gas. The hydrostatic core accumulates angular momentum from the infalling material, evolving into a rotationally supported torus; this ‘first hydrostatic torus’ then forms an accreting protostar and a rotationally supported disc. The disc spreads out by gravitational instability, reaching ∼30 au in diameter at ∼3 kyr after protostar formation. The total mass and angular momentum of the protostar–disc system are determined mainly by accretion of gas from an infalling pseudo-disc, which has low specific angular momentum because of magnetic braking; their removal from the protostar–disc system by outflow and disc magnetic braking are negligible, in part because the magnetic field is poorly coupled there. The redistribution of angular momentum within the protostar–disc system is facilitated mainly by gravitational instability; this allows formation of relatively large discs even when the specific angular momentum of infalling material is low. We argue that such discs should remain marginally unstable as they grow (with Toomre Q ∼ 1–2), an idea that is broadly consistent with recent observational estimates for Class 0/I discs. We discuss the numerical convergence of our results, and show that properly treating the inner boundary condition is crucial for achieving convergence at an acceptable computational cost.
Abstract
In recent times, instances of contestation against the European Court of Human Rights and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights have made headlines, and, in many of these cases, domestic ...courts have played a role by refusing to follow the human rights courts or even declaring their judgments to be unconstitutional. This article undertakes an in-depth analysis of these instances of judicial resistance and puts them into context. This shows that domestic courts, even though originally not having been allocated this role, have become important ‘compliance partners’ of the human rights courts and now play an important and autonomous role in the implementation of their judgments. At the same time, they act as ‘gatekeepers’ and limit their effects in the domestic order. Recent cases even suggest a turn to a less open and more national self-perception of domestic courts. While this reflects to some extent the multiple – and sometimes conflicting – roles domestic courts perform at the intersection of legal orders, the article argues that the open and flexible stance many domestic courts take when faced with international judgments is better suited to cope with the complex and plural legal reality than systematically judging anew on matters already decided by the human rights courts.
Background & Aims
The diagnostic accuracy of Liver Imaging Reporting and Data System (LI‐RADS) v.2018 and European Association for the Study of the Liver (EASL) criteria for the diagnosis of HCC have ...been widely evaluated, but their reliability should be investigated. We aimed to assess and compare the reliability of LI‐RADS v.2018 and EASL criteria for the diagnosis of HCC using MRI with extracellular contrast agents (ECAs) and gadoxetic acid (GA) and determine the effect of ancillary features on LI‐RADS reliability.
Approach & Results
Ten readers reviewed MRI studies of 92 focal liver lesions measuring <3 cm acquired with ECAs and GA <1 month apart from two prospective trials, assessing EASL criteria, LI‐RADS major and ancillary features, and LI‐RADS categorization with and without including ancillary features. Inter‐reader agreement for definite HCC diagnosis was substantial and similar for the two contrasts for both EASL and LI‐RADS criteria. For ECA‐MRI and GA‐MRI, respectively, inter‐reader agreement was k = 0.72 (95% CI, 0.63–0.81) and k = 0.72 (95% CI, 0.63–0.80); for nonrim hyperenhancement, k = 0.63 (95% CI, 0.54–0.72) and k = 0.57 (95% CI, 0.48–0.66); and for nonperipheral washout, k = 0.49 (95% CI, 0.40–0.59) and k = 0.48 (95% CI, 0.37–0.58) for enhancing capsule. The inter‐reader agreement for LI‐RADS after applying ancillary features remained in the same range of agreement.
Conclusions
Agreement for definite HCC was substantial and similar for both scoring systems and the two contrast agents in small focal liver lesions. Agreement for LI‐RADS categorization was lower for both contrast agents, and including LI‐RADS ancillary features did not improve agreement.
•The reliability of extracellular contrast and gadolinium in small liver lesions using LI‐RADS and EASL criteria have been investigated.
•The agreement for definite HCC was substantial and similar for both contrast agents and scoring systems, but the agreement for LI‐RADS categorization was lower.
Globally, hunger and malnutrition have been on the rise, with climate change exacerbating food insecurity by affecting food production and accessibility. In international law, the human right to food ...provides a legal protection for individuals. It emphasises that food should not just meet minimal nutritional needs but ensure the ability to obtain food in a dignified manner. In order to achieve this goal, the text discusses the role of climate litigation in addressing global hunger by focusing on the right to food in the context of increasing climate change impacts. It outlines the legal foundations and challenges associated with enforcing this right through various legal systems and the potential of using climate litigation as a tool to ensure food security.
The increasing role of intermittent renewable generation demands for an efficient spatial exchange of electricity. However, the technical characteristics of electricity transmission reduce the ...available cross-border capacity due to unscheduled flows in a zonal pricing framework. Using the detailed unit commitment and dispatch model stELMOD for the European system, we analyze the development of unscheduled flows under different market and network design scenarios for 2020. We apply ACER's flow definition to decompose commercial schedules and physical flows into unscheduled flows and its fractions, i.e. loop and unallocated flows. Our analysis reveals that unscheduled flows increase on average by 47% from 14.7 GW in 2013 to 21.7 GW in 2020 mainly driven by higher cross-border trade capacities and increasing renewable generation. These unscheduled flows, which affect adjacent countries through e.g. a reduction of tradeable cross-border capacity, can be effectively reduced through a delimitation of bidding zones or HVDC network expansion. Thus, even if a discussion of national impacts of national and European policies is inevitable, they can have substantial implications on adjacent regions through the interconnected electricity system. Therefore, a system-wide view should complement national perspectives to ensure an efficient system development with increasing shares of intermittent renewable generation.
•A model-based analysis of unscheduled flow patterns in Europe in 2020.•Decomposition of commercial and physical flows into loop and unallocated flows.•Unscheduled flows increase by 47% until 2020 due to RES and cross-border trade.•Market splitting and HVDC network extension can reduce unscheduled flows.•Analyses of national market policies should account for international impacts.
MicroRNAs in melanoma biology Kunz, Manfred
Advances in experimental medicine and biology,
01/2013, Letnik:
774
Journal Article
Recenzirano
Malignant melanoma is a highly aggressive tumour with increasing -incidence and poor prognosis in the metastatic stage. In recent years, a substantial number of reports on individual miRNAs or miRNA ...patterns have been published providing strong evidence that miRNAs might play an important role in malignant melanoma and might help to better understand the molecular mechanisms of melanoma development and progression. A major preliminary finding was that melanoma-associated miRNAs are often located in genomic regions with frequent gains and losses in tumours. Detailed studies of different groups thereafter identified miRNAs with differential expression in benign melanocytes compared with melanoma cell lines or in benign melanocytic lesions compared with melanomas. Among these were let-7a and b, miR-23a and b, miR-148, miR-155, miR-182, miR-200c, miR-211, miR214, and miR-221 and 222. Some of these miRNAs target well-known melanoma-associated genes like the NRAS oncogene, microphthalmia-associated transcription factor (MITF), receptor tyrosine kinase c-KIT or AP-2 transcription factors (TFAP2). Although we are still far from a complete understanding of the role of miRNA-target gene interactions in malignant melanoma, these findings further underscore the notion of a direct involvement of miRNAs in melanoma biology. Very recently, a prognostic signature of six miRNAs has been identified consisting of miRNAs miR-150, miR-342-3p, miR-455-3p, miR-145, miR-155, and miR-497. High expression of these miRNAs was shown to be associated with improved long-term survival of metastatic patients.
Olfactory testing is a useful tool in the differential diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease (PD). Although fast and easy to use, the high intercultural variability of odor detection limits the world-wide ...use of the most common test sets.
The aim of this study was to test one of the most commonly used olfactory tests (Sniffin' Sticks 12-identification test) in an adapted version for a Chinese population of healthy subjects and PD patients.
For this purpose, cohorts of 39 Chinese and 41 German PD patients as well as 70 Chinese and 100 German healthy subjects have been examined both with the original and the adapted version of the Sniffin' Sticks test, the latter being designed according to the regional culture.
The adapted Chinese version of the Sniffin' Sticks 12 identification test proved to discriminate Chinese PD patients from controls with a high specificity but relatively low sensitivity. Yet not all odor exchanges would have been necessary as the original odors including liquorice and coffee showed an equally high identification rate in the Chinese and German cohorts.
The results showed that the newly adapted test could be used as a screening test for PD related olfactory dysfunction in a Chinese population. However further investigation will be necessary to optimize the selection of odors for the Chinese version of the test.
We examined whether there is evidence for racial and gender bias in the voting patterns of contestants on Survivor, a reality-television zero-sum game in which contestants compete for up to 39 days ...to win $1 million. Among 731 contestants across 40 seasons, we found evidence of racial and gender bias at multiple stages of Survivor. Compared with men, women were more likely to be voted out of their tribe first and were less likely to make it to the individual-competition stage of the game (i.e., the “merge”). They were also less likely to win Survivor. Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) contestants, compared with White contestants, were more likely to be voted out of their tribe first and were less likely to make it to the individual-competition stage of the game. These findings suggest a systemic bias in favor of White men and against women of color.
•This ESMO Clinical Practice Guideline provides key recommendations and algorithms for managing metastatic breast cancer.•It covers diagnosis, staging, risk assessment, treatment, disease monitoring, ...palliative care and the patient perspective.•ESMO-MCBS and ESCAT scores are given to describe the levels of evidence for treatment choices.•The authors comprise an international expert group, with recommendations based on available evidence and expert opinion.•In clinical practice, all recommendations provided need to be discussed with patients in a shared decision-making approach.
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