Abstract In chronic transplant dysfunction (CTD), persistent (allo)immune-mediated inflammation eventually leads to tissue remodeling including neointima formation in intragraft arteries. We ...previously showed that recipient-derived neointimal α-SMA+ smooth muscle-like cells are present in human renal allografts with CTD. Human PBMC contain myeloid cells capable of differentiating into α-SMA+ cells in vitro ; the phenotype of the ancestral subset is as yet unknown. This study aimed to investigate whether monocyte subsets contain cells with smooth muscle-like cell differentiation capacity and whether CTD in renal transplant recipients is associated with a shift in these monocyte subsets. To accomplish this goal, monocyte subsets from healthy controls were sorted based on CD14 and CD16 expression to investigate gene expression levels of mesenchymal markers α-SMA and SM22α. CD14+ /CD16++ monocytes displayed increased α-SMA and SM22α mRNA expression compared with CD14++ /CD16− monocytes, suggesting increased differentiation potential toward smooth muscle-like cells. Flow cytometry revealed that in non-CTD transplant recipients the percentage of CD14+ /CD16++ monocytes was reduced, with an even further reduction in patients with CTD. To determine a potential correlation between CD14+ /CD16++ monocytes and α-SMA+ cell outgrowth potential in vitro , PBMC of healthy controls and transplant recipients with and without CTD were cultured under fibrotic culture conditions, and indeed a significant correlation ( p = 0.0002, r = 0.62) was observed. Finally, double staining for α-SMA and CD16 revealed presence of α-SMA+ CD16+ cells in kidney explants from CTD patients, albeit at very low numbers. Our data represent evidence that, compared to CD14++ CD16− monocytes, CD14+ CD16++ monocytes have an increased expression of smooth muscle cell-associated genes. This monocyte subpopulation is reduced in renal transplant patients with CTD, possibly due to selective migration into the allograft.
We report the observation and confirmation of the first group- and cluster-scale strong gravitational lensing systems found in Dark Energy Survey data. Through visual inspection of data from the ...Science Verification season, we identified 53 candidate systems. We then obtained spectroscopic follow-up of 21 candidates using the Gemini Multi-object Spectrograph at the Gemini South telescope and the Inamori-Magellan Areal Camera and Spectrograph at the Magellan/Baade telescope. With this follow-up, we confirmed six candidates as gravitational lenses: three of the systems are newly discovered, and the remaining three were previously known. Of the 21 observed candidates, the remaining 15 either were not detected in spectroscopic observations, were observed and did not exhibit continuum emission (or spectral features), or were ruled out as lensing systems. The confirmed sample consists of one group-scale and five galaxy-cluster-scale lenses. The lensed sources range in redshift z~ 0.80-3.2 and in i-band surface brightness i sub(SB)~ 23-25 mag arcsec super(-2)(2'' aperture). For each of the six systems, we estimate the Einstein radius theta sub(E) and the enclosed mass M sub(enc), which have ranges theta sub(E)~ 5''-9'' and M sub(enc)~ 8 x 10 super(12) to 6 x 10 super(13)M sub(middot in circle), respectively.
The gross and histopathological findings of perirenal fat necrosis in a sambar deer (Rusa unicolor) are described in a 6-year-old female deer that was necropsied after showing severe apathy, weight ...loss, recumbency, and death. At post-mortem examination, two large white to yellow, irregular, and encapsulated masses involving both kidneys were observed. Microscopically, these masses consisted of fat tissue presenting multifocal to coalescing areas of necrosis, diffuse infiltration of lymphocytes, macrophages, occasional plasma cells, and multinucleated giant cells. Multifocally, the necrotic sites were replaced by mineralization and fibrosis. The described condition has not been reported in deer and the exact mechanisms of development of perirenal fat necrosis remain to be determined. Massive fat necrosis has been reported in other animal species such as dogs, cats, pigs, goats, cattle, and whales (Balaena mysticetus). It is usually an incidental finding during post-mortem examination that needs to be differentiated from neoplasms originating from the adipose tissue, kidneys and adrenals, and disorders resulting from pancreatitis and obesity.
RESUMO: São descritos os achados anátomo e histopatológicos da necrose gordurosa perirrenal em um cervo sambar (Rusa unicolor) fêmea de seis anos de idade que foi necropsiado após apresentar severa apatia, perda de peso, decúbito permanente e morte. Durante a necropsia foram observadas duas grandes massas brancas a amarelas, duras, irregulares e encapsuladas envolvendo ambos os rins. Microscopicamente, essas massas consistiam em áreas de necrose multifocais a coalescentes do tecido adiposo perirrenal, com infiltrado difuso de linfócitos, macrófagos e ocasionais plasmócitos e células gigantes multinucleadas. Multifocalmente, as áreas necróticas estavam substituídas por mineralização e fibrose. A compressão dessas massas no córtex renal foi associada à degeneração tubular renal leve a mínima. A condição descrita não foi relatada em veados e os mecanismos exatos de desenvolvimento da necrose da gordura perirrenal ainda precisam ser determinados. Necrose gordurosa maciça foi relatada em outras espécies de animais, como caninos, felinos, suínos, caprinos, bovinos e baleias (Balaena mysticetus). Geralmente é um achado incidental durante o exame post-mortem que precisa ser diferenciado de neoplasias originárias do tecido adiposo, rins e adrenais, e distúrbios decorrentes de pancreatite e obesidade.
Active galactic nuclei (AGNs) have been proposed as plausible sites for hosting a sizable fraction of the binary black hole (BBH) mergers measured through gravitational waves (GWs) by the ...LIGO-Virgo-Kagra (LVK) experiment. These GWs could be accompanied by radiation feedback due to the interaction of the BBH merger remnant with the AGN disc. We present a new predicted radiation signature driven by the passage of a kicked BBH remnant throughout a thin AGN disc. We analyse the situation of a merger occurring outside the thin disc, where the merger is of second or higher generation in a merging hierarchical sequence. The coalescence produces a kicked BH remnant that eventually plunges into the disc, accretes material, and inflates jet cocoons. We consider the case of a jet cocoon propagating quasi-parallel to the disc plane and study the outflow that results when the cocoon emerges from the disc. We calculate the transient emission of the emerging cocoon using a photon diffusion model typically employed to describe the light curves of supernovae. Depending on the parameter configuration, the flare produced by the emerging cocoon could be comparable to or exceed the AGN background emission at optical, and extreme ultraviolet wavelengths. For instance, in AGNs with central engines of \(\sim 5\times10^{6}\) M\(_\odot\), flares driven by BH remnants with masses of \(\sim\) 100 M\(_\odot\) can appear in about \(\sim\)10-100 days after the GW, lasting for few days.
We present a new constraint on the Hubble constant (\(H_0\)) from the standard dark siren method using a sample of \(5\) well-covered gravitational wave (GW) alerts reported during the first part of ...the fourth LIGO/Virgo/KAGRA observing runs in combination with standard dark sirens from the first three runs. Our methodology relies on the galaxy catalog method alone. We use the full probability density estimation of photometric redshifts derived by a deep learning method using the DESI Legacy Survey and DELVE galaxy catalogs. We add the constraints from the binary black hole mergers candidates S231226av, S231206cc, S230919bj, S230627c, and S230922g to the sample of standard dark sirens analyzed in Alfradique et al. (2024). We combine the \(H_0\) posterior for \(5\) new standard sirens with other \(10\) previous events (3 with updated posteriors), finding \(H_0 = 69.9^{+13.3}_{-12.0}~{\rm km~s^{-1}~Mpc^{-1}}\) (68% Highest Density Interval) with the catalog method alone. This result represents an improvement of \(\sim 23\%\) comparing the new \(15\) dark siren constrain with the previous \(10\) dark siren constraint, and a reduction in uncertainty of \(\sim 40\%\) from the combination of \(15\) dark and bright sirens compared with the GW170817 bright siren alone. The combination of dark and bright siren GW170817 with recent jet constraints yields \(H_0\) of \(68.0^{+4.3}_{-3.8}~{\rm km~s^{-1}~Mpc^{-1}}\), a \(\sim 6\%\) precision from Standard Sirens, reducing the previous constraint uncertainty by \(\sim 10\%\) .
Surgical site infections (SSI) are frequent complications after elective abdominal surgery. We designed the Enhanced PeriOperative Care and Health Protection programme (EPO
CH) care bundle, ...comprising of intraoperative high fractional inspired oxygen; intraoperative goal-directed fluid therapy; active preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative warming; glucose control and treatment of hyperglycaemia (> 10 mmol L
) in diabetics as well as non-diabetics; and wound irrigation before closure using an aqueous antiseptic. We hypothesise that EPO
CH added to standard care reduces the incidence of SSI compared to standard care alone for elective abdominal surgery.
This trial is designed as an open label, pragmatic randomised controlled parallel-group multicentre superiority trial. The primary endpoint is the incidence of SSI, defined by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention, within 30 days after surgery. The incidence of SSI is assessed using the Dutch national complication register and medical chart review. Secondary endpoints include the SSI incidence within 90 days, incidence of anastomotic leakage at 30 and 90 days, the incidence of incisional hernia within 1 year, mortality within 1 year and 5 years, quality of life, health and disability, and cost-effectiveness. Primarily, an intention-to-treat analysis will be performed to estimate the relative risk using a log binomial model. If not feasible, a logistic regression will be used to estimate the odds ratio. A per-protocol analysis will also be performed. Furthermore, the attributive effect of the distinct interventions will be explored.
The results of the EPO
CH trial will determine if the EPO
CH bundle is effective to prevent SSI incidence for patients undergoing elective abdominal surgery. Details of the statistical analysis are described in this Statistical Analysis Plan (SAP).
Registration number: Dutch Trial Register Trial NL5572 . Registered on March 3, 2016. SAP version: V1.0, January 8, 2020. This SAP has been written based on study protocol V10.
We present optical and near-infrared (NIR) observations of the Type Icn supernova (SN Icn) 2022ann, the fifth member of its newly identified class of SNe. Its early optical spectra are dominated by ...narrow carbon and oxygen P-Cygni features with absorption velocities of 800 km/s; slower than other SNe Icn and indicative of interaction with a dense, H/He-poor circumstellar medium (CSM) that is outflowing slower than a typical Wolf-Rayet wind velocity of \(>\)1000 km/s. We identify helium in NIR spectra obtained two weeks after maximum and in optical spectra at three weeks, demonstrating that the CSM is not fully devoid of helium. We never detect broad spectral features from SN ejecta, including in spectra extending to the nebular phase, a unique characteristic among SNe~Icn. Compared to other SNe Icn, SN 2022ann has a low luminosity, with a peak o-band absolute magnitude of -17.7, and evolves slowly. We model the bolometric light curve and find it is well-described by 1.7 M_Sun of SN ejecta interacting with 0.2 M_sun of CSM. We place an upper limit of 0.04 M_Sun of Ni56 synthesized in the explosion. The host galaxy is a dwarf galaxy with a stellar mass of 10^7.34 M_Sun (implied metallicity of log(Z/Z_Sun) \(\approx\) 0.10) and integrated star-formation rate of log(SFR) = -2.20 M_sun/yr; both lower than 97\% of the galaxies observed to produce core-collapse supernovae, although consistent with star-forming galaxies on the galaxy Main Sequence. The low CSM velocity, nickel and ejecta masses, and likely low-metallicity environment disfavour a single Wolf-Rayet progenitor star. Instead, a binary companion star is likely required to adequately strip the progenitor before explosion and produce a low-velocity outflow. The low CSM velocity may be indicative of the outer Lagrangian points in the stellar binary progenitor, rather than from the escape velocity of a single Wolf-Rayet-like massive star.
We present UV/optical/NIR observations and modeling of supernova (SN) 2024ggi, a type II supernova (SN II) located in NGC 3621 at 7.2 Mpc. Early-time ("flash") spectroscopy of SN 2024ggi within +0.8 ...days of discovery shows emission lines of H I, He I, C III, and N III with a narrow core and broad, symmetric wings (i.e., IIn-like) arising from the photoionized, optically-thick, unshocked circumstellar material (CSM) that surrounded the progenitor star at shock breakout. By the next spectral epoch at +1.5 days, SN 2024ggi showed a rise in ionization as emission lines of He II, C IV, N IV/V and O V became visible. This phenomenon is temporally consistent with a blueward shift in the UV/optical colors, both likely the result of shock breakout in an extended, dense CSM. The IIn-like features in SN 2024ggi persist on a timescale of \(t_{\rm IIn} = 3.8 \pm 1.6\) days at which time a reduction in CSM density allows the detection of Doppler broadened features from the fastest SN material. SN 2024ggi has peak UV/optical absolute magnitudes of \(M_{\rm w2} = -18.7\) mag and \(M_{\rm g} = -18.1\) mag that are consistent with the known population of CSM-interacting SNe II. Comparison of SN 2024ggi with a grid of radiation hydrodynamics and non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (nLTE) radiative-transfer simulations suggests a progenitor mass-loss rate of \(\dot{M} = 10^{-2}\)M\(_{\odot}\) yr\(^{-1}\) (\(v_w\) = 50 km/s), confined to a distance of \(r < 5\times 10^{14}\) cm. Assuming a wind velocity of \(v_w\) = 50 km/s, the progenitor star underwent an enhanced mass-loss episode in the last ~3 years before explosion.
The upcoming Legacy Survey of Space and Time (LSST) at the Vera Rubin Observatory is expected to detect a few million transients per night, which will generate a live alert stream during the entire ...10 years of the survey. This will be distributed via community brokers whose task is to select subsets of the stream and direct them to scientific communities. Given the volume and complexity of data, machine learning (ML) algorithms will be paramount for this task. We present the infrastructure tests and classification methods developed within the {\sc Fink} broker in preparation for LSST. This work aims to provide detailed information regarding the underlying assumptions, and methods, behind each classifier, enabling users to make informed follow-up decisions from {\sc Fink} photometric classifications. Using simulated data from the Extended LSST Astronomical Time-series Classification Challenge (ELAsTiCC), we showcase the performance of binary and multi-class ML classifiers available in {\sc Fink}. These include tree-based classifiers coupled with tailored feature extraction strategies, as well as deep learning algorithms. We introduce the CBPF Alert Transient Search (CATS), a deep learning architecture specifically designed for this task. Results show that {\sc Fink} classifiers are able to handle the extra complexity which is expected from LSST data. CATS achieved \(97\%\) accuracy on a multi-class classification while our best performing binary classifier achieve \(99\%\) when classifying the Periodic class. ELAsTiCC was an important milestone in preparing {\sc Fink} infrastructure to deal with LSST-like data. Our results demonstrate that {\sc Fink} classifiers are well prepared for the arrival of the new stream; this experience also highlights that transitioning from current infrastructures to Rubin will require significant adaptation of currently available tools.
We present the S-PLUS Transient Extension Program (STEP): a supernova and fast transient survey conducted in the southern hemisphere using data from the Southern Photometric Local Universe Survey ...(S-PLUS) Main Survey and the T80-South telescope. Transient astrophysical phenomena have a range of interest that goes through different fields of astrophysics and cosmology. With the detection of an electromagnetic counterpart to the gravitational wave (GW) event GW170817 from a binary neutron stars merger, new techniques and resources to study fast astrophysical transients in the multi-messenger context have increased. In this paper, we present the STEP overview, the SN follow-up data obtained, data reduction, analysis of new transients and deep learning algorithms to optimize transient candidate selection. Additionally, we present prospects and optimized strategy for the search of Gravitational Wave counterparts in the current LIGO/Virgo/Kagra observational run (O4) in the context of T80-South telescope.
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