A Bayesian model for inferring properties of the local white dwarf population in astrometric and photometric surveys

The Gaia mission is providing precise astrometry for an unprecedented number of white dwarfs (WDs), encoding information on stellar evolution, Type Ia supernovae progenitor scenarios, and the star formation and dynamical history of the Milky Way. With such a large data set, it is possible to infer properties of the WD population using only astrometric and photometric informations. We demonstrate a framework to accomplish this using a mock data set with Sloan Digital Sky Survey ugriz photometry and Gaia astrometric information. Our technique utilizes a Bayesian hierarchical model for inferring properties of a WD population while also taking into account all observational errors of individual objects, as well as selection and incompleteness effects. We demonstrate that photometry alone can constrain the WD population’s distributions of temperature, surface gravity, and atmospheric composition, and that astrometric information significantly improves determination of the WD surface gravity distribution. We also discuss the possibility of identifying unresolved binary WDs using only photometric and astrometric informations

Prostate radiation in non-metastatic castrate refractory prostate cancer provides an interesting insight into biology of prostate cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The natural history of non-metastatic castrate refractory prostate cancer is unknown and treatment options are limited. We present a retrospective review of 13 patients with locally advanced or high risk prostate cancer, initially treated with hormone monotherapy and then treated with prostate radiation after becoming castration refractory.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Median PSA response following prostate radiation was 67.4%. Median time to biochemical progression following radiotherapy was 15 months and to detection of metastatic disease was 18.5 months. Median survival from castration resistance (to date of death or November 2011) was 60 months, with median survival from RT 42 months.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Prostate radiation appears to be beneficial even in patients with potential micrometastatic disease, which supports the hypothesis that the primary tumour is important in the progression of prostate cancer. These results are an interesting addition to the literature on the biology of prostate cancer especially as this data is unlikely to be available in the future due to combined prostate radiation and androgen deprivation therapy now being the standard of care.</p

Interpolated wave functions for nonadiabatic simulations with the fixed-node quantum Monte Carlo method

Simulating nonadiabatic effects with many-body wave function approaches is an open field with many challenges. Recent interest has been driven by new algorithmic developments and improved theoretical understanding of properties unique to electron-ion wave functions. Fixed-node diffusion Monte Caro is one technique that has shown promising results for simulating electron-ion systems. In particular, we focus on the CH molecule for which previous results suggested a relatively significant contribution to the energy from nonadiabatic effects. We propose a new wave function ansatz for diatomic systems which involves interpolating the determinant coefficients calculated from configuration interaction methods. We find this to be an improvement beyond previous wave function forms that have been considered. The calculated nonadiabatic contribution to the energy in the CH molecule is reduced compared to our previous results, but still remains the largest among the molecules under consideration.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figure

Radiation dose differences between thoracic radiotherapy planning CT and thoracic diagnostic CT scans

Purpose: To compare the absorbed dose from computed tomography (CT) in radiotherapy planning (RP CT) against those from diagnostic CT (DG CT) examinations and to explore the possible reasons for any dose differences. Method: Two groups of patients underwent CT-scans of the thorax with either DG-CT (n=55) or RP-CT (n=55). Patients from each group had similar weight and body mass index (BMI) and were divided into low (25). Parameters including CTDIvol, DLP and scan length were compared. Results: The mean CTDIvol and DLP values from RP-CT (38.1 mGy, 1472 mGy·cm) are approximately four times higher than for DG-CT (9.63 mGy, 376.5 mGy·cm). For low BMI group, the CTDIvol in the RP-CT scans (36.4 mGy) is 6.3 times higher than the one in the DG-CT scans (5.8 mGy). For high BMI group, the CTDIvol in the RP-CT (39.6 mGy) is 2.5 times higher than the one in the DG-CT scans (15.8 mGy). In the DG-CT scans a strong negative linear correlation between noise index (NI) and mean CTDIvol was observed (r =-0.954, p=0.004); the higher NI, the lower CTDIvol. This was not the case in the RP-DG scans. Conclusion: The absorbed radiation dose is significantly higher and less BMI dependent for RP-CT scans compared to DG-CT. Image quality requirements of the examinations should be researched to ensure that radiation doses are not unnecessarily high

Cohesive properties of alkali halides

We calculate cohesive properties of LiF, NaF, KF, LiCl, NaCl, and KCl with ab-initio quantum chemical methods. The coupled-cluster approach is used to correct the Hartree-Fock crystal results for correlations and to systematically improve cohesive energies, lattice constants and bulk moduli. After inclusion of correlations, we recover 95-98 % of the total cohesive energies. The lattice constants deviate from experiment by at most 1.1 %, bulk moduli by at most 8 %. We also find good agreement for spectroscopic properties of the corresponding diatomic molecules.Comment: LaTeX, 10 pages, 1 figure, accepted by Phys. Rev.

Non‑invasive prostate cancer detection by measuring miRNA variants (isomiRs) in urine extracellular vesicles

The authors thank J. Bossenga for collecting urine and P.P. Eijk for their technical assistance in smallRNA sequencing library preparations.In many cancer types, the expression and function of ~22 nucleotide‑long microRNAs (miRNA) is deregulated. Mature miRNAs can be stably detected in extracellular vesicles (EVs) in biofluids, therefore they are considered to have great potential as biomarkers. In the present study, we investigated whether miRNAs have a distinct expression pattern in urine‑EVs of prostate cancer (PCa) patients compared to control males. By next generation sequencing, we determined the miRNA expression in a discovery cohort of 4 control men and 9 PCa patients. miRNAs were validated by using a stemloop RT‑PCR in an independent cohort of 74 patients (26 control and 48 PCa‑patients). Whereas standard mapping protocols identified > 10 PCa associated miRNAs in urinary EVs, miR‑21, miR‑375 and miR‑204 failed to robustly discriminate for disease in a validation study with RT‑PCR‑detection of mature miRNA sequences. In contrast, we observed that miRNA isoforms (isomiRs) with 3′ end modifications were highly discriminatory between samples from control men and PCa patients. Highly differentially expressed isomiRs of miR‑21, miR‑204 and miR‑375 were subsequently validated in an independent group of 74 patients. Receiver‑operating characteristic analysis was performed to evaluate the diagnostic performance of three isomiRs, resulting in a 72.9% sensitivity with a high (88%) specificity and an area under the curve (AUC) of 0.866. In comparison, prostate specific antigen had an AUC of 0.707 and measuring the mature form of these miRNAs yielded a lower 70.8% sensitivity and 72% specificity (AUC 0.766). We propose that isomiRs may carry discriminatory information which is useful to generate stronger biomarkers.Stichting Urologie 1973VUmc-CCAWorldwide Cancer Research (AICR) 15-1005KWF-VU-5510Worldwide Cancer Research 15-100

Dentin dysplasia type I: a challenge for treatment with dental implants

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dentin dysplasia type I is characterized by a defect of dentin development with clinical normal appearance of the permanent teeth but no or only rudimentary root formation. Early loss of all teeth and concomitant underdevelopment of the jaws are challenging for successful treatment with dental implants.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A combination of sinus lifting and onlay bone augmentation based on treatment planning using stereolithographic templates was used in a patient with dentin dysplasia type I to rehabilitate the masticatory function.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>(i) a predisposition for an increased and accelerated bone resorption was observed in our patient, (ii) bone augmentation was successful using a mixture of allogenic graft material with autogenous bone preventing fast bone resorption, (iii) surgical planning, based on stereolithographic models and surgical templates, facilitated the accurate placement of dental implants.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Bony augmentation and elaborate treatment planning is helpful for oral rehabilitation of patients with dentin dysplasia type I.</p

Prostate cancer-derived urine exosomes: a novel approach to biomarkers for prostate cancer

Herein, we describe a novel approach in the search for prostate cancer biomarkers, which relies on the transcriptome within tumour exosomes. As a proof-of-concept, we show the presence of two known prostate cancer biomarkers, PCA-3 and TMPRSS2:ERG the in exosomes isolated from urine of patients, showing the potential for diagnosis and monitoring cancer patients status