161 research outputs found
Stroke impact on mortality and psychologic morbidity within the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study.
BackgroundPoor socioeconomic and health-related quality of life (HRQOL) outcomes in survivors of childhood cancer can lead to distress and overall negatively impact the lives of these individuals. The current report has highlighted the impact of stroke and stroke recurrence on mortality, psychological HRQOL, and socioeconomic outcomes within the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS).MethodsThe CCSS is a retrospective cohort study with longitudinal follow-up concerning survivors of pediatric cancer who were diagnosed between 1970 and 1986. Mortality rates per 100 person-years were calculated across 3 periods: 1) prior to stroke; 2) after first stroke and before recurrent stroke; and 3) after recurrent stroke. Socioeconomic outcomes, the standardized Brief Symptoms Inventory-18, the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey, and the CCSS-Neurocognitive Questionnaire also were assessed.ResultsAmong 14,358 participants (median age, 39.7 years), 224 had a stroke after their cancer diagnosis (single stroke in 161 patients and recurrent stroke in 63 patients). Based on 2636 deaths, all-cause late mortality rates were 0.70 (95% CI, 0.68-0.73) prior to stroke, 1.03 (95% CI, 0.73-1.46) after the first stroke, and 2.42 (95% CI, 1.48-3.94) after the recurrent stroke. Among 7304 survivors, those with stroke were more likely to live with a caregiver (single stroke odds ratio [OR], 2.3 [95% CI, 1.4-3.8]; and recurrent stroke OR, 5.3 [95% CI, 1.7-16.8]) compared with stroke-free survivors. Stroke negatively impacted task efficiency (single stroke OR, 2.4 [95% CI, 1.4-4.1] and recurrent stroke OR, 3.3 [95% CI, 1.1-10.3]) and memory (single stroke OR, 2.1 [95% CI, 1.2-3.7]; and recurrent stroke OR, 3.5 [95% CI, 1.1-10.5]).ConclusionsStroke and stroke recurrence are associated with increased mortality and negatively impact HRQOL measures in survivors of pediatric cancer
A Differentially Private Weighted Empirical Risk Minimization Procedure and its Application to Outcome Weighted Learning
It is commonplace to use data containing personal information to build
predictive models in the framework of empirical risk minimization (ERM). While
these models can be highly accurate in prediction, results obtained from these
models with the use of sensitive data may be susceptible to privacy attacks.
Differential privacy (DP) is an appealing framework for addressing such data
privacy issues by providing mathematically provable bounds on the privacy loss
incurred when releasing information from sensitive data. Previous work has
primarily concentrated on applying DP to unweighted ERM. We consider an
important generalization to weighted ERM (wERM). In wERM, each individual's
contribution to the objective function can be assigned varying weights. In this
context, we propose the first differentially private wERM algorithm, backed by
a rigorous theoretical proof of its DP guarantees under mild regularity
conditions. Extending the existing DP-ERM procedures to wERM paves a path to
deriving privacy-preserving learning methods for individualized treatment
rules, including the popular outcome weighted learning (OWL). We evaluate the
performance of the DP-wERM application to OWL in a simulation study and in a
real clinical trial of melatonin for sleep health. All empirical results
demonstrate the viability of training OWL models via wERM with DP guarantees
while maintaining sufficiently useful model performance. Therefore, we
recommend practitioners consider implementing the proposed privacy-preserving
OWL procedure in real-world scenarios involving sensitive data.Comment: 24 pages and 2 figures for the main manuscript, 5 pages and 2 figures
for the supplementary material
The Angular Momentum Content and Evolution of Class I and Flat-Spectrum Protostars
We report on the angular momentum content of heavily embedded protostars
based on our analysis of the projected rotation velocities (v sin i s) of 38
Class I/flat spectrum young stellar objects presented by Doppmann et al (2005).
After correcting for projection effects, we find that infrared-selected Class
I/flat spectrum objects rotate significantly more quickly (median equatorial
rotation velocity ~ 38 km/sec) than Classical T Tauri stars (CTTSs; median
equatorial rotation velocity ~ 18 km/sec) in the Rho Ophiuchi and
Taurus-Aurigae regions. The detected difference in rotation speeds between
Class I/flat spectrum sources and CTTSs proves difficult to explain without
some mechanism which transfers angular momentum out of the protostar between
the two phases. Assuming Class I/flat spectrum sources possess physical
characteristics (M_*,R_*,B_*) typical of pre-main sequence stars, fully disk
locked Class I objects should have co-rotation radii within their protostellar
disks that match well (within 30%) with the predicted magnetic coupling radii
of Shu et al (1994). The factor of two difference in rotation rates between
Class I/flat spectrum and CTTS sources, when interpreted in the context of disk
locking models, also imply a factor of 5 or greater difference in mass
accretion rates between the two phases.Comment: 13 pages, 6 figures. Accepted for publication in the Astronomical
Journal (tentatively for June 2005 edition
The Distance to NGC 2264
We determine the distance to the open cluster NGC 2264 using a statistical
analysis of cluster member inclinations. We derive distance-dependent values of
sin i (where i is the inclination angle) for 97 stars in NGC 2264 from the
rotation periods, luminosities, effective temperatures, and projected
equatorial rotation velocities, v sin i, measured for these stars. We have
measured 96 of the v sin i values in our sample by analyzing high-resolution
spectra with a cross-correlation technique. We model the observed distribution
of sin i for the cluster by assuming that member stars have random axial
orientations and by adopting prescriptions for the measurement errors in our
sample. By adjusting the distance assumed in the observed sin i distribution
until it matches the modeled distribution, we obtain a best-fit distance for
the cluster. We find the data to be consistent with a distance to NGC 2264 of
913 pc. Quantitative tests of our analysis reveals uncertainties of 40 and 110
pc due to sampling and systematic effects, respectively. This distance estimate
suggests a revised age for the cluster of 1.5 Myrs, although more detailed
investigations of the full cluster membership are required to draw strong
conclusions.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figure
The Mysterious Affair of the H in AU Mic
Molecular hydrogen is the most abundant molecule in the Galaxy and plays
important roles for planets, their circumstellar environments, and many of
their host stars. We have confirmed the presence of molecular hydrogen in the
AU Mic system using high-resolution FUV spectra from HST-STIS during both
quiescence and a flare. AU Mic is a 23 Myr M dwarf which hosts a debris
disk and at least two planets. We estimate the temperature of the gas at 1000
to 2000 K, consistent with previous detections. Based on the radial velocities
and widths of the H line profiles and the response of the H lines to a
stellar flare, the H line emission is likely produced in the star, rather
than in the disk or the planet. However, the temperature of this gas is
significantly below the temperature of the photosphere (3650 K) and the
predicted temperature of its star spots (2650 K). We discuss the
possibility of colder star spots or a cold layer in the photosphere of a
pre-main sequence M dwarf.Comment: accepted to ApJ, 20 pages, many figure
Sex-based differences in functional brain activity during working memory in survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia
BACKGROUND: Long-term survivors of pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia are at elevated risk for neurocognitive deficits and corresponding brain dysfunction. This study examined sex-based differences in functional neuroimaging outcomes in acute lymphoblastic leukemia survivors treated with chemotherapy alone.
METHODS: Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) and neurocognitive testing were obtained in 123 survivors (46% male; median [min-max] age = 14.2 years [8.3-26.5 years]; time since diagnosis = 7.7 years [5.1-12.5 years]) treated on the St. Jude Total XV treatment protocol. Participants performed the n-back working memory task in a 3 T scanner. Functional neuroimaging data were processed (realigned, slice time corrected, normalized, smoothed) and analyzed using statistical parametric mapping with contrasts for 1-back and 2-back conditions, which reflect varying degrees of working memory and task load. Group-level fMRI contrasts were stratified by sex and adjusted for age and methotrexate exposure. Statistical tests were 2-sided (P \u3c .05 statistical significance threshold).
RESULTS: Relative to males, female survivors exhibited less activation (ie, reduced blood oxygen dependent-level signals) in the right parietal operculum, supramarginal gyrus and inferior occipital gyrus, and bilateral superior frontal medial gyrus during increased working memory load (family-wise error-corrected P = .004 to .008, adjusting for age and methotrexate dose). Female survivors were slower to correctly respond to the 2-back condition than males (P \u3c .05), though there were no differences in overall accuracy. Performance accuracy was negatively correlated with fMRI activity in female survivors (Pearson\u27s r = -0.39 to -0.29, P = .001 to .02), but not in males.
CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest the working memory network is more impaired in female survivors than male survivors, which may contribute to ongoing functional deficits
Thermal Emission of WASP-14b Revealed with Three Spitzer Eclipses
Exoplanet WASP-14b is a highly irradiated, transiting hot Jupiter. Joshi et
al. calculate an equilibrium temperature Teq of 1866 K for zero albedo and
reemission from the entire planet, a mass of 7.3 +/- 0.5 Jupiter masses and a
radius of 1.28 +/- 0.08 Jupiter radii. Its mean density of 4.6 g/cm3 is one of
the highest known for planets with periods less than 3 days. We obtained three
secondary eclipse light curves with the Spitzer Space Telescope. The eclipse
depths from the best jointly fit model are +/- at 4.5
{\mu}m and +/- at 8.0 {\mu}m. The corresponding brightness
temperatures are 2212 +/- 94 K and 1590 +/- 116 K. A slight ambiguity between
systematic models suggests a conservative 3.6 {\mu}m eclipse depth of
+/- and brightness temperature of 2242 +/- 55 K. Although extremely
irradiated, WASP-14b does not show any distinct evidence of a thermal
inversion. In addition, the present data nominally favor models with day night
energy redistribution less than . The current data are generally
consistent with oxygen-rich as well as carbon-rich compositions, although an
oxygen-rich composition provides a marginally better fit. We confirm a
significant eccentricity of e = 0.087 +/- 0.002 and refine other orbital
parameters.Comment: 16 pages, 16 figure
The Far-Ultraviolet "Continuum" in Protoplanetary Disk Systems II: CO Fourth Positive Emission and Absorption
We exploit the high sensitivity and moderate spectral resolution of the
-Cosmic Origins Spectrograph to detect far-ultraviolet spectral features
of carbon monoxide (CO) present in the inner regions of protoplanetary disks
for the first time. We present spectra of the classical T Tauri stars HN Tau,
RECX-11, and V4046 Sgr, representative of a range of CO radiative processes. HN
Tau shows CO bands in absorption against the accretion continuum. We measure a
CO column density and rotational excitation temperature of N(CO) = 2 +/- 1
10 cm and T_rot(CO) 500 +/- 200 K for the absorbing gas.
We also detect CO A-X band emission in RECX-11 and V4046 Sgr, excited by
ultraviolet line photons, predominantly HI LyA. All three objects show emission
from CO bands at 1560 \AA, which may be excited by a combination
of UV photons and collisions with non-thermal electrons. In previous
observations these emission processes were not accounted for due to blending
with emission from the accretion shock, collisionally excited H, and
photo-excited H2; all of which appeared as a "continuum" whose components could
not be separated. The CO emission spectrum is strongly dependent upon the shape
of the incident stellar LyA emission profile. We find CO parameters in the
range: N(CO) 10 cm, T_{rot}(CO) > 300 K for the LyA-pumped
emission. We combine these results with recent work on photo- and
collisionally-excited H emission, concluding that the observations of
ultraviolet-emitting CO and H2 are consistent with a common spatial origin. We
suggest that the CO/H2 ratio in the inner disk is ~1, a transition between the
much lower interstellar value and the higher value observed in solar system
comets today, a result that will require future observational and theoretical
study to confirm.Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables. ApJ - accepte
Genome-wide association study of posttraumatic stress disorder among childhood cancer survivors : results from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort
Funding Information: This work was supported by the National Cancer Institute (CA55727, G.T. Armstrong, Principal Investigator). The St. Jude Lifetime Cohort study was supported by the National Cancer Institute (U01CA195547, M.M. Hudson/L.L. Robison, Principal Investigators). Support to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital was also provided by the Cancer Center Support (CORE) grant (CA21765, C. Roberts, Principal Investigator) and the American Lebanese-Syrian Associated Charities (ALSAC). Dr. Lu was supported by a research fellowship at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute funded by the Swim Across America and the Grant of Excellence from the Icelandic Research Fund (163362-051 to Dr. Valdimarsdóttir). Open access funding provided by Karolinska Institute. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).Genetic influence shapes who develops posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) after traumatic events. However, the genetic variants identified for PTSD may in fact be associated with traumatic exposures (e.g., interpersonal violence), which appear heritable as well. Childhood cancer survivors (CCS) are at risk for PTSD, but genetic influences affecting cancer are unlikely to overlap with those affecting PTSD. This offers a unique opportunity to identify variants specific to PTSD risk. In a genome-wide association study (GWAS), 3984 5-year survivors of childhood cancer of European-ancestry from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study (CCSS) were evaluated for discovery and 1467 survivors from the St. Jude Lifetime (SJLIFE) cohort for replication. Childhood cancer-related PTSD symptoms were assessed using the Posttraumatic Stress Diagnostic Scale in CCSS. GWAS was performed in CCSS using logistic regression and lead markers were replicated/meta-analyzed using SJLIFE. Cross-associations of identified loci were examined between CCS and the general population. PTSD criteria were met for 671 participants in CCSS and 161 in SJLIFE. Locus 10q26.3 was significantly associated with PTSD (rs34713356, functionally mapped to ECHS1, P = 1.36 × 10–8, OR 1.57), and was replicated in SJLIFE (P = 0.047, OR 1.37). Variants in locus 6q24.3-q25.1 reached marginal significance (rs9390543, SASH1, P = 3.56 × 10–6, OR 0.75) in CCSS and significance when meta-analyzing with SJLIFE (P = 2.02 × 10–8, OR 0.75). Both loci were exclusively associated with PTSD in CCS rather than PTSD/stress-related disorders in general population (P-for-heterogeneity < 5 × 10–6). Our CCS findings support the role of genetic variation in PTSD development and may provide implications for understanding PTSD heterogeneity.Peer reviewe
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