Shortened Tracer Uptake Time in GA-68-DOTATOC-PET of Meningiomas Does Not Impair Diagnostic Accuracy and PET Volume Definition

Ga-68-DOTATOC-PET/MRI can affect the planning target volume (PTV) definition of meningiomas before radiosurgery. A shorter tracer uptake time before image acquisition could allow the examination of more patients. The aim of this study was to investigate if shortening uptake time is possible without compromising diagnostic accuracy and PET volume. Fifteen patients (f = 12; mean age 52 years (34-80 years)) with meningiomas were prospectively examined with dynamic [68Ga]Ga-68-labeled [DOTA0-Phe1-Tyr3] octreotide (Ga-68-DOTATOC)-PET/MRI over 70 min before radiosurgery planning. Meningiomas were delineated manually in the PET dataset. PET volumes at each time point were compared to the reference standard 60 min post tracer injection (p.i.) using the Friedman test followed by a Wilcoxon signed-rank test and Bonferroni correction. In all patients, the earliest time point with 100% lesion detection compared to 60 min p.i. was identified. PET volumes did not change significantly from 15 min p.i. (p = 1.0) compared to 60 min p.i. The earliest time point with 100% lesion detection in all patients was 10 min p.i. In patients with meningiomas undergoing Ga-68-DOTATOC-PET, the tracer uptake time can safely be reduced to 15 min p.i. with comparable PET volume and 100% lesion detection compared to 60 min p.i

Plant Community Diversity Influences Allocation to Direct Chemical Defence in Plantago lanceolata

Background: Forecasting the consequences of accelerating rates of changes in biodiversity for ecosystem functioning requires a mechanistic understanding of the relationships between the structure of biological communities and variation in plant functional characteristics. So far, experimental data of how plant species diversity influences the investment of individual plants in direct chemical defences against herbivores and pathogens is lacking. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used Plantago lanceolata as a model species in experimental grasslands differing in species richness and composition (Jena Experiment) to investigate foliar concentrations of the iridoid glycosides (IG), catalpol and its biosynthetic precursor aucubin. Total IG and aucubin concentrations decreased, while catalpol concentrations increased with increasing plant diversity in terms of species or functional group richness. Negative plant diversity effects on total IG and aucubin concentrations correlated with increasing specific leaf area of P. lanceolata, suggesting that greater allocation to light acquisition reduced the investment into these carbon-based defence components. In contrast, increasing leaf nitrogen concentrations best explained increasing concentrations of the biosynthetically more advanced IG, catalpol. Observed levels of leaf damage explained a significant proportion of variation in total IG and aucubin concentrations, but did not account for variance in catalpol concentrations. Conclusions/Significance: Our results clearly show that plants growing in communities of varying species richness an

The Eighteenth Data Release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys: Targeting and First Spectra from SDSS-V

The eighteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS) is the first one for SDSS-V, the fifth generation of the survey. SDSS-V comprises three primary scientific programs, or "Mappers": Milky Way Mapper (MWM), Black Hole Mapper (BHM), and Local Volume Mapper (LVM). This data release contains extensive targeting information for the two multi-object spectroscopy programs (MWM and BHM), including input catalogs and selection functions for their numerous scientific objectives. We describe the production of the targeting databases and their calibration- and scientifically-focused components. DR18 also includes ~25,000 new SDSS spectra and supplemental information for X-ray sources identified by eROSITA in its eFEDS field. We present updates to some of the SDSS software pipelines and preview changes anticipated for DR19. We also describe three value-added catalogs (VACs) based on SDSS-IV data that have been published since DR17, and one VAC based on the SDSS-V data in the eFEDS field.Comment: Accepted to ApJ

The eighteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys : targeting and first spectra from SDSS-V

The eighteenth data release of the Sloan Digital Sky Surveys (SDSS) is the first one for SDSS-V, the fifth generation of the survey. SDSS-V comprises three primary scientific programs, or "Mappers": Milky Way Mapper (MWM), Black Hole Mapper (BHM), and Local Volume Mapper (LVM). This data release contains extensive targeting information for the two multi-object spectroscopy programs (MWM and BHM), including input catalogs and selection functions for their numerous scientific objectives. We describe the production of the targeting databases and their calibration- and scientifically-focused components. DR18 also includes ~25,000 new SDSS spectra and supplemental information for X-ray sources identified by eROSITA in its eFEDS field. We present updates to some of the SDSS software pipelines and preview changes anticipated for DR19. We also describe three value-added catalogs (VACs) based on SDSS-IV data that have been published since DR17, and one VAC based on the SDSS-V data in the eFEDS field.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe

Osseointegration of Titanium Prostheses on the Stapes Footplate

The success of middle ear reconstructive surgery depends on stable coupling between the prosthesis and residual ossicles. To establish a stable fixed point on the stapes footplate for subsequent prosthesis reconstruction, a titanium footplate anchor was coated with osteoinductive substances to induce a controlled osseointegration on the footplate. Various studies have shown that collagen-based matrices with and without bone growth and differentiation factors can induce and enhance bone formation and consequently increase implant stability. The ears of 23 one-year-old Merino sheep (n = 46) were divided into five groups and implanted with a specially designed footplate anchor. The surface of each implant was modified by applying a collagenous matrix (collagen I or II) either with immobilized bone morphogenic protein (BMP-4) or transforming growth factor-ss, respectively, to stimulate osteoblastic activation and differentiation on the stapes footplate with subsequent osseointegration. Polychrome labeling was used to assess new bone formation and remodeling during the study. After study termination on day 84, synchrotron radiation-based computed microtomography and histomorphometry were used to identify bone implant contact. Eight implants showed radiographical and/or histological evidence of integration by newly formed bone. An osseointegration could histologically be proven in two of these eight specimens, and additional ectopic bone formations were seen in another 21 specimens. In all animals, bone turnover on the footplate was proven by polychrome labeling. This study proves the general ability to induce a controlled osseointegration of titanium implants biologically activated with artificial extracellular matrices on their surfaces on the stapes footplate in a mammalian organism

Interdisciplinary Clinical Target Volume Generation for Cardiac Radioablation: Multicenter Benchmarking for the RAdiosurgery for VENtricular TAchycardia (RAVENTA) Trial

Purpose: Cardiac radioablation is a novel treatment option for therapy-refractory ventricular tachycardia (VT) ineligible for catheter ablation. Three-dimensional clinical target volume (CTV) definition is a key step, and this complex interdisciplinary procedure includes VT-substrate identification based on electroanatomical mapping (EAM) and its transfer to the planning computed tomography (PCT). Benchmarking of this process is necessary for multicenter clinical studies such as the RAVENTA trial. Methods and Materials: For benchmarking of the RAVENTA trial, patient data (epicrisis, electrocardiogram, high-resolution EAM, contrast-enhanced cardiac computed tomography, PCT) of 3 cases were sent to 5 university centers for independent CTV generation, subsequent structure analysis, and consensus finding. VT substrates were first defined on multiple EAM screenshots/videos and manually transferred to the PCT. The generated structure characteristics were then independently analyzed (volume, localization, surface distance and conformity). After subsequent discussion, consensus structures were defined. Results: VT substrate on the EAM showed visible variability in extent and localization for cases 1 and 2 and only minor variability for case 3. CTVs ranged from 6.7 to 22.9 cm(3), 5.9 to 79.9 cm(3), and 9.4 to 34.3 cm(3); surface area varied from 1087 to 3285 mm(2), 1077 to 9500 mm(2), and 1620 to 4179 mm(2), with a Hausdorff-distance of 15.7 to 39.5 mm, 23.1 to 43.5 mm, and 15.9 to 43.9 mm for cases 1 to 3, respectively. The absolute 3-dimensional center-of-mass difference was 5.8 to 28.0 mm, 8.4 to 26 mm, and 3.8 to 35.1 mm for cases 1 to 3, respectively. The entire process resulted in CTV structures with a conformity index of 0.2 to 0.83, 0.02 to 0.85, and 0.02 to 0.88 (ideal 1) with the consensus CTV as reference. Conclusions: Multicenter efficacy endpoint assessment of cardiac radioablation for therapy-refractory VT requires consistent CTV transfer methods from the EAM to the PCT. VT substrate definition and CTVs were comparable with current clinical practice. Remarkable differences regarding the degree of agreement of the CTV definition on the EAM and the PCT were noted, indicating a loss of agreement during the transfer process between EAM and PCT. Cardiac radioablation should be performed under well-defined protocols and in clinical trials with benchmarking and consensus forming. (C) 2021 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved

Capital Social y gestión de demandas ciudadanas en el Municipio San Francisco. Estado Zulia

El presente artículo tiene como propósito el análisis de los elementos del capital social que se encuentran presentes en la gestión de demandas ciudadanas de las asociaciones de vecinos a la Alcaldía del Municipio San Francisco del Estado Zulia.Alos fines, se concretó un estudio de campo, descriptivo-analítico. El referente empírico fueron 20 Asociaciones de vecinos distribuidas en las parroquias que lo conforman. El instrumento utilizado consistió en un cuestionario tipo estándar; se hace énfasis en la observación directa o participante, las entrevistas abiertas, y el análisis de documentos proporcionados por los informantes clave. Los hallazgos dan cuenta de: a) El Capital Social de las asociaciones de vecinos del municipio, se distingue por ser medianamente positivo, pero enfrenta serias amenazas. b) La confianza y los valores éticos, se encuentran orientados hacia la baja y atentan contra la acción social y gestión de demandas de las asociaciones de vecinos; c) la participación como dimensión del capital social es restringida, limitada solo al voto; por lo que deslegitima la acción del gobierno local. Todo lo anterior refleja desconfianza hacia este tipo de organizaciones. e) Se percibe un espacio muy limitado para la construcción de ciudadanía y la generación de mecanismos de empoderamiento ciudadano, f) Se registra una inconsistencia entre el discurso, la acción y los resultados de la gestión gubernamental. Se concluye que estos rasgos se constituyen en una barrera para la legitimidad y gobernabilidad del gobierno local en cuestión