Atomic X-ray Spectroscopy of Accreting Black Holes

Current astrophysical research suggests that the most persistently luminous objects in the Universe are powered by the flow of matter through accretion disks onto black holes. Accretion disk systems are observed to emit copious radiation across the electromagnetic spectrum, each energy band providing access to rather distinct regimes of physical conditions and geometric scale. X-ray emission probes the innermost regions of the accretion disk, where relativistic effects prevail. While this has been known for decades, it also has been acknowledged that inferring physical conditions in the relativistic regime from the behavior of the X-ray continuum is problematic and not satisfactorily constraining. With the discovery in the 1990s of iron X-ray lines bearing signatures of relativistic distortion came the hope that such emission would more firmly constrain models of disk accretion near black holes, as well as provide observational criteria by which to test general relativity in the strong field limit. Here we provide an introduction to this phenomenon. While the presentation is intended to be primarily tutorial in nature, we aim also to acquaint the reader with trends in current research. To achieve these ends, we present the basic applications of general relativity that pertain to X-ray spectroscopic observations of black hole accretion disk systems, focusing on the Schwarzschild and Kerr solutions to the Einstein field equations. To this we add treatments of the fundamental concepts associated with the theoretical and modeling aspects of accretion disks, as well as relevant topics from observational and theoretical X-ray spectroscopy.Comment: 63 pages, 21 figures, Einstein Centennial Review Article, Canadian Journal of Physics, in pres

Analisis de las respuestas moleculares profundas alcanzadas por las multiples secuencias de tratamientos con ITKS en LMC. Estudio de largo seguimiento del registro español de LMC

Poster [PC-231] Introducción: Cinco inhibidores de tirosina cinasa (ITKs) están disponibles para el tratamiento de pacientes con leucemia mieloide crónica en fase crónica (LMC-FC). Analizamos las diferentes secuencias de ITKs utilizadas como terapia para la LMC-FC en un análisis a largo plazo en vida real. Métodos: En un análisis retrospectivo de cohortes, se incluyeron pacientes con LMC-FC tratados en la práctica clínica con diferentes ITKs en el Registro Español de LMC (RELMC) (17 hospitales de todo el país) entre 2000 y 2014. El objetivo principal del estudio fue describir la secuencia del tratamiento con ITKs en la práctica de la vida real y la última respuesta molecular profunda (DMR) (MR4, MR4.5 o transcrito indetectable) para cada esquema. Resultados: Nuestro análisis incluyó 862 pacientes con LMC en 1º FC tratados con ITKs en 1ª línea o después de interferón alfa. Datos demográficos demográficos: 517 H, 345 M, mediana de edad: 52 años (14-94a). Distribución del Índice Sokal (bajo 49% Inter 38% Alto 13%), Índice EURO (bajo 50% Inter 45% Alto 5%), Índice EUTOS (bajo 93% Alto 7%), Índice LT-EUTOS (bajo 68 % Inter 25% Alto 7%). Esquemas de tratamiento: la Tabla 1 resume todos los esquemas utilizados y la última respuesta molecular. Los pacientes se dividieron en 4 grupos según el tratamiento con ITKs. Grupo 1: solo tratados con Imatinib 394 p (45, 7%) Grupo 2: Imatinib y luego 2ºGITKs debido a intolerancia o fallo 170 p (19, 7%) (12 esquemas de tratamiento secuenciales diferentes con ITKs) Grupo 3: 2ºGITKs en 1ª línea 91 p (13 esquemas secuenciales) (10, 5%) Grupo 4: Interferón alfa y luego ITKs 207 p (24%) (9 esquemas secuenciales). La Figura 1 resume la evolución de diferentes tratamientos alrededor de los 14 años. Última respuesta molecular profunda: con una mediana de seguimiento de 82 meses (1-351 m) desde el diagnóstico, 77 m (1-311 m) desde el primer tratamiento y 70 m (1-191 m) desde el primer tratamiento con ITK. Las tasas de respuesta molecular profunda para cada grupo fueron (G1: DMR 65% MMR 13% No MMR 15%, G2: DMR 46% MMR 24% No MMR 17%, G3: DMR 62% MMR 13% No MMR 12%, G4: DMR 53% MMR 17% No MMR 18%). Supervivencia a largo plazo (SLP o SG): no se encontraron diferencias estadísticas entre los grupos de tratamiento, ya sea desde el diagnóstico, el primer tratamiento o el primer ITK. Alcanzar una respuesta profunda garantiza mejores resultados. Variables predictivas de respuesta: los índices SOKAL, EUTOS, EURO y LT-EUTOS continúan siendo útiles para predecir el resultado a largo plazo. Conclusiones: En el contexto de un registro multicéntrico basado en hospitales, el tratamiento con ITKs es muy variable, con un gran número de secuencias diferentes de ITKs. Con una mediana de seguimiento de 7 años la tasa de respuesta molecular profunda es aproximadamente del 60% en pacientes tratados con imatinib y que no necesitan cambio de ITKs, y en aquellos tratados en 1º línea con 2ºGITKs(a pesar de su corto seguimiento), pero parece menor en pacientes tratados con imatinib que necesitan cambiar a 2ºGITKs. Los resultados de supervivencia fueron similares para todos los grupos

The tale of TILs in breast cancer : a report from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group

The advent of immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) in modern oncology has significantly improved survival in several cancer settings. A subgroup of women with breast cancer (BC) has immunogenic infiltration of lymphocytes with expression of programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1). These patients may potentially benefit from ICI targeting the programmed death 1 (PD-1)/PD-L1 signaling axis. The use of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) as predictive and prognostic biomarkers has been under intense examination. Emerging data suggest that TILs are associated with response to both cytotoxic treatments and immunotherapy, particularly for patients with triple-negative BC. In this review from The International Immuno-Oncology Biomarker Working Group, we discuss (a) the biological understanding of TILs, (b) their analytical and clinical validity and efforts toward the clinical utility in BC, and (c) the current status of PD-L1 and TIL testing across different continents, including experiences from low-to-middle-income countries, incorporating also the view of a patient advocate. This information will help set the stage for future approaches to optimize the understanding and clinical utilization of TIL analysis in patients with BC

Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) and Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) Conceptual Design Report Volume 2: The Physics Program for DUNE at LBNF

The Physics Program for the Deep Underground Neutrino Experiment (DUNE) at the Fermilab Long-Baseline Neutrino Facility (LBNF) is described

Results from Colombia's 2016 report card on physical activity for children and youth

Background: Physical activity (PA) is vital to the holistic development of young people. Regular participation in PA is associated with substantial benefits for health, cognitive function, and social inclusion. Recognizing the potential of PA in the context of the current peace process in Colombia, the purpose of this article is to present the methodology and results of Colombia's second Report Card on PA for children and youth. Methods: A group of experts on PA graded 14 PA indicators based on data from national surveys and policy documents. Results: National and departmental policy indicators received a grade of B, while organized sport participation, overweight, obesity, community influence, and nongovernment initiatives indicators received a grade of C. Overall PA levels, active transportation, sedentary behaviors, and school influence received a grade of D. Active play, low physical fitness, and family influence received an Incomplete grade. Conclusion: PA levels are low and sedentary behaviors are high in Colombian children and youth, with notable geographic differences. A broad policy framework translated into specific actions could provide unique opportunities to bridge the gap between knowledge and practice, and contribute to social integration goals in a postconflict setting. © 2016 Human Kinetics, Inc

Resultados de la boleta de calificaciones de 2018 de Colombia sobre actividad física para niños y jóvenes

Physical activity (PA) promotion across the lifespan is a key strategy for the prevention of non-communicable diseases in the public health agenda in Colombia.1 However, the sparse national data available before 2015 indicated that PA levels among Colombian adolescents were low and sedentary behaviors were highly prevalent.2 As a result of the improvement in national surveillance, Colombia has national data on PA-related indicators for all ages between 5 and 17 years, for the first time. These data informed the third version of the Report Card on Physical Activity (Figure 1). The purpose of this article is to summarize the methodology and results of the Colombian 2018 Report Card on Physical Activity for Children and Youth