299 research outputs found
Detecting binary compact-object mergers with gravitational waves: Understanding and Improving the sensitivity of the PyCBC search
We present an improved search for binary compact-object mergers using a
network of ground-based gravitational-wave detectors. We model a volumetric,
isotropic source population and incorporate the resulting distribution over
signal amplitude, time delay, and coalescence phase into the ranking of
candidate events. We describe an improved modeling of the background
distribution, and demonstrate incorporating a prior model of the binary mass
distribution in the ranking of candidate events. We find a and
increase in detection volume for simulated binary neutron star and
neutron star--binary black hole systems, respectively, corresponding to a
reduction of the false alarm rates assigned to signals by between one and two
orders of magnitude.Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures, as accepted by Ap
Inflammatory (B) symptoms are independent predictors of myelosuppression from chemotherapy in Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) patients – analysis of data from a British National Lymphoma Investigation phase III trial comparing CHOP to PMitCEBO
<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Toxicity from chemotherapy is highly variable, unpredictable and results in substantial morbidity and increased healthcare costs. New predictors of toxicity are required to improve the safety and efficacy of chemotherapy. Inflammatory or B symptoms in lymphoma are associated with elevated plasma inflammatory markers and predict worse treatment response and survival. Recent data suggest that systemic inflammation results in reduced hepatic drug metabolism and increased toxicity from chemotherapy. We investigated whether B symptoms were associated with greater toxicity in patients treated for non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL).</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The British National Lymphoma Investigation compared two chemotherapy regimens in older patients with aggressive NHL. Approximately 50% of patients had B symptoms. Demographic and toxicity data on 664 patients were analysed to identify predictors of toxicity by multivariate analysis, with particular reference to B symptoms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using univariate analyses, severe (grades 3–4) leucopenia, anaemia, thrombocytopenia, nausea and vomiting and diarrhoea occurred more frequently in patients with B symptoms. The associations between B symptoms and severe leucopenia (OR 1.7, p = 0.005) and anaemia (OR 2.3, p = 0.025) persisted after adjustment for other prognostic factors in multivariate analyses. The use of granulocyte colony stimulating factor reduced neutropenia in patients with both A and B symptoms.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>For the first time and in a large NHL cohort we have shown that inflammatory symptoms are independent predictors for myelosuppression from chemotherapy. These data will enable improved prognostication for toxicity and provide individualisation of therapy in NHL and other tumours. These findings also create the potential for strategies used prior to chemotherapy aimed at reducing systemic inflammation in order to improve drug metabolism and reduce treatment-related toxicity.</p> <p>Trial registration number</p> <p>ISRCTN98741793</p
Green Growth Diagnostics for Africa: Literature Review and Scoping Study
This paper reviews the literature for a project which seeks to develop a new Green
Growth Diagnostics methodology and apply it to countries in Africa.
The original growth diagnostics methodology was developed by Haussmann, Rodrik and
Velasco to identify the key constraints holding back economic growth from its full
potential. Their approach was driven by the needs of policymakers facing the dilemma
that most problems have multiple causes, but governments cannot tackle all of them at
once, given limitations in their financial and executive capacity. This gave rise to the idea
of concentrating these limited resources on the binding constraint, which would be
identified going through a tool conceptualised as a decision tree. The proponents of the
original growth diagnostics also realised that this binding constraint varies between
countries and - we would argue - between sectors.
The central point of the original growth diagnostics method was that it offered researchers
and policy makers a way of identifying priorities in analysis and policy; and finding
solutions which take into account local conditions. The same rationale applies to our
Green Growth Diagnostic project. We build on the original approach but adapt it in four
ways: 1. Applying it to the energy sector; 2. Taking into account potential knock-on effects
on the economy; 3. The political economy when going from diagnostics to therapeutics;
and 4. Working out the distributional consequences. Since each step takes the project
into un(der)explored territory, it is built around five research questions and corresponding
methodologically distinct work packages.
Our five research questions are: 1. What are the binding constraints for investment in
economically viable renewable energy?; 2.Which policies can more effectively target
different binding constraints?; 3. Who obstructs/drives the adoption of specific sustainable
energy policies?; 4. What would be the macroeconomic impacts of an increase in
renewable energy investment/capacity, and the reforms needed to bring this increase
about? and 5. Under what circumstances increased on-grid renewable energy capacity
translates into increased access to and increased reliability of electricity supply in
developing countries? This paper pulls together what we can learn from the international
literature on these questions
Design, validity and clinical utility of smartphone app to assess short-term pain trajectories
Fruit, vegetable and vitamin C intakes and plasma vitamin C: cross-sectional associations with insulin resistance and glycaemia in 9-10 year-old children.
AIM: To examine whether low circulating vitamin C concentrations and low fruit and vegetable intakes were associated with insulin resistance and other Type 2 diabetes risk markers in childhood. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional, school-based study in 2025 UK children aged 9-10 years, predominantly of white European, South-Asian and black African origin. A 24-h dietary recall was used to assess fruit, vegetable and vitamin C intakes. Height, weight and fat mass were measured and a fasting blood sample collected to measure plasma vitamin C concentrations and Type 2 diabetes risk markers. RESULTS: In analyses adjusting for confounding variables (including socio-economic status), a one interquartile range higher plasma vitamin C concentration (30.9 μmol/l) was associated with a 9.6% (95% CI 6.5, 12.6%) lower homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance value, 0.8% (95% CI 0.4, 1.2%) lower fasting glucose, 4.5% (95% CI 3.2, 5.9%) lower urate and 2.2% (95% CI 0.9, 3.4%) higher HDL cholesterol. HbA1c concentration was 0.6% (95% CI 0.2, 1.0%) higher. Dietary fruit, vegetable and total vitamin C intakes were not associated with any Type 2 diabetes risk markers. Lower plasma vitamin C concentrations in South-Asian and black African-Caribbean children could partly explain their higher insulin resistance. CONCLUSIONS: Lower plasma vitamin C concentrations are associated with insulin resistance and could partly explain ethnic differences in insulin resistance. Experimental studies are needed to establish whether increasing plasma vitamin C can help prevent Type 2 diabetes at an early stage
The PyCBC search for gravitational waves from compact binary coalescence
We describe the PyCBC search for gravitational waves from compact-object
binary coalescences in advanced gravitational-wave detector data. The search
was used in the first Advanced LIGO observing run and unambiguously identified
two black hole binary mergers, GW150914 and GW151226. At its core, the PyCBC
search performs a matched-filter search for binary merger signals using a bank
of gravitational-wave template waveforms. We provide a complete description of
the search pipeline including the steps used to mitigate the effects of noise
transients in the data, identify candidate events and measure their statistical
significance. The analysis is able to measure false-alarm rates as low as one
per million years, required for confident detection of signals. Using data from
initial LIGO's sixth science run, we show that the new analysis reduces the
background noise in the search, giving a 30% increase in sensitive volume for
binary neutron star systems over previous searches.Comment: 29 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Classical and Quantum Gravit
Demographic trade-offs predict tropical forest dynamics
Understanding tropical forest dynamics and planning for their sustainable management require efficient, yet accurate, predictions of the joint dynamics of hundreds of tree species. With increasing information on tropical tree life histories, our predictive understanding is no longer limited by species data but by the ability of existing models to make use of it. Using a demographic forest model, we show that the basal area and compositional changes during forest succession in a neotropical forest can be accurately predicted by representing tropical tree diversity (hundreds of species) with only five functional groups spanning two essential trade-offs—the growth-survival and stature-recruitment trade-offs. This data-driven modeling framework substantially improves our ability to predict consequences of anthropogenic impacts on tropical forests
5-Fluorouracil-induced cardiotoxicity mimicking myocardial infarction: a case report
BACKGROUND: Severe cardiotoxicity is a documented, but very unusual side-effect of intravenous 5-fluorouracil therapy. The mechanism producing cardiotoxicity is poorly understood. CASE PRESENTATION: A case of 5-fluorouracil-induced cardiotoxicity, possibly due to coronary artery spasm, and mimicking acute anterolateral myocardial infarction is presented and discussed. Electrocardiographs highlighting the severity of the presentation are included in the report along with coronary angiograms demonstrating the absence of significant coronary atherosclerosis. CONCLUSION: Severe 5-fluorouracil-induced cardiotoxicity is rare, but can be severe and may mimic acute myocardial infarction, leading to diagnostic and therapeutic dilemmas. Readministration of 5-fluorouracil is not advised following an episode of cardiotoxicity
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