Superconformal Blocks for Mixed 1/2-BPS Correlators with SU(2)SU(2) R-symmetry

For SCFTs with an $SU(2)$ R-symmetry, we determine the superconformal blocks that contribute to the four-point correlation function of a priori distinct half-BPS superconformal primaries as an expansion in terms of the relevant bosonic conformal blocks. This is achieved by using the superconformal Casimir equation and the superconformal Ward identity to fix the coefficients of the bosonic blocks uniquely in a dimension-independent way. In addition we find that many of the resulting coefficients are related through a web of linear transformations of the conformal data.Comment: 42 pages, ancillary Mathematica notebook listing all block coefficients; minor corrections, published versio

The specific surface area and chemical composition of diamond dust near Barrow, Alaska

Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/95687/1/jgrd17349.pd

Brachytherapy for rhabdomyosarcoma: Survey of international clinical practice and development of guidelines

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to address the lack of published data on the use of brachytherapy in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma by describing current practice as starting point to develop consensus guidelines. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An international expert panel on the treatment of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma comprising 24 (pediatric) radiation oncologists, brachytherapists and pediatric surgeons met for a Brachytherapy Workshop hosted by the European paediatric Soft tissue Sarcoma Study Group (EpSSG). The panel's clinical experience, the results of a previously distributed questionnaire, and a review of the literature were presented. RESULTS: The survey indicated the most common use of brachytherapy to be in combination with tumor resection, followed by brachytherapy as sole local therapy modality. HDR was increasingly deployed in pediatric practice, especially for genitourinary sites. Brachytherapy planning was mostly by 3D imaging based on CT. Recommendations for patient selection, treatment requirements, implant technique, delineation, dose prescription, dose reporting and clinical management were defined. CONCLUSIONS: Consensus guidelines for the use of brachytherapy in pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma have been developed through multicenter collaboration establishing the basis for future work. These have been adopted for the open EpSSG overarching study for children and adults with Frontline and Relapsed RhabdoMyoSarcoma (FaR-RMS)

Interlaboratory assays from the fungal PCR Initiative and the Modimucor Study Group to improve qPCR detection of Mucorales DNA in serum: one more step toward standardization

The aim of this study was to identify parameters influencing DNA extraction and PCR amplification efficiencies in an attempt to standardize Mucorales qPCR. The Fungal PCR Initiative Mucorales Laboratory Working Group distributed two panels of simulated samples to 26 laboratories: Panel A (six sera spiked with Mucorales DNA and one negative control serum) and Panel B (six Mucorales DNA extracts). Panel A underwent DNA extraction in each laboratory according to the local procedure and were sent to a central laboratory for testing using three different qPCR techniques: one in-house qPCR assay and two commercial assays (MucorGenius and Fungiplex). Panel B DNA extracts were PCR amplified in each laboratory using local procedures: nine in-house qPCR assays and two commercial kits (MucorGenius and MycoGENIE). All data were compiled and anonymously analyzed at the central laboratory. For Panel A, a total of six different automated platforms and five manual extraction methods were used. Positive rates were 64%, 70%, and 89%, for the MucorGenius, Fungiplex, and the in-house qPCR assay, respectively. Using a large volume of serum for DNA extraction provided the highest analytical sensitivity (82.5% for 1 mL compared with 62.7% for smaller volumes, P 78% positivity. Using larger PCR input volumes (≥7 µL) was associated with the highest sensitivity at 95.5% compared to 58.3% when lower input volumes were used (P < 0.01). Using larger sample volumes for nucleic acid extraction and DNA template volumes for PCR amplification significantly improves the performance of Mucorales qPCR when testing serum

Maternal Obesity and Fetal Macrosomia : Complications and Obstetric Management

Contexte : L'obésité est considérée par l'OMS comme une « épidémie » mondiale en raison de l'essor de sa prévalence et de ses conséquences sur la santé. Chez les patientes enceintes, son impact semble tout aussi préoccupant et sa prévalence en France atteint actuellement 10%. Certaines complications de l'obésité chez la femme enceinte ont été peu étudiées et notamment le lien particulier avec la macrosomie fœtale.Objectifs : Mieux appréhender la prise en charge des patientes enceintes obèses et de certaines complications qui en découlent.Méthodes : Trois séries de données différentes ont servi pour répondre à différentes questions sur la thématique de l'obésité et de la macrosomie. 1) Une évaluation de la faisabilité et de la qualité d'une échographie obstétricale du 2ème trimestre chez les patientes obèses a été réalisée via une étude mono centrique avec recueil prospectif des données. 2) Une étude des facteurs de risques de complications maternelles en cas d'accouchement d'un enfant macrosome, indépendamment de l'obésité maternelle et du poids de naissance de l'enfant a été menée sous la forme d'une étude prospective de cohorte d'enfant de plus de 4000g dans deux maternités d'Ile de France. 3) Enfin, une comparaison de la relation entre les complications maternelles de la grossesse et /ou néonatales et l'obésité a été menée entre la France (4 maternités de type III) et le Québec (données issues d'une étude randomisée dans toute la province) entre 2009 et 2011 via une étude comparative de deux échantillons transversaux de femmes enceintes (26 973 accouchements en France et 83 545 accouchements au Québec). Résultats : 1) Une échographie du deuxième trimestre de la grossesse chez une population obèse est possible, avec un taux de réussite en une fois de 70,4 %, (versus 82% ; p=0,08). Les facteurs d'amélioration de ce taux étaient : passer plus de temps lors de l'échographie (p=0,03), déplacer le fœtus de sorte que son dos soit en position latérale ou postérieure (p=0,01), et échographie réalisée par des échographistes expérimentés (p=0,03). Néanmoins, la qualité des images reste significativement moins bonne dans la population obèse (p=0,001). 2) La survenue de complications maternelles lors de la tentative d'accouchement vaginal d'un enfant de plus de 4000 g est de 6%. Les facteurs de risque de complications maternelles, outre le poids de naissance de l'enfant (p=0,004, Risque attribuable (RA)=10%), sont l'origine asiatique de la mère (p=0,04 ; RA=3%), une durée longue du travail (>10h) (p=0,02 ; RA=12%), et une césarienne au cours du travail (p=0,004 ; RA=17%). Les patientes multipares ayant déjà accouché par voie vaginale d'un enfant macrosome avaient un risque diminué de complications maternelles (p=0,03). 3) La prévalence de l'obésité était de 9,1% en France et 16,8% au Québec (p 10h) (p=0.02; AR=12%), and caesarean section during labor (p=0.004; AR=17%). Multiparous women with a previous vaginal delivery of a macrosomic child had a lower risk of maternal complications (p=0.03). 3) The prevalence of obesity was 9.1% in France and 16.8% in Quebec (p <0.001). Obesity was significantly (p <0.0001) associated with, both in France and in Quebec, an increased risk of gestational diabetes, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, preeclampsia, stillbirth, cesarean delivery and macrosomia. The strength of the association was different in France and Quebec (p of interaction <0.005) for the occurrence of gestational diabetes, hypertensive complications of pregnancy and macrosomia, with a larger increase in complications with body mass index in Quebec compared to France.Conclusion: Understanding some inherent complications of obesity (medical complications of pregnancy, feasibility and quality of ultrasound screening, obstetric complications) is enhanced by the result of this work

Obésité maternelle et macrosomie foetale : complications et prise en charge obstétricale

Background: According to WHO, obesity is considered as an "epidemic" condition due to the global growth of its prevalence and its impact on patient health. For pregnant patients, its impact seems equally worrying and its prevalence is now reaching 10% in France. Some complications of obesity in pregnant women have been little studied and particularly the special link with fetal macrosomia.Objectives: To better understand care and obstetric outcome of obese pregnant patients as well as some of their complications such as fetal macrosomia.Methods: Three different sets of data were used to deal with questions regarding obesity and macrosomia. 1) Assessment of feasibility and quality of second trimester ultrasound scan in obese patients was performed through a mono centric case-control study with prospective data collection. 2) A study of risk factors for maternal complications in case of the delivery of a macrosomic child, regardless of maternal obesity and child's birth weight, was conducted as a prospective cohort study including children with birthweight above 4000g in two “Ile de France” maternity wards. 3) Finally, a comparison of the relationship between maternal and/or neonatal complications of pregnancy and obesity was conducted in France (4 type III maternity wards) and in Quebec (data from a randomized study throughout the province) between 2009 and 2011 through a comparative study of two cross-sectional samples of pregnant women (26,973 births in France and 83,545 births in Quebec).Results: 1) Second trimester ultrasound scan in obese pregnant women is feasible, with a success rate of 70.4% (versus 82%; p=0.08). Factors of improvement were: to spend more time at ultrasound (p=0.03), to move the fetus so that its back is in lateral or posterior position (p=0.01) and when ultrasound was performed by experienced sonographers (p=0.03). However, the quality of the image remains significantly lower in the obese population (p=0.001). 2) The occurrence of maternal complications, when attempting vaginal birth of a child of more than 4000g, was 6%. Beyond childbirth weight (p=0.004, attributable risk (AR) = 10%), the risk factors of maternal complications were Asian ethnicity (p=0.04; AR=3%), prolonged labor (> 10h) (p=0.02; AR=12%), and caesarean section during labor (p=0.004; AR=17%). Multiparous women with a previous vaginal delivery of a macrosomic child had a lower risk of maternal complications (p=0.03). 3) The prevalence of obesity was 9.1% in France and 16.8% in Quebec (p 10h) (p=0,02 ; RA=12%), et une césarienne au cours du travail (p=0,004 ; RA=17%). Les patientes multipares ayant déjà accouché par voie vaginale d'un enfant macrosome avaient un risque diminué de complications maternelles (p=0,03). 3) La prévalence de l'obésité était de 9,1% en France et 16,8% au Québec (p<0,001). L'obésité était associée de manière statistiquement significative (p<0,0001), à la fois en France et au Québec, à un risque accru de diabète gestationnel, de troubles hypertensifs de la grossesse, de prééclampsie, de mort fœtale in utero, d'accouchement par césarienne et de macrosomie. L'association était différente en France et au Québec (p interaction <0,005), pour la survenue du diabète gestationnel, de complications hypertensives de la grossesse et pour la macrosomie, avec une augmentation plus importante des complications avec l'IMC au Québec par rapport à la France.Conclusion : La compréhension de certaines complications inhérentes à l'obésité (complications médicales de la grossesse, faisabilité et qualité du dépistage échographique, complications obstétricales) est améliorée par les résultats de cette thèse

Superconformal blocks for mixed 1/2-BPS correlators with SU(2) R-symmetry

Abstract For SCFTs with an SU(2) R-symmetry, we determine the superconformal blocks that contribute to the four-point correlation function of a priori distinct half-BPS superconformal primaries as an expansion in terms of the relevant bosonic conformal blocks. This is achieved by using the superconformal Casimir equation and the superconformal Ward identity to fix the coefficients of the bosonic blocks uniquely in a dimension-independent way. In addition we find that many of the resulting coefficients are related through a web of linear transformations of the conformal data.</jats:p

Artificial Intelligence in Pediatric Liver Transplantation: Opportunities and Challenges of a New Era

Historically, pediatric liver transplantation has achieved significant milestones, yet recent innovations have predominantly occurred in adult liver transplantation due to higher caseloads and ethical barriers in pediatric studies. Emerging methods subsumed under the term artificial intelligence offer the potential to revolutionize data analysis in pediatric liver transplantation by handling complex datasets without the need for interventional studies, making them particularly suitable for pediatric research. This review provides an overview of artificial intelligence applications in pediatric liver transplantation. Despite some promising early results, artificial intelligence is still in its infancy in the field of pediatric liver transplantation, and its clinical implementation faces several challenges. These include the need for high-quality, large-scale data and ensuring the interpretability and transparency of machine and deep learning models. Ethical considerations, such as data privacy and the potential for bias, must also be addressed. Future directions for artificial intelligence in pediatric liver transplantation include improving donor-recipient matching, managing long-term complications, and integrating diverse data sources to enhance predictive accuracy. Moreover, multicenter collaborations and prospective studies are essential for validating artificial intelligence models and ensuring their generalizability. If successfully integrated, artificial intelligence could lead to substantial improvements in patient outcomes, bringing pediatric liver transplantation again to the forefront of innovation in the transplantation community