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- Gatto, Francesco, 1987, et al.
(author)
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Plasma Glycosaminoglycans as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Surgically Treated Renal Cell Carcinoma
- 2018
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In: European Urology Oncology. - : Elsevier BV. - 2588-9311. ; 1:5, s. 364-377
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Plasma glycosaminoglycan (GAG) measurements, when aggregated into diagnostic scores, accurately distinguish metastatic clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC) from healthy samples and correlate with prognosis. However, it is unknown if GAG scores can detect RCC in earlier stages or if they correlate with prognosis after surgery. Objective: To explore the sensitivity and specificity of plasma GAGs for detection of early-stage RCC and prediction of recurrence and death after RCC surgery. Design, setting, and participants: This was a retrospective case-control study consisting of a consecutive series of 175 RCC patients surgically treated between May 2011 and February 2014 and 19 healthy controls. Outcome measurements and statistical analysis: Plasma GAGs in preoperative and postoperative RCC and healthy samples were measured using capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence in a single blinded laboratory. A discovery set was first analyzed to update the historical GAG score. The sensitivity of the new GAG score for RCC detection versus healthy subjects was validated using the remaining samples. The correlation of the new GAG score to histopathologic variables, overall survival, and recurrence-free survival was evaluated using nonparametric and log-rank tests and multivariable Cox regression analyses. Results and limitations: The RCC cohort included 94 stage I, 58 stage II–III, and 22 stage IV cases. In the first discovery set (n = 67), the new GAG score distinguished RCC from healthy samples with an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.999. In the validation set (n = 108), the GAG score achieved an AUC of 0.991, with 93.5% sensitivity. GAG scores were elevated in RCC compared to healthy samples, irrespective of and uncorrelated to stage, grade, histology, age, or gender. The total chondroitin sulfate concentration was an independent prognostic factor for both overall and recurrence-free survival (hazard ratios 1.51 and 1.25) with high concordance when combined with variables available at pathologic diagnosis (C-index 0.926 and 0.849) or preoperatively (C-index 0.846 and 0.736). Limitations of the study include its retrospective nature and moderate variability in GAG laboratory measurements. Conclusions: Plasma GAGs are highly sensitive diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers in surgically treated RCC independent of stage, grade, or histology. Prospective validation studies on GAG scores for early detection, prediction, and surveillance for RCC recurrence are thus warranted. Patient summary: In this study, we examined if a new molecular blood test can detect renal cell carcinoma in the early stages and predict if the cancer might relapse after surgery. The trial is registered on ClinicalTrial.gov as NCT03471897. Plasma glycosaminoglycan measurements aggregated into scores had higher sensitivity for the detection of any-stage renal cell carcinoma and high concordance with survival after surgery.
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- Grinenko, V., et al.
(author)
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State with spontaneously broken time-reversal symmetry above the superconducting phase transition
- 2021
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In: Nature Physics. - : Springer Nature. - 1745-2473 .- 1745-2481. ; 17:11, s. 1254-1259
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The most well-known example of an ordered quantum state—superconductivity—is caused by the formation and condensation of pairs of electrons. Fundamentally, what distinguishes a superconducting state from a normal state is a spontaneously broken symmetry corresponding to the long-range coherence of pairs of electrons, leading to zero resistivity and diamagnetism. Here we report a set of experimental observations in hole-doped Ba1−xKxFe2As2. Our specific-heat measurements indicate the formation of fermionic bound states when the temperature is lowered from the normal state. However, when the doping level is x ≈ 0.8, instead of the characteristic onset of diamagnetic screening and zero resistance expected below the superconducting phase transition, we observe the opposite effect: the generation of self-induced magnetic fields in the resistive state, measured by spontaneous Nernst effect and muon spin rotation experiments. This combined evidence indicates the existence of a bosonic metal state in which Cooper pairs of electrons lack coherence, but the system spontaneously breaks time-reversal symmetry. The observations are consistent with the theory of a state with fermionic quadrupling, in which long-range order exists not between Cooper pairs but only between pairs of pairs.
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- Radulov, I. A., et al.
(author)
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Production of net-shape Mn-Al permanent magnets by electron beam melting
- 2019
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In: Additive Manufacturing. - : Elsevier BV. - 2214-8604 .- 2214-7810. ; 30
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The main goal of this work is the adoption of additive manufacturing for the production of inexpensive rare-earth free MnAl-based permanent magnets. The use of more advanced binder-free additive manufacturing technique such as Electron Beam Melting (EBM) allows obtaining fully-dense magnetic materials with advanced topology and complex shapes. We focus on the feasibility of controlling the phase formation in additively manufactured Mn-Al alloys by employing post-manufacturing heat treatment. The as-manufactured EBM samples contain 8% of the desired ferromagnetic τ-MnAl phase. After the optimized annealing treatment, the content of the τ-phase was increased to 90%. This sample has a coercivity value of 0.15 T, which is also the maximum achieved in conventionally produced binary MnAl magnets. Moreover, the EBM samples are fully dense and have the same density as the samples produced by conventional melting density.
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- Karlsson, Joakim
(author)
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Windows : Optical Performance and Energy Efficiency
- 2001
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Doctoral thesis (other academic/artistic)abstract
- This thesis treats angle-resolved optical properties and the energy efficiency of windows. A theoretical evaluation of optical and thermal properties of windows is briefly surveyed and the energy performance of a large selection of windows, under different conditions, is examined. In particular, angle dependent optical properties are analysed. A new model assessing angle dependence of the total solar energy transmittance, g, of windows is presented. A comparison of simple models for angle-dependence prediction has been performed, including both fictitious and measured real window glazings. The new proposed model illustrates low errors for both the real and the fictitious glazings. The impact of inaccuracy in the angle dependence of the g-factor has been assessed and found to be clearly noticeable but not necessarily critical. A simple model for comparing the energy efficiency of different windows in different types of buildings and different climates has been further developed and analysed for several conditions. The energy performance of a large number of windows has been analysed using this model, and also by using other building and window simulation models. Typical savings when changing from a standard double glazed window to the optimal window for the investigated case is in the order of 100-150 kWh/m2yr. The annual energy balance of modern low emittance windows illustrates that they can be annual energy savers rather than energy losers, unlike traditional windows. However, it is shown that it is not important to argue about small changes (~0.01) of the thermal emittance value. Furthermore, advance solar control glazings effectively reduce solar transmittance with maintained high light transmittance. AR-coatings and low-iron glazings can increase the transmittance of glazings considerably. In fact, a "super" low emittance window with a U-value below 1 W/m2K can have higher light transmittance than a common double-glazed unit. Windows with variable transmittance, switchable windows, are compared with high-performing solar control windows, illustrating some degree of potential energy savings compared to high performing static solar control windows, depending on the type of control that is used. This is accompanied by the potential for automatic thermal comfort- and glare control. Different models for energy rating of windows have been evaluated, demonstrating that a simple linear rating depending on the U and g-factor of the window may be sufficient with certain restrictions. Division into climate zones is essential. In all, the results demonstrate that energy-efficient windows provide huge energy-saving potentials on a large (regional, national, global) scale.
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- Maccari, Maria Elena, et al.
(author)
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Activated phosphoinositide 3-kinase δ syndrome: Update from the ESID Registry and comparison with other autoimmune-lymphoproliferative inborn errors of immunity.
- 2023
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In: The Journal of allergy and clinical immunology. - 1097-6825. ; 152:4
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Activated phosphoinositide-3-kinase δ syndrome (APDS) is an inborn error of immunity (IEI) with infection susceptibility and immune dysregulation, clinically overlapping with other conditions. Management depends on disease evolution, but predictors of severe disease are lacking.This study sought to report the extended spectrum of disease manifestations in APDS1 versus APDS2; compare these to CTLA4 deficiency, NFKB1 deficiency, and STAT3 gain-of-function (GOF) disease; and identify predictors of severity in APDS.Data was collected from the ESID (European Society for Immunodeficiencies)-APDS registry and was compared with published cohorts of the other IEIs.The analysis of 170 patients with APDS outlines high penetrance and early onset of APDS compared to the other IEIs. The large clinical heterogeneity even in individuals with the same PIK3CD variant E1021K illustrates how poorly the genotype predicts the disease phenotype and course. The high clinical overlap between APDS and the other investigated IEIs suggests relevant pathophysiological convergence of the affected pathways. Preferentially affected organ systems indicate specific pathophysiology: bronchiectasis is typical of APDS1; interstitial lung disease and enteropathy are more common in STAT3 GOF and CTLA4 deficiency. Endocrinopathies are most frequent in STAT3 GOF, but growth impairment is also common, particularly in APDS2. Early clinical presentation is a risk factor for severe disease in APDS.APDS illustrates how a single genetic variant can result in a diverse autoimmune-lymphoproliferative phenotype. Overlap with other IEIs is substantial. Some specific features distinguish APDS1 from APDS2. Early onset is a risk factor for severe disease course calling for specific treatment studies in younger patients.
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