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SUMMARY An unusual seismic activity has recently occurred in the Gripp valley, located in the central part of the French Pyrenees. Since spring 2020, two new swarms appeared, clearly outside the usual location of the seismicity in this area. On 20 September 2020, almost concomitantly with the activation of the second seismic swarm, a hole suddenly opened in the bed of a local river, the Adour de Payolle. This hole drained the water from the river, which dried up over 500 m. We follow and study the spatial and temporal evolution of these clusters, using four temporary stations deployed a few days or months after the beginning of the crisis to complete the regional network. These additional data lead to the construction of a comprehensive catalogue of more than 4900 earthquakes, using both a template matching approach and a deep-learning based phase picking method to complete and improve the initial catalogue available from the French seismological agency. This allows highlighting a slow and clear migration of the seismicity during 1 yr. Precise absolute and relative event locations reveal a dipping faulting structure, confirmed by the focal mechanism estimated for the highest magnitude event of the sequence (ML 3). We propose to explain the observed migration of the seismicity by deep fluids going up through a newly discovered faulting structure.

BackgroundIn the original clinical trials evaluating intralesional collagenase Clostridium histolyticum for Peyronie disease (PD), treatment protocols were limited to 8 injections.AimWe sought to describe our single-center experience with the use of multiple rounds (>8 injections) of intralesional collagenase in patients with PD.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients with PD receiving intralesional collagenase injections at our institution from October 2015 through December 2020. Some patients who completed 1 round of treatment elected to undergo additional rounds (16 or 24 injections) based on persistent curvature and presence of penile plaque. Clinical improvement was defined as a 20% reduction in penile curvature from the start of a given round of treatment to the end of that round of treatment. We measured erect penile curvature before and after each round and collected demographics, medical and surgical history, curvature outcomes, and treatment-related adverse events.OutcomeThe primary outcome was the reduction in penile curvature after multiple rounds of treatment with intralesional collagenase injections in patients with PD.ResultsA total of 330 patients underwent intralesional collagenase injections for PD, of whom 229 completed at least 8 injections and underwent pre- and posttreatment erect penile goniometry. An overall 42.8% (98/229), 38.6% (22/57), and 12.5% (1/8) of patients achieved clinical improvement after 1 round of therapy (8 injections), 2 rounds (16 injections), and 3 rounds (24 injections), respectively. Mean degree and mean percentage improvement of penile curvature for the start and end of each round of treatment were 8.3° and 16.4% (after 1 round), 7.2° and 16.8% (after 2 rounds), and 3.3° and 8.1% (after 3 rounds). Bruising was the most common complication, with an incidence of at least 50% in each round.Clinical ImplicationsKnowledge of patient responses to multiple rounds of intralesional collagenase injections may help guide physicians in management and counseling of patients regarding PD treatment options.Strengths and LimitationsThis is the first study to evaluate multiple rounds (>8 injections) of intralesional collagenase for PD. Limitations include retrospective analysis and smaller sample size among patients undergoing 3 rounds (24 injections).ConclusionFor patients who did not achieve clinical improvement after 1 round of treatment, an additional round may be beneficial. However, no real improvement was observed for patients undergoing a third round.

We present in this contribution the main aspects of efforts done at the CNES/CLS Analysis Center in 2022-2023. We recall the main changes associated with the adoption of the IG20/IGS20.atx standards relying on the recently released International Terrestrial Reference Frame (ITRF2020) and following our participation to the third IGS reprocessing campaign (REPRO3). We also increased our participation to IGS with the delivering of rapid and ultra-rapid products: the quality and specificities of these products (orbit, clocks and erp) are presented together with their availability and some details on the associated processing chain. Finally, we focus on the preliminary results of the processing of the satellites of the Beidou constellation that will be included soon in our products.

Characterization of Peyronie’s disease (PD) involves manual goniometry and penile length measurement. These techniques neglect volume loss or hourglass deformities. Inter-provider variability complicates accuracy. Using 3D-printed models, we aimed to evaluate measurement accuracy and variability and establish computational assessment workflows. Five digital phantoms were created: 13.0 cm cylinder, 13.0 cm hourglass cylinder, 15.0 cm cylinder with 40° angulation, 12.0 cm straight penis, and 12.9 cm PD penis with 68° angulation and hourglass. Lengths, volumes, and angles were determined computationally. Each phantom was 3D-printed. Ten urology providers determined lengths, angles, and volumes with measuring tape, goniometer, and volume calculator. Provider versus computational measurements were compared to determine accuracy using t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. No significant differences were observed between manual assessment of length of penile models and designed length in penile models. Average curvature angles from providers for bent cylinder and PD phantoms were 38.3° ± 3.9° (p = 0.25) and 57.5° ± 7.2° (p = 0.006), respectively. When assessing for volume, hourglass cylinder and bent cylinder showed significant differences between designed volume and provider averages. All assessments of length, angle, and volume showed significant provider variability. Our results suggest manual measurements suffer from inaccuracy and variability. Computational workflows are useful for improved accuracy and volume assessment.

Day-boundary orbit comparison is one of the criteria used to assess the performance of GNSS orbits. The overall statistics of orbit discontinuities such as RMS are usually computed to assess dynamical modeling and the processing configurations. Additional information about the systematic orbit errors is also accessible through their spectral content.A particular feature is the flicker or 1/f noise describing the low-frequency band, indicating time-correlated orbital errors. This type of noise is observed not only in the orbits but also in other GNSS-derived geodetic time series such as in station positions, Earth rotation parameters,... The sources explaining this feature, either from the GNSS orbit modeling or from unaccounted orbital perturbations, are not well understood. By computing simulated orbits, we look at possible causes in the orbit determination processing.

BACKGROUND: Efficacy of clomiphene citrate (CC) in the treatment of male subfertility remains unclear, with inconsistent results in the literature and limited guidance from professional organizations. We sought to stratify the response to clomiphene in men based on their initial gonadotropins and semen parameters. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 234 patients from an academic center who took CC for subfertility. Patients with pre-treatment and 3 months follow-up total testosterone (TT) and semen analyses were included. Patients with previous hormone therapy, genitourinary surgery, prior success in conceiving pregnancy, or only one semen analysis were excluded. Primary outcomes were magnitudes of improvement in TT and semen parameters at 3 months. Student’s t-test (alpha =0.05) was used for univariate analyses; multivariable linear regression was used for multivariate analysis. RESULTS: One hundred and thirty-seven patients met inclusion criteria. Thirty-four percent of patients experienced improvement in sperm concentration after 3 months of CC treatment, 13% decreased, and 53% showed no change. Using a pre-treatment TT cutoff of 300 ng/dL and gonadotropin thresholds of 7 miU/mL, initial TT did not affect magnitude of improvement in semen parameters, while lower initial gonadotropins showed statistical improvement across all outcomes. Multivariate analysis showed pre-treatment follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) was inversely correlated with improvement in TT [odds ratio (OR): 2.64e-05, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.32e-09 to 5.28e-01, P=0.04] and sperm concentration (OR: 0.22, 95% CI: 5.70e-02 to 8.48e-01, P=0.03). We also provide initial gonadotropin cutoffs that suggest statistical benefit from CC use. CONCLUSIONS: Men with lower gonadotropin levels may expect greater degree of improvement in both hormone and semen parameters with use of CC. Men with azoospermia do not benefit based on semen analyses alone. Degree of non-azoospermia does not affect magnitude of improvement. CC had decreasing efficacy at higher initial gonadotropin levels. These data may provide guidance in stratifying and counseling men for CC treatment.

Characterization of Peyronie's disease (PD) involves manual goniometry and penile length measurement. These techniques neglect volume loss or hourglass deformities. Inter-provider variability complicates accuracy. Using 3D-printed models, we aimed to evaluate measurement accuracy and variability and establish computational assessment workflows. Five digital phantoms were created: 13.0 cm cylinder, 13.0 cm hourglass cylinder, 15.0 cm cylinder with 40° angulation, 12.0 cm straight penis, and 12.9 cm PD penis with 68° angulation and hourglass. Lengths, volumes, and angles were determined computationally. Each phantom was 3D-printed. Ten urology providers determined lengths, angles, and volumes with measuring tape, goniometer, and volume calculator. Provider versus computational measurements were compared to determine accuracy using t-tests or Wilcoxon rank-sum tests. No significant differences were observed between manual assessment of length of penile models and designed length in penile models. Average curvature angles from providers for bent cylinder and PD phantoms were 38.3° ± 3.9° (p = 0.25) and 57.5° ± 7.2° (p = 0.006), respectively. When assessing for volume, hourglass cylinder and bent cylinder showed significant differences between designed volume and provider averages. All assessments of length, angle, and volume showed significant provider variability. Our results suggest manual measurements suffer from inaccuracy and variability. Computational workflows are useful for improved accuracy and volume assessment.

The Precise Point Positioning (PPP) technique using the GPS has become a popular alternative to the differential approach. Thanks to the MGEX pilot project of the IGS, precise orbit and clock products from other constellations like Galileo, Beidou, GLONASS are today available. This presentation focusses on GPS and Galileo systems and compares their individual performance to a combined processing. Resolving GNSS phase observations biases to their correct integer values significantly improves the precision and the accuracy of the estimated parameters. However, PPP with ambiguity resolution (PPP-AR) requires to deal with “hardware” biases at the satellite and receiver level. Nevertheless, several Analysis Centers within the IGS community are providing these biases. Using the orbit, clock and bias products of the GPS and Galileo constellations provided by the CNES-CLS group, we were able to compare PPP and PPP-AR station coordinates repeatability from a network of around 50 stations during 6 months. For both static and cinematic solutions, the hybridized solution significantly exceeds both individual ones.

This study explores the near-term results of an effort to improve the access of a large, underserved urban population to appropriate urologic specialty care through clinical integration.

The orientations in topics of competitiveness suggest at present, that a company obtains greater income when implanting or developing strategies of businesses that incorporate focuses like competitiveness and sustainability. Thus, organizational efforts are being directed in this line of work. Therefore, it is proposed as an objective for this research to know how SMEs is promoting the issue of competitiveness in their organizations and which aspects are the most outstanding of this process. The methodology used was qualitative and based on the documentary review of specialized scientific publications; at the end reflections are made from the holistic approach to highlight the components that contribute most to the subject of cited. The results point to a scenario of greater dynamics in issues of globalization and competitiveness, as the progress made from the research suggests that growth in these topics will undoubtedly be a motor of great importance to achieve important results for any type of organization.

Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been and remain very popular among cell therapists and tissue engineers, as shown by the use thereof in over 500 clinical trials. This success is justified by the diverse positive contributions exerted by MSCs toward tissue (re)generation and repair as tissue progenitors, proangiogenic cells, immunosuppressors, and supportive cells for lineage-committed stem cells. MSCs are, in addition, remarkably easy to isolate since MSC extraction is a mere primary culture of unselected dissociated cells. While convenient, indirect selection in long-term culture has long obscured the native biologic identity and tissue distribution of mesenchymal stem cells. It is only in recent years that perivascular cells – pericytes and cells of the tunica adventitia – have been identified as natural contributors of MSCs. Perivascular cells purified to homogeneity by flow cytometry show outstanding repair ability in bone and other tissues. Herein, we briefly review the medical utilization of conventional, culture-derived MSCs and discuss whether these should be, in some indications, advantageously replaced by their prospectively selected perivascular ancestors.