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Gravitational lensing is a crucial tool for exploring cosmic phenomena, providing insights into galaxy clustering, dark matter, and dark energy. Given the substantial computational demands of $N$-body simulations, approximate methods like $\texttt{PINOCCHIO}$ and $\texttt{turboGL}$ have been proposed as viable alternatives for simulating lensing probability density functions (PDFs). This paper evaluates these methods and their effectiveness across both weak and strong lensing regimes, with a focus in the context where baryonic effects are negligible. Our comparative analysis reveals that these methods are effective for applications where lensing is mild, such as the majority of sources of electromagnetic and gravitational waves. However, both $\texttt{PINOCCHIO}$ and $\texttt{turboGL}$ break down for large values of convergence and magnification due to their loss of accuracy in capturing small-scale nonlinear matter fields, owing to oversimplified assumptions about internal halo structures and reliance on perturbation theory. $\texttt{PINOCCHIO}$ yields second-to-fourth moments of the lensing PDFs, which are 6--10\% smaller than those resulting from $N$-body simulations in regimes where baryonic effects are minimal. These findings aim to inform future studies on gravitational lensing of point sources, which are increasingly relevant with upcoming supernova and gravitational wave datasets.

Alcohol, the most consumed drug in the world, is responsible for millions of deaths and a significant of disability-adjusted life years. Alcohol-related liver disease is the most recognized disease related to heavy ethanol consumption, whose pathophysiology we will cover extensively. However, pancreatitis, dilated cardiomyopathy, alcohol-related neurological diseases and other topics will be reviewed with detailed pathophysiological mechanisms and unifying concepts. Abstinence is the most effective treatment for alcohol-related disease, and an international effort should be made to promote a marked reduction in alcohol consumption.

Background/objectives: This study examined the association between maternal anger, children’s externalizing symptoms, and the moderating impact of maternal adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) in the context of intimate partner violence (IPV). The primary objective was to investigate whether maternal ACEs alter the link between maternal anger and children’s externalizing symptoms, guided by theoretical frameworks such as the stress sensitization and stress steeling models. Methods: A sample of 159 Portuguese mothers exposed to IPV participated in the study, completing a protocol of self-report measures. Measured variables included maternal anger, ACEs, children’s externalizing symptoms, and IPV. Results: Results indicate a significant moderation effect of ACEs on the association between maternal anger and externalizing symptoms at low levels of ACEs. Conversely, at moderate and high ACEs levels, no statistically significant association exists between maternal anger and children’s externalizing symptoms. Conclusions: Clinical implications emphasize the importance of tailored parenting interventions to prevent externalizing symptoms in children, integrating diverse emotion regulation strategies while considering the impact of maternal ACEs.

We train graph neural networks on halo catalogs from Gadget N -body simulations to perform field-level likelihood-free inference of cosmological parameters. The catalogs contain ≲5000 halos with masses ≳10 ^10 h ^−1 M _⊙ in a periodic volume of ${(25\,{h}^{-1}\,\mathrm{Mpc})}^{3}$ ; every halo in the catalog is characterized by several properties such as position, mass, velocity, concentration, and maximum circular velocity. Our models, built to be permutationally, translationally, and rotationally invariant, do not impose a minimum scale on which to extract information and are able to infer the values of Ω _m and σ _8 with a mean relative error of ∼6%, when using positions plus velocities and positions plus masses, respectively. More importantly, we find that our models are very robust: they can infer the value of Ω _m and σ _8 when tested using halo catalogs from thousands of N -body simulations run with five different N -body codes: Abacus, CUBEP ^3 M, Enzo, PKDGrav3, and Ramses. Surprisingly, the model trained to infer Ω _m also works when tested on thousands of state-of-the-art CAMELS hydrodynamic simulations run with four different codes and subgrid physics implementations. Using halo properties such as concentration and maximum circular velocity allow our models to extract more information, at the expense of breaking the robustness of the models. This may happen because the different N -body codes are not converged on the relevant scales corresponding to these parameters.

We train graph neural networks to perform field-level likelihood-free inference using galaxy catalogs from state-of-the-art hydrodynamic simulations of the CAMELS project. Our models are rotational, translational, and permutation invariant and do not impose any cut on scale. From galaxy catalogs that only contain 3D positions and radial velocities of ∼1000 galaxies in tiny ${(25\,{h}^{-1}\mathrm{Mpc})}^{3}$ volumes our models can infer the value of Ω _m with approximately 12% precision. More importantly, by testing the models on galaxy catalogs from thousands of hydrodynamic simulations, each having a different efficiency of supernova and active galactic nucleus feedback, run with five different codes and subgrid models—IllustrisTNG, SIMBA, Astrid, Magneticum, SWIFT-EAGLE—we find that our models are robust to changes in astrophysics, subgrid physics, and subhalo/galaxy finder. Furthermore, we test our models on 1024 simulations that cover a vast region in parameter space—variations in five cosmological and 23 astrophysical parameters—finding that the model extrapolates really well. Our results indicate that the key to building a robust model is the use of both galaxy positions and velocities, suggesting that the network has likely learned an underlying physical relation that does not depend on galaxy formation and is valid on scales larger than ∼10 h ^−1 kpc.

Recent work has pointed out the potential existence of a tight relation between the cosmological parameter Ω _m , at fixed Ω _b , and the properties of individual galaxies in state-of-the-art cosmological hydrodynamic simulations. In this paper, we investigate whether such a relation also holds for galaxies from simulations run with a different code that makes use of a distinct subgrid physics: Astrid. We also find that in this case, neural networks are able to infer the value of Ω _m with a ∼10% precision from the properties of individual galaxies, while accounting for astrophysics uncertainties, as modeled in Cosmology and Astrophysics with MachinE Learning (CAMELS). This tight relationship is present at all considered redshifts, z ≤ 3, and the stellar mass, the stellar metallicity, and the maximum circular velocity are among the most important galaxy properties behind the relation. In order to use this method with real galaxies, one needs to quantify its robustness: the accuracy of the model when tested on galaxies generated by codes different from the one used for training. We quantify the robustness of the models by testing them on galaxies from four different codes: IllustrisTNG, SIMBA, Astrid, and Magneticum. We show that the models perform well on a large fraction of the galaxies, but fail dramatically on a small fraction of them. Removing these outliers significantly improves the accuracy of the models across simulation codes.

We discover analytic equations that can infer the value of Ω _m from the positions and velocity moduli of halo and galaxy catalogs. The equations are derived by combining a tailored graph neural network (GNN) architecture with symbolic regression. We first train the GNN on dark matter halos from Gadget N -body simulations to perform field-level likelihood-free inference, and show that our model can infer Ω _m with ∼6% accuracy from halo catalogs of thousands of N -body simulations run with six different codes: Abacus, CUBEP ^3 M, Gadget, Enzo, PKDGrav3, and Ramses. By applying symbolic regression to the different parts comprising the GNN, we derive equations that can predict Ω _m from halo catalogs of simulations run with all of the above codes with accuracies similar to those of the GNN. We show that, by tuning a single free parameter, our equations can also infer the value of Ω _m from galaxy catalogs of thousands of state-of-the-art hydrodynamic simulations of the CAMELS project, each with a different astrophysics model, run with five distinct codes that employ different subgrid physics: IllustrisTNG, SIMBA, Astrid, Magneticum, SWIFT-EAGLE. Furthermore, the equations also perform well when tested on galaxy catalogs from simulations covering a vast region in parameter space that samples variations in 5 cosmological and 23 astrophysical parameters. We speculate that the equations may reflect the existence of a fundamental physics relation between the phase-space distribution of generic tracers and Ω _m , one that is not affected by galaxy formation physics down to scales as small as 10 h ^−1 kpc.

Introdução: A implementação de modelos capazes de melhorar a referenciação, por forma a garantir a qualidade e precocidade do diagnóstico, o melhor tratamento e seguimento do doente psoriático é fundamental. Material e Métodos: Um painel de médicos de Medicina Geral e Familiar e Dermatologia discutiu e criou um algoritmo de referenciação simples, eficaz e célere de doentes com psoríase. Resultados: O algoritmo proposto inicia-se quando o clínico de Medicina Geral e Familiar suspeita de psoríase. Caso haja dúvidas no diagnóstico, o doente deve ser referenciado para a dermatologia. No caso de um diagnóstico confirmado, compete ao clínico de Medicina Geral e Familiar avaliar a gravidade e perfil de respondedor do doente, rastrear comorbilidades e a possibilidade de artrite psoriática. Se a psoríase for ligeira, deverão ser iniciados tratamentos tópicos, sendo que, se não houver melhoria clínica ou ocorrer agravamento da doença, o doente deverá ser referenciado para a dermatologia. Se a psoríase for considerada moderada a grave, em localizações de elevado impacto, ou em idade pediátrica, o doente deverá ser referenciado para a dermatologia. Para que o seguimento e tratamento destes doentes seja partilhado, é fundamental que o médico de Medicina Geral e Familiar tenha o conhecimento necessário sobre os tratamentos sistémicos que o doente está a fazer e os seus efeitos adversos. Discussão e Conclusão: Apenas uma gestão partilhada do doente psoriático poderá tornar possível o melhor tratamento e seguimento destes doentes, a utilização mais racional dos recursos médicos disponíveis, proporcionando ao doente a melhor qualidade de vida possível.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da utilização de níveis crescentes do farelo de raiz de mandioca (FRM) na ração de frangos de corte sob o desempenho e o rendimento de carcaças, cortes e vísceras, no período 10 a 42 dias de vida. Foi realizado um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e quatro repetições. A unidade experimental foi representada por 16 frangos machos e fêmeas da linhagem Cobb 500. Os tratamentos consistiram em quatro rações com 0%, 7,5%, 15% e 22,5% de farelo de raiz de mandioca em três programas de alimentação. Aos 42 dias, quatro aves por unidade foram abatidas e avaliados o rendimento de carcaça, principais cortes e vísceras comestíveis. A inclusão dos níveis de 15% e 22,5% de FRM na dieta dos frangos influenciou negativamente no ganho de peso, no consumo e na conversão alimentar no período inicial e de crescimento das aves. O rendimento de carcaça, cortes e vísceras não foram influenciados pela dieta. Com base nos resultados obtidos, recomenda-se o uso de até 7,5% do farelo de raiz de mandioca na dieta de frangos de corte da linhagem Cobb 500, no período de 10 a 42 dias, sem comprometer o desempenho zootécnico das aves e o rendimento de carcaças, dos cortes e vísceras comestíveis. Palavras-chave: alimentação; avicultura; ganho de peso; Manihot esculenta crants; rendimento de carcaça.

From a reflection about some data that outline the social conditions of urban sociology production, we attempt to illustrate how this area of knowledge is associated with the construction and generalization of political and scientific (di)visions of territory. By one hand we find the field of social sciences where different disciplines fight for a point of view determination and autonomy about urban territory. On the other hand, we find a network of complicity between the political power field and the field of social sciences, represented by sociology, where the first one try to impose an accurate social (di)vision of the territory, whereas the second one try to stabilize the disciplinary practice as a legitimate procedure. In both fields we find a quest for the imposition of a truth (scientific and political) on the territory, from which conceals the arbitrariness of the boundaries that limit the territory as an element of political and scientific interest.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the mitochondrial function of the remnant liver (RL) in the early phase of liver regeneration in rats after 70% partial hepatectomy (PH). METHODS: Sixty male Wistar rats (200-250g) submitted to 70% PH were divided into five groups according to the time of euthanasia and application or not of laser light: C = Control, time zero; 2 minutes, 4, 6 and 24 hours after PH. The dose of laser radiation was 22.5 J/cm², wavelength of 660 nm (visible/red), in the remnant liver. We studied the respiration activated by ADP (state 3), basal mitochondrial respiration (state 4), respiratory control ratio (RCR) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP). RESULTS: The mitochondrial function of RL changed at 4 and 6 hours after PH, with a significant increase in state 3 and a concomitant increase in state 4 and with maintenance of RCR. MMP differed significantly between the groups biostimulated with laser radiation and the control group 4 hours after HP, with a substantial reduction in the non-laser groups. CONCLUSION: The laser light at the dose used in this study did not induce additional damage to the RL and seems to have delayed the hepatocellular metabolic overload of the remnant liver.OBJETIVO: Avaliar a função mitocondrial do fígado remanescente (FR) na fase precoce da regeneração hepática em ratos após hepatectomia parcial (HP) a 70%. MÉTODOS: Sessenta ratos machos Wistar (200 - 250g) submetidos à HP a 70%, foram distribuídos em cinco grupos de acordo com o tempo de eutanásia e com aplicação ou não de luz laser: C= Controle,tempo zero; 2 minutos, 4, 6 e 24 horas após HP. O laser foi utilizado na dose 22.5 J/cm², 660 nm, no FR.Estudou-se o estado 3 (respiração ativada por ADP), estado 4 (respiração mitocondrial basal), razão de controle respiratório,estado 3/estado 4 (RCR) e o potencial de membrana mitocondrial(PMM). RESULTADOS: A função mitocondrial do FR alterou-se no período de 4 e 6 horas após a HP com aumento significativo do estado 3 e aumento concomitante do estado 4, com manutenção da RCR. O PMM apresentou diferença significativa entre os grupos bioestimulados com laser e o controle a partir de 4 horas pós HP, com queda importante do grupo sem laser e tendência a equiparação dos valores após 24 horas. CONCLUSÃO: A luz laser, na dose utilizada no presente estudo, não induziu lesão adicional ao FR e parece ter retardado a sobrecarga hepatocelular do fígado remanescente.

Introduction Although hepatitis C virus (HCV) screening is recommended for all HIV‐infected patients initiating antiretroviral therapy, data on epidemiologic characteristics of HCV infection in resource‐limited settings are scarce. Methods We searched PubMed and EMBASE for studies assessing the prevalence of HCV infection among HIV‐infected individuals in Africa and extracted data on laboratory methods used. Prevalence estimates from individual studies were combined for each country using random‐effects meta‐analysis. The importance of study design, population and setting as well as type of test (anti‐HCV antibody tests and polymerase chain reactions) was examined with meta‐regression. Results Three randomized controlled trials, 28 cohort studies and 121 cross‐sectional analyses with 108,180 HIV‐infected individuals from 35 countries were included. The majority of data came from outpatient populations (55%), followed by blood donors (15%) and pregnant women (14%). Based on estimates from 159 study populations, anti‐HCV positivity prevalence ranged between 3.3% (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.8–4.7) in Southern Africa and 42.3% (95% CI 4.1–80.5) in North Africa. Study design, type of setting and age distribution did not influence this prevalence significantly. The prevalence of replicating HCV infection, estimated from data of 29 cohorts, was 2.0% (95% CI 1.5–2.6). Ten studies from nine countries reported the HCV genotype of 74 samples, 53% were genotype 1, 24% genotype 2, 14% genotype 4 and 9% genotypes 3, 5 or 6. Conclusions The prevalence of anti‐HCV antibodies is high in HIV‐infected patients in Africa, but replicating HCV infection is rare and varies widely across countries.

This paper has the objective to analyze the cellular aspects of liver regeneration (LR). Upon damage in this organ, the regenerative capacity of hepatocyte is sufficiently able to reestablish the parenchyma as a whole. Taking into account the regenerative capacity of hepatocyte, the need of a progenitor or a liver trunk cell was not obvious. Nowadays it is well-established that precursor cells take part in the liver regenerative process. The liver trunk cell, oval cell, acts as a bypotential precursor, contributing for the liver restoration, mainly when the hepatocytes are unable to proliferate. Another precursor, trunk cell of hematopoetic origin (HSC), takes part in the regenerative process, originating cells of the hepatocitic lineage and colangiocytes, as well as the oval cell. The way the trans-differentiation takes place is not established yet. A number of studies must be undertaken in order to clarify questions, such as the possible occurrence of cellular fusion process between the HSC and the hepatic cells and the possibility of application as a new therapeutic procedure in the treatment of diseases associated with insufficiency of this noble organ.Este artigo tem como objetivo analisar aspectos da regeneração hepática (RH) sob a óptica celular. Em vigência de uma lesão neste órgão a capacidade regenerativa do hepatócito é suficientemente capaz de restabelecer o parênquima como um todo. Levando em conta a elevada capacidade regenerativa do hepatócito, a necessidade de um progenitor ou uma célula tronco hepática não era óbvia. Hoje esta bem estabelecido que células precursoras participam do processo regenerativo hepático. A célula tronco hepática, célula oval, atua como um precursor bipotencial, contribuindo para o restauro do fígado principalmente quando os hepatócitos se encontram impossibilitados de proliferar. Um outro precursor, a célula tronco de origem hematopoética (HSC), participa do processo regenerativo, originando células da linhagem hepatocítica e colangiócitos, assim como a células oval. Ainda não está estabelecido o meio como ocorre o fenômeno de transdiferenciação.Muitos estudos devem ser realizados no intuito de esclarecer questões, tais como a possível ocorrência de processo de fusão celular entre a HSC e as células hepáticas e a possibilidade de ser aplicado como uma nova terapêutica no tratamento de doenças associadas à insuficiência deste nobre órgão.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the effect of laser beam on remanescent liver after partial hepatectomy 90%. METHODS: Wistar rats, (N= 42), were divided into six groups with seven specimens each. The partial hepatectomy (HP) was performed in all animals through exeresis of approximately 90% of the liver parenchyma. The animals from groups HP and Laser application, HPL24, HPL48 and HPL72 undertook laser irradiation carried out through application (dose of 22.5 J/cm²) in five different sites in the remanescent liver. The rats were then sacrificed 24, 48 and 72hours after HP procedure, for the liver regeneration analysis,using the Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen (PCNA),and for dosage of serum aminotransferases. RESULTS: Were demonstrated an increase of the serum levels of alanine aminotransferase for the group of 24 hours and a decrease for the group of 72 hours exposed to laser. The index of marked cells had a considerable more improvement for the group of 72 hours exposed in laser compared to other groups. CONCLUSION: Laser did not cause hepatic injuries additional to the partial hepatectomy and perhaps led to a benefit by stimulating the proliferative activity.OBJETIVO: Avaliar o efeito da luz laser em remanescentes hepáticos após hepatectomia a 90%. MÉTODOS: Aplicou-se luz laser com comprimento de onda de 660 nm e potência de 30 mw, por 30 segundos, na dose de 22,5 J/cm² em cada um deles, repetidos em cinco pontos do fígado remanescente, após realizada a hepatectomia a 90%. Os animais foram sacrificados para análise do fígado, contagem de hepatócitos em proliferação (Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen -PCNA), e coleta de sangue para dosagem serica das aminotransferases, após 24, 48 e 72 horas. RESULTADO: O índice de células marcadas teve significativo aumento no grupo de 72 horas irradiados com laser. CONCLUSÃO: A análise dos resultados demonstrou que o laser não causou lesões hepáticas adicionais à hepatectomia parcial e estimulou a atividade proliferativa hepatocelular.

The purpose of this review was to carry out an analysis of the liver regenerative process focusing on the molecular interactions involved in this process. The authors undertook a review of scientific publications with a focus on the liver regeneration.The cellular processes involved in liver regeneration require multiple systematic actions related to cytokines and growth factors. These interactions result in the initiation of mitogenic potential of the hepatocytes. The action of these modulators in the regenerative process require a processing in the extra-cellular matrix. Serines and metal proteins are responsible for the bio availability of cytokines and growth factors so that they can interact as receptors in the cellular membrane generating signaling events for the beginning and end of the liver regenerative process. The exact mechanism of interaction between cells, cytokines and growth factors is not well established yet. A series of ordered events that result in the hepatic tissue regeneration has been described. The better understanding of these interactions should provide a new approach of the treatment for liver diseases, aiming at inducing the regenerative process.O objetivo desta revisão foi desenvolver uma análise do processo regenerativo do fígado, focando as interações moleculares envolvidas neste processo.Os processos celulares envolvidos na regeneração hepática requerem múltiplas ações sistemáticas relacionadas com citoquinas e fatores de crescimento. Estas interações resultam na iniciação do potencial mitogênico dos hepatócitos. A ação destes moduladores do processo regenerativo necessita de processamento no meio extra celular. As serinas e metaloproteínas são responsáveis pela biodisponibilização de citoquinas e fatores de crescimento, para que então possam interagir com receptores na membrana celular gerando os eventos sinalizadores para o inicio e o término do processo regenerativo hepático.O exato mecanismo de interação entre células, citoquinas e fatores de crescimento não está bem estabelecido. Tem-se descrito uma série de eventos ordenados que resulta na regeneração do tecido hepático. O melhor entendimento destas interações leva a uma nova abordagem de tratamento para doenças hepáticas, objetivando a indução do processo regenerativo.

Recently, the LED (light emitting diode) developed by the Optics Group of IFSC-USP has been used instead of laser for the treatment of skin tumors by the PDT (Photodinamic Therapy) because of its low operational cost compared to the use of a laser. In this paper we investigate the effect of LED light on oxidative phosphorylation during liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy. Twenty-four male Wistar rats (250 g) were kept in identical housing units on a 12-hour light/12 hour dark cycle. The LED 10 group was exposed to LED at 638 nm (10 J/cm² for 3 minutes). Seventy percent partial hepatectomy was performed in the LED 10 and HPC (Partial Hepatectomy-Control). A sham-operated group (C) was used for control. Twenty four hours after the procedure, LED 10, HPC and control animals were sacrificed. Samples of liver tissue were used for the mitochondrial respiration assay. Statistical comparisons of the groups were performed by analysis of variance (ANOVA), followed by the Bonferroni post-test. Probability values less than 0.05 were considered to be statistically significant. the phosphorylation index (FI) for the LED 10 group was higher than that for the HPC group and for the sham group (p 0.05). In the present study we noted an effective interaction between LED light and hepatic mitochondria, with an increased phosphorylation rate for the latter.

Abstract Introduction: Factor analysis of the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) could result in a shorter and easier to handle screening tool. Therefore, the aim of this study was to check and compare the metrics of two different 6-item EPDS subscales. Methods: We administered the EPDS to a total of 3,891 women who had given birth between 1 and 3 months previously. We conducted confirmatory and exploratory factor analyses and plotted receiver-operating characteristics (ROC) curves to, respectively, determine construct validity, scale items' fit to the data, and ideal cutoff scores for the short versions. Results: A previously defined 6-item scale did not exhibit construct validity for our sample. Nevertheless, we used exploratory factor analysis to derive a new 6-item scale with very good construct validity. The area under the ROC curve of the new 6-item scale was 0.986 and the ideal cutoff score was ≥ 6. Conclusions: The new 6-item scale has adequate psychometric properties and similar ROC curve values to the10-item version and offers a means of reducing the cost and time taken to administer the instrument.

Bone cement implantation syndrome (BCIS) is a potentially serious complication after joint replacement surgery, resulting from bone marrow debris and cement embolisation, culminating in pulmonary and cardiovascular collapse. Echocardiography aids in diagnosis and management. We present a woman in her 80s with grade II BCIS. CT angiogram was inconclusive, but echocardiography revealed hyperechogenic material and right ventricular dysfunction, confirming the diagnosis. She received cardiovascular and respiratory support in a level II intensive care unit, showing full recovery of the right ventricle function when it was later reassessed. This potentially fatal condition is successfully managed if recognised early with adequate supportive care. Echocardiography might guide the diagnosis, consolidating supportive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]