Local Group Research Articles

MORPHOLOGY AND EVOLUTION OF ALVEOLAR WEATHERING CAVITIES ON SANDSTONE TORS OF THE UKRAINIAN BESKIDS

The paper systematizes morphological forms of alveolar weathering cavities and presents patterns of their evolution. We have studied the forms of tafoni (cavities 2–10 cm in size), which are found in the crags in the Ukrainian Beskydy. The factors that caused the formation of tafoni in our latitudes are humidity and the inherent specificity of selective weathering in sandstones due to structural and textural features formed during the formation of sediments. In winter periods, the role of frost weathering increases. The crags are composed of sandstones of the Yamna suite of the Palaeocene of the Lower Paleogene age. The lithological composition of the sandstones is represented by quartz and feldspar, which allows us to classify them as typical feldspar-quartz sandstones. The cement is clay-siliceous, sometimes with chlorite, of the basal or contact cementation type. In research region tafoni are distributed on rock surfaces in two ways: locally in small areas or covering large areas e.g. whole crag surface of particular aspect. In the first case, the forms are located in small groups of 10–30 pieces in separate parts of a tor wall. In the second case, they occupy the entire plane of the tor surface or half of the surface of particular exposure. Local groups of tafoni can be divided into three shape varieties: 1) vertical bands, 2) horizontal bands, and 3) lenticular bands. Tafoni concentrations that occupy the entire one plane of the tor can be located on it: a) chaotically, b) in a chain-like manner. The following shapes of particular cavities can be distinguished in the Ukrainian Beskydy: 1) rounded, 2) ellipsoid, 3) vertically elongated, and 4) subtriangular. In the Beskyds, the largest length of ellipsoidal cavities is 20–30 cm, the diameter of rounded cavities reaches 10 cm, and the greatest depth is 15 cm. Investigating the morphology of tafoni in the Beskydy, we distinguished the following stages of their evolution: emergence – deepening – expansion – merging – degradation – re-emergence. On the walls of the Beskydy tors, one can observe tafonic forms at various stages of evolution. We identified morpho-evolutionary varieties of tafoni: A) with all four clear edges, B) with three clear and one leveled wall, C) with all unclear walls. The confinement of cavities to slope exposures was also investigated. Cavities in the Carpathians develop more actively on walls of warm exposures than on cold ones. Tafoni forms on tors, their morphology, evolution and formation factors can be the subject of expert interpretations during geotourism excursions. Key words: cavities, tafoni; morphology, evolution, alveolar weathering; tors; Beskydy, Ukrainian Carpathians.

Understanding stakeholder attitudes towards low-head pumped hydro storage technology

BackgroundThe share of renewable energy feeding the European grid has been growing over the years, even though the intermittency of some renewable energy sources can induce electric grid instability. Energy storage has proven to be an effective way of reducing grid instability. Various solutions for large-scale energy storage are being researched nowadays. This study focusses on the innovative low-head pumped hydro storage (LH PHS) technology, a large-scale energy storage scheme suitable for shallow seas (5 – 30 m depth). Implementation of renewable energy technologies, such as wind farms in Europe, Asia and North America, has faced public opposition which has delayed or even cancelled the implementation of renewable energy projects. Literature about public perception of projects highlights the importance of involving stakeholders from the early stages of project planning. Considering this, the present study aims to collect stakeholder opinions (via an online survey) to determine what is necessary for a smooth implementation of LH PHS in the North Sea, both from technical and policy points of view.ResultsStakeholders from commercial parties, government authorities and local groups recognized the potential of LH PHS as a means to increase the share of renewable energies within the European power grid. Economics, bureaucratic burden, and structural safety have emerged as primary aspects of concern respecting the implementation of LH PHS. The impression of the respondents is that a low-head pumped hydro station would not have negative effects on their organizations. Furthermore, most of the engineering firms participating in the study communicated that their knowledge and resources could be involved in the construction of such an energy storage facility.ConclusionAs identified stakeholder concerns such as economics and structural safety are currently being researched, effective communication of the findings of this research is paramount to keep stakeholders informed of the ongoing progress. Two-way communication between researchers and stakeholders is recommended to enhance public acceptance of future technologies. Furthermore, is it advisable to undertake an examination of the available energy policies relevant to LH PHS.

A Study on the Role of the ODOP (One District, One Product) Scheme on Strengthening the Metal Craft Industry in Moradabad Region, Uttar Pradesh

The foundation of Uttar Pradesh’s industrial operations and economic development is its traditional occupation, geographic culture and unique products. Products that are unique to a given area play a vital role in the growth of any nation, state or region. The One District, One Product (ODOP) programme, which is being used in Uttar Pradesh, has given the state’s small businesses a new name. In the Moradabad region of Uttar Pradesh, a metal craft enterprise has been chosen under this model to enhance the production capacity, business opportunities and start-up optimisation. This particular product is essential to the state economy’s continued survival. By sponsoring investor exhibits, district fairs and mega craft clusters, which directly affect production, the state government promotes the productivity of metal crafts, creating a new vision for metal products and new opportunities for local and regional companies to gain worldwide prominence through this programme. The researchers of this study conducted a pilot study and primary survey based on the demographic profile of the Moradabad region of Uttar Pradesh to examine the increase in production capacity and its component under the ODOP scheme. The findings of this study indicate that all efforts to strengthen the local metal craft clusters and units through state government initiatives such as investor summits, exhibitions and district fairs under the ODOP scheme prove to be right for the success of productivity. The uniqueness of this research article serves as a living example for other states or countries to successfully implement the ODOP programme, which is a transformative step towards realising the true potential of the metal craft industry. The state government’s strategy like the ODOP scheme can serve as a bridge to strengthen and improve the local specified products like metal crafts by solving the barriers of productivity disparities and geographical product identity imbalances.

“A little love is enough for me to live my life…”: Precarity and resilience among older sex workers in India

Most research on sex workers globally has focused on cis women sex workers vulnerabilities including violence, risk for HIV/AIDS, and stigma. Despite the plethora of studies on the topic, older sex workers are significantly underrepresented in research. We used a phenomenological approach to highlight street and home-based sex workers’ experiences. Using a purposive sampling strategy, 39 cis women sex workers were recruited from Karnataka, India and data were collected using in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Findings revealed a range of changes in sex workers’ lives as they aged, financial instability, lack of alternate livelihood options, and limited access to governmental benefits and social security. Participant narratives challenged the notion of anticipated traditional familial support especially from their grown children. Findings were replete with instances of sex workers’ personal agency to confront personal and professional challenges. Peer networks formed the biggest forms of support as were sex workers’ connections with local community-based groups. There is an urgent need for helping professionals to recognize the ongoing marginalization faced by older sex workers. It is critical to address concerns broadly along with inequities in terms of access and power as experienced by older sex workers. Finally, examining the differential impact of ageism, structural barriers including neglect by the State, violence, and stigma that follow sex workers is vital.

Temporal local clustering coefficient uncovers the hidden pattern in temporal networks.

Identifying and extracting topological characteristics are essential for understanding associated structures and organizational principles of complex networks. For temporal networks where the network topology varies with time, beyond the classical patterns such as small-worldness and scale-freeness extracted from the perspective of traditional aggregated static networks, the temporality and simultaneity of time-varying interactions should also be included. Here we extend the traditional analysis on the local clustering coefficient C in static networks and study the dynamical local clustering coefficient of temporal networks. We demonstrate that the temporal local clustering coefficient TC conveys the hidden information of nodes' neighboring connectance when interactions occur at various rhythms. By systematically analyzing various empirical datasets, we find that TC uncovers different interaction patterns in different types of temporal networks. Specifically, we show that TC has a strong positive correlation with C in efficiency-related networks, whereas they are uncorrelated in social activity-related networks. Moreover, TC helps to exclude interference from accidental interactions and reflect the actual clustering properties of network nodes. Our results shed light on the importance of digging into dynamical characteristics to fundamentally understand the underlying temporal structures of real complex systems.

Accessing Anonymised Data from Ireland’s Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System for Research Purposes

Background Since 2016, maternity units across Ireland have been switching from paper clinical notes to an electronic health record called the Maternal and Newborn Clinical Management System (MN-CMS). Currently, four units have implemented the MN-CMS: Cork University Maternity Hospital (CUMH), University Hospital Kerry (UHK), Rotunda Hospital and National Maternity Hospital (NMH). The MN-CMS provides opportunity for new data-driven discovery to answer important research questions on maternal and child health. Aim Provide detailed information on how a request can be made to access anonymised MN-CMS data for research purposes, as well as current timelines involved from initial request to data access. Methods A request to collaborate should be made to the clinical lead within each maternity unit where data is being requested in the first instance. A detailed protocol and data collection sheet should be drafted and forwarded to the National Information Governance Group for approval. A Data Protection Impact Assessment should be completed, and permission to access data from each maternity unit must be applied for separately from each unit’s local Ethics Committee. Upon receipt of ethical approval, an application to the Local Information Governance Group must be submitted if requesting data from CUMH and/or UHK. Data can then be extracted and anonymised by the data manager at the respective unit and transferred securely to relevant project personnel. Results The timeline from initial request to data access can range from approximately 6-12 months, depending on number of maternity units from which data is being requested and number of variables being requested from each unit. Conclusions Accessing MN-CMS data for research can be a complex process. A national standardised process for managing the data is needed. This would allow a clear pathway to be developed for accessing data to facilitate new data-driven discovery in the area of maternal and child health.

Investigation of geographic disparities of diabetes-related hospitalizations in Florida using flexible spatial scan statistics: An ecological study.

Hospitalizations due to diabetes complications are potentially preventable with effective management of the condition in the outpatient setting. Diabetes-related hospitalization (DRH) rates can provide valuable information about access, utilization, and efficacy of healthcare services. However, little is known about the local geographic distribution of DRH rates in Florida. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to investigate the geographic distribution of DRH rates at the ZIP code tabulation area (ZCTA) level in Florida, identify significant local clusters of high hospitalization rates, and describe characteristics of ZCTAs within the observed spatial clusters. Hospital discharge data from 2016 to 2019 were obtained from the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration through a Data Use Agreement with the Florida Department of Health. Raw and spatial empirical Bayes smoothed DRH rates were computed at the ZCTA level. High-rate DRH clusters were identified using Tango's flexible spatial scan statistic. Choropleth maps were used to display smoothed DRH rates and significant high-rate spatial clusters. Demographic, socioeconomic, and healthcare-related characteristics of cluster and non-cluster ZCTAs were compared using the Wilcoxon rank sum test for continuous variables and Chi-square test for categorical variables. There was a total of 554,133 diabetes-related hospitalizations during the study period. The statewide DRH rate was 8.5 per 1,000 person-years, but smoothed rates at the ZCTA level ranged from 0 to 101.9. A total of 24 significant high-rate spatial clusters were identified. High-rate clusters had a higher percentage of rural ZCTAs (60.9%) than non-cluster ZCTAs (41.8%). The median percent of non-Hispanic Black residents was significantly (p < 0.0001) higher in cluster ZCTAs than in non-cluster ZCTAs. Populations of cluster ZCTAs also had significantly (p < 0.0001) lower median income and educational attainment, and higher levels of unemployment and poverty compared to the rest of the state. In addition, median percent of the population with health insurance coverage and number of primary care physicians per capita were significantly (p < 0.0001) lower in cluster ZCTAs than in non-cluster ZCTAs. This study identified geographic disparities of DRH rates at the ZCTA level in Florida. The identification of high-rate DRH clusters provides useful information to guide resource allocation such that communities with the highest burdens are prioritized to reduce the observed disparities. Future research will investigate determinants of hospitalization rates to inform public health planning, resource allocation and interventions.

Stability of Running Stride Biomechanical Parameters during Half-Marathon Race

This study explores the stability of biomechanical parameters of the running stride of male trained athletes during a half-marathon competition. Using a field-based descriptive design, eight male athletes from a local training group were monitored throughout an official half-marathon race under identical conditions, assessing biomechanical parameters including ground contact time (GCT), leg spring stiffness (LSS), vertical oscillation (VO), and stride length (SL) recorded via the Stryd Summit Power Meter. A repeated measures analysis of variance (RM ANOVA) was conducted to detect significant changes in biomechanical parameters as the race progressed. Results demonstrated minimal changes in all parameters, with no significant differences observed for GCT (F = 0.96, p = 0.38), VO (F = 0.23, p = 0.87), and SL (F = 1.07, p = 0.35), and a small (η2 = 0.004) yet statistically significant difference in LSS (F = 5.52, p = 0.03) between the first and second segments, indicating that athletes were able to maintain stable biomechanical parameters throughout the race. The conclusion highlights the need for personalized training programs tailored to the unique biomechanical adaptations and demands of endurance running.

Comparison of postoperative results after hemorrhoidectomy under local and spinal anesthesia

BackgroundHemorrhoidectomy is commonly performed under general or regional anesthesia; nevertheless, the underutilization of local anesthesia is attributed to safety concerns. The aim of this study was to compare postoperative outcomes following hemorrhoidectomy using local anesthesia and spinal anesthesia. MethodsThis study was a retrospective cohort study, conducted at the General Surgery Department of the University Medical Center Ho Chi Minh City Branch 2 from January 2018 to September 2023, focused on Milligan-Morgan hemorrhoidectomies for third or fourth-degree hemorrhoids. ResultsA total of 114 patients with third or fourth-degree hemorrhoids were included in the study, with 59 patients in the local anesthesia group and 55 patients in the spinal anesthesia group. Throughout all three time points, average pain scores were consistently lower in the local anesthesia group. The average recovery time for the local anesthesia group was 8.34 ± 6.17 days, and for the spinal anesthesia group, it was 10.50 ± 7.01 days. However, these differences were not statistically significant (p > 0.05). Notably, the local anesthesia group exhibited a significantly lower rate of postoperative complications compared to the spinal anesthesia group (0 % versus 5.5 %, respectively). Additionally, the local anesthesia group had a significantly shorter length of stay (11.07 ± 15.81 h) and lower medical costs (7,793,187 ± 1,835,713 VND) compared to the spinal anesthesia group (32.87 ± 26.06 h and 9,468,098 ± 2,883,630 VND, respectively). ConclusionsHemorrhoidectomy under local anesthesia is feasible and safe, and local anesthesia may be considered as an alternative to spinal anesthesia in some cases.

Dynamic Gaussian process regression for spatio-temporal data based on local clustering

This paper introduces techniques in Gaussian process regression model for spatio-temporal data collected from complex systems. This study focuses on extracting local structures and then constructing surrogate models based on Gaussian process assumptions. The proposed Dynamic Gaussian Process Regression (DGPR) consists of a sequence of local surrogate models related to each other. In DGPR, the time-based spatial clustering is carried out to divide the systems into sub-spatio-temporal parts whose interior has similar variation patterns, where the temporal information is used as the prior information for training the spatial-surrogate model. The DGPR is robust and especially suitable for the loosely coupled model structure, also allowing for parallel computation. The numerical results of the test function show the effectiveness of DGPR. Furthermore, the shock tube problem is successfully approximated under different phenomenon complexity.

A too-many dwarf satellite galaxies problem in the MATLAS low-to-moderate density fields

Context.Dwarf galaxy abundances can serve as discernment tests for models of structure formation. Previous small-scale tensions between observations and dark matter-only cosmological simulations may have been resolved with the inclusion of baryonic processes; however, these successes have been largely concentrated on the Local Group dwarfs the feedback models were initially calibrated on.Aims.We investigate whether the ΛCDM model can reliably reproduce dwarf abundances in the MATLAS low-to-moderate density fields that are centred upon early-type host galaxies beyond the Local Volume.Methods.We carried out mock observations of MATLAS-like fields with the high-resolution hydrodynamic simulation IllustrisTNG-50. We used matching selection criteria and compared the properties of dwarfs contained within them with their MATLAS analogues.Results.Although simulated MATLAS-like dwarfs demonstrate photometric properties that are consistent with the observed galaxy population and follow the same scaling relations, TNG50 underestimates the number of dwarf galaxies in isolated MATLAS fields at the 6σlevel. This significance maintained within crowded fields containing more than a single bright host. Our 55 − 62% estimate of the fraction of background galaxies is in agreement with estimates by MATLAS, but is wholly insufficient to alleviate this discrepancy in dwarf abundances. Any incompleteness in the observed fields further exacerbates this tension.Conclusions.We identified a “too-many-satellites” problem in ΛCDM, emphasising the need for the continued testing and refining of current models of galaxy formation in environments beyond the Local Group.

Coarse-grained modeling of annexin A2-induced microdomain formation on a vesicle

Annexin A2 (A2)-induced microdomain formation is a key step in biological processes such as Ca2+-mediated exocytosis in neuroendocrine cells. In this work, a total of 15 coarse-grained molecular dynamics simulations were performed on vesicle models having a diameter of approximately 250 Å for 15 μs each using the Martini2 force field. Five simulations were performed in the presence of 10 A2, 5 in the presence of A2 but absence of PIP2, and 5 simulations in the absence of A2 but presence of PIP2. Consistent results were generated among the simulations. A2-induced PIP2 microdomain formation was observed and shown to occur in three phases: A2-vesicle association, localized A2-induced PIP2 clustering, and A2 aggregation driving PIP2 microdomain formation. The relationship between A2 aggregation and PIP2 microdomain formation was quantitatively described using a novel method which calculated the variance among protein and lipid positions via the Fréchet mean. A large reduction in PIP2 variance was observed in the presence of A2 but not in its absence. This reduction in PIP2 variance was proportional to the reduction observed in A2 variance and demonstrates that the observed PIP2 microdomain formation is dependent upon A2 aggregation. The three-phase model of A2-induced microdomain formation generated in this work will serve as a valuable guide for further experimental studies and the development of novel A2 inhibitors. No microdomain formation was observed in the absence of A2 and minimal A2-membrane interaction was observed in the absence of PIP2.

Orthodox Monasteries as Centers of Christian Civilization on the Eastern Borders of the Russian State

The study is devoted to the history and activities of monastic monasteries in Siberia, their importance in the context of the integration of Siberian territories into the Russian statehood, due to the duration of the processes of Christianization: from the creation of a church administrative unit in Siberia (1620) and completion at the beginning of the twentieth century. The research involved complex and communicative approaches, axiological aspects and methodology of local history, involving the reconstruction of a regional historical narrative. It is noted that the establishment of monastic monasteries has become an important factor in the spread of Russian statehood. The ways of creating monasteries related to both monastic and public initiatives, as well as by decision of the diocesan authorities, are considered. We pay attention to the scientific discourse of modern historical science on the issues of dating the establishment of monastic monasteries and an individual research approach. The contribution of monasteries to the economic development of territories is determined, the main directions of social and educational activities of monastics are indicated. We consider the role of the women’s Orthodox communities of Siberia in the second half of the XIX century, contributing to the strengthening of the ideological basis of the empire, influencing the formation of moral and value attitudes and improving the educational level of local ethnic groups. The special role of monasteries in the history of the region is justified, due to the territorial and climatic conditions, the multi-confessional and multilingual nature of Siberia, when a few monks performed various functions, engaged in missionary, socio-educational and educational activities. We draw a conclusion that Orthodox monasteries in Siberia were outposts of the spread and establishment of Christian civilization, monasteries provided communication with the non-ethnic population, involving them in the Orthodox mentality, forming a vector of the socio-cultural topos of the peoples of Siberia.

KozhukhovaE.I., MustafinKh.Kh., SemenovV.A., UchanevaE.N. Reconstructing Ethnocultural Processes in the Sausken Valley (Tuva) during the Later Half of the 1st Millennium BC

The article represents findings of the group research devoted to reconstructing ethnocultural processes of the second half of the 1st millennium BC (Sausken Terrain Feature, Tuva). The research comprehensively studies local population groups who left behind their burial monuments in Eerbek River Valley. The study engages geneticist, ancient technologies experts, anthropologists and archaeologists. Kurgans of the middle and late Uyuk-Sagly Culture (5th–2nd century BC) were excavated in 2011–2016 by Tuva archaeological expedition arranged by the Russian Academy of Sciences Institute for the History of Material Culture. Nearly all burials in the kurgans had been robbed back in the ancient days. The study analyses above-ground structures and internal layouts of the kurgans, the burial ritual and tools (weapons, mirrors, belt accessories, bone items, embellishments). It allows to conclude that the kurgans have varying cultural attributions. The research also implies instrumental process analysis of glass and stone beads, chromatography of fabrics and proteomic analysis of archaeological leather. The paper reveals radiocarbon dating (14C) and correlations with other burial monuments of the Scythian Tuva. Craniological materials analysed allow to determine populations that could have been related to the aliens who arrived at the Eerbek River Valley in the Uyuk times. The Ozen-Ala-Belig groups differ from their peers from other territories in Tuva. It might be explained through the Uyuyk migrants mixing with the Eerbek Valley people who had been living there since the late Bronze Age. The paleogenetic study of 19 items especially focuses on researching the Y-chromosome DNA. For many researched samples the study determines haplogroups Q1b1a3-L330 and R1a1a1b2-Z93 (or its subgroups). The area of spread for these haplogroups is Soviet Central Asia, Central Asia, West and South Siberia. One samples is assigned to I2a1b1-M223 haplogroups with the area of spread in the Balkans and South-Eastern Europe. The obtained findings may indicate that the Western and Eastern nomads kept in touch during the researched period. The archaeological, anthropological and genetic data lead to a conclusion that the Scythian cultures in the given region is complex and multi-faceted.

Local and Practice Groups

Local and Practice Groups

Mass and wind luminosity of young Galactic open clusters in Gaia DR2

Context. Star clusters constitute a significant part of the stellar population in our Galaxy. The feedback processes they exert on the interstellar medium impact multiple physical processes from the chemical to the dynamical evolution of the Galaxy. In addition, young and massive stellar clusters might act as efficient particle accelerators and contribute to the production of cosmic rays. Aims. We aim at evaluating the wind luminosity driven by the young (&lt; 30 Myr) Galactic open stellar clusters observed by the Gaia space mission. This is crucial for determining the energy channeled into accelerated particles. Methods. To do this, we developed a method relying on the number, magnitude, and line-of-sight extinction of the stars observed per cluster. Assuming that the stellar mass function follows a Kroupa mass distribution and accounting for the maximum stellar mass allowed by the age and mass of the parent cluster, we conservatively estimated the mass and wind luminosity of 387 local clusters within the second data release of Gaia. Results. We compared the results of our computation with recent estimates of young cluster masses. With respect to these, our sample is three times more abundant, particularly above a few thousand solar masses. This is of the utmost relevance for predicting the gamma-ray emission resulting from the interaction of accelerated particles. The cluster wind luminosity distribution we obtained extends up to 3 × 1038 erg s−1. This is a promising feature in terms of potential particle acceleration scenarios.

Tactile Transfer Learning and Object Recognition With a Multifingered Hand Using Morphology Specific Convolutional Neural Networks.

Multifingered robot hands can be extremely effective in physically exploring and recognizing objects, especially if they are extensively covered with distributed tactile sensors. Convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been proven successful in processing high dimensional data, such as camera images, and are, therefore, very well suited to analyze distributed tactile information as well. However, a major challenge is to organize tactile inputs coming from different locations on the hand in a coherent structure that could leverage the computational properties of the CNN. Therefore, we introduce a morphology-specific CNN (MS-CNN), in which hierarchical convolutional layers are formed following the physical configuration of the tactile sensors on the robot. We equipped a four-fingered Allegro robot hand with several uSkin tactile sensors; overall, the hand is covered with 240 sensitive elements, each one measuring three-axis contact force. The MS-CNN layers process the tactile data hierarchically: at the level of small local clusters first, then each finger, and then the entire hand. We show experimentally that, after training, the robot hand can successfully recognize objects by a single touch, with a recognition rate of over 95%. Interestingly, the learned MS-CNN representation transfers well to novel tasks: by adding a limited amount of data about new objects, the network can recognize nine types of physical properties.

Synchronization-based semi-supervised data streams classification with label evolution and extreme verification delay

The critical need for classifying streaming data arises from its widespread use in real-world industries, where analyzing continuous, dynamic, and evolving data streams accurately and promptly is essential for informed decision-making and gaining predictive insights. Existing research mainly focuses on abundant supervision, overlooking the scarcity and delayed availability of labels, which can vary in timing. Addressing this, the article introduces a new learning method that employs a synchronization-based core support extraction technique. This technique is designed to manage changing concepts and delayed partial labeling by extracting key data points that act as pseudo-labels. Thanks to the concept of synchronization, these extracted key data points accurately represent the inherent local cluster structure in an intuitive manner and better maintain the class structure. Consequently, these pseudo-labels are utilized for classifying future incoming data batches. Furthermore, the method incorporates a knowledge base to summarize and represent all incoming streaming data. Building upon this knowledge base, an ensemble model for classification and an efficient new class detector are proposed. Both operate in a local fashion to ensure robust learning, even in complex class distributions. Evaluations on benchmark datasets reveal a consistent performance lead, surpassing established algorithms by up to 10%, achieving state-of-the-art results.

Intraoperative ultrasound guided wire (IOUS-wire) localization biopsy with frozen section versus preoperative fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) for the evaluation of clinically positive nodes in patients with early breast cancer in China real-world clinical practice.

e12600 Background: Appropriate biopsy procedure for clinically positive (suspicious) lymph nodes (LN) plays a key role in accurate axillary staging of early breast cancer. Fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a recommended method for clinically suspicious nodes in the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) guidelines. However, the false negative rate (FNR) of FNA remains too high. Therefore, it is valuable to explore an alternative and appropriate procedure in clinical practice. We conducted a retrospective review to compare the feasibility and diagnostic efficiency of using a novel procedure, the intraoperative ultrasound guided wire (IOUS-wire) localization biopsy with frozen section, to FNA for assessment of clinically positive nodes in patients with early breast cancer. Methods: Data on consecutive primary breast cancer patients with documented axillary ultrasound results who had clinically positive lymph nodes (cN1) between January 2015 and September 2023 either utilization of IOUS-wire localization or ultrasonography-guided fine-needle aspiration cytology (US-FNAC) for clinically positive lymph nodes were retrospectively analyzed. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) was performed in patients with negative histopathological or cytological results. The false negative rate (FNR) of histopathology between two groups was calculated. Results: Eligible patients (n=198) referred to axillary biopsy by IOUS-wire localization biopsy(n=100) and US-FNAC(n=98) in this study. The FNR of clinically positive lymph nodes biopsy was 12.8 percent in the IOUS-wire localization group and 87.5 percent in the US-FNAC group.IOUS-wire failed in 5 patients. Among the remaining 32 successful identifications, 26 were IOUS-wire-node positive by intraoperative frozen section. 42 patients with additional lymph node metastases were found in FNAC-LN-negative patients by SLNB. The accuracy rate was respectively 95% and 57.1%. No significant difference was observed in complications and median number of SLNs harvested (5.3 versus 5.5; P=0.631) between the groups. Sufficient tissue samples can be obtained for intraoperative frozen pathology so the FNR is potentially reduced. In addition, the interval of waiting time for pathological results is reduced. Conclusions: Intraoperative US-guided wire localization biopsy is a feasible and alternative procedure compared to preoperative FNA for clinically node-positive patients with early breast cancer. This novel method is suitable for China's national conditions and should be further pursued as a potential biopsy method for evaluation of axillary node status in clinical practice.

Investigating episodic mass loss in evolved massive stars

Context. Episodic mass-loss events such as giant eruptions in luminous blue variables or pre-supernova eruptions in red supergiants drastically alter the evolutionary path of a massive star, resulting in a rich and complex circumstellar environment and IR excess. However, the incidence of these events, and hence their importance in massive star evolution, remains unknown. Aims. The ASSESS project (Episodic Mass Loss in Evolved Massive Stars: Key to Understanding the Explosive early Universe) aims to determine the role of episodic mass loss in the evolution of massive stars. As a first step, we constructed a catalog of spectroscopically identified dusty, evolved massive stars in ten southern galaxies for which Spitzer point-source catalogs are available. The resulting catalog may be used to identify stars that have undergone an episodic mass-loss event. The target galaxies span a range of metallicities, Z = 0.06–1.6 Z⊙, allowing for the investigation of a potential metallicity dependence. Methods. We conducted multi-object spectroscopy of dusty massive star candidates in ten target galaxies using the Very Large Telescope. We obtained 763 spectra from WLM, NGC 55, NGC 247, NGC 253, NGC 300, NGC 1313, NGC 3109, Sextans A, M83, and NGC 7793. The targets were selected using their Spitzer photometry, by prioritizing targets with a strong IR excess, which indicates the presence of hot dust. We determined a spectral classification for each target. Additionally, we used archival images from the Hubble Space Telescope (HST), available for 150 of our targets, to provide a visual classification for 80 targets, as a star, cluster, or galaxy. Results. We provide a catalog of 541 spectroscopically classified sources that includes 185 massive stars, of which 154 are newly classified massive stars. The catalog contains 129 red supergiants, 27 blue supergiants, 10 yellow supergiants, 4 luminous blue variable candidates, 7 supergiant B[e] stars, and 8 emission-line objects. Evidence for circumstellar dust is found in 24% of these massive stars, based on their IR colors. We report a success rate of 28% for identifying massive stars from our observed spectra, while the average success rate of our priority system for selecting evolved massive stars is 36%. Additionally, the catalog contains 21 background galaxies (including active galactic nuclei and quasars), 10 carbon stars, and 99 H II regions. We measured the line ratios [N II]/Hα and [S II]/Hα for 76 H II regions and 36 other spectra with nebular emission lines, thereby identifying eight sources with shocked emission. Conclusions. We present the largest catalog of evolved massive stars and in particular of red supergiants in nearby galaxies at low Z beyond the Local Group. The brightest and reddest of these are candidates for episodic mass loss. The fraction of dusty massive stars observed with respect to the initial selection is ~30%. We expect this catalog to trigger follow-up studies and pave the way for a comprehensive study of the eruptive late stages of massive star evolution in the era of the James Webb Space Telescope and the new survey telescopes (e.g., the Euclid mission, Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope, and Vera C. Rubin Observatory).