Local Group Research Articles

The Faint Satellite System of NGC 253: Insights into Low-density Environments and No Satellite Plane* *This paper includes data gathered with the 6.5 m Magellan Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory, Chile.

We have conducted a systematic search around the Milky Way (MW) analog NGC 253 (D = 3.5 Mpc), as a part of the Panoramic Imaging Survey of Centaurus and Sculptor (PISCeS)—a Magellan+Megacam survey to identify dwarfs and other substructures in resolved stellar light around MW-mass galaxies outside of the Local Group. In total, NGC 253 has five satellites identified by PISCeS within 100 kpc with an absolute V-band magnitude of M V < −7. We have additionally obtained deep Hubble Space Telescope imaging of four reported candidates beyond the survey footprint: Do III, Do IV, and dw0036m2828 are confirmed to be satellites of NGC 253, while SculptorSR is found to be a background galaxy. We find no convincing evidence for the presence of a plane of satellites surrounding NGC 253. We construct its satellite luminosity function, which is complete down to M V ≲ −8 out to 100 kpc and M V ≲ −9 out to 300 kpc, and compare it to those calculated for other Local Volume galaxies. Exploring trends in satellite counts and star-forming fractions among satellite systems, we find relationships with host stellar mass, environment, and morphology, pointing to a complex picture of satellite formation, and a successful model has to reproduce all of these trends.

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Vladika bački Irinej i odnosi između Srpske pravoslavne crkve i države (1944–1955)

The aim of this paper is to examine the relationship between the Serbian Orthodox Church and the Yugoslav state in Vojvodina and Bačka in the context of the new communist regime’s treatment of the bishop of Bačka, Irinej Ćirić, from the time of the bishop’s liberation (1944) until his death (1955). Irinej was imprisoned under house arrest for 17 months shortly aft er the partisans captured Novi Sad due to his connections to the Hungarian occupation regime. Upon his release, he was attacked and beaten by a group of locals in Odžaci in 1946. This event, known as the ”Odžaci Affair”, was one of the contentious issues that burdened relations between the church and the state for a long time. The research also looks at how the Diocese of Bačka operated from 1944 to 1955, the attitudes of the clergy - who were closely monitored by the secret service and under pressure from the new authorities - and Irinej and his associates’ positions on certain political and ecclesiastical issues. It also examines at how these issues were resolved through mutual adaptation and a shift in the state’s attitude toward the church.

HIV-1 transmission dynamics among people who inject drugs on the US/Mexico border during the COVID-19 pandemic: a prospective cohort study

We examined HIV prevalence and transmission dynamics among people who inject drugs in the U.S./Mexico border region during the COVID-19 pandemic. People who inject drugs aged ≥18 years from 3 groups were recruited: people who inject drugs who live in San Diego (SD) and engaged in cross-border drug use in Tijuana, Mexico (SD CBDUs), and people who inject drugs in SD and Tijuana (TJ) who did not engage in cross-border drug use (NCBDUs). We computed HIV prevalence at baseline and bivariate incidence-density rates (IR) at 18-month follow-up. Bayesian phylogenetic analysis was used to identify local transmission clusters, estimate their age, and effective reproductive number (Re) over time within the clusters. At baseline (n=612), 26% of participants were female, 9% engaged in sex work, and HIVprevalencewas 8% (4% SD CBDU, 4% SD NCBDU, 16% TJ NCBDU). Nine HIV seroconversions occurred over 18 months, IR: 1.357 per 100 person-years (95% CI: 0.470, 2.243); 7 in TJ NCBDU and 2 in SD CBDU. Out of 16 identified phylogenetic clusters, 9 (56%) had sequences from both the U.S. and Mexico (mixed-country). The age of three youngest mixed-country dyads (2018-2021) overlapped with the COVID-related US-Mexico border closure in 2020. One large mixed-country cluster (N=15) continued to grow during the border closure (Re=4.8, 95% Highest Posterior Density (HPD) 1.5-9.1) with 47% engaging in sex work. Amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and the border closure, cross-border HIV clusters grew. Efforts to end the HIV epidemic in the U.S. should take into account cross-border HIV-1 transmission from Tijuana. Mobile harm reduction services and coordination with municipal HIV programs to initiate anti-retroviral therapy and pre-exposure prophylaxisis are needed to reduce transmission. This research was supported by the James B. Pendleton Charitable Trust and the San Diego Center for AIDS Research.

Towards a Standard Model with six fermion generations and a new breaking scale?

We propose here an enhanced version of the Standard Model based on the same local gauge group SU(3) c ⨂ SU(2) L ⨂ U(1) Y that undergoes a spontaneous symmetry breaking up to SU(3) c ⨂ U(1) em . We prove that it can naturally predict: (i) the electric and weak charges’ quantization, (ii) the muon anomalous magnetic moment discrepancy Δa μ , along with (iii) a realistic Higgs spectrum, (iv) a viable neutrino phenomenology, and (v) FCNCs suppression. This promising outcome—without spoiling any of the experimentally validated predictions of the Standard Model—occurs by simply assuming there are six non-universal fermion generations and two distinct scalar doublets. The latter ones develop different breaking scales, the old Standard Model scale v ≃ 246 GeV and a higher scale V —most likely in 1–100 TeV region, to be tested at LHC.

Dissipative Dark Matter on FIRE. II. Observational Signatures and Constraints from Local Dwarf Galaxies

We analyze the first cosmological baryonic zoom-in simulations of galaxies in dissipative self-interacting dark matter (dSIDM). The simulations utilize the FIRE-2 galaxy formation physics with the inclusion of dissipative dark matter self-interactions modeled as a constant fractional energy dissipation (f diss = 0.75). In this paper, we examine the properties of dwarf galaxies with M * ∼ 105–109 M ⊙ in both isolation and within Milky Way–mass hosts. For isolated dwarfs, we find more compact galaxy sizes and promotion of disk formation in dSIDM with (σ/m) ≤ 1 cm2 g−1. On the contrary, models with (σ/m) = 10 cm2 g−1 produce puffier stellar distributions that are in tension with the observed size–mass relation. In addition, owing to the steeper central density profiles, the subkiloparsec circular velocities of isolated dwarfs when (σ/m) ≥ 0.1 cm2 g−1 are enhanced by about a factor of 2, which are still consistent with the kinematic measurements of Local Group dwarfs but in tension with the H i rotation curves of more massive field dwarfs. Meanwhile, for satellites of Milky Way–mass hosts, the median circular velocity profiles are marginally affected by dSIDM physics, but dSIDM may help promote the structural diversity of dwarf satellites. The number of satellites is slightly enhanced in dSIDM, but the differences are small compared with the large host-to-host variations. In conclusion, the dSIDM models with (σ/m) ≳ 0.1 cm2 g−1, f diss = 0.75 are in tension in massive dwarfs (M halo ∼ 1011 M ⊙) due to circular velocity constraints. However, models with lower effective cross sections (at this halo mass/velocity scale) are still viable and can produce nontrivial observable signatures.

Indirect reciprocity undermines indirect reciprocity destabilizing large-scale cooperation

Previous models suggest that indirect reciprocity (reputation) can stabilize large-scale human cooperation [K. Panchanathan, R. Boyd, Nature 432, 499-502 (2004)]. The logic behind these models and experiments [J. Gross et al., Sci. Adv. 9, eadd8289 (2023) and O. P. Hauser, A. Hendriks, D. G. Rand, M. A. Nowak, Sci. Rep. 6, 36079 (2016)] is that a strategy in which individuals conditionally aid others based on their reputation for engaging in costly cooperative behavior serves as a punishment that incentivizes large-scale cooperation without the second-order free-rider problem. However, these models and experiments fail to account for individuals belonging to multiple groups with reputations that can be in conflict. Here, we extend these models such that individuals belong to a smaller, "local" group embedded within a larger, "global" group. This introduces competing strategies for conditionally aiding others based on their cooperative behavior in the local or global group. Our analyses reveal that the reputation for cooperation in the smaller local group can undermine cooperation in the larger global group, even when the theoretical maximum payoffs are higher in the larger global group. This model reveals that indirect reciprocity alone is insufficient for stabilizing large-scale human cooperation because cooperation at one scale can be considered defection at another. These results deepen the puzzle of large-scale human cooperation.

Investor behavior in times of conflict: A natural experiment on the interplay of geopolitical risk and defense stocks

We examine the connectedness of aerospace and defense companies and their relation to measures of geopolitical risk. With hierarchical clustering, we find stable and localized company clusters. Increasing geopolitical risk leaves these clusters intact but strengthens inter-cluster connectedness. Focusing on intraday data, we find that for most companies, instantaneous news arrival in form of jumps impacts realized volatility significantly. Further, we show that different measures of geopolitical uncertainty (GPR and COVOL) have differing impact on short-term predictions of intraday volatility, underlying the importance to distinguish between different sources of uncertainty. We provide evidence that investors react instantaneously to increases in geopolitical risk with some persistence of these shocks. The COVOL index holds significant informational content for short- and medium-term predictions of realized volatility of global aerospace and defense companies.

Wind of Change: Overcoming Misinformation in New Jersey's Clean Energy Transition

As the climate crisis advances, the need to transition from the fossil fuel economy to renewable sources of energy is becoming increasingly urgent. Thanks to climate leadership from the Murphy administration, New Jersey is poised to grow its renewable energy projects in an aggressive attempt to reach 100% clean energy by 2035. However, the state is currently facing pushback from local anti-offshore wind groups, such as Protect Our Coast, which actively disseminate false information about offshore wind (OSW) development and attempt to thwart NJ climate action. To address the growing threat of misinformation, New Jersey should build upon its existing climate education campaign and expand it to entire local communities. Allocating resources towards a dedicated public media campaign can effectively educate citizens and help dispel misinformation surrounding renewable energy initiatives, fostering greater support and understanding among New Jersey residents.

Interpretable machine learning of SPAC system via a mechanism-assisted gaussian process group: Representation of the system mechanism by data

Traditional models of the soil-plant-atmosphere continuum (SPAC) system are physics-based and their practical application has been hindered by issues of high parameterization, prior structural bias, and costly running. In this paper, we developed a machine learning modelling method based on the Gaussian process (GP) to avoid these difficulties of traditional modelling. At the same time, shortcomings of conventional machine learning in terms of interpretability and mechanism representation were addressed. The innovative method consisted of structuring a local GP group framework and improving kernel functions used in each local GP. The resultant model was endowed with advanced capacities, including representing interplays between subprocesses within the complex SPAC system, representing nonstationary subprocess dynamics caused by crop growth stage shifts, as well as automatically interpreting key low-order input interactions and dominant input variables for each subprocess. The performance of our model was examined on synthetic SPAC system datasets that covered three different soil conditions. Results demonstrated that its interpretations regarding subprocess mechanisms were robust across different soil conditions and consistent with domain knowledge. Compared to a conventional global GP model and two deep learning models (DNN and LSTM), our model performed significantly better not only in regular prediction experiments but also in generalization experiments that required models to be transferred across different conditions. Our study suggested that it is promising to enable a machine learning model interpretable by improving its feature representation function. For machine learning modelling of complex systems like the SPAC, it may be more important to enhance the model’s mechanism representation capability than simply using deeper networks.

From the history of drawing up drafts of the Belgorod region cities in the region of the Dnieper-Don interfluve 1590–1694

Importance. Based on the analysis of written and graphic materials of the Russian State Archive of Ancient Acts, it is proposed to consider the circumstances that influenced the drawing up of drawings in the key section of the Belgorod line – the territory of the Field in the Dnieper-Don interfluve.Research Methods. The methodological basis of the research is based on the desire to comply with the principle of consistency (involving a comprehensive consideration of facts, taking into account their development, relying on the structural and functional features of the subject), the principle of historicism (which is based on the study of historical phenomena, events and processes in accordance with their chronology and interrelation), the principle of objectivity (based on the fact that the sources and facts have objective content that allows us to reconstruct the historical past). The research is based on such general scientific methods as analysis, synthesis, generalization, and systematization.Results and Discussion. The totality of available information about drawings allows you to divide graphic materials into drawings of one city, a group of cities and individual localities. At the same time, the information content of graphic materials is directly related to the purposes of their compilation. If it is necessary to reflect the fortifications in the county, then only they are shown, although they are surrounded by arable land and the lands of serving people. This is a direct consequence of the fact that the fortresses and fortifications are under the jurisdiction of the Discharge Order. Arable land, hay mowing and other lands that are in use by serving people were taken into account in the Local Order. Such circumstances can be called the main factors influencing the information component of the drawings. The economic development of the territory went on in parallel with military defensive measures, despite the danger, the population sowed and harvested bread, moved around the territory for their needs, including beyond the line. The preparation of drawings in the 16th–17th centuries is an integral part of urban planning activities, sources allow us to identify two blocks of circumstances under which cartographic material is compiled: 1) upon inspection of large territories by special expeditions from Moscow and making copies according to available paintings and drawings covering large areas of copies of individual localities; 2) drawing up drawings during revision inspections of existing fortress cities and structures on their borders.Conclusion. Two types sources consideration through the structuring of materials according to the chronology and informativeness of a particular region made it possible to identify a number of drawings with the circumstances of their compilation and events occurring during this period in a particular territory. The considered examples, the proposed conclusions and conclusions make it possible to significantly expand the knowledge and importance of cartographic materials in the general system of state construction of fortress cities. At the same time, significant material has been identified that allows in the future to expand the designated topic, show the history and fate of drawings for a number of cities of the Belgorod region.

Simulating the LOcal Web (SLOW) II. Properties of local galaxy clusters

This is the second paper in a series presenting the results from a 500 $h^ $Mpc large constrained simulation of the local Universe (SLOW). The initial conditions for this cosmological hydro-dynamical simulation are based on peculiar velocities derived from the CosmicFlows-2 catalog. The simulation follows cooling, star formation, and the evolution of super-massive black holes. This allows one to directly predict observable properties of the intracluster medium (ICM) within galaxy clusters, including X-ray luminosity, temperatures, and the Compton-y signal. Comparing the properties of observed galaxy clusters within the local Universe with the properties of their simulated counterparts enables us to assess the effectiveness of the initial condition constraints in accurately replicating the mildly nonlinear properties of the largest, collapsed objects within the simulation. Based on the combination of several, publicly available surveys we compiled a sample of galaxy clusters within the local Universe, of which we were able to cross-identify 46 of them with an associated counterpart within the SLOW simulation. We then derived the probability of the cross identification based on mass, X-ray luminosity, temperature, and Compton-y by comparing it to a random selection. Our set of 46 cross-identified local Universe clusters contains the 13 most massive clusters from the Planck SZ catalog as well as 70&lt;!PCT!&gt; of clusters with $M_ $ larger than $2 $ M$_ odot $. Compared to previous constrained simulations of the local volume, we found in SLOW a much larger amount of replicated galaxy clusters, where their simulation-based mass prediction falls within the uncertainties of the observational mass estimates. Comparing the median observed and simulated masses of our cross-identified sample allows us to independently deduce a hydrostatic mass bias of $(1-b) approx0.87$. The SLOW constrained simulation of the local Universe faithfully reproduces numerous fundamental characteristics of a sizable number of galaxy clusters within our local neighborhood, opening a new avenue for studying the formation and evolution of a large set of individual galaxy clusters as well as testing our understanding of physical processes governing the ICM.

Unraveling the Complexity of Vaso-Occlusive Crises in Sickle Cell Disease: Insights from a Resource-Limited Setting.

Background/Objectives: This study investigated vaso-occlusive crises (VOCs) in sickle cell disease in Lubumbashi, Democratic Republic of Congo, aiming to understand the disease complexities amidst limited resources. With sickle cell hemoglobinopathies on the rise in sub-Saharan Africa, this nine-year study explored factors associated with VOCs and hematological components. Methods: This study comprised 838 patients, analyzing VOCs and hematological changes over time. Demographic characteristics and blood composition changes were carefully categorized. A total of 2910 crises were observed and managed, with analyses conducted on severity, localization, and age groups using statistical methods. Results: The majority of crises were mild or moderate, primarily affecting osteoarticular regions. Statistical analysis revealed significant disparities in crisis intensity based on location and age. The association between blood samples and the number of comorbidities was investigated. Significant positive associations were found for all parameters, except monocytes, indicating a potential link between blood variables and complication burden. Survival analysis using Cox regression was performed to predict the probability of experiencing a second crisis. No significant effects of medication or localization were observed. However, intensity (p < 0.001), age (p < 0.001), and gender (p < 0.001) showed significant effects. Adjusted Hazard Ratios indicated increased risk with age and male gender and reduced risk with mild or severe crisis intensity compared to light. Conclusions: This research sheds light on the complexities of VOCs in resource-limited settings where sickle cell disease is prevalent. The intricate interplay between clinical, laboratory, and treatment factors is highlighted, offering insights for improved patient care. It aims to raise awareness of patient challenges and provide valuable information for targeted interventions to alleviate their burden.

SPATIOTEMPORAL ANALYSIS OF DENGUE CASES IN CEBU CITY FROM YEAR 2015 TO 2022

Abstract. Long-term climate changes, including increased temperature, shift in precipitation, wind patterns, and other climate factors, can disrupt the balance of nature and have significant implications in the transmission of dengue fever. This study investigated the spatial and temporal dynamics of dengue cases in Cebu City, a key metropolitan area in the Philippines characterized by a significant rate of urbanization in recent years. Climate Engine (CE), a cloud-based computing and visualization tool, was utilized in this study for database sources of Landsat 8 pre-processed satellite images. Time-series dataset of land surface temperatures (LST) and varying environmental indices such as Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI), Normalized Difference Water Index (NDWI), and Normalized Difference Built-up Index (NDBI) were examined to investigate the effects of increased urban surface temperatures, expanding urban structures, and diminishing vegetation in Cebu City on dengue cases from 2015 to 2022. The spatial distribution of dengue cases was analyzed through GeoDA to identify hotspots within the city. The annual dengue cases in Cebu City exhibit a temporal trend with a peak in 2016 (4637 cases) and a lowest point in 2021 (399 cases), the year when the pandemic struck. Most dengue cases were recorded between June and December, exhibiting a strong seasonal pattern, and primarily concentrated within the wet season. Barangay Guadalupe topped the number of cases (1781) followed by Barangay Lahug (1219 cases), and Barangay Labangon (1128 cases) from 2015 to 2022. These three residential barangays are in proximity to each other, indicating a potential localized clustering of dengue cases in neighboring areas. The equation derived from the linear regression model serves as a predictive tool for estimating dengue cases in Cebu City and is expressed as Dengue cases = −28.436 + 2.137 (LST) − 13.943 (NDVI) + 8.565 (NDWI) − 10.217 (NDBI). The findings of this study will have practical implications for urban planning and the development of local policies aimed at mitigating the rise in dengue cases.

Structural Brain Connectivity and Treatment Improvement in Mood Disorder.

Background: The treatment of depressive episodes is well established, with clearly demonstrated effectiveness of antidepressants and psychotherapies. However, more than one-third of depressed patients do not respond to treatment. Identifying the brain structural basis of treatment-resistant depression could prevent useless pharmacological prescriptions, adverse events, and lost therapeutic opportunities. Methods: Using diffusion magnetic resonance imaging, we performed structural connectivity analyses on a cohort of 154 patients with mood disorder (MD) and 77 sex- and age-matched healthy control (HC) participants. To assess illness improvement, the patients with MD went through two clinical interviews at baseline and at 6-month follow-up and were classified based on the Clinical Global Impression-Improvement score into improved or not-improved (NI). First, the threshold-free network-based statistics (NBS) was conducted to measure the differences in regional network architecture. Second, nonparametric permutations tests were performed on topological metrics based on graph theory to examine differences in connectome organization. Results: The threshold-free NBS revealed impaired connections involving regions of the basal ganglia in patients with MD compared with HC. Significant increase of local efficiency and clustering coefficient was found in the lingual gyrus, insula, and amygdala in the MD group. Compared with the NI, the improved displayed significantly reduced network integration and segregation, predominately in the default-mode regions, including the precuneus, middle temporal lobe, and rostral anterior cingulate. Conclusions: This study highlights the involvement of regions belonging to the basal ganglia, the fronto-limbic network, and the default mode network, leading to a better understanding of MD disease and its unfavorable outcome.

Kataegis in clinical and molecular subgroups of primary breast cancer

Kataegis is a hypermutation phenomenon characterized by localized clusters of single base pair substitution (SBS) reported in multiple cancer types. Despite a high frequency in breast cancer, large-scale analyses of kataegis patterns and associations with clinicopathological and molecular variables in established breast cancer subgroups are lacking. Therefore, WGS profiled primary breast cancers (n = 791) with associated clinical and molecular data layers, like RNA-sequencing data, were analyzed for kataegis frequency, recurrence, and associations with genomic contexts and functional elements, transcriptional patterns, driver alterations, homologous recombination deficiency (HRD), and prognosis in tumor subgroups defined by ER, PR, and HER2/ERBB2 status. Kataegis frequency was highest in the HER2-positive(p) subgroups, including both ER-negative(n)/positive(p) tumors (ERnHER2p/ERpHER2p). In TNBC, kataegis was neither associated with PAM50 nor TNBC mRNA subtypes nor with distant relapse in chemotherapy-treated patients. In ERpHER2n tumors, kataegis was associated with aggressive characteristics, including PR-negativity, molecular Luminal B subtype, higher mutational burden, higher grade, and expression of proliferation-associated genes. Recurrent kataegis loci frequently targeted regions commonly amplified in ER-positive tumors, while few recurrent loci were observed in TNBC. SBSs in kataegis loci appeared enriched in regions of open chromatin. Kataegis status was not associated with HRD in any subgroup or with distinct transcriptional patterns in unsupervised or supervised analysis. In summary, kataegis is a common hypermutation phenomenon in established breast cancer subgroups, particularly in HER2p subgroups, coinciding with an aggressive tumor phenotype in ERpHER2n disease. In TNBC, the molecular implications and associations of kataegis are less clear, including its prognostic value.

The Star Formation History in Local Group Galaxies. I. Ten Dwarf Galaxies

The star formation histories (SFHs) of galaxies provide valuable insights into galaxy evolution and stellar physics. Understanding the SFHs enables the study of chemical enrichment of galaxies, star formation triggered by interactions, and the behavior of various stellar populations. This work investigates the SFHs of ten dwarf galaxies in the Local Group (LG), which spans a wide range of types, masses, luminosities, and metallicities. The analysis is based on our new sample of the member stars in the LG after removing foreground dwarf stars by using information from the near-infrared color–color diagram and Gaia astrometry. The sample includes the most complete and pure red supergiants and asymptotic giant branch stars to gain valuable insights into the recent SFHs of the galaxies. A fitting method based on the color–magnitude diagram (CMD) is introduced to measure the SFH. The Padova isochrones are used to generate initial model CMDs, accounting for photometric errors and completeness through star-field simulations to match the completeness and error distributions of the observed CMDs. Subsequently, the SFHs, distance modulus, and metallicity of the ten dwarf galaxies are determined by fitting the CMDs. The results indicate that the star formation rates of dwarf irregulars show a gradual increase, while those of dwarf ellipticals exhibit a gradual decrease from the past to the present. Furthermore, this work shows that the star formation activity in dwarf ellipticals persisted up to 30 Myr ago. A significant increasing feature in the SFH of NGC 6822 reveals star formation activity triggered by an interaction event.

Guiding Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping With Structured Decision Making to Inform Complex Natural Resource Management Problems in Waiʻanae Hawaiʻi

AbstractFire is one example of a larger class of wicked environmental management problems that require community‐based management for long‐term success. This study aimed to support participatory decision making in a data poor and complex system by using Fuzzy Cognitive Mapping (FCM) within the decision‐making framework Structured Decision Making (SDM) to develop a community‐based wildfire management plan in partnership with a local group in Wai‘anae Hawaiʻi. SDM is an organized process to create and evaluate decisions that can clarify trade‐offs and increase transparency. FCM is a semi‐quantitative method to describe system relationships that can handle low data and high uncertainty. We used SDM to define the problem, articulate community concerns related to wildfire, and identify management actions. We then used FCM to model how these actions affected valued ecosystem services and other stakeholder‐identified objectives. Modeling results highlighted the trade‐offs across three valued ecosystem services from three community‐led wildfire management actions. We found that native species outplanting was the most beneficial action to each of the three valued ecosystem services. Through this participatory research, we conclude that the SDM and FCM pairing provided an inclusive and cost‐effective way to engage with a specific wildfire management context, and that the process effectively engaged stakeholders while tackling uncertainty. This process also aided consensus‐building and group member communication. This pairing can be used to aid community decision‐making across diverse management problems as it provides a way to elicit objectives and model trade‐offs, even under uncertainty and data limitations, while including stakeholders impacted by such decisions.

Metabolomic Analysis of Human Cirrhosis and Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Pilot Study.

Molecular changes in HCC development are largely unknown. As the liver plays a fundamental role in the body's metabolism, metabolic changes are to be expected. We aimed to identify metabolomic changes in HCC in comparison to liver cirrhosis (LC)patients, which could potentially serve as novel biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis. Metabolite expression from 38 HCC from the SORAMIC trial and 32 LC patients were analyzed by mass spectrometry. Metabolites with significant differences between LC and HCC at baseline were analyzed regarding expression over follow-up. In addition, association with overall survival was tested using univariate Cox proportional-hazard analysis. 41 metabolites showed differential expression between LCand HCC patients. 14 metabolites demonstrated significant changes in HCC patients during follow-up. Campesterol, lysophosphatidylcholine, octadecenoic and octadecadienoic acid, and furoylglycine showed a differential expression in the local ablation vs. palliative care group. High expression of eight metabolites (octadecenoic acid, 2-hydroxybutyrate, myo-inositol, isocitrate, erythronic acid, creatinine, pseudouridine, and erythrol) were associated with poor overall survival. The association between poor OS and octadecenoic acid and creatinine remained statistically significant even after adjusting for tumor burden and LC severity. Our findings give promising insides into the metabolic changes during HCC carcinogenesis and provide candidate biomarkers for future studies. Campesterol and furoylglycine in particular were identified as possible biomarkers for HCC progression. Moreover, eight metabolites were detected as predictors for poor overall survival.

Input legitimacy of bottom‐up fishery governance: Lessons from community‐led local development in two Nordic EU countries

AbstractIn European Union member states, the community‐led local development (CLLD) approach implemented through Fisheries Local Action Groups (FLAGs) represents different social organisational and democratic traditions. Hence, FLAGs operate and apply local development strategies and strengthen the role of fishing communities and the fishing industry under the influence of nationally contingent factors. Based on document analysis and mixed methods data, this article addresses the role of input legitimacy in FLAGs in Denmark and Finland. The findings show that Danish FLAGs demonstrate input legitimacy, while the fishery sector's interests are relatively weakly represented on FLAG boards. In Finland, the FLAG institutional system is perceived to be more flexible, demonstrating a lower level of input legitimacy, while the fishery sector's interests are substantially represented on FLAG boards. The comparison provides an analytical basis for member states financing CLLD through EMFAF and paves the way for reflexion on the FLAG governance system based on different programming periods and institutional contexts.