National Institute on Aging's 50th anniversary: Advancing aging research and the health and well-being of older adults

The National Institute on Aging (NIA), part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), was founded in 1974 to support and conduct research on aging and the health and well-being of older adults. Fifty years ago, the concept of studying aging generated much skepticism. Early NIA-funded research findings helped establish the great value of aging research and provided the foundation for significant science advances that have improved our understanding of the aging process, diseases and conditions associated with aging, and the effects of health inequities, as well as the need to promote healthy aging lifestyles. Today, we celebrate the many important contributions to aging research made possible by NIA, as well as opportunities to continue to make meaningful progress. NIA emphasizes that the broad aging research community must continue to increase and expand our collective efforts to recruit and train a diverse next generation of aging researchers.

Study of High-Transverse-Momentum Higgs Boson Production in Association with a Vector Boson in the qqbb Final State with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter presents the first study of Higgs boson production in association with a vector boson (V=W or Z) in the fully hadronic qqbb final state using data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the LHC in proton-proton collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV and corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 137  fb^{-1}. The vector bosons and Higgs bosons are each reconstructed as large-radius jets and tagged using jet substructure techniques. Dedicated tagging algorithms exploiting b-tagging properties are used to identify jets consistent with Higgs bosons decaying into bb[over ¯]. Dominant backgrounds from multijet production are determined directly from the data, and a likelihood fit to the jet mass distribution of Higgs boson candidates is used to extract the number of signal events. The VH production cross section is measured inclusively and differentially in several ranges of Higgs boson transverse momentum: 250-450, 450-650, and greater than 650 GeV. The inclusive signal yield relative to the standard model expectation is observed to be μ=1.4_{-0.9}^{+1.0} and the corresponding cross section is 3.1±1.3(stat)_{-1.4}^{+1.8}(syst)  pb.

Measurement of the Centrality Dependence of the Dijet Yield in p+Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

ATLAS measured the centrality dependence of the dijet yield using 165  nb^{-1} of p+Pb data collected at sqrt[s_{NN}]=8.16  TeV in 2016. The event centrality, which reflects the p+Pb impact parameter, is characterized by the total transverse energy registered in the Pb-going side of the forward calorimeter. The central-to-peripheral ratio of the scaled dijet yields, R_{CP}, is evaluated, and the results are presented as a function of variables that reflect the kinematics of the initial hard parton scattering process. The R_{CP} shows a scaling with the Bjorken x of the parton originating from the proton, x_{p}, while no such trend is observed as a function of x_{Pb}. This analysis provides unique input to understanding the role of small proton spatial configurations in p+Pb collisions by covering parton momentum fractions from the valence region down to x_{p}∼10^{-3} and x_{Pb}∼4×10^{-4}.

Evidence for Chiral Wobbler in Nuclei

Three ΔI=1 bands with the πg_{9/2}⊗νg_{9/2} configuration have been identified in _{35}^{74}Br_{39}. Angular distribution, linear polarization, and lifetime measurements were performed to determine the multipolarity, type, mixing ratio, and absolute transition probability of the transitions. By comparing these experimental observations with the corresponding fingerprints and the quantum particle rotor model calculations, the second and third lowest bands are, respectively, suggested as the chiral partner and one-phonon wobbling excitation built on the yrast band. The evidence indicates the first chiral wobbler in nuclei.

Search for New Phenomena in Two-Body Invariant Mass Distributions Using Unsupervised Machine Learning for Anomaly Detection at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

Searches for new resonances are performed using an unsupervised anomaly-detection technique. Events with at least one electron or muon are selected from 140  fb^{-1} of pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV recorded by ATLAS at the Large Hadron Collider. The approach involves training an autoencoder on data, and subsequently defining anomalous regions based on the reconstruction loss of the decoder. Studies focus on nine invariant mass spectra that contain pairs of objects consisting of one light jet or b jet and either one lepton (e,μ), photon, or second light jet or b jet in the anomalous regions. No significant deviations from the background hypotheses are observed. Limits on contributions from generic Gaussian signals with various widths of the resonance mass are obtained for nine invariant masses in the anomalous regions.

Observation of WZγ Production in pp Collisions at sqrt[s]=13 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of WZγ production and a measurement of its cross section using 140.1±1.2  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data recorded at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The WZγ production cross section, with both the W and Z bosons decaying leptonically, pp→WZγ→ℓ^{'}^{±}νℓ^{+}ℓ^{-}γ (ℓ^{(^{'})}=e, μ), is measured in a fiducial phase-space region defined such that the leptons and the photon have high transverse momentum and the photon is isolated. The cross section is found to be 2.01±0.30(stat)±0.16(syst)  fb. The corresponding standard model predicted cross section calculated at next-to-leading order in perturbative quantum chromodynamics and at leading order in the electroweak coupling constant is 1.50±0.06  fb. The observed significance of the WZγ signal is 6.3σ, compared with an expected significance of 5.0σ.

Health care-related transportation insecurity is associated with adverse health outcomes among adults with chronic liver disease

BACKGROUND

Health care-related transportation insecurity (delayed or forgone medical care due to transportation barriers) is being increasingly recognized as a social risk factor affecting health outcomes. We estimated the national burden and adverse outcomes of health care-related transportation insecurity among US adults with chronic liver disease (CLD).

METHODS

Using the U.S. National Health Interview Survey from 2014 to 2018, we identified adults with self-reported CLD. We used complex weighted survey analysis to obtain national estimates of health care-related transportation insecurity. We examined the associations between health care-related transportation insecurity and health care-related financial insecurity, food insecurity, self-reported health status, work productivity, health care use, and mortality.

RESULTS

Of the 3643 (representing 5.2 million) US adults with CLD, 267 [representing 307,628 (6%; 95% CI: 5%-7%)] reported health care-related transportation insecurity. Adults with CLD experiencing health care-related transportation insecurity had 3.5 times higher odds of cost-related medication nonadherence [aOR, 3.5; (2.4-5.0)], 3.5 times higher odds of food insecurity [aOR, 3.5; (2.4-5.3)], 2.5 times higher odds of worsening self-reported health status over the past year [aOR, 2.5; (1.7-3.7)], 3.1 times higher odds of being unable to work due to poor health over the past year [aOR, 3.1; (2.0-4.9)], and 1.7 times higher odds of being in a higher-risk category group for number of hospitalizations annually [aOR, 1.7; (1.2-2.5)]. Health care-related transportation insecurity was independently associated with mortality after controlling for age, income, insurance status, comorbidity burden, financial insecurity, and food insecurity [aHR, 1.7; (1.4-2.0)].

CONCLUSIONS

Health care-related transportation insecurity is a critical social risk factor that is associated with health care-related financial insecurity, food insecurity, poorer self-reported health status and work productivity, and increased health care use and mortality among US adults with CLD. Efforts to screen for and reduce health care-related transportation insecurity are warranted.

Combined Measurement of the Higgs Boson Mass from the H→γγ and H→ZZ^{*}→4ℓ Decay Channels with the ATLAS Detector Using sqrt[s]=7, 8, and 13 TeV pp Collision Data

A measurement of the mass of the Higgs boson combining the H→ZZ^{*}→4ℓ and H→γγ decay channels is presented. The result is based on 140  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data collected by the ATLAS detector during LHC run 2 at a center-of-mass energy of 13 TeV combined with the run 1 ATLAS mass measurement, performed at center-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, yielding a Higgs boson mass of 125.11±0.09(stat)±0.06(syst)=125.11±0.11  GeV. This corresponds to a 0.09% precision achieved on this fundamental parameter of the Standard Model of particle physics.

Search for Dark Photons in Rare Z Boson Decays with the ATLAS Detector

A search for events with a dark photon produced in association with a dark Higgs boson via rare decays of the standard model Z boson is presented, using 139  fb^{-1} of sqrt[s]=13  TeV proton-proton collision data recorded by the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. The dark boson decays into a pair of dark photons, and at least two of the three dark photons must each decay into a pair of electrons or muons, resulting in at least two same-flavor opposite-charge lepton pairs in the final state. The data are found to be consistent with the background prediction, and upper limits are set on the dark photon's coupling to the dark Higgs boson times the kinetic mixing between the standard model photon and the dark photon, α_{D}ϵ^{2}, in the dark photon mass range of [5, 40] GeV except for the ϒ mass window [8.8, 11.1] GeV. This search explores new parameter space not previously excluded by other experiments.

Observation of Single-Top-Quark Production in Association with a Photon Using the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of single top quarks produced together with a photon, which directly probes the electroweak coupling of the top quark. The analysis uses 139  fb^{-1} of 13 TeV proton-proton collision data collected with the ATLAS detector at the Large Hadron Collider. Requiring a photon with transverse momentum larger than 20 GeV and within the detector acceptance, the fiducial cross section is measured to be 688±23(stat) _{-71}^{+75}(syst)  fb, to be compared with the standard model prediction of 515_{-42}^{+36}  fb at next-to-leading order in QCD.

Measurement of Suppression of Large-Radius Jets and Its Dependence on Substructure in Pb+Pb Collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02 TeV with the ATLAS Detector

This letter presents a measurement of the nuclear modification factor of large-radius jets in sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV Pb+Pb collisions by the ATLAS experiment. The measurement is performed using 1.72  nb^{-1} and 257  pb^{-1} of Pb+Pb and pp data, respectively. The large-radius jets are reconstructed with the anti-k_{t} algorithm using a radius parameter of R=1.0, by reclustering anti-k_{t} R=0.2 jets, and are measured over the transverse momentum (p_{T}) kinematic range of 158 Collapse

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Measurement of the Sensitivity of Two-Particle Correlations in pp Collisions to the Presence of Hard Scatterings

A key open question in the study of multiparticle production in high-energy pp collisions is the relationship between the "ridge"-i.e., the observed azimuthal correlations between particles in the underlying event that extend over all rapidities-and hard or semihard scattering processes. In particular, it is not known whether jets or their soft fragments are correlated with particles in the underlying event. To address this question, two-particle correlations are measured in pp collisions at sqrt[s]=13  TeV using data collected by the ATLAS experiment at the LHC, with an integrated luminosity of 15.8  pb^{-1}, in two different configurations. In the first case, charged particles associated with jets are excluded from the correlation analysis, while in the second case, correlations are measured between particles within jets and charged particles from the underlying event. Second-order flow coefficients, v_{2}, are presented as a function of event multiplicity and transverse momentum. These measurements show that excluding particles associated with jets does not affect the measured correlations. Moreover, particles associated with jets do not exhibit any significant azimuthal correlations with the underlying event, ruling out hard processes contributing to the ridge.

Observation of an Excess of Dicharmonium Events in the Four-Muon Final State with the ATLAS Detector

A search is made for potential ccc[over ¯]c[over ¯] tetraquarks decaying into a pair of charmonium states in the four muon final state using proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 140  fb^{-1} recorded by the ATLAS experiment at LHC. Two decay channels, J/ψ+J/ψ→4μ and J/ψ+ψ(2S)→4μ, are studied. Backgrounds are estimated based on a hybrid approach involving Monte Carlo simulations and data-driven methods. Statistically significant excesses with respect to backgrounds dominated by the single parton scattering are seen in the di-J/ψ channel consistent with a narrow resonance at 6.9 GeV and a broader structure at lower mass. A statistically significant excess is also seen in the J/ψ+ψ(2S) channel. The fitted masses and decay widths of the structures are reported.

Observation of the γγ→ττ Process in Pb+Pb Collisions and Constraints on the τ-Lepton Anomalous Magnetic Moment with the ATLAS Detector

This Letter reports the observation of τ-lepton-pair production in ultraperipheral lead-lead collisions Pb+Pb→Pb(γγ→ττ)Pb and constraints on the τ-lepton anomalous magnetic moment a_{τ}. The dataset corresponds to an integrated luminosity of 1.44  nb^{-1} of LHC Pb+Pb collisions at sqrt[s_{NN}]=5.02  TeV recorded by the ATLAS experiment in 2018. Selected events contain one muon from a τ-lepton decay, an electron or charged-particle track(s) from the other τ-lepton decay, little additional central-detector activity, and no forward neutrons. The γγ→ττ process is observed in Pb+Pb collisions with a significance exceeding 5 standard deviations and a signal strength of μ_{ττ}=1.03_{-0.05}^{+0.06} assuming the standard model value for a_{τ}. To measure a_{τ}, a template fit to the muon transverse-momentum distribution from τ-lepton candidates is performed, using a dimuon (γγ→μμ) control sample to constrain systematic uncertainties. The observed 95% confidence-level interval for a_{τ} is -0.057 Collapse

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Strong Constraints on Jet Quenching in Centrality-Dependent p+Pb Collisions at 5.02 TeV from ATLAS

Jet quenching is the process of color-charged partons losing energy via interactions with quark-gluon plasma droplets created in heavy-ion collisions. The collective expansion of such droplets is well described by viscous hydrodynamics. Similar evidence of collectivity is consistently observed in smaller collision systems, including pp and p+Pb collisions. In contrast, while jet quenching is observed in Pb+Pb collisions, no evidence has been found in these small systems to date, raising fundamental questions about the nature of the system created in these collisions. The ATLAS experiment at the Large Hadron Collider has measured the yield of charged hadrons correlated with reconstructed jets in 0.36  nb^{-1} of p+Pb and 3.6  pb^{-1} of pp collisions at 5.02 TeV. The yields of charged hadrons with p_{T}^{ch}>0.5  GeV near and opposite in azimuth to jets with p_{T}^{jet}>30 or 60 GeV, and the ratios of these yields between p+Pb and pp collisions, I_{pPb}, are reported. The collision centrality of p+Pb events is categorized by the energy deposited by forward neutrons from the struck nucleus. The I_{pPb} values are consistent with unity within a few percent for hadrons with p_{T}^{ch}>4  GeV at all centralities. These data provide new, strong constraints that preclude almost any parton energy loss in central p+Pb collisions.

Test of CP Invariance in Higgs Boson Vector-Boson-Fusion Production Using the H→γγ Channel with the ATLAS Detector

A test of CP invariance in Higgs boson production via vector-boson fusion has been performed in the H→γγ channel using 139  fb^{-1} of proton-proton collision data at sqrt[s]=13  TeV collected by the ATLAS detector at the LHC. The optimal observable method is used to probe the CP structure of interactions between the Higgs boson and electroweak gauge bosons, as described by an effective field theory. No sign of CP violation is observed in the data. Constraints are set on the parameters describing the strength of the CP-odd component in the coupling between the Higgs boson and the electroweak gauge bosons in two effective field theory bases: d[over ˜] in the HISZ basis and c_{HW[over ˜]} in the Warsaw basis. The results presented are the most stringent constraints on CP violation in the coupling between Higgs and weak bosons. The 95% C.L. constraint on d[over ˜] is derived for the first time and the 95% C.L. constraint on c_{HW[over ˜]} has been improved by a factor of 5 compared to the previous measurement.

Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Barriers to Care in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a leading cause of death in patients with cirrhosis and has a rising mortality rate in the United States.1 Racial and ethnic minorities experience a disproportionate burden of HCC, including higher incidence rates, more late-stage diagnoses, and worse survival.2,3 These disparities are complex in nature and can be attributed to many proximal, intermediate, and distal determinants, such as health literacy and behaviors, social support, social needs, social determinants of health, and access to health care.4 Prior studies have identified racial and ethnic differences in clinical factors, including receipt of HCC surveillance and tumor stage5; however, few studies have examined differences in patient-reported barriers that may partly explain observed disparities. Understanding these data is essential to inform interventions to address and mitigate disparities. Therefore, we described patient-reported barriers to medical care and examined differences in barriers by race and ethnicity in a large, diverse population of patients newly diagnosed with HCC.

For Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated with Yttrium-90 Microspheres, Dose Volumetrics on Post-Treatment Bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT Predict Clinical Outcomes

In transarterial radioembolization (TARE) of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with Yttrium-90 (Y-90) microspheres, recent studies correlate dosimetry from bremsstrahlung single photon emission tomography (SPECT/CT) with treatment outcomes; however, these studies focus on measures of central tendency rather than volumetric coverage metrics commonly used in radiation oncology. We hypothesized that three-dimensional (3D) isodose coverage of gross tumor volume (GTV) is the driving factor in HCC treatment response to TARE and is best assessed using advanced dosimetry techniques applied to nuclear imaging of actual Y-90 biodistribution. We reviewed 51 lobar TARE Y-90 treatments of 43 HCC patients. Dose prescriptions were 120 Gy for TheraSpheres and 85 Gy for SIR-Spheres. All patients underwent post-TARE Y-90 bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT imaging. Commercial software was used to contour gross tumor volume (GTV) and liver on post-TARE SPECT/CT. Y-90 dose distributions were calculated using the Local Deposition Model based on post-TARE SPECT/CT activity maps. Median gross tumor volume (GTV) dose; GTV receiving less than 100 Gy, 70 Gy and 50 Gy; minimum dose covering the hottest 70%, 95%, and 98% of the GTV (D70, D95, D98); mean dose to nontumorous liver, and disease burden (GTV/liver volume) were obtained. Clinical outcomes were collected for all patients by chart and imaging review. HCC treatment response was assessed according to the modified response criteria in solid tumors (mRECIST) guidelines. Kaplan-Meier (KM) survival estimates and multivariate regression analyses (MVA) were performed using STATA. Median survival was 22.5 months for patients achieving objective response (OR) in targeted lesions (complete response (CR) or partial response (PR) per mRECIST) vs. 7.6 months for non-responders (NR, stable disease or disease progression per mRECIST). On MVA, the volume of underdosed tumor (GTV receiving less than 100 Gy) was the only significant dosimetric predictor for CR (p = 0.0004) and overall survival (OS, p = 0.003). All targets with less than CR (n = 39) had more than 20 cc of underdosed tumor. D70 (p = 0.038) correlated with OR, with mean D70 of 95 Gy for responders and 60 Gy for non-responders (p = 0.042). On MVA, mean dose to nontumorous liver trended toward significant association with grade 3+ toxicity (p = 0.09) and correlated with delivered activity (p < 0.001) and burden of disease (p = 0.05). Dosimetric models supplied area under the curve estimates of > 0.80 predicting CR, OR, and ≥grade 3 acute toxicity. Dosimetric parameters derived from the retrospective analysis of post-TARE Y-90 bremsstrahlung SPECT/CT after lobar treatment of HCC suggest that volumetric coverage of GTV, not a high mean or median dose, is the driving factor in treatment response and that this is best assessed through the analysis of actual Y-90 biodistribution.

An Open-Access, Interactive Decision-Support Tool to Facilitate Guideline-Driven Care for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in incidence and is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Adherence to HCC surveillance guidelines and appropriate treatment triage of liver lesions may improve receipt of curative-intent treatment and improved survival. Late-stage HCC diagnosis reflects sub-optimal implementation of effective HCC surveillance, whereas inappropriate treatment triage or linkage to care accounts for the non-receipt of curative-intent in close to half of early-stage HCC in the USA. A free, open-access decision-support tool for liver lesions that incorporates current guideline recommendations in a user-friendly interface could improve appropriate and timely triage of patients to appropriate care. This review provides a summary of gaps and disparities in linkage to HCC care and introduces a free, internet-based, interactive decision-support tool for managing liver lesions. This tool has been developed by the HCC Steering Committee of the Chronic Liver Disease Foundation and is targeted toward clinicians across specialties who may encounter liver lesions during routine care or as part of dedicated HCC surveillance.

Search for Subsolar-Mass Binaries in the First Half of Advanced LIGO's and Advanced Virgo's Third Observing Run

We report on a search for compact binary coalescences where at least one binary component has a mass between 0.2  M_{⊙} and 1.0  M_{⊙} in Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo data collected between 1 April 2019 1500 UTC and 1 October 2019 1500 UTC. We extend our previous analyses in two main ways: we include data from the Virgo detector and we allow for more unequal mass systems, with mass ratio q≥0.1. We do not report any gravitational-wave candidates. The most significant trigger has a false alarm rate of 0.14  yr^{-1}. This implies an upper limit on the merger rate of subsolar binaries in the range [220-24200]  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1}, depending on the chirp mass of the binary. We use this upper limit to derive astrophysical constraints on two phenomenological models that could produce subsolar-mass compact objects. One is an isotropic distribution of equal-mass primordial black holes. Using this model, we find that the fraction of dark matter in primordial black holes in the mass range 0.2  M_{⊙}<m_{PBH}<1.0  M_{⊙} is f_{PBH}≡Ω_{PBH}/Ω_{DM}≲6%. This improves existing constraints on primordial black hole abundance by a factor of ∼3. The other is a dissipative dark matter model, in which fermionic dark matter can collapse and form black holes. The upper limit on the fraction of dark matter black holes depends on the minimum mass of the black holes that can be formed: the most constraining result is obtained at M_{min}=1  M_{⊙}, where f_{DBH}≡Ω_{DBH}/Ω_{DM}≲0.003%. These are the first constraints placed on dissipative dark models by subsolar-mass analyses.

A detailed map of Higgs boson interactions by the ATLAS experiment ten years after the discovery

The standard model of particle physics1-4 describes the known fundamental particles and forces that make up our Universe, with the exception of gravity. One of the central features of the standard model is a field that permeates all of space and interacts with fundamental particles5-9. The quantum excitation of this field, known as the Higgs field, manifests itself as the Higgs boson, the only fundamental particle with no spin. In 2012, a particle with properties consistent with the Higgs boson of the standard model was observed by the ATLAS and CMS experiments at the Large Hadron Collider at CERN10,11. Since then, more than 30 times as many Higgs bosons have been recorded by the ATLAS experiment, enabling much more precise measurements and new tests of the theory. Here, on the basis of this larger dataset, we combine an unprecedented number of production and decay processes of the Higgs boson to scrutinize its interactions with elementary particles. Interactions with gluons, photons, and W and Z bosons-the carriers of the strong, electromagnetic and weak forces-are studied in detail. Interactions with three third-generation matter particles (bottom (b) and top (t) quarks, and tau leptons (τ)) are well measured and indications of interactions with a second-generation particle (muons, μ) are emerging. These tests reveal that the Higgs boson discovered ten years ago is remarkably consistent with the predictions of the theory and provide stringent constraints on many models of new phenomena beyond the standard model.

An International External Validation and Revision of the PsyMetRiC Cardiometabolic Risk Prediction Algorithm for Young People with Psychosis

Introduction

The comorbidity between cardiometabolic and psychotic disorders develops early. This is a crucial window of opportunity to reduce excess morbidity and mortality. Recently, a cardiometabolic risk prediction algorithm for young people with psychosis, the psychosis metabolic risk calculator (PsyMetRiC) was developed and externally validated in the UK. However, its international transportability is unknown.

Objectives

We performed the first international validation study of PsyMetRiC in Lausanne, Switzerland, and examined whether additional variables (clinical and/or genetic) may improve the predictive performance of the algorithm

Methods

We included people aged 16-35y with psychosis from the PsyMetab cohort, who did not have MetS at baseline, and who had 1-6y follow-up data. The PsyMetRiC partial (age, sex, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking status, and prescription of a metabolically-active antipsychotic) and full (also including high-density lipoprotein and triglycerides) algorithms were applied. Predictive performance was assessed using measures of discrimination (C-statistic) and calibration (calibration plots). Recalibration steps included refitting the intercept and/or slope if necessary. Additional variables (e.g. speed of weight gain, polygenic risk scores) were added to the model and predictive performance was reassessed.

Results

We included 545 participants. The discrimination performance of both PsyMetRiC algorithms was good (C>0.75), and calibration plots showed good agreement between observed and predicted risk. Additional analyses to be conducted.

Conclusions

PsyMetRiC is likely to be generalizable for use in Switzerland, suggesting that PsyMetRiC may also be suitable for use in other European populations. While additional international validations are required, these findings are an encouraging step toward an international cardiometabolic risk prediction algorithm for young people with psychosis.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

Predicting treatment resistance in people with a first-episode of psychosis using commonly recorded clinical information

Introduction

23% of people experiencing a first episode of psychosis (FEP) develop treatment resistant schizophrenia (TRS). At present, there are no established methods to accurately identify who will develop TRS from baseline.

Objectives

In this study we used patient data from three UK early intervention services (EIS) to investigate the predictive potential of routinely recorded sociodemographic, lifestyle and biological data at FEP baseline for the risk of TRS up to six years later.

Methods

We developed two risk prediction algorithms to predict the risk of TRS at 2-8 years from FEP onset using commonly recorded information at baseline. Using the forced-entry method, we created a model including age, sex, ethnicity, triglycerides, alkaline phosphatase levels and lymphocyte counts. We also produced a machine-learning-based model, including an additional four variables. The models were developed using data from two and externally validated in another UK psychosis EIS.

Results

The development samples included 785 patients, and 1,110 were included in the validation sample. The models discriminated TRS well at internal validation (forced-entry: C 0.70, 95%CI 0.63-0.76; LASSO: C 0.69, 95%CI 0.63-0.77). At external validation, discrimination performance attenuated (forced-entry: C 0.63, 0.58-0.69; LASSO: C 0.64, 0.58-0.69) but recovered for the forced entry model after recalibration and revision of the lymphocyte predictor (C: 0.67, 0.62-0.73).

Conclusions

The use of commonly recorded clinical information including biomarkers taken at FEP onset could help to predict TRS. These measures should be considered in future studies modelling psychiatric outcomes.

Disclosure

No significant relationships.

ESPO and Butler-Williams Scientific Symposium: Disrupting Health Disparities and Transforming Care of Older Adults

The NIA’s Butler-Williams Scholars Program and GSA’s ESPO Section are united in providing career development opportunities in a manner that promotes leadership, diversity, and inclusivity. Our emerging scholars are called to examine health inequity and overcome barriers by continuous and incremental improvements (disruption) or dramatic change (transformation) to improve health and access to care for our diverse aging population. Among the chief concerns of our aging population are disparities in health associated with race/ethnicity, experience, sociocultural and socioeconomic factors. GSA’s early career professionals and 2020 alumni of the prestigious NIA Butler-Williams Scholars Program address these issues. Dr. Karen Moss will discuss new findings from a study of African American caregivers of persons living with dementia. Dr. Jasmine Travers will present on mitigating disparities in access to long-term services and supports among older adults. Dr. Maricruz Rivera-Hernandez, will present current work on aging and care delivery or health of Hispanic older adults, including impact of COVID19 in Hispanic groups. Dr. Marc Garcia will present on interaction of race/ethnicity, nativity, and gender with key social and economic factors on health, COVID19, and aging. Finally, Dr. Shana Stites will present on social challenges in advancing diagnosis and treatment of Alzheimer’s disease dementia. The featured talks by rising stars deepen our understanding of the influence of health disparity so we can disrupt inequity and transform systems of care across our diverse aging populations.

NIA Office of Special Populations

Dr. Jones will discuss the work of the NIA Office of Special Populations. Dr. Jones will also be available for small group discussion.

Constraints on Cosmic Strings Using Data from the Third Advanced LIGO-Virgo Observing Run

We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection. We also use the stochastic gravitational-wave background energy density upper limits derived from the O3 data to constrain the cosmic string tension Gμ as a function of the number of kinks, or the number of cusps, for two cosmic string loop distribution models. Additionally, we develop and test a third model that interpolates between these two models. Our results improve upon the previous LIGO-Virgo constraints on Gμ by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude depending on the model that is tested. In particular, for the one-loop distribution model, we set the most competitive constraints to date: Gμ≲4×10^{-15}. In the case of cosmic strings formed at the end of inflation in the context of grand unified theories, these results challenge simple inflationary models.

Constraints on Cosmic Strings Using Data from the Third Advanced LIGO-Virgo Observing Run

We search for gravitational-wave signals produced by cosmic strings in the Advanced LIGO and Virgo full O3 dataset. Search results are presented for gravitational waves produced by cosmic string loop features such as cusps, kinks, and, for the first time, kink-kink collisions. A template-based search for short-duration transient signals does not yield a detection. We also use the stochastic gravitational-wave background energy density upper limits derived from the O3 data to constrain the cosmic string tension Gμ as a function of the number of kinks, or the number of cusps, for two cosmic string loop distribution models. Additionally, we develop and test a third model that interpolates between these two models. Our results improve upon the previous LIGO-Virgo constraints on Gμ by 1 to 2 orders of magnitude depending on the model that is tested. In particular, for the one-loop distribution model, we set the most competitive constraints to date: Gμ≲4×10^{-15}. In the case of cosmic strings formed at the end of inflation in the context of grand unified theories, these results challenge simple inflationary models.

Safety and Outcomes of using ureteric access sheath (UAS) for treatment of Pediatric renal stones: Outcomes from 2 tertiary endourology centers

OBJECTIVE

To look at the safety and outcomes of using ureteral access sheath (UAS) for pediatric renal stones. The use of UAS is variable in urological practice with very little clinical work on their use in pediatric kidney stone disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Data was retrospectively collected from 2 large European tertiary endourology centers for all pediatric patients (≤16 years) with renal stones who underwent flexible ureteroscopy and lasertripsy (FURSL) via UAS. Data was collected on patient details, stone demographics and clinical outcomes of the FURSL procedure.

RESULTS

Forty-eight patients with a mean age of 10.7 years were treated with FURSL for a mean single and cumulative stone size of 10.4 mm and 15 mm respectively, with two-third having multiple stones and stones in the lower pole. The initial and final stone free rate (SFR) was 66.7% and 100% respectively with 1.3 procedures/patient. One patient each had intra-operative grade 1 ureteric injury and post-operative UTI, with no other injuries or complications noted. Over a mean follow-up of 17 months, no other complications were noted.

CONCLUSION

Ureteral access sheath is safe for treatment of pediatric renal stones with excellent outcomes and are especially useful for larger or multiple stones. While there does not seem to be any medium-term sequalae, to avoid risk of ureteral injury, we would suggest using the smallest size sheath possible. We would argue these procedures are best done in specialist high-volume endourology units for optimal results.

The International Federation for Emergency Medicine report on emergency department crowding and access block: A brief summary

Objective

To develop comprehensive guidance that captures international impacts, causes, and solutions related to emergency department crowding and access block.

Methods

Emergency physicians representing 15 countries from all IFEM regions composed the Task Force. Monthly meetings were held via video-conferencing software to achieve consensus for report content. The report was submitted and approved by the IFEM Board on June 1, 2020.

Results

A total of 14 topic dossiers, each relating to an aspect of ED crowding, were researched and completed collaboratively by members of the Task Force.

Conclusions

The IFEM report is a comprehensive document intended to be used in whole or by section to inform and address aspects of ED crowding and access block. Overall, ED crowding is a multifactorial issue requiring systems-wide solutions applied at local, regional, and national levels. Access block is the predominant contributor of ED crowding in most parts of the world.

The International Federation for Emergency Medicine report on emergency department crowding and access block: a brief summary

Objective

To develop comprehensive guidance that captures international impacts, causes, and solutions related to emergency department crowding and access block

Methods

Emergency physicians representing 15 countries from all IFEM regions composed the Task Force. Monthly meetings were held via video-conferencing software to achieve consensus for report content. The report was submitted and approved by the IFEM Board on June 1, 2020.

Results

A total of 14 topic dossiers, each relating to an aspect of ED crowding, were researched and completed collaboratively by members of the Task Force.

Conclusions

The IFEM report is a comprehensive document intended to be used in whole or by section to inform and address aspects of ED crowding and access block. Overall, ED crowding is a multifactorial issue requiring systems-wide solutions applied at local, regional, and national levels. Access block is the predominant contributor of ED crowding in most parts of the world.

Design, construction and characterisation of a portable gamma-ray spectrometer for low-level natural occurring radioactive material ex-situ measurement

The activity concentrations in naturally occurring radioactive material (NORM) samples are conventionally measured using a gamma-ray spectrometer with a single detector (mostly HPGe or NaI:Tl) enclosed in a lead shield. In this work, a passive water shield to reduce background radiation reaching the detectors was designed using GEANT4-toolkit Monte Carlo simulations and then constructed. This measurement system is portable and cost-effective for ex-situ measurements. IAEA-375 soil and beach sand each placed in Marinelli beakers were measured using two LaBr₃:Ce detectors in singles and coin-cidence modes. A novel method of background reduction by using photon time-of-flight was employed together with the measurement of the two photons energies. These samples were also measured in singles mode using a NaI:Tl detector inside the constructed water shield and HPGe detector shielded with lead to compare and validate the results of LaBr₃:Ce detectors measurement. Both the simulated and measured results show that the water shield (500 mm thick) attenuates 2614.5 keV gamma rays by 90 %. The minimum detectable activity (MDA) measured for 24 h using the NaI:Tl detector without shield and inside the water shield are; 546 Bq kg^-1 and 146 Bq kg^-1 at 1460.8 keV (⁴⁰K), 194 Bq kg^-1 and 15 Bq kg^-1 at 1764.5 keV (²³⁸U series), and 131 Bq kg^-1 and 15 Bq kg^-1 at 911.2 keV (²³²Th series), respectively. The measured activity concentrations of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th series and ⁴⁰K radionuclides inside IAEA-375 soil agree with certified values to within measurement uncertainties. The measured activity of ¹³⁸La in the LaBr₃:Ce detector crystal is 263.8 ± 26.8 Bq kg^-1. The internal activity of the LaBr₃:Ce detector increases the MDA at 1460.8 keV and 2614.5 keV, which limits the measurement of primordial radionuclides with low activity concentration in singles mode. The activity concentrations of ²³⁸U and ²³²Th series radionuclides in beach sand were measured using NaI:Tl and LaBr₃:Ce detectors. The results are consistent with those from HPGe measurement to within uncertainties.

A mixed-methods approach to understanding perceptions of hepatitis B and hepatocellular carcinoma among ethnically diverse Black communities in South Florida

PURPOSE

Hepatitis B (HBV), the leading cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), disproportionately affects minorities. Compared to other races, Blacks more often present with advanced HCC and have decreased survival. We observed higher HBV-associated HCC rates among Blacks than reported nationally. In our center, Haitian Blacks had the highest rates of HBV-associated HCC and shorter survival compared to other Blacks. We investigated knowledge and perceptions regarding HBV and HCC among Blacks born in the United States or Haiti.

METHODS

Using community partnerships, participants were recruited via word of mouth, email, social media or from Hepatology clinic. Focus groups were conducted in Haitian Creole or English and stratified by birthplace, gender and infection status. Discussions were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim. A constant comparative method was used for data analysis; themes are based on conversational details.

RESULTS

There were 55 participants; 49% were male and 27% had chronic HBV. Only 42% of Haitian Blacks knew about HBV prior to participation vs. 78% of African Americans, p 0.03. Both groups expressed that fear, mistrust of the medical establishment, denial and stigma might compel persons to avoid seeking care. Both groups attributed higher rates of late stage HCC diagnosis in Blacks to inadequate financial resources and education. Those with HBV reported confusion regarding their infection and suboptimal communication with healthcare providers.

CONCLUSIONS

In two communities disproportionately affected by HBV, misconceptions about disease transmission, stigma, low health literacy and decreased access to care may limit detection for HBV. Culturally relevant community-based interventions are needed to increase HBV detection.

GW190521: A Binary Black Hole Merger with a Total Mass of 150 M_{⊙}

On May 21, 2019 at 03:02:29 UTC Advanced LIGO and Advanced Virgo observed a short duration gravitational-wave signal, GW190521, with a three-detector network signal-to-noise ratio of 14.7, and an estimated false-alarm rate of 1 in 4900 yr using a search sensitive to generic transients. If GW190521 is from a quasicircular binary inspiral, then the detected signal is consistent with the merger of two black holes with masses of 85_{-14}^{+21}  M_{⊙} and 66_{-18}^{+17}  M_{⊙} (90% credible intervals). We infer that the primary black hole mass lies within the gap produced by (pulsational) pair-instability supernova processes, with only a 0.32% probability of being below 65  M_{⊙}. We calculate the mass of the remnant to be 142_{-16}^{+28}  M_{⊙}, which can be considered an intermediate mass black hole (IMBH). The luminosity distance of the source is 5.3_{-2.6}^{+2.4}  Gpc, corresponding to a redshift of 0.82_{-0.34}^{+0.28}. The inferred rate of mergers similar to GW190521 is 0.13_{-0.11}^{+0.30}  Gpc^{-3} yr^{-1}.

Examining emergency department inequities between Māori and non-Māori: do they exist?

Despite Māori (Indigenous population of New Zealand, NZ) having high Emergency Department (ED) use, few studies have explored for ethnic inequities in ED within NZ. ED healthcare can be time-pressured, complex and demanding. Clinical decision-making in this context may facilitate provider prejudice, stereotyping and bias.

The Examining Emergency Department Inequities (EEDI) is a retrospective observational study, designed from a Kaupapa Māori Research position, examining ED admissions in NZ between 2006 and 2012 using the existing Shorter Stays in Emergency Department National Research Project dataset combined with clinical information extracted from NZ’s National Minimum Dataset. The key predictor variable is patient ethnicity with covariates: sex, age-group, area deprivation, mode of presentation, referral method, Australasian Triage Scale and the Multimorbidity Measure (M3 Index) for co-morbidities. Generalised linear regression models investigated the associations between pre-admission variables and the measures of ED care, and mortality.

There were a total of 5,972,102 ED events (1,168,944 Māori, 4,803,158 non-Māori). We found an increasing proportion of ED events/year, a higher proportion of Māori ED events from younger age groups and areas of high deprivation compared to non-Māori. Māori had a higher proportion of self-referral and were triaged to be seen within a longer timeframe compared to non-Māori. After controlling for year of ED event, gender, triage category, age at presentation, NZ Deprivation decile and M3 Comorbidity score: Māori had shorter ED arrival to assessment time; shorter ED Length of Stay and less Access Block (&gt;8 hour ED LOS before ward admission). Despite this, Māori mortality within ED or within 10 days of discharge was higher than non-Māori.

These findings suggest different patterns in ED usage between Māori and non-Māori. Of concern, inequities in mortality exist despite positive indicators of ED care.

Key messages

There is evidence of different patterns in emergency department use between Māori and non-Māori in New Zealand. Māori:non-Māori inequities in mortality exist despite positive indicators of emergency department care.

Haematuria caused by bladder cancer in the paediatric setting

Bladder cancer is a rare disease in childhood; however, it is one of great clinical significance. Investigation and management follow a tailored approach, which is largely driven by clinical practice patterns in adult patients with the disease. We present the case of bladder cancer in a boy who presented to the primary care practitioner with visible haematuria. This case highlights the need for clinicians to consider malignancy as a possible cause for haematuria when assessing and investigating children with this presenting complaint.

Structural Interventions to Reduce and Eliminate Health Disparities

Health disparities research in the United States over the past 2 decades has yielded considerable progress and contributed to a developing evidence base for interventions that tackle disparities in health status and access to care. However, health disparity interventions have focused primarily on individual and interpersonal factors, which are often limited in their ability to yield sustained improvements. Health disparities emerge and persist through complex mechanisms that include socioeconomic, environmental, and system-level factors. To accelerate the reduction of health disparities and yield enduring health outcomes requires broader approaches that intervene upon these structural determinants. Although an increasing number of innovative programs and policies have been deployed to address structural determinants, few explicitly focused on their impact on minority health and health disparities. Rigorously evaluated, evidence-based structural interventions are needed to address multilevel structural determinants that systemically lead to and perpetuate social and health inequities. This article highlights examples of structural interventions that have yielded health benefits, discusses challenges and opportunities for accelerating improvements in minority health, and proposes recommendations to foster the development of structural interventions likely to advance health disparities research.