Machine learning-based extreme event attribution.

The observed increase in extreme weather has prompted recent methodological advances in extreme event attribution. We propose a machine learning-based approach that uses convolutional neural networks to create dynamically consistent counterfactual versions of historical extreme events under different levels of global mean temperature (GMT). We apply this technique to one recent extreme heat event (southcentral North America 2023) and several historical events that have been previously analyzed using established attribution methods.

Speed of environmental change frames relative ecological risk in climate change and climate intervention scenarios.

Stratospheric aerosol injection is a potential method of climate intervention to reduce climate risk as decarbonization efforts continue. However, possible ecosystem impacts from the strategic design of hypothetical intervention scenarios are poorly understood. Two recent Earth system model simulations depict policy-relevant stratospheric aerosol injection scenarios with similar global temperature targets, but a 10-year delay in intervention deployment.

MicroRNA-34a-Dependent Attenuation of Angiogenesis in Right Ventricular Failure.

Background: The right ventricle (RV) is at risk in patients with complex congenital heart disease involving right-sided obstructive lesions. We have shown that capillary rarefaction occurs early in the pressure-loaded RV. Here we test the hypothesis that microRNA (miR)-34a, which is induced in RV hypertrophy and RV failure (RVF), blocks the hypoxia-inducible factor-1α-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) axis, leading to the attenuated angiogenic response and increased susceptibility to RV failure.

Loss of prolyl hydroxylase 1 and 2 in SM22α-expressing cells prevents Hypoxia-Induced pulmonary hypertension.

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a disease characterized by increased vasoconstriction and vascular remodeling. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) highly express the transcription factor hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), yet the role of PASMC HIF-1α in the development of PAH remains controversial. To study the role of SMC HIF-1α in the pulmonary vascular response to acute and chronic hypoxia, we used a gain-of-function strategy to stabilize HIF-1α in PASMC by generating mice lacking prolyl hydroxylase domain (PHD) 1 and 2 in SM22α-expressing cells.

Prevalence of palliative radiotherapy abstracts presented at the annual scientific meetings of the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology: 2003-2021.

Purpose: Approximately half of all radiotherapy (RT) is delivered with palliative intent. Clinical research in palliative RT aims to manage symptoms, improve quality of life (QoL), evaluate supportive care, and determine optimal dose-fractionation schedules. Our aim was to describe the prevalence of palliative research at the Canadian Association of Radiation Oncology (CARO) Annual Scientific Meeting (ASM) over time and compare this analysis to previously published work which evaluated the years 1992-2002.

Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1α in SM22α-Expressing Cells Modulates Alveolarization.

Worldwide, the incidence of both preterm births and chronic lung disease of infancy, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia, remains high. Infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia have larger and fewer alveoli, a lung pathology that can persist into adulthood. Although recent data point to a role for hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in mediating pulmonary angiogenesis and alveolarization, the cell-specific role of HIF-1α remains incompletely understood.

Optimizing surface mould brachytherapy for treatment of nasal basal cell carcinoma using customized applicators.

Purpose: Surface mould brachytherapy (SMBT) is ideal in treating superficial skin cancer over the curved surface of the nasal ala. We describe the process of initiating and optimizing SMBT treatment at our institution including clinical workflow, generation of three dimensional (3D) printed custom applicators, and clinical outcomes.

Methods And Materials: Planning CT scans were used to acquire images for delineating target volumes.

Data-driven predictions of the time remaining until critical global warming thresholds are reached.

Leveraging artificial neural networks (ANNs) trained on climate model output, we use the spatial pattern of historical temperature observations to predict the time until critical global warming thresholds are reached. Although no observations are used during the training, validation, or testing, the ANNs accurately predict the timing of historical global warming from maps of historical annual temperature. The central estimate for the 1.

Internal variability and forcing influence model-satellite differences in the rate of tropical tropospheric warming.

Climate-model simulations exhibit approximately two times more tropical tropospheric warming than satellite observations since 1979. The causes of this difference are not fully understood and are poorly quantified. Here, we apply machine learning to relate the patterns of surface-temperature change to the forced and unforced components of tropical tropospheric warming.

SM22α cell-specific HIF stabilization mitigates hyperoxia-induced neonatal lung injury.

Though survival rates for preterm infants are improving, the incidence of chronic lung disease of infancy, or bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), remains high. Histologically, BPD is characterized by larger and fewer alveoli. Hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs) may be protective in the context of hyperoxia-induced lung injury, but the cell-specific effects of HIF expression in neonatal lung injury remain unknown.

Stereotactic body radiotherapy for head and neck skin cancer.

Aim: To report outcomes of Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy (SBRT) for head and neck skin cancer (HNSC) patients treated at a high-volume center.

Materials: A retrospective review of HNSC SBRT patients from 2012 to 2019 was conducted. Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate local control (LC), locoregional control (LRC) outside of SBRT field, overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS) and late toxicity (LT).

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) in superficial brachytherapy.

The aim of this work is to provide an overview of the current state of additive manufacturing (AM), commonly known as 3D printing, within superficial brachytherapy (BT). Several comprehensive database searches were performed to find publications linked to AM in superficial BT. Twenty-eight core publications were found, which can be grouped under general categories of clinical cases, physical and dosimetric evaluations, proof-of-concept cases, design process assessments, and economic feasibility studies.

Past Variance and Future Projections of the Environmental Conditions Driving Western U.S. Summertime Wildfire Burn Area.

Increases in vapor pressure deficit (VPD) have been hypothesized as the primary driver of future fire changes. The Coupled Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5 (CMIP5) models agree that western U.S.

Substantial lymphovascular space invasion predicts worse outcomes in early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer.

Introduction: Substantial as opposed to focal or no lymphovascular space invasion (LVSI) is proposed as an independent adverse prognostic factor in patients with early-stage endometrioid endometrial cancer (EEC). We reviewed outcomes of patients treated with adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy (VB) alone in a single institution, stratified by LVSI extent.

Methods And Materials: Retrospective review identified Stage I-II EEC patients receiving VB alone from 2010 to 2017.

Radiotherapy practices in postoperative endometrial cancer: A survey of the ABS membership.

Purpose: This survey aimed to document the current practice patterns of postoperative radiotherapy (RT), including vaginal vault brachytherapy (VVB) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT), in the management of patients with endometrial cancer.

Methods And Materials: A 30-item, multiple choice survey querying RT prescribing practices and planning techniques was distributed electronically to American Brachytherapy Society members in December 2018.

Results: Seventy-five surveys from 62 centers were completed.

Multiple bone metastases: what the palliative care specialist should know about the potential, limitations and practical aspects of radiation therapy.

Bone metastases represent a significant health care problem in the cancer population. The most common symptom for bone metastases is pain. Bone metastases may also cause pathologic fracture, spinal cord compression, cauda equina compression and serum calcium disorders.

Vaginal brachytherapy alone for patients with Stage II endometrial cancer with inner half cervical stromal invasion.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to review outcomes of women with Stage II endometrial carcinoma with inner half cervical stromal invasion treated with adjuvant vaginal brachytherapy (VB) alone.

Methods And Materials: A single-institution retrospective chart review identified consecutive patients with Stage II endometrial cancer and inner half cervical stromal invasion treated with VB alone from 2011 to 2015. Patients who received chemotherapy or external beam radiotherapy were excluded.

Environmental Conditions, Ignition Type, and Air Quality Impacts of Wildfires in the Southeastern and Western United States.

This research contrasts the environmental conditions, meteorological drivers, and air quality impacts of human- and lightning-ignited wildfires in the southeastern and western United States, the two continental U.S. regions with the most wildfire burn area.

The Future of Climate Epidemiology: Opportunities for Advancing Health Research in the Context of Climate Change.

In the coming decades, climate change is expected to dramatically affect communities worldwide, altering the patterns of many ambient exposures and disasters, including extreme temperatures, heat waves, wildfires, droughts, and floods. These exposures, in turn, can affect risks for a variety of human diseases and health outcomes. Climate epidemiology plays an important role in informing policy related to climate change and its threats to public health.

Patterns of symptom control and palliative care-focused original research articles in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology *Biology* Physics and the Radiotherapy and Oncology Journal, 2005-2014.

Background: A significant portion of radiation treatment (30-40%) is delivered with palliative intent. Given the frequency of palliative care (PC) in radiation oncology, we determined the patterns of research focusing on symptom control and palliative care (SCPC) in two prominent radiation oncology journals from 2005-2014.

Methods: Original research manuscripts published from 2005-2014 in the International Journal of Radiation Oncology *Biology* Physics (Red Journal) and the Radiotherapy and Oncology Journal (Green Journal) were reviewed to categorize articles as PC and/or SCPC.

Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cell HIF-1α regulates endothelin expression via microRNA-543.

Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs) express endothelin (ET-1), which modulates the pulmonary vascular response to hypoxia. Although cross-talk between hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α), an O-sensitive transcription factor, and ET-1 is established, the cell-specific relationship between HIF-1α and ET-1 expression remains incompletely understood. We tested the hypotheses that in PASMCs 1) HIF-1α expression constrains ET-1 expression, and 2) a specific microRNA (miRNA) links HIF-1α and ET-1 expression.