Data driven approaches for investigating molecular heterogeneity of the brain

It has been proposed that one of the clearest organizing principles for most sensory systems is the existence of parallel subcircuits and processing streams that form orderly and systematic mappings from stimulus space to neurons. Although the spatial heterogeneity of the early olfactory circuitry has long been recognized, we know comparatively little about the circuits that propagate sensory signals downstream. Investigating the potential modularity of the bulb’s intrinsic circuits proves to be a difficult task as termination patterns of converging projections, as with the bulb’s inputs, are not feasibly realized. Thus, if such circuit motifs exist, their detection essentially relies on identifying differential gene expression, or “molecular signatures,” that may demarcate functional subregions. With the arrival of comprehensive (whole genome, cellular resolution) datasets in biology and neuroscience, it is now possible for us to carry out large-scale investigations and make particular use of the densely catalogued, whole genome expression maps of the Allen Brain Atlas to carry out systematic investigations of the molecular topography of the olfactory bulb’s intrinsic circuits. To address the challenges associated with high-throughput and high-dimensional datasets, a deep learning approach will form the backbone of our informatic pipeline. In the proposed work, we test the hypothesis that the bulb’s intrinsic circuits are parceled into distinct, parallel modules that can be defined by genome-wide patterns of expression. In pursuit of this aim, our deep learning framework will facilitate the group-registration of the mitral cell layers of ~ 50,000 in-situ olfactory bulb circuits to test this hypothesis

Percutaneous Holmium Laser Fulguration of Calyceal Diverticula

Introduction. Calyceal diverticular stones are uncommon findings that represent a challenge in their treatment, due to the technical difficulty in accessing the diverticulum, and the high risk of their recurrence. Current percutaneous technique for calyceal diverticular stones involves establishing a renal access, clearing the stone, and fulguration of the diverticular lining with a roller-ball cautery electrode using hypotonic irrigation solution such as sterile water or glycine solution which may be associated with the absorption of hypotonic fluids with its inherent electrolyte disturbances. Case Report. In this paper, we present for the first time percutaneous holmium laser fulguration of calyceal diverticula in 2 patients using normal saline. Their immediate postoperative sodium was unchanged and their follow-up imaging showed absence of stones. Both patients remain asymptomatic at 30 months post-operatively. Conclusion. This demonstrates that holmium laser is a safe alternative method to fulgurate the calyceal diverticulum after clearing the stone percutaneously

CRPS of the upper or lower extremity: surgical treatment outcomes

The hypothesis is explored that CRPS I (the "new" RSD) persists due to undiagnosed injured joint afferents, and/or cutaneous neuromas, and/or nerve compressions, and is, therefore, a misdiagnosed form of CRPS II (the "new" causalgia). An IRB-approved, retrospective chart review on a series of 100 consecutive patients with "RSD" identified 40 upper and 30 lower extremity patients for surgery based upon their history, physical examination, neurosensory testing, and nerve blocks. Based upon decreased pain medication usage and recovery of function, outcome in the upper extremity, at a mean of 27.9 months follow-up (range of 9 to 81 months), gave results that were excellent in 40% (16 of 40 patients), good in 40% (16 of 40 patients) and failure 20% (8 of 40 patients). In the lower extremity, at a mean of 23.0 months follow-up (range of 9 to 69 months) the results were excellent in 47% (14 of 30 patients), good in 33% (10 of 30 patients) and failure 20% (6 of 30 patients). It is concluded that most patients referred with a diagnosis of CRPS I have continuing pain input from injured joint or cutaneous afferents, and/or nerve compressions, and, therefore, similar to a patient with CRPS II, they can be treated successfully with an appropriate peripheral nerve surgical strategy

Analytical treatment of the wakefields driven by transversely shaped beams in a planar slow-wave structure

The suppression of transverse wakefield effects using transversely elliptical drive beams in a planar structure is studied with a simple analytical model that unveils the geometric nature of this phenomenon. By analyzing the suggested model we derive scaling laws for the amplitude of the longitudinal and transverse wake potentials as a function of the Gaussian beam ellipticity - $\sigma_x/a$. We explicitly show that in a wakefield accelerator application it is beneficial to use highly elliptical beams for mitigating transverse forces while maintaining the accelerating field. We consider two scaling strategies: 1) aperture scaling, where we keep a constant charge to have the same accelerating gradient as in a cylindrical structure and 2) charge scaling, where aperture is the same as in the cylindrical structure and charge is increased to match the gradient.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figure

Incertidumbre y riesgo en las decisiones de inversión

La complejidad de los problemas de decisión que deben enfrentar las personas y las organizaciones, exigen el empleo de modelos y métodos racionales, que permitan evaluar las distintas alternativas de decisión y que sean coherentes con la intuición, el juicio y la experiencia de las unidades decisorias. El objetivo del presente trabajo es considerar la incertidumbre en la toma de decisiones, utilizando la técnica Unicriterio del Árbol de Decisión y la Teoría Bayesiana, aplicado a un de un problema de decisión de inversión de carácter secuencial. Las decisiones de inversión y de financiación obligan a quienes son responsables de la toma de decisiones, al estudio y análisis de la conveniencia de emprender un determinado proyecto, utilizando modelos de decisión, que permitan abordar el problema de la asignación de recursos en forma explícita, optimizando las decisiones y considerando, el riesgo que se debe asumir y el valor de la información adicional.Fil: Andonian, Olga Graciela. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba. Facultad de Ciencias Económicas. Instituto de Estadística y Demografía; Argentina.Otras Economía y Negocio