Apgar score and the risk of cause specific infant mortality: a population based cohort study of 1,029,207 livebirths

Background<p></p> The Apgar score has been used worldwide as an index of early neonatal condition for more than 60 years. With advances in health-care service provision, neonatal resuscitation, and infant care, its present relevance is unclear. The aim of the study was to establish the strength of the relation between Apgar score at 5 min and the risk of neonatal and infant mortality, subdivided by specific causes.<p></p> Methods<p></p> We linked routine discharge and mortality data for all births in Scotland, UK between 1992 and 2010. We restricted our analyses to singleton livebirths, in women aged over 10 years, with a gestational age at delivery between 22 and 44 weeks, and excluded deaths due to congenital anomalies or isoimmunisation. We calculated the relative risks (RRs) of neonatal and infant death of neonates with low (0–3) and intermediate (4–6) Apgar scores at 5 min referent to neonates with normal Apgar score (7–10) using binomial log-linear modelling with adjustment for confounders. Analyses were stratified by gestational age at birth because it was a significant effect modifier. Missing covariate data were imputed.<p></p> Findings<p></p> Complete data were available for 1 029 207 eligible livebirths. Across all gestational strata, low Apgar score at 5 min was associated with an increased risk of neonatal and infant death. However, the strength of the association (adjusted RR, 95% CI referent to Apgar 7–10) was strongest at term (p<0·0001). A low Apgar (0–3) was associated with an adjusted RR of 359·4 (95% CI 277·3–465·9) for early neonatal death, 30·5 (18·0–51·6) for late neonatal death, and 50·2 (42·8–59·0) for infant death. We noted similar associations of a lower magnitude for intermediate Apgar (4–6). The strongest associations were for deaths attributed to anoxia and low Apgar (0–3) for term infants (RR 961·7, 95% CI 681·3–1357·5) and preterm infants (141·7, 90·1–222·8). No association between Apgar score at 5 min and the risk of sudden infant death syndrome was noted at any gestational age (RR 0·6, 95% CI 0·1–4·6 at term; 1·2, 0·3–4·8 at preterm).<p></p> Interpretation<p></p> Low Apgar score at 5 min was strongly associated with the risk of neonatal and infant death. Our findings support its continued usefulness in contemporary practice

Comparative in silico analysis identifies bona fide MyoD binding sites within the Myocyte Stress 1 gene promoter

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Myocyte stress 1 (MS1) is a striated muscle actin binding protein required for the muscle specific activity of the evolutionary ancient myocardin related transcription factor (MRTF)/serum response factor (SRF) transcriptional pathway. To date, little is known about the molecular mechanisms that govern skeletal muscle specific expression of MS1. Such mechanisms are likely to play a major role in modulating SRF activity and therefore muscle determination, differentiation and regeneration. In this study we employed a comparative <it>in silico </it>analysis coupled with an experimental promoter characterisation to delineate these mechanisms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Analysis of MS1 expression in differentiating C2C12 muscle cells demonstrated a temporal differentiation dependent up-regulation in <it>ms1 </it>mRNA. An <it>in silico </it>comparative sequence analysis identified two conserved putative myogenic regulatory domains within the proximal 1.5 kbp of 5' upstream sequence. Co-transfecting C2C12 myoblasts with <it>ms1 </it>promoter/luciferase reporters and myogenic regulatory factor (MRF) over-expression plasmids revealed specific sensitivity of the <it>ms1 </it>promoter to MyoD. Subsequent mutagenesis and EMSA analysis demonstrated specific targeting of MyoD at two distinct E-Boxes (E1 and E2) within identified evolutionary conserved regions (ECRs, α and β). Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis indicates that co-ordinated binding of MyoD at E-Boxes located within ECRs α and β correlates with the temporal induction in <it>ms1 </it>mRNA.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These findings suggest that the tissue specific and differentiation dependent up-regulation in <it>ms1 </it>mRNA is mediated by temporal binding of MyoD at distinct evolutionary conserved E-Boxes within the <it>ms1 </it>5' upstream sequence. We believe, through its activation of <it>ms1</it>, this is the first study to demonstrate a direct link between MyoD activity and SRF transcriptional signalling, with clear implications for the understanding of muscle determination, differentiation and regeneration.</p

Supersymmetric effects in top quark decay into polarized W-boson

We investigate the one-loop supersymmetric QCD (SUSY-QCD) and electroweak (SUSY-EW) corrections to the top quark decay into a b-quark and a longitudinal or transverse W-boson. The corrections are presented in terms of the longitudinal ratio \Gamma(t-->W_L b)/\Gamma(t--> W b) and the transverse ratio \Gamma(t-->W_- b)/\Gamma(t--> W b). In most of the parameter space, both SUSY-QCD and SUSY-EW corrections to these ratios are found to be less than 1% in magnitude and they tend to have opposite signs. The corrections to the total width \Gamma(t-->W b) are also presented for comparison with the existing results in the literature. We find that our SUSY-EW corrections to the total width differ significantly from previous studies: the previous studies give a large correction of more than 10% in magnitude for a large part of the parameter space while our results reach only few percent at most.Comment: Version in PRD (explanation and refs added

An Atomic Sensor for Direct Detection of Weak Microwave Signals

This paper demonstrates direct detection of weak signals at microwave frequencies based on parametric frequency conversion. The atomic medium is optically pumped by a resonant light field and prepared in a coherent atomic superposition by a weak microwave field. The coherent atomic superposition causes a parametric modulation of the polarization of a probe light field at the microwave field frequency. An upper limit magnetic field component sensitivity of 1.2(1.0) pT/Hz 1/2 , corresponding to 3.7(3.1)-&lt;inline-formula&gt; &lt;tex-math notation="LaTeX"&gt;\mu &lt;/tex-math&gt;&lt;/inline-formula&gt;V/cm/Hz 1/2 electric field component sensitivity, is achieved at ~6.835 GHz with a 33-mm 3 vapor cell.</p

Quantum-fluctuation-induced collisions and subsequent excitation gap of an elastic string between walls

An elastic string embedded between rigid walls is simulated by means of the density-matrix renormalization group. The string collides against the walls owing to the quantum-mechanical zero-point fluctuations. Such ``quantum entropic'' interaction has come under thorough theoretical investigation in the context of the stripe phase observed experimentally in doped cuprates. We found that the excitation gap opens in the form of exponential singularity DeltaE ~ exp(-Ad^sigma) (d: wall spacing) with the exponent sigma =0.6(3), which is substantially smaller than the meanfield value sigma=2. That is, the excitation gap is much larger than that anticipated from meanfield, suggesting that the string is subjected to robust pinning potential due to the quantum collisions. This feature supports Zaanen's ``order out of disorder'' mechanism which would be responsible to the stabilization of the stripe phase

Global persistence exponent of the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model

The global persistence exponent $\theta_g$ is calculated for the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model following a quench to the critical point from both disordered states and such with small initial magnetizations. Estimates are obtained for the nonequilibrium critical dynamics on the critical line and at the tricritical point. Ising-like universality is observed along the critical line and a different value $\theta_g =1.080(4)$ is found at the tricritical point.Comment: 7 pages with 3 figure

Come back Marshall, all is forgiven? : Complexity, evolution, mathematics and Marshallian exceptionalism

Marshall was the great synthesiser of neoclassical economics. Yet with his qualified assumption of self-interest, his emphasis on variation in economic evolution and his cautious attitude to the use of mathematics, Marshall differs fundamentally from other leading neoclassical contemporaries. Metaphors inspire more specific analogies and ontological assumptions, and Marshall used the guiding metaphor of Spencerian evolution. But unfortunately, the further development of a Marshallian evolutionary approach was undermined in part by theoretical problems within Spencer's theory. Yet some things can be salvaged from the Marshallian evolutionary vision. They may even be placed in a more viable Darwinian framework.Peer reviewedFinal Accepted Versio

Universality and scaling study of the critical behavior of the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model in short-time dynamics

In this paper we study the short-time behavior of the Blume-Capel model at the tricritical point as well as along the second order critical line. Dynamic and static exponents are estimated by exploring scaling relations for the magnetization and its moments at early stage of the dynamic evolution. Our estimates for the dynamic exponents, at the tricritical point, are $z= 2.215(2)$ and $\theta= -0.53(2)$.Comment: 12 pages, 9 figure

Average Lattice Symmetry and Nanoscale Structural Correlations in Magnetoresistive Manganites

We report x-ray scattering studies of nanoscale structural correlations in the paramagnetic phases of the perovskite manganites La$_{0.75}$(Ca$_{0.45}$Sr$_{0.55}$)$_{0.25}$MnO$_3$, La$_{0.625}$Sr$_{0.375}$MnO$_3$, and Nd$_{0.45}$Sr$_{0.55}$MnO$_3$. We find that these correlations are present in the orthorhombic $O$ phase in La$_{0.75}$(Ca$_{0.45}$Sr$_{0.55}$)$_{0.25}$MnO$_3$, but they disappear abruptly at the orthorhombic-to-rhombohedral transition in this compound. The orthorhombic phase exhibits increased electrical resistivity and reduced ferromagnetic coupling, in agreement with the association of the nanoscale correlations with insulating regions. In contrast, the correlations were not detected in the two other compounds, which exhibit rhombohedral and tetragonal phases. Based on these results, as well as on previously published work, we propose that the local structure of the paramagnetic phase correlates strongly with the average lattice symmetry, and that the nanoscale correlations are an important factor distinguishing the insulating and the metallic phases in these compounds.Comment: a note on recent experimental work, and a new reference adde