Toward an Expert System for Terrain Analysis.

Terrain analysis is the systematic study of image patterns relating to the origin, and composition of distinct terrain units called landforms. It takes into account and provides information about physical site factors which are used by civil engineers for evaluating the suitability of a site for a terrain related engineering application. Terrain analysis is a time consuming labor intensive process and requires a significant degree of expertise. In this dissertation, an expert system paradigm has been adopted, for developing a computational approach to terrain analysis problem solving. A methodology was developed for the representation and management of uncertain terrain knowledge. The vagueness that is inherent in the descriptions of terrain analysis terms was represented using fuzzy models. The Dempster-Shafer theory of evidence was adopted to establish hypotheses about the type of terrain based on observed evidences. A goal directed backward form of reasoning was employed for evaluating the suitability of a site for a terrain related engineering application. The reasoning strategy was formalized in production rules, and the fuzzy models of terrain terms were formalized in frames. Procedural computations were formalized in LISP code. The methodology was implemented in the Terrain Analysis eXpert (TAX) system. TAX was developed by employing the expert system shell KEE (Knowledge Engineering Environment) and the image processing package ELAS (Earth resources Laboratory Application Software). TAX was tested with a real data set consisting of a digitized color infra-red photograph and digital elevation data. The conclusions arrived at by TAX compared favorably to those reached by an expert who analyzed the same site using traditional photointerpretation techniques

Cushing's syndrome in pregnancy: a review of reported cases

Cushing’s syndrome (CS) causes hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and anovulatory infertility due to hypercortisolism, and it is very rare in pregnancy. CS in pregnancy is associated with important maternal-foetal morbidity and mortality, such as preeclampsia and premature delivery. A systematic search was conducted in the MEDLINE library to retrieve articles reporting cases of CS in pregnant women, during the period between 2010 and 2020.Thirty-five reported cases are presented focusing on the ability of diagnosis, treatment therapies, and foetal outcomes. Diagnosis of CS during pregnancy can be challenging and is often delayed, adrenal adenoma being the predominant cause. Both medical treatment and surgery aiming at restoring the cortisol balance reduce maternal and foetal complications

Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis

Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).Background: Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery. Results: To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N = 1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3–5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.Peer reviewe

Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis

Funding GMP, PN, and CW are supported by NHLBI R01HL127564. GMP and PN are supported by R01HL142711. AG acknowledge support from the Wellcome Trust (201543/B/16/Z), European Union Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007–2013 under grant agreement no. HEALTH-F2-2013–601456 (CVGenes@Target) & the TriPartite Immunometabolism Consortium [TrIC]-Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant number NNF15CC0018486. JMM is supported by American Diabetes Association Innovative and Clinical Translational Award 1–19-ICTS-068. SR was supported by the Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics (Grant No 312062), the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, and University of Helsinki HiLIFE Fellow and Grand Challenge grants. EW was supported by the Finnish innovation fund Sitra (EW) and Finska Läkaresällskapet. CNS was supported by American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowships 15POST24470131 and 17POST33650016. Charles N Rotimi is supported by Z01HG200362. Zhe Wang, Michael H Preuss, and Ruth JF Loos are supported by R01HL142302. NJT is a Wellcome Trust Investigator (202802/Z/16/Z), is the PI of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (MRC & WT 217065/Z/19/Z), is supported by the University of Bristol NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC-1215–2001) and the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MC_UU_00011), and works within the CRUK Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme (C18281/A19169). Ruth E Mitchell is a member of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol funded by the MRC (MC_UU_00011/1). Simon Haworth is supported by the UK National Institute for Health Research Academic Clinical Fellowship. Paul S. de Vries was supported by American Heart Association grant number 18CDA34110116. Julia Ramierz acknowledges support by the People Programme of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme grant n° 608765 and Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant n° 786833. Maria Sabater-Lleal is supported by a Miguel Servet contract from the ISCIII Spanish Health Institute (CP17/00142) and co-financed by the European Social Fund. Jian Yang is funded by the Westlake Education Foundation. Olga Giannakopoulou has received funding from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) (FS/14/66/3129). CHARGE Consortium cohorts were supported by R01HL105756. Study-specific acknowledgements are available in the Additional file 32: Supplementary Note. The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institutes of Health; or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.Peer reviewedPublisher PD

Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis

Abstract Background Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery. Results To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N = 1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3–5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism. Conclusions Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk

Implicating genes, pleiotropy, and sexual dimorphism at blood lipid loci through multi-ancestry meta-analysis

Funding Information: GMP, PN, and CW are supported by NHLBI R01HL127564. GMP and PN are supported by R01HL142711. AG acknowledge support from the Wellcome Trust (201543/B/16/Z), European Union Seventh Framework Programme FP7/2007–2013 under grant agreement no. HEALTH-F2-2013–601456 (CVGenes@Target) & the TriPartite Immunometabolism Consortium [TrIC]-Novo Nordisk Foundation’s Grant number NNF15CC0018486. JMM is supported by American Diabetes Association Innovative and Clinical Translational Award 1–19-ICTS-068. SR was supported by the Academy of Finland Center of Excellence in Complex Disease Genetics (Grant No 312062), the Finnish Foundation for Cardiovascular Research, the Sigrid Juselius Foundation, and University of Helsinki HiLIFE Fellow and Grand Challenge grants. EW was supported by the Finnish innovation fund Sitra (EW) and Finska Läkaresällskapet. CNS was supported by American Heart Association Postdoctoral Fellowships 15POST24470131 and 17POST33650016. Charles N Rotimi is supported by Z01HG200362. Zhe Wang, Michael H Preuss, and Ruth JF Loos are supported by R01HL142302. NJT is a Wellcome Trust Investigator (202802/Z/16/Z), is the PI of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (MRC & WT 217065/Z/19/Z), is supported by the University of Bristol NIHR Biomedical Research Centre (BRC-1215–2001) and the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit (MC_UU_00011), and works within the CRUK Integrative Cancer Epidemiology Programme (C18281/A19169). Ruth E Mitchell is a member of the MRC Integrative Epidemiology Unit at the University of Bristol funded by the MRC (MC_UU_00011/1). Simon Haworth is supported by the UK National Institute for Health Research Academic Clinical Fellowship. Paul S. de Vries was supported by American Heart Association grant number 18CDA34110116. Julia Ramierz acknowledges support by the People Programme of the European Union’s Seventh Framework Programme grant n° 608765 and Marie Sklodowska-Curie grant n° 786833. Maria Sabater-Lleal is supported by a Miguel Servet contract from the ISCIII Spanish Health Institute (CP17/00142) and co-financed by the European Social Fund. Jian Yang is funded by the Westlake Education Foundation. Olga Giannakopoulou has received funding from the British Heart Foundation (BHF) (FS/14/66/3129). CHARGE Consortium cohorts were supported by R01HL105756. Study-specific acknowledgements are available in the Additional file : Supplementary Note. The views expressed in this manuscript are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute; the National Institutes of Health; or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Publisher Copyright: © 2022, The Author(s).Background: Genetic variants within nearly 1000 loci are known to contribute to modulation of blood lipid levels. However, the biological pathways underlying these associations are frequently unknown, limiting understanding of these findings and hindering downstream translational efforts such as drug target discovery. Results: To expand our understanding of the underlying biological pathways and mechanisms controlling blood lipid levels, we leverage a large multi-ancestry meta-analysis (N = 1,654,960) of blood lipids to prioritize putative causal genes for 2286 lipid associations using six gene prediction approaches. Using phenome-wide association (PheWAS) scans, we identify relationships of genetically predicted lipid levels to other diseases and conditions. We confirm known pleiotropic associations with cardiovascular phenotypes and determine novel associations, notably with cholelithiasis risk. We perform sex-stratified GWAS meta-analysis of lipid levels and show that 3–5% of autosomal lipid-associated loci demonstrate sex-biased effects. Finally, we report 21 novel lipid loci identified on the X chromosome. Many of the sex-biased autosomal and X chromosome lipid loci show pleiotropic associations with sex hormones, emphasizing the role of hormone regulation in lipid metabolism. Conclusions: Taken together, our findings provide insights into the biological mechanisms through which associated variants lead to altered lipid levels and potentially cardiovascular disease risk.Peer reviewe

An analysis of the literary style of poet A. Sikelianos: the functionality of the adjective in A. Sikelianos poetry

This thesis aims at the systematic study of A. Sikelianos poetic work based on the acknowledgement that a big current of the contemporary literature theory (Russian formalism, literary semeiotic science) springs from the ancient poetic and rhetoric science (subjects of study in Aristotle’s main works).Therefore, a systematic comparative research between the ancient poetry and rhetoric and the contemporary literary theory is attempted. The main axis of the research is the functionality of the adjective. This is defined firstly by the particular importance of the adjective, according to the frequency and the joining with the other linguistic elements in the poetic composition, as a contributory factor in creating aesthetic speech, secondly by the speculation of its function in A. Sikelianos poetry.The methodological field consists firstly of the statistics of the style/speech based on the frequency of the adjective as it is shown in detailed statistic tables and graphics (included in the thesis volume), secondly of the application of style criteria-archetypes of the ancient Greek tradition as follows: Demetrius (Phalireus) «Demetrius on Style», Dionysius of Halicarnassus, «On Literary Composition» and Dionysius Loggino «Critical Essays».In the first part of the research an interpretation of the above mentioned archetypes is attempted. In the second part an analytical application of the archetypes is carried out, as speech criteria in selected works-extracts of A. Sikelianos poetry, either odd or through a combination of criteria according to the proper element for each poetic work.The application of the speech criteria defines the research frame of the thesis – An analysis of the literary style of poet A. Sikelianos. The aimed study concerns the functionality of the adjective, as a factor in creating aesthetic speech in A. Sikelianos poetry.The research founded on the one hand on the statistic analysis and its findings (tables, graphics), on the other hand on the analytical speech study - interpretation of the poet’s style, shows the following conclusions: a limited use of the adjective and a careful, judicious use in its joining with the other linguistic elements in the poetic composition. The components of the variety and the creation of a meaningful adjective constitute a combination of factors which contribute, in a morphological, syntactic and semantic level, to the creation of aesthetic speech in A. Sikelianos poetry.Η εκπόνηση της Διατριβής αποσκοπεί στη συστηματική μελέτη της «ποιητικής» του έργου του Άγγ. Σικελιανού, θεμελιωμένη στην αποδοχή ότι ένα μεγάλο ρεύμα της σύγχρονης θεωρίας της λογοτεχνίας (ρωσικός φορμαλισμός, φιλολογική Σημειωτική επιστήμη), έλκει τις θεωρητικές αφετηρίες του στην αρχαία «ποιητική» και «ρητορική» τέχνη, (αντικείμενα πραγμάτευσης των κεφαλαιωδών έργων του Αριστοτέλους: I. «Περί Ποιητικής» και II. «Ρητορική Τέχνη».Επομένως επιχειρείται συστηματική συγκριτική έρευνα ανάμεσα στην αρχαία ποιητική και ρητορική και στη σύγχρονη λογοτεχνική θεωρία. Κεντρικός άξονας του ερευνητικού πλαισίου αποτελεί: η λειτουργικότητα του ονόματος-επιθέτου, οριζομένη πρώτον από την ιδιάζουσα σημασία αυτού από την άποψη της συχνότητας και τη συναρμογή του με τα άλλα γλωσσικά στοιχεία εντός της ποιητικής σύνθεσης, ως συντελεστικού παράγοντα δημιουργίας «Υψηλού ύφους» λόγου, δεύτερον από την προβληματική της οργανικής λειτουργίας αυτού εντός της ποίησης του Άγγ. Σικελιανού. Το μεθοδολογικό πεδίο συνίσταται πρώτον στη στατιστική του ύφους με βάση τη συχνότητα του επιθέτου, όπως εμφαίνεται σε αναλυτικούς στατιστικούς πίνακες και γραφήματα (αυτά εμπεριέχονται στον τόμο της διατριβής), δεύτερον στην εφαρμογή υφολογικών κριτηρίων-αρχετύπων των τεχνογράφων της αρχαίας ελληνικής παράδοσης ως εξής: του Δημητρίου Φαληρέως «Περί Ύφους» (1αι. π.Χ.), του Διονυσίου Αλικαρνασσέως «Οι αρμονίες του λόγου» (1αι. π.Χ.) και του Διονυσίου Λογγίνου «Περί Ύψους» (1αι. μ.Χ).Στο Α΄ μέρος της ερευνητικής εργασίας επιχειρείται η ερμηνεία των αρχετύπων των αναφερθέντων τεχνογράφων. Στο Β΄ μέρος πραγματοποιείται αναλυτική εφαρμογή των αρχετύπων ως υφολογικών κριτηρίων σε επιλεγμένα έργα-αποσπάσματα της ποίησης του Άγγ. Σικελιανού, είτε μεμονωμένα, είτε μέσω συνδυασμού κριτηρίων κατά το αρμόζον και προσιδιάζον στοιχείο προς εν έκαστον «ποιητικόν» έργον του ποιητή.Η μεν εφαρμογή των υφολογικών κριτηρίων ορίζει το ερευνητικό πλαίσιο της διατριβής – υφολογική ανάλυση της ποιητικής του Άγγ. Σικελιανού. Η δε στοχευμένη μελέτη αφορά στη λειτουργικότητα του ονόματος – επιθέτου, ως προσδιοριστικού παράγοντα δημιουργίας «Υψηλού ύφους» του «ποιητικού λόγου» του Άγγ. Σικελιανού. Η ερευνητική εργασία, θεμελιωμένη, αφενός στο επίπεδο της στατιστικής ανάλυσης και των πορισμάτων αυτής (πίνακες, γραφήματα), αφετέρου στην αναλυτική υφολογική μελέτη – ερμηνεία του ύφους του ποιητή, καταδεικνύει τα εξής συμπεράσματα: την «περιορισμένη» χρήση του ονόματος επιθέτου και «λελογισμένη» χρήση κατά την συναρμογή αυτού με τα άλλα γλωσσικά στοιχεία εντός της ποιητικής σύνθεσης. Οι συνιστώσες της «ποικιλίας» και της δημιουργίας «ουσιαστικού χαρακτήρα» του ονόματος-επιθέτου αποτελούν συνδυασμό παραγόντων, οι οποίοι συμβάλλουν σε επίπεδο μορφολογικό, συντακτικό και σημασιακό στη δημιουργία «Υψηλού ύφους» στην ποίηση του Άγγ. Σικελιανού

Mining Transition and Hydropower Energy in Greece—Sustainable Governance of Water Resources Management in a Post-Lignite Era: The Case of Western Macedonia, Greece

The present study explores the process of Greece’s current decarbonisation transition and its energy policy regarding the country’s two coal-mining areas. Using the Region of Western Macedonia as a case study, we aimed at providing a holistic approach—as until now only few attempts have been made to systematise the ‘Just Transition Plans’ in European Union (EU)—for raising awareness on issues related to water resource management in post-lignite areas and analysing the use of hydropower in Greece. Our research draws on a flexible method approach, serving as a tool to identify gaps in current knowledge and practices, based on two stages—first the analysis of existing literature, reviews, and sources from government’s core strategies, as well as policy and decision-making papers, and then formulating research questions by synthesising relevant data. In Greece, both ‘Just Transition Development Plan of Lignite Areas’ and hydropower production practices overlook water resources management. By summarising our findings and identifying gaps that remain in current approaches, this work indicates future directions by suggesting processes necessary for addressing the complex issue of adoption of sustainable water resources management measures in post-lignite eras in accordance with EU’s water policy

Sympathetic Nerve Injury in Thyroid Cancer

The double innervation of the thyroid comes from the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous system. Injury rates during surgery are at 30% but can be minimized by upwardly preparing the thyroid vessels at the level of thyroid capsule. Several factors have been accused of increasing the risk of injury including age and tumor size. Our aim was to investigate of there is indeed any possible correlations between these factors and a possible increase in injury rates following thyroidectomy. Seven studies were included in the meta-analysis. Statistical correlation was observed for a positive relationship between injury of the sympathetic nerve and thyroid malignancy surgery (p < 0.001; I2 = 74%) No statistical correlations were observed for a negative or positive relationship between injury of the sympathetic nerve and tumor size. There was also no statistically significant value observed for the correlation of the patients’ age with the risk of sympathetic nerve injury (p = 0.388). Lack of significant correlation reported could be due to the small number of studies and great heterogeneity between them

Diagnosis, Management and Prescription Practices of Adrenaline in Children with Food-Induced Anaphylaxis: Audit in a Specialized Pediatric Allergy Department

In the era of evidence-based medicine, physicians worldwide should abide by universally approved practices and healthcare units should seek quality control and operational improvement. This audit evaluates the degree of compliance with the European Academy of Allergy and Clinical Immunology guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of anaphylaxis in a pediatric Allergy Department. Medical records of 248 children with food-induced allergic reactions who presented both on emergency and outpatient basis were reviewed. Data were also collected from the e-prescription database and anaphylaxis severity was graded according to Sampson&rsquo;s criteria. An accuracy metric was used to calculate the consistency rate. Anaphylaxis was documented in 188/423 allergic reactions. The degree of agreement for the classification of the reactions as anaphylactic was 88.3%, while the respective rate for non-anaphylactic was 58.7%. In the anaphylactic cases, adrenaline was prescribed in 84.8%, while the respective rates for other drugs were: antihistamines: 27.6%; corticosteroids: 26.1%; inhaled &beta;2-agonists: 11.8%. This study, through the example of pediatric food-induced anaphylaxis, underlines the significance of compliance to guidelines, organized documentation in healthcare units using specially formulated medical history forms and continuous medical stuff training. Thus, diagnosis and treatment practices can be improved for the benefit of patients