A Generalization of the Finite-Length Scaling Approach Beyond the BEC

We want to extend the approximation of the error probability via a scaling approach from the BEC to general binary-input memoryless output-symmetric (BMS) channels. In particular, we consider such scaling laws for regular LDPC ensembles and message-passing (MP) decoders with a finite number of messages. We first show how to re-derive the scaling law for transmission over the BEC using an “EXIT-like” curve instead of the density evolution curve of the peeling decoder. The advantage of the new derivation is that the new expression of the scaling parameter α only contains quantities that can be meaningfully interpreted also for general message-passing algorithms. In particular, this expression only depends on the curvature of the EXIT-like curve as well as the variance of the messages, both taken at the critical channel parameter. We discuss how to compute these quantities for general MP algorithms and we evaluate the expressions for the specific cases of the Gallager algorithm A as well as the Decoder with Erasures and compare the resulting predictions on the error probability with simulation results

KARAKTERISTIK FENOTIPE BEBERAPA SIFAT KUANTITATIF AYAM KAMPUNG DI MINAHASA

PHENOTYPE CHARACTERISTICS OF SOME QUANTITATIVE TRAITS OF NATIVE CHICKEN IN MINAHASA. This study aims to obtain a measure of the phenotypic character of the quantitative traits of native chickens in Minahasa, North Sulawesi. This research was useful as additional information about the quantitative character of native chickens in Minahasa as a reference in efforts to preserve genetic resources (SDG) both for the development of native chickens and other breeding purposes. The material used was 291 male and female native chickens that had been separated by age (6 months and above) and had reached adult sex in the Minahasa Regency. The research method used was descriptive analysis (average, standard deviation, coefficient of variation and correlation) and continued withT-test. Retrieval of data by direct observation and measurement of quantitative properties based on the observed parameters. The results of this study illustrate the phenotypic character of quantitative traits of male and female native chickens in Minahasa where the size of the FL (femur length) and WL (wing length) were not different or the same in both sexes. SC (shank circumference) and CL (comb length)   were     significantly  different (P<0.05), while the trait of TL (tibia length), SL (shank length), TFL (third finger length), CH (comb height) showed differences very significant (P<0.01). It can be concluded quatitavive characteristics of native chicken in Minahasa were diverse and correlate from high to low.Keywords: native chicken, phenotype, quantitative characteristics

Urinary Metabolic Phenotyping Reveals Differences in the Metabolic Status of Healthy and Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Children in Relation to Growth and Disease Activity.

Growth failure and delayed puberty are well known features of children and adolescents with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), in addition to the chronic course of the disease. Urinary metabonomics was applied in order to better understand metabolic changes between healthy and IBD children. 21 Pediatric patients with IBD (mean age 14.8 years, 8 males) were enrolled from the Pediatric Gastroenterology Outpatient Clinic over two years. Clinical and biological data were collected at baseline, 6, and 12 months. 27 healthy children (mean age 12.9 years, 16 males) were assessed at baseline. Urine samples were collected at each visit and subjected to ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. Using ¹H NMR metabonomics, we determined that urine metabolic profiles of IBD children differ significantly from healthy controls. Metabolic differences include central energy metabolism, amino acid, and gut microbial metabolic pathways. The analysis described that combined urinary urea and phenylacetylglutamine-two readouts of nitrogen metabolism-may be relevant to monitor metabolic status in the course of disease. Non-invasive sampling of urine followed by metabonomic profiling can elucidate and monitor the metabolic status of children in relation to disease status. Further developments of omic-approaches in pediatric research might deliver novel nutritional and metabolic hypotheses

The management of patients with primary chronic anal fissure: a position paper

Anal fissure is one of the most common and painful proctologic diseases. Its treatment has long been discussed and several different therapeutic options have been proposed. In the last decades, the understanding of its pathophysiology has led to a progressive reduction of invasive and potentially invalidating treatments in favor of conservative treatment based on anal sphincter muscle relaxation. Despite some systematic reviews and an American position statement, there is ongoing debate about the best treatment for anal fissure. This review is aimed at identifying the best treatment option drawing on evidence-based medicine and on the expert advice of 6 colorectal surgeons with extensive experience in this field in order to produce an Italian position statement for anal fissures. While there is little chance of a cure with conservative behavioral therapy, medical treatment with calcium channel blockers, diltiazem and nifepidine or glyceryl trinitrate, had a considerable success rate ranging from 50 to 90%. Use of 0.4% glyceryl trinitrate in standardized fashion seems to have the best results despite a higher percentage of headache, while the use of botulinum toxin had inconsistent results. Nonresponding patients should undergo lateral internal sphincterotomy. The risk of incontinence after this procedure seems to have been overemphasized in the past. Only a carefully selected group of patients, without anal hypertonia, could benefit from anoplasty

Regulation of peripheral blood flow in Complex Regional Pain Syndrome: clinical implication for symptomatic relief and pain management

Background. During the chronic stage of Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), impaired microcirculation is related to increased vasoconstriction, tissue hypoxia, and metabolic tissue acidosis in the affected limb. Several mechanisms may be responsible for the ischemia and pain in chronic cold CPRS. Discussion. The diminished blood flow may be caused by either sympathetic dysfunction, hypersensitivity to circulating catecholamines, or endothelial dysfunction. The pain may be of neuropathic, inflammatory, nociceptive, or functional nature, or of mixed origin. Summary. The origin of the pain should be the basis of the symptomatic therapy. Since the difference in temperature between both hands fluctuates over time in cold CRPS, when in doubt, the clinician should prioritize the patient's report of a persistent cold extremity over clinical tests that show no difference. Future research should focus on developing easily applied methods for clinical use to differentiate between central and peripheral blood flow regulation disorders in individual patients

Somatic mosaicism and common genetic variation contribute to the risk of very-early-onset inflammatory bowel disease

Abstract: Very-early-onset inflammatory bowel disease (VEO-IBD) is a heterogeneous phenotype associated with a spectrum of rare Mendelian disorders. Here, we perform whole-exome-sequencing and genome-wide genotyping in 145 patients (median age-at-diagnosis of 3.5 years), in whom no Mendelian disorders were clinically suspected. In five patients we detect a primary immunodeficiency or enteropathy, with clinical consequences (XIAP, CYBA, SH2D1A, PCSK1). We also present a case study of a VEO-IBD patient with a mosaic de novo, pathogenic allele in CYBB. The mutation is present in ~70% of phagocytes and sufficient to result in defective bacterial handling but not life-threatening infections. Finally, we show that VEO-IBD patients have, on average, higher IBD polygenic risk scores than population controls (99 patients and 18,780 controls; P < 4 × 10−10), and replicate this finding in an independent cohort of VEO-IBD cases and controls (117 patients and 2,603 controls; P < 5 × 10−10). This discovery indicates that a polygenic component operates in VEO-IBD pathogenesis

Pédiatrie. 4. La calprotectine fécale en pédiatrie: utilisation et interprétation [Pediatrics. Fecal calprotectin in children: use and interpretation].

Fecal calprotectin is a small protein released mainly by neutrophils. It is recognized as a reliable, easy and non-invasive biomarker of gastro-intestinal inflammation. Normal values vary with age, with higher cut-off values during the first year of life (&lt;350 microg/g) than in children (&lt;275 microg/g) or adults (&lt;50 microg/g). Fecal calprotectin can be a useful tool in initial evaluation of recurrent abdominal pain, helping to distinguish between functional gastro-intestinal disorders, where it is normal, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It is not a specific marker of IBD but is increased in other situations of gastro-intestinal inflammation. In patients with IBD, fecal calprotectin is used to monitor treatment response