Sum Tzu and the Mathematics of War: A Predictive Assistant for Warhammer 40,000

The purpose of this project is to classify simple strategies for the tabletop miniature war game Warhammer 40,000. The paper enumerates a series of strategies that are straightforward to automate. Further analysis on these simulations identify collection of proposed best and worst auto-strategies

Morphological changes in bone tissue around titanium implants subjected to micro-arc oxidation in alkaline electrolytes with and without the use of «CollapAn-gel»

<p>The purpose of the article is to conduct comparative study of the features of reparative processes in the bone during installation of titanium implants with sandblasted exposed microarc subsequent oxidation in alkaline electrolyte using osteoinductive formulation without the use of this preparation. Material and Methods. Histologically examined tissue samples from 24 adult rabbits in the region of titanium implant with osteoinductive formulation and without after 7, 14, 28, 56 and 112 days postoperatively. Results. It has been revealed that the installation of titanium implants subjected to micro-arc oxidation in alkaline electrolytes without the use of osteoinductive preparation leads to a moderate inflammatory response and the processes of bone formation take more time. When using identical implants with osteoinductive preparation «CollapAn-gel» led to a less expressed inflammatory response and a more active process of bone formation. Conclusion. The use of titanium implants subjected to sandblasting followed microarc oxidation in alkaline electrolytes is optimally combined with osteoinductive agents as it provides the best clinical results and highlights shorter time of bone regeneration.</p

Morphological changes of tissue in implantation of xenopericardium and polypropylene net after surgical intervention

The purpose: Comparative study of rehabilitation processes after implantation of synthetic and biological materials into the tissue of abdominal wall. Materials and Methods: Histological methods have been used to study tissue samples from 15 implantation area of xenopericardial plate and polypropylene net of adult rabbits in 3, 6 and 12 months after the surgery. Results: It has been found out that polypropylene net implantation in the tissue of anterior abdominal wall causes inflammation and growth of connective tissue only around it. Xenopericardial plate implantation is accompanied by lesser inflammation an3 it connects with surrounding connective tissue. Conclusion: It has been revealed that xenopericardium is more likely to use in herniologythan synthetic net. It provides greater mechanical strength of abdominal wall in the later periods after the surgical intervention

Injuries and Diseases of the Population of the Upper Sura and Moksha Rivers in the 17th–18th CC

The article characterizes the anthropological materials with traces of pathological changes. All material has been discovered in the territory of the Upper Sura and Moksha rivers, and dated the 17th-18th centuries. Two osteological collections from older cemeteries were studied. The first collection was found in the territory of Penza city, and the second collection was found discovered in Narovchat town. Traces of post-traumatic changes are often identified on the bones. They are localized on the cranial vault, in the orbit region, etc. Traces of fractures on the clavicles are often revealed. Traces of oncology disease are relatively rare. There are nu­merous bones with traces of syphilis pathological changes in the materials from the territory of Penza. These traces are discovered on the skulls and bones of the postcranial skeleton (mostly the tibia). The materials from Narovchat feature two skulls with tooth incision pathologies. In one case, there were signs of anomalies in the development of pelvic bones as a result of rhizomelic spondylitis

Use of National Standards to Monitor HIV Care and Treatment in a High Prevalence City-Washington, DC.

We sought to benchmark the quality of HIV care being received by persons living with HIV in care in Washington, DC and identify individual-level and structural-level differences. Data from the DC Cohort, an observational HIV cohort of persons receiving outpatient care in DC, were used to estimate the Institute of Medicine (IOM) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) quality of care measures. Differences in care by demographics and clinic type were assessed using χ2 tests and multivariable regression models. Among 8,047 participants, by HHS standards, 69% of participants were retained in care (RIC), 95% were prescribed antiretroviral therapy (ART), and 84% were virally suppressed (VS). By IOM standards, 84% were in continuous care; and 78% and 80% underwent regular CD4 and VL monitoring, respectively. Screening for syphilis, chlamydia, and gonorrhea was 51%, 31%, and 26%, respectively. Older participants were 1.5 times more likely to be RIC compared to younger participants (OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.3, 1.8). Participants enrolled in community-based clinics were more likely to be RIC (OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.4, 2.0) versus those enrolled at hospital-based clinics. Older participants were more likely to achieve VS than younger participants (OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.5, 2.2) while Black participants were less likely compared to white participants (OR: 0.4; 95% CI: 0.3, 0.5). Despite high measures of quality of care, disparities remain. Continued monitoring of the quality of HIV care and treatment can inform the development of public health programs and interventions to optimize care delivery

Association between the luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin receptor (LHCGR) rs4073366 polymorphism and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome during controlled ovarian hyperstimulation

Background The aim of this study was to determine the relationship between a purported luteinizing hormone/chorionic gonadotropin (LHCGR) high function polymorphism (rs4539842/insLQ) and outcome to controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH). Methods This was a prospective study of 172 patients undergoing COH at the Fertility and IVF Center at GWU. DNA was isolated from blood samples and a region encompassing the insLQ polymorphism was sequenced. We also investigated a polymorphism (rs4073366 G \u3e C) that was 142 bp frominsLQ. The association of the insLQ and rs4073366 alleles and outcome to COH (number of mature follicles, estradiol level on day of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration, the number of eggs retrieved and ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS)) was determined. Results Increasing age and higher day 3 (basal) FSH levels were significantly associated with poorer response to COH. We found that both insLQ and rs4073366 were in linkage disequilibrium (LD) and no patients were homozygous for both recessive alleles (insLQ/insLQ; C/C). The insLQ variant was not significantly associated with any of the main outcomes to COH. Carrier status for the rs4073366 C variant was associated (P = 0.033) with an increased risk (OR 2.95, 95% CI = 1.09-7.96) of developing OHSS. Conclusions While age and day 3 FSH levels were predictive of outcome, we found no association betweeninsLQ and patient response to COH. Interestingly, rs4073366 C variant carrier status was associated with OHSS risk. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report suggesting thatLHCGR genetic variation might function in patient risk for OHSS

Misclassification in defining and diagnosing microcephaly

Background: Several health agencies define microcephaly for surveillance purposes using a single criterion, a percentile or Z-score cut-off for newborn head circumference. This definition, however, conflicts with the reported prevalence of microcephaly even in populations with endemic Zika virus. Objective: We explored possible reasons for this conflict, hypothesising that the definition of microcephaly used in some studies may be incompletely described, lacking the additional clinical criteria that clinicians use to make a formal diagnosis. We also explored the potential for misclassification that can result from differences in these definitions, especially when applying a percentile cut-off definition in the presence of the much lower observed prevalence estimates that we believe to be valid. Methods: We conducted simulations under a theoretical bimodal distribution of head circumference. For different definitions of microcephaly, we calculated the sensitivity and specificity using varying cut-offs of head circumference. We then calculated and plotted the positive predictive value for each of these definitions by prevalence of microcephaly. Results: Simple simulations suggest that if the true prevalence of microcephaly is approximately what is reported in peer-reviewed literature, then relying on cut-off-based definitions may lead to very poor positive predictive value under realistic conditions. Conclusions: While a simple head circumference criterion may be used in practice as a screening or surveillance tool, the definition lacks clarification as to what constitutes true pathological microcephaly and may lead to confusion about the true prevalence of microcephaly in Zika-endemic areas, as well as bias in aetiologic studies

The Animalistic Gullet and the Godlike Soul: Reframing Sacrifice in Midrash Leviticus Rabbah

This article proposes an analysis of two homiletic units in the Palestinian Midrash Leviticus Rabbah, which revolve around biblical chapters pertaining to sacrifices. A theme that pervades these units is that of eating as an animalistic activity that often entails moral depravity. In contrast, the act of sacrificing is constructed in these units as one in which one is willing to give up one's own nourishment, and in a sense one's own “soul,” in order to offer it to God. Many of the motifs used to vilify eating in the Midrash can be traced in moralistic Greek, Roman, and early Christian diatribes preaching for moderation in eating or for asceticism; the homilists in Leviticus Rabbah, however, utilize these popular motifs in order to present sacrifice as the spiritual contrary of eating, and thus to give the obsolete practice of sacrifice cultural cachet and compelling meanings

The noise-lovers: cultures of speech and sound in second-century Rome

This chapter provides an examination of an ideal of the ‘deliberate speaker’, who aims to reflect time, thought, and study in his speech. In the Roman Empire, words became a vital tool for creating and defending in-groups, and orators and authors in both Latin and Greek alleged, by contrast, that their enemies produced babbling noise rather than articulate speech. In this chapter, the ideal of the deliberate speaker is explored through the works of two very different contemporaries: the African-born Roman orator Fronto and the Syrian Christian apologist Tatian. Despite moving in very different circles, Fronto and Tatian both express their identity and authority through an expertise in words, in strikingly similar ways. The chapter ends with a call for scholars of the Roman Empire to create categories of analysis that move across different cultural and linguistic groups. If we do not, we risk merely replicating the parochialism and insularity of our sources.Accepted manuscrip

Mathematical modeling of structural indices of thyroid gland in thyroid pathology

Purpose: the complete analysis of the morphological parameters of the thyroid gland in various forms of thyroid pathology by methods of mathematical modeling. Material and Methods. Histologically examined samples of operating thyroid glands of 199 patients of both sexes aged 21 to 74 years, were treated surgically. Experimental data were studied by factorial and discriminant analysis. Results. When the factor analysis of 60 experimental parameters were identified 14 major factors that indicate 14 main trends in the dynamics of the structure of the thyroid gland due to an increase in severity of pathological processes. Discriminant analysis showed that the study of quantitative structure of the thyroid gland there may be cases of erroneous inclusion in the theoretical option groups, however, the study of the entire set of indicators observed a 100% correct distribution of cases by groups of pathology. Conclusion. As a result, the factor of the original system of 60 morphological parameters of thyroid pathology in various forms has been minimized to 14 new uncorrelated parameters (main factors), reflecting changes in the morphology of the basic laws of the pathology of the gland. As a result of the discriminant analysis of morphological parameters of the thyroid gland in different types of its pathology the importance of semi-quantitative parameters of thyroid structure has been revealed