Imaging angiogenesis in atherosclerosis in large arteries with 68Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT: relationship with clinical atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease.

Integrin alpha-V-beta-3 (αvβ3) pathway is involved in intraplaque angiogenesis and inflammation and represents a promising target for molecular imaging in cardiovascular diseases such as atherosclerosis. The aim of this study was to assess the clinical correlates of arterial wall accumulation of <sup>68</sup> Ga-NODAGA-RGD, a specific α <sub>v</sub> β <sub>3</sub> integrin ligand for PET. The data of 44 patients who underwent <sup>68</sup> Ga-NODAGA-RGD PET/CT scans were retrospectively analyzed. Tracer accumulation in the vessel wall of major arteries was analyzed semi-quantitatively by blood-pool-corrected target-to-background ratios. Tracer uptake was compared with clinically documented atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, cardiovascular risk factors and calcified plaque burden. Data were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test, Pearson correlation and Spearman correlation. <sup>68</sup> Ga-NODAGA-RGD arterial uptake was significantly higher in patients with previous clinically documented atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (mean TBR 2.44 [2.03-2.55] vs. 1.81 [1.56-1.96], p = 0.001) and showed a significant correlation with prior cardiovascular or cerebrovascular event (r = 0.33, p = 0.027), BMI (ρ = 0.38, p = 0.01), plaque burden (ρ = 0.31, p = 0.04) and hypercholesterolemia (r = 0.31, p = 0.04). <sup>68</sup> Ga-NODAGA-RGD holds promise as a non-invasive marker of disease activity in atherosclerosis, providing information about intraplaque angiogenesis

Birational cobordism invariance of uniruled symplectic manifolds

A symplectic manifold $(M,\omega)$ is called {\em (symplectically) uniruled} if there is a nonzero genus zero GW invariant involving a point constraint. We prove that symplectic uniruledness is invariant under symplectic blow-up and blow-down. This theorem follows from a general Relative/Absolute correspondence for a symplectic manifold together with a symplectic submanifold. A direct consequence is that symplectic uniruledness is a symplectic birational invariant. Here we use Guillemin and Sternberg's notion of cobordism as the symplectic analogue of the birational equivalence.Comment: To appear in Invent. Mat

Self-supervised Outdoor Scene Relighting

Outdoor scene relighting is a challenging problem that requires good understanding of the scene geometry, illumination and albedo. Current techniques are completely supervised, requiring high quality synthetic renderings to train a solution. Such renderings are synthesized using priors learned from limited data. In contrast, we propose a self-supervised approach for relighting. Our approach is trained only on corpora of images collected from the internet without any user-supervision. This virtually endless source of training data allows training a general relighting solution. Our approach first decomposes an image into its albedo, geometry and illumination. A novel relighting is then produced by modifying the illumination parameters. Our solution capture shadow using a dedicated shadow prediction map, and does not rely on accurate geometry estimation. We evaluate our technique subjectively and objectively using a new dataset with ground-truth relighting. Results show the ability of our technique to produce photo-realistic and physically plausible results, that generalizes to unseen scenes.Comment: Published in ECCV '20, http://gvv.mpi-inf.mpg.de/projects/SelfRelight

Neural changes associated with appetite information processing in schizophrenic patients after 16 weeks of olanzapine treatment

There is evidence that some atypical antipsychotics, including olanzapine, can produce unwanted metabolic side effects, weight gain and diabetes. However, neuronal correlates of change related to food information processing have not been investigated with these medications. We studied the effect of a pharmacological manipulation with an antipsychotic known to cause weight gain on metabolites, cognitive tasks and neural correlates related to food regulation. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging in conjunction with a task requiring visual processing of appetitive stimuli in schizophrenic patients and healthy controls before and after 16 weeks of antipsychotic medication with olanzapine. In patients, the psychological and neuronal changes associated following the treatment correlated with appetite control measures and metabolite levels in fasting blood samples. After 16 weeks of olanzapine treatment, the patients gained weight, increased their waist circumference, had fewer positive schizophrenia symptoms, a reduced ghrelin plasma concentration and an increased concentration of triglycerides, insulin and leptin. In premotor area, somatosensory cortices as well as bilaterally in the fusiform gyri, the olanzapine treatment increased the neural activity related to appetitive information in schizophrenic patients to similar levels relative to healthy individuals. However, a higher increase in sensitivity to appetitive stimuli after the treatment was observed in insular cortices, amygdala and cerebellum in schizophrenic patients as compared with healthy controls. Furthermore, these changes in neuronal activity correlated with changes in some metabolites and cognitive measurements related to appetite regulation

Towards a better understanding of the dynamic role of the distance language learner: learner perceptions of personality, motivation, roles, and approaches

This study investigated the experience of learners enrolled on an Open University (UK) French course, and included personality factors, motivation, and tutor and student roles. The data gathered via multiple elicitation methods gave useful insights into issues of special relevance to distance language education, in particular the lack of fit between an inherently social discipline such as language learning and the distance context, whose main characterizing feature is remoteness from others. Motivation was seen to play a crucial role in success, along with tutor feedback, and personal responsibility for learning. Increased confidence and self?regulation were beneficial outcomes of the process of learning at a distance, and numerous suggestions for learning approaches based on personal experience were offered for language learners new to distance learning. The study concluded that the task for distance practitioners is to build on the insights shown by learners themselves, in order to target support where it is most needed

Two-parameter Quantum Affine Algebra Ur,s(sln^)U_{r,s}(\widehat{\frak {sl}_n}), Drinfel'd Realization and Quantum Affine Lyndon Basis

We further define two-parameter quantum affine algebra $U_{r,s}(\widehat{\frak {sl}_n})$ $(n>2)$ after the work on the finite cases (see [BW1], [BGH1], [HS] & [BH]), which turns out to be a Drinfel'd double. Of importance for the quantum {\it affine} cases is that we can work out the compatible two-parameter version of the Drinfel'd realization as a quantum affinization of $U_{r,s}(\frak{sl}_n)$ and establish the Drinfel'd isomorphism Theorem in the two-parameter setting, via developing a new combinatorial approach (quantum calculation) to the quantum {\it affine} Lyndon basis we present (with an explicit valid algorithm based on the use of Drinfel'd generators).Comment: 31 page

Hopf algebras and Markov chains: Two examples and a theory

The operation of squaring (coproduct followed by product) in a combinatorial Hopf algebra is shown to induce a Markov chain in natural bases. Chains constructed in this way include widely studied methods of card shuffling, a natural "rock-breaking" process, and Markov chains on simplicial complexes. Many of these chains can be explictly diagonalized using the primitive elements of the algebra and the combinatorics of the free Lie algebra. For card shuffling, this gives an explicit description of the eigenvectors. For rock-breaking, an explicit description of the quasi-stationary distribution and sharp rates to absorption follow.Comment: 51 pages, 17 figures. (Typographical errors corrected. Further fixes will only appear on the version on Amy Pang's website, the arXiv version will not be updated.

Motor Unit Abnormalities in Dystonia musculorum Mice

Dystonia musculorum (dt) is a mouse inherited sensory neuropathy caused by mutations in the dystonin gene. While the primary pathology lies in the sensory neurons of dt mice, the overt movement disorder suggests motor neurons may also be affected. Here, we report on the contribution of motor neurons to the pathology in dt27J mice. Phenotypic dt27J mice display reduced alpha motor neuron cell number and eccentric alpha motor nuclei in the ventral horn of the lumbar L1 spinal cord region. A dramatic reduction in the total number of motor axons in the ventral root of postnatal day 15 dt27J mice was also evident. Moreover, analysis of the trigeminal nerve of the brainstem showed a 2.4 fold increase in number of degenerating neurons coupled with a decrease in motor neuron number relative to wild type. Aberrant phosphorylation of neurofilaments in the perikaryon region and axonal swellings within the pre-synaptic terminal region of motor neurons were observed. Furthermore, neuromuscular junction staining of dt27J mouse extensor digitorum longus and tibialis anterior muscle fibers showed immature endplates and a significant decrease in axon branching compared to wild type littermates. Muscle atrophy was also observed in dt27J muscle. Ultrastructure analysis revealed amyelinated motor axons in the ventral root of the spinal nerve, suggesting a possible defect in Schwann cells. Finally, behavioral analysis identified defective motor function in dt27J mice. This study reveals neuromuscular defects that likely contribute to the dt27J pathology and identifies a critical role for dystonin outside of sensory neurons

QUARITE (quality of care, risk management and technology in obstetrics): a cluster-randomized trial of a multifaceted intervention to improve emergency obstetric care in Senegal and Mali

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Maternal and perinatal mortality are major problems for which progress in sub-Saharan Africa has been inadequate, even though childbirth services are available, even in the poorest countries. Reducing them is the aim of two of the main Millennium Development Goals. Many initiatives have been undertaken to remedy this situation, such as the Advances in Labour and Risk Management (ALARM) International Program, whose purpose is to improve the quality of obstetric services in low-income countries. However, few interventions have been evaluated, in this context, using rigorous methods for analyzing effectiveness in terms of health outcomes. The objective of this trial is to evaluate the effectiveness of the ALARM International Program (AIP) in reducing maternal mortality in referral hospitals in Senegal and Mali. Secondary goals include evaluation of the relationships between effectiveness and resource availability, service organization, medical practices, and satisfaction among health personnel.</p> <p>Methods/Design</p> <p>This is an international, multi-centre, controlled cluster-randomized trial of a complex intervention. The intervention is based on the concept of evidence-based practice and on a combination of two approaches aimed at improving the performance of health personnel: 1) Educational outreach visits; and 2) the implementation of facility-based maternal death reviews.</p> <p>The unit of intervention is the public health facility equipped with a functional operating room. On the basis of consent provided by hospital authorities, 46 centres out of 49 eligible were selected in Mali and Senegal. Using randomization stratified by country and by level of care, 23 centres will be allocated to the intervention group and 23 to the control group. The intervention will last two years. It will be preceded by a pre-intervention one-year period for baseline data collection. A continuous clinical data collection system has been set up in all participating centres. This, along with the inventory of resources and the satisfaction surveys administered to the health personnel, will allow us to measure results before, during, and after the intervention. The overall rate of maternal mortality measured in hospitals during the post-intervention period (Year 4) is the primary outcome. The evaluation will also include cost-effectiveness.</p> <p>Trial Registration</p> <p>The QUARITE trial is registered on the Current Controlled Trials website under the number ISRCTN46950658 <url>http://www.controlled-trials.com/</url>.</p

Metabolic syndrome, psychological status and quality of life in obesity: the QUOVADIS Study

Objective: We aimed to investigate the association of the clinical variables of the metabolic syndrome (MS) and psychological parameters on health-related quality of life (HRQL) in obesity. In particular, our aim was to investigate the relative impact of physical symptoms, somatic diseases and psychological distress on both the physical and the mental domains of HRQL. Design: Cross-sectional study. Subjects: A cohort of 1822 obese outpatients seeking treatment in medical centers. Measurements: HRQL was measured by the standardized summary scores for physical (PCS) and mental (MCS) components of the Short Form 36 Health Survey (SF-36). Patients were grouped according to tertiles of PCS and MCS. Metabolic and psychological profiles of PCS and MCS tertiles were compared by discriminant analysis. Results: The profile of metabolic and psychological variables was tertile-specific in 62.4 and 68.3% of patients in the lowest and highest tertiles of PCS, respectively, while concordance was low in the mid-tertile (32.8%). Concordance was very high in the lowest (74.4%) and in the highest (75.5%) tertiles of MCS, and was fair in the mid-tertile (53.2%). The main correlates of PCS were obesity-specific and general psychological well-being, BMI, body uneasiness, binge eating, gender and psychiatric distress. Only hypertension and hyperglycemia qualified as correlates among the components of MS. The components of MS did not define MCS. Conclusions: Psychological well-being is the most important correlate of HRQL in obesity, both in the physical and in the mental domains, whereas the features of MS correlate only to some extent with the physical domain of HRQL