PArthENoPE: Public Algorithm Evaluating the Nucleosynthesis of Primordial Elements

We describe a program for computing the abundances of light elements produced during Big Bang Nucleosynthesis which is publicly available at http://parthenope.na.infn.it/. Starting from nuclear statistical equilibrium conditions the program solves the set of coupled ordinary differential equations, follows the departure from chemical equilibrium of nuclear species, and determines their asymptotic abundances as function of several input cosmological parameters as the baryon density, the number of effective neutrino, the value of cosmological constant and the neutrino chemical potential. The program requires commercial NAG library routines.Comment: 18 pages, 2 figures. Version accepted by Comp. Phys. Com. The code (and an updated manual) is publicly available at http://parthenope.na.infn.it

Disease Burden of Gastric Cancer in Disability-Adjusted Life Years in Colombia

Objetivo: el cáncer gástrico es la segunda causa de muerte por cáncer y la quinta neoplasia más frecuente en el mundo. En Colombia, es la primera causa de mortalidad por cáncer. La incidencia y mortalidad anuales son 16,3 y 14,2/100 000 habitantes, respectivamente. El objetivo de este estudio fue estimar su carga de enfermedad, medida en años de vida ajustados por discapacidad (AVAD), en Colombia. Métodos: se desarrolló un estudio con enfoque en prevalencia para el año 2014. Para estimar la prevalencia, se realizó una búsqueda en los registros del Sistema de Información en Protección Social (SISPRO) y el Departamento Administrativo Nacional de Estadística (DANE). La duración promedio de los casos prevalentes y la sobrevida estimada se obtuvieron de la literatura local. Los AVAD fueron calculados sumando los años de vida perdidos por muerte prematura (AVPM) y los años de vida vividos con discapacidad (AVVD), según la metodología de la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS). Resultados: las prevalencias estimadas para 5 años en población mayor de 15 años fueron 40,9/100 000 en mujeres y 62,5/100 000 en hombres. El total de AVAD fue 293,418, con una tasa de 623/100 000 habitantes, de los cuales el 97,4% corresponde a AVPM. La tasa de AVVD y AVPM para Colombia fue 16 y 607/100 000, respectivamente. Conclusiones: los datos obtenidos de SISPRO y el DANE estiman una alta carga de enfermedad en Colombia. Es necesaria la implementación de estrategias de detección temprana del cáncer para disminuir la carga de la enfermedad y mejorar el pronóstico de los pacientes.Completo326-331Objective: Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of cancer death and the fifth most common neoplasm in the world. In Colombia, it is the leading cause of cancer mortality. The annual incidence and mortality are 16.3/100,000 and 14.2/100,000 inhabitants respectively. The aim of this study was to estimate the disease burden in Colombia as measured in disability-adjusted life years (DALYs). Methods: This study focuses on prevalence in 2014. To estimate prevalence, a search was made in the registries of the Social Protection Information System (SISPRO) and the National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE). The average duration of cases and estimated survival were obtained from the local literature. DALYs were calculated by adding the years of life lost due to premature death (YLLs) and years of life lived with disability (YLD) according to the methodology of the World Health Organization (WHO). Results: Prevalences estimated for five years in the population older than 15 years were 40.9/100,000 for women and 62.5/100,000 for men. The total DALY was 293,418, with a rate of 623/100,000 inhabitants; 97.4% correspond to YLL. The YLD and YLL for Colombia were 16/100,000 and 607/100,000, respectively. Conclusions: Data obtained from SISPRO and DANE estimate a high disease burden in Colombia. It is necessary to implement early cancer detection strategies to reduce the burden of disease and improve patient prognosis

Therapeutic impact of cytoreductive surgery and irradiation of posterior fossa ependymoma in the molecular era: a retrospective multicohort analysis

PURPOSE: Posterior fossa ependymoma comprises two distinct molecular variants termed EPN_PFA and EPN_PFB that have a distinct biology and natural history. The therapeutic value of cytoreductive surgery and radiation therapy for posterior fossa ependymoma after accounting for molecular subgroup is not known. METHODS: Four independent nonoverlapping retrospective cohorts of posterior fossa ependymomas (n = 820) were profiled using genome-wide methylation arrays. Risk stratification models were designed based on known clinical and newly described molecular biomarkers identified by multivariable Cox proportional hazards analyses. RESULTS: Molecular subgroup is a powerful independent predictor of outcome even when accounting for age or treatment regimen. Incompletely resected EPN_PFA ependymomas have a dismal prognosis, with a 5-year progression-free survival ranging from 26.1% to 56.8% across all four cohorts. Although first-line (adjuvant) radiation is clearly beneficial for completely resected EPN_PFA, a substantial proportion of patients with EPN_PFB can be cured with surgery alone, and patients with relapsed EPN_PFB can often be treated successfully with delayed external-beam irradiation. CONCLUSION: The most impactful biomarker for posterior fossa ependymoma is molecular subgroup affiliation, independent of other demographic or treatment variables. However, both EPN_PFA and EPN_PFB still benefit from increased extent of resection, with the survival rates being particularly poor for subtotally resected EPN_PFA, even with adjuvant radiation therapy. Patients with EPN_PFB who undergo gross total resection are at lower risk for relapse and should be considered for inclusion in a randomized clinical trial of observation alone with radiation reserved for those who experience recurrence

Therapeutic Impact of Cytoreductive Surgery and Irradiation of Posterior Fossa Ependymoma in the Molecular Era: A Retrospective Multicohort Analysis

Posterior fossa ependymoma comprises two distinct molecular variants termed EPN_PFA and EPN_PFB that have a distinct biology and natural history. The therapeutic value of cytoreductive surgery and radiation therapy for posterior fossa ependymoma after accounting for molecular subgroup is not known

Optimasi Portofolio Resiko Menggunakan Model Markowitz MVO Dikaitkan dengan Keterbatasan Manusia dalam Memprediksi Masa Depan dalam Perspektif Al-Qur`an

Risk portfolio on modern finance has become increasingly technical, requiring the use of sophisticated mathematical tools in both research and practice. Since companies cannot insure themselves completely against risk, as human incompetence in predicting the future precisely that written in Al-Quran surah Luqman verse 34, they have to manage it to yield an optimal portfolio. The objective here is to minimize the variance among all portfolios, or alternatively, to maximize expected return among all portfolios that has at least a certain expected return. Furthermore, this study focuses on optimizing risk portfolio so called Markowitz MVO (Mean-Variance Optimization). Some theoretical frameworks for analysis are arithmetic mean, geometric mean, variance, covariance, linear programming, and quadratic programming. Moreover, finding a minimum variance portfolio produces a convex quadratic programming, that is minimizing the objective function ðð¥with constraintsð ð 𥠥 ðandð´ð¥ = ð. The outcome of this research is the solution of optimal risk portofolio in some investments that could be finished smoothly using MATLAB R2007b software together with its graphic analysis

Search for heavy resonances decaying to two Higgs bosons in final states containing four b quarks

A search is presented for narrow heavy resonances X decaying into pairs of Higgs bosons (H) in proton-proton collisions collected by the CMS experiment at the LHC at root s = 8 TeV. The data correspond to an integrated luminosity of 19.7 fb(-1). The search considers HH resonances with masses between 1 and 3 TeV, having final states of two b quark pairs. Each Higgs boson is produced with large momentum, and the hadronization products of the pair of b quarks can usually be reconstructed as single large jets. The background from multijet and t (t) over bar events is significantly reduced by applying requirements related to the flavor of the jet, its mass, and its substructure. The signal would be identified as a peak on top of the dijet invariant mass spectrum of the remaining background events. No evidence is observed for such a signal. Upper limits obtained at 95 confidence level for the product of the production cross section and branching fraction sigma(gg -> X) B(X -> HH -> b (b) over barb (b) over bar) range from 10 to 1.5 fb for the mass of X from 1.15 to 2.0 TeV, significantly extending previous searches. For a warped extra dimension theory with amass scale Lambda(R) = 1 TeV, the data exclude radion scalar masses between 1.15 and 1.55 TeV

Clinical and biological progress over 50 years in Rett syndrome

In the 50 years since Andreas Rett first described the syndrome that came to bear his name, and is now known to be caused by a mutation in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene, a compelling blend of astute clinical observations and clinical and laboratory research has substantially enhanced our understanding of this rare disorder. Here, we document the contributions of the early pioneers in Rett syndrome (RTT) research, and describe the evolution of knowledge in terms of diagnostic criteria, clinical variation, and the interplay with other Rett-related disorders. We provide a synthesis of what is known about the neurobiology of MeCP2, considering the lessons learned from both cell and animal models, and how they might inform future clinical trials. With a focus on the core criteria, we examine the relationships between genotype and clinical severity. We review current knowledge about the many comorbidities that occur in RTT, and how genotype may modify their presentation. We also acknowledge the important drivers that are accelerating this research programme, including the roles of research infrastructure, international collaboration and advocacy groups. Finally, we highlight the major milestones since 1966, and what they mean for the day-to-day lives of individuals with RTT and their families

Search for supersymmetry in events with one lepton and multiple jets in proton-proton collisions at root s=13 TeV

Peer reviewe