ROOT, an object oriented data analysis framework

ROOT is an object-oriented framework aimed at solving the data analysis challenges of high-energy physics. Here we discuss the main components of the framework. We begin with an overview describing the framework's organization, the interpreter CINT, its automatic interface to the compiler and linker ACLiC, and an example of a first interactive session. The subsequent sections cover histogramming and fitting. Then, ROOT's solution to storing and retrieving HEP data, building and managing of ROOT files, and designing ROOT trees. Followed by a description of the collection classes, the GUI classes, how to add your own classes to ROOT, and PROOF, ROOT's parallel processing facility

Yield of Male Touch DNA from Fabrics in an Assault Model

Forensic Research Sethi et al., J Forensic Res 2013, T1 http://d

Pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of fenoldopam mesylate for blood pressure control in pediatric patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Fenoldopam mesylate, a selective dopamine1-receptor agonist, is used by intravenous infusion to treat hypertension in adults. Fenoldopam is not approved by the FDA for use in children; reports describing its use in pediatrics are limited. In a multi-institutional, placebo controlled, double-blind, multi-dose trial we determined the pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) characteristics and side-effect profile of fenoldopam in children.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Seventy seven (77) children from 3 weeks to 12 years of age scheduled for surgery in which deliberate hypotension would be induced were enrolled. Patients were randomly assigned to one of five, blinded treatment groups (placebo or fenoldopam 0.05, 0.2, 0.8, or 3.2 mcg/kg/min iv) for a 30-minute interval after stabilization of anesthesia and placement of vascular catheters. Following the 30-minute blinded interval, investigators adjusted the fenoldopam dose to achieve a target mean arterial pressure in the open-label period until deliberate hypotension was no longer indicated (e.g., muscle-layer closure). Mean arterial pressure and heart rate were continuously monitored and were the primary endpoints.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Seventy-six children completed the trial. Fenoldopam at doses of 0.8 and 3.2 mcg/kg/min significantly reduced blood pressure (p < 0.05) during the blinded interval, and doses of 1.0–1.2 mcg/kg/min resulted in continued control of blood pressure during the open-label interval. Doses greater than 1.2 mcg/kg/min during the open-label period resulted in increasing heart rate without additional reduction in blood pressure. Fenoldopam was well-tolerated; side effects occurred in a minority of patients. The PK/PD relationship of fenoldopam in children was determined.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Fenoldopam is a rapid-acting, effective agent for intravenous control of blood pressure in children. The effective dose range is significantly higher in children undergoing anesthesia and surgery (0.8–1.2 mcg/kg/min) than as labeled for adults (0.05–0.3 mcg/kg/min). The PK and side-effect profiles for children and adults are similar.</p

Using data-driven rules to predict mortality in severe community acquired pneumonia

Prediction of patient-centered outcomes in hospitals is useful for performance benchmarking, resource allocation, and guidance regarding active treatment and withdrawal of care. Yet, their use by clinicians is limited by the complexity of available tools and amount of data required. We propose to use Disjunctive Normal Forms as a novel approach to predict hospital and 90-day mortality from instance-based patient data, comprising demographic, genetic, and physiologic information in a large cohort of patients admitted with severe community acquired pneumonia. We develop two algorithms to efficiently learn Disjunctive Normal Forms, which yield easy-to-interpret rules that explicitly map data to the outcome of interest. Disjunctive Normal Forms achieve higher prediction performance quality compared to a set of state-of-the-art machine learning models, and unveils insights unavailable with standard methods. Disjunctive Normal Forms constitute an intuitive set of prediction rules that could be easily implemented to predict outcomes and guide criteria-based clinical decision making and clinical trial execution, and thus of greater practical usefulness than currently available prediction tools. The Java implementation of the tool JavaDNF will be publicly available. © 2014 Wu et al

Advanced Trauma Life Support®. ABCDE from a radiological point of view

Accidents are the primary cause of death in patients aged 45 years or younger. In many countries, Advanced Trauma Life Support® (ATLS®) is the foundation on which trauma care is based. We will summarize the principles and the radiological aspects of the ATLS®, and we will discuss discrepancies with day to day practice and the radiological literature. Because the ATLS® is neither thorough nor up-to-date concerning several parts of radiology in trauma, it should not be adopted without serious attention to defining the indications and limitations pertaining to diagnostic imaging

Measurement of the mass difference m(D-s(+))-m(D+) at CDF II

We present a measurement of the mass difference m(D-s(+))-m(D+), where both the D-s(+) and D+ are reconstructed in the phipi(+) decay channel. This measurement uses 11.6 pb(-1) of data collected by CDF II using the new displaced-track trigger. The mass difference is found to be m(D-s(+))-m(D+)=99.41+/-0.38(stat)+/-0.21(syst) MeV/c(2)

Patient-Centered Research: Validation of the Canadian Clinical Probability Rule and Use of Bedside D-Dimer Testing in the Diagnosis of Acute Venous Thrombosis in an Emergency Room Setting

PURPOSE: To validate the Canadian clinical probability tool and utility of bedside rapid D-dimer testing using SimpliRed® among patients with suspected acute deep-vein thrombosis (DVT) in an emergency room setting. METHODS: Consecutive patients with clinically suspected DVT in a leg and no past history of symptomatic DVT were evaluated in the UC Davis emergency room by emergency room staff using the clinical probability tool developed by Wells and colleagues [Lancet,1997; 350:1795], which was provided on a one page form. After completing the form, each patient underwent venous ultrasound (US) imaging, whole blood D-dimer testing using SimpliRed®, and D-dimer measurement using a sensitive ELISA technique. All patients were followed for 3 months. Diagnosis of thromboembolism required objective confirmation of DVT using US or venography, or confirmation of pulmonary embolism using a high-probability lung scan or pulmonary arteriography. RESULTS: Of 102 patients who were evaluated, 17 (17%) were diagnosed as having DVT initially; none of the 85 in whom DVT was excluded developed thromboembolism within 3 months. Ten of 17 (59%, CI 36%–82%) who met criteria for ‘high-probability’, 6 of 44 (13%, CI 5%–21%) with ‘intermediate probability’ and 1 of 41 (2.4%, CI 0.5%–7%) with ‘low probability’ had objectively confirmed DVT. This compares to published values of 49%, 14% and 3%, respectively, from two Canadian emergency rooms. Forty-one of the 102 (40%) patients had an ‘alternate diagnosis as likely or greater than DVT’, which lowered the probability of DVT by one or more levels in 35 (85%) cases. Thirty-eight of the 41 (93%) patients with an ‘alternate diagnosis’ did not have DVT; the 3 who did have DVT were thought to have cellulitis (n = 2) or knee hyperextension (n = 1). The negative predictive value of the SimpliRed rapid D-dimer test was 100%, 100% and 71% (5 of 7) in the low, intermediate and high probability groups. Both ‘false negative’ SimpliRed(®)tests had normal levels of D-dimer using a sensitive ELISA method, and careful re-review of the US studies revealed findings consistent with subacute or chronic DVT. CONCLUSION: The Canadian probability tool for DVT appears to be a valid instrument in our emergency department. Similarly, we documented the high negative predictive value of bedside D-dimer (SimpliRed®) testing among patients classified as ‘low’ or ‘intermediate’ probability for having DVT, as reported in the literature. Radiographic misinterpretation of subacute or chronic DVT as acute DVT may partially explain the lower negative predictive value of SimpliRed® testing in patients with high clinical probability of having DVT