Ground-state energy and entropy of the two-dimensional Edwards-Anderson spin-glass model with different bond distributions

We study the two-dimensional Edwards-Anderson spin-glass model using a parallel tempering Monte Carlo algorithm. The ground-state energy and entropy are calculated for different bond distributions. In particular, the entropy is obtained by using a thermodynamic integration technique and an appropriate reference state, which is determined with the method of high-temperature expansion. This strategy provide accurate values of this quantity for finite-size lattices. By extrapolating to the thermodynamic limit, the ground-state energy and entropy of the different versions of the spin-glass model are determined.Comment: 18 pages, 5 figure

Gross solids from combined sewers in dry weather and storms, elucidating production, storage and social factors

Variation in rates of sanitary hygiene products, toilet tissue and faeces occurring in sewers are presented for dry and wet weather from three steep upstream urban catchments with different economic, age and ethnic profiles. Results show, for example, that total daily solids per capita from the low income and ageing populations are almost twice that from high income or ethnic populations. Relative differences are verified through independent questionnaires. The relationship between solids stored in sewers prior to storms, antecedent dry weather period and the proportion of roof to total catchment area is quantified. A full solids' flush occurs when storm flows exceed three times the peak dry weather flow. The data presented will assist urban drainage designers in managing pollution caused by the discharge of sewage solids

Factors associated with early outcomes following standardised therapy in children with ulcerative colitis (PROTECT): a multicentre inception cohort study

Background Previous retrospective studies of paediatric ulcerative colitis have had limited ability to describe disease progression and identify predictors of treatment response. In this study, we aimed to identify characteristics associated with outcomes following standardised therapy after initial diagnosis. Methods The PROTECT multicentre inception cohort study was based at 29 centres in the USA and Canada and included paediatric patients aged 4?17 years who were newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. Guided by the Pediatric Ulcerative Colitis Activity Index (PUCAI), patients received initial standardised treatment with mesalazine (PUCAI 10?30) oral corticosteroids (PUCAI 35?60), or intravenous corticosteroids (PUCAI ò65). The key outcomes for this analysis were week 12 corticosteroid-free remission, defined as PUCAI less than 10 and taking only mesalazine, and treatment escalation during the 12 study weeks to anti-tumour necrosis factor à (TNFà) agents, immunomodulators, or colectomy among those initially treated with intravenous corticosteroids. We identified independent predictors of outcome through multivariable logistic regression using a per-protocol approach. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01536535. Findings Patients were recruited between July 10, 2012, and April 21, 2015. 428 children initiated mesalazine (n=136), oral corticosteroids (n=144), or intravenous corticosteroids (n=148). Initial mean PUCAI was 31ú1 (SD 13ú3) in children initiating with mesalazine, 50ú4 (13ú8) in those initiating oral corticosteroids, and 66ú9 (13ú7) in those initiating intravenous corticosteroids (p<0ú0001 for between-group comparison). Week 12 outcome data were available for 132 patients who initiated with mesalazine, 141 with oral corticosteroids, and 143 with intravenous corticosteroids. Corticosteroid-free remission with the patient receiving mesalazine treatment only at 12 weeks was achieved by 64 (48%) patients in the mesalazine group, 47 (33%) in the oral corticosteroid group, and 30 (21%) in the intravenous corticosteroid group (p<0ú0001). Treatment escalation was required by nine (7%) patients in the mesalazine group, 21 (15%) in the oral corticosteroid group, and 52 (36%) in the intravenous corticosteroid group (p<0ú0001). Eight patients, all of whom were initially treated with intravenous corticosteroids, underwent colectomy. Predictors of week 12 corticosteroid-free remission were baseline PUCAI less than 35 (odds ratio 2ú44, 95% CI 1ú41?4ú22; p=0ú0015), higher baseline albumin by 1 g/dL increments among children younger than 12 years (4ú05, 1ú90?8ú64; p=0ú00030), and week 4 remission (6ú26, 3ú79?10ú35; p<0ú0001). Predictors of treatment escalation by week 12 in patients initially treated with intravenous corticosteroids included baseline total Mayo score of 11 or higher (2ú59, 0ú93?7ú21; p=0ú068 [retained in model due to clinical relevance]), rectal biopsy eosinophil count less than or equal to 32 cells per high power field (4ú55, 1ú62?12ú78; p=0ú0040), rectal biopsy surface villiform changes (3ú05, 1ú09?8ú56; p=0ú034), and not achieving week 4 remission (30ú28, 6ú36?144ú20; p<0ú0001). Interpretation Our findings provide guidelines to assess the response of children newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis to standardised initial therapy and identify predictors of treatment response and failure. These data suggest that additional therapeutic interventions might be warranted to improve early outcomes, especially in patients presenting with severe disease and requiring intravenous corticosteroids. Funding National Institutes of Health

Clinical and biological predictors of response to standardised paediatric colitis therapy (PROTECT): a multicentre inception cohort study

Background: Lack of evidence-based outcomes data leads to uncertainty in developing treatment regimens in children who are newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. We hypothesised that pretreatment clinical, transcriptomic, and microbial factors predict disease course. Methods: In this inception cohort study, we recruited paediatric patients aged 4?17 years with newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis from 29 centres in the USA and Canada. Patients initially received standardised mesalazine or corticosteroids, with pre-established criteria for escalation to immunomodulators (ie, thiopurines) or anti-tumor necrosis factor-à (TNFà) therapy. We used RNA sequencing to define rectal gene expression before treatment, and 16S sequencing to characterise rectal and faecal microbiota. The primary outcome was week 52 corticosteroid-free remission with no therapy beyond mesalazine. We assessed factors associated with the primary outcome using logistic regression models of the per-protocol population. This study is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT01536535. Findings: Between July 10, 2012, and April 21, 2015, of 467 patients recruited, 428 started medical therapy, of whom 400 (93%) were evaluable at 52 weeks and 386 (90%) completed the study period with no protocol violations. 150 (38%) of 400 participants achieved week 52 corticosteroid-free remission, of whom 147 (98%) were taking mesalazine and three (2%) were taking no medication. 74 (19%) of 400 were escalated to immunomodulators alone, 123 (31%) anti-TNFà therapy, and 25 (6%) colectomy. Low baseline clinical severity, high baseline haemoglobin, and week 4 clinical remission were associated with achieving week 52 corticosteroid-free remission (n=386, logistic model area under the curve [AUC] 0ú70, 95% CI 0ú65?0ú75; specificity 77%, 95% CI 71?82). Baseline severity and remission by week 4 were validated in an independent cohort of 274 paediatric patients with newly diagnosed ulcerative colitis. After adjusting for clinical predictors, an antimicrobial peptide gene signature (odds ratio [OR] 0ú57, 95% CI 0ú39?0ú81; p=0ú002) and abundance of Ruminococcaceae (OR 1ú43, 1ú02?2ú00; p=0ú04), and Sutterella (OR 0ú81, 0ú65?1ú00; p=0ú05) were independently associated with week 52 corticosteroid-free remission. Interpretation: Our findings support the utility of initial clinical activity and treatment response by 4 weeks to predict week 52 corticosteroid-free remission with mesalazine alone in children who are newly diagnosed with ulcerative colitis. The development of personalised clinical and biological signatures holds the promise of informing ulcerative colitis therapeutic decisions. Funding: US National Institutes of Health

A male sexually dimorphic trait provides antimicrobials to eggs in blenny fish

Predation and microbial infections are the major causes of natural mortality for early life stages of oviparous species. The parental traits reducing the effects of predation are rather well described, whereas antimicrobial mechanisms enhancing offspring survival are largely unexplored. In this paper, we report that a male sexually dimorphic trait, the anal glands, of the redlip blenny (Ophioblennius atlanticus atlanticus) and the peacock blenny (Salaria pavo), two fish species with paternal egg care, produce a mucus enriched with antimicrobial substances. Histological and histochemical analyses showed that the anal glands of these species are characterized by the massive presence of mucus-secreting cells. Anal gland extracts, from both the hydrophilic and the hydrophobic protein fraction, exhibited a lysozyme-like activity. Field observations demonstrated that redlip blenny males, while performing egg care, rub the anal region over the nest internal surface, probably facilitating the transfer of mucus to eggs. These results strongly indicate that this sexually dimorphic trait is involved in egg defence against microbial infections

Referral to Palliative Care Infrequent in Patients with Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Admitted to an Intensive Care Unit

Background: Palliative care has been recommended as a means to assist patients with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) in managing symptom burden and advanced care planning. Timing of referral is important because although most patients display a gradually progressive course, a minority experience acute deterioration, an outcome associated with high mortality. Aim: To describe characteristics of IPF patients referred to a specialty lung disease center over a 10-year period who experienced acute deterioration and subsequent intensive care unit (ICU) admission, including frequency and timing of referral to palliative care. Design: Retrospective review. Setting/Participants: We identified 106 patients admitted to the ICU with acute deterioration due to a respiratory or nonrespiratory cause. Variables examined included demographics, date of first center visit, forced vital capacity, diffusing capacity of the lung for carbon monoxide (DLCO), and palliative care referral. Results: ICU admission occurred early (median 9.5 months) and, for 34%, within four months of their first center visit. For nearly one-half of these patients, ICU admission occurred before their third clinic visit. Only 4 (3.8%) patients received a palliative care referral before ICU admission. The majority (77%) died during ICU admission. With exception of the relationship between DLCO% predicted at first visit and time to ICU admission (r = 0.32, p = 0.005), no variables identified those most likely to experience acute deterioration. Conclusion: Due to high mortality associated with ICU admission, patients and families should be informed about palliative care early following diagnosis of IPF. © Copyright 2017, Mary Ann Liebert, Inc