k-core organization of complex networks

We analytically describe the architecture of randomly damaged uncorrelated networks as a set of successively enclosed substructures -- k-cores. The k-core is the largest subgraph where vertices have at least k interconnections. We find the structure of k-cores, their sizes, and their birth points -- the bootstrap percolation thresholds. We show that in networks with a finite mean number z_2 of the second-nearest neighbors, the emergence of a k-core is a hybrid phase transition. In contrast, if z_2 diverges, the networks contain an infinite sequence of k-cores which are ultra-robust against random damage.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

Correlation of fine needle aspiration cytology with histopathology for thyroid swellings in a tertiary care hospital in South India

Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is documented to be a good tool in the diagnosis of thyroid lesions. It has good diagnostic accuracy and is an inexpensive investigation. Although a good instrument it does have its own limitations especially when it comes to distinguishing a follicular adenoma from follicular carcinoma thyroid. Objectives of the study was the evaluation of FNAC in the diagnosis of thyroid lesions by determining its sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value. Material and methods. This is a retrospective study of 580 cases of thyroid swelling admitted to our hospital and undergone thyroidectomy over a period of 5 years from 2015 to 2020. After thyroidectomy, FNAC reports (Bethesda system for reporting) of those patients were collected and were compared and analyzed with the histopathology reports. Category 1 and category 3 cases were excluded from calculation due to uncertainty in reporting. Data were analyzed to calculate the sensitivity, specificity, diagnostic accuracy, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of FNAC. Results. Our study included a total of 580 cases of thyroid swellings. The male to female ratio was 1:18.2 and the median age was 43 years. On FNAC, 428 cases (73.7 %) were benign, 35 cases (6 %) were indeterminate, 39 cases (6.7 %) were follicular neoplasm, 30 cases (5.1 %) were suspicious for malignancy and 34 (5.8 %) were malignant. 14 (2.4 %) cases were unsatisfactory. Cytology report was then compared with histopathological reports. FNAC had a sensitivity of 84.2 %, specificity of 97.2 % and a diagnostic accuracy of 94.5 %. The positive predictive value and negative predictive value were 88.3 and 96 % respectively. Conclusions. FNAC is a more specific than sensitive when distinguishing between benign and malignant lesions of thyroid. It has good diagnostic accuracy and hence should be used in all tertiary care hospitals prior to surgery in diagnosing thyroid lesions

An Evaluation of Image Velocimetry Techniques under Low Flow Conditions and High Seeding Densities Using Unmanned Aerial Systems

Image velocimetry has proven to be a promising technique for monitoring river flows using remotely operated platforms such as Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). However, the application of various image velocimetry algorithms has not been extensively assessed. Therefore, a sensitivity analysis has been conducted on five different image velocimetry algorithms including Large Scale Particle Image Velocimetry (LSPIV), Large-Scale Particle Tracking Velocimetry (LSPTV), Kanade−Lucas Tomasi Image Velocimetry (KLT-IV or KLT), Optical Tracking Velocimetry (OTV) and Surface Structure Image Velocimetry (SSIV), during low river flow conditions (average surface velocities of 0.12−0.14 m s - 1 , Q60) on the River Kolubara, Central Serbia. A DJI Phantom 4 Pro UAS was used to collect two 30-second videos of the surface flow. Artificial seeding material was distributed homogeneously across the rivers surface, to enhance the conditions for image velocimetry techniques. The sensitivity analysis was performed on comparable parameters between the different algorithms, including the particle identification area parameters (such as Interrogation Area (LSPIV, LSPTV and SSIV), Block Size (KLT-IV) and Trajectory Length (OTV)) and the feature extraction rate. Results highlighted that KLT and SSIV were sensitive to changing the feature extraction rate; however, changing the particle identification area did not affect the surface velocity results significantly. OTV and LSPTV, on the other hand, highlighted that changing the particle identification area presented higher variability in the results, while changing the feature extraction rate did not affect the surface velocity outputs. LSPIV proved to be sensitive to changing both the feature extraction rate and the particle identification area. This analysis has led to the conclusions that for surface velocities of approximately 0.12 m s - 1 image velocimetry techniques can provide results comparable to traditional techniques such as ADCPs. However, LSPIV, LSPTV and OTV require additional effort for calibration and selecting the appropriate parameters when compared to KLT-IV and SSIV. Despite the varying levels of sensitivity of each algorithm to changing parameters, all configuration image velocimetry algorithms provided results that were within 0.05 m s - 1 of the ADCP measurements, on average

Rehabilitation of Post-COVID Patients: A Virtual Reality Home-Based Intervention Including Cardio-Respiratory Fitness Training

The post-COVID syndrome is emerging as a new chronic condition, characterized by symptoms of breathlessness, fatigue, and decline of neurocognitive functions. Rehabilitation programs that include physical training seem to be beneficial to reduce such symptoms and improve patients' quality of life. Given this, and considering the limitations imposed by the pandemic on rehabilitation services, it emerged the need to integrate telerehabilitation programs into clinical practice. Some telerehabilitation solutions, also based on virtual reality (VR), are available in the market. Still, they mainly focus on rehabilitation of upper limbs, balance, and cognitive training, while exercises like cycling or walking are usually not considered. The presented work aims to fill this gap by integrating a VR application to provide cardio-respiratory fitness training to post-COVID patients in an existing telerehabilitation platform. The ARTEDIA application allows patients to perform a cycling exercise and a concurrent cognitive task. Patients can cycle in a virtual park while performing a "go/no-go" task by selecting only specific targets appearing along the way. The difficulty of the practice can be adjusted by the therapists, while the physiological response is continuously monitored through wearable sensors to ensure safety. The application has been integrated into the VRRS system by Khymeia. In the next months, a study to assess the feasibility of a complete telerehabilitation program based on physical and cognitive training will take place. Such a program will combine the existing VRRS exercises and the cardio-respiratory fitness exercise provided by the ARTEDIA application. Feasibility, acceptance, and usability will be assessed from both the patients' and the therapists' sides

SARS-CoV-2 infection in aplastic anaemia

Not available

“Cape Fear”—A Hybrid Hillslope Plot for Monitoring Hydrological Processes

Innovative experimental field designs and methods are instrumental for dissecting hydrological processes in hillslopes. However, experimental studies at the catchment scale are rarely affordable to most research groups, and laboratory flumes are oversimplified to reproduce natural phenomena. In this work, we present the innovative “hybrid” experimental plot of Cape Fear, which features controllable water fluxes and boundary conditions, but it is directly exposed to external atmospheric agents. We demonstrate the suitability of Cape Fear to study hydrological phenomena through a feasibility test, whereby the response of the plot to a natural storm is in line with the well-known hydrological response of natural hillslopes. Future studies will address the influence of the plot geometry parameters on rill formation

Assessment of arboviruses circulation in wild rodents and birds in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest

Arboviruses are transmitted by hematophagous arthropods, many of them of sanitary importance for their impact on health, economy and their wide geographic distribution. In the sylvatic cycle, different wild vectors and hosts are involved. Some of these viruses belong to the Flavivirus and Alphavirus genera and are transmitted by different species of mosquitoes. Several wild vertebrates participate in the sylvatic cycles of these viruses as main or alternative hosts. Our aim was to evaluate the circulation of Flavivirus and Alphavirus genera in the Upper Paraná Atlantic Forest (UPAF) of Misiones, Argentina.Para acceder a la videoconferencia completa, hacer clic en "Enlace externo".Sociedad Latinoamericana de Ecología de Vectore

Clinical Features, Imaging Characteristics, and Long-term Outcome of Dogs with Cranial Meningocele or Meningoencephalocele

BACKGROUND: The term meningoencephalocele (MEC) describes a herniation of cerebral tissue and meninges through a defect in the cranium, whereas a meningocele (MC) is a herniation of the meninges alone.HYPOTHESIS/OBJECTIVES: To describe the clinical features, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) characteristics, and outcomes of dogs with cranial MC and MEC.ANIMALS: Twenty-two client-owned dogs diagnosed with cranial MC or MEC.METHODS: Multicentric retrospective descriptive study. Clinical records of 13 institutions were reviewed. Signalment, clinical history, neurologic findings and MRI characteristics as well as treatment and outcome were recorded and evaluated.RESULTS: Most affected dogs were presented at a young age (median, 6.5 months; range, 1 month - 8 years). The most common presenting complaints were seizures and behavioral abnormalities. Intranasal MEC was more common than parietal MC. Magnetic resonance imaging identified meningeal enhancement of the protruded tissue in 77% of the cases. Porencephaly was seen in all cases with parietal MC. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) analysis identified mild abnormalities in 4 of 11 cases. Surgery was not performed in any affected dog. Seventeen patients were treated medically, and seizures were adequately controlled with anti-epileptic drugs in 10 dogs. Dogs with intranasal MEC and mild neurologic signs had a fair prognosis with medical treatment.CONCLUSION AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: Although uncommon, MC and MEC should be considered as a differential diagnosis in young dogs presenting with seizures or alterations in behavior. Medical treatment is a valid option with a fair prognosis when the neurologic signs are mild.</p

A note on comonotonicity and positivity of the control components of decoupled quadratic FBSDE

In this small note we are concerned with the solution of Forward-Backward Stochastic Differential Equations (FBSDE) with drivers that grow quadratically in the control component (quadratic growth FBSDE or qgFBSDE). The main theorem is a comparison result that allows comparing componentwise the signs of the control processes of two different qgFBSDE. As a byproduct one obtains conditions that allow establishing the positivity of the control process.Comment: accepted for publicatio