962 research outputs found
Performance of screening for aneuploidies by cell-free DNA analysis of maternal blood in twin pregnancies
Objectives
To report clinical implementation of cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) analysis of maternal blood in screening for trisomies 21, 18 and 13 in twin pregnancies and examine variables that could influence the failure rate of the test.
Methods
cfDNA testing was performed in 515 twin pregnancies at 10–28 weeks' gestation. The failure rate of the test to provide results was compared with that in 1847 singleton pregnancies, and logistic regression analysis was used to determine which factors among maternal and pregnancy characteristics were significant predictors of test failure.
Results
Failure rate of the cfDNA test at first sampling was 1.7% in singletons and 5.6% in twins. Of those with a test result, the median fetal fraction in twins was 8.7% (range, 4.1–30.0%), which was lower than that in singletons (11.7% (range, 4.0–38.9%)). Multivariable regression analysis demonstrated that twin pregnancy, higher maternal weight and conception by in‐vitro fertilization provided significant independent prediction of test failure. Follow‐up was available in 351 (68.2%) of the twin pregnancies and comprised 334 with euploid fetuses, 12 discordant for trisomy 21 and five discordant for trisomy 18. In all 323 euploid cases with a result, the risk score for each trisomy was < 1:10 000. In 11 of the 12 cases with trisomy 21 and in the five with trisomy 18, the cfDNA test gave a high‐risk result, but in one case of trisomy 21, the score was < 1:10 000.
Conclusion
In twin pregnancies screening by cfDNA testing is feasible, but the failure rate is higher and detection rate may be lower than in singletons
Modeling and analysis of energy distribution networks using switched differential systems
It is a pleasure to dedicate this contribution to Prof. Arjan van der Schaft on the occasion of his 60th birthday. We study the dynamics of energy distribution networks consisting of switching power converters and multiple (dis-)connectable modules. We use parsimonious models that deal effectively with the variant complexity of the network and the inherent switching phenomena induced by power converters. We also present the solution to instability problems caused by devices with negative impedance characteristics such as constant power loads. Elements of the behavioral system theory such as linear differential behaviors and quadratic differential forms are crucial in our analysis
When does the algebraic Riccati equation have a negative semi-definite solution?
Find a reasonable necessary and sufficient frequency domain condition, i.e, a condition in terms of the rational matrix ∂W, or possibly in terms of the two-variable rational matrix W, for the existence of a real symmetric negative semi-definite solution of the algebraic Riccati equation
Implementation of behavioral systems
In this chapter, we study control by interconnection of a given linear
differential system (the plant behavior) with a suitable controller. The problem formulations
and their solutions are completely representation free, and specified only
in terms of the system dynamics. A controller is a system that constrains the plant
behavior through a certain set of variables. In this context, there are two main situations
to be considered: either all the system variables are available for control, i.e.,
are control variables (full control) or only some of the variables are control variables
(partial control). For systems evolving over a time domain (1D) the problems
of implementability by partial (regular) interconnection are well understood. In this
chapter, we study why similar results are not valid in themultidimensional (nD) case.
Finally, we study two important classes of controllers, namely, canonical controllers
and regular controllers
On local linearization of control systems
We consider the problem of topological linearization of smooth (C infinity or
real analytic) control systems, i.e. of their local equivalence to a linear
controllable system via point-wise transformations on the state and the control
(static feedback transformations) that are topological but not necessarily
differentiable. We prove that local topological linearization implies local
smooth linearization, at generic points. At arbitrary points, it implies local
conjugation to a linear system via a homeomorphism that induces a smooth
diffeomorphism on the state variables, and, except at "strongly" singular
points, this homeomorphism can be chosen to be a smooth mapping (the inverse
map needs not be smooth). Deciding whether the same is true at "strongly"
singular points is tantamount to solve an intriguing open question in
differential topology
Input-to-state stability of infinite-dimensional control systems
We develop tools for investigation of input-to-state stability (ISS) of
infinite-dimensional control systems. We show that for certain classes of
admissible inputs the existence of an ISS-Lyapunov function implies the
input-to-state stability of a system. Then for the case of systems described by
abstract equations in Banach spaces we develop two methods of construction of
local and global ISS-Lyapunov functions. We prove a linearization principle
that allows a construction of a local ISS-Lyapunov function for a system which
linear approximation is ISS. In order to study interconnections of nonlinear
infinite-dimensional systems, we generalize the small-gain theorem to the case
of infinite-dimensional systems and provide a way to construct an ISS-Lyapunov
function for an entire interconnection, if ISS-Lyapunov functions for
subsystems are known and the small-gain condition is satisfied. We illustrate
the theory on examples of linear and semilinear reaction-diffusion equations.Comment: 33 page
Minimal symmetric Darlington synthesis
We consider the symmetric Darlington synthesis of a p x p rational symmetric
Schur function S with the constraint that the extension is of size 2p x 2p.
Under the assumption that S is strictly contractive in at least one point of
the imaginary axis, we determine the minimal McMillan degree of the extension.
In particular, we show that it is generically given by the number of zeros of
odd multiplicity of I-SS*. A constructive characterization of all such
extensions is provided in terms of a symmetric realization of S and of the
outer spectral factor of I-SS*. The authors's motivation for the problem stems
from Surface Acoustic Wave filters where physical constraints on the
electro-acoustic scattering matrix naturally raise this mathematical issue
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Investigating the impact of poverty on colonization and infection with drug-resistant organisms in humans: a systematic review
Background
Poverty increases the risk of contracting infectious diseases and therefore exposure to antibiotics. Yet there is lacking evidence on the relationship between income and non-income dimensions of poverty and antimicrobial resistance. Investigating such relationship would strengthen antimicrobial stewardship interventions.
Methods
A systematic review was conducted following Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. PubMed, Ovid, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, PsychINFO, EBSCO, HMIC, and Web of Science databases were searched in October 2016. Prospective and retrospective studies reporting on income or non-income dimensions of poverty and their influence on colonisation or infection with antimicrobial-resistant organisms were retrieved. Study quality was assessed with the Integrated quality criteria for review of multiple study designs (ICROMS) tool.
Results
Nineteen articles were reviewed. Crowding and homelessness were associated with antimicrobial resistance in community and hospital patients. In high-income countries, low income was associated with Streptococcus pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii resistance and a seven-fold higher infection rate. In low-income countries the findings on this relation were contradictory. Lack of education was linked to resistant S. pneumoniae and Escherichia coli. Two papers explored the relation between water and sanitation and antimicrobial resistance in low-income settings.
Conclusions
Despite methodological limitations, the results suggest that addressing social determinants of poverty worldwide remains a crucial yet neglected step towards preventing antimicrobial resistance
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