2,823 research outputs found
Semiquandles and flat virtual knots
We introduce an algebraic structure we call semiquandles whose axioms are
derived from flat Reidemeister moves. Finite semiquandles have associated
counting invariants and enhanced invariants defined for flat virtual knots and
links. We also introduce singular semiquandles and virtual singular
semiquandles which define invariants of flat singular virtual knots and links.
As an application, we use semiquandle invariants to compare two Vassiliev
invariants.Comment: 14 page
Valsartan for attenuating disease evolution in early sarcomeric hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the design of the Valsartan for Attenuating Disease Evolution in Early Sarcomeric Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy (VANISH) trial
Background:
Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is often caused by sarcomere gene mutations, resulting in left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH), myocardial fibrosis, and increased risk of sudden cardiac death and heart failure. Studies in mouse models of sarcomeric HCM demonstrated that early treatment with an angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) reduced development of LVH and fibrosis. In contrast, prior human studies using ARBs for HCM have targeted heterogeneous adult cohorts with well-established disease. The VANISH trial is testing the safety and feasibility of disease-modifying therapy with an ARB in genotyped HCM patients with early disease.
Methods:
A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind clinical trial is being conducted in sarcomere mutation carriers, 8 to 45 years old, with HCM and no/minimal symptoms, or those with early phenotypic manifestations but no LVH. Participants are randomly assigned to receive valsartan 80 to 320 mg daily (depending on age and weight) or placebo. The primary endpoint is a composite of 9 z-scores in domains representing myocardial injury/hemodynamic stress, cardiac morphology, and function. Total z-scores reflecting change from baseline to final visits will be compared between treatment groups. Secondary endpoints will assess the impact of treatment on mutation carriers without LVH, and analyze the influence of age, sex, and genotype.
Conclusions:
The VANISH trial is testing a new strategy of disease modification for treating sarcomere mutation carriers with early HCM, and those at risk for its development. In addition, further insight into disease mechanisms, response to therapy, and phenotypic evolution will be gained
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Rapid detection of BRCA1/2 recurrent mutations in Chinese breast and ovarian cancer patients with multiplex SNaPshot genotyping panels.
BRCA1/2 mutations are significant risk factors for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC), its mutation frequency in HBOC of Chinese ethnicity is around 9%, in which nearly half are recurrent mutations. In Hong Kong and China, genetic testing and counseling are not as common as in the West. To reduce the barrier of testing, a multiplex SNaPshot genotyping panel that targeted 25 Chinese BRCA1/2 mutation hotspots was developed, and its feasibility was evaluated in a local cohort of 441 breast and 155 ovarian cancer patients. For those who tested negative, they were then subjected to full-gene testing with next-generation sequencing (NGS). BRCA mutation prevalence in this cohort was 8.05% and the yield of the recurrent panel was 3.52%, identifying over 40% of the mutation carriers. Moreover, from 79 Chinese breast cancer cases recruited overseas, 2 recurrent mutations and one novel BRCA2 mutation were detected by the panel and NGS respectively. The developed genotyping panel showed to be an easy-to-perform and more affordable testing tool that can provide important contributions to improve the healthcare of Chinese women with cancer as well as family members that harbor high risk mutations for HBOC
GOODS-Herschel: Separating High Redshift active galactic Nuclei and star forming galaxies Using Infrared Color Diagnostics
We have compiled a large sample of 151 high redshift (z=0.5-4) galaxies
selected at 24 microns (S24>100 uJy) in the GOODS-N and ECDFS fields for which
we have deep Spitzer IRS spectroscopy, allowing us to decompose the
mid-infrared spectrum into contributions from star formation and activity in
the galactic nuclei. In addition, we have a wealth of photometric data from
Spitzer IRAC/MIPS and Herschel PACS/SPIRE. We explore how effective different
infrared color combinations are at separating our mid-IR spectroscopically
determined active galactic nuclei from our star forming galaxies. We look in
depth at existing IRAC color diagnostics, and we explore new color-color
diagnostics combining mid-IR, far-IR, and near-IR photometry, since these
combinations provide the most detail about the shape of a source's IR spectrum.
An added benefit of using a color that combines far-IR and mid-IR photometry is
that it is indicative of the power source driving the IR luminosity. For our
data set, the optimal color selections are S250/S24 vs. S8.0/S3.6 and S100/S24
vs. S8.0/S3.6; both diagnostics have ~10% contamination rate in the regions
occupied primarily by star forming galaxies and active galactic nuclei,
respectively. Based on the low contamination rate, these two new IR color-color
diagnostics are ideal for estimating both the mid-IR power source of a galaxy
when spectroscopy is unavailable and the dominant power source contributing to
the IR luminosity. In the absence of far-IR data, we present color diagnostics
using the WISE mid-IR bands which can efficiently select out high z (z~2) star
forming galaxies.Comment: Accepted for publication in ApJ. 13 pages, 8 figure
Potential for allocative harm in an environmental justice data tool
Neighborhood-level screening algorithms are increasingly being deployed to
inform policy decisions. We evaluate one such algorithm, CalEnviroScreen -
designed to promote environmental justice and used to guide hundreds of
millions of dollars in public funding annually - assessing its potential for
allocative harm. We observe the model to be sensitive to subjective model
decisions, with 16% of tracts potentially changing designation, as well as
financially consequential, estimating the effect of its positive designations
as a 104% (62-145%) increase in funding, equivalent to \$2.08 billion
(\$1.56-2.41 billion) over four years. We also observe allocative tradeoffs and
susceptibility to manipulation, raising ethical concerns. We recommend
incorporating sensitivity analyses to mitigate allocative harm and
accountability mechanisms to prevent misuse
Higher locus coeruleus MRI contrast is associated with lower parasympathetic influence over heart rate variability
The locus coeruleus (LC) is a key node of the sympathetic nervous system and suppresses parasympathetic activity that would otherwise increase heart rate variability. In the current study, we examined whether LC-MRI contrast reflecting neuromelanin accumulation in the LC was associated with high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), a measure reflecting parasympathetic influences on the heart. Recent evidence indicates that neuromelanin, a byproduct of catecholamine metabolism, accumulates in the LC through young and mid adulthood, suggesting that LC-MRI contrast may be a useful biomarker of individual differences in habitual LC activation. We found that, across younger and older adults, greater LC-MRI contrast was negatively associated with HF-HRV during fear conditioning and spatial detection tasks. This correlation was not accounted for by individual differences in age or anxiety. These findings indicate that individual differences in LC structure relate to key cardiovascular parameters
Brief for Respondents. Tyson Foods, Inc. v. Bouaphakeo, 136 S.Ct. 1036 (2016) (No. 14-1146), 2015 WL 5634431
QUESTIONS PRESENTED
1. Whether, in this class and collective action for wage-and-hour violations arising out of an employer\u27s failure properly to compensate employees for time spent donning and doffing protective equipment and walking between sites where work was performed, the district court abused its discretion in granting certification where plaintiffs proceeded to prove the amount of work they did using individual timesheet evidence and representative proof concerning donning, doffing, and walking times in accordance with Anderson v. Mt. Clemens Pottery Co., 328 U.S. 680 (1946).
2. Whether a class or collective action may be certified when it contains members who may not have been injured
Library Publishing Competencies
This publication provides a list of skills and knowledge useful in the development and provision of publishing services in libraries, organized into three categories: publishing, program development and management, and teaching and consulting. It will support publishing programs in identifying essential skills and will help individuals in the field to identify their strengths and the areas in which they are interested in growing. The Competencies was authored by LPC’s Professional Development Committee with input from the LPC community. HTML versio
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