SNPAnalyzer: a web-based integrated workbench for single-nucleotide polymorphism analysis

SNPAnalyzer is a software that performs four essential statistical analyses of SNPs in a common computational environment. It is composed of three main modules: (i) data manipulation, (ii) analysis and (iii) visualization. The data manipulation module is responsible for data input and output, and handles genotype, phenotype and genetic distance data. To ensure user convenience, the data format is simple. The analysis module performs statistical calculations and consists of four subcomponents: (i) Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, (ii) Haplotype Estimation, (iii) linkage disequilibrium (LD) and (iv) quantitative trait locus analysis. The main feature of the analysis module is multiple implementations of different algorithms and indices for haplotype estimation and for LD analysis. This enables users to compare separate results generated by different algorithms, which help to avoid biased results acquired by applying a single statistical algorithm. The performance of all implemented algorithms has been validated using experimentally proven datasets. The visualization module presents most of the analyzed results as figures, rather than as simple text, which aids in the intuitive understanding of complex data. The SNPAnalyzer has been developed using C and C++ and is available at

Corticosteroids for tuberculous pleurisy.

Corticosteroids used in addition to antituberculous therapy have been reported to benefit people with tuberculous pleurisy. However, research findings are inconsistent and raise doubt as to whether such treatment is worthwhile. There is also concern regarding the potential adverse effects of corticosteroids, especially in HIV-positive people. To evaluate the effects of adding corticosteroids to drug regimens for tuberculous pleural effusion. In April 2016, we searched the Cochrane Infectious Diseases Group Specialized Register, CENTRAL (the Cochrane Library), MEDLINE, Embase, LILACS, Current Controlled Trials, and the reference lists of articles identified by the literature search. Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and quasi-RCTs that compared any corticosteroid with no treatment, placebo, or other active treatment (both groups should have received the same antituberculous drug regimen) in people diagnosed with tuberculous pleurisy. Two review authors independently screened the search results, extracted data from the included trials, and assessed trial methodological quality using the Cochrane 'Risk of bias' tool. We analysed the data using risk ratios (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We applied the fixed-effect model in the absence of statistically significant heterogeneity. Six trials with 590 participants met the inclusion criteria, which were conducted in Asia (three trials), Africa (two trials), and Europe (one trial). Two trials were in HIV-negative people, one trial was in HIV-positive people, and three trials did not report HIV status.Corticosteroids may reduce the time to resolution of pleural effusion. Risk of residual pleural effusion on chest X-ray was reduced by 45% at eight weeks (RR 0.54, 95% CI 0.37 to 0.78; 237 participants, 2 trials, low certainty evidence), and 65% at 24 weeks (RR 0.35, 95% CI 0.18 to 0.66; 237 participants, 2 trials, low certainty evidence).Compared with control, corticosteroids may reduce the risk of having pleural changes (such as pleural thickening or pleural adhesions), on chest X-ray at the end of follow-up by almost one third (RR 0.72, 95% CI 0.57 to 0.92; 393 participants, 5 trials,low certainty evidence), which translates to an absolute risk reduction of 16%.One trial reported deaths in people that were HIV-positive, with no obvious difference between the groups; the trial authors' analysis suggests that the deaths observed in this trial were related to HIV disease rather than pleural TB (RR 0.91, 95% CI 0.64 to 1.31; 197 participants, 1 trial).We found limited data on long-term functional respiratory impairment on 187 people in two trials, which reported that average percentage predicted forced vital capacity was similar in the group receiving prednisolone and in the control group (very low certainty evidence).The risk of adverse events that led to discontinuation of the trial drug was higher in people with pleural TB receiving corticosteroids (RR 2.78, 95% CI 1.11 to 6.94; 587 participants, 6 trials, low certainty evidence). The trial in HIV-positive people reported on six different HIV-related infections, with no obvious differences. However, cases of Kaposi's sarcoma were only seen in the corticosteroid group (with 6/99 cases in the steroid group compared to 0/98 in the control group) (very low certainty evidence). Long-term respiratory function is potentially the most important outcome for assessing the effects of adjunctive treatments for people with pleural TB. However, the information on the impact of pleural TB on long-term respiratory function is unknown and could be eclipsed by other risk factors, such as concurrent pulmonary TB, smoking, and HIV. This probably needs to be quantified to help decide whether further trials of corticosteroids for pleural TB would be worthwhile

Financial Reporting Quality And Acquisition Profitability: Evidence From Korea

In this paper, we examine the association between financial reporting quality and acquisition profitability in a sample of 282 acquisitions in South Korea between 2001 and 2011. Using the accruals quality measure developed by Dechow and Dichev (2002) and McNichols (2002), we find that firms with high-quality financial reporting make more profitable acquisitions, as measured by the bidder's announcement returns. In addition, we find that the importance of financial reporting quality increases in firms with poor information environments

Unmanned Remotely Operated Search and Rescue Ships in the Canadian Arctic: Exploring the Opportunities, Risk Dimensions and Governance Implications

This chapter is a proactive risk exploration of hypothetical remotely operated search and rescue (SAR) ships in the Canadian Arctic. The harsh and remote environment in the region, combined with complicated coastlines and many uncharted or poorly charted traffic routes, makes it one of the most challenging SAR areas. Canada has committed itself to safety, environmental protection and sovereign presence in the area by maintaining joint SAR centres of federal government departments and mobilizing private volunteers. The characteristics of Canadian SAR response in the Arctic rest with its high dependency on heavy equipment such as aircraft, helicopters and icebreakers, entailing prolonged hours of response time. As recent climate change impacts and maritime traffic increase in the northern waters disclose safety gaps, innovation in SAR assets is anticipated. The safety gaps may be filled by state-of-the-art remote control technology. This chapter discusses remotely operated unmanned ships for SAR response, exploring their opportunities, risk dimensions and governance implications

SNPAnalyzer 2.0: A web-based integrated workbench for linkage disequilibrium analysis and association analysis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Since the completion of the HapMap project, huge numbers of individual genotypes have been generated from many kinds of laboratories. The efforts of finding or interpreting genetic association between disease and SNPs/haplotypes have been on-going widely. So, the necessity of the capability to analyze huge data and diverse interpretation of the results are growing rapidly.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have developed an advanced tool to perform linkage disequilibrium analysis, and genetic association analysis between disease and SNPs/haplotypes in an integrated web interface. It comprises of four main analysis modules: (i) data import and preprocessing, (ii) haplotype estimation, (iii) LD blocking and (iv) association analysis. Hardy-Weinberg Equilibrium test is implemented for each SNPs in the data preprocessing. Haplotypes are reconstructed from unphased diploid genotype data, and linkage disequilibrium between pairwise SNPs is computed and represented by D', r²and LOD score. Tagging SNPs are determined by using the square of Pearson's correlation coefficient (r²). If genotypes from two different sample groups are available, diverse genetic association analyses are implemented using additive, codominant, dominant and recessive models. Multiple verified algorithms and statistics are implemented in parallel for the reliability of the analysis.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>SNPAnalyzer 2.0 performs linkage disequilibrium analysis and genetic association analysis in an integrated web interface using multiple verified algorithms and statistics. Diverse analysis methods, capability of handling huge data and visual comparison of analysis results are very comprehensive and easy-to-use.</p

자율운항선박 원격운항자의 역할과 법적 지위에 관한 소고-선원과 선장 개념을 중심으로 [translation: The Roles and Legal Status of Remote Operators of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ships: Focusing on the Concept of a Crew and a Master]

As commercialising the technology of Maritime Autonomous Surface Ship( MASS ), it may be expected that the remote controller plays a significant role in modern shipping industry in the near future. The concept of remote controller is defined as designated person who has the right of command and control regarding the ship\u27s navigation and there exists the difference concerning the role and functions between transitional concept of a crew and a master and the remote controller in MASS. Hence, this study aims to discuss the legal status of remote controller as to whether they are considered as crew and master. In particular, it will examine whether the remote controller in MASS that does not exist ship\u27s crew is regarded as the master based on international treaties and domestic maritime law by using the doctrinal legal study. The concluding remark of this study will seek to authorise the legal status concerning the remote controller as \u27the crew and master\u27 in MASS. Furthermore, it will refer to the need for the institutional improvement with regard to certification, education and training for the remote controller

선박 검사원 처벌주의 입법의 정당성에 관한 탐색적 고찰 [translation: Exploratory Research on the Legitimacy of the Legislation Tilting toward Punishing an Individual Ship Surveyor]

Ship inspection does not guarantee the safety and seaworthiness of ships as the results of the inspection, and the act features a collective evaluation. However, since the Sewol accident, the possibility of criminal punishment for individual ship surveyors has drastically increased, and the problem has deepened. This is a very unusual phenomenon that contradicts the concept, characteristics and nature of ship inspection. To the contrary, in foreign countries, protectionist legislation is found that exempts ship surveyors, who performed the inspection in good faith, from any liability. The current Ship Safety Act stipulates government accountability, but the responsibility of the inspection rests with the natural persons of civil society. This is not only against the public interest of ship inspection, but also causes the rigidity of ship inspection. In the present era, the ship surveyors, natural persons, are placed in a blind spot away from any protection. This paper aims at presenting this problem

자율운항선박의 통제원리로서의 선원의 상무와 해사법규 개정방안 [translation: A Study on the Ordinary Practice of Seamen as a Controlling Principle of MASS and its Revision of Maritime Law]

Autonomous technology is advancing, but attention must be paid to how it will be realized when the technology meets specific domains. This paper argued that ships with autonomous technology can not be fundamentally free from the nature of a ship that is human system. Furthermore, the ordinary practice of seamen, which has been the foundation of ship safety for thousands of years, would serve as a basis for judging the adaptability of the autonomous technology. In this regard, the maritime autonomous surface vessels (MASS) of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) should be re-conceptualized into remotely operated vessels (ROV) and fully-autonomous vessels (FAV), and both development models should fulfill the standards of the ordinary practice of seamen. Furthermore, insofar as the ordinary practice of seamen takes a central role in MASS, the approach of amending Maritime Law will is more appropriate in regulating MASS than that of adopting a special act. Accordingly, this paper presented a draft of minimum necessary amendments