Sign Pattern Research Articles

Angiostrongylus cantonensis Nematode Invasion Pathway, Mallorca, Spain.

Neural angiostrongyliasis is an emerging zoonosis caused by the rat lungworm, Angiostrongylus cantonensis. In humans, infection with this nematode often results in eosinophilic meningitis and other severe disorders of the central nervous system. Europe was deemed a nonendemic region until 2018, when A. cantonensis worms were detected on the Mediterranean island of Mallorca, Spain, a tourism hotspot. Since that time, a sentinel surveillance system and a molecular approach have been used to follow the invasion path of the rat lungworm on the island. A. cantonensis worms have been found in animals from 8 locations on the island over 3 consecutive years. Our preliminary results show a recognizable pattern of clinical signs in infected hedgehogs and a single mitochondrial haplotype circulating in Mallorca. We present strong evidence confirming that the rat lungworm has successfully established and colonized an island in Europe and discuss observations and possible strategies for its early detection across continental Europe.

Creation of control network for aerial surveys in open-pit workings using UAV

To assess the condition of the instrument array at the Aksu field, the earth's surface has been monitored since 2018. The territory of the mining and technical facilities of the Aksu deposit is characterized by a varying degree of complexity of the relief and a variety of the structure of the composing rocks. At the first stage, instrumental geodetic monitoring was organized to identify active deformations on the object under study using observation profile lines located in the zone of Earth surface movements. Based on the monitoring results, an assessment of the condition of the instrument array of the deposit was carried out and decisions were made on systematic observations of the movement of the Earth's surface using digital aerial photography. A deformation monitoring program has been developed at the site under study, including a project for creating a geometric pattern of signs and a zone of possible and existing deformations has been determined. Aerial photography was carried out with the help of UAVs at intervals every half a year starting in 2020. According to the results of aerial survey, local zones of new deformations on the earth's surface were obtained, as a result of mining underground work at the Aksu mine. Monitoring continues, the next flight of aerial photography is planned for May-June 2022.

A Hybrid Model Predictive Control for a Seven-Level Hybrid Multilevel Converter With Independent Low-Frequency and High-Frequency Stages

This article puts forward a hybrid model predictive control (H-MPC) that enables the decoupling of low- and high-frequency stages in a seven-level hybrid multilevel converter (7L-HMC). It first uses the sign pattern of the reference voltage vector to determine switching states of the low-frequency stage. Next, the reference vector is shifted to the internal hexagon of the original space vector diagram, which is thereby converted to a 120° oblique coordinate system, where the adjacent vectors can be rapidly selected. Then, the optimal current tracking is primarily safeguarded by the duty cycle optimization of the three adjacent vectors. Finally, an optimized symmetric switching sequence minimizing the dc voltage deviation over one control iteration is selected through the assessment of possible switching sequences that are subject to the chosen vectors with optimal duty cycles. The proposed H-MPC method can reduce both the current ripple and computational burden while achieving a constant switching frequency. Comprehensive simulation and experimental comparisons on an all-silicon-carbide 7L-HMC prototype verify the effectiveness of the proposed H-MPC.

An evaluation of the effectiveness of countermeasures for improving the safety of dilemma zones: A driving simulator study

The main objective of this driving simulator study is to analyze the behavior of the driver at the start of the yellow signal of a signalized rural intersection and identify the most effective countermeasures for tackling the dilemma zone, namely an area on the intersection approach where vehicles at the start of the yellow phase can neither safely stop before the stop line nor cross the intersection. The following countermeasures were tested in the study on a sample of 48 drivers: green signal countdown timers, GSCT (C1); a new pattern of vertical and horizontal warning signs (C2); and an advanced on-board driver assistance system based on augmented reality (AR) and connected vehicle technologies (C3). These countermeasures were tested and compared to a baseline condition (B) where no countermeasures were applied. Based on the results of this study, the C2 and C3 countermeasures have proven to be valid tools for reducing driver indecision when approaching signalized intersections at the start of the yellow signal. In fact, using C2 and C3, the length of the dilemma zone was equal to 30 m and 36 m, respectively, with a reduction of about 50%, as compared to the baseline condition (B). Moreover, a reduced number of false behaviors was recorded, as well as a greater consistency in driver decision-making behaviors. Conversely, the C1 countermeasure did not lead to a significant improvement in the dilemma zone: an unnecessary increase in early stop rates was recorded, resulting in reduced intersection efficiency and operations.

Speech to Indian Sign Language Translator

Communication plays a critical role for people and is regarded as a skill in life. Having this important aspect of life and surroundings in mind, we present our project article, which focuses primarily on supporting patients with pain or silent speech. Our research work leads to improved contact with the deaf and the mute. Each sign language uses sign patterns visually conveyed to express the true meaning. The combination of hand gestures and/or motions of arm and body is called Sign Language and the Dictionary. It is the combination of hands and facial expressions. Our program project is able to understand signals in sign language. These symbols may be used to interact with hearing aids. Our article suggests a program that allows common people to interact effectively with others that are hard to understand. In this case, we are implementing the Indian Sign Language (ISL) method by using a microphone and a camera. Translation of the voice into Indian sign language system by the ISL translation system is possible. The ISL translation framework uses a microphone to get pictures (from ordinary people) or continuous video clips, which the application interprets. Deaf people always miss out the fun that a normal person does, may it be communication, playing computer games, attending seminars or video conferences, etc. Communication is the most important difficulty they face with normal people and also every normal person does not know the sign language. The aim of our project is to develop a communication system for the deaf people. It converts the audio message into the sign language. This system takes audio as input, converts this audio recording message into text and displays the relevant Indian Sign Language images or GIFs which are predefined. By using this system, the communication between normal and deaf people gets easier.

Chronic Experimental Model of TNBS-Induced Colitis to Study Inflammatory Bowel Disease.

Background: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a world healthcare problem. In order to evaluate the effect of new pharmacological approaches for IBD, we aim to develop and validate chronic trinitrobenzene sulfonic acid (TNBS)-induced colitis in mice. Methods: Experimental colitis was induced by the rectal administration of multiple doses of TNBS in female CD-1 mice. The protocol was performed with six experimental groups, depending on the TNBS administration frequency, and two control groups (sham and ethanol groups). Results: The survival rate was 73.3% in the first three weeks and, from week 4 until the end of the experimental protocol, the mice’s survival remained unaltered at 70.9%. Fecal hemoglobin presented a progressive increase until week 4 (5.8 ± 0.3 µmol Hg/g feces, p < 0.0001) compared with the ethanol group, with no statistical differences to week 6. The highest level of tumor necrosis factor-α was observed on week 3; however, after week 4, a slight decrease in tumor necrosis factor-α concentration was verified, and the level was maintained until week 6 (71.3 ± 3.3 pg/mL and 72.7 ± 3.6 pg/mL, respectively). Conclusions: These findings allowed the verification of a stable pattern of clinical and inflammation signs after week 4, suggesting that the chronic model of TNBS-induced colitis develops in 4 weeks.

Treatment Response in Pediatric Pulmonary Tuberculosis-A Prospective Longitudinal Study.

Data are limited on the resolution of symptoms and signs in children treated for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and whether this resolution differs from children with other lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). A prospective study of children ≤ 15 years presenting with features suggestive of PTB was performed. Clinical, microbiological, and radiological investigations were done at enrollment. Symptoms and clinical features were measured 1, 3, and 6 months after enrollment. Participants were categorized into 3 groups based on National Institutes of Health consensus definitions: confirmed PTB, unconfirmed PTB, and unlikely PTB (children with other LRTIs). Univariable and multivariable logistic regression modeling was used to investigate predictors of persistence of symptoms or signs. Among 2019 participants, there were 427 (21%) confirmed, 810 (40%) unconfirmed, and 782 (39%) with unlikely PTB. Of 1693/2008 (84%) with cough and 1157/1997 (58%) with loss of appetite at baseline, persistence at 3 months was reported in 24/1222 (2%) and 23/886 (3%), respectively. Of 934/1884 (50%) with tachypnoea and 947/1999 (47%) with abnormal auscultatory findings at baseline, persistence at 3 months occurred in 410/723 (57%) and 216/778 (28%), respectively. HIV infection and abnormal baseline chest radiography were associated with persistence of symptoms or signs at month 3 (adjusted odds ration [aOR] 1.6; 95% confidence interval [CI]: [1.1, 2.3] and aOR 2.3; 95% CI: [1.5, 3.3], respectively]. The resolution of symptoms and signs was similar across categories. Symptoms resolved rapidly in most children with PTB, but signs resolved more slowly. The pattern and resolution of symptoms or signs did not distinguish children with PTB from those with other LRTIs.

Fetal and neonatal abnormalities due to congenital syphilis: Aliterature review.

The recent recrudescence of syphilis among women of childbearing age is associated with an increasing number of cases of congenital syphilis. We aimed to summarize the fetal and neonatal abnormalities due to congenital syphilis infection, particularly signs amenable to prenatal diagnosis. Eligible studies were retrieved from the PubMed collection database. Articles focusing on postnatal and antenatal abnormalities covered the periods from 1969 to 2019 and 1975-2019, respectively. This review included cohort studies, case series and case reports reporting findings regarding congenital syphilis infections described before and/or after birth. Articles were reviewed by three experts in prenatal diagnosis, and all findings were classified as amenable or not amenable to prenatal diagnosis. A total of 432 cases of congenital syphilis infection were reported. Abnormalities were described antenatally in 161 cases, postnatally in 319 cases, and in both the antenatal and postnatal periods in 57 cases. The most frequently reported signs amenable to prenatal diagnosis were abdominal abnormalities (hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, and bowel abnormalities), fetal growth restriction, and elevated middle cerebral artery peak systolic velocity in the context of ascites or atypical hydrops. Brain abnormalities were rare and never isolated. In the neonatal period, the most common abnormalities were hepatosplenomegaly, bone damage and skin lesions. We found that no individual sonographic sign or pattern of signs is pathognomonic for fetal syphilis. In fetuses with ultrasound abnormalities suggestive of congenital infection, syphilis must be considered as part of the work-up.

The epidemiology and etiology of onychomycosis in 2 laboratory centers affiliated to Tehran university of medical sciences during 2019-2020.

Background and Objectives:Onychomycosis is caused by dermatophyte species, non-dermatophyte moulds (NDMs), and accounts for roughly 50% of all nail diseases. As the prevalence of onychomycosis is increasing, new epidemiologic documents may help with treatment and prevention. The present investigation aims to determine the epidemiological profile of onychomycosis in 2 mycology laboratories.Materials and Methods:A cross-sectional study conducted during eight months (2019–2020) on 169 patients with positive nail mycology tests referred to two mycological laboratory centers affiliated with Tehran University of Medical Science. The nail clippings were examined by direct smear and culture. Also, molecular assays were performed if needed.Results:10% of nail lesions referred to Razi Hospital (RH), and 30% of nail lesions referred to TUMS mycology laboratory were positive. Middle age (40–60) suffer more from onychomycosis. Aspergillus flavus, Trichophyton mentagrophytes, and Candida albicans were the most common etiologic agents in each of the three main classes of fungi causing onychomycosis. Females were more infected. NDMs were the predominant etiologic agents, and toenails were the most common site of onychomycosis.Conclusion:The pattern of etiologic agents and clinical signs of onychomycosis differs according to geographical region and age, so repeated epidemiological surveys of onychomycosis seem to be fundamental.

Sign patterns associated with some graphs that allow or require diagonalizability

The problems of characterizing sign pattern matrices that allow or require diagonalizability are mostly open. In this paper, we introduce the concept of essential index for a tree sign pattern matrix and use it to investigate the allow problem on diagonalizability for sign pattern matrices having their graphs as trees. We characterize sign pattern matrices allowing diagonalizability, whose graphs are star or path. We also give a sufficient condition for sign pattern matrices whose graphs are trees to allow diagonalizability. Further, we give a necessary condition for a sign pattern matrix to require diagonalizability and characterize all star sign pattern matrices that require diagonalizability.

On the minimum semidefinite rank of signed graphs

The (real) minimum semidefinite rank of a signed graph is the minimum rank among all real symmetric positive semidefinite matrices associated to the graph and having the given sign pattern. We give a new lower bound for the minimum semidefinite rank of a signed multigraph and show it equals a new upper bound for signed complete multigraphs. This allows a complete characterization of signed multigraphs with minimum semidefinite rank two. We also determine the minimum semidefinite rank of all signed wheel graphs.

Sign patterns of rational matrices with large rank II

It is known that, for any real m-by-n matrix A of rank n-2, there is a rational m-by-n matrix which has rank n-2 and sign pattern equal to that of A. We prove a more general result conjectured in the recent literature.&#x0D;

Urinary transferrin and proinflammatory markers predict the earliest diabetic nephropathy onset

Aim This study aimed to determine the earliest markers of diabetic nephropathy (DN) onset with discriminative potentials from controlled diabetes (CD). Methods Sixty male Wistar rats were allocated into three groups (20/group), the two diabetic groups CD and DN received 45 and 65 mg/kg STZ in 0.1 mole/L citrate buffer, respectively, while the control group received only the vehicle. Serum/urinary levels of glomerular, tubular, oxidative and proinflammatory markers were weekly monitored. Results Each diabetic group showed a different pattern of inflammatory, oxidative and signs of nephropathy along the study period, but none had a discriminative power until the fourth week. At this time point, levels of urinary transferrin, serum/urinary IL-6 and TNF-α as well as urinary IL-18 were significantly higher in DN group compared to CD (p = 0.0217, <0.0001, 0.0005, 0.0004, 0.0006, 0.0019, respectively). Predictive thresholds of these markers were calculated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve that showed area under curve (AUC) of 0.9375 for transferrin with cut-off value of 35.2 mg/dL and 1.000 for serum/urinary IL-6 and TNF-α and urinary IL-18 with cut-of values 224.1, 82.11, 6.596, 125.9 and 21.86 pg/mL, respectively. Conclusion Urinary transferrin and the inflammatory endpoints proposed in this study might represent promising biomarkers for the early DN onset.

Tongue rolling stereotypy in cattle – etiological, epidemiological and clinical investigations

The present studies were carried out to establish the causes for appearance, prevalence, age- and sex-related features, the frequency and 24-hour pattern of clinical signs accompanying the tongue rolling stereotypy in cattle. The animals were distributed in 2 groups: group I (n=1055) – control animals that did not demonstrate the tongue play orosthenic syndrome and group II (n=48) – cattle manifesting this stereotypy. Both groups were uniform with regard to age, breed, body condition and sex. They were placed under equal housing conditions (animal hygiene parameters, feed quantity and quality) and activity regimens (walks, feeding etc.). It was found out that the causes for demonstration of the tongue rolling hyperactivity in cattle were the deprivation from food and boredom, due to deficiency of environmental stimuli. The studied stereotypy was observed in cattle in different age groups – suckling and weaned calves, as well as heifers, including pregnant ones. The tongue play activity was no longer exhibited by heifers after calving and moving into the basic herd of lactating cows. The highest intensity (up to 80%) of this orosthenic syndrome was manifested before the morning feeding, between 9.00 and 12.00 AM. Most commonly, the tongue rolling activity was found out in heifers between 13 to 25 months of age. The studied oral stereotypy was not accompanied with changes in measured clinical parameters – rectal body temperature, pulse and respiratory rates, rumen movements, as well as in other activities e.g. rumination, eructation, appetite, sentience, locomotion etc.

Grid Topology Identification With Hidden Nodes via Structured Norm Minimization.

This letter studies a topology identification problem for an electric distribution grid using sign patterns of the inverse covariance matrix of bus voltage magnitudes and angles, while accounting for hidden buses. Assuming the grid topology is sparse and the number of hidden buses are fewer than those of the observed buses, we express the observed voltages inverse covariance matrix as the sum of three structured matrices: sparse matrix, low-rank matrix with sparse factors, and low-rank matrix. Using the sign patterns of the first two of these matrices, we develop an algorithm to identify the topology of a distribution grid with a minimum cycle length greater than three. To estimate the structured matrices from the empirical inverse covariance matrix, we formulate a novel convex optimization problem with appropriate sparsity and structured norm constraints and solve it using an alternating minimization method. We validate the proposed algorithm's performance on a modified IEEE 33 bus system.

Psychosomatic symptoms in patients suffering from morphea

Objective. To study the features of psychosomatic pathology in patients with morphea.Materials and methods. We used the Symptom Check List-90 Revised (SCL-90-R) to assess patterns of phychological signs in 95 patients suffering from morphea. The control group included 30 respondents without the skin pathology.Results. The patients with morphea revealed higher values in the Global Severity Index (GSI), Positive Symptom Distress Index (PSDI), Positive Symptoms Total (PST). The group of the patients with morphea showed higher distress levels according to the somatization, obsessive and compulsive disorders, depression, anxiety scales.Conclusion. Patients with morphea have a wider range of psychosomatic symptoms. The prevalent characteristics of psychosomatic changes are somatization, obsessive and compulsive disorders, depression, anxiety.

Disentangling environmental effects in microbial association networks

BackgroundEcological interactions among microorganisms are fundamental for ecosystem function, yet they are mostly unknown or poorly understood. High-throughput-omics can indicate microbial interactions through associations across time and space, which can be represented as association networks. Associations could result from either ecological interactions between microorganisms, or from environmental selection, where the association is environmentally driven. Therefore, before downstream analysis and interpretation, we need to distinguish the nature of the association, particularly if it is due to environmental selection or not.ResultsWe present EnDED (environmentally driven edge detection), an implementation of four approaches as well as their combination to predict which links between microorganisms in an association network are environmentally driven. The four approaches are sign pattern, overlap, interaction information, and data processing inequality. We tested EnDED on networks from simulated data of 50 microorganisms. The networks contained on average 50 nodes and 1087 edges, of which 60 were true interactions but 1026 false associations (i.e., environmentally driven or due to chance). Applying each method individually, we detected a moderate to high number of environmentally driven edges—87% sign pattern and overlap, 67% interaction information, and 44% data processing inequality. Combining these methods in an intersection approach resulted in retaining more interactions, both true and false (32% of environmentally driven associations). After validation with the simulated datasets, we applied EnDED on a marine microbial network inferred from 10 years of monthly observations of microbial-plankton abundance. The intersection combination predicted that 8.3% of the associations were environmentally driven, while individual methods predicted 24.8% (data processing inequality), 25.7% (interaction information), and up to 84.6% (sign pattern as well as overlap). The fraction of environmentally driven edges among negative microbial associations in the real network increased rapidly with the number of environmental factors.ConclusionsTo reach accurate hypotheses about ecological interactions, it is important to determine, quantify, and remove environmentally driven associations in marine microbial association networks. For that, EnDED offers up to four individual methods as well as their combination. However, especially for the intersection combination, we suggest using EnDED with other strategies to reduce the number of false associations and consequently the number of potential interaction hypotheses.39dy5mFVH5LkqSifW2AWwCVideo abstract

Symptom Correlates Using Network Analysis in Pediatric Patients Undergoing Blood and Marrow Transplant

Introduction: Youth undergoing blood and marrow transplantation (BMT) experience significant distress. The widespread and mainstream use of mHealth technologies such as smartphone applications offer a unique opportunity to collect patient-generated health data that can enhance patients' and clinicians' understanding of symptom onset, trajectories, and inter-relationships. Network analysis (NA) is a useful tool that can illuminate inter-relationships between symptoms, leading to better collective understanding of the symptom experiences of these youths. This knowledge can lead to enhanced patient-caregiver interactions/collaborations, treatment management, and potentially support improved inference around adverse clinical outcomes.Objective: To determine the feasibility of using network analysis to evaluate mHealth symptom data in patients undergoing BMT.Aim 1. Estimate the network by creating a graphic model that depicts symptom inter-relationships.Aim 2. Identify influential symptoms in the network by evaluating centrality indices and assessing the stability of edges and centrality results.Methods: Study participants undergoing BMT recorded daily symptoms via a smartphone app from preconditioning through 120 days. Patients report their symptom experience (intensity and distress on a scale of 0-10). NA was conducted on the initial patients (n=3) to evaluate inter-relationships between reported symptoms. Each symptom is represented by a circle (node), while associations (regularized partial correlations coefficients) between symptoms are depicted as lines (edges). Stronger associations among symptoms present as thicker lines in the network and a higher value in the weighted matrix table.Centrality indices identify and quantify symptoms that exert more influence in the network. These symptoms are influential in the network due to their strength (sum of absolute values of its connections with other nodes), betweenness (number of times a node lies on the shortest path between two other nodes), or closeness (the summed average distance of a node to all other nodes). Other centrality measures also exist. Centrality tests aimed to evaluate symptoms for their reported importance to the youth and association of those symptoms with other reported symptoms. The more “central” a symptom, the higher the potential to transmit effects to and from other symptoms in the network. This can make them important foci for intervention. Stability testing was used to assess the network's accuracy.Results/Discussion: Descriptive statistics are summarized in Table 1. The estimated network (Fig. 1) provided details on the eight most often reported symptoms; nausea, tired (intensity and distress), vomiting, pain, mouth pain, and sore throat (intensity). The network shows strong mutual associations (regularized partial correlations) between the intensity and distress of nausea (.596) and being tired (.722). There was also a strong relationship between mouth pain and sore throat (.791). A less strong relationship was noted between nausea intensity and tired intensity (.145), and tired intensity and pain intensity (.187). A slight negative relationship was noted between vomiting intensity and pain intensity (-.086).The centrality indices (Fig. 2) revealed vomiting intensity (-1.917) as the strongest symptom with the highest closeness (-1.715). The symptom with the highest betweenness centrality was equal for both nausea intensity and tired intensity at 1.286. To assess confidence in the network estimation we replicated this test 1000 times (non-parametric bootstrapping, n=1000) on the edge stability and centrality results (Fig. 3). Results indicate areas with wide confidence intervals (instability) especially in the edge between vomiting intensity and mouth pain.Conclusion: It is feasible to use mHealth data from youth who experience symptom distress during BMT. However, efforts to obtain more data is necessary if we hope to make accurate inferences from the data. Future work will focus on enriching data collection, examining clinically important sign and symptom patterns and interrelationships, and to explore feasibility of using mHealth data for individualized/precision care and possible predictive uses. [Display omitted] DisclosuresShah: Novartis: Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; GBT: Consultancy, Research Funding, Speakers Bureau; CSL Behring: Consultancy; Guidepoint Global: Consultancy; Alexion: Speakers Bureau; Bluebird Bio: Consultancy; Emmaus: Consultancy; GLG: Consultancy.

On the infinite Borwein product raised to a positive real power

In this paper, we study properties of the coefficients appearing in the q-series expansion of prod _{nge 1}[(1-q^n)/(1-q^{pn})]^delta , the infinite Borwein product for an arbitrary prime p, raised to an arbitrary positive real power delta . We use the Hardy–Ramanujan–Rademacher circle method to give an asymptotic formula for the coefficients. For p=3 we give an estimate of their growth which enables us to partially confirm an earlier conjecture of the first author concerning an observed sign pattern of the coefficients when the exponent delta is within a specified range of positive real numbers. We further establish some vanishing and divisibility properties of the coefficients of the cube of the infinite Borwein product. We conclude with an Appendix presenting several new conjectures on precise sign patterns of infinite products raised to a real power which are similar to the conjecture we made in the p=3 case.

A Solution to a Problem on the Spectra of Sign Pattern Matrices

A Solution to a Problem on the Spectra of Sign Pattern Matrices