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17 mins ago


This article proposes an adaptive neural-network control scheme for a rigid manipulator with input saturation, full-order state constraint, and unmodeled dynamics. An adaptive law is presented to reduce the adverse effect arising from input saturation based on a multiply operation solution, and the adaptive law is capable of converging to the specified ratio of the desired input to the saturation boundary while the closed-loop system stabilizes. The neural network is implemented to approximate the unmodeled dynamics. Moreover, the barrier Lyapunov function methodology is utilized to guarantee the assumption that the control system works to constrain the input and full-order states. It is proved that all states of the closed-loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded with the presented constraints under input saturation. Simulation results verify the stability analyses on input saturation and full-order state constraint, which are coincident with the preset boundaries.In this article, a pinning control strategy is developed for the finite-horizon H∞ synchronization problem for a kind of discrete time-varying nonlinear complex dynamical network in a digital communication circumstance. For the sake of complying with the digitized data exchange, a feedback-type dynamic quantizer is introduced to reflect the transformation from the raw signals into the discrete-valued ones. Then, a quantized pinning control scheme takes place on a small fraction of the network nodes with the hope of cutting down the control expenses while achieving the expected global synchronization objective. Subsequently, by resorting to the completing-the-square technique, a sufficient condition is established to ensure the finite-horizon H∞ index of the synchronization error dynamics against both quantization errors and external noises. Moreover, a controller design algorithm is put forward via an auxiliary H₂-type criterion, and the desired controller gains are acquired in terms of two coupled backward Riccati equations. Finally, the validity of the presented results is verified via a simulation example.Expensive optimization problems arise in diverse fields, and the expensive computation in terms of function evaluation poses a serious challenge to global optimization algorithms. In this article, a simple yet effective optimization algorithm for computationally expensive optimization problems is proposed, which is called the neighborhood regression optimization algorithm. For a minimization problem, the proposed algorithm incorporates the regression technique based on a neighborhood structure to predict a descent direction. The descent direction is then adopted to generate new potential offspring around the best solution obtained so far. The proposed algorithm is compared with 12 popular algorithms on two benchmark suites with up to 30 decision variables. Empirical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm shows clear advantages when dealing with unimodal and smooth problems, and is better than or competitive with other peer algorithms in terms of the overall performance. In addition, the proposed algorithm is efficient and keeps a good tradeoff between solution quality and running time.Recently, deep-learning-based feature extraction (FE) methods have shown great potential in hyperspectral image (HSI) processing. Unfortunately, it also brings a challenge that the training of the deep learning networks always requires large amounts of labeled samples, which is hardly available for HSI data. To address this issue, in this article, a novel unsupervised deep-learning-based FE method is proposed, which is trained in an end-to-end style. The proposed framework consists of an encoder subnetwork and a decoder subnetwork. The structure of the two subnetworks is symmetric for obtaining better downsampling and upsampling representation. Considering both spectral and spatial information, 3-D all convolution nets and deconvolution nets are used to structure the encoder subnetwork and decoder subnetwork, respectively. However, 3-D convolution and deconvolution kernels bring more parameters, which can deteriorate the quality of the obtained features. To alleviate this problem, a novel cost function with a sparse regular term is designed to obtain more robust feature representation. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ff-10101.html Experimental results on publicly available datasets indicate that the proposed method can obtain robust and effective features for subsequent classification tasks.Feature selection is one of the most frequent tasks in data mining applications. Its ability to remove useless and redundant features improves the classification performance and gains knowledge about a given problem makes feature selection a common first step in data mining. In many feature selection applications, we need to combine the results of different feature selection processes. The two most common scenarios are the ensembles of feature selectors and the scaling up of feature selection methods using a data division approach. The standard procedure is to store the number of times every feature has been selected as a vote for the feature and then evaluate different selection thresholds with a certain criterion to obtain the final subset of selected features. However, this method is suboptimal as the relationships of the features are not considered in the voting process. Two redundant features may be selected a similar number of times due to the different sets of instances used each time. Thus, a voting scheme would tend to select both of them. In this article, we present a new approach instead of using only the number of times a feature has been selected, the approach considers how many times the features have been selected together by a feature selection algorithm. The proposal is based on constructing an undirected graph where the vertices are the features, and the edges count the number of times every pair of instances has been selected together. This graph is used to select the best subset of features, avoiding the redundancy introduced by the voting scheme. The proposal improves the results of the standard voting scheme in both ensembles of feature selectors and data division methods for scaling up feature selection.

42 mins ago


An editorial decision has been made to retract this manuscript due to breach of publishing guidelines, following the identification of non-original and manipulated figures. Reference Tan Guiying, Li Yue, Xiong Chao, Yu Jinhai, Xu Qihua Antitumor Effects of 8-Deoxylactucin in RB355 Human Retinoblastoma Cells Are Mediated via Apoptosis Induction, Reactive Oxygen Species Production, and Cell Cycle Arrest. Med Sci Monit 2019; 254575-4582. 10.12659/MSM.914242.An editorial decision has been made to retract this manuscript due to breach of publishing guidelines, following the identification of non-original and manipulated figures. Reference Hua-ming Chi, Jing-dong Du, Jie Cheng, Hua-dong Mao Taxol-Resistant Gene 1 (Txr1) Mediates Oxaliplatin Resistance by Inducing Autophagy in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells. Med Sci Monit 2019; 25475-483. 10.12659/MSM.913180.Retracted, due to breach of publishing guidelines, following the identification of non-original and manipulated figure images. Reference Chenyang Li, Xiuping Han Anthecotulide Sesquiterpene Lactone Exhibits Selective Anticancer Effects in Human Malignant Melanoma Cells by Activating Apoptotic and Autophagic Pathways, S-Phase Cell Cycle Arrest, Caspase Activation, and Inhibition of NF-kappaB Signalling Pathway. Med Sci Monit 2019; 252852-2858. 10.12659/MSM.913771.Retracted, due to breach of publishing guidelines, following the identification of non-original and manipulated figure images. Reference Qingquan Wen, Kai Luo, Haiyan Huang, Weiguo Liao, Hong Yang Xanthoxyletin Inhibits Proliferation of Human Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cells and Induces Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Cell Cycle Arrest by Modulation of the MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/PD-173074.html Med Sci Monit 2019; 258025-8033. 10.12659/MSM.911697.BACKGROUND Hairy polyps are rare tumors mainly comprising fatty tissues covered by skin and hair follicles, with varied localizations and sizes. Early excision of the polyps by surgery is an effective treatment resulting in a permanent cure. We present a case of successful management of severe obstruction of the oropharynx in a newborn who presented with a large mass of congenital hairy polyp. CASE REPORT A vaginally delivered infant, weighing 3 kg, presented immediately after birth with cyanosis symptoms, failure of the first cry, and respiratory distress signs. The newborn was born to a mother with an uneventful pregnancy. Screening tests during the pregnancy reported no congenital anomalies. The newborn's hematological and biochemical test results were normal. After presenting these symptoms, the newborn was immediately intubated and put on a nasogastric feeding tube, which revealed a small portion of a polyp-like mass. A computed tomography (CT) scan further confirmed a large pedunculated mass, measuring 3×2 cm, arising from the soft palate, and obstructing the oropharynx. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a hairy polyp. The polyp was wholly removed transorally using the Covidien LigaSure device without the need for endoscopy. This procedure allowed safe extubation, and the baby was discharged home without symptoms 4 days after birth. CONCLUSIONS This case sheds light on the importance of considering hairy polyp in the differential diagnosis of pharyngeal mass with respiratory distress in pediatric patients. This report also describes our experience using the LigaSure surgical device without needing endoscopic visualization to successfully resect the hairy polyp without complications.To understand county-level variation in case fatality rates of COVID-19, a statewide analysis of COVID-19 incidence and fatality data was performed, using publicly available incidence and case fatality rate data of COVID-19 for all 67 Alabama counties and mapped with health disparities at the county level. A specific adaptation of the Shewhart p-chart, called a funnel chart, was used to compare case fatality rates. Important differences in case fatality rates across the counties did not appear to be reflective of differences in testing or incidence rates. Instead, a higher prevalence of comorbidities and vulnerabilities was observed in high fatality rate counties, while showing no differences in access to acute care. Funnel charts reliably identify counties with unexpected high and low COVID-19 case fatality rates. Social determinants of health are strongly associated with such differences. These data may assist in public health decisions including vaccination strategies, especially in southern states with similar demographics.
To assess whether county age distribution is associated with age-specific COVID-19 infection, emergency department, hospitalization, and mortality rates.

Florida's 2020 COVID-19 cases are summarized into age-specific county rates and supplemented with socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and 2020 presidential voting results to assess the association of population age structure and political choices with age-specific COVID-19 infection, emergency, hospitalization, and mortality rates.

Younger counties experienced higher under-25 infection rates, as well as higher over-64 infection, emergency, and hospitalization rates. Older counties experienced reduced infection rates for all ages and decreased over-64 emergency and hospitalization rates. Trump's vote share was associated with higher infection rates for all and higher over-64 emergency, hospitalization, and mortality rates.

Younger counties experience higher COVID-19 infection rates for all residents, with elevated morbidity risks among seniors. Older counties had lower COVID-19 infection, emergency, and hospitalization rates. Age-specific messaging may help slow pandemic spread.
Younger counties experience higher COVID-19 infection rates for all residents, with elevated morbidity risks among seniors. Older counties had lower COVID-19 infection, emergency, and hospitalization rates. Age-specific messaging may help slow pandemic spread.
Local agencies across the United States have identified public health isolation sites for individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who are not able to isolate in residence.

We describe logistics of establishing and operating isolation and noncongregate hotels for COVID-19 mitigation and use the isolation hotel as an opportunity to understand COVID-19 symptom evolution among people experiencing homelessness (PEH).

Multiple agencies in Atlanta, Georgia, established an isolation hotel for PEH with COVID-19 and noncongregate hotel for PEH without COVID-19 but at risk of severe illness. PEH were referred to the isolation hotel through proactive, community-based testing and hospital-based testing. Daily symptoms were recorded prospectively. Disposition location was recorded for all clients.

During April 10 to September 1, 2020, 181 isolation hotel clients (77 community referrals; 104 hospital referrals) were admitted a median 3 days after testing. Overall, 32% of community referrals and 7% of hospital referrals became symptomatic after testing positive; 83% of isolation hotel clients reported symptoms at some point; 93% completed isolation.

49 mins ago


Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) rates have continued to rise during the last few decades, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. An emerging area of interest is the mediation of gene expression by DNA methylation during early pregnancy. Here, genome-wide DNA methylation from placental villi was profiled in both RPL patients and controls. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes were analysed for changes in gene expression. Many significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified near genes dysregulated in RPL including PRDM1. Differentially expressed genes were enriched in immune response pathways indicating that abnormal immune regulation contributes to RPL. Integrated analysis of DNA methylome and transcriptome demonstrated that the expression level of PRDM1 is fine-tuned by DNA methylation. Specifically, hypomethylation near the transcription start site of PRDM1 can recruit other transcription factors, like FOXA1 and GATA2, leading to up-regulation of gene expression and resulting in changes to trophoblast cell apoptosis and migration. These phenotypic differences may be involved in RPL. Overall, our study provides new insights into PRDM1-dependent regulatory effects during RPL and suggests both a mechanistic link between changes in PRDM1 expression, as well as a role for PRDM1 methylation as a potential biomarker for RPL diagnosis. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.There are three subtypes of undifferentiated human conventional osteosarcoma (HCOS) osteoblastic osteosarcoma (OOS), chondroblastic osteosarcoma (COS), and fibroblastic osteosarcoma (FOS). HCOS also exhibits heterogeneous pathological maldifferentiation in individual patients. Currently, the mechanism regulating HCOS differentiation remains unclear, and therapies are ineffective. Osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) are markers of osteoblast maturation, and their expression is inhibited in HCOS. A previous study found that PLK2 inhibited TAp73 phosphorylation and consequent anti-OS function of TAp73 in OS cells with enriched TAp73. TAp73 was also reported to regulate bone cell calcification. Here, OOS was found to have higher TAp73 levels and PLK2 expression than those in COS, which is correlated with HCOS maldifferentiation according to Spearman analysis and affects patient prognosis according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. In the conventional OS cell-line Saos2 and in patient-derived xenograft OS (PDd.OBJECTIVE To provide guidance to rheumatology providers on the management of adult rheumatic disease patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A task force, including 10 rheumatologists and 4 infectious diseases specialists from North America, was convened. Clinical questions were collated, and an evidence report was rapidly generated and disseminated. Questions and drafted statements were reviewed and assessed using a modified Delphi process. This included two rounds of asynchronous anonymous voting by email and three webinars with the entire panel. Task force members voted on agreement with draft statements using a 9-point numeric scoring system (1 to 9), and consensus was determined to be "low", "moderate", or "high", based on the dispersion of votes. For approval, median votes were required to meet pre-defined levels of agreement (median values of 7-9, 4-6, and 1-3 defined as "agreement", "uncertainty" or "disagreement", respectively) with either moderate or high levels of consensus. RESULTS The task force approved 77 initial guidance statements, 36 with moderate and 41 with high consensus. These were combined, resulting in 25 final guidance statements. CONCLUSION These guidance statements are provided to promote optimal care during the current pandemic. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ziprasidone.html However, given the low level of available evidence and the rapidly evolving literature, this guidance is presented as a "living document" and future updates are anticipated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.The problem of aesthetic restoration of the hard tissue defects in the anterior teeth and the choice of materials for quality restorations, which can include direct composite or indirect ceramic restoration, in particular ceramic veneers, is currently extremely important in clinical dental orthopedics. Currently used composite and ceramic materials are known to have different effects on the conditions of the marginal periodontium and the local immunity in the oral cavity. The condition of periodontal tissues should be taken into account when choosing a way to eliminate this pathology. Therefore, we propose a new approach to treatment, which is the use of indirect ceramic restorations in combination with an antioxidant. The purpose of this article is to increase the effectiveness of treatment in patients with defects in anterior teeth using indirect ceramic restorations with antioxidants. To study the intensity of immune reactivity in patients with existing defects of the coronal part of the anterior teeth, we analyzed the levels of lysozyme and sIgA in the oral fluid. The results of the studies confirm the advantages of indirect ceramic restorations over direct composite ones in the treatment of hard tissue defects in the anterior teeth, taking into account the levels of immunological reactivity and using an antioxidant drug Resverasin. According to the results of our clinical studies, Resverasin significantly shortens the duration of the adaptation period and increases immune reactivity in the oral cavity, especially in combined pathology. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.AIMS The aim of this study was to characterize Staphylococcusaureus isolates of food origin (dairy and meat products, pastries and sandwiches) determining the carriage in enterotoxin genes and the antimicrobial resistance pheno/genotypes. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 300 food samples were collected and analysed for the detection of S. aureus. The presence of enterotoxin genes was investigated by multiplex PCRs. Resistance of isolates to 11 antimicrobials was determined using disc diffusion method and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant S. aureus was carried out by spa typing and multilocus sequence typing. Overall, 51 out of 300 samples (17%) were contaminated with S. aureus, and 104 isolates were recovered. In all, 65 of these isolates (62·5%) harboured one or more genes encoding for staphylococcal enterotoxins, being seg and sei the most observed genes. The highest resistance profile was ascribed to penicillin G (95·19%). Five isolates were methicillin-resistant (MRSA) harbouring the mecA gene.

Videos

Sure, it’s the 11th hour, but if you were on the fence about voting today and want to see a little demo of how to track candidates’ positions or past votes on vaccine-related issues …

Here it is.

Full video with NVIC Advocacy: https://live.childrenshealthdefense.org/chd-tv/shows/good-morning-chd/how-to-be-an-informed-voter/

10/31/2024

Today on “Truth in Media”, Ben Swann looks at the disturbing trend of voter fraud cases all across the nation less than a week before the election.

The Trump Campaign is aggressively pursuing suspected vote tampering in Pennsylvania, Michigan, & Virginia. But that begs the question…Why are there so many early voting errors and what would happen if there was no one to catch them?

Donald Trump takes the offensive against the Harris campaign and exploits President Joe Biden’s recent gaffe calling his supporters “garbage”. The former President showed up to a rally in Wisconsin in a garbage truck as he continues to steal the headlines and the thunder from Harris-Walz.

And Glenn Jacobs, former WWE superstar, joins Ben Swann to ask how the American people can ever have trust in free & fair elections again.

10/30/2024

Reports of voter fraud and suppression are already raising their heads.

Can the Trump campaign, with the monumental energy it has behind it today, defeat this next week?

People

Sorry, no results were found.

Circles

Sorry, no results were found.

Videos

Sure, it’s the 11th hour, but if you were on the fence about voting today and want to see a little demo of how to track candidates’ positions or past votes on vaccine-related issues …

Here it is.

Full video with NVIC Advocacy: https://live.childrenshealthdefense.org/chd-tv/shows/good-morning-chd/how-to-be-an-informed-voter/

10/31/2024

Today on “Truth in Media”, Ben Swann looks at the disturbing trend of voter fraud cases all across the nation less than a week before the election.

The Trump Campaign is aggressively pursuing suspected vote tampering in Pennsylvania, Michigan, & Virginia. But that begs the question…Why are there so many early voting errors and what would happen if there was no one to catch them?

Donald Trump takes the offensive against the Harris campaign and exploits President Joe Biden’s recent gaffe calling his supporters “garbage”. The former President showed up to a rally in Wisconsin in a garbage truck as he continues to steal the headlines and the thunder from Harris-Walz.

And Glenn Jacobs, former WWE superstar, joins Ben Swann to ask how the American people can ever have trust in free & fair elections again.

10/30/2024

Reports of voter fraud and suppression are already raising their heads.

Can the Trump campaign, with the monumental energy it has behind it today, defeat this next week?

10/21/2024

Today on “Truth in Media”, a maneuver only Donald Trump can pull off is still making waves after the former president worked at a McDonald's for a day.

Democrats call it a "staged political stunt" while others see a candidate genuinely connecting with regular folks.

Meanwhile, Kamala Harris' “Town Hall” could be nailed as “staged” since the moderator told the audience all the questions to the candidate were predetermined and scripted.

This comes as a new poll shows Trump leading Harris just 14 days before Election Day. But the Biden administration is making them count, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken making his 11th trip to Israel and Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin visiting Ukraine — showcasing U.S. support for the ongoing two wars...

Joining me today is Larken Rose, author of The Most Dangerous Superstition, here to discuss exactly that, the most dangerous superstition: the illusion of authority. We discuss how this illusion is used to control our lives and how is at the root of most every problem we face as free individuals. We discuss voting and how it is a central part of this deception, as it is designed to give us the illusion of control over the entire process, and we highlight the many different solutions to overcoming this all-encompassing mechanism of control, that only exists because we allow it to.

All Video Source Links Can Be Found Here At The Last American Vagabond: https://www.thelastamericanvagabond.com/larken-rose-interview-9-26-24

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Posts

17 mins ago


This article proposes an adaptive neural-network control scheme for a rigid manipulator with input saturation, full-order state constraint, and unmodeled dynamics. An adaptive law is presented to reduce the adverse effect arising from input saturation based on a multiply operation solution, and the adaptive law is capable of converging to the specified ratio of the desired input to the saturation boundary while the closed-loop system stabilizes. The neural network is implemented to approximate the unmodeled dynamics. Moreover, the barrier Lyapunov function methodology is utilized to guarantee the assumption that the control system works to constrain the input and full-order states. It is proved that all states of the closed-loop system are uniformly ultimately bounded with the presented constraints under input saturation. Simulation results verify the stability analyses on input saturation and full-order state constraint, which are coincident with the preset boundaries.In this article, a pinning control strategy is developed for the finite-horizon H∞ synchronization problem for a kind of discrete time-varying nonlinear complex dynamical network in a digital communication circumstance. For the sake of complying with the digitized data exchange, a feedback-type dynamic quantizer is introduced to reflect the transformation from the raw signals into the discrete-valued ones. Then, a quantized pinning control scheme takes place on a small fraction of the network nodes with the hope of cutting down the control expenses while achieving the expected global synchronization objective. Subsequently, by resorting to the completing-the-square technique, a sufficient condition is established to ensure the finite-horizon H∞ index of the synchronization error dynamics against both quantization errors and external noises. Moreover, a controller design algorithm is put forward via an auxiliary H₂-type criterion, and the desired controller gains are acquired in terms of two coupled backward Riccati equations. Finally, the validity of the presented results is verified via a simulation example.Expensive optimization problems arise in diverse fields, and the expensive computation in terms of function evaluation poses a serious challenge to global optimization algorithms. In this article, a simple yet effective optimization algorithm for computationally expensive optimization problems is proposed, which is called the neighborhood regression optimization algorithm. For a minimization problem, the proposed algorithm incorporates the regression technique based on a neighborhood structure to predict a descent direction. The descent direction is then adopted to generate new potential offspring around the best solution obtained so far. The proposed algorithm is compared with 12 popular algorithms on two benchmark suites with up to 30 decision variables. Empirical results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm shows clear advantages when dealing with unimodal and smooth problems, and is better than or competitive with other peer algorithms in terms of the overall performance. In addition, the proposed algorithm is efficient and keeps a good tradeoff between solution quality and running time.Recently, deep-learning-based feature extraction (FE) methods have shown great potential in hyperspectral image (HSI) processing. Unfortunately, it also brings a challenge that the training of the deep learning networks always requires large amounts of labeled samples, which is hardly available for HSI data. To address this issue, in this article, a novel unsupervised deep-learning-based FE method is proposed, which is trained in an end-to-end style. The proposed framework consists of an encoder subnetwork and a decoder subnetwork. The structure of the two subnetworks is symmetric for obtaining better downsampling and upsampling representation. Considering both spectral and spatial information, 3-D all convolution nets and deconvolution nets are used to structure the encoder subnetwork and decoder subnetwork, respectively. However, 3-D convolution and deconvolution kernels bring more parameters, which can deteriorate the quality of the obtained features. To alleviate this problem, a novel cost function with a sparse regular term is designed to obtain more robust feature representation. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ff-10101.html Experimental results on publicly available datasets indicate that the proposed method can obtain robust and effective features for subsequent classification tasks.Feature selection is one of the most frequent tasks in data mining applications. Its ability to remove useless and redundant features improves the classification performance and gains knowledge about a given problem makes feature selection a common first step in data mining. In many feature selection applications, we need to combine the results of different feature selection processes. The two most common scenarios are the ensembles of feature selectors and the scaling up of feature selection methods using a data division approach. The standard procedure is to store the number of times every feature has been selected as a vote for the feature and then evaluate different selection thresholds with a certain criterion to obtain the final subset of selected features. However, this method is suboptimal as the relationships of the features are not considered in the voting process. Two redundant features may be selected a similar number of times due to the different sets of instances used each time. Thus, a voting scheme would tend to select both of them. In this article, we present a new approach instead of using only the number of times a feature has been selected, the approach considers how many times the features have been selected together by a feature selection algorithm. The proposal is based on constructing an undirected graph where the vertices are the features, and the edges count the number of times every pair of instances has been selected together. This graph is used to select the best subset of features, avoiding the redundancy introduced by the voting scheme. The proposal improves the results of the standard voting scheme in both ensembles of feature selectors and data division methods for scaling up feature selection.

42 mins ago


An editorial decision has been made to retract this manuscript due to breach of publishing guidelines, following the identification of non-original and manipulated figures. Reference Tan Guiying, Li Yue, Xiong Chao, Yu Jinhai, Xu Qihua Antitumor Effects of 8-Deoxylactucin in RB355 Human Retinoblastoma Cells Are Mediated via Apoptosis Induction, Reactive Oxygen Species Production, and Cell Cycle Arrest. Med Sci Monit 2019; 254575-4582. 10.12659/MSM.914242.An editorial decision has been made to retract this manuscript due to breach of publishing guidelines, following the identification of non-original and manipulated figures. Reference Hua-ming Chi, Jing-dong Du, Jie Cheng, Hua-dong Mao Taxol-Resistant Gene 1 (Txr1) Mediates Oxaliplatin Resistance by Inducing Autophagy in Human Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Cells. Med Sci Monit 2019; 25475-483. 10.12659/MSM.913180.Retracted, due to breach of publishing guidelines, following the identification of non-original and manipulated figure images. Reference Chenyang Li, Xiuping Han Anthecotulide Sesquiterpene Lactone Exhibits Selective Anticancer Effects in Human Malignant Melanoma Cells by Activating Apoptotic and Autophagic Pathways, S-Phase Cell Cycle Arrest, Caspase Activation, and Inhibition of NF-kappaB Signalling Pathway. Med Sci Monit 2019; 252852-2858. 10.12659/MSM.913771.Retracted, due to breach of publishing guidelines, following the identification of non-original and manipulated figure images. Reference Qingquan Wen, Kai Luo, Haiyan Huang, Weiguo Liao, Hong Yang Xanthoxyletin Inhibits Proliferation of Human Oral Squamous Carcinoma Cells and Induces Apoptosis, Autophagy, and Cell Cycle Arrest by Modulation of the MEK/ERK Signaling Pathway. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/PD-173074.html Med Sci Monit 2019; 258025-8033. 10.12659/MSM.911697.BACKGROUND Hairy polyps are rare tumors mainly comprising fatty tissues covered by skin and hair follicles, with varied localizations and sizes. Early excision of the polyps by surgery is an effective treatment resulting in a permanent cure. We present a case of successful management of severe obstruction of the oropharynx in a newborn who presented with a large mass of congenital hairy polyp. CASE REPORT A vaginally delivered infant, weighing 3 kg, presented immediately after birth with cyanosis symptoms, failure of the first cry, and respiratory distress signs. The newborn was born to a mother with an uneventful pregnancy. Screening tests during the pregnancy reported no congenital anomalies. The newborn's hematological and biochemical test results were normal. After presenting these symptoms, the newborn was immediately intubated and put on a nasogastric feeding tube, which revealed a small portion of a polyp-like mass. A computed tomography (CT) scan further confirmed a large pedunculated mass, measuring 3×2 cm, arising from the soft palate, and obstructing the oropharynx. Histopathological examination confirmed the presence of a hairy polyp. The polyp was wholly removed transorally using the Covidien LigaSure device without the need for endoscopy. This procedure allowed safe extubation, and the baby was discharged home without symptoms 4 days after birth. CONCLUSIONS This case sheds light on the importance of considering hairy polyp in the differential diagnosis of pharyngeal mass with respiratory distress in pediatric patients. This report also describes our experience using the LigaSure surgical device without needing endoscopic visualization to successfully resect the hairy polyp without complications.To understand county-level variation in case fatality rates of COVID-19, a statewide analysis of COVID-19 incidence and fatality data was performed, using publicly available incidence and case fatality rate data of COVID-19 for all 67 Alabama counties and mapped with health disparities at the county level. A specific adaptation of the Shewhart p-chart, called a funnel chart, was used to compare case fatality rates. Important differences in case fatality rates across the counties did not appear to be reflective of differences in testing or incidence rates. Instead, a higher prevalence of comorbidities and vulnerabilities was observed in high fatality rate counties, while showing no differences in access to acute care. Funnel charts reliably identify counties with unexpected high and low COVID-19 case fatality rates. Social determinants of health are strongly associated with such differences. These data may assist in public health decisions including vaccination strategies, especially in southern states with similar demographics.
To assess whether county age distribution is associated with age-specific COVID-19 infection, emergency department, hospitalization, and mortality rates.

Florida's 2020 COVID-19 cases are summarized into age-specific county rates and supplemented with socioeconomic and demographic characteristics and 2020 presidential voting results to assess the association of population age structure and political choices with age-specific COVID-19 infection, emergency, hospitalization, and mortality rates.

Younger counties experienced higher under-25 infection rates, as well as higher over-64 infection, emergency, and hospitalization rates. Older counties experienced reduced infection rates for all ages and decreased over-64 emergency and hospitalization rates. Trump's vote share was associated with higher infection rates for all and higher over-64 emergency, hospitalization, and mortality rates.

Younger counties experience higher COVID-19 infection rates for all residents, with elevated morbidity risks among seniors. Older counties had lower COVID-19 infection, emergency, and hospitalization rates. Age-specific messaging may help slow pandemic spread.
Younger counties experience higher COVID-19 infection rates for all residents, with elevated morbidity risks among seniors. Older counties had lower COVID-19 infection, emergency, and hospitalization rates. Age-specific messaging may help slow pandemic spread.
Local agencies across the United States have identified public health isolation sites for individuals with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) who are not able to isolate in residence.

We describe logistics of establishing and operating isolation and noncongregate hotels for COVID-19 mitigation and use the isolation hotel as an opportunity to understand COVID-19 symptom evolution among people experiencing homelessness (PEH).

Multiple agencies in Atlanta, Georgia, established an isolation hotel for PEH with COVID-19 and noncongregate hotel for PEH without COVID-19 but at risk of severe illness. PEH were referred to the isolation hotel through proactive, community-based testing and hospital-based testing. Daily symptoms were recorded prospectively. Disposition location was recorded for all clients.

During April 10 to September 1, 2020, 181 isolation hotel clients (77 community referrals; 104 hospital referrals) were admitted a median 3 days after testing. Overall, 32% of community referrals and 7% of hospital referrals became symptomatic after testing positive; 83% of isolation hotel clients reported symptoms at some point; 93% completed isolation.

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Recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) rates have continued to rise during the last few decades, yet the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. An emerging area of interest is the mediation of gene expression by DNA methylation during early pregnancy. Here, genome-wide DNA methylation from placental villi was profiled in both RPL patients and controls. Subsequently, differentially expressed genes were analysed for changes in gene expression. Many significant differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified near genes dysregulated in RPL including PRDM1. Differentially expressed genes were enriched in immune response pathways indicating that abnormal immune regulation contributes to RPL. Integrated analysis of DNA methylome and transcriptome demonstrated that the expression level of PRDM1 is fine-tuned by DNA methylation. Specifically, hypomethylation near the transcription start site of PRDM1 can recruit other transcription factors, like FOXA1 and GATA2, leading to up-regulation of gene expression and resulting in changes to trophoblast cell apoptosis and migration. These phenotypic differences may be involved in RPL. Overall, our study provides new insights into PRDM1-dependent regulatory effects during RPL and suggests both a mechanistic link between changes in PRDM1 expression, as well as a role for PRDM1 methylation as a potential biomarker for RPL diagnosis. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine published by Foundation for Cellular and Molecular Medicine and John Wiley & Sons Ltd.There are three subtypes of undifferentiated human conventional osteosarcoma (HCOS) osteoblastic osteosarcoma (OOS), chondroblastic osteosarcoma (COS), and fibroblastic osteosarcoma (FOS). HCOS also exhibits heterogeneous pathological maldifferentiation in individual patients. Currently, the mechanism regulating HCOS differentiation remains unclear, and therapies are ineffective. Osteopontin (OPN) and osteocalcin (OCN) are markers of osteoblast maturation, and their expression is inhibited in HCOS. A previous study found that PLK2 inhibited TAp73 phosphorylation and consequent anti-OS function of TAp73 in OS cells with enriched TAp73. TAp73 was also reported to regulate bone cell calcification. Here, OOS was found to have higher TAp73 levels and PLK2 expression than those in COS, which is correlated with HCOS maldifferentiation according to Spearman analysis and affects patient prognosis according to Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. In the conventional OS cell-line Saos2 and in patient-derived xenograft OS (PDd.OBJECTIVE To provide guidance to rheumatology providers on the management of adult rheumatic disease patients in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. METHODS A task force, including 10 rheumatologists and 4 infectious diseases specialists from North America, was convened. Clinical questions were collated, and an evidence report was rapidly generated and disseminated. Questions and drafted statements were reviewed and assessed using a modified Delphi process. This included two rounds of asynchronous anonymous voting by email and three webinars with the entire panel. Task force members voted on agreement with draft statements using a 9-point numeric scoring system (1 to 9), and consensus was determined to be "low", "moderate", or "high", based on the dispersion of votes. For approval, median votes were required to meet pre-defined levels of agreement (median values of 7-9, 4-6, and 1-3 defined as "agreement", "uncertainty" or "disagreement", respectively) with either moderate or high levels of consensus. RESULTS The task force approved 77 initial guidance statements, 36 with moderate and 41 with high consensus. These were combined, resulting in 25 final guidance statements. CONCLUSION These guidance statements are provided to promote optimal care during the current pandemic. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/ziprasidone.html However, given the low level of available evidence and the rapidly evolving literature, this guidance is presented as a "living document" and future updates are anticipated. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.The problem of aesthetic restoration of the hard tissue defects in the anterior teeth and the choice of materials for quality restorations, which can include direct composite or indirect ceramic restoration, in particular ceramic veneers, is currently extremely important in clinical dental orthopedics. Currently used composite and ceramic materials are known to have different effects on the conditions of the marginal periodontium and the local immunity in the oral cavity. The condition of periodontal tissues should be taken into account when choosing a way to eliminate this pathology. Therefore, we propose a new approach to treatment, which is the use of indirect ceramic restorations in combination with an antioxidant. The purpose of this article is to increase the effectiveness of treatment in patients with defects in anterior teeth using indirect ceramic restorations with antioxidants. To study the intensity of immune reactivity in patients with existing defects of the coronal part of the anterior teeth, we analyzed the levels of lysozyme and sIgA in the oral fluid. The results of the studies confirm the advantages of indirect ceramic restorations over direct composite ones in the treatment of hard tissue defects in the anterior teeth, taking into account the levels of immunological reactivity and using an antioxidant drug Resverasin. According to the results of our clinical studies, Resverasin significantly shortens the duration of the adaptation period and increases immune reactivity in the oral cavity, especially in combined pathology. © 2020 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.AIMS The aim of this study was to characterize Staphylococcusaureus isolates of food origin (dairy and meat products, pastries and sandwiches) determining the carriage in enterotoxin genes and the antimicrobial resistance pheno/genotypes. METHODS AND RESULTS A total of 300 food samples were collected and analysed for the detection of S. aureus. The presence of enterotoxin genes was investigated by multiplex PCRs. Resistance of isolates to 11 antimicrobials was determined using disc diffusion method and molecular characterization of methicillin-resistant S. aureus was carried out by spa typing and multilocus sequence typing. Overall, 51 out of 300 samples (17%) were contaminated with S. aureus, and 104 isolates were recovered. In all, 65 of these isolates (62·5%) harboured one or more genes encoding for staphylococcal enterotoxins, being seg and sei the most observed genes. The highest resistance profile was ascribed to penicillin G (95·19%). Five isolates were methicillin-resistant (MRSA) harbouring the mecA gene.


tion of sesquiterpene hydrocarbons.Panicle architecture is a key determinant of grain yield in cereals, but the mechanisms governing panicle morphogenesis and organ development remain elusive. Here, we have identified a quantitative trait locus (qPA1) associated with panicle architecture using chromosome segment substitution lines from parents Nipponbare and 9311. The panicle length, branch number and grain number of Nipponbare were significantly higher than CSSL-9. Through map-based cloning and complementation tests, we confirmed that qPA1 was identical to SD1 (Semi Dwarf1), which encodes a gibberellin 20-oxidase enzyme participating in gibberellic acid (GA) biosynthesis. Transcript analysis revealed that SD1 was widely expressed during early panicle development. Analysis of sd1/osga20ox2 and gnp1/ osga20ox1 single and double mutants revealed that the two paralogous enzymes have non-redundant functions during panicle development, likely due to differences in spatiotemporal expression; GNP1 expression under control of the SD1 promoter could rescue the sd1 phenotype. The DELLA protein SLR1, a component of the GA signalling pathway, accumulated more highly in sd1 plants. We have demonstrated that SLR1 physically interacts with the meristem identity class I KNOTTED1-LIKE HOMEOBOX (KNOX) protein OSH1 to repress OSH1-mediated activation of downstream genes related to panicle development, providing a mechanistic link between gibberellin and panicle architecture morphogenesis.
Telehealth has the potential to significantly change the specialty of emergency medicine (EM) and has rapidly expanded in EM during the COVID pandemic; however, it is unclear how EM should intersect with telehealth. The field lacks a unified research agenda with priorities for scientific questions on telehealth in EM.

Through the 2020 Society for Academic Emergency Medicine's annual consensus conference, experts in EM and telehealth created a research agenda for the topic. The multiyear process used a modified Delphi technique to develop research questions related to telehealth in EM. Research questions were excluded from the final research agenda if they did not meet a threshold of at least 80% of votes indicating "important" or "very important."

Round1 of voting included 94 research questions, expanded to 103 questions in round2 and refined to 36 questions for the final vote. Consensus occurred with a final set of 24 important research questions spanning five breakout group topics. Each breakout groupe use of and evaluation of telehealth in EM to fill the current knowledge gaps. Support should be provided to answer the research questions to guide the evidenced-based development of telehealth in EM.ATM serine/threonine kinase (ATM; previously known as ataxia-telangiectasia mutated) plays a critical role in maintaining genomic stability, and regulates multiple downstream pathways, such as DNA repair, cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. As a serine/threonine kinase, ATM has an array of downstream phosphorylation substrates, including checkpoint effector checkpoint kinase 2 (CHK2). ATM inhibits cell cycle progression by phosphorylating and activating CHK2, which plays an important role in the formation and development of tumors and participates in DNA repair responses after double-stranded DNA breaks. In this study, we used a recently developed mammalian functional genetic screening system to explore a series of ATM substrates and their role in DNA damage to enhance our understanding of the DNA damage response. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/guanidine-thiocyanate.html Ubiquilin4 (UBQLN4), which belongs to the ubiquilin family characterized by its ubiquitin-like (UBL) and ubiquitin associated (UBA) domains, was identified as a new substrate for ATM. UBQLN4 is involved in various intracellular processes, such as autophagosome maturation, p21 regulation, motor axon morphogenesis. However, the biological function of UBQLN4 remains to be elucidated. In this study, we not only identified UBQLN4 as a substrate for ATM, but also found that UBQLN4 interacts with and stabilizes the anti-apoptotic proteins Bcl-2-related protein A1 (BCL2A1) and Bcl-2-like protein 10 (BCL2L10), and prevents mesothelioma cell apoptosis in response to DNA damage. These findings expand our understanding of the role of UBQLN4 in mesothelioma, and provide new insights into potential mesothelioma treatments targeting substrates for ATM.Neonatal lumbar punctures (LPs) are most often performed when a baby younger than 30 days of age presents with a fever.1,2,3 The procedure can be challenging, even for experienced providers.4 The challenge is compounded when the patient is having respiratory or other issues such that they cannot tolerate a sitting or lateral decubitus position. Various methods for optimizing of the success of neonatal LPs have been proposed and studied.5,6,7 Nevertheless, failure rates range up to 40% in some studies.2,4,5 Traditionally, neonatal LPs have been performed in the lateral decubitus position or the sitting position, both of which require firm holding to maintain proper spacing of the spinous processes, a distance that is widely regarded as crucial to successful LP.
Functional neurological disorder (FND) is common, and symptoms can be severe. There have been no international large-scale studies of patient experiences of FND.

A patient questionnaire was created to assess FND patient characteristics, symptom comorbidities and illness perceptions. Respondents were recruited internationally through an open access questionnaire via social media and patient groups over a month-long period.

In total, 1048 respondents from 16 countries participated. Mean age was 42years (86% female). Median FND symptom duration was 5years, and median time from first symptom to diagnosis was 2years. Mean number of current symptoms (core FND and associated) was 9.9. Many respondents had associated symptoms, for example fatigue (93%), memory difficulties (80%) and headache (70%). Self-reported psychiatric comorbidities were relatively common (depression, 43%; anxiety, 51%; panic, 20%; and post-traumatic stress disorder, 22%). Most respondents reported that FND had multiple causes, including physical and psychological.

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To provide evidence-based recommendations and expert guidance for the management of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis (AAV), including granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA).

Clinical questions regarding the treatment and management of AAV were developed in the population, intervention, comparator, and outcome (PICO) format (47 for GPA/MPA, 34 for EGPA). Systematic literature reviews were conducted for each PICO question. The Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology was used to assess the quality of evidence and formulate recommendations. Each recommendation required ≥70% consensus among the Voting Panel.

We present 26 recommendations and 5 ungraded position statements for GPA/MPA, and 15 recommendations and 5 ungraded position statements for EGPA. This guideline provides recommendations for remission induction and maintenance therapy as well as adjunctive treatment strategies in GPA, MPA, and EGPA. These recommendations include the use of rituximab for remission induction and maintenance in severe GPA and MPA and the use of mepolizumab in nonsevere EGPA. All recommendations are conditional due in part to the lack of multiple randomized controlled trials and/or low-quality evidence supporting the recommendations.

This guideline presents the first recommendations endorsed by the American College of Rheumatology and the Vasculitis Foundation for the management of AAV and provides guidance to health care professionals on how to treat these diseases.
This guideline presents the first recommendations endorsed by the American College of Rheumatology and the Vasculitis Foundation for the management of AAV and provides guidance to health care professionals on how to treat these diseases.
Cardiac alterations represent a potential epilepsy-associated comorbidity. Whether cardiac changes occur as a function of epilepsy duration is not well understood. We sought to evaluate whether cardiac alterations represented a time-dependent phenomenon in pediatric epilepsy.

We retrospectively followed pediatric epilepsy patients without pre-existing cardiac conditions or ion channelopathies who had history of pediatric intensive care unit admission for convulsive seizures or status epilepticus between 4/2014 and 7/2017. All available 12-lead electrocardiograms (ECGs) from these patients between 1/2006 and 5/2019 were included. We examined ECG studies for changes in rhythm; PR, QRS, or corrected QT intervals; QRS axis or morphology; ST segment; or T wave. Data were analyzed using multivariable models containing covariates associated with ECG changes or epilepsy duration from the univariate analyses.

127 children with 323 ECGs were included in the analyses. The median epilepsy duration was 3.9 years (IQn in select pediatric epilepsy patients. Future studies are needed to determine the potential clinical implications and the generalizability of these observations.A large body of research supports the use of exercise to improve symptoms, quality of life, and physical function in patients with chronic heart failure. Previous reviews have focused on reporting outcomes of exercise interventions such as cardiorespiratory fitness. https://www.selleckchem.com/products/Cisplatin.html However, none have critically examined exercise prescription. The aim of this review was to evaluate the reporting and application of exercise principles in randomised control trials of exercise training in patients with chronic heart failure. A systematic review of exercise intervention RCTs in patients with CHF, using the Consensus on Exercise Reporting Template (CERT), was undertaken. The Ovid Medline/PubMed, Embase, Scopus/Web of Science, and Cochrane Library and Health Technology Assessment Databases were searched from 2000 to June 2020. Prospective RCTs in which patients with CHF were randomized to a structured exercise programme were included. No limits were placed on the type or duration of exercise structured exercise programme or type of CHF (i.e. preserved or reduced ejection fraction). We included 143 studies, comprising of 181 different exercise interventions. The mean CERT score was 10 out of 19, with no study achieving a score of 19. Primarily, details were missing regarding motivational strategies, home-based exercise components, and adherence/fidelity to the intervention. Exercise intensity was the most common principle of exercise prescription missing from intervention reporting. There was no improvement in the reporting of exercise interventions with time (R2 = 0.003). Most RCTs of exercise training in CHF are reported with insufficient detail to allow for replication, limiting the translation of evidence to clinical practice. We encourage authors to provide adequate details when reporting future interventions. Where journal word counts are restrictive, we recommend using supplementary material or publishing trial protocols prior to beginning the study.
The difficulties encountered in surgical spermatozoa retrieval for intracytoplasmic sperm injection procedure in azoospermic men have stressed the dire need for a robust biomarker for the prediction of spermatozoa retrieval. Data have highlighted the role of JMJD1A (Jumonji domain-containing 1A), a histone H3K9 demethylase, and other nuclear proteins, protamines (PRM) and transition nuclear proteins (TNP), as biomarkers in male infertility.

To access successful spermatozoa retrieval at the time of intracytoplasmic sperm injection by evaluating the mRNA expression profile of JMJD1A, TNP, and PRM in testicular tissue.

About 100 azoospermic patients, who visited the Australian Concept Infertility Medical Center, Karachi for spermatozoa retrieval by testicular sperm extraction or microsurgical testicular spermextraction participated in the study. mRNA expression of the JMJD1A, TNP1, TNP2, PRM1, and PRM2 genes was determined. Patients were categorized into successful spermatozoa retrieval (n = 42) group and bability of spermatozoa retrieval before intracytoplasmic sperm injection intervention.

The probability of spermatozoa retrieval in azoospermic patients is increased when the mRNA expression profile of JMJD1A, TNP2, and PRM2 in testicular tissue is increased.
The probability of spermatozoa retrieval in azoospermic patients is increased when the mRNA expression profile of JMJD1A, TNP2, and PRM2 in testicular tissue is increased.