178,780 research outputs found
VisualSHIELD - A suite of tools for non-disclosive analysis of biomedical data on federated databases that aggregates and extends the functionalities of the popular DataSHIELD R package
No full textVisualSHIELD is an open-source, extensible web interface that simultaneously provides a standardized deployment of the DataSHIELD infrastructure and a graphical user interface to dsSwissKnife and other R packages in order to simplify the definition of an analysis workflow and the visualization of the results.
It was implemented as a Shiny module, a graphical R package that can be embedded into any user-defined Shiny app to provide the federated analysis capability. It was designed with an open-source architecture that makes it extensible and provides a clear framework for the addition of user-defined federated analyses.
The tool provides a simple graphical user interface that integrates DataSHIELD analysis methods such as
histograms
contour plots
heatmaps
boxplots
correlation matri
Corrigendum to ‘Eribulin in combination with bevacizumab as second-line treatment for HER2-negative metastatic breast cancer progressing after first-line therapy with paclitaxel and bevacizumab: a multicenter, phase II, single arm trial (GIM11-BERGI)’: (ESMO Open (2021) 6(2), (S2059702921000089), (10.1016/j.esmoop.2021.100054))
No full textThe authors regret that at the time the article was published the following two authors were missing from the author list: R. Caputo and D. Cianniello. Both authors affiliation is the Breast Oncology Department, Istituto Nazionale Tumori Fondazione G. Pascale, Naples, Italy. The updated author list is as follows: C. De Angelis, D. Bruzzese, A. Bernardo, E. Baldini, L. Leo, A. Fabi, T. Gamucci, P. De Placido, F. Poggio, S. Russo, V. Forestieri, R. Lauria, I. De Santo, R. Caputo, D. Cianniello, A. Michelotti, L. Del Mastro, M. De Laurentiis, M. Giuliano, S. De Placido, G. Arpino. The authors would like to apologise for any inconvenience caused
A rank lower bound for cutting planes proofs of Ramsey's theorem
No full textRamsey's Theorem is a cornerstone of combinatorics and logic. In its simplest formulation it says that there is a function r such that any simple graph with r(k,s) vertices contains either a clique of size k or an independent set of size s. We study the complexity of proving upper bounds for the number r(k,k). In particular we focus on the propositional proof system cutting planes; we prove that the upper bound "r(k,k) ≤ 4k" requires cutting planes proof of high rank. In order to do that we show a protection lemma which could be of independent interest.</p
Physical constraints on phytoplankton in estuaries and shallow coastal waters
No full textHighly dynamic aquatic systems have often been reported to support actively growing populations of phytoplankton. The partially-mixed, macrotidal, temperate estuary Southampton Water is no exception, with reports of frequent temporal patterns of spring and summer maxima in algal biomass. During this study, the close coupling between the estuarine hydrology and the phytoplankton community was confirmed by the results from an intensive sampling strategy, spanning various temporal scales. Using high frequency data, collected from acoustic Doppler current profilers (ADCP) and CTDs, the physical mixing processes within the estuary were determined and combined with high resolution phytoplankton species data to assess the physical pressures on the microalgal community. Initial surveys were conducted to provide snapshots of the estuary during productive periods, followed by more intensive, longer term monitoring to observe population growth and succession. Through seasonal investigations, the aggregation of algal biomass (quantified by chlorophyll a concentration) at differing vertical heights in the water column was realised. On closer examination using microscopic identification, the different vertical profiles were shown to be due to phytoplankton succession from the spring to the summer months. Diatoms (Rhizosolenia delicatula) proliferated in the spring, where the population was localised in the near-bottom layers, whilst the summer bloom was dominated by autotrophic dinoflagellates (Prorocentrum micans and Peridifiium trochoideum), manifesting in a sub-surface chlorophyll a maximum. The vertical position of diatom species, bothpelagic and benthic, suggested no dependence on incident irradiance, but seemed solely governed by current velocities, shear and wind mixing events. Other passive constituents of the water column, such as suspended particulate matter, were also closely coupled with boundary shear and followed regular patterns of re-suspension similar to those shown by the diatom community. In the summer, apparent active vertical migration was observed for several species of dinoflagellate. Whilst this apparent migration was closely linked to the incident irradiance, the extent and timing of migration was highly dependent on the tidal state and the water column stability. During one 25 hour Eulerian investigation, apparent positive vertical migration was observed in several dinoflagellate species, where the controlling factor was incident irradiance. Dinoflagellates were observed to descend during the dark periods when the water column was stable. However, the vertical distribution of the autotrophic ciliate Mesodinium rubrum suggested that migrations into the surface waters were linked with periods of water column stability and not triggered by surface irradiance.The unique tidal regime that governs the physical mixing processes in Southampton Water translates into periods of stability separated in time by intermittent turbulence. This periodic stability within the water column during reduced tidal forcings permitted the surface aggregation of dinoflagellates, which became homogeneously distributed when turbulence intensified during the ebb and flood currents. Diatoms, conversely, relied on vertical mixing to enter the surface layers of the water column, and aggregated in the lower layers during times of water column stability. Data from the seasonal surveys suggested that diatoms and dinoflagellates were able to co-exist during the summer by utilising contrasting properties of tidal mixing to develop and reside within this partially mixed environment. The segregation of these two phytoplankton groups was not apparent from the chlorophyll concentrations alone, and was only made evident through the high resolution phytoplankton sampling through both time and space. The close coupling between the phytoplankton community and physical forcings were also investigated in the usually well-mixed southern North Sea. During a 12 hour Lagrangian survey, the stabilising effect of the Rhine region of freshwater influence (ROFI) was recognised and provided the temporary stability necessary for apparent dinoflagellate (Prorocentrum micans and Gonyaulax sp) migration. Associated solely with this lower salinity plume was the diatom Rhizosolenia stvliformis, which was not detected during other times of the survey. Very small changes in total algal biomass were detected through the use of chlorophyll a determinations (chlorophyll a < 2 mg m-3). The intermittency of the mixing forces proved to be an important physical characteristic which defines the species and distribution of the phytoplankton community
A rank lower bound for cutting Planes Proofs of Ramsey's Theorem
No full textRamsey's Theorem is a cornerstone of combinatorics and logic. In its simplest formulation it says that for every k>0 and s>0, there is a minimum number r(k,s) such that any simple graph with at least r(k,s) vertices contains either a clique of size k or an independent set of size s. We study the complexity of proving upper bounds for the number r(k,k). In particular, we focus on the propositional proof system cutting planes; we show that any cutting plane proof of the upper bound “r(k,k)≤4k” requires high rank. In order to do that we show a protection lemma which could be of independent interest
Trigeminal small-fiber sensory neuropathy causes burning mouth syndrome
No full textTrigeminal small-fiber sensory neuropathy causes burning mouth syndrome
Giuseppe Lauria a,*, Alessandra Majorana b, Monica Borgna a, Raffaella Lombardia,
Paola Penza a, Alessandro Padovani c, Pierluigi Sapelli b
a Immunology and Muscular Pathology Unit, National Neurological Institute ‘Carlo Besta’, Via Celoria, 11, 20133 Milan, Italy
b Dental Clinic, School of Dentistry, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
c Neurological Clinic, University of Brescia, Brescia, Italy
Received 14 October 2004; received in revised form 15 February 2005; accepted 11 March 2005
Abstract
Burning mouth syndrome is a common disorder that frequently affects women in the 5th–7th decade. It is characterized by persisting painful symptoms mainly involving the anterior two-thirds of the tongue. For several years it has been attributed to psychological causes. We investigated the innervation of the epithelium of the tongue to assess whether damage of peripheral nerve fibers underlies the pathogenesis of the disease. We examined 12 patients with clinically definite burning mouth syndrome for at least 6 months. We obtained superficial biopsies of the lateral aspect of the anterior two-thirds of the tongue from all patients and nine healthy controls. Immunohistochemical and confocal microscope co-localization studies were performed with cytoplasmatic, cytoskeletric, Schwann cell, and myelin markers for pathological changes. The density of epithelial nerve fibers was quantified. Patients showed a significantly lower density of epithelial nerve fibers than controls, with a trend toward correlation with the duration of symptoms. Epithelial and sub-papillary nerve fibers showed diffuse morphological changes reflecting axonal degeneration. Our study demonstrates that burning mouth syndrome is caused by a trigeminal small-fiber sensory neuropathy and that superficial biopsy of the tongue can be helpful in assessing the diagnosis. These findings shed light into the pathogenesis of this common disorder and could contribute to evaluate targeted therapies in patients.
Pain 115 (2005) 332–337
Published by Elsevier B.V
Skin biopsy in painful and immune-mediated neuropathies
No full textStarting from the original studies of the 19th century, this review covers some of the advances achieved over the last 15 years since skin biopsy has become a diagnostic tool for neurologists. In a relatively short period of time, focused works demonstrated the correlation between the loss of intraepidermal nerve fibers (IENF) and symptoms and signs of small fiber neuropathy (SFN), and provided standardized protocols for nerve morphometry as well as normative reference values to be used in clinical practice. This contributed to the definition of the diagnostic criteria for SFN that is now recognized as a distinct nosologic entity. The relationship between IENF degeneration and neuropathic pain led to the recent discovery that SFN can be caused by mutations in sodium channels, providing evidence for a new diagnostic approach to the etiology of the disease in patients. The presence of myelinated nerve fibers in the dermis prompted studies focused on demyelinating neuropathies of genetic and immune-mediated origin. Specific changes in dermal myelinated nerves have been described suggesting a potential role for skin biopsy also in these fields. Finally, studies on the sequence of events occurring after nerve degeneration in experimental models and patients with chronic neuropathies allowed to understand better the ability of skin nerves to regenerate and the reasons for its failure, providing important hints for the use of skin biopsy as an outcome measure in clinical practice and neuroprotective trials
Small fiber neuropathy: Is skin biopsy the holy grail?
No full textSmall fiber neuropathy (SFN) is characterized by negative sensory symptoms (thermal and pinprick hypoesthesia) reflecting peripheral deafferentation and positive sensory symptoms and signs (burning pain, allodynia, hyperalgesia), which often dominate the clinical picture. In patients with pure SFN, clinical and neurophysiologic investigation do not show involvement of large myelinated nerve fiber making the diagnosis of SFN challenging in clinical practice. Over the last 15 years, skin biopsy has emerged as a novel tool that readily permits morphometric and qualitative evaluation of somatic and autonomic small nerve fibers. This technique has overcome the limitations of routine neurophysiologic tests to detect the damage of small nerve fibers. The recent availability of normative reference values allowed clinicians to reliably define the diagnosis of SFN in individual patients. This paper reviews usefulness and limitations of skin biopsy and the relationship between degeneration and regeneration of small nerve fibers in patients with diabetes and metabolic syndrome
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