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Matlab codes related to "Weighted network estimation by the use of topological graph metrics"
No full textMatlab code related to the article "Weighted network estimation by the use of topological graph metrics" by L. Spyrou & J. Escudero, IEEE Transactions on Network Science and Engineering.
Topological metrics of graphs provide a natural way to describe the prominent features of various types of networks. Graph metrics describe the structure and interplay of graph edges and have found applications in many scientific fields. In this work, the use of graph metrics is employed in network estimation by developing optimisation methods that incorporate prior knowledge of a network's topology. The derivatives of graph metrics are used in gradient descent schemes for weighted undirected network denoising, network completion, and network decomposition. The successful performance of our methodology is shown in a number of toy examples and real-world datasets. Most notably, our work establishes a new link between graph theory, network science and optimisation.The zip file contains a series of Matlab *.m files with the scripts and functions related to the paper
Chirurgia del prolasso rettale con o senza incontinenza anale associata
Get PDFL'incontinenza anale (IA), è definita come l'incapacità a controllare volontariamente l'emissione di gas e/o feci. L' IA si definisce totale se comporta la perdita di feci solide, parziale se solo di gas e feci liquide; potrà essere passiva (fecal soiling), oppure manifestarsi durante urgenza defecatoria. La gravità dell' IA si valuta con degli score. I più affidabili sono CCF score (Jorge & Wexner) da 0-20, il quale valuta anche l'impatto della IA sulla qualità di vita, il Pescatori score (1-6), AMS, Vaizey ( St. Mark's Hospital), Williams. I pazienti con IA che presentano sintomi da lievi a moderati, rispondono bene al trattamento conservativo, il trattamento chirurgico invece è riservato a quelli pazienti con IA grave. L'associazione tra prolasso rettale e IA rappresenta un entità clinica di non semplice risoluzione.
Matteriali e Metodi. L'esame obiettivo ano perineale, intergrato dall'esame anoscopico sarà mirato a cercare di identificare quale struttura anatomico-funzionale è principalmente coinvolta nella patogenesi del disturbo. L'ispezione potrà evidenziare: ano beante, cicatrici, ectropion mucoso, fistole, ascessi, emorroidi, patologie uro-ginecologiche (es. cistocele, prolasso utero-genitale), l'entità del prolasso del retto, perineo discendente. L'esplorazione rettale valuterà il tono sfinteriale (in condizioni basali, durante contrazione volontaria e sotto i colpi di tosse). L'esame endoscopico valuta la presenza di malattie infiammatorie,tumori, ulcera solitaria e prolasso mucoso del retto. Le indagini morfologiche quali la manometria anale, la colpocisto-defecografia, l'eletromiografia dei muscoli del pavimento pelvico,l'endosonografia anale,vaginale e perineale dinamica, potranno rivelarsi utili nello studio di lesioni organiche colo-rettali e dell'integrità anatomica della componente sfinteriale. Trattamento chirurgico: sfinterolpastica, levatorplastica anteriore, plicatura posteriore del pavimento pelvico sec. Park's, total pelvic floor repair, iniezioni di biomateriali, procedure di "encirclement". Nelle unità di coloproctologia della Società Italiana di Chirurgia Colo-Rettale (1983-2000), sono stati osservati 738 pazienti. Quarantasette (30 donne) pazienti, (6.4%), presentavano IA associata a prolasso rettale, di questo gruppo, venticinque pazienti (53%), sono stati sottoposti a trattamento chirurgico
Prolasso rettale (PR), il prolasso rettale è caratterizzato dalla fuoriuscita di vari strati della parete attraverso il canale anale. Può essere a tutto spessore (completo) o esterno, oppure occulto (interno).
I sintomi più frequenti sono dolore anale, perdite ematiche, perdite mucose, urgenza defecatoria. L' incontinenza anale associata è stata dimostrata nel 50-70% dei casi, il 25-50% dei paziente invece potrebbe presentare stipsi, valutata secondo il CCF score (0-30), per la stipsi.
Anamnesi accurata, esame obiettivo,valutazione di patologie genito-urinarie associate, abitudini intestinali. I pazienti vengono sottoposti ad anoscopia, colonscopia, cine-defecografia, misurazione dei tempi di latenza del nervo pudendo e tempi di transito intestinale. La manometria ano-rettale spesso risulta essere alterata. La terapia chirurgica del prolasso del retto è la cosiddetta terapia su misura (tailored surgery), tenendo in considerazione i disordini funzionali associati, in particolare se vi sia o no IA associata. Gli approcci perineali comprendono più frequentemente l'intervento secondo Delorme e Altemeier.
Risultati. Nella nostra casistica Ospedale S. Eugenio (1987-2003), sedici pazienti (10 donne ) sono stati sottoposti ad intervento sec. Delorme. Il tasso di recidiva era 9% a 5 anni (range del follow-up 6-60 mesi). L'indice di soddisfazione nel postoperatorio era 73%, il 46-75% dei pazienti hanno avuto miglioramento della loro continenza. Dodici pazienti (8 donne) sono stati sottoposti ad intervento chirurgico sec. Altemeier, il tasso di recidiva era 1% (range del follow-up 6-60 mesi), sono stati raggiunti con questo tipo di tecnica ottimi risultati funzionali per incontinenza e stipsi. Nelle procedure addominali, la rettopessi secondo Orr-Loyge è stata effettuata in 25 pazienti (9 donne), il tasso di recidiva era 2,5%, (range del follow-up 8-80 mesi). La continenza è stata migliorata nel 58% dei casi, la stipsi invece nel 61% dei pazienti. Trentasei pazienti (16 donne), sono stati sottoposti a rettopessi secondo Wells, 12 pazienti hanno avuto recidiva di malattia (range del follow-up 8-80 mesi). La continenza è migliorata nel 35% dei casi, la stipsi invece è peggiorata nel 20% dei pazienti. L'approccio addominale ha dimostrato minor rischio di recidiva e migliori risultati funzionali, in termini di incontinenza anale e stipsi in confronto alle tecniche perineali. La chirurgia laparoscopica anche, dimostra essere una scelta affidabile, con ottimi risultati in termini di recidiva ed outcomes funzionali.
Conclusioni La chirurgia del prolasso rettale è la tipica chirurgia su misura. Lo specialista deve considerare varie tecniche in base al tipo di paziente,( se maschio o femmina, se giovane o anziano, se sano o fragile), del rischio operatorio, delle caratteristiche del prolasso (se interno o esterno, se mucoso o totale, se piccolo oppure di grandi dimensioni), i sintomi associati, in particolare la stipsi cronica o incontinenza anale. Questa risulta essere complessa e di eziologia multifattoriale, e potrebbe essere dovuta sia a difetti anatomici, sia funzionali. In alcuni casi il trattamento chirurgico esclusivo del prolasso rettale, potrebbe non essere sufficiente, a risolvere tutti i sintomi, per qui potrebbe essere indicato associare alla prolassectomia o rettopessi una sfinteroplastica, tenendo presente che dopo rettopessi, o Altemeier, o Delorme, ci si può attendere un miglioramento della continenza.
Parole chiave Incontinenza anale, stipsi, prolasso rettale, recidiva, rettopessi, laparoscopia, risultati funzionaliBackground. Anal Incontinence (AI) is the ability to defer the call to stool to a socially acceptable time and place. Loss of control of solid feces is complete anal incontinence, whereas loss of control over flatus or liquid is partial anal incontinence, incomplete and more associated with diarrheal syndromes and fecal impaction. The most frequently used score are the CCF (0-20) score (Jorge and Wexner), which takes in account also the quality of life, and the Pescatori score (0-6), which is simple an easily understandable by the patients, AMS, Vaizey (St.Mark’s Hospital), Williams. Severe incontinence is likely to require surgery, whereas mild and moderate AI are better managed conservatively. The association between rectal prolapse and AI represent a clinical entity difficult to manage.
Methods History, the most important factor is determination of the etiology, by physical examination, inspection of perineus for soiling, scars, mucosal ectropion , size of the rectal prolapse
muscular deficit, fistulae, prolapsing hemorrhoids. digital exploration will allow to assess anal sphincter’s function: such as resting tone and squeeze contraction endoscopic evaluation to esclude the existence of inflammatory bowel disease, tumors, solitary rectal ulcer syndrome, mucosal prolapse.
Special Investigations: anal manometry, cine defecography, electromyography of the pelvic floor, rectal compliance, anal, vaginal and dynamic parineal endosonography. Surgical treatment: Park’s post anal repair, overlapping sphincteroplasty, total pelvic floor repair, encirclement procedures, injection of bulking agents. At the coloproctology units of the Italian society of Colorectal surgery, from 1983 to 2000, 738 patients were observed . Fortyseven (30 women) pts (6.4%), presented AI associated with rectal prolapse, twentyfive of those patients (53%), underwent surgical treatment.
Rectal prolapse ( RP) may be full thickness, i.e. procidentia of the rectum through the sphincters, causes a variety of symptoms including pain, bleeding, mucous discharge, and urge to defecate. Associated AI, is experienced by 50% to 70% of the patients, and 25% to 50% of them have significant constipation according to CCF scoring system (0-30) for constipation. The specific causation has yet to be fully elucidated.
The patients generally undergo baseline functional tests, following a detailed history and physical examination, as well as an evaluation of a comorbid history of genitourinary dysfunction and bowel habits. In addition anoscopy and full colonoscopy should be performed to exclude other sources of rectal bleeding or the presence of masses that may initiate an intussusception. Cinedefecography, pudendal nerve terminal motor latency assessment and colonic transit studies are generally performed to better evaluate the concomitant presence of enterocele, paradoxical puborectalis contraction, pudendal nerve injury and denervation of the pelvic floor muscles and sphincter. Anorectal manometry is usually abnormal in the incontinent rectal prolapse patients. Surgical therapy of rectal prolapse is often non standard, but rather, tailored after careful consideration of the patient’s operative risk, life expectancy, associated functional disorders, and previous operative history.The goals of the surgical treatment are to eradicate the external prolapse of the rectum and to reduce the risk of recurrence, without causing an adverse impact on bowel function and continence. Perineal approaches, including Delorme’s procedure and perineal rectosigmoidectomy according to Altemeier, with or without levatorplasty (in case of incontinence) are usually carried out and may be tailored according to the presence and the degree of AI.
Results Sixteen patients (10 women), at St. Eugenio Hospital (Rome) from 1987 to 2003, underwent Delorme’s procedure. Recurrence rate was 9% at 5 years (range of follow-up 6-60 months). Postoperative overall satisfaction was 73%, 46-75% of the patients experienced an improvement in continence. Twelve patients (8 women) underwent Altemeier procedure, recurrence rate was 1% with excellent results in terms of functional outcome regarding constipation and incontinence rates. Twenty five patients (9 women), underwent abdominal rectopexy according Orr-Loygue, recurrence rate at 5 years, was 2.5%, (range of follow-up 8-80 months).Continence was improved in 58% and constipation was improved in 61% of the patients. Satisfaction rate was 72%. Thirty six patients (16 women),underwent rectopexy according to Wells technique, 12 patients developed recurrence (range of follow-up 8-80 months). Continence was improved in 35%, constipation was worsened in 20% of the cases.
Transabdominal open repair, has gained acceptance by most clinicians as the standard surgical procedure for patients with acceptable surgical risks, and is considered to have lower recurrence rates and better functional results than perineal approaches. In addition low recurrence rates, better functional outcome can be safely achieved using laparoscopic surgical techniques to repair full thickness rectal prolapse.
Conclusion Selecting an operative approach based on clinical criteria provides satisfactory functional outcomes with regard to symptoms of constipation and incontinence. Anal incontinence is a complex dysfunction with multiple causes, and in rectal prolapse, it may be difficult to understand if it is due anatomical defect (full rectal eversion, internal and external anal sphincter and anal canal integrity in their anatomy and nerve supply) or to a functional lesion (abnormal anal and rectal sensitivity, loss of rectal reservoir function and rectal compliance). This may explain why in some cases treating just the prolapse may not be sufficient to cure all symptoms. A combination of both rectal excision or rectopexy and sphincteroplasty may be required to cure some patients with rectal prolapse and severe anal incontinence due to sphincters weakness, taking in account that rectopexy and other rectal prolapse procedure may improve anal continence.
Keywords Anal incontinence, constipation, rectal prolapse, recurrence, rectopexy, laparoscopy, treatment outcomes
Crossing borders and borderlands: Childhood's secret undergrounds
Get PDFThis chapter examines childhood undergrounds as subversive spaces that respond to children’s borderlands and border crossings. Centred on a tale of two childhoods, it analyses children's secret coping practices within very different socio-political contexts and realities. One story is of a boy growing up in communist Czechoslovakia in the 1970s and 1980s, and his relationship to the borderlands between his country and Austria. The other is about a girl born into a German community in Australia, and her linguistic and cultural border crossings. The impact of their borders and border crossing strategies are theorised in relation to children’s ideological settings and forming subjectivities, to offer fresh understandings of childhood border experiences
Dr. Duane M. Jackson, Morehouse College, July 2011
No full textThis video is a conversation with Dr. Duane M. Jackson. Dr. Jackson talks about his paper, "Recall and the Serial Position Effect: The Role of Primacy and Recency on Accounting Students' Performance." Jackie Daniel, AUC Woodruff Library, is the interviewer
"Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States" By M. Carey.
No full text"Reflections on the subject of Emigration from Europe with a view to Settlement in the United States: containing bried sketches of the moral and political character of those states.
By M. Carey, member of the American philosophical, and of the American Antiquarian Society, and author of The Olive Branch, Cindiciae Hibernicae, essays on banking, on political economy, and on internal improvement.
To which are now added the English editor's comments on the subject; together with Important Advice to Emigrants, and Cautions Against Impositions Practiced in the Outports
Modified Limberg's Transposition flap for pilonidal sinus: long term follow up of 216 cases
No full textAIM OF THIS STUDY: to report our results in a large series of patients with chronic pilonidal sinus (PS) at long term follow up, MATERIALS AND METHODS: Two hundred sixteen patients underwent excision and rhomboid flap transposition (RFT) from 1986 to 2004 for PS, and followed for more than two years. Clinical presentation includes: pilonidal abscess treated by drainage (33%), chronic discharge (48%) and simple infected sinus (19%). Mean follow-up was 74.4 months (range: 24-96). RESULTS: Minimal flap necrosis occurred in 5 pts (2.3%), post operative infection in 2 pts (0.9%), 4 pts (1.8%) had a seroma, 18 pts (8.3%) anesthesia or hypoesthesia on the upper portion of the flap. The mean hospitalization was 3.1 +/- 0.30 days and return to work was 10.8 +/- 2,4 days. Recurrences occurred in 5 pis (7.4%) in our initial 87 pts. Since we modified the technique no recurrences were seen. CONCLUSIONS: The Limberg's technique is a very effective procedure for chronic or recurrent PS with a low complications rate, a short hospital stay, a rapid return to normal activities and a low recurrence rate. Moreover with the modified technique the wound healing and the rate of recurrences have shown a significant decrease
Endometriosis: A Retrospective Analysis on Diagnostic Data in a Cohort of 4,401 Patients
No full textBackground/Aim: Endometriosis is a gynecological estrogen-dependent inflammatory disease due to ectopic endometrial tissue and often associated with pelvic pain. Despite its high prevalence, there are still uncertainties about its pathogenesis, diagnosis, and therapy. Patients and Methods: This study presents a retrospective study conducted on 4,401 endometriosis patients, 584 of which underwent laparoscopic procedures. The archived data about clinical signs, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results, topography of the endometriosis lesions (obtained via laparoscopy) associated diseases, sample analysis and histological findings were analyzed. Next, the statistical associations between the information for each case, provided by these diagnostic tools were determined. Results: MRI is the most sensitive and specific diagnostic system for ovarian lesions, but poor in sensitivity and specificity for deep endometriosis lesions and not indicated for peritoneal lesions which remain the exclusive prerogative of laparoscopy. Clinical signs are essential for diagnosing deep lesions. The Ca125 and Ca19.9 markers have a poor reliability and their negativity in symptomatic patients has no clinical value, while in positive cases it could probably be used as a monitoring parameter. Conclusion: The results generated will help provide an accurate picture of the topography and distribution of endometriotic lesions. Correlation analyses between the data generated by the clinical-instrumental examinations and those on the site of the disease identified by laparoscopy, allow to define the predictive value of the clinical-instrumental signs in the diagnosis and localization of endometriotic disease
Dispelling the Myths Behind First-author Citation Counts
Get PDFWe conducted a full-scale evaluative citation analysis study of scholars in the XML research field to explore just how different from each other author rankings resulting from different citation counting methods actually are, and to demonstrate the capability of emerging data and tools on the Web in supporting more realistic citation counting methods. Our results contest some common arguments for the continued
use of first-author citation counts in the evaluation of scholars, such as high correlations between author rankings by first-author citation counts and other citation
counting methods, and high costs of using more realistic citation counting methods that are not well-supported by the ISI databases. It is argued that increasingly available digital full text research papers make it possible for citation analysis studies to go beyond what the ISI databases have directly supported and to employ more
sophisticated methods
Dr. Glendon Swarthout
No full textHosted by Roger M. Busfield, MSU Assistant Professor of Speech and Theater, Meet the Author is designed to introduce a general audience to a contemporary author and their work through in-depth interviews. This episode features a conversation between Dr. Glendon Swarthout, prolific author and English professor at MSU, and assistant professors Sam S. Baskett and Theodore B. Strandness
Differential genetic and functional background in inflammatory bowel disease phenotypes of a Greek population: A systems bioinformatics approach
No full textBackground: Crohn's disease (CD) and Ulcerative colitis (UC) are the two main entities of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Previous works have identified more than 200 risk factors (including loci and signaling pathways) in populations of predominantly European ancestry. Our study was conducted on an extended population-specific cohort of 573 Greek IBD patients (364 CD and 209 UC) and 445 controls. Aims: To highlight the different genetic and functional background of IBD and its phenotypes, utilizing contemporary systems bioinformatics methodologies. Methods: Disease-associated SNPs, obtained via our own 89 loci IBD risk GWAS panel, were detected with the whole genome association analysis toolset PLINK. These SNPs were used as input for 2 novel and different pathway analysis methods to detect functional interactions. Specifically, PathwayConnector was used to create complementary networks of interacting pathways whereas; the online database of protein interactions STRING provided protein-protein association networks and their derived pathways. Network analyses metrics were employed to identify proteins with high significance and subsequently to rank the signaling pathways those participate in. Results: The reported complementary pathway and enriched protein-protein association networks reveal several novel and well-known key players, in the functional background of IBD like Toll-like receptor, TNF, Jak-STAT, PI3K-Akt, T cell receptor, Apoptosis, MAPK and B cell receptor signaling pathways. IBD subphenotypes are found to have distinct genetic and functional profiles which can contribute to their accurate identification and classification. As a secondary result we identify an extended network of diseases with common molecular background to IBD. Conclusions: IBD's burden on the quality of life of patients and intricate functional background presents us constantly with new challenges. Our data and methodology provide researchers with new insights to a specific population, but also, to possible differentiation markers of disease classification and progression. This work, not only provides new insights into the interplay among IBD risk variants and their related signaling pathways, elucidates the mechanisms underlying IBD and its clinical sequelae, but also, introduces a generalized bioinformatics-based methodology which can be applied to studies of different disorders
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