On the variable inverse sum deg index.

Several important topological indices studied in mathematical chemistry are expressed in the following way $ \sum_{uv \in E(G)} F(d_u, d_v) $, where $ F $ is a two variable function that satisfies the condition $ F(x, y) = F(y, x) $, $ uv $ denotes an edge of the graph $ G $ and $ d_u $ is the degree of the vertex $ u $. Among them, the variable inverse sum deg index $ IS\!D_a $, with $ F(d_u, d_v) = 1/(d_u^a+d_v^a) $, was found to have several applications. In this paper, we solve some problems posed by Vukičević , and we characterize graphs with maximum and minimum values of the $ IS\!D_a $ index, for $ a < 0 $, in the following sets of graphs with $ n $ vertices: graphs with fixed minimum degree, connected graphs with fixed minimum degree, graphs with fixed maximum degree, and connected graphs with fixed maximum degree.

White Blood Cell Scintigraphy for Fracture-Related Infection: Is Semiquantitative Analysis of Equivocal Scans Accurate?

Purpose: White blood cell (WBC) scintigraphy is considered the gold-standard nuclear imaging technique for diagnosing fracture-related infection (FRI). Correct interpretation of WBC scans in FRI is important since a false positive or false negative diagnosis has major consequences for the patient in terms of clinical decision-making. The European Association of Nuclear Medicine (EANM) guideline for correct analysis and interpretation of WBC scans recommends semiquantitative analysis of visually equivocal scans.

The diagnostic accuracy of F-FDG PET/CT in diagnosing fracture-related infections.

Purpose: F-Fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography (F-FDG PET/CT) is frequently used to diagnose fracture-related infections (FRIs), but its diagnostic performance in this field is still unknown. The aims of this study were: (1) to assess the diagnostic performance of qualitative assessment of F-FDG PET/CT scans in diagnosing FRI, (2) to establish the diagnostic performance of standardized uptake values (SUVs) extracted from F-FDG PET/CT scans and to determine their associated optimal cut-off values, and (3) to identify variables that predict a false-positive (FP) or false-negative (FN) F-FDG PET/CT result.

Methods: This retrospective cohort study included all patients with suspected FRI undergoing F-FDG PET/CT between 2011 and 2017 in two level-1 trauma centres.

Limited Predictive Value of Serum Inflammatory Markers for Diagnosing Fracture-Related Infections: results of a large retrospective multicenter cohort study.

Diagnosing Fracture-Related Infections (FRI) based on clinical symptoms alone can be challenging and additional diagnostic tools such as serum inflammatory markers are often utilized. The aims of this study were 1) to determine the individual diagnostic performance of three commonly used serum inflammatory markers: C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Leukocyte Count (LC) and Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), and 2) to determine the diagnostic performance of a combination of these markers, and the additional value of including clinical parameters predictive of FRI. This cohort study included patients who presented with a suspected FRI at two participating level I academic trauma centers between February 1 2009 and December 31 2017.

Prevalence of non-communicable diseases and access to care among non-camp Syrian refugees in northern Jordan.

Background: Tackling the high non-communicable disease (NCD) burden among Syrian refugees poses a challenge to humanitarian actors and host countries. Current response priorities are the identification and integration of key interventions for NCD care into humanitarian programs as well as sustainable financing. To provide evidence for effective NCD intervention planning, we conducted a cross-sectional survey among non-camp Syrian refugees in northern Jordan to investigate the burden and determinants for high NCDs prevalence and NCD multi-morbidities and assess the access to NCD care.

Mining EEG with SVM for Understanding Cognitive Underpinnings of Math Problem Solving Strategies.

We have developed a new methodology for examining and extracting patterns from brain electric activity by using data mining and machine learning techniques. Data was collected from experiments focused on the study of cognitive processes that might evoke different specific strategies in the resolution of math problems. A binary classification problem was constructed using correlations and phase synchronization between different electroencephalographic channels as characteristics and, as labels or classes, the math performances of individuals participating in specially designed experiments.

Preconditioning of adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells with deferoxamine increases the production of pro-angiogenic, neuroprotective and anti-inflammatory factors: Potential application in the treatment of diabetic neuropathy.

Diabetic neuropathy (DN) is one of the most frequent and troublesome complications of diabetes mellitus. Evidence from diabetic animal models and diabetic patients suggests that reduced availability of neuroprotective and pro-angiogenic factors in the nerves in combination with a chronic pro-inflammatory microenvironment and high level of oxidative stress, contribute to the pathogenesis of DN. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are of great interest as therapeutic agents for regenerative purposes, since they can secrete a broad range of cytoprotective and anti-inflammatory factors.

Modeling the spread of tuberculosis in semiclosed communities.

We address the problem of long-term dynamics of tuberculosis (TB) and latent tuberculosis (LTB) in semiclosed communities. These communities are congregate settings with the potential for sustained daily contact for weeks, months, and even years between their members. Basic examples of these communities are prisons, but certain urban/rural communities, some schools, among others could possibly fit well into this definition.

Bilingual nurse education program: applicant characteristics that predict success.

Nurses are in great demand across the United States, but those fluent in both Spanish and English are in particularly short supply. This study examined three cohorts of students that entered a Spanish-English nursing education program to determine characteristics of applicants that produced student success. Unlike many nursing programs, entrance requirements for this bilingual program did not include a minimal grade point average (GPA) or previous course completions.

A clinical classification system for rheumatoid forefoot deformity.

Background And Purpose: In the present study a classification system for the rheumatoid forefoot is reported with its intra- and interobserver reliability and clinical relevance. The classification is based on the sequence of anatomical changes resulting from the loss of integrity of the MTP joints, loss of motion and changes regarding the quality and position of the plantar soft tissues. It is hypothesized that with progression of the amount of deformity of the MTP joint(s), patients have more pain and functional loss.

On the identifiability of pharmacokinetic parameters in dynamic contrast-enhanced imaging.

The so-called "Kety model" is a two-compartment pharmacokinetic model describing tumor perfusion kinetics. Its parameters, the transendothelial transfer constant (K(trans)), extravascular extracellular volume fraction (upsilon(e)), and microvascular plasma volume fraction (upsilon(p)), can be estimated with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). However, the results obtained by current methods show large variation in predictability and reliability.

Mathematical modeling confirms the length-dependency of telomere shortening.

Telomeres, the ends of chromosomes, shorten with each cell division in human somatic cells, because of the end-replication problem, C-strand processing and oxidative damage. On the other hand, the reverse transcriptase telomerase can add back telomeric repeats at the telomere ends. It has been suggested that once telomeres have reached a critical length, cells cease proliferation, also known as senescence.