Optimization of testing protocols to screen for COVID-19: a multi-objective model.

In this paper we develop a new multi-objective simulated annealing (MOSA) algorithm to generate optimal testing protocols for infectious diseases, using the COVID-19 pandemic as our context. A SEIR (susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered) epidemiological model is embedded as the computational platform for our MOSA algorithm to optimize testing protocols for screening across three joint objectives: minimum cost of test materials, minimum total infections over the testing horizon, and minimum number of false negatives over the horizon. We demonstrate the application of this optimization tool to recommend screening protocols for K-12 school districts in the U.

Neurologic Conditions Associated with Cavus Foot Deformity.

The cavus foot deformity is an often less understood deformity within the spectrum of foot and ankle conditions. The hallmark concern is the possibility of an underlying neurologic or neuromuscular disorder. Although a proportion of these deformities are idiopathic, a significant majority do correlate with an underlying disorder.

Human genomic characterization of a novel locus-specific repetitive sequence.

A novel human chromosome locus-specific repetitive sequence was identified and characterized using arbitrary PCR. The repeat monomer consensus sequence is 100 bp long, and there are a minimum of 140 to 160 copies of the repetitive sequence per haploid human genome. The repetitive sequence is highly clustered on 20q12 within a 200- to 400-kb region.

Cycled primer extension: a method for DNA amplification and labeling from templates of unknown sequence.

A method has been developed for simultaneous radiolabeling and amplification of DNA hybridization probes. The method is termed cycled primer extension (CPE). CPE is a series of temperature-driven reactions in which template DNA is successively denatured and extended by a thermostable primer-dependent DNA polymerase.