Allelic association with SNPs: metrics, populations, and the linkage disequilibrium map

Comparison of different metrics, using three large samples of haplotypes from different populations, demonstrates that rho is the most efficient measure of association between pairs of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs). Pairwise data can be modeled, using composite likelihood, to describe the decline in linkage disequilibrium with distance (the Malecot model). The evidence from more isolated populations (Finland, Sardinia) suggests that linkage disequilibrium extends to 427-893 kb but, even in samples representative of large heterogeneous populations, such as CEPH, the extent is 385 kb or greater. This suggests that isolated populations are not essential for linkage disequilibrium mapping of common diseases with SNPs. The in parameter of the Malecot model (recombination and time), evaluated at each SNP, indicates regions of the genome with extensive and less extensive disequilibrium (low and high values of in respectively). When plotted against the physical map, the regions with extensive and less extensive linkage disequilibrium may correspond to recombination cold and hot spots. This is discussed in relation to the Xq25 cytogenetic band and the HFE gene region.     

面向残疾人的汉语可视语音数据库

将人机交互领域中研究的唇读技术应用于康复工程之中,设计了一个基于视觉语言的语音合成系统。该系统特别针对后天致残,丧失语音能力的人设计,采用了一种特定条件下的汉语可视语音数据库。不同于现有的数据库,该数据库的设计具有以下特点：采用了非对称唇形轮廓模型,提取了嘴唇突出度的信息;针对汉语音节的特点,增强了汉字音节中信息变化过程;兼顾未来唇读技术的发展,以音节为基本元素,具有可扩充性。采用运动检测和数学形态学的办法提取唇动图像序列中的唇形区域,并从中提取非对称唇形轮廓模型特征参数,同时通过计算部分参数对时间的差分,来获得唇形轮廓的动态信息。基于隐马尔可夫模型的学习和识别实验表明,该数据库的设计方法合理,所选的唇动特征用能够将识别效果平均提高25%。     

A String Matching Computer-Assisted System for Dolphin Photoidentification

This paper presents a syntactic/semantic string representation scheme as well as a string matching method as part of a computer-assisted system to identify dolphins from photographs of their dorsal fins. A low-level string representation is constructed from the curvature function of a dolphin's fin trailing edge, consisting of positive and negative curvature primitives. A high-level string representation is then built over the low-level string via merging appropriate groupings of primitives in order to have a less sensitive representation to curvature fluctuations or noise. A family of syntactic/semantic distance measures between two strings is introduced. A composite distance measure is then defined and used as a dissimilarity measure for database search, highlighting both the syntax (structure or sequence) and semantic (attribute or feature) differences. The syntax consists of an ordered sequence of significant protrusions and intrusions on the edge, while the semantics consist of seven attributes extracted from the edge and its curvature function. The matching results are reported for a database of 624 images corresponding to 164 individual dolphins. The identification results indicate that the developed string matching method performs better than the previous matching methods including dorsal ratio, curvature, and curve matching. The developed computer-assisted system can help marine mammalogists in their identification of dolphins, since it allows them to examine only a handful of candidate images instead of the currently used manual searching of the entire database. © 2000 Biomedical Engineering Society. PAC00: 8780Tq, 4230Sy, 0705Pj     

The Design and Development of a Food Composition Database for an Electronic Tool to Assess Food Intake in New Caledonian Families

The food environment in New Caledonia is undergoing a transition, with movement away from traditional diets towards processed and discretionary foods and beverages. This study aimed to develop an up-to-date food composition database that could be used to analyze food and nutritional intake data of New Caledonian children and adults. Development of this database occurred in three phases: Phase 1, updating and expanding the number of food items to represent current food supply; Phase 2, refining the database items and naming and assigning portion size images for food items; Phase 3, ensuring comprehensive nutrient values for all foods, including saturated fat and total sugar. The final New Caledonian database comprised a total of 972 food items, with 40 associated food categories and 25 nutrient values and 615 items with portion size images. To improve the searchability of the database, the names of 593 food items were shortened and synonyms or alternate spelling were included for 462 foods. Once integrated into a mobile app-based multiple-pass 24-h recall tool, named iRecall.24, this country-specific food composition database would support the assessment of food and nutritional intakes of families in New Caledonia, in a cross-sectional and longitudinal manner, and with translational opportunities for use across the wider Pacific region.     

Increased Operative Time Impacts Rates of Short-Term Complications After Unicompartmental Knee Arthroplasty

BackgroundPrevious evidence has demonstrated an exacerbating effect of increased operative time on short-term complications in total joint arthroplasty. While the same relationship may be expected for unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA), supporting evidence remains sparse. The purpose of this study is to determine the impact of operative time on short-term complication rates after UKA and determine a critical threshold in operative times after which complications may increase.MethodsThe American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Project was queried from 2007 to 2018 to identify 11,633 UKA procedures that were included in the final analysis. The effect of operative time on complications within 30 days was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression models. Receiver operating characteristics curves and spline regression models were used to identify critical thresholds in operative time that increase the likelihood of short-term complications.ResultsLonger operative times (in minutes) were associated with higher rates of surgical site infection (90.4 ± 26.7 vs 84.8 ± 25.5, P = .003), blood transfusions (94.9 ± 28.6 vs 84.9 ± 25.5, P = .007), as well as reoperation rates (90.8 ± 27.9 vs 84.9 ± 25.5, P = .01), extended hospital length of stay (93.4 ± 29.8 vs 84.5 ± 25.2, P < .001), and mortality (110.4 ± 35.5 vs 84.9 ± 25.5, P = .008). Following multivariate logistic regression, operative time was found to independently predict increased surgical site infection, blood transfusion, myocardial infarction, extended length of stay, and mortality (odds ratio: 1.09 – 1.45, CI: 1.01 – 1.91, all P values <0.02). Receiver operating characteristics curves found an increase in mortality risk during the 30-day postoperative period after 88.5 minutes of operative time, a finding supported by spline regression plots.ConclusionThe present study found a positive correlation between increased operative times and short-term postoperative complication rates after UKA. Despite a statistically significant association with increasing operative time, odds ratios of reported complications are relatively low.     

中药毒性相关数据库的研究现状及对比研究

中药毒性研究是中药安全性研究的重要议题,将具有毒性的中药成分及其作用机制进行整理是进行中药毒性研究的基础。因此,通过当前国内外中药毒性研究相关的数据库进行综述,总结中药毒性研究相关数据库的研究现状,突出中药毒性研究相关数据库在科学研究中的重要性,为中药毒性研究工作提供参考,促进中药毒性研究的进一步发展。     

基于SEER数据库建立小肝癌患者远处转移预测模型

目的 建立可有效预测小肝癌患者远处转移风险的列线图。方法 从SEER（Surveillance,Epidemiology,and End Results）数据库提取2010年1月至2016年12月诊断的5 595例小肝癌患者的临床病理资料,采用随机数字法按7:3分为训练组（n=3 915）和验证组（n=1 680）。对训练组采用单因素及多因素Logistic回归分析筛选影响远处转移的独立危险因素并构建小肝癌患者远处转移预测模型。采用受试者工作特征（ROC）曲线及校正曲线评估模型的预测准确性,采用决策曲线评价列线图的临床效用。结果 训练组多因素Logistic分析显示婚姻状况（HR 1.541,95%CI 1.182~2.010,P=0.001）、癌结节数目（HR 2.005,95%CI 1.483~2.710,P<0.001）、T分期（HR 2.076,95%CI 1.176~3.664,P=0.012）、N分期（HR 7.753,95%CI 5.349~11.238,P<0.001）、病理分化程度（HR 1.706,95%CI 1.098~2.652,P=0.018）、甲胎蛋白（HR 1.830,95%CI 1.313~2.550,P<0.001）是小肝癌远处转移的独立危险因素。训练组、验证组中ROC曲线下面积（AUC值）分别为0.805（95%CI 0.778~0.832）和0.829（95%CI 0.791~0.868）,校准曲线表明预测值与实际值有良好的一致性,决策曲线显示模型有良好的临床效用。结论 基于SEER数据库建立小肝癌患者远处转移的预测模型具有良好的预测准度,有助于外科医师评估患者远处转移风险,从而为患者提供个体化的诊疗。