Exploiting the Synergy Between Gossiping and Structured Overlays

In this position paper we argue for exploiting the synergy between gossip-based algorithms and structured overlay networks (SON). These two strands of research have both aimed at building fault-tolerant, dynamic, self-managing, and large-scale distributed systems. Despite the common goals, the two areas have, however, been relatively isolated. We focus on three problem domains where there is an untapped potential of using gossiping combined with SONs. We argue for applying gossip-based membership for ring-based SONs---such as Chord and Bamboo---to make them handle partition mergers and loopy networks. We argue that small world SONs---such as Accordion and Mercury---are specifically well-suited for gossip-based membership management. The benefits would be better graph-theoretic properties. Finally, we argue that gossip-based algorithms could use the overlay constructed by SONs. For example, many unreliable broadcast algorithms for SONs could be augmented with anti-entropy protocols. Similarly, gossip-based aggregation could be used in SONs for network size estimation and load-balancing purposes

Altered resting state neuromotor connectivity in men with chronic prostatitis/chronic pelvic pain syndrome: A MAPP: Research Network Neuroimaging Study.

Brain network activity associated with altered motor control in individuals with chronic pain is not well understood. Chronic Prostatitis/Chronic Pelvic Pain Syndrome (CP/CPPS) is a debilitating condition in which previous studies have revealed altered resting pelvic floor muscle activity in men with CP/CPPS compared to healthy controls. We hypothesized that the brain networks controlling pelvic floor muscles would also show altered resting state function in men with CP/CPPS. Here we describe the results of the first test of this hypothesis focusing on the motor cortical regions, termed pelvic-motor, that can directly activate pelvic floor muscles. A group of men with CP/CPPS (N = 28), as well as group of age-matched healthy male controls (N = 27), had resting state functional magnetic resonance imaging scans as part of the Multidisciplinary Approach to the Study of Chronic Pelvic Pain (MAPP) Research Network study. Brain maps of the functional connectivity of pelvic-motor were compared between groups. A significant group difference was observed in the functional connectivity between pelvic-motor and the right posterior insula. The effect size of this group difference was among the largest effect sizes in functional connectivity between all pairs of 165 anatomically-defined subregions of the brain. Interestingly, many of the atlas region pairs with large effect sizes also involved other subregions of the insular cortices. We conclude that functional connectivity between motor cortex and the posterior insula may be among the most important markers of altered brain function in men with CP/CPPS, and may represent changes in the integration of viscerosensory and motor processing

Supporting Persons with Disabilities in Somalia

The purpose of this report is to identify how persons with disabilities can be included in humanitarian and development programmes in Somalia. There is little data on persons with disabilities in Somalia, therefore this report gains insights from organisations that are actively working in Somalia supporting persons with disabilities. Many organisations in Somalia do not have data or information available on persons with disabilities. This report details the recommendations of organisations that have data and information readily available. The report provides a list of organisations identified as working on disability issues in Somalia and Somaliland and an overview of these active organisations to illustrate their activities. It also reports recommendations they have made on how donor operations can explicitly include persons with disabilities

Comparative study of foley’s catheter and misoprostol versus mifepristone and misoprostol in induction of midtrimester abortions: a retrospective study

Background: To compare the efficacy and safety of intracervical Foley’s catheter and misoprostol versus mifepristone and misoprostol induction of midtrimester abortions. Methods: I conducted a retrospective comparative study at a university affliated tertiary hospital at the postpartum unit of the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, Government Medical College, Amritsar from January 2022 to December 2023. Records were available for 80 patients who underwent midtrimester abortion. The enrolled women were allocated in two groups. Group A comprised women who underwent induction with combined intracervical Foley’s catheter and misoprostol (n=42). Group B included women who underwent midtrimester abortion with mifepristone and misoprostol (n=38). The procedure efficacy and safety of the procedure were assessed. Results: There was complete foetal expulsion in all cases in Group A (100%) while the success rate was 89.47%in Group B. The induction to abortion (IAI) interval was significantly shorter in Group A than Group B (6.66±1.1 versus 9.42±2.69hours, p=.000). Group A had shorter insertion to balloon expulsion time (7.80±0.87). The women with nulliparity, longer interpregnancy interval (>22 months), smaller gestational age (just 14 weeks) and lower Bishop Score before insertion (<2) had poorer outcome. Conclusions: The present results confirmed that a combined mechanical and pharmacological approach for midtrimester abortions has comparable efficacy and safety to induction with vaginal mifepristone and misoprostol and can be safely recommended. Further, it reduces the total dosage of misoprostol required for termination and shortens the termination interval, thereby increasing the patient comfort and is more affordable

The molecular genetic basis of the association of TNFSF4 with SLE

The tumour necrosis factor ligand superfamily member 4 gene (TNFSF4), also known as OX40L, is an established susceptibility locus in the autoimmune disease systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Genetic association studies map polymorphisms that associate with disease, but linkage disequilibrium often hinders the identification of the actual casual allele(s) at a disease susceptibility locus. At TNFSF4 genetic association studies had shown that an extended 100kb haplotype upstream of the coding region of the gene was associated with SLE risk. The principle aim of the project was to conduct genetic association analyses in cohorts with different ancestry in an attempt to fine map the TNFSF4 association signal and thereby identify the causal genetic variants that underlie the genetic risk. Utilizing >17,900 subjects of European, African-American, Hispanic-American and Southeast Asian ancestry a transancestral fine mapping analysis was performed. The results demonstrate the strong association of TNFSF4 risk alleles in all populations tested. The most consistent and strongest evidence of association came from the single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), rs2205960-T (P = 7.1 x 10-32, odds ratio = 1.63). This variant was also associated with autoantibody production in three independent cohorts. In silico analysis of the DNA sequence encompassing rs2205960-T predicts it to form part of a decameric motif, which binds the RelA (p65) component of the NF-κB transcription factor complex. A second associated SNP, rs16845607-A in TNFSF4 intron 1 was identified in Hispanic-Americans (P = 9.17 x 10-9, odds ratio = 2.06). In an attempt to further refine the association, resequencing was performed in 80 individuals who were selected on the basis of their genotype to carry risk or non-risk haplotypes upstream of TNFSF4. This sequencing study identified >200 novel variants, mostly small insertion-deletion polymorphisms indels. The data presented in this thesis largely resolves the genetic basis of the immediate upstream association signal observed at TNFSF4 with SLE and will facilitate the unraveling of the molecular basis of this genetic risk in systemic autoimmunity.Open Acces

Deterministic Sampling and Range Counting in Geometric Data Streams

We present memory-efficient deterministic algorithms for constructing epsilon-nets and epsilon-approximations of streams of geometric data. Unlike probabilistic approaches, these deterministic samples provide guaranteed bounds on their approximation factors. We show how our deterministic samples can be used to answer approximate online iceberg geometric queries on data streams. We use these techniques to approximate several robust statistics of geometric data streams, including Tukey depth, simplicial depth, regression depth, the Thiel-Sen estimator, and the least median of squares. Our algorithms use only a polylogarithmic amount of memory, provided the desired approximation factors are inverse-polylogarithmic. We also include a lower bound for non-iceberg geometric queries.Comment: 12 pages, 1 figur

A replication study confirms the association of TNFSF4 (OX40L) polymorphisms with systemic sclerosis in a large European cohort

<p><b>Objectives</b> The aim of this study was to confirm the influence of TNFSF4 polymorphisms on systemic sclerosis (SSc) susceptibility and phenotypic features.</p> <p><b>Methods</b> A total of 8 European populations of Caucasian ancestry were included, comprising 3014 patients with SSc and 3125 healthy controls. Four genetic variants of TNFSF4 gene promoter (rs1234314, rs844644, rs844648 and rs12039904) were selected as genetic markers.</p> <p><b>Results</b> A pooled analysis revealed the association of rs1234314 and rs12039904 polymorphisms with SSc (OR 1.15, 95% CI 1.02 to 1.31; OR 1.18, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.29, respectively). Significant association of the four tested variants with patients with limited cutaneous SSc (lcSSc) was revealed (rs1234314 OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.38; rs844644 OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.83 to 0.99; rs844648 OR 1.10, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.20 and rs12039904 OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.33). Association of rs1234314, rs844648 and rs12039904 minor alleles with patients positive for anti-centromere antibodies (ACA) remained significant (OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.37; OR 1.12, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.25; OR 1.22, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.38, respectively). Haplotype analysis confirmed a protective haplotype associated with SSc, lcSSc and ACA positive subgroups (OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.82 to 0.96; OR 0.88, 95% CI 0.80 to 0.96; OR 0.86, 95% CI 0.77 to 0.97, respectively) and revealed a new risk haplotype associated with the same groups of patients (OR 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.26; OR 1.20, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.35; OR 1.23, 95% CI 1.07 to 1.42, respectively).</p> <p><b>Conclusions</b> The data confirm the influence of TNFSF4 polymorphisms in SSc genetic susceptibility, especially in subsets of patients positive for lcSSc and ACA.</p&gt

A rare presentation of caesarean scar pregnancy: a case report

Caesarean scar pregnancy (CSP) or retained products of conception is a rare but life-threatening complication. It is an abnormal implantation of the gestational sac or retained products of conception into the myometrium and a fibrous scar after a previous caesarean section. The incidence of such cases is on the rise due to the increase in caesarean sections worldwide. A 37-year-old P2L2A1 (two previous caesarean sections and one spontaneous abortion followed by dilation and curettage) presented with complaints of vaginal bleeding and lower abdominal pain. She was diagnosed as a case of CSP with retained products of conception by ultrasonography and confirmation of the diagnosis was done by magnetic resonance imaging. An exploratory laparotomy was performed and the patient was successfully managed. Treatment must be individualized depending on the patient's hemodynamic profile, size, extent, depth, and vascularity, caesarean pregnancy, future fertility wishes, and compliance for follow-up

Stepwise uterine devascularisation and/or internal iliac artery ligation: an alternative to obstetric hysterectomy in the management of intractable postpartum haemorrhage

Background: Objectives of the study was to estimate the effectiveness and safety of stepwise uterine devascularisation and/or internal iliac artery ligation as alternative to obstetric hysterectomy in the management of uncontrollable postpartum haemorrhage.Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a university affiliated tertiary obstetric referral hospital in the year 2020-2021 at the department of obstetrics and gynaecology, government medical college, Amritsar. Stepwise uterine devascularisation and/or hypogastric artery ligation were performed in 35 of the 335 patients (10.45%) who had intractable postpartum haemorrhage after caesarean deliveries not responding to classic management. This technique entails ‘three’ successive procedures of bilateral vascular ligations performed in step-by-step fashion until bleeding stops. The steps were as follows: (1) Bilateral uterine artery ligation. (2) If bleeding did not stop, bilateral ovarian artery ligation was performed. (3) Additionally, bilateral ligation of the anterior division of internal iliac artery was done in a few cases in which bleeding failed to stop. After each procedure, assessment of bleeding was done before proceeding to the next step.Results: Of the 35 women who were primarily treated with stepwise uterine devascularisation, the success rate to preserve the uterus was 100%. None of the patients required hysterectomy. The postpartum period was uneventful. There were no complications and the survival rate was 100%. Among the patients followed up, normal menstruation and pregnancy occurred.Conclusions: Stepwise uterine devascularisation is an effective and safe alternative to hysterectomy for management of intractable postpartum haemorrhage