SciPy is an open-source scientific computing library for the Python programming language. Since its initial release in 2001, SciPy has become a de facto standard for leveraging scientific algorithms in Python, with over 600 unique code contributors, thousands of dependent packages, over 100,000 dependent repositories and millions of downloads per year. In this work, we provide an overview of the capabilities and development practices of SciPy 1.0 and highlight some recent technical developments.

The efficacy and safety of budesonide/formoterol in a single inhaler compared with placebo, budesonide and formoterol were evaluated in patients with moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).In a 12-month, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group study in 812 adults (mean age 64 yrs, mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 36% predicted normal), patients received two inhalations twice daily of either budesonide/ formoterol (Symbicort1) 160/4.5 mg (delivered dose), budesonide 200 mg (metered dose), formoterol 4.5 mg or placebo. Severe exacerbations and FEV1 (primary variables), peak expiratory flow (PEF), COPD symptoms, health-related quality of life (HRQL), mild exacerbations, use of reliever b 2 -agonist and safety variables were recorded.Budesonide/formoterol reduced the mean number of severe exacerbations per patient per year by 24% versus placebo and 23% versus formoterol. FEV1 increased by 15% versus placebo and 9% versus budesonide. Morning PEF improved significantly on day 1 versus placebo and budesonide; after 1 week, morning PEF was improved versus placebo, budesonide and formoterol. Improvements in morning and evening PEF versus comparators were maintained over 12 months. Budesonide/formoterol decreased all symptom scores and use of reliever b 2 -agonists significantly versus placebo and budesonide, and improved HRQL versus placebo. All treatments were well tolerated.These results suggest a role for budesonide/formoterol in the long-term management of moderate-to-severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently the fourth leading cause of death in the world [1], with increasing prevalence and mortality predicted in the coming decades [2]. COPD is a serious and disabling disease, which imposes a large burden on patients, healthcare systems and society.In patients with COPD, lung function deteriorates progressively over several years with increasing symptoms (e.g. dyspnoea, chest tightness, cough and sputum production); acute exacerbations are common, particularly in later stages, and these have considerable impact on patients9 daily activities and well-being [3]. Cigarette smoking is the major aetiological factor in COPD and smoking cessation is the only factor which has been shown to influence the decline in forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) [4,5]. However, the COPD-related inflammatory process in the airways initiated by smoking persists after cessation of smoking [6], and effective treatment is needed in past smokers with COPD [7].The pharmacotherapy of COPD largely consists of mucolytics, bronchodilators, such as b 2 -agonists, anticholinergics, theophylline and anti-inflammatory drugs i.e. inhaled corticosteroids, often taken in combination [2]. Consequently, there is a need for better treatment options to relieve symptoms, reduce exacerbations and to provide better health-related quality of life (HRQL) for individual patients. The long-acting b 2 -agonists formoterol a...

Despite dramatic improvements in survival, nutrition, and education over recent decades, today's children face an uncertain future. Climate change, ecological degradation, migrating populations, conflict, pervasive inequalities, and predatory commercial practices threaten the health and future of children in every country. In 2015, the world's countries agreed on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), yet nearly 5 years later, few countries have recorded much progress towards achieving them. This Commission presents the case for placing children, aged 0-18 years, at the centre of the SDGs: at the heart of the concept of sustainability and our shared human endeavour. Governments must harness coalitions across sectors to overcome ecological and commercial pressures to ensure children receive their rights and entitlements now and a liveable planet in the years to come.

Lung function in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can be improved acutely by oral corticosteroids and bronchodilators. Whether clinical improvement can be maintained by subsequent inhaled therapy is unknown.COPD patients (n=1,022, mean prebronchodilator forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) 36% predicted) initially received formoterol (9 mg b.i.d.) and oral prednisolone (30 mg o.d.) for 2 weeks. After this time, patients were randomised to b.i.d. inhaled budesonide/formoterol 320/9 mg, budesonide 400 mg, formoterol 9 mg or placebo for 12 months.Postmedication FEV1 improved by 0.21 L and health-related quality of life using the St George9s Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) by 4.5 units after run-in. Fewer patients receiving budesonide/formoterol withdrew from the study than those receiving budesonide, formoterol or placebo. Budesonide/formoterol patients had a prolonged time to first exacerbation (254 versus 96 days) and maintained higher FEV1 (99% versus 87% of baseline), both primary variables versus placebo. They had fewer exacerbations (1.38 versus 1.80 exacerbations per patient per year), had higher prebronchodilator peak expiratory flow, and showed clinically relevant improvements in SGRQ versus placebo (-7.5 units). Budesonide/formoterol was more effective than either monocomponent in both primary variables.Budesonide/formoterol in a single inhaler (Symbicort1) [4]. Only two studies have followed the effects of treatment with long-acting, inhaled b 2 -agonists over 1 yr [5,6]. The results confirmed the effect on spirometry, but the change in HRQL was smaller than expected.The role of inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) in COPD is more controversial. Corticosteroids do not appear to affect the rate of decline of forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) [7][8][9][10]. However, ICS increased postbronchodilator FEV1 in two studies [8,9], and reduced the severity [11] and frequency of exacerbations when this end-point could be reliably assessed [9]. These observations have led to ICS being recommended for COPD patients with FEV1 v50% predicted who show a spirometric response [12]. In two 1-yr studies, the clinical effect of ICS on exacerbations requiring oral steroids was confirmed [5,6]; the reduction in exacerbation frequency was less evident for patients taking ICS alone in the study by SZAFRANSKI et al. [5]. These results may suggest that sicker patients require more than just ICS in their treatment for COPD.Combining a long-acting b 2 -agonist and an ICS as maintenance therapy has been very successful in managing bronchial asthma [13,14], but less is known about this treatment strategy in COPD. Lung function (prebronchodilator FEV1) is improved when these drugs are combined, compared with monotherapy [15], and recent studies have found that combining therapies is also associated with fewer exacerbations and improved HRQL, compared with placebo treatment [5,6].Patients with more severe COPD (Global Initiative for Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages III and IV) frequently exper...

BackgroundMany studies in sub-Saharan Africa have occasionally reported a higher prevalence of stunting in male children compared to female children. This study examined whether there are systematic sex differences in stunting rates in children under-five years of age, and how the sex differences in stunting rates vary with household socio-economic status.MethodsData from the most recent 16 demographic and health surveys (DHS) in 10 sub-Saharan countries were analysed. Two separate variables for household socio-economic status (SES) were created for each country based on asset ownership and mothers' education. Quintiles of SES were constructed using principal component analysis. Sex differentials with stunting were assessed using Student's t-test, chi square test and binary logistic regressions.ResultsThe prevalence and the mean z-scores of stunting were consistently lower amongst females than amongst males in all studies, with differences statistically significant in 11 and 12, respectively, out of the 16 studies. The pooled estimates for mean z-scores were -1.59 for boys and -1.46 for girls with the difference statistically significant (p < 0.001). The stunting prevalence was also higher in boys (40%) than in girls (36%) in pooled data analysis; crude odds ratio 1.16 (95% CI 1.12–1.20); child age and individual survey adjusted odds ratio 1.18 (95% CI 1.14–1.22). Male children in households of the poorest 40% were more likely to be stunted compared to females in the same group, but the pattern was not consistent in all studies, and evaluation of the SES/sex interaction term in relation to stunting was not significant for the surveys.ConclusionIn sub-Saharan Africa, male children under five years of age are more likely to become stunted than females, which might suggest that boys are more vulnerable to health inequalities than their female counterparts in the same age groups. In several of the surveys, sex differences in stunting were more pronounced in the lowest SES groups.