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4,508,000 | A Novel Approach for Lexical Noise Analysis and Measurement in Intelligent Information Retrieval Latent semantic indexing (LSI) is a technique used in information retrieval (IR) as an alternative to traditional keyword matching search techniques. LSI is a preferred technique as it can cope with problems and inaccuracies that arise due to synonymy and polysemy. In this paper a new philosophy for LSI analysis and evaluation is presented based on the use of image processing tools. The term document matrix (TDM) generated in the LSI process can now be visualized and treated as an image. Once in this form, techniques from image processing can be applied. The new approach has been validated and evaluated using different key performance metrics used in image processing and IR | 9868921 |
4,508,001 | Exposure to ionizing radiation during liver transplantation evaluation, waitlist time, and in the postoperative period: A cause for concern Substantial evidence has linked ionizing radiation exposure (RE) to oncogenesis. Patients evaluated for transplantation undergo extensive diagnostic imaging and have increased baseline cancer risk factors. The objective was to examine exposure in a cohort of patients undergoing evaluation and liver transplantation. Radiation exposure from all diagnostic examinations and procedures were retrospectively recorded. Radiation exposure is reported in mSv, a standardized measure of the detrimental biologic effect of radiation which allows for population‐level comparisons. Seventy‐four patients (69% male, mean 57 years) were evaluated, of which 13 of 35 subsequently listed patients were transplanted; an additional 18 previously evaluated patients were also transplanted during 2010. The most common indications were hepatitis C (55%) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) (30%). The median observation period was 14 months. In all, 1,826 imaging examinations were performed, of which 408 (22%) involved considerable ionizing radiation and were the focus of investigation. Median annualized effective RE was 51 mSv (interquartile range [IQR]: 19,126), with 10% exposed to almost twice the amount of radiation recommended for a 5‐year period. Patients with HCC received significantly (P < 0.00001) higher median annualized effective RE than patients without HCC, 137 mSv (IQR: 87,259) versus 32 mSv (IQR: 13,57), respectively. Computed tomography (CT) abdomen (23%) and chest (16%) accounted for the most common exposures, with CT abdomen accounting for 46% of overall cohort RE. Conclusion: Patients undergoing evaluation and liver transplantation at our center are exposed to very high levels | 5354271 |
4,508,002 | of ionizing radiation. Although long‐term effects in these patients are yet to be defined, the theoretical increased risk of malignancy must be given its due consideration. Routine use of nonradiation imaging and reconsideration of indications may be preferred and justified in this population. (Hepatology 2014;59:496–504) | 5354271 |
4,508,003 | Manganese-Catalyzed Direct Nucleophilic C(sp(2))-H Addition to Aldehydes and Nitriles. Herein, a manganese-catalyzed nucleophilic addition of inert C(sp(2))-H bonds to aldehydes and nitriles is disclosed by virtue of a dual activation strategy. The reactions feature mild reaction conditions, excellent regio- and stereoselectivity, and a wide substrate scope, which includes both aromatic and olefinic C-H bonds, as well as a large variety of aldehydes and nitriles. Moreover, mechanistic studies shed light on possible catalytic cycles. | 927021 |
4,508,004 | Selective Scanning for faster Prostate Pathology Pathology slide scanning microscopes are now commercially available. These microscopes combine a digital microscope with a scanning mechanism to produce high magnification and high resolution images of complete specimens. These digital images have the potential of revolutionizing histopathology. For example, instead of sending glass slides through the mail, pathologists at different locations can consult with each other by sharing image files through the Internet. One of the main obstacles on the way to realizing this possibility is the very large size of the image files that are generated. A single image scanned at 400× resolution requires around 20GB before compression and around 1GB after compression using jpeg2000. As a result, a terabyte hard disk can store only a thousand or so images and sharing such large files over the Internet can result in large delays that would make collaborative consultation impractical. Pathologists, however, hardly ever examine the whole image at high resolution but concentrate on a few relevant fields. If only relevant fields are stored at higher resolution space can be saved, and if these fields of greatest diagnostic interest are transmitted first over the network delay can be reduced. We use a combination of computer vision and machine learning techniques to analyze low magnification images and select those parts of the specimen that should be scanned at high magnification. This is a similar problem to that of detecting cancer, however, the required accuracy is significantly lower. Instead of using computer vision to produce a diagnosis we use computer vision | 1633771 |
4,508,005 | to eliminate those fields of the slide which are unlikely to yeild useful information for human diagnosticians. Examples of prostate tissue sections are shown in Figure 1. Areas of interest marked by an experienced pathologist at low resolution are used as a training set for computer learning (see Figure 2). To discriminate between cancerous and non cancerous fields we generate a 23 bin color histogram for each 20x20 region of the image. We choose to use histograms as different regions have a specific mix of stroma(pink), nuclei(blue) and gland lumens(white) which are explicit in histograms. We use Adaboost to generate a mapping from histograms to scores where high scores correspond to high confidence that the region is cancerous (see Figure 2 (c)). Adaboost [3] is a general-purpose learning algorithm which is particularly powerful when combining many weakly predictive features. The predictive features in this case are the values of the histogram bins. Specifically, we use the alternating decision tree algorithm [2] as implemented in the Jboost open source software package [1]. The classifier built using the histogram is able to separate connective tissue and non-malignant glands from malignant fields. Using the classifier, around 80-90% of the image can be discarded while still keeping all the parts relevant for diagnosis. This decreases the space required for storage and time for transmission by a factor of ten. Our experiments show that our system can discriminate well between malignant and non-malignant fields. However, it is not good at discriminating between malignant fields and hyperplasia. The reason is that color | 1633771 |
4,508,006 | distribution does not provide sufficient information to make this discrimination. We are currently working on features for characterizing the shape of the lumens. We believe that by adding these features into the input for Adaboost we will be able to improve the ability of the system to discriminate between malignant fields and hyperplasia. | 1633771 |
4,508,007 | Clinical characteristics of 101 COVID-19 nonsurvivors in Wuhan, China: a retrospective study Background The outbreak of COVID-19 has aroused global concerns. Few studies focused on characteristics of COVID-19 nonsurvivors. Objective In this study, we aimed to describe the clinical characteristics of 101 nonsurvivors with COVID-19 and analyze risk factors associated with the rapid disease progress to death after admission. Design Retrospective study using electronic medical records. Participants 101 hospitalized patients with confirmed COVID-19 died in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University before February 15, 2020, were included in this study. Main measures We obtained epidemiological, demographic, clinical, laboratory, and outcome data from electronic medical records. Univariate logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate risk factors associated with rapid disease progress to death after admission. Key results Among included nonsurvivors, the median age was 71.0 years (IQR, 59.0-80.0), 60 (59.4%) were men. Eighty-two (79.2%) had one or more comorbidities including hypertension (58.4%), diabetes (21.8%) etc. Respiratory failure (99.0%), acute cardiac injury (52.5%), sepsis (40.6%) and acute kidney injury (22.8%) were most common complications. Patients died within 3 days of admission were more likely to develop sepsis compared with those survived 3 days of admission. Higher heart rate and respiration rate, increased white blood cell count and neutrophil count, elevated myoglobin level and depressed oxygen saturation on admission were associated with rapid disease progress to death within 3 days of admission. The AUCs for white blood cell count and neutrophil count were 0.71 (95% CI, 0.60-0.80) and 0.70 (95% CI, 0.59-0.79), respectively. Conclusions Older patients with underlying comorbidities suffering | 216055321 |
4,508,008 | COVID-19 were at increased risks of death. Respiratory failure, acute cardiac injury and acute kidney injury played crucial roles in the death of COVID-19 patients. Of importance, early development of sepsis, increased white blood cell count and neutrophil count on admission were associated with the rapid disease progress to death. | 216055321 |
4,508,009 | The (In)visible Body: Feminism, Phenomenology, and the Case of Cosmetic Surgery This paper will examine the experience of and drive for bodily invisibility in women through the theoretical approaches of phenomenology and social constructionism. An examination of the social disruptions of bodily invisibility and the compulsive avoidance of such instances, particularly with respect to the fastidious maintenance of body comportment and appearance within the narrow parameters afforded by social norms, will lead to an exploration of the conflation of biomedicine with the beauty industry. | 144177721 |
4,508,010 | A comparative review of Asian and British-born maternity patients in Bradford, 1974-8. The perinatal mortality rate for Asian babies born in Bradford during the five years 1974-8 was persistently higher than for babies born to United Kingdom mothers. A comparative review of 18 924 British indigenous and 6443 Asian immigrant maternity patients delivered in Bradford from 1974-8 demonstrated several differences between the two ethnic groups. Factors operating in favour of Asian women were fewer teenage mothers, lower rates of illegitimacy, and fewer smokers. On the other hand, a greater number of factors presented increased risks to Asian patients-more women aged over 35, lower social class, higher parity, shorter pregnancy intervals, previous perinatal deaths, shorter duration of antenatal care, anaemia, shorter gestations, more babies born without professional help, and more low-birthweight babies. Local health education programmes are now concentrating on encouraging expectant mothers to attend early and regularly for antenatal care, to breast-feed their babies, and to increase the interval between pregnancies to at least one year. | 10638371 |
4,508,011 | A rare complication of tuning fork test Incidence of tuning fork-related complication is extremely rare. Here, we report a case of an 18-year-old gentleman who presented with a recurrent left ear discharge with a central perforation for the past 7-year duration. Left myringoplasty was performed after the ear condition was permissible. One week after surgery, he presented with an erythematous lesion over his forehead secondary to a tuning fork test which was done prior discharge. | 58123471 |
4,508,012 | B‐cell antigen receptor competence regulates B‐lymphocyte selection and survival Experimental evidence contradicts the simplistic view that during development all B cells expressing non autoreactive antigen receptors on the cell surface are selected into the mature B-cell pool. While allelic exclusion, clonal selection and affinity maturation continue to define the mainstream notions of B-cell development and selection, new evidence is redefining our understanding of these processes. Receptor editing replaces functional B-cell receptors by secondary immunoglobulin gene rearrangements, a process that can play roles in both immune tolerance and immune response. In addition, editing can rescue cells that would otherwise fail positive selection. We focus here on our studies indicating that the functional competence of the B-cell antigen receptor complex plays a central role in the fate of developing B cells and their antigen receptor genes. | 32821801 |
4,508,013 | Flow behavior of digesta and the absorption of nutrients in the gastrointestine. Digesta flow-behavior types in the intestinal lumen, such as turbulent and laminar flow, should define modes of digestion and absorption. This review presents a simulation of flow behavior in the intestinal lumen and discusses the behavior of nutrients and enzymes in the intestinal lumen under laminar-flow conditions. The significance of digesta viscosity for glucose and water absorption and digestion and fermentation in the intestine is also discussed. | 33109751 |
4,508,014 | Properties Of Passivant Films On HgCdTe - Interaction With The Substrate Two commonly used passivants of Hg0.8Cd0.2Te, the anodic oxide and ZnS, have been studied by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy combined with ion sputtering. Chemical depth profiles of anodic oxide films of 360 to 1600 A showed that the oxide composition is constant with depth and independent of oxide thickness. Chemical shifts and line shape analysis of the Cd M45N45N45 Auger transition in the oxide, CdO, Cd(OH)2, and CdTeO3 demonstrate that CdTeO3 is the major constituent of the anodic oxide. The oxide composition is interpreted as 44% CdTeO3 , 29% CdTe205, 17% HgTe03, and 10% HgTe205. Anodization of HgCdTe depletes the semiconductor of 30% - 40% of its Mg near the interface. The spatial extent of this Hg depletion is a function of oxide thickness for thin oxides (<1000 Å) but is a constant (150-200 Å) for thick films. No significant change in the Cd concentration is seen. A ZnS film deposited on a chemically etched sample forms a graded interface of a (ZnHgCd)Te alloy. In this case, no Hg depletion is seen. Deposition of ZnS on an anodized substrate in high vacuum leads to a reaction of the Zn with the residual 02 in the chamber to form ZnO on the anodic oxide before the ZnS. The ZnO then diffuses throughout the anodic oxide. | 95745551 |
4,508,015 | Multiple surface plasmon modes for gold/silver alloy nanorods. Alloy nanorods consisting of bimetallic gold and silver are synthesized by employing the electrochemical codeposition of Au/Ag alloy materials into the pores of anodized aluminum oxide templates. This paper presents the variation of localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) modes of the Au(x)/Ag(1-x) alloy nanorods as a function of relative compositions of Au and Ag. Transverse and multiple longitudinal modes were observed when the length was longer than ca. 300 nm. For a given length, the transverse LSPR mode systematically blue-shifted as the Ag portion increased, while there was little variation in peak positions of the longitudinal LSPR modes. The optical properties of the Au(x)/Ag(1-x) alloy nanorods were calculated using the discrete dipole approximation and showed a good agreement with the experimental measurements. | 41689251 |
4,508,016 | Diagnosis of Prosthetic Mitral Valve Malfunction with Combined Echo‐Phonocardiography Fifty-three patients were studied with combined echo-phonocardiography or phonocardiography alone following prosthetic mitral valve replacement. In sixteen of these patients, clinical deterioration developed, and all subsequently underwent cardiac catheterization and/or surgery. Two patients came to autopsy. Included in this group of sixteen patients were five with obstructed prostheses, six with paravalvular regurgitation, and five with left ventricular dysfunction. Measurements were made of the time interval from the aortic valve closure sound to the peak opening of the mitral prosthesis determined echocardiographically or to the mitral prosthetic opening click (A,-MVO). Echocardiographic studies of left ventricular wall motion were also performed. The A2-MVO interval was significantly shortened (P ⩽ 0.01) with prosthetic valve obstruction (.05 ± .02 sec) and paravalvular regurgitation (.05 ± .01 sec) compared with normally functioning prostheses (Starr-Edwards ball valves .10 ± .02 sec, Lillehei-Kaster tilting disc prostheses .09 ± .01 sec). Shortening of this interval was not specific for these conditions because it was sometimes shortened with left ventricular dysfunction. Echocardiographic studies of left ventricular wall motion were helpful in distinguishing among prosthetic valve obstruction, paravalvular regurgitation and left ventricular dysfunction. The combined echophonocardiographic technique was especially helpful in detecting malfunction of tilting disc prostheses, because the technique enables measurement of the A,-MVO interval in the absence of an audible opening click. | 178051 |
4,508,017 | A Dynamic Energy-Aware Server Selection Algorithm Electric power consumed by servers has to be reduced in order to realize green societies. We consider computation ({\it{CP}}) and storage ({\it{ST}}) types of application processes performed on servers in this paper, where CPU and storage drives are mainly used, respectively. In the storage and computation based power consumption (SCBPC) model proposed by the authors, the power consumption rate of a server depends on what types of processes are performed. In the storage and computation based processing (SCBP) model, the execution time of an ST process depends on the number of concurrent CP and ST processes but the execution time of a CP process depends on only CP processes. In our previous studies, the energy-aware (EA) algorithm is discussed to select a server in a cluster of servers for each request so that the total power consumption of the servers can be reduced. However, a server consumes electric power even if no process is performed. In this paper, we discuss a dynamic EA (DEA) algorithm where the membership of a cluster is dynamically changed so that only active servers where at least one process is performed are included in the cluster. A server for each request is selected in a dynamic cluster so that the total power consumption of servers in the cluster can be reduced. We evaluate the DEA algorithm in terms of the total power consumption and average execution time. | 2750601 |
4,508,018 | Myenteric ganglia from the adult guinea‐pig small intestine in tissue culture Abstract Myenteric ganglia dissociated from the small intestine of adult guinea‐pigs survived in long‐term culture (1–2 months) and progressed to structural organization resembling the myenteric plexus in situ. Developmental changes were similar to cultures derived from neonatal intestine. After one week, the neurons gathered into clusters on a glial cell carpet. Processes from the neurons branched and ramified over the glial substrate. As the cultures matured, the processes joined into tracts and the neurons and glia formed compact aggregates reminiscent of ganglia interconnected by fibre bundles. Injection of dye revealed characteristic Dogiel I and II neuronal morphology. Electrical recording identified electrical and synaptic behaviour comparable to intact myenteric plexus, longitudinal muscle preparations, except slow synaptic excitation was absent. Pharmacological responses to forskolin and 5‐hydroxytryptamine were essentially the same as in freshly dissected preparations. Lucifer yellow injected into single glial cells spread to a broad population indicative of the dye coupling found among glia in the myenteric plexus in situ. The results suggest that adult myenteric ganglia in culture are a useful model for investigation of aspects of enteric neurobiology including: (a) formation of connections in microcircuits; (b) cellular neurophysiology of enteric neurons; (c) neuropharmacology; and (4) cell biology of neuronal‐glial interactions in the myenteric plexus. | 8984951 |
4,508,019 | Self-Description and Observers’ Perspective Toward Science Teachers’ Ability in Using Questioning Technique in Middle School The study aimed at inquiring how science teachers use question technique in the teaching-learning process. The methodology used in this study was a survey method of quantitative approach. The population is all senior high school Physics teachers in Banda Aceh. The sample is the Physics teachers regarding their length of duty which were 6 teachers from 6 schools. The sampling technique was using disproportionate stratified random sampling based on the schools’ accreditation. The data collection process was carried out by distributing the questionnaire to teachers and documentation technique by videotaping the learning process. The data were analyzed using a descriptive technique. The results showed that teachers used redirecting technique (70%) and probing technique (45.83%). Next, the teachers’ experience only impacts the probing technique. A suggestion that can be made in teaching Physics, teachers should ask questions that track and test students’ understanding toward a concept that they have learned. | 189667651 |
4,508,020 | Residual stress state behaviour under fatigue loading in pipeline welded joints Compressive residual stress state behaviour under fatigue of the welded joints of a pipeline were investigated. The regions on the intersection between the welded joints of the longitudinal pipe manufacturing seam and the circumferential welded joints of the pipeline construction were investigated. Stress-controlled fatigue loading was carried out at various stress ratios of the yield strength of the base metal. Surface residual stresses were introduced in samples by shot-peening treatment and were measured using X-ray diffraction techniques. The results showed that compressive residual stresses which, unless they are relieved or inverted during the process of fatigue loading, make crack initiation difficult. | 136833801 |
4,508,021 | The Clinical Value of Subclavian Vein Catheterization 1969, Dudrick et a1.3 introduced its use in intravenous hyperalimentation. This paper presents our experience with 695 catheterizations of the subclavian vein performed for rapid infusion of blood and fluids, prolonged intravenous therapy, and for the measurement of central venous pressure. The subclavian route was also employed when veins, more customarily used, were not available. Indications, technique and potential hazards of the method are described. | 34548301 |
4,508,022 | 15-Deoxy-Δ12,1412,14-prostaglandins D2 and J2 Are Potent Activators of Human Eosinophils1 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-PDJ2 (15d-PGJ2) is a degradation product of PGD2 that has been proposed as an anti-inflammatory compound because of its various inhibitory effects, some of which are mediated by peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-γ. In contrast to its reported inhibitory effects on macrophages and other cells, we found that this compound is a potent activator of eosinophils, inducing calcium mobilization, actin polymerization, and CD11b expression. It is selective for eosinophils, having little or no effect on neutrophils or monocytes. 15d-PGJ2 has an EC50 of ∼10 nM, similar to that of its precursor, PGD2. The concentrations of 15d-PGJ2 required to activate eosinophils are thus much lower than those required for its anti-inflammatory effects (usually micromolar). 15-Deoxy-Δ12,14-prostaglandin D2 (15d-PGD2) is also a potent activator of eosinophils, with an EC50 about the same as that of PGD2, whereas Δ12-PGJ2 is slightly less potent. Eosinophils pretreated with PGD2 no longer respond to 15d-PGJ2, and vice versa, but in both cases the cells still respond to another eicosanoid proinflammatory mediator, 5-oxo-6,8,11,14-eicosatetraenoic acid. This indicates that the effects of 15d-PGJ2 are mediated by the DP2/chemoattractant receptor-homologous molecule expressed on Th2 cells that has recently been identified in eosinophils. 15d-PGJ2 is selective for the DP2 receptor, in that it has no effect on DP1 receptor-mediated adenylyl cyclase activity in platelets. We conclude that 15d-PGJ2 and 15d-PGD2 are selective DP2 receptor agonists that activate human eosinophils with potencies at least 100 times greater than those for the proposed anti-inflammatory effects of 15d-PGJ2 on other cells. | 85821501 |
4,508,023 | The End of Social Inequality? Class, Status and Power Under State Socialism. By David Lane. London, Boston, and Sydney: George Allen & Unwin, 1982. x, 176 pp. Tables. $24.95, cloth. $8.95, paper. In this expanded and updated version of The End of Equality? (1971), David Lane surveys the theory and practice of social equality in the Soviet bloc. As readers familiar with his work would predict, he does an admirable job. He begins with an overview of Marxian and contemporary Soviet writing on social inequality and then reviews the available data on differences in income, privilege, consumption, occupational prestige, education, social mobility, and political advancement. He also briefly discusses ethnic and sexual inequality and contrasts patterns of stratification in the bloc with alternate models (from neo-Marxist to totalitarian) of socialist society. He shows that socialist systems have succeeded in reducing many of the inequalities inherited from the presocialist era, but bloc nations have by no means eliminated them. The reason, he argues, is structural: differences in income and privileges persist because of "the bureaucratic nature of political power, . . . and the role structure created by the division of labour sanctioned by the educational system and perpetuated by the family." The needs of industrial society reinforce inequalities through differences in the distribution of property and wealth, the division and specialization of labor, and "the socializing influence of the nuclear family." True equality would therefore require fundamental changes in the economic system of socialism. The book's one shortcoming is the unevenness of the data for each | 164655351 |
4,508,024 | type of inequality, but this simply reflects the scarcity of comparable information throughout the bloc. Lane makes the best of what is available, and the result is a useful introduction to the problem of stratification in socialist countries. | 164655351 |
4,508,025 | Identification of a transcriptionally compromised allele ofc-MYC in a North American family Editor—Chromosomal translocations that target c-MYC at 8q24 are found in all Burkitt's lymphomas (BL), AIDS related non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (AIDS-NHL), mouse plasmacytomas (PCTs), in many examples of diffuse large cell lymphoma (DLCL), and in multiple myeloma (MM). Indications are that c-MYC is under strict control and when deregulated results in unchecked cellular proliferation and hyperplasia. Non-random chromosomal translocations found such as t(8;14), t(8;22), or t(2;8) in these lymphoid neoplasias places c-MYC under the control of strong immunoglobulin enhancers, which leads to overexpression.1 ,2 In addition, c-MYC is amplified in many tumours including breast, prostate, gastrointestinal, ovarian, MM, myeloid leukaemia, and melanoma suggesting that the overall transcriptional level is probably a key transforming element associated with c-MYC .3 Besides genetic lesions, other epigenetic factors such as activation of growth factor receptors may also lead to constitutive expression of c-MYC . Thus, considerable efforts have been made systematically to identify the c-MYC transcriptional apparatus (promoters and enhancers) in an effort to control c-MYC expression. While c-MYC transcription potentially initiates from one of three promoters, P0, P1, and P2 which reside in the exon 1 region, the P2 promoter normally accounts for 75-90% of cytoplasmic c-MYC RNAs. To date, more than 20 transcription factors have been found to reside in the proximity of exon 1 of c-MYC. 1 Actually, c-MYC was one of the first genes to exhibit transcriptional blockage. RNA polymerase II initiation complexes were shown to pause on P2 before activation.4-6 Upon chromosomal translocation, the insertion | 43076801 |
4,508,026 | of IG enhancer elements renders a shift in promoter usage from P2 towards P1 and loss … | 43076801 |
4,508,027 | Activated cholinergic signaling represents a new molecular target in the therapy of human bronchioalveolar carcinoma Bronchioalveolar carcinomas (BACs) are highly aggressive tumors that are relatively chemoresistant and show an etiological association with smoking. Nicotine, the major active and addictive component of cigarettes, has been shown to accelerate cell proliferation and angiogenesis through nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs). Acetylcholine (ACh) can act as an autocrine growth factor in small cell lung cancer and squamous cell carcinoma; however, the role of this proliferative cholinergic loop in BACs is unknown. We show for the first time that nicotine induces the secretion of ACh from human lung BACs in a dose‐dependent manner via α7‐ and β3‐containing‐nAChRs and has little to no effect on ACh production in normal epithelial cells. Western blotting analysis indicates that proteins involved in ACh signaling pathways, vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), choline transporter 1 (CHT1) and acetylecholinesterase (AChE) are expressed on human BACs. Finally, VAChT and CHT1 inhibitors caused robust apoptosis of BAC cells treated with nicotine. Our observations raise the possibility that components of the ACh‐signaling axis may represent novel molecular targets for lung BAC therapy. | 83010251 |
4,508,028 | Evaluation of some properties of fermented milk beverages that affect the demineralization of dental enamel. The aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the erosive capacity of fermented milk beverages, as well as some of their properties that affect the demineralization of dental enamel (pH, buffering capacity, fluoride, calcium and phosphorus contents). Three different batches of 6 commercial brands of fermented milk beverages were analyzed. pH evaluation was accomplished using a potentiometer. The buffering capacity was measured by adding 1 mol L-1 NaOH. Fluoride concentration was assessed by an ion specific electrode after hexamethyldisiloxane-facilitated diffusion, and calcium and phosphorus concentrations were assessed by a colorimetric test using a spectrophotometer. Sixty specimens of bovine enamel were randomly assigned to 6 groups (n = 10). They were exposed to 4 cycles of demineralization in the fermented milk and remineralization in artificial saliva. Enamel mineral loss was determined by surface microhardness (%SMHC) and profilometric tests. The samples' pH ranged from 3.51 to 3.87; the buffering capacity ranged from 470.8 to 804.2 microl of 1 mol L(-1) NaOH; the fluoride concentration ranged from 0.027 to 0.958 microgF/g; the calcium concentration ranged from 0.4788 to 0.8175 mgCa/g; and the phosphorus concentration ranged from 0.2662 to 0.5043 mgP/g. The %SMHC ranged from -41.0 to -29.4. The enamel wear ranged from 0.15 microm to 0.18 microm. In this in vitro study, the fermented milk beverages did not promote erosion of the dental enamel, but rather only a superficial mineral loss. | 9696201 |
4,508,029 | Liquid ionization chambers for absorbed dose measurements in water at low dose rates and intermediate photon energies. Two new liquid ionization chamber (LIC) designs, consisting of cylindrical and plane-parallel configurations, are presented. They are designed to be suitable for high-precision measurements of absorbed dose-to-water at dose rates and photon energies typical for LDR intermediate photon energy brachytherapy sources. The chambers have a sensitive liquid layer thickness of 1 mm and sensitive volumes of 7 mm3 (plane-parallel) and 20 mm3 (cylindrical). The liquids used as sensitive media in the chambers are either isooctane (C8H18), tetramethylsilane (Si(CH3)4) or mixtures of these two liquids in the approximate proportions 2 to 1. A chamber filled with such a liquid mixture and with a polarizing voltage of 300 V, provides a volume sensitivity of about 10(-9)C Gy(-1) mm(-3) for absorbed dose measurements in water in an x-ray radiation field with an effective photon energy of 120 keV. In the interval 30 to 140 keV, the relative change in sensitivity is less than +/- 2.5%. The leakage current of the chambers is low and stable, which implies that absorbed dose measurements can be done with good reproducibility at dose-rates as low as 50 microGy min-1 (sigma < 3%). The long-term calibration stability was tested for a set of five chambers over a period of more than 1 year. No systematic change in their sensitivity could be observed. The general recombination at a polarizing voltage of 300 V is less than 2% for dose-rates up to about 100 mGy min-1. The temperature dependence | 9617801 |
4,508,030 | at room temperature is 0.5% per degree C. The response is almost independent of the direction of the radiation for the plane-parallel LIC. | 9617801 |
4,508,031 | Effect of Direct Electric Resistance Heat Treatment on Loading/Unloading Behavior of Nickel Titanium Orthodontic Wire Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate and compare the loading and unloading characteristics of various nickel-titanium (NiTi) and nickel-titanium-copper (NiTiCu) after direct electric resistance heat treatment method (Bender soarer-X equipment). Materials and Methods: Five types of commercial NiTi and NiTiCu orthodontic archwires [NiTi (W&H), NiTi (Ormco), CuNiTi (Ormco), Sentalloy (Tomy) and L&H (Tomy)] underwent heat treatment by the Bender soarer-X equipment and all samples underwent the three point bending tests to analyze their loading and unloading characteristics. Each type of wire was divided into 6 groups with 10 samples per group with one of the groups serving as non-heat treatment control group. The wire composition was analyzed by energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) method. Results: The results showed that the loading and unloading characteristics of W&H NiTi and Ormco NiTi after heat treatment were not significantly different from the non-heat treatment groups. But the Tomy Sentalloy, Tomy L&H and Ormco NiTiCu had significantly different results (p<0.05) after heat treatments. The factors which could affect the loading and unloading characteristics were the difference in alloy composition and the condition of heat treatment. Conclusion: Heat treatment increased the loading and unloading force of Tomy L&H and improved the shape forming ability of NiTi wire. | 108453051 |
4,508,032 | Microstructure development during cooling of hot rolled steels Abstract A brief summary is given of the desired microstructures in important classes of steel products. These are to a large extent susceptible to control and improvement by adjustment of the final processing conditions such as cooling rate and/or coiling temperature following rolling. The effect of different cooling patterns is discussed in relation to several mechanisms of microstructure formation, namely: matrix phases, grain size control, precipitation of microalloy compounds, cementite films, and retained austenite. Some examples from industrial production are included. | 136766551 |
4,508,033 | REVIVING THE HISTORICAL ASSOCIATION OF TANZANIA: STRATEGIES AND MECHANICS The Historical Association of Tanzania (HAT) is sailing through troubled waters. A very important subject association since the late 1960s and registered as NGO on 13th May 1999 with number SO 9865, HAT was served with a notice of deregistration effective from May 15, 2015.178 This was indeed a painful turn of event, not only to the HAT members but also history teachers and professionals in Tanzania. This is a subject that is widely read and is indeed the heart of social sciences and humanities as well as promoter of national heritage and patriotism. The association has been very vibrant and prolific publisher and disseminator of historical knowledge in Tanzania, Africa and in the world. | 252806401 |
4,508,034 | Multi-Agent System-Based Microgrid Operation Strategy for Demand Response The microgrid and demand response (DR) are important technologies for future power grids. Among the variety of microgrid operations, the multi-agent system (MAS) has attracted considerable attention. In a microgrid with MAS, the agents installed on the microgrid components operate optimally by communicating with each other. This paper proposes an operation algorithm for the individual agents of a test microgrid that consists of a battery energy storage system (BESS) and an intelligent load. A microgrid central controller to manage the microgrid can exchange information with each agent. The BESS agent performs scheduling for maximum benefit in response to the electricity price and BESS state of charge (SOC) through a fuzzy system. The intelligent load agent assumes that the industrial load performs scheduling for maximum benefit by calculating the hourly production cost. The agent operation algorithm includes a scheduling algorithm using day-ahead pricing in the DR program and a real-time operation algorithm for emergency situations using emergency demand response (EDR). The proposed algorithm and operation strategy were implemented both by a hardware-in-the-loop simulation test using OPAL-RT and an actual hardware test by connecting a new distribution simulator. | 2863851 |
4,508,035 | Phylogeny and systematics of the anamorphic, entomopathogenic genus Beauveria Beauveria is a cosmopolitan anamorphic genus of arthropod pathogens that includes the agronomically important species, B. bassiana and B. brongniartii, which are used as mycoinsecticides for the biological control of pest insects. Recent phylogenetic evidence demonstrates that Beauveria is monophyletic within the Cordycipitaceae (Hypocreales), and both B. bassiana and B. brongniartii have been linked developmentally and phylogenetically to Cordyceps species. Despite recent interest in the genetic diversity and molecular ecology of Beauveria, particularly as it relates to their role as pathogens of insects in natural and agricultural environments, the genus has not received critical taxonomic review for several decades. A multilocus phylogeny of Beauveria based on partial sequences of RPB1, RPB2, TEF and the nuclear intergenic region, Bloc, is presented and used to assess diversity within the genus and to evaluate species concepts and their taxonomic status. B. bassiana and B. brongniartii, both which represent species complexes and which heretofore have lacked type specimens, are redescribed and types are proposed. In addition six new species are described including B. varroae and B. kipukae, which form a biphyletic, morphologically cryptic sister lineage to B. bassiana, B. pseudobassiana, which also is morphologically similar to but phylogenetically distant from B. bassiana, B. asiatica and B. australis, which are sister lineages to B. brongniartii, and B. sungii, an Asian species that is linked to an undetermined species of Cordyceps. The combination B. amorpha is validly published and an epitype is designated. | 39902951 |
4,508,036 | DC–17-GHz CMOS single-pole-eight-throw switching matrix for radar-based image detection A new 65-nm-thick single-pole-eight-throw CMOS integrated switching matrix has been developed to control a multiple-input–multiple-output radar-based imaging system, and it can replace the conventional mechanical switching system. The switch has a minimum input and output matching bandwidth of 0–17 GHz with an average insertion loss of 3 to 10 dB from 2 to 17 GHz. A wide bandwidth was designed for the transmission of the 8-GHz-center-frequency, 16-GHz-bandwidth Gaussian monocycle pulse with low distortion. A bandwidth from 0–20 GHz of the switch on the printed circuit board was achieved by flip chip mounting, quarter-wave (λ/4)-length microstrip line impedance matching, and optimization of the board dielectric constant and thickness. With the utilization of two of these switching matrices on the PCB, it became possible to control 16 antennas in a 16-antenna-array breast cancer detection system to detect an aluminum target of 10 × 10 mm2 at a depth of 20 mm. | 126189001 |
4,508,037 | The Community Health Center Fund: What's At Risk? T ucked into the Affordable Care Act (ACA) was a special 5-year funding authorization to expand the reach of the community health centers program. This special funding authority expired in 2015. As part of the funding extension for the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) that year, Congress also extended the Community Health Center Fund for an additional 2 years, through September 30, 2017. Once again, the Community Health Center Fund is traveling with CHIP, and as with CHIP, without action on Congress’s part, the future of an immensely popular program that enjoys bipartisan support is at risk. Even for those who have worked for a very long time at the local, state, or national level to build the community health centers program, today’s health center statistics come as a shock. Beginning in 1965, a handful of health centers, launched as a demonstration program by the Office of Economic Opportunity, opened their doors in the nation’s most medically underserved and deeply impoverished urban and rural communities. Fifty years later, 1,367 health centers operating in over 10,400 sites provide care to nearly 26 million patients: 1 out of every 12 US residents, 1 in 6 Medicaid/CHIP beneficiaries, and 1 in 10 children under age 18.1 Health centers today are a basic component of the nation’s health care system.2 But their mission has never wavered. Indeed, it remains as it was when Jack Geiger and Count Gibson, pioneers in health care and human rights, launched 2 of the earliest clinics in | 32143751 |
4,508,038 | Boston, Massachusetts and Mound Bayou, Mississippi: to provide comprehensive, high-quality primary health care in urban and rural communities classified as medically underserved by virtue of extensive poverty, elevated health risks, and a shortage of primary health care; and to make health care an entry point into a far more wide-ranging effort to improve the community health. Modern health centers are recognized for the quality and | 32143751 |
4,508,039 | Oxygen Atom Transfer Using an Iron(IV)-Oxo Embedded in a Tetracyclic N-Heterocyclic Carbene System: How Does the Reactivity Compare to Cytochrome P450 Compound I? N-Heterocyclic carbenes (NHC) are commonly featured as ligands in transition metal catalysis. Recently, a cyclic system containing four NHC groups with a central iron atom was synthesized and its iron(IV)-oxo species, [FeIV (O)(cNHC4 )]2+ , was characterized. This tetracyclic NHC ligand system may give the iron(IV)-oxo species unique catalytic properties as compared to traditional non-heme and heme iron ligand systems. Therefore, we performed a computational study on the structure and reactivity of the [FeIV (O)(cNHC4 )]2+ complex in substrate hydroxylation and epoxidation reactions. The reactivity patterns are compared with cytochrome P450 Compound I and non-heme iron(IV)-oxo models and it is shown that the [FeIV (O)(cNHC4 )]2+ system is an effective oxidant with oxidative power analogous to P450 Compound I. Unfortunately, in polar solvents, a solvent molecule will bind to the sixth ligand position and decrease the catalytic activity of the oxidant. A molecular orbital and valence bond analysis provides insight into the origin of the reactivity differences and makes predictions of how to further exploit these systems in chemical catalysis. | 36296701 |
4,508,040 | Cobalt chloride-induced hypoxia modulates the invasive potential and matrix metalloproteinases of primary and metastatic breast cancer cells. BACKGROUND Tumor hypoxia promotes cancer progression. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are required for breast cancer cell invasion. MATERIALS AND METHODS The effect of cobalt chloride (CoCl(2))-stimulated hypoxia on invasion potential and the expression of MMPs and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases (TIMPs) were investigated in four breast cancer cell lines, derived from primary sites (HCC1395 and HCC1937) and metastatic sites (MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231). RESULTS CoCl(2)-induced hypoxia induced HIF-1alpha protein expression in all four cell lines. Hypoxia significantly increased the invasiveness of HCC1395 cells, which did not correlate with a change of any one MMP. Constitutive MMP expression was different between primary and metastatic breast cancer cells. MMP-2 and MMP-9 measured by RT-PCR and zymography were notably expressed in primary cancer cells but not apparent in metastatic ones. MMP-7 was also highly expressed in primary cancer cells. Hypoxia increased the expression of MMP-1, -10 and -13 in metastatic breast cancer cells, whereas only MMP-13 was up-regulated in primary HCC1937 cells by hypoxic stimulation. TIMPs were not altered by hypoxia, except for TIMP-4 which was down-regulated in MDA-MB-231 cells. CONCLUSION This study demonstrated a cell line-specific effect of hypoxia on invasive potential and differential expression of constitutive MMPs in primary versus metastatic breast cancer cells, i.e. primary cancer cells expressed a wider range of MMPs, in particular MMP-2, -7 and -9, than the metastatic ones. The data suggest that MMPs play no crucial roles in hypoxia-induced tumor progression in primary breast cancer cells. | 25708051 |
4,508,041 | What Factors are Associated with Where Women Undergo Clinical Breast Examination? Results from the 2005 National Health Interview Survey. BACKGROUND Recent studies have suggested that clinical breast examination (CBE) rates may vary according to patient, provider and health care system characteristics. OBJECTIVE To examine the locations where U.S. women received a CBE and other general preventive health, and to examine predictors of location of receipt of general preventive health care (including a recent CBE). DESIGN Age-specific and age-adjusted rates of CBE use were calculated using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) and SUDAAN. A multivariate analysis was carried out using logistic regression techniques. PARTICIPANTS Women aged 40 years and older (n = 10,002) who participated in the 2005 National Health Interview Survey (NHIS). MEASUREMENTS Recent CBE use was defined as within the past two years. RESULTS Among all women, 65% reported a CBE within two years. The highest rate was found among women receiving routine care from doctors' offices and health maintenance organizations (HMOs) (68.5%). CBE use was somewhat lower among women receiving routine care from clinics or health centers (62.9%), and substantially lower among women receiving care from "other" locations (28.4%) or not reporting receiving preventive care (25.3%). Low income women (p < .01) and those with less than a high school education (p < .01) are more likely to go to a hospital than higher SES women. Women with health insurance are much more likely than women without health insurance to go to a doctor's office or HMO, and less likely to be seen at a | 6639551 |
4,508,042 | clinic or health center (p < .01 in both instances). In multivariate analysis, women who received routine care in a location other than a clinic or health center, doctor's office or HMO, or hospital outpatient department (OPD) were less likely to have received a CBE within the past two years (adjusted OR = 0.4, 95% CI = 0.3, 0.7) compared to those at a doctor's office or HMO. CONCLUSIONS After adjusting for patient factors, clinics/health centers and hospital OPDs performed as well as doctors' offices/HMOs in delivering CBE. However, women receiving care in other locations were less likely to report CBE. | 6639551 |
4,508,043 | Post-stapedectomy granuloma of the oval window A CAUSE of post-stapedectomy sensori-neural loss is a granuloma in the fossa ovalis. The granuloma may result from pyogenic inflammation, a response to overheating of bone in a 'drill out', or an inflammatory response to a foreign body. Foreign body material may be intentionally or accidentally introduced at operation. In the standard technique used in this department for the past six years, satisfactory overall results have been obtained (Dawes, 1969). The intentional foreign bodies introduced have been either wire teflon or stainless steel pistons. Absorbable sponge (Sterispon or Gelfoam) has been used to close the opening into the vestibule; Gelfoam is known to be removed by an inflammatory response within two days (Kylander, 1967). Watson-Jones (1952) suggests that the criteria for a suitably inert prosthesis to be used in orthopaedic surgery should be the following: it should be chemically stable, insoluble, with a smooth surface and any two materials used should have the same electrochemical potential. Wire teflon and stainless steel pistons seemed to meet these requirements. Accidental foreign bodies include cotton wool fibres, linen fibres from drapes, glove powder (talc or starch), fractured instruments. Bacterial contamination may occur during surgery or in the immediate postoperative period. | 12112401 |
4,508,044 | Co-Transformation of Type and Instance Graphs Supporting Merging of Types and Retyping Algebraic graph transformation is a well-known rule-based approach to manipulate graphs that can be applied in several contexts. In this paper we use it in the context of model-driven engineering. Graph transformation rules usually specify changes to only one graph per application, however there are use cases such as model co-evolution where not only a single graph should be manipulated but also related ones. The co-transformation of type graphs together with their instance graphs has shown to be a promising approach to formalize model and meta-model co-evolution. In this paper, we extend our earlier work on co-evolution by allowing transformation rules that have less restrictions so that graph manipulations such as merging of types and retyping of graph elements are allowed. | 1719551 |
4,508,045 | Development of a Portable Device for Determining the Level of Water Resources Pollution This paper discusses the principles of creating a portable device to determine the presence of contaminants in an aqueous solution sample. The modernization of the system with boiling liquid in the channel is considered. A preliminary version of the device appearance is presented. The obtained emission characteristic of the sample of arbitrary composition is given. | 54437551 |
4,508,046 | Semantic Mappings for the Integration of XML and RDF Sources A huge amount of data on the Web may be heterogeneous with respect to syntax, schemata and semantics. For instance, XML and RDF provide two completely different paradigms for modeling Web data. In this paper, we focus on the issue of mapping representations in an ontology-based framework that aims at integrating XML and RDF sources. We propose a solution that utilizes a new mapping language called RDF Mapping Schema, which is a meta-schema defined on top of RDF Schema. | 14417651 |
4,508,047 | Factor H-Related Protein 1 Drives Disease Susceptibility and Prognosis in C3 Glomerulopathy. BACKGROUND C3 glomerulopathy (C3G) is a heterogeneous group of chronic renal diseases characterized predominantly by glomerular C3 deposition and complement dysregulation. Mutations in factor H-related (FHR) proteins resulting in duplicated dimerization domains are prototypical of C3G, although the underlying pathogenic mechanism is unclear. METHODS Using in vitro and in vivo assays, we performed extensive characterization of an FHR-1 mutant with a duplicated dimerization domain. To assess the FHR-1 mutant's association with disease susceptibility and renal prognosis, we also analyzed CFHR1 copy number variations and FHR-1 plasma levels in two Spanish C3G cohorts and in a control population. RESULTS Duplication of the dimerization domain conferred FHR-1 with an increased capacity to interact with C3-opsonized surfaces, which resulted in an excessive activation of the alternative pathway. This activation does not involve C3b binding competition with factor H. These findings support a scenario in which mutant FHR-1 binds to C3-activated fragments and recruits native C3 and C3b; this leads to formation of alternative pathway C3 convertases, which increases deposition of C3b molecules, overcoming FH regulation. This suggests that a balanced FHR-1/FH ratio is crucial to control complement amplification on opsonized surfaces. Consistent with this conceptual framework, we show that the genetic deficiency of FHR-1 or decreased FHR-1 in plasma confers protection against developing C3G and associates with better renal outcome. CONCLUSIONS Our findings explain how FHR-1 mutants with duplicated dimerization domains result in predisposition to C3G. They also provide a pathogenic mechanism that may be shared by | 248749651 |
4,508,048 | other diseases, such as IgA nephropathy or age-related macular degeneration, and identify FHR-1 as a potential novel therapeutic target in C3G. | 248749651 |
4,508,049 | M2 demand relation and effective exchange rate in Japan: a cointegration analysis The paper examines whether M2 demand in Japan does not form a cointegrated system unless the effective exchange rate is included. We focus on testing statistical significance of the coefficient for the effective exchange rate in the long-run equilibrium M2 demand relation. Empirical results indicate that it is significant, which suggests that the effective exchange rate is necessary for Japanese M2 demand cointegration. | 155017301 |
4,508,050 | Effectiveness of Maitland And Mulligan Mobilization In Cervical Radiculopathy Patients The objective of the study is to differentiate the effectiveness of Mulligan and Maitland mobilization in cervical radiculopathy. Methods: 200 patients were selected and divided by lottery method into two groups. In one group i.e., Group A Maitland mobilization and in group B Mulligan mobilization was given. Patients were followed till 2 weeks. Results: There were 124(62%) male and 76(38%) female cases in study. The average age in group-A and group-B was 38.90 ± 6.97 years and 42.07±7.03 years, p-value 0.085. Before treatment the mean of pain in both group were calculated. So, in group-A was 7.40±1.45 and in group-B was 7.63±1.27 respectively, with insignificant difference. After treatment the mean pain in group-A was 3.40±1.73 and group-B was 2.53±1.57 respectively, P-value< 0.05 with significantly much less pain in group-B. The difference of pain represents in group-A and group-B was 3.77±2.18 and 4.90±1.83 while group A shows better results with, p-value < 0.05. Before treatment range of motion was restricted in all patients, while after treatment 80% of cases achieved normal range of movement in group-A while in group-B 92% cases achieved normal movement range. The improvement in both study groups was significantly higher at 2nd week of treatment, but in group B the improvement was higher when compared to group-A, p-value. Conclusion: The study concluded “Mulligan technique is much more effective than Maitland technique in terms of less pain and normal range of motion for cervical radiculopathy patients”. | 247267701 |
4,508,051 | FPGA Implementation of a SIP Message Processor Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is fast emerging as the next generation signaling protocol. It operates independently of the underlying network transport protocol, establishing sessions between multiple users irrespective if the media is voice, data or video. It is projected to eventually replace the existing multiple voice and video signaling protocols as a single protocol which achieves all. SIP implements a non-trivial grammar. Parsing this grammar to extract the protocol fields proves to be a high overhead for the CPU. This paper presents hardware offload architecture; the SIP Offload Engine (SOE) which essentially extracts the SIP fields and stores them is a proprietary data structure, for easy access by the CPU. An analysis has been done which shows a reduction in the CPU overhead by as much as 90%. | 58699951 |
4,508,052 | Allelic heterogeneity in hereditary surfactant protein B (SP-B) deficiency. Inability to produce surfactant protein B (SP-B) causes fatal neonatal respiratory disease. A frame-shift mutation (121ins2) is the predominant but not exclusive cause of disease. To determine the range of mechanisms responsible for SP-B deficiency, both alleles from 32 affected infants were characterized. Sixteen infants were homozygous for the 121ins2 mutation, 10 infants were heterozygous for the 121ins2 and another mutation, and six infants were homozygous for other mutations. Thirteen novel SP-B gene mutations were identified, which were not found in a control population. One novel mutation was found in two unrelated families. Surfactant protein expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry and/or protein blotting. Absence of proSP-B and mature SP-B was associated with nonsense and frame-shift mutations. In contrast, proSP-B expression was associated with missense mutations, or mutations causing in-frame deletions or insertions, and low levels of mature SP-B expression were associated with four mutations. Extracellular staining for proSP-C and/or aberrantly processed SP-C was observed in lungs of all infants with SP-B gene mutations. Hereditary SP-B deficiency is caused by a variety of distinct mutations in the SP-B gene and may be associated with reduced, as well as absent, levels of mature SP-B, likely caused by impaired processing of proSP-B. | 18738551 |
4,508,053 | Micro and Nano Fabrication by Powder Metallurgy Hierarchically complex structures are observed in many biological systems and in nature. These structures impart diverse functionalities to organisms, such as nanoscale viruses, microscale cells, and macroscale tissues. Miniaturisation by nature has motivated engineers and scientists to fabricate in micro and nano-scale. Different geometry of nanostructures like nanopillars, nanowires, nanodots etc have been fabricated for different applications from bioactivity and antibacterial to data storage purposes. Micro and nano fabrication has two approaches; one is a process used to construct physical objects with dimensions in the nanometer to micrometer range and secondly processing macro components using micron or nano sized powders/grains. Powder metallurgy is one such method to achieve both the approaches simultaneously or individually. | 240543501 |
4,508,054 | Short-term reorganization of the cortical network? Some questions from visual psychophysics. Research into visual system function requires the use of test stimuli as (would-be) neutral probes. Although the risk of transient 'fatigue' is well recognized, e.g. in relation to dark adaptation, we tend otherwise to assume that the system will respond reversibly to stimuli within normal physiological limits. It is on this assumption that gratings of near-parallel lines, for example, are commonly used to determine both physiological and psychophysical response characteristics. This paper reviews evidence suggesting that certain classes of visual stimuli, including gratings in particular, can induce a short-term cooperative reorganization of the visual network that leaves it far from normal in its responsiveness to other inputs. It is suggested that the resulting abnormalities may help to shape our ideas as to the cooperative ensemble properties of cortical neuronal network. | 23938001 |
4,508,055 | Clinical practice and biological effects of keratinocyte grafting. Skin grafts can be produced in the laboratory from simple sheets of cultured keratinocytes (keratinocyte grafts) or in combination with different mixtures of connective tissue components (composite culture grafts). Autologous keratinocyte grafts have been used most extensively in patients with major body surface burns and have proved life saving. Further attention to clinical factors has improved graft take to 50-60% in optimal circumstances although there is some short term instability of the graft. Keratinocyte autografts can also be used to treat other chronic wounds such as leg ulcers, and surgical excisions. Keratinocyte allografts do not survive transplantation but have effects on wound healing by the release of growth factors and matrix components. Composite grafts have been little used in clinical practice and there are inherent problems with the stability of the matrix components in the presence of high levels of wound collagenases, but banks of allogenic skin grafts may provide temporary cover in burns patients. The roles and clinical indications for keratinocyte grafting are now becoming clear following wider clinical experience. | 10269251 |
4,508,056 | Minerals, Vitamin Contents and Antioxidant Activities of Pawpaw (Ciraca Papaya) and Pineapple (Ananas Comosus) Fruits Pulp Fruits is indispensable in today’s world owing their tremendous health benefits. Pawpaw and pineapple are commonly consumed fruits worldwide. In this study, a methanol extract of pawpaw and pineapple were analysed to determine its vitamin content, total phenol content, mineral compositions, reducing power (FRAP) and antioxidant activities of crude extracts (FTC) with the ability to scavenge 2, 2‐ diphenyl ‐ 1‐ picrylhydrazyl (DPPH.) radical. The result showed that the total phenolic concentrations were (29.27 0.55mg/100 GAE) for pawpaw (58.16 27.05 mg/100g GAE) for pineapple. The extract showed a potent DPPH radical scavenging activity with different concentrations of 20 g/mL – 100 g/mL. Pawpaw had maximum inhibition at 60g/mL (29.4%) compared to pineapple at 40 g/mL (33.6%). The extracts contained appreciable amounts of vitamin C (174.900147.510 mg/100g) for pawpaw and vitamin E (1.9401.940 mg/100g) for pineapple . Minerals experiment was carried out for major elements for which pawpaw had the highest amount of calcium (295.220.16 mg/100g) and magnesium (9.490.01 mg/100g). Trace minerals were carried out for which pineapple had the lowest amount of selenium (2.070.01 mg/100g) and copper (0.240.02 mg/100g). This therefore suggests that pawpaw and pineapple could be a good source of antioxidants to ameliorate conditions in diseases whose pathogenesis implicates oxidative stress. | 238961451 |
4,508,057 | [Effects of high sodium diet on dopaminergic mechanism in normal and hypertensive subjects]. To investigate the effects of dietary sodium on the peripheral dopaminergic mechanism, changes of unconjugated plasma dopamine(DA) and its related humoral factors were studied in 8 patients with essential hypertension(EH) and 8 age-matched normal controls(N) while they were receiving ordinary meals (Na, 130-180 mEq daily) followed by higher sodium (250-300 mEq daily) diets for a week. Plasma and urinary DA, norepinephrine(NE) and epinephrine(E) were measured by the highly sensitive COMT-mediated radioenzymatic procedure, which permits an accurate estimation of plasma DA as low as 5-6 pg/ml. Under high sodium diets, blood pressure and heart rate were not changed significantly in N and EH subjects. Urinary NE and E tended to decrease, while urinary DA increased significantly in both groups of subjects (p less than 0.05). There was a significant correlation between urinary sodium and DA (r = 0.590, p less than 0.001), but plasma DA failed to correlate significantly to urinary sodium or DA in all subjects. Plasma NE and E tended to decrease in both N and EH subjects, while plasma DA increased significantly (p less than 0.05) in EH from 7.2 +/- 0.8 pg/ml [mean +/- SEM] to 9.3 +/- 1.0 and slightly in N from 9.1 +/- 1.8 to 11.2 +/- 1.3. Plasma renin activity(PRA) and plasma aldosterone(PAC) were invariably decreased in all subjects, while plasma prolactin(PRL) remained unchanged. A significant correlation was observed between plasma DA and NE under ordinary meals (r = 0.733, p less than 0.01), but this | 5856251 |
4,508,058 | correlation disappeared under high sodium diets. Plasma DA showed an inverse correlation to PAC (r = 0.351, p less than 0.05) under both dietary conditions. Upright posture induced a significant rise (p less than 0.05) in NE, E, DA, PRA and PAC with ordinary meals, but the responses of NE and PAC were apparently attenuated with high sodium diets. An intravenous injection of metoclopramide (MCP, 10 mg), a DA receptor antagonist, provoked a slight rise in plasma NE and DA with ordinary meals, of which responses were further enhanced with high sodium diets. MCP induced a definite rise in PAC and PRL in all subjects under both dietary conditions (p less than 0.01), while plasma E and PRA remained unchanged after MCP challenge. The results lend support to the view that unconjugated plasma DA could be a useful marker of peripheral dopaminergic activity, which might be a physiological regulator responsible for the suppression of aldosterone secretion and sympathetic nerve activity observed during high sodium intake. | 5856251 |
4,508,059 | Telemining/sup TM/ systems applied to underground hard rock metal mining at Inco Limited The introduction of intelligent systems to the underground mining of nickel, copper, cobalt and precious metals can provide significant improvement in the performance of a mine when compared with conventional mining techniques. This paper presents the concepts of Telemining in an actual case study showing how the systems work and the competitive advantage they provide for Inco's underground metal mining operations today and into the future. | 111014501 |
4,508,060 | Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar autograft tendon. There are many techniques, graft choices, and outcome studies evaluating anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction. The current authors specifically look at reconstruction with the patellar tendon from a scientific perspective. Miniopen, endoscopic, and two-incision operative techniques in addition to hamstring versus patellar tendon autograft reconstructions are compared via randomized prospective studies. A review of all studies evaluating arthroscopically-assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with patellar tendon was conducted. The authors found arthroscopically-assisted anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction to have a high short-term stability rate, extremely high patient satisfaction level, and a low postoperative complication rate. When the endoscopic technique was compared with the two-incision technique, there were no major differences. The difference between patellar tendon and hamstring autograft reconstruction can be described best as subtle, except for the consistent finding of an increased activity level in the patellar tendon group. When the principles of anterior cruciate reconstruction are followed, one can expect consistent results with patellar tendon autograft reconstruction. | 23284651 |
4,508,061 | Angiogenesis: vascular remodeling of the extracellular matrix involves metalloproteinases Endothelial cell invasion is an essential event during angiogenesis (the formation of new blood vessels). This process involves the degradation of the extracellular matrix, the basement membrane, and interstitial stroma, and is governed by the activation of matrix metalloproteinases. However, the contribution of matrix metalloproteinases in angiogenesis is much more complicated. Tumor growth above a certain size is dependent on new vessels. A number of studies have demonstrated that treating tumors with matrix metalloproteinase inhibitors results in tumor reduction and a decrease in tumor angiogenesis. Matrix metalloproteinases as sole matrix eaters or degraders is a matter of the past. Not only tumor cells but more importantly bystander cells such as stromal cells produce matrix metalloproteinases. Matrix metalloproteinases therefore are also part of the pathologic microenvironment in different diseases. This enzymatic microenvironment dictates the endothelial cell fate, the angiogenic switch, and finally angiogenesis. During recent years, the role of matrix metalloproteinases has expanded, and their function as modulators of biologically active signaling molecules has drawn much attention. Depending on their substrate (growth factors or their receptors, extracellular matrix components, and angiogenic factors), matrix metalloproteinase activation results in the generation of proangiogenic or antiangiogenic factors. These data challenge the old concept that matrix metalloproteinases are simply proangiogenic. The knowledge of the local enzymatic profile and what, where, and how matrix metalloproteinases are involved in angiogenesis of tumors or other diseases will help design future therapeutic strategies better reflecting the complexity of the underlying biologic process of angiogenesis. | 25978201 |
4,508,062 | Mesenchymal Stem Cells Modulate Differentiation of Myeloid Progenitor Cells During Inflammation Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) possess distinct immunomodulatory properties and have tremendous potential for use in therapeutic applications in various inflammatory diseases. MSCs have been shown to regulate pathogenic functions of mature myeloid inflammatory cells, such as macrophages and neutrophils. Intriguingly, the capacity of MSCs to modulate differentiation of myeloid progenitors (MPs) to mature inflammatory cells remains unknown to date. Here, we report the novel finding that MSCs inhibit the expression of differentiation markers on MPs under inflammatory conditions. We demonstrate that the inhibitory effect of MSCs is dependent on direct cell–cell contact and that this intercellular contact is mediated through interaction of CD200 expressed by MSCs and CD200R1 expressed by MPs. Furthermore, using an injury model of sterile inflammation, we show that MSCs promote MP frequencies and suppress infiltration of inflammatory cells in the inflamed tissue. We also find that downregulation of CD200 in MSCs correlates with abrogation of their immunoregulatory function. Collectively, our study provides unequivocal evidence that MSCs inhibit differentiation of MPs in the inflammatory environment via CD200‐CD200R1 interaction. Stem Cells 2017;35:1532–1541 | 3538501 |
4,508,063 | Applying the balanced scorecard for better performance of intellectual capital Purpose – One of the responses to criticisms of traditional forms of accounting reports for knowledge‐based firms has been the development of the balanced scorecard (BSC), a strategic performance measurement framework and methodology based on a family of performance measures. This paper aims to examine the issue of measuring performance in relation to a major Australian company, The Fosters Brewing Group, where a newly appointed CEO reversed a decline in performance by adopting, among other initiatives, the balanced scorecard approach to management.Design/methodology/approach – The paper takes the form of a case study, applying the theoretical framework of the BSC to a declining business in order to achieve a turnaround.Findings – The paper discusses how a newly appointed CEO of The Fosters Brewing Group reversed a decline in performance by adopting, among other initiatives, the balanced scorecard approach to management.Research limitations/implications – The BSC is a practical framework to deal with the ... | 349251 |
4,508,064 | HLS-Based FPGA Implementation of Convolutional Deep Belief Network for Signal Modulation Recognition Deep learning method is widely applied in modern artificial intelligence technology for Signal Modulation Recognition (SMR). Compared to CPUs and GPUs, FPGAs are highly energy-efficient and have low-latency streaming capabilities, which are more suitable for energy-sensitive or real-time machine learning projects. High-level synthesis (HLS) can automatically convert the logical structure described by a high-level language into a description by a low-level abstraction language. In this paper, we propose a system to optimize Deep Confidence Network (CDBN) by loops pipelining and unroll, memory buffering and partitioning, and implement an energy-efficient HLS-based FPGA Convolutional CDBN accelerator for SMR based on Virtex-7 platform. The accelerator system run at 150MHz and has 28% higher throughput and 80.5% less power consumption than a GPU implementation. | 231972751 |
4,508,065 | Home Narcotic Use After Early Discharge Following Cesarean Section [20D] INTRODUCTION: Despite the current epidemic of narcotic use/abuse among U.S. women, physicians have little objective data regarding outpatient postoperative narcotic use to help guide narcotic prescribing. Our aim was to quantify home narcotic use and pain control following cesarean section. METHODS: Women discharged home on postoperative day #2 following an uncomplicated term cesarean-section of a singleton fetus from May–July 2015 were enrolled. They were contacted by telephone two weeks postpartum and answered questions regarding narcotic use, pain control and pain expectations. Chart review was performed to abstract demographic, medical and peripartum data. Women who used >50 narcotic tablets, the top quartile for narcotic use, were then compared to women using ⩽50 tabs. RESULTS: Median number of narcotic tablets used for the 99 women included in analyses was 39 (IQR 17, 50) and median prescribed was 60 (IQR 40, 65). Women in the top quartile for narcotic use versus those not had greater average infant weight (3,764 g±541 vs 3,460 g±464, P=.02), were prescribed more narcotics at discharge (62.5 [IQR 60–75] vs 60 [IQR 40, 65], P=.001), more frequently received a narcotic refill (22.7% versus 5.2%, P=.02), were still using narcotics (45.5% versus 13.0%, P=.001), and reported that their initial prescription was inadequate (27.3% versus 9.2%, P=.01). Although pain scores were higher in top quartile users, 100% rated their pain control as adequate/good. CONCLUSION: For women discharged on POD#2 following uncomplicated cesarean section, 75% used 50 or fewer narcotics. | 76492251 |
4,508,066 | Using thioamides to site-specifically interrogate the dynamics of hydrogen bond formation in β-sheet folding. Thioamides are sterically almost identical to their oxoamide counterparts, but they are weaker hydrogen bond acceptors. Therefore, thioamide amino acids are excellent candidates for perturbing the energetics of backbone-backbone H-bonds in proteins and hence should be useful in elucidating protein folding mechanisms in a site-specific manner. Herein, we validate this approach by applying it to probe the dynamic role of interstrand H-bond formation in the folding kinetics of a well-studied β-hairpin, tryptophan zipper. Our results show that reducing the strength of the peptide's backbone-backbone H-bonds, except the one directly next to the β-turn, does not change the folding rate, suggesting that most native interstrand H-bonds in β-hairpins are formed only after the folding transition state. | 207081001 |
4,508,067 | The Role of Various Forms of Treatment in the Management of Parkinson's Disease Each of the various antiparkinsonian agents plays a role in the management of patients in varying stages of the disease. Newly diagnosed patients rarely require any treatment; those with moderate manifestations may benefit from treatment with either amantadine or with anticholinergic agents. Levodopa therapy is indicated in patients with severe disease or when the patient's livelihood or psychologic well-being is threatened by parkinsonian manifestations. Dyskinesia. dementia, or “on-off” phenomena associated with chronic levodopa therapy may be managed by the use of ergot derivatives, drug holidays, and in special circumstances, stereotactic surgery. | 42554001 |
4,508,068 | Patients' self administration of hydrocortisone. f?rM<<71990;301:1312 Properly managed, Addison's disease carries a normal life expectancy.12 The only related risk of death is inadequate glucocorticoid replacement treatment at times of illness or other stresses; this can lead to an adrenal crisis. All patients should know how to adjust their steroid dose when they are ill, and they should know which illnesses require such adjustment. We believe that all patients should have a supply of injectable hydrocortisone at home and be able to give themselves an injection if vomiting persists or if there is delay in obtaining medical attention. As it is the policy of our unit to instruct all patients in these matters we audited our patients to determine their knowledge. | 27117551 |
4,508,069 | Purification and characterisation of plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 produced in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Expression of plasminogen activator inhibitor 2 (PAI-2) under the control of the protease B gene promoter in a mutant strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, DS569, resulted in its accumulation intracellularly at up to 20% of the soluble cell protein. Provision of an N-terminal signal sequence resulted in the secretion of a hyperglycosylated molecule. The intracellularly produced PAI-2 was purified by copper-chelate and anion-exchange chromatography to greater than 95% pure and was fully active. The recombinant PAI-2 formed SDS-stable complexes with urokinase and tissue-type plasminogen activator and inhibited the proteases with similar reaction kinetics to placental PAI-2 (second-order rate constant for uPA, 2.4 x 10(6) M-1 s-1, and for two-chain tPA, 0.7 x 10(5) M-1 s-1). As is the case for placental PAI-2, the N-terminus of the yeast-derived recombinant PAI-2 was blocked. The high productivity and consequent ease of purification mean that S. cerevisiae provides an excellent source of recombinant PAI-2 for investigation of its therapeutic potential in the treatment of neoplastic and inflammatory diseases. | 20746551 |
4,508,070 | Characterization of a Smelting Furnace in Ungyo Site in Wanju, Jeollabuk-do, Through Slag Analysis This is an Open-Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial License (http://creativecommons.org/ licenses/by-nc/3.0) which permits unrestricted non-commercial use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. ABSTRACT We characterized the smelting process and smelting furnace through scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive spectroscopy, wavelength dispersive X-ray fluorescence, X-ray diffraction, and raman micro-spectroscopy with 13 relics including slags and furnace walls excavated from square-shaped building sites and pits of the Three Kingdoms site at the Ungyo site section I. Our results revealed that the principal components were FeO and SiO2; and CuO, PbO, and ZnO were contained in small quantities. Furthermore, fayalite, magnetite, augite, copper, and cuprite were found. High contents of FeO or SiO2 components seem to have been added to form fayalite to remove gangue in the smelting process. The relatively low content of S detected in the copper prills suggests that roasting was performed well. Cristobalite and mullite, which are minerals that indicate high-temperature found in the furnace wall, show that the smelting temperature was higher than 1,250°C. The findings of this study show a high possibility that the Wanju Ungyo site is smelting remains of copper ores, which are nonferrous metals, rather than iron. Various smelting byproducts excavated in this area in the future will help us better understand the copper smelting process that may have been performed since ancient times. | 202905251 |
4,508,071 | Disorders of excessive daytime sleepiness. The complaint of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is associated with a number of disorders. The frequently disabling symptoms of EDS are just beginning to be addressed. This article offers nurse practitioners background information to help in evaluating EDS symptoms. Disorders related to the physiological need for sleep and the response to disrupted sleep or the effect of psychobiological sleep disruption are presented. Differential diagnoses are reviewed and keys to case management are offered. The management of sleep disorders may involve a collaborative role with other health professionals in order to provide optimal patient care. To assist the NP in referring the patient to specialized care, referral services are described. | 40076601 |
4,508,072 | LUX: a design study for a linac-/laser-based ultrafast x-ray source We describe the design concepts for a potential future source of femtosecond x-ray pulses based on synchrotron radiation production in a recirculating electron linac. Using harmonic cascade free-electron lasers (FEL's) and spontaneous emission in short-period, narrow-gap insertion devices, a broad range of photon energies are available with tunability from EUV to hard x-ray regimes. Photon pulse durations are controllable and range from 10 fs to 200 fs, with fluxes 107-1012 photons per pulse. Full spatial and temporal coherence is obtained for EUV and soft X-rays. A fiber laser master oscillator and stabilized timing distribution scheme are proposed to synchronize accelerator rf systems and multiple lasers throughout the facility, allowing timing synchronization between sample excitation and X-ray probe of approximately 20-50 fs. | 55096051 |
4,508,073 | Free Internet Sites Which Answer Some Frequently Asked Business Reference Questions ABSTRACT In this article Jenkins and Beall, librarians at Auburn University, have identified free Web sites for providing answers to business reference questions most frequently asked in academic libraries. The authors determined these questions by polling other business librarians, researching the topic on the Internet and in business literature, and drawing upon their business reference backgrounds. Web sites were selected by searching the Internet extensively, querying other business librarians and business faculty, combing numerous business academic library Web pages, and experience by the authors in answering business reference questions via the Web. The researchers sought answers and noted productive sites for each question. Jenkins and Beall expect this article will help other librarians determine the most useful Internet sites for answering business reference questions. They also hope this research will provide guidelines for librarians in developing solid lists of essential Web sites for business researchers. | 62151451 |
4,508,074 | Visual Modelling of Complex Business Processes with Trees, Overlays and Distortion-based Displays Current approaches to modelling complex business processes fail to scale to large organizations. Key issues are cobweb and labyrinth problems exhibited by conventional box and line metaphors and large numbers of hidden dependencies introduced by compartment-based modularity. We have been developing a new approach, Enterprise Modelling Language, based on trees, overlays and fish-eye viewers to overcome these shortcomings of existing workflow notations. EML utilizes several visual metaphors to enhance the representation, navigation and management of large organizational hierarchies and process flows. We describe a prototype support tool, MaramaEML, that provides support for multiple visual notations including the business process modelling notation (BPMN), the EML tree-based, multi-layer hierarchical representation, fisheye zooming capabilities, automatic BPEL code generation, and inter-notation mapping. We describe our experiences using EML to model large business processes and initial evaluation results. | 983571 |
4,508,075 | Gingipains as candidate antigens for Porphyromonas gingivalis vaccine. Porphyromonas gingivalis (P. gingivalis), a gram-negative anaerobe, is involved in the pathogenesis of periodontal disease, and is found frequently in the subgingival flora in patients with periodontitis. This organism possesses a variety of virulence factors including lipopolysaccharide, capsular material, fimbriae and proteases (enzymes). Among the P. gingivalis antigens, enzymes such as Arginine-specific gingipains (RgpA, RgpB) and lysine-specific gingipain (Kgp) have been studied for their ability to induce biologically significant antibodies. This review summarizes recent information on the gingipains and their possible application in the development of an anti-P. gingivalis vaccine. | 6364221 |
4,508,076 | Fertility in Men After Treatment for Stage 1 and 2A Seminoma The purpose of this article is to assess the long-term fertility and attitudes towards fecundity in men after radical inguinal orchiectomy and radiation therapy (RT) for seminoma, and also to assess how often sperm cryopreservation is being offered to patients with seminoma prior to treatment. A retrospective review was conducted at 3 institutions (Wilford Hall Air Force Medical Center, Brooke Army Medical Center, and Fitzsimmons Army Medical Center) to identify patients who had undergone treatment of stage 1 or 2A seminoma during the period from 1975 to 1997. Seventy-three of 212 (34%) patients meeting the selection criteria of stage 1 or 2A seminoma provided information for this analysis. This was thought to be a good response rate, given that many of the patients had changed duty stations or had separated from the military by the time this study started. We performed a review of RT and tumor board records of 73 patients who were treated for testicular seminoma at selected treatment facilities from 1975 to 1997. Patients completed questionnaires and phone interviews that focused on prior fertility, the desire to father (more) children, other fertility-affecting factors (varicocele, cryptorchidism, infection, and erectile dysfunction), and incidence of physician counseling with regard to cryopreservation. All patients were asked to obtain a current semen analysis (SA). Eleven (15%) patients reported that they had tried to father children since completion of their RT. Seven of 11 (64%) successfully achieved pregnancy within a mean time of 3.5 years since RT (range: | 43741221 |
4,508,077 | 1 month to 5 years). Of the 4 couples that were not successful, 1 had severe female factor infertility problems and a second had organic erectile dysfunction. A third had a past surgical history remarkable for vasectomy with subsequent vasectomy reversal. Nine patients provided SA. Mean sperm count and motility were 24.2 Mil/mL (range: 5–81 Mil/mL) and 63.1% (range: 30–90%), respectively (normal SA values: count = 20–250 Mil/mL, motility >50%, and volume = 1.5–5.0 mL). No patients were azoospermic. Overall mean time interval from radiation therapy was 7.9 years. Radiation dose and time since RT did not correlate with either SA results or conception. Only 16 of 73 (22%) men had been offered pretreatment sperm cryopreservation by their counseling physician. It is concluded that (1) patients who are treated for early stage seminoma by orchiectomy and RT have greater than a 50% chance of regaining normal semen parameters, and all regain at least some spermatogenesis; 2) recovery of spermatogenesis is not related to therapeutic radiation dose with the use of modern shielding and RT portals; (3) the majority of treated patients who desire children can conceive; and (4) sperm cryopreservation remains an underutilized option for seminoma patients. | 43741221 |
4,508,078 | Natural Disaster Risk Assessment in Local Governments for Estimating Disaster Management Resources This paper proposes the method of risk assessment to minimize damages caused by natural disasters (typhoons, heavy rain, heavy snow, strong winds, high waves) and to establish systematic disaster prevention measures for 228 local governments. In this study, the risk assessment consists of four main factors: hazard, exposure, vulnerability, and reduction. These factors are evaluated in terms of a natural disaster's indicators for probability, consequentiality, vulnerability, and reducibility, respectively. The evaluation criteria for hazard and exposure have been proposed by analyzing the occurrences and damages of natural disasters, according to data measured by local governments over the last 20 years. Also, the evaluation indicators of vulnerability and reducibility have been selected by analyzing the damage to facilities caused by natural disasters in the last 20 years. The results of the risk assessment by natural disaster type for 228 local governments are derived by combining the results of those factors. The natural disaster risk assessment conducted in this study will help establish efficient and systematic disaster prevention measures for local governments. | 169575971 |
4,508,079 | Mutational analysis of ATP7B and genotype–phenotype correlation in Japanese with Wilson's disease The gene ATP7B responsible for Wilson's disease (WD) produces a protein which is predicted to be a copper‐binding P‐type ATPase, homologous to the Menkes disease gene (ATP7A). Various mutations of ATP7B have been identified. This study aimed to detect disease‐causing mutations, to clarify their frequency and distribution, to determine whether genotype correlates with phenotype, and to determine the rate of abnormal findings in heterozygotes for the WD gene. We analyzed 41 unrelated Japanese WD families, including 47 patients. Twenty‐one mutations, including nine novel ones, were identified. 2871delC (15.9%), 1708‐5T→G (11.0%), and Arg778Leu (13.4%) were the most common mutations. 2871delC was detected mainly in eastern Japan and 1708‐5T→G in western Japan. The homozygotes for the 1708‐5T→G, 2871delC, or Arg778Leu mutations did not show a correlation with their phenotypes. Ceruloplasmin and copper levels were abnormally low in 28.6% and 35.0% of heterozygotes, respectively. When patients and their families are screened for WD, a high rate of abnormal laboratory data in heterozygotes must be taken into account. Hum Mutat 15:454–462, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. | 25414821 |
4,508,080 | Tobacco Control in Hospitals in Jordan: Policy Analysis Despite the concerns about very high rates of smoking in Jordanian population and the growing efforts to combat the tobacco epidemic, smoking at hospitals in Jordan and the poor complying with smoking prevention policies are important aspects of the problem. The paper examined the scope and the progress of smoking problem in Jordanian hospitals, recognized public health policies on tobacco control in hospitals in Jordan, and explored the obstacles in applying tobacco control policies in hospitals. The paper also proposed some recommendations for effective public health policies that regulate tobacco smoking in hospitals and other health care facilities in Jordan. | 169131971 |
4,508,081 | A Review on Various Clustering Approaches for Image Segmentation In computer vision the image segmentation plays an important aspect. The main objective of segmentation is to obtain consequential objects in the image. Clustering is a prevailing technique that is used in the segmentation of images. In this work, a survey on image segmentation using different clustering methods is conferred. The cluster analysis involves partitioning the image data set to numeral disarticulate clusters. The clustering is a popular exploratory pattern grouping method for image analysis which subdivides the input space into regions. The methods of clustering include the FCM-fuzzy C-Mean, the IFCM-improved fuzzy C-mean algorithm, K mean, and the improved K-mean are some of the efficient techniques for image segmentation. Because of its ease and computational effectiveness, the solitary accepted method is the clustering. On the other hand, in the improved K means, the number of iterations will be compact when compared with conventional K means. Due to the unreliable degrees of membership, the fuzzy C mean algorithm has added extensibility meant for the pixels belonging to various classes. The time consumption is the intricacy with the predictable FCM which can prevail over by the improved FCM. In this survey, various clustering-based image segmentation methods are discussed based on various application areas. | 221279871 |
4,508,082 | 128 Clinical impact of changes in mitral regurgitation severity after optimization of medical therapy in heart failure: insights from BIOSTAT-CHF Few data are available regarding changes in mitral regurgitation (MR) severity with guideline-directed medical therapy (GDMT) in heart failure (HF). We evaluated the evolution and impact of MR after GDMT in the BIOlogy Study to TAilored Treatment in Chronic Heart Failure (BIOSTAT-CHF). A retrospective post hoc analysis was performed on HF patients from BIOSTAT-CHF with available data on MR status at baseline and at 9-month follow-up after GRMT optimization. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death or HF hospitalization. Among 1022 patients with data at both time-points, 462 (45.2%) had moderate-severe MR at baseline and 360 (35.2%) had it at 9-month follow-up. Regression of moderate–severe MR from baseline to 9 months occurred in 192/462 patients (41.6%) and worsening from baseline to moderate–severe MR at 9 months occurred in 90/560 patients (16.1%). The presence of moderate-severe MR at 9 months, independent from baseline severity, was associated with an increased risk of the primary endpoint [unadjusted hazard ratio (HR), 2.03; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57–2.63; P < 0.001], also after adjusting for the BIOSTAT-CHF risk-prediction model (adjusted HR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.43–2.39; P < 0.001). Younger age, LVEF ≥50% and treatment with higher ACEi/ARB doses were associated with a lower likelihood of moderate–severe MR at 9 months, whereas older age was the only predictor of worsening MR. Among patients with HF undergoing GDMT optimization, ACEi/ARB up-titration and HFpEF were associated with MR improvement, and the presence | 245037471 |
4,508,083 | of moderate–severe MR after GRMT was associated with worse outcome. | 245037471 |
4,508,084 | Reappraisal of timing for exploration of civilian peripheral nerve injuries. Operative as well as electrophysiologic experience with 213 major nerve injuries over the last 8 years and primate experiments form the basis of this reappraisal. Those lesions in continuity resected (58 of 172) usually had no response to stimulation or nerve action potential (NAP) at 8 weeks or longer after injury but were not necessarily complete lesions on clinical examination or electromyography. Axonal organization and maturity were of such poor quality that functional regeneration would not have resulted. Despite preoperative evidence of an incomplete lesion, operative studies confirmed a complete lesion in 21 instances. In 103 lesions NAP's could be recorded and, where neurolysis was done, recovery was acceptable in 91 percent. Many of these lesions had appeared complete on preoperative evaluation. Nerves transected by glass and repaired primarily had superior electrical and functional recovery to those repaired secondarily, although variations in clinical settings prevented statistical analysis. Experimental work in 20 primates with glass-wounded nerves favored primary repair, for NAP, evoked muscle action potential, and strain gauge studies of muscle power were superior in 14. Lesions in continuity should have exploration delayed until 8 weeks so that physiologic decisions regarding need for resection and repair can be made. Transecting injuries should be explored primarily, those without contusinve element repaired immediately, and those with contusion repaired 3 weeks after injury. | 39230471 |
4,508,085 | Caring for patients with cancer through nursing knowledge of IV connectors. Knowledge about the three different types of IV connectors (negative, positive, and neutral) is imperative to cancer care as specific and distinct interventions can help prevent occlusions and catheter-related bloodstream infections that can lead to increased morbidity with infections and loss of treatment time and mortality. Nurses have responsibilities associated with nursing research, education, and evidence-based practice that should support the outcomes of best patient care when using IV connectors. | 33050421 |
4,508,086 | Approaches to Software Fault Tolerance A personal and rather discursive account is given of the background to the start of work in the early 1970s at Newcastle on software fault tolerance, and of how work has developed to encompass forward as well as backward error recovery, and parallel and distributed software as well as sequential programs. A major theme of the paper is that of the links between this work and that carried out elsewhere in connection with the topic of objectoriented programming, in particular on concepts such as generic classes and functions, exception-handling, delegation and reflection. | 6949771 |
4,508,087 | Elementary identification of a gnathosonic classification using an autoregressive model. This was an investigation to determine the feasibility of an autoregressive (AR) model for establishing characteristic parameters from recorded occlusal sounds and develop their classification. Thirty four normal subjects with intact natural dentitions were selected for the study. The subjects' occlusal sounds from both sides of their faces respectively were sampled, and the gnathosonic classification (Class A, B and C) was established by observing the original recorded wave pattern and measuring the duration. Then, a 20 order AR model was calculated with the collected data, and the AR model coefficients were found to be similar to the indices of Bayes' discriminatory analysis. The total conformation rates of the modelled left and right occlusal sounds to the classification, estimated by Bayes' discriminant functions were 97.06% and 88.24% respectively. AR coefficients representing the characteristics of human occlusal sounds can be helpful in their classification and allow computer diagnosis of occlusal disorders. | 19674621 |
4,508,088 | Approximation and estimation of integral operatorsApplications to the restoration of images degraded by spatially varying blurs. (Compression et inférence des opérateurs intégrauxApplications à la restauration d'images dégradées par des flous variables) The restoration of images degraded by spatially varying blurs is a problem of increasing importance. It is encountered in many applications such as astronomy, computer vision and fluorescence microscopy where images can be of size $1000 \times 1000 \times 1000$ pixels. Variable blurs can be modelled by linear integral operators $H$ that map a sharp image $u$ to its blurred version $Hu$ defined by \[ Hu(x) = \int_{\Omega} K(x,y) u(y) dy, \quad \forall x \in \Omega = [0,1]^d \] where $K : \Omega \times \Omega \to \mathbb{R}$ is called the kernel. After discretization of the image on a grid of $N$ pixels, $H$ can be viewed as a matrix of size $N \times N$. For targeted applications, matrices contain $10^{18}$ coefficients. This simple observation illustrates the difficulties associated to this problem: i) the storage of a huge amount of data, ii) the prohibitive computation costs of matrix-vector products. This problems suffers from the challenging curse of dimensionality. In addition, in many applications, the operator is usually unknown or only partially known. There are therefore two different problems, the approximation and the estimation of blurring operators. They are intricate \emph{and} have to be addressed with a global overview. Most of the work of this thesis is dedicated to the development of new models and computational methods to address those issues. In a first part, this work | 38823371 |
4,508,089 | studied the approximation methods of integral operators. Existing approaches in the literature can be separated in two classes. The most developed approaches consists in constructing a low rank decomposition of the kernel $K$. Similarly to the seminal work of Beylkin, Coifman and Rokhlin, we studied the representation of blurring operators in wavelet bases. We showed that matrix-vector products can be rapidly computed in $O(N\epsilon^{-M/d})$ with a precision $\epsilon$ in spectral norm where $M$ is a scalar describing the regularity of the kernel. This type of approximations can be used to design restoration algorithms that are two orders of magnitude faster than current methods. The second class contains methods commonly used in the imaging community. They consist in constructing a low rank decomposition of the Time Varying Impulse Response (TVIR) $T : \Omega \times \Omega \to \mathbb{R}$ defined by $T(x,y) = K(x+y,y)$. Until now, those methods were partially studied and this work bridges the gap in the comprehension of their performances. Moreover, it allowed the identification of a representation that ``super'' compresses the operator. This representation appeals for the development of new identification strategies. In a second part, this work addresses the challenging problem of the estimation of operators. Recent theoretical works studied this problem but none of them can be implemented in targeted applications. In the specific case where some scattered impulse responses are observed, this work proposes the construction of an estimator of the operator that can be evaluated numerically in large dimensions. Theoretical guarantees on the performance of the estimator are also provided. \\ | 38823371 |
4,508,090 | Finally, this thesis studied other imaging problems. Images from light-sheet microscopy are degraded by stripe shaped attenuations. These phenomena can be modelled by multiplicative structured noises. This work proposes to solve a convex optimization and convincing results are obtained on real data. The development of quantitative indices that measure the similarity of images is a challenging question in imaging. The illumination of a scene can vary between two moments. Most indices are non invariant to these variations and will fail to assess the similarity of the same scene between the two instants. We proposed a similarity measure that is invariant to illumination changes. | 38823371 |
4,508,091 | Inhibition of hypoxia‐induced HIF‐1α‐mediated autophagy enhances the in vitro antitumor activity of rhein in pancreatic cancer cells A hypoxic microenvironment results in significantly elevated hypoxia‐inducible factor‐1 (HIF‐1) level in pancreatic cancer. HIF‐1 functions to maintain the survival of cancer cells. The present study was performed to investigate whether inhibition of HIF‐1α expression was involved in the in vitro antitumor effect of rhein in pancreatic cancer cells and to explore the underlying mechanism. sh‐RNA knockout technique and western blotting were used to investigate the role of HIF‐1α in autophagy activation in MiaPaCa‐2 and PANC‐1 cells. The survival and glycolysis were assessed using MTT assay and colorimetric kits, respectively. Apoptosis was evaluated by detecting the levels of apoptosis‐related proteins using western blotting. Among the five pancreatic cancer cell lines, MiaPaCa‐2 and PANC‐1 cells were more sensitive to hypoxia‐induced autophagy. HIF‐1α regulated hypoxia‐induced autophagy in MiaPaCa‐2 and PANC‐1 cells. Treatment with rhein inhibited the survival and suppressed glycolysis in MiaPaCa‐2 and PANC‐1 cells exposed to hypoxia. Bafilomycin A1 enhanced the suppressive effects of rhein on cell survival and glycolysis under hypoxia. Treatment with rhein, but not bafilomycin A1, significantly reduced HIF‐1α expression. In conclusion, inhibition of HIF‐1α‐mediated autophagy enhances the in vitro antitumor activity of rhein in pancreatic cancer cells under hypoxia. | 250696921 |
4,508,092 | Analysis and Design of Arrays with Tilted Directive Dipole Elements In this work, we present a study on the radiation and impedance properties of antenna arrays with tilted elements. We developed a spectral method of moments (MoM) for the analysis of doubly-periodic arrays with arbitrarily tilted dipole or stacked dipole elements, in free space or in the presence of a backing reflector. By using this analysis method, we study the radiation characteristics of arrays of stacked dipoles over a ground plane, highlighting the variation of the patterns as a function of the inter-element distance and the angle of inclination of the elements. The guidelines derived from the MoM analysis have been applied to the design of a linear array of tilted stacked dipoles. | 208280621 |
4,508,093 | Induction of tumor resistance in mice by L1210 leukemia cells persistently infected with HVJ (Sendai virus). A temperature-sensitive strain of Sendai virus, HVJ-pi, showed little or no cytopathic effect and led to establishment of carrier cultures in several cell lines. By the use of this characteristic, L1210 leukemia cells persistently infected with HVJ-pi (L1210/c--HVJ-pi) was established, almost all of which were positively stained with fluorescent HVJ antibody. They are viable and grow almost equally as uninfected L1210 leukemia cells in vitro. Athymic nude mice (BALB/c, nu/nu), deficient of T-cells, died from intraperitoneal inoculation of L1210/c--HVJ-pi cells as well as by uninfected L1210 leukemia cells. However, viable L1210/c--HVJ-pi cells showed lower transplantability in normal syngeneic mice. This immunological mechanism of rejection was explained by the modification of cell surface membrane due to HVJ-pi infection. The mice which survived the inoculation of 10(5) L1210/c--HVJ-pi cells were able to reject 10(5) uninfected L1210 leukemia cells challenged subsequently. The induction of immune resistance was more prominent in (C57BL/6 x DBA/2)F1 mice or (BALB/c x DBA/2)F1 mice than in DBA/2 mice. | 42221421 |
4,508,094 | [Small sclerosing hemangioma combined with primary lung cancer; report of a case]. A 56-year-old woman underwent a surgery for right breast cancer when she was 51-year-old. In February 2002, computed tomography (CT) was performed as a part of a follow-up study and showed 2 small nodules in the lower lobe of her right lung: one was 10 mm nodule in S9, and another was 5 mm in S6. On a follow-up CT in March 2005, the S9 nodule had enlarged to 19 mm and was looked as ground glass opacity (GGO). We thought it was primary lung cancer. In contrast, the nodule in S6 had not enlarged and it was thought to be benign. In May 2005, right lower lobectomy was performed. The S9 nodule was diagnosed as adenocarcinoma, and the S6 nodule as sclerosing hemangioma. | 33787821 |
4,508,095 | Pharmacy on wheels: bringing pharmaceutical care to the childs bedside Objectives The ward based satellite pharmacies at the Evelina Children's hospital, based in the main drug room on the ward, were designed to supply one-stop-medicines on a daily basis to children's electronically controlled bedside lockers. Utilisation of this room caused interruptions to nurses preparing medicines, removal of drug charts from the child's bedside and a service that was time limited for interaction with children and their carers. The aim was to put a mobile dispensing station,1 equipped with a fully networked live dispensing computer and medicines storage cupboard on each ward to provide bed to bed dispensing. The objective was to reduce nurse interruptions,2 increase pharmacy time at the child's bed and make the dispensing process interactive with the child/carers in terms of the information provided about them.3 Method A time-motion method was used to make observations of ward based activities of the pharmacy team in a preintervention (running the static satellite pharmacy system) and post intervention (pharmacy on wheels service) in order to make comparisons. Satisfaction questionnaires were used to identify the perceptions of key stakeholders of the new service. Results Interruptions of nurses by pharmacy staff, decreased by 65%. The dedicated time at the bedside meant that the time to take a drug history decreased by 16%, but the patient contact time increased by 30%. Time that the pharmacy team spent walking round the ward was reduced by 44%. 86% of children/carers thought the service was ‘good or excellent’, with 100% saying it was | 72372721 |
4,508,096 | a ‘better service’. 85% of nurses ‘agreed’ that the new service was a safer way of providing medicines at ward level. Conclusion The introduction of this new bedside service has shown many benefits. The relocation of pharmacy to the bedside has meant a more visual patient focused service has been established. With nurse interruptions being reduced and drug charts kept by the bedside, the new service shows good promise for the future. The pilot showed that the pharmacy team could make better use of their time at ward level, with less walking to and from the satellite pharmacy and more time spent with the individual children and their carers. More work is required on the interruptions of the pharmacy team during the dispensing process at the bedside; although the visual focus of the trolley seems to help avoid this and interruptions are medicine and patient specific. | 72372721 |
4,508,097 | Refined Enumerations of Totally Symmetric Self-Complementary Plane Partitions and Lattice Path Combinatorics This article is a short explanation of some of the results obtained in my papers “On refined enumerations of totally symmetric self-complementary plane partitions I, II”. We give Pfaffian expressions for some of the conjectures in the paper “Self-complementary totally symmetric plane partitions” (J. Combin. Theory Ser. A 42, 277–292) by Mills, Robbins and Rumsey, using the lattice path method. | 14833721 |
4,508,098 | Immunohistochemical evidence of activated lectin pathway in kidney allografts with peritubular capillary C4d deposition. BACKGROUND Complement 4d (C4d) deposition in the peritubular capillary (PTC) in the kidney allograft is a useful diagnostic marker for humoral rejection. C4d is produced not only by the classical pathway but also by the lectin pathway of the complement activation cascade. We have recently reported the in situ role of the later phase of the complement cascade in renal allografts with C4d deposition; however, the initial process prior to C4d deposition is yet to be resolved. METHODS To clarify the early phases of the complement activation cascade, we evaluated the deposition of initial proteins of the above two pathways; IgG, IgM, mannose-binding lectin (MBL), H-ficolin, L-ficolin, MBL-associated serine protease (MASP)-1 and MASP-2 in kidney allografts with PTC C4d deposition. RESULTS Sixty kidney allograft specimens were divided into two groups on the basis of the presence of C4d deposition in PTC. The C4d-positive group (n = 18) included nine ABO-identical and nine ABO-incompatible cases, and the C4d-negative group (n = 42) had 34 ABO-identical and eight ABO-compatible (but not identical) cases. In the C4d-positive group, 16 of 18 cases showed diffuse H-ficolin and IgM deposition in PTC. In contrast, H-ficolin and IgM were not detected in PTC in the C4d-negative group. Other initial proteins were not detected in all cases. CONCLUSIONS Our study suggested for the first time that the lectin pathway activated by H-ficolin may be involved in C4d deposition on PTC in the kidney allograft. | 14237521 |
4,508,099 | Iron meteorites : Crystallization , thermal history , parent bodies , and origin We review the crystallization of the iron meteorite chemical groups, the thermal history of the irons as revealed by the metallographic cooling rates, the ages of the iron meteorites and their relationships with other meteorite types, and the formation of the iron meteorite parent bodies. Within most iron meteorite groups, chemical trends are broadly consistent with fractional crystallization, implying that each group formed from a single molten metallic pool or core. However, these pools or cores differed considerably in their S concentrations, which affect partition coefficients and crystallization conditions significantly. The silicate-bearing iron meteorite groups, IAB and IIE, have textures and poorly defined elemental trends suggesting that impacts mixed molten metal and silicates and that neither group formed from a single isolated metallic melt. Advances in the understanding of the generation of the Widmanstätten pattern, and especially the importance of P during the nucleation and growth of kamacite, have led to improved measurements of the cooling rates of iron meteorites. Typical cooling rates from fractionally crystallized iron meteorite groups at 500–700 1C are about 100–10,000 1C/Myr, with total cooling times of 10Myr or less. The measured cooling rates vary from 60 to 300 1C/Myr for the IIIAB group and 100–6600 1C/Myr for the IVA group. The wide range of cooling rates for IVA irons and their inverse correlation with bulk Ni concentration show that they crystallized and cooled not in a mantled core but in a large metallic body of radius 150750 km | 17209971 |
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