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[Short-term effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with LARs artificial ligament]. | [Short-term effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction with LARs artificial ligament].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the surgical technique and short-term effectiveness of anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction with LARS artificial ligament.
METHODS
Between November 2008 and April 2010, eighty patients with ACL injury were treated with LARS artificial ligament under arthroscope and successfully followed up. There were 51 males and 29 females, aged from 17 to 43 years with an average of 29.2 years. The injuries were caused by sport in 63 cases, traffic accident in 14 cases, and bruise in 3 cases. There were 43 left knees and 37 right knees. The disease duration ranged from 10 days to 11 months. The anterior drawer test, Lachman test, and pivot shift test for all cases were rated as positive. The preoperative Lysholm score was 55.4 +/- 5.7, Irgang score was 48.3 +/- 6.2, and Larson score was 54.8 +/- 7.4; and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) score was lower than normal level in all cases. Oblique coronal MRI showed ACL injury in all cases. Residual ACL and synovium were preserved during surgery.
RESULTS
All incisions healed by first intention without complication of infection or deep venous thrombosis. All patients were followed up 7 to 24 months with an average of 16.8 months. There were 3 cases of screws exposure toward femoral cortical bone, 2 cases of loosening tibial screw, and 1 case of knee extension limitation, and they were cured after symptomatic treatment. No LARS artificial ligament rupture and joint fibrosis occurred during follow-up. At last follow-up, the results of anterior drawer test, Lachman test, and pivot shift test were positive in 2, 3, and 3 patients, respectively. There were significant differences in Lysholm, Irgang, and Larson scores of affected knees between preoperation and 6 weeks postoperatively, last follow-up, respectively (P < 0.05). The normal rate of IKDC score were 43.75% (35/80) and 97.50% (78/80) at 6 weeks postoperatively and last follow-up, respectively.
CONCLUSION
The viscoelastic properties of LARS artificial ligament is different from that of biological materials. The graft should be fixed at a relatively extension position to avoid knee extension limitation and slight loosening of graft tension is permitted at flexion position. Good clinical result could be achieved if the technique is well applied. | 2018-04-03T04:47:30.209Z | 2011-08-01T00:00:00.000Z | 40474210 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Appraisal of the Homogeneity of Error Variance Assumption and Alternatives to Multiple Regression for Estimating Moderating Effects of Categorical Variables | Appraisal of the Homogeneity of Error Variance Assumption and Alternatives to Multiple Regression for Estimating Moderating Effects of Categorical Variables
Homogeneity of within-subgroup error variance is a necessary condition for using multiple regression to estimate moderating effects of categorical variables. A 12-year review of Academy of Management Journal, Journal of Applied Psychology, and Personnel Psychology indicates that the assumption is violated in 40% to 60% of cases. The authors reanalyze published research to illustrate how violating the assumption may change substantive conclusions. To remedy this situation, they develop and present a computer program (i.e., ALTMMR) that (a) assesses whether a data set suffers from heterogeneity of error variance and (b) computes alternative inferential statistics to the traditional multiple regression F test when heterogeneity exists. ALTMMR, which can also be used as a teaching tool, was written in Java and is executable using an Internet Web browser or as a standalone application. | 2019-05-06T14:06:07.318Z | 1999-10-01T00:00:00.000Z | 145156110 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Two-phase helical CT for pancreatic tumors: pancreatic versus hepatic phase enhancement of tumor, pancreas, and vascular structures. | Two-phase helical CT for pancreatic tumors: pancreatic versus hepatic phase enhancement of tumor, pancreas, and vascular structures.
PURPOSE
To quantitatively evaluate and validate a two-phase helical computed tomographic (CT) protocol for evaluation of pancreatic tumors.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Twenty-seven patients with pathologically proved pancreatic adenocarcinomas prospectively underwent two-phase CT examination with helical acquisition during the pancreatic phase (40-70 seconds after infusion of intravenous contrast material at 3 mL/sec) and the hepatic phase (70-100 seconds after infusion). Mean CT attenuation values of tumor, bordering pancreas, and all major peripancreatic vessels were obtained for both time intervals.
RESULTS
Mean tumor-pancreas contrast was significantly greater during the pancreatic phase (67 HU +/- 19) than the hepatic phase (39 HU +/- 16) (P < .001) This was the result of both greater enhancement of normal pancreas and lower tumor enhancement during the pancreatic phase. Opacification of all vascular structures, including the portal vein, was also greater during the pancreatic phase (P < .001).
CONCLUSION
Two-phase helical CT with pancreatic phase acquisition provides statistically significantly better pancreatic, arterial, and portal venous enhancement than that of hepatic phase imaging, with improved tumor-pancreas contrast. | 2018-04-03T04:06:09.115Z | 1996-06-01T00:00:00.000Z | 24962770 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Stability issues of conjugated polymer/fullerene solar cells from a chemical viewpoint | Stability issues of conjugated polymer/fullerene solar cells from a chemical viewpoint
The efficiency of energy conversion and the stability of lifetime of `plastic' photovoltaic cells, based on conjugated polymer/fullerene blends, are the two main issues to be improved for this type of devices. The stability of these PV cells depends potentially on a large number of factors. A brief layer-to-layer overview of these factors is given, with main emphasis on the factors possibly playing a role in the active photovoltaic layer consisting of the interpenetrating network of a conjugated polymer and a fullerene derivative. Complicated sets of photochemical processes can take place in the pure materials and in the donor-acceptor blends, both in the absence and in the presence of oxygen. Especially, photochemical [2+2] cycloaddition and cycloreversion processes have been observed for fullerene derivatives and in certain mixtures containing an oligomer and a fullerene derivative. These and other (photo) chemical processes are very likely to have an influence on the performance of the photovoltaic cell. | 2019-04-08T13:08:02.582Z | 2001-02-05T00:00:00.000Z | 99777970 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Influence of sodium hypochlorite/etidronic acid combination and SmearOFF on push-out bond strength of fiber posts to root dentin. | Influence of sodium hypochlorite/etidronic acid combination and SmearOFF on push-out bond strength of fiber posts to root dentin.
The aim was to evaluate the effects of different irrigation protocols on the bonding ability of fiber posts on root canal dentin through push-out test and the dentin tubule penetration of luting cement by confocal laser scanning microscope (CLSM). Forty-eight single-rooted premolars were divided into six groups (n=8) based on post space irrigation protocols: Saline 0.85%; Etidronate 18% (HEBP); EDTA 17%; NaOCl 5.25%+EDTA 17%; NaOCl 2.5%/HEBP 9% combination; SmearOFF. Two specimens per group were assessed with CLSM. The push-out test and the failure analysis were performed. Whilst EDTA had the highest bond strength at the coronal and middle thirds, it was not statistically significant compared to saline, HEBP, and NaOCl/HEBP at the middle third (p>0.05). Cement/dentin adhesive failures were predominant (41.9%) and the intratubular fluorescence intensity was significant among the groups (p<0.05). EDTA resulted in highest bond strength values and dentinal penetration. | 2020-03-13T13:04:57.328Z | 2020-03-12T00:00:00.000Z | 212678020 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Five-year outcome of cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure with response prevention for bulimia nervosa | Five-year outcome of cognitive behavioral therapy and exposure with response prevention for bulimia nervosa
Background Few data exist examining the longer-term outcome of bulimia nervosa (BN) following treatment with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure with response prevention (ERP). Method One hundred and thirty-five women with purging BN received eight sessions of individual CBT and were then randomly assigned to either relaxation training (RELAX) or one of two ERP treatments, pre-binge (B-ERP) or pre-purge cues (P-ERP). Participants were assessed yearly following treatment and follow-up data were recorded. Results Eighty-one per cent of the total sample attended long-term follow-up. At 5 years, abstinence rates from binging were significantly higher for the two exposure treatments (43% and 54%) than for relaxation (27%), with no difference between the two forms of exposure. Over 5 years, the frequency of purging was lower for the exposure treatments than for relaxation training. Rates of recovery varied according to definition of recovery. Recovery continued to increase to 5 years. At 5 years, 83% no longer met DSM-III-R criteria for BN, 65% received no eating disorder diagnosis, but only 36% had been abstinent from bulimic behaviors for the past year. Conclusions This study provides possible evidence of a conditioned inoculation from exposure treatment compared with relaxation training in long-term abstinence from binge eating at 5 years, and the frequency of purging over 5 years, but not for other features of BN. Differences among the groups were not found prior to 5 years. CBT is effective for BN, yet a substantial group remains unwell in the long term. Definition of recovery impacts markedly on recovery rates. | 2018-04-03T02:00:49.195Z | 2010-09-02T00:00:00.000Z | 27090870 | s2ag/train | v2 |
A Comparative Analysis of Different Dinsar Approaches to Filter Out Atmospheric Phase Artifacts in Active Volcano Scenarioes Characterized by High Topography Surfaces | A Comparative Analysis of Different Dinsar Approaches to Filter Out Atmospheric Phase Artifacts in Active Volcano Scenarioes Characterized by High Topography Surfaces
We present in this paper a comparative analysis focused on the estimation and removal of the Atmospheric Phase Screen (APS) from DInSAR deformation measurements relevant to volcanic areas characterized by significant displacements and topography. These are scenarios where it is often difficult to separate the interferometric phase component due to atmospheric artifacts from the one related to the actual ground deformation. In particular, we investigate the APS correction performance achieved by applying two different approaches: i) the first relying on the exploitation of the external meteorological ERA-5 data, ii) the second based on filtering out atmospheric contributions from the DInSAR time series by exploiting their statistical properties both in space and in time. For the experimental analysis we analyze very large Sentinel-1 datasets acquired over two volcanic areas particularly challenging from the point of view of the APS estimation: La Palma island (Canary, Spain), focusing on the last eruption occurred on 19 September 2021, and Mt. Etna (Sicily, Italy). | 2022-09-29T16:46:09.286Z | 2022-07-17T00:00:00.000Z | 252590520 | s2ag/train | v2 |
An oral gold formulation in rheumatoid arthritis. A 12-month follow-up report. | An oral gold formulation in rheumatoid arthritis. A 12-month follow-up report.
Oral gold(Auranofin; SKF) 6 mg/d has been used in an open study in 31 patients with active rheumatoid disease, 19 of whom have been on continuous treatment for 1 year. Four of these patients were considered to be in remission and 9 had a good clinical response to treatment. Four showed only minimal improvement and 2 did not improve at all. There were, however, no changes in the biochemical parameters of inflammation, e.g. haemoglobin concentration, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, platelet count and rheumatoid factor, or in renal and hepatic function. Of the 31 patients, 9 (29%) have discontinued treatment but only 3 (9.7%) because of side-effects. Minor side-effects have been fairly common, occurring in 19 patients (61%), and included skin rashes and pruritus, diarrhoea and loose stools, nausea, stomatitis and thrombocytopenia or leucopenia. Oral gold would seem to be a safer, less potent form of chrysotherapy than parenteral gold. | 2018-04-03T03:47:04.873Z | 1982-08-28T00:00:00.000Z | 21016520 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Relations between functional, inflammatory, and degenerative parameters during adjuvant arthritis in rats. | Relations between functional, inflammatory, and degenerative parameters during adjuvant arthritis in rats.
We assessed the time-course of adjuvant arthritis (AA) in Lewis rats, using biotelemetry to monitor the rat's spontaneous locomotor activity and body temperature, and studied the evolution of the arthritic index, circulating concentrations of inflammation-promoting cytokines, cartilage proteoglycan synthesis, and the effect of indomethacin as a cyclooxygenase inhibitor to evaluate prostaglandin (PG) contribution in AA. The injection of complete Freund's adjuvant on day 0( D0) induced a marked, transient loss of locomotor activity ( D1- D4; initial phase) and then a second phase of hypomobility peaking on D15 and thereafter irreversible ( D16- D20; arthritic phase). Fever peaked first on D1 and again between D13 and D17. The primary hyperthermia was associated with increases in plasma interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α concentrations and seemed to be partly PG dependent. Proteoglycan synthesis inhibition in the patellar cartilage increased gradually, spreading from the injected paw to the contralateral paw. It was corrected on D20 by preventive and curative indomethacin treatments. Indomethacin also greatly relieved hypomobility during the systemic phase of AA ( D10- D15). The combination of information about cartilage metabolism, body temperature, locomotor activity, and cytokine in this study permits analysis of analgesic, antipyretic, anti-inflammatory, and chondroprotective properties of drugs in the various phases of AA. Thus, using a new methodology, we have discriminated the different phases of the disease and confirmed the symptomatic and systemic inhibitory effect of indomethacin on fever, activity, and cartilage metabolism. | 2017-04-09T03:33:00.369Z | 1997-10-01T00:00:00.000Z | 4381220 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Improving Campus Alcohol Policies Through Assessment and Scoring. | Improving Campus Alcohol Policies Through Assessment and Scoring.
Excessive alcohol consumption is responsible for more than 1,500 deaths annually among college students, of whom more than one in three report having been drunk during the past 30 days. Campus alcohol policies offer a first line of defense against excessive alcohol use but have received little systematic attention in the research literature. The research team previously developed a taxonomy of campus alcohol policies and sanctions, ranked in order of effectiveness, and assessed the accessibility, clarity, and effectiveness of policies at 15 post-secondary educational institutions. Herein we describe the process of reporting those assessments back to the 15 institutions, providing them with recommendations and technical assistance on how to improve their policies, and then re-assessing school alcohol policies for effectiveness and clarity. Conversations with primary points of contact at each school provided further insight into the process of assessing and improving campus alcohol policies. Of the 15 schools assessed, 11 added more effective policies, and four added more effective consequences during the 2 years following receipt of reports on the assessment. Campuses have control over their own policies, and greater attention to them from researchers and practitioners could better maximize their potential for enhancing student health and safety and supporting student success. | 2021-11-27T06:17:16.922Z | 2021-11-26T00:00:00.000Z | 244660320 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Brain-injured persons in an altered state of consciousness: measures and intervention strategies. | Brain-injured persons in an altered state of consciousness: measures and intervention strategies.
We evaluated the states of consciousness of seven persons who had sustained a severe head injury, and describe the behavioural manifestations associated with four treatment strategies. The subjects were between the ages of 19 and 55 and were recruited from both acute and long-term care facilities; all were in an altered state of consciousness. The severity of the injury was measured by time in coma, the scores on the Glasgow Coma Scale [1] and the Coma Near Coma Scale [2]. Structured interventions consisted of visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory and tactile stimulation; behaviour was measured using the Disability Rating Scale [3, 4] and a portion of the Levels of Cognitive Functioning Scale [5]. Sensory-motor indications were recorded using a questionnaire developed by Freeman [6] and a quality-of-life instrument, developed for use with individuals having multiple disabilities [7], was adapted for the purpose of this study. Our results suggest that the use of structured interventions in the first 24 months following severe head injury is associated with a trend towards improved auditory and visual skills performance, manual performance, swallowing and language. Whereas initially no subject had any form of verbalization, by the final evaluation five subjects had some form of communication, either verbal or non-verbal. | 2018-04-03T03:12:06.678Z | 1994-11-01T00:00:00.000Z | 1083170 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Optimal a posteriori error estimates of the local discontinuous Galerkin method for convection-diffusion problems in one space dimension | Optimal a posteriori error estimates of the local discontinuous Galerkin method for convection-diffusion problems in one space dimension
In this paper, we derive optimal order a posteriori error estimates for the local discontinuous Galerkin (LDG) method for linear convection-diffusion problems in one space dimension. One of the key ingredients in our analysis is the recent optimal superconvergence result in [Y. Yang and C.-W. Shu, J. Comp. Math., 33 (2015), pp. 323-340]. We first prove that the LDG solution and its spatial derivative, respectively, converge in the L-norm to (p+ 1)-degree right and left Radau interpolating polynomials under mesh refinement. The order of convergence is proved to be p + 2, when piecewise polynomials of degree at most p are used. These results are used to show that the leading error terms on each element for the solution and its derivative are proportional to (p+1)-degree right and left Radau polynomials. We further prove that, for smooth solutions, the a posteriori LDG error estimates, which were constructed by the author in an earlier paper, converge, at a fixed time, to the true spatial errors in the L-norm at O(h) rate. Finally, we prove that the global effectivity indices in the L-norm converge to unity at O(h) rate. These results improve upon our previously published work in which the order of convergence for the a posteriori error estimates and the global effectivity index are proved to be p+3/2 and 1/2, respectively. Our proofs are valid for arbitrary regular meshes using P p polynomials with p ≥ 1. Several numerical experiments are performed to validate the theoretical results. Mathematics subject classification: 65M15, 65M60, 65M50, 65N30, 65N50. | 2017-10-24T08:23:08.767Z | 2016-09-01T00:00:00.000Z | 44056320 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Assessment within ILP: A journey of collaborative inquiry | Assessment within ILP: A journey of collaborative inquiry
Abstract Innovative Learning Pedagogies (ILPs) have given rise to much focus on the pedagogical changes required to ensure students work collaboratively, apply knowledge, create outcomes and communicate these outcomes effectively. One key element that has had much less focus is how students are assessed when working in an Innovative Learning Environment (ILE) and how this assessment information might be communicated to all stakeholders. As a school, we commenced our collaborative inquiry using action research-based Professional Learning to enable us to assess and track students who might not be in our assigned class and reflect upon whether traditional written reports to parents fitted the new pedagogies. Key findings from collaboration with teachers, students and parents demonstrated the desire for a system of assessment that was online and allowed: Higher levels of student voice and agency On-going review so that the most current information about achievement and goals was available Parents to share in the richness of their child’s learning journey A holistic profile of the students, rather than one which purely focussed on academic achievements. We believe that the outcomes of this assessment inquiry will have a significant impact on all teaching and learning in our ILEs. | 2019-09-27T06:33:33.033Z | 2017-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 203059520 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Pragmatic Distance in IoT Devices | Pragmatic Distance in IoT Devices
Stand-alone devices perform their functions without human intervention. These types of devices would benefit from capabilities that allow collaboration among the devices in order to maximize service availability, as well as dynamic adaptation of the devices to user requirements in order to minimize resource usage. For example, when detecting a malfunction in one of the devices, the system should find devices with similar functionality to recover the overall service by functionality substitution. Additionally, for example, in the context of a user with hearing loss, the system should utilize devices with visual feedback functionality and disable audio feedback functionality to conserve resources. In this paper, we describe the implementation of a method to detect similar functionalities between heterogeneous devices, denoted Lightweight Machine to Machine Resource Pragmatic Distance (LwRPD). We define that devices are pragmatically close if they can be substituted with each other in order to perform a specific function in a particular context. We implement the method for enabling the aforementioned capabilities in specific use cases, using resources from real-life devices, to demonstrate the benefits. We also compare LwRPD with a multi-agent pragmatic similarity metric, Fuzzy logic and Levenshtein distance techniques, demonstrating LwRPD superiority over those techniques. | 2020-07-16T09:06:27.601Z | 2020-12-01T00:00:00.000Z | 226554970 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Realizing superior energy storage properties in lead-free ceramics via a macro-structure design strategy | Realizing superior energy storage properties in lead-free ceramics via a macro-structure design strategy
Based on the principle of sustainable development theory, lead-free ceramics are regarded as an excellent candidate in dielectrics for numerous pulsed power capacitor applications due to their outstanding thermal stability and environmental friendliness. However, the recoverable energy storage density (Wrec) and energy storage efficiency (η) of most lead-free ceramics are less than 4 J cm−3 and 80%, respectively, due to their low electric breakdown strength (Eb), large remnant polarization (Pr) and/or small maximum polarization (Pmax). In order to dramatically enhance the Wrec and η of lead-free ceramics, the macro-structure design strategy (construction of the ceramics with a sandwich structure comprising the large Pmax of ferroelectrics as the outer layer and the large Eb of the linear-like dielectric as the middle layer) was adopted to synergistically optimize the polarization and Eb in this study. Interestingly, the prepared ceramics exhibited a clear sandwich structure and the ultra-high Wrec of 6.78 J cm−3, together with a very high η of 89.7%, could be achieved at a high electric field of 572 kV cm−1, which are superior to the previously reported lead-free ceramics. Meanwhile, the energy storage properties also exhibited outstanding stability. In particular, the η was higher than 86% and the variation of Wrec was less than ±3% within 1–100 Hz and 30–120 °C. Therefore, the founding of this study opened up a novel and efficient guideline for exploring new environmentally friendly ceramics with superior energy storage properties. | 2020-05-28T09:09:29.096Z | 2020-06-16T00:00:00.000Z | 219523670 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Unified lattice dynamics model for hydrogen-bonded crystals | Unified lattice dynamics model for hydrogen-bonded crystals
A unified atomistic lattice dynamics model to be used for the investigation of dielectric crystals having a network of hydrogen bonds is suggested. The model appropriately describes a set of lattice dynamical characteristics, namely phonon frequencies in the Brillouin zone center, phonon dispersion relations, density of phonon states, partial density of states, dispersion of atomic mean-square displacements, and structure factors. A good agreement between the calculated and the experimental data obtained for seven of the KH2PO4-type crystals, namely CsH2PO4, CsD2PO4, RbD2PO4, PbHPO4, PbDPO4, TlH2PO4, and TlD2PO4 proves the reliability of the suggested model. | 2019-04-06T00:42:35.057Z | 2013-09-01T00:00:00.000Z | 97987470 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Crystalline Morphology Developing from Cholesteric Mesophase in Cyanoethyl Chitosan Solutions | Crystalline Morphology Developing from Cholesteric Mesophase in Cyanoethyl Chitosan Solutions
Two completely different crystals can grow from cyanoethyl chitosan/formic acid solutions in which the anisotropic liquid crystalline (LC) and isotropic phases coexisted. One was normal spherulites developing from isotropic region, and the other was cholesteric-like crystallites developing from mesophase region. The latter had similar optical characters as fingerprint texture. This implies that the crystal structure in solution cast film from cholesteric LC phase remained the main structure characters of cholesteric LC texture. A model is presented to explain the crystallization process from these liquid crystalline polymer solutions. | 2019-04-06T13:02:14.847Z | 2000-04-01T00:00:00.000Z | 97889820 | s2ag/train | v2 |
New Approach to the Modeling of Complex Multibody Dynamical Systems | New Approach to the Modeling of Complex Multibody Dynamical Systems
In this paper, a general method for modeling complex multibody systems is presented. The method utilizes recent results in analytical dynamics adapted to general complex multibody systems. The term complex is employed to denote those multibody systems whose equations of motion are highly nonlinear, nonautonomous, and possibly yield motions at multiple time and distance scales. These types of problems can easily become difficult to analyze because of the complexity of the equations of motion, which may grow rapidly as the number of component bodies in the multibody system increases. The approach considered herein simplifies the effort required in modeling general multibody systems by explicitly developing closed form expressions in terms of any desirable number of generalized coordinates that may appropriately describe the configuration of the multibody system. Furthermore, the approach is simple in implementation because it poses no restrictions on the total number and nature of modeling constraints used to construct the equations of motion of the multibody system. Conceptually, the method relies on a simple three-step procedure. It utilizes the Udwadia–Phohomsiri equation, which describes the explicit equations of motion for constrained mechanical systems with singular mass matrices. The simplicity of the method and its accuracy is illustrated by modeling a multibody spacecraft system. | 2014-10-01T00:00:00.000Z | 2011-03-01T00:00:00.000Z | 14378870 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Type of presentation: Poster | Type of presentation: Poster
Email of the presenting author: [email protected] Fe and Fe-oxide nanoparticles have a series of promising potential applications in physical and medical sciences. These include magnetic storage devices, catalysis, sensing, contrast enhancement in magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic hyperthermia [1-3]. Understanding of the Fe-Oxide NPs reduction to metal and the oxidation processes down to atomic scale is paramount for the control of the quality and the optimization of their applications. A recently modified double aberration corrected JEOL 2200FS (S)TEM [4] has demonstrated the possibility of the analysis of metallic nanoparticles in gas environment at temperature allowing single atom visualisation by HAADF STEM in controlled gas reaction environment [5]. In this study, thin films of iron were deposited by sputtering on C films supported by standard TEM Cu grids as in Figure 1a). Nanoparticles were produced by annealing in-vacuum the films within the microscope column (pressure ~1.0 * 10-5 Pa) at temperatures from room temperature to up to 600 °C using an in-house designed Gatan heating holder (Fig 1b). Nanoparticle formation and size distribution was monitored in-situ as a function of time and temperature by HAADF STEM imaging. After annealing nanoparticles were shown to consist of single crystal metallic Fe, composition confirmed by EDX analysis. The Fe nanoparticle samples interaction with Hydrogen (Fig 2a) and Oxygen (Fig 2b) gases were studied in-situ at 300 °C with a differential pressure at the specimen in the range of 2.5-3.0 Pa. The interaction of the nanoparticles with the gases, as well as the substrate, will be discussed in terms of the changes in nanoparticle geometry, composition, size distribution, crystallinity and microstructural defects. Fe to FexOy phase change was identified by HAADF/BF STEM imaging, and EDX line scans (Fig 3). These show uniform Fe/O composition within each particle with comparable particle sizes, but complex morphologies for the metallic and the oxide phases. The mechanism is being developed with single atom sensitivity. References: [1] B D Terris and T Thomson, J. Phys. D 38, R199–R222 (2005) [2] H. Galvis et al. Science 335, 835–838 (2012) [3] Q A Pankhurst, N T K Thanh, S K Jones, and J Dobson, J. Phys. D 42, 224001 (2009) [4] P L Gai and E D Boyes, Microscopy Research and Technique 72, 153 (2009) [5] E D Boyes, M R Ward, L Lari, and P L Gai, Annalen der Physik 525, 423 (2013) | 2019-06-26T03:47:24.577Z | 2014-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 195754370 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Advising patients seeking stem cell interventions for multiple sclerosis | Advising patients seeking stem cell interventions for multiple sclerosis
Given the intuitive potential of stem cell therapy and limitations of current treatment options for progressive multiple sclerosis (MS), it is not surprising that patients consider undertaking significant clinical and financial risks to access stem cell transplantation. However, while increasing evidence supports autologous haematopoietic stem cell transplantation (AHSCT) in aggressive relapsing–remitting MS, interventions employing haematopoietic or other stem cells should otherwise be considered experimental and recommended only in the context of a properly regulated clinical study. Understandably, most neurologists are unfamiliar with AHSCT procedures and the specific requirements for quality assurance and safety standards, as well as post-procedure precautions and follow-up. Consequently they may feel ill-equipped to advise patients. Here, we highlight important points for discussion in consultations with patients considering stem cell ‘tourism’ for MS. | 2018-06-07T13:50:05.021Z | 2018-05-30T00:00:00.000Z | 44137520 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Rational Design of Perforated Bimetallic (Ni, Mo) Sulfides/N-doped Graphitic Carbon Composite Microspheres as Anode Materials for Superior Na-Ion Batteries. | Rational Design of Perforated Bimetallic (Ni, Mo) Sulfides/N-doped Graphitic Carbon Composite Microspheres as Anode Materials for Superior Na-Ion Batteries.
Highly conductive 3D ordered mesoporous Ni7 S6 -MoS2 /N-doped graphitic carbon (NGC) composite (P-NiMoS/C) microspheres are prepared as anode materials for Na-ion batteries. The rationally designed nanostructure comprises stable Ni7 S6 - and MoS2 -phases along with the homogeneously distributed ordered mesopores (ϕ = 50 nm) over the external and internal structures generated through thermal decomposition of polystyrene nanobeads (ϕ = 100 nm). Therefore, the P-NiMoS/C microspheres deliver initial discharge capacities of 662, 419, 373, 300, 231, 181, and 146 mA h g-1 at current densities of 0.5, 1, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 A g-1 , respectively. Furthermore, P-NiMoS/C exhibits a stable discharge capacity of 444 mA h g-1 at the end of the 150th cycle at a current density of 0.5 A g-1 , indicating higher cycling stability than the filled, that is, non-mesoporous, Ni3 S2 -MoS2 /NGC (F-NiMoS/C) microspheres and filled carbon-free Ni3 S2 -MoS2 (F-NiMoS) microspheres. The superior electrochemical performance of P-NiMoS/C microspheres is attributed to the rapid Na+ ion diffusion, alleviation of severe volume stress during prolonged cycling, and higher electrical conductivity of NGC, which results in fast charge transfer during the redox processes. The results in the present study can provide fundamental knowledge for the development of multicomponent, porous, and highly conductive anodes for various applications. | 2021-09-09T20:47:45.049Z | 2021-07-28T00:00:00.000Z | 237715270 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Detection and identification of marine fish mislabeling in Guangzhou's supermarkets and sushi restaurants using DNA barcoding. | Detection and identification of marine fish mislabeling in Guangzhou's supermarkets and sushi restaurants using DNA barcoding.
In this study, DNA barcoding was applied to identify the distinct species of fish products in Guangzhou supermarkets and sushi restaurants in order to confirm whether products were correctly labeled. Samples were analyzed using mitochondrial cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (CO I) gene as the target. Our results showed that the CO I gene of all 139 samples examined was successfully amplified by PCR. When sequenced, 30 samples (21.58%) were mislabeled as the wrong species, 11 samples had insufficient information provided on the label to determine if the labeling was correct (7.91%), and four samples failed sequencing (2.88%). We also found that the use of proper labels for fish products in sushi restaurants was higher than that in supermarkets. As a simple, rapid, and efficient technology, DNA barcoding can be widely used for species identification of fish products. Our work shows that regulation of the labeling of fish products, as we evaluated in Guangzhou and other markets in China, is needed on a global scale. | 2022-04-20T06:25:15.843Z | 2022-04-19T00:00:00.000Z | 248241970 | s2ag/train | v2 |
The Role of Third-Party Seals in Building Trust Online | The Role of Third-Party Seals in Building Trust Online
Third-party seal programs, such as BBBOnLine, have emerged as a thriving e-service for building consumer trust on the Internet. Given the impersonal nature of electronic commerce, third-party seals are well positioned to act as the intermediary between competitive online vendors and nervous online consumers. This article surveys the current landscape of existing third- party seal programs, examines their role in building trust between vendors and consumers, and discusses the challenges that lie ahead. | 2019-02-14T14:03:40.727Z | 2003-07-01T00:00:00.000Z | 62207870 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Clinical surprises and challenges of severe malaria at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. | Clinical surprises and challenges of severe malaria at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya.
While conducting a clinical trial study from July, 1989 to February 1990, we noted with surprise some clinically challenging manifestations of severe falciparum malaria at Kenyatta National Hospital, Kenya. Of the 33 cases we studied, this paper summarises two fatal cases of malaria, one case presenting with hyperglycaemia and one with severe anaemia. | 2018-04-03T02:21:03.430Z | 1993-02-01T00:00:00.000Z | 33275420 | s2ag/train | v2 |
[Long-term effects of isopropyl unoprostone monotherapy on intraocular pressure and visual field for normal-tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma patients]. | [Long-term effects of isopropyl unoprostone monotherapy on intraocular pressure and visual field for normal-tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma patients].
We retrospectively investigated the long-term effects of isopropyl unoprostone monotherapy on intraocular pressure and visual field for normal-tension glaucoma and primary open-angle glaucoma patients. Among 80 eyes of 49 subjects receiving isopropyl unoprostone monotherapy for 2 years or more, 32 eyes of 32 subjects were analyzed because of the good reliability of their visual acuity and visual field (age, 68.1 +/- 10.1 yrs, follow-up period 47.8 +/- 14.7 months). The mean values of intraocular pressure and visual field indices were compared with baseline data before medication. The visual field changes were also analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier life-table method. The mean intraocular pressure decreased for 4 years from 14.7 +/- 4.3 mmHg (mean +/- SD) at baseline, to 12.7 +/- 4.4mmHg at 4 years. The global index of visual field (mean defect, loss variance) did not change significantly during the 4 years. The accumulative probability of survival was 80.7 +/- 8.0% after 4 years when the endpoint was defined as 3dB progression in mean defect. Isopropyl unoprostone might have the possibility of stabilizing the visual field for a long period of time. | 2018-04-03T03:53:03.354Z | 2006-09-01T00:00:00.000Z | 25599170 | s2ag/train | v2 |
An Analysis of Characteristics and Typical Projects of Task-Based Massive Open Online Courses (tMOOC) | An Analysis of Characteristics and Typical Projects of Task-Based Massive Open Online Courses (tMOOC)
Type analysis of MOOCs is a basic research. In reality, MOOCs are usually divided into cMOOC and xMOOC, which is reasonable to some extent, but not universally explanatory. Mainly based on Lisa M. Lane's opinion that MOOCs contain network-based, task-based and content-based MOOC, task-based MOOC (tMOOC), a relatively independent MOOC, is different from the others. It respects differences of learners' previous knowledge and the uniqueness of knowledge creation according to Constructivism Learning Theory and the main aim at acquiring specific skills in generating knowledge. This paper also analyzes typical application of it when applying MOOC. | 2020-04-19T13:17:24.716Z | 2019-12-01T00:00:00.000Z | 215816920 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Glucose-stimulated DNA Replication of the Pancreatic Islets During the Development of the Rat Fetus: Effects of Nutrients, Growth Hormone, and Triiodothyronine | Glucose-stimulated DNA Replication of the Pancreatic Islets During the Development of the Rat Fetus: Effects of Nutrients, Growth Hormone, and Triiodothyronine
DNA replication and insulin release have been studied in islets isolated, using a tissue culture technique, from rat fetuses of different gestational ages. The islets were cultured for 3 days in media with high and low concentrations of glucose or amino acids. The DNA replication was determined by autoradiography and the insulin secreted into the medium was measured by radioimmunoassay. In islets of 22-day-old fetuses, DNA replication was stimulated by both glucose and amino acids. At gestational days 18 and 20, only amino acids increased DNA replication. However, both high glucose and high amino acid concentrations increased the islet insulin secretion into the culture medium at all ages studied. In an attempt to induce glucose-sensitive DNA replication in vitro, islets obtained from 18- and 20-day-old fetal pancreata were cultured in the presence of either triiodothyronine or human growth hormone. Triiodothyronine failed to influence either DNA replication or insulin release. Growth hormone, however, increased DNA replication and insulin release in both the experimental groups but did not induce a growth response to glucose. It is concluded that the appearance of glucose-stimulated B-cell growth is a late event in the fetal development of the rat, parallelling the late maturation of both insulin biosynthesis and release. This finding may explain the difficulties in producing islet cell hyperplasia and diabetic fetopathy previously shown in rat models of diabetes in pregnancy. | 2018-04-03T03:50:09.862Z | 1985-08-01T00:00:00.000Z | 36671720 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Quantum Data Encryption as a Service on Demand: Eindhoven QKD Network Testbed | Quantum Data Encryption as a Service on Demand: Eindhoven QKD Network Testbed
The widespread acceptance and deployment of quantum key distribution (QKD) for data encryption requires a better understanding of the technology concerning device-to-system interfacing and network performance from current vendors. Despite the existence of a few QKD testbeds worldwide, they are neither open-access nor capable of validating components from different system and component vendors business cases. User trials in testbeds have yet to yield a robust, open business case. This paper introduces the open-access QKD testbed currently being developed in the Eindhoven region which will focus on the creation of an open environment for end-to-end validation of distinct business cases, QKD security proofs, and technology certification and standardization. At this site, a quantum-to-the-home network scenario for providing quantum encryption as a service on demand, for end-to-end security to end-users, is also proposed. It is expected that this testbed will lead to a better understanding of what further developments are required for current networks to be augmented with QKD. | 2019-09-21T13:38:15.990Z | 2019-07-01T00:00:00.000Z | 202699470 | s2ag/train | v2 |
A Descriptive Analysis of Clinical Articles Published in the Last 50 Years in the Dental Literature. | A Descriptive Analysis of Clinical Articles Published in the Last 50 Years in the Dental Literature.
AIMS
This article describes the methodologies used in the dental literature and described how these approaches have changed over time.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Thirty-three ISI peer-reviewed journals were included in the analyses. Data were extracted independently by 11 investigators and in duplicate. Any differences in the results were resolved via discussion or by a third reviewer when necessary. Data were collected regarding the methodology used in the article, and dental specialty related to different study designs. In the case in which more than one study design or specialty was reported, reviewers were trained to identify the main methodology/specialty.
RESULTS
The majority (36.96%) used a case report (CR) as the primary methodology, followed by a clinical trial (CT) (18.21%) or randomized CT (15.11%). The least used methodologies included a cohort (COH) study (6.07%) or a systematic review (SA)/meta-analysis (MA) (6.73%). Periodontology published the highest number of case controls (CCs) (46.8%), randomized CTs (RCTs) (29.9%), cross-sectional (CS) studies (26.0%), SRs/MAs (19.8%), and CTs (17.1%). Oral and maxillofacial surgery published the highest number of CRs/case series (54.5%) and COH studies (30.5%), whereas operative dentistry published the lowest number of CRs/case series (0.7%), CCs (2.9%), and SRs/MAs (2.3%). CRs/case series retain the highest number of publications across all time points in the dental literature overall.
CONCLUSION
Our results indicate an improvement in the types of research and the pyramid of evidence, which will help in applying evidence-based dentistry (EBD) in clinical decision-making.
CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE
Types of studies used in the dental field are not yet investigated. Thus, little is known about the common study design types in dental literature. This can affect the decision made regarding technique, risk factors, prevention, or treatment. | 2019-10-03T09:05:59.412Z | 2019-07-01T00:00:00.000Z | 204031720 | s2ag/train | v2 |
287(g) and the Politics of Interior Immigration Control in the United States: Explaining Local Cooperation with Federal Immigration Authorities | 287(g) and the Politics of Interior Immigration Control in the United States: Explaining Local Cooperation with Federal Immigration Authorities
This paper aims to improve our understanding of emerging patterns of interior immigration control in the United States by examining local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities under the 287(g) Program. While several recent studies have drawn attention to the shifting terrain of immigration enforcement away from borders into the interior, few have attempted to systematically explain reasons for this shift. Using a county-level dataset of all counties in the United States, this study finds that, despite the purported links between the 287(g) Program and public safety, county crime rates are not significantly related to local cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Rather, the results indicate that local decisions to engage in immigration control efforts are driven by political factors, particularly a county's partisan composition, and demographic pressures related to increases in the Hispanic/Latino population. Demography is not, however, destiny, as new immigration in localities with established foreign-born populations does not significantly increase the likelihood of cooperation under 287(g). This suggests that the partisan composition of the places where immigrants settle mediates the extent to which the demand for tighter immigration enforcement exceeds the political influence immigrant communities have in their efforts to contest restrictive immigration control policies. | 2019-08-18T05:23:42.441Z | 2012-05-01T00:00:00.000Z | 216136170 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Resistance induction in barley coleoptile cells by intracellular pH decline. | Resistance induction in barley coleoptile cells by intracellular pH decline.
Cytoplasmic acidification in suspension-cultured plant cells has been characterized as a common intracellular response of some kinds of plant cells to elicitors. Expression of various defense genes in these cells has been increased by the cytoplasmic acidification itself without treatment by elicitors. It is not evident, however, whether or not cells with acidified cytoplasm actually exhibit resistance to the pathogen because of the lack of an adequate infection system between cultured plant cells and some pathogens. Using barley coleoptiles rather than suspension-cultured cells, we demonstrated both detection of cellular pH decline and increased resistance to Blumeria graminis. The cytoplasmic pH of barley coleoptile cells floated on 1 mM citrate buffer (CB), pH 4.0, became 0.5 unit lower than that of cells floated on 1 mM CB, pH 8.0, within 30 min after treatment. The penetration efficiency of B. graminis into the coleoptile was decreased in a pH-dependent manner; that is, when the coleoptiles were floated on 1 mM CB, pH 8.0, the penetration efficiency of the fungi was about 80%. In contrast, when the coleoptiles were floated on acidic buffers, the penetration efficiency decreased in parallel the decline of pH and the penetration efficiency reached 0% when coleoptiles were floated on 1 mM CB, pH 4.0. Morphogenesis of appressoria on the coleoptiles floating on CB was not influenced. The lowered penetration efficiency at lower pH was partially cancelled when the barley coleoptiles were irradiated with UV for 5 min prior to B. graminis inoculation. These findings suggest that the decline in cytoplasmic pH in barley coleoptile cells increases resistance to the pathogenic fungus B. graminis. | 2018-04-03T02:57:17.042Z | 2000-12-15T00:00:00.000Z | 23657920 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Klotho Expression in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and its Association with Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Disease Progression | Klotho Expression in Epithelial Ovarian Cancer and its Association with Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Disease Progression
Klotho is an anti-aging hormone and is able to suppress the action of IGFs. High IGF activities are associated with cancer risk and tumor progression. Klotho's role in cancer is unknown. To evaluate Klotho expression in ovarian cancer and its association with IGFs and ovarian cancer progression, a clinical follow-up study of 189 ovarian cancer patients was conducted. Patients were recruited from a teaching hospital at University of Turin in Italy. All patients were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer and underwent surgery for the disease. Fresh tumor tissue was collected from each patient during surgery. Patient clinical and pathological information was collected, including patient age at surgery, disease stage, tumor grade, tumor histology, residual tumor size, debulking result, post-operative chemotherapeutic agent, treatment response, follow-up time and survival outcome. Expressions of total and secreted Klotho as well as IGFs in tumor tissue were analyzed using quantitative real-time PCR. Survival analysis was performed to evaluate the association of Klotho expression with the risk of disease progression and death using Cox proportional hazards regression model. High expression of secreted Klotho was associated with increased risk of disease progression and death. These associations were independent of patient clinical and pathological characteristics. Expression of secreted Klotho was positively correlated with the expression of IGF-I and IGFBP-3 but not with IGF-II. In conclusion, Klotho expression is associated with epithelial ovarian cancer progression, and the protein may serve as an independent marker for ovarian cancer prognosis. Klotho's role in cancer warrants further elucidation. | 2018-04-03T04:38:57.652Z | 2008-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 20555820 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Adaptive introgression and maintenance of a trispecies hybrid complex in range‐edge populations of Populus | Adaptive introgression and maintenance of a trispecies hybrid complex in range‐edge populations of Populus
In hybrid zones occurring in marginal environments, adaptive introgression from one species into the genomic background of another may constitute a mechanism facilitating adaptation at range limits. Although recent studies have improved our understanding of adaptive introgression in widely distributed tree species, little is known about the dynamics of this process in populations at the margins of species ranges. We investigated the extent of introgression between three species of the genus Populus sect. Tacamahaca (P. balsamifera, P. angustifolia and P. trichocarpa) at the margins of their distributions in the Rocky Mountain region of the United States and Canada. Using genotyping by sequencing (GBS), we analysed ~ 83,000 single nucleotide polymorphisms genotyped in 296 individuals from 29 allopatric and sympatric populations of the three species. We found a trispecies hybrid complex present throughout the zone of range overlap, including early as well as advanced generation backcross hybrids, indicating recurrent gene flow in this hybrid complex. Using genomic cline analysis, we found evidence of non‐neutral patterns of introgression at 23% of loci in hybrids, of which 47% and 8% represented excess ancestry from P. angustifolia and P. balsamifera, respectively. Gene ontology analysis suggested these genomic regions were enriched for genes associated with photoperiodic regulation, metal ion transport, maintenance of redox homeostasis and cell wall metabolites involved in regulation of seasonal dormancy. Our study demonstrates the role of adaptive introgression in a multispecies hybrid complex in range‐edge populations and has implications for understanding the evolutionary dynamics of adaptation in hybrid zones, especially at the margins of species distributions. | 2018-08-14T13:49:25.564Z | 2018-09-14T00:00:00.000Z | 51908670 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Explaining House Prices in Australia: 1970-2003 | Explaining House Prices in Australia: 1970-2003
This paper aims to explain changes in real house prices in Australia from 1970 to 2003. We develop and estimate a long-run equilibrium model that shows the real long-run economic determinants of house prices and a short-run asymmetric error correction model to represent house price changes in the short run. We find that, in the long run, real house prices are determined significantly and positively by real disposable income and the consumer price index. They are also determined significantly and negatively by the unemployment rate, real mortgage rates, equity prices and the housing stock. Employing our short-run asymmetric error correction model, we find that there are significant lags in adjustment to equilibrium. When real house prices are rising at more than 2 per cent per annum, the housing market adjusts to equilibrium in approximately four quarters. When real house prices are static or falling, the adjustment process takes six quarters. | 2019-05-16T13:01:33.886Z | 2005-08-01T00:00:00.000Z | 154833570 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Spectral and textural feature-based system for automatic detection of fricatives and affricates | Spectral and textural feature-based system for automatic detection of fricatives and affricates
Phoneme spotting in continuous speech has various applications — in speech recognition, smart audio filtering, multimedia synchronization and other fields. Many studies on phoneme spotting have been conducted, using different approaches. We present two algorithms for spotting fricatives (such as /s/, /sh/, /f/) and affricates (/ts/, /ch/) — one based on a cepstrogram-matching approach, and the other on an LDA classifier with a feature vector constructed from temporal, spectral and textural features of the audio signal. Tested on a selection of speech and song recordings, the algorithms demonstrate correct identification rate of over 90% and specificity of over 85%. | 2017-02-13T21:08:32.174Z | 2010-12-13T00:00:00.000Z | 39778720 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Parent Opinions About Use of Text Messaging for Immunization Reminders | Parent Opinions About Use of Text Messaging for Immunization Reminders
Background Adherence to childhood immunization schedules is a function of various factors. Given the increased use of technology as a strategy to increase immunization coverage, it is important to investigate how parents perceive different forms of communication, including traditional means and text-message reminders. Objective To examine current forms of communication about immunization information, parents’ satisfaction levels with these communication modes, perceived barriers and benefits to using text messaging, and the ideal content of text messages for immunization reminders. Methods Structured interviews were developed and approved by two Institutional Review Boards. A convenience sample of 50 parents was recruited from two local pediatric clinics. The study included a demographics questionnaire, the shortened form of the Test of Functional Health Literacy for Adults (S-TOFHLA), questions regarding benefits and barriers of text communication from immunization providers, and preferred content for immunization reminders. Content analyses were performed on responses to barriers, benefits, and preferred content (all Cohen’s kappas > 0.70). Results Respondents were mostly female (45/50, 90%), white non-Hispanic (31/50, 62%), between 20–41 years (mean = 29, SD 5), with one or two children (range 1–9). Nearly all (48/50, 96%) had an S-TOFHLA score in the “adequate” range. All parents (50/50, 100%) engaged in face-to-face contact with their child’s physician at appointments, 74% (37/50) had contact via telephone, and none of the parents (0/50, 0%) used email or text messages. Most parents were satisfied with the face-to-face (48/50, 96%) and telephone (28/50, 75%) communication. Forty-nine of the 50 participants (98%) were interested in receiving immunization reminders by text message, and all parents (50/50, 100%) were willing to receive general appointment reminders by text message. Parents made 200 comments regarding text-message reminders. Benefits accounted for 63.5% of comments (127/200). The remaining 37.5% (73/200) regarded barriers; however, no barriers could be identified by 26% of participants (13/50). Parents made 172 comments regarding preferred content of text-message immunization reminders. The most frequently discussed topics were date due (50/172, 29%), general reminder (26/172, 26%), and child’s name (21/172, 12%). Conclusions Most parents were satisfied with traditional communication; however, few had experienced any alternative forms of communication regarding immunizations. Benefits of receiving text messages for immunization reminders far outweighed the barriers identified by parents. Few barriers identified were text specific. Those that were, centered on cost if parents did not have unlimited texting plans. | 2018-04-03T06:10:03.371Z | 2012-06-06T00:00:00.000Z | 22900470 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Rapid Evolution of Plant-Bacterium Mutualism in the Rhizosphere | Rapid Evolution of Plant-Bacterium Mutualism in the Rhizosphere
Plant roots are associated with a diverse microbial community that consists of antagonistic, commensal and mutualistic organisms. While beneficial plant-microbe interactions are important for plant performance, direct evidence for the evolution of rhizosphere mutualism remains elusive. Here we experimentally show that initially plant-antagonistic Pseudomonas protegens bacterium can rapidly evolve into a mutualist in the rhizosphere of Arabidopsis thaliana only within six plant growth cycles (6 months). Using an in vivo experimental evolution system, we observed that P. protegens rapidly diversified into distinct phenotypes, with some having clearly positive effects on the plant performance. Crucially, this evolution of plant facilitation was also accompanied with increased bacterial fitness indicative of a mutualistic interaction. At the genetic level, P. protegens mutualism was associated with mutations in the GacS/GacA two-component global regulator system, which is known to affect several aspects of bacterial physiology including carbon metabolism, host-microbe signalling, and downregulation of phytotoxic secondary metabolites. At the phenotypic level, the evolution of mutualism could be explained via two mechanisms: improved competition for root exudates and enhanced capacity for activating the root-specific transcription factor gene MYB72, which is essential for the production and excretion of the antimicrobial scopoletin for which the mutualists evolved enhanced tolerance. Together, these results show that plant-bacteria mutualism can rapidly evolve at an agriculturally relevant evolutionary timescale in the rhizosphere. | 2020-08-06T09:06:48.395Z | 2020-08-04T00:00:00.000Z | 234626420 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Energy Shifts of Auger Transitions of Ga, As and N during Plasma-assisted Nitridation of GaAs (001) Surface | Energy Shifts of Auger Transitions of Ga, As and N during Plasma-assisted Nitridation of GaAs (001) Surface
Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) is used to study the processes taking place during the initial stages of nitridation of GaAs(001)-2×4 surface by active nitrogen species generated by a radio-frequency (RF) plasma source. Two effects, i.e. a chemical shift and a shift of the Fermi level due to band bending, take place during nitridation, these effects causing shifts of the Auger transitions of Ga, As and N. The shifts are the most pronounced for nitridation temperatures in the range 300°C–400°C, when a uniform GaN layer is believed to be formed on the surface. The post-nitridation thermal annealing of the samples nitrided in the above temperature range leads to re-crystallization of the GaAsN phase, formed as a result of nitridation, into cubic GaN layer. | 2019-04-19T13:04:09.317Z | 1998-08-15T00:00:00.000Z | 121973570 | s2ag/train | v2 |
DEDICATED TO PROFESSOR ZHENDE WU ON HIS SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY | DEDICATED TO PROFESSOR ZHENDE WU ON HIS SEVENTIETH BIRTHDAY
Suppose that (Φ, Mn) is a smooth (Z2)-action on a closed smooth n-dimensional manifold such that all Stiefel-Whitney classes of the tangent bundle to each connected component of the fixed point set F vanish in positive dimension. This paper shows that if dim Mn > 2k dimF and each pdimensional part F p possesses the linear independence property, then (Φ, Mn) bounds equivariantly, and in particular, 2k dimF is the best possible upper bound of dim Mn if (Φ, Mn) is nonbounding. | 2014-10-01T00:00:00.000Z | 2005-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 15139720 | s2ag/train | v2 |
2D FEM Analysis of Slippage Phenomenon in Earth and Rockfill Dams | 2D FEM Analysis of Slippage Phenomenon in Earth and Rockfill Dams
Abstract - Dams are gaining more attention in recent years due to the rise of the environmental awareness and ‘renewable energy’ and ‘sustainability’ concepts. Earth emban kment dams are preferred over gravity dams for the ease of construction and economical advantage. Despite considerable advances in the field of geotechnical engineering, the occurrence of frequent destructive earthquakes during the past decade and the trend towards construction of structures of unprecedented size and of novel designs has enhanced the importance of earthquake resistant structural design. Rock-fill dam is a type of earth dam where a compacted central clay core is supported from the rock shells by a series of transition zones built of properly graded material. In recent years, rock-fill dams, especially the impervious-faced rock-fill dams (IFRD), are built all around the world using asphalt or concrete as the impervious material in the upstream face of the dam. This paper analyses the slippage phenomenon in the core-shell interface of earth and rock-fill dams with the aid of ANSYS16.2 package. The software was first validated then used to examine the slippage in Tehri Dam, which is located in the seismically active region of Himalayas. A 2D fem analysis is done by modelling the dam as a linear, elastic, non-homogenous material. The slippage phenomenon is modelled using contact element feature of ANSYS. Among the variables, the non-homogeneity of the core and shell material and coefficient of friction is considered in the analysis. On evaluation it is found that core settlement increases where core-shell influence has been considered. | 2020-07-09T14:29:15.226Z | 2016-02-01T00:00:00.000Z | 251667870 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Sleep apnea in early childhood associated with preterm birth but not small for gestational age: a population-based record linkage study. | Sleep apnea in early childhood associated with preterm birth but not small for gestational age: a population-based record linkage study.
STUDY OBJECTIVES
Investigate the relationship between gestational age and weight for gestational age and sleep apnea diagnosis in a cohort of children aged up to 6 years old.
DESIGN
A cohort study, using record linked population health data.
SETTING
New South Wales, Australia.
PARTICIPANTS
398,961 children, born between 2000 and 2004, aged 2.5 to 6 years.
MEASUREMENTS
The primary outcome was sleep apnea diagnosis in childhood, first diagnosed between 1 and 6 years of age. Children with sleep apnea were identified from hospital records with the ICD-10 code G47.3: sleep apnea, central or obstructive.
RESULTS
A total of 4,145 (1.0%) children with a first diagnosis of sleep apnea were identified. Mean age at first diagnosis was 44.2 months (SD 13.9). Adenoidectomy, tonsillectomy, or both were common among the children diagnosed with sleep apnea (85.6%). Children born preterm compared to term were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with sleep apnea (< 32 weeks versus term hazard ratio 2.74 [95% CI: 2.16, 3.49]) this remained even after adjustment for known confounding variables. Children born small for gestational age were not at increased risk of sleep apnea compared to children born appropriate for gestational age, hazard ratio 0.95 (95% CI 0.86-1.06).
CONCLUSIONS
This is the largest study investigating preterm birth and sleep apnea diagnosis and suggests that diagnosis of sleep disordered breathing is more prevalent in children born preterm, but not those who are small for gestational age. | 2018-04-03T03:39:58.174Z | 2012-11-01T00:00:00.000Z | 36250020 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Cytodiagnosis of cutaneous histoplasmosis in HIV positive patient initially presenting with multiple umbilicated disseminated skin nodules | Cytodiagnosis of cutaneous histoplasmosis in HIV positive patient initially presenting with multiple umbilicated disseminated skin nodules
Histoplasmosis is usually an opportunistic fungal infection in patients with defective cell mediated immunity, and has been considered as one of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) defining illness. However, cutaneous involvement in human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive patients is less common, and very rarely can be the initial presenting symptom for the diagnosis of AIDS. We present here an unusual case of multiple diffuse cutaneous nodular lesions predominantly in face, trunk, and upper extremities diagnosed initially on aspiration cytology as histoplasmosis. Subsequent serological test revealed positivity for HIV 1 and 2, along with a low CD4 count and low CD4:CD3 ratio. The cytomorphological features were further corroborated by histology and histochemical stains. Hence, cutaneous histoplasmosis can cause multiple wide spread nodular or umbilicated lesions in AIDS patients as the initial presentation. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is a rapid, cost effective tool for diagnosis of the fungi from such lesions and initiating work up for immunocompromised states including AIDS. Diagn. Cytopathol. 2013. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | 2018-04-03T05:12:34.801Z | 2013-05-01T00:00:00.000Z | 25362120 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Estimating multiple independent motions in segmented images using parametric models with local deformations | Estimating multiple independent motions in segmented images using parametric models with local deformations
This paper presents a new model for optical flow based on the motion of planar regions plus local deformations. The approach exploits brightness information to organize and constrain the interpretation of the motion by using segmented regions of piecewise smooth brightness to hypothesize planar regions in the scene. Parametric flow models are fitted to these regions an a two step process which first computes a coarse fit and then refines it using a generalization of the standard area-based regression approaches. Since the assumption of planarity is likely to be violated, we allow local deformations from the planar assumption. This parametric+deformation model exploits the strong constraints of parametric approaches while retaining the adaptive nature of regularization approaches.<<ETX>> | 2019-04-20T13:09:05.324Z | 1994-11-11T00:00:00.000Z | 123716120 | s2ag/train | v2 |
An efficient temperature-inducible vector incorporating the T7 gene 10 translation initiation leader region. | An efficient temperature-inducible vector incorporating the T7 gene 10 translation initiation leader region.
The temperature-inducible expression vector pJLA5O3 (1) contains the c 1857-controlled lambda promoters PR/PL in tandem followed by the translation initiation region (TIR) of the E. coli atpE gene and convenient cloning sites. Transcription is terminated at the bacteriophage fd terminator (fdtt). The TIR region of the atpE gene has been suggested to be highly efficient in translation initiation (2). We have replaced the TIR region of pJLA503 with the 5' untranslated region, including the ribosome binding site (RBS) of the bacteriophage T7 gene 10 (3) from the expression vector pET3a (4) generating the temperature-inducible expression vector pJW2 (Fig. 1) which contains convenient unique cloning sites around the RBS {Ndel, Sphl, BamHl, EcoRl, Sail) and initiation codon (located within the Ndel restriction site) for gene insertion. We have found pJW2 much superior to pJLA503 for both temperature induced (42 °C) and nalidixic acid induced expression of a number of genes, including the genes coding for the mature form of porcine somatotropin (PST) (Fig. 2), precursor forms of PST, /3-galactosidase, j3glucuronidase and a-amylase. Recommended E. coli hosts include the protease-deficient host AR68 (5) and JA221 (6). | 2017-05-30T06:10:52.841Z | 1990-02-25T00:00:00.000Z | 11753770 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Types of moral argument against embryo research . | Types of moral argument against embryo research .
Almost all moral objections to embryo research depend on one version or another of a slippery slope argument. There is one absolutist consideration which may be thought to decide the question independently of that argument, to the effect that the early embryo simply is a human being. But any plausible use of that consideration itself relies on the slippery slope argument. This argument may use either of two ideas (or both): that to distinguish between the two cases is not reasonable or that it will not be effective. The argument turns out to be very largely an empirical, consequentialist argument, and its application to early embryo research to rest on doubtful assumptions. | 2018-04-03T05:01:22.311Z | 1987-06-01T00:00:00.000Z | 41390070 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Effect of additives on mesophilic α-amylase and its application in the desizing of cotton fabrics | Effect of additives on mesophilic α-amylase and its application in the desizing of cotton fabrics
An investigation was carried out on thermal stability of α-amylase. The influence of various additives (calcium acetate, sodium lactate, L-histidine, and water-soluble chitosan) on the stability of α-amylase was studied. Results showed the inactivation behavior of α-amylase with or without additives all followed the first-order kinetics. All additives (Ca2+, sodium lactate, L-histidine, and water-soluble chitosan) displayed good stabilizing effect on α-amylase lower than 80 °C, and only water-soluble chitosan had an efficient stabilizing effect on α-amylase when the treatment temperature exceeds 80 °C. All additives improved the catalytic activity of α-amylase at 70–90 °C, and the appearance of water-soluble chitosan increased the catalytic activity of α-amylase at 90 °C sharply. A desizing ratio of 68.42% was obtained by treating the cotton fabrics in the buffer solution at 100 °C without α-amylase. To obtain a desizing ratio exceed 95% when fabrics were treated at 100 °C for 10 min, the addition of water-soluble chitosan saves 2/3 α-amylase dosage. Moreover, water-soluble chitosan showed a further improvement in desizing effect than the additive of calcium acetate. | 2019-03-21T13:08:07.841Z | 2015-01-08T00:00:00.000Z | 84230670 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Enhanced plasma levels of LIGHT in patients with acute atherothrombotic stroke | Enhanced plasma levels of LIGHT in patients with acute atherothrombotic stroke
Objectives – As a member of the tumor necrosis factor superfamily (TNFSF), LIGHT (TNFSF14) was recently found to be associated with platelets and released upon activation. Increased plasma levels of LIGHT have been reported in patients with myocardial infarction and unstable angina. The aim of the study was to analyze plasma levels of LIGHT in acute ischemic atherosclerotic stroke. | 2018-04-03T02:56:42.007Z | 2008-10-01T00:00:00.000Z | 23645770 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Varieties of social experience: The religious cultural context of diverse spiritual exemplars | Varieties of social experience: The religious cultural context of diverse spiritual exemplars
From cultural developmental and relational developmental systems perspectives, the current study employed an exemplar research design along with qualitative content analysis to gain deeper understanding of how adolescents perceived the social influences on their religious and spiritual development (RSD) among religiously and culturally diverse youth. The sample included interviews of 28 highly spiritual youth aged 12-21 years (M = 17.73 years) from six countries and eight different religious traditions. Analysis revealed that 96% of participants reported multiple relational influences on their RSD and that these persons impacted their religiousness and spirituality through various processes such as teaching and encouragement. Portions of the narrative are presented to reveal how the meaning and influence of these interactions are informed by cultural and religious tradition. The narratives testify to the multifaceted nature of spiritual development and how it is embedded within religious, social, and cultural contexts. Statement of contribution Already known Existing research suggests that adolescent relationships are critical in shaping the religious and spiritual attitudes and practices that youth demonstrate (for reviews, see King & Boyatzis, 2015, Social and Emotional Issues; Mahoney, 2010, Journal of Marriage and Family, 72, 805; Roehlkepartain et al., 2006, The handbook of spiritual development in childhood and adolescence). Parents and peers are significant in shaping adolescents' involvement and beliefs in a religious system (i.e., Denton, 2012, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 5, 42; Desrosiers et al., 2011, Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 3, 39; French et al., 2011, Journal of Youth Adolescence, 40, 1623). Other studies have noted the importance of faith communities, mentors, or religious educators (see Schwartz et al., 2006, The handbook of spiritual development in childhood and adolescence; Vaidyanathan, 2011, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 50, 366). However, how these relationships exert influence, on what types of youth, and in what circumstances or cultures is not clear. Current contribution Findings demonstrate that a variety of typical individuals influence spiritual development among highly spiritual youth. Although these influential individuals might fall into common categories (e.g., family, friends, pastors, teachers), their influences are experienced through various processes such as role modeling, teaching, and offering support. These influences take on different meaning in different religious and cultural contexts. | 2018-04-03T04:14:40.272Z | 2017-03-01T00:00:00.000Z | 24003370 | s2ag/train | v2 |
A Probabilistic Approach to Apriori Algorithm | A Probabilistic Approach to Apriori Algorithm
We consider the problem of applying probability concepts to discover frequent itemsets in a transaction database. The paper presents a probabilistic algorithm to discover association rules. The proposed algorithm outperforms the a priori algorithm for larger databases without losing a single rule. It involves a single database scan and significantly reduces the number of unsuccessful candidate sets generated in apriori algorithm that later fails the minimum support test. It uses the concept of recursive medians to compute the dispersion in the transaction list for each itemset. The recursive medians are implemented in the algorithm as an Inverted V-Median Search Tree (IVMST). The recursive medians are used to compute the maximum number of common transactions for any two itemsets. We try to present a time efficient probabilistic mechanism to discover frequent itemsets. | 2017-02-13T20:41:11.384Z | 2010-08-14T00:00:00.000Z | 15603420 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Characterizing Regulatory and Functional Differentiation between Maize Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells by Transcriptomic Analysis1[W][OA] | Characterizing Regulatory and Functional Differentiation between Maize Mesophyll and Bundle Sheath Cells by Transcriptomic Analysis1[W][OA]
To study the regulatory and functional differentiation between the mesophyll (M) and bundle sheath (BS) cells of maize (Zea mays), we isolated large quantities of highly homogeneous M and BS cells from newly matured second leaves for transcriptome profiling by RNA sequencing. A total of 52,421 annotated genes with at least one read were found in the two transcriptomes. Defining a gene with more than one read per kilobase per million mapped reads as expressed, we identified 18,482 expressed genes; 14,972 were expressed in M cells, including 53 M-enriched transcription factor (TF) genes, whereas 17,269 were expressed in BS cells, including 214 BS-enriched TF genes. Interestingly, many TF gene families show a conspicuous BS preference in expression. Pathway analyses reveal differentiation between the two cell types in various functional categories, with the M cells playing more important roles in light reaction, protein synthesis and folding, tetrapyrrole synthesis, and RNA binding, while the BS cells specialize in transport, signaling, protein degradation and posttranslational modification, major carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen metabolism, cell division and organization, and development. Genes coding for several transporters involved in the shuttle of C4 metabolites and BS cell wall development have been identified, to our knowledge, for the first time. This comprehensive data set will be useful for studying M/BS differentiation in regulation and function. | 2017-06-25T04:25:51.128Z | 2012-07-24T00:00:00.000Z | 27986520 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Janssen Research Foundation's Adverse Experience Literature Database: A User-Centered Design for Human-Computer Interaction | Janssen Research Foundation's Adverse Experience Literature Database: A User-Centered Design for Human-Computer Interaction
This paper will first discuss user-centered design factors and how they should be addressed. This will be followed by the actual Janssen experience in successfully designing and building its adverse experience literature database. It will then highlight criteria for the evaluation of information retrieval systems. The Janssen experience serves as an example that such user-centered design factors can be easily and effectively implemented in a corporate environment. | 2019-02-14T14:04:09.301Z | 1993-04-01T00:00:00.000Z | 62770420 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Partial maintenance of extra cancellous bone mass by antiresorptive agents after discontinuation of human parathyroid hormone (1–38) in right hindlimb immobilized rats | Partial maintenance of extra cancellous bone mass by antiresorptive agents after discontinuation of human parathyroid hormone (1–38) in right hindlimb immobilized rats
The current study employs the immobilization (IM) rat model to induce osteopenia, parathyroid hormone (PTH) as the anabolic agent to restore bone mass, and 17β‐estradiol, calcitonin, or risedronate as the maintenance agents to answer the following questions: How much cancellous bone loss occurs when PTH is withdrawn? Which antiresorptive or antiactivation agent maintains bone best? Ideally, what tissue‐level histomorphometric conditions maintain added bone? Six‐month‐old female rats were treated with 200 μg PTH/kg/day subcutaneously at 30 days post‐IM for 75 days. Then PTH treatment was stopped and switched to a vehicle (no treatment), 10 μg calcitonin/kg/day, 10 μg 17β‐estradiol/kg/day, or 5 μg risedronate twice weekly for another 15 days (early response) or 60 days (late response). The rats had their right hindlimb immobilized throughout the study. The current report deals only with the maintenance phase involving 92 animals. Bone histomorphometry was performed on the secondary spongiosa of the right proximal tibial metaphysis (PTM). Cessation of PTH treatment followed by vehicle administration for 15 days resulted in partial loss of trabecular bone area and thickness from stimulated bone resorption and the fall of all formation indices. By contrast, all three antiresorptive agents maintained the cancellous bone mass during the same period. However, after prolonged withdrawal of PTH for 60 days, we found that 17β‐estradiol and calcitonin maintained the cancellous bone slightly better than no treatment, while risedronate partially protected it from the mechanostat‐induced bone loss. The risedronate treatment retained 71% of the PTH‐added bone while calcitonin retained 48%, estrogen 42%, and no treatment 32%. The favorable histomorphometry profile for maintenance was the sustained reduction in bone resorption and turnover and normal age‐related bone balance. We concluded that 1) cessation of PTH treatment will result in the loss of two‐thirds of the added bone in 60 days; 2) currently, risedronate at the dose level employed as a maintenance agent is far superior to 17β‐estradiol or calcitonin because of its long retention in bone; however, a longer observation period might result in less difference; and 3) the ideal tissue‐level histomorphometry continues depressing bone resorption and turnover and maintains a normal age‐related bone balance. Furthermore, we found the “lose, restore plus add, and maintain (LRAM)” concept was successful in maintaining most of the PTH‐induced extra bone by risedronate for 60 days. It was far superior to 17β‐estradiol or calcitonin. Possibly the last two agents would be effective in maintaining a normal amount of bone but not in preserving an excessive amount of bone. Nevertheless, the current study further emphasizes that clinicians should consider using the LRM treatment strategy when they plan to treat osteoporosis with bone anabolic agents. | 2018-04-03T00:16:02.534Z | 1995-11-01T00:00:00.000Z | 10741020 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Contactless mapping of thoracic and abdominal motion: Applications for seismocardiography | Contactless mapping of thoracic and abdominal motion: Applications for seismocardiography
Seismocardiography has been well studied in terms of analysis, applications, and methods of measurement. However, there remains a lack of research into the explanation and modelling of the involved phenomena. We propose a new contactless method to measure thoracic and sternal movements, demonstrate that it is adequate for typical seismocardiogram use. An ultrasonic diagnostic tool called ICARE (CArdio REspiratory Imager) was designed to perform non-contact ultrasonic waves imaging on the thorax and abdomen. In addition to ICARE measurements an accelerometer was placed above the xiphoid of 3 participants (male, age 39±11). Both ICARE and accelerometer measurements were performed concurrently. Experimental results show the ability of the ICARE system to obtain 3D seismocardiographic images with high frequency frame rate. Furthermore, this technology could potentially be used to obtain cardio-vascular information in and out of clinical environments, significantly lowering the required time and effort. | 2018-04-06T00:10:27.382Z | 2017-09-14T00:00:00.000Z | 4644970 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Symmetry enhancement of extremal horizons in D = 5 supergravity | Symmetry enhancement of extremal horizons in D = 5 supergravity
We consider the near-horizon geometry of supersymmetric extremal black holes in un-gauged and gauged 5-dimensional supergravity, coupled to abelian vector multiplets. By analyzing the global properties of the Killing spinors, we prove that the near-horizon geometries undergo a supersymmetry enhancement. This follows from a set of generalized Lichnerowicz-type theorems we establish, together with an index theory argument. As a consequence, these solutions always admit a symmetry group. | 2018-05-09T00:19:34.000Z | 2018-01-26T00:00:00.000Z | 119247120 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Damage of TWIP steels for automotive application | Damage of TWIP steels for automotive application
Ultra high strength Fe-Mn-C austenitic steels with low Stacking Fault Energy (SFE) have been studied for more than fifty years [1]. They offer a great potential for reducing automotive body weight through their formability and their high mechanical properties. Tensile strength levels higher than 1000 MPa in combination with a high ductility (>50%) are reached by the optimization of the Twinning Induced Plasticity (TWIP) effect and the control of the microstructure | 2014-10-01T00:00:00.000Z | 2013-05-03T00:00:00.000Z | 55181270 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Environmental exposures, genetic predisposition and allergic diseases: one size never fits all | Environmental exposures, genetic predisposition and allergic diseases: one size never fits all
A remarkable increase in the prevalence of allergic diseaseappears to parallel the postindustrial lifestyle changes inwesternized societies. Insufficient microbial exposureduring infancy and early childhood is one of the proposedexplanations for the increase in prevalence of atopicsensitization and associated clinical phenotypes (asthma,allergic rhinitis, eczema). Within this context, childhoodvaccination may be associated with an increased risk ofallergies [e.g. children whose parents refuse the vaccin-ation have less atopic diseases (1)]. However, it has to beemphasized that major benefits of childhood vaccinationprogrammes and successes in the prevention and treat-ment of infectious diseases (with global reduction inmortality and morbidity) clearly outweigh the risk of thepossible promoting effect on allergic disease.There is growing evidence that one of the inadvertentconsequences of the fight against infectious diseases andour obsession with cleanliness might have been theinterference with the immune system development. Thechanging pattern of microbial exposure, with the declinein some infectious diseases, may lead to a slowermaturation of the immune system, with a delayeddevelopment of the optimally balanced immune re-sponses. This notion forms the immunological basis ofthe hygiene hypothesis. However, the hygiene hypothesisoriginated from epidemiological studies.Searching for the cause of allergy: the link between epidemiologyand immunologyFamily size. The pioneering proposal by David Strachanthat a decrease in family size reduced the possibility ofcross-infections, facilitating the clinical expression ofallergic rhinitis had lead to intense interest in this area(2). His findings were confirmed in a number of studies(3), and within the same context, exposure to otherchildren in day-care centres was found to be protectiveagainst asthma and atopy (4). Yet, the effects of familysize, position in sibship or day-care arrangements maynot be mediated by the exposure to infectious agents,but some other underlying aspect of immune response(5).Helminths. Children in developing countries who areinfested with helminths are less likely to develop atopyand allergic disease. Furthermore, long-term treatment ofintestinal helminths in infested children increases specificsensitization to house dust mite (6). In addition, thereappears to be an inverse dose-response relationshipbetween the burden of infestation by helminths andexpression of allergic disease (7). However, helminthsmay only be a marker of environmental exposure to othermicrobial agents and/or endotoxin.Helminthic infections enhance the secretion of T | 2018-04-03T01:45:24.111Z | 2006-04-01T00:00:00.000Z | 30775720 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Cognition and Paroxysmal EEG Activities: From a Single Spike to Electrical Status Epilepticus during Sleep | Cognition and Paroxysmal EEG Activities: From a Single Spike to Electrical Status Epilepticus during Sleep
Summary: Epileptic EEG paroxysms can interfere with cognitive processes producing transitory effects, such as those related to a single spike, as well as long‐lasting effects, such as in electrical status epilepticus during slow‐wave sleep (ESES). Focal spike‐related disruption of cortical functions can produce transitory cognitive impairment, with neuroanatomical specificity between the site of the epileptic focus and the impaired cognitive tasks. ESES represents a model of the long‐lasting effects of continuous spike‐wave activity on higher cortical functions. The duration of ESES and the localization of interictal foci seem to play a major role in influencing the degree and type of cognitive dysfunction, suggesting that the ESES clinical picture results from a localized disruption of EEG activity caused by focal epileptic activity during sleep. Recently, Giulio Tononi's group reported that a local increase of slow‐wave activity (SWA) during sleep after learning is associated with improved performance of the learned task after sleep (Huber et al., Nature 2004;430:78–81). On the basis of these findings, we can speculate that prolonged focal epileptic activity during sleep (as occurring in ESES) interferes with local SWA at the site of the epileptic focus, impairing the neural processes and, possibly, the local plastic changes associated with learning and other cognitive functions. | 2018-04-03T03:12:58.967Z | 2006-11-01T00:00:00.000Z | 1216870 | s2ag/train | v2 |
[Preservation of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery. An anatomic study of 30 dissections]. | [Preservation of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve in thyroid surgery. An anatomic study of 30 dissections].
The authors stress the importance of the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve in laryngeal physiology, by noting the consequences of its section during thyroid surgery. A rigorous anatomical study carried out on 15 fresh cadavers, i.e. 30 superior laryngeal nerves, reproducing the conditions of thyroid surgery, allowed precision of the time during surgery when the external branch is at risk of being damaged, especially during sectioning of the vascular pedicle of the upper pole and at the time of separation of the thyroid pole from the laryngeal axis. The study considers the anatomical variations of the territory of the superior thyroid artery and the various technical problems that are posed in preserving the external branch of the nerve. In the light of their findings, the authors advise that this nerve axis should be identified before ligature of the upper thyroid pedicle; if the advice is not followed then the external branch of the superior laryngeal nerve may be damaged or sectioned in approximately 15% of cases. | 2018-04-03T03:13:58.287Z | 1989-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 1772420 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Fluorescence quenching analysis of the association and dissociation of a diarylheterocycle to cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2: dynamic basis of cyclooxygenase-2 selectivity. | Fluorescence quenching analysis of the association and dissociation of a diarylheterocycle to cyclooxygenase-1 and cyclooxygenase-2: dynamic basis of cyclooxygenase-2 selectivity.
Cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) are the enzymes responsible for the biosynthesis of the precursor to the biologically active prostaglandins, prostacyclin, and thromboxane and are the molecular targets for nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs). Selective COX-2 inhibitors are antiinflammatory and analgesic but lack gastrointestinal toxicity, an undesirable side effect attributed to COX-1 inhibition. Crystallographic analysis of selective COX inhibitors complexed with either isoform provides some information about the molecular determinants of selectivity but does not provide information about the dynamics of inhibitor association/dissociation. We employed rapid-mixing techniques and fluorescence quenching to monitor the association and dissociation of a selective COX-2 inhibitor to COX-1 or COX-2. The association of the fluorescent diaryloxazole, SC299, with both enzymes occurs in a time-dependent fashion. Its binding to COX-2 occurs in three kinetically distinct steps whereas its binding to COX-1 occurs in two steps. In contrast to the relatively rapid association of SC299 with both enzymes, its dissociation from COX-2 is quite slow and occurs over several hours whereas the dissociation from COX-1 is complete in less than 1 min. The selectivity of SC299 as a COX-2 inhibitor correlates to its relative rates of dissociation from the two COX isoforms. A model is proposed for diarylheterocycle binding to COX's that integrates these kinetic data with available structural information. | 2018-04-03T06:24:26.148Z | 2000-05-23T00:00:00.000Z | 46553570 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Low-dose Spironolactone: Treatment for Osteoarthritis-related Knee Effusion. A Prospective Clinical and Sonographic-based Study | Low-dose Spironolactone: Treatment for Osteoarthritis-related Knee Effusion. A Prospective Clinical and Sonographic-based Study
Objective. To evaluate the effectiveness of spironolactone as a treatment for osteoarthritis (OA)-related knee effusion in comparison to ibuprofen, cold compresses, and placebo. Methods. This study was carried out on 200 patients, aged 40 years or older, attending the outpatient clinic of the Rheumatology Department of Sohag University Hospital with unilateral knee effusion related to OA based on clinical examination, musculoskeletal ultrasonography (US), and synovial fluid analysis. In group 1, 50 patients received spironolactone 25 mg daily for 2 weeks; in group 2, 50 patients took ibuprofen 1200 mg daily for 2 weeks; in group 3, 50 patients used cold compresses 2 times daily for 2 weeks; and in group 4, 50 patients received placebo for the same duration. Fluid > 4 mm was considered as effusion. Decrease in fluid to reach below 4-mm thickness was considered complete improvement, and any decrease that did not reach below 4 mm thickness was considered partial improvement. Results. The mean age of the participants was 51.2 ± 8.1 years. The mean duration of effusion was 16.5 ± 3.6 days. In group 1, 66% had complete improvement, 20% partial improvement, and 14% no response. In group 2, 24% had complete improvement, 12% partial improvement, and 64% no response. In group 3, 28% had complete improvement, 14% partial improvement, and 58% no response. In group 4, only 6% had complete improvement, 10% partial improvement, and 84% no response. Conclusion. Low-dose spironolactone is a safe and effective medical treatment for OA-related knee effusion. | 2018-04-03T02:06:51.796Z | 2016-06-01T00:00:00.000Z | 31557670 | s2ag/train | v2 |
What makes some city districts so dangerous ? It ’ s not just the criminals , says Mark Buchanan Sin cities | What makes some city districts so dangerous ? It ’ s not just the criminals , says Mark Buchanan Sin cities
If you thought getting an answer to that question would mean getting inside the mind of the criminal, then you haven’t met Kate Bowers. She is less interested in the psychology of criminality than in the mathematics of crime itself, and is convinced that this can shed light on patterns of crime. Take burglary at people’s homes. Although the pattern of burglaries in a neighbourhood may appear random, Bowers and her colleagues at the Jill Dando Institute of Crime Science, University College London, have found through computer simulations that burglaries actually spread in a predictable way, similar to a contagious disease. It may seem odd to look at the crime rather than the perpetrator, but Bowers believes crime often has less to do with deviant | 2016-03-01T03:19:46.873Z | 2008-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 17198770 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Differentiating dopamine D2 ligands by their sensitivities to modification of the cysteine exposed in the binding-site crevice. | Differentiating dopamine D2 ligands by their sensitivities to modification of the cysteine exposed in the binding-site crevice.
Cys118, in the third membrane-spanning segment of the dopamine D2 receptor, is exposed in the binding-site crevice. Cys118 reacts with the highly polar, sulfhydryl-specific reagents methanethiosulfonate ethylammonium (MTSEA) and methanethiosulfonate ethyltrimethylammonium (MTSET), and this reaction is retarded by the presence of antagonists and agonists. The reaction of MTSEA covalently attaches-SCH2CH2NH3+ to the cysteine sulfhydryl, producing a lysine-like side chain. The reaction of MTSEA with Cys118 decreased the affinity of substituted-benzamide antagonists, such as YM-09151-2, by 50-2800-fold, whereas the affinities of other antagonists, such as N-methyl-spiperone, were decreased < / = 6-fold. Agonist affinities were decreased 3-12,000-fold. Mutation of Cys118 to Lys had effects similar to that of the reaction of Cys118 with MTSEA. In contrast, mutation to the uncharged Met, the side-chain volume of which is similar to that of Lys, had much lesser effects on binding. All of the agonists and antagonists contain a positively charged nitrogen that is thought to interact with the side chain of Asp114, located one alpha-helical turn above Cys118. If this nitrogen is close to Asp114, then in the substituted-benzamides, the group on the nitrogen or the pyrrolidine ring itself could extend toward Cys118. Modification of Cys118 would then interfere with binding. The reaction of MTSET with Cys118 covalently attaches-SCH2CH2N(CH3)3+, which is bulkier and approximately 2 angstroms longer than the -SCH2CH2NH3+ added by MTSEA. In contrast to MTSEA, MTSET had equally large effects on the binding of YM-09151-2 and N-methyl-spiperone. Therefore, the effect on binding depends on both the size and the charge of the side chain substituted for that of Cys118. | 2018-04-03T04:31:41.824Z | 1996-04-01T00:00:00.000Z | 39376270 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Probing solar-cycle variations of magnetic fields in the convection zone using meridional flows | Probing solar-cycle variations of magnetic fields in the convection zone using meridional flows
Abstract Solar magnetic fields are believed to originate from the base of convection zone. However, it has been difficult to obtain convincing observational evidence of the magnetic fields in the deep convection zone. The goal of this study is to investigate whether solar meridional flows can be used to detect the magnetic-field effects. Meridional flows are axisymmetric flows on the meridional plane. Our result shows that the flow pattern in the entire convection zone changes significantly from solar minimum to maximum. The changes all centered around active latitudes, suggesting that the magnetic fields are responsible for the changes. The results indicate that the meridional flow can be used to detect the effects of magnetic field in the deep convection zone. The results have been published in the Astrophysical Journal (lc2018). | 2020-10-28T18:50:26.143Z | 2019-06-01T00:00:00.000Z | 226855820 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Design and Implementation of User Energy Management Archetype System | Design and Implementation of User Energy Management Archetype System
The necessity of establishing a user-energy management system(U-EMS) is detailed in terms of energy saving and load transfer.On the basis of describing expectable functions and experimental environment,a U-EMS archetype system is designed including the hardware part and software part.The former consists of smart sockets,data receiving and dispatching modules,RS-232 serial to Ethernet module and server;the latter consists of data receiving and dispatching side,server side,PC side and smartphone side.The basic functions have been realized,including electricity power acquisition of electric equipment,electric equipment opening and disconnection,calculation of total power consumption and so on.Further,the system operation condition is described,and the next stage development and direction of research are pointed out. | 2019-04-14T13:07:37.914Z | 2012-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 112436620 | s2ag/train | v2 |
European News: Opening the European Union's eco-management and auditing scheme (EMAS) to a broader range of industries. | European News: Opening the European Union's eco-management and auditing scheme (EMAS) to a broader range of industries.
regulatory system. Chemical Manufacturers Association spokesperson Jeff Van noted, "While Project XL is a good idea, it will never do more than operate at the margins because of what it is not allowed to do. The enforcement wing of EAA has flexed its muscle and prevented things from happening." A new General Accounting Office (GAO) report, Environmental Protection: Challengee Facing EPA'' Efforts to oeinvent Environmental Regulation, also points out the limitations of such "regulatory reinvention" efforts. Peter Guerrero, director of GAO's environmental protection issues, testified to a House subcommittee in November about barriers outlined in the report. Guerrero said, "Today's environmental laws impose requirements that have led to, and tend to reinforce mciny of the existing regulatory and behavioral practices that EPA is seeking to change" | 2018-04-03T04:59:15.669Z | 1998-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 207003320 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and its agonists on prolactin secretion from normal and tumorous pituitary cells. | Effects of gonadotropin-releasing hormone and its agonists on prolactin secretion from normal and tumorous pituitary cells.
Previous studies on the effect of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist on prolactin (PRL) secretion from normal and tumorous pituitary cells have not been conclusive as to the mechanism of action of these agonists. In this study the short-term administration of a LHRH agonist did not affect circulating PRL levels, but depleted the PRL content of the pituitary gland by 24, 49 and 73% after 2, 3 and 4 days, respectively, in normal female rats and by 75% after 4 days in normal male rats. This effect of the agonist could not be attributed to changes in the sex steroid environment: although plasma 17 beta-estradiol concentrations were significantly suppressed in female rats, circulating testosterone levels had not changed yet in the male rats. Interestingly, the pituitary luteinizing hormone (LH) content was depleted already from day 2 of LHRH agonist administration onwards, while the follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) content of the pituitary glands had not changed even after 4 days. Culture studies with pituitary cells from normal adult male and female rats for 4-7 days did not reveal a direct effect of synthetic LHRH or an agonist on PRL release. Chronic systemic administration of a LHRH agonist greatly inhibited the growth of the transplantable PRL-secreting rat pituitary tumor 7315a in female rats, while circulating PRL levels were also suppressed. However, no direct effect of the LHRH agonist was observed on PRL release from a tumor cell clone, derived from the 7315a tumor, and no LHRH-binding sites were detectable on the tumor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS) | 2018-04-03T02:18:52.966Z | 1989-02-01T00:00:00.000Z | 3299070 | s2ag/train | v2 |
A structural theory of everything | A structural theory of everything
In this paper it is argued that Barad's Agential Realism, an approach to quantum mechanics originating in the philosophy of Niels Bohr, can be the basis of a 'theory of everything' consistent with a proposal of Wheeler that observer-participancy is the foundation of everything. On the one hand, agential realism can be grounded in models of self-organisation such as the hypercycles of Eigen, while on the other agential realism, by virtue of the 'discursive practices' that constitute one aspect of the theory, implies the possibility of the generation of physical phenomena through acts of specification originating at a more fundamental level. Included in phenomena that may be generated by such a mechanism are the origin and evolution of life, and human capacities such as mathematical and musical intuition. | 2019-04-13T10:51:33.065Z | 2015-02-09T00:00:00.000Z | 118357320 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Assembly and a manufacturing method thereof, and bonding material composition and its manufacturing method thereof | Assembly and a manufacturing method thereof, and bonding material composition and its manufacturing method thereof
There is provided a bonded article obtained by unitarily bonding two or more target articles to be bonded by means of a bonding material layer. The bonding material layer contains layer silicate, and the average linear thermal expansion coefficient ± 1000°C specified by the following formula (1) and the average linear thermal expansion coefficient ± 400°C specified by the following formula (2) of a test piece cut out from the bonding material layer satisfy the following formula (3): ± 1000°C = (l 1000°C - l 40°C ) / {l 40°C × (1273.15K - 313.15K)} (1) (where, l 1000°C represents length of the test piece at 1000°C, and l 40°C represents length of the test piece at 40°C), ± 400°C = (l 400°C - l 40°C ) / {l 40°C × (673.15K - 313.15K) } (2) (where, l 400°C represents length of the test piece at 400°C, and l 40°C represents length of the test piece at 40°C), |± 1000°C -± 400°C l ‰¤2.0×10 -6 /K (3). | 2019-04-09T13:08:32.198Z | 2008-02-26T00:00:00.000Z | 104197720 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Solid-Phase Synthesis and Encoding Strategies for Olefin Polymerization Catalyst Libraries. | Solid-Phase Synthesis and Encoding Strategies for Olefin Polymerization Catalyst Libraries.
Active polymerization catalysts, novel resin-bound diimine complexes of nickel(II) and palladium(II) are obtained by combinatorial synthesis and combined in a catalyst library. By tagging with fluorescent markers, the catalysts can be coded. Therefore, after cleavage of the tag from the polymer-coated resin, HPLC can be used to determine the pathway along which the products were formed. | 2018-05-03T02:53:33.766Z | 1998-12-17T00:00:00.000Z | 14016670 | s2ag/train | v2 |
An Integrated Laser Radar Receiver Channel with Wide Dynamic Range | An Integrated Laser Radar Receiver Channel with Wide Dynamic Range
A Receiver channel for a pulsed time-of-flight laser rangefinder is presented. It operates in a wide dynamic range without gain control. This is achieved by using leading edge detection and the generated walk error is corrected by measuring the slew rate of the pulse. In this way the compensation can be continued after the pulse is clipped so that the residual walk error can be minimized. Simulations show that a single-shot precision of 125 ps, or 20 mm in distance, is achievable within a dynamic range of at least 1:10,000. | 2017-02-11T06:15:53.221Z | 2007-12-01T00:00:00.000Z | 26960970 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Dilatation and curettage in endometrial cancer. What is the correlation with hysterectomy histology? A 14 years retrospective cohort study. | Dilatation and curettage in endometrial cancer. What is the correlation with hysterectomy histology? A 14 years retrospective cohort study.
PURPOSE
The aim of the present study is to evaluate the concordance between preoperative endometrial sampling histopathology performed by conventional dilatation and curettage (D&C) and final histopathological diagnosis after total hysterectomy concerning tumor grade and subtype in patients with endometrial cancer (EC).
METHODS
In this comparative retrospective study, 203 women with endometrial cancer were included who underwent at first dilatation and curettage and then total hysterectomy. The preoperative histopathological report obtained by dilatation and curettage was compared with the final histopathology after total hysterectomy to assess the accuracy of endometrial sampling.
RESULTS
Comparison of preoperative with postoperative histopathological results showed an overall 5.9% and 10.9% discordance regarding endometrial cancer histological subtype and grade, respectively. Six (4.9%) of the patients with preoperative grade 1 were grade 2 and 1 (0.8%) was found to be grade 3. Three (8.3%) of the patients with preoperative grade 2 were found to be grade 3 after hysterectomy. Discordance is higher for endometrioid endometrial cancer grade 2 (25%) compared with grade 1 (5.7%) and 3 (18.8%).
CONCLUSION
Patients should be informed and consent for the potential discrepancy between the pre and postoperative histopathological features of malignancy. This discrepancy may result in either under or overtreatment. Thus, it should be accounted for when counseling for a major operation. | 2021-11-12T06:17:17.257Z | 2021-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 243987220 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Physiological rationale of aggressive behavior: a brain blood perfusion hypothesis. | Physiological rationale of aggressive behavior: a brain blood perfusion hypothesis.
The physiological rationale of aggressive behavior is discussed. The potential importance of homeostatic reaction in brain blood perfusion is described. The author speculates that pathological aggressive behavior arises from urgent biological needs. Attacks of anger show increased regional cerebral blood flow in the temporal cortex or other paralimbic areas, which show hypoperfusion in inter-attack states. This hypoperfusion may also be related to psychological stress-induced cerebral vasoconstriction. Furious physical motion, accompanying the attack, would augment regional cerebral blood flow and maintain it longer. A brain blood perfusion hypothesis as the etiological role of aggressive behavior is presented. | 2018-04-03T02:40:51.653Z | 2001-12-01T00:00:00.000Z | 25566320 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Buried and Submerged Greek Archaeological Coastal Structures and Artifacts as Gauges to Measure Late Holocene Seafloor Subsidence off Calabria, Italy | Buried and Submerged Greek Archaeological Coastal Structures and Artifacts as Gauges to Measure Late Holocene Seafloor Subsidence off Calabria, Italy
This synthesis integrates recently acquired archaeological and geological data with earlier documented observations to shed light on the subsidence of ancient Greek coastal facilities in southern Italy. These are now positioned between former shorelines and inner shelf sectors at five Calabrian margin localities. Submergence of coastal to inner shelf facilities has resulted in part from sea‐level rise by about 2 m associated with glacio‐hydro‐isostatic factors since archaic to classic Greek time. This phenomenon alone, however, does not explain the wide variation of measured subsidence rates from site‐to‐site. The marked lowering of coastal site substrates by seismo‐tectonic activity (including extensional fault motion), stratal readjustments at depth, and compaction of underlying sediment sequences is significant. Four of the subsided facilities are positioned near emerged Calabrian areas where prevailing Holocene average annual land uplift rates range to ˜1.0 mm/yr; at the fifth, near Hipponion, terrains have risen by nearly 2 mm/yr. In marked contrast, submerged and/or buried structures record the following late Holocene long‐term average rates of coastal margin subsidence: Sybaris‐Thuri on the Taranto Gulf margin (˜0.5–1.0 mm/yr); Hipponion‐Vibo Valentia along the Tyrrhenian coast (˜0.8 to ˜3.2 mm/yr); and Locri‐Epizefiri, Kaulonia, and Capo Colonna on Calabria's Ionian margin (˜1.6, ˜1.6–2.4, and ˜4.0 mm/yr, respectively). © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. | 2019-04-24T13:07:03.944Z | 2012-05-01T00:00:00.000Z | 129488470 | s2ag/train | v2 |
A novel assay of angiogenesis in the quail chorioallantoic membrane: stimulation by bFGF and inhibition by angiostatin according to fractal dimension and grid intersection. | A novel assay of angiogenesis in the quail chorioallantoic membrane: stimulation by bFGF and inhibition by angiostatin according to fractal dimension and grid intersection.
In a novel assay of angiogenesis in the quail chorioallantoic membrane (CAM), we measured vascular pattern and angiogenic rate after homogeneous exposure of the entire vascular tree to recognized modulators of vessel growth. In comparison to phosphate-buffered saline (PBS)-treated controls, the vascular stimulator, basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF or FGF-2), increased the rate of angiogenesis by a maximum of 72%, whereas a recently discovered angiogenic inhibitor, angiostatin, decreased the rate of vascular growth by a maximum of 68%. The perturbants were applied in PBS to the CAM of 7-day-old embryos (E7) cultured in petri dishes, and the embryos were cultured further until fixation at E8 or E9. For morphometry of the quasi-two-dimensional CAM vasculature, digital images of arterial endpoints from the middle region of the CAM were acquired in grayscale at a magnification of 10x, binarized to black/white, and skeletonized. The pattern of vessel branching was assessed by measurement of the fractal dimension (Df), and vessel density (rhov), with the method of grid intersection. Correlations between these two statistical techniques were linear (r2 ranged from 0.967 to 0.985). For skeletonized images at E9, Df and rhov of bFGF-treated samples were 1.55 +/- 0.01 and 782 +/- 26/cm2, respectively (relative to 1.49 +/- 0.02 and 583 +/- 60/cm2 for controls), and of angiostatin-treated samples, 1.43 +/- 0.02 and 424 +/- 74/cm2 (relative to 1.50 +/- 0.02 and 616 +/- 59/cm2 for controls). To establish normalization values for rates of angiogenesis, we analyzed untreated CAMs of E6 to E12. From E7 to E10 in skeletonized images, Df increased linearly from 1.37 +/- 0.01 to 1.54 +/- 0.01 and rhov from 311 +/- 67 to 746 +/- 124/cm2 (in both cases, r2 = 1.000). Thus, the rates of normal angiogenic growth as measured by Df and rhov were 0.06/day and 138/cm2-day, respectively. From E10 to E12, Df and rhov declined slightly. Differences between the vasculature of untreated and PBS-treated CAMs were statistically insignificant. In conclusion, vascular branching pattern and density in the quail CAM were stimulated by bFGF and inhibited by angiostatin. We quantified these changes with statistical significance by Df and rhov, which are expressed relative to the rates of normal developmental angiogenesis measured for the two parameters in untreated quail embryos. | 2018-04-03T00:44:40.186Z | 1998-05-01T00:00:00.000Z | 26578270 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Zonal Flow as Pattern Formation | Zonal Flow as Pattern Formation
Zonal flows are well known to arise spontaneously out of turbulence. We show that for statistically averaged equations of the stochastically forced generalized Hasegawa-Mima model, steady-state zonal flows, and inhomogeneous turbulence fit into the framework of pattern formation. There are many implications. First, the wavelength of the zonal flows is not unique. Indeed, in an idealized, infinite system, any wavelength within a certain continuous band corresponds to a solution. Second, of these wavelengths, only those within a smaller subband are linearly stable. Unstable wavelengths must evolve to reach a stable wavelength; this process manifests as merging jets. | 2013-10-11T02:02:52.000Z | 2013-01-22T00:00:00.000Z | 119272320 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Branch migration of Holliday junction in RuvA tetramer complex studied by umbrella sampling simulation using a path‐search algorithm | Branch migration of Holliday junction in RuvA tetramer complex studied by umbrella sampling simulation using a path‐search algorithm
Branch migration of the Holliday junction takes place at the center of the RuvA tetramer. To elucidate how branch migration occurs, umbrella sampling simulations were performed for complexes of the RuvA tetramer and Holliday junction DNA. Although conventional umbrella sampling simulations set sampling points a priori, the umbrella sampling simulation in this study set the sampling points one by one in order to search for a realistic path of the branch migration during the simulations. Starting from the X‐ray structure of the complex, in which the hydrogen bonds between two base‐pairs were unformed, the hydrogen bonds between the next base‐pairs of the shrinking stems were observed to start to disconnect. At the intermediate stage, three or four of the eight unpaired bases interacted closely with the acidic pins from RuvA. During the final stage, these bases moved away from the pins and formed the hydrogen bonds of the new base‐pairs of the growing stems. The free‐energy profile along this reaction path showed that the intermediate stage was a meta‐stable state between two free‐energy barriers of about 10 to 15 kcal/mol. These results imply that the pins play an important role in stabilizing the interactions between the pins and the unpaired base‐pairs. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Comput Chem, 2010 | 2018-04-03T00:27:32.605Z | 2010-09-01T00:00:00.000Z | 11623620 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Small-sample classification of hyperspectral data in a graph-based semi-supervision framwork | Small-sample classification of hyperspectral data in a graph-based semi-supervision framwork
Using spectra of hyperspectral remote sensing imagery to identify and classify land cover has been a hot topic thanks for its high resolution spectrum. However, when the quantity of labeled samples is too small, the classification accuracy of hyperspectral data will be reduced greatly. Most classification algorithms take dimensional reduction strategy and require plentiful labeled samples in order to learn the classifier that could then recognize a specific material. But in most remote sensing situations labeling samples is a costly task and the valued information would be lost with dimensional reduction. Sparse representation as a fast and effective algorithm has the advantages that it can perform quite well with small labeled samples without dimensional reduction. Therefore, we proposed a new framework to construct a graph-based semi-supervised model to solve paucity problem of labeled samples and combine the k nearest neighbor (knn) graph to take the advantage of space features. In this new model, sparse representation is used to build the probability matrix by estimating if a pairwise pixels belonging to the same class, and this probability matrix is integrated into ℓ1norm graph to form a more discriminating graph called dℓ1graph. Then we combine this dℓ1graph with knn graph in proportion. The new graph can employ both spectral values and space information of hyperspectral data. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our proposal on the Indiana Pines hyperspectral data set and the results outperform state of the art. | 2017-12-06T18:24:18.240Z | 2017-07-01T00:00:00.000Z | 1877370 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Demodulation of the FBG temperature sensor with the tunable twin‐core fiber | Demodulation of the FBG temperature sensor with the tunable twin‐core fiber
A novel linear edge filter based on a piece of tunable twin‐core fiber is proposed in this article.The transmission spectrum of the twin‐core fiber can be adjusted by pulling and twisting the twin‐core fiber to match the central wavelength of the Fiber Bragg Grating (FBG) used for the temperature sensor. The feasibility of the method is analyzed and demonstrated experimentally. This demodulation filter, which is based on the all‐fiber component, can be designed and adjusted according to the measurement sensitivity and range of FBG temperature sensor, so its characteristics of compact scheme and low cost would make this method more applicable. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 53:81–84, 2011; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.25681 | 2019-04-12T13:58:18.972Z | 2011-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 108651820 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Conceptual Disorder in Schizophrenia as a Function of Encoding Orientation | Conceptual Disorder in Schizophrenia as a Function of Encoding Orientation
This study evaluated the hypothesis that schizophrenic conceptual disorder derives from abnormal verbal encoding, geared to salient affective and physical cues at the expense of conceptual attributes. Subjects were 63 adult psychotic inpatients, including 42 schizophrenics and 21 nonschizophrenics of similar age, sex, race, and chronicity. They underwent 12 trials on Wickens' release from proactive interference (PI) procedure to measure reliance on three dimensions for encoding: conceptual (taxonomic class), affective (Evaluation axis of the semantic differential), and physical (rhyming sounds). The release effect for schizophrenics, compared with controls, was found to be significantly weaker on the conceptual dimension and correspondingly stronger on the affective dimension. Whereas controls exhibited the normal attraction to conceptual over other cues, schizophrenics presented a flat profile. Nonparanoid and thought-disordered schizophrenics showed particular deficits on the conceptual dimension. All schizophrenic groups contrasted controls by their diminished PI release with less salient concepts. The results thus suggested that encoding by schizophrenics is uniquely oriented to stimulus salience rather than semantic relevance. A fundamental deficiency in processing of cues essential for conceptual operations, accordingly, seems to underlie the conceptual dysfunction in schizophrenia. The implications were discussed in relation to diversities in the cognitive literature and prevalent theories. | 2018-04-03T03:25:04.927Z | 1982-03-01T00:00:00.000Z | 3111670 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Rational preference shifts in multi-attribute choice: what is fair? | Rational preference shifts in multi-attribute choice: what is fair?
Rational preference shifts in multi-attribute choice: What is fair? Pradeep Shenoy ([email protected]) Microsoft AdCenter, Bangalore, India Angela J. Yu ([email protected]) Department of Cognitive Science, UC San Diego, 9500 Gilman Dr. MC 0515 La Jolla, CA 92093 USA Abstract In the attraction effect (Fig. 1A), given two similarly preferred options, A and B, the introduction of a third option Z that is similar to B, but also clearly inferior to B in one or both attribute dimensions, results in an in- crease in relative preference for B over A (Huber, Payne, & Puto, 1982; Heath & Chatterjee, 1995). In the com- promise effect (Fig. 1B), when B > A in one attribute and B < A in another attribute, and Z has the same tradeoff but is even more extreme than B, then B be- comes the “compromise” option and becomes preferred relative to A (Simonson, 1989). In the similarity effect (Fig. 1C), the introduction of a third option Z, that is very similar and comparable to B in both attribute di- mensions, shifts the relative preference away from B to A (Tversky, 1972). Keywords: multi-attribute decision-making; preference shift; context effects; attraction effect; compromise effect; similarity effect Attraction A B B Compromise A B Introduction Everyday decision-making often involves choosing among options that differ in multiple attribute dimen- sions. For example, should you buy a house that is more spacious or one that is better located? Understanding how humans make these multi-attribute decisions, and how their choices depend on the context, is an important problem in cognitive science. Multi-attribute decision-making is particularly chal- lenging because there is often no universal or intrinsic way to assign relative values to the different attributes. This is especially true in contexts where the decision- maker has limited experience (and thus significant uncer- tainty about market conditions), such as with big-ticket items like houses, or new technology like smart phones. Human choice behavior in multi-attribute problems ex- hibits certain systematic shifts due to context changes, such as when the relative preference between two op- tions shift or even reverse when a third option, known as a decoy, is added, leading to suggestions of underly- ing irrationality or suboptimality (Kahneman & Tver- sky, 1979; Kahneman, Slovic, & Tversky, 1982; Tversky & Simonson, 1993). Similarity A B Z Z Z Attr 1 C Attr 2 Attr 2 A Attr 2 Humans exhibit certain systematic context-dependent preference reversals when choosing among options that vary along multiple attribute dimensions. For instance, the attraction, similarity, and compromise effects each involves a change in relative preference between two op- tions when a third option is introduced. Previously, such effects have been attributed to irrationality or sub- optimality in decision-making, or to specific architec- tural or dynamical constraints on cognition. We use a Bayesian model of multi-attribute choice to demon- strate that these effects naturally arise from three ba- sic assumptions: (1) humans assess options relative to “fair market value” as inferred from prior experience and available options; (2) attributes are imperfectly substi- tutable, and scarce attributes are relatively more valu- able; (3) uncertainty about market conditions and op- tion values contributes to stochasticity in choice behav- ior. This work provides both a novel normative explana- tion for contextual modulation of choice behavior, and a means to predict choice as a function of past experiences and novel contexts. Attr 1 Attr 1 Figure 1: Three classical contextual effects in multi- attribute choice: (A) attraction effect, (B) compromise effect, (C) similarity effect. A and B are two equally preferable choices that differ in two attribute dimensions. The introduction of a third option Z induces a prefer- ence shift between A and B (indicated by arrows). Solid and dashed lines illustrate model-inferred “fair value” indifference curve before and after introducing Z. Two broad classes of models have previously been proposed for contextual effects in multi-attribute choice behavior: (1) normative models (Marr, 1982) that are built on behavioral constraints/goals and delineated in terms of internal beliefs and assumptions (Luce, 1959; Thurstone, 1954; Luce, 1965; Tversky, 1972; Tversky & Simonson, 1993); (2) algorithmic or implementational models that explain behavioral phenomena as arising from specific architectural and dynamical constraints on neural processing (Busemeyer & Townsend, 1993; Usher & McClelland, 2004; J. S. Trueblood, 2012). The first class of models are related to bounded ra- tionality (Simon, 1955), but have so far been unable to explain all three contextual effects, leading to sugges- | 2016-10-26T03:31:20.546Z | 2013-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 16676120 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Pyroelectric Technique for Measurement of Thermal Diffusivity of Thin Solid Materials | Pyroelectric Technique for Measurement of Thermal Diffusivity of Thin Solid Materials
A technique for the measurement of the thermal diffusivity of thin samples of solid materials is presented. It is based on the measurement of the phase retardation of a thermal wave passing through the test material. The test material, which can be either ferroelectric or non-ferroelectric, is attached by means of a high thermal conductivity cement to a LiTaO3 pyroelectric detector. A sinusoidally-modulated laser beam impinges on the upper surface of the sample and is absorbed as heat. The heat diffuses in the form of thermal waves through the test sample to the LiTaO3 detector, generating a pyroelectric current. The phase lag between the pyroelectric current and the laser beam intensity is a unique function of the sample thickness and its thermal diffusivity. It is not necessary to know either the pyroelectric coefficient of the detector or the intensity of the laser beam. Thermal diffusivity measurements on LiTaO3, glass and a porous PZT 3-3 composite are presented. | 2019-04-20T13:07:07.037Z | 2003-03-01T00:00:00.000Z | 123379870 | s2ag/train | v2 |
IGBT-Based Cost-Effective Energy-Recovery Circuit for Plasma Display Panel | IGBT-Based Cost-Effective Energy-Recovery Circuit for Plasma Display Panel
A new insulated-gate-bipolar-transistor (IGBT)-based cost-effective energy-recovery circuit (ERC) for a plasma display panel (PDP) is proposed. Since it is composed of two small resonant inductors and four power diodes instead of the conventional large auxiliary circuit, it features a simpler structure, less mass, fewer power devices, higher efficiency, and lower cost. Since all its power switches are turned off under the zero-current switching operation, IGBTs can be employed as power switches. Moreover, the very stable and uniform light emitted from a PDP proves the high quality of screen. Therefore, it is well suitable for the consumer-affordable hang-on-the-wall TVs which have the desirable features such as thinness, lightness, high efficiency, low price, etc. To confirm the validity of the proposed ERC, a comparative analysis and experimental results based on a whole ac PDP driver equipped with the proposed circuit for the 42-in PDP are presented | 2017-02-20T05:46:21.737Z | 2006-10-02T00:00:00.000Z | 30522770 | s2ag/train | v2 |
BounAra: Deployment of Markov Models | BounAra: Deployment of Markov Models
In recent years, much research has been devoted to the improvement of telephony; on the other hand, few have refined the intuitive unification of courseware and replication. In fact, few statisticians would disagree with the analysis of massive multiplayer online role-playing games, which embodies the confirmed principles of randomized cyberinformatics. Our goal here is to set the record straight. BounAra, our new methodology for secure models, is the solution to all of these issues. | 2019-05-12T13:11:04.232Z | 2018-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 149653020 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Photopolymerizable Hydrogels Made from Polymer‐Conjugated Albumin for Affinity‐Based Drug Delivery | Photopolymerizable Hydrogels Made from Polymer‐Conjugated Albumin for Affinity‐Based Drug Delivery
As a drug delivery vehicle, biodegradable albumin hydrogels can combine the high binding capacity of albumin with the structural stability of a polymeric hydrogel network to enable controlled release of small molecules based on both binding affinity and physical interactions. In the present study, we report on the development of a hybrid hydrogel composed of albumin conjugated to poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) for drug delivery applications where controlled release is accomplished using the natural affinity of the drugs to the serum albumin. Bovine serum albumin was conjugated to PEG‐diacrylate having a molecular weight of 1.5, 4, or 10 kDa to form a PEGylated albumin macromolecule (mono‐PEGylated or multi‐PEGylated). Biodegradable hydrogels were formed from the PEGylated albumin using photopolymerization. Two model drugs, Warfarin and Naproxen, were used for equilibrium dialysis and release experiments from the hydrogels, both having relatively low molecular weights and a known high affinity for albumin. Equilibrium dialysis experiments showed that multi‐PEGylation of albumin significantly decreased the drug affinity to the protein compared to non‐PEGylated controls, irrespective of the PEG molecular weight. However, the results from drug release experiments showed that mono‐PEGylation of albumin did not change its natural affinity to the drug. Comparing the release profiles with a Fickian diffusion model provided strong evidence that hydrogels containing mono‐PEGylated albumin exhibited sub‐diffusive drug release properties based on the affinity of the drug to the tethered protein. | 2019-04-05T03:37:07.609Z | 2010-02-01T00:00:00.000Z | 95984520 | s2ag/train | v2 |
From Bohemia to Balintawak | From Bohemia to Balintawak
This chapter provides a seemingly unusual, but potentially illuminating, vantage point from which to approach the cosmopolitan dimensions of the Philippine Revolution of the late nineteenth century — the Bohemian town of Litoměřice. It recounts the visit of Dr. José Rizal, the great Filipino novelist and celebrated progenitor of Philippine nationalism, to Leitmeritz and his relationship with Ferdinand Blumentritt, a local gymnasium teacher and avid student and scholar of Philippine history and society. The chapter provides a coherent narrative account, one whose emplotment follows the nationalist logic so prevalent in the study of Southeast Asian history. On the one hand, the revolution is said to have been led from above by urban — and highly urbane — educated young men familiar from Benedict Anderson's Imagined Communities, Filipino nationalists who emerged from Spanish colonial schools in the Philippines. On the other hand, the Philippine Revolution is also said to have been driven from below by a broader pool of the Filipino masses, by peasants and fishermen across the provinces of the archipelago, and by artisanal laborers in Manila and other port cities. The chapter argues that the struggles leading up to the Philippine Revolution can be understood in terms of what scholars have termed the “Culture Wars” of the late nineteenth century, a transcontinental if not global conflict pitting “anticlerical” scientists, Freemasons, liberals, and republicans against the Catholic Church in its ultramontane incarnation. | 2021-10-19T16:00:04.809Z | 2021-05-15T00:00:00.000Z | 244332570 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Medial prefrontal cortical control of reward‐ and aversion‐based behavioral output: Bottom‐up modulation | Medial prefrontal cortical control of reward‐ and aversion‐based behavioral output: Bottom‐up modulation
How does the brain guide our actions? This is a complex issue, where the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) plays a crucial role. The mPFC is essential for cognitive flexibility and decision making. These functions are related to reward‐ and aversion‐based learning, which ultimately drive behavior. Though, cortical projections and modulatory systems that may regulate those processes in the mPFC are less understood. How does the mPFC regulate approach‐avoidance behavior in the case of conflicting aversive and appetitive stimuli? This is likely dependent on the bottom‐up neuromodulation of the mPFC projection neurons. In this review, we integrate behavioral‐, pharmacological‐, and viral‐based circuit manipulation data showing the involvement of mPFC dopaminergic, noradrenergic, cholinergic, and serotoninergic inputs in reward and aversion processing. Given that an incorrect balance of reward and aversion value could be a key problem in mental diseases such as substance use disorders, we discuss outstanding questions for future research on the role of mPFC modulation in reward and aversion. | 2021-03-05T06:23:01.559Z | 2021-02-01T00:00:00.000Z | 232115070 | s2ag/train | v2 |
FGF signaling establishes the anterior border of the Ciona neural tube | FGF signaling establishes the anterior border of the Ciona neural tube
The Ciona tadpole is constructed from simple, well-defined cell lineages governed by provisional gene networks that have been defined via extensive gene disruption assays. Here, we examine the patterning of the anterior neural plate, which produces placodal derivatives such as the adhesive palps and stomodeum, as well as the sensory vesicle (simple brain) of the Ciona tadpole. Evidence is presented that the doublesex-related gene DMRT is expressed throughout the anterior neural plate of neurulating embryos. It leads to the activation of FoxC and ZicL in the palp placode and anterior neural tube, respectively. This differential expression depends on FGF signaling, which inhibits FoxC expression in the anterior neural tube. Inhibition of FGF signaling leads to expanded expression of FoxC, the loss of ZicL, and truncation of the anterior neural tube. | 2017-06-24T23:33:36.426Z | 2012-07-01T00:00:00.000Z | 10609320 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Changing epidemiology of liver disease in Asia: Dual infection of HBV and HCV | Changing epidemiology of liver disease in Asia: Dual infection of HBV and HCV
Transmission of hepatitis B virus (HBV) and hepatitis C virus (HCV) is similar regarding the mode of transmission and related risk factors. Therefore, it is not rare to encounter dual HBV/HCV infection in populations at risk of parenteral exposure to hepatitis viruses. Besides, in HBV endemic countries before the era of global HBV vaccination, dual HBV/HCV infection was clinically significant likely because of HCV superinfection over pre‐existing HBsAg carriage. Universal childhood HBV vaccination was implemented worldwide since 1992. Public education programs for prevention of new hepatitis viral infections have been actively promoted recently by World Health Organization. Apart from preventive measures, potent anti‐HBV agents effective in the control of viral replication have been introduced gradually in the past three decades. Direct acting antiviral agents capable of curing HCV infection in more than 97% of patients with chronic hepatitis C have also been widely implemented in the past decade. These interventions will change the epidemiology of new HBV or HCV mono‐infection and dual HBV/HCV infection. Understanding the evolution in the epidemiology of dual HBV/HCV infection is important for evaluation of current public health policy towards infectious disease control in different countries. The changing prevalence of dual HBV/HCV infection in certain Asia‐Pacific countries will be re‐visited based on endemicity of HBV or HCV, as well as in populations at risk of parenteral viral infection. | 2021-08-18T06:18:09.158Z | 2021-08-17T00:00:00.000Z | 237147770 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Molecular Imprinted Polymer Based Thermo-Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor for Theophylline Recognition | Molecular Imprinted Polymer Based Thermo-Sensitive Electrochemical Sensor for Theophylline Recognition
A novel molecular imprinted polymer (MIP) based thermo-sensitive electrochemical sensor was fabricated by an electropolymerization method using N-isopropylacryamide and theophylline as the monomer and the template molecule, respectively. The [Fe(CN)6]3−/[Fe(CN)6]4− was used as an electrochemical probe to investigate the electrochemical behavior of the prepared sensor. The influence factors including electropolymerization cycles, the utilization of cross-linkers, and the extraction solution were investigated in detail. The sensor exhibited excellent thermo-sensitive behavior to environmental temperature stimuli and displayed a good recognition capacity for template molecules from its analogues. This approach may allow the application of this type of intelligent electrochemical sensor for stimulus-responsive recognition of template molecules. | 2019-04-06T00:45:42.405Z | 2013-05-22T00:00:00.000Z | 96935620 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Planning Postdisaster Operations in a Highway Network | Planning Postdisaster Operations in a Highway Network
Vital lifelines in the event of a disaster, transportation networks support evacuation activities, emergency logistics, and the restoration of daily activities. The rapid recovery of surviving transportation network operations immediately after a disaster is critical for the well-being of communities. The focus here is on planning highway operations in the recovery period after a disaster. A bilevel network design model with choice inter-dependencies was developed for choosing the strategies necessary to maximize the performance of a surviving highway network. A genetic algorithm was coupled with a traffic assignment procedure to solve the associated problem. Results on a real-size network in Greece under two disaster scenarios indicate both adequate computational performance and significant improvement in network performance indicators. | 2019-04-12T13:57:52.527Z | 2014-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 109660070 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Comparison of numerical and experimental results of the flow in the U9 Kaplan turbine model | Comparison of numerical and experimental results of the flow in the U9 Kaplan turbine model
The present work compares simulations made using the OpenFOAM CFD code with experimental measurements of the flow in the U9 Kaplan turbine model. Comparisons of the velocity profiles in the spiral casing and in the draft tube are presented. The U9 Kaplan turbine prototype located in Porjus and its model, located in Älvkarleby, Sweden, have curved inlet pipes that lead the flow to the spiral casing. Nowadays, this curved pipe and its effect on the flow in the turbine is not taken into account when numerical simulations are performed at design stage. To study the impact of the inlet pipe curvature on the flow in the turbine, and to get a better overview of the flow of the whole system, measurements were made on the 1:3.1 model of the U9 turbine. Previously published measurements were taken at the inlet of the spiral casing and just before the guide vanes, using the laser Doppler anemometry (LDA) technique. In the draft tube, a number of velocity profiles were measured using the LDA techniques. The present work extends the experimental investigation with a horizontal section at the inlet of the draft tube. The experimental results are used to specify the inlet boundary condition for the numerical simulations in the draft tube, and to validate the computational results in both the spiral casing and the draft tube. The numerical simulations were realized using the standard k-e model and a block-structured hexahedral wall function mesh. | 2022-06-28T05:40:39.742Z | 2010-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 250674170 | s2ag/train | v2 |
A new approach to solve EMI related problems when designing reliable high power converters using precomputed electromagnetic models | A new approach to solve EMI related problems when designing reliable high power converters using precomputed electromagnetic models
The coupling between low power control circuits and high power switching components which generate high parti/partt greatly decreases the power converters reliability and increases substantially the product time-to-market when introducing a new design. The quantification of these couplings is traditionally estimated using the finite elements method which requires a high technical expertise for complex three-dimensional circuit geometries. To solve this problem, the authors propose a new approach based on the use of a precomputed electromagnetic models library which includes all the metallic conducting structures present in modern power converters. The transistor case as well as the printed circuit board copper traces are included in this library. This library allows to identify quickly and visually the high coupling areas with higher flux density in the converter tridimensional layout. Also, it helps to develop remedial strategy to avoid it. In this paper, the electromagnetic behavior of a bidirectional matrix converter cell using the proposed approach is analyzed. The magnetic field of the matrix cell is analyzed and numerically computed. Experimental results are shown to demonstrate the viability of the proposed new approach. I. | 2017-02-11T20:34:56.197Z | 2008-06-15T00:00:00.000Z | 25561220 | s2ag/train | v2 |
[Fiber and nutrients intake in children with chronic constipation]. | [Fiber and nutrients intake in children with chronic constipation].
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this case-control study was to evaluate the intake of fiber alimentary and macronutrients in constipated children.
METHODS
Fifty-four children (aged 2-12 yr) with diagnosis of chronic functional constipation were investigated at the Pediatric Hospital, "Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte", Natal, RN, Brazil. They were age and sex matched with 50 patients without constipation. A standard questionnaire was applied to both groups and a 3 day dietary record was analyzed by computer software.
RESULTS
The mean age at onset of symptoms was 29,0 +/- 26,1 months. There was not sex predominance and no difference about nutritional condition between the groups. Constipated children ate less fiber, proteins, lipids, carbohydrates and less caloric and protein adequated percentuals. The proportion of children who ate less dietary fiber than recommended (age + 5 g /day) was greater in the constipated group (83,3%) than in controls (66,6%); odds ratio 2,6.
CONCLUSION
Constipated children ate less fiber and macronutrients than children without constipation. Intake of dietary fiber below the minimum recommendation is a risk factor for chronic functional constipation in children. | 2018-04-03T01:32:10.151Z | 2003-07-01T00:00:00.000Z | 25812720 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Solution structure of SpoIIAA, a phosphorylatable component of the system that regulates transcription factor sigmaF of Bacillus subtilis. | Solution structure of SpoIIAA, a phosphorylatable component of the system that regulates transcription factor sigmaF of Bacillus subtilis.
The establishment of differential gene expression in sporulating Bacillus subtilis involves four protein components, one of which, SpoIIAA, undergoes phosphorylation and dephosphorylation. We have used NMR spectroscopy to determine the solution structure of the nonphosphorylated form of SpoIIAA. The structure shows a fold consisting of a four-stranded beta-sheet and four alpha-helices. Knowledge of the structure helps to account for the phenotype of several strains of B. subtilis that carry known spoIIAA mutations and should facilitate investigations of the conformational consequences of phosphorylation. | 2018-04-03T00:31:46.739Z | 1998-04-28T00:00:00.000Z | 12489870 | s2ag/train | v2 |
A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND SMOKING HABIT ON BONE MASS AMONG MALE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN PADANG, WEST SUMATRA | A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES AND SMOKING HABIT ON BONE MASS AMONG MALE INDUSTRIAL WORKERS IN PADANG, WEST SUMATRA
Labors, especially in industry, spend most of their time in the workplace. Several factors including physical activity and lifestyle of workers such as smoking habit in the workplace that will affect labors health. Besides that, bone mass is one of the factors that influence the health quality of workers, especially for hand-operated labor. This research aims to define the relationship between physical activity and smoking habit on bone mass in male industrial labors. The study is a preliminary study to recognize variables that influence bone mass and the base for defining the weight limit for lifting activities. This investigation was purposed determining physical activity and smoking habit of labors in the workplace, as well as calculating the bone mass of workers. The respondents required were 93 male labors in Padang, West Sumatra. Bone mass measuring tools were used to calculate labor's bone mass, while questionnaires were used to define the smoking habit of labors and physical activity. Physical activity, as well as smoking habit, were significantly affected the bone mass (p<0.05) of the workers. This study result explains that physical activity and smoking habit are factors that are associated with bone mass status for young male workers in Padang, West Sumatra. | 2019-12-05T09:22:20.568Z | 2019-12-02T00:00:00.000Z | 213903370 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Caregivers' perspectives on the social and physical environmental factors associated with the play of their children with palliative care needs: A Q methodology study. | Caregivers' perspectives on the social and physical environmental factors associated with the play of their children with palliative care needs: A Q methodology study.
Children living with palliative care needs are less engaged in play, despite its importance in their lives. The environment may have a crucial role in supporting these children's play. Understanding the importance and impact of environmental factors on children's play is essential to being able to support their participation in play. Data were collected from caregivers (mostly parents) of children living with life-threatening/limiting conditions, who were between 5 and 11 years old. Thirty-nine participants were recruited from two children hospitals and two hospices in Kuwait and in the United Kingdom. The participants' perspectives were explored using Q methodology. By-person factor analysis was used to explore the ranking of each statement. Content analysis was used to analyse the participants' verbal comments. The most important environmental factors were the need for others to share play and get assistance to facilitate play. However, this is not always possible as these conditions, the life-threatening/limiting conditions, may be socially isolating. Children also experience limitations in accessing play resources that match their abilities and meet their play needs. Being aware and responsive to children's play needs is essential for building appropriately supportive play environments for children living with life-threatening/life-limiting conditions. | 2022-03-13T06:22:33.841Z | 2022-03-11T00:00:00.000Z | 247407420 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Performance issues of distance relays for shunt FACTS compensated transmission lines | Performance issues of distance relays for shunt FACTS compensated transmission lines
In this paper, the performance of distance relays when applied to transmission system equipped with shunt FACTS device, Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) is described. The aim of the proposed study is to evaluate the performance of distance relays when STATCOM is incorporated at the mid point of transmission lines for voltage control. A detailed model of STATCOM and its control strategy is presented. The presence of these devices significantly affects apparent impedance seen by the distance relays due to their rapid response to different power system configurations. The distance relay is evaluated for different loading conditions and for different fault locations. The faults are created during various pre-fault loading conditions. The studies are performed on 400KV and 132KV systems and the results are presented. Simulation studies are carried out using transient simulation software, PSCAD/EMTDC. | 2017-02-13T19:59:22.731Z | 2010-12-13T00:00:00.000Z | 39749020 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Where to now for health-related journal peer review? | Where to now for health-related journal peer review?
Peer review of health-related manuscripts has enormous power in determining what is published in health-related journals, and what makes its way into health policy and clinical practice. However, peer review is at times ethically problematic and not always effective in achieving its goals. Over the past 25 years, a large number of debates about, and studies of, the peer review process has been published. Despite this, there is limited agreement about the strengths and weaknesses of peer review, and limited evidence about whether peer review achieves its goals and whether interventions to improve it have been successful. The authors argue that this state of affairs is not acceptable and that there is a need to systematise efforts to understand and improve the review process. | 2017-09-06T07:43:32.668Z | 2011-01-01T00:00:00.000Z | 6283420 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Secular trends of obesity in Iran between 1999 and 2007: National Surveys of Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases. | Secular trends of obesity in Iran between 1999 and 2007: National Surveys of Risk Factors of Non-communicable Diseases.
BACKGROUND
Obesity is a rapidly progressing pandemic and a central feature of the metabolic syndrome. There is no solid evidence on the recent trends of obesity in Iran. In this study we present the secular trends of overweight and obesity among Iranian adults (25-64 years old) within an 8-year period (1999-2007).
METHODS
The analyses were performed on the datasets of three cross-sectional national surveys: The National Health Survey-1999 (n = 21,576), National Surveys of Risk Factors for Non-Communicable Diseases (SuRFNCD)-2005 (n = 70,945), and SuRFNCD-2007 (n = 4,186).
RESULTS
The overall prevalence of obesity increased from 13.6% in 1999 to 19.6% in 2005 and 22.3% in 2007 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.08 per year; P < 0.001]. For overweight subjects, the rates were, respectively, 32.2%, 35.8% and 36.3% (OR = 1.02 per year; P < 0.001). During these years, the mean body mass index (BMI) (kg/m(2)) increased from 25.03 in 1999, to 26.14 in 2005, and 26.47 and 2007 (P < 0.001). The increase in prevalence of obesity was seen in both males (OR = 1.09 per year; P < 0.001) and females (OR = 1.07 per year; P < 0.001) and both urban (OR = 1.07 per year; P < 0.001) and rural (OR = 1.10 per year; P < 0.001) residents.
CONCLUSIONS
In conclusion, the present study highlighted the rapid growth of obesity during recent years in Iran. Our findings indicate the crucial necessity of primary prevention programs to counteract this undesired condition. | 2018-04-03T04:31:01.473Z | 2010-09-28T00:00:00.000Z | 39272020 | s2ag/train | v2 |
Gating the bacterial mechanosensitive channel MscL in vivo | Gating the bacterial mechanosensitive channel MscL in vivo
YggB and MscL are the major mechanosensitive channels in Escherichia coli, and each can rescue the double knockout mutant from osmotic downshock. However, the role of MscL in wild-type bacteria is in question, not only because cells without MscL survive severe osmotic downshocks, but because 1.8 times more suction is required to gate MscL than YggB under patch clamp. Here, we extend previous evidence [Ajouz, B., Berrier, C., Garrigues, A., Besnard, M. & Ghazi, A. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273, 26670–26674] to show that downshock gates MscL in vivo even in the presence of YggB. We have made this determination by engineering a channel we can structurally modify in vivo (Leu-19→Cys MscL). MscLs with charges in their constrictions are known to open easily and transiently to substates and stop cell growth. In this study, we use downshock to stretch this region open to allow attachment of a charged thiosulfonate reagent MTSET+, thereby creating a toxic channel. Therefore, channel opening can be monitored by loss of colony forming units. By this measure, we find that an ≈800 mmol/kg downshock from 1,200 mmol/kg medium opens Leu-19→Cys MscL in the presence of YggB, but a downshock of only ≈400 mmol/kg is required in the absence of YggB. In parallel, Leu-19→Cys MscL, stretched open by large sustained suction in the presence of MTSET+ in voltage-clamped patches, subsequently flickers open with little suction. These observations show that MscL opening is triggered by a specific downshock, even in the presence of YggB, that YggB buffers MscL gating in vivo, and that residue 19 becomes exposed upon channel opening. | 2017-08-17T21:22:18.573Z | 2002-04-16T00:00:00.000Z | 27500570 | s2ag/train | v2 |
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Introducing Pes2o-X, also known as Pes2o-Abstract-X, a derived dataset from the original Pes2o dataset released by Allen AI. The Pes2o dataset aimed to provide a large corpus of open-access research papers, including both abstracts and full text. However, it required pre-processing before the abstracts could be used for training or fine-tuning machine learning models.
At LAION AI, we initiated a project called X, focusing on developing high-quality training corpora from scratch, reorganising, and maintaining high-quality research data dumps (e.g., Wikipedia). As part of this initiative, we reorganized the original Pes2o dataset version 2, extracted the abstracts, and compiled our Pes2o-Abstract-X.
It's important to note that Pes2o-X and our entire X project stem from an ongoing commitment to developing high-quality abstractions from these datasets. Our goal is to release them to the public to support the development of advanced artificial intelligence models and enhance existing large language model pipelines with modular features.
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