Population models concern collections of discrete entities such as atoms, cells, humans, animals, etc., where the focus is on the number of entities in a population. Because of the complexity of such models, simulation is usually needed to reproduce their complete dynamic and stochastic behaviour. Two main types of simulation models are used for different purposes, namely micro-simulation models, where each individual is described with its particular attributes and behaviour, and macro-simulation models based on stochastic differential equations, where the population is described in aggregated terms by the number of individuals in different states. Consistency between micro- and macro-models is a crucial but often neglected aspect. This paper demonstrates ho...

Rangelands in southern Ethiopia have been undergoing a rapid regime shift from herbaceous to woody plant dominance in the past decades, reducing indigenous plant biodiversity, altering ecosystem function, and threatening subsistence pastoralism. Despite significant rangeland management implications, quantification of spatial encroachment extent and transitional pathways that result in encroachment remain largely under-explored. This paper develops a phenology-based approach to map rangeland vegetation states in southern Ethiopia, and examines transition pathways among states using the state-and-transition model. The results indicate that nearly 80% of landscape was dominated by woody plants in 2013. While stable encroached states have been established in bot...

This paper presents a new method for bearing fault diagnosis using the fusion of two primary sensors: an accelerometer and a load cell. A novel condition-based monitoring (CBM) system consisting of six modules: sensing, signal processing, feature extraction, classification, high-level fusion and decision making module has been proposed. To obtain acceleration and load signals, a work bench has been used. In the next stage, signal indices for each signal in both time and frequency domains have been calculated. After calculation of signal indices, principal component analysis is employed for redundancy reduction. Two principal features have been extracted from load and acceleration indices. In the fourth module, K-Nearest Neighbor (KNN) classifier has been use...

This paper examines the relationship between feminism and motherhood as it plays out in the construction of feminist identities. Through a qualitative analysis of two grassroots chapters of the National Organization for Women (NOW), I examine how members’understandings and experiences with motherhood and their community context and organizational environment shape the construction of shared feminist identities. Central to this study is the conception of motherhood as a historically constructed ideology that provides a gendered model of behavior for women. In the organizations studied, I find that motherhood is interpreted two ways: as a social status with political ramifications and as the act of caring and taking responsibility for relationships. These in...

A-a DO2 at 3 levels of oxygenation and the a-A DCO2 and VdVt ratios during ambient air breathing were measured in 11 Andean natives at 3700 m. Six were permanent residents of this altitude, 5 had recently come from permanent residence at 4500 m. Breathing ambient air: the A-a DO2 was equal to values at sea level when PIO2 was lowered to that of 3700 m; the a-A DCO2 and VdVt ratio was increased indicating increased distribution of high Va/Q; there was no evidence of increased venous admixture. At high inspired PO2 (445 mm Hg) there was no evidence of increased true venous shunt. However, when PIO2 was increased to 160 mm Hg the A-a DO2 was significantly larger than at sea level. These findings differ from those previously reported. The relatively low A-a DO2 ...

Kleinsasser, Axel, Achim Von Goedecke, Christoph Hoermann, Stephan Maier, Andreas Schaefer, Christian Keller, and Alex Loeckinger. Proportional assist ventilation reduces the work of breathing during exercise at moderate altitude. High Alt. Med. Biol. 5:420–428, 2004.—Reducing the work of breathing (WOB) during exercise and thus the oxygen required solely for ventilation may be an option to increase the oxygen available for nonventilatory physiological tasks at altitude. This study evaluated whether pressure support ventilation (PSV) and proportional assist ventilation (PAV) may partially reduce WOB during exercise at altitude. Seven volunteers breathing with either PSV or PAV or without support (control) were examined for WOB, inspiratory pressure time ...

To determine the effects of exercise and high altitude on the contributions of shunt, ventilation-perfusion (V/Q) nonhomogeneity, and diffusion limitation to the alveolar-arterial O2 gradient (AaDo2), we measured pulmonary exchange of O2, CO2, and six inert gases (SF6, ethane, cyclopropane, halothane, diethyl ether, and acetone) during rest and exercise in unanesthetized dogs at sea level and after acute exposure to an altitude of 6,096 m in a hypobaric chamber. Shunt and dead-space fractions, calculated from inert gas measurements, did not change. High altitude decreased the inert gas partial pressure gradients between mixed alveolar gas and mixed end-capillary blood, indicating that V/Q relationships became more homogeneous. Exercise had no effect on these...

The supine pulmonary venous admixture (shunt) has been measured at Cerro de Pasco, 4,350 m altitude in eight subjects native to high altitude (HAN) under resting condition. Alveolar-arterial O2 tension difference (AaDO2) was also determined at rest and during exercise. The same subjects were studied again after 10 days' sojourn at sea level in Lima at 150 m altitude. They were compared with four subjects from sea level (SLN) who were studied first at Lima and after 2 and 10 days at Cerro de Pasco. At altitude, AaDO2 was smaller in HAN than SLN both at rest and during exercise. Shunt was the same in both groups. It is concluded that HAN show more even ventilation/perfusion relationship (VA/Q) at altitude, probably due to their high pulmonary artery pressure. ...

To investigate the effects of both exercise and acute exposure to high altitude on ventilation-perfusion (VA/Q) relationships in the lungs, nine young men were studied at rest and at up to three different levels of exercise on a bicycle ergometer. Altitude was simulated in a hypobaric chamber with measurements made at sea level (mean barometric pressure = 755 Torr) and at simulated altitudes of 5,000 (632 Torr), 10,000 (523 Torr), and 15,000 ft (429 Torr). VA/Q distributions were estimated using the multiple inert gas elimination technique. Dispersion of the distributions of blood flow and ventilation were evaluated by both loge standard deviations (derived from the VA/Q 50-compartment lung model) and three new indices of dispersion that are derived directly...

Exhaust heat from vehicle engines can be one of the promising heat sources to provide additional energy using thermoelectric generation (TEG). However, the objective of this study is to assess the exhaust heat recovery behavior by TEG, evaluation of diesel fuel consumption (DFC) and exhaust emissions. Thirty standard thermoelectric modules (TEMs) were mounted on the two sides (1 × 5) and lower side (4 × 5) arrangement of a light diesel vehicle exhaust channel. A detailed experimental work was carried out to study the performance behavior of TEG system with different engine speeds and over new European driving cycle (NEDC) using chassis dynamometer. Comparative analyses of the exhaust gases flow rate, DFC, exhaust emissions such as THC, CO, CO2, and smoke e...

Swenson, Erik R. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. High Alt Med Biol 14:101–110, 2013.—Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) continues to fascinate cardiopulmonary physiologists and clinicians since its definitive description in 1946. Hypoxic vasoconstriction exists in all vertebrate gas exchanging organs. This fundamental response of the pulmonary vasculature in air breathing animals has relevance to successful fetal transition to air breathing at birth and as a mechanism of ventilation-perfusion matching in health and disease. It is a complex process intrinsic to the vascular smooth muscle, but with in vivo modulation by a host of factors including the vascular endothelium, erythrocytes, pulmonary innervation, circulating hormones and acid-base st...

Some statistical analysis techniques may require complete data matrices, but a frequent problem in the construction of databases is the incomplete collection of information for different reasons. One option to tackle the problem is to estimate and impute the missing data. This paper describes a form of imputation that mixes regression with lower rank approximations. To improve the quality of the imputations, a generalisation is proposed that replaces the singular value decomposition (SVD) of the matrix with a regularised SVD in which the regularisation parameter is estimated by cross-validation. To evaluate the performance of the proposal, ten sets of real data from multienvironment trials were used. Missing values were created in each set at four percentage...

Immunogenic T-cell epitopes have a central role in the cellular immunity against pathogens and tumors. However, in the early stage of cellular immunity studies, it was complicated and time-consuming to identify and characterize T-cell epitopes. Currently, the epitope screening is experiencing renewed enthusiasm due to advances in novel techniques and theories. Moreover, the application of T-cell epitope-based diagnoses for tuberculosis and new data on epitope-based vaccine development have also revived the field. There is a growing knowledge on the emphasis of epitope-stimulated T-cell immune responses in the elimination of pathogens and tumors. In this review, we outline the significance of the identification and characterization of T-cell epitopes. We also...

The authors conducted a population-based, case-control study among women aged 35-54 years to assess the influence of infertility and use of ovulation-inducing drugs on ovarian cancer risk. The study was conducted from 1994 to 1998 in three regions (metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia, Detroit, Michigan, and Seattle, Washington) and included 378 cases and 1,637 controls. Data were obtained through in-person interviews, and analysis was conducted using unconditional logistic regression. Among parous women, the authors observed no association of cancer risk with a history of infertility, medical evaluation for infertility, specific types of infertility, or use of ovulation-inducing drugs. Among nulliparous women, risk was increased among women with a history of infer...

The development of ovulation-inducing drugs has enabled clinicians to more effectively treat the hypothalamic, pituitary, and ovarian abnormalities resulting in infertility. Pregnancy rates have been improved with the use of agents such as clomiphene citrate (CC), human menopausal gonadotropin [hMG or follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) preparations], with gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) and its analogs, stimulating the development of multiple ovarian follicles and increasing the number of fertilizable oocytes. The use of these drugs is not without certain detrimental or "toxic" consequences. The negative effects from superovulation can occur during follicle development, decreasing the number of healthy oocytes and embryos capable of leading to viable p...

Over the past decades, the use of ovulation inducing drugs has been increasing. A possible causal link between fertility treatments (especially clomiphene citrate and gonadotrophins) and various types of malignancies, including cancers of female reproductive system, thyroid cancer and melanoma, has been postulated. The majority of the available studies on this subject suffers from methodological limitations, including the small number of outcomes, short and incomplete follow-up, and inability to control for potential confounders. Concerning ovarian cancer, while early studies led to the suggestion of an association between ovulation inducing agents and increased risk of malignancies, the majority of data do not support a causal link. An increased risk was re...

Clusterin expression has been associated with various malignancies. Endometrial carcinoma is divided into endometrioid and papillary serous type carcinoma according to the histological characteristics and regarding to the unopposed estrogenic stimulation. In this study, we investigated the expression profiles of clusterin according to the histological types and the effect of estrogen stimulation on its expression in endometrial carcinoma.Clusterin expression in endometrial carcinoma tissues was examined by RT-PCR, Western blot analysis, and immunohistochemistry. 63 endometrioid and 10 papillary serous types of fresh cases and 81 endometrioid and 7 papillary serous types of paraffin-embedded cases were studied. Regulation of clusterin expression by beta-estra...

Tamoxifen treatment for breast cancer increases proliferation of the endometrium, resulting in an enhanced prevalence of endometrial pathologies, including endometrial cancer. An exploratory study was performed to begin to understand the molecular mechanism of tamoxifen action in the endometrium. Gene-expression profiles were generated of endometrial samples of tamoxifen users and compared with matched controls. The pathological classification of samples from both groups included atrophic/inactive endometrium and endometrial polyps. Unsupervised clustering revealed that samples of tamoxifen users were, irrespective of pathological classification, fairly similar and consequently form a subgroup distinct from the matched controls. Using SAM analysis (a statist...

An analysis of 25 photometric digital images of the moon has been carried out to obtain a single image in a new mapping parameter, the Heiligenschein exponent. The data necessarily represent a range of lunar phases, but all are within 10 hours of full moon. The new parameter characterizes the rate at which lunar features brighten as their local phase angles approach zero. Although considerable contrast is present in this parameter, there is only a small correlation with normal albedo. In particular, the large albedo difference between maria and highlands is not simply reflected in Heiligenschein differences, which are larger within each category of terrain than the difference between the Heiligenschein averages of each. A correlation with age may be present ...

Sagittal plane alignment of the foot presents challenges when the subject wears shoes during gait analysis. Typically, visual alignment is performed by positioning two markers, the heel and toe markers, aligned with the foot within the shoe. Alternatively, software alignment is possible when the sole of the shoe lies parallel to the ground, and the change in the shoe's sole thickness is measured and entered as a parameter. The aim of this technical note was to evaluate the accuracy of visual and software foot alignment during shod gait analysis. We calculated the static standing ankle angles of 8 participants (mean age: 8.7 years, SD: 2.9 years) wearing bilateral solid ankle foot orthoses (BSAFOs) with and without shoes using the visual and software alignmen...

For more than 40 years, nephrologists have classified diminished kidney function as two distinct syndromes — acute and chronic kidney failure. Whereas chronic kidney disease was recognized in the 19th century, acute renal dysfunction became evident during the London Blitz of World War II, with the realization that crush injuries could cause dramatic but often reversible cessation of renal function. The disease states and stages of both acute and chronic renal syndromes are delineated according to the serum creatinine concentration or the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), functional markers that were identified in the early 20th century. 1 Advanced renal impairment in both syndromes is treated with dialysis. During the past decade, separate conceptual model...

Endothelial dysfunction is a major contributing factor to diseases such as atherosclerosis, diabetes mellitus, obesity, hypertension, acute lung injury, preeclampsia, among others. Resveratrol (RSV) is a naturally occurring bioactive polyphenol found in grapes and red wine. According to experimental studies, RSV modulates several events involved in endothelial dysfunction such as impaired vasorelaxation, eNOS uncoupling, leukocyte adhesion, endothelial senescence, and endothelial mesenchymal transition. The endothelial protective effects of RSV are found to be mediated by numerous molecular targets (e.g. Silent Information Regulator 1 (SIRT1), 5' AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), nuclear factor-erythroid-derived 2...

Enzyme function annotation is a fundamental challenge, and numerous computational tools have been developed. However, most of these tools cannot accurately predict functional annotations, such as enzyme commission (EC) number, for less-studied proteins or those with previously uncharacterized functions or multiple activities. We present a machine learning algorithm named CLEAN (contrastive learning-enabled enzyme annotation) to assign EC numbers to enzymes with better accuracy, reliability, and sensitivity compared with the state-of-the-art tool BLASTp. The contrastive learning framework empowers CLEAN to confidently (i) annotate understudied enzymes, (ii) correct mislabeled enzymes, and (iii) identify promiscuous enzymes with two or more EC numbers-function...

An algebraic approach for representing multidimensional nonlinear functions by feedforward neural networks is presented. In this paper, the approach is implemented for the approximation of smooth batch data containing the function's input, output, and possibly, gradient information. The training set is associated to the network adjustable parameters by nonlinear weight equations. The cascade structure of these equations reveals that they can be treated as sets of linear systems. Hence, the training process and the network approximation properties can be investigated via linear algebra. Four algorithms are developed to achieve exact or approximate matching of input-output and/or gradient-based training sets. Their application to the design of forward and feed...

Abstract The design of new materials and the prediction of their properties are becoming an essential component of materials science. Combinations of phase diagram information, structural information and a variety of physical property information are necessary components of such predictive systems. In this paper we analyse structural and chemical data of intermetallic compounds and show how they comply with the following principles: (1) symmetry principles, (2) simplicity principles, (3) chemistry principles. The results of many of the statistics shown in this paper can be used to develop additional information for a knowledge base in a predictive system. With the aid of statistical plots we will demonstrate some practical applications, such as exploring cer...

We study the equilibrium structure of a well-known two-locus model in which two diallelic loci contribute additively to a quantitative trait that is under Gaussian stabilizing selection. The population is assumed to be infinitely large, randomly mating, and having discrete generations. The two loci may have arbitrary effects on the trait, the strength of selection and the recombination rate may also be arbitrary. We find that 16 different equilibrium patterns exist, having up to 11 equilibria; up to seven interior equilibria may coexist, and up to four interior equilibria, three in negative and one in positive linkage disequilibrium, may be simultaneously stable. Also, two monomorphic and two fully polymorphic equilibria may be simultaneously stable. Therefo...

Several structural equation modeling (SEM) strategies were developed for assessing measurement invariance (MI) across groups relaxing the assumptions of strict MI to partial, approximate, and partial approximate MI. Nonetheless, applied researchers still do not know if and under what conditions these strategies might provide results that allow for valid comparisons across groups in large-scale comparative surveys. We perform a comprehensive Monte Carlo simulation study to assess the conditions under which various SEM methods are appropriate to estimate latent means and path coefficients and their differences across groups. We find that while SEM path coefficients are relatively robust to violations of full MI and can be rather effectively recovered, recoveri...

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality and accounts for more deaths than breast, prostate, and colon cancers combined. Traditionally, treatment options have included surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation therapy. Continual advances in the characterization of lung cancer have resulted in the development of effective immunotherapies. These agents help the immune system recognize tumors as foreign, stimulate the immune system, and relieve the inhibition that allows the growth and spread of cancer. Conventional response criteria such as the World Health Organization criteria and Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) have been used extensively in clinical trials; however, these guidelines have been optimized for use with tradi...

ZnO powders with different Co2+ doping concentrations (0, 0.5, 1, 3 and 5 mol%) were prepared by the hydrothermal method and characterized by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), UV–vis diffuse reflectance spectrometer, and photochemical reaction instrument. The results show that the ZnO powders are hexagonal wurtzite structures and their crystallization decrease with the increase of Co2+ doping concentration. The products are spherical which have diameter of about 200 nm, and their absorption edge shift to longer wavelength with the increase of the Co2+ concentration. The photocatalytic activities of the powders are evaluated using a basic organic dye, methyl orange (MO). Compared with undoped ZnO, it is found that the photocatalyt...

Objectives. To determine whether B cell activating factor of the tumour necrosis factor family (BAFF) is involved in T cell-dependent B cell pathogenic autoantibody production in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Methods. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 23 SLE patients were analysed by flow cytometry to examine the intracellular expression of BAFF in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the surface expression of BAFF-receptor (R) and TACI on CD20+ B cells. Moreover, peripheral blood was used to determine the level of BAFF messenger RNA (mRNA) in CD4+ and CD8+ T cells and the level of BAFF-R mRNA in CD20+ B cells. Blocking of BAFF function with TACI-Ig measured anti-double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) antibodies by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Re...

Microalgae-based biofuel has received increasing attention as one of the alternative energy sources because of its many advantages. Cultivation of microalgae is a crucial step for successful applications in the biofuel industry. Growth kinetic models are needed to provide an understanding of microalgal growth so that cultivation conditions can be optimized. This review study aims to provide an overview of the existing growth kinetic models for microalgae cultivation and identify knowledge gaps. The existing models were compiled and organized into three groups: those considering a single substrate factor, a light factor, or multiple factors including both substrate and environment. Three major knowledge gaps were identified in this review. For models consider...

Teaching in the clinical environment is a demanding, complex and often frustrating task, a task many clinicians assume without adequate preparation or orientation. Twelve roles have previously been described for medical teachers, grouped into six major tasks: (1) the information provider; (2) the role model; (3) the facilitator; (4) the assessor; (5) the curriculum and course planner; and (6) the resource material creator (Harden & Crosby 2000).It is clear that many of these roles require a teacher to be more than a medical expert. In a pure educational setting, teachers may have limited roles, but the clinical teacher often plays many roles simultaneously, switching from one role to another during the same encounter. The large majority of clinical teachers ...

Self-report studies often call for assessment of socially desirable responding. Many researchers use the Marlowe–Crowne Scale for its brief versions; however, this scale is outdated, and contemporary models of social desirability emphasize its multi-dimensional nature. The 40-item Balanced Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR) incorporates Self-Deceptive Enhancement (honest but overly positive responding) and Impression Management (bias toward pleasing others). However, its length limits its practicality. This article introduces the BIDR-16. In four studies, we shorten the BIDR from 40 items to 16 items, while retaining its two-factor structure, reliability, and validity. This short form will be invaluable to researchers wanting to assess social desirab...

We study the problem of recovering a hidden community of cardinality K from an n × n symmetric data matrix A, where for distinct indices i, j, A ij ~ P if i, j both belong to the community and A ij ~ Q otherwise, for two known probability distributions P and Q depending on n. If P = Bern(p) and Q = Bern(q) with p q, it reduces to the problem of finding a densely connected K-subgraph planted in a large Erdös-Rényi graph; if P = )V (μ, 1) and Q = )V (0, 1) with μ > 0, it corresponds to the problem of locating a K × K principal submatrix of elevated means i...

BackgroundMyocardial ischemia is associated with alterations in cardiac metabolism, resulting in decreased fatty acid oxidation and increased lipid accumulation. Here we investigate how myocardial lipid content and dynamics affect the function of the ischemic heart, and focus on the role of the lipid droplet protein perilipin 5 (Plin5) in the pathophysiology of myocardial ischemia.Methods and resultsWe generated Plin5−/− mice and found that Plin5 deficiency dramatically reduced the triglyceride content in the heart. Under normal conditions, Plin5−/− mice maintained a close to normal heart function by decreasing fatty acid uptake and increasing glucose uptake, thus preserving the energy balance. However, during stress or myocardial ischemia, Plin5 def...

The aims of this study were to evaluate knowledge level among parents regarding tooth avulsion and replantation and to evaluate a simple leaflet as an information tool to enhance this knowledge. One Hundred and fifty parents in a primary school in Kuwait City participated in the study. Half of the parents received a leaflet with basic first aid message regarding what to do in case of tooth avulsion. One week after reading the leaflet, the parents who had received the leaflet were evaluated by using a questionnaire. The other half of the parents who had not seen the leaflet served as control. The level of knowledge was measured in the following categories: General knowledge of tooth avulsion, knowledge of replantation and primary vs permanent teeth, knowledge...

This study evaluated the bioavailability of diuron in soil as influenced by char arising from the burning of wheat straw. The wheat char was a highly effective sorbent for diuron. The presence of 1% wheat char in soil resulted in a 7–80 times higher diuron sorption. A 10-week incubation resulted in

Abstract A chalcone, 1-(4-chloro phenyl)-3-(4-dimethylamino phenyl) prop-2-en-1-one, abbreviated as CDAC was synthesized by the Claisen–Schmidt condensation method and single crystals were grown by the slow evaporation technique at ambient temperature. The structural confirmation was done using 1 H-NMR, FT-IR, powder XRD and single crystal XRD studies. The crystal crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2 1 /c with a =33.082(3) A, b =14.4722(13) A, c =6.0799(5) A, α =90°, β =92.030(4)°, γ =90° and Z =8. The high temperature DSC shows a phase transition at temperature 141.53 °C that corresponds to the melting point of the crystal. This is confirmed in DTA study which shows an endothermic dip corresponding to this melting point. The optical st...

Abstract Due to its large apparent specific heat during the phase change period, microencapsulated phase change material slurry (MPCMS) has been suggested as a medium for heat transfer. In this paper, the convective heat transfer characteristics of MPCMS flowing in a circular tube were experimentally and numerically investigated. The MPCMS is prepared by using the base liquid other than water. The heat transfer experiments and simulations of the slurry flow in the tube at constant heat flux were conducted and the accuracy of the experimental results were examined. The effect of the slurry concentration, Stephen number, inlet subcooling, particle diameter and Re number on heat transfer enhancement were analyzed. It is concluded that the mass fraction of micro...

Lead (Pb) is a toxic heavy metal ubiquitously distributed around the world, especially in industrial areas. Occupational and environmental exposures to Pb have detrimental effects on human health. Pb affects functioning of many systems of the human body, including the cardiovascular system. Angiogenesis, the process of new blood vessel formation, which makes critical contribution throughout life is deranged in various diseases. Excessive angiogenesis may result in different diseases including cancer. On the other spectrum, insufficient angiogenesis is observed in many diseases, such as atherosclerosis, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease. These disorders are also associated with occupational Pb exposure. In this paper, epidemiological and experimental s...

Abstract Carbonate rocks ranging in age from Ordovician to Tertiary along the Tak-Mae Sod and Mae Sod-Umphang highways were analysed mineralogically, petrographically, and geochemically. The study revealed the depositional environment of the mainly chemical precipitated Ordovician carbonate rocks to be in shallow (lagoonal?) waters of a warm climate. The Carboniferous carbonates were chemically deposited in moderately deep to deep water as indicated by siliceous limestone composed mainly of calcite and radiolarian chert and/or interbedded chert bands. The environment changed to shallower water during the Permo-Carboniferous as seen in the Pra Woh Limestone. The carbonates are characterized by pale colour dolomite, dolomitic limestone and calcareous sandstone...

Reduction with [3H]KBH4 of Schiff's bases generated by reaction with pyridoxal 5'-phosphate (which cannot penetrate the intact cytoplasmic membrane) yields tritium-labeled derivatives of both proteins and lipids accessible on the periplasmic side of the cytoplasmic membrane. Application of this technique to phototrophically grown Rhodopseudomonas sphaeroides labeled both the cell envelope and chromatophore fractions. The technique was also applied to R. sphaeroides harvested at various times during an adaptation from heterotrophic to phototrophic growth conditions. The specific activity of the chromatophore fraction after 20 h of adaptation was 76% of that found at the beginning, indicating that the intracytoplasmic membranes and cytoplasmic membrane form a ...

Cancer stem-like cells are closely related with the development and metastasis of tumors. Herein, an electrochemical method is proposed to identify stem-like cells in breast tumor. The core concept of the method is the use of multifunctional nanofibers (MNFs), which are synthesized through facile self-assembly of peptide probes. MNFs can perform three functions, specifically targeting surface biomarker to identify stem-like cells, recruiting silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) to generate electrochemical signals, and providing large amounts of reaction sites to amplify signals. Specially, breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are first captured by nucleolin aptamer immobilized on the electrode surface and then selectively recognized by MNFs through the binding with CD44...

High-altitude polycythemia (HAPC) is a common plateau chronic disease in which red blood cells are compensatory hyperproliferative due to high altitude hypoxic environment. HAPC severely affects the physical and mental health of populations on the plateau. However, the pathogenesis and treatment of HAPC has been rarely investigated. Here, the hypoxia-induced HAPC model of rat is established, in which hemoglobin concentration significantly increases and platelets clearly decrease. The effect of resveratrol upon hypoxia enables HAPC remission and makes hemoglobin and platelet tend to a normal level. Furthermore, quantitative proteomics is applied to investigate the plasma proteome variation and the underlying molecular regulation during HAPC occurrence and tre...

With a continued focus by practitioners, such as marriage and family counselors, behavioral/social scientists, and policy makers, on promoting resilience among families, it is important to ensure that reliable and valid instruments exist to accurately measure resilience. Using a sample of 603 college students from a large, public university in a mid-South U.S. state, this study investigated the measurement of family resilience operationalized by Walsh (the Walsh Family Resilience Questionnaire [WFRQ]) based on the three-domain theoretical framework. Item-level analysis was conducted to examine reliability followed by a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) to examine construct validity and confirm the proposed three-factor structure of family resilience. Item-l...

Construction industry is among the most hazardous industries, and needs a comprehensive and simple-to-administer tool to continuously assess and promote its health and safety performance. Through the study of various standard systems (mainly Health, Safety, and Environment Management System; Occupational Health and Safety Assessment Series 180001; and British Standard, occupational health and safety management systems-Guide 8800), seven main elements were determined for the desired framework, and then, by reviewing literature, factors affecting these main elements were determined. The relative importance of each element and its related factors was calculated at organizational and project levels. The provided framework was then implemented in three constructi...

Abstract Beyond the environmental function of stormwater management, permeable pavement is also a type of cool pavement that can help mitigate urban heat island effect through evaporative cooling. Evaporation rate is an important factor that influences the evaporative cooling effect of permeable pavements. A simple experiment method was used to initially explore the evaporation rates of different pavement materials under outdoor conditions. Experimental results of the evaporation rates were obtained for six different permeable pavement materials plus the bare water. The main factors influencing the evaporation rates were revealed. The findings imply that high water availability near the surface or large moisture exposure to the atmosphere are critical for th...

In a review of new world cutaneous leishmaniasis in travellers Schwartz mentioned that miltefosine to Leishmania braziliensis infections. Our paper in 2004 on the use of miltefosine against L braziliensis cutaneous leishmaniasis did however report a low efficacy rate in a small group of Central American patients. The efficacy rate for miltefosine was 2.5 times higher compared with placebo. For this reason we are conducting controlled trials in Palos Blancos Bolivia to establish the efficacy and safety of oral miltefosine (given for 28 days) in patients with L braziliensis infections presenting either as mucosal leishmaniasis or cutaneous leishmaniasis. We mention this unpublished study at this time because the data is opposed to data from investigations on L...

Chemie Ingenieur TechnikVolume 58, Issue 3 p. 260-261 Buchbesprechungen Praxis der Physikalischen Chernie. Von H.-D. Forsterling und H. Kuhn. VCH Verlagsgesellschaft, Weinheim–Deerfield Beach–Basel 1985. 2., neubearb. Aufl., XIII, 382 S., 383 Abb., 11 Tab., geb., DM 68, – H. Ziichner, H. Ziichner Munster/WestfSearch for more papers by this author H. Ziichner, H. Ziichner Munster/WestfSearch for more papers by this author First published: 1986 https://doi.org/10.1002/cite.330580330AboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wi...

The effect of converting enzyme inhibition (CEI) by captopril (CAP, 500 mg/liter drinking water) on the development and progression of glomerulosclerosis (GS) was studied in six groups of male uninephrectomized (UN) Wistar rats. In group A, treated with CAP for four to five weeks after UN, a reduction in systolic blood pressure (SBP), filtration fraction and glomerular volumes was found as compared to control group B. Long-term treatment with CAP for eight months after UN (group C) resulted in lowering of SBP with 30 mm Hg, a low level of proteinuria and low incidence of GS (0 to 1.5%) as compared to control rats (group D), with SBP of 131 +/- 4 mm Hg, proteinuria up to 103 to 509 mg/day and 9.1 to 29.7% GS at eight months after UN. Groups E and F were follo...

Measurements of the diffuse reflectance of TiO2 semiconductor coatings, such as are used for water splitting, are analysed using the Kubelka–Munk radiative transfer model. The widely used practice of determining the band gap of the coating directly from the diffuse reflectance is found to be inaccurate, since the diffuse reflectance depends on parameters such as the thickness, refractive index and surface roughness of the coating. However, it is shown that the absorption coefficient can be derived from the diffuse reflectance using an inversion method; the band gap can then be obtained from the absorption coefficient. Finally, the diffuse reflectance of carbon-doped TiO2 presented by Khan et al. [Science 297 (2002) 2243-2245] is analysed; it is found that ...

Objective To investigate connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) expression before and after pulsed dye laser (PDL, 595 nm) treatment, and to better understand the mechanism of PDL treatment of keloids. Method Twenty-six patients with keloids were recruited for this study. For each patient, two keloids of similar anatomic location, duration, texture, and appearance were chosen for study; one of these keloids was treated and the other served as a control. Three sessions of PDL treatment, with pulse duration of 1.5 milliseconds, spot size 7 mm, DCD duration 20 milliseconds/delay 10 milliseconds and fluence of 10 J/cm2, were performed on the keloids at 3- to 4-week intervals. Punch biopsies were performed both on the treated and untreated keloids prior to the fi...

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a common pediatric disorder characterized by recurrent events of partial or complete upper airway obstruction during sleep which result in abnormal ventilation and sleep pattern. OSAS in children is associated with neurobehavioral deficits and cardiovascular morbidity which highlights the need for prompt recognition, diagnosis, and treatment. The purpose of this state-of-the-art review is to provide an update on the evaluation and management of children with OSAS with emphasis on children with complex medical comorbidities and those with residual OSAS following first-line treatment. Proposed treatment strategies reflecting recommendations from a variety of professional societies are presented. All children should be...

Abstract Background The imbalance of osteogenic/adipogenic differentiation of bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) is closely related to steroid-induced avascular necrosis of the femoral head (SANFH). We aimed to investigate the epigenetic mechanism of intramedullary fat accumulation and continuous osteonecrosis after glucocorticoid (GC) withdrawal in SANFH. Methods An SANFH model was established in SD rats, which received an intermittent high GC dose for the first 4 weeks followed by an additional 4 weeks without GC. We explored the synergistic effects and mechanisms of C/EBPα and PPARγ on the differentiation of BMSCs by lentivirus-mediated gene knockdown and overexpression assays. A chromatin immunoprecipitation assay was performed to identify epig...

Abstract Purpose The objective of this study was to identify the characteristics and tasks vital for individuals to successfully navigate a proactive rapid response role at a quaternary children's hospital. Design and methods A qualitative thematic analysis of open-ended interviews was utilized to define the essential characteristics and functions of a WATCh (Watch, Assess, Triage for Children) nurse. The sample included both WATCh nurses and other healthcare providers that work with WATCh nurses. Results Effective WATCh nurses are excellent communicators with advanced skills who are experienced, confident, and visible. They work as an extension of the nurse and as a care facilitator for high-risk children, advocate, and educator. Conclusions A more proactiv...

ABSTRACT: Although there is ample evidence that stock markets react negatively to unethical corporate behavior, our understanding of the mechanisms that shape variation in these reactions across different incidents of misconduct remains underdeveloped. We propose and test a framework for explaining this variation by focusing on the role of the media in disseminating initial information about misconduct. We argue that the signaling effects of this information are important for investors because corporations have strong incentives to limit the information they disclose about misconduct. More specifically, we hypothesize that investors are more likely to react negatively when the media presents clear and credible information that misconduct occurred, that the f...

Abstract Aquaculture is being promoted for poverty reduction in Low Income Countries. Theoretically, aquaculture can impact poverty directly by increasing income and food security of poor fish farming households, and indirectly by generating food and economic growth. However, there is limited empirical evidence of aquaculture significantly impacting poverty, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. The emerging paradigm in aquaculture development argues that indirect poverty impacts from commercial small and medium enterprises (SMEs) are greater than direct poverty impacts on small-scale producers. This paper assesses the potential poverty impacts of small-scale pond aquaculture and SME cage aquaculture in Ghana, comparing the relative significance of their direct ...

Abstract This study constructed a hierarchical value map (HVM) which specified how Iranian senior tourists linked various attributes of domestic tourism destinations to definite consequences, and how such consequences helped them to satisfy their individual values. To do so, the present study, for the first time, demonstrated the cognitive structure of destination image on more abstract levels using the means-end chain (MEC) approach. Through the laddering technique and in-depth interviews with 30 Iranian senior citizens (ISTs), the hierarchical value map of the Iranian senior tourists was constructed, as a result of which seven key MECs were identified. The investigation revealed 12 attributes, 11 consequences, and five values that the Iranian senior touris...

Le traitement des cancers par immunothérapie est basé sur l’activation du système immunitaire de l’hôte afin d’induire une activité antitumorale. Le traitement par le BCG en instillation endovésicale, décrit en 1976, fait partie de l’arsenal thérapeutique des tumeurs de vessie n’infiltrant pas le muscle (TVNIM) dans les recommandations des sociétés savantes. Les anticorps monoclonaux dirigés contre des inhibiteurs de checkpoint ont ouvert le champ des traitements possibles en oncologie et ont été largement étudiés depuis 2011, en urologie notamment. L’avènement des immunothérapies systémiques seules ou en combinaison avec le BCG intra-vésical est déjà en cours d’exploration dans des essais thérapeutiques de phase 2 et 3 da...

This paper gives an overview of the layout and the present status of the Free Electron Laser (FEL) project at DESY. A single pass FEL for the vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) spectral range based on self-amplification of spontaneous emission (SASE) is currently under construction. The project will proceed in two phases. In Phase I a 390 MeV superconducting accelerator will be used to drive a FEL operating up to 30 eV. This facility is intended to test various hardware components and to prove the SASE principle for the first time at short wavelengths. After successful completion of the tests the linear accelerator will be upgraded to 1 GeV and the FEL will deliver photons up to 200 eV. An experimental hall will be added and the facility will be available for external...

A clinical radiographic follow-up investigation was conducted to determine the effect of overinstrumentation and overfilling on re-treated root canals. If the root canal was reamed through the apex, and if the root filling was overfilled during the treatment procedure, a significantly lower frequency of completely regenerated periapical lesions was observed than if these two complications did not occur. Simultaneously, a significantly higher frequency of new periapical lesions also developed in a group of roots treated for technical indications. A clinical radiographic follow-up investigation was conducted to determine the effect of overinstrumentation and overfilling on re-treated root canals. If the root canal was reamed through the apex, and if the root f...

Abstract For 107 endemic mammal species in the Afro-Arabian region, Sahara-Sahel and Arabian Desert, we used ensemble species distribution models to: (1) identify the hotspot areas for conservation, (2) assess the potential impact of the projected climate change on the distribution of the focal species, and (3) assign IUCN threat categories for the focal species according to the predicted changes in their potential distribution range. We identified two main hotspot areas for endemic mammals: the Sinai and its surrounding coastal area in the East, and the Mediterranean Coast around Morocco in the West. Alarmingly, our results indicate that about 17% of the endemic mammals in the Afro-Arabian region under the current climate change scenarios could go extinct b...

Edge is an important feature in video classification which finds applications in video representation and coding. In H.264/AVC, intra-prediction mode decision (a computationally intensive process) is based on the orientation of the edges in the macroblock. In this paper, we first investigate the difference properties derived from three coefficients in the non-normalized Haar transform (NHT) domain and present a fast and efficient method to classify block edge using these properties. The proposed method significantly reduces the number of computational operations in the edge models determination with no multiplications and less addition operations. The use of edge classification for fast intra-prediction mode decision in H.264/AVC video coding is then present...

The deep basinal euxinic sediments of the Black Sea are enriched in iron that is highly susceptible to sulfidization compared to oxic/suboxic continental margin sediments in the Black Sea and oxic/dysoxic continental margin and deep-sea sediments worldwide. A mass balance treatment of iron speciation data from three deep basin sediment cores shows that this enrichment is due to a combination of (1) highly reactive iron-bearing phases (sulfides and oxides) whose ultimate source was by diagenetic mobilization from the shelf (Wijsman and others, 2001) and (2) enhanced iron reactivity in the lithogenous component of deep basinal sediments. The cause of the enhanced reactivity of lithogenous iron is problematical. Possible mechanisms include microbial oxidation o...

Abstract Foam has been widely used for profile control, water plugging, and gas channeling control in enhanced oil recovery (EOR). Because of absorption, the surfactant concentration in foam decreases along the flow direction. In this study, the effects of surfactant concentration on the foam texture, foam seepage characteristics, and gas saturation were evaluated by core-flow experiments using a high-pressure visualization device. The results show that the surface tension of gas and liquid decreases, the flow resistance in core increases, and the foam takes a longer time to reach stability with the increase in concentration of foaming agent. The blocking capability of foam in porous media is closely related to foam texture. With the increase in surfactant c...

Sepsis is an acute systemic inflammatory disease triggered by bacterial infection leading organ dysfunctions that macrophages are responsible for major triggering of systemic inflammation. Treatment options are limited to antibiotics and drugs to manage the symptoms of sepsis, but there are currently no molecular-targeted therapies. Here, we identified a novel macrophage-preferable delivery peptide, C10, which we conjugated to truncated domains of NLRX1 (leucine-rich repeat region (LRR), and nucleotide binding domain (NBD)) to obtain C10-LRR and C10-NBD. Leucine rich amino acid of C10 enables macrophage preferable moieties that efficiently deliver a cargo protein into macrophages in vitro and in vivo. C10-LRR but not C10-NBD significantly improved survival i...

Campylobacter jejuni has a general N-linked glycosylation pathway, encoded by the pgl gene cluster. In C. jejuni, a heptasaccharide is transferred from an undecaprenyl pyrophosphate donor [GalNAc-α1,4-GalNAc-α1,4-(Glcβ1,3)-GalNAc-α1,4-GalNAc-α1,4-GalNAc-α1,3-Bac-α1-PP-undecaprenyl, where Bac is bacillosamine (2,4-diacetamido-2,4,6-trideoxyglucose)] to the asparagine side chain of target proteins at the Asn-X-Ser/Thr motif. In this study, we have cloned, overexpressed in Escherichia coli, and purified PglC, the glycosyl-1-phosphate transferase responsible for the first step in the biosynthesis of the undecaprenyl-linked heptasaccharide donor. In addition, we report the first synthetic route to uridine 5‘-diphosphobacillosamine. Using the uridine 5‘...

Mental health problems in Malaysia are on a rise. This study aimed at performing a systematic review of mental health literacy (MHL) in Malaysia.Medline, Embase, ERIC/Proquest, ScienceDirect, Pubmed, PsycINFO, CINAHL, Scopus, EBM Reviews - Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, Ovid Emcare and reference lists of included studies were searched in February 2020. Studies that evaluated at least one of the main components of MHL, including (1) knowledge related to mental health issues, and (2) stigma, were included irrespective of study design. As secondary findings, the review also synthesized results related to facilitators and barriers to seeking mental health services. Depending on the research design, the quality of each study was assessed through ...

MicroRNA-135a (miR-135a) is implicated in the pathological processes of several cancers. However, the roles and regulatory mechanism of miR-135a in sepsis-induced myocardial depression (MD) remain largely unknown. In this study, the serum of patients with sepsis and healthy controls was obtained. The miR-135a expression was then measured. Then lentiviruses (miR-135a mimic, inhibitor and scramble control) were transfected into BALB/c mice. After 4 days of transfection, polymicrobial sepsis model was established by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) surgery. The serum tumor-necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and IL-6 were detected. Cardiac function was assessed. In addition, the protein expressions of p38 MAPK/NF-κB pathway-related proteins ...

Some evidence indicates that short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) enemas are effective in the treatment of distal ulcerative colitis.In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled study, we tested the efficacy of a 6-week course of topical SCFA (100 mL, twice daily enemas of sodium acetate 80 mmol/L, sodium propionate 30 mmol/L and sodium butyrate 40 mmol/L) in 40 patients with mild to moderate distal colitis. Clinical, endoscopic and histological data were collected at the beginning and end of the study.Fourteen patients on SCFA improved (overall score 11.3 +/- 2.0 vs. 7.4 +/- 3.5) as compared to five in the placebo group (overall score 10.0 +/- 1.9 vs. 8.9 +/- 2.5). In the SCFA-treated group all parameters significantly improved except the number of bowel moti...

Glycinergic neurons provide an important mechanism to control excitation of motoneurons in the brainstem and a reduction or loss of glycinergic inhibition can be deleterious by leading to hyperexcitation such as in hyperekplexia or neurodegeneration and neuronal death as in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Second messenger systems that change cyclic AMP and lead to phosphorylation of the α3 subunit of the glycine receptor (GlyR α3) have been shown to be potent modulators of synaptic inhibition in the spinal cord and brain stem. In this study we analyzed the role of GlyR α3 in synaptic inhibition to the hypoglossal nucleus using Glra3 (the gene encoding the glycine receptor α3 subunit) knockout mice. We observed that baseline glycinergic synaptic tran...

Enzyme replacement with ectonucleotide pyrophosphatase phospodiesterase-1 (ENPP1) eliminates mortality in a murine model of the lethal calcification disorder generalized arterial calcification of infancy. We used protein engineering, glycan optimization, and a novel biomanufacturing platform to enhance potency by using a three-prong strategy. First, we added new N-glycans to ENPP1; second, we optimized pH-dependent cellular recycling by protein engineering of the Fc neonatal receptor; finally, we used a two-step process to improve sialylation by first producing ENPP1-Fc in cells stably transfected with human α-2,6-sialyltransferase (ST6) and further enhanced terminal sialylation by supplementing production with 1,3,4-O-Bu3 ManNAc. These steps sequentially i...

While repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has shown efficacy for cognitive difficulties accompanying depression, it is unknown if it can improve cognition in persons with traumatic brain injury.Using a sham-controlled crossover design, we tested the capacity of high frequency rTMS of the prefrontal cortex to improve neuropsychological performance in attention, learning and memory, and executive function.Twenty-six participants with cognitive complaints and a history of mild-to-moderate traumatic brain injury were randomly assigned to receive first either active or sham 10 Hz stimulation for 20 minutes (1200 pulses) per session for five consecutive days. After a one-week washout, the other condition (active or sham) was applied. Pre- and post-...

Hepatic encephalopathy (HE) in liver cirrhosis is a clinical manifestation of a low-grade cerebral oedema, which is exacerbated in response to ammonia and other precipitating factors. This low-grade cerebral oedema is accompanied by an increased production of reactive oxygen and nitrogen oxide species (ROS/RNOS), which trigger multiple protein and RNA modifications, thereby affecting brain function. The action of ammonia, inflammatory cytokines, benzodiazepines and hyponatraemia integrates at the level of astrocyte swelling and oxidative stress. This explains why heterogenous clinical conditions can precipitate HE episodes. Oxidised RNA species, which are formed in response to oxidative stress, also participate in local postsynaptic protein synthesis in neur...

A systematic investigation of magnetic and transport properties is carried out for ${\mathrm{La}}_{2/3}{\mathrm{Ca}}_{1/3}{\mathrm{MnO}}_{3}$ granular system. Based on the magnetization measurement, it is argued that oscillatory indirect magnetic exchange coupling via the boundary material with thickness s sandwiched between the neighboring grains exists in polycrystalline manganites. By introducing a distribution function of s and averaging the conductivity deduced from the spin-polarized tunneling model for the neighboring grains, we obtain a general expression for the temperature dependence of resistance that can reproduce the experimental data observed in polycrystalline manganites. The present model provides information on the microscopic transport mech...

BJU InternationalVolume 108, Issue 11 p. 1912-1912 CAUSES OF RENAL FORNICEAL RUPTURE Daron Smith, Daron Smith Stone and Endourology Unit, University College Hospital, London, UKSearch for more papers by this author Daron Smith, Daron Smith Stone and Endourology Unit, University College Hospital, London, UKSearch for more papers by this author First published: 08 July 2011 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1464-410X.2011.10181.xRead the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShar...

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are endogenous single-stranded non-coding small RNAs with a length of about 21 nt, that negatively regulate development and stresses. Rice miRNAs are representative of the monocot miRNAs, and many of them are non-conserved in Arabidopsis and the other plant species. Previous studies have shown that a majority of plant miRNAs are expressed from independent transcription units, whereas some others are transcribed with their host genes. Despite of the fact that a growing number of rice miRNAs are discovered, little is known about the transcriptional regulation of miRNA genes. In this study, we performed genomic analysis of rice miRNA transcripts surrounding the regions of promoter/transcription start site (TSS) and TATA-box, and organization ...

Persuasive messages can change people's thoughts, feelings, and actions, but these effects depend on how people think about and appraise the meaning of these messages. Drawing from research on the cognitive control of emotion, we used neuroimaging to investigate neural mechanisms underlying cognitive regulation of the affective and persuasive impact of advertisements communicating the risks of binge drinking, a significant public health problem. Using cognitive control to up-regulate (vs. down-regulate) responses to the ads increased: negative affect related to consequences of excessive drinking, perceived ad effectiveness, and ratings of ad self-relevance made after a one-hour delay. Neurally, these effects of cognitive control were mediated by goal-congrue...

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the brain. The major component of the plaques, amyloid-β (Aβ), is generated from amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) by β- and γ-secretase-mediated cleavages. Multiple lines of evidence demonstrate that overproduction/accumulation of Aβ in vulnerable brain regions is a primary cause of the pathogenesis of AD. Among the twelve polyphenols isolated from the leaf extracts of Vitis thunbergii var. taiwaniana (VTT), stenophyllol C, stenophyllol B, ampelopsin C, vitisin A, and davidiol A were shown to significantly reduce both Aβ40 and Aβ42 levels in N2a695 cells. Further studies revealed that ampelopsin C and vitisin A...

To explore physical activity (PA) habits among the medical students and examine the correlation with their grade point average (GPA) achievement at College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.A cross-sectional study was conducted among the medical students (n = 409), during the academic year 2012-2013. Students' physical activity habits were self-reported. GPA, body mass index (BMI) and body fat percent (BF%) were collected and analyzed with SPSS software.Out of 409 students, 193 (47.2%) students reported being physically active. Our result showed a significant positive association between students' PA habits and high-GPA achievement (χ(2 )= 10.65, p = 0.001). The greatest odds ratio of high GPA was found among the fourth year students (...

Abstract Objectives: One aspect of the effects of isoflavones against fat deposition might be at least associated with the mechanism by which Wnt/β‐catenin signalling inhibits adipocyte differentiation. However, it remains completely unknown as to whether isoflavones might influence Wnt signalling during commitment of pluripotent mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to adipose lineages. In the present study, we have investigated the mechanisms underlying effects of genistein and daidzein, the major soy isoflavones, on anti‐adipogenic Wnt/β‐catenin signalling. Materials and methods: Adipose tissue‐derived (AD) MSCs were exposed continuously to genistein and daidzein (0.01–100 μ m ) during adipogenic differentiation (21 days). An oestrogen antagonist, IC...

We demonstrate energy-efficient low-complexity adaptive linearization for wideband handset power amplifiers (PAs). Due to power overhead and complexity, traditional wideband linearization techniques such as adaptive digital predistortion (DPD) thus far have not been used for wideband handset transmitters. Our energy-efficient lookup table training strategy resulted in a training energy of 1.83 nJ/entry for a 5-MHz bandwidth WiMAX orthogonal frequency division multiple access (OFDMA) transmission, which represents more than 40times improvement over state-of-the-art DPD implementations. Our experimental prototype transmitter achieves a maximum of 9.9-dB improvement of adjacent channel leakage power at 5.15-MHz offset with 22.0-dBm channel power in the 5-MHz ba...

Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary bone tumor and the third leading cause of pediatric cancer deaths. Liquid biopsies are an alternative to current diagnostic imaging modalities that can be used to monitor treatment efficacy and the development of metastases. This study addresses the use of novel biomarkers to detect circulating osteosarcoma cells.Flow cytometry was used to evaluate the relative expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM), ganglioside 2 and 3 (GD2/3), and cell surface vimentin (CSV) on a panel of OS cell lines. A microfluidic device was used to affirm the efficacy of GD2/3 and CSV to capture CTCs. Once captured, CTCs on the device are enumerated and the capture efficiency for each marker is measured. Patient samples wer...

Many person-modelling 3-D animation systems are currently being developed, but often suffer from confusing and elaborate user interfaces. Given over 200 degrees of freedom, the human form is capable of such intricate motion that its specification and display presents considerable difficulty to both animators and animation systems designers. Given such difficulties with single figures, the orchestration of several in parallel remains a major challenge. In pursuit of understanding thoroughly this complex motion of human beings, while faced with the difficulty of modelling the human form using conventional computer graphics techniques, the actual physical mien of the graphic figure is sometimes relegated a secondary status. A primitive and unconvincing appearan...

Personal nostalgia provides an emotionally engaging means for bonding a donor to a nonprofit organization. Yet, little is known about the relationship between personal nostalgia and charitable giving; this research seeks to fill this gap. A review of the extant literature is integrated with the findings from thirteen focus groups (Study 1) to develop a conceptual model. This model is tested in Studies 2 (using 457 older public television donors) and 3 (with a broader sample of 502 donors) using structural equations modeling. The findings indicate that discontinuity, recovery from grief, and loneliness, along with previous life experiences influence the level of personal nostalgia felt by a donor and associated with a charitable organization. This personal no...