1791789867
Sperm Preparation: DNA Damage by Comet Assay in Normo- and Teratozoospermics
Archives of Andrology, 2007
The present study was carried out on semen samples of human fertile and infertile subjects, teratozoospermics (TZs) and idiopathics (IDs), with neat semen and sperm prepared by swim up or Percoll density gradient centrifugation procedures. Sperm morphology analysis revealed that only head and midpiece defects in TZs and IDs were significantly (P < 0.001) higher compared to fertile subjects. Infertile subjects indicated significantly higher (P < 0.001) sperm DNA damage compared to fertile subjects. Fertile subjects with sperm prepared from neat and Percoll density gradient centrifugation exhibited a comet tail DNA percentage of 20% and 15%, respectively. The TZs and IDs infertile subjects had higher levels of comet tail DNA of 33% and 25% and 25% and 19%, res...
1791789866
Raman microspectrometry of laser-reshaped rabbit auricular cartilage: preliminary study on laser-induced cartilage mineralization
J. Biomed. Opt., 2006
Laser-assisted cartilage reshaping (LACR) is a relatively novel technique designed to noninvasively and permanently restructure cartilaginous tissue. It is believed that heat-induced stress relaxation, in which a temperature-mediated disruption of H2O binding is associated with conformational alterations in the proteoglycan and collagen-rich matrix, constitutes the underlying mechanism of LACR. Several reports have suggested that laser-mediated cartilage mineralization may contribute to the permanent shape change of laser-reshaped cartilage. In an effort to validate these results in the context of Er:glass LACR, we performed a preliminary Raman microspectrometric study to characterize the crystal deposits in laser-irradiated chondrocytes and extracellular ma...
1791789866
Curcumin inhibits telomerase and induces telomere shortening and apoptosis in brain tumour cells
J of Cellular Biochemistry, 2013
Curcumin, a polyphenolic compound isolated from Curcuma longa (Turmeric) is widely used in traditional Ayurvedic medicine. Its potential therapeutic effects on a variety of diseases have long been known. Though anti-tumour effects of curcumin have been reported earlier, its mode of action and telomerase inhibitory effects are not clearly determined in brain tumour cells. In the present study, we demonstrate that curcumin binds to cell surface membrane and infiltrates into cytoplasm to initiate apoptotic events. Curcumin treatment has resulted in higher cytotoxicity in the cells that express telomerase enzyme, highlighting its potential as an anticancer agent. Curcumin induced growth inhibition and cell cycle arrest at G2/M phase in the glioblastoma and medul...
1791789866
Effect of Toluene Addition on the PAH Formation in Laminar Coflow Diffusion Flames of n-Heptane and Isooctane
Energy Fuels, 2018
Characterization of soot formation is becoming more important for gasoline surrogate fuels, requiring a deeper understanding of the effect of toluene ratio on PAHs formation. In this work, the different size PAHs distribution in laminar diffusion flames was measured by PLIF technique, and the chemiluminescences of OH and CH radicals were recorded by ICCD coupled with band-pass filters. The effect of toluene addition to n-heptane and isooctane on the flame and PAHs formation was comparatively studied. Then, the chemical kinetic of PAHs was analyzed using the CHEMKIN Diffusion Flame model. The experimental results showed that the cool flame area ranks as n-heptane > isooctane > toluene may due to the NTC action. The OH intensity and flame lift-off height show ...
1791789866
Some linear and nonlinear thoughts on exchange rates
Journal of International Money and Finance, 1991
After discussing the inconclusive results of linear structural models as applied to exchange rates, this paper assesses the possibilities of using a particular form of nonlinear estimation, called Alternating Conditional Expectations, as: (i) a diagnostic tool, and (ii) a forecasting method. It contrasts the forecast performance of various linear (in levels, in differences, error correction) and nonlinear (in levels, in differences) specifications of a sticky-price monetary model, augmented by a relative wealth variable. The diagnostic results are as follows: the optimal transformations are almost always nonlinear, and often nonmonotonic. Forecasting results: in-sample and out-of-sample nonlinear forecasts yield substantial improvements over a random walk. H...
1791789866
Distal myopathy and thrombocytopenia due to a novel GNE mutation
Journal of the Neurological Sciences, 2020
Distal myopathies encompass a group of hereditary or less commonly acquired disorders of skeletal muscles with predominant or selective weakness and wasting of the distal muscles. Although their clinical and histopathological heterogeneity often poses a diagnostic challenge, the detailed pattern of distal weakness, certain specific histopathological findings and associated clinical features can help guide the genetic test and eventually achieve the correct diagnosis [ [1] Milone M. Liewluck T. The unfolding spectrum of inherited distal myopathies. Muscle Nerve. 2019; 59: 283-294 Crossref PubMed Scopus (21) Google Scholar ]. We describe a case of childhood-onset refractory thrombocytopenia and early adult-onset distal weakness due to compound known and novel ...
1791789866
Population-based reference values of handgrip strength and functional tests of muscle strength and balance in men aged 70–80 years
Archives of Gerontology and Geriatrics, 2011
With aging, the incidence of falls and fractures increases. There has during the last decades been secular changes in demographics so that the proportion of elderly increases in society. Hence, there is an increasing need for clinicians to be able to make a solid appraisal of the elderly patient's functional capacity, as to identify individuals with an increased risk to fall. If high risk individuals could be targeted fall preventive strategies might be implemented in specific risk cohorts. This would require reference values for muscle strength tests and functional tests, in order to defined high risk individuals performing inferior. From the MrOS Sweden cohort, 999 subjects aged 70-80 years were evaluated. Muscle strength and functional performance was tes...
1791789866
A new approach to detecting the process changes for multistage systems
Expert Systems with Applications, 2016
We provide a new approach to detecting the process changes for multistage systems.The new multistage residual control charts are based on multiple regression models.The proposed charts are suitable for monitoring the autocorrelated processes.The proposed charts can improve the detecting ability in the Phase II monitoring.A numerical example further demonstrate the usefulness of our proposed charts. The study aims to develop a new control chart model suitable for monitoring the process quality of multistage manufacturing systems.Considering both the auto-correlated process outputs and the correlation occurring between neighboring stages in a multistage manufacturing system, we first propose a new multiple linear regression model to describe their relationship...
1791789866
Finding a niche in teaching English in Japan: Translingual practice and teacher agency
System, 2018
This article explores how multilingual teachers form and enact agency to advocate for multilingualism in a region where monolingualism is dominant. Grounded in an ecological perspective toward language teacher agency, this qualitative interview study analyzed how six American secondary world language teachers generated and enacted agency through the formation and implementation of a local multilingual advocacy initiative in an English-only state. Results of the analysis indicated that the world language teachers’ sociopolitical beliefs about language, their identities and those of their students, and the urgency of language advocacy, in addition to the school and policy structures within which they worked, intensified their efforts to advocate for their st...
1791789866
Effects of shoe type on cardiorespiratory responses and rearfoot motion during treadmill running
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 1988
Running kinematics and physiological responses to high intensity submaximal treadmill running in training shoes and racing flats were evaluated. Eight women (mean age = 21.9 yr) completed a peak V̇O2 test on the treadmill (mean peak V̇O2 = 49.2 ml·kg-1·min-1). In two subsequent testing sessions, subjects completed 15-min runs at a speed corresponding to 90% of peak V̇O2 (range = 9.9–13.4 km·hr-1) while wearing training shoes and racing flats (balanced order assignment). No significant time effect or time by shoe condition interaction was observed for the rearfoot motion variables. Maximum rearfoot angle and total rearfoot motion averaged 42% and 13.9% higher, respectively, for the racing flat (P < 0.05). There were significant increases over time for...
1791789866
High Conductivity and Adhesion of Cu-Cr-Zr Alloy for TFT Gate Electrode
Applied Sciences, 2017
The characteristics of Cu alloy (0.3 wt. % Cr, 0.2 wt. % Zr) thin film deposited by direct current (DC) magnetron sputtering deposition were investigated. The conductivity and adhesion of the Cu-0.3%Cr-0.2%Zr films were optimized by increasing the sputter power to 150 W and reducing the sputter pressure to 2 mTorr. With an annealing process (at 300 °C for 1 h in argon ambient atmosphere), the resistivity of the alloy film decreased from 4.80 to 2.96 μΩ·cm, and the adhesion classification increased from 2B to 4B on glass substrate. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis showed that Cr aggregated toward the surface of the film and formed a self-protection layer in the annealing process. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) indicated the aggregat...
1791789866
Holliday junction resolvase in Schizosaccharomyces pombe has identical endonuclease activity to the CCE1 homologue YDC2
Nucleic Acids Research, 1998
A novel Holliday junction resolving activity has been identified in fractionated cell extracts of the fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe. The enzyme catalyses endonucleolytic cleavage of Holliday junction-containing χ DNA and synthetic four-way DNA junctions. The activity cuts with high specificity a synthetic four-way junction containing a 12 bp core of homologous sequences but has no activity on another four-way junction (with a fixed crossover point), a three-way junction, linear duplex DNA or duplex DNA containing six mismatched nucleotides in the centre. The major cleavage sites map as single nicks in the vicinity of the crossover point, 3′ of a thymidine residue. These data indicate that the activity has a strong DNA structure selectivity as we...
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Implications for Clinical Services, Research and Training
Can J Psychiatry, 1989
The Ontario Child Health Study (OCHS) described in the companion paper (1) confirms the fact that psychiatric disorders among children and adolescents are prevalent, that comorbidity and associated impairements are common and that only a minority of children are seen by any definite mental health or social service. The current assessment and treatment methods and the present service system leave the majority of children unserved. Children and their families suffer a good deal before they are adequately diagnosed and treated, and treatment service delivered on a one-by-one basis are expensive. The OCHS data, has, it follows, important implications for clinical work, for mental health service planning, for further research and for training in child and adolesc...
1791789866
2019 Update of the American College of Rheumatology/Spondylitis Association of America/Spondyloarthritis Research and Treatment Network Recommendations for the Treatment of Ankylosing Spondylitis and Nonradiographic Axial Spondyloarthritis
Arthritis & Rheumatology, 2019
To update evidence-based recommendations for the treatment of patients with ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and nonradiographic axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).We conducted updated systematic literature reviews for 20 clinical questions on pharmacologic treatment addressed in the 2015 guidelines, and for 26 new questions on pharmacologic treatment, treat-to-target strategy, and use of imaging. New questions addressed the use of secukinumab, ixekizumab, tofacitinib, tumor necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) biosimilars, and biologic tapering/discontinuation, among others. We used the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation methodology to assess the quality of evidence and formulate recommendations and required at least 70% agreement among th...
1791789866
A BRIEF INTRODUCTION TO EVIDENCE‐CENTERED DESIGN
ETS Research Report Series, 2003
ABSTRACT Evidence‐centered assessment design (ECD) is an approach to constructing educational assessments in terms of evidentiary arguments. This paper provides an introduction to the basic ideas of ECD, as well as some of the terminology and models that have been developed to implement the approach. In particular, it presents the high‐level models of the Conceptual Assessment Framework (CAF) and the Four‐process Delivery Architecture for assessment delivery systems. Special attention is given to the role of probability‐based reasoning in accumulating evidence across task performances, in terms of belief about unobservable variables that characterize the knowledge, skills, and/or abilities of students. This is the role traditionally associated with p...
1791789866
The influence of non-plastic fines on pore water pressure generation and undrained shear strength of sand-silt mixtures
Soil Dynamics and Earthquake Engineering, 2017
Abstract An extensive experimental study was undertaken to investigate the influence of non-plastic fines on pore water pressure generation and undrained cyclic shear strength of sand–silt mixtures. For this purpose, stress-controlled undrained cyclic simple shear ( CSS ) tests were carried out on reconstituted specimens of Ticino silica sand under different combinations of fines content ( FC ) and global void ratios ( e ). The applicability of several models suggested in literature for predicting cyclic residual excess pore water pressure generation in non-plastic silty soils was analyzed, and revised correlations for assessing model parameters were proposed. Finally, the study confirmed that the equivalent granular void ratio ( e* ) is an effective and a...
1791789866
Electro-Fenton degradation of ciprofloxacin with highly ordered mesoporous MnCo2O4-CF cathode: Enhanced redox capacity and accelerated electron transfer
Chemical Engineering Journal, 2019
Abstract The emergence of antibiotics in the environment, especially in drinking water, poses potential harm to human health. It’s urgent to develop effective methods to remove antibiotics in drinking water. In this work, a series of mesoporous MnxCo3−xO4 nanoparticles with high surface area were successfully synthesized and firstly used as effective stable electro-Fenton catalysts to degrade ciprofloxacin (CIP). The removal of CIP achieved to 100% within 5 h. Experimental and density functional theory (DFT) studies verified the existence of redox pairs of Mn2+/Mn3+ and Co2+/Co3+. Scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) results suggested that the redox reaction capacity of MnCo2O4 was enhanced and the electron transfer rate on the surface of this bi...
1791789866
P1-216 Surviving experience or limited future? A comparative analysis of economic hardship and depression across the adult life span in different welfare state regimes in Europe
J Epidemiol Community Health, 2011
In a study of depression in the general population living in the USA, Mirowsky and Ross (2001) found that economic hardship related depression decreases with age, suggesting increasing surviving experience as one gets older. We test whether this pattern can be generalised to other developed nations. Based on data for 23 countries taking part in the European Social Survey (2006–2007), multilevel analyses shows that the moderating role of age is in itself dependent on the socio-political context. The link between economic hardship and depression is not significantly different across the life course in the Nordic and Bismarckian regimes, it increases in the Southern and Eastern European countries and decreases in strength in the Anglo-Saxon welfare sta...
1791789865
Paths towards Family‐friendly Working Time Arrangements: Comparing Workplaces in Different Countries and Industries
Soc Policy Adm, 2016
Although studies have examined the distribution and conditions of employer-provided work–family arrangements, we still lack a systematic investigation of how these vary for different countries and industries. Based on the European Working Conditions Survey 2010, this study examines the conditions under which firms provide family-friendly working time arrangements and what the differences are across four countries (Austria, Denmark, Italy and the UK) and four industries. The impact of employee representatives, employee involvement, manager support and female managers varies across countries and industries because of the institutional environment (prevailing family model, industrial relations) and workforce composition (gender). The impact of employee repres...
1791789865
Histone methylation and acetylation in macrophages as a mechanism for regulation of inflammatory responses
Journal Cellular Physiology, 2018
Macrophages respond to noxious stimuli and contribute to inflammatory responses by eliminating pathogens or damaged tissue and maintaining homeostasis. Response to activation signals and maintenance of homeostasis require tight regulation of genes involved in macrophage activation and inactivation processes, as well as genes involved in determining their polarization state. Recent evidence has revealed that such regulation occurs through histone modifications that render inflammatory or polarizing gene promoters accessible to transcriptional complexes. Thus, inflammatory and anti-inflammatory genes are regulated by histone acetylation and methylation, determining their activation state. Herein, we review the current knowledge on the role of histone modifying...
1791789865
Estimating the subcritical transmissibility of the Zika outbreak in the State of Florida, USA, 2016
Theor Biol Med Model, 2016
Florida State has reported autochthonous transmission of Zika virus since late July 2016. Here we assessed the transmissibility associated with the outbreak and generated a short-term forecast.Time-dependent dynamics of imported cases reported in the state of Florida was approximated by a logistic growth equation. We estimated the reproduction number using the renewal equation in order to predict the incidence of local cases arising from both local and imported primary cases. Using a bootstrap method together with the logistic and renewal equations, a short-term forecast of local and imported cases was carried out.The reproduction number was estimated at 0.16 (95 % Confidence Interval: 0.13, 0.19). Employing the logistic equation to capture a drastic decline...
1791789865
Characterization, quantification and stability of differently prepared amorphous forms of some oral hypoglycaemic agents
Pharmaceutical Development and Technology, 2012
The study deals with the investigation of possible differences induced in the physicochemical properties within the amorphous forms prepared by different methods. Enthalpy of solution measured by solution calorimetry was utilized to highlight the differences prevailing within the amorphous forms and to determine the percentage of amorphous content. Emphasis is laid on the quantification and physical stability of these forms. Amorphization was induced in poorly water-soluble oral hypoglycaemic agents (repaglinide, gliclazide and glipizide), by quench cooling, vaporization under reduced pressure and lyophilization. The amorphous nature was evident from a halo pattern in powder X-ray diffraction. A glass transition event is evident in differential scanning calo...
1791789865
Validation of the Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale with preschool children in low-income families in Hong Kong
Early Child Development and Care, 2013
Play is a primary context for fostering young children's positive peer interactions. Through play, children develop the social, emotional, cognitive and language skills that contribute to the ability to establish effective relationships with peers. The Penn Interactive Peer Play Scale (PIPPS) was first developed by Fantuzzo to assess the quality of peer interactions among low-income preschoolers in the USA. The present study invited 1622 children aged three to six and 152 teachers in 10 kindergartens in districts with high child poverty rates in Hong Kong to participate in the study (a) to validate the psychometric properties of a culturally, developmentally and linguistically appropriate version of the PIPPS using confirmatory factor analysis, (b) to invest...
1791789865
Tourism development and trust in local government
Tourism Management, 2015
The relationship between tourism development and citizens' trust in government is an under-researched area. This study developed a model that established theoretical relationships between important variables of tourism development and two types of political trust: political trust in the specific context of tourism and general level of political trust. Findings suggest a significant relationship between the two constructs. Results indicate that communities should feel empowered in tourism, should be knowledgeable of the sector, and should derive benefits from development for them to trust local government. The most important lesson of the study is that if the tourism sector is properly managed and developed, it can have beneficial political effects for govern...
1791789865
Evaluation of graft–host interface after penetrating keratoplasty using anterior segment optical coherence tomography
Jpn J Ophthalmol, 2014
To evaluate the characteristics of the graft–host interface after penetrating keratoplasty (PKP) using anterior segment optical coherence tomography (AS-OCT). Forty-nine eyes of 49 patients with three different underlying diseases (corneal scar, 22 eyes; bullous keratopathy, 14 eyes; keratoconus, 13 eyes) who underwent PKP were retrospectively reviewed. AS-OCT was performed in all patients and wound profiles of the graft–host junctions were classified into well-apposed junction, gap, step, and protrusion. The correlations between clinical characteristics and wound profiles from the AS-OCT were analyzed. A total of 392 graft–host junctions from 49 eyes were analyzed. Among them, 155 sections (39.5 %) had well-apposed junctions and 237 sections (60.5 %) ...
1791789865
Effect of a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and a glucocorticosteroid on exhaled nitric oxide.
Am J Respir Crit Care Med, 1995
Nitric oxide (NO) is produced by a variety of cells within the respiratory tract, including inflammatory epithelial cells. NO has been detected in the exhaled air of normal human subjects, and its concentration is raised in asthmatic patients. To study whether exhaled NO arises from the respiratory tract, we administered a NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), by inhalation (490 mg) in a double-blind randomized manner in nine normal and six asthmatic subjects. Because exhaled NO may arise from an inducible isoform of NO synthase that may be inhibited by glucocorticosteroids, we also studied the effects of oral prednisolone (30 mg orally for 3 d) in seven normal and six asthmatic subjects in a separate double-blind crossover study wi...
1791789865
Contested Epistemological and Ethical Spaces: The Place of Non-Humans in Milan Kundera'sThe Unbearable Lightness of Beingand J. M. Coetzee'sDisgrace
English Academy Review, 2013
Nandita Batra writes, ‘Animals have arguably been the oldest metaphor used to define humanity, to construct human identities by symbolizing what humans are and are not’ (2003. Dominion, Empathy, and Symbiosis. In The ISLE Reader: Ecocriticism, 1993–2003. ed. Michael Branch and Scott Slovic, 155. Athens: The University of Georgia Press). In an anthropocentric universe in which man/woman is the measure of all things, animals serve a utilitarian purpose at worst, and as objects of affection at best. How humans define themselves in relation to one specific animal – the canine – is explored in Kundera's The Unbearable Lightness of Being (1984. trans. Micheal Henry Heim. London: Faber and Faber) and Coetzee's Disgrace (1999. London: Vintage.). Though per...
1791789865
FUNCTIONAL ANATOMY OF CAVERNOUS HELICINE ARTERIOLES IN POTENT SUBJECTS
Journal of Urology, 1998
We investigated the morphological and functional features of cavernous helicine arterioles in male potent subjects.Ten young men reporting normal rigid erections which were confirmed by polysomnographic recording underwent power Doppler sonography of the cavernous helicine arterioles during flaccidity, after intracavernous injection of alprostadil, and after subsequent genital and audiovisual sexual stimulation.During flaccidity the helicine arterioles were never detected by power Doppler imaging while they became evident in all cases after alprostadil injection. They usually originated from the cavernous artery forming an acute angle and showed 3 orders of ramifications. Systolic and diastolic flow was present. After genital and audiovisual sexual stimulati...
1791789865
Digestibility and metabolic utilisation of diets containing chestnut tannins and their effects on growth and slaughter traits of heavy pigs
Italian Journal of Animal Science, 2019
AbstractThis research aims at evaluating the effects of the dietary addition of a supplement containing 75% of chestnut tannins (CT) on growth performance, slaughter traits (Experiment 1) and on nutrient utilisation (Experiment 2) of Italian heavy pigs. Exp. 1 compared a control (C) diet with diets containing 0.15 or 0.30% of CT supplement. Forty-two barrows (91 ± 6 kg of BW) were divided into pairs and kept in 21 partially-slatted pens equipped with individual feeding (7 pens/diet). Animals were slaughtered at a BW of 174 ± 6 kg. The CT inclusion did not modify the performance and the slaughter traits but lowered the intensity of red colour (p
1791789865
Plasma-derived exosomes contribute to pancreatitis-associated lung injury by triggering NLRP3-dependent pyroptosis in alveolar macrophages
Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - Molecular Basis of Disease, 2020
Progression of acute pancreatitis (AP) into a severe form usually results in a life-threatening condition with multiple organ dysfunction, and in particular acute lung injury (ALI), often contributes to the majority of AP-associated deaths. Increasing evidence has shown that uncontrolled activation of the immune system with rapid production of inflammatory cytokines play a dominant role in this process. As an intracellular inflammatory signaling platform, the NOD-like receptor protein 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome, is recently reported to be involved in the pathogenesis of AP progression, however, the relationship between NLRP3 inflammasome activation and AP-associated lung injury remains unclear yet. Here, we show that NLRP3 inflammasome activation and subsequent ...
1791789865
Localized disaster risk management index for the Philippines: Is your municipality ready for the next disaster?
International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, 2020
We developed a Localized Disaster Risk Management Index (DRMI) that measures how well local government units (LGUs) in the Philippines prepare for a disaster. Focusing on LGUs that have experienced at least one of the four hydrometeorological hazards, strong winds and rain, floods, landslide/mudslide, and big waves, we capture in one number the ex post and ex ante risk management strategies that influence post disaster outcomes. Given the nature of our data, we used the iterative principal component analysis to compute for the LGUs' Localized DRMI, which was then correlated with conditions, outcomes, and social indicators. Our results show a negative correlation between localized DRMI and recovery, which means that LGUs with high Localized DRMI scores are al...
1791789865
Fully coupled fluid‐electro‐mechanical model of the human heart for supercomputers
Numer Methods Biomed Eng, 2018
In this work, we present a fully coupled fluid-electro-mechanical model of a 50th percentile human heart. The model is implemented on Alya, the BSC multi-physics parallel code, capable of running efficiently in supercomputers. Blood in the cardiac cavities is modeled by the incompressible Navier-Stokes equations and an arbitrary Lagrangian-Eulerian (ALE) scheme. Electrophysiology is modeled with a monodomain scheme and the O'Hara-Rudy cell model. Solid mechanics is modeled with a total Lagrangian formulation for discrete strains using the Holzapfel-Ogden cardiac tissue material model. The three problems are simultaneously and bidirectionally coupled through an electromechanical feedback and a fluid-structure interaction scheme. In this paper, we present the ...
1791789865
Multiview Locally Linear Embedding for Effective Medical Image Retrieval
PLoS ONE, 2013
Content-based medical image retrieval continues to gain attention for its potential to assist radiological image interpretation and decision making. Many approaches have been proposed to improve the performance of medical image retrieval system, among which visual features such as SIFT, LBP, and intensity histogram play a critical role. Typically, these features are concatenated into a long vector to represent medical images, and thus traditional dimension reduction techniques such as locally linear embedding (LLE), principal component analysis (PCA), or laplacian eigenmaps (LE) can be employed to reduce the “curse of dimensionality”. Though these approaches show promising performance for medical image retrieval, the feature-concatenating method ignores ...
1791789865
Changes in extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) content and composition in aerobic granule size-fractions during reactor cycles at different organic loads
Bioresource Technology, 2019
This study aimed to systematically investigate the effect of organic loading on granule diameters, and on the composition of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) in granules in various size-fractions at the beginning and end of the cycle of granular sludge sequencing batch reactor (GSBR). The organic loadings were 0.78 kg COD/(m3·d) (GSBR1), 1.16 kg COD/(m3·d) (GSBR2) and 1.53 kg COD/(m3·d) (GSBR3). Granules with a diameter of 0.5–1 mm had the most stable EPS content and composition. The smallest granules had the largest amount of bound EPS. The amount of loosely-bound EPS increased as granule diameters decreased; it was lowest in the famine phase at end of the cycle. The proteins/polysaccharides ratio decreased below 1 only in soluble EPS in the fa...
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Prevalence of Obesity in the United States
JAMA, 2014
Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue JAMA HomeNew OnlineCurrent IssueFor Authors Publications JAMA JAMA Network Open JAMA Cardiology JAMA Dermatology JAMA Health Forum JAMA Internal Medicine JAMA Neurology JAMA Oncology JAMA Ophthalmology JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery JAMA Pediatrics JAMA Psychiatry JAMA Surgery Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry (1919-1959) Podcasts Clinical Reviews Editors' Summary Medical News Author Interviews More JN Learning / CMESubscribeJobsInstitutions / LibrariansReprints & Permissions Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement 2023 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved Search ...
1791789864
Hydrogen storage and PL properties of novel Cd/CdO shelled hollow microspheres prepared under NH3 gas environment
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2013
Abstract Here we report the first ever fabrication of metal/semiconductor Cd/CdO shelled hollow microspheres with average diameter of 20–30 μm via heating cadmium metal powder inside horizontal tube furnace at 500 °C for 40 min under ammonia gas flow of 150 sccm. Vapor-solid (VS) based growth mechanism was proposed for the formation of Cd/CdO shelled hollow microspheres (CCOSHMs). The as-prepared product was characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Room temperature photoluminescence (PL) studies exhibited a UV emission band at 395 nm (E = 3.13 eV) which may be ascribed to combined effect of near band edge emission of CdO and Cd related radiative recombination of electrons in s, p conduction band near Fer...
1791789864
Concentration dependent cardiotoxicity of terodiline in patients treated for urinary incontinence.
Heart, 1995
Terodiline, an antimuscarinic and calcium antagonist drug, was used to treat detrusor instability but was withdrawn in 1991 after provoking serious ventricular arrhythmias associated with increases in the corrected QT interval (QTc). This research was performed to relate drug induced electrocardiographic changes in asymptomatic recipients to plasma concentrations of the R(+) and S(-) terodiline enantiomers.Urological and geriatric clinics and wards.Asymptomatic patients taking terodiline in stable dose.Electrocardiograms (50 mm/s) were collected from patients while they were taking terodiline and compared with ECGs obtained before or after terodiline. QT interval, heart rate corrected QT interval (QTc), and QT dispersion (QTd) were measured. Drug induced ele...
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Pathological features of total anomalous pulmonary venous drainage (TAPVD) in four cases of paediatric sudden death
Pathology, 1992
Significant congenital cardiovascular anomalies usually present soon after birth with cyanosis, respiratory distress and failure to thrive. Certain malformations, however, such as TAPVD, may remain undetected until unexpected cardiac arrest occurs. Four cases of sudden collapse and death in the neonatal period and early infancy are presented : 1) A 30 hr old girl noted to have mild tachypnoea, which remained unchanged until unexpected cardiac arrest and death occurred 6 hrs later. At autopsy right ventricular hypertrophy (RVH), aortic and left ventricular hypoplasia and a patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) were associated with TAPVD into the left innominate vein. 2) A 5 wk old boy found dead in his cot. At autopsy, RVH, a patent foramen ovale (PFO) and PDA were ...
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On local active contour model for automatic detection of tumor in MRI and mammogram images
Biomedical Signal Processing and Control, 2020
Tumor segmentation in medical images is an important step to determine and predict the stage, size and progression of tumors in realistic geometries and may be used for diagnosis and treatment follow-up in MRI and mammogram images. Automating this challenging task helps radiologists to reduce the high manual workload of brain or breast cancer analysis. Detecting tumor in medical images means to quantify the structure contents of the tumor. In this paper, we propose a model for quantifying the structure contents of the tumor in MRI and mammogram images. The proposed model is based on optimized Laplacian of Gaussian, which is useful in smoothing the homogeneous region and highlight the boundaries of the tumor structure. The proposed model uses local intensity ...
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Hydraulic fracturing fluid migration in the subsurface: A review and expanded modeling results
Water Resour. Res., 2015
Understanding the transport of hydraulic fracturing (HF) fluid that is injected into the deep subsurface for shale gas extraction is important to ensure that shallow drinking water aquifers are not contaminated. Topographically driven flow, overpressured shale reservoirs, permeable pathways such as faults or leaky wellbores, the increased formation pressure due to HF fluid injection, and the density contrast of the HF fluid to the surrounding brine can encourage upward HF fluid migration. In contrast, the very low shale permeability and capillary imbibition of water into partially saturated shale may sequester much of the HF fluid, and well production will remove HF fluid from the subsurface. We review the literature on important aspects of HF fluid migratio...
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In vitro cytotoxic effect of PARP inhibitor alone and in combination with nab‑paclitaxel on triple‑negative and luminal�A breast cancer cells
Oncol Rep, 2018
In the present study, the in vitro cytotoxic effect of poly(ADP‑ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor alone and in combination with nab‑paclitaxel was evaluated on human triple‑negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell line MDA‑MB‑231 and human luminal A breast cancer cell line MCF‑7. For this purpose, cell index (CI) values obtained from xCELLigence Real‑Time Cell Analysis (RTCA) DP instrument, mitotic index (MI), labelling index (LI) and apoptotic index (AI) analysis among cell kinetic parameters were used. As a result of PARP inhibitor application, there was a significant decrease in CI, MI and LI and a significant increase in AI for all the experimental groups. After application of PARP inhibitor in combination with nab‑paclitaxel, the CI values w...
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How Does Protectionism Impact Multinational Firm Reshoring? Evidence from the UK
Manag Int Rev, 2023
AbstractThere is growing interest in the nature and possible extent of de-globalization. This paper explores the impact that protectionist measures have on multinational enterprise (MNE) reshoring back to the UK. Besides taking into account the global trends indicating a return to protectionism, the existing literature highlights various firm-level and structural country-level determinants of reshoring decisions. We test a conceptual model with parent-subsidiary firm-level data for the period 2009 to 2017. We conclude that firms that are more sensitive to wage costs in their overseas subsidiaries were more likely to reshore. We did not find that more capital-intensive firms had a higher propensity to reshore. We find that our...
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Simple microencapsulation of plant essential oil in porous starch granules: Adsorption kinetics and antibacterial activity evaluation
J Food Process Preserv, 2019
In this work, corn porous starch was used as a food grade polymer to microencapsulate essential oil (EO), the effects of temperature on adsorption of EO were investigated, and adsorption kinetics curves were plotted. Using this approach, the sustained-release antibacterial effects of porous starch microcapsules containing EOs (PSM-EOs) against Penicillium roqueforti and Aspergillus niger were explored under accelerated volatilization under high temperature conditions, and microencapsulation was successfully applied to bread preservation. The results showed that temperature had a significant effect on the adsorption capacity, and adsorption rate was controlled by both liquid film diffusion and intraparticle diffusion. The activation energy (Ea) of the adsorpt...
1791789864
Healing of Artificially Created Gap Non-union Using Autologous Cultured Osteoblasts Impregnated Over Three-Dimensional Biodegradable Scaffold: An Experimental Study (Rabbit)
IJOO, 2021
The large bone defect often require bone transplant or its substitutes to restore bone integrity which have some limitations. The study was conducted to analyze role of autologous osteoblast that are amplified in vivo and impregnated in a synthesized three-dimensional gelatin hydroxyapatite scaffold for treating artificially created critical size defect in rabbit's iliac crest.In this research, 4-month-old ten healthy white male rabbits of average weight 2-3 kg were chosen. Osteoblasts cells were isolated from the rabbit iliac crest and were taken in transfer medium to the laboratory and cultured for 2-3 weeks. These osteoblast cells were seed on 3-dimensional scaffold and culture the construct for 2 weeks. The cultured autologous osteoblasts over the scaffo...
1791789864
Nickel content of basaltic magmas: identification of primary magmas and a measure of the degree of olivine fractionation
Lithos, 1977
Available NiO analyses of olivine in peridotites of probable mantle origin are consistent in giving values around 0.40 weight per cent. Assuming that basaltic magma forming from the mantle was in equilibrium with such peridotitic olivine, the NiO content of primary basaltic magmas is estimated to be about 0.030–0.050 weight per cent. The fractionation behaviour of nickel in basaltic magma due to the crystallization of olivine has been calculated using constant NiMg and FeMg exchange partition coefficients between olivine and magma. It is shown that the NiO content of both magma and olivine decreases by 50 per cent after fractional crystallization of 6–12 per cent of olivine. The nickel distribution in some basaltic rocks and olivines is examined in...
1791789864
Some topological indices in fuzzy graphs
IFS, 2020
A fuzzy graph is one of the versatile application tools in the field of mathematics, which allows the user to easily describe the fuzzy relation between any objects. The nature of fuzziness is favorable for any environment, which supports to predict the problem and solving it. Fuzzy graphs are beneficial to give more precision and flexibility to the system as compared to the classical model (i.e.,) crisp theory. A topological index is a numerical quantity for the structural graph of the molecule and it can be represented through Graph theory. Moreover, its application not only in the field of chemistry can also be applied in areas including computer science, networking, etc. A lot of topological indices are available in chemical-graph theory and H. Wiener pr...
1791789864
Estimating the parking demand of free-floating bike sharing: A journey-data-based study of Nanjing, China
Journal of Cleaner Production, 2020
In recent years, free-floating bike sharing (FFBS) has been rapidly promoted in China, attracting numerous users and consuming many resources. The extensive supply and inefficient repositioning of FFBS are challenges for sustainable development, and put forward higher requirements for parking planning. This paper estimates the parking demand of all three FFBS companies by combining the journey data of Mobike in Nanjing and the Nanjing FFBS bike survey. Three clustering methods were applied to determine the virtual stations of bike aggregation. The maximum number of bikes in a day is recognized as the parking demand in each virtual station. The results show that more than half of bikes are in low turnover rate, and the management of FFBS should be improved. T...
1791789864
New perspectives in cardiovascular risk reduction: focus on HDL
Monaldi Arch Chest Dis, 2015
Cardiovascular diseases represent the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide, mostly contributing to hospitalizations and health care costs. Dyslipidemias represent one of the major cardiovascular risk factor and its management, throughout life-style modifications and pharmacological interventions, has shown to reduce cardiac events. The risk of adverse cardiovascular events is related not only to elevated LDL blood levels, but also to decreased HDL concentrations, that exhibit protective effects in the development of atherosclerotic process. Aim of this review is to summarize current evidences about defensing effects of such lipoproteins and to show the most recent pharmacological strategies to reduce cardiovascular risk through the increase of ...
1791789863
Anthocyanin-rich blueberry extracts and anthocyanin metabolite protocatechuic acid promote autophagy-lysosomal pathway and alleviate neurons damage in in vivo and in vitro models of Alzheimer's disease
Nutrition, 2022
As the global aging phenomenon intensifies, the incidence of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is gradually increasing. Diet appears to be an effective way to prevent and delay the progression of AD. Previous studies have found that cognitive impairment and neuronal damage were effectively alleviated by blueberry extract (BBE) in AD mice, but its mechanism is still unclear. The aims of this study were to detect the main anthocyanins of BBE; then to verify the protective effects of anthocyanin-rich BBE on hippocampal neurons and the promotion of autophagy; and finally to investigate the main protective effects and mechanisms of protocatechuic acid (PCA), a major metabolite of BBE, for promoting autophagy and thus playing a neuroprotective role.APP/PS1 mice were given ...
1791789863
Fragmentation pattern of fibrinogen during thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction with fibrin-specific plasminogen activators — Detection of high-molecular weight fibrinogen degradation products
Fibrinolysis, 1994
Abstract In thrombolysis in acute myocardial infarction, the fibrin-specific plasminogen activators are infused in non-physiologically high doses. Only limited fibrin-specific in nature, this may give rise to extensive fibrinogen degradation. In a series of 65 patients — 24 rt-PA, 41 pro-urokinase — we investigated, whether fibrinogen degradation follows a similar fragmentation pattern as known from thrombolysis with streptokinase. During thrombolysis, fibrinogen levels were stable (3.2 ± 1.7 before and 3.1 ± 1.3 g/l at 2 hours), whereas plasminogen and α 2 -antiplasmin levels decreased from 96.1 ± 23.8 to 59.3 ± 25.6 and 93.4 ± 26.9 to 31.9 ± 32.4%, respectively. Simultaneously low molecular weight fibrinogen — and fibrin degradation products i...
1791789863
Reverse N-Substituted Hydroxamic Acid Derivatives of Fosmidomycin Target a Previously Unknown Subpocket of 1-Deoxy-d-xylulose 5-Phosphate Reductoisomerase (DXR)
ACS Infect. Dis., 2024
Reverse analogs of the phosphonohydroxamic acid antibiotic fosmidomycin are potent inhibitors of the nonmevalonate isoprenoid biosynthesis enzyme 1-deoxy-d-xylulose 5-phosphate reductoisomerase (DXR, IspC) of Plasmodium falciparum. Some novel analogs with large phenylalkyl substituents at the hydroxamic acid nitrogen exhibit nanomolar PfDXR inhibition and potent in vitro growth inhibition of P. falciparum parasites coupled with good parasite selectivity. X-ray crystallographic studies demonstrated that the N-phenylpropyl substituent of the newly developed lead compound 13e is accommodated in a subpocket within the DXR catalytic domain but does not reach the NADPH binding pocket of the N-terminal domain. As sho...
1791789863
Mass Vaccination Against Polio
JAMA, 1984
The Introduction of Oral Vaccine Although the introduction and immediate widespread use of inactivated polio vaccine (IPV) in 1955 was accompanied by an abrupt decline in the reported number of cases of poliomyelitis in the United States, there was considerable excitement in the late 1950s about the impending availability of attenuated live (oral) poliovirus vaccine (OPV). 1-3 This excitement stemmed both from anticipated advantages of OPV and from some disappointment with the performance of IPV. The anticipated advantages of OPV included its potential to induce effective and long-lasting protection after only one dose, obviating the need for boosters, its ability to pass to contacts of vaccinees, thereby extending the effects of the vaccine beyond those dir...
1791789863
Plasminogen activator is involved in the hCG‐induced neutrophil extravasation and vasopermeability increase in the rat testis
Int J of Andrology, 1990
The role of proteolytic enzymes in the hCG-induced increase in testicular vasopermeability and neutrophil extravasation was studied using protease inhibitors. An intra-testicular injection of hCG together with incubation medium conditioned by polymorphonuclear leucocytes (PMNs) caused a significant increase in vasopermeability and a coincident extravasation of PMN's from the postcapillary venules in the rat testis. When p-aminobenzamidine, a serine protease inhibitor which inhibits urokinase-type plasminogen activator, was administered together with hCG in the incubation medium, both the permeability increase and PMN extravasation were prevented. Aprotinin, another serine protease inhibitor, and Eglin C, a specific neutrophil elastase and cathepsin G inhibit...
1791789863
Insight into SUCNR1 (GPR91) structure and function
Pharmacology & Therapeutics, 2016
SUCNR1 (or GPR91) belongs to the family of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCR), which represents the largest group of membrane proteins in human genome. The majority of marketed drugs targets GPCRs, directly or indirectly. SUCNR1 has been classified as an orphan receptor until a landmark study paired it with succinate, a citric acid cycle intermediate. According to the current paradigm, succinate triggers SUCNR1 signaling pathways to indicate local stress that may affect cellular metabolism. SUCNR1 implication has been well documented in renin-induced hypertension, ischemia/reperfusion injury, inflammation and immune response, platelet aggregation and retinal angiogenesis. In addition, the SUCNR1-induced increase of blood pressure may contribute to diabetic n...
1791789863
The salinity problem
Progress in Oceanography, 1963
Long-term global ocean salinity variation provides an insight into water cycle change. This connection reflects changes to the evaporation and precipitation (E–P) fields along with terrestrial runoff, which comprises the global water cycle and sets the spatial pattern of salinity on the ocean surface. The dynamic nature of the global ocean ensures that along with E–P, temperature and circulation changes also play a role in driving patterns of salinity change. This chapter provides an introduction to the global water cycle, briefly outlines the history of ocean salinity observation, and introduces results that relate resolved salinity change to water cycle change. Because of sparse observational coverage, the use of climate models are necessary to investi...
1791789863
The electrodissolution of base palladium in relation to the oxygen electroadsorption and electrodesorption in sulphuric acid solution
Journal of Electroanalytical Chemistry and Interfacial Electrochemistry, 1984
The electrodissolution of palladium electrode immersed in 1 M H2SO4 under both repetitive triangular potential sweeps and combined potential perturbation functions has been investigated by using the rotating ring—disc electrode technique. The contribution of palladium electrodissolution in the voltammogram changes in going from the first potential scan to the following ones. This contribution also depends on the characteristics of the potential perturbation programme applied to the electrode. Different potential ranges associated with the formation of soluble palladium(II) are distinguished, which correlate with those corresponding to electrochemical reactions already established. The results are explained through a competitive reaction pathway involving t...
1791789863
Overcoming antibiotic resistance: the potential and pitfalls of drug repurposing
Journal of Drug Targeting, 2024
Since its emergence shortly after the discovery of penicillin, antibiotic resistance has escalated dramatically, posing a significant health threat and economic burden. Drug repositioning, or drug repurposing, involves identifying new therapeutic applications for existing drugs, utilising their established safety profiles and pharmacological data to swiftly provide effective treatments against resistant pathogens. Several drugs, including otilonium bromide, penfluridol, eltrombopag, ibuprofen, and ceritinib, have demonstrated potent antibacterial activity against multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. These drugs can disrupt biofilms, damage bacterial membranes, and inhibit bacterial growth. The combination of repurposed drugs with conventional antibiotics can ...
1791789863
Prevalence of Obesity in the United States
JAMA, 2014
Our website uses cookies to enhance your experience. By continuing to use our site, or clicking "Continue," you are agreeing to our Cookie Policy | Continue JAMA HomeNew OnlineCurrent IssueFor Authors Publications JAMA JAMA Network Open JAMA Cardiology JAMA Dermatology JAMA Health Forum JAMA Internal Medicine JAMA Neurology JAMA Oncology JAMA Ophthalmology JAMA Otolaryngology–Head & Neck Surgery JAMA Pediatrics JAMA Psychiatry JAMA Surgery Archives of Neurology & Psychiatry (1919-1959) Podcasts Clinical Reviews Editors' Summary Medical News Author Interviews More JN Learning / CMESubscribeJobsInstitutions / LibrariansReprints & Permissions Terms of Use | Privacy Policy | Accessibility Statement 2023 American Medical Association. All Rights Reserved Search ...
1791789863
Thin layer chromatography combined with surface-enhanced raman spectroscopy for rapid sensing aflatoxins
Journal of Chromatography A, 2018
A fast and facile method was developed for on-site detection of aflatoxins (AFs) in moldy agricultural products using thin layer chromatography combined with surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (TLC-SERS). Four different AFs were successfully separated by TLC and then a small portable Raman spectrometer, with gold colloids as the SERS-active substrate, was applied to identify the separated spots. TLC-SERS application to on-site detection of AFs was systematically investigated. Qualitative and quantitative AF detection was found to be easily accomplished and limits of detection were estimated to be 1.5 × 10−6, 1.1 × 10−5, 1.2 × 10−6, and 6.0 × 10−7 M for AFB1, AFB2, AFG1, and AFG2, respectively. The proposed method was also highly selective, enabl...
1791789863
Deuterium retention in neutron-irradiated single-crystal tungsten
Fusion Engineering and Design, 2018
Abstract Six single crystal tungsten specimens were neutron irradiated to a dose of 0.1 displacements per atom (dpa) at three different irradiation temperatures (633 K, 963 K, and 1073 K) at the High Flux Isotope Reactor in Oak Ridge National Laboratory under the US-Japan PHENIX project. A pair of neutron-irradiated tungsten specimens was exposed to deuterium (D) plasma to D ion fluence of 5.0 × 1025 m−2 at three different exposure temperatures (673 K, 873 K, and 973 K) at the Tritium Plasma Experiment in Idaho National Laboratory. A combination of thermal desorption spectroscopy, nuclear reaction analysis, and rate-diffusion modeling code (Tritium Migration Analysis Program, TMAP) were used to understand D behavior in neutron-irradiated...
1791789863
Clinical significance of preoperative imaging in oral squamous cell carcinoma compared with lymph node status: a comparative retrospective study
Oral Surgery, Oral Medicine, Oral Pathology and Oral Radiology, 2018
The accuracy and sensitivity of commonly used imaging modalities in evaluating oral cavity cancer was evaluated by comparing the preoperative radiologic findings and the postoperative pathology report.Patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma, who had undergone at least 1 imaging test 2 weeks before surgery were included. Radiologic findings were compared with the dissected neck findings to assess the lymph node status. Sensitivity and specificity of the imaging modalities were calculated by using the χ2 test.Sensitivities for detecting metastatic neck lymph nodes at a threshold of 1 cm were 48% (P = .02) and 43.8% (P = .3) for computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging respectively. Specificities were 76.3% and 70%, respectively. As for the 1...
1791789863
State-of-the-Art of Analytical Techniques to Determine Food Fraud in Olive Oils
Foods, 2021
The benefits of the food industry compared to other sectors are much lower, which is why producers are tempted to commit fraud. Although it is a bad practice committed with a wide variety of foods, it is worth noting the case of olive oil because it is a product of great value and with a high percentage of fraud. It is for all these reasons that the authenticity of olive oil has become a major problem for producers, consumers, and legislators. To avoid such fraud, it is necessary to develop analytical techniques to detect them. In this review, we performed a complete analysis about the available instrumentation used in olive fraud which comprised spectroscopic and spectrometric methodology and analyte separation techniques such as liquid chromatography and g...
1791789863
Revisiting Intensity-Based Image Registration Applied to Mammography
IEEE Trans. Inform. Technol. Biomed., 2011
The detection of architectural distortions and abnormal structures in mammographic images can be based on the analysis of bilateral and temporal cases using image registration. This paper presents a quantitative evaluation of state-of-the art intensity based image registration methods applied to mammographic images. These methods range from a global and rigid transformation to local deformable paradigms using various metrics and multiresolution approaches. The aim of this study is to assess the suitability of these methods for mammographic image analysis. Evaluation using temporal cases based on quantitative analysis and a multiobserver study is presented which gives an indication of the accuracy and robustness of the different algorithms. Although previous ...
1791789863
Cell cycle analysis of E2F in primary human T cells reveals novel E2F complexes and biochemically distinct forms of free E2F.
Mol. Cell. Biol., 1993
The transcription factor E2F activates the expression of multiple genes involved in cell proliferation, such as c-myc and the dihydrofolate reductase gene. Regulation of E2F involves its interactions with other cellular proteins, including the retinoblastoma protein (Rb), the Rb-related protein p107, cyclin A, and cdk2. We undertook a detailed analysis of E2F DNA-binding activities and their cell cycle behavior in primary human T cells. Three E2F DNA-binding activities were identified in resting (G0) T cells with mobilities in gel shift assays distinct from those of previously defined E2F complexes. One of these activities was found to be a novel, less abundant, Rb-E2F complex. The most prominent E2F activity in resting T cells (termed complex X) was abundan...
1791789863
Muralytic activity of Micrococcus luteus Rpf and its relationship to physiological activity in promoting bacterial growth and resuscitation
Molecular Microbiology, 2005
Summary The culturability of several actinobacteria is controlled by r esuscitation‐ p romoting f actors (Rpfs). These are proteins containing a c . 70‐residue domain that adopts a lysozyme‐like fold. The invariant catalytic glutamate residue found in lysozyme and various bacterial lytic transglycosylases is also conserved in the Rpf proteins. Rpf from Micrococcus luteus , the founder member of this protein family, is indeed a muralytic enzyme, as revealed by its activity in zymograms containing M. luteus cell walls and its ability to (i) cause lysis of Escherichia coli when expressed and secreted into the periplasm; (ii) release fluorescent material from fluorescamine‐labelled cell walls of M. luteus ; and (iii) hydrolyse the artificial lysozyme sub...
1791789863
From ideas to practice: The involvement of informal settlement communities in policy-making at city level in South Africa
South African Review of Sociology, 2006
Abstract This article explores the extent of informal settlement communities' involvement in policy-making at city level in South Africa. It argues that participation of these communities in city-wide policy-making is a critical ingredient for developing inclusive policies for the future development of cities. In South Africa, the local government policy emphasises the centrality of community participation in policy-making. In practice, however, the participation of informal settlement communities appears to be very limited. The article establishes a conceptual understanding on the informal settlement communities' involvement in policy-making at city level based on the notions of citizenship and participation. It briefly reviews the facets of community parti...
1791789862
Aromatic nitration with bismuth nitrate in ionic liquids and in molecular solvents: a comparative study of Bi(NO3)3·5H2O/[bmim][PF6] and Bi(NO3)3·5H2O/1,2-DCE systems
Tetrahedron Letters, 2012
A suspension of bismuth nitrate pentahydrate (BN) in [bmim][PF6] or [bmim][BF4] imidazolium ionic liquid (IL) is an effective reagent for ring nitration of activated aromatics under mild conditions without the need for external promoters. Nitration can also be effected in 1,2-DCE, MeCN, or MeNO2 without additives. Nitration of activated arenes (anisole, toluene, ethylbenzene, cumene, p-xylene, mesitylene, durene, and 1,3-dimethoxybenzene) is considerably faster (time to completion) in BN/[bmim][PF6] relative to BN/1,2-DCE and there are also differences in isomer distributions (for anisole, toluene, and ethylbenzene). With introduction of strongly deactivating substituents (–CHO; –MeCO; –NO2) the BN/IL system is no longer active but reactions still proc...
1791789862
Biofilm research using calorimetry – a marriage made in heaven?
Biotechnology Journal, 2010
Aggregated bacteria growing on a surface, so-called biofilms, play an important role in technical processes like wastewater treatment, bioremediation, or bioprocessing. In contrast, problems arise when biofilm growth results in undesired processes that may cause huge financial losses, e.g., clogged pipes, microbially influenced corrosion or pathogenic contamination. For observation purposes and to develop efficient control strategies, real-time monitoring tools for biofilms are required. Among the large variety of tools used in biofilm research, calorimetry is rarely applied, even though many characteristics qualify it for biofilm investigation and monitoring. Calorimetric measurements are non-invasive and non-destructive, and can be applied to nearly any ki...
1791789862
Cu-mediated enantioselective C–H alkynylation of ferrocenes with chiral BINOL ligands
Nat Commun, 2023
AbstractA wide range of Cu(II)-catalyzed C–H activation reactions have been realized since 2006, however, whether a C–H metalation mechanism similar to Pd(II)-catalyzed C–H activation reaction is operating remains an open question. To address this question and ultimately develop ligand accelerated Cu(II)-catalyzed C–H activation reactions, realizing the enantioselective version and investigating the mechanism is critically important. With a modified chiral BINOL ligand, we report the first example of Cu-mediated enantioselective C–H activation reaction for the construction of planar chiral ferrocenes with high yields and stereoinduction. The key to the success of this reaction is the discovery of a ligand accelerati...
1791789862
Different Associations of Trunk and Lower-Body Fat Mass Distribution with Cardiometabolic Risk Factors between Healthy Middle-Aged Men and Women
International Journal of Endocrinology, 2018
The aim of this study was to assess whether the gender-specific pattern of fat mass (FM) distribution is related to gender differences in cardiometabolic risk factors. 207 healthy middle-aged Japanese were included in the study. We measured FM in the total body, trunk, and lower-body with dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). The percentage of trunk FM (TFM) and lower-body FM (LFM) is noted as %TFM and %LFM, respectively. Other measurements included glucose and insulin during oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT), leptin, adiponectin, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), tumor necrosis factor- α (TNF- α ), C-reactive protein (CRP), and systemic oxidative stress marker. Arterial properties were indicated by cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) and intima...
1791789862
Liposomal formulation for co-delivery of paclitaxel and lapatinib, preparation, characterization and optimization
Journal of Liposome Research, 2015
Paclitaxel (PTX) is one of the most promising natural anticancer agents with a wide therapeutic range which is limited by its hydrophobic nature, low therapeutic index and more importantly, the emergence of multidrug resistance (MDR). Lapatinib (LPT) is a dual tyrosine kinase inhibitor with a significant potential to inhibit p-glycoproteins which form one of the main groups of proteins responsible for efflux pump mediated MDR. To overcome the PTX related MDR, a novel liposomal formulation was optimized for co-delivery of PTX and LPT by applying the D-optimal response surface methodology. The encapsulation efficiency (EE%) of the optimized formulation for LPT and PTX was 52 ± 3% and 68 ± 5, respectively. The optimized formulation showed a narrow size distri...
1791789862
Multi-Level Decision-Making for The Predictive Maintenance of <formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$k$</tex> </formula>-Out-of-<formula formulatype="inline"><tex Notation="TeX">$n$</tex> </formula>:F Deteriorating Systems
IEEE Trans. Rel., 2015
Traditional maintenance decisions in the framework of condition-based maintenance applied to multi-component systems are performed either at the system level or at the component level. These decisions however cannot always assure the best maintenance performance. To remedy this drawback, the present paper introduces a multi-level decision-making approach that combines maintenance decisions at the system level and the component level. The effectiveness of such an approach is investigated through an n-component deteriorating system with a k-out-of- n:F structure, and economic dependence. In fact, based on the degradation and failure model of the considered k-out-of- n:F system, two new opportunistic predictive maintenance strategies with different types of mai...
1791789862
Flypaper effect assessment methods in the expansion of regional autonomy
MethodsX, 2021
Flypaper Effect is a public finance term that indicates a government grant given to recipient cities increases the local community spending level more than an increase in local income of equivalent size. This paper analyzed the Flypaper Effect Assessment Method in the Expansion of Regional Autonomy. It employed 210 New Autonomous Regions (NARs) in Indonesia during 1999-2021 as a case study, where Indonesia became the country with the highest number of new autonomies in the world. Panel Data Regression was utilized to determine the Flypaper Effect. Flypaper Effect analysis was carried out using the BLUE model selection method. The selected models in this study were Pooled Least Square (PLS), Fixed Effect Model (FEM), and Random Effect Model (REM). Several tes...
1791789862
Synthesis and characterization of calcium β-diketonate complexes. X-Ray crystal and molecular structures of: [{Ca(tmhd)2}2(18-crown-6)], [Ca(dpp)2(thf)2] and [Ca(dpp)2(triglyme)]
Dalton Trans., 2010
Reactions of 2,2,6,6-tetramethyl-3,5-heptanedione (Htmhd), 1,1,1,5,5,5-hexafluoro-2,4-pentanedione (Hhfa) or 1,3-diphenyl-1,3-propanedione (Hdpp) with calcium methoxide in hexane or toluene afford the corresponding known oligomeric beta-diketonates: [Ca(3)(tmhd)(6)], [{Ca(hfa)(2)}(n)] and [{Ca(dpp)(2)}(n)]. The complexes react with tetrahydrofuran, 2,5,8,11-tetraoxadodecane (triglyme) or 1,4,7,10,13,16-hexaoxacyclooctadecane (18-crown-6) leading to the formation of the new mononuclear [Ca(dpp)(2)(thf)(2)], [Ca(dpp)(2)(triglyme)] and dinuclear [{Ca(dpp)(2)}(2)(18-crown-6)] and [{Ca(tmhd)(2)}(2)(18-crown-6)] adducts. The obtained complexes were characterized by elemental analyses, IR, (1)H and (13)C NMR spectroscopies; moreover, single crystal X-ray diffractio...
1791789862
Distinguishing between archaeological sheep and goat bones using a single collagen peptide
Journal of Archaeological Science, 2010
We describe a method of isolating and analyzing a single collagen peptide able to distinguish between sheep and goat bone collagen. The 33 amino acid peptide from both sheep and goat collagen was sequenced and shown to differ between the two species at two positions. Analysis of a range of caprines indicated that the sequence changes occurred between the divergence of the Himalayan tahr (Hemitragus jemlahicus) and the ibex (Capra ibex) and that the proposed goat marker is diagnostic of all Capra species and breeds. The survival of these markers in archaeological bones was tested using a set of 26 ovicaprid specimens from Domuztepe, a Neolithic site in south central Turkey. These markers were used to test the osteological determination of 24 of the Domuztepe ...
1791789862
Demand feeding as a self-regulating feeding system for rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) in net-pens
Aquaculture, 1992
Rainbow trout with an initial weight of 1.1 – 1.2 kg were fed an extruded high energy food using demand feeding and timer-controlled feeding techniques, during 4 summer months, in full-scale netpen farming conditions. Unrestricted and restricted demand feeding techniques were tested. The time-rcontrolled feeding was tested at a corresponding restricted level. There were no statistically significant differences in growth rate between trout fed restricted and unrestricted rations using the demand feeding technique. Trout fed using the timer-controlled technique exhibited a significantly lower growth rate compared with fish fed using demand feeders. Trout fed using the demand feeding technique and restricted rations had the best feed conversion, with a mean v...
1791789862
Carbon supported Pt-shell modified PdCo-core with electrocatalyst for methanol oxidation
International Journal of Hydrogen Energy, 2010
A catalyst for anode oxidation of methanol, carbon supported pseudo-core-shell PdCo@Pt particles with Pt shell is prepared via a two-step procedure, which consists of an organic colloid method and a surface replacement reaction step. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) are used for the catalysts characterization. The electrochemical surface areas (ECSA) are 6 and 4 times as large as those of Pt/C and PtRu/C catalysts, respectively. Furthermore, based on the Pt mass, the cyclic voltammetry (CV) and chronoamperometry results demonstrate that the electrocatalytic activity and stability of the PdCo@Pt/C catalyst for methanol oxidation are much higher than those of the Pt/C and PtRu/C catalysts. The PdCo@Pt/C catalyst is better util...
1791789862
Experimental investigation of double gas hydrate formation in the presence of modified starch as a kinetic inhibitor in a flow mini‐loop apparatus
Can J Chem Eng, 2011
The main objective of the present work is experimental investigation of double gas hydrate formation with or without presence of modified starch as kinetic inhibitors in a flow mini-loop apparatus. To this object, a laboratory flow mini-loop apparatus was set up to measure the induction time for hydrate formation and the rate uptake when a gaseous mixture (such as 75% C1–25% C3, 25% C1–75% C3, 75% C1–25% i-C4 and 25% C1–75% i-C4) is contacted with water containing or not containing dissolved inhibitor under suitable temperature and pressure conditions. In each experiment, water blend saturated with gas mixture is circulated up to a required pressure. Pressure is maintained at a constant value during experimental runs by means of required gas mixture ...
1791789862
Personality traits and foreign policy attitudes: A cross-national exploratory study
Personality and Individual Differences, 2020
The study of foreign policy attitudes lies at the intersection of political psychology and international relations. Despite a shared interest in both fields in the psychological bases of political phenomena, research exploring the links between personality traits and foreign policy attitudes is scarce. This article pursues a set of questions intended to bring these agendas together. Do personality traits influence attitudes toward foreign policy? Are the links between personality traits and foreign policy the same, or do they differ across different national contexts? In exploring these questions, this article draws on data from a series of large-scale public opinion surveys in six western democracies: the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, ...
1791789861
Microstructure and tribo-mechanical properties of Ti–B–C nanocomposite films prepared by magnetron sputtering
Surface and Coatings Technology, 2015
Abstract Ti–B–C nanocomposite films synthesized by magnetron sputtering are systematically studied with respect to the effect of composition and structure on their tribo-mechanical properties. The Ti–B–C films were deposited using a pilot-scale closed-field unbalanced magnetron sputtering system equipped with one graphite target, one TiB2 target, and two boron targets. The microstructure of the Ti–B–C films is represented by TiB2 nanocrystallites embedded in an amorphous boron carbide matrix. The film hardness varies in the range from 33 to 42 GPa in relation to the composition and microstructure. The change in the mechanical properties depends upon the nanostructure, particularly the concentration and size of the TiB2 nanocrystallites in the am...
1791789861
A novel phthalocyanine based discotic liquid crystal for efficient corrosion inhibition of mild steel
Liquid Crystals, 2023
Discotic liquid crystals have been extensively investigated for their applications in electro-optical devices. Very recently their potential as corrosion inhibitor has been realised. Effective methods for the prevention of corrosion of mild steel (MS) are still challenging research for industrial chemists. In the present work, MS samples in 1.0 M HCl medium were used to test the corrosion inhibition capacity of a metal-free phthalocyanine (Pc)-based discotic liquid crystal (DLC) using potentiodynamic and electrochemical impedance parameters. The phthalocyanine discotic liquid crystal (PcDLC) exhibited an excellent corrosion inhibition with a maximum inhibition efficiency of 89.61%. This superior ability was attributed to the strong adsorption of PcDLC on to ...
1791789861
Risk Factors and Clinical Aspects of Recurrent Invasive Cervical Carcinoma
J Obstet Gynecol India, 2012
Recurrence of cervical cancer is one of the important and plausible discussions in oncology especially in patients with advanced stages. The purpose of this study was to introduce probability invasive cervical carcinoma recurrence as well as determining characteristics and the prognostic factors of this entity. A retrospective study was designed to identify risk factors and pattern of uterine cervical carcinoma recurrence evaluating the outcome of 36 registered patients. Recurrence was defined based on clinical or para-clinical documentation over at least 6 months after complete remission following surgery or radiotherapy. Treatment consisted of a radiosurgical combination and exclusive radiotherapy. Mean age in selected patients is 54.8 ± 12.0 years. The p...
1791789861
Insulin resistance syndrome in postmenopausal women with cardiological syndrome X.
Heart, 1995
To determine whether postmenopausal women with cardiological syndrome X (chest pain and abnormal exercise electrocardiogram despite normal coronary angiography) exhibit disturbances in the full range of proposed components of the putative "insulin resistance syndrome".20 postmenopausal women with syndrome X and 20 healthy controls each underwent measurement of insulin resistance (by minimal model analysis of the intravenous glucose tolerance test), lipid, lipoprotein, and apolipoprotein concentrations, a range of haemostatic variables, serum uric acid concentration, and centrality of body fat distribution (by dual energy x ray absorptiometry).Women with syndrome X had higher fasting triglyceride concentrations than controls (median: 1.60 v 1.02 mmol/l, P < 0...
1791789861
Clinical Uses and Molecular Aspects of Ozone Therapy: A Review
OnLine Journal of Biological Sciences, 2020
Ozone was discovered over a hundred years ago and since then, it has been widely used in many areas, with the primary use as a disinfectant in various ways, but with applications in diverse conditions. More recently, the use of ozone has extended to other fronts, using it to treat different pathologies. Extensive studies have shown its effects, as well as the safety of its application in various modalities of use. Other studies showed its toxicity, which depends on the doses of use. Emerging evidence revealed that ozone also plays an important role in the wound healing and modulation of immune cells, describing the molecular pathways responsible for these actions and describing therapeutic actions in the treatment of wounds, pain, postoperative and infectiou...
1791789861
Pathological Changes of Tau Related to Alzheimer’s Disease
ACS Chem. Neurosci., 2018
Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia, is characterized by extracellular β-amyloid plaques and intracellular neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs), which are considered as major targets for AD therapies. However, no effective therapy is available to cure or prevent the progression of AD up until now. Accumulation of NFTs, which consist of abnormally hyperphosphorylated tau, is directly correlated with the degree of dementia in AD patients. Emerging evidence indicates that the prion-like seeding and spreading of tau pathology may be the key driver of AD. In the past decades, greater understanding of tau pathway reveals new targets for the development of specific therapies. Here, we review the recent research progress in the mechanism underlyi...
1791789861
Competitive adsorption phenomenon in shale gas displacement processes
RSC Adv., 2019
Displacement of methane (CH4) by injection gas is regarded as an effective way to exploit shale gas and sequestrate carbon dioxide (CO2) simultaneously. To remarkably enhance the rupture and extension of fractures, an original and comprehensive simplification for the real shale composition model is established to study the shale gas displacement by gas injection. In the present model, besides the consideration in the existence of organic matter in shale, the choice of silica as inorganic minerals is firstly taken into account considering its brittleness characteristic to meet the demand of fracture stretch. Based on the model, the displacement methane process and competitive adsorption behaviors were studied by using the grand canonical Monte Carlo (GCMC) an...
1791789861
Influence of pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound treatment on the frying behavior and quality of potato chips
Innovative Food Science & Emerging Technologies, 2021
The effect of pulsed electric field (PEF) and ultrasound (US) on the frying behavior of potato chips was investigated. For this purpose, a special fryer with a window was designed to enable the investigation of water evaporation by the characterization of bubble formation during frying. The number of water vapor bubbles and the bubble volume distribution were analyzed in order to gain an insight into heat and mass transfer affected by PEF and US treatment. Quality parameters of the potato chips such as moisture, fat and acrylamide content were measured. Overall, the results of this study show for the first time impacting effects on the frying process that can be achieved by combining PEF as a volumetric cell disintegration technology and ultrasound as a mean...
1791789861
Numerical and experimental investigation of a compound parabolic concentrator-capillary tube solar collector
Energy Conversion and Management, 2020
The paper reports numerical and experimental investigation of a compound parabolic concentrator-capillary tube solar collector (CPC-CSC). The capillary tube having an outer diameter 4 mm is used as the absorber, which reduces the size of the solar collector and achieves a concentration ratio of 4.22 in comparison with the same thickness 75 mm of a flat-plate solar collector. The horizontal CPCs separate the air layer into smaller cells, resulting in decrease in heat loss through the air layer. Details of the design and work principle of the new collector are described. Both experimental and numerical studies were carried out for the purpose of operating characteristics and thermal performance of the solar collector. The effect of solar irradiation intensity ...
1791789861
Research on the decoupling trend and mitigation potential of CO2 emissions from China's transport sector
Energy, 2019
The purpose of this paper is to study the decoupling status and mitigation potential of CO2 emissions from China's transport sector over the period 1991–2015. Firstly, this paper utilizes the Log-Mean Divisia Index (LMDI) technique to identify influencing factors, which govern CO2 emissions from China's transport sector. Over the study period, the CO2 coefficient effect (ΔCcft) was the main factor for decreasing CO2 emissions. However, the economic growth effect (ΔCgt) was the main factor for increasing CO2 emissions. Then, the decoupling indicator is also constructed based on the above influencing factors, which can be utilized to reflect the dependence degree of economic development on CO2 emissions from China's transport sector. During 1991–2015, th...
1791789861
Labour Institutions and Economic Growth: a Survey and a “Regulationist” Approach
Labour, 1993
Abstract. The paper argues that it is detrimental to assume perfect competition and total flexibility of labour markets in order to understand the intensity and stability of growth. Whereas development theories emphasize the impact of imperfect labour markets, this is not so for modern endogenous growth theories. By contrast, the régulation approaches (in the French meaning) both theoretically and empirically suggest that the transformations in labour institutions might have played a crucial role in the post World War II boom: an unprecedented division of labour associated with long-run labour relations contracts have enhanced the genuine Fordist growth model. Furthermore, international comparisons among OECD countries suggest that job regulations and activ...
1791789861
Serum Levels of OPG, RANKL, and RANKL/OPG Ratio in Patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Immunological Investigations, 2019
Objectives: To investigate the role of osteoprotegerin (OPG), receptor activator of nuclear factor-kB ligand (RANKL), and RANKL/OPG ratio in the pathogenesis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS).Methods: Studies that compared serum levels of OPG, RANKL, and RANKL/OPG ratio between AS patients and healthy controls were gathered. Pooled standardized mean differences (SMDs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated by the random-effects model.Results: Twenty studies containing 1592 AS patients and 1064 healthy controls were included in this meta-analysis. Serum levels of OPG, RANKL, and RANKL/OPG ratio in AS patients were significantly higher than that in normal controls (OPG: SMD = 0.401, 95%CI = 0.026–0.777, p = 0.036; RANKL: SMD = 1.116, 95%CI = 0.510�...
1791789860
Board Structure and Audit Committee Monitoring
Journal of Accounting, Auditing & Finance, 2015
Our study addresses two research questions. First, are audit fees related to the presence of common members in audit and compensation committees (committee overlap)? Second, are audit fees related to whether board membership is protected by the use of a staggered voting system (board classification)? Using a treatment effects model to control for endogeneity, we find a negative relationship between audit fees and committee overlap, which is consistent with the argument that committee overlap is associated with weak corporate governance and that in an environment with weak governance, monitoring efforts by the audit committee are similarly weak. We find a positive relationship between audit fees and board classification, indicating that firms with classified ...
1791789860
Large deformation simulation of anisotropic material using an updated Lagrangian finite element method
Computer Methods in Applied Mechanics and Engineering, 2007
Large deformation finite element (FE) simulations of anisotropic material often show slow convergence or break down with increasing anisotropy and deformation. Large deformations are generally approximated by multiple small linearised steps. This leads to poor performance and contradicting formulations. Here, a new conceptually simple scheme was implemented in an updated Lagrange formulation. An appropriate decomposition of the deformation gradient results in constitutive relations defined in invariant tensors. Consistent tangent matrices are given for a linearly elastic fibre model and for a generalised anisotropic material. The simulations are robust, showing quadratic convergence for arbitrary degrees of anisotropy and arbitrary deformations with strain i...
1791789860
HBV upregulates TNNT1 expression through PI3K/AKT/mTOR-c-Myc axis, which in turn induces EMT and liver fibrosis in mice
Cellular Signalling, 2025
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a major etiological factor in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Despite extensive research efforts, the precise molecular mechanisms and critical host factors driving HBV-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), liver fibrosis and hepatocarcinogenesis remain to be explored. Emerging evidence has identified aberrant expression of Troponin T1 (TNNT1) in malignancies, implicating its potential role in HCC progression. However, the specific role and mechanism of TNNT1 in HBV-associated HCC remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that TNNT1 expression is markedly upregulated in HBV-positive HCC tissues, HBV infection/replication cell models and AAV-HBV1.3-infected mouse models. Mechanistically, H...
