A model for the decision-maker preferences in a polymer extrusion process

The NN-DM is a method developed to find a mathematical model that represents the Decision-Maker (DM) by employing an artificial neural network (NN) in situations in which the preferences can be represented by a utility function. This paper presents further developments to the NN-DM method to find a model in a polymer extrusion process. The form of the DM's interaction, the domain assignment, the ranking process, and the performance assessment are adapted to a real context of a multi-objective optimization problem followed by a design decision. The DM is then requested to fill a matrix expressing his preferences considering pairwise comparisons expressing ordinal relations only. Two multi-objective optimization problems are tested, each one with three estimates of different Pareto-optimal fronts. The adapted NN-DM method is able to provide a model which sorts the available solutions from the best to the worst according to the DM's preferences.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio

Knowledge and self-efficacy among healthcare providers towards novel tobacco products in Japan

Several new tobacco products, including e-cigarettes and heated tobacco products (HTPs), have become highly prevalent in Japan. As safety data continues to evolve, healthcare providers are considered important sources for product use, yet little is known about provider knowledge or self-efficacy to counsel patient about novel tobacco product use. This cross-sectional study used data from a Japanese Association of Smoking Control Science (JASCS) online survey of physicians, pharmacists, nurses, and public health practitioners (N = 277) to assess provider knowledge of novel tobacco products and self-efficacy to counsel patients about product use. Correlates of knowledge and self-efficacy were also assessed. More than half the sample had received previous training in treating tobacco use, but 62% of respondents had no knowledge of HTPs; 80% of respondents indicated that they occasionally or always provide smoking cessation support. Overall knowledge of HTPs was low (41.4% correct) with higher knowledge for HTPs containing nicotine (89% correct) vs. HTPs emitting no carbon monoxide (25%). Self-efficacy to counsel patients about novel tobacco products was low on a scale ranging from 10 to 70 (Mean = 31.2; Standard Deviation = 16.7). Greater knowledge of HTPs was associated with male gender, higher rates of training at JASCS and previous learning about HTPs at JASCS. (p < 0.05). The results suggested that healthcare providers' knowledge and self-efficacy regarding novel tobacco products remains low in Japan, but additional training may improve it

Biermann Mechanism in Primordial Supernova Remnant and Seed Magnetic Fields

We study generation of magnetic fields by the Biermann mechanism in the pair-instability supernovae explosions of first stars. The Biermann mechanism produces magnetic fields in the shocked region between the bubble and interstellar medium (ISM), even if magnetic fields are absent initially. We perform a series of two-dimensional magnetohydrodynamic simulations with the Biermann term and estimate the amplitude and total energy of the produced magnetic fields. We find that magnetic fields with amplitude $10^{-14}-10^{-17}$ G are generated inside the bubble, though the amount of magnetic fields generated depend on specific values of initial conditions. This corresponds to magnetic fields of $10^{28}-10^{31}$ erg per each supernova remnant, which is strong enough to be the seed magnetic field for galactic and/or interstellar dynamo.Comment: 12 pages, 3 figure

A Suzaku Observation of the Low-Ionization Fe-Line Emission from RCW 86

The newly operational X-ray satellite Suzaku observed the southwestern quadrant of the supernova remnant (SNR) RCW 86 in February 2006 to study the nature of the 6.4 keV emission line first detected with the Advanced Satellite for Cosmology and Astronomy (ASCA). The new data confirm the existence of the line, localizing it for the first time; most of the line emission is adjacent and interior to the forward shock and not at the locus of the continuum hard emission. We also report the first detection of a 7.1 keV line that we interpret as the K-beta emission from low-ionization iron. The Fe-K line features are consistent with a non-equilibrium plasma of Fe-rich ejecta with n_{e}t <~ 10^9 cm^-3 s and kT_{e} ~ 5 keV. This combination of low n_{e}t and high kT_{e} suggests collisionless electron heating in an SNR shock. The Fe K-alpha line shows evidence for intrinsic broadening, with a width of 47 (34--59) eV (99% error region). The difference of the spatial distributions of the hard continuum above 3 keV and the Fe-K line emission support a synchrotron origin for the hard continuum.Comment: 6 pages with 6 figures. Accepted for PASJ Suzaku Special Issue (vo. 58, sp.1

Calibration of the AKARI Far-Infrared Imaging Fourier Transform Spectrometer

The Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) onboard the AKARI satellite has a spectroscopic capability provided by a Fourier transform spectrometer (FIS-FTS). FIS-FTS is the first space-borne imaging FTS dedicated to far-infrared astronomical observations. We describe the calibration process of the FIS-FTS and discuss its accuracy and reliability. The calibration is based on the observational data of bright astronomical sources as well as two instrumental sources. We have compared the FIS-FTS spectra with the spectra obtained from the Long Wavelength Spectrometer (LWS) of the Infrared Space Observatory (ISO) having a similar spectral coverage. The present calibration method accurately reproduces the spectra of several solar system objects having a reliable spectral model. Under this condition the relative uncertainty of the calibration of the continuum is estimated to be $\pm$ 15% for SW, $\pm$ 10% for 70-85 cm^(-1) of LW, and $\pm$ 20% for 60-70 cm^(-1) of LW; and the absolute uncertainty is estimated to be +35/-55% for SW, +35/-55% for 70-85 cm^(-1) of LW, and +40/-60% for 60-70 cm^(-1) of LW. These values are confirmed by comparison with theoretical models and previous observations by the ISO/LWS.Comment: 22 pages, 10 figure

Retroviral replicating vector-mediated gene therapy achieves long-term control of tumor recurrence and leads to durable anticancer immunity.

BackgroundProdrug-activator gene therapy with Toca 511, a tumor-selective retroviral replicating vector (RRV) encoding yeast cytosine deaminase, is being evaluated in recurrent high-grade glioma patients. Nonlytic retroviral infection leads to permanent integration of RRV into the cancer cell genome, converting infected cancer cell and progeny into stable vector producer cells, enabling ongoing transduction and viral persistence within tumors. Cytosine deaminase in infected tumor cells converts the antifungal prodrug 5-fluorocytosine into the anticancer drug 5-fluorouracil, mediating local tumor destruction without significant systemic adverse effects.MethodsHere we investigated mechanisms underlying the therapeutic efficacy of this approach in orthotopic brain tumor models, employing both human glioma xenografts in immunodeficient hosts and syngeneic murine gliomas in immunocompetent hosts.ResultsIn both models, a single injection of replicating vector followed by prodrug administration achieved long-term survival benefit. In the immunodeficient model, tumors recurred repeatedly, but bioluminescence imaging of tumors enabled tailored scheduling of multicycle prodrug administration, continued control of disease burden, and long-term survival. In the immunocompetent model, complete loss of tumor signal was observed after only 1-2 cycles of prodrug, followed by long-term survival without recurrence for &gt;300 days despite discontinuation of prodrug. Long-term survivors rejected challenge with uninfected glioma cells, indicating immunological responses against native tumor antigens, and immune cell depletion showed a critical role for CD4+ T cells.ConclusionThese results support dual mechanisms of action contributing to the efficacy of RRV-mediated prodrug-activator gene therapy: long-term tumor control by prodrug conversion-mediated cytoreduction, and induction of antitumor immunity

Modulation of Gene Expression by Human Cytosolic tRNase ZL through 5′-Half-tRNA

A long form (tRNase ZL) of tRNA 3′ processing endoribonuclease (tRNase Z, or 3′ tRNase) can cleave any target RNA at any desired site under the direction of artificial small guide RNA (sgRNA) that mimics a 5′-half portion of tRNA. Based on this enzymatic property, a gene silencing technology has been developed, in which a specific mRNA level can be downregulated by introducing into cells a synthetic 5′-half-tRNA that is designed to form a pre-tRNA-like complex with a part of the mRNA. Recently 5′-half-tRNA fragments have been reported to exist stably in various types of cells, although little is know about their physiological roles. We were curious to know if endogenous 5′-half-tRNA works as sgRNA for tRNase ZL in the cells. Here we show that human cytosolic tRNase ZL modulates gene expression through 5′-half-tRNA. We found that 5′-half-tRNAGlu, which co-immunoprecipitates with tRNase ZL, exists predominantly in the cytoplasm, functions as sgRNA in vitro, and downregulates the level of a luciferase mRNA containing its target sequence in human kidney 293 cells. We also demonstrated that the PPM1F mRNA is one of the genuine targets of tRNase ZL guided by 5′-half-tRNAGlu. Furthermore, the DNA microarray data suggested that tRNase ZL is likely to be involved in the p53 signaling pathway and apoptosis

The Effect of Urbanization on Temperature Indices in the Philippines

This paper presents a comprehensive analysis of the effect of urbanization on the surface air temperature (SAT) from 1951 to 2018 in the Philippines. The daily minimum temperature (Tmin) and daily maximum temperature (Tmax) records from 34 meteorological stations were used to derive extreme temperature indices. These stations were then classified as urban or rural based on satellite night-lights. The results showed a significant difference in the SAT trends between urban and rural stations, indicative of the effect of urbanization in the country. Larger and more significant warming trends were observed in indices related to Tmin than those related to Tmax. In particular, the effects of urbanization were significant in the annual index series of Tmin, diurnal temperature range, minimum Tmin, percentage of days when Tmin was less than the 10th percentile (TN10p), percentage of days when Tmin was greater than 90th percentile (TN90p), and the number of coldest nights. The effects of urbanization were not as clear on the index series of maximum Tmax (TXx), minimum Tmax (TXn), percentage of days when Tmax was less than 10th percentile (TX10p), and the number of hottest days. The effects of urbanization on the annual series of extreme temperature indices were statistically significant at the 95% confidence level, with the exception of Tmax, TXn, TXx, TX10p, and the number of hottest days. Further analysis revealed that the effect of urbanization was the greatest during the DJF (December–January–February) season. These findings serve as a baseline study that focuses on the countrywide effect of urbanization on SAT trends in the Philippines

Generation of mouse models for type 1 diabetes by selective depletion of pancreatic beta cells using toxin receptor-mediated cell knockout

AbstractBy using the toxin receptor-mediated cell knockout (TRECK) method, we have generated two transgenic (Tg) murine lines that model type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetes. The first strain, C.B-17/Icr-Prkdcscid/Prkdcscid-INS-TRECK-Tg, carries the diphtheria toxin receptor (hDTR) driven by the human insulin gene promoter, while the other strain, C57BL/6-ins2(BAC)-TRECK-Tg, expresses hDTR cDNA under the control of the mouse insulin II gene promoter. With regard to the C.B-17/Icr-Prkdcscid/Prkdcscid-INS-TRECK-Tg strain, only one of three Tg strains exhibited proper expression of hDTR in pancreatic β cells. By contrast, hDTR was expressed in the pancreatic β cells of all four of the generated C57BL/6-ins2(BAC)-TRECK-Tg strains. Hyperglycemia, severe ablation of pancreatic β cells and depletion of serum insulin were observed within 3days after the administration of diphtheria toxin (DT) in these Tg mice. Subcutaneous injection of a suitable dosage of insulin was sufficient for recovery from hyperglycemia in all of the examined strains. Using the C.B-17/Icr-Prkdcscid/Prkdcscid-INS-TRECK-Tg model, we tried to perform regenerative therapeutic approaches: allogeneic transplantation of pancreatic islet cells from C57BL/6 and xenogeneic transplantation of CD34+ human umbilical cord blood cells. Both approaches successfully rescued C.B-17/Icr-Prkdcscid/Prkdcscid-INS-TRECK-Tg mice from hyperglycemia caused by DT administration. The high specificity with which DT causes depletion in pancreatic β cells of these Tg mice is highly useful for diabetogenic research

Dynamical aspects of quantum entanglement for weakly coupled kicked tops

We investigate how the dynamical production of quantum entanglement for weakly coupled, composite quantum systems is influenced by the chaotic dynamics of the corresponding classical system, using coupled kicked tops. The linear entropy for the subsystem (a kicked top) is employed as a measure of entanglement. A perturbative formula for the entanglement production rate is derived. The formula contains a correlation function that can be evaluated only from the information of uncoupled tops. Using this expression and the assumption that the correlation function decays exponentially which is plausible for chaotic tops, it is shown that {\it the increment of the strength of chaos does not enhance the production rate of entanglement} when the coupling is weak enough and the subsystems (kicked tops) are strongly chaotic. The result is confirmed by numerical experiments. The perturbative approach is also applied to a weakly chaotic region, where tori and chaotic sea coexist in the corresponding classical phase space, to reexamine a recent numerical study that suggests an intimate relationship between the linear stability of the corresponding classical trajectory and the entanglement production rate.Comment: 16 pages, 11 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.