Using Fuzzy Linear Regression to Estimate Relationship between Forest Fires and Meteorological Conditions

Each year, millions of hectares of forest land are destroyed by fires causing great financial loss and ecological damage. In this paper, our aim is to study the effect of the variation of meteorological conditions on the total burned area in hectares, by using fuzzy linear regression analysis based on Tanaka’s approaches. The total burned area is considered a dependent variable. Air temperature (in ºC), relative humidity (in %), wind speed (in km/h) and rainfall (in mm/m2 ) are considered to be independent variables. The relationship between input and output data is estimated using data provided in data mining literature. In our study, we apply fuzzy regression, using crisp/fuzzy input data and fuzzy output data expressed in linguistic terms

Improving targeted treatment in early rheumatoid and undifferentiated arthritis

The Induction therapy with Methotrexate and Prednisone in Rheumatoid Or Very Early arthritic Disease (IMPROVED)-study is a multicentre two-step randomized single-blinded clinical trial in 610 early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and undifferentiated arthritis (UA) patients. Intensive induction therapy (methotrexate (MTX) and a tapered high dose of prednisone) was started in the first 4 months. Treatment adjustments aimed at clinical remission (Disease Activity Score (DAS)After 4 months 61% was in DAS-remission (early DAS-remission group). After 5 years, 48% were in DAS-remission and 22% in drug-free remission (DFR). Patients in early DAS-remission group had better functional ability and more often achieved DAS-remission and DFR than patients that were randomized, without differences between the arms. UA patients had lower DAS and less autoantibody positivity at baseline compared to the RA patients. DAS-remission percentages were comparable between RA and UA patients, but more UA patients did achieve DFR (33% vs 19%). Autoantibody (rheumatoid factor (RF) and anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA)) negative patients more often achieved DFR.Reumafonds, AbbVie B.V., Pfizer B.V., UCB Pharma B.V., Chipsoft B.V., Alrijne ZorggroepLUMC / Geneeskunde Repositoriu

Design, synthesis and biological activity of selective hCAs inhibitors based on 2-(benzylsulfinyl)benzoic acid scaffold

A large library of derivatives based on the scaffold of 2-(benzylsulfinyl)benzoic acid were synthesised and tested as atypical inhibitors against four different isoforms of human carbonic anhydrase (hCA I, II, IX and XII, EC 4.2.1.1). The exploration of the chemical space around the main functional groups led to the discovery of selective hCA IX inhibitors in the micromolar/nanomolar range, thus establishing robust structure-activity relationships within this versatile scaffold. HPLC separation of some selected chiral compounds and biological evaluation of the corresponding enantiomers was performed along with molecular modelling studies on the most active derivatives

An analysis of fifty-year surveillance of food related diseases in Turkey

Occurrence rate and magnitude of food-related diseases (FRD) are of global concern causing socio-economic issues, and thus, they must be continuously monitored. The objectives of the study were to determine occurrence rate and trends of FRD in Turkey from 1960 to 2010 in parallel to increased rate of population growth. Recorded incidents of foodborne illnesses/diseases were obtained as annual reports and expressed as disease/population rate in order to determine trends of each disease. Long-term evaluations of bacillary dysentery (BD), brucellosis, gastrointestinal diarrhea (GD), meningitis infections, meningitis and central nervous system infections (MCNSI), other bacterial infections, other infections and parasite-caused diseases (OIPCD), other virus-caused infections, paratyphoid, and typhoid showed different trends in terms of occurrence rate but an overall decrease in the occurrence rates of BD, GD, OIPCD, and typhoid

Experimental Control and Characterization of Autophagy in Drosophila

Insects such as the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster, which fundamentally reorganize their body plan during metamorphosis, make extensive use of autophagy for their normal development and physiology. In the fruit fly, the hepatic/adipose organ known as the fat body accumulates nutrient stores during the larval feeding stage. Upon entering metamorphosis, as well as in response to starvation, these nutrients are mobilized through a massive induction of autophagy, providing support to other tissues and organs during periods of nutrient deprivation. High levels of autophagy are also observed in larval tissues destined for elimination, such as the salivary glands and larval gut. Drosophila is emerging as an important system for studying the functions and regulation of autophagy in an in vivo setting. In this chapter we describe reagents and methods for monitoring autophagy in Drosophila, focusing on the larval fat body. We also describe methods for experimentally activating and inhibiting autophagy in this system and discuss the potential for genetic analysis in Drosophila to identify novel genes involved in autophagy

Biophysical and enzymatic properties of aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase AadA6 from Pseudomonas aeruginosa

AbstractThe gene coding for the aminoglycoside adenylyltransferase (aadA6) from a clinical isolate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3)pLysS. The overexpressed enzyme (AadA6, 281 amino-acid residues) and a carboxy-terminal truncated variant molecule ([1-264]AadA6) were purified to near homogeneity and characterized. Light scattering experiments conducted under low ionic strength supported equilibrium between monomeric and homodimeric arrangements of the enzyme subunits. Circular Dichroism spectropolarimetry indicated a close structural relation to adenylate kinases. Both forms modified covalently the aminoglycosides streptomycin and spectinomycin. The enzyme required at least 5mM MgCl2 for normal Michaelis–Menten kinetics. Streptomycin exhibited a strong substrate inhibition effect at 1mM MgCl2. The truncated 17 residues at the C-terminus have little influence on protein folding, whereas they have a positive effect on the enzymic activity and stabilize dimers at high protein concentrations (>100μM). Homology modelling and docking based on known crystal structures yielded models of the central ternary complex of monomeric AadA6 with ATP and streptomycin or spectinomycin

Omzien in verwondering: interim-advies Adviescommissie uitvoering toeslagen

The Legitimacy and Effectiveness of Law & Governance in a World of Multilevel Jurisdiction

Omzien in verwondering 2. Eindadvies Adviescommissie uitvoering toeslagen

The Legitimacy and Effectiveness of Law & Governance in a World of Multilevel Jurisdiction