Detection of anomalies in software architecture with connectors

AbstractThis paper describes an approach to detecting anomalies in a software architectural style that is structured with components and connectors between the components. Each component is designed with tasks (concurrent or active objects), connectors between tasks, and passive objects accessed by tasks. Anomalies in the software architecture are detected twofold by each Component Monitor, which supervises objects in a component, and by a System Monitor, which monitors message communications between components. The monitors encapsulate the specifications of objects being monitored, which are represented using statecharts. The execution of statecharts in the monitors depends on notification messages from connectors between tasks, passive objects accessed by tasks in a component, and connectors between components

The effect of meditation on brain structure: cortical thickness mapping and diffusion tensor imaging

A convergent line of neuroscientific evidence suggests that meditation alters the functional and structural plasticity of distributed neural processes underlying attention and emotion. The purpose of this study was to examine the brain structural differences between a well-matched sample of long-term meditators and controls. We employed whole-brain cortical thickness analysis based on magnetic resonance imaging, and diffusion tensor imaging to quantify white matter integrity in the brains of 46 experienced meditators compared with 46 matched meditation-naïve volunteers. Meditators, compared with controls, showed significantly greater cortical thickness in the anterior regions of the brain, located in frontal and temporal areas, including the medial prefrontal cortex, superior frontal cortex, temporal pole and the middle and interior temporal cortices. Significantly thinner cortical thickness was found in the posterior regions of the brain, located in the parietal and occipital areas, including the postcentral cortex, inferior parietal cortex, middle occipital cortex and posterior cingulate cortex. Moreover, in the region adjacent to the medial prefrontal cortex, both higher fractional anisotropy values and greater cortical thickness were observed. Our findings suggest that long-term meditators have structural differences in both gray and white matter

Anomalous Si-based composite anode design by densification and coating strategies for practical applications in Li-ion batteries

Si-based Li-ion battery (LIB) anode materials often possess porous structures to accommodate the intrinsic volumetric expansion of Si upon cycling. However, the porous structure may cause poor initial coulombic efficiency (ICE), inadequate cycle life due to the continuous generation of a solid-electrolyte interface, and incompatibility with calendaring processes. To overcome these issues, we designed an optimized Si/C (P?Si/C) composite anode consisting of Si nanoparticles, graphite, and pitch, with a highly densified structure, suppressing Si expansion and enabling compatibility with the calendaring process. To further enhance the cycle life, the surface of the P?Si/C composite was modified by chemical vapor deposition using CH4 gas (C?Si/C). The P?Si/C anode exhibited a high ICE of 88.0% with a rapid surge up to 99.0% after only the 4th cycle. The C?Si/C anode presented an improved capacity retention of 49.5% after the 39th cycle, compared with 46.0% for the P?Si/C anode after the 31st cycle, while maintaining the same ICE. Moreover, anodes prepared with 8 wt% P?Si/ C or C?Si/C and 92 wt% graphite (m-P-Si/C and m-C-Si/C, respectively) showed higher capacity retentions compared with pure Si/C anodes. The m-C-Si/C anode exhibited a higher capacity retention of 80.1% after the 40th cycle, compared with 71.2% for the m-P-Si/C anode. The m-C-Si/C anode also displayed an extremely low expansion rate and the majority of the expansion was elastically recovered. This C?Si/C composite provided a controllable means to modify the performance of LIBs by simple mixing with graphite

Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index as a prognostic marker in patients with extensive-stage disease small cell lung cancer: Results from a randomized controlled trial

Background Clinical impact of the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) in patients with extensive-stage disease small cell lung cancer (ED-SCLC) have not previously been reported. Methods This study analyzed 352 patients enrolled in a previous randomized phase III trial comparing the efficacy of irinotecan plus cisplatin with that of etoposide plus cisplatin as the first-line therapy for ED-SCLC. GNRI values were calculated using serum albumin levels and actual and ideal bodyweights. Patients with a GNRI > 98, 92-98, and <92 were grouped into no, low, and moderate/major risk groups, respectively. Results The objective response rates were 63.2%, 52.6%, and 49.2% in the no, low, and moderate/major risk groups, respectively (P = 0.024). The median progression-free survival (PFS) was shorter in patients with a lower GNRI than in those with a higher GNRI (no vs. low vs. moderate/major risk group; 6.5 vs. 5.8 vs. 5.9 months, respectively; P = 0.028). There were significant differences in median overall survival (OS) according to GNRI (no vs. low vs. moderate/major risk group; 13.2 vs. 10.3 vs. 8.4 months, respectively; P < 0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that being in the moderate/major risk group was an independent poor prognostic factor for PFS (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.300, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.012-1.670; P = 0.040) and OS (HR: 1.539; 95% CI: 1.069-2.216; P = 0.020). Conclusions This prospective study shows that a low GNRI value was associated with a poor prognosis, and it supports the relationship between systemic inflammation, nutritional status, and clinical outcomes in patients with ED-SCLC.Key points Significant findings of the study The lower GNRI group had a low response rate to chemotherapy for ED-SCLC. The HRs for PFS and OS were 1.300 and 1.539 in the patients with GNRI < 92. What this study adds Low GNRI is associated with poor prognosis in ED-SCLC.

Exosomes neutralize synaptic-plasticity-disrupting activity of Aβ assemblies in vivo

Background: Exosomes, small extracellular vesicles of endosomal origin, have been suggested to be involved in both the metabolism and aggregation of Alzheimer’s disease (AD)-associated amyloid β-protein (Aβ). Despite their ubiquitous presence and the inclusion of components which can potentially interact with Aβ, the role of exosomes in regulating synaptic dysfunction induced by Aβ has not been explored. Results: We here provide in vivo evidence that exosomes derived from N2a cells or human cerebrospinal fluid can abrogate the synaptic-plasticity-disrupting activity of both synthetic and AD brain-derived Aβ. Mechanistically, this effect involves sequestration of synaptotoxic Aβ assemblies by exosomal surface proteins such as PrPC rather than Aβ proteolysis. Conclusions: These data suggest that exosomes can counteract the inhibitory action of Aβ, which contributes to perpetual capability for synaptic plasticity

Sicyos angulatus ameliorates atherosclerosis through downregulation of aortic inflammatory responses in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Sicyos angulatus (SA), a summer annual vine originating from Northeastern USA, is a widely distributed noxious invasive plant. However, the clinical application of SA has not been investigated previously. The purpose of present study was to determine the effects of SA on atherosclerosis and its underlying mechanism. Atherosclerosis was induced by feeding apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) mice with an atherogenic diet for 8 weeks. SA was administered daily by oral gavage during induction of atherosclerosis. ApoE(-/-) mice treated with SA demonstrated a significant reduction in atherosclerotic plaque area in the whole aorta and aortic sinus compared with vehicle-treated mice. The plasma lipid profiles, including triglyceride, total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein, were not affected by SA administration. Of note, gene expression levels of proatherogenic cytokines including tumor necrosis factor alpha (Tnf alpha) and interleukin-6 (Il-6) were significantly decreased in the aorta of SA administered apoE(-/-) mice. In lipopolysaccharide-stimulated RAW 264.7 macrophage cells, SA also inhibited the induction Tnfa, Il-6 and Il-1 beta in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, gene expression levels of endothelial cell adhesion molecules, including vascular cell adhesion protein 1 and intercellular adhesion molecule 1 were reduced in the aorta of apoE(-/-) mice treated with SA, which was followed by diminished aortic infiltration of monocytes/macrophages. In conclusion, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to demonstrate that SA is able to suppress the development of atherosclerosis by inhibiting the aortic expression of proinflammatory factors in atherogenic diet-fed apoE(-/-) mice. The present study may provide novel insights into the application of the environmentally problematic weed SA as a therapeutically effective natural product for preventing atherosclerosis.N

Polypoid Endobronchial Lung Cyst with Bronchoscopic Removal : A Case Report

Pulmonary bronchogenic cyst in adults is rare and the typical appearance is a sharply circumscribed, round or oval nodule or mass, usually in the medial third of the lungs. Bronchial polyps are rare histopathologically distinct nonneoplastic endobronchial lesions and are classified as multiple papillomas, solitary papillomas, and inflammatory polyps. We herein report a patient with polypoid endobronchial lung cyst. A 68-yr-old woman presented with a discomfort and pain in the right upper chest of four weeks??duration. Chest radiography revealed a cystic lesion in the right upper lung. Computed tomography revealed a 4×5 cm sized large cyst. Neither enlarged mediastinal lymph nodes nor extrabronchial involvements were observed. Flexible bronchoscopy revealed a peduncular polyp about 2 cm in length originating from the anterior segment of right upper lung. After bronchoscopic removal of polyp, cystic lesion of the right upper lung disappeared

The burden and characteristics of tuberculosis/human immunodeficiency virus (TB/HIV) in South Korea: a study from a population database and a survey

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although, in South Korea, human immunodeficiency virus/acquired immunodeficiency syndrome(HIV/AIDS) keeps increasing and tuberculosis(TB) burden is still significant, there have been few reports on TB/HIV cases. In this study, we investigated the burden and characteristics of TB/HIV patients in South Korea, an area with intermediate burden of TB and a low prevalent area with HIV/AIDS.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We identified patients with TB and cases with HIV between January 1 2001 and December 31 2005, from nationwide reporting system (TBnet and HIV/AIDS registry) through an electronic record linkage method. A questionnaire survey was also conducted and determined the rate of diagnosis of HIV among TB cases in public health units in 2005.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The number of cases with both HIV and TB was 137 (0.07% among 197,562 TB cases) and the newly detected TB/HIV cases per 100,000 population was increasing annually: 2001, 0.025; 2002, 0.031; 2003, 0.025; 2004, 0.071; 2005, 0.095. Males between 20 and 59 years of age accounted for 87.6% of TB/HIV patients. Compared with patients with TB alone, those with TB/HIV had a higher percentage of extrapulmonary TB (8.0% vs 19.0%; p < 0.0001). The standardized prevalence ratio (SPR) of HIV among patients with TB was 18.46 (95% CI, 15.50-21.83). SPR of HIV among male TB patients aged 20-59 and extrapulmonary TB cases was 39.64 (95% CI, 32.87-47.40) and 43.21 (95% CI, 28.22-63.31) respectively. Through a questionnaire survey of public health units, six patients (0.08%) were confirmed as having HIV among 7,871 TB patients in public health centers in 2005, which is similar to the result from the study through nationwide reporting systems.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prevalence rate of TB/HIV patients is still low but increasing in South Korea. Physicians should consider performing HIV tests among TB patients, especially in higher-risk groups, such as young males with extrapulmonary TB in South Korea.</p