631 research outputs found
Molecules and linearly ordered ideals of MV-algebras
We show that an ideal of an -algebra is linearly ordered if and only if every non-zero element of is a molecule. The set of molecules of is contained in where is the set of all elements such that is idempotent. It is shown that is weakly essential if and only if Connections are shown among the classes of ideals that have various combinations of the properties of being implicative, essential, weakly essential, maximal or prime
Role of Remodelling in Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis: an Evaluation of Osteopontin Level
Introduction.Though many clinicians who deal with spinal deformity do understand the meaning of idiopathic scoliosis, answer regarding its cause remains an enigma. Better understanding concerning its etiopathology should improve clinicians' ability to deal with this condition, to prevent its occurrence, to prevent the progression, to develop new treatment modality and to predict prognosis. Previous researches have shown that osteopontin had its role in development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and its severity progression. This study is intended to evaluate the association between osteopontin plasma levels with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis as part of the effort to understand the pathomechanism related to spinal asymmetrical growth, leading to development of adolescent idiopathic scoliosis. Materials and methods. Twenty five healthy adolescents and twenty two adolescents with idiopathic scolisis were enrolled in the study. They had their blood measured for osteopontin level. The measurements were conducted by quantitative enzyme immunoassay technique. Osteopontin level between groups was compared using student t-test. Correlation test was performed to evaluate the corrleation between osteopontin and severity of the scoliosis, skeletal maturity, and age.Results.The study showed that mean osteopontin level was increased in adolescent with idiopathic scoliosis compared to healthy adolescent. (175.4 ± 10.7 ng/ml versus 141.1 ± 83.8 ng/ml respectively). Severe scoliosis (above 45 degrees) had highest osteopontin plasma level (225.4 ± 109.3 ng/ml) while osteopontin level in adolescent with mild degree scoliosis and healthy control was 103.1 ± 45.0 ng/ml and 141.1 ± 83.8 ng/ml respectively. Osteopontin level had strong negative correlation to skeletal maturity and age (r = - 0.82, p = 0.00 and r = - 0.82, p = 0.00, respectively). Osteopontin level in scoliotic patients increased significantly in growth spurt period (257.4 ± 87.1 ng/ml, p < 0.05).Conclusions.Osteopontin plasma level was higher in adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients compared to healthy control. The increased was significant during growth spurt period and in severe scoliosis. They indicate that adolescent idiopathic scoliosis patients experience higher degree of bone remodeling which lead to susceptible to spinal deformity in the presence of asymmetrical extraskeletal forces. Correlation between osteopontin plasma level and skeletal maturity and age might prospect this parameter to be used as a tool to determine the prognosis of scoliosis
Making the invisible visible : the availability and desirability of adherence data in routine CF care– findings from a national questionnaire survey
Background: Inhaled medications for cystic fibrosis (CF) are effective but adherence is low. Clinicians find it difficult to estimate how much treatment people with CF (PWCF) take, whilst objective adherence measurement demonstrates that patients are poorly calibrated with a tendency to over-estimate actual adherence. The diagnostic approach to a PWCF with deteriorating clinical status and very low adherence is likely to be different to the approach to a deteriorating patient with optimal adherence. Access to objective adherence data in routine consultations could help to overcome diagnostic challenges for clinicians and people with CF. Attitudes of clinicians to the use and importance of routinely available adherence data is unknown.
Methods: We conducted an online questionnaire survey with UK CF centres. We asked five questions relating to the current use and perception of objective measurements of adherence in routine care.
Results: A total of eight CF centres completed the questionnaire. Few of the responding centres have adherence data readily available in routine clinics (13% of centres use medicines possession ratio; of centres with access to I-nebs® it was estimated that 17% of patients had I-neb data regularly available in clinics). All centres considered the availability of objectively measured adherence data to be important. Respondents identified that systems developed to provide adherence data in clinical practice must provide data to both clinicians and patients that is readily understood and easy to use.
Conclusions: Centres perceived the availability of adherence data in routine care to be important but objective measures of adherence is rarely available at present
Negative feedback control of jasmonate signaling by an alternative splice variant of JAZ10
The plant hormone jasmonate (JA) activates gene expression by promoting ubiquitin-dependent degradation of JAZ transcriptional repressor proteins. A key feature of all JAZ proteins is the highly conserved Jas motif, which mediates both JAZ degradation and JAZ binding to the transcription factor MYC2. Rapid expression of JAZ genes in response to JA is thought to attenuate JA responses, but little is known about the mechanisms by which newly synthesized JAZ proteins exert repression in the presence of the hormone. Here, we show that desensitization to JA is mediated by an alternative splice variant (JAZ10.4) of JAZ10 that lacks the Jas motif. Unbiased protein-protein interaction screens identified three related bHLH transcription factors (MYC2, MYC3, and MYC4) and the co-repressor NINJA as JAZ10.4-binding partners. We show that the N-terminal region of JAZ10.4 contains a cryptic MYC2-binding site that resembles the Jas motif, and that the ZIM motif of JAZ10.4 functions as a transferable repressor domain whose activity is associated with recruitment of NINJA. Functional studies showed that expression of JAZ10.4 from the native JAZ10 promoter complemented the JA-hypersensitive phenotype of a jaz10 mutant. Moreover, treatment of these complemented lines with JA resulted in rapid accumulation of JAZ10.4 protein. Our results provide an explanation for how the unique domain architecture of JAZ10.4 links transcription factors to a co-repressor complex, and suggest how JA-induced transcription and alternative splicing of JAZ10 pre-mRNA creates a regulatory circuit to attenuate JA responses.Fil: Moreno, Javier Edgardo. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral. Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Agrobiotecnología del Litoral; Argentina. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Shyu, Christine. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Campos, Marcelo L.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Patel, Lalita C.. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Chung, Hoo Sun. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Yao, Jian. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: He, Sheng Hang. Michigan State University; Estados UnidosFil: Howe, Gregg A.. Michigan State University; Estados Unido
The Potential Dangers of Artificial Intelligence for Radiology and Radiologists
With the advent of artificial intelligence (AI) across many fields and subspecialties, there are considerable expectations for transformative impact. However, there are also concerns regarding the potential abuse of AI. Many scientists have been worried about the dangers of AI leading to “biased” conclusions, in part because of the enthusiasm of the inventor or overenthusiasm among the general public. Here, though, we consider some scenarios in which people may intend to cause potential errors within data sets of analyzed information, resulting in incorrect conclusions and leading to potential problems with patient care and outcomes
Design and optimization of index-guiding photonic crystal fiber gas sensor
Globalization is becoming an important issue for most businesses in the world. Since globalization changes business trends and shortens product life cycles, it requires companies to be more innovative in developing new ideas, products and processes. Clustering is one of ways to promote innovation by facilitating sharing information and ideas between firms, attracting buyers and suppliers, and providing opportunities for joint training. Many researches in developed countries found that the proximity between companies facilitated collaboration and provided a more conducive environment for R&D and knowledge sharing which can develop culture of entrepreneurship and innovation. Then, the success of clusters in developed countries has led many government and companies to establish new clusters.Since products from China have been dominated Indonesia's market share with lower price, it is very difficult for Indonesian Small and Medium Enterprises to compete with lower price also. Therefore, to face the competition, innovation is perhaps as an alternative strategy for Indonesian SMEs. In facts, more than 50% of small and medium enterprises in Indonesia are located in clusters and most of them are located in Java, Bali and Nusa Tenggara. Even though they located in cluster but their innovations still very low and judging from technology perspective, most of them have low level of technologies and still remain in the underdeveloped stage. Therefore, in this research, the author tries to find (1). To what extend do cluster Indonesia promote innovation, (2). To find the reasons why clusters in Indonesia has not been working well in promoting innovation and (3). To investigate what aspects can be improved by Indonesian SMEs to boost their innovation
Moving from rescue to prevention: real world evidence of reduction in IV antibiotic requirement following improvement in adherence to maintenance nebulised treatment in an adult cystic fibrosis centre
Design and modeling of a photonic crystal fiber gas sensor
Author name used in this publication: Yeuk L. HooAuthor name used in this publication: Hoi L. HoAuthor name used in this publicaiton: Dong N. Wang2002-2003 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe
Rubber Impact on 3D Textile Composites
A low velocity impact study of aircraft tire rubber on 3D textile-reinforced composite plates was performed experimentally and numerically. In contrast to regular unidirectional composite laminates, no delaminations occur in such a 3D textile composite. Yarn decohesions, matrix cracks and yarn ruptures have been identified as the major damage mechanisms under impact load. An increase in the number of 3D warp yarns is proposed to improve the impact damage resistance. The characteristic of a rubber impact is the high amount of elastic energy stored in the impactor during impact, which was more than 90% of the initial kinetic energy. This large geometrical deformation of the rubber during impact leads to a less localised loading of the target structure and poses great challenges for the numerical modelling. A hyperelastic Mooney-Rivlin constitutive law was used in Abaqus/Explicit based on a step-by-step validation with static rubber compression tests and low velocity impact tests on aluminium plates. Simulation models of the textile weave were developed on the meso- and macro-scale. The final correlation between impact simulation results on 3D textile-reinforced composite plates and impact test data was promising, highlighting the potential of such numerical simulation tools
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