Common fixed point theorems for a weaker Meir–Keeler type function in cone metric spaces

AbstractIn this work, we define a weaker Meir–Keeler type function ψ:intP∪{0}→intP∪{0} in a cone metric space, and under this weaker Meir–Keeler type function, we show the common fixed point theorems of four single-valued functions in cone metric spaces

Bowel Preparation of Outpatients for Intravenous Urography: Efficacy of Castor Oil Versus Bisacodyl

The purpose of this study was to compare the efficacy of two laxatives, castor oil and bisacodyl, in the routine bowel preparation of outpatients for intravenous urography (IVU). We used castor oil in patients undergoing IVU for 1 month, and then used bisacodyl in patients undergoing IVU for another month. Two uroradiologists, unaware of the method of bowel preparation, reviewed the standard radiographs and graded the residue in the large bowel and the clearness of the opacified urinary collecting system. In total, 71 consecutive outpatients received castor oil, and 84 received bisacodyl. For the castor oil group, grades from the two uroradiologists did not differ in terms of fecal residue on plain abdominal images (p = 0.54), and visualization of the urinary system on the left (p = 0.36) and right sides (p = 0.63). Findings were similar for bisacodyl recipients (p = 0.11, 0.59, and 0.32, respectively). When the laxative effect of the two agents was compared, we found no difference in the grading of fecal residue on plain abdominal images (p = 0.14), or in visualization of the urinary system on the left (p = 0.31) and right sides (p = 0.98). In conclusion, we observed no difference in laxative efficacy between castor oil and bisacodyl; thus, bisacodyl may be a useful alternative for bowel preparation before IVU

Pneumocystis jiroveci Pneumonia in Patients with Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma Receiving Chemotherapy Containing Rituximab

AbstractRituximab enhances treatment efficacy of B-lineage lymphoma by targeting CD20+ B-cells. Such target therapies may compromise the immune system and render patients susceptible to opportunistic infections. We report 2 cases of lymphoma complicated with Pneumocystis jiroveci (previously known as P. carinii) pneumonia (PCP) while being treated with rituximab-containing chemotherapy regimens. In both cases, PCP developed during the neutropenic period. With timely diagnosis and proper management, both were treated successfully. We searched the literature and found that such opportunistic infection occurred only infrequently in lymphoma patients, and it has not been reported in the large-scale clinical trials of rituximab. Such cases demonstrate the importance of taking PCP into diagnostic consideration in lymphoma patients receiving similar therapies

Eddy-Kuroshio interactions : local and remote effects

Author Posting. © American Geophysical Union, 2017. This article is posted here by permission of American Geophysical Union for personal use, not for redistribution. The definitive version was published in Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans 122 (2017): 9744–9764, doi:10.1002/2017JC013476.Quasi-geostrophic mesoscale eddies regularly impinge on the Kuroshio in the western North Pacific, but the processes underlying the evolution of these eddy-Kuroshio interactions have not yet been thoroughly investigated in the literature. Here this interaction is examined with results from a semi-idealized three-dimensional numerical model and observations from four pressure-sensor equipped inverted echo sounders (PIESs) in a zonal section east of Taiwan and satellite altimeters. Both the observations and numerical simulations suggest that, during the interaction of a cyclonic eddy with the Kuroshio, the circular eddy is deformed into an elliptic shape with the major axis in the northwest-southeast direction, before being dissipated; the poleward velocity and associated Kuroshio transport decrease and the sea level and pycnocline slopes across the Kuroshio weaken. In contrast, for an anticyclonic eddy during the eddy-Kuroshio interaction, variations in the velocity, sea level, and isopycnal depth are reversed; the circular eddy is also deformed to an ellipse but with the major axis parallel to the Kuroshio. The model results also demonstrate that the velocity field is modified first and consequently the SSH and isopycnal depth evolve during the interaction. Furthermore, due to the combined effect of impingement latitude and realistic topography, some eddy-Kuroshio interactions east of Taiwan are found to have remote effects, both in the Luzon Strait and on the East China Sea shelf northeast of Taiwan.Ministry of Science and Technology Grant Numbers: MOST-101-2611-M-002-018-MY3, MOST 103-2611-M-002-011, MOST 105-2119-M-002-042; Office of Naval Research. Grant Numbers: N00014-15-12593, N00014-16-13069; MHC. Grant Number: MOST-101-2611-M-019-0022018-06-1

Internal tides on the East China Sea Continental Slope

Strong semidiurnal internal tides are observed on the continental slope of the East China Sea (ECS) using an array of subsurface moorings and EM-APEX floats. A Princeton Ocean Model (POM) is used to simulate the effects of stratification profiles on the generation and propagation of M2 internal tides; model simulations are compared with observations. On the ECS continental slope northeast of Taiwan, the semidiurnal barotropic tidal current flows nearly perpendicular to the shelf break and continental slope, favoring the generation of internal tides. Both the critical slope analysis and numerical model results suggest multiple generation sites on the continental slope, shelf break and around North MienHua Canyon. Unique high-wavenumber semidiurnal internal tides with a dominant vertical scale of ∼100 m are found on the continental slope. The high-wavenumber semidiurnal internal tides appear in a form of spatially coherent shear layers across the ECS slope. They propagate vertically both upward and downward. Patches of strong energy and shear at a typical vertical scale of O(50 m) are present at the intersections of the upward and downward propagating high-wavenumber internal tides. The strong shear of high-wavenumber semidiurnal tides could play an important role in triggering shear instability on the ECS slope. The semidiurnal internal tidal energy flux, primarily in low wavenumbers, on the ECS slope, exhibits strong temporal and spatial variations. The observed depth integrated energy flux is 3.0–10.7 kW m–1, mostly seaward from the continental shelf/slope. The POM model predicts similar seaward energy fluxes at a slightly weaker magnitude, 1.0–7.2 kW m–1. The difference may be due to the absence of mesoscale processes in the model, e.g., the Kuroshio Current and eddies, the assumed horizontally uniform stratification profiles, insufficient model resolution for the abrupt canyon bathymetry, and the lack of the other major semidiurnal tidal constituent, S2, in the model. On the ECS slope, the total energy in the internal wave continuum, between 0.3 cph (beyond semidiurnal tidal harmonics) and the buoyancy frequency, is 6-13 times that of the Garrett–Munk model, presumably as a result of the energy cascade from strong inertial waves and internal tides in the region

Body Massage Performance Investigation by Brain Activity Analysis

Massage has been widely applied to improve health and reduce stress. However, the performance difference between hands-on treatment and treatment by mechanical devices has been little mentioned. Therefore, the main aim of this paper is to investigate a subject's EEG performance under massage treatment applied by hand and treatment applied by mechanical devices. Massage was applied to four acupoints for three minutes each. The massage acupoint sequence was from left Jian-wai-yu, right Jian-wai-yu, left Zuo-fei-yu, and finally right Zuo-fei-yu. An EEG system of 32 channels was used. Twenty-four volunteers, mainly college students, were enrolled. EEG rhythm powers of each massage sessions were derived. Two-way ANOVA revealed that there were also significant interactions between the massage stage and the massage type on delta (P < 0.01), theta (P < 0.05), and beta rhythms (P < 0.01), and there were significant differences at different stages for the mechanical massage group (F = 5.557, P < 0.01). The mechanical massage group had more significant differences than the hands-on group for stage coherence of around coherence on alpha rhythm. Further rhythm power scalp topography between two massage methods is also investigated

Apoptosis induction in BEFV-infected Vero and MDBK cells through Src-dependent JNK activation regulates caspase-3 and mitochondria pathways

Our previous report demonstrated that bovine ephemeral fever virus (BEFV)-infected cultured cells could induce caspase-dependent apoptosis. This study aims to further elucidate how BEFV activates the caspase cascade in bovine cells. BEFV replicated and induced apoptosis in Vero and Madin-Darby bovine kidney (MDBK) cells, and a kinetic study showed a higher efficiency of replication and a greater apoptosis induction ability of BEFV in Vero cells. Src and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) inhibitor, but not extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) or p38 inhibitor, alleviated BEFV-mediated cytopathic effect and apoptosis. In BEFV-infected Vero and MDBK cells, BEFV directly induced Src tyrosine-418 phosphorylation and JNK phosphorylation and kinase activity, which was inhibited specifically by SU6656 and SP600125, respectively. The caspase cascade and its downstream effectors, Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and DFF45, were also activated simultaneously upon BEFV infection. In addition, cytochrome c, but not Smac/DIABLO, was released gradually from mitochondria after BEFV infection. SU6656 suppressed Src, JNK, and caspase-3 and -9 activation, as well as PARP and DFF45 cleavage; SP600125 reduced JNK and caspase-3 and -9 activation, as well as PARP and DFF45 cleavage. Taken together, these results strongly support the hypothesis that a Src-dependent JNK signaling pathway plays a key role in BEFV-induced apoptosis. The molecular mechanism identified in our study may provide useful information for the treatment of BEFV

Rapid detection of K650E mutation in FGFR3 using uncultured amniocytes in a pregnancy affected with fetal cloverleaf skull, occipital pseudoencephalocele, ventriculomegaly, straight short femurs, and thanatophoric dysplasia type II

AbstractObjectiveTo present the ultrasound and molecular genetic diagnosis of thanatophoric dysplasia type II (TD2).Case ReportA 35-year-old, primigravid woman was referred to our institution for genetic counseling and amniocentesis at 19 weeks of gestation because of advanced maternal age and sonographic abnormalities in the fetus. The prenatal ultrasound showed short straight femurs, prominent forehead, narrow chest, skin edema, short limbs, and cloverleaf skull consistent with the diagnosis of TD2. Amniocentesis revealed a karyotype of 46,XX. DNA testing for the FGFR3 gene using uncultured amniocytes revealed a heterozygous c.1948A>G, AAG>GAG transversion leading to a p.Lys650Glu(K650E) mutation in the FGFR3 gene. A prenatal ultrasound at 21 weeks of gestation showed ventriculomegaly, cloverleaf skull, straight femurs, micromelia, narrow chest, and pseudoencephalocele with a bulging occipital bone mimicking encephalocele. The pregnancy was subsequently terminated, and a 480-g malformed fetus was delivered with macrocephaly, depressed nasal bridge, short upturned nasal tip, hypoplastic midface, frontal bossing, short digits, trident-shaped hands, short limbs, cloverleaf skull, narrow chest, brachydactyly, nuchal edema, and bulging occipital bone.ConclusionA prenatal diagnosis of cloverleaf skull, short limbs, straight femurs, and occipital pseudoencephalocele should include a differential diagnosis of TD2. A molecular analysis of FGFR3 using uncultured amniocytes is useful for the rapid confirmation of TD2 at prenatal diagnosis