Floer theory for the variation operator of an isolated singularity

The variation operator in singularity theory maps relative homology cycles to compact cycles in the Milnor fiber using the monodromy. We construct its symplectic analogue for an isolated singularity. We define a new Floer cohomology, called monodromy Lagrangian Floer cohomology, which provides categorifications of the standard theorems on the variation operator and the Seifert form. The key ingredients are a special class $\Gamma$ in the symplectic cohomology of the inverse of the monodromy and its closed-open images. For isolated plane curve singularities whose A'Campo divide has depth zero, we find an exceptional collection consisting of non-compact Lagrangians in the Milnor fiber corresponding to a distinguished collection of vanishing cycles under the variation operator.Comment: 63 pages, 25 figures, v2. Added references, v3. Several results are added in Section 4.7, and the appendix is remove

Arrhythmia surgery for atrial fibrillation associated with atrial septal defect: Right-sided maze versus biatrial maze

BackgroundAlthough it has been inferred that a biatrial maze procedure for atrial fibrillation in left-sided heart lesions may lead to better outcomes compared with a limited left atrial lesion set, it remains controversial whether the biatrial maze procedure is superior to the right atrial maze procedure in right-sided heart lesions.MethodsA retrospective review was performed for 56 adults who underwent surgical closure of atrial septal defect and various maze procedures for atrial fibrillation between June 1998 and February 2011. The median age at operation was 59 years (range, 34-79 years). Clinical manifestations of atrial fibrillation were paroxysmal in 8 patients, persistent in 15 patients, and long-standing persistent in 33 patients. A right atrial maze procedure was performed in 23 patients (group 1), and a biatrial maze procedure was performed in 33 patients (group 2). Treatment failure was defined as atrial fibrillation recurrence, development of atrial flutter or other types of atrial tachyarrhythmia, or implantation of a permanent pacemaker. The Cox proportional hazards model was used to identify risk factors for decreased time to treatment failure.ResultsDuring the median follow-up period of 49 months (range, 5-149 months), there was no early death and 1 late noncardiac death. On Cox survival model, group 1 showed a significantly decreased time to treatment failure in comparison with group 2 (hazard ratio, 5.11; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-16.44; P = .006). Maintenance of normal sinus rhythm without any episode of atrial fibrillation recurrence at 2 and 5 years postoperatively was 57% and 45% in group 1, respectively, and 82% and 69% in group 2, respectively.ConclusionsLeft-sided ablation in addition to a right atrial maze procedure leads to better electrophysiologic outcome in atrial fibrillation associated with atrial septal defect

Effects of education on low-phosphate diet and phosphate binder intake to control serum phosphate among maintenance hemodialysis patients: A randomized controlled trial.

Background:For phosphate control, patient education is essential due to the limited clearance of phosphate by dialysis. However, well-designed randomized controlled trials about dietary and phosphate binder education have been scarce. Methods:We enrolled maintenance hemodialysis patients and randomized them into an education group (n = 48) or a control group (n = 22). We assessed the patients' drug compliance and their knowledge about the phosphate binder using a questionnaire. Results:The primary goal was to increase the number of patients who reached a calcium-phosphorus product of lower than 55. In the education group, 36 (75.0%) patients achieved the primary goal, as compared with 16 (72.7%) in the control group (P = 0.430). The education increased the proportion of patients who properly took the phosphate binder (22.9% vs. 3.5%, P = 0.087), but not to statistical significance. Education did not affect the amount of dietary phosphate intake per body weight (education vs. control: -1.18 ± 3.54 vs. -0.88 ± 2.04 mg/kg, P = 0.851). However, the dietary phosphate-to-protein ratio tended to be lower in the education group (-0.64 ± 2.04 vs. 0.65 ± 3.55, P = 0.193). The education on phosphate restriction affected neither the Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment score (0.17 ± 4.58 vs. -0.86 ± 3.86, P = 0.363) nor the level of dietary protein intake (-0.03 ± 0.33 vs. -0.09 ± 0.18, P = 0.569). Conclusion:Education did not affect the calcium-phosphate product. Education on the proper timing of phosphate binder intake and the dietary phosphate-to-protein ratio showed marginal efficacy

National interest and Malaysia's Foreign Policy

For the Realist, national interest is a crucial concept for explaining states’survival strategy. As national interest of a state is often multifarious in nature, many scholars conclude that national interest could be economic,political, humanitarian, social or environmental interest. National interest is also associated with a security of a state. It is paramount for a state to safeguard their national interest as an iron law of necessity to ensure their security and survival. In this paper, the writers argue that the formulation of Malaysia’s foreign policies is very much determined by what a nation in this case Malaysia, perceive as national interest. Based on historical development, the interplay relation between national interest and foreign policies is discussed in great detail to illustrate that the nature of Malaysia’s foreign policies is primarily geared towards achieving and protecting the national interest at the international level. This article concludes that national interest and foreign policies are intertwined tools vital for enhancing a nation’s well being and survival

Novel and simple transformation algorithm for combining microarray data sets

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>With microarray technology, variability in experimental environments such as RNA sources, microarray production, or the use of different platforms, can cause bias. Such systematic differences present a substantial obstacle to the analysis of microarray data, resulting in inconsistent and unreliable information. Therefore, one of the most pressing challenges in the field of microarray technology is how to integrate results from different microarray experiments or combine data sets prior to the specific analysis.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Two microarray data sets based on a 17k cDNA microarray system were used, consisting of 82 normal colon mucosa and 72 colorectal cancer tissues. Each data set was prepared from either total RNA or amplified mRNA, and the difference of RNA source between these two data sets was detected by ANOVA (Analysis of variance) model. A simple integration method was introduced which was based on the distributions of gene expression ratios among different microarray data sets. The method transformed gene expression ratios into the form of a reference data set on a gene by gene basis. Hierarchical clustering analysis, density and box plots, and mixture scores with correlation coefficients revealed that the two data sets were well intermingled, indicating that the proposed method minimized the experimental bias. In addition, any RNA source effect was not detected by the proposed transformation method. In the mixed data set, two previously identified subgroups of normal and tumor were well separated, and the efficiency of integration was more prominent in tumor groups than normal groups. The transformation method was slightly more effective when a data set with strong homogeneity in the same experimental group was used as a reference data set.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Proposed method is simple but useful to combine several data sets from different experimental conditions. With this method, biologically useful information can be detectable by applying various analytic methods to the combined data set with increased sample size.</p

Analysis of the Relationship between Cerebellar Volume and Psychological Parameters in 20s Male Adults

AbstractThis study measured the cerebellar volume of normal male adults in 20s with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and analysed the relationship between cerebellar volume and various psychological parameters. The cerebellar volume of 58 males (mean age, 24.0-2.8 years) was measured using MRI. The Symptom Checklist-90-R (SCL-90-R) and the Component of Type A Behavior tests were performed. Using linear regression analysis, the relationship between cerebellar volume and psychological parameters was analysed. As phobic anxiety and ambition increased, cerebellar volume of normal male subjects in 20s decreased. This study showed that for even normal male adults, there exists a possible relationship between various psychological parameters and cerebellar volume

Mechanical Alloying Synthesis and Spark Plasma Sintering Consolidation of Al-Ti-Si-W Alloys

Al-Ti-Si-W quaternary powders were mechanically synthesized by planetary ball milling; and further consolidated by spark plasma sintering. The nominal compositions of the quaternary alloys were designed to be Al60Ti30Si5W5 and Al45Ti40Si10W5 (wt.%). The microstructural evolution of intermetallic compounds in Al-Ti-Si-W alloys included titanium aluminide, titanium silicide, and ternary alloys (AlxTiy, TixSiy, and TixAly,Siz), whereas W was embedded in the Al-Ti matrix as a single phase. The phase composition and grain size distribution were investigated using electron backscatter diffraction analysis, in which refined and uniform microstructures (less than 0.3 μm) were attributed to severe plastic deformation and rapid densification of the pre-alloyed powders. The mechanical properties were correlated with the Al content in the quaternary alloys; a high hardness of 1014.6 ±73.5 kg/mm2 was observed