FFTPL: An Analytic Placement Algorithm Using Fast Fourier Transform for Density Equalization

We propose a flat nonlinear placement algorithm FFTPL using fast Fourier transform for density equalization. The placement instance is modeled as an electrostatic system with the analogy of density cost to the potential energy. A well-defined Poisson's equation is proposed for gradient and cost computation. Our placer outperforms state-of-the-art placers with better solution quality and efficiency

Early utilization of hypertonic peritoneal dialysate and subsequent risks of non-traumatic amputation among peritoneal dialysis patients: a nationwide retrospective longitudinal study

BACKGROUND: The hemodialysis (HD) population has a particularly high incidence of amputation, which is likely associated with decreased tissue oxygenation during HD. However, information about the risk factors leading to amputation in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients is limited. Here, we have investigated the association between the use of hypertonic peritoneal dialysate (HPD) and subsequent amputation in PD patients. METHODS: Based on the data from the Taiwan National Health Insurance research database, this observational cohort study enrolled 203 PD patients who had received HPD early during treatment and had not undergone amputation and 296 PD controls who had not undergone amputation. Subjects were followed through until the end of 2009 and the event rates of new non-traumatic amputation were compared between groups. RESULTS: The incidence of amputation was 3 times higher for the HPD cohort than for the comparison cohort (23.68 vs. 8.01 per 1000 person-years). The hazard ratio (HR) for this group, estimated using a multivariable Cox model, was 2.48 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.06–5.79). The HR for patients with both diabetes and early adoption of HPD increased to 44.34 (95% CI = 5.51-357.03), compared to non-HPD non-diabetic PD controls. CONCLUSION: Early utilization of HPD in PD patients is associated with increasing risk of amputation; this risk considerably increases for those with concomitant diabetes

The Geomorphometry of Rainfall-Induced Landslides in Taiwan Obtained by Airborne Lidar and Digital Photography

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Therapeutic Effect of Yi-Chi-Tsung-Ming-Tang on Amyloid β

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible neurodegenerative disorder characterized by amyloid accumulation, neuronal death, and cognitive impairments. Yi-Chi-Tsung-Ming-Tang (YCTMT) is a traditional Chinese medicine and has never been used to enhance cognitive function and treat neurodegenerative disorders such as senile dementia. Whether YCTMT has a beneficial role in improving learning and memory in AD patients remains unclear. The present study showed that oral administration of YCTMT ameliorated amyloid-β- (Aβ1−40) injection-induced learning and memory impairments in rats, examined using passive avoidance and Morris water-maze tests. Immunostaining and Western Blot results showed that continuous Aβ1−40 infusion caused amyloid accumulation and decreased acetylcholine level in hippocampus. Oral administration of medium and high dose of YCTMT 7 days after the Aβ1−40 infusion decreased amyloid accumulation area and reversed acetylcholine decline in the Aβ1−40-injected hippocampus, suggesting that YCTMT might inhibit Aβ plague accumulation and rescue reduced acetylcholine expression. This study has provided evidence on the beneficial role of YCTMT in ameliorating amyloid-induced AD-like symptom, indicating that YCTMT may offer an alternative strategy for treating AD

Metabolic syndrome and abdominal fat are associated with inflammation, but not with clinical outcomes, in peritoneal dialysis patients

BACKGROUND: In the general population, metabolic syndrome (MetS) is correlated with visceral fat and a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD); however, little is known about the significance of abdominal fat and its association with inflammation and medication use in peritoneal dialysis (PD) patients. We investigated the relationship of visceral fat area (VFA) with C-reactive protein (CRP) levels and medication use in PD patients and followed their clinical outcomes. METHODS: In a prospective study from February 2009 to February 2012, we assessed diabetes mellitus (DM) status, clinical and PD-associated characteristics, medication use, CRP levels, components of MetS, and VFA in 183 PD patients. These patients were categorized into 3 groups based on MetS and DM status: non-MetS (group 1, n = 73), MetS (group 2, n = 65), and DM (group 3, n = 45). VFA was evaluated by computed tomography (CT) and corrected for body mass index (BMI). RESULTS: Patients in group 1 had smaller VFAs than patients in groups 2 and 3 (3.2 ± 1.8, 4.6 ± 1.9, and 4.9 ± 2.0 cm(2)/[kg/m(2)], respectively, P < 0.05) and lower CRP levels (0.97 ± 2.31, 1.27 ± 2.57, and 1.11 ± 1.35 mg/dL, respectively, P < 0.05). VFA increased with the number of criteria met for MetS. After adjusting for age, body weight, and sex, CRP and albumin levels functioned as independent positive predictors of VFA; on other hand, the use of renin-angiotensin system blockers was inversely correlated with VFA in PD patients without DM. In the survival analysis, DM patients (group 3) had the poorest survival among the 3 groups, but no significant differences were found between groups 1 and 2. CONCLUSION: This study showed that VFA and MetS are associated with CRP levels but cannot predict survival in PD patients without DM. The complex relationship of nutritional parameters to VFA and MetS may explain these results. The type of antihypertensive medication used was also associated with the VFA. The mechanisms behind these findings warrant further investigation

Fenton-Like Oxidation of 4−Chlorophenol: Homogeneous or Heterogeneous?

Heterogeneous Fenton-like catalysts have received considerable research attention because they could potentially be attractive for oxidative removal of organic contaminants from tertiary wastewater. However, process design is still hampered by insufficient understanding of the chemical pathways involved, and especially whether oxidation activity stems from heterogeneous surface chemistry or minute concentrations of dissolved metal ions in the homogeneous phase. Using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) in combination with pH monitoring and ultraviolet–visible spectroscopy (UV–vis) we have monitored the degradation of 4-chlorophenol (4-CP) over two Fenton-like heterogeneous systems, namely FeOx supported on TiO2 and CuFe2O4. We show conclusively that these systems proceed predominantly through a homogeneous route via dissolved metal ions from the solid phase catalysts. Control experiments with homogeneous Fe3+ or Cu2+ systems reveal that even minute concentrations (μM/subppm) of dissolved metal ions leached from the solid phases account for the observed 4-CP degradation rates in the heterogeneous systems. ICP-OES revealed that metal leaching was time-dependent and variable because of pH variations associated with changing acid release rates. Buffering solutions at pH 7.4 suppressed metal leaching (and hence 4-CP degradation) in the FeOx/TiO2 system, but not in others. For example, pH buffering did not entirely suppress metal leaching from CuFe2O4, for which 4-CP degradation was retained through small concentrations of Fe and Cu ions in solution. Our results highlight the importance of careful monitoring of metal content in the aqueous phase, certainly with analytical sensitivity below ppm concentrations of the dissolved metals, and also the crucial influence of time-dependent pH variations on the reaction process. Recyclability of catalysts, pH buffering of solutions or monitoring of metal content in the solid phase by less sensitive analytical methods, for example, chemical analysis, gravimetry, X-ray fluorescence, or energy dispersive X-ray analysis in electron microscopes, cannot exclude the homogeneous Fenton route in the presence of solid catalysts

Regulatory T Cells: Potential Target in Anticancer Immunotherapy

SummaryThe concept of regulatory T cells was first described in the early 1970s, and regulatory T cells were called suppressive T cells at that time. Studies that followed have demonstrated that these suppressive T cells negatively regulated tumor immunity and contributed to tumor growth in mice. Despite the importance of these studies, there was extensive skepticism about the existence of these cells, and the concept of suppressive T cells left the center stage of immunologic research for decades. Interleukin-2 receptor α-chain, CD25, was first demonstrated in 1995 to serve as a phenotypic marker for CD4+ regulatory cells. Henceforth, research of regulatory T cells boomed. Regulatory T cells are involved in the pathogenesis of cancer, autoimmune disease, transplantation immunology, and immune tolerance in pregnancy. Recent evidence has demonstrated that regulatory T cellmediated immunosuppression is one of the crucial tumor immune evasion mechanisms and the main obstacle of successful cancer immunotherapy. The mechanism and the potential clinical application of regulatory T cells in cancer immunotherapy are discussed

Novel Ultrasonographic Fatty Liver Indicator Can Predict Hepatitis in Children With Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

Background: Childhood non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a public health issue worldwide. To date, liver biopsy remains the gold standard for diagnosing the severity of NAFLD. However, this invasive procedure might contribute to complications. Owing to this reason, a good non-invasive tool to estimate NAFLD in children is urgently needed. We sought to investigate whether a non-invasive semi-quantitative ultrasonographic fatty liver indicator (US-FLI) can estimate NAFLD in children.Methods: Children aged between 10 and 18 years were enrolled prospectively. Abdominal ultrasonography was performed by a single experienced pediatric gastroenterologist and the non-invasive semi-quantitative US-FLI score were used. Patients were diagnosed with NAFLD if they had a US-FLI score ≥2. The anthropometric measures, obesity-related biochemical results, and levels of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, caspase-cleaved cytokeratin fragment of cytokeratin 18 (M30), and adiponectin were also checked.Results: Overall, 117 children aged 10–18 years were enrolled. The anthropometric measures and obesity-related biochemical parameters (hsCRP, triglyceride, uric acid, AST, ALT, γ-GT, homeostatic model assessment insulin resistance (HOMA-IR), and M30) were significantly higher in the obesity group than in the non-obesity group (p &lt; 0.05). Similarly, the US-FLI score was significantly higher in the obesity group than that in the non-obesity group (p &lt; 0.001). Multiple linear regression showed that the US-FLI score was significantly associated with the waist-to-height ratio, uric acid, adiponectin, and M30 levels (all p &lt; 0.05) in children with obesity. The US-FLI score ≥6 was the optimal cut-off point for predicting the hepatitis in children with NAFLD. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.710 (95% CI: 0.572–0.847; p = 0.005).Conclusions: The non-invasive US-FLI score can predict hepatitis in children with NAFLD without mandatory liver biopsy. Moreover, the waist-to-height ratio, uric acid, adiponectin, and M30 levels were significantly associated with US-FLI score in children with obesity