Influence of Social and Behavioural Characteristics of Users on Their Evaluation of Subjective Loudness and Acoustic Comfort in Shopping Malls

A large-scale subjective survey was conducted in six shopping malls in Harbin City, China, to determine the influence of social and behavioural characteristics of users on their evaluation of subjective loudness and acoustic comfort. The analysis of social characteristics shows that evaluation of subjective loudness is influenced by income and occupation, with correlation coefficients or contingency coefficients of 0.10 to 0.40 (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Meanwhile, evaluation of acoustic comfort evaluation is influenced by income, education level, and occupation, with correlation coefficients or contingency coefficients of 0.10 to 0.60 (p<0.05 or p<0.01). The effect of gender and age on evaluation of subjective loudness and acoustic comfort is statistically insignificant. The effects of occupation are mainly caused by the differences in income and education level, in which the effects of income are greater than that of education level. In terms of behavioural characteristics, evaluation of subjective loudness is influenced by the reason for visit, frequency of visit, and length of stay, with correlation coefficients or contingency coefficients of 0.10 to 0.40 (p<0.05 or p<0.01). Evaluation of acoustic comfort is influenced by the reason for visit to the site, the frequency of visit, length of stay, and also season of visit, with correlation coefficients of 0.10 to 0.30 (p<0.05 or p<0.01). In particular, users who are waiting for someone show lower evaluation of acoustic comfort, whereas users who go to shopping malls more than once a month show higher evaluation of acoustic comfort. On the contrary, the influence of the period of visit and the accompanying persons are found insignificant

Preparation and thermal conductivity of CuO nanofluid via a wet chemical method

In this article, a wet chemical method was developed to prepare stable CuO nanofluids. The influences of synthesis parameters, such as kinds and amounts of copper salts, reaction time, were studied. The thermal conductivities of CuO nanofluids were also investigated. The results showed that different copper salts resulted in different particle morphology. The concentration of copper acetate and reaction time affected the size and shape of clusters of primary nanoparticles. Nanofluids with different microstructures could be obtained by changing the synthesis parameters. The thermal conductivities of CuO nanofluids increased with the increase of particle loading

Are Metastases from Metastases Clinical Relevant? Computer Modelling of Cancer Spread in a Case of Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background: Metastasis formation remains an enigmatic process and one of the main questions recently asked is whether metastases are able to generate further metastases. Different models have been proposed to answer this question; however, their clinical significance remains unclear. Therefore a computer model was developed that permits comparison of the different models quantitatively with clinical data and that additionally predicts the outcome of treatment interventions. Methods: The computer model is based on discrete events simulation approach. On the basis of a case from an untreated patient with hepatocellular carcinoma and its multiple metastases in the liver, it was evaluated whether metastases are able to metastasise and in particular if late disseminated tumour cells are still capable to form metastases. Additionally, the resection of the primary tumour was simulated. The simulation results were compared with clinical data. Results: The simulation results reveal that the number of metastases varies significantly between scenarios where metastases metastasise and scenarios where they do not. In contrast, the total tumour mass is nearly unaffected by the two different modes of metastasis formation. Furthermore, the results provide evidence that metastasis formation is an early event and that late disseminated tumour cells are still capable of forming metastases. Simulations also allow estimating how the resection of the primary tumour delays the patient’s death. Conclusion: The simulation results indicate that for this particular case of a hepatocellular carcinoma late metastases, i.e.

Association of polymorphisms in survivin gene with the risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in Chinese han population: a case control study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Survivin, one of the strongest apoptosis inhibitors, plays a critical role in the development and progression of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). By comparison, relatively little is known about the effect of <it>survivin </it>gene polymorphisms on HCC susceptibility. Our study aimed to investigate the association of <it>survivin </it>gene polymorphisms with the risk of HCC in Chinese han population.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A case-control study was conducted in Chinese han population consisting of 178 HCC cases and 196 cancer-free controls. Information on demographic data and related risk factors was collected for all subjects. Polymorphisms of the <it>survivin </it>gene, including three loci of rs8073069, rs9904341 and rs1042489, were selected and genotyped by a polymerase chain reaction- restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) technique. Association analysis of genotypes/alleles and haplotypes from these loci with the risk of HCC was conducted under different genetic models.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Using univariate analysis of rs8073069, rs9904341 and rs1042489 under different genetic models, no statistically significant difference was found in genotype or allele distribution of HCC cases relative to the controls (<it>P </it>> 0.05). Linkage disequilibrium (LD) analysis showed that these loci were in LD. Multivariate logistic regression indicated that with no G-C-T haplotype as reference, the haplotype of G-C-T from these loci was associated with a lower risk for HCC under the recessive model (<it>OR = </it>0.46, 95% confidence interval (<it>CI</it>): 0.24~0.90, <it>P </it>= 0.023). Both HBsAg+ and the medical history of viral hepatitis type B were risk factors for HCC. However, no statistically significant haplotype-environment interaction existed.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>No association between rs8073069, rs9904341 or rs1042489 in <it>survivin </it>gene and the risk of HCC is found in Chinese han population, but rs8073069G-rs9904341C- rs1042489T is perhaps a protective haplotype for HCC.</p

Gene expression profile of circulating tumor cells in breast cancer by RT-qPCR

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Circulating tumor cells (CTCs) have been associated with prognosis especially in breast cancer and have been proposed as a liquid biopsy for repeated follow up examinations. Molecular characterization of CTCs is difficult to address since they are very rare and the amount of available sample is very limited.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We quantified by RT-qPCR <it>CK-19, MAGE-A3, HER-2, TWIST1, hTERT α+β+</it>, and <it>mammaglobin </it>gene transcripts in immunomagnetically positively selected CTCs from 92 breast cancer patients, and 28 healthy individuals. We also compared our results with the CellSearch system in 33 of these patients with early breast cancer.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>RT-qPCR is highly sensitive and specific and can detect the expression of each individual gene at the one cell level. None of the genes tested was detected in the group of healthy donors. In 66 operable breast cancer patients, <it>CK-19 </it>was detected in 42.4%, <it>HER-2 </it>in 13.6%, <it>MAGE-A3 </it>in 21.2%, <it>hMAM </it>in 13.6%, <it>TWIST-1 </it>in 42.4%, and <it>hTERT α+β+ </it>in 10.2%. In 26 patients with verified metastasis, <it>CK-19 </it>was detected in 53.8%, <it>HER-2 </it>in 19.2%, <it>MAGE-A3 </it>in 15.4%, <it>hMAM </it>in 30.8%, <it>TWIST-1 </it>in 38.5% and <it>hTERT </it>α⁺β⁺in 19.2%. Our preliminary data on the comparison between RT-qPCR and CellSearch in 33 early breast cancer patients showed that RT-qPCR gives more positive results in respect to CellSearch.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Molecular characterization of CTCs has revealed a remarkable heterogeneity of gene expression between breast cancer patients. In a small percentage of patients, CTCs were positive for all six genes tested, while in some patients only one of these genes was expressed. The clinical significance of these findings in early breast cancer remains to be elucidated when the clinical outcome for these patients is known.</p

Gibberellin Acts through Jasmonate to Control the Expression of MYB21, MYB24, and MYB57 to Promote Stamen Filament Growth in Arabidopsis

Precise coordination between stamen and pistil development is essential to make a fertile flower. Mutations impairing stamen filament elongation, pollen maturation, or anther dehiscence will cause male sterility. Deficiency in plant hormone gibberellin (GA) causes male sterility due to accumulation of DELLA proteins, and GA triggers DELLA degradation to promote stamen development. Deficiency in plant hormone jasmonate (JA) also causes male sterility. However, little is known about the relationship between GA and JA in controlling stamen development. Here, we show that MYB21, MYB24, and MYB57 are GA-dependent stamen-enriched genes. Loss-of-function of two DELLAs RGA and RGL2 restores the expression of these three MYB genes together with restoration of stamen filament growth in GA-deficient plants. Genetic analysis showed that the myb21-t1 myb24-t1 myb57-t1 triple mutant confers a short stamen phenotype leading to male sterility. Further genetic and molecular studies demonstrate that GA suppresses DELLAs to mobilize the expression of the key JA biosynthesis gene DAD1, and this is consistent with the observation that the JA content in the young flower buds of the GA-deficient quadruple mutant ga1-3 gai-t6 rga-t2 rgl1-1 is much lower than that in the WT. We conclude that GA promotes JA biosynthesis to control the expression of MYB21, MYB24, and MYB57. Therefore, we have established a hierarchical relationship between GA and JA in that modulation of JA pathway by GA is one of the prerequisites for GA to regulate the normal stamen development in Arabidopsis

Quantitative nucleolar proteomics reveals nuclear re-organization during stress- induced senescence in mouse fibroblast

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Nucleolus is the most prominent mammalian organelle within the nucleus which is also the site for ribosomal biogenesis. There have been many reports indicating the involvement of nucleolus in the process of aging. Several proteins related to aging have been shown to localize in the nucleolus, which suggests the role of this organelle in senescence.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study, we used quantitative mass spectrometry to map the flux of proteins into and out of the nucleolus during the induction of senescence in cultured mammalian cells. Changes in the abundance of 344 nucleolar proteins in sodium butyrate-induced senescence in NIH3T3 cells were studied by SILAC (stable isotope labeling by amino acids in cell culture)-based mass spectrometry. Biochemically, we have validated the proteomic results and confirmed that B23 (nucleophosmin) protein was down-regulated, while poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) and nuclear DNA helicase II (NDH II/DHX9/RHA) were up-regulated in the nucleolus upon treatment with sodium butyrate. Accumulation of chromatin in the nucleolus was also observed, by both proteomics and microscopy, in sodium butyrate-treated cells. Similar observations were found in other models of senescence, namely, in mitoxantrone- (MTX) treated cells and primary fibroblasts from the Lamin A knockout mice.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our data indicate an extensive nuclear organization during senescence and suggest that the redistribution of B23 protein and chromatin can be used as an important marker for senescence.</p