1,194 research outputs found

    Study of 5.8 GHz Band-Stop Frequency Selective Surface (FSS)

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    This paper presents the study of 5.8 GHz frequency selective surface (FSS) acts as a band stop to eliminate unwanted radiation signal at 5.8GHz. The FSS was designed using computer simulation technology (CST) Microwave Studio software. The paper shows the comparison of square loop, octagon loop and hexagon loop of Band stop FSS (BSFSS) performance at 5.8 GHz. Besides, the BSFSS design using four different type of dielectric substrate such as FR-4, TLY-5, Roger RT5870 and Roger RT5880 were compared. The results obviously show that the Rogers RY5880 has the attenuation -44.72 dB.  The fabricated FSS were measured by using free space technique with two horn antennas connected to performance network analyzer (PNA). The measured and simulated results were compared. The results show that the square loop FSS structure have the better attenuation -26.76 dB (simulated) and -38.34 dB (measured) at 5.8 GHz

    Inflationary Attractor in Braneworld Scenario

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    We demonstrate the attractor behavior of inflation driven by a scalar field or a tachyon field in the context of recently proposed four-dimensional effective gravity induced on the world-volume of a three-brane in five-dimensional Einstein gravity, and we obtain a set of exact inflationary solutions. Phase portraits indicate that an initial kinetic term decays rapidly and it does not prevent the onset of inflation. The trajectories more rapidly reach the slow-roll curve than in the standard cosmology.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, RevTeX, to appear in Phys. Rev. D69 (2004

    Capicua deficiency induces autoimmunity and promotes follicular helper T cell differentiation via derepression of ETV5

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    High-affinity antibody production through the germinal centre (GC) response is a pivotal process in adaptive immunity. Abnormal development of follicular helper T (T(FH)) cells can induce the GC response to self-antigens, subsequently leading to autoimmunity. Here we show the transcriptional repressor Capicua/CIC maintains peripheral immune tolerance by suppressing aberrant activation of adaptive immunity. CIC deficiency induces excessive development of T(FH) cells and GC responses in a T-cell-intrinsic manner. ETV5 expression is derepressed in Cic null T(FH) cells and knockdown of Etv5 suppresses the enhanced T(FH) cell differentiation in Cic-deficient CD4+ T cells, suggesting that Etv5 is a critical CIC target gene in T(FH) cell differentiation. Furthermore, we identify Maf as a downstream target of the CIC-ETV5 axis in this process. These data demonstrate that CIC maintains T-cell homeostasis and negatively regulates T(FH) cell development and autoimmunity. ? The Author(s) 2017.117Nsciescopu

    The combined role of MRI prostate and prostate health index in improving detection of significant prostate cancer in a screening population of Chinese men

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    Using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) for prostate cancer (PCa) screening led to overinvestigation and overdiagnosis of indolent PCa. We aimed to investigate the value of prostate health index (PHI) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) prostate in an Asian PCa screening program. Men aged 50-75 years were prospectively recruited from a community-based PSA screening program. Men with PSA 4.0-10.0 ng ml -1 had PHI result analyzed. MRI prostate was offered to men with PSA 4.0-50.0 ng ml -1. A systematic prostate biopsy was offered to men with PSA 4.0-9.9 ng ml -1 and PHI ≥35, or PSA 10.0-50.0 ng ml -1. Additional targeted prostate biopsy was offered if they had PI-RADS score ≥3. Clinically significant PCa (csPCa) was defined as the International Society of Urological Pathology (ISUP) grade group (GG) ≥2 or ISUP GG 1 with involvement of ≥30% of total systematic cores. In total, 12.8% (196/1536) men had PSA ≥4.0 ng ml -1. Among 194 men with PSA 4.0-50.0 ng ml -1, 187 (96.4%) received MRI prostate. Among them, 28.3% (53/187) had PI-RADS ≥3 lesions. Moreover, 7.0% (107/1536) men were indicated for biopsy and 94.4% (101/107) men received biopsy. Among the men received biopsy, PCa, ISUP GG ≥2 PCa, and csPCa was diagnosed in 42 (41.6%), 24 (23.8%), and 34 (33.7%) men, respectively. Compared with PSA/PHI pathway in men with PSA 4.0-50.0 ng ml -1, additional MRI increased diagnoses of PCa, ISUP GG ≥2 PCa, and csPCa by 21.2% (from 33 to 40), 22.2% (from 18 to 22), and 18.5% (from 27 to 32), respectively. The benefit of additional MRI was only observed in PSA 4.0-10.0 ng ml -1, and the number of MRI needed to diagnose one additional ISUP GG ≥2 PCa was 20 in PHI ≥35 and 94 in PHI &lt;35. Among them, 45.4% (89/196) men with PSA ≥4.0 ng ml -1 avoided unnecessary biopsy with the use of PHI and MRI. A screening algorithm with PSA, PHI, and MRI could effectively diagnose csPCa while reducing unnecessary biopsies. The benefit of MRI prostate was mainly observed in PSA 4.0-9.9 ng ml -1 and PHI ≥35 group. PHI was an important risk stratification step for PCa screening.</p

    Ad hoc influenza vaccination during years of significant antigenic drift in a tropical city with 2 seasonal peaks

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    We evaluated the acceptability of an additional ad hoc influenza vaccination among the health care professionals following seasons with significant antigenic drift. Self-administered, anonymous surveys were performed by hard copy questionnaires in public hospitals, and by an on-line platform available to all healthcare professionals, from April 1st to May 31st, 2015. A total of 1290 healthcare professionals completed the questionnaires, including doctors, nurses, and allied health professionals working in both the public and private systems. Only 31.8% of participating respondents expressed an intention to receive the additional vaccine, despite that the majority of them agreed or strongly agreed that it would bring benefit to the community (88.9%), save lives (86.7%), reduce medical expenses (76.3%), satisfy public expectation (82.8%), and increase awareness of vaccination (86.1%). However, a significant proportion expressed concern that the vaccine could disturb the normal immunization schedule (45.5%); felt uncertain what to do in the next vaccination round (66.0%); perceived that the summer peak might not occur (48.2%); and believed that the summer peak might not be of the same virus (83.5%). Furthermore, 27.8% of all respondents expected that the additional vaccination could weaken the efficacy of previous vaccinations; 51.3% was concerned about side effects; and 61.3% estimated that there would be a low uptake rate. If the supply of vaccine was limited, higher priority groups were considered to include the elderly aged ≥65 years with chronic medical conditions (89.2%), the elderly living in residential care homes (87.4%), and long-stay residents of institutions for the disabled (80.7%). The strongest factors associated with accepting the additional vaccine included immunization with influenza vaccines in the past 3 years, higher perceived risk of contracting influenza, and higher perceived severity of the disease impact. The acceptability to an additional ad hoc influenza vaccination was low among healthcare professionals. This could have a negative impact on such additional vaccination campaigns since healthcare professionals are a key driver for vaccine acceptance. The discordance in perceived risk and acceptance of vaccination regarding self versus public deserves further evaluation

    Mitochondrial DNA Copy Number and Incident Heart Failure: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study

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    Heart failure (HF) is a leading clinical and public health concern because of its high prevalence and poor prognosis. It is thus critical to identify novel risk factors for developing HF. Mitochondrial DNA copy number (mtDNA-CN), an indirect biomarker of mitochondrial dysfunction, is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease endpoints, cardiovascular risk factors, all-cause mortality, and sudden cardiac death. The association between mtDNA-CN and the risk of incident HF, however, is unknown. We examined this association in the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) cohort

    Synthesis of novel derivatives of murrayafoline A and their inhibitory effect on LPS-stimulated production of pro-inflammatory cytokines in bone marrow-derived dendritic cells

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    Cu(I)-catalyzed Huisgen–Meldal–Sharpless type dipolar ‘click’ reactions between azido-tetrathiafulvalene derivatives and ethynylferrocene yield the first examples of ferrocenyl-1,2,3-triazolyl-tetrathiafulvalene assemblies (4a, 4b). The electrochemical behavior of 4a and 4b, which integrate two distinctive redox probes, has been investigated, and their binding ability for various transition-metal cations has been studied by cyclic voltammetry. The contribution of the triazolyl ring in the guest binding process is illustrated by the specific electrochemical recognition of Zn2+ by receptor 4b

    Colletotrichum species associated with anthracnose of Pyrus spp. in China

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    Colletotrichum species are plant pathogens, saprobes, and endophytes on a range of economically important hosts. However, the species occurring on pear remain largely unresolved. To determine the morphology, phylogeny and biology of Colletotrichum species associated with Pyrus plants, a total of 295 samples were collected from cultivated pear species (including P. pyrifolia, P. bretschneideri, and P. communis) from seven major pear-cultivation provinces in China. The pear leaves and fruits affected by anthracnose were sampled and subjected to fungus isolation, resulting in a total of 488 Colletotrichum isolates. Phylogenetic analyses based on six loci (ACT, TUB2, CAL, CHS-1, GAPDH, and ITS) coupled with morphology of 90 representative isolates revealed that they belong to 10 known Colletotrichum species, including C. aenigma, C. citricola, C. conoides, C. fioriniae, C. fructicola, C. gloeosporioides, C. karstii, C. plurivorum, C. siamense, C. wuxiense, and two novel species, described here as C. jinshuiense and C. pyrifoliae. Of these, C. fructicola was the most dominant, occurring on P. pyrifolia and P. bretschneideri in all surveyed provinces except in Shandong, where C. siamense was dominant. In contrast, only C. siamense and C. fioriniae were isolated from P. communis, with the former being dominant. In order to prove Koch's postulates, pathogenicity tests on pear leaves and fruits revealed a broad diversity in pathogenicity and aggressiveness among the species and isolates, of which C. citricola, C. jinshuiense, C. pyrifoliae, and C. conoides appeared to be organ-specific on either leaves or fruits. This study also represents the first reports of C. citricola, C. conoides, C. karstii, C. plurivorum, C. siamense, and C. wuxiense causing anthracnose on pear.Earmarked Fundhttps://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/nhn/pimjhj2020BiochemistryForestry and Agricultural Biotechnology Institute (FABI)GeneticsMicrobiology and Plant Patholog

    Measurements of the Mass and Full-Width of the ηc\eta_c Meson

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    In a sample of 58 million J/ψJ/\psi events collected with the BES II detector, the process J/ψγηc\psi\to\gamma\eta_c is observed in five different decay channels: γK+Kπ+π\gamma K^+K^-\pi^+\pi^-, γπ+ππ+π\gamma\pi^+\pi^-\pi^+\pi^-, γK±KS0π\gamma K^\pm K^0_S \pi^\mp (with KS0π+πK^0_S\to\pi^+\pi^-), γϕϕ\gamma \phi\phi (with ϕK+K\phi\to K^+K^-) and γppˉ\gamma p\bar{p}. From a combined fit of all five channels, we determine the mass and full-width of ηc\eta_c to be mηc=2977.5±1.0(stat.)±1.2(syst.)m_{\eta_c}=2977.5\pm1.0 ({stat.})\pm1.2 ({syst.}) MeV/c2c^2 and Γηc=17.0±3.7(stat.)±7.4(syst.)\Gamma_{\eta_c} = 17.0\pm3.7 ({stat.})\pm7.4 ({syst.}) MeV/c2c^2.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figures and 4 table. Submitted to Phys. Lett.

    A Measurement of Psi(2S) Resonance Parameters

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    Cross sections for e+e- to hadons, pi+pi- J/Psi, and mu+mu- have been measured in the vicinity of the Psi(2S) resonance using the BESII detector operated at the BEPC. The Psi(2S) total width; partial widths to hadrons, pi+pi- J/Psi, muons; and corresponding branching fractions have been determined to be Gamma(total)= (264+-27) keV; Gamma(hadron)= (258+-26) keV, Gamma(mu)= (2.44+-0.21) keV, and Gamma(pi+pi- J/Psi)= (85+-8.7) keV; and Br(hadron)= (97.79+-0.15)%, Br(pi+pi- J/Psi)= (32+-1.4)%, Br(mu)= (0.93+-0.08)%, respectively.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figure
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