Neutrino Oscillations in Extra Dimensions

The characteristics and phenomenology of neutrino oscillation in extra dimensions are briefly reviewedComment: Plenary talk given at the International Conference on Flavor Physics, May 31-June 6, 2001, Zhang-Jia-Jie, China. More references provided in this new versio

Restricted upper airway dimensions in patients with dentofacial deformity from juvenile idiopathic arthritis

BACKGROUND: This retrospective, cross-sectional study aimed to assess the pharyngeal airway dimensions of patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and moderate/severe JIA-related dentofacial deformity (mandibular retrognathia/micrognathia), and compare the results with JIA patients with a normal mandibular appearance and a group of non-JIA patients. METHODS: Seventy-eight patients were retrospectively included in a 1:1:1 manner as specified below. All patients had previously been treated at the Section of Orthodontics, Aarhus University, Denmark. All had a pretreatment cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). Group 1 (JIA+); 26 JIA patients with severe arthritis-related dentofacial deformity and mandibular retrognathia/micrognathia. Group 2 (JIA-); 26 JIA patients with normal mandibular morphology/position. Group 3 (Controls); 26 non-JIA subjects. Dentofacial morphology and upper airway dimensions, excluding the nasal cavity, were assessed in a validated three-dimensional (3D) fashion. Assessment of dentofacial deformity comprised six morphometric measures. Assessment of airway dimensions comprised nine measures. RESULTS: Five morphometric measures of dentofacial deformity were significantly deviating in the JIA+ group compared with the JIA- and control groups: Posterior mandibular height, anterior facial height, mandibular inclination, mandibular occlusal inclination, and mandibular sagittal position. Five of the airway measurements showed significant inter-group differences: JIA+ had a significantly smaller nasopharyngeal airway dimension (ad2-PNS), a smaller velopharyngeal volume, a smaller minimal cross-sectional area and a smaller minimal hydraulic diameter than JIA- and controls. No significant differences in upper airway dimensions were seen between JIA- and controls. CONCLUSION: JIA patients with severe arthritis-related dentofacial deformity and mandibular micrognathia had significantly restricted upper airway dimensions compared with JIA patients without dentofacial deformity and controls. The restrictions of upper airway dimension seen in the JIA+ group herein were previously associated with sleep-disordered breathing in the non-JIA background population. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of dentofacial deformity and restricted airways in the development of sleep-disordered breathing in JIA

PASUKAN ENACTUS USM RAIH ANUGERAH PERTANDINGAN MYUNIROCKS 2015

BUKIT KIARA, 6 Oktober 2015 - Pasukan ENACTUS USM dari Sekretariat Keusahawanan, Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) meraih anugerah 2nd Best Idea dalam Pertandingan MyUniRocks 2015 anjuran 1 Malaysia for Youth (IM4U) dengan membawa pulang hadiah wang tunai bernilai RM15,000.00 barubaru ini. Pasukan tersebut terdiri daripada tiga orang anak muda yang kreatif dan proaktif iaitu Tan Jia tahun 2 dari Pusat Pengajian (PP) Pengurusan, Yong Chee Yan, tahun 3 dari PP Komunikasi dan Koo Wai Heng, tahun 4 PP Teknologi Industri

Resolving the species of the lichen genus Graphina Müll. Arg. in China, with some new combinations

In the framework of continuing studies on the Graphidaceae in China, the status of all taxa traditionally assigned to the genus Graphina reported from China are resolved in the present paper. Five new combinations are made, namely Diorygma isabellinum (Zahlbr.) Z.F. Jia & Lücking, comb. nov., Fissurina adscribens (Nyl.) Z.F. Jia & Lücking, comb. nov., Graphis lecanactiformis (Zahlbr.) Z.F. Jia & Lücking, comb. nov., Phaeographis haloniata (Zahlbr.) Z.F. Jia & Lücking, comb. nov. and Platygramme taiwanensis (J.C. Wei) Z.F. Jia & Lucking, comb. nov. Five new synonymies were found: Graphina olivascens Zahlbr. (= Fissurina adscribens), Graphina plumbicolor Zahlbr. (= Phaeographis haloniata), Graphina roridula Zahlbr. and its variety platypoda Zahlbr. [= Diorygma pachygraphum (Nyl.) Kalb, Staiger & Elix], and Graphina taiwanensis f. obscurata J.C. Wei (= Platygramme taiwanensis)

Genetic architecture distinguishes systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis from other forms of juvenile idiopathic arthritis: clinical and therapeutic implications

OBJECTIVES: Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a heterogeneous group of conditions unified by the presence of chronic childhood arthritis without an identifiable cause. Systemic JIA (sJIA) is a rare form of JIA characterised by systemic inflammation. sJIA is distinguished from other forms of JIA by unique clinical features and treatment responses that are similar to autoinflammatory diseases. However, approximately half of children with sJIA develop destructive, long-standing arthritis that appears similar to other forms of JIA. Using genomic approaches, we sought to gain novel insights into the pathophysiology of sJIA and its relationship with other forms of JIA. METHODS: We performed a genome-wide association study of 770 children with sJIA collected in nine countries by the International Childhood Arthritis Genetics Consortium. Single nucleotide polymorphisms were tested for association with sJIA. Weighted genetic risk scores were used to compare the genetic architecture of sJIA with other JIA subtypes. RESULTS: The major histocompatibility complex locus and a locus on chromosome 1 each showed association with sJIA exceeding the threshold for genome-wide significance, while 23 other novel loci were suggestive of association with sJIA. Using a combination of genetic and statistical approaches, we found no evidence of shared genetic architecture between sJIA and other common JIA subtypes. CONCLUSIONS: The lack of shared genetic risk factors between sJIA and other JIA subtypes supports the hypothesis that sJIA is a unique disease process and argues for a different classification framework. Research to improve sJIA therapy should target its unique genetics and specific pathophysiological pathways

Resolving the species of the lichen genus Graphina Müll. Arg. in China, with some new combinations

In the framework of continuing studies on the Graphidaceae in China, the status of all taxa traditionally assigned to the genus Graphina reported from China are resolved in the present paper. Five new combinations are made, namely Diorygma isabellinum (Zahlbr.) Z.F. Jia & Lücking, comb. nov., Fissurina adscribens (Nyl.) Z.F. Jia & Lücking, comb. nov., Graphis lecanactiformis (Zahlbr.) Z.F. Jia & Lücking, comb. nov., Phaeographis haloniata (Zahlbr.) Z.F. Jia & Lücking, comb. nov. and Platygramme taiwanensis (J.C. Wei) Z.F. Jia & Lucking, comb. nov. Five new synonymies were found: Graphina olivascens Zahlbr. (= Fissurina adscribens), Graphina plumbicolor Zahlbr. (= Phaeographis haloniata), Graphina roridula Zahlbr. and its variety platypoda Zahlbr. [= Diorygma pachygraphum (Nyl.) Kalb, Staiger & Elix], and Graphina taiwanensis f. obscurata J.C. Wei (= Platygramme taiwanensis)

Recent developments in anti-rheumatic drugs in pediatrics: treatment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common autoimmune-autoinflammatory disease in childhood and affects approximately 1 in 1,000 children. Despite advances in diagnosis and treatment options, JIA remains a chronic condition for most affected children. Recent evidence suggests that disease control at onset may determine the tempo of subsequent disease course and long-term outcomes, and raises the concept of a therapeutic window of opportunity in patients with JIA. This underscores the importance of early aggressive treatment in patients with JIA. With the advent of novel biologic therapeutics, the repertoire of agents available for treatment of children with JIA has greatly increased. The present article will summarize recent developments in the medical treatment of children with JIA and will offer insights into emerging therapies

Pulmonary Hypertension and Other Potentially Fatal Pulmonary Complications in Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis

Objective Systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is characterized by fevers, rash, and arthritis, for which interleukin‐1 (IL‐1) and IL‐6 inhibitors appear to be effective treatments. Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), interstitial lung disease (ILD), and alveolar proteinosis (AP) have recently been reported with increased frequency in systemic JIA patients. Our aim was to characterize and compare systemic JIA patients with these complications to a larger cohort of systemic JIA patients. Methods Systemic JIA patients who developed PAH, ILD, and/or AP were identified through an electronic Listserv and their demographic, systemic JIA, and pulmonary disease characteristics as well as their medication exposure information were collected. Patients with these features were compared to a cohort of systemic JIA patients enrolled in the Childhood Arthritis and Rheumatology Research Alliance (CARRA) registry. Results The patients (n = 25) were significantly ( P < 0.05) more likely than the CARRA registry cohort (n = 389) to be female; have more systemic features; and have been exposed to an IL‐1 inhibitor, tocilizumab, corticosteroids, intravenous immunoglobulin, cyclosporine, and cyclophosphamide. Twenty patients (80%) were diagnosed with pulmonary disease after 2004. Twenty patients (80%) had macrophage activation syndrome (MAS) during their disease course and 15 patients (60%) had MAS at pulmonary diagnosis. Sixteen patients had PAH, 5 had AP, and 7 had ILD. Seventeen patients (68%) were taking or recently discontinued (<1 month) a biologic agent at pulmonary symptom onset; 12 patients (48%) were taking anti–IL‐1 therapy (primarily anakinra). Seventeen patients (68%) died at a mean of 10.2 months from the diagnosis of pulmonary complications. Conclusion PAH, AP, and ILD are underrecognized complications of systemic JIA that are frequently fatal. These complications may be the result of severe uncontrolled systemic disease activity and may be influenced by medication exposure.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/97453/1/21889_ftp.pd