Exponential distribution of long heart beat intervals during atrial fibrillation and their relevance for white noise behaviour in power spectrum

The statistical properties of heart beat intervals of 130 long-term surface electrocardiogram recordings during atrial fibrillation (AF) are investigated. We find that the distribution of interbeat intervals exhibits a characteristic exponential tail, which is absent during sinus rhythm, as tested in a corresponding control study with 72 healthy persons. The rate of the exponential decay lies in the range 3-12 Hz and shows diurnal variations. It equals, up to statistical uncertainties, the level of the previously uncovered white noise part in the power spectrum, which is also characteristic for AF. The overall statistical features can be described by decomposing the intervals into two statistically independent times, where the first one is associated with a correlated process with 1/f noise characteristics, while the second one belongs to an uncorrelated process and is responsible for the exponential tail. It is suggested to use the rate of the exponential decay as a further parameter for a better classification of AF and for the medical diagnosis. The relevance of the findings with respect to a general understanding of AF is pointed out

Influence of inhabitant background on the physical changes of Banjarese houses: A case study in Kuin Utara settlement, Banjarmasin, Indonesia

The disappearance of vernacular buildings is a common phenomenon worldwide and in Indonesia. The Banjarese house, a type of Indonesian vernacular architecture, is a typical riverside dwelling that shows the strong relationship between the river and the inhabitants. In view of the number of Banjarese houses facing degradation as a riverside type of vernacular architecture, a study is necessary. The characteristics of the inhabitants must be considered when observing the condition of the remaining houses. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of inhabitant background on the physical changes of Banjarese houses for future revitalization. A research was conducted in the embryo of Banjarmasin along the Kuin riverside settlement in Kuin Utara sub-district through a door-to-door survey with a questionnaire. The exploration indicates the following: (1) the original form of all remaining houses has been altered, (2) most of the inhabitants are classified as a low-income society, (3) the different characteristics of the present inhabitants change the physical condition of houses, (4) the relationship of the current house condition to the socio-culture and economy of the inhabitants plays a prominent role in revitalizing Banjarese houses as a valuable asset

A Study on Transformation of Housing Typology and Its Environmental and Social Effects on the Living Conditions of Residents in Planned Residential Neighborhoods of Kabul City

This study examines the transformation in housing typology from low-rise to apartment buildings in the formal neighborhood of Kabul city. These formal neighborhoods were developed according to plans from 1978. The majority of these neighborhoods were designed with detached houses that had courtyards. Literature reviews, field visits, opinions of residents, and a planning organization provided data for this study. In this study, the transformation of housing in planned neighborhoods is analyzed in relation to their social and environmental impacts. Researchers determined how varying housing typologies affected residents’ health and quality of life in these planned neighborhoods. Initially, we assessed the physical characteristics of the study area and evaluated how much transformation volume is present in the study area. Second, we examined residents’ views of residential development and its impacts, as well as their daily lives. In order to identify the relationship between these two aspects, the study examined the characteristics of the area (variables) from the perspectives of privacy, natural light, shading, sound pollution, air pollution, and energy use. We used several criteria to evaluate the accuracy of the physical characteristics and the respondents’ opinions. Lastly, we provided some recommendations and solutions to improve the current situation

Influence of inhabitant background on the physical changes of Banjarese houses: A case study in Kuin Utara settlement, Banjarmasin, Indonesia

AbstractThe disappearance of vernacular buildings is a common phenomenon worldwide and in Indonesia. The Banjarese house, a type of Indonesian vernacular architecture, is a typical riverside dwelling that shows the strong relationship between the river and the inhabitants. In view of the number of Banjarese houses facing degradation as a riverside type of vernacular architecture, a study is necessary.The characteristics of the inhabitants must be considered when observing the condition of the remaining houses. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of inhabitant background on the physical changes of Banjarese houses for future revitalization.A research was conducted in the embryo of Banjarmasin along the Kuin riverside settlement in Kuin Utara sub-district through a door-to-door survey with a questionnaire. The exploration indicates the following: (1) the original form of all remaining houses has been altered, (2) most of the inhabitants are classified as a low-income society, (3) the different characteristics of the present inhabitants change the physical condition of houses, (4) the relationship of the current house condition to the socio-culture and economy of the inhabitants plays a prominent role in revitalizing Banjarese houses as a valuable asset

Study on reconstruction from a natural disaster and the progress of urban shrinkage:the case of the eruption disaster of Mt. Unzen-Fugendake, Shimabara, Japan

Natural Disaster gives serious impact and damage to city structure not only by disaster itself but also by reconstruction project after this. In depopulation era like in Japan, it is necessary to consider reconstruction plan in urban shrinking context with future low demand. This study clarifies reconstruction situation after eruption disaster of Mt. Unzen and recent urban shrinking in Shimabara City in order to consider urban resilience lesson. This study takes empirical method with official planning documents research, interview to key persons, questionnaire survey, and so on, and clarifies as follows. Since the residents' intention and consciousness for reconstruction needs to be intensified in reconstruction from a large-scale disaster, the reconstruction plans tend to be expansion-oriented. However, it is an illusion that temporary reconstruction projects bring the recovery of population in local cities in Japan. As the case from Shimabara, the followings can be pointed out as the concrete necessity. First, it is necessary to prepare a plan for housing developments for survivors which considers the future maturation of the development areas (especially the selection of their locations and the necessity of public transportation) and to carry out land readjustment considering demand for land after completion. In addition, as symbolically indicated by the abolishment of a Shimabara Railroad line after its reconstruction, it is necessary to prepare reconstruction plans of public transportation based on a strict demand forecast. Furthermore, reconstruction projects should be incorporated into city planning considering its sustainability

Progression of Human Renal Cell Carcinoma via Inhibition of RhoA-ROCK Axis by PARG1

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most lethal urological malignancy with high risk of recurrence; thus, new prognostic biomarkers are needed. In this study, a new RCC antigen, PTPL1 associated RhoGAP1 (PARG1), was identified by using serological identification of recombinant cDNA expression cloning with sera from RCC patients. PARG1 protein was found to be differentially expressed in RCC cells among patients. High PARG1 expression is significantly correlated with various clinicopathological factors relating to cancer cell proliferation and invasion, including G3 percentage (P = .0046), Ki-67 score (p expression is also correlated with high recurrence of N0M0 patients (P = .0084) and poor prognosis in RCC patients (P = .0345). Multivariate analysis has revealed that high PARG1 expression is an independent factor for recurrence (P = .0149) of N0M0 RCC patients. In in vitro studies, depletion of PARG1by siRNA in human RCC cell lines inhibited their proliferation through inducing G1 cell cycle arrest via upregulation of p53 and subsequent p21Cip1/Waf1, which are mediated by increased RhoA-ROCK activities. Similarly, PARG1 depletion cells inhibited invasion ability via increasing RhoA-ROCK activities in the RCC cell lines. Conversely, overexpression of PARG1 on human embryonic kidney cell line HEK293T promotes its cell proliferation and invasion. These results indicate that PARG1 plays crucial roles in progression of human RCC in increasing cell proliferation and invasion ability via inhibition of the RhoA-ROCK axis, and PARG1 is a poor prognostic marker, particularly for high recurrence of N0M0 RCC patients