Spectroscopic Techniques and Their Application in Metabolic Profiling of Wood: A Minireview

GC/LC-MS and NMR spectroscopy have increasingly occupied a central position in the methodologies developed for metabolic analysis. This brief review deals with introduction of terminology used in metabolic analysis. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS), liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) commonly used in metabolic analysis and metabolic profiling of wood and wood based material by spectroscopic techniques. Apart from the description of the different methods, this review will try to direct the reader to the main approaches for analysis of metabolites in wood science. Keywords: Metabolic profiling, Wood, GC/LC-MS, NMR Spectroscopy

Intensive care unit-related fluconazole use in Spain and Germany: patient characteristics and outcomes of a prospective multicenter longitudinal observational study

Background: Candida spp. are a frequent cause of nosocomial bloodstream infections worldwide. Objective: To evaluate the use patterns and outcomes associated with intravenous (IV) fluconazole therapy in intensive care units in Spain and Germany. Patients and methods: The research reported here was a prospective multicenter longitudinal observational study in adult intensive care unit patients receiving IV fluconazole. Demographic, microbiologic, therapy success, length of hospital stay, adverse event, and all-cause mortality data were collected at 14 sites in Spain and five in Germany, from February 2004 to November 2005. Results: Patients (n = 303) received prophylaxis (n = 29), empiric therapy (n = 140), preemptive therapy (n = 85), or definitive therapy (n = 49). A total of 298 patients (98.4%) were treated with IV fluconazole as first-line therapy. The treating physicians judged therapy successful in 66% of prophylactic, 55% of empiric, 45% of preemptive, and 43% of definitive group patients. In the subgroup of 152 patients with proven and specified Candida infection only, 32% suffered from Candida specified as potentially resistant to IV fluconazole. The overall mortality rate was 42%. Conclusion: Our study informs treatment decision makers that approximately 32% of the patients with microbiological results available suffered from Candida specified as potentially resistant to IV fluconazole, highlighting the importance of appropriate therapy

Landmarks as navigation - aids for multiple robots

The paper presents selected landmarks as navigation-aids or waypoints for multiple car-like robots in a contained workspace cluttered with randomly fixed obstacles and landmarks. A new metrics is designed to select specific landmarks (which are treated as waypoints) falling in the robots’ field of view and with a minimum distance away from each other and their targets. A new metric is also defined to obtain the robot’s field of view at every iteration. Using the Lyapunov-based control scheme (LbCS) nonlinear acceleration-based stabilizing control laws are derived for navigation amongst obstacles and landmarks en route the final destination via selected landmarks or waypoints. The proposed technique and the new control laws are verified via interesting computer simulations

A cost-effectiveness analysis of caspofungin vs. liposomal amphotericin B for treatment of suspected fungal infections in the UK

Objective: To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of caspofungin vs. liposomal amphotericin B in the treatment of suspected fungal infections in the UK.Methods: The cost-effectiveness of caspofungin vs. liposomal amphotericin B was evaluated using a decision-tree model. The decision tree was populated using both data and clinical definitions from published clinical studies. Model outcomes included success in terms of resolution of fever, baseline infection, absence of breakthrough infection, survival and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) saved. Discontinuation due to nephrotoxicity or other adverse events were included in the model. Efficacy and safety data were based on additional analyses of a randomised, double blind, multinational trial of caspofungin compared with liposomal amphotericin B. Information on life expectancy, quality of life, medical resource consumption and costs were obtained from peer-reviewed published data.Results: The caspofungin mean total treatment cost was £9762 (95% uncertainty interval 6955–12 577), which was £2033 (−2489; 6779) less than liposomal amphotericin B. Treatment with caspofungin resulted in 0.40 (−0.12; 0.94) additional QALYs saved in comparison with liposomal amphotericin B. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis found a 95% probability of the incremental cost per QALY saved being within the generally accepted threshold for cost-effectiveness (£30 000). Additional analyses with varying dose of caspofungin and liposomal amphotericin B confirmed these findings.Conclusion: Given the underlying assumptions, caspofungin is cost-effective compared with liposomal amphotericin B in the treatment of suspected fungal infections in the UK.<br/

Validation of a general measure of treatment satisfaction, the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM), using a national panel study of chronic disease

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to develop and psychometrically evaluate a general measure of patients' satisfaction with medication, the Treatment Satisfaction Questionnaire for Medication (TSQM). METHODS: The content and format of 55 initial questions were based on a formal conceptual framework, an extensive literature review, and the input from three patient focus groups. Patient interviews were used to select the most relevant questions for further evaluation (n = 31). The psychometric performance of items and resulting TSQM scales were examined using eight diverse patient groups (arthritis, asthma, major depression, type I diabetes, high cholesterol, hypertension, migraine, and psoriasis) recruited from a national longitudinal panel study of chronic illness (n = 567). Participants were then randomized to complete the test items using one of two alternate scaling methods (Visual Analogue vs. Likert-type). RESULTS: A factor analysis (principal component extraction with varimax rotation) of specific items revealed three factors (Eigenvalues > 1.7) explaining 75.6% of the total variance; namely Side effects (4 items, 28.4%, Cronbach's Alpha = .87), Effectiveness (3 items, 24.1%, Cronbach's Alpha = .85), and Convenience (3 items, 23.1%, Cronbach's Alpha = .87). A second factor analysis of more generally worded items yielded a Global Satisfaction scale (3 items, Eigenvalue = 2.3, 79.1%, Cronbach's Alpha = .85). The final four scales possessed good psychometric properties, with the Likert-type scaling method performing better than the VAS approach. Significant differences were found on the TSQM by the route of medication administration (oral, injectable, topical, inhalable), level of illness severity, and length of time on medication. Regression analyses using the TSQM scales accounted for 40–60% of variation in patients' ratings of their likelihood to persist with their current medication. CONCLUSION: The TSQM is a psychometrically sound and valid measure of the major dimensions of patients' satisfaction with medication. Preliminary evidence suggests that the TSQM may also be a good predictor of patients' medication adherence across different types of medication and patient populations

Entropy Maximization, Cutoff Distribution, and Finite Stellar Masses

Conventional equilibrium statistical mechanics of open gravitational systems is known to be problematical. We first recall that spherical stars/galaxies acquire unbounded radii, become infinitely massive, and evaporate away continuously if one uses the standard Maxwellian distribution fB (which maximizes the usual Boltzmann-Shannon entropy and hence has a tail extending to infinity). Next, we show that these troubles disappear automatically if we employ the exact most probable distribution f (which maximizes the combinatorial entropy and hence possesses a sharp cutoff tail). Finally, if astronomical observation is carried out on a large galaxy, then the Poisson equation together with thermal de Broglie wavelength provides useful information about the cutoff radius rK, cutoff energy εK, and the huge quantum number K up to which the cluster exists. Thereby, a refinement over the empirical lowered isothermal King models, is achieved. Numerically, we find that the most probable distribution (MPD) prediction fits well the number density profile near the outer edge of globular clusters

Current Status of Knowledge on Hilsa

Species of the family Clupeidae are highly preferred food fishes in the world. The Indian shad, hilsa, belonging to the family Clupeidae, contribute to commercial catches in a number of countries bordering the Bay of Bengal, Indian Ocean, Persian Gulf and Arabian Sea. The species normally inhabit rivers, estuaries and coastal waters. The highest catch comes from the deltaic region of the Gangetic system in the coastal Bay o f Bengal. The fish is anadromous; grows and matures in the sea and migrates to freshwater fo r spawning. Hilsa fisheries provides direct and indirect livelihood to millions o f fishers along the coastal and riverine stretches in its range of distribution. They are highly delicious, priced and has important sociocultural importance, especially in West Bengal and the north eastern States of India. On account of its commercial importance and migratory habit, hilsa received research attraction since 1907 and there is a wealth of disseminated literature on various aspects o f hilsa by researchers o f different countries, including India

Association of SUMOlation Pathway Genes With Stroke in a Genome-wide Association Study in India

OBJECTIVE: To undertake a genome-wide association study (GWAS) to identify genetic variants for stroke in an Indian population. METHODS: In a hospital-based case-control study, 8 teaching hospitals in India recruited 4,088 participants, including 1,609 stroke cases. Imputed genetic variants were tested for association with stroke subtypes using both single-marker and gene-based tests. Association with vascular risk factors was performed with logistic regression. Various databases were searched for replication, functional annotation, and association with related traits. Status of candidate genes previously reported in the Indian population was also checked. RESULTS: Associations of vascular risk factors with stroke were similar to previous reports and show modifiable risk factors such as hypertension, smoking, and alcohol consumption as having the highest effect. Single-marker–based association revealed 2 loci for cardioembolic stroke (1p21 and 16q24), 2 for small vessel disease stroke (3p26 and 16p13), and 4 for hemorrhagic stroke (3q24, 5q33, 6q13, and 19q13) at p < 5 × 10(−8). The index single nucleotide polymorphism of 1p21 is an expression quantitative trait locus (p(lowest) = 1.74 × 10(−58)) for RWDD3 involved in SUMOylation and is associated with platelet distribution width (1.15 × 10(−9)) and 18-carbon fatty acid metabolism (p = 7.36 × 10(−12)). In gene-based analysis, we identified 3 genes (SLC17A2, FAM73A, and OR52L1) at p < 2.7 × 10(−6). Eleven of 32 candidate gene loci studied in an Indian population replicated (p < 0.05), and 21 of 32 loci identified through previous GWAS replicated according to directionality of effect. CONCLUSIONS: This GWAS of stroke in an Indian population identified novel loci and replicated previously known loci. Genetic variants in the SUMOylation pathway, which has been implicated in brain ischemia, were identified for association with stroke

On measurement of top polarization as a probe of ttˉt \bar t production mechanisms at the LHC

In this note we demonstrate the use of top polarization in the study of $t \bar t$ resonances at the LHC, in the possible case where the dynamics implies a non-zero top polarization. As a probe of top polarization we construct an asymmetry in the decay-lepton azimuthal angle distribution (corresponding to the sign of $\cos\phi_\ell$) in the laboratory. The asymmetry is non-vanishing even for a symmetric collider like the LHC, where a positive $z$ axis is not uniquely defined. The angular distribution of the leptons has the advantage of being a faithful top-spin analyzer, unaffected by possible anomalous $tbW$ couplings, to linear order. We study, for purposes of demonstration, the case of a $Z'$ as might exist in the little Higgs models. We identify kinematic cuts which ensure that our asymmetry reflects the polarization in sign and magnitude. We investigate possibilities at the LHC with two energy options: $\sqrt{s} = 14$ TeV and $\sqrt{s} = 7$ TeV, as well as at the Tevatron. At the LHC the model predicts net top quark polarization of the order of a few per cent for $M_{Z'} \simeq 1200$ GeV, being as high as $10$ for a smaller mass of the $Z'$ of $700$ GeV and for the largest allowed coupling in the model, the values being higher for the $7$ TeV option. These polarizations translate to a deviation from the standard-model value of azimuthal asymmetry of up to about $4$ ($7$) for $14$ ($7$) TeV LHC, whereas for the Tevatron, values as high as $12$ are attained. For the $14$ TeV LHC with an integrated luminosity of 10 fb$^{-1}$, these numbers translate into a $3 \sigma$ sensitivity over a large part of the range $500 \lesssim M_{Z'} \lesssim 1500$ GeV.Comment: 28 page, LaTeX, requires JHEP style file, 12 figures. Typos corrected and references adde