A Study of the Establishment of the Evaluation Index System for Tourist Attraction Disaster Resilience

Tourism industry is highly depended on the natural environment and climate. Compared to other industries, it is more susceptible to environment and climate. Taiwan belongs to a sea island country and located in the subtropical monsoon zone. The events of climate variability, frequency of typhoons and rainfalls raged are caused regularly serious disaster. In traditional disaster assessment, it usually focuses on the disaster damage and risk assessment, which is short of the features from different industries to understand the impact of the restoring force in post-disaster resilience and the main factors that constitute resilience. The object of this study is based on disaster recovery experience of tourism area and to understand the main factors affecting the tourist area of disaster resilience. The combinations of literature review and interviews with experts are prepared an early indicator system of the disaster resilience. Then, it is screened through a Fuzzy Delphi Method and Analytic Network Process for weight analysis. Finally, this study will establish the tourism disaster resilience evaluation index system considering the Taiwan's tourism industry characteristics. We hope that be able to enhance disaster resilience after tourist areas and increases the sustainability of industrial development. It is expected to provide government departments the tourism industry as the future owner of the assets in extreme climates responses

Nonsurjective zero product preservers between matrices over an arbitrary field

In this paper, we give concrete descriptions of additive or linear disjointness preservers between matrix algebras over an arbitrary field $\mathbb{F}$ of different sizes. In particular, we show that a linear map $\Phi: M_n(\mathbb{F}) \rightarrow M_r(\mathbb{F})$ preserving zero products carries the form $$\Phi(A)= S\begin{pmatrix} R\otimes A & 0 \cr 0 & \Phi_0(A)\end{pmatrix} S^{-1},$$ for some invertible matrices $R$ in $M_k(\mathbb{F})$, $S$ in $M_r(\mathbb{F})$ and a zero product preserving linear map $\Phi_0: M_n(\mathbb{F}) \rightarrow M_{r-nk}(\mathbb{F})$ with range consisting of nilpotent matrices. Here, either $R$ or $\Phi_0$ can be vacuous. The structure of $\Phi_0$ could be quite arbitrary. We classify $\Phi_0$ with some additional assumption. When $\Phi(I_n)$ has a zero nilpotent part, especially when $\Phi(I_n)$ is diagonalizable, we have $\Phi_0(X)\Phi_0(Y) = 0$ for all $X, Y$ in $M_n(\mathbb{F})$, and we give more information about $\Phi_0$ in this case. Similar results for double zero product preservers and orthogonality preservers are obtained.Comment: 29 page

Difference in the regulation of IL-8 expression induced by uropathogenic E. coli between two kinds of urinary tract epithelial cells

Bacterial adherence to epithelial cells is a key virulence trait of pathogenic bacteria. The type 1 fimbriae and the P-fimbriae of uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) have both been described to be important for the establishment of urinary tract infections (UTI). To explore the interactions between the host and bacterium responsible for the different environments of UPEC invasion, we examined the effect of pH and osmolarity on UPEC strain J96 fimbrial expression, and subsequent J96-induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) expression in different uroepithelial cells. The J96 strain grown in high pH with low osmolarity condition was favorable for the expression of type 1 fimbriae; whereas J96 grown in low pH with high osmolarity condition was beneficial for P fimbriae expression. Type 1 fimbriated J96 specifically invaded bladder 5637 epithelial cells and induced IL-8 expression. On the contrary, P fimbriated J96 invaded renal 786-O epithelial cells and induced IL-8 expression effectively. Type 1 fimbriated J96-induced IL-8 induction involved the p38, as well as ERK, JNK pathways, which leads to AP-1-mediated gene expression. P fimbriated J96-induced augmentation of IL-8 expression mainly involved p38-mediated AP-1 and NF-κB transcriptional activation. These results indicate that different expression of fimbriae in J96 trigger differential IL-8 gene regulation pathways in different uroepithelial cells

Central obesity and atherogenic dyslipidemia in metabolic syndrome are associated with increased risk for colorectal adenoma in a Chinese population

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is composed of cardiovascular risk factors including insulin resistance, obesity, dyslipidemia, and hypertension. Most of the components of MetS have been linked to the development of neoplasm. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between individual components of MetS and colorectal adenoma.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The study subjects were recruited from a pool of 4872 individuals who underwent a health check-up examination during the period January 2006 to May 2008. Each participant fulfilled a structured questionnaire. MetS was defined based on the America Heart Association and National Heart Lung Blood Institute criteria. Subjects with history of colon cancer, colon polyps, colitis, or prior colonic surgery were excluded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 4122 subjects were included for final analysis (2367 men and 1755 women; mean age, 49.6 ± 11.7 years). Of them, MetS was diagnosed in 708 men (29.9%) and in 367 women (20.9%). Among the patients with MetS, 34.6% had adenoma, 31.7% had hyperplastic polyps and 23.3% were polyp-free (p < 0.0001, Chi-square test). The adjusted OR for colorectal adenoma was significantly higher in the subjects with MetS (OR, 1.31, CI: 1.09-1.57). A stronger association between MetS and colorectal adenoma was found in men (OR:1.44, CI:1.16-1.80) than in women (OR:1.04, CI:0.74-1.46). The adjusted OR for adenoma increased as the number of MetS components increased (p for trend = 0.0001 ). When the individual components of MetS were analyzed separately, only central obesity (OR:1.36, CI:1.14-1.63), low HDL cholesterol levels (OR:1.30, CI:1.10-1.54) and high triglyceride levels (OR:1.26, CI:1.04-1.53) were independently associated with colorectal adenoma.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Of the components of MetS analyzed in this study, central obesity and dyslipidemia are independent risk factors for colorectal adenoma. With regard to the prevention of colorectal neoplasm, life-style modification such as weight reduction is worthwhile.</p

Analysis of Personal Life Patterns Using Accelerometer-Based Wearable Devices

Many commercially available wearable devices are equipped with sensors to measure motion and physiological signals from the wearer. G-sensors are commonly used in such wearable devices for counting steps, estimating energy expenditure and detecting sleep duration. In this study, two features derived from G-sensor motion signals, average cadence (step count divided by time) and ratio of high G value (outside the range of 0.5g~1.5g), were used to classify physical activities into four intensity levels (sedentary, light, moderate, hard). Eighty physical activity samples were collected and trained by the Weka machine learning software to form a classification model. G-sensor motion signals from four participants were collected over two weeks and classified into four activity intensity levels using the model. Physical activity levels (PAL) and personal life patterns of the participants were then derived. This data can then be used to tailor additional services for individual users of wearable devices. A BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) based system for older adults with dementia, combining personal life pattern analysis with localization function, is also proposed as an example application.</p

Neurochemical Properties of the Synapses in the Pathways of Orofacial Nociceptive Reflexes

The brainstem premotor neurons of the facial nucleus (VII) and hypoglossal (XII) nucleus can integrate orofacial nociceptive input from the caudal spinal trigeminal nucleus (Vc) and coordinate orofacial nociceptive reflex (ONR) responses. However, the synaptoarchitectures of the ONR pathways are still unknown. In the current study, we examined the distribution of GABAergic premotor neurons in the brainstem local ONR pathways, their connections with the Vc projections joining the brainstem ONR pathways and the neurochemical properties of these connections. Retrograde tracer fluoro-gold (FG) was injected into the VII or XII, and anterograde tracer biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) was injected into the Vc. Immunofluorescence histochemical labeling for inhibitory/excitatory neurotransmitters combined with BDA/FG tracing showed that GABAergic premotor neurons were mainly distributed bilaterally in the ponto-medullary reticular formation with an ipsilateral dominance. Some GABAergic premotor neurons made close appositions to the BDA-labeled fibers coming from the Vc, and these appostions were mainly distributed in the parvicellular reticular formation (PCRt), dorsal medullary reticular formation (MdD), and supratrigeminal nucleus (Vsup). We further examined the synaptic relationships between the Vc projecting fibers and premotor neurons in the VII or XII under the confocal laser-scanning microscope and electron microscope, and found that the BDA-labeled axonal terminals that made asymmetric synapses on premotor neurons showed vesicular glutamate transporter 2 (VGluT2) like immunoreactivity. These results indicate that the GABAergic premotor neurons receive excitatory neurotransmission from the Vc and may contribute to modulating the generation of the tonic ONR

Pulmonary IL- 33 orchestrates innate immune cells to mediate respiratory syncytial virus- evoked airway hyperreactivity and eosinophilia

BackgroundRespiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection is epidemiologically linked to asthma. During RSV infection, IL- 33 is elevated and promotes immune cell activation, leading to the development of asthma. However, which immune cells are responsible for triggering airway hyperreactivity (AHR), inflammation and eosinophilia remained to be clarified. We aimed to elucidate the individual roles of IL- 33- activated innate immune cells, including ILC2s and ST2+ myeloid cells, in RSV infection- triggered pathophysiology.MethodsThe role of IL- 33/ILC2 axis in RSV- induced AHR inflammation and eosinophilia were evaluated in the IL- 33- deficient and YetCre- 13 Rosa- DTA mice. Myeloid- specific, IL- 33- deficient or ST2- deficient mice were employed to examine the role of IL- 33 and ST2 signaling in myeloid cells.ResultsWe found that IL- 33- activated ILC2s were crucial for the development of AHR and airway inflammation, during RSV infection. ILC2- derived IL- 13 was sufficient for RSV- driven AHR, since reconstitution of wild- type ILC2 rescued RSV- driven AHR in IL- 13- deficient mice. Meanwhile, myeloid cell- derived IL- 33 was required for airway inflammation, ST2+ myeloid cells contributed to exacerbation of airway inflammation, suggesting the importance of IL- 33 signaling in these cells. Local and peripheral eosinophilia is linked to both ILC2 and myeloid IL- 33 signaling.ConclusionsThis study highlights the importance of IL- 33- activated ILC2s in mediating RSV- triggered AHR and eosinophilia. In addition, IL- 33 signaling in myeloid cells is crucial for airway inflammation.Respiratory syncytial virus induces ILC2 to produce IL- 5 and IL- 13 through IL- 33, which is crucial for the development of airway hyperreactivity and airway inflammation. Myeloid cell- derived IL- 33 and suppression of tumorigenicity 2- positive myeloid cells contribute to cytokine production and cellular inflammation in airway. Both ILC2 and myeloid cell IL- 33 signaling contribute to local and peripheral eosinophilia.Peer Reviewedhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154896/1/all14091.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154896/2/all14091-sup-0001-Supinfo.pdfhttps://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/154896/3/all14091_am.pd