Growth of anisotropic gold nanoparticles in photoresponsive fluid for UV sensing and erythema prediction

Aim: To develop a novel plasmonic nanosensing technique to monitor the exposure levels of UV light for sunlight disease prevention. Methods: Anisotropic gold nanoparticles were grown inside a UV photoresponsive fluid, which was previously exposed to UV radiation from different sources. The morphology and optical properties of the obtained nanoparticles were monitored by spectroscopy and microscopy. Results: The morphological and optical properties of the nanoparticles were dependent on the UV dose. The UV exposure levels were accurately correlated to the UV minimal doses to produce erythema to different skin types. Conclusion: This plasmonic nanosensing technique can be employed as novel sunlight-indexing tool for monitoring the dangerous level of skin exposure

ELASTOGRAPHY CAN EFFECTIVELY DECREASE THE NUMBER OF FINE-NEEDLE ASPIRATION BIOPSIES IN PATIENTS WITH CALCIFIED THYROID NODULES

When calcification, frequently found in both benign and malignant nodules, is present in thyroid nodules, non-invasive differentiation with ultrasound becomes challenging. The goal of this study was to evaluate the utility of elastography in differentiating calcified thyroid nodules. Consecutive patients (165 patients with 196 nodules) referred for fine-needle aspiration who had undergone both ultrasound elastography and B-mode examinations were analyzed retrospectively. Calcification was present in 45 benign and 20 malignant nodules. On 65 calcified nodules, elastography had 95% sensitivity, 51.1% specificity, 46.3% positive predictive value and 95.8% negative predictive value in detecting malignancy. Twenty-three of 45 benign calcified nodules were correctly diagnosed with elastography compared with 4 of 45 by B-mode ultrasound. Although it is difficult to differentiate benign and malignant calcified thyroid nodules solely with B-mode ultrasound, elastography has the potential to reduce the number of fine-needle aspiration biopsies performed on calcified nodules. (C) 2014 World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine & Biology.1188Ysciescopu

Molecular lens applied to benzene and carbon disulfide molecular beams

A molecular lens of the nonresonant dipole force formed by focusing a nanosecond IR laser pulse has been applied to benzene and CS2 molecular beams. Using the velocity map imaging technique for molecular ray tracing, characteristic molecular lens parameters including the focal length (f ), minimum beam width (W), and distance to the minimum beam width position (D) were determined. The laser intensity dependence of the observed lens parameters was in good agreement with theoretical predictions. W was independent of the laser peak intensity (I-0), whereas f and D varied linearly with 1/I-0. The differences in lens parameters between the molecular species were well correlated with the polarizability per mass values of the molecules. A high chromatographic resolution of Rs = 0.84 was achieved between the images of benzene molecular beams undeflected and deflected by the lens. The possibilities for a new type of chromatography are discussed.open293

What Shapes the Quality and Behavior of Government Officials? Institutional Variation in Selection and Retention Methods

In representative democracies, a variety of rules are employed to select and retain public officials to reflect public preferences over policies. We discuss the literature on selection and retention rules for government officials, focusing on low-information offices. First, we overview the historical origins and the scope of the variation in selection and retention rules. Second, we provide conceptual frameworks for assessing the advantages and disadvantages of direct elections and discuss various factors that influence the functioning of elections. Third, we present empirical regularities. We summarize the baseline effects of the institutional variation and their interaction with factors such as media and compensation. Finally, we discuss outstanding questions on theoretical and empirical fronts, and how the digitization of government information and advances in machine learning can open up new avenues for research

Validation of the Thai version of the family reported outcome measure (FROM-16)© to assess the impact of disease on the partner or family members of patients with cancer

© The Author(s). 2019Background: Cancer not only impairs a patient's physical and psychosocial functional behaviour, but also contributes to negative impact on family members' health related quality of life. Currently, there is an absence of a relevant tool in Thai with which to measure such impact. The aim of this study was to translate and validate the Family Reported Outcome Measure (FROM-16) in Thai cancer patients' family members. Methods: Thai version of FROM-16 was generated by interactive forward-backward translation process following standard guidelines. This was tested for psychometric properties including reliability and validity, namely content validity, concurrent validity, known group validity, internal consistency, exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis. Construct validity was examined by comparing the Thai FROM-16 version with the WHOQOL-BREF-THAI. Results: The internal consistency reliability was strong (Cronbach's alpha = 0.86). A Negative moderate correlation between the Thai FROM-16 and WHOQOL-BREF-THAI was observed (r = - 0.4545, p < 0.00), and known group validity was proved by a statistically significant higher score in family members with high burden of care and insufficient income. The factor analysis supported both 3-factor and 2-factor loading model with slight difference when compared with the original version. Conclusions: The Thai FROM-16 showed good reliability and validity in Thai family members of patients with cancer. A slight difference in factor analysis results compared to the original version could be due to cross-culture application.Peer reviewedFinal Published versio

Agrobacterium-mediated genetic transformation of Miscanthus sinensis

Miscanthus species are tall perennial rhizomatous grasses with C4 photosynthesis originating from East Asia, and they are considered as important bioenergy crops for biomass production. In this study, Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for M. sinensis was developed using embryogenic calli derived from mature seeds. In order to establish a stable system, optimum conditions to obtain highly regenerable and transformation-competent embryogenic calli were investigated, and embryogenic calli were efficiently induced with callus induction medium containing 3 mg L-1 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid and 25 mM l-proline, at pH 5.7 with an induction temperature of 28 A degrees C. In addition, the embryogenic callus induction and regeneration potentials were compared between seven M. sinensis germplasms collected from several sites in Korea, which revealed that the germplasm SNU-M-045 had superior embryogenic callus induction and regeneration potentials. With this germplasm, the genetic transformation of M. sinensis was performed using Agrobacterium tumefaciens EHA105 carrying pCAMBIA1300 with a green fluorescence protein gene as a reporter. After putative transgenic plants were obtained, the genomic integration of transgenes was confirmed by genomic PCR, transgene expression was validated by Northern blot analysis, and the number of transgene integration was confirmed by DNA gel blot analysis. Furthermore, the Agrobacterium-mediated transformation of M. sinensis was also performed with pCAMBIA3301 which contains an herbicide resistance gene (BAR), and we obtained transgenic M. sinensis plants whose herbicide resistance was confirmed by spraying with BASTA(A (R)). Therefore, we have established a stable Agrobacterium-mediated transformation system for M. sinensis, and also successfully produced herbicide-resistant Miscanthus plants by introducing BAR gene via the established method.X111210Ysciescopu

Simulation of the deflected cutting tool trajectory in complex surface milling

Since industry is rapidly developing, either locally or globally, manufacturers witness harder challenges due to the growing competitivity. This urges them to better consider the four factors linked to production and output: quality, quantity, cost and price, quality being of course the most important factor which constitutes their main concern. Efforts will be concentrated—in this research—on improving the quality and securing more accuracy for a machined surface in ball-end milling. Quality and precision are two essential criteria in industrial milling. However, milling errors and imperfections, duemainly to the cutting tool deflection, hinder the full achieving of these targets. Our task, all along this paper, consists in studying and realizing the simulation of the deflected cutting tool trajectory, by using the methods which are available. In a future stage, and in the frame of a deeper research, the simulation process will help to carry out the correction and the compensation of the errors resulting from the tool deflection. The corrected trajectory which is obtained by the method mirror will be sent to the machine. To achieve this goal, the next process consists—as a first step—in selecting a model of cutting forces for a ball-end mill. This allows to define—later on—the behavior of this tool, and the emergence of three methods namely the analytical model, the finite elements method, and the experimental method. It is possible to tackle the cutting forces simulation, all along the tool trajectory, while this latter is carrying out the sweeping of the part to be machined in milling and taking into consideration the cutting conditions, as well as the geography of the workpiece. A simulation of the deflected cutting tool trajectory dependent on the cutting forces has been realized

Brazilin Isolated from Caesalpinia sappan Suppresses Nuclear Envelope Reassembly by Inhibiting Barrier-to-Autointegration Factor Phosphorylation

To date, many anticancer drugs have been developed by directly or indirectly targeting microtubules, which are involved in cell division. Although this approach has yielded many anticancer drugs, these drugs produce undesirable side effects. An alternative strategy is needed, and targeting mitotic exit may be one alternative approach. Localization of phosphorylated barrier-to-autointegration factor (BAF) to the chromosomal core region is essential for nuclear envelope compartment relocalization. In this study, we isolated brazilin from Caesalpinia sappan Leguminosae and demonstrated that it inhibited BAF phosphorylation in vitro and in vivo. Moreover, we demonstrated direct binding between brazilin and BAF. The inhibition of BAF phosphorylation induced abnormal nuclear envelope reassembly and cell death, indicating that perturbation of nuclear envelope reassembly could be a novel approach to anticancer therapy. We propose that brazilin isolated from C. sappan may be a new anticancer drug candidate that induces cell death by inhibiting vaccinia-related kinase 1-mediated BAF phosphorylation.X1153Ysciescopu

PI3K-C2 alpha Knockdown Results in Rerouting of Insulin Signaling and Pancreatic Beta Cell Proliferation

Insulin resistance is a syndrome that affects multiple insulin target tissues, each having different biological functions regulated by insulin. A remaining question is to mechanistically explain how an insulin target cell/tissue can be insulin resistant in one biological function and insulin sensitive in another at the same time. Here, we provide evidence that in pancreatic beta cells, knockdown of PI3K-C2 alpha expression results in rerouting of the insulin signal from insulin receptor (IR)-B/PI3K-C2 alpha/PKB-mediated metabolic signaling to IR-B/Shc/ERK-mediated mitogenic signaling, which allows the beta cell to switch from a highly glucose-responsive, differentiated state to a proliferative state. Our data suggest the existence of IR-cascade-selective insulin resistance, which allows rerouting of the insulin signal within the same target cell. Hence, factors involved in the rerouting of the insulin signal represent tentative therapeutic targets in the treatment of insulin resistance.11108Ysciescopu

National inventory of emergency departments in Singapore

Background: Emergency departments (EDs) are the basic units of emergency care. We performed a national inventory of all Singapore EDs and describe their characteristics and capabilities. Methods: Singapore EDs accessible to the general public 24/7 were surveyed using the National ED Inventories instrument ( http://www.emnet-nedi.org). ED staff members were asked about ED characteristics with reference to calendar year 2007. Results: Fourteen EDs participated (100% response). All EDs were located in hospitals, and most (92%) were independent departments. One was a psychiatric ED; the rest were general EDs. Among general EDs, all had a contiguous layout, with medical and surgical care provided in one area. All but two EDs saw both adults and children; one ED was adult-only, and the other saw only children. Six were in the public sector and seven in private health-care institutions, with public EDs seeing the majority (78%) of ED patients. Each private ED had an annual patient census of 60,000. They received 98% of ambulances and had an inpatient admission rate of 30%. Two public EDs reported being overcapacity; no private EDs did. For both public and private EDs, availability of consultant resources in EDs was high, while technological resources varied. Conclusion: Characteristics and capabilities of Singapore EDs varied and were largely dependent on whether they are in public or private hospitals. This initial inventory establishes a benchmark to further monitor the development of emergency care in Singapore