Asymptotics for ultimate ruin probability in a by-claim risk model

This paper considers a by-claim risk model with constant interest rate in which the main claim and by-claim random vectors form a sequence of independent and identically distributed random pairs with each pair obeying some certain dependence or arbitrary dependence structure. Under the assumption of heavy-tailed claims, we derive some asymptotic formulas for ultimate ruin probability. Some simulation studies are also performed to check the accuracy of the obtained theoretical results via the crude Monte Carlo method

Bryostatin 1 alleviates respiratory syncytial virus pneumonia in a mice model via down-regulation of inflammatory cytokines

Purpose: To investigate the effect of bryostatin 1 on respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection in vitro in lung alveolar cells and in vivo in a mice model. Methods: RSV infection in the mice was induced by the administration of 2 x 106 PFU viral particles intranasally in the left nostril. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and western blotting were used for the determination of changes in interleukin expression. Results: Bryostatin 1 treatment of RSV-infected BEAS-2B cells significantly (p < 0.05) inhibited viability. The mortality of mice infected with RSV markedly decreased on treatment with bryostatin 1. The pulmonary damage induced by RSV infection was also prevented in mice treated with bryostatin 1. Treatment of the RSV infected mice with bryostatin 1 caused a dose-based suppression of IL 1β/ 18 and TNF α generation (p < 0.05). Bryostatin 1 pre-treatment at doses 2, 6 and 12 mg/kg led to reduction of NLRP3, ASC and caspase 1 proteins, as well as a significant decrease in the expression of mRNA corresponding to NLRP3, ASC and caspase 1 (p< 0.05). Conclusion: The results demonstrate that bryostatin 1 treatment of RSV-infected BEAS-2B cells prevents reduction in its viability. Moreover, pre-treatment of RSV-infected mice with bryostatin 1 improves mortality and prevents pulmonary tissue damage by down-regulating NLRP3 activation. Therefore, bryostatin 1 may be an option for the development of an effective treatment for pneumoni

Organic & Hybrid Photonic Crystals for Controlling Light-Matter Interaction Processes

Organic & Hybrid Photonic Crystals for Controlling Light-Matter Interaction Processe

An outbreak of aseptic meningitis caused by coxsackievirus A9 in Gansu, the People's Republic of China

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>An outbreak of aseptic meningitis occurred in Tianshui city of Gansu Province, the People's Republic of China, from March to June 2005. A total of 85 patients were clinical confirmed as aseptic meningitis in this outbreak.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>CVA9 was mainly responsible for this outbreak supported by the clinical manifestations of the patients, epidemiological data of the outbreak, the results of RT-PCR and complete VP1 sequence determination, conventional neutralization assays, IgM serological assays, viral isolation and phylogenetics analysis. Through phylogenetic analysis and homogeneity analysis for partial VP1 gene, the nucleotide and amino acid homologies between Gansu isolates and former Chinese CVA9 strains were 88.2%-96.1% and 97.2%-99.2%, respectively. Multiple transmission chains of CVA9 occurred in different provinces or years in China. Moreover, in order to clarify the genotype of CVA9, Gansu CVA9 strains isolated in this outbreak were compared with other CVA9 isolates based on VP1/2A junction regions (genotyping region) and they might belong to a new genotype of CVA9, which could be assigned for genotype XIII,</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>CVA9 was confirmed as the pathogen responsible for this outbreak. The phylogenetic analysis indicated that the CVA9 strains isolated in this outbreak might belong to a new genotype.</p

Transcriptome and metabolome profiling of the medicinal plant Veratrum mengtzeanum reveal key components of the alkaloid biosynthesis

Veratrum mengtzeanum is the main ingredient for Chinese folk medicine known as “Pimacao” due to its unique alkaloids. A diverse class of plant-specific metabolites having key pharmacological activities. There are limited studies on alkaloid synthesis and its metabolic pathways in plants. To elucidate the alkaloid pathway and identify novel biosynthetic enzymes and compounds in V. mengtzeanum, transcriptome and metabolome profiling has been conducted in leaves and roots. The transcriptome of V. mengtzeanum leaves and roots yielded 190,161 unigenes, of which 33,942 genes expressed differentially (DEGs) in both tissues. Three enriched regulatory pathways (isoquinoline alkaloid biosynthesis, indole alkaloid biosynthesis and tropane, piperidine and pyridine alkaloid biosynthesis) and a considerable number of genes such as AED3-like, A4U43, 21 kDa protein-like, 3-O-glycotransferase 2-like, AtDIR19, MST4, CASP-like protein 1D1 were discovered in association with the biosynthesis of alkaloids in leaves and roots. Some transcription factor families, i.e., AP2/ERF, GRAS, NAC, bHLH, MYB-related, C3H, FARI, WRKY, HB-HD-ZIP, C2H2, and bZIP were also found to have a prominent role in regulating the synthesis of alkaloids and steroidal alkaloids in the leaves and roots of V. mengtzeanum. The metabolome analysis revealed 74 significantly accumulated metabolites, with 55 differentially accumulated in leaves compared to root tissues. Out of 74 metabolites, 18 alkaloids were highly accumulated in the roots. A novel alkaloid compound viz; 3-Vanilloylygadenine was discovered in root samples. Conjoint analysis of transcriptome and metabolome studies has also highlighted potential genes involved in regulation and transport of alkaloid compounds. Here, we have presented a comprehensive metabolic and transcriptome profiling of V. mengtzeanum tissues. In earlier reports, only the roots were reported as a rich source of alkaloid biosynthesis, but the current findings revealed both leaves and roots as significant manufacturing factories for alkaloid biosynthesis

Plasma sTNFR1 and IL8 for prognostic enrichment in sepsis trials: a prospective cohort study.

BackgroundEnrichment strategies improve therapeutic targeting and trial efficiency, but enrichment factors for sepsis trials are lacking. We determined whether concentrations of soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor-1 (sTNFR1), interleukin-8 (IL8), and angiopoietin-2 (Ang2) could identify sepsis patients at higher mortality risk and serve as prognostic enrichment factors.MethodsIn a multicenter prospective cohort study of 400 critically ill septic patients, we derived and validated thresholds for each marker and expressed prognostic enrichment using risk differences (RD) of 30-day mortality as predictive values. We then used decision curve analysis to simulate the prognostic enrichment of each marker and compare different prognostic enrichment strategies.Measurements and main resultsAn admission sTNFR1 concentration &gt; 8861 pg/ml identified patients with increased mortality in both the derivation (RD 21.6%) and validation (RD 17.8%) populations. Among immunocompetent patients, an IL8 concentration &gt; 94 pg/ml identified patients with increased mortality in both the derivation (RD 17.7%) and validation (RD 27.0%) populations. An Ang2 level &gt; 9761 pg/ml identified patients at 21.3% and 12.3% increased risk of mortality in the derivation and validation populations, respectively. Using sTNFR1 or IL8 to select high-risk patients improved clinical trial power and efficiency compared to selecting patients with septic shock. Ang2 did not outperform septic shock as an enrichment factor.ConclusionsThresholds for sTNFR1 and IL8 consistently identified sepsis patients with higher mortality risk and may have utility for prognostic enrichment in sepsis trials