Conditional bounds for small prime solutions of linear equations

Let a 1, a 2, a 3 be non-zero integers with gcd(a 1 a 2, a 3)=1 and let b be an arbitrary integer satisfying gcd (b, a i, a j) =1 for i≠j and b≡a 1+a 2+a 3 (mod 2). In a previous paper [3] which completely settled a problem of A. Baker, the 2nd and 3rd authors proved that if a 1, a 2, a 3 are not all of the same sign, then the equation a 1 p 1+a 2 p 2+a 3 p 3=b has a solution in primes p j satisfying {Mathematical expression} where A>0 is an absolute constant. In this paper, under the Generalized Riemann Hypothesis, the authors obtain a more precise bound for the solutions p j . In particular they obtain A0. An immediate consquence of the main result is that the Linnik's courtant is less than or equal to 2. © 1992 Springer-Verlag.postprin

Bipolar gold(III) complexes for solution-processable organic light-emitting devices with a small efficiency roll-off

Poster: no. 12A new class of bipolar alkynylgold(III) complexes containing triphenylamine and benzimidazole moieties has been synthesized and fully characterized. The incorporation of methyl groups in the central phenyl unit has been found to rigidify the molecule to reduce non-radiative decay, yielding a high photoluminescence quantum yield of up to 75 % in spin-coated thin films. More importantly, this class of alkynylgold(III) complexes exhibits excellent solubility in various organic solvents and is capable of serving as phosphorescent dopants in the fabrication of solution-processable organic lightemitting devices (OLEDs). Efficient solution-processable OLEDs with high external quantum efficiency (EQE) of up to 10 % and an extremely small efficiency roll-off of less than 1 % at a practical brightness of 1000 cd m–2 have been demonstrated.published_or_final_versio

Bipolar Gold(III) Complexes for Solution-Processable Organic Light-Emitting Devices with a Small Efficiency Roll-Off

Symposium S15: Metal Complexes for Optics: from fundamental to applications : no. S15.P21published_or_final_versio

Epidemiological determinants of spread of causal agent of severe acute respiratory syndrome in Hong Kong.

BACKGROUND: Health authorities worldwide, especially in the Asia Pacific region, are seeking effective public-health interventions in the continuing epidemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). We assessed the epidemiology of SARS in Hong Kong. METHODS: We included 1425 cases reported up to April 28, 2003. An integrated database was constructed from several sources containing information on epidemiological, demographic, and clinical variables. We estimated the key epidemiological distributions: infection to onset, onset to admission, admission to death, and admission to discharge. We measured associations between the estimated case fatality rate and patients' age and the time from onset to admission. FINDINGS: After the initial phase of exponential growth, the rate of confirmed cases fell to less than 20 per day by April 28. Public-health interventions included encouragement to report to hospital rapidly after the onset of clinical symptoms, contact tracing for confirmed and suspected cases, and quarantining, monitoring, and restricting the travel of contacts. The mean incubation period of the disease is estimated to be 6.4 days (95% CI 5.2-7.7). The mean time from onset of clinical symptoms to admission to hospital varied between 3 and 5 days, with longer times earlier in the epidemic. The estimated case fatality rate was 13.2% (9.8-16.8) for patients younger than 60 years and 43.3% (35.2-52.4) for patients aged 60 years or older assuming a parametric gamma distribution. A non-parametric method yielded estimates of 6.8% (4.0-9.6) and 55.0% (45.3-64.7), respectively. Case clusters have played an important part in the course of the epidemic. INTERPRETATION: Patients' age was strongly associated with outcome. The time between onset of symptoms and admission to hospital did not alter outcome, but shorter intervals will be important to the wider population by restricting the infectious period before patients are placed in quarantine

Transmission dynamics of the etiological agent of SARS in Hong Kong: impact of public health interventions.

We present an analysis of the first 10 weeks of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic in Hong Kong. The epidemic to date has been characterized by two large clusters-initiated by two separate "super-spread" events (SSEs)-and by ongoing community transmission. By fitting a stochastic model to data on 1512 cases, including these clusters, we show that the etiological agent of SARS is moderately transmissible. Excluding SSEs, we estimate that 2.7 secondary infections were generated per case on average at the start of the epidemic, with a substantial contribution from hospital transmission. Transmission rates fell during the epidemic, primarily as a result of reductions in population contact rates and improved hospital infection control, but also because of more rapid hospital attendance by symptomatic individuals. As a result, the epidemic is now in decline, although continued vigilance is necessary for this to be maintained. Restrictions on longer range population movement are shown to be a potentially useful additional control measure in some contexts. We estimate that most currently infected persons are now hospitalized, which highlights the importance of control of nosocomial transmission

The Impact of the Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay on Treatment Decisions for Women With Estrogen Receptor-Positive, Node-Negative Breast Carcinoma in Hong Kong

Background The Oncotype DX Breast Cancer Assay is validated to assess risk of distant recurrence and likelihood of chemotherapy (CT) benefit in estrogen receptor-positive ESBC in various populations. In Hong Kong, > 80% of breast cancers are early stage breast cancer (ESBC) and > 60% of these women receive CT. This prospective study measured changes in CT type and recommendations, as well as physician impression of assay impact in a homogenous Chinese population. Methods Consecutive patients with estrogen receptor-positive, T1-3 N0-1mi M0 ESBC were offered enrollment. After surgery, physicians discussed treatment options with patients, then ordered the assay, then reassessed treatment recommendation considering assay results. Changes in treatment recommendation, CT utilization, physician confidence, and physician rating of influence on their treatment recommendations were measured. Results A total of 146 evaluable patients received pre- and post-testing treatment recommendations. CT recommendations (including changes in intensity of CT) were changed for 34 of 146 patients (23.3%; 95% confidence interval, 16.7%-31.0%); change in intensity occurred in 7 of 146 (4.8%). There were 27 changes in treatment recommendations of adding or removing CT altogether (18.5% change; 95% confidence interval, 12.6%-25.8%). CT recommendations decreased from 52.1% to 37.7%, a net absolute reduction of 14.4% (P < .001; 27.6% net relative reduction). Pre-assay, 96% of physicians agreed/strongly agreed that they were confident in their treatment recommendation; post-assay, 90% of physicians agreed/strongly agreed with the same statement. Thirty percent of physicians agreed/strongly agreed that the test had influenced their recommendation, similar to the proportion of changed recommendations. Conclusions The Oncotype DX Assay appears to influence physician ESBC adjuvant treatment recommendations in Hong Kong.published_or_final_versio

Future therapeutic targets in rheumatoid arthritis?

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by persistent joint inflammation. Without adequate treatment, patients with RA will develop joint deformity and progressive functional impairment. With the implementation of treat-to-target strategies and availability of biologic therapies, the outcomes for patients with RA have significantly improved. However, the unmet need in the treatment of RA remains high as some patients do not respond sufficiently to the currently available agents, remission is not always achieved and refractory disease is not uncommon. With better understanding of the pathophysiology of RA, new therapeutic approaches are emerging. Apart from more selective Janus kinase inhibition, there is a great interest in the granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor pathway, Bruton's tyrosine kinase pathway, phosphoinositide-3-kinase pathway, neural stimulation and dendritic cell-based therapeutics. In this review, we will discuss the therapeutic potential of these novel approaches

Detection of cold chain breaks using partial least squares-class modelling based on biogenic amine profiles in tuna

The maintenance of the cold chain is essential to ensure foodstuff conformity and safety. However, gaps in the cold chain may be expected so designing analytical methods capable to detect cold chain breaks is a worthwhile issue. In this paper, the possibility of using the amount of nine biogenic amines (BAs) determined in Thunnus albacares by HPLC-FLD for detecting cold chain breaks is approached. Tuna is stored at 3 different temperature conditions for 8 storage periods. The evolution of the content of BAs is analyzed through parallel factor analysis (PARAFAC), in such a way that storage temperature, BAs and storage time profiles are estimated. PARAFAC has made it possible to observe two spoilage routes with different relative evolution of BAs. In addition, it has enabled to estimate the storage time, by considering the three storage temperatures, with errors of 0.5 and 1.0 days in fitting and in prediction, respectively. Furthermore, a class-modelling technique based on partial least squares is sequentially applied to decide, from the amount of BAs, if there has been a cold chain break. Firstly, samples stored at 25 °C are statistically discriminated from those kept at 4 °C and −18 °C; next, frozen samples are distinguished from those refrigerated. In the first case, the probabilities of false non-compliance and false compliance are almost zero, whereas in the second one, both probabilities are 10%. Globally, the results of this work have pointed out the feasibility of using the amount of BAs together with PLS-CM to decide if the cold chain has been maintained or not.Agencia Estatal de Investigación of Spanish Ministerio de Economía, Industria y Competitividad, Gobierno de España [project CTQ2017-88894-R] and Consejería de Educación de la Junta de Castilla y León [project BU012P17] both co-financed with European Regional Development Fun

Evidence for a role of TRIB3 in the regulation of megakaryocytopoiesis

Megakaryocytopoiesis is a complex differentiation process driven by the hormone thrombopoietin by which haematopoietic progenitor cells give rise to megakaryocytes, the giant bone marrow cells that in turn break down to form blood platelets. The Tribbles Pseudokinase 3 gene (TRIB3) encodes a pleiotropic protein increasingly implicated in the regulation of cellular differentiation programmes. Previous studies have hinted that TRIB3 could be also involved in megakaryocytopoiesis but its role in this process has so far not been investigated. Using cellular model systems of haematopoietic lineage differentiation here we demonstrate that TRIB3 is a negative modulator of megakaryocytopoiesis. We found that in primary cultures derived from human haematopoietic progenitor cells, thrombopoietin-induced megakaryocytic differentiation led to a time and dosedependent decrease in TRIB3 mRNA levels. In the haematopoietic cell line UT7/mpl, silencing of TRIB3 increased basal and thrombopoietin-stimulated megakaryocyte antigen expression, as well as basal levels of ERK1/2 phosphorylation. In primary haematopoietic cell cultures, silencing of TRIB3 facilitated megakaryocyte differentiation. In contrast, over-expression of TRIB3 in these cells inhibited the differentiation process. The in-vitro identification of TRIB3 as a negative regulator of megakaryocytopoiesis suggests that in-vivo this gene could be important for the regulation of platelet production