Enhancing Automatic Chinese Essay Scoring System from Figures-of-Speech

PACLIC 20 / Wuhan, China / 1-3 November, 200

Ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) Reduces Cell Growth, Lipid Acquisition and Increases Adiponectin Expression in 3T3-L1 Cells

An American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius) extract (GE) that contained a quantifiable amount of ginsenosides was investigated for the potential to inhibit proliferation, affect the cell cycle, influence lipid acquisition and adiponectin expression in 3T3-L1 cells. Six fingerprint ginsenosides were quantified by high performance liquid chromatography and the respective molecular weights were confirmed by LC-ESI-MS analysis. The extract contained Rg1 (347.3 ± 99.7 μg g−1, dry weight), Re (8280.4 ± 792.3 μg g−1), Rb1 (1585.8 ± 86.8 μg g−1), Rc (32.9 ± 8 μg g−1), Rb2 (62.6 ± 10.6 μg g−1) and Rd (90.4 ± 3.2 μg g−1). The GE had a dose-dependent effect on 3T3-L1 cell growth, the LC50 value was determined to be 40.3 ± 5 μg ml−1. Cell cycle analysis showed modest changes in the cell cycle. No significant changes observed in both G1 and G2/M phases, however there was a significant decrease (P < .05) in the S phase after 24 and 48 h treatment. Apoptotic cells were modest but significantly (P < .05) increased after 48 h (3.2 ± 1.0%) compared to untreated control cells (1.5 ± 0.1%). Lipid acquisition was significantly reduced (P < .05) by 13 and 22% when treated at concentrations of 20.2 and 40.3 μg ml−1 compared to untreated control cells. In relation to adiponectin activation, western blot analysis showed that the protein expression was significantly (P < .05) increased at concentrations tested. A quantified GE reduced the growth of 3T3-L1 cells, down-regulated the accumulation of lipid and up-regulated the expression of adiponectin in the 3T3-L1 adipocyte cell model

Development of Compact P-Band Vector Reflectometer

A compact and low cost portable vector reflectometer is designed for a reliable measurement of reflection coefficient, S11. This reflectometer focuses on return loss measurement of frequency ranges from 450 MHz to 550 MHz. The detection of magnitude and phase is based on the utilization of surface mount Analog Devices AD8302 gain/phase detector. The data acquisition is controlled by using Arduino-Nano 3.0 microcontroller, with the use of two analog to digital converter (ADC) and a digital to analog converter (DAC). One port (Open, short and matched load) calibration technique is used to eliminate systematic errors prior to data acquisition. The evaluation of the reflectometer is done by comparing the result of the measurement to that of vector network analyzer

Bacteremic pneumonia caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae: Appropriateness of empirical treatment matters

BackgroundClinical information about bacteremic pneumonia caused by extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing organism is limited.MethodsA retrospective study was conducted at two medical centers in Taiwan. From May 2002 to August 2010, clinical information and outcome of adults with bacteremic pneumonia caused by ESBL-producing Escherichia coli and Klebsiella pneumoniae were analyzed. The primary outcome is the 30-day mortality.ResultsA total of 111 patients with bacteremic pneumonia caused by E. coli (37 patients, 33.3%) and K. pneumoniae (74, 66.7%) were identified. Their mean age was 69.2 years and 51.4% were male patients. Fifty-seven (51.3%) episodes were classified as hospital-acquired infections, 19 (17.1%) as health-care-associated infections, and four (3.6%) as community-acquired infections. Fifty-one (45.9%) patients received appropriate empiric antimicrobial therapy. The 30-day mortality rate was 40.5% (45 patients). In the multivariate analysis, several independent risk factors, including rapidly fatal underlying disease [odds ratio (OR), 5.75; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.54–21.48; p = 0.009], severe sepsis (OR, 4.84; 95% CI, 1.55–15.14; p = 0.007), critical illness (OR, 4.28; 95% CI, 1.35–13.57; p = 0.013), and receipt of appropriate empirical therapy (OR, 0.19; 95% CI, 0.07–0.55; p = 0.002), were associated with 30-day mortality. The survival analysis consistently found that individuals with appropriate empiric therapy had a higher survival rate (log-rank test, p < 0.001).ConclusionESBL-producing bacteremic pneumonia, especially health-care-associated infections, often occurred in adults with comorbidities. Appropriate empirical therapy was associated with a favorable outcome