Methods for Learning a User’s Intent Based on Spatial Gestures

This publication describes methods for learning a user’s intent, when the user interacts with multiple computing devices, based on detected spatial gestures. The methods may utilize a machine-learned model with a reinforcement-learning framework trained to classify spatial gestures, user state information, and/or device state information detected during a device-to-device interaction, generate predictions relating to the intent of the user, and utilize the predictions to facilitate the device-to-device interaction

Tanshinone IIA suppress the proliferation of HNE-1 nasopharyngeal carcinoma an in vitro study

AbstractNasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) at present is considered to be one of the fatal diseases detected commonly in the people belonging to Southeast Asia and southern China. According to the WHO reports among the detected cases of NPC worldwide, 80% are from China. The present study investigates the effect of tanshinone IIA on the migration and invasion potential of HNE-1NPC cells and studied the detailed mechanism involved. Effect of the tanshinone IIA on viability of the HNE-1NPC cells was analyzed by MTS assay. Cell matrigel invasion and wound-healing motility assays, respectively were used for the analysis of invasion and migration potential of HNE-1 cells. Tanshinone IIA inhibited the viability of HNE-1cells in a dose dependent manner. Migration and invasion potential of the tanshinone IIA treated cells was reduced significantly (P<0.05) compared to the control cells after 48h. Analysis of the proteins involved in migration and invasion revealed a significant decrease in the expression of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 on treatment with tanshinone IIA. It also inhibited the p65 and p50 expression in the nuclear fractions of HNE-1 cells after 48h. Thus, tanshinone IIA inhibits migration and invasion potential of the HNE-1NPC cells through reduction in the expression of matrix metalloproteinases. Therefore, tanshinone IIA can be used for the treatment of NPC

FoxM1B transcriptionally regulates vascular endothelial growth factor expression and promotes the angiogenesis and growth of glioma cells.

We previously found that FoxM1B is overexpressed in human glioblastomas and that forced FoxM1B expression in anaplastic astrocytoma cells leads to the formation of highly angiogenic glioblastoma in nude mice. However, the molecular mechanisms by which FoxM1B enhances glioma angiogenesis are currently unknown. In this study, we found that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a direct transcriptional target of FoxM1B. FoxM1B overexpression increased VEGF expression, whereas blockade of FoxM1 expression suppressed VEGF expression in glioma cells. Transfection of FoxM1 into glioma cells directly activated the VEGF promoter, and inhibition of FoxM1 expression by FoxM1 siRNA suppressed VEGF promoter activation. We identified two FoxM1-binding sites in the VEGF promoter that specifically bound to the FoxM1 protein. Mutation of these FoxM1-binding sites significantly attenuated VEGF promoter activity. Furthermore, FoxM1 overexpression increased and inhibition of FoxM1 expression suppressed the angiogenic ability of glioma cells. Finally, an immunohistochemical analysis of 59 human glioblastoma specimens also showed a significant correlation between FoxM1 overexpression and elevated VEGF expression. Our findings provide both clinical and mechanistic evidence that FoxM1 contributes to glioma progression by enhancing VEGF gene transcription and thus tumor angiogenesis

Electrical Property of Polypropylene Films Subjected to Different Temperatures and DC Electric Fields

A polypropylene (PP) film is usually used as a dielectric material in capacitors as well as cables. However, PP films may degrade because of the combined effect of temperature and electric field. In an earlier study, plain PP films and PP films loaded with nano-metric natural clay were studied under sinusoidal (AC) electric fields at power frequency and temperatures above the ambient. To better understand the electrical characteristics of PP film under various conditions, the objective of this study is to determine the time-to-breakdown of the plain PP and PP filled with 2% (wt) natural nano-clay when subjected to time-invariant (DC) electric fields at elevated temperatures. In order to achieve this objective, the effects of uniform as well as non-uniform electric fields were compared at the same temperature for the PP film. In this study, experimental results indicated that the time-to-breakdown of all PP films, plain or filled with nano-clay, decreases with the increase in electric field intensity, non-uniformity of the electric field, and temperature. It was also found that the time-to-breakdown of PP film filled with 2% (wt) natural nano-clay under DC electric field is longer and less sensitive to temperature. Furthermore, when compared with the results under the uniform electric field, PP film filled with 2% (wt) nano-metric natural clay indicates shorter time-to-failure under non-uniform DC electric fields. Finally, the morphology of the samples was observed by digital camera, optical micrography, and SEM, to better understand the mechanism of the breakdown

System Dynamical Simulation of Risk Perception for Enterprise Decision-Maker in Communication of Chemical Incident Risks

PresentationSystem Dynamical Simulation of Risk Perception for Enterprise Decision-Maker in Communication of Chemical Incident Risk

Immunoproteomic analysis of outer membrane proteins and extracellular proteins of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae JL03 serotype 3

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae </it>is the causative agent of porcine contagious pleuropneumonia, a highly contagious respiratory infection in pigs, and all the 15 serotypes are able to cause disease. Current vaccines including subunit vaccines could not provide satisfactory protection against <it>A. pleuropneumoniae</it>. In this study, the immunoproteomic approach was applied to the analysis of extracellular and outer membrane proteins of <it>A. pleuropneumoniae </it>JL03 serotype 3 for the identification of novel immunogenic proteins for <it>A. pleuropneumoniae</it>.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A total of 30 immunogenic proteins were identified from outer membrane and extracellular proteins of JL03 serotype 3, of which 6 were known antigens and 24 were novel immunogenic proteins for <it>A. pleuropneumoniae</it>.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These data provide information about novel immunogenic proteins for <it>A. pleuropneumoniae </it>serotype 3, and are expected to aid in development of novel vaccines against <it>A. pleuropneumoniae</it>.</p

Association of antioxidants use with the risk of dementia among community-dwelling adults in the United Kingdom biobank

BackgroundData regarding the association between antioxidant supplementation and incident dementia are limited.MethodsWe included 494,632 adults (54.5% females) aged 40–71 years at baseline from the United Kingdom Biobank in the final analysis. Incident dementia was ascertained using hospital inpatient and death records up to January 2021.ResultsOver a median follow-up of 11.9 years, 7,128 new cases of all-cause dementia, 2,772 cases of Alzheimer’s disease, and 1,397 cases of vascular dementia were recorded. The hazard ratio (95% CI) for incident dementia associated with zinc supplementation was 0.84 (0.74–0.96), and the association remained significant after adjusting for all confounders (0.84 (0.74–0.96)). In the full model, zinc supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease [HR (95% CI): 0.71 (0.57–0.88)]. There was no significant association between zinc supplementation and the risk of vascular dementia. No significant associations with incident dementia were observed for other antioxidant supplementation. The association between zinc supplementation and incident dementia was significant among individuals with [HR (95% CI): 0.34 (0.15–0.77)] and without cataract [0.87 (0.77–0.99)] but it was stronger among those with cataract (p value for interaction = 0.0271).ConclusionOur findings suggest that zinc supplementation may help reduce the risk of all-cause dementia and Alzheimer’s disease in middle-aged or older adults, especially among those with cataracts

14-Year Outcome of Angle-Closure Prevention with Laser Iridotomy in the Zhongshan Angle Closure Prevention Study: Extended Follow-Up of a Randomized Controlled Trial

Purpose: This study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of laser peripheral iridotomy (LPI) prophylaxis for primary angle closure suspects (PACS) after 14 years and to identify risk factors for the conversion from PACS to primary angle closure (PAC)./ Design: An extended follow-up of Zhongshan Angle Closure Prevention (ZAP) study./ Participants: A total of 889 Chinese patients aged 50 to 70 years with bilateral PACS./ Methods: Each patient received LPI in one randomly selected eye, with the fellow untreated eye serving as a control. Since the risk of glaucoma was low and acute angle closure (AAC) only occurred in rare cases, the follow-up was extended to 14 years despite substantial benefits of LPI reported after the 6-year visit./ Main Outcome Measures: The primary outcome was incidence of PAC, a composite endpoint including peripheral anterior synechiae (PAS), intraocular pressure (IOP) > 24 mmHg, or AAC. Results During the 14 years, 390 LPI-treated eyes and 388 control eyes were lost to the follow-up. A total of 33 LPI-treated eyes and 105 control eyes reached primary endpoints (P <0.01). Within them, twelve eyes developed AAC or primary angle closure glaucoma (AAC: five control eyes and one LPI-treated eye; PACG: four control eyes and two LPI-treated eyes). The hazard ratio for progression to PAC was 0.31 (95% confidence interval, 0.21–0.46) in LPI-treated eyes compared with control eyes. At the 14-year visit, LPI-treated eyes had severer nuclear cataract, higher IOP, larger angle width and limbal anterior chamber depth (LACD) than control eyes. Higher IOP, shallower LACD, and central anterior chamber depth (CACD) were associated with an increased risk of developing endpoints in control eyes. In the treated group, eyes with higher IOP, shallower LACD, or less IOP elevation after dark room–prone provocative tests (DRPPT) were more likely to develop PAC after LPI./ Conclusions: Despite a two-third decrease in PAC incidence after LPI, the cumulative risk of PAC was relatively low in the community-based PACS population over 14 years. Apart from IOP, IOP elevation after DRPPT, CACD, and LACD, more risk factors are needed to achieve precise prediction of PAC occurrence and guide clinical practice

Self correction of refractive error among young people in rural China: results of cross sectional investigation

Objective To compare outcomes between adjustable spectacles and conventional methods for refraction in young people