Concurrent Use of Cigarettes and Smokeless Tobacco among US Males and Females

Background. The current study describes concurrent use of cigarettes and smokeless tobacco (CiST) among males and females and evaluates factors associated with CiST use. Methods. Cross-sectional data were drawn from the 2010 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS). Weighted stratified analyses were performed to find associations between CiST use and sociodemographic factors by gender. CiST users were compared to three different tobacco use groups: nonusers, exclusive smokers, and exclusive ST users. Results. Younger age and heavy alcohol consumption were consistently associated with increased odds of CiST use among both males and females, and regardless of comparison group. Among males, education was inversely related to CiST use, and these findings were consistent in all three comparisons. Among women, those unable to work or out of work were more likely to be CiST users, which was consistent across comparisons. American Indian females had higher odds of CiST use than White females when nontobacco users or smokers were the comparison group. Conclusion. This study identified sociodemographic characteristics associated with CiST use, and differences in these associations among women and men. Additionally, this study highlights the need to carefully consider what comparison groups should be used to examine factors associated with CiST use

Non-Local Deformation of a Supersymmetric Field Theory

In this paper, we will analyse a supersymmetric field theory deformed by generalized uncertainty principle and Lifshitz scaling. It will be observed that this deformed supersymmetric field theory contains non-local fractional derivative terms. In order to construct such deformed N=1 supersymmetric theory, a harmonic extension of functions will be used. However, the supersymmetry will be only preserved for a free theory and will be broken by the inclusion of interaction terms.Comment: 12 pages, pulished versio

Robust CNN architecture for classification of reach and grasp actions from neural correlates: an edge device perspective

Brain-computer interfaces (BCIs) systems traditionally use machine learning (ML) algorithms that require extensive signal processing and feature extraction. Deep learning (DL)-based convolutional neural networks (CNNs) recently achieved state-of-the-art electroencephalogram (EEG) signal classification accuracy. CNN models are complex and computationally intensive, making them difficult to port to edge devices for mobile and efficient BCI systems. For addressing the problem, a lightweight CNN architecture for efficient EEG signal classification is proposed. In the proposed model, a combination of a convolution layer for spatial feature extraction from the signal and a separable convolution layer to extract spatial features from each channel. For evaluation, the performance of the proposed model along with the other three models from the literature referred to as EEGNet, DeepConvNet, and EffNet on two different embedded devices, the Nvidia Jetson Xavier NX and Jetson Nano. The results of the Multivariant 2-way ANOVA (MANOVA) show a significant difference between the accuracies of ML and the proposed model. In a comparison of DL models, the proposed models, EEGNet, DeepConvNet, and EffNet, achieved 92.44 ± 4.30, 90.76 ± 4.06, 92.89 ± 4.23, and 81.69 ± 4.22 average accuracy with standard deviation, respectively. In terms of inference time, the proposed model performs better as compared to other models on both the Nvidia Jetson Xavier NX and Jetson Nano, achieving 1.9 sec and 16.1 sec, respectively. In the case of power consumption, the proposed model shows significant values on MANOVA (p < 0.05) on Jetson Nano and Xavier. Results show that the proposed model provides improved classification results with less power consumption and inference time on embedded platforms

Modelling and control of a twin rotor MIMO system.

In this research, a laboratory platform which has 2 degrees of freedom (DOF), the Twin Rotor MIMO System (TRMS), is investigated. Although, the TRMS does not fly, it has a striking similarity with a helicopter, such as system nonlinearities and cross-coupled modes. Therefore, the TRMS can be perceived as an unconventional and complex "air vehicle" that poses formidable challenges in modelling, control design and analysis and implementation. These issues are the subject of this work. The linear models for 1 and 2 DOFs are obtained via system identification techniques. Such a black-box modelling approach yields input-output models with neither a priori defined model structure nor specific parameter settings reflecting any physical attributes. Further, a nonlinear model using Radial Basis Function networks is obtained. Such a high fidelity nonlinear model is often required for nonlinear system simulation studies and is commonly employed in the aerospace industry. Modelling exercises were conducted that included rigid as well as flexible modes of the system. The approach presented here is shown to be suitable for modelling complex new generation air vehicles. Modelling of the TRMS revealed the presence of resonant system modes which are responsible for inducing unwanted vibrations. In this research, open-loop, closed-loop and combined open and closed-loop control strategies are investigated to address this problem. Initially, open-loop control techniques based on "input shaping control" are employed. Digital filters are then developed to shape the command signals such that the resonance modes are not overly excited. The effectiveness of this concept is then demonstrated on the TRMS rig for both 1 and 2 DOF motion, with a significant reduction in vibration. The linear model for the 1 DOF (SISO) TRMS was found to have the non-minimum phase characteristics and have 4 states with only pitch angle output. This behaviour imposes certain limitations on the type of control topologies one can ado·pt. The LQG approach, which has an elegant structure with an embedded Kalman filter to estimate the unmeasured states, is adopted in this study. The identified linear model is employed in the design of a feedback LQG compensator for the TRMS with 1 DOF. This is shown to have good tracking capability but requires. high control effort and has inadequate authority over residual vibration of the system. These problems are resolved by further augmenting the system with a command path prefilter. The combined feedforward and feedback compensator satisfies the performance objectives and obeys the constraint on the actuator. Finally, 1 DOF controller is implemented on the laboratory platform

PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitor activity in patients with gene-rearrangement positive non-small cell lung cancer-an IMMUNOTARGET case series.

BACKGROUND Prior IMMUNOTARGET registry data had suggested that responses to immune [anti PD(L)1] monotherapy in gene-arranged non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were rare or absent, depending on the specific oncogene. METHODS IMMUNOTARGET sites reporting prior registry data or new individual cases of gene rearranged NSCLC seeming to benefit from immune monotherapy were explored in detail looking to both validate their diagnosis of a functional gene rearrangement and to look for features potentially differentiating them from other such cases associated with low response rates. RESULTS Five cases of NSCLC with a gene rearrangement with reported responses or prolonged stabilization from immune monotherapy were identified in total. All had little or no prior smoking history and had programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) values ranging from zero to 100%. A confirmed rearrangement partner was reported in only 2 of the cases (CD74-ROS1 and KIF5B-RET), however in one of the other three cases [analplastic lymophoma kinase (ALK)], significant benefit from a relevant prior targeted therapy was noted, also consistent with the rearrangement status being correctly assigned. CONCLUSIONS Not all driver oncogene subtypes of NSCLC are equally responsive to immune monotherapy, however even among patients with well-validated gene rearranged NSCLC which has traditionally been considered immune hyporesponsive, objective responses can occur. Additional explorations of the features associated with and underlying the immune hypo-responsiveness of most, but not all, cases of gene-rearranged NSCLC are required

PROTECTION ACTIVITY OF T CELL LYMPHOKINES AGAINST INFECTIOUS BURSAL DISEASE IN LAYER PULLETS

The present study was aimed to administering hyperimmunized avian salmonella-immune lymphokines (S-ILK) to 200 one-day-old layer pullets to improve the immunological response against Gumboro (IBDV) divided into four groups. On the first day, the following was applied to all groups: G1: intraperitoneal injection of 0.50 mL S-ILK followed by a 30-minute challenge with 0.1 mL IBDV (ELD50 103.2); G2: intraperitoneal injection of 0.5 mL of S-NILK followed by a 30-minute challenge by 0.1 mL IBDV. G3: challenged with 0.1 mL of IBDV only, G4: uninfected, unchallenged group consider as a negative control. The results of the findings indicated the greatest a statistically significant rise (p≤ 0.05) in IgG and IFN-γ titres in that group and the viral load test revealed that at 7 and 14 days after infection, The largest number of IBDV RNA copies were found in G2 and G3. in the bursa of Fabricius. The first group had the lowest mortality rate compared to the other groups.  Early S-ILK administration improves maternal resistance to IBDV infection and inhibits viral replication in the fabricius bursa following IBDV challenge. Thus, we may reduce the amount of time, effort, and money spent on immunization procedures that do not completely protect against diseases

EVALUTION OF THE BEST VACCINAL ROUTES AGAINST NEWCASTLE IN THE PRODUCTION STAGE OF LAYING HENS

Newcastle disease (ND) is a paramyxovirus-based infectious, highly contagious, and pathogenic avian viral disease. Despite the widespread use of ND vaccinations, ND remains a danger to poultry breeders worldwide. The specific goal of this study was to identify the best vaccination route against ND in the layer hens at production stage following oily vaccine. One hundred chickens at 30 weeks of age were collected from layer flocks (ISSA brown) and randomly divided into four groups. The groups received the following vaccinations: G1: Chicks were vaccinated two doses against ND by (La Sota strain) through drinking water at (30 and 40) weeks. G2: Chicks were vaccinated two doses against ND by (La Sota strain) through cross spray at (30 and 40) weeks. G3: Chicks were vaccinated two doses against ND by (La Sota strain) through intraocular at (30 and 40) weeks. G4: Chicks were not vaccinated and consider as control group. All groups challenge with virulent Newcastle virus isolates in a dose ELD50 105 at 50 weeks. To measure the (IgG, IgA, and IFN-γ) against ND, blood samples were taken at 35, 45, and 55 weeks of age. According to the results of this experiment, the third group, followed by the second group, produced the highest mean (IgG, IgA, and IFN-γ) titres among the vaccinated groups, while the first group produced the lowest titres when compared to the control negative (fourth) group, which recorded the lowest immune response and highly decrease in eggs production. The results were showed that intraocular vaccination with a live vaccine provides layer hens with a higher level of homogenous protection against vvNDV than spraying or drinking water vaccination