Characterization of the chronobiological signals based on the continuous wavelet transform

Chronobiology, which studies periodic patterns or rhythms of the living beings, often needs to characterize the observed chronobiological time series (CTS) and to study the stability and adaptability of the periodic patterns in different environmental conditions. Fourier transform (FT) based methods and complex demodulation (CD) approach have been widely used in such study. However, the former lacks temporal resolution and the later needs to extract the temporal behaviors of individual frequencies. In this paper, we proposed a new approach to characterize the CTS based on the continuous wavelet transform (CWT). It allows us to investigate the time-frequency dynamics of different rhythmic-band activities in the CTS simultaneously. Two application results have been presented to illustrate the proposed method.published_or_final_versio

Randomized crossover comparison of proportional assist ventilation and patient-triggered ventilation in extremely low birth weight infants with evolving chronic lung disease

Background: Refinement of ventilatory techniques remains a challenge given the persistence of chronic lung disease of preterm infants. Objective: To test the hypothesis that proportional assist ventilation ( PAV) will allow to lower the ventilator pressure at equivalent fractions of inspiratory oxygen (FiO(2)) and arterial hemoglobin oxygen saturation in ventilator-dependent extremely low birth weight infants in comparison with standard patient-triggered ventilation ( PTV). Methods: Design: Randomized crossover design. Setting: Two level-3 university perinatal centers. Patients: 22 infants ( mean (SD): birth weight, 705 g ( 215); gestational age, 25.6 weeks ( 2.0); age at study, 22.9 days ( 15.6)). Interventions: One 4- hour period of PAV was applied on each of 2 consecutive days and compared with epochs of standard PTV. Results: Mean airway pressure was 5.64 ( SD, 0.81) cm H2O during PAV and 6.59 ( SD, 1.26) cm H2O during PTV ( p < 0.0001), the mean peak inspiratory pressure was 10.3 ( SD, 2.48) cm H2O and 15.1 ( SD, 3.64) cm H2O ( p < 0.001), respectively. The FiO(2) ( 0.34 (0.13) vs. 0.34 ( 0.14)) and pulse oximetry readings were not significantly different. The incidence of arterial oxygen desaturations was not different ( 3.48 ( 3.2) vs. 3.34 ( 3.0) episodes/ h) but desaturations lasted longer during PAV ( 2.60 ( 2.8) vs. 1.85 ( 2.2) min of desaturation/ h, p = 0.049). PaCO2 measured transcutaneously in a subgroup of 12 infants was similar. One infant met prespecified PAV failure criteria. No adverse events occurred during the 164 cumulative hours of PAV application. Conclusions: PAV safely maintains gas exchange at lower mean airway pressures compared with PTV without adverse effects in this population. Backup conventional ventilation breaths must be provided to prevent apnea-related desaturations. Copyright (c) 2007 S. Karger AG, Base

Clinical significance of serum vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma

Aim: To evaluate the correlation between serum vascular cellular adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) levels and clinicopathological features in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Ninety-six patients who underwent HCC resection were recruited in the study. Preoperative serum levels of soluble VCAM-1 were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results: Serum VCAM-1 level in HCC patients was inversely correlated with platelet count (r=-0.431, P<0.001) and serum albumin level (r=-0.279, P<0.001), and positively correlated with serum bilirubin level (r=-0.379, P<0.001). Serum VCAM-1 level was not associated with tumor characteristics such as tumor size, venous invasion, presence of microsatellite nodules, tumor grade and tumor stage. Serum VCAM-1 level was significantly higher in HCC patients with cirrhosis compared with those without cirrhosis (median 704 vs 546 ng/mL, P<0.001). Furthermore, a significantly better disease-free survival was observed in HCC patients with low VCAM-1 level (P=0.019). Conclusion: Serum VCAM-1 level appears to reflect the severity of underlying chronic liver disease rather than the tumor status in HCC patients, and low preoperative serum VCAM-1 level is predictive of better disease-free survival after surgery. Copyright © 2004 by The WJG Press.published_or_final_versio

Waste reduction and recycling strategies for the in-flight services in the airline industry

Author name used in this publication: X. D. LiAuthor name used in this publication: S. C. Lee2002-2003 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Durability and debond evaluation of high-rise concrete buildings using infrared thermography

Author name used in this publication: W. L. LaiRefereed conference paper2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Refereed conference paperOther VersionPublishe

An H5N1-based matrix protein 2 ectodomain tetrameric peptide vaccine provides cross-protection against lethal infection with H7N9 influenza virus

published_or_final_versio

The mechanism of supplementary cementitious materials enhancing the water resistance of magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC): A comparison between pulverized fuel ash and incinerated sewage sludge ash

Magnesium oxychloride cement (MOC) pastes incorporating supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) including pulverized fuel ash (PFA) and incinerated sewage sludge ash (ISSA) were examined by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) with energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (EDX). The result showed that the mechanism of PFA and ISSA in improving the water resistance of MOC paste is similar, even though the molar ratios of the hydration product in the ISSA-incorporated paste and the PFA-incorporated paste were different. The active phases in PFA or ISSA could react with MgO and produce an amorphous phase (amorphous magnesium aluminosilicate gel), which was interspersed with Phase 5 and changed the morphology of Phase 5 to fibroid or lath-like phases. These fibroid or lath-like phases interlocked with each other and also connected with the amorphous phase in the matrix to form a stable compact structure. Therefore, the water resistance of MOC was improved. The ISSA-blended MOC paste had higher water resistance compared to the PFA-blended MOC, which may be due to the different chemical composition of amorphous phase and the dissolved phosphorus from ISSA

Pandemic A/H1N1 2009 Influenza Virus-like Particles Elicited Higher and Broader Immune Responses than the Commercial Panenza Vaccine

Objectives: The aim was to construct 2009 pandemic A/H1N1 influenza VLPs (virus-like particles) and compare the immunogenicity and protection efficacy with the commercial Panenza vaccine in BALB/c mouse model. Methods: VLPs derived from influenza A/Hong Kong/01/2009 (H1N1) virus were constructed by Bac-to-Bac baculovirus expression system. VLPs were purified by sucrose density gradient ultracentrifugation and then characterized by Western blotting analysis and transmission electron microscopy. After single dose vaccination with 3 µg of VLPs and equal amount of Panenza vaccine, the immune responses and efficacy of protection induced by VLPs were compared with those elicited by the Panenza vaccine in 6-8 week female BALB/c mice. Key findings: VLPs could induce higher antibody titer as determined by hemagglutinin inhibition and microneutralization assay. Furthermore, we demonstrated that VLPs induced better antibody response to neuraminidase. In addition, VLP vaccinated mice had stronger cell-mediated immune response. As a result, our VLPs conferred 100% protection while the Panenza vaccine only conferred 67% protection. Conclusion: From the results, we concluded that influenza VLPs are highly immunogenic and they are promising to be developed as an alternative strategy to vaccine production in order to control the spread of influenza viruses.published_or_final_versio

Impact of Construction Waste Disposal Charging Scheme on work practices at construction sites in Hong Kong

2012-2013 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalAccepted ManuscriptPublishe

Sewage sludge ash: A comparative evaluation with fly ash for potential use as lime-pozzolan binders

The disposal of sewage sludge ash (SSA) has become an environmental issue due to the limited available landfill space. This study aims at applying the finely-ground sewage sludge ash (FSSA) with quicklime and hydrated lime to develop a new type of lime-pozzolan system and study the effects of different types of lime on the mechanical properties of the systems. A traditional pozzolanic material (i.e. coal fly ash (FA)) was also used to compare with the FSSA. Multiple techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) were used to assess the hydration kinetics and microscopic characteristics of the lime-pozzolan systems. The results showed that the quicklime system exhibited lower strength than the hydrated lime system, which was due to its lower reaction degree with the FSSA and the higher porosity caused by the expansion during the vigorous hydration reaction of quicklime. Compared to FA, the FSSA attained higher strength for the whole curing period (up to 90 d) in the lime system due to the highly porous nature of FSSA leading to a lower effective water to binder ratio. However, in the hydrated lime system, due to the higher overall pozzolanic activity of FA, its long-term strength values gradually improved. Besides, calcium phosphate hydrate crystals were detected by XRD in the FSSA; while some clinotobermorite was found in the FA both from XRD and SEM, which might govern the strength gain in the lime-FA system. Overall, the application of FSSA as a pozzolan in the lime-pozzolan system could be a promising option to both relieve the waste disposal pressure and provide a potential sustainable construction material