1,086 research outputs found
Transformation of system action for reconfigurable automation work system
The main idea of this paper is recent about the transformation of system actions extracted from the user requirement. The system actions are required before the implementation of reconfigurable automation work system. System actions are selected base on suitability of a process. Later, each system actions are matched with suitable system components to create a set of system specification. This specification is used to implement the automation system for each process. The developments of the automation work systems are limited by some constraints such as number of component used as well as the availability of component in the repository system
Constraining Cosmological Models by the Cluster Mass Function
We present a comparison between two observational and three theoretical mass
functions for eight cosmological models suggested by the data from the recently
completed BOOMERANG-98 and MAXIMA-1 cosmic microwave background (CMB)
anisotropy experiments as well as peculiar velocities (PVs) and type Ia
supernovae (SN) observations. The cosmological models have been proposed as the
best fit models by several groups. We show that no model is in agreement with
the abundances of X-ray clusters at .On the
other hand, we find that the BOOM+MAX+{\sl COBE}:I, Refined Concordance and
MDM are in a good agreement with the abundances of optical clusters.
The P11 and especially Concordance models predict a slightly lower abundances
than observed at . The BOOM+MAX+{\sl COBE}:II
and PV+CMB+SN models predict a slightly higher abundances than observed at
. The nonflat MAXIMA-1 is in a fatal conflict
with the observational cluster abundances and can be safely ruled out.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figures, reference added, figures changes, substantial
revision mad
Self-reported health status of older adults in Malaysia and Singapore: evidence from the 2007 Global Ageing Survey
The aim of this study is to investigate the correlates of self-reported health (SRH) among older adults in Malaysia and Singapore. The study uses data collected in the Global Ageing Study (GLAS) 2007, one of the largest surveys of its kind, specially designed to investigate attitudes towards later life, ageing and retirement. Data were collected from 1002 and 1004 respondents from Malaysia and Singapore respectively. The study found that Singaporeans report a healthier life than Malaysians. The two countries have consistent results with regard to the influences of selected covariates on individual health. Poorer health is more prevalent among people with lower education, among those widowed, divorced or separated, and those working in blue-collar occupations. Although social support is found to be an important determinant of SRH, the effects are partially confounded with other covariates. These findings enhance our knowledge about the health status of older people, and in turn will be useful for governments to ensure effective policy making
The pleiotropic effects of decanoic acid treatment on mitochondrial function in fibroblasts from patients with complex I deficient Leigh syndrome
There is growing interest in the use of the ketogenic diet (KD) to treat inherited metabolic diseases including mitochondrial disorders. However, neither the mechanism whereby the diet may be working, nor if it could benefit all patients with mitochondrial disease, is known. This study focusses on decanoic acid (C10), a component of the medium chain triglyceride KD, and a ligand for the nuclear receptor PPAR-γ known to be involved in mitochondrial biogenesis. The effects of C10 were investigated in primary fibroblasts from a cohort of patients with Leigh syndrome (LS) caused by nuclear-encoded defects of respiratory chain complex I, using mitochondrial respiratory chain enzyme assays, gene expression microarray, qPCR and flow cytometry. Treatment with C10 increased citrate synthase activity, a marker of cellular mitochondrial content, in 50 % of fibroblasts obtained from individuals diagnosed with LS in a PPAR-γ-mediated manner. Gene expression analysis and qPCR studies suggested that treating cells with C10 supports fatty acid metabolism, through increasing ACADVL and CPT1 expression, whilst downregulating genes involved in glucose metabolism (PDK3, PDK4). PCK2, involved in blocking glucose metabolism, was upregulated, as was CAT, encoding catalase. Moreover, treatment with C10 also decreased oxidative stress in complex I deficient (rotenone treated) cells. However, since not all cells from subjects with LS appeared to respond to C10, prior cellular testing in vitro could be employed as a means for selecting individuals for subsequent clinical studies involving C10 preparations
Reginol interpretation of river Indus water quality data using regression model
Water samples were collected from river Indus over 591 km2 from Kashmor to Keti Bandar/Shah Bandar in the province of Sindh, Pakistan, during 2008 and 2009 on seasonal bases. These samples were analyzed for 12 water quality variables including physical and chemical parameters. Then correlation study was carried out and correlation co-efficient “r” was determined using correlation matrix to identify the highly correlated and interrelated parameters. Regression model were developed to test the significant ‘r’ and P-value test was carried out to test the significance of the pair of parameters. F-test was also used to examine the joint-effects of several independent variables without taking into account the separate effects of each variable. The comparison of the observed and predicted values of different parameters using regression equation suggested that the regression model provide useful means of rapid and easier monitoring of water quality of a river in a region.Key words: Regression model, correlation coefficient, river indus, monitoring, physico-chemical parameters
Burn Severity Assessment Using Deep Learning: Balancing Performance and Computational Efficiency
Burn injuries present a substantial global public health challenge. This work presents a comprehensive analytical study of eight deep learning techniques designed for assessing burn severity in terms of four characteristics: inflammation, scar, uniformity, and pigmentation, in small datasets of 2-dimensional (2D) images captured using digital (smartphone) camer
In-situ formation characteristic, tribological characterization and anti-corrosion properties of quaternary composites films
Improvements of wear and corrosion properties are essential characteristic in engineering application. A study was made
on the structure, electro-oxidation and properties of fabricated Z
Evaluating pathway enumeration algorithms in metabolic engineering case studies
The design of cell factories for the production of compounds involves the search for suitable heterologous pathways. Different strategies have been proposed to infer such pathways, but most are optimization approaches with specific objective functions, not suited to enumerate multiple pathways. In this work, we analyze two pathway enumeration algorithms based on graph representations: the Solution Structure Generation and the Find Path algorithms. Both are capable of enumerating exhaustively multiple pathways using network topology. We study their capabilities and limitations when designing novel heterologous pathways, by applying these methods on two case studies of synthetic metabolic engineering related to the production of butanol and vanillin
Evaluation of the current knowledge limitations in breast cancer research: a gap analysis
BACKGROUND
A gap analysis was conducted to determine which areas of breast cancer research, if targeted by researchers and funding bodies, could produce the greatest impact on patients.
METHODS
Fifty-six Breast Cancer Campaign grant holders and prominent UK breast cancer researchers participated in a gap analysis of current breast cancer research. Before, during and following the meeting, groups in seven key research areas participated in cycles of presentation, literature review and discussion. Summary papers were prepared by each group and collated into this position paper highlighting the research gaps, with recommendations for action.
RESULTS
Gaps were identified in all seven themes. General barriers to progress were lack of financial and practical resources, and poor collaboration between disciplines. Critical gaps in each theme included: (1) genetics (knowledge of genetic changes, their effects and interactions); (2) initiation of breast cancer (how developmental signalling pathways cause ductal elongation and branching at the cellular level and influence stem cell dynamics, and how their disruption initiates tumour formation); (3) progression of breast cancer (deciphering the intracellular and extracellular regulators of early progression, tumour growth, angiogenesis and metastasis); (4) therapies and targets (understanding who develops advanced disease); (5) disease markers (incorporating intelligent trial design into all studies to ensure new treatments are tested in patient groups stratified using biomarkers); (6) prevention (strategies to prevent oestrogen-receptor negative tumours and the long-term effects of chemoprevention for oestrogen-receptor positive tumours); (7) psychosocial aspects of cancer (the use of appropriate psychosocial interventions, and the personal impact of all stages of the disease among patients from a range of ethnic and demographic backgrounds).
CONCLUSION
Through recommendations to address these gaps with future research, the long-term benefits to patients will include: better estimation of risk in families with breast cancer and strategies to reduce risk; better prediction of drug response and patient prognosis; improved tailoring of treatments to patient subgroups and development of new therapeutic approaches; earlier initiation of treatment; more effective use of resources for screening populations; and an enhanced experience for people with or at risk of breast cancer and their families. The challenge to funding bodies and researchers in all disciplines is to focus on these gaps and to drive advances in knowledge into improvements in patient care
Effects of antiplatelet therapy on stroke risk by brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases: subgroup analyses of the RESTART randomised, open-label trial
Background
Findings from the RESTART trial suggest that starting antiplatelet therapy might reduce the risk of recurrent symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage compared with avoiding antiplatelet therapy. Brain imaging features of intracerebral haemorrhage and cerebral small vessel diseases (such as cerebral microbleeds) are associated with greater risks of recurrent intracerebral haemorrhage. We did subgroup analyses of the RESTART trial to explore whether these brain imaging features modify the effects of antiplatelet therapy
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