3,457 research outputs found
Effect of vitamin D metabolites on bone histomorphometry in healthy black and white women: An attempt to unravel the so-called vitamin D paradox in blacks
An apparent vitamin D paradox, characterized by lower serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) levels and higher bone mineral density, is present in black population. In contrast, blacks have higher serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (1,25(OH)(2)D) levels. The effect of 1,25(OH)(2)D on the skeleton is not fully understood. We examined serum 25(OH)D, 1,25(OH)(2)D and bone histomorphometry in 50 black and white women (25 each) matched for age, menstrual status, and BMI. Histomorphometric indices related to bone structure, remodeling and mineralization were measured in cancellous bone in iliac bone biopsies. Data analyses led to the following results: 1) serum 25(OH)D was significantly lower and 1,25(OH)(2)D was significantly higher in black than in white women, but neither blacks nor whites revealed significant correlation between these two vitamin D metabolites. 2) there was no significant difference in PTH levels between blacks and whites. 3) except for greater trabecular thickness (Tb.Th) in blacks, there were no significant differences in other histomorphometric variables between the two ethnic groups. 4) osteoid surface (OS/BS), unlabeled osteoid surface (ulOS/BS), and osteoblast surface (ObS/BS) significantly correlated with serum 1,25(OH)(2)D levels. We conclude that lower serum 25(OH)D levels in blacks do not impair bone structure and remodeling, nor decrease bone mineralization. Higher serum 1,25(OH)(2)D levels in blacks may help preserve bone mass by stimulating bone formation via increasing osteoblast number and function, but moderately inhibit terminal bone mineralization as shown by higher ulOS/BS
Hot Core, Outflows and Magnetic Fields in W43-MM1 (G30.79 FIR 10)
We present submillimeter spectral line and dust continuum polarization
observations of a remarkable hot core and multiple outflows in the high-mass
star-forming region W43-MM1 (G30.79 FIR 10), obtained using the Submillimeter
Array (SMA). A temperature of 400 K is estimated for the hot-core using
CHCN (J=19-18) lines, with detections of 11 K-ladder components. The high
temperature and the mass estimates for the outflows indicate high-mass
star-formation. The continuum polarization pattern shows an ordered
distribution, and its orientation over the main outflow appears aligned to the
outflow. The derived magnetic field indicates slightly super-critical
conditions. While the magnetic and outflow energies are comparable, the B-field
orientation appears to have changed from parsec scales to 0.1 pc scales
during the core/star-formation process.Comment: accepted, ApJ Letter
Estradiol regulates miR-135b and mismatch repair gene expressions via estrogen receptor-β in colorectal cells.
Estrogen has anti-colorectal cancer effects which are thought to be mediated by mismatch repair gene (MMR) activity. Estrogen receptor (ER) expression is associated with microRNA (miRNA) expression in ER-positive tumors. However, studies of direct link between estrogen (especially estradiol E2), miRNA expression, and MMR in colorectal cancer (CRC) have not been done. In this study, we first evaluated the effects of estradiol (E2) and its antagonist ICI182,780 on the expression of miRNAs (miR-31, miR-155 and miR-135b) using COLO205, SW480 and MCF-7 cell lines, followed by examining the association of tissue miRNA expression and serum E2 levels using samples collected from 18 colorectal cancer patients. E2 inhibited the expressions of miRNAs in COLO205 cells, which could be reversed by E2 antagonist ICI 182.780. The expression of miR-135b was inversely correlated with serum E2 level and ER-β mRNA expression in CRC patients' cancer tissues. There were significant correlations between serum E2 level and expression of ER-β, miR-135b, and MMR in colon cancer tissue. This study suggests that the effects of estrogen on MMR function may be related to regulating miRNA expression via ER-β, which may be the basis for the anti-cancer effect in colorectal cells
Two-tape finite automata with quantum and classical states
{\it Two-way finite automata with quantum and classical states} (2QCFA) were
introduced by Ambainis and Watrous, and {\it two-way two-tape deterministic
finite automata} (2TFA) were introduced by Rabin and Scott. In this paper we
study 2TFA and propose a new computing model called {\it two-way two-tape
finite automata with quantum and classical states} (2TQCFA). First, we give
efficient 2TFA algorithms for recognizing languages which can be recognized by
2QCFA. Second, we give efficient 2TQCFA algorithms to recognize several
languages whose status vis-a-vis 2QCFA have been posed as open questions, such
as . Third, we show that
can be recognized by {\it -tape
deterministic finite automata} (TFA). Finally, we introduce {\it
-tape automata with quantum and classical states} (TQCFA) and prove that
can be recognized by TQCFA.Comment: 25 page
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Converting Treatment Plans From Helical Tomotherapy to L-Shape Linac: Clinical Workflow and Dosimetric Evaluation.
This work evaluated a commercial fallback planning workflow designed to provide cross-platform treatment planning and delivery. A total of 27 helical tomotherapy intensity-modulated radiotherapy plans covering 4 anatomical sites were selected, including 7 brain, 5 unilateral head and neck, 5 bilateral head and neck, 5 pelvis, and 5 prostate cases. All helical tomotherapy plans were converted to 7-field/9-field intensity-modulated radiotherapy and volumetric-modulated radiotherapy plans through fallback dose-mimicking algorithm using a 6-MV beam model. The planning target volume (PTV) coverage ( D1, D99, and homogeneity index) and organs at risk dose constraints were evaluated and compared. Overall, all 3 techniques resulted in relatively inferior target dose coverage compared to helical tomotherapy plans, with higher homogeneity index and maximum dose. The organs at risk dose ratio of fallback to helical tomotherapy plans covered a wide spectrum, from 0.87 to 1.11 on average for all sites, with fallback plans being superior for brain, pelvis, and prostate sites. The quality of fallback plans depends on the delivery technique, field numbers, and angles, as well as user selection of structures for organs at risk. In actual clinical scenario, fallback plans would typically be needed for 1 to 5 fractions of a treatment course in the event of machine breakdown. Our results suggested that <1% dose variance can be introduced in target coverage and/or organs at risk from fallback plans. The presented clinical workflow showed that the fallback plan generation typically takes 10 to 20 minutes per case. Fallback planning provides an expeditious and effective strategy for transferring patients cross platforms, and minimizing the untold risk of a patient missing treatment(s)
Comparative Synthesis: Learning Near-Optimal Network Designs by Query
When managing wide-area networks, network architects must decide how to
balance multiple conflicting metrics, and ensure fair allocations to competing
traffic while prioritizing critical traffic. The state of practice poses
challenges since architects must precisely encode their intent into formal
optimization models using abstract notions such as utility functions, and
ad-hoc manually tuned knobs. In this paper, we present the first effort to
synthesize optimal network designs with indeterminate objectives using an
interactive program-synthesis-based approach. We make three contributions.
First, we present comparative synthesis, an interactive synthesis framework
which produces near-optimal programs (network designs) through two kinds of
queries (Propose and Compare), without an objective explicitly given. Second,
we develop the first learning algorithm for comparative synthesis in which a
voting-guided learner picks the most informative query in each iteration. We
present theoretical analysis of the convergence rate of the algorithm. Third,
we implemented Net10Q, a system based on our approach, and demonstrate its
effectiveness on four real-world network case studies using black-box oracles
and simulation experiments, as well as a pilot user study comprising network
researchers and practitioners. Both theoretical and experimental results show
the promise of our approach
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