Constraining Intra-cluster Gas Models with AMiBA13

Clusters of galaxies have been used extensively to determine cosmological parameters. A major difficulty in making best use of Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) and X-ray observations of clusters for cosmology is that using X-ray observations it is difficult to measure the temperature distribution and therefore determine the density distribution in individual clusters of galaxies out to the virial radius. Observations with the new generation of SZ instruments are a promising alternative approach. We use clusters of galaxies drawn from high-resolution adaptive mesh refinement (AMR) cosmological simulations to study how well we should be able to constrain the large-scale distribution of the intra-cluster gas (ICG) in individual massive relaxed clusters using AMiBA in its configuration with 13 1.2-m diameter dishes (AMiBA13) along with X-ray observations. We show that non-isothermal beta models provide a good description of the ICG in our simulated relaxed clusters. We use simulated X-ray observations to estimate the quality of constraints on the distribution of gas density, and simulated SZ visibilities (AMiBA13 observations) for constraints on the large-scale temperature distribution of the ICG. We find that AMiBA13 visibilities should constrain the scale radius of the temperature distribution to about 50% accuracy. We conclude that the upgraded AMiBA, AMiBA13, should be a powerful instrument to constrain the large-scale distribution of the ICG.Comment: Accepted for publication in The Astrophysical Journal, 12 pages, 9 figure

No Significant Reduction of Circulating Endothelial-Derived and Platelet-Derived Microparticles in Patients with Psoriasis Successfully Treated with Anti-IL12/23

Psoriasis is associated with atherosclerosis, in which circulating microparticles play an important role. In severe psoriasis, there was an increase of endothelial- and platelet- microparticles which could be decreased by anti-TNFα. However, whether anti-IL-12/23 treatment would decrease the level of microparticles remains unknown. Our study showed that, despite the clinical improvement of psoriasis after IL-12/13 blockage, the increased levels of circulating CD41a and CD31 microparticles were unchanged after anti-IL-12/23. This result suggested that anti-IL12/23 treatment may not alter the development of cardiovascular disease in patients with psoriasis.</jats:p

Metaheuristic design of feedforward neural networks: a review of two decades of research

Over the past two decades, the feedforward neural network (FNN) optimization has been a key interest among the researchers and practitioners of multiple disciplines. The FNN optimization is often viewed from the various perspectives: the optimization of weights, network architecture, activation nodes, learning parameters, learning environment, etc. Researchers adopted such different viewpoints mainly to improve the FNN's generalization ability. The gradient-descent algorithm such as backpropagation has been widely applied to optimize the FNNs. Its success is evident from the FNN's application to numerous real-world problems. However, due to the limitations of the gradient-based optimization methods, the metaheuristic algorithms including the evolutionary algorithms, swarm intelligence, etc., are still being widely explored by the researchers aiming to obtain generalized FNN for a given problem. This article attempts to summarize a broad spectrum of FNN optimization methodologies including conventional and metaheuristic approaches. This article also tries to connect various research directions emerged out of the FNN optimization practices, such as evolving neural network (NN), cooperative coevolution NN, complex-valued NN, deep learning, extreme learning machine, quantum NN, etc. Additionally, it provides interesting research challenges for future research to cope-up with the present information processing era

Stretchable and transparent electrodes based on in-plane structures

Stretchable electronics has attracted great interest with compelling potential applications that require reliable operation under mechanical deformation. Achieving stretchability in devices, however, requires a deeper understanding of nanoscale materials and mechanics beyond the success of flexible electronics. In this regard, tremendous research efforts have been dedicated toward developing stretchable electrodes, which are one of the most important building blocks for stretchable electronics. Stretchable transparent thin-film electrodes, which retain their electrical conductivity and optical transparency under mechanical deformation, are particularly important for the favourable application of stretchable devices. This minireview summarizes recent advances in stretchable transparent thin-film electrodes, especially employing strategies based on in-plane structures. Various approaches using metal nanomaterials, carbon nanomaterials, and their hybrids are described in terms of preparation processes and their optoelectronic/mechanical properties. Some challenges and perspectives for further advances in stretchable transparent electrodes are also discussed. &amp;#169; 2015 The Royal Society of Chemistry.open0

Impact of virtual reality-based rehabilitation on functional outcomes in patients with acute stroke: a retrospective case-matched study

Background and objectives To date, the efficacy of the virtual reality (VR) application for acute stroke compared with conventional therapy (CT) remains unclear. This retrospective study aims to assess the impact of adjuvant VR technology on multidimensional therapy for patients with acute-stage stroke. Methods 100 acute ischemic stroke patients with onset within 7 days who underwent combined adjuvant VR-based rehabilitation program and CT (intervention group–VR + CT) were compared to an equal number of cross-matched patients who received CT alone. While the intervention group received 40-min CT plus 20-min VR program (seven times for 1 week), the comparison group received time-matched CT alone. The National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS), modified Rankin Scale (mRS), medical cost-effectiveness, and shortening of hospital stay were used as outcome measures. Results Posttreatment, the VR + CT group revealed significantly improved NIHSS and mRS (P < 0.001), whereas only the mRS improvement was remarkable in the CT group. In between-group comparisons, the intervention group had better improvements of symptom severity (NIHSS percentage improvement from the baseline; 20.18% vs. 4.59%, P < 0.005), functional outcomes (mRS improvement from the baseline; − 0.58 vs. − 0.23, P < 0.001), and reduced medical cost (Taiwan dollar; 49474 vs. 66306, P < 0.005). Furthermore, the VR + CT group reached markedly higher proportion of functional independence in activities of daily living (mRS, 0–2) at discharge compared with the CT group (68% vs. 60%, P < 0.001). Conclusions This study suggests that the combination of VR-based rehabilitation and traditional therapy could be more effective for neurorehabilitation than CT alone in the early improvement of symptom severity, functional outcomes, and lower medical expenditure in acute stroke patients.måsjekke

Design of microarray probes for virus identification and detection of emerging viruses at the genus level

BACKGROUND: Most virus detection methods are geared towards the detection of specific single viruses or just a few known targets, and lack the capability to uncover the novel viruses that cause emerging viral infections. To address this issue, we developed a computational method that identifies the conserved viral sequences at the genus level for all viral genomes available in GenBank, and established a virus probe library. The virus probes are used not only to identify known viruses but also for discerning the genera of emerging or uncharacterized ones. RESULTS: Using the microarray approach, the identity of the virus in a test sample is determined by the signals of both genus and species-specific probes. The genera of emerging and uncharacterized viruses are determined based on hybridization of the viral sequences to the conserved probes for the existing viral genera. A detection and classification procedure to determine the identity of a virus directly from detection signals results in the rapid identification of the virus. CONCLUSION: We have demonstrated the validity and feasibility of the above strategy with a small number of viral samples. The probe design algorithm can be applied to any publicly available viral sequence database. The strategy of using separate genus and species probe sets enables the use of a straightforward virus identity calculation directly based on the hybridization signals. Our virus identification strategy has great potential in the diagnosis of viral infections. The virus genus and specific probe database and the associated summary tables are available a

Prognostic factors associated with the survival of oral and pharyngeal carcinoma in Taiwan

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In Taiwan, a distinct ethnic group variation in incidence and mortality rates has been suggested for most carcinomas. Our aim is to identify the role of prognostic factors associated with the survival of oral and pharyngeal carcinoma in Taiwan.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Taiwan Cancer Registry records of 9039 subjects diagnosed with oral and pharyngeal carcinoma were analyzed. The population was divided into three ethnic groups by residence, which were Taiwanese aborigines, Hakka and Hokkien communities. Five-year survival rates were estimated by Kaplan-Meier methods. Ethnic curves differed significantly by log-rank test; therefore separate models for Taiwanese aborigines, Hakka and Hokkien were carried out. The Cox multivariate proportional hazards model was used to examine the role of prognostic factors on ethnic survival.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The five-year survival rates of oral and pharyngeal carcinoma were significantly poorer for Hokkien community (53.9%) and Taiwanese aborigines community (58.1%) compared with Hakka community (60.5%). The adjusted hazard ratio of Taiwanese aborigines versus Hakka was 1.07 (95%CI, 0.86–1.33) for oral and pharyngeal carcinoma mortality, and 1.16 (95%CI, 1.01–1.33) for Hokkien versus Hakka. Males had significantly poor prognosis than females. Subjects with tongue and/or mouth carcinoma presented the worst prognosis, whereas lip carcinoma had the best prognosis. Subjects with verrucous carcinoma had better survival than squamous cell carcinoma. Prognosis was the worst in elderly subjects, and subjects who underwent surgery had the highest survival rate.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study presented that predictive variables in oral and pharyngeal carcinoma survival have been: ethnic groups, period of diagnosis, gender, diagnostic age, anatomic site, morphologic type, and therapy.</p