A Fluxgate-Based Current Sensor for DC Bias Elimination in a Dual Active Bridge Converter

A concern with the isolation transformer in a dual active bridge (DAB) dc-dc converter is the dc bias in magnetization. This article proposes a fluxgate-based current sensor to measure the dc component mixed with a large, high-frequency ac current. Compared with a commercial Hall effect current sensor, the proposed sensor significantly reduces measurement error. This article presents the working principle and design considerations. A prototype is demonstrated for dc bias elimination control in a DAB converter

The clinical significance and potential therapeutic role of GPx3 in tumor recurrence after liver transplantation

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CXCL10/CXCR3 signaling mobilized-regulatory T cells promote liver tumor recurrence after transplantation

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Polymorphisms in the Receptor Tyrosine Kinase MERTK Gene Are Associated with Multiple Sclerosis Susceptibility

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a debilitating, chronic demyelinating disease of the central nervous system affecting over 2 million people worldwide. The TAM family of receptor tyrosine kinases (TYRO3, AXL and MERTK) have been implicated as important players during demyelination in both animal models of MS and in the human disease. We therefore conducted an association study to identify single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within genes encoding the TAM receptors and their ligands associated with MS. Analysis of genotype data from a genome-wide association study which consisted of 1618 MS cases and 3413 healthy controls conducted by the Australia and New Zealand Multiple Sclerosis Genetics Consortium (ANZgene) revealed several SNPs within the MERTK gene (Chromosome 2q14.1, Accession Number NG_011607.1) that showed suggestive association with MS. We therefore interrogated 28 SNPs in MERTK in an independent replication cohort of 1140 MS cases and 1140 healthy controls. We found 12 SNPs that replicated, with 7 SNPs showing p-values of less than 10−5 when the discovery and replication cohorts were combined. All 12 replicated SNPs were in strong linkage disequilibrium with each other. In combination, these data suggest the MERTK gene is a novel risk gene for MS susceptibility

The relationship between job satisfaction, burnout, and turnover intention among physicians from urban state-owned medical institutions in Hubei, China: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Throughout China, a growing number of physicians are leaving or intending to depart from their organizations owing to job dissatisfaction. Little information is available about the role of occupational burnout in this association. We set out to analyze the relationship between job satisfaction, burnout, and turnover intention, and further to determine whether occupational burnout can serve as a mediator among Chinese physicians from urban state-owned medical institutions.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A cross-sectional survey was carried out in March 2010 in Hubei Province, central China. The questionnaires assessed sociodemographic characteristics, job satisfaction, burnout, and turnover intention. The job satisfaction and occupational burnout instruments were obtained by modifying the Chinese Physicians' Job Satisfaction Questionnaire (CPJSQ) and the Chinese Maslach Burnout Inventory (CMBI), respectively. Such statistical methods as one-way ANOVA, Pearson correlation, GLM-univariate and structural equation modeling were used.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Of the 1600 physicians surveyed, 1451 provided valid responses. The respondents had medium scores (3.18 +/-0.73) on turnover intention, in which there was significant difference among the groups from three urban areas with different development levels. Turnover intention, which significantly and negatively related to all job-satisfaction subscales, positively related to each subscale of burnout syndrome. Work environment satisfaction (<it>b </it>= -0.074, <it>p < 0.01</it>), job rewards satisfaction (<it>b </it>= -0.073, <it>p < 0.01</it>), organizational management satisfaction (<it>b </it>= -0.146, <it>p < 0.01</it>), and emotional exhaustion (<it>b </it>= 0.135, <it>p < 0.01</it>) were identified as significant direct predictors of the turnover intention of physicians, with 41.2% of the variance explained unitedly, under the control of sociodemographic variables, among which gender, age, and years of service were always significant. However, job-itself satisfaction no longer became significant, with the estimated parameter on job rewards satisfaction smaller after burnout syndrome variables were included. As congregated latent concepts, job satisfaction had both significant direct effects (gamma₂₁= -0.32, <it>p < 0.01</it>) and indirect effects (gamma₁₁× beta₂₁= -0.13, <it>p < 0.01</it>) through occupational burnout (62% explained) as a mediator on turnover intention (47% explained).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our study reveals that several, but not all dimensions of both job satisfaction and burnout syndrome are relevant factors affecting physicians' turnover intention, and there may be partial mediation effects of occupational burnout, mainly through emotional exhaustion, within the impact of job satisfaction on turnover intention. This suggests that enhancements in job satisfaction can be expected to reduce physicians' intentions to quit by the intermediary role of burnout as well as the direct path. It is hoped that these findings will offer some clues for health-sector managers to keep their physician resource motivated and stable.</p

Direction of the formation of anterior lumbar vertebral osteophytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>X-ray images of lumbar degenerative diseases often show not only claw osteophytes, but also pairs of osteophytes that form in a direction away from the adjacent disc. We have investigated the direction of the formation of anterior lumbar vertebral osteophytes across the lumbar vertebrae using a sufficient number of lumbar radiographs, because osteophytes images can provide essential information that will contribute to the understanding of the pathology and progress of lumbar spine degeneration.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The direction of the formation of 14,250 pairs of anterior lumbar vertebral osteophytes across the adjacent intervertebral discs in 2,850 patients who were all over 60 years old was investigated. Anterior lumbar vertebral osteophytes were distributed into six groups based on the direction of extension of each pair of osteophytes across the intervertebral disc space.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In L1–L2 and L2–L3, the number of patients classified into groups B (the pair of osteophytes extended in the direction of the adjacent disc) and C (almost complete bone bridge formation by a pair of osteophytes across the intervertebral disc space) was larger than that classified into group D (the pair of osteophytes extended in a direction away from the adjacent disc). In L3–L4, L4–L5 and L5-S1, the number of patients in group D was greater than that of patients belonging to groups B and C.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our study showed that pairs of osteophytes frequently formed in the direction of the adjacent disc in the upper lumbar vertebrae (L1–L2 and L2–L3) and in the direction away from the adjacent disc in middle or lower lumbar vertebrae (L3–L4, L4–L5, and L5-S1).</p

Dissipative and Non-dissipative Single-Qubit Channels: Dynamics and Geometry

Single-qubit channels are studied under two broad classes: amplitude damping channels and generalized depolarizing channels. A canonical derivation of the Kraus representation of the former, via the Choi isomorphism is presented for the general case of a system's interaction with a squeezed thermal bath. This isomorphism is also used to characterize the difference in the geometry and rank of these channel classes. Under the isomorphism, the degree of decoherence is quantified according to the mixedness or separability of the Choi matrix. Whereas the latter channels form a 3-simplex, the former channels do not form a convex set as seen from an ab initio perspective. Further, where the rank of generalized depolarizing channels can be any positive integer upto 4, that of amplitude damping ones is either 2 or 4. Various channel performance parameters are used to bring out the different influences of temperature and squeezing in dissipative channels. In particular, a noise range is identified where the distinguishability of states improves inspite of increasing decoherence due to environmental squeezing.Comment: 12 pages, 4 figure

Sample size calculation for microarray experiments with blocked one-way design

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>One of the main objectives of microarray analysis is to identify differentially expressed genes for different types of cells or treatments. Many statistical methods have been proposed to assess the treatment effects in microarray experiments.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this paper, we consider discovery of the genes that are differentially expressed among <it>K </it>(> 2) treatments when each set of <it>K </it>arrays consists of a block. In this case, the array data among <it>K </it>treatments tend to be correlated because of block effect. We propose to use the blocked one-way ANOVA <it>F</it>-statistic to test if each gene is differentially expressed among <it>K </it>treatments. The marginal p-values are calculated using a permutation method accounting for the block effect, adjusting for the multiplicity of the testing procedure by controlling the false discovery rate (FDR). We propose a sample size calculation method for microarray experiments with a blocked one-way design. With FDR level and effect sizes of genes specified, our formula provides a sample size for a given number of true discoveries.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The calculated sample size is shown via simulations to provide an accurate number of true discoveries while controlling the FDR at the desired level.</p

A novel oxygen carrier sensitized Cisplatin based chemotherapy in hepatocellular carcinoma

Publication no. P-312BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Our previous study showed that acute phase liver graft injury not only promotes tumor recurrence, but also induces chemoresistance in recurrent HCC after liver transplantation [1]. Recently, we found that the oxygen carrier 'YQ23' significantly ameliorates hepatic IR injury and prevents tumor recurrence [2]. Here, we intended to explore the novel therapeutic strategy using oxygen carrier 'YQ23' to sensitize chemotherapy in ...postprin