Nosocomial Trichosporon asahii Fungemia in a Patient with Secondary Hemochromatosis: A Rare Case Report

Trichosporon asahii (formerly known as T. beigelii) is an emerging, life-threatening opportunistic pathogen, especially in severely granulocytopenic patients with underlying hematological malignancies. Other reported predisposing factors for infection with this pathogen include organ transplantation, extensive burns, human immunodeficiency virus infection, corticosteroid therapy, prosthetic valve surgery, and peritoneal dialysis. We report a 53-year-old nongranulocytopenic female with secondary hemochromatosis, who developed nosocomial fungemia caused by T. asahii. This case suggests that clinicians should be aware that T. asahii fungemia can develop in nongranulocytopenic patients with secondary hemochromatosis

Applying Hybrid PSO to Optimize Directional Overcurrent Relay Coordination in Variable Network Topologies

In power systems, determining the values of time dial setting (TDS) and the plug setting (PS) for directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) is an extremely constrained optimization problem that has been previously described and solved as a nonlinear programming problem. Optimization coordination problems of near-end faults and far-end faults occurring simultaneously in circuits with various topologies, including fixed and variable network topologies, are considered in this study. The aim of this study was to apply the Nelder-Mead (NM) simplex search method and particle swarm optimization (PSO) to solve this optimization problem. The proposed NM-PSO method has the advantage of NM algorithm, with a quicker movement toward optimal solution, as well as the advantage of PSO algorithm in the ability to obtain globally optimal solution. Neither a conventional PSO nor the proposed NM-PSO method is capable of dealing with constrained optimization problems. Therefore, we use the gradient-based repair method embedded in a conventional PSO and the proposed NM-PSO. This study used an IEEE 8-bus test system as a case study to compare the convergence performance of the proposed NM-PSO method and a conventional PSO approach. The results demonstrate that a robust and optimal solution can be obtained efficiently by implementing the proposal

Low-Loss Single and Differential Semi-Coaxial Interconnects in Standard CMOS Process

[[abstract]]The low-loss single semi-coaxial (S-SC) and differential semi-coaxial (D-SC) interconnects based on a standard 0.18-mum CMOS process are presented for the first time. Compared to the attenuation constant (alpha) reported for microstrip and CPW interconnects in CMOS process, the S-SC line shows the lowest loss of 0.90 dB/mm at 50 GHz. The D-SC line also presents a very low differential-mode alpha of ~1.00 dB/mm at high frequencies. The characteristics of D-SC lines for differential-mode and common-mode are also investigated in details based on the measured mixed-mode S-parameters[[fileno]]2030121030007[[department]]電機工程學

easyExon – A Java-based GUI tool for processing and visualization of Affymetrix exon array data

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Alternative RNA splicing greatly increases proteome diversity and thereby contribute to species- or tissue-specific functions. The possibility to study alternative splicing (AS) events on a genomic scale using splicing-sensitive microarrays, including the Affymetrix GeneChip Exon 1.0 ST microarray (exon array), has appeared very recently. However, the application of this new technology is hindered by the lack of free and user-friendly software devoted to these novel platforms.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In this study we present a Java-based freeware, easyExon <url>http://microarray.ym.edu.tw/easyexon</url>, to process, filtrate and visualize exon array data with an analysis pipeline. This tool implements the most commonly used probeset summarization methods as well as AS-orientated filtration algorithms, e.g. MIDAS and PAC, for the detection of alternative splicing events. We include a biological filtration function according to GO terms, and provide a module to visualize and interpret the selected exons and transcripts. Furthermore, easyExon can integrate with other related programs, such as Integrate Genome Browser (IGB) and Affymetrix Power Tools (APT), to make the whole analysis more comprehensive. We applied easyExon on a public accessible colon cancer dataset as an example to illustrate the analysis pipeline of this tool.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>EasyExon can efficiently process and analyze the Affymetrix exon array data. The simplicity, flexibility and brevity of easyExon make it a valuable tool for AS event identification in genomic research.</p

Formation polarity dependent improved resistive switching memory characteristics using nanoscale (1.3 nm) core-shell IrOx nano-dots

Improved resistive switching memory characteristics by controlling the formation polarity in an IrOx/Al2O3/IrOx-ND/Al2O3/WOx/W structure have been investigated. High density of 1 × 1013/cm2 and small size of 1.3 nm in diameter of the IrOx nano-dots (NDs) have been observed by high-resolution transmission electron microscopy. The IrOx-NDs, Al2O3, and WOx layers are confirmed by X-ray photo-electron spectroscopy. Capacitance-voltage hysteresis characteristics show higher charge-trapping density in the IrOx-ND memory as compared to the pure Al2O3 devices. This suggests that the IrOx-ND device has more defect sites than that of the pure Al2O3 devices. Stable resistive switching characteristics under positive formation polarity on the IrOx electrode are observed, and the conducting filament is controlled by oxygen ion migration toward the Al2O3/IrOx top electrode interface. The switching mechanism is explained schematically based on our resistive switching parameters. The resistive switching random access memory (ReRAM) devices under positive formation polarity have an applicable resistance ratio of > 10 after extrapolation of 10 years data retention at 85°C and a long read endurance of 105 cycles. A large memory size of > 60 Tbit/sq in. can be realized in future for ReRAM device application. This study is not only important for improving the resistive switching memory performance but also help design other nanoscale high-density nonvolatile memory in future

Long-Term Storage Effects on Stability of Aβ1–40, Aβ1–42, and Total Tau Proteins in Human Plasma Samples Measured with Immunomagnetic Reduction Assays

Background: The stability of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) biomarkers in plasma, measured by immunomagnetic reduction (IMR) after long-term storage at –80°C, has not been established before. Method: Ninety-nine human plasma samples from 53 normal controls (NCs), 5 patients with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI), and 41 AD patients were collected. Each plasma sample was aliquoted and stored as single-use aliquots at –80°C. The baseline measurements for Aβ1–40, Aβ1–42, and total Tau protein (T-Tau) concentrations for each sample were done within 3 months of blood draw by IMR. They are referred to as baseline concentrations. A separate aliquot from each sample was assayed with IMR to assess the stability of the measured analytes during storage at –80°C between 1.1 and 5.4 years. This is referred to as a repeated result. Results: IMR shows that plasma levels of Aβ1–40 and Aβ1–42 exhibit stability over 5-year storage at –80°C and that plasma levels of T-Tau are less stable (approximately 1.5 years). Conclusion: Although the measured concentrations of T-Tau in human plasma may alter during storage, the diagnostic utility of the results are only slightly affected when the product of Aβ1–42 and T-Tau concentrations are used. The results show that the overall agreement between baseline and repeated measurements in the ability of discriminating NCs from aMCI/AD patients is higher than 80%

The PRC in the WTO: Impact on Trade and Investment in the SEACEN Countries

This study aims to analyse the impact on trade and investment in the SEACEN countries following China¡¯s entry into the WTO. The study finds that there is an increasingly urgent need for the SEACEN countries to build their own niches and make full use of China¡¯s business opportunities and huge export market especially in light of China¡¯s accelerating economic growth, growing role in the world¡¯s supply base of manufactured goods, magnetic appeal to international technology and capital, and aggressive expansion of export. Only by raising their competitiveness and becoming an integral part of the global division of labour can the SEACEN countries avoid being left out of the global supply chain. The study also points out that each SEACEN country has its own unique competitive advantage while closely related to and complementing each other in economy and trade. Regional economic cooperation should be promoted to minimise possible negative impact from China¡¯s entry into the WTO.