ASEAN and the development of counter-terrorism law and policy in Southeast Asia

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Influence of interfacial nitrogen on edge charge trapping at the interface of gate oxide/drain extension in metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors

The influence of interfacial nitrogen on edge charge trapping at the interface of gate oxide/drain extension in metal-oxide-semiconductor transistors was investigated. Positive edge charge trapping was observed for both pure and nitrided oxides with an oxide thickness of 6.5 nm. Results showed that nitrogen at the interface enhance the edge charge trapping.published_or_final_versio

An exploratory study on the social and genotypic clustering of HIV infection in men having sex with men

OBJECTIVE: To explore the clustering of HIV infected men having sex with men (MSM) using social network approach in conjunction with the phylogenetic relationship of the virus strains. DESIGN: An exploratory study incorporating social network and phylogenetic analysis. METHODS: Recently diagnosed HIV-infected MSM attending one major HIV specialist clinic in Hong Kong were recruited in the study involving the administration of a self-administered questionnaire on behaviours and partnership patterns using a Likert Scale, the results of which were assessed using social network analysis and in context of the phylogenetic analysis from sequencing the HIV-1 pol gene, as part of the clinical investigation for genotypic resistance. Clusters were defined using social and molecular methods. RESULTS: An 'Internet-centred' cluster and 'Sauna-centred' cluster could be delineated using correspondence analysis and network diagrams. The main distinguishing features of MSM in the 'Internet-centred' social cluster were: younger age, higher education level, and multiple partner types. Three genetic clusters could be identified in the phylogenetic tree, two of which associated with Internet use and one with sauna for sex partnership. There were partial overlaps between social and genetic clusters. Characteristically, the virus strains in sauna users were more disperse compared with the closely knit configuration of those using Internet. CONCLUSION: The principle of the duality of place and person can be strategically applied in epidemiologic investigation. The characterization of MSM cluster using anonymized network data provides a potentially powerful tool for informing public health intervention. © 2009 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.postprin

Three Courses of Tianjiu Therapy in Sanfu Days for Chronic Asthma: A Clinic Efficacy Observation Trail

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Asia-Pacific consensus statement on the optimal use of high-sensitivity troponin assays in acute coronary syndromes diagnosis: focus on hs-TnI

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Projections of the healthcare costs and disease burden due to hepatitis C infection under different treatment policies in Malaysia, 2018-2040

The World Health Organisation (WHO) has set ambitious goals to reduce the global disease burden associated with, and eventually eliminate, viral hepatitis

Microstructures and resistivity of cuprate/manganite bilayer deposited on SrTiO3 substrate

Thin Yba[SUB2]Cu[SUB3]O[SUB7-δ/La[SUB0.67]Ca[SUB0.33]MnO[SUB3] (YBCO/LCMO) films were grown on SrTiO[SUB3](STO)substrates by magnetron sputtering technique. The microstructures of the bilayers were characterized and a standard four-probe technique was applied to measure the resistivity of the samples. The interdiffusions at the YBCO/LCMO and LCMO/STO interfaces formed two transient layers with the thickness of about 3 and 2 nm, respectively. All the bilayers were well textured along the c axis. At low temperature, the superconductivity can only be observed when the thickness of YBCO is more than 25 nm. When the thickness of YBCO is less than 8 nm, the bilayers show only ferromagnetism. The superconductivity and ferromagnetism perhaps coexist in the bilayer with the YBCO thickness of 12.5 nm. These interesting properties are related to the interaction between spin polarized electrons in the manganites and the cooper pairs in the cuprates. © 2003 American Institute of Physics.published_or_final_versio

A randomized sham-controlled study of pulmonary vein isolation in symptomatic atrial fibrillation (The SHAM-PVI study): Study design and rationale

INTRODUCTION: Pulmonary vein (PV) isolation has been shown to reduce atrial fibrillation (AF) burden and symptoms in patients. However, to date previous studies have been unblinded raising the possibility of a placebo effect to account for differences in outcomes. HYPOTHESIS & METHODS: The objective of this study is to compare PV isolation to a sham procedure in patients with symptomatic AF. The SHAM-PVI study is a double blind randomized controlled clinical trial. 140 patients with symptomatic paroxysmal or persistent AF will be randomized to either PV isolation (with cryoballoon ablation) or a sham procedure (with phrenic nerve pacing). All patients will receive an implantable loop recorder. The primary outcome is total AF burden at 6 months postrandomisation (excluding the 3 month blanking period). Key secondary outcomes include (1) time to symptomatic and asymptomatic atrial tachyarrhythmia (2) total atrial tachyarrhythmia episodes and (3) patient reported outcome measures. RESULTS: Enrollment was initiated in January 2020. Through April 2023 119 patients have been recruited. Results are expected to be disseminated in 2024. CONCLUSION: This study compares PV isolation using cryoablation to a sham procedure. The study will estimate the effect of PV isolation on AF burden

Mycotoxin Zearalenone induced apoptosis in BEAS-2B cells through generation of ROS and activation of JNK and p38 MAPKs signalling pathways

Session: ET05P - Ecotoxicology and ecosystem services: A southern perspective: WE 304Human exposure to Zearalenone (ZEA, a non-steroidal estrogenic mycotoxin) through inhalation has raised considerable concern. However, the potential health risk and the mechanism of actions of ZEA are not well understood. In the present study, we used BEAS-2B, cultured human bronchial epithelial cells, as well as Cygb stably transfected BEAS-2B cells to study the cytotoxic effects and the toxic mechanisms of ZEA. Our results indicated that ZEA decreased cell viability, induced apoptosis and promoted ROS level in BEAS-2B cells. Oxidative stress was clearly evident, as shown by an elevated mRNA expression levels of oxidative stress markers (Hsp70 and Hsp27) and endogenous antioxidants (SOD2 and Gpx). Stable transfection of Cygb significantly increased the level of Cygb but reduced level of ROS and the percentage of apoptotic cells induced by ZEA. Cells pretreated with either p38 or JNK inhibitors showed no attenuation in ROS level, but the percentage of apoptotic cells was lower than cells treated with ZEApostprin