Analysis of Mono-, Di- and Oligosaccharides by CE Using a Two-Stage Derivatization Method and LIF Detection.

A sensitive CE with LIF method has been developed for quantitative analysis of small carbohydrates. In this work, 17 carbohydrates including mono-, di- and oligosaccharides were simultaneously derivatized with 4-fluoro 7-nitrobenzo furazane (NBD-F) via a twostep reaction involving reductive amination with ammonia followed by condensation with NBD-F. Under the optimized derivatization conditions all carbo-hydrates were successfully derivatized within 2.5 h and separated within 15 min using borate buffer (90 mmol/L, pH 9.2). For sugar standards LODs were in the range of 49.7 to 243.6 nmol/L. Migration time and peak area reproducibility were better than RSD 0.1 and 3%, respectively. The method was applied to measure sugars in nanoliter volume samples of phloem sap obtained by stylectomy from wheat and to honeydew samples obtained from aphids feeding from wheat and willow

Information of ocular origin impairs target discrimination during visual search

Session 9: Poster: Attention & Awareness, Visual search, Clinical population, Computer visionVisual features such as colour, orientation, luminance, eye-of-origin information are reported to modulate attentional deployment and thus visual search. Among them, the effect of ocular origin of information on visual search performance is less clear: Zhaoping (2008, 2012) found that an ocular singleton improves visual search performance when it was the target, while we (Yeung et al, 2014) found consistent search ...postprin

Invisible collinear integration impairs visual search

This journal suppl. entitled: Special Issue: The 9th Asia‐Pacific Conference on Vision (APCV 2013) ...Friday Afternoon Sessions: Talk Session II - Visual Search & Eye MovementOur visual search performance is compromised when the target overlaps with a task-irrelevant salient distractor organized to a snake-like configuration by collinear bars ...postprin

Meta-analysis methods for combining multiple expression profiles: Comparisons, statistical characterization and an application guideline

Background: As high-throughput genomic technologies become accurate and affordable, an increasing number of data sets have been accumulated in the public domain and genomic information integration and meta-analysis have become routine in biomedical research. In this paper, we focus on microarray meta-analysis, where multiple microarray studies with relevant biological hypotheses are combined in order to improve candidate marker detection. Many methods have been developed and applied in the literature, but their performance and properties have only been minimally investigated. There is currently no clear conclusion or guideline as to the proper choice of a meta-analysis method given an application; the decision essentially requires both statistical and biological considerations.Results: We performed 12 microarray meta-analysis methods for combining multiple simulated expression profiles, and such methods can be categorized for different hypothesis setting purposes: (1) HSA: DE genes with non-zero effect sizes in all studies, (2) HSB: DE genes with non-zero effect sizes in one or more studies and (3) HSr: DE gene with non-zero effect in "majority"of studies. We then performed a comprehensive comparative analysis through six large-scale real applications using four quantitative statistical evaluation criteria: detection capability, biological association, stability and robustness. We elucidated hypothesis settings behind the methods and further apply multi-dimensional scaling (MDS) and an entropy measure to characterize the meta-analysis methods and data structure, respectively.Conclusions: The aggregated results from the simulation study categorized the 12 methods into three hypothesis settings (HSA, HSB, and HSr). Evaluation in real data and results from MDS and entropy analyses provided an insightful and practical guideline to the choice of the most suitable method in a given application. All source files for simulation and real data are available on the author's publication website. © 2013 Chang et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd

Interpretação Automatizada de Textos: Processamento de Anáforas

Esta tese apresenta uma solução para a interpretação de anáforas nominais definidas. Considere o seguinte texto: (1) a. Mariana comprou um carro novo. b. O motor veio danificado. A frase (1a) apresenta duas entidades: Mariana e um carro novo. Já a frase (1.2b) tem apenas uma entidade - o motor. No processo de interpretação, humano ou computacional, a utilização do artigo definido " o" é um indicativo de que a entidade já havia sido introduzida no discurso, i.e. apresenta um caráter anafórico. Resolver uma anáfora é, a priori, identificar a quem ou a que se refere esta anáfora. Mas no caso acima é mais do que isto: sem dúvida o motor existe no texto por causa da existência de um carro, porém a interpretação do motor deve ir além disto e identificar como este motor está ligado com aquele carro. Isto é uma anáfora nominal definida. A interpretação das anáforas nominais definidas ou de qualquer fenômeno anafórico pode ser generalizada como um processo que atribui valores aos itens da seguinte equação: R(A, T ) (2) onde: A denota a entidade introduzida pela interpretação fora de contexto de um pronome, de uma elipse ou de um sintagma nominal definido, T denota o seu antecedente e R é a relação existente entre A e T . O processo de resolução da equação, que é propriamente o processo de resolução de anáforas, consiste em descobrir T e R dado A. Nesta tese é proposta uma metodologia computacional que interpreta as anáforas nominais definidas cuja relação R é uma dentre: parte de, membro de, subcategorizado por e coreferência. A obtenção das relações é feita por um conjunto de regras pragmáticas [Freitas, Lopes e Menezes 2004, Filho e Freitas 2003] (cap. 3). Caso seja constatado que A não seja anafórica então ela é acomodada no contexto. A metodologia computacional é construída sobre um ambiente de programação em lógica [Damásio, Nejdl e Pereira 1994] que permite raciocinar abdutivamente [Kakas, Kowalski e Toni 1992] sobre a representação semântica do texto [Kamp e Reyle 1993]. A partir da interpretação das entidades é construída a estrutura nominal do discurso [Lopes e Freitas 1994] (cap. 4), a qual permite: (1) fazer o acompanhamento das entidades mais salientes em cada frase [Freitas e Lopes 1994], (2) limitar o universo de escolha de possíveis antecedentes[Freitas e Lopes 1996] e (3) prover um resumo das entidades do discurso. O resultado é uma metodologia que permite, de forma integrada, resolver anáforas e elipses, sendo que a estrutura nominal do discurso pode ser usada na busca de informações

Identification of novel DNA methylation inhibitors via a two-component reporter gene system

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Targeting abnormal DNA methylation represents a therapeutically relevant strategy for cancer treatment as demonstrated by the US Food and Drug Administration approval of the DNA methyltransferase inhibitors azacytidine and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine for the treatment of myelodysplastic syndromes. But their use is associated with increased incidences of bone marrow suppression. Alternatively, procainamide has emerged as a potential DNA demethylating agent for clinical translation. While procainamide is much safer than 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, it requires high concentrations to be effective in DNA demethylation in suppressing cancer cell growth. Thus, our laboratories have embarked on the pharmacological exploitation of procainamide to develop potent DNA methylation inhibitors through lead optimization.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We report the use of a DNA methylation two-component enhanced green fluorescent protein reporter system as a screening platform to identify novel DNA methylation inhibitors from a compound library containing procainamide derivatives.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A lead agent IM25, which exhibits substantially higher potency in <it>GSTp1 </it>DNA demethylation with lower cytotoxicity in MCF7 cells relative to procainamide and 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, was identified by the screening platform.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our data provide a proof-of-concept that procainamide could be pharmacologically exploited to develop novel DNA methylation inhibitors, of which the translational potential in cancer therapy/prevention is currently under investigation.</p

A Global SU(5) F-theory model with Wilson line breaking

We engineer compact SU(5) Grand Unified Theories in F-theory in which GUT-breaking is achieved by a discrete Wilson line. Because the internal gauge field is flat, these models avoid the high scale threshold corrections associated with hypercharge flux. Along the way, we exemplify the `local-to-global' approach in F-theory model building and demonstrate how the Tate divisor formalism can be used to address several challenges of extending local models to global ones. These include in particular the construction of G-fluxes that extend non-inherited bundles and the engineering of U(1) symmetries. We go beyond chirality computations and determine the precise (charged) massless spectrum, finding exactly three families of quarks and leptons but excessive doublet and/or triplet pairs in the Higgs sector (depending on the example) and vector-like exotics descending from the adjoint of SU(5)_{GUT}. Understanding why vector-like pairs persist in the Higgs sector without an obvious symmetry to protect them may shed light on new solutions to the mu problem in F-theory GUTs.Comment: 95 pages (71 pages + 1 Appendix); v2 references added, minor correction

An interdisciplinary intervention for older Taiwanese patients after surgery for hip fracture improves health-related quality of life

Abstract Background The effects of intervention programs on health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients with hip fracture have not been well studied. We hypothesized that older patients with hip fracture who received our interdisciplinary intervention program would have better HRQOL than those who did not. Methods A randomized experimental design was used. Older patients with hip fracture (N = 162), 60 to 98 years old, from a medical center in northern Taiwan were randomly assigned to an experimental (n = 80) or control (n = 82) group. HRQOL was measured by the SF-36 Taiwan version at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months after discharge. Results The experimental group had significantly better overall outcomes in bodily pain (&#946; = 9.38, p = 0.002), vitality (&#946; = 9.40, p &lt; 0.001), mental health (&#946; = 8.16, p = 0.004), physical function (&#946; = 16.01, p &lt; 0.001), and role physical (&#946; = 22.66, p &lt; 0.001) than the control group at any time point during the first year after discharge. Physical-related health outcomes (physical functioning, role physical, and vitality) had larger treatment effects than emotional/mental- and social functioning-related health outcomes. Conclusions This interdisciplinary intervention program may improve health outcomes of elders with hip fracture. Our results may provide a reference for health care providers in countries using similar programs with Chinese/Taiwanese immigrant populations. Trial registration NCT01052636http://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78259/1/1471-2474-11-225.xmlhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/78259/2/1471-2474-11-225.pdfPeer Reviewe

A systematic review of randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness of exercise programs on lumbo pelvic pain among postnatal women

Background: A substantial number of women tend to be affected by Lumbo Pelvic Pain (LPP) following child birth. Physical exercise is indicated as a beneficial method to relieve LPP, but individual studies appear to suggest mixed findings about its effectiveness. This systematic review aimed to synthesise evidence from randomised controlled trials on the effectiveness of exercise on LPP among postnatal women to inform policy, practice and future research. Methods: A systematic review was conducted of all randomised controlled trials published between January 1990 and July 2014, identified through a comprehensive search of following databases: PubMed, PEDro, Embase, Cinahl, Medline, SPORTDiscus, Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group’s Trials Register, and electronic libraries of authors’institutions. Randomised controlled trials were eligible for inclusion if the intervention comprised of postnatal exercise for women with LPP onset during pregnancy or within 3 months after delivery and the outcome measures included changes in LPP. Selected articles were assessed using the PEDro Scale for methodological quality and findings were synthesised narratively as meta-analysis was found to be inappropriate due to heterogeneity among included studies. Results: Four randomised controlled trials were included, involving 251 postnatal women. Three trials were rated as of ‘good’ methodological quality. All trials, except one, were at low risk of bias. The trials included physical exercise programs with varying components, differing modes of delivery, follow up times and outcome measures. Intervention in one trial, involving physical therapy with specific stabilising exercises, proved to be effective in reducing LPP intensity. An improvement in gluteal pain on the right side was reported in another trial and a significant difference in pain frequency in another. Conclusion: Our review indicates that only few randomised controlled trials have evaluated the effectiveness of exercise on LPP among postnatal women. There is also a great amount of variability across existing trials in the components of exercise programs, modes of delivery, follow up times and outcome measures. While there is some evidence to indicate the effectiveness of exercise for relieving LPP, further good quality trials are needed to ascertain the most effective elements of postnatal exercise programs suited for LPP treatment

Meconium pseudocyst secondary to ileum volvulus perforation without peritoneal calcification: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>A case of giant meconium pseudocyst secondary to ileum volvulus perforation is presented. Conventional radiographic features of meconium peritonitis with secondary meconium pseudocyst formation are well described. Our case is unusual in comparison to other cases reported in the literature and needs to be reported because the meconium pseudocyst presented without the typical ultrasound features (calcifications, polyhydramnios and ascites) and was initially identified as an abdominal mass.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>We describe the case of a 29-year-old Caucasian woman in her third trimester of pregnancy, in which an abdominal mass was detected in the fetus. The newborn was diagnosed in the early neonatal period with meconium pseudocyst secondary to ileum volvulus perforation.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The prenatal appearance of a meconium pseudocyst can be complemented by other signs of bowel obstruction (if present) such as polyhydramnios and fetal bowel dilatation. This is an original case report of interest to all clinicians in the perinatology and fetal ultrasound field. We consider that the utility of this case is the recognition that a meconium pseudocyst might appear without the typical ultrasound features and should be considered as a differential diagnosis when an echogenic intra-abdominal cyst is seen.</p