Load forecasting by fuzzy neural network in Box-Jenkins models

In this paper, the use of FNN to identify appropriate Box-Jenkins models for the electricity load forecasting in Hong Kong is presented. FNN is found to be suitable to identify the Box-Jenkin model. By such model, we can forecast the load accurately.published_or_final_versio

Formation of core/shell structured cobalt/carbon nanoparticles by pulsed laser ablation in toluene

Author name used in this publication: H. Y. KwongAuthor name used in this publication: M. H. WongAuthor name used in this publication: C. W. LeungAuthor name used in this publication: Y. W. WongAuthor name used in this publication: K. H. Wong2010-2011 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe

Metastatic carcinoma of breast in the urinary bladder

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How can the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry scoring system aid management of a solid renal mass?

OBJECTIVES. To investigate use of the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score in relation to the choice of treatment and postoperative complications for renal masses. DESIGN. Case series. SETTING. A tertiary referral hospital in Hong Kong. PATIENTS. Data of patients undergoing nephrectomy were collected retrospectively from a clinical database and analysed. A R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score was allocated to each renal tumour by a blinded qualified radiologist, utilising computerised imaging systems. Patient demographics, choice of surgery (radical vs partial), and approaches (open vs minimally invasive) were analysed with respect to their R.E.N.A.L. score. RESULTS. In all, 74 patients were included during the study period, of which 38 underwent partial nephrectomy and 36 underwent radical nephrectomy. No differences between the groups were found with respect to patient demographics. There were significant differences between the partial and radical nephrectomy groups in terms of their mean nephrometry score (6.9 vs 9.3, P<0.001). The mean nephrometry sum was also significantly different in the open approach versus the minimally invasive approach in patients having partial nephrectomy (7.8 vs 6.0, P=0.001). There was no difference in the postoperative 90-day morbidity and mortality in the partial nephrectomy and radical nephrectomy groups. CONCLUSIONS. The R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score of a renal mass correlated significantly with our choice of surgery (partial vs radical) and our approach to surgery (open vs minimally invasive surgery), particularly in the partial nephrectomy group. It does not, however, correlate with postoperative complications. The nephrometry score provides a useful tool for objectively describing renal mass characteristics and enhancing better communication for the operative planning directed at renal masses.published_or_final_versio

The clinical course of polymyalgia rheumatica in Chinese

Polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) is diagnosed based on clinical features that may overlap with other rheumatic conditions like rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Furthermore, a proportion of PMR patients may subsequently evolve into RA. The aim of this study was to examine the clinical characteristics of PMR patients in a Chinese cohort compared to a Caucasian series. Patients diagnosed to have PMR during 1997-2008 were reviewed for clinical features and compared to a reported Caucasian series. Rheumatoid factor (RF) and anticyclic citrullinated peptide (CCP) antibodies were determined by immunonephelometry and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, respectively. Forty-four patients of southern Chinese origin were diagnosed to have PMR according to specialist opinion. Seventy-five percent of patients (n = 33) were >65 years of age at diagnosis (mean ± standard deviation, 75.8 ± 9.6 years). The commonest feature at disease onset was elevated erythrocyte sedimentation rate >40 mm/h (100% vs. 95.7%; p = 0.17) and bilateral shoulder pain or stiffness (95.5% vs. 90.8%; p = 0.31), comparable in frequency to the Caucasian cohort. However, Chinese patients had significantly longer duration of symptoms before diagnosis (p < 0.001) but less bilateral upper arm tenderness (p < 0.001) and generalized stiffness (p = 0.01). Twelve (27.3%) patients evolved into RA after a median duration of 2 months from onset of PMR. RF and anti-CCP antibodies were positive in 66.7% and 60% of these patients compared to 9.4% and 6.2%, respectively, among those who did not evolve into RA during the period observed. Chinese patients with PMR have modestly different clinical profile compared to the Caucasian counterpart. RF and anti-CCP antibodies were more likely to be present in those who subsequently developed into RA. © 2009 Clinical Rheumatology.postprin

Predictive factors for extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy success in ureteric stones, does skin-stone distance and hounsfield unit matter?

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the usefulness of measuring stone skin distance and stone attenuation values by non-contrast computed tomography for predicting treatment outcome of ureteric stones by extracorporeal shockwave lithotripsy (ESWL). PATIENT AND METHOD : Retrospective review of 66 patients who underwent ESWL for ureteric stones with pre-ESWL NCCT in 2010–2012. Subjects were stratified into 2 groups, successful ESWL and failed ESWL, with ESWL success defined as stone fragment less than 4 mm at 6 weeks after ESWL. Patient age, sex, stone size, stone location, laterality, shockwave energy, number of shockwave administered, Hounsfield unit (HU), skin to stone distance (SSD), presence of hydronephrosis, pre-ESWL JJ stent or PCN were studied as predictive factors. RESULTS : Patient demographics and stone characteristics were similar between the 2 groups. On univariate analysis, the mean stone size for successful ESWL was 7.9 mm compared with 10.2 mm in the failure group (P = 0.02). For the skin-stone distance, the mean distance for the successful group was 95 mm compared with 104 mm in the failure group (P = 0.04). Concerning the Hounsfield Unit, a mean of 1034 HU was found in the successful compared with 1129 HU in the failure group (P = 0.16) CONCLUSION : Skin to stone distance on non-contrast CT scan is a useful predictive factors for ESWL success for ureteric stones.postprin

Analysis of craniofacial defects in Six1/Eya1-associated Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome

Poster Session I - Morphogenesis: 205/B10117th ISDB 2013 cum 72nd Annual Meeting of the Society for Developmental Biology, 7th Latin American Society of Developmental Biology Meeting and 11th Congreso de la Sociedad Mexicana de Biologia del Desarrollo.Branchio-Oto-Renal (BOR) syndrome patients exhibit craniofacial and renal anomalies as well as deafness. BOR syndrome is caused by mutations in Six1 or Eya1, both of which regulate cell proliferation and differentiation. The molecular mechanism underlying the craniofacial and branchial arch (BA) defects in BOR syndrome is unclear. We have found that Hoxb3 is up-regulated in the second branchial arch (BA2) of Six1-/- mutants. Moreover, Hoxb3 over-expression in transgenic mice leads to BA abnormalities which are similar to the BA defects in Six1-/- or Eya1-/- mutants, suggesting a regulatory relationship among Six1, Eya1 and Hoxb3 genes. The aim of this study is to investigate the molecular mechanism underlying abnormal BA development in BOR syndrome using Six1 and Eya1 mutant mice. Two potential Six1 binding sites were identified on the Hoxb3 gene. In vitro and in vivo Chromatin IP assays showed that Six1 could directly bind to one of the sites specifically. Furthermore, using a chick in ovo luciferase assay we showed that Six1 could suppress gene expression through one of the specific binding sites. On the other hand, in Six1-/- mutants, we found that the Notch ligand Jag1 was up-regulated in BA2. Similarly, in Hoxb3 transgenic mice, ectopic expression of Jag1 could be also detected in BA2. To investigate the activation of Notch signaling pathway, we found that Notch intracellular domain (NICD), a direct indicator of Notch pathway activation, was up-regulated in BAs of Six1-/-; Eya1-/- double mutants. Our results indicate that Hoxb3 and Notch signaling pathway are involved in mediating the craniofacial defects of Six1/Eya1-associated Branchio-Oto-Renal Syndrome.postprin

Sufu and Gli3 repressor mediate the temporal basal-to-apical progression of hair cell differentiation in mammalian cochleae

Poster presentation - Theme 3: Development & stem cellsThe Sonic Hedgehog pathway plays important roles in mammalian inner ear development. Mutations of Shh, Smo and Gli3 lead to severe defects in mouse inner ear morphogenesis. However, knockout of Gli2 does not affect inner ear morphology or cochlear hair cell differentiation, suggesting that the Gli repressor function may be required for Hedgehog signaling during inner ear development. Sufu is a negative regulator of Hedgehog signaling and it functions to repress Gli activator and enhance Gli repressor ...postprin

Lung cancer tumorigenicity and drug resistance are maintained through ALDH(hi)CD44(hi) tumor initiating cells

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Magnetoresistivity of cobalt-polytetrafluoroethylene granular composites

Author name used in this publication: H. Y. KwongAuthor name used in this publication: M. H. WongAuthor name used in this publication: Y. W. WongAuthor name used in this publication: K. H. Wong2006-2007 > Academic research: refereed > Publication in refereed journalVersion of RecordPublishe