Frequency instability in Er/Yb fiber grating lasers due to heating by nonradiative transitions

Author name used in this publication: Demokan, M. S.Version of RecordPublishe

Three-dimensional strain state and spacer thickness-dependent properties of epitaxial Pr0.7Sr0.3MnO3/La0.5Ca0.5MnO3/Pr0.7Sr0.3MnO3 trilayer structure

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Insights into iguanodontian dental architecture from an Early Cretaceous Chinese basal hadrosauriform maxilla (Ornithischia: Iguanodontia)

Basal hadrosauriform iguanodontian dinosaurs have been invaluable towards understanding the evolution of the complex and highly efficient advanced hadrosauriform tooth battery dental system. Here we report a new basal hadrosauriform maxilla specimen - IVPP V22529 - from the Dashuiguo Formation of Maortu, Nei Mongol, China that preserves a corrugated middle ventrolateral margin that differs from the straight and undulating ventral margins found in most iguandontian and non-iguanodontian dinosaurs. The uniqueness of this ventrolateral margin relates to a new dental structure - cementum ‘jackets’ that wrap about the labial sides of the teeth. To our knowledge this is the first time that cementum has been described migrated onto the tooth crowns of iguandontians (and other dinosaurs), but this trait is common amongst mammals. This dental morphology - seen in a similar form in the basal hadrosauriform Equijubus – therefore broadens our knowledge of iguanodontian maxillary anatomy and shows that the basal hadrosauriform dental system was more morphologically complex than previously thought. IVPP V22529 resembles maxillae specimens of Probactrosaurus gobiensis, a contemporaneous taxon known from the same locality in North China, in sharing an inferred subtriangular shape, a relatively flat lateral surface bearing a low row of foramina as well as similar-looking teeth. However, the presence of a unique corrugated middle ventrolateral margin in IVPP V22529, a low row of foramina on its lateral surface that also open anteriorly and increase in size posteriorly as well as a prominent medial shelf suggests that this specimen does not belong to P. gobiensis. However, these differences could conceivably be related to ontogenetic and sexual variation, which have not been fully documented in P. gobiensis. More detailed comparisons of IVPP V22529 and Probactrosaurus are also hampered by the missing posterior portion of IVPP V22529 as well as the missing anterior ramii in Probactrosaurus maxillae specimens. It is clear though that IVPP V22529 is different from the more advanced Northern Chinese hadrosauriforms Bactrosaurus and Gilmoreosaurus. The latter lack well-developed maxillary grooves on their medial shelves, unlike IVPP V22529, but all three taxa possess less-developed ones on the medial surfaces of the anteromedial processes of the anterior ramii. Different to IVPP V22529, Gilmoreosaurus also has foramina that are more highly-positioned on the lateral surface of its maxilla as well as a row of larger and more circular ‘special’ foramina on its medial surface. Thus, at this time, IVPP V22529 is identified as a basal hadrosauriform and not as a new genus or as a new species of Probactrosaurus.published_or_final_versio

Role of Circulating Fibroblast Growth Factor 21 Measurement in Primary Prevention of Coronary Heart Disease Among Chinese Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND: Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) has demonstrated beneficial effects on lipid and carbohydrate metabolism. In cross-sectional studies, an association of raised circulating FGF21 levels with coronary heart disease (CHD) was found in some but not all studies. Here we investigated prospectively whether baseline serum FGF21 levels could predict incident CHD in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus and no known cardiovascular diseases. METHODS AND RESULTS: Baseline serum FGF21 levels were measured in 3528 Chinese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus recruited from the Hong Kong West Diabetes Registry. The role of baseline serum FGF21 levels in predicting incident CHD over a median follow-up of 3.8 years was analyzed using Cox regression analysis. Among 3528 recruited subjects without known cardiovascular diseases, 147 (4.2%) developed CHD over a mean follow-up of 4 years. Baseline serum log-transformed FGF21 levels were significantly higher in those who had incident CHD than those who did not (222.7 pg/mL [92.8-438.4] versus 151.1 pg/mL [75.6-274.6]; P<0.001). On multivariable Cox regression analysis, baseline serum FGF21 levels, using an optimal cutoff of 206.22 pg/mL derived from our study, independently predicted incident CHD (hazard ratio, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.10-2.19; P=0.013) and significantly improved net reclassification index and integrated discrimination improvement after adjustment for conventional cardiovascular risk factors. CONCLUSIONS: We have demonstrated, for the first time, that serum FGF21 level is an independent predictor of incident CHD and might be usefully utilized as a biomarker for identifying type 2 diabetes mellitus subjects with raised CHD risk, for primary prevention.published_or_final_versio

Plasma fibrinogen level as a predictor of incident metabolic syndrome in a community-based prospective study in Hong Kong Chinese

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Metabolic syndrome (MS) comprises a constellation of metabolic abnormalities associated with a high risk of developing diabetes and cardiovascular diseases. Central obesity, with related insulin resistance and inflammation are considered the core of the underlying pathogenesis of MS. Fibrinogen, an acute-phase reactant in the coagulation cascade, has been shown to play pivotal role in determining the extent of local or systemic inflammation. In this study, we examined whether plasma fibrinogen was predictive of incident MS in a community-based Chinese cohort. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Subjects were recruited from the Hong Kong Cardiovascular Risk Factors Prevalence Study (CRISPS) cohort. 2780 subjects were recruited in 1995-6 with baseline assessment performed. 1416 subjects without MS at …postprin

Serum adiponectin levels are predictive of carotid intima-medial thickness in a 5-year community-based prospective study

Poster PresentationINTRODUCTION: Hypoadiponectinaemia has been shown to predict the development of type 2 diabetes, hypertension, and myocardial infarction in prospective studies. We have previously reported that hypoadiponectinaemia is associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation both in healthy controls and diabetic subjects. In this community-based prospective cohort study, we examined the predictive value of serum adiponectin levels on carotid intima-medial thickness, a marker of …published_or_final_versionThe 17th Medical Research Conference, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, 14 January 2012. In Hong Kong Medical Journal, 2012, v. 18 suppl. 1, p. 32, abstract no. 4

Hypoadiponectinemia As an Independent Predictor for the Progression of Carotid Atherosclerosis: A 5-Year Prospective Study

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Copy number variation analysis based on AluScan sequences

BACKGROUND: AluScan combines inter-Alu PCR using multiple Alu-based primers with opposite orientations and next-generation sequencing to capture a huge number of Alu-proximal genomic sequences for investigation. Its requirement of only sub-microgram quantities of DNA facilitates the examination of large numbers of samples. However, the special features of AluScan data rendered difficult the calling of copy number variation (CNV) directly using the calling algorithms designed for whole genome sequencing (WGS) or exome sequencing. RESULTS: In this study, an AluScanCNV package has been assembled for efficient CNV calling from AluScan sequencing data employing a Geary-Hinkley transformation (GHT) of read-depth ratios between either paired test-control samples, or between test samples and a reference template constructed from reference samples, to call the localized CNVs, followed by use of a GISTIC-like algorithm to identify recurrent CNVs and circular binary segmentation (CBS) to reveal large extended CNVs. To evaluate the utility of CNVs called from AluScan data, the AluScans from 23 non-cancer and 38 cancer genomes were analyzed in this study. The glioma samples analyzed yielded the familiar extended copy-number losses on chromosomes 1p and 9. Also, the recurrent somatic CNVs identified from liver cancer samples were similar to those reported for liver cancer WGS with respect to a striking enrichment of copy-number gains in chromosomes 1q and 8q. When localized or recurrent CNV-features capable of distinguishing between liver and non-liver cancer samples were selected by correlation-based machine learning, a highly accurate separation of the liver and non-liver cancer classes was attained. CONCLUSIONS: The results obtained from non-cancer and cancerous tissues indicated that the AluScanCNV package can be employed to call localized, recurrent and extended CNVs from AluScan sequences. Moreover, both the localized and recurrent CNVs identified by this method could be subjected to machine-learning selection to yield distinguishing CNV-features that were capable of separating between liver cancers and other types of cancers. Since the method is applicable to any human DNA sample with or without the availability of a paired control, it can also be employed to analyze the constitutional CNVs of individuals.published_or_final_versio

Household catastrophic healthcare expenditure and impoverishment due to rotavirus gastroenteritis requiring hospitalization in Malaysia.

BACKGROUND: While healthcare costs for rotavirus gastroenteritis requiring hospitalization may be burdensome on households in Malaysia, exploration on the distribution and catastrophic impact of these expenses on households are lacking. OBJECTIVES: We assessed the economic burden, levels and distribution of catastrophic healthcare expenditure, the poverty impact on households and inequities related to healthcare payments for acute gastroenteritis requiring hospitalization in Malaysia. METHODS: A two-year prospective, hospital-based study was conducted from 2008 to 2010 in an urban (Kuala Lumpur) and rural (Kuala Terengganu) setting in Malaysia. All children under the age of 5 years admitted for acute gastroenteritis were included. Patients were screened for rotavirus and information on healthcare expenditure was obtained. RESULTS: Of the 658 stool samples collected at both centers, 248 (38%) were positive for rotavirus. Direct and indirect costs incurred were significantly higher in Kuala Lumpur compared with Kuala Terengganu (US$222 Vs. US$45; p<0.001). The mean direct and indirect costs for rotavirus gastroenteritis consisted 20% of monthly household income in Kuala Lumpur, as compared with only 5% in Kuala Terengganu. Direct medical costs paid out-of-pocket caused 141 (33%) households in Kuala Lumpur to experience catastrophic expenditure and 11 (3%) households to incur poverty. However in Kuala Terengganu, only one household (0.5%) experienced catastrophic healthcare expenditure and none were impoverished. The lowest income quintile in Kuala Lumpur was more likely to experience catastrophic payments compared to the highest quintile (87% vs 8%). The concentration index for out-of-pocket healthcare payments was closer to zero at Kuala Lumpur (0.03) than at Kuala Terengganu (0.24). CONCLUSIONS: While urban households were wealthier, healthcare expenditure due to gastroenteritis had more catastrophic and poverty impact on the urban poor. Universal rotavirus vaccination would reduce both disease burden and health inequities in Malaysia