High-speed turbo-TCM-coded orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing ultra-wideband systems

One of the UWB proposals in the IEEE P802.15 WPAN project is to use a multiband orthogonal frequency-division multiplexing (OFDM) system and punctured convolutional codes for UWB channels supporting a data rate up to 480 Mbps. In this paper, we improve the proposed system using turbo TCM with QAM constellation for higher data rate transmission. We construct a punctured parity-concatenated trellis codes, in which a TCM code is used as the inner code and a simple parity-check code is employed as the outer code. The result shows that the system can offer a much higher spectral efficiency, for example, 1.2 Gbps, which is 2.5 times higher than the proposed system. We identify several essential requirements to achieve the high rate transmission, for example, frequency and time diversity and multilevel error protection. Results are confirmed by density evolution. Copyright (C) 2006 Yanxia Wang et al

Down regulation of miR-143 is related with tumor size, lymph node metastasis and HPV16 infection in cervical squamous cancer

The HIV epidemic, which started with a handful of cases in the early 80s, very quickly became a worldwide epidemic. It has since then killed millions; devastating lives and destroying economies. Zimbabwe has one of the worst HIV epidemics in the world with within country variations. This study investigates successive 2005 and 2010-11 Demographic and Health Surveys (ZDHS) from Zimbabwe. a random representative sample of 30,000 men aged 15-59 and women aged 15 to 49 was selected in both surveys. HIV prevalence are mapped in a flexible, coherent regression framework using a geo-additive semi-parametric mixed model and produce HIV indicators (prevalence maps) at the sub-national regional level, an administrative level relevant for policy design, planning and decisions. It was found that there is substantial regional variation, not only in the burden of HIV, but also in the risk factors. This therefore requires varying responses/policies at the regional level to ensure that the often diverse needs of populations across a country are met and incorporated into planning the HIV response. The use of geographically referenced data in the successive ZDHS provides crucial new insights into the spatial characteristics of the HIV epidemic in Zimbabwe. It especially highlights the HIV heterogeneity across Zimbabwe. There is substantial regional variation, not only in the burden of HIV, but also in the risk factors

Effect of Composting on Dissolved Organic Matter in Animal Manure and Its Binding with Cu

The agricultural application of raw animal manure introduces large amounts of dissolved organic matter (DOM) into soil and would increase transport of heavy metals such as Cu which are widely present in animal manure. The purpose of this research was to evaluate the evolution of DOM from pig and cattle manures during composting through excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy and the binding ability of DOM toward copper (Cu) ions with the aid of fluorescence quenching titration. The excitation-emission matrix spectra indicated that tyrosine-like, tryptophan-like, and soluble microbial byproduct-like fluorescence decreased significantly, while humic-like and fulvic-like fluorescence increased and became the main peaks in composted manure DOM. Fluorescence quenching titration showed that the complexing capacities of pig and cattle manure DOM decreased after composting. Correlation analysis confirmed that complexing capacity of DOM positively and significantly correlates with tyrosine-like and soluble microbial byproduct-like materials which mostly degraded after composting. These results would suggest that the ability of manure DOM to complex with Cu is inhibited as a result of reduced protein-like materials after composting

Design of robust fuzzy iterative learning control for nonlinear batch processes

In this paper, a two-dimensional (2D) composite fuzzy iterative learning control (ILC) scheme for nonlinear batch processes is proposed. By employing the local-sector nonlinearity method, the nonlinear batch process is represented by a 2D uncertain T-S fuzzy model with non-repetitive disturbances. Then, the feedback control is integrated with the ILC scheme to be investigated under the constructed model. Sufficient conditions for robust asymptotic stability and 2D $H_\infty$ performance requirements of the resulting closed-loop fuzzy system are established based on Lyapunov functions and some matrix transformation techniques. Furthermore, the corresponding controller gains can be derived from a set of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs). Finally, simulations on the three-tank system and the highly nonlinear continuous stirred tank reactor (CSTR) are carried out to prove the feasibility and efficiency of the proposed approach

The trajectories and correlation between physical limitation and depression in elderly residents of Beijing, 1992-2009

Background Physical limitation and psychological distress have been reported to be related, but studies describing the change of instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) and depression syndrome over time or exploring the link pattern for their development are limited. The study was to assess distinctive patterns for the development of physical limitation and depression and to explore their correlation to form a proper prevention strategy. Methods Dual trajectory analysis was conducted using data from the Beijing Longitudinal Study of Aging (BLSA) 1992–2009 hosted by Xuanwu hospital for subjects with full information on depression and physical limitation for all available visits. Physical limitation was measured by the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) scale and depression by the Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale (CES-D). The covariates were gender, age at baseline and number of chronic conditions. Results Three heterogeneous trajectories for physical limitation and two distinct groups for an increase in depression were detected. Among them, 10.13% of subjects experienced an increase in physical limitation, while 13.22% demonstrated a high, stable level of depressive mood. In all, 80.4% of the subjects enjoyed a relatively low, stable level of IADL and CES-D scores. People in the late increase group for IADL score were more likely to have depressive mood when adjusted for gender, age and number of chronic conditions (OR = 3.900, 95%CI = 1.347–11.290). Conclusions The development of physical limitation among the elderly may significantly increase the risk for depressive symptom

Geographic Distribution and Risk Factors of the Initial Adult Hospitalized Cases of 2009 Pandemic Influenza A (H1N1) Virus Infection in Mainland China

Background: As of 31st March 2010, more than 127,000 confirmed cases of 2009 pandemic influenza A (H1N1), including 800 deaths, were reported in mainland China. The distribution and characteristics of the confirmed cases in the initial phase of this pandemic in this country are largely unknown. The present study aimed to characterize the geographic distribution and patient characteristics of H1N1 infection in the 2009 pandemic as well as to identify potential risk factors associated with adverse patient outcome in China, through retrospective analyses of 885 hospitalized cases with confirmed H1N1 infection. Methodology/Principal Findings: The proportional hazards model was employed to detect risk factors for adverse outcome; the geo-statistical maps were used to characterize the distribution of all 2668 confirmed H1N1 patients throughout mainland China. The number of new cases increased slowly in May, 2009, but rapidly between June and August of the year. Confirmed cases were reported in 26 provinces; Beijing, Guangdong, Shanghai, Zhejiang and Fujian were the top five regions of the incidence of the virus infection. After being adjusted for gender, age, chronic pulmonary disease and other general symptoms, delay for more than two days before hospital admission (HR: 0.6; 95%CI: 0.5–0.7) and delayed onset of the H1N1-specific respiratory symptoms (HR: 0.3; 95%CI: 0.2–0.4) were associated with adverse patient outcome. Conclusions/Significance: The 2009 pandemic influenza A affected east and southeast coastal provinces and most populous cities more severely than other regions in mainland China due to higher risk of high level traffic-, high population density-, and high population mobility-associated H1N1 transmission.The clinical symptoms were mild in the initial phase of infection. Delayed hospital admission and delayed appearance of respiratory symptoms were among the major risk factors for poor patient outcome. These findings may have significant implications in the future pandemic preparedness and response

MicroRNA319-mediated gene regulatory network impacts leaf development and morphogenesis in poplar

MicroRNA319 (miR319) has been implicated in leaf development in a number of plant species. Here we study the roles of miR319a and its regulated network in leaf development in poplars. Over-expression of miR319a in Populus alba × Populus glandulosa caused dwarf statures, narrow leaf blades and serrated leaf margins. The vascular bundles and bundle sheaths in transgenic leaves had more layers of cells than those in the leaves of control plants, indicating enhanced lignification in these cells. Among the 93 putative targets of miR319a predicted with the psRNATarget tool, only three genes, TCP (TEOSINTE BRANCHED1, CYCLOIDEA, and PROLIFERATING CELL NUCLEAR ANTIGEN BINDING FACTOR), were differentially expressed in the leaves of MIR319a-over-expression transgenic lines. With the RNA-seq data sets from multiple MIR319a over-expression transgenic lines, we built a three-layered gene regulatory network mediated by miR319a using Top-down graphic Gaussian model (GGM) algorithm that is capable of capturing causal relationships from transcriptomic data. The results support that miR319a primarily regulates the lignin biosynthesis, leaf development and differentiation as well as photosynthesis via miR319-MEE35/TCP4, miR319-TCP2 and miR319-TCP2-1 regulatory modules

BEL1-like Homeodomain Protein BLH6a Is a Negative Regulator of CAl5H2 in Sinapyl Alcohol Monolignol Biosynthesis in Poplar

Lignin is one of the major components of xylem cell walls in tree stems. The lignin in the wood of most flowering plants (dicotyledonous angiosperms) is typically polymerized from three monolignol precursors, coniferyl alcohol, sinapyl alcohol, and p-coumaroyl alcohol, resulting in guaiacyl (G), syringyl (S), and hydroxyphenyl (H) subunits, respectively. In this study, we focus on the transcriptional regulation of a coniferaldehyde 5-hydroxylase (CAld5H2) gene, which encodes a key enzyme for sinapyl alcohol biosynthesis. We carried out a yeast one-hybrid (Y1H) screen to identify candidate upstream transcription factors (TFs) regulating CAld5H2. We obtained 12 upstream TFs as potential regulators of CAld5H2. One of these TF genes, BLH6a, encodes a BEL1-like homeodomain (BLH) protein and negatively regulated the CAld5H2 promoter activity. The direct regulation of CAld5H2 promoter by BLH6a was supported by chromatin immunoprecipitation–quantitative polymerase chain reaction (ChIP–qPCR) and dominant repression of BLH6a in transgenic plants. Luciferase complementation imaging analyses showed extensive protein–protein interactions among these 12 TFs. We propose that BLH6a is a negative regulator of CAld5H2, which acts through combinatorial regulation of multiple TFs for sinapyl alcohol (S monolignol) biosynthesis in poplar

Effects of a dietary supplement on inflammatory marker expression in middle-aged and elderly hypertensive patients

OBJECTIVES: We aimed to explore the effects of diet on the inflammatory response in middle-aged and elderly people with hypertension. METHODS: Thirty overweight or obese patients with stage one hypertension (age range, 45-75 years) were allocated to either the intervention or control group (n=15 per group; age- and sex-matched). Patients in the intervention group consumed a food powder supplement (100 g) instead of a regular meal. The control group maintained their normal dietary habits. This study lasted for six weeks. Blood pressure, inflammatory marker levels, and energy intake were measured before and after the study. RESULTS: After 6 weeks, the diet composition of the intervention group changed significantly (po0.05). The intake of proteins, dietary fibre, monounsaturated fat, and polyunsaturated fat increased significantly (po0.05), while the total energy intake trended towards an increase (p40.05). In the control group, the total energy intake decreased significantly (po0.05). The levels of nuclear factor-kB (NF-kB), soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (sICAM-1) and high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) decreased, and adiponectin increased significantly in the intervention group (po0.05); however, no significant changes were observed in the inflammatory marker levels of the control group. In the intervention group, systolic blood pressure decreased significantly (po0.05), and diastolic blood pressure also exhibited a decreasing trend. No significant change in blood pressure was observed in the control group. CONCLUSION: The consumption of a food powder supplement can improve diet composition, decrease blood pressure and reduce inflammation in middle-aged and elderly overweight or obese hypertensive patients. The food powder supplement may also have an anti-atherosclerotic effect in hypertensive patients