Dynamic signature verification based on hybrid wavelet-Fourier transform

In this paper, we propose a dynamic signature verification system which integrates hybrid of Discrete Wavelet Transform and Discrete Fourier Transform (DWT-DFT) for feature extraction. In feature matching, Euclidean distance and Enveloped Euclidean distance (EED) (a variant of Euclidean distance) are used. Distances of features are fused into a final score value and used to classify whether a genuine or a forgery signature. A benchmark database, SVC2004 which compose of Task 1 dataset and Task 2 dataset validate the effectiveness of this proposed system. Experimental results reveal a 7.08% EER for skilled forgeries and 2.37% EER of random forgeries in Task 1 dataset; and 8.61% EER for skilled forgeries and 2.05% EER for random forgeries in Task 2 datase

Heavy metal concentrations in ceiling fan and roadside car park dust collected from residential colleges in Universiti Putra Malaysia, Serdang, Selangor

In this study, dust samples were collected from 4 residential colleges (K2, K5, KOSAS and K10) in UniversitiPutra Malaysia (UPM) Serdang, Selangor. The samples were collected from ceiling fans and car parksroadside dust. Sand dust on top of the car park cover were collected using polyethylene brush, tray and keptin a polyethylene bag. Dust from ceiling fan on the first floor was collected and put into a polyethylene bag.The dust samples collected were analysed for the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Fe, Ni and Zn. It was found thatK5 [Cu (62.94 ± 0.77 µg/g dw), Fe (1802.40 ± 9.81 µg/g dw), and Zn (253.34 ± 22.76 µg/g dw) of car parkdust; Zn (997.20 ± 16.10 µg/g dw) (of ceiling fan dust] and K10 [Ni (26.88 ± 1.84 µg/g dw) and Zn (199.77± 6.64 µg/g dw) of car park dust; Cu (468.55 ± 3.67 µg/g dw), Ni (83.96 ± 0.75 µg/g dw), and Fe (3131.58 ±27.01 µg/g dw) of ceiling fan dust] exhibited elevated concentrations of heavy metals that might be related tovehicular activities as compared to K2 and KOSAS. In general, ceiling fan dust had significantly (P< 0.05)higher concentrations of heavy metals than the car park dust. In comparison to other reported studies in theliterature, the maximum levels of Ni and Cu were comparable or higher than those reported for major cities inthe world. Hence, more monitoring studies should be conducted in the future to check for metal contaminationin the dust, as this can serve as an atmospheric indicator of heavy metal pollution

Selective radiolabelling with 68Ga under mild conditions: a route towards a porphyrin PET/PDT theranostic agent

A theranostic conjugate for use as a positron emission tomography (PET) radiotracer and as a photosensitiser for photodynamic therapy (PDT) has been synthesised. A water-soluble porphyrin was coupled with the bifunctional chelate, H4Dpaa.ga. This conjugate is capable of rapid68Ga complexation under physiological conditions; with 93% and 80% radiochemical yields achieved, at pH 4.5 and pH 7.4 respectively, in 15 min at 25 °C. Photocytotoxicity was evaluated on HT-29 cells and showed the conjugate was capable of >50% cell death at 50 μM upon irradiation with light, while causing minimal toxicity in the absence of light (>95% cell survival)

Prostate tumours from an Asian population: examination of bax, bcl-2, p53 and ras and identification of bax as prognostic marker

Molecular studies have suggested that ethnicity may play a significant role in prostate tumorigenesis, but no information exists for groups other than Caucasian or Japanese patients. We examined 62 archival samples of prostate tumours from Asians of non-Japanese origin for the over-expression of p53, for the possible presence of mutated ras genes, for the overexpression of the bcl-2 and bax proteins, as well as directly for the presence of apoptotic cells by the TUNEL methodology. Gene lesions of both ras(0%) and p53 (3%) were rare. While bcl-2 expression was not observed in any sample, bax expression was noted in 76% of samples and was associated with a significantly worse patient prognosis both overall (P< 0.005) and specifically in Chinese patients (P< 0.02). Apoptotic cells were found in 61% of samples, and were significantly associated with the presence of bax expression (P= 0.002), but not patient survival. These results suggest that prostate tumours from non-Japanese Asians are genetically distinct from prostate tumour found in both Japanese and Caucasian patients, and that treatment modalities may need to be tailored for specific population groups. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaig

Effectiveness and tolerability of pegylated interferon alfa-2b in combination with ribavirin for treatment of chronic hepatitis C: the PegIntrust Study

Background and study aims : Large international clinical trials conducted in the past 5 years rapidly improved the treatment of chronic hepatitis C; however, it is unclear whether the advances seen in clinical trials are being paralleled by similar improvements in routine clinical practice. PegIntrust is a Belgian community-based trial evaluating the sustained virological response. Patients and Methods : Observational study of 219 patients receiving pegylated interferon alfa-2b (1.5 mu g/kg/wk) and weight. based ribavirin (800-1200 mg/day) for 48 weeks. Primary study end point was sustained virological response (SVR), defined as undetectable HCV RNA 6 months after the completion of treatment. Results : In total, 108 patients (49.3 %) had undetectable HCV RNA at the end of therapy, 91(41.6%) attaining SVR. Of the 111 patients without an end-of-treatment response, 28 were non-responders, and 21 had virological breakthrough. In total, 134 patients attained early virological response (EVR); 88 (65.7%) of those patients attained SVR. In contrast, 82 (96.5 %) of the 85 patients who did not attain EVR also did not attain SVR. Age, fibrosis score and baseline viral load were identified as important predictors of treatment outcome. The most frequently reported serious adverse events resulting in treatment discontinuation were anemia (n = 10), fatigue/asthenia/malaise (n = 6) and fever (n = 3). Conclusion : Our data indicate that treatment of chronic hepatitis C with PEG-IFN alfa-2b plus weight-based ribavirin results in favourable treatment outcomes in a Belgian cohort of patients treated in community-based clinical practice. (Ada gastroenterol. belg., 2010, 73, 5-11)

Integrated One-Dimensional Modeling of Asphaltene Deposition in Wellbores/Pipelines

—Asphaltene deposition in wellbores/pipelines causes serious production losses in the oil and gas industry. This work presents a numerical model to predict asphaltene deposition in wellbores/pipelines. This model consists of two modules: a Thermodynamic Module and a Transport Module. The Thermodynamic Module models asphaltene precipitation using the Peng-Robinson Equation of State with Peneloux volume translation (PR-Peneloux EOS). The Transport Module covers the modeling of fluid transport, asphaltene particle transport and asphaltene deposition. These modules are combined via a thermodynamic properties lookup-table generated by the Thermodynamic Module prior to simulation. In this work, the Transport Module and the Thermodynamic Module are first verified and validated separately. Then, the integrated model is applied to an oilfield case with asphaltene deposition problem where a reasonably accurate prediction of asphaltene deposit profile is achieve

HIV testing in re-education through labour camps in Guangxi Autonomous Region, China (a cross-sectional survey)

Objective: HIV testing is mandatory in re-education-through-labour camps (laojiaosuo) in China yet no studies have reported on the process. Methods: The survey response rate was 100% although 29 detainees were excluded because they were under 18 years of age. A cross-sectional face-to-face survey was conducted in three labour camps in Guangxi, located in the south-western region of China. Results: Of the 755 detainees surveyed, 725 (96%) reported having a blood test in the labour camps of whom 493 (68%) thought this included an HIV test. 61 detainees self-reported they were HIV infected, their status confirmed by medical records, if available. Of these, 53 (87%) recalled receiving post-test HIV education, and 15 (25%) were currently receiving HIV antiretroviral therapy. Pretest education on HIV was provided to 233/725 (32%) detainees. The study further reports on detainees’ reactions and feelings towards non-disclosure and disclosure of their HIV test results in the labour camps. Conclusions: Mandatory testing is almost universal in the labour camps although a proportion of detainees were unaware that this included an HIV test. HIV test results should be disclosed to all labour camp detainees to reduce their distress of not knowing and prevent misconceptions about their HIV status. Labour camps provide another opportunity to implement universal treatment (‘Test and Treat’) to prevent the spread of HIV

The effects of different sonication times of nickel oxide and zirconium oxide catalysts in syngas production

Heterogeneous catalytic cracking is currently one of the most effective ways for both reducing tar content and enhancing hydrogen (H2) content in syngas at relatively low temperature, besides being environmental friendly. Sonochemical treatment has also been shown to lower reaction times with enhanced reaction rate and enables production of particles with high surface area. In this study, two different types of metal oxides, which are Nickel oxide (NiO) and Zirconium oxide (ZrO2) at a combination of 1:1 ratio with Zeolite as the supporter are synthesized via sonochemical treatment in durations of 30, 60 and 90 minutes. The catalysts are then characterized using X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), Temperature Programmed Reduction (TPR-H2), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface measurement (BET), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). From SEM and TEM analysis, Nickel tends to agglomerate and form sizable globular shapes, Zirconium forms coral-like branching structure and Zeolite forms stacks of cubic clumps. The most promising sonication treatment duration for the catalysts is 30 minutes because it removes decent amount of reactive oxygen at a rate of 0.83 x 1021 atoms/g during hydrogen reduction, possesses the highest surface area of 506.52 m2/g as well as smallest average crystallite size of 56.9 nm compared to other durations. Generally sonochemical treatment also increases the catalysts surface area and oxygen removal as well as lowers the reduction temperature which is favourable in term of production cost. Catalysts with sonochemical treatment duration of 30 and 60 minutes generally show higher reactive oxygen removal and surface area compared to catalysts with 90 minute treatments

SPHK1 regulates proliferation and survival responses in triplenegative breast cancer

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by unique aggressive behavior and lack of targeted therapies. Among the various molecular subtypes of breast cancer, it was observed that TNBCs express elevated levels of sphingosine kinase 1 (SPHK1) compared to other breast tumor subtypes. High levels of SPHK1 gene expression correlated with poor overall and progression- free survival, as well as poor response to Doxorubicin-based treatment. Inhibition of SPHK1 was found to attenuate ERK1/2 and AKT signaling and reduce growth of TNBC cells in vitro and in a xenograft SCID mouse model. Moreover, SPHK1 inhibition by siRNA knockdown or treatment with SKI-5C sensitizes TNBCs to chemotherapeutic drugs. Our findings suggest that SPHK1 inhibition, which effectively counteracts oncogenic signaling through ERK1/2 and AKT pathways, is a potentially important anti-tumor strategy in TNBC. A combination of SPHK1 inhibitors with chemotherapeutic agents may be effective against this aggressive subtype of breast cancer