Single-Machine Scheduling with Aging Effects and Optional Maintenance Activity Considerations

This paper explores a single-machine scheduling with aging effects and the problem regarding optional maintenance activity assignment. The jobs’ processing time is assumed to follow a power position-dependent aging model. The optional maintenance activity refers to the situation in which the maintenance activity can be scheduled immediately after processing of any job has been completed except for the last job and the duration of maintenance activity can be of any value from zero to a fixed time interval. A recovery function is proposed to reflect the efficiency of the machine or worker which is improved. The objective of this study is to decide whether and when to implement the maintenance activity into the job sequence, how long the duration of maintenance activity is, and how to schedule so as to minimize the makespan. Once the duration of maintenance activity is known, we introduce an efficient solution for this problem. In addition, when the maintenance activity is completely performed, we showed that the optimal policy is to schedule the maintenance activity in the middle of the task sequence and optimally solved it by lower order algorithm. Finally, we extend the problem to the case of multiple maintenance activities which are completely performed. Hence, the problem is regarded as polynomial time solvable

Drosophila Decapping Protein 1, dDcp1, Is a Component of the oskar mRNP Complex and Directs Its Posterior Localization in the Oocyte

SummaryIn Drosophila, posterior deposition of oskar (osk) mRNA in oocytes is critical for both pole cell and abdomen formation. Exon junction complex components, translational regulation factors, and other proteins form an RNP complex that is essential for directing osk mRNA to the posterior of the oocyte. Until now, it has not been clear whether the mRNA degradation machinery is involved in regulating osk mRNA deposition. Here we show that Drosophila decapping protein 1, dDcp1, is a posterior group gene required for the transport of osk mRNA. In oocytes, dDcp1 is localized posteriorly in an osk mRNA position- and dosage-dependent manner. In nurse cells, dDcp1 colocalizes with dDcp2 and Me31B in discrete foci that may be related to processing bodies (P bodies), which are sites of active mRNA degradation. Thus, as well as being a general factor required for mRNA decay, dDcp1 is an essential component of the osk mRNP localization complex

Incarcerated Vaginal Pessary: A Rare Complication

SummaryObjectiveA patient with uterine prolapse (procidentia uteri) received a vaginal pessary, which became incarcerated in the vaginal wall.Case ReportA 70-year-old female patient had been treated for uterine prolapse by insertion of a ring-shaped silicone pessary for about 3 to 4 years. The patient neglected the pessary, which unfortunately became incarcerated in the vaginal wall; it was impossible to remove. Finally, the pessary was displaced after cutting it into two pieces under general anesthesia.ConclusionAfter having inserted a vaginal pessary, patients need to be instructed on its regular removal and cleaning to prevent complications such as infection, ulceration, and incarceration

Assessment of Changes in Knowledge and Stigmatization Following Tuberculosis Training Workshops in Taiwan

Background/PurposeThere is little understanding of the depth of knowledge of health workers involved in tuberculosis (TB) control programs, and even less is known about health workers attaching stigma to TB patients. This study surveyed health workers enrolled in TB training workshops prior to the execution of the directly observed treatment, short course (DOTS) program.MethodsAll participants attended the training course and completed structured questionnaires before (pre-test) and after training (post-test). The questionnaires were collected immediately following completion and the scores were analyzed.ResultsPair comparison of knowledge scores revealed that all participants made statistically significant improvements in level of TB knowledge, except those who had a history of TB (p = 0.331). Pair comparison of stigmatization scores revealed a reduction in stigmatization, with the DOTS workers attaching less stigma to TB patients. After training, caregivers, including women (p = 0.012), public health workers (p = 0.028), 40–49-year-old subjects (p = 0.035), those with an education of < 12 years (p = 0.024), those who had been a volunteer (p = 0.018), and those who had a history of TB and those who did not (p = 0.034, p = 0.036), were significantly less likely to stigmatize patients. TB knowledge was not found to be significantly correlated with stigmatization (pre-test, p = 0.298; post-test, p = 0.821).ConclusionTraining workshops in TB control were effective for promotion of knowledge and elimination of stigmatization in first-line caregivers. DOTS workers attached less stigma to TB patients than public health workers, and older workers who had been volunteers attached the least stigma

Interplay between Cell Migration and Neurite Outgrowth Determines SH2B1β-Enhanced Neurite Regeneration of Differentiated PC12 Cells

The regulation of neurite outgrowth is crucial in developing strategies to promote neurite regeneration after nerve injury and in degenerative diseases. In this study, we demonstrate that overexpression of an adaptor/scaffolding protein SH2B1β promotes neurite re-growth of differentiated PC12 cells, an established neuronal model, using wound healing (scraping) assays. Cell migration and the subsequent remodeling are crucial determinants during neurite regeneration. We provide evidence suggesting that overexpressing SH2B1β enhances protein kinase C (PKC)-dependent cell migration and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)-AKT-, mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK)/extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) kinase (MEK)-ERK-dependent neurite re-growth. Our results further reveal a cross-talk between pathways involving PKC and ERK1/2 in regulating neurite re-growth and cell migration. We conclude that temporal regulation of cell migration and neurite outgrowth by SH2B1β contributes to the enhanced regeneration of differentiated PC12 cells

Effects of human parvovirus B19 VP1 unique region protein on macrophage responses

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Activity of secreted phospholipase A (sPLA2) has been implicated in a wide range of cellular responses. However, little is known about the function of human parvovirus B19-VP1 unique region (VP1u) with sPLA2 activity on macrophage.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>To investigate the roles of B19-VP1u in response to macrophage, phospholipase A2 activity, cell migration assay, phagocytosis activity, metalloproteinase assay, RT-PCR and immunoblotting were performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the present study, we report that migration, phagocytosis, IL-6, IL-1β mRNA, and MMP9 activity are significantly increased in RAW264.7 cells by B19-VP1u protein with sPLA2 activity, but not by B19-VP1uD175A protein that is mutated and lacks sPLA2 activity. Additionally, significant increases of phosphorylated ERK1/2 and JNK proteins were detected in macrophages that were treated with B19-VP1u protein, but not when they were treated with B19-VP1uD175A protein.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Taken together, our experimental results suggest that B19-VP1u with sPLA2 activity affects production of IL-6, IL-1β mRNA, and MMP9 activity, possibly through the involvement of ERK1/2 and JNK signaling pathways. These findings could provide clues in understanding the role of B19-VP1u and its sPLA2 enzymatic activity in B19 infection and B19-related diseases.</p

The Application of Borehole Hydrogeological Investigation for Assessing Landslide Susceptibility

On the basis of 49 borehole studies at the mid- and upper-stream of the Dajia and Jhuoshuei river basins, landslide occurrence was found to not only be related to subsurface geological composition and hydrogeological characteristics, but also to groundwater level dynamics, which have seldom been addressed in previous works. It is suggested that the interplay between hydrogeologic and landslide factors be given further consideration in future investigations. This would be a crucial step towards effective disaster prevention for mountainous regions in Taiwan.本研究主要係嘗試透過孔內水文地質調查結果，評估大甲溪與濁水溪流域地表下岩層的地質材料特性、水力特性、地下水與集水區山崩潛勢之關聯性。過去研究較少針對崩塌地進行現地水文地質調查與試驗，本研究根據49處試驗場址成果顯示，水文地質特性與山崩的潛勢、滑動深度，以及地下水位有一定程度之關聯性。本研究建議進行調查區域的水文地質特性，以及各促崩因子所造成的山崩的易損性，係各類型山崩災害分析與潛勢評估之重要的研究各題，亦可提供相關台灣災害防治之參考