Sharp oscillation criteria for fourth order sub-half-linear and super-half-linear differential equations

This paper is concerned with the oscillatory behavior of the fourth-order nonlinear differential equation $$\bigl(p(t)|x^{\prime\prime}|^{\alpha-1}\,x^{\prime\prime}\bigr)^{\prime\prime} +q(t)|x|^{\beta-1}x=0\,,\tag{E}$$ where $\alpha>0$, $\beta>0$ are constants and $p,q:[a,\infty)\to(0,\infty)$ are continuous functions satisfying conditions $$\int_a^{\infty}\left( \frac{t}{p(t)}\right)^{\frac{1}{\alpha}}\,dt<\infty, \int_a^{\infty}\frac{t}{\left(p(t)\right)^{\frac{1}{\alpha}}}\,dt<\infty .$$ We will establish necessary and sufficient condition for oscillation of all solutions of the sub-half-linear equation (E) (for $\beta\alpha$)

Time series kernel similarities for predicting Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation from ECGs

We tackle the problem of classifying Electrocardiography (ECG) signals with the aim of predicting the onset of Paroxysmal Atrial Fibrillation (PAF). Atrial fibrillation is the most common type of arrhythmia, but in many cases PAF episodes are asymptomatic. Therefore, in order to help diagnosing PAF, it is important to design procedures for detecting and, more importantly, predicting PAF episodes. We propose a method for predicting PAF events whose first step consists of a feature extraction procedure that represents each ECG as a multi-variate time series. Successively, we design a classification framework based on kernel similarities for multi-variate time series, capable of handling missing data. We consider different approaches to perform classification in the original space of the multi-variate time series and in an embedding space, defined by the kernel similarity measure. We achieve a classification accuracy comparable with state of the art methods, with the additional advantage of detecting the PAF onset up to 15 minutes in advance

Seismic behavior of lisbon mixed masonry-rc buildings with historical value: A contribution for the practical assessment

The fact that linear analysis is still the most used procedure in the design engineering offices, studies which addresses issues associated to the estimation of the structural behavior factor values are relevant. In this study, the behavior factor of a particular type of mixed masonry-reinforced concrete buildings in Lisbon is estimated. The typology chosen in this study represents 30% of building stock in Lisbon; these buildings were built between 1930 and 1960 and thus were designed without considering the seismic-design requirements proposed in current codes. The evaluation of the behavior factors was based on the use of nonlinear static analyses, performed in the form of the sensitivity analysis and following the criteria proposed in the current seismic codes and literature. In the scope of the sensitivity analysis, aleatory and epistemic uncertainties have been considered in terms of the mechanical parameters and structural details, respectively with the aim to take into account different characteristics of the structures. In order to derive the most reliable values of the behavior factor for this typology, extensive research in terms of the historical information, structural characterization and definition of the mechanical parameters has been performed. The study indicates that the final values of behavior factor are low and depend most on the type of connections between structural walls. Although the obtained values of the behavior factor for this typology match well with the ones proposed in most recent seismic codes, it is recommended that the assessment of such factor of a specific class for a particular structural type building should always be careful evaluated

Novel therapeutic targets in pediatric neural tumors

The embryonal tumors neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma are two of the most common and deadliest tumors in childhood. Both are heterogeneous tumors that arise in the peripheral and central nervous system, respectively. The observed heterogeneity in these tumors is reflected by patient outcomes, where patients with favorable, low-risk tumors, have survival rates exciding over 90%. In contrast, patients classified as high-risk show an aggressive tumor behavior with survival rates of less than 40%. Because of aforementioned reason, there is a great need of finding novel and better therapeutic approaches for patients with high-risk disease. Cancer is a disease where normal cells divide in an uncontrolled fashion, propagating and invading nearby and distant tissues, shrewdly circumventing cell intrinsic, and external defense mechanisms against oncogenic transformation. Cancer cells hijack and deregulate signaling networks that in normal cells regulate fundamental processes. In this thesis, several cellular networks are investigated, namely Hedgehog (HH), Wingless (Wnt), DNA repair and the DNA damage response (DDR) pathway, with the aim to identify novel therapeutic targets in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma. Neuroblastoma has been linked to aberrant HH signaling. Here we demonstrate that the GLI oncogene is highly vulnerable in non-MYCN amplified high-risk neuroblastomas tumors. The GLI antagonist GANT61 inhibited neuroblastoma growth in preclinical models, and potentiated the cytotoxic effects of conventional chemotherapeutic drugs. Our findings suggest that targeting the HH signaling in neuroblastoma is a highly attractive therapeutic target for high-risk neuroblastomas (Paper I). The DNA repair enzyme O6-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) is associated with chemoresistance and is frequently overexpressed in cancer. In search for modulating MGMT activity to restore chemosensitivity in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma, we found a novel link between Wnt signaling and MGMT gene regulation. By breaking this interaction through pharmacological and genetic inhibition we demonstrate that MGMT expression is suppressed and sensitivity to chemotherapy is restored. These results provide a basis of combining Wnt inhibitors with chemotherapy in patients with high MGMT expression (Paper II). One of the most common chromosomal abnormalities found in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma and predictor of adverse outcome is gain of the q-arm of chromosome 17 and isochromosome 17q. The p53 protein phosphatase magnesium-dependent 1 delta (PPMID)/Wild-type p53 induced phosphatase 1 (WIP1) is suggested by several reports to be one of the putative oncogenes located on 17q. Our study demonstrates that PPM1D/WIP1 can be activated through several mechanisms, including copy number gain, gene amplification, alternative splicing and oncogenic mutations. Moreover, PPM1D/WIP1-transgenic mice develop a variety of cancers following external DNA stress, thus confirming the oncogenic role in cancer development. Our preclinical genetic, molecular, and pharmacological findings propose WIP1 as a novel therapeutic target in neuroblastoma and medulloblastoma (Paper III)

Healthy Nutrition

Many costly and disabling conditions - cardiovascular diseases, cancer, diabetes and chronic respiratory diseases - are linked by common preventable risk factors. Tobacco use, prolonged, unhealthy nutrition, physical inactivity, and excessive alcohol use are major causes and risk factors for these conditions. The ongoing nutritional transition expressed through increased consumption of high fat and high salt food products will contribute to the rising burden of heart disease, stroke, obesity and diabetes. Changes in activity patterns as a consequence of the rise of motorised transport, sedentary leisure time activities such as television watching will lead to physical inactivity in all but the poorest populations. Many diseases can be prevented, yet health care systems do not make the best use of their available resources to support this process. All too often, health care workers fail to seize patient interactions as opportunities to inform patients about health promotion and disease prevention strategies. Nutrition is an input to and foundation for health and development. Interaction of infection and malnutrition is well-documented. Better nutrition means stronger immune systems, less illness and better health. Healthy children learn better. Healthy people are stronger, are more productive and more able to create opportunities to gradually break the cycles of both poverty and hunger in a sustainable way. Better nutrition is a prime entry point to ending poverty and a milestone to achieving better quality of life

The assessment of health-related quality of life in relation to the body mass index value in the urban population of Belgrade

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The association between excess body weight, impairment of health and different co-morbidities is well recognized; however, little is known on how excess body weight may affect the quality of life in the general population. Our study investigates the relationship between perceived health-related quality of life (HRQL) and body mass index (BMI) in the urban population of Belgrade.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The research was conducted during 2005 on a sample of 5,000 subjects, with a response of 63.38%. The study sample was randomly selected and included men and women over 18 years of age, who resided at the same address over a period of 10 years. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire and nutritional status was categorized using the WHO classification. HRQL was measured using the SF-36 generic score. Logistic regression analysis was used to compare HRQL between subjects with normal weight and those with different BMI values; we monitored subject characteristics and potential co-morbidity.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The prevalence of overweight males and females was 46.6% and 22.1%, respectively. The prevalence of obesity was 7.5% in males and 8.5% in females.</p> <p>All aspects of health, except mental, were impaired in males who were obese. The physical and mental wellbeing of overweight males was not significantly affected; all score values were similar to those in subjects with normal weight.</p> <p>By contrast, obese and overweight females had lower HRQL in all aspects of physical functioning, as well as in vitality, social functioning and role-emotional.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The results of our study show that, in the urban population of Belgrade, increased BMI has a much greater impact on physical rather than on mental health, irrespective of subject gender; the effects were particularly pronounced in obese individuals.</p

Risk factors associated with poor clinical outcome in pyogenic spinal infections : 5-years’ intensive care experience

Introduction: Management of pyogenic spinal infections (PSI) after the development of neurological deficit has not been specifically addressed in the literature. We aimed to describe real-life clinical outcomes of PSI in patients admitted to an intensive care unit with neurological deficit and identify factors associated with good prognosis. Methodology: Consecutive patients admitted to ICU with a possible diagnosis of spinal infection over five years’ period were included. Descriptive statistics were performed to examine the demographics and clinical parameters. Results: The majority (71%) of patients were male. The mean age was 57.4 years (27-79), and 71% were > 50 years old. At least one underlying risk factor was identified in 68% of the patients; the most common comorbidity was diabetes mellitus (DM). All patients have presented with fever accompanied by a neurological deficit (86%) and back pain (79%). A complete recovery was achieved in 25% of patients. However, the majority of patients had adverse outcomes with 21.4% mortality, and 43% remaining neurological sequelae. Increased age with a cut-off of 65 years and pre-existing DM were identified as being associated with poor outcome. Conclusion: Mortality among patients admitted to ICU with PSI was significantly higher than reported in the literature. The residual neurological deficit was common, one-third of patients had remaining neurological sequelae, and only one-fourth had complete recovery. Increased age and background DM were the most important determinants of poor clinical outcome. The impact of DM appears to be much more important than currently recognised in this population.Publisher PDFPeer reviewe