Improved dielectric performance of barium strontium titanate multilayered capacitor by means of pulsed laser deposition and slow injection sol-gel methods

A Pt/BST/NiFe/Cu multilayered capacitor was fabricated incorporating a polycrystalline Ba0.5Sr0.5TiO3 (BST) film deposited using the pulsed laser deposition technique. Qualitative X-ray diffraction analysis confirmed a perovskite structure for the deposited BST dielectric films which were fired at various temperatures. No intermediate phase was discernable with a post-annealing temperature of 750°C and highly crystallized thin film was obtained at a post-annealing temperature of 800°C. The fabricated capacitor with a BST film thickness of 665 nm exhibited respectable electrical performance with a dielectric constant, k of 657 and a dielectric loss, tan δ = 0.0137 at room temperature at an applied frequency of 1 MHz. The recorded charge storage density and leakage current density were 4.6 μC cm-2 and 33 nA cm-2, respectively, with ±5 V bias

Jerantinine A induces tumor-specific cell death through modulation of splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1)

Precursor mRNA (pre-mRNA) splicing is catalyzed by a large ribonucleoprotein complex known as the spliceosome. Numerous studies have indicated that aberrant splicing patterns or mutations in spliceosome components, including the splicing factor 3b subunit 1 (SF3B1), are associated with hallmark cancer phenotypes. This has led to the identification and development of small molecules with spliceosome-modulating activity as potential anticancer agents. Jerantinine A (JA) is a novel indole alkaloid which displays potent anti-proliferative activities against human cancer cell lines by inhibiting tubulin polymerization and inducing G2/M cell cycle arrest. Using a combined pooled-genome wide shRNA library screen and global proteomic profiling, we showed that JA targets the spliceosome by up-regulating SF3B1 and SF3B3 protein in breast cancer cells. Notably, JA induced significant tumor-specific cell death and a significant increase in unspliced pre-mRNAs. In contrast, depletion of endogenous SF3B1 abrogated the apoptotic effects, but not the G2/M cell cycle arrest induced by JA. Further analyses showed that JA stabilizes endogenous SF3B1 protein in breast cancer cells and induced dissociation of the protein from the nucleosome complex. Together, these results demonstrate that JA exerts its antitumor activity by targeting SF3B1 and SF3B3 in addition to its reported targeting of tubulin polymerization

Antimicrobial resistance among migrants in Europe: a systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND: Rates of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) are rising globally and there is concern that increased migration is contributing to the burden of antibiotic resistance in Europe. However, the effect of migration on the burden of AMR in Europe has not yet been comprehensively examined. Therefore, we did a systematic review and meta-analysis to identify and synthesise data for AMR carriage or infection in migrants to Europe to examine differences in patterns of AMR across migrant groups and in different settings. METHODS: For this systematic review and meta-analysis, we searched MEDLINE, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus with no language restrictions from Jan 1, 2000, to Jan 18, 2017, for primary data from observational studies reporting antibacterial resistance in common bacterial pathogens among migrants to 21 European Union-15 and European Economic Area countries. To be eligible for inclusion, studies had to report data on carriage or infection with laboratory-confirmed antibiotic-resistant organisms in migrant populations. We extracted data from eligible studies and assessed quality using piloted, standardised forms. We did not examine drug resistance in tuberculosis and excluded articles solely reporting on this parameter. We also excluded articles in which migrant status was determined by ethnicity, country of birth of participants' parents, or was not defined, and articles in which data were not disaggregated by migrant status. Outcomes were carriage of or infection with antibiotic-resistant organisms. We used random-effects models to calculate the pooled prevalence of each outcome. The study protocol is registered with PROSPERO, number CRD42016043681. FINDINGS: We identified 2274 articles, of which 23 observational studies reporting on antibiotic resistance in 2319 migrants were included. The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or AMR infection in migrants was 25·4% (95% CI 19·1-31·8; I2 =98%), including meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (7·8%, 4·8-10·7; I2 =92%) and antibiotic-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (27·2%, 17·6-36·8; I2 =94%). The pooled prevalence of any AMR carriage or infection was higher in refugees and asylum seekers (33·0%, 18·3-47·6; I2 =98%) than in other migrant groups (6·6%, 1·8-11·3; I2 =92%). The pooled prevalence of antibiotic-resistant organisms was slightly higher in high-migrant community settings (33·1%, 11·1-55·1; I2 =96%) than in migrants in hospitals (24·3%, 16·1-32·6; I2 =98%). We did not find evidence of high rates of transmission of AMR from migrant to host populations. INTERPRETATION: Migrants are exposed to conditions favouring the emergence of drug resistance during transit and in host countries in Europe. Increased antibiotic resistance among refugees and asylum seekers and in high-migrant community settings (such as refugee camps and detention facilities) highlights the need for improved living conditions, access to health care, and initiatives to facilitate detection of and appropriate high-quality treatment for antibiotic-resistant infections during transit and in host countries. Protocols for the prevention and control of infection and for antibiotic surveillance need to be integrated in all aspects of health care, which should be accessible for all migrant groups, and should target determinants of AMR before, during, and after migration. FUNDING: UK National Institute for Health Research Imperial Biomedical Research Centre, Imperial College Healthcare Charity, the Wellcome Trust, and UK National Institute for Health Research Health Protection Research Unit in Healthcare-associated Infections and Antimictobial Resistance at Imperial College London

Surgical site infection after gastrointestinal surgery in high-income, middle-income, and low-income countries: a prospective, international, multicentre cohort study

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is one of the most common infections associated with health care, but its importance as a global health priority is not fully understood. We quantified the burden of SSI after gastrointestinal surgery in countries in all parts of the world. Methods: This international, prospective, multicentre cohort study included consecutive patients undergoing elective or emergency gastrointestinal resection within 2-week time periods at any health-care facility in any country. Countries with participating centres were stratified into high-income, middle-income, and low-income groups according to the UN's Human Development Index (HDI). Data variables from the GlobalSurg 1 study and other studies that have been found to affect the likelihood of SSI were entered into risk adjustment models. The primary outcome measure was the 30-day SSI incidence (defined by US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention criteria for superficial and deep incisional SSI). Relationships with explanatory variables were examined using Bayesian multilevel logistic regression models. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov, number NCT02662231. Findings: Between Jan 4, 2016, and July 31, 2016, 13 265 records were submitted for analysis. 12 539 patients from 343 hospitals in 66 countries were included. 7339 (58·5%) patient were from high-HDI countries (193 hospitals in 30 countries), 3918 (31·2%) patients were from middle-HDI countries (82 hospitals in 18 countries), and 1282 (10·2%) patients were from low-HDI countries (68 hospitals in 18 countries). In total, 1538 (12·3%) patients had SSI within 30 days of surgery. The incidence of SSI varied between countries with high (691 [9·4%] of 7339 patients), middle (549 [14·0%] of 3918 patients), and low (298 [23·2%] of 1282) HDI (p < 0·001). The highest SSI incidence in each HDI group was after dirty surgery (102 [17·8%] of 574 patients in high-HDI countries; 74 [31·4%] of 236 patients in middle-HDI countries; 72 [39·8%] of 181 patients in low-HDI countries). Following risk factor adjustment, patients in low-HDI countries were at greatest risk of SSI (adjusted odds ratio 1·60, 95% credible interval 1·05–2·37; p=0·030). 132 (21·6%) of 610 patients with an SSI and a microbiology culture result had an infection that was resistant to the prophylactic antibiotic used. Resistant infections were detected in 49 (16·6%) of 295 patients in high-HDI countries, in 37 (19·8%) of 187 patients in middle-HDI countries, and in 46 (35·9%) of 128 patients in low-HDI countries (p < 0·001). Interpretation: Countries with a low HDI carry a disproportionately greater burden of SSI than countries with a middle or high HDI and might have higher rates of antibiotic resistance. In view of WHO recommendations on SSI prevention that highlight the absence of high-quality interventional research, urgent, pragmatic, randomised trials based in LMICs are needed to assess measures aiming to reduce this preventable complication

Employing replay connectors for SIEM operator education

Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) solutions are a critical information systems security control for monitoring, assessing, and reacting to cyber threats in near real-time. A given SIEM solution, however, is not a simple plug-and-play, drop-in, security device. On the contrary, a successful implementation requires configuration tailored to the specifics of a target network, as well as operators who are very knowledgeable of both the SIEMs functionality and the characteristics of network/data-center events. This thesis will lay the framework for SIEM operator education via use of pre-captured network/data-center events (i.e., network traffic and device log information). The desired outcome is a repeatable framework that can be utilized by organizations interested in deploying more technically savvy SIEM operators. The framework will be empirically demonstrated with a SIEM learning lab developed for HPs ArcSight SIEM.http://archive.org/details/employingreplayc1094537745Captain, Singapore Armed ForcesApproved for public release; distribution is unlimited

Gender as moderator of the effects of online social support from friends and strangers: a study of Singaporean college students

Gender differences in Internet use may affect how women and men respond to online support (OS) provided by friends and strangers. The present study compared the psychological effects of brief OS provided by a same-gender, same-ethnicity friend or stranger in young Singaporean women (n = 73) and men (n = 60). After random assignment to 1 of 3 groups (supportive friend, supportive stranger, nothing), Singaporean university students completed stressor tasks before and after instant messaging with a friend or stranger, or doing nothing. The findings showed that OS from a friend attenuated women’s negative emotional responses to stress, whereas OS from a stranger was ineffective in regulating women’s negative affect. In contrast, men did not show significant changes in negative affect in association with OS provided by a friend or a stranger. The findings were consistent with gender differences in Internet use, where women use the Internet to seek social support and men to gather information

Development of a miniaturized Ti-plasmid and helper plasmid system for Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation

Tumor-inducing (Ti) plasmid is the requisite for Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation. Over decades, continuous efforts have been made to improve the efficiency of Agrobacterium-mediated plant transformation and most of them focused on the binary vector system. A binary vector system comprises of a binary vector of which transferred DNA (T-DNA) resided on and a Ti plasmid to carry those essential virulence genes. In this study, we constructed a miniaturized helper Ti plasmid, designated as pYL102, with the aim to enhance the overall Agrobacterium-mediated transformation rate. The size of pYL102 was reduced to ~60% of the original plasmid pCAMBIA5105. Subsequently, pYL102 was coupled with the broad host range (BHR) bacterial expression vector, pYL101C, of which the key regulatory virulence gene, virG-N54D, was cloned in and expressed under the control of a strong constitutive PINTc promoter. To test the functionality of the constructed vector system, A. tumefaciens C58C1 carrying pYL102, pYL101C::virG-N54D and the transformation vector pGWB2::e35S-sfGFP was used to transform Nicotiana benthamiana leaves by agroinfiltration. Green fluorescence was observed in spots infiltrated with Agrobacterium carrying the test plasmids. The fluorescence intensity from the test agroinfiltrated leaves was significantly higher than those of the mock-infiltrated leaves (p<0.01), indicating the vector system can be used for plant transformation

Viable short-term directed energy weapon naval solutions: a systems analysis of current prototypes

With conventional weapons nearing their peak capability, the need to identify alternative war fighting solutions suggests a look at Directed Energy Weapons (DEWs). The goal is to change the means by which warfare is conducted to improve operational efficiencies and overall effectiveness. The Naval Postgraduate School Systems Engineering and Analysis (SEA-19B) Capstone project team examined how existing directed energy technologies can provide performance across multiple warfare area domains and mission subsets for the U.S. Navy. The aim was to identify and characterize the capability gaps with conventional weapons systems, produce a coherent vision of naval missions that incorporate DEWs, and generate a roadmap for a DEW fleet. By conducting a thorough Analysis of Alternatives based on system performance, integration, schedule, and cost, the project team identified that the Tactical Laser System (with a laser beam power of 10 kW) provided the best overall capability to defend surface combatants, although none of the analyzed DEWs have the capability to replace a current conventional weapon. The Active Denial System (microwave) provided a niche capability in the Anti-Terrorism/Force Protection mission set.http://archive.org/details/viableshorttermd1094534734Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited