MPEG-21 embeds the AQoS schema tool which describes and associates conceptually major utilities required during the adaptation process, for example, adaptation operators, constraints and qualities. ...Defining an AQoS model, i.e. possible adaptation operators, predictable constraints and qualities that will be included in an instance of AQoS which accompanies a media file, and consequently initialising its values is a complex process. In this paper, we present our conceptual model design for implementing the AQoS.
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FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Previous studies of gastric contents in children presenting for surgery specifically excluded those with gastrointestinal disorders.Because these children often need sedation or anesthesia for ...procedures such as upper endoscopy, it is important to determine the gastric fluid volume and pH in this group to better characterize their risk of aspiration. We therefore analyzed the gastric fluid volume and pH of children with a variety of gastrointestinal symptoms presenting for upper endoscopy. After obtaining institutional review board approval, the stomach contents of 248 children (aged 2 mo to 18 yr) presenting for upper endoscopy were prospectively measured under direct endoscopic vision. Children were fasted for both solids and liquids for at least 6 h (<6 mo) or 8 h (>6 mo). Gastric fluid pH was measured using pH paper. Children received either deep sedation or general anesthesia and were grouped according to their presenting diagnosis. Results were analyzed by using analysis of variance, Kruskal-Wallis, and correlation (P value <0.05). The mean gastric fluid volume was 0.35 +/- 0.45 mL/kg (range 0-3.14 mL/kg), and the mean gastric fluid pH was 1.37 +/- 1.6 (range 1-7). Of the children, 33% had gastric fluid volumes >0.4 mL/kg, 87% had gastric fluid pH <2.5, and 30% had gastric fluid volume >0.4 mL/kg and pH <2.5. Children with the presenting complaint of abdominal pain had the largest gastric fluid volumes. These data are not appreciably different from historical controls (healthy children fasted for an equivalent period of time who did not have gastrointestinal symptoms). ImplicationsWhen fasted for at least 6-8 h, children with a history of gastrointestinal symptoms presenting for upper endoscopy did not have gastric contents with increased volume and acidity compared with previously published groups of children without gastric symptoms who were fasted the same length of time. These results do not support the argument that children with gastrointestinal symptoms pose an increased anesthetic risk for aspiration.(Anesth Analg 1998;87:757-60)
Mobile Computing with MPEG-21 Angelides, Marios C; Sofokleous, Anastasis A; Schizas, Christos N
Embedded and Ubiquitous Computing – EUC 2005 Workshops,
2005, Volume:
3823
Book Chapter, Conference Proceeding
Peer reviewed
Open access
In the field of multimedia content provision, many researchers investigate numerous techniques for adapting the content based on device, network, environment and user characteristics. In this paper, ...we present an MPEG-21 middleware design for dynamic content adaptation and we demonstrate a true mobile multimedia client that is able to communicate information about device and network characteristics and provide the necessary tools for the configuration of user preferences.
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FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NUK, OBVAL, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
ABSTRACT
The small GTPase rab5 appears to be rate-limiting for the constitutive internalization of transferrin receptor and for fluid-phase endocytosis. However, it is unknown whether rab5 regulates ...receptors whose internalization is stimulated by the binding of ligand, and whether such receptors change the underlying rate of the endocytic pathways they utilize. As a model for ligand-stimulated endocytosis, we used transfected HEK293 cells expressing high levels of an epitope-tagged human β2-adrenergic receptor. Nearly all receptors were on the cell surface in the absence of agonist, but within ten minutes of agonist addition >50% of receptors internalized and colocalized extensively with rab5. Hypertonic sucrose blocked β2-adrenergic receptor internalization, as well as that of transferrin receptor, suggesting a clathrin-mediated process. In contrast, an inhibitor of potocytosis had little effect upon β2-adrenergic receptor internalization, suggesting that this process did not require active caveolae. Consistent with this finding, caveolin was not detectable in the 120 6 line, as assessed by western blotting with a polyclonal anti-caveolin antibody. Stimulated receptor internalization did not affect the rate or capacity of the constitutive endocytic pathway since there was no detectable increase in fluid-phase endocytosis after addition of β2 -agonist, nor was there a significant change in the amount of surface transferrin receptor. Altogether, these data suggest that β2-adrenergic receptors internalize by a clathrin-mediated and rab5-regulated constitutive endocytic pathway. Further, agonist-stimulated receptor internalization has no detectable effect upon the function of this pathway.
Civil engineering projects include several uncertainties and risks, due to the special characteristics of construction industry. Time and cost are two parameters that could potentially lead to ...successful and conforming to regulations production of projects. It is imperative to estimate correctly the development and the final outcome of these parameters. Various tools have been applied in order to create more accurate estimations. In this paper, a prototype system will be presented, which aims at predicting the final cost, based on information available at the bidding stage. The methodology will be based on a combination of regression analysis and case-based reasoning in order to produce models for the prediction of final cost. These models will incorporate a process view and will depend on activity based costing methodology to estimate the process cost.PUBLICATION ABSTRACT
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CEKLJ, EMUNI, FIS, FZAB, GEOZS, GIS, IJS, IMTLJ, KILJ, KISLJ, MFDPS, NLZOH, NUK, OILJ, PNG, SAZU, SBCE, SBJE, SBMB, SBNM, UKNU, UL, UM, UPUK, VKSCE, ZAGLJ
Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) are implicated in the development of the vertebrate neural circuitry, and increase neurite growth in vitro and in vivo. The construction of the cytoskeleton is ...necessary for growth of axons and dendrites, and the neurofilament (NF) 68 kDa and 170 kDa proteins assemble to help form major fibrillar elements of the neurite cytoskeleton. We report that physiological concentrations of insulin, IGF-I or IGF-II increased the contents of 68 kDa NF, 170 kDa NF, alpha-tubulin, and beta-tubulin mRNAs, relative to total RNA, in cultured human neuroblastoma SH-SY5Y cells. In contrast, the relative contents of histone 3.3 mRNA, and poly(A)+ RNA were not increased. Ligand concentrations which increased NF mRNAs were very similar to those which increased neurite outgrowth. Although each gene was evidently independently regulated, the 68 kDa NF, 170 kDa NF, alpha-tubulin, and beta-tubulin mRNAs were nevertheless all transiently elevated over approximately the same time interval in response to insulin. These data, when considered together with studies by others with nerve growth factor, show that the 68 kDa and 170 kDa NF mRNAs are elevated in a biochemical pathway activated in common during neurite outgrowth directed by insulin, IGF-I, IGF-II, and nerve growth factor.
E. R. Block, J. M. Patel, K. J. Angelides, N. P. Sheridan and L. C. Garg
To evaluate the relative contributions of three possible mechanisms that
can be advanced to explain the observation that ...hyperoxia decreases
serotonin uptake by endothelial cells, we examined the effect of high O2
tensions on Na+-K+-ATPase activity, ATP content, and plasma membrane
fluidity in cultured endothelial cells. Confluent monolayers of pulmonary
artery and aortic endothelial cells were exposed to 95% O2 (hyperoxia) or
20% O2 (controls) in 5% CO2 at 1 ATA for 4-42 h. Exposure to high O2
tensions had no effect on Na+-K+-ATPase activity or ATP content in
pulmonary artery or aortic endothelial cells in culture. However, hyperoxia
decreased the fluidity of the plasma membrane of pulmonary artery and
aortic endothelial cells in culture, and the time course for the decrease
in fluidity parallels that of the hyperoxic inhibition of serotonin
transport. These results indicate that hyperoxia decreases fluidity in the
hydrophobic core of the plasma membranes of cultured endothelial cells.
Such decreases in plasma membrane fluidity may be responsible for
hyperoxia-induced alterations in membrane function including decreases in
transmembrane transport of amines.
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