This paper discusses a distributed frequency modulation continuous wave radar system. This K-band radar system has high sensitivity, linearity, and flatness to detect low-radar cross section targets ...and measure their range and velocity. To reduce the leakage between a transmitter and a receiver, the system uses not RF cables but fiber-optic links that have low distortion characteristics and low propagation loss. The transmitter and the receiver are each mounted on a designed fixture to reduce the ground reflections. In addition, they are located on different platforms to reduce the leakage signal flowing directly from the transmitter to the receiver. Measurements in terms of the range and the velocity of a small drone have been carried out to evaluate the proposed distributed radar system. The results show that we can clearly detect the small drone within a 500 m range, which demonstrates the high sensitivity of the system and high isolation between the transmitter and the receiver.
Corosolic acid is one of the pentacyclic triterpenoids isolated from
and has been reported to exhibit anti-cancer and anti-proliferative activities in various cancer cells. In the present study, we ...investigated the molecular mechanisms of corosolic acid in cancer cell death. Corosolic acid induces a decrease of cell viability and an increase of cell cytotoxicity in human renal carcinoma Caki cells. Corosolic acid-induced cell death is not inhibited by apoptosis inhibitor (z-VAD-fmk, a pan-caspase inhibitor), necroptosis inhibitor (necrostatin-1), or ferroptosis inhibitors (ferrostatin-1 and deferoxamine (DFO)). Furthermore, corosolic acid significantly induces reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels, but antioxidants (
-acetyl-l-cysteine (NAC) and trolox) do not inhibit corosolic acid-induced cell death. Interestingly, corosolic acid induces lipid oxidation, and α-tocopherol markedly prevents corosolic acid-induced lipid peroxidation and cell death. Anti-chemotherapeutic effects of α-tocopherol are dependent on inhibition of lipid oxidation rather than inhibition of ROS production. In addition, corosolic acid induces non-apoptotic cell death in other renal cancer (ACHN and A498), breast cancer (MDA-MB231), and hepatocellular carcinoma (SK-Hep1 and Huh7) cells, and α-tocopherol markedly inhibits corosolic acid-induced cell death. Therefore, our results suggest that corosolic acid induces non-apoptotic cell death in cancer cells through the increase of lipid peroxidation.
Summary
The diverse colours of mature pepper (Capsicum spp.) fruit result from the accumulation of different carotenoids. The carotenoid biosynthetic pathway has been well elucidated in Solanaceous ...plants, and analysis of candidate genes involved in this process has revealed variations in carotenoid biosynthetic genes in Capsicum spp. However, the allelic variations revealed by previous studies could not fully explain the variation in fruit colour in Capsicum spp. due to technical difficulties in detecting allelic variation in multiple candidate genes in numerous samples. In this study, we uncovered allelic variations in six carotenoid biosynthetic genes, including phytoene synthase (PSY1, PSY2), lycopene β‐cyclase, β‐carotene hydroxylase, zeaxanthin epoxidase and capsanthin‐capsorubin synthase (CCS) genes, in 94 pepper accessions by single‐molecule real‐time (SMRT) sequencing. To investigate the relationship between allelic variations in the candidate genes and differences in fruit colour, we performed ultra‐performance liquid chromatography analysis using 43 accessions representing each allelic variation. Different combinations of dysfunctional mutations in PSY1 and CCS could explain variation in the compositions and levels of carotenoids in the accessions examined in this study. Our results demonstrate that SMRT sequencing technology can be used to rapidly identify allelic variation in target genes in various germplasms. The newly identified allelic variants will be useful for pepper breeding and for further analysis of carotenoid biosynthesis pathways.
There has recently been an increasing need for the collection and sharing of microdata containing information regarding an individual entity. Because microdata typically contain sensitive information ...on an individual, releasing it directly for public use may violate existing privacy requirements. Thus, extensive studies have been conducted on privacy-preserving data publishing (PPDP), which ensures that any microdata released satisfy the privacy policy requirements. Most existing privacy-preserving data publishing algorithms consider a scenario in which a data publisher, receiving a request for the release of data containing personal information, anonymizes the data prior to publishing—a process that is usually conducted offline. However, with the increasing demand for the sharing of data among various parties, it is more desirable to integrate the data anonymization functionality into existing systems that are capable of supporting online query processing. Thus, we developed a novel scheme that is able to efficiently anonymize the query results on the fly, and thus support efficient online privacy-preserving data publishing. In particular, given a user’s query, the proposed approach effectively estimates the generalization level of each quasi-identifier attribute, thereby achieving the k-anonymity property in the query result datasets based on the statistical information without applying k-anonymity on all actual datasets, which is a costly procedure. The experiment results show that, through the proposed method, significant gains in processing time can be achieved.
Handgrip strength (HGS) is acknowledged as a key indicator of overall physical fitness and is associated with various health outcomes.
This research investigates the correlation between HGS and ...quality of life (QoL), focusing on its relation to pulmonary function in the general adult population.
The study involved 19,402 participants aged 40 and above, spanning from 2014 to 2019, who underwent pulmonary function and HGS tests. Participants were categorized based on lung function, and regression analyses were employed to examine the relationship between HGS and QoL, with adjustments made for lung function.
The average age of the cohort was 58.2 years, comprising 44.6% males and 41.2% smokers. Out of the 18,708 participants who completed the European Quality of Life Scale-Five Dimensions (EQ-5D-3L) assessment, higher severity levels in mobility, self-care, usual activities, pain or discomfort, and anxiety or depression were linked to lower HGS in both sexes. Additionally, among the 3,723 participants who completed the Health-related Quality of Life Instrument with 8 Items (HINT-8) assessment, higher severity levels in pain, work, and depression were associated with lower HGS in men. In women, higher severity levels in climbing stairs, pain, vitality, and work correlated with lower HGS.
As problems indicated by EQ-5D worsened, there was a consistent decrease in handgrip strength (HGS) across both genders. The HINT-8 assessment further revealed that increased severity in pain and work-related issues led to reduced HGS in both men and women. This study highlights the relationship between HGS and Quality of Life (QoL), taking lung function into consideration, and underscores the importance of HGS as a potential marker of physical health and fitness.
Background
The NIH protocol for non‐myeloablative (NMA) conditioning allogeneic stem cell transplantation (alloSCT) with alemtuzumab and low‐dose total body irradiation corrected the abnormal sickle ...cell disease (SCD) phenotype without the risk of graft‐versus‐host disease. However, alloSCT using NMA conditioning had been rarely applied to β‐thalassemia major (β‐TM) patients.
Methods
To avoid prolonged immunosuppression, we developed a two‐stage strategy. Mixed donor chimerism was initially achieved using the protocol developed by the NIH protocol. Thereafter, we facilitated donor chimerism using the optional reinforced stem cell (SC) infusion in cases requiring protracted immunosuppression or experiencing impending graft failure.
Results
In this study, β‐TM (n = 9) and SCD (n = 4) patients were equally effectively treated with eradicating the abnormal hemoglobin phenotype. Five patients, including four β‐TM, achieved stable mixed chimerism without receiving optional reinforced SC infusion. All patients that received optional reinforced infusion achieved complete (n = 4) or mixed chimerism (n = 1). The overall survival rate and event‐free survival at 4 years were 91.7% (95% CI; 53.9‐98.8) in both groups, with a thalassemia‐free survival rate in β‐TM patients of 87.5% (95% CI; 38.7‐98.1).
Conclusion
This study is the first to report successful NMA conditioning alloSCT to achieve stable mixed chimerism correcting the abnormal hemoglobin phenotype in adult β‐TM patients.
Although hypoalbuminemia is a known risk factor for acute kidney injury (AKI) following surgery, little is known about its effects following aneurysm clipping surgery. We aimed to investigate the ...predictors of AKI and overall mortality and assessed the relationship between preoperative albumin and postoperative outcomes after aneurysm clipping surgery.
This study included 2,339 patients who underwent aneurysm clipping surgery. According to the criteria updated by the Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes (KDIGO), patients were classified into AKI and no AKI group. Independent AKI predictors were analyzed by multivariate methods, and the influence of AKI on the outcome variables was assessed with by propensity score matching analysis. Survival in relation to AKI was analyzed using the Kaplan-Meier method.
The total proportion of patients who developed AKI was 1.9%. The cutoff value of preoperative albumin for predicting AKI was 3.9 g/dL. Multivariate analyses showed that preoperative albumin≤ 3.9 g/dL, aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage, male sex, phenylephrine use, and hemoglobin were associated with postoperative AKI development. In multivariate analysis, mortality was increased in AKI patients (p< 0.01). After propensity score matching, preoperative albumin≤ 3.9 g/dL was significantly related to AKI and overall mortality.
Preoperative albumin≤ 3.9 g/dL is associated with postoperative AKI and mortality.
Ubiquitin-specific protease 1 (USP1) is a deubiquitinase involved in DNA damage repair by modulating the ubiquitination of major regulators, such as PCNA and FANCD2. Because USP1 is highly expressed ...in many cancers, dysregulation of USP1 contributes to cancer therapy. However, the role of USP1 and the mechanisms underlying chemotherapy remain unclear. In this study, we found high USP1 expression in tumor tissues and that it correlated with poor prognosis in RCC. Mechanistically, USP1 enhanced survivin stabilization by removing ubiquitin. Pharmacological inhibitors (ML23 and pimozide) and siRNA targeting USP1 induced downregulation of survivin expression. In addition, ML323 upregulated DR5 expression by decreasing miR-216a-5p expression at the post-transcriptional level, and miR-216a-5p mimics suppressed the upregulation of DR5 by ML323. Inhibition of USP1 sensitized cancer cells. Overexpression of survivin or knockdown of DR5 markedly prevented the co-treatment with ML323 and TRAIL-induced apoptosis. These results of in vitro were proved in a mouse xenograft model, in which combined treatment significantly reduced tumor size and induced survivin downregulation and DR5 upregulation. Furthermore, USP1 and survivin protein expression showed a positive correlation, whereas miR-216a-5p and DR5 were inversely correlated in RCC tumor tissues. Taken together, our results suggest two target substrates of USP1 and demonstrate the involvement of survivin and DR5 in USP1-targeted chemotherapy.
Finite element analysis-based optimal design of electric machines takes up a considerable amount of time for characteristic analyses and the analysis region has many local optima. Thus, selecting the ...appropriate global search optimization algorithm, known as the with fast convergence characteristics is necessary in the optimal design of electric machines. In this paper, a novel global search optimization algorithm known as the global-simplex optimization (GSO) algorithm, is proposed. The GSO is an optimization algorithm that adopts the characteristics of the simplex method for searching the optimum point but utilizes its global searching capability by scattering many initial points at the beginning of the algorithm. The global searching capability and convergence speed of GSO is validated through a comparison with particle swarm optimization, which has already been proven for its global searching capability through its application in the well-known Goldstein-Price benchmark function. In addition, the GSO has been applied to the optimal design of an interior permanent magnet synchronous machine to reduce the torque ripple and total harmonic distortion in its back electromotive force.
A cough-specific quality-of-life questionnaire is recommended to assess the impact of cough; however, a simple instrument to quantify cough is required for everyday clinical practice. This study was ...aimed to develop a short patient-completed questionnaire (COugh Assessment Test, COAT).
The COAT was developed and validated by comparison with the Korean version of Leicester Cough Questionnaire (K-LCQ) and cough numeric rating scale (NRS, 0-10, 11-point scale) for chronic cough patients.
Item selection identified five items regarding cough frequency, daily activity, sleep disturbance, fatigue and cough hypersensitivity (0-4 scaling of items, 0-20 score range) through reliability test cohort (n = 78). Test-retest reliability was strong (intra-class correlation coefficient = 0.88). The final COAT was compared with K-LCQ and cough NRS in a validation cohort (n = 323). In Rasch analysis, COAT fitted well to a unidimensional model. Pearson correlations of COAT versus K-LCQ (i) before treatment, (ii) after treatment; COAT versus cough NRS (iii) before treatment, (iv) after treatment; (v) delta-COAT versus delta-cough NRS, (vi) delta-COAT versus delta-K-LCQ were (i) -0.71, (ii) -0.81, (iii) 0.69, (iv) 0.82, (v) -0.66 and (vi) 0.72, respectively.
The COAT is a useful, simple questionnaire for assessing and monitoring cough.
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