Compact antenna designs have become a critical component in the recent advancements of wireless communication technologies over the past few decades. This paper presents a self-multiplexing antenna based on diplexing ...Compact antenna designs have become a critical component in the recent advancements of wireless communication technologies over the past few decades. This paper presents a self-multiplexing antenna based on diplexing and quadruplexing Substrate-Integrated Waveguide (SIW) cavities. The diplexing structure incorporates two V-shaped slots, while the quadruplexing structure advances this concept by combining the slots to form a cross-shaped configuration within the cavity. The widths and lengths of the slots are carefully tuned to achieve variations in the respective operating frequencies without affecting the others. The proposed diplexing antenna resonates at 8.48 and 9.2 GHz, with a frequency ratio of 1.08, while the quadruplexing antenna operates at 6.9, 7.1, 7.48, and 8.2GHz. Both designs exhibit isolation levels well below –20dB and achieve a simulated peak gain of 5.6 dBi at the highest frequency, with a compact cavity area of 0.56 λg^(2). The proposed antennas operate within the NR bands (n12, n18, n26), making them suitable for modern high-speed wireless communication systems. Moreover, the properties like multiband operation, compactness, high isolation, low loss, and low interference make the antenna favorable for the high-speed railway communication systems.展开更多
In a world where supply chains are increasingly complex and unpredictable,finding the optimal way to move goods through transshipment networks is more important and challenging than ever.In addition to addressing the ...In a world where supply chains are increasingly complex and unpredictable,finding the optimal way to move goods through transshipment networks is more important and challenging than ever.In addition to addressing the complexity of transportation costs and demand,this study presents a novel method that offers flexible routing alternatives to manage these complexities.When real-world variables such as fluctuating costs,variable capacity,and unpredictable demand are considered,traditional transshipment models often prove inadequate.To overcome these challenges,we propose an innovative fully fuzzy-based framework using LR flat fuzzy numbers.This framework allows for more adaptable and flexible decision-making in multi-objective transshipment situations by effectively capturing uncertain parameters.To overcome these challenges,we develop an innovative,fully fuzzy-based framework using LR flat fuzzy numbers to effectively capture uncertainty in key parameters,offering more flexible and adaptive decision-making in multi-objective transshipment problems.The proposed model also presents alternative route options,giving decisionmakers a range of choices to satisfy multiple requirements,including reducing costs,improving service quality,and expediting delivery.Through extensive numerical experiments,we demonstrate that the model can achieve greater adaptability,efficiency,and flexibility than standard approaches.This multi-path structure provides additional flexibility to adapt to dynamic network conditions.Using ranking strategies,we compared our multi-objective transshipment model with existing methods.The results indicate that,while traditional methods such as goal and fuzzy programming generate results close to the anti-ideal value,thus reducing their efficiency,our model produces solutions close to the ideal value,thereby facilitating better decision making.By combining dynamic routing alternatives with a fully fuzzybased approach,this study offers an effective tool to improve decision-making and optimize complex networks under real-world conditions in practical settings.In this paper,we utilize LINGO 18 software to solve the provided numerical example,demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.展开更多
Endothelial keratoplasty(EK)is defined as an umbrella term comprising methods for selective surgical replacement of corneal endothelium and adjacent corneal tissue,which retains healthy portions of a patient's cor...Endothelial keratoplasty(EK)is defined as an umbrella term comprising methods for selective surgical replacement of corneal endothelium and adjacent corneal tissue,which retains healthy portions of a patient's cornea while replacing diseased innermost corneal layer(s)with healthy donor tissue,to achieve corneal dehydration and transparency before the onset of irreversible stromal edema and permanent loss of corneal clarity.Recently,the pathophysiology of corneal decompensation is increasingly being researched upon.Consequent improvement in pharmacotherapy is progressively leading to reduction in the indications of EK.In addition,EK techniques have progressed towards using thinner tissue,optimizing visual outcomes.Improvements have enabled better donor tissue formulation,usage,and attachment,and surgical modifications have enhanced the tissue utilization in difficult clinical scenarios lowering failure and rejection.However,challenges are encountered in various complex clinical scenarios in-cluding eyes with prior intraocular surgery,complex anterior chamber anatomy,glaucoma,ocular surface disease etc.These complexities demand tailored surgical strategies,including modifications in graft handling,instru-mentation,and postoperative management to ensure success.Attention to these details and addressing patient-specific factors can help improve outcomes in these difficult cases.The choice of procedure depends on multiple factors,including the surgeon's experience,patient's ocular anatomy,and the specific clinical scenario.This review article encompasses the recent developments in this field presenting a comprehensive picture of our modern understanding of the indications,contraindications,surgical techniques,clinical situations,community aspects and future directions pertaining to EK.展开更多
AIMTo study the diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography (TE) for detecting clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in Indian patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.METHODSThis retrospective study ...AIMTo study the diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography (TE) for detecting clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in Indian patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.METHODSThis retrospective study was conducted at the Institute of Liver, Gastroenterology, and Pancreatico-Biliary Sciences, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, on consecutive patients with cirrhosis greater than 15 years of age who underwent hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and TE from July 2011 to May 2016. Correlation between HVPG and TE was analyzed using the Spearman’s correlation test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were prepared for determining the utility of TE in predicting various stages of portal hypertension. The best cut-off value of TE for the diagnosis of CSPH was obtained using the Youden index.RESULTSThe study included 326 patients [median age 52 (range 16-90) years; 81% males]. The most common etiology of cirrhosis was cryptogenic (45%) followed by alcohol (34%). The median HVPG was 16.0 (range 1.5 to 30.5) mmHg. Eighty-five percent of patients had CSPH. A significant positive correlation was noted between TE and HVPG (rho 0.361, P < 0.001). The area under ROC curve for TE in predicting CSPH was 0.740 (95%CI: 0.662-0.818) (P < 0.01). A cut-off value of TE of 21.6 kPa best predicted CSPH with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 93%.CONCLUSIONTE has a fair positive correlation with HVPG; thus, TE can be used as a non-invasive modality to assess the degree of portal hypertension. A cut-off TE value of 21.6 kPa identifies CSPH with a PPV of 93%.展开更多
To investigated clinical, endoscopic and histopathological parameters of the patients presenting with ileocecal ulcers on colonoscopy. METHODSConsecutive symptomatic patients undergoing colonoscopy, and diagnosed to h...To investigated clinical, endoscopic and histopathological parameters of the patients presenting with ileocecal ulcers on colonoscopy. METHODSConsecutive symptomatic patients undergoing colonoscopy, and diagnosed to have ulcerations in the ileocecal (I/C) region, were enrolled. Biopsy was obtained and their clinical presentation and outcome were recorded. RESULTSOut of 1632 colonoscopies, 104 patients had ulcerations in the I/C region and were included in the study. Their median age was 44.5 years and 59% were males. The predominant presentation was lower GI bleed (55, 53%), pain abdomen ± diarrhea (36, 35%), fever (32, 31%), and diarrhea alone (9, 9%). On colonoscopy, terminal ileum was entered in 96 (92%) cases. The distribution of ulcers was as follows: Ileum alone 40% (38/96), cecum alone 33% (32/96), and both ileum plus cecum 27% (26/96). The ulcers were multiple in 98% and in 34% there were additional ulcers elsewhere in colon. Based on clinical presentation and investigations, the etiology of ulcers was classified into infective causes (43%) and non-infective causes (57%). Fourteen patients (13%) were diagnosed to have Crohn’s disease (CD). CONCLUSIONNon-specific ileocecal ulcers are most common ulcers seen in ileo-cecal region. And if all infections are clubbed together then infection is the most common (> 40%) cause of ulcerations of the I/C region. Cecal involvement and fever are important clues to infective cause. On the contrary CD account for only 13% cases as a cause of ileo-cecalulcers. So all symptomatic patients with I/C ulcers on colonoscopy are not Crohn’s.展开更多
Nano-sized reinforcements improved the mechanical characteristics efficiently by promoting more implicit particle hardening mechanisms compared to micron-sized reinforcements.Nano-sized particles lessen the critical p...Nano-sized reinforcements improved the mechanical characteristics efficiently by promoting more implicit particle hardening mechanisms compared to micron-sized reinforcements.Nano-sized particles lessen the critical particle solidification velocity for swamp and thus offers better dispersal.In the present investigation,the friction stir processing(FSP)is utilized to produce AZ31/Al_(2)O_(3)nanocomposites at various tool rotation speeds(i.e.,900,1200,and 1500 rpm)with an optimized 1.5%volume alumina(Al_(2)O_(3))reinforcement ratio.The mechanical and corrosion behavior of AZ31/Al_(2)O_(3)-developed nanocomposites was investigated and compared with that of the AZ31 base alloy.The AZ31 alloy experienced a comprehensive dynamic recrystallization during FSP,causing substantial grain refinement.Grain-size strengthening is the primary factor contributed to the enhancement in the strength of the fabricated nanocomposite.Tensile strength and yield strength values were lower than those for the base metal matrix,although an upward trend in both values has been observed with an increase in tool rotation speed.An 19.72%increase in hardness along with superior corrosion resistance was achieved compared to the base alloy at a tool rotational speed of 1500 rpm.The corrosion currents(Jcorr)of all samples dropped with increase in the rotational speed,in contrast to the corrosion potentials(Ecorr),which increased.The values of Jcorr of AZ31/Al_(2)O_(3)were 42.3%,56.8%,and 65.5%lower than those of AZ31 alloy at the chosen rotating speeds of 900,1200,and 1500 rpm,respectively.The corrosion behavior of friction stir processed nanocomposites have been addressed in this manuscript which has not been given sufficient attention in the existing literature.Further,this work offers an effective choice for the quality assurance of the FSP process of AZ31/Al_(2)O_(3)nanocomposites.The obtained results are relevant to the development of lightweight automobile and aerospace structures and components.展开更多
With the advancement in internet technologies, the number of servers has increased remarkably to provide more services to the end users. These services are provided over the public channels, which are insecure and sus...With the advancement in internet technologies, the number of servers has increased remarkably to provide more services to the end users. These services are provided over the public channels, which are insecure and susceptible to interception, modification, and deletion. To provide security, registered entities are authenticated and then a session key is established between them to communicate securely. The conventional schemes anow a user to access services only after their independent registration with each desired server in a multiserver system. Therefore, a user must possess multiple smartcards and memorize various identities and passwords for obtaining services from multiple servers. This has led to the adoption of multiserver authentication in which a user accesses services of multiple servers after registering himself at only one central authority. Recently, Kumar and Om discussed a scheme for multiserver environment by using smartcard. Since the user-memorized passwords are of low entropy, it is possible for an attacker to guess them. This paper uses biometric information of user to enhance the security of the scheme by Kumar and Ore. Moreover, we conducted rigorous security analyses （informal and formal） in this study to prove the security of the proposed scheme against all known attacks. We also simulated our scheme by using the automated tool, ProVerif, to prove its secrecy and authentication properties. A comparative study of the proposed scheme with the existing related schemes shows its effectiveness.展开更多
BACKGROUND Cytokines and inflammatory mediators are the hallmarks of sepsis.Extracorporeal cytokine hemoadsorption devices are the newer clinical support system to overcome the cytokine storm during sepsis.AIM To retr...BACKGROUND Cytokines and inflammatory mediators are the hallmarks of sepsis.Extracorporeal cytokine hemoadsorption devices are the newer clinical support system to overcome the cytokine storm during sepsis.AIM To retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients admitted in intensive care unit with septic shock with different etiologies.METHODS The laboratory parameters including biomarkers such as procalcitonin,serum lactate and C-reactive protein;and the hemodynamic parameters;mean arterial pressure,vasopressor doses,sepsis scores,cytokine levels and other vital parameters were evaluated.We evaluated these outcomes among survivors and non-survivors.RESULTS Of 100 patients evaluated,40 patients survived.Post treatment,the vasopressors dosage remarkably decreased though it was not statistically different;34.15%(P=0.0816)for epinephrine,20.5%for norepinephrine(P=0.3099)and 51%(P=0.0678)for vasopressin.In the survivor group,a remarkable reduction of biomarkers levels;procalcitonin(65%,P=0.5859),C-reactive protein(27%,P=0.659),serum lactate(27%,P=0.0159)and bilirubin(43.11%;P=0.0565)were observed from baseline after CytoSorb^® therapy.A significant reduction in inflammatory markers;interleukin 6 and interleukin 10;(87%and 92%,P<0.0001)and in tumour necrosis factor(24%,P=0.0003)was also seen.Overall,28(28%)patients who were given CytoSorb^® therapy less than 48 h after onset of septic shock survived and the maximum duration of stay for 70%of these patients in intensive care unit was less than 15 d.CONCLUSION CytoSorb^® is a safe and well tolerated rescue therapy option in patients with septic shock.However,early(preferably within<48 h after onset of septic shock)initiation could result in better clinical outcomes.Further randomized trials are needed to define the potential benefits of this new treatment modality.展开更多
Trap characterization on GaN Schottky barrier diodes(SBDs)has been carried out using deep-level transient spectroscopy(DLTS).Selective probing by varying the ratio of the rate window values(r)incites different trap si...Trap characterization on GaN Schottky barrier diodes(SBDs)has been carried out using deep-level transient spectroscopy(DLTS).Selective probing by varying the ratio of the rate window values(r)incites different trap signatures at similar temperature regimes.Electron traps are found to be within the values:0.05–1.2 eV from the conduction band edge whereas the hole traps 1.37–2.66 eV from the valence band edge on the SBDs.In the lower temperature regime,the deeper electron traps contribute to the capacitance transients with increasing r values,whereas at the higher temperatures>300 K,a slow variation of the trap levels(both electrons and holes)is observed when r is varied.These traps are found to be mainly contributed to dislocations,interfaces,and vacancies within the structure.展开更多
For the successful operation of any industry or plant continuous availability of power supply is essential.Many of the large-scale plants established their power generation units.Marine power plant having two generato...For the successful operation of any industry or plant continuous availability of power supply is essential.Many of the large-scale plants established their power generation units.Marine power plant having two generators is also fall in this category.In this study,an effort is made to derive and optimize the availability of a marine power plant having two generators,one switch board and distribution switchboards.For this purpose,a mathematical model is proposed using Markov birth death process by considering exponentially distributed failure and repair rates of all the subsystems.The availability expression of marine power plant is derived.Metaheuristic algorithms namely dragonfly algorithm(DA),bat algorithm(BA)and whale optimization(WOA)are employed to optimize the availability of marine power plant.It is revealed that whale optimization algorithm outperforms over dragonfly algorithm(DA),and bat algorithm(BA)in optimum availability prediction and parameter estimation.The numerical values of the availability and estimated parameters are appended as numerical results.The derived results can be utilized in development of maintenance strategies of marine power plants and to carry out design modifications.展开更多
Recently,the diagnoses of dental caries and other dental issues are in a queue as only X-ray-based techniques are available in most hospitals around the world.Terahertz(THz)parametric imaging(TPI)is the latest technol...Recently,the diagnoses of dental caries and other dental issues are in a queue as only X-ray-based techniques are available in most hospitals around the world.Terahertz(THz)parametric imaging(TPI)is the latest technology that can be applied for medical applications,especially dental caries.This technology is harmless and thus suitable for biological samples owing to the low energy of THz emission.In this paper,a developed TPI system is used to investigate the two-dimensional(2 D)and three-dimensional(3D)images of different samples from human teeth.After analyzing the measured images of human teeth,the results suggest that the THz parametric technology is capable of investigating the inner side structure of the teeth.This technique can be useful in detecting the defects in all types of human and animal teeth.The measurement and analytical calculations have been performed by using the TPI system and MATLAB,respectively,and both are in good agreement.The characteristics of THz waves and their interactions with the tooth samples are summarized.And the available THz-based technologies,such as TPI,and their potential applications of diagnoses are also presented.展开更多
In the next generation of computing environment e-health care services depend on cloud services.The Cloud computing environment provides a real-time computing environment for e-health care applications.But these servi...In the next generation of computing environment e-health care services depend on cloud services.The Cloud computing environment provides a real-time computing environment for e-health care applications.But these services generate a huge number of computational tasks,real-time computing and comes with a deadline,so conventional cloud optimizationmodels cannot fulfil the task in the least time and within the deadline.To overcome this issue many resource optimization meta-heuristic models are been proposed but these models cannot find a global best solution to complete the task in the least time and manage utilization with the least simulation time.In order to overcome existing issues,an artificial neural-inspired whale optimization is proposed to provide a reliable solution for healthcare applications.In this work,two models are proposed one for reliability estimation and the other is based on whale optimization technique and neural network-based binary classifier.The predictive model enhances the quality of service using performance metrics,makespan,least average task completion time,resource usages cost and utilization of the system.Fromresults as compared to existing algorithms the proposedANN-WHOalgorithms prove to improve the average start time by 29.3%,average finish time by 29.5%and utilization by 11%.展开更多
The quantitative optical measurement of deep sub-wavelength features with sub-nanometer sensitivity addresses the measurement challenge in the semiconductor fabrication process.Optical scatterings from the sidewalls o...The quantitative optical measurement of deep sub-wavelength features with sub-nanometer sensitivity addresses the measurement challenge in the semiconductor fabrication process.Optical scatterings from the sidewalls of patterned devices reveal abundant structural and material information.We demonstrated a parametric indirect microscopic imaging(PIMI)technique that enables recovery of the profile of wavelength-scale objects with deep sub-wavelength resolution,based on measuring and filtering the variations of far-field scattering intensities when the illumination was modulated.The finite-difference time-domain(FDTD)numerical simulation was performed,and the experimental results were compared with atomic force microscopic(AFM)images to verify the resolution improvement achieved with PIMI.This work may provide a new approach to exploring the detailed structure and material properties of sidewalls and edges in semiconductor-patterned devices with enhanced contrast and resolution,compared with using the conventional optical microscopy,while retaining its advantage of a wide field of view and relatively low cost.展开更多
BACKGROUND We performed a meta-analysis on observational studies since randomized control trials are not available.We studied intracoronary brachytherapy(ICBT)and recurrent drug eluting stent in-stent restenosis(DES-I...BACKGROUND We performed a meta-analysis on observational studies since randomized control trials are not available.We studied intracoronary brachytherapy(ICBT)and recurrent drug eluting stent in-stent restenosis(DES-ISR)to evaluate the procedural success,target lesion revascularization(TLR),incidence of myocardial infarction(MI)and all-cause mortality at 2 years follow-up.AIM To perform meta-analysis for patients undergoing ICBT for recurrent DES-ISR.METHODS We performed a systematic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE,Cochrane and DARE databases to identify relevant articles.Studies were excluded if intracoronary brachytherapy was used as a treatment modality for initial ISR and studies with bare metal stents.We used a random-effect model with DerSimonian&Laird method to calculate summary estimates.Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics.RESULTS A total of 6 observational studies were included in the final analysis.Procedural angiographic success following intra-coronary brachytherapy was 99.8%.Incidence of MI at 1-year was 2%and 4.1%at 2-years,respectively.The incidence of TLR 14.1%at 1-year and 22.7%at 2-years,respectively.All-cause mortality at 1-and 2-year follow-up was 3%and 7.5%,respectively.CONCLUSION Given the observational nature of the studies included in the analysis,heterogeneity was significantly higher for outcomes.While there are no randomized controlled trials or definitive guidelines available for recurrent ISR associated with DES,this analysis suggests that brachytherapy might be the alternative approach for recurrent DES-ISR.Randomized controlled trials are required to confirm results from this study.展开更多
In this study,we fabricate Si/SiGe core-shell Junctionless accumulation mode(JAM)FinFET devices through a rapid and novel process with four main steps,i.e.e-beam lithography definition,sputter deposition,alloy combina...In this study,we fabricate Si/SiGe core-shell Junctionless accumulation mode(JAM)FinFET devices through a rapid and novel process with four main steps,i.e.e-beam lithography definition,sputter deposition,alloy combination annealing,and chemical solution etching.The height of Si core is 30 nm and the thickness of Si/SiGe core-shell is about 2 nm.After finishing the fabrication of devices,we widely studied the electrical characteristics of poly Si/SiGe core-shell JAM FinFET transistors from a view of different Lg and Wch.A poly-Si/SiGe core-shell JAMFETs was successfully demonstrated and it also exhibits a superior subthreshold swing of 81mV/dec and high on/off ratio>10^5 when annealing for 1hr at 600℃.The thermal diffusion process condition for this study are 1hr at 600℃ and 6hr at 700℃ for comparison.The annealing condition at 700oC for 6 hours shows undesired electrical characteristics against the other.Results suggests that from over thermal budget causes a plenty of Ge to precipitate against to form SiGe thin film.Annealing JAMFETs at low temperature shows outstanding Subthreshold swing and better swing condition when compared to its counterpart i.e.at higher temperature.This new process can still fabricate a comparable performance to classical planar FinFET in driving current.展开更多
Background and Aims:Evaluation of significant liver fibro-sis is important for treatment decision and treatment re-sponse evaluation in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Since liver biopsy is invasive and transient e...Background and Aims:Evaluation of significant liver fibro-sis is important for treatment decision and treatment re-sponse evaluation in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Since liver biopsy is invasive and transient elastography (TE) has limited availability, various non-invasive blood parameters need evaluation for their capabilities for detection of signifi-cant fibrosis. Methods:In this retrospective study, records of patients who had undergone liver biopsy for treatment-na?ve chronic hepatitis B were evaluated to obtain various non-in-vasive blood parameters (aspartate aminotransferase-to-pla-telet ratio index [referred to as APRI], Fibrosis-4 score [referred to as FIB-4], gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-platelet ratio [referred to as GPR], and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-albumin ratio [referred to as GAR]), in ad-dition to TE, to assess significant liver fibrosis and compare these to fibrosis stage in liver biopsy. Results:A total of 113 patients were included in the study (median age 33 [inter-quartile range: 11-82 years], 74% males). Most (75%) pa-tients were HBeAg-negative. The liver biopsy revealed significant fibrosis (Ishak ≥3) in 13% of the patients and nil or mild fibrosis (Ishak<3) in 87%of the patients. TE findings were available for 85 patients, APRI and FIB-4 for 95 patients, GPR for 79 patients, and GAR for 78 patients. The median values of all the parameters were significantly higher in pa-tients with significant fibrosis, as compared to patients with non-significant fibrosis, and all the blood parameters as well as TE were able to identify patients with significant fibrosis significantly well (p<0.05). All non-invasive parameters had low positive predictive value but negative predictive value above 92%. Compared to TE, all the non-invasive blood pa-rameters had similar area under the curve for detecting sig-nificant fibrosis, with excellent negative predictive value (≥93%). Conclusions: Non-invasive blood parameters (APRI, FIB-4, GPR, and GAR) with negative predictive values above 93%are excellent parameters for ruling-out significant ;fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. These can be used at bedside in place of TE.展开更多
Background:Interleukin-28B (IL-28B) polymorphism is an important predictor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment response.Whether IL-28b genotypes also influence other nontreatment related clinical parameters is uncle...Background:Interleukin-28B (IL-28B) polymorphism is an important predictor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment response.Whether IL-28b genotypes also influence other nontreatment related clinical parameters is unclear.Methods:Patients with HCV-related chronic liver diseases who attended our department during 2012-2014 were retrospectively analyzed.The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of rs12979860 (IL-28B) were correlated with various clinical parameters.We also compared these parameters in patients with and without overt diabetes to identify possible associations.Results:A total of 115 patients were included (median age 48,range 15-76 years;70% males).Overall,43/115(37%) patients had chronic hepatitis,while the remaining 72/115 (63%) had cirrhosis.The most common IL-28B genotype was CC,which was found in 53% of patients (61/115),while the remaining 47% were nonCC [CT 42% (48/115) and T-r 5% (6/115)].Clinical and laboratory parameters like Hb,white blood cell (WBC),platelets,bilirubin,transaminases,and albumin were similar in the CC and nonCC genotypes.Overt diabetes mellitus was present in 22% (25/115) of patients.Patients with nonCC genotype had significantly higher prevalence of overt diabetes mellitus than patients with CC genotype (31% [17/54] versus 13% [8/61];p < 0.05).When parameters were compared in patients with and without overt diabetes mellitus,only IL-28B and age were significantly associated with overt diabetes mellitus (p < 0.05).Conclusion:In HCV patients,overt diabetes mellitus was more commonly associated with the nonCC genotype of IL-28B than the CC genotype.Carriers of the T-allele of SNP rs12979860 were more likely to have insulin resistance than CC homozygotes,and this finding may explain the higher prevalence of diabetes in non-CC genotypes.Thus,an IL-28B test may be useful in patients of HCV in order to determine their likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus.展开更多
Aim:The development of chemotherapy resistance is the major obstacle in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer(PCa).Extracellular vesicles(EVs)secretion plays a significant role among different mechanisms contribut...Aim:The development of chemotherapy resistance is the major obstacle in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer(PCa).Extracellular vesicles(EVs)secretion plays a significant role among different mechanisms contributing to chemoresistance.Hence,inhibition of EVs release may increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs against PCa.Methods:Paclitaxel(PTX)resistant PCa cells(PC3-R and DU145-R)were treated with GW4869,a known exosome biogenesis inhibitor.EVs were isolated from the conditioned media by ExoQuick-based precipitation method and characterized for concentration and size distribution by nanoparticle tracking analysis.The effect of GW4869 treatment on the survival and growth of PCa cells was assessed by MTT,and colony formation assays in vitro,and ectopic PC3-R xenografts in male athymic nude mice in vivo.The effect of other EV biogenesis inhibitors,imipramine and dimethyl amiloride(DMA),treatment was also analyzed on the survival of PC3-R cells.Results:GW4869(10-20μM)treatment of PTX resistant PCa cells significantly reduced the release of small EVs(50-100 nm size range)while increasing the release of larger EVs(>150 nm in size),and inhibited their clonogenicity.Moreover,GW4869(5-20μM)treatment(24-72h)significantly inhibited the survival of PC3-R cells in a dose-dependent manner.We observed a similar growth inhibition with both imipramine(5-20μg/mL)and DMA(5-20μg/mL)treatment in PC3-R cells.Furthermore,GW4869 treatment(IP)in mice bearing PC3-R xenografts significantly reduced the tumor weight(65%reduction,P=0.017)compared to the vehicle-treated control mice without causing any noticeable toxicity.Conclusion:Inhibiting the release of EVs could sensitize the resistant PCa cells to chemotherapy.展开更多
Biosensors are crucial for detecting various analytes relevant to bioanalytical applications.To enhance the specificity and sensitivity of biosensors,bimetallic nanoparticles(BNPs)have been utilized,which demonstrate ...Biosensors are crucial for detecting various analytes relevant to bioanalytical applications.To enhance the specificity and sensitivity of biosensors,bimetallic nanoparticles(BNPs)have been utilized,which demonstrate significant potential for sensing applications owing to their constituent materials’inherent properties,small size,unique architectural features,and biomimetic behavior.Among BNPs,Au-Ag BNPs are promising for sensing applications owing to their small size,high sensitivity,and distinctive characteristics.Herein,we first briefly present the development of Au-Ag BNPs and discuss the fundamentals.Subsequently,we present the relationship between the synthesis method and structure of Au-Ag BNPs.Furthermore,recent advancements in Au-Ag BNPs are highlighted for their role in enhancing biosensors,particularly for electrode modifiers,signal amplifiers,and recognition materials.Finally,we propose several existing challenges and summarize insights pertaining to the potential development of Au-Ag BNPs for biosensing applications.展开更多
文摘Compact antenna designs have become a critical component in the recent advancements of wireless communication technologies over the past few decades. This paper presents a self-multiplexing antenna based on diplexing and quadruplexing Substrate-Integrated Waveguide (SIW) cavities. The diplexing structure incorporates two V-shaped slots, while the quadruplexing structure advances this concept by combining the slots to form a cross-shaped configuration within the cavity. The widths and lengths of the slots are carefully tuned to achieve variations in the respective operating frequencies without affecting the others. The proposed diplexing antenna resonates at 8.48 and 9.2 GHz, with a frequency ratio of 1.08, while the quadruplexing antenna operates at 6.9, 7.1, 7.48, and 8.2GHz. Both designs exhibit isolation levels well below –20dB and achieve a simulated peak gain of 5.6 dBi at the highest frequency, with a compact cavity area of 0.56 λg^(2). The proposed antennas operate within the NR bands (n12, n18, n26), making them suitable for modern high-speed wireless communication systems. Moreover, the properties like multiband operation, compactness, high isolation, low loss, and low interference make the antenna favorable for the high-speed railway communication systems.
基金the financial support of the European Union under the REFRESH-Research Excellence for Region Sustainability and High-tech Industries project number CZ.10.03.01/00/22_003/0000048 via the Operational Programme Just Transition and has been done in connection with project Students Grant Competition SP2025/062"specific research on progressive and sustainable production technologies"and SP2025/063"specific research on innovative and progressive manufacturing technologies"financed by the Ministry of Education,Youth and Sports and Faculty of Mechanical Engineering VSB-TUOThe authors would like to extend their sincere appreciation to Researchers Supporting Project number(RSP2025R472)King Saud University,Riyadh,Saudi Arabia.
文摘In a world where supply chains are increasingly complex and unpredictable,finding the optimal way to move goods through transshipment networks is more important and challenging than ever.In addition to addressing the complexity of transportation costs and demand,this study presents a novel method that offers flexible routing alternatives to manage these complexities.When real-world variables such as fluctuating costs,variable capacity,and unpredictable demand are considered,traditional transshipment models often prove inadequate.To overcome these challenges,we propose an innovative fully fuzzy-based framework using LR flat fuzzy numbers.This framework allows for more adaptable and flexible decision-making in multi-objective transshipment situations by effectively capturing uncertain parameters.To overcome these challenges,we develop an innovative,fully fuzzy-based framework using LR flat fuzzy numbers to effectively capture uncertainty in key parameters,offering more flexible and adaptive decision-making in multi-objective transshipment problems.The proposed model also presents alternative route options,giving decisionmakers a range of choices to satisfy multiple requirements,including reducing costs,improving service quality,and expediting delivery.Through extensive numerical experiments,we demonstrate that the model can achieve greater adaptability,efficiency,and flexibility than standard approaches.This multi-path structure provides additional flexibility to adapt to dynamic network conditions.Using ranking strategies,we compared our multi-objective transshipment model with existing methods.The results indicate that,while traditional methods such as goal and fuzzy programming generate results close to the anti-ideal value,thus reducing their efficiency,our model produces solutions close to the ideal value,thereby facilitating better decision making.By combining dynamic routing alternatives with a fully fuzzybased approach,this study offers an effective tool to improve decision-making and optimize complex networks under real-world conditions in practical settings.In this paper,we utilize LINGO 18 software to solve the provided numerical example,demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method.
文摘Endothelial keratoplasty(EK)is defined as an umbrella term comprising methods for selective surgical replacement of corneal endothelium and adjacent corneal tissue,which retains healthy portions of a patient's cornea while replacing diseased innermost corneal layer(s)with healthy donor tissue,to achieve corneal dehydration and transparency before the onset of irreversible stromal edema and permanent loss of corneal clarity.Recently,the pathophysiology of corneal decompensation is increasingly being researched upon.Consequent improvement in pharmacotherapy is progressively leading to reduction in the indications of EK.In addition,EK techniques have progressed towards using thinner tissue,optimizing visual outcomes.Improvements have enabled better donor tissue formulation,usage,and attachment,and surgical modifications have enhanced the tissue utilization in difficult clinical scenarios lowering failure and rejection.However,challenges are encountered in various complex clinical scenarios in-cluding eyes with prior intraocular surgery,complex anterior chamber anatomy,glaucoma,ocular surface disease etc.These complexities demand tailored surgical strategies,including modifications in graft handling,instru-mentation,and postoperative management to ensure success.Attention to these details and addressing patient-specific factors can help improve outcomes in these difficult cases.The choice of procedure depends on multiple factors,including the surgeon's experience,patient's ocular anatomy,and the specific clinical scenario.This review article encompasses the recent developments in this field presenting a comprehensive picture of our modern understanding of the indications,contraindications,surgical techniques,clinical situations,community aspects and future directions pertaining to EK.
文摘AIMTo study the diagnostic accuracy of transient elastography (TE) for detecting clinically significant portal hypertension (CSPH) in Indian patients with cirrhotic portal hypertension.METHODSThis retrospective study was conducted at the Institute of Liver, Gastroenterology, and Pancreatico-Biliary Sciences, Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi, on consecutive patients with cirrhosis greater than 15 years of age who underwent hepatic venous pressure gradient (HVPG) and TE from July 2011 to May 2016. Correlation between HVPG and TE was analyzed using the Spearman’s correlation test. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were prepared for determining the utility of TE in predicting various stages of portal hypertension. The best cut-off value of TE for the diagnosis of CSPH was obtained using the Youden index.RESULTSThe study included 326 patients [median age 52 (range 16-90) years; 81% males]. The most common etiology of cirrhosis was cryptogenic (45%) followed by alcohol (34%). The median HVPG was 16.0 (range 1.5 to 30.5) mmHg. Eighty-five percent of patients had CSPH. A significant positive correlation was noted between TE and HVPG (rho 0.361, P < 0.001). The area under ROC curve for TE in predicting CSPH was 0.740 (95%CI: 0.662-0.818) (P < 0.01). A cut-off value of TE of 21.6 kPa best predicted CSPH with a positive predictive value (PPV) of 93%.CONCLUSIONTE has a fair positive correlation with HVPG; thus, TE can be used as a non-invasive modality to assess the degree of portal hypertension. A cut-off TE value of 21.6 kPa identifies CSPH with a PPV of 93%.
文摘To investigated clinical, endoscopic and histopathological parameters of the patients presenting with ileocecal ulcers on colonoscopy. METHODSConsecutive symptomatic patients undergoing colonoscopy, and diagnosed to have ulcerations in the ileocecal (I/C) region, were enrolled. Biopsy was obtained and their clinical presentation and outcome were recorded. RESULTSOut of 1632 colonoscopies, 104 patients had ulcerations in the I/C region and were included in the study. Their median age was 44.5 years and 59% were males. The predominant presentation was lower GI bleed (55, 53%), pain abdomen ± diarrhea (36, 35%), fever (32, 31%), and diarrhea alone (9, 9%). On colonoscopy, terminal ileum was entered in 96 (92%) cases. The distribution of ulcers was as follows: Ileum alone 40% (38/96), cecum alone 33% (32/96), and both ileum plus cecum 27% (26/96). The ulcers were multiple in 98% and in 34% there were additional ulcers elsewhere in colon. Based on clinical presentation and investigations, the etiology of ulcers was classified into infective causes (43%) and non-infective causes (57%). Fourteen patients (13%) were diagnosed to have Crohn’s disease (CD). CONCLUSIONNon-specific ileocecal ulcers are most common ulcers seen in ileo-cecal region. And if all infections are clubbed together then infection is the most common (> 40%) cause of ulcerations of the I/C region. Cecal involvement and fever are important clues to infective cause. On the contrary CD account for only 13% cases as a cause of ileo-cecalulcers. So all symptomatic patients with I/C ulcers on colonoscopy are not Crohn’s.
文摘Nano-sized reinforcements improved the mechanical characteristics efficiently by promoting more implicit particle hardening mechanisms compared to micron-sized reinforcements.Nano-sized particles lessen the critical particle solidification velocity for swamp and thus offers better dispersal.In the present investigation,the friction stir processing(FSP)is utilized to produce AZ31/Al_(2)O_(3)nanocomposites at various tool rotation speeds(i.e.,900,1200,and 1500 rpm)with an optimized 1.5%volume alumina(Al_(2)O_(3))reinforcement ratio.The mechanical and corrosion behavior of AZ31/Al_(2)O_(3)-developed nanocomposites was investigated and compared with that of the AZ31 base alloy.The AZ31 alloy experienced a comprehensive dynamic recrystallization during FSP,causing substantial grain refinement.Grain-size strengthening is the primary factor contributed to the enhancement in the strength of the fabricated nanocomposite.Tensile strength and yield strength values were lower than those for the base metal matrix,although an upward trend in both values has been observed with an increase in tool rotation speed.An 19.72%increase in hardness along with superior corrosion resistance was achieved compared to the base alloy at a tool rotational speed of 1500 rpm.The corrosion currents(Jcorr)of all samples dropped with increase in the rotational speed,in contrast to the corrosion potentials(Ecorr),which increased.The values of Jcorr of AZ31/Al_(2)O_(3)were 42.3%,56.8%,and 65.5%lower than those of AZ31 alloy at the chosen rotating speeds of 900,1200,and 1500 rpm,respectively.The corrosion behavior of friction stir processed nanocomposites have been addressed in this manuscript which has not been given sufficient attention in the existing literature.Further,this work offers an effective choice for the quality assurance of the FSP process of AZ31/Al_(2)O_(3)nanocomposites.The obtained results are relevant to the development of lightweight automobile and aerospace structures and components.
文摘With the advancement in internet technologies, the number of servers has increased remarkably to provide more services to the end users. These services are provided over the public channels, which are insecure and susceptible to interception, modification, and deletion. To provide security, registered entities are authenticated and then a session key is established between them to communicate securely. The conventional schemes anow a user to access services only after their independent registration with each desired server in a multiserver system. Therefore, a user must possess multiple smartcards and memorize various identities and passwords for obtaining services from multiple servers. This has led to the adoption of multiserver authentication in which a user accesses services of multiple servers after registering himself at only one central authority. Recently, Kumar and Om discussed a scheme for multiserver environment by using smartcard. Since the user-memorized passwords are of low entropy, it is possible for an attacker to guess them. This paper uses biometric information of user to enhance the security of the scheme by Kumar and Ore. Moreover, we conducted rigorous security analyses （informal and formal） in this study to prove the security of the proposed scheme against all known attacks. We also simulated our scheme by using the automated tool, ProVerif, to prove its secrecy and authentication properties. A comparative study of the proposed scheme with the existing related schemes shows its effectiveness.
文摘BACKGROUND Cytokines and inflammatory mediators are the hallmarks of sepsis.Extracorporeal cytokine hemoadsorption devices are the newer clinical support system to overcome the cytokine storm during sepsis.AIM To retrospectively evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients admitted in intensive care unit with septic shock with different etiologies.METHODS The laboratory parameters including biomarkers such as procalcitonin,serum lactate and C-reactive protein;and the hemodynamic parameters;mean arterial pressure,vasopressor doses,sepsis scores,cytokine levels and other vital parameters were evaluated.We evaluated these outcomes among survivors and non-survivors.RESULTS Of 100 patients evaluated,40 patients survived.Post treatment,the vasopressors dosage remarkably decreased though it was not statistically different;34.15%(P=0.0816)for epinephrine,20.5%for norepinephrine(P=0.3099)and 51%(P=0.0678)for vasopressin.In the survivor group,a remarkable reduction of biomarkers levels;procalcitonin(65%,P=0.5859),C-reactive protein(27%,P=0.659),serum lactate(27%,P=0.0159)and bilirubin(43.11%;P=0.0565)were observed from baseline after CytoSorb^® therapy.A significant reduction in inflammatory markers;interleukin 6 and interleukin 10;(87%and 92%,P<0.0001)and in tumour necrosis factor(24%,P=0.0003)was also seen.Overall,28(28%)patients who were given CytoSorb^® therapy less than 48 h after onset of septic shock survived and the maximum duration of stay for 70%of these patients in intensive care unit was less than 15 d.CONCLUSION CytoSorb^® is a safe and well tolerated rescue therapy option in patients with septic shock.However,early(preferably within<48 h after onset of septic shock)initiation could result in better clinical outcomes.Further randomized trials are needed to define the potential benefits of this new treatment modality.
基金the financial support received from the Department of Science and Technology,India through DST-INSPIRE Faculty scheme(DST/INSPIRE/04/2015/001572).
文摘Trap characterization on GaN Schottky barrier diodes(SBDs)has been carried out using deep-level transient spectroscopy(DLTS).Selective probing by varying the ratio of the rate window values(r)incites different trap signatures at similar temperature regimes.Electron traps are found to be within the values:0.05–1.2 eV from the conduction band edge whereas the hole traps 1.37–2.66 eV from the valence band edge on the SBDs.In the lower temperature regime,the deeper electron traps contribute to the capacitance transients with increasing r values,whereas at the higher temperatures>300 K,a slow variation of the trap levels(both electrons and holes)is observed when r is varied.These traps are found to be mainly contributed to dislocations,interfaces,and vacancies within the structure.
文摘For the successful operation of any industry or plant continuous availability of power supply is essential.Many of the large-scale plants established their power generation units.Marine power plant having two generators is also fall in this category.In this study,an effort is made to derive and optimize the availability of a marine power plant having two generators,one switch board and distribution switchboards.For this purpose,a mathematical model is proposed using Markov birth death process by considering exponentially distributed failure and repair rates of all the subsystems.The availability expression of marine power plant is derived.Metaheuristic algorithms namely dragonfly algorithm(DA),bat algorithm(BA)and whale optimization(WOA)are employed to optimize the availability of marine power plant.It is revealed that whale optimization algorithm outperforms over dragonfly algorithm(DA),and bat algorithm(BA)in optimum availability prediction and parameter estimation.The numerical values of the availability and estimated parameters are appended as numerical results.The derived results can be utilized in development of maintenance strategies of marine power plants and to carry out design modifications.
基金the Research Fund for International Young Scientist Fund under Grant No.61750110520the Special Project for Guiding Local Science and Technology Development under Grant No.2018ZYYD006the Hubei Polytechnic University Laboratory Fund under Grant No.19XJK24R。
文摘Recently,the diagnoses of dental caries and other dental issues are in a queue as only X-ray-based techniques are available in most hospitals around the world.Terahertz(THz)parametric imaging(TPI)is the latest technology that can be applied for medical applications,especially dental caries.This technology is harmless and thus suitable for biological samples owing to the low energy of THz emission.In this paper,a developed TPI system is used to investigate the two-dimensional(2 D)and three-dimensional(3D)images of different samples from human teeth.After analyzing the measured images of human teeth,the results suggest that the THz parametric technology is capable of investigating the inner side structure of the teeth.This technique can be useful in detecting the defects in all types of human and animal teeth.The measurement and analytical calculations have been performed by using the TPI system and MATLAB,respectively,and both are in good agreement.The characteristics of THz waves and their interactions with the tooth samples are summarized.And the available THz-based technologies,such as TPI,and their potential applications of diagnoses are also presented.
文摘In the next generation of computing environment e-health care services depend on cloud services.The Cloud computing environment provides a real-time computing environment for e-health care applications.But these services generate a huge number of computational tasks,real-time computing and comes with a deadline,so conventional cloud optimizationmodels cannot fulfil the task in the least time and within the deadline.To overcome this issue many resource optimization meta-heuristic models are been proposed but these models cannot find a global best solution to complete the task in the least time and manage utilization with the least simulation time.In order to overcome existing issues,an artificial neural-inspired whale optimization is proposed to provide a reliable solution for healthcare applications.In this work,two models are proposed one for reliability estimation and the other is based on whale optimization technique and neural network-based binary classifier.The predictive model enhances the quality of service using performance metrics,makespan,least average task completion time,resource usages cost and utilization of the system.Fromresults as compared to existing algorithms the proposedANN-WHOalgorithms prove to improve the average start time by 29.3%,average finish time by 29.5%and utilization by 11%.
基金the National Major Scientific Instruments and Equipment Development Project under Grant No.61827814the National Natural Science Foundation of China(NSFC)under Grant No.61501239+5 种基金the NSFC International Young Scientist Research Fund under Grant No.61750110520the Hubei Polytechnic University Laboratory Fund under Grant No.19XJK24Rthe Jiangsu Postdoc Research Fund under Grant No.1601001Bthe Beijing Natural Science Foundation under Grant No.Z190018the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities under Grant No.30920010011the UK Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council under Grant No.EP/R042578/1。
文摘The quantitative optical measurement of deep sub-wavelength features with sub-nanometer sensitivity addresses the measurement challenge in the semiconductor fabrication process.Optical scatterings from the sidewalls of patterned devices reveal abundant structural and material information.We demonstrated a parametric indirect microscopic imaging(PIMI)technique that enables recovery of the profile of wavelength-scale objects with deep sub-wavelength resolution,based on measuring and filtering the variations of far-field scattering intensities when the illumination was modulated.The finite-difference time-domain(FDTD)numerical simulation was performed,and the experimental results were compared with atomic force microscopic(AFM)images to verify the resolution improvement achieved with PIMI.This work may provide a new approach to exploring the detailed structure and material properties of sidewalls and edges in semiconductor-patterned devices with enhanced contrast and resolution,compared with using the conventional optical microscopy,while retaining its advantage of a wide field of view and relatively low cost.
文摘BACKGROUND We performed a meta-analysis on observational studies since randomized control trials are not available.We studied intracoronary brachytherapy(ICBT)and recurrent drug eluting stent in-stent restenosis(DES-ISR)to evaluate the procedural success,target lesion revascularization(TLR),incidence of myocardial infarction(MI)and all-cause mortality at 2 years follow-up.AIM To perform meta-analysis for patients undergoing ICBT for recurrent DES-ISR.METHODS We performed a systematic search of the PubMed/MEDLINE,Cochrane and DARE databases to identify relevant articles.Studies were excluded if intracoronary brachytherapy was used as a treatment modality for initial ISR and studies with bare metal stents.We used a random-effect model with DerSimonian&Laird method to calculate summary estimates.Heterogeneity was assessed using I2 statistics.RESULTS A total of 6 observational studies were included in the final analysis.Procedural angiographic success following intra-coronary brachytherapy was 99.8%.Incidence of MI at 1-year was 2%and 4.1%at 2-years,respectively.The incidence of TLR 14.1%at 1-year and 22.7%at 2-years,respectively.All-cause mortality at 1-and 2-year follow-up was 3%and 7.5%,respectively.CONCLUSION Given the observational nature of the studies included in the analysis,heterogeneity was significantly higher for outcomes.While there are no randomized controlled trials or definitive guidelines available for recurrent ISR associated with DES,this analysis suggests that brachytherapy might be the alternative approach for recurrent DES-ISR.Randomized controlled trials are required to confirm results from this study.
文摘In this study,we fabricate Si/SiGe core-shell Junctionless accumulation mode(JAM)FinFET devices through a rapid and novel process with four main steps,i.e.e-beam lithography definition,sputter deposition,alloy combination annealing,and chemical solution etching.The height of Si core is 30 nm and the thickness of Si/SiGe core-shell is about 2 nm.After finishing the fabrication of devices,we widely studied the electrical characteristics of poly Si/SiGe core-shell JAM FinFET transistors from a view of different Lg and Wch.A poly-Si/SiGe core-shell JAMFETs was successfully demonstrated and it also exhibits a superior subthreshold swing of 81mV/dec and high on/off ratio>10^5 when annealing for 1hr at 600℃.The thermal diffusion process condition for this study are 1hr at 600℃ and 6hr at 700℃ for comparison.The annealing condition at 700oC for 6 hours shows undesired electrical characteristics against the other.Results suggests that from over thermal budget causes a plenty of Ge to precipitate against to form SiGe thin film.Annealing JAMFETs at low temperature shows outstanding Subthreshold swing and better swing condition when compared to its counterpart i.e.at higher temperature.This new process can still fabricate a comparable performance to classical planar FinFET in driving current.
文摘Background and Aims:Evaluation of significant liver fibro-sis is important for treatment decision and treatment re-sponse evaluation in patients with chronic hepatitis B. Since liver biopsy is invasive and transient elastography (TE) has limited availability, various non-invasive blood parameters need evaluation for their capabilities for detection of signifi-cant fibrosis. Methods:In this retrospective study, records of patients who had undergone liver biopsy for treatment-na?ve chronic hepatitis B were evaluated to obtain various non-in-vasive blood parameters (aspartate aminotransferase-to-pla-telet ratio index [referred to as APRI], Fibrosis-4 score [referred to as FIB-4], gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-platelet ratio [referred to as GPR], and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase-to-albumin ratio [referred to as GAR]), in ad-dition to TE, to assess significant liver fibrosis and compare these to fibrosis stage in liver biopsy. Results:A total of 113 patients were included in the study (median age 33 [inter-quartile range: 11-82 years], 74% males). Most (75%) pa-tients were HBeAg-negative. The liver biopsy revealed significant fibrosis (Ishak ≥3) in 13% of the patients and nil or mild fibrosis (Ishak<3) in 87%of the patients. TE findings were available for 85 patients, APRI and FIB-4 for 95 patients, GPR for 79 patients, and GAR for 78 patients. The median values of all the parameters were significantly higher in pa-tients with significant fibrosis, as compared to patients with non-significant fibrosis, and all the blood parameters as well as TE were able to identify patients with significant fibrosis significantly well (p<0.05). All non-invasive parameters had low positive predictive value but negative predictive value above 92%. Compared to TE, all the non-invasive blood pa-rameters had similar area under the curve for detecting sig-nificant fibrosis, with excellent negative predictive value (≥93%). Conclusions: Non-invasive blood parameters (APRI, FIB-4, GPR, and GAR) with negative predictive values above 93%are excellent parameters for ruling-out significant ;fibrosis in patients with chronic hepatitis B. These can be used at bedside in place of TE.
文摘Background:Interleukin-28B (IL-28B) polymorphism is an important predictor for hepatitis C virus (HCV) treatment response.Whether IL-28b genotypes also influence other nontreatment related clinical parameters is unclear.Methods:Patients with HCV-related chronic liver diseases who attended our department during 2012-2014 were retrospectively analyzed.The single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of rs12979860 (IL-28B) were correlated with various clinical parameters.We also compared these parameters in patients with and without overt diabetes to identify possible associations.Results:A total of 115 patients were included (median age 48,range 15-76 years;70% males).Overall,43/115(37%) patients had chronic hepatitis,while the remaining 72/115 (63%) had cirrhosis.The most common IL-28B genotype was CC,which was found in 53% of patients (61/115),while the remaining 47% were nonCC [CT 42% (48/115) and T-r 5% (6/115)].Clinical and laboratory parameters like Hb,white blood cell (WBC),platelets,bilirubin,transaminases,and albumin were similar in the CC and nonCC genotypes.Overt diabetes mellitus was present in 22% (25/115) of patients.Patients with nonCC genotype had significantly higher prevalence of overt diabetes mellitus than patients with CC genotype (31% [17/54] versus 13% [8/61];p < 0.05).When parameters were compared in patients with and without overt diabetes mellitus,only IL-28B and age were significantly associated with overt diabetes mellitus (p < 0.05).Conclusion:In HCV patients,overt diabetes mellitus was more commonly associated with the nonCC genotype of IL-28B than the CC genotype.Carriers of the T-allele of SNP rs12979860 were more likely to have insulin resistance than CC homozygotes,and this finding may explain the higher prevalence of diabetes in non-CC genotypes.Thus,an IL-28B test may be useful in patients of HCV in order to determine their likelihood of developing diabetes mellitus.
基金partly supported by DOD award#W81XWH-19-1-0427(to GD).
文摘Aim:The development of chemotherapy resistance is the major obstacle in the treatment of advanced prostate cancer(PCa).Extracellular vesicles(EVs)secretion plays a significant role among different mechanisms contributing to chemoresistance.Hence,inhibition of EVs release may increase the efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs against PCa.Methods:Paclitaxel(PTX)resistant PCa cells(PC3-R and DU145-R)were treated with GW4869,a known exosome biogenesis inhibitor.EVs were isolated from the conditioned media by ExoQuick-based precipitation method and characterized for concentration and size distribution by nanoparticle tracking analysis.The effect of GW4869 treatment on the survival and growth of PCa cells was assessed by MTT,and colony formation assays in vitro,and ectopic PC3-R xenografts in male athymic nude mice in vivo.The effect of other EV biogenesis inhibitors,imipramine and dimethyl amiloride(DMA),treatment was also analyzed on the survival of PC3-R cells.Results:GW4869(10-20μM)treatment of PTX resistant PCa cells significantly reduced the release of small EVs(50-100 nm size range)while increasing the release of larger EVs(>150 nm in size),and inhibited their clonogenicity.Moreover,GW4869(5-20μM)treatment(24-72h)significantly inhibited the survival of PC3-R cells in a dose-dependent manner.We observed a similar growth inhibition with both imipramine(5-20μg/mL)and DMA(5-20μg/mL)treatment in PC3-R cells.Furthermore,GW4869 treatment(IP)in mice bearing PC3-R xenografts significantly reduced the tumor weight(65%reduction,P=0.017)compared to the vehicle-treated control mice without causing any noticeable toxicity.Conclusion:Inhibiting the release of EVs could sensitize the resistant PCa cells to chemotherapy.
基金supported by the Hubei Province Technology Innovation Program Project (2024BCB073)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (grant no. 32071318, T2350610283)+2 种基金the Shenzhen Science and Technology Innovation Committee (grant no. JCYJ20190807163007525)the Youth Innovation Promotion Association of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (grant no. 2022363)the support from the King Mongkut’s University of Technology Thonburi, Bangkok, Thailand
文摘Biosensors are crucial for detecting various analytes relevant to bioanalytical applications.To enhance the specificity and sensitivity of biosensors,bimetallic nanoparticles(BNPs)have been utilized,which demonstrate significant potential for sensing applications owing to their constituent materials’inherent properties,small size,unique architectural features,and biomimetic behavior.Among BNPs,Au-Ag BNPs are promising for sensing applications owing to their small size,high sensitivity,and distinctive characteristics.Herein,we first briefly present the development of Au-Ag BNPs and discuss the fundamentals.Subsequently,we present the relationship between the synthesis method and structure of Au-Ag BNPs.Furthermore,recent advancements in Au-Ag BNPs are highlighted for their role in enhancing biosensors,particularly for electrode modifiers,signal amplifiers,and recognition materials.Finally,we propose several existing challenges and summarize insights pertaining to the potential development of Au-Ag BNPs for biosensing applications.
