Naresuan University Journal
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Modal tableau systems with blocking and congruence closure
No full textOur interest in this paper are semantic tableau approaches closely related to bottom-up model generation methods. Using equality-based blocking techniques these can be used to decide logics representable in first-order logic that have the finite model property. Many common modal and description logics have these properties and can therefore be decided in this way. This paper integrates congruence closure, which is probably the most powerful and efficient way to realise reasoning with ground equations, into a modal tableau system with equality-based blocking. The system is described for an extension of modal logic K characterised by frames in which the accessibility relation is transitive and every world has a distinct immediate predecessor. We show the system is sound and complete, and discuss how various forms of blocking such as ancestor blocking can be realised in this setting. Though the investigation is focussed on a particular modal logic, the modal logic was chosen to show the most salient ideas and techniques for the results to be generalised to other tableau calculi and other logics
The Bari charter of privileges of 1132: articulating the culture of a new Norman monarchy
No full textRevisiting the 26.5°C Sea Surface Temperature Threshold for Tropical Cyclone Development
No full textA high sea surface temperature is generally accepted to be one of the necessary ingredients for tropical cyclone development, indicative of the potential for surface heat and moisture fluxes capable of fueling a self-sustaining circulation. Although the minimum 26.5°C threshold for tropical cyclogenesis has become a mainstay in research and education, the fact that a non-negligible fraction of storm formation events (about 5%) occur over cooler waters casts some doubt on the robustness of this estimate. Tropical cyclogenesis over sub-threshold sea surface temperatures is associated with low tropopause heights, indicative of the presence of a cold trough aloft. To focus on this type of development environment, the applicability of the 26.5°C threshold is investigated for tropical transitions from baroclinic precursor disturbances in all basins between 1989 and 2013. Although the threshold performs well in the majority of cases without appreciable environmental baroclinicity, the potential for development is underestimated by up to 27% for systems undergoing tropical transition. An alternative criterion of a maximum 22.5°C difference between the tropopause-level and 850-hPa equivalent potential temperatures (defined as the coupling index) is proposed for this class of development. When combined with the standard 26.5°C sea surface temperature threshold for precursor-free environments, error rates are reduced to 3-6% for all development types. The addition of this physically relevant representation of the deep-tropospheric state to the ingredients- based conceptual model for tropical cyclogenesis improves the representation of the important tropical transition-based subset of development events
Are Pressure Time Integral and Cumulative Plantar Stress Related to 1(st) Metatarsophalangeal Joint Pain: The Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study.
No full textOBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between plantar stress over a step, cumulative plantar stress over a day and 1(st) metatarsophalangeal (MTP) joint pain among older adults. METHODS: Plantar stress and 1(st) MTP pain were assessed within the Multicenter Osteoarthritis Study (MOST). All included participants were asked if they had pain, aching or stiffness at the 1(st) MTP joint on most days for the past 30 days. Pressure time integral (PTI) was quantified as participants walked on a pedobarograph, and mean steps per day were obtained using an accelerometer. Cumulative plantar stress was calculated as the product of regional PTI and mean steps per day. Quintiles of hallucal and 2(nd) metatarsal PTI and cumulative plantar stress were generated. The relationship between predictors and the odds ratio of 1(st) MTP pain was assessed using a logistic regression model. RESULTS: Feet in the quintile with the lowest hallux PTI had 2.14 times increased odds of 1(st) MTP pain (95% confidence interval [95% CI]:1.42-3.25,
Daily Disposable Contact Lenses versus Spectacles in Teenagers
No full textPurpose. Tocompareclinicalandsubjectivequality-of-life(QoL)dataforteenagerswearingdailydisposablecontactlenses or spectacles. Methods. This open-label study randomized subjects (aged 13 to 19 years) with no previous contact lens wear experience to nelfilcon A (DAILIES AquaComfort Plus) contact lenses or spectacles for 6 months. A full clinical workup, as well as subjective QoL measures using the Pediatric Refractive Error Profile and Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction questionnaires, was conducted at baseline and at week 4 and months 3 and 6, with an additional study visit at week 2 for subjects randomized to wear contact lenses. Results. Atotalof110teenagerswereenrolledinthestudy;13discontinuedbeforestudycompletion,10(17.5%)fromthe contact lens group and 3 (5.7%) from the spectacle group (p = 0.04). Visual acuity was good for both groups at all study visits. Biomicroscopy assessments were similar at baseline for both groups. Significant differences in Pediatric Refractive Error Profile responses were noted between vision correction groups across visits for appearance (p G 0.001), satisfaction (p G 0.001), activities (p G 0.001), peer perception (p = 0.003), and overall score (p G 0.001). For Quality of Life Impact of Refractive Correction, the contact lens group gave more favorable responses than the spectacle group (p = 0.02). After 6 months of wearing contact lenses, teenagers had a more positive attitude toward comfort, vision, and safety with contact lenses. No serious adverse events were reported during the study. Conclusions. The daily disposable lenses used in this study are suitable for vision correction for teenagers, offering im- provements in QoL measures during the first month of wear, including appearance, satisfaction, activities, and peer per- ceptions, without negatively impacting vision or eye health. Teenagers were able to handle contact lenses with the same amount of confidence as spectacles
Anti-estrogen Resistance in Human Breast Tumors Is Driven by JAG1-NOTCH4-Dependent Cancer Stem Cell Activity.
No full textBreast cancers (BCs) typically express estrogen receptors (ERs) but frequently exhibit de novo or acquired resistance to hormonal therapies. Here, we show that short-term treatment with the anti-estrogens tamoxifen or fulvestrant decrease cell proliferation but increase BC stem cell (BCSC) activity through JAG1-NOTCH4 receptor activation both in patient-derived samples and xenograft (PDX) tumors. In support of this mechanism, we demonstrate that high ALDH1 predicts resistance in women treated with tamoxifen and that a NOTCH4/HES/HEY gene signature predicts for a poor response/prognosis in 2 ER+ patient cohorts. Targeting of NOTCH4 reverses the increase in Notch and BCSC activity induced by anti-estrogens. Importantly, in PDX tumors with acquired tamoxifen resistance, NOTCH4 inhibition reduced BCSC activity. Thus, we establish that BCSC and NOTCH4 activities predict both de novo and acquired tamoxifen resistance and that combining endocrine therapy with targeting JAG1-NOTCH4 overcomes resistance in human breast cancers
Monitoring seasonal and diurnal changes in photosynthetic pigments with automated PRI and NDVI sensors
No full textThe vegetation indices normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) and photochemical reflectance index (PRI) provide indicators of pigmentation and photosynthetic activity that can be used to model photosynthesis from remote sensing with the light-use-efficiency model. To help develop and validate this approach, reliable proximal NDVI and PRI sensors have been needed. We tested new NDVI and PRI sensors, “spectral reflectance sensors (SRS CE1)” recently developed by Decagon Devices, during spring activation of photosynthetic activity in evergreen and deciduous stands. We also evaluated two methods of sensor cross-calibration – one that considered sky conditions (cloud cover) at midday only, and another that also considered diurnal sun angle effects. Cross-calibration clearly affected sensor agreement with independent measurements, with the best method dependent upon the study aim and time frame (seasonal vs. diurnal). The seasonal patterns of NDVI and PRI differed for evergreen and deciduous species, demonstrating the complementary nature of these two indices. Over the spring season, PRI was most strongly influenced by changing chlorophyll : carotenoid pool sizes, while over the diurnal timescale, PRI was most affected by the xanthophyll cycle epoxidation state. This finding demonstrates that the SRS PRI sensors can resolve different processes affecting PRI over different timescales. The advent of small, inexpensive, automated PRI and NDVI sensors offers new ways to explore environmental and physiological constraints on photosynthesis, and may be particularly well suited for use at flux tower sites. Wider application of automated sensors could lead to improved integration of flux and remote sensing approaches for studying photosynthetic carbon uptake, and could help define the concept of contrasting vegetation optical types