19672 research outputs found
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Adaptive Redundancy-Based Transmission for Wireless Sensor Networks
No full textWireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) are built upon tens to thousands of sensor nodes dispersed across a geographical area. Most sensor nodes have limited on-board resources, such as limited computing capabilities and limited power. These issues can reduce the reliability of the sensor nodes, which, in turn, affects the robustness of the WSN as a whole. One of the components that can be affected is the data transmission system of the sensor nodes. We propose a reliable transport layer protocol that uses a combination of redundant packets and probabilistic transmission to ensure reliable transmission of data while maintaining the efficiency of the network. The proposed protocol does not require acknowledgement packets, such as the transmission control protocol (TCP) and yet its efficiency is similar to that of the user datagram protocol (UDP). In this paper, we explain the proposed protocol and demonstrate how it can achieve 7% improvements in reliability while maintaining 77% efficiency compared to UDP. © IJTech 2019
Shared decision making: A dual‐layer model to tackling multimorbidity in primary care
No full textIt is common for primary care providers (PCPs) to manage complex multimorbidity. When caring for patients with multimorbidity, PCPs face challenges to tackle several issues within a short consultation in order to address patients' complex needs. Furthermore, some PCPs may lack access to a multidisciplinary team and need to manage multimorbidity within the confine of a PCP-patient partnership only. Instead of attempting to address multiple health issues within a single consultation, it would be more feasible and time effective for PCPs and patients to jointly prioritize the health issue to focus on. Using the Malaysian primary care setting as a case study, a dual-layer-shared decision-making approach is proposed whereby PCPs and patients make decisions on which disease(s) (layer 1) and treatment(s) (layer 2) to prioritize. This dual-layer model aims to address the challenges of short consultation time and limited healthcare resources by encouraging PCPs and patients to discuss, negotiate, and agree on the decision during the consultation to ensure patients' health needs are addressed. © 2019 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Effects of nasal lavage with and without mupirocin after endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery: a randomised, controlled study
No full textBackground Nasal lavage with mupirocin has the potential to reduce sinonasal morbidity in endoscopic endonasal approaches for skull base surgery.Objective To evaluate the effects of nasal lavage with and without mupirocin after endoscopic endonasal skull base surgery.Methods A pilot randomised, controlled trial was conducted on 20 adult patients who had undergone endoscopic endonasal approaches for skull base lesions. These patients were randomly assigned to cohorts using nasal lavages with mupirocin or without mupirocin. Patients were assessed in the out-patient clinic, one week and one month after surgery, using the 22-item Sino-Nasal Outcome Test questionnaire and nasal endoscopy.Results Patients in the mupirocin nasal lavage group had lower nasal endoscopy scores post-operatively, and a statistically significant larger difference in nasal endoscopy scores at one month compared to one week. The mupirocin nasal lavage group also showed better Sino-Nasal Outcome Test scores at one month compared to the group without mupirocin.Conclusion Nasal lavage with mupirocin seems to yield better outcomes regarding patients' symptoms and endoscopic findings. © Copyright JLO (1984) Limited, 2019
Dental derived stem cell conditioned media for hair growth stimulation
Get PDFAlopecia is a clinical condition caused by excessive hair loss which may result in baldness, the causes of which still remain elusive. Conditioned media (CM) from stem cells shows promise in regenerative medicine. Our aim was to evaluate the potential CM of dental pulp stem cells obtained from human deciduous teeth (SHED-CM) to stimulate hair growth under in vitro and in vivo conditions. SHED and hair follicle stem cells (HFSCs) (n = 3) were cultured in media combinations; i) STK2, ii) DMEM-KO+10% FBS, iii) STK2+2% FBS and profiled for the presence of positive hair growth-regulatory paracrine factors; SDF-1, HGF, VEGF-A, PDGF-BB and negative hair growth-regulatory paracrine factors; IL-1α, IL-1β, TGF-β, bFGF, TNF-α, and BDNF. The potential of CM from both cell sources to stimulate hair growth was evaluated based on the paracrine profile and measured dynamics of hair growth under in vitro conditions. The administration of CM media to telogen-staged synchronized 7-week old C3H/HeN female mice was carried out to study the potential of the CM to stimulate hair growth in vivo. SHED and HFSCs cultured in STK2 based media showed a shorter population doubling time, higher viability and better maintenance of MSC characteristics in comparison to cells cultured in DMEM-KO media. STK2 based CM contained only two negative hair growth-regulatory factors; TNF-α, IL-1 while DMEM-KO CM contained all negative hair growth-regulatory factors. The in vitro study confirmed that treatment with STK2 based media CM from passage 3 SHED and HFSCs resulted in a significantly higher number of anagen-staged hair follicles (p<0.05) and a significantly lower number of telogen-staged hair follicles (p<0.05). Administration of SHED-CM to C3H/HeN mice resulted in a significantly faster stimulation of hair growth in comparison to HFSC-CM (p<0.05), while the duration taken for complete hair coverage was similar for both CM sources. Thus, SHED-CM carries the potential to stimulate hair growth which can be used as a treatment tool for alopecia
The Association between Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) Past Infection with the Risk of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC)
Get PDFThe association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with oral cancer has been widely reported in the past. However, previous studies mainly focused on the current infection of EBV without acknowledging the possibility of past infection in patients which may lead to oral cancer development. The present study aims to investigate the correlation between past EBV infections with Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC). Both Inununoglobulin M (IgM) and hnmunoglobulin G (IgG) antibodies against EBV were screened to detect the presence of EBV in sera of OSCC patients using Enzyme-Linked hnmunosorbent Assay (ELISA). The use of IgM antibody against EBV confirms current infection in patients, whereas IgG antibody would predict past infection throughout patients' lifetime. Through the present study, we would be able to confirm whether patients with past EBV infection have a significant risk in developing oral cancer. ELISA tests were carried out to detect the presence of EBV IgG and IgM in 206 OSCC and control serum samples. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 12.0.1. Our results had shown that 96.6% (n = 199) of OSCC samples and 97.2% (n = 130) control were positive with EBV VCA IgG, however, none of the OSCC and control samples was positive for EBV VCA IgM. The presence of EBV VCA IgG in both OSCC and control suggest that past EBV infection does not play a significant role as a risk indicator for OSCC. Therefore, the association between EBV and OSCC was not well demonstrated in this study
The Sella Turcica Dimensions in 12-Year-Old Southern Chinese: A Cross-Sectional Study (Dimensi Sella Turcica pada Populasi Berusia 12 tahun di Selatan China: Suatu Kajian Keratan Rentas)
Get PDFThe objective of the study was to measure the dimensions of the sella turcica in southern Chinese population. This retrospective study measured dimensions of sella turcica from lateral cephalometric radiographs obtained from the University of Hong Kong research database with a total of 582 (277 females and 305 males) 12-year-old southern Chinese children, who were randomly selected from schools in Hong Kong. Measurements were made using Image) (V1 .45s) software for Windows with Frankfurt plane as the horizontal reference direction. Dimensions between genders were compared using Student's t-tests. The current study found the antero-posterior length and width were 9.13 mm (SD 2.05) and 9.76 mm (SD 1.54), respectively. The sella was highest posteriorly (7.97 mm; SD 1.75 mm) and shortest anteriorly (7.56 mm; SD 1.42). Sella height anterior, sella height median and sella area were greater (p<0.05) in females by 0.53 mm, 0.24 mm and 3.48 mm(2), respectively. In conclusion, this study provides the reference parameters for the dimensions of sella turcica for the Southern Chinese population
Oral health-related quality of life among 11-12year old indigenous children in Malaysia
Get PDFBackgroundPoor oral health among Malaysian indigenous Orang Asli (OA) children may impact on their daily performances.AimTo assess the oral health status, related behaviours, and oral health-related quality of life (OHRQoL) among OA children in Cameron Highlands (CH), Malaysia, and to identify the predictor(s) for poor OHRQoL.DesignThis was a cross-sectional study involving 249, 11-12year old OA children from 4 OA primary schools in CH. The children completed a self-administered questionnaire comprising information on socio-demographics, oral health-related behaviours, and the Malay Child Oral Impacts on Daily Performances (Malay Child-OIDP) index followed by an oral examination. Data were entered into the SPSS version 23.0 software. Non-parametric tests and multiple logistic regression were used for data analysis.ResultsThe response rate was 91.2% (n=227/249). The prevalence of caries was 61.6% (mean DMFT=1.36, mean dft=1.01) and for gingivitis was 96.0%. Despite the majority reported brushing their teeth >= 2x/day (83.7%) with fluoride toothpaste (80.2%), more than two-thirds chewed betel nut >= 1/day (67.4%). Majority of the children (97.8%) had a dental check-up once a year. Nearly three-fifths (58.6%) reported experiencing oral impacts on their daily performances in the past 3months (mean score=5.45, SD=8.5). Most of the impacts were of very little to moderate levels of impact intensity with 90.2% had up to 4 daily performances affected. Most of the impacts were on eating (35.2%), cleaning teeth (22.0%) and relaxing activities (15.9%). Caries in primary teeth is associated with oral impacts among the OA children.ConclusionsThe 11-12year old OA children in Cameron Highland had high prevalence of caries and gingivitis with the majority chewed betel nut regularly. Caries in primary teeth is associated with poor OHRQoL. Future programmes should target younger age group children to promote positive oral hygiene practices, reduce caries, and improve quality of life
Effects of palbociclib in oral squamous cell carcinoma and the role of PIK3CA in conferring resistance
Get PDFObjective: Lack of effective therapies remains a problem in the treatment of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), especially in patients with advanced tumors. OSCC development is driven by multiple aberrancies within the cell cycle pathway, including amplification of cyclin D1 and loss of p16. Hence, cell cycle inhibitors of the CDK4/6-cyclin D axis are appealing targets for OSCC treatment. Here, we determined the potency of palbociclib and identified genetic features that are associated with the response of palbociclib in OSCC. Methods: The effect of palbociclib was evaluated in a panel of well-characterized OSCC cell lines by cell proliferation assays and further confirmed by in vivo evaluation in xenograft models. PIK3CA-mutant isogenic cell lines were used to investigate the effect of PIK3CA mutation towards palbociclib response. Results: We demonstrated that 80% of OSCC cell lines are sensitive to palbociclib at sub-micromolar concentrations. Consistently, palbociclib was effective in controlling tumor growth in mice. We identified that palbociclib-resistant cells harbored mutations in PIK3CA. Using isogenic cell lines, we showed that PIK3CA mutant cells are less responsive to palbociclib as compared to wild-type cells with concurrent upregulation of CDK2 and cyclin El protein levels. We further demonstrated that the combination of a PI3K/mTOR inhibitor (PF-04691502) and palbociclib completely controlled tumor growth in mice. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the potency of palbociclib in OSCC models and provides a rationale for the inclusion of PIK3CA testing in the clinical evaluation of CDK4/6 inhibitors and suggests combination approaches for further clinical studies
Entrepreneurship, State–business Ties and Business Groups in Bangladesh
No full textThis study analyses how domestic companies in Bangladesh emerged as major conglomerates, despite little help from a weak state that could hardly nurture its enterprises. Using a business history approach, this study traces the development of Bangladesh’s leading business groups. The history indicates that the entrepreneurial capacity and the creation of close ties with the State were the core factors that helped these business groups survive and grow in an economy led by a state that could do little to promote and offer policies that help in fostering the growth of domestic companies in an emerging economy. © The Author(s) 2019
Ashik basti: My Saz1 wails for my beloved
No full textThis article introduces the main features of the art of Azerbaijani ashik (aşıq) and also presents the life and a selection of the poetry of Ashik Basti (1836-1936), an outstanding female ashik of Azerbaijan during the nineteenth century. The art of ashik is a genre of Turkic folklore common to Central Asia and especially in Azerbaijan. It takes the form of the oral performance of mostly love narratives and sometimes epic stories accompanied mainly by the saz, a slender-necked lute, alongside other musical instruments. The Azerbaijani ashik, who combines the skills of a singer, dancer, storyteller, poet, word-master and actor, has been the key carrier of the ancient musical traditions of Azerbaijan throughout history. Ashik Basti’s “Basti and Khanchoban”, an epic literary-musical composition known as the dastan, is presented for the first time here in English translation. The phonic beauty of Ashik Basti’s poems is sadly lost in translation but the close literal renditions reveal the resounding cry of the pain of tragic love. © 2019, University of Malaya. All rights reserved