5,012 research outputs found
RDLS-SS-DWT v. 0.9
No full textThis fileset contains the implementation of RDLS-DWT and SS-DWT in JPEG 2000 (RDLS-SS-DWT v. 0.9), which was used in a research described in: R. Starosolski, “Application of reversible denoising and lifting steps to DWT in lossless JPEG 2000 for improved bitrates,” Signal Processing: Image Communication, Vol. 39, Part A, pp. 249-63, DOI: 10.1016/j.image.2015.09.013, 2015 and R. Starosolski, “Skipping selected steps of DWT computation in lossless JPEG 2000 for improved bitrates,” submitted. This software is intended for research purposes only; it is provided "as is"; author makes no warranty of any kind, either express or implied, with respect to this software. <br
Fluticasone propionate and increased risk of pneumonia in COPD: is it PAFR-dependent?
No full textSukhwinder Singh SohalDiscipline of Laboratory Medicine, School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Health, University of Tasmania, Launceston, AustraliaIt was with great interest that I read the recent comprehensive review by Christer Janson et al1 published in the International Journal of COPD, where authors discussed the possible mechanisms behind the increased risk of pneumonia in COPD patients using inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs), especially with fluticasone propionate (FP), where the risk was highest.1 It is an important area, and it is encouraging and reassuring that leading clinical journals are recognizing this. Understanding the fundamental mechanisms behind pneumococcal infections is critical.2 I would like to suggest that a broader discussion of new insights into the potential mechanisms contributing to the increased adherence of pneumococcus to airway wall and particularly in response to FP might has been appropriate with this opportunity.Authors’ replyChrister Janson,1 Georgios Stratelis,1,2 Anna Miller-Larsson,3 Tim W Harrison,4 Kjell Larsson51Respiratory, Allergy and Sleep Research Unit, Department of Medical Sciences, Uppsala University, Uppsala, 2Respiratory, Inflammation and Autoimmunity, AstraZeneca Nordic, Södertälje, 3Respiratory GMed, AstraZeneca Gothenburg, Mölndal, Sweden; 4Nottingham Respiratory Research Unit, City Hospital Campus, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK; 5Lung and Airway Research, National Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, SwedenWe thank Dr Sohal for his interest in our recently published manuscript discussing the scientific rationale for the possible inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) intraclass difference in the risk of pneumonia in COPD. His own work on platelet-activating factor receptor (PAFR) expression on airway epithelial cells in COPD patients shows a trend toward increased expression of PAFR by 6-month treatment with fluticasone propionate (FP), suggesting an increased rate of pneumococcal adhesion with FP, and hence the possible development of infection or pneumonia.1 This supports in part the work by Heijink et al2 that we cited in our paper.2View the original article by Janson et a
Essential need for rethink of COPD airway pathology: implications for new drug approaches for prevention of lung cancer as well as small airway fibrosis
No full textSukhwinder Singh Sohal, Eugene Haydn Walters School of Health Sciences, University of Tasmania, Launceston, TAS, Australia We read with interest the recent comprehensive review by Sowmya P Lakshmi et al on potential new therapies for COPD in the International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.1 The review says that only by understanding the core pathological processes, new therapeutics emerge, and it encourages that leading respiratory journals are recognizing this. However, we would suggest that, in this review, the overall view of the pathology of COPD airway disease does not reflect the current literature. In particular, the airway wall in at least mild to moderate COPD is hypo-cellular and hypo-vascular, with markedly active epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)2 as part of epithelial activation and reprogramming.3 This process is closely related to small airway fibrosis and airflow obstruction. Inhaled corticosteroids (ICSs) affect these key epithelial cellular activation and vascular aspects of COPD,2 and more research on alternatives to corticosteroid on these aspects is urgently needed. It is of interest that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor system that the reviewers mention has implication for EMT induction,1 as has the TGF/Activin family and the Wnt system; these pathways are replete with potential drug targets. View the original paper by Lakshimi and colleagues. 
SS Northland Echo
No full textPhotograph - A view of the steamboat, SS Northland Echo on the Athabasca River. Athabasca, Albert
SS Athabasca River - 02
No full textPhotograph - A view of the SS Athabasca River paddle steamer on the river, Athabasca, Albert
RIC-HSCT for MF/SS
No full textAdvanced-stage mycosis fungoides and Sezary syndrome (MF/SS) have a poor prognosis. Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT), particularly using a reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) regimen, is a promising treatment for advanced-stage MF/SS. We performed RIC-HSCT in nine patients with advanced MF/SS. With a median follow-up period of 954days after HSCT, the estimated 3-year overall survival was 85.7% (95% confidence interval, 33.4-97.9%) with no non-relapse mortality. Five patients relapsed after RIC-HSCT; however, in four patients whose relapse was detected only from the skin, persistent complete response was achieved in one patient, and the disease was manageable in other three patients by the tapering of immunosuppressants and donor lymphocyte infusion, suggesting that graft-versus-lymphoma effect and "down-staging" effect from advanced stage to early stage by HSCT improve the prognosis of advanced-stage MF/SS. These results suggest that RIC-HSCT is an effective treatment for advanced MF/SS
SS Northland Sun at Mirror Landing, AB
No full textPhotograph - The paddle-wheeler, SS Northland Sun, docked at shore in Mirror Landing, Albert
SS Northland Light at Sawridge, AB
No full textPhotograph - Paddle-wheeler, SS Northland Light, docked at the shore. Sawridge, A
That's 'é' not 'þ' '?' or '☐': a user-driven context-aware approach to erroneous metadata in digital libraries
No full textIn this paper we present a novel system for user-driven integration of name variants when interacting with web-based information systems. The growth and diversity of online information means that many users experience disambiguation and collocation errors in their information searching. We approach these issues via a client-side JavaScript browser extension that can reorganise web content and also integrate remote data sources. The system is illustrated through three worked examples using existing digital libraries
SS-Sonderkommando Bełżec. Portret zbiorowy
No full textSS-SONDERKOMMANDO BELZEC. A COLLECTIVE PORTRAIT The subject-matter of this paper’s analysis revolves around the members of SS and German police who, during the 1941–1943 period, belonged to SS-Sonderkommando Belzec or Dienstelle Belzec der Waffen SS — as the extermination camp in Belzec was officially known. It was the first center of “Action Reinhardt,” implemented in the General Government and in Białystok District, in which around four hundred fifty thousand Jews were murdered by the Nazis. In writing of this article its author used documents from German and Polish archives, scholarly and popular literature on the subject and memories. These sources served as a foundation on the basis of which the attempt to create a collective portrait of perpetrators was undertaken. The author of the article, as it is accepted in historiography, based his conclusions on thirty seven members of SS-Sonderkommando Belzec who were at least temporarily employed in the camp — during its building, its operation, the extermination or the erasing of traces. The article analyzes the age of the members of Belzec camp’s personnel, their nationality and birthplace, education, participation in National Socialist organizations, engagement in “T4” action and — in the widest possible terms — participation in the Holocaust. The article describes the process of selection to the SS crew, the principles governing the assignation of functions and duties in the camp, the exchange of members between different centers of “Action Reinhardt,” their future fate and the question of their postwar legal punishment. More attention is paid to two commandants, i.e. Christian Wirth and Gottlieb Hering. The article indicates the similarities and differences between them, their impact on the camp’s operation and their influence over other members of SS-Sonderkommando Belzec.SS-SONDERKOMMANDO BELZEC. A COLLECTIVE PORTRAIT The subject-matter of this paper’s analysis revolves around the members of SS and German police who, during the 1941–1943 period, belonged to SS-Sonderkommando Belzec or Dienstelle Belzec der Waffen SS — as the extermination camp in Belzec was officially known. It was the first center of “Action Reinhardt,” implemented in the General Government and in Białystok District, in which around four hundred fifty thousand Jews were murdered by the Nazis. In writing of this article its author used documents from German and Polish archives, scholarly and popular literature on the subject and memories. These sources served as a foundation on the basis of which the attempt to create a collective portrait of perpetrators was undertaken. The author of the article, as it is accepted in historiography, based his conclusions on thirty seven members of SS-Sonderkommando Belzec who were at least temporarily employed in the camp — during its building, its operation, the extermination or the erasing of traces. The article analyzes the age of the members of Belzec camp’s personnel, their nationality and birthplace, education, participation in National Socialist organizations, engagement in “T4” action and — in the widest possible terms — participation in the Holocaust. The article describes the process of selection to the SS crew, the principles governing the assignation of functions and duties in the camp, the exchange of members between different centers of “Action Reinhardt,” their future fate and the question of their postwar legal punishment. More attention is paid to two commandants, i.e. Christian Wirth and Gottlieb Hering. The article indicates the similarities and differences between them, their impact on the camp’s operation and their influence over other members of SS-Sonderkommando Belzec
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