7,764 research outputs found
"Test me and treat me" - attitudes to vitamin D deficiency and supplementation: a qualitative study
Full text link© 2015 BMJ Open, "Test me and treat me"-attitudes to vitamin D deficiency and supplementation: a qualitative study. This manuscript version is made available under the Creative Commons Attribution Licens
Perancangan Sistem Informasi Pengelola Barang/Inventaris Di Jc Komp
Full text linkInventory information system is a system used to enter inventory data into the database, so that there are no errors in input, output data, and reporting based on the desired data. based on surveys and interviews with jc comp personnel, information was obtained that the existing system in the jc comp warehouse section is still manual. therefore, the system that will be created by the author is the result of a replication of the existing system in the jc comp warehouse section. in addition to the process of input and output of goods, this information system is also equipped with features for creating data reports, input and output of goods, and searching for goods data by item name. with the inventory information system is expected to be useful for the warehouse parts jc comp. By implementing this system in the jc comp warehouse, it is hoped that it can reduce errors that may occur. this system is also expected to further speed up the process of input, output, and report generation, which in turn will help the jc comp warehouseSistem Informasi Persediaan Barang adalah sebuah sistem yang digunakan untuk memasukkan data-data persediaan barang ke dalam database, sehinggga tidak terjadi kesalahan dalam input, output data, dan pembuatan laporan berdasarkan data yang diinginkan. Berdasarkan survey dan wawancara dengan bagian personalia Jc Komp, didapatkan informasi bahwa sistem yang ada dibagian gudang Jc Komp masih manual. Oleh karena itu, sistem yang akan dibuat oleh penulis adalah hasil replikasi dari sistem yang telah ada dibagian gudang Jc Comp. Selain proses input dan output barang, pada sistem informasi ini juga dilengkapi fitur pembuatan laporan data, input, dan output barang, dan pencarian data barang berdasarkan nama barang. Dengan adanya Sistem Informasi persediaan barang ini diharapkan dapat bermanfaat bagi bagian gudang Jc Komp. Dengan diterapkannya sistem ini pada bagian gudang Jc Comp, maka diharapkan dapat mengurangi kesalahan-kesalahan yang mungkin terjadi. Sistem ini juga diharapkan dapat lebih mempercepat proses input, output, dan pembuatan laporan yang pada akhirnya dapat membantu bagian gudang Jc Komp
JC and BK polyomavirus-like particles as targets of innate and adaptive humoral immunity
Full text linkJC polyomavirus (JCPyV) and BK polyomavirus (BKPyV) were identified as the first of now more than 12 human polyomaviruses (HPyVs). The average JCPyV and BKPyV seroprevalence rates in adults are 70% and 90%, respectively. After asymptomatic infection both viruses persist in the renourinary tract. In fact, asymptomatic viruria is detectable in one-third of general population. However, in immunocompromised patients, JCPyV and BKPyV replication may progress to significant diseases. Hence, JCPyV can cause progressive multifocal leukoencephalopathy (PML) in patients with HIV-AIDS, malignancies or autoimmune diseases under immunosuppressive treatment. BKPyV can be a cause of polyomavirus-associated nephropathy (PyVAN) in kidney transplant recipients or hemorrhagic cystitis (PyVHC) after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Due to more frequent application of immunosuppression, the risk of developing these diseases has increased in the last few decades. The risk of PML development is estimated to be 100-fold higher for JCPyV-seropositive patients in comparison to JCPyV-seronegatives. Most cases of PyVAN and PyVHC have been tested positive for BKPyV at the moment of disease diagnosis. Unfortunately, there is no specific antiviral therapy against any of these HPyV diseases. Thus, current strategies to avert PyVAN or PyVHC aim at identifying patients with BKPyV viremia and reducing immunosuppression. Similar strategies for PML have not been effective, since JCPyV viremia is usually not detected prior to or at the diagnosis of disease. The fate of BKPyV and JCPyV virus-like particles (VLPs) was examined in an animal model corresponding to primary viremia in non-immune host. Radioactively labeled VLPs were used to assess blood decay, organ, and hepatocellular distribution of ligand, and non-labeled VLPs to examine cellular uptake by immunohisto- and cytochemistry. Rapid distribution of both BKPyV and JCPyV VLPs to the liver was observed, with lesser uptake in kidney and spleen. Liver uptake was predominantly observed in LSECs. Blood half-life and tissue distribution of both wild-type JCPyV VLPs and two mutant JCPyV VLPs (L55F and S269F), lacking sialic acid binding affinity, were similar, indicating involvement of non-sialic acid receptors in cellular uptake. We concluded that LSECs very effectively cleared a large fraction of blood-borne BKPyV and JCPyV VLPs, indicating a central role of these cells in early removal of polyomavirus from the circulation. Moreover, we observed that a subpopulation of endothelial cells in kidney, the main organ of polyomavirus persistence, showed selective and rapid uptake of VLPs, suggesting a role in viremic organ tropism (Simon-Santamaria et al., p. 54). Giving the increasing clinical need to reliably determine JCPyV and BKPyV IgG levels in patients at risk, we first reviewed and optimized serological tools for JCPyV and BKPyV IgG detection including virus-like particle (VLP)-based ELISA. We demonstrated that although no statistically significant differences in intraassay and interassay variability were revealed for JCPyV serology of 400-fold diluted sera from healthy donors, qualitative differences were seen in the identification of the individual JCPyV serostatus. The cause of discordance for approximately 10% of sera resulted from a low IgG activity close to the cutoff of the assay. Therefore we standardized the ELISA using reference serum for normalization. Moreover, we developed a preadsorption assay with cutoff of 35% reduction of the JCPyV IgG activity after preincubation with JCPyV VLPs. Importantly, we excluded BKPyV antibody cross-reactivity by testing JCPyV IgG positive sera in preadsorption assay using BKPyV VLPs. In conclusion, we showed that VLP-based ELISA with normalization can serve as a reliable tool for JCPyV IgG serology. Additionally, the preadsorption assay can help with unequivocal determination of JCPyV serostatus for samples with low IgG levels. (Kardas et al., p. 72). We also normalized this VLP-based ELISA for BKPyV IgG detection and showed that for seroepidemiology studies, normalized JCPyV and BKPyV IgG ELISA at 1:200 serum dilution provides optimal sensitivity and specificity with the lowest false-positive and false-negative rate. However, for individual risk assessment, 100-, 200-, and 400-fold dilutions combined with preadsorption for low-reactive sera might be the most appropriate (Kardas et al., p. 82). This improved ELISA was used to investigate JCPyV and BKPyV specific antibody levels in several clinical studies: (1) one case of PML patient where positive JCPyV IgG status was compatible with other PML-indicating symptoms (Kurmann et al., p. 90); (2) one case of PyVAN caused by JCPyV rather than BKPyV, as confirmed by JCPyV IgG/IgM positive and BKPyV IgG/IgM negative results (Lautenschlager et al., 99); (3) one case of PyVHC patient after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation where increasing BKPyV IgG activities were in line with progression of BKPyV viremia (Koskenvuo et al., p. 106). Further, by serological testing of 122 immunocompetent and 63 immunocompromised patients we demonstrated that the BKPyV IgG level is age-dependent, with the highest values between 20 and 30 years (Schmidt et al., p. 119). In another study we compared serological outcomes of ELISA utilizing two different antigens in terms of prognostic value in prostate cancer development. To accomplish this we utilized improved ELISA for BKPyV IgG activity to both BKPyV VLPs and BKPyV LTag. Testing of 226 patients undergoing radical prostatectomy for primary prostate cancer revealed that BKPyV VP1 serostatus, in contrast to BKPyV LTag, has no prognostic value in prostate cancer progression (Keller et al., p. 125). In conclusion, we provided a new input into knowledge about tropism and clearance of polyomaviruses from blood. Moreover, we established a reliable and sensitive VLP-based assay for specific detection of JCPyV and BKPyV IgG and IgM. Serostatus based on ELISA results was compatible with other symptoms of BKPyV- and JCPyV-related diseases
Amenable L-2-Theoretic Methods and Knot Concordance
No full textWe reveal new structures in the topological knot concordance group. As a key ingredient, we develop obstructions using L-2-theoretic methods for amenable groups in Strebel's class recently introduced by Orr and the author. Concerning (h)-solvable knots, which are defined in terms of certain Whitney towers of height h in bounding 4-manifolds, we show the following: for any n>1, there are (n)-solvable but non-(n. 5)-solvable (and therefore nonslice) knots, which are not detected by prior methods using Cochran-Orr-Teichner L-2-signature obstructions as well as Levine algebraic obstructions and Casson-Gordon invariants.X1197sciescopu
Dynamics of Network Formation Processes in the Co-Author Model
Full text linkThis article studies the dynamics in the formation processes of a mutual consent network in game theory setting: the Co-Author Model. In this article, a limited observation is applied and analytical results are derived. Then, 2 parameters are varied: the number of individuals in the network and the initial probability of the links in the network in its initial state. A simulation result shows a finding that is consistent with an analytical result for a state of equilibrium while it also shows different possible equilibria.Dynamics, Network, Game Theory, Model,Simulation, Equilibrium, Complexity
High-level polyomavirus JC viruria following long-term steroid therapy
No full textCASE REPORT JC virus is a highly seroprevalent ubiquitous polyomavirus which is acquired at an early age through respiratory or oral route, Thereafter JCV establishes persistent, but mainly asymptomatic, infections in various tissues, including the genitourinary tract and brain Corresponding author Cristina Costa, MD S.C.D.U. Virologia Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria San Giovanni Battista di Torino Via Santena, 9 -10126 Torino E-mail: [email protected] increasing with age, with adult prevalence rate often between 15% and 60
Engineering Framework to Utilize Miniaturized Charpy Type SE(B) Specimens to Predict Jc of Full Sized Specimens
No full textAbstractThis paper introduces our experience of using miniature Charpy type SE(B) specimen in obtaining fracture toughness Jc of a material in the ductile to brittle transition temperature (DBTT) region. Width W x thickness B of 2 x 2 mm, 3 x 3 mm and 10 x 10 mm were chosen as miniature specimens and 25 x 25 mm were chosen as full sized specimen. 0.55% carbon steel JIS S55C, whose tensile to yield stress ratio σTS/σYS was equal to 1.8 was chosen as a material to simulate a degraded (embrittled) material in the DBTT region. Focus was placed on whether cleavage fracture could be predicted for these miniaturized specimens. Another focus was placed on whether the Jc of full sized specimen is predictable from the test results of the miniature sized specimens, in case cleavage fracture were observed. The results showed that the modified Ritch-Knott-Rice (RKR) failure criterion (which predicts the onset of cleavage fracture when the crack opening stress measured at 4 times the crack-tip opening displacement exceeds this σ22c) could predict whether cleavage fracture would occur or not. Another finding was that, in case cleavage fracture was observed though, the critical value σ22c in the modified RKR failure criterion was independent of specimen size, and thus, Jc of the full sized specimen is predictable from the miniature specimen test results, though M = (W-a)σYS/Jc was smaller than ASTM E1921 requirement of 30. Here, a and σYS are crack length and yield strength, respectively
Sun leaves up-regulate the photorespiratory pathway to maintain a high rate of CO2 assimilation in tobacco
No full textThe greater rate of CO2 assimilation in sun-grown tobacco leaves leads to lower intercellular and chloroplast CO2 concentrations and, thus, a higher rate of oxygenation of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate (RuBP) than in shade-grown leaves. Impairment of the photorespiratory pathway suppresses photosynthetic CO2 assimilation. Here, we hypothesized that sun leaves can up-regulate photorespiratory pathway to enhance the rate of CO2 assimilation in tobacco. To test this hypothesis, we examined the responses of photosynthetic electron flow and CO2 assimilation to incident light intensity and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci) in leaves of ‘k326’ tobacco plants grown at 95% sunlight (sun plants) or 28% sunlight (shade plants). The sun leaves had higher photosynthetic capacity and electron flow devoted to RuBP carboxylation (JC) than the shade leaves. When exposed to high light, the higher Rubisco content and lower Ci in the sun leaves led to greater electron flow devoted to RuBP oxygenation (JO). The JO/JC ratio was significantly higher in the sun leaves than in the shade leaves under strong illumination. As estimated from CO2-response curves, the maximum JO was linearly correlated with the estimated Rubisco content. Based on light-response curves, the light-saturated JO was linearly correlated with light-saturated photosynthetic electron flow and light-saturated photosynthesis. These findings indicate that enhancement of the photorespiratory pathway is an important strategy by which sun plants maintain a high rate of CO2 assimilation
A multifaceted perspective on skin cancer prevention
Full text linkSolar ultraviolet radiation has been acknowledged as the main culprit for the three major
types of skin cancer which are among the most numerous (basal cell carcinoma [BCC],
squamous cell carcinoma [SCC]) and most dangerous (cutaneous malignant melanoma)
malignancies in Caucasian populations.
The present thesis comprises six individual projects providing a multifaceted perspective on
the prevention of these tumours.
Project I evaluated a school-based sun safety education programme developed by the Swiss
Cancer Leagues. Primary school students in the Canton of Zurich (North-Eastern Switzerland)
were asked to answer a questionnaire regarding their sun-related knowledge, behaviour,
and sunburn experience shortly before and one year after the intervention (repeated cross-
sectional assessment). Based on the data from more than 3000 students, the sun safety
education programme was effective in sustainably improving children’s sun-related
knowledge and possibly to some extent in decreasing sunburn rates, but had no obvious
impact on the examined sun protective behaviours (use of sunscreen, seeking shade).
Project II represents a systematic review of cross-sectional and interventional studies on
sun-related knowledge, attitudes, and protective behaviours of outdoor workers. The 52
relevant publications identified through an electronic search of medical literature databases
(PubMed, Embase, PsycINFO) and an extensive hand search suggested that outdoor workers’
sun protective behaviours are largely inadequate and sunburn rates are high (50-80% per
season). However, there is evidence that sun safety education in outdoor occupational
settings is effective in increasing workers’ protective behaviours and presumably also in
reducing sunburn incidence.
Project III investigated sun protective behaviour and sunburn experience of vacationers
spending holidays in the tropics or subtropics. The 1165 standardised face-to-face interviews
conducted among air passengers waiting in the departure or baggage claim area at the
Airport Basel-Mulhouse (Switzerland/France) and among vacationers waiting for pre-travel
health advice at the Travel Clinic of the Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute Basel
(Switzerland) revealed that almost all respondents used sunscreen at the holiday
destination. Nevertheless, wearing a sunhat and protective clothing as well as seeking shade
were clearly less common sun protection methods. The assessed sunburn rate among the
324 interviewed returning air passengers was alarmingly high, with 44% having suffered
from sunburn during their holiday stay.
Project IV comprehensively analysed the content and quality of 2103 print media articles
pertaining to skin cancer prevention and related topics (solaria, vitamin D) published in
Germany and Switzerland over a one-year period (2012-2013). Whereas skin cancer
secondary prevention received little press attention, primary prevention was a frequently
covered media topic. However, the delivered information was generally rather superficial. By
far the most common and often sole sun protection recommendation made was the use of
sunscreen. In total, 27% of all analysed articles contained misleading or erroneous
statements which were mostly related to the use of sunscreen and vitamin D issues.
Projects V and VI are based on data derived from the Clinical Practice Research Datalink, a
large, well-validated primary care database established in the United Kingdom (UK).
Project V estimated BCC incidence in the UK and characterised affected patients regarding
lifestyle factors and comorbidities. The calculated age-standardised BCC incidence in adults
rose from 119 to 165 per 100 000 person-years between the years 2000 and 2011. According
to the matched case-control analysis including 57 121 BCC cases and 57 121 BCC-free
controls, BCC risk was slightly increased in alcohol drinkers, but reduced in smokers and in
individuals with a body mass index outside the normal range. BCC was associated with
various comorbidities related to iatrogenic or non-iatrogenic immunosuppression.
Project VI explored whether patients regularly exposed to systemic nonsteroidal anti-
inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) are at a reduced risk of nonmelanoma skin cancer (NMSC). The
matched case-control analysis comprised 65 398 BCC cases, 65 398 BCC-free controls, 7864
SCC cases, and 31 456 SCC-free controls. Overall, NSAID use was not negatively associated
with BCC, but when looking exclusively at users of single NSAID substances there was a
suggestion of a reduced BCC risk in regular users of aspirin and ibuprofen. SCC risk was
slightly decreased in regular users of any NSAIDs, with the strongest risk reduction observed
in current users of coxibs. These findings provide evidence that patients predisposed to
NMSC may benefit from chemoprevention with NSAIDs
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