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Background: This study investigated whether allergic rhinitis (AR) increases the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Methods: Using Taiwanese insurance outpatient claims data, 52 870 patients with new diagnoses of AR between 2000 and 2010 were identified, and 105 680 age- and sex-frequency matched people without AR were chosen randomly as controls. Risks of ICH were correlated with AR and comorbidities, such as diabetes, hypertension, coronary artery disease, hyperlipidemia, disease and chronic kidney disease, and were estimated by the end of 2011. Results: The risk of ICH was lower in the AR cohort than in the comparison cohort, with an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of 0.58 (95% confidence interval [CI]=0.50-0.66), assessed using themultivariable Coxmodel. Age-specific analysis demonstrated that the aHR for ICH in the AR patients increased with age, with an aHR of 0.53 (95% CI=0.39-0.71) in the =49-year age group, which increased to 0.72 (95% CI=0.59-0.89) in the elderly age group. The risk of ICH increased with the severity of AR, from an aHR of 0.47 (95% CI=0.40-0.56) inmild AR patients to 2.55 (95% CI=1.88-3.47) in severe ones. For patients without comorbidities, the risk of ICH was 0.46 times (95% CI=0.34-0.63) lower in the AR cohort than in the comparison cohort. Conclusion: This study showed for the first time that milder AR is correlated with a reduction in the risk of ICH, particularly for elderly patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The effects of various row thinning treatments on the wood quality of Japanese cedar (Cryptomeria japonica) using non-destructive techniques were investigated. Differences between row thinning treatments were not statistically significant. The earlywood density (ED), latewood density (LD), minimum density in a ring (DMin), maximum density in a ring (DMax) and latewood percentage (LWP) were the most important predictors of ring density (RD) according to simple linear regressions. Compressive strength in the transverse direction increased from the pith outwards to certain points (about 11-24 years old) and then gradually decreased towards the bark. The ring width and earlywood width in the transverse direction changed irregularly from the pith outwards to the 4th ring, then gradually decreased towards the 25 ring and then slowly increased towards the bark. However, the RD and LWP in the transverse direction changed irregularly from the pith outwards to the 4th ring, gradually increased towards the 25th ring and then decreased irregularly towards the bark. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A hypothetical link between marijuana smoking and cancer has been established based on a number of misleading assumptions. However, recent studies tend to suggest, if anything, an inverse association between marijuana use and cancers. To test the hypothesis that marijuana smoking significantly lowers the risk of developing cancer in humans, we analyzed published data from a prospective cohort study on cancer incidence among nonsmokers (NS), marijuana-only smokers (MS), tobacco-only smokers (TS), and marijuana and tobacco smokers (MTS). Using the log linear model to calculate the probability of developing each cancer form as a function of the interaction between marijuana and tobacco smoking, as well as functions of marijuana and tobacco smoking main effects whereby chi square statistics were calculated for the interaction and main effect estimates, we found that in all cases tested there was a significantly lower risk for MS compared to TS. Male and female TS had a greater probability of developing lung cancer than did MS. Males and females IS had a greater probability of developing lung cancer compared with NS. Males and female MTS had a slightly higher probability of developing lung cancer than did MS. This difference was statistically significant: χ² = 30.51, p < .0000 1,with a correlation coefficient of -0.75, Z = -7.84,p < .05. Male and female MTS had a lower probability of developing lung cancer than did TS. This difference was statistically significant: χ²= 71.61 ,p = .00003, with a correlation coefficient of 0.61, Z = 5.06, p < .05. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We employ scanning probe microscopy to reveal atomic structures and nanoscale morphology of graphene-based electronic devices (i.e., a graphene sheet supported by an insulating silicon dioxide substrate) for the first time. Atomic resolution scanning tunneling microscopy images reveal the presence of a strong spatially dependent perturbation, which breaks the hexagonal lattice symmetry of the graphitic lattice. Structural corrugations of the graphene sheet partially conform to the underlying silicon oxide substrate. These effects are obscured or modified on graphene devices processed with normal lithographic methods, as they are covered with a layer of photoresist residue. We enable our experiments by a novel cleaning process to produce atomically clean graphene sheets. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Direct injection of VX2 cell suspension into the liver is simple and widely used. Implantation of a fragment of VX2 tumour into the liver using a surgical technique has also been developed in the last decade. In this study, we compared these two methods in order to find a better modality for establishing VX2 liver mass. Forty rabbits, each weighing 2.8-3.2 kg, were divided into two groups, 20 rabbits in each. In Group 1, a tumour cell suspension containing 1×106 cells in a volume of 0.1 ml, was injected slowly into the liver parenchyma using a 27-gauge needle during laparotomy. In Group 2, a 1 mm3 fragment of VX2 carcinoma was inoculated into the sub-capsule of the left anterior lobe of the liver. In Group 1, three rabbits showed no tumour growth and 10 rabbits showed evidence of leakage and tumour seeding outside of the liver. In Group 2, all but one rabbit showed tumour growth and none showed evidence of tumour seeding. The leakage rates were 50% and 0% for Group 1 and Group 2, respectively. Overall, the success inoculation rate was 35% for Group 1 and 95% for Group 2. In conclusion, to create the VX2 liver tumour model in rabbits, direct implantation of VX2 tumour fragment into the liver achieved better results than injecting cell suspension of VX2 tumour into the liver. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In (Mn, Fe)2(P, Si) alloys crystallographic first-order phase transformations enable strong coupling of magnetic and entropic properties, potentially leading to high-efficiency energy generation and refrigeration applications. Although hysteresis losses that limit these applications can be reduced through careful control of alloy composition, compositional tuning can also unfavorably influence transformation temperatures and magnetocaloric coupling strength. Hence, exploration of additional processing variables enabling independent control of transformation properties is crucial. In this work, we investigate the role of thermal history as an additional processing variable, exploiting thermally-activated mechanisms to control properties of non-diffusive transformations in (Mn, Fe)2(P, Si) alloys. In so doing, we report an unusual transformation-splitting phenomenon following annealing at intermediate times, where a single well-defined magneto-structural transformation evolves towards a multi-step transformation with individual steps occurring at multiple distinct temperatures. On longer annealing at the same temperatures, single-step transformation behavior is recovered. Through additional magnetic and crystallographic characterization, we show that the thermal history-controlled multi-step behavior results from sluggish thermally-activated diffusion. The two-step transformation corresponds to non-equilibrium bimodal composition distributions in the transforming phase, and these develop through a dynamic re-equilibration process as the alloy passes relatively slowly between different thermal equilibria. Together, these results suggest that thermal history primarily controls the transformation properties of (Mn, Fe)2(P, Si) alloys indirectly through the composition of one or more transforming phases. Additional investigations are needed to develop thermal history processing for decoupling hysteresis control from other transformation properties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using a multiphase transport (AMPT) model that includes both initial partonic and final hadronic interactions, we study and production at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC). It is found that a hadronic cascade time of fm c−1 describes the strong suppression of the ratio in central Pb–Pb collisions at = 2.76 TeV, while for the p–Pb collisions at = 5.02 TeV, a lower limit of hadronic interaction fm c−1 is derived by comparison with the collision system dependence of the and ratios. Detailed studies on the transverse momentum dependence of the and ratios, and the elliptic flow of and ϕ show clear evidence of the dominance of rescattering over regeneration of in heavy-ion collisions at LHC energies. Our calculation describes the flat ratio well in central Pb–Pb collisions at c−1, indicating fluid-like dynamics in the AMPT model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A dual-phase pulse-modulated polar transmitter (PMPT) for wide power control range (PCR) applications is presented. For the validation of the proposed architecture, a radio-frequency (RF) PMPT chip is implemented with a standard 0.18 μm 1P6M mixed-signal CMOS process. The measurement results show that by using the proposed technique, wide PCR transmitters can be implemented accurately with low hardware requirements. An RF variable-gain amplifier with just 21 dB of dynamic range is sufficient to pass the 80 dB PCR of the CDMA2000 standard. Compared with a conventional transmitter utilising linear power amplifiers, the proposed architecture has the potential of achieving much higher efficiency while being able to achieve chip-level integration with eased circuit design specification. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

High-Tc Josephson junctions were successfully fabricated by focused ion beam (FIB) direct milling. The characteristics of the junction barrier were carefully controlled by tuning the thickness of the link region. The optimal remaining thickness for the YBCO is about 70-80 nm even though the YBCO thicknesses are different. The temperature-dependence of the critical current provides good evidence of the superconductor-normal-superconductor weak link of the junctions. Although the flux-flow behavior increasingly dominates at lower temperatures, the voltage-current shows resistively shunted junction-like characteristics at temperatures close to Tc. The Shapiro steps of a single junction irradiated with microwaves were measured, revealing strong Josephson effects in ion-damaged junctions. This method will be of great benefit to nanoSQUIDs for the detection of spin systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We present the first spin alignment measurements for the vector mesons K*0(892) and ph(1020) at mid-rapidity in Au+Au and p+p collisions at \sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 200 GeV. Vector mesons appear to be produced without a strong spin alignment constraining possible spin transfer processes from a large orbital angular momentum of the colliding system as expected in theoretical calculations. The diagonal spin density matrix elements are measured to be r00 = 0.32 ± 0.04 (stat) ± 0.09 (syst) for the K*0 (0.8 < pT < 5.0 GeV/c) and r00 = 0.34 ± 0.02 (stat) ± 0.03 (syst) for the ph (0.4 < pT < 5.0 GeV/c), with respect to the reaction plane in midcentral Au+Au collisions, and are found to be independent of collision centrality and transverse momentum. r00 with respect to the production plane is measured to be less than 2s deviation above 1/3 in both Au+Au and p+p collisions indicating the absence of polarization phenomena in the production dynamics for vector mesons in the measured kinematic region. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The electrohydrodynamic air flow generated by a positive corona discharge, and its effect on the spatial distribution of chemical species within a wire-plate corona reactor, have been numerically simulated. The computational model is based on the solutions of the Navier–Stokes equation and the continuity equation of each chemical species generated by the electrical discharge. A simplified analytical expression of the electric force density, which only requires the current density as the input parameter, has been used in the Navier–Stokes equation to obtain the velocity field. For the solution of the continuity equations, a plasma chemistry model that includes the most important reactions between electrons, atoms and molecules in air has been used. Similar to the electric force, the electron density distribution has been approximated by using a semi-analytical expression appropriate for the electrode geometry. The results of the study show that the spatial distribution of chemical species can be very different, and depends on the interplay between the electrohydrodynamic flow, the chemical kinetics of the species and its characteristic lifetime. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Baryon-strangeness correlation (CBS) has been investigated with a multi-phase transport model (AMPT) in 197Au+197Au collisions at \sqrt{s_{\rm NN}} = 200 GeV. The centrality dependence of CBS is presented within the model, from partonic phase to hadronic matter. We find that the system still reserves partial predicted signatures of CBS after parton coalescence. But after hadronic rescattering, the predicted signatures will be obliterated completely. So it seems that both coalescence hadronization process and hadronic rescattering are responsible for the disappearance of the CBS signatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives. To explore the source of the p19 subunit of interleukin-23 (IL-23) in joints with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the effects of IL-1β and tumour necrosis factor (TNF)-α on IL-23 gene expression in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes and the effect of IL-23 on proinflammatory cytokines. Methods. Expression of IL-23 p19 in joints was examined by immunohistochemical analysis of patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA). The effects of IL-1β and TNF-α on the expression, of IL-23 p19 and IL-12 p35 subunits in human fibroblast-like synoviocytes from RA patients (HFLS-RA) were determined by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR), quantitative PCR and western blotting assay. Blockade of nuclear factor kappaB (NF-κB) or AP-1 activation was used to verify the involvement of intracellular signal pathways of the induction of p19. IL-23-induced IL-8 and IL-6 productions were determined in HFLS-RA by RT-PCR and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Results. IL-23 p19 was expressed in the synovium from RA, but not from OA patients. Similar to the protein expression, IL-23 p19 mRNA could be detected by RT-PCR in four of five RA synovial fluid mononuclear cells (SFMC). IL-1β and TNF-α could induce RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes to produce the IL-23 p19 subunit. The effects of IL-1β were much stronger than TNF-α. These responses were observed in both a dose-responsive and time-dependent manner. IL-1β produced weakly enhanced gene expression of the p35 subunits of IL-12. IL-1β also promotes the p35 expression, a subunit of IL-12, but weakly. In addition, the NF-κB and the AP-1 inhibitors down-regulated the expression of IL-23 p19 mRNA induced by IL-1β. IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) was of constitutive expression in HFLS-RA. Moreover, IL-23 up-regulated the IL-8 and IL-6 mRNA and protein levels in a dose-dependent manner in HFLS-RA. Conclusions. Our results demonstrate that IL-23, produced by mononuclear cells in synovial fluid with RA and HFLS-RA, promotes inflammatory responses in RA by inducing IL-8 and IL-6 production from HFLS. IL-1β regulates IL-23 p19 expression via NF-κB and AP-1 pathways. This report also demonstrates that IL-23 could promote inflammatory responses in HFLS-RA by stimulating IL-8 and IL-6 production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]