We aimed to evaluate levels of amino-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptid (NT-proBNP) in prediction of left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) in heart failure patients. Prospective study on 60 consecutive patients with symptoms and signs of heart failure was performed. Blood samples for NT-proBNP analysis was taken from all test subjects and echocardiography was also done in all of them. According to LVEF value, patients were divided into four groups; those with <or=30%, 31 to 39%, 40 to 49% and >or=50%. NT-proBNP values correlated with LVEF value. Regression analysis was used to evaluate how well NT-proBNP values predict LVEF. We used Receiver Operating Characteristic Curve calculation to evaluate diagnostic performance of NT-proBNP in estimation of LVEF. Average value of NT-proBNP in test group was 3191.69+/-642.89 pg/ml (p<0.001). Average value of NT-proBNP decreased with higher LVEF categories with significant (p<0.001) and high negative correlation (r= -0,75). Stepwise multivariate linear regression analysis showed that logarithmic value of NT-proBNP was excellent predictor of LVEF value (p<0.05). Model equation based on regression analysis was LVEF=88.645-15.311 x log (NT-proBNP). Predictive model for LVEF yielded from regression analysis had sensitivities of 98% and 81%, specificities of 20% and 90%, positive predictive values of 86% and 78% and negative predictive values of 67% and 92% for predicting patients with LVEF<50% and LVEF<40%, respectively. There was negative linear correlation between NT-proBNP and LVEF. NT-proBNP was excellent predictor of LVEF value (p<0.05).

Anthocyanins are effective antioxidants but they have also been proposed to have other biological activities independent of their antioxidant capacities that produce health benefits. Examples range from inhibition of cancer cell growth in vitro, induction of insulin production in isolated pancreatic cells, reduction of starch digestion through inhibition of a-glucosidase activity, suppression of inflammatory responses as well as protection against age-related declines in cognitive behavior and neuronal dysfunction in the central nervous system. However, to achieve any biological effect in a specific tissue or organ, anthocyanins must be bioavailable; i.e. effectively absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) into the circulation and delivered to the appropriate location within the body. In this study, we assess the stability of anthocyanins from commercial Black currant (Ribes nigrum L.) juice using an in vitro digestion procedure that mimics the physiochemical and biochemical conditions encountered in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). The main objective of this work was the evaluation of stability of anthocyanins during in vitro digestion in gastric and intestinal fluid regarding whether appropriate enzyme (pepsin or pancreatin) was added or not. Anthocyanins present in commercial black currant juice remain stable during in vitro digestion in gastric fluid regardless whether pepsin was added into the medium or not. Also, they remain stable during in vitro digestion in simulated intestinal fluid without pancreatin. The stability studies of anthocyanins in the intestinal fluid containing pancreatin indicated reduced stability, which also mainly contribute to slight reduction of total anthocyanins content (-1.83%) in commercial black currant juice.

The synthesis of Ir/γ-Al2O3 using the dendrimer metal nanocomposites (DMN) approach is reported. Fourth generation hydroxyl-terminated polyamidoamine dendrimer was complexed with Ir3+ in aqueous solution and the process monitored using ultraviolet−visible and X-ray absorption spectroscopy. No discernible reduction of Ir3+ to form zerovalent nanoparticles was observed after bubbling hydrogen or adding NaBH4 into the complex solution. Standard wet impregnation of the DMN precursors were used to prepare Ir/γ-Al2O3, which were compared with conventionally prepared samples. In situ transmission Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy during dendrimer thermal decomposition in different atmospheres and CO adsorption allowed for identification of catalyst activation treatments that expose the maximum metal surface area. The particle size distributions of these catalysts were investigated using high resolution transmission electron microscopy, revealing that all of the catalysts have small particle sizes (0.4−3 nm...

This paper describes research on a ldquomental commitment robotrdquo. These robots have a different target audience to industrial robots, one that is not so rigidly dependent on objective measures such as accuracy and speed. The main goal of this research is to explore a new area in robotics, with the emphasis on human-robot interaction. In previous research, we classified robots into four categories, which related to their appearance. We then introduced a robot cat and a robot seal, which we evaluated by interviewing a large group of people. The results showed that physical interaction improved their subjective evaluation of the robots. Moreover, a priori knowledge of a subject has a considerable influence on the subjective interpretation and evaluation of mental commitment robots. In this paper, we asked several groups of subjects to evaluate the seal robot known as dasiaParopsila by answering questionnaires that were given out in exhibitions that were held in seven different countries; Japan, U.K., Sweden, Italy, Korea, Brunei and U.S. This paper reports the results of statistical analysis of the evaluation data.

Introduction Notation, linear orders, weak partitions, and operads CDGA models for operads Real homotopy theory of semi-algebraic sets The Fulton-MacPherson operad The CDGAs of admissible diagrams Cooperad structure on the spaces of (admissible) diagrams Equivalence of the cooperads D and H * (C[ * ]) The Kontsevich configuration space integrals Proofs of the formality theorems Index of notation Bibliography

Instantaneous frequency (IF) estimation through the estimation of peak locations in the time-frequency plane is an important approach for signals contaminated with additive white Gaussian noise. In this paper, the forementioned analysis is carried out for continuous wavelet transform. The analysis of the scalogram as the instantaneous frequency estimator is performed for any FM signal regardless of the mother wavelet. Accurate expressions for the bias and the variance of the estimator are derived, and reveal that the bias and the variance are signal dependent. Results are statistically confirmed through the numerical analysis for several mother wavelets, and among considered wavelets, the Morlet wavelet produces the smallest estimation error. Furthermore, the performance of the IF estimator based on the scalogram and the spectrogram were compared through analysis of mean square error. These results showed that the scalogram with the Morlet wavelet exhibited good performance for the sample linear FM signal and the sample hyperbolic FM signal in comparison to the spectrogram.

Old printed photos are affected by several typical damages, due to age and bad preservation. “Foxing” defects look like red-brownish spots onto the paper of the printed photo. Similar features can be seen in the digitized copies. In this paper we propose a set of low level descriptors to extract features from digitized photos affected by foxing. An image retrieval application, based on information extracted by the proposed descriptors, is developed to discriminate, through comparison, if an image is affected by foxing. Results are compared to those obtained using some standard color descriptors.

AIM To test the differences in serum lipid concentrations between veterans with chronic posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and veterans without PTSD. METHODS We determined plasma lipid parameters and calculated risk factors for 50 veterans in the PTSD group and 50 veterans in the non-PTSD group. Trauma exposure, coping strategies, and quality of life were assessed with Life Stressor List, Manchester Short Assessment of Quality of Life Scale, and Folkman-Lazarus Coping Strategies Questionnaire. RESULTS There was no difference between the groups in the exposure to combat trauma. PTSD group had significantly lover education than non-PTSD group (10.6+/-1.8 vs 12.4+/-2.6 years, P=0.007) and lower monthly income per family member (euro67.8+/-51.3 vs euro281.9+/-208.2, P<0.001). PTSD group had significantly higher levels of all plasma lipid parameters (cholesterol: 6.54+/-1.24 vs 5.40+/-1.09 mmol/L, P<0.001; triglycerides: 2.55+/-0.68 vs 1.73+/-0.77 mmol/L, P<0.001; very low density lipoprotein-cholesterol: 1.14+/-0.32 vs 0.78+/-0.35 mmol/L, P<0.001; low density lipoprotein-cholesterol: 4.49+/-1.06 vs 3.46+/-0.93 mmol/L, P<0.001). High-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration was significantly lower in PTSD group (0.96+/-0.18 vs 1.15+/-0.24 mmol/L, P<0.001). Established risk factor for arteriosclerosis (6.96+/-1.19 vs 4.71+/-0.88, P<0.001) and Adult Treatment Panel III ten years risk for coronary disease (19.44+/-7.27% vs 9.74+/-4.10%, P<0.001) were significantly higher in the PTSD group. Secondary traumatization was significantly more frequent in the PTSD group (3.8+/-5.7 vs 1.3+/-4.7 events; P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS Chronic PTSD is associated with dyslipidemia, leading to an increased risk of coronary artery disease. Environmental factors and coping strategies should be considered as important factors for the occurrence and persistence of PTSD.