Explore the vast range of titles available.

The typical modeling approach to groundwater management relies on the combination of optimization algorithms and subsurface simulation models. In the case of groundwater supply systems, the management problem may be structured into an optimization problem to identify the pumping scheme that minimizes the total cost of the system while complying with a series of technical, economical, and hydrological constraints. Since lack of data on the subsurface system most often reflects upon the development of groundwater flow models that are inherently uncertain, the solution to the groundwater management problem should explicitly consider the tradeoff between cost optimality and the risk of not meeting the management constraints. This work addresses parameter uncertainty following a stochastic simulation (or Monte Carlo) approach, in which a sufficiently large ensemble of parameter scenarios is used to determine representative values selected from the statistical distribution of the management objectives, that is, minimizing cost while minimizing risk. In particular, the cost of the system is estimated as the expected value of the cost distribution sampled through stochastic simulation, while the risk of not meeting the management constraints is quantified as the expected value of the intensity of constraint violation. The solution to the multi-objective optimization problem is addressed by combining a multi-objective evolutionary algorithm with a stochastic model simulating groundwater flow in confined aquifers. Evolutionary algorithms are particularly appropriate in optimization problems characterized by non-linear and discontinuous objective functions and constraints, although they are also computationally demanding and require intensive analyses to tune input parameters that guarantee optimality to the solutions. In order to drastically reduce the otherwise overwhelming computational cost, a novel stochastic flow reduced model is thus developed, which practically allows for averting the direct inclusion of the full simulation model in the optimization loop. The computational efficiency of the proposed framework is such that it can be applied to problems characterized by large numbers of decision variables.

Hydride transfers are key to a number of economically and environmentally important reactions, including H 2 evolution and NADH regeneration. The electrochemical generation of hydrides can therefore drive the electrification of chemical reactions to improve their sustainability for a green economy. Catalysts containing molybdenum have recently been recognized as among the most promising non-precious catalysts for H 2 evolution, but the mechanism by which molybdenum confers this activity remains debated. Here we show the presence of trapped Mo 3+ hydride in amorphous molybdenum sulfide (a-MoS x ) during the hydrogen evolution reaction and extend its catalytic role to the selective hydrogenation of the biologically important energy carrier NAD to its active 1,4-NADH form. Furthermore, this reactivity applies to other HER-active molybdenum sulfides. Our results demonstrate a direct role for molybdenum in heterogeneous H 2 evolution. This mechanistic finding also reveals that molybdenum sulfides have potential as economic electrocatalysts for NADH regeneration in biocatalysis. The electrochemical generation of reactive hydrides has the potential to drive the electrification of chemical reactions. Now, a modified electron paramagnetic resonance set-up is put forward to demonstrate the role of Mo 3+ hydride in amorphous MoS x to catalyse both the hydrogen evolution reaction and electrochemical NADH regeneration.

The next generation of Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) instruments is dedicated to the detection of CMB B-modes. Instruments like QUBIC (QU Bolometric Interferometer for Cosmology) need components with state of the art properties at high frequency (>90 GHz) to minimise instrumental systematic effects. The Orthogonal Mode Transducer (OMT) is a critical front end component as it allows the discrimination of the polarisation mode of light. Superconducting planar technology seems very promising to improve its properties and miniaturisation. We present a planar superconducting OMT operating in the W band (75–110 GHz). Design and simulations have been performed using CST Studio Suite. Laboratory characterisations were obtained with two different cryogenic setups. We will present these two cryogenic setups, the calibration procedure and preliminary results for two OMT samples.

The large-scale polarization explorer (LSPE) is a cosmology program for the measurement of large-scale curl-like features (B-modes) in the polarization of the cosmic microwave background. Its goal is to constrain the background of inflationary gravity waves traveling through the universe at the time of matter-radiation decoupling. The two instruments of LSPE are meant to synergically operate by covering a large portion of the northern microwave sky. LSPE/STRIP is a coherent array of receivers planned to be operated from the Teide Observatory in Tenerife, for the control and characterization of the low-frequency polarized signals of galactic origin; LSPE/SWIPE is a balloon-borne bolometric polarimeter based on 330 large throughput multi-moded detectors, designed to measure the CMB polarization at 150 GHz and to monitor the polarized emission by galactic dust above 200 GHz. The combined performance and the expected level of systematics mitigation will allow LSPE to constrain primordial B-modes down to a tensor/scalar ratio of 10 - 2 . We here report the status of the STRIP pre-commissioning phase and the progress in the characterization of the key subsystems of the SWIPE payload (namely the cryogenic polarization modulation unit and the multi-moded TES pixels) prior to receiver integration.

Background/Aim: Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) has been associated with the development and progression of breast cancer (BCa). However, the relationship between MMP-9 genetic variants and BCa susceptibility remains contentious and inconclusive. This study aimed to evaluate the association of MMP-9 rs3918242 promoter polymorphisms with BCa, with a particular focus on the risk of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).Materials and Methods: A case-control study was conducted involving 1,232 BCa patients and 1,232 healthy controls. The MMP-9 rs3918242 genotypes were determined using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis.Results: The genotype distribution of MMP-9 rs3918242 among the control group adhered to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p=0.3265). No statistically significant differences were observed in the genotype frequencies between BCa cases and controls (p for trend=0.2555). Although the homozygous variant genotype (TT) showed a potential risk-increasing effect, this was not statistically significant [odds ratio (OR)=1.43, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.88-2.36, p=0.1869]. Similarly, allele frequency analysis indicated no significant association between the variant T allele and overall BCa risk (OR=1.13, 95%CI=0.97-1.33, p=0.1265). Additionally, no interaction was detected between MMP-9 rs3918242 genotypes and the age of BCa onset (both p>0.05). Notably, the TT genotype of MMP-9 rs3918242 was significantly associated with an increased risk of TNBC (OR=2.49, 95%CI=1.32-4.72, p=0.0072).Conclusion: The MMP-9 rs3918242 TT genotype may serve as a potential predictive biomarker for TNBC in the Taiwanese population.

Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) is characterized by increased recurrence and poor survival. Mounting evidence suggests that interleukin-10 (IL-10) plays a role in carcinogenesis, however, little is known about the contribution of IL-10 to TNBC. The study evaluated the contribution of IL-10 promoter A-1082G (rs1800896), T-819C (rs3021097), A-592C (rs1800872) genotypes to the risk of TNBC. IL-10 genotypes were examined among 1,232 breast cancer patients and 1,232 controls and evaluated. The percentages of AG and GG for IL-10 A-1082G genotypes were higher in the breast cancer patient group than in the control group. The GG genotype carriers were of higher risk for breast cancer [odds ratio (OR)=2.02, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.28-3.21, p=0.0021]. Interestingly, G allele carriers were of higher risk of TNBC (OR=1.25, 95%CI=1.07-1.46, p=0.0050). The G allele of IL-10 A-1082G genotype may serve as a predictor for TNBC risk. The finding should be validated in other populations.

The MS4A gene family in humans includes CD20 and at least 15 other genes. CD20 exists as homo-oligomers in the plasma membrane, however different MS4A proteins expressed in the same cell may hetero-oligomerize. Given the importance of CD20 in B-cell function and as a therapeutic target, we sought to explore the potential for CD20 hetero-oligomerization with other MS4A proteins. We investigated expression in primary human B-cells of the four MS4A genes previously shown to be expressed in human B-cell lines (MS4A4A, MS4A6A, MS4A7, MS4A8B), as well as two genes comprising the closely related TMEM176 gene family, with a view to identifying candidates for future investigation at the protein level. TMEM176A and TMEM176B transcripts were either not detected, or were detected at relatively low levels in a minority of donor B-cell samples. MS4A4A and MS4A8B transcripts were not detected in any normal B-cell sample. MS4A6A and MS4A7 transcripts were detected at low levels in most samples, however the corresponding proteins were not at the plasma membrane when expressed as GFP conjugates in BJAB cells. We also examined expression of these genes in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and found that it was similar to normal B-cells with two exceptions. First, whereas MS4A4A expression was undetected in normal B-cells, it was expressed in 1/14 CLL samples. Second, compared to expression levels in normal B-cells, MS4A6A transcripts were elevated in 4/14 CLL samples. In summary, none of the MS4A/TMEM176 genes tested was expressed at high levels in normal or in most CLL B-cells. MS4A6A and MS4A7 were expressed at low levels in most B-cell samples, however the corresponding proteins may not be positioned at the plasma membrane. Altogether, these data suggest that CD20 normally does not form hetero-oligomers with other MS4A proteins and that there are unlikely to be other MS4A proteins in CLL that might provide useful alternate therapeutic targets.

There is very little literature reporting the association of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP1) with personal susceptibility to bladder cancer. In the current study, we carried out the first examination of the contribution of MMP1 rs1799750 to bladder cancer risk in Taiwanese. A total of 375 bladder cancer cases and 375 healthy controls were genotyped for MMP1 rs1799750 via polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology and this was evaluated for association with clinicopathological factors. The frequencies of MMP1 rs1799750 2G/2G, 1G/2G, and 1G/1G genotypes were 35.7%, 44.8% and 19.5% in the group with bladder cancer and 32.5%, 46.4%, and 21.1% in the healthy control group (p for trend=0.6362). The odds ratios (ORs) for bladder cancer risk after adjusting for age and gender for those carrying 1G/2G and 1G/1G genotypes at MMP1 rs1799750 were 0.88 (95% CI=0.62-1.24, p=0.4357) and 0.83 (95% CI=0.61-1.26, p=0.3990), respectively, compared with the wild-type 2G/2G genotype. In allelic frequency analysis, the adjusted OR for those carrying the 1G allele at MMP1 rs1799750 was 0.87 (95% CI=0.71-1.23, p=0.3479) compared to those people carrying a 2G allele. Our findings indicated that the genotypes at MMP1 rs1799750 appear to play little role in determining personal susceptibility to bladder cancer for Taiwanese.

Background/Aim: Evidence has shown that interleukin-18 (IL-18) has both antitumor and pro-tumor effects in various types of leukemia. The current study aimed at investigating the contribution of IL-18 polymorphisms to the risk of childhood acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) in Taiwan. Materials and Methods: IL-18 promoter −656 (rs1946519), −607 (rs1946518), and −137 (rs187238) genotypes of 266 childhood ALL cases and 266 controls were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism methodology. Results: The distributions of genotypic and allelic frequencies of IL-18 rs1946519, rs1946518 or rs187238, were not significantly different between childhood ALL cases and controls (all p>0.05). However, in the stratification analysis among the cases, IL-18 rs187238 GC and CC genotypes were associated with increased childhood ALL risk and shorter survival (OR=4.19 and 2.93, 95%CI=2.04-8.64 and 1.19-7.23, p=0.0001 and 0.0250, respectively). No association was found with rs1946519 and rs1946518 (all p>0.05). Conclusion: IL-18 rs187238 GC and CC genotypes can serve as predictors for childhood ALL prognosis among Taiwanese. Validation in larger and various populations can greatly extend the feasibility of this novel predictor.

Elevated serum interleukin-16 (IL-16) levels have been reported in gastric cancer (GC) tissues; however, the role of IL-16 genotypes in GC susceptibility remains largely unexplored. This study aimed to investigate the contribution of IL-16 genotypes to GC susceptibility and to assess their interactions with smoking, alcohol drinking, and Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection. Polymerase chain reaction-based restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) methodology was employed to determine IL-16 rs4778889, rs11556218, and rs4072111 genotypic characteristics in 161 patients with GC and 483 controls. Significant differences were observed in the distribution of genotypic (p=0.0009) and allelic (p=0.0002) frequencies of IL-16 rs11556218 among cases and controls. Specifically, the frequencies of TG and GG genotypes of IL-16 rs11556218 were 37.3% and 6.8% among patients with GC, respectively, which were higher than those among the controls (26.7% and 2.7%). In contrast, no significant differences were found concerning IL-16 rs4778889 or rs4072111. Notably, individuals with IL-16 rs11556218 TT genotypes exhibited significant protective effects against GC when exposed to risk factors, such as smoking, alcohol drinking, and H. pylori infection. IL-16 rs11556218 T allele was associated with reduced susceptibility to GC. Furthermore, carriers of the TT genotype showed protection against GC risk factors, including smoking, alcohol drinking, and H. pylori infection. These findings provide valuable insights into the potential role of IL-16 genotypes in GC development and their interactions with lifestyle and infectious factors.