E-cigarette Product Preferences among Adult Smokers: A Discrete Choice Experiment

ObjectivesIn this study, we used a discrete choice experiment (DCE) conducted August-October 2017 to examine electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) product preferences in a national sample of adult smokers (N = 1154) who were also using ENDS or had not ruled out future use.MethodsThe DCE evaluated 5 ENDS attributes: relative harm; effectiveness for helping smokers quit; nicotine strength; flavor; and price. We asked participants to choose among their own cigarettes, 2 ENDS products whose attributes varied across tasks, or none. We analyzed ENDS preferences using multinomial, nested, and mixed logit regressions.ResultsSmokers preferred ENDS that are less harmful than cigarettes, are effective in helping smokers quit, are lower priced, and are not menthol-flavored. The marginal willingness to pay for an ENDS product was $8.40 when less harmful than cigarettes,$4.13 when of unknown effectiveness in helping quitting ($13.90 when effective), and$3.37 when ENDS are not menthol-flavored. Furthermore, the overall flavor preference is driven by tobacco smokers, not by menthol cigarette smokers who do prefer menthol-flavored ENDS.ConclusionsPolicies that affect perceptions of ENDS effectiveness in promoting cessation and their relative harm may alter smokers' ENDS preferences. Regulating flavors and price also may influence adult smokers' ENDS preference

Characterization of 35 novel microsatellite DNA markers from the duck (Anas platyrhynchos) genome and cross-amplification in other birds

In order to study duck microsatellites, we constructed a library enriched for (CA)n, (CAG)n, (GCC)n and (TTTC)n. A total of 35 pairs of primers from these microsatellites were developed and used to detect polymorphisms in 31 unrelated Peking ducks. Twenty-eight loci were polymorphic and seven loci were monomorphic. A total of 117 alleles were observed from these polymorphic microsatellite markers, which ranged from 2 to 14 with an average of 4.18 per locus. The frequencies of the 117 alleles ranged from 0.02 to 0.98. The highest heterozygosity (0.97) was observed at the CAUD019 microsatellite locus and the lowest heterozygosity (0.04) at the CAUD008 locus, and 11 loci had heterozygosities greater than 0.50 (46.43%). The polymorphism information content (PIC) of 28 loci ranged from 0.04 to 0.88 with an average of 0.42. All the above markers were used to screen the polymorphism in other bird species. Two markers produced specific monomorphic products with the chicken DNA. Fourteen markers generated specific fragments with the goose DNA: 5 were polymorphic and 9 were monomorphic. But no specific product was detected with the peacock DNA. Based on sequence comparisons of the flanking sequence and repeat, we conclude that 2 chicken loci and 14 goose loci were true homologous loci of the duck loci. The microsatellite markers identified and characterized in the present study will contribute to the genetic map, quantitative traits mapping, and phylogenetic analysis in the duck and goose

Effect of isolated AMP deaminase deficiency on skeletal muscle function

Jidong Cheng, Hiroko Morisaki, Naomi Sugimoto, Atsushi Dohi, Takuya Shintani, Erika Kimura, Keiko Toyama, Masahito Ikawa, Masaru Okabe, Itsuro Higuchi, Satoshi Matsuo, Yasuaki Kawai, Ichiro Hisatome, Takako Sugama, Edward W. Holmes, Takayuki Morisaki, Effect of isolated AMP deaminase deficiency on skeletal muscle function, Molecular Genetics and Metabolism Reports, Volume 1, 2014, Pages 51-59, ISSN 2214-4269, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ymgmr.2013.12.004

Monitoring and Assessing Traffic Safety at Signalized Intersections Using Live Video Images

0013527Signalized intersections represent the most hazard spots on a roadway network. Road users are required to be alert and timely process and respond to a variety of information at signalized intersections, including traffic signal indications and changes, signage, pavement marking, road conditions, and a mix of various road users in conflict. Traditional road safety diagnosis has been conducted in a reactive manner based on crashes that had occurred. However, to effectively reduce and eventually eliminate crashes, proactive approaches are needed. Following this direction, traffic conflict events have been collected more frequently and used as a surrogate safety measure for traffic crashes. The goal of Vision Zero would only be possible if the inconsequential event data, such as traffic conflicts, can be objectively and systematically collected and effectively utilized to diagnose and improve road safety such that consequential crash events can be prevented. In this study, the art of deep learning, multiple objects detection and tracking were explored and tested in the domain of traffic conflict monitoring and assessing. As a result, an artificial intelligence (AI) enhanced computational system was developed to automate the detection and quantification of traffic conflict events as they occur in real time using traffic monitoring cameras currently installed by transportation agencies

Baseline quantitative hepatitis B core antibody titre alone strongly predicts HBeAg seroconversion across chronic hepatitis B patients treated with peginterferon or nucleos(t)ide analogues

OBJECTIVE: The investigation regarding the clinical significance of quantitative hepatitis B core antibody (anti-HBc) during chronic hepatitis B (CHB) treatment is limited. The aim of this study was to determine the performance of anti-HBc as a predictor for hepatitis B e antigen (HBeAg) seroconversion in HBeAg-positive CHB patients treated with peginterferon (Peg-IFN) or nucleos(t)ide analogues (NUCs), respectively. DESIGN: This was a retrospective cohort study consisting of 231 and 560 patients enrolled in two phase IV, multicentre, randomised, controlled trials treated with Peg-IFN or NUC-based therapy for up to 2 years, respectively. Quantitative anti-HBc evaluation was conducted for all the available samples in the two trials by using a newly developed double-sandwich anti-HBc immunoassay. RESULTS: At the end of trials, 99 (42.9%) and 137 (24.5%) patients achieved HBeAg seroconversion in the Peg-IFN and NUC cohorts, respectively. We defined 4.4 log(10) IU/mL, with a maximum sum of sensitivity and specificity, as the optimal cut-off value of baseline anti-HBc level to predict HBeAg seroconversion for both Peg-IFN and NUC. Patients with baseline anti-HBc ≥4.4 log(10) IU/mL and baseline HBV DNA <9 log(10) copies/mL had 65.8% (50/76) and 37.1% (52/140) rates of HBeAg seroconversion in the Peg-IFN and NUC cohorts, respectively. In pooled analysis, other than treatment strategy, the baseline anti-HBc level was the best independent predictor for HBeAg seroconversion (OR 2.178; 95% CI 1.577 to 3.009; p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Baseline anti-HBc titre is a useful predictor of Peg-IFN and NUC therapy efficacy in HBeAg-positive CHB patients, which could be used for optimising the antiviral therapy of CHB

Metabolic Syndrome Is Associated with Delayed Heart Rate Recovery after Exercise

Heart rate (HR) recovery after exercise is a function of vagal reactivation, and its impairment is a predictor of overall mortality and adverse cardiovascular events. While metabolic syndrome is associated with sympathetic overactivity, little is known about the relationship between metabolic syndrome and HR recovery. A symptom-limited exercise stress test in healthy subjects (n=1,434) was used to evaluate HR recovery. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program's Adult Treatment Panel III (NCEP ATP-III) criteria. Seventeen percent of subjects had ≥3 criteria for metabolic syndrome. HR recovery was lower in men than women and in smokers than nonsmokers. The subject with metabolic syndrome (vs. without) showed lower HR recovery (10.3±11.6 vs. 13.6±9.7 per minute) and higher resting HR (64.3±10.3 vs. 61.6±9.1 per minute). HR recovery correlated inversely to age (r=-0.25, p<0.0001), but not to resting HR or maximal oxygen uptake. Delayed HR recovery was associated with metabolic syndrome after an adjustment for age, sex, resting HR and smoking (p<0.01). Metabolic syndrome is associated with impaired vagal reactivation. Adverse cardiovascular outcomes associated with metabolic syndrome may be mediated by the failure of vagal reactivation in addition to sympathetic overactivity

CAR BODY ROOF CROSS MEMBER GRAVITY DEFORMATION ANALYSIS AND STRUCTURE OPTIMIZATION BASED ON OPTISTRUCT (MT)

Car body gravity deformation analysis by finite element method, and roof cross members are easy to have big gravity deformation. By researching on the relationship between gravity deformation and part thickness, camber, rib shape, it can be concluded that gravity deformation will be reduced a lot by optimize part camber and rib shape. Roof cross member gravity deformation reduced 48% by optimization the structure at last. It can identify the quality risk in advance by finite element virtual analysis of part manufacturing deformation during body process simultaneous engineering phase, and it is helpful to instruct the part design and reduce manufacturing cost