This paper describes an algorithm for computing design parameters of Interpolated FIR (IFIR) digital filters with a low complexity (small number of products per output sample). The interpolation function is performed by a sharpened cascaded Recursive-Running Sum (RRS) filter, where the sharpening technique is used to improve the RRS frequency domain characteristics. Given the desired filter spe...

A comparison was made of the frequency dependence of total respiratory resistance, (Rrs), and reactance (Xrs), determined by a forced oscillation technique in 442 healthy subjects and in 126 patients with respiratory complaints, with or without slight airways obstruction. The comparison was performed by means of a discriminant analysis. The latter demonstrated that the Rrs and Xrs data, measure...

The genome of M. tuberculosis (Mtb) encodes eleven paired two component systems (TCSs) consisting of a sensor kinase (SK) and a response regulator (RR). The SKs sense environmental signals triggering RR-dependent gene expression pathways that enable the bacterium to adapt in the host milieu. We demonstrate that a conserved motif present in the C-terminal domain regulates the DNA binding functio...

AIMS To improve knowledge of the epidemiology of melanoma by comparing occupational risks of cutaneous melanoma (CM) by anatomic site in Swedish workers. METHODS Male workers employed in 1970 and living in the country in 1960 were followed up from 1971 to 1989 using the Swedish Registers of Death and Cancer. A more specifically exposed subcohort included men reporting the same occupation in 1...

Currently, mutations in three genes, namely rrs, rpsL, and gidB, encoding 16S rRNA, ribosomal protein S12, and 16S rRNA-specific methyltransferase, respectively, are considered to be involved in conferring resistance to streptomycin (STR) in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The aim of this study was to investigate the spectrum and frequency of these mutations in M. tuberculosis clinical isolates, bo...

Propofol may cause histamine release and alter airway tone and reactivity. Although its use has been reported to be safe in asthmatics, there is a lack of information on its effect on lung function in children with asthma. We measured respiratory mechanics after i.v. or inhalation anaesthesia in 60 children, aged 2-12 yr, with or without asthma. Anaesthesia was induced with propofol 3 mg kg-1, ...

OBJECTIVES Despite the global expansion of supply chains and changes to the production process, few studies since the mid-1990 s and 2000s have examined reproductive risks of the microelectronics industry; we examined the reproductive risks among female microelectronics workers in South Korea. METHODS Based on claim data from the National Health Insurance (2008-2012), we estimated age-specifi...

BACKGROUND A nationwide asthma survey on the effects of air pollution is lacking in Taiwan. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the time trend and the relationship between air pollution and health care services for asthma in Taiwan. METHODS Health care services for asthma and ambient air pollution data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research database and Environmental ...

Rapid and comprehensive detection of drug-resistance is essential for the control of tuberculosis, which has facilitated the development of molecular assays for the detection of drug-resistant mutations in Mycobacterium tuberculosis. We hereby assessed the analytical and clinical performance of an assay for streptomycin-resistant mutations. MeltPro TB/STR is a closed-tube, dual-color, melting c...

To examine the relationship between health practice in combination with health examination data and mortality, a population-based prospective cohort study was conducted in 9 towns and villages of Gunma Prefecture, Japan. Public health nurses interviewed inhabitants about their health practices. This cohort consisting of 7,694 subjects aged 40 approximately 60 years old at baseline in 1993 was f...