Streptococcus pneumoniae is an important human pathogen that causes a variety of diseases, such as pneumonia, bacteremia, meningitis, otitis media, and sinusitis, in both adults and children. The global pattern of growth phase-dependent protein expression of S. pneumoniae during in vitro culture was analyzed using 2-DE combined with MALDI-TOF MS and LC/ESI-MS/MS. Several protein production patterns were observed at four time points throughout the growth stage, although some protein levels did not change significantly. We focused on the switch in protein expression at the transition from log growth phase to stationary phase. Proteins that were significantly induced or repressed at this point are likely to be involved in central intermediary metabolism, amino acid synthesis, nucleotide, and fatty acid metabolism, cell wall synthesis, protein degradation, and stress responses. This global expression profiling approach has revealed previously unrecognized relationships between proteins in the life of this pathogen.

Chronic low back pain that lasts more than 12 weeks causes mental and physical distress. This study investigated the effects of pain neuroscience education combined with lumbar stabilization exercises on strength, pain, flexibility, and activity disorder index in female patients with chronic low back pain. Thirty-five female patients with chronic low back pain were randomly divided into two groups: the pain neuroscience education (PNE) combined with lumbar stabilization exercises (LSEs) group (n = 18, experimental group) and the lumbar stabilization exercises alone group (n = 17, control group). The experimental group underwent PNE combined with LSEs for 30 min per session, twice per week for 8 weeks, and the control group underwent LSEs only. The primary outcomes were strength (sit-up and back-up movements), Numerical Pain Rating Scale (NPRS), Korean Pain Catastrophizing Scale (K-PCS), and Tampa Scale of Kinesio-phobia-11 (TSK-11) for pain. The secondary outcomes were modified–modified Schober’s test (MMST) and finger to floor test (FFT) for flexibility and activity disorder (Roland–Morris Disability Questionnaire index). A significant difference was observed in the primary outcomes after intervention in the abdominal muscle strength (group difference, mean, −7.50; 95% CI, −9.111 to –5.889, F = 9.598; ANCOVA p = 0.005), the back muscle strength (group difference, mean, −9.722; 95% CI, −10.877 to –8.568, F = 7.102; ANCOVA p = 0.014), the NPRS (group difference, mean, 1.89; 95% CI,1.65 to 2.12, F = 24.286; ANCOVA p < 0.001), K-PCS (group difference, mean, 7.89; 95% CI, 7.02 to 8.76, F = 11.558; ANCOVA p = 0.003), and TSK-11 (group difference, mean, 16.79; 95% CI, 13.99 to 19.59, F = 13.179; ANCOVA p = 0.014) for pain. In the secondary outcomes, there was a significant difference in the FFT (group difference, mean, −0.66; 95%CI, −0.99 to −0.33, F = 4.327; ANCOVA p = 0.049), whereas the difference in flexibility (MMST) and activity disorder index of the secondary outcomes did not reach significance. Therefore, this study confirmed that PNE combined with LSEs is an effective intervention compared to LSE alone in improving muscle strength and pain in female patients with chronic low back pain.

We derive expressions for electron scattering rates in mercury cadmium telluride accounting for correct wave functions in narrow-band-gap materials. These scattering rates differ slightly from the rates obtained from standard expressions for wide-band-gap materials. The difference is related to spin-flip processes and has a relatively small effect on the transport properties. However, it is very important for spin-orientation phenomena. Monte Carlo simulations have been performed to investigate the mobility and steady state velocity-field characteristics of electron transport in mercury cadmium telluride with x=0.205 at 77 K. The simulations include scattering by polar optical phonons, ionized impurities, and alloy scattering. The Pauli exclusion principle as well as the dependence of the screening length on the distribution function have been accounted for. The simulations show that the screening length increases with increasing electric field with this dependence being the strongest for low carrier concentrations. For n = 5.4 × 1015 cm−3, the inclusion of the Pauli exclusion principle and varying screening length reduces the electron velocity by 5% to 10% depending on the electric field. Velocity-field curves are in good agreement with experimental data up to the electric field where the impact ionization becomes important. We have also calculated the dependence of low-field mobility on the electron concentration, which shows reasonable agreement with experimental data.

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In this paper, we proposed automatic face detection and tracking which is robustness in rotation. To detect a face image in complicated background and various illuminating conditions, we used face skin color detection. we used Harris corner detector for extract facial feature points. After that, we need to track these feature points. In traditional method, Lucas-Kanade feature tracker doesn't delete useless feature points by occlusion in current scene (face rotation or out of camera). So we proposed the estimation function, which delete useless feature points.The method of delete useless feature points is estimation value at each pyramidal level. When the face was occlusion, we deleted these feature points. This can be robustness to face rotation and out of camera. In experimental results, we assess that using estimation function is better than traditional feature tracker.