LLukas22/scidocs huggingface dataset:
Anticancer property of Bryophyllum pinnata (Lam.) Oken. leaf on human cervical cancer cells

BACKGROUND
Bryophyllum pinnata (B. pinnata) is a common medicinal plant used in traditional medicine of India and of other countries for curing various infections, bowel diseases, healing wounds and other ailments. However, its anticancer properties are poorly defined. In view of broad spectrum therapeutic potential of B. pinnata we designed a study to examine anti-cancer and anti-Human Papillomavirus (HPV) activities in its leaf extracts and tried to isolate its active principle.


METHODS
A chloroform extract derived from a bulk of botanically well-characterized pulverized B. pinnata leaves was separated using column chromatography with step- gradient of petroleum ether and ethyl acetate. Fractions were characterized for phyto-chemical compounds by TLC, HPTLC and NMR and Biological activity of the fractions were examined by MTT-based cell viability assay, Electrophoretic Mobility Shift Assay, Northern blotting and assay of apoptosis related proteins by immunoblotting in human cervical cancer cells.


RESULTS
Results showed presence of growth inhibitory activity in the crude leaf extracts with IC50 at 552 μg/ml which resolved to fraction F4 (Petroleum Ether: Ethyl Acetate:: 50:50) and showed IC50 at 91 μg/ml. Investigations of anti-viral activity of the extract and its fraction revealed a specific anti-HPV activity on cervical cancer cells as evidenced by downregulation of constitutively active AP1 specific DNA binding activity and suppression of oncogenic c-Fos and c-Jun expression which was accompanied by inhibition of HPV18 transcription. In addition to inhibiting growth, fraction F4 strongly induced apoptosis as evidenced by an increased expression of the pro-apoptotic protein Bax, suppression of the anti-apoptotic molecules Bcl-2, and activation of caspase-3 and cleavage of PARP-1. Phytochemical analysis of fraction F4 by HPTLC and NMR indicated presence of activity that resembled Bryophyllin A.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study therefore demonstrates presence of anticancer and anti-HPV an activity in B. pinnata leaves that can be further exploited as a potential anticancer, anti-HPV therapeutic for treatment of HPV infection and cervical cancer.
Hospital staff corridor conversations: work in passing.

AIMS
First, to document the prevalence of corridor occupations and conversations among the staff of a hospital clinic, and their main features. Second, to examine the activities accomplished through corridor conversations and their interactional organization.


BACKGROUND
Despite extensive research on mobility in hospital work, we still know fairly little about the prevalence and features of hospital staff corridor conversations and how they are organized.


DESIGN
We conducted a study combining descriptive statistical analysis and multimodal conversation analysis of video recordings of staff corridor practices in a hospital outpatient clinic in Switzerland.


METHODS
In 2012, we collected 59 hours of video recordings in a corridor of a hospital clinic. We coded and statistically analysed the footage that showed the clinic staff exclusively. We also performed qualitative multimodal conversation analysis on a selection of the recorded staff conversations.


RESULTS
Corridor occupations by the clinic staff are frequent and brief and rarely involve stops. Talk events (which include self-talk, face-to-face conversations and telephone conversations) during occupations are also brief and mobile, overwhelmingly focus on professional topics and are particularly frequent when two or more staff members occupy the corridor. The conversations present several interactional configurations and comprise an array of activities consequential to the provision of care and work organization.


CONCLUSION
These practices are related to the fluid work organization of a spatially distributed team in a fast-paced, multitasking environment and should be taken into consideration in any undertaking aimed at improving hospital units' functioning.
DC-plasma-assisted synthesis of diamond and alumina using liquid

Abstract A new approach was proposed for the DC-plasma-assisted ceramic synthesis using liquid as starting materials. The method consists of generating a plasma between the substrate (electrode) and the liquid phase. Plasma-assisted deposition above the liquid surface of a water-ethylene glycol solution yielded diamond on anode substrate under a constant applied voltage. The morphology and quality of diamond changed from mirror-ball particle with disordered graphite to high-quality film with prolonged deposition. Heating a cathode wire by discharge in an aqueous solution of aluminum nitrate produced α-alumina coatings without post-annealing under atmospheric pressure. Deposition stopped automatically when the whole wire in the solution was covered with alumina. The growth rate of the alumina coatings ranged 1–10 μm min −1 .
Coordinated Multi-Point Transmission With Imperfect CSI and Other-Cell Interference

Coordinated Multi-Point (CoMP) transmission for LTE-Advanced systems promises enhanced throughput and coverage performance, especially for cell edge users. However, the performance of CoMP systems heavily depends on the feedback quality and channel imperfections. In this paper, we investigate the impact of quantized and delayed channel state information (CSI) on the average achievable rate of joint transmission (JT) and coordinated beamforming (CBF) systems. We derive closed-form expressions and accurate approximations on the expected sum rate of CoMP systems with imperfect CSI assuming small-scale Rayleigh fading, pathloss attenuation, and other-cell interference (OCI). Furthermore, for analytical tractability, we employ a moment matching technique that approximates the distributions of the received desired and interference signals. Based on our analytical framework, we show that CBF and JT to multiple users are more sensitive to CSI imperfections than single-user JT and we identify switching points and optimal operating regimes for each scheme. Furthermore, we propose an adaptive multimode transmission technique that switches between CoMP schemes to maximize the sum rate. Finally, the proposed approximate framework enables us to identify key system parameters, such as feedback resolution, delay, pathloss, and transmit SNR for which CoMP becomes a judicious choice of transmission strategy as compared to non-cooperative transmission.
The Sampling Oscilloscope as a Microwave Instrument

Most of the equipment required is readily available in most microwave labs: a vector network analyzer, a microwave signal generator, and, of course, a sampling oscilloscope. In this paper, the authors summarize many of the corrections discussed in " Terminology for high-speed sampling-oscilloscope calibration" [Williams et al., 2006] and "Magnitude and phase calibrations for RF, microwave, and high-speed digital signal measurements" [Remley and Hale, 2007] that are necessary for metrology-grade measurements and Illustrate the application of these oscilloscopes to the characterization of microwave signals.
Behavioral health care for adolescents with poorly controlled diabetes via Skype: does working alliance remain intact?

BACKGROUND
Increasingly various technologies are being tested to deliver behavioral health care. Delivering services via videoconferencing shows promise. Given that the patient-provider relationship is a strong predictor of patient adherence to medical regimens, addressing relationship quality when services are not delivered face-to-face is critical. To that end, we compared the therapeutic alliance when behavioral health care was delivered to youth with poorly controlled type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) and their caregivers in-clinic with the same services delivered via Internet-based videoconferencing (i.e., Skype™).


METHODS
Seventy-one adolescents with poorly controlled T1DM (hemoglobin A1c ≥9%) and one of their caregivers received up to 10 sessions of a family-based behavioral health intervention previously shown to improve adherence to diabetes regimens and family functioning; 32 were randomized to the Skype condition. Youth and caregivers completed the working alliance inventory (WAI), a 36-item measure of therapeutic alliance, at the end of treatment. Additionally, the number of behavioral health sessions completed was tracked.


RESULTS
No significant differences in WAI scores were found for those receiving behavioral health care via Skype versus in-clinic. Youth WAI goal and total scores were significantly associated with the number of sessions completed for those in the clinic group.


CONCLUSION
Behavioral health can be delivered to youth with T1DM via Internet-based videoconferencing without significantly impacting the therapeutic relationship. Thus, for those adolescents with T1DM who require specialized behavioral health care that targets T1DM management, Internet-based teleconferencing represents a viable alternative to clinic-based care.
Persistence of mental health problems and needs in a college student population.

BACKGROUND
Cross-sectional studies indicate a high prevalence of mental health problems among college students, but there are fewer longitudinal data on these problems and related help-seeking behavior.


METHODS
We conducted a baseline web-based survey of students attending a large public university in fall 2005 and a two-year follow-up survey in fall 2007. We used brief screening instruments to measure symptoms of mental disorders (anxiety, depression, eating disorders), as well as self-injury and suicidal ideation. We estimated the persistence of these mental health problems between the two time points, and determined to what extent students with mental health problems perceived a need for or used mental health services (medication or therapy). We conducted logistic regression analyses examining how baseline predictors were associated with mental health and help-seeking two years later.


RESULTS
Over half of students suffered from at least one mental health problem at baseline or follow-up. Among students with at least one mental health problem at baseline, 60% had at least one mental health problem two years later. Among students with a mental health problem at both time points, fewer than half received treatment between those time points.


LIMITATIONS
Mental health problems are based on self-report to brief screens, and the sample is from a single university.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings indicate that mental disorders are prevalent and persistent in a student population. While the majority of students with probable disorders are aware of the need for treatment, most of these students do not receive treatment, even over a two-year period.
Clearing clinical barriers: enhancing social support using a patient navigator for asthma care.

BACKGROUND
Patients with moderate or severe asthma, particularly those who are minority or poor, often encounter significant personal, clinical practice, and health system barriers to accessing care.


OBJECTIVE
To explore the ideas of patients and providers for potentially feasible, individualized, cost-effective ways to reduce obstacles to care by providing social support using a patient advocate or navigator.


METHODS
The authors conducted four focus groups of adults with moderate or severe asthma. Participants were recruited from clinics serving low-income and minority urban neighborhoods. Data from these patient focus groups were shared with two additional focus groups, one of nurses and one of physicians. Researchers independently coded and agreed upon themes from all focus groups, which were categorized by types of social support: instrumental (physical aid), informational (educational), emotional (empathizing), validation (comparisons to others).


RESULTS
Patients and providers agreed that a patient navigator could help patients manage asthma by giving social support. Both groups found instrumental and informational support most important. However, patients desired more instrumental help whereas providers focused on informational support. Physicians stressed review of medical information whereas patients wanted information to complete administrative tasks. Providers and patients agreed that the patient navigator's role in asthma would need to address both short-term care of exacerbations and enhance long-term chronic self-management by working with practice personnel.


CONCLUSIONS
Along with medical information, there is a need for providers to connect patients to instrumental support relevant to acute and long-term asthma-self-management.
Familial aggregation of Behçet's disease in Turkey.

OBJECTIVE
Familial aggregation of Behçet's disease has been reported previously. The current study aimed at investigating the sibling recurrence risk ratio (lambda s) for Behçet's disease, which is of value in the estimation of the magnitude of genetic factors in the pathogenesis of Behçet's disease.


METHODS
170 consecutive unrelated index cases (98 male, 72 female) were interviewed with a detailed questionnaire to ascertain their family trees and the manifestations of Behçet's disease in their relatives. Subsequently, the immediately older sibling, or if an older sibling was not available, the immediately younger sibling, was selected as the second sibling for the evaluation. These siblings were contacted by telephone, and all subjects with recurrent oral ulcers were invited for examination.


RESULTS
31 of the 170 index cases had 51 relatives fulfilling the International Study Group criteria. Among 166 second siblings, seven had Behçet's disease (six male, one female) and 22 siblings (eight male, 14 female) with recurrent oral ulcers were identified. Sibling recurrence rate-defined as the ratio of the risk of being affected among the siblings of patients and the risk of being affected in the general population- was found to be 4.2%, which gives a lambda s value for Behçet's disease of between 11.4 and 52.5 in Turkey.


CONCLUSIONS
A high lambda s value supports a strong genetic background for Behçet's disease which will be helpful in designing genetic linkage studies.
The Economics of CO2 Sequestration Scenarios Using Ocean Nourishment

4th Annual conference on Carbon Capture & Sequestration - Developing Potential Paths Forward Based on the Knowledge, Science and Experience to Date.
Transcriptional gene silencing of HPV16 E6/E7 induces growth inhibition via apoptosis in vitro and in vivo.

OBJECTIVE
Transcriptional silencing of HPV oncogenes using short interfering RNA (siRNA) blocks E6/E7 expression. Our objective was to estimate the effective value of E6/E7 specific siRNA-induced transcriptional gene silencing as a potential therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer.


METHODS
In vitro studies were performed by employing two categories of siRNA targeting promoter of E6/E7 gene and E7 transcript, respectively, and inhibitory effect of both siRNAs was further observed in vitro and on xenograft in BALB/c mice that were inoculated with siRNA transfected SiHa cells and parental SiHa cells followed by siRNA intratumoral injection in vivo. Tumor volume and growth curves were assessed. Furthermore, cellular proliferation and apoptosis of inoculated tumors were determined by immunohistochemistry staining and TUNEL assay.


RESULTS
The two most active siRNA sequences specifically knockdown E6/E7 expressions at mRNA level in HPV16 positive Siha cells, increased p53 and decreased p16 expressions at protein level, inhibited cell proliferation, and induced cell apoptosis in vitro. Furthermore, both siRNAs effectively inhibited tumor formation and growth no matter in mice with siRNA transfected cells in vitro or with siRNA intratumoral injection in vivo. TUNEL staining and FCM assay consistently showed that tumor retardation was through induction of cellular apoptosis.


CONCLUSION
RNAi targeting the promoter of HPV16 E6/E7 acts effectively in vitro and in vivo, especially through intratumoral delivery, and may be a candidate therapeutic strategy for cervical cancer.
Soft Robots Using Compliant Tensegrity Structures and Soft Sensors

Tensegrity structures, isolated solid rods connected by tensile cables, are of interest in the field of soft robotics due to their flexible and robust nature. This makes them suitable for uneven and unpredictable environments in which traditional robots struggle. The compliant structure also ensures that the robot will not injure humans or delicate equipment in co-robotic applications [1]. A 6-bar tensegrity structure is being used as the basis for a new generation of robotic landers and rovers for space exploration [1]. In addition to a soft tensegrity structure, we are also exploring use of soft sensors as an integral part of the compliant elements. Fig. 1 shows an example of a 6-bar tensegrity structure, with integrated liquid metalembedded hyperelastic strain sensors as the 24 tensile components. For this tensegrity, the strain sensors are primarily composed of a silicone elastomer with embedded microchannels filled with conductive liquid metal (eutectic gallium indium alloy (eGaIn), Sigma-Aldrich) (fig.2). As the sensor is elongated, the resistance of the eGaIn channel will increase due to the decreased microchannel cross-sectional area and the increased microchannel length [2]. The primary functions of this hyperelastic sensor tensegrity are model validation, feedback control, and structure analysis under payload. Feedback from the sensors can be used for experimental validation of existing models of tensegrity structures and dynamics, such as for the NASA Tensegrity Robotics Toolkit [3]. In addition, the readings from the sensors can provide distance changed between the ends of the bars, which can be used as a state estimator for UC Berkeley’s rapidly prototyped tensegrity robot to perform feedback control [1]. Furthermore, this physical model allows us to observe and record the force distribution and structure deformation with different payload conditions. Currently, we are exploring the possibility of integrating shape memory alloys into the hyperelastic sensors, which can provide the benefit of both actuation and sensing in a compact module. Preliminary tests indicate that this combination has the potential to generate enough force and displacement to achieve punctuated rolling motion for the 6-bar tensegrity structure.
On Communicative Language Teaching — Theoretical Foundations and Principles

Theory of language, communicative competence, functional account of language use, discourse analysis and social-linguistic considerations have mainly made up the theoretical foundations of communicative approach to language teaching. The principles contain taking communication as the center, reflecting Real Communicating Process, avoiding Constant Error-correcting, and putting grammar at a right place.
Spatio-Temporal Frames in a Bag-of-Visual-Features Approach for Human Actions Recognition

The recognition of human actions from videos has several interesting and important applications, and a vast amount of different approaches has been proposed for this task in different settings. Such approaches can be broadly categorized in model-based and model-free. Typically, model-based approaches work only in very constrained settings, and because of that, a number of model-free approaches appeared in the last years. Among them, those based in bag-of-visual-features (BoVF) have been proving to be the most consistently successful, being used by several independent authors.For videos to be represented by BoVFs, though, an important issue that arises is how to represent dynamic information. Most existing proposals consider the video as a spatio-temporal volume and then describe "volumetric patches" around 3D interest points. In this work, we propose to build a BoVF representation for videos by collecting 2D interest points directly. The basic idea is to gather such points not only from the traditional frames (xy planes), but also from those planes along the time axis, which we call the spatio-temporal frames. Our assumption is that such features are able to capture dynamic information from the videos, and are therefore well-suited to recognize human actions from them, without the need of 3D extensions for the descriptors. In our experiments, this approach achieved state-of-the-art recognition rates on a well-known human actions database, even when compared to more sophisticated schemes.
Intrauterine environment and breast cancer risk in women: a population-based study.

BACKGROUND
The established risk factors for female breast cancer, including nulliparity, age at first birth, age at menarche, and age at menopause, do not adequately explain the occurrence pattern of this cancer. Therefore, additional factors need to be considered to advance our understanding of the causes of breast cancer. Evidence obtained from animals and humans indicates that the perinatal period may be particularly important. Our earlier studies, based on a subsample of the present investigation, suggested that factors thought to be positively associated with estrogen levels during pregnancy are positively associated with breast cancer risk. However, the associated confidence intervals (CIs) were generally wide, indicating considerable variability in the data.


PURPOSE
We studied a large number of incident breast cancer case patients and evaluated several perinatal variables in relation to breast cancer risk. These variables included some not previously studied, such as gestational age and neonatal jaundice. We also investigated twin membership as a predictor variable and death from breast cancer, in addition to occurrence of breast cancer, as an alternative outcome variable.


METHODS
Birth records for all deliveries at five different hospitals in Sweden during the period from 1874 through 1961 were used to define a large cohort of women. Incident case patients with breast cancer in this cohort were ascertained through the National Cancer Registry or the Uppsala Regional Cancer Registry from 1958 through 1994. In a case-control study nested in the cohort, we abstracted data from birth records on 1068 women with incident breast cancer and on 2727 control subjects individually matched to the case patients on date of birth. We modeled the data through conditional logistic regression. All P values were derived from two-sided statistical tests.


RESULTS
We found a markedly reduced risk for breast cancer in women whose mothers had pregnancy toxemia (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41; 95% CI = 0.22-0.79) and an excess risk on women who had neonatal jaundice (OR = 2.16; 95% CI = 1.27-3.67) or who were born before 33 weeks of gestation (OR = 3.96; 95% CI = 1.45-10.81). Compared with the risk for breast cancer in the singleton, the risk for breast cancer in dizygotic twins was increased, although this increase was not statistically significant (OR = 1.72; 95% CI = 0.92-3.20). There was no evidence in these data for a statistically significant or substantial association of breast cancer risk with birth size indicators (i.e., weight and length at birth and placental weight).


CONCLUSION AND IMPLICATIONS
Because pregnancy toxemia is associated with low levels of estrogens and neonatal jaundice, severe prematurity, and dizygotic twins with high levels of estrogens, our findings suggest that estrogens and other hormonal factors, known to influence breast cancer risk in the adult, may also play a critical role during the intrauterine period.