Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) in melanoma: There's smoke, but is there fire?

Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also called Tumor Initiating Cells (TICs), can be defined as cancer cells that are present within solid tumors or hematological cancers, which have characteristics associated with normal stem cells, but which can give rise to all cell types found in a particular cancer sample. CSCs, therefore, are transformed stem cells, which can self‐renew, differentiate into diverse progenies, and drive continuous tumor growth (Kreso & Dick, , Cell Stem Cell, 14:275‐291; Schatton et al., , Nature, 451:345‐349; Villani, Sabbatino, Ferrone, & Ferrone, , Melanoma Management, 2:109‐114; Zhou et al., , Drug Discovery, 8:806–823) (Fig. ).
The cohomology of superspace, pure spinors and invariant integrals

The superform construction of supersymmetric invariants, which consists of integrating the top component of a closed superform over spacetime, is reviewed. The cohomological methods necessary for the analysis of closed superforms are discussed and some further theoretical developments presented. The method is applied to higher-order corrections in heterotic string theory up to α'3. Some partial results on N = 2,d = 10 and N = 1,d = 11 are also given.
Crucial Roles of MicA and RybB as Vital Factors for σE-Dependent Cell Lysis in Escherichia coli Long-Term Stationary Phase

σE-dependent cell lysis has been proposed to eliminate damaged cells in the stationary phase in Escherichia coli. In order to explore the relationship of this process to long-term stationary phase existence, we considered that micA and rybB could be important small regulatory RNA (sRNA) genes for σE-dependent cell lysis. A long-term stationary phase was observed at temperatures of <37°C, but not >38°C, and was found even in an rpoS knock-out background. Strains with disrupted micA or rybB were incapable of long-term stationary phase existence. Both strains drastically lost survivability accompanied by a dramatic accumulation of mutations. These findings allow us to speculate that σE-dependent cell lysis plays a key role in the establishment of the long-term stationary phase, presumably by eliminating damaged cells and thus preventing the over-accumulation of mutations.
Thrombolysis in Unstable Angina: Randomized Double‐Blind Trial of t‐PA and Placebo

BackgroundBecause coronary thrombosis is important in the pathogenesis of unstable angina and correlates with in-hospital cardiac events, we hypothesized that thrombolytic therapy would decrease cardiac events. Methods and ResultsWe randomized 70 patients with unstable angina to tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) (0.49 MU/kg for 1 hour followed by 0.07 MU/kg per hour for 9 hours) or placebo. All patients received full doses of intravenous heparin for 96 hours and aspirin (325 mg beginning at 72 hours). The primary end points of the study were in-hospital death, myocardial infarction, and urgent revascularization. Three secondary end points were also evaluated. Myocardial perfusion was assessed with resting planar thallium scintigraphy 90 minutes after initiation of therapy. Silent ischemia was assessed with 48-hour Holter monitoring for ST shift beginning at time of initiation of drug therapy. Coronary angiography was performed at 18±6 hours and analyzed quantitatively to assess the stenosis responsible for unstable angina, the presence of intraluminal filling defects consistent with intracoronary thrombus, and stenosis morphology and severity. There was no difference in total in-hospital cardiac events between patients receiving t-PA (5% or 14%) and those receiving placebo (7% or 20%) (p =0.83). Resting thallium defects were larger in the patients receiving t-PA than in those receiving placebo (130±118 versus 76±84°, p < 0.04), and this difference persisted when corrected for previous infarction. Although the numbers of patients with ST shift were similar, the duration of ST shift was significantly longer in the patients receiving t-PA than with placebo (20±46 versus 3±10 minutes, p < 0.045). The frequency of intracoronary thrombi in patients with stenoses greater than 50% was significantly less in patients treated with t-PA (11 of 22, 52%) as compared with placebo (23 of 25, 92%) (p = 0.002), but there was no significant difference in minimal lesion cross-sectional area (0.49±0.42 versus 0.57±1.08 cm2, p = 0.75) or ulceration index (0.79±0.16 versus 0.77±0.15, p = 0.71) of the culprit artery ConclusionsWe conclude that a prolonged infusion of t-PA in unstable angina reduces intracoronary thrombi but does not significantly decrease in-hospital cardiac events. The sample size, however, does not provide sufficient power to rule out a treatment effect. Paradoxically, there appears to be an increase in ST shift and worsening of myocardial perfusion with t-PA compared with therapy with heparin alone.
Peptide binding to major histocompatibility complex

Peptide binding to major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules is a prerequisite for initiating an immune response. This article first describes an approach to predict MHC-peptide-binding sites by using an evolutionary algorithm (EA). The predicted binders are subsequently characterized for their physicochemical properties. The details and implementation issues of the peptide-binding prediction technique are discussed, and the performance comparison with the existing methods is provided. The binding motif derived in silico is used to characterize the physicochemical properties of the experimentally determined binders.
The Dual-specificity Phosphatase DUSP14 Negatively Regulates Tumor Necrosis Factor- and Interleukin-1-induced Nuclear Factor-κB Activation by Dephosphorylating the Protein Kinase TAK1*

Background: Activation of TAK1 is an essential step in TNF- and IL-1-induced NF-κB activation pathways. Results: DUSP14 dephosphorylates TAK1 at Thr-187 and negatively regulates TNF- and IL-1-induced NF-κB activation. Conclusion: DUSP14 is a negative regulator of TNF- and IL-1-induced NF-κB activation. Significance: Our study reveals a new post-translational regulatory mechanism of NF-κB activation triggered by the proinflammatory cytokines. The transcription factor NF-κB is critically involved in the inflammatory response triggered by the proinflammatory cytokines TNF and IL-1. Various studies have demonstrated that activation of TAK1 (TGF-β-activated kinase 1) is an essential step in TNF- and IL-1-induced NF-κB activation pathways. In this study, we identified a member of the dual-specificity phosphatase family, DUSP14, as a negative regulator of TNF- and IL-1-triggered NF-κB activation by expression screens. We found that DUSP14 interacted with TAK1 and that this interaction was enhanced by TNF or IL-1 stimulation. Overexpression of DUSP14 dephosphorylated TAK1 at Thr-187, a residue in the activation loop critically involved in TAK1 activation. Knockdown of DUSP14 increased basal as well as TNF- and IL-1-induced TAK1 phosphorylation at Thr-187. Overexpression of DUSP14, but not its phosphatase-deficient mutant, inhibited TNF- and IL-1-induced as well as TAK1-mediated NF-κB activation, whereas knockdown of DUSP14 had opposite effects. These findings suggest that DUSP14 negatively regulates TNF- or IL-1-induced NF-κB activation by dephosphorylating TAK1 at Thr-187. Our study reveals a new post-translational regulatory mechanism of NF-κB activation triggered by the proinflammatory cytokines.
The effectiveness of nutrition interventions on dietary outcomes by relative social disadvantage: a systematic review

Objective: To determine whether nutrition interventions widen dietary inequalities across socioeconomic status groups. Design: Systematic review of interventions that aim to promote healthy eating. Data sources: CINAHL and MEDLINE were searched between 1990 and 2007. Review methods: Studies were included if they were randomised controlled trials or concurrent controlled trials of interventions to promote healthy eating delivered at a group level to low socioeconomic status groups or studies where it was possible to disaggregate data by socioeconomic status. Results: Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Four were set in educational setting (three elementary schools, one vocational training). The first found greater increases in fruit and vegetable consumption in children from high-income families after 1 year (mean difference 2.4 portions per day, p<0.0001) than in children in low-income families (mean difference 1.3 portions per day, p<0.0003). The second did not report effect sizes but reported the nutrition intervention to be less effective in disadvantaged areas (p<0.01). The third found that 24-h fruit juice and vegetable consumption increased more in children born outside the Netherlands (“non-native”) after a nutrition intervention (beta coefficient = 1.30, p<0.01) than in “native” children (beta coefficient = 0.24, p<0.05). The vocational training study found that the group with better educated participants achieved 34% of dietary goals compared with the group who had more non-US born and non-English speakers, which achieved 60% of dietary goals. Two studies were conducted in primary care settings. The first found that, as a result of the intervention, the difference in consumption of added fat between the intervention and the control group was −8.9 g/day for blacks and –12.0 g/day for whites (p<0.05). In the second study, there was greater attrition among the ethnic minority participants than among the white participants (p<0.04). Conclusions: Nutrition interventions have differential effects by socioeconomic status, although in this review we found only limited evidence that nutrition interventions widen dietary inequalities. Due to small numbers of included studies, the possibility that nutrition interventions widen inequalities cannot be excluded. This needs to be considered when formulating public health policy.
Significance of the pseudocapsule on MRI of renal neoplasms and its potential application for local staging: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE The purpose of our study was to evaluate the role of MRI in showing a pseudocapsule for local staging of renal tumors, and its potential application to select patients for partial surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty tumors (73 renal cell carcinomas [RCCs] and seven oncocytomas) were preoperatively evaluated by MRI. MRI findings were assessed with a special focus on perinephric fat and pseudocapsule. Correlations were performed with pathologic staging after surgery. RESULTS At pathology, a pseudocapsule was recognized in 79 cases. Twenty-three RCC were staged pT3a (21 clear cell; two papillary). MR images exhibited a pseudocapsule in 90% of cases as a hypointense rim surrounding the tumor on T2-weighted images. MRI findings concerning isolated analysis of the pseudocapsule for differentiating stage T1/T2 from T3a were sensitivity: 86%, 50%; specificity: 95%, 92%; positive predictive value: 95%, 33%; negative predictive value: 88%, 92%; and accuracy: 93%, 89%, for clear cell and papillary types, respectively. For stage T3a, with both abnormalities of the pseudocapsule and perirenal fat, results were, for overall RCC sensitivity: 84%; specificity: 95%; positive predictive value: 91%; negative predictive value: 91%; and accuracy: 91%. CONCLUSION The identification of the pseudocapsule offers an additional value for local staging by MRI. The presence of an intact pseudocapsule is a sign of lack of perinephric fat invasion. It is more likely to predict that the tumor can be removed by partial surgery.
Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of the Essential Oils from New Caledonian Citrus macroptera and Citrus hystrix

The essential oils from the leaves of Citrus macroptera and C. hystrix, collected in New Caledonia, have been analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and evaluated for their antimicrobial activity. A total of 35 and 38 constituents were identified, representing 99.1 and 89.0% of the essential oils, respectively. Both essential oils were rich in monoterpenes (96.1 and 87.0%, resp.), with β‐pinene as major component (33.3 and 10.9%, resp.), and poor in limonene (2.4 and 4.7%, resp.). Other main components of C. macroptera oil were α‐pinene (25.3%), p‐cimene (17.6%), (E)‐β‐ocimene (6.7%), and sabinene (4.8%). The essential oil of C. hystrix was characterized by high contents of terpinen‐4‐ol (13.0%), α‐terpineol (7.6%), 1,8‐cineole (6.4%), and citronellol (6.0%). The antimicrobial activity was evaluated against five bacteria and five fungi strains. Both oils were inactive against bacteria. However, the C. macroptera leaf oil exhibited a pronounced activity against Trichophyton mentagrophytes var. interdigitale, with a minimal‐inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 12.5 μg/ml.
Beta-blockers and lipid metabolism.

effect vitiates the linearity of the relationship between CFUc and blast cell numbers in treated patients. We have, however, had the opportunity to study a 53-year-old woman with Ph1-chromosome-positive CGL whose clinical course after diagnosis was atypical. Despite adequate initial treatment with busulphan her spleen remained very large. Blast cells seldom disappeared completely from her blood and she continued to need blood transfusion. For these reasons splenectomy was performed seven months after diagnosis. The spleen weighed 2 75 kg. Thereafter the need for blood was reduced but the percentage of blast cells gradually rose. Some control of leucocyte numbers was achieved first with cyclophosphamide and later with hydroxyurea. In the last six months of her life blast-cell numbers rose steeply and the disease was refractory to busulphan, to hydroxyurea, and to a variety of other drugs used in combination. She died 31 months after diagnosis. Blood CFUc numbers were assayed on eight occasions during the first two years of her disease. Standard agar culture techniques were used.1 5 The relation between CFUc numbers and those of total leucocytes and immature leucocytes (blasts plus promyelocytes, predominantly the former) is shown in the figure.
Incidence and survival of lymphohematopoietic neoplasms according to the World Health Organization classification: a population-based study from the Victorian Cancer Registry in Australia

We studied the incidence and relative survival of 39 837 cases of lymphohematopoietic neoplasms (LHN) reported to the Victorian Cancer Registry during 1982–2004, classified according to the World Health Organization (WHO) classification. We modeled excess mortality using Poisson regression to estimate differences in survival by age, sex, and time period. Age-standardized incidence rates varied across subtypes of lymphoid and myeloid neoplasms. All major subtypes predominantly affected the elderly except Hodgkin lymphoma (incidence peaks at 20–24 and 75–79 years) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (0–9 years). After an initial rise, overall lymphoid and myeloid incidence stabilized in the mid-1990s. The 5-year relative survival was 58% for lymphoid and 35% for myeloid neoplasms. Survival improved during 1990–2004 for diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, follicular lymphoma, acute myeloid leukemia, chronic myeloid leukemia, and myelodysplastic syndromes (p < 0.001) and declined with advancing age for all subtypes (p < 0.001). Female sex was associated with higher survival for most myeloid subtypes. The results represent a rare epidemiological characterization of the whole range of LHN according to WHO subtypes.
Clarifying the Associations Between Individual Differences in General Attachment Styles and Psychopathy

The association between individual differences in general attachment styles and psychopathy is currently unclear, despite the potential utility attachment theory could provide regarding the interpersonal characteristics of psychopathy and the etiology of this construct. The purpose of the current investigation was to clarify these associations. For this purpose, we analyzed responses from an Australian community sample (N = 249) and a U.S. community sample (N = 292) containing validated measures of psychopathy (Triarchic Psychopathy Measure and Expanded–Levenson Self-Report Psychopathy Scales [Australian sample only]) and general attachment styles (Experiences in Close Relationships–Revised–General Short Form and Attachment Styles Questionnaire) to replicate our findings across measures and samples. The psychopathy domain of boldness was consistently negatively associated with insecure attachment styles. Psychopathy’s affective domain (meanness, callousness) was consistently associated with avoidant attachment, whereas its behavioral domain (disinhibition, antisocial) was consistently associated with insecure attachment styles, particularly anxious attachment. Our findings suggest that there are consistent associations between individual differences in general attachment styles and psychopathy in adult samples and provides preliminary support for further consideration of attachment theory in psychopathy research.
Management of cardiovascular risk in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: evidence and expert opinion

The risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality is increased in rheumatoid arthritis. The classical cardiovascular risk factors, including smoking, hypertension, dyslipidaemia, insulin resistance and diabetes mellitus, obesity and physical inactivity do not appear to explain the excess cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis, although they do contribute, albeit in a different way or to a lesser extent, to rheumatoid arthritis in comparison with the general population. A very important link between rheumatoid arthritis and cardiovascular disease is inflammation as it plays a key role in all stages of atherosclerosis: from endothelial dysfunction to plaque rupture and thrombosis. It also has an influence on and accentuates some traditional cardiovascular risk factors, such as dyslipidaemia, obesity and insulin resistance. To date, the exact pathophysiologic mechanism by which this relation between cardiovascular disease and rheumatoid arthritis can be explained is not completely clear. Cardiovascular risk management in rheumatoid arthritis is mandatory. Unfortunately, the way this should be done remains a point of discussion. In this review issues regarding cardiovascular risk in rheumatoid arthritis and its management will be addressed, according to evidence presented in the latest studies and our own experience-based opinion.
Return of spontaneous circulation with a compression:ventilation ratio of 15:2 versus 3:1 in newborn pigs with cardiac arrest due to asphyxia

Objective International guidelines recommend a compression to ventilation (C:V) ratio of 3:1 in neonates, and 15:2 for other paediatric age groups. The authors aimed to compare these two C:V ratios in a neonatal swine model of cardiac arrest following asphyxia. Design Experimental animal study. Setting Facility for animal research. Subjects 22 newborn pigs (age 12–36 h, weight 2.0–2.7 kg). Interventions Progressive asphyxia until asystole. Animals were randomised to receive C:V 3:1 (n=11) or 15:2 (n=11). Main outcome measures Return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) was defined as a heart rate ≥100 bpm. Also of interest were haemodynamic parameters, cerebral and systemic oxygen saturation and the proinflammatory cytokine interleukin-1β (IL-1β). Results Two animals in each group did not achieve ROSC. Mean (SD) increase in diastolic blood pressure (DBP; mm Hg) during compression cycles was significantly higher at a C:V ratio of 15:2 than 3:1 (7.1 (2.8) vs 4.8 (2.6)). Median time (IQR) to ROSC for the 3:1 group was 150 (140–180) s, and 195 (145–358) s for the 15:2 group. There were no significant differences in the temporal changes in haemodynamic parameters or oxygen saturation indices between the groups. IL-1β levels in cerebrospinal and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid was comparable between the groups. Conclusion In neonatal pigs with asphyxia-induced cardiac arrest, the response to a C:V ratio of 15:2 is not better than the response to a C:V ratio of 3:1 despite better generation of DBP during resuscitation.
Micro-Doppler-Based Human Activity Classification Using the Mote-Scale BumbleBee Radar

Human activity recognition is an emerging technology for many security, surveillance, and health service applications utilizing wireless sensor networks (WSNs). However, the exploitation of radar in WSNs has been only recently made possible through the development of small, low-power, and low-cost wireless radar motes, such as the BumbleBee radar developed by the Samraksh Company. This letter explores the capacity of using the BumbleBee radar for indoor human activity classification based on micro-Doppler signatures. The electromagnetic measurements of the signal transmitted by the BumbleBee radar are made to fully characterize the sensor and its limitations. A database of the multiperspective micro-Doppler signatures measured from the BumbleBee radar is compiled to analyze the classification performance and limitations due to the dwell time and the aspect angle. Within the operational constraints delineated, it is shown that the BumbleBee radar can be used to discriminate between walking, running, and crawling, even under variable conditions.
Using C-OWL for the alignment and merging of medical ontologies

A number of sophisticated medical ontologies have been created over the past years. With their development the need for supporting the alignment of different ontologies is gaining importance. We proposed C-OWL, an extension of the Web Ontology Language OWL that supports alignment mappings between different, possibly incompatible ontologies on a semantic level. In this paper we report experiences from using C-OWL for the alignment of medical ontologies. We briefly review key concepts of the C-OWL semantics, explain the setting of the case study including some examples from the alignment and discuss the possibility of reasoning about the mapping based on the C-OWL semantics We conclude by arguing that C-OWL provides an adequate framework for aligning complex ontologies in the medical domain.
Effects of Various Ageing Heat Treatments on Microstructural Features and Hardness of Piston Aluminum Alloy

Piston aluminum alloys have different intermetallic phases, such as Cu3Al, Mg2Si ,and AlNi phases. The morphology and the distribution of such phases have important roles on mechanical properties of the piston material. Therefore, in this research, various ageing heat treatments on the mentioned material were done and the microstructural feature and the hardness were studied. Obtained results showed that solutioning at 515 °C for 7 hours and ageing at 205 °C for 7 hours, was the superior heat treatment process, since such treatment led to increase the hardness value to its highest value (153 BHN) for the piston aluminum alloy. This heat treatment caused to increase the size of Si particles obviously and caused to precipitate other intermetallic phases of Al (Ni,Cu) and Ni-Si. Additionally, solutioning at 500 °C for 5 hours and ageing at 180 °C for 9 hours resulted in coarsening Si and Al-Ni participates in the longitudinal direction, which was caused to increase the hardness value to 137 BHN. Energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) results indicated that when the specimen aged at 230 °C for 5 hours, other intermetallic phases such as Al (Ni,Si) and Mg2Si appeared in the matrix.