Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary Evaluation of the Effects of Cold Atmospheric PlasmaApplication Rate on the Proliferation Behavior of Keratinocytes In VitroMeasured Using CK-5, CK-10, CK-14, Ki-67 and p53 Expression

Antonic V1*, Münch S2, Belfekroun C2, Lademann J3, Peschke B4, Smith MD4, Kramer A5, Hartmann B2 and Ottomann C2 1Division for Translational Radiation Sciences, Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA 2Unfallkrankenhaus Berlin, Berlin, Germany 3Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Center of Experimental and Applied Cutaneous Physiology (CCP), Berlin, Germany 4German Institute for Cell and Tissue Repair (DIZG), Berlin, Germany 5Institute of Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany
Immune selection in neoplasia: towards a microevolutionary model of cancer development

The dual properties of genetic instability and clonal expansion allow the development of a tumour to occur in a microevolutionary fashion. A broad range of pressures are exerted upon a tumour during neoplastic development. Such pressures are responsible for the selection of adaptations which provide a growth or survival advantage to the tumour. The nature of such selective pressures is implied in the phenotype of tumours that have undergone selection. We have reviewed a range of immunologically relevant adaptations that are frequently exhibited by common tumours. Many of these have the potential to function as mechanisms of immune response evasion by the tumour. Thus, such adaptations provide evidence for both the existence of immune surveillance, and the concept of immune selection in neoplastic development. This line of reasoning is supported by experimental evidence from murine models of immune involvement in neoplastic development. The process of immune selection has serious implications for the development of clinical immunotherapeutic strategies and our understanding of current in vivo models of tumour immunotherapy. © 2000 Cancer Research Campaign
The Shigella Virulence Factor IcsA Relieves N-WASP Autoinhibition by Displacing the Verprolin Homology/Cofilin/Acidic (VCA) Domain

Shigella flexneri is a bacterial pathogen that invades cells of the gastrointestinal tract, causing severe dysentery. Shigella mediates intracellular motility and spreading via actin comet tail formation. This process is dependent on the surface-exposed, membrane-embedded virulence factor IcsA, which recruits the host actin regulator N-WASP. Although it is clear that Shigella requires N-WASP for this process, the molecular details of this interaction and the mechanism of N-WASP activation remain poorly understood. Here, we show that co-expression of full-length IcsA and the Shigella membrane protease IcsP yields highly pure IcsA passenger domain (residues 53–758). We show that IcsA is monomeric and describe the solution structure of the passenger domain obtained by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) analysis. The SAXS-derived models suggest that IcsA has an elongated shape but, unlike most other autotransporter proteins, possesses a central kink revealing a distinctly curved structure. Pull-down experiments show direct binding of the IcsA passenger domain to both the WASP homology 1 (WH1) domain and the GTPase binding domain (GBD) of N-WASP and no binding to the verprolin homology/cofilin/acidic (VCA) region. Using fluorescence polarization experiments, we demonstrate that IcsA binding to the GBD region displaces the VCA peptide and that this effect is synergistically enhanced upon IcsA binding to the WH1 region. Additionally, domain mapping of the IcsA interaction interface reveals that different regions of IcsA bind to the WH1 and GBD domains of N-WASP. Taken together, our data support a model where IcsA and N-WASP form a tight complex releasing the N-WASP VCA domain to recruit the host cell machinery for actin tail formation.
Automated Reduction of Visual Complexity in Small-Scale Relief Shading

Shaded relief derived automatically from digital elevation models differs distinctly from traditional manual shading. Particularly at small scales, many small topographic details that are present in terrain models disturb the clear portrayal of the main relief features. Automatic shading is therefore not appropriate for high-quality cartographic products. This paper proposes a new method of generalizing digital elevation models for deriving small-scale shaded relief that resembles the manual style. The procedure consists of the following raster operations: undesirable topographic details are smoothed with low-pass filters, and the main landforms, such as ridgelines and valleys, are detected by curvature coefficients. Two secondary grids are derived, one exaggerating ridgelines, the other deepening valley bottoms, and the two grids are combined according to the character of the terrain; the grid with exaggerated ridgelines is used in mountainous areas, and the grid with deepened valley bottoms in lowland areas. Finally, shaded relief is derived from the combined elevation model. Following these processing steps, only a few manual corrections are necessary to produce high-quality small-scale relief shading.
UPPORTED BY U NIGESTION “ Good monitoring , bad monitoring ”

Are courts effective monitors of corporate decisions? In a controversial landmark case, the Delaware Supreme Court held directors personally liable for breaching their fiduciary duties, signaling a sharp increase in Delaware‘s scrutiny over corporate decisions. In our event study, low-growth Delaware firms outperformed matched nonDelaware firms by 1% in the three day event window. In contrast, high-growth Delaware firms under-performed by 1%. Contrary to previous literature, we conclude that court decisions can have large, significant and heterogeneous effects on firm value, and that rules insulating directors from court scrutiny benefit the fastest growing sectors of the economy. Friday, November 23, 2012, 10.30-12.00 Room 126, 1st floor of the Extranef building at the University of Lausanne
Suppression of ocular inflammation in endotoxin-induced uveitis by blocking the angiotensin II type 1 receptor.

PURPOSE To examine whether the angiotensin II type 1 receptor (AT1-R) signaling plays a role in ocular inflammation in endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU). METHODS EIU was induced in C57BL/6 mice by a single intraperitoneal injection of 150 mug lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Tissue localization, mRNA expression, and protein levels of AT1-R in murine retinas were examined by immunohistochemistry, RT-PCR, and Western blot analyses, respectively. Telmisartan, an AT1-R antagonist widely used as an antihypertensive agent, was administered intraperitoneally at a dose of 10 mg/kg daily for 5 days until the injection of LPS. Twenty-four hours after administration, leukocyte adhesion to the retinal vasculature was evaluated with a concanavalin A lectin perfusion-labeling technique. Retinal mRNA and protein levels of intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 were examined by RT-PCR and ELISA, respectively. Protein concentration and inflammatory cells in the aqueous humor were also measured. RESULTS Retinal vessels were positive for AT1-R. In mice with EIU, retinal AT1-R mRNA and protein levels were significantly increased when compared to the normal control. EIU animals also showed significant increases in the number of inflammatory cells infiltrating the anterior chamber and adhering to the retinal vessels and in retinal ICAM-1 levels. Administration of telmisartan to EIU mice resulted in significant suppression of retinal ICAM-1 expression and leukocyte adhesion and infiltration compared with vehicle treatment. Protein concentration in the aqueous humor of telmisartan-treated EIU mice tended to be lower than that of vehicle-treated EIU mice, but the difference was not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS AT1-R signaling blockade inhibited retinal ICAM-1 upregulation and leukocyte adhesion and infiltration in the EIU model. These results suggest the potential use of an AT1-R antagonist as a therapeutic agent to reduce ocular inflammation.
New evidence for the therapeutic potential of curcumin to treat nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in humans

Introduction The immune system acts on different metabolic tissues that are implicated in the pathogenesis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Leptin and linoleic acid have the ability to potentially affect immune cells, whereas curcumin is a known natural polyphenol with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Aims This study was designed to evaluate the pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects of leptin and linoleic acid on immune cells from patients with NAFLD and to corroborate the modulatory effects of curcumin and its preventive properties against the progression of NAFLD using a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced NAFLD/nonalcoholic steatohepatitis mouse model. Results The ex vivo experiments showed that linoleic acid increased the production of reactive oxygen species in monocytes and liver macrophages, whereas leptin enhanced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) production in monocytes and interferon-γ production in circulating CD4+ cells. Conversely, oral administration of curcumin prevented HFD-induced liver injury, metabolic alterations, intrahepatic CD4+ cell accumulation and the linoleic acid- and leptin- induced pro-inflammatory and pro-oxidant effects on mouse liver macrophages. Conclusion Our findings provide new evidence for the therapeutic potential of curcumin to treat human NAFLD. However, the development of a preventive treatment targeting human circulating monocytes and liver macrophages as well as peripheral and hepatic CD4+ cells requires additional research.
Capecitabine Plus 3-Weekly Irinotecan (XELIRI Regimen) as First-Line Chemotherapy for Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: Phase II Trial Results

Background:Capecitabine results in superior response rate, improved safety, and improved convenience compared with 5-fluorouracil (FU)/leucovorin (LV) in metastatic colorectal cancer (MCRC). Irinotecan in combination with 5-FU/LV has been shown to improve efficacy compared with 5-FU/LV alone in MCRC. Therefore, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of capecitabine plus irinotecan every 3 weeks (XELIRI regimen) as first-line treatment. Methods:Patients with MCRC who were <65 years of age received irinotecan 250 mg/m2 i.v. on day 1 + capecitabine 1000 mg/m2 orally twice daily on days 1 to 14, every 3 weeks. Patients ≥65 years of age and those with impaired renal function or with a history of prior radiotherapy received lower doses of both agents (200 mg/m2 and 750 mg/m2 twice daily, respectively). Results:A total of 52 patients (29 men, 23 women) were enrolled between October 2001 and August 2003. Median age was 57.5 years (range, 30–79 years); median Karnofsky performance status was 90 (range, 70–100). Treatment led to a response rate of 50% (ITT population) and a disease control rate of 71%. With a median cohort follow-up of 30.5 months, median time to progression and overall survival are 7.8 months (95% confidence interval, 5.6–10.0) and 16.8 months (95% confidence, 11.9 to not reached), respectively. Most common treatment-related grade 3/4 adverse events were neutropenia (25%), diarrhea (20%), vomiting (16%), dehydration (10%), nausea (6%), abdominal pain (6%), and hand-foot syndrome (6%). Conclusion:XELIRI is an active first-line treatment of MCRC. Implementation of upfront dose reductions for both agents in patients with risk factors for toxicity appears to have produced a safer regimen compared with previous studies of XELIRI without such dose reductions.
APPLICATION OF THE ADAPTIVE CENTER-WEIGHTED VECTOR MEDIAN FRAMEWORK FOR THE ENHANCEMENT OF CDNA MICROARRAY IMAGES

In this paper a novel method of noise reduction in color images is presented. The new technique is capable of attenuating both impulsive and Gaussian noise, while preserving and even enhancing the sharpness of the image edges. Extensive simulations reveal that the new method outperforms significantly the standard techniques widely used in multivariate signal processing. In this work we apply the new noise reduction method for the enhancement of the images of the so called gene chips. We demonstrate that the new technique is capable of reducing the impulsive noise present in microarray images and that it facilitates efficient spot location and the estimation of the gene expression levels due to the smoothing effect and preservation of the spot edges. This paper contains a comparison of the new technique of impulsive noise reduction with the standard procedures used for the processing of vector valued images, as well as examples of the efficiency of the new algorithm when applied to typical microarray images.
Group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin (scarlet fever toxin) type A and blastogen A are the same protein

Group A streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxins A, B, and C (also known as scarlet fever toxins and erythrogenic toxins) were evaluated for relatedness to another streptococcus-derived lymphocyte mitogen, blastogen A. Streptococcal pyrogenic exotoxin A and blastogen A were immunologically cross-reactive and shared the same molecular weight, N-terminal amino acid sequence, and capacity to stimulate rabbit splenocyte proliferation nonspecifically.
Integration within the Felsenstein equation for improved Markov chain Monte Carlo methods in population genetics

In 1988, Felsenstein described a framework for assessing the likelihood of a genetic data set in which all of the possible genealogical histories of the data are considered, each in proportion to their probability. Although not analytically solvable, several approaches, including Markov chain Monte Carlo methods, have been developed to find approximate solutions. Here, we describe an approach in which Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations are used to integrate over the space of genealogies, whereas other parameters are integrated out analytically. The result is an approximation to the full joint posterior density of the model parameters. For many purposes, this function can be treated as a likelihood, thereby permitting likelihood-based analyses, including likelihood ratio tests of nested models. Several examples, including an application to the divergence of chimpanzee subspecies, are provided.
Effect of metakaolin on the properties of conventional and self compacting concrete

Supplementary cementitious materials (SCM) have turned out to be a vital portion of extraordinary strength and performance concrete. Metakaolin (MK) is one of SCM material is acquired by calcinations of kaolinite. Universally utilised as pozzolanic material in concrete to enhance mechanical and durability properties. This study investigates the fresh and hardened properties of conventional concrete (CC) and self compacting concrete (SCC) by partially replacing cement with MK in diverse percentages. In CC and SCC, partial replacement of cement with MK varies from 5-20%. Fresh concrete properties of CC are conducted by slump test and compaction factor tests and for SCC, slump flow, T500, J-Ring, L-Box, V-Funnel and U-Box tests. Hardened concrete characteristics are investigated by compressive, split tensile and flexural strengths at age of 7, 28 and 90 days of curing under water. Carbonation depth, water absorption and density of MK based CC and SCC was also computed. Fresh concrete test results indicated that increase in MK replacement increases workability of concrete in a constant w/b ratio. Also outcomes reveal that concrete integrating MK had greater compressive, flexural and split tensile strengths. Optimum replacement level of MK for cement was 10%, which increased mechanical properties and robustness properties of concrete.
Complex bilinear recurrent neural network for equalization of a digital satellite channel

Equalization of satellite communication using complex-bilinear recurrent neural network (C-BLRNN) is proposed. Since the BLRNN is based on the bilinear polynomial, it has been more effectively used in modeling highly nonlinear systems with time-series characteristics than multilayer perceptron type neural networks (MLPNN). The BLRNN is first expanded to its complex value version (C-BLRNN) for dealing with the complex input values. C-BLRNN is then applied to equalization of a digital satellite communication channel for M-PSK, which has severe nonlinearity with memory due to the traveling wave tube amplifier. The proposed C-BLRNN based equalizer for a channel model is compared with currently used Volterra filter equalizer and conventional complex MLPNN equalizer. The results show that the proposed C-BLRNN based equalizer gives very favorable results in both of MSE and BER criteria over Volterra filter equalizer and complex MLPNN equalizer.
Hip and Thigh Anatomy of the Clouded Leopard (Neofelis nebulosa) with Comparisons to the Domestic Cat (Felis catus)

The clouded leopard (N. nebulosa) is an endangered felid native to Southeast Asia. It is considered to be the largest and most acrobatic of the arboreal cats. To date, published studies have focused on cranial morphology, particularly osteology and dentition. This study describes the hip and thigh morphology of N. nebulosa and compares it to the domestic cat (F. catus). A number of statistically significant differences were observed between N. nebulosa and F. catus that were primarily associated with muscle attachment surface areas rather than differences in overall morphology. F. catus had proportionally larger attachment areas for Mm. gluteus profundus, tensor fasciae latae, and biceps femoris, while N. nebulosa had larger attachment areas for Mm. gluteus medius, rectus femoris, and semitendinosus. By comparison, surface area analysis of nonfelid species (C. latrans and V. vulpes) showed more differences when compared to felids demonstrating that this analytical technique is useful for differentiating closely‐related species from more distant ones. These results suggest that muscle map area analysis may be useful for comparing phylogenetic relationships between and within groups of different species and may also suggest variations in locomotor habits. Anat Rec, 2012. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Proton pump inhibitors and risk of Clostridium difficile infection: association or causation?

Purpose of review The rising burden of Clostridium difficile infection (CDI) requires urgent identification of preventable risk factors. Observational studies suggest an association between proton-pump inhibitor (PPI) use and CDI risk. Recent findings Key historical literature on PPI and CDI associations is reviewed as a prelude to evaluating the plausibility of a causative association. Impactful literature from the past 18 months is examined in detail and critically appraised through the lens of the Bradford Hill Criteria for determination of causality. The PPI and CDI association has been studied extensively and is valid. Nonetheless, causality is not proven due to extensive and difficult to control confounding in observational studies of CDI patient populations with complex comorbidities. Summary In the authors’ opinion, systematic discontinuation of PPIs in patients at risk for CDI is not warranted based on current evidence. Well controlled prospective human studies are needed. Careful and repeated consideration should be given to all PPI prescriptions to avoid potential adverse effects.
Pruritus in haemodialysis patients: International results from the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS).

BACKGROUND Pruritus affects many haemodialysis (HD) patients. In this study, pruritus and its relationship to morbidity, mortality, quality of life (QoL), sleep quality and patient laboratory measures were analysed in >300 dialysis units in 12 countries. METHODS Pruritus data were collected from 18 801 HD patients in the Dialysis Outcomes and Practice Patterns Study (DOPPS) (1996-2004). Analyses were adjusted for age, gender, black race, Kt/V, haemoglobin, serum albumin, albumin-corrected serum calcium, serum phosphorus, 13 comorbidities, depression, years on dialysis, country and facility clustering effects. RESULTS Moderate to extreme pruritus was experienced by 42% of prevalent HD patients in DOPPS during 2002/2003. Many patient characteristics were significantly associated with pruritus, but this did not explain the large differences in pruritus between countries (ranging from 36% in France to 50% in the UK) and between facilities (5-75%). Pruritus was slightly less common in patients starting HD than in patients on dialysis >3 months. Pruritus in new end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients likely results from pre-existing conditions and not haemodialysis per se, indicating the need to understand development of pruritus before ESRD. Patients with moderate to extreme pruritus were more likely to feel drained [adjusted odds ratio (AOR) = 2.3-5.2, P < 0.0001] and to have poor sleep quality (AOR = 1.9-4.1, P < or = 0.0002), physician-diagnosed depression (AOR = 1.3-1.7, P < or = 0.004), and QoL mental and physical composite scores 3.1-8.6 points lower (P < 0.0001) than patients with no/mild pruritus. Pruritus in HD patients was associated with a 17% higher mortality risk (P < 0.0001), which was no longer significant after adjusting for sleep quality measures. CONCLUSIONS The pruritus/mortality relationship may be substantially attributed to poor sleep quality. The many poor outcomes associated with pruritus underscore the need for better therapeutic agents to provide relief for the 40-50% of HD patients affected by pruritus.
Task-discriminative space-by-time factorization of muscle activity

Movement generation has been hypothesized to rely on a modular organization of muscle activity. Crucial to this hypothesis is the ability to perform reliably a variety of motor tasks by recruiting a limited set of modules and combining them in a task-dependent manner. Thus far, existing algorithms that extract putative modules of muscle activations, such as Non-negative Matrix Factorization (NMF), identify modular decompositions that maximize the reconstruction of the recorded EMG data. Typically, the functional role of the decompositions, i.e., task accomplishment, is only assessed a posteriori. However, as motor actions are defined in task space, we suggest that motor modules should be computed in task space too. In this study, we propose a new module extraction algorithm, named DsNM3F, that uses task information during the module identification process. DsNM3F extends our previous space-by-time decomposition method (the so-called sNM3F algorithm, which could assess task performance only after having computed modules) to identify modules gauging between two complementary objectives: reconstruction of the original data and reliable discrimination of the performed tasks. We show that DsNM3F recovers the task dependence of module activations more accurately than sNM3F. We also apply it to electromyographic signals recorded during performance of a variety of arm pointing tasks and identify spatial and temporal modules of muscle activity that are highly consistent with previous studies. DsNM3F achieves perfect task categorization without significant loss in data approximation when task information is available and generalizes as well as sNM3F when applied to new data. These findings suggest that the space-by-time decomposition of muscle activity finds robust task-discriminating modular representations of muscle activity and that the insertion of task discrimination objectives is useful for describing the task modulation of module recruitment.
Opening the Black Boxes of TAM: Towards a Mixed Methods Approach

The aim of this paper is to discuss the significance and potentials of a mixed methods approach in technology acceptance research. After criticizing the dominance of the quantitative survey method in TAM-based research, this paper reports a mixed methods study of user acceptance of emergency alert technology in order to illustrate the benefits of combining qualitative and quantitative techniques in a single study. The main conclusion is that a mixed methods approach provides opportunities to move beyond the vague conceptualizations of “usefulness” and “ease of use” and to advance our understanding of user acceptance of technology.