Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate exerts anti-proliferative and pro-apoptotic effects in renal cell carcinoma cell lines.

BACKGROUND The activation of nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB) has been implicated in the development, progression and metastasis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC). This study investigates the effect of pyrrolidine dithiocarbamate (PDTC), a NF-kappaB inhibitor, on two metastatic human RCC cell lines, ACHN and SN12K1. METHODS RCC cell lines and normal cells were exposed to 25 or 50 microM of PDTC. Apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry and TdT-mediated nick end labelling methods. Cell viability and proliferation were measured by MTT and BrdU assays, respectively. Expression of NF-kappaB subunits, IkappaBs, IkappaB Kinase (IKK) complex and apoptotic regulatory proteins were analysed by western blotting and/or immunofluorescence. DNA-binding activity of NF-kappaB subunits were measured by ELISA. RESULTS RCC cell lines had a higher basal level expression of all the five subunits of NF-kappaB than normal primary cultures of human proximal tubular epithelial cells or HK-2 cells. PDTC decreased the viability and proliferation of RCC, but not normal cells. Of the two RCC cell lines, ACHN had a higher basal level expression of all the five NF-kappaB subunits than SN12K1 and was more resistant to PDTC. While PDTC induced an overall decrease in expression of all the five NF-kappaB subunits in both RCC cell lines, unexpectedly, it increased the nuclear expression of NF-kappaB in ACHN, but not in SN12K1. PDTC reduced the DNA-binding activity of all the NF-kappaB subunits and the expression of the IKK complex (IKK-alpha, IKK-beta and IKK-gamma) and the inhibitory units IkappaB-alpha and IkappaB-beta. PDTC induced a significant increase in apoptosis in both RCC cell lines. This was associated with a decrease in expression of the anti-apoptotic proteins, Bcl-2 and Bcl-(XL), without marked changes in the pro-apoptotic protein Bax. CONCLUSION These data suggest that PDTC has the potential to be an anticancer agent in some forms of RCC.
Embedded Runtime Reconfigurable Nodes for Wireless Sensor Networks Applications

The use of reconfigurable hardware (HW) can improve the processing performance of many systems, including Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs). Moreover, reconfigurable devices permit remote and runtime HW reconfiguration, which implies benefits in WSNs deployment and maintainability and, finally, cost reduction. In this paper, WSN node runtime reconfigurability is tackled from several aspects. First, the sensor node includes a commercial reconfigurable device, a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), that permits to take advantage of the tools and support provided by the industry, while exploiting the inherent hardware parallelism. Second, two software (SW) and hardware reconfiguration scenarios are defined along with a support middleware. Third, in order to provide runtime reconfigurability to the WSN node, a complete runtime reconfigurable system has been defined and designed for the FPGA included in the node. Fourth, the HW reconfiguration cost has been evaluated, as well as the cost of transmitting new HW configurations and SW programs through the network, based on a set of defined parameters. Finally, the feasibility of the runtime reconfigurable system has been demonstrated with a use case.
Influence of volunteer and project characteristics on data quality of biological surveys

Volunteer involvement in biological surveys is becoming common in conservation and ecology, prompting questions on the quality of data collected in such surveys. In a systematic review of the peer‐reviewed literature on the quality of data collected by volunteers, we examined the characteristics of volunteers (e.g., age, prior knowledge) and projects (e.g., systematic vs. opportunistic monitoring schemes) that affect data quality with regards to standardization of sampling, accuracy and precision of data collection, spatial and temporal representation of data, and sample size. Most studies (70%, n = 71) focused on the act of data collection. The majority of assessments of volunteer characteristics (58%, n = 93) examined the effect of prior knowledge and experience on quality of the data collected, often by comparing volunteers with experts or professionals, who were usually assumed to collect higher quality data. However, when both groups’ data were compared with the same accuracy standard, professional data were more accurate in only 4 of 7 cases. The few studies that measured precision of volunteer and professional data did not conclusively show that professional data were less variable than volunteer data. To improve data quality, studies recommended changes to survey protocols, volunteer training, statistical analyses, and project structure (e.g., volunteer recruitment and retention).
Randomised trial of 0.2% chlorhexidine gluconate and 2.5% natamycin for fungal keratitis in Bangladesh

AIM The management of suppurative keratitis due to filamentous fungi presents severe problems in tropical countries. The aim was to demonstrate the efficacy of chlorhexidine 0.2% drops as an inexpensive antimicrobial agent, which could be widely distributed for fungal keratitis. METHODS Successive patients presenting to the Chittagong Eye Institute and Training Complex with corneal ulcers were admitted to the trial when fungal hyphae had been seen on microscopy. They were randomised to drop treatment with chlorhexidine gluconate 0.2% or the standard local treatment natamycin 2.5%. The diameters, depths, and other features of the ulcers were measured and photographed at regular intervals. The outcome measures were healing at 21 days and presence or absence of toxicity. If there was not a favourable response at 5 days, “treatment failure” was recorded and the treatment was changed to one or more of three options, which included econazole 1% in the latter part of the trial. RESULTS 71 patients were recruited to the trial, of which 35 were randomised to chlorhexidine and 36 to natamycin. One allocated to natamycin grew bacteria and therefore was excluded from the analysis. None of the severe ulcers was fully healed at 21 days of treatment, but three of those allocated to chlorhexidine eventually healed in times up to 60 days. Of the non-severe ulcers, 66.7% were healed at 21 days with chlorhexidine and 36.0% with natamycin, a relative efficacy (RE) of 1.85 (CL 1.01–3.39, p = 0.04). If those ulcers were excluded where fungi were seen in the scraping but did not grow on culture, the estimated efficacy ratio does not change but becomes less precise because of smaller numbers. Equal numbers ofAspergillus (22) andFusarium (22) were grown. TheAspergillus were the most resistant to either primary treatment. CONCLUSIONS Chlorhexidine may have potential as an inexpensive topical agent for fungal keratitis and warrants further assessment as a first line treatment in situations where microbiological facilities and a range of antifungal agents are not available.
Cyclic Variations of High-Frequency Ultrasonic Backscattering From Blood Under Pulsatile Flow

It was shown previously that ultrasonic scattering from whole blood varies during the flow cycle under pulsatile flow both in vitro and in vivo. It has been postulated that the cyclic variations of the backscattering signal are associated with red blood cell (RBC) aggregation in flowing whole blood. To obtain a better understanding of the relationship between blood backscattering and RBC aggregation behavior for pulsatile flowing blood, the present study used high-frequency ultrasound to characterize blood properties. The backscattering signals from both whole blood and an RBC suspension at different peak flow velocities (from 10 to 30 cm/s) and hematocrits (20% and 40%) under pulsatile flow (stroke rate of 20 beats/min) were measured with 3 single-element transducers at frequencies of 10, 35, and 50 MHz in a mock flow loop. To avoid the frequency response problem of a Doppler flowmeter, the integrated backscatter (IB) and flow velocity as functions of time were calculated directly using RF signals from flowing blood. The experimental results showed that cyclic variations of the IB curve were clearly observed at a low flow velocity and a hematocrit of 40% when using 50 MHz ultrasound, and that these variations became weaker as the peak flow velocity increased. However, these cyclic variations were detected only at 10 cm/s when using 10 MHz ultrasound. These results demonstrate that a high flow velocity can stop the formation of rouleaux and that a high hematocrit can promote RBC aggregation to produce cyclic variations of the backscattering signal under pulsatile flow. In addition, slight cyclic variations of the IB curve for an RBC suspension were observed at 35 and 50 MHz. Furthermore, the peak of the IB curve from whole blood led the peak of the velocity waveform when using high-frequency ultrasound, which could be explained by the assumption that a rapid flow can promote RBC aggregation under pulsatile flow. Together, the experimental results showed that the sensitivity and resolution of detecting blood properties are higher for 50 MHz ultrasound than for 10 MHz ultrasound.
CRIME AND THE BUSINESS CYCLE IN POST-WAR BRITAIN

The idea that crime may be related to economic activity, and particularly unemployment, has caused considerable political controversy, As there is a great deal of disagreement amongst academic researchers about the influence which economic forces play in influencing the crime rate, it is hardly surprising that politicians and others can find apparently respectable support for their diametrically opposing views. This paper re-examines the association between crime and economic activity. In the first section we consider possible reasons why crime might be related to the state of the economy. The second section surveys the evidence linking crime to economic circumstances. Finally, in the third section we present some new results, obtained using both annual and quarterly time-series data for England and Wales, concerning the relationship between the business cycle and property crime, i.e. offences of burglary, robbery and theft and handling of stolen goods.
IV . Koch Shape Filters for 2 nd Harmonic Suppression 4-1 The Design of Proposed Koch Filter

In this paper, the fractal shape is applied to microstrip band pass filters and integrated on a high-resistivity Si substrate to solve conventional 2 harmonic problem. Conventional microstrip coupled line filters are popular in RF front ends, because they can be easily fabricated and integrated with other RF components. However, they typically have large second harmonics that can cause unwanted interference in interested frequency bands. Without any additional filters, the proposed Koch shape filters have suppressed the 2 harmonics by about 40 — dB, so they can be used in systems such as direct conversion receiver with stringent harmonic suppression requirements.
Achieving competitive advantage and organisational performance through service quality initiatives in the supply chain

Service quality initiatives in supply chain management provide uniqueness to the organizationpsilas capabilities, make them difficult to replicate, and are thus a source of competitive advantage. On the basis of exploratory interviews with scholars and practitioners in three automobile manufacturing companies in North India, we propose a conceptual model that links service quality with competitive advantage and organizational performance. Practitioners would find the model useful in understanding stakeholderspsila assessment of service quality in the supply chain, identify core competencies related to internal service quality, capabilities offered by their supply chain partners, and categorize suppliers and distributors on the basis of service levels offered by them.
Semiconducting Group 15 Monolayers: A Broad Range of Band Gaps and High Carrier Mobilities.

Optoelectronic applications require materials both responsive to objective photons and able to transfer carriers, so new two-dimensional (2D) semiconductors with appropriate band gaps and high mobilities are highly desired. A broad range of band gaps and high mobilities of a 2D semiconductor family, composed of monolayer of Group 15 elements (phosphorene, arsenene, antimonene, bismuthene) is presented. The calculated binding energies and phonon band dispersions of 2D Group 15 allotropes exhibit thermodynamic stability. The energy band gaps of 2D semiconducting Group 15 monolayers cover a wide range from 0.36 to 2.62 eV, which are crucial for broadband photoresponse. Significantly, phosphorene, arsenene, and bismuthene possess carrier mobilities as high as several thousand cm(2) V(-1) s(-1) . Combining such broad band gaps and superior carrier mobilities, 2D Group 15 monolayers are promising candidates for nanoelectronics and optoelectronics.
Basolateral chloride loading by the anion exchanger type 2: role in fluid secretion by the human airway epithelial cell line Calu‐3

• The companion paper provided evidence for basolateral anion exchange during cAMP stimulation of chloride and fluid secretion by Calu‐3 monolayers; however, the molecular basis of this transport was not identified. • To test the role of AE2, an anion exchanger expressed at the basolateral membrane of Calu‐3 and many other epithelial cells, we used lentivirus‐mediated RNA interference to generate a stable Calu‐3 AE2 knock‐down cell line and characterized its fluid and anion transport properties. • AE2 knock‐down suppressed fluid secretion and increased the fraction of cAMP‐stimulated anion secretion that was sensitive to bumetanide inhibition. • Basolateral Cl−/HCO3− exchange was nearly abolished in AE2 knock‐down cells. • We conclude that AE2 is active during forskolin‐stimulated fluid secretion and mediates chloride uptake and bicarbonate recycling at the basolateral membrane.
Amygdala volume in schizophrenia: post-mortem study and review of magnetic resonance imaging findings.

BACKGROUND Claims that schizophrenia is a disease of the limbic system have been strengthened by meta-analyses of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies finding reduced hippocampus and amygdala volumes. Some post-mortem studies do not find these abnormalities. AIMS To assess the volume of the amygdala in a series of brains post-mortem. METHOD Amygdala volume was estimated using point-counting in both hemispheres of the brains of 10 male and 8 female patients with schizophrenia, and a comparison group of 9 males and 9 females. RESULTS No significant reduction of amygdala volume was found. CONCLUSIONS Significant volume reduction of the amygdala is not a consistent feature of schizophrenia; findings from early MRI studies using coarse delineation methods may introduce bias to subsequent meta-analyses.
Cluster Validity Analysis of Alternative Results from Multi-Objective Optimization

This paper investigates validity analysis of alternative clustering results obtained using the algorithm named Multiobjective K-Means Genetic Algorithm (MOKGA). The reported results are promising. MOKGA gives the optimal number of clusters as a solution set. The achieved clustering results are then analyzed and validated under several cluster validity techniques proposed in the literature. The optimal clusters are ranked for each validity index. The approach is tested by conducting experiments using three well-known data sets. The obtained results for each dataset are compared with those reported in the literature to demonstrate the applicability and effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Fertilization of pig eggs in vivo and in vitro.

The objective of this review is to set some of the problems associated with attempted in-vitro fertilization of pig eggs in a perspective drawn from the results of studies in live animals. Accordingly, the first part of the paper summarizes a variety of classical and more recent experiments performed in viva whilst the second part examines in-vitro observations and the nature of the experimental conditions imposed. A more general discussion follows in which suggestions are made ffir future work. It should be emphasized that this review does not attempt an exhaustive citation of relevant publications. None the less, it is hoped that sufficient references are given to provide access to the main body ofliterature available up to December 1988. Taken in conjunction with previous reviews having a different orientation (Hancock, 1962; Alanko, 1973; Baker & Polge, 1976; Polge, 1978; Einarsson, 1980: Hunter, 1982), a majority of studies bearing on the process of fertilization in pigs should become accessible.
Renal Collecting Duct NOS1 Maintains Fluid–Electrolyte Homeostasis and Blood Pressure

Nitric oxide is a pronatriuretic and prodiuretic factor. The highest renal NO synthase (NOS) activity is found in the inner medullary collecting duct. The collecting duct (CD) is the site of daily fine-tune regulation of sodium balance, and led us to hypothesize that a CD-specific deletion of NOS1 would result in an impaired ability to excrete a sodium load leading to a salt-sensitive blood pressure phenotype. We bred AQP2-CRE mice with NOS1 floxed mice to produce flox control and CD-specific NOS1 knockout (CDNOS1KO) littermates. CDs from CDNOS1KO mice produced 75% less nitrite, and urinary nitrite+nitrate (NOx) excretion was significantly blunted in the knockout genotype. When challenged with high dietary sodium, CDNOS1KO mice showed significantly reduced urine output, sodium, chloride, and NOx excretion, and increased mean arterial pressure relative to flox control mice. In humans, urinary NOx is a newly identified biomarker for the progression of hypertension. These findings reveal that NOS1 in the CD is critical in the regulation of fluid–electrolyte balance, and this new genetic model of CD NOS1 gene deletion will be a valuable tool to study salt-dependent blood pressure mechanisms.
Analysis of plasma adipocytokines related to clinical and laboratory data in the maintenance hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Atherosclerotic vascular diseases such as cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases are major causes for fatality of hemodialysis (HD) patients. Since adipocytokines are key players for arteriosclerosis in the concept of metabolic syndrome (MetS), we aimed to determine whether circulating levels of major three adipocytokines, adiponectin, TNF-alpha, and leptin, could be associated with various parameters and clinical events in HD patients who are diagnosed as MetS using a new criteria designed for the Japanese population. PATIENTS AND METHODS We enrolled 53 very stable patients under maintenance HD at Minami-Senju Hospital. Basically, clinical and laboratory data were taken just before HD therapy. HD sessions were performed regularly and all the participants took oral administration and injection as usual. A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate clinical and laboratory data related to three major adipocytokines, adiponectin, TNF-alpha and leptin. RESULTS We observed no significant differences of three adipocytokines when the participants were divided in accordance with existence of MetS or past cerebrocascular/cardiovascular diseases. Only the serum adiponectin levels were significantly different in two groups categorized by existence of diabetes mellitus. Serum triglycerides (TG) were significantly correlated with two circulating adipocytokines, adiponectin (r=-0.328, p<0.016) and leptin (r=0.397, p<0.003), when we analyzed all 53 patients together. CONCLUSION Plasma adiponectin and leptin are expected as contributors related to dyslipidemia, suggesting these may be targets of prevention of vascular diseases in maintenance HD patients.
Individual and Contextual Influences on Group Identification

Cet article porte sur l'analyse empirique des facteurs qui conduisent a «s'identifier avec» ou a «se sentir proche» d'un groupe social. Les donnees provenant d'echantillons nationaux representatifs (enquetes de 1972 et 1976) permettent le test de 3 hypotheses: «hypothese de similarite», «hypothese de saillance» et «hypothese de densite sociale» pour rendre compte de l'identification
Substitution in Use and the Role of Usage Context in Product Category Structures

The relationship between the substitution in use approach to product-market structure and cognitive accounts of product category structures is investigated in terms of the role of product usage context. Studies 1 and 2 show that distinctive usages predict similarity judgments, whereas usage versatility predicts prototypicality. The results of a third study suggest that individual usage contexts are associated with subcategories that involve restructuring of the overall category and, as such, guide context-specific product recall. Conceptual and managerial implications of the findings are discussed.
Building the drains: the lymphatic vasculature in health and disease

The lymphatic vasculature is comprised of a network of endothelial vessels found in close proximity to but separated from the blood vasculature. An essential tissue component of all vertebrates, lymphatics are responsible for the maintenance of fluid homeostasis, dissemination of immune cells, and lipid reabsorption under healthy conditions. When lymphatic vessels are impaired due to invasive surgery, genetic disorders, or parasitic infections, severe fluid build‐up accumulates in the affected tissues causing a condition known as lymphedema. Malignant tumors can also directly activate lymphangiogenesis and use these vessels to promote the spread of metastatic cells. Although their first description goes back to the times of Hippocrates, with subsequent anatomical characterization at the beginning of the 20th‐century, the lack of identifying molecular markers and tools to visualize these translucent vessels meant that investigation of lymphatic vessels fell well behind research of blood vessels. However, after years under the shadow of the blood vasculature, recent advances in imaging technologies and new genetic and molecular tools have accelerated the pace of research on lymphatic vessel development. These new tools have facilitated both work in classical mammalian models and the emergence of new powerful vertebrate models like zebrafish, quickly driving the field of lymphatic development back into the spotlight. In this review, we summarize the highlights of recent research on the development and function of the lymphatic vascular network in health and disease. WIREs Dev Biol 2016, 5:689–710. doi: 10.1002/wdev.246