Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Integrated genomic and transcriptional analysis of the in vitro evolution of telomerase‐immortalized urothelial cells (TERT‐NHUC)

Much progress has been made in identifying the molecular genetic alterations that occur in bladder cancer. However, in many cases the genes targeted by these alterations are not known. Telomerase immortalized human urothelial cells (TERT‐NHUC) are a useful resource for in vitro studies of genes involved in urothelial transformation. When cultured under standard conditions they remain genetically stable but when cultured under low‐density conditions they exhibit genetic instability and acquire chromosomal alterations. TERT‐NHUC from three donors were cultured at low plating density and examined at four time‐points during a culture period of 600 days. Analyses included population doubling kinetics, array‐based CGH (aCGH), chromosome counts, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), mutation analysis, Affymetrix gene expression analysis, Western blotting for p16, anchorage‐independent growth and tumorigenicity assays. Alterations acquired during continued culture of TERT‐NHUC at low density (TERT‐NHUC‐L) included some observed in urothelial carcinoma (UC) cell lines and primary UC. Examination of gene expression in TERT‐NHUC with distinct acquired genetic aberrations may pinpoint genes targeted by these alterations. Data from an aCGH study of UC cell lines and primary tumors were examined for changes in chromosomal regions that also showed alterations in TERT‐NHUC‐L. Loss of a region on 2q including BOK was identified in UC cell lines and primary tumors. DNER and FRAS1 were identified as potential candidate genes, whose expression is altered independently of the acquisition of any genetic event. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Benchmark solution for multilayer magneto-electro-elastic plates adhesively bonded by viscoelastic interlayer

An analytical solution is developed for a simply supported multilayer magneto-electro-elastic plate, which is adhesively bonded by viscoelastic interlayer and subjected to transverse loading. The three-dimensional equations of magneto-electro-elasticity are used to describe the mechanical behavior in each layer of the plate, while the mechanical property of the viscoelastic interlayer is simulated by the standard linear solid model with strain memory effect. The imperfect electric conditions between adjacent layers are considered. Making use of the Fourier series expansion as well as the state-space method, a linear equation system to the solution of the problem considered is derived. By means of the Laplace transformation, the undetermined coefficients contained in the equation system are obtained analytically. The present solution can be used as the benchmark to assess the other numerical solutions. The comparison study shows a trend that the finite element solution converges to the proposed theoretical results as the mesh density increases; in contrast to the theoretical solution, the finite element solution is, however, time-consuming, in terms of mesh division and calculation. In this study, the effects of the time; interlayer thickness; and interlayer electric coefficient on the mechanical, electric, and magnetic fields are also investigated.
The role of TLE1 in synovial sarcoma

The treatment outcome of synovial sarcoma is poor owing to its resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. The Transducin‐like Enhancer of Split 1 (TLE1) is a co‐repressor that involves many signaling pathways like cell survival, hematopoiesis and differentiation. Although TLE1 is uniquely expressed in synovial sarcomas, the biological role of TLE1 is not completely understood. This study evaluated the function of TLE1 in synovial sarcomas using knock‐down of TLE1, and examined whether the inhibition of TLE1 suppresses the proliferation of synovial sarcomas and enhances the cytotoxicity caused by doxorubicin (doxo). The over‐expression of TLE1 was first confirmed in synovial sarcoma cells (HS‐SYII). When the HS‐SYII cells and normal fibroblast were transiently transfected with TLE1 siRNA, the MTT assay revealed growth inhibition in the HS‐SY‐11 cells but not in the normal fibroblast. TLE1 silencing also potentiated the cytotoxic effects of doxo against HS‐SYII cells. This effect of TLE1 silencing was attributed mainly to the induction of apoptosis. Subsequent analysis revealed that Bcl‐2 is a possible downstream target of TLE1 signaling. This study demonstrated that TLE1 is a critical factor for the survival of synovial sarcomas. Overall, the inhibition of TLE1 affects cell proliferation and the apoptosis pathway by suppressing the expression of Bcl‐2. © 2011 Orthopaedic Research Society Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 29: 1131–1136, 2011
Hierarchical Maturation of Innate Immune Defences in Very Preterm Neonates

Background: Preterm neonates are highly vulnerable to infection. Objectives: To investigate the developmental contribution of prematurity, chorioamnionitis and antenatal corticosteroids (ANS) on the maturation of neonatal microbial pathogen recognition responses. Methods: Using standardized protocols, we assayed multiple inflammatory cytokine responses (IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α and IL-12/23p40) to three prototypic Toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, i.e. TLR4 (lipopolysaccharide), TLR5 (flagellin) and TLR7/8 (R848), and to the non-TLR retinoic acid-inducible gene I (RIG-I)-like receptor agonist, in cord blood mononuclear cells from neonates born before 33 weeks of gestation and at term. Results: TLR responses develop asynchronously in preterm neonates, whereby responses to TLR7/8 were more mature and were followed by the development of TLR4 responses, which were also heterogeneous. Responses to TLR5 were weakest and most immature. Maturity in TLR responses was not influenced by sex. Overall, we detected no significant contribution of ANS and chorioamnionitis to the developmental attenuation of either TLR or RIG-I responses. Conclusions: The maturation of anti-microbial responses in neonates born early in gestation follows an asynchronous developmental hierarchy independently of an exposure to chorioamnionitis and ANS. Our data provide an immunological basis for the predominance of specific microbial infections in this age group.
Ergonomic evaluation and guidelines for use of the daVinci Robot system.

INTRODUCTION The daVinci Robot system has been widely lauded for its improved ergonomic characteristics when compared with the pure laparoscopic technique. Our goal in this study was to assess for the existence of guidelines to maximize the ergonomic benefits of the daVinci system. We also compared the surgeon's console with the recommendations of similar workstations. METHODS A literature review of seated ergonomics was performed to identify recommendations for work areas similar to the robotic system, where prolong seating is necessary. An upper body biomechanics and ergonomic expert was consulted to evaluate the daVinci system and aid in the formation of ergonomic positioning guidelines. Link-length proportions were used to evaluate size constraints of potential robot operators. RESULTS No published guidelines exist for proper positioning using the daVinci surgeon console. There are, however, several Occupational Safety and Health Administration workstation guidelines as well as microscope ergonomic guidelines. The use of link-length proportions showed that the surgeon console allows a comfortable posture for individuals with height between 64 and 73 inches. Review of the microscope ergonomics literature indicates that a neutral vertical seating position has been associated with decreased strain and musculoskeletal disorders. CONCLUSIONS The body mechanics of the daVinci robot system best mimics that of microscopy. Future surgeon console modifications could emulate those reported in the microscope ergonomic literature, where a neutral vertical position has been recommended. This may help avoid potential musculoskeletal disorders similar to those previously seen with microscopy usage. Guidelines are suggested to optimize the surgeon's console position.
Fractal Dimension Pattern Based Multiresolution Analysis for Rough Estimator of Person-Dependent Audio Emotion Recognition

As a general means of expression, audio analysis and recognition has attracted much attentions for its wide applications in real-life world. Audio emotion recognition (AER) attempts to understand emotional states of human with the given utterance signals, and has been studied abroad for its further development on friendly human-machine interfaces. Distinguish from other existing works, the person-dependent patterns of audio emotions are conducted, and fractal dimension features are calculated for acoustic feature extraction. Furthermore, it is able to efficiently learn intrinsic characteristics of auditory emotions, while the utterance features are learned from fractal dimensions of each sub-bands. Experimental results show the proposed method is able to provide comparative performance for audio emotion recognition.
Holistic online energy assessment: Feasibility and practical application

Combining energy harvesting with energy-aware scheduling enables perpetually operating sensor networks. The practical realization of this goal yet requires reliable and precise holistic online energy assessment. While the building blocks - assessing residual energy, predicting energy intake, and tracing energy consumption - have been studied in detail, the analysis of their interaction on a real platform has been neglected. This paper answers the question, whether these techniques can be easily joined to give a precise and correct picture of a sensor node's energetic state and behavior. For this purpose, we model the energy flow of a prototype energy-harvesting sensor node and evaluate the joint performance of state-of-the-art energy assessment based on a field test. We verify the system model and show the feasibility of holistic energy assessment, which tolerates small configuration errors, achievable with a combination of generic configuration and online calibration. We also analyze the feasibility of forecasting a node's future energetic state, and find that the presented method gives sufficient results for uniformly distributed consumption profiles.
Predicting Sasang Constitution Using Body-Shape Information

Objectives. Body measurement plays a pivotal role not only in the diagnosis of disease but also in the classification of typology. Sasang constitutional medicine, which is one of the forms of Traditional Korean Medicine, is considered to be strongly associated with body shape. We attempted to determine whether a Sasang constitutional analytic tool based on body shape information (SCAT-B) could predict Sasang constitution (SC). Methods. After surveying 23 Oriental medical clinics, 2,677 subjects were recruited and body shape information was collected. The SCAT-Bs for males and females were developed using multinomial logistic regression. Stepwise forward-variable selection was applied using the score statistic and Wald's test. Results. The predictive rates of the SCAT-B for Tae-eumin (TE), Soeumin (SE), and Soyangin (SY) types in males and females were 80.2%, 56.9%, and 37.7% (males) and 69.3%, 38.9%, and 50.0% (females) in the training set and were 74%, 70.1%, and 35% (males), and 67.4%, 66.3%, and 53.7% (females) in the test set, respectively. Higher constitutional probability scores showed a trend for association with higher predictability. Conclusions. This study shows that the Sasang constitutional analytic tool, which is based on body shape information, may be relatively highly predictive of TE type but may be less predictive when used for SY type.
Adding wildcards to the Java programming language

This paper describes wildcards, a new language construct designed to increase the flexibility of object-oriented type systems with parameterized classes. Based on the notion of use-site variance, wildcards provide a type safe abstraction over different instantiations of parameterized classes, by using '? ' to denote unspecified type arguments. Thus they essentially unify the distinct families of classes often introduced by parametric polymorphism. Wildcards are implemented as part of the upcoming addition of generics to the Java™ programming language, and will thus be deployed world-wide as part of the reference implementation of the Java compiler javac available from Sun Microsystems, Inc. By providing a richer type system, wildcards allow for an improved type inference scheme for polymorphic method calls. Moreover, by means of a novel notion of wildcard capture, polymorphic methods can be used to give symbolic names to unspecified types, in a manner similar to the "open" construct known from existential types. Wildcards show up in numerous places in the Java Platform APIs of the upcoming release, and some of the examples in this paper are taken from these APIs.
A systematic review of the outcomes of educational interventions relevant to nurses with simultaneous strategies for guideline implementation

AIMS AND OBJECTIVES To systematically review the literature on the outcomes of educational interventions relevant to nurses with regard to guideline implementation. BACKGROUND Previous reviews on interventions to implement guidelines have focused on particular clinical problems, but only one included nursing studies. DESIGN A systematic review based on the procedure of the Centre for Reviews and Dissemination. METHODS We searched for papers published from 1 January 2008 to 26 February 2015 using the Cochrane, CINAHL and PubMed MEDLINE databases and paper references were searched manually. Quality appraisal was conducted with tools developed by Thomas et al.(Worldviews on Evidence-based Nursing, 1, 2004, 176) and National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute. Data were analysed with qualitative content analysis and narrative synthesis. RESULTS The data included 13 studies based on a quasi-experimental study design of 13 different educational interventions, described according to their development and realisation, learning content and teaching and learning methods. Seven interventions were supported by simultaneous strategies, 12 studies reported statistically significant outcomes for the interventions on at least one measurement area and six studies reported improvements in the quality of patient care. Interventions with multi-dimensional content, teaching and learning methods produced several good outcomes. CONCLUSION Guidelines were implemented in a heterogeneous way and the interventions were delivered once and mainly on a local basis. In the future, we need to test these interventions in different nursing contexts, measure the outcomes on patient care and carry out randomised controlled trials on their effectiveness. It is important to standardise interventions, as this will allow them to be replicated and compared. RELEVANCE TO CLINICAL PRACTICE Educational interventions to implement guidelines could be beneficial in enhancing nurses' evidence-based decision-making and care practice. The combination of teaching and learning methods proved useful, and educational interventions should be supported with simultaneous strategies. There remains a lack of strong evidence on the subject.
Clinical and cost effectiveness of switching asthma patients from fluticasone-salmeterol to extra-fine particle beclometasone-formoterol: a retrospective matched observational study of real-world patients

Background: Efficacy trials suggest that extra-fine particle beclometasone dipropionate-formoterol (efBDP-FOR) is comparable to fluticasone propionate-salmeterol (FP-SAL) in preventing asthma exacerbations at a clinically equivalent dosage. However, switching from FP-SAL to efBDP-FOR has not been evaluated in real-world asthma patients. Aims: The REACH (Real-world Effectiveness in Asthma therapy of Combination inHalers) study investigated the clinical and cost effectiveness of switching typical asthma patients from FP-SAL to efBDP-FOR. Methods: A retrospective matched (1:3) observational study of 1,528 asthma patients aged 18–80 years from clinical practice databases was performed. Patients remaining on FP-SAL (n=1,146) were compared with those switched to efBDP-FOR at an equivalent or lower inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dosage (n=382). Clinical and economic outcomes were compared between groups for the year before and after the switch. Non-inferiority (at least equivalence) of efBDP-FOR was tested against FP-SAL by comparing exacerbation rates during the outcome year. Results: efBDP-FOR was non-inferior to FP-SAL (adjusted exacerbation rate ratio 1.01 (95% CI 0.74 to 1.37)). Switching to efBDP-FOR resulted in significantly better (p<0.05) odds of achieving overall asthma control (no asthma-related hospitalisations, bronchial infections, or acute oral steroids; salbutamol ≤200μg/day) and lower daily short-acting β2-agonist usage at a lower daily ICS dosage (mean −130μg/day FP equivalents; p<0.001). It also reduced mean asthma-related healthcare costs by £93.63/patient/year (p<0.001). Conclusions: Asthma patients may be switched from FP-SAL to efBDP-FOR at an equivalent or lower ICS dosage with no reduction in clinical effectiveness but a significant reduction in cost.
Hyperglycemia Reduces Proteoglycan Levels in Tendons

Rationale: Diabetic tendinopathy is characterized by increased stiffness, thickness, and excess calcification of affected tendons. We investigated the hypothesis that proteoglycans (PGs), as key regulators of tendon structure and calcification, are altered in diabetic tendons. Methods: Adult porcine patellar tendons were incubated in iso-osmolar media with high or normal glucose levels for 2 weeks. The PG fraction was isolated and analyzed. Protein and mRNA levels of five PGs were measured. PG production was assessed in primary tenocyte monolayers by 35S-sulfate labeling in high and normal glucose conditions with and without exposure to advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). Levels of transforming growth factor β, which commonly mediates some effects of hyperglycemia, were also measured and the effects of free radical scavengers on 35S-sulfate incorporation were determined. Results: PG levels were significantly decreased in tendons exposed to high glucose media compared with tendons in iso-osmolar control media. Relative quantities of individual PGs were unchanged by exposure to hyperglycemia and mRNAs for PGs were variably affected. High glucose media decreased PG production by tenocytes as measured by 35S-sulfate labeling, whereas AGE-modified type I collagen and free radical scavengers had no effects. Hyperglycemic conditions increased levels of transforming growth factor β1 in an AGE-independent manner. Conclusions: Hyperglycemia produces a reduction in PG levels related to decreased synthesis or sulfation of glycosaminoglycans, which may contribute to the tendon pathology observed clinically in diabetes.
A Wideband Slotted Waveguide Antenna Array for SAR Systems

Possibilities for the extension of the operational frequency band of slotted waveguide antennas are studied. It is shown that by using both conventional longitudinal slots and subarraying techniques it is possible to reach the relative bandwidth of about 15%. This result is illustrated by the development of a novel slotted waveguide antenna for high-resolution SAR applications. The antenna operates in the X-band and forms the beam of 4 - £ 6 - with the gain of about 30dB.
Antecedents of information systems user behaviour – extended expectation-confirmation model

The study examines antecedents that affect information systems (IS) users' behaviour and influence their decision to either continue or discontinue with IS use. Two models were used: the expectation-confirmation model of IS continuance (ECM-IS) and the extended expectation-confirmation model of IS continuance (EECM-IS) – the ECM-IS model extended by the additional construct of conditions of support. Confirmatory factor analysis has shown that both models demonstrated good factor, convergent and discriminant validity based on data collected from questionnaires filled out by users of the integrated accounting and budgeting software (IABS) Finova. ECM-IS explained 49% of IS continuance intention, and EECM-IS 59%. Users' perceived conditions of support, satisfaction and perceived usefulness determine their IS continuance intention, contributing to 48.5%, 33.9% and 17.6% of the R 2, respectively. Confirmation (confirmed user expectation) has a positive impact on perceived usefulness, conditions of support and satisfaction. Conditions of support, perceived usefulness and confirmation are significant predictors of satisfaction, contributing to 61.3%, 20.5% and 18.2% of the R 2, respectively.
One is not enough: multiple views in a media space

Media spaces support collaboration, but the limited access they provide to remote colleagues' activities can undermine their utility. To address this limitation, we built an experimental system in which four switchable cameras were deployed in each of two remote offices, and observed participants using the system to collaborate on two tasks. The new views allowed increased access to task-related artifacts; indeed, users preferred these views to more typical “face-to-face” ones. However, problems of establishing a joint frame of reference were exacerbated by the additional complexity, leading us to speculate about more effective ways to expand access to remote sites.
Cotesia vestalis parasitization suppresses expression of a Plutella xylostella thioredoxin

Thioredoxins (Trxs) are a family of small, highly conserved and ubiquitous proteins involved in protecting organisms against toxic reactive oxygen species. In this study, a typical thioredoxin gene, PxTrx, was isolated from Plutella xylostella. The full‐length cDNA sequence is composed of 959 bp containing a 321 bp open reading frame that encodes a predicted protein of 106 amino acids, a predicted molecular weight of 11.7 kDa and an isoelectric point of 5.03. PxTrx was mainly expressed in larval Malpighian tubules and the fat body. An enriched recombinant PxTrx had insulin disulphide reductase activity and stimulated Human Embryonic Kidney 293 (HEK293) cell proliferation. It also protected supercoiled DNA and living HEK293 cells from H2O2‐induced damage. Parasitization by Cotesia vestalis and injections of 0.05 and 0.01 equivalents of C. vestalis Bracovirus (CvBv), the symbiotic virus carried by the parasitoid, led to down‐regulation of PxTrx expression in host fat body. Taken together, our results indicate that PxTrx contributes to the maintenance of P. xylostella cellular haemostasis. Host fat body expression of PxTrx is strongly attenuated by parasitization and by injections of CvBv.
A unified geometric approach to modeling and control of constrained mechanical systems

Dynamic control of constrained mechanical systems, such as robotic manipulators under end-effector constraints, parallel manipulators, and multifingered robotic hands under closure constraints have been classic problems in robotics research. In this paper, we provide a unified geometric framework for modeling, analysis, and control of constrained mechanical systems. Starting with the constraint, we define two canonical subspaces, namely the subspace of constraint forces and the tangent space of the constraint manifold for holonomic constraint. Using the kinetic energy metric, we define the remaining subspaces and show explicitly the relations among these subspaces. We project the Euler-Lagrange equation of a constrained mechanical system into two orthogonal components and give geometric and physical interpretations of the projected equations. Based on the projected equations, a unified and asymptotically stable hybrid position/force-control algorithm is proposed, along with experimental results for several practical examples. In the case of nonholonomic constraints, we show that the equations can be projected to the distribution/codistribution associated with the constraints and the control law reduces to hybrid velocity/force control.