Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Immunohistochemical analysis of nm23 protein in transitional cell carcinoma of the bladder.

OBJECTIVES To elucidate the clinical significance of the nm23 gene product in transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) of the bladder. PATIENTS AND METHODS The immunoreactivity of nm23 protein and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) were evaluated in paraffin-embedded tumour samples obtained from 74 patients with TCC of the bladder who underwent total cystectomy between 1981 and 1993 and compared with the histological findings and clinical outcome. RESULTS The immunoreactivity of nm23 protein was positive near basement membrane in normal transitional epithelium and superficial TCCs; it could also be positive at the invasive front of TCCs. The immunoreactivity of nm23 protein in TCCs was significantly higher than that in normal transitional epithelium and correlated significantly with the expression of PCNA and with histological grade. Similarly, immunoreactivity was significantly higher in invasive TCCs than in superficial TCCs; however, there was no significant difference between superficial TCCs and normal transitional epithelium. Immunoreactivity of nm23 protein was not associated with the early development of metastasis after radical surgery or with a favorable clinical outcome. CONCLUSION Immunoreactivity of nm23 protein appeared to be associated with the proliferation and progression of TCC of the bladder. The potential role of nm23 as a suppressor of the metastatic activity of tumours was less prominent, partly because of mutations of nm23 in TCCs of the bladder.
Diminished arylesterase enzyme activity and total thiol levels in bladder cancer patients.

BACKGROUND It is difficult to think of a disease in the etiology of which free radicals would not be involved. The human body has a number of endogenous free-radical scavenging systems to avoid harm that can lead to any disease including cancer. This study aims to measure the total anti-oxidative status (TAS), in particular the activities of HDL-associated anti-oxidative enzymes paraoxonase (PON1), arylesterase (ARE), and total thiol levels (Ttl) in bladder cancer (BC) patients for the first time in literature. METHODS Forty two male patients (mean age, 66.6 +/- 12.7 years) with BC who had presented at the Urology Outpatient Clinic were prospectively included in the study. Forty age- and gender-matched healthy control subjects (mean age 65 +/- 7.4 years) were also enrolled for comparison. Analysis of PON1, ARE activities, measurement of TAS, and Ttl of serum were carried out using colorimetric measurement methods. Statistical analyses were performed using the MedCalc statistical software program. RESULTS ARE enzyme activity and Ttl levels were significantly lower in patients with BC compared to controls (p = 0.03; p = 0.02, respectively), whereas PON1 enzyme activity and TAS did not show significant differences. Ttl levels were lower in patients with a high grade cancer compared to those with a low grade cancer (p = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Anti-oxidant measurements might be essential in routine clinical use, not only as cancer disease markers but also as major actors in the management of anti-oxidant remedies in the very near future. Our findings showed that determination of ARE enzyme activity and Ttl levels were more precise than PON1 enzyme activity or TAS measurements, particularly in BC patients. When composing a marker panel, it should be kept in mind that determination of anti-oxidant levels based merely on TAS or PON1 activity may be deceptive and must include ARE enzyme activity and/or Ttl measurements. However, long-term clinical studies are needed to clarify the pathophysiological role of serum anti-oxidative levels and HDL-associated PON1 activity in BC patients.
Lidocaine Attenuates the Development of Diabetic-Induced Tactile Allodynia by Inhibiting Microglial Activation

BACKGROUND:Lidocaine is used clinically for tactile allodynia associated with diabetes-induced neuropathy. Although the analgesic effect of lidocaine through suppression of microglial activation has been implicated in the development of injury-induced neuropathic pain, its mechanism of action in diabetes-induced tactile allodynia has not yet been completely elucidated. METHODS:To evaluate the effects of lidocaine on microglial response in diabetic neuropathy, streptozotocin (STZ)-injected mice received a continuous infusion of lidocaine (vehicle, 2, or 10%) from day 14 to day 21 after STZ injection. On day 21, microglial accumulation and p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in the dorsal horn were evaluated. In vitro, the effects of lidocaine on cell viability, chemotactic response to monocyte chemotactic protein-1, and induction of proinflammatory mediators were examined in interferon (IFN)-&ggr;–stimulated primary microglial cells. RESULTS:Continuous systemic administration of lidocaine in the early progression of tactile allodynia produced long-lasting analgesic effects in STZ-treated mice. Lidocaine significantly reduced accumulation and p38 phosphorylation of microglial cells in the dorsal horn. In vitro, lidocaine down-regulated IFN-&ggr;–induced gene induction of inducible oxide synthase and interleukin-1&bgr;. Pretreatment with lidocaine significantly reduced chemotactic response to monocyte chemotactic protein-1 of IFN-&ggr;–activated microglial cells. CONCLUSION:Lidocaine alleviates STZ-induced tactile allodynia, possibly by modulating the p38 pathway in spinal microglial cells. Inhibiting microglial activation by lidocaine treatment early in the course of diabetes-induced neuropathy represents a potential therapeutic strategy for tactile allodynia.
Congestion Control Design for Multipath Transport Protocols: A Survey

High-quality services over wired and wireless networks require high bitrate network content delivery. Multipath transport protocols utilize multiple paths to support increased throughput for network applications. Ubiquitous mobile devices with multiple interfaces such as WiFi and 4G/5G cellular, and data centers supporting big data analysis and cloud-computing, motivate adoption of multipath transmission in current and future network architectures. Congestion control mechanisms play a fundamental role in these multipath transport protocols. Diverse approaches have been proposed in the literature, differing in terms of their goals, principles, performance, and mostly in how various issues are addressed in their design. This paper presents a survey of congestion control solutions for multipath transport protocols and discusses the multipath congestion control design in order to address the need for some desirable properties including TCP-friendliness, load balancing, stability, and Pareto optimality. Existing window-based and rate-based multipath congestion control algorithms are investigated and categorized based on their theoretical algorithm design. Next, this paper discusses the congestion control mechanisms used in diverse multipath transport protocols in the context of different network scenarios. Finally, the trends in the future multipath congestion control design are presented.
Applying RADAR with new business postgraduates

In a recent ‘research in practice’ article in the Journal of Information Science, Mandalios introduced the RADAR tool, which she designed to assist students evaluate online information. She pointed out that the tool, although supported by preliminary qualitative research conducted at her own institution, required further empirical investigation. This brief communication aims to contribute empirical evidence which supports the efficacy of RADAR as a tool for evaluating online information resources by discussing student feedback on the application of the tool in an introductory session to a taught postgraduate business class. The context in which the RADAR tool was deployed is discussed, data on student reactions to it is reported and implications for future research are discussed.
Diana monkey long-distance calls: messages for conspecifics and predators

Abstract Primate long-distance calls have typically been interpreted as communication signals between conspecific groups (the ‘resource defence hypothesis’), but their potential role as anti-predator alarm calls has received comparably little attention. Male diana monkeys,Cercopithecus diana dianain the Tai forest of Cote d’Ivoire often utter long-distance calls, either spontaneously or in reaction to a variety of stimuli, including predators and non-predators. The present study focuses only on predation contexts and provides evidence for communication to both predators and conspecifics. Males called only in response to predators whose hunting success depends on unprepared prey, that is, leopards and crowned hawk eagles, but not in response to pursuit hunters, such as chimpanzees and humans, which can pursue the caller in the canopy. Calling was regularly combined with approaching the predator. Both observations suggest that male long-distance calls are used to signal detection to the predator (‘perception advertisement hypothesis’). Analysis of male long-distance calls given to leopards and eagles showed that they differed according to a number of acoustic parameters. The two call variants were played to different diana monkey groups; conspecifics responded to them as though the original predator were present. We conclude that, in addition to their function in perception advertisement, diana monkey long-distance calls function as within-group semantic signals that denote different types of predators.
A Markov chain Monte Carlo with Gibbs sampling approach to anisotropic receiver function forward modeling

S U M M A R Y Teleseismic receiver functions contain information regarding Earth structure beneath a seismic station. P-to-SV converted phases are often used to characterize crustal and upper-mantle discontinuities and isotropic velocity structures. More recently, P-to-SH converted energy has been used to interrogate the orientation of anisotropy at depth, as well as the geometry of dipping interfaces. Many studies use a trial-and-error forward modeling approach for the interpretation of receiver functions, generating synthetic receiver functions from a user-defined input model of Earth structure and amending this model until it matches major features in the actual data. While often successful, such an approach makes it impossible to explore model space in a systematic and robust manner, which is especially important given that solutions are likely non-unique. Here, we present a Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm with Gibbs sampling for the interpretation of anisotropic receiver functions. Synthetic examples are used to test the viability of the algorithm, suggesting that it works well for models with a reasonable number of free parameters (<∼20). Additionally, the synthetic tests illustrate that certain parameters are well constrained by receiver function data, while others are subject to severe trade-offs—an important implication for studies that attempt to interpret Earth structure based on receiver function data. Finally, we apply our algorithm to receiver function data from station WCI in the central United States. We find evidence for a change in anisotropic structure at midlithospheric depths, consistent with previous work that used a grid search approach to model receiver function data at this station. Forward modeling of receiver functions using model space search algorithms, such as the one presented here, provide a meaningful framework for interrogating Earth structure from receiver function data.
Effects of Device Geometry on Hetero-Gate-Dielectric Tunneling Field-Effect Transistors

This letter discusses the effects of device geometry, such as channel layer thickness and multiple-gate structure on hetero-gate-dielectric tunneling field-effect transistors (HG TFETs). According to simulation results, contrary to conventional TFETs or MOSFETs, HG TFETs show improved subthreshold swing (SS) for increasing channel thickness or decreasing number of gates. The trend with on-current ION depends on operating voltage VDD.
Prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella in two geographically distant commercial beef processing plants in the United States.

For two large beef processing plants, one located in the southern United States (plant A) and one located in the northern United States (plant B), prevalence of Escherichia coli O157:H7, Listeria spp. , Listeria monocytogenes, and Salmonella was determined for hide, carcass, and facility environmental samples over the course of 5 months. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 (68.1 versus 55.9%) and Salmonella (91.8 versus 50.3%) was higher (P < 0.05), and the prevalence of Listeria spp. (37.7 versus 75.5%) and L. monocytogenes (0.8 versus 18.7%) was lower (P < 0.05) for the hides of cattle slaughtered at plant A versus plant B. Similarly, the prevalence of Salmonella (52.0 versus 25.3%) was higher (P < 0.05) and the prevalence of Listeria spp. (12.0 versus 40.0%) and L. monocytogenes (1.3 versus 14.7%) was lower (P < 0.05) for the fence panels of the holding pens of plant A versus plant B. The prevalence of E. coli O157:H7 (3.1 versus 10.9%), Listeria spp. (4.5 versus 14.6%), and L. monocytogenes (0.0 versus 1.1%) was lower (P < 0.05) for preevisceration carcasses sampled at plant A versus plant B. Salmonella (both plants), Listeria spp. (plant B), and L. monocytogenes (plant B) were detected on fabrication floor conveyor belts (product contact surfaces) late during the production day. For plant B, 21 of 148 (14.2%) late-operational fabrication floor conveyor belt samples were L. monocytogenes positive. For plant B, E. coli O157:H7 and L. monocytogenes were detected in preoperational fabrication floor conveyor belt samples. Overall results suggest that there are regional differences in the prevalence of pathogens on the hides of cattle presented for harvest at commercial beef processing plants. While hide data may reflect the regional prevalence, the carcass data is indicative of differences in harvest practices and procedures in these plants.
Use of acridine orange to evaluate chromatin integrity of human spermatozoa in different groups of infertile men

To study the sperm chromatin compactness various methods, such as acidic aniline blue or acridine orange staining, have been applied. Due to its metachromatic properties, acridine orange dye fluoresces green with double‐ and red with single‐stranded DNA. Samples (n=181) were evaluated and grouped as follows: group I, normal recently fertile; group II, male having female partner with repeated early pregnancy loss; group III, male with varicocele; and group IV in‐vitro fertilization and intrauterine insemination failures. Routine semen analyses were carried out in all the cases. Amorphous particulate matter as observed under phase contrast microscope was graded on the scale of nil to ++++. Fixed smears were stained with an aqueous solution of acridine orange and viewed under a fluorescence microscope. Two hundred cells were counted and the percentage of fluorescence calculated. Groups II, III and IV exhibited significantly low green fluorescence compared with the control group. The study also indicates that increased amorphous particulate matter (indicating infection) might be one of the contributing factors to lower acridine orange stainability. Thus acridine orange staining can be used to evaluate the integrity of the nucleus, disorders of which can cause unexplained infertility or lower fertilization potential that may go undetected by routine analysis.
Heterogeneity in collagen biosynthesis by sprouting retinal endothelial cells

Bovine retinal microvascular endothelial cells can display two distinct and reversible morphologies in culture: ‘cobblestone’ and ‘sprouting’. The cobblestone morphology resembles the resting cells lining the lumen of mature vessels while the sprouting morphology resembles the angiogenic cells involved in the formation of new vessels. Retinal cells displayed some heterogeneity in the shape of the cells making up the cobblestone monolayer. In contrast, all cell lines displayed an identical sprouting morphology. We have investigated the synthesis of matrix macromolecules by retinal endothelial cells displaying either the cobblestone or the sprouting morphology. Type IV was the only collagen synthesised by eight different lines of early‐passage (between one and six) cobblestone endothelial cells. Collagen types I and III were not detected in these cultures. In contrast, heterogeneity was observed in the types of collagen synthesised by four lines of early‐passage cells displaying the sprouting morphology. That is, two lines synthesised collagen types I, III and IV, whereas two other lines continued to synthesise only type IV collagen. Both cobblestone and sprouting cells synthesised fibronectin and thrombospondin, although the relative amounts of these macromolecules varied with culture conditions. The pattern of collagen synthesis by cobblestone cells was also affected by in vitro „ageing”︁: 4/5 lines examined above passage eight synthesised collagen types I, III and IV. Our results indicate that there is heterogeneity in the sprouting phenotype displayed by retinal endothelial cells, and that this phenotype is not necessarily associated with the synthesis of type I collagen. We suggest that differences in the spectrum of matrix macromolecules synthesised by sprouting endothelial cells may play a role in the control of angiogenesis. © 1994 wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Atrial fibrillation and morbidity and mortality in a cohort of long-term hemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND Atrial fibrillation is associated with increased mortality and hospitalization in the general population. Data about mortality, morbidity, and hospitalization in hemodialysis patients with atrial fibrillation are limited. SETTING & PARTICIPANTS All patients (n = 476) in 5 dialysis centers in Lombardia, Italy, as of June 2003 were enrolled and followed up until June 2006 (median age, 69 years; median hemodialysis duration, 45.2 months; and median follow-up, 36 months). 127 patients had atrial fibrillation at enrollment. PREDICTORS & OUTCOME A Cox model was used to relate: (1) atrial fibrillation, age, hemodialysis therapy duration, and comorbid conditions to all-cause and cardiovascular mortality; (2) angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE)-inhibitor treatment and comorbid conditions to new onset of atrial fibrillation; and (3) atrial fibrillation and comorbid conditions on hospitalization. RESULTS There were 167 deaths (39.5% from cardiovascular disease). In multivariable models, atrial fibrillation was independently associated with increased mortality (hazard ratio [HR], 1.65; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.18 to 2.31). This was more notable for cardiovascular (HR, 2.15; 95% CI, 1.27 to 3.64) than noncardiovascular mortality (HR, 1.39; 95% CI, 0.89 to 2.15). New-onset atrial fibrillation occurred in 35 of 349 individuals (4.1 events/100 person-years); the risk of incident atrial fibrillation was lower in those using ACE-inhibitor therapy (HR, 0.29; 95% CI, 0.10 to 0.82) and higher in those with left ventricular hypertrophy (HR, 2.55; 95% CI, 1.04 to 6.26). There were 539 hospitalizations during 3 years, with 114 hospitalizations in 162 patients with atrial fibrillation and 155 hospitalizations in 314 patients without atrial fibrillation (HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.18 to 2.01). Rates of stroke did not significantly differ by atrial fibrillation status (P = 0.4). LIMITATIONS Because of the observational nature of this study, results for treatment need confirmation in future trials. CONCLUSIONS Atrial fibrillation is associated with greater total and cardiovascular mortality. Patients with atrial fibrillation were hospitalized more frequently than patients without atrial fibrillation. ACE inhibitors may decrease the risk of new-onset atrial fibrillation.
The impact of HIV on infectiousness of pulmonary tuberculosis: a community study in Zambia.

OBJECTIVE To examine the impact of HIV on infectiousness of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB). DESIGN A cross-sectional tuberculin survey carried out among household contacts of HIV-1-positive and negative patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB. Contacts were also examined for active TB. SETTING Index cases were recruited from patients attending the University Teaching Hospital in Lusaka, Zambia and household contacts were examined during visits to their homes within Lusaka. PATIENTS, PARTICIPANTS A total of 207 contacts of 43 HIV-positive patients, and 141 contacts of 28 HIV-negative patients with pulmonary TB were examined. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Proportion of contacts of HIV-positive and negative index cases with a positive tuberculin response (diameter of induration > or = 5 mm to a dose of 2 tuberculin units). RESULTS Fifty-two per cent of contacts of HIV-positive pulmonary TB patients had a positive tuberculin response compared with 71% of contacts of HIV-negative patients (odds ratio, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26-0.72; P < 0.001). This difference persisted after allowing for between-household variations in the tuberculin response. Tuberculin response in the contact was related to age of contact, intimacy with the index case and crowding in the household. However, the effect of HIV status of the index case was not confounded by these variables. Tuberculin response in the contact was also related to the number of bacilli seen in the sputum smear of the index case which partially explained the effect of HIV status of the index case. Active TB was diagnosed in 4% of contacts of HIV-positive and 3% of contacts of HIV-negative cases, respectively (P = 0.8). CONCLUSIONS HIV-positive patients with pulmonary TB may be less infectious than their HIV-negative counterparts and this may partly be explained by lower bacillary load in the sputum.
Can non-ideal magnetohydrodynamics solve the magnetic braking catastrophe?

This is all the data created for Wurster, Price & Bate (2016). This dataset was created using the SPHMD code Phantom and included a precursor to the NICIL library (Wurster 2016) to calculate the non-ideal MHD coefficients. The data and important files have been uploaded; the data files can be read with either Phantom, or with the graphics programme Splash. The filenames represent the original path and the simulation, and have the prefix WPB2016_pdata_. The second component to the filename is 1e6 (models with 1e6 particles in the sphere) or 3e5 (models with 1e6 particles in the sphere) and the third component is the simulation name. Typically, the model name has the form ABC, where A=ii,ni,nim for ideal, non-ideal with Bz, non-ideal with -Bz, respectively; B=o,h,a,oha for ohmic,hall,ambipolar,ohmic+hall+ambipolar, respectively; C=B,Q,C,D,P mu0=10,7.5,5,5,hydro, respectively. Ideal runs do not have a B part to the name.
Functional Gastrointestinal Disorders and Eating Disorders: Relevance of the Association in Clinical Management

Background: As functional gastrointestinal disorders (FGID) are common in eating disorder patients, we aimed to assess past eating disorders in patients referred for current FGID. Methods: One hundred and twenty-seven consecutive FGID outpatients and 163 patients with gallstone disease (GD) were enrolled. All patients were interviewed to detect GI symptoms (by means of the GI Symptom Rating Scale), lifetime eating disorders (on the basis of DSM-IV criteria), and current psychologic distress (on the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). Results: Past eating disorders were significantly more prevalent in FGID (15.7%) than in GD patients (3.1%) (chi-square = 14.6, P < 0.001). FGID patients with past eating disorders were significantly younger, more educated, more psychologically distressed, more dyspeptic, and more were women than FGID patients without past eating disorders. Conclusions: This study confirms the previously found association between functional GI symptoms and eating disorders and shows th.