Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CD200 flow cytometric assessment and semiquantitative immunohistochemical staining distinguishes hairy cell leukemia from hairy cell leukemia-variant and other B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders.

OBJECTIVES To evaluate CD200 expression in B-cell proliferative disorders. METHODS We analyzed 180 recent specimens of B-cell neoplasms for CD200 expression by flow cytometric immunophenotypic analysis, which is better able to assess relative intensity of staining than immunohistochemical staining. RESULTS We found that hairy cell leukemia exhibits a high level of staining for CD200 in comparison to other B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders, including hairy cell leukemia-variant (HCL-V), marginal zone lymphoma, and lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma. We confirmed this observation by semiquantitative immunohistochemical staining. CONCLUSIONS Assessment of the CD200 expression level is helpful to distinguish HCL from HCL-V and other B-cell lymphoproliferative disorders and in the differential diagnosis of B-cell neoplasms in general.
THE POTENTIAL OF THE CRUDE SNAKE VENOM IN TREATMENT OF HUMAN BREAST CANCER WITH AND WITHOUT COMBINATION OF ANTICANCER DRUGS

Background: Clinical usefulness of the snake venom has been worked out since the last many decades to treat blood pressure, cancer of breast, ovary and etc. we wanted to evaluate the effect of natural compounds of cobra snake venom in vitro on nucleic acid in normal and breast cancer tissues in combination with and without anticancer drugs. Methods: Surgically removed tissue from cancerous and non cancerous of same human breast were homogenized and extraction of nucleic acids were prepared. All homogenate samples were incubated with and without snake venom and antineoplastic drugs (Cyclophosophamide and Mitomycin-C) for 30 min at 37 C and measured at 490 m for DNA and at 660 m for RNA by spectrophotometer (Sspectron-21). Results: The effect of the snake venom was compared singly as well as in combination with the two chemotherapeutic agents viz mitomycin-C (an antibiotic) and Cyclophosophamide (an alkylating agent) on the nucleic acids (RNA and DNA). In human breast cancer tissue shows significant reduction in nucleic acids contains when treated with venom (25 g/ml) in combination and compared with singly use anticancer drugs. Cyclophosophamide and Mitomycin produced some effect in human breast tissue at 10 g/ml on the DNA only for short time and eventually destroyed. However snake venom does have potential and is more effective with or without anticancer drugs on both nucleic acids (RNA and DNA) suggests wide range of receptors to act. Both drugs could not produce inhibition or potentiating effect on normal and cancerous tissues in vitro by all different doses. Conclusion: Anticancer drugs (Cyclophosophamide and Mitomycin-C), specific medicines for solid tumour (Ca. Breast) used in this study showed no significant reduction at the same dose of snake venom (25 g/ml) in vitro in comparison to snake venom. However drugs at 10 g/ml has shown some effect on the DNA but only for short time and possibly, eventually are destroyed. However significant and promising anticancer effect of snake venom seems to have a better future as an alternative. None toxic dose of snake venom affects on both DNA and RNA.
[Solitary kidney. Study of renal morphology and function in 95 children].

UNLABELLED The aim of the study was to evaluate renal growth and function of solitary kidney in paediatric patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS A prospective study was performed in a fifteen years period between 1988 and 2003 in paediatric patients with a solitary kidney, in a Children's Hospital. All the following parameters were evaluated every year: age, sex, ethiology, elapsed time since the concept of solitary kidney was assessed (ET), blood pressure, renal function measured by GFR, urinary excretion of solutes, concentration ability and microalbuminuria (MA). DMSA was made at the beginning and every five years and renal ultrasonography was carried out every two years. Two groups were made depending of nephrourologic malformations in the remanent kidney and/or antecedents of pyelonephritis: Group I with antecedents of pyelonephritis and/or malformations; Group II, nor antecedents of pyelonephritis neither malformations. RESULTS Ninety five patients were evaluated, 69% (n = 66) were males and 31% (n = 29) were females, with an age at diagnosis of 3.5 yr (ranged 0.1-17 yrs). ET was 9.2 yrs (range 1-20 yrs). The ethiology was: Nephrectomy of the contralateral kidney 39 patients (pts) (41%), renal agenesis (RA) 47 pts (49%) and nonfunctioning multicystic displastic kidney (MCDK) 9 pts (9.4%). Functional alterations were found in 18 pts (19%), such as MA in 12 pts (12.6%), decreased GRF in 5 pts (5.5%) and hypertension in 3 pts (3.2%). It was observed more significant functional alterations in the patients of the Group I (58%) versus Group II (9%) (p < 0.001). There was in Group II a significant correlation between kidney size and GFR (p < 0.01, r = 0.3), and between kidney size and ET (P < 0.05; r = 0.3). CONCLUSIONS Any alteration in the renal function was observed in the 12.6% of the children. The most frequent affected parameter of renal damage was MA, followed by GFR reduction. Arterial hypertension was not a prominent finding. Alterations have been less frequently found in RA and MCDK of the Group II, so clinical reviews should be made with a lesser frequency.
Impact of Computed Tomography Evaluation Before Colonoscopy for the Management of Colonic Diverticular Hemorrhage

Goals: The purpose of this study was to investigate and summarize our experience of a standardized strategy using computed tomography (CT) followed by colonoscopy for the assessment of colonic diverticular hemorrhage with focus on a comparison of CT and colonoscopy findings in patients with colonic diverticular hemorrhage. Background: Colonic diverticular hemorrhage is usually diagnosed by colonoscopy, but it is difficult to identify the responsible bleeding point among many diverticula. Study: We retrospectively included 257 consecutive patients with colonic diverticular hemorrhage. All patients underwent a CT examination before colonoscopy. All-cause mortality and rebleeding-free rate after discharge were analyzed by Kaplan-Meier analysis and compared using the log-rank test. Results: In CT examinations, 184 patients (71.6%) had definite diverticular hemorrhage with 31.9% showing intraluminal high-density fluid on plain CT, 39.7% showing extravasation, and 31.1% showing arteriovenous increase of extravasation on enhanced CT. In colonoscopy, 130 patients (50.6%) showed endoscopic stigmata of bleeding with 12.1% showing active bleeding, 17.1% showing a nonbleeding visible vessel, and 21.4% showing an adherent clot. A comparison of the locations of bleeding in CT and colonoscopy showed that the agreement rate was 67.3%, and the disagreement rate was 0.8% when the lesion was identified by both modalities patients with definite diverticular hemorrhage identified by CT had a longer hospital stay, higher incidences of hemodynamic instability and rebleeding events than did patients with presumptive diverticular hemorrhage. Conclusion: CT evaluation before colonoscopy can be a good option for managing patients with colonic diverticular hemorrhage.
Configurable fuzzy fingerprint vault for Match-on-Card system

The fuzzy fingerprint vault has been proposed for protecting the fingerprint template by adding a number of redundant features. Recently, a correlation attack that finds the real features using multiple fingerprint vaults has been introduced by several researches and should be solved for practical implementations. To avoid this correlation attack, we propose the Match-on-Card system based on the fuzzy fingerprint vault where the fingerprint matching is performed by an in-card processor, not an external card reader. Since the vault information is not released from the smart card, it is difficult for an attacker to take multiple fingerprint vaults. However, because of the limited resources (i.e., processing power and memory space) of the smart card, integrating fuzzy fingerprint vault into it is still an open challenge. To overcome this limitation, we propose the configurable fuzzy fingerprint vault based on a geometric hashing. Experimental results show that our approach can obtain much less memory requirements (i.e., 50 KB) and faster execution time (i.e., 1.5 sec) than the previous ones (i.e., 277 KB, 6.6 sec) without a significant degradation of the verification accuracy.
Targeted Disruption of the Tumor Necrosis Factor-α Gene: Metabolic Consequences in Obese and Nonobese Mice

To address the hypothesis that tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α has a role in obesity-associated insulin resistance or the regulation of in vivo lipid metabolism, mice with targeted disruption of the TNF-α gene were generated and studied. The absence of TNF-α protein in TNF-null (−/−) mice was confirmed. Lean or obese (gold-thioglucose [GTG]-injected) homozygous (−/−) mice were compared with lean or obese age- and sex-matched wild-type (+/+) mice derived from the same line at 13, 19, and 28 weeks of age. The following parameters were significantly affected in lean −/− versus +/+ mice: Body weight was not affected until week 28 (decreased by 14%); epididymal fat pad weight also decreased (25%) at this time, as did percentage body fat (16%), while percentage body protein was increased 13%. Fed plasma insulin levels decreased 47% (28 weeks), triglyceride levels decreased (all three ages; maximum 35% at 19 weeks), and fed plasma leptin decreased 33% (28 weeks). Fasting glucose was slightly (10%) reduced, but the glucose response to an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) was not affected. There was a trend (NS) toward increased total adipose tissue lipoprotein lipase in −/− versus +/+ mice. GTG-treat-ment resulted in obese −/− and +/+ mice with equal mean body weights (42 and 58% increased weight versus lean mice). The following parameters were significantly different in obese −/− mice: fasting plasma glucose decreased 13% (28 weeks), fed plasma insulin decreased 67% (28 weeks), and insulin response to OGTT was decreased by 50%. For both groups of obese mice, glucose levels during the OGTT were substantially increased compared with those in lean mice; however, mean stimulated glucose levels were 20% lower in obese −/− versus +/+ mice. We conclude 1) that TNF-α functions to regulate plasma triglycerides and body adiposity and 2) that although TNF-α contributes to reduced insulin sensitivity in older or obese mice, the absence of TNF-α is not sufficient to substantially protect against insulin resistance in the GTG hyperphagic model of rodent obesity.
Situation Awareness in Team Performance: Implications for Measurement and Training

Situation awareness has long been recognized as an important variable in aviation performance. Research to date has focused on identifying characteristics of situation awareness for individuals, not on the behaviors and processes associated with team situation awareness. The purpose of this review is to delineate and identify characteristics of team situation awareness. In addition, implications are discussed and research questions are outlined that target the measurement and training of situation awareness in teams.
The Relation of Waking Fantasy to Dreaming

This study investigated the relationship between fantasy immersion (fantasy proneness, absorption, and positive-constructive daydreaming) and qualities of nocturnal dreaming in a large non-clinical community-based sample (n = 288). The results indicate a strong linear relationship between all of the waking fantasy measures, especially positive-constructive daydreaming style, and phenomenal qualities of dreaming. Further, men and women differed significantly, both in how they experience waking fantasy and with regard to which waking fantasy measures predicted to the dreaming measures. These data suggest that waking and dreaming are not discrete states of consciousness with clearly defined parameters but rather represent continuous attentional states which comprise the “stream of consciousness” endemic to human cognition.
Analyzing R&D efficiency in Asia and the OECD: An application of the Malmquist Productivity Index

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in R&D efficiency among scholars and policy makers across the world. Several Asian countries have shown remarkable progress in R&D efficiency which seems to be at the cost of the leading nations like USA and the UK. This study investigates R&D efficiency in 22 countries, 20 of them members of the OECD, and the Russian Federation and China. The analysis is carried out using the Malmquist Productivity Index for the periods 2002–04 and 2004–06. The R&D inputs taken are gross domestic expenditure on R&D and the number of full-time researchers per million population. The outputs taken are patents granted to residents and the number of scientific publications indexed in the Science Citation Index. We find that China exhibits a rapid increase in number of scientific publications while the Republic of Korea shows exemplary performance in patenting among residents in recent years. Thus we confirm the results of some earlier studies, and contribute mainly by investigating R&D efficiencies using the MPI which is especially useful in comparing productivity in multiple decision making units over periods of time, and examining reasons for the efficiencies of China and the Republic of Korea. The results indicate significant improvements in technical capabilities of the residents of China and the Republic of Korea.
Long-Term Excessive Body Weight and Adult Left Ventricular Hypertrophy Are Linked Through Later-Life Body Size and Blood Pressure: The Bogalusa Heart Study

Rationale: Childhood adiposity is associated with cardiac structure in later life, but little is known regarding to what extent childhood body weight affects adult left ventricular geometric patterns through adult body size and blood pressure (BP). Objective: Determine quantitatively the mediation effect of adult body weight and BP on the association of childhood body mass index (BMI) with adult left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy. Methods and Results: This longitudinal study consisted of 710 adults, aged 26 to 48 years, who had been examined for BMI and BP measured ≥4× during childhood and ≥2× during adulthood, with a mean follow-up period of 28.0 years. After adjusting for age, race, and sex, adult BMI had a significant mediation effect (76.4%; P<0.01) on the childhood BMI–adult LV mass index association. The mediation effects of adult systolic BP (15.2%), long-term burden (12.1%), and increasing trends of systolic BP (7.9%) were all significant (P<0.01). Furthermore, these mediators also had significant mediation effects on the association of childhood BMI with adult LV hypertrophy, eccentric hypertrophy, and concentric hypertrophy. Importantly, the mediation effects of adult BMI were all significantly stronger than those of adult systolic BP on LV mass index, LV hypertrophy, and LV remodeling patterns (P<0.01). Additionally, the mediation effect of systolic BP on concentric hypertrophy was significantly stronger than that on eccentric hypertrophy (P<0.01). Conclusions: These findings suggest that increased childhood BMI has long-term adverse impact on subclinical changes in adult cardiac structure, and early life excessive body weight and adult LV hypertrophy are linked through later life excessive body weight and elevated BP.
VHDL-AMS behavioural modelling of a CMUT element

This paper reports the development, implementation and simulation of a behavioural model written in VHDL-AMS for a capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducer (CMUT). Unlike previous behavioural models, this model incorporates the non-linear electro-mechanical relation of the CMUT. VHDL-AMS was chosen for the ease with which it can be used to implement these relations, and for its portability between software platforms. To the best of the authors' knowledge, this is the first reported VHDL-AMS model of a CMUT. The simulation results demonstrate that the model can be used to sumulate a number of scenarios, including frequency responses, time responses and effects of DC bias voltage. Results are compared to a finite element method model, and show excellent agreement in resonant frequency and a 16% error in pull-in voltage.
An Immunomodulating Motif of the HIV-1 Fusion Protein Is Chirality-independent

Background: Recently, an immunosuppressive motif was identified in the HIV-1 envelope glycoprotein complex. Results: Both d- and l-stereoisomers of the motif inhibit T-cell receptor activation and preferentially bind T-cells over B-cells. Conclusion: The motif immunomodulates T-cells through interactions occurring within the membrane milieu. Significance: This study provides new insights into the immunosuppressive activity of the envelope glycoprotein complex and the molecular recognition within the membrane. An immunosuppressive motif was recently found within the HIV-1 gp41 fusion protein (termed immunosuppressive loop-associated determinant core motif (ISLAD CM)). Peptides containing the motif interact with the T-cell receptor (TCR) complex; however, the mechanism by which the motif exerts its immunosuppressive activity is yet to be determined. Recent studies showed that interactions between protein domains in the membrane milieu are not always sterically controlled. Therefore, we utilized the unique membrane leniency toward association between d- and l-stereoisomers to investigate the detailed mechanism by which ISLAD CM inhibits T-cell activation. We show that a d-enantiomer of ISLAD CM (termed ISLAD d-CM) inhibited the proliferation of murine myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)-(35–55)-specific line T-cells to the same extent as the l-motif form. Moreover, the d- and l-forms preferentially bound spleen-derived T-cells over B-cells by 13-fold. Furthermore, both forms of ISLAD CM co-localized with the TCR on activated T-cells and interacted with the transmembrane domain of the TCR. FRET experiments revealed the importance of basic residues for the interaction between ISLAD CM forms and the TCR transmembrane domain. Ex vivo studies demonstrated that ISLAD d-CM administration inhibited the proliferation (72%) and proinflammatory cytokine secretion of pathogenic MOG(35–55)-specific T-cells. This study provides insights into the immunosuppressive mechanism of gp41 and demonstrates that chirality-independent interactions in the membrane can take place in diverse biological systems. Apart from HIV pathogenesis, the d-peptide reported herein may serve as a potential tool for treating T-cell-mediated pathologies.
The teleseismic signature of fossil subduction: Northwestern Canada

[1] Between June 2003 and September 2005, 20 broadband, three-component seismometers were deployed along the MacKenzie-Liard Highway in Canada's Northwest Territories as part of the joint Lithoprobe-IRIS Canada Northwest Experiment (CANOE). These stations traverse a paleo-Proterozoic suture and subduction zone that has been previously documented to mantle depths using seismic reflection profiling. Teleseismic receiver functions computed from ∼250 earthquakes clearly reveal the response of the ancient subduction zone. On the radial component, the suture is evident as a direct conversion from the Moho, the depth of which increases from ∼30 km to ∼50 km over a horizontal distance of ∼70 km before its signature disappears. The structure is still better defined on the transverse component where the Moho appears as the upper boundary of a 10 km thick layer of anisotropy that can be traced from 30 km to at least 90 km depth. The seismic response of this layer is characterized by a frequency dependence that can be modeled by upper and lower boundaries that are discontinuous in material properties and their gradients, respectively. Anisotropy can be characterized by a ±5% variation in shear velocity and hexagonal symmetry with a fast axis that plunges at an oblique angle to the subduction plane. The identification of this structure provides an unambiguous connection between fossil subduction and fine-scale, anisotropic mantle layering. Previous documentation of similar layering below the adjacent Slave province and from a range of Precambrian terranes across the globe provides strong support for the thesis that early cratonic blocks were stabilized through processes of shallow subduction.
IGF‐II Binding to Insulin Receptor Isoform A Induces a Partially Different Gene Expression Profile from Insulin Binding

Abstract: Insulin receptor isoform A (IR‐A) is a fetal insulin receptor isoform that is overexpressed in cancer. We investigated whether insulin‐like growth factor (IGF)‐II may elicit a different gene expression response from insulin in cells expressing only IR‐A and lacking IGF‐I receptor (R−/IR‐A cells). Cells were stimulated with either insulin or IGF‐II (at 0.5, 3, and 8 h), and global gene expression was studied by microarray technology. Results were validated by quantitative real‐time PCR. We found that 214 transcripts were similarly regulated by insulin and IGF‐II, whereas 45 transcripts were differentially regulated. of these 45 genes, 18 were responsive to only one of the two ligands (12 to insulin and 6 to IGF‐II). Twenty‐seven transcripts were regulated by both ligands but with a significant difference at at least one time point. IGF‐II was a more potent regulator than insulin for these genes. In conclusion, insulin and IGF‐II, acting via the same receptor (IR‐A), may differentially affect gene expression in cells. These findings provide a molecular basis in clarifying the biological role of IR‐A in embryonic/fetal life and in cancer.
Trial watch: Naked and vectored DNA-based anticancer vaccines

One type of anticancer vaccine relies on the administration of DNA constructs encoding one or multiple tumor-associated antigens (TAAs). The ultimate objective of these preparations, which can be naked or vectored by non-pathogenic viruses, bacteria or yeast cells, is to drive the synthesis of TAAs in the context of an immunostimulatory milieu, resulting in the (re-)elicitation of a tumor-targeting immune response. In spite of encouraging preclinical results, the clinical efficacy of DNA-based vaccines employed as standalone immunotherapeutic interventions in cancer patients appears to be limited. Thus, efforts are currently being devoted to the development of combinatorial regimens that allow DNA-based anticancer vaccines to elicit clinically relevant immune responses. Here, we discuss recent advances in the preclinical and clinical development of this therapeutic paradigm.