Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loss of Net as Repressor Leads to Constitutive Increased c-fos Transcription in Cervical Cancer Cells*

We have investigated the expression of c-fos in cervical carcinoma cells and in somatic cell hybrids derived therefrom. In malignant cells, c-fos was constitutively expressed even after serum starvation. Dissection of the c-fos promoter showed that expression was mainly controlled by the SRE motif, which was active in malignant cells, but repressed in their non-malignant counterparts. Constitutive SRE activity was not mediated by sustained mitogen-activated protein kinase activity but because of inefficient expression of the ternary complex factor Net, which was either very low or even barely discernible. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that Net directly binds to the SRE nucleoprotein complex in non-tumorigenic cells, but not in malignant segregants. Small interfering RNA targeted against Net resulted in enhanced c-fos transcription, clearly illustrating its repressor function. Conversely, stable ectopic expression of Net in malignant cells negatively regulated endogenous c-fos, resulting in a disappearance of the c-Fos protein from the AP-1 transcription complex. These data indicate that loss of Net and constitutive c-fos expression appear to be a key event in the transformation of cervical cancer cells.
Value-Based perception of Fake Mobile phones: an Empirical Study

With the recent rapid growth of fake mobile phones in China’s mobile market, the objective of this study is to address this important issue by exploring the specific antecedents of consumers’ perception of value, as drawn from value-based theory. Perceived risks, which are modelled by four risk dimensions (physical, performance, social, and warranty), and value for money, are highlighted as the two key precursors of the perceived value and, further, relationships among these dimensions are examined by Partial Least Squares (PLS) analysis. The results of this empirical research, as expected, support the dimension of perceived risk consisting of the four types of perceived risk, and the impact on perceived value and value for money. Furthermore, the influence of value perceived as value for money is also confirmed to have a positive correlation.
Using transient electrical measurements for real-time monitoring of battery state-of-charge and state-of-health

This paper describes a transient-based approach for estimating the state-of-charge (SOC) and state-of-health (SOH) of a lithium-ion battery. In this methodology, a small test signal is superimposed on top of the battery load to trigger its transient dynamics. The resulting terminal voltage and current are measured, and a non-linear least-squares routine is used to estimate the impedance parameters of the battery model. These parameter values are then passed to an H∞ filter that estimates the open-circuit voltage while the battery is under load. Experimental results are presented. The approach requires minimal hardware and could be used to form the basis of a robust on-line monitoring system.
Activities of Therapeutic Agents and Myristamidopropyl Dimethylamine against Acanthamoeba Isolates

ABSTRACT The activities of therapeutic agents and myristamidopropyl dimethylamine (MAPD) against Acanthamoeba strains recalcitrant to medical therapy were studied. MAPD minimum cysticidal concentrations were 6.25 to 25 μg/ml; 10 to 30 μg/ml gave at least a 3-log cyst kill after 6 h, and 50 and 100 μg/ml gave at least a 3-log cyst kill within 2 and 1 h, respectively.
Whither anatomy teaching?: a student perspective

After anatomy’s grisly grave robbing beginnings blossomed into a glorious golden age, it faces an indignant death at the hands of medical school curriculum reforms. There is no doubt about it, the teaching of anatomy in Australia’s and the world’s medical schools is irrevocably changing. The anatomy teaching that generations of doctors have known has, over the past few decades, eroded as anatomy has been lifted out of its usual prominent position in any MB BS, and then cut, trimmed and squeezed into modern curricula. What do medical students think of changes in the course, and how have these changes affected the day-to-day experiences of an MB BS student?
Elucidating the effects of ageing on remembering perceptually distorted word pairs

We investigated the effects of age, background babble, and acoustic distortion of the word itself on serial position memory in a series of experiments involving six different auditory environments (quiet, and 12-talker background babble presented between, overlapping, or concurrent with word presentation or with two kinds of distortion applied to the words). To control for hearing, the level of babble or distortion was adjusted so that younger and older adults could hear the words equally well. Although the presence of continuous and word-flanking background babble adversely affected memory in the early serial positions in both age groups, only older adults’ memory was adversely affected in the later serial positions. Moreover, younger adults’ memory was not affected by acoustic word distortion, whereas one of the two types of temporal distortion adversely affected memory for later serial positions in older adults. The exact pattern of impairment and its interaction with age suggests that memory in older adults is more affected than that in younger adults in complex listening situations because they either need more time or have to employ more attentional resources to segregate different auditory streams, thereby depleting the pool of resources available for memory encoding.
Food for thought ... on alternative methods for nanoparticle safety testing.

Nano is a big thing in toxicology. Articles, journals, and conferences are mushrooming, paralleling the rise of nanotechnologies but also showing the hunger of toxicology for new objects to study. Perhaps it would be better to focus on new approaches first? Nanomedicine promises new solutions for old problems, but what about the old problems of toxicology? It is a fallacy to assume that one can gain beneficial effects in the human organism without unwanted collateral effects. First, any biologically active agent perturbs physiology, hopefully as a corrective for the patient but at least requiring compensatory reactions of the healthy. Second, few agents are specific enough to have only one effect, but it is rare that we want all the effects and in the given mix of strengths. third, many agents show excess toxicity – even desired effects often become negative if excessively stimulated. this increase in negative effects is directly linked to more sensitive subpopulations (children, elderly, the diseased, those with genetic polymorphisms, etc.). thus, the promise of nanoparticles (NP) may be paid for in possible side-effects, i.e., toxicities (Garnett et al., 2006). For most manufactured NP, toxicity data are unavailable, with some exceptions for carbon black, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, and amorphous silica (Di Giacchino et al., 2009). So far nanoparticles and other nanomaterials (I will use the abbreviation NP for both but primarily thinking of particles or fibers and not e.g. nano-thick films) are, for the most part, treated by regulatory toxicology as chemicals (see last issue of this series, Hartung, 2010b). The most common definitions for NP include materials with dimensions from 1 nm (size of a sugar molecule) to 100 nm (size of a virus). Regulatory frameworks are on the way, opening up possibilities for alternative approaches (Sauer, 2009). Whether the differences between NP and their parent compounds are actually small or big problems, remains to be seen. But to quote Albert einstein: “Anyone who doesn’t take truth seriously in small matters cannot be trusted in large ones either. ” When discussing alternative methods for nanoparticle toxicology, we might first look at some phrase permutations – leaving out one word in each iteration: – Alternative methods for toxicology – Methods for nanoparticle toxicology – Alternative nanoparticle toxicology – Alternative nano-methods Consideration 1: Alternative or advanced methods for toxicology?
A contract-ruled economic model for QoS guarantee in mobile peer-to-peer streaming services

In this paper, we provide a comprehensive treatment of QoS guarantee for mobile streaming applications through a contract-ruled approach. We envision a peer-to-peer streaming system as a QoS trading market, where the involved parties, Services Provider (SP), End User (EU) and assisting peers, are all real economic entities that are organized with contractual constraints for achieving a stable and guaranteed QoS output. The QoS trading in the market is classified into two parts, a basic contract that establishes the business agreement between an interested EU and a SP and a subcontract that achieves a desired joint QoS output. The proposed scheme can benefit all parties.
Effect of Different Powers of Er,Cr:YSGG Laser Treatment on Surface Morphology of Microhybride Composite Resin: Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) Evaluation.

INTRODUCTION The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare microhybride composite treated by bur and different power of Erbium, Chromium doped Yttrium Scandium Gallium Garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) laser by Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). METHODS 21 microhybride composite blocks (DiaFil TM, DiaDent, Korea) with 2 × 4 × 4 mm dimensions were made. The bonding surface of these blocks were polished, The samples were put into 6 groups for laser irradiation as follows: Group 1 (power: 1W, Energy: 50 mJ); Group 2(power: 2 W, Energy: 100mJ); Group 3 (power: 3W, Energy: 150mJ); Group 4 (power: 4W, Energy: 200mJ); Group 5 (power: 5W, Energy: 250mJ) and Group 6(power:6 W, Energy:300mJ). One group prepared by bur- treated. All samples were prepared by repetition rate of 20 Hz. Then, the samples were prepared for SEM examination. RESULT Some irregularities were seen in Er,Cr:YSGG laser samples in comparison to Bur group that produced favorable surface for adhesion of repair composite. CONCLUSION Among different lasers, Er;Cr:YSGG laser can be chosen as a suitable technique for surface treatment of unsatisfactory composites.
Identification of a PWA Model of a Batch Reactor for Model Predictive Control

The complex hybrid and nonlinear nature of many processes that are met in practice causes problems with both structure modelling and parameter identification; therefore, obtaining a model that is suitable for MPC is often a difficult task. The basic idea of this paper is to present an identification method for a piecewise affine (PWA) model based on a fuzzy clustering algorithm. First we introduce the PWA model. Next, we tackle the identification method. We treat the fuzzy clustering algorithm, deal with the projections of the fuzzy clusters into the input space of the PWA model and explain the estimation of the parameters of the PWA model by means of a modified least-squares method. Furthermore, we verify the usability of the proposed identification approach on a hybrid nonlinear batch reactor example. The result suggest that the batch reactor can be efficiently identified and thus formulated as a PWA model, which can eventually be used for model predictive control purposes. Keywords—Batch reactor, fuzzy clustering, hybrid systems, identification, nonlinear systems, PWA systems.
Phosphatidic Acid Inhibits Blue Light-Induced Stomatal Opening via Inhibition of Protein Phosphatase 11[OA]

Stomata open in response to blue light under a background of red light. The plant hormone abscisic acid (ABA) inhibits blue light-dependent stomatal opening, an effect essential for promoting stomatal closure in the daytime to prevent water loss. However, the mechanisms and molecular targets of this inhibition in the blue light signaling pathway remain unknown. Here, we report that phosphatidic acid (PA), a phospholipid second messenger produced by ABA in guard cells, inhibits protein phosphatase 1 (PP1), a positive regulator of blue light signaling, and PA plays a role in stimulating stomatal closure in Vicia faba. Biochemical analysis revealed that PA directly inhibited the phosphatase activity of the catalytic subunit of V. faba PP1 (PP1c) in vitro. PA inhibited blue light-dependent stomatal opening but did not affect red light- or fusicoccin-induced stomatal opening. PA also inhibited blue light-dependent H+ pumping and phosphorylation of the plasma membrane H+-ATPase. However, PA did not inhibit the autophosphorylation of phototropins, blue light receptors for stomatal opening. Furthermore, 1-butanol, a selective inhibitor of phospholipase D, which produces PA via hydrolysis of phospholipids, diminished the ABA-induced inhibition of blue light-dependent stomatal opening and H+ pumping. We also show that hydrogen peroxide and nitric oxide, which are intermediates in ABA signaling, inhibited the blue light responses of stomata and that 1-butanol diminished these inhibitions. From these results, we conclude that PA inhibits blue light signaling in guard cells by PP1c inhibition, accelerating stomatal closure, and that PP1 is a cross talk point between blue light and ABA signaling pathways in guard cells.
[Association of the IL-18 gene polymorphism with susceptibility to colorectal cancer].

OBJECTIVE To investigate single nucleotide polymorphisms(SNPs) and haplotypes of interleukin-18(IL-18) gene associated with the susceptibility to colorectal cancer(CRC). METHODS Two SNPs of IL-18 gene promoter -137G/C and -607C/A in 170 patients with CRC and 160 healthy controls matched by age and sex in a Chinese population were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism(PCR-RFLP) strategy. Frequency of haplotypes and linkage disequilibrium of IL-18 gene in different groups were analyzed by SHEsis programs. RESULTS The distributions of IL-18 gene -607C/A polymorphism did not differ between CRC patients and healthy controls, but IL-18 gene -137G/C polymorphism was significantly different(P<0.05). The relative risk of C allele for CRC was 1.814 times of the G allele (OR=1.814,95% CI:1.246-2.642). Consistent with the results of the genotyping analyses, IL-18 -137G/C and -607C/A polymorphisms showed strong linkage disequilibrium(|D'|=0.945), frequency of the -137C/-607A haplotype in patients with CRC was significantly higher than that in healthy controls(P<0.05). The -137C/-607A haplotype was associated with a significantly increased risk of CRC(OR=1.637, 95% CI:1.100-2.437). CONCLUSIONS IL-18 gene -137G/C polymorphism and -137C/-607A haplotype are associated with CRC. -137C allele may be an important genetic susceptibility gene for CRC.
Membrane transport in synchronized ehrlich ascites tumor cells: Uptake of amino acids by the A and L system during the cell cycle

Using the double thymidine block technique. Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (ELD) carried in continuous spinner culture have been synchronized. Simultaneous monitoring of 3H‐thymidine incorporation, cell number and mitotic index yielded a cell cycle time of approximately 13.5 hours. This is composed of an S period of 3–4 hours, G2 of 6–8 hours and M of 1–2 hours. No appreciable G1 is present.
Fundamental frequency : how speaker-specific is it ?

Bien que la frequence fondamentale d'un locuteur (hauteur tonale) soit generalement consideree comme etant un trait caracterisant cette personne, il semble exister un desaccord quant aux merites de ce parametre dans l'identification judiciaire. Dans cet article, l'A. considere que la notion de hauteur tonale du locuteur est incorrecte, dans la mesure ou un grand nombre de facteurs techniques, physiologiques et psychologiques alterent considerablement la frequence fondamentale. Il fournit ici une analyse de ces facteurs et souligne leurs implications pour l'etude de cas judiciaires
Unknown primary tumors: detection with dual-modality PET/CT--initial experience.

PURPOSE To retrospectively evaluate fused positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) in depicting the primary lesion in cancer of an unknown primary tumor, compared with PET, CT, and PET and CT side-by-side evaluation. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. Forty-five patients (26 men and 19 women) with metastatic cervical adenopathy (n = 18) or extracervical metastases (n = 27) of unknown primary tumor were included. The mean age of the patients was 57 years (range, 29-95 years). PET/CT imaging was performed in all patients 1 hour after administration of 350 MBq of fluorodeoxyglucose with a whole-body field of view. Contrast agents were administered orally and intravenously in all patients to ensure diagnostic CT data. PET/CT data sets were evaluated for the primary tumor, and imaging results were compared with those of CT, PET, and PET and CT side-by-side evaluation. Differences in diagnostic performance were assessed by using the McNemar test with Bonferroni correction, which accounts for multiple comparisons. RESULTS PET/CT depicted the primary tumor in 15 (33%) of 45 patients. In 30 (67%) patients, the primary tumor site remained occult (P > .05). PET and CT side-by-side evaluation depicted 13 (29%) of 45 tumors (P > .05). PET alone revealed the primary tumor in 11 (24%) of 45 patients (P > .05), while CT alone helped in the correct diagnosis in eight (18%) of 45 patients (P > .05). There were no significant differences between the diagnostic accuracies of PET/CT and the other imaging modalities. CONCLUSION PET/CT was able to depict more primary tumors, though not significantly, than either of the other imaging modalities, but larger patient cohorts are required to finally judge its value for revealing the primary tumor site.
A new feature of importance for the TNF-alpha system in inflammation—Bilateral myositis that develops early in response to unilateral overuse shows a marked involvement of TNF-alpha not only in the exercised side but also contralaterally

Using a rabbit model leading to myositis in response to exercise-induced muscle overuse, we have previously observed that TNF-alpha is involved in the exercised muscle in early developing myositis as well as both ipsiand contralaterally in the myositis which develops in response to a lengthened period of overuse. It is unknown if TNF-alpha can also be engaged contralaterally in early stages of myositis. The hypothesis was that this is the case. It was therefore evaluated whether the TNF-alpha system is early involved contralaterally. An experimental model of 1 week of overuse of the soleus muscle on one side leading to myositis was used, and in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were applied to study the expression patterns of TNF-alpha in the soleus muscle in the contralateral side. TNF-alpha was expressed in the myositis process which occurred contralaterally. There were thus TNF-alpha mRNA reactions in the cells of the inflammatory infiltrates, in blood vessel walls and in certain of the muscle fibers. Parts of the latter were necrotic fibers, whereas others were interpreted to be in a regenerative stage. TNF-alpha immunoreactions were seen for infiltrating white blood cells. The observations show that the TNF-alpha system is early involved in the cross-over effects that occur in response to unilateral muscle overuse leading to myositis bilaterally. TNF-alpha is likely to have pro-inflammatory and destructive effects but also to have effects in the muscle regenerative processes. The occurrence of an early involvement of the TNF-alpha system contralaterally to the injury side shows a new aspect of importance of this system in inflammation.
Theta roles and the theory of theta-binding

L'un des problemes preoccuppant les chercheurs qui se situent dans le cadre du modele des principes et parametres de la grammaire generative est la formulation adequate des caracteristiques appropriees pour les systemes de principes (c-a-d les modules) et l'etablissement de leurs relations mutuelles. Les principes s'appliquent a divers niveaux de representation : le liage, le cas et le module pro s'appliquent a la structure S, alors que le principe de projection et le critere theta s'appliquent a la structure D. Dans cet article, l'A. examine deux modules qui concernent les positions structurales : la theorie theta et la theorie du liage
Neuropsychiatric Disorders in Persons With Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: Prevalence, Phenomenology, and Relationship With Demographic, Clinical, and Functional Features

Objective:To characterize neuropsychiatric symptoms in a large group of individuals with severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) and to correlate these symptoms with demographic, clinical, and functional features. Methods:The Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI), a frequently used scale to assess behavioral, emotional, and motivational disorders in persons with neurological diseases, was administered to a sample of 120 persons with severe TBI. Controls were 77 healthy subjects. Results:A wide range of neuropsychiatric symptoms was found in the population with severe TBI: apathy (42%), irritability (37%), dysphoria/depressed mood (29%), disinhibition (28%), eating disturbances (27%), and agitation (24%). A clear relationship was also found with other demographic and clinical variables. Conclusion:Neuropsychiatric disorders constitute an important part of the comorbidity in populations with severe TBI. Our study emphasizes the importance of integrating an overall assessment of cognitive disturbances with a specific neuropsychiatric evaluation to improve clinical understanding and treatment of persons with TBI.
Endovascular stent-grafts for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms: NICE technology appraisal guidance

The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) guidance on the use of endovascular stent-grafts (EVAR) for the treatment of abdominal aortic aneurysms was published in February 2009.1 This technology appraisal guidance should be read in conjunction with the NICE interventional procedure guidance on stent-graft placement in abdominal aortic aneurysm (interventional procedure guidance 163). 2 EVAR is recommended as a treatment option for patients with unruptured infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysms, for whom surgical intervention (open surgical repair or endovascular aneurysm repair) is considered appropriate. The decision on whether EVAR is preferred to open surgical repair should be made jointly by the patient and his/her clinician after assessment of a number of factors including: EVAR should only be performed in specialist centres by clinical teams experienced in the management of abdominal aortic aneurysms and with appropriate expertise in all aspects of patient assessment and the use of endovascular aortic stent-grafts. Endovascular aortic stent-grafts are not recommended for patients with ruptured aneurysms except in the context of research. The appraisal committee first considered the evidence on the clinical effectiveness of EVAR for the treatment of unruptured infra-renal abdominal aortic aneurysms. Four randomised controlled trials (RCTs) were identified3 4 5 6 7 8 comparing EVAR with open surgical repair (OSR) and three registries,9 10 11 12 13 14 which indicated that EVAR had benefits in terms of reduced rates of operative and aneurysm-related mortality in the medium term. However, these findings were not accompanied by a reduction in all-cause mortality and were associated with increased rates of complications and re-interventions for EVAR compared with OSR. Evidence from clinical specialists …