Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields affect proliferation and mitochondrial activity of human cancer cell lines

Abstract Purpose: To date, the effects of electromagnetic fields on cell metabolism have been overlooked. The objective of the present study was to investigate the influence of extremely low frequency electromagnetic fields (ELF-EMF) over mitochondrial metabolism and the consequent impact on cancer cell growth. Materials and methods: The effects of ELF-EMF on cancer growth were investigated in several human cancer cell lines by crystal violet assay. The modulation of mitochondrial activity was assessed by cytofluorimetric evaluation of membrane potential and by real-time quantification of mitochondrial transcription. Moreover the expression of several mitochondrial proteins and their levels in the organelle were evaluated. Results: The long-term exposure to ELF-EMF reduced the proliferation of several cancer cell lines and the effect was associated to an increased mitochondrial activity without evident changes in ATP levels. The results of our experiments excluded a transcriptional modulation of mitochondrial respiratory complexes, rather suggesting that ELF-EMF increased the energy demand. The altered mitochondrial metabolism led to changes in mitochondrial protein profile. In fact we found a downregulated expression of mitochondrial phospho-ERK, p53 and cytochrome c. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that ELF-EMF can negatively modulate cancer cell growth increasing respiratory activity of cells and altering mitochondrial protein expression.
Variation in Susceptibility of Bloodstream Isolates of Candida glabrata to Fluconazole According to Patient Age and Geographic Location in the United States in 2001 to 2007

ABSTRACT We examined the susceptibilities to fluconazole of 642 bloodstream infection (BSI) isolates of Candida glabrata and grouped the isolates by patient age and geographic location within the United States. Susceptibility of C. glabrata to fluconazole was lowest in the northeast region (46%) and was highest in the west (76%). The frequencies of isolation and of fluconazole resistance among C. glabrata BSI isolates were higher in the present study (years 2001 to 2007) than in a previous study conducted from 1992 to 2001. Whereas the frequency of C. glabrata increased with patient age, the rate of fluconazole resistance declined. The oldest age group (≥80 years) had the highest proportion of BSI isolates that were C. glabrata (32%) and the lowest rate of fluconazole resistance (5%).
The Conceptual Perceptions of Classroom Teacher Trainees about the Boiling Subject

The purpose of this study is to identify the conceptual perceptions of prospective classroom teachers towards boiling subject. Case study model which is one of the qualitative research models is used for the research. The study group was determined by the criterion sampling method. The sample of the study is comprised of 153 prospective classroom teachers. A semi-structured instrument was used for gathering the data. The data were analysed by using the content analysis. Suggestions were made according to the result of the study.
Inclusion of Techno-Pedagogical Model in Mathematics Teaching-Learning Process

The aim of this work is to know the perception of the high-school student towards the teaching process of the Financial Mathematics under the modality assisted by the technology. The EAPHMF Scale designed by García-Santillán and Edel (1988) was used, which collects data associated with the student's perception of the variables that make up the techno-pedagogical model. Fifty two students were surveyed in a private institution. The results show that, as a whole the variables of the techno-pedagogical model favor the student's perception toward financial Mathematics being the ones that most contribute, the workshop-type class followed by the design of financial simulators. Furthermore, in the intervention process, an improvement in the evaluation of learning was observed.
The effect of the lateral decubitus position on the intraocular pressure in anesthetized patients undergoing lung surgery

Background: Changing the body position alters the intraocular pressure (IOP). The aim of this study was to investigate the alteration in IOP of the eyes after a positional change from a supine position to a lateral decubitus position in anesthetized patients, in order to detect differences in IOP between the two eyes, possibly due to a gravity effect, in the lateral decubitus position.
Maximal Subalgebras of Finite-Dimensional Algebras Miodrag

We study maximal associative subalgebras of an arbitrary finite dimensional associative algebra B over a field K, and obtain full classification/description results of such algebras. This is done by first obtaining a complete classification in the semisimple case, and then lifting to non-semisimple algebras. The results are sharpest in the case of algebraically closed fields, and take special forms for algebras presented by quivers with relations. We also relate representation theoretic properties of the algebra and its maximal and other subalgebras, and provide a series of embeddings between quivers, incidence algebras and other structures which relate indecomposable representations of algebras and some subalgebras via induction/restriction functors. Some results in literature are also re-derived as a particular case, and other applications are given. 1
By Measure: Creativity in Design

Specific training may be required to develop creativity in design students. At the very least, training is valuable in developing creativity in first-year students. Creativity is a skill that can be examined, used and taught - and it is one that is central to designing. This paper presents the results of empirical research from a class in creative problem solving for design students. The nature of creativity and the structure of the class are described, and this is followed by an outline of the research methodology and the use of the verbal Torrance Test of Creative Thinking. Creativity, as measured through the test, significantly increased.
Inactivation of MS2 coliphage by UV and hydrogen peroxide: Comparison by cultural and molecular methodologies

The use of advanced oxidation processes (AOP) are expected to increase for removal of emerging contaminants and pathogens from drinking water. In this study, the performance of a small community ultraviolet light reactor in combination with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) for MS2 coliphage inactivation with two different flow rate conditions of 1 gal/min (gpm) and 2 gpm was evaluated. Following UV radiation, MS2 showed a reduction of 5.3–5.8 log10 when quantified with cultural plaque counts, whereas corresponding quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) data showed only a 1.7–2.8 log10 reduction in viral RNA copy number. When H2O2 was added at either 2.5 or 5 ppm with UV at both flow rate conditions, enhanced MS2 inactivation occurred with a more than 7 log10 reduction observed via plaque counts, indicating that all added MS2 had been inactivated, since no plaques were formed after incubation at 37°C for 24 h. In contrast, qPCR only showed a corresponding 3–4 log10 reduction in viral RNA copy number. This research also sheds light on the inactivation of MS2 with ultraviolet light and in the presence of hydroxyl radicals and provides a practical use of qPCR to detect MS2 concentration following advanced oxidation relative to traditional plaque methodology; however qPCR detection overestimates the true number of infective virus.
Chemotherapeutic decontamination of dental implants colonized by mature multispecies oral biofilm

AIM No studies have tested disinfectants on mature multispecies oral biofilms on titanium substrata. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of commonly used antimicrobial agents in decontamination of multispecies mature oral biofilm on sandblasted, large-grit, acid-etched (SLA) titanium implants. METHODS SLA titanium disks were inoculated with dental plaque and cultured anaerobically for 21 days. The disks were rinsed with 0.9% NaCl, exposed for 2 min. to tetracycline paste, 1% Chlorhexidine gel (CHX), 35% phosphoric acid gel (Etch) or a novel chemical formula (0.3% cetrimide, 0.1% CHX and 0.5% EDTA) and then rinsed again with 0.9% NaCl. Bacteria were quantified from scanning electron micrographs of the implant surfaces. Living bacteria were quantified with confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Rinsing the surfaces with 0.9% NaCl removed the majority of the biofilm. However, bacteria persisted in all specimens and none of the disinfectants was superior to the double saline rinse group. CLSM analysis showed that CHX and Etch groups had a statistically significant reduction of viable bacteria, although small. Overall the results show that many disinfection agents used in the clinic are ineffective in biofilm removal and leave live bacteria on the surface.
Vocational Rehabilitation Counselors ' Attitudes Toward Self-Employment : Attitudes and Their Effects on the Use of Self-Employment as an Employment Option

Quality of life is intimately related to an individual's major life activities (Antonovsky, 1987). For many individuals, productive employment is of central importance. Unfortunately, people with disabilities confront many difficulties in finding or keeping work; with overall unemployment rates for this population as high as 50%, and as high as 60% for people with disabilities living in rural areas (Rural Institute on Disabilities, 1993).
Contribution of Pelagic and Benthic Grazing and Detritus Food Chains to the Coastal Ecosystem of the Western Seto Inland Sea : A Stable Isotope and Bayesian Mixing Model Analysis Approach

Food webs are a critical attribute in the material flow of ecosystems. Coastal ecosystem food webs are constructed by three major food chains, which include pelagic and benthic grazing and detritus-based food chains, the structure of which can vary depending on regional environments. The Seto Inland Sea (SIS) of Japan, which is consists of subsystem basins with high environmental heterogeneity, is one of the most vulnerable coastal ecosystems because it is relatively enclosed by islands restricted flow to the ocean. In this study, we elucidate the proportional contribution of three food chains in food web structure in the western SIS regions by using stable isotope analysis and Bayesian estimation. Contribution of the pelagic food chain was largest in the Bungo channel, which is the deepest region, with the benthic food chain contributing more in the shallow regions of Suo-nada and the Aki-nada, suggesting an effect of water depth on the food web structure. Furthermore, our result reveals a consistent large contribution by the detritus food chain to the entire coastal community member at all regions. This suggests that the detritus chain is a critical material-providing process for ecosystem maintenance or for pollutant accumulation to animals at the western SIS.
Neural Text Normalization with Subword Units

Text normalization (TN) is an important step in conversational systems. It converts written text to its spoken form to facilitate speech recognition, natural language understanding and text-to-speech synthesis. Finite state transducers (FSTs) are commonly used to build grammars that handle text normalization. However, translating linguistic knowledge into grammars requires extensive effort. In this paper, we frame TN as a machine translation task and tackle it with sequence-to-sequence (seq2seq) models. Previous research focuses on normalizing a word (or phrase) with the help of limited word-level context, while our approach directly normalizes full sentences. We find subword models with additional linguistic features yield the best performance (with a word error rate of 0.17%).
Systemic approach to project management: A stakeholders perspective for sustainability

Today most projects fail to deliver on time for various reasons. Reasons could be scope creep, unclear requirements, lack of right resources/budget etc. For project success it is essential to get buy-in from all stakeholders involved directly or indirectly. Different stakeholders are involved at different phases of a project. Though they are involved later, we still need to take their inputs at project start to avoid risks in future. It is quite possible that the project team gives importance to few stakeholders (whatever the criteria is) at the cost of others or it is possible to miss others thinking they may not be relevant at that instant. This paper outlines how to identify all stakeholders and get their concurrence systemically. We propose use of a holistic stakeholder matrix for identification of right stakeholders at right time; thus successful stakeholder engagement based on systems principles ensures sustainability for the project and so to the organization.
Anti-cancer effect of danshen and dihydroisotanshinone I on prostate cancer: targeting the crosstalk between macrophages and cancer cells via inhibition of the STAT3/CCL2 signaling pathway

Danshen (Salvia miltiorrhiza Bunge) is widely used in traditional Chinese medicine. In our study, the in vivo protective effect of danshen in prostate cancer patients was validated through data from the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan. In vitro, we discovered that dihydroisotanshinone I (DT), a bioactive compound present in danshen, can inhibit the migration of both androgen-dependent and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. In addition, we noted that DT substantially inhibited the migratory ability of prostate cancer cells in both a macrophage-conditioned medium and macrophage/prostate cancer coculture medium. Mechanistically, DT both diminished the ability of prostate cancer cells to recruit macrophages and reduced the secretion of chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2) from both macrophages and prostate cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, DT inhibited the protein expression of p-STAT3 and decreased the translocation of STAT3 into nuclear chromatin. DT also suppressed the expression of tumor epithelial–mesenchymal transition genes, including RhoA and SNAI1. In conclusion, danshen can prolong the survival rate of prostate cancer patients in Taiwan. Furthermore, DT can inhibit the migration of prostate cancer cells by interrupting the crosstalk between prostate cancer cells and macrophages via the inhibition of the CCL2/STAT3 axis. These results may provide the basis for a new therapeutic approach toward the treatment of prostate cancer progression.
Environmental Pressures Embodied in the French Cereals Supply Chain

France is the second largest exporter of cereals in the world. Although the cereal supply chain is an asset to the country's economy and employment, it is at the same time responsible for a number of pressures on the local and global environment including greenhouse gases (GHG) emissions and stresses on water quality and quantity. This article aims at evaluating this situation from an environmental point of view by linking production occurring in French regions with consumption occurring in France and abroad. Based on previous work on material flow analysis, we use an absorbing Markov chain model to study the fate of French cereals and link worldwide consumption to environmental pressures along the supply chain, that is, induced by production, transformation, or transport. The model is based on physical supply and use tables and distinguishes between 21 industries, 22 products, 38 regions of various spatial resolution (22 French regions, ten countries, six continents), and four modes of transport. Energy use, GHG emissions, land use, use of pesticides, and blue water footprint are studied. Illustrative examples are given in order to demonstrate the versatility of the results produced, for instance: Where and in what form does local production end up? How do regions compare relative to their production and consumption footprints? These results are designed to be a first step toward scenario analysis for decision‐aiding that would also include socio‐economic indicators. Examples of such scenarios are discussed in the conclusion.
Classical Wave Propagation Phenomena in Two-Layer Cellular Neural Networks

Studies of dynamic phenomena in arrays composed of oscillatory and chaotic elements are very important in such investigations as they provide a universal model for phenomena observed in other domains. From the middle of previous decade, the investigations of the spatiotemporal dynamics in cellular neural networks have been widely carried out, and many papers have been published. The obtained sound results are pattern formations and various forms of autowaves such as excitability waves, concentration waves and so on, which have been observed in many disciplines ranging from biology to physics and chemistry, etc. Up to the present, the CNN arrays, which are composed of Chua’s oscillators [2]-[4], second nonlinear circuit obtained by the suitably “reducing” Chua’s circuit [5] and etc. [6][7] have been mainly considered in order to generate these phenomena. A common technique in all these cases is almost using CNNs to approximate the various types of nonlinear partial differential equations, especial the well-known reaction-diffusion equations that have shown to generate Turing pattern and propagation phenomena in various continuous media. The purpose of this paper is to investigate another class of spatio-temporal phenomena occurring in a simpler CNN structure mutually coupled two-layer CNNs. We found that this type of propagation phenomena has the properties of reflection, permeation, superposition and etc., which are completely different from those nonlinear propagation phenomena. In particular, the conditions for generating the classical wave will be discussed.
Interactive Immersive Display

‘Tangible Space’ is the concept of connecting the cyber space and real world seamlessly so that people can extend their capability over the limitations of each space. The seamless integration of cyber space and real world requires natural and efficient interfaces to the cyber space. We define ‘Tangible Interface’ as a surface where people meet the cyber space. In this paper, we present technology for building interactive immersive display as a Tangible Interface. In our vision, as computers are disappearing from our sight in the near future, interactive display will be a main interface with cyber space. This paper presents a method to build a tiled display as an immersive large scale display using offthe-shelf graphics boards, and live avatar based interaction with a large scale display. We expect them to be combined into the interactive immersive display as a natural and efficient interface.
Lichens of Mikura-jima Island, Izu Islands, central Japan.

Lichens of Mikura-jima Island, Izu Islands, central Japan, were investigated. As the results of taxonomic study, 78 taxa (77 species and 1 variety) were recognized from the island. Among them, Graphis mikuraensis Y. Ohmura & M. Nakan. is described as a new species. Lepraria finkii and L. lobificans, based on the emended species concept, were confirmed to occur in Japan. A new combination, Rhabdodiscus inalbescens (Nyl.) Frisch is proposed. Phytogeographic discussion is made for the listed species. The lichen flora of Mikura-jima Island is characterized by the high percentage of pantemperate element species together with tropical and subtropical species. A remarkable range extension is noted for Physma radians, and the find represents the northernmost locality for this pacific element species. Nipponoparmelia laevior, which was common before 1981, may have become extinct or drastically reduced in this island during the past 30 years.
Is it about the self or the significance? An fMRI study of self-name recognition

Our own name, due to its high social relevance, is supposed to have a unique status in our information processing. However, demonstrating this phenomenon empirically proves difficult as famous and unknown names, to which self-name is often compared in the studies, may differ from self-name not only in terms of the ‘me vs. not-me’ distinction, but also as regards their emotional content and frequency of occurrence in everyday life. In this fMRI study, apart from famous and unknown names we used the names of the most important persons in our subjects' lives. When compared to famous or unknown names recognition, self-name recognition was associated with robust activations in widely distributed bilateral network including fronto-temporal, limbic and subcortical structures, however, when compared to significant other's name, the activations were present specifically in the right inferior frontal gyrus. In addition, the significant other's name produced a similar pattern of activations to the one activated by self-name. These results suggest that the differences between own and other's name processing may rather be quantitative than qualitative in nature.
Targeted chemotherapy with nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel) in metastatic breast cancer: which benefit for which patients?

The therapeutic goals in metastatic breast cancer (MBC) remain palliative in nature, aimed at controlling symptoms, improving or maintaining quality of life and prolonging survival. The advent of new drugs and new formulations of standard agents has led to better outcomes in patients with advanced or metastatic disease. These developments have also allowed a tailored therapeutic approach, in which the molecular biology of the tumour, the treatment history, and patient attitudes are taken into account in the decision-making process. Targeting drug delivery to the tumour is a promising mean of increasing the therapeutic index of highly active agents such as the taxanes, and nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-paclitaxel), the first nanotechnology-based drug developed in cancer treatment, is one such advance. Data from randomized trials support the efficacy of single-agent nab-paclitaxel as first-line and further treatment lines in MBC at the registered 3-weekly schedule of 260 mg/m2, but emerging evidence suggests its activity as a weekly regimen or combined with other agents in various clinical scenarios. Thus, nab-paclitaxel seems to offer flexibility in terms of dosing schedules, allowing physicians to tailor the dose according to different clinical situations. This paper reviews the clinical trial background for nab-paclitaxel in MBC, focusing on specific ‘difficult-to-treat’ patient populations, such as taxane-pretreated or elderly women, as well as those with triple-negative, HER2-positive and poor-prognostic-factors disease. Moving beyond evidence-based information, ‘real life’ available experiences are also discussed with the aim of providing an update for daily clinical practice.