Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bioengineered fibrin-based niche to direct outgrowth of circulating progenitors into neuron-like cells for potential use in cellular therapy

Objective. Autologous cells are considered to be the best choice for use in transplantation therapy. However, the challenges and risks associated with the harvest of transplantable autologous cells limit their successful therapeutic application. The current study explores the possibility of isolating neural progenitor cells from circulating multipotent adult progenitor cells for potential use in cell-based and patient-specific therapy for neurological diseases. Approach. To enable the selection of neural progenitor cells from human peripheral blood mononuclear cells, and to support their lineage maintenance, the composition of a fibrin-based niche was optimized. Morphological examination and specific marker analysis were carried out, employing a qualitative/quantitative polymerase chain reaction followed by immunocytochemistry to: (i) characterize neural progenitor cells in culture; (ii) monitor proliferation/survival; and (iii) track their differentiation status. Main results. The presence of neural progenitors in circulation was confirmed by the presence of nestin+ cells at the commencement of the culture. The isolation, proliferation and differentiation of circulating neural progenitors to neuron-like cells were directed by the engineered niche. Neural cell isolation to near homogeneity was confirmed by the expression of β-III tubulin in ∼95% of cells, whereas microtubule associated protein-2 expression confirmed their ability to differentiate. The concentration of potassium chloride in the niche was found to favour neuron-like cell lengthening, cell-cell contact, and expressions of synaptophysin and tyrosine hydroxylase. Significance. The purpose of this research was to find out if peripheral blood could serve as a potential source of neural progenitors for cell based therapy. The study established that neural progenitors could be selectively isolated from peripheral blood mononuclear cells using a biomimetic niche. The selected cells could multiply and slowly differentiate into neuron-like cells. These neuron-like cells expressed functional proteins—tyrosine hydroxylase and synaptophysin. Early progenitors that proliferate while expressing β-III tubulin could be harvested from the culture, suggesting their potential use in cell transplantation therapy.
Enhancement of hippocampal LTP, reference memory and sensorimotor gating in mutant mice lacking a telencephalon‐specific cell adhesion molecule

Telencephalin (TLCN) is a cell adhesion molecule selectively expressed in the telencephalon of the mammalian brain. The mutant mice lacking TLCN had no detectable abnormalities in their neural development and synaptic structures. Ablation of TLCN increased the hippocampal long‐term potentiation and its saturation level. The TLCN mutation selectively enhanced the performance of the radial maze and water‐finding tasks, learning tasks with appetitive reinforcers, but not the contextual fear conditioning and Morris water maze tasks with aversive stimuli for conditioning. Furthermore, the TLCN mutant mice showed an increase of prepulse inhibition of the acoustic startle response. These results suggest that TLCN is a determinant of the dynamic range of synaptic plasticity and plays roles in reward‐motivated learning and memory and sensorimotor gating.
Developmental regulation of the Hox genes during axial morphogenesis in the mouse

The Hox genes confer positional information to the axial and paraxial tissues as they emerge gradually from the posterior aspect of the vertebrate embryo. Hox genes are sequentially activated in time and space, in a way that reflects their organisation into clusters in the genome. Although this co-linearity of expression of the Hox genes has been conserved during evolution, it is a phenomenon that is still not understood at the molecular level. This review aims to bring together recent findings that have advanced our understanding of the regulation of the Hox genes during mouse embryonic development. In particular, we highlight the integration of these transducers of anteroposterior positional information into the genetic network that drives tissue generation and patterning during axial elongation.
Clinical significance of soluble major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related a in renal cell carcinoma patients.

OBJECTIVE Major histocompatibility complex class I chain-related A (MICA) is a stress-inducible glycoprotein that can be shed as a soluble protein. This study was conducted to determine the expression of MICA in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) and examine the clinical relevance of soluble MICA (sMICA) in this disease. METHODS Immunohistochemistry and real-time PCR analyses were performed to assess the expression of MICA in 48 pairs of RCC and adjacent normal renal tissues. Serum levels of sMICA were measured in 48 RCC patients, 12 patients with benign renal tumors, and 20 healthy individuals. The correlations between sMICA levels and clinicopathological parameters were analyzed and the diagnostic performance of sMICA in RCC was evaluated. RESULTS RCCs exhibited elevated expression of MICA compared to adjacent normal tissues. Serum concentrations of sMICA were significantly greater in RCC patients (348.5 ± 32.5 pg/ml) than those with benign disease (289.3 ± 30.4 pg/ml) and healthy controls (168.4 ± 43.2 pg/ml) and significantly correlated with advanced tumor stage, lymph node metastasis, distant metastasis, vascular invasion, and higher histological grade. Using a cut-off point of 250 pg/ml, sMICA demonstrated a specificity and sensitivity of 63.2% and 75.6%, respectively, in distinguishing between RCC and benign renal tumors. CONCLUSION MICA expression is upregulated in RCC and increased serum sMICA levels predict aggressive tumor behavior. However, the applicability of sMICA alone is limited in distinguishing RCC from benign renal tumors.
Design of dual-frequency substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity backed slot array antenna

In this paper, a design of planar, compact dual frequency slot array antenna is implemented using substrate integrated waveguide (SIW) cavity backed slot antenna as array element. The proposed design uses a pair of slots placed at the top wall of the cavity to excite higher order hybrid mode along with conventional TE120 mode which helps to create dual resonances. A design of 1×4 array of the proposed SIW cavity backed slot pair is used to achieve dual frequency slot array antenna in planar substrate. The array is fed by SIW power divider. The proposed antenna array resonates at 9.88 GHz and 10.76 GHz with a gain of 11.3 dBi and 11.8 dBi respectively and sidelobe level 12.5 dB below at both resonances.
Institutional Origin and Resource Endowments to Science-Based Entrepreneurial Firms: A European Exploration

This paper addresses theoretical and empirical gaps in the relationships between the nature of institutional origin, firm resources and growth in the context of spinning off ventures from public research organisations (PROs). Institutional origin is considered a two dimensional construct consisting of the formality of technology transfer and the research specificity of a PRO. In this perspective, these variables are hypothesised to predict the resource endowments of science-based entrepreneurial firms. Additionally, given the widespread attention from academics and policy makers to IP based science-based entrepreneurial firms, the formality of technology transfer is expected to be associated with growth. Empirical tests of hypotheses derived from this view are based on data from 184 science-based entrepreneurial firms, representing 48 public research organisations. Multivariate analysis of variance shows that institutional origin predicts firm resources, showing significance levels for start capital. An ordinal interaction effect shows that companies established with a formal transfer of technology start with higher resource levels, and even more so when started from a PRO with a specific research base. This suggests that specific PROs are more selective in the projects they consider eligible for spin off incubation and creation. Next to this, two-stage regression analysis indicates that the formality of technology transfer has a single direct effect on growth in employees and capital, independent of the start capital of the firm, pointing to the intrinsic advantage of having protected intellectual property formally transferred to the science-based entrepreneurial firm at the onset of the business activities.
Rho-Associated Kinase Activity, Endothelial Function, and Cardiovascular Risk Factors

Objective—Cardiovascular diseases are associated with chronic activation of Rho-associated kinases (ROCKs) and endothelial dysfunction. Both increased ROCK activity and endothelial dysfunction are thought to be closely associated with conventional cardiovascular risk factors. The purpose of this study was to determine the relationships between ROCK activity, endothelial function, and cardiovascular risk factors. Methods and Results—We evaluated ROCK activity in peripheral leukocytes by Western blot analysis and flow-mediated vasodilation by ultrasonography in 242 men who had no cardiovascular or cerebrovascular diseases (mean age, 40±10 years; range, 20 to 73 years). ROCK activity was defined as the ratio of phospho myosin-binding subunit on myosin light chain phosphatase to total myosin-binding subunit. Univariate regression analysis revealed that leukocyte ROCK activity significantly correlated with body mass index (r=0.29, P=0.003); systolic blood pressure (r=0.25, P=0.01); low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (r=0.21, P=0.04); and Framingham risk factor score, a cumulative cardiovascular risk index for heart attack (r=0.31, P<0.001), and that flow-mediated vasodilation significantly correlated with age (r=−0.23, P=0.02), body mass index (r=0.19, P=0.05), systolic blood pressure (r=−0.22, P=0.03), total cholesterol level (r=−0.21, P=0.04), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (r=−0.22, P=0.04), glucose level (r=−0.20, P=0.04), and Framingham risk factor score (r=−0.37, P<0.001). There was a significant correlation between leukocyte ROCK activity and flow-mediated vasodilation (r=−0.41, P<0.001). Multivariate analysis revealed that flow-mediated vasodilation was an independent predictor of leukocyte ROCK activity. Conclusion—These findings suggest that cumulative cardiovascular risk may enhance ROCK activity and endothelial dysfunction, leading to progression of cardiovascular diseases and outcomes.
Application of local linear neuro-fuzzy model in prediction of mean arterial blood pressure time series

Predicting the future behavior of human's biosignals can help clinicians to prevent occurrence of physiological disorders such as hypotension, hypertension, epilepsy, etc. In addition this prediction helps clinicians to buy some time in order to select a more effective treatment for physiological disorders without exposing the patient to additional risks of delay in receiving treatment. In this paper a local linear neuro-fuzzy model was applied to predict mean arterial pressure time series. In order to evaluate the accuracy of prediction, Normalized Mean Square Error (NMSE) was chosen as an error index. 10 mean arterial pressure signals (2.5 hours each) from 10 patients were selected for training and prediction. Mean of NMSE for these signals was 0.023 in train and 0.0514 in test.
Numerical investigation on a novel VIV energy harvester for underwater mooring platforms

Inspired by the wave roller device and the artificial piezoelectric grass energy collection devices which harvest energy from wave and air respectively, a novel flow-induced vibration energy converter (FIVEC) was proposed to convert fluid kinematic energy into electricity for underwater mooring platforms (UMPs) and extend their operation time. The FIVEC intends to be fixed on the sea bed or other underwater structures, and is composed of a vibrating thin plate, magnetic couplings (MCs) and several generators. The plate’s driving torque which is resulted from shedding vortices’ kinematic energy, is transmitted to generators through MC to produce electricity. In order to quantify and evaluate performances of the FIVEC, twodimension computational fluid dynamic (CFD) simulations were performed. The adopted CFD method was firstly validated using existing experimental data. Under different damping coefficients and current velocities, the responses of the plate’s angular displacement amplitude and the power performances of the converter were studied. Results show that the device has a maximum averaged efficiency of 3.5% (147mW) in prescribed situations, which demonstrates the feasibility of this energy converter. This article also provides guidance for the follow-up test.
Targeting of whole killed bacteria to gastrointestinal M-cells induces humoral immunity in the female reproductive tract

Recently, we demonstrated that oral delivery of whole killed bacteria, when agglutinated by an M-cell targeting lectin, resulted in an enhanced systemic and mucosal antibody response, as well as a protective immunity, against the gut pathogens Helicobacter pylori and Campylobacter jejuni. Importantly, this protection was achieved without the addition of exogenous adjuvant. Here, in this addendum, we extend this initial study by reporting on the vaginal antibody response induced by these vaccinations. These data show that the targeting of M-cells within the gastrointestinal tract also induces the secretion of antigen-specific antibodies (IgG and IgA) at a distal mucosal site, namely the vaginal mucosa. This observation raises the possibility that oral delivery of a whole, killed bacteria vaccine that target intestinal M-cells could potentially provide a strategy for inducing protective immunity against pathogenic bacteria that infect mucosal sites outside the gastrointestinal tract.
QR codes application for reversible watermarking algorithm in biomedical images

This paper presents an algorithm in reversible watermarking or lossless data hiding, the application associated with the quick response codes (or call QR codes) and the biomedical images. QR code is random patterns, looks like random noise which can be commonly found on the webpages. We can use the smartphone camera to capture the QR code at the webpage, and then the hyperlink corresponding to the QR code can be accessed instantly. The biomedical imaging plays a significant role in diagnosing at the present time. The diagnose information given by biomedical images is important for designing the proper treatment for each patient, this information is personal and cannot be disclosed according to ethics. We have applied the QR code with data embedding in biomedical image in order to retain the confidential information. Our algorithm uses prediction errors to embed the QR codes into different biomedical images models which are diverse in the nature structure. A sorting technique is used to record the prediction errors based on magnitude of its local variance. Using sorted prediction errors reduce location map size and allow us to embed more data into the biomedical image with low distortion. Experimental results also demonstrate the applicability of the proposed algorithm.
Ring chromosome 4 in a patient with early onset type 2 diabetes, deafness, and developmental delay

To date, most ring formations of chromosome 4 lose distal 4p and usually include the Wolf–Hirschhorn syndrome region [WHS]. We describe a case with r(4) in a girl who presented without features of WHS; she had mild developmental delay, deafness, short stature, obesity, and the onset of type 2 diabetes in adolescence, a distinctive phenotype. Although 4p was significantly deleted on Giemsa banding, the 4p junction was distal to the WHS and FGFR3 but proximal to the D4S3360 marker. The 4q breakpoint was close to the telomere. The phenotype appears different from previous patients with 4p‐ or r(4), which have had more extensive 4p deletion. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Characterization, cloning, and binding properties of the major 53-kilodalton Treponema denticola surface antigen

Treponema denticola surface proteins were studied for their biochemical and biological characteristics. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE) analysis of detergent extracts of whole cells revealed a major protein of 53 kDa and a number of minor proteins. Antiserum raised against whole cells of T. denticola ATCC 35405 reacted with the 53-kDa protein and a 72-kDa protein but not with the other proteins. Immunoelectron microscopy with anti-53-kDa-protein antibodies showed that the 53-kDa protein is located on the surface of the cell. SDS-PAGE analysis of unheated samples indicated that the 53-kDa protein is the major component of oligomers with molecular masses ranging from 130 to 300 kDa. Western blot (immunoblot) analysis showed that the high-molecular-mass oligomers reacted with whole-cell antiserum and anti-53-kDa-protein antibody. The aggregates dissociated into their subunits after heating to 70 degrees C. Isoelectric focusing followed by SDS-PAGE indicated that the 53-kDa protein was separated into several forms with apparent pI values ranging from 8.0 to 5.5. The oligomeric forms were highly resistant to proteolysis by trypsin and proteinase K, whereas the monomeric proteins were readily digested. A clone expressing a 53-kDa antigen in Escherichia coli was isolated from a lambda ZAP II DNA library of T. denticola ATCC 35405. The recombinant protein had exactly the same molecular mass as the major 53-kDa T. denticola surface protein and reacted with antisera raised against this protein. The role of T. denticola ATCC 35405 surface proteins in attachment to laminin, fibronectin, gelatin, fibrinogen, and bovine serum albumin (BSA) was studied by a modified Western blot binding assay. Fibronectin, laminin, and fibrinogen attached to the 53-kDa surface protein of T. denticola as well as to a 72-kDa protein, whereas no attachment to gelatin or BSA was observed. Attachment could be inhibited by pretreating the blots with fibrinogen but not with gelatin or BSA. Our results suggest that the 53-kDa major surface protein of T. denticola may play a role in the attachment to host proteins and may thus be an important virulence determinant of this species.
A phylogeny of the trimeresurus group of pit vipers: new evidence from a mitochondrial gene tree.

The Trimeresurus group is an important radiation of over 40 Asian pit viper species. Once considered congeneric, four genera are generally currently recognized (Trimeresurus sensu stricto, Ovophis, Protobothrops, and Tropidolaemus) but relationships within and between these are still unclear. This study, based on mitochondrial cytochrome b sequences, is the first to include a large number of species (21) and demonstrates that the current taxonomy does not adequately represent either the relationships or the genetic diversity present in the complex. Although many deeper nodes are not strongly supported, the following novel conclusions are all well supported: (1) the paraphyly of Trimeresurus sensu stricto, (2) the presence of several divergent clades within Trimeresurus sensu stricto, (3) the paraphyly of some widespread, medically significant, species, (4) the nonmonophyly of Ovophis, and (5) the monophyly of Protobothrops. Mapping of morphological characters onto the mitochondrial tree further supports the four groups proposed for Trimeresurus sensu stricto.
Research on WebGIS based on multi-agent

Web-based Geographic Information System (WebGIS) is a key direction towards GIS development. By analysing of the deficiency in the design of conventional WebGIS, this paper proposes an architecture of the intelligent WebGIS based on Multi-Agent, which has been applied in a agricultural WebGIS. In order to solve the key problem of Agent communication, the paper also presents an Agent communication model, which decreases the working capacity to maintain the communication protocl and enhances the system's adaptability and stability.
Bayesian analysis of non-thermal structural changes induced by terahertz radiation in protein crystals

We have periodically (25ms on - 25ms off) illuminated lysozyme crystals with 0.4 THz radiation and simultaneously monitored their X-ray diffraction intensity in order to study non-thermal structural changes in the protein. In this work we analyze the X-ray scaled and unmerged diffraction intensity observations using a multivariate Bayesian model in order to improve the accuracy of the intensity estimates. The diffraction intensity pairs of the illuminated and non-illuminated state show a predominantly positive correlation. The correlation decreases with increasing resolution suggesting that finer slicing and faster sampling of the rocking curve may further improve the accuracy and effect size of structure factor amplitude differences, making the interpretation of structural changes more straightforward. The improved analysis retains the most important structural features described previously (in helix 3) and provide addition details about the B-factor changes close to the substrate binding site.
The effect of paramedic rapid sequence intubation on outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury.

OBJECTIVE To evaluate the effect of paramedic rapid sequence intubation (RSI) on outcome in patients with severe traumatic brain injury. METHODS Adult major trauma victims were prospectively enrolled over two years using the following inclusion criteria: Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 3-8, suspected head injury by mechanism or physical examination, transport time > 10," and inability to intubate without RSI. Midazolam and succinylcholine were administered before laryngoscopy; rocuronium was given after tube placement was confirmed using physical examination, capnometry, syringe aspiration, and pulse oximetry. The Combitube was used as a salvage airway device. For this analysis, trial patients were excluded for absence of a head injury (Head/Neck AIS score < 2), failure to fulfill major trauma outcome study criteria, unsuccessful intubation or Combitube insertion, or death in the field or in the resuscitation suite within 30" of arrival. Each study patient was hand matched to three nonintubated historical controls from our trauma registry using the following parameters: age, sex, mechanism of injury, trauma center, and AIS score for each body system. Controls were excluded for Head/Neck AIS defined by a c-spine injury or death in the field or in the resuscitation suite within 30" of arrival. chi 2, odds ratios, and logistic regression were used to investigate the impact of RSI on the primary outcome measures of mortality and incidence of a "good outcome," defined as discharge to home, rehabilitation, psychiatric facility, jail, or signing out against medical advice. RESULTS A total of 209 trial patients were hand matched to 627 controls. The groups were similar with regard to all matching parameters, admission vital signs, frequency of specific head injury diagnoses, and incidence of invasive procedures. Mortality was significantly increased in the trial cohort versus controls for all patients (33.0% versus 24.2%, p < 0.05) and in those with Head/Neck AIS scores of 3 or greater (41.1% versus 30.3%, p < 0.05). The incidence of a "good outcome" was lower in the trial cohort versus controls (45.5% versus 57.9%, p < 0.01). Factors that may have contributed to the increase in mortality include transient hypoxia, inadvertent hyperventilation, and longer scene times associated with the RSI procedure. CONCLUSION Paramedic RSI protocols to facilitate intubation of head-injured patients were associated with an increase in mortality and decrease in good outcomes versus matched historical controls.