Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Optimized culture conditions for tissue explants of uterine leiomyoma.

BACKGROUND Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign tumours in women, which arise from smooth muscle cells of the uterine myometrium and usually are multicentric. In spite of their frequency pathogenesis is widely unknown, mainly due to the absence of a suitable model system. We describe the systematic optimization of culturing leiomyoma tissue explants in an economical and effective ex vivo system. METHODS Different concentrations of oxygen, different media, sera, hormones, and growth factor supplements were tested. Immunohistochemical stainings with antibodies against hormone receptors as well as specifying proliferation and apoptotic indices and real-time PCR were performed. RESULTS Main parameters for culturing myoma tissue explants were tested for finding an optimal protocol. Standard medium D-MEM-F12 in combination with the use of horse serum in a reduced concentration of 1% turned out to be optimal for these tissue cultures as well as the addition of estradiol and epidermal growth factor EGF to media. Reduced oxygen content in the incubator air showed no positive effect. CONCLUSIONS For culturing tissue explants of uterine leiomyoma several conditions were optimized. The established tissue culture model allows examining the effects of known and potential therapeutic substances and the influence of immune competent cells in the process of tumour formation to find new targets for medical treatment.
Interferometric Seismic Imaging

Claerbout’s daylight imaging concept is generalized to the general theory of interferometric seismic imaging (II). Interferometric seismic imaging is defined to be any algorithm that inverts crosscorrelated seismic data for the reflectivity or source distribution. As examples, we show that II can be used to image reflectivity distributions by migrating ghost reflections in passive seismic data, and II generalizes the receiver-function imaging method used by seismologists. Interferometric seismic imaging can also be used to migrate free-surface and peg-leg multiples in CDP data and image source distributions from passive seismic data. Both synthetic and field data examples are used to illustrate the dierent possibilities of II. The key advantage of II is that it can be used to image source locations or reflectivity distributions from passive seismic data where the source position or wavelet is unknown. In some cases it can mitigate defocusing errors due to statics or an incorrect migration velocity. The main drawback with II is that severe migration artifacts can be created by partial focusing of virtual multiples.
Effective negative-/spl epsiv/ stopband microstrip lines based on complementary split ring resonators

In this letter a super-compact stopband microstrip structure is proposed. The frequency gap is produced by an array of complementary split ring resonators (CSRRs)-a concept proposed here for the first time-etched on the ground plane. This behavior is interpreted as due to the presence of a negative effective dielectric permittivity in the vicinity of resonance. The resulting device produces a deep rejection frequency band with sharp cutoff, and a pass band that exhibits very low losses and good matching. Due to the sub-lambda operation of CSRRs, the electrical size of the device is very small.
Coping and Violence Exposure as Predictors of Psychological Functioning in Domestic Violence Survivors

This study examines the differential effects of adult and childhood physical and psychological abuse, abuse-specific coping, and psychological adjustment in battered women seeking emergency shelter. Multivariate regression analyses confirmed the devastating impact of psychological abuse (childhood and concurrent) on battered women’s adjustment. The results corroborated prior research suggesting a cumulative vulnerability to psychological victimization in a substantial proportion of residents. Unexpectedly, frequency of physical violence was unrelated to women’s distress. The study argues that modes of coping traditionally considered adaptive (e.g., engaged, proactive) may be unsafe for battered women and children. The multifaceted nature of survivors’ coping choices is discussed.
Phosphorylation of CARMA1 by HPK1 is critical for NF-κB activation in T cells

Activation of the NF-κB pathway in T cells is required for induction of an adaptive immune response. Hematopoietic progenitor kinase (HPK1) is an important proximal mediator of T-cell receptor (TCR)-induced NF-κB activation. Knock-down of HPK1 abrogates TCR-induced IKKβ and NF-κB activation, whereas active HPK1 leads to increased IKKβ activity in T cells. Yet, the precise molecular mechanism of this process remains elusive. Here, we show that HPK1-mediated NF-κB activation is dependent on the adaptor protein CARMA1. HPK1 interacts with CARMA1 in a TCR stimulation-dependent manner and phosphorylates the linker region of CARMA1. Interestingly, the putative HPK1 phosphorylation sites in CARMA1 are different from known PKCθ consensus sites. Mutations of residues S549, S551, and S552 in CARMA1 abrogated phosphorylation of a CARMA1-linker construct by HPK1 in vitro. In addition, CARMA1 S551A or S5549A/S551A point mutants failed to restore HPK1-mediated and TCR-mediated NF-κB activation and IL-2 expression in CARMA1-deficient T cells. Thus, we identify HPK1 as a kinase specific for CARMA1 and suggest HPK1-mediated phosphorylation of CARMA1 as an additional regulatory mechanism tuning the NF-κB response upon TCR stimulation.
Gradient elution LC-ESI-MS determination of cilostazol in rat plasma and its application

A sensitive and simple liquid chromatography/electrospray mass spectrometry (LC-ESI-MS) method for determination of cilostazol in rat plasma using one-step protein precipitation was developed. After addition of midazolam as internal standard (IS), protein precipitation by acetonitrile was used as sample preparation. Chromatographic separation was achieved on an SB-C18 (2.1 × 50 mm, 5.0 μm) column with acetonitrile-0.1 % formic acid as mobile phase with gradient elution. Electrospray ionization (ESI) source was applied and operated in positive ion mode; selected ion monitoring (SIM) mode was used to quantification using target fragment ions m/z 370.0 for cilostazol and m/z 325.9 for the IS. Calibration plots were linear over the range of 10-2000 ng/mL for cilostazol in rat plasma. Lower limit of quantification (LLOQ) for cilostazol was 10 ng/mL. Mean recovery of cilostazol from plasma was in the range 90.1495. 10 %. RSD of intra-day and inter-day precision were both less than 15 %. This method is simple and sensitive enough to be used in pharmacokinetic research for determination of cilostazol in rat plasma.
Digital and networked by default? Women’s organisations and the social imaginary of networked feminism

This article analyses the social imaginary of ‘networked feminism’ as an ideological construct of legitimate political engagement, drawing on ethnographic study conducted with London-based women’s organisations. For many women’s groups, the desire to connect echoes libertarian visions of Web 2.0 as an ‘open’ and ‘shared’ space, and it is encouraged by widely circulating governmental narratives of digital inclusion. In the context of public services becoming digital by default, and severe funding cuts to volunteer organisations in the United Kingdom, feminist organisations are invited to revise the allocation of resources, in order to best accommodate the setting up of digital platforms, and at the same time, to maintain their political and social aims. It is argued that there are tensions between the imaginaries of a ‘digital sisterhood’ and the material realities of women’s organisations: age, lack of resources and media literacy were found to be the three most important factors that modulate participation, and in many cases become new types of exclusions of access to publicity and recognition. By interrogating the circulation of dominant liberal narratives of digital engagement and digital inclusion that motivate new communicative practices between many feminist organisations today, the article offers a fuller understanding of networked media and activism for social justice.
Apoptosis reduces both the in vitro replication and the in vivo infectivity of a baculovirus

Apoptotic programmed cell death occurs when the insect cell line SF-21, derived from Spodoptera frugiperda, is infected with mutants of the baculovirus Autographa californica nuclear polyhedrosis virus (AcMNPV) which lack a functional p35 gene. However, infection of the Trichoplusia ni TN-368 cell line with p35 mutants does not result in apoptosis (R. Clem, M. Fechheimer, and L. Miller, Science 254:1388-1390, 1991). We have examined the effect of apoptosis on AcMNPV infections in cell lines and larvae of these two insect species. Production of viral progeny was significantly lower in SF-21 cells infected with p35 mutants than in cells infected with wild-type (wt) or revertant viruses. Viral gene expression was abnormal in SF-21 cells infected with p35 mutants; there was a delay in the transcription and translation of early and late viral genes, a lack of expression of very late genes, and a total cessation of protein synthesis late in the apoptotic process. In vivo analysis revealed that the dose of budded virus required for 50% lethality in S. frugiperda larvae was approximately 1,000-fold higher for p35 mutants than for wt or revertant viruses. In contrast, the replication and infectivity of p35 mutant viruses was equivalent to that of wt AcMNPV during infection of both TN-368 cells and T. ni larvae. Thus, the data indicate that a host apoptotic response provides protection against viral infection at the organismal level and that the p35 gene constitutes a host range determinant for AcMNPV infection.
Color error from an RGB‐stripe pixel structure

Abstract— Most direct‐view color displays have a sub‐pixel structure similar to the RGB‐stripe structure. The video data for R and B are produced on the condition that they are reproduced at the same position as G but they are displayed on the screen with 1/3 of a pixel separation from the corresponding G pixel. This pixel structure thus entails a convergence error of 1/3 of a pixel. The modified s‐CIELAB method was applied to investigate color errors produced by the RGB‐stripe pixel structure. The results show that the pixel structure can degrade the image quality even for a viewing distance where the pixel structure is not visible because the color difference caused by the structure has a low‐frequency component and the human vision can detect it. The same method was applied to the convergence error and it was shown that the necessary convergence accuracy is around 1/4 of a pixel.
[Second tumours in patients with malignant neoplasms of the digestive apparatus. A retrospective study on 2406 cases].

BACKGROUND Incidence of a second tumor is elevated, between 2-10%, in patients previously affected by another tumor. Second tumor may concern the same organ, as a synchronous or metachronous way, or different organs. The present work is based on 4286 patients who underwent surgical treatment for gastric, small bowel, colorectal or pancreatic cancer at Surgical Unit 1- Minni- Bologna University and regards multiple primitive malignant tumor (T.M.M.P) of the II type (Möertel classification), such as different organs or tissues based second tumors; it also analyses overall incidence, sites, lesion number, latency period, and main association in our series. PATIENTS AND METHODS 1742 patients with colorectal carcinoma, 1418 patients with gastric cancer, 91 patients with malignant tumour of the small bowel, 867 patients with pancreatic cancer and 68 with hepatocellular carcinoma have been included in the present study. A careful history, aimed at checking the presence of a previous tumor in a different site, was taken. One hundred eighty one patients (82 male and 99 female) reported tumor of a second type. Eleven cases of synchronous tumor and 170 cases of metachronous tumors were found, at a distance of 1-39 years. Moreover 7 patients reported more than one second tumor. Female genital tract tumors (37 cases), hematopoietic system tumors (34 cases), breast cancer (29 cases), and cutaneous tumor (20 cases) 9 were the most observed previous tumor. Incidence of a second tumor was more elevated in patients with small bowel neoplasms (18/91, 19.8%) than in patients with others tumors of gastrointestinal tract. CONCLUSIONS Present study, although win part retrospective, point out an overall incidence of 4.3% of second tumors of the II type. Incidence of second tumours in patients with small bowel neoplasm, is particularly high; this confirm that small bowel plays a possible immunoprotective role and the immunodepression characterise patients with tumors in this site.
The Amoebicidal Effect of Ergosterol Peroxide Isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus

Dysentery is an inflammation of the intestine caused by the protozoan parasite Entamoeba histolytica and is a recurrent health problem affecting millions of people worldwide. Because of the magnitude of this disease, finding novel strategies for treatment that does not affect human cells is necessary. Ergosterol peroxide is a sterol particularly known as a major cytotoxic agent with a wide spectrum of biological activities produced by edible and medicinal mushrooms. The aim of this report is to evaluate the amoebicidal activity of ergosterol peroxide (5α, 8α‐epidioxy‐22E‐ergosta‐6,22‐dien‐3β‐ol isolated from 5α, 8α‐epidioxy‐22E‐ergosta‐6,22‐dien‐3β‐ol) (Jacq.) P. Kumm. f. sp. Florida. Our results show that ergosterol peroxide produced a strong cytotoxic effect against amoebic growth. The inhibitory concentration IC50 of ergosterol peroxide was evaluated. The interaction between E. histolytica and ergosterol peroxide in vitro resulted in strong amoebicidal activity (IC50 = 4.23 nM) that may be due to the oxidatory effect on the parasitic membrane. We also tested selective toxicity of ergosterol peroxide using a cell line CCL‐241, a human epithelial cell line isolated from normal human fetal intestinal tissue. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the cytotoxicity of ergosterol peroxide against E. histolytica, which uncovers a new biological property of the lipidic compound isolated from Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm. f. sp. Florida. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Importance of Size and Composition of Particles for Effects on Cells In Vitro

A primary goal of current research on particle-induced health effects is to reveal the critical characteristics that determine their biological effects. Experimental studies have shown that smaller particles induce stronger biological effects than larger particles of similar composition, due to their larger surface area to mass ratio. However, correlation for variations in surface area could not account for variation in biological reactivity among particles of differential composition. Hence, the importance of size and surface area does not override the importance of particle composition. Moreover, different particle characteristics appear to be involved in different biological effects in vitro. Our studies show that mineral particle-induced apoptosis mostly seems to depend on particle size, whereas composition and surface reactivity appeared to be most important for the proinflammatory potential of the particles. The ability of the particles to generate reactive oxygen species in vitro was not correlated with either inflammatory markers or apoptosis, suggesting that other mechanisms are at play. A single, specific component of the mineral particles, explaining the differences in response, has not been identified. In European-wide studies such as the Respiratory Allergy and Inflammation due to Air Pollution (RAIAP) study, particles have been sampled in different locations to study season- and site-dependent variations in responses particles, such as markers of inflammatory and allergic reactions in cells and animals. The data indicate that coarse particles can induce at least as strong inflammatory responses as fine particles. The allergic responses tended to be more associated with the organic fraction (PAH) of particles, whereas the inflammatory reactions seemed to be more associated with metals and endotoxin. Overall, coarse PM was found to have an inflammatory potential similar to fine PM on an equal mass basis. Even though one has to take into account different concentrations in ambient air as well as differences in respiratory system deposition of the size fractions, the potential of coarse particles to induce pulmonary effects should not be neglected.
Overexpression of Sinapine Esterase BnSCE3 in Oilseed Rape Seeds Triggers Global Changes in Seed Metabolism1[W][OA]

Sinapine (O-sinapoylcholine) is the predominant phenolic compound in a complex group of sinapate esters in seeds of oilseed rape (Brassica napus). Sinapine has antinutritive activity and prevents the use of seed protein for food and feed. A strategy was developed to lower its content in seeds by expressing an enzyme that hydrolyzes sinapine in developing rape seeds. During early stages of seedling development, a sinapine esterase (BnSCE3) hydrolyzes sinapine, releasing choline and sinapate. A portion of choline enters the phospholipid metabolism, and sinapate is routed via 1-O-sinapoyl-β-glucose into sinapoylmalate. Transgenic oilseed rape lines were generated expressing BnSCE3 under the control of a seed-specific promoter. Two distinct single-copy transgene insertion lines were isolated and propagated to generate homozygous lines, which were subjected to comprehensive phenotyping. Sinapine levels of transgenic seeds were less than 5% of wild-type levels, whereas choline levels were increased. Weight, size, and water content of transgenic seeds were significantly higher than those of wild-type seeds. Seed quality parameters, such as fiber and glucosinolate levels, and agronomically important traits, such as oil and protein contents, differed only slightly, except that amounts of hemicellulose and cellulose were about 30% higher in transgenic compared with wild-type seeds. Electron microscopic examination revealed that a fraction of the transgenic seeds had morphological alterations, characterized by large cavities near the embryonic tissue. Transgenic seedlings were larger than wild-type seedlings, and young seedlings exhibited longer hypocotyls. Examination of metabolic profiles of transgenic seeds indicated that besides suppression of sinapine accumulation, there were other dramatic differences in primary and secondary metabolism. Mapping of these changes onto metabolic pathways revealed global effects of the transgenic BnSCE3 expression on seed metabolism.
Dynamic estimation of the myocardial oxygen extraction ratio during dipyridamole stress by MRI: A preliminary study in canines

The myocardial oxygen extraction fraction (OEF) reflects the balance between myocardial oxygen supply and demand. The feasibility of quantifying myocardial OEF was demonstrated with MRI during pharmacologic vasodilation in dogs. Dipyridamole was infused intravenously to increase blood flow and change in myocardial oxygen content. Arterial and coronary sinus blood sampling was performed during dipyridamole‐induced vasodilation to measure the myocardial blood oxygen content. Myocardial T2 was measured dynamically during the vasodilation, and quantified with a simplified diffusion model as a function of myocardial OEF and blood volume. The results showed a strong correlation (R2 = 0.89) between myocardial OEF values measured by MRI and those measured by blood sampling. Regional differences in the OEF were demonstrated by direct infusion of dipyridamole into coronary arteries in dogs. Combined with vasodilator stress, dynamic assessments of the OEF may provide a putative measurement of myocardial flow reserve and allow consecutive monitoring of myocardial dose and response. Magn Reson Med 51:718–726, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relationships between emotional control, adjustment to cancer and depression and anxiety in breast cancer patients

SYNOPSIS The possible relationship between psychological responses among breast cancer patients and discase outcome continues to be an area of controversy and debate. Two parallel findings are reported separately in the literature: first, that emotional control is more common among women with breast cancer than in women with benign breast disease or in healthy controls and second, that a helpless attitude towards the disease is related to a poor prognosis. These previously unrelated psychological responses are examined here in a group of women (N = 359) with early stage breast cancer, who were seen one to three months after diagnosis. The relationships between emotional control, adjustment to cancer and psychological morbidity were examined. Prevalence levels of 16 and 6% were observed for anxiety and depression respectively, which are lower than reported more generally in the literature. The results indicated a highly significant association between scores for the tendency to control emotional reactions and a fatalistic attitude toward cancer. A significant association was observed between anger control and a helpless attitude. Psychological morbidity was also linked to type of adjustment to cancer. The data are interpreted in terms of a process model of psychological responses which suggests that emotional control (an important component of the Type C behaviour pattern) fatalism, helplessness and psychological morbidity are linked.
Psychoactive Properties of Alpha-Methyltryptamine: Analysis From Self Reports of Users

Abstract This is a retrospective examination of former users of alpha-methyltryptamine (AMT). A scale of questions was given to subjects who were familiar with the effects of AMT and the outcome was analyzed. Most subjects agreed that AMT had strong hallucinogenic qualities. The most common unwanted effects included anxiety, nausea and moderately severe dysphoria. Several subjects reported significant depression associated with use of AMT. Use of alpha-methyltryptamine could be dangerous in individuals prone to depression.
A study on double via row configuration for SIW based structures

This paper studies a practical configuration to enhance SIW based structures. The proposed structure is achieved by applying double via rows with staggered configuration instead of single via rows presented in conventional SIW structures. This paper presents a study to use a certain configuration by applying the same number of vias with a staggered configuration to provide an enhanced losses and a relaxed dielectric field for relatively high power applications. To verify the proposed idea, six prototypes operating at the X-band were fabricated and measured. The proposed configuration achieves 43.52% enhancement in insertion loss and 66.15% wider bandwidth when compared to conventional SIW structures utilizing single via rows using the same number of drilled vias. Measurements are in good agreement with simulations and calculations which verify the design approach as well as the paper outcomes.