Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Role of COX-2 Inhibitors in Cancer Therapy

Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is the enzyme primarily responsible for prostaglandin synthesis in the setting of inflammation. It also can be induced by a variety of agents, including tumor-related growth factors. The COX-2 is expressed in a large number of human neoplasms (primary and metastatic), being present in tumor neovasculature, as well as the malignant cells themselves. This expression leads to angiogenesis, a more invasive tumor phenotype, resistance to apoptosis, and systemic immunosuppression. Manifestation is often correlated with a worse prognosis. Inhibition of prostaglandin synthesis suppresses human malignancy. Regular consumption of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) decreases incidence of and/or mortality from colorectal, esophageal, and gastric cancers. Preneoplastic colonic polyps will regress with administration of both nonspecific (sulindac) and selective (celecoxib) cyclooxygenase (COX) inhibitors. Specific COX-2 inhibitors do exist and have Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval as antiinflammatory agents (for treatment of arthritis) and as antineoplastics (in therapy of polyps in familial adenomatous polyposis patients). In vitro and in vivo studies show use of selective COX-2 inhibitors blocks angiogenesis, suppresses lung cancer metastases, and slows the growth of implanted colon cancer cell lines. The COX-2 inhibitors also have safely and effectively been combined with chemotherapeutic agents and irradiation in prehuman studies. Ongoing clinical trials are assessing the potential preventive and therapeutic roles of COX-2 inhibitors in a diverse range of human cancers.
Devices for safety-critical molecular programmed systems

The behavior of matter at the molecular level can be programmed to create nanoscale molecular components that accomplish desired tasks. Many molecular components are developed with intended uses that are safety-critical, such as medical applications. Ensuring the correctness and fault tolerance of such devices is paramount. Techniques to develop robustly correct programs have been widely studied in software systems and many devices have been constructed to aid in the safe operation of systems. We seek to demonstrate the effectiveness of software and safety engineering techniques in the molecular programming domain. In this thesis, we present the design of five new devices to aid in the development of safety-critical molecular programmed systems. We introduce a Runtime Fault Detection device (RFD) to robustly detect faults and initiate recovery actions in response to a failed system. We present the Concentration Monitor, a device that can detect changes, major and minor, in concentrations in real-time and demonstrate its utility. We also describe methods for constructing chemical reaction networks that can robustly simulate any combinational logic gate. Finally, we present two devices to log the state of a molecular program, where the first device logs a state upon receiving a request, and the second device ensures that the current state meets a defined validity property before allowing a log to be taken. All devices have been formally verified using model checking, simulations, or formal proof techniques. The methods used to construct and verify these devices can be adapted to the design of future molecular systems to assist in ensuring their correctness.
Stabilization and Control of the Wavelength of GaN LED

In recent years, blue light emitting diodes of III-nitride semiconductors have been of much interest. In this paper we present stabilization and control of the wavelength of GaN LED which is used as a source of light for optical data communication. Wavelength of a LED varies with the change in the amount of current passing through it and the change in its pn junction temperature. It is proposed to use a feedback circuit to control the current passing through a LED and piezoelectric fan to control its pn junction temperature. Simulation results are shown good and stabilization and control of the wavelength of the LED. Hence the distortion, produced during data communication through an optical fiber, is reduced
The Clavien-Dindo Classification in Pancreatic Surgery: A Clinical and Economic Validation

ABSTRACT Background/Aims: In 2004 P. A. Clavien and D. Dindo published the well-known grading system of postoperative complications. It is established in several surgical disciplines. The aim of this study was to assess its validity in pancreatic surgery. The impact of complication grade on economic resources was investigated as well. Methods: From a prospective database, we retrospectively evaluated all patients who underwent pancreatic resection between January 2009 and December 2014 at our department. 309 patients received pancreatic head resection (pylorus-preserving pancreatoduodenectomy (PPPD) or Kausch-Whipple), total pancreatectomy or left resection. We performed a univariate analysis of the correlation between the Clavien-Dindo classification-grade (CDC-grade) with length of postoperative stay (LOS) and DRG-related (diagnosis related groups) remuneration using Kruskal-Wallis test. Furthermore, we performed a subgroup analysis (chi-square test and Fishers-test) of demographic, clinical, and perioperative data. Results: American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score (p = 0.0014), operation time (p = 0.0229) and intraoperative blood loss (p = 0.0016) showed significant correlation with CDC-grade. Increasing LOS and DRG-related remuneration correlated significantly with increasing CDC-grade (p < 0.0001). Conclusion: The CDC-grading system shows high correlation to clinical outcome and case-related remuneration in pancreatic surgery. Therefore, it is a valid tool for evaluation and comparison of surgical techniques and surgical centers.
Disruption of the olivo-cerebellar circuit by Purkinje neuron-specific ablation of BK channels

The large-conductance voltage- and calcium-activated potassium (BK) channels are ubiquitously expressed in the brain and play an important role in the regulation of neuronal excitation. Previous work has shown that the total deletion of these channels causes an impaired motor behavior, consistent with a cerebellar dysfunction. Cellular analyses showed that a decrease in spike firing rate occurred in at least two types of cerebellar neurons, namely in Purkinje neurons (PNs) and in Golgi cells. To determine the relative role of PNs, we developed a cell-selective mouse mutant, which lacked functional BK channels exclusively in PNs. The behavioral analysis of these mice revealed clear symptoms of ataxia, indicating that the BK channels of PNs are of major importance for normal motor coordination. By using combined two-photon imaging and patch-clamp recordings in these mutant mice, we observed a unique type of synaptic dysfunction in vivo, namely a severe silencing of the climbing fiber–evoked complex spike activity. By performing targeted pharmacological manipulations combined with simultaneous patch-clamp recordings in PNs, we obtained direct evidence that this silencing of climbing fiber activity is due to a malfunction of the tripartite olivo-cerebellar feedback loop, consisting of the inhibitory synaptic connection of PNs to the deep cerebellar nuclei (DCN), followed by a projection of inhibitory DCN afferents to the inferior olive, the origin of climbing fibers. Taken together, our results establish an essential role of BK channels of PNs for both cerebellar motor coordination and feedback regulation in the olivo-cerebellar loop.
Renal Hemodynamics Attenuating effect of angiotensin-( 1 – 7 ) on angiotensin II-mediated NAD ( P ) H oxidase activation in type 2 diabetic nephropathy of KK-Ay / Ta mice

Ju-Young Moon, Mitsuo Tanimoto, Tomohito Gohda, Shinji Hagiwara, Takahiko Yamazaki, Ikko Ohara, Maki Murakoshi, Tatsuya Aoki, Yuji Ishikawa, Sang-Ho Lee, Kyung-Hwan Jeong, Tae-Won Lee, Chun-Gyoo Ihm, Sung Jig Lim, and Yasuhiko Tomino Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Juntendo University Faculty of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan; Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, and Department of Pathology, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul; and Division of Nephrology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University, Seoul, Korea
Co-Existence of Incubus and Capgras Syndromes

Since de Clérambault (1920) described the syndrome of erotomania, there have been several reports in the literature amplifying various aspects of the condition. However, it was only recently that Raschka (1979) reported two cases of what he labelled the ‘incubus syndrome‘. This syndrome is a variant of erotomania and the feature central to it is a delusion of imposed intercourse with an imaginary lover during one's sleep.
Stochastic control of energy efficient buildings: A semidefinite programming approach

The key goal in energy efficient buildings is to reduce energy consumption of Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) systems while maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity in the building. This paper proposes a novel stochastic control approach for achieving joint performance and power control of HVAC. We employ a constrained Stochastic Linear Quadratic Control (cSLQC) by minimizing a quadratic cost function with a disturbance assumed to be Gaussian. The problem is formulated to minimize the expected cost subject to a linear constraint and a probabilistic constraint. By using cSLQC, the problem is reduced to a semidefinite optimization problem, where the optimal control can be computed efficiently by Semidefinite programming (SDP). Simulation results are provided to demonstrate the effectiveness and power efficiency by utilizing the proposed control approach.
A fully automatic method for biological target volume segmentation of brain metastases

Leksell Gamma Knife is a mini‐invasive technique to obtain a complete destruction of cerebral lesions delivering a single high dose radiation beam. Positron Emission Tomography (PET) imaging is increasingly utilized for radiation treatment planning. Nevertheless, lesion volume delineation in PET datasets is challenging because of the low spatial resolution and high noise level of PET images. Nowadays, the biological target volume (BTV) is manually contoured on PET studies. This procedure is time expensive and operator‐dependent. In this article, a fully automatic algorithm for the BTV delineation based on random walks (RW) on graphs is proposed. The results are compared with the outcomes of the original RW method, 40% thresholding method, region growing method, and fuzzy c‐means clustering method. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed approach in a clinical environment, BTV segmentation on 18 patients with cerebral metastases is performed. Experimental results show that the segmentation algorithm is accurate and has real‐time performance satisfying the physician requirements in a radiotherapy environment.
A model for non‐equilibrium metapopulation dynamics utilizing data on species occupancy, patch ages and landscape history

The distribution pattern of many species reflects the past rather than the current structure of landscapes. Consequently, species are most often not in equilibrium with the current landscape structure. Yet this is a well‐known fact, there is no appropriate approach to estimate the colonization rate of non‐equilibrium species based on only data on the species occurrence pattern in the landscape. We present an approach to estimate the colonization rate of non‐equilibrium metapopulations. The approach requires only data on species presence/absence among its patches (occurrence pattern), data on patch ages and data on the historic distribution of the patches in the landscape. By estimating the past occurrence patterns and colonization events leading to the current pattern of occupied and non‐occupied patches, we estimate the colonization rate, including the dispersal kernel. We also show how to estimate effects of local patch conditions and how to include an independent estimate of the local extinction rate based on other data. We use nine epiphytic lichen species confined to beech trees to illustrate the method. Five species had restricted dispersal range, between 200 and 4700 m, and their colonization rate decreased with increasing fragmentation. Species colonization rates were related to niche width. Among the demographic parameters, the force of colonization was more important than the dispersal range in explaining the colonization rates. Local patch conditions did not explain the colonization probability of any species. In metapopulation projections that did not account for restricted dispersal range, higher future metapopulation sizes were projected. Synthesis. The presented approach uses data on only species occurrence, patch age and landscape history to estimate the species colonization rate and dispersal kernel. It can also utilize independent data on local extinction rate. Rather than identifying factors explaining the occurrence pattern, the model estimates the rate of change in the occurrence pattern. This dynamic modelling allows testing general and applied questions on the dynamics or viability of metapopulations of sessile species. The approach is applicable for species whose distribution pattern reflects the past rather than the current landscape structure, for example, certain epiphytes and ground‐floor plants.
Tibiofemoral Kinematics following Successful Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction Using Dynamic Multiple Resonance Imaging

Background The aim of anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction is to reduce excess joint laxity, hoping to restore normal tibiofemoral kinematics and therefore improve joint stability. It remains unclear if successful ACL reconstruction restores normal tibiofemoral kinematics and whether it is this that is associated with a good result. Study Case series. Purpose To assess the kinematics of the anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knee using open-access MRI. Methods Tibiofemoral motion was assessed using open-access MRI, weightbearing through the arc of flexion from 0° to 90° in 10 patients with isolated reconstruction of the anterior cruciate ligament (hamstring autograft) in one knee and a normal contralateral knee. Midmedial and midlateral sagittal images were analyzed in all positions of flexion in both knees to assess the tibiofemoral relationship. Sagittal laxity was also assessed by performing the Lachman test while the knees were scanned dynamically using open-access MRI. Results The amount of excursion between the tibial and femoral joint surfaces was similar between the normal and reconstructed knees, but the relationship of tibia to femur was always different for each position of knee flexion assessed—the lateral tibia being about 5 mm more anterior in the anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knees. This anterior tibial position is statistically significantly different at 0° (P < .0006), 20° (P = .0004), 45° (P = .002), and 90° of flexion (P < .006). Anteroposterior laxity was similar between normal and anterior cruciate ligament-reconstructed knees. Conclusion Anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction reduces sagittal laxity to within normal limits but does not restore normal tibiofemoral kinematics despite a successful outcome.
Relationship of sclerostin and secreted frizzled protein polymorphisms with bone mineral density: an association study with replication in postmenopausal women

Objective: Secreted frizzled-related protein and sclerostin, encoded by FRZB and SOST genes, respectively, are extracellular Wnt inhibitors that tend to decrease bone formation. The purpose of this study was to explore the association of the sets of polymorphisms capturing common variations of these genes with bone mineral density (BMD). Methods: Twelve polymorphic loci of the FRZB gene and 7 of the SOST gene were genotyped in postmenopausal women from two Spanish regions (Cantabria, n = 1043, and Valencia, n = 342). The polymorphisms included tagging single nucleotide polymorphisms and single nucleotide polymorphisms with possible functional consequences assessed in silico. Results: The rs4666865 polymorphism of the FRZB gene was associated with spine BMD in the Cantabria cohort in the single-locus (P = 0.008) and the haplotypic analysis. However, the results were not replicated in the Valencia cohort. Several polymorphisms at the 5&vprime; region of the SOST gene and, particularly, rs851056 were associated with BMD in women from both cohorts (P = 0.002 in Cantabria and P = 0.005 in Valencia). When the results of both cohorts were combined, the mean (SD) BMD difference across rs851056 genotypes was 47 (0.31) mg/cm2 (P < 0.001). No differences in FRZB and SOST expression in femoral trabecular bone tissue were detected across genotypes. Conclusions: Polymorphisms in the 5&vprime; region of SOST gene are associated with BMD in postmenopausal women. They may contribute to explain, in part, the hereditary influence on bone mass.
Direct control of somatic stem cell proliferation by the Drosophila testis stem cell niche

Niches have traditionally been characterized as signalling microenvironments that allow stem cells to maintain their fate. This definition implicitly assumes that the various niche signals are integrated towards a binary fate decision between stemness and differentiation. However, observations in multiple systems have demonstrated that stem cell properties such as proliferation and self renewal can be uncoupled at the level of niche signalling input, which is incompatible with this simplified view. We have studied the role of the transcriptional regulator Zfh1, a shared target of the Hedgehog and Jak/Stat niche signalling pathways, in the somatic stem cells of the Drosophila testis. We found that Zfh1 binds and downregulates salvador and kibra, two tumour suppressor genes of the Hippo/Wts/Yki pathway, thereby restricting Yki activation and proliferation to the Zfh1 positive stem cells. These observations provide an unbroken link from niche signal input to an individual aspect of stem cell behaviour that does not, at any step, involve a fate decision. We discuss the relevance of our observations and other reports in the literature for an overall concept of stemness and niche function. Summary statement We demonstrate that the fly testis niche controls stem cell proliferation by repressing Hippo pathway genes independent of a binary cell fate decision between stemness and proliferation.
Socio-economic Inequalities and Oral Health in Canada and the United States

This paper describes and compares the magnitude of socio-economic inequalities in oral health among adults in Canada and the US over the past 35 years. We analyzed data from nationally representative examination surveys in Canada and the US: Nutrition Canada National Survey (1970-1972, N = 11,546), Canadian Health Measures Survey (2007-2009, N = 3,508), The First National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (1971-1974, N = 13,131), and National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2008, N = 5,707). Oral health outcomes examined were prevalence of edentulism, proportion of individuals having at least 1 untreated decayed tooth, and proportion of individuals having at least 1 filled tooth. Sociodemographic indicators included in our analysis were place of birth, education, and income. Data were age-adjusted, and survey weights were used to account for the complex survey design in making population inferences. Our findings demonstrate that oral health outcomes have improved for adults in both countries. In the 1970s, Canada had a higher prevalence of edentulism and dental decay and lower prevalence of filled teeth. This was also combined with a more pronounced social inequality gradient among place of birth, education, and income groups. Over time, both countries demonstrated a decline in absolute socio-economic inequalities in oral health.
Altered expression of immune‐related antigens by neuronophages does not improve neuronal survival after severe lesion of the facial nerve in rats

Injection of Fluoro‐Gold (FG) into the whiskerpad muscles of rats yields a permanent retrograde labeling of motoneurons in the facial nucleus. Following subsequent resection of 10 mm of the facial nerve, one‐third of the facial motoneurons die and the microglia phagocytize the dead FG‐labeled neurons, take up FG, and get labeled in vivo. The resulting identification of all FG‐labeled cells allows long‐term comparative investigations on the behavior of neuronophages. In this study, we used two groups of rats to test whether the quantified expression of five immune‐related antigens by neuronophages was related to quantified decline in neuron number (counts after immunostaining for neuron‐specific enolase) 3 to 224 days after resection of the facial nerve. Rats of the first group received standard food and those of the second group, pellets containing 1,000 ppm of the calcium channel blocker nimodipine. Image analysis of the number of FG‐containing cells and the number and projection area of immunopositive neuronophages in serial sections for each antigen showed that nimodipine significantly attenuated the immunostaining for CR3, MHC class I, and class II antigens (monoclonal antibodies [MAbs] OX‐42, OX‐18, and OX‐6); enhanced the expression of monocyte–macrophage‐specific antigen (MAb ED1); and did not change the expression of rat macrophage differentiation antigen (MAb ED2). The altered expressions, however, had no effect on the loss of motoneurons in the lesioned facial nucleus. We conclude that the degree of expression of immune‐related antigens by neuronophages has no influence on the delayed neuronal cell death induced by permanent target deprivation. GLIA 24:155–171, 1998. © 1998 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Flexible, Multi-platform Middleware for Wireless Sensor and Actuator Networks

In these days technology is present everywhere, such as in our homes or in our jobs. This presence of technology in our lives can bring some important advantages because the devices can start doing tasks that in the past only humans could do. The devices gain these new characteristics when they become connected to the Internet. This leads to the birth of a new paradigm named Internet of Things. With Internet of Things the devices have access to more information and with it they can make better decisions. With the progress made in the communication between the Internet objects, another paradigm called Wireless Sensor Network emerged. The Wireless Sensor Network is composed by small sensing nodes which perform the acquisition, collection and analysis of data. However, the Wireless Sensor Network has some problems such as energetic consumption and CPU load. The almost infinite capability of storage, the large processing speeds and the rapid elasticity makes Cloud Computing a very good solution to these problems. This work proposes a middleware that seamlessly integrates sensors and actuators on multiple platforms, to efficiently manage the resources of the devices and achieve efficient communication with various platforms (cloud, mobile). The goal is to allow the flow of execution to be transferred between the device and the platform under certain conditions.