Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery lobectomy for lung cancer versus thoracotomy: a less decrease in sVEGFR2 level after surgery.

BACKGROUND Angiogenic and anti-angiogenic factors play an important role in tumor biology and tumor recurrence after surgical resection. Antiangiogenic factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF)-receptor 1 (sVEGFR1) and sVEGFR2, two soluble form receptor proteins of VEGF, are critical for angiogenesis. VEGF can be sequestered by soluble forms of these receptors, which result in decreasing VEGF amount available to bind to its receptor on vascular endothelial cell surface. This study aimed to investigate the influences of video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS) lobectomy and open by thoracotomy for early stage non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) on postoperative circulating sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2 levels. METHODS Forty-eight lung cancer patients underwent lobectomy through either VATS (n=26) or thoracotomy (n=22). Blood samples were collected from all patients preoperatively and postoperatively on days 1, 3 and 7. ELISA analysis was used to determine the plasma levels of sVEGFR1 and sVEGFR2. Data are reported as means and standard deviations, and were assessed with the Wilcoxon signed-Rank test (P<0.05). RESULTS For all patients undergoing lobectomy, postoperative sVEGFR1 levels on days 1 and 3 were markedly increased, while postoperative sVEGFR2 levels on days 1 and 3 were significantly decreased. Moreover, VATS group had significantly higher plasma level of sVEGFR2 postoperative in comparison with open thoracotomy (OT) on day 1 (VATS 6,953±1,535 pg/mL; OT 5,874±1,328 pg/mL, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS Major pulmonary resection for early stage NSCLC resulted in the increased sVEGFR1 and decreased sVEGFR2 productions. VATS is associated with enhanced anti-angiogenic response with higher circulating sVEGFR2 levels compared with that with OT. Such differences in anti-angiogenic response may have an important effect on cancer biology and recurrence after surgery.
The Xylanolytic System of Claviceps purpurea: Cytological Evidence for Secretion of Xylanases in Infected Rye Tissue and Molecular Characterization of Two Xylanase Genes.

ABSTRACT Claviceps purpurea is a common phytopathogenic fungus that colonizes ovarian tissue of grasses. A concerted approach involving cytological and molecular techniques was initiated to investigate the role of the fungus' xylanolytic system in the interaction. Using enzyme-gold and immuno-gold electron-microscopic techniques, the presence of arabinoxylans in cell walls of rye ovarian tissues (i.e., along the usual path of infection of C. purpurea) was confirmed; tissue-print and immunostaining analyses indicated the presence of xylanase(s) exclusively in ovaries infected with C. purpurea. This strongly suggests that C. purpurea secretes xylanase while colonizing its host. Two xylanase genes (cpxyl1 and cpxyl2) were isolated from a genomic library of C. purpurea using genes from Cochliobolus carbonum (xyl1) and Magnaporthe grisea (xyn33) as heterologous probes. cpxyl1 of C. purpurea had an open reading frame (ORF) of 832 bp interrupted by a 181-bp intron. The derived gene product (CPXYL1) had a molecular mass of 21.5 kDa and an pI of 8.88; it showed significant homology to family G endo-beta-1,4-xylanases. The cpxyl2 ORF (1,144 bp) contained two introns (76 and 90 bp) and coded for a polypeptide of 33.8 kDa with an pI of 7.01; CPXYL2 belonged to family F xylanases. Southern analyses with genomic DNA demonstrated that both genes were single-copy genes. Using reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, it could be shown that both genes were expressed in vitro and in planta (during all infection stages). Inactivation of cpxyl1 was achieved by a gene-replacement approach. The mutant strain (Deltacpxyl1) had significantly reduced xylanase activity; Western analyses confirmed that it lacked a polypeptide of approximately 23 kDa.
Rabies virus production in high vero cell density cultures on macroporous microcarriers

The purpose of the study was to investigate the rabies virus multiplication in Vero cell cultures performed on porous microcarriers, MCs (cellulose–Cytopore and gelatin–Cultispher G), which provide higher available surface area compared with solid (nonporous) MCs (DEAE–Cytodex 1). In a set of experiments performed at the same MC concentration (MCs per milliliter), cell densities regularly obtained in porous MC cultures were comparable, but almost twice as high as those in solid MC cultures. In addition, 41.1 ± 3.9‐, 35.2 ± 2‐, and 19.6 ± 5.8‐fold increases in cell concentration, relative to the initial cell number, along with maximum rabies virus titers of 6.3 ± 0.3 × 104, 5 ± 0.1 × 104, and 4.3 ± 0.2 × 104 FFD50/mL were observed in Cytopore, Cultispher G, and Cytodex 1 MC cultures, respectively. When higher concentrations of MCs were employed, lower performances of virus production and MC‐cell occupation (cells per MC or cells per square millimeter) were observed. Cell attachment to MCs was shown to be faster for Cytopore MCs and Cytodex 1 MCs than for Cultispher G MCs. Concerning the kinetics of cell multiplication on MCs, exponential cell growth, at similar specific cell growth rates, took place on Cytopore, Cultispher G, and Cytodex 1 MCs. In addition, cell densities as high as 2.1 ± 0.2 × 106 cells/mL on Cytopore MCs, 1.8 ± 0.1 × 106 cells/mL on Cultispher G MCs, and 1 ± 0.3 × 106 cells/mL on Cytodex 1 MCs were regularly obtained in batch cultures. Optical as well as scanning and transmission electron microscopy studies carried out to analyze MC structure, MC cell occupation, and cell permissivity to virus infection demonstrated that there was uniform cell distribution in the external and internal areas of the MCs, suggesting an efficiency of virus synthesis. Our results indicate the usefulness of these supports for rabies virus antigen production, as well as possibilities for further optimization. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
[The radiation risks from x-ray studies for age assessment in criminal proceedings].

AIM Age estimation for forensic purposes is, in general, based on a radiogram of the left hand or an orthopantomogram of the teeth. Two examples are given exemplifying the principal procedure that may be applied for estimating the radiation risks associated with the radiological examinations considered. METHOD Mortality risks were calculated using the risk coefficients of ICRP and the mass ratio of radiation-exposed portion to total organ. For a radiogram of the hand, a radiation dose of 0.15 mGy was adopted. For an orthopantomogram the following doses were used: bone surface and red bone marrow 0.25 mGy, skin on the neck 0.56 mGy, thyroid gland 0.053 mGy. RESULTS Mortality risks obtained were 5.1 x 10(-8) for a radiogram of the hand and 1.8 x 10(-7) for an orthopantomogram. For comparison, it was estimated that the calculated risks might be equivalent to the mortality risks associated with public road traffic during less than one hour or about 2.5 hours, respectively. CONCLUSIONS The calculated radiation risks are of a similar order of magnitude as are the risks the respective person is exposed to on the way to the medical examination or to the court. However, the applicability and the limits of the radiological procedures applied for age estimation require extensive and critical discussion.
Identification and transcription control of fission yeast genes repressed by an ammonium starvation growth arrest

In fission yeast Schizosaccharomyces pombe, ammonium starvation induces a growth arrest, a cell cycle exit in G1 and a further switch to meiosis. This process is regulated by the cAMP‐dependent protein kinase and the Wis1‐dependent MAP kinase cascade, and downstream transcription factors. In order to understand how cells adapt their genetic programme to the switch from mitotic cycling to starvation, a differential transcript analysis comparing mRNA from exponentially growing and ammonium‐starved cells was performed. Genes repressed by this stimulus mainly concern cell growth, i.e. protein synthesis and global metabolism. Comparison of the expression of two of them, the ribosomal proteins Rps6 and TCTP, in many different growing conditions, evidenced a strong correlation, suggesting that their transcriptions are coordinately regulated. Nevertheless, by repeating the ammonium starvation on strains constitutively activated for the PKA pathway (Δcgs1), or unable to activate the Wis1‐dependent MAP kinase pathway (Δwis1), or with both characteristics (Δcgs1+Δwis1), the transcriptional inhibition was found to be governed either by the PKA pathway, or by the Wis1 pathway, or by both. These results suggest that during the switch from exponential growth to ammonium starvation, cell homeostasis is maintained by downregulating the transcription of the most expressed genes by a PKA and a Wis1‐dependent process. Accession Nos for the S30 and L14 ribosomal protein cDNA sequences are AJ2731 and AJ2732, respectively. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Energetics and mechanisms of folding and flipping the myristoyl switch in the β-trefoil protein, hisactophilin

Myristoylation, the covalent linkage of a saturated, C14 fatty acyl chain to the N-terminal glycine in a protein, plays a vital role in reversible membrane binding and signaling by the modified proteins. Currently, little is known about the effects of myristoylation on protein folding and stability, or about the energetics and molecular mechanisms of switching involving states with sequestered versus accessible myristoyl group. Our analysis of these effects in hisactophilin, a histidine-rich protein that binds cell membranes and actin in a pH-dependent manner, shows that myristoylation significantly increases hisactophilin stability, while also markedly increasing global protein folding and unfolding rates. The switching between sequestered and accessible states is pH dependent, with an apparent pKswitch of 6.95, and an apparent free energy change of 2.0 kcal·mol-1. The myristoyl switch is linked to the reversible uptake of ∼1.5 protons, likely by histidine residues. This pH dependence of switching appears to be the physical basis of the sensitive, pH-dependent regulation of membrane binding observed in vivo. We conclude that an increase in protein stability upon modification and burial of the attached group is likely to occur in numerous proteins modified with fatty acyl or other hydrophobic groups, and that the biophysical effects of such modification are likely to play an important role in their functional switches. In addition, the increased global dynamics caused by myristoylation of hisactophilin reveals a general mechanism whereby hydrophobic moieties can make nonnative interactions or relieve strain in transition states, thereby increasing the rates of interconversion between different states.
Harsh physical punishment as a specific childhood adversity linked to adult drinking consequences: evidence from China.

AIMS The aim of the current study is to estimate the association between childhood physical punishment (CPP) and level of alcohol use disorder (AUD), using two different approaches to take other childhood adversities into account. DESIGN AND SETTING Population survey using face-to-face interviews to a representative sample of non-institutionalized adult residents of Beijing and Shanghai, China. PARTICIPANTS A total of 5201 participants aged 18-70 years. MEASUREMENTS A version of the World Mental Health Composite International Diagnostic Interview was used. Standardized assessments covered early life experiences of childhood physical punishment, other childhood adversities, parental drinking problems, childhood conduct problems and clinical features of AUD. FINDINGS A robust association linking CPP and level of AUD was found, holding other childhood adversities constant (probit coefficient = 0.70, 95% CI = 0.40, 1.00) via covariate terms in structural equations modeling. Furthermore, there was evidence that CPP might exert an additional influence on level of AUD over and above a generally noxious family environment (probit coefficient = 0.20, 95% CI = 0.02, 0.38). CONCLUSIONS There appears to be a robust association between reports of harsh punishment in childhood and alcohol dependence in adulthood adjusting for a range of possible confounding factors. Whether the association is causal or whether both are related to a common underlying factor or recall bias needs to be investigated further.
Dithienyl Acenedithiophenediones as New π-Extended Quinoidal Cores: Synthesis and Properties.

We have synthesized two isomeric pairs of benzo- and naphthodithiophenediones with two flanking thiophenes and characterized them by single-crystal X-ray analysis, cyclic voltammetry, steady-state optical electronic absorption and emission spectroscopies, transient absorption spectroscopy, and vibrational spectroscopies with in situ spectroelectrochemistry techniques, and then compared them with the thieno[3,2-b]thiophene-2,5-dione counterpart that we previously reported. The results show that the central acenedithiophenedione cores have quinoidal conjugation with closed-shell character. The π-extension of the quinoidal core raises (lowers) the HOMO (LUMO) energy levels of the triads, resulting in the drastic reduction of their energy gaps from approximately 2.0 eV to 1.1 eV. Owing to the electron-withdrawing nature of the carbonyl terminal group at the quinoidal core, the triads have low-lying LUMO energy levels ranging from -3.9 eV to -4.3 eV, and can be regarded as strong electron-acceptor building units. Interestingly, the pairs of structural isomers have similar electronic structures in both the neutral and charged states despite the different shapes (linear and angular) and/or symmetry (C2h and C2v ) of the acenedithiophenedione cores.
An Investigation of the Ink-Transfer Mechanism During the Printing Phase of High-Resolution Roll-to-Roll Gravure Printing

Reducing the linewidth of electrodes is of high importance for increasing not only the efficiency of photovoltaic devices but also the performance of organic thin-film transistors. In particular, controlling the line pattern in printing processes has been difficult. In this paper, we report an analytical approach for obtaining high-resolution control over the ink-transfer mechanism in roll-to-roll (R2R) gravure printing. A dimensionless adhesion-force difference was defined for a simple ink-transfer model, and it was used to predict and evaluate the ink-transfer mechanism with respect to several parameters, such as the surface tension of the ink, surface energy of the substrate, and surface energy and aspect ratio (AR) of the cell. It was found that the low-surface-tension inks, high-surface-energy substrates, and low-surface-energy and high-AR cells are preferable to increasing the ink-transfer ratio during the printing phase. Finally, a matching-logic flowchart was developed for controlling the ink-transfer mechanism and fidelity of R2R gravure printing. The printed patterns obtained had an average width as small as 15.3 μm (standard deviation = 0.9 μm).
Needle track seeding after percutaneous radiofrequency ablation of hepatocellular carcinoma: 14-year experience at a single centre

Abstract Purpose: To determine the incidence, risk factors and prognosis associated with needle track seeding after percutaneous radiofrequency ablations (RFA) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with a long-term follow-up. Materials and methods: A total of 741 HCC patients undergoing percutaneous RFA were retrospectively analysed. Mean follow-up interval was 34.3 ± 26.8 months. All seeding neoplasms were diagnosed by imaging modalities with or without pathological evaluation. Risk factors, including Child–Pugh grading, tumour size, number, location, serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level, track number, biopsy before RFA and electrode type were performed by univariate analysis. Further therapy and survival of seeding after RFA were assessed. Survival analysis was analysed by Kaplan–Meier method. Results: Twelve patients (12 tumours) were diagnosed as seeding. It corresponds to an incidence of 1.6% (12/741) per patient and 0.9% (12/1341) per tumour. Seeding developed an average of 14.0 ± 8.1 months (6–33 months). Significant risk factors included tumour >3 cm (p = 0.031), subcapsular tumour (p = 0.031), biopsy before RFA (p = 0.001) and non-cool-tip electrode (p = 0.034). Eight patients received local therapy and four cases only received systematic therapy for uncontrolled advanced hepatic tumour or distal metastasis. Of eight patients receiving local therapy, one patient had local recurrence 16 months later and other seven patients did not have local recurrence for 3–73 months. The cumulative survival rates after seeding were 55.6%, 27.8%, 9.3% at 1, 3 and 5 years, respectively. Conclusion: Needle track seeding is a rare delayed complication after percutaneous RFA. Tumour >3 cm, subcapsular tumour, biopsy before RFA and non-cool-tip electrode are potential risk factors for seeding. Local therapies are effective methods for seeding patients.
Proprioceptive Sensing System for Therapy Assessment Using Cotton Fabric-Based Biomedical Microelectromechanical System

Demands for better control of the operating conditions used in human motion tracking and medical applications have led to the need for better means of detecting different types of proprioceptive activity patterns. The purpose of this paper is to propose the development of a proprioceptive sensor for applications in medical system and therapy assessment using cotton fabric-based flexible microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). To demonstrate the application of this sensor, a system has been developed in order to detect different finger flexion movements on a finger joint. The procedure for the development of MEMS proprioceptive sensor fabricated using cotton fabric as the structural material is described. Cotton fabric is chosen as the structural material because it is inexpensive, simple to fabricate, readily available for mass production, lightweight, and conforms to any arbitrary surface. It is also sustainable and environmentally friendly. The fabric is stamped with varied volume of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) ink to generate different conductive pattern. The working principle of this textile-based sensor is based on piezoresistivity effect generated by the deposited AgNPs on the hierarchical structure of cotton fabric substrate. Based on this fact, this sensor can give sensing information about different finger flexure movements according to the resistance change of the AgNPs. This sensor can be used as a rehabilitation device, e.g., data glove or even a communication device for the disabled to control appliances.
Evaluation of DTI Parameter Ratios and Diffusion Tensor Tractography Grading in the Diagnosis and Prognosis Prediction of Cervical Spondylotic Myelopathy

Study Design. Prospective cohort. Objective. To explore the correlations between diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) ratios and diffusion tensor tractography (DTT) grading with clinical symptoms and outcomes of cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). Summary of Background Data. In addition to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography, DTI may be useful in understanding pathophysiology of spinal cord in earlier stages of the CSM but it may be confounded by age and cervical level, and previous studies had small sample sizes. Methods. Controls (n = 36) and patients with CSM (n = 93) underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and DTI at the Changhai Hospital of Shanghai between September 2011 and March 2013. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC), fractional anisotropy (FA) of white matter (WM), and central grey matter (GM) were assessed. Patients were divided into three MRI grades: no abnormal signals; increased T2WI; and increased T2WI and low T1WI. DTT images were divided into three grades: no abnormal signals; abnormal local signal cord and disordered fiber tracts; and distortion of the spinal cord and interrupted fiber tracts. Results. FA and ADC both correlated with age in all three bilateral WM funiculi and GM, whereas FA and ADC ratios only showed correlation with age in the ventral funiculus (VF) and central GM. Differences were observed in ADC ratios and FA ratios from different Japanese Orthopedic Association (JOA) score subgroups and JOA recovery subgroups. For the three WM funiculi and GM, correlations between DTI ratios, JOA scores, and JOA recovery rates were consistently higher than those between DTI values, JOA scores, and JOA recovery rates (all P < 0.05). MRI grading was correlated with the JOA scores (r = −0.674, P < 0.001) but not JOA recovery rates (r = −0.197, P = 0.058), whereas DTT grading was correlated with both JOA scores (r = −0.813, P < 0.001) and JOA recovery rate (r = −0.429, P < 0.001). Conclusion. DTI parameter ratios seemed to be less influenced by age than raw DTI results and could be more valuable than absolute DTI parameters for the evaluation of CSM. DTT grading is more valuable than MRI grading for diagnosis and prognostic prediction in CSM patients. Level of Evidence: 3
Long‐term outcomes for newly‐diagnosed multiple myeloma patients treated with pegylated liposomal doxorubicin and bortezomib: final results of CALGB (Alliance) 10301, a multicentre phase II study

Long‐term outcomes and updated clinical efficacy and safety data were evaluated for newly‐diagnosed multiple myeloma patients treated on a phase II study of bortezomib and pegylated liposomal doxorubicin (PegLD). Out of 61 patients, the overall response rate was 57% and the near‐complete/complete response rate was 7%. Patients aged ≥65 years old had a higher incidence of treatment‐related ≥Grade 3 non‐haematological toxicity (80% vs. 51%, P = 0·020). Median overall survival was 5·6 years and negatively impacted by the presence of International Staging System stage III disease, underscoring the need for novel treatment strategies for this group of patients.
A SAD architecture for variable block size motion estimation in H.264 video coding

In this paper, the high throughput hardware architecture is designed to calculate the Sum of Absolute Difference (SAD) based on the variable block size of the image. Even though the fixed block size motion estimation is simple with respect to the complexity of the variable block size motion estimation, variable block size estimation technique results in exquisite performance. Motion estimation is a crucial module/block which plays a major role in computing the efficiency of video coding. Because of variable block size in H.264, motion estimation becomes more complex and requires most efficient hardware for implementation in real-time video coding. The hardware implementation of SAD is done using Comparator and Carry skip adder. The comparator is used to implement the absolute difference unit, which is used to calculate the absolute difference values between each pixel of the current frame and the reference frame. Carry skip adder is used to add all the output values of the absolute difference unit. Carry skip adder improves the performance of the arithmetic operation. It does not wait for carrying to propagate which helps in increasing the speed of operation of adding. Comparator and Carry skip adder unit improves the performance of SAD calculation in terms of speed, area, and power. We had also proposed a control unit for H.264 video. This proposed control unit calculates the SAD output values according to block size given as input to control unit.
In vitro assessment of knee MRI in the presence of metal implants comparing MAVRIC‐SL and conventional fast spin echo sequences at 1.5 and 3 T field strength

To assess lesion detection and artifact size reduction of a multiacquisition variable‐resonance image combination, slice encoding for metal artifact correction (MAVRIC‐SEMAC) hybrid sequence (MAVRIC‐SL) compared to standard sequences at 1.5T and 3T in porcine knee specimens with metal hardware.