Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Computer-aided diagnosis: analysis of mammographic parenchymal patterns and classification of masses on digitized mammograms

Identification and enhanced surveillance of women at high risk may lead to earlier detection of breast cancer. A computerized method was developed to identify mammographic parenchymal patterns that are associated with breast cancer risk. In this method, various features were first extracted to characterize mammographic parenchymal patterns. These features were then related to breast cancer risk using two different approaches, one based on BRCAI/BRCA2-mutation carriers and one based on clinical risk assessment models. Useful features were identified using stepwise linear discriminant analysis or stepwise linear regression analysis. Results show that increased mammographic density and coarse mammographic patterns correlate with increased breast cancer risk. To potentially help radiologists improve their diagnostic accuracy in classifying benign and malignant breast masses on mammograms, thus reducing the number of biopsies of benign lesions, a computerized classification scheme was developed. The scheme includes three components: (1) automated segmentation of a mass from its parenchymal background, (2) automated feature extraction, and (3) automated classification yielding an estimated likelihood of malignancy. Results show that the scheme can perform similarly to an expert radiologist and significantly better than average general radiologists in distinguishing between benign and malignant masses.
2′,7′-Dichlorodihydrofluorescein as a fluorescent probe for reactive oxygen species measurement: Forty years of application and controversy

Abstract Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are critically important chemical intermediates in biological studies, due to their multiple physiologically essential functions and their often pathologically deleterious effects. Consequently, it is vital that their presence in biological samples has to be quantifiable. However, their high activity, very short life span and extremely low concentrations make ROS measurement a scientifically challenging subject for researchers. One of the widespread methods for ROS detection, based on the oxidation of the non-fluorescent probe 2′,7′-dichlorodihydrofluorescein (DCFH2) to yield the highly fluorescent 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescein (DCF), was developed more than 40 years ago. However, from its initial application, argumentative questions have arisen regarding its action mechanisms, reaction principles and especially its specificity. Herein, the authors attempt to undertake a comprehensive review: to describe the basic characteristics of DCFH2; to discuss the present views of the mechanisms of its fluorescence formation; to summarize the fluorescence formation interferents; to outline its application in biological research; and to underline its advantages and disadvantages in ROS detection as well as for the methodological considerations that arise during analysis.
Attenuation of oxidative stress and alteration of hepatic tissue ultrastructure by D-pinitol in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats

Abstract The present study was aimed to investigate the effect of D-pinitol on hyperglycaemia mediated oxidative stress by analysing the hepatic antioxidant competence, pro-inflammatory cytokines and ultrastructural changes in liver tissues of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Oral administration of D-pinitol (50 mg/kg b.w.) resulted in significant (p < 0.05) attenuation in blood glucose, glycosylated haemoglobin and pro-inflammatory markers such as TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, NF-κB p65 unit and NO and significant (p < 0.05) elevation in the plasma insulin level. In addition, D-pinitol instigated a significant escalation in the levels of hepatic tissue non-enzymatic antioxidants and the activities enzymatic antioxidants of diabetic rats with significant (p < 0.05) decrease in lipid peroxides and hydroperoxides formation, thus demonstrating the protective role of D-pinitol on the hepatic tissues from oxidative stress-induced liver damage. These biochemical observations were complemented by histological and ultrastructural examination of liver section. Thus, the present study demonstrates the hepatoprotective nature of D-pinitol by attenuating hyperglycaemia-mediated pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress.
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) reduce the expression of BRAK/CXCL14 in human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma cells

Abstract The present study investigated the effects of oxidative stress induced by reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and hydroxyl radical (HO•), on the expression of both BRAK , which is also known as non-ELR motif angiostatic CXC chemokine ligand 14 (CXCL14), in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cells. When HNSCC cells were cultured in the presence of ROS, the expression of BRAK was significantly decreased whereas that of IL-8 was increased. Interestingly, the effects on the expression of both genes in HNSCC cells were much greater with HO▪ than with H2O2. The effects of ROS on both BRAK and IL-8 expression were attenuated by pre-treatment with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC), epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) inhibitors. These results indicate that oxidative stress induced by H2O2 or HO• stimulates angiogenesis and tumuor progression by altering the gene expression of BRAK and IL-8 via the EGFR/MEK/ERK pathway in human HNSCC cells.
Obesity-induced chronic inflammation is associated with the reduced efficacy of influenza vaccine

The relationship between obesity and vaccine efficacy is a serious issue. Previous studies have shown that vaccine efficacy is lower in the obese than in the non-obese. Here, we examined the influence of obesity on the efficacy of influenza vaccination using high fat diet (HFD) and regular fat diet (RFD) mice that were immunized with 2 types of influenza virus vaccines—cell culture-based vaccines and egg-based vaccines. HFD mice showed lower levels of neutralizing antibody titers as compared with RFD mice. Moreover, HFD mice showed high levels of MCP-1 in serum and adipocytes, and low level of influenza virus-specific effector memory CD8+ T cells. After challenge with influenza virus, the lungs of HFD mice showed more severe inflammatory responses as compared with the lungs of RFD mice, even after vaccination. Taken together, our data suggested that the inflammatory condition in obesity may contribute to the suppressed efficacy of influenza vaccination.
Regelungskonzepte für hydrostatische Antriebe in mobilen Arbeitsmaschinen (Control Concepts for Hydraulic Systems in Mobile Machines)

Mobile Arbeitsmaschinen wie Bagger, Traktoren oder Mobilkrane erfordern aufgrund ihrer vielfältigen Erscheinungsformen ebenso vielfältige Antriebslösungen für das Fahren, Bremsen und Arbeiten. Die hydrostatische Antriebstechnik bietet dafür die Möglichkeit zielgerichteter Lösungen, bei denen hochwertige Funktionen durch ein breites Spektrum von hydromechanischen bis elektrohydraulischen Regelungen erzielt werden. Mobile machines like excavators, tractors or mobile cranes require drive-train concepts for driving, braking and working — according to the vehicle specific needs. Especially for these applications, hydrostatic drive-train concepts offer specific solutions where high-quality functionality can be reached by a variety of hydro-mechanic to electro-hydraulic controls.
System zur Überwachung und Schätzung fahrdynamischer Signale (System for Monitoring and Estimation of Vehicle Dynamics Signals)

Anhand des Beispiels zweier existierender Fahrzeugregelsysteme wird gezeigt, dass sich durch die gemeinsame Verarbeitung der fahrdynamischen Sensorsignale erweiterte Möglichkeiten im Bereich der Sensorüberwachung und der Signalschätzung ergeben. Hierzu werden Verfahren zur Überwachung redundanter Sensorsignale, zur modellbasierten Plausibilisierung der Wankrate sowie zum Schätzen der Querneigung vorgestellt. Based on two existing vehicle control systems it is shown that combined processing of vehicle dynamics signals offers an extended potential for sensor monitoring and signal estimation. Algorithms for monitoring of redundant signals, for model based plausibility checking of the roll rate signal, and for estimation of lateral inclination are presented.
Computational Intelligence (Computational Intelligence)

Der Begriff Computational Intelligence (CI) fasst drei biologisch motivierte Fachgebiete der Informationsverarbeitung zusammen: • Künstliche Neuronale Netze (KNN) sind stark vereinfachte technische Realisierungen der Informationsverarbeitung in Gehirn und Nervensystem. Ihre Kennzeichen sind dezentrale und parallele Strukturen, die aus einfachen Elementen aufgebaut sind. Für diese Strukturen existieren spezielle zugeschnittene Lernverfahren, die ein datenbasiertes Lernen aus Beispielen unterstützen. • Fuzzy-Systeme nutzen natürlichsprachliche Regeln, um Zusammenhänge zwischen Einund Ausgangsgrößen eines Systems zu beschreiben. Während klassische regelbasierte Systeme nur Ja-Nein-Aussagen treffen (Die Bedingung einer Regel ist erfüllt oder nicht erfüllt.), können Fuzzy-Systeme unscharfe Aussagen auswerten und verarbeiten (Die Bedingung ist teilweise erfüllt und die Schlussfolgerung wird entsprechend abgeschwächt.). Fuzzy-Systeme können durch Expertenbefragung oder datenbasiertes Lernen entworfen werden. • Evolutionäre Algorithmen ahmen die Mechanismen der natürlichen Evolution (Repräsentation durch Gene; Mutation, Rekombination; Selektion nach Bewertungskriterien) auf dem Rechner nach, um Optimierungsaufgaben zu lösen.
Olmesartan medoxomil treatment potently improves cardiac myosin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy via the modulation of ACE-2 and ANG 1–7 mas receptor

Abstract Angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE-2) is a monocarboxypeptidase that metabolises angiotensin (ANG)-II into angiotensin 1–7 (ANG 1-7), thereby functioning as a negative regulator of the renin-angiotensin system. We investigated whether treatment with ANG-II type 1 receptor blocker, olmesartan medoxomil is associated with the attenuation of cardiac myosin-induced dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) through recently established new axis of ACE-2/ANG 1–7 mas receptor. DCM was elicited in Lewis rats by immunisation with cardiac myosin, and 28 days after immunisation, the surviving Lewis rats were divided into two groups and treated with either olmesartan medoxomil (10 mg/kg/day) or vehicle. Myocardial protein and mRNA levels of ACE-2, ANG 1–7 mas receptor were upregulated in the olmesartan-treated group compared with those of vehicle-treated DCM rats. In contrast, Olmesartan treatment effectively suppressed the myocardial protein and mRNA expressions of inflammatory markers in comparison to the vehicle-treated DCM rats. Olmesartan treatment significantly reduced fibrosis, hypertrophy and their marker molecules (OPN, CTGF, ANP and GATA-4, respectively), as well as matrix metalloproteinases compared with those of vehicle-treated DCM rats. Enhanced myocardial protein levels of phospho-p38 MAPK, phospho-JNK and phospho MAPKAPK-2 in the vehicle-treated DCM rats were prevented by olmesartan treatment. In addition, olmesartan treatment significantly lowered the protein expressions (Nitrotyrosine, p47phox and p67phox) and superoxide radical production compared with those of vehicle-treated DCM rats. Our present study might serve as a new therapeutic target of DCM in cardiovascular diseases and cardiac myosin-induced DCM via the modulation of ACE-2/ANG 1-7 mas receptor axis in rats with DCM after myosin-immunisation.
Publishing rigor: An extension of scientific rigor

Among the synonyms of rigor are thoroughness, accuracy, validity, precision, exactitude, conscientiousness, meticulousness, credibility, dependability, and confirmability. Scientists are trained to be meticulous in the collection of scientific data and to present their findings in an objective and truthful manner—usually in the form of describing the methods used and the results obtained. The peer review and editing processes, as extensions of the scientific process, should be equally meticulous as they represent an additional check on the validity of a scientific work.
Have Communication Technologies Influenced Rural Social Work Practice

Recent advances in communication technologies have the capacity for addressing many of the challenges identified with rural and remote social work practice, such as scarcity of professional resources, professional isolation and limited access to supervision and professional development. The purpose of this exploratory, qualitative study was to examine how developments in communication technologies have influenced the way social workers practise social work in rural and remote Canadian areas. In-depth interviews were conducted with thirty-seven clinicians. The findings suggested that having access to communication resources, such as the internet, Telehealth and Telepsychiatry, appears to be positively addressing some issues of rural and northern practice. While the role of communication technologies could be further developed as a means of addressing some of the limitations of distance and fewer professional resources in these areas, it simultaneously risks imposing an urban-centric bias upon social work practice in rural and remote communities.
Advanced glycoxidation and lipoxidation end products (AGEs and ALEs): an overview of their mechanisms of formation

Abstract Advanced lipoxidation end products (ALEs) and advanced glycation end products (AGEs) have a pathogenetic role in the development and progression of different oxidative-based diseases including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and neurological disorders. AGEs and ALEs represent a quite complex class of compounds that are formed by different mechanisms, by heterogeneous precursors and that can be formed either exogenously or endogenously. There is a wide interest in AGEs and ALEs involving different aspects of research which are essentially focused on set-up and application of analytical strategies (1) to identify, characterize, and quantify AGEs and ALEs in different pathophysiological conditions; (2) to elucidate the molecular basis of their biological effects; and (3) to discover compounds able to inhibit AGEs/ALEs damaging effects not only as biological tools aimed at validating AGEs/ALEs as drug target, but also as promising drugs. All the above-mentioned research stages require a clear picture of the chemical formation of AGEs/ALEs but this is not simple, due to the complex and heterogeneous pathways, involving different precursors and mechanisms. In view of this intricate scenario, the aim of the present review is to group the main AGEs and ALEs and to describe, for each of them, the precursors and mechanisms of formation.
Online−6D-SLAM für RGB-D-Sensoren

Zusammenfassung Zur Automatisierung komplexer Manipulationsaufgaben in dynamischen oder unbekannten Umgebungen benötigt die Steuerungssoftware eines autonomen Roboters eine Repräsentation des Arbeitsbereiches, mit der die Kollisionsfreiheit bei der Durchführung der Aufgabe gewährleistet werden kann. Dieser Beitrag beschreibt ein neues System zur Erstellung von 3D-Umgebungsrepräsentationen aus den RGB-D-Daten neuartiger Kameras, wie der Microsoft Kinect. Durch die Unabhängigkeit von weiterer Sensorik ist der Ansatz insbesondere zur Ergänzung von rein bildbasierten Regelungssystemen geeignet. Abstract This paper presents an approach to 6-DOF simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) particularly suited for collision avoidance in visually guided robotic manipulation tasks in dynamic or unknown environments. We exploit the properties of novel RGB-D sensors such as the Microsoft Kinect to build highly accurate voxel maps.
Kinetics of insulin secretion to acute, repetitive stimulation of islets in vivo in sprague dawley rats

The exhaustibility of in vivo insulin secretion under repeated stimulations was investigated in male Sprague Dawley rats. Eight pulses of either 300mg/kg glucose (G), or 300mg/kg glucose plus 0.25mg/kg forskolin (G+F) were administered for each rat at every 30 min for 4 hours through the jugular vein. Forskolin is a chemical that potentiates glucose-stimulated insulin release by raising intracellular cAMP levels. After each infusion, blood samples from the hepatic portal vein were collected at 2, 5, 10, 15 and 29 min and glucose, insulin and C-peptide levels were measured. Analyses of our results indicate that: (1) the addition of forskolin led to increased insulin release as judged by peak insulin secretion values and by incremental insulin release for both first and second phases; (2) despite the enhanced insulin release, the G+F protocol did not increase glucose disposal more than the G protocol alone, as judged by the maximum and minimum glucose levels that the system could attain in each cycle; and most importantly, (3) insulin secretion from β-cells was not exhausted, even after 8 repeated half-hourly stimulations with either G or G+F. We believe that this is the first study to investigate in vivo β-cell exhaustion by repeated stimulation in an animal model and our data show that in an acute setting, islets are capable of robust insulin secretion. The extension of this study to investigate insulin secretion in pre-diabetic states may be informative of the early pathogenic mechanisms.
Neuroprotective effects of ginkgetin against neuroinjury in Parkinson's disease model induced by MPTP via chelating iron

Abstract Disruption of neuronal iron homeostasis and oxidative stress are closely related to the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease (PD). Ginkgetin, a natural biflavonoid isolated from leaves of Ginkgo biloba L, has many known effects, including anti-inflammatory, anti-influenza virus, and anti-fungal activities, but its underlying mechanism of the neuroprotective effects in PD remains unclear. The present study utilized PD models induced by 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridinium (MPP+) and 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1, 2, 3, 6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) to explore the neuroprotective ability of ginkgetin in vivo and in vitro. Our results showed that ginkgetin could provide significant protection from MPP+-induced cell damage in vitro by decreasing the levels of intracellular reactive oxygen species and maintaining mitochondrial membrane potential. Meanwhile, ginkgetin dramatically inhibited cell apoptosis induced by MPP+ through the caspase-3 and Bcl2/Bax pathway. Moreover, ginkgetin significantly improved sensorimotor coordination in a mouse PD model induced by MPTP by dramatically inhibiting the decrease of tyrosine hydroxylase expression in the substantia nigra and superoxide dismutase activity in the striatum. Interestingly, ginkgetin could strongly chelate ferrous ion and thereby inhibit the increase of the intracellular labile iron pool through downregulating L-ferritin and upregulating transferrin receptor 1. These results indicate that the neuroprotective mechanism of ginkgetin against neurological injury induced by MPTP occurs via regulating iron homeostasis. Therefore, ginkgetin may provide neuroprotective therapy for PD and iron metabolism disorder related diseases.
Aldehyde adducts generated during lipid peroxidation modification of proteins

Abstract Various lines of evidence indicate that an important part in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is the modification of the plasma low-density lipoproteins (LDLs). A large number of pro-inflammatory and pro-atherogenic properties have been ascribed to the oxidatively modified LDLs and their components. There is considerable evidence to support the role of lipid peroxidation products, reactive aldehydes in particular, originating from the oxidized LDL as important signaling molecules in the context of the atherosclerotic lesion. These aldehydes generated during the peroxidation of LDL exhibit a facile reactivity with proteins, generating a variety of intra- and intermolecular covalent adducts on the apolipoprotein B-100 particle in LDL. Characterization of the aldehyde adducts generated in the protein is therefore critical in understanding the nature of the oxidized LDL. However, the majority of adducts generated during the oxidative modification of LDL have not yet been chemically characterized. In this review, the current status of aldehyde adducts quantitatively analyzed in the Cu2+-oxidized LDL is reviewed.
Doenças respiratórias como causa de internações hospitalares de pacientes do Sistema Único de Saúde num serviço terciário de clínica médica na região nordeste do Rio Grande do Sul

Objective: Epidemiologic survey of respiratory diseases that cause hospital admissions at the Internal Medicine Service, Hospital Geral de Caxias do Sul (SCM-HG), a tertiary university hospital in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, Southern Brazil. Patients and methods: Retrospective study conducted at SCM-HG between November 1998 and November 1999. Data were obtained from medical records and included: a) major admission cause; b) associated diseases; c) sazonal variability; d) hospitalization length; e) mortality. Results: There were 1,200 admissions at SCM-HG, 228 (19%) caused by a respiratory disease. COPD (41.3%), pneumonias (29.8%) and bronchial asthma (9.6%) were the most prevalent. Fifty subjects (21.9%) presented comorbidity: cardiac failure (7.7%), systemic arterial hypertension (6.4%) and diabetes mellitus (4.4%). Pneumonias predominated between September and November, bronchial asthma frequency raised in October and November, and COPD prevailed from May to November. The admissions had an average duration of 10.4 ± 10 days. Twenty-six (11.4%) patients died. Conclusions: 1) Respiratory diseases were responsible for approximately 1/5 of the admissions. 2) COPD patients represented the biggest quota of admissions. 3) Patients with respiratory diseases stayed for a long time as compared with the others hospitalized patients (10.4 versus 7.7 days). 4) COPD, pneumonias and bronchial asthma behaved as expected regarding sazonal variability.
Hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning ameliorates hypoxia–ischemia brain damage by activating Nrf2 expression in vivo and in vitro

ABSTRACT The present study aimed to investigate whether hyperbaric oxygen preconditioning (HBO-PC) could ameliorate hypoxia–ischemia brain damage (HIBD) by an increase of Nrf2 expression. P7 Sprague-Dawley rats (aged 7 d, n = 195) were used in two in vivo experiments, including BO-PC exposure experiments in non-HIBD models and treatment experiments in HIBD models. 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride (TTC) staining, Nissl Staining, and TUNEL staining were performed. And expressions of Nrf2, HO-1, and GSTs were measured. For in vitro studies, oxygen–glucose deprivation cells were established. Morphological and apoptotic staining and gene silencing of Nrf2 by siRNA transfection were investigated. For exposure experiments, HBO-PC for longer time increased the expression of Nrf2 significantly. And for treatment experiments, HBO-PC treatment significantly decreased infarction area, lessened neuronal injury, reduced apoptosis, and increased both the expression of Nrf2 and activities of its downstream proteins. Cytology tests confirmed effects of HBO-PC treatments. Besides, Nrf2 siRNA significantly reduced protective effects of HBO-PC. These observations demonstrated that an up-regulation of Nrf2 by HBO-PC might play an important role in the generation of tolerance against HIBD.