Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermal Response of Human Skin to Microwave Energy: A Critical Review

AbstractThis is a review/modeling study of heating of tissue by microwave energy in the frequency range from 3 GHz through the millimeter frequency range (30–300 GHz). The literature was reviewed to identify studies that reported RF-induced increases in skin temperature. A simple thermal model, based on a simplified form of Pennes’ bioheat equation (BHTE), was developed, using parameter values taken from the literature with no further adjustment. The predictions of the model were in excellent agreement with available data. A parametric analysis of the model shows that there are two heating regimes with different dominant mechanisms of heat transfer. For small irradiated areas (less than about 0.5–1 cm in radius) the temperature increase at the skin surface is chiefly limited by conduction of heat into deeper tissue layers, while for larger irradiated areas, the steady-state temperature increase is limited by convective cooling by blood perfusion. The results support the use of this simple thermal model to aid in the development and evaluation of RF safety limits at frequencies above 3 GHz and for millimeter waves, particularly when the irradiated area of skin is small. However, very limited thermal response data are available, particularly for exposures lasting more than a few minutes to areas of skin larger than 1–2 cm in diameter. The paper concludes with comments about possible uses and limitations of thermal modeling for setting exposure limits in the considered frequency range.
Branched Chain RNA In Situ Hybridization for Androgen Receptor Splice Variant AR-V7 as a Prognostic Biomarker for Metastatic Castration-Sensitive Prostate Cancer

Purpose: The androgen receptor (AR) mRNA splice variant AR-V7 has emerged as a predictive biomarker for response to AR-targeted therapies. There are currently no commercially available assays to detect AR splice variants. The branched chain RNA in situ hybridization (ISH) platform enables the highly sensitive detection of RNA transcripts in formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. Experimental design: We designed a branched chain RNA ISH probe to target the unique cryptic exon CE3 of AR-V7 using multiple tiling probes. This automated ISH assay was applied to tumor tissue from two distinct clinical cohorts that we hypothesized would differ in AR-V7 status. Results: We detected AR-V7 in all tumor samples from men with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer with tissue obtained after disease progression despite at least one subsequent line of hormonal therapy (abiraterone, enzalutamide, or bicalutamide; n = 12). We detected AR-V7 in just one tumor from men who had undergone prostatectomy for localized adenocarcinoma (n = 30; Gleason 4 + 5 = 9 in the AR-V7–positive sample). Given the apparent distinction between the above groups by AR-V7 signal, we analyzed pretreatment AR-V7 status as a predictive and prognostic biomarker in men with treatment-naïve metastatic disease. Patients with metastases but without detectable AR-V7 RNA at baseline had significantly longer overall survival (log-rank P = 0.044) and a trend toward superior progression-free survival (log-rank P = 0.055). Conclusions: Within an institutional cohort, the RNA ISH assay identified AR-V7 within FFPE tissue and may have prognostic value in metastatic castration-sensitive prostate cancer. These preliminary findings warrant further study in larger cohorts. Clin Cancer Res; 23(2); 363–9. ©2016 AACR.
Expanding the phenotype of DST‐related disorder: A case report suggesting a genotype/phenotype correlation

The gene DST encodes for the large protein BPAG1 involved in hemidesmosomes. Its alternative splicing gives rise to tissue‐enriched isoforms in brain, muscle, and skin. The few patients described so far with bi‐allelic mutations in the DST gene have either a skin phenotype of epidermolysis bullosa simplex or a neurological phenotype. Here, we report a 17‐year‐old female individual presenting with a more complex phenotype consisting of both skin and neuronal involvement, in addition to several previously unreported findings, such as iris heterochromia, cataract, hearing impairment, syringomyelia, behavioral, and gastrointestinal issues, osteoporosis, and growth hormone deficiency. Family‐trio whole exome sequencing revealed that she was a compound heterozygous for two variants in the DST gene with highly‐predicted functional impact, c.3886A>G (p.R1296X) in exon 29 and c.806C>T (p.H269R) in exon 7. Interestingly, exon 7 is included in the neuronal isoform whereas exon 29 is expressed in both skin and neuronal isoforms. The patient we described is the first case with a mutation affecting an exon expressed in both the neuronal and skin isoforms that can explain the more complex phenotype compared to previously reported cases.
Compassion from a palliative care perspective.

BACKGROUND Compassion is a core virtue in medicine and lies at the heart of good medical care. It connects us to each other and reflects our need for relationships with others. AIM Our aim is to explore how palliative care patients perceive, understand and experience compassion from health professionals, and to inform clinical practice. METHODS Seven hospice managers in the North Island of New Zealand were contacted and invited to join the study. Twenty participants expressed a desire to participate and were involved in semi-structured face-to-face interviews. A set of questions guided the interviewers with interviews lasting between 15-60 minutes. RESULTS In regards to the question, what is your understanding of compassion? , four central themes emerged: connection, presence and warmth, respect and caring. When asked, what advice can you give to trainee health professionals? , participants articulated four themes: connecting with patients and talking in a way they can understand, treating the person with respect, showing interest in them and being a positive presence for them. CONCLUSIONS Compassion was seen as a connection between the carer and the patient. Compassion is having a positive presence and warmth; an attitude of respect and caring. The main advice given by research participants to enhance compassion is for doctors and nurses to connect, to talk in a way that can be understood, and show interest and respect to patients facing the end of their lives.
Mapping of Protein-Protein Interactions: Web-Based Resources for Revealing Interactomes.

BACKGROUND The significant number of protein-protein interactions (PPIs) discovered by harnessing concomitant advances in the fields of sequencing, crystallography, spectrometry and two-hybrid screening suggests astonishing prospects for remodelling drug discovery. The PPI space which includes up to 650 000 entities is a remarkable reservoir of potential therapeutic targets for every human disease. In order to allow modern drug discovery programs to leverage this we should be able to discern complete PPI maps associated with a specific disorder and corresponding normal physiology. OBJECTIVE Here, we will review community available computational programs for predicting PPIs and web-based resources for storing experimentally annotated interactions. METHODS We compared the capacities of prediction tools: iLoops, Struck2Net, HOMCOS, COTH, PrePPI, InterPreTS and PRISM to predict recently discovered protein interactions. RESULTS We described sequence-based and structure-based PPI prediction tools and addressed their peculiarities. Additionally, since the usefulness of prediction algorithms critically depends on the quality and quantity of the experimental data they are built on, we extensively discussed community resources for protein interactions. We focused on the active and recently updated primary and secondary PPI databases, repositories specialized to the subject or species, as well as databases that include both experimental and predicted PPIs. CONCLUSION PPI complexes are the basis of important physiological processes and therefore, possible targets for cell-penetrating ligands. Reliable computational PPI predictions can speed up new target discoveries through prioritization of therapeutically relevant protein-protein complexes for experimental studies.
Multiple Functions of Sushi Domain Containing 2 (SUSD2) in Breast Tumorigenesis

Routinely used therapies are not adequate to treat the heterogeneity of breast cancer, and consequently, more therapeutic targets are desperately needed. To identify novel targets, we generated a breast cancer cDNA library enriched for genes that encode membrane and secreted proteins. From this library we identified SUSD2 (Sushi Domain Containing 2), which encodes an 822-amino acid protein containing a transmembrane domain and functional domains inherent to adhesion molecules. Previous studies describe the mouse homolog, Susd2, but there are no studies on the human gene associated with breast cancer. Immunohistochemical analysis of human breast tissues showed weak or no expression of SUSD2 in normal epithelial cells, with the endothelial lining of vessels staining positive for SUSD2. However, staining was observed in pathologic breast lesions and in lobular and ductal carcinomas. SUSD2 interacts with galectin-1 (Gal-1), a 14-kDa secreted protein that is synthesized by carcinoma cells and promotes tumor immune evasion, angiogenesis, and metastasis. Interestingly, we found that localization of Gal-1 on the surface of cells is dependent on the presence of SUSD2. Various phenotype assays indicate that SUSD2 increases the invasion of breast cancer cells and contributes to a potential immune evasion mechanism through induction of apoptosis of Jurkat T cells. Using a syngeneic mouse model, we observed accelerated tumor formation and decreased survival in mice with tumors expressing Susd2. We found significantly fewer CD4 tumor infiltrating lymphocytes in mice with tumors expressing Susd2. Together, our findings provide evidence that SUSD2 may represent a promising therapeutic target for breast cancer. Mol Cancer Res; 11(1); 74–85. ©2012 AACR.
Validation of S100B use in a cohort of Spanish patients with mild traumatic brain injury: a multicentre study

ABSTRACT Introduction: The aim of this study was to validate the S100B protein as a diagnostic tool for ruling out the presence of intracranial lesion (IL) after mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI). Subjects with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) score of 15 and at least one neurological symptom post-trauma were selected from a large Spanish cohort. Methods: A number of 260 patients with mTBI were enrolled. Blood samples were extracted within 6 h and CT scan performed within 24 h post-injury. Blood samples were also drawn from 18 healthy subjects. Results: CT scan revealed the presence of IL in 22 patients (8.5%). Patients with mTBI had higher S100B serum levels (p = 0.008) than the healthy subjects (p < 0.001). The ROC analysis of S100B discriminated between patients with and without IL (AUC: 0.671; 95%CI: 0.574–0.769; p = 0.008). The multivariate analysis identified male gender (OR: 5.39; 95%CI: 1.45–20.10; p = 0.012), age > 65 (OR: 2.97; 95%CI: 1.04–8.44; p = 0.041) and S100B level >0.10 µg/L (OR: 7.93; 95%CI: 1.03–60.76; p = 0.046) as independent risk factors for IL in patients with mTBI. Conclusion: Measurement of S100B within 6 h of mTBI accurately predicts risk of IL in patients with a GCS score of 15 and at least one neurological symptom.
A novel humanitarian technology for early detection of cervical neoplasia: ROI extraction and SR detection

Cervical cancer is a common form of cancer in developing countries. Through screening programs it can be preventable. During colposcopy, Specular Reflections(SR) comes as a heavily bright spot and generate problems in the image analysis of the cervix. This occurs due to the present of fluids and the cervix being convex in shape and due to the illumination generated from the colposcope. In this paper, SRs are detected and filled by performing top-hat filtering, global thresholding, different morphological operations and a novel filling algorithm. The main concern is to detect AW regions. The non-ROI portion contains unnecessary information that confuses and creates problems in the detection of different tissues present in the cervix. The ROI is extracted by considering hue (H) and value (V) from HSV color space, so that the boundary of the colposcopy image i.e. the cervix is extracted. Finally our Algorithm on the ROI is compared with the expert markings and statistical metrics are computed. This is an ongoing novel Humanitarian Technology in detection of Cervical Cancer.
In vitro and in vivo efficacy of rosmarinic acid on quorum sensing mediated biofilm formation and virulence factor production in Aeromonas hydrophila

Abstract Rosmarinic acid (RA) was assessed for its quorum sensing inhibitory (QSI) potential against Aeromonas hydrophila strains AH 1, AH 12 and MTCC 1739. The pathogenic strains of A. hydrophila were isolated from infected zebrafish and identified through biochemical analysis and amplification of a species-specific gene (rpsL). The biofilm inhibitory concentration (BIC) of RA against A. hydrophila strains was found to be 750 μg ml−1. At this concentration, RA reduced the QS mediated hemolysin, lipase and elastase production in A. hydrophila. In FT-IR analysis, RA treated A. hydrophila cells showed a reduction in cellular components. Gene expression analysis confirmed the down-regulation of virulence genes such as ahh1, aerA, lip and ahyB. A. hydrophila infected zebrafish upon treatment with RA showed increased survival rates. Thus, the present study demonstrates the use of RA as a plausible phytotherapeutic compound to control QS mediated biofilm formation and virulence factor production in A. hydrophila.
Defining Priorities to Improve Patient Experience in Non-Muscle Invasive Bladder Cancer

Background: Although approximately 75% of bladder cancers are non-muscle invasive (NMIBC) at diagnosis, most research tends to focus on invasive disease (e.g., experiences related to radical cystectomy and urinary diversion). There is a lack of studies on quality of life, and especially qualitative research, in bladder cancer generally. As a result, relatively little is known about the experiences and needs of NMIBC patients. Objective: To understand patient experience, define care priorities, and identify targets for care improvement in NMIBC across the cancer continuum. Methods: Through focus groups, patients treated for NMIBC (stage <T2) were invited to share their care experiences including diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship. Transcripts were analyzed using conventional content analysis to identify themes and subthemes. Results: Twenty patients (16 male, 4 female, all white) participated in three focus groups. Five primary themes emerged: access to care, provider characteristics and communication, quality of life, goals of care/influences on decision-making, and role of social support. Patients with NMIBC desired timely access to care and honest and caring provider communication. They described urinary function and emotional quality of life changes resulting from diagnosis and treatment. Avoiding cystectomy and being alive for family were the major decision influencers. Conclusion: In this qualitative study, we identified access to care, provider characteristics and communication, quality of life, values/influences on decision-making, and social support as priority areas to improve patient experience in NMIBC. Care redesign efforts should focus on improving access, enhancing provider communication, reducing side effects, and supporting caregiver roles.
Nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis involving all four cardiac valves

This report describes a case of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis caused by Waldenström macroglobulinemia, with diffuse endocardial lesions and involvement of all 4 cardiac valves. A 77-year-old man presented with heart failure due to severe regurgitation of all 4 cardiac valves; surgical repair using bioprosthetic valves was indicated. A pathological study revealed fibrin-triggered thrombus formation that confirmed the diagnosis of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis. In cases of nonbacterial thrombotic endocarditis, the underlying cause should be investigated.
Dynamics and heat diffusion of Abrikosov’s vortex-antivortex pairs during an annihilation process

The manipulation and control of vortex states in superconducting systems are of great interest in view of possible applications, for which mesoscopic materials are good candidates. In this work, we studied the annihilation dynamics and the dissipative aspects of an Abrikosov’s vortex-antivortex pair in a mesoscopic superconducting system with a concentric hole. The generalized time-dependent Ginzburg–Landau equations were numerically solved. The main result is the appearance of a phase slip-like line due to the elongation of the vortex and antivortex cores. Under specific circumstances, thermal dissipation might be associated with a sizeable relaxation of the order parameter, so that the energy released in the annihilation of a vortex-antivortex pair might become detectable in measurements of the magnetization as a function of time.
Mitochondrial DNA is Released in Urine of SIRS Patients With Acute Kidney Injury and Correlates With Severity of Renal Dysfunction

ABSTRACT Systemic inflammatory response syndrome (SIRS) is characterized by the activation of the innate immune system resulting in stimulation of inflammatory responses, coagulation, and platelet activation that may contribute to complication such as the development of acute kidney injury (AKI). AKI importantly worsens the outcome of SIRS, implying the existence of a detrimental cross talk via systemic messages. Mitochondria are a source of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs) and are thought to form a molecular link between tissue injury and stimulation of innate immunity. The role of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) in the cross talk between the onset of SIRS and subsequent development of AKI is unknown. Hence, we performed a case control study in critically ill patients with SIRS diagnosed with or without AKI, in which we determined mtDNA levels in plasma and urine, and correlated these to markers of renal impairment, inflammation, coagulation, and platelet activation. In addition, we exposed mice, primary renal tubular epithelial cells (TECs), and platelets to mtDNA or purified mitochondrial ligands, and measured their response to elucidate underlying pathophysiological mechanisms. Our data reveal that increased systemic mtDNA levels in SIRS patients do not correlate with systemic inflammation and renal disease activity. Moreover, AKI does not have an additional effect on circulating mtDNA levels. In contrast, we found that urinary mtDNA levels correlate with an elevated albumin creatinine ratio (ACR) as well as with increased urinary markers of inflammation, coagulation, and platelet activation. Both renal TECs and platelets respond to mtDNA and mtDNA ligands, leading to increased expression of, respectively, inflammatory cytokines and P-selectin. Moreover, activation of platelets results in mtDNA release. Together, these data suggest that circulating mtDNA is probably not important in the detrimental cross talk between SIRS and AKI, whereas renal mtDNA accumulation may be related to intrarenal inflammation, coagulation processes, and renal dysfunction in the pathophysiology of SIRS.
The effect of reward expectation on the time course of perceptual decisions

Perceptual discriminations can be strongly biased by the expected reward for a correct decision but the neural mechanisms underlying this influence are still partially unclear. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) during a task requiring to arbitrarily associate a visual stimulus with a specific action, we have recently shown that perceptual decisions are encoded within the same sensory‐motor regions responsible for planning and executing specific motor actions. Here we examined whether these regions additionally encode the amount of expected reward for a perceptual decision. Using a task requiring to associate a gradually unmasked female vs. male picture with a spatially‐directed hand pointing or saccadic eye movement, we examined whether the fMRI time course of effector‐selective regions was modulated by the amount of expected reward. In both the pointing‐selective parietal reach region (PRR) and the saccade‐selective posterior intraparietal region (pIPS), reward‐related modulations were only observed after the onset of the stimulus, during decision formation. However, while in the PRR these modulations were specific for the preferred pointing response, the pIPS showed greater activity when either a saccadic or a pointing movement was associated with a greater reward relative to neutral conditions. Interestingly, the fusiform face area showed a similar reward‐related but response‐independent modulation, consistent with a general motivational signal rather than with a mechanism for biasing specific sensory or motor representations. Together, our results support an account of perception as a process of probabilistic inference in which top‐down and bottom‐up information are integrated at every level of the cortical hierarchy.
Contrasting the grain boundary-affected performance of zinc and indium oxide transparent conductors

Zinc oxide-based transparent conductors have long been advanced for their potential as low-cost, earth-abundant replacements for the indium oxide-based materials that currently dominate in practical applications. However, this potential has yet to be realized because of the difficulties in producing zinc oxide thin films with the necessary high levels of electrical conductivity and environmental stability that are readily achieved using indium oxide. To better understand the fundamental reasons for this, polycrystalline zinc and indium oxide thin films were prepared across a range of deposition temperatures using the technique of spray pyrolysis. Electrical transport measurements of these samples both as a function of temperature and UV irradiation were correlated with film morphology to illustrate that the different grain boundary behaviour of these two materials is one of the key reasons for their divergent performance. This is a critical challenge that must be addressed before any substantial increase in the adoption of ZnO-based transparent conductors can take place.
Development of a Low Radar Cross Section Antenna With Band-Notched Absorber

A low radar cross section (RCS) antenna designed with band-notched absorber is described. First, a dual-polarization absorber with relative bandwidth more than 80% is designed using loaded resistors. Pairs of circular slot resonators and metal strip array resonators are introduced in the absorber to realize a notch band with full reflectance in the vertical polarization, while a wide absorption band in the horizontal polarization is maintained. The proposed band-notched absorber is thus realized. Within the notch band, the absorber can be served as a metal ground for antenna; while a great RCS reduction is obtained out of the notch band and in the horizontal polarization band. Then, a dipole antenna rigorously designed is mounted above the band-notched absorber, whose operating frequency is exactly in accordance with that of the notch band. The proposed low RCS antenna is established based on assembling the dipole antenna and the band-notched absorber together. The measured results demonstrate that the proposed antenna has fairly good radiation patterns. Added to that, more than 10 dB RCS reduction in two polarizations is realized simultaneously compared with that one of a conventional dipole antenna.