Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Effects of epidermal growth factor receptor gene silencing mediated by short hairpin RNA on proliferation and apoptosis of human tongue carcinoma cells].

OBJECTIVE To investigate the effects of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene silencing mediated by short hairpin RNA (shRNA) on proliferation and apoptosis of human tongue carcinoma cells. METHODS shRNA eukaryotic expression vector targeting the specific sequence of human EGFR gene was constructed and termed shEGFR. The control vector targeting the unrelated sequence was also constructed and termed shNC. The vectors were transiently transfected into Tca8113 cells of human tongue squamous cell carcinoma by Lipofectamine 2000, respectively. The mRNA and protein levels of EGFR in Tca8113 cells were detected by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and Western blotting. The cell proliferation of Tca8113 cells was evaluated by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay. The apoptosis of Tca8113 cells was assessed by flow cytometry. RESULTS EGFR expression in Tca8113 cells transfected with shEGFR were obviously decreased at mRNA level (81.6%) and protein level (72.0%) (P < 0.05) 48 h after transfection of shEGFR compared with untransfected Tca8113 cells. The proliferation activity of Tca8113 cells transfected with shEGFR was significantly lower than that of Tca8113 cells transfected with shNC and untransfected Tca8113 cells (P < 0.05). The early apoptotic rate of Tca8113 cells transfected with shEGFR was significantly higher than that of Tca8113 cells transfected with shNC and untransfected Tca8113 cells [(39.4 +/- 7.7)%, (4.3 +/- 1.2)%, (2.5 +/- 0.9)%, P < 0.05] 48 h after transfection of shEGFR. CONCLUSIONS EGFR gene silencing mediated by shRNA may inhibit cell proliferation and induce apoptosis in human tongue carcinoma cells.
A Research Trilogy into E-Commerce Adoption in Small Businesses in New Zealand

This research trilogy about e-commerce (EC) adoption in small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in New Zealand (NZ) started with a survey research, followed by an initial focus group (FG) research and concluded with a second FG in order to fill some of the gaps in the first FG and to add more insights into the EC phenomenon in NZ SMEs. In this research, nine factors were identified from the technological innovation literature as potential determinants of EC adoption in SMEs. The research findings highlighted three main issues pertaining to EC adoption in NZ SMEs. First, at the 'low level' of adoption such as adopting simple email and Web pages, none of the research factors seemed to strongly influence the adoption decision of EC as such. This finding highlighted the importance of the communication aspect of EC and of having a presence in cyberspace even if it was a simple one. Second, the majority of the NZ SMEs perceived to progress these simple EC initiatives in the long-term projections only. They called such initiatives as 'advanced levels of EC' where they envisaged adopting fully functional and interactive websites. At this level of adoption, the participants started to raise the importance of the different factors to their adoption decision of EC. However, this was contrasted by the fact that the participants stressed that they would not risk investing their scant resources on perceived risky advanced EC initiatives. The last point pertains to the SMEs that adopted different EC technologies 'high adopters' such as websites, Intranet and Extranet technologies. This category retained a positive view about EC and indicated that non-adopters of EC and 'low level' adopters should not be deterred from adopting EC and that all their fears were mere misperceptions. The overall results indicated that EC adoption and use among NZ SMEs was limited. The research highlights professional and theoretical significance and implications.
The Perforator-Sparing Buttock Rotation Flap for Coverage of Pressure Sores

Background: The rotation fasciocutaneous flap for buttock pressure sore coverage has the distinct advantage of allowing rerotation in the event of ulcer recurrence. The authors describe their approach of preserving and incorporating musculocutaneous perforators into the conventional rotation design. Methods: The skin incision is the same as that for the conventional gluteal rotation flap. The flap is elevated subfascially until one or two large musculocutaneous perforators of the superior or inferior gluteal arteries are encountered. Intramuscular dissection by splitting fibers of the gluteus maximus muscle is then performed to free the perforator down to its emergent point at the level of the piriformis muscle to enable the perforator to pivot freely with the rotation of the skin flap. Further elevation of the flap beyond the location of the perforator is then performed as necessary to enable tension-free rotation of the skin flap into the defect. Muscle to fill dead space when needed is raised as a separate flap. Seven patients underwent closure of buttock pressure sores in the sacral, ischial, and trochanteric areas using this technique. Results: All wounds healed, with no recurrence, at a mean follow-up of 30 months. This technique can be used to cover pressure sores over the sacral, trochanteric, and ischial regions. Conclusions: This modification of the conventional rotation flap affords the flexibility of rerotation in the event of ulcer recurrence while providing the flap with enhanced blood supply. This is an ideal flap for patients in whom the risk of ulcer recurrence is high.
Voting-Based Matching for Near-Planar Objects with Drastic Illumination Variation

Image registration is a challenging task when illumi-nation changes drastically. In this paper, we propose a novel algorithm, APCurve, to address this problem. APCurve matches all principle curves extracted from the sensed image and reference image based on voting matrix. All principal curves are extracted because they are robust against illumination change. Voting matrix is a simple method to match all principal curves. We test APCurve on a set of images taken under drastically changed illumination condition, and experimental results show it is effective and fast. An experimental comparison between APCurve and SURF[8] is presented, which shows APCurve outperforms SURF when the object is textureless. Finally, the successful application of APCurve in highlight removal task proves that our approach is useful in real practice.
Ultra-wideband (UWB) communications systems: an overview

This paper presents an overview of the ultra-wideband (UWB) technology for wireless communications systems. Following a brief review of the UWB basic principles, the characteristics of application specific UWB wireless systems are described. Design principles and challenges of UWB wireless systems, with an emphasis on monolithic implementations are discussed. Trade-offs between performance, power consumption, and technology choices are addressed. Examples of state-of-the-art UWB circuits and systems are presented.
Environmental Impact of the Production of Mealworms as a Protein Source for Humans – A Life Cycle Assessment

The demand for animal protein is expected to rise by 70–80% between 2012 and 2050, while the current animal production sector already causes major environmental degradation. Edible insects are suggested as a more sustainable source of animal protein. However, few experimental data regarding environmental impact of insect production are available. Therefore, a lifecycle assessment for mealworm production was conducted, in which greenhouse gas production, energy use and land use were quantified and compared to conventional sources of animal protein. Production of one kg of edible protein from milk, chicken, pork or beef result in higher greenhouse gas emissions, require similar amounts of energy and require much more land. This study demonstrates that mealworms should be considered a more sustainable source of edible protein.
CpG oligodeoxynucleotides potentiate the antitumor effects of chemotherapy or tumor resection in an orthotopic murine model of rhabdomyosarcoma.

PURPOSE CpG oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) are synthetic DNA sequences that mimic bacterial DNA and have potent immunostimulatory effects on dendritic cells (DCs), B cells, and natural killer cells. To evaluate CpG ODN antitumor effects against solid tumors, we used an orthotopic murine model of embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN The systemic administration of CpG 2006 was tested beginning on day 9 or 19 when tumors were not yet palpable or palpable, respectively, and after surgical resection of the tumor. CpG was also administered in combination with the chemotherapeutic agents, cyclophosphamide (CY) and topotecan, or surgical resection. RESULTS Systemic CpG prolonged survival when begun at day 9 but had no effect with a large tumor burden. CpG administered after surgical resection of tumor significantly improved survival of mice (P < 0.03). On day 9, CY plus CpG 2006 resulted in improved survival compared with CY alone (70% versus 41%, respectively). Survival was significantly improved when CpG 2006 was administered systemically with CY beginning on day 19 (15% versus 0% survival). The administration of CpG 2006 with topotecan significantly improved survival in mice with large tumors. Cell-depletion studies demonstrated that the antitumor effects of systemically administered CpG 2006 combined with CY were predominantly T cell dependent. CONCLUSIONS These data are the first to show that immune stimulatory agents such as CpGs may enhance the antitumor effects of chemotherapeutic agents and improve survival after surgical resection of a solid tumor.
A Subharmonic Receiver in SiGe Technology for 122$~$GHz Sensor Applications

The iterative design of an integrated subharmonic receiver for 120-127 GHz is presented. The receiver consists of a single-ended low-noise amplifier (LNA), a push-push voltage-controlled oscillator (VCO) with 1/32 divider, a polyphase filter, and a subharmonic mixer. The receiver is fabricated in SiGe:C BiCMOS technology with fT/fmax of 255 GHz/315 GHz. In the first design the differential down-conversion gain of the receiver is 25 dB at 127 GHz, and the corresponding noise figure (NF) is 11 dB. The 3 dB bandwidth reaches from 125 GHz to 129 GHz. The input 1 dB compression point is at - 40 dBm. The receiver draws 139 mA from a supply voltage of 3.3 V. A subsequent design demonstrates 31 dB differential gain at 122 GHz, and 11 dB NF. The 3 dB bandwidth is from 121 GHz to 124 GHz. The receiver has a NF of 8 dB for 3 GHz IF frequency due to integrated RF bandpass-filtering. It is realized by the lower NF of the LNA, and the LNA itself.
The Semi-Synthetic Peptide Lin-SB056-1 in Combination with EDTA Exerts Strong Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Conditions Mimicking Cystic Fibrosis Sputum

Pseudomonas aeruginosa is a major cause of chronic lung infections in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. The ability of the bacterium to form biofilms and the presence of a thick and stagnant mucus in the airways of CF patients largely contribute to antibiotic therapy failure and demand for new antimicrobial agents able to act in the CF environment. The present study investigated the anti-P. aeruginosa activity of lin-SB056-1, a recently described semi-synthetic antimicrobial peptide, used alone and in combination with the cation chelator ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA). Bactericidal assays were carried out in standard culture conditions and in an artificial sputum medium (ASM) closely resembling the CF environment. Peptide’s structure and interaction with large unilamellar vesicles in media with different ionic strengths were also investigated through infrared spectroscopy. Lin-SB056-1 demonstrated fast and strong bactericidal activity against both mucoid and non-mucoid strains of P. aeruginosa in planktonic form and, in combination with EDTA, caused significant reduction of the biomass of P. aeruginosa mature biofilms. In ASM, the peptide/EDTA combination exerted a strong bactericidal effect and inhibited the formation of biofilm-like structures of P. aeruginosa. Overall, the results obtained highlight the potential of the lin-SB056-1/EDTA combination for the treatment of P. aeruginosa lung infections in CF patients.
Removal of Shelterin Reveals the Telomere End-Protection Problem

Not Broken Until Repaired Humans, and indeed most eukaryotes, have linear chromosomes with two DNA ends, known as telomeres. Cells have evolved sophisticated systems to repair broken chromosomes, which specifically recognize DNA ends as damage. Telomeres are protected from these repair systems, which would otherwise wreak havoc in the cell, causing genome aberrations that, ironically, can lead to cancer. To understand all the possible threats to telomeres Sfeir and de Lange (p. 593) mutated components of the mouse shelterin protein complex, which forms a protective cap over the telomere ends, rendering telomeres completely devoid of the complex (and packaged only in nucleosomal chromatin). These “naked” telomeres were vulnerable to six DNA repair–related pathways: classical and alternative nonhomologous end joining; ATM and ATR signaling pathways; homology directed recombination; and unmitigated DNA resection. “Naked” chromosome ends are mistakenly targeted by six different DNA repair–related systems in the cell. The telomere end-protection problem is defined by the aggregate of DNA damage signaling and repair pathways that require repression at telomeres. To define the end-protection problem, we removed the whole shelterin complex from mouse telomeres through conditional deletion of TRF1 and TRF2 in nonhomologous end-joining (NHEJ) deficient cells. The data reveal two DNA damage response pathways not previously observed upon deletion of individual shelterin proteins. The shelterin-free telomeres are processed by microhomology-mediated alternative-NHEJ when Ku70/80 is absent and are attacked by nucleolytic degradation in the absence of 53BP1. The data establish that the end-protection problem is specified by six pathways [ATM (ataxia telangiectasia mutated) and ATR (ataxia telangiectasia and Rad3 related) signaling, classical-NHEJ, alt-NHEJ, homologous recombination, and resection] and show how shelterin acts with general DNA damage response factors to solve this problem.
Metastatic Squamous Cell Carcinoma Component from an Adenosquamous Carcinoma of the Lung with Identical Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Mutations

The case reported is a young “light” ex-smoker who initially had a localized adenosquamous carcinoma bearing an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) sensitizing mutation. He first recurred six months after initial treatment within the brain with a pure squamous histology and the same EGFR mutation. Surgical resection and radiation rendered him disease-free. Subsequent isolated recurrence within the lung eighteen months later was a pure adenocarcinoma, again with the same identified EGFR mutation. These histologic changes (from adenosquamous to pure squamous to pure adenocarcinoma) have been described but not before in the absence of any selection pressure with EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors. This case points out the histologic “flexibility” of EGFR mutant lung cancers and the importance for appropriate molecular testing in nonsmokers with lung cancer of any histologic type.
Minimal Effect of Acute Caffeine Ingestion on Intense Resistance Training Performance

Astorino, TA, Martin, BJ, Schachtsiek, L, Wong, K, and Ng, K. Minimal effect of acute caffeine ingestion on intense resistance training performance. J Strength Cond Res 25(6): 1752-1758, 2011—The primary aim of the study was to determine the efficacy of acute caffeine intake to enhance intense resistance training performance. Fourteen resistance-trained men (age and body mass = 23.1 ± 1.1 years and 83.4 ± 13.2 kg, respectively) who regularly consumed caffeine ingested caffeine (6 mg·kg−1) or placebo 1 hour before completion of 4 sets of barbell bench press, leg press, bilateral row, and barbell shoulder press to fatigue at 70-80% 1-repetition maximum. Two minutes of rest was allotted between sets. Saliva samples were obtained to assess caffeine concentration. The number of repetitions completed per set and total weight lifted were recorded as indices of performance. Two-way analysis of variance with repeated measures was used to examine differences in performance across treatment and sets. Compared to placebo, there was a small but significant effect (p < 0.05) of acute caffeine intake on repetitions completed for the leg press but not for upper-body exercise (p > 0.05). Total weight lifted across sets was similar (p > 0.05) with caffeine (22,409.5 ± 3,773.2 kg) vs. placebo (21,185.7 ± 4,655.4 kg), yet there were 9 ‘responders’ to caffeine, represented by a meaningful increase in total weight lifted with caffeine vs. placebo. Any ergogenic effect of caffeine on performance of fatiguing, total-body resistance training appears to be of limited practical significance. Additional research is merited to elucidate interindividual differences in caffeine-mediated improvements in performance.
Priming attachment goals: Effects on disclosure

PRIMING ATTACHMENT GOALS: EFFECTS ON DISCLOSURE MAY 1999 JULIA FISHTEIN, B.A., NEW YORK UNIVERSITY M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Paula R. Pietromonaco Attachment researchers speculate that different working models of attachment contain within them different chronic interpersonal goals and that these goals guide behavior in ways consistent with each different model of attachment. The current study experimentally manipulated goals thought to be associated with different attachment prototypes and measured their effect on self-disclosure. 101 participants completed a priming task on the computer in which they were presented with neutral, intimacy-, or defensiveness-related words and were later asked to complete a questionnaire tapping their willingness to disclose personal information about themselves, and participate in an interview. Results indicate that although priming alone did not influence disclosure, it interacted with attachment style. Individuals low in dismissiveness and preoccupation were more likely to disclose information about themselves than those high in dismissiveness and preoccupation. These effects were moderated by priming condition. As dismissiveness increased, willingness to disclose decreased, but this effect was stronger for individuals primed with
Effective management of location dependent continuous queries in mobile environment

Advances in wireless and mobile computing environments allow a mobile user to perform within a wide range of applications. For example, mobile users need to pull data about unfamiliar places or local life styles related to their location. Furthermore, a mobile user may be interested in getting location dependent query results periodically. We propose an algorithm for handling continuous queries in a tree-structure in such a way that the user will get the correct current query result, not the outdated result. In addition our proposed method strives to reduce communication cost. Since data are related to a particular zone, the obvious approach is to replicate fragments of location dependent data (LDD) for each zone. If we follow the approach of replicating fragments of LDD information at each zone, we may not be able to meet the storage requirements in given zones. Therefore, full replication will not work. Hence, we propose an selective replication algorithm in the context of these continuous queries. Our replication algorithm is based on the user's query pattern. If a particular type of query is frequently requested from a particular zone, we will replicate its corresponding LDD in that zone. We demonstrate that this selective replication strives to balance lookup cost and storage cost using a simulation experiment.
MISQ Archivist Friendships in Online Peer-to-Peer Lending : Pipes , Prisms , and Relational Herding

This paper investigates how friendship relationships act as pipes, prisms, and herding signals in a large online, peer-topeer (P2P) lending site. By analyzing decisions of lenders, we find that friends of the borrower, especially close offline friends, act as financial pipes by lending money to the borrower. On the other hand, the prism effect of friends’ endorsements via bidding on a loan negatively affects subsequent bids by third parties. However, when offline friends of a potential lender, especially close friends, place a bid, a relational herding effect occurs as potential lenders are likely to follow their offline friends with a bid.
Parity functions as universal residual generators and tool for fault detectability analysis

The Chow-Willsky (1984) scheme is a design method for residual-generation. An extension to the Chow-Willsky scheme, called the universal linear parity equation (ULPE) scheme, is presented. The ULPE scheme is shown to be able to generate all possible residual generators for both discrete and continuous linear systems. It is also shown that previous extensions to the Chow-Willsky scheme do not have this capability. Two new straightforward conditions on the process for fault detectability and strong fault detectability are presented. It is shown that fault detectability and strong fault detectability can be seen as system properties rather than properties of the residual generator.
Effect of Endothelial Shear Stress on the Progression of Coronary Artery Disease, Vascular Remodeling, and In-Stent Restenosis in Humans: In Vivo 6-Month Follow-Up Study

Background—Native atherosclerosis and in-stent restenosis are focal and evolve independently. The endothelium controls local arterial responses by transduction of shear stress. Characterization of endothelial shear stress (ESS) may allow for prediction of progression of atherosclerosis and in-stent restenosis. Methods and Results—By using intracoronary ultrasound, biplane coronary angiography, and measurement of coronary blood flow, we represented the artery in accurate 3D space and determined detailed characteristics of ESS and arterial wall/plaque morphology. Patients who underwent stent implantation and who had another artery with luminal obstruction <50% underwent intravascular profiling initially and after 6-month follow-up. Twelve arteries in 8 patients were studied: 6 native and 6 stented arteries. In native arteries, regions of abnormally low baseline ESS exhibited a significant increase in plaque thickness and enlargement of the outer vessel wall, such that lumen radius remained unchanged (outward remodeling). Regions of physiological ESS showed little change. Regions with increased ESS exhibited outward remodeling with normalization of ESS. In stented arteries, there was an increase in intima-medial thickness, a decrease in lumen radius, and an increase in ESS at all levels of baseline ESS. Conclusions—The present study represents the first experience in humans relating ESS to subsequent outcomes in native and stented arteries. Regions of low ESS develop progressive atherosclerosis and outward remodeling, areas of physiological ESS remain quiescent, and areas of increased ESS exhibit outward remodeling. ESS may have a limited role in in-stent restenosis. This technology can predict areas of minor plaque likely to exhibit progression of atherosclerosis.