Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Frequent alterations of the candidate genes hMLH1, ITGA9 and RBSP3 in early dysplastic lesions of head and neck: Clinical and prognostic significance

To understand the association between candidate tumor suppressor genes (TSGs) human mismatch repair protein homologue 1 (hMLH1), AP20 region gene 1 (APRG1), integrin α RLC (ITGA9), RB1 serine phosphates from human chromosome 3 (RBSP3) at chromosomal 3p22.3 region and development of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), alterations (deletion/promoter methylation/expression) of these genes were analyzed in 65 dysplastic lesions and 84 HNSCC samples. Clinicopathological correlations were made with alterations of the genes. In HNSCC, deletion frequencies of hMLH1, ITGA9, and RBSP3 were comparatively higher than APRG1. Overall alterations (deletion/methylation) of hMLH1, ITGA9, and RBSP3 were high (45–55%) in mild dysplasia and comparable in subsequent stages of tumor progression. Quantitative RT‐PCR analysis showed reduced expression of these genes in tumors concordant to their molecular alterations. An in vitro demethylation experiment by 5‐aza‐2′‐deoxycytidine confirmed the promoter hypermethylation of RBSP3 in Hep2 and UPCI:SCC084 cell lines. Functionally less‐active RBSP3A isoform was predominant in tumor tissues contrary to the adjacent normal tissue of tumors where more active RBSP3B isoform was prevalent. In immunohistochemical analysis, intense nuclear staining of hMLH1 and pRB (phosphorylated RB, the substrate of RBSP3) proteins were seen in the basal layer of normal epithelium. In tumors, concordance was seen between (i) low/intermediate level of hMLH1 expression and its molecular alterations; and (ii) intense nuclear staining of pRB and RBSP3 alterations. Poor patient outcome was seen with hMLH1 and RBSP3 alterations. Moreover, in absence of human papilloma virus (HPV) infection, tobacco‐addicted patients with hMLH1, RBSP3 alterations, and nodal invasions showed poor prognosis. Thus our data suggests that dysregulation of hMLH1, ITGA9, and RBSP3 associated multiple cellular pathways are needed for the development of early dysplastic lesions of the head and neck. (Cancer Sci 2010)
Alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5 integrin expression in glioma periphery.

OBJECTIVE This study analyzed the expression of integrins alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5 in glioma tissue and focused on the periphery of high-grade gliomas. METHODS The analysis was performed with Western blot, immunohistochemistry, and immunofluorescence, by use of two monoclonal antibodies able to recognize the functional integrin heterodimer. The expression of integrin-related ligands and growth factors also was studied. Sections from the tumor periphery were classified as either tumor periphery (light tumor infiltrate or scant visible cells) or peritumor (heavy tumor infiltration). RESULTS Our data on glioma tissues demonstrated that both integrins were expressed in glioma cells and vasculature and their expression correlated with the histological grade. Alpha(v)beta3 expression was prominent in astrocytic tumors. Both integrins were markers of tumor vasculature, particularly of endothelial proliferation. A high-grade glioma periphery demonstrated a prominent expression of integrin alpha(v)beta3. Cells demonstrating alpha(v)beta3 positivity were identified as tumor astrocytes and endothelial cells by double imaging. The same cells were surrounded by some alpha(v)beta3 ligands and co-localized fibroblast growth factor 2. Matrix metalloproteinase 2 also was found to be co-localized with alpha(v)beta3 in the same cells. Alpha(v)beta3 expression was more relevant in tumor astrocytes. Alpha(v)beta3 integrin and vascular endothelial growth factor expression increased from the periphery to the tumor center. CONCLUSION Our data support the role of integrins alpha(v)beta3 and alpha(v)beta5 in glioma-associated angiogenesis. In addition, they suggest a role for integrin alpha(v)beta3 in neoangiogenesis and cell migration in high-grade glioma periphery.
The Effects of Racial Similarity and Dissimilarity on the Joint Simon Task

We examined the effects of individual versus joint action and racial similarity and dissimilarity on a Simon task using mouse tracking to explore the implicit cognitive dynamics underlying responses. Participants were slower to respond when working with a partner than when working alone, and their mouse movements also differed across conditions. Participants paired with a different-race partner took longer to respond than participants paired with a same-race partner. We argue that, in the joint conditions, participants’ longer responses were the result of automatic inhibitory processes that arise within the social context.
Sentiment classification of web opinion documents

The era of social networking has lead to the availability of vast amount of information in the web. People express their opinion about product, services or public issues in the forums, review sites, blogs etc. But in order to get useful data it becomes necessary to apply NLP techniques which make it easy for the people to make decisions at the time of buying products or contracting services. All the users are not concerned with all features of a product. Hence this paper proposes a feature based sentiment classification method that helps a user to make decisions easily based on their features of interest.
Telomeres shorten and then lengthen before fledging in Magellanic penguins (Spheniscus magellanicus)

For all species, finite metabolic resources must be allocated toward three competing systems: maintenance, reproduction, and growth. Telomeres, the nucleoprotein tips of chromosomes, which shorten with age in most species, are correlated with increased survival. Chick growth is energetically costly and is associated with telomere shortening in most species. To assess the change in telomeres in penguin chicks, we quantified change in telomere length of wild known-age Magellanic penguin (Spheniscus magellanicus) chicks every 15 days during the species’ growth period, from hatching to 60 days-of-age. Magellanic penguins continue to grow after fledging so we also sampled a set of 1-year-old juvenile penguins, and adults aged 5 years. Telomeres were significantly shorter on day 15 than on hatch day but returned to their initial length by 30 days old and remained at that length through 60 days of age. The length of telomeres of newly hatched chicks, chicks aged 30, 45 and 60 days, juveniles, and adults aged 5 years were similar. Chicks that fledged and those that died had similar telomere lengths. We show that while telomeres shorten during growth, Magellanic penguins elongate telomeres to their length at hatch, which may increase adult life span and reproductive opportunities.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Ligand Dissociation from Liver Fatty Acid Binding Protein

The mechanisms of how ligands enter and leave the binding cavity of fatty acid binding proteins (FABPs) have been a puzzling question over decades. Liver fatty acid binding protein (LFABP) is a unique family member which accommodates two molecules of fatty acids in its cavity and exhibits the capability of interacting with a variety of ligands with different chemical structures and properties. Investigating the ligand dissociation processes of LFABP is thus a quite interesting topic, which however is rather difficult for both experimental approaches and ordinary simulation strategies. In the current study, random expulsion molecular dynamics simulation, which accelerates ligand motions for rapid dissociation, was used to explore the potential egress routes of ligands from LFABP. The results showed that the previously hypothesized “portal region” could be readily used for the dissociation of ligands at both the low affinity site and the high affinity site. Besides, one alternative portal was shown to be highly favorable for ligand egress from the high affinity site and be related to the unique structural feature of LFABP. This result lends strong support to the hypothesis from the previous NMR exchange studies, which in turn indicates an important role for this alternative portal. Another less favored potential portal located near the N-terminal end was also identified. Identification of the dissociation pathways will allow further mechanistic understanding of fatty acid uptake and release by computational and/or experimental techniques.
Least-squares channel equalization performance versus equalization delay

Linear channel equalization has been a successful way to combat intersymbol interference (ISI) introduced by physical communication channels at high enough symbol rates. We consider the performance of least-squares equalizers in the single-input/multi-output (SIMO) channel context when the true channel is composed of an mth-order significant part and tails of "small" leading and/or trailing terms. Using a perturbation analysis approach, we show that if the diversity of the significant part is sufficiently large with respect to the size of the tails, then the lth-order least-squares equalizers, with l/spl ges/m-1, perform well for all the delays corresponding to the significant part. On the other hand, the performance of the equalizers for the delays corresponding to the tails may be poor.
Deletions in the Epstein-Barr virus latent membrane protein-1 oncogene in Hodgkin's disease

Aims—To analyse the latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1) gene in a series of patients with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) positive LMP expressing ordinary and HIV associated Hodgkin's disease to detect possible genetic alterations and particularly the existence of deletions near the 3′ end of the gene. Methods—Expression of the EBV LMP-1 was assessed using immunohistochemistry in 186 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 31 cases of HIV associated Hodgkin's disease. Genomic DNA was extracted from frozen lymph node biopsy specimens from 25 cases of Hodgkin's disease and 11 of HIV associated Hodgkin's disease, all of whom expressed the LMP-1 protein within diagnostic Hodgkin and Reed-Sternberg (HRS) cells, and amplified by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) using primers specific for the different LMP-1 regions. Results—LMP-1 expression was observed in 106 of 186 Hodgkin's disease cases and in all 31 HIV associated Hodgkin's disease cases. Molecular analysis of the LMP-1 gene showed a high degree of genetic heterogeneity in the carboxy-terminal domain compared with the prototype B95-8 EBV strain, specially in the patients with HIV associated Hodgkin's disease. Variation in the size of the repeated region was found in 17 of 25 Hodgkin's disease and nine of 11 HIV associated Hodgkin's disease cases. Deletions of 30 base pairs near the 3′ end of the gene were detected in all cases of HIV associated Hodgkin's disease and in six Hodgkin's disease. In one case of Hodgkin's disease a larger deletion was observed. In all patients with LMP-1 deletion mutants, 50-90% of the diagnostic HRS cells expressed the LMP-1 protein. Conclusions—The presence of the 30 base pair deletion in all cases of HIV associated Hodgkin's disease supports previous studies that reported aggressive histological and clinical behaviour in tumours harbouring this deletion. This deletion may prolong the half-life of the protein which would explain the high levels of LMP-1 expressing HRS cells in those cases carrying LMP-1 deletions. That the 30 base pair deletion was present in all of the HIV associated Hodgkin's disease specimens suggests that impairment of immune function is a stringent requirement for the expansion of malignant cells infected by EBV strains containing the deleted LMP-1 gene.
Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis of Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Based on Metallic Grating

Since the development almost a decade ago of the first biosensor based on surface plasmon resonance (SPR), the use of this technique has increased steadily. In this study, we theoretically investigated the sensing character of SPR sensor with reflection type metallic with Rigorous Coupled Wave Analysis (RCWA) method, and the mechanism is analyzed by the field distribution. It is found that the sensitivity of negative diffraction order, which goes higher quickly as the resonant angle increases, is much greater than that of positive diffraction order.
Diverse biological actions of atrial natriuretic peptide.

Article de synthese sur la structure, la synthese, la secretion et la regulation du peptide atrial natriuretique chez les mammiferes. Synthese sur son mecanisme d'action cellulaire et ses organes cibles: systeme cardiovasculaire, rein, surrenales et fonctions endocrines. Role du peptide dans le disfonctionnement cardiaque, l'hypertension, les maladies hepatiques et renales
The Effect of Uvula-Preserving Palatopharyngoplasty in Obstructive Sleep Apnea on Globus Sense and Positional Dependency

Objectives This study investigated the outcomes of uvula-preserving palatopharyngoplasty (UPPPP) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Methods Twenty men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome received the UPPPP operation at our institution. We measured symptom changes after UPPPP using a visual analog scale (VAS), and all patients were examined with polysomnography pre- and post-operatively. 'Surgical success' was defined as reduction in apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) to below 20 events per hour and more than 50% post-operative reduction. Results Snoring decreased significantly (6.7±2.3 to 3.7±2.9 on VAS, P=0.002) but the postoperative globus sense did not differ from that preoperatively (2.0±2.4 to 2.1±2.7 on VAS, P=0.79). Apnea and apnea-hypopnea indices were significantly reduced after UPPPP (34.7±20 to 24.2±17.2 events/hour, P=0.029). The surgical success rate was 40% regardless of Friedman stage. There was significant reduction in the AHI on supine sleep in both surgically successful and unsuccessful patient groups. Conclusion UPPPP may minimize postoperative globus sense and other complications, with a success rate comparable to that of previously reported surgical methods in OSAS patients. In addition, it may reduce the apnea-hypopnea index in the supine sleep position.
Evaluation of high resolution gel β2-transferrin for detection of cerebrospinal fluid leak

Abstract Background: Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks are potentially life-threatening conditions that can be diagnosed by detection of β2-transferrin using protein electrophoresis. Another less commonly available test is β-trace protein quantitation using immunoassay. The objectives of this study were to evaluate a new immunofixation-based β2-transferrin test for detection of CSF leaks and to compare it to an existing agarose gel electrophoresis test and β-trace protein immunoassay. Methods: For method comparison, 63 consecutive samples from physician-ordered β2-transferrin tests were analyzed using two different electrophoresis methods, agarose gel fractionation followed by acid-violet staining, and high resolution agarose gel electrophoresis followed by β2-transferrin immunofixation. A subset of samples (16/63) were analyzed for β-trace protein. Results were compared against patient chart data for the presence of a CSF leak. Additional studies were performed to assess the stability, detection limit, and analytical specificity of the β2-transferrin immunofixation test. Results: The β2-transferrin immunofixation test had a sensitivity of 100% (40/40) and specificity of 71% (12/17) for detection of CSF leaks. By comparison, the agarose gel test had a sensitivity of 87% (35/40) and specificity of 94% (16/17). β-trace protein had a sensitivity of 100% (10/10) and specificity of 86% (5/6). Serum and saliva could be differentiated from CSF by the β2-transferrin immunofixation test based on their migration patterns. However, whole blood samples appeared positive for β2-transferrin at a threshold of ∼4 g/L hemoglobin. At a cut-off of 3 mg/L, β-trace protein was increased in 10/10 cases with documented CSF leak and in 1/6 patients without CSF leak. Conclusions: Both the new immunofixation test for β2-transferrin and the β-trace protein were effective at detecting CSF leaks. Users of the β2-transferrin immunofixation test should be cautioned against interpreting samples with blood contamination.
Relationships between the nigrotectal pathway and the cells of origin of the predorsal bundle

The goal of this study was to define the anatomical relationships between the terminal field of the nigrotectal pathway and the tectal neurons which project to contralateral brainstem gaze centers by way of the predorsal bundle. The distribution and morphology of the cells of origin for the predorsal bundle were determined by using a modification of the retrograde horseradish peroxidase technique which homogeneously filled their somas and dendrites. The terminal distribution of the nigrotectal tract was determined using both anterograde horseradish peroxidase and autoradiographic procedures.
Time-Optimized High-Resolution Readout-Segmented Diffusion Tensor Imaging

Readout-segmented echo planar imaging with 2D navigator-based reacquisition is an uprising technique enabling the sampling of high-resolution diffusion images with reduced susceptibility artifacts. However, low signal from the small voxels and long scan times hamper the clinical applicability. Therefore, we introduce a regularization algorithm based on total variation that is applied directly on the entire diffusion tensor. The spatially varying regularization parameter is determined automatically dependent on spatial variations in signal-to-noise ratio thus, avoiding over- or under-regularization. Information about the noise distribution in the diffusion tensor is extracted from the diffusion weighted images by means of complex independent component analysis. Moreover, the combination of those features enables processing of the diffusion data absolutely user independent. Tractography from in vivo data and from a software phantom demonstrate the advantage of the spatially varying regularization compared to un-regularized data with respect to parameters relevant for fiber-tracking such as Mean Fiber Length, Track Count, Volume and Voxel Count. Specifically, for in vivo data findings suggest that tractography results from the regularized diffusion tensor based on one measurement (16 min) generates results comparable to the un-regularized data with three averages (48 min). This significant reduction in scan time renders high resolution (1×1×2.5 mm3) diffusion tensor imaging of the entire brain applicable in a clinical context.
Illness and narrative

Abstract The article gives a review of the last ten years' of research on illness narratives, and organises this research around certain central themes. Four aspects of illness narratives are discussed: 1. a proposed typology giving three different kinds of illness narratives - illness as narrative, narrative about illness, and narrative as illness; 2. considerations of what can be accomplished with the help of illness narratives; 3. problems connected with how illness narratives are organised; and 4. the social context of telling and its influence on the narrative. It is argued that as social scientists we can use illness narratives as a means of studying not only the world of biomedical reality, but also the illness experience and its social and cultural underpinnings.
The Effect of Surface Modification of TiO2 on Mechanical Properties of Polyethylene Composite Film

To achieve a proper dispersion of nano-particles polymer matrix and to yield a better compatibility between the nano-particles and polymeric material, the use of different coupling agents for surface modification of nano-particle is recommended. In this research, surface of TiO2 was modified by hydrolytic condensation of titanium isopropoxide with three different silane coupling agents, hexadecyl trimethoxysilane (HTMS), triethoxyvinylsilane (TEVS) and aminopropyl trimethoxysilane (APS). The grafting of silane coupling agents on the TiO2 nano-particles surface was characterized using TGA and FTIR techniques. Mechanical properties of polyethylene composite films were evaluated via tensile strength measurement. Surface morphology of the particle was studied by SEM and TEM. The result showed that surface treatment TiO2 nano-particles with TEVS could improve dispersibility of TiO2 and showed the optimum mechanical properties.
Oscillations and chaos generated by competition for interactively essential resources

Recent theory shows that: (i) competition between multiple species for multiple resources may generate oscillations and chaotic fluctuations in species abundances; and (ii) these non-equilibrium dynamics may favor a high biodiversity. These findings were based on Liebig’s Law of the Minimum, which assumes that each species is limited by only one resource at a time. In reality, however, resources can have interactive effects on growth. Here, we investigate whether competition for interactively essential resources may generate oscillations and chaos as well. Our results show that competition for interactively essential resources may, indeed, exhibit dynamics of similar complexity. This illustrates the wide potential for non-equilibrium dynamics generated by multispecies competition, and suggests that competitive chaos may occur on a wide variety of different resource types.
Helicobacter pylori eradication decreases the expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol‐anchored complement regulators, decay‐accelerating factor and homologous restriction factor 20, in human gastric epithelium

Background: It has previously been reported that there is a strong correlation between the expression of glycosylphosphatidylinositol (GPI)‐anchored complement membrane inhibitor in gastric epithelium and the severity of inflammation of gastric mucosa. To investigate the regulation of complement activity in gastric epithelium during Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)‐associated gastritis, the expression of GPI‐anchored complement membrane inhibitors, decay‐accelerating factor (DAF) and 20‐kDa homologous restriction factor 20 (HRF20), and membrane cofactor protein (MCP), which is a transmembrane protein, were evaluated after removal of the H. pylori stimulus. Furthermore, the expression of the complement fragment, C3c, was also investigated.
Preparation and characterization of novel nanosized hybrid materials and their nonlinear optical properties

We evaluate multi walled carbon nanotubes decorated with gold or silver nanoparticles suspended in water regarding their nonlinear attenuation characteristics for nanosecond laser pulses. The results are compared to pure multi walled carbon nanotubes. A Q-switched Nd:YAG laser working at a wavelength of 1064 or 532 nm, with a pulse width of 3 ns is used to characterize their optical limiting behaviour by fluence dependent transmittance measurements. Our experiments show that the properties of the hybrid materials, measured at both wavelengths, could be improved compared to plain multi walled carbon nanotubes.