Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
[Non-small cell lung cancer 95D cells co-cultured with 3D-bioprinted scaffold to construct a lung cancer model in vitro].

OBJECTIVE To fabricate an innovative scaffold for lung cancer cell culture and establish a three-dimensional lung cancer model in vitro, and to reveal the differences in biological functions of lung cancer cells under the two-dimensional and three-dimensional culture conditions. METHODS We chose agarose and alginate as the scaffold materials, and 3D printing technique was applied to construct cell culture scaffold. 95D cells were co-cultured with this scaffold. The differences of cell morphology, proliferation ability, protein expression, etc. in the cells cultured under 2D and 3D cultural conditions were evaluated by light microscopy using HE staining, MTT assay, scanning electron microscopy, and Western blot analysis. RESULTS Cells cultured in 2D wells displayed a spindle and polygonal morphology, whereas those grown in the 3D culture aggregated into spheroids, which invaded, migrated and disseminated into the surrounding scaffold. MTT assay showed that the proliferation rates of the 3D-cultured cells for 2-6 days were significantly lower than, but those cultured for 8-9 days were significantly higher than that of the 2D-cultured cells, indicating that proliferative activity of the cells grown in 2D cultures for 8-9 days was inhibited. In contrast, cells grown on 3D scaffolds still maintained a higher proliferation. The Western blot assay showed that the expression of Cdc42, p53, mTOR were significantly down-regulated in 3D scaffold-cultured group (0.529±0.103, 0.820±0.038 vs. 1.967±0.066), compared with that of the 2D-cultured group (3.063±0.139, 1.738±0.122 vs. 2.472±0.151) (P<0.05 for all), while the expression of MMP-2 was up-regulated in the 3D-cultured cells (1.110±0.029), significantly higher than that of the 2D-cultured cells (0.017±0.001) (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The cell morphology, proliferation and associated protein expression of lung cancer cells in 3D-culture systems are distinctively different as compared to those of the 2D-cultural cells. 3D-bioprinted agarose-alginate scaffold can better mimic the growth microenvironment of lung cancer in vivo and may provide a promising model for lung cancer research in vitro.
Western Medical Acupuncture: A Definition

Western medical acupuncture is a therapeutic modality involving the insertion of fine needles; it is an adaptation of Chinese acupuncture using current knowledge of anatomy, physiology and pathology, and the principles of evidence based medicine. While Western medical acupuncture has evolved from Chinese acupuncture, its practitioners no longer adhere to concepts such as Yin/Yang and circulation of qi, and regard acupuncture as part of conventional medicine rather than a complete “alternative medical system”. It acts mainly by stimulating the nervous system, and its known modes of action include local antidromic axon reflexes, segmental and extrasegmental neuromodulation, and other central nervous system effects. Western medical acupuncture is principally used by conventional healthcare practitioners, most commonly in primary care. It is mainly used to treat musculoskeletal pain, including myofascial trigger point pain. It is also effective for postoperative pain and nausea. Practitioners of Western medical acupuncture tend to pay less attention than classical acupuncturists to choosing one point over another, though they generally choose classical points as the best places to stimulate the nervous system. The design and interpretation of clinical studies is constrained by lack of knowledge of the appropriate dosage of acupuncture, and the likelihood that any form of needling used as a usual control procedure in “placebo controlled” studies may be active. Western medical acupuncture justifies an unbiased evaluation of its role in a modern health service.
Factors associated with changes in endothelin-1 gene expression in patients with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus

Purpose To (i) investigate expression of the endothelin-1 (ET-1) gene in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) and (ii) determine what correlations, if any, exist between expression of ET-1 in patients with type 2 DM and treatment, clinical features, and biochemical markers in diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods The study group included 58 patients with type 2 DM, subdivided into three subgroups: those without DR (n=19), those with nonproliferative DR (NPDR; n=28), and those with proliferative DR (PDR; n=11). The control group consisted of 60 individuals. In all groups the mRNA level of ET-1 was estimated using real-time quantitative reverse transcription PCR. Results The mRNA level of ET-1 in patients with NPDR was significantly higher than in those without DR. An increase in ET-1 expression was observed in patients with PDR as opposed to those without DR. Compared to controls, the mRNA level of ET-1 was significantly higher both in patients with NPDR and those with PDR. Duration of DM, insulin therapy, and serum creatinine levels were associated with increased mRNA level of ET-1, whereas medication with sulfonylurea or angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors had the opposite effect. Conclusions Expression of ET-1 in PBMCs may be associated with severity of DR in patients with type 2 DM. Long-standing clinical course of DR; medication with insulin, sulfonylurea, or ACE inhibitors; and serum creatinine levels are factors possibly associated with changes in ET-1 expression in PBMCs.
Processing of materials at cryogenic temperature and its implications in manufacturing: A review

ABSTRACT Processing of materials at cryogenic temperature has improved the properties of materials such as hardness, toughness, wear resistance, tensile strength, dimensional stability, corrosion resistance, etc. However, the extent of improvement in the properties of materials subjected to cryogenic treatment as claimed in the literature is diverse and sometimes contradictory to each other. Contradictions have also been reported regarding its various aspects like tempering prior and postcryogenic treatment, tempering temperature, aging before cryogenic treatment and cryogenic parameters like soaking temperature, soaking time, and cooling rate. There is need of investigating the cryogenic treatment in relation to pre and postheat treatment conditions. In this study, an attempt has been made to review the various research articles published in the literature on the subject matter extensively. Cryogenic processing of cutting tools and workpiece material has also emerged as a potential technique for improving the performance of cutting tools during metal cutting as well as for improving the machinability and weldability of workpiece materials. The implications of cryogenic treatment in the perspective of manufacturing have been revealed clearly through review of related studies. The various findings reported in the literature have been highlighted systematically and futuristic directions have been proposed to encourage research work in the area of cryogenic treatment.
Geodesics Guided Constrained Texture Deformation

We present a method that deforms an image plane to visually meet the shape and pose of a manifold surface. The user provides constraints that couple a small number of surface points with their corresponding image pixels to initially deform the plane. Matching, based on geodesic distances, couples additional points, followed by a second deformation that brings the image plane into its final pose and shape. The method works on any type of surface that supports geodesic distances evaluation. This includes not-triangulated and high genus models with arbitrary topology. The result is a smooth, visually pleasing and realistic textured surface that can be superimposed onto or used instead of the original model and with some limitations can be considered as a parameterization or remeshing method for the area of interest.
Extracellular apparent diffusion in rat brain

The apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) of a series of markers concentrated in the extracellular space of normal rat brain were measured to evaluate, by inference, the ADC of water in the extracellular space. The markers (mannitol, phenylphosphonate, and polyethylene glycols) are defined as “compartment selective” because tissue culture experiments demonstrate some leakage into the intracellular space, making them less “compartment specific” than commonly believed. These primarily extracellular markers have ADCs similar to those of intracellular metabolites of comparable hydrodynamic radius, suggesting that water ADC values in the intra‐ and extracellular spaces are similar. If this is the case, then it is unlikely that a net shift of water from the extra‐ to the intracellular space contributes significantly to the reduction in water ADC detected following brain injury. Rather, this reduction is more likely due primarily to a reduction of the ADC of intracellular water associated with injury. Magn Reson Med 45:801–810, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Wearable device adoption model with TAM and TTF

Wearable devices have received great highlights as next core products for global information technology companies. Since the wearable-device market is in its early phase, major factors influencing the adoption behaviour have not been completely identified. The goal of this study, therefore, is to investigate the important factors affecting usage behaviour of wearable devices. To achieve this, we applied an integrated model based on the technology acceptance model and the task-technology fit model. Along with task and technology characteristics, factors of wearable device, social influence and user characteristic were also considered. The survey was conducted with 342 participants, and the results were analysed by the partial least squares method using a two-phase procedure. The research model explained 50.3% of the behavioural intention variance and the 13 out of 15 hypotheses were statistically supported. We identified the explanatory power of the proposed model. Interestingly, users did not expect wearable devices to provide communication functions or become fashion items.
Humanizing π-Class Glutathione S-Transferase Regulation in a Mouse Model Alters Liver Toxicity in Response to Acetaminophen Overdose

Background Glutathione S-transferases (GSTs) metabolize drugs and xenobiotics. Yet despite high protein sequence homology, expression of π-class GSTs, the most abundant of the enzymes, varies significantly between species. In mouse liver, hepatocytes exhibit high mGstp expression, while in human liver, hepatocytes contain little or no hGSTP1 mRNA or hGSTP1 protein. π-class GSTs are known to be critical determinants of liver responses to drugs and toxins: when treated with high doses of acetaminophen, mGstp1/2+/+ mice suffer marked liver damage, while mGstp1/2−/− mice escape liver injury. Methodology/Principal Findings To more faithfully model the contribution of π-class GSTs to human liver toxicology, we introduced hGSTP1, with its exons, introns, and flanking sequences, into the germline of mice carrying disrupted mGstp genes. In the resultant hGSTP1+mGstp1/2−/− strain, π-class GSTs were regulated differently than in wild-type mice. In the liver, enzyme expression was restricted to bile duct cells, Kupffer cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells, reminiscent of human liver, while in the prostate, enzyme production was limited to basal epithelial cells, reminiscent of human prostate. The human patterns of hGSTP1 transgene regulation were accompanied by human patterns of DNA methylation, with bisulfite genomic sequencing revealing establishment of an unmethylated CpG island sequence encompassing the gene promoter. Unlike wild-type or mGstp1/2−/− mice, when hGSTP1+mGstp1/2−/− mice were overdosed with acetaminophen, liver tissues showed limited centrilobular necrosis, suggesting that π-class GSTs may be critical determinants of toxin-induced hepatocyte injury even when not expressed by hepatocytes. Conclusions By recapitulating human π-class GST expression, hGSTP1+mGstp1/2−/− mice may better model human drug and xenobiotic toxicology.
A PDA-Based ECG Beat Detector for Home Cardiac Care

Recent rapid growth in mobile computing technologies enables telemedicine applications to operate on mobile devices. Our focus is on the design of an integrated electrocardiogram (ECG) beat detector on a personal digital assistant (PDA) platform for the health screening process. The ECG beat detector module will be supported by the PDA version of personal health information management system (PHIMS) and facilitated accurate referral management system (FARMS) through wireless network infrastructure as a home-based mobile cardiac monitoring solution
Time-Varying Performance Analysis of Multihop Wireless Networks With CBR Traffic

In this paper, we develop a performance modeling technique for analyzing the time-varying network layer queuing behavior of multihop wireless networks with constant bit rate (CBR) traffic. Our approach is a hybrid of a time-varying adjacency matrix and a fluid flow queuing network model. The mobile network topology is modeled using a time-varying adjacency matrix, whereas node queues are modeled using fluid-flow-based differential equations that are solved using numerical methods. Numerical and simulation experiments show that this new approach can provide reasonably accurate results. Moreover, when compared with the computation time required in a standard discrete event simulator, the fluid-flow-based model is shown to be a more scalable tool. Finally, an illustrative example of our modeling technique application is given to show its capability of capturing the time-varying network performance as a function of traffic load, node mobility, and wireless link quality.
Robust Networked Control of Discrete Event Systems

In this paper, we investigate the robust control problem of discrete event systems in a networked environment. In other words, we use a supervisor to control several possible plants (discrete event systems) to achieve given specifications when there are communication delays and losses in communication networks linking the supervisor and the plants. We translate the robust networked control problem into a conventional networked control problem by constructing an augmented automaton for all possible plants and an augmented specification automaton for the corresponding specification automata. We then solve the robust networked control problem. We consider two cases. The first case is when all the specifications are the same. For this case, we derive a necessary and sufficient condition for the existence of a robust networked supervisor. The second case is when the specifications are different, which is more general compared with the first case. In the second case, we can only obtain a sufficient condition for the existence of a networked supervisor. The results are illustrated by an example of customized products filling line.
Spatial variations in wall thickness, material stiffness and initial shape affect wall stress and shape of intracranial aneurysms

Abstract Objective: Saccular aneurysm (sac-like ballooning) is the common form of aneurysm in cerebral arteries. Significant variations exist in the shape, wall thickness and material properties of saccular aneurysms. Aneurysms with irregular shapes are prone to rupture, but the underlying reason is poorly understood. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of spatial variations in wall thickness, material stiffness and initial shape on the shape and wall stress distribution in model aneurysms. Methods: The stress and deformation were determined using non-linear finite element analysis in aneurysm models. Results: Our results showed that local variations in wall thickness and material stiffness led to local stress concentrations and changes to aneurysm shape, and could cause 'bleb' and even a multilobular appearance to the aneurysms. Initial lesion shape also played a significant role in determining the shape of the aneurysms. Discussion: This study demonstrated that spatial variations in wall thickness and material stiffness lead to wall stress concentration in the aneurysm wall and affect the shape of the aneurysms. The stress concentration in the 'bleb' region and in the multilobular aneurysms may explain the observation that irregular shaped and multilobular shaped aneurysms are susceptible to bleeding and rupture.
Deterministic performance analysis of subspace methods for cisoid parameter estimation

Performance analyses of subspace algorithms for cisoid parameter estimation available in the literature are predominantly of statistical nature with a focus on asymptotic-either in the sample size or the SNR-statements. This paper presents a deterministic, finite sample size, and finite-SNR performance analysis of the ESPRIT algorithm and the matrix pencil method. Our results are based, inter alia, on a new upper bound on the condition number of Vandermonde matrices with nodes inside the unit disk. This bound is obtained through a generalization of Hilbert's inequality frequently used in large sieve theory.
Epstein-Barr Virus Associated Modulation of Wnt Pathway Is Not Dependent on Latent Membrane Protein-1

Previous studies have indicated that Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can modulate the Wnt pathway in virus-infected cells and this effect is mediated by EBV-encoded oncogene latent membrane protein 1 (LMP1). Here we have reassessed the role of LMP1 in regulating the expression of various mediators of the canonical Wnt cascade. Contradicting the previous finding, we found that the levels of E-cadherin, β-catenin, Glycogen Synthase Kinase 3ß (GSK3β), axin and α-catenin were not affected by the expression of LMP1 sequences from normal B cells or nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Moreover, we also show that LMP1 expression had no detectable effect on the E-cadherin and β-catenin interaction and did not induce transcriptional activation of β-catenin. Taken together these studies demonstrate that EBV-mediated activation of Wnt pathway is not dependent on the expression of LMP1.
` Starting School at a Disadvantage : The School Readiness of Poor Children

Poor children in the United States start school at a disadvantage in terms of their early skills, behaviors, and health. Fewer than half (48 percent) of poor children are ready for school at age five, compared to 75 percent of children from families with moderate and high income, a 27 percentage point gap. This paper examines the reasons why poor children are less ready for school and evaluates three interventions for improving their school readiness.
Integrated Broadband Microwave and Microfluidic Sensor Dedicated to Bioengineering

This paper presents an innovative high-frequency- based biosensor, which combines both microwave detection and microfluidic network for time-efficient and accurate biological analysis. It is composed of a coplanar waveguide with a microfluidic channel placed on top. With the help of an appropriate de-embedding technique and modeling of the measurements, the relative effective permittivity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells has been evaluated successfully. Furthermore, experiments have been performed with the sensor on various cell concentrations in suspension, which validates its use in bioengineering applications such as cell quantification and counting in solution. This sensor requires no direct contact or use of labels on the cells, contrary to other usual types of biosensors (optical, mechanical or dc/low-frequency-detection-based ones).
Mortality Rates Among Trichlorophenol Workers With Exposure to 2,3,7,8-Tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin

The authors examined 1,615 workers exposed to dioxins in trichlorophenol production in Midland, Michigan, to determine if there were increased mortality rates from exposure. Historical dioxin levels were estimated by a serum survey of workers. Vital status was followed from 1942 to 2003, and cause-specific death rates and trends with exposure were evaluated. All cancers combined (standardized mortality ratio (SMR) = 1.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.8, 1.1), lung cancers (SMR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.5, 0.9), and nonmalignant respiratory disease (SMR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6, 1.0) were at or below expected levels. Observed deaths for leukemia (SMR = 1.9, 95% CI: 1.0, 3.2), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (SMR = 1.3, 95% CI: 0.6, 2.5), diabetes (SMR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.6, 1.8), and ischemic heart disease (SMR = 1.1, 95% CI: 0.9, 1.2) were slightly greater than expected. No trend was observed with exposure for these causes of death. However, for 4 deaths of soft tissue sarcoma (SMR = 4.1, 95% CI: 1.1, 10.5), the mortality rates increased with exposure. The small number of deaths and the uncertainty in both diagnosis and nosology coding make interpretation of this finding tenuous. With the exception of soft tissue sarcoma, the authors found little evidence of increased disease risk from exposure to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin.
The reliability of psychiatric diagnosis in Israel's Psychiatric Case Register

ABSTRACT– To determine the reliability of psychiatric diagnoses in the Israel Psychiatric Case Register, DSM‐III criteria were applied to case record abstracts of first admissions to a large psychiatric hospital in Jerusalem. The DSM‐III diagnoses were compared with ICD‐8 recorde diagnoses. Between 40 and 50% of those originally diagnosed as schizophrenia were re‐diagnosed into less severe categories. The proportion diagnosed as affective disorder doubled from 21% for ICD‐8 diagnoses to 40% for DSM‐III diagnoses. The unreliability concerned the diagnoses of schizophrenia and affective disorder. Findings suggest that the introduction of standardized diagnostic criteria in Israel will lead to a substantial increase in the number of cases diagnosed as affective disorder, although difficulties involved in differentiating schizophrenia from the major affective disorders remain. The DSM‐III findings suggest a high prevalence of affective disorders among Jews.
Articular chondrocyte network mediated by gap junctions: role in metabolic cartilage homeostasis

Objective This study investigated whether chondrocytes within the cartilage matrix have the capacity to communicate through intercellular connections mediated by voltage-gated gap junction (GJ) channels. Methods Frozen cartilage samples were used for immunofluorescence and immunohistochemistry assays. Samples were embedded in cacodylate buffer before dehydration for scanning electron microscopy. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments and mass spectrometry (MS) were performed to identify proteins that interact with the C-terminal end of Cx43. GJ communication was studied through in situ electroporation, electrophysiology and dye injection experiments. A transwell layered culture system and MS were used to identify and quantify transferred amino acids. Results Microscopic images revealed the presence of multiple cellular projections connecting chondrocytes within the matrix. These projections were between 5 and 150 µm in length. MS data analysis indicated that the C-terminus of Cx43 interacts with several cytoskeletal proteins implicated in Cx trafficking and GJ assembly, including α-tubulin and β-tubulin, actin, and vinculin. Electrophysiology experiments demonstrated that 12-mer oligonucleotides could be transferred between chondrocytes within 12 min after injection. Glucose was homogeneously distributed within 22 and 35 min. No transfer was detected when glucose was electroporated into A549 cells, which have no GJs. Transwell layered culture systems coupled with MS analysis revealed connexins can mediate the transfer of L-lysine and L-arginine between chondrocytes. Conclusions This study reveals that intercellular connections between chondrocytes contain GJs that play a key role in cell–cell communication and a metabolic function by exchange of nutrients including glucose and essential amino acids. A three-dimensional cellular network mediated through GJs might mediate metabolic and physiological homeostasis to maintain cartilage tissue.