Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Bmc Cancer

Electric pulses used in electrochemotherapy and electrogene therapy do not significantly change the expression profile of genes involved in the development of cancer in malignant melanoma cells Abstract Background: Electroporation is a versatile method for in vitro or in vivo delivery of different molecules into cells. However, no study so far has analysed the effects of electric pulses used in electrochemotherapy (ECT pulses) or electric pulses used in electrogene therapy (EGT pulses) on malignant cells. We studied the effect of ECT and EGT pulses on human malignant melanoma cells in vitro in order to understand and predict the possible effect of electric pulses on gene expression and their possible effect on cell behaviour.
Prepare for conflict: EEG correlates of the anticipation of target competition during overt and covert shifts of visual attention

When preparing to make a saccadic eye movement in a cued direction, perception of stimuli at the target location is enhanced, just as it is when attention is covertly deployed there. Accordingly, the timing and anatomical sources of preparatory brain activity accompanying shifts of covert attention and saccade preparation tend to exhibit a large degree of overlap. However, there is evidence that preparatory processes are modulated by the foreknowledge of visual distractor competition during covert attention, and it is unknown whether eye movement preparation undergoes equivalent modulation. Here we examine preparatory processes in the electroencephalogram of human participants during four blocked versions of a spatial cueing task, requiring either covert detection or saccade execution, and either containing a distractor or not. As in previous work, a typical pattern of spatially selective occipital, parietal and frontal activity was seen in all task versions. However, whereas distractor presence called on an enhancement of spatially selective visual cortical modulation during covert attention, it instead called on increased activity over frontomedial oculomotor areas in the case of overt saccade preparation. We conclude that, although advance orienting signals may be similar in character during overt and covert conditions, the pattern by which these signals are modulated to ameliorate the behavioral costs of distractor competition is highly distinct, pointing to a degree of separability between the overt and covert systems.
The state of point-of-care testing: a european perspective

Abstract Point-of-care testing (POCT) refers to any diagnostic test administered outside the central laboratory at or near the location of the patient. By performing the sample collection and data analysis steps in the same location POCT cuts down on transport and processing delays, resulting in the rapid feedback of test results to medical decision-makers. Over the past decades the availability and use of POCT have steadily increased in Europe and throughout the international community. However, concerns about overall utility and the reliability of benefits to patient care have impeded the growth of POCT in some areas. While there is no agreed-upon standard for how success should be judged, the increases in speed and mobility provided by POCT can lead to substantial advantages over traditional laboratory testing. When properly utilized, POCT has been shown to yield measurable improvements in patient care, workflow efficiency, and even provide significant financial benefits. However, important organizational and quality assurance challenges must be addressed with the implementation of POCT in any health care environment. To ensure maximal benefits it may be necessary to evaluate critically and restructure existing clinical pathways to capitalize better on the rapid test turnaround times provided by POCT.
The impact of knowledge governance on knowledge sharing

Purpose – Knowledge governance is an organizational mechanism that formally and informally defines how the firm manages the activities related knowledge, thus it plays a significant influence on knowledge sharing. The purpose of this study is to analyze the impact of knowledge governance, including formal and informal knowledge governance, on knowledge sharing. Then the paper examines the mediating role of the guanxi effect on knowledge governance and knowledge sharing.Design/methodology/approach – Based upon this research, the authors chose to use the logical deductive approach for their hypotheses and analytical frameworks. Questionnaires and interviews were used to collect data from 339 employees in 39 Chinese strategic emerging firms. Finally, regression analysis and structure equation models (SPSS and AMOS) were used for data analysis and hypotheses testing.Findings – This study points to the impact that knowledge governance has on knowledge sharing based on the mediation of the guanxi effect in Chin.
Effect of oral administration of Bacillus coagulans B37 and Bacillus pumilus B9 strains on fecal coliforms, Lactobacillus and Bacillus spp. in rat animal model

Aim: To investigate the effect of oral administration of two Bacillus strains on fecal coliforms, Lactobacillus and Bacillus spp. in rat animal model. Materials and Methods: An in vivo experiment was conducted for 49-day period on 36 adult male albino Wister rats divided equally into to four groups. After 7-day adaptation period, one group (T1) was fed on sterile skim milk along with basal diet for the next 28 days. Second (T2) and (T3) groups received spore biomass of Bacillus coagulans B37 and Bacillus pumilus B9, respectively, suspended in sterilized skim milk at 8-9 log colony-forming units/ml plus basal diet for 28 days, while control group (T4) was supplied with clean water along with basal diet. There was a 14-day post-treatment period. A total of 288 fecal samples (8 fecal collections per rat) were collected at every 7-day interval starting from 0 to 49 days and subjected to the enumeration of the counts of coliforms and lactobacilli and Bacillus spores using respective agar media. In vitro acid and bile tolerance tests on both the strains were performed. Results: The rats those (T2 and T3) received either B. coagulans B37 or B. pumilus B9 spore along with non-fermented skim milk showed decrease (p<0.01) in fecal coliform counts and increase (p<0.05) in both fecal lactobacilli and Bacillus spore counts as compared to the control group (T4) and the group fed only skim milk (T1). In vitro study indicated that both the strains were found to survive at pH 2.0 and 3.0 even up to 3 h and tolerate bile up to 2.0% concentration even after 12 h of exposure. Conclusions: This study revealed that oral administration of either B. coagulans B37 or B. pumilus B9 strains might be useful in reducing coliform counts accompanied by concurrent increase in lactobacilli counts in the intestinal flora in rats.
Chimpanzees Show a Developmental Increase in Susceptibility to Contagious Yawning: A Test of the Effect of Ontogeny and Emotional Closeness on Yawn Contagion

Contagious yawning has been reported for humans, dogs and several non-human primate species, and associated with empathy in humans and other primates. Still, the function, development and underlying mechanisms of contagious yawning remain unclear. Humans and dogs show a developmental increase in susceptibility to yawn contagion, with children showing an increase around the age of four, when also empathy-related behaviours and accurate identification of others’ emotions begin to clearly evince. Explicit tests of yawn contagion in non-human apes have only involved adult individuals and examined the existence of conspecific yawn contagion. Here we report the first study of heterospecific contagious yawning in primates, and the ontogeny of susceptibility thereto in chimpanzees, Pan troglodytes verus. We examined whether emotional closeness, defined as attachment history with the yawning model, affected the strength of contagion, and compared the contagiousness of yawning to nose-wiping. Thirty-three orphaned chimpanzees observed an unfamiliar and familiar human (their surrogate human mother) yawn, gape and nose-wipe. Yawning, but not nose-wiping, was contagious for juvenile chimpanzees, while infants were immune to contagion. Like humans and dogs, chimpanzees are subject to a developmental trend in susceptibility to contagious yawning, and respond to heterospecific yawn stimuli. Emotional closeness with the model did not affect contagion. The familiarity-biased social modulatory effect on yawn contagion previously found among some adult primates, seem to only emerge later in development, or be limited to interactions with conspecifics. The influence of the ‘chameleon effect’, targeted vs. generalised empathy, perspective-taking and visual attention on contagious yawning is discussed.
Using vector quantization in Automatic Speaker Verification

This article investigates several technique based on vector quantization (VQ) and maximum a posteriori adaptation (MAP) in Automatic Speaker Verification ASV. We propose to create multiple codebooks of Universal Background Model UBM by Vector Quantization and compare them with traditional approach in VQ, MAP adaptation and Gaussian Mixture Models.
Testing the quantity theory of money in Greece

This paper investigates whether the Greek data actually support the monetarist hypotheses as argued by Karfakis. The results based on both ARDL and Johansen procedures consistently suggest that money and nominal income (prices) are endogenous for the parameters of the long-run evolution of velocity (real money balances). Thus, the basic postulation of monetarism, the exogeneity of money, appears not to be supported by the Greek data.
A partial validation of the WHOQOL-OLD in a sample of older people in South Africa

Background This paper describes the psychometric properties of the WHOQOL-OLD, an add-on module to the World Health Organization's Quality of Life measure for older people in a South African sample. The WHOQOL-OLD module was further condensed into three short versions which contain the best items of the original module. The psychometric properties associated with the three short versions of the WHOQOL-OLD are also described. Method Data were collected from Afrikaans-speaking older people (n=176) residing in long-term care facilities in Potchefstroom, situated in the North-West province of South Africa. The mean age of participants was 77 years (SD=8.1). Fifty participants were males and 126 were females. All reported average-to-good health and cognitive ability. Results The current study found encouraging results related to the original factor structure of the WHOQOL-OLD as well as the three short versions of this instrument. Results stemming from the data of the current sample seem to be a good fit with the original factor structure of the WHOQOL-OLD. The reliabilities associated with the various sub-dimensions point to a reliable instrument. Conclusions The WHOQOL-OLD with its 24 items or any of the three short versions of this instrument can, therefore, be utilised in a South African context (Version 3 of the short versions seems to be the better fitting version).
Effect of melatonin on jet lag after long haul flights.

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether doses of the pineal hormone melatonin alleviate jet lag. DESIGN: Double blind, placebo controlled crossover trial. SETTING: Long haul return flights from Auckland, New Zealand, to London and back. SUBJECTS: Twenty volunteers with experience of transcontinental flights (eight women and 12 men aged 28 to 68). INTERVENTIONS: Melatonin (or placebo) 5 mg three days before flight, during flight, and once a day for three days after arrival. END POINT: Symptoms of jet lag. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Visual analogue scale for feelings of jet lag and tiredness; profile of moods states questionnaire for vigour-activity and fatigue-inertia; and retrospective ratings 10 days after arrival of sleep pattern, energy, and daytime tiredness. Feelings of jet lag were less for subjects taking melatonin (mean score 2.15 v 3.4); these subjects took fewer days than the placebo group to establish a normal sleep pattern (2.85 v 4.15), to not feel tired during the day (3.0 v 4.6), and to reach normal energy levels (3.25 v 4.7). Results for fatigue-inertia and vigour-activity were similar. For all subjects jet lag was more severe on the return (westward) than the outward (eastward) journey. CONCLUSIONS: Melatonin can alleviate jet lag and tiredness after long haul flights.
DYNAMICAL SIMULATIONS OF A PHASE WINDOW MODEL OF RELATIVE TIMING

We explore the hypothesis that intergestural phasing relations are implemented via coupling terms in a nonlinear dynamical systems model. We extend the dynamical model of relative phasing to include the possibility of attractor states that are characterized by phase windows, and contrast this behavior with standard models that display punctate relative phasing.
Thalamic innervation of striatal and subthalamic neurons projecting to the rat entopeduncular nucleus

The present study analyses the anatomical arrangement of the projections linking the Wistar rat parafascicular thalamic nucleus (PF) and basal ganglia structures, such as the striatum and the subthalamic nucleus (STN), by using neuroanatomical tract‐tracing techniques. Both the thalamostriatal and the striato‐entopeduncular projections were topographically organized, and several areas of overlap between identified circuits were noticed, sustaining the existence of up to three separated channels within the Nauta–Mehler loop. Thalamic afferents arising from dorsolateral PF territories are in register with striatofugal neurons located in dorsolateral striatal areas, which in turn project to dorsolateral regions of the entopeduncular nucleus (ENT). Medial ENT regions are innervated by striatal neurons located within medial striatal territories, these neurons being the target for thalamic afferents coming from medial PF areas. Finally, afferents from neurons located in ventrolateral PF areas approached striatal neurons in ventral and lateral striatal territories, which in turn project towards ventral and lateral ENT regions. Efferent STN neurons projecting to ENT were found to be the apparent postsynaptic target for thalamo‐subthalamic axons. The thalamo‐subthalamic projection was also topographically organized. Medial, central and lateral STN territories are innervated by thalamic neurons located within medial, ventrolateral and dorsolateral PF areas, respectively. Thus, each individual PF subregion projects in a segregated fashion to specific parts of the striato‐entopeduncular and subthalamo‐entopeduncular systems. These circuits enabled the caudal intralaminar nuclei to modulate basal ganglia output.
Molecular Typing of Protease-Resistant Prion Protein in Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies of Small Ruminants, France, 2002–2009

The agent that causes bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) may be infecting small ruminants, which could have serious implications for human health. To distinguish BSE from scrapie and to examine the molecular characteristics of the protease-resistant prion protein (PrPres), we used a specifically designed Western blot method to test isolates from 648 sheep and 53 goats. During 2002–2009, classical non-Nor98 transmissible spongiform encephalopathy had been confirmed among ≈1.7 million small ruminants in France. Five sheep and 2 goats that showed a PrPres pattern consistent with BSE, or with the CH1641 experimental scrapie source, were identified. Later, bioassays confirmed infection by the BSE agent in 1 of the 2 goats. Western blot testing of the 6 other isolates showed an additional C-terminally cleaved PrPres product, with an unglycosylated band at ≈14 kDa, similar to that found in the CH1641 experimental scrapie isolate and different from the BSE isolate.
Collateral flow and restenosis : appreciating hydraulics and outcomes of percutaneous coronary intervention

methods (balloons with jets, leaks or even needles, coated stents, etc.) are too rough for the tiny endothelial and subendothelial tissues. Despite reports about the feasibility and safety of different local drug delivery devices, their clinical effectiveness has yet to be proved. Increased risk of arterial thrombosis after local delivery of some drugs is one major issue, but probably the most important limitation is the greater extent of tissue injury by local drug delivery devices. This additional injury may stimulate more neointimal hyperplasia and thus counterbalance the potential benefit of locally delivered drug. The fight against restenosis is a 20-year viscious circle. Up to now, local intracoronary drug delivery seems not to have broken this circle. New, entirely different approaches — intrapericardial drug delivery, radioactive stents and intracoronary radiation therapy may help break this circle in near future. P. WIDIMSKYu Cardiocenter University Hospital Vinohrady, Prague, Czech Republic
The value of sensing for TV White Spaces

The main challenge to allow for use of the so-called TV White Spaces is to achieve a reliable approach for detecting presence of licensed users ensuring that harmful interference to television signals and other incumbent services does not occur. In the current debate, there is a trend towards the use of a geo-location database only, driven by the fear that other techniques fail to achieve the required detection reliability. Therefore, in this paper we intend to assess if the technical and business value of sensing in the context of TVWS should be neglected. Taking in consideration the discussion on the adequate technical requirements currently taking place in Europe and the USA, the cost and performance of the proposed techniques for local sensing, distributed sensing and geo-location database are compared through a simple model. As a result, we conclude that using a distributed sensing solution based on low-cost low-power sensing engines, we could achieve a solution with hardware and energy costs a par with the geo-location database. However, by assessing the costs and business impacts for stakeholders such as manufacturers and White Spaces Service Providers we conclude that in the geo-location database solution, regulators, White Spaces Service Providers, White Spaces Database Providers and consumers may incur additional infrastructure, maintenance and administrative costs compared to a distributed sensing solution. Consequently, we are of the opinion that the distributed sensing solution in the context of TVWS does indeed present value and its business and technical impact should be considered in further research and regulatory activities.
Wireless power and data transmission with ASK demodulator and power regulator for a biomedical implantable SOC

Bio-medical implantable devices have appeared for more than fifty years. With more understandings of neuroscience, some diseases caused by neural abnormal discharge or disable may be cured or improved by neural stimulation techniques. Most of the wireless implantable devices transmit power and data into the no-battery implantable device by magnetic coupling. This paper presents an efficient power and data transmission, including LDO power regulator and ASK demodulator for biomedical implantable devices. The modulation index and rate are relative to power transmission efficiency. Results show that with a 2MHz carrier, the proposed ASK demodulator structure has a maximum modulation index up to 2.86% and a 50 % maximum modulation rate. The modulation index is also tunable for different applications. The power regulator provides a stable 1.8V for the ASK demodulation. This design uses TSMC 0.18um 1P6M CMOS technology.
The Association of High Risk Human Papillomaviruses in Patients With Cervical Cancer: An Evidence Based Study on Patients With Squamous Cell Dysplasia or Carcinoma for Evaluation of 23 Human Papilloma Virus Genotypes

Background Cervical cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in females. Human papilloma virus (HPV) is the major risk factor of cervical cancer. Objectives The aim of the current study was to explore the frequency and role of 23 different HPVs in patients with cervical cancer. Materials and Methods Overall, 117 formalin-fix and paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from cervical cancer patients with squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) or dysplasia were collected from Mirza-Kochakkhan-Jangali hospital, Tehran, Iran during year 2013, to investigate the presence of HPV- HPV- 67, 68, 6, 11, 13, 16, 17, 30, 69, 39, 40, 42, 64, 66 and 51 to 59 genotypes. Results The Pap smear report illustrated the presence of malignancy in 71 cases, while 11 cases had no evidence of malignancy. Among the patients, 26 cases had sexually transmitted disease with relative frequency of 0.58. Infection with papilloma virus was observed in 83.6% of SCC patients and 45% of the dysplasia group. The most prevalent HPV genotypes were 18 with 31.62% and 16 with 27.35% of cases. Moreover the relative frequencies of HPV-33, -6, -58, -52, -35 and -51, genotypes were 15.38, 7.69, 5.98, 5.12 and 3.41%, respectively. Among the different genotypes of HPV, 31 had the lowest and 16 had the highest relative frequency. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that HPV-16 and -18 have a higher prevalence in our population than 31 and 51. Further investigations are required to evaluate the role of these genotypes in a larger multicenter setting for establishing their values for early detection of patients, which is useful for screening and vaccination programs of cancerous and precancerous lesions of cervical cancer.
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis: clinical relevance of pathologic classification.

Background Pathologic Classification of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis UIP DIP/Respiratory Bronchiolitis Interstitial Lung Disease (RBILD) AIP NSIP Clinical Features of the Idiopathic Interstitial Pneumonias UIP DIP/RBILD AIP N SIP Grading of “Cellularity” and Fibrosis Relationship of UIP and DIP Relationship of AIP and UIP Significance of NSIP—A Specific Disease or a Histologic Manifestation of Many Diseases? Summary and Conclusions
Neural network based identification of hand movements using biomedical signals

This paper proposes a methodology that analysis and classifies the EMG and MMG signals using a linear neural network to control prosthetic members. Finger motions discrimination is the key problem in this study. Thus the emphasis is put on myoelectric signal processing approaches in this paper. The EMG and MMG signals classification system was established using a linear neural network and it is presented the comparison with the classification based on the LVQ neural network. Experimental results show a promising performance in classification of motions based on both MMG and EMG signals.
Process Edification for Traceability in Evolving Architectures

Evolutionary development in an architecture-centric process involves architectural follow-ups from decision making. The architectural impact of decision-based informatics makes its systematic elicitation necessary in a model-driven traceable process. The paper proposes a systematic way called Process Edification for the elicitation of decision-based informatics during modification and/or composition of business processes. The decision alternatives become edifiers, which can be plugged into a business process as per the architectural needs of evolution. A case study of process edification is presented concerning decisions driven by non-functional requirements. Edification results in making decision-based informatics evident through traceable models and the specifications generated thereafter. The technique is illustrated in the context of BPMN-based process architecture.