Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reduced expression of beta-catenin inhibitor Chibby in colon carcinoma cell lines.

AIM To analyse the Chibby expression and its function in colon carcinoma cell lines and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). METHODS Chibby expression levels were investigated by quantitative RT-PCR in a panel of seven different colon carcinoma cell lines. By sequencing, we analysed mutational status of Chibby. To test whether Chibby exhibited effects on beta-catenin signalling in colon carcinoma cells, we transfected SW480 cells with Chibby expression plasmid and, subsequently, analysed activity of beta-catenin and tested for alterations in cellular phenotype. In addition, we examined Chibby mRNA levels in samples of colorectal carcinomas and adjacent normal tissues by using quantitative RT-PCR and hybridised gene chips with samples from CRC and normal tissues. RESULTS Chibby mRNA expression was strongly down-regulated in colon carcinoma cell lines in comparison to normal colon epithelial cells and no mutation in any of the examined colon carcinoma cell lines was found. Further, we could show that Chibby inhibited beta-catenin activity in TOPflash assays when over-expressed in SW480 cells. Proliferation and invasion assays with Chibby transfected SW480 cells did not reveal profound differences compared to control cells. In contrast to these in vitro data, quantitative RT-PCR analyses of Chibby mRNA levels in CRC tumor samples did not show significant differences to specimens in adjacent non-cancerous tissue. Consistent with these findings, gene chips analysing tissue samples of tumors and corresponding normal tissue did not show altered Chibby expression. CONCLUSION Altered Chibby expression might be observed in vitro in different colon carcinoma cell lines. However, this finding could not be confirmed in vitro in CRC tumors, indicating that Chibby is not likely to promote CRC tumor development or progression. As Chibby is an important inhibitor of beta-catenin signalling, our data implicate that the usability of colon carcinoma cell lines for in vitro studies analysing the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway in colorectal carcinoma needs extensive verification.
Comparison of Regenerative and Reinnervating Capabilities of Different Functional Types of Nerve Fibers

Functional reinnervation of sweat glands (SGs), skin, and muscle in the mouse paw after sciatic nerve lesions was evaluated to allow comparisons of the regeneration efficiency of different functional types of nerve fibers. In four groups of mice the sciatic nerve was crushed, sectioned, and left unrepaired or repaired by suture or tubulization. Reappearance of SG secretion and pinprick responses occurred slightly earlier than recordings of compound muscle and nerve action potentials in all groups. The degree of reinnervation, with respect to preoperative control values, of SGs and skin nociceptors was higher than the amplitude of the action potentials, mainly when the nerve injury was severe. The chances for recovery progressively decreased with the severity of the lesion, affecting the larger nerve fibers most. These results indicate that, after injuries of peripheral nerves, all types of nerve fibers are able to regenerate in the mouse, although small size fibers (sudomotor and nociceptive) allow for a higher degree of functional recovery than large myelinated fibers (skeletomotor and sensory).
A New 30 GHz AMC/PRS RFID Reader Antenna with Circular Polarization

The work on this guideline focus on the development and the design of a circularly polarized metallic EBG antenna fed by two microstrip lines. In order to achieve that purpose, a list of indicative specifications has been established, namely, obtaining an antenna operating from 29.5 to 30 GHz, with a high gain value, an ellipticity rate less than 3 dB and a secondary lobes less than -12 dB which is designed for Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) readers operating in the millimeter band. The size of the patch is 17*17 mm2. Artificial materials, such as artificial magnetic conductor (AMC) and Partially Reflective Surface (PRS) were added as an upper layer to this antenna in order to expand its bandwidth for the RFID reader applications. The new antenna has -35 dB of insertion loss with an impedance bandwidth of 0.6 GHz and a gain of 12.4 dB at 30 GHz. Analysis of the proposed antenna was carried out based on the finite element method using two electromagnetics simulations software: CST-MW Studio® and ANSYS HFSS. The simulation results obtained are presented and discussed.
Low Complexity for Scalable Video Coding Extension of H.264 based on the Complexity of Video

Scalable Video Coding (SVC) / H.264 is one type of video compression techniques. Which provided more reality in dealing with video compression to provide an efficient video coding based on H.264/AVC. This ensures higher performance through high compression ratio. SVC/H.264 is a complexity technique whereas the takes considerable time for computation the best mode of macroblock and motion estimation through using the exhaustive search techniques. This work reducing the processing time through matching between the complexity of the video and the method of selection macroblock and motion estimation. The goal of this approach is reducing the encoding time and improving the quality of video stream the efficiency of the proposed approach makes it suitable for are many applications as video conference application and security application.
Histologically benign but telomerase positive adrenal pheochromocytoma

Adrenalectomy was performed on a 37‐year‐old woman with right adrenal pheochromocytoma. Although the histological diagnosis was benign, telomerase repeat amplification protocol (TRAP) demonstrated positive telomerase activity. Thirty‐five months after adrenalectomy, a recurrent tumor was found. Forty‐seven months after adrenalectomy, bone metastases also appeared. Malignant pheochromocytoma was clinically diagnosed. Our experience suggests that telomerase‐positive tumor cells are highly likely to repeat cell proliferation when they are left in the patient's body, and lead to recurrence. Therefore, telomerase‐positive tumors should be clinically treated as malignant even if they have been histologically diagnosed as benign.
Superficial Temporal Vessels as a Reserve Recipient Site for Microvascular Head and Neck Reconstruction in Vessel-Depleted Neck

Reconstructions for local recurrence and second primary oromucosal cancer remain a challenge because the recipient vessels are depleted in the neck. The objective of this study was to investigate the outcome of superficial temporal vessels, as reserve recipient vessels for microvascular surgery in vessel-depleted neck patients. Between March 2003 and August 2005, the superficial temporal vessels were used as a recipient site for microsurgical head and neck reconstruction in 15 patients with vessel-depleted necks. There was no flap loss in any of the reconstructions. One venous anastomosis was revised for thrombosis and flap salvaged. The superficial temporal vessels provide a good alternative for head and neck reconstruction in vessel-depleted neck patients with the advantages of radiation spared, constant anastomy, and suitable size. It obviates the need for long pedicle flaps or the use of vein grafts. Care must be taken not to damage or kink the vein.
Seedlayer and pre-heatfng effects on crystallography and recording performance of CoCrPtB perpendicular media

Summary form only given. Perpendicular magnetic recording (PMR) media has been considered as a promising candidate in order to achieve over 100 Gbir/in2 recording density. However, thermal stability at low recording densities has been a concern especially for low-noise PMR media. Achieving high perpendicular HC and unity squareness (SQ=Mr/Ms) is necessary to improve thermal stability and has been proposed by using either high substrate temperature or post annealing in CoCr based alloy. However, the influence of high heating on recording performance deserves further investigation. In this work, we studied on the seedlayer and heating effects on the crystallographic, magnetic and recording properties of CoCr18Pt16B4 granular PMR media. The CoCrPtB films were sputtered on preheated glass substrates with a Ru underlayer (UL) or a Ta/Ru UL on top of a 300-nm-thick NiFe17Mo4 soft magnetic underlayer. We report that Ta/Ru UL developed in this study greatly enhances Ru(0002)/Co(0002) crystallography, HC, SQ and thermal stability without degrading media signal-to-noise ratio (So/Nm).
Comparison of urinary bladder and ear biopsy samples for determining prevalence of Borrelia burgdorferi in rodents in central Europe

PCR was used to compare urinary bladder and ear biopsy samples from four European species of wild rodents for the presence of Borrelia burgdorferi sensu lato. From 60 paired comparisons of bladder and ear biopsy samples, the PCR results were concordantly positive or negative in 43 samples (71.7%). Of the 17 which differed, 14 bladder samples were positive and ear samples were negative while the converse occurred for three samples. Thus ear biopsy samples led to a significantly lower estimate of infection than bladder biopsy samples. This suggests that the use of ear biopsy samples in epidemiological studies of B. burgdorferi in Central European rodents is likely to lead to underestimates of the prevalence.
Predominance of Community-Associated Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Strains Carrying Staphylococcal Chromosome Cassette mec Type IVA in South Korea

ABSTRACT Studies on the molecular epidemiologic characteristics of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) strains have demonstrated their genetic and geographical diversity. In addition, it has been reported that there are genetic differences between community-associated (CA) and health care-associated (HA) MRSA strains. Therefore, we investigated the major epidemiologic characteristics of CA MRSA isolates in South Korea and compared them with those of HA MRSA strains. Distributions of staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) types and other molecular features, including the Panton-Valentine leukocidin (PVL) gene, were studied in 138 invasive MRSA isolates. Multiplex type IVA SCCmec was identified as the major CA MRSA infection type (53.1%), with a significantly higher prevalence than in HA MRSA (P < 0.001). One major group of type IVA strains carried a larger atypical class B mec element and new subtypes of ccrA2 (96% amino acid homology). The PVL gene was detected in one USA300-like isolate only. Seven major clone types determined by combinational grouping (genetic background SCCmec typing) showed representative patterns of antimicrobial susceptibilities. We concluded that less multi-drug-resistant strains of clone types B-I and D-1 (genetic background, B and D complexes; type IVA SCCmec) predominate in CA MRSA and that international PVL-positive strains have not spread in South Korea as yet.
A Multibiomarker-Based Outcome Risk Stratification Model for Adult Septic Shock*

Objectives:Clinical trials in septic shock continue to fail due, in part, to inequitable and sometimes unknown distribution of baseline mortality risk between study arms. Investigators advocate that interventional trials in septic shock require effective outcome risk stratification. We derived and tested a multibiomarker-based approach to estimate mortality risk in adults with septic shock. Design:Previous genome-wide expression studies identified 12 plasma proteins as candidates for biomarker-based risk stratification. The current analysis used banked plasma samples and clinical data from existing studies. Biomarkers were assayed in plasma samples obtained from 341 subjects with septic shock within 24 hours of admission to the ICU. Classification and regression tree analysis was used to generate a decision tree predicting 28-day mortality based on a combination of both biomarkers and clinical variables. The derived tree was first tested in an independent cohort of 331 subjects, then calibrated using all subjects (n = 672), and subsequently validated in another independent cohort (n = 209). Setting:Multiple ICUs in Canada, Finland, and the United States. Subjects:Eight hundred eighty-one adults with septic shock or severe sepsis. Intervention:None. Measurements and Main Results:The derived decision tree included five candidate biomarkers, admission lactate concentration, age, and chronic disease burden. In the derivation cohort, sensitivity for mortality was 94% (95% CI, 87–97), specificity was 56% (50–63), positive predictive value was 50% (43–57), and negative predictive value was 95% (89–98). Performance was comparable in the test cohort. The calibrated decision tree had the following test characteristics in the validation cohort: sensitivity 85% (76–92), specificity 60% (51–69), positive predictive value 61% (52–70), and negative predictive value 85% (75–91). Conclusions:We have derived, tested, calibrated, and validated a risk stratification tool and found that it reliably estimates the probability of mortality in adults with septic shock.
Molecular Adaptations to Psychostimulants in Striatal Neurons: Toward a Pathophysiology of Addiction

Addiction is a striking behavioral state marked by compulsive drug use and inability to control use despite serious negative consequences. There has been a great deal of progress in recent years at the behavioral, systems neurobiologic, and molecular levels which has led to the idea that addiction is a disorder produced in an epigenetically vulnerable brain by repetitive or chronic exposure to strongly reinforcing drugs (Hyman, 1996). While the precise steps involved in the progression from experimental or social drug use to addiction are not yet clear, the past decade has seen a great deal of progress on the neural pathways underlying addiction and the drug-induced adaptations in those pathways that might give rise to the addicted state (Hyman, 1996; Nestler, 1996; Self & Nestler, 1995). In this brief review we discuss one set of particularly well-characterized drug-induced molecular adaptations that may play a role in addiction— those occurring in the striatum in response to acute and chronic psychostimulant administration.
The design and clinical application of a new #5 French angioplasty catheter.

Although major technological advances have occurred in coronary artery angioplasty balloons and steerable wire systems, there have been surprisingly few advances in the development and designs for balloons in the peripheral circulation. For example, a #7 French shaft has become the standard for most peripheral as well as visceral angioplasty balloons. In most instances, the shaft is unnecessarily large and not only interferes with tractability over the conventional wire but in certain situations is also unnecessarily traumatic to the vascular intima as the catheter is passed to the angioplasty site. For these reasons a newly designed catheter with a shaft measuring 1.67 mm (#5 French) has been designed to incorporate a variety of dimensional balloons varying from 2 mm through 7 mm. In addition, the open end allows passage of a . 035 inch wire and consequently the balloon is ideally suited for applications from vessels as small as the tibial circulation or renal visceral or iliac circulation.
The electron microscopy and cytochemistry of oogenesis and the cytochemistry of embryonic development of the prosobranch gastropod Bembicium nanum L.

While some workers have studied cytochemical localizations during oogenesis in molluscs (e.g. Arvy, 1949, 1950; Bretschneider & Raven, 1951; Collier, 1960; Cowden, 1961; Pasteels & de Harven, 1963), others have examined the ultrastructure of the developing oocyte using the electron microscope (e.g. Rebhun, 1956 a, b , 1961; Worley & Hershenov, 1960; Pasteels & de Harven, 1963). This work has been reviewed by Brachet (1960) and Raven (1961). In the present study of Bembicium nanum , both technical procedures have been employed, in an attempt to examine nuclear and nucleolar structure and interrelationships, nucleocytoplasmic relationships and changes in cytoplasmic complexity during oogenesis and vitellogenesis. Cytochemical localizations and their changing patterns during the embryonic development of molluscs have also been investigated by a number of workers, especially for the embryos of Limnaea , Physa and Aplysia , and reviewed by Raven (1958) and Hess (1962).
The Perceived Fairness of Waitlist-management Techniques for Restaurants

According to a study of the fairness of four common, revenue-enhancing, waitlist-management techniques, restaurants can violate first-come, first-served expectations in seating waiting customers. However, any manipulations to the queue must be done carefully and with a full explanation. Faced with one of several scenarios in which a restaurant violated the first-come, first-served approach, respondents determined that matching waiting parties to available tables based on party size could be viewed as fair, as could allowing guests to call ahead to place their names on the waitlist. On the other hand, taking reservations for large parties drew mixed reviews, and seating VIPs ahead of all guests was generally viewed as unfair. In all cases, respondents thought explaining a policy improved fairness perceptions.
[Sleep problems among school age children in Chengdu].

OBJECTIVE To identify the sleep patterns and sleep problems in the children of school age in Chengdu. Methods In 2005, 2848 children of school age were randomly selected from five districts in Chengdu to participants in a questionnaire survey. The sleep behaviors of the participants and their determinants were investigated. RESULTS The sleeping time decreased with age (P<0.05). More than half of the participants (58.08%) had sleep disorders, which included enuresis (5.65%), sleeptalking (16.15%), sleepinquietude (34.34%), sleepwalking (2.84%), bruxism (22.86%), snoring (10.92%), sleep apnoea (0.77%), decompensation (3.12%), and nightmares (11.76%). The boys had greater prevalence of sleepwalking and snoring than the girls. There was a significant age difference for sleepinquietude and bruxism. The factors that had an impact on the sleep disorders included: after school classes, neuro-medication and foods, exciting activities, depressive moods of mothers or caregivers, and allergic reactions to medicines and foods. CONCLUSION Sleep deprivations and high prevalence of sleep disorders among the school age children in Chengdu need to be addressed.
HISTOCHEMICAL DEMONSTRATION OF PHOSPHORYLASE IN BRAIN TISSUE: ASSOCIATION OF POSTMORTAL NEURON CHANGES WITH PHOSPHORYLASE ACTIVITY

The preparation of brain tissue for the histochemical demonstration of phosphorylase induces postmortal cell changes, such as pycnomorphic, chromophilic neurons and swollen, vacuolated, chromatin depleted neurons. The inconsistent phosphorylase reaction in grey matter is associated with the following changes. A positive phosphorylase reaction is found in pycnomorphic, chromophilic neurons, whereas the swollen, homogenized neurons exhibit negative phosphorylase reaction of the cell body but sometimes a definite pericellular phosphorylase activity. Irregularities in the phosphorylase reaction in the grey matter are therefore related to postmortal cell changes and conclusions on the normal distribution of the enzyme should be drawn with extreme care. There is indication that a positive phosphorylase reaction might result from an adaptive cell change occurring during the treatment of the specimens in vitro.
Epibiotic Associates of Oceanic-Stage Loggerhead Turtles from the Southeastern North Atlantic

Acknowledgements We thank the biology students of the Federal University of Paraiba (Pablo Riul, Robson G. dos Santos, Andre S. dos Santos, Ana C. G. P. Falcao, Stenphenson Abrantes, MS Elaine Elloy), the marathon runner Jose A. Nobrega, and the journalist Germana Bronzeado for the volunteer field work; the Fauna department of IBAMA/PB and Jeremy and Diana Jeffers for kindly providing photos, and also Alice Grossman for providing the TAMAR protocols. The manuscript benefited from the comments of two referees.
Multimodal Medical Image Fusion in Non-Subsampled Contourlet Transform Domain

Multimodal medical image fusion is a powerful tool for diagnosing diseases in medical field. The main objective is to capture the relevant information from input images into a single output image, which plays an important role in clinical applications. In this paper, an image fusion technique for the fusion of multimodal medical images is proposed based on Non-Subsampled Contourlet Transform. The proposed technique uses the Non-Subsampled Contourlet Transform (NSCT) to decompose the images into lowpass and highpass subbands. The lowpass and highpass subbands are fused by using mean based and variance based fusion rules. The reconstructed image is obtained by taking Inverse Non-Subsampled Contourlet Transform (INSCT) on fused subbands. The experimental results on six pairs of medical images are compared in terms of entropy, mean, standard deviation, QAB/F as performance parameters. It reveals that the proposed image fusion technique outperforms the existing image fusion techniques in terms of quantitative and qualitative outcomes of the images. The percentage improvement in entropy is 0% - 40%, mean is 3% - 42%, standard deviation is 1% - 42%, QAB/Fis 0.4% - 48% in proposed method comparing to conventional methods for six pairs of medical images.
Effect of electrical stimulation and high potassium concentrations on the efflux of [14C] glycine from slices of spinal cord

1 The effects of electrical stimulation and solutions containing a high concentration of potassium on the efflux of [14C] glycine from slices of rat spinal cord have been studied. 2 Slices of cord were incubated with [14C] glycine which rapidly accumulated in the tissue. The slices were then superfused in a small chamber and the radioactivity released from the tissue was measured. After superfusion for 60 min, 98% of the radioactivity remaining in the tissue was present as unchanged glycine. 3 The spontaneous efflux of [14C] glycine consisted of an initial rapid phase followed by a much slower release of [14C] glycine. After superfusion for 60 min, more than 65% of the radioactivity taken up during the incubation period was retained by the tissue. 4 When the slices were depolarized by electrical stimulation or by solutions containing a high concentration of potassium (40 mm), a striking increase in the efflux of [14C] glycine was produced. This effect was not reduced by the absence of calcium ions in the superfusion medium. 5 Electrical stimulation produced similar increases in the efflux of [3H] GABA and [14C] glutamate from slices of cord but had no significant effects on the efflux of [3H] alanine or [14C] urea. 6 The results are consistent with the suggestion that glycine may be an inhibitory synaptic transmitter substance in the mammalian spinal cord.