Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Induction and Modulation of Lung Tumors: Genomic and Transcriptional Alterations in Cigarette Smoke-exposed Mice

Cigarette smoke plays a major role in the epidemiology of lung cancer, and smoke components have extensively been investigated in carcinogenicity and chemoprevention studies in experimental animals. However, it is much more difficult to reproduce the tumorigenicity of the whole complex mixture in preclinical models. The authors review here some results obtained in their laboratories, dealing with the induction of lung tumors, and genomic and transcriptional alterations in smoke-exposed mice. The authors were successful in inducing lung tumors in 4 strains of mice exposed whole-body to environmental cigarette smoke, including Swiss albino, A/J, SKH-1 hairless, and p53 mutant (UL53-3×A/J)F1 mice. However, the tumorigenic response was rather weak in all strains. Much more intense were the smoke-induced alterations of a variety of intermediate biomarkers, such as cytogenetic end points in pulmonary alveolar macrophages, bone marrow, and peripheral blood erythrocytes; apoptosis, p53 oncoprotein, and proliferating cell nuclear antigen in the bronchial epithelium; bulky DNA adducts, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine; multigene expression; and thiobarbituric acid–reactive aldehydes in whole lung and several other organs. Smoke-induced genomic and transcriptional alterations were suitable for evaluating their modulation by chemopreventive agents, as shown in studies using the thiol N-acetylcysteine and the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug sulindac.
Fresh and nonfibrillar amyloid β protein(1–40) induces rapid cellular degeneration in aged human fibroblasts: evidence for AβP‐channel‐mediated cellular toxicity

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is primarily nonfamilial or sporadic (SAD) in origin, although several genetic linkages are reported. Tissues from AD patients contain fibrillar plaques made of 39 to 43 amino acid‐long amyloid beta peptide (AβP), although the mechanisms of AβP toxicity are poorly understood. AβP1–40 is the most prevalent AβP present in the neuronal and non‐neuronal tissues from SAD patients. AβP1–40 toxicity has been examined mainly after prolonged incubation and correlates with the age and fibrillar morphology of AβP1–40. Globular and nonfibrillar AβPs are released continually during normal cellular metabolism; they elevate cellular Ca2+ and form cation‐permeable channels. However, their role in cellular toxicity is poorly understood. We have used an integrated atomic force and light fluorescence microscopy (AFM‐LFM), laser confocal microscopy, and calcium imaging to examine real‐time and acute effect of fresh and globular AβP1–40 on cultured, aged human, AD‐free fibroblasts. AFM images show that freshly prepared AβP1–40 in phosphate‐buffered saline (PBS) are globular and do not form fiber for an extended time period. AβP1–40 induced rapid structural modifications, including cytoskeletal reorganization, retraction of cellular processes, and loss of cell‐cell contacts, within minutes of incubation. This led to eventual cellular degeneration. AβP1–40‐induced degeneration was prevented by anti‐AβP antibody, zinc, and Tris, but not by tachykinin neuropeptides. In Ca2+‐free extracellular medium, AβP1–40 did not induce cellular degeneration. In the presence of extracellular Ca2+, AβP1–40 induced a sustained increase in the cellular Ca2+. Thus, short‐term and acute AβP1–40 toxicity is mediated by Ca2+ uptake, most likely via calcium‐permeable AβP pores. Such rapid degeneration does not require fibrillar plaques, suggesting that the plaques may not have any causative role. —Zhu, Y. J., Lin, H. , Lal, R. Fresh and nonfibrillar amyloid β protein(1–40) induces rapid cellular degeneration in aged human fibroblasts: evidence for AβP‐channel‐mediated cellular toxicity. FASEB J. 14, 1244–1254 (2000)
Parental Behaviors in Profoundly Retarded Subjects

The behavior of 13 male and 16 female profoundly retarded adults (18 to 30 yr. old) in response to the visual stimulus of a human infant was observed. Little support was obtained for the ethologically based hypothesis that the infant as a sign-stimulus would release parental (i.e., approach) behavior. However, significantly more active-approach behavior was observed in female than male Ss.
A Ridge-Loaded Sine Waveguide for $G$ -Band Traveling-Wave Tube

A novel slow-wave structure (SWS), named ridge-loaded sine waveguide (RLSWG), has been proposed to develop the wideband high-power terahertz traveling-wave tube (TWT). The slow-wave characteristics of the RLSWG SWS, including dispersion properties and interaction impedance, are analyzed by using the 3-D electromagnetic simulation software Ansoft high frequency structure simulator (HFSS). From our calculation, the average interaction impedance of the RLSWG SWS at 0.22 THz is 42.2% higher than the conventional SWG SWS. Meanwhile, the simulation results demonstrate that the RLSWG SWS possesses low ohmic losses and reflection. Moreover, the particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation results reveal that, with the cylindrical electron beam of 20.9 kV and 45 mA, the output power and electron efficiency of the RLSWG TWT at the typical frequency of 0.22 THz can reach 52.1 W and 5.54%, respectively. In addition, the 3-dB bandwidth of the RLSWG TWT exceeds 25 GHz. Compared with the SWG TWT, the RLSWG TWT has the shorter tube length and can generate the larger output power.
Ontology-based Virtual Data Integration for E-Science Girds

For scientific collaboration, sharing data between different parties is fundamental. Grids, originally developed for high-performance and parallel computing, enable the sharing of distributed resources across institutional boundaries by providing a security infrastructure and standardized Grid-services. Because data is usually stored in different information systems and schemes, at the moment they have to be prepared and manually aligned to a common schema. Knowledge about data structures and semantics is a precondition to be able to integrate data sources. To enable virtual integration, several concepts have been proposed in the field of distributed and federated database systems. For the integration of heterogeneous information systems, the mediator-wrapper architecture can be used. In order to fulfill the requirements of a Grid-based data integration middleware for distributed, heterogeneous data sources, several concepts introduced in the Semantic Web community have been considered. The Resource Description Framework (RDF) is well suited for global schema management. It is simple, supports modularization of commonly used semantics by the ontology layer, and allows for reasoning. A standardized query language (SPARQL) is currently being developed.
Dietary fat and postmenopausal breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Although the results of animal studies and cross-cultural comparisons generally support a role for dietary fat in the etiology of breast cancer, results of analytic epidemiology studies are equivocal. PURPOSE The association between dietary fat and subsequent breast cancer was examined in a cohort of 34,388 postmenopausal women from Iowa. METHODS Dietary habits were assessed by a food-frequency questionnaire mailed in January 1986. Through December 31, 1989, 459 incident cases of breast cancer occurred in this cohort. Proportional hazards regression was used to examine the dietary fat-breast cancer association while adjusting for potential confounders. The effects on this association of four analytic approaches to adjustment for energy intake were also considered. RESULTS After adjustment for known determinants of breast cancer, a modest positive association of total fat intake with risk of breast cancer was seen. Polyunsaturated fat intake was also positively associated with breast cancer (relative risk from lowest to highest intake, 1.0, 1.25, 1.31, and 1.49; P for trend = .052). Different approaches to adjustment for energy intake, however, provided different impressions of the dietary fat-breast cancer association. One method, involving categorization of crude fat intake and inclusion of total energy intake in regression analysis, gave relative risk estimates from low to high fat intake of 1.0, 1.17, 1.25, and 1.38 (P for trend = .18). Another method, based on categorization of fat intake residuals in which the variation in fat due to total energy intake was removed, gave corresponding estimates of 1.0, 1.24, 1.30, and 1.16 (P for trend = .29). The former suggests increasing breast cancer risk with increasing fat intake; the latter suggests no association. CONCLUSIONS These results are consistent with other cohort studies that have shown a weak association or no association between dietary fat and breast cancer. They are also consistent with studies suggesting that fat intake is a determinant of breast cancer, particularly after accounting for inaccuracies in dietary assessment. The effects of different energy-adjustment methods may account in part for the varying interpretations of four previous cohort studies of dietary fat and breast cancer. IMPLICATIONS Further work is needed to clarify not only the nature of the dietary fat-breast cancer association, but also the impact of different analytic methods used in the investigation of diet-disease associations.
Organochlorines and Breast Cancer Risk

Organochlorines are a diverse group of synthetic chemicals that include polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), dioxins, and organochlorine pesticides such as dichlorodiphenyl‐trichloroethane (DDT), lindane, and hexachlorobenzene. Although use of DDT and PCBs has been banned in the United States since the 1970s, some organochlorine compounds have accumulated and persisted within the environment. As a result, measurable amounts can still be found in human tissue. Because some organochlorine compounds act as estrogen agonists or antagonists within in vitro and experimental animal systems, a possible association of breast cancer risk with organochlorine exposure has been hypothesized and investigated. Although a few studies support this hypothesis, the vast majority of epidemiological studies do not. While some of these compounds may have other adverse environmental or health effects, organochlorine exposure is not believed to be causally related to breast cancer. Women concerned about possible organochlorine exposure can be reassured that available evidence does not suggest an association between these chemicals and breast cancer.
Regulation of adipocyte differentiation

Once multipotent mesechymal cells become committed to the adipoblast lineage, adipogenesis, the process of preadipocytes differentiation into adipocytes is initiated. This process starts with a phase of exponential growth of adipoblasts. Following confluence of these adipoblasts, the cells enter into a cell cycle arrest, they re-enter the cell cycle and pass through a limited number of cell divisions, and finally differentiate into fully mature adipocytes. Adipogenesis is controlled by a complex cross-talk between positive and negative regulators, such as hormonal and nutritional stimuli, that change the activity of a selected set of transcription factors. Regulation of adipogenesis is crucial to keep the body energy balance because a limited amount of adipose tissue, lipodystrophy, or an excess of adipose tissue, such as occurs in obesity, lead to profound metabolic dysfunctions and disease.
Low power architectures using localised non-volatile memory and selective power shut-down

A method and associated circuit and architectural implementations to reduce the power dissipation for the digital part of a system-on-a-chip (SOC) while maintaining the overall system performances (such as speed) unaffected are described. An alternative application is to provide fast recovery from a power shut-down event up to the level of instruction (or clock cycle) execution
Induction With Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine Plus Efavirenz for 48 Weeks Followed by 48-Week Maintenance With Abacavir/Lamivudine/Zidovudine Alone in Antiretroviral-Naive HIV-1-Infected Patients

Background:The ESS40013 study tested 4-drug induction followed by 3-drug maintenance as initial antiretroviral therapy (ART) to reduce HIV RNA rapidly and then to simplify to an effective yet more convenient and tolerable regimen. Methods:Four hundred forty-eight antiretroviral-naive adults were treated with abacavir/lamivudine/zidovudine (ABC/3TC/ZDV) and efavirenz (EFV) for the 48-week induction phase. Two hundred eighty-two patients were randomized in a 1:1 ratio to continue ABC/3TC/ZDV + EFV or to simplify to ABC/3TC/ZDV for the 48-week maintenance phase. Results:The baseline median HIV RNA level and CD4 cell count were 5.08 log10 copies/mL (56% ≥100,000 copies/mL) and 210 cells/mm3 (48% <200 cells/mm3), respectively. No significant differences were noted between ABC/3TC/ZDV + EFV and ABC/3TC/ZDV for an HIV RNA level <50 copies/mL (79% vs. 77% [intent to treat (ITT), missing = failure]; P = 0.697) or time to treatment failure (P = 0.75) at week 96. Drug-related adverse events were more commonly reported for ABC/3TC/ZDV + EFV than for ABC/3TC/ZDV (15% vs. 6%). Improvements in total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglycerides were observed in the ABC/3TC/ZDV group. Virologic failure occurred in 22 patients during induction and in 24 patients (16 in ABC/3TC/ZDV group and 8 in ABC/3TC/ZDV + EFV group; P = 0.134) during maintenance. A greater proportion of patients receiving ABC/3TC/ZDV than ABC/3TC/ZDV + EFV reported perfect adherence at week 96 (88.8% vs. 79.6%; P = 0.057). Conclusions:After induction with ABC/3TC/ZDV + EFV, simplification to ABC/3TC/ZDV alone maintained virologic control and immunologic response, reduced fasting lipids and ART-associated adverse events, and improved adherence.
[Expressions of interleukin 18 and prostaglandin E2 and their correlation in the synoviocytes of patients with osteoarthritis].

OBJECTIVE To explore the expression of interleukin 18 (IL-18) and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and their relationship in the synoviocytes of patients with osteoarthritis (OA). METHODS The synovial tissues were obtained from 30 OA patients to isolate the synoviocytes for primary culture. The concentrations of IL-18 and PGE2 in the supernatants of synoviocyte culture were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). RESULTS The concentration of IL-18 averaged 51.559-/+27.614 pg/ml and PGE2 327.036-/+333.561 pg/ml in the supernatant of the synoviocytes. A significant positive correlation was noted between their expressions (r=0.863, P<0.01). CONCLUSION IL-18 may induce the production of PGE2, and their interactions they may play an important role in the pathogenesis of OA.
[Soft tissue profile changes by Frankel-III appliance on correcting Angle Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition].

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate the soft tissue profile changes of functional Angle Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition, and to evaluate the effectiveness of treatment with Frankel-III appliances. METHODS Fifteen cases of Angle Class III malocclusion in mixed dentition, 8 males and 7 females, were selected. The mean age of the patients was 9.5 years old, ranging from 7 to 12 years old. Lateral cephalometric radiograph was taken before and after the treatments and analyzed. The data was analyzed by paired t test with SPSS17.0 software package. RESULTS After the patients were treated with Frankel-III appliances in mixed dentition, Sn-Ns-Si, Ns-Sn-Pos , LiSi-Sn increased, S-Ns-Si, S-Ns-Pos,LL-EP decreased with significant difference (P<0.01). S-Ns-Sn, LsSn-Sn,Sn-Me,Ns-Me,Ul-EP increased with significant difference (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS All findings indicate that functional Angle Class III malocclusion can be corrected with Frankel-III appliances. The relationship among nose, upper lip, lower lip and chin become harmonious after treatment. The maxillary and mandibular soft tissue changes are distinct and soft tissue profile changes from Class III to Class I.
Calvin Digital Commons Calvin Digital Commons Time-varying harmonic analyzer prototype Time-varying harmonic analyzer prototype

—This paper presents a time-varying harmonic an- alyzer based on the Sliding Window DFT implemented on a DSP platform. The harmonic decomposition is carried out using the TMS320F28027 digital signal processor, and the samples of the decomposed signal are sent to a PC based computer using serial interface. Several real cases are analyzed, revealing the time-varying behavior of the harmonic component. Different from commercial harmonic analyzer, the prototype presented in this paper uses a different way to visualize the harmonic components, based on time decomposition approach. This new visualization of time-varying harmonics might help engineers and researchers to develop new insights in the transient mechanisms of waveform distortions and possible new applications for power quality monitoring, control and protection.
Molecular profile of an antibody response to HIV-1 as probed by combinatorial libraries.

A large number (33) of human Fab fragments reacting with HIV-1 surface glycoprotein gp120 have been generated by selection from a combinatorial IgG1 kappa library displayed on the surface of phage. The library was prepared from a long term asymptomatic HIV-seropositive donor. Analysis of the sequences from these Fabs shows the heavy chains can be placed in groups, many of which contain intraclonal variants, almost certainly corresponding to chains used in vivo. Further variants can be accessed via chain shuffling experiments in which a given light chain is recombined with a library of heavy chains. Heavy chain promiscuity, i.e. the ability of heavy chains to pair with different light chains with retention of antigen binding, is dependent on the particular heavy chain considered and probably excludes the identification of in vivo light chain partners. The antibodies examined here are primarily to the CD4 binding site on gp120 and broadly reflect the serum profile of the donor. The antibodies show evidence of extensive somatic modification indicative of an antigen-driven response. The heavy chain CDR3 regions of the antibodies show a remarkably conserved extended length. A number also show strong sequence conservation in CDR3 against a background of considerable diversity in the rest of the VH gene supporting a central role for this region in antigen recognition.
Language and motor skills in siblings of children with autism spectrum disorder: A meta‐analytic review

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) show significant linguistic and motor impairments compared to children with typical development (TD). Findings from studies of siblings of children with ASD show similarities to conclusions from studies of children with ASD. The current meta‐analysis reviewed studies reporting linguistic and/or motor skills in siblings of children with ASD compared to siblings of children with TD. Thirty‐four studies published between 1994 and 2016 met all inclusion criteria. We compared three different age groups (12 months or younger, 13 to 24 months, and 25 to 36 months). At 12 months, compared to siblings of children with TD, siblings of children with ASD had worse receptive language (d = −.43, 95% CI [−.53, −.33]) and expressive language skills (d = −.40, 95% CI [−.57, −.23]), and these effects were sustained at 24 and 36 months. Similar, albeit smaller differences in fine motor skills were detected at 12 months (d = −.22, 95% CI [−.39, −.04]), and these differences were larger at 36 months (d = −.36, 95% CI [−.54, −.17]). There were differences in gross motor skills at 12 months (d = −.22, 95% CI [−.40, −.04]), but only a few studies were available at later ages. Compared to siblings of children with TD, infants who have siblings with ASD have worse linguistic and motor skills. These differences are detectable as early as when infants are 12 months old and seem to be sustained until they are 3 years old. Differences in language skills are larger than those in motor skills, especially during the first year. Autism Res 2017, 10: 1737–1750. © 2017 International Society for Autism Research, Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Variational Problems and Level Set Methods in Computer Vision - Theory and Applications

Current state of the art suggests the use of variational formulations for solving a variety of computer vision problems. This thesis deals with such variational problems which often include the optimization of curves and surfaces. The level set method is used throughout the work, both as a tool in the theoretical analysis and for constructing practical algorithms. One frequently occurring example is the problem of recovering three-dimensional (3D) models of a scene given only a sequence of images. Other applications such as segmentation are also considered. The thesis consists of three parts. The first part contains a review of background material and the level set method. The second part contains a collection of theoretical contributions such as a gradient descent framework and an analysis of several variational curve and surface problems. The third part contains contributions for applications such as a framework for open surfaces and variational surface fitting to different types of data. (Less)
Actuator fault detection using a bond graph approach

This paper deals with Actuator Fault Diagnosis using multi energy Bond Graph approach. Namely, it is shown how the structural properties (monitorability) and the fault signatures can be deduced directly from multi energy bond graph models (well adapted for process engineering modeling) with no need for any calculation. This approach is applied to a part of a pilot power station in order to analyse the monitorability of the actuators considered in bond graph methodology as control sources.
Arterial therapy of hepatic colorectal metastases

Considerable experience of the treatment of irresectable hepatic colorectal metastases has accumulated over the past three decades. In this review, the rationale for hepatic artery treatment of colorectal metastases to the liver is presented and various access techniques and chemotherapeutic agents for infusion are discussed. Randomized trials of hepatic artery chemotherapy (HAC) are analysed, and the promising results of recent studies combining less toxic and more effective agents are summarized. Continuous infusion pumps provide the most reliable and long‐lasting access for HAC. Appropriate surgical techniques and medical management can minimize complications. Although tumour progression is best controlled by HAC, a clear‐cut survival advantage has yet to be demonstrated. While hepatic artery infusion chemotherapy cannot yet be recommended outside investigational protocols, the experience gained so far should stimulate further studies.
Evaluation of transmit efficiency and SAR for a tight fit transceiver human head phased array at 9.4 T

Ultra‐high field (UHF, ≥7 T) tight fit transceiver phased arrays improve transmit (Tx) efficiency (B1+/√P) in comparison with Tx‐only arrays, which are usually larger to fit receive (Rx)‐only arrays inside. One of the major problems limiting applications of tight fit arrays at UHFs is the anticipated increase of local tissue heating, which is commonly evaluated by the local specific absorption rate (SAR). To investigate the tradeoff between Tx efficiency and SAR when a tight fit UHF human head transceiver phased array is used instead of a Tx‐only/Rx‐only RF system, a single‐row eight‐element prototype of a 400 MHz transceiver head phased array was constructed. The Tx efficiency and SAR of the array were evaluated and compared with that of a larger Tx‐only array, which could also be used in combination with an 18‐channel Rx‐only array. Data were acquired on the Siemens Magnetom whole body 9.4 T human MRI system.