Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FIRST SIMULTANEOUS DETERMINATION OF SIZE , REFRACTIVE INDEX , LIGHT SCATTERING DEPOLARIZATION AND FLUORESCENCE OF PHYTOPLANKTON CELLS BY LASER SCANNING FLOW CYTOMETRY

A new laser flow cytometer, based on a laser source of polarized light irradiating microscopic particles, has been developed. The unpolarized and linearly polarized scattered light, as well as the side emitted light in different spectral bands, are measured, allowing the simultaneous and realtime determination of size, refractive index, light scattering depolarization and fluorescence of each particle. Tests with aqueous samples of polystyrene spheres, fluorescent or non fluorescent, and phytoplankton cells demonstrate that the system is able to retrieve size and refractive index and that the light scattering depolarization and fluorescence measurements allows the sorting of particles otherwise indistinguishable.
Melatonin as a potential antihypertensive treatment

Abstract: The number of patients with well‐controlled hypertension is alarmingly low worldwide and new approaches to treatment of increased blood pressure (BP) are being sought. Melatonin has a role in blood pressure regulation. The nighttime production of melatonin is found to be reduced in hypertensive individuals. Administration of melatonin decreased BP in several animal models of hypertension, in healthy men and women, and in patients with arterial hypertension. Most promising results were achieved in patients with non‐dipping nighttime pressure, in which the circadian rhythm of BP variation is disturbed. Several potential mechanisms of BP reduction are considered. Melatonin can, via its scavenging and antioxidant nature, improve endothelial function with increased availability of nitric oxide exerting vasodilatory and hypotensive effects. Melatonin seems to interfere with peripheral and central autonomic system, with a subsequent decrease in the tone of the adrenergic system and an increase of the cholinergic system. Melatonin may act on BP also via specific melatonin receptors localized in peripheral vessels or in parts of central nervous system participating in BP control. With a large clinical trial using melatonin in hypertension treatment, many important questions could be answered, such as the dose of melatonin and regimen of its application, the choice of patients with greatest possible benefit from melatonin treatment, the potential of anti‐remodeling effect of melatonin and the interaction of melatonin with other antihypertensive drugs.
Rhabdoid Meningioma: Clinical Features and MR Imaging Findings in 15 Patients

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Rhabdoid meningioma (RM) is a recently described variant of malignant meningioma, with radiologic features currently not well characterized in the medical literature. The purpose of this study was to describe and characterize clinical features and imaging findings associated with RM. MATERIALS AND METHODS: CT (n = 8) and MR (n = 15) images of 15 patients (4 men and 11 women; mean age, 52 years; range, 22–75 years) with 16 pathologically proved RMs along with associated clinical records were retrospectively reviewed. All of the patients underwent surgical resection and had additional radiation therapy except for 1 patient. After surgery, the patients had follow-up brain MR imaging to evaluate for tumor recurrence. RESULTS: Nine lesions (56%) were located in the cerebral convexity, and 4 lesions (25%) were located in the parasagittal areas. The tumors were isointense (n = 15) to gray matter on T1-weighted images, whereas they were hyperintense (n = 14) on T2-weighted images. On gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images, homogeneous enhancement was seen in 10 lesions, and heterogeneous enhancement was seen in 6 lesions that had cysts. Cystic components were noted in 6 lesions (38%). Severe peritumoral edema was seen in 12 lesions (75%). Nine lesions (56%) had hyperostosis, and 5 of them also had bone destruction. Among the 8 cases with initial CT scans, only 1 had amorphous calcifications (13%). There was only 1 recurrence of RM found during the follow-up period after surgical resection. CONCLUSION: RMs tend to have prominent peritumoral edema, cystic components, and bone involvement.
Professor John Scott, folate and neural tube defects

John Scott (1940–2013) was born in Dublin where he was to spend the rest of his career, both as an undergraduate and subsequently Professor of Biochemistry and Nutrition at Trinity College. His research with the talented group of scientists and clinicians that he led has had a substantial impact on our understanding of folate metabolism, mechanisms of its catabolism and deficiency. His research established the leading theory of folate involvement with vitamin B12 in the pathogenesis of vitamin B12 neuropathy. He helped to establish the normal daily intake of folate and the increased requirements needed either in food or as a supplement before and during pregnancy to prevent neural tube defects. He also suggested a dietary supplement of vitamin B12 before and during pregnancy to reduce the risk of neural tube defects. It would be an appropriate epitaph if fortification of food with folic acid became mandatory in the UK and Ireland, as it is in over 70 other countries.
Macrovesicular hepatic steatosis in living liver donors: use of CT for quantitative and qualitative assessment.

PURPOSE To determine prospectively the diagnostic performance of unenhanced computed tomography (CT) in the assessment of macrovesicular steatosis in potential donors for living donor liver transplantation by using same-day biopsy as a reference standard. MATERIALS AND METHODS Institutional review board approval and informed consent were obtained. A total of 154 candidates, including 104 men (mean age, 30.2 years +/- 10.3 [standard deviation]) and 50 women (mean age, 31.8 years +/- 11.2), underwent same-day unenhanced CT and ultrasonography-guided liver biopsy. Histologic degree of macrovesicular steatosis was determined. Three liver attenuation indices were derived: liver-to-spleen attenuation ratio (CT(L)(/S)), difference between hepatic and splenic attenuation (CT(L)(-S)), and blood-free hepatic parenchymal attenuation (CT(LP)). Regression equations were used to quantitatively estimate the degree of macrovesicular steatosis. Limits of agreement between estimated macrovesicular steatosis and the reference standard were calculated. Receiver operating characteristic analyses were used to determine the performance of each index for qualitative diagnosis of macrovesicular steatosis of 30% or greater. The cutoff value that provided a balance between sensitivity and specificity and the highest cutoff value that yielded 100% specificity were determined. RESULTS Limits of agreement were -14% to 14% for CT(L)(/S) and CT(L)(-S) and -13% to 13% for CT(LP). Performance in diagnosing macrovesicular steatosis of 30% or greater was not significantly different among indices (P > .05). Cutoff values of 0.9, -7, and 58 were determined for CT(L)(/S), CT(L)(-S), and CT(LP), respectively, and provided a balance between sensitivity and specificity. Cutoff values of 0.8, -9, and 42 were determined for CT(L)(/S), CT(L)(-S), and CT(LP), respectively, and yielded 100% specificity for all indices, with corresponding sensitivities of 82%, 82%, and 73% for CT(L)(/S), CT(L)(-S), and CT(LP), respectively. CONCLUSION Diagnostic performance of unenhanced CT for quantitative assessment of macrovesicular steatosis is not clinically acceptable. Unenhanced CT, however, provides high performance in qualitative diagnosis of macrovesicular steatosis of 30% or greater.
Antitachycardia pacing for termination of ventricular tachyarrhythmias: should we use it?

This editorial refers to ‘Clinical course and prognostic relevance of antitachycardia pacing-terminated ventricular tachyarrhythmias in implantable cardioverter-defibrillator patients’ by T. Kleemann et al . , doi:10.1093/europace/euv007. The first implantable cardioverter-defibrillator (ICD) device was developed by Drs Michel Mirowski and Morty Mower, and successfully implanted in a human being at John Hopkins Hospital in February 1980.1 The device only had the capability of defibrillation, required thoracotomy, and due to the size and weight of the device (225 g), the battery had to be implanted abdominally. Since then, major advances in the design, implantation technique, and capabilities of the device have been implemented, including transvenous lead implantation, subcutaneous device placement, and the addition of overdrive pacing, also known as antitachycardia pacing (ATP), for termination of ventricular tachycardia.2 Today, through numerous randomized trials, the survival benefit of both primary and secondary prevention ICD implantation has irrevocably been established.3,4 However, even though the device provides a clear survival benefit, there is evidence that unnecessary ICD therapy might contribute to increased mortality and morbidity.5–8 For appropriate ICD therapy, this is mainly due to the deleterious effects of the malignant rhythm on the myocardium, but some studies also suggest that the shock itself, may contribute to myocardial damage and hence worse prognosis irrespective of the underlying rhythm.7,8 Furthermore, from a patient perspective, there are psychological issues as well as evidence of reduced quality-of-life in relation to ICD shocks that need to be taken …
Study of 12-bit Segmented Current-Steering Digital-to-Analog Converter

This Paper proposes a 12-bit Digital-to-Analog Converter (DAC) using CMOS technology for mixed-signal applications. A segmented current steering architecture for the DAC is proposed using binary weighted architecture. For this work a 4 Bit Resistor String DAC has been designed, and simulated, which will be used in 12 Bit Segmented DAC. This architecture is the most optimized in terms of speed, resolution and power. A novel static performance testing method is proposed. In current steering DACs, the transistor mismatch limits the accuracy of the signal and bias current sources. These tolerances translate to mismatch among the parallel current cells, causing DAC static and dynamic non-linearity. For good transistor matching, the transistors need to be made big and laid out close to each other. The tool used for simulation is Tanner EDA SEdit and T-Spice. Keywords— CMOS Analog Circuits, Current Steering, Digital to Analog Conversion, Mixed Analog -Digital Integrated Circuits.
Substantial nitrogen acquisition by arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi from organic material has implications for N cycling

Arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungi are obligate biotrophs that acquire carbon (C) solely from host plants. AM fungi can proliferate hyphae in, and acquire nitrogen (N) from, organic matter. Although they can transfer some of that N to plants, we tested the hypothesis that organic matter is an important N source for the AM fungi themselves. We grew pairs of plants with and without the AM fungus Glomus hoi in microcosms that allowed only the fungus access to a 15N/13C-labeled organic patch; in some cases, one plant was shaded to reduce C supply to the fungus. The fungal hyphae proliferated vigorously in the patch, irrespective of shading, and increased plant growth and N content; ∼3% of plant N came from the patch. The extraradical mycelium of the fungus was N-rich (3–5% N) and up to 31% of fungal N came from the patch, confirming the hypothesis. The fungus acquired N as decomposition products, because hyphae were not 13C-enriched. In a second experiment, hyphae of both G. hoi and Glomus mosseae that exploited an organic material patch were also better able to colonize a new host plant, demonstrating a fungal growth response. These findings show that AM fungi can obtain substantial amounts of N from decomposing organic materials and can enhance their fitness as a result. The large biomass and high N demand of AM fungi means that they represent a global N pool equivalent in magnitude to fine roots and play a substantial and hitherto overlooked role in the nitrogen cycle.
A Structure‐Information Approach to the Prediction of Biological Activities and Properties

The structure‐information approach to quantitative biological modeling and prediction is presented in contrast to the mechanism‐based approach. Basic structure information is developed from the chemical graph (connection table). The development, beginning with information explicit in the connection table (element identity and skeletal connections), leads to significant structure information useful for establishing sound models of a wide range of properties of interest in drug design. Skeletal branching patterns and valence state definition lead to relationships for valence‐state electronegativity and atom or group molar volumes. Based on these important aspects of molecules, both the electrotopological state (E‐State) and molecular‐connectivity structure descriptors (χ indices) are developed. A summary of QSAR models indicates the wide range of applicability of these structure descriptors and the predictive quality of QSAR models for protein binding, HIV‐1 protease inhibition, bloodbrain‐barrier partitioning, fish toxicity, carcinogenicity risk, structure space for similarity searching, and data mining. These models are independent of three‐dimensional structure information and are directly interpretable in terms of structure information useful to the drug‐design process.
Is There Life Without Mother?

Clinical and literary materials are presented to illustrate the compulsive need some children (frequently abused and/or deprived ones) continue to feel as they grow up for submission to and identification with the earliest parental figure. Intrapsychic loss is threatened by intense murderous hatred felt toward a parent without whom the child’s survival is not possible. Conflicts over sadomasochistic fantasy, feeling, and action are used to hold on to the parent within and without the mind, and these can dominate the child’s life.
Identification of Thioredoxin-Interacting Protein 1 as a Hypoxia-Inducible Factor 1&agr;-Induced Gene in Pancreatic Cancer

Objective: To investigate the expression of thioredoxin-interacting protein (TXNIP) during hypoxia and its dependency on hypoxia-inducible factor 1&agr; (HIF-1&agr;) in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Methods: MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells were transiently transfected with siRNA to HIF-1&agr; and TXNIP protein measured after growth in normoxia or hypoxia. In addition, HIF-1&agr; dependency was assessed by transiently transfecting MiaPaCa-2 pancreatic cancer cells with HIF-1&agr; with a mutated oxygen degradation domain resulting in stable HIF-1&agr; expression in normoxic conditions. Panc-1 pancreatic cancer cells with low endogenous TXNIP expression were stably transfected with TXNIP, and cell survival and response to platinum cancer agents were tested. Quantitative immunohistochemistry was utilized to measure the expression of TXNIP and thioredoxin 1 in human pancreatic cancer tissues. Results: Thioredoxin-interacting protein was induced during hypoxia in pancreatic cancer cells in a HIF-1&agr;-dependent manner. Overexpression of TXNIP in the Panc-1 cells resulted in a higher basal apoptosis and increased sensitivity to cisplatin and oxaliplatin. A negative correlation was observed between TXNIP and thioredoxin 1 expression in human pancreatic cancer tissues. Conclusions: Thioredoxin-interacting protein, a putative tumor suppressor gene, is induced in response to hypoxia in a HIF-1&agr;-dependent manner in pancreatic cancer cells, resulting in increased apoptosis and increased sensitivity to platinum anticancer therapy. Increased TXNIP may be a mechanism to counterbalance the prosurvival effects of HIF-1&agr;.
Tumor epidermal growth factor receptor studies in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer or head and neck cancer treated with monoclonal antibody RG 83852.

PURPOSE Tumor tyrosine kinase activity associated with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and localization of anti-EGFR monoclonal antibody RG 83852 were studied in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and head and neck cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifteen patients were treated with escalating doses of RG 83852 by continuous intravenous infusion for 5 days. Fresh tumor specimens were obtained 24 hours after therapy in 10 patients (of whom five had a pretherapy sample taken). Tumor EGFR tyrosine kinase activity was determined in fresh tumor samples by autophosphorylation of EGFR isolated in immunocomplexes with RG 83852. Tumor EGFR saturation with RG 83852 was assessed semiquantitatively by comparing the EGFR tyrosine kinase activity in immunocomplexes of tumor specimens obtained after therapy with total EGFR tyrosine kinase activity assessed by exogenous addition of RG 83852 to tumor lysates. Modulation of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity after the administration of RG 83852 was assessed by comparing EGFR tyrosine kinase activity from the same malignant lesion obtained before and after therapy. Tumor localization of RG 83852 and EGFR saturation were also assessed by immunohistochemistry. RESULTS No significant side effects were observed up to a total dose of 600 mg/m2. Based on tyrosine kinase activity, a high degree of EGFR saturation (> or = 50%) was observed at doses > or = 200 mg/m2, and EGFR saturation was estimated to be 100% at a dose level of 600 mg/m2 both in tumor tissue and skin used as surrogate EGFR-positive tissue. Immunohistochemistry studies showed that RG 83852 localized in tumor tissue and skin, but not in stroma, at doses > or = 400 mg/m2, and high EGFR saturation was observed at 600 mg/m2. Tumor EGFR tyrosine kinase activity was studied in five patients (four with EGFR-positive tumors) before and 24 hours post-therapy; a threefold to fourfold upregulation of EGFR tyrosine kinase activity in posttherapy specimens was observed in two patients. Moderate upregulation of EGFR itself was suggested in both of these patients and in two additional patients by immunohistochemistry. CONCLUSION RG 83852 causes no toxic effects at doses that result in high tumor EGFR saturation. Treatment with RG 83852 may enhance EGFR tyrosine kinase activity and/or EGFR expression. Because high EGFR expression by tumors has been associated with increased sensitivity to cytotoxic therapy, the suggestion of antibody-mediated upregulation of EGFR by agents such as RG 83852 may prove useful in enhancing chemotherapeutic efficacy.
A heat shock transcription factor like protein in the nuclear matrix compartment of the tissue cultured mammalian lens epithelial cell

This investigation characterizes a prominent nuclear matrix protein isolated from tissue cultured mouse lens epithelial cells. The nuclear matrix protein was isolated using a modified Penman technique. Total nuclear matrix proteins were further separated by SDS‐polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The SDS‐PAGE profile of the nuclear matrix proteins displayed a prominent doublet band at 60 kDa region. Nonequilibrium 2D gel electrophoresis revealed that this protein is a basic nuclear protein. This 60 kDa protein was further characterized by comparing its internal peptide amino acid sequence with known protein sequence using the BLAST technique, and this study demonstrated that 60 kDa nuclear matrix protein displays significant sequence similarity with Xenopus Laevis heat shock transcription factor. We also raised antibodies against 60 kDa nuclear matrix protein. Immunofluorescence, studies showed that this 60 kDa nuclear matrix protein preferably decorates nucleus, and puncted pattern of fluorescence suggest presence of this protein in the discrete areas of the nucleus. Heat shock transcription factors upregulate synthesis of heat shock proteins and many of these protein act as molecular chaperones. Thus, presence of a nuclear matrix protein with significant sequence similarity with heat shock transcription factor suggests sustained heat shock protein synthesis in the mouse lens cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 80:382–387, 2001. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
"Race" specificity and the femur/stature ratio.

This inquiry explores a series of problems related to the femur/stature ratio first raised by Feldesman et al. (1990). In particular, we used a revised data set and a more elaborate research protocol to address questions pertaining to: (1) whether the femur/stature ratios of three quasigeographic "races" ("Blacks," "Whites," "Asians") are statistically significantly different; (2) whether these are statistically (as opposed to biologically) coherent groups; and (3) whether the "race"-specific ratios are more accurate than the simple generic femur/stature ratio. We used ANOVA, ANOCOVA, post hoc analysis, k-means cluster analysis, linear discriminant functions, and approximate randomization to determine whether the group differences in the ratio were significant, and to assess the coherence of the "racial" groups themselves. We used validation procedures including mean absolute deviation, mean squared error, and Pitman's measure of closeness of a known sample of 798 femur/stature pairs to compare the accuracy of the generic ratio and the group-specific ratios. The results confirmed that the "Black" femur/stature ratio is significantly different from those of "Whites" and "Asians"; however, group coherence was poor, with results barely better than chance. We found that "race"-specific ratios slightly outperform the generic ratio when "race" is certain, but the gains are small for the assumptions required. More significantly, however, we found that when "race" attribution is uncertain or unknown, as in paleoanthropology, the wrong ratio (or the wrong regression equation) performs poorer than the generic femur/stature ratio. As a result, we recommend that researchers continue using the generic femur/ stature ratio to estimate stature in pre- and protohistoric populations. An alternative equation, a generic regression, yields even better stature estimates; however, we urge further study before recommending that researchers use this instead of the more thoroughly tested generic femur/stature ratio.
Optical patterning in azobenzene polymer films

Thin azobenzene polymer films show a very unusual property, namely optically induced material transport. The underlying physics for this phenomenon has not yet been thoroughly explained. Nevertheless, this effect enables one to inscribe different patterns onto film surfaces, including one‐ and two‐dimensional periodic structures. Typical sizes of such structures are of the order of micrometers, i.e. related to the interference pattern made by the laser used for optical excitation. In this study we have measured the mechanical properties of one‐ and two‐dimensional gratings, with a high lateral resolution, using force–distance curves and pulse force mode of the atomic force microscope. We also report on the generation of considerably finer structures, with a typical size of 100 nm, which were inscribed onto the polymer surface by the tip of a scanning near‐field optical microscope used as an optical pen. Such inscription not only opens new application possibilities but also gives deeper insight into the fundamentals physics underlying optically induced material transport.