Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
TGF-β1, Smad-2/-3, Smad-1/-5/-8, and Smad-4 signaling factors are expressed in ameloblastomas, adenomatoid odontogenic tumors, and calcifying cystic odontogenic tumors: an immunohistochemical study.

OBJECTIVES The TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway regulates diverse cellular functions, including tooth development, and is involved in numerous pathological processes such as tumorigenesis. The aim of this study was to investigate the immunoexpression of the TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway members in ameloblastoma (AM), calcifying cystic odontogenic tumor (CCOT), and adenomatoid odontogenic tumor (AOT). MATERIALS AND METHODS This retrospective cross-sectional study included 65 tissue specimens: 34 AMs, 13 CCOTs, and 18 AOTs. Serial sections were immunohistochemically stained with TGF-β1, Smad-4, Smad-1/-5/-8, and Smad-2/-3 antibodies, and a semiquantitative measurement of the positive cells was carried out by two oral pathologists using a 0-3 scale (0: no immunoreactivity, 1: <20% positive cells, 2: 20-50% positive cells, 3: >50% positive cells). RESULTS All biomarkers studied were found significantly decreased in AM compared to CCOT and AOT. AOT and CCOT expressed Smad-1/-5/-8 more strongly compared to AM (OR = 11.66, P < 0.001 and OR = 5.34, P = 0.013, respectively), and Smad-2/-3 immunostaining was found significantly increased in CCOT (OR = 10.42, P = 0.001) and AOT (OR = 5.16, P < 0.004) compared to AM. Similarly, Smad-4 was expressed more strongly in AOT and CCOT compared to AM (P = 0.001), while AOT demonstrated a fivefold higher chance to express TGF-β1 compared to AM (P = 0.011). CONCLUSION TGF-β/Smad signaling pathway is activated in AM, AOT, and CCOT. The statistically significant reduced TGF-β1/Smad immunoexpression in AM compared to AOT/CCOT could be associated with the more aggressive biological behavior of AM including increased cell proliferation and reduced apoptosis and differentiation. Thus, the biomarkers TGF-β, Smad-4, Smad-1/-5/-8, and Smad-2/-3 could serve as supplementary diagnostic indices between odontogenic tumors of high and low neoplastic dynamics.
Case Report of a Patient Who Underwent Thrombolysis of a “Silent” Thrombus in the Middle Cerebral Artery

Introduction:Some stroke patients present with mild or absent measurable neurologic deficits in spite of a significant thromboembolic event. A thrombus in the distal region of the middle cerebral artery may have such a presentation. CT angiography in the acute phase helps to identify the culprit thrombus. Thrombolysis might be beneficial in these patients in spite of the lack of measurable neurologic deficits. We present a patient with a ‘silent' thrombus in the middle cerebral artery. Case Report:A 70-year-old man presented with a history of fluctuating neurologic symptoms for 2 days. Neurologic examination at the time of presentation revealed no measurable deficits. CT angiography showed a thrombus in the M2 segment of the middle cerebral artery which was treated with intravenous thrombolysis. Patient did not have recurrence of symptoms after thrombolysis. MR angiogram a day after thrombolysis showed partial recanalization of the artery. Conclusion:Some stroke patients with an intracranial thrombus may present with minimal or absent measurable neurologic deficits. CT angiography is a useful tool in identifying the thrombus. Intravenous thrombolysis may be beneficial in stroke patients presenting with a “silent” thrombus.
Probabilistic Neural Network for Breast Biopsy Classification

This paper presents the classification of benign and malignant breast tumor based on Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC) and Probabilistic Neural Network (PNN). Five hundred and sixty nine sets of cell nuclei characteristics obtained by applying image analysis techniques to microscopic slides of FNAC samples of breast biopsy have been used in this study. These data were obtained from the University of Wisconsin Hospitals, Madison. The dataset consist of thirty features which represent the input layer to the PNN. The PNN will classify the input features into benign and malignant. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy were found to be equal 97.5%, 92.5% and 96.2% respectively. It can be concluded that PNN gives fast and accurate classification and it works as promising tool for classification of breast cell nuclei.
Cloning and expression of the mouse PIP49 (Pancreatitis Induced Protein 49) mRNA which encodes a new putative transmembrane protein activated in the pancreas with acute pancreatitis.

We have used a microarray-based strategy to characterize, at the molecular level, the pancreatic emergency program set up by the pancreatic cells in response to pancreatitis. In this strategy, the phenotype of the pancreatitis-affected pancreas is established by characterization of a large number of its transcripts using a high-density mouse cDNA microarray. This method allows identification of transcripts differentially expressed during pancreatitis. We describe here the cloning, sequencing, and expression analysis of a new gene, named PIP49 (Pancreatitis Induced Protein 49). Its very strong expression is specific of acinar cells and occurs rapidly after initiation of the acute phase of pancreatitis. Analysis of its primary and secondary structures strongly suggests that PIP49 encodes a putative transmembrane protein.
Central cholinergic systems and cognition.

The organization and possible functions of basal forebrain and pontine cholinergic systems are reviewed. Whereas the basal forebrain cholinergic neuronal projections likely subserve a common electrophysiological function, e.g. to boost signal-to-noise ratios in cortical target areas, this function has different effects on psychological processes dependent upon the neural network operations within these various cortical domains. Evidence is presented that (a) the nucleus basalis-neocortical cholinergic system contributes greatly to visual attentional function, but not to mnemonic processes per se; (b) the septohippocampal projection is involved in the modulation of short-term spatial (working) memory processes, perhaps by prolonging the neural representation of external stimuli within the hippocampus; and (c) the diagonal band-cingulate cortex cholinergic projection impacts on the ability to utilize response rules through conditional discrimination. We also suggest that nucleus basalis-amygdala cholinergic projections have a role in the retention of affective conditioning while brainstem cholinergic projections to the thalamus and midbrain dopamine neurons affect basic arousal processes (e.g. sleep-wake cycle) and behavioral activation, respectively. The possibilities and limitations of therapeutic interventions with procholinergic drugs in patients with Alzheimer's disease and other neurodegenerative disorders in which basal forebrain cholinergic neurons degenerate are also discussed.
Pilot implementation and user preferences of a Bariatric After-care application.

BACKGROUND The respective rates of obesity in Canada and the United states are estimated to be 24.1% and 34.1%. Due to the increased incidence of obesity, Bariatric surgery has been recognized as one of the treatment options. Patients who have undergone Bariatric surgery tend to need chronic long-term follow-up with a multi-disciplinary team. In the past decade, there has been massive advancement and development in Internet, Web-based and Smartphone technologies. However, there seemed to be a pacuity of applications in this area that enables post-bariatric patients to self-manage their own condition. In addition, past research have highlighted the limited evidence based with regards to currently available bariatric applications, mainly due to the lack of medical professionals involvement. OBJECTIVE Our current research objective is to illustrate the development of a Bariatric After-care smartphone application and to highlight user preferences with regards to the features integrated within the application. METHODOLOGY The Bariatric Aftercare application was developed between the months of March 2014 to April 2014. Making use of low-cost online web-based application developmental technologies, the authors embarked on the development of the web-based application. Patients who attended their routine follow-up appointments are given the links to the web-based application. They were also recruited to participate in an online user evaluation survey to identify their preferences with regards to the features integrated. RESULTS Since the inception of the web-based application to date, there has been a cumulative total of 385 unique assess to the online web-based application. There is a slight change in the confidence levels of the participants with regards to using the application to help them self-manage their own condition. The majority of the users have indicated that they preferred the information pertaining to what happens during each consult with members of the multidisciplinary team and also greatly valued the feature with regards to the ability to re-schedule their appointments. The vast majority also found the additional resources to be helpful. CONCLUSIONS This is one of the first studies to demonstrate the potential use of smartphone innovations in Bariatric After-care self-management. The current study has shown that users are generally receptive towards such an innovative implementation and has also highlighted some of their preferences with regards to such a self-management application for self-management of their health condition post bariatric surgery. In addition, the authors have also managed to demonstrate how clinicians could be involved in the formulation of a bariatric care application, which has an evidence base.
Assay values for thiamine or thiamine phosphate esters in whole blood do not depend on the anticoagulant used

We compared the whole blood, plasma, and erythrocyte (red blood cell (RBC)) concentrations of thiamine and thiamine phosphate esters in the presence of heparin or EDTA as anticoagulants. Three blood specimens were collected from each of 24 healthy volunteers into evacuated collection tubes containing the following anticoagulants: heparin, Na2EDTA, or K2EDTA. The concentrations of nonphosphorylated free thiamine (T), thiamine monophosphate (TMP), thiamine diphosphate (TDP), and thiamine triphosphate (TTP) were determined by the NH2‐column HPLC method. The anticoagulant used had no effect on the concentrations obtained in whole blood and plasma of thiamine or any of the above thiamine compounds (P>0.05). RBCs were isolated by centrifugation and washed with isotonic saline, and the cell counts of the washed cells were adjusted to their whole blood values. In the washed RBCs with any anticoagulant, the concentrations of T, TMP, and TDP expressed either as nmol/L of whole blood or a ratio to hemoglobin were significantly lower (P<0.05) than those in whole blood. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 19:205–208, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Autonomic nervous system responses to odours: the role of pleasantness and arousal.

Perception of odours can provoke explicit reactions such as judgements of intensity or pleasantness, and implicit output such as skin conductance or heart rate variations. The main purpose of the present experiment was to ascertain: (i) the correlation between odour ratings (intensity, arousal, pleasantness and familiarity) and activation of the autonomic nervous system, and (ii) the inter-correlation between self-report ratings on intensity, arousal, pleasantness and familiarity dimensions in odour perception. Twelve healthy volunteers were tested in two separate sessions. Firstly, subjects were instructed to smell six odorants (isovaleric acid, thiophenol, pyridine, L-menthol, isoamyl acetate, and 1-8 cineole), while skin conductance and heart rate variations were being measured. During this phase, participants were not asked to give any judgement about the odorants. Secondly, subjects were instructed to rate the odorants on dimensions of intensity, pleasantness, arousal and familiarity (self-report ratings), by giving a mark between 1 (not at all intense, arousing, pleasant or familiar) and 9 (extremely intense, arousing, pleasant or familiar). Results indicated: (i) a pleasantness factor correlated with heart rate variations, (ii) an arousal factor correlated with skin conductance variations, and (iii) a strong correlation between the arousal and intensity dimensions. In conclusion, given that these correlations are also found in other studies using visual and auditory stimuli, these findings provide preliminary information suggesting that autonomic variations in response to olfactory stimuli are probably not modality specific, and may be organized along two main dimensions of pleasantness and arousal, at least for the parameters considered (i.e. heart rate and skin conductance).
Identifying and quantifying prey consumption using stomach temperature change in pinnipeds

SUMMARY For many marine predators knowledge of foraging behavior is limited to inferences based on changes in diving or movement patterns at sea. This results in an incomplete and potentially inaccurate view of the foraging ecology of a species. This study examined the use of stomach temperature telemetry to identify and quantify prey consumed in both a phocid (northern elephant seal Mirounga angustirostris) and an otariid (California sea lion Zalophus californianus) species. In addition, we used opportunistic water consumption by northern elephant seals to test a method to distinguish between prey and water ingestion. Over 96% of feedings could be identified based on a decline in stomach temperature, even when meals were separated by as little as 70 min. Water consumption was distinguishable from prey consumption, as the rate of recovery in stomach temperature was significantly faster for water (F1,142=79.2, P<0.01). However, using this method, the overlap in recovery rates between prey and water resulted in 30.6% of water ingestion events being misclassified as prey ingestion. For both species, the integral calculated from the decline in stomach temperature over time (area above the curve) could be used to estimate mass consumed, when adjusted for the temperature difference between the prey and core body temperature. For California sea lions, there was a significant effect of individual on the ability to quantify prey consumed, which was not related to their mass or sex. Although many factors may influence the ability to use stomach temperature change to identify and quantify prey consumed, this study has shown measures of stomach temperature can accurately identify prey consumption and provide an estimate of meal mass, allowing for a greater understanding of the feeding behavior of marine mammals.
Circulating miRNA profiles in patients with metabolic syndrome.

CONTEXT Coordinated interplay of dysregulated microRNAs in isolated metabolic disorder is implicated in the pathogenesis of metabolic syndrome. OBJECTIVE The objective of the study was to characterize microRNA expression in the blood and exosomes of individuals with metabolic syndrome and compare them with those manifesting one of the metabolic vascular risk factors (type 2 diabetes, hypercholesterolemia, or hypertension). RESEARCH DESIGN/SETTING/PARTICIPANTS: A total of 265 participants were recruited in a health screening and characterized into distinct groups as follows: 1) healthy controls (n = 46); 2) metabolic syndrome (n = 50); 3) type 2 diabetes (n = 50); 4) hypercholesterolemia (n = 89); and 5) hypertension (n = 30). Total RNA was subjected to microRNA profiling, and a panel of significantly dysregulated microRNAs was validated using quantitative PCR. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Analysis of profiling data characterized unique pools of miRNAs that could categorize the different risk factors of metabolic syndrome. RESULTS We have identified miR-197, miR-23a, and miR-509-5p as potential contributors of dyslipidemia in metabolic syndrome (correlation with body mass index; P = 0.029, 0.021, and 0.042, respectively) and miR-130a and miR-195 as contributors of hypertension (correlation with blood pressure; P = 0.019 and 0.045, respectively). A plausible association of miR-27a and miR-320a with metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes patients has also been found because these miRNAs remained dysregulated in both cases (correlation with fasting glucose; P = 0.010 and 0.016, respectively). CONCLUSIONS Significant dysregulation of seven candidate microRNAs has been found to be associated with risks involved in the manifestation of metabolic syndrome.
Histopathology of fatal adenovirus infection of the respiratory tract in young children

Type 7 adenoviruses were isolated from lung tissue obtained at the necropsies on five children aged 8 to 15 months. The clinical and radiological findings were those of bronchiolitis and pneumonia. Four children had an extensive necrotizing bronchitis and bronchiolitis. The surviving bronchial epithelium, and all bronchial epithelium in the fifth case, was proliferating. There was evidence that this proliferation was a virus-induced effect and not reparative. There was virus tropism to alveolar lining cells with a pneumonia showing mononuclear cellular reaction, necrosis, and hyaline membranes. Distinctive necrotizing lesions were found in the bronchial glands of all cases. Two contrasting types of intranuclear inclusions were present in all lesions and their significance and inter-relationships are discussed. These pathological changes are specific for infections by a limited number of adenovirus serotypes.
Firms' Expectations About the Impact of AI and Robotics: Evidence from a Survey

This study presents new evidence on firms' views about the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics on their business and employment, using data from an original survey of more than 3,000 Japanese firms. The focus of this study is on technology-skill complementarity. Firms with highly educated employees tend to expect positive impacts of AI-related technologies on their business, and vice versa. Larger firms and firms that engage in global markets tend to have positive views about the impacts of AI-related technologies. (JEL O33, J23, J24, M15)
Hypothalamic inflammation: a double‐edged sword to nutritional diseases

The hypothalamus is one of the master regulators of various physiological processes, including energy balance and nutrient metabolism. These regulatory functions are mediated by discrete hypothalamic regions that integrate metabolic sensing with neuroendocrine and neural controls of systemic physiology. Neurons and nonneuronal cells in these hypothalamic regions act supportively to execute metabolic regulations. Under conditions of brain and hypothalamic inflammation, which may result from overnutrition‐induced intracellular stresses or disease‐associated systemic inflammatory factors, extracellular and intracellular environments of hypothalamic cells are disrupted, leading to central metabolic dysregulations and various diseases. Recent research has begun to elucidate the effects of hypothalamic inflammation in causing diverse components of metabolic syndrome leading to diabetes and cardiovascular disease. These new understandings have provocatively expanded previous knowledge on the cachectic roles of brain inflammatory response in diseases, such as infections and cancers. This review describes the molecular and cellular characteristics of hypothalamic inflammation in metabolic syndrome and related diseases as opposed to cachectic diseases, and also discusses concepts and potential applications of inhibiting central/hypothalamic inflammation to treat nutritional diseases.
Custos de produção de biodiesel no Brasil.

Este estudo apresenta calculos e analises dos custos de producao do biodiesel partindo da agricultura ate a usina. Foi considerada a producao do biocombustivel a partir de seis materias-primas agricolas, nas cinco macrorregioes do Pais, em tres escalas industriais. Numa das frentes, calculou- se o custo considerando-se a insercao da materia-prima agricola a custo de producao e, noutra instância, partindo do seu preco regional de mercado. O trabalho considera unidades industriais que integram o esmagamento da materia-prima agricola para a obtencao de oleo e o processamento do biodiesel propriamente. Os calculos e analises do biodiesel foram feitos considerando o custos e receitas dos “subprodutos” tanto da etapa de esmagamento quanto de elaboracao do biodiesel na contabilidade total, sejam esses positivos ou negativos, sem incluir margem de comercializacao. Neste caso, portanto, ora o valor do biodiesel pode aumentar para compensar os prejuizos de subprodutos ora ser reduzindo por assimilar lucro com derivados do processo. Os resultados gerais apontam que o biodiesel a partir de caroco de algodao no Nordeste e o mais barato do Brasil.
RELACIONES BORROSAS COMO HERRAMIENTA DE PREDICCIÓN DE LAS CAUSAS DEL FRACASO EMPRESARIAL EN EL SECTOR CONSTRUCCIÓN

This article evaluates the techniques used for the detection and prediction of business cause failures. The main limitations of the classical prediction models for business insolvency are exposed and a fuzzy analysis as an alternative to identify the relation between failure causes and the businesses´ visible symptoms. As complement, a Balanced Scorecard is used as global analysis tool for the base company in order to detect the cause of failure. The application of the balance scorecard allows defining a list of origination causes for the problems faced by the companies. These are valued using linguistic labels for detecting the most common diseases that can lead to business failure. Concerning traditional models, the applied methodology in the work allows to predict the possible failure of a company and identify the causes.
Reduction of Power Losses in the Tape-Wound FeNiCuNbSiB Nanocrystalline Cores Using Interlaminar Insulation

An effect of interlaminar insulation on the dynamic magnetic properties of the tape-wound FeNiCuNbSiB-type nanocrystalline cores was investigated. This insulation was prepared by three methods. After thermomagnetic treatment of toroidal cores selected types of suitably chosen varnishes were applied onto the core edges so as to enable their in-depth penetration thus forming the desired insulation. In the final stage of thermomagnetic treatment, conducted initially under protective atmosphere of argon, oxygen was introduced to the process to enable formation of interlaminar oxide layer. Finally, the ribbon was coated with SiO layer prior to its winding into the core. Then, dynamic magnetic properties of the cores were measured within a frequency range from 50 Hz to 100 kHz. It was found that the use of a modified acrylic-type resin resulted in the decrease of the Fe73.8Ni5Cu0. 6Nb2.6Si9B9 core losses at higher frequencies. In the cores with an oxide insulation, reduction of power losses was observed at lower frequencies. The use of interlaminar SiO insulation resulted in considerable reduction of core losses above the frequency of 5 kHz. The results of this paper can be practically applied in the production of nanocrystalline cores for power electronic equipment.