Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Abdominal Wall Reconstruction after Flap Surgery and the Effect on the Immune System

Background The aim of our study was to investigate the impact of abdominal wall reconstruction surgery on tissue anatomy and to explore how flap surgery influences the patient's immune status. Methods Experimental abdominal wall defects were created in 8 Sus scrofa (swine) animal models. The animals were divided into two groups: 4 swine were euthanized one month after surgery for the biopsies retrieval purpose and the other 4 swine were kept alive and the collection of blood samples has been done 6 months after surgery. In order to evaluate the relative gene expression in operated-on animal cohorts we compared them with samples from 4 healthy swine used as controls. Results The inflammatory process was present in all types of repairs. Collagen I deposition was higher in the flap repairs. The expression level for the genes related to immune response after 6 months from surgery was relatively similar to the control group except minor alteration registered in the case of two swine models. Conclusion Our findings indicate a less pronounced proinflammatory response to surgical trauma in animal models after flap surgery. The postoperative levels of the inflammatory cytokines did not show significant differences after abdominal wall reconstruction using flap surgery.
Tyrosinase Expression during Neuroblast Divisions Affects Later Pathfinding by Retinal Ganglion Cells

Occulocutaneous albinism is caused by mutations in the gene encoding the enzyme tyrosinase. Individuals with this disorder are predisposed to visual system deficits. We determined the critical period during development when tyrosinase expression is essential for the appropriate pathfinding of ganglion cell axons from the retina to the dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus. We used a line of mice with a Tyrosinase transgene, the expression of which is regulatable with the lac operator-repressor system, to restrict tyrosinase activity to discrete periods of embryogenesis. When tyrosinase was expressed throughout the period of neuroblast divisions that produce the ipsilaterally projecting ganglion cells, axonal projections innervated the same volume of the ipsilateral dorsal lateral geniculate nucleus of the thalamus as in normal mice. If tyrosinase expression ceased before the end of neuroblast divisions, or was not initiated until after they had begun, the degree of ipsilateral innervation was smaller, as in albino mice. Tyrosinase expression was not required during the entire period of pathfinding itself or during final maturation of the retinogeniculate pathway. Thus, tyrosinase appears to set up a signal early in visual system development that determines the pathway taken later by ganglion cell axons.
(4S)-4-(3-18F-Fluoropropyl)-l-Glutamate for Imaging of xC¯ Transporter Activity in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Using PET: Preclinical and Exploratory Clinical Studies

(4S)-4-(3-18F-fluoropropyl)-l-glutamate (18F-FSPG, or BAY 94-9392) is a new tracer to assess system xC¯ transporter activity with PET. The aim of this study was to explore the tumor detection rate of 18F-FSPG, compared with that of 18F-FDG, in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Methods: Preclinically, in vivo HCC models of orthotopically implanted Huh7 and MH3924a cancer cells were studied with 18F-FSPG in Naval Medical Research Institute nude mice (n = 3) and August-Copenhagen Irish rats (n = 4), respectively. Clinically, 5 patients with HCC who had hyper- or isometabolic lesions on 18F-FDG PET were enrolled for evaluation of the tracer. Dynamic whole-body PET images with 18F-FSPG were acquired for up to 120 min after injection of approximately 300 MBq of 18F-FSPG. Immunohistochemical expression levels of the xCT subunit of the system xC¯ and CD44 of HCC were studied in 4 patients with HCC. Results: Strong tumor uptake and low background from nontarget tissue allowed excellent tumor visualization in animal models with orthotopically implanted liver tumors. 18F-FSPG PET procedures were well tolerated in all patients. 18F-FSPG PET and 18F-FDG detected lesions in 5 of 5 and 3 of 5 patients, respectively. The maximal standardized uptake values (SUV) were comparable (18F-FSPG, 4.7 ± 3.2; 18F-FDG, 6.1 ± 2.9). The ratios of maximal SUV of the tumor to mean SUV of normal liver were also comparable (18F-FSPG, 3.6 ± 2.2; 18F-FDG, 2.7 ± 1.3), but the mean SUV of normal liver of 18F-FSPG was significantly lower than that of 18F-FDG (P < 0.05). Two patients with HCC who showed both xCT and CD44 expression had moderate or intense accumulation of 18F-FSPG, but the remaining 2 patients with negative CD44 expression showed mild uptake. Conclusion: 18F-FSPG was successfully translated from preclinical evaluation into patients with HCC. 18F-FSPG may be a promising tumor PET agent with a high cancer detection rate in patients with HCC.
Considering Parliament under Siege : Some Thoughts Concerning on Coercive Power and Power Relations of the Legislative Branch in Thai Politics

The institutional approach to study of parliamentary issues tends to emphasize the internal roles and mechanisms, whereas behavioral approach has focused on pattern of political acts. However, the purpose of this article is to examine the National Assembly of Thailand through elitist theories. As an elitist institution, it has to obtain the some kind of political virtues. In reality it was found that the parliament is restrained by political society (both undemocratic and democratic elements) so intense those socio-political perspectives on the parliament are almost always associated with negative viewpoint. That perception has certified by institutionalize the limited parliamentary powers system. Therefore, parliament has never performed its full potential. For all these reasons, the article is thus considering rationalized parliament after 1997 political reform that confront with many political turmoil. Consequently, such situation led the parliament of 2007 constitution to be under siege and controlled by other sectors of political society. On the one hand, there perfectly demonstrates the limited powers of legislative body. And the other, there has pointed out the internal constraints of current parliamentary system. Thus, the contemporary parliamentary politics cannot be overcome the legitimacy crisis of its own. การศกษารฐสภาแนวสถาบนการเมองมกใหความสำคญกบบทบาทและกลไกการทำงานภายใน ขณะทแนวพฤตกรรมศาสตรกลบเนนไปทแบบแผนการกระทำทางการเมอง อยางไรกตาม บทความนมงศกษารฐสภาบนฐานคดทฤษฎแบบชนชนนำ เมอเปนสถาบนของชนชนนำกจำเปนตองมคณลกษณะทดบางอยางทจะตองบรรลถง หากแตในความเปนจรง รฐสภากลบถกแรงเสยดทานจากสงคมการเมอง (ทงทเปนและไมเปนประชาธปไตย) จนกระทงมมมองทางสงคมการเมองทมตอรฐสภาลวนเตมไปดวยทศนะเชงลบ ซงรองรบความคดดงกลาวผานการทำใหเปนสถาบนดวยการสรางขอจำกดตออำนาจของรฐสภา ดงนน รฐสภาจงไมสามารถแสดงศกยภาพอนแทจรงของตนเองได ดวยเหตน บทความจงเพงพนจไปทการปฏรปการเมอง พ. ศ. 2540 ททำใหรฐสภามความเปนเหตเปนผล และตองประสบกบปญหาบางประการ ยงไปกวานน ผลสบเนองจากปรากฏการณดงกลาวกทำใหรฐสภาตามรฐธรรมนญ พ. ศ. 2550 ตกอยภายใตการตรวจสอบควบคม และถกลอมตจากภาคสวนอนๆ ในสงคมการเมอง ในดานหนงจงแสดงใหเหนขอบเขตอำนาจอนจำกดขององคกรนตบญญต และในอกทางหนงกเปนการชใหเหนขอจำกดของระบบรฐสภาเอง ดงนน การเมองแบบรฐสภาจงไมสามารถกาวขามวกฤตการณความชอบธรรมของตนเองได
Conformal low -temperature dielectric deposition process below 200°C for TSV application

A detailed study to perform low temperature (&#60; 200°C) PECVD TEOS-oxide deposition process with very low mechanical stress and good conformal deposition on high aspect ratio features (10∶1) was done. Individual conditions that affect the oxide stress and deposition rate such as TEOS & O2 flow rate, HF/LF power, pressure and temperature are investigated. The optimal conditions found are used to then deposited into trenches and further fine tuned to give excellent step coverage for high aspect ratio features.
FOXP3+ Regulatory T Cells and T Helper 1, T Helper 2, and T Helper 17 Cells in Human Early Pregnancy Decidua1

In pregnancy, the decidua is infiltrated by leukocytes promoting fetal development without causing immunological rejection. Murine regulatory T (Treg) cells are known to be important immune regulators at this site. The aim of the study was to characterize the phenotype and origin of Treg cells and determine the quantitative relationship between Treg, T-helper type 1 (TH1), TH2, and TH17 cells in first-trimester human decidua. Blood and decidual CD4+ T cells from 18 healthy first-trimester pregnant women were analyzed for expression of Treg-cell markers (CD25, FOXP3, CD127, CTLA4, and human leukocyte antigen-DR [HLA-DR]), chemokine receptors (CCR4, CCR6, and CXCR3), and the proliferation antigen MKI67 by six-color flow cytometry. Treg cells were significantly enriched in decidua and displayed a more homogenous suppressive phenotype with more frequent expression of FOXP3, HLA-DR, and CTLA4 than in blood. More decidual Treg cells expressed MKI67, possibly explaining their enrichment at the fetal-maternal interface. Using chemokine receptor expression profiles of CCR4, CCR6, and CXCR3 as markers for TH1, TH2, and TH17 cells, we showed that TH17 cells were nearly absent in decidua, whereas TH2-cell frequencies were similar in blood and decidua. CCR6+ TH1 cells, reported to secrete high levels of interferon gamma (IFNG), were fewer, whereas the moderately IFNG-secreting CCR6− TH1 cells were more frequent in decidua compared with blood. Our results point toward local expansion of Treg cells and low occurrence of TH17 cells. Furthermore, local, moderate TH1 activity seems to be a part of normal early pregnancy, consistent with a mild inflammatory environment controlled by Treg cells.
All in the first glance: first fixation predicts individual differences in valence bias*

ABSTRACT Surprised expressions are interpreted as negative by some people, and as positive by others. When compared to fearful expressions, which are consistently rated as negative, surprise and fear share similar morphological structures (e.g. widened eyes), but these similarities are primarily in the upper part of the face (eyes). We hypothesised, then, that individuals would be more likely to interpret surprise positively when fixating faster to the lower part of the face (mouth). Participants rated surprised and fearful faces as either positive or negative while eye movements were recorded. Positive ratings of surprise were associated with longer fixation on the mouth than negative ratings. There were also individual differences in fixation patterns, with individuals who fixated the mouth earlier exhibiting increased positive ratings. These findings suggest that there are meaningful individual differences in how people process faces.
Getting Your Ducks in a Row: The Case for More Inclusive Renegotiations in EU–Poultry Meat (China)

Abstract This paper critiques a Panel ruling that was permissive in allowing the EU to exclude China from the renegotiations of several tariff lines of poultry meat and the related allocation of new tariff-rate quotas (TRQs). The EU's basis for exclusion was that China lacked a principal or substantial supplying interest in the modified tariff lines. The Panel's ruling supported China for only two tariff lines in which China eventually served 50% of the EU market after certain SPS measures expired, on the narrow basis that this import increase should have been considered a special factor in the TRQ allocation. The paper argues that the Panel ruled too narrowly by disregarding China's broader claims for a principal or substantial supplying interest. An interpretation consistent with the object and purpose of the GATT supports utilizing a broader set of evidence in China's claim as a principal or substantial supplier for renegotiations of tariff schedules. Allowing nations to use TRQs to prevent emerging markets from achieving a substantial supplying interest is a significant obstacle to the WTO's purpose. The Panel's ruling will be important for future TRQ renegotiations, such as those that would be necessary under Brexit.
Implementation and Evaluation of the Early-Onset Sepsis Risk Calculator in a High-Risk University Nursery

There is growing interest in the Kaiser early-onset sepsis (EOS) risk calculator though institutions are hesitant to deviate from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines and implement this in their hospitals. We describe the process of implementing routine use of the risk calculator in term and late preterm newborns delivered to mothers with chorioamnionitis in a level III neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). A retrospective chart review of infants delivered to mothers with chorioamnionitis from 2011 to 2014 was performed. Implementation of routine use of the calculator began in January 2015; preintervention and postintervention data were analyzed after a 9-month period of routine use. Following implementation, NICU admission rates, number of blood cultures drawn, and rates of antibiotic use dropped by 54%, 42%, and 59%, respectively (P < .001). No negative outcomes were reported. In this article, we describe how the calculator was safely implemented in our NICU while decreasing the number of interventions.
Physiological role of collagen XVIII and endostatin

Collagen XVIII is a component of basement membranes (BMs) with the structural properties of both a collagen and a proteoglycan. Proteolytic cleavage within its C‐terminal domain releases a fragment, endostatin, which has been reported to have anti‐angiogenesis effects. Molecular studies demonstrated binding of the endostatin domain to heparan sulfate and to BM components like laminin and perlecan, but the functional role of these interactions in vivo remains unknown. Insights into the physiological function of collagen XVIII/endostatin have recently been obtained through the identification of inactivating mutations in the human collagen XVIII/endostatin gene (COL18A1) in patients with Knobloch syndrome, characterized by age‐dependent vitreoretinal degeneration and occipital encephalocele. That collagen XVIII/endostatin has an essential role in ocular development and the maintenance of visual function is further demonstrated by the ocular abnormalities seen in mice lacking collagen XVIII/endostatin. Age‐dependent loss of vision in these mutant mice is associated with pathological accumulation of deposits under the retinal pigment epithelium, as seen in early stages of age‐related macular degeneration in humans. In addition, recent evidence suggests that lack of collagen XVIII/endostatin predisposes to hydrocephalus formation. These recent findings demonstrate an important role for collagen XVIII/endostatin in cell‐matrix interactions in certain tissues that may be compensated for in other tissues expressing this collagen. —Marneros, A. G. , Olsen, B. R. Physiological role of collagen XVIII and endostatin. FASEB J. 19, 716–728 (2005)
Overexpression of SET is a recurrent event associated with poor outcome and contributes to protein phosphatase 2A inhibition in acute myeloid leukemia

Background Protein phosphatase 2A is a novel potential therapeutic target in several types of chronic and acute leukemia, and its inhibition is a common event in acute myeloid leukemia. Upregulation of SET is essential to inhibit protein phosphatase 2A in chronic myeloid leukemia, but its importance in acute myeloid leukemia has not yet been explored. Design and Methods We quantified SET expression by real time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction in 214 acute myeloid leukemia patients at diagnosis. Western blot was performed in acute myeloid leukemia cell lines and in 16 patients’ samples. We studied the effect of SET using cell viability assays. Bioinformatics analysis of the SET promoter, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase assays were performed to evaluate the transcriptional regulation of SET. Results SET overexpression was found in 60/214 patients, for a prevalence of 28%. Patients with SET overexpression had worse overall survival (P<0.01) and event-free survival (P<0.01). Deregulation of SET was confirmed by western blot in both cell lines and patients’ samples. Functional analysis showed that SET promotes proliferation, and restores cell viability after protein phosphatase 2A overexpression. We identified EVI1 overexpression as a mechanism involved in SET deregulation in acute myeloid leukemia cells. Conclusions These findings suggest that SET overexpression is a key mechanism in the inhibition of PP2A in acute myeloid leukemia, and that EVI1 overexpression contributes to the deregulation of SET. Furthermore, SET overexpression is associated with a poor outcome in acute myeloid leukemia, and it can be used to identify a subgroup of patients who could benefit from future treatments based on PP2A activators.
The neuronal SAPK/JNK pathway is altered in a murine model of hyperhomocysteinemia

Deficiency in cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) leads to high plasma homocysteine concentrations and causes hyperhomocysteinemia, a common risk factor for vascular disease, stroke and possibly neurodegenerative diseases. Various neuronal diseases have been associated with hyperhomocysteinemia, but the molecular mechanisms of homocysteine toxicity are unknown. We investigated the pathways involved in the pathological process, by analyzing differential gene expression in neuronal tissues. We used a combination of differential display and cDNA arrays to identify genes differentially expressed during hyperhomocysteinemia in brain of CBS‐deficient mice. In this murine model of hyperhomocysteinemia, both plasma and brain homocysteine concentrations were high. Several genes were found to be differentially expressed in the brains of CBS‐deficient mice, and the identities of some of these genes suggested that the SAPK/JNK pathway was altered in the brains of CBS‐deficient mice. We therefore investigated the activation of proteins involved in the SAPK/JNK cascade. JNK and c‐Jun were activated in the hippocampal neurones of CBS‐deficient mice, suggesting that the SAPK/JNK pathway may play an important role in the development of neuronal defects associated with hyperhomocysteinemia.
Metabolic assessment of a neuron‐enriched fraction of rat cerebrum using high‐resolution 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy

This study explored the utility of 1H and 13C magnetic resonance spectroscopy to study a neuron‐enriched preparation made from rat cerebrum. The preparation contained high concentrations of N‐acetylaspartate and γ‐aminobutyric acid and low concentrations of glutamine, indicating that it was in fact rich in neuronal cytosol. This was confirmed by immunohistochemical studies with antibodies to neuronal and glial markers. A method of metabolite quantification based on the creatine signal yielded metabolite concentrations similar to those of rat cerebrum, whereas concentrations based on the metabolite/protein ratio were five times lower, suggesting that much protein in the preparation was not associated with functioning cytoplasm. The metabolic competence of the preparation was assessed by quantitative measurements of its ability to convert 1−13C‐glucose into lactate, glutamate, aspartate, and other metabolites under well oxygenated conditions for 30 min. Calculated from the creatine standard, the mean glycolytic rate was the same as in a synaptosomal preparation studied under similar conditions and the same as rat cerebrum in vivo. Tricarboxylic acid cycle flux occurred at half the rate observed in the synaptosomal preparation and 16% of the basal cerebral metabolic rate in vivo.
Epidemiology and health care seeking in the functional GI disorders: a population-based study

OBJECTIVES:Functional GI disorders (FGIDs) are common in clinical practice, but little is known about the epidemiology of these disorders in the general population. We aimed to determine the prevalence, association with psychological morbidity, and health care seeking behavior of FGIDs in the population.METHODS:A random sample of subjects (n = 4500) aged ≥18 yr and representative of the Australian population were mailed a validated questionnaire. For these subjects we measured all Rome I GI symptoms and physician visits over the past 12 months, as well as neuroticism, anxiety, depression, and somatic distress.RESULTS:The response rate for the study was 72%. The prevalence of any FGID was 34.6%, and 62.1% of these subjects had consulted a physician. There was considerable overlap of the FGIDs (19.2% had more than two disorders). Independent predictors for an FGID diagnosis were neuroticism, somatic distress, anxiety, bowel habit disturbance, abdominal pain frequency, and increasing age. However, psychological morbidity did not independently discriminate between consulters and nonconsulters with an FGID.CONCLUSIONS:More than one third of the general population have one or more FGIDs. There seems to be a modest link between psychological morbidity and FGIDs, although other unknown factors seem to be more important in explaining health care seeking for these disorders.
Greater legitimacy of small island developing states : a statistical perspective on its definition

Small island developing states (SIDS) has been inserted into much of the inter-governmental discourse in areas such as climate change, environmental protection, vulnerabilities and socio-economic development. However, concerns remain about the group’s legitimacy, leading to questions about the attainability of its geopolitical objectives. These concerns emanate in part, from the lack of explicit and defined classification criteria for the group. This paper represents an attempt at resolving this problem and adds to the work on this area. Its main contribution is an easily implemented statistical procedure that endogenously generates these criteria for conceptually relevant indicators. This procedure accords each self-identified SIDS a presumption of ‘innocence’ – only being found ‘guilty of pretence’ if it violates the selection criteria that the self-identified group in a statistical methodology created. This is applied to a set of indicators based on relevant concepts to propose strict and relaxed definitions of SIDS.
Fabrication of PDMS-Based Nitrite Sensors Using Teflon AF Coating Microchannels

This study shows a novel polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) nitrite sensor using liquid-core waveguide techniques. A 6 cm straight and Teflon AF 1601S coated PDMS microchannel (600 mum width and depth) replicated from a SU-8 master and sealed with a glass slide with the same coating. This formed a low index of refraction channel in which a high index aqueous solution was flowed. Light generated by a fiber-coupled tungsten halogen lamp propagated by total internal reflection to the end of the channel where the light was detected using a palm-size CCD array spectrometer. The result shows a dramatic difference between channels with and without a Teflon coating. The absorbance response of this sensor varies linearly with concentration and adheres to Beer's law. Moreover, calculations of absorbance using this sensor are in excellent agreement with a commercial spectrometer. This innovative technique provides a potentially low-cost and high efficient approach to fill the inspection technology gap between in situ and laboratory analyses. It is believed that the novel PDMS-based nitrite sensor is expected to give an impact to the aqueous inspection and to create a highly value-added technology in optical test and measurement industry.