Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Endothelial cells (ECs) for vascular tissue engineering: venous ECs are less thrombogenic than arterial ECs

Primary endothelial cells (ECs) are the preferred cellular source for luminal seeding of tissue‐engineered (TE) vascular grafts. Research into the potential of ECs for vascular TE has focused particularly on venous rather than arterial ECs. In this study we evaluated the functional characteristics of arterial and venous ECs, relevant for vascular TE. Porcine ECs were isolated from femoral artery (PFAECs) and vein (PFVECs). The proliferation rate was comparable for both EC sources, whereas migration, determined through a wound‐healing assay, was less profound for PFVECs. EC adhesion was lower for PFVECs on collagen I, measured after 10 min of arterial shear stress. Gene expression was analysed by qRT–PCR for ECs cultured under static conditions and after exposure to arterial shear stress and revealed differences in gene expression, with lower expression of EphrinB2 and VCAM‐1 and higher levels of vWF and COUP‐TFII in PFVECs than in PFAECs. PFVECs exhibited diminished platelet adhesion under flow and cell‐based thrombin generation was delayed for PFVECs, indicating diminished tissue factor (TF) activity. After stimulation, prostacyclin secretion, but not nitric oxide (NO), was lower in PFVECs. Our data support the use of venous ECs for TE because of their beneficial antithrombogenic profile. Copyright © 2012 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A New E6/P63 Pathway, Together with a Strong E7/E2F Mitotic Pathway, Modulates the Transcriptome in Cervical Cancer Cells

ABSTRACT Cervical carcinoma is associated with certain types of human papillomaviruses expressing the E6 and E7 oncogenes, which are involved in carcinogenesis through their interactions with the p53 and pRB pathways, respectively. A critical event on the path to malignant transformation is often manifested by the loss of expression of the viral E2 transcription factor due to the integration into the host genome of the viral DNA. Using microarrays, we have previously shown that reintroduction of a functional E2 in the HeLa cervical carcinoma cell line activates a cluster of p53 target genes while at the same time severely repressing a group of E2F target genes. In the present study, using new high-density microarrays containing more than 22,000 human cDNA sequences, we identified a novel p63 pathway among E2-activated genes and 38 new mitotic genes repressed by E2. We then sought to determine the pathways through which these genes were modulated and used an approach that relies on small interfering RNA to demonstrate that the p63 target genes were activated through silencing of the E6/E6AP pathway while the mitotic genes were mainly repressed through E7 silencing. Importantly, a subset of the mitotic genes was shown to be significantly induced in biopsies of stage IV cervical cancers, which points to a prominent E7 pathway in cervical carcinoma.
Reduced-order model of AC microgrid for stability analysis and adjustment of droop control

This paper present a reduced-order small-signal model of microgrid considering an arbitrary number of parallel-connected inverters. The control technique used for inverters is the control without communication based on frequency and voltage droops. Each element of microgrid is modeled in state-space form and all are combined resulting in a single system. Simutation results are presented to show that the proposed model has good accuracy and also to show that it can be used as tool for stability analysis and adjustment of droop control coefficients of the inverters.
Interleukin‐28B genetic variants and hepatitis virus infection by different viral genotypes

Genetic host factors may modify the course of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Very recently, a genome‐wide scan that reported association of the IL28B locus with response to treatment in HCV infection was published. The aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship of this locus with outcome of HCV infection in a cohort constituted by a total of 731 Spanish individuals. From these, 284 were subjects with persistent infection, 69 were individuals who naturally cleared the virus, and 378 were noninfected subjects. Genotyping of the rs12979860 (C>T) in the IL28B locus was performed using a TaqMan 5′ allelic discrimination assay. The CC genotype was overrepresented among patients infected with viral genotypes non‐1 (66.7% versus 39.1% in patients infected with viral genotype‐1, P = 8.5 × 10−5, odds ratio [OR] = 0.32, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.17‐0.60); patients with spontaneous resolution of infection (72.5% versus 45.6% of the individuals with persistent infection, P = 6.2 × 10−5, OR = 0.32; 95%CI, 0.18‐0.57); and lastly, patients with sustained response (60.2% versus 32.1% found in patients with nonsustained response, P = 3.1 × 10−5, OR = 0.31; 95%CI, 0.17‐0.56). Conclusion: We have found different rates of viral genotype infection depending on the IL28B variant as well as an association of this locus with natural and treatment‐mediated response. HEPATOLOGY 2010
Gastro-Oesophageal Reflux Disease

New approaches to the grading of reflux oesophagitis and the definition of reflux disease have been proposed which should improve the precision of descriptions of this common problem. Endoscopy and 24-hour pH monitoring studies, though of great value, have significant limitations for assessment of reflux disease. Only about one third of reflux disease patients have oesophageal mucosal erosion or ulceration. Analysis of symptoms is probably the most useful method for diagnosis. Further research is needed into the best strategies for maximising the potential of symptom analysis. In the pathogenesis of reflux disease, Helicobacter pylori infection is not a major factor but the interaction of H. pylori gastritis and eradication therapy are important areas of great current interest. Troublesome reflux disease arises primarily from abnormally frequent gastro-oesophageal reflux, though heightened oesophageal mucosal sensitivity and defective oesophageal clearance play a role in some patients. Transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation appears to be the most important mechanism of reflux. This distinctive, swallow-independent type of lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation has a complex triggering system, apparently located in the brain stem. Medical and surgical treatments of reflux disease are now well characterised and have improved very substantially over recent years. Drugs that inhibit the occurrence of transient lower oesophageal sphincter relaxation are an intriguing possible future therapy.
DISCOVERY OF SiCSi IN IRC+10216: A MISSING LINK BETWEEN GAS AND DUST CARRIERS OF Si–C BONDS

We report the discovery in space of a disilicon species, SiCSi, from observations between 80 and 350 GHz with the IRAM 30 m radio telescope. Owing to the close coordination between laboratory experiments and astrophysics, 112 lines have now been detected in the carbon-rich star CW Leo. The derived frequencies yield improved rotational and centrifugal distortion constants up to sixth order. From the line profiles and interferometric maps with the Submillimeter Array, the bulk of the SiCSi emission arises from a region of 6″ in radius. The derived abundance is comparable to that of SiC2. As expected from chemical equilibrium calculations, SiCSi and SiC2 are the most abundant species harboring a Si−C bond in the dust formation zone and certainly both play a key role in the formation of SiC dust grains.
Drosophila Sperm Motility in the Reproductive Tract1

Motile cilia and flagella exhibit many waveforms as outputs of dynein activation sequences on the highly conserved axoneme. Motility change of sperm in the reproductive tract is difficult to study and remains an important area of investigation. Sperm typically execute a sinusoidal waveform. Increased viscosity in the medium induces somewhat unusual arc-line and helical waveforms in some sperm. However, whether the latter two waveforms occur in vivo is not known. Using green fluorescence protein imaging, we show that Drosophila sperm in the uterus move in circular foci via arc-line waves, predominantly in a tail-leading orientation. From the uterus, a small fraction of the sperm enters the seminal receptacle (SR) in parallel formations. After sperm storage and coincident with fertilization of the egg, the sperm exit the SR via head-leading helical waves. Consistent with the observed bidirectional movements, the sperm show the ability to propagate both base-to-tip and tip-to-base flagellar waves. Numerous studies have shown that sperm motility is regulated by intraflagellar calcium concentrations; in particular, the Pkd2 calcium channel has been shown to affect sperm storage. Our analyses here suggest that Pkd2 is required for the sperm to adopt the correct waveform and movement orientation during SR entry. A working model for the sperm's SR entry movement is proposed.
Reduction on radiation noise level for inductive power transfer systems with spread spectrum focusing on combined impedance of coils and capacitors

Two reduction methods on radiation noise of inductive power transfer (IPT) systems are proposed and experimentally demonstrated. In the IPT systems for electrical vehicles (EVs) or plug-in hybrid electrical vehicles (PHEVs), noise reduction technologies are strongly required because the radiation noise from the IPT system for EVs or PHEVs must not exceeds the limits on standards; for example the regulation by CISPR is well-known regulation. The proposed method suppresses the radiation noise using spread spectrum technique. The radiation noise from the transmission coils of the IPT system is spread in a frequency domain by changing the output frequency of an inverter at random. The output frequency is selected according to pseudo random numbers. The first proposed method; a spread spectrum with a uniform distribution (SSUD), evenly selects the output frequency within 80 kHz to 90 kHz. Another method; a spread spectrum with a biased distribution (SSBD) is focusing on the output current of the inverter. The possibility for the select of output frequency is biased in proportion to a combined impedance of the transmission coil and the resonance capacitors. In the experiments with an output power of 3 kW, the fundamental components are suppressed by 42.6% and 72.1% by applying the SSUD and the SSBD in comparison with the conventional system, which operates the inverter at a fixed frequency.
Validation of an exposure system to particles for the diagnosis of occupational asthma.

STUDY OBJECTIVE We previously described a closed-circuit system for exposure to particles in humans. This system has three components: a particle generator, an exposure chamber connected to an orofacial mask, and monitors. We describe results of challenges in 56 subjects who underwent challenges with the apparatus using occupational sensitizers in particles. SUBJECTS Fifty-six consecutive subjects referred for the investigation of occupational asthma to occupational sensitizers in particles were included. The agents were the following: flour and grains (n = 19), cedar (n = 10), psyllium (n = 9), guar gum (n = 9), drugs (n = 3), persulfate (n = 2), and miscellaneous (n = 4). INTERVENTION The duration of exposure was progressive and varied from one breath to a maximum of 180 min depending on the reaction. When no significant fall in FEV1 occurred after exposure with the aerosolization device, the standard approach of tipping particles from one tray to another was used. RESULTS Twenty-nine subjects (52 percent) had a significant (greater than or equal to 20 percent) fall in FEV1 after exposure. This includes 18 subjects with isolated immediate reactions, four with dual asthmatic reactions, and two with atypical reactions. In 20/24 instances (83 percent), the percentage of fall in FEV1 did not exceed 30 percent, thus showing that dose-response curves can generally be obtained in a safe way. In all instances except one (26/27 cases), subsequent exposures using the traditional method did not result in significant falls in FEV1. CONCLUSION This new procedure results in safe tests in terms of the percentage of changes in FEV1 during the immediate reactions and very rare false-negative challenges.
A Mobile Video Question Answering System for E-learning

In this paper, the authors proposed a mobile video QA (Question Answering) system for online annotation and ubiquitous multimedia learning. Under the wireless and mobile environment, learners could interact with the system through natural language questions rather than traditional query-like text retrieval. The handheld device is not as well as traditional keyboard input, while the annotation is quite inefficient and inconvenient. To solve this, the authors designed a simple browsing and clicking model to enable learners annotating and auto-feedback as e-mail to learner's mail box. A pilot study was conducted to evaluate the preliminary experimental results for learning. The experimental results showed that the proposed system effectively engaged learners in multimedia video QA in handheld device where all subjects agreed that the system is positive and useful.
ROLE OF THE THYMUS IN TRANSPLANTATION TOLERANCE IN MINIATURE SWINE: IV. THE THYMUS IS REQUIRED DURING THE INDUCTION PHASE, BUT NOT THE MAINTENANCE PHASE, OF RENAL ALLOGRAFT TOLERANCE1

Background. The authors’ laboratory previously demonstrated that long-term tolerance to class I-disparate renal allografts in miniature swine can be induced by a short course of cyclosporine A (CsA), and that this stable tolerance is dependent on the presence of an intact thymus. In the present study, the authors have examined the requirement for a thymus during the pretransplant, induction, and maintenance phases of tolerance. Methods. Twenty-two miniature swine underwent class I major histocompatibility complex-mismatched renal transplantation, with a 12-day course of CsA. Thymectomies were performed on days −21, 0, +8, +21, and greater than or equal to +42, in relation to the day of transplantation. Historical controls consisted of euthymic and sham-thymectomized recipients. Results. Euthymic, sham-thymectomized, and day-greater than or equal to +42 thymectomized recipients demonstrated stable renal function and minimal anti-donor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) responses. In contrast, day −21 and day 0 thymectomized recipients demonstrated allograft dysfunction, marked cellular infiltrates, with severe vasculitis and glomerular changes, and strong anti-donor CTL responses. Animals thymectomized on days +8 and +21 did not undergo severe rejection, but likewise did not demonstrate a stable clinical course. Conclusions. These data indicate that the requirement for thymic function in the induction of rapid and stable tolerance is greatest during the first 8 days and then diminishes over the next 2 weeks posttransplant. Failure of thymectomy to affect the course of tolerance after day +21 suggests that thymic function is not required for the maintenance of tolerance. Understanding the role of the thymus in establishing tolerance may permit the development of tolerance induction strategies, especially for pediatric transplant recipients.
Increased incidence of coronary artery disease in sleep apnoea: a long-term follow-up

An increased incidence of cardiovascular disease has previously been reported in middle-aged males during a follow-up period of 7 yrs. The aim of the present study was to address the incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a larger sample without any heart disease at baseline. The population comprised 308 snorers (245 males and 63 females) with a mean±sd age of 49.0±9.9 yrs in 1991. Data were collected via the Swedish Hospital Discharge Register, National Cause of Death Registry, clinical charts and questionnaires. Over 7 yrs, CAD was observed in 17 (16.2%) of 105 patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA; overnight (6 h) oxygen desaturations ≥30 events) compared with 11 (5.4%) of 203 snorers without OSA. OSA diagnosis at baseline was associated with an increased risk of development of CAD in a multivariate model. In the OSA group, CAD was confirmed in 16 (24.6%) of 65 incompletely treated patients compared with one (3.9%) of 26 efficiently treated subjects. Efficient treatment of OSA reduced this risk. It is concluded that middle-aged sleep apnoeics are at high risk of developing coronary artery disease if they are not treated efficiently, which should be considered in cardiovascular disease prevention models.
A Reference Following Robust Minimum-Time Control

Rather than conventional switching type sub-optimal controls, a reference following robust minimum-time control (RMTC) approach is investigated, where the predetermined minimum-time trajectory is tracked by the perturbation compensator based feedback controller. First, the minimum-time trajectory for a mass-damper system is derived, which tells the friction force term should be considered to have a reasonable reference trajectory, specifically as the speed of target motion is increased. The perturbation compensator is also addressed to achieve robust tracking performance in spite of model uncertainty and external disturbances. The performance of RMTC is compared with the proximate time-optimal control algorithm (PTOS) through simulation results.
An automatic 2D–3D image matching method for reproducing spatial knee joint positions using single or dual fluoroscopic images

Fluoroscopic image technique, using either a single image or dual images, has been widely applied to measure in vivo human knee joint kinematics. However, few studies have compared the advantages of using single and dual fluoroscopic images. Furthermore, due to the size limitation of the image intensifiers, it is possible that only a portion of the knee joint could be captured by the fluoroscopy during dynamic knee joint motion. In this paper, we presented a systematic evaluation of an automatic 2D–3D image matching method in reproducing spatial knee joint positions using either single or dual fluoroscopic image techniques. The data indicated that for the femur and tibia, their spatial positions could be determined with an accuracy and precision less than 0.2 mm in translation and less than 0.4° in orientation when dual fluoroscopic images were used. Using single fluoroscopic images, the method could produce satisfactory accuracy in joint positions in the imaging plane (in average up to 0.5 mm in translation and 1.3° in rotation), but large variations along the out-plane direction (in average up to 4.0 mm in translation and 2.2° in rotation). The precision of using single fluoroscopic images to determine the actual knee positions was worse than its accuracy obtained. The data also indicated that when using dual fluoroscopic image technique, if the knee joint outlines in one image were incomplete by 80%, the algorithm could still reproduce the joint positions with high precisions.
Combined modality therapy for primary CNS lymphoma.

PURPOSE Primary CNS lymphoma (PCNSL), formerly rare, is being seen with increased frequency among apparently immunocompetent patients. Conventional treatment has consisted of whole-brain radiotherapy (RT) and corticosteroids, with a median survival of 15 to 18 months and a 3% to 4% 5-year survival. Chemotherapy has been useful in the treatment of recurrent PCNSL. In 1985 we began a treatment protocol using chemotherapy and cranial irradiation for the initial therapy of non-AIDS PCNSL. PATIENTS AND METHODS Thirty-one patients (group A) completed the combined modality regimen. All had placement of an Ommaya reservoir and received pre-RT systemic methotrexate, 1 g/m2, plus six doses of intra-Ommaya methotrexate at 12 mg per dose. A full course of cranial RT (4,000-cGy whole-brain RT plus a 1,440-cGy boost) was followed by two cycles of high-dose cytarabine (ara-C), with each course consisting of two doses of 3 g/m2 ara-C separated by 24 hours and infused over 3 hours. During this period, 16 additional patients (group R) were treated with RT alone, either because patients refused chemotherapy or RT was initiated before our consultation; all would have been eligible to participate in the protocol. Follow-up extended through April 1, 1991. RESULTS Group A had a significantly prolonged time to recurrence (median, 41 months) compared with group R (median, 10 months; P = .003). Although median survival was doubled from 21.7 months for group R to 42.5 months for group A, this was not statistically significant because of small sample size. More importantly, group R patients received systemic chemotherapy for recurrent PCNSL, which improved survival. CONCLUSION The addition of chemotherapy to cranial RT for initial treatment of PCNSL significantly improved disease-free survival and contributed to overall survival; all non-AIDS patients with newly diagnosed PCNSL should be considered for combined modality therapy.
Fast Monte Carlo simulation of DNA damage induction by Auger-electron emission

Abstract Purpose: A local damage model (LDM) was developed to estimate the biological efficiency of Auger-electron-emitting radionuclides. Materials and methods: The LDM required information on the local dose distribution, local energy spectrum, and clustered DNA damage yields in the cell nucleus. To apply the model, the nucleus was divided into concentric shells where each shell contributed its own local dose, energy spectrum, and damage yield. The local doses and energy spectra were computed using the PENELOPE (PENetration and Energy LOss of Positrons and Electrons) code. The DNA damage yields were estimated using the MCDS (Monte Carlo damage simulation) code. Results: For a typical 4-μm radius mammalian cell nucleus, the absorbed doses to the cell nucleus per unit cumulated activity, equal to 0.0065, 0.00418, 0.0028, 0.0027 and 0.0015 Gy Bq−1 s−1 for 125I, 119Sb, 123I, 111In and 99mTc, were within 6% difference with the MIRD (Medical Internal Radiation Dose) published data. The simulated total (simple and complex) single-strand break (SSB) and double-strand break (DSB) yields were in the same order, i.e., 125I > 119Sb > 123I > 111In > 99mTc. The agreement between present results and literature data for the DNA damage yields was generally good. More than 75% of the total SSB and DSB yields were contributed from regions within 2.5 μm of the nucleus center. Conclusions: The proposed methodology was computationally efficient and could be applied to other irradiation geometries such as cell clusters.
How to differentiate renal senescence from chronic kidney disease in clinical practice

ABSTRACT Renal aging is frequently confused with chronic nephropathy in clinical practice, since there are some similarities between them, particularly regarding reduced glomerular filtration rate (GFR). However, there are many differences between these two entities which can help any practitioner to distinguish between them, such as: GFR deterioration rate, hematocrit, renal handling of urea, creatinine and some electrolytes, tubular acidification, urinalysis, and renal imaging. Differentiation between renal aging and chronic renal disease is crucial in order to avoid unnecessary medicalization of what is a physiological change associated with the healthy aging process, and the potential harmful consequences of such overdiagnosis. A recently described equation (HUGE), as well as an adequate nephrological evaluation and follow up can help physicians to distinguish both entities.