Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reversal of in vivo drug resistance by the transforming growth factor‐β inhibitor decorin

Transforming growth factor‐β (TGF‐β) has been implicated in the in vivo resistance of the EMT‐6/CTX and EMT‐6/CDDP murine mammary tumors. Both of these tumors have a higher number of intratumoral vessels than the EMT‐6/parent tumor. Animals bearing the resistant tumors have higher plasma levels of TGF‐β than animals bearing the parent tumors; however, upon treatment with cytotoxic therapies there is a greater rise in plasma TGF‐β levels in animals bearing the parent tumor than in animals bearing the resistant tumor. In situ hybridization for TGF‐β mRNA and immunohistochemical staining for TGF‐β protein showed that the resistant tumor levels of this growth factor are higher than those of the parent tumor prior to treatment; however, after cytotoxic therapy the increase in TGF‐β is greater in the parent tumor than in the resistant tumors. Treatment of tumor‐bearing animals with the naturally occurring TGF‐β inhibitor decorin did not alter the sensitivity of the parent tumor to cyclophosphamide or to CDDP as determined by tumor cell survival assay. However, administration of decorin increased the sensitivity of the EMT‐6/CTX tumor to cyclophosphamide and of the EMT‐6/CDDP tumor to CDDP so that the drug resistance of these tumors was nearly ablated. A similar pattern was observed in the drug response of the bone marrow granulocyte‐macrophage colony‐stimulating factor of animals bearing each of the 3 tumors. Int. J. Cancer, 71:49–58, 1997. © 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
[ACTH stimulation test for the determination of salivary cortisol and of cortisol responses as markers of the training status/fitness of warm-blooded sports horses].

Previous work (Marc et al., 2000) suggested that plasma cortisol responses to treadmill exercise or ACTH injection are a reliable marker for performance evaluation in warmblood horses. For practical purposes blood sample collections and treadmill exercise tests are somewhat troublesome and time consuming. The goal of this study was thus to evaluate the use of saliva for cortisol determination (by direct EIA) as a marker for performance and to investigate the reliability and repeatability of plasma cortisol responses to a single i.v. injection of ACTH (50 micrograms or 250 micrograms). Furthermore, the effect of training horses for 8 weeks 3 times per week covering the same distance (increasing from 3.5 km during the first week to 8 km during the last week) either by trotting (approximately 240 m/min) or by cantering (375 m/min) was investigated. For this purpose initially ten four-year-old Hannovarian geldings, all reared in the same State stud, were used. Mean overall correlation between salivary cortisol and plasma cortisol concentrations was 0.64 when samples of various points of time were used. However, in spite of attempts to standardize saliva sample collection, correlation between salivary cortisol levels and plasma cortisol levels at distinct points of time in different tests were low and significant (r = 0.85, p < 0.02) only in one test. Thus, salivary cortisol measurements for diagnostic purposes are not reliable or useful. The repeatability of plasma cortisol responses to ACTH for untrained and trained horses were r = 0.86 and r = 0.8 respectively (p < or = 0.01 and p < or = 0.05 respectively). Training horses either by trotting or cantering did not affect the cortisol response either to treadmill exercise or to stimulation by ACTH. It is concluded that the relationship between salivary cortisol levels and plasma cortisol levels is not close enough to allow the use of salivary cortisol determination as marker of the training status/fitness of horses. The repeatability of the cortisol response to ACTH is similar to the cortisol response to treadmill exercise. Based on plasma cortisol responses to ACTH or treadmill exercise training horses by cantering at low speed is not superior to training by trotting for the fitness of horses.
Design High-Efficiency Si Nanopillar-Array-Textured Thin-Film Solar Cell

In this letter, the electrical performance in terms of power conversion efficiency (PCE) of Si nanopillar (SiNP)-textured thin-film solar cell is investigated via simulation, where the SiNP physical dimensions were predetermined for optimized solar-energy absorption. Several key factors affecting PCE of the solar cell, e.g., the impact of Si quality in terms of minority carrier lifetime, emitter doping level, and emitter junction depth, is highlighted, and a practical guideline to design high-efficiency SiNP-textured thin-film solar cell is thus provided. The PCE of the structure under investigation can be significantly boosted, compared with the to-date reported Si thin-film solar cell.
Surrogate constraint analysis-new heuristics and learning schemes for satisfiability problems

Surrogate constraint analysis has been applied effectively to a variety of combinatorial optimization problems, as a foundation for both exact and heuristic methods. In the heuristic domain, surrogate constraint methods are particularly suited to the creation of associated learning procedures and to the application of probabilistic decisions. We show that these approaches are natural and effective for satisfiability (SAT) problems. Added motivation comes from observing that the current best exact and heuristic procedures for multidimensional knapsack problems are provided independently by surrogate constraint methods and probabilistic methods that use memory and learning structures (derived from tabu search). We show that the SAT problem can be formulated as a special instance of a binary-choice multidimensional knapsack problem (or equivalently, a binary-choice generalized covering problem), and demonstrate how surrogate constraint analysis can be specialized in a particularly convenient way to exploit the structure of this problem. Our approach incorporates simple (first order) instances of adaptive memory structures characteristic of tabu search implementations, to give a learning effect to guide the search. This use of memory adds a dimension to the solution process that has not adequately been examined in the past. We find that the combination of surrogate constraint analysis and simple learning proves more effective than probabilistic search designs, including those that encompass probabilistic rules that have been highly favored in previous SAT approaches. These outcomes motivate a closer look at surrogate strategies and more advanced ways of integrating them with adaptive memory and learning procedures.
Design of a current steering DAC for a high speed current mode SAR ADC

In this paper, an approach towards high speed current mode based SAR ADCs is presented. The main focus is placed on the design of a unary single-sided current steering DAC working with a binary search algorithm inside the SAR loop. Reflecting the fact that current source matching and precise current settling are the most important static and dynamic properties of the current steering DAC in a current based SAR ADC, the paper contains an initial investigation of the DAC current settling when driving a linear load together with an analysis of the effects of current source mismatch and noise on the DAC performance. The theoretical analysis is compared against a schematic level implementation in a 1.2V 90nm CMOS technology. This DAC implementation is designed for an overall resolution of 10bit in the current based SAR ADC over a Nyquist band from DC to 100MHz.
Attenuation-based estimation of patient size for the purpose of size specific dose estimation in CT. Part II. Implementation on abdomen and thorax phantoms using cross sectional CT images and scanned projection radiograph images.

PURPOSE To estimate attenuation using cross sectional CT images and scanned projection radiograph (SPR) images in a series of thorax and abdomen phantoms. METHODS Attenuation was quantified in terms of a water cylinder with cross sectional area of A(w) from both the CT and SPR images of abdomen and thorax phantoms, where A(w) is the area of a water cylinder that would absorb the same dose as the specified phantom. SPR and axial CT images were acquired using a dual-source CT scanner operated at 120 kV in single-source mode. To use the SPR image for estimating A(w), the pixel values of a SPR image were calibrated to physical water attenuation using a series of water phantoms. A(w) and the corresponding diameter D(w) were calculated using the derived attenuation-based methods (from either CT or SPR image). A(w) was also calculated using only geometrical dimensions of the phantoms (anterior-posterior and lateral dimensions or cross sectional area). RESULTS For abdomen phantoms, the geometry-based and attenuation-based methods gave similar results for D(w). Using only geometric parameters, an overestimation of D(w) ranging from 4.3% to 21.5% was found for thorax phantoms. Results for D(w) using the CT image and SPR based methods agreed with each other within 4% on average in both thorax and abdomen phantoms. CONCLUSIONS Either the cross sectional CT or SPR images can be used to estimate patient attenuation in CT. Both are more accurate than use of only geometrical information for the task of quantifying patient attenuation. The SPR based method requires calibration of SPR pixel values to physical water attenuation and this calibration would be best performed by the scanner manufacturer.
Open-domain personalized dialog system using user-interested topics in system responses

We built a personalized example-based dialog system that constructs its responses by considering entities that the user has uttered, and topics in which the user has expressed interest. The system analyzes user input utterances, then uses DBpedia and Freebase to extract relevant entities and topics. The extracted entities and topics are stored in personal knowledge memory and are used when the system selects responses from the example database and generates responses. We conducted a human experiment in which evaluators rated dialog systems based on subjective metrics. The proposed dialog system that uses topics that are of interest to the user achieved higher evaluation scores for both personalization and satisfaction than the baseline systems. These results demonstrate that the use of topics in the system response provides a sense that the system pays attention to the user's utterances; as a consequence the user has a satisfactory dialog experience.
A Record&Replay Mechanism using Programmable Network Interface Cards

A process and system for the purpose of running and controlling electrical high-voltage power lines, particularly of the pertinent generators, wherein a line identification is required with the determination of the longitudinal equivalent reactance of each line section coupled with a measuring point or with a generator connected there, the generator being represented by this longitudinal reactance between the measuring point and a point on the line with amplitude and phase-rigid line voltage. The reactance is determined continuously from the local measured dimensions (P, Q, V1) by using a majority of predetermined values (Xe1-Xe3) of the searched for reactance through similarity comparison of the time developents of phase angle differences (d1 to d3) formed by the predetermined values (Xe1-Xe3) and the local phase angle (dm).
Long-term Sustainability of Diabetes Prevention Approaches: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of Randomized Clinical Trials

Importance Diabetes prevention is imperative to slow worldwide growth of diabetes-related morbidity and mortality. Yet the long-term efficacy of prevention strategies remains unknown. Objective To estimate aggregate long-term effects of different diabetes prevention strategies on diabetes incidence. Data Sources Systematic searches of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science databases. The initial search was conducted on January 14, 2014, and was updated on February 20, 2015. Search terms included prediabetes, primary prevention, and risk reduction. Study Selection Eligible randomized clinical trials evaluated lifestyle modification (LSM) and medication interventions (>6 months) for diabetes prevention in adults (age ≥18 years) at risk for diabetes, reporting between-group differences in diabetes incidence, published between January 1, 1990, and January 1, 2015. Studies testing alternative therapies and bariatric surgery, as well as those involving participants with gestational diabetes, type 1 or 2 diabetes, and metabolic syndrome, were excluded. Data Extraction and Synthesis Reviewers extracted the number of diabetes cases at the end of active intervention in treatment and control groups. Random-effects meta-analyses were used to obtain pooled relative risks (RRs), and reported incidence rates were used to compute pooled risk differences (RDs). Main Outcomes and Measures The main outcome was aggregate RRs of diabetes in treatment vs control participants. Treatment subtypes (ie, LSM components, medication classes) were stratified. To estimate sustainability, post-washout and follow-up RRs for medications and LSM interventions, respectively, were examined. Results Forty-three studies were included and pooled in meta-analysis (49 029 participants; mean [SD] age, 57.3 [8.7] years; 48.0% [n = 23 549] men): 19 tested medications; 19 evaluated LSM, and 5 tested combined medications and LSM. At the end of the active intervention (range, 0.5-6.3 years), LSM was associated with an RR reduction of 39% (RR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.54-0.68), and medications were associated with an RR reduction of 36% (RR, 0.64; 95% CI, 0.54-0.76). The observed RD for LSM and medication studies was 4.0 (95% CI, 1.8-6.3) cases per 100 person-years or a number-needed-to-treat of 25. At the end of the washout or follow-up periods, LSM studies (mean follow-up, 7.2 years; range, 5.7-9.4 years) achieved an RR reduction of 28% (RR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.60-0.86); medication studies (mean follow-up, 17 weeks; range, 2-52 weeks) showed no sustained RR reduction (RR, 0.95; 95% CI, 0.79-1.14). Conclusions and Relevance In adults at risk for diabetes, LSM and medications (weight loss and insulin-sensitizing agents) successfully reduced diabetes incidence. Medication effects were short lived. The LSM interventions were sustained for several years; however, their effects declined with time, suggesting that interventions to preserve effects are needed.
Community Resources and Mental Health of Older Women Living Alone

The relationship between community resources and mental health was examined in a community sample of 807 women 65 years and older. Results indicate that those living alone are no more depressed or cognitively impaired than those in other living arrangements, but they are less likely to believe someone will be available to assist them for a long or short time or in an emergency. In addition, those living alone who have more neighbors and more children in the neighborhood are more likely to believe short and long-term community care will be available if needed.
World Financial Crisis and the Rise of Chinese Commercial Banks

The current financial crisis hit the banking giants of the world really hard. It is striking to note that some of the large Chinese commercial banks have emerged to be the biggest winners as a result of the crisis thanks to reforms over the last 10 years. The most significant reform before the crisis was ownership diversification, aiming to improve corporate governance and efficiency. Within one year from October 2005, three of the four biggest state-owned banks (SOBs) were listed on the stock exchanges. This paper will study whether this reform has really improved bank efficiency. Adopting the DEA (data envelopment analysis) approach, this paper examines whether IPO (initial public offering) is effective in enhancing bank performance. Using data of 14 listed banks during 1999-07, the results show that on average, bank efficiency increased by almost 10% after listing. Despite joint equity banks (JEBs) still perform better than SOBs, the latter manage to catch up and reduce the efficiency gap with the former during the past few years. This in part explains why the Chinese banking system has been less affected by the current world financial crisis than their western counterparts, leading to an important conclusion that SOB reforms in China over the last 10 years have produced remarkable results.
Acetylcholine Transport: Fundamental Properties and Effects of Pharmacologic Agents a

Acetylcholine (ACh) is found in association with synaptic vesicle fractions obtained from mammalian brain, diaphragm and myenteric plexus, squid head ganglion, PC12 cells, and electric eel, catfish, and ray electric organs. Much well-known evidence supports the hypothesis that evoked release of ACh from nerve terminals occurs from the synaptic vesicle stores by means of calcium-dependent exocytosis. Thus, storage of ACh by the vesicles is an important step in cholinergic neurotransmission, and it is of fundamental importance that we understand this process. In particular, we would like to identify all of the enzymes, proteins, and small molecules which are involved, understand the electrical and osmotic transport relationships among the small molecules, and detexmine whether physiological regulation operates at this level of the cholinergic synapse. Progress on these molecular aspects of cholinergic vesicle function has been dacult until relatively recently. Biochemical studies are now possible, due in large measure to the efforts of Whittaker,' Kelly,' and co-workers, who demonstrated that one can isolate millipam quantities of highly purified homogeneously cholinergic synaptic vesicles from the electric organ of marine rays such as Torpedo.
Janus kinase 2 inhibitors in myeloproliferative disorders

Importance of the field: JAK2 is an obligatory kinase for the proliferation and differentiation of erythroid cells and megakaryocytes thus representing a relevant therapeutic target for agents that specifically inhibit its activity particularly in myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) harboring JAK2V617F mutations. Areas covered in this review: We discuss the physiopathology of the JAK2 signaling pathway and review clinical trials of JAK2 inhibitors for the treatment of MPD using papers and meeting abstracts published up to September 2010. What the reader will gain: This review helps in understanding the potential role of JAK2 inhibitors in MPD clinical trials and provides a comprehensive review regarding their efficacy and safety in these disorders. Take home message: JAK2 inhibitors may prove to be useful only for suppressing disease manifestations. However, unlike drugs such as IFN which are capable of eliminating the malignant clone, JAK2 inhibitors are unable to eradicate the disease. In fact, results to date indicate that although these inhibitors reduce splenomegaly and alleviate constitutional symptoms irrespective of JAK2 mutational status, most have only a modest impact on the JAK2V617F allele burden. Considering the relevant risk of serious complications in patients undergoing splenectomy, these drugs could find a suitable indication in patients with myelofibrosis awaiting bone marrow transplantation.
Orexigenic Gene Expression in Late Gestation Ovine Foetal Hypothalamus is Sensitive to Maternal Undernutrition and Realimentation

Adverse nutritional effects on developing foetal hypothalamic appetitive pathways may contribute to programmed hyperphagia and obesity in intra‐uterine growth‐restricted, low birth weight offspring. In the present study, for the first time, hypothalamic gene expression for primary orexigenic and anorexigenic genes was examined in late gestation ovine foetuses (130 days; term = 145 days) whose mothers were undernourished (UN) or well‐nourished (C) throughout pregnancy, or transferred from UN to C on day 90 (UN‐C). Pregnancies resulted from singleton embryo transfer into adolescent growing ewes. Body weight, carcass fat content and perirenal adipose tissue (PAT) mass were all lower for UN (n = 9) than C (n = 7) and intermediate for UN‐C foetuses (n = 6), with no effect of sex. PAT leptin gene expression (by the reverse transcriptase‐polymerase chain reaction) was lower in UN than C and UN‐C groups, and lower in males than females. Gene expression (by in situ hybridisation with radiolabelled riboprobes) in the arcuate nucleus was greater in UN than C foetuses for neuropeptide Y (NPY), agouti‐related peptide (AGRP) and leptin receptor (OBRb) but not different for pro‐opiomelanocortin and cocaine‐ and amphetamine‐regulated transcript. Gene expression in UN‐C foetuses was intermediate for NPY and AGRP and not different from C foetuses for OBRb. Gene expression for NPY, AGRP and OBRb correlated negatively with foetal carcass fat content and with PAT leptin gene expression across all groups. Males had greater mRNA expression for AGRP than females, with NPY and OBRb showing similar trends. Therefore, maternal undernutrition throughout pregnancy increased orexigenic gene expression in the late gestation foetal hypothalamus, and expression levels were largely normalised by improved maternal nutrition in the last third of pregnancy. These findings may have implications for avoiding or correcting prenatal programming of postnatal hyperphagia and obesity.
Comparison of Voltage-Source Inverter Topologies for Two-Phase Bearingless Slice Motors

The application of bearingless pump systems in cost-sensitive applications such as in the food, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology industries arises from the necessity of power electronics systems with reduced complexity and costs. In this paper, three different voltage-source inverter topologies are compared regarding their suitability for driving state-of-the-art two-phase bearingless motors. The comparison is based on performance indices such as the available drive voltage and/or pump power, number of required power electronics components, and level of compactness.