Von Fechter und Werenfels zu Herzog & de Meuron. Das Bachofen'sche Fabrikgebäude auf dem Basler Münsterhügel. Neuzeitliche Funde und Befunde der Ausgrabung 2008/3 "Museum der Kulturen"

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Nachlese zu den "Ausgrabungen am Petersberg"

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Is unconsciousness simply the reverse of consciousness?

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The relationship between physical and psychological symptoms and health care utilization in hospitalized patients with advanced cancer

BACKGROUND

Patients with advanced cancer often experience frequent and prolonged hospitalizations; however, the factors associated with greater health care utilization have not been described. We sought to investigate the relation between patients' physical and psychological symptom burden and health care utilization.

METHODS

We enrolled patients with advanced cancer and unplanned hospitalizations from September 2014-May 2016. Upon admission, we assessed physical (Edmonton Symptom Assessment System [ESAS]) and psychological symptoms (Patient Health Questionnaire 4 [PHQ-4]). We examined the relationship between symptom burden and healthcare utilization using linear regression for hospital length of stay (LOS) and Cox regression for time to first unplanned readmission within 90 days. We adjusted all models for age, sex, marital status, comorbidity, education, time since advanced cancer diagnosis, and cancer type.

RESULTS

We enrolled 1,036 of 1,152 (89.9%) consecutive patients approached. Over one-half reported moderate/severe fatigue, poor well being, drowsiness, pain, and lack of appetite. PHQ-4 scores indicated that 28.8% and 28.0% of patients had depression and anxiety symptoms, respectively. The mean hospital LOS was 6.3 days, and the 90-day readmission rate was 43.1%. Physical symptoms (ESAS: unstandardized coefficient [B], 0.06; P < .001), psychological distress (PHQ-4 total: B, 0.11; P = .040), and depression symptoms (PHQ-4 depression: B, 0.22; P = .017) were associated with longer hospital LOS. Physical (ESAS: hazard ratio, 1.01; P < .001), and anxiety symptoms (PHQ-4 anxiety: hazard ratio, 1.06; P = .045) were associated with a higher likelihood for readmission.

CONCLUSIONS

Hospitalized patients with advanced cancer experience a high symptom burden, which is significantly associated with prolonged hospitalizations and readmissions. Interventions are needed to address the symptom burden of this population to improve health care delivery and utilization. Cancer 2017. © 2017 American Cancer Society.

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Earthbound Farm LLC Issues Allergy Alert on Undeclared Milk and Egg in One Batch of Earthbound Farm Organic Chopped Asian Style Salad Kit

Out of an abundance of caution, Earthbound Farm LLC of San Juan Bautista, CA is voluntarily recalling 1,755 cases of the Earthbound Farm Organic Chopped Asian Style Salad Kit with an expiration date of October 24, 2017 and UPC of 32601 95134, because it was discovered that some of the bags contain the dressing/toppings packets for the Southwest Chopped Salad Kit rather than for the Chopped Asian Style Kit. The Southwest dressing contains egg and milk that are not declared as ingredients on the bag of the Asian Style Salad Kit.

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Potentially malignant disorders of the oral cavity: Evaluation guideline

This new clinical practice guideline from the American Dental Association (ADA) updates the 2010 guideline on "Evidence-based Clinical Recommendations Regarding Screening for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas

The post Potentially malignant disorders of the oral cavity: Evaluation guideline appeared first on National Elf Service.

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Enhanced gastric cancer growth potential of mesenchymal stem cells derived from gastric cancer tissues educated by CD4+ T cells

Abstract

Objectives

Gastric cancer mesenchymal stem cells (GC-MSCs) can promote the development of tumour growth. The tumour-promoting role of tumour-associated MSCs and T cells has been demonstrated. T cells as the major immune cells may influence and induce a pro-tumour phenotype in MSCs. This study focused on whether CD4⁺ T cells can affect GC-MSCs to promote gastric cancer growth.

Materials and methods

CD4⁺ T cells upregulation of programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression in GC-MSCs through the phosphorylated signal transducer and activator of transcription (p-STAT3) signalling pathway was confirmed by immunofluorescence, western blotting and RT-PCR. Migration of GC cells was detected by Transwell migration assay, and apoptosis of GC cells was measured by flow cytometry using annexin V/propidium iodide double staining. CD4⁺ T cell-primed GC-MSCs promoted GC growth in a subcutaneously transplanted tumour model in BALB/c nu/nu mice.

Results

Gastric cancer mesenchymal stem cells stimulated by activated CD4⁺ T cells promoted migration of GC cells and enhanced GC growth potential in BALB/c nu/nu xenografts. PD-L1 upregulation of GC-MSCs stimulated by CD4⁺ T cells was mediated through the p-STAT3 signalling pathway. CD4⁺ T cells-primed GC-MSCs have greater GC volume and growth rate-promoting role than GC-MSCs, with cancer cell-intrinsic PD-1/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signalling activation.

Conclusions

This study showed that GC-MSCs are plastic. The immunophenotype of GC-MSCs stimulated by CD4⁺ T cells has major changes that may influence tumour cell growth. This research was based on the interaction between tumour cells, MSCs and immune cells, providing a new understanding of the development and immunotherapy of GC.

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AFAP1-AS1: A novel oncogenic long non-coding RNA in human cancers

Abstract

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), a group of non-protein-coding RNAs with more than 200 nucleotides in length, are involved in multiple biological processes, such as the proliferation, apoptosis, migration and invasion. Moreover, numerous studies have shown that lncRNAs play important roles as oncogenes or tumour suppressor genes in human cancers. In this paper, we concentrate on actin filament-associated protein 1-antisense RNA 1 (AFAP1-AS1), a well-known long non-coding RNA that is overexpressed in various tumour tissues and cell lines, including oesophageal cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma, nasopharyngeal carcinoma, lung cancer, hepatocellular carcinoma, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer, biliary tract cancer and gastric cancer. Moreover, high expression of AFAP1-AS1 was associated with the clinicopathological features and cancer progression. In this review, we sum up the current studies on the characteristics of AFAP1-AS1 in the biological function and mechanism of human cancers.

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Response to "Opioid warning label" [Letters]

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Canadian funders and institutions are lagging on reporting results of clinical trials [Commentary]

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Depression and mortality in a longitudinal study: 1952-2011 [Research]

BACKGROUND:

Many studies have shown that depression increases mortality risk. We aimed to investigate the duration of time over which depression is associated with increased risk of mortality, secular trends in the association between depression and mortality, and sex differences in the association between depression and mortality.

METHODS:

We conducted a cohort study of 3410 adults enrolled in 3 representative samples of a county in Atlantic Canada in 1952 (n = 1003), 1970 (n = 1203) or 1992 (n = 1402) (the Stirling County Study). Depression was measured using a diagnostic algorithm based on the presence of depressed mood and associated symptoms, duration of more than 1 month, and substantial impairment. Vital status of participants through 2011 was determined using probabilistic linkages to the Canadian Mortality Database.

RESULTS:

Depression was associated with a heightened risk of mortality among men during the 3 time periods of the study, with hazard ratios (HRs) of 2.90 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.69–4.98) between 1952 and 1967, 1.97 (CI 1.34–2.89) between 1968 and 1990, and 1.52 (CI 1.09–2.13) between 1991 and 2011. Elevated risk of mortality was noted among women only between 1990 and 2011 (HR = 1.51; CI = 1.11–2.05).

INTERPRETATION:

The association between depression and mortality persists over long periods of time and has emerged among women in recent decades, despite contemporaneous improvements in the treatment of depression and reduction of stigma associated with depression. Further research is needed to better understand the mechanisms involved.

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Rich nations are feeding research predators [News]

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Legionellosis following water birth in a hot tub in a Canadian neonate [Practice]

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Opioid warning label [Letters]

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A case of blood sweating: hematohidrosis syndrome [Practice]

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COPD research and treatment pioneer [News]

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Sweating blood: history and review [Humanities]

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Researchers may be part of the problem in predatory publishing [News]

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Symptom burden may increase hospital length of stay, readmission risk in advanced cancer

Hospitalized patients with advanced cancer who report more intense and numerous physical and psychological symptoms appear to be at risk for longer hospital stays and unplanned hospital readmissions. The report from a Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH)...

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Advanced cancer patients' physical emotional burdens linked lengthy hospital stays

New research indicates that hospitalized patients with advanced cancer experience many physical and psychological symptoms, and that patients dealing with a higher burden of these symptoms have longer hospital stays and a greater risk for unplanned...

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Science as momentary truth

Publication date: Available online 19 October 2017
Source:Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Leonardo Silva




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Side effects of intraoral devices for OSAS treatment

Publication date: Available online 14 October 2017
Source:Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Andressa Otranto de Britto Teixeira, Ana Luiza Ladeia Andrade, Rhita Cristina da Cunha Almeida, Marco Antonio de Oliveira Almeida
IntroductionIntraoral devices have increasingly assumed a key role in the treatment of Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome, but there are limitations to their indication and side effects that result from their continuous use, as well as the use of the Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) device.ObjectivesTo evaluate the changes in dental positioning caused by the continuous use of mandibular advancement devices.MethodsA prospective longitudinal study with a sample of 15 patients, with evaluation of complete documentation after a mean time of 6.47 months, assessed changes in dental positioning due to the use of the Twin Block oral device for the treatment of patients with apnea. The following variables were evaluated: overjet, overbite, upper and lower intermolar distances, upper and lower intercanine distances, Little's irregularity index and the incisor mandibular plane angle (IMPA). An intraclass correlation test was performed and a correlation index>0.08 was accepted. After verifying the normal sample distribution (Shapiro-Wilks), a parametric test was used (t Test), with a significance level set at 5%.ResultsThere was a decrease in the values of overjet, overbite and Little's irregularity index, whereas there was an increase in the lower intercanine distance and IMPA values. All these variables are influenced, at different levels, by the forward inclination of the lower incisors, an action that can be expected due to the force applied by the device on the dentition. The other variables did not show statistically significant differences.ConclusionAfter a mean time of 6.47 months of use of the mandibular advancement device, there were statistically significant changes in the dental positioning, but they were not clinically relevant. However, it is relevant that this device is commonly in use over long periods of time, making the monitoring of these patients of the utmost importance for the duration of their therapy.



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Neutrophil–lymphocyte ratios in the prognostication of primary non-metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Publication date: Available online 19 October 2017
Source:Brazilian Journal of Otorhinolaryngology
Author(s): Kong Yew Liew, Abu Bakar Zulkiflee
IntroductionNasopharyngeal Carcinoma is a geographically and racially variable disease which has a high incidence in Malaysia. Based on current concepts in tumour related inflammation the inflammatory marker, Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio was tested to find its relationship with prognosis in Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma.ObjectiveTo investigate the effect of the Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio on prognosis in non-metastatic primary Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma patients and to further refine the cut off between high and low Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio values.MethodsThe medical charts of patients with histologically confirmed Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma from 1st January 2005 until 31st December 2009 were reviewed retrospectively and the Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio was calculated to see if there was any association between their higher values with higher failure rates.ResultsRecords of 98 patients (n=98) were retrieved and reviewed. Only Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio (p=0.004) and TMN staging (p=0.002) were significantly different between recurrent and non-recurrent groups, with the Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio being independent of TNM staging (p=0.007). Treatment failure was significantly higher in the high Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio group (p=0.001). Disease Free Survival was also significantly higher in this group (p=0.000077).ConclusionHigh Neutrophil–Lymphocyte Ratio values are associated with higher rates of recurrence and worse Disease Free Survival in non-metastatic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma patients undergoing primary curative treatment.



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Know what to eat for good oral health

Apart from brushing twice a day and flossing, what we eat plays a big role in keeping our teeth healthy. Australian dentist Dr Steven Lin, according to The Independent, has revealed which foods we should be consuming to do so.

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CyPA and Emmprin play a role in peri-implantitis

Abstract

Background

Cyclophilin A (CyPA) and Emmprin play important roles in peri-implantitis. However, their roles in the diagnosis and treatment of the disease are still unclear.

Purpose

The aim of this split-mouth animal study was to describe variable trends of biomarkers during the progression of peri-implantitis and to define relationships among CyPA, Emmprin, and peri-implantitis.

Materials and Methods

Six male adult Labradors were used. The mandibular premolars and the first molar were extracted, and sixteen implants were placed after 3 months. Peri-implantitis was induced around the implants on one side, which were the test group, and the implants on the other side were included in the control group. Clinical parameters such as probing depth, gingival index, and bleeding index and periapical X-rays were recorded at weeks 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Peri-implant crest fluid (PICF) and gingiva around the implants were collected and analyzed by ELISA and real-time PCR, respectively.

Results

The clinical parameters of the test group indicated severe inflammation around the implants. Radiographs showed obvious bone loss beginning at week 4, and it continued over time. The concentration of CyPA in the peri-implantitis group increased at first and then decreased beginning at week 6, and the concentration of Emmprin decreased at first and then increased beginning at week 6. Emmprin, matrix metalloproteinase-9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase-1 showed similar changes over time. CyPA showed a consistent trend with Interleukin-1β, but showed an opposite trend to Transforming growth factor-β. Both the concentration of CyPA in PICF and gene expression in gingival tissue increased before bone absorption occurred.

Conclusion

Despite the limitations of this study, CyPA may be an early signal for peri-implantitis. A CyPA-Emmprin interaction exists in peri-implantitis and is Emmprin-dependent. Emmprin is related to clinical attachment loss in peri-implantitis.

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Combined Effects of Sustained Loads and Wet-Dry Cycles on Durability of Glass Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

This paper deals with durability of glass fiber reinforced polymer (GFRP) composites under the combined effects of sustained tensile loads and wet-dry (WD) cycles. Two different solutions (distilled water and saltwater) were used to imitate the freshwater and marine environments, respectively. Tensile properties of the unconditioned and conditioned specimens were measured to study the durability of GFRP composites under these 2 effects. The response indicated that both tensile strength and elastic modulus increased initially upon WD cycles, which was attributed to both the postcuring of resin and the sustained tensile stress allowing for fastec cure. Further exposure to WD cycles in distilled water or saltwater led to a steady decrease in tensile strength and modulus. WD cycles of saltwater and distilled water have similar effects on the degradation of the tensile properties for unstressed specimens. However, the elastic modulus and elongation at rupture of stressed specimens under WD cycles of saltwater decreased more than those specimens under WD cycles of distilled water. Moreover, increase of sustained loads led to a decrease in tensile strength. Based on Arrhenius method, a prediction model which accounted for the effects of postcure processes was developed. The predicted results of tensile strength and elastic modulus agree well with those obtained from the experiments.

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Electron Beam Irradiation Induced Multiwalled Carbon Nanotubes Fusion inside SEM

This paper reported a method of multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) fusion inside a scanning electron microscope (SEM). A CNT was picked up by nanorobotics manipulator system which was constructed in SEM with 21 DOFs and 1 nm resolution. The CNT was picked up and placed on two manipulators. The tensile force was 140 nN when the CNT was pulled into two parts. Then, two parts of the CNT were connected to each other by two manipulators. The adhered force between two parts was measured to be about 20 nN. When the two parts of CNT were connected again, the contact area was fused by focused electron beam irradiation for 3 minutes. The tensile force of the junction was measured to be about 100 nN. However, after fusion, the tensile force was five times larger than the tensile force connected only by van der Waals force. This force was 70 percent of the tensile force before pulling out of CNTs. The results revealed that the electron beam irradiation was a promising method for CNT fusion. We hope this technology will be applied to nanoelectronics in the near future.

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Antidyslipidemic, Anti-Inflammatory, and Antioxidant Activities of Aqueous Leaf Extract of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Stapf) Diels in High-Fat Diet-Fed Rats

Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii (Stapf) Diels leaves are widely used in the treatment of diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular related complications in Nigeria. This study investigates the anti-inflammatory and antiobesity effect of aqueous extract of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii leaves in high-fat diet- (HFD-) induced obese rats. HFD-fed rats were given 100, 200, and 400 mgkg−1 body weight of aqueous extract of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii leaves for 4 weeks starting from 9th week of HFD treatment. D. cumminsii leaves aqueous extract reversed HFD-mediated decrease in the activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, and glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase. Moreover, HFD-mediated elevation in the levels of conjugated dienes, lipid hydroperoxides, malondialdehyde, protein carbonyl, and DNA fragmentation in rats liver was lowered. HFD-mediated alterations in serum total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and very low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were significantly reversed by the extract. The treatment of HFD-fed rats reduced the levels of insulin, leptin, protein carbonyl, fragmented DNA, and tumour necrosis factor-α and interleukin- (IL-) 6 and IL- 8 and increased the adiponectin level. This study showed that aqueous extract of Dioscoreophyllum cumminsii leaves has potential antiobesity and anti-inflammatory effects through modulation of obesity-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and obesity-related disorder in HFD-induced obese rats.

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The Variability and Evaluation Method of Recycled Concrete Aggregate Properties

With the same sources and regeneration techniques, given RA's properties may display large variations. The same single property index of different sets maybe has a large difference of the whole property. How shall we accurately evaluate the whole property of RA? 8 groups of RAs from pavement and building were used to research the method of evaluating the holistic characteristics of RA. After testing and investigating, the parameters of aggregates were analyzed. The data of physical and mechanical properties show a distinct dispersion and instability; thus, it has been difficult to express the whole characteristics in any single property parameter. The Euclidean distance can express the similarity of samples. The closer the distance, the more similar the property. The standard variance of the whole property Euclidean distances for two types of RA is and , respectively, which shows that the property of building RA has great fluctuation, while pavement RA is more stable. There are certain correlations among the apparent density, water absorption, and crushed value of RAs, and the Mahalanobis distance method can directly evaluate the whole property by using its parameters: mean, variance, and covariance, and it can provide a grade evaluation model for RAs.

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Quantitative Analysis of Japan’s Energy Security Based on Fuzzy Logic: Impact Assessment of Fukushima Accident

The Fukushima accident of March 2011 had great political, economic, and social impacts on Japan and marked a very important turning point in Japan's energy policy. As the accident has also greatly exposed the vulnerability of Japan's energy security, it is crucial to clarify the path that Japan should take to maintain and secure its energy security in case of any possible future outbreak that may threaten its energy security. For this purpose, we conducted a comprehensive and structural analysis of Japan's energy security based on APERC's 4As framework and by using fuzzy logic and the Fuzzy-DEMATEL method to quantitatively understand the performance of Japan's energy security and how the Fukushima accident had impacted the performance. Our results demonstrate that Japan's energy security has clearly degraded after experiencing Fukushima accident. In addition, the results of the structural analysis by the Fuzzy-DEMATEL method show that the most salient dimension in the 4As framework for improving Japan's energy security is the "Availability" dimension, and for this purpose nuclear energy and renewables play very important roles in securing the future energy security in Japan; this is consistent with the current energy policy measures announced in the Strategic Energy Plan of 2014.

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Using BIB-SEM Imaging for Permeability Prediction in Heterogeneous Shales

Organic-rich shale samples from a lacustrine sedimentary sequence of the Newark Basin (New Jersey, USA) are investigated by combining Broad Ion Beam polishing with Scanning Electron Microscopy (BIB-SEM). We model permeability from this 2D data and compare our results with measured petrophysical properties. Three samples with total organic carbon (TOC) contents ranging from 0.7% to 2.9% and permeabilities ranging from 4 to 160 nD are selected. Pore space is imaged at high resolution (at 20,000x magnification) and segmented from representative BIB-SEM maps. Modeled permeabilities, derived using the capillary tube model (CTM) on segmented pores, range from 2.3 nD to 310 nD and are relatively close to measured intrinsic permeabilities. SEM-visible porosities range from 0.1% to 1.8% increasing with TOC, in agreement with our measurements. The CTM predicts permeability correctly within one order of magnitude. The results of this work demonstrate the potential of 2D BIB-SEM for calculating transport properties of heterogeneous shales.

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Electrical, Thermal, and Morphological Properties of Poly(ethylene terephthalate)-Graphite Nanoplatelets Nanocomposites

Graphite nanoplatelets (GNP) were incorporated with poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) matrix by melt-compounding technique using minilab compounder to produce PET-GNP nanocomposites, and then the extruded nanocomposites were compressed using compression molding to obtain films of 1 mm thickness. Percolation threshold value was determined using percolation theory. The electrical conductivity, morphology, and thermal behaviors of these nanocomposites were investigated at different contents of GNP, that is, below, around, and above its percolation threshold value. The results demonstrated that the addition of GNP at loading >5 wt.% made electrically conductive nanocomposites. An excellent electrical conductivity of ~1 S/m was obtained at 15 wt.% of GNP loading. The nanocomposites showed a typical insulator-conductor transition with a percolation threshold value of 5.7 wt.% of GNP. In addition, increasing screw speed enhanced the conductivity of the nanocomposites above its threshold value by ~2.5 orders of magnitude; this behavior is attributed to improved dispersion of these nanoparticles into the PET matrix. Microscopies results exhibited no indication of aggregations at 2 wt.% of GNP; however, some rolling up at 6 wt.% of GNP contents was observed, indicating that a conductive network has been formed, whereas more agglomeration and rolling up could be seen as the GNP content is increased in the PET matrix. These agglomerations reduced their aspect ratio and then reduced their reinforcement efficiency. NP loading (>2 wt.%) increased degree of crystallinity and improved thermal stability of matrix slightly, suggesting that 2 wt.% of GNP is more than enough to nucleate the matrix.

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Efficacy of Second-Line Pemetrexed-Carboplatin in EGFR-Activating Mutation-Positive NSCLC: Does Exon 19 Deletion Differ from Exon 21 Mutation?

Background. It is unknown whether the outcomes of second-line pemetrexed-carboplatin chemotherapy administered after progression on gefitinib are dependent on type of EGFR mutation present at baseline. Method. Adult non-small-cell lung cancer patients, with exon 19 deletion or exon 21 L858R mutation, who progressed on gefitinib and received pemetrexed-carboplatin chemotherapy were selected for this analysis. Result. 55 patients received pemetrexed-carboplatin as second-line treatment. Response rates in evaluable patients were 39.3% in exon 19 patients () and 33.3% in exon 21 patients () (, Fisher's exact 2-sided value). The median PFS in exon 19 and 21 cohorts was 5.900 months (95% CI: 4.274–7.526) and 4.767 months (95% CI: 1.374–8.159), respectively. The median overall survival in exon 19 patients was (11.8 months, 95% CI: 9.916–13.684 months) significantly better than that seen in exon 21 mutation patients (6.2 months, 95% CI: 4.215–8.118 months, = 0.024) on univariate analysis; however, on multivariate analysis, this association was not confirmed (HR = 0.361, 95% CI: 0.090–1.439, = 0.149). Conclusion. Exon 19 deletion has no impact on PFS and OS in EGFR-mutated patients treated with second-line pemetrexed-carboplatin.

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Collaborative Knowledge Framework for Mediation Information System Engineering

With the worldwide interenterprise collaboration and interoperability background, automatic collaborative business process deduction is crucial and imperative researching subject. A methodology of deducing collaborative process is designed by collecting collaborative knowledge. Due to the complexity of deduction methodology, a collaborative knowledge framework is defined to organize abstract and concrete collaborative information. The collaborative knowledge framework contains three dimensions: elements, levels, and life cycle. To better define the framework, the relations in each dimension are explained in detail. They are (i) relations among elements, which organize the gathering orders and methods of different collaborative elements, (ii) relations among life cycle, which present modeling processes and agility management, and (iii) relations among levels, which define relationships among different levels of collaborative processes: strategy, operation, and support. This paper aims to explain the collaborative knowledge framework and the relations inside.

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Sociotechnical Network Analysis for Power Grid Resilience in South Korea

International efforts to improve power grid resilience mostly focus on technological solutions to reduce the probability of losses by designing hardened, automated, redundant, and smart systems. However, how well a system recovers from failures depends on policies and protocols for human and organizational coordination that must be considered alongside technological analyses. In this work, we develop a sociotechnical network analysis that considers technological and human systems together to support improved blackout response. We construct corresponding infrastructure and social network models for the Korean power grid and analyze them with betweenness to identify critical infrastructures and emergency management organizations. Power grid network analysis reveals important power companies and emergency management headquarters for responding to infrastructure losses, where social network analysis reveals how information-sharing and decision-making authority shifts among these organizations. We find that separate analyses provide relevant yet incomplete recommendations for improving blackout management protocols. In contrast, combined results recommend explicit ways to improve response by connecting key owner, operator, and emergency management organizations with the Ministry of Trade, Industry, and Energy. Findings demonstrate that both technological and social analyses provide important information for power grid resilience, and their combination is necessary to avoid unintended consequences for future blackout events.

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Dynamic VaR Measurement of Gold Market with SV-T-MN Model

VaR (Value at Risk) in the gold market was measured and predicted by combining stochastic volatility (SV) model with extreme value theory. Firstly, for the fat tail and volatility persistence characteristics in gold market return series, the gold price return volatility was modeled by SV-T-MN (SV-T with Mixture-of-Normal distribution) model based on state space. Secondly, future sample volatility prediction was realized by using approximate filtering algorithm. Finally, extreme value theory based on generalized Pareto distribution was applied to measure dynamic risk value (VaR) of gold market return. Through the proposed model on the price of gold, empirical analysis was investigated; the results show that presented combined model can measure and predict Value at Risk of the gold market reasonably and effectively and enable investors to further understand the extreme risk of gold market and take coping strategies actively.

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Cephalometric Soft Tissue Characteristics of Unilateral Cleft Lip and Palate Patients in Relation to Missing Teeth

Objective. This study aimed to evaluate cephalometric soft tissue characteristics in individuals with unilateral complete cleft lip and palate (UCCLP) both with and without missing teeth. Design. A retrospective investigation of patient records, who are being treated at the cleft lip and palate (CLP) clinics at the College of Dentistry. Ninety-six consecutive records of nonsyndromic UCCLP subjects were recruited (33 subjects without missing teeth and 63 subjects with missing teeth). Linear and angular soft tissue measurements obtained from lateral cephalometric radiographs were evaluated and compared among the studied samples. Results. Lower lip was significantly retruded and shorter (), , respectively; in addition to the fact that shallower mentolabial sulcus () was found in the subjects with missing teeth, the rest of the soft tissue was not significantly different between the two groups. Conclusion. In subjects with a UCCLP anomaly, missing teeth have an effect on lower lip position and length, which influenced the mentolabial sulcus. Lower lip position and length differ between cleft patients who present with either multiple missing teeth or with no missing teeth, and this needs to be considered during orthodontic treatment planning and surgical management for the cleft defect.

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Novel combination of histone methylation modulators with therapeutic synergy against acute myeloid leukemia in vitro and in vivo

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy with rapid disease progression and often becomes lethal without treatment. Development of effective new therapies is essential to improve the clinical outcome of AML patients. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) play important roles in epigenetic regulation and their altered expressions have been observed in cancer. Although EZH2 and LSD1 have opposite histone methylation functions, we found that both enzymes were paradoxically up-regulated in AML cells.

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Mutant p53 as A Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Preclinical Investigation with the Anti-p53 Drug, PK11007

The identification of a targeted therapy for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most urgent needs in breast cancer therapeutics. The p53 gene is mutated in approximately 80% of patients with TNBC, and is a potential therapeutic target for patients with this form of breast cancer. The 2-sulfonypyrimidine compound, PK11007, preferentially decreases viability in p53-compromised cancer cell lines. We investigated PK11007 as a potential new treatment for TNBC. IC50 values for inhibition of proliferation in a panel of 17 breast cell lines by PK11007 ranged from 2.3 to 42.2 μM.

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Restless legs syndrome is highly prevalent in patients with postpolio syndrome

We read with great interest the recent article by Marin et al. (1) about the prevalence of restless legs syndrome (RLS) in post-polio syndrome (PPS). The authors reported RLS as highly prevalent (36%) in a large sample of PPS patients (n=119) with a marked disease severity, as measured by IRLSSS score, and identified lower educational level and depression as predictive factors for RLS risk.

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Simultaneous Reconstruction of Columella and Philtrum Using Prolabial Flap Combined with Abbe Flap in Secondary Bilateral Cleft Lip and Nasal Deformity

Open rhinoplasty and Abbe flap techniques are traditionally useful tools for the reconstruction of secondary bilateral cleft lip nasal (BCLN) deformity. We aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of simultaneous columella and philtrum reconstruction using prolabial flap combined with Abbe flap in secondary BCLN deformity.From January 2009 to July 2014, 26 patients (17 males and 9 females; mean age 21 years) with secondary BCLN deformity were recruited. All patients had severe short columella and philtrum deficiency.

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Female service members: 'We've touched every kind of service'

Elvira Chiccarelli grew up during the Vietnam War and felt a call to serve her country. Her mother had been a cadet nurse in World War II, and in 1975 Chiccarelli, a dentist, joined the Air Force.

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Morgan Sarner, Trevor George

Morgan Collins Sarner and Trevor James George were married Oct. 21 in New York. Rabbi Steven J. Meltz officiated at the Pierre hotel.

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Simultaneous Reconstruction of Columella and Philtrum Using Prolabial Flap Combined with Abbe Flap in Secondary Bilateral Cleft Lip and Nasal Deformity

Open rhinoplasty and Abbe flap techniques are traditionally useful tools for the reconstruction of secondary bilateral cleft lip nasal (BCLN) deformity. We aimed to investigate the long-term outcomes of simultaneous columella and philtrum reconstruction using prolabial flap combined with Abbe flap in secondary BCLN deformity.From January 2009 to July 2014, 26 patients (17 males and 9 females; mean age 21 years) with secondary BCLN deformity were recruited. All patients had severe short columella and philtrum deficiency.

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Novel combination of histone methylation modulators with therapeutic synergy against acute myeloid leukemia and

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a hematological malignancy with rapid disease progression and often becomes lethal without treatment. Development of effective new therapies is essential to improve the clinical outcome of AML patients. Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) and lysine specific demethylase 1 (LSD1) play important roles in epigenetic regulation and their altered expressions have been observed in cancer. Although EZH2 and LSD1 have opposite histone methylation functions, we found that both enzymes were paradoxically up-regulated in AML cells.

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Mutant p53 as A Therapeutic Target for the Treatment of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: Preclinical Investigation with the Anti-p53 Drug, PK11007

The identification of a targeted therapy for patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is one of the most urgent needs in breast cancer therapeutics. The p53 gene is mutated in approximately 80% of patients with TNBC, and is a potential therapeutic target for patients with this form of breast cancer. The 2-sulfonypyrimidine compound, PK11007, preferentially decreases viability in p53-compromised cancer cell lines. We investigated PK11007 as a potential new treatment for TNBC. IC50 values for inhibition of proliferation in a panel of 17 breast cell lines by PK11007 ranged from 2.3 to 42.2 μM.

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MEERCAT: MULTIPLEXED EFFICIENT CELL FREE EXPRESSION OF RECOMBINANT QconCATS FOR LARGE SCALE ABSOLUTE PROTEOME QUANTIFICATION [Research]

A major challenge in proteomics is the absolute accurate quantification of large numbers of proteins. QconCATs, artificial proteins that are concatenations of multiple standard peptides, are well established as an efficient means to generate standards for proteome quantification. Previously, QconCATs have been expressed in bacteria, but we now describe QconCAT expression in a robust, cell-free system. The new expression approach rescues QconCATs that previously were unable to be expressed in bacteria and can reduce the incidence of proteolytic damage to QconCATs. Moreover, it is possible to co-synthesise QconCATs in a highly-multiplexed translation reaction, co-expressing tens or hundreds of QconCATs simultaneously. By obviating bacterial culture and through the gain of high level multiplexing, it is now possible to generate tens of thousands of standard peptides in a matter of weeks, rendering absolute quantification of a complex proteome highly achievable in a reproducible, broadly deployable system.

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Numerical modelling of moving interfaces under local equilibrium conditions

Publication date: December 2017
Source:Calphad, Volume 59
Author(s): Jae Sang Lee, Dong-Woo Suh, Yang Mo Koo, Seong Gyoon Kim
A new method is presented to simulate moving interfaces during diffusion-controlled growth under local equilibrium conditions. The position and compositions of the interface are obtained directly from the equilibrium state of the subsystem around the moving interface, without iterative calculation between diffusion fluxes and solute balance conditions. The method is applicable to general multi-component systems, and it ensures the consistency in compositions and solute balance at the interfaces; Those are ascribed to the presented consideration of subsystem around the interface region in a discretized form. Explicit equations of interface compositions and position in discretized variables are also presented for the simplified ternary systems of two-solution and compound/solution. The validity and usefulness of the method is demonstrated by simulations of the two important ternary systems; The simulation results illustrate the features of diffusion-controlled growth with different alloy compositions and diffusivities of solutes in both systems.

Graphical abstract

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Delineating the relationship between Point A prescription dose and pelvic lymph node doses in intracavitary high-dose-rate brachytherapy treatment of cervical cancer for use in low- and middle-income countries

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2017
Source:Brachytherapy
Author(s): John Weaver, Grant Harmon, Matthew M. Harkenrider, Murat Surucu, Abbie Wood, Fiori Alite, William Small
PurposeTo define the relationship between the Point A prescription dose and the dose delivered to various pelvic lymph node groups during high-dose-rate (HDR) brachytherapy treatment of cervical cancer. In less developed countries, brachytherapy is often done without three-dimensional image guidance, instead relying on plain radiography and prescription to Point A. A defined relationship between Point A dose and lymph node doses would help physicians in these health care settings to more accurately estimate nodal doses.Methods AND MATERIALSTreatment data from 50 fractions of HDR brachytherapy of cervical cancer were reviewed, the pelvic lymph nodes were contoured, and dose–volume histogram parameters were obtained. Dose–volume histogram parameters for each contour were normalized as a percentage of the corresponding Point A dose. All nodal groups were divided into left and right sides, except the presacral nodal group.Results AND CONCLUSIONSMean Point A doses were bilateral (Bil) 5.92 Gy ± 0.58, left (L) 5.93 ± 0.59, and right (R) 5.92 ± 0.59. Mean normalized D90 values for the various lymph node groups were as follows—obturator: Bil 20.3% ± 4.5, L 20.5% ± 4.4, and R 20.2% ± 5.2; external iliac: Bil 9.5% ± 2.9, L 10.0% ± 3.1, and R 9.5% ± 3.0; internal iliac: Bil 12.2% ± 3.5, L 12.1% ± 3.4, and R 12.9% ± 4.7; common iliac: Bil 4.3% ± 1.6, L 4.3% ± 1.6, and R 4.3% ± 1.7; and presacral: 8.7% ± 3.4. These relationships can serve as a useful tool for evaluating lymph node doses during HDR brachytherapy of cervical cancer in facilities performing two-dimensional treatment planning and those with limited resources.



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Interferon regulatory factor 6 variants affect nasolabial morphology in East Asian populations

Publication date: January 2018
Source:Archives of Oral Biology, Volume 85
Author(s): Daisuke Tomita, Tetsutaro Yamaguchi, Takatoshi Nakawaki, Yu Hikita, Mohamed Adel, Yong-Il Kim, Shugo Haga, Masahiro Takahashi, Akira Kawaguchi, Mutsumi Isa, Soo-Byung Park, Hajime Ishida, Koutaro Maki, Ryosuke Kimura
ObjectiveThe interferon regulatory factor 6 gene (IRF6) is one of the most conspicuous genes among a large number of candidate risk genes for non-syndromic cleft lip with or without cleft palate, which is considered to be a multifactorial defect. Variants of IRF6 are also suggested to affect normal craniofacial variations, especially in the area of the nose and the upper lip. In the present study, we used lateral cephalograms to establish the relationship between IRF6 and sagittal nasolabial morphology in healthy East Asian subjects.DesignGenomic DNA was extracted from 215 Japanese and 226 Korean individuals, and genotyped for five IRF6 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs): rs17389541, rs642961, rs2013162, rs2235371, and rs7802. These SNPs were tested by multiple regression analyses for their association with craniofacial measurements obtained from lateral cephalometrics.ResultsWe detected a significant association between the derived variants, rs2013162 and rs2235371 and the distances between a facial bone plane indicated by distance from Nasion and Point A (NA plane) to soft tissue landmarks; the Subalare (NA-Sbal) and the Subnasale (NA-Sn) in the sagittal plane.ConclusionOur results indicate that IRF6 variants play an important role in the normal range of variation in nasolabial soft-tissue morphology.



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De-adhesion dynamics of melanoma cells from brain endothelial layer

Publication date: Available online 21 October 2017
Source:Biochimica et Biophysica Acta (BBA) - General Subjects
Author(s): Béla Varga, Réka Anita Domokos, Csilla Fazakas, Imola Wilhelm, István A. Krizbai, Zsolt Szegletes, Csilla Gergely, György Váró, Attila G. Végh
Metastasis formation is a complex and not entirely understood process. The poorest prognosis and the most feared complications are associated to brain metastases. Melanoma derived brain metastases show the highest prevalence. Due to the lack of classical lymphatic drainage, in the process of brain metastases formation the haematogenous route is of primordial importance. The first and crucial step in this multistep process is the establishment of firm adhesion between the blood travelling melanoma cells and the tightly connected layer of the endothelium, which is the fundamental structure of the blood-brain barrier. This study compares the de-adhesion properties and dynamics of three melanoma cells types (WM35, A2058 and A375) to a confluent layer of brain micro-capillary endothelial cells. Cell type dependent adhesion characteristics are presented, pointing towards the existence of metastatic potential related nanomechanical aspects. Apparent mechanical properties such as elasticity, maximal adhesion force, number, size and distance of individual rupture events showed altered values pointing towards cell type dependent aspects. Our results underline the importance of mechanical details in case of intercellular interactions. Nevertheless, it suggests that in adequate circumstances elastic and adhesive characterizations might be used as biomarkers.



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Epidemiology of paediatric trauma presenting to US emergency departments: 2006-2012

Background

Traumatic injury is the leading cause of paediatric morbidity and mortality in the USA. We present updated national data on emergency department (ED) discharges for traumatic injury for a recent 7-year period.

Methods

We conducted a descriptive epidemiological analysis of the Nationwide Emergency Department Sample Survey, the largest and most comprehensive database in the USA, for 2006–2012. Among children and adolescents, we tracked changes in injury mechanism and severity, cost of care, injury intent and the role of trauma centres.

Results

There was an 8.3% (95% CI 7.7 to 8.9) decrease in the annual number of ED visits for traumatic injury in children and adolescents over the study period, from 8 557 904 (SE=5861) in 2006 to 7 846 912 (SE=5191) in 2012. The case-fatality rate was 0.04% for all injuries and 3.2% for severely injured children. Children and adolescents with high-mortality injury mechanisms were more than three times more likely to be treated at a level 1 trauma centre (OR=3.5, 95% CI 3.3 to 3.7), but were more no more likely to die (OR=0.96, 95% CI 0.93 to 1.00). Traumatic brain injury diagnoses increased 22.2% (95% CI 20.6 to 23.9) during the study period. Intentional assault accounted for 3% (SE=0.1) of all child and adolescent ED injury discharges and 7.2% (SE=0.3) of discharges among 15–19 year-olds. There was an 11.3% (95% CI 10.0 to 12.6) decline in motor vehicle injuries from 2009 to 2012. The total cost of care was $23 billion (SE=0.01), a 78% increase from 2006 to 2012.

Conclusions

This analysis presents a recent portrait of paediatric trauma across the USA. These analyses indicate the important role and value of trauma centre care for injured children and adolescents, and that the most common causes and mechanisms of injury are preventable.

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Fall-related mortality in southern Sweden: a multiple cause of death analysis, 1998-2014

Objectives

To investigate temporal trend in fall mortality among adults (aged ≥20 years) in southern Sweden using multiple cause of death data.

Methods

We examined all death certificates (DCs, n=2 01 488) in adults recorded in the Skåne region during 1998–2014. We identified all fall deaths using International Statistical Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 codes (W00-W19) and calculated the mortality rates by age and sex. Temporal trends were evaluated using joinpoint regression and associated causes were identified by age-adjusted and sex-adjusted observed/expected ratios.

Results

Falls were mentioned on 1.0% and selected as underlying cause in 0.7% of all DCs, with the highest frequency among those aged ≥70 years. The majority (75.6%) of fall deaths were coded as unspecified fall (ICD-10 code: W19) followed by falling on or from stairs/steps (7.7%, ICD-10 code: W10) and other falls on the same level (6.3%, ICD-10 code: W18). The mean age at fall deaths increased from 77.5 years in 1998–2002 to 82.9 years in 2010–2014 while for other deaths it increased from 78.5 to 79.8 years over the same period. The overall mean age-standardised rate of fall mortality was 8.3 and 4.0 per 1 00 000 person-years in men and women, respectively, and increased by 1.7% per year in men and 0.8% per year in women during 1998–2014. Head injury and diseases of the circulatory system were recorded as contributing cause on 48.7% of fall deaths.

Conclusions

There is an increasing trend of deaths due to falls in southern Sweden. Further investigations are required to explain this observation particularly among elderly men.

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The role of CXCL12 in tumor microenvironment

Publication date: 30 January 2018
Source:Gene, Volume 641
Author(s): Wenfang Meng, Shihang Xue, Ye Chen
The chemokine ligand C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12) is a kind of small molecules of cytokines that widely expressed in diversified tissues. Recent evidence suggests that CXCL12 plays an important role in the communication of tumor cells with their surrounding microenvironment. The interaction of CXCL12 and its receptors subsequently excite the downstream signaling pathways to affect tumor angiogenesis, tumor cell proliferation and chemoresistance, and thus represents a potential target for cancer therapy. Outpouring molecules targeting CXCL12/CXCR4 axis in tumor microenvironment combined with traditional chemotherapy have drawn more and more attentions, which will be a promising method in anti-cancer therapies. Our review focuses on these roles of CXCL12 and summarizes strategies for treating cancer by disrupting this interaction with special emphasis on the CXCR4/CXCL12 axis.



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A lncRNA-H19 transcript from secondary hair follicle of Liaoning cashmere goat: Identification, regulatory network and expression regulated potentially by its promoter methylation

Publication date: 30 January 2018
Source:Gene, Volume 641
Author(s): Yu B. Zhu, Ze Y. Wang, Rong H. Yin, Qian Jiao, Su J. Zhao, Yu Y. Cong, Hui L. Xue, Dan Guo, Shi Q. Wang, Yan X. Zhu, Wen L. Bai
The H19 transcript (imprinted maternally expressed transcript) is well-known as long noncoding RNA (lncRNA), and it is thought to be associated with the inductive capacity of dermal papilla cells for hair-follicle reconstruction. In this study, we isolated and characterized a lncRNA-H19 transcript from the secondary hair follicle of Liaoning cashmere goat. Also, we investigated its transcriptional pattern and methylation status of H19 gene in secondary hair follicle of this breed during different stages of hair follicle cycle. Nucleotide composition analysis indicated that guanine (G) and cytosine (C) are the dominant nucleotides in the lncRNA-H19 transcript of Liaoning cashmere goat with the highest frequency distribution (11.25%) of GG nucleotide pair. The regulatory network showed that lncRNA-H19 transcript appears to have remarkably diverse regulatory relationships with its related miRNAs and the potential target genes. In secondary hair follicle, the relative expression of lncRNA-H19 transcript at the anagen phase is significantly higher than that at both telogen and catagen phases suggesting that lncRNA-H19 transcript might play essential roles in the formation and growth of cashmere fiber of goat. Methylation analysis indicated that the methylation of the promoter region of H19 gene most likely participates in its transcriptional suppression in secondary hair follicle of Liaoning cashmere goat.



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Mutational analysis of the androgen receptor (NR3C4) gene in patients with 46,XY DSD

Publication date: 30 January 2018
Source:Gene, Volume 641
Author(s): L. Ramos, B. Chávez, L. Mares, E. Valdés, F. Vilchis
Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is an X-linked disorder caused by mutations in the NR3C4 gene, which encodes the androgen receptor (AR). In this study, we performed mutational analyses to identify AR molecular defects, in individuals with 46,XY disorders of sex development (46,XY DSD) and a presumptive diagnosis of AIS. Eighteen different gene mutations, including seven previously unreported new variants, were detected in 26 unrelated cases. These included two deletion mutations (P49fs*185 and E308f*320) in exon 1 and five substitution mutations (p.S792P, p.D829G, p.R832P, p.L839F, and p.K906E) located in the steroid-binding domain. Expression analyses of mutants generated by site-directed mutagenesis indicated that these new gene variants impaired AR function by affecting its binding activity. Seventeen of 18 mutations likely lead to reduced or absent responses to androgens, which may in turn account for the different degrees of undermasculinization observed. Our study provides insight into the functional consequences of these mutations.

Graphical abstract

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Characterization of germline mutations in familial lung cancer from the Chinese population

Publication date: 30 January 2018
Source:Gene, Volume 641
Author(s): Madiha Kanwal, Xiao-Jie Ding, Zhans-Han Ma, Lian-Wei Li, Ping Wang, Ying Chen, Yun-Chao Huang, Yi Cao
Compared with numerous studies of somatic mutations using sporadic lung cancer, the research into germline mutations using familial lung cancer (FLC) is limited. In the present study, we used FLC samples obtained from the Chinese population in highly air-polluted regions to screen for novel germline mutations in lung cancer. Through a whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of the nine subjects (four lung cancer patients and five normal family members of FLC), we obtained a whole genome dataset of DNA alterations in FLC samples. A total of 1218 genes were identified with mutations of multiple types. Subsequently, the top 12 highly mutated genes were selected for validation by polymerase chain reaction and DNA sequencing in an expanded sample set including FLC, sporadic lung cancer, and healthy population. Mutations of the five genes (ARHGEF5, ANKRD20A2, ZNF595, ZNF812, MYO18B) may be potential germline mutations of lung cancer. We also analyzed specific mutations within the 12 genes and found that some specific mutations within the MUC12, FOXD4L3 and FOXD4L5 genes showed higher frequencies in the samples of FLC and/or lung cancer tissue, compared with the healthy population. Moreover, some genes with copy number variation may be potentially associated with a predisposition to lung cancer. Furthermore, non-coding DNA alterations of the WGS data in FLC were systematically analyzed and arranged. Interestingly, we found that germline mutations also occurred in many genes of non-coding RNA. This study uncovered the mutation spectrum in FLC and provided important clues for the evaluation of the genetic susceptibility to lung cancer.



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Up-regulation of caveolin-1 by DJ-1 attenuates rat pulmonary arterial hypertension by inhibiting TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway

Publication date: Available online 22 October 2017
Source:Experimental Cell Research
Author(s): Weiwei Gao, Runxia Shao, Xiaoping Zhang, Daijian Liu, Ying Liu, Xian'en Fa
Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), characterized by excessive proliferation and apoptosis resistance of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs), is closely associated with the imbalance in vasoactive mediators and massive remodeling of pulmonary vasculature. DJ-1/park7, a multifunctional protein, plays a critical defense role in several cytobiological activity, such as transcriptional regulation, anti-oxidative stress and tumor formation. In this study, we investigated the effects of DJ-1 on hypoxia-induced PAH model rats and PASMCs, as well as its possible molecular mechanism. First, the low expressions of DJ-1 and caveolin-1 (Cav-1) were synchronously detected in lung tissue of PAH model rats and hypoxia-induced PASMCs by Western blot. Then, the DJ-1 wild type (WT) or Knock out (KO) rats were exposed to chronic hypoxia to mimic a hypoxic PAH condition. The protein level of Cav-1 was markedly decreased in the tissue of DJ-1 KO rats, and additionally lower in tissue of the hypoxia group than that in the normoxia group for DJ-1 WT and KO rats. In vivo, hemodynamic data showed that the pulmonary arterial pressure (mPAP), right ventricle systolic pressure (RVSP) and pulmonary arterial systolic pressure (PASP), as well as the weight of the right ventricle/left ventricle plus septum (RV/LV+S) ratio of PAH model rats were higher in the DJ-1 KO group than those in the DJ-1 WT group. Moreover, knockout of DJ-1 also results in the phenotype switch from contractile to synthetic PASMC, which is reflected by reduced calponin and SM22α expressions. In vitro, DJ-1 overexpression reversed hypoxia-induced elevation of PASMC cell proliferation, migration and Ca²⁺ concentration, which were not obviously observed in Cav-1 shRNA (sh-Cav-1) and DJ-1 co-transfected cells. Then the increased levels of calponin and SM22α were detected in the DJ-1 group; similarly those levels were not changed in the DJ-1+sh-Cav-1 group. Finally, the expression of TGFβ1, p-Smad2 and p-Smad3 were obviously decreased in the ad-DJ-1 group, however those were all elevated in the DJ-1 and sh-Cav-1 co-transfected groups. In conclusion, these results indicate that DJ-1 may alleviate hypoxia-induced PASMCs injury by Cav-1 through inhibiting the TGFβ/Smad signaling pathway.



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Stationary Distribution and Extinction of a Stochastic Viral Infection Model

We present a kind of stochastic viral infection model with or without a loss term in the free virus equation. We obtain critical condition to ensure the existence of the unique stationary distribution by constructing Lyapunov functions. We also obtain the sufficient conditions for the extinction of the virus by the comparison theorem of stochastic differential equation and law of large numbers. We give a unified method to systematically analyze such three-dimensional stochastic viral infection model. Furthermore, numerical simulations are carried out to examine the effect of white noises on model behavior. We investigate the fact that the small magnitudes of white noises can sustain the irregular recurrence of healthy target cells and virions, while the big ones may contribute to viral clearance.

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Dentist is offering kids cash for their Halloween candy

Days after trick-or- treating in Hoboken is over, children can cash in at Lucas Dental, on Bloomfield Street, as part of their Candy Buy-Back program. There, Dr. Robin Lucas trades each kid five bucks and a toothbrush for every five pounds of candy they bring in.

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Complex Brain Network Analysis and Its Applications to Brain Disorders: A Survey

It is well known that most brain disorders are complex diseases, such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and schizophrenia (SCZ). In general, brain regions and their interactions can be modeled as complex brain network, which describe highly efficient information transmission in a brain. Therefore, complex brain network analysis plays an important role in the study of complex brain diseases. With the development of noninvasive neuroimaging and electrophysiological techniques, experimental data can be produced for constructing complex brain networks. In recent years, researchers have found that brain networks constructed by using neuroimaging data and electrophysiological data have many important topological properties, such as small-world property, modularity, and rich club. More importantly, many brain disorders have been found to be associated with the abnormal topological structures of brain networks. These findings provide not only a new perspective to explore the pathological mechanisms of brain disorders, but also guidance for early diagnosis and treatment of brain disorders. The purpose of this survey is to provide a comprehensive overview for complex brain network analysis and its applications to brain disorders.

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Evaluation of Resins for Stereolithographic 3D-Printed Surgical Guides: The Response of L929 Cells and Human Gingival Fibroblasts

Additive manufacturing is becoming increasingly important in dentistry for the production of surgical guides. The development of cost-effective desktop stereolithography (SLA) printing systems and the corresponding resins makes this novel technique accessible to dental offices and dental laboratories. The aim of the study was to reveal the response of soft tissue cells to Clear and Dental SG resins used in desktop SLA printing systems at different stages of processing. Cell activity of L929 cells and gingival fibroblasts (GF) in response to the materials was examined in indirect and direct monolayer culture models and a direct spheroid culture model based on MTT, resazurin-based toxicity assays, and live-dead staining. Overall we found that the impact of Clear and Dental SG resins on L929 and GF depends on the processing stage of the materials. Liquid Clear resin induced a stronger reduction of cell activity compared to Dental SG resin. Printing and postcuring reduced the impact on cell activity and viability. As in-house 3D printing for surgical guides is getting integrated in the digital workflow, our data suggest that careful adherence to processing guidelines—especially postcuring—is of clinical relevance.

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Gallstone Pancreatitis: A Common but Often Overlooked Cause of Abdominal Pain in Post-Liver-Transplant Patients

Introduction. In general population, gallstone pancreatitis is the most common cause of pancreatitis. However, there are very few literatures that address this topic in post-liver-transplant patients. Clinical Case. A 69-year-old female who had a liver transplant in 2015 due to hepatocellular carcinoma and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) cirrhosis. She had a recent episode of acute cellular rejection that was treated with high dose methylprednisolone 1 week prior to admission. She presented with severe epigastric abdominal pain associated with nausea and vomiting. Her laboratory studies showed significantly elevated serum lipase, AST, and ALT from her baseline. She underwent urgent Endoscopic Ultrasound (EUS) with Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) that showed common bile duct stone that was extracted. Discussion. Biliary sludge and stones accounted for 22% of late onset acute pancreatitis after liver transplant. Corticosteroids have been identified as one of the potential causes of drug-induced pancreatitis. However, she is more likely to have gall stone pancreatitis since she also had dilated common bile duct and intrahepatic duct. In addition, there was CBD stone noted on ERCP. Conclusion. Acute gallstone associated pancreatitis after liver transplant is not uncommon. Patients generally have good outcomes. Further prospective studies are warranted.

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Retroperitoneal Ectopic Pregnancy: Diagnosis and Therapeutic Challenges

Background. Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy is extremely rare. This unusual location represents a great challenge for clinicians due to the difficulties of diagnosis and high risk of life-threatening complications. Case Report. We report the case of a spontaneous early pregnancy of undetermined location in a patient with a history of previous laparoscopic surgery. Diagnosis steps using clinical examination, ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging led to the localization of the pregnancy, in the left side of the para-aortic region, in the retroperitoneal space. Conclusion. Retroperitoneal ectopic pregnancy is an uncommon entity with rather complex pathogenesis. Clinicians should carefully interpret clinical signs, biological findings, and imaging features and be aware of unusual locations such as the retroperitoneum for ectopic pregnancies. Early diagnosis and appropriate management strategy are conditio sine qua non for successful treatment outcomes.

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A Reliable and Reproducible Model for Assessing the Effect of Different Concentrations of α-Solanine on Mouse Bone Marrow Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Αlpha-solanine (α-solanine) is a glycoalkaloid present in potato (Solanum tuberosum). It has been of particular interest because of its toxicity and potential teratogenic effects that include abnormalities of the central nervous system, such as exencephaly, encephalocele, and anophthalmia. Various types of cell culture have been used as experimental models to determine the effect of α-solanine on cell physiology. The morphological changes in the mesenchymal stem cell upon exposure to α-solanine have not been established. This study aimed to describe a reliable and reproducible model for assessing the structural changes induced by exposure of mouse bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to different concentrations of α-solanine for 24 h. The results demonstrate that nonlethal concentrations of α-solanine (2–6 μM) changed the morphology of the cells, including an increase in the number of nucleoli, suggesting elevated protein synthesis, and the formation of spicules. In addition, treatment with α-solanine reduced the number of adherent cells and the formation of colonies in culture. Immunophenotypic characterization and staining of MSCs are proposed as a reproducible method that allows description of cells exposed to the glycoalkaloid, α-solanine.

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Complex Dynamics and Chaos Control on a Kind of Bertrand Duopoly Game Model considering R&D Activities

We study a dynamic research and development two-stage input competition game model in the Bertrand duopoly oligopoly market with spillover effects on cost reduction. We investigate the stability of the Nash equilibrium point and local stable conditions and stability region of the Nash equilibrium point by the bifurcation theory. The complex dynamic behaviors of the system are shown by numerical simulations. It is demonstrated that chaos occurs for a range of managerial policies, and the associated unpredictability is solely due to the dynamics of the interaction. We show that the straight line stabilization method is the appropriate management measure to control the chaos.

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Clustering Optimization for Out-of-Band D2D Communications

Significant increase in multimedia traffic challenges 5G networks in terms of capacity and correspondent QoS parameters. Device-to-device communication paradigm has already become an integral part of 3GPP standards; nevertheless it has not yet been widely deployed due to many different reasons. D2D is expected to leverage implementation of many qualitatively new services and to efficiently accomplish it D2D devices are supposed to form clusters. Due to practical limitations, current D2D implementations are mostly out-of-band and use Wi-Fi Direct. In this paper, we propose a novel model for throughput optimization in out-of-band D2D clusters. We delivered numerical results for different typical cluster member distributions and revealed key functional dependencies. Further, for the first time we compare clustering algorithms for out-of-band D2D and identify effective clustering algorithm that increases network resource utilization rate.

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A Versatile Coexistence Decision-Making System for Efficient TV Whitespace Sharing among Whitespace Objects

A coexistence decision-making (CDM) system for efficient TV whitespace (TVWS) sharing among whitespace objects (WSOs) is introduced in this paper. The proposed system is considered versatile in functionality as it jointly takes care of three distinct channel allocation features: (a) optimizing system quality of service (QoS) performance metrics, (b) improving TVWS utility, and (c) satisfying WSO channel demands. Regarding system QoS performance metrics, the TVWS sharing problem is defined as an optimization problem with an aim to maximize the system throughput and minimize unfairness in allocation. Supporting the WSOs channel demands in a TVWS sharing problem is a multifold task which requires elaborate consideration in different aspects of the system performance. To this end, the variations of the SNR of wireless frequency channels which result in variable throughput gain of the WSOs are also taken care of in the proposed CDM system. A fast channel allocation algorithm is then designed that implements the TVWS sharing mechanism in a reasonable amount of time. Additionally, the proposed algorithm improves the TVWS utility by promoting a novel frequency reuse method by exploiting the inter-WSO interference information. Simulation results show the superiority of the proposed algorithm over existing TVWS sharing algorithms.

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Health Indicators of US Older Adults Who Received or Did Not Receive Meals Funded by the Older Americans Act

Background. The Older Americans Act (OAA) requires that nutrition programs provide meals and related nutrition services that promote health and help manage chronic diseases. The purpose of this study was to compare health status, food security, functional limitations, and chronic diseases of older adults who received or did not receive OAA meals using data from a representative sample of US adults. Methods. Data were from the National Health and Nutrition Surveys 2011–2014 for 2,392 older adults ≥ 65 years of age, including 187 Mexican Americans, 212 other Hispanics, 521 non-Hispanic Blacks, 219 non-Hispanic Asians, and 1253 non-Hispanic Whites. Results. Those receiving OAA meals had higher percent of food insecurity and functional disabilities. Adjusting for potential confounders, adults who received OAA meals had higher odds of emphysema (OR = 2.02; 1.05, 3.89) and lower odds of good-to-excellent health (OR = 0.52; 0.36, 0.77). Women and minorities had poorer health status compared to non-Hispanic Whites. Conclusion. A higher proportion of older adults who received nutritional services reported poorer health as compared to older adults who do not participate in these services. Future studies should assess nutritional adequacy for older adults who participate in nutritional programs comparing sex and race/ethnicity.

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Historical Case of Cervical Penetrating Wound: From First Aid to Surgical Intervention

Objective. We report a case of cervical penetrating wound by posing the problem of its support and by analyzing the chain of survival of a patient to human sacrifice. Case Report. It was an 11-year-old boy admitted to the hosting service of cervical penetrating wound emergency occurring in a context of human sacrifice by weapon (knife). On admission, the conscious patient had a left cervical hematoma at the level of the cervical zone II and severe signs of acute anemia. The exploratory cervicotomy, carried out 12 hours after the trauma under transfusion, allowed us to highlight a section of the front edge of the sternocleidomastoid and previous jugular muscles under hyoid. We noted the presence of a linear wound of 1 cm at the level of the left internal jugular vein. The wound of the internal jugular vein has been repaired with the Prolene 4.O. The outcome was good, allowing the exit 10 days after cervicotomy. Conclusion. The causal circumstances of cervical penetrating wounds are diverse. Their importance or their severity depends on the causative circumstances dominated by aggression and attempts to autolysis. Human sacrifice, with use of the weapon, is an exceptional circumstance.

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Lingual Osseous Choristoma of the Tongue Base: Unusual Presentation of a Rare Entity

Osseous lesions of the tongue, also referred to as osseous choristomas, are benign growths of bony tissue. These lesions are not true neoplasms but rather represent growth of normal tissue at an abnormal location. Clinically, they appear as exophytic masses of the tongue, and they are treated by surgical excision. Lingual osseous choristomas are rare entities, with only 71 reported cases in the literature. We present the case of a lingual osseous choristoma of the tongue base in a 21-year-old female. Of the cases of lingual osseous choristoma reported in the literature, ours is only the fifth case to involve this location.

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Through Clinical Observation: the History of Priapism after Spinal Cord Injuries.

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Through Clinical Observation: the History of Priapism after Spinal Cord Injuries.

World Neurosurg. 2017 Oct 17;:

Authors: Turliuc MD, Turliuc S, Cucu AI, Tamas C, Carauleanu A, Buzduga C, Sava A, Dumitrescu GF, Costea CF

Abstract
Since ancient times, the physicians of Antiquity noted the occurrence of priapism in some spinal cord injuries. Although priests saw it as a consequence of curses and witchcraft, after clinical observations of the Middle Ages and Renaissance, first medical hypotheses emerged in the 17(th)-19(th) centuries completed and argued by neuroscience and neurology developed in the European laboratories and hospitals. This study aims to present a short overview of the history of clinical observations of posttraumatic male priapism after spinal cord injuries since Antiquity until the beginning of the 20(th) century.

PMID: 29054772 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Rotating Machinery Fault Diagnosis for Imbalanced Data Based on Fast Clustering Algorithm and Support Vector Machine

To diagnose rotating machinery fault for imbalanced data, a method based on fast clustering algorithm (FCA) and support vector machine (SVM) was proposed. Combined with variational mode decomposition (VMD) and principal component analysis (PCA), sensitive features of the rotating machinery fault were obtained and constituted the imbalanced fault sample set. Next, a fast clustering algorithm was adopted to reduce the number of the majority data from the imbalanced fault sample set. Consequently, the balanced fault sample set consisted of the clustered data and the minority data from the imbalanced fault sample set. After that, SVM was trained with the balanced fault sample set and tested with the imbalanced fault sample set so the fault diagnosis model of the rotating machinery could be obtained. Finally, the gearbox fault data set and the rolling bearing fault data set were adopted to test the fault diagnosis model. The experimental results showed that the fault diagnosis model could effectively diagnose the rotating machinery fault for imbalanced data.

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In Vivo Studies on the Influence of Bacteriophage Preparations on the Autoimmune Inflammatory Process

Phage preparations used for phage therapy may have not only direct antibacterial action but also immunomodulating effects mediated by phages themselves as well as by bacterial antigens. Therefore phage application in patients with immune disorders, and especially with autoimmune diseases, requires special attention. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of phage lysates (staphylococcal phages A3/R, phi200, and MS-1 cocktail, enterococcal phage 15/P, Pseudomonas phage 119x, and E. coli T4 phage) as well as purified T4 phage on the course of murine collagen-induced arthritis (CIA), commonly used as an animal model of rheumatoid arthritis. Intraperitoneal application of phage lysates or purified T4 phage did not aggravate the course of autoimmune joint disease. Moreover, although endotoxins are known to potentiate CIA, the systemic administration of phage lysate of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, which contains debris of this Gram-negative bacillus, did not significantly influence CIA although the sonicate of the corresponding bacterial strain did. Interestingly, a purified T4 phage revealed some anti-inflammatory activity when applied under the therapeutic scheme. Our preliminary results do not suggest that phages may aggravate the symptoms of rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast T4 phage may even exert an immunosuppressive effect.

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Cloning, Characterization, and Functional Expression of Phospholipase Dα cDNA from Banana (Musa acuminate L.)

Phospholipase D (PLD) plays a key role in adaptive responses of postharvest fruits. A cDNA clone of banana (Musa acuminate L.) PLDα () was obtained by RT-PCR in this study. The MaPLDα gene contains a complete open reading frame (ORF) encoding a 92-kDa protein composed of 832 amino acid residues and possesses a characteristic C2 domain and two catalytic H×K×××D (abbr. HKD) motifs. The two HKD motifs are separated by 341 amino acid residues in the primary structure. Relatively higher PLD activity and expression of MaPLDα mRNA were detected in developing tissues compared to senescent or mature tissues in individual leaves, flower, stem, and fruit organs, respectively. The expression profile of PLDα mRNA in postharvest banana fruits at different temperatures was determined, and the MaPLDα mRNA reached the highest expression peak on day 5 at 25°C and on day 7 at 12°C. The results provide useful information for maintaining postharvest quality and extending the storage life of banana fruit.

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Effective Generation of Milliwatt-Level Sub-Terahertz Wave for Nonlinear Response Measurement of Two-Dimensional Material by Optical Heterodyne Technique

By using optical heterodyne technique, we demonstrated the stable emission of sub-terahertz wave with the frequency ranging from 88 GHz to 101 GHz, which can operate as microwave source for nonlinear response measurement system. Mutual frequency beating of two well-separated sideband signals at a 0.1 THz photo-detector (PD) allows for the generation of sub-terahertz signal. Based on this approach, we have achieved the radiation of 0.1 THz wave with power up to 4 mW. By transmittance measurement, two-dimensional nanomaterial topological insulator (TI: Bi2Te3) shows saturable absorption behaviors with normalized modulation depth of 47% at 0.1 THz. Our results show that optical heterodyne technique could be developed as an effective microwave source generation for nonlinear measurement at sub-terahertz, even terahertz band.

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The role of patient and physician advocacy in reducing wait times for cancer care: a qualitative analysis.

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The role of patient and physician advocacy in reducing wait times for cancer care: a qualitative analysis.

CMAJ Open. 2017 Oct 17;5(4):E773-E778

Authors: Mathews M, Bulman D, Ryan D

Abstract
BACKGROUND: There is growing interest in the role of physician as health advocate; however, few studies have documented advocacy from the patient's perspective. To address this gap, we examined the experiences of patients with cancer from the onset of symptoms to the start of treatment in Newfoundland and Labrador and aimed to describe wait times and efforts to improve timeliness of care from the patients' perspective.
METHODS: We conducted qualitative interviews with 60 participants aged 19 years or more with breast, colorectal, lung or prostate cancer who were recruited from a survey of patients with cancer that was carried out as an earlier part of a larger study. All survey participants had received care at regional cancer clinics in Newfoundland and Labrador and were selected by means of purposive sampling based on their type of cancer, level of satisfaction with care and place of residence (urban, semiurban or rural). Interviews were transcribed verbatim and coded by means of a thematic approach.
RESULTS: Participants described actions taken by themselves, their families/friends or members of their health care team to reduce their wait for a diagnosis and/or treatment. In all instances, participants believed that these actions resulted in more timely care. Participants reported that "insider knowledge" of health care professionals (whether friends, family members or members of the care team) was particularly valuable in reducing delays.
INTERPRETATION: The use of advocacy was relatively commonplace. The role of advocacy, whether it originates from patient or caregiver, is important to ensure access to timely, good-quality cancer care.

PMID: 29054883 [PubMed]

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Cells, Vol. 6, Pages 38: Expression Profiling of Differentiating Emerin-Null Myogenic Progenitor Identifies Molecular Pathways Implicated in Their Impaired Differentiation

Cells, Vol. 6, Pages 38: Expression Profiling of Differentiating Emerin-Null Myogenic Progenitor Identifies Molecular Pathways Implicated in Their Impaired Differentiation

Cells doi: 10.3390/cells6040038

Authors: Ashvin Iyer Adam J. Koch James M. Holaska

Mutations in the gene encoding emerin cause Emery-Dreifuss muscular dystrophy (EDMD), a disorder causing progressive skeletal muscle wasting, irregular heart rhythms and contractures of major tendons. RNA sequencing was performed on differentiating wildtype and emerin-null myogenic progenitors to identify molecular pathways implicated in EDMD, 340 genes were uniquely differentially expressed during the transition from day 0 to day 1 in wildtype cells. 1605 genes were uniquely expressed in emerin-null cells; 1706 genes were shared among both wildtype and emerin-null cells. One thousand and forty-seven transcripts showed differential expression during the transition from day 1 to day 2. Four hundred and thirty-one transcripts showed altered expression in both wildtype and emerin-null cells. Two hundred and ninety-five transcripts were differentially expressed only in emerin-null cells and 321 transcripts were differentially expressed only in wildtype cells. DAVID, STRING and Ingenuity Pathway Analysis identified pathways implicated in impaired emerin-null differentiation, including cell signaling, cell cycle checkpoints, integrin signaling, YAP/TAZ signaling, stem cell differentiation, and multiple muscle development and myogenic differentiation pathways. Functional enrichment analysis showed biological functions associated with the growth of muscle tissue and myogenesis of skeletal muscle were inhibited. The large number of differentially expressed transcripts upon differentiation induction suggests emerin functions during transcriptional reprograming of progenitors to committed myoblasts.

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Acoustic Sensor Self-Localization: Models and Recent Results

The wide availability of mobile devices with embedded microphones opens up opportunities for new applications based on acoustic sensor localization (ASL). Among them, this paper highlights mobile device self-localization relying exclusively on acoustic signals, but with previous knowledge of reference signals and source positions. The problem of finding the sensor position is stated as a function of estimated times-of-flight (TOFs) or time-differences-of-flight (TDOFs) from the sound sources to the target microphone, and the main practical issues involved in TOF estimation are discussed. Least-squares ASL solutions are introduced, followed by other strategies inspired by sound source localization solutions: steered-response power, which improves localization accuracy, and a new region-based search, which alleviates complexity. A set of complementary techniques for further improvement of TOF/TDOF estimates are reviewed: sliding windows, matching pursuit, and TOF selection. The paper proceeds with proposing a novel ASL method that combines most of the previous material, whose performance is assessed in a real-world example: in a typical lecture room, the method achieves accuracy better than 20 cm.

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Dual-competitive lateral flow aptasensor for detection of aflatoxin B1 in food and feedstuffs.

Dual-competitive lateral flow aptasensor for detection of aflatoxin B1 in food and feedstuffs.

J Hazard Mater. 2017 Oct 13;344:249-257

Authors: Zhu C, Zhang G, Huang Y, Yang S, Ren S, Gao Z, Chen A

Abstract
A novel dual-competitive lateral flow aptasensor (LFA) benefited from aptamer and lateral flow strips was first designed by using aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) as the model target. In this LFA assay, the target AFB1 competed with AFB1-hapten at T line for binding to Cy5-labeled AFB1 aptamer and the complementary strand competed with the target AFB1 for binding to Cy5-labeled AFB1 aptamer at C line. The ratio of their fluorescent intensities at the T line and C line (ST/SC ratio) was employed in order to increase the sensitivity for target AFB1 detection. This technique has the limit of detection (LOD) of 0.1ng/mL for AFB1 within the linear range from 0.1ng/mL to 1000ng/mL. Subsequently, the LFA approach was validated using 11 kinds of food and feedstuff samples with a simple aqueous extraction protocol. The test results with different naturally contaminated feedstuffs indicated a good correlation between this LFA and a commercial ELISA kit. The assay can be completed within 20min and its sensitivity, specificity and reproducibility are highly satisfactory. This is the first LFA that has been rigorously validated, which will be greatly beneficial to development of commercial aptamer-based biosensors for food safety, environmental analysis, particularly in clinical diagnosis.

PMID: 29055198 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Isolation of Candida spp. from denture-related stomatitis in Pará, Brazil.

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Isolation of Candida spp. from denture-related stomatitis in Pará, Brazil.

Braz J Microbiol. 2017 Jul 29;:

Authors: Gauch LMR, Pedrosa SS, Silveira-Gomes F, Esteves RA, Marques-da-Silva SH

Abstract
The aim of this study was to isolate and identify Candida species from the oral cavity of denture wearers with denture-related stomatitis who were attended at the University Federal of Pará (Belém City, Pará State, Brazil). A total of 36 denture wearers with denture-related stomatitis were included, and type I (50%), type II (33%) and type III (17%) stomatitis were observed. Candida spp. were isolated from 89% of the cases and included five different Candida species. C. albicans was the most frequently recovered species (78% of the cases), followed by C. famata and C. tropicalis. We observed a significant association between Candida species isolation and unsatisfactory denture condition (p=0.0017). Our results demonstrated the highly frequency of Candida species isolation in denture wearers with denture-related stomatitis and showed the relationship between these species and poor denture maintenance.

PMID: 29054393 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Nuclear transport of the Neurospora crassa NIT-2 transcription factor is mediated by Importin-α.

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Nuclear transport of the Neurospora crassa NIT-2 transcription factor is mediated by Importin-α.

Biochem J. 2017 Oct 20;:

Authors: Bernardes NE, Takeda AAS, Dreyer TR, Cupertino FB, Virgilio S, Pante N, Bertolini MC, Fontes MRM

Abstract
The Neurospora crassa NIT-2 transcription factor belongs to the GATA transcription factor family and plays a fundamental role in the regulation of nitrogen metabolism by N. crassa Because NIT-2 acts by accessing DNA inside the nucleus, understanding the nuclear import process of NIT-2 is necessary to characterize its function. Thus, in this study, NIT-2 nuclear transport was investigated using a combination of biochemical, cellular and biophysical methods. A complemented strain that produced a sfGFP-NIT-2 fusion protein was constructed, and nuclear localization assessments were made under conditions that favored protein translocation to the nucleus. Nuclear translocation was also investigated using HeLa cells, which showed that the putative NIT-2 nuclear localization sequence (NLS; (915)TISSKRQRRHSKS(927)) was recognized by importin-α and that subsequent transport occurred via the classical import pathway. The interaction between the N. crassa importin-α (NcImpα) and the NIT-2 NLS was quantified with calorimetric assays, leading to the observation that the peptide bound to two sites with different affinities, which is typical of a monopartite NLS sequence. The crystal structure of the NcImpα/NIT-2 NLS complex was solved and revealed that the NIT-2 peptide binds to NcImpα with the major NLS-binding site playing a primary role. This result contrasts other recent studies that suggested a major role for the minor NLS-binding site in importin-α from the α2 family, indicating that both sites can be used for different cargo proteins according to specific metabolic requirements.

PMID: 29054975 [PubMed - as supplied by publisher]

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Want clean teeth? Eat butter and salami

Dentist claims brushing and flossing are not enough to prevent tooth decay - you need vitamins from these unexpected foods Australian dentist Dr Steven Lin is warning that brushing and flossing are not enough to keep your teeth healthy In addition to following your dentist's recommendations, you have to make sure you are getting enough of four essential vitamins Dr Lin says this explains why people who practice good oral hygiene still get cavities By Maggie O'Neill For Dailymail.com No matter how thoroughly you clean your teeth, you are probably still exposing yourself to tooth decay, according to one dentist speaking out about oral care.

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Does Moderate Drinking Increase the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation? The Norwegian HUNT (Nord-Trøndelag Health) Study.

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Does Moderate Drinking Increase the Risk of Atrial Fibrillation? The Norwegian HUNT (Nord-Trøndelag Health) Study.

J Am Heart Assoc. 2017 Oct 20;6(10):

Authors: Gémes K, Malmo V, Laugsand LE, Loennechen JP, Ellekjaer H, László KD, Ahnve S, Vatten LJ, Mukamal KJ, Janszky I

Abstract
BACKGROUND: Compelling evidence suggests that excessive alcohol consumption increases the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF), but the effect of light-moderate alcohol consumption is less certain. We investigated the association between alcohol consumption within recommended limits and AF risk in a light-drinking population.
METHODS AND RESULTS: Among 47 002 participants with information on alcohol consumption in a population-based cohort study in Norway, conducted from October 2006 to June 2008, 1697 validated AF diagnoses were registered during the 8 years of follow-up. We used Cox proportional hazard models with fractional polynomials to analyze the association between alcohol intake and AF. Population attributable risk for drinking within the recommended limit (ie, at most 1 drink per day for women and 2 drinks per day for men without risky drinking) compared with nondrinking was also calculated. The average alcohol intake was 3.8±4.8 g/d. The adjusted hazard ratio for AF was 1.38 (95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.80) when we compared participants consuming >7 drinks per week with abstainers. When we modeled the quantity of alcohol intake as a continuous variable, the risk increased in a curvilinear manner. It was higher with heavier alcohol intake, but there was virtually no association at <1 drink per day for women and <2 drinks per day for men in the absence of risky drinking. The population attributable risk among nonrisky drinkers was 0.07% (95% confidence interval, -0.01% to 0.13%).
CONCLUSIONS: Although alcohol consumption was associated with a curvilinearly increasing risk of AF in general, the attributable risk of alcohol consumption within recommended limits among participants without binge or problem drinking was negligible in this population.

PMID: 29054845 [PubMed - in process]

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