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In view of the bioinformatic projection that a third of all protein coding genes and essentially all biological pathways are under control of microRNAs (miRNAs), it is not surprising that this class of small RNAs plays roles in vascular disease progression. MiRNAs have been shown to be involved in cholesterol turnover, thrombosis, glucose homeostasis and vascular function. Some miRNAs appear to be
Extracellular vesicles (EVs), e.g. exosomes and microvesicles, emerge as new signaling organelles in the exchange of information between cells at the paracrine and systemic level. It is clear that these virus like particles carry complex biological information that can elicit a pleiotropic response in recipient cells with potential relevance in physiology as well as in cancer and other pathologica
The effective mechanical properties of polymethyl-methacrylate (PMMA) reinforced with carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were evaluated by means of two approaches: experiments and a micromechanical model. With various concentrations of CNTs, two specimen fabrication processes were examined: hot pressing (HP) and injection molding (IM). Experiments included a series of uniaxial tensile tests guided by an ASTM
Context:Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC) have identified associations with polymorphisms at 2q35 (DIRC3), 8p12 (NRG1), 9q22.33 (FOXE1) and 14q13.2 (NKX2-1). However, most of the inherited genetic risk factors of DTC remain to be discovered.Objective:Our objective was to identify additional common DTC susceptibility loci.Design:We conducted a GWAS in a
A new implementation of the coupled cluster singles and doubles with approximate triples correction method [CCSD(T)] using Cholesky decomposition of the orbital energy denominators is described. The new algorithm reduces the scaling of CCSD(T) from N-7 to N-6, where N is the number of orbitals. The Cholesky decomposition is carried out using simple analytical expressions that allow us to evaluate
Bradykinin (BK) and des-Arg(9)-BK are pro-inflammatory mediators acting via B2 (B2R) and B1 (B1R) receptors, respectively. We investigated the role of B2R and B1R in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced hypothalamopituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis activation in SD rats. LPS given intraperitoneally (ip) up-regulated B1R mRNA in the hypothalamus, both B1R and B2R were up-regulated in pituitary and adrenal gl
Objectives: This paper explores factors important for return to work (RTW) in people who have sustained a serious hand injury. Participants: Forty people aged 19-64, with a severe or major hand injury were recruited consecutively during 2005-2007. Methods: A self-administered and study specific questionnaire, including demographic data and standardised questionnaires for function, disability,
Renal cell cancer (RCC) incidence varies worldwide with a higher incidence in developed countries and lifestyle is likely to contribute to the development of this disease. We examined whether meat and fish consumption were related to the risk of RCC in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC). The analysis included 493,179 EPIC participants, recruited between 1992 an
Background Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of death from malignant disease among men in the developed world. One strategy to decrease the risk of death from this disease is screening with prostate-specific antigen (PSA); however, the extent of benefit and harm with such screening is under continuous debate. Methods In December, 1994, 20 000 men born between 1930 and 1944, randomly sam
This article presents the developments of an ongoing research aimed at modelling the influence of fissuring on the behaviour of clays. In particular, it recalls the main results of an extensive laboratory investigation on a fissured bentonite clay from the south of Italy and presents the data of a new investigation on the evolution with shearing of the strain fields developing within the clay, res
Objective To assess the efficacy of paquinimod, a new immunomodulatory small molecule, in a murine lupus model, and to evaluate its pharmacokinetics and tolerability in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients at doses predicted to be efficacious and safe and determine the maximum tolerated dose. Methods The efficacy of paquinimod was studied in lupus-prone MRL-lpr/lpr mice and compared with th
A series of cationic diblock copolymers, poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)(48)-block-poly((3-acrylamidopropyl)trimethylammonium chloride)(x), abbreviated as PNIPAAM(48)-b-PAMPTMA(X)(+) (X = 0, 6, 10, 14, and 20), has been synthesized, and their adsorption onto silicon oxynitride from aqueous solution has been investigated using dual polarization interferometry. The polymer adsorption was modeled by usin
The purpose of this study was to evaluate lesion conspicuity achieved with five different iterative reconstruction techniques from four CT vendors at three different dose levels. Comparisons were made of iterative algorithm and filtered back projection (FBP) among and within systems. An anthropomorphic liver phantom was examined with four CT systems, each from a different vendor. CTDIvol levels of
The use of Global Positioning System (GPS) technology enables the study of tourists’ activities and movement patterns in real time. But what does this information tell us about tourists’ subjective experiences? The present paper accounts for the results from four case studies: two event studies and two destination studies. Two of these took place in the wintertime, and two in the summertime. Visit
The breakup of a liquid jet into irregular liquid structures and droplets leading to the formation of a dilute spray has been simulated numerically. To overcome the shortcomings of certain numerical methods in specific flow regimes, a combined approach has been chosen. The intact liquid core, its primary breakup and the dense spray regime are simulated using the volumes of fluid (VOF) method in co
The rearrangement of the phosphine-thioether ligand in 1,2-(P-eq,S-eq)-Os-3(CO)(10)(Ph2PCH2CH2SMe) to 1,1-(P-eq,S-ax)-Os-3(CO)(10)(Ph2PCH2CH2SMe) was investigated by electronic structure calculations. The chelated isomer lies 2.5 kcal/mol lower in energy than its bridged counterpart, and the barrier computed for the mechanism is in agreement with the results from our earlier experimental study. Ph
A [(18)F]Fluoride water target was constructed for a Scanditronix MC 17 cyclotron, without a beam line, with a typical wide beam of ∼30×5mm(2). Niobium was used as target chamber material. One hour irradiation with 45μA protons yields about 110GBq [(18)F]Fluoride. The saturation yield is 8.0±0.6GBq/μA (EOB). The FDG yield is 60±5% (EOS) with a TracerLab MX (G.E. Healthcare). More than 100GBq FDG i
“Figurativity”, roughly paraphrased as that which is not accounted for by the system, is a residue concept of both Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and of Greimasean semiotics. In the latter case, however, figurativity has been related to the second, so-called plastic layer of the picture, which is opposed to the pictorial layer, by means of which the picture is doing its job of depicting
Over the last few decades, increasing rates of change in the structure and function of ecosystems have been brought about by human modification of land cover, of which a major component is vegetation. Metrics derived from linear regression models applied to high temporal resolution satellite data are commonly used to estimate rates of vegetation change. This approach implicitly assumes that vegeta
