Tumors are cellularly and molecularly heterogeneous, with subsets of undifferentiated cancer cells exhibiting stem cell-like features (CSCs). Epithelial to mesenchymal transitions (EMT) are ...transdifferentiation programs that are required for tissue morphogenesis during embryonic development. The EMT process can be regulated by a diverse array of cytokines and growth factors, such as transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta, whose activities are dysregulated during malignant tumor progression. Thus, EMT induction in cancer cells results in the acquisition of invasive and metastatic properties. Recent reports indicate that the emergence of CSCs occurs in part as a result of EMT, for example, through cues from tumor stromal components. Recent evidence now indicates that EMT of tumor cells not only causes increased metastasis, but also contributes to drug resistance. In this review, we will provide potential mechanistic explanations for the association between EMT induction and the emergence of CSCs. We will also highlight recent studies implicating the function of TGF-beta-regulated noncoding RNAs in driving EMT and promoting CSC self-renewal. Finally we will discuss how EMT and CSCs may contribute to drug resistance, as well as therapeutic strategies to overcome this clinically.
Background. Although exercise has been shown to relieve depression, little is known about its mechanism or dose-response characteristics. We hypothesized that high intensity progressive resistance ...training (PRT) would be more effective than either low intensity PRT or standard care by a general practitioner (GP) in depressed elderly persons, and that high intensity PRT would provide superior benefits in quality of life, sleep quality, and self-efficacy. Methods. Sixty community-dwelling adults >60 years with major or minor depression were randomized to supervised high intensity PRT (80% maximum load) or low intensity PRT (20% maximum load) 3 days per week for 8 weeks, or GP care. Results. A 50% reduction in the Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression score was achieved in 61% of the high intensity, 29% of the low intensity, and 21% of the GP care group (p =.03). Strength gain was directly associated with reduction in depressive symptoms (r = 0.40, p =.004), as was baseline social support network type (F = 3.52, p =.015), whereas personality type, self-efficacy, and locus of control were unrelated to the antidepressant effect. Vitality quality-of-life scale improved more in the high intensity group than in the others (p =.04). Sleep quality improved significantly in all participants (p <.0001), with the greatest relative change in high intensity PRT (p =.05). Conclusions. High intensity PRT is more effective than is low intensity PRT or GP care for the treatment of older depressed patients.
The nutritional quality of cereals and the sensorial properties of their products are sometimes inferior as compared to other sources of food which is due to the lower protein content and starch ...availability, the presence of determined antinutrients (phytic acid, tannins, and polyphenols) and the coarse nature of the grains. To ameliorate the nutritional qualities of cereals, they are processed in a number of ways. This review summarizes the enhancement in the nutritional value as well as the functional characteristics of cereals due to germination and fermentation treatment. The protein concentration increases and the amino acid profile is balanced by germination and fermentation. The antinutritional factors are reduced increasing the mineral availability from the cereals. Germination enhances the quality of nutrients and bioactive compounds of cereals thereby increasing the content in proteins, amino acids, sugars, and vitamins. The functional properties of cereals is enhanced due to generation of biofunctional substances, increase in protein solubility, in vitro protein digestibility and lowering of glycemic index.
The ambient particulate matter injected from biomass burning emissions (BBEs) over northern India has been a subject of major debate in the context of regional air quality and atmospheric chemistry ...of several organic and inorganic constituents. This necessitates an observational approach over a large spatial and temporal scale. We present an extensive data set on PM2.5 samples (n = 147) collected for one full year from a sampling site (Patiala: 30.2°N, 76.3°E) in the source region of BBEs in northern India. During the sampling period from October 2011 to September 2012, PM2.5 mass concentration varied from ∼20 to 400 μg m−3. Among the major constituents, contribution of total carbonaceous aerosols (OC + EC) ranged from 8 to 60%. The average OC/EC and K+/EC ratio, varying from 3.2 to 12 and 0.26 to 0.80, respectively, emphasizes the dominance of BBEs over the annual seasonal cycle. The average secondary organic matter (SOM) accounts for ∼10–40% of PM2.5 mass in different seasons; whereas contribution of secondary inorganics was maximum (∼40%) during the winter. The pronounced temporal variability in SOM suggests its contribution from varying sources, their emission strength and process of secondary organic formation. Diurnal differences in the chemical constituents are attributable to regional meteorological factors and boundary layer dynamics. The emerging data set from this study is important to understand feedback mechanism from anthropogenic activities to the regional climate change scenario.
•Year-round PM2.5 composition has been studied over the IGP.•Significant seasonality in primary and secondary aerosol abundances.•Emissions from biomass burning dominate the abundances of carbonaceous aerosols.•Contribution of secondary inorganics to PM2.5 is maximum during winter.•Water-soluble fraction of PM2.5 vary from ∼30 to 60% over annual cycle.
Secure data hiding techniques: a survey Singh, Laxmanika; Singh, A. K.; Singh, P. K.
Multimedia tools and applications,
06/2020, Letnik:
79, Številka:
23-24
Journal Article
Recenzirano
This article presents a detailed discussion of different prospects of digital image watermarking. This discussion of watermarking included: brief comparison of similar information security ...techniques, concept of watermark embedding and extraction process, watermark characteristics and applications, common types of watermarking techniques, major classification of watermarking attacks, brief summary of various secure watermarking techniques. Further, potential issues and some existing solutions are provided. Furthermore, the performance comparisons of the discussed techniques are presented in tabular format. Authors believe that this article contribution will provide as catalyst for potential researchers to implement efficient watermarking systems.
Excess mortality and residual disability are common after hip fracture.
Twelve months of high-intensity weight-lifting exercise and targeted multidisciplinary interventions will result in lower ...mortality, nursing home admissions, and disability compared with usual care after hip fracture.
Randomized, controlled, parallel-group superiority study.
Outpatient clinic
Patients (n = 124) admitted to public hospital for surgical repair of hip fracture between 2003 and 2007.
Twelve months of geriatrician-supervised high-intensity weight-lifting exercise and targeted treatment of balance, osteoporosis, nutrition, vitamin D/calcium, depression, cognition, vision, home safety, polypharmacy, hip protectors, self-efficacy, and social support.
Functional independence: mortality, nursing home admissions, basic and instrumental activities of daily living (ADLs/IADLs), and assistive device utilization.
Risk of death was reduced by 81% (age-adjusted OR 95% CI = 0.19 0.04-0.91; P < .04) in the HIPFIT group (n = 4) compared with usual care controls (n = 8). Nursing home admissions were reduced by 84% (age-adjusted OR 95% CI = 0.16 0.04-0.64; P < .01) in the experimental group (n = 5) compared with controls (n = 12). Basic ADLs declined less (P < .0001) and assistive device use was significantly lower at 12 months (P = .02) in the intervention group compared with controls. The targeted improvements in upper body strength, nutrition, depressive symptoms, vision, balance, cognition, self-efficacy, and habitual activity level were all related to ADL improvements (P < .0001-.02), and improvements in basic ADLs, vision, and walking endurance were associated with reduced nursing home use (P < .0001-.05).
The HIPFIT intervention reduced mortality, nursing home admissions, and ADL dependency compared with usual care.
The mass absorption efficiency (MAE) of light absorbing water-soluble organics, representing a significant fraction of brown carbon (BrC), has been studied in fine mode aerosols (PM2.5) from a source ...region (Patiala: 30.2 °N, 76.3 °E) of biomass burning emissions (BBEs) in the Indo-Gangetic Plain (IGP). The mass absorption coefficient of BrC at 365 nm (babs-365), assessed from absorption spectra of aqueous extracts, exhibits significant linear relationship with water-soluble organic carbon (WSOC) for day (R2 = 0.37) and night time (R2 = 0.77) samples; and slope of regression lines provides a measure of MAE of BrC (daytime: ∼0.75 m2 g−1 and night time: 1.13 m2 g−1). A close similarity in the temporal variability of babs-365 (for BrC) and K+ in all samples suggests their common source from BBEs. The babs-365 of BrC follows a power law (babs-λ ≈ λ−α; where α = angstrom exponent) and averages around 5.2 ± 2.0 M m−1 (where M = 10−6). A significant decrease in the MAE of BrC from the source region (this study) to the downwind oceanic region (over Bay of Bengal, Srinivas and Sarin, 2013) could be attributed to relative increase in the contribution of non-absorbing WSOC and/or photo-bleaching of BrC during long-range atmospheric transport. The atmospheric radiative forcing due to BrC over the study site accounts for ∼40% of that from elemental carbon (EC).
•Atmospheric brown carbon (BrC) from paddy-crop residue burning has been studied.•Temporal variability of mass absorption coefficient of BrC and K+ are similar.•MAE of BrC decreases from source region of emission to downwind oceanic region.•Atmospheric radiative forcing due to BrC accounts for ∼40% of that due to BC.
Background. Miltefosine is the only oral drug available for treatment of Indian visceral leishmaniasis (VL), which was shown to have an efficacy of 94% in a phase III trial in the Indian ...subcontinent. Its unrestricted use has raised concern about its continued effectiveness. This study evaluates the efficacy and safety of miltefosine for the treatment of VL after a decade of use in India. Methods. An open-label, noncomparative study was performed in which 567 patients received oral miltefosine (50 mg for patients weighing <25 kg, 100 mg in divided doses for those weighing ≥25 kg, and 2.5 mg per kg for those aged <12 years, daily for 28 days) in a directly observed manner. Patients were followed up for 6 months to see the response to therapy. Results. At the end of treatment the initial cure rate was 97.5% (intention to treat), and 6 months after the end of treatment the final cure rate was 90.3%. The overall death rate was 0.9% (5 of 567), and 2 deaths were related to drug toxicity. Gastrointestinal intolerance was frequent (64.5%). The drug was interrupted in 9 patients (1.5%) because of drug-associated adverse events. Conclusions. As compared to the phase III trial that led to registration of the drug a decade ago, there is a substantial increase in the failure rate of oral miltefosine for treatment of VL in India.
Abstract
Our detailed 3-D seismic tomographic assimilation using high-quality phase arrival time data recorded by the local seismographic network demonstrated that heterogeneities in the crustal ...faults have contributed significantly to the pop-up tectonics beneath the Shillong Plateau, characterized by high-V and low-σ. The major seismogenic faults, namely, the north-dipping Dapsi thrust in association with Dauki fault in the south and south dipping Brahmaputra fault in the north, located either side of the Shillong Plateau that acted as the causative factors for the pop-up, which attributed to the lithostatic (high-V, low-σ) and sedimentary (low-V, high-σ) load, respectively. Seismicity is found confined to a depth ≤ 60 km. Uneven distribution of structural heterogeneities in the upper crust is responsible for earthquake genesis of varying strengths. It is intriguing to note that high-velocity anomalies and low-ϭ in the uppermost crust, interpreted as the Shillong Plateau that acted as a geometric asperity and the juxtaposition of high-V and low-V became the source zone of the 1897 Shillong earthquake (M
s
8.7) as a novel observation for the region. Structural heterogeneities are distinctly distributed between low-V, high-σ and high-V, low-σ in the lower crust plays a major role for future intense seismogenesis due to differential strain accumulation.
Binary and ternary composite films of Pd, multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and Ni are obtained on glassy carbon electrodes and investigated as electrocatalysts for the ethanol oxidation reaction ...in alkaline medium. The steady-state anodic Tafel polarization study shows that small introduction (1–5%) of MWCNTs to Pd increases the apparent electrocatalytic activity greatly, the magnitude of enhancement, however, being the greatest (∼26 times) with 1%MWCNT. Addition of 1%Ni to the active Pd–1%MWCNT composite improved the apparent electrocatalytic activity (over 50%) further, but its higher additions (2–5%) showed an adverse effect on the apparent catalytic activity. Among the electrodes investigated, the Pd–1%MWCNT–1%Ni composite electrode has the greatest apparent electrocatalytic activity.
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