Importance of MicroRNAs in Hepatitis B and C Diagnostics and Treatment

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small‐sized RNAs with ability to regulate gene expression and have been recently discovered as promising diagnostic and therapeutic biomarkers in the field of clinical medicine and microbiology, specifically in viral diseases. Infections with hepatitis B virus (HBV) or hepatitis C virus (HCV) often lead to chronic infections and development of liver hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Challenges in early diagnosis of HCC and rapid development of novel HCV antivirals call for identification of novel miRNA biomarkers. An extensive selection of single miRNAs and miRNA panels has been provided by accumulating studies, discovering miRNA potentials in HBV and HCV diagnostics and treatment. Currently, the diagnostic potential of miRNAs in HBV and HCV has not been established yet. However, a promising HCV treatment drug Miravirsen, a locked nucleic acid, complementary to miRNA‐122, has entered a human clinical trial recently. In this review, we outline the role of miRNAs in HBV and HCV pathogenesis and differences in up‐ and downregulation of miRNAs upon HBV and HCV infection and HCC development

Computer Technology in the Biomechanical Analysis of Bar-Bell Lifting Motion Structures

An improper selection of muscle-building exercises or a technically poor execution of an exercise frequently leads to an inadvertent loading of the motion system of man, to injuries, to a poorer resulting achievement, or to a deceleration of the expected performance growth, to a disturbed dynamic stereotype and -last but not least-to motivation losses. In order to be able to cope with the problems outlined above, it was necessary to create a data collection and processing system for speedpower and technical parameters realized on a bar-bell. The information thus obtained allows for assessing a weight-lifter's performance in qualitative and quantitative terms, using a set of pre-defined criteria. Consequently, prerequisites for describing and correcting potential mistakes in an executed exercise, as well as for its optimization and economization, are provided

A GPU-based finite-size pencil beam algorithm with 3D-density correction for radiotherapy dose calculation

Targeting at the development of an accurate and efficient dose calculation engine for online adaptive radiotherapy, we have implemented a finite size pencil beam (FSPB) algorithm with a 3D-density correction method on GPU. This new GPU-based dose engine is built on our previously published ultrafast FSPB computational framework [Gu et al. Phys. Med. Biol. 54 6287-97, 2009]. Dosimetric evaluations against Monte Carlo dose calculations are conducted on 10 IMRT treatment plans (5 head-and-neck cases and 5 lung cases). For all cases, there is improvement with the 3D-density correction over the conventional FSPB algorithm and for most cases the improvement is significant. Regarding the efficiency, because of the appropriate arrangement of memory access and the usage of GPU intrinsic functions, the dose calculation for an IMRT plan can be accomplished well within 1 second (except for one case) with this new GPU-based FSPB algorithm. Compared to the previous GPU-based FSPB algorithm without 3D-density correction, this new algorithm, though slightly sacrificing the computational efficiency (~5-15% lower), has significantly improved the dose calculation accuracy, making it more suitable for online IMRT replanning

Opportunities for Collaboration Between Writing Centers and Libraries at the TRLN Institutions

This study examines, from the perspective of writing center staff, the perceptions of current levels of collaboration between academic libraries and campus writing centers and the Triangle Research Libraries Network institutions. Paper surveys were distributed to the staff members at the Writing Center at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, the Writing Center at North Carolina Central University, Writing and Speaking Tutorial Services at North Carolina State University, and the Writing Studio at Duke University. The surveys were designed to elicit responses from the writing center employees about their perceptions of the current level of collaboration with academic libraries and recommendations for future collaboration

Beyond static measures:A review of functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy and its potential to investigate dynamic glutamatergic abnormalities in schizophrenia

Abnormalities of the glutamate system are increasingly implicated in schizophrenia but their exact nature remains unknown. Proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), while fundamental in revealing glutamatergic alterations in schizophrenia, has, until recently, been significantly limited and thought to only provide static measures. Functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS), which uses sequential scans for dynamic measurement of a range of brain metabolites in activated brain areas, has lately been applied to a variety of task or stimulus conditions, producing interesting insights into neurometabolite responses to neural activation. Here, we summarise the existing 1H-MRS studies of brain glutamate in schizophrenia. We then present a comprehensive review of research studies that have utilised fMRS, and lastly consider how fMRS methods might further the understanding of glutamatergic abnormalities in schizophrenia. </jats:p

Health Quality Control of Laboratory Anjmals 0f the Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences (CSAV)

No abstract availabl

Histopathological evaluation of recurrent goiter.

The recurrent goiter is the regrowth of thyroid tissue after thyroidectomy. An inadequate surgical removal of the thyroid gland, lack of substitution therapy and pathological stimulation of the thyroid growth can all promote the recurrence. The aim of this study was to find the connection between the histopathological findings during the first and second operation and the recurrence of goiter. The study group consisted of 29 women and 1 man. The mean time to recurrence was 15 years. The most frequent histopathological finding during the first and second operation was struma nodosa. According to our observations different histopathological findings were found in 63.4% cases after primary and secondary thyroidectomy. Some genetic investigations showed that nodules in recurrent goiters did not derive from nodules left during the first operation but from a group of cells which had high growth potential. Thus, not only the operation technique and substitution after operation are key factors of successful therapy of goiter, but also other factors which stimulate the re-growth of thyroid tissue

Long-Wavelength Quantum Well Infrared Photodetectors

A majority of IR sensors used for imaging arrays operating in the long-wavelength IR region between 8 µm-12 µm are based on mercury cadmium telluride (HgCdTe). This material system is unable to satisfy all the requirements imposed by modem applications. Structural difficulties due to poor uniformity, high defect densities, and weak bond strengths cause difficulties in manufacturing large IR focal plane array cameras. As an alternative, quantum well infrared photodetectors (QWIPs) utilising intersubband absorption between gallium arsenide (GaAs) wells and aluminium gallium arsenide (AIGaAs) barriers were perfected. These QWIPs possess better uniformity in comparison to HgCdTe detectors, and QWIP imaging arrays have recently become commercially available. However, the responsivity of GaAs/AlGaAs QWIPs is still lower than HgCdTe detectors. To further improve the responsivity of QWIP detectors, QWIPs with wells or barriers of GaInAsP instead of AlGaAs have been developed. Results of QWIPs made from the material systems GaAs/GaInP, GaInAs(P)/InP, (Al)GaInAs/InP, and GaInAs/AllnAs have been discussed

Women in Public Relations (1982-2019)

Purpose This paper aims to analyse the current literature on women in public relations to establish trends and areas of inquiry in the literature and identify research gaps for future research. Design/methodology/approach A total of 223 articles have been empirically analysed using thematic analysis to identify trends in the existing literature. The data has been coded and analysed per decade (1982–1989, 1990–1999, 2000–2009, 2010–2019). The articles have been identified by searching major journals in the field of public relations and communications, as well as snowballing from identified articles. Findings The results show that the majority of academic articles have been produced by using lived experiences of women working in the public relations industry and thus reflect the professional situation of female public relations employees. The results show that the position of women has reached a full circle in four decades of research and returned to the discriminatory work environment. Finally, the results show that a liberal feminist perspective has an advantage in the literature since the majority of works have been produced in the United States; however, there is an increase in authors calling for the use of socialist and radical feminism. Originality/value The paper provides a comprehensive literature review of works published in the field. The paper takes an empirical approach to the analysis rather than the descriptive one, which helped in identifying major trends in the research and identified a research gap for future inquiries