426 research outputs found
Derivation of human embryonic stem cell lines from single cells of 4-cell stage embryos: be aware of the risks
M2M meets D2D: Harnessing D2D Interfaces for the Aggregation of M2M Data
Direct device-to-device (D2D) communication presents as an effective technique to reduce the load at the base station (BS) while ensuring reliable localized communication. In this paper, we propose a large-scale M2M data Aggregation and Trunking (MAT) scheme, whereby the user equipments (UEs) aggregate M2M data from the nearby MTDs and trunk this data along with their own data to the BS in the cellular uplink. We develop a comprehensive stochastic geometry framework by considering a Poisson hard sphere model for UE coverage. The main motivation of this model is to capture the fact that a UE can gather data from short range, low-power MTDs located only in its close proximity while ensuring that an MTD is associated to at most one UE. We explore the inherent trade-off between the time reserved for aggregation and successful trunking of data to the BS and compare our results with the baseline case where no aggregation mechanism is used. We show that while the baseline case of connecting a bulk of MTDs directly with the BS is prohibitive, MAT scheme can efficiently gather data from selected MTDs in a distributed manner
Oxidative stress and hepatotoxicity in rats induced by poisonous pufferfish (Lagocephalus lagocephalus) meat
This study was undertaken to evaluate the effect of pufferfish (Lagocephalus lagocephalus) meat poisoning on hepatic functions of Wistar rats. For this purpose, groups of rats (Lcr, Lcu+b and Lcu-b) received diet supplemented with 10% of raw or cooked meat, respectively, with or without cooking water of L. lagocephalus while groups Mcr and Mcu+b received diet supplemented with 10% of raw or cooked meat of Liza aurata, which were used as a negative control. In Lcu+b group, ALT, AST and ALP rates (hepatic enzyme markers) decreased after two months of treatment, indicating liver damage. We also observed an increase of 54 and 65% of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) in their livers respectively 48 hours and two months after treatment compared to controls. The catalase (CAT) activity in group Lcu+b decreased (p < 0.05) after two periods of treatment, whereas metallothionein (MT) level significantly increased and decreased, respectively after 48 hours and two months. In fact, in the histological analysis of the livers from Lcu+b treated group, we observed an increase in vacuolisation, necrosis, hepatocytes ballooning and sinusoids dilation. These results indicate that L. lagocephalus meat cooked with water produces hepatotoxicity and oxidative damage
Leveraging D2D Communication to Maximize the Spectral Efficiency of Massive MIMO Systems
In this paper, we investigate offloading of UEs in D2D mode for a massive MIMO system, where the base station (BS) is equipped with a large, but finite number of antennas and the total number of UEs is kept fixed. We derive closedform expressions for the bounds of the overall capacity of the system. Our results reveal that there exists an optimal user offload fraction, which maximizes the overall capacity. This fraction is strongly coupled with the network parameters such as the number of antennas at the BS, D2D link distance and the transmit SNR at both the UE and the BS. Given a set of network parameters, careful tuning of the offload fraction can provide up to 5Ă capacity gains
Methidathion-induced hematological, biochemical and hepatohistological alterations in rat: Ameliorative effects of selenium and zinc
The aim of this study was to determine the effect of a sub-acute 4-week exposure to methidathion (MD) on the hematological system and hepatic integrity of rats. We also assessed whether co-administration of micronutrients such as selenium (Se) and zinc (Zn) prevented MD-induced hepatic damage. Rats were randomly divided into four groups of six each: the first group served as a control which received standard diet, the second group received both Se (0.5mg/kg of diet) and Zn (0.227 g/l drinking water), the third group received only MD (5 mg/kg b.w. by gavage using corn oil as a vehicle), and the fourth group received MD and combined selenium and zinc. After four weeks, exposure to MD induced a significant increase in plasmatic activities of AST, ALT, ALP, LDH, and liver malondialdehyde level. In contrast, reduced glutathione level (GSH), and the activities of catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and the glutathione peroxidase (GPx) content of hepatic tissue decreased significantly. Moreover, treatment with Se and Zn in MD-treated rats maintained all the biochemical parameters cited above. In conclusion, the obtained results indicate the ability of Se and Zn to attenuate the MD-induced liver and erythrocytes oxidative damage.Key words: Biochemical studies, liver, methidathion, oxidative stress, rat, selenium, zinc
Extracted tetrodotoxin from puffer fish Lagocephalus lagocephalus induced hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity to Wistar rats
This study aimed to investigate the toxicity of raw and boiled tissue extracts of Lagocephalus lagocephalus flesh or liver. Five groups of six male Wistar rats each were used. Four groups received a daily intraperitoneal injection of raw or boiled tissue extracts of L. lagocephalus flesh and liver at a dose of 1 ml/100 g (v/w). The fifth group served as a sham and received a daily intraperitoneal injection of saline solution (1 ml/100 g of 0.9% NaCl, v/w). During the experiment, there was a slight decrease in body weight in all treated groups. Our results revealed that the activities of various enzymes like transaminase, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma glutamyl transpeptidase (Îł-GT) and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) decreased in serum and increased in liver and kidney tissues, producing hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity in the treated rats. These observations on the toxicity of this Tunisian puffer fish revealing toxicity especially in the flesh, the edible part of fish, clearly indicate the danger of using this fish as food.Key words: Hepatotoxicity, Lagocephalus lagocephalus, nephrotoxicity
Verrucous Carcinoma of the Vulva: A Case Report and Review of the Literature.
Verrucous carcinoma of the vulva is a rare lesion (1). Affecting essentially postmenopausal women, this lesion is a distinct and particular entity in vulval carcinoma classification and its scalability is uncertain and unpredictable. Here, we present a case concerning a 48-year-old patient, without follow-up after a condyloma acuminate of the vulva (large left lip). The origin of this case will be discussed in this article. The treatment decided was only surgical. A review of literature shows the rarity of this lesion of the female genital tract
Carcinome basocellulaire métatypique : a propos de deux cas
Introduction : : Le carcinome mĂ©tatypique est une entitĂ© rare. Il touche essentiellement la rĂ©gion cervico-faciale chez un sujet de sexe masculin. Les auteurs Ă©tudieront, Ă travers deux observations, les caractĂ©ristiques cliniques et Ă©volutives du cancer mĂ©tatypique ainsi que les difficultĂ©s thĂ©rapeutiques. Observation 1 : Un homme ĂągĂ© de 41 ans, a prĂ©sentĂ© un carcinome mĂ©tatypique temporo-pariĂ©tal droit traitĂ© initialement par chirurgie. Cinq ans plus tard, il a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©opĂ©rĂ© pour une rĂ©cidive locale et ganglionnaire et a bĂ©nĂ©ficiĂ© ensuite dâune cobaltothĂ©rapie, stabilisant ainsi la maladie pendant 4 ans au bout desquels on a notĂ© la survenue dâune deuxiĂšme rĂ©cidive locale avec des mĂ©tastases pulmonaires. Le malade est dĂ©cĂ©dĂ©, Ă 10 ans de recul, dans un tableau de pneumopathie diffuse avec septicĂ©mie sĂ©vĂšre. Observation 2 : Un homme de 71 ans, a prĂ©sentĂ© un carcinome mĂ©tatypique de la rĂ©gion rĂ©tro- auriculaire. Il a eu une exĂ©rĂšse tumorale avec des limites chirurgicales envahies. Il a prĂ©sentĂ© plusieurs rĂ©cidives locales traitĂ©es par des exĂ©rĂšses larges jusquâĂ une pĂ©trectomie totale. Les limites chirurgicales Ă©taient toujours tumorales. Une radiothĂ©rapie postopĂ©ratoire a Ă©tĂ© rĂ©alisĂ©e pour chaque rĂ©cidive. A 7 ans de recul, il a prĂ©sentĂ© une rĂ©cidive locale envahissant lâangleponto-cĂ©rĂ©belleux et le cerveau, jugĂ©e en dehors de toutes ressources thĂ©rapeutiques. Discussion : Le carcinome mĂ©tatypique est caractĂ©risĂ© par son agressivitĂ© et sa tendance Ă la rĂ©cidive. Son traitementest essentiellement chirurgical. Une large marge de sĂ©curitĂ© lors de lâexĂ©rĂšse est indispensable. La radiothĂ©rapie est un traitement adjuvant, devenu incontournable vu le haut risque de rĂ©cidive. Le rĂŽle de la chimiothĂ©rapie nâest pas encore prouvĂ©.
Polysaccharides from Phormidium versicolor (NCC466) protecting HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells and rat liver tissues from cadmium toxicity: Evidence from in vitro and in vivo tests
© 2018 Elsevier B.V. The in vitro antioxidant, cytotoxic and cytoprotective properties and in vivo hepatoprotective activities of crude polysaccharides extracted from cyanobacteria Phormidim versicolor NCC466 (CFv-PS) were investigated. The CFv-PS, identified as heteropolysaccharides with molecular weight of 63.79 kDa, exhibited relatively strong antioxidant activity, in a concentration-depended manner, in vitro assays. Additionally, CFv-PS did not induce cytotoxic effect on HepG2 human hepatocellular carcinoma cells within the range of tested concentrations (25â150 ÎŒg·mLâ1) while preventing them against Cd. Moreover, in rats subjected to Cd-induced hepatotoxicity, CFv-PS pretreatment significantly (P < 0.05) reduced the level of ALAT, ASAT, biliburin, MDA, protein carbonyl and DNA damage, and markedly increased enzyme activities in liver tissues. These findings suggest that the cyanobacteria Phormidium versicolor is a potential source of natural products possessing antioxidant, cytoprotective and hepatoprotective properties
Multimodality in Pervasive Environment
Future pervasive environments are expected to immerse users in a consistent
world of probes, sensors and actuators. Multimodal interfaces combined
with social computing interactions and high-performance networking can foster a
new generation of pervasive environments. However, much work is still needed to
harness the full potential of multimodal interaction. In this paper we discuss some
short-term research goals, including advanced techniques for joining and correlating
multiple data flows, each with its own approximations and uncertainty models.
Also, we discuss some longer term objectives, like providing users with a mental
model of their own multimodal "aura", enabling them to collaborate with the network
infrastructure toward inter-modal correlation of multimodal inputs, much in
the same way as the human brain extracts a single self-conscious experience from
multiple sensorial data flows
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