Bowen's Formula for a Dynamical Solenoid.

More than 50 years ago, Rufus Bowen noticed a natural relation between the ergodic theory and the dimension theory of dynamical systems. He proved a formula, known today as the Bowen's formula, that relates the Hausdorff dimension of a conformal repeller to the zero of a pressure function defined by a single conformal map. In this paper, we extend the result of Bowen to a sequence of conformal maps.

Dimma: Semi-Supervised Low-Light Image Enhancement with Adaptive Dimming.

Enhancing low-light images with natural colors poses a challenge due to camera processing variations and limited access to ground-truth lighting conditions. To address this, we propose Dimma, a semi-supervised approach that aligns with any camera using a small set of image pairs captured under extreme lighting conditions. Our method employs a convolutional mixture density network to replicate camera-specific noise present in dark images.

Test structure in some pioneer multichambered Paleozoic foraminifera.

Foraminiferal wall microstructures, consistent with the molecular-based high-rank classification, are critical to understanding foraminiferal evolution and advanced taxonomic relationships. Although test structures are well documented for recent, Cenozoic, and some Mesozoic foraminifera, the diagnostic characteristics of Paleozoic taxa are largely unexplored. The majority of calcareous Paleozoic foraminifera have been assigned to the Fusulinata based on questionable homogeneously "microgranular" test wall microstructures, which have never been sufficiently documented for most taxa.

Quantum State Reduction by Matter-Phase-Related Measurements in Optical Lattices.

A many-body atomic system coupled to quantized light is subject to weak measurement. Instead of coupling light to the on-site density, we consider the quantum backaction due to the measurement of matter-phase-related variables such as global phase coherence. We show how this unconventional approach opens up new opportunities to affect system evolution.

Surgical injury-induced early neocortical microvascular changes and characteristics of the cells populating the peri-lesion zone.

Adult mammalian brain contains a number of specialized neurovascular structures termed "niches" that act as sources of neuronal cells throughout the individual's life. Some of the niches generate neurons to satisfy the need for 'replacement' neurons within the same or closely located brain structures, whereas the other can provide such cells for more distant destinations in the brain. A common characteristic of known neurovascular niches is the presence of a complex 3-dimensional network of basal lamina processes, called fractones.

Immune response in breast cancer brain metastases and their microenvironment: the role of the PD-1/PD-L axis.

Background: A better understanding of immune response in breast cancer brain metastases (BCBM) may prompt new preventive and therapeutic strategies.

Methods: Immunohistochemical expression of stromal tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs: CD4, CD8, CTLA4), macrophage/microglial cells (CD68), programmed cell death protein 1 receptor (PD-1), programmed cell death protein 1 receptor ligand (PD-L)1, PD-L2 and glial fibrillary acid protein was assessed in 84 BCBM and their microenvironment.

Results: Median survival after BCBM excision was 18.

Functional Assessment of Synoptic Pathology Reporting for Ovarian Cancer.

Background: Ovarian cancer has one of the highest death/incidence rates and is commonly diagnosed at an advanced stage. In the recent WHO classification, new histotypes were classified which respond differently to chemotherapy. The e-standardized synoptic cancer pathology reports offer the clinicians essential and reliable information.

Experimental modeling of pulmonary barotrauma.

The main causes of pulmonary barotrauma include loss of consciousness or panic attack of a diver and emergence from underwater with a constricted glottis. However, numerous publications and our observations indicate that the majority of fully symptomatic cases of pulmonary barotrauma develop without any evident errors in the ascending technique. Therefore, an attempt was made to examine such cases using the experimental model of pulmonary barotrauma designed by the authors.

Computerized System for Quantitative Assessment of Atherosclerotic Plaques in the Femoral and Iliac Arteries Visualized by Multislice Computed Tomography.

Objective: The investigation is aimed at the development of a semiautomatic method of examining the femoral and iliac arteries, and quantifying atherosclerotic plaques visible in the multislice computed tomography images.

Methods: We have utilized the advanced morphology and segmentation methods for processing of a series of the images. In particular, a novel sorted pixel intensity approach to segment the artery into the lumen/plaque regions has been used, and effectively combined with the Gaussian mixture modeling to increase the accuracy of the segmentation.

The influence of the microscope lamp filament colour temperature on the process of digital images of histological slides acquisition standardization.

Background: The aim of this study is to compare the digital images of the tissue biopsy captured with optical microscope using bright field technique under various light conditions. The range of colour's variation in immunohistochemically stained with 3,3'-Diaminobenzidine and Haematoxylin tissue samples is immense and coming from various sources. One of them is inadequate setting of camera's white balance to microscope's light colour temperature.

Hepatoprotective effect of nitric oxide in experimental model of acute hepatic failure.

Aim: To evaluate the effect of nitric oxide (NO) on the development and degree of liver failure in an animal model of acute hepatic failure (AHF).

Methods: An experimental rat model of galactosamine-induced AHF was used. An inhibitor of NO synthase, nitroarginine methyl ester, or an NO donor, arginine, were administered at various doses prior to or after the induction of AHF.

Computer approach to recognition of Fuhrman grade of cells in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma.

Objective: To present a computerized system for recognition of Fuhrman grade of cells in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma on the basis of microscopic images of the neoplasm cells in application of hematoxylin and eosin staining.

Study Design: The applied methods use combined gradient and mathematical morphology to obtain nuclei and classifiers in the form of support vector machine to estimate their Fuhrman grade. The starting point is a microscopic kidney image, which is subject to the advanced methods of preprocessing, leading finally to estimation of Fuhrman grade of cells and the whole analyzed image.

Survivin expression as a prognostic factor in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer or primary peritoneal cancer treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate association of expression of survivin and p53 with the effects of neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) in patients with advanced ovarian cancer (AOC).

Methods: We retrospectively evaluated 60 consecutive patients with AOC (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stage IIIC-IV) treated with NAC. The expression of p53 and survivin was assessed immunohistochemically.

Morphological evaluation of the iliac and femoral arteries; possibilities and perspectives.

Unlabelled: The study presented an approach to the morphometric image of atherosclerotic lesions of the final segment of the abdominal aorta, femoral and iliac arteries, considering possible endovascular intervention. The evaluation of these arteries is very important, because they are often used as a point of access for endovascular procedures performed on the peripheral arteries, or within the thoracic and abdominal aorta and its branches, as well as coronary arteries. The aim of the study was to determine morphometric measurements describing the atherosclerotic lesions, including the methodology of their surgical interpretation.

Wnt/β-catenin pathway as a potential prognostic and predictive marker in patients with advanced ovarian cancer.

Background: β-catenin is the key protein in the WNT signalling pathway and it forms adherent junctions together with E-cadherin. In ovarian carcinoma, abnormal expression of β-catenin, E-cadherin and WNT-1 was observed, but their prognostic and predictive role is unclear. The aim of this study was to clarify the prognostic and predictive role of E-cadherin, β-catenin and WNT-1 in advanced epithelial ovarian carcinoma (AEOC).

A case of a large solitary fibrous tumour of the uterine cervix.

Background: Solitary fibrous tumour of the uterine cervix is an extremely rare phenomenon. We present a case of the largest cervical tumour of this type in this anatomical location reported so far.

Case Presentation: A 45-year old white female presented with abdominal pain, abnormal uterine bleedings and a 15 cm mass of the uterine cervix/left parametrium.

Morphological evidence of the beneficial role of immune system cells in a rat model of surgical brain injury.

The blood-brain barrier prevents infiltration of peripheral immunocompetent cells into the CNS under physiological conditions. Following brain trauma there is reported a rapid and massive immunological response. Our earlier data indicated that surgical brain injury causes breaking of brain parenchyma integrity and results in cell changes and death, astrogliosis and disruption of blood vessels.

Nucleolus detection in the Fuhrman grading system for application in CCRC.

The paper presents a method for nucleolus detection in images of nuclei in clear-cell renal carcinoma (CCRC). The method is based on the similarity of the nuclei image and the two-dimensional paraboloidal window function. The results of numerical experiments performed on almost 2600 images of CCRC nuclei have confirmed the good accuracy of the method.

Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor as a prognostic factor in colorectal cancer on the basis of the Allred scoring system.

Background: Overexpression of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) is found in many types of neoplasms. The aim of the study was to evaluate EGFR expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) specimens and to determine whether EGFR expression correlates with clinicopathological data and overall survival.

Patients And Methods: Tissue specimens from 181 consecutive CRC patients treated at the Military Institute of Medicine in 2006-2010 were collected and examined for EGFR expression, by immunohistochemistry staining.

Immunohistochemical evaluation of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and estrogen and progesterone receptors in invasive breast cancer in women.

Introduction: Estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER-2) expression are crucial in the biology of breast carcinoma. HER-2/neu gene is amplified and overexpressed in 15-30% of invasive breast cancers. HER-2-positive breast cancers have worse prognosis than HER-2 negative tumors and possess distinctive clinical features.

Skull base secretory meningioma. Value of histological and immunohistochemical findings for peritumoral brain edema formation.

Meningiomas are very common neurosurgical problem. Their histological appearance, different size and localization, adherence to vital neural and vascular structures or extensive peritumoral brain edema (PTBE), especially in deep seated tumors, may lead to severe, life-threatening complications. We report a case of tuberculum sellae meningioma (TSM).

Tau protein as a potential predictive marker in epithelial ovarian cancer patients treated with paclitaxel/platinum first-line chemotherapy.

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate predictive and prognostic significance of microtubule-associated protein Tau in epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) patients treated with paclitaxel and platinum-based chemotherapy.

Methods: 74 patients with EOC (stage I-IV) who underwent cytoreductive surgery followed by standard paclitaxel/platinum chemotherapy were included in the retrospective analysis. Their formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue specimens were immunohistochemically stained for Tau protein, using semi-quantitative DAKO test.

Buffering capacity explains signal variation in symbiotic calcium oscillations.

Legumes form symbioses with rhizobial bacteria and arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi that aid plant nutrition. A critical component in the establishment of these symbioses is nuclear-localized calcium (Ca(2+)) oscillations. Different components on the nuclear envelope have been identified as being required for the generation of the Ca(2+) oscillations.

K-Ras gene mutation status as a prognostic and predictive factor in patients with colorectal cancer undergoing irinotecan- or oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy.

Background: CRC caused more than 600,000 estimated deaths in 2008. Dysregulated signaling through the RAS/RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling pathway due to mutations in K-Ras and B-Raf are common events in CRC.

Methods: Incidence of mutations in codons 12 and 13 of K-Ras and exons 11 and 15 of B-Raf were analyzed in amplified PCR products from primary tumors of 273 patients with CRC, and their prognostic and predictive significance was assessed.

Conversion of epidermal growth factor receptor 2 and hormone receptor expression in breast cancer metastases to the brain.

Introduction: We investigated the status of estrogen receptor alpha (ERα), progesterone receptor (PR), and epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in primary tumor and in the corresponding brain metastases in a consecutive series of breast cancer patients. Additionally, we studied factors potentially influencing conversion and evaluated its association with survival.

Methods: The study group included 120 breast cancer patients.