Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Protein metabolism in human colon carcinomas: in vivo investigations using a modified tracer technique with L-[1-13C]leucine.

To quantify the protein anabolism of tumors it is not sufficient simply to determine the level of protein synthesis. The decisive factor is the net balance. This is the first attempt to establish this parameter in human tumors in vivo. Intraoperative tumor leucine/protein metabolism was studied in 15 patients with resectable malignant colon tumors using a balance model and L[1-13C]leucine as the tracer substance. Comparative measurements were also carried out simultaneously for peripheral tissue (forearm); in addition, protein kinetics parameters were established for the whole body using a proven two-pool model (with the same tracer as above). In view of the frequently conflicting data on amino acid metabolism in tumors, the tumoral and peripheral exchange rates of 20 amino acids were also determined. In tumors, essential and branched-chain amino acid uptakes were found to be 1.68 +/- 0.59 (SE) and 1.52 +/- 0.23 mumol/100 g tissue/min, respectively; in peripheral tissue there was overall an amino acid release [-0.11 +/- 0.06 and -0.05 +/- 0.04 mumol/100 g/min; in either case P < 0.01 (tumor versus periphery)]. Tracer analyses yielded a net retention for the tumors but a protein loss for peripheral tissue (8.941 +/- 3.113 versus -0.557 +/- 0.53 g/kg/24 h; P < 0.01) and for the whole body (-0.363 +/- 0.04 g/kg/24 h). The tumors were divided into two prognostic groups on the basis of their histology. Significant differences were found between the two groups in terms of the net retention rate for 10 amino acids, including leucine; retention was elevated in tumors with an unfavorable prognosis, possibly due to a higher amino acid requirement because of more rapid growth or for export processes (mucus production). The protein balance model used here has proved satisfactory for our purposes and could also be used to directly evaluate dietary measures (e.g., adjuvant parenteral nutrition in connection with chemotherapy).
A memory of errors in sensorimotor learning

Practice makes perfect — or does it? How do we learn from past errors? Herzfeld et al. found that when we practice a movement, the human brain has a memory for errors that is then used to learn faster in new conditions. This memory for error exists in parallel with motor memory's two traditional forms: memory of actions and memory of external perturbations. They also proposed a mathematical model for learning from errors. This model explained previous experimental results and predicted other major findings that they later verified experimentally. Science, this issue p. 1349 The history of previously experienced motor errors changes the amount the brain is willing to learn from an error. The current view of motor learning suggests that when we revisit a task, the brain recalls the motor commands it previously learned. In this view, motor memory is a memory of motor commands, acquired through trial-and-error and reinforcement. Here we show that the brain controls how much it is willing to learn from the current error through a principled mechanism that depends on the history of past errors. This suggests that the brain stores a previously unknown form of memory, a memory of errors. A mathematical formulation of this idea provides insights into a host of puzzling experimental data, including savings and meta-learning, demonstrating that when we are better at a motor task, it is partly because the brain recognizes the errors it experienced before.
Hybridization of Southern Hemisphere blue whale subspecies and a sympatric area off Antarctica: impacts of whaling or climate change?

Understanding the degree of genetic exchange between subspecies and populations is vital for the appropriate management of endangered species. Blue whales (Balaenoptera musculus) have two recognized Southern Hemisphere subspecies that show differences in geographic distribution, morphology, vocalizations and genetics. During the austral summer feeding season, the Antarctic blue whale (B. m. intermedia) is found in polar waters and the pygmy blue whale (B. m. brevicauda) in temperate waters. Here, we genetically analyzed samples collected during the feeding season to report on several cases of hybridization between the two recognized blue whale Southern Hemisphere subspecies in a previously unconfirmed sympatric area off Antarctica. This means the pygmy blue whales using waters off Antarctica may migrate and then breed during the austral winter with the Antarctic subspecies. Alternatively, the subspecies may interbreed off Antarctica outside the expected austral winter breeding season. The genetically estimated recent migration rates from the pygmy to Antarctic subspecies were greater than estimates of evolutionary migration rates and previous estimates based on morphology of whaling catches. This discrepancy may be due to differences in the methods or an increase in the proportion of pygmy blue whales off Antarctica within the last four decades. Potential causes for the latter are whaling, anthropogenic climate change or a combination of these and may have led to hybridization between the subspecies. Our findings challenge the current knowledge about the breeding behaviour of the world's largest animal and provide key information that can be incorporated into management and conservation practices for this endangered species.
Uraemia disrupts the vascular niche in a 3D co-culture system of human mesenchymal stem cells and endothelial cells.

BACKGROUND Recent studies identified mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) as major players in vascular remodelling and the sub-endothelial compartment as the stem cell niche. The uraemic microenvironment predisposes to increased levels of reactive oxygen species, accelerated ageing of endothelial cells (EC) and vascular sclerosis. METHODS We generated an in vitro model of a vascular niche consisting of a three-dimensional collagen I/III gel containing MSC and EC. We recapitulated a uraemic microenvironment by supplementing the medium with 20% pooled sera from either healthy or uraemic patients. RESULTS Under healthy conditions, MSC/EC co-culture in collagen gels resulted in vessel-like tube formation. In contrast, uraemic serum-induced expression of extracellular matrix proteins (real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, immunohistochemistry) that was accompanied by significant collagen contraction and a myofibroblastic phenotype of MSC. Although the uraemic culture conditions stimulated EC proliferation (cell counting, BrdU assay) and did not induce apoptosis (7-amino-actinomycin, annexin V FACS analysis), the tube formation was disrupted in spite of significantly enhanced vascular endothelial growth factor-A messenger RNA expression. The excessive matrix synthesis and remodelling by uraemia-exposed MSC/EC was reminiscent of remodelling processes observed in arteries of 12 dialysis patients (using arteries from 10 children and 10 age-matched non-dialysis patients as controls). CONCLUSION Our data indicate a potential role of the sub-endothelial niche and its major cell types EC and MSC in the remodelling process of the vascular wall in CKD.
Riding the waves of augmented reality in preservice EFL teacher education: model development

The study aims to develop a theoretical model to ascertain factors predicting Chinese preservice EFL teachers' acceptance of augmented reality (AR) mobile systems in their future language learning classrooms. Drawing on prior theoretical models related to the adoption of technology in educational context, seven salient theoretical constructs pertinent to individuals' intention to use augmented reality mobile systems were identified, which included perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, attitudes towards using AR mobile systems, technology self-efficacy, subjective norms, facilitating conditions, and technological pedagogical and content knowledge. Furthermore, a model was proposed by reviewing prior empirical evidence. The proposed model consists of four independent variables, three mediating variables, and one dependent variable. Based on the model, 13 hypotheses were formulated for next-step empirical validation via structural equation modelling.
A small interference RNA screen revealed proteasome inhibition as strategy for glioblastoma therapy.

Typically, these sub-sets of chemicals exhibit limited biological activity and re-quire structural reﬁnement before acceptable efﬁcacy can beachieved. Because of the potentially inﬁnite number of de-rivatives that can be made from a single candidate chemical,this reﬁnement process is laborious and time-consuming. Toexpedite this reﬁnement process, molecular targets of thecandidate chemical are frequently sought. Unfortunately, be-cause pharmacological agents inevitably affect multiple mo-lecular targets, identiﬁcation of these targets often requiresyears of investigation.Recent development of small interference RNA (siRNA)technology now allows identiﬁcation of molecular targets criti-cal for mediating speciﬁc biological processes.
Measurement of strontium in serum, urine, bone, and soft tissues by Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry.

To study the possible accumulation of Sr in chronic renal failure patients, methods were developed for the determination of the element in serum, urine, bone, and soft tissues by using Zeeman atomic absorption spectrometry. Serum samples were diluted 1:4 with a Triton X-100-HNO3 mixture, whereas urine samples were diluted 1:20 with HNO3. Bone samples were digested with concentrated HNO3 in stoppered polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) tubes, whereas soft tissues were dissolved in a tetramethylammonium hydroxide solution in water. For serum and urine we used matrix-matched calibration curves, whereas bone and tissue samples were measured against aqueous calibrators. Atomization was performed from the wall of pyrolytically coated graphite tubes for all of the matrices under study. Both inter- and intraassay CVs were <6% (n = 12, n = 10, respectively), and the recovery of added analyte was close to 100% for all of the biological matrices under study. Detection limits were 1.2 microg/L (serum), 0.3 microg/L (urine), 0.4 microg/g (bone), and 2.2 ng/g (soft tissues), whereas the sensitivity determined by the slope of the calibration curve, i.e., the amount of Sr producing a 0.0044 integrated absorbance change in signal, was 2.4 pg, 2.4 pg, 3.9 pg, and 2.6 pg for these matrices respectively. We conclude that the present methods are precise and accurate and easily applicable for both routine use and research investigations. They will allow us to study the metabolism of the element in chronic renal failure patients and shed some light on the association that was recently noted between increased bone Sr concentrations and the development of osteomalacia in these individuals.
Alteration in Calcium Handling at the Subcellular Level inmdx Myotubes*

In this study, we have tested the hypothesis that augmented [Ca2+] in subcellular regions or organelles, which are known to play a key role in cell survival, is the missing link between Ca2+ homeostasis alterations and muscular degeneration associated with muscular dystrophy. To this end, different targeted chimeras of the Ca2+-sensitive photoprotein aequorin have been transiently expressed in subcellular compartments of skeletal myotubes of mdx mice, the animal model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Direct measurements of the [Ca2+] in the sarcoplasmic reticulum, [Ca2+] sr , show a higher steady state level at rest and a larger drop after KCl-induced depolarization inmdx compared with control myotubes. The peaks in [Ca2+] occurring in the mitochondrial matrix ofmdx myotubes are significantly larger than in controls upon KCl-induced depolarization or caffeine application. The augmented response of mitochondria precedes the alterations in the Ca2+ responses of the cytosol and of the cytoplasmic region beneath the membrane, which become significant only at a later stage of myotube differentiation. Taking into account the key role played by mitochondria Ca2+ handling in the control of cell death, our data suggest that mitochondria are potential targets of impaired Ca2+ homeostasis in muscular dystrophy.
Providing an empirical basis for optimizing the verification and testing phases of software development

Applying equal testing and verification effort to all parts of a software system is not very efficient, especially when resources are limited and scheduling is tight. Therefore, one needs to be able to differentiate low/high fault density components so that testing/verification effort can be concentrated where needed. Such a strategy is ejected to detect more faults and thus improve the resulting reliability of the overall system. The authors present an alternative approach for constructing such models that is intended to fulfil specific software engineering needs, (i.e. dealing with partial/incomplete information and creating models that are easy to interpret). The approach to classification is to: measure the software system to be considered; and to build multivariate stochastic models for prediction. The authors present experimental results obtained by classifying FORTRAN components into two fault density classes: low and high. They also evaluate the accuracy of the model and the insights it provides into the software process. <<ETX>>
Creating Complex Building Blocks through Generative Representations

One of the main limitations for the functional scalability of computer automated design systems is the representation used for encoding designs. Using computer programs as an analogy, representations can be thought of as having the properties of combination, control-flow and abstraction. We define generative representations as those which have the ability to reuse elements in an encoding through either iteration or abstraction and argue that reuse improves functional scalability by allowing the representation to construct buildingblocks and capture design dependencies. Next we describe GENRE, an evolutionary design system for evolving a variety of different types of designs. Using this system we compare the generative representation against a non-generative representation on evolving tables and robots and show that designs evolved with the generative representation have higher fitness than designs created with the non-generative representation. Further, we show that designs evolved with the generative representation are constructed in a modular way through the reuse of discovered building blocks.
Meiotic studies in two human reciprocal translocations and their association with spermatogenic failure.

BACKGROUND Reciprocal translocations are often associated with infertility in male carriers. However, some carriers present normal semen profiles and are identified because of repetitive pregnancy failures. METHODS Here, we report two different cases of reciprocal translocations. The first patient carried a t(10;14) and was normozoospermic. The second patient carried a t(13;20) and was azoospermic. Synaptonemal complexes from both carriers were analysed using immunocytogenetic techniques and multi-centromere fluorescent in situ hybridization (cenM-FISH). RESULTS Associations between the quadrivalent and the sex body or other autosomes were seen only in the t(13;20) carrier. Heterosynapsis was observed only in the t(10;14) carrier. Synaptic pairing abnormalities were seen in 71% of the spreads in the t(13;20) carrier and 30% of the spreads in the t(10;14) carrier. Recombination frequency was decreased in the t(13;20) carrier, but not in the t(10;14) carrier. CONCLUSIONS By comparing these two different translocation carriers with different fertility outcomes, we discuss the possible mechanisms by which translocations might cause the spermatogenesis process to fail.
Does Moral Identity Effectively Predict Moral Behavior?: A Meta-Analysis

This meta-analysis examined the relationship between moral identity and moral behavior. It was based on 111 studies from a broad range of academic fields including business, developmental psychology and education, marketing, sociology, and sport sciences. Moral identity was found to be significantly associated with moral behavior (random effects model, r = .22, p < .01, 95% CI [.19, .25]). Effect sizes did not differ for behavioral outcomes (prosocial behavior, avoidance of antisocial behavior, ethical behavior). Studies that were entirely based on self-reports yielded larger effect sizes. In contrast, the smallest effect was found for studies that were based on implicit measures or used priming techniques to elicit moral identity. Moreover, a marginally significant effect of culture indicated that studies conducted in collectivistic cultures yielded lower effect sizes than studies from individualistic cultures. Overall, the meta-analysis provides support for the notion that moral identity strengthens individuals’ readiness to engage in prosocial and ethical behavior as well as to abstain from antisocial behavior. However, moral identity fares no better as a predictor of moral action than other psychological constructs.
The role of attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and moral norm in the intention to purchase local food products

ABSTRACT The primary purpose of this study is to examine the antecedents to the intention to purchase local food by extending the theory of planned behavior with additional considerations of moral aspects. Structural equation modeling was conducted with a sample group comprising 695 U.S. consumers. The results showed that data fitted the hypothesized model fairly well and explained respondents’ local food purchase intention. Attitude, subjective norm, perceived behavioral control, and moral norm were found to influence consumers’ local food purchase intention directly or indirectly.
Detection of Wolf-Rayet stars in host galaxies of gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) : are GRBs produced by runaway massive stars ejected from high stellar density regions?

We have obtained deep spectroscopic observations of several nearby gamma-ray burst (GRB) host galaxies revealing for the first time the presence of Wolf-Rayet (WR) stars and numerous O stars located in rich and compact clusters or star forming regions. Surprisingly, high spatial resolution imaging shows that the GRBs and the associated supernovae did not occur in these regions, but several hundreds of parsec away. Considering various scenarios for GRB progenitors, we do not find any simple explanation of why they should be preferentially born in regions with low stellar densities. All the examined GRBs and associated SNe have occurred 400 to 800 pc from very high density stellar environments including large numbers of WR stars. Such distances can be travelled through at velocities of 100 km s 1 or larger, assuming the travel time to be the typical life time of WR stars. It leads us to suggest that GRB progenitors may be runaway massive stars ejected from compact massive star clusters. The ejection from such super star clusters may lead to a spin-up of these stars, producing the loss of the hydrogen and/or helium envelopes leading to the origin of the type Ibc supernovae associated with GRBs. If this scenario applies tocd text/Sc all GRBs, it provides a natural explanation of the very small fraction of massive stars that emit a GRB at the end of their life. An alternative to this scenario could be a binary origin for GRBs, but this still requires an explanation of why it would preferentially occur in low stellar density regions.
Dependence of solar radiative forcing of forest fire aerosol on ageing and state of mixture

During airborne in situ measurements of particle size distributions in a forest fire plume originating in North- ern Canada, an accumulation mode number mean diameter of 0.34 µm was observed over Lindenberg, Germany on 9 August 1998. Realizing that this is possibly the largest value observed for this property in a forest fire plume, scenarios of plume ageing by coagulation are considered to explain the observed size distribution, concluding that the plume dilution was inhibited in parts of the plume. The uncertainties in co- agulation rate and transition from external to internal mixture of absorbing forest fire and non-absorbing background par- ticles cause uncertainties in the plume's solar instantaneous radiative forcing of 20-40% and of a factor of 5-6, respec- tively. Including information compiled from other studies on this plume, it is concluded that the plume's characteristics are qualitatively consistent with a radiative-convective mixed layer.
Canard Induced Mixed-Mode Oscillations in a Medial Entorhinal Cortex Layer II Stellate Cell Model

Stellate cells (SCs) of the medial entorhinal cortex (layer II) display mixed-mode oscillatory activity, subthreshold oscillations (small-amplitude) interspersed with spikes (large amplitude), at theta frequencies (8–12 Hz). In this paper we study the mechanism of generation of such patterns in an SC biophysical (conductance-based) model. In particular, we show that the mechanism is based on the three-dimensional canard phenomenon and that the subthreshold oscillatory phenomenon is intrinsically nonlinear, involving the participation of both components (fast and slow) of a hyperpolarization-activated current in addition to the voltage and a persistent sodium current. We discuss some consequences of this mechanism for the SC intrinsic dynamics as well as for the interaction between SCs and external inhibitory inputs.
Transoral robotic surgery for oropharyngeal cancer: patient selection and special considerations

The increasing incidence of oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) emphasizes the importance of optimizing treatment for the disease. Historical protocol has utilized definitive radiation and invasive open procedures; these techniques expose the patient to significant risks and morbidity. Transoral robotic surgery (TORS) has emerged as a therapeutic modality with promise. Here, the literature regarding proper patient selection and other considerations for this procedure was reviewed. Multiple patient and tumor-related factors were found to be relevant for successful use of this treatment strategy. Outcomes regarding early and advanced-stage OPSCC were analyzed. Finally, the literature regarding use of TORS in three distinct patient populations, individuals with primary OPSCC, carcinoma of unknown primary and those with recurrent OPSCC, was examined.