Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Loss of cathepsin L activity promotes claudin‐1 overexpression and intestinal neoplasia

Intestinal epithelial integrity and polarity are maintained by cohesive interactions between cells via the formation of tight junctions. Irregularities in tight junctions have only recently been found to be associated with the initiation and progression of intestinal neoplasia. The claudin family of proteins is integral to the structure and function of the tight junction but little is known of the molecular events that regulate the expression of these components. The present report identifies cathepsin L, classically a lysosomal cysteine protease, as being induced during intestinal epithelial cell polarization and differentiation. Inhibition of intracellular cathepsin L activity results in the accumulation of disorganized cell layers and a decline in the expression of differentiation markers in cultured intestinal epithelial cells. This coincides with a rapid up‐ regulation of claudin‐1 protein accumulation. Mutant mice defective in cathepsin L activity (furless) display an elevated level of intestinal claudin‐1 and claudin‐2 expression. Loss of cathepsin L activity leads to a marked increase in tumor multiplicity in the intestine of ApcMin mice. Given the traditionally viewed biological role of cathepsin L in the processing of lysosomal content as well as in pathological extracellular matrix remodeling, the results here demonstrate an as yet unsuspected intracellular role for this protease in normal intestinal epithelial polarization and initiation of neoplasia. — Boudreau, F. , Lussier, C. R. , Mongrain, S. , Darsigny, M. , Drouin, J. L. , Doyon, G. , Suh, E. R. , Beaulieu, J.‐F. , Rivard, N. , Perreault, N. Loss of cathepsin L activity promotes claudin‐1 overexpression and intestinal neoplasia. FASEB J. 21, 3853–3865 (2007)
Clinical and mycological status of the Trichophyton mentagrophytes (interdigitale) syndrome of chronic dermatophytosis of the skin and nails

The syndrome of tinea pedis caused by human‐adapted Trichophyton mentagrophytes (interdigitale) can be recognized by two signs not characteristically seen in tinea pedis caused by T. rubrum and Epidermophyton floccosum: 1 bullous > 2 mm vesicles in the thin skin of the plantar arch and along the sides of the feet and heel adjacent to the thick plantar stratum corneum, 2 and white superficial onychomycosis. The relationship of the syndrome to zoophilic T. mentagrophytes remains in question.
A new key management scheme in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks

Key management is considered as the fundamental part of any secure communication. A secure wireless sensor network communication protocol relies on an efficient key management system. In sensor networks some random pre-distribution schemes are proposed for key management protocols. Connectivity and resiliency are two important criteria in key management. There is a trade-off between connectivity and resiliency in random key pre-distribution since increasing one decreases the other one and vice versa. In this paper we propose a new key management scheme in heterogeneous wireless sensor networks in which tradeoff between these criteria is lower than other schemes. This scheme consists of four stage key pre-distribution, localization and seed assignment, deriving new keys and shared key discovery. Simulation and analytical results show that proposed scheme has higher connectivity and resiliency and needs lower storage space compared to AP and EG key management schemes.
Motions of the Earth's Core and Mantle, and Variations of the Main Geomagnetic Field

Theoretical work on the magnetohydrodynamics of the earth's liquid core indicates (a) that horizontal variations in the properties of the core-mantle interface that would escape detection by modern seismological methods might nevertheless produce measurable geomagnetic effects; (b) that the rate of drift, relative to the earth's surface, of nonaxisymmetric features of the main geomagnetic field might be much faster than the average zonal speed of hydrodynamic motion of core material relative to the surrounding mantle; and (c) why magnetic astronomical bodies usually rotate. Among the consequences of (a) and (b) are the possibilities that (i) the shortest interval of time that can be resolved in paleomagnetic studies of the geocentric axial dipole component of the earth's magnetic field might be very much longer than the value often assumed by many paleomagnetic workers, (ii) reversals in sign of the geomagnetic dipole might be expected to show some degree of correlation with processes due to motions in the mantle (for example, tectonic activity, polar wandering), and (iii) variations in the length of the day that have hitherto been tentatively attributed to core motions may be due to some other cause.
Insulin-Like Growth Factors and Insulin-Like Growth Factor Binding Proteins in Adult Patients with Severe Liver Disease before and after Orthotopic Liver Transplantation

Introduction: The liver is the main source of serum insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) and IGF-binding proteins (IGFBPs) and the concentration of these proteins might reflect liver function. Methods: In a retrospective longitudinal study we examined serum levels of total and free IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-1, IGFBP-2, IGFBP-3 and IGFBP-6 in 21 adult patients with end-stage liver disease before and after orthotopic liver transplantation (LTX) by sensitive and specific RIAs. In each patient, the mean value of at least three measurements before and after LTX was calculated. Results: Before LTX, serum levels of total and free IGF-I, IGF-II, IGFBP-3 were low and showed a rapid and significant increase in almost all patients after successful LTX (total IGF-I: 30 ± 7 vs. 256 ± 30 ng/ml, p < 0.001; free IGF-I: 1.3 ± 0.3 vs. 3.5 ± 0.6 ng/ml, p < 0.01; IGF-II: 177 ± 28 vs. 618 ± 30 ng/ml, p < 0.001; IGFBP-3: 1,230 ± 136 vs. 3,665 ± 264 ng/ml, p < 0.001). In contrast, IGFBP-1 was found to be high immediately before LTX, and declined to normal levels after LTX (210 ± 40 vs. 90 ± 15 ng/ml, p < 0.01), while IGFBP-2 did not show any significant changes (1,154 ± 296 vs. 1,303 ± 192 ng/ ml). Positive correlations were found between IGF-I, IGF-II or IGFBP-3, and serum pseudocholinesterase (R = 0.50, 0.72 and 0.61 respectively, p < 0.001). Negative correlations were found between IGF-I, IGF-II or IGFBP-3, and prothrombin time (R = 0.50, 0.59 and 0.51 respectively, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Patients with severe liver disease show decreased levels of total and free IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3, and increased levels of IGFBP-1. These abnormalities are promptly normalized after successful LTX. Thus, serum levels of IGF-I, IGF-II and IGFBP-3 might be useful parameters for the assessment of liver function.
Incremental sparse saliency detection

By the guidance of attention, human visual system is able to locate objects of interest in complex scene. We propose a new visual saliency detection model for both image and video. Inspired by biological vision, saliency is defined locally. Lossy compression is adopted, where the saliency of a location is measured by the Incremental Coding Length(ICL). The ICL is computed by presenting the center patch as the sparsest linear representation of its surroundings. The final saliency map is generated by accumulating the coding length. The model is tested on both images and videos. The results indicate a reliable and robust saliency of our method.
Perceived Discrimination and Social Networks Among Older African Americans and Caribbean Blacks

The relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms among older black American populations is poorly understood. Although a small number of studies have examined the relationship between stress and social support, few have examined the association between perceived discrimination, social networks, and depressive symptoms among a representative sample of older racial and ethnic groups. This study examines (a) the relationship between sociodemographic factors, perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms and (b) social networks as a potential moderator in the perceived discrimination and depressive symptom relationship between 2 groups of older black Americans. This was a cross-sectional study using data from the National Survey of American Life with a sample of older African Americans (N = 837) and Caribbean blacks (N = 271). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 12-item Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression scale. Linear regression analyses were used to predict depressive symptoms. The relationship between perceived discrimination and depressive symptoms was significant in both groups. Social networks contributed as a protective factor for depressive symptoms for both groups. However, there was no significant moderation effect. Results suggest that regardless of ethnic affiliation, the experience of perceived discrimination is similar in both groups and is a risk factor for depressive symptoms. Future research is needed in this area to better understand the associations between sociodemographic factors, perceived discrimination, social networks, and their impact on depressive symptoms.
Positive and Negative Generation Effects in Source Monitoring

Research is mixed as to whether self-generation improves memory for the source of information. We propose the hypothesis that positive generation effects (better source memory for self-generated information) occur in reality-monitoring paradigms, while negative generation effects (better source memory for externally presented information) tend to occur in external source-monitoring paradigms. This hypothesis was tested in an experiment in which participants read or generated words, followed by a memory test for the source of each word (read or generated) and the word's colour. Meiser and Bröder's (2002) multinomial model for crossed source dimensions was used to analyse the data, showing that source memory for generation (reality monitoring) was superior for the generated words, while source memory for word colour (external source monitoring) was superior for the read words. The model also revealed the influence of strong response biases in the data, demonstrating the usefulness of formal modelling when examining generation effects in source monitoring.
The retarded van der Waals potential: Revisited

The retarded van der Waals potential, as first obtained by Casimir and Polder, is usually computed on the basis of nonrelativistic quantum electrodynamics . The Hamiltonian describes two infinitely heavy nuclei, charge e, separated by a distance R and two spinless electrons, charge −e, nonrelativistically coupled to the quantized radiation field. Casimir and Polder used the dipole approximation and small coupling to the Maxwell field. We employ here the full Hamiltonian and determine the asymptotic strength of the leading −R−7 potential, which is valid for all e. Our computation is based on a path integral representation and expands in 1/R, rather than in e.
All-Trans Retinoic Acid Induces DU145 Cell Cycle Arrest through Cdk5 Activation

Background/Aims: All-trans retinoic acid (ATRA), the active form of vitamin A, plays an important role in the growth arrest of numerous types of cancer cells. It has been indicated that cyclin-dependent kinase 5 (Cdk5) activity can be affected by ATRA treatment. Our previous results demonstrate the involvement of Cdk5 in the fate of prostate cancer cells. The purpose of this study is to examine whether Cdk5 is involved in ATRA-induced growth arrest of the castration-resistant cancer cell line DU145 through up-regulating Cdk inhibitor protein, p27. Methods: DU145 cells were treated with ATRA, and cell proliferation, protein expression, and protein localization of Cdk5/p27 were examined. Cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution were also determined under Cdk5 inhibition induced by inhibitor or knockdown. Results: ATRA treatment inhibited DU145 cell proliferation and significantly increased p27 expression through Cdk5 up-regulation. Immunocytochemical data showed that a Cdk5 inhibitor reduced ATRA-triggered nuclear distribution of p27 in DU145 cells. The proliferation inhibition and G1 phase accumulation of DU145 cells were significantly increased by ATRA treatment, whereas Cdk5 inhibitor and siRNA could reverse these effects. Conclusions: Our results demonstrate that ATRA induced growth inhibition in castration-resistant prostate cancer cells through activating Cdk5 and p27. We hope this finding will increase the knowledge of prostate cancer treatment and can be applied in patients' nutritional control in the future.
Economic Benefits of Improvements in Visibility: Acid Rain Provisions of the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.

The Acid Rain Provisions (Title IV) of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990 call for about a 10 million ton reduction in annual SO2 emissions in the United States. Although the provisions apply nationwide, most of the reduction will occur in the eastern half of the country, where use of high-sulfur coal for electricity generation is most common. One potentially large benefit of Title IV is the expected improvement in visibility conditions in the eastern United States due to the reductions in secondary sul-fate aerosols. This paper combines available economic estimates of willingness to pay for improvements in visibility with current estimates of the difference between expected visibility conditions in the eastern United States with and without Title I V, to estimate the expected visibility benefits of Title IV. The results suggest an annual value of $2.3 billion (in 1994 dollars) in the year 2010, as a result of visibility improvements due to Title IV in residential areas of the eastern United States. The results also suggest a possible additional annual value for eastern U.S. residents of as much as $1-2 billion for visibility improvements at national parks in the Southeast.
Multilevel Causal Ordering of Academic Self-Concept and Achievement: Influence of Language of Instruction (English Compared With Chinese) for Hong Kong Students

Based on a large, representative, 6-year longitudinal sample of Hong Kong students (7,802 students in 56 high schools), we examined relations among academic self-concept, academic achievement, and language of instruction (Chinese as compared with English). In support of the cross-cultural generalizability of the reciprocal effects model, prior self-concept had significant effects on subsequent achievement beyond the effects of prior achievement; and prior achievement had effects on subsequent self-concept as well. Support for the reciprocal effects model was not influenced by language of instruction, and the strength of that support did not differ in English and Chinese language high schools. Particularly in the early high school years, however, instruction in a second language (English rather than Chinese) had substantial negative effects on both academic self-concept and academic achievement.
High-resolution measurements of scattering in wheat canopies-implications for crop parameter retrieval

Polarimetric X- and C-band measurements by the University of Sheffield ground-based synthetic aperture radar (GB-SAR) indoor system provide three-dimensional images of the scattering processes in wheat canopies, at resolutions of around a wavelength (3-6 cm). The scattering shows a pronounced layered structure, with strong returns from the soil and the flag leaves, and in some cases a second leaf layer. Differential attenuation at horizontal (H) and vertical (V) polarization, due to the predominantly vertical structure of the wheat stems, gives rise to marked effects. At both C and X bands, direct return from the canopy exceeds the soil return at large incidence angles for VV polarization, but is comparable to or less than the soil return in all other cases. At HV, the apparent ground return is probably due to a double-bounce mechanism, and volume scattering is never the dominant term. Direct sensing of the crop canopy is most effective at X band, VV, and large incidence angles, under which conditions the return is dominated by the flag leaf layer. Field measurements with the outdoor GB-SAR system suggest, however, that for sensitivity to biomass and reduced susceptibility to disturbances by rainfall, a two-channel C-band system operating at a medium range of incidence angles is preferred.
Grouping Cancer Patients by Psychosocial Needs

Abstract This article describes a study in which a systematic classification of cancer patients was produced on the basis of their needs. A series of 380 cancer patients from four hospitals in the North West of England responded to a self-completion questionnaire that included a 48-item inventory of psychosocial needs covering seven needs domains (information, health professionals, emotional and spiritual, identity, practical, support, and child care). Latent class analysis was used to identify differing patterns of psychosocial need. Four patterns of need were identified. The groups differed in both quantityand qualityof patients' expressed needs. Group A had a high level of expressed needs “across the board,” whereas Group D had a low level of expressed needs “across the board. ” Group B had high levels of expressed needs in all except the emotional, spiritual, identity, and practical domains, and Group C had low levels of expressed needs in all but the information and health professionals domains. Because the four groups differed by demographic and socioeconomic characteristics, there is scope for developing risk scores to predict these patterns of psychosocial needs in patients with cancer. The dangers and limitations of this approach are discussed.
Evaluation of performance characteristics of various lithium-ion batteries for use in BEV application

The purpose of this paper is to assess the capabilities of commercial lithium-ion batteries for use in battery electric vehicles (BEV's). The evaluation criteria are based on a newly developed experimental methodology which describes the performance characteristics of different batteries of various chemistries. This methodology primarily permits the user to obtain the most important battery characteristics for charging and discharging, internal resistance, efficiency, Peukert constant, thermal stability during charge and discharge phases.
Skeletal and hematological anomalies in HYAL2‐deficient mice: a second type of mucopolysaccharidosis IX?

The metabolism of hyaluronan (HA) re lies on HA synthases and hyaluronidases, among which hyaluronidase‐1 (HYAL1) and ‐2 (HYAL2) have been proposed as key actors. Congenital HYAL1 deficiency leads to mucopolysaccharidosis IX (MPS IX), a rare lysosomal storage disorder characterized by joint ab normalities. Knowledge of HYAL2 is limited. This protein displays weak in vitro hyaluronidase activity and acts as a receptor for oncogenic ovine retroviruses. We have generated HYAL2‐deficient mice through a condi tional Cre‐lox system. Hyal2‐/‐ mice are viable and fertile. They exhibit localized congenital defects in frontonasal and vertebral bone formation and suffer from mild thrombocytopenia and chronic, possibly intravascular, hemolysis. In addition, Hyal2‐/‐ mice display 10‐fold increases in plasma levels of HA and 2‐fold increases in plasma hyaluronidase activity. Glo bally, there is no HA accumulation in tissues, including bones, but liver sinusoidal cells seem overloaded with undigested HA. Taken together, these elements dem onstrate for the first time that murine HYAL2 has a physiological activity in vivo that is relevant for cranio vertebral bone formation, maintenance of plasma HA concentrations, and erythrocyte and platelet homeosta sis. In addition, the viability of HYAL2‐deficient mice raises the possibility that a similar defect, defining a new MPS disorder, exists in humans. — Jadin, L. , Wu, X. , Ding, H. , Frost, G. I. , Onclinx, C. , Triggs‐Raine, B. , Flamion, B. Skeletal and hematological anomalies in HYAL2‐deficient mice: a second type of mucopolysaccharidosis IX? FASEB J. 22, 4316–4326 (2008)
The Prevention of Depressive Symptoms in Children: The Immediate and Long-term Outcomes of a School-based Program

The ability of a school-based program with training in both cognitive and social skills to prevent depressive symptoms in children (the Penn Prevention Program) was evaluated. Research conducted in Australia has failed to replicate the success of the program in the United States. Also evaluated was the ability of the program to reduce the symptoms of anxiety, the assumption that changes in social skills and cognitive style would be associated with changes in symptoms of depression and anxiety, and the relative merits of the cognitive and social components of the program. Sixty-three children in fifth and sixth grades were randomly allocated to intervention and control groups. There was no evidence that the Penn Prevention Program had any impact on the variables measured at the end of the program or at the 8-month follow-up assessment. Limitations and implications of the present findings are discussed.
Risks, diagnosis and outcomes of invasive fungal infections in haematopoietic stem cell transplant recipients

Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) continue to cause considerable morbidity and mortality in haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) recipients. This review focuses on the risks for, and diagnosis of, IFIs (candidiasis, aspergillosis and other mould infections), and factors that affect current outcomes. Diagnosis of IFI is difficult, with the sensitivity of the gold standard tests (culture and histopathology) often <50%. Therefore, physicians rely on a constellation of clinical signs, radiography, culture, histopathology and adjunctive tests to establish diagnosis. HSCT recipients often have multiple co‐morbidities, and understanding the current outcomes and prognostic variables is therefore important for overall management. This paper reviews historical trends and current data.
PAX3-FKHR AND PAX7-FKHR FUSION GENES IMPACT OUTCOME OF ALVEOLAR RHABDOMYOSARCOMA IN CHILDREN

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a highly malignant embryonic tumor of childhood. Two specific translocations t(2;13)(q35;q14) and t(1;13)(p36;q14) have been identified in about 75–80% of ARMS cells. The aim of this multicenter study was to analyze the relationships between the identified fusion transcripts and survival including some selected clinical parameters. The extent of disease was graded according to clinical staging system with following distribution: 3 children with stage I, 4 with stage II, 23 with stage III, and 18 with stage IV spread disease having distant metastases. PAX3-FKHR fusion genes were detected in 28 and PAX7-FKHR fusion genes in 7 tumor biopsy specimens. Children with PAX3-FKHR fusion gene had often distant metastases at presentation (p = 0.03). PAX3-FKHR positive patients with locoregional disease had significantly poorer outcome compared with the ones with PAX7-FKHR positive tumors (p = 0.04). Although analyzed groups were small, significant differences in survival and clinical characteristics between PAX3-FKHR and PAX7-FKHR positive tumors were stated indicating their role in carcinogenesis. In addition, fusion gene analysis is a helpful tool in differential diagnosis of poorly differentiated soft tissue tumors.