Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Nuclear Survivin and Its Relationship to DNA Damage Repair Genes in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer Investigated Using Tissue Array

Purpose To investigate the predictive role and association of nuclear survivin and the DNA double-strand breaks repair genes in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC): DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit (DNA-PKcs), Ku heterodimeric regulatory complex 70-KD subunit (Ku70) and ataxia-telangiectasia mutated (ATM). Methods The protein expression of nuclear survivin, DNA-PKcs, Ku70 and ATM were investigated using immunohistochemistry in tumors from 256 patients with surgically resected NSCLC. Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation between the expression of nuclear survivin, DNA-PKcs, Ku70 and ATM. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to determine the prognostic factors that inuenced the overall survival and disease-free survival of NSCLC. Results The expression of nuclear survivin, DNA-PKcs, Ku70 and ATM was significantly higher in tumor tissues than in normal tissues. By dichotomizing the specimens as expressing low or high levels of nuclear survivin, nuclear survivin correlated significantly with the pathologic stage (P = 0.009) and lymph node status (P = 0.004). The nuclear survivin levels were an independent prognostic factor for both the overall survival and the disease-free survival in univariate and multivariate analyses. Patients with low Ku70 and DNA-PKcs expression had a greater benefit from radiotherapy than patients with high expression of Ku70 (P = 0.012) and DNA-PKcs (P = 0.02). Nuclear survivin expression positively correlated with DNA-PKcs (P<0.001) and Ku70 expression (P<0.001). Conclusions Nuclear survivin may be a prognostic factor for overall survival in patients with resected stage I-IIIA NSCLC. DNA-PKcs and Ku70 could predict the effect of radiotherapy in patients with NSCLC. Nuclear survivin may also stimulates DNA double-strand breaks repair by its interaction with DNA-PKcs and Ku70.
Mucosal Administration of Flagellin Induces Innate Immunity in the Mouse Lung

ABSTRACT Nonsurgical intratracheal instillation of 1 μg of purified, recombinant flagellin in several strains of mice stimulated a transient innate immune response in the lung characterized by the infiltration of neutrophils and the rapid production of tumor necrosis factor alpha, interleukin 6, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor, and the chemokines keratinocyte-derived chemokine, MIP1α, and MIP-2.
Imaging and Cognitive Genetics: The Norwegian Cognitive NeuroGenetics Sample

Data collection for the Norwegian Cognitive NeuroGenetics sample (NCNG) was initiated in 2003 with a research grant (to Ivar Reinvang) to study cognitive aging, brain function, and genetic risk factors. The original focus was on the effects of aging (from middle age and up) and candidate genes (e.g., APOE, CHRNA4) in cross-sectional and longitudinal designs, with the cognitive and MRI-based data primarily being used for this purpose. However, as the main topic of the project broadened from cognitive aging to imaging and cognitive genetics more generally, the sample size, age range of the participants, and scope of available phenotypes and genotypes, have developed beyond the initial project. In 2009, a genome-wide association (GWA) study was undertaken, and the NCNG proper was established to study the genetics of cognitive and brain function more comprehensively. The NCNG is now controlled by the NCNG Study Group, which consists of the present authors. Prominent features of the NCNG are the adult life-span coverage of healthy participants with high-dimensional imaging, and cognitive data from a genetically homogenous sample. Another unique property is the large-scale (sample size 300–700) use of experimental cognitive tasks focusing on attention and working memory. The NCNG data is now used in numerous ongoing GWA-based studies and has contributed to several international consortia on imaging and cognitive genetics. The objective of the following presentation is to give other researchers the information necessary to evaluate possible contributions from the NCNG to various multi-sample data analyses.
Dietary nitrate reduces skeletal muscle oxygenation response to physical exercise: a quantitative muscle functional MRI study

Dietary inorganic nitrate supplementation (probably via conversion to nitrite) increases skeletal muscle metabolic efficiency. In addition, it may also cause hypoxia‐dependent vasodilation and this has the potential to augment oxygen delivery to exercising skeletal muscle. However, direct evidence for the latter with spatial localization to exercising muscle groups does not exist. We employed quantitative functional MRI (fMRI) to characterize skeletal muscle oxygen utilization and replenishment by assessment of tissue oxygenation maximal change and recovery change, respectively. Eleven healthy subjects were enrolled, of whom 9 (age 33.3 ± 4.4 years, five males) completed the study. Each subject took part in three MRI visits, with dietary nitrate (7cl concentrated beetroot juice) consumed before the third visit. During each visit fMRIs were conducted concurrently with plantar flexion exercise at workloads of 15% and 25% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC). No significant changes were found between visits 1 and 2 in the fMRI measures. A decrease in maximal change was found at 15% MVC in soleus between visits 2 and 3 (5.12 ± 2.36 to 2.55 ± 1.42, P = 0.004) and between visits 1 and 3 (4.43 ± 2.12 to 2.55 ± 1.42, P = 0.043), but not at 25% MVC or within gastrocnemius. There was no difference in recovery change between visits. We found that dietary nitrate supplementation reduces tissue oxygenation alterations during physical exercise in skeletal muscle. This effect is more prominent in muscles with predominantly type 1 fibers and at lower workloads. This indicates that in healthy subjects dietary nitrate predominantly affects skeletal muscle energy efficiency with no change in oxygen delivery.
A Simple Derivation of Microstrip Transmission Line Equations

A simple asymptotic approximation that describes the electromagnetic fields, currents, and voltages in a general microstrip transmission line problem is presented. Specifically, the transmission line equations relating the currents and voltages are established in a very efficient manner. Important properties of the capacitance and inductance matrices are established using elementary mathematics. These results and the equations are general enough to describe any number of microstrips, whose widths are allowed to vary in direction of propagation. When the widths are constant in this direction, another elementary asymptotic approximation shows that the electromagnetic fields are exponentially small away from the strips. This is, of course, the feature that makes them useful in guiding waves.
Rottlerin Inhibits Chlamydial Intracellular Growth and Blocks Chlamydial Acquisition of Sphingolipids from Host Cells

ABSTRACT We report that rottlerin, a plant-derived compound known to inhibit various mammalian kinases, profoundly inhibited chlamydial growth in cell culture with a minimal inhibition concentration of 1 μM. The inhibition was effective even when rottlerin was added as late as the middle stage of chlamydial infection cycle, against multiple Chlamydia species, and in different host cell lines. Pretreatment of host cells with rottlerin prior to infection also blocked chlamydial growth, suggesting that rottlerin targets host factors. Moreover, rottlerin did not alter the chlamydial infection rate and did not directly target chlamydial protein synthesis and secretion. The rottlerin-mediated inhibition of chlamydial replication and inclusion expansion correlated well with the rottlerin-induced blockade of host cell sphingolipid trafficking from the Golgi apparatus into chlamydial inclusions. These studies not only allowed us to identify a novel antimicrobial activity for rottlerin but also allowed us to uncover a potential mechanism for rottlerin inhibition of chlamydial growth.
Using a Logic Grammar to Learn a Lexicon

It is suggested that the concept of "logic grammar" as relation between a string and a parse-tree can be extended by admitting the lexicon as part of the relation. This makes it possible to give a simple and elegant formulation of the process of infering a lexicon from example sentences in conjunction with a grammar. Various problems arising from implementation and complexity factors are considered, and examples are shown to support the claim that the method shows potential as a practical tool for automatic lexicon acquisition.
Broad segmental progeroid changes in short-lived Ercc1−/Δ7 mice

Genome maintenance is considered a prime longevity assurance mechanism as apparent from many progeroid human syndromes that are caused by genome maintenance defects. The ERCC1 protein is involved in three genome maintenance systems: nucleotide excision repair, interstrand cross-link repair, and homologous recombination. Here we describe in-life and post-mortem observations for a hypomorphic Ercc1 variant, Ercc1 −/Δ7, which is hemizygous for a single truncated Ercc1 allele, encoding a protein lacking the last seven amino acids. Ercc1 −/Δ7 mice were much smaller and median life span was markedly reduced compared to wild-type siblings: 20 and 118 weeks, respectively. Multiple signs and symptoms of aging were found to occur at an accelerated rate in the Ercc1 −/Δ7 mice as compared to wild-type controls, including a decline in weight of both whole body and various organs, numerous histopathological lesions, and immune parameters. Together they define a segmental progeroid phenotype of the Ercc1 −/Δ7 mouse model.
Obtaining Phytoplankton Diversity from Ocean Color: A Scientific Roadmap for Future Development

To improve our understanding of the role of phytoplankton for marine ecosystems and global biogeochemical cycles, information on the global distribution of major phytoplankton groups is essential. Although algorithms have been developed to assess phytoplankton diversity from space for over two decades, so far the application of these data sets has been limited. This scientific roadmap identifies user needs, summarizes the current state of the art, and pinpoints major gaps in long-term objectives to deliver space-derived phytoplankton diversity data that meets the user requirements. These major gaps in using ocean color to estimate phytoplankton community structure were identified as: (a) the mismatch between satellite, in situ and model data on phytoplankton composition, (b) the lack of quantitative uncertainty estimates provided with satellite data, (c) the spectral limitation of current sensors to enable the full exploitation of backscattered sunlight, and (d) the very limited applicability of satellite algorithms determining phytoplankton composition for regional, especially coastal or inland, waters. Recommendation for actions include but are not limited to: (i) an increased communication and round-robin exercises among and within the related expert groups, (ii) the launching of higher spectrally and spatially resolved sensors, (iii) the development of algorithms that exploit hyperspectral information, and of (iv) techniques to merge and synergistically use the various streams of continuous information on phytoplankton diversity from various satellite sensors' and in situ data to ensure long-term monitoring of phytoplankton composition.
CORRELATION OF NEIGHBORHOOD RELATIONSHIPS, CARBON ASSIMILATION, AND WATER STATUS OF SAGEBRUSH SEEDLINGS ESTABLISHING AFTER FIRE

Abstract Interactions of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana (mountain big sagebrush) and neighboring herbs may affect community development following fire in sagebrush steppe. Dry mass, photosynthesis, and water relations were measured for seedlings of A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana occurring at different distances from neighboring herbs in the initial growing seasons following fire, when herbs dominate plant community cover. Seedling mass significantly increased as distance to neighboring herbs increased, although a low r2 indicated that mass was also affected by other sources of variation. Carbon assimilation (Anet) was also greater for A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana seedlings in microsites farther from herbs, except during those sampling dates when Anet and water availability were at low levels. Contrary to our expectations, water status of seedlings was not correlated with their distances to neighboring herbs, and supplemental watering did not affect the slope of the relationship between seedling mass and distance to neighboring herbs. These findings suggest that negative relationships between A. tridentata ssp. vaseyana seedlings and herbs establishing after fire are not likely due to competition over water and may instead result from interactions over factors not measured here (e.g., nutrients).
Spermatogenic cells of the prepuberal mouse: isolation and morphological characterization

A procedure is described which permits the isolation from the prepuberal mouse testis of highly purified populations of primitive type A spermatogonia, type A spermatogonia, type B spermatogonia, preleptotene primary spermatocytes, leptotene and zygotene primary spermatocytes, pachytene primary spermatocytes and Sertoli cells. The successful isolation of these prepuberal cell types was accomplished by: (a) defining distinctive morphological characteristics of the cells, (b) determining the temporal appearance of spermatogenic cells during prepuberal development, (c) isolating purified seminiferous cords, after dissociation of the testis with collagenase, (d) separating the trypsin-dispersed seminiferous cells by sedimentation velocity at unit gravity, and (e) assessing the identity and purity of the isolated cell types by microscopy. The seminiferous epithelium from day 6 animals contains only primitive type A spermatogonia and Sertoli cells. Type A and type B spermatogonia are present by day 8. At day 10, meiotic prophase is initiated, with the germ cells reaching the early and late pachytene stages by 14 and 18, respectively. Secondary spermatocytes and haploid spermatids appear throughout this developmental period. The purity and optimum day for the recovery of specific cell types are as follows: day 6, Sertoli cells (purity>99 percent) and primitive type A spermatogonia (90 percent); day 8, type A spermatogonia (91 percent) and type B spermatogonia (76 percent); day 18, preleptotene spermatocytes (93 percent), leptotene/zygotene spermatocytes (52 percent), and pachytene spermatocytes (89 percent), leptotene/zygotene spermatocytes (52 percent), and pachytene spermatocytes (89 percent).
Early Evaluation of the Urinary Tract Following Radical Hysterectomy: Structure and Function Relationships

One hundred ten consecutive patients with invasive gynecologic cancers, treated by radical hysterectomy at The University of California, Irvine Medical Center, underwent early postoperative intravenous pyelogram (IVP). An abnormal early postoperative IVP did not predict subsequent urinary tract dysfunction (anatomical defect or disrupted voiding pattern) at 3 months, which occurred in 29% of the patients, nor did it detect any unsuspected fistulas or ureteral obstruction that persisted beyond the 3-month followup. Urinary tract dysfunction was not significantly associated with tumor volume, operative blood loss, or the type of radical hysterectomy performed. However, the inability to remove a suprapubic catheter before the 21st postoperative day was associated with a significant increase in urinary tract dysfunction at 3 months (P < .03). We conclude that, in the absence of intraoperative urinary tract injury or clinical symptoms suggesting fistula or ureteral obstruction, the routine use of postoperative IVP should be abandoned.
Towards a Portal Maturity Model (PMM): Investigating Social and Technological Effects of Portals on Knowledge Management Initiatives

The paper’s purpose is to present the PMM (Portal Maturity Model) which can be used to assess the contributions of intranets and portals to Knowledge Management initiatives. The PMM was empirically tested in 62 organizations, and it is based on TAM, TTF, knowing organization model and KM maturity model. L’objectif de cet article est de presenter le modele de maturite de portail (MMP) qui peut etre utilise pour evaluer les apports des intranets et des portails pour les initiatives de gestion des connaissances. Le MMP a ete experimente empiriquement dans 62 organisations et est base sur le TAM, le TTF, le modele d’organisation des connaissances et le modele de gestion mature des connaissances.
First Results from MASIV: The Microarcsecond Scintillation-induced Variability Survey

We are undertaking a large-scale, microarcsecond scintillation-induced variability survey, MASIV, of the northern sky (decl. > 0°) at 4.9 GHz with the VLA. Our objective is to construct a sample of 100 to 150 scintillating extragalactic sources with which to examine both the microarcsecond structure and the parent populations of these sources, and to probe the turbulent interstellar medium responsible for the scintillation. We report on our first epoch of observations, which revealed variability on timescales ranging from hours to days in 85 of 710 compact flat-spectrum sources. The number of highly variable sources, those with rms flux density variations greater than 4% of the mean, increases with decreasing source flux density, but rapid, large-amplitude variables such as J1819+3845 are very rare. When compared with a model for the scintillation due to irregularities in an electron layer 500 pc thick, our preliminary results indicate maximum brightness temperatures ∼1012 K, similar to those obtained from VLBI surveys even though interstellar scintillation is not subject to the same angular resolution limit.
Seven benzimidazole pesticides combined at sub-threshold levels induce micronuclei in vitro

Benzimidazoles act by disrupting microtubule polymerisation and are capable of inducing the formation of micronuclei. Considering the similarities in their mechanisms of action (inhibition of microtubule assembly by binding to the colchicine-binding site on tubulin monomers), combination effects according to the principles of concentration addition might occur. If so, it is to be expected that several benzimidazoles contribute to micronucleus formation even when each single one is present at or below threshold levels. This would have profound implications for risk assessment, but the idea has never been tested rigorously. To fill this gap, we analysed micronucleus frequencies for seven benzimidazoles, including the fungicide benomyl, its metabolite carbendazim, the anthelmintics albendazole, albendazole oxide, flubendazole, mebendazole and oxibendazole. Thiabendazole was also tested but was inactive. We used the cytochalasin-blocked micronucleus assay with CHO-K1 cells according to OECD guidelines, and employed an automated micronucleus scoring system based on image analysis to establish quantitative concentration–response relationships for the seven active benzimidazoles. Based on this information, we predicted additive combination effects for a mixture of the seven benzimidazoles by using the concepts of concentration addition and independent action. The observed effects of the mixture agreed very well with those predicted by concentration addition. Independent action underestimated the observed combined effects by a large margin. With a mixture that combined all benzimidazoles at their estimated threshold concentrations for micronucleus induction, micronucleus frequencies of ~15.5% were observed, correctly anticipated by concentration addition. On the basis of independent action, this mixture was expected to produce no effects. Our data provide convincing evidence that concentration addition is applicable to combinations of benzimidazoles that form micronuclei by disrupting microtubule polymerisation. They present a rationale for grouping these chemicals together for the purpose of cumulative risk assessment.
Intoxicated by Water

A cross-sectional survey of the drinking habits of 877 mentally handicapped in-patients revealed 31 patients (prevalence 3.5%) who, in the opinion of nurses, drank five litres or more daily. Low urine specific gravity was a less useful indicator of polydipsia. Polydipsia appeared to be significantly associated with a borderline level of handicap and with a diagnosis of schizophrenia, autism or severe personality/behaviour disorder. Of five cases of water intoxication associated with polydipsia, one was fatal. In two cases excess drinking improved with increased neuroleptic medication. Lithium and demeclocycline were used in two cases to prevent hyponatraemic episodes.
Endothelial cells do not express GSTA1: potential relevance to busulfan‐mediated endothelial damage during haematopoietic stem cell transplantation

Busulfan‐mediated endothelial damage is believed to be a common mechanism in a variety of vascular disorders that occur during haematopoietic stem cell transplantation. The alkylating capacity of busulfan is compromised in vivo by enzymatic conjugation with glutathione, principally catalysed by glutathione S‐transferase alpha (GST alpha). We investigated whether the susceptibility of endothelial cells to busulfan‐mediated damage is related to their intrinsic deficiency in GST alpha expression. We tested for the expression of GST alpha mRNA by real‐time quantitative PCR and the GST protein by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay in various independently derived endothelial cell types (human bone marrow‐derived endothelial cell line and endothelial cells from human vein umbilical cord ) and in a control hepatic cell line, HepG2. We demonstrate that endothelial cells, contrary to hepatic cells do not express GST alpha either at mRNA or protein levels and hence are potentially susceptible to busulfan‐mediated cytotoxic damage.