Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of CD133 and CD44 in glioblastoma stem cells correlates with cell proliferation, phenotype stability and intra-tumor heterogeneity

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a heterogeneous tumor of the brain with a poor prognosis due to recurrence and drug resistance following therapy. Genome-wide profiling has revealed the existence of distinct GBM molecular subtypes that respond differently to aggressive therapies. Despite this, molecular subtype does not predict recurrence or drug resistance and overall survival is similar across subtypes. One of the key features contributing to tumor recurrence and resistance to therapy is proposed to be an underlying subpopulation of resistant glioma stem cells (GSC). CD133 expression has been used as a marker of GSCs, however recent evidence suggests the relationship between CD133 expression, GSCs and molecular subtype is more complex than initially proposed. The expression of CD133, Olig2 and CD44 was investigated using patient derived glioma stem-like cells (PDGCs) in vitro and in vivo. Different PDGCs exhibited a characteristic equilibrium of distinct CD133+ and CD44+ subpopulations and the influence of environmental factors on the intra-tumor equilibrium of CD133+ and CD44+ cells in PDGCs was also investigated, with hypoxia inducing a CD44+ to CD133+ shift and chemo-radiotherapy inducing a CD133+ to CD44+ shift. These data suggest that surveillance and modulation of intra-tumor heterogeneity using molecular markers at initial surgery and surgery for recurrent GBM may be important for more effective management of GBM.
Calibration models for electromagnetic induction methods to assess nutrient accumulation beneath confined livestock areas

Nutrient accumulation in soils beneath confined livestock areas is a potential source of groundwater contamination. Electromagnetic induction (EMI) has become a practical method to assess nutrient content, with multiple linear regression (MLR) as the statistical method often employed to translate EMI readings into nutrient content. The purpose of this research is to compare and contrast the performance of spatially referenced MLR models that include secondary, ‘easy‐to‐acquire’ predictor variables such as spatial coordinate locations, soil water content and elevation information with MLR models based solely on EMI readings. Six feedlot areas were surveyed with an EM38 conductivity meter and between 6 and 12 sites at each feedlot were sampled at five different depths. The electrical conductivity (ECe), nitrate (NO3 −) and phosphate (PO4 3−) concentrations were measured and used as response variables. Analyses were performed using two different approaches: the response variables in individual layers and response variables by combining the layers within the soil profile. The results of both MLR methods were comparable in most instances because the models preferentially incorporated predictors derived from EM38 readings. Differences between the models were more evident when predicting NO3 − and PO4 3−, even though prediction of these two analytes by either method was generally poor. Combined profile analysis was more effective for defining nutrient build‐up because by‐layer analysis gave non‐significant or poor models in many instances.
Recognizing Emerging Borderline Personality Disorders.

School counselors are in a unique position disorder (Schaffer, Carroll, & Abramowitz, in the helping professions simply because 1982). Other behavioral symptoms include they work with a "normal" population. repeated overdosing, delinquency, sexual They are able to enjoy the full range of promiscuity, addiction, and other self human psychological experience. One destructive acts (Gunderson & Singer, type of experience for which many school 1975). In a study of 160 students with counselors may be unprepared, however, learning disabilities, Westman, Ownby, is the student who has the characteristics and Smith (1987) found that a borderline of a borderline personality disorder. personality disorder was indicated in 16% of the students. Of these, 11% were con
Inhibitory effects of c9, t11-conjugated linoleic acid on invasion of human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901.

AIM To investigate the effect of c9, t11-conjugated linoleic acid (c9, t11-CLA) on the invasion of human gastric carcinoma cell line and its possible mechanism of preventing metastasis. METHODS Using reconstituted basement membrane invasion, chemotaxis, adhesion, PAGE substrate zymography and RT-PCR assays, we analyzed the abilities of invasion, direct migration, adhesion of intracellular matrix, as well as the activity of type IV collagenase and expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA in SGC-7901 cells which were treated with gradually increased concentrations (25, 50, 100 and 200 micromol/L) of c9, t11-CLA for 24 h. RESULTS At the concentrations of 200 micromol/L, 100 micromol/L and 50 micromol/L, c9,t11-CLA suppressed the invasion of SGC-7901 cells into the reconstituted basement membrane by 53.7 %, 40.9 % and 29.3 %, respectively, in comparison with the negative control. Only in the 200 micromol/L c9,t11-CLA group, the chemotaxis of SGC-7901 cells was inhibited by 16.0 % in comparison with the negative control. C9,t11-CLA also could inhibit the adhesion of SGC-7901 cells to laminin, fibronectin and Matrigel, increase the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA, and reduce type IV collagenase activities in the serum-free medium supernatant of SGC-7901 cells. CONCLUSION c9,t11-CLA can inhibit the invasion of SGC-7901 cells at multiple procedures in tumor metastasis cascade, which may be associated with the induction of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA expression.
ICESat‐derived inland water surface spot heights

Accurate measurement of water surface height is key to many fields in hydrology and limnology. Satellite radar and laser altimetry have been shown to be useful means of obtaining such data where no ground gauging stations exist, and the accuracy of different satellite instruments is now reasonably well understood. Past validation studies have shown water surface height data from the ICESat instrument to have the highest vertical accuracy (mean absolute errors of ∼10 cm for ICESat, compared, for example, with ∼28 cm from Envisat), yet no freely available source of processed ICESat data currently exists for inland water bodies. Here we present a database of processed and quality checked ICESat‐derived inland water surface heights (IWSH) for water bodies greater than 3 arc sec (∼92 m at the equator) in width. Four automated methods for removing spurious observations or outliers were investigated, along with the impact of using different water masks. We find that the best performing method ensures that observations used are completely surrounded by water in the SRTM Water Body data. Using this method for removing spurious observations, we estimate transect‐averaged water surface heights at 587,292 unique locations from 2003 to 2009, with the number of locations proportional to the size of the river.
The Growth of Unsecured Credit: Are We Better Off?

Because of current bankruptcy law, the growth in unsecured credit in the two decades since the 1978 Marquette Supreme Court ruling has reduced the average welfare of the poor. This striking conclusion emerges from a theoretical model designed to maximize the benefits of both plentiful unsecured credit and lax bankruptcy law. Even exclusive concern for wealth redistribution provides no self-evident justification for lax bankruptcy law in the face of an expansion in unsecured credit. The forces causing decreases in the welfare of the poor are, first, the role of lax personal bankruptcy law in thwarting debtors from credibly committing to repay debts, second, the premium that the poor must pay to borrow on unsecured credit markets, and third, the welfare loss from the imposition of deadweight bankruptcy penalties.
Leber Hereditary Optic Neuropathy: Do Folate Pathway Gene Alterations Influence the Expression of Mitochondrial DNA Mutation?

Background: Leber hereditary optic neuropathy (LHON) is an inherited form of bilateral optic atrophy leading to the loss of central vision. The primary cause of vision loss is mutation in the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA), however, unknown secondary genetic and/or epigenetic risk factors are suggested to influence its neuropathology. In this study folate gene polymorphisms were examined as a possible LHON secondary genetic risk factor in Iranian patients. Methods: Common polymorphisms in the MTHFR (C677T and A1298C) and MTRR (A66G) genes were tested in 21 LHON patients and 150 normal controls. Results: Strong associations were observed between the LHON syndrome and C677T (P= 0.00) and A66G (P= 0.00) polymorphisms. However, no significant association was found between A1298C (P =0.69) and the LHON syndrome. Conclusion: This is the first study that shows MTHFR C677T and MTRR A66G polymorphisms play a role in the etiology of the LHON syndrome. This finding may help in the better understanding of mechanisms involved in neural degeneration and vision loss by LHON and hence the better treatment of patients.
Exhaled nitric oxide concentration is affected by age, height, and race in healthy 9- to 12-year-old children.

BACKGROUND The fractional concentration of exhaled nitric oxide (Feno) is a useful indicator of airway inflammation in children and adults with asthma. METHODS We determined the range of Feno concentrations and the factors affecting it in a large sample of healthy school children attending grades 4 through 6, in Windsor, ON, Canada. RESULTS Feno was measured in 657 children between 9.1 and 12.9 years of age. The range of Feno concentrations in healthy school children was 12.7 parts per billion (ppb) [95% confidence interval (CI), 11.8 to 13.7 ppb] in whites and 22.8 ppb [95% CI, 17.9 to 27.7 ppb] in Asian-Canadian children (p < 0.001). Feno values also appeared to be higher in African-Canadian children than in whites, although the CI was wide because of the small number of African-Canadian children sampled. Feno rose slightly but significantly with age (p = 0.007) and with height (p = 0.023). Body mass index and gender did not significantly alter the measured Feno. FVC had a nonsignificant effect on Feno. Participation in physical activity during the same day had a borderline-significant effect on measured Feno, but a reported history of a respiratory tract infection in the preceding 2 weeks did not. CONCLUSIONS Feno concentrations in healthy school-aged children appeared to be affected by race, and, to a lesser extent, by age and height. These factors should be taken into consideration when interpreting clinical results.
[Explaining cancer incidence in the Jejudo population].

OBJECTIVES Using the population-based cancer registry in Jejudo, we found that Jejudo had lower incidence in stomach cancer than other regions in Korea. The aim of this study was to evaluate reasons for this difference. METHODS Citrus is the leading agricultural production in Jejudo, suggesting that lower cancer incidence in Jejudo could be explained by citrus fruit intake. We evaluated this hypothesis with quantitative systematic review (QSR). RESULTS Stomach cancer incidence was significantly lower, with a summary odds ratio (SOR) after QSR of 0.72 [95% CI=0.64-0.81]. In addition, the SOR of pancreatic cancer tended to be lower at 0.83 [95% CI=0.70-0.98]. The SOR of prostate cancer was slightly higher at 1.03 [0.89-1.19]. CONCLUSIONS Quantitative systematic reviews for the effect of citrus fruit intake on cancer occurrence suggested that lower cancer incidence in Jejudo could be explained by intake of citrus fruits.
Single Lens Stereo with a Plenoptic Camera

Ordinary cameras gather light across the area of their lens aperture, and the light striking a given subregion of the aperture is structured somewhat differently than the light striking an adjacent subregion. By analyzing this optical structure, one can infer the depths of the objects in the scene, i.e. one can achieve single lens stereo. The authors describe a camera for performing this analysis. It incorporates a single main lens along with a lenticular array placed at the sensor plane. The resulting plenoptic camera provides information about how the scene would look when viewed from a continuum of possible viewpoints bounded by the main lens aperture. Deriving depth information is simpler than in a binocular stereo system because the correspondence problem is minimized. The camera extracts information about both horizontal and vertical parallax, which improves the reliability of the depth estimates. >
Sustained attention in children with specific language impairment (SLI).

PURPOSE Information-processing limitations have been associated with language problems in children with specific language impairment (SLI). These processing limitations may be associated with limitations in attentional capacity, even in the absence of clinically significant attention deficits. In this study, the authors examined the performance of 4- to 6-year-old children with SLI and their typically developing (TD) peers on a visual sustained attention task. It was predicted that the children with SLI would demonstrate lower levels of performance in the absence of clinically significant attention deficits. METHOD A visual continuous performance task (CPT) was used to assess sustained attention in 13 children with SLI (M = 62.07 months) and 13 TD age-matched controls (M = 62.92 months). All children were screened for normal vision, hearing, and attention. Accuracy (d') and response time were analyzed to see if this sustained attention task could differentiate between the 2 groups. RESULTS The children with SLI were significantly less accurate but not significantly slower than the TD children on this test of visual sustained attention. CONCLUSION Children with SLI may have reduced capacity for sustained attention in the absence of clinically significant attention deficits that, over time, could contribute to language learning difficulties.
A Grounded Theory of Adult Student Persistence.

This grounded theory study investigates adult student persistence at a communi ty college. Student persistence in college is a prerequisite for degree achieve ment, which correlates with higher earnings and overall better quality of life. Persi st nce rates remain low for adult students, who combine their college endeavors with responsibilities to families, careers, and communities. However, some adult students do persist des pite th ir life circumstances. Understanding the perspective of persistent adult students contributes to the creation of college systems and policies that support adult student succes s. Findings draw on four rounds of iterative semistructured interviews with nine adult students at a community college during three consecutive semesters, as well as a demographic survey, participant checks, and field notes. Concurrent data collecti on and constant comparative analysis led to the development of a substantive grounded theory, presented in the context of literature on student persistence, adult learners, nd related sociological and psychological concepts. First, the study describes persistent adult students’ experience. Partic ipants maintained a constant balancing act, facing financial pressures, competing priorities, and for some, a language barrier. Second, the study analyzes influences from per s nal and institutional spheres that shaped participants’ persistence. Influences f rom the personal sphere included both help and hindrance through employment, material support, models and mentors, and religion. Influences from the institutional sphere were subtle b t still
The Nature of the Catalytic Domain of 2′-5′-Oligoadenylate Synthetases*

2′-5′-Oligoadenylate (2-5(A)) synthetases are a family of interferon-induced enzymes that are activated by double-stranded RNA. To understand why, unlike other DNA and RNA polymerases, they catalyze 2′-5′ instead of 3′-5′ phosphodiester bond formation, we used molecular modeling to compare the structure of the catalytic domain of DNA polymerase β (pol β) to that of a region of the P69 isozyme of 2-5(A) synthetase. Although the primary sequence identity is low, like pol β, P69 can assume an αββαβββ structure in this region. Moreover, mutation of the three Asp residues of P69, which correspond to the three catalytic site Asp residues of pol β, inactivated the enzyme without affecting its substrate and activator binding capacity, providing further credence to the concept that this region is the catalytic domain of P69. This domain is highly conserved among all 2-5(A) synthetase isozymes. Biochemical and mutational studies demonstrated that dimerization of the P69 protein is required for its enzyme activity. However, a dimer containing a wild type subunit and an inactive catalytic domain mutant subunit was also active. The rate of catalysis of the heterodimer was half of that of the wild type homodimer, although the two proteins bound double-stranded RNA and ATP equally well.
Effect of Age on Stroke Prevention Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation: The Atrial Fibrillation Investigators

Background and Purpose— Stroke risk increases with age in patients who have nonvalvular atrial fibrillation. It is uncertain whether the efficacy of stroke prevention therapies in atrial fibrillation changes as patients age. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of age on the relative efficacy of oral anticoagulants (OAC) and antiplatelet (AP) therapy (including acetylsalicylic acid and triflusal) on ischemic stroke, serious bleeding, and vascular events in patients with atrial fibrillation. Methods— This is an analysis of the Atrial Fibrillation Investigators database, which contains patient level-data from randomized trials of stroke prevention in atrial fibrillation. We used Cox regression models with age as a continuous variable that controlled for sex, year of randomization, and history of cerebrovascular disease, diabetes, hypertension, and congestive heart failure. Outcomes included ischemic stroke, serious bleeding (intracranial hemorrhage or systemic bleeding requiring hospitalization, transfusion, or surgery), and cardiovascular events (ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, systemic embolism, or vascular death). Results— The analysis included 8932 patients and 17 685 years of observation from 12 trials. Patient age increased risk of ischemic stroke (adjusted hazard ratio per decade increase 1.45; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.66), serious bleeding (1.61; 1.47 to 1.77), and cardiovascular events (1.43; 1.33 to 1.53). Compared with placebo, OAC and AP significantly reduced the risk of ischemic stroke (OAC, 0.36; 0.29 to 0.45; AP, 0.81; 0.72 to 0.90) and cardiovascular outcomes (OAC, 0.59; 0.52 to 0.66; AP, 0.81; 0.75 to 0.88), whereas OAC increased risk of serious bleeding (1.56; 1.03 to 2.37). The relative benefit of OAC versus placebo or AP did not vary by patient age for any outcome. Compared with placebo, the relative benefit of AP for preventing ischemic stroke decreased significantly as patients aged (P=0.01). Conclusions— As patients with atrial fibrillation age, the relative efficacy of AP to prevent ischemic stroke appears to decrease, whereas it does not change for OAC. Because stroke risk increases with age, the absolute benefit of OAC increases as patients get older.
The Tor and PKA signaling pathways independently target the Atg1/Atg13 protein kinase complex to control autophagy

Macroautophagy (or autophagy) is a conserved degradative pathway that has been implicated in a number of biological processes, including organismal aging, innate immunity, and the progression of human cancers. This pathway was initially identified as a cellular response to nutrient deprivation and is essential for cell survival during these periods of starvation. Autophagy is highly regulated and is under the control of a number of signaling pathways, including the Tor pathway, that coordinate cell growth with nutrient availability. These pathways appear to target a complex of proteins that contains the Atg1 protein kinase. The data here show that autophagy in Saccharomyces cerevisiae is also controlled by the cAMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA) pathway. Elevated levels of PKA activity inhibited autophagy and inactivation of the PKA pathway was sufficient to induce a robust autophagy response. We show that in addition to Atg1, PKA directly phosphorylates Atg13, a conserved regulator of Atg1 kinase activity. This phosphorylation regulates Atg13 localization to the preautophagosomal structure, the nucleation site from which autophagy pathway transport intermediates are formed. Atg13 is also phosphorylated in a Tor-dependent manner, but these modifications appear to occur at positions distinct from the PKA phosphorylation sites identified here. In all, our data indicate that the PKA and Tor pathways function independently to control autophagy in S. cerevisiae, and that the Atg1/Atg13 kinase complex is a key site of signal integration within this degradative pathway.
Predictors of Help Seeking Among Early Adolescents: Stages and Factors

The present study examined mental health help seeking among early adolescents. Drawing from past research (Andersen & Newman, 1973; Andersen, 1995; Srebnik, Cauce, & Baydar, 1996), help seeking was examined in the context of stages and factors. Help-seeking stages were: (1) problem recognition, (2) perceiving a need for professional help with problems, and (3) seeking professional help for problems. Factors believed to be related to help-seeking stages were predisposing factors (i.e., gender, age, prior professional help seeking), enabling/inhibiting factors (i.e., barriers to help seeking), and need factors (i.e., adolescent stress and psychological distress, parents’ perceptions of adolescent stress, psychological distress, and impact of adolescent problems). Both adolescents and parents were surveyed to examine help seeking and relations between parent and adolescent reports. Participants were 193 adolescents (60 males, 133 females) ranging in age from 11to 15-years, and 110 parents. All participants completed measures assessing demographic variables, help-seeking behaviour, adolescent stress and psychological distress, and perceived barriers to help seeking. Parents also completed a measure assessing perceived impact of adolescent problems. Adolescent problem recognition was predicted by prior professional help seeking and psychological distress. Perceiving a need for professional help was predicted by prior professional help seeking, stress level, and the belief that nothing would help. Seeking professional help was predicted by perceived stigma. Parental problem recognition was predicted by greater impact of adolescent problems. Perceiving a need for professional help was predicted by prior professional help seeking and greater impact of adolescent problems. When considering
Combining reusable learning resources and services to pedagogical purposeful units of learning

Koper, E.J.R. (2003). Combining re-usable learning resources and services to pedagogical purposeful units of learning. In A. Littlejohn (Ed.), Reusing Online Resources: A Sustainable Approach to eLearning (pp. 46-59). London: Kogan Page.