Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trifunctional somatostatin-based derivatives designed for targeted radiotherapy using auger electron emitters.

UNLABELLED Auger electron-emitting radionuclides have potential for the therapy of small-size cancers because of their high level of cytotoxicity, low-energy, high linear energy transfer, and short-range biologic effectiveness. Biologic effects are critically dependent on the subcellular (and even subnuclear) localization of these radionuclides. Our goals were the design, synthesis, and in vitro preclinical assessment of new trifunctional conjugates of somatostatin that should aim at the nucleus and, therefore, ensure a longer retention time in the cell, a close approximation to the DNA, and the success of Auger electron emitters in targeted radionuclide therapy as well as also improve other targeted therapy strategies. METHODS Three trifunctional derivatives of [(1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododecane-1,4,7,10-tetraacetic acid)0,Tyr3]octreotide (DOTA-TOC) bearing the nuclear localization signal (NLS) (of simian virus 40 large-T antigen) PKKKRKV in 3 different positions relative to the somatostatin analog sequence were synthesized using solid and solution phase peptide synthesis. These compounds together with DOTA-TOC and DOTA-NLS derivatives were labeled with 111In and tested for binding affinity, internalization, externalization, and nuclei localization on AR4-2J cells and on human embryonic cells stably transfected with sst2A. RESULTS The two N-terminal derivatives preserved the sstr2A binding affinity. Their rate of internalization in all tested sstr-expressing cell lines was always superior for the trifunctional derivatives in comparison with the parent compound. A 6-fold increase in cellular retention from the total internalized activity and a 45-fold higher accumulation in the cell nuclei were found for one of the N-terminally modified compounds compared with [111In]-DOTA-TOC. The C-terminal conjugate was inferior in all tests compared with the parent compound. CONCLUSION These encouraging results support our hypothesis that an additional NLS sequence to the DOTA-TOC could not only provide a better carrier for Auger electron-emitting radionuclides but also ensure a longer radioactivity retention time in the tumor cell.
COMMD 1 interacts with the COOH terminus of NKCC 1 in Calu-3 airway epithelial cells to modulate NKCC 1 ubiquitination

Smith L, Litman P, Liedtke CM. COMMD1 interacts with the COOH terminus of NKCC1 in Calu-3 airway epithelial cells to modulate NKCC1 ubiquitination. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 305: C133–C146, 2013. First published March 20, 2013; doi:10.1152/ajpcell.00394. 2012. —Mice deficient in Na-K-2Cl cotransporter (NKCC1) have been generated by targeted disruption of the gene encoding NKCC1 involving the carboxy terminus (CT-NKCC1) but not the amino terminus. We hypothesize that the resulting physiological defects are due to loss of proteins interacting with CT-NKCC1. Using a yeast two-hybrid approach, adaptor protein COMMD1 was found to bind to CT-NKCC1 (aa 1,040–1,212). Binding was verified in a yeast-independent system using GST-COMMD1 and myc-CT-NKCC1. Truncated COMMD1 and CT-NKCC1 peptides were used in binding assays to identify the site of interaction. The results demonstrate concentration-dependent binding of COMMD1 (aa 1–47) to CT-NKCC1 (aa 1,040 –1,134). Endogenous COMMD1 was detected in pull downs using recombinant FLAG-CT-NKCC1; this co-pull down was blocked by COMMD1 (aa 1– 47). CT-NKCC1 (aa 1,040 –1,137) decreased basolateral membrane expression of NKCC1, and COMMD1 (aa 1– 47) increased NKCC1 membrane expression. Downregulation of COMMD1 using silencing (si)RNA led to a transient loss of endogenous COMMD1 but did not affect activation of NKCC1 by hyperosmotic sucrose. Hyperosmolarity caused a transient increase in NKCC1 membrane expression, indicating regulated trafficking of NKCC1; downregulation of COMMD1 using siRNA reduced baseline (unstimulated) NKCC1 expression and blunted a transient elevation in NKCC1 membrane expression caused by hyperosmolarity. Constitutive downregulation of COMMD1 in HT29 engineered cells exhibited loss of COMMD1 and decreased NKCC1 membrane expression with no effect on activation of NKCC1. Loss of COMMD1 in Calu-3 cells and in HT29 cells led to reduced ubiquitinated NKCC1. The results indicate a role for COMMD1 in the regulation of NKCC1 membrane expression and ubiquitination.
A New Robust Digital Image Watermarking Algorithm Based on LWT-SVD and Fractal Images

This paper presents a robust copyright protection scheme based on Lifting Wavelet Transform (LWT) and Singular Value Decomposition (SVD). We have used fractal decoding to make a very compact representation of watermark image. The fractal code is presented by a binary image. In the embedding phase of watermarking scheme, at first, we perform decomposing of the host image with 2D-LWT transform, then SVD is applied to sub-bands of the transformed image, and then the watermark, “binary image,” is embedded by modifying the singular values. In the watermark extraction phase, after the reverse steps are applied, the embedded binary image and consequently the fractal code are extracted from the watermarked image. The original watermark image is rendered by running the code. To verify the validity of the proposed watermarking scheme, several experiments are carried out and the results are compared with the results of the other algorithms. In order to evaluate the quality of image, we use parameter peak value signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR). To measure the robustness of the proposed algorithm, the NC coefficient is evaluated. The experimental results indicate that, in addition to high transparency, the proposed scheme is strong enough to resist various signal processing operations, such as average filter, median filter, Jpeg compression, contrast adjustment, cropping, histogram equalization, rotation, etc.
Discrete-Input Two-Dimensional Gaussian Channels With Memory: Estimation and Information Rates Via Graphical Models and Statistical Mechanics

Discrete-input two-dimensional (2D) Gaussian channels with memory represent an important class of systems, which appears extensively in communications and storage. In spite of their widespread use, the workings of 2D channels are still very much unknown. In this work, we try to explore their properties from the perspective of estimation theory and information theory. At the heart of our approach is a mapping of a 2D channel to an undirected graphical model, and inferring its a posteriori probabilities (APPs) using generalized belief propagation (GBP). The derived probabilities are shown to be practically accurate, thus enabling optimal maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation of the transmitted symbols. Also, the Shannon-theoretic information rates are deduced either via the vector-wise Shannon-McMillan-Breiman (SMB) theorem, or via the recently derived symbol-wise Guo-Shamai-Verdu (GSV) theorem. Our approach is also described from the perspective of statistical mechanics, as the graphical model and inference algorithm have their analogues in physics. Our experimental study, based on common channel settings taken from cellular networks and magnetic recording devices, demonstrates that under nontrivial memory conditions, the performance of this fully tractable GBP estimator is almost identical to the performance of the optimal MAP estimator. It also enables a practically accurate simulation-based estimate of the information rate. Rationalization of this excellent performance of GBP in the 2-D Gaussian channel setting is addressed.
BOLD Activation Varies Parametrically with Corner Angle Throughout Human Retinotopic Cortex

The Alternating Brightness Star (ABS) is an illusion that provides insight into the relationship between brightness perception and corner angle. Recent psychophysical studies of this illusion have shown that corner salience varies parametrically with corner angle, with sharp angles leading to strong illusory percepts and shallow angles leading to weak percepts. It is hypothesized that the illusory effects arise because of an interaction between surface corners and the shape of visual receptive fields: sharp surface corners may create hotspots of high local contrast due to processing by center–surround and other early receptive fields. If this hypothesis is correct, early visual neurons should respond powerfully to sharp corners and curved portions of surface edges. Indeed, the primary role of early visual neurons may be to localize the discontinuities along the edges of surfaces. If so, all early visual areas should show greater BOLD responses to sharp corners than to shallow corners. On the other hand, if corner processing is exclusively constrained to certain areas of the brain, only those specific areas will show greater responses to sharp vs shallow corners. To address this we explored the BOLD correlates of the ABS illusion in the human visual cortex using fMRI. We found that BOLD signal varies parametrically with corner angle throughout the visual cortex, offering the first neurophysiological correlates of the ABS illusion. This finding provides a neurophysiological basis for the previously reported psychophysical data that showed that corner salience varied parametrically with corner angle. We propose that all early visual areas localize discontinuities along the edges of surfaces, and that specific cortical corner-processing circuits further establish the specific nature of those discontinuities, such as their orientation.
Myo-inositol oxygenase is important for the removal of excess myo-inositol from syncytia induced by Heterodera schachtii in Arabidopsis roots

Summary The enzyme myo-inositol oxygenase is the key enzyme of a pathway leading from myo-inositol to UDP-glucuronic acid. In Arabidopsis, myo-inositol oxygenase is encoded by four genes. All genes are strongly expressed in syncytia induced by the beet cyst nematode Heterodera schachtii in Arabidopsis roots. Here, we studied the effect of a quadruple myo-inositol oxygenase mutant on nematode development. We performed metabolite profiling of syncytia induced in roots of the myo-inositol oxygenase quadruple mutant. The role of galactinol in syncytia was studied using Arabidopsis lines with elevated galactinol levels and by supplying galactinol to wild-type seedlings. The quadruple myo-inositol oxygenase mutant showed a significant reduction in susceptibility to H. schachtii, and syncytia had elevated myo-inositol and galactinol levels and an elevated expression level of the antimicrobial thionin gene Thi2.1. This reduction in susceptibility could also be achieved by exogenous application of galactinol to wild-type seedlings. The primary function of myo-inositol oxygenase for syncytium development is probably not the production of UDP-glucuronic acid as a precursor for cell wall polysaccharides, but the reduction of myo-inositol levels and thereby a reduction in the galactinol level to avoid the induction of defence-related genes.
Ghrelin in Diabetes and Metabolic Syndrome

Metabolic syndrome is a cluster of related risk factors for cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes and liver disease. Obesity, which has become a global public health problem, is one of the major risk factors for development of metabolic syndrome and type 2 diabetes. Obesity is a complex disease, caused by the interplay between environmental and genetic factors. Ghrelin is one of the circulating peptides, which stimulates appetite and regulates energy balance, and thus is one of the candidate genes for obesity and T2DM. During the last years both basic research and genetic association studies have revealed association between the ghrelin gene and obesity, metabolic syndrome or type 2 diabetes
Validation Study of Maternal Recall on Breastfeeding Duration 6 Years After Childbirth

Background: Breastfeeding duration is an important indicator commonly measured in maternal and child health and nutrition research. Maternal short-term recall for both initiation and duration of breastfeeding has been shown to be valid; however, validity of long-term recall is not well understood. Research aim: This study aims to assess the validity of maternal recall of breastfeeding duration 6 years after childbirth and its association with sociodemographic factors. Methods: Among 635 mother–child pairs, breastfeeding duration data collected monthly throughout the 1st year after childbirth in the Infant Feeding Practices Study II (IFPS II) were compared to recall data obtained 6 years later during the Year 6 Follow-Up. The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and Bland–Altman plots were examined to study the agreement between the two data sets. Sociodemographic factors associated with accurate recall to within 1 month of the IFPS II breastfeeding duration were assessed using multivariable logistic regression modeling. Results: Maternal recall of breastfeeding duration was found to be valid 6 years after childbirth with a small median overall bias (1 week) toward overestimation. The overall concordance was high (ICC = 0.84), except for high school graduates (ICC = 0.63) and smokers (ICC = 0.61). Smokers (adjusted odds ratio = 0.52; 95% confidence interval [0.4, 0.8]) and multiparous women (adjusted odds ratio = 0.57; 95% confidence interval [0.4, 0.9]) were also less likely to give an accurate recall of their breastfeeding duration to within 1 month. Conclusion: Our study found that maternal recall of breastfeeding duration varies by sociodemographic factors but is accurate 6 years after childbirth.
Eye tracking the visual search of click-down menus

Click-down (or pull-down) menus have long been a key componentof graphical user interfaces, yet we know surprisingly little abouthow users actually interact with such menus. Nilsens [8] study onmenu selection has led to the development of a number of models ofhow users perform the task [6, 21. However, the validity of thesemodels has not been empirically assessed with respect to eyemovements (though [l] presents some interesting data that bear onthese models). The present study is an attempt to provide data thatcan help refine our understanding of how users interact with suchmenus.
Microstructural Development on Firing Illite and Smectite Clays Compared with that in Kaolinite

Thermal transformation of illite and smectite group clay minerals was studied using X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy, and the results were compared with those of kaolinite. Differences were observed in the types and sizes of crystals formed at temperatures between 800° and 1400°C. Spinel-type phases were formed after 3 h at 1000°C in all three clays, but the morphology and composition of the spinel crystals varied. Mullite crystals reached greater sizes in the illite (>10 μm needles) and smectite (>1 μm) materials than in the kaolinite (0.5 μm). Iron-rich crystals formed in the illite and smectite materials, and feldspars present as impurities in these clays, along with interlayer cations, resulted in large quantities of liquid being formed above 1000°C. Similar thermal breakdown and phase development schemes are proposed for all three materials, with the major differences observed ascribed to the presence or absence of interlayer cations, substitutional impurities, and accessory minerals. These results provide a basis for predicting phase development on firing a given clay mineral, if its characteristics and impurity levels are known.
Modelling dispersal of a temperate insect in a changing climate

We construct a novel individual-based random-walk model to assess how predicted global climate change might affect the dispersal rates of a temperate insect. Using a novel approach we obtained accurate field measurements of daily movements for individuals over time to parameterize our model. Males were found to move significantly further on average than females. Significant variation in movement was evident among individuals; the most dispersive individuals moved up to five (females) and seven (males) times as far on average as the least dispersive individuals. Mean relative daily movement of both males and females were exponentially related to maximum daily temperature recorded within the grass sward. Variability, both within and among individuals, in relative daily movement was incorporated into the model using gamma probability distributions. Resultant dispersal functions for seasonal movement are predicted to be highly leptokurtic, which agrees well with observations from the field. Predictions of the model suggest that for populations at the polewards edge of the current range an increase of 3–5 °C in daily maximum temperature may increase the proportion of long-distance dispersers (those characterized as comprising the top 0.1% of furthest dispersing individuals under local conditions experienced during the 1963–1990 period) by up to 70%.
The Effects of Diverting Activities on Recovery from Fatiguing Concentric Isokinetic Muscle Actions

Stock, MS, Beck, TW, and DeFreitas, JM. The effects of diverting activities on recovery from fatiguing concentric isokinetic muscle actions. J Strength Cond Res 25(7): 1911-1917, 2011—The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of diverting activities on recovery from fatiguing concentric isokinetic muscle actions. On 3 separate occasions, 11 men (mean ± SD age = 22.2 ± 1.5 years) and 8 women (mean ± SD age = 22.2 ± 2.1 years) performed 2 bouts of 50 consecutive maximal concentric isokinetic muscle actions of the dominant leg extensors. Between these bouts, the subjects either performed math problems (mental diverting activity), contralateral dynamic constant external resistance (DCER) leg extensions (physical diverting activity), or rested quietly (control). For each trial, the peak torque data from the first and second bouts of 50 muscle actions served as the pretest (Pre) and posttest (Post) data, respectively. The results indicated that when the subjects rested quietly or performed contralateral DCER leg extensions between the fatiguing bouts, the initial peak torque values observed for Post were significantly less than those for Pre. When the subjects performed math problems, however, no decline in the initial peak torque values was observed, thus indicating better recovery. In addition, a decline in the average torque values was observed from Pre to Post for the control trial but not for the math problem or contralateral exercise trials. No differences were observed among the trials for final peak torque, percent decline, or the linear slope of the decline in peak torque. These findings demonstrated that performing either mental or physical diverting activities after fatiguing isokinetic muscle actions enhanced recovery.
Gout Classification Criteria An American College of Rheumatology / European League Against Rheumatism Collaborative Initiative

DOI 10.1002/art.39254 VC 2015 The Authors. Arthritis & Rheumatology is published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of the American College of Rheumatology. This is an open access article under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial License, which permits use, distribution and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited and is not used for commercial purposes.
GENETIC STRUCTURE OF EUROPEAN BEECH ( Fagus sylvatica L . ) SEED STANDS FROM DIFFERENT FOREST SITES OF GORJANCI MOUNTAINS AS REVEALED

Slovenia is one of the most forested countries in Europe, with a total coverage of 1.184. 369 ha or 58.4 % of total area (SFS 2011). Forests are well preserved, and sustainable, semi-natural and multifunctional management has been traditionally and legally incorporated into the forestry practice. In the 1990s, the genetic variation of beech populations in Slovenia and, in comparison, with its variation in Central and South-Eastern Europe were studied using isoenzyme gene markers (Brus et al. 1999, Gömöry et al. 1999). Results have shown the existence of genetic diff erences between provenances of beech from the north-western part of the investigated area and provenances of beech from the eastern part of Balkan Peninsula. Th e obtained results further supported the hypothesis that during the ice ages European beech was present in microrefugia at the south-eastern periphery of Alps and on the territory of present-day Slovenia (Brus et al. 2000). Findings were confi rmed by the UDK 630*165+187 (Fagus sylvatica L.) (001) Izvorni znanstveni članci – Original scientific papers Šumarski list, 1–2 (2013): 25–32
A specific deficit in visuospatial simultaneous working memory in Down syndrome.

BACKGROUND Recent studies have demonstrated that individuals with Down syndrome (DS) present both central and verbal working memory deficits compared with controls matched for mental age, whereas evidence on visuospatial working memory (VSWM) has remained ambiguous. The present paper uses a battery of VSWM tasks to test the hypothesis that individuals with DS can also encounter specific difficulties in VSWM. METHOD Four tasks were administered to 34 children and adolescents with DS and 34 controls matched for verbal mental age. In two of these tasks, participants had to remember a series of locations sequentially presented on a matrix (spatial-sequential WM); in another two, they had to remember locations simultaneously presented (spatial-simultaneous WM). RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Results showed that individuals with DS are poorer than controls in the spatial-simultaneous tasks, but not in the spatial-sequential tasks. These findings were not due to a difference in speed of visuospatial processing. In fact, when performances of the two groups in VSWM were compared using speed measures as covariates, differences between groups remained. It is suggested that the simultaneous VSWM deficit of individuals with DS could be due to the request for processing more than one item at a time.
Testing macroecology models with stream-fish assemblages

We measured species-level probabilities of colonization and extinction from a decade (1976–86) of stream-fish censuses at 10 sites on the Cimarron River, Oklahoma. In a macroecological analysis that controlled for phylogenetic relationships among the 41 species, we used body size, average population size, area of geographic range and distance to the centre of the geographic range as correlates of colonization and extinction probabilities. Average population size was the single best predictor of both colonization and extinction probabilities. Additionally, extinction probabilities were marginally greater for large-bodied than small-bodied species, and larger for species in which the census sites were closer to the edge than the centre of the geographic range. Ignoring phylogeny masked the edge-of-range and body size effects on extinction. Overall, our results confirm that species-level traits are correlated with standardized estimates of extinction and colonization probabilities within large assemblages of species. These analyses may be useful in applied conservation problems where direct estimates of extinction and colonization probabilities cannot be obtained.