Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Increased expression of high mobility group A proteins in lung cancer

High mobility group A (HMGA) proteins play an important role in the regulation of transcription, differentiation, and neoplastic transformation. In this work, the expression of HMGA 1 and 2 in 152 lung carcinomas of mainly non‐small‐cell histological type has been studied by immunohistochemistry in order to evaluate their feasibility as lung cancer markers. In 17 lung cancer cases, the related bronchial epithelial changes were also studied for HMGA1 and 2 expression. RNA expression of HMGA1a and b isoforms and of HMGA2 was determined by real‐time semi‐quantitative RT‐PCR in 23 lung carcinomas. High expression of HMGA1 and HMGA2 at both mRNA and protein levels was detected in lung carcinomas, compared with normal lung tissue. Nuclear immunostaining for HMGA1 and 2 proteins also occurred in hyperplastic, metaplastic, and dysplastic bronchial epithelium. Increased nuclear expression of HMGA1 and 2 correlated with poor survival (for adenocarcinomas, HMGA1, p = 0.006; HMGA2, p = 0.05). While the expression of HMGA2 was significantly associated with cell proliferation (p = 0.008), HMGA1 expression did not show any association with proliferation or apoptotic index. Sequencing of HMGA2 transcripts from tumours with very high expression showed a normal full‐length transcript. As HMGA proteins were expressed in about 90% of lung carcinomas and their expression was inversely associated with survival, they may provide useful markers for lung cancer diagnosis and prognosis. Copyright © 2006 Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Published by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ligand recognition determinants of guanine riboswitches

Guanine riboswitches negatively modulate transcription upon guanine binding. The aptamer domain is organized around a three-way junction which forms the ligand binding site. Using currently available 89 guanine aptamer sequences, a consensus secondary structure is deduced and reveals differences from the previously identified aptamer consensus. Three positions are found to display different nucleotide requirements. Using a 2-aminopurine binding assay, we show that variations are allowed depending on the aptamer context. However, changes at position 48 markedly decrease ligand binding in a context-independent fashion. This is consistent with previous observations with the adenine riboswitch in which position 48 was proposed to interact with position 74, which normally base pairs with the ligand. The in vivo transcriptional control of endogenous Bacillus subtilis guanine riboswitches was studied using RT-qPCR assays. The ratio of elongated/terminated transcripts is decreased in presence of a high concentration of guanine but is dependent on the riboswitch analyzed. In general, the aptamer-2AP complex affinity correlates well with the in vivo regulation efficiency of the corresponding riboswitch. These studies suggest that core variations of guanine aptamers are used to produce a spectrum of ligand binding affinities which is used in vivo by host riboswitches to perform gene regulation.
Scavenger Receptor Class B Type 1 Deletion Led to Coronary Atherosclerosis and Ischemic Heart Disease in Low-density Lipoprotein Receptor Knockout Mice on Modified Western-type Diet

Aim: Atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E (apoE) or low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R) knockout (KO) mice are generally resistant to developing coronary atherosclerosis (CA) and ischemic heart disease (IHD). However, studies have demonstrated the occurrence of spontaneous CA and IHD in scavenger receptor class B type 1 (SR-BI)/apoE double KO (dKO) mice, which suggests that SR-BI could be a potential target for the prevention and therapy of CA and IHD. This possibility was later investigated in SR-BI/LDL-R dKO mice, but no signs of CA or IHD was identified when mice were fed a normal western-type diet. Here we explored whether SR-BI deletion could result in CA and IHD in LDL-R KO mice when fed a modified western-type diet containing higher (0.5%) cholesterol. Methods: Cardiac functions were detected by electrocardiography, single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT), echocardiography (Echo) and 2,3,5-triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining. CA was visualized by hematoxylin-eosin staining. Results: After 12 weeks on the modified diet, SR-BI/LDL-R dKO mice developed cardiac ischemia/infarction, together with systolic dysfunction and left ventricular dilatation. CA was most severe at the aortic sinus level to an extent that no dKO mice survived to 20 weeks on the modified diet. None of control mice, however, developed CA or IHD. Conclusions: SR-BI deletion led to CA and IHD in LDL-R KO mice when fed the modified western-type diet. We established SR-BI/LDL-R dKO mice as a diet-induced murine model of human IHD and developed detection methods, using a combination of SPECT and Echo, for effective in vivo evaluation of cardiac functions.
Bridging the Gap: Student-Centered Strategies for Promoting the Transfer of Learning

Critical to the success of any instructional intervention is the inclusion of strategies for promoting the application of learned skills in settings where they are required. For students receiving instruction in special education resource rooms, it is important that teachers recognize the need to plan for the transfer of targeted skills to other educational environments. Three data-based strategies for promoting the transfer of skills from special education resource rooms to regular classrooms are presented within the conceptual framework of transenvironmental programming. An argument is made for increased student involvement in the decision-making surrounding the adoption of each strategy and student-centered recommendations for implementation are provided.
High Rate of Acquisition but Short Duration of Carriage of Multidrug-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae After Travel to the Tropics.

BACKGROUND Multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MRE) are widespread in the community, especially in tropical regions. Travelers are at risk of acquiring MRE in these regions, but the precise extent of the problem is not known. METHODS From February 2012 to April 2013, travelers attending 6 international vaccination centers in the Paris area prior to traveling to tropical regions were asked to provide a fecal sample before and after their trip. Those found to have acquired MRE were asked to send fecal samples 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months after their return, or until MRE was no longer detected. The fecal relative abundance of MRE among all Enterobacteriaceae was determined in each carrier. RESULTS Among 824 participating travelers, 574 provided fecal samples before and after travel and were not MRE carriers before departure. Of these, 292 (50.9%) acquired an average of 1.8 MRE. Three travelers (0.5%) acquired carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae. The acquisition rate was higher in Asia (142/196 [72.4%]) than in sub-Saharan Africa (93/195 [47.7%]) or Latin America (57/183 [31.1%]). MRE acquisition was associated with the type of travel, diarrhea, and exposure to β-lactams during the travel. Three months after return, 4.7% of the travelers carried MRE. Carriage lasted longer in travelers returning from Asia and in travelers with a high relative abundance of MRE at return. CONCLUSIONS MRE acquisition is very frequent among travelers to tropical regions. Travel to these regions should be considered a risk factor of MRE carriage during the first 3 months after return, but not beyond. CLINICAL TRIALS REGISTRATION NCT01526187.
Mechanical analysis of experimental sugar-based bioepoxy printed circuit boards

In this paper new results are presented about our advances in the field of substituting the commonly used FR4 (fiberglass+epoxy) for environmentally friendly substrates in Printed Circuit Board (PCB) technology. Avoiding traditional FR4 substrate may help to reduce a significant part of the generated harmful e-waste. The investigations are based on previous results achieved at the department with cellulose-acetate (CA), polylactic-acid (PLA), and usual FR4 based PCBs. The experiments are now expanded with GPTE-DETDA type sugar-based epoxy resin boards and its use as the main substrate of PCBs. The experimental results presented in the final paper are characterizing the PCBs fabricated with common subtractive technology according to mechanical parameters (such as surface roughness, hardness, elasticity). The weaknesses of the material is also discussed, highlighting paths of future improvements on reliability and durability for actual commercial use.
Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Receptor-2 Inhibition Promotes Cell Death and Limits Endothelial Cell Proliferation in a Neonatal Rodent Model of Stroke

Background and Purpose— Recent studies in neonatal rodent stroke models suggest that recovery is due in part to upregulation of hypoxia-inducible factor-1-a and its downstream target, vascular endothelial growth factor. Vascular endothelial growth factor is upregulated after a hypoxic insult and is involved in neuronal survival, angiogenesis, and neurogenesis during the recovery process. Methods— We performed a 1.5-hour transient middle cerebral artery occlusion in 10-day-old rats with injury verified by diffusion-weighted MRI during occlusion to determine the effects of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (VEGFR2) inhibition on injury, apoptosis, and angiogenesis. Two days after reperfusion, the pups received either the VEGFR inhibitor, SU5416 (10 mg/kg per dose) or vehicle (1% dimethyl sulfoxide) for 3 days. Results— VEGFR2 inhibition worsened injury 7 days after injury when compared with the vehicle-treated and injury-alone groups (P<0.01). Furthermore, receptor inhibition was associated with increased VEGFR2 expression 5 days after injury (P<0.05) and increased spectrin cleavage with a shift in favor of the calpain-mediated, caspase-3-independent cleavage (P<0.01). Increased areas of cleaved caspase-3 staining were seen in treated rats at 7 days (P<0.01) There were no differences in gliosis or macrophage recruitment as measured by glial fibrillary acidic protein and Iba-1 expression at this time point. Lastly, VEGFR2 inhibition did not affect the overall vessel surface area but reduced endothelial cell proliferation in injured caudate. Conclusions— Inhibition of VEGFR2 signaling worsens injury, affects cell death, and reduces endothelial cell proliferation after neonatal stroke. Injury exacerbation may be in part due to a shift of cell fate from apoptosis to necrosis on the continuum spectrum of cell death as well as effects on angiogenesis in the injured brain.
Clinical outcomes of valve-sparing root replacement in acute type A aortic dissection

Abstract> Objectives. The early and late outcomes of valve-sparing root replacement (VSR) in type A aortic dissection (AAD) are unknown. The aim of this study was to review the outcomes of VSR in AAD. We also compared the outcomes of VSR with the Bentall operation, which served as a standard reference technique. Design. We retrospectively reviewed 52 patients who underwent surgery for AAD and concomitant root replacement between 1998 and 2013 at Samsung Medical Center. Patients were divided into two groups: Bentall (n = 34) and VSR (n = 18). Two out of six surgeons performed VSR. The mean follow-up duration was 62.3 ± 46.5 months. Results. Preoperative characteristics were similar between the two groups except age (Bentall, 48 ± 11 years; VSR, 37 ± 11 years, p = 0.011). The aortic cross-clamping time was longer in the VSR group (Bentall, 185.8 ± 63.8; VSR, 241.4 ± 44.3 min, p = 0.002). There was no early death in the VSR group, but there was one in the Bentall group (p = 1.000). Despite the higher reoperation rate for aortic valve in the VSR group (Three reoperations) than in the Bentall group (no reoperation), major valve-related events and overall mortality did not differ between the two groups(p = 0.876 and 0.119, respectively). In multivariable analysis, the root replacement technique was not a risk factor for major valve-related events. Conclusions. VSR seems to be equivalent to the Bentall procedure for AAD in terms of early and late outcomes. VSR can be considered as a viable option, particularly for young patients with favorable aortic valve leaflets undergoing surgery at an experienced center.
Inheritance of High Density Lipoprotein and Lipoprotein Lipase and Hepatic Lipase Activity

The role of genetic and environmental factors In the regulation of plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL) was estimated In 17 monozygotlc (MZ) and 18 dlzygotlc (DZ) male twins randomly selected from the Finnish Twin Cohort Study. In addition to HDL cholesterol, we determined the HDL subtractions, HDL2 and HDL3, and the major HDL apoprotelns (apo) A-I and A-II. The activities of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic lipase (HL) were also assayed from postheparin plasma to get Information on their possible contribution to the herrtablltty of HDL. Evidence for the genetic component In the regulation of plasma HDL received support from the herltabillty estimate of 0.34. The different herltabillty estimates of HDL2 and HDL3 (h2 of 0.56 and <0, respectively) support the Idea that the HDL subtraction distribution might be Important In the genetic regulation of plasma HDL level. This also received support from the herltabillty of apo A-I (h2 = 0.66), mainly varying in HDL2, and the lack of It In apo A-II, found mainly In HDL3. These conclusions were strengthened by standardizing the data with relative ponderosity. Postheparin plasma HL activity had a high palrwlse correlation coefficient In the MZ twins (r=0.80, p<0.001), whereas LPL displayed no wlthln-palr correlation. Neither of the lipolytlc enzymes, LPL or HL, showed any correlation In the DZ twins. Therefore, It Is suggested that part of the genetic regulation of the HDL and Its subtraction distribution might be mediated through the activity of HL.
Artificial Insemination in Swine in an Organized Farm – A Pilot Study

Aim: To assess the reproductive performance and managemental advantages of Artificial Insemination of swine. Materials and Methods: Large White Yorkshire sows were grouped into two batches (10 each) for AI and natural mating. AI 9 group was given two inseminations with semen extended with Beltsville Thawing Solution (BTS,3 x 10 spermatozoa per dose), at standing heat. Similarly, for natural mating group, triple mating was followed. The reproductive performance was studied after maintaining the sows under optimal managemental conditions. Results: The results indicated that AI and natural mating practices showed 100% conception rate. The litter size of AI group was 8.36±0.28 and that of the natural mating group was 10.6±0.64, that varied with high significance. The still birth rate was 0.7±0.26, which was significantly higher in natural mating group. The pre-weaning mortality was 4.34% and 7.5% for AI group and natural mating group respectively. The time consumed during mating per sow also varied highly significantly which was 11.46±0.47 minutes and 51.2±2.08 minutes for the AI group and natural mating group respectively. Conclusion: It was found that AI was found to be time and labor saving. The reduced litter size in AI group could be improved by ensuring that inseminations occur at an optimum time resulting in a high farrowing rate and litter size. AI can be successfully introduced in field conditions with some fine tuning.
Evolving Mobile Robots Able to Display Collective Behaviors

We present a set of experiments in which simulated robots are evolved for the ability to aggregate and move together toward a light target. By developing and using quantitative indexes that capture the structural properties of the emerged formations, we show that evolved individuals display interesting behavioral patterns in which groups of robots act as a single unit. Moreover, evolved groups of robots with identical controllers display primitive forms of situated specialization and play different behavioral functions within the group according to the circumstances. Overall, the results presented in the article demonstrate that evolutionary techniques, by exploiting the self-organizing behavioral properties that emerge from the interactions between the robots and between the robots and the environment, are a powerful method for synthesizing collective behavior.
Linear Friction Welding of a Forged Near-α Titanium Alloy

IMI834 (Ti-5.8Al-4Sn-3.5Zr-0.7Nb-0.5Mo-0.35Si) is a high-tech near-α titanium alloy with improved creep resistance and mechanical property retention at temperatures up to 600°C [1]. It is used in the aerospace industry for compressor disks and blades due to its excellent balance between creep resistance and fatigue strength [2]. The linear friction welding (LFW) behaviour of IMI834 displaying an initial bimodal α+β microstructure was investigated using varying axial pressures during welding. Electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) was used to characterize the texture and phase fraction of the welded IMI834 samples in the weld zone (WZ) and thermomechanically affected zones (TMAZ) in relation to the base material. Based on microhardness evaluation of the weldments, the WZ was determined to be slightly harder than the base material.
Numerical simulation of cracking using embedded surfaces in a three dimensional constitutive model for concrete

This thesis presents three new three-dimensional constitutive models for cementitious materials. All three models use embedded damage planes and adopt the theory of contact mechanics to describe the characteristic behaviour of cracks formed in concrete and other cementitious materials. The first of these is a smooth frictional contact model which incorporates a simplified Mohr-Coulomb yield surface to capture plastic slip planes in concrete. The aim of the model is to accurately represent the behaviour of smooth construction joints in large concrete structures. The second proposed model is the dual-surface contact model. The model employs two contact surfaces, each of which nominally represents a different component of concrete composite, i.e. coarse aggregate particles and mortar. The third model is the 'embedded planes with local plasticity contact' model (EPLPC). The model adopts a yield surface, which is similar to the damage surface in strain space, to capture plastic embedment on crack surfaces. This model, as with the dual-surface contact model, is developed to simulate crack opening-closing, as well as the behaviour of aggregate interlock. The models are integrated with a hardening/softening frictional plasticity component that uses a smoothed triaxial plastic yield surface developed from that used by Lubliner et al. (1989). Each of the proposed models is implemented with a consistent tangent stiffness operator and return mapping algorithm, similar to that of the Closest Point Projection algorithm. The models are coded in Fortran77 and implemented in a constitutive driver program, and also a finite element software package LUSAS. The models are assessed using a series of stress/strain paths at the constitutive level, and also validated against a range of experimental data. These include data from uniaxial and multiaxial compressive tests, uniaxial tensile tests with and without unloading-reloading cycles, and also tests in which shear load is applied on open cracks.
Random Deletion in a Scale-Free Random Graph Process

We study a dynamically evolving random graph which adds vertices and edges using preferential attachment and deletes vertices randomly. At time t, with probability α1 > 0 we add a new vertex ut and m random edges incident with ut . The neighbours of ut are chosen with probability proportional to degree. With probability α -α1 ≥ 0 we add m random edges to existing vertices where the endpoints are chosen with probability proportional to degree. With probability 1-α-α0 we delete a random vertex, if there are vertices left to delete. With probability α0 we delete m random edges. Assuming that α + α1 + α0 > 1 and α0 is sufficently small, we show that for large k, t, the expected number of vertices of degree k is approximately dkt where as k → 8, dk ~ Ck -1-β where and C > 0 is a constant. Note that β can take any value greater than 1.
DOES THE JONES POLYNOMIAL DETECT THE UNKNOT

We address the question: Does there exist a non-trivial knot with a trivial Jones polynomial? To find such a knot, it is almost certainly sufficient to find a non-trivial braid on four strands in the kernel of the Burau representation. I will describe a computer algorithm to search for such a braid.
Recognising high-level agent behaviour through observations in data scarce domains

This thesis presents a novel method for performing multi-agent behaviour recognition without requiring large training corpora. The reduced need for data means that robust probabilistic recognition can be performed within domains where annotated datasets are traditionally unavailable (e.g. surveillance, defence). Human behaviours are composed from sequences of underlying activities that can be used as salient features. We do not assume that the exact temporal ordering of such features is necessary, so can represent behaviours using an unordered “bag-of-features”. A weak temporal ordering is imposed during inference to match behaviours to observations and replaces the learnt model parameters used by competing methods. Our three-tier architecture comprises low-level video tracking, event analysis and high-level inference. High-level inference is performed using a new, cascading extension of the Rao-Blackwellised Particle Filter. Behaviours are recognised at multiple levels of abstraction and can contain a mixture of solo and multiagent behaviour. We validate our framework using the PETS 2006 video surveillance dataset and our own video sequences, in addition to a large corpus of simulated data. We achieve a mean recognition precision of 96.4% on the simulated data and 89.3% on the combined video data. Our “bag-of-features” framework is able to detect when behaviours terminate and accurately explains agent behaviour despite significant quantities of low-level classification errors in the input, and can even detect agents who change their behaviour.
Effect of PEO on the network structure of PVA hydrogels prepared by freezing/thawing method

Poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA)/poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) hydrogels were prepared by freezing/thawing method for application as a wound dressing. The effect of PEO content on the network structure of PVA hydrogel was investigated in terms of crystalline and reological properties. It was found that a low amount of PVA crystallites were present in PVA/PEO hydrogels. With increasing content of PEO, the crstallinity of PVA hydrogel decreased, but the apparent dimensions of crystallites increased. The shear storage modulus (G′) decreased slightly with the increasing temperature within 30–50°C, probably resulting from the breaking of the hydrogen bonding; while it decreased sharply within 50–70°C, probably resulting from the melt of the crystallites of PVA hydrogel. The physical crosslinking density (Dpc) increased with decreasing PEO content, while decreased more dramatically with increasing temperature, indicating that hydrogen bonding was easier to be broken at high temperature. At very low strain amplitudes, the loss modulus (G″) of the hydrogel is lower than the storage modulus (G′) and G′ is independent of the strain amplitude, indicating that the deformation imposed on the network structure is entirely reversible. With increasing content of PEO, G′ at low frequency decreased, and the mesh size (Lc) increased, indicating of the decrease of the physical crosslinking density of PVA/PEO hydrogels. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Appl. Polym. Sci., 2013