Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of expression of the Wnt signaling components in canine mammary tumors via RT2 Profiler PCR Array and immunochemistry assays

The Wnt signaling pathway and its key component β-catenin have critical roles in the development of diseases such as tumors in mammals. However, little has been reported about involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway in canine mammary tumors (CMTs). The present study detected expression of 30 Wnt signaling pathway-related genes in CMTs; the results are potentially useful for molecular-based diagnosis of CMTs and the development of new targeted therapies. Significant upregulations of dickkopf-1 protein, secreted frizzled-related sequence protein 1 (SFRP1), frizzled 3, β-catenin, and lymphoid enhancer-binding factor 1 (LEF1) were detected in highly malignant CMTs compared to levels in normal mammary gland tissues; moreover, highly significant upregulation of WNT5A was observed in low malignancy CMTs. Downregulation was only detected for SFRP4 in malignant CMT samples. The subcellular location of β-catenin and cyclin D1 in 100 CMT samples was investigated via immunohistochemical analysis, and significantly increased expressions of β-catenin in cytoplasm and cyclin D1 in nuclei were revealed. Western blotting analysis revealed that the expression of β-catenin and LEF1 increased in in the majority of CMT samples. Taken together, the results provide important evidence of the activation status of the Wnt pathway in CMTs and valuable clues to identifying biomarkers for molecular-based diagnosis of CMT.
Glycosylation of autoantibodies: Insights into the mechanisms of immune thrombocytopenia

Summary Immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) is a bleeding disorder caused by IgG autoantibodies (AAbs) directed against platelets (PLTs). IgG effector functions depend on their Fc-constant region which undergoes post-translational glycosylation. We investigated the role of Asn279-linked N-glycan of AAbs in vitro and in vivo. AAbs were purified from ITP patients (n=15) and N-glycans were enzymatically cleaved by endoglycosidase F. The effects of native AAbs and deglycosylated AAbs were compared in vitro on enhancement of phagocytosis of platelets by monocytes and complement fixation and activation applying flow cytometry, laser scanning microscopy, and a complement consumption assay. AAb-induced platelet phagocytosis was inhibited by N-glycan cleavage (median phagocytic activity: 8% vs 0.8%, p=0.004). Seven out of 15 native AAbs bound C1q and activated complement. N-glycan cleavage significantly reduced both effects. In vivo survival of human PLTs was assessed after co-transfusion with native or N-glycan cleaved AAbs in a NOD/SCID mouse model. Injection of AAbs resulted in rapid clearance of human platelets compared to control (platelet clearance after 5h (CL5h) 75% vs 30%, p<0.001). AAbs that were able to activate complement induced more pronounced platelet clearance in the presence of complement compared to the clearance in the absence of complement (CL5h 82% vs 62%, p=0.003). AAbs lost their ability to destroy platelets in vivo after deglycosylation (CL5h 42%, p<0.001). N-glycosylation of human ITP AAbs appears to be required for platelet phagocytosis and complement activation, reducing platelet survival in vivo. Posttranslational modification of AAbs may constitute an important determinant for the clinical manifestation of ITP.
Cardiac autonomic modulation in healthy elderly after different intensities of dynamic exercise

Purpose To investigate the heart rate (HR) and its autonomic modulation at baseline and during dynamic postexercise (PEX) with intensities of 40% and 60% of the maximum HR in healthy elderly. Methods This cross-sectional study included ten apparently healthy people who had been submitted to a protocol on a cycle ergometer for 35 minutes. Autonomic modulation was evaluated by spectral analysis of HR variability (HRV). Results A relevant increase in HR response was observed at 15 minutes postexercise with intensities of 60% and 40% of the maximum HR (10±2 bpm versus 5±1 bpm, respectively; P=0.005), and a significant reduction in HRV was also noted with 40% and 60% intensities during the rest period, and significant reduction in HRV (RR variance) was also observed in 40% and 60% intensities when compared to the baseline, as well as between the post-exercise intensities (1032±32 ms versus 905±5 ms) (P<0.001). In the HRV spectral analysis, a significant increase in the low frequency component HRV and autonomic balance at 40% of the maximum HR (68±2 normalized units [nu] versus 55±1 nu and 2.0±0.1 versus 1.2±0.1; P<0.001) and at 60% of the maximum HR (77±1 nu versus 55±1 nu and 3.2±0.1 versus 1.2±0.1 [P<0.001]) in relation to baseline was observed. A significant reduction of high frequency component at 40% and 60% intensities, however, was observed when compared to baseline (31±2 nu and 23±1 nu versus 45±1 nu, respectively; P<0.001). Moreover, significant differences were observed for the low frequency and high frequency components, as well as for the sympathovagal balance between participants who reached 40% and 60% of the maximum HR. Conclusion There was an increase in the HR, sympathetic modulation, and sympathovagal balance, as well as a reduction in vagal modulation in the elderly at both intensities of the PEX.
Extraocular light via the ear canal does not acutely affect human circadian physiology, alertness and psychomotor vigilance performance

We aimed at testing potential effects of extraocular bright light via the ear canals on human evening melatonin levels, sleepiness and psychomotor vigilance performance. Twenty healthy young men and women (10/10) kept a regular sleep–wake cycle during the 2-week study. The volunteers reported to the laboratory on three evenings, 2 h 15 min before usual bedtime, on average at 21:45 h. They were exposed to three different light conditions, each lasting for 12 min: extraocular bright light via the ear canal, ocular bright light as an active control condition and a control condition (extraocular light therapy device with completely blacked out LEDs). The timing of exposure was on average from 22:48 to 23:00 h. During the 2-h protocol, saliva samples were collected in 15-min intervals for melatonin assays along with subjective sleepiness ratings, and the volunteers performed a 10-min visual psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) prior to and after each light condition. The evening melatonin rise was significantly attenuated after the 12-min ocular bright light exposure while no significant changes were observed after the extraocular bright light and sham light condition. Subjective sleepiness decreased immediately over a short period only after ocular light exposure. No significant differences were observed for mean reaction times and the number of lapses for the PVT between the three light conditions. We conclude that extraocular transcranial light exposure in the late evening does not suppress melatonin, reduce subjective sleepiness or improve performance, and therefore, does not acutely influence the human circadian timing system.
Influence of Urea-formaldehyde Adhesive Modification with Beech Bark on Chosen Properties of Plywood

The influence of beech bark concentrations as filler in urea-formaldehyde (UF) adhesives was investigated relative to the composite forming process and selected properties of final 5-layer beech plywood. Beech bark was used as filler to lower the wood processing waste production and decrease formaldehyde emissions. A combination of UF adhesives filled with different beech bark concentrations as the adhesive was used. Three different concentrations of beech bark, 15 wt. %, 20 wt. %, and 25 wt. % were used in the experiment. Urea-formaldehyde adhesive filled with 20 wt. % technical flour was used as a reference sample. The effect of the filler was studied via its temperature profile during pressing, mechanical properties in bending, water absorption, thickness swelling, and formaldehyde emissions after pressing. The time needed to reach the temperature between the beech veneers, at least 105 °C, which was equal to the final temperature filler-adhesive-wood matrix cross-linking, was also investigated during the pressing process. The measurements of the free formaldehyde emissions showed that for samples with non-zero bark concentrations there was a decrease of formaldehyde emissions by at least 46%.
Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Inhibition Modulates the Microenvironment by Vascular Normalization to Improve Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy Efficacy

Background Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibitors have shown only modest clinical activity when used as single agents to treat cancers. They decrease tumor cell expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1-α (HIF-1α) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). Hypothesizing that this might normalize tumor vasculature, we examined the effects of the EGFR inhibitor erlotinib on tumor vascular function, tumor microenvironment (TME) and chemotherapy and radiotherapy sensitivity. Methodology/Principal Findings Erlotinib treatment of human tumor cells in vitro and mice bearing xenografts in vivo led to decreased HIF-1α and VEGF expression. Treatment altered xenograft vessel morphology assessed by confocal microscopy (following tomato lectin injection) and decreased vessel permeability (measured by Evan's blue extravasation), suggesting vascular normalization. Erlotinib increased tumor blood flow measured by Power Doppler ultrasound and decreased hypoxia measured by EF5 immunohistochemistry and tumor O2 saturation measured by optical spectroscopy. Predicting that these changes would improve drug delivery and increase response to chemotherapy and radiation, we performed tumor regrowth studies in nude mice with xenografts treated with erlotinib and either radiotherapy or the chemotherapeutic agent cisplatin. Erlotinib therapy followed by cisplatin led to synergistic inhibition of tumor growth compared with either treatment by itself (p<0.001). Treatment with erlotinib before cisplatin led to greater tumor growth inhibition than did treatment with cisplatin before erlotinib (p = 0.006). Erlotinib followed by radiation inhibited tumor regrowth to a greater degree than did radiation alone, although the interaction between erlotinib and radiation was not synergistic. Conclusions/Significance EGFR inhibitors have shown clinical benefit when used in combination with conventional cytotoxic therapy. Our studies show that targeting tumor cells with EGFR inhibitors may modulate the TME via vascular normalization to increase response to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These studies suggest ways to assess the response of tumors to EGFR inhibition using non-invasive imaging of the TME.
¿Protege o predispone la actividad física a las adicciones conductuales y otros problemas de autorregulación?. (Exploring the direct or inverse association of physical activity with behavioral addictions and other self-regulation problems)

= 329, La AFO de gimnasio y musculación se asoció negativamente con los PARs relacionados con videojuegos, r = -0,13, p = 0,019, 95% CI ( bootstrapped ) [-0,23, -0,02], y positivamente con los PARs relacionados con sexo, r = 0,16, p = 0,005, 95% CI ( bootstrapped ) [0,04, -0,30]. La AFO de resistencia se asoció positivamente con los PARs relacionados con la alimentación, r = 0,17, p = 0,003, 95% CI ( bootstrapped ) [0,02, 0,31]. La probabilidad de presentar puntuaciones potencialmente clínicas en PARs de alimentación fue 2,64 veces mayor para los encuestados en un grupo de AFO de resistencia excesiva en comparación con los otros encuestados, prueba exacta de Fisher, p = 0,017, OR = 3,10, 95% CI [1,26, 7,63], y la probabilidad de vomitar para controlar p = . 017, OR = 3.10, 95% CI [1.26, 7.63], and the proportion of participants reporting vomiting to control weight was 2.12 times higher, Fisher’s exact test, p = . 040, OR = 2.43, 95% CI [1.06, 5.57]. The associ-ations were largely independent of impulsive personality traits. We identified an elevated risk of eating pathology in a subgroup of participants with anomalously high participation in endurance physical activity. This overlap is consistent with the secondary dependence hy-pothesis of exercise addiction.
Nucleus-driven crystallization of amorphous Ge2Sb2Te5: A density functional study

have beenstudied by density functional/molecular dynamics simulations for amorphous samples (460 and 648 atoms) at500,600,and700K. Allsystemsassumedaﬁxedcubicseedof58atomsand6vacancies. Crystallizationoccurswithin600psforthe460-atomsystemat600and700K,andsignsofcrystallization(nucleusgrowth,percolation)are present in the others. Crystallization is accompanied by an increase in the number of “
Heightened Interference on Implicit, but Not Explicit, Tests of Negative Transfer: Evidence from Patients with Unilateral Temporal Lobe Lesions and Normal Old People

The present research investigated alternative explanations of heightened interference in AB-AC learning in individuals with memory loss related to medial temporal lobe dysfunction. In Experiment 1, patients with left or right temporal lobectomy and control subjects were administered the standard AB-AC test. Relative to the other groups, left temporal patients exhibited significant negative transfer that was characterized by large numbers of response intrusion errors. In Experiment 2, groups of community-dwelling old and young adults were administered the standard test and an implicit version in which, during AC testing, subjects were instructed to provide the first word that comes to mind in response to stimulus words. There were no differences between groups on either version. Of particular interest was that both groups made significantly more intrusion errors on the implicit test and did not differ on this measure. It was concluded that exaggerated interference in AB-AC learning, as reflected by response intrusion errors, is related to the use of implicit memory processes rather than a failure of inhibitory mechanisms. Memory-impaired individuals, who have a selective loss of explicit memory, are vulnerable on this task because they rely excessively on implicit memory processes.
Crustal Stress and Strain Energy Density Rates in South Korea Deduced from GPS Observations

An accurate measurement and understanding of horizontal stress rates within the earth's crust is important for providing fundamental insights into the mechanisms driving plate motion and intraplate tectonic activity. In this paper, the stress field within the crust of the South Korean peninsula is obtained from observed displacement rates based on 4-year continuous GPS observations (2000-2004). Results show that the South Korean peninsula is under both compression and extensional stress regimes with maximum shear stress rate being in the mid part of the study area coinciding with the geologically defined Honam Shear Zone (HSZ) and relatively highly seismically active zone. In addition, the variation rate of strain energy density, an important index reflecting the intensity of crustal activity, is further derived, and its distribution indicates high earthquake potential in the mid-part as well as the north and northeast edges of the crust of the South Korean peninsula.
Evolving cryptographically sound boolean functions

This paper explores the evolution of Boolean functions for a cryptographic usage, with genetic algorithms and genetic programming. We also experiment with a new mutation operator and a new kind of initialization process. Results obtained show that those modifications can help in obtaining better solutions. The results indicate that it is possible to obtain high quality Boolean functions with algorithms that are not tailor-made for this purpose. Additionally, among the algorithms tested, the best performance was obtained with variations of genetic programming.
Age-Specific Survivorship and Reproduction in Phlox drummondii

Complete survivorship and fecundity schedules were constructed from observations of a natural population of the winter annual Phlox drummondii. The data were collected through the complete generation of a cohort of individuals, including the dormant seed phase of the life cycle. Survivorship is shown to approach type II during the period of seed dormancy and to approach type I for the population after germination. Reproduction was found to be unevenly distributed among individuals, the majority of offspring being produced by a small fraction of the cohort. Estimates of the net reproductive rate R0 and the intrinsic rate of increase r are compared with those of other organisms. The rates are lower than those expected of colonizing or r-selected species. It is suggested that certain annual plants like P. drummondii may have acquired a shortened generation length, but lack the further demographic specialization of many annuals as fugitives or weeds.
Strain Imaging: Key to the Specific Left Ventricular Diastolic Properties in Endurance Trained Athletes

Background: To increase the performance capacity of endurance trained athletes (ETA), a variety of adaptations are imperative. The heart is the central and the most important limiting factor. The structural heart adaptations in ETA have important repercussions on cardiac function. The left ventricular diastole shows specific characteristics that determine the performance capacity. Methods: 40 male ETA were compared with 31 active male controls and with 112 coronary patients. All subjects underwent tissue Doppler and strain imaging in equal basal conditions. Results: Compared with normal controls we noted similar signs of both eccentric and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in ETA as well as in patients with severe ischaemic heart disease. In contrast with the disturbed diastolic function in the coronary patients, the left ventricular diastolic function in the ETA was perfectly normal and even different and better than in the healthy control group. Excluding influences of preload, the values of the pulsed Doppler tissue imaging peak atrial systolic velocities (A), peak early diastolic velocities (E) and E/A ratios clearly indicate that the ETA have a supernormal left ventricular function compared with the nonathletic men. Extremely striking were the significant differences between the three groups concerning the strain values at the basal and the mid septum in the longitudinal axis by aortic valve closure and by mitral valve opening. Fascinating were the values of the enddiastolic strain at the end of the A-wave: negative in ETA, near zero in normal controls and markedly positive in patients with severe ischaemic heart disease. Conclusions: In spite of signs of combined eccentric and concentric left ventricular hypertrophy, the left ventricular systolic and diastolic functions remain normal and even supernormal in ETA. Arguments in support of this thesis were found by two dimensional echocardiographic Doppler examinations, by pulsed Doppler tissue imaging and by strain imaging. Interpreting our results obtained by strain imaging, we try to explain the specific left ventricular diastolic properties in ETA. J Clin Basic Cardiol 2003; 6: 35–40.
Flip-Flop of Phospholipids in Proteoliposomes Reconstituted from Detergent Extract of Chloroplast Membranes: Kinetics and Phospholipid Specificity

Eukaryotic cells are compartmentalized into distinct sub-cellular organelles by lipid bilayers, which are known to be involved in numerous cellular processes. The wide repertoire of lipids, synthesized in the biogenic membranes like the endoplasmic reticulum and bacterial cytoplasmic membranes are initially localized in the cytosolic leaflet and some of these lipids have to be translocated to the exoplasmic leaflet for membrane biogenesis and uniform growth. It is known that phospholipid (PL) translocation in biogenic membranes is mediated by specific membrane proteins which occur in a rapid, bi-directional fashion without metabolic energy requirement and with no specificity to PL head group. A recent study reported the existence of biogenic membrane flippases in plants and that the mechanism of plant membrane biogenesis was similar to that found in animals. In this study, we demonstrate for the first time ATP independent and ATP dependent flippase activity in chloroplast membranes of plants. For this, we generated proteoliposomes from Triton X-100 extract of intact chloroplast, envelope membrane and thylakoid isolated from spinach leaves and assayed for flippase activity using fluorescent labeled phospholipids. Half-life time of flipping was found to be 6±1 min. We also show that: (a) intact chloroplast and envelope membrane reconstituted proteoliposomes can flip fluorescent labeled analogs of phosphatidylcholine in ATP independent manner, (b) envelope membrane and thylakoid reconstituted proteoliposomes can flip phosphatidylglycerol in ATP dependent manner, (c) Biogenic membrane ATP independent PC flipping activity is protein mediated and (d) the kinetics of PC translocation gets affected differently upon treatment with protease and protein modifying reagents.
The Relationship between Drinking Water and the Hydrogen and Oxygen Stable Isotope Values of Tissues in Japanese Quail (Cortunix japonica)

ABSTRACT. Developing an understanding of how differences in the dietary ecology and physiology of different species can influence the incorporation of hydrogen and oxygen from resources into consumer tissues is an important factor to consider when designing, or interpreting data from, ecological studies using stable isotope analyses of these elements. Here, we present the results of an experiment designed to examine the relationship between the &dgr;2H and &dgr;18O of drinking water and the &dgr;2H and &dgr;18O values of body water, blood plasma, red blood cells, intestine, liver, muscle, and feathers of Japanese Quail (Cortunix japonica). Because Japanese Quail have high drinking-water requirements compared with many other bird species, we hypothesized that the relative contribution of drinking water to tissue &dgr;2H and &dgr;18O values would be higher than that of bird species with lower drinking-water requirements. Our results demonstrate that the contribution of drinking water to the &dgr;2H and &dgr;18O values of tissues is generally higher in Japanese Quail than in other birds with lower drinking-water rates. However, we failed to find significant relationships between drinking-water isotope values and tissue isotope values in many of the tissues that we examined. We suspect that this lack of significant relationships is the result of variation in tissue isotope values caused by differences in drinking-water consumption rates among individual birds. Given these results, we recommend that researchers use caution when interpreting data from ecological investigations using &dgr;2H and &dgr;18O analyses.