Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Are life events related to the onset of breast cancer?

At present there is considerable interest in the relationship between psychosocial factors and illness, and particularly the role they might play in the onset and course of illness. In the field of oncology, one line of enquiry concerns the possible association between stressful life events and the onset of cancer. A recent editorial entitled 'Stressful life events and cancer' (Kune, 1994), for example, assumes that an association between the two has been convincingly demonstrated, and argues that the next step is the application of this information to prevention. Claims of a relationship between life events and the onset of cancer find a ready audience in the general community. Baghurst et al. (1992) reported that about 40% of a community-based sample believed that stress was a risk factor for breast cancer. Furthermore, those with cancer, or their families, may be prepared to believe that the disease is somehow due to too much stress, a partner or close friend dying, or prolonged depression and related emotional ill-health. The psychological fall-out from such beliefs may have important consequences for the way patients and their families view this potentially life threatening illness. In a similar vein, researchers may make far-reaching recommendations on the basis of findings (Cheang & Cooper, 1985; Bremond et al. 1986), and in textbooks for training of health professionals, considerable weight is sometimes given to the supposed influence of life events on the subsequent development of cancer (e.g. Prokop et al. 1991). This being so, we believe that the validity of claims about life events and cancer needs to be critically examined.
The anti‐inflammatory IFITM genes ameliorate colitis and partially protect from tumorigenesis by changing immunity and microbiota

Inflammation plays pivotal roles in different stages of tumor development. Screening for predisposing genetic abnormalities and understanding the roles these genes play in the crosstalk between immune and cancer cells will provide new targets for cancer therapy and prevention. The interferon inducible transmembrane (IFITM) genes are involved in pathogenesis of the gastro‐intestinal tract. We aimed at delineating the role of IFITM3 in colonic epithelial homeostasis, inflammation and colitis‐associated tumorigenesis using IFITM3‐deficient mice. Chemical induction of colitis in IFITM3‐deficient mice results in significantly increased clinical signs of inflammation and induction of invasive tumorigenesis. Bone marrow transplantation showed that cells of the hematopoietic system are responsible for colitis deterioration. In these mice, impaired cytokine expression skewed inflammatory response toward pathogenic Th17 with reduced expression of the anti‐inflammatory cytokine IL10 during the recovery phase. Intriguingly, mice lacking the entire IFITM locus developed spontaneous chronic colitis from the age of 14 weeks. Sequencing the 16S rRNA of naïve mice lacking IFITM3 gene, or the entire locus containing five IFITM genes, revealed these mice had significant bacterial differences from their wild‐type littermates. Our novel results provide strong evidence for the essential role of IFITM genes in ameliorating colitis and colitis‐associated tumorigenesis.
Biosimilar Infliximab in Inflammatory Bowel Disease: Outcomes of a Managed Switching Programme

Background and Aims Biosimilar infliximab CT-P13 offers the potential for large drug acquisition cost savings. However, there are limited published data regarding its efficacy, safety, and immunogenicity in inflammatory bowel disease [IBD], particularly in switching IBD patients from originator to biosimilar infliximab. We present the outcomes of a service evaluation of switching IBD patients established on originator infliximab to biosimilar, using a managed switching programme funded via a gain share agreement in a UK teaching hospital. Methods Evaluation outcomes included drug persistence, changes in drug acquisition costs, patient-reported side effects, adverse events, patient outcomes assessed using the IBD-control Patient-Reported Outcome Measures [PROM] questionnaire, serum drug and antibody levels, and routinely collected biochemical markers. Results A total of 143 patients with IBD [118 Crohn's disease, 23 ulcerative colitis, 2 IBD unclassified] were switched from originator infliximab to CT-P13. Patients reported a similar incidence of side effects before and after switch. No clinically significant differences were observed in mean C-reactive protein [CRP], albumin, haemoglobin levels, or platelet and white cell counts after the switch to CT-P13, whereas mean IBD-control-8 score improved from 10.4 to 11.2 [p = 0.041]. There was no significant difference in drug persistence between biosimilar and originator infliximab [p = 0.94] and no increase in immunogenicity was found. Drug acquisition costs decreased by £40,000-60,000 per month. Conclusions A managed switching programme from originator infliximab to biosimilar CT-P13 in IBD, using a gain-share agreement, delivers significant cost savings and investment in clinical services while maintaining similar patient-reported outcomes, biochemical response, drug persistence, and adverse event profile.
The impact of query structure and query expansion on retrieval performance

The effects of query structures and query expansion (QE) on retrieval performance were tested with a best match retrieval system (INQUERY1). Query structure means the use of operators to express the relations between search keys. Eight different structures were tested, representing weak structures (averages and weighted averages of the weights of the keys) and strong structures (e.g., queries with more elaborated search key relations). QE was based on concepts, which were first selected from a conceptual model, and then expanded by semantic relationships given in the model. The expansion levels were (a) no expansion, (b) a synonym expansion, (c) a narrower concept expansion, (d) an associative concept expansion, and (e) a cumulative expansion of all other expansions. With weak structures and Boolean structured queries, QE was not very effective. The best performance was achieved with one of the strong structures at the largest expansion level.
Characterization of concrete at various freeze-thaw damage conditions using SH-waves

Evaluation of migration-based reconstructions can give a qualitative characterization of large scale or excessive subsurface damage. However, for detection of stochastic damage mechanisms such as freeze-thaw damage, evaluation of the individual time-history data can provide additional information. A comparison of the spatially diverse measurements on several concrete slabs with varying freeze-thaw damage levels is given in this study. Signal characterization scans of different levels of freeze-thaw damage at various transducer spacing is investigated. The results show promise for a SH-wave classification system applicable for nondestructive characterization of freeze-thaw damage conditions.
Optimizing web search using web click-through data

The performance of web search engines may often deteriorate due to the diversity and noisy information contained within web pages. User click-through data can be used to introduce more accurate description (metadata) for web pages, and to improve the search performance. However, noise and incompleteness, sparseness, and the volatility of web pages and queries are three major challenges for research work on user click-through log mining. In this paper, we propose a novel iterative reinforced algorithm to utilize the user click-through data to improve search performance. The algorithm fully explores the interrelations between queries and web pages, and effectively finds "virtual queries" for web pages and overcomes the challenges discussed above. Experiment results on a large set of MSN click-through log data show a significant improvement on search performance over the naive query log mining algorithm as well as the baseline search engine.
PLANT COMMUNITY MEDIATED VS. NUTRITIONAL CONTROLS ON LITTER DECOMPOSITION RATES IN GRASSLANDS

Grasslands are one of the major biomes on earth and can serve as important soil carbon sinks. Nutrient enrichment of these grasslands can have a significant impact on carbon losses through the decomposition process. We investigated the effects of long-term (12-yr) experimentally increased N and/or P supply on litter production and on the chemistry and decomposition of bulk litter from two grasslands differing in soil nutrient status. Potential aboveground litter production in the controls of a P-rich low-productivity riparian grassland was lower than that in a N-rich high-productivity peat grassland and increased with enhanced N supply. Nutrient treatments did not enhance litter production in the high-productivity peat grassland. The concentrations of phenolics in bulk litter from the peat grassland, dominated by sedges, were 2-3 times higher than those in the riparian grassland that was dominated by herbs and grasses. At both sites increased nutrient supply had no detectable effect on phenolics concentrations. All P-related litter chemistry param- eters reflected the higher soil P status of the riparian grassland. P fertilization had a greater effect on litter chemistry in the P-deficient peat grassland than in the P-rich riparian grass- land. At both sites, there was no change in overall litter chemistry in response to N fer- tilization, except for higher lignin concentrations in the peat grassland litter. Both short- term (8 wk) litter incubations in the laboratory and a 3-yr litter bag study in the field showed that riparian grassland litter decomposed faster than litter from the peat grassland. The long-term nutrient additions had no significant effects on the decomposition of the bulk litter of each grassland type. Regression analysis on the combined data of the two sites showed that phenolics, and to a lesser extent, P-related litter chemistry parameters, exerted a strong control on both litter respiration and litter mass loss. Our study shows that long-term experimental nutrient additions do not lead to increased decomposition rates in grasslands and that the initial plant community litter quality is the main determinant of carbon losses through the decomposition process. The results of this study suggest that nutrient enrichment will likely affect ecosystem carbon balance more by affecting litter production than by affecting litter decomposition rates.
Time of Death Revealed by Hydrocarbons of Empty Puparia of Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae): A Field Experiment

Determination of the postmortem interval (PMI) is crucial for investigating homicide. However, there are currently only limited methods available. Especially, once the PMI exceeds the duration of pre-adult development of the flies with the adult emergence, its determination is very approximate. Herein, we report the regular changes in hydrocarbon composition during the weathering process of the puparia in the field in Chrysomya megacephala (Fabricius) (Diptera: Calliphoridae), one of the common species of necrophagous flies. Correlation analysis showed that the relative abundance of nearly all of the branched alkanes and alkenes decreased significantly with the weathering time. Especially, for 9 of the peaks, over 88% of the variance in their abundance was explained by weathering time. Further analysis indicated that the regular changes caused mainly by the different weathering rates of various hydrocarbons. Additionally, the weathering rates were found to depend on the chemical structure and molecular weight of the hydrocarbons. These results indicate strongly that hydrocarbon analysis is a powerful tool for determining the weathering time of the necrophagous fly puparia, and is expected to markedly improve the determination of the late PMI.
Basic Approach to High Tc Superconducting Bulks and Their Applications

Recently, high Tc superconducting Y-Ba-Cu-O with relatively high critical current density Jc can be produced by means of various types of melt processes. Applications of the superconductors to bulk magnets, high field shielding, magnetic levitation and so on, are proposed, since the high Jc of the superconducting bulk results in capturing of dense magnetic flux and repelling of high magnetic field. In the present review, it is first pointed out that feasible bulk current density in the superconductors are restricted not only by weak couplings between sub-structures but also by electro-magnetic properties such as flux creep and flux jump. The processing of bulk Y-Ba-Cu-O is outlined at viewpoint of improvement of Jc, while the limited level of the current density due to the undesirable phenomena is presented. Experimental and theoretical works for the prospective applications of high Tc bulk superconductors are summarized.
The ginger component 6-shogaol prevents TNF-α-induced barrier loss via inhibition of PI3K/Akt and NF-κB signaling.

SCOPE Anti-inflammatory properties of the ginger-derived pungent component 6-shogaol (6-SG) have been studied intensively in recent years. Purpose of this study was to characterize the influence of 6-SG on inflammation-related intestinal barrier dysfunction, especially its paracellular component. METHODS AND RESULTS The effect of 6-SG was studied in the human intestinal cell models HT-29/B6 and Caco-2 either under control conditions or challenged by the pro-inflammatory cytokine tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α). Electrophysiological measurements, freeze-fracture electron microscopy, and protein analyses were performed. 6-SG partially prevented both, the TNF-α-induced decrease in transepithelial resistance and the rise in fluorescein permeability. By inhibiting phosphatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt signaling 6-SG prevented the TNF-α-induced increase in protein expression of claudin-2, a channel-forming tight junction protein. In addition, the TNF-α-induced disassembly of the sealing tight junction protein claudin-1 was attenuated, the latter of which was due to TNF-α-triggered phosphorylation of nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB). CONCLUSION 6-SG has barrier-protective effects by affecting TNF-α-induced claudin-2 upregulation and claudin-1 disassembly via inhibition of phoshatidylinositol-3-kinase/Akt and nuclear factor kappa light chain enhancer of activated B-cell signaling. Therefore, 6-SG-containing food might be beneficial for barrier preservation during intestinal inflammation.
Opportunity for Diesel Emission Reductions Using AdvancedCatalysts and Water Blend Fuel

This paper features the results of emission tests conducted on diesel oxidation catalysts, and the combination of diesel oxidation catalysts and water blend fuel (diesel fuel continuous emulsion). Vehicle chassis emission tests were conducted using an urban bus. The paper reviews the impact and potential benefits of combining catalyst and water blend diesel fuel technologies to reduce exhaust emissions from diesel engines.
The role of infiltrating immune cells in dysfunctional adipose tissue

Abstract Adipose tissue (AT) dysfunction, characterized by loss of its homeostatic functions, is a hallmark of non-communicable diseases. It is characterized by chronic low-grade inflammation and is observed in obesity, metabolic disorders such as insulin resistance and diabetes. While classically it has been identified by increased cytokine or chemokine expression, such as increased MCP-1, RANTES, IL-6, interferon (IFN) gamma or TNFα, mechanistically, immune cell infiltration is a prominent feature of the dysfunctional AT. These immune cells include M1 and M2 macrophages, effector and memory T cells, IL-10 producing FoxP3+ T regulatory cells, natural killer and NKT cells and granulocytes. Immune composition varies, depending on the stage and the type of pathology. Infiltrating immune cells not only produce cytokines but also metalloproteinases, reactive oxygen species, and chemokines that participate in tissue remodelling, cell signalling, and regulation of immunity. The presence of inflammatory cells in AT affects adjacent tissues and organs. In blood vessels, perivascular AT inflammation leads to vascular remodelling, superoxide production, endothelial dysfunction with loss of nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability, contributing to vascular disease, atherosclerosis, and plaque instability. Dysfunctional AT also releases adipokines such as leptin, resistin, and visfatin that promote metabolic dysfunction, alter systemic homeostasis, sympathetic outflow, glucose handling, and insulin sensitivity. Anti-inflammatory and protective adiponectin is reduced. AT may also serve as an important reservoir and possible site of activation in autoimmune-mediated and inflammatory diseases. Thus, reciprocal regulation between immune cell infiltration and AT dysfunction is a promising future therapeutic target.
SUBJECTIVE EVALUATION OF LOUDNESS MODELS USING SYNTHESIZED AND ENVIRONMENTAL SOUNDS

Loudness of different sounds was measured in order to evaluate Zwicker’s and Moore’s loudness models (published in Acta Acustica [3] and in the J. Audio. Eng. Soc. [4]). The test signals were synthesized bands of noise and environmental sounds. For synthesized noises, Zwicker’s model fits highly well with subjective results, it is a little bit closer to the data than Moore’s. For environmental sounds, calculated values from Moore’s model fit very well with subjective results for low-level signals. In this case, Zwicker’s model is close to the subjective data for loud signals. 1 INTRODUCTION In 1965, Zwicker and Scharf proposed a model for calculating the loudness of complex sounds [1]. A BASIC-Program of that model (usually called Zwicker’s model) has been published [2]; we used it to develop our own program. This model has recently been revised by Moore and Glasberg [3, 4]. Zwicker’s model have been evaluated for bands of noise [1] and for environmental sounds [5]. Moore et al. compared their model to Zwicker’s for bands of noise [3, 4]. The aim of this paper is to compare the loudness calculated using the two models with loudness estimated by listeners both for synthesized noises and for environmental sounds. 2 EXPERIMENT 1: LOUDNESS OF SYNTHESIZED NOISES 2.1 Method In a first experiment, the loudness of synthesized bands of noise has been evaluated. Three different center frequencies were chosen. For each center frequency, we selected two different bandwidths and for each bandwidth two sound pressure levels. Altogether, twelve bands of noise have been used (Table 1). Eight listeners with normal hearing participated in the experiment. Their age ranged from 20 to 29 years, and their thresholds were 10 dB HL or lower for frequencies from 0.5 to 8 kHz (BK 1800 audiometer). The task of the listener was to make loudness matches between bands of noise. For each run, the reference noise had a fixed level, and the comparison sound (called the test sound) was varied in level to achieve equal loudness. The sound durations were 1 s with a 500-ms interstimulus interval. sound number Central frequency (Hz) bandwidth (Hz) Level (dB SPL) sound number Central frequency (Hz) bandwidth (Hz) Level (dB SPL) 1 400 50 40 7 1420 120 50 2 400 420 40 8 142
The de Haas-van Alphen Effect

EXPERIMENTS by one of us1 on the de Haas–van Alphen effect in gallium, tin and graphite (periodic field-dependence of magnetic susceptibility of metal single crystals) have now been extended to higher fields (up to 15,800 gauss), to lower temperatures (down to 1.1° K.), and to other metals; at the same time the theory of the effect has been reconsidered. The present note gives a brief account of the new results.
Galvanic corrosion study of aluminium alloy plates mounted to stainless and mild steel bolts by accelerated exposure test

B. of Eng., Dept. of Civil Eng., Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan. *Dr. of Eng., Professor, Dept. of Civil Eng., Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan. **Engineer, Nippon Light Metal Company Ltd, 1-34-1Kanbara-cho, Shimizu-ku, Shizuoka 421-3291, Japan. ***Dr. of Eng., Associate Professor, Dept. of Civil Eng., Nagoya University, Furo-cho, Chikusa-ku, Nagoya 464-8603, Japan.
Isolation and Characterization of the K5-Type Yeast Killer Protein and Its Homology with an Exo-β-1,3-glucanase

K5-type yeast killer protein in the culture supernatant of Pichia anomala NCYC 434 cells was concentrated by ultrafiltration and purified to homogenity by ion-exchange chromatography with a POROS HQ/M column followed by gel filtration with a TSK G2000SW column. The protein migrated as a single band on discontinous gradient SDS-PAGE and had a molecular mass of 49 000 Da. The pI value of the K5-type killer protein was measured at pH 3.7 by high voltage vertical gel electrofocusing. The result of an enzyme immuno assay revealed that it was a glycosylated protein. Its internal amino acid sequencing yielded the sequences LNDFWQQGYHNL, IPIGYWAFQLLDNDPY, and YGGSDYGDVVIGIELL, which are 100% identical to exo-β-1,3-glucanase (accession no. AJ222862) of Pichia anomala (strain K). The purified protein was highly stable at pH values between 3 and 5.5 and temperatures up to 37°C.
Quantification and Localization of Watermelon Chlorotic Stunt Virus and Tomato Yellow Leaf Curl Virus (Geminiviridae) in Populations of Bemisia tabaci (Hemiptera, Aleyrodidae) with Differential Virus Transmission Characteristics

Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) is one of the economically most damaging insects to crops in tropical and subtropical regions. Severe damage is caused by feeding and more seriously by transmitting viruses. Those of the genus begomovirus (Geminiviridae) cause the most significant crop diseases and are transmitted by B. tabaci in a persistent circulative mode, a process which is largely unknown. To analyze the translocation and to identify critical determinants for transmission, two populations of B. tabaci MEAM1 were compared for transmitting Watermelon chlorotic stunt virus (WmCSV) and Tomato yellow leaf curl virus (TYLCV). Insect populations were chosen because of their high and respectively low virus transmission efficiency to compare uptake and translocation of virus through insects. Both populations harbored Rickettsia, Hamiltonella and Wolbachia in comparable ratios indicating that endosymbionts might not contribute to the different transmission rates. Quantification by qPCR revealed that WmCSV uptake and virus concentrations in midguts and primary salivary glands were generally higher than TYLCV due to higher virus contents of the source plants. Both viruses accumulated higher in insects from the efficiently compared to the poorly transmitting population. In the latter, virus translocation into the hemolymph was delayed and virus passage was impeded with limited numbers of viruses translocated. FISH analysis confirmed these results with similar virus distribution found in excised organs of both populations. No virus accumulation was found in the midgut lumen of the poor transmitter because of a restrained virus translocation. Results suggest that the poorly transmitting population comprised insects that lacked transmission competence. Those were selected to develop a population that lacks virus transmission. Investigations with insects lacking transmission showed that virus concentrations in midguts were reduced and only negligible virus amounts were found at the primary salivary glands indicating for a missing or modified receptor responsible for virus attachment or translocation.