Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Association of p53 codon 72 polymorphism with liver metastases of colorectal cancers positive for p53 overexpression

ObjectiveTo evaluate the association between p53 codon 72 polymorphism (R72P) and the risk of colorectal liver metastases.MethodsThe p53 R72P genotype was identified by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method in 78 consecutive colorectal cancer patients with liver metastases and 214 age-and sex-matched cases with nonmetastatic colorectal cancer.ResultsThe R allele of the p53 R72P polymorphism was more frequently found in metastatic cases than in nonmetastatic cases (P=0.075). Carriers of the 72R allele had a 2.25-fold (95% CI (confidence interval)= 1.05∼4.83) increased risk of liver metastases. On the stratification analysis, 72R-carrying genotype conferred a 3.46-fold (95% CI=1.02∼11.72) and a 1.05-fold (95% CI=0.36∼3.08) increased risk of liver metastases for p53 overexpression-positive and negative colorectal cancers, respectively.ConclusionThese results demonstrate for the first time that the 72R allele of the p53 polymorphism has an increased risk for liver metastases in colorectal cancers positive for p53 overexpression.
Expression of p53 protein has no independent prognostic value in breast cancer

A series of 392 female breast carcinomas was analysed immunohistochemically for expression of p53 protein with special emphasis on the role of p53 as an independent prognostic factor. Altogether, 54·8 per cent of the carcinomas expressed p53 protein, with the mean [standard error (SE)] fraction of positive nuclei being 17·1 per cent (1·2 per cent). Expression of p53 protein was independent of tumour metastasis at diagnosis, axillary lymph node status, tumour diameter, histological type, tubule formation, proportion of intraductal growth, margin formation, necrosis, DNA ploidy, and S‐phase fraction. A high fraction of p53‐positive nuclei was significantly related to patient age under 70 years, high grade, severe nuclear pleomorphism, dense infiltration of tumour by lymphocytes, high mitotic index, and high apoptotic index (for all, P<0·05). Impaired survival probability in the entire cohort (P=0·05) and in the axillary lymph node‐positive (ANP) tumours (P=0·015) was associated with a fraction of p53‐positive nuclei less than 25 per cent, while in the axillary lymph node‐negative (ANN) tumours, expression of p53 had no prognostic value. In multivariate analysis, independent prognostic predictors included axillary lymph node status, tumour diameter, and mitotic index. In the ANN tumours, tumour diameter, fraction of p53‐positive nuclei, and tumour grade were independent prognostic factors, whereas in the ANP tumours, diameter and mitotic index were the two independent prognostic factors. The results suggest that abnormal expression of p53 protein is only a weak independent prognostic factor in female breast cancer.
Longitudinal Associations Between Metabolic Syndrome Components and Telomere Shortening.

CONTEXT Deterioration of metabolic syndrome (MetS) has been associated with short telomere length (TL). Large-scale longitudinal studies with repeated measures of MetS and TL are lacking. OBJECTIVES We examined whether baseline MetS components predict TL over time, and whether deteriorations in MetS parallel telomere attrition. DESIGN AND SETTING Participants were part of The Netherlands Study of Depression and Anxiety, an ongoing prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS This study included 1808 participants age 18-65 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Leukocyte TL (using qPCR) and MetS components (waist circumference, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein [HDL] cholesterol, systolic blood pressure, and fasting glucose) were determined at baseline and after 6 years. Generalized estimated equation models were used to examine the associations between baseline MetS and TL over time, and linear regressions were used to associate 6-year changes in both MetS components and TL, while adjusting for sociodemographic and lifestyle factors. RESULTS Higher baseline waist circumference (B = -29.7; P = .006) and glucose (B = -26.4; P = .02), and lower HDL (B = 25.5; P = .03) were consistently associated with shorter TL over followup. Greater 6-year increase in waist circumference was associated with larger telomere attrition (B = -41.8; P = .01), and similar but nonsignificant associations were observed for larger increase in triglycerides and glucose levels. CONCLUSIONS Metabolic dysregulations are associated with shorter telomeres over two time points. In particular, increasing abdominal adiposity is accompanied by accelerated telomere attrition. Future studies should elucidate underlying mechanisms of this bidirectional relationship and investigate whether targeting obesity may reduce telomere attrition to prevent further deterioration toward cardiovascular and aging-related complications.
Respiratory virus RNA is detectable in airborne and droplet particles

Aerosol transmission routes of respiratory viruses have been classified by the WHO on the basis of equilibrium particle size. Droplet transmission is associated with particles sized >5 µm in diameter and airborne transmission is associated with particles sized ≤5 µm in diameter. Current infection control measures for respiratory viruses are directed at preventing droplet transmission, although epidemiological evidence suggests concurrent airborne transmission also occurs. Understanding the size of particles carrying viruses can be used to inform infection control procedures and therefore reduce virus transmission. This study determined the size of particles carrying respiratory viral RNA produced on coughing and breathing by 12 adults and 41 children with symptomatic respiratory infections. A modified six‐stage Andersen Sampler collected expelled particles. Each stage was washed to recover samples for viral RNA extraction. Influenza A and B, parainfluenza 1, 2 and 3, respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), human metapneumovirus and human rhinoviruses (hRV) were detected using RT‐PCR. On breathing, 58% of participants produced large particles (>5 µm) containing viral RNA and 80% produced small particles (≤5 µm) carrying viral RNA. On coughing, 57% of participants produced large particles containing viral RNA and 82% produced small particles containing viral RNA. Forty five percent of participants produced samples positive for hRV viral RNA and 26% of participants produced samples positive for viral RNA from parainfluenza viruses. This study demonstrates that individuals with symptomatic respiratory viral infections produce both large and small particles carrying viral RNA on coughing and breathing. J. Med. Virol. 85:2151–2159, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Mitochondrial complex II is essential for hypoxia-induced pulmonary vasoconstriction of intra- but not of pre-acinar arteries.

AIMS Alveolar hypoxia acutely elicits contraction of pulmonary arteries, leading to a rise in pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and shifting blood to better ventilated areas of the lung. The molecular mechanisms underlying this hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) are still incompletely understood. Here, we investigated the role of succinate dehydrogenase (SDH; synonymous to mitochondrial complex II) in HPV, with particular emphasis on regional differences along the vascular bed and consequences for PAP and perfusion-to-ventilation matching, using mutant mice heterozygous for the SDHD subunit of complex II (SDHD(+/-)). METHODS AND RESULTS Western blots revealed reduced protein content of complex II subunits SDHA, SDHB, and SDHC in lungs of SDHD(+/-) mice, despite unaffected mRNA content as determined by real-time PCR. Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction of small (20-50 µm) intra-acinar and larger (51-100 µm) pre-acinar arteries was evaluated by videomorphometric analysis of precision-cut lung slices. The hypoxic response was detectable in pre-acinar arteries but absent from intra-acinar arteries of SDHD(+/-) mice. In isolated perfused lungs, basal PAP and its hypoxia-induced increase were indistinguishable between both mouse strains. Arterial oxygenation was measured after provocation of regional ventilatory failure by tracheal fluid instillation in anaesthetized mice, and it declined more in SDHD(+/-) than in wild-type mice. CONCLUSION SDHD is required for the formation of a stable mitochondrial complex II and it is selectively important for HPV of intra-acinar vessels. This specialized vascular segment participates in perfusion-to-ventilation matching but does not significantly contribute to the acute hypoxic rise in PAP that results from more proximal vasoconstriction.
Oncogenic roles of PRL-3 in FLT3-ITD induced acute myeloid leukaemia

FLT3‐ITD mutations are prevalent mutations in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML). PRL‐3, a metastasis‐associated phosphatase, is a downstream target of FLT3‐ITD. This study investigates the regulation and function of PRL‐3 in leukaemia cell lines and AML patients associated with FLT3‐ITD mutations. PRL‐3 expression is upregulated by the FLT3‐STAT5 signalling pathway in leukaemia cells, leading an activation of AP‐1 transcription factors via ERK and JNK pathways. PRL‐3‐depleted AML cells showed a significant decrease in cell growth. Clinically, high PRL‐3 mRNA expression was associated with FLT3‐ITD mutations in four independent AML datasets with 1158 patients. Multivariable Cox‐regression analysis on our Cohort 1 with 221 patients identified PRL‐3 as a novel prognostic marker independent of other clinical parameters. Kaplan–Meier analysis showed high PRL‐3 mRNA expression was significantly associated with poorer survival among 491 patients with normal karyotype. Targeting PRL‐3 reversed the oncogenic effects in FLT3‐ITD AML models in vitro and in vivo. Herein, we suggest that PRL‐3 could serve as a prognostic marker to predict poorer survival and as a promising novel therapeutic target for AML patients.
Discontinuous scaling of hysteresis losses.

We study the dependence of hysteresis loop area [ital A] on the frequency [Omega] and amplitude [ital H] of the driving field for several mean-field treatments of the kinetic Ising model. An unusual [ital discontinuous] double-power-law scaling behavior is found in all cases. In the low-frequency regime, it is found that [ital A][minus][ital A][sub 0][similar to][ital H][sup 2/3][Omega][sup 2/3][ital scrG][sub [ital L]]([Omega]/[ital H][sup [gamma]]), where [ital A][sub 0] is the zero-frequency value of the loop area, [ital scrG][sub [ital L]] is a scaling function, and [gamma] is a model-dependent exponent. In the high-frequency regime, the loop area itself scales with frequency and amplitude as [ital A][similar to][ital H][sup [alpha]][Omega][sup [minus]1], where [alpha] is also a model-dependent exponent. The transition between these extremes is sharp and can be characterized by an amplitude-dependent critical frequency. We also note differences in behavior above and below the critical ordering temperature [ital T][sub [ital C]].
Representing El Niño in Coupled Ocean–Atmosphere GCMs: The Dominant Role of the Atmospheric Component

A systematic modular approach to investigate the respective roles of the ocean and atmosphere in setting El Nino characteristics in coupled general circulation models is presented. Several state-of-the-art coupled models sharing either the same atmosphere or the same ocean are compared. Major results include 1) the dominant role of the atmosphere model in setting El Nino characteristics (periodicity and base amplitude) and errors (regularity) and 2) the considerable improvement of simulated El Nino power spectra—toward lower frequency—when the atmosphere resolution is significantly increased. Likely reasons for such behavior are briefly discussed. It is argued that this new modular strategy represents a generic approach to identifying the source of both coupled mechanisms and model error and will provide a methodology for guiding model improvement.
The Unintended Consequences of Employer Credit Check Bans on Labor and Credit Markets

Since the Great Recession, 11 states have restricted employers' access to the credit reports of job applicants. We document that county-level vacancies decline between 9.5 percent and 12.4 percent after states enact these laws. Vacancies decline significantly in affected occupations but remain constant in those that are exempt, and the decline is larger in counties with many subprime residents. Furthermore, subprime borrowers fall behind on more debt payments and reduce credit inquiries postban. The evidence suggests that, counter to their intent, employer credit check bans disrupt labor and credit markets, especially for subprime workers.
The aspect ratio (dome/neck) of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms.

OBJECT In this retrospective study the authors examined the aspect ratio (AR; the maximum dimension of the dome/width of the neck of an aneurysm) and compared the distribution of this ratio in a group of ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. A similar comparison was performed in relation to the maximum dimension of the aneurysm alone. The authors sought to evaluate the utility of these measures for differentiating ruptured and unruptured aneurysms. METHODS Measurements were made of 774 aneurysms in 532 patients at three medical centers. One hundred twenty-seven patients harbored only unruptured lesions, 290 only ruptured lesions, and 115 both ruptured and unruptured lesions. Cases were included if angiograms were available for measurement and the status of the individual patient's aneurysm(s) was known. The odds of a lesion falling in the ruptured aneurysm group increased with both the lesion's maximum size and the AR. The odds ratio for rupture rose progressively only for the AR. The distribution curves showed that ruptured aneurysms were larger and had greater ARs. The mean size of unruptured aneurysms was 7 mm and that of ruptured ones was 8 mm; the corresponding mean ARs were 1.8 and 3.4, respectively. The odds of rupture were 20-fold greater when the AR was larger than 3.47 compared with an AR less than or equal to 1.38. Only 7% of ruptured aneurysms had an AR less than 1.38 compared with 45% of unruptured lesions. CONCLUSIONS The AR is probably a useful index to calculate. A high AR might reasonably influence the decision to treat actively an unruptured aneurysm independent of its maximum size. Prospective studies are warranted.
Age group differences in HIV risk and mental health problems among female sex workers in Southwest China

HIV risk and mental health problems are prevalent among female sex workers (FSWs) in China. The purpose of this research was to study age group differences in HIV risk and mental health problems in this population. In the current study, we divided a sample of 1022 FSWs into three age groups (≤ 20 years, 21–34 years, and ≥ 35 years). Results showed that among the three groups (1) older FSWs (≥ 35 years) were likely to be socioeconomically disadvantaged (e.g., rural residency, little education, employment in low-paying venues, and low monthly income); (2) older FSWs reported the highest rates of inconsistent, ineffective condom use, and sexually transmitted diseases history; (3) younger FSWs (≤ 20 years) reported the highest level of depression, suicidal thoughts and suicide attempts, regular-partner violence, and substance use; (4) all health-related risks except casual-partner violence were more prevalent among older and younger FSWs than among FSWs aged 21–34 years; and (5) age had a significant effect on all health indicators except suicide attempts after controlling for several key demographic factors. These findings indicate the need for intervention efforts to address varying needs among FSWs in different age groups. Specific interventional efforts are needed to reduce older FSWs' exposure to HIV risk; meanwhile, more attention should be given to improve FSWs' mental health status, especially among younger FSWs.
Dedifferentiation of the retinal pigment epithelium compared to the proliferative membranes of proliferative vitreoretinopathy.

PURPOSE To examine the gene expression for melanogenesis of retinal pigment epithelial cells during dedifferentiation and to compare the condition to that of eyes obtaining anatomical success after surgery for proliferative vitreoretinopathy. METHODS Gene expression for melanogenesis was determined by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction of tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 genes in normal and cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells and in proliferative membranes in patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy. RESULTS Gene expression for melanogenesis was classified into three types during dedifferentiation of retinal pigment epithelial cells: (1) tyrosinase-related protein-1 gene expression, (2) tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 gene expression and (3) no expression of these genes. The expression of these genes were maintained better in mediums with basic fibroblast growth factor than in medium without basic fibroblast growth factor. Of the anatomically unsuccessful patients with proliferative vitreoretinopathy treated by surgery, 76.9% showed both tyrosinase and tyrosinase-related protein-1 gene expression; only 20% of the anatomically successful patients showed the gene expression. CONCLUSIONS We reported three different conditions of retinal pigment epithelial cells based on gene expression for melanogenesis during dedifferentiation. The different condition of the retinal pigment epithelial cells may have some relationship to the anatomical results for proliferative vitreoretinopathy surgery.
Learning AMP Chain Graphs under Faithfulness

This paper deals with chain graphs under the alternative Andersson-Madigan-Perlman (AMP) interpretation. In particular, we present a constraint based algorithm for learning an AMP chain graph a given probability distribution is faithful to. We also show that the extension of Meek's conjecture to AMP chain graphs does not hold, which compromises the development of efficient and correct score+search learning algorithms under assumptions weaker than faithfulness.
Don't worry, be happy: The role of positive emotionality and adaptive emotion regulation strategies for youth depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVES Low positive emotionality (PE) represents a temperamental vulnerability to depression in youth. Until now, little research has examined the mechanisms linking PE to depressive symptoms. Starting from integrated cognitive-affective models of depression, we aimed to study adaptive emotion regulation (ER) as a key underlying mechanism in the temperament-depression relationship. METHODS This study investigated whether adaptive ER strategies mediate the association between PE and depressive symptoms in a large community-based sample of youth, using a cross-sectional design. Participants were 1,655 youth (54% girls; 7-16 years, M = 11.41, SD = 1.88) who filled out a set of questionnaires assessing temperament, adaptive ER strategies, and depressive symptoms. RESULTS Results revealed that low PE was significantly related to higher depressive symptoms among youth and that a lack of total adaptive ER abilities mediated this relationship. More specifically, the infrequent use of problem-solving appeared to be of significant importance. Problems in positive refocusing and a deficient use of forgetting mediated the relationships between low PE and high negative emotionality (NE) in predicting depressive symptoms. Reappraisal and distraction were not significant mediators. CONCLUSION Results highlight the need to account for temperamental PE and adaptive ER strategies when studying youth depression. The findings contribute to a more nuanced understanding on the differential role of temperamental risk factors for developing depressive symptoms at an early stage and advocate for greater attention to adaptive ER strategies. PRACTITIONER POINTS Clinical interventions for youth depression may be improved by incorporating adaptive emotion regulation (ER) strategies and enhancing positive emotions. Youth low in positive emotionality (PE) may especially benefit from learning adaptive ER skills. Clinical practitioners should focus on alleviating negative emotions and enhancing positive emotions, especially among youth low in PE.
Counting BPS States via Holomorphic Anomaly Equations

We study Gromov-Witten invariants of a rational elliptic surface using holomorphic anomaly equation in [HST1](hep-th/9901151). Formulating invariance under the affine $E_8$ Weyl group symmetry, we determine conjectured invariants, the number of BPS states, from Gromov-Witten invariants. We also connect our holomorphic anomaly equation to that found by Bershadsky,Cecotti,Ooguri and Vafa [BCOV1](hep-th/9302103).
New algorithms for aligning nested arc-annotated sequences

Background. We propose in this paper a new algorithm for the alignment of RNA secondary structures without pseudoknots, represented by nested arc-annotated sequences. We use a general edit distance model between arc-annotated sequences, that considers classical sequences edit operations, but also structural edit operations, such as the creation, deletion or modification of bonds between pairs of bases. The general edit distance problem is NP-hard in this model, and recently a hierarchy of arc-annotated sequence alignment problems was introduced in order to define tractable less general problems. Results. We extend the hierarchy of alignment problems and describe a polynomial space and time algorithm that solves a more general alignment problem. Up to date the alignment problem we solve is the most general one that is known to be tractable in the considered edit distance model. This algorithm is efficient, as its asymptotic time and space complexities are the same as the complexities of the best previously published algorithm, that solved a less general problem.
Stability Properties of Interconnected Vehicles

The paper presents a methodology for analyzing the stability of formations of interconnected vehicles that are based on leader-follower relations. The methodology exploits input-to-state stability properties of basic leader-follower interconnections and builds on the propagation of these properties throughout the network to establish global stability bounds. This is formalized using the notion of (formation ISS), a weaker form of stability than string or mesh stability, which relates leader input(s) to formation state errors. In this paper we focus on cyclic interconnections of vehicles and show how the ISS framework can be extended to include these structures. This is the first such result for cyclic graphs that represent formations based on leader-follower controllers.
Adaptive collaborative assistance for wheelchair driving via CBR learning

This work presents a new approach to shared control driving a robotic wheelchair for persons with disabilities. The proposal is based on weighting the robot and human commands by their respective efficiencies to obtain an emergent command in a reactive way. It was tested with a robotized Meyra wheelchair at Fondazione Santa Lucia (FSL) in Rome with volunteers presenting different disabilities and we observed that the system seemed to help less persons with better cognitive skills. This seemed to be due to disagreement between the users and the machine when they realized that they were being helped. In order to improve that, we added a Case Based Reasoning module to absorb how the user drives to replace the robot navigation algorithm. New tests with the adaptive system showed an increase in efficiency in all cases.