Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
MicroRNA profiling during mouse ventricular maturation: a role for miR-27 modulating Mef2c expression.

AIMS non-coding RNA has been recently demonstrated to be a novel mechanism for modulation of gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. The importance of microRNAs in the cardiovascular system is now apparent. Mutations of distinct microRNAs have provided evidence for fundamental roles of microRNAs during cardiovascular development. However, there is limited information about global microRNA profiles during mouse heart development. In this study, we have gained insight from the expression profiles of microRNAs during mouse ventricular development by microarray and qRT-PCR analysis. METHODS AND RESULTS our microarray analysis reveals that relatively few microRNAs display either increasing or decreasing expression profiles during ventricular chamber formation. Interestingly, most of the differentially expressed microRNAs display a rather discrete peak of expression at particular developmental stages. Furthermore, we demonstrate that microRNA-27b (miR-27b) displays an overt myocardial expression during heart development and that the transcription factor-encoding gene Mef2c is an miR-27b target. CONCLUSION our data present a comprehensive profile of microRNA expression during ventricular maturation, providing an entry point for investigation of the functional roles of the most abundantly and differentially expressed microRNAs during cardiogenesis.
Relationships between Chromosome 7 Gain, MET Gene Copy Number Increase and MET Protein Overexpression in Chinese Papillary Renal Cell Carcinoma Patients

To investigate the relationships between Chromosome 7 gain, mesenchymal-epithelial transition factor (MET) gene copy number increase and MET protein overexpression in Chinese patients with papillary renal cell carcinoma (PRCC), immunohistochemistry (IHC), immunofluorescence (IF) and fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) were performed on 98 formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) PRCC samples. Correlations between MET gene copy number increase, Chromosome 7 gain and MET protein overexpression were analyzed statistically. A highly significant correlation was observed between the percentage of tumor cells with MET gene copy number ≥3 and CEP7 copy number ≥3 (R2 = 0.90, p<0.001) across two subtypes of PRCC. In addition, the percentage of tumor cells with MET gene copy number ≥3 was found to increase along with increases in MET IHC score. This correlation was further confirmed in those PRCC tumor cells with average MET gene copy number >5 using combined IF and FISH methodology. Overall, this study provides evidence that Chromosome 7 gain drives MET gene copy number increase in PRCC tumors, and appears to subsequently lead to an increase in MET protein overexpression in these tumor cells. This supports MET activation as a potential therapeutic target in sporadic PRCC.
Importance Rat Liver Morphology and Vasculature in Surgical Research

Background The laboratory rat is one of the most popular experimental models for the experimental surgery of the liver. The objective of this study was to investigate the morphometric parameters, physiological data, differences in configuration of liver lobes, biliary system, and vasculature (arteries, veins, and lymphatic vessels) of the liver in laboratory rats. In addition, this study supports the anatomic literature and identified similarities and differences with human and other mammals. Material/Methods Forty laboratory rats were dissected to prepare corrosion casts of vascular system specimens (n=20), determine the lymph vessels and lymph nodes (n=10), and for macroscopic anatomical dissection (n=10) of the rat liver. The results are listed in percentages. The anatomical nomenclature of the liver morphology, its arteries, veins, lymph nodes, and lymphatic vessels are in accordance with Nomina Anatomica Veterinaria. Results We found many variations in origin, direction, and division of the arterial, venous, and lymphatic systems in rat livers, and found differences in morphometric parameters compared to results reported by other authors. The portal vein was formed by 4 tributaries in 23%, by 3 branches in 64%, and by 2 tributaries in 13%. The liver lymph was drained to the 2 different lymph nodes. The nomenclature and morphological characteristics of the rat liver vary among authors. Conclusions Our results may be useful for the planing of experimental surgery and for cooperation with other investigation methods to help fight liver diseases in human populations.
Comparative N-Linked Glycan Analysis of Wild-Type and α1,3-Galactosyltransferase Gene Knock-Out Pig Fibroblasts Using Mass Spectrometry Approaches

Carbohydrate antigens expressed on pig cells are considered to be major barriers in pig-to-human xenotransplantation. Even after α1,3-galactosyltransferase gene knock-out (GalT-KO) pigs are generated, potential non-Gal antigens are still existed. However, to the best of our knowledge there is no extensive study analyzing N-glycans expressed on the GalT-KO pig tissues or cells. Here, we identified and quantified totally 47 N-glycans from wild-type (WT) and GalT-KO pig fibroblasts using mass spectrometry. First, our results confirmed the absence of galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose (α-Gal) residue in the GalT-KO pig cells. Interestingly, we showed that the level of overall fucosylated N-glycans from GalT-KO pig fibroblasts is much higher than from WT pig fibroblasts. Moreover, the relative quantity of the N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc) antigen is slightly higher in the GalT-KO pigs. Thus, this study will contribute to a better understanding of cellular glycan alterations on GalT-KO pigs for successful xenotransplantation.
Graph Matching With a Dual-Step EM Algorithm

This paper describes a new approach to matching geometric structure in 2D point-sets. The novel feature is to unify the tasks of estimating transformation geometry and identifying point-correspondence matches. Unification is realized by constructing a mixture model over the bipartite graph representing the correspondence match and by affecting optimization using the EM algorithm. According to our EM framework, the probabilities of structural correspondence gate contributions to the expected likelihood function used to estimate maximum likelihood transformation parameters. These gating probabilities measure the consistency of the matched neighborhoods in the graphs. The recovery of transformational geometry and hard correspondence matches are interleaved and are realized by applying coupled update operations to the expected log-likelihood function. We evaluate the technique on two real-world problems.
The contribution of the luminance and opponent chromatic post-receptoral mechanisms to visual working memory

Visual Working Memory (visual WM) is an ability to encode and temporarily maintain visual information. There is some evidence that early perceptual processes make an important contribution to successful WM performance. However, perceptual contributions to WM are not yet fully understood. In vision, signals originating from three classes of photoreceptors in the retina (L, M and S-cones) are combined into three distinct mechanisms, which form the fundamentals of visual perception. These mechanisms are the two opponent chromatic mechanisms (L – M and S – (L + M) and an achromatic, luminance mechanism (L + M). Vision science has been long concerned with properties of these mechanisms and how they contribute to the perception of the world. Despite this, there was little interest to date in how these mechanisms contribute to creating memory representations, i.e. after the visual stimulus has disappeared from the visual field. In a series of experiments presented in this thesis, a differential contribution of three post-receptoral mechanisms to visual WM was investigated. It was hypothesised that luminance signals will prove to be more efficient in their contribution to WM encoding, maintenance and retrieval than opponent chromatic signals. This was investigated using a variety of methodologies, from psychophysical measurements and behavioural responses to recordings of neural activity using electroencephalography (EEG). Results of the experiments have shown that indeed, remembering abstract shapes designed to excite the luminance mechanism contributed to better WM performance comparing to remembering shapes designed to excite the opponent chromatic mechanisms. EEG recordings have shown that this luminance benefit starts already during WM encoding, although later WM stages are likely to benefit as well. The findings demonstrate that luminance signals provide an advantage over opponent chromatic mechanisms in working memory processing.
Recurrent Dendrodendritic Inhibition of Accessory Olfactory Bulb Mitral Cells Requires Activation of Group I Metabotropic Glutamate Receptors

Metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs) modulate neural excitability and network tone in many brain regions. Expression of mGluRs is particularly high in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), a CNS structure critical for detecting chemicals that identify kin and conspecifics. Because of its relative simplicity and its direct projection to the hypothalamus, the AOB provides a model system for studying how mGluRs affect the flow of encoded sensory information to downstream areas. We investigated the role of group I mGluRs in synaptic processing in AOB slices and found that under control conditions, recurrent inhibition of principal neurons (mitral cells) was completely eliminated by the mGluR1 antagonist LY367385 [(S)-(+)-α-amino-4-carboxy-2 methylbenzeneacetic acid]. In addition, the group I mGluR agonist DHPG [(S)-3,5-dihydroxyphenylglycine; 20 μm] induced a dramatic increase in the rate of spontaneous IPSCs. This increase was dependent on voltage-gated calcium channels but persisted even after blockade of ionotropic glutamatergic transmission and sodium channels. Together, these results indicate that mGluR1 plays a critical role in controlling information flow through the AOB and suggest that mGluR1 may be an important locus for experience-dependent changes in synaptic function.
Articulating Problems and Markets: A Translation Analysis of Entrepreneurs’ Emergent Value Propositions

In this qualitative study, the authors apply Callon’s sociology of translation to examine how new technology entrepreneurs enact material arguments that involve the first two moments of translation—problematization (defining a market problem) and interessement (defining a market and the firm’s relationship to it)—which in turn are represented in a claim, the value proposition. That emergent claim can then be represented and further changed during pitches. If accepted, it can then lead to the second two moments of translation: enrollment and mobilization. Drawing on written materials, observations, and interviews, we trace how these value propositions were iterated along three paths to better problematize and interesse, articulating a problem and market on which a business could plausibly be built. We conclude by discussing implications for understanding value propositions in entrepreneurship and, more broadly, using the sociology of translation to analyze emergent, material, consequential arguments.
Oral Reading Fluency as an Indicator of Reading Competence: A Theoretical, Empirical, and Historical Analysis

The purpose of this article is to consider oral reading fluency as an indicator of overall reading competence. We begin by examining theoretical arguments for supposing that oral reading fluency may reflect overall reading competence. We then summarize several studies substantiating this phenomenon. Next, we provide an historical analysis of the extent to which oral reading fluency has been incorporated into measurement approaches during the past century. We conclude with recommendations about the assessment of oral reading fluency for research and practice.
Use of Plant Names for the Classification of the Bantu Languages of Gabon

Since the early seventies, several classifications of Bantu languages have been proposed. Two branches have been identified in some of these classifications: Eastern and Western Bantu. The homogeneity of the languages of the Eastern branch has been confirmed, while the situation appears more complex with Western languages. Indeed, Bastin, Coupez and Mann (1999) have highlighted the complexity of the North-Western area which includes languages belonging to zones A and B. The purpose of this paper is to examine the North-Western area through the study of zones A, B and H languages spoken in Gabon in order to better understand the historical relationships between these Bantu languages. We propose classifications involving news techniques borrowed from biology (i.e. the phylogenetic method), like a network-building method, Neighbor-Net, in order to examine the historical relationships among these Bantu languages. First, we will present the major classifications proposed for Bantu languages, especially for the North-Western zone. Then, we will present our first classification based on basic vocabulary. Finally, we will discuss a second classification based on specialized lexicon of plant names. We will then point out the similarities and differences between these two classifications.
The Great Recession and allostatic load in the United States.

Generally, recessions are negatively associated with health-related outcomes. This study extends these findings by testing the association between self-reported economic hardships during the Great Recession of 2007–2009 and allostatic load. The recessionary hardships are measured using an index of 17 negative economic events experienced during the 2007–2009 recessionary period and reported in the Midlife in the United States Refresher Survey during 2012–2015. Allostatic load, or physical wear and tear manifested in biomarkers, is measured using 23 biomarkers collected during 2013–2016 in the Midlife in the United States Refresher Biomarker data. Controlling for prerecession satisfaction with life, preand postrecession household income, education, demographic and psychological characteristics, the results show a positive association between the index of recessionary hardships and allostatic load. A least absolute shrinkage and selection operator regression is used to assess the relative importance of predictors in explaining allostatic load. Because age is strongly correlated with allostatic load, as expected, age was the most important predictor of allostatic load, followed by the index of recessionary hardships. The dose–response analysis further shows that above the mean of the index of recessionary hardships the association is nonlinear and increasing. The findings indicate that the Great Recession may have contributed to a higher allostatic load among the participants in our sample. Future research investigating underlying mechanisms driving the proposed association is warranted.
MR imaging and spectroscopic study of epileptogenic hypothalamic hamartomas: analysis of 72 cases.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Reports of MR imaging in hypothalamic hamartomas associated with epilepsy are few, and the number of patients studied is small. We aimed to detail the relationship of hypothalamic hamartomas to surrounding structures, to determine the frequency and nature of associated abnormalities, and to gain insight into mechanisms of epileptogenesis. METHODS We systematically examined MR imaging studies of 72 patients with hypothalamic hamartoma and refractory epilepsy (patient age, 22 months to 31 years). A dedicated imaging protocol was used in 38 cases. Proton MR spectroscopy of the hypothalamic hamartoma was performed for 19 patients and compared with the metabolite profile of the thalamus in 10 normal children and the frontal lobe in 10 normal adults. RESULTS Compared with normal gray matter, hypothalamic hamartomas were hyperintense on T2-weighted images (93%), hypointense on T1-weighted images (74%), and had reduced N-acetylaspartate and increased myoinositol content shown by MR spectroscopy. Hypothalamic hamartomas always involved the mammillary region of the hypothalamus, with attachment to one or both mammillary bodies. Intrahypothalamic extension (noted in 97%) tended to displace the postcommissural fornix and hypothalamic gray matter anterolaterally, such that the hypothalamic hamartomas nestled between the fornix, the mammillary body, and the mammillothalamic tract. Larger hamartoma size was associated with central precocious puberty. Associated findings of questionable epileptic significance included anterior temporal white matter signal intensity abnormalities (16%) and arachnoid cysts (6%). Malformations of cortical development were observed in only two patients, and hippocampal sclerosis was not observed. CONCLUSIONS Hypothalamic hamartomas can be readily distinguished from normal hypothalamic gray and adjacent myelinated fiber tracts, best appreciated on thin T2-weighted images. MR imaging and spectroscopy suggest reduced neuronal density and relative gliosis compared with normal gray matter. Associated epileptogenic lesions are rare, supporting the view that the hypothalamic hamartoma alone is responsible for the typical clinical features of the syndrome. The intimate relationship to the mammillary body, fornix, and mammillothalamic tract suggests a role for these structures in epileptogenesis associated with hypothalamic hamartomas.
Detrended Fluctuation Analysis and Adaptive Fractal Analysis of Stride Time Data in Parkinson's Disease: Stitching Together Short Gait Trials

Variability indicates motor control disturbances and is suitable to identify gait pathologies. It can be quantified by linear parameters (amplitude estimators) and more sophisticated nonlinear methods (structural information). Detrended Fluctuation Analysis (DFA) is one method to measure structural information, e.g., from stride time series. Recently, an improved method, Adaptive Fractal Analysis (AFA), has been proposed. This method has not been applied to gait data before. Fractal scaling methods (FS) require long stride-to-stride data to obtain valid results. However, in clinical studies, it is not usual to measure a large number of strides (e.g., strides). Amongst others, clinical gait analysis is limited due to short walkways, thus, FS seem to be inapplicable. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate FS under clinical conditions. Stride time data of five self-paced walking trials ( strides each) of subjects with PD and a healthy control group (CG) was measured. To generate longer time series, stride time sequences were stitched together. The coefficient of variation (CV), fractal scaling exponents (DFA) and (AFA) were calculated. Two surrogate tests were performed: A) the whole time series was randomly shuffled; B) the single trials were randomly shuffled separately and afterwards stitched together. CV did not discriminate between PD and CG. However, significant differences between PD and CG were found concerning and . Surrogate version B yielded a higher mean squared error and empirical quantiles than version A. Hence, we conclude that the stitching procedure creates an artificial structure resulting in an overestimation of true . The method of stitching together sections of gait seems to be appropriate in order to distinguish between PD and CG with FS. It provides an approach to integrate FS as standard in clinical gait analysis and to overcome limitations such as short walkways.
Assessing the quality of colorectal cancer staging: documenting the process in improving the staging of node-negative colorectal cancer.

HYPOTHESIS Examination of 14 or more nodes is the optimal criterion to accurately stage node-negative colorectal cancer and predict outcome. DESIGN Case series. SETTING Three university-affiliated community medical centers. PATIENTS A total of 2149 individuals with apparently localized, invasive colorectal cancer examined between January 1, 1990, and December 31, 2002. INTERVENTION Study of tumor registry data. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Nodal status and disease-specific survival. RESULTS The number of nodes examined ranged from 0 to 97 (mean +/- SD, 18 +/- 15 nodes). The mean number of nodes examined in node-positive individuals was 21.0 vs 16.6 in node-negative individuals (P<.001). The mean number of nodes examined at medical center A was 22.3; center B, 17.9; and center C, 14.0. The mean number of nodes examined for T3 and T4 tumors at center A was 26; center B, 20; and center C, 16 (P<.001). The node-positive rate for all T3 and T4 lesions was 49.7% at center A, 57.8% at center B, and 50.0% at center C (P<.001). Despite significant differences in the mean number of nodes examined between medical centers, the overall survival in patients with node-negative colorectal cancer in the 3 medical centers was not statistically different (P = .79). The criterion of examining 14 or more nodes distinguished between individuals at low risk for recurrence and those at increased risk. CONCLUSIONS Variability exists between medical centers in the pathological analysis of colorectal cancer specimens. However, within an institution, examining a mean of 14 or more nodes accurately stages apparently node-negative colorectal cancer and accurately predicts outcome.
Indirect search for dark matter in M 31 with the CELESTE experiment

Context: . If dark matter is made of neutralinos, annihilation of such Majorana particles should produce high energy cosmic rays, especially in galaxy halo high density regions like galaxy centres. Aims: . M 31 (Andromeda) is our nearest neighbour spiral galaxy, and both its high mass and its low distance make it a source of interest for the indirect search for dark matter through γ-ray detection. Methods: . The ground based atmospheric Cherenkov telescope CELESTE observed M 31 from 2001 to 2003, in the mostly unexplored energy range 50-500 GeV. Results: . These observations provide an upper limit on the flux above 50 GeV around 10-10 cm-2 s-1 in the frame of supersymmetric dark matter, and more generally on any gamma emission from M 31.
Higher Infection of Dengue Virus Serotype 2 in Human Monocytes of Patients with G6PD Deficiency

The prevalence of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is high in Asia. An ex vivo study was conducted to elucidate the association of G6PD deficiency and dengue virus (DENV) infection when many Asian countries are hyper-endemic. Human monocytes from peripheral mononuclear cells collected from 12 G6PD-deficient patients and 24 age-matched controls were infected with one of two DENV serotype 2 (DENV-2) strains–the New Guinea C strain (from a case of dengue fever) or the 16681 strain (from a case of dengue hemorrhagic fever) with a multiplicity of infection of 0.1. The infectivity of DENV-2 in human monocytes was analyzed by flow cytometry. Experimental results indicated that the monocytes of G6PD-deficient patients exhibited a greater levels of infection with DENV-2 New Guinea C strain than did those in healthy controls [mean±SD:33.6%±3.5 (27.2%∼39.2%) vs 20.3%±6.2 (8.0%∼30.4%), P<0.01]. Similar observations were made of infection with the DENV-2 16681 strain [40.9%±3.9 (35.1%∼48.9%) vs 27.4%±7.1 (12.3%∼37.1%), P<0.01]. To our knowledge, this study demonstrates for the first time higher infection of human monocytes in G6PD patients with the dengue virus, which may be important in increasing epidemiological transmission and perhaps with the potential to develop more severe cases pathogenically.