Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ERBB2 overexpression triggers transient high mechanoactivity of breast tumor cells

Biomechanical properties of tumor cells play an important role for the metastatic capacity of cancer. Cellular changes of viscoelastic features are prerequisite for cancer progression since they are essential for proliferation and metastasis. However, only little is known about the way how expression of oncogenes influences these biomechanical properties. To address this aspect we used a breast cancer cell line with inducible expression of an oncogenic version of ERBB2. ERBB2 is known to be correlated with bad prognosis in breast cancer. Cell elasticity was determined by the Optical Stretcher, where suspended cells are deformed by two slightly divergent laser beams. We found that induction of ERBB2 caused remarkable biomechanical alterations of the MCF‐7 cells after 24 h: the cells actively contracted in response to mechanical stimuli, a phenomenon known as mechanoactivation. After this period, as the cells became senescent, the mechanoactivity returned to control levels. Time‐resolved gene array analysis revealed that mechanoactivation was accompanied by temporal upregulation of 46 cytoskeletal genes. A possible role of these genes in tumor progression was investigated by expression analyses of 766 breast cancer patients. This showed an association of 12 out of these 46 genes with increased risk of metastasis. Our results demonstrate that overexpression of ERBB2 causes mechanoactivation of tumor cells, which may enhance tumor cell motility fostering distant metastasis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Attenuation of radio signals by the ionosphere of Mars: Theoretical development and application to MARSIS observations

We investigate the ionospheric conditions required to explain Mars Express Mars Advanced Radar for Subsurface and Ionosphere Sounding topside radar sounder observations of ionospheric attenuation in excess of 13 dB at 5 MHz during solar energetic particle events. We develop theoretical expressions for the attenuation caused by a layer of ionospheric plasma in cases of high, intermediate, and low radio frequency relative to the electron‐neutral collision frequency at the ionospheric layer. We apply these relationships to four layers: the M2 layer produced at 120 km by solar extreme ultraviolet photons, the M1 layer produced at 100 km by solar X‐ray photons and associated electron impact ionization, the meteoric layer produced at 85 km by meteoroid ablation, and a putative plasma layer produced at 35 km by cosmic rays. Attenuation is weaker in the M2 layer than in the M1 layer. Attenuation in the M1 and meteoric layers are comparable, although their properties are quite variable. The greatest attenuation for radio frequencies above 50 MHz occurs in the predicted plasma layer at 35 km, but its effects are relatively small at lower frequencies. If optimally located with a peak altitude of 50 km, a layer with a peak plasma density of 109 m−3 is sufficient to explain the observed 13 dB attenuation. Although the electron densities produced by solar energetic particle events at Mars have not been directly simulated, the required electron densities are plausible. However, the altitude at which solar energetic particles produce plasma is uncertain.
Deletion of the OPA1 gene in a dominant optic atrophy family: evidence that haploinsufficiency is the cause of disease

Dominant optic atrophy (DOA) is the most common form of autosomally inherited optic neuropathy.1 The disease typically presents in childhood with slow bilateral loss of visual acuity, visual field defects, abnormal colour discrimination, and pallor of the optic discs. The majority of DOA families published to date have shown linkage to a major locus on chromosome 3q28 ( OPA1 ). The OPA1 gene was recently identified and found to encode a ubiquitously expressed, dynamin related GTPase.2,3 In order to determine the mutation spectrum of OPA1 in DOA, we and others have screened the coding exons and their flanking splice sites in large patient cohorts.4–7 Over 60 different mutations have been reported, most of which are specific to individual families. It has been speculated that haploinsufficiency is the cause of disease,3–6 but to date there has been no evidence to prove that this mechanism, rather than aberrant function of mutated proteins, is responsible for the disease. Using a combined approach of single stranded conformational polymorphism and heteroduplex analysis, we detected mutations in 57% (20/35) of our affected DOA patients.5 Additional DNA samples from an Australian family, in which no OPA1 mutation was identified in the above mutation screen, have recently been obtained enabling further investigation of the cause of disease in this family. All available family members underwent clinical evaluation to determine their disease status. This included best corrected visual acuity (BCVA), assessment of colour vision with Isihara plates and/or City University testing, automated perimetry (Humphrey Field Analyzer, San Leandro, CA), and dilated fundus examination with stereo disc photography. The ocular phenotype observed was typical of DOA with visual acuity reduction ranging from mild to moderate, mild to moderate colour vision disturbance, and visual field analysis ranging from normal to mild paracentral …
Sex differences in outcome and recovery for schizophrenia and other psychotic and nonpsychotic disorders.

OBJECTIVE It is generally believed by the field of psychiatry that women with schizophrenia have better outcomes and higher rates of recovery than their male counterparts, because many studies on the topic support this finding. Fewer data are available to assess potential sex differences among individuals with other psychotic disorders. This study used longitudinal data on sex differences previously unavailable to the field to examine long-term global outcome, potential recovery, course of illness, and rehospitalization for schizophrenia, other psychotic disorders, and nonpsychotic disorders. METHODS A total of 239 young psychiatric patients (mean age of 23.4 years) were assessed prospectively at the index hospitalization and then followed over 15 years at five follow-up points (at a mean of two, 4.5, 7.5, ten, and 15 years). The sample consisted of 69 patients with schizophrenia, 56 with other psychotic diagnoses, and 114 with nonpsychotic psychiatric disorders. RESULTS Sex differences in outcome were found for both patients with schizophrenia and those with other psychotic disorders, with women consistently showing better functioning over time, more frequent periods of good functioning and periods of recovery, less likelihood of uniformly poor outcome, and fewer and shorter rehospitalizations. Unlike both groups of patients who were psychotic, the patients with nonpsychotic disorders showed no significant sex differences in outcome. CONCLUSIONS Both longitudinally and at each individual follow-up point, the data suggest that women with schizophrenia and with other types of psychotic disorders generally show better outcome than men with similar diagnoses. The sex differences in outcome for patients with schizophrenia were consistent over time. However, these sex differences were only moderate in size compared with the much larger difference in outcome between the diagnostic groups. The longitudinal data add a new dimension to previous research and suggest that sex differences in outcome are not specific to patients with schizophrenia but rather occur among patients with psychotic disorders in general.
Microbial Community Succession in an Unvegetated , Recently Degiaclated

Prim ary succession is a fundam ental process in m acro­ ecosystems; however, if and how soil developm ent influences m icrobial com m unity structure is poorly understood. Thus, we investigated changes in the bacterial com m unity along a chronosequence o f three unvegetated, early successional soils (~20-year age gradient) from a receding glacier in southeastern Peru using molecular phylogenetic techniques. We found that evenness, phylo­ genetic diversity, and the num ber o f phylotypes were lowest in the youngest soils, increased in the interm ediate aged soils, and plateaued in the oldest soils. This increase in diversity was com m ensurate w ith an increase in the num ber o f sequences related to com m on soil bacteria in the older soils, including m em bers o f the divisions Acidobacteria, Bacteroidetes, an d Verrucom icrohia. Sequences related to the Com am onadaceae clade of the Betaproteobacteria were dom inant in the youngest soil, decreased in abundance in the interm ediate age soil, and were no t detected in the oldest soil. These sequences are closely related to culturable heterotrophs from rock and ice environm ents, suggesting that they originated from organisms living w ithin or below the glacier. Sequences related to a variety of nitrogen (N)-fixing clades w ithin the Cyanobacteria were abundant along the chronose­ quence, com prising 6-40% o f phylotypes along the age gradient. A lthough there was no obvious change in the overall abundance of cyanobacterial sequences along the chronosequence, there was a dram atic shift in the abundance o f specific cyanobacterial phylotypes, w ith the Correspondence to: D iana R. N em ergut; E-mail: nem ergut@ colorado. edu interm ediate aged soils containing the greatest diversity o f these sequences. M ost soil biogeochemical character­ istics showed little change along this ~20-year soil age gradient; however, soil N pools significantly increased with soil age, perhaps as a result o f the activity o f the N-fixing Cyanobacteria. O ur results suggest that, like m acrobial com m unities, soil m icrobial com m unities are structured by substrate age, and that they, too, undergo predictable changes through time.
Neurochemical characterization of individual vulnerability to addictive drugs in rats

Rats exposed to a low‐light, low‐noise, novel environment exhibit differences in individual locomotor response to the novelty stressor. The categorization of rats in a locomotor screening procedure as low‐ (LR) or high‐responders (HR), where LRs are in the low locomotor range while HRs belong to the high locomotor range, is significant in that HRs show higher activity in mesencephalic dopaminergic projection neurons, and also show a higher propensity to self‐administer psychostimulants and other drugs of abuse compared with LRs. In this study, we examined the neurobiological basis of dopaminergic hyperactivity by comparing in HRs and LRs the steady‐state differences in regulatory inputs to mesencephalic (substantia nigra and ventral tegmental area: VTA) dopaminergic neurons. In particular, using in situ hybridization, we studied levels of mRNA for tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and cholecystokinin (CCK) in the mesencephalon, and for preprodynorphin (DYN), preproenkephalin (PPE), and preprotachykinin (PPT) in the striatum and nucleus accumbens (Acb). We also evaluated TH levels by radioimmunocytochemistry (TH‐RIC) in striatal, accumbal and mesencephalic regions. HRs versus LRs had lower levels of neurochemicals belonging to the intrinsic inhibitory input to dopaminergic neurons in the VTA, e.g. lower TH‐RIC (–25%) and CCK‐mRNA (–48%). In contrast, HRs showed higher levels of parameters belonging to extrinsic facilitating inputs, e.g. higher PPE‐mRNA (+ 37%). In addition, HRs had higher DYN‐mRNA in Acb (+ 61%), which has been shown to be positively correlated with higher dopaminergic activity. These results enhance our knowledge of the neurobiological correlates of individual rats' propensities to develop drug‐intake and provide some putative mechanisms for the dopaminergic hyperactivity that characterizes drug‐prone animals.
Antipsychotic medications for the treatment of delirium: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomised controlled trials

Objectives We performed an updated meta-analysis of antipsychotic treatment in patients with delirium, based on a previous meta-analysis published in 2007. Methods Included in this study were randomised, placebo-controlled or usual care (UC) controlled trials of antipsychotics in adult patients with delirium. Our primary outcome measure was response rate at the study end point. The secondary outcome measures included improvement of severity of delirium, Clinical Global Impression-Severity Scale (CGI-S), time to response (TTR), discontinuation rate and individual adverse effects. The risk ratio (RR), the number-needed-to-treat/harm (NNT/NNH), 95% CIs and standardised mean difference (SMD), were calculated. Results We identified 15 studies (mean duration: 9.8 days) for the systematic review (total n=949, amisulpride=20, aripiprazole=8, chlorpromazine=13, haloperidol=316, intramuscular olanzapine or haloperidol injection=62, olanzapine=144, placebo=75, quetiapine=125, risperidone=124, UC=30 and ziprasidone=32), 4 of which were conference abstracts and unpublished. When pooled as a group, antipsychotics were superior to placebo/UC in terms of response rate (RR=0.22, NNT=2), delirium severity scales scores (SMD=−1.27), CGI-S scores (SMD=−1.57) and TTR (SMD=−1.22). The pooled antipsychotic group was associated with a higher incidence of dry mouth (RR=13.0, NNH=5) and sedation (RR=4.59, NNH=5) compared with placebo/UC. Pooled second-generation antipsychotics (SGAs) were associated with shorter TTR (SMD=−0.27) and a lower incidence of extrapyramidal symptoms (RR=0.31, NNH=7) compared with haloperidol. Conclusions Our results suggested that SGAs have a benefit for the treatment of delirium with regard to efficacy and safety compared with haloperidol. However, further study using larger samples is required.
A low-complexity waveform interpolation coder

A recent independent survey found a 2.4 kbit/s waveform-interpolation (WI) algorithm to perform better than other state-of-the-art speech coders. However, this coder had a very high level of computational complexity. The introduction of various techniques, including a time-varying waveform sampling rate and a cubic B-spline waveform representation, has reduced the computational complexity by an order of magnitude. The new implementation allows full-duplex real-time operation on a single DSP device and on an average workstation (the latter using non-optimized compiled C source code). The new coder also contains a number of new features which improve the quality of the reconstructed speech signal.
Spread of parasites in metapopulations: an experimental study of the effects of host migration rate and local host population size

We established experimental metapopulations of the flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum, and its ectoparasitic mite, Acarophenax tribolii, to investigate the effects of host migration rate and local host population size on the spread of mite infections. Global prevalence across our metapopulations was less than half the observed within-patch prevalence, so that spatial structure alone afforded a great deal of protection to hosts against parasite infection. Our results showed further that migration played a determining role in occupancy, the number of patches infected within a metapopulation, while host population size played a determining role in local prevalence, the fraction of hosts infected within local patches. Local and global prevalence appeared to reach equilibrium levels on 2 different time-scales. Local host prevalence reached equilibrium values within 30 days of receiving an infected host migrant. Global prevalence increased more slowly and was clearly dependent upon occupancy, the number of host patches with at least 1 infected host, which in turn depended on the level of host migration among host patches. The effect of population size was not limited to local prevalence in patches without spatial structure but extended to sets of patches across the metapopulation. Lloyd's index of patchiness differed significantly between metapopulations with small versus large numbers of hosts. Although parasites were aggregated on hosts for both local patch sizes, they tended to aggregate to a much greater degree at the smaller host patch size. We discuss our empirical findings in light of current epidemiological theory.
Bereavement groups: techniques and themes.

ABSTRACTClinical and research evidence indicates that the recently bereaved represent a large at-risk population. Bereavement groups constitute a particularly efficient preventive intervention for this high-risk population and thus represent excellent preventive mental health practice. In this paper, we report specifically on the technical and thematic considerations of four bereavement groups that met weekly for eight weeks. Group members were recruited from a consecutive series of individuals who had lost a spouse to cancer and who were undergoing normal grief and mourning. We found that we were able to be most technically helpful to the groups by being aware of the issues and themes that preoccupy bereaved spouses and by facilitating the emergence and discussion of these themes in the group setting. Many members, for example, struggled with complex questions of growth, identity, and responsibility for the future, questions that have not often been identified in discussions on bereavement groups as bein.
Constructing Home and Family: How the Ballroom Community Supports African American GLBTQ Youth in the Face of HIV/AIDS

This article focuses on the construction of homes and families within the ballroom community, a prominent feature of urban GLBTQ communities of color in cities across the United States. Based on two ethnographic studies with ballroom communities in the San Francisco Bay Area, California, and Detroit, Michigan, we explore the importance of gender and sexual identity in informing community practice around HIV prevention and treatment. As a community, the ballroom scene provides African American queer youth with support for same-sex desire and identity, along with multiple forms of support for HIV prevention. Our study of the ballroom community documents current forms of “intravention” occurring within the community and the importance of the gender-sex system in organizing these practices. We also offer recommendations for community-based organizations to partner with the ballroom community, making use of existing social structures within the community and the salient concepts of home and family, to provide HIV-related services and support. We argue for HIV-prevention interventions to take a more culturally appropriate, nuanced approach to reaching African American youth at risk, utilizing community and family structures, in whatever forms these may take.
Quantitative analysis of circumferential plaque distribution in human coronary arteries in relation to local vessel curvature

A common hypothesis is that plaque accumulation in curved vessels is biased towards the inner bend of the curvature rather than the outer bend of the curvature. This bias in circumferential plaque distribution is likely associated with lower wall shear stress on the inner bend of the curved vessel. We quantitatively analyzed this effect in a set of 37 in-vivo human coronary artery segments from 31 patients. Three-dimensional models of the arteries were generated by an established system for fusion of image data from X-ray angiography and intravascular ultrasound. Our results showed that the hypothesis held in the majority of vessels (p < 0.001), and that the effect increases with curvature. However, no evidence could be found for a direct relationship between plaque distribution and curvature in complex vessel geometries, thus motivating a more detailed analysis of wall shear stress patterns and their impact on circumferential plaque distribution.
Evaluation of Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection‐Related Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction by Tissue Doppler Strain Echocardiography

Cardiovascular involvement causes significant morbidity and mortality among patients with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Since the introduction of highly active antiretroviral treatment (HAART), subtle changes in left ventricular (LV) function, which may be clinically silent, have become more pronounced in HIV patients. Echocardiographic strain imaging (SI) may detect subclinical myocardial dysfunction at an earlier stage compared with conventional echocardiography. The aim of this study was to evaluate tissue Doppler–derived LV strain and strain rate (SR) along with conventional measures of LV function in asymptomatic, stable adult HIV patients on HAART.
Child and adolescent predictors for eating disorders in a community population of young adult women.

OBJECTIVE This study investigated early predictors for developing eating disorders by young adulthood in a community sample of women participating in a 22-year longitudinal study. METHOD Twenty-one women were identified at age 27 with lifetime full or partial eating disorders. These women were compared with 47 women with no history of eating disorders on predictive factors from three broad domains. RESULTS The women with eating disorders had more serious health problems before age 5 and mother-reported anxiety-depression at age 9. At 15, mothers described them as having more behavior problems. Before age 15, families of the eating disorder group had more histories of depression, eating problems and changes in family financial circumstances. DISCUSSION This study identifies early predictors distinguishing girls who develop eating disorders. Findings point to the need for continued research in the area of early health to comprehensively examine the biologic, behavioral, and environmental risks for eating disorders.
Studies on Development, Quality Evaluation and Storage Stability of Weaning Food Prepared from Multipurpose Flour, Papaya Powder and Milk Powder

The present study was conducted on development, quality evaluation and storage stability of weaning food using different combination of rice gram flour, three levels of papaya powder (3, 5 and 7) and milk powder (7.5%). The quality of weaning food was based on nutritional characteristics namely: protein content, fat content, ash content, vitamin C and carbohydrate; physico-chemical characteristics namely: moisture content browning index and viscosity; microbiological characteristics namely: total plate count and sensory characteristics including sensory attributes namely: colour, taste and aroma. Three weaning food samples so prepared using different combination of rice flour, gram flour and papaya powder along with equal quantity of milk powder had protein content varying between 18.42-19.02, fat content 1.5-1.7, carbohydrate 17.24-17.58 % and ash content 3.5-3.8 respectively. The viscosity of three samples did not vary considerably (10% concentration viscosity found to be 35.3-36.7). Moisture content of weaning food was found in the range of 0.341-0.423 (OD), vitamin C in the range of 17.02-40.06 mg/100g. Total plate count logTPC/g was found in the range TFTC. Storage study of three weaning food sample packed by two different packaging systems viz: air packaging and nitrogen flush packaging with two packaging viz: pet jar and combination film. During four months it was observed all quality parameter were found under safe condition. The result of sensory evaluation revealed that the sensory attribute like colour, aroma, taste and overall acceptability of three samples was found in the range of score vale 6-7. The score values of sample nitrogen flush packaging were found to be almost 7 for all attributes after four months ambient storage.