Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Overexpression of homeobox gene HOXD3 induces coordinate expression of metastasis‐related genes in human lung cancer cells

Homeobox‐containing genes are expressed in spatiotemporal fashion during embryogenesis and act as master transcription‐regulating factors which control the expression of a variety of genes involved in morphogenesis. They are also expressed in a tissue‐specific manner in normal adult tissues and appear to give cells spatial information in the maintenance of their architectural integrity. We transfected a HOXD3 class I homeobox‐containing gene into human lung cancer A549 cells and investigated alterations in gene expressions and phenotypes related to the maintenance of tissue architecture in HOXD3‐overexpressing A549 cells. In the HOXD3‐overexpressing cell lines, expression of E‐cadherin was lost and plakoglobin was strongly repressed, whereas integrin α3 and β3 were up‐regulated and N‐cadherin and integrin α4 were newly expressed. Compared with parental and control transfectant lines, the HOXD3‐overexpressing cell lines showed highly motile and invasive activity. Blocking experiments using anti‐integrin β1 and β3 suggested that the increased haptotaxis of the HOXD3‐overexpressing cells to vitronectin resulted from increased expression and activation of integrin αvβ3, and that overexpression of the HOXD3 gene converted the integrin β1‐dependent haptotaxis to fibronectin into both integrin β1‐ and β3‐dependent one. HOXD3 overexpression increased production of matrix‐degrative enzymes including matrix metalloproteinase‐2 and urokinase‐plasminogen activator. When the tumor cells were intravenously injected into the tail veins of nude mice, HOXD3 transfectants formed a significantly large number of metastatic foci in lungs compared with the control transfectants. These findings suggest that HOXD3 can act as a metastasis‐promoting gene in human lung cancer A549 cells. © 2001 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Acetylcholine and Depression*

&NA; Physostigmine, a cholinesterase inhibitor which increases central acetylcholine levels, has been found in man to decrease manic symptoms, antagonize methylphenidate‐induced behavioral activation, and induce severe depression and psychomotor retardation in marijuana intoxicated normals. In the current study, physostigmine was found to increase depressed mood in patients with an affective component to their symptoms (manics, depressives, and schizoaffectives). Schizophrenics without an affective component did not become depressed. After physostigmine administration, all subject groups showed a significant increase in symptoms including lethargy, slowed thoughts, withdrawal, apathy, decreased energy, decreased thoughts, motor retardation, and feeling drained, indicating a state of psychomotor retardation; and all became less cheerful, friendly, and talkative. The above information is compatible with the hypothesis that acetylcholine may be involved in the etiology of affective disorders.
An epidemiological and molecular study of the relationship between smoking, risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma, and Epstein-Barr virus activation.

BACKGROUND Elevated levels of antibodies against antigens in the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) lytic phase are important predictive markers for nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) risk. Several lifestyle factors, including smoking, have also been associated with NPC risk. We hypothesized that some specific lifestyle factors induce transformation of EBV from the latent to the lytic stage and contribute to NPC occurrence. METHODS We conducted a case-control study using data from male case patients (n = 1316) and control subjects (n = 1571) living in Guangdong Province, an area in China at high risk for NPC, to study potential NPC risk factors and EBV inducers. Two independent healthy male populations from a second high-risk area (n = 1657) and a low-risk area (n = 1961) were also included in the analysis of potential EBV inducers using logistic regression models. In vitro assays were performed to investigate the effect of cigarette smoke extract on EBV activation in two EBV-positive cell lines. All statistical tests were two-sided. RESULTS Smoking was associated with an increased risk of NPC among the Guangdong participants with 20-40 and 40 or more pack-years vs never smokers (OR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.22 to 1.88 and OR = 1.76, 95% CI = 1.34 to 2.32, respectively; P (trend) < . 001). Smoking was the only factor linked to EBV seropositivity among the expanded control group and the independent low-risk population. In vitro experiments showed that cigarette smoke extract promoted EBV replication, induced the expression of the immediate-early transcriptional activators Zta and Rta, and increased transcriptional expression levels of BFRF3 and gp350 in the lytic phase. CONCLUSION Smoking is not only associated with NPC risk in individuals from China but is also associated with EBV seropositivity in healthy males and is involved in EBV activation.
Aldosterone affects blood flow and vascular tone regulated by endothelium‐derived NO: therapeutic implications

Aldosterone, in doses inappropriate to the salt status, plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular injury, including endothelial dysfunction, independent of its hypertensive effects. Acute non‐genomic effects of aldosterone acting on mineralocorticoid receptors are inconsistent in healthy humans: vasoconstriction or forearm blood flow decrease via endothelial dysfunction, vasodilatation mediated by increased NO actions, or no effects. However, in studies with experimental animals, aldosterone mostly enhances vasodilatation mediated by endothelium‐derived NO. Chronic exposure to aldosterone, which induces genomic responses, results in impairments of endothelial function through decreased NO synthesis and action in healthy individuals, experimental animals and isolated endothelial cells. Chronic aldosterone reduces NO release from isolated human endothelial cells only when extracellular sodium is raised. Oxidative stress is involved in the impairment of endothelial function by promoting NO degradation. Aldosterone liberates endothelin‐1 (ET‐1) from endothelial cells, which elicits ETA receptor–mediated vasoconstriction by inhibiting endothelial NO synthesis and action and through its own direct vasoconstrictor action. Ca2+ flux through T‐type Ca2+ channels activates aldosterone synthesis and thus enhances unwanted effects of aldosterone on the endothelium. Mineralocorticoid receptor inhibitors, ETA receptor antagonists and T‐type Ca2+ channel blockers appear to diminish the pathophysiological participation of aldosterone in cardiovascular disease and exert beneficial actions on bioavailability of endothelium‐derived NO, particularly in resistant hypertension and aldosteronism.
Marginal tests with sliced average variance estimation

We present a new computationally feasible test for the dimension of the central subspace in a regression problem based on sliced average variance estimation. We also provide a marginal coordinate test. Under the null hypothesis, both the test of dimension and the marginal coordinate test involve test statistics that asymptotically have chi-squared distributions given normally distributed predictors, and have a distribution that is a linear combination of chi-squared distributions in general. Copyright 2007, Oxford University Press.
Estrogen effects on triglyceride metabolism in analbuminemic rats.

BACKGROUND Triglyceride (TG) levels are normally lower in female rats, while the opposite is the case in the Nagase analbuminemic rats (NAR). Increased TG levels in normal males are caused by a testosterone-mediated decrease in postheparin (PH) lipoprotein lipase (LpL). Castration of males reduces TG, while castration of females is without effect. TG levels are reduced by castration of the female NAR, suggesting that estrogen rather than testosterone causes hypertriglyceridemia in this strain. The mechanism for this increase is unknown. METHODS We measured secretion of very-low density lipoprotein (VLDL) TG using Triton WR 1339 clearance as the disappearance from blood of 3H-trioleate and 14C-cholesterol-labeled chylomicrons (CM), and the activity of the PH lipases: LpL and hepatic lipase (HL). All were determined in Sprague-Dawley (SD) and NAR female, male, and ovariectomized (OVX) rats. RESULTS TG levels were significantly greater in female NAR in comparison to all other groups. Ovariectomy of NAR significantly ameliorated hypertriglyceridemia. VLDL TG secretion was significantly greater in intact female NAR compared with all other groups. There were no other differences in VLDL TG secretion among the other groups. The clearance of CM was greatest in female SD rats, and OVX had no effect. NAR cleared CM less well than did SD rats (P < 0.001), but among NAR, clearance was greatest in OVX NAR and male NAR (P < 0. 002). Both PH LpL activity and HL activity were lowest in female NAR (P < 0.05). Ovariectomy partially corrected the defect in HL (P < 0. 05). CONCLUSION TG levels in female NAR are in part a result of increased VLDL-TG secretion, an effect mediated by estrogen. The presence of an estrogen-mediated catabolic defect that was alleviated by OVX was also observed. This catabolic defect is likely a result of an estrogen-mediated decrease both in LpL and HL expressed only in the presence of analbuminemia.
Collective spin excitations of helices and magnetic skyrmions: review and perspectives of magnonics in non-centrosymmetric magnets

Magnetic materials hosting correlated electrons play an important role for information technology and signal processing. The currently used ferro-, ferri- and antiferromagnetic materials provide microscopic moments (spins) that are mainly collinear. Recently more complex spin structures such as spin helices and cycloids have regained a lot of interest. The interest has been initiated by the discovery of the skyrmion lattice phase in non-centrosymmetric helical magnets. In this review we address how spin helices and skyrmion lattices enrich the microwave characteristics of magnetic materials and give rise to bottom-up magnonic crystals. When discussing perspectives for microwave electronics and magnonics we focus particularly on insulating materials as they avoid eddy current losses, offer low spin-wave damping, and allow for electric field control. Thereby, they further fuel the vision of magnonics operated at low energy consumption.
An extended network of documentary data from South America and its potential for quantitative precipitation reconstructions back to the 16th century

In South America (SA) several documentary based climate time series exist, some of them extending back to the 16th century. Most of these records end in the 19th century, and can not be calibrated against instrumental data. Here, we used the newspaper “Los Andes” from Mendoza, Argentina, to extend documentary based indices of Mendoza precipitation and Central Andes snow depth to the late 20th century. A statistical approach to create “pseudo documentary” 20th century data was applied to prolong eight other documentary records. Increased variability of the hydrological cycle in the Central Andes and prevailing periods of wet and dry years in Mendoza suggest that the 20th century is extraordinary in the context of the last 400 years. The final set of extended documentaries explains significant portions of SA precipitation variability in large areas between 20°S and 40°S and can therefore improve the network of annually resolved precipitation proxies.
Disassembly of All SNARE Complexes by N-Ethylmaleimide-sensitive Factor (NSF) Is Initiated by a Conserved 1:1 Interaction between α-Soluble NSF Attachment Protein (SNAP) and SNARE Complex*

Background: NSF and α-SNAP disassemble all SNARE complexes. Results: The disassembly kinetics is conserved for different ternary and binary SNARE complexes. α-SNAP and the ternary SNARE complex form a 1:1 complex. Conclusion: NSF uses a conserved mechanism to disassemble all SNARE complexes, starting from a 1:1 SNAP-SNARE complex interaction. Significance: We illuminate a broad mechanism allowing NSF to support SNARE-mediated exocytosis. Vesicle trafficking in eukaryotic cells is facilitated by SNARE-mediated membrane fusion. The ATPase NSF (N-ethylmaleimide-sensitive factor) and the adaptor protein α-SNAP (soluble NSF attachment protein) disassemble all SNARE complexes formed throughout different pathways, but the effect of SNARE sequence and domain variation on the poorly understood disassembly mechanism is unknown. By measuring SNARE-stimulated ATP hydrolysis rates, Michaelis-Menten constants for disassembly, and SNAP-SNARE binding constants for four different ternary SNARE complexes and one binary complex, we found a conserved mechanism, not influenced by N-terminal SNARE domains. α-SNAP and the ternary SNARE complex form a 1:1 complex as revealed by multiangle light scattering. We propose a model of NSF-mediated disassembly in which the reaction is initiated by a 1:1 interaction between α-SNAP and the ternary SNARE complex, followed by NSF binding. Subsequent additional α-SNAP binding events may occur as part of a processive disassembly mechanism.
FreeDetector: Device-Free Occupancy Detection with Commodity WiFi

Occupancy detection is playing a critical role to improve the efficiency of building management system and optimize personalized thermal comfort, among many other emerging applications. Conventional occupancy detection methods, such as Passive Infra-Red (PIR) and camera, have several drawbacks including low accuracy, high intrusiveness and extra infrastructure. In this work, we propose FreeDetector, a device-free occupancy detection scheme that is able to detect human presence accurately just using existing commodity WiFi routers. We upgrade the firmware of the routers so that the channel state information (CSI) data in PHY layer can be obtained directly from them. With only two routers, FreeDetector is able to reveal the variations in CSI data caused by human presence. We leverage signal tendency index (STI) to analyze the shape similarity of adjacent time series CSI curves. The most representative subset of subcarriers is selected by greedy algorithm and we utilize machine learning algorithm to construct a detection classifier. Extensive experiments are conducted and the results demonstrate that FreeDetector is able to provide outstanding occupancy detection service in terms of both accuracy and efficiency.
Right ventricular performance and mass by use of cine MRI late after atrial repair of transposition of the great arteries.

BACKGROUND The long-term adaptation of the right ventricle after atrial repair of transposition of the great arteries (TGA) remains a subject of major concern. Cine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), with its tomographic capabilities, allows unique quantitative evaluation of both right and left ventricular function and mass. Our purpose was to use MRI and an age-matched normal population to examine the typical late adaptation of the right and left ventricles after atrial repair of TGA. METHODS AND RESULTS Cine MRI was used to study ventricular function and mass in 22 patients after atrial repair of TGA. Images were obtained in short-axis sections from base to apex to derive normalized right and left ventricular mass (RVM and LVM, g/m2), interventricular septal mass (IVSM, g/m2), RV and LV end-diastolic volumes (EDV, mL/m2), and ejection fractions (EF). Results 8 to 23 years after repair were compared with analysis of 24 age- and sex-matched normal volunteers and revealed markedly elevated RVM, decreased LVM and IVSM, normal RV size, and only mildly depressed RVEF. Only 1 of 22 patients had clinical RV dysfunction, and this patient had increased RVM. CONCLUSIONS Cine MRI allows quantitative evaluation of both RV and LV mass and function late after atrial repair of TGA. Longitudinal studies that include these measurements should prove useful in determining the mechanism of late RV failure in these patients. On the basis of these early data, inadequate hypertrophy does not appear to be the cause of late dysfunction in this patient group.
Determination of mammalian deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) in commercial vegetarian and vegan diets for dogs and cats

The determination of undeclared ingredients in pet food using different analytical methods has been reported in recent years, raising concerns regarding adequate quality control, dietary efficacy and the potential for purposeful adulteration. The objective of this study was to determine the presence or absence of mammalian DNA using multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) on diets marketed as vegetarian or vegan for dogs and cats. The diets were tested in duplicate; two samples were purchased approximately 3 to 4 months apart with different lot numbers. Multiplex PCR-targeted mitochondrial DNA with two species-specific primers was used to amplify and sequence two sections of the cytochrome b gene for each of the 11 mammalian species. Half of the diets assessed (7/14) were positive for one or more undeclared mammalian DNA source (bovine, porcine, or ovine), and the result was repeatable for one or more species in six diets. While most of the detected DNA was found at both time points, in some cases, the result was positive only at one time point, suggesting the presence may have been due to unintentional cross-contact with animal-sourced ingredients. DNA from feline, cervine, canine, caprine, equine, murine (mouse and rat) and leporine was not identified in any samples. However, evidence of mammalian DNA does not confirm adulteration by the manufacturer nor elucidate its clinical significance when consumed by animals that may benefit from a vegetarian or vegan diet.
Distinct Distances Between Sets of Points on a Line and a Hyperplane in R d

A variant of Erdős’s distinct distances problem considers two sets of points in Euclidean space P1 and P2, both of cardinality n, and asks whether we can find a superlinear bound on the number of distinct distances between all pairs of points with one in P1 and the other in P2. In 2013, Sharir, Sheffer, and Solymosi [8] showed a lower bound of Ω(n) when P1 and P2 are both collinear point sets in R, where the two lines defined by P1 and P2 are not orthogonal or parallel. Here, we contain P1 in a line l and P2 in a hyperplane in R. We prove that the number of distinct distances in this case has a lower bound of Ω(n) given some restrictions on l and P2.
Sex hormone‐binding globulins characterization and gonadal gene expression during sex differentiation in the rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

Sex hormone‐binding globulin (SHBG) binds androgens and estrogens in the blood of many vertebrates, including teleost fish. In mammals, SHBG is synthetized in the liver and secreted into the blood. In fish, shbga also exhibits a hepatic expression. In salmonids, in which the gene has been duplicated, the recently discovered shbgb gene exhibits a predominantly ovarian expression. The present work aimed at gaining new insight into shbgb gene structure and expression during gonadal sex differentiation, a steroid‐sensitive process, and Shbgb protein structure and binding characteristics; specifically, rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) shbgb was analyzed. shbgb structure was analyzed in silico while expression was characterized during gonadal sex differentiation using all‐male and all‐female populations. We observed that shbgb gene and cognate‐protein structures are similar to homologs previously described in zebrafish and mammals. The shbgb gene is predominantly expressed in differentiating female gonads, with increased expression around the end of ovarian differentiation. In the ovary, shbgb mRNA was detected in a subset of somatic cells surrounding the ovarian lamellae. Furthermore, Shbgb binds steroids with a higher selectivity than Shbga, exhibiting a higher affinity for estradiol compared to Shbga. In conclusion, Shbgb binding characteristics are clearly different from those of Shbga. Shbgb is expressed in the differentiating ovary during a period when the synthesis and action of testosterone and estradiol must be tightly regulated. This strongly suggests that Shbgb participates in the regulation of steroid metabolism and/or mediation, that is, needed during early gonadal development in rainbow trout. Mol. Reprod. Dev. 81: 757–765, 2014. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Exploring mixed-scale gesture interaction

This paper presents ongoing work toward a design exploration for combining microgestures with other types of gestures within the greater lexicon of gestures for computer interaction. We describe three prototype applications that show various facets of this multi-dimensional design space. These applications portray various tasks on a Hololens Augmented Reality display, using different combinations of wearable sensors.
Chemerin as biomarker for insulin sensitivity in males without typical characteristics of metabolic syndrome

To allow early detection and prevention of metabolic disorders, circulating levels of adipokines involved in insulin sensitivity were compared with the hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp. Twenty non-obese normo-glycaemic men (age 32.1 ± 6 years) underwent a clamp procedure. Levels of leptin, adiponectin, resistin, visfatin, omentin and chemerin levels were determined in fasting blood samples. Pearson correlation coefficients between the M-value for insulin sensitivity and fasting levels of chemerin (r = −0.63, P = 0.003) and leptin (r = −0.54, P = 0.013) performed better than conventional surrogate measures of insulin sensitivity (HOMA-IR: r = −0.45, P = 0.048; Quicki: r = 0.36, P = 0.12). However, only the relation between M-valueLBM and chemerin remained significant when adjusting for BMI and fasting insulin levels (r = −0.559, P = 0.016). In conclusion, fasting levels of chemerin might be used as biomarker to identify insulin resistance in healthy men without typical characteristics of metabolic disorders.
Vocational Adjustment and General Well-Being of Young Adults With IDDM

The vocational experiences and general well-being of 58 young adult subjects (mean age 24.3 yr) with insulindependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) diagnosed during their adolescence were compared with that of 55 healthy matched control subjects with linear logistic discriminant function analyses. Assessment measures included the Rand General Well-Being Scale and the Rand Functional Limitations and Physical Abilities Batteries. Diabetic subjects, on average, reported significantly lower general well-being than control subjects, particularly in terms of health-related fears and feelings of depression. However, diabetic subjects did not report a pervasive functional deficit relative to control subjects and experienced similar employment rates and problems in the workplace. These results suggest that this group of young adult diabetic subjects has adjusted well to the demands of the workplace despite lower reports of general well-being. The results are discussed in light of relevant sampling issues.
Endothelial cell injury in vitro is associated with increased secretion of an Mr 43,000 glycoprotein ligand

A novel, serum albumin‐binding glycoprotein of molecular weight (mw) 43,000 (43K protein) was initially purified from the culture medium of bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells (Sage, H., Johnson, C., and Bornstein, P., J. Biol. Chem. 259:3993–4007, 1984). Its secretion by normal mesenchymal cells and by transformed cells of both ectodermal and endodermal origin suggested a general role in cellular function. To examine the effect of sublethal injury in vitro on the biosynthesis of 43K protein, BAE cells were exposed to endotoxin. At concentrations which produced minimal cell detachment and lysis, the cells secreted 70–100% more protein compared to control cultures, and the relative increase in 43K protein over total protein was approximately three‐fold. A second type of cellular injury, manifested by rapid cellular proliferation and migration in response to sparse plating density (a condition that we have termed ‘culture shock’), was also accompanied by a significant increase in the secretion of 43K protein.