Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor, placental growth factor, and their receptors Flt-1 and KDR in human placenta under pathologic conditions.

The vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) family and its receptors have multifunctional activities besides angiogenesis, and some of these molecules are induced by hypoxia/ischemia. They are known to be expressed in human placenta, but little is known about their involvement in pathologic conditions. We have investigated the expression patterns of VEGF, placental growth factor (PlGF), and their receptors fms-like tyrosine kinase (Flt-1) and kinase insert domain-containing region (KDR) in placentas with histopathological changes. Forty-two placentas from normal and complicated pregnancies delivered in the second and third trimesters were fixed with paraformaldehyde and embedded in paraffin. In situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry were performed on serial sections. In the villi with characteristic hypoxic/ischemic changes (HIC), including increased syncytial knots, infarction, or hypercapillarization, intense immunostaining for VEGF was detected in the media of blood vessels, and increased staining for KDR was demonstrated in the endothelial cells. Strong PlGF immunoreactivity was localized to the degenerative trophoblasts around the infarctions. Marked Flt-1 mRNA expression in the syncytiotrophoblast layers of HIC villi was identified, but some samples did not show ligand expression in these regions. Positive immunostaining for VEGF, PlGF, and Flt-1 was observed in infiltrated neutrophils and macrophages in the placentas with chorioamnionitis (CAM). These findings suggested that in the hypoxic/ischemic regions, VEGF and KDR expression is increased within the villous vessels by paracrine regulation, whereas the expression of PlGF and Flt-1 is enhanced in villous trophoblasts by autocrine regulation. The Flt-1 gene may also be up-regulated directly by hypoxia/ischemia independently of ligand mediation. Furthermore, the results indicated that VEGF and PlGF stimulate inflammatory cell migration by autocrine regulation via the Flt-1 receptor in the CAM placenta. Thus, various functions of VEGF family members participate in the development of pathologic changes in the placenta.
Physical and mechanical properties of high-strength steel joints produced by laser welding

Based on obtained experimental data, the influence of specific structural parameters (phase composition, grain and subgrain structures) on the mechanical properties of welded joins depending on the laser welding modes is established. Technological modes of laser welding of high-strength 14KhGN2MDAFB steel have been determined, which provide the optimal structure and phase composition and thus high indicators of mechanical properties of welded joints. The obtained results showed the prospects of using technological modes of laser welding, which provide the necessary complex of mechanical properties of welded joints by forming the most favorable structure of the weld metal and the heat affected zone.
Memorable Tourist Experiences and Place Attachment When Consuming Local Food

The purpose of the study was to model the memorable travel experiences, place attachment and behavioral intentions for consuming local food. Data were collected by self-administered surveys of 378 tourists visiting Tainan, Taiwan. The survey results show that the experiences of consuming local cuisines enable tourists to create positive and unforgettable memories, and such positive memories further enhance their identification with or strong attachment to local attractions and behavioral intention. Place identity under place attachment also revealed mediating effects between memorable travel experiences and behavioral intention. Copyright © 2016 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
How Social Sharing and Social Support Explain Distress in Breast Cancer After Surgery: The Role of Alexithymia

Perceived social support has shown to be key to adjustment along the cancer trajectory, but results remain contradictory about the disclosure of the experience of the illness (social sharing) and may reflect the importance of patients characteristics. The authors explored the associations between social sharing, perceived social support, and emotional adjustment in nonmetastatic breast cancer patients and how alexithymia may impact these associations. One hundred and thirteen women with breast cancer from a cancer care center in Villejuif (France) were assessed after breast surgery. Participants completed measures of depression, negative affect, and alexithymia together with a self-description of social sharing of their disease experience and perceived social support. Higher depression and negative affect were related to a high level of emotional sharing, a low satisfaction with confidant's reactions, and a high perceived negative support. In comparison with low-alexithymia patients, those with high alexithymia showed positive associations between negative emotional outcomes and (1) negative social support and (2) emotional sharing. These results suggest that the relationships between social sharing/support and emotional outcomes depend also on individual characteristics, such as alexithymia. Assessing perceived social support and alexithymia in cancer patients is useful to identify who might benefit from social sharing. Interventions could focus on helping the social network and environment to adjust to the socioemotional characteristics of breast cancer patients along the cancer trajectory.
Oncogenic ETS fusions deregulate E2F3 target genes in Ewing sarcoma and prostate cancer

Deregulated E2F transcription factor activity occurs in the vast majority of human tumors and has been solidly implicated in disturbances of cell cycle control, proliferation, and apoptosis. Aberrant E2F regulatory activity is often caused by impairment of control through pRB function, but little is known about the interplay of other oncoproteins with E2F. Here we show that ETS transcription factor fusions resulting from disease driving rearrangements in Ewing sarcoma (ES) and prostate cancer (PC) are one such class of oncoproteins. We performed an integrative study of genome-wide DNA-binding and transcription data in EWSR1/FLI1 expressing ES and TMPRSS2/ERG containing PC cells. Supported by promoter activity and mutation analyses, we demonstrate that a large fraction of E2F3 target genes are synergistically coregulated by these aberrant ETS proteins. We propose that the oncogenic effect of ETS fusion oncoproteins is in part mediated by the disruptive effect of the E2F–ETS interaction on cell cycle control. Additionally, a detailed analysis of the regulatory targets of the characteristic EWSR1/FLI1 fusion in ES identifies two functionally distinct gene sets. While synergistic regulation in concert with E2F in the promoter of target genes has a generally activating effect, EWSR1/FLI1 binding independent of E2F3 is predominantly associated with repressed differentiation genes. Thus, EWSR1/FLI1 appears to promote oncogenesis by simultaneously promoting cell proliferation and perturbing differentiation.
Semivalues: power, potential and multilinear extensions

The notions of power and potential, both defined for any semivalue, give rise to two endomorphisms of the vector space of all cooperative games on a given player set. Several properties of these linear mappings are stated and their action on unanimity games is emphasized. We also relate in both cases the multilinear extension of the image game to the multilinear extension of the original game.
Central mechanisms of stress-induced headache

Stress is the most commonly reported trigger of an episode of chronic tension-type headache (CTTH); however, the causal significance has not been experimentally demonstrated to date. Stress may trigger CTTH through hyperalgesic effects on already sensitized pain pathways in CTTH sufferers. This hypothesis could be partially tested by examining pain sensitivity in an experimental model of stress-induced headache in CTTH sufferers. Such examinations have not been reported to date. We measured pericranial muscle tenderness and pain thresholds at the finger, head and shoulder in 23 CTTH sufferers (CTH-S) and 25 healthy control subjects (CNT) exposed to an hour-long stressful mental task, and in 23 CTTH sufferers exposed to an hour-long neutral condition (CTH-N). Headache developed in 91% of CTH-S, 4% of CNT, and 17% of CTH-N subjects. Headache sufferers had increased muscle tenderness and reduced pain thresholds compared with healthy controls. During the task, muscle tenderness increased and pain thresholds decreased in the CTH-S group compared with CTH-N and CNT groups. Pre-task muscle tenderness and reduction in pain threshold during task were predictive of the development and intensity of headache following task. The main findings are that stress induced a headache in CTTH sufferers, and this was associated with pre-task muscle tenderness and stress-induced reduction in pain thresholds. The results support the hypothesis that stress triggers CTTH through hyperalgesic effects on already increased pain sensitivity in CTTH sufferers, reducing the threshold to noxious input from pericranial structures.
The Elimination of the Effect of the External Field in the Joule Balance

In 2017, the second generation of the Joule balance achieved a measurement uncertainty of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$2.4 \times 10^{-7}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>. The main source of the uncertainty is identified as the effect of the external field, resulting in <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1.7 \times 10^{-7}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> in the uncertainty budget. Hence, two solutions are proposed in the Joule balance to eliminate the effect of the external field, i.e., the magnetic shielding and compensation coils. This paper first gives an overview of the constructions of the shield and the compensation coils. Then, the flux linkage difference of the external field is measured under different conditions. Last, the effect of the two solutions is verified through the experiments. Based on the measurement results, it can be found that the uncertainty resulting from the effect of the external field in the Joule balance will be reduced to <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$1.4 \times 10^{-8}$ </tex-math></inline-formula> when the two solutions are applied.
Depressive symptoms at two months after miscarriage: Interpreting study findings from an epidemiological versus clinical perspective

We identify two study designs used to investigate psychiatric symptoms following reproductive loss. One design examines psychiatric outcomes in a single cohort of bereaved women; the other compares psychiatric outcomes in bereaved and non‐bereaved cohorts. We employ the findings from one study of depressive symptoms following miscarriage to exemplify these designs and inferential differences in causal inferences that can be drawn. We interviewed a cohort of 114 women at 6–8 weeks after miscarriage and a cohort of 318 community women not recently pregnant. Depressive symptoms were assessed with the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression (CES‐D) Scale. Among miscarrying women, the mean level of depressive symptoms was substantially elevated above that in the community cohort (adjusted difference in means between cohorts, 4.9, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.3–7.4). Among miscarrying women, 20.2% were highly symptomatic (CES‐D 30+), as compared with 10.1% among community women (adjusted odds ratio [OR] 2.8, 95% CI 1.4–5.6). However, in contrast to findings from the same study concerning depressive reactions at 2 weeks after loss, the impact of miscarriage on depressive symptoms at 6–8 weeks was markedly greater for younger women and possibly for women with a history of prior reproductive loss, but otherwise did not vary with number of living children, marital status, ethnicity or educational level. We conclude that miscarrying women first seen at their 6‐ to 8‐week post miscarriage gynecologic visit are likely to be more depressed on average than otherwise comparable women who have not experienced a recent reproductive loss. Factors that moderate the impact of miscarriage may vary with time since loss. Enhanced recognition of the implications of study design for research inferences may help bring greater clarify and uniformity to findings from future investigations in this field. Depression and Anxiety 17:152–161, 2003. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A Hybrid Social Spider Optimization Algorithm with Differential Evolution for Global Optimization

Social Spider Optimization (SSO) algorithm is a swarm intelligence optimization algorithm based on the mating behavior of social spiders. Numerical simulation results have shown that SSO outperformed some classical swarm intelligence algorithms such as Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm and Artificial Bee Colony (ABC) algorithm and so on. However, there are still some deficiencies about SSO algorithm, such as the poor balance between exploration and exploitation. To this end, an improved SSO algorithm named wDESSO is proposed for global optimization, which can balance exploration and exploitation effectively. Specifically, a weighting factor changing with iteration is introduced to control and adjust the search scope of SSO algorithm dynamically. After social-spiders have completed their search, a mutation operator is then suggested for jumping out of the potential local optimization, thus can further strengthen the ability of global search. The experimental results on a set of standard benchmark functions demonstrate the effectiveness of wDESSO in solving complex numerical optimization problems.
Are people satisfied with their time use? Empirical evidence from German survey data

Using data from the German Time Use Survey, we examine how people allocate their time and how satisfied people are with their time use. Our results suggest that people are more satisfied with the time spent on work and work-related activities than with the time spent on leisure, family, and friends. Moreover, we find that non-employed individuals are more satisfied with their time spent on private and leisure activities than employed individuals. Exploring the factors that affect overall time use satisfaction, we find - among significant age and gender effects - a much more positive effect of time spent on various leisure activities for employed than for non-employed individuals.
Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: influence of social factors in determining length of hospital stay and readmission rates.

BACKGROUND Acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) is the leading reason for hospitalization in Canada and a significant financial burden on hospital resources. Identifying factors that influence the time a patient spends in the hospital and readmission rates will allow for better use of scarce hospital resources. OBJECTIVES To determine the factors that influence length of stay (LOS) in the hospital and readmission for patients with AECOPD in an inner-city hospital. METHODS Using the Providence Health Records, a retrospective review of patients admitted to St Paul's Hospital (Vancouver, British Columbia) during the winter of 2006 to 2007 (six months) with a diagnosis of AECOPD, was conducted. Exacerbations were classified according to Anthonisen criteria to determine the severity of exacerbation on admission. Severity of COPD was scored using the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) criteria. For comparative analysis, severity of disease (GOLD criteria), age, sex and smoking history were matched. RESULTS Of 109 admissions reviewed, 66 were single admissions (61%) and 43 were readmissions (39%). The number of readmissions ranged from two to nine (mean of 3.3 readmissions). More than 85% of admissions had the severity of COPD equal to or greater than GOLD stage 3. The significant indicators for readmission were GOLD status (P<0.001), number of related comorbidities (OR 1.47, 95% CI 1.10 to 1.97; P<0.009) and marital status (single) (OR 4.18, 95% CI 1.03 to 17.02; P<0.046). The requirement for social work involvement during hospital admission was associated with a prolonged LOS (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS The results of the present study show that disease severity (GOLD status) and number of comorbidities are associated with readmission rates of patients with AECOPD. Interestingly, social factors such as marital status and the need for social work intervention are also linked to readmission rates and LOS, respectively, in patients with AECOPD.
Clinical relevance of histologic subtyping in small cell lung cancer

Histopathologic specimens from 249 patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC) were reviewed and classified into oat cell‐type, pure intermediate cell‐type (excluding specimens with mixed small cell/large cell features), and small cell/large cell‐type. One hundred seventy (68%) specimens displayed oat cell features (including 30 with mixed oat cell/intermediate cell features), 66 (27%) displayed intermediate cell features, and 13 (5%) displayed mixed small cell/large cell features. No differences among these subtypes were found with respect to stage of disease, sex, age, performance status, and number and distribution of metastases. Complete and partial remission rates for the oat cell‐type were, respectively, 31% and 38%, for the intermediate cell‐type 20% and 45%, and for the small cell/large cell‐type 38% and 31%. Two‐year survival rates were 7%, 11%, and 15%, respectively. These data were all statistically insignificant, and comparisons of log‐rank analyses of survival curves for these SCLC subtypes also showed no statistically significant differences. We thus conclude that histologic subtypes of SCLC are not distinct entities of clinical relevance, and that prognostic as well as therapeutic decisions cannot be based on histologic subtyping.
Effect of Antioxidant Supplementation on Surrogate Markers of Fibrosis in Chronic Pancreatitis: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Objectives This study aimed to determine the effect of antioxidant (AO) supplementation on surrogate markers of fibrosis in patients with chronic pancreatitis (CP). Methods In a randomized, placebo (PL)-controlled trial, patients with CP were randomized to groups that were given PL or AO for 3 months. Outcome measures were change in serum levels of transforming growth factor &bgr;1 and platelet-derived growth factor AA (PDGF-AA) (primary outcome) as well as blood markers of oxidative stress (thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances) and AO status (ferric-reducing ability of plasma) (secondary outcome). Pain relief and analgesic requirement was also recorded. Results Patients (n = 61; mean [SD] age, 35.2 [10.0]; male patients, 43) were assigned to AO (n = 31) and PL (n = 30) groups. The median (range) percent reduction from baseline to 3 months in levels of PDGF-AA (17.1% [−25.3% to 88.7%] vs 2.8% [−243.1% to 30.2%]; P = 0.001), transforming growth factor &bgr;1 (P = 0.573), and thiobarbituric acid–reactive substances (P = 0.207) as well as percent increment from baseline to 3 months in ferric-reducing ability of plasma (P = 0.003) were higher in the AO group compared with the PL group. Proportion of patients who had both reduced PDGF-AA and reduced pain was greater in AO as compared with PL group (17/31 vs 9/30, P = 0.05) Conclusions Reduction in markers of fibrosis (PDGF-AA) translated into clinical outcome (reduction in pain and analgesic requirements) in those supplemented with AOs in CP (trial registration, CTRI/2011/05/001747).
Corneal IL-8 Expression Following Adenovirus Infection Is Mediated by c-Src Activation in Human Corneal Fibroblasts1

Emerging evidence indicates that intracellular signaling cascades mediate entry of pathogenic adenoviruses into target host cells as well as some of the undesirable inflammatory responses to adenoviral gene vectors. We found that Ad19 infection of cultured human corneal fibroblasts induced IL-8 gene transcription independently of IL-1β, TNF-α, and viral gene expression, suggesting that intracellular signaling events might mediate early inflammatory events in adenovirus keratitis. Heat but not UV light inactivation of the virus abrogated the effect of infection on IL-8 mRNA and protein levels, consistent with a viral binding-mediated mechanism. The tyrosine kinase inhibitor herbimycin blocked Ad19-induced IL-8 expression. Western blot analysis revealed tyrosine phosphorylation of the functionally related kinases c-Src and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 in corneal fibroblasts within 15 min after infection. Respective inhibitors of these kinases, PP2 and PD98059, also blocked Ad19-induced IL-8 mRNA and protein expression. Application of inhibitors to Src and ERK kinase assays suggested an upstream relationship of c-Src to ERK. Finally, DNA microarray studies performed 1 h after Ad19 or mock infection of corneal fibroblasts in the presence or absence of the Src-specific inhibitor PP2 confirmed a relationship between c-Src and IL-8 expression in Ad19-infected corneal cells. c-Src may act as a global regulator of early proinflammatory host responses to Ad19 infection of the human cornea.
Thermal and Thermodynamic Properties of Duplex DNA Containing Site-specific Interstrand Cross-link of Antitumor Cisplatin or Its Clinically Ineffective Trans Isomer*

The effect of the single, site-specific interstrand cross-link formed by cisplatin or transplatin on the thermal stability and energetics of a 20-base pair DNA duplex is reported. The cross-linked or unplatinated 20-base pair duplexes were investigated with the aid of differential scanning calorimetry, temperature-dependent UV absorption, and circular dichroism. The cross-link of both platinum isomers increases the thermal stability of the modified duplexes by changing the molecularity of denaturation. The structural perturbation resulting from the interstrand cross-link of cisplatin increases entropy of the duplex and in this way entropically stabilizes the duplex. This entropic cross-link-induced stabilization of the duplex is partially but not completely compensated by the enthalpic destabilization of the duplex. The net result of these enthalpic and entropic effects is that the structural perturbation resulting from the formation of the interstrand cross-link by cisplatin induces a decrease in duplex thermodynamic stability, with this destabilization being enthalpic in origin. By contrast, the interstrand cross-link of transplatin is enthalpically almost neutral with the cross-link-induced destabilization entirely entropic in origin. These differences are consistent with distinct conformational distortions induced by the interstrand cross-links of the two isomers. Importantly, for the duplex cross-linked by cisplatin relative to that cross-linked by transplatin, the compensating enthalpic and entropic effects almost completely offset the difference in cross-link-induced energetic destabilization. It has been proposed that the results of the present work further support the view that the impact of the interstrand cross-links of cisplatin and transplatin on DNA is different for each and might also be associated with the distinctly different antitumor effects of these platinum compounds.
Detection of ENF discontinuities using PLL for audio authenticity

A Phase Locked Loop (PLL) based method for determining audio authenticity is proposed in this work. Assuming that the power grid signal is embedded in an audio signal, certain pre-processing techniques are applied in order to obtain the Electrical Network Frequency (ENF). A PLL is then used to estimate the time-varying phase of the ENF signal. Postprocessing is carried out so as to improve system performance. Finally, an automatic decision on the authenticity of the audio is conducted by quantifying the frequency variations of the VCO output. The performance of the proposed method is evaluated on digitally edited and original audio signals, with promising results (achieving an accuracy of 96%).