Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Zinc Finger Transcription Factor Zfp60 Is a Negative Regulator of Cartilage Differentiation

The differentiation of many mesenchyme‐derived cells, including cells that form bone and cartilage, is regulated at the level of gene transcription, but many of the factors involved in this regulation remain to be identified. In this study, a modified RNA fingerprinting technique was used to identify the KRAB domain zinc finger transcription factor Zfp60 as a candidate regulator of cell differentiation in mouse calvaria primary cultures. The highest expression of Zfp60 mRNA in vivo was found between embryonic day 11 (E11) and E15 during mouse embryonic development, coinciding with stages of active organ formation. The expression of Zfp60 mRNA and protein was analyzed further in mouse embryos during skeletal development. The most prominent expression was found in prehypertrophic chondrocytes, where it coincides with the expression of key regulators of chondrocyte maturation, Indian hedgehog (Ihh), and the parathyroid hormone‐related peptide (PTHrP) receptor. Zfp60 mRNA was also found transiently expressed during chondrogenesis of C1 cells in vitro, preceding collagen type X expression and cellular hypertrophy. Overexpression of Zfp60 inhibited cartilage differentiation in the chondrogenic ATDC5 cell line. These results suggest a role for Zfp60 as a negative regulator of gene transcription, specifically during the development and/or differentiation of chondrocytes.
Serum levels of selenium in patients with breast cancer before and after treatment of external beam radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND To evaluate the influence of radiotherapy on the selenium serum levels of breast cancer patients. PATIENTS AND METHODS This prospective study includes 209 breast cancer patients treated by external beam radiotherapy from December 2007 until August 2008. Plasma selenium concentrations were determined before and at the end of the radiotherapeutic treatment. Age, clinical stage, prior chemotherapy, body mass index (BMI) and personal habits (smoking and alcoholism) were recorded for each patient. RESULTS The mean age was 61 years; the mean BMI was 28.7. One hundred and seventy-four patients (83.3%) were nonsmokers. One hundred and eighty-nine patients (90.4%) showed no drinking habits and 110 (52.6%) have no prior chemotherapy. Sixty patients (28.7%) were in clinical stage I, 141 (67.5%) in clinical stage II and 8 (3.8%) in clinical stage III. At the beginning of radiotherapy, the mean selenium value for all patients was 86.4 μg/l and after radiation this value dropped to 47.8 μg/l. Multivariate analysis showed statistically significant difference in the plasma selenium concentration before and after radiotherapy for age (P > 0.001), BMI (P > 0.001), smoking (P > 0.001), alcoholism (P > 0.001), chemotherapy (P > 0.001) and clinical stage (P > 0.001). CONCLUSIONS Significant reduction in plasma levels of selenium is recorded in patients undergoing radiotherapy, suggesting attention to the nutritional status of this micronutrient and other antioxidant agents.
Effect of sulphur mustard on human skin cell lines with differential agent sensitivity

The ability of sulphur mustard (HD) to induce DNA damage places limits on the efficacy of approaches aimed at protecting human cells from the cytotoxic effects of HD using a variety of protective agents such as thiolcontaining esters and protease inhibitors. In the present study, potential alternative strategies were investigated by examining the differential effects of HD on G361, SVK14, HaCaT and NCTC 2544 human skin cells.
Immunochemical evidence that cholesteryl ester transfer protein and bactericidal/permeability‐increasing protein share a similar tertiary structure

Cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) plays an important role in plasma lipoprotein metabolism through its ability to transfer cholesteryl ester, triglyceride, and phospholipid between lipoproteins. CETP is a member of a gene family that also includes bactericidal/permeability‐increasing protein (BPI). The crystal structure of BPI shows it to be composed of two domains that share a similar structural fold that includes an apolar ligand‐binding pocket. As structurally important residues are conserved between BPI and CETP, it is thought that CETP and BPI may have a similar overall conformation. We have previously proposed a model of CETP structure based on the binding characteristics of anti‐CETP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). We now present a refined epitope map of CETP that has been adapted to a structural model of CETP that uses the atomic coordinates of BPI. Four epitopes composed of CETP residues 215‐219, 219‐223, 223‐227, and 444‐450, respectively, are predicted to be situated on the external surface of the central β‐sheet and a fifth epitope (residues 225‐258) on an extended linker that connects the two domains of the molecule. Three other epitopes, residues 317‐331, 360‐366, and 393‐410, would form part of the putative carboxyterminal β‐barrel. The ability of the corresponding mAbs to compete for binding to CETP is consistent with the proximity of the respective epitopes in the model. These results thus provide experimental evidence that is consistent with CETP and BPI having similar surface topologies.
HDL promotes rapid atherosclerosis regression in mice and alters inflammatory properties of plaque monocyte-derived cells

HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) plasma levels are inversely related to cardiovascular disease risk. Previous studies have shown in animals and humans that HDL promotes regression of atherosclerosis. We hypothesized that this was related to an ability to promote the loss of monocyte-derived cells (CD68+, primarily macrophages and macrophage foam cells) from plaques. To test this hypothesis, we used an established model of atherosclerosis regression in which plaque-bearing aortic arches from apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE−/−) mice (low HDL-C, high non–HDL-C) were transplanted into recipient mice with differing levels of HDL-C and non–HDL-C: C57BL6 mice (normal HDL-C, low non–HDL-C), apoAI−/− mice (low HDL-C, low non–HDL-C), or apoE−/− mice transgenic for human apoAI (hAI/apoE−/−; normal HDL-C, high non–HDL-C). Remarkably, despite persistent elevated non–HDL-C in hAI/apoE−/− recipients, plaque CD68+ cell content decreased by >50% by 1 wk after transplantation, whereas there was little change in apoAI−/− recipient mice despite hypolipidemia. The decreased content of plaque CD68+ cells after HDL-C normalization was associated with their emigration and induction of their chemokine receptor CCR7. Furthermore, in CD68+ cells laser-captured from the plaques, normalization of HDL-C led to decreased expression of inflammatory factors and enrichment of markers of the M2 (tissue repair) macrophage state. Again, none of these beneficial changes were observed in the apoAI−/− recipients, suggesting a major requirement for reverse cholesterol transport for the beneficial effects of HDL. Overall, these results establish HDL as a regulator in vivo of the migratory and inflammatory properties of monocyte-derived cells in mouse atherosclerotic plaques, and highlight the phenotypic plasticity of these cells.
The natural history of Huntington disease: possible role of "aging genes".

In this paper we consider a model in which genetic factors that control aging also modify expression of the Huntington disease (HD) gene. Significant correlation coefficients were obtained for age-at-onset (AO) and age-at-death (AD) between affected parents and their affected offspring. However, more relevant to our hypothesis, the correlations between mean AD in normal sibs and AD in the affected parent (r = .57) and mean AD in their affected sibs (r = .54) are also significant. When onset is used instead of death for affected individuals the coefficients are . 46 and . 52, respectively. Also, AD in the normal parent is significantly correlated with AD in his affected (r = .39) and normal (r = .36) offspring. Current genetic theories on aging and related trends in HD are discussed. Our results and evidence from gerontological studies support the hypothesis that HD gene carriers with "superior" aging genes manifest symptoms later in life and have increased longevity over those with "inferior" aging genes.
Construct Validity of the Physical Function Scale of the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire for the Measurement of Walking Capacity

Study Design. Measurement (validity) study using data from a prospective longitudinal study of lumbar spinal stenosis. Objective. Provide convergent and divergent validity evidence for the use of the Physical Function Scale of the Swiss Spinal Stenosis Questionnaire for the measurement of walking capacity in persons with lumbar spinal stenosis. We were also interested in the association between the Physical Function Scale and the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI). Summary of Background Data. The Physical Function Scale has been used to assess walking capacity in persons with lumbar spinal stenosis; however, there have been limited studies investigating its psychometric properties. No validity studies have compared the Physical Function Scale and the ODI head to head. Methods. The Physical Function Scale was correlated with the ODI, Health Utilities Index, Centres for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale, Medical Outcomes Survey Social Support Scale, and an additional item from the Oxford Claudication Score. Results. As hypothesized, the Physical Function Scale was correlated highly with those instruments and items intended to measure walking capacity and minimally with those instruments intended to measure different constructs. The correlation between the Physical Function Scale and the ODI was r = 0.719. Conclusion. Results support construct validity of the Physical Function Scale for the measurement of walking in an lumbar spinal stenosis population. However, it cannot be ascertained from the current study that the construct being measured is, indeed, walking capacity. Further research is warranted to investigate criterion validity evidence for the use of the Physical Function Scale in the measurement of walking capacity in lumbar spinal stenosis, by examining the relationships between self-report and observational measures of walking.
Photocurrent Modeling and Detectivity Optimization in a Resonant-Tunneling Quantum-Dot Infrared Photodetector

Theoretical modeling of the photocurrent and detectivity optimization of a resonant-tunneling quantum-dot infrared photodetector (RT-QDIP) based on nonequilibrium Green's function (NEGF) is presented. The interaction with light used in the model is based on the first-order dipole approximation and the Fermi golden rule, which is used to obtain the transition rates due to photon emission or absorption. The bound states of the QD are obtained by solving numerically the eigenvalue problem of the Hamiltonian of the QD, while the continuum states are obtained from the retarded Green's function. The in-scattering and out-scattering self-energy functions due to photon interactions are calculated from the total transition rate and the quasi-Fermi level of the QD. The Green's functions of the QDs are obtained by numerically solving their governing kinetic equations using the method of finite differences. A quantum transport equation using the Green's functions is formed to calculate the dark and photocurrent. The model has been applied to simulate the dark current and responsivity of the RT-QDIP at different temperatures and applied biases. The simulated dark current and responsivity with this model are in good agreement with experimental results. The model was used to study the effect on the dark current and the responsivity resulting from changing the QD doping density and the barrier separation between QD layers. The detectivity is obtained for different design parameters. The model used is general and can be used as a tool for the design and prediction of the dark and photocurrent characteristics of different QDIP.
L’interface syntaxe-pragmatique : le sujet chez des enfants bilingues franco-allemands et italo-allemands

Cette etude examine l’acquisition des sujets chez des enfants bilingues italo-allemands. Cette combinaison linguistique s´avere particulierement interessante dans le sens ou les caracteristiques differentes des sujets en allemand et en italien permettent d’observer une influence interlinguistique d’une langue a sujet nul (italien) avec une interface syntaxe-pragmatique complexe et d’une langue a possibilite reduite de sujets nuls (allemand). Nous predisons que la langue la moins complexe dans ce domaine grammatical influence l’autre. Les resultats de l’etude confirment cette prediction : l’allemand influence l’italien en ce que les enfants bilingues produisent davantage de sujets realises que les enfants italiens monolingues. L’etude essaie aussi d’expliquer plus en detail la tâche d’acquisition, soit l’interaction des aspects syntaxiques et pragmatiques dans ce domaine grammatical. On argumentera en faveur de l’hypothese selon laquelle les enfants bilingues italo-allemands possedent deja tres tot une sensibilite aux aspects pragmatiques du discours, mais qu´ils commettent encore des erreurs (plus que les monolingues) au niveau syntaxique.
An interval arithmetic approach for the estimation of the domain of attraction

Since the analysis of asymptotic stability is not sufficient for safety-critical nonlinear systems, the analysis of the domain of attraction is the focus of current research. While several approaches for polynomial systems were presented in the last years, based on sums of squares/linear matrix inequalities (SOS/LMIs) techniques or using a sampling method, only a few approaches are available for non-polynomial systems. In this paper we present a new branch-and-bound-method using the Lyapunov stability theory. It is based on interval arithmetic and delivers lower and upper bounds for the maximum contour line of a given Lyapunov function, which bounds a subset of the domain of attraction. Our approach can applied for polynomial systems as well as for non-polynomial systems.
Extended Contact Effects: Is Exposure to Positive Outgroup Exemplars Sufficient or Is Interaction With Ingroup Members Necessary?

ABSTRACT Previous research does not inform us if exposure to positive outgroup exemplars is sufficient to explain the observed prejudice reduction effect of extended contact or if interaction with ingroup members is necessary. An experiment (N = 108) in which Romanian students read identical stories about the friendship between a Roma and a Romanian/Bulgarian found that, while information about close outgroup-outgroup relationships is sufficient to improve outgroup attitudes and reduce intergroup anxiety, information about close ingroup-outgroup relationships has stronger and broader positive effects. Mediational analyses revealed that group emotions rather than intergroup anxiety, ingroup norms, or outgroup norms mediated the effect of extended contact on outgroup perception. A core affect perspective of group emotions is used to explain the results.
Vitamin E and Cardiovascular Disease

The objective of this article is to review the role of vitamin E in cardiovascular disease. We begin by describing the general characteristics and metabolism of vitamin E and the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis as it relates to oxidation. We also discuss key in vitro studies, animal studies, observational studies, and clinical trials regarding the potentially cardioprotective effect of vitamin E. Lastly, we outline the current recommendations regarding vitamin E in the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular disease as stated by the American Heart Association. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant vitamin and alpha-tocopherol is its most naturally abundant and active form. Oxidation is a key step in atherogenesis. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein stimulates endothelial cells to produce inflammatory markers, is involved in foam cell formation, has cytotoxic effects on endothelial cells, inhibits the motility of tissue macrophages, and inhibits nitric oxide-induced vasodilatation. Vitamin E has been shown to increase oxidative resistance in vitro and prevent atherosclerotic plaque formation in mouse models. Consumption of foods rich in vitamin E has been associated with lower risk of coronary heart disease in middle-aged to older men and women. Clinical studies at large have not demonstrated a benefit of vitamin E in the primary and secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease. Vitamin E supplementation might be associated with an increase in total mortality, heart failure, and hemorrhagic stroke. The American Heart Association does not support the use of vitamin E supplements to prevent cardiovascular disease, but does recommend the consumption of foods abundant in antioxidant vitamins and other nutrients.
A K-band 24.1% PAE Wideband Unilateralized CMOS Power Amplifier Using Differential Transmission-Line Transformers in 0.18- $\mu \text{m}$ CMOS

This letter presents a K-band CMOS power amplifier that adopted a unilateralized technique to mitigate the intrinsic gate-drain feedback effect of the transistor for increasing the reverse isolation and power gain. This three-differential-stage amplifier used low-loss transmission-line transformers (TLTs) for the input/output impedance matching networks and the transformers (TFs) for the inter-stage coupling. The obtained 3-dB bandwidth is from 18.8 to 23.3 GHz with better than 58-dB reverse isolation. The amplifier achieves a power gain of 26.2 dB, a saturation output power of 20.3 dBm, an output 1-dB gain compression point of 17.2 dBm and power added efficiency (PAE) of 24.1% under a power consumption of 440 mW. The chip size is 1.12 mm2 including all pads.
Prospective association of serum androgens and sex hormone-binding globulin with subclinical cardiovascular disease in young adult women: the "Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults" women's study.

CONTEXT The role of endogenous androgens and SHBG in the development of cardiovascular disease in young adult women is unclear. OBJECTIVE Our objective was to study the prospective association of serum androgens and SHBG with subclinical coronary and carotid disease among young to middle-aged women. DESIGN AND SETTING This was an ancillary study to the Coronary Artery Risk Development in Young Adults (CARDIA) study, a population-based multicenter cohort study with 20 yr of follow-up. PARTICIPANTS Participants included 1629 women with measurements of serum testosterone and SHBG from yr 2, 10, or 16 and subclinical disease assessment at yr 20 (ages 37-52 yr). MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES Coronary artery calcified plaques (CAC) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) were assessed at yr 20. The IMT measure incorporated the common carotid arteries, bifurcations, and internal carotid arteries. RESULTS SHBG (mean of yr 2, 10, and 16) was inversely associated with the presence of CAC (multivariable adjusted odds ratio for women with SHBG levels above the median = 0.59; 95% confidence interval = 0.40-0.87; P = 0.008). SHBG was also inversely associated with the highest quartile of carotid-IMT (odds ratio for women with SHBG levels in the highest quartile = 0.56; 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.84; P for linear trend across quartiles = 0.005). No associations were observed for total or free testosterone with either CAC or IMT. CONCLUSION SHBG levels were inversely associated with subclinical cardiovascular disease in young to middle-aged women. The extent to which low SHBG is a risk marker or has its own independent effects on atherosclerosis is yet to be determined.
A 0.7–2.5 GHz, 61% EIRP System Efficiency, Four-Element MIMO TX System Exploiting Integrated Power-Relaxed Power Amplifiers and an Analog Spatial De-Interleaver

This paper describes a four-element multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) transmitter (TX) system that features an analog spatial de-interleaver to simplify the baseband-input complexity and increase the spatial matching of the sub-TXs. The MIMO diversity gain and power-combining gain are jointly exploited to relax the output power of the four power amplifiers and eliminate their output matching networks, leading to a compact implementation of the entire TX system. The MIMO effectiveness is improved by introducing an radio-frequency to baseband dc feedback technique that enhances the matching among the sub-TXs against process variation. In the verification, the TX system is co-designed with a compact antenna array-on-PCB that generates a null zone in the propagation pattern, and the electric-field polarization angle, to achieve diversity propagation. All techniques together improve the signal-to-noise ratio or data rate by generating multiple data streams according to the signal power arriving at the receiver over different fading channels. The four-element TX chip fabricated in 65-nm CMOS occupies a die area of 1.44 mm2. It covers an RF range of 0.7–2.5 GHz, and shows an equivalent isotropically radiated power of 23.9 dBm. When transmitting a 20-MHz 64-QAM orthogonal frequency division multiplexing signal at 2.3 GHz, the average system efficiency is 61% and error-vector magnitude is −26 dB.
Purinergic and Adrenergic Ca2+ Transients during Neurogenic Contractions of Rat Mesenteric Small Arteries

Contraction of small arteries is regulated by the sympathetic nervous system, but the Ca2+ transients during neurally stimulated contraction of intact small arteries have not yet been recorded. We loaded rat mesenteric small arteries with the fluorescent Ca2+ indicator fluo‐4 and mounted them in a myograph that permitted simultaneous (i) high‐speed confocal imaging of fluorescence from individual smooth muscle cells, (ii) electrical stimulation of perivascular nerves, and (iii) recording of isometric tension. Sympathetic neuromuscular transmission was achieved by electrical field stimulation (EFS) (frequency, 10 Hz; pulse voltage, 40 V; pulse duration, 0.2 ms) in the presence of capsaicin and scopolamine (to inhibit ‘sensory’ and cholinergic nerves, respectively). During the first 20 s of EFS, force rose to a small peak and then declined. During this time, junctional Ca2+ transients (jCaTs) were present at relatively high frequency. We have previously attributed jCaTs to influx of Ca2+ through post‐junctional P2X receptors activated by ATP. Propagating asynchronous Ca2+ waves, previously associated with bath‐applied α1‐adrenoceptor agonists, were not initially present. During the next 2.5 min of EFS, force rose slowly, and asynchronous propagating Ca2+ waves appeared. The selective α1‐adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin abolished both the slowly developing contraction and the Ca2+ waves, but reduced the initial transient contraction by only ∼25 %. During 3 min of EFS in prazosin, the frequency of jCaTs declined markedly; at sites at which at least one jCaT occurred, the average probability of a jCaT was 0.008 ± 0.002 pulse−1 in the first 20 s and 0.0007 ± 0.0002 pulse−1 in the last 20 s. We suggest that (i) ATP released from sympathetic varicosities activates the initial, transient, contraction and the activator Ca2+ is derived largely from jCaTs, and (ii) sympathetically released noradrenaline (NA) activates the later, major contraction through mechanisms involving α1‐adrenoceptors and which are associated with propagating Ca2+ waves.