Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Expression of miR-34a-5p is up-regulated in human colorectal cancer and correlates with survival and clock gene PER2 expression

Colorectal cancer represents a leading cause of cancer death. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNA molecules that have been extensively studied in tumours, since changes in their levels can reveal patient prognosis. Cancer progression is also influenced by the circadian system whose functioning is based on the rhythmic expression of clock genes. Therefore, we performed macroarray screening of tumour and adjacent tissues in patients undergoing surgery for colorectal carcinoma. We identified 17 miRNAs showing expression that was more than 100 times higher in tumour tissue compared to adjacent tissue. From in silico analysis, miR-34a-5p was selected as showing a computer-predicted interaction with PER2. Real-time PCR revealed a negative correlation between expression of PER2 mRNA and miR-34a in patients with more advanced cancer stage. Expression of miR-34a was up-regulated in cancer tissue compared to adjacent tissue. High miR-34a expression was associated with better survival of patients. miR-34a showed lower expression levels in male patients with lymph node involvement, and a trend towards decreased expression in male patients with distant metastases. Male patients, but not female patients, with high expression of miR-34a and who were free of distant metastases and/or lymph node involvement showed better survival. Therefore, we proposed that expression of miR-34a was regulated in a sex-dependent manner and could be considered a marker of prognosis in earlier cancer stages in male patients.
Vertebral Fractures in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: More Than Skeletal Complications Alone

OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess whether individuals with type 2 diabetes (T2D) have increased risk of vertebral fractures (VFs) and to estimate nonvertebral fracture and mortality risk among individuals with both prevalent T2D and VFs. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS A systematic PubMed search was performed to identify studies that investigated the relationship between T2D and VFs. Cohorts providing individual participant data (IPD) were also included. Estimates from published summary data and IPD cohorts were pooled in a random-effects meta-analysis. Multivariate Cox regression models were used to estimate nonvertebral fracture and mortality risk among individuals with T2D and VFs. RESULTS Across 15 studies comprising 852,705 men and women, individuals with T2D had lower risk of prevalent (odds ratio [OR] 0.84 [95% CI 0.74–0.95]; I2 = 0.0%; Phet = 0.54) but increased risk of incident VFs (OR 1.35 [95% CI 1.27–1.44]; I2 = 0.6%; Phet = 0.43). In the IPD cohorts (N = 19,820), risk of nonvertebral fractures was higher in those with both T2D and VFs compared with those without T2D or VFs (hazard ratio [HR] 2.42 [95% CI 1.86–3.15]) or with VFs (HR 1.73 [95% CI 1.32–2.27]) or T2D (HR 1.94 [95% CI 1.46–2.59]) alone. Individuals with both T2D and VFs had increased mortality compared with individuals without T2D and VFs (HR 2.11 [95% CI 1.72–2.59]) or with VFs alone (HR 1.84 [95% CI 1.49–2.28]) and borderline increased compared with individuals with T2D alone (HR 1.23 [95% CI 0.99–1.52]). CONCLUSIONS Based on our findings, individuals with T2D should be systematically assessed for presence of VFs, and, as in individuals without T2D, their presence constitutes an indication to start osteoporosis treatment for the prevention of future fractures.
Microstructure and compression resistance of bean goose (Anser fabalis) feather shaft

The bean goose Anser fabalis, noted for its excellent flying ability, has feathers composed of keratinized products derived from epidermal cells, which play a crucial role in flight. The feather shaft is an important connective unit, made of a lightweight material, which also contributes to aiding flight. The shaft can withstand loads from different directions and has outstanding compression resistance. In this study, the microstructure and composition of the A. fabalis feather shaft were observed by scanning electron microscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectrometry, and its compression resistance was studied by compression testing. The results indicated that the mechanical property of the shaft is related to its microstructure. Compression testing verified that the primary feathers had the strongest mechanical properties, followed by the secondaries, and finally the alulae. Under the same conditions, the specific energy absorption of the three feather types was 5.96, 5.02, and 3.17 J/g, respectively. With increasing moisture content, the rachis was softened and the energy absorption was reduced. At low moisture content, the specific energy absorption of the primaries was reduced to 1.03 J/g, that of the secondaries was reduced to 1.72 J/g, and that of the alulae to 0.39 J/g. The feather shafts have the advantage of light weight while maintaining the required mechanical properties. These results provide a theoretical and experimental basis for crashworthiness in bionic designs based on the requirements of light weight.
Autophagy induction can regulate skin pigmentation by causing melanosome degradation in keratinocytes and melanocytes

Autophagy regulates cellular turnover by disassembling unnecessary or dysfunctional constituents. Recent studies demonstrated that autophagy and its regulators play a wide variety of roles in melanocyte biology. Activation of autophagy is known to induce melanogenesis and regulate melanosome biogenesis in melanocytes. Also, autophagy induction was reported to regulate physiologic skin color via melanosome degradation, although the downstream effectors are not yet clarified. To determine the role of autophagy as a melanosome degradation machinery, we administered several autophagy inducers in human keratinocytes and melanocytes. Our results showed that the synthetic autophagy inducer PTPD‐12 stimulated autophagic flux in human melanocytes and in keratinocytes containing transferred melanosomes. Increased autophagic flux led to melanosome degradation without affecting the expression of MITF. Furthermore, the color of cell pellets of both melanocytes and keratinocytes was visibly lightened. Inhibition of autophagic flux by chloroquine resulted in marked attenuation of PTPD‐12‐induced melanosome degradation, whereas the expression of melanogenesis pathway genes and proteins remained unaffected. Taken together, our results suggest that the modulation of autophagy can contribute to the regulation of melanocyte biology and skin pigmentation.
A Mechanistic Rationale for PDE-4 Inhibitors to Treat Residual Cognitive Deficits in Acquired Brain Injury

Patients with acquired brain injury (ABI) suffer from cognitive deficits that interfere significantly with their daily lives. These deficits are long-lasting and no treatment options are available. A better understanding of the mechanistic basis for these cognitive deficits is needed to develop novel treatments. Intracellular cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels are decreased in ABI. Herein, we focus on augmentation of cAMP by PDE4 inhibitors and the potentially synergistic mechanisms in traumatic brain injury. A major acute pathophysiological event in ABI is the breakdown of the blood-brain-barrier (BBB). Intracellular cAMP pathways are involved in the subsequent emergence of edema, inflammation and hyperexcitability. We propose that PDE4 inhibitors such as roflumilast can improve cognition by modulation of the activity in the cAMP-Phosphokinase A-Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate (RAC1) inflammation pathway. In addition, PDE4 inhibitors can also directly enhance network plasticity and attenuate degenerative processes and cognitive dysfunction by increasing activity of the canonical cAMP/phosphokinase-A/cAMP Responsive Element Binding protein (cAMP/PKA/CREB) plasticity pathway. Doublecourtin and microtubule-associated protein 2 are generated following activation of the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway and are decreased or even absent after injury. Both proteins are involved in neuronal plasticity and may consist of viable markers to track these processes. It is concluded that PDE4 inhibitors may consist of a novel class of drugs for the treatment of residual symptoms in ABI attenuating the pathophysiological consequences of a BBB breakdown by their anti-inflammatory actions via the cAMP/PKA/RAC1 pathway and by increasing synaptic plasticity via the cAMP/PKA/CREB pathway. Roflumilast improves cognition in young and elderly humans and would be an excellent candidate for a proof of concept study in ABI patients.
Comparative Analysis of Aerotolerance, Antibiotic Resistance, and Virulence Gene Prevalence in Campylobacter jejuni Isolates from Retail Raw Chicken and Duck Meat in South Korea

Human infections with Campylobacter are primarily associated with the consumption of contaminated poultry meat. In this study, we isolated Campylobacter jejuni from retail raw chicken and duck meat in Korea and compared their aerotolerance, antibiotic resistance, and virulence gene prevalence. Whereas C. jejuni isolates from chicken dominantly belonged to multilocus sequence typing (MLST) clonal complex (CC)-21, CC-45 is the common MLST sequence type in duck meat isolates. C. jejuni strains from both chicken and duck meat were highly tolerant to aerobic stress. The prevalence of virulence genes was higher in C. jejuni strains from chicken than those from duck meat. However, antibiotic resistance was higher in duck meat isolates than chicken isolates. Based on the prevalence of virulence genes and antibiotic resistance, fluoroquinolone-resistant C. jejuni strains harboring all tested virulence genes except virB11 were predominant on retail poultry. Fluoroquinolone-resistant C. jejuni strains carrying most virulence genes were more frequently isolated in summer than in winter. The comparative profiling analysis in this study successfully demonstrated that antibiotic-resistant and pathogenic strains of C. jejuni are highly prevalent on retail poultry and that retail duck meat is an important vehicle potentially transmitting C. jejuni to humans in Korea.
A Series of New Hydrazone Derivatives: Synthesis, Molecular Docking and Anticholinesterase Activity Studies.

BACKGROUND Acetylcholinesterase (AChE) and butyrylcholinesterase (BChE) are known serine hydrolase enzymes responsible for the hydrolysis of acetylcholine (ACh), which is a significant neurotransmitter for regulation of cognition in animals. Inhibition of cholinesterases is an effective method to curb Alzheimer's disease, a progressive and fatal neurological disorder. Docking studies were performed for the compounds F18 and F111 also interaction modes using AChE and BChE enzymes active sites were determined. OBJECTIVE In this study, 30 new hydrazone derivatives were synthesized. Then, we evaluated their anticholinesterase activity of compounds. We also tried to get insights into binding interactions of the synthesized compounds in the active site of both enzymes by using molecular docking approach. METHOD The compounds were synthesized by the reaction of various substituted/nonsubstituted benzaldehydes with 6-(substitute/nonsubstituephenyl)-3(2H)-pyridazinone-2-yl propiyohydrazide. Anticholinesterase activity of the compounds were determined according to the Ellman's method. Molecular docking studies were done by using the ADT package version 1.5. 6rc3. RMSD values were obtained using Lamarckian Genetic Algorithm and scoring function of AutoDock 4.2 release 4.2. 5.1 software. RESULTS The activities of the compounds were compared with galantamine as cholinesterase enzyme inhibitor, and some of the compounds showed higher BChE inhibitory activity than galantamine. Compound F111 was shown best BChE inhibitor affect in 50 µM dose, 89.43% inhibition of BChE (IC50=4.27±0.36 µM). CONCLUSION This study supports that novel hydrazone derivates may be used for the development of new BChE inhibitory agents.
Distribution of Foliicolous Lichen Strigula and Genetic Structure of S. multiformis on Jeju Island, South Korea

Strigula is a pantropic foliicolous lichen living on the leaf surfaces of evergreen broadleaf plants. In South Korea, Strigula is the only genus of foliicolous lichen recorded from Jeju Island. Several Strigula species have been recorded, but the ecology of Strigula in South Korea has been largely unexplored. This study examined the distribution and genetic structure of Strigula on Jeju Island. The distribution was surveyed and the influence of environmental factors (e.g., elevation, forest availability, and bioclimate) on the distribution was analyzed using a species distribution modeling analysis. In addition, the genetic variations and differentiation of Strigula multiformis populations were analyzed using two nuclear ribosomal regions. The distribution of Strigula was largely restricted to a small portion of forest on Jeju Island, and the forest availability was the most important factor in the prediction of potential habitats. The genetic diversity and differentiation of the S. multiformis population were found to be high and were divided according to geography. On the other hand, geographic and environmental distance did not explain the population differentiation. Distribution and population genetic analysis suggested that the available habitat and genetic exchange of Strigula on Jeju Island are limited by the lack of available forest in the lowlands.
Performance and Symptom Validity Assessment in Patients with Apathy and Cognitive Impairment

Abstract Objective: Performance and symptom validity tests (PVTs and SVTs) measure the credibility of the assessment results. Cognitive impairment and apathy potentially interfere with validity test performance and may thus lead to an incorrect (i.e., false-positive) classification of the patient’s scores as non-credible. The study aimed at examining the false-positive rate of three validity tests in patients with cognitive impairment and apathy. Methods: A cross-sectional, comparative study was performed in 56 patients with dementia, 41 patients with mild cognitive impairment, and 41 patients with Parkinson’s disease. Two PVTs – the Test of Memory Malingering (TOMM) and the Dot Counting Test (DCT) – and one SVT – the Structured Inventory of Malingered Symptomatology (SIMS) – were administered. Apathy was measured with the Apathy Evaluation Scale, and severity of cognitive impairment with the Mini Mental State Examination. Results: The failure rate was 13.7% for the TOMM, 23.8% for the DCT, and 12.5% for the SIMS. Of the patients with data on all three tests (n = 105), 13.5% failed one test, 2.9% failed two tests, and none failed all three. Failing the PVTs was associated with cognitive impairment, but not with apathy. Failing the SVT was related to apathy, but not to cognitive impairment. Conclusions: In patients with cognitive impairment or apathy, failing one validity test is not uncommon. Validity tests are differentially sensitive to cognitive impairment and apathy. However, the rule that at least two validity tests should be failed to identify non-credibility seemed to ensure a high percentage of correct classification of credibility.
Breaking the Commitment Device: The Effect of Home Equity Withdrawal on Consumption, Saving, and Welfare

Financial innovation and deregulation have given households an unprecedented ability to access home equity. To what extent is this beneficial? On one hand, access to home equity enables households to better smooth consumption and self-insure against risk. On the other hand, if housing acts as a savings commitment device, there exists a tradeoff, as more liquidity may weaken commitment. In this paper, we evaluate the costs and benefits of greater access to home equity by estimating a model that captures these two contrasting channels. Model estimates are validated using a reform that abruptly legalized home equity withdrawal in Texas. In both the data and the model, we observe a 3% increase in nondurable consumption following the reform. We find that half of the observed increase in consumption comes from weakened commitment, while the remainder comes from consumption smoothing. Finally, we estimate that welfare declines by 2.6% due to home equity withdrawal, as the consumption smoothing benefit is outweighed by the cost of weakened commitment. JEL Classification: D15, E21, E71, G51, G28
Incidence of HPV infection in the uterine cervix in HIV positive pregnant women seen at the Hospital de Base in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil

Objective: To evaluate the incidence of HPV-HIV co-infection among pregnant women and to relate it to CD4+ cell count in peripheral blood, to the expression of protein p16 in the epithelium of the uterine cervix and to the presence of HPV DNA in cervical biopsies. Methods: Pregnant women at the same age were selected and distributed into two groups with 70 patients each: HIV positive (Study Group) and HIV negative (Control I). Another group (Control II) comprised 36 HIV negative patients at different ages and with the diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia, in the period from 2000 to 2007. Colpocytology and/or cervical biopsy of these patients were analyzed for the occurrence of morphological characteristics, suggesting HPV infection; for the CD4 count in peripheral blood; and expression of protein p16 in the cervix epithelium and compared the findings with p16 expression in a group of 36 women with cervical epithelial neoplasm. PCR was performed in the samples of the Study Group to confirm the presence of HPV DNA. results: The 70 HIV positive pregnant patients were aged from 15 to 45 years (mean of 28 years, median of 28.2 years). Twenty-two (31.4%) of them presented morphological changes consistent with cervical HPV infection; of these, 16 presented CD4 count lower than 500 cells (p=0.03). In the HIV negative Group, one patient (1.4%) had cervical intraepithelial lesion. Ten cervical biopsies in the Study Group presented HPV DNA in the PCR. The Control Group II showed similar results to the Study Group. conclusions: The incidence of HPV-HIV co-infection in pregnant women was relevant compared to the HIV negative Group. In the HIV-positive Group, the incidence of HPV was directly related to low immunity. The p16 expression was stronger among the cases diagnosed as having higher grade intraepithelial cervical lesions (CIN 2 and 3). The presence of HPV DNA was confirmed through PCR in cervical lesions of HIV positive pregnant women. This study points to the importance of having periodic gynecological exams and routine cytology screening tests for the early detection of HPV infection during antenatal care of HIV-positive pregnant women.
Bundlers' Dilemmas in Financial Markets with Sampling Investors

We study banks' incentive to pool assets of heterogeneous quality when investors evaluate pools by extrapolating from limited sampling. Pooling assets of heterogeneous quality induces dispersion in investors' valuations without affecting their average. Prices are determined by market clearing assuming that investors can neither borrow nor short‐sell. A monopolistic bank has the incentive to create heterogeneous bundles only when investors have enough money. When the number of banks is sufficiently large, oligopolistic banks choose extremely heterogeneous bundles, even when investors have little money and even if this turns out to be collectively detrimental to the banks. If, in addition, banks can originate low quality assets, even at a cost, this collective inefficiency is exacerbated and pure welfare losses arise. Robustness to the presence of rational investors and to the possibility of short‐selling is discussed.
Effect of ankle dorsiflexion range of motion on knee biomechanics: implications for patellofemoral pain syndrome

Patellofemoral pain syndrome (PFPS), or pain in the area of the kneecap, has been diagnosed in as many as one in four patients seen at a sports medicine clinic, yet its etiology and risk factors are surprisingly not well understood (Devereaux & Lachmann, 1984). Lack of consensus in the literature suggests that the cause of PFPS is multifactorial, and in fact the etiology may be dependent on individual patients. One of the commonly studied risk factors for developing patellofemoral pain syndrome is overpronation at the subtalar joint. Patients with PFPS have been observed to have less dorsiflexion range of motion as compared to healthy individuals, though the topic has not been thoroughly investigated (Piva, Goodnite, & Childs, 2005; Witrouw, Lysens, & Bellemans, 2000). Compensatory pronation due to tightness of the plantar flexors may translate proximally into movement at the knee as the body continues to absorb the shock of landing, especially during running. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine how dorsiflexion range of motion (DFROM) is related to movement at the knee in the transverse, sagittal, and frontal planes. DFROM was measured during a weight-bearing lunge. Initial, peak, and excursion values for the ankle, knee and hip was calculated during the initial phase of a drop jump landing, as well as maximum joint moments, stiffness, and energy absorption for extensors of the lower extremity. Pearson product-moment correlations determined relationships between DFROM and ankle, knee, and hip kinetics and kinematics. Results showed positive correlations between dorsiflexion range of motion and peak ankle and knee flexion (Ankle: r = .637, p = .003; Knee: r = .604, p =.006), as well as knee flexion and hip flexion excursion (Knee: r = .634, p=.004; Hip: r = .461, p = .047) No significant correlations were seen in any other planes. No correlations were seen with joint moments or stiffness values, but there was a significant correlation between DFROM and knee and hip energy absorption (Knee: r = -.456, p = .049; Hip: r = -.524 p = .021). These results support the idea that ankle dorsiflexion range of motion is related to proximal biomechanics, however the effects are limited to the sagittal plane. Those with lower values of dorsiflexion range of motion appear to have a propensity toward a "harsher" landing, which may increase their risk for sustaining both overuse and acute injuries.
Error Correction in EFL Writing: The Case of Saudi Arabia, Taif University

This exploratory study is a part of a larger project which explores and investigates Saudi EFL tertiary students’ deficiency in writing. Specifically, it investigates students’ written errors, their views, teachers’ views, and teachers’ practices. The purpose is to recommend and design an appropriate remedial course. Also, it aims to obtain a deeper understanding of written errors and to prescribe an appropriate remedy. As a first step to achieve these aims, the current study investigates the students’ writing errors in the Foreign Language Department (FLD) at Taif University. The participants in the study are 60 students at two levels of proficiency: advanced students (N = 30) and beginner students (N = 30). Both groups of students were asked to write about six selected topics throughout the semester. Having collected the data, the students’ writings were coded and analyzed according to the linguistic and surface structure taxonomies. The results revealed that both groups showed numerous errors in their writings. Some types of errors were shared, whereas others were completely different types of errors and not shared. Grammatical errors were the most frequent in both groups’ productions. Also, both groups reported rather mixed results with regard to written errors and their sources. This showed that written errors are not predictable, even within the same context. The current study paves the way for future studies in the sense that it provides greater insight for the researcher to question the teachers’ and students’ views and preferences for error correction strategies and practices.