Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CCK1 and CCK2 Receptors Are Expressed on Pancreatic Stellate Cells and Induce Collagen Production

The gastrointestinal hormone cholecystokinin (CCK) can induce acute pancreatitis in rodents through its action on acinar cells. Treatment with CCK, in combination with other agents, represents the most commonly used model to induce experimental chronic pancreatitis. Pancreatic stellate cells (PSC) are responsible for pancreatic fibrosis and therefore play a predominant role in the genesis of chronic pancreatitis. However, it is not known whether PSC express CCK receptors. Using real time PCR techniques, we demonstrate that CCK1 and CCK2 receptors are expressed on rat PSC. Interestingly both CCK and gastrin significantly induced type I collagen synthesis. Moreover, both inhibit proliferation. These effects are comparable with TGF-β-stimulated PSC. Furthermore, the natural agonists CCK and gastrin induce activation of pro-fibrogenic pathways Akt, ERK, and Src. Using specific CCK1 and CCK2 receptor (CCK2R) inhibitors, we found that Akt activation is mainly mediated by CCK2R. Akt activation by CCK and gastrin could be inhibited by the PI3K inhibitor wortmannin. Activation of ERK and the downstream target Elk-1 could be inhibited by the MEK inhibitor U0126. These data suggest that CCK and gastrin have direct activating effects on PSC, are able to induce collagen synthesis in these cells, and therefore appear to be important regulators of pancreatic fibrogenesis. Furthermore, similar to TGF-β, both CCK and gastrin inhibit proliferation in PSC.
Rubella seroprevalence in an unvaccinated population in Izmir: recommendations for rubella vaccination in Turkey.

BACKGROUND The European Advisory Group on the Expanded Program on Immunization of WHO has recommended that by 2010 or earlier congenital rubella should be well-controlled or eliminated in all countries in Europe. Debate on the introduction of rubella vaccine into national immunization schedules continues to occur, and data on rubella and congenital rubella syndrome in Turkey are insufficient. OBJECTIVE To determine age-specific rubella seroprevalence in the 1- to 29-year-old unvaccinated population in Izmir, Turkey. METHODS A total of 600 unvaccinated persons 1 to 29 years old were selected for the study with cluster sampling in Izmir, Turkey. The information on sociodemographic characteristics and disease history was gathered for each participant, and in 580 of them rubella-specific IgG antibodies were assayed quantitatively by the micro-enzyme immunoassay. RESULTS Of the 580 participants tested for rubella antibodies, 135 (23.3%) were seronegative. The proportions of susceptible individuals were 61.7, 29.5, 12.4, 10.3 and 8.4% in the age groups of 1 to 4, 5 to 9, 10 to 14, 15 to 19 and 20 to 29 years, respectively. Of the young women 15 to 19 years of age, 13.5% were susceptible to rubella infection. CONCLUSIONS Because a substantial proportion of women in their childbearing years are susceptible to rubella, immunization efforts should be directed at infants or prepubertal children.
Relationships between EGFR mutation status of lung cancer and preoperative factors - are they predictive?

BACKGROUND The epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation status of lung cancer is important because it means that EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment is indicated. The purpose of this prospective study is to determine whether EGFR mutation status could be identified with reference to preoperative factors. MATERIALS AND METHODS One hundred-forty eight patients with lung cancer (111 adenocarcinomas, 25 squamous cell carcinomas and 12 other cell types) were enrolled in this study. The EGFR mutation status of each lung cancer was analyzed postoperatively. RESULTS There were 58 patients with mutant EGFR lung cancers (mutant LC) and 90 patients with wild-type EGFR lung cancers (wild-type LC). There were significant differences in gender, smoking status, maximum tumor diameter in chest CT, type of tumor shadow, clinical stage between mutant LC and wild-type LC. EGFR mutations were detected only in adenocarcinomas. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax:3.66±4.53) in positron emission tomography-computed tomography of mutant LC was significantly lower than that (8.26±6.11) of wild-type LC (p<0.0001). Concerning type of tumor shadow, the percentage of mutant LC was 85.7% (6/7) in lung cancers with pure ground glass opacity (GGO), 65.3%(32/49) in lung cancers with mixed GGO and 21.7%(20/92) in lung cancers with solid shadow (p<0.0001). For the results of discriminant analysis, type of tumor shadow (p=0.00036) was most significantly associated with mutant EGFR. Tumor histology (p=0.0028), smoking status (p=0.0051) and maximum diameter of tumor shadow in chest CT (p=0.047) were also significantly associated with mutant EGFR. The accuracy for evaluating EGFR mutation status by discriminant analysis was 77.0% (114/148). CONCLUSIONS Mutant EGFR is significantly associated with lung cancer with pure or mixed GGO, adenocarcinoma, never-smoker, smaller tumor diameter in chest CT. Preoperatively, EGFR mutation status can be identified correctly in about 77 % of lung cancers.
Serum CA 19‐9 concentrations and computed tomography findings in patients with pancreatic carcinoma

Carbohydrate antigen (CA) 19‐9 is a new tumor markerdefined by a monoclonal antibody. Serum CA 19‐9 concentrations and computed tomography (CT) findings were studied in 55 patients with histologically proven adenocarcinomaand in 22 patients with chronic pancreatitis. CA 19‐9 was useful in 83% of cases for the differential diagnosis between pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitisand serum CA 19‐9 levels in pancreatic carcinoma were highly related to the size of tumors. Serum CA 19‐9 levels greater than 37 U/ml were seen in patients with a tumor of less than 3 cm3 to 5 cmand greater than 5 cm in diameter 13% (1/8)90% (19/21)and 92% (24/26) of casesrespectively. Tumor locationhoweverwas unrelated to serum CA 19‐9 value. These results indicated that the measurement of serum CA 19‐9 concentrations would be useful in mostif not allcases for the differential diagnosis between pancreatic carcinoma and chronic pancreatitisand for the evaluation of tumor burden in patients with pancreatic carcinoma.
Lanosterol Synthase Gene Polymorphisms and Changes in Endogenous Ouabain in the Response to Low Sodium Intake

Circulating levels of endogenous ouabain (EO), a vasopressor hormone of adrenocortical origin, are increased by sodium depletion. Furthermore, lanosterol synthase, an enzyme involved in cholesterol biosynthesis, has a missense polymorphism (rs2254524 V642L) that affects EO biosynthesis in adrenocortical cells. Here, we investigated the hypothesis that lanosterol synthase rs2254524 alleles in vivo impact the blood pressure (BP) and EO responses evoked by a low dietary Na intake (<100 mEq/d, 2 weeks) among patients with mild essential hypertension. During the low salt diet, the declines in both systolic BP (SBP: −8.7±1.7 versus −3.0±1.5; P=0.013) and diastolic BP (DBP: −5.1±0.98 versus −1.4±0.94 mm Hg; P<0.05), and the slope of the long-term pressure–natriuresis relationship affected significantly the presence of the lanosterol synthase rs2254524 A variant (AA: 0.71±0.22, AC 0.09±0.13, and CC 0.04±0.11 mEq/mm Hg/24 h; P=0.028). In addition, BP rose in ≈25% of the patients in response to the low salt diet and this was associated with increased circulating EO. Lanosterol synthase gene polymorphisms influence both the salt sensitivity of BP and changes in circulating EO in response to a low salt diet. The response of BP and EO to the low salt diet is markedly heterogeneous. Approximately 25% of patients experienced adverse effects, that is, increased BP and EO when salt intake was reduced and may be at increased long-term risk. The augmented response of EO to the low salt diet further supports the view that adrenocortical function is abnormal in some essential hypertensives.
Digital Signal Processing for Dual-Polarization Intensity and Interpolarization Phase Modulation Formats Using Stokes Detection

We study and compare two digital signal processing (DSP) approaches to recover the intensity on two orthogonal polarizations and the interpolarization phase modulation using a Stokes-vector direct detection receiver. We focus on higher order modulation of each of the three degrees of freedom allowed in Stokes-vector detection. 2 bits are encoded on each intensity of the two orthogonal polarizations, and 2 bits are encoded in the phase difference between the two polarizations, giving a 6 bits per symbol format. In this study, we propose a novel three-stage DSP algorithm and we compare this new algorithm with our earlier two-stage algorithm using the following metrics: the computational complexity and the bit error rate (BER) performance. Using the three stage approach, waveform filtering and derotation are applied in series rather than in parallel as was done in the two stage algorithm. We show that the three-stage approach exhibits equal BER performance, while significantly reducing the total required number of real additions and real multiplications. Moreover, tracking the state of polarization using the proposed method is m -times more efficient, where m is the number of taps in the first filtering stage.
[Risk factors for hip fracture in elderly persons].

OBJECTIVE The aim of this observational study, promoted by the Health Authorities of the Regione Veneto (Italy), is to assess the prevalence of the most relevant environmental and individual risk factors in subjects with a recent hip fracture. METHODS Patients aged more than 60 years of both genders with a recent hip fracture not associated with malignancies, were administered questionnaires on dietary habits, sun exposure, and disability score. A complete family, pharmacological and pathology history was collected together with information on previous falls, details of the fracture index, and anthropometric data. In all subjects, blood was taken for the measurement of serum 25 hydroxy-vitamin D (25OHD). RESULTS The study included 704 patients (573 women and 131 men). Mean age was 81 ± 8 years (range 60-102). Severe pre-fracture disability was a common feature (58%) associated with multiple co-morbidities (84%), more frequently cardiovascular and neurological diseases, and specific medications. In a large proportion (86%) of the patients, environmental or individual risk factors for falling were found. Vitamin D insufficiency (serum 25OHD levels < 75 nmol/l) was quite common (70%), particularly in the regional Health Districts were strategies for preventing vitamin D deficiency were not implemented (91%). Only a small proportion (17%) of the study population had been evaluated and treated for osteoporosis. CONCLUSIONS In senile patients with a recent hip fracture, pre-existing disability, multiple co-morbidities, high risk of falling and inadequate intake of calcium and vitamin D is relatively common. Community and case-finding interventions aimed at selecting subjects at high risk of osteoporosis, preventing vitamin D and dietary calcium deficiency, and increasing awareness on the environmental risks of falling are highly warranted.
Antioxidants in hereditary pancreatitis.

OBJECTIVE The cause of hereditary pancreatitis (HP) remains unknown. This study evaluated the hypothesis that patients with HP have genetically determined low concentrations of antioxidants that may predispose them to repetitive pancreatic injury. METHODS This cross-sectional analysis compared antioxidant levels in four groups of patients. Group 1 included 14 related people with chronic pancreatitis. Group 2 (11 individuals) belonged to the same kindred but did not have pancreatitis. Group 3 was a group of 65 unrelated control subjects, and Group 4 consisted of seven unrelated children with chronic pancreatitis from other causes. The antioxidant levels analyzed included glutathione peroxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione reductase, glutathione transferase, selenium, and vitamin E. Amylase levels were measured in all patients in groups 1, 2, and 4. RESULTS People with chronic pancreatitis or relatives of people with hereditary pancreatitis (groups 1, 2, and 4) had significantly lower mean glutathione peroxidase values than controls (group 3, p < 0.001). Group 1 also had significantly lower selenium levels than groups 2 and 3 (p < 0.001) but greater levels than group 4 (p = 0.029). Vitamin E levels were lower in group 1 than in groups 2 and 4. The superoxide dismutase levels were significantly different between each group (p < 0.001), and group 1 had the highest level. The glutathione reductase, glutathione transferase, and amylase levels did not differ significantly between groups. However, group 1 had a significantly higher glutathione transferase level than group 4. CONCLUSION We identified antioxidant deficiencies in a group of patients with hereditary pancreatitis. Higher selenium and vitamin E levels may have prevented their relatives in group 2 from having pancreatitis secondary to oxidant injury, despite low glutathione peroxidase levels. Supplementation with selenium or vitamin E or both may be a beneficial therapeutic option in these patients to decrease the frequency of pancreatitis.
The Diabetes-associated 3243 Mutation in the Mitochondrial tRNALeu(UUR) Gene Causes Severe Mitochondrial Dysfunction without a Strong Decrease in Protein Synthesis Rate*

Cells harboring patient-derived mitochondria with an A-to-G transition at nucleotide position 3243 of their mitochondrial DNA display severe loss of respiration when compared with cells containing the wild-type adenine but otherwise identical mitochondrial DNA sequence. The amount and degree of leucylation of tRNALeu(UUR) were both found to be highly reduced in mutant cells. Despite the low level of leucyl-tRNALeu(UUR), the rate of mitochondrial translation was not seriously affected by this mutation. Therefore, decrease of mitochondrial protein synthesis as such does not appear to be a necessary prerequisite for loss of respiration. Rather, the mitochondrially encoded proteins seem subject to elevated degradation, leading to a severe reduction in their steady state levels. Our results favor a scheme in which the 3243 mutation causes loss of respiration through accelerated protein degradation, leading to a disequilibrium between the levels of mitochondrial and nuclear encoded respiratory chain subunits and thereby a reduction of functional respiratory chain complexes. The possible mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of mitochondrial diabetes is discussed.
Exchange rate returns and volatility: the role of time-varying rare disaster risks

ABSTRACT This paper provides empirical evidence to the theoretical claim that rare disaster risks have predictability for exchange rate returns and volatility using a nonparametric quantile-based methodology. Using dollar-based exchange rates for Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa, the quantile-causality test shows that indeed rare disaster-risks affects both returns and volatility over the majority of their respective conditional distributions. In addition, these effects are much stronger when compared to those using the British pound, especially in terms of currency returns.
Biofouling in photobioreactors for marine microalgae

Abstract The economic and/or energetic feasibility of processes based on using microalgae biomass requires an efficient cultivation system. In photobioreactors (PBRs), the adhesion of microalgae to the transparent PBR surfaces leads to biofouling and reduces the solar radiation penetrating the PBR. Light reduction within the PBR decreases biomass productivity and, therefore, the photosynthetic efficiency of the cultivation system. Additionally, PBR biofouling leads to a series of further undesirable events including changes in cell pigmentation, culture degradation, and contamination by invasive microorganisms; all of which can result in the cultivation process having to be stopped. Designing PBR surfaces with proper materials, functional groups or surface coatings, to prevent microalgal adhesion is essential for solving the biofouling problem. Such a significant advance in microalgal biotechnology would enable extended operational periods at high productivity and reduce maintenance costs. In this paper, we review the few systematic studies performed so far and applied the existing thermodynamic and colloidal theories for microbial biofouling formation in order to understand microalgal adhesion on PBR surfaces and the microalgae–microalgae cell interactions. Their relationship to the physicochemical properties of the solid PBR surface, the microalgae cell surfaces, and the ionic strength of the culture medium is discussed. The suitability and the applicability of such theories are reviewed. To this end, an example of biofouling formation on a commercial glass surface is presented for the marine microalgae Nannochloropsis gaditana. It highlights the adhesion dynamics and the inaccuracies of the process and the need for further refinement of previous theories so as to apply them to flowing systems, such as is the case for PBRs used to culture microalgae.
Fabrication, Characterization, and Analysis of Ge/GeSn Heterojunction p-Type Tunnel Transistors

We present a detailed study on fabrication and characterization of Ge/GeSn heterojunction p-type tunnel-field-effect-transistors (TFETs). Critical process modules as high-k stack and p-i-n diodes are addressed individually. As a result an ultrathin equivalent oxide thickness of 0.84 nm with an accumulation capacitance of <inline-formula> <tex-math notation="LaTeX">$3~\mu \text{F}$ </tex-math></inline-formula>/cm<sup>2</sup> was achieved on an extremely scaled tri-layer stack of GeSnO<sub>x</sub>/Al<sub>2</sub>O<sub>3</sub>/HfO<sub>2</sub> deposited by atomic-layer deposition monitored in situ by spectroscopic ellipsometry. Combining these process modules, Ge/GeSn heterojunction pTFETs are fabricated and characterized to demonstrate the best in-class pTFET performance in the GeSn material system. The transfer characteristics of the TFETs show signatures of the trap-assisted thermal generation in the subthreshold regime which is explained by a modified Shockley–Read–Hall model. For the ON-state current, we used band-to-band tunneling models calculated using parameters from the density functional theory. We then use the calibrated model to project performance of GeSn pTFETs with increased Sn content (lower bandgap), reduced trap density and ultrathin body geometry. Both experimental and projected results are benchmarked against state-of-the art III–V (e.g., In<sub>0.65</sub>Ga<sub>0.35</sub>/GaAs<sub>0.4</sub>Sb<sub>0.6</sub>) pTFETs. We demonstrate the ability of GeSn to achieve superior performance with both high ON-current and sub-60mV/decade switching benefiting from the small and direct bandgap for higher Sn contents.
Identification of novel neuronal isoforms of the Rho‐GEF Trio

Background information. The large family of GEFs (guanine nucleotide‐exchange factors) for Rho GTPases activate the GTPases by accelerating their GDP/GTP exchange. The multidomain protein Trio is the founding member of an intriguing subfamily of Rho‐GEFs exhibiting two Rho‐GEF and numerous additional domains. The members of the Trio family play an important role in neuronal physiology, and their structural organization is very well conserved through evolution. It has previously been shown that all the members, except mammalian Trio, display several isoforms, the functions of which have been well established.
Arginine 447 Plays a Pivotal Role in Substrate Interactions in a Neuronal Glutamate Transporter*

Glutamate transporters from the central nervous system play a crucial role in the clearance of the transmitter from the synaptic cleft. Glutamate is cotransported with sodium ions, and the electrogenic translocation cycle is completed by countertransport of potassium. Mutants that cannot interact with potassium are only capable of catalyzing electroneutral exchange. Here we identify a residue involved in controlling substrate recognition in the neuronal transporter EAAC-1 that transports acidic amino acids as well as cysteine. When arginine 447, a residue conserved in all glutamate transporters, is replaced by cysteine, transport of glutamate or aspartate is abolished, but sodium-dependent cysteine transport is left intact. Analysis of other substitution mutants shows that the replacement of arginine rather than the introduced cysteine is responsible for the observed phenotype. In further contrast to wild type, acidic amino acids are unable to inhibit cysteine transport in R447C-EAAC-1, indicating that the selectivity change is manifested at the binding step. Electrophysiological analysis shows that in the mutant cysteine, transport has become electroneutral, and its interaction with the countertransported potassium is impaired. Thus arginine 447 plays a pivotal role in the sequential interaction of acidic amino acids and potassium with the transporter and, thereby, constitutes one of the molecular determinants of coupling their fluxes.
Information transmission by stimulus-dependent modulation of noise correlation

Cortical neurons that are near one another show correlated response variability (noise correlation), which can contribute to synergistic information transmission. In this study, we investigated the relationship between the level of external stimulation and noise correlation and its effect on population coding. Six levels of electrical stimulation were delivered to a rat's hind paw and responses of several neighboring neurons were simultaneously recorded in the primary somatosensory cortex. As the intensity of stimulation increased, noise correlation decreased down to near zero and then increased again to a relatively small value. The degree of synergistic information transmission depended on the amount by which noise correlation was modulated. Our results show that noise correlation among somatosensory cortical neurons is dynamically modulated by external stimulation, which allows transmission of additional information.
Day-to-Day Variation of Blood Glucose and Insulin Responses in NIDDM Subjects After Starch-Rich Meal

Objective To study day-to-day variation of postprandial blood glucose and insulin increments in non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) subjects and to analyze intra- and interperson variance of response. Research Design and Methods Ten NIDDM subjects attending the outpatient clinic at Aarhus Kommunehospital were studied. The subjects ate three meals of 90 g of white bread, with 7 days between tests. Results Mean ± SD areas under the blood glucose response curve (above basal) over a 3-h period were 557 ± 60, 569 ± 74, and 565 ± 67 mM × 180 min (NS), and areas under the insulin-response curve were 3350 ± 448, 2815 ± 359 and 3551 ± 679 mU/L × 180 min (NS) on each of the three occasions. The 95% confidence intervals of blood glucose and insulin areas for the test meal repeated three times were 564 ± 120 mM × 180 min and 3240 ± 1645 mU/L } 180 min, respectively. Intra- and interperson components of variance were 25 vs. 75% (glucose) and 78 vs. 22% (insulin) of the total variance. The intraperson components of variance included all sources of variation other than between-person variation. There was no significant correlation between blood glucose and insulin response areas. Conclusions A valid estimate of the glycemic response in a single patient is obtained after a single meal. Because of the large between-person variation, paired data should preferably be used when comparing glycemic responses to different foods.