Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Very Low Density Lipoprotein Receptor Regulates Urokinase Receptor Catabolism and Breast Cancer Cell Motility in Vitro *

The very low density lipoprotein receptor (VLDLr) binds diverse ligands, including urokinase-type plasminogen activator (uPA) and uPA-plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) complex. In this study, we characterized the effects of the VLDLr on the internalization, catabolism, and function of the uPA receptor (uPAR) in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-435 breast cancer cells. When challenged with uPA·PAI-1 complex, MDA-MB-435 cells internalized uPAR; this process was inhibited by 80% when the activity of the VLDLr was neutralized with receptor-associated protein (RAP). To determine whether internalized uPAR is degraded, we studied the catabolism of [35S]methionine-labeled uPAR. In the absence of exogenous agents, the uPAR catabolism t 1 2 was 8.2 h. uPA·PAI-1 complex accelerated uPAR catabolism (t 1 2 to 1.8 h), while RAP inhibited uPAR catabolism in the presence (t 1 2 of 7.8 h) and absence (t 1 2 of 16.9 h) of uPA·PAI-1 complex, demonstrating a critical role for the VLDLr. When MCF-7 cells were cultured in RAP, cell surface uPAR levels increased gradually, reaching a new steady-state in 3 days. The amount of uPA which accumulated in the medium also increased. Culturing in RAP for 3 days increased MCF-7 cell motility by 2.2 ± 0.1-fold and by 4.4 ± 0.3-fold when 1.0 nm uPA was added. The effects of RAP on MCF-7 cell motility were entirely abrogated by an antibody which binds uPA and prevents uPA binding to uPAR. MCF-7 cells that were cultured in RAP demonstrated increased levels of activated mitogen-activated protein kinases. Furthermore, the MEK inhibitor, PD098059, decreased the motility of RAP-treated cells without affecting control cultures. These studies suggest a model in which the VLDLr regulates autocrine uPAR-initiated signaling and thereby regulates cellular motility.
Calvarial Regeneration With Use of Acellular Dermal Matrix in Aplasia Cutis Congenita

Abstract Aplasia cutis congenital (ACC) is a rare congenital anomaly, most commonly affecting the scalp, with a variable penetrance ranging from a small (<2 cm2) area of missing skin to large defects characterized by absent skin, subcutaneous tissue, calvarium, and dura. Calvarial reconstruction in ACC can be challenging. Due to exposed neurologic structures, in large defects, ACC has a high mortality rate. A stable reconstruction is optimally achieved shortly after birth to minimize complications. Herein the authors present a case of a neonate with an extensive (4.5 × 7 cm) cutis aplasia defect associated with absent skin, subcutaneous tissue, calvarium, dura, and with exposed cortical surface and sagittal sinus. This defect was successfully reconstructed in a single stage with the use of an acellular dermal matrix/skin graft construct. The acelluar dermal matrix served as a scaffold for tissue ingrowth, promoting regeneration of the bony calvarium as well as soft tissue. At 18-month follow-up, the patient exhibits a 50% smaller calvarial defect as well as stable skin coverage.
18F-FDG-PET correlates of cognitive impairment in ALS

Objective: To identify the metabolic signature of the various levels of cognitive deficits in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) using 18F-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose-PET (18F-FDG-PET). Methods: A total of 170 ALS cases consecutively enrolled at the ALS Center of Turin underwent brain 18F-FDG-PET and were classified as displaying normal cognition (ALS-Cn; n = 94), full-blown frontotemporal dementia (ALS-FTD; n = 20), executive or nonexecutive cognitive impairment not fulfilling FTD criteria (ALS-Ci; n = 37), prevalent behavioral changes (n = 9), or nonclassifiable impairment (n = 10) according to neuropsychological testing. Group comparisons of 18F-FDG-PET pattern were carried out among the cognitive subgroups. Results: We found a significantly reduced frontal and prefrontal metabolism in ALS-FTD as compared to ALS-Cn, while ALS-Ci showed an intermediate metabolic behavior in frontal cortex, being hypometabolic as compared to ALS-Cn, and relatively hypermetabolic as compared to ALS-FTD. Hypometabolism in frontal regions was associated in all comparisons to hypermetabolism in cerebellum, midbrain, and corticospinal tracts: the more severe the cognitive decline, the larger the size of the cluster and the statistical significance of 18F-FDG uptake differences. Conclusions: This study demonstrated in a large cohort of patients with ALS a continuum of frontal lobe metabolic impairment reflecting the clinical and anatomic continuum ranging from pure ALS, through ALS with intermediate cognitive deficits, to ALS-FTD, and showing that patients with intermediate cognitive impairment display a characteristic metabolic pattern. Since 18F-FDG-PET allows us to estimate the cerebral lesion load in vivo in neurodegenerative diseases, it might be helpful to investigate in ALS its association with neuropsychological testing along the disease course to disclose the early metabolic signature of possible cognitive impairment.
Morbidity and mortality pattern in hospitalized children with sickle cell disorders at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria

Objectives : To determine the causes of hospitalization and outcome of children with sickle cell disorders at the University College Hospital, Ibadan. Methods : Case files of patients with sickle cell disease who were admitted between March 2009 and February 2012 were analysed. Data extracted include demographic variables, diagnoses, types of crises, associated infections, complications and outcome of treatment. Results : There were 174 admissions of 161 children with a male female ratio of 1.3:1. Their ages ranged from nine months to 18 years with a mean of 7.3(4.0) years. Vasoocclusive crisis was present in 107 (61.5%), hyper haemolytic crisis in 29 (16.7%) and acute splenic sequestration in 12 (6.9 %) of all admissions. Associated infections were septicaemia in 56 (32.2 %), malaria in 49 (28.2 %), acute osteomyelitis in 24 (13.8%), pneumonia in 23 (13.2%), urinary tract infection in 12 (6.9%) and septic arthritis in 10 (5.7%). Haematocrit was less than 15 % in 36 (20.7%) and blood transfusion administered in 68 (39.1%) of admissions. There were three (1.7%) deaths from cerebrovascular accident, adverse reaction to blood transfusion and meningitis. Conclusion : Prevention and prompt management of crises and infections in sickle cell disease is recommended to reduce morbidity and mortality.
Grid cells correlation structure suggests organized feedforward projections into superficial layers of the medial entorhinal cortex

Navigation requires integration of external and internal inputs to form a representation of location. Part of this integration is considered to be carried out by the grid cells network in the medial entorhinal cortex (MEC). However, the structure of this neural network is unknown. To shed light on this structure, we measured noise correlations between 508 pairs of simultaneous previously recorded grid cells. We differentiated between pure grid and conjunctive cells (pure grid in Layers II, III, and VI vs. conjunctive in Layers III and V—only Layer III was bi‐modal), and devised a new method to classify cell pairs as belonging/not‐belonging to the same module. We found that pairs from the same module show significantly more correlations than pairs from different modules. The correlations between pure grid cells decreased in strength as their relative spatial phase increased. However, correlations were mostly at 0 time‐lag, suggesting that the source of correlations was not only synaptic, but rather resulted mostly from common input. Given our measured correlations, the two functional groups of grid cells (pure vs. conjunctive), and the known disorganized recurrent connections within Layer II, we propose the following model: conjunctive cells in deep layers form an attractor network whose activity is governed by velocity‐controlled signals. A second manifold in Layer II receives organized feedforward projections from the deep layers, giving rise to pure grid cells. Numerical simulations indicate that organized projections induce such correlations as we measure in superficial layers. Our results provide new evidence for the functional anatomy of the entorhinal circuit—suggesting that strong phase‐organized feedforward projections support grid fields in the superficial layers. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Using Structural Equation Modeling to Validate the Theory of Planned Behavior as a Model for Predicting Student Cheating

The purpose of this paper is to validate the use of a modified Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) for predicting undergraduate student cheating. Specifically, we administered a survey assessing how the TPB relates to cheating along with a measure of moral reasoning (DIT- 2) to 527 undergraduate students across three institutions; and analyzed the data using structural equation modeling. Results confirmed using the modified TPB as a model for predicting student cheating and the importance of understanding how cheating varies for students in different periods of moral reasoning development, namely moral consolidation and moral transition.
Coupling between skeletal muscle fiber size and capillarization is maintained during healthy aging

As muscle capillarization is related to the oxidative capacity of the muscle and the size of muscle fibres, capillary rarefaction may contribute to sarcopenia and functional impairment in older adults. Therefore, it is important to assess how ageing affects muscle capillarization and the interrelationship between fibre capillary supply with the oxidative capacity and size of the fibres.
Nurses’ Attitudes Toward Truthful Communication With Patients With Cancer: A Greek Study

The purpose of this study was to examine Greek nurses’ attitudes toward truth-telling practices when working with cancer patients and their psychological status regarding the difficulties they face in their day-to-day communication with these patients. A self-administered questionnaire composed of 19 questions, including both multi-item scales and single-item measures, was designed for the study. For this study, 200 nurses were asked to participate, of whom 148 (74%) completed and returned the questionnaire. The questionnaire is self-administered, formulated after a thorough review of the relevant literature. The pretesting was carried out using the alpha model of reliability and the Cochran Chi Square test (Q-test), which was 545.46 (P < .0001) and showed a Cronbach alpha coefficient of 0.7148. A large percentage of the respondents (75.7%) believe that only some patients with cancer should be told the truth of their diagnosis and prognosis, although a larger percentage (89.1%) believe that the truth should be told to the relatives. Most of the respondents (66.2%) reported that is difficult to engage in open communication with the patients, because their academic education did not sufficiently train them in communication skills. Although 83.78% of the nurse respondents do not reveal that the disease is incurable, 86 (58.1%) believe that only the patient’s physician should reveal the truth. These results indicate that although many Greek nurses believe that the patients should be informed and know their condition, lack of training in communication skills is a major obstacle to achieving this. Finally, this self-assessment questionnaire may provide acceptable and valid assessment of Greek nurses’ perceptions and attitudes on truth telling.
Nonalcoholic steatohepatitis induced by a high‐fat diet promotes diethylnitrosamine‐initiated early hepatocarcinogenesis in rats

It has been suggested that patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) may have high risk for liver cancer. However, it is unknown whether high‐fat diet (HFD) induced NASH promotes hepatocarcinogenesis. In this study, Sprague‐Dawley rats were injected with a low dose of hepatic carcinogen diethylnitrosamine (DEN) and then fed either Lieber‐DeCarli control diet (CD) or HFD for 6 weeks. Liver histology and the hepatic placental form of glutathione S‐transferase (P‐GST) positive foci were examined. Expression levels of proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), cyclinD1, phosphorylated mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) including extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) and p38, as well as tumor necrosis factor‐alpha (TNF‐α), and nuclear factor‐kappaB (NF‐κB) were measured in the liver. Induction of lipid peroxidation end products (malondialdehyde plus 4‐hydroxynonenal) in liver and apoptotic hepatocytes were also assessed. Results showed that HFD‐fed rats developed significantly higher incidence and multiplicity of P‐GST positive foci along with more fat accumulation, infiltration of inflammatory cells and higher lipid peroxidation in the liver, when compared with rats fed the CD. This high prevalence of hepatic lesions in the liver was accompanied by greater PCNA expression and cyclinD1 protein concentration but little change in hepatocyte apoptosis. HFD feeding elevated hepatic phosphorylated ERK but reduced phosphorylated p38 when compared with the CD feeding. In addition, a significantly higher expression of TNF‐α mRNA and nuclear NF‐κB p65 protein were observed in HFD group than in CD group. These data clearly demonstrate that NASH induced by HFD promoted DEN‐initiated early hepatocarcinogenesis, which was associated with elevated TNF‐α/NF‐κB signaling and MAPK related hepatocyte proliferation. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Analyses of Traffic Parameters Related to Left Turn Gap Acceptance using UCF Driving Simulator

The UCF driving simulator, housed in the Center for Advanced Transportation Systems Simulation (CATSS) laboratory, is a high fidelity simulator with access to an expansive virtual driving environment. It consists of a Saturn cab, motion base, scenario editor, operators console and Application Programmer Interface (API) for reading real-time data. The data includes driver inputs, namely steering wheel, accelerator and brake along with time stamped records of vehicle speed and position coordinates of the simulator and external vehicles. The sampling frequency is 30Hz. This paper documents the simulator's use in an experiment designed to measure driver's gap acceptances for left turn maneuvers from a minor road to a major road with 25 mph and 55 mph major speed limits. In gap acceptance experiments, dependent measures focus on the following variables: critical gap acceptances, left turn time, average steering angle velocities, separation between vehicles, average acceleration rates of the simulator vehicle, and speed reduction and the decelerations rate used by major-road vehicles. By taking advantage of the driving simulator’s extensive data collection capability and effective traffic management, experiments are easily performed to analyze drivers’ behavior at intersections awaiting left turn maneuvers. Keyword: UCF driving simulator, experiment design, gap acceptances, and traffic engineering.
STABILITY OF GEODESIC WAVE MAPS

STABILITY OF GEODESIC WAVE MAPS SEPTEMBER 2008 VIKTOR GRIGORYAN, B.S., YEREVAN STATE UNIVERSITY M.S., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Ph.D., UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS AMHERST Directed by: Professor Andrea Nahmod In this thesis we investigate the stability properties of a special class of solutions to the wave maps system. Wave maps are maps from a Minkowski manifold into a Riemannian manifold, which are minimizers of an energy functional. The EulerLagrange equations for this functional the wave maps system is an example of geometric partial differential equations, which also arise from the Yang-Mills system and Einstein’s Field equations through symmetry reductions. The wave maps system possesses a special class of global smooth solutions, called geodesic wave maps. We consider the stability properties of these solutions, and prove that initial data close to that of the geodesic wave map give rise to global wave maps, which remain close to the geodesic solution globally in time.
Horizontal transference of S-layer genes within Thermus thermophilus

The S-layers of Thermus thermophilus HB27 and T. thermophilus HB8 are composed of protein units of 95 kDa (P95) and 100 kDa (P100), respectively. We have selected S-layer deletion mutants from both strains by complete replacement of the slpA gene. Mutants of the two strains showed similar defects in growth and morphology and overproduced an external cell envelope inside of which cells remained after division. However, the nature of this external layer is strain specific, being easily stained and regular in the HB8 delta slpA derivative and amorphous and poorly stained in the HB27 delta slpA strain. The addition of chromosomic DNA from T. thermophilus HB8 to growing cultures of T. thermophilus HB27 delta slpA led to the selection of a new strain, HB27C8, which expressed a functional S-layer composed of the P100 protein. Conversely, the addition of chromosomic DNA from T. thermophilus HB27 to growing cultures of T. thermophilus HB8 delta slpA allowed the isolation of strain HB8C27, which expressed a functional S-layer composed of the P95 protein. The driving force which selected the transference of the S-layer genes in these experiments was the difference in growth rates, one of the main factors leading to selection in natural environments.
The effect of volatile oil mixtures on the performance and ilio-caecal microflora of broiler chickens

Abstract The aim of this study was to investigate the individual and combined effects of rosemary, oregano and fennel volatile oil (FVO) supplementation on the performance and ilio-caecal bacteriological flora of broiler chickens. A total of 800 male Ross-308 broiler chickens were divided equally into 8 groups; each contained 100 chickens. The study included a control treatment (NC) with no dietary additives that was supplemented with oils according to the following 7 treatments: 200 mg α-tocopherol acetate/kg (PC), 100 mg oregano volatile oil (OVO)/kg, 100 mg rosemary volatile oil (RVO)/kg, 100 mg FVO/kg and an equal mixture of oregano+rosemary+fennel VO (100, 200, 400 mg/kg, VOM-1, VOM-2 and VOM-3, respectively). The experiment lasted for 6 weeks. At the end of the experiment, dietary supplementation with α-tocopherol, oregano, rosemary and FVO and two different volatile oil mixtures (VOMs) (VOM-2; VOM-3) significantly increased the body weights (BWs) of broilers at 7, 14 and 21 d of age compared to the negative control (NC) (−) and VOM-1 groups. At 0–42 d, birds fed on VOM-3 were considerably heavier and also gained more weight than NC (−) and VOM-1 groups. The blend of VOs at 400 mg/kg significantly increased Lactobacillus spp. in faeces. The blends of oregano, rosemary and FVOs (VOM-3) at 400 mg/kg concentration and also VOM-3 group exhibited stronger antibacterial activity against coliform bacteria compared to the NC (−) group. In conclusion, the blend of oregano, rosemary and fennel VOs at higher concentrations (400 mg/kg concentration) in diets can be used to stimulate the growth and can improve the intestinal microbial balance (including a reduction of coliform bacteria and an increase in Lactobacillus spp. counts) of broiler chickens.
Minimally Invasive Percutaneous Plate Osteosynthesis (Mippo) in DistalTibial Fractures Ã¢ÂÂ A Prospective Study from Developing Nation

Background: The management of distal tibial fractures can be challenging because of scarcity of soft tissues, their subcutaneous nature and poor vascularity. Consequently, operative treatment can lead to complications. The surgical treatment of fractures has evolved a great deal since the development of the original “open reduction and internal fixation” technique by the AO group. A mechanically stable fracture-bridging osteosynthesis can be obtained without significant dissection and surgical trauma to the bone and surrounding soft tissues by minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis (MIPPO). This technique utilizes indirect reduction and internal fixation with locking compression plates. Our aim was to observe the outcome of the distal tibial fracture fixation (extra-articular and intra-articular) with locking compression plate (LCP) using MIPPO technique. Material and Methods: 26 consecutive patients were prospectively underwent minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis for distal tibial fractures between January 2010 and December 2011. Patients were aged between 20 to 65 years with seventeen males and nine females. Both open and closed AO types 43A, 43B and 43C fractures were included. Patients were managed with LCP using MIPPO technique. Postoperative regimen consisted of knee and ankle bending exercises starting on 1st postoperative day. Non weight bearing ambulation started on 3rd post-operative day, progressing to partial weight bearing at 6 to 8 weeks. Full weight bearing ambulation was allowed after clinico radiological union at 12 to 14 weeks. Observation and Results: RTA was the commonest cause of injury. All fractures healed with good functional outcome. Mean union time was 4.5 months (range 3.5–8 months). Mean follow-up was 14.3 months. For all fractures acceptable active range of ankle movement was achieved. Mean AOFAS score was 88. There were 2 cases of superficial infection, treated successfully with antibiotics. No deep infection, wound dehiscence and hardware failure was noted. Conclusion: MIPPO is a well-documented technique that offers biological advantages and appears to be a reasonable treatment option for complex unstable distal tibial or pilon fractures that are not suited for intramedullary nailing. The literature is full of studies from developed nations, but studies from developing nations are lacking. Nevertheless small numbers of patients were involved in our study to draw any definitive conclusions, but our encouraging results will motivate the trauma surgeons from the developing nations to use MIPPO technique in managing distal tibial fractures, in an endeavor to reduce morbidity and associated complications, especially of the soft tissues.
Principles for Evaluating the Quality Attributes of a Software Architecture

Abstract : Software quality is the degree to which software possesses a desired combination of attributes (e.g., reliability, interoperability). In this paper we describe a few principles for analyzing a software architecture to determine if it exhibits certain quality attributes. We show how analysis techniques indigenous to the various quality attribute communities can provide a foundation for performing software architecture evaluation. We also show how the principles provide a context for existing evaluation approaches such as scenarios, questionnaires, checklists, and measurements. Our immediate goal in identifying these principles for attribute-based architecture evaluation is to better integrate existing techniques and metrics into software architecture practice, not necessarily to invent new attribute-specific techniques and metrics. A longer-term goal is to codify these principles into systematic procedures or methods for architecture evaluation. This paper is an initial step towards identifying the ingredients of such methods.