Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Alterations to the protein profile of bladder carcinoma cell lines induced by plant extract MINA‐05 in vitro

Bladder cancer (BLCa) is a severe urological cancer of both men and women that commonly recurs and once invasive, is difficult to treat. MINA‐05 (CK Life Sciences Int'l, Hong Kong) is a derivative of complex botanical extracts, shown to reduce cellular proliferation of bladder and prostate carcinomas. We tested the effects of MINA‐05 against human BLCa cell sublines, B8, B8‐RSP‐GCK, B8‐RSP‐LN and C3, from a transitional cell carcinoma, grade IV, to determine the molecular targets of treatment by observing the cellular protein profile. Cells were acclimatised for 48 h then treated for 72 h with concentrations of MINA‐05 reflecting ${1 \over 2}$ IC50, IC50 and 2×IC50 (n = 3) or with vehicle, (0.5% DMSO). Dose‐dependant changes in protein abundance were detected and characterised using 2‐dimensional electrophoresis and MS. We identified 10 proteins that underwent changes in abundance, pI and/or molecular mass in response to treatment. MINA‐05 was shown to influence proteins across numerous functional classes including cytoskeletal proteins, energy metabolism proteins, protein degradation proteins and tumour suppressors, suggesting a global impact on these cell lines. This study implies that the ability of MINA‐05 to retard cellular proliferation is attributed to its ability to alter cell cycling, metabolism, protein degradation and the cancer cell environment.
Ethical Conflicts in Caring for Patients With Cochlear Implants

Although the use of cochlear implants as a treatment designed to help deaf individuals hear has a relatively brief history, the use of this therapy has given rise to a number of ethical conflicts. This article identifies ethical conflicts in cochlear implantation therapy and shows how ethical principles that are commonly accepted in health care ethics may guide decision making in resolving these issues. Furthermore, clinicians are often confronted with particular cases in which ethical conflicts arise. A useful paradigm for the clinical context, the 4-box method, is offered as a means of organizing the facts of a "case" so that the important facts are considered, and a principled approach to decision making can be used in working toward a resolution.
Evaluating vector-space models of analogy

Vector-space representations provide geometric tools for reasoning about the similarity of a set of objects and their relationships. Recent machine learning methods for deriving vector-space embeddings of words (e.g., word2vec) have achieved considerable success in natural language processing. These vector spaces have also been shown to exhibit a surprising capacity to capture verbal analogies, with similar results for natural images, giving new life to a classic model of analogies as parallelograms that was first proposed by cognitive scientists. We evaluate the parallelogram model of analogy as applied to modern word embeddings, providing a detailed analysis of the extent to which this approach captures human relational similarity judgments in a large benchmark dataset. We find that that some semantic relationships are better captured than others. We then provide evidence for deeper limitations of the parallelogram model based on the intrinsic geometric constraints of vector spaces, paralleling classic results for first-order similarity.
Simultaneous X-band radar and Ka-band radiometer observations of the ocean

Simultaneous microwave radar and radiometer observations of the ocean were conducted from aircraft during the ShoWEx'99 experiment. Both radar and radiometer wind dependences show similar signal growth with wind speed increase (except for the radiometer at vertical polarization and a near-Brewster angle). Analysis of the low-wind data shows that wind speed is a poor characteristic of the sea surface state in calm conditions because the wind field itself is quite non-uniform in space and time. Under such conditions both radar and radiometer data show strong scatter versus mean wind speed, but they are still well correlated with each other. We conclude that both active and passive instruments respond to the local variations of the sea surface roughness, which are not related to the mean wind speed at low winds. Our comparison shows that the best correlation is between the radar looking at 40-60deg and the near-nadir looking radiometer, which agrees with the theory of scattering/emission from a rough surface.
Rapid Desensitization of Serotonin 5‐HT2C Receptor‐Stimulated Intracellular Calcium Mobilization in CHO Cells Transfected with Cloned Human 5‐HT2C Receptors

Abstract: Serotonin 5‐HT2C receptor‐mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization was investigated in Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells transfected with 5‐HT2C receptors. Fura‐2 acetoxymethyl ester was used to investigate the regulation of 5‐HT2C receptor function. CHO cells, transfected with a cDNA clone for the 5‐HT2C receptor, expressed 287 fmol/mg of the receptor protein as determined by mianserin‐sensitive [3H]mesulergine binding (KD = 0.49 nM). The addition of 5‐HT mobilized intracellular Ca2+ in a dose‐dependent fashion, ranging from a basal level of 99 ± 1.8 up to 379 ± 18 nM, with an EC50 value for 5‐HT of 0.029 µM. Exposure to 5‐HT, 1‐(3‐chlorophenyl)piperazine dihydrochloride (a 5‐HT2C agonist), and 1‐(4‐iodo‐2,5‐dimethoxyphenyl)‐2‐aminopropane (a 5‐HT2C and 5‐HT2A agonist) resulted in increased intracellular Ca2+ levels. Mianserin, mesulergine, ritanserin, and ketanserin each blocked 5‐HT‐mediated intracellular Ca2+ mobilization more effectively than spiperone. The receptor was rapidly desensitized by preexposure to 5‐HT in a time‐ and concentration‐dependent manner. Mezerein and phorbol 12‐myristate 13‐acetate, protein kinase C activators, weakly inhibited the intracellular Ca2+ mobilization induced by 10 µM 5‐HT. Furthermore, the protein kinase C inhibitor H‐7 partially prevented the protein kinase C activator‐induced inhibition of the 5‐HT‐mediated increase in intracellular Ca2+ concentration. The desensitization induced by pretreatment with 5‐HT was blocked by W‐7, added in conjunction with 5‐HT, and partially inhibited by W‐5, a nonselective inhibitor of protein kinases and weak analogue of W‐7. Therefore, the 5‐HT2C receptor may be connected with protein kinase C and calcium/calmodulin turnover. These results suggest that 5‐HT2C receptor activation mobilizes Ca2+ in CHO cells and that the acute desensitization of the receptor may be due to calmodulin kinase‐mediated feedback.
Calcium antagonists for Duchenne muscular dystrophy.

BACKGROUND Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive muscle condition starting in childhood, leading to severe disability and a shortened life span. It is due to severe deficiency of the protein dystrophin which performs both structural and signalling roles within skeletal and cardiac myocytes. Calcium accumulates in dystrophic muscle cells and plays a role in cell damage. It has been hypothesised that use of calcium antagonists might reduce this calcium load and its toxic effect on muscle cells. OBJECTIVES To evaluate the effects of calcium antagonists on muscle function and muscle strength in people with DMD. SEARCH STRATEGY The Cochrane Neuromuscular Disease Group Trials Register (February 2008), MEDLINE (from January 1950 to March 2008) and EMBASE (from January 1947 to March 2008) were searched. Search terms were 'calcium antagonists' or 'calcium channel blocker' or 'dantrolene' or 'verapamil' or 'nifedipine' or 'flunarizine' or 'diltiazem' or 'amlodipine' or 'nicardipine' and 'Muscular Dystrophy, Duchenne'. Bibliographies in reports of any trials were also searched. SELECTION CRITERIA All randomised or quasi-randomised controlled trials of any calcium antagonist in people with DMD. DATA COLLECTION AND ANALYSIS Both authors assessed all identified trials for inclusion in the study on the basis of whether they fulfilled the selection criteria. Both authors extracted data from the trials and assessed the methodological quality. Had there been more than one trial of the same intervention and outcome of sufficient methodological quality, we had planned to undertake a meta-analysis. MAIN RESULTS Five randomised or quasi-randomised double-blind trials fulfilled the selection criteria, but were not sufficiently comparable to undertake a meta-analysis. The drugs studied were verapamil (8 participants), diltiazem (56 participants), nifedipine (105 participants) and flunarizine (27 participants). There were limitations in the description of blinding and randomisation, and definition of outcome measures. One trial, using verapamil, showed a difference between groups in muscle force measured by ergometry, but also revealed cardiac side effects. The numbers of people included in the trials were low, and so the studies may not have included enough people for sufficient power to detect small differences in muscle force or function between placebo and control groups. In addition, calcium antagonists were in an early stage of development and some of the second generation drugs that have a better side effect profile, such as amlodipine, have not been studied. AUTHORS' CONCLUSIONS There is no evidence to show a significant beneficial effect of calcium antagonists on muscle function in DMD.
Preparation for radioactive iodine administration in differentiated thyroid cancer patients

objective Because in recent years the practice of TSH suppression has changed, and thyroxine doses have been reduced significantly in the treatment of patients with low‐risk differentiated thyroid cancer, the goal of this study was to determine the time needed to attain a target TSH level (of 30 mIU/l) following levothyroxine withdrawal in patients treated with thyroxine according to current guidelines, in anticipation of radioactive iodine (RAI) administration.
Heart and scaphognathite rate changes in a euryhaline crab, Carcinus maenas, exposed to dilute environmental medium.

When the euryhaline decapod Carcinus maenas is transferred from sea water to a medium more dilute than 75% sea water, the frequency of heart beat increases. The cardioacceleratory response is probably mediated by external rather than internal receptors, and the parameter that is sensed in neither the total osmotic strength of the medium, nor the concentration of any single ion. Although it is not yet determined whether the heart responds to a hormonal or nervous signal, it is likely that the control mechanisms are similar to those which mediate the water permeability changes in Carcinus and other euryhaline crabs.In somewhat more than half of the crabs tested, the frequency of scaphognathite beating is markedly reduced when the animal is exposed to dilute external medium.
ACDC: Altering Control Dependence Chains for Automated Patch Generation

Once a failure is observed, the primary concern of the developer is to identify what caused it in order to repair the code that induced the incorrect behavior. Until a permanent repair is afforded, code repair patches are invaluable. The aim of this work is to devise an automated patch generation technique that proceeds as follows: Step1) It identifies a set of failure-causing control dependence chains that are minimal in terms of number and length. Step2) It identifies a set of predicates within the chains along with associated execution instances, such that negating the predicates at the given instances would exhibit correct behavior. Step3) For each candidate predicate, it creates a classifier that dictates when the predicate should be negated to yield correct program behavior. Step4) Prior to each candidate predicate, the faulty program is injected with a call to its corresponding classifier passing it the program state and getting a return value predictively indicating whether to negate the predicate or not. The role of the classifiers is to ensure that: 1) the predicates are not negated during passing runs; and 2) the predicates are negated at the appropriate instances within failing runs. We implemented our patch generation approach for the Java platform and evaluated our toolset using 148 defects from the Introclass and Siemens benchmarks. The toolset identified 56 full patches and another 46 partial patches, and the classification accuracy averaged 84%.
Chronic recurrent lymphocytic Sweet syndrome as a predictive marker of myelodysplasia: a report of 9 cases.

BACKGROUND Sweet syndrome is an acute neutrophilic dermatosis that occurs with malignant diseases, mainly myeloid hemopathies, in about 20% of cases. When associated with myelodysplasia, Sweet syndrome may be clinically atypical. It can be histologically unusual. Concomitant infiltration of mature neutrophils and immature myeloid cells has been reported, and its significance is still debated. In few patients, lymphocytic infiltrates are the presenting feature of Sweet syndrome with myelodysplasia. OBSERVATIONS We present 9 male adult patients with chronic Sweet syndrome, all with recurrent eruptions of erythematous and annular plaques that were associated with relapsing polychondritis in 4 of the 9 patients. Results from sequential biopsies showed that infiltrates were initially composed of lymphocytes and that neutrophilic dermal infiltration typical of Sweet syndrome occurred 24 to 96 months later, except in 2 cases. Moreover, atypical mononuclear cells were present on all initial biopsy specimens and strongly reacted to CD68 and myeloperoxidase, indicating a myeloid origin. Myelodysplastic syndrome occurred in all 9 patients, concomitantly with the neutrophilic infiltrate in 4 cases. CONCLUSIONS Lymphocytic infiltrates with a clinical aspect of Sweet syndrome might represent the initial stage of a cutaneous dysgranulopoiesis syndrome and should lead to the research of atypical myeloid cells in skin infiltrate, blood, and bone marrow for the early detection of an associated myelodysplastic syndrome.
The control of cell number in the lumbar ventral horns during the development of Xenopus laevis tadpoles.

A relay which is operable at very low power levels and which is highly versatile in its applications is shown to be characterized by high gain and high reliability and by simplicity of structure. The relay comprises a first terminal mounted on a base of electrically insulating material and a second electrically conductive member having a terminal portion secured to the base, having a contact arm movable between an open circuit position spaced from the first terminal and a closed circuit position engaging the first terminal, and having integral spring portions connecting the contact arm and terminal portion of the second member for normally biasing the contact arm to one of the noted circuit positions. The relay also includes an actuator wire secured between the base and the contact arm of the second member. The actuator wire is formed of a nickel-titanium alloy and is adapted to be deformed from an original length to a second length as the contact arm is moved to the one circuit position in response to the noted spring bias while the wire material displays a relatively low modulus of elasticity below a transition temperature. The actuator wire is also adapted to abruptly return to its original length and to display a relatively higher modulus of elasticity to move the contact arm to the other circuit position against the spring bias when the wire material is heated above its transition temperature. Means are provided for electrically self-heating the actuator wire to its transition temperature when relay operation is desired.
HISTOLOGICAL CHRONIC ALLOGRAFT DAMAGE INDEX ACCURATELY PREDICTS CHRONIC RENAL ALLOGRAFT REJECTION

Chronic rejection has emerged as a major problem in renal transplantation, and clinical trials for prophylaxis and therapy are underway. Use of graft and patient survival as endpoints in prophylactic studies requires long follow-ups to read the endpoint. There is also an obvious need for a starting point for intervention studies. Previously, we formed a histological chronic allograft damage index (CADI), based on numerical scoring of histological alterations compatible with chronic rejection. Using protocol core needle biopsies of 89 functioning grafts 2 years after transplantation and a follow-up of 6 years, we demonstrate now that (a) the CADI at 2 years correlates significantly (r=0.717, P=0.0001) with transplant function at 6 years, and (b) that the CADI at 2 years reliably (P=0.001) predicts the patients who will proceed to clinical chronic rejection later. As protocol core biopsy is an early predictive parameter for chronic rejection, our results suggest that a protocol core biopsy (at 2 years or possibly even earlier) should be included in all clinical investigative protocols dealing with chronic renal allograft rejection.
1 Avoiding Future Regret In Purchase Timing Decisions

When deciding when to make a purchase, people often compare their outcomes to those that would have occurred had they purchased earlier or later. In this article, we examine how preand post-purchase comparisons affect regret and satisfaction, and whether consumers learn to avoid decisions that result in regret. In the first two experiments, we show that information learned after the purchase has a greater impact on satisfaction than information learned before the purchase. In addition, negative price comparisons have a greater impact on satisfaction than positive comparisons. These results imply that if consumers who receive post-purchase information wish to avoid future feelings of regret, they should defer their purchases longer. Our second two experiments demonstrate this phenomenon: Subjects who were exposed to postchoice information set higher decision thresholds, consistent with the minimization of future regret. Paradoxically, providing subjects with additional post-choice information resulted in decreased average earnings, suggesting that consumers may try to avoid future regret even when doing so conflicts with expected value maximization.
Controlling and Autonomy-Supportive Parenting in the United States and China: Beyond Children's Reports.

Research comparing the predictive power of parents' control and autonomy support in the United States and China has relied almost exclusively on children's reports. Such reports may lead to inaccurate conclusions if they do not reflect parents' practices to the same extent in the two countries. A total of 394 American and Chinese children (Mage = 13.19 years) and their mothers reported on mothers' controlling and autonomy-supportive parenting in the academic arena; trained observers coded such parenting in the laboratory. Children's reports were associated modestly with mothers' reports and weakly, if at all, with observers' reports in both the United States and China. Parenting predicted children's academic and emotional functioning similarly in the two countries, irrespective of reporter.
SPECIAL SERIES: MISSING DATA Review: A gentle introduction to imputation of missing values

In most situations, simple techniques for handling missing data (such as complete case analysis, overall mean imputation, and the missing-indicator method) produce biased results, whereas imputation techniques yield valid results without complicating the analysis once the imputations are carried out. Imputation techniques are based on the idea that any subject in a study sample can be replaced by a new randomly chosen subject from the same source population. Imputation of missing data on a variable is replacing that missing by a value that is drawn from an estimate of the distribution of this variable. In single imputation, only one estimate is used. In multiple imputation, various estimates are used, reflecting the uncertainty in the estimation of this distribution. Under the general conditions of so-called missing at random and missing completely at random, both single and multiple imputations result in unbiased estimates of study associations. But single imputation results in too small estimated standard errors, whereas multiple imputation results in correctly estimated standard errors and confidence intervals. In this article we explain why all this is the case, and use a simple simulation study to demonstrate our explanations. We also explain and illustrate why two frequently used methods to handle missing data, i.e., overall mean imputation and
Comparison of Different Methods for Diagnosis of Iron Deficiency in Avocado

ABSTRACT Iron chlorosis is a very common disorder of crops grown in calcareous soils. It is well known that the total iron concentration in leaves is not a valid index for iron nutritional status of crops and that the total iron concentration in chlorotic leaves are often similar or even greater than in the green leaves. In this study, we compare three extraction methods for iron deficiency diagnosis in young (two month old) avocado leaves: 1.5% phenanthroline (pH 3) extraction from fresh leaves, 1 N hydrochloric acid (HCl) extraction from fresh leaves, and 1N HCl extraction from oven-dry leaves. Relationships between the total and extractable iron concentrations in the leaves with the leaf color were examined by linear regression analysis. These regressions were statistically significant for the total iron and in the case of all three methods tested. However, the correlation coefficients suggest that phenanthroline extraction from fresh leaves was superior over other methods for diagnosis of iron deficiency in avocado.
Glyphosate resistance in Echinochloa colona: phenotypic characterisation and quantification of selection intensity.

BACKGROUND A population of Echinochloa colona infesting agricultural fields in the northern region of Western Australia evolved glyphosate resistance after 10 years of glyphosate selection. This study identified two phenotypic (susceptible S versus resistant R) lines from within a segregating glyphosate-resistant population. Estimation of survival, growth and reproductive rates of the phenotypes in response to glyphosate selection helped to characterise the level of resistance, fitness and the selection intensity for glyphosate in this species. RESULTS Estimations of LD(50) (lethal dose) and GR(50) (growth rate) showed an eightfold glyphosate resistance in this population. The resistant index based on the estimation of seed number (SY(n50)) showed a 13-fold resistance. As a result of linear combination of plant survival and fecundity rates, plant fitness values of 0.2 and 0.8 were estimated for the S and R phenotypes when exposed to the low dose of 270 g glyphosate ha(-1). At the recommended dose of 540 g glyphosate ha(-1) , fitness significantly decreased (fivefold) in S plants but remained markedly similar (0.7) in plants of the R phenotype. Thus, the calculated selection intensity (SI) at 540 g glyphosate ha(-1) was much greater (SI = 17) than at 270 g glyphosate ha(-1) (SI = 4). CONCLUSIONS The assessment of plant survival and fecundity in response to glyphosate selection in the S and R phenotypes allowed a greater accuracy in the estimation of population fitness of both phenotypes and thus of glyphosate selection intensity in E. colona. The estimation of seed number or mass of phenotypes under herbicide selection is a true ecological measure of resistance with implications for herbicide resistance evolution.