Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Flavonoids and intestinal cancers

Cancers of the gastrointestinal tract are amongst the most common causes of death from cancer, but there is substantial variation in incidence across populations. This is consistent with a major causative role for diet. There is convincing evidence that fruits and vegetables protect against cancers of the upper alimentary tract and the large bowel, and this has focused attention on biologically active phytochemicals, and on flavonoids in particular. Many flavonoids exert anticarcinogenic effects in vitro and in animals, and many of these effects occur via signalling pathways known to be important in the pathogenesis of colorectal, gastric and oesophageal cancers. However dietary flavonoid intakes are generally low and their metabolism in humans is extremely complex. The advent of new post-genomic technologies will do much to address these problems by making it possible to monitor patterns of gene expression in humans to provide essential molecular biomarkers of early disease. By combining such data with knowledge of the dietary exposure and bioavailability of the most effective compounds it will be possible to predict the most effective dietary sources and to properly evaluate the potential role of flavonoids in clinical nutrition.
High Incidence of Hb D-Los Angeles [β121(GH4)Glu→Gln] in Denizli Province, Aegean Region of Turkey

Denizli Province is located in the inner part of the Aegean region of Turkey and is one of the target areas for premarital screening. Here we report the abnormal hemoglobins (Hbs) observed during a premarital screening program in our region. According to our results, Hb D-Los Angeles [β121(GH4)Glu→Gln (GAA→CAA] (also known as D-Punjab, D-North Carolina, D-Portugal, Oak Ridge and D-Chicago), is the most frequent abnormal Hb in this region.
Mycoplasma gallisepticum–Induced Alterations in Cytokine Genes in Chicken Cells and Embryos

Abstract Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) was used to infect the MSB-1 cells, the HD-11 cells, and chicken embryos. The RNA from these cells and the embryonic spleen cells were extracted and assayed for the expression of cytokine genes using reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction. The results showed that MG infection suppressed the expression of the IL-8 gene in the MSB-1 cells and enhanced the expression of the IL-8 and IL-6 genes in the HD-11 cells; a slightly increased expression of macrophage inflammatory protein-1β (MIP-1β) in MG-infected spleen cells was noted. Because of the divergent response in cytokine expression in different cell types, more work needs to be done before a correlation between the cytokine gene expression and the pathogenesis of a disease can be made.
The Dynamic Change of Self-Efficacy in Information Searching on the Internet: Influence of Valence of Experience and Prior Self-Efficacy

The authors investigated the dynamic change of specific self-efficacy in information searching on the Internet. In Study 1, the valence of experience was manipulated by task difficulty to obtain the developmental curve of self-efficacy change in consecutive information-searching trials. The results indicated that positive task experiences in information searching elicited a linear increase in self-efficacy. In contrast, negative task experiences elicited a more rapid decrease in self-efficacy. Self-efficacy of participants decreased to a lower level after the first negative experience and displayed a quadratic trend toward a floor effect. In Study 2, the authors examined the moderating effect of initial self-efficacy on the valence of experience. The enhancement effect of positive task experience on self-efficacy was more pronounced for individuals with lower levels of self-efficacy, whereas the deteriorating effect of negative experience was more prominent for individuals with higher levels of self-efficacy.
Accurate and simple analytic representation of the electron-gas correlation energy.

We propose a simple analytic representation of the correlation energy ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{c}}$ for a uniform electron gas, as a function of density parameter ${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$ and relative spin polarization \ensuremath{\zeta}. Within the random-phase approximation (RPA), this representation allows for the ${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3/4}$ behavior as ${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}. Close agreement with numerical RPA values for ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$,0), ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$,1), and the spin stiffness ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\alpha}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$)=${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\partial}}}^{2}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\varepsilon}}}_{\mathit{c}}$(${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$, \ensuremath{\zeta}=0)/\ensuremath{\delta}${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\zeta}}}^{2}$, and recovery of the correct ${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$ln${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$ term for ${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0, indicate the appropriateness of the chosen analytic form. Beyond RPA, different parameters for the same analytic form are found by fitting to the Green's-function Monte Carlo data of Ceperley and Alder [Phys. Rev. Lett. 45, 566 (1980)], taking into account data uncertainties that have been ignored in earlier fits by Vosko, Wilk, and Nusair (VWN) [Can. J. Phys. 58, 1200 (1980)] or by Perdew and Zunger (PZ) [Phys. Rev. B 23, 5048 (1981)]. While we confirm the practical accuracy of the VWN and PZ representations, we eliminate some minor problems with these forms. We study the \ensuremath{\zeta}-dependent coefficients in the high- and low-density expansions, and the ${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$-dependent spin susceptibility. We also present a conjecture for the exact low-density limit. The correlation potential ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\mu}}}_{\mathit{c}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}$(${\mathit{r}}_{\mathit{s}}$,\ensuremath{\zeta}) is evaluated for use in self-consistent density-functional calculations.
Ge-Source Vertical Tunnel FETs Using a Novel Replacement-Source Integration Scheme

The Ge-source tunnel FETs (TFETs) are fabricated using a novel replacement-source approach, whereby a dummy source is replaced at the end of the process flow by the final source material to form an heterojunction. We show that the source can be successfully replaced while maintaining the gate dielectric integrity in the gate-source overlap (GS-OL) region and selectively to the exposed materials. Due to the in situ-doped epitaxial-grown source and the low thermal budget, this integration scheme leads to the formation of a highly doped source and an abrupt tunnel heterojunction and allows the integration of complementary devices. Electrical characterization of the devices shows performance improvement over their SiGe-source heterojunction and Si homojunction vertical TFET counterparts. Temperature dependence indicates that the subthreshold region of the devices is degraded due to trap-assisted tunneling (TAT). Band-to-band tunneling (BTBT) contribution is, however, revealed at low temperature (78 K) with a minimum point slope of ~50 mV/decade. The impact on performance of different device parameters is assessed. The amount of GS-OL or crystalline Ge (c-Ge) thickness in the source does not affect the device characteristics owing to the fact that the devices are dominated by point tunneling. On the other hand, the thickness of the gate dielectric as well as the doping profile at the tunnel junction modifies the device performance. The gate-drain underlap is shown to reduce the ambipolar behavior of the devices without affecting their ON-characteristics. Very low variability is measured for the ON-current in the devices where BTBT dominates, while variability increases in the TAT region.
Revisiting the capacity of noncoherent fading channels in mmWave system

Millimeter wave communications will use large bandwidth and experience severe attenuation due to the pathloss. The two above conditions may force the communication system to enter the so-called wideband regime, where transmitted signals must be increasingly “peaky” in order to achieve a large fraction of the wideband capacity. This paper investigates noncoherent capacity of millimeter wave communications with average and peak power constrained inputs as a function of bandwidth. The impact of several parameters, in particular coherence block size and strength of the normalized specular component in line-of-sight propagation, is also studied. Capacity upper and lower bounds are provided and suggest that in practical scenarios the communication system may have to operate in the wideband regime. Paired with non-line-of-sight propagation, dense signaling is shown to limit the maximum achievable rate for typical users in the cell.
Low frequency response of the vocal tract: acoustic and mechanical resonances and their losses

The impedance spectrum of the vocal tract was measured at the lips from 10 Hz to 4.2 kHz using the threemicrophone, three-calibration technique. A broadband signal synthesised from sine waves allows high precision measurements irrespective of the fundamental frequency of phonation. From these measurements, the frequencies, magnitudes and bandwidths of the resonances and antiresonances are determined directly. Resonances have impedance magnitudes of 20-100 kPa.s. m and antiresonances 2-10 MPa.s. m. The bandwidths measured with a closed glottis are typically around 50 Hz for resonances and antiresonances between 400 Hz and 2 kHz and increase slightly outside this range. This is in qualitative agreement with previous measurements estimated from phonations measured outside the mouth. The measured bandwidths are discussed in relation to viscothermal losses at the duct boundary, radiation from the mouth and mechanical losses in the surrounding tissues.
Racial and Ethnic Variation in ADHD, Comorbid Illnesses, and Parental Strain

Our objective was to understand the racial and ethnic variation in parental strain for non-Latino White, African American, and Latino parents of children with ADHD and other comorbid diagnoses. We selected 5,397 children with a current diagnosis of ADHD from the 2007 National Survey of Child Health (NSCH) and identified comorbid conditions that could cause additional parental strain. Multivariate regression analyses of parental strain, from ADHD plus comorbid physical and mental health conditions, varied by race and ethnicity in our sample. Additionally we found variables such as mother’s mental health, family structure and social support to play significant roles in parental strain. These findings indicate a need for greater understanding of the family mechanisms in place that affect parental strain for these varying populations of families. Interventions to reduce parental strain also need to be tailored to the specific needs of racially and ethnically diverse parents of children with ADHD.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration drug approval summaries: imatinib mesylate, mesna tablets, and zoledronic acid.

The purpose of this report is to summarize information on drugs recently approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Three drugs have recently been approved: Gleevec (imatinib mesylate) at a starting dose of 400 or 600 mg daily for the treatment of malignant unresectable and/or metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumors; Mesnex (mesna) tablets as a prophylactic agent to reduce the incidence of ifosfamide-induced hemorrhagic cystitis, and Zometa (zoledronic acid) for the treatment of patients with multiple myeloma and for patients with documented bone metastases from solid tumors, in conjunction with standard antineoplastic therapy. Prostate cancer should have progressed after treatment with at least one hormonal therapy. The recommended dose and schedule is 4 mg infused over 15 minutes every 3-4 weeks. These three drugs represent three different types of drug approval: Gleevec is an accelerated approval and supplemental new drug application (NDA); Mesnex tablets represent an oral formulation of a drug approved 14 years ago as an intravenous formulation, and Zometa represents a standard NDA for a noncytotoxic, supportive-care drug. Information provided includes rationale for drug development, study design, efficacy and safety results, and pertinent literature references.
Salivary hydrogen peroxide produced by holding or chewing green tea in the oral cavity

Tea (Camellia sinensis) catechins have been studied for disease prevention. These compounds undergo oxidation and produce H2O2. We have previously shown that holding tea solution or chewing tea leaves generates high salivary catechin levels. Herein, we examined the generation of H2O2 in the oral cavity by green tea solution or leaves. Human volunteers holding green tea solution (0.1–0.6%) developed salivary H2O2 with Cmax = 2.9–9.6 μM and AUC0 → ∞ = 8.5–285.3 μM min. Chewing 2 g green tea leaves produced higher levels of H2O2 (Cmax = 31.2 μM, AUC0 → ∞ = 1290.9 μM min). Salivary H2O2 correlated with catechin levels and with predicted levels of H2O2 (Cmax(expected) = 36 μM vs Cmax(determined) = 31.2 μM). Salivary H2O2 and catechin concentrations were similar to those that are biologically active in vitro. Catechin-generated H2O2 may, therefore, have a role in disease prevention by green tea.
Quality of Comprehensive HIV Care in Underserved Communities

The AIDS Education and Training Centers National Evaluation Center led collaborative research to evaluate whether Minority AIDS Initiative (MAI)-funded clinical training changes clinical practice. Chart abstraction and feedback (34 clinics; n = 530) were used to assess adherence to clinical practice guidelines, identify training needs, and assess change in clinical practice (14 clinics, n = 271). Generalized estimating equations were used to account for repeated measures within each clinic. At baseline, clinics displayed 49% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 44-53) adherence to clinical practice guidelines. After feedback associated with the baseline chart review and subsequent implementation of MAI-funded clinical training, an 11% increase (95% CI = 7-16) in adherence to clinical practice guidelines was observed. MAI-funded clinical training was associated with increased adherence to clinical practice guidelines for HIV care. Chart abstraction is useful to assess clinical practice, facilitate conversations about quality improvement, and evaluate the effectiveness of clinical training.
Hepatic CD206‐positive macrophages express amphiregulin to promote the immunosuppressive activity of regulatory T cells in HBV infection

Hepatitis B virus is a major cause of chronic liver inflammation worldwide. Innate and adaptive immune responses work together to restrain or eliminate hepatitis B virus in the liver. Compromised or failed adaptive immune response results in persistent virus replication and spread. How to promote antiviral immunity is a research focus for hepatitis B virus prevention and therapy. In this study, we investigated the role of macrophages in the regulation of antiviral immunity. We found that F4/80+CD206+CD80lo/+ macrophages were a particular hepatic macrophage subset that expressed amphiregulin in our mouse hepatitis B virus infection model. CD206+ macrophage‐derived amphiregulin promoted the immunosuppressive activity of intrahepatic regulatory T cells, demonstrated by higher expression of CTLA‐4, ICOS, and CD39, as well as stronger inhibition of antiviral function of CD8+ T cells. Amphiregulin‐neutralizing antibody diminished the effect of CD206+ macrophages on regulatory T cells. In addition, we found that CD206+ macrophage‐derived amphiregulin activated mammalian target of rapamycin signaling in regulatory T cells, and this mammalian target of rapamycin activation was essential for promotion of regulatory T cell activity by CD206+ macrophages. Adoptive transfer of CD206+ macrophages into hepatitis B virus‐infected mice increased cytoplasmic hepatitis B virus DNA in hepatocytes and also increased serum hepatitis B surface antigen. The antiviral activity of CD8+ T cells was decreased after macrophage transfer. Therefore, our research indicated that amphiregulin produced by CD206+ macrophages plays an important role in modulating regulatory T cell function and subsequently restrains the antiviral activity of CD8+ T cells. Our study offers new insights into the immunomodulation in hepatitis B virus infection.
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Factors Governing Cell Fate in Cortical Progenitor Cultures

Central nervous system germinal zones contain stem cells that generate both neurons and glia. In the recent past, these cells have been isolated, maintained in a variety of culture systems and used in vitro for subsequent characterization of molecular mechanisms underlying brain development. Factors that govern cell fate choices of these neural stem cells have not been fully elucidated, but recent studies suggest that age at the time of culture is an important intrinsic mechanism. Stem cell mitogens and Notch-DSL signaling are significant extrinsic factors. In the current study, we compare neurosphere cultures propagated from animals on embryonic day 12, embryonic day 18 and the day of birth and stimulated to divide by either basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) or transforming growth factor-α (TGF-α). As described for other systems, when bFGF was used, clonal neurospheres derived from the youngest age gave rise to a greater percentage of neurons. When TGF-α, acting via the epidermal growth factor receptor, was used, this effect was not observed, with neurospheres from younger animals giving rise to a similar percentage of neurons as those derived from older animals suggesting that this growth factor was either stimulating a different population of stem cells to proliferate, or that it was capable of overriding intrinsic mechanisms. Other differences were also observed when the two growth factors were compared, including age-dependent differences in the numbers of putative astrocytes and oligodendrocytes formed. We further assessed age-dependent influences on cell fate by assessing the effects of a lentivirally transduced constitutively activated Notch receptor on cell fate. At all ages studied, Notch activation resulted in a significantly greater number of GFAP-positive cells, seemingly overriding the greater neurogenic potential of younger stem cells. These data suggest that both extrinsic and intrinsic factors differentially regulate cell fate choices of progenitors during cortical development.
SAVING FOR RETIREMENT

Almost every worker, from the youngest trainee upwards, is planning for retirement – whether they know it or not. This is because, due to government legislation, all employers pay 9% of their employee’s salaries into a superannuation fund (with a possible exception of casual workers with low monthly earnings). The self-employed are required, by the same legislation, to contribute money into a superannuation fund.
Double character sums over subgroups and intervals

We estimate double sums \( S_\chi(a, I, G) = \sum_{x \in I} \sum_{\lambda \in G} \chi(x + a\lambda), \qquad 1\le a 0\) is arbitrary. We obtain a nontrivial estimate in a wider range of parameters \(H\) and \(T\). We also estimate double sums \( T_\chi(a, G) = \sum_{\lambda, \mu \in G} \chi(a + \lambda + \mu), \qquad 1\le a 10.1017/S0004972714000227
Osteoclast induction in periodontal tissue during experimental movement of incisors in osteoprotegerin‐deficient mice

Osteoprotegerin (OPG) is a novel secreted member of the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor superfamily that negatively regulates osteoclastogenesis. The receptor activator of the NFKB ligand (RANKL) is one of the key regulatory molecules in osteoclast formation and binds to OPG. In this study, it was suggested that OPG and RANKL are involved in alveolar bone remodeling during orthodontic tooth movement. We examined RANKL localization and osteoclast induction in periodontal tissues during experimental movement of incisors in OPG‐deficient mice. To produce orthodontic force, an elastic band was inserted between the upper right and left incisors for 2 or 5 days, and the dissected maxillae were examined for cytochemical and immunocytochemical localization of tartrate‐resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), vacuolar‐type H+‐ATPase, and RANKL. Compared to wild‐type OPG (+/+) littermates, TRAP‐positive multinucleated cells were markedly induced in the periodontal ligament (PDL) on the compressed side and in the adjacent alveolar bone of OPG‐deficient mice. These multinucleated cells exhibited intense vacuolar‐type H+‐ATPase along the ruffled border membranes. Because of accelerated osteoclastic resorption in OPG‐deficient mice, alveolar bone was severely destroyed and partially perforated at 2 and 5 days after force application. In both wild‐type and OPG‐deficient mice, RANKL expression became stronger at 2 and 5 days after force application than before force application. There was no apparent difference in intensity of RANKL expression between OPG (+/+) littermates and OPG‐deficient mice. In both wild‐type and OPG‐deficient mice, expression of RANKL protein was detected in osteoblasts, fibroblasts, and osteoclasts mostly located in resorption lacunae. These results suggest that during orthodontic tooth movement, RANKL and OPG in the periodontal tissues are important determinants regulating balanced alveolar bone resorption. Anat Rec 266:218–225, 2002. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Combined VEGF and LMP-1 delivery enhances osteoprogenitor cell differentiation and ectopic bone formation

A novel strategy to enhance bone repair is to combine angiogenic factors and osteogenic factors. We combined vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and LIM mineralization protein-1 (LMP-1) by using an internal ribosome entry site to link the genes within a single plasmid. We then evaluated the effects on osteoblastic differentiation in vitro and ectopic bone formation in vivo with a subcutaneously placed PLAGA scaffold loaded with a cloned mouse osteoprogenitor cell line, D1, transfected with plasmids containing VEGF and LMP-1 genes. The cells expressing both genes elevated mRNA expression of RunX2 and β-catenin and alkaline phosphatase activity compared to cells from other groups. In vivo, X-ray and micro-CT analysis of the retrieved implants revealed more ectopic bone formation at 2 and 3 weeks but not at 4 weeks compared to other groups. The results indicate that the combination of the therapeutic growth factors potentiates cell differentiation and may promote osteogenesis.
Weighting Improves the ‘New Haseman-Elston’ Method

Elston et al. [Genet Epidemiol, in press] apply the results of Wright [Am J Hum Genet 1997;60:740–742] and Drigalenko [Am J Hum Genet 1998;63:1242–1245] to extend the traditional Haseman-Elston regression scheme [Haseman and Elston, Behav Genet 1972;2:3–19] to include not only linkage information contained in the sib pair’s squared difference, but also information in their mean-corrected squared sum. The new algorithm detects linkage to a quantitative trait locus by modelling sib pair trait covariance as a function of identity-by-descent status. We demonstrate why this new estimator is suboptimal and can in some cases be inferior to the original Haseman-Elston method. We also describe a simple approach to estimation which improves on this new Haseman-Elston method by incorporating variance-based weights into the test statistic while staying within the linear modelling framework. In support of our theoretical claim, we conduct both a sib pair simulation and an application to GAW 10 sib pair data showing that our new estimator is superior to both the old and new Haseman-Elston schemes currently implemented in the analysis package S.A. G.E. 4.0.