Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Elevated basal reactive oxygen species and phospho‐Akt in murine keratinocytes resistant to ultraviolet B–induced apoptosis

Resistance to apoptosis may be a critical phenotype that cells must acquire during skin carcinogenesis. The Akt kinase is a known upstream regulator of apoptosis in many cell types and has been shown to be activated by increased reactive oxygen species (ROS). We have previously demonstrated that two malignant variants (6M90 and 6R90) of the mouse keratinocyte 308 cell line have elevated ROS because of loss of catalase activity, and that this elevated ROS confers a growth advantage. We report here that in addition to a growth advantage, chronically increased ROS in the variants resulted in an increase in resistance to ultraviolet (UV) B–induced apoptosis. This resistance was due to basal increases of Akt phosphorylation in the malignant variants compared to the 308 cells. Modulation of ROS in 6M90 and 6R90 cells by catalase overexpression or antioxidant treatment resulted in decreased levels of Akt phosphorylation and subsequent loss of resistance to UVB‐induced apoptosis. Conversely, treatment of 308 cells with hydrogen peroxide caused increases in Akt phosphorylation and increased apoptosis resistance. These results indicate that the chronically elevated ROS often observed in tumors may contribute to a malignant phenotype by keeping Akt in a phosphorylated state, resulting in increased apoptosis resistance. © 2003 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of fiber and virginiamycin on nutrient absorption, nutrient retention and rate of passage in growing swine.

Three balance trials, each involving 12 crossbred gilts averaging 35.2 kg body weight, were conducted to determine the effects of dietary fiber and virginiamycin on nutrient digestibility, mineral absorption and retention, and digesta rate of passage (RP). Two levels of fiber (13.5 and 20.2% neutral detergent fiber) and two levels of virginiamycin (0 and 11 ppm) were used in a 2 X 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. All diets were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. The RP was determined by observing the time required for a change in feces color after the addition of . 5% chromic oxide to the diet. The high fiber diet had a faster (P less than .01) RP, which was associated with depressions (P less than .001) in the digestibility of dry matter (DM), energy (E), cell contents, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), hemicellulose (HC), cellulose, permanganate lignin and ash. Virginiamycin supplementation slowed (P less than .004) the RP of both low and high fiber diets, but improved (P less than .05) the DM, E, NDF, ADF, HC and cellulose digestibility of the high fiber diet only. Fiber increased (P less than .06) fecal N excretion, whereas virginiamycin supplementation decreased (P less than .08) fecal N excretion. The addition of virginiamycin improved the absorption and retention of P, Ca, Mg, Cu, Fe, Zn and Mn when added to the high fiber diet, but had little or no effect when added to the low fiber diet even though absorption and retention values for most minerals were similar or slightly higher for the unsupplemented high fiber diet compared with the unsupplemented low fiber diet. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
ognitive control links alcohol use , trait disinhibition , and reduced cognitive apacity : Evidence for medial prefrontal cortex dysregulation during eward-seeking behavior

Background: Guided by the prediction of response-outcome theory of cognitive control (Alexander and Brown, 2010a), the present study examined reward-seeking medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) activity as a common neuro-functional marker of excessive alcohol consumption, trait disinhibition, and reduced cognitive capacity; all of which have shown consistent patterns of covariation in previous psychometric research (e.g., Bogg and Finn, 2010). Methods: A sample of 18–23-year-old university students with a heterogeneous prevalence of alcohol dependence was assessed with functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) while completing a version of the Balloon Analogue Risk Task (Lejuez et al., 2002). A follow-back typical weekly alcohol consumption interview, self-report measures of trait disinhibition and IQ, and a complex span working memory task also were administered. Results: Correlational region-of-interest analyses showed greater typical weekly alcohol consumption, greater trait disinhibition, and lower IQ were associated with greater reductions in mPFC activity during reward-seeking behaviors (successive inflation choices). The results also showed greater typical weekly alcohol consumption, greater trait disinhibition, and lower IQ were associated with greater increases in mPFC activity during reward-seeking outcomes (successive successful inflation outcomes). No significant relations with the measure of working memory were found. Conclusions: The findings suggest mPFC activity during risk/reward appraisal and performance monitoring is a common neuro-functional feature of co-varying expressions of excessive alcohol consumption, trait disinhibition, and lower IQ.
Bayesian learning of speech duration models

This paper presents the Bayesian speech duration modeling and learning for hidden Markov model (HMM) based speech recognition. We focus on the sequential learning of HMM state duration using quasi-Bayes (QB) estimate. The adapted duration models are robust to nonstationary speaking rates and noise conditions. In this study, the Gaussian, Poisson, and gamma distributions are investigated to characterize the duration models. The maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimate of gamma duration model is developed. To exploit the sequential learning, we adopt the Poisson duration model incorporated with gamma prior density, which belongs to the conjugate prior family. When the adaptation data are sequentially observed, the gamma posterior density is produced with twofold advantages. One is to determine the optimal QB duration parameter, which can be merged in HMMs for speech recognition. The other one is to build the updating mechanism of gamma prior statistics for sequential learning. EM algorithm is applied to fulfill QB parameter estimation. The adaptation of overall HMM parameters can be performed simultaneously. In the experiments, the proposed adaptive duration model improves the speech recognition performance of Mandarin broadcast news and noisy connected digits. The batch and sequential learning are respectively investigated for MAP and QB duration models.
Selective narrowing of social networks across adulthood is associated with improved emotional experience in daily life

Past research has documented age differences in the size and composition of social networks that suggest that networks grow smaller with age and include an increasingly greater proportion of well-known social partners. According to socioemotional selectivity theory, such changes in social network composition serve an antecedent emotion regulatory function that supports an age-related increase in the priority that people place on emotional well-being. The present study employed a longitudinal design with a sample that spanned the full adult age range to examine whether there is evidence of within-individual (developmental) change in social networks and whether the characteristics of relationships predict emotional experiences in daily life. Using growth curve analyses, social networks were found to increase in size in young adulthood and then decline steadily throughout later life. As postulated by socioemotional selectivity theory, reductions were observed primarily in the number of peripheral partners; the number of close partners was relatively stable over time. In addition, cross-sectional analyses revealed that older adults reported that social network members elicited less negative emotion and more positive emotion. The emotional tone of social networks, particularly when negative emotions were associated with network members, predicted daily emotional experience. These findings were robust after taking into account demographic variables and physical health. The implications of these findings are discussed in the context of socioemotional selectivity theory and related theoretical models.
Absence of Effects of Short-Term Fasting on Plasma Ghrelin and Brain Expression of Ghrelin Receptors in the Tilapia, Oreochromis mossambicus

Abstract Ghrelin is an important endocrine peptide that links the gastrointestinal system and brain in the regulation of food intake and energy expenditure. In human, rat, and goldfish plasma levels of ghrelin and GH are elevated in fasted animals, suggesting that ghrelin is an orexigenic signal and a driving force behind the elevated plasma levels of GH during fasting. Ghrelin’s orexigenic action is mediated by the ghrelin receptor (GHS-R1a and GHS-R1b) which is localized on neuropeptide Y (NPY) neurons in the brain. Studies were undertaken to investigate the effect of short-term fasting on plasma ghrelin and brain expression of GHS-R1a, GHS-R1b, and NPY in the tilapia. Fasting for 7 days had no effect on plasma ghrelin concentrations, whereas significant increases in plasma levels of GH were observed on day 3. Fasting significantly reduced plasma levels of IGF-I on days 3 and 7, and of glucose on days 3, 5, and 7. Brain expression of ghrelin and GHS-R1b were significantly elevated in fasted fish on day 3, but were significantly reduced on day 5. This reduction was likely due to a significant increase in the expression in the fed controls on day 5 compared to day 0. No change was detected in the expression of GHS-R1a or NPY in the brain. These results indicate that ghrelin is not acting as a hunger signal in short-term fasted tilapia and is not responsible for the elevated levels of plasma GH.
The non-directional pattern of axonal changes in Wallerian degeneration: a computer-aided morphometric analysis.

Wallerian degeneration was investigated to determine whether axonal changes occur progressively in a somatofugal or somatopetal direction or simultaneously along the length of the axon. Microtubule density was used as a measure of the extent of axonal degeneration and was assessed by a computer-aided analysis of electron micrographs. The left sural nerves of ten rats were crushed and 30 hours later axonal areas and axonal microtubule numbers were recorded from a large sample of axons at two sites 1 cm and 3 cm distal to the crush. The same recordings were made from the right unoperated nerve at two comparable sites. Statistical analysis of all the data provided no evidence for a somatofugal or reverse direction of degeneration. It is concluded therefore that in Wallerian degeneration axonal changes, as indicated by microtubule dissolution, occur simultaneously along the length of the axon. It is proposed that to interpret the conflicting published data on the direction of fibre degeneration, Schwann cell changes (e.g. myelin ovoid formation) and axonal changes (e.g. microtubule dissolution) should be considered independently since they have different aetiological mechanisms which may account for the differing experimental results reported.
Modification of HER2 pre‐mRNA alternative splicing and its effects on breast cancer cells

The oncogene HER2 is overexpressed in a variety of human tumors, providing a target for anti‐cancer molecular therapies. Here, we employed a 2′‐O‐methoxyethyl (MOE) splice switching oligonucleotide, SSO111, to induce skipping of exon 15 in HER2 pre‐mRNA, leading to significant downregulation of full‐length HER2 mRNA, and simultaneous upregulation of Δ15HER2 mRNA. SSO111 treatment of SK‐BR‐3 cells, which highly overexpress HER2, led to inhibition of cell proliferation and induction of apoptosis. The novel Δ15HER2 mRNA encodes a soluble, secreted form of the receptor. Treating SK‐BR‐3 cells with exogenous Δ15HER2 protein reduced membrane‐bound HER2 and decreased HER3 transphosphorylation. Δ15HER2 protein thus has similar activity to an autoinhibitory, natural splice variant of HER2, Herstatin, and to the breast cancer drug Herceptin. Both SSO111 and Δ15HER2 may be potential candidates for the development of novel HER2‐targeted cancer therapeutics. © 2008 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Testing the Motor Simulation Account of Source Errors for Actions in Recall

Observing someone else perform an action can lead to false memories of self-performance – the observation inflation effect. One explanation is that action simulation via mirror neuron activation during action observation is responsible for observation inflation by enriching memories of observed actions with motor representations. In three experiments we investigated this account of source memory failures, using a novel paradigm that minimized influences of verbalization and prior object knowledge. Participants worked in pairs to take turns acting out geometric shapes and letters. The next day, participants recalled either actions they had performed or those they had observed. Experiment 1 showed that participants falsely retrieved observed actions as self-performed, but also retrieved self-performed actions as observed. Experiment 2 showed that preventing participants from encoding observed actions motorically by taxing their motor system with a concurrent motor task did not lead to the predicted decrease in false claims of self-performance. Indeed, Experiment 3 showed that this was the case even if participants were asked to carefully monitor their recall. Because our data provide no evidence for a motor activation account, we also discussed our results in light of a source monitoring account.
The ‘island rule’ in birds: medium body size and its ecological explanation

Do birds show a different pattern of insular evolution from mammals? Mammals follow the ‘island rule’, with large–bodied species getting smaller on islands and small–bodied species getting bigger. By contrast, the traditional view on birds is that they follow no general island rule for body size, but that there is an insular trend for large bills. Insular shifts in feeding ecology are, therefore, widely assumed to be the primary cause of divergence in island birds. We use a comparative approach to test these ideas. Contrary to the traditional view, we find no evidence for increased bill size in insular populations. Instead, changes in both bill size and body size obey the ‘island rule’. The differences between our results and the traditional view arise because previous analyses were based largely on passerines. We also investigate some ecological factors that are thought to influence island evolution. As predicted by the traditional view, shifts in bill size are associated with feeding ecology. By contrast, shifts in body size are associated with the potential for intraspecific competition and thermal ecology. All these results remain qualitatively unchanged when we use different methods to score the ecological factors and restrict our analyses to taxa showing pronounced morphological divergence. Because of strong covariation between ecological factors, however, we cannot estimate the relative importance of each ecological factor. Overall, our results show that the island rule is valid for both body size and bill length in birds and that, in addition to feeding ecology, insular shifts in the level of intraspecific competition and the abiotic environment also have a role.
Psychosocial Processes and “Stress”: Theoretical Formulation

Despite widespread belief that psychosocial processes may be important in disease etiology, attempts to document the role of such factors in epidemiologic studies have led to conflicting and often confusing results. It is the thesis of this paper that this is largely a result of inadequacies in our theoretical framework. The point of view is presented that this stems from an uncritical subscription to and often erroneous interpretation of “stress” theory, a failure to recognize that psychosocial processes are unlikely to be directly pathogenic (in the way that, for example, a microorganism is) and unlikely to be unidimensional. An alternative point of view with data from animal and human studies is presented, and the implications for research strategy and the delivery of health care are discussed.
Dielectric properties of HVOF sprayed ceramic coatings

Thermally sprayed ceramic coatings can be used as electrical insulators for example in high temperature applications (e.g. fuel cells) or in other demanding conditions. In electrical insulation applications the mostly used coating materials are aluminum oxide, magnesium oxide and magnesium aluminate. In general, only few reports of dielectric properties of thermally sprayed ceramic coatings can be found in literature and further analysis is thus needed. In addition, the measurement methods and conditions in previous research are often not fully documented, complicating the evaluation and comparison of the properties of different coatings. The aim of this paper was to characterize dielectric properties of thermally sprayed ceramic spinel coating sprayed with high-velocity oxygen fuel (HVOF) technique. The studied dielectric properties are DC resistivity, DC dielectric breakdown strength, as well as permittivity and dielectric losses at different frequencies. All measurements were made at temperature of 20 °C and at relative humidity of 20 %. Dielectric properties and the composition of coating material are presented and analyzed.
The NOD 2 3020 insC Mutation and the Risk of Colorectal Cancer

Several predispositions to colorectal cancer have been identified, but little is known about genetic susceptibilities to disease in older persons. Colorectal cancer is a risk in Crohn’s disease and is believed to be associated with an inappropriate inflammatory response. Recently, the NOD2 gene has been associated with Crohn’s disease, which further strengthens the notion that the inflammatory response plays a crucial role in this disease. Several mutations have been identified in the NOD2 gene, which appear with significantly higher frequency in patients with the disease. One such mutation (3020insC) is believed to be clearly causative because it results in a prematurely truncated protein with a predicted reduction in functional efficiency. In this report, we have examined the frequency of the 3020insC mutation in a series of 856 individuals including 556 patients with colorectal cancer. The frequency of the 3020insC mutation in a consecutive series of 250 non-hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer patients>50 years of age was significantly elevated compared with the control population (odds ratio, 2.23; P 0.0046). The results indicate that NOD2 may be a predisposing factor to colorectal cancer characterized by an older average age of disease onset in persons who do not harbor any other genetic predisposition to disease.
Lumbosacral Transitional Vertebrae and Their Relationship With Lumbar Extradural Defects

The relationship between herniated lumbar disc and abnormalities of the transverse process of the lumbosacral junction was investigated. Two hundred consecutive patients with positive myelographic findings of herniated lumbar disc were reviewed. Sixty patients presented abnormalities of the transverse process to satisfy the criteria for lumbosacral transitional vertebra. A new classification of lumbosacral transitional vertebra is presented based upon the morphologic and clinical characteristics with respect to herniated nucleus pulposus. Type I represents a “forme fruste” of lumbosacral transitional vertebra and shows no difference in the incidence of the location of herniations. In Types III and IV, there are no herniations at the level of the lumbosacral transitional vertebra and no increase in the incidence of herniations just proximal to the lumbosacral transitional vertebra. The Type II lumbosacral transitional vertebra presents herniated lumbar disc at the level of transition. It also presents a greater than normal incidence of herniations at the level just above the lumbosacral transitional vertebra.
Comparison of Virus Transcription during Lytic Infection of the Oka Parental and Vaccine Strains of Varicella-Zoster Virus

ABSTRACT The attenuated Oka vaccine (V-Oka) strain of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) effectively reduces disease produced by primary infection and virus reactivation. V-Oka was developed by propagation of the Oka parental (P-Oka) strain of VZV in guinea pig and human embryo fibroblasts. Complete DNA sequencing of both viruses has revealed 63 sites that differ between P-Oka and V-Oka, 37 of which are located within 21 unique open reading frames (ORFs). Of the ORFs that differ, ORF 62 contains the greatest number (10) of mutated sites. ORF 62 encodes IE 62, the major immediate-early transactivator of virus genes, and is essential for lytic virus replication. To determine whether a disproportionate number of mutations in ORF 62 might account for virus attenuation, we compared the global pattern of V-Oka gene expression to that of P-Oka. Transcription of ORFs 62, 65, 66, and 67 was suppressed, whereas ORF 41 was elevated in V-Oka-infected cells compared to P-Oka-infected cells (P < 0.01; z test). Suppression of ORF 62, 65, and 66 transcription was confirmed by quantitative dot blot and Western blot analyses. Transient-transfection assays to determine whether mutations within V-Oka-derived IE 62 affected its ability to transactivate VZV gene promoters revealed similar IE 62 transactivation of VZV gene 20, 21, 28, 29, 65, and 66 promoters in both P-Oka and V-Oka. Together, our results indicate that mutations in V-Oka IE 62 alone are unlikely to account for vaccine virus attenuation.
Differential Functioning of Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test Items

Differential Item Functioning (DIF) refers to items that do not function the same way for comparable members of different groups. The present study focuses on analyzing and classifying sex-related differential item functioning in the Bender Visual-Motor Gestalt Test. Subjects were 1,052 children attending public schools (513 boys, 539 girls, ages 6–10 years). The protocols were scored using the Bender Graduated Scoring System, which evaluates only the distortion criterion using the Rasch logistic response model. The scoring system fit the Rasch model, although two items were found to be biased by sex. When analyzing differential functioning of items for boys and girls separately, the number of differentially functioning items was equal.
Functional role of a putative carbonic anhydrase II-binding domain in the electrogenic Na+-HCO3− cotransporter NBCe1 expressed in Xenopus oocytes

The electrogenic Na+-HCO3− cotransporter NBCe1 plays essential roles in the regulation of systemic and/or local pH. Homozygous inactivating mutations in NBCe1 cause proximal renal tubular acidosis associated with ocular abnormalities. We recently showed that defective membrane expression of NBCe1, caused by several mutations such as Delta65bp (S982NfsX4), is also associated with familial migraine. The Delta65bp mutant is quite unique in that it lacks a putative carbonic anhydrase (CA) II-binding domain but still shows an apparently normal transport activity in Xenopus oocytes. In this addendum, we show that the co-expression of CAII together with the wild-type NBCe1 or the Delta65bp mutant does not enhance the NBCe1 activities in oocytes. Moreover, a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor acetazolamide fails to inhibit the wild-type or the Delta65bp activities co-expressed with CAII. These results indicate that a bicarbonate transport metabolon proposed for the interaction between CAII and NBCe1 does not work at least in Xenopus oocytes.