Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Suppression of tumor cell proliferation and migration by human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cells: A possible role for apoptosis and Wnt signaling

Human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem cells (hUCMSCs) represent potential therapeutic tools for solid tumors. However, there are numerous inconsistent results regarding the effects of hUCMSCs on tumors, and the mechanisms underlying this remain poorly understood. The present study further examined this controversial issue by analyzing the molecular mechanisms of the inhibitory effects of hUCMSCs on the proliferation and migration of the human lung cancer A549 cell line and the human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) BEL7402 cell line in vitro. Flow cytometric analysis demonstrated that hUCMSCs arrested tumor cells in specific phases of the cell cycle and induced the apoptosis of tumor cells by using the hUCMSC-conditioned medium (hUCMSC-CM). The hUCMSC-CM also attenuated the migratory abilities of the two tumor cell types. Furthermore, the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), the pro-form of caspase-7 (pro-caspase-7), β-catenin and c-Myc was downregulated, while that of ephrin receptor (EphA5), a biomarker of cancer cell dormancy, was slightly increased in these two tumor cell lines treated with hUCMSC-CM. Specifically, when co-cultured via direct cell-to-cell contact, hUCMSCs were able to spontaneously fuse with any of the two types of solid tumor cells. These observations suggested that hUCMSCs may be a promising candidate for the biological therapy of lung cancer and HCC. Future studies should focus on detailed evidence for cell fusion, as well as other mechanisms proposed in the present study, by introducing additional experimental approaches and models.
Interprofessional education involving didactic TeamSTEPPS® and interactive healthcare simulation: A systematic review

ABSTRACT The didactic portion of TeamSTEPPS®, which focuses on teaching teamwork and communication, coupled with interactive simulation methods provides a unique interprofessional education (IPE) learning environment. Across the literature there are a wide variety of such programs described, but there is not a consensus on the most effective methodology. A systematic review was therefore undertaken to synthesize, critically appraise, and evaluate existing literature on IPE programs that utilize didactic TeamSTEPPS in conjunction with interactive healthcare simulation. EBSCO and PubMed databases were searched from inception through March 2017 using predetermined inclusion and exclusion criteria. The initial search yielded 66 articles which was reduced to 42 peer-reviewed publications after duplicates were removed. An additional 2 articles were identified via hand search. Therefore, 44 articles were identified and reviewed and 11 studies met all inclusion criteria. Critical appraisal was performed using The Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale-Education instruments. The outcome measures associated with each program as well as specifics of the didactic portion and interactive healthcare simulation are further explored in this review. It is anticipated that the findings from this systematic review will aid in the development of future evidence-based interprofessional programs.
PbrmiR397a regulates lignification during stone cell development in pear fruit

Summary Lignified stone cells substantially reduce fruit quality. Therefore, it is desirable to inhibit stone cell development using genetic technologies. However, the molecular mechanisms regulating lignification are poorly understood in fruit stone cells. In this study, we have shown that microRNA (miR) miR397a regulates fruit cell lignification by inhibiting laccase (LAC) genes that encode key lignin biosynthesis enzymes. Transient overexpression of PbrmiR397a, which is the miR397a of Chinese pear (Pyrus bretschneideri), and simultaneous silencing of three LAC genes reduced the lignin content and stone cell number in pear fruit. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) identified in the promoter of the PbrmiR397a gene was found to associate with low levels of fruit lignin, after analysis of the genome sequences of sixty pear varieties. This SNP created a TCA element that responded to salicylic acid to induce gene expression as confirmed using a cell‐based assay system. Furthermore, stable overexpression of PbrmiR397a in transgenic tobacco plants reduced the expression of target LAC genes and decreased the content of lignin but did not change the ratio of syringyl‐ and guaiacyl‐lignin monomers. Consistent with reduction in lignin content, the transgenic plants showed fewer numbers of vessel elements and thinner secondary walls in the remaining elements compared to wild‐type control plants. This study has advanced our understanding of the regulation of lignin biosynthesis and provided useful molecular genetic information for improving pear fruit quality.
A Rationally Designed Hsp70 Variant Rescues the Aggregation-Associated Toxicity of Human IAPP in Cultured Pancreatic Islet β-Cells

Molecular chaperones are key components of the protein homeostasis system against protein misfolding and aggregation. It has been recently shown that these molecules can be rationally modified to have an enhanced activity against specific amyloidogenic substrates. The resulting molecular chaperone variants can be effective inhibitors of protein aggregation in vitro, thus suggesting that they may provide novel opportunities in biomedical and biotechnological applications. Before such opportunities can be exploited, however, their effects on cell viability should be better characterised. Here, we employ a rational design method to specifically enhance the activity of the 70-kDa heat shock protein (Hsp70) against the aggregation of the human islet amyloid polypeptide (hIAPP, also known as amylin). We then show that the Hsp70 variant that we designed (grafted heat shock protein 70 kDa-human islet amyloid polypeptide, GHsp70-hIAPP) is significantly more effective than the wild type in recovering the viability of cultured pancreatic islet β-cells RIN-m5F upon hIAPP aggregation. These results indicate that a full recovery of the toxic effects of hIAPP aggregates on cultured pancreatic cells can be achieved by increasing the specificity and activity of Hsp70 towards hIAPP, thus providing evidence that the strategy presented here provides a possible route for rationally tailoring molecular chaperones for enhancing their effects in a target-dependent manner.
Inflation, Central Bank Independence and Corporatism: An Empirical Test

In this paper, controlling for several macroeconomic factors, we test the hypothesis that central bank independence is closely correlated with the level of social consensus and cooperation on income distribution. Using data from a panel of OECD countries over period 1972-2002, we find evidence in favour of this hypothesis. When one allows for the degree of social consensus and cooperation on income distribution, as in Tarantelli’s (1986) index of corporatism, the relationship between inflation and CBI weakens in the presence of indicators of corporatism. Interestingly, this relationship does not weaken if allowance is made for indicators of corporatism placing much greater weight on the centralisation of unions or of wage bargaining than on the degree of consensus.
The Prevalence of Symptoms of Asthma and Allergic Diseases through ISSAC Method in Teenagers

: Background: Asthma is the most important chronic disease in children and one of the causes of school absenteeism, which is getting more prevalent by the increase of environmental pollutants and industrial life. This study was planned and performed to estimate the prevalence of asthma and other allergic diseases.Materials and Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2009 on 3000 female and male students of first grade of guidance school, who were selected by multistage sampling. Data were collected by standard questionnaire and after data collection and entering ISSAC SPSS software the prevalence of asthma and allergic diseases was estimated. Statistical analysis was performed using χ2 statistical test at significance level of 0.05. Results: Prevalence of asthma, hives, eczema and atopic disease was respectively 3.8 percent, 10.4%, 18.3% and 42%. Prevalence of hives, eczema, atopic disease, watery eyes and wheezing after exercise in both genders showed a statistically significant difference (p 0.05)Conclusion: The results of this study indicated that although the prevalence of asthma in Shirazi children is less than some other cities, the increased development of disease in recent years will be a threatening risk and this phenomenon requires serious attention and planning by authorities as well as health policymakers.
PRADA: Protecting Against DNN Model Stealing Attacks

Machine learning (ML) applications are increasingly prevalent. Protecting the confidentiality of ML models becomes paramount for two reasons: (a) a model can be a business advantage to its owner, and (b) an adversary may use a stolen model to find transferable adversarial examples that can evade classification by the original model. Access to the model can be restricted to be only via well-defined prediction APIs. Nevertheless, prediction APIs still provide enough information to allow an adversary to mount model extraction attacks by sending repeated queries via the prediction API. In this paper, we describe new model extraction attacks using novel approaches for generating synthetic queries, and optimizing training hyperparameters. Our attacks outperform state-of-the-art model extraction in terms of transferability of both targeted and non-targeted adversarial examples (up to +29-44 percentage points, pp), and prediction accuracy (up to +46 pp) on two datasets. We provide take-aways on how to perform effective model extraction attacks. We then propose PRADA, the first step towards generic and effective detection of DNN model extraction attacks. It analyzes the distribution of consecutive API queries and raises an alarm when this distribution deviates from benign behavior. We show that PRADA can detect all prior model extraction attacks with no false positives.
Application of Fuzzy Goal Programming to Wind Turbine Selection with Multiple Criteria &#x2014; A Study of Three Potential Sites in Saudi Arabia

Wind energy has become an attractive alternative to satisfy the ever-growing energy demands worldwide. One important factor that contributes to efficient energy harnessing from a wind farm is the selection of appropriate wind turbines for a specific site. This paper addresses this important issue through a goal programming based multi-criteria wind turbine selection approach. The approach considers four decision criteria in the selection process which are hub height, wind speed, zero output percentage, and rated output percentage. The four criteria are aggregated into a scalar decision function developed using goal programming. The approach is then applied to selection of turbines for three potential wind farm sites, namely, Dhulom, Qassim, and Rawdat ben Habbas, all located in Saudi Arabia. Furthermore, seven different turbine types are used in the selection process. Results indicate that turbine Fuhrlder FL 600 model is the most suitable choice for all three sites.
Examining Social, Information, and Task Networks in Submarine Command and Control

Submarine control room operations have not changed much over the past 50 years, despite introduction of new technologies. This study sought to catalog current operations as a baseline for comparing new ways of working. Three scenarios were selected to be examined in both high and low demand: returning to periscope depth, dived tracking, and inshore operations. The scenarios were run in a submarine simulator with currently serving submariners from the Royal Navy. The flow of throughout the submarine command team was examined using event analysis for systemic teamwork (EAST). EAST models collaborative teamwork via three networks: task, social, and information. Results show that the social interactions, information transition, and focus of tasks are different depending on the particular operation being completed and the work demand placed on the command team. There are particular information elements that are fundamental across all scenario types. Task and communication load is not evenly distributed across the team, with potential bottlenecks identified between the sonar controller and operations officer roles. Implications of the results are discussed alongside recommendations for future research.
Nucleotide-Binding Domain Leucine-Rich Repeat Containing Proteins and Intestinal Microbiota: Pivotal Players in Colitis and Colitis-Associated Cancer Development

The nucleotide-binding domain leucine-rich repeat containing (NLR) proteins play a fundamental role in innate immunity and intestinal tissue repair. A dysbiotic intestinal microbiota, developed as a consequence of alterations in NLR proteins, has recently emerged as a crucial hit for the development of ulcerative colitis (UC) and colitis-associated cancer (CAC). The concept of the existence of functional axes interconnecting bacteria with NLR proteins in a causal role in intestinal inflammation and CAC aroused a great interest for the potential development of preventive and therapeutic strategies against UC and CAC. However, the most recent scientific evidence, which highlights many confounding factors in studies based on microbiota characterization, underlines the need for an in-depth reconsideration of the data obtained until now. The purpose of this review is to discuss the recent findings concerning the cross talk between the NLR signaling and the intestinal microbiota in UC and CAC development, and to highlight the open issues that should be explored and addressed in future studies.
Functional Significance of the Adcy10-Dependent Intracellular cAMP Compartments

Mounting evidence confirms the compartmentalized structure of evolutionarily conserved 3′–5′-cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) signaling, which allows for simultaneous participation in a wide variety of physiological functions and ensures specificity, selectivity and signal strength. One important player in cAMP signaling is soluble adenylyl cyclase (sAC). The intracellular localization of sAC allows for the formation of unique intracellular cAMP microdomains that control various physiological and pathological processes. This review is focused on the functional role of sAC-produced cAMP. In particular, we examine the role of sAC-cAMP in different cellular compartments, such as cytosol, nucleus and mitochondria.
Phylogeny and diversification of the true water bugs (Insecta: Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Nepomorpha)

Climate fluctuations and tectonic reconfigurations associated with environmental changes play large roles in determining patterns of adaptation and diversification, but studies documenting how such drivers have shaped the evolutionary history and diversification dynamics of limnic organisms during the Mesozoic are scarce. Members of the heteropteran infraorder Nepomorpha, or aquatic bugs, are ideal for testing the effects of these determinants on their diversification pulses because most species are confined to aquatic environments during their entire life. The group has a relatively mature taxonomy and is well represented in the fossil record. We investigated the evolution of Nepomorpha based on phylogenetic analyses of morphological and molecular characters sampled from 115 taxa representing all 13 families and approximately 40% of recognized genera. Our results were largely congruent with the phylogenetic relationships inferred from morphology. A divergence dating analysis indicated that Nepomorpha began to diversify in the late Permian (approximately 263 Ma), and diversification analyses suggested that palaeoecological opportunities probably promoted lineage diversification in this group.
A neural pathway controlling motivation to exert effort

Significance The lateral habenula, a brain region that has been implicated in depression, receives inputs from brain nuclei associated with basic emotions and drives. In this report, using fiber photometry and optogenetics on behaving rats, we show that one major lateral habenula output pathway controls the motivation to exert effort in both aversive and appetitive contexts. Overactivity of this pathway could contribute to the reduced motivation seen in human depression. The neural mechanisms conferring reduced motivation, as observed in depressed individuals, is poorly understood. Here, we examine in rodents if reduced motivation to exert effort is controlled by transmission from the lateral habenula (LHb), a nucleus overactive in depressed-like states, to the rostromedial tegmental nucleus (RMTg), a nucleus that inhibits dopaminergic neurons. In an aversive test wherein immobility indicates loss of effort, LHb→RMTg transmission increased during transitions into immobility, driving LHb→RMTg increased immobility, and inhibiting LHb→RMTg produced the opposite effects. In an appetitive test, driving LHb→RMTg reduced the effort exerted to receive a reward, without affecting the reward’s hedonic property. Notably, LHb→RMTg stimulation only affected specific aspects of these motor tasks, did not affect all motor tasks, and promoted avoidance, indicating that LHb→RMTg activity does not generally reduce movement but appears to carry a negative valence that reduces effort. These results indicate that LHb→RMTg activity controls the motivation to exert effort and may contribute to the reduced motivation in depression.
The effects of different irrigation agents on root canal dentine micro-hardness and surface roughness

Aim: Successful endodontic treatments rely on sufficient mechanical preparation and irrigation of the root canal followed by an adequate three-dimensional filling. This study investigated the changes in root dentine micro-hardness and surface roughness upon treatment with different irrigating agents. Methodology: A total of 60 human maxillary incisors and canine teeth were used in this study. The crowns of all teeth were decoronated and roots were divided longitudinally. The samples were separated into three groups prior to irrigation. A 5% NaOCl irrigation agent was applied to the first group, a QMix agent was used for the second group, and a 2% CHX agent was used for the third group. All irrigations were performed for 15 minutes. Following irrigation, microstructural and surface-roughness measurements were taken again from all samples. Results: Micro-hardness was not significantly different between QMix or 5% NaOCl (p>0.05). A significant difference was observed between the QMix- and 2% CHX-treated groups, and between the 5% NaOCl- and QMix-treated groups (p<0.05). A significant difference in surface roughness was observed between the QMix and 2% CHX, and between the 5% NaOCl and QMix (p<0.05). No difference in surface roughness was observed between 5% NaOCl or 2% CHX. The 5% NaOCl and QMix agents reduced the dentine micro-hardness equal to or more than that of the 2% CHX agent. The QMix agent also increased the dentine surface roughness significantly more than the other agents. The 5% NaOCl and 2% CHX agents increased surface roughness equally. Conclusions: It was seen that all of the irrigation agents used in our study affected dentin microhardness and surface roughness at different rates. How to cite this article: Öztekin F, Adıgüzel Ö. The effects of different irrigation agents on root canal dentine micro-hardness and surface roughness. Int Dent Res 2019;9(1):16-21. Linguistic Revision: The English in this manuscript has been checked by at least two professional editors, both native speakers of English.
Relationship breakup disclosures and media ideologies on Facebook

After relationship breakups, people must make difficult decisions about whether and how to convey this change in a networked environment. To understand and characterize behaviors around breakup disclosures, we analyzed survey responses from 119 US Facebook users who reported experiencing a recent breakup. Using mixed methods, we find that those perceiving Facebook as a more efficient disclosure medium are more likely to announce breakups. We show how media ideologies around Facebook breakup disclosures vary; yet people assume others hold similar beliefs about what is appropriate. We contribute to self-disclosure and online identity literature by identifying two new ways people engage in disclosure and self-presentation on social media: announcements, which highlight how social media can serve as efficient one-to-many disclosure sources, and private status change behaviors, a reflexive means of self-presentation. Understanding breakup disclosures provides insight into designing social media to better enable users to find support during difficult life transitions.
Properties of Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch-Filled Recycled Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene Composites: Effect of Shapes and Filler Loadings with Random Orientation

Exploration of natural resources as composite fillers is still under intensive investigation. Previous works mention that nano-size natural fillers provide an alternative solution to improve certain composite properties compared with macro- and micro-size nanofibers. This work prepared biocomposites formulated from recycled acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) reinforced by nano powders or long fibers of oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). Composite properties in terms of density, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, surface morphology, melt flow rate, tensile strength, impact strength, and hardness were studied. The density of all composites generally increased with increasing filler loading. Composites with nano powder fillers had lesser voids than those composites with the long fiber. Melt flow rate of all composites fluctuated with filler loadings. Increasing filler loadings for composites with long fiber increased brittleness. By contrast, composites with nano powder fillers were more elastic at the higher filler loading. It was confirmed that impact and hardness properties of the composites with nano powder fillers increased with increasing filler loading. Moreover, composites with long fiber fillers decreased their impact and hardness properties with filler loadings increase.