Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Steroid hormone receptors and coregulators in endocrine‐resistant and estrogen‐independent breast cancer cells

Resistance to hormonal therapy is often a problem in the treatment of breast cancer patients. It has been suggested that resistance could be explained by altered nuclear hormone receptor or coregulator levels or inappropriately increased agonist activity of selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERM). To test these hypotheses, we have established novel MCF‐7 cell line‐derived in vitro models of anti‐estrogen‐ and progestin‐resistant and estrogen‐independent breast cancer by long‐term culture in the presence of toremifene and medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) and in the absence of estradiol, respectively. Using cell growth and multiprobe ribonuclease protection assays, the expression of 5 nuclear hormone receptors and 9 coregulators as well as the alterations in the cell proliferation and target gene transcription in response to hormonal treatments were studied. Progesterone receptor (PR) expression was decreased and silencing mediator for retinoid acid and thyroid hormone receptors (SMRT) and amplified in breast cancer‐1 (AIB1) expression increased in anti‐estrogen‐resistant cells. Estrogen caused PR and ERβ upregulation in all cell lines, but we did not observe increased agonist activity of anti‐estrogen measured by regulation of these estrogen target genes. Basal ERα levels and estrogenic growth response were decreased and p300/CBP‐associated factor (pCAF) and AIB1 upregulated by estrogen in progestin‐resistant cells, but coregulator levels were unchanged. Estrogen‐independent cells were still estrogen‐responsive and PR, nuclear receptor corepressor (N‐CoR) and SMRT expression was increased whereas steroid receptor coactivator‐1 (SRC‐1a) and CBP‐related protein p300 (p300) expression decreased. Their growth was inhibited by toremifene, but estradiol was able to abrogate this effect, which might have interesting clinical implications concerning the use of postmenopausal hormone replacement therapy. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Genetic Diversity as an Objective in Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithms

A key feature of an efficient and reliable multi-objective evolutionary algorithm is the ability to maintain genetic diversity within a population of solutions. In this paper, we present a new diversity-preserving mechanism, the Genetic Diversity Evaluation Method (GeDEM), which considers a distance-based measure of genetic diversity as a real objective in fitness assignment. This provides a dual selection pressure towards the exploitation of current non-dominated solutions and the exploration of the search space. We also introduce a new multi-objective evolutionary algorithm, the Genetic Diversity Evolutionary Algorithm (GDEA), strictly designed around GeDEM and then we compare it with other state-of-the-art algorithms on a well-established suite of test problems. Experimental results clearly indicate that the performance of GDEA is top-level.
Adaptive voltage positioning with average current mode control

This paper investigates the adoption of average current mode control to achieve adaptive voltage positioning for low voltage, high current step down voltage regulators. Analytical results are first presented followed by experimental and simulation verification to validate the theoretical study with good correlation. The study reported in this paper demonstrates that average current mode control, which possesses a number of advantages over peak current mode control in multi-phase voltage regulator applications, is a viable alternative for adaptive voltage positioning in low to mid-range performance applications.
Implementation and effectiveness of organizational information security measures

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to study the implementation of organizational information security measures and assess the effectiveness of such measures.Design/methodology/approach – A survey was designed and data were collected from information security managers in a selection of Norwegian organizations.Findings – Technical‐administrative security measures such as security policies, procedures and methods are the most commonly implemented organizational information security measures in a sample of Norwegian organizations. Awareness‐creating activities are applied by the organizations to a considerably lesser extent, but are at the same time these are assessed as being more effective organizational measures than technical‐administrative ones. Consequently, the study shows an inverse relationship between the implementation of organizational information security measures and assessed effectiveness of the organizational information security measures.Originality/value – Provides insight into the non‐t.
Carisoprodol - Effects on Human Performance and Behavior.

Carisoprodol, a commonly prescribed muscle relaxant, has adverse effects on human performance and is gaining recognition as a factor in driver impairment and accident causation. Carisoprodol is a centrally acting skeletal muscle relaxant indicated for the relief of musculoskeletal pain. Carisoprodol and its major metabolite meprobamate have central nervous system (CNS) sedating effects similar to benzodiazepines or alcohol. Following the ingestion of carisoprodol or meprobamate symptoms such as drowsiness, confusion, poor balance, and coordination are well documented in drivers, all of which are detrimental to human performance and driving ability. Although identified as a drug capable of producing decreased human performance, the full extent of carisoprodol and meprobamate's involvement in motor vehicle accidents and effect on driving skills may not be fully appreciated. This is due in part to the common co-administration of other CNS depressants, hypnotics, or narcotic drugs and the lack of routine testing for carisoprodol and meprobamate in the human performance toxicology laboratory.
Kemi, O.J. and Wisløff, U. (2010) Mechanisms of exercise-induced improvements in the contractile apparatus

One of the main outcomes of aerobic endurance exercise training is the improved maximal oxygen uptake, and this is pivotal to the improved work capacity that follows the exercise training. Improved maximal oxygen uptake in turn is at least partly achieved because exercise training increases the ability of the myocardium to produce a greater cardiac output. In healthy subjects, this has been demonstrated repeatedly over many decades. It has recently emerged that this scenario may also be true under conditions of an initial myocardial dysfunction. For instance, myocardial improvements may still be observed after exercise training in post-myocardial infarction heart failure. In both health and disease, it is the changes that occur in the individual cardiomyocytes with respect to their ability to contract that by large drive the exercise training-induced adaptation to the heart. Here, we review the evidence and the mechanisms by which exercise training induces beneficial changes in the mammalian myocardium, as obtained by means of experimental and clinical studies, and we argue that these changes ultimately alter the function of the whole heart and contribute to the changes in whole-body function.
Sequential SPECT and optical imaging of experimental models of prostate cancer with a dual modality inhibitor of the prostate-specific membrane antigen.

We describe a platform for dual modality (radionuclide/optical) imaging of prostate cancer (PCa) based on targeting the prostate-specific membrane antigen (PSMA). An example provided demonstrates that after a single intravenous (IV) injection of tracer amounts (0.1 nmol) of imaging agent to a tumor-bearing mouse, both single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging were capable of delineating tumor specifically. That such small injected amounts could identify tumor in vivo suggests that optical agents, as has long been known for radiopharmaceuticals, may obey the tracer principle, enabling more rapid clinical translation.
Coordinate Hyperproduction of SmeZ and SmeJK Efflux Pumps Extends Drug Resistance in Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

ABSTRACT A Stenotrophomonas maltophilia mutant that coordinately hyper-expresses three resistance nodulation division-type efflux pump genes, smeZ, smeJ, and smeK, has been identified. SmeZ is responsible for elevating aminoglycoside MICs; SmeJ and SmeK are jointly responsible for elevating tetracycline, minocycline, and ciprofloxacin MICs and conferring levofloxacin resistance. One clinical isolate with this same phenotype was identified from a sample of six, and the isolate also coordinately hyper-expresses smeZ and smeJK, confirming the clinical relevance of our findings.
Skin sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction in early breast carcinoma: a preliminary study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE Surgical treatment for breast cancer has some special aspects different from other cancers, since surgeons have to concern of both oncologic safety and esthetic outcome. Modified radical mastectomy (MRM) can give the oncologic safety but not esthetic outcome. Breast conserving therapy improves cosmetic but results in more local recurrence than modified radical mastectomy. Skin sparing mastectomy (SSM) with immediate reconstruction for early breast cancer has been reported by several investigators to have comparable outcome with MRM and better esthetic result. The purpose of the present study was to examine patients who underwent SSM with immediate reconstruction at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital. MATERIAL AND METHOD Patients who underwent SSM with immediate reconstruction by the authors at King Chulalongkorn Memorial Hospital, Bangkok Thailand between May 2007 and January 2011 were studied. The immediate reconstruction was performed with transverse rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flaps or latissimus dorsi flaps. Postoperative early and late complications as well as local recurrence were studied to examine the oncologic safety and esthetic outcome. RESULTS Fourteen patients were enrolled into the present study. The age ranged from 33 to 59 years (mean 47 years). The follow up time ranged from six to 50 months (mean 26.5 months). Postoperative complications included wound infection in one patient (7%), seroma at donor site of latissimus dorsi flaps in two patients (40%) and fat necrosis in five patients (55%). There was no skin flap necrosis, no hematoma, no arm numbness, no wound dehiscense, no abdominal wall hernia, and no lymphedema of the arm. No local recurrence was detected CONCLUSION This preliminary report shows that skin-sparing mastectomy with immediate reconstruction is a good alternative in management of early breast cancer. There was no serious postoperative complication. The esthetic result was acceptable. No local recurrence was observed. Long-term follow up with more patients are required to confirm its applicability in early breast cancer patients.
Assessment of Distress Among Chemotherapy Patients: A Comparative Study of Gender

: The aim of this study was to evaluate, analyze and understand distress levels experienced during chemotherapy treatment, comparing men and women. The sample was composed of 328 patients recruited from an Oncology center. Data collection included the application of the Distress Thermometer at three stages of chemotherapy: beginning, middle and end. Incidence of distress decreased in both genders over the course of assessments. Comparatively, the incidence was higher among women, who also reported the highest number of problems in the practical, family, emotional, spiritual and physical domains. The results corroborate the international literature on the subject. Clinical interest of systematic assessment of distress was confirmed to develop routines of therapeutic monitoring adapted to the specific needs of cancer patients.
Do Different Dialysis-Membranes Affect Beta 2-Microglobulin Kinetics during Chronic Hemodialysis?

Hemodialysis is not an absolute prerequisite for the formation of β2-microglobulin amyloidosis, but it enhances the progression of this complication related to long-standing renal failure. Thus the clearance and turnover of β2-microglobulin seems to play a major role in this disease. In a prospective multicenter study the β2-microglobulin clearance was studied in 87 patients starting hemodialysis. Serum samples were taken prior to and after the first dialysis session and also before and after dialysis at 4, 6, 12, 16, 26 and 52 weeks. Patients were either treated by cuprophane or a polyacrylonitril membrane. At the start, the mean serum β2-microglobulin level was about 18 mg/L in patients treated with a cuprophane membrane, but the levels increased after hemodialysis and reached a plateau, which was always higher than in those treated with polyacrylonitril, which cleared β2-microglobulin from the serum. However, after 12 months the difference was no longer significant. Thus β2-microglobulin excretion during dialysis differs between the two membranes, but seems to lose its significance for the β2-microglobulin serum level in chronic hemodialysis treatment.
Adaptative delta-modulation coding for networked controlled systems

— This paper investigates the closed-loop properties of the differential coding scheme known as Delta–Modulation ( ∆ - M ) when used in feedback loops within the context of linear systems controlled through some communication network. We propose a new modiﬁed scheme of the original form of the ∆ - M algorithm which improves the closed-loop properties. Semiglobal stability with convergence to a ﬁnite ball is proved in this framework, where the domain of attraction may be arbitrarily enlarged by tuning a quantization factor ∆ , in tradeoff with the precision at steady state. In a further step, parameter ∆ is made adaptive, by deﬁning an adaptation law exclusively in terms of information available at both the transmitter and receiver. With this approach, global asymptotic Stability of the Networked Controlled System is achieved for a class of unstable plants.
Evidence for PPC1, a determinant of the pilei-pellis color of Agaricus bisporus fruitbodies.

In the present study, we investigated the genetic basis of mushroom cap color. In first generation hybrids between a brown isolate and the white commercial hybrid U 1, the white trait was recessive. Color was determined using color meter technology in second generation hybrids obtained by crossing the homokaryotic progeny of a first generation hybrid with a homokaryon from U 1. Statistical analysis revealed a bimodal distribution describing two classes of white and not-white hybrids. We postulate that a recessive allele at a single locus (PPC1) encodes the white pilei-pellis color. Joint segregation analyses indicated that PPC1 was linked to the ADH (alcohol dehydrogenase) locus. Through the analysis of the heterokaryotic progeny of the first generation hybrid, a recombination model is proposed in which PPC1 is located between the centromere and the ADH locus.
Neuroregeneration and voiding behavior patterns after pudendal nerve crush in female rats

Since the pudendal nerve innervates the external urethral sphincter, pudendal nerve injury and resultant neuroregeneration should affect voiding behavior. In this study, neuroregenerative activity of pudendal nerve was correlated to the changes in urinary behavior in female rats. Eighteen female rats underwent bilateral pudendal nerve crush, and 17 to 21 age‐matched rats were used as unoperated controls. Urinary volume and frequency were recorded 6 and 13 days post‐operatively (dpo). Initiation of pudendal nerve regeneration was indicated by an upregulation of βII tubulin mRNA in the dorsolateral motoneurons (DLM), as measured at 7 and 14 dpo by in situ hybridization with radio‐labeled βII tubulin cDNA. At 6 dpo, mean volume voided by the crush group was significantly decreased compared to the control group during the light cycle (P < 0.05). At 7 dpo, the DLM mRNA level was significantly increased in the nerve crush group compared to the control group (P < 0.05). At 13 dpo, there were no differences in volume or frequency between the two groups, suggesting a return to normal voiding behavior. At 14 dpo, there was no significant difference in DLM mRNA levels between crush and control groups. Initiation of nerve regeneration occurs before normalization of voiding behavior after pudendal nerve crush. This data suggest that treatments to accelerate nerve regeneration would improve functional recovery of neurologically based incontinence. Neurourol. Urodynam. 19:311–321, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prophylaxis of invasive aspergillosis with voriconazole or caspofungin during building work in patients with acute leukemia

Background Invasive aspergillosis is a common life-threatening infection in patients with acute leukemia. The presence of building work near to hospital wards in which these patients are cared for is an important risk factor for the development of invasive aspergillosis. This study assessed the impact of voriconazole or caspofungin prophylaxis in patients undergoing induction chemotherapy for acute leukemia in a hematology unit exposed to building work. Design and Methods This retrospective cohort study was carried out between June 2003 and January 2006 during which building work exposed patients to a persistently increased risk of invasive aspergillosis. This study compared the cumulative incidence of invasive aspergillosis in patients who did or did not receive primary antifungal prophylaxis. The diagnosis of invasive aspergillosis was based on the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer/Mycosis Study Group criteria. Results Two-hundred and fifty-seven patients (213 with acute myeloid leukemia, 44 with acute lymphocytic leukemia) were included. The mean age of the patients was 54 years and the mean duration of their neutropenia was 21 days. Eighty-eight received antifungal prophylaxis, most with voriconazole (n=74). The characteristics of the patients who did or did not receive prophylaxis were similar except that pulmonary antecedents (chronic bronchopulmonary disorders or active tobacco use) were more frequent in the prophylaxis group. Invasive aspergillosis was diagnosed in 21 patients (12%) in the non-prophylaxis group and four (4.5%) in the prophylaxis group (P=0.04). Pulmonary antecedents, neutropenia at diagnosis and acute myeloid leukemia with high-risk cytogenetics were positively correlated with invasive aspergillosis, whereas primary prophylaxis was negatively correlated. Survival was similar in both groups. No case of zygomycosis was observed. The 3-month mortality rate was 28% in patients with invasive aspergillosis. Conclusions This study suggests that antifungal prophylaxis with voriconazole could be useful in acute leukemia patients undergoing first remission-induction chemotherapy in settings in which there is a high-risk of invasive aspergillosis.
Real-Time Evaluation of E-mail Campaign Performance

We develop a testing methodology that can be used to predict the performance of e-mail marketing campaigns in real time. We propose a split-hazard model that makes use of a time transformation (a concept we call virtual time) to allow for the estimation of straightforward parametric hazard functions and generate early predictions of an individual campaign's performance (as measured by open and click propensities). We apply this pretesting methodology to 25 e-mail campaigns and find that the method is able to produce in an hour and fifteen minutes estimates that are more accurate and more reliable than those that the traditional method (doubling time) produces after 14 hours. Other benefits of our method are that we make testing independent of the time of day and we produce meaningful confidence intervals. Thus, our methodology can be used not only for testing purposes, but also for live monitoring. The testing procedure is coupled with a formal decision theoretic framework to generate a sequential testing procedure useful for the real time evaluation of campaigns.
Endodontic teaching in Philippine dental schools.

AIM The aim of this study was to evaluate the pattern of undergraduate endodontic teaching in Philippine dental schools. METHODOLOGY Data were gathered by sending questionnaires to the deans of the 23 dental schools in the country to determine details of the teaching of root canal treatment in permanent teeth. The covering letter requested that endodontic staff complete the questionnaire. RESULTS Twenty of 23 dental schools returned completed questionnaires. Similarities were observed in the timing of undergraduate endodontic teaching, working length determination, and root canal preparation technique. Irrigating fluids recommended included one or a combination of the following: sodium hypochlorite, hydrogen peroxide, distilled water and EDTA. The root canal medicaments popularly employed were CMCP and eugenol. Most schools used slow-setting zinc oxide eugenol cement as sealer. Differences between schools were noted in the laboratory component of the course. The time allotted for the laboratory exercises, as well as the number of teeth used, differed greatly between each school. An inadequate tutor to student ratio was noted in the majority of schools. Teaching aids were limited and, in most instances, produced by faculty members. Most faculty members teaching endodontics had no specialist training. CONCLUSION The results of this study have demonstrated that there is a need to review endodontic teaching in the majority of the Philippine dental schools to ensure that the course content and curriculum employed by all schools meet specified standards and that appropriate measures should be considered to enhance the learning experience of students.
Modulation of homomeric and heteromeric kainate receptors by the auxiliary subunit Neto1

• Kainate receptors (KARs) are a subtype of ionotropic glutamate receptors, which mediate excitatory neurotransmission. KARs can be regulated through assembly with the auxiliary subunits neuropilin and tolloid‐like 1 and 2 proteins (Neto1 and Neto2). • We characterized the effect of Neto1 on the glutamate sensitivity and desensitization properties of recombinant receptors containing different combinations of the five different KAR subunits (GluK1–GluK5). • We found that Neto1 reduces the onset of desensitization and speeds recovery from desensitization of both homomeric (K2) and heteromeric (with K4 or K5) receptors. • The largest impact of Neto1 was seen at sub‐maximal glutamate concentrations, suggesting that one functional role is to reduce desensitization in partially bound receptors. • Neto1 co‐assembly with neuronal KARs may alter the kinetics of the postsynaptic response, regulating the efficacy of glutamate neurotransmission.