Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of tumor growth by systemic treatment with thrombospondin‐1 peptide mimetics

Many normal human cells produce thrombospondin‐1 (TSP‐1), a potent antiangiogenic protein that promotes vascular quiescence. In various organ systems, including the brain, breast and bladder and in fibroblasts, TSP‐1 secretion is reduced during tumorigenesis, thereby allowing induction of the vigorous neovascularization required for tumor growth and metastasis. Full‐length and short TSP‐1–derived peptides inhibit angiogenesis by inducing endothelial cell apoptosis and thus disrupting the vasculature of the growing tumor. CD36 expressed on the surface of endothelial cells functions as the primary antiangiogenic receptor for TSP‐1. A D‐isoleucyl enantiomer of a TSP‐1 heptapeptide specifically inhibits the proliferation and migration of capillary endothelial cells. DI‐TSP, an approximately 1 kDa capped version of this peptide, is also antiangiogenic in vitro, with a specific activity approaching that of the 450 kDa parental molecule. Here, we show that DI‐TSP delivered systemically dose‐dependently inhibits the growth of murine melanoma metastases in syngeneic animals and that its more soluble isomer, DI‐TSPa, similarly blocks the progression of primary human bladder tumors in an orthotopic model in immune‐deficient mice. Like intact TSP‐1, these peptide mimetics had no effect on cancer cells growing in vitro but markedly suppressed the growth of endothelial cells by inducing receptor‐dependent apoptosis. Antibodies raised against CD36 blocked the ability of peptides to induce apoptosis in endothelial cells but had no effect on tumor necrosis factor‐α–induced apoptosis. In vivo, the peptide mimetics were associated with a significantly reduced microvessel density and increased apoptotic indices in both the endothelial and tumor cell compartments. Such short peptides targeted to a specific antiangiogenic receptor, potent and easy to synthesize, show great promise as lead compounds in clinical antiangiogenic strategies. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Missing data in the 2×2 table: patterns and likelihood‐based analysis for cross‐sectional studies with supplemental sampling

Standard measures of crude association in the context of a cross‐sectional study are the risk difference, relative risk and odds ratio as derived from a 2× 2 table. Most such studies are subject to missing data on disease, exposure, or both, introducing bias into the usual complete‐case analysis. We describe several scenarios distinguished by the manner in which missing data arise, and for each we adjust the natural multinomial likelihood to properly account for missing data. The situations presented allow for increasing levels of generality with regard to the missing data mechanism. The final case, quite conceivable in epidemiologic studies, assumes that the probability of missing exposure depends on true exposure and disease status, as well as upon whether disease status is missing (and conversely for the probability of missing disease information). When parameters relating to the missing data process are inestimable without strong assumptions, we propose maximum likelihood analysis subsequent to collecting supplemental data in the spirit of a validation study. Analytical results give insight into the bias inherent in complete‐case analysis for each scenario, and numerical results illustrate the performance of likelihood‐based point and interval estimates in the most general case. Adjustment for potential confounders via stratified analysis is also discussed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Retention of Moisture-tolerant and Conventional Resin-based Sealant in Six- to Nine-year-old Children.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to evaluate and compare the retention rates and development of caries in permanent molars in children sealed with moisture-tolerant, resin-based (Embrace WetBond), and conventional resin-based (Helioseal) sealant over a period of one year. METHODS This was a double blind, split-mouth, randomized controlled trial among six- to nine-year-olds. Sixty-eight permanent mandibular first molars in 34 children were randomly assigned to be sealed with Embrace WetBond or Helioseal sealant. RESULTS The final sample was 32 children with 64 teeth. At 12 months, 23 of 32 (72 percent) sealants were completely retained in Embrace WetBond, whereas only 16 of 32 (50 percent) were retained in the Helioseal group. There was a statistically significant difference in retention rates of Embrace WetBond and Helioseal sealants at 12 months (P<.05). At 12 months follow-up, only two teeth developed caries in Embrace WetBond; in the Helioseal group, five teeth developed caries (two initial and three enamel caries). CONCLUSIONS Embrace WetBond was superior to Helioseal sealant, as Embrace exhibited higher retention and lower caries scores. Embrace WetBond can be preferred over conventional resin-based sealants for community and outreach sealant programs where use of rubber dam for moisture control is difficult to practice.
Synthetic Lethality of Yeast slt Mutations with U2 Small Nuclear RNA Mutations Suggests Functional Interactions between U2 and U5 snRNPs That Are Important for Both Steps of Pre-mRNA Splicing

ABSTRACT A genetic screen was devised to identify Saccharomyces cerevisiae splicing factors that are important for the function of the 5′ end of U2 snRNA. Six slt (stands for synthetic lethality with U2) mutants were isolated on the basis of synthetic lethality with a U2 snRNA mutation that perturbs the U2-U6 snRNA helix II interaction. SLT11 encodes a new splicing factor andSLT22 encodes a new RNA-dependent ATPase RNA helicase (D. Xu, S. Nouraini, D. Field, S. J. Tang, and J. D. Friesen, Nature 381:709–713, 1996). The remaining four sltmutations are new alleles of previously identified splicing genes:slt15, previously identified as prp17(slt15/prp17-100), slt16/smd3-1,slt17/slu7-100, and slt21/prp8-21. slt11-1 andslt22-1 are synthetically lethal with mutations in the 3′ end of U6 snRNA, a region that affects U2-U6 snRNA helix II; however,slt17/slu7-100 and slt21/prp8-21 are not. This difference suggests that the latter two factors are unlikely to be involved in interactions with U2-U6 snRNA helix II but rather are specific to interactions with U2 snRNA. Pairwise synthetic lethality was observed among slt11-1 (which affects the first step of splicing) and several second-step factors, includingslt15/prp17-100, slt17/slu7-100, andprp16-1. Mutations in loop 1 of U5 snRNA, a region that is implicated in the alignment of the two exons, are synthetically lethal with slu4/prp17-2 and slu7-1 (D. Frank, B. Patterson, and C. Guthrie, Mol. Cell. Biol. 12:5179–5205, 1992), as well as with slt11-1, slt15/prp17-100,slt17/slu7-100, and slt21/prp8-21. These same U5 snRNA mutations also interact genetically with certain U2 snRNA mutations that lie in the helix I and helix II regions of the U2-U6 snRNA structure. Our results suggest interactions among U2 snRNA, U5 snRNA, and Slt protein factors that may be responsible for coupling and coordination of the two reactions of pre-mRNA splicing.
Salt licks do not increase local densities of the deer ked, Lipoptena cervi, an abundant ectoparasite of cervids

The deer ked, Lipoptena cervi (Diptera: Hippoboscidae), is a common ectoparasite of the moose, Alces alces (Artiodactyla: Cervidae). Salt licks are widely used to manipulate moose movements to prevent damage to saplings and traffic accidents. They may cause moose to gather in small areas, which could create aggregates of deer ked pupae as the parasite is a short‐distance flyer and its dispersion depends on its hosts. We investigated whether the population density of flying deer keds could be influenced by manipulating salt licks and how environmental variables affect parasite density. Densities were estimated in 40 experimental sites with four treatments (no salt licks, introduced salt licks, removed salt licks, permanent salt licks) in September during 2007–2010. Forest edges, mixed forests on mineral soil and coniferous forests on peat soil were the habitats with high numbers of parasites. The manipulation of salt licks seemed to be ineffective in reducing the density of deer keds as the only factor to show statistical significance with parasite numbers in the mixed‐model analysis was year of determination. Annual deer ked densities correlated with the abundance of moose in the region. Moreover, high spring and summer temperatures seemed to increase the numbers of flying imagos.
Financial Access and Economic Growth: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa

Abstract This study empirically analyzes the effects of financial access on economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa. By estimating panel data on thirty-seven countries from Sub-Saharan Africa between 2004 and 2012, we examine whether improved access to financial services has contributed to economic growth in this region. The empirical results clearly indicate that financial access has a statistically significant and robust effect on increasing economic growth in Sub-Saharan Africa.
Expression of Cell Cycle-related Proteins p16, p27 and Ki-67 Proliferating Marker in Laryngeal Squamous Cell Carcinomas and in Laryngeal Papillomas.

BACKGROUND The deregulation of the cell cycle is crucial for the processes of carcinogenesis and tumor progression. The cell cycle is under the control of cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and their inhibitors (CDKIs). Proteins p16 and p27 are CDKIs, and their altered expression has been noticed in many types of cancers. The aim of this study has been to compare the expression levels of these proteins in laryngeal papillomas and carcinomas in order to confirm their predictive value in cancer development. MATERIALS AND METHODS Eighty-three cases of laryngeal lesions were analyzed: cancers (51) and papillomas (32). Immunohistochemical (IHC) reactions were performed in order to detect the expression levels of p16, p27 and Ki-67. Immunofluorescence (IF) and western blot were performed on HEp-2 cell line. RESULTS The expression of p16 and p27 was decreased in cancer cells in comparison to papillomas. Additionally, we observed cytoplasmic expression of p16 in cancers and lack of such expression in papillomas. The same pattern of expression of p16 was also detected by IF and western blot analysis in HEp-2 cell line. The expression of Ki-67 protein revealed no significant differences in the case of papilloma compared with cancer, however a significant correlation between tumor grade and the nuclear expression of Ki-67 was observed. CONCLUSION There is a necessity in finding biomarkers, which would predict the risk level of malignant transformation. Our study has confirmed that altered expressions of the p16 and p27 proteins might be useful biomarkers in the progression of laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LSCC).
Outcome of Kienböck's disease in twelve cases: a mid-term follow-up study.

INTRODUCTION No single study has established the superiority of one treatment of Kienböck's disease over the other. Pooled outcome data is presently considered the best way to add to the knowledge and understanding of Kienböck's disease. METHODS A total of 12 patients (9 male and 3 female) with Kienböck's disease were included in the present case series. The mean age of the 12 patients was 28 years. One patient presented in Lichtman stage I, five in Lichtman stage II, five in Lichtman stage IIIa, and one in Lichtman stage IV. Univariate and multivariate analyses of the obtained data were performed to identify any correlations. RESULTS The mean follow-up time was 62 months, and the mean modified Mayo wrist score improved from the preoperative value of 29.5 to the final value of 89.6. Lichtman stage at presentation showed moderate positive correlation with the duration of symptoms (r = 0.56), and a strong negative correlation with the preoperative and final modified Mayo scores (r = -0.89 and r = -0.77, respectively). The final modified Mayo score showed moderate negative correlation with the duration of the symptoms (r = -0.55). There was a significant difference in the preoperative modified Mayo scores of patients who presented in stage II and those of patients who presented in stage IIIa (p = 0.03). However, the difference in the final modified Mayo scores of the patients in these stages was not significant (p = 0.14). CONCLUSION Lichtman's stage is moderately related to the duration of symptoms, suggesting natural progression of the disease. The final outcomes of stages II and IIIa were the same irrespective of the surgical treatment (radial shortening and/or vascularised bone grafting).
Death of Motoneurons Induced by Trophic Deprivation or by Excitotoxicity Is Not Prevented by Overexpression of SMN

The telomeric copy of the survival motor neuron gene (SMN1) is deleted or mutated in all spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) patients and these patients present mainly a loss in spinal motoneurons. Although studies performed in HeLa cells suggest that SMN may be involved in the biogenesis and possibly in recycling of spliceosomal small nuclear ribonucleoproteins (snRNPs), no link has been established between this function and the consequence of the absence of SMN in the specific loss of motoneurons. We attempted to answer the question of whether SMN plays a direct role in motoneuron survival by transducing cultured motoneurons with lentiviral vectors coding either for an antisense Smn mRNA or for full-length or truncated forms of SMN. We studied their effect on survival under different anti- or proapoptotic culture conditions. Our results show that increased levels of SMN are unable to protect motoneurons from death induced by trophic deprivation or by excitotoxicity. These results suggest that SMN is not a survival factor per se for motoneurons. In addition, overexpression of a truncated form of SMN shown to induce a modified subcellular localization and to exert a dominant-negative effect on snRNP biogenesis and RNA splicing in HeLa cells was ineffective in modifying both localization and survival in motoneurons.
Breadth-first-based decision algorithm for facial biometrics

The challenge of facial biometrics is the decision rule of how to determine whether the claimant is the genuine user. It is an important issue that the decision rule affects the accuracy of performance. Therefore, the study proposes a breadth-first-based decision algorithm for facial biometrics. The proposed algorithm searches different graph paths to obtain a verified decision to accept or reject the claimant. Based on experiments on multiple face databases, we achieve a high performance and reliable facial biometric system.
Cointegration and Causality between Turkish, Imports and GDP: A Structural Analysis

The aim of this paper is to reveal the relation between imports and growth rate in Turkey for the period between the first quarter of 1998 and last quarter of 2014. The touchstone in Turkish economy is the January 24 regulations of 1980. The import led growth strategy of the Turkish economy switched to export led growth strategy after this date. It is an indisputable fact that trade openness triggered to the economic growth progress of Turkey. Yet, the issue should be further investigated. It is being argued by both scholars and politicians that the high growth rates in the mentioned period is achieved by importing raw materials and intermediate goods, thus, growth in Turkish economy has to be accompanied by the increase in imports and thus increase in trade deficit and current account deficit. In the literature, the relations between GDP growth and exports are intensively investigated, however, the relation between the second component of international trade, imports, and GDP growth did not attract that much attention. The main objective of this study is to reveal the presence and direction of Granger causality between Turkish Imports and GDP. The model to be employed in Granger causality (i.e. VAR vs. VECM) depends on whether the variables under question are stationary and/or co integrated. In testing the unit roots, we have followed the Augmented Dickey-Fuller (Dickey and Fuller, 1979) test which eventually became the standard practice in unit root testing. Next, to find the number of co integrating vectors Johansen Maximum Likelihood (Johansen and Juselius, 1990) test is employed.
Fuel oxidation during exercise in middle-aged men: role of training and glucose disposal.

PURPOSE The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that carbohydrate (CHO) utilization in middle-aged trained men is increased during hard-intensity exercise and decreased during moderate-intensity exercise in comparison with age-matched sedentary men. We also investigated whether a relationship between CHO utilization and glucose disposal exists. METHODS Seven trained cyclists (Tr) and seven age-matched sedentary men (Sed) underwent an intravenous glucose tolerance test after an overnight fast (minimal model method) to determine their glucose disposal; they also performed two 1-h trials on a cycle ergometer below and above their individual ventilatory threshold (VT). Substrate oxidation was evaluated by indirect calorimetry. Hormonal responses were investigated during exercise. RESULTS Insulin sensitivity (SI) and glucose effectiveness (Sg) were significantly higher in the Tr group than in the Sed group (P < 0.001, P < 0.03). CHO oxidation was significantly higher in the Tr group than in the Sed group when exercise was performed above VT, whereas CHO oxidation was higher in the Sed group when exercise was performed below VT (P < 0.05). Epinephrine (Epi) response during hard-intensity exercise was higher in the Tr group than in the Sed group (P < 0.01). SI was negatively correlated to CHO oxidation in the Tr group (r = -0.743, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION Endurance training results in increased CHO utilization during hard-intensity exercise and reduced CHO oxidation during moderate-intensity exercise in middle-aged men. During hard-intensity exercise, the increased CHO utilization in middle-aged trained men is associated with a greater response in Epi and is inversely related with SI.
Substance use disorders in adolescents with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a 4-year follow-up study.

AIM To examine the relationship between a childhood diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) with or without oppositional defiant disorder (ODD)/conduct disorder (CD) and the development of later alcohol/drug use disorder [psychoactive substance use disorder (PSUD)] and nicotine dependence in a large European sample of ADHD probands, their siblings and healthy control subjects. PARTICIPANTS, DESIGN AND SETTING Subjects (n = 1017) were participants in the Belgian, Dutch and German part of the International Multicenter ADHD Genetics (IMAGE) study. IMAGE families were identified through ADHD probands aged 5-17 years attending out-patient clinics, and control subjects from the same geographic areas. After a follow-up period (mean: 4.4 years) this subsample was re-assessed at a mean age of 16.4 years. MEASUREMENTS PSUD and nicotine dependence were assessed using the Diagnostic Interview Schedule for Children, Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test, Drug Abuse Screening Test and Fagerström test for Nicotine Dependence. FINDINGS The ADHD sample was at higher risk of developing PSUD [hazard ratio (HR) = 1.77, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.05-3.00] and nicotine dependence (HR = 8.61, 95% CI = 2.44-30.34) than healthy controls. The rates of these disorders were highest for ADHD youth who also had CD, but could not be accounted for by this comorbidity. We did not find an increased risk of developing PSUD (HR = 1.18, 95% CI = 0.62-2.27) or nicotine dependence (HR = 1.89, 95% CI = 0.46-7.77) among unaffected siblings of ADHD youth. CONCLUSIONS A childhood diagnosis of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is a risk factor for psychoactive substance use disorder and nicotine dependence in adolescence and comorbid conduct disorder, but not oppositional defiant disorder, further increases the risk of developing psychoactive substance use disorder and nicotine dependence.
Exercise-induced muscle injury augments forearm vascular resistance during leg exercise.

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effect of exercise-induced muscle injury on hemodynamic responses during exercise. Ten subjects performed unilateral isometric knee extensions (IKE) at 30% of preinjury maximum voluntary contraction to fatigue and for 3 min before and 48 h after muscle injury. Muscle injury was elicited by performing 8 sets of 10 repetitions of eccentric muscle actions of the knee extensor muscles (i.e., quadriceps muscles) by lowering a weight equivalent to 75% of eccentric maximum load. Exercise time to fatigue for IKE at 30% of maximum voluntary contraction in the injured leg was significantly decreased from preinjury to postinjury IKE (257 +/- 21 to 203 +/- 23 s; n = 10), but was unchanged in the control leg (244 +/- 16 to 254 +/- 20 s; n = 7). With the use of a 10-cm visual analog scale, ratings of muscle soreness in the injured leg increased from 0 to 5. 1 +/- 0.7 cm (P < 0.001) but were not changed in the control leg (0 both times). Both heart rate and mean arterial pressure responses to exercise were unchanged following muscle injury. Forearm blood flow and forearm vascular resistance were not different at rest and during the first minute of exercise before and after muscle injury. However, after muscle injury, forearm blood flow was significantly lower and forearm vascular resistance was significantly higher (P < 0.03) during the second and third minutes of exercise. There were no significant changes in any variables with the contralateral control leg. In four subjects, resting magnetic resonance images demonstrated a 23% greater relative cross-sectional area of the knee extensor muscles with an elevated transverse relaxation time in the injured versus control leg. The results indicate that forearm vascular resistance is augmented during isometric knee extension following muscle injury of the knee extensor muscles. The data suggest that muscle injury alters vascular control to non-exercising skeletal muscle during exercise.
A narrative review of psychological and educational strategies applied to young children's eating behaviours aimed at reducing obesity risk

Strategies to reduce risk of obesity by influencing preschool children's eating behaviour are reviewed. The studies are placed in the context of relevant psychological processes, including inherited and acquired preferences, and behavioural traits, such as food neophobia, ‘enjoyment of food’ and ‘satiety responsiveness’. These are important influences on how children respond to feeding practices, as well as predictors of obesity risk. Nevertheless, in young children, food environment and experience are especially important for establishing eating habits and food preferences. Providing information to parents, or to children, on healthy feeding is insufficient. Acceptance of healthy foods can be encouraged by five to ten repeated tastes. Recent evidence suggests rewarding healthy eating can be successful, even for verbal praise alone, but that palatable foods should not be used as rewards for eating. Intake of healthier foods can be promoted by increasing portion size, especially in the beginning of the meal. Parental strategies of pressuring to eat and restriction do not appear to be causally linked to obesity, but are instead primarily responses to children's eating tendencies and weight. Moderate rather than frequent restriction may improve healthy eating in children. Actively positive social modelling by adults and peers can be effective in encouraging healthier eating.