Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Activation of Nonreceptor Tyrosine Kinase Bmx/Etk Mediated by Phosphoinositide 3-Kinase, Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor, and ErbB3 in Prostate Cancer Cells*

Pathways activated downstream of constitutively active phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase in PTEN-deficient prostate cancer (PCa) cells are possible therapeutic targets. We found that the nonreceptor Tec family tyrosine kinase Bmx/Etk was activated by tyrosine phosphorylation downstream of Src and PI 3-kinase in PTEN-deficient LNCaP and PC3 PCa cells and that Bmx down-regulation by short interfering RNA markedly inhibited LNCaP cell growth. Bmx also associated with ErbB3 in LNCaP cells, and heregulin-β1 enhanced this interaction and further stimulated Bmx activity. Epidermal growth factor (EGF) similarly stimulated an interaction between Bmx and EGF receptor and rapidly increased Bmx kinase activity. Bmx stimulation in response to heregulin-β1 and EGF was Src-dependent, and heregulin-β1 stimulation of Bmx was also PI 3-kinase-dependent. In contrast, the rapid tyrosine phosphorylation and activation of Bmx in response to EGF was PI 3-kinase-independent. Taken together, these results demonstrate that Bmx is a critical downstream target of the constitutively active PI 3-kinase in PTEN-deficient PCa cells and further show that Bmx is recruited by the EGF receptor and ErbB3 and activated in response to their respective ligands. Therefore, Bmx may be a valuable therapeutic target in PCa and other epithelial malignancies in which PI 3-kinase or EGF receptor family pathways are activated.
Evaluated Conjunctival Blood Flow Velocity in Daily Contact Lens Wearers

Objective: This study examined conjunctival microvasculature development in long-term habitual contact lens (HCL) wearers after a night of sleep. Methods: Twenty HCL wearers (15 women and 5 men, aged 28.6±6.9 years, mean age±standard deviation) who had worn contact lenses on a daily basis for at least 3 years and 40 noncontact lens (NCL) wearers (23 women and 17 men, aged 36.5±6.6 years, mean age±standard deviation) participated in the study. A functional slitlamp biomicroscopy imaging system was used to image the temporal bulbar conjunctiva. Imaging was performed in the morning while the contact lens wearers were not wearing their lenses after a night of sleep. The conjunctival vessel diameters, blood flow velocities, and flow rates were measured. In addition, fractal analyses were performed to obtain the vessel network density (Dbox) and complexity (D0). Results: The average blood flow velocity in HCL wearers after a night of sleep was 0.59±0.19 mm/s, which was significantly higher than that in NCL wearers (0.48±0.17 mm/s, P<0.05). The microvessel network density and complexity levels (Dbox=1.64±0.05 and D0=1.71±0.05, respectively) in the HCL wearers were significantly higher than those in NCL wearers (Dbox=1.61±0.05 and D0=1.69±0.04, both P<0.05). The blood flow velocity was positively correlated with the duration of contact lens wear (r=0.46, P<0.05) and with the daily number of lens-wearing hours (r=0.49, P<0.05) in HCL wearers. Conclusions: This study identified microvascular alterations in the conjunctiva in response to daily contact lens wear after a night of sleep in long-term daily contact lens wearers. The unrecovered changes may indicate that para-inflammation occurs on ocular surfaces because of contact lens wear and that overnight sleeping with no lenses may not sufficiently restore the ocular surface to an intact state.
Antagonistic regulation of flowering‐time gene SOC1 by CONSTANS and FLC via separate promoter motifs

Flowering in Arabidopsis is controlled by endogenous and environmental signals relayed by distinct genetic pathways. The MADS‐box flowering‐time gene SOC1 is regulated by several pathways and is proposed to co‐ordinate responses to environmental signals. SOC1 is directly activated by CONSTANS (CO) in long photoperiods and is repressed by FLC, a component of the vernalization (low‐temperature) pathway. We show that in transgenic plants overexpressing CO and FLC, these proteins regulate flowering time antagonistically and FLC blocks transcriptional activation of SOC1 by CO. A series of SOC1::GUS reporter genes identified a 351 bp promoter sequence that mediates activation by CO and repression by FLC. A CArG box (MADS‐domain protein binding element) within this sequence was recognized specifically by FLC in vitro and mediated repression by FLC in vivo, suggesting that FLC binds directly to the SOC1 promoter. We propose that CO is recruited to a separate promoter element by a DNA‐binding factor and that activation by CO is impaired when FLC is bound to an adjacent CArG motif.
Autogenous transplantation of teeth with complete root formation: two case reports.

AIM Autotransplantation is an alternative treatment for replacing lost teeth when suitable donor teeth are available. This paper presents two cases of successful autogenous tooth transplantation. SUMMARY Two third molars with complete root development were autogenously transplanted from their original sockets into new recipient sites on the same side of the mouth, one in the maxilla and one in the mandible. In both cases, the third molars were transplanted immediately after the first molar extractions. To provide better adaptation of the donor teeth, the recipient alveolar sites were remodelled using surgical burs. Semi-rigid splints were maintained for 45 and 15 days, respectively. Root canal treatment commenced one a week after transplantation and the canals were medicated with a calcium hydroxide paste before they were filled. Clinical and radiographic findings after 5 and 3 years of follow-up, respectively, are discussed in relation to the literature. KEY LEARNING POINTS Autogenous transplantation of teeth with complete root formation may be considered as a viable treatment option to conventional prosthetic and implant rehabilitation for both therapeutic and economic reasons. Careful surgical and endodontic procedure, together with careful case selection may lead to satisfactory aesthetic and functional outcomes.
Comparative water use by maize, perennial crops, restored prairie, and poplar trees in the US Midwest

Water use by plant communities across years of varying water availability indicates how terrestrial water balances will respond to climate change and variability as well as to land cover change. Perennial biofuel crops, likely grown mainly on marginal lands of limited water availability, provide an example of a potentially extensive future land cover conversion. We measured growing-season evapotranspiration (ET) based on daily changes in soil profile water contents in five perennial systems—switchgrass, miscanthus, native grasses, restored prairie, and hybrid poplar—and in annual maize (corn) in a temperate humid climate (Michigan, USA). Three study years (2010, 2011 and 2013) had normal growing-season rainfall (480–610 mm) whereas 2012 was a drought year (210 mm). Over all four years, mean (±SEM) growing-season ET for perennial systems did not greatly differ from corn (496 ± 21 mm), averaging 559 (±14), 458 (±31), 573 (±37), 519 (±30), and 492 (±58) mm for switchgrass, miscanthus, native grasses, prairie, and poplar, respectively. Differences in biomass production largely determined variation in water use efficiency (WUE). Miscanthus had the highest WUE in both normal and drought years (52–67 and 43 kg dry biomass ha−1 mm−1, respectively), followed by maize (40–59 and 29 kg ha−1 mm−1); the native grasses and prairie were lower and poplar was intermediate. That measured water use by perennial systems was similar to maize across normal and drought years contrasts with earlier modeling studies and suggests that rain-fed perennial biomass crops in this climate have little impact on landscape water balances, whether replacing rain-fed maize on arable lands or successional vegetation on marginal lands. Results also suggest that crop ET rates, and thus groundwater recharge, streamflow, and lake levels, may be less sensitive to climate change than has been assumed.
Estimation of second order parameters using probability weighted moments

The P.O. T. method (Peaks Over Threshold) consists in using the generalized Pareto distribution (GPD) as an approximation for the distribution of excesses over a high threshold. In this work, we use a refinement of this approximation in order to estimate second order parameters of the model using the method of probability-weighted moments (PWM): in particular, this leads to the introduction of a new estimator for the second order parameter ρ , which will be compared to other recent estimators through some simulations. Asymptotic normality results are also proved. Our new estimator of ρ looks especially competitive when |ρ | is small.
Human T-lymphocyte proliferation, lymphokine production, and amebicidal activity elicited by the galactose-inhibitable adherence protein of Entamoeba histolytica

We studied human T-lymphocyte responses to the purified Entamoeba histolytica galactose-inhibitable adherence protein. Individuals having serum anti-adherence protein antibodies possess peripheral blood lymphocytes which demonstrate antigen-specific responses to the purified adherence protein (10 micrograms/ml) and whole soluble amebic antigen (100 micrograms/ml). This was determined by incorporation of [3H]thymidine (53,080 and 73,114 dpm, respectively) and by increased production of interleukin-2 and gamma interferon (42.0 and 67.5 U/ml, respectively) (P less than 0.05 for each in comparison with values for control lymphocyte responses). Lymphocytes from antiamebic antibody-positive subjects develop in vitro amebicidal activity only when incubated for 5 days with the purified adherence protein (P = 0.02). In conclusion, the E. histolytica galactose-inhibitable adherence protein elicits an in vitro amebicidal cell-mediated immune response, further supporting the potential for the use of this protein in a subunit amebiasis vaccine.
Do Loan Officers Impact Lending Decisions? Evidence from the Corporate Loan Market

We examine the role of loan officers in the private debt market. We construct a comprehensive database that allows us to track the employment history, performance and lending terms related to over 7,000 loan officers employed by major U.S. corporate lending departments from the period spanning 1994 to 2012. We find evidence consistent with loan officers having a substantial impact on ex-post loan performance, after controlling for observable lending terms, borrower, bank, and industry characteristics. Moreover, loan officers also appear to be more important than banks in explaining the variation of loan performance. We further show that loan officers exhibit heterogeneous loan origination styles as reflected in their lending terms and these styles appear to be associated with loan performance. Finally, we find that loan officers play an equally important role in both large banks and small banks and that their future lending performance is highly influenced by early employment choices. Overall, our study highlights the importance of human capital in the corporate lending market.
Adulthood with Turner Syndrome: Quality of life, psychosocial adjustment and clinical management in 70 Italian women

Abstract Background: Turner syndrome (TS) is a chromosomal abnormality (total or partial absence of one of the sexual chromosomes in some or all cells of the body), which affects approximately 1:2000 female. Principal characteristics are short stature and gonadal disgenesis. Clinical management consist of Growth Hormone (GH) treatment and oestrogen replacement therapy (HRT), to induce development of secondary characteristics and to avoid the sequelae of oestrogen deficiency. Aim of the study: To assess clinical management, quality of life (QoL) and general psychosocial adjustment of women with TS. Population: 70 adult Caucasian females with TS (mean age: 27.8, ± 7.6; range 18-48 y.). Setting: Specialist service for Rare Disease care, University Hospital. Methods: Subjects were required to fill in questionnaires collecting ASR, WHOQOL, and 8 open questions. Data were compared with those of the Italian population or to those collected in a comparison group (70 healthy females, mean age: 27.9, ±7.3, range 21-48 y.). Results: Women with TS are educated as well as the Italian Population, but they have a less successful professional life. They show good QoL in general, but they appeared less satisfied in social area. They had statistically higher scores than the comparison group for depression, anxiety and withdrawal. Are less involved in a love relationship. Diagnosis communication was mostly performed by doctors or parents, satisfaction was higher when information was given by parents. Main preoccupation about TS are infertility, feeling of being different and future health problem. Conclusions: Italian people with TS were generally well adapted and have a good QoL, but lived more often with parents and show impaired sentimental and sexual life. They have higher degree of psychological distress compared to a comparison group. Psychological intervention should firstly address parents in order to encourage an open communication on diagnosis issues and on sexual education.
Cholesterol as a co‐solvent and a ligand for membrane proteins

As of mid 2013 a Medline search on “cholesterol” yielded over 200,000 hits, reflecting the prominence of this lipid in numerous aspects of animal cell biology and physiology under conditions of health and disease. Aberrations in cholesterol homeostasis underlie both a number of rare genetic disorders and contribute to common sporadic and complex disorders including heart disease, stroke, type II diabetes, and Alzheimer's disease. The corresponding author of this review and his lab stumbled only recently into the sprawling area of cholesterol research when they discovered that the amyloid precursor protein (APP) binds cholesterol, a topic covered by the Hans Neurath Award lecture at the 2013 Protein Society Meeting. Here, we first provide a brief overview of cholesterol‐protein interactions and then offer our perspective on how and why binding of cholesterol to APP and its C99 domain (β‐CTF) promotes the amyloidogenic pathway, which is closely related to the etiology of Alzheimer's disease.
Detection of the Human Stress Response to Auditory Noise

This paper presents results of an investigative study to detect, measure and analyse human stress response under the presence of different intensities of external modifiers (white noises). Subjects’ responses under the stressors have been detected and analysed using various bio-signals, such as Eelectrocardiography (ECG) and skin conductance. Applying different intensities of auditory stimuli to the participants while they are undertaking cognitive tasks, may induce certain levels of ‘stress’. In order to analyse the level of stress efficiently, having an intelligent system is essential. The primary objective of this research is to develop such an intelligent system. Using bio-signals as an input, the system detects, recognises and classifies any psychophysiological change in human behaviour under different auditory conditions. The outcome of this research work has a wide range of benefits for the community and particularly in the area of clinical research.
Statistical test of linearity of photoreceptor transduction process: Limulus passes, others fail.

We present the results of a theoretical analysis of a completely general linear chain model for transduction in photoreceptors from which we have derived a statistical test for the intrinsic linearity of the single-photon transduction process. By linearity we mean comprising first-order chemical reactions only. We show results of our own measurements in Limulus ventral photoreceptors that pass this linearity test, suggesting that the single-photon transduction in Limulus may be a simple chain of first-order biochemical reactions (plus possible diffusional processes). However, we also demonstrate that published data show the existence of strong nonlinearities in the single-photon responses of toad and perhaps also of locust. Such nonlinearities are not difficult to construct from existing biochemical notions (feedback, cooperativity), but all but one [Kramer, L. (1975) Biophys. Struct. Mech. 1,239-257] of the published analytical models of the single-photon process have been linear. The test we have used is the distribution of "areas" (time integrals of conductance changes) of single-photon responses or "bumps. " Reasonable molecular linear chain models do not allow distributions very sharply peaked at non-zero values. Such peaked distributions are seen in toad and locust but not in Limulus.
Integration of TSVs, wafer thinning and backside passivation on full 300mm CMOS wafers for 3D applications

Among the many 3D technology options that are being explored today, the 3D-stacked IC approach has become a mature and economically viable technology and provides the highest density for 3D interconnects to date. One approach for IC stacking pursued by imec is the integration of Through Silicon Vias with extreme wafer thinning and backside processing on full CMOS wafers. This has been successfully demonstrated for the first time in a 300mm production line, and the compatibility of thin wafer handling with backside processing has been evaluated.
Genetic diversity among VRE isolates from Swedish broilers with the coincidental finding of transferrable decreased susceptibility to narasin

Aims: In this study, the molecular diversity among clones of vancomycin resistant Enterococcus faecium with vanA gene (VRE) is investigated. The aims were to better understand why one clone is predominant in Swedish broiler production and to better assess the potential for zoonotic gene transfer from the different clones.
Wet corn gluten feed as a supplement for lactating dairy cattle and growing heifers.

A lactation trial and a heifer growth trial were conducted to evaluate use of wet corn gluten feed by dairy herds. Twelve multiparous and 4 primiparous Holsteins were assigned to 4 x 4 Latin squares blocked according to previous production or parity. Animals received increasing amounts of wet corn gluten feed, up to 36% of ration DM, in place of a dry corn and soybean meal concentrate mixture. Each kilogram of wet corn gluten feed DM replaced . 9 kg concentrate DM. Diets were based on ensiled forage with 33% of forage DM from wilted alfalfa silage and the remainder from corn silage. Forage and supplement were fed separately. Milk production, composition, and DM intake were not affected by increased feeding of wet corn gluten feed. Higher producing cows performed well on this feed. Wet corn gluten feed was generally acceptable when fed separately, but two animals refused sizable portions when fed the highest amount. Wet corn gluten feed can be utilized in traditional stall feeding of dairy cattle, and individual feeding should allow better management of this feed resource by limiting the amount offered to cattle that find it unpalatable. Wet corn gluten feed is also an adequate supplement for raising dairy replacements, allowing more rapid utilization of this perishable feed resource by the dairy herd.
Measurement of the electric potential distribution on piezoelectric ceramic surface

This paper deals with the measurement of electric potential distribution on the surface of piezoceramics. The electronic measuring device is presented, based on the capacitive coupling in order to obtain the electrical potential value and its pattern on the piezoelectric transformer. Experimental results are discussed and compared to theoretical ones in the context of application as plasma discharge generator.
Children and Adolescents-Survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: Prevalence of Long-Term PTSD and Coping Strategies

© 2012 Agustini and Matsuo, licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Children and Adolescents-Survivors of the 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami: Prevalence of Long-Term PTSD and Coping Strategies
Cryopreservation of European Eel (Anguilla anguilla) Sperm Using Different Extenders and Cryoprotectants

Experiments were carried out on the sperm cryopreservation of artificially induced eels. The effects of several extenders and two cryoprotectants on the motility of spermatozoa were investigated. The highest post-thaw motility was observed with the combination of Tanaka’s extender and DMSO as cryoprotectant. Further dilution after thawing resulted in complete loss of motility in samples frozen in presence of DMSO while sperm frozen with methanol as cryoprotectant retained its motility after further dilution.
Region‐ and age‐specific deficits in γ‐aminobutyric acidergic neuron development in the telencephalon of the uPAR–/– mouse

We have previously shown that in adult mice with a null mutation in the urokinase‐type plasminogen activator receptor (uPAR) gene, maintained on a C57BL/6J/129Sv background, there is a selective loss of GABAergic interneurons in anterior cingulate and parietal cortex, with the parvalbumin‐expressing subpopulation preferentially affected. Here, we performed a more detailed anatomical analysis of uPAR–/– mutation on the congenic C57BL/6J background. With glutamic acid decarboxylase‐67 and γ‐aminobutyric acid (GABA) immunostaining, there is a similar region‐selective loss of cortical interneurons in the congenic uPAR–/– mice from the earliest age examined (P21). In contrast, the loss of parvalbumin‐immunoreactive cells is observed only in adult cortex, and the extent of this loss is less than in the mixed background. Moreover, earlier in development, although there are normal numbers of parvalbumin cells in the uPAR–/– cortex, fewer cells coexpress GABA, suggesting that the parvalbumin subpopulation migrates appropriately to the cortex, but does not differentiate normally. Among the other forebrain regions examined, only the adult hippocampus shows a loss of GABAergic interneurons, although the somatostatin, rather than the parvalbumin, subpopulation contributes to this loss. The data suggest that uPAR function is necessary for the normal development of a subpopulation of GABAergic neurons in the telencephalon. It is likely that the late‐onset parvalbumin phenotype is due to the effects of an altered local environment on selectively vulnerable neurons and that the extent of this loss is strain dependent. Thus, an interplay between complex genetic factors and the environment may influence the phenotypic impact of the uPAR mutation both pre‐ and postnatally. J. Comp. Neurol. 489:449–466, 2005. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Exploring Posttraumatic Outcomes as a Function of Childhood Sexual Abuse

There is sparse systematic examination of the potential for growth as well as distress that may occur for some adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse. The presented study explored posttraumatic growth and its relationship with negative posttrauma outcomes within the specific population of survivors of childhood sexual abuse (N = 40). Results showed that 95% of the participants experienced clinically significant post-traumatic stress disorder symptomatology related to their childhood sexual abuse. In conjunction with these high levels of negative symptoms, the population evidenced posttraumatic growth levels that were comparable to other trauma samples. This research has clinical relevance in terms of adding to the knowledge base on sexual abuse and the usefulness of this knowledge in therapeutic interventions and relationships.