Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Relationship between serum TGF- β 1, MMP-9 and IL-1β and pathological features and prognosis in breast cancer

To investigate the levels of serum transforming growth factor-β 1 (TGF-β1), Matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) and Interleukin-1 β (IL-1 β) in breast cancer (BC), and analyzing their relationship with pathological features and prognosis. Retrospective analysis of 86 subjects with BC (BC subgroup) and another 50 healthy subjects (control subgroup) during the same period were included. The clinical data were collected. In this research, in BC subgroup, The levels of serum TGF- β 1, MMP-9 and IL-1 β were significantly higher than those in control subgroup. The levels of TGF- β 1 and MMP-9 in serum of BC subjects was correlated with clinical stage, histological grade, lymph node metastasis and molecular classification, but not with age, tumor size and menopausal status. The level of serum IL-1 β was related to tumor size, clinical stage, histological grade and lymph node metastasis. Multivariate Logistic regression analysis showed that the high level of serum TGF- β1 and MMP-9 was independent risk factors for BC. High level of serum IL-1 β was not an independent risk factor for BC. The 3-year disease-free survival rate in high TGF- β1 subgroup and high MMP-9 subgroup was significantly lower than that in low TGF- β 1 subgroup and low MMP- 9 subgroup. To conclude, serum TGF- β 1, MMP-9 and IL-1β are highly expressed in BC, and the subjects with elevated serum levels of TGF- β 1 and MMP-9 suggests poor prognosis.
1,4-dihydroxy quininib modulates the secretome of uveal melanoma tumour explants and a marker of oxidative phosphorylation in a metastatic xenograft model

Uveal melanoma (UM) is an intraocular cancer with propensity for liver metastases. The median overall survival (OS) for metastatic UM (MUM) is 1.07 years, with a reported range of 0.84–1.34. In primary UM, high cysteinyl leukotriene receptor 1 (CysLT1) expression associates with poor outcomes. CysLT1 antagonists, quininib and 1,4-dihydroxy quininib, alter cancer hallmarks of primary and metastatic UM cell lines in vitro. Here, the clinical relevance of CysLT receptors and therapeutic potential of quininib analogs is elaborated in UM using preclinical in vivo orthotopic xenograft models and ex vivo patient samples. Immunohistochemical staining of an independent cohort (n = 64) of primary UM patients confirmed high CysLT1 expression significantly associates with death from metastatic disease (p = 0.02; HR 2.28; 95% CI 1.08–4.78), solidifying the disease relevance of CysLT1 in UM. In primary UM samples (n = 11) cultured as ex vivo explants, 1,4-dihydroxy quininib significantly alters the secretion of IL-13, IL-2, and TNF-α. In an orthotopic, cell line-derived xenograft model of MUM, 1,4-dihydroxy quininib administered intraperitoneally at 25 mg/kg significantly decreases ATP5B expression (p = 0.03), a marker of oxidative phosphorylation. In UM, high ATP5F1B is a poor prognostic indicator, whereas low ATP5F1B, in combination with disomy 3, correlates with an absence of metastatic disease in the TCGA-UM dataset. These preclinical data highlight the diagnostic potential of CysLT1 and ATP5F1B in UM, and the therapeutic potential of 1,4-dihydroxy quininib with ATP5F1B as a companion diagnostic to treat MUM.
Hydrodynamic variations and human activities have influenced sediment fluxes in the pearl river delta since the late holocene

Climate change and human activity can both exert a role in the river discharge and sediment load in river deltas when the sea level remains relatively stable. The Pearl River Delta constitutes the metropolitan region of the Guangdong–Hong Kong–Macau Greater Bay Area, and its evolution in the past and future impacts the sustainable development of this region. In this manuscript, a core situated in the northern South China Sea, adjacent to Qiao Island of Zhuhai city in the Pearl River Delta, was selected to investigate the hydrodynamic variation influenced by tropical processes and the sediment flux imposed by human activities. Using paleosecular variations (PSVs) in geomagnetic field correlations constrained by seven radiocarbon ages, an ∼2.5 kyr chronology was provided for core sediments ∼2.8 m in length. The magnetic fabric results suggest that deposition was influenced by the two types of hydrodynamic-weak energy modulated by El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) activity and higher energy regulated by high-frequency tropical storms. The cyclic variations in the degree of anisotropy of magnetic susceptibility (P) indicate two periodic changes at approximately 300 and 100 years, which were forced by ENSO activity, while the ratio of lineation with foliation (q value) implies a higher energy flow period of 1.3–1.9 kyr, arising from strong tropical storms. Moreover, the high saturation remanence (SIRM) introduces more sediment flux, which is impacted by growing human activity during the period of 1.0–1.6 kyr.
Experimental Study of Instability Modes in a Three-dimensional Boundary Layer.

Travelling waves in an unstable three-dimensional boundary layer are studied experimentally with the use of hot-wire anemometry. For the sake of realistic comparisons with stability theory, the tests were performed on a swept flat plate where infinite swept-wing conditions were approximated by means of contoured end plates. The required pressure gradient was imposed by a displacement body. The Reynolds number for the first appearance of travelling waves is roughly the same as that of stationary vortices. The frequencies of the most amplified waves depend on the Reynolds number. It is shown with the aid of a twin probe that in a more strongly amplified state, the travelling waves propagate in a direction different from that of the mean flow. Further upstream, where stationary waves first become visible in the oil-flow pattern, a uniform direction could not be identified. Under certain conditions, travelling waves of two frequency ranges are amplified that propagate in different directions. The present work is part of the transition experiment started at the DFVLR. It is closely connected to the theoretical work by Dallmann and Bieler.
Sedimentation of cohesive sediments at the subtidal flat affected by wind wave in high turbidity estuary

Sedimentation is an important mechanism to mitigate the shrinking of tidal flat and to restore its ecological function by means of sand or mud nourishment. To explore the sedimentation of cohesive sediments, a seabed tripod observation system was deployed at the subtidal region of the Hengsha Shoal adjacent to the turbidity maximum zone of the Yangtze Estuary for 11 days. The results showed that the fine sediment with the median grain size around 8 mm occupied the whole water column. The seabed was in relative equilibrium state with the fluctuation of bed level smaller than 16 mm during the moderate wind condition while the seabed experienced a rapid erosion of 38mm and a successive intensive accretion of 68mm during the process of wind wave and swell. The bottom hydrodynamic at 0.3mab during the bed accretion was stronger than that during the bed erosion. The deposition process of cohesive sediments can be better described by the simultaneous deposition paradigm than that by the exclusive deposition paradigm according to the direct data-model comparison of the bed level changes, especially during the impact of fluid mud. Three possible reasons for the better performance of the simultaneous deposition paradigm were proposed. The first possibility is that the fine suspended sediments do maintain a continuous contact with the sediment bed since the direct bed level changes during our observation period has been well reproduced by the simultaneous deposition paradigm. The second possibility is the SSC-induced turbulence damping which facilitates the fine sediment settling in the form of cohesive sediment flocs, indicating the settling of sediments can’t be judged by the critical shear stress for deposition just based on the single particle grain size. The last possibility is the fluid mud-induced overestimated bed shear stress by using turbulent velocity fluctuation above the fluid mud-water interface, which produces excess sediment erosion waiting to be compensated by the simultaneous deposition paradigm. For practical modeling purposes, modeling under the simultaneous deposition paradigm can give satisfactory results for the sedimentation of cohesive sediment especially during the impact of wave or swell.
ACKR3 promotes CXCL12/CXCR4-mediated cell-to-cell-induced lymphoma migration through LTB4 production

Chemotaxis is an essential physiological process, often harnessed by tumors for metastasis. CXCR4, its ligand CXCL12 and the atypical receptor ACKR3 are overexpressed in many human cancers. Interfering with this axis by ACKR3 deletion impairs lymphoma cell migration towards CXCL12. Here, we propose a model of how ACKR3 controls the migration of the diffused large B-cell lymphoma VAL cells in vitro and in vivo in response to CXCL12. VAL cells expressing full-length ACKR3, but not a truncated version missing the C-terminus, can support the migration of VAL cells lacking ACKR3 (VAL-ko) when allowed to migrate together. This migration of VAL-ko cells is pertussis toxin-sensitive suggesting the involvement of a Gi-protein coupled receptor. RNAseq analysis indicate the expression of chemotaxis-mediating LTB4 receptors in VAL cells. We found that LTB4 acts synergistically with CXCL12 in stimulating the migration of VAL cells. Pharmacologic or genetic inhibition of BLT1R markedly reduces chemotaxis towards CXCL12 suggesting that LTB4 enhances in a contact-independent manner the migration of lymphoma cells. The results unveil a novel mechanism of cell-to-cell-induced migration of lymphoma.
Climate change and human activity impacts on future flood risk in the Pearl River Delta based on the MaxEnt model

In the background of global climate change and rapid urbanization, extreme climate events are frequent, and highly urbanized areas flooding problems are becoming increasingly prominent. It becomes important to develop qualitative scenario storylines to assess future flooding risk in a changing environment over the highly urbanized areas. In this study, the future (2030–2050) flood risk in the Pearl River Delta (PRD) region of China was assessed based on the MaxEnt model. We have developed four future scenarios under different emission conditions based on the representative concentration pathways (RCPs) and the shared socio-economic pathways (SSPs). The MaxEnt model was trained by using flood hazard sample point data and flood risk indicators, meanwhile, food risk prediction with high accuracy was obtained. We analyzed the influencing factors of flood risk and predicted the flood risk of the PRD under four future scenarios. According to the results, there is a significant increase in the size and proportion of high flood risk areas in most scenarios. Flood risk under scenario SSP5-RCP8.5 are expected to be the most serious in the future. Population density (POPD) and Gross domestic product density (GDPD) have the highest explanatory power for flood risk. This study predict the changes of flood risk under the combined influence of climate change and human activities, and hoped to provide a reference for future planning and disaster mitigation construction in PRD cities.
Molecular profiling of urinary extracellular vesicles in chronic kidney disease and renal fibrosis

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a long-term kidney damage caused by gradual loss of essential kidney functions. A global health issue, CKD affects up to 16% of the population worldwide. Symptoms are often not apparent in the early stages, and if left untreated, CKD can progress to end-stage kidney disease (ESKD), also known as kidney failure, when the only possible treatments are dialysis and kidney transplantation. The end point of nearly all forms of CKD is kidney fibrosis, a process of unsuccessful wound-healing of kidney tissue. Detection of kidney fibrosis, therefore, often means detection of CKD. Renal biopsy remains the best test for renal scarring, despite being intrinsically limited by its invasiveness and sampling bias. Urine is a desirable source of fibrosis biomarkers as it can be easily obtained in a non-invasive way and in large volumes. Besides, urine contains biomolecules filtered through the glomeruli, mirroring the pathological state. There is, however, a problem of highly abundant urinary proteins that can mask rare disease biomarkers. Urinary extracellular vesicles (uEVs), which originate from renal cells and carry proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids, are an attractive source of potential rare CKD biomarkers. Their cargo consists of low-abundant proteins but highly concentrated in a nanosize-volume, as well as molecules too large to be filtered from plasma. Combining molecular profiling data (protein and miRNAs) of uEVs, isolated from patients affected by various forms of CKD, this review considers the possible diagnostic and prognostic value of uEVs biomarkers and their potential application in the translation of new experimental antifibrotic therapeutics.
Does breast oncoplastic surgery improve quality of life?

Breast Oncoplastic Surgery (OS) has established itself as a safe procedure associated with the treatment of breast cancer, but the term is broad, encompassing procedures associated with breast-conserving surgeries (BCS), conservative mastectomies and fat grafting. Surgeons believe that OS is associated with an increase in quality of life (QOL), but the diversity of QOL questionnaires and therapeutic modalities makes it difficult to assess from the patient’s perspective. To answer this question, we performed a search for systematic reviews on QOL associated with different COM procedures, and in their absence, we selected case-control studies, discussing the main results. We observed that: (1) Patients undergoing BCS or breast reconstruction have improved QoL compared to those undergoing mastectomy; (2) In patients undergoing BCS, OS has not yet shown an improvement in QOL, a fact possibly influenced by patient selection bias; (3) In patients undergoing mastectomy with reconstruction, the QoL results are superior when the reconstruction is performed with autologous flaps and when the areola is preserved; (4) Prepectoral implants improves QOL in relation to subpectoral implant-based breast reconstruction; (5) ADM do not improves QOL; (6) In patients undergoing prophylactic mastectomy, satisfaction is high with the indication, but the patient must be informed about the potential complications associated with the procedure; (7) Satisfaction is high after performing fat grafting. It is observed that, in general, OS increases QOL, and when evaluating the procedures, any preservation or repair, or the use of autologous tissues, increases QOL, justifying OS.
Assessing the association between subjective evaluation of space qualities and physiological responses through cinematic environments’ emotion-eliciting stimuli

Objectives Human perception of the built environment affects emotional and physiological states. This research focused on the association between evaluating a space’s visual qualities and physiological responses by mediating film contents to indicate the association between physiological indicators and assessing the quality of space in the presence of environmental stimuli. Method Data collection was conducted using a psychological questionnaire and physiological indicators of heart rate (HR), blood pressure (BP), skin resistance level (SRL), and body temperature (BT) during the film screening. The ANOVA was conducted to compare different variables in the three films alongside linear regression to analyze the impact of variables on space quality. Spearman correlation coefficient analyses were performed to find the association between variables. Results The descriptive statistics showed significant changes in psychological and physiological variables in films. Associations between the NAQ factor and physiological changes in HR, SBP, and DBP factors were significant. The results derived from the simple and multiple linear regressions depicted the significant impact of physiological factors on HR and BP on perceiving the quality of space. Conclusion It was concluded that physiological changes caused by emotional arousal could be strongly associated with psychological assessments. Stimuli-affected video contents illustrating architectural spaces could efficiently extract the impact of physiological states and human cognitive responses to the space quality. Physiological characteristics related to the space appraisal could help realize the human-environment interaction in a multi-layered approach to the built environment and spatial cognition.
Overview of the effect of rumen-protected limiting amino acids (methionine and lysine) and choline on the immunity, antioxidative, and inflammatory status of periparturient ruminants

Overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) is a well-known phenomenon experienced by ruminants, especially during the transition from late gestation to successful lactation. This overproduction of ROS may lead to oxidative stress (OS), which compromises the immune and anti-inflammatory systems of animals, thus predisposing them to health issues. Besides, during the periparturient period, metabolic stress is developed due to a negative energy balance, which is followed by excessive fat mobilization and poor production performance. Excessive lipolysis causes immune suppression, abnormal regulation of inflammation, and enhanced oxidative stress. Indeed, OS plays a key role in regulating the metabolic activity of various organs and the productivity of farm animals. For example, rapid fetal growth and the production of large amounts of colostrum and milk, as well as an increase in both maternal and fetal metabolism, result in increased ROS production and an increased need for micronutrients, including antioxidants, during the last trimester of pregnancy and at the start of lactation. Oxidative stress is generally neutralized by the natural antioxidant system in the body. However, in some special phases, such as the periparturient period, the animal’s natural antioxidant system is unable to cope with the situation. The effect of rumen-protected limiting amino acids and choline on the regulation of immunity, antioxidative, and anti-inflammatory status and milk production performance, has been widely studied in ruminants. Thus, in the current review, we gathered and interpreted the data on this topic, especially during the perinatal and lactational stages.
A numerical study on the effects of a midlatitude upper-level trough on the track and intensity of Typhoon Bavi (2020)

The complex interactions between a tropical cyclone (TC) and the midlatitude upper-level trough or cutoff low (sometimes called a cold-core vortex) can lead to an unusual track, such as sudden turning motion, and intensity change of the tropical cyclone, often leading to large forecast errors. In this study, the track and intensity changes of Typhoon Bavi (2020) under the influence of the upper-level trough and the detached cutoff low from its base are investigated based on numerical experiments using the advanced Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Bavi formed over the western North Pacific between Taiwan and Okinawa Islands on 23 August 2020. Under the influence of an upper-level trough to the north, Bavi initially moved northeastward. As the trough propagated eastward, a cutoff low was detached from the base of the trough on the next day. The downward penetration of the upper-level cutoff low led to a sudden northwestward turning motion of Bavi when it intensified to a severe typhoon and then moved almost due north and made landfall over North Korea. These changes and processes are well captured in a control numerical experiment. In a sensitivity experiment with the mid-latitude upper-level trough removed in the initial conditions, the tropical cyclone moved primarily north-northeastward after 1-day simulation without the sudden northwestward turning. This track change led to an earlier landfall of the storm over South Korea and, thus, an earlier weakening than in the control experiment, which is termed as the indirect effect on the storm intensity due to the change in the tropical cyclone track. The results also show that eddy angular momentum flux convergence associated with the upper-level trough contributed little to the simulated tropical cyclone intensification, while the environmental vertical wind shear is key to the intensity change of Bavi.
Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome: A pathophysiological manifestation of the Bloch hypothesis

The biosynthesis of cholesterol, an essential component of higher eukaryotic membranes, was worked out by Konrad Bloch (and Feodor Lynen) in the 1960s and they received the Nobel Prize around that time in recognition of their pioneering contributions. An elegant consequence of this was a hypothesis proposed by Konrad Bloch (the Bloch hypothesis) which suggests that each subsequent intermediate in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway is superior in supporting membrane function in higher eukaryotes relative to its precursor. In this review, we discuss an autosomal recessive metabolic disorder, known as Smith-Lemli-Opitz syndrome (SLOS), associated with a defect in the Kandutsch-Russell pathway of cholesterol biosynthesis that results in accumulation of the immediate precursor of cholesterol in its biosynthetic pathway (7-dehydrocholesterol) and an altered cholesterol to total sterol ratio. Patients suffering from SLOS have several developmental, behavioral and cognitive abnormalities for which no drug is available yet. We characterize SLOS as a manifestation of the Bloch hypothesis and review its molecular etiology and current treatment. We further discuss defective Hedgehog signaling in SLOS and focus on the role of the serotonin1A receptor, a representative neurotransmitter receptor belonging to the GPCR family, in SLOS. Notably, ligand binding activity and cellular signaling of serotonin1A receptors are impaired in SLOS-like condition. Importantly, cellular localization and intracellular trafficking of the serotonin1A receptor (which constitute an important determinant of a GPCR cellular function) are compromised in SLOS. We highlight some of the recent developments and emerging concepts in SLOS pathobiology and suggest that novel therapies based on trafficking defects of target receptors could provide new insight into treatment of SLOS.
Bulk and near-surface magnetic properties of FeRh thin films

Epitaxial Fe48Rh52 thin films of nominal thickness 500A were grown on MgO (001) substrates via molecular beam epitaxy and capped with 20A of either Au or MgO. The presence of the anticipated magnetostructural phase transition from antiferromagnetism to ferromagnetism at ∼350K was confirmed by superconducting quantum interference device and magneto-optic Kerr effect magnetometry. X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) experiments were carried out at the L2,3 edges; measurements were done in both total electron yield (TEY) mode and indirect transmission mode. At room temperature, the indirect transmission XMCD data show no detectable dichroism, consistent with bulk antiferromagnetic behavior. However, room-temperature TEY data originating from the films’ surface reveal an appreciable dichroic signal indicating the presence of ferromagnetism. This near-surface/interfacial magnetism may be modified by choice of capping layer; the MgO-capped sample exhibited a considerably smaller ferromagnetic XMCD signal.