Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Maspin is up‐regulated in premalignant prostate epithelia

Maspin, a novel serine protease inhibitor, has been shown to inhibit prostate tumor cell motility and invasion in vitro and to inhibit prostate tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. Maspin expression in high‐grade prostate carcinoma (PC) is reduced compared with that in low‐grade PC. Interestingly, however, compared with low‐grade PC, benign secretory prostate epithelial cells express significantly less maspin. This observation appears paradoxical to a putative tumor suppressive role of maspin in prostate carcinogenesis, and this finding issue needs to be clarified.
Dynamic nuclear polarization facilitates monitoring of pyruvate metabolism in Trypanosoma brucei

Dynamic nuclear polarization provides sensitivity improvements that make NMR a viable method for following metabolic conversions in real time. There are now many in vivo applications to animal systems and even to diagnosis of human disease. However, application to microbial systems is rare. Here we demonstrate its application to the pathogenic protozoan, Trypanosoma brucei, using hyperpolarized 13C1 pyruvate as a substrate and compare the parasite metabolism with that of commonly cultured mammalian cell lines, HEK-293 and Hep-G2. Metabolic differences between insect and bloodstream forms of T. brucei were also investigated. Significant differences are noted with respect to lactate, alanine, and CO2 production. Conversion of pyruvate to CO2 in the T. brucei bloodstream form provides new support for the presence of an active pyruvate dehydrogenase in this stage.
Can common risk factors explain infrastructure equity returns? Evidence from European capital markets

Abstract This is the first paper to test the ability of conventional asset pricing models to explain the excess returns of European infrastructure stocks. Specifically, we firstly run the well-known Fama and French three-factor model, including three common stock market factors (market risk, size risk and value risk), and subsequently augment the model with two common bond risk factors (term and default risk), as infrastructure firms should be closely related to bond markets. The times-series regressions span the period from July 1992 to June 2014 and are conducted using an individually created infrastructure equity data-set. With the help of an intensive screening process, we only include those infrastructure stocks that in fact own and/or operate physical infrastructure. The results reveal that the three-factor model is unable to capture most of the variation in infrastructure returns. Therefore, bond risk factors should be included in asset pricing models in order increase the goodness of fit, as infrastructure stocks prove to be sensitive to interest rate changes. Nevertheless, even the augmented asset pricing model leaves a substantial part of the variance unexplained, thus indicating that infrastructure firms exhibit a high level of idiosyncratic risk. In addition, the results suggest that there may be further risk factors which should be investigated in future studies.
Common Problems Experienced by First Year Alternatively Certified Teachers: A Qualitative Study.

The teacher shortage throughout the United States, especially in areas considered â€œat-risk,â€ has reached an alarming level. Novice teachers often decide not to return after one year of service, with the number of teachers not returning doubling at five years. One possible means of overcoming these two problems is alternative certification programs. In order to better understand these problems, six first-year teachers who had received their Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) degree were interviewed using aqualitative case study design. This study focused on: (a) the challenges beginning MAT teachers faced, (b) the MAT teachersâ€™ perceptions of their training program, and (c) their attitudes toward their teaching careers. Among the six participants, five wanted to quit teaching in the near future, with only one, an older second-career teacher, deciding to remain in the profession. The information gleaned from this study could help teachers and their administrators understand the challenges beginning teachers face.
Initial molecular response at 3 months may predict both response and event-free survival at 24 months in imatinib-resistant or -intolerant patients with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase treated with nilotinib.

PURPOSE The association between initial molecular response and longer-term outcomes with nilotinib was examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS Patients with imatinib-resistant or -intolerant chronic myeloid leukemia in chronic phase from the phase II nilotinib registration study with available postbaseline BCR-ABL1 transcript assessments were included (N = 237). RESULTS BCR-ABL1 transcript levels (International Scale [IS]) at 3 months correlated with complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) by 24 months. Patients with BCR-ABL1 (IS) of > 1% to ≤ 10% at 3 months with nilotinib had higher cumulative incidence of CCyR by 24 months than patients with BCR-ABL1 (IS) of > 10% (53% v 16%). BCR-ABL1 (IS) at 3 months predicted major molecular response (MMR) by 24 months. Cumulative incidence of MMR by 24 months for patients with BCR-ABL1 (IS) of > 0.1% to ≤ 1%, > 1% to ≤ 10%, and > 10% was 65%, 27%, and 9%, respectively. These differences were observed for patients with or without baseline BCR-ABL1 mutations and for those with imatinib resistance or intolerance. Estimated event-free survival (EFS) rates at 24 months decreased with higher transcript levels at 3 months; patients with BCR-ABL1 (IS) of ≤ 1% had an estimated 24-month EFS rate of 82%, compared with 70% for patients with BCR-ABL1 (IS) of > 1% to ≤ 10% and 48% for patients with BCR-ABL1 (IS) of > 10%. CONCLUSION Patients with BCR-ABL1 (IS) of > 10% at 3 months had a lower cumulative incidence of CCyR and MMR and lower rates of EFS versus patients with BCR-ABL1 (IS) of ≤ 10%. Prospective studies may determine whether close monitoring or alternative therapies are warranted for patients with minimal initial molecular response.
Color variation assay of the anthocyanins from Açai Fruit (Euterpe oleracea): a potential new dye for vitreoretinal surgery.

AIM The goals of this study were to determine the potential for use of the natural anthocyanins from the açai fruit (Euterpe oleracea) during vitreoretinal surgery and the ideal physicochemical properties of the dye. METHODS We evaluated the color variations of the dye at different pHs and osmolarities with or without the use of mordants as a potential new tool for internal limiting membrane peeling. The extracts of anthocyanin from the açai fruit were analyzed by spectrophotometry to determine the degree of color variations associated with various pHs and osmolarities. The experiments were conducted in test tubes filled with tryptophan soya media and Petri dishes prepared with agar media. RESULTS We observed various shades of green, red, and purple in the extracts of the anthocyanin dye at different pHs and osmolarities. The assay to adjust the anthocyanin solution similar to the physiologic retinal environment (osmolarity, 300 mOsm; pH, 7.00) resulted in a shade of purple that may be useful to stain the intraocular microstructures during vitreoretinal surgery. The physicochemical property of the purple anthocyanin solutions from the açai fruit was observed at physiologic pH and osmolarity. CONCLUSION Anthocyanins from the açai fruit may be useful to enhance visualization of the intraocular microstructures during vitreoretinal surgery.
Improved extraction and assay of mycobacterial ATP for rapid drug susceptibility testing.

The firefly luciferase assay of ATP is a rapid and convenient technique for monitoring growth of mycobacteria. The time needed to obtain a drug susceptibility pattern can be reduced to less than 1 week as compared to 4 weeks with conventional methods. The ATP assay is simple and reliable. However, the extraction of bacterial ATP is not a trivial problem. Lysing the cells will immediately activate ATP-degrading enzyme systems. The extractant must therefore lyse the cells and simultaneously inactivate ATP-degrading enzyme systems. Only by comparing the ATP yields obtained with different extractants we will know something about the intracellular ATP level. In the present study various extractants were compared for the extraction of ATP from Mycobacterium bovis (BCG) cultures. Dodecyl trimethyl ammonium bromide (DTAB) in Tris-buffer with EDTA resulted at 100 degrees C in an ATP yield that was approximately twice as high as the same buffer without DTAB. The optimum temperature was 80-100 degrees C. With the optimized extraction procedure the coefficient of variation for the entire assay of ATP in BCG cultures was 5%. The analytical interference from DTAB with the firefly reaction was obviated by neutralization with alpha-cyclodextrin, making it possible to increase the sensitivity by assaying 0.5 mL rather than 0.01 mL extract.
Finite element valuation of swing options

In this paper an algorithm based on Finite Element Methods is presented to value American type of swing contracts with multiple exercise rights. Thereby the reduction of multiple stopping time problems to a cascade of single stopping time problems is utilized. The numerical results obtained with the proposed algorithm show a smooth and stable behavior. This allows an interpretation of the swing options’ optimal exercise boundaries and an analysis of the dependence of swing option prices on the initial spot prices. A comparison of the Finite Element algorithm to Monte Carlo and lattice methods demonstrates the strengths of the proposed numerical algorithm.
Test of the multifactorial aging method using skeletons with known ages-at-death from the Grant Collection.

The multifactorial aging method has been shown to be a highly reliable method of skeletal aging because it incorporates age information from as many age indicators as are available for each skeleton (Lovejoy et al.; Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 68:1-14, 1985). The present study was a blind test to assess its accuracy on a skeletal sample composed of 55 individuals with verified death certificates (Grant Collection, University of Toronto). Three authors (C.O.L., M.E.B., and K.F.R.), with no access to the death certificate ages, independently seriated and aged the sample using three to four criteria: auricular surface, pubic symphysis, and radiographs of the proximal femur and clavicle. Summary ages were then calculated for each individual in the sample. The authors' independent summary age estimates showed strong correlations with one another (r = 0.84-0.89). Multifactorial age estimates correlated better with real age than did those from any single indicator used. The mean error (averaging 8.7 years) for summary age was at least 1 year less than that for any single indicator. Average bias ranged from -0.7 (underage) to 1.4 (overage) years. These results indicate that utilization of several age indicators, weighted according to their reliability, helps control for variation in the changes that occur with age in any single morphological indicator. This method may therefore be considered one of the most accurate available for the determination of skeletal age-at-death, particularly for paleodemographic analysis.
Temperature controlled measurement system for precise characterization of electronic circuits and devices

A temperature controlled oven, with provisions for easy connection of instruments to the device under test, was designed and built. This paper describes the oven, its thermal model and control system and presents measurement results with different temperature profiles. An NTC thermistor measures the system temperature and a modified Steinhart & Hart equation is used to convert resistance readings to temperature. The system is capable of setting its temperature from just over ambient temperature up to 375K (around 102 °C). Temperature stability is ultimately limited by the resolution of temperature measurement to ±2mK.
Metabolic cross-talk allows labeling of O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine-modified proteins via the N-acetylgalactosamine salvage pathway

Hundreds of mammalian nuclear and cytoplasmic proteins are reversibly glycosylated by O-linked β-N-acetylglucosamine (O-GlcNAc) to regulate their function, localization, and stability. Despite its broad functional significance, the dynamic and posttranslational nature of O-GlcNAc signaling makes it challenging to study using traditional molecular and cell biological techniques alone. Here, we report that metabolic cross-talk between the N-acetylgalactosamine salvage and O-GlcNAcylation pathways can be exploited for the tagging and identification of O-GlcNAcylated proteins. We found that N-azidoacetylgalactosamine (GalNAz) is converted by endogenous mammalian biosynthetic enzymes to UDP-GalNAz and then epimerized to UDP-N-azidoacetylglucosamine (GlcNAz). O-GlcNAc transferase accepts UDP-GlcNAz as a nucleotide-sugar donor, appending an azidosugar onto its native substrates, which can then be detected by covalent labeling using azide-reactive chemical probes. In a proof-of-principle proteomics experiment, we used metabolic GalNAz labeling of human cells and a bioorthogonal chemical probe to affinity-purify and identify numerous O-GlcNAcylated proteins. Our work provides a blueprint for a wide variety of future chemical approaches to identify, visualize, and characterize dynamic O-GlcNAc signaling.
Ethanol-induced apoptosis in polarized hepatic cells possibly through regulation of the Fas pathway.

BACKGROUND It has been noted that alcohol-related liver diseases can be associated with an increase in apoptotic hepatocellular death. Moreover, the promotion of hepatocyte apoptosis may be linked to signals emanating from death receptors, particularly Fas [CD95/apoptosis-inducing protein 1 (APO-1)]. In the present study, we utilized an in vitro hepatic culture model [hybrid of human fibroblast (WI 38) and rat hepatoma (Fao) cells, WIF-B cells] to study potential contributing mechanisms involved in hepatocellular apoptosis following ethanol administration. METHODS WIF-B cultures (differentiated hepatic cells that efficiently metabolize alcohol) were treated with or without ethanol and specific inhibitors of alcohol metabolism and cysteine protease activity, followed by morphological and biochemical examination of proapoptotic parameters. RESULTS The results of this work demonstrated that ethanol administration leads to an increase (45%-60%) in caspase-3 activity and that the induction of apoptosis was found to be linked to the metabolism of alcohol. Additionally, increases were observed in the activity of upstream initiator caspases (caspase-2 and caspase-8) that are directly related to membrane signaling events of death receptors such as Fas. Moreover, it was determined that the activation of caspase-3 could be blocked by the presence of a specific caspase-8 inhibitor, again linking death receptor-associated proteases to downstream effector caspase activity in alcohol-related death. Finally, ethanol administration was found to result in an increase in the amount of Fas protein present in the membrane fraction of the cell. The increase in membrane Fas protein indicates ligand-independent membrane targeting of Fas in the alcohol-treated cells that could potentially be a key signaling event in the induction of the proapoptotic caspase cascade. CONCLUSIONS The data presented here indicate that alcohol metabolism induces apoptosis in WIF-B cells that occurs, in part, by mechanisms involving signals emanating from death receptors.
Clinical applications of magnetic nanoparticles for hyperthermia

Magnetic fluids are increasingly used for clinical applications such as drug delivery, magnetic resonance imaging and magnetic fluid hyperthermia. The latter technique that has been developed as a cancer treatment for several decades comprises the injection of magnetic nanoparticles into tumors and their subsequent heating in an alternating magnetic field. Depending on the applied temperature and the duration of heating this treatment either results in direct tumor cell killing or makes the cells more susceptible to concomitant radio- or chemotherapy. Numerous groups are working in this field worldwide, but only one approach has been tested in clinical trials so far. Here, we summarize the clinical data gained in these studies on magnetic fluid induced hyperthermia.
Diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy: A novel approach to investigate intramyocellular lipids

Motivated by the potential difference between intramyocellular lipid (IMCL) and extramyocellular lipid (EMCL) in their microscopically restricted diffusion environments, proton diffusion properties in IMCL and EMCL were characterized by diffusion‐weighted magnetic resonance spectroscopy. Ex vivo experiments were conducted on fresh pig lower hindlimb muscle samples. In vivo experiments were performed on the lower hindlimbs of normal adult Sprague–Dawley rats. Ex vivo apparent diffusion coefficients at 20°C were found to be in the ranges of (10.8 ± 0.5) × 10−6 to (15.8 ± 0.8) × 10−6 mm2/s for EMCL and (1.6 ± 0.6) × 10−6 to (2.4 ± 0.7) × 10−6 mm2/s for IMCL depending on the diffusion weighting direction relative to muscle fiber orientation. In vivo apparent diffusion coefficients of EMCL and IMCL were measured as (13.8 ± 0.9) × 10−6 and (4.6 ± 0.7) × 10−6 mm2/s, respectively, along the direction perpendicular to muscle fiber orientation. Our results demonstrated that the apparent diffusion coefficient of EMCL was substantially higher than that of IMCL. Therefore, EMCL could be effectively suppressed by proper diffusion weighting to achieve reliable detection of IMCL despite unknown or/and multiple muscle fiber orientations. Such lipid proton diffusion approach can be used for robust IMCL separation and identification. Furthermore, it may provide new biophysical insights in the investigation of lipid metabolism in obesity and diabetes. Magn Reson Med, 2011. © 2011 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Prevalence, natural course, and risk factors of insomnia comorbid with cancer over a 2-month period.

PURPOSE This study aimed to assess the prevalence, natural course, and risk factors of insomnia comorbid with cancer over a 2-month period. PATIENTS AND METHODS All patients scheduled to receive a curative surgery for a first diagnosis of nonmetastatic cancer were approached to participate in the study on the day of their preoperative visit. As part of a larger population-based longitudinal study, 991 cancer patients completed various self-report scales and an insomnia diagnostic interview at the perioperative phase (T1) and 2 months later (T2). RESULTS At T1, 28.5% of the patients met the diagnostic criteria for an insomnia syndrome, and 31.0% had insomnia symptoms; these rates decreased to 26.2% and 22.2%, respectively, at T2. The highest rates of insomnia were found in breast cancer patients, whereas the lowest rates were obtained in prostate cancer patients. Findings indicated an incidence rate of 18.6%, a persistence rate of 68.0%, and a remission rate of 32.0%. Female sex and the presence of an arousability trait (predisposing factors), a diagnosis of head and neck cancer, the administration of surgery, and an increase in anxiety symptoms between T1 and T2 (precipitating factors), and higher baseline levels and increases between T1 and T2 in dysfunctional beliefs about sleep, sleep monitoring, and maladaptive sleep behaviors (maintenance factors) were all associated with an increased risk for insomnia incidence. CONCLUSION This study confirms the high prevalence of insomnia comorbid with cancer during the 2 months after the perioperative visit and identifies several factors that might be involved in its development.
Origin of histiocyte‐like cells and multinucleated giant cells in malignant fibrous histiocytoma: Neoplastic or reactive?

The origin of histiocyte‐like cells in malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) remains controversial. To determine whether histiocyte‐like cells and multinucleated giant cells show reactive or neoplastic proliferation, we transplanted human storiform‐pleomorphic MFH to nude mice and investigated the origin of histiocyte‐like cells using the DNA in situ hybridization (ISH) system. In addition, we analyzed the mRNA expression of mouse c‐fms and human colony stimulating factor‐1 (CSF‐1); immunohistochemical expression of markers detectable in cells of monocyte/macrophage lineage. The DNA ISH revealed neoplastic proliferation of fibroblastic cells and bizarre multinucleated giant cells of human origin. Monocyte/macrophage lineage cells were seen in parental tumors, whereas they did not participate in neoplastic proliferation in transplanted tumors. The parental tumors expressed human CSF‐1 mRNA and the histiocyte‐like cells in transplanted tumors expressed ‘mouse’c‐fms mRNA. These results suggest that MFH induce infiltration of monocyte/macrophage and CSF‐1 is one of the mediators involved in this phenomenon, because the human CSF‐1 can act as a ligand to the mouse c‐fms. Histiocyte‐like cells in MFH should be considered as a reactive monocyte/macrophage lineage rather than as an element of neoplasm.
N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor NR1 subunit gene (GRIN1) G1001C polymorphism and susceptibility to schizophrenia: A meta-analysis

A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify all case-control studies investigating the association between GRIN1 G1001C polymorphism and schizophrenia susceptibility (MIM: 138249; dbSNP: rs 11146020). A total of 6 eligible studies (including 1639 schizophrenia cases and 1489 controls) were identified for the meta-analysis. Including all studies, there was significant heterogeneity between studies. In overall the GC (OR=1.00, 95 % CI: 0.0.85-1.19) and CC (OR=1.09, 95 % CI: 0.67-1.79) genotypes were not associated with schizophrenia risk compared with the GG genotype. In one study patients were diagnosed using DSM-IIIR criteria and in another study the genotypic frequencies of control subjects showed significant deviation from the expected frequencies according to the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium. After excluding these studies from the meta-analysis, the heterogeneity between studies dramatically decreased. Statistical analysis showed that the GC genotype compared with the GG genotype significantly increased the risk of schizophrenia (OR=1.85, 95 % CI: 1.43-2.42, P<0.0001). The CC versus GG genotype significantly increased the schizophrenia risk (OR=2.46, 95% CI: 1.17-6.84, P=0.017). There was significant linear trend for presence of 0, 1, and 2 of the C allele and risk of schizophrenia (χ2=25.45, P<0.0001). In conclusion, the C variant allele may be associated with an increased risk for developing schizophrenia.
The development of an ultrasonic apparatus for the non‐invasive and repeatable removal of fouling in food processing equipment

N. OULAHAL‐LAGSIR, A. MARTIAL‐GROS, E. BOISTIER, L.J. BLUM and M. BONNEAU.2000. A new ultrasonic apparatus operating at a frequency of 40 kHz was developed to dislodge biofilms from food processing equipment in order to assess the effectiveness of cleaning protocols. Sonication conditions to remove biofilms and quantification by ATP‐bioluminescence are described. An industrial meat process was developed at the laboratory level to form a biofilm with industrial characteristics. Our results show that the biofilm removal by sonication during 10 s is reproducible and four times greater compared to the swabbing method (83% removal of fouling material against 20%). Unlike the swabbing method, this ultrasonic apparatus permitted the immediately demonstration of the inefficiency (within 1 min) of an industrial meat cleaning protocol. This apparatus is portable, easy to use and can be operated by unskilled users.