Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Acquisition of Resistance of Pancreatic Cancer Cells to 2-Methoxyestradiol Is Associated with the Upregulation of Manganese Superoxide Dismutase

Acquired resistance of cancer cells to anticancer drugs or ionizing radiation (IR) is one of the major obstacles in cancer treatment. Pancreatic cancer is an exceptional aggressive cancer, and acquired drug resistance in this cancer is common. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) play an essential role in cell apoptosis, which is a key mechanism by which radio- or chemotherapy induce cell killing. Mitochondria are the major source of ROS in cells. Thus, alterations in the expression of mitochondrial proteins, involved in ROS production or scavenging, may be closely linked to the resistance of cancer cells to radio- or chemotherapy. In the present study, we generated a stable cell line by exposing pancreatic cancer cells to increasing concentrations of ROS-inducing, anticancer compound 2-methoxyestradiol (2-ME) over a 3-month period. The resulting cell line showed strong resistance to 2-ME and contained an elevated level of ROS. We then used a comparative proteomics method to profile the differential expression of mitochondrial proteins between the parental and the resistant cells. One protein identified to be upregulated in the resistant cells was manganese superoxide dismutase (SOD2), a mitochondrial protein that converts superoxide radicals to hydrogen peroxides. Silencing of SOD2 resensitized the resistant cells to 2-ME, and overexpression of SOD2 led the parental cells to 2-ME resistance. In addition, the 2-ME–resistant cells also showed resistance to IR. Our results suggest that upregulation of SOD2 expression is an important mechanism by which pancreatic cancer cells acquire resistance to ROS-inducing, anticancer drugs, and potentially also to IR. Mol Cancer Res; 10(6); 768–77. ©2012 AACR.
Template protection based on DNA coding for multimodal biometric recognition

Biometrics authentication based on multimodal fusion can overcome the problems of the existence of unimodal biometric to a large extent. However, multimodal biometric template once leaked, it will bring more harm, so it is necessary to study the template protection algorithm for multimodal biometric. This paper proposes a novel multimodal biometric template protection algorithm based on DNA encoding. First, the biometric features of the multimodal template are convert into a DNA sequence by DNA encoding, and a chaotic sequence is generated and convert into a DNA sequence, then the two DNA sequences are performed by the DNA adding operation, and the sum is convert into decimal numbers, so we get the encrypted template. The results of our experiment show that the proposed multimodal biometric template protection scheme does not affect the recognition performance and ensure the security of multimodal biometric template.
Ubiquitin‐proteasome system is responsible for the protection of yeast and human cells against methylmercury

The mechanism responsible for the toxic effects of methylmercury (MeHg), an important environmental pollutant, is poorly understood. We have identified a gene, CDC34, that confers resistance to MeHg in Saccharomyces cerevisiae by screening a yeast genomic DNA library. CDC34 encodes a ubiquitin‐conjugating enzyme, Cdc34, which is involved in ubiquitin‐dependent proteolysis. Overexpression of Cdc34 results in significant resistance to MeHg both in yeast and human cells, and it increases the cellular level of ubiquitinated proteins. The ubiquitinconjugating activity of Cdc34 is essential for the Cdc34‐mediated resistance to MeHg, and the protective effect of the overexpression of Cdc34 is depressed by inhibition of proteasome activity. Our results support the hypothesis that MeHg induces the cellular accumulation of a certain protein(s) that causes cell damage and that this protein(s) is degraded after its ubiquitination in proteasomes.
Altered expression of mRNAs for apoptosis‐modulating proteins in a low level multidrug resistant variant of a human lung carcinoma cell line that also expresses mdr1 mRNA

An in vitro model that might be relevant to cancer cell chemoresistance in vivo was generated by exposing the human lung carcinoma clonal cell line DLKP‐SQ to 10 sequential pulses of pharmacologically attainable doses of doxorubicin. The resistant variant, DLKP‐SQ/10p, was found to be cross‐resistant to doxorubicin (10×), vincristine (43×), etoposide (3×), sodium arsenate (3×), paclitaxel (38×) [which could imply overexpression of P‐glycoprotein (P‐gp) and possibly increased multidrug resistance‐associated protein activity] and 5‐fluorouracil (4×), but slightly sensitized to carboplatin. Analysis of mRNA levels in the resistant variant revealed overexpression of mdr1 mRNA without significant alteration in mrp, Topo. IIα, GSTπ, dhfr or thymidylate synthase mRNA levels. Overexpression of the anti‐apoptotic bcl‐xL transcript and the pro‐apoptotic bax mRNA was also detected but no alterations in bcl‐2 or bag‐1 mRNA levels were observed. Resistance to a P‐gp‐associated drug, doxorubicin, could be reversed with P‐gp circumventing agents such as cyclosporin A and verapamil, but these substances had no effect on resistance to 5‐fluorouracil. Overexpression of the pro‐apoptotic bcl‐xS gene in the DLKP‐SQ/10p line partially reversed resistance not only to P‐gp‐associated drugs but also to 5‐fluorouracil, indicating that the ratio of bcl family members may be important in determining sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drug‐induced apoptosis. Int. J. Cancer 82:368–376, 1999. © 1999 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Total Factor Productivity in the Indian Auto Industry: Evidence from India's Annual Survey of Industries

This paper estimates the total factor productivity (TFP) in the Indian auto industry during the period from 1980s to 2000s by using data drawn from the Central Statistical Organisation’s Annual Survey of Industries. The paper uses the semi-parametric estimation technique proposed by [Levinsohn and Petrin 2003] which addresses the endogeneity problem in estimating production function. It finds that firstly, the production function of the Indian auto industry has constant returns to scale, and secondly, the average growth rate of TFP per year was about 4-5%.
Green tea and coffee intake and risk of pancreatic cancer in a large-scale, population-based cohort study in Japan (JPHC study)

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and treatment-refractory malignancies in humans. The most effective means of reducing pancreatic cancer mortality may be primary prevention. Although laboratory studies have demonstrated that green tea possesses anticancer activities, results from epidemiological studies have failed to show a consistent cancer-preventive effect. In addition, there is a lingering concern that coffee mighty increase the risk of pancreatic cancer although the most recent epidemiological studies showed no overall association between coffee and risk. Here, we examined the association between the drinking of green tea or coffee and the risk of pancreatic cancer in a large population-based cohort study in Japan (JPHC study). In total, 102 137 participants were followed for an average of 11 years through to the end of 2003. A total of 233 incident cases of pancreatic cancer were identified among 1 116 945 person-years of follow-up. Overall, the risk of pancreatic cancer was not associated with either green tea or coffee intake in our population, although a reduced risk was apparent among men who drank at least three cups of coffee per day compared with those who did not drink any or only rarely drank coffee. In conclusion, our findings support the idea that green tea or coffee consumption does not have a substantial impact on pancreatic cancer risk in general.
Dynamic design, numerical solution and effective verification of acceleration-level obstacle-avoidance scheme for robot manipulators

For avoiding obstacles and joint physical constraints of robot manipulators, this paper proposes and investigates a novel obstacle avoidance scheme (termed the acceleration-level obstacle-avoidance scheme). The scheme is based on a new obstacle-avoidance criterion that is designed by using the gradient neural network approach for the first time. In addition, joint physical constraints such as joint-angle limits, joint-velocity limits and joint-acceleration limits are incorporated into such a scheme, which is further reformulated as a quadratic programming (QP). Two important ‘bridge’ theorems are established so that such a QP can be converted equivalently to a linear variational inequality and then equivalently to a piecewise-linear projection equation (PLPE). A numerical algorithm based on a PLPE is thus developed and applied for an online solution of the resultant QP. Four path-tracking tasks based on the PA10 robot in the presence of point and window-shaped obstacles demonstrate and verify the effectiveness and accuracy of the acceleration-level obstacle-avoidance scheme. Besides, the comparisons between the non-obstacle-avoidance and obstacle-avoidance results further validate the superiority of the proposed scheme.
Are Effect Sizes and Confidence Levels Problems For or Solutions To the Null Hypothesis Test?

Abstract Some have proposed that the null hypothesis significance test, as usually conducted using the t test of the difference between means, is an impediment to progress in psychology. To improve its prospects, using Neyman-Pearson confidence intervals and Cohen's standardized effect sizes, d, is recommended. The purpose of these approaches is to enable us to understand what can appropriately be said about the distances between the means and their reliability. Others have written extensively that these recommended strategies are highly interrelated and use identical information. This essay was written to remind us that the t test, based on the sample—not the true—standard deviation, does not apply solely to distance between means. The t test pertains to a much more ambiguous specification: the difference between samples, including sampling variations of the standard deviation.
Fenretinide-induced neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells is associated with the differential expression of Hsp70, 14-3-3, pax-6, tubulin beta-III, NSE, and bag-1 proteins.

PURPOSE We reported earlier that fenretinide can induce neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells in culture. The purpose of this study was to investigate the potential involvement of key proteins involved in gene transcription, signal transduction, cell cycle check point, differentiation, neuronal cell survival, and stress response in the neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 cells by fenretinide. METHODS Cells in culture were treated with 1.0 microM fenretinide. Cells were analyzed using antibodies against pax-6, neuronal specific enolase (NSE), tubulin beta-III, 14-3-3, bag-1, and Hsp-70 proteins using immunocytochemistry, western blot and ELISA methodologies. RESULTS We found that pax-6 and NSE were both expressed in the control ARPE-19 cells. Fenretinide induced neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 cells led to a decrease in pax-6 protein and an increase in tubulin beta-III protein expression after 5 days fenretinide treatment. There was a translocation of 14-3-3 from the cytoplasm to the nucleus, and an increase in nuclear expression of bag-1 after treatment. We also found a time-dependent increase in Hsp70 protein expression in ARPE-19 cells treated with fenretinide. D-407, another human retinal pigment epithelial cell line, but not either Y-79 or PC-12 cells, was also able to be induced into neuronal morphologies by fenretinide. CONCLUSIONS The fenretinide-induced neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 cells is associated with an increase in expression of the neuronal specific protein tubulin beta-III, and a decrease in expression of the progenitor cell marker pax-6. Neuronal differentiation of ARPE-19 cells is also associated with nuclear translocation of 14-3-3, a protein involved in signal transduction, cell cycle check point and cell growth, and an increase in expression of bag-1, a protein involved in neuronal cell survival and axon elongation. These results suggest that ARPE-19 cells could be a progenitor cell line that can be differentiated into neuronal cells when treated with factors such as fenretinide.
Gender identity and gender of rearing in 46 XY disorders of sexual development

Background: Disorders of sexual development (DSD) may pose a challenge to live as a fully-functioning male or female. In this study, we prospectively assessed eleven 46 XY DSD patients who were being treated at our center over the last 8 months for gender dysphoria. Materials and Methods: To determine gender dysphoria, age-appropriate gender identity (GI) questionnaires were used. For patients, 12 years and below, parent report GI questionnaire for children was used and for those above 12 years of age, GI/gender dysphoria questionnaire for adolescents and adults was administered. Results: Of 11 patients with 46 XY DSD, three were diagnosed with 5 alpha reductase deficiency (5aRD), two with partial gonadal dysgenesis, three with partial androgen insensitivity syndrome, one each with ovotesticular, complete gonadal dysgenesis, and complete androgen insensitivity. Gender assigned at birth was female in eight and male in three patients. Among the eight reared as female, gender had been reassigned as male in three patients well before the present study was conducted. None of the eleven patients had gender dysphoria at the time of this study. Conclusion: Early gender of rearing was seen to be a critical indicator of present GI in our patients except in cases of 5aRD.
Coherence and time delay estimation

This paper presents a tutorial review of work in coherence and time delay estimation. A review of coherence research and development is presented. A derivation of the ML estimator for time delay is presented together with an interpretation of that estimator as a special member of a class of generalized cross correlators. The performance of the estimator is given for both high and low signal-to-noise ratio cases. The proposed correlator is implemented and stimulated with synthetic data. The results are compared with performance predictions and found to be in good agreement.
Growth-rate-dependent regulation of the expression and inactivation of thymidylate synthase in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Thymidylate synthase activity fluctuated dramatically as cultures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae progressed through the different stages of batch culture growth. During logarithmic growth these yeast cultures each contained about 40 microU (1 microU is 1 pmol of 3H released per min) of thymidylate synthase activity per 10(8) haploid cells, but as cultures entered the stationary phase and during the stationary phase, activity dropped dramatically, eventually reaching undetectable levels. Stimulation of stationary-phase cells with fresh medium resulted in rapid reestablishment of log phase levels. Two mechanisms, the regulation of thymidylate synthase-specific transcripts and the irreversible inactivation of thymidylate synthase activity, acted in concert to regulate activity levels. These results suggested that thymidylate synthase represents a special subset of yeast proteins whose levels per cell vary quickly and dramatically in response to changes in proliferation rates.
Liquidity Premia in CDS Markets

We develop a state-space model to decompose bid and ask quotes of CDS into two components, fair default premium and liquidity premium. This approach gives a better estimate of the default premium than mid quotes, and it allows to disentangle and compare the liquidity premium earned by the protection buyer and the protection seller. In contrast to other studies, our model is structurally much simpler, while it also allows for correlation between liquidity and default premia, as supported by empirical evidence. The model is implemented and applied to a large data set of 118 CDS for a period ranging from 2004 to 2010. The model-generated output variables are analyzed in a difference-in-difference framework to determine how the default premium, as well as the liquidity premium of protection buyers and sellers, evolved during different periods of the financial crisis and to which extent they differ for financial institutions compared to non-financials.
Drosophila convoluted/dALS Is an Essential Gene Required for Tracheal Tube Morphogenesis and Apical Matrix Organization

Insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) control cell and organism growth through evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways. The mammalian acid-labile subunit (ALS) is a secreted protein that complexes with IGFs to modulate their activity. Recent work has shown that a Drosophila homolog of ALS, dALS, can also complex with and modulate the activity of a Drosophila IGF. Here we report the first mutations in the gene encoding dALS. Unexpectedly, we find that these mutations are allelic to a previously described mutation in convoluted (conv), a gene required for epithelial morphogenesis. In conv mutants, the tubes of the Drosophila tracheal system become abnormally elongated without altering tracheal cell number. conv null mutations cause larval lethality, but do not disrupt several processes required for tracheal tube size control, including septate junction formation, deposition of a lumenal/apical extracellular matrix, and lumenal secretion of Vermiform and Serpentine, two putative matrix-modifying proteins. Clearance of lumenal matrix and subcellular localization of clathrin also appear normal in conv mutants. However, we show that Conv/dALS is required for the dynamic organization of the transient lumenal matrix and normal structure of the cuticle that lines the tracheal lumen. These and other data suggest that the Conv/dALS-dependent tube size control mechanism is distinct from other known processes involved in tracheal tube size regulation. Moreover, we present evidence indicating that Conv/dALS has a novel, IGF-signaling independent function in tracheal morphogenesis.
System-based drug discovery within the human kinome

Introduction: For well over a decade, significant effort has been devoted to the search for inhibitors of the human protein kinase family. This is increasingly translating into success in the clinic, with five new kinase inhibitor drugs approved since 2011. However, despite encouraging signs in other areas, success has been largely restricted to oncology. Areas covered: This article reviews the prospects for kinase inhibitor drug discovery in oncology and other therapeutic areas. Major topics include the application of kinome profiling and lessons learned from kinase system-based research. With these fields nearing maturity, the validation of kinases as targets or their classification as liabilities is becoming increasingly pertinent. Other topics include a discussion of the properties required of good small molecule kinase probes. Expert opinion: The tractability of protein kinases to small molecule discovery through system-based research is excellent, and adequate selectivity can often be achieved. With advances in screening methodology now enabling compound profiling across most of the kinome, researchers involved in drug discovery must decide what inhibition profiles are desirable. However, this assessment must be made on the basis of incomplete understanding of the disease biology of most kinases, and as a result there is a significant risk that drugs entering clinical trials will lack efficacy. Because of this, as well as greater effort to determine which kinases are therapeutically relevant for particular diseases, opportunities for quality pre-candidate compounds developed for specific indications to find alternative uses should be maximised by early screening through panels of phenotypic assays.
INTERACTIONAL FUNCTIONS OF şey IN TURKISH: EVIDENCE FROM SPOKEN

This corpus-based study investigates the interactional functions of Turkish discourse particle sey. The data was obtained from the demo version of the Spoken Turkish Corpus (STC). The study presents that sey is one of the most frequent discourse particles used in Turkish and has multiple interactional functions in conversations. In this regard, the main functions of sey in Turkish in natural conversations are self-repair, introducing / initiating a new topic, holding the floor and signaling a topic shift. In addition to its conversational turn organization functions, sey also functions as a face saving device in spoken language. Supporting the findings of the previous research on the discourse particle, the study further emphasizes that sey has a crucial role in natural conversations to smooth the interaction, organizing topic shifts and enabling cohesion.
Exchange Rate Uncertainty and Non-Oil Exports: The Case of Iran

Since the exchange rate volatility are one of the most important factors in exports, any exporter should be able to forecast correctly on the currency exchange rate for increasing or decreasing its export. In conditions when practically, it is not possible to forecast exchange rate variation, the uncertainty conditions of currency rate are developed for some exporters. With respect to the importance of exports in uncertainty conditions, this research studies the relationship and impacts of uncertainty in currency exchange rate on exports in Iran. The case study covers the years between 1978 to 2008. The results of this assessment have been generalized by using the generalized auto-regressive conditional heteroskedasticity (GARCH) and ordinary auto-regressive conditional heteroskedasticity (ARCH) show that uncertainty in real exchange rate during the period subject of study had negative impacts on exports in Iran.
Fractional Net Premium Reserve in Life Insurance Based on Rational Interpolation Method

In the risk management of insurance companies,insurance reserve is an important measure in- dex.It is very important for the healthy development of insurance companies to calculate the premium reserve precisely and reasonably.Because the calculation of the net premium reserve at a fractional age depends on the actuarial assumption,this paper attempts to discuss the net premium reserve at the fractional age of the whole life insurance based on a rational spline method for estimating the mortality of fractional ages.In this discussion,the calculation formula and the bounds range of the net premium reserve at the fractional ages are obtained;Furthermore,we analyze the influence of the change of the adjustable parameter on the net premium reserve.The data analysis shows that not only it is sensitive for the net premium reserve at the fractional age to change the adjustable parameter,but also this reserve value based on the UDD assumption is just a boundary value using our method.So the calculation of the net premium reserves at the fractional ages based on rational spline method is very flexible,and it also has the important guiding significance for the risk management of the insurance reserve.
Periodic Optimal Control, Dissipativity and MPC

Recent research has established the importance of (strict) dissipativity for proving stability of economic MPC in the case of an optimal steady state. In many cases, though, steady-state operation is not economically optimal and periodic operation of the system yields a better performance. In this technical note, we propose ways of extending the notion of (strict) dissipativity for periodic systems. We prove that optimal $P$-periodic operation and MPC stability directly follow, similarly to the steady-state case, which can be seen as a special case of the proposed framework. Finally, we illustrate the theoretical results with several simple examples.