Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Imbalance in liver homeostasis leading to hyperplasia by overexpressing either one of the Bcl‐2‐related genes, zfBLP1 and zfMcl‐1a

Apoptosis is an essential part of normal embryonic development in vertebrates, and it is involved in sculpturing organs and controlling cell populations. In previous studies, we identified two novel proteins, zfBLP1 and zfMcl‐1a, which are similar to those of the Bcl‐2 family as a group of evolutionarily conserved proteins that regulate cellular anti‐apoptosis. To evaluate the effect of dysregulated hepatocyte apoptosis during zebrafish hepatogenesis, we demonstrate the transgenic overexpression of either zfBLP1 or zfMcl‐1a in zebrafish larval liver. Results showed that 18%–43% of larvae overexpressed zfBLP1 and that 16%–37% of larvae overexpressed zfMc1‐1a in the liver leading to liver hyperplasia in 5‐day postfertilization (dpf) zebrafish larvae. Histologically, zebrafish larvae exhibiting liver hyperplasia displayed a normal type of hepatocyte and the same cell numbers in their two liver buds compared with only one liver bud of wild‐type larvae. Of interest, the expression of cyclin genes (A2, B, D1, and E), hepatocyte nuclear factor genes (HNF‐1α, β, ‐3β, and 4α), and oncogenic markers (P53, c‐myc, β‐catenin, N‐ras, and gankyrin) were up‐regulated, while the expression of C/EBP‐α was down‐regulated in a zfMcl‐1a–mediated anti‐apoptotic process of the liver. Increased cell death and proliferation was found in both hepatic cells of zebrafish larvae overexpressing either zfBLP1 or zfMcl‐1a. However, those zebrafish larvae with liver hyperplasia only lived approximately 10 days. (This finding may have been due to liver abnormalities that led to failure of liver function.) In conclusion, transgenic overexpression of zfBLP1 or zfMcl‐1a in zebrafish larvae interrupts regulation of the homeostatic balance between cell proliferation and programmed cell death during hepatogenesis and leads to liver hyperplasia. Developmental Dynamics 235:515–523, 2006. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
A human genotyping trial to estimate the post-feeding time from mosquito blood meals

Mosquitoes occur almost worldwide, and females of some species feed on blood from humans and other animals to support ovum maturation. In warm and hot seasons, such as the summer in Japan, fed mosquitoes are often observed at crime scenes. The current study attempted to estimate the time that elapsed since feeding from the degree of human DNA digestion in mosquito blood meals and also to identify the individual human sources of the DNA using genotyping in two species of mosquito: Culex pipiens pallens and Aedes albopictus. After stereomicroscopic observation, the extracted DNA samples were quantified using a human DNA quantification and quality control kit and were genotyped for 15 short tandem repeats using a commercial multiplexing kit. It took about 3 days for the complete digestion of a blood meal, and genotyping was possible until 2 days post-feeding. The relative peak heights of the 15 STRs and DNA concentrations were useful for estimating the post-feeding time to approximately half a day between 0 and 2 days. Furthermore, the quantitative ratios derived from STR peak heights and the quality control kit (Q129/Q41, Q305/Q41, and Q305/Q129) were reasonably effective for estimating the approximate post-feeding time after 2–3 days. We suggest that this study may be very useful for estimating the time since a mosquito fed from blood meal DNA, although further refinements are necessary to estimate the times more accurately.
A Multiple-Loop, Double-Cube Microarray Design Applied to Prostate Cancer Cell Lines with Variable Sensitivity to Histone Deacetylase Inhibitors

Purpose: Although microarray technology has been widely adopted by the scientific community, analysis of the ensuing data remains challenging. In this article, we present our experience with a complex design microarray experiment on resistance mechanisms of histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACI). Experimental Design: To improve our understanding of the underlying mechanism of HDACI resistance in prostate cancer cells, we designed a novel “multiple-loop, double-cube” cDNA microarray experiment. In the experiment of 22 arrays, DU145 and PC3 cells were treated with two different HDACIs (vorinostat and valproic acid) and incubation periods (48 and 96 h). Preprocessing included exploratory analyses of the quality of the arrays and intensity-dependent within-array Loess normalization. An ANOVA model was used for inference. The results were validated by Western blot analysis of known treatment targets. Results: Treatment of PC3 and DU145 cells with HDACIs caused 2.8% to 10% (P < 0.001) differential expression across conditions; 51% to 73% of these genes were up-regulated and 28% to 49% were down-regulated. The extent of differential expression was associated with cell line (DU145 > PC3), HDACI (valproic acid ≥ vorinostat), and duration of treatment (96 > 48 h). We identified known and new treatment targets involved in cell cycle and apoptosis. Conclusion: A multiple-loop, double-cube microarray design can be used to identify HDACI-induced changes in gene expression possibly related to drug resistance.
Glucose uptake by the cellulolytic ruminal anaerobe Bacteroides succinogenes

Glucose uptake by Bacteroides succinogenes S85 was measured under conditions that maintained anaerobiosis and osmotic stability. Uptake was inhibited by compounds which interfere with electron transport systems, maintenance of proton or metal ion gradients, or ATP synthesis. The most potent inhibitors were proton and metal ionophores. Oxygen strongly inhibited glucose uptake. Na+ and Li+, but not K+, stimulated glucose uptake. A variety of sugars, including alpha-methylglucoside, did not inhibit glucose uptake. Only cellobiose and 2-deoxy-D-glucose were inhibitory, but neither behaved as a competitive inhibitor. Metabolism of both sugars appeared to be responsible for the inhibition. Cells grown in cellobiose medium transported glucose at one-half the rate of glucose-grown cells. Spheroplasts transported glucose as well as whole cells, indicating glucose uptake is not dependent on a periplasmic glucose-binding protein. Differences in glucose uptake patterns were detected in cells harvested during the transition from the lag to the log phase of growth compared with cells obtained during the log phase. These differences were not due to different mechanisms for glucose uptake in the cell types. Based on the results of this study, B. succinogenes contains a highly specific, active transport system for glucose. Evidence of a phosphoenolpyruvate-glucose phosphotransferase system was not found.
Identification of a CYP19 Gene Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Associated with a Reduced Risk of Coronary Heart Disease.

OBJECTIVE An imbalance in sex hormone ratios has been identified in coronary heart disease (CHD), and as a key enzyme in the conversion of androgen to estrogen, aromatase plays an important role in the balance of sex hormone levels. However, there is a paucity of research into the potential roles of aromatase in CHD. In this study, we investigated associations between single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the CYP19 gene, which encodes aromatase, and CHD. METHODS We collected 1706 blood samples from CHD patients and control participants and used propensity score matching techniques to match case and control groups with respect to confounding factors. In a final study population, including 596 individuals, we conducted a case-control study to identify associations between three SNPs in CYP19 and CHD using χ(2) or Fisher exact tests, and binary logistic regression analysis. Differences in lipid levels and parameters of echocardiography among individuals with different genotypes were assessed by one-way analysis of variance. RESULTS The distributions of rs2289105 alleles in the CYP19 gene differed significantly between the CHD and control groups (p = 0.014), and the heterozygote CT genotype was associated with a significantly lower risk of CHD compared to the homozygous wild-type CC genotype (p = 0.0063 and odds ratio = 0.575). However, blood lipid levels and echocardiographic parameters among individuals with different genotypes did not differ between the CHD and control groups. CONCLUSIONS The CT genotype of the rs2289105 polymorphism in the CYP19 gene is associated with a decreased risk of CHD and may be a genetic marker of protection from CHD.
Impairment of Hyperpolarization-Activated, Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channel Function by the Intravenous General Anesthetic Propofol

Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) is a widely used intravenous general anesthetic, which has been reported to produce bradycardia in patients at concentrations associated with profound sedation and loss of consciousness. Hyperpolarization-activated, cyclic nucleotide-gated (HCN) channels conduct a monovalent cationic current Ih (also known as Iq or If) that contributes to autorhythmicity in both the brain and heart. Here we studied the effects of propofol on recombinant HCN1, HCN2, and HCN4 channels and found that the drug inhibits and slows activation of all three channels at clinically relevant concentrations. In oocyte expression studies, HCN1 channel activation was most sensitive to slowing by propofol (EC50 values of 5.6 ± 1.0 μM for fast component and 31.5 ± 7.5 μM for slow component). HCN1 channels also showed a marked propofol-induced hyperpolarizing shift in the voltage dependence of activation (EC50 of 6.7 ± 1.0 μM) and accelerated deactivation (EC50 of 4.5 ± 0.9 μM). Furthermore, propofol reduced heart rate in an isolated guinea pig heart preparation over the same range of concentrations. These data suggest that propofol modulation of HCN channel gating is an important molecular mechanism that can contribute to the depression of central nervous system function and also lead to bradyarrhythmias in patients receiving propofol during surgical anesthesia.
Broadband impedance and antenna tuning using quantum genetic algorithms for multistandard wireless communications

An adaptive broadband antenna tuning technique using quantum genetic algorithms is proposed in this paper. This method is fast and can achieve a global optimal solution. It is useful for software defined radio systems using a single antenna for multiple mobile and wireless bands. Simulations have been conducted using GSM, UMTS and both standards, with different antenna impedances. The frequency band of the dual standards ranges from 1.7 to 2.2GHz. Simulation results show good accuracy of the proposed tuning technique.
The Imaginaries of RuNet: The Change of the Elites and the Construction of Online Space

By exploring the changes among online elites who have constructed the Internet, this article traces the unique history of the Russian Internet (RuNet). Illustrating how changes in online elites can be associated with changes in the socio-political role of the online space in general, it concludes that, although the Internet is of global nature, its space is constructed on the level of nation, culture and language. To show this, the article presents five stages in the development of RuNet, suggesting that the change in the stages is associated with the relationship of power between, first, actors (users, developers, the government, etc.) that construct Internet space and, second, alternative elites that emerge online and the traditional elites that seek to take the online space under their control by making their imaginary dominate.
Modeling tumor predisposing FH mutations in yeast: Effects on fumarase activity, growth phenotype and gene expression profile

Heterozygous mutations in the fumarase (FH) gene cause the tumor predisposition syndrome hereditary leiomyomatosis and renal cell cancer (MIM 605839). While most families segregate a benign phenotype of multiple leiomyomas, others display a phenotype with early‐onset renal cancer and leiomyosarcoma. Modifier genes may play a role in this, but an alternative explanation is simple genotype–phenotype association. FH mutations predisposing to cancer appear to be truncating or in fully conserved amino acids, suggesting that mutations severely affecting FH activity might predispose to malignancy. In the present study, we analyzed 2 conserved fumarase mutations in yeast. H153R has been described in 3 cancer predisposition families; whereas all 3 reported K187R families have displayed the benign phenotype. Examining H153R and K187R should clarify whether cancer‐related FH mutations differ from their benign phenotype‐associated counterparts. Yeast strains containing the 2 mutations, and knockout and wild type (WT) references, were created and the growth phenotypes studied on selected carbon sources to assess mitochondrial function. Additionally, Fum1 protein production and activity were measured, and the strains were subjected to transcriptional profiling. On nonfermentable lactate medium, the fumarase knockout strains did not grow, whereas the mutants showed no differences, as compared to WT yeast. Although both mutant strains produced fumarase, a considerable decrease in enzyme activity was seen in mutants with respect to WT. Transcription of the majority of Krebs cycle enzymes was downregulated in response to mutations in fumarase. In conclusion, both mutants displayed some, albeit greatly reduced, fumarase activity. This activity was sufficient to support normal growth on nonfermentable carbon source, unlike the deletion phenotype, demonstrating the significance of the residual activity. The findings support the hypothesis that modifier gene(s), rather than phenotype–genotype effects, display a major role in determining tumor phenotypes in families segregating FH mutations. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
May polyester with collagen coating mesh decrease the rate of intraperitoneal adhesions in incisional hernia repair?

BACKGROUND Among meshes used in incisional hernias in open technique repair, the polypropylene is the most commonly used due to flexibility, cellular growth stimulation, satisfactory inflammatory response, easy manipulation and low price. However, it induces adhesions formation when in contact with the intra-abdominal contents. AIM To evaluate the formation of adhesions after polypropylene and collagen coated polyester mesh with intraperitoneal placement. METHODS Twenty six female Wistar rats were randomized in three groups. In the group 0 (sham) there was no prosthesis placement, in the polypropylene (group 1) the prosthesis was placed at the peritoneal surface and in the group 2, collagen coated polyester mesh was placed. The rats were killed on postoperative day 21 to evaluate adhesions regarding its degree, mesh percentage of involvement, bowel involvement and strength needed to cause rupture. RESULTS There was no difference in weight between groups. The group 0 did not develop any adhesions. The groups 1 and 2 developed prosthetic mesh surface adhesions, mostly in the omentum. There was no difference in adhesion degree and percentage of surface involvement between groups. The collagen coated mesh did not develop adhesions. The adhesions occurred at the free edge of the mesh, in contact with the polyester. The Polypropylene group presented 80% of the surface involved with adhesions, while the collagen coated polyester group presented 10% (p<0,005). CONCLUSION There was no difference between adhesion, degree of adhesion and strength needed to cause rupture. However, the polypropylene mesh presented significantly higher surface of adhesion when compared to the collagen coated polyester mesh.
Application of Business Intelligence in the Financial Services Industry

A highly dynamic market, violent competition, changing client demands, and the need of strict control and risk management are only some of the challenges of the business environment where modern financial companies conduct their operations. Factors such as mergers and acquisitions, deregulation, technological innovation, and competition, have forced financial companies to rethink their business. Business intelligence (BI) solutions for financial companies provide the decision makers with the ability to manage and take advantage of information resources, in order to solve the problems and make high-quality and timely decisions. The use of BI in financial services industry helps financial companies for creating a vision for financial managers, training the organization to determine realistic goals, and supporting optimal decision making. Business intelligence covers many areas of the financial services industry, and among the most important are: Relationship Marketing, Performance Management (PM), Risk Management (RM), Asset and Liability Management (ALM), and Compliance. Data warehouse (DW) and on-line analytical processes (OLAP) are the informational basis for the application of business intelligence. Data mining (DM) is important part of business intelligence and deal with complex statistical analysis, discovering hidden relationships between data and predicting the behavior trends of business systems. This paper is an attempt to straighten Economy Bank for Investment and Finance (EBIF) through business intelligence techniques to properly identify opportunities and trends in financial businesses. In this work, we propose a business intelligence system, developed on Microsoft SQL Server 2008 R2, for an Economy Bank for Investment and Finance based on the information which the company has. We utilized the business intelligence system in EBIF to accomplish complex processing and data analysis.
Approach by localization and multiobjective evolutionary optimization for flexible job-shop scheduling problems

Traditionally, assignment and scheduling decisions are made separately at different levels of the production management framework. The combining of such decisions presents additional complexity and new problems. We present two new approaches to solve jointly the assignment and job-shop scheduling problems (with total or partial flexibility). The first one is the approach by localization (AL). It makes it possible to solve the problem of resource allocation and build an ideal assignment model (assignments schemata). The second one is an evolutionary approach controlled by the assignment model (generated by the first approach). In such an approach, we apply advanced genetic manipulations in order to enhance the solution quality. We also explain some of the practical and theoretical considerations in the construction of a more robust encoding that will enable us to solve the flexible job-shop problem by applying the genetic algorithms (GAs). Two examples are presented to show the efficiency of the two suggested methodologies.
nhanced vulnerability for Streptococcus pneumoniae sepsis during asplenia is etermined by the bacterial capsule

Patients without a spleen are susceptible for overwhelming sepsis with Streptococcus pneumoniae. We investigated the relative contribution of the pneumococcal capsule in the reduced host defense after splenectomy. Sham-operated or splenectomized mice were inoculated with serotype 2 or 4 S. pneumoniae (D39, TIGR4) or the isogenic nonencapsulated mutants (D39 cps, TIGR4 cps). After splenectomy, intranasal infection with D39 resulted in increased mortality, increased bacterial dissemination and exaggerated
Increased muscularization of small pulmonary arteries in preterm infants of diabetic mothers: a morphometric study in noninflated, noninjected, routinely fixed lungs.

We attempted to identify a structural correlate of the pulmonary hypertension observed in newborn infants of diabetic mothers (IDM) by performing a morphometric analysis of pulmonary arteries at the transition of terminal to respiratory bronchiolus (TRB) in postmortem lungs of 20 IDM and 14 control infants. Although there was no readily apparent microscopic difference between the lungs of newborn IDM and controls, the degree of muscularization, as measured by mean medial area (MMA) of 10 TRB arteries, was significantly greater in preterm IDM (gestational age < or = 37 weeks) than in age-matched controls (502 versus 341 microns 2; P = .0038). Among infants of gestational age > 37 weeks, there was no significant difference between MMA in IDM (508 microns 2) and MMA in controls (598 microns 2). These findings point at an accelerated muscularization of the TRB arteries in IDM, apparent early in the third trimester. The pathogenesis of this hypermuscularization is not understood, but smooth muscle growth promoters such as insulin may play a role. The abnormal timing of TRB artery muscularization could be a manifestation of the basic disturbance in development that contributes to the pulmonary hypertension observed in newborn IDM and to the respiratory difficulties commonly experienced by these infants.
Global patterns of diversity and community structure in marine bacterioplankton

Because of their small size, great abundance and easy dispersal, it is often assumed that marine planktonic microorganisms have a ubiquitous distribution that prevents any structured assembly into local communities. To challenge this view, marine bacterioplankton communities from coastal waters at nine locations distributed world‐wide were examined through the use of comprehensive clone libraries of 16S ribosomal RNA genes, used as operational taxonomic units (OTU). Our survey and analyses show that there were marked differences in the composition and richness of OTUs between locations. Remarkably, the global marine bacterioplankton community showed a high degree of endemism, and conversely included few cosmopolitan OTUs. Our data were consistent with a latitudinal gradient of OTU richness. We observed a positive relationship between the relative OTU abundances and their range of occupation, i.e. cosmopolitans had the largest population sizes. Although OTU richness differed among locations, the distributions of the major taxonomic groups represented in the communities were analogous, and all local communities were similarly structured and dominated by a few OTUs showing variable taxonomic affiliations. The observed patterns of OTU richness indicate that similar evolutionary and ecological processes structured the communities. We conclude that marine bacterioplankton share many of the biogeographical and macroecological features of macroscopic organisms. The general processes behind those patterns are likely to be comparable across taxa and major global biomes.
PD_Manager: an mHealth platform for Parkinson's disease patient management

PD_Manager is a mobile health platform designed to cover most of the aspects regarding the management of Parkinson's disease (PD) in a holistic approach. Patients are unobtrusively monitored using commercial wrist and insole sensors paired with a smartphone, to automatically estimate the severity of most of the PD motor symptoms. Besides motor symptoms monitoring, the patient's mobile application also provides various non-motor self-evaluation tests for assessing cognition, mood and nutrition to motivate them in becoming more active in managing their disease. All data from the mobile application and the sensors is transferred to a cloud infrastructure to allow easy access for clinicians and further processing. Clinicians can access this information using a separate mobile application that is specifically designed for their respective needs to provide faster and more accurate assessment of PD symptoms that facilitate patient evaluation. Machine learning techniques are used to estimate symptoms and disease progression trends to further enhance the provided information. The platform is also complemented with a decision support system (DSS) that notifies clinicians for the detection of new symptoms or the worsening of existing ones. As patient's symptoms are progressing, the DSS can also provide specific suggestions regarding appropriate medication changes.