Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Enhanced expression of KIF4A in colorectal cancer is associated with lymph node metastasis

Kinesin family member 4A (KIF4A) is a member of the kinesin 4 subfamily of kinesin-related proteins and serves an important role in cell division. The expression levels of KIF4A have been investigated in numerous types of cancer, including cervical, lung, oral, and breast cancer, and are established to be associated with poor patient prognosis. However, the role of KIF4A, as well as its expression in colorectal cancer (CRC), remains to be elucidated. Therefore, the current study investigated KIF4A expression levels in patients with CRC and demonstrated that its levels were increased in tumor tissues compared with non-tumor tissues. To investigate the functional role of KIF4A, KIF4A was knocked down in CRC cells and cell viability was evaluated. CRC cells with KIF4A knockdown exhibited lower cell proliferation compared with control cells. In addition, KIF4A expression levels, as determined by immunohistochemistry, were compared with the expression of Ki-67, but no significant associations were observed in the patients with CRC. Therefore, KIF4A was found to be upregulated in patients with CRC and downregulation of KIF4A reduced cell proliferation in CRC cells. These results suggest that KIF4A may be a potential therapeutic target, which may improve the outcomes of patients with CRC.
No Antioxidant Beneficial Effect of Zinc Supplementation on Oxidative Stress Markers and Antioxidant Defenses in Middle-Aged and Elderly Subjects: The Zenith Study

Objective: The aim of the study was to investigate whether zinc supplementation affects antioxidant status in European middle-aged and elderly people. Design: Multicentre prospective intervention study, randomized, double-blind, placebo-control. Setting: France (Clermont-Ferrand/Theix, and Grenoble), Italy (Rome), Northern Ireland (Coleraine). Subjects: A total of 387 healthy middle-aged (55–70 yrs) and free-living older aged (70–85 yrs) subjects were randomly allocated to three groups: 0, 15 or 30 mg zinc gluconate/d in addition to usual dietary intake during 6 months. Methods: Oxidative stress status was evaluated by measurement of protein oxidation (plasma thiol groups), lipid peroxidation (plasma thio-barbituric acid reactants, TBARS), whole blood glutathione levels, erythrocyte copper/zinc superoxide dismutase activity and plasma antioxidant status (ferric reducing antioxidant power assay), at baseline and after 3 and 6 months. Results: Zinc supplementation did not alter oxidative stress markers and antioxidant defenses in elderly, after 3 or 6 months, except an increase in Cu/Zn superoxide dismutase activity. Conclusions: In apparently healthy free living elderly people, a single zinc supplementation had no effects on oxidative stress status.
Pharmacologic Treatment for Postpartum Depression: A Systematic Review

During the past decade, the medical community has expressed a growing concern over the high prevalence of postpartum depression and the tragic repercussions of untreated illness. However, many questions persist about the pathogenesis of postpartum depression, the natural course of the illness, and the safety and effectiveness of available treatments. To summarize the data on pharmacologic treatments for postpartum depression, we performed a systematic review of four major databases to identify original research published from 1960‐September 2009 that featured pharmacologic treatments for depression detected in women during the 12 months after delivery. Pharmacologic treatments included prescription drugs (antidepressants and hormones), herbal remedies, and dietary supplements. Case reports, studies examining the prevention of postpartum depression, and those including diagnosed episodes of depression preceding the postpartum period (i.e., antepartum onset) were excluded. Treatment randomization or the presence of a control group was not required for inclusion in this review. Fourteen investigations met inclusion criteria. Nine studies examined the effects of prescription antidepressants, two investigated hormones, and three featured omega‐3 fatty acid supplementation. Significant heterogeneity was evident in study design and prevented a pooled quantitative analysis of treatment effects. The power of most investigations was limited, and numerous confounding biases were evident. Therapeutic effects were documented for prescription antidepressants and hormone supplementation (estrogen derivatives). Tolerability of the interventions in depressed mothers and breastfed infants was not well described. The effectiveness of omega‐3 fatty acids was not evident in postpartum depression trials, although significant limitations in study methodology were apparent. Postpartum depression is a common and serious medical problem, but most cases go undetected and untreated. The need to identify safe, effective, and convenient treatments for postpartum depression is urgent, but the current state of the medical literature describing pharmacologic interventions is not impressive. Preliminary evidence documenting the effectiveness of serotonergic antidepressants and hormone supplementation should serve as an impetus for rigorous controlled investigations in the future.
ANALISIS PENGARUH CASH FLOW, FUND SIZE, FAMILY SIZE, EXPENSE RATIO, STOCK SELECTION ABILITY DAN LOAD FEE TERHADAP KINERJA REKSADANA SAHAM PERIODE 2012-2014

Mutual Fund is one of investment that raise funds from the investor to be invested in a portofolio of securities and managed by an investment manager in accordance with the investment objectives.This study was conducted to determine the effect of cash flow, fund size, family size, expense ratio, stock selection ability and load fee on the performance of mutual fund. The data used in this study are NAV,BI Rate, expense ratio, load fee and total NAV investment manager of 45 mutual funds in 2012-2014 period. The method that used is multiple reggresion analysis with clasical assumption by using a normality test, autocorrelation test, heteroscedasticity test, and mulitcollinearity test. The method that used for testing the hypothesis are the F-test and t test. The result of this test showed partially cash flow and stock selection ability have a positive significant effect on the performance of mutual funds. Expense ratio and load fee have negative significant effect on the performance of mutual fund. While the fund size and family size have postive effect but not significant on the performance of mutual fund. Based on the result Adjusted R Square , the R value of 0.318 which means the 31,8% achievement of mutual fund performance can be explained by cash flow, fund size, fund family size, expense ratio, stock selection ability and load fee.
Role of Intron I in Expression of the Human Factor IX Gene (*)

The first intron (intron I) of the human factor IX gene, which has been previously suggested of having an expression-augmenting activity, was systematically studied for its potential enhancer activity. When tested with the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase expression vector with a minimal factor IX promoter, subregions of intron I showed only marginal enhancing activities (1.7-1.9-fold enhancement at the highest). Smaller subregions encompassing nucleotides 5660-6350 of the intron sequence even showed some weak negative regulatory activities (∼50% suppression at the highest), while a cytomegalovirus enhancer sequence, which was used as the positive control, had a 7-fold enhancement. A set of three factor IX minigene expression vectors with the same factor IX promoter were then constructed: p-416FIXc which contained the factor IX cDNA, p-416FIXm1 which contained the factor IX cDNA with a largely truncated intron I, and p-416FIXm2 which contained the factor IX cDNA with the intron I sequence further truncated. The p-416FIXm1 and p-416FIXm2 constructs showed 7-9-fold higher expression activities than p-416FIXc. The elevated factor IX antigen levels agreed well with the grossly elevated factor IX clotting activity and mRNA levels. These results indicate that the expression enhancing activity of intron I is not due to specific enhancer elements present in the intron subsequences, but is due to functional splicing sequences present in the precursor mRNAs produced from the minigene constructs containing intron I. By being efficiently assembled into spliceosome complexes, transcripts with splicing sequences may be better protected in the nucleus from random degradations than those without such sequences.
Research on the control of phase-shift controlled high-frequency link cycloconverter

High-frequency (HF) link circuit integrates with a cycloconverter-type dc/ac converter so as to realize a compact, light-weight and bidirectional power flow converter for electrical isolated conditions, such as UPS, new energy systems and special electrical motion systems. However, when the secondary side of HF transformer has no load, the stored magnetic energy in the leakage inductance lacks its pass to release itself and cause a voltage surge between the secondary terminals of HF transformer to threaten to the safety of power switches. A new method for both CVCF system and VVVF system is presented, it is composed of two parts, one is a full-bridge phase-shift controlled circuit in the primary side of HF transformer, which generates periodic and stable zero-voltage intervals, the other is a cycloconverter in the secondary side of HF transformer with a pulse-density-modulated (PDM) current regulator, which helps to realize zero-voltage switching (ZVS). Based on the analysis of circuit topologies and principles of operation, as for three-phase induction motor, experiments are carried out to verify the concept.
Biochemical characterization and cellular localization of a formalin‐resistant melanoma‐associated antigen reacting with monoclonal antibody NKI/C‐3

A monoclonal antibody (MAb NKI/C‐3) produced against a purified membrane preparation of human melanoma cells reacts preferentially with sections of formaldehyde‐fixed and paraffin‐embedded tissues of melanoma, nevocellular nevi, carcinoids and medullary carcinomas of the thyroid. NKI/C‐3 did not react with basal‐cell carcinoma, brain tissue or brain tumors, and in only 14/196 other tumors was a clear cross‐reactivity observed, e. g. with prostate carcinomas and a minority of primary breast, ovarian, lung and clear‐cell carcinomas. This antibody was used in an immuno‐electron microscopic study for the cellular localization of the antigen. The antigen was dispersed in the cytoplasm of melanoma cells, and more concentrated inside vacuoles and sometimes also on the melanosomes. Occasionally, the antigen was seen on the cell surface.
Suitability of the Lang II Random Dot Stereotest for detecting manifest strabismus in 3‐year‐old children at child health centres in Sweden

The aim of the study is to examine the suitability of the Lang II Random Dot Stereotest for use by district nurses in primary healthcare centres. The Lang Stereotest is an inexpensive method. It is easy to apply, but the child's co-operation is required. Approximately 100 district nurses were given detailed information and instruction by an orthoptist prior to a randomized population-based community trial initiated in 1993. In the county of Uppsala in Sweden, all 4293 children born in 1990 were randomized to one of the following four study groups: intervention, control, reliability or validity. All children were followed from birth to 6.5 y of age with respect to the occurrence of strabismus. The kappa statistic for test-retest reliability among district nurses was 0.65 (95% CI, 0.51-0.80). A validation of the outcomes of district nurses' against orthoptists' examinations using the Lang Stereotest showed a sensitivity of 0.33 (95% CI, 0.09-0.65) and a specificity of 0.85 (0.80-0.89). Of 113 cases of strabismus, 53% were detected within the first 3 y of life. Examination of 1132 3-y-old children using the Lang Stereotest enabled the district nurses to detect 11 new cases of strabismus. Only one of these cases was referred to an orthoptist as a direct consequence of the screening. The Lang Stereotest showed low reliability and low validity in this community trial. It is concluded that the Lang II Random Dot Stereotest is not suitable for the screening of manifest strabismus in unselected populations of 3-y-old children in Sweden, where a large proportion of cases of strabismus is detected during the first 3 y of life.
Paradigms for water allocation in river basins: a society-science-practice perspective from Southern Africa

This paper seeks to complement ongoing discussions around water allocation by offering an analytic framework for examining the evolution of paradigms for water allocation in river basins. It traces this evolution from the hydraulic paradigm through to Integrated Water Resources Manage (IWRM) and the current water security paradigm. Using a society-science-practice interaction perspective, the paper draws attention to the governance processes of water allocation that underlie these paradigms using examples from river basins in southern Africa. It is argued that the process of allocating water resources is often influenced by societal priorities and values that do not necessarily result in maintaining ecosystem health and integrity. The efficacy of water allocation depends on the extent to which implementation takes into account the socio-political dynamics associated with collective action involving multiple water users. While paradigm shifts provide windows of opportunity for strengthening legislation, the mere adoption of paradigms should not be taken as a panacea for addressing challenges associated with water allocation in river basins. This is especially relevant for several countries in southern Africa that are undertaking water reforms with the view of strengthening allocation of water resources at basin scale.
Dynamic sensing in a ping-pong playing robot

The application of sensing technologies to an environment that changes at rates comparable to the sensing and actuation rates of a robot system is considered. In such dynamic environments, the temporal characteristics of the sensor must be taken into account. Additionally, the processing system must be able to integrate the stream of sensor data into its task plan, compensating for changed sensor data and continuously optimizing the plan. The author examines these issues in the context of a functioning robot system that plays ping-pong. >
Treatment Motivation and Therapeutic Engagement in Prison-Based Substance Use Treatment

Abstract Studies of community-based substance use treatment show that motivation for treatment is critical for clients becoming therapeutically engaged. Little research, however, has been conducted on therapeutic engagement in corrections-based substance use treatment. The current study examines the association between internal treatment motivation and therapeutic engagement for a sample of 220 male substance-using offenders enrolled in a corrections-based treatment program. Findings showed that problem recognition and desire for help were associated with cognitive indicators of therapeutic engagement, specifically confidence in and commitment to treatment. Increased focus on internal motivation for treatment may lead to more effective treatment for substance-using offenders. Pretreatment motivational interventions therefore are recommended for substance-using offenders with low internal motivation for treatment.
Targeted gene deletion of Leishmania major genes encoding developmental stage‐specific leishmanolysin (GP63)

The major surface glycoprotein of Leishmania major is a zinc metalloproteinase of 63 kDa referred to as leishmanolysin or GP63, which is encoded by a family of seven genes. Targeted gene replacement was used to delete gp63 genes 1–6 encoding the highly expressed promastigote and constitutively expressed GP63. In the L. major homozygous mutants deficient in gp63 genes 1–6, there was no expression of GP63 as detected by reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) or fluorescent staining in promastigotes from the procyclic stage (logarithmic growth phase). The remaining L. major gP63 gene 7 was shown to be developmentally regulated, as it was expressed exclusively in infectious metacyclic stage (late stationary growth phase) promastigotes and in lesion amastigotes. The gp63 genes 1–6‐deficient mutants showed increased sensitivity to complement‐mediated lysis. The sensitivity to lysis was greater in procyclics than in metacyclics when compared with the equivalent wild‐type stages. Increased resistance of the mutant metacyclic promastigotes correlated with the expression of gp63 gene 7 and was restored to the same levels as wild‐type promastigotes by transfection with gp63 gene 1. Thus, expression of GP63 is clearly involved in conferring resistance to complement‐mediated lysis. The L. major GP63 1–6 mutants were capable of infecting mouse macrophages and differentiating into amastigotes. Similar levels of infection and subsequent intracellular survival were observed when mouse macrophages were infected in vitro with wild type, GP63 1–6 mutants and mutants transfected with gp63 gene 1. The GP63 1–6 mutants were capable of lesion formation in BALB/c mice and, thus, gp63 genes 1–6 do not play a role in the survival of the parasite within mouse macrophages. The role of gp63 genes 1–6 in parasite development within the sandfly vector was studied. GP63 1–6 mutants grew normally in the blood‐engorged midgut of both Phlebotomus argentipes and P. papatasi. However, both wild‐type and mutant promastigotes were lost after 2 days' growth in P. papatasi. The complete developmental pathway in P. argentipes was observed for wild‐type promastigotes, GP63 1–6 mutants and mutants transfected with gp63 gene 1. Normal stage differentiation from amastigotes to procyclics, to nectomonads, to haptomonads and to infectious metacyclics was observed. Thus, the highly expressed promastigote forms of GP63, encoded by gp63 genes 1–6, do not appear to be required for nutrient utilization in the bloodmeal during the early stages of development in the sandfly or for midgut attachment and further development. gp63 1–6 genes do, however, play a major protective role against complement‐mediated lysis when promastigotes are introduced into the mammalian host.
A Nonlinear, MPC-Based Motion Cueing Algorithm for a High-Performance, Nine-DOF Dynamic Simulator Platform

The use of dynamical driving simulators is nowadays common in many different application fields, such as driver training, vehicle development, and medical studies. Platforms with different mechanical structures have been designed, depending on the particular application and the corresponding targeted market. The effectiveness of such devices is related to their capabilities of well reproducing the driving sensations, and hence, it is crucial that the motion control strategies generate both realistic and feasible inputs to the platform, to ensure that it is kept within its limited operation space. Such strategies are called motion cueing algorithms (MCAs). In this brief, we describe an MCA based on nonlinear model predictive control (MPC) techniques, for a nine-degree of freedom simulator based on a hexapod mounted on a flat base moved by a tripod, exhibiting highly nonlinear behavior. The algorithm has been evaluated in a simulation environment. Simulation results show that the full exploitation of the working area is achieved, while managing at best all the limitations given by the particular structure and preserving the easiness and intuitiveness of tuning, which is typical of linear MPC-based approaches.
Amide linkages mimic phosphates in RNA interactions with proteins and are well tolerated in the guide strand of short interfering RNAs

Abstract While the use of RNA interference (RNAi) in molecular biology and functional genomics is a well-established technology, in vivo applications of synthetic short interfering RNAs (siRNAs) require chemical modifications. We recently found that amides as non-ionic replacements for phosphodiesters may be useful modifications for optimization of siRNAs. Herein, we report a comprehensive study of systematic replacement of a single phosphate with an amide linkage throughout the guide strand of siRNAs. The results show that amides are surprisingly well tolerated in the seed and central regions of the guide strand and increase the silencing activity when placed between nucleosides 10 and 12, at the catalytic site of Argonaute. A potential explanation is provided by the first crystal structure of an amide-modified RNA–DNA with Bacillus halodurans RNase H1. The structure reveals how small changes in both RNA and protein conformation allow the amide to establish hydrogen bonding interactions with the protein. Molecular dynamics simulations suggest that these alternative binding modes may compensate for interactions lost due to the absence of a phosphodiester moiety. Our results suggest that an amide can mimic important hydrogen bonding interactions with proteins required for RNAi activity and may be a promising modification for optimization of biological properties of siRNAs.
Modeling Key Caching for Mobile IP Authentication, Authorization, and Accounting (AAA) Services

The mobile IP authentication, authorization, and accounting (AAA) framework architecture is designed to protect signaling messages from eavesdropping by malicious attackers. The message exchanges for AAA incur heavy signaling overhead and long network access latency for mobility service. To solve this problem, the most typical approach is to adopt a key caching mechanism so that the authentication can locally be done and so that the signaling overhead can be significantly reduced. However, in the literature, very little work has conducted a thorough analytical study on the proposed key caching scheme. As a result, the statistical behavior of these schemes cannot be well justified. In this paper, we develop an analytical model that describes the key caching behavior in mobile IP networks. The accuracy of this model is validated by simulations. Based on the performance analysis, we then propose an adaptive algorithm that dynamically adjusts key cache size so that the signaling overhead can be minimized.
Pedestrian Tracking using a Generalized Potential Field Approach

Mobile robots and autonomous driving cars operate in a shared environment with pedestrians. In order to avoid accidents, it is important to track and predict human trajectories in an optimal way. In this paper, a generalized potential field approach for characterizing pedestrian movements is proposed which goes beyond the well-known social force model. Its goal is to give a generalized architecture for improving the tracking accuracy of pedestrians in surveillance situations. In comparison to other fusion approaches, the number of proposed parameters is reduced and the parameters can be intuitively understood. For a simple scenario, in a forum the trajectories of pedestrians are predicted for a configured parameter set. For this purpose, the proposed model is used. The predicted trajectories are compared to the real trajectories of the pedestrians. First results regarding the accuracy of the approach are presented.
Effects of filtering on the linearity of current-steering IF DAC

The distortion of a current-steering digital-to-analog converter (DAC) is often dominated by the signal-dependent output impedance. This has normally been analysed by assuming a purely resistive load. When a digital IF signal is generated, the different harmonic bands are separated and can also be filtered separately. This paper illustrates that linearity can be improved considerably by shorting the generated 2nd harmonic and low-frequency voltage immediately at the DAC's output, so that these can not mix further to any higher order products.