Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Lipopolysaccharide reduces electrical coupling in microvascular endothelial cells by targeting connexin40 in a tyrosine‐, ERK1/2‐, PKA‐, and PKC‐dependent manner

Electrical coupling along the endothelium is central in the arteriolar conducted response and in control of vascular resistance. It has been shown that exposure of endothelium to lipopolysaccharide (LPS, an initiating factor in sepsis) reduces intercellular communication in vitro and in vivo. The molecular basis for this reduction is not known. We examined the effect of LPS on electrical coupling in monolayers of cultured mouse microvascular endothelial cells (MMEC) derived from the mouse hindlimb skeletal muscle. To assess coupling, we measured the spread of electrical current injected into the monolayer and computed the monolayer intercellular resistance (inverse measure of coupling). LPS (10 µg/ml, 1 h) reduced coupling (i.e., increased resistance) in MMEC isolated from wild‐type, connexin37 (Cx37) null and Cx43G60S (nonfunctional mutant) mice, but not in MMEC derived from Cx40 null mice. LPS also activated JNK1/2, p38 and ERK1/2 MAP kinases. Pretreatment of WT monolayers with ERK1/2 inhibitor U0126 (20 µM, 1 h) prevented the LPS‐induced decrease in coupling, while inhibition of JNK1/2 with SP600125 (20 µM, 1 h) and p38 with a p38 inhibitor (10 nM, 1 h) had no effect. Furthermore, inhibition of tyrosine kinases with PP‐2 (10 nM, 1 h), activation of PKA by 8‐bromo‐cAMP (1 mM, 5 min), and activation of PKC by bryostatin‐2 (10 nM, 1 h) also prevented the reduction in coupling. We propose that LPS reduces inter‐endothelial electrical coupling via tyrosine‐, ERK1/2‐, PKA‐, and PKC‐dependent signaling that targets Cx40. We suggest that this mechanism contributes to compromised arteriolar function following LPS exposure. J. Cell. Physiol. 211: 159–166, 2007. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Feeding Ecology of Northern Bearded Sakis (Chiropotes sagulatus) in Guyana

Bearded sakis (genus Chiropotes) are among the most highly specialized primate seed predators. However, long‐term studies of the genus in continuous forests, with a full community of sympatric primates, are rare. Here I present data on monthly variation in the diet of Chiropotes sagulatus from a long‐term study in a continuous forest in Guyana. Bearded sakis had an extremely diverse diet, exploiting more than 175 species of plants. Consistent with their highly specialized dental morphology for seed eating, seeds made up 75% of the annual diet. Sakis exploited a wide variety of mechanically protected fruits and often exploited the same plant species for more than 3 months. They consumed a high percentage of seeds in all months and seed consumption was significantly correlated with fruit abundance. When fruit became scarcer, sakis consumed a higher percentage of non‐seed food items, including insects, mature fruit, and flowers. Insects were especially important during the leanest months, making up almost 40% of feeding time. Bearded saki dietary diversity (in terms of plant species) showed little variability across months. These results confirm sakis to be highly specialized seed predators. Sakis preferentially consume seeds when they are available. However, when seeds become scarce, sakis become generalists, supplementing their diet with mature fruit, insects, and flowers. The ability of bearded sakis to consume a diversity of highly abundant plant species, fruit in several stages of maturity, and a variety of different types of resources buffers them from the detrimental effects of resource scarcity. Am. J. Primatol. 75:568‐580, 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
High-performance binary and non-binary Low-density parity-check codes based on affine permutation matrices

Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes from affine permutation matrices, called APM-LDPC codes, are a class of LDPC codes whose parity-check matrices consist of zero matrices or APMs of the same orders. APM-LDPC codes are not quasi-cyclic (QC), in general. In this study, necessary and sufficient conditions are provided for an APM-LDPC code to have cycles of length 2l, l ≥ 2, and a deterministic algorithm is given to generate APM-LDPC codes with a given girth. Unlike Type-I conventional QC-LDPC codes, the constructed (J, L) APM-LDPC codes with the J × L all-one base matrix can achieve minimum distance greater than (J + 1)! and girth larger than 12. Moreover, the lengths of the constructed APM-LDPC codes, in some cases, are smaller than the best known lengths reported for QC-LDPC codes with the same base matrices. Another significant advantage of the constructed APM-LDPC codes is that they have remarkably fewer cycle multiplicities compared with QC-LDPC codes with the same base matrices and the same lengths. Simulation results show that the binary and non-binary constructed APM-LDPC codes with lower girth outperform QC-LDPC codes with larger girth.
The influence of emotion on face processing

According to the broaden-and-build theory, positive emotions broaden one's thought-action repertoire, which may manifest as a widened attentional scope in cognitive processing. The present study directly tests this hypothesis by examining the influences of induced emotions (positive, neutral and negative) on holistic processing of face (Experiment 1) and face discrimination (Experiment 2). In both experiments, emotions induced with images from the International Affective Picture System significantly interacted with face processing. That is, positive emotions engendered greater holistic face encoding in a composite-face task in Experiment 1 and more accurate face discrimination in Experiment 2, relative to the neutral condition. In contrast, negative emotions impaired holistic face encoding in the composite-face task and reduced face discrimination accuracy. Taken together, these results provide further support for the attentional broadening effect of positive affect by demonstrating that induced positive emotions facilitate holistic/configural processing.
Quantification of Wave Reflection in the Human Aorta From Pressure Alone: A Proof of Principle

Wave reflections affect the proximal aortic pressure and flow waves and play a role in systolic hypertension. A measure of wave reflection, receiving much attention, is the augmentation index (AI), the ratio of the secondary rise in pressure and pulse pressure. AI can be limiting, because it depends not only on the magnitude of wave reflection but also on wave shapes and timing of incident and reflected waves. More accurate measures are obtainable after separation of pressure in its forward (Pf) and reflected (Pb) components. However, this calculation requires measurement of aortic flow. We explore the possibility of replacing the unknown flow by a triangular wave, with duration equal to ejection time, and peak flow at the inflection point of pressure (FtIP) and, for a second analysis, at 30% of ejection time (Ft30). Wave form analysis gave forward and backward pressure waves. Reflection magnitude (RM) and reflection index (RI) were defined as RM=Pb/Pf and RI=Pb/(Pf+Pb), respectively. Healthy subjects, including interventions such as exercise and Valsalva maneuvers, and patients with ischemic heart disease and failure were analyzed. RMs and RIs using FtIP and Ft30 were compared with those using measured flow (Fm). Pressure and flow were recorded with high fidelity pressure and velocity sensors. Relations are: RMtIP=0.82RMmf+0.06 (R2=0.79; n=24), RMt30=0.79RMmf+0.08 (R2=0.85; n=29) and RItIP=0.89RImf+0.02 (R2=0.81; n=24), RIt30=0.83RImf+0.05 (R2=0.88; n=29). We suggest that wave reflection can be derived from uncalibrated aortic pressure alone, even when no clear inflection point is distinguishable and AI cannot be obtained. Epidemiological studies should establish its clinical value.
Generators of the Frequency-following Response in the Guinea Pig

Generators of the frequency-following response (FFR) were assessed in 13 guinea pigs by cooling of the whole body and by experimental lesions of the brain stem. In the temperature study, the amplitude-temperature function of the FFR contained a significant cubic component that was absent from that of the cochlear microphonic potential (CM) recorded from the round window. The phase shift of the FFR increased with decreasing body temperature. In experimental lesions of the brain stem, a significant phase shift of the FFR was obtained following contralateral postcollicular section. The FFR amplitude with transection of the auditory nerve was similar to that found before surgical sections of the brain stem. The duration of the FFR after the transection corresponded precisely to that of the round window CM. These results indicate that the origin of the FFR contains both nonneural (ie, cochlea) and neural (ie, involving the inferior colliculus) generators.
Restricted Pax3 Deletion within the Neural Tube Results in Congenital Hydrocephalus

Congenital hydrocephalus is a common birth-defect whose developmental origins are poorly understood. Pax3-null mutants show defects in myogenesis, neural tube closure, neural crest morphogenesis, and heart development that, consequently, results in embryonic lethality. Here we demonstrate that conditional deletion of the mouse Pax3 transcription factor results in fully-penetrant congenital obstructive hydrocephalus. To identify the role of Pax3 during cranial development, we deleted Pax3 within the neuroepithelium (via Pax7−Cre), in the neural crest (via P0-Cre), and in both the neuroepithelium and the neural crest (via Wnt1-Cre). Only conditional mutants generated using Pax7−Cre or Wnt1-Cre developed early onset congenital hydrocephalus due to stenosis of the third ventricle, suggesting that loss of neuroepithelial Pax3 is sufficient to disturb third ventricle morphogenesis. Dilation of lateral ventricles occurs as early as E14.5, and lineage-mapping revealed that the neuroepithelial cells in the conditional mutants are present, but fail to undergo normal differentiation at the stenotic site. Concomitant with a narrowing of the mutant third ventricle, we detected ectopic apoptosis, reduced proliferation, and abnormal β-catenin localization. Furthermore, consistent with the overlapping expression pattern of Pax3 and Pax7 in early cranial neuroepithelium, we demonstrated a combinatorial role, as compound Pax3/Pax7 heterozygotes display partially-penetrant congenital hydrocephalus. These murine data provide an experimental paradigm underpinning clinical observations of the presence of PAX3 mutations in some hydrocephalic patients.
Prognostic significance of c‐myc and AIB1 amplification in hepatocellular carcinoma

Amplifications of 1q21, c‐myc at 8q24.1, and AIB1 at 20q12 are genetic alterations that are detected frequently in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The authors evaluated the association of these amplifications with the prognosis of patients with HCC.
[Bone mineral density in juvenile-onset diabetes mellitus].

OBJECTIVE To determine bone mineral density (BMD) at axial and appendicular sites in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus and evaluate its relationship with metabolic control and disease duration. PATIENTS AND METHODS BMD was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (Hologic QDR-1000) in the lumbar spine (L1-L4) and at the distal third forearm in 246 healthy non-diabetic children and adolescents (111 boys, 135 girls, aged 2.8-20.8 years) and in 45 diabetic patients (18 boys, 27 girls, aged 5.2-19.4 years). The results were expressed as the mean and standard deviation. The differences were tested by analysis of variance or Students t-test, as appropriate. The relationship between BMD and the remaining variables was studied by simple Pearsons coefficient and partial correlation coefficient. Significance was defined as p < 0.05. RESULTS BMD Increased progressively from infancy to adulthood In both populations. Lumbar spine and forearm BMD were significantly lower in diabetic patients than in the healthy non-diabetic children, mainly during pubertal spurt. The greatest differences were found in males and in the trabecular bone. No relationship was found between metabolic control (mean glycosylated hemoglobin, insulin requirement) and duration of diabetes and the BMD in any region studied (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS Pediatric patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus appear to constitute a population at risk of osteoporosis in adult-hood. Diagnosis of osteopenia diagnosis should be established according to densitometric criteria. In this study, metabolic control parameters and duration of diabetes did not enable predetermination of diabetic patients at risk of osteoporosis in adulthood.
Quenching of singlet molecular oxygen by carnosine and related antioxidants. Monitoring 1270‐nm phosphorescence in aqueous media

In order to elucidate the biochemical roles of imidazol‐containing dipeptides, we have studied quenching of singlet molecular oxygen (1O2) by carnosine (β‐alanyl‐L‐histidine), its structural components (L‐histidine, imidazole, and β‐alanine), and related natural free‐radical scavengers ‐ L‐anserine (β‐alanyl‐l‐methyl‐histidine), ergothioneine (2‐thiol‐ L‐histidine‐betaine), and taurine (2‐aminoethanesulfonic acid) in aqueous (D2O, pD 7) solutions by using monitoring of 1O2‐phosphorescence (1270‐nm). The rate constants of 1O2 quenching (Kq) by carnosine, anserine, and ergothioneine were shown to be similar [(3±1)×107 M‐1s‐1]. Their values resembled those of free L‐histidine [Kq=(4±1)×107 M‐1s‐1] and imidazole [Kq=(2±1)×107 M‐1s‐1]. Non‐aromatic amino acids ‐ taurine and β‐alanine ‐ showed very low quenching activities (Kq<3×103 M‐1c‐1). The Kq values did not correlate with the literature data on abilities of the tested compounds to stimulate muscle working capacities and inhibit myeloperoxidase‐catalyzed oxygenation. Thus, the dipeptides can be used as potent water‐soluble protectors against 102 attack whereas their natural biochemical functions are most probably determined by the processes of different nature.
Kindlin-2 regulates podocyte adhesion and fibronectin matrix deposition through interactions with phosphoinositides and integrins

Kindlin-2 is a FERM and PH domain-containing integrin-binding protein that is emerging as an important regulator of integrin activation. How kindlin-2 functions in integrin activation, however, is not known. We report here that kindlin-2 interacts with multiple phosphoinositides, preferentially with phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate. Although integrin-binding is essential for focal adhesion localization of kindlin-2, phosphoinositide-binding is not required for this process. Using biologically and clinically relevant glomerular podocytes as a model system, we show that integrin activation and dependent processes are tightly regulated by kindlin-2: depletion of kindlin-2 reduced integrin activation, matrix adhesion and fibronectin matrix deposition, whereas overexpression of kindlin-2 promoted these processes. Furthermore, we provide evidence showing that kindlin-2 is involved in phosphoinositide-3-kinase-mediated regulation of podocyte-matrix adhesion and fibronectin matrix deposition. Mechanistically, kindlin-2 promotes integrin activation and integrin-dependent processes through interacting with both integrins and phosphoinositides. TGF-β1, a mediator of progressive glomerular failure, markedly increased the level of kindlin-2 and fibronectin matrix deposition, and the latter process was reversed by depletion of kindlin-2. Our results reveal important functions of kindlin-2 in the regulation of podocyte-matrix adhesion and matrix deposition and shed new light on the mechanism whereby kindlin-2 functions in these processes.
Liminality and decision making for upper limb surgery in tetraplegia: a grounded theory

Purpose: To explore, from the perspective of the person with tetraplegia, the issues that influenced decision making about upper limb surgery and develop a conceptual framework describing the decision making process. Method: Purposive and theoretical sampling of 22 people with tetraplegia, followed by interviews. Ten people had upper limb surgery and 12 had not. Verbatim transcripts were analyzed with constructivist grounded theory. Results: Participants responded to the offer of surgery in one of three ways: yes, let me have it; no thanks; or possibly. Many influences on the decision about surgery had a temporal element, such as hope for the cure or recovery from SCI, inadequate physical or social supports while rehabilitating, life roles and goals, and the avoidance of re-hospitalization. The conceptual framework illustrated that many participants entered a liminal state within which they required a stimulus to review their decision about upper limb surgery. Conclusion: Decision making is a temporal process, and for some the process was a prolonged and liminal one. Therefore, multiple offers for surgery are required to allow for changing thoughts and circumstances throughout an individual’s lifetime. Flexibility with regard to timing for surgery and type of rehabilitation may increase the uptake, especially for women. Implications for Rehabilitation Multiple offers for upper limb surgery are required throughout an individual’s lifetime to account for changing thoughts and priorities. Identification of the type of support required (informational, emotional) may assist in decreasing the time taken to make the decision about surgery. Flexibility in surgical and rehabilitation options, especially for women, may increase the uptake of surgery.
FOLFOXIRI or FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as first-line treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer: a propensity score-adjusted analysis from two randomized clinical trials.

BACKGROUND FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab is a valid option as upfront treatment for metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC) patients. While several trials investigated the effect of combining bevacizumab with different chemotherapy regimens, including fluoropyrimidines monotherapy and oxaliplatin- or irinotecan-containing doublets, no randomized comparison assessing the impact of the addition of bevacizumab to FOLFOXIRI is available. PATIENTS AND METHODS A total of 122 mCRC patients received first-line FOLFOXIRI in the phase III trial by the GONO (FOLFOXIRI group) and 252 patients received first-line FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab in the TRIBE trial (FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab group). A propensity score-adjusted method was adopted to provide an estimation of the benefit from the addition of bevacizumab to FOLFOXIRI in terms of survival and activity parameters. RESULTS Patients in the FOLFOXIRI group had more frequently Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status of one or two, high Köhne score, metachronous and liver-limited disease, had previously received adjuvant treatments and had their primary tumors resected. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 12.3 months in the FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab group compared with 10.0 months in the FOLFOXIRI group {propensity score-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) 0.74 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.59-0.94], P = 0.013}. This association was significant also in the multivariable model (P = 0.024). The median OS was 29.8 months in the FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab group compared with 23.6 months in the FOLFOXIRI group [propensity score-adjusted HR: 0.72 (95% CI 0.56-0.93), P = 0.014]. At the multivariable model, the addition of bevacizumab was still associated with significantly longer OS (P = 0.030). No significant differences in RECIST response rate (RR) [65.1% versus 55.7%; propensity score-adjusted odds ratio (OR): 1.29 (95% CI 0.81-2.05), P = 0.280], early RR [62.7% versus 57.8%; OR: 1.14 (95% CI 0.68-1.93), P = 0.619] and median depth of response (42.2% versus 53.8%, P = 0.259) were reported. CONCLUSIONS Though in the absence of a randomized comparison, the addition of bevacizumab to FOLFOXIRI provides significant benefit in PFS and OS, thus supporting the use of FOLFOXIRI plus bevacizumab as upfront treatment for mCRC patients. TRIALS' NUMBERS NCT01219920 and NCT00719797.
Assessing symptom distress in cancer patients: the M.D. Anderson Symptom Inventory.

BACKGROUND The purpose of this project was to develop the M. D. Anderson Symptom Inventory (MDASI), a brief measure of the severity and impact of cancer-related symptoms. METHODS A list of symptoms was generated from symptom inventories and by panels of clinicians. Twenty-six symptoms and 6 interference items were rated by a validation sample of 527 outpatients, a sample of 30 inpatients from the blood and bone marrow transplantation service, and a cross-validation sample of 113 outpatients. Clinical judgment and statistical techniques were used to reduce the number of symptoms. Reliability, validity, and sensitivity of the MDASI were examined. RESULTS Cluster analysis, best subset analysis, and clinical judgment reduced the number of symptoms to a "core" list of 13 that accounted for 64% of the variance in symptom distress. Factor analysis demonstrated a similar pattern in both outpatient samples, and two symptom factors and the interference scale were reliable. Expected differences in symptom pattern and severity were found between patients with "good" versus "poor" performance status and between patients in active therapy and patients who were seen for follow-up. Patients rated fatigue-related symptoms as the most severe. Groups of patients classified by disease or treatment had severe symptoms that were not on the "core" list. CONCLUSIONS The core items of the MDASI accounted for the majority of symptom distress reported by cancer patients in active treatment and those who were followed after treatment. The MDASI should prove useful for symptom surveys, clinical trials, and patient monitoring, and its format should allow Internet or telephone administration.
SA-SPKC: Secure and efficient aggregation scheme for wireless sensor networks using stateful public key cryptography

Data aggregation in wireless sensor networks (WSNs) provides a great reduction of energy consumption. The limited resources of sensor nodes make the choice of an encryption algorithm very important for providing security for data aggregation. Asymmetric cryptography involves large ciphertexts and heavy computations but solves, on the other hand, the problem of key distribution of symmetric one. The latter provides smaller ciphertexts and speed computations. Also, the recent researches have shown that achieving the end-to-end confidentiality and the end-to-end integrity at the same is a challenging task. In this paper, we propose (SA-SPKC), a novel security protocol which addresses both security services for WSNs, and where only the base station can verify the individual data and identify the malicious node. Our scheme is based on stateful public key encryption (StPKE). The latter combines the best features of both kinds of encryption along with state in order to reduce the computation overhead. Our analysis shows the security and the efficiency of our scheme for WSNs.
On Estimating the Signal Subspace Dimension of High-Density Multichannel Magnetoencephalogram Measurements

Accurate estimates of the dimension and an (orthogonal) basis of the signal subspace of noise corrupted multichannel measurements are essential for accurate identification and extraction of any signals of interest within that subspace. For most biomedical signals comprising very large numbers of channels, including the magnetoencephalogram (MEG), the ";true"; number of underlying signals -although ultimately unknown - is unlikely to be of the same order as the number of measurements, and has to be estimated from the available data. This work examines several second-order statistical approaches to signal subspace (dimension) estimation with respect to their underlying assumptions and their performance in high- dimensional measurement spaces using 151-channel MEG data. The purpose is to identify which of these methods might be most appropriate for modeling the signal subspace structure of high-density MEG data recorded under controlled conditions, and what are the practical consequences with regard to the subsequent application of biophysical modeling and statistical source separation techniques.