Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro and in vivo Effects of Free and Chalcones-Loaded Nanoemulsions: Insights and Challenges in Targeted Cancer Chemotherapies

Several obstacles are encountered in conventional chemotherapy, such as drug toxicity and poor stability. Nanotechnology is envisioned as a strategy to overcome these effects and to improve anticancer therapy. Nanoemulsions comprise submicron emulsions composed of biocompatible lipids, and present a large surface area revealing interesting physical properties. Chalcones are flavonoid precursors, and have been studied as cytotoxic drugs for leukemia cells that induce cell death by different apoptosis pathways. In this study, we encapsulated chalcones in a nanoemulsion and compared their effect with the respective free compounds in leukemia and in non-tumoral cell lines, as well as in an in vivo model. Free and loaded-nanoemulsion chalcones induced a similar anti-leukemic effect. Free chalcones induced higher toxicity in VERO cells than chalcones-loaded nanoemulsions. Similar results were observed in vivo. Free chalcones induced a reduction in weight gain and liver injuries, evidenced by oxidative stress, as well as an inflammatory response. Considering the high toxicity and the side effects induced generally by all cancer chemotherapies, nanotechnology provides some options for improving patients’ life quality and/or increasing survival rates.
Application of Gene Expression Analysis for Sediment Toxicity Stressor Identification

Sediment toxicity tests are frequently used to assess sediment quality along the west coast of North America. However, the use of sediment toxicity information to assist in the development of management actions (e.g., source control, sediment remediation) is limited by the difficulty of determining which contaminants are responsible for the toxic effects. An investigative process known as a Toxicity Identification Evaluation (TIE) is one approach commonly used to determine the toxicants present in environmental samples. However, the TIE process can be expensive, time consuming, and may yield a nonspecific result due to low toxicity or a lack of analytical methods. These constraints limit the application of TIEs, resulting in uncertainty regarding the cause of sediment toxicity in coastal water bodies such as San Francisco Bay.
Assessment of subjective health and health-related quality of life in persons with acquired or degenerative brain injury

Purpose of reviewHealth-related quality of life is a new outcome variable in neurology. Several generic measures aim at assessing this variable in adults with neurological diseases. Disease-specific measures are still rare; however, individuals with neurological diseases frequently suffer from cognitive impairment, yet are often excluded from health-related quality of life investigations. When included in such studies, cognitive functioning is not monitored via neuropsychological evaluation, possibly leading to methodological problems. Papers from May 2004 until July 2005 are reviewed with respect to psychometric quality and information about persons after traumatic brain injury, stroke, Parkinson's disease or dementia. Recent findingsSeveral new cross-sectional and longitudinal outcome studies are reviewed. The Medical Outcome Study Short Form with 36 items, the Sickness Impact Profile and the Nottingham Health Profile were identified as the most frequently used measures in neurology. For traumatic brain injury, two new generic instrument validations (Life Satisfaction Index-A, Subjective Quality of Life Profile) and one internationally validated disease-specific development (Quality of Life after Brain Injury) were found; for stroke, one disease-specific tool (Burden of Stroke Scale) was identified. In Parkinson's disease, the disease-specific health-related quality of life measure Parkinson's Disease Questionnaire-39 is well validated. In dementia, three dementia-specific instruments (Quality of Life for Dementia, Quality of Life in Late-Stage Dementia Scale and Quality of Life in Alzheimer's Disease Scale) seem to be valid. SummaryIn neurology, only a few measures have been developed and validated for respondents with cognitive impairment, often showing poorer validity results than studies involving healthy persons. Health-related quality of life assessment should therefore be validated in the specific diseases and, if necessary, combined with a neuropsychological evaluation and a disease-specific health-related quality of life measure.
Prognostic implications of BAX and TGFBRII mutations in colon cancers with microsatellite instability

Microsatellite instability in sporadic colon cancer is associated with an improved prognosis. Recent studies, however, have suggested that microsatellite unstable cancers with mutations in the proapoptotic gene BAX have a relatively poor prognosis, whereas those with mutations in transforming growth factor‐β receptor type II (TGFBRII) have a relatively good prognosis. Using instability in the non‐coding mononucleotide repeat BAT‐26 as a measure of generalized microsatellite instability, we evaluated the prognosis of unstable colon cancers with and without frameshift mutations in the coding mononucleotide repeats of BAX and TGFBRII in a population‐based sample of 1,427 individuals. BAX mutations were identified in 39.0% (64/164) of unstable colon cancers, whereas TGFBRII mutations were identified in 79.3% (138/174) of unstable colon cancers. Unstable colon cancers with and without instability in BAX and TGFBRII were associated with very similar and statistically indistinguishable percentage 5‐year survivals and Kaplan–Meier survival curves; stable colon cancers were associated with a significantly worse 5‐year survival and Kaplan–Meier survival (P < 0.001 and P < 0.013, respectively, compared against BAT‐26 unstable). The age‐ and stage‐adjusted risk of death associated with BAX or TGFBRII mutations was not significantly different from that of unstable tumors without such mutations. We conclude that instability‐induced mutations in BAX or TGFBRII do not have a significant impact on the good prognosis of colon cancers with microsatellite instability. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Relating Brain Damage to Brain Plasticity in Patients With Multiple Sclerosis

Background. Failure of adaptive plasticity with increasing pathology is suggested to contribute to progression of disability in multiple sclerosis (MS). However, functional impairments can be reduced with practice, suggesting that brain plasticity is preserved even in patients with substantial damage. Objective. Here, functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) was used to probe systems-level mechanisms of brain plasticity associated with improvements in visuomotor performance in MS patients and related to measures of microstructural damage. Methods. 23 MS patients and 12 healthy controls underwent brain fMRI during the first practice session of a visuomotor task (short-term practice) and after 2 weeks of daily practice with the same task (longer-term practice). Participants also underwent a structural brain MRI scan. Results. Patients performed more poorly than controls at baseline. Nonetheless, with practice, patients showed performance improvements similar to controls and independent of the extent of MRI measures of brain pathology. Different relationships between performance improvements and activations were found between groups: greater short-term improvements were associated with lower activation in the sensorimotor, posterior cingulate, and parahippocampal cortices for patients, whereas greater long-term improvements correlated with smaller activation reductions in the visual cortex of controls. Conclusions. Brain plasticity for visuomotor practice is preserved in MS patients despite a high burden of cerebral pathology. Cognitive systems different from those acting in controls contribute to this plasticity in patients. These findings challenge the notion that increasing pathology is accompanied by an outright failure of adaptive plasticity, supporting a neuroscientific rationale for recovery-oriented strategies even in chronically disabled patients.
Myosin MyTH4-FERM structures highlight important principles of convergent evolution

Significance Myosins containing MyTH4-FERM (myosin tail homology 4-band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, moesin, or MF) domains in their tails are found in wide range of phylogenetically divergent organisms. Interestingly, evolutionarily distant MF myosins have similar roles in the extension of actin-filled membrane protrusions, such as filopodia, and microtubule binding, suggesting that their core functions have been highly conserved over evolution. A structural analysis of mammalian and Dd myosin MF domains in combination with comparison of diverse MF myosin sequences illustrate how tuning of existing features can give rise to new structures while preserving the general properties of myosin tails. Thus, tinkering with the MF domain enables it to serve as a multifunctional platform for cooperative recruitment of various partners, allowing common properties to arise through convergent evolution. Myosins containing MyTH4-FERM (myosin tail homology 4-band 4.1, ezrin, radixin, moesin, or MF) domains in their tails are found in a wide range of phylogenetically divergent organisms, such as humans and the social amoeba Dictyostelium (Dd). Interestingly, evolutionarily distant MF myosins have similar roles in the extension of actin-filled membrane protrusions such as filopodia and bind to microtubules (MT), suggesting that the core functions of these MF myosins have been highly conserved over evolution. The structures of two DdMyo7 signature MF domains have been determined and comparison with mammalian MF structures reveals that characteristic features of MF domains are conserved. However, across millions of years of evolution conserved class-specific insertions are seen to alter the surfaces and the orientation of subdomains with respect to each other, likely resulting in new sites for binding partners. The MyTH4 domains of Myo10 and DdMyo7 bind to MT with micromolar affinity but, surprisingly, their MT binding sites are on opposite surfaces of the MyTH4 domain. The structural analysis in combination with comparison of diverse MF myosin sequences provides evidence that myosin tail domain features can be maintained without strict conservation of motifs. The results illustrate how tuning of existing features can give rise to new structures while preserving the general properties necessary for myosin tails. Thus, tinkering with the MF domain enables it to serve as a multifunctional platform for cooperative recruitment of various partners, allowing common properties such as autoinhibition of the motor and microtubule binding to arise through convergent evolution.
Synthesis of low sidelobe antenna arrays using the differential evolution algorithm

The differential evolution (DE) algorithm is applied to the synthesis of low sidelobe linear antenna arrays. Simulation results of several canonical problems are presented and compared to those optimized by a real-coded genetic algorithm (RGA). It is observed that the differential evolution algorithm outperforms the real-coded genetic algorithm for low sidelobe array synthesis.
A study of the validity of the scaled version of the General Health Questionnaire in paralysed spinally injured out-patients

Synopsis This study validates the GHQ-28 on a sample of paralysed, spinally injured outpatients under the care of the West Midlands Spinal Injuries Unit. The validity of the GHQ-28 was 0·83 (95% confidence interval: 0·70 to 0·93) using the Clinical Interview Schedule (CIS) as the validating criterion. The effectiveness of the GHQ-28 as a screening instrument using CIS 11/12 as case criterion, and thus a prevalence rate of 0·18, was judged by relative operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. The area under the ROC curve was 0·91±0·03. “Optimum’ discrimination occurred near GHQ 3/4 (0011 scoring scheme) giving a sensitivity of 0·81, a specificity of 0·82 and a misclassification rate of 18%.
Experimental results of using an exact linearization controller on a PM stepper motor

A mathematical model of a permanent magnet (PM) stepper motor is given, and a control algorithm based on the exact linearization approach is described. The controller was implemented on an experimental setup consisting of a Motorola DSP56001 ADS digital signal processing system and associated hardware. Results are given on the identification of the unknown motor parameters using a least-squares algorithm
Involvement of Wnt‐5a in chondrogenic pattern formation in the chick limb bud

Members of the Wnt family are known to play diverse roles in the organogenesis of vertebrates. The full‐coding sequences of chicken Wnt‐5a were identified and the role it plays in limb development was examined by comparing its expression pattern with that of two other Wnt members, Wnt‐4 and Wnt‐11, and by misexpressing it with a retrovirus vector in the limb bud. Wnt‐5a expression is detected in the limb‐forming region at stage 14, and in the apical ectodermal ridge and distal mesenchyme of the limb bud. The signal was graded along the proximal–distal axis at stages 20–28 and also along the anterior–posterior axis during early stages. It disappeared in the cartilage‐forming region after stage 26, and was restricted to the region surrounding the phalanges at stage 34. Wnt‐4 and Wnt‐11, other members of the Wnt‐5a‐subclass, were expressed with a distinct spatiotemporal pattern during the later phase. Wnt‐4 was expressed in the articular structure and Wnt‐11 was expressed in the dorsal and ventral mesenchyme adjacent to the ectoderm. Wnt‐5a expression was partially reduced after apical ectodermal ridge removal, whereas Wnt‐11 expression was down‐regulated by dorsal ectoderm removal. Therefore, expression of these Wnt was differentially regulated by the ectodermal signal. Misexpression of Wnt‐5a in the limb bud with the retrovirus resulted in truncation of long bones predominantly in the zeugopod because of retarded chondrogenic differentiation. Distal elements, such as the phalanges and metacarpals, were not significantly reduced in size. These results suggest that Wnt‐5a is involved in pattern formation along the proximal–distal axis by regulation of chondrogenic differentiation.
Evaluation of the Parental Perceptions Questionnaire, a component of the COHQoL, for use in the UK.

OBJECTIVE To assess the reliability and validity of the Parental Perceptions Questionnaire (PPQ) for use in the UK and to investigate whether different approaches to the treatment of 'don't know' (DK) responses have any effect on the psychometric properties. METHODS The parents of 89 children attending for an examination at a dental teaching hospital and a general dental practice completed the Parental-Caregiver Perceptions Questionnaire (PPQ), global oral health and global impact ratings. Clinical data were also collected. Four approaches were taken to the management of DK responses, one approach involved exclusion of DK responses and three approaches involved adjustment of DK responses (item mean, mean items answered and replacement of DK responses with zero). RESULTS All four approaches demonstrated acceptable internal consistency and test-retest reliability of the total scale. The mean items answered and replacement approaches had optimal internal consistency of the subscales of the PPQ. Assessments of criterion validity in relation to global oral health rating were similar when the DK responses were adjusted, but the exclusion of DK responses had a detrimental effect. Construct validity of PPQ in relation to global impact rating and clinical data was acceptable only when responses were adjusted. CONCLUSION These data suggest that if DK responses are adjusted, the reliability and validity of this measure are acceptable for use in the UK.
Salivary chromogranin A, but not α‐amylase, correlates with cardiovascular parameters during high‐intensity exercise

Introduction Several studies have shown that activation of the sympathetic nervous system results in the increased secretion of α‐amylase (sAA), an enzyme produced by salivary glands. Recently, chromogranin A (CgA), a soluble protein costored and coreleased with catecholamines from the adrenal medulla and sympathetic nerve endings, has been proposed as a marker of sympathoadrenal medullary system (SAM) activity. The aim of this study was to investigate the behaviour of salivary chromogranin A (sCgA) and sAA during high‐intensity exercise and to analyse their possible correlation with cardiovascular and psychological parameters.
Human Mob Proteins Regulate the NDR1 and NDR2 Serine-Threonine Kinases*

Human NDR1 (nuclear Dbf2-related) is a widely expressed nuclear serine-threonine kinase that has been implicated in cell proliferation and/or tumor progression. Here we present molecular characterization of the human NDR2 serine-threonine kinase, which shares ∼87% sequence identity with NDR1. NDR2 is expressed in most human tissues with the highest expression in the thymus. In contrast to NDR1, NDR2 is excluded from the nucleus and exhibits a punctate cytoplasmic distribution. The differential localization of NDR1 and NDR2 suggests that each kinase may serve distinct functions. Thus, to identify proteins that interact with NDR1 or NDR2, epitope-tagged kinases were immunoprecipitated from Jurkat T-cells. Two uncharacterized proteins that are homologous to the Saccharomyces cerevisiae kinase regulators Mob1 and Mob2 were identified. We demonstrate that NDR1 and NDR2 partially colocalize with human Mob2 in HeLa cells and confirm the NDR-Mob interactions in cell extracts. Interestingly, NDR1 and NDR2 form stable complexes with Mob2, and this association dramatically stimulates NDR1 and NDR2 catalytic activity. In summary, this work identifies a unique class of human kinase-activating subunits that may be functionally analagous to cyclins.
Novel shapes of South–South collaboration: emerging knowledge networks on co-benefits of climate and development policies

This paper analyses knowledge networks on co-benefits of climate and development. The world’s most sizeable populations live in middle-income countries with emerging economies and growing emissions. This situation requires political intervention to facilitate economic growth, job creation and poverty eradication alongside efforts to control emissions growth. This interdisciplinary study draws on concepts and methods from sociology, political science, science and technology studies and the management literature. The authors combine social network and discourse network analysis in an innovative way. The methodology analyses both the interactions between researchers as well as their actual knowledge contributions. The study argues that there is a substantial network of knowledge holders involved in knowledge creation on climate and development co-benefits. Our analysis shows the type of interactions between two knowledge networks as well as new knowledge emerging from these networks. Research groups and practitioners have produced 17 novel knowledge contributions, ranging from definitions of co-benefits, methodology and implementation. Yet the networks remain loosely connected. Practitioners who have less time to assess academic literature could benefit from closer interactions with more academically oriented experts and vice versa.
Development of the Capital Service Market in Agriculture: The Emergence of Tractor-Hire Services in Ghana

ABSTRACT:This article examines the role of the capital service market in increasing the use of mechanical technology in smallholder agriculture. Custom hiring services have been essential to the widespread use of agricultural machines in many countries where small farms predominate. In the past, some governments in Africa south of the Sahara (SSA) had attempted to supply agricultural mechanization services when there was no demand for such services. Recently, however, demand for mechanization in SSA has been on the rise. Tractor ownership has also increased considerably among medium- and large-scale farmers, who use the tractors on their own land and also hire them out to others. Using the example of Ghana, we examine the behavior of tractor owners and the role they are expected to play in the development of mechanization in SSA. We use survey data from eight districts in the transition and savannah agroecological zones of Ghana. The survey covered 1,843 farming households, including 408 tractor owners and was aimed at characterizing the transition from smallholder farming to medium- and large-scale commercial farming, including patterns of agricultural-machinery ownership and patterns of demand for agricultural mechanization. First, we analyze the relationships between tractor ownership, farm size, and tractor service provision using correlation analyses. Second, we estimate a tractor service cost function based on the hypothesis that hiring a tractor service is not a perfect substitute for owning one, especially for large-scale farmers. Our findings suggest that providing tractor services significantly increases the rate of tractor use, a precondition for economic use of tractors. Agricultural mechanization service providers are primarily medium- and large-scale farmers. These farmers buy tractors even if they cannot make full use of them on their own farms, and they provide tractor services to fellow farmers. Smallholders' use of these services is quite high. Increasing tractor use is essential to counter any risk that may be associated with owning a tractor. Traveling to a different rainfall zone to provide services or extending tractor use during the postharvest period (e.g., for shelling) can help to achieve this objective. While service provision and markets offer strong potential for the widespread adoption of mechanization, medium-scale farmers in particular will be important for spreading the use of tractors among farmers in SSA. The findings presented here support our belief that mechanization can develop where there is potential for a service market, even under smallholder agriculture.
Time-varying conditional correlation : effect on international portfolio diversification in Southeast Asia

This paper investigates the correlations and the portfolio diversification benefits between the stock markets of the US and chosen Southeast Asian emerging markets; Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand. Moreover, this study provides results from both the US and the Indonesian investor’s perspectives. The focus is on capturing the time-varying effect of correlation between stock indices by using a DCC-GARCH model first introduced by Engle in 2002. The used data goes from 1988 to the end of 2015. The results provide answers on whether or not the three financial crises, the Asian crisis, the Dot-com bubble and the Global financial crisis, have had an impact on the correlations between the indices of the chosen countries and whether the change has been persistent or not. The impact the time-varying correlations have on international diversification benefits are further studied in Markowitz’s portfolio optimization framework. The findings of this study indicate that the correlations vary from time to time, and especially as the result of the Global financial crisis, but the changes in correlations are not found to be persistent. The correlation dynamics do not show clear evidence of reduced diversification benefits in the long run which is further supported by the findings from the portfolio optimization framework. For Indonesian investor, also the regional diversification benefits are found to be highly significant.