Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Neuropeptide Trefoil Factor 3 Reverses Depressive-Like Behaviors by Activation of BDNF-ERK-CREB Signaling in Olfactory Bulbectomized Rats

The trefoil factors (TFFs) are a family of three polypeptides, among which TFF1 and TFF3 are widely distributed in the central nervous system. Our previous study indicated that TFF3 was a potential rapid-onset antidepressant as it reversed the depressive-like behaviors induced by acute or chronic mild stress. In order to further identify the antidepressant-like effect of TFF3, we applied an olfactory bulbectomy (OB), a classic animal model of depression, in the present study. To elucidate the mechanism underlying the antidepressant-like activity of TFF3, we tested the role of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)-extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK)-cyclic adenosine monophosphate response element binding protein (CREB) signaling in the hippocampus in the process. Chronic systemic administration of TFF3 (0.1 mg/kg, i.p.) for seven days not only produced a significant antidepressant-like efficacy in the OB paradigm, but also restored the expression of BDNF, pERK, and pCREB in the hippocampal CA3. Inhibition of BDNF or extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) signaling in CA3 blocked the antidepressant-like activity of TFF3 in OB rats. Our findings further confirmed the therapeutic effect of TFF3 against depression and suggested that the normalization of the BDNF-ERK-CREB pathway was involved in the behavioral response of TFF3 for the treatment of depression.
Post Diagnosis Diet Quality and Colorectal Cancer Survival in Women

Diet quality has shown to influence colorectal cancer (CRC) risk, however, its association with CRC survival is unknown. Therefore, we prospectively assessed the association between dietary quality scores, dietary patterns and survival among 1628 women and 532 men diagnosed with stages 1 to 3 CRC. Post diagnosis diet information was collected via a food frequency questionnaire administered at least 6 months after diagnosis to avoid diet change due to active treatment. We computed scores for the Alternate Healthy Eating Index (AHEI) 2010, alternate Mediterranean Diet score (aMED) and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension score (DASH) and derived two dietary patterns, Western and Prudent, by principal component analysis for each individual. In up to 14 years of follow‐up, we documented 485 deaths in women and 256 in men. After adjusting for potential confounders, women with higher AHEI2010 or aMED scores had a significantly better overall survival (RR comparing extreme quintiles of AHEI‐2010 = 0.66, 95% CI 0.49 – 0.91, p trend = 0.001; aMED = 0.79, 95% CI 0.58 – 1.07, p trend = 0.03). However, these scores had no association with CRC survival. In men, there was no clear association between diet quality scores and survival. Prudent or Western pattern were not associated with survival in women or men. In conclusion, a higher AHEI2010 or aMed score may be associated with better overall survival after CRC diagnosis in women.
Alpha fair coded caching

The performance of existing coded caching schemes is sensitive to the worst channel quality, when applied to wireless channels. In this paper, we address this limitation in the following manner: in short-term, we allow transmissions to subsets of users with good channel quality, avoiding users with fades, while in long-term we ensure fairness across the different users. Our online delivery scheme combines (i) joint scheduling and power control for the fading broadcast channel, and (ii) congestion control for ensuring the optimal long-term average performance. By restricting the caching operations to decentralized coded caching proposed in the literature, we prove that our proposed scheme has near-optimal overall performance with respect to the long-term alpha fairness performance. By tuning the coefficient alpha, the operator can differentiate the user performance in terms of video delivery rates achievable by coded caching. We demonstrate via simulations that our scheme outperforms standard coded caching and unicast opportunistic scheduling, which are identified as special cases of our general framework.
Genetic Association Studies in Complex Disease: Disentangling Additional Predisposing Loci from Associated Neutral Loci Using a Constrained ‐ Permutation Approach

In the process of genetically mapping a complex disease, the question may arise whether a certain polymorphism is the only causal variant in a region. A number of methods can answer this question, but unfortunately these methods are optimal for bi‐allelic loci only. We wanted to develop a method that is more suited for multi‐allelic loci, such as microsatellite markers.We propose the Additional Disease Loci Test (ADLT): the alleles at an additional locus are permuted within the subsample of haplotypes that have identical alleles at the predisposing locus. The hypothesis being tested is, whether the predisposing locus is the sole factor predisposing to the trait that is in LD with the additional locus under study. We applied ADLT to simulated datasets and a published dataset on Type 1 Diabetes, genotyped for microsatellite markers in the HLA‐region. The method showed the expected number of false‐positive results in the absence of additional loci, but proved to be more powerful than existing methods in the presence of additional disease loci. ADLT was especially superior in datasets with less LD or with multiple predisposing alleles. We conclude that the ADLT can be useful in identifying additional disease loci.
Bioavailability: In Vivo and Ex Vivo Evidence From ecSOD-Deficient Mice

—The bioavailability of nitric oxide (NO) within the vascular wall is limited by superoxide anions (O 2· (cid:1) ). The relevance of extracellular superoxide dismutase (ecSOD) for the detoxification of vascular O 2· (cid:1) is unknown. We determined the involvement of ecSOD in the control of blood pressure and endothelium-dependent responses in angiotensin II–induced hypertension and renovascular hypertension induced by the two-kidney, one-clip model in wild-type mice and mice lacking the ecSOD gene. Blood pressure was identical in sham-operated ecSOD (cid:2) / (cid:2) and ecSOD (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice. After 6 days of angiotensin II–treatment and 2 and 4 weeks after renal artery clipping, blood pressure was significantly higher in ecSOD (cid:1) / (cid:1) than ecSOD (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice. Recombinant ecSOD selectively decreased blood pressure in hypertensive ecSOD (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice, whereas ecSOD had no effect in normotensive and hypertensive ecSOD (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice. Compared with sham-operated ecSOD (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice, sham-operated ecSOD (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice exhibited attenuated acetylcholine-induced relaxations. These responses were further depressed in vessels from clipped animals. Vascular O 2· (cid:1) , as measured by lucigenin chemiluminescence, was higher in ecSOD (cid:1) / (cid:1) compared with ecSOD (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice and was increased by clipping. The antioxidant tiron normalized relaxations in vessels from sham-operated and clipped ecSOD (cid:1) / (cid:1) , as well as from clipped ecSOD (cid:2) / (cid:2) mice. In contrast, in vivo application of ecSOD selectively enhanced endothelium-dependent relaxation in vessels from ecSOD (cid:1) / (cid:1) mice. These data reveal that endogenous ecSOD is a major antagonistic principle to vascular O 2· (cid:1) , controlling blood pressure and vascular function in angiotensin II–dependent models of hypertension. ecSOD is expressed in such an abundance that even in situations of high oxidative stress no relative lack of enzyme activity occurs. ( Circ Res . 2003;93:622-629.)
Multi-Engine and Multi-Alignment Based Automatic Post-Editing and its Impact on Translation Productivity

In this paper we combine two strands of machine translation (MT) research: automatic post-editing (APE) and multi-engine (system combination) MT. APE systems learn a target-language-side second stage MT system from the data produced by human corrected output of a first stage MT system, to improve the output of the first stage MT in what is essentially a sequential MT system combination architecture. At the same time, there is a rich research literature on parallel MT system combination where the same input is fed to multiple engines and the best output is selected or smaller sections of the outputs are combined to obtain improved translation output. In the paper we show that parallel system combination in the APE stage of a sequential MT-APE combination yields substantial translation improvements both measured in terms of automatic evaluation metrics as well as in terms of productivity improvements measured in a post-editing experiment. We also show that system combination on the level of APE alignments yields further improvements. Overall our APE system yields statistically significant improvement of 5.9% relative BLEU over a strong baseline (English–Italian Google MT) and 21.76% productivity increase in a human post-editing experiment with professional translators.
Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) and neuropsychological function: A community sample study

This is a case-control study investigating the relationship of sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) to neuropsychological functioning. Participants were recruited from the Tucson Sleep Heart Health Study (SHHS), which is a population-based study examining cardiovascular consequences of SDB. A sample of 103 men and women, ages 40-75, consisting of 51 controls (CTL group) and 52 persons with SDB (SDB group), matched by age (± 5 years) and sex, was enrolled. CTL subjects had a respiratory disturbance index (RDI), a measure of SDB, < 5 while the SDB subjects had a RDI 20 to 50, inclusive. All participants had an overnight in-home polysomnography (PSG) prior to undergoing a neuropsychological evaluation. Psychological functioning was assessed and the areas of cognitive functioning that were tested included general intelligence, attention and working memory, psycho-visuo-motor efficiency, manual dexterity, and frontal/executive function. The SDB group performed significantly worse on the Stroop Color-Word test, made more errors on the Controlled Oral Word Association test, and overestimated time elapsed. The SDB group also demonstrated a statistical trend (p < 0.10) for worse performance on Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III Digit Span, Letter-Number Sequencing and Digit Symbol Coding subtests, and the non-dominant hand performance on the Grooved Pegboard. Factor analyses were performed to reduce the number of neuropsychological variables and measures of SDB. Controlling for IQ, multiple
Artificial gravity intermittent centrifugation as a space flight countermeasure.

Head-down bed rest was used to simulate weightlessness in an experiment that examined variations in dose, time, and frequency of +Gz stimuli countermeasures. Results indicate that 4 hr. standing was most effective for orthostatic intolerance, walking was most effective in achieving peak oxygen consumption, 4 hr. of standing or walking had the best effect on plasma volume, and 4 hr. of walking was most effective in maintaining urinary calcium excretion.
Identification and Quantitative Analysis of Genes Encoding Odorant Binding Proteins in Aedes albopictus (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) play a critical role in mediating mosquito behaviors. In the current study, four AealOBP genes were cloned and sequenced. Basic Local Alignment Search Tool Program and phylogenetic analysis of the deduced amino acid sequences identified a unique putative ortholog in Aedes aegypti (L.) for each Aedes albopictus (Skuse) OBP. Quantitative analysis showed some AealOBPs with a strong female/ male expression ratio, which we proposed to be involved in the host seeking of female mosquitoes. Other OBPs are expressed at higher levels in male antennae and are considered candidates for the detection of floral volatiles. The current study provides basis for further detailed molecular characterization of Ae. albopictus olfactory systems.
Smoking cessation knowledge, attitudes, and practice among community health providers in China.

BACKGROUND The smoking prevalence is high (32.5%) among male providers in community health centers in Beijing, China. The majority of providers self reported that they advise patients to quit smoking, yet they have low expectations that their counseling is effective in helping patients to quit. Many have not received training on how to advise patients to quit, and half lack knowledge about nicotine replacement. These findings suggest that surveyed providers need more training in tobacco cessation services.
Non-neutralizing antibodies in prevention of HIV infection

Introduction: One of the challenges facing the development of an AIDS vaccine is eliciting antibody (Ab) capable of preventing the acquisition of HIV. Broadly neutralizing Ab (bnAb) that can prevent HIV infection has proven to be difficult to elicit. Here, we consider the potential for protective non-neutralizing Ab (pnnAb) to provide the much needed Ab component for an HIV vaccine. Such Ab acts by “tagging” virus or infected cells for destruction by the innate immune system. Areas covered: We review interactions between the Fc region of immunoglobulin G (IgG) and Fcϒ receptors or complement that can lead to the destruction of HIV or HIV-infected cells, correlations between the presence of pnnAb and the prevention of HIV and simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) infections, differences between classical HIV-specific bnAb and HIV-specific pnnAb, HIV envelope antigens and adjuvants which have been hypothesized to generate pnnAb, and the use of avidity as a serological correlate for pnnAb. Expert opinion: We hypothesize that selection of HIV for the poor ability to elicit bnAb has also selected it for slow entry into cells and a window of opportunity for pnnAb to tag virus for destruction by innate immune responses.
Simulation vs. Equivalence

For several semirings S, two weighted finite automata with multiplicities in S are equivalent if and only if they can be connected by a chain of simulations. Such a semiring S is called "proper". It is known that the Boolean semiring, the semiring of natural numbers, the ring of integers, all finite commutative positively ordered semirings and all fields are proper. The semiring S is Noetherian if every subsemimodule of a finitely generated S-semimodule is finitely generated. First, it is shown that all Noetherian semirings and thus all commutative rings and all finite semirings are proper. Second, the tropical semiring is shown not to be proper. So far there has not been any example of a semiring that is not proper.
Role Theory as an informative lens for understanding the familial and political power struggles of Henry VIII and Mary I of England

This study aims to analyze the application of twentieth century sociologist George Mead’s role theory to Henry VIII and Mary I, of Britain’s Tudor Dynasty, regarding their treatment of their families during the early to mid-sixteenth century. Contemporary role theory can offer a useful lens to study sixteenth century royal family functionality through an analysis of Henry VIII and Mary I’s lives as monarchs of England. Role theory can illuminate the role conflict that led to a separation between Henry and Mary as people and as sovereigns. Their roles, derived from traditional authority, set them apart as people and led them to behave in a way that would not have been true to their characters if they were not monarchs. The roles will therefore be given particular attention pertaining to family issues within a sixteenth century social, religious and political context. The findings of this study include an explanation of conflict with identity as well as a conflict with roles using transformation as the catalyst in the case of both of these monarchs. This study includes a qualitative content analysis, while also employing methods from the humanities to create a unique blend of methodology from both the social sciences and the field of history. This blend of methodology aids in creating a model to ensure further understanding of conflict analysis from a historical perspective.
IGF-1 drives chromogranin A secretion via activation of Arf1 in human neuroendocrine tumour cells

Hypersecretion is the major symptom of functional neuroendocrine tumours. The mechanisms that contribute to this excessive secretion of hormones are still elusive. A key event in secretion is the exit of secretory products from the Golgi apparatus. ADP‐ribosylation factor (Arf) GTPases are known to control vesicle budding and trafficking, and have a leading function in the regulation of formation of secretory granula at the Golgi. Here, we show that Arf1 is the predominant Arf protein family member expressed in the neuroendocrine pancreatic tumour cell lines BON and QGP‐1. In BON cells Arf1 colocalizes with Golgi markers as well as chromogranin A, and shows significant basal activity. The inhibition of Arf1 activity or expression significantly impaired secretion of chromogranin A. Furthermore, we show that the insulin‐like growth factor 1 (IGF‐1), a major regulator of growth and secretion in BON cells, induces Arf1 activity. We found that activation of Arf1 upon IGF‐1 receptor stimulation is mediated by MEK/ERK signalling pathway in BON and QGP‐1 cells. Moreover, the activity of Arf1 in BON cells is mediated by autocrinely secreted IGF‐1, and concomitantly, autocrine IGF1 secretion is maintained by Arf1 activity. In summary, our data indicate an important regulatory role for Arf1 at the Golgi in hypersecretion in neuroendocrine cancer cells.
Time-series similarity problems and well-separated geometric sets

Given a pair of nonidentical complex objects, defining (and determining) how similar they are to each other is a nontrivial problem. In data mining applications, one frequently needs to determine the similarity between two time series. We analyze a model of time-series similarity that allows outliers, different scaling functions, and variable sampling rates. We present several deterministic and randomized algorithms for computing this notion of similarity. The algorithms are based on nontrivial tools and methods from computational geometry. In particular, we use properties of families of well-separated geometric sets. The randomized algorithm has provably good performance and also works extremely efficiently in practice.
Module documentation based testing using Grey-Box approach

Testing plays an important role to assure the quality of software. Testing is a process of detecting errors that can be highly effective if performed rigorously. The use of formal specifications provides significant opportunity to develop effective testing techniques. Grey-box testing approach usually based on knowledge obtains from specification and source code while seldom the design specification is concerned. In this paper, we propose an approach for testing a module with internal memory from its formal specification based on grey-box approach. We use formal specifications that are documented using Parnas’s Module Documentation (MD) method. The MD provides us with the information of external and internal view of a module that can be useful in greybox testing approach.
The contribution of Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory to personality theory

The breadth of Jeffrey Gray's contributions to psychology is barely touched in the various chapters of this book. This is not a criticism of the authors, but of the task that the editor set them. For to honor Jeffrey Gray in a single volume is an impossible task. As all of the contributers have said so well, Jeffrey was a remarkable man. Warm and caring to his friends and colleagues, linguistically skilled, familiar with theater and music in multiple languages, Jeffrey developed a biological model of personality that has become so well established that it has persisted even after he drastically changed it. To those who study personality psychology, the preceding chapters of this book are essential requirements that allow us to take advantage of the careful research and broad scholarship that went into Jeffrey Gray's work. Personality theory is concerned with describing and explaining the observed complexity of individual differences in the patterning of affect, behavior, cognition and desires over time and space. At the descriptive level, there is moderately strong consensus that three to six broad domains can be used to organize how people describe themselves and others. People differ in the power they exert over others, in the affection they show others, in the quality of their work, in their tendency to react emotionally, in the openness of their interests to intellectual inquiry and in their basic intellectual ability.
Immortalized Hepatocytes Using Human Artificial Chromosome

The shortage of organ donors has impeded the development of human hepatocyte transplantation. Immortalized hepatocytes could provide an unlimited supply of transplantable cells. To determine whether immortalized hepatocytes could provide global metabolic support in end-stage liver disease, rat hepatocyte clones were developed by transduction with the gene encoding the Simian virus 40 T antigen (SVT) using the human artificial minichromosome (HAC). The SVLT sequence was excised by FRT recombination. Following HAC infusion, the transduced hepatocytes express SVT, blasticidine resistance (BS), and the PGK promoter TK gene. Forty-six cell clones were obtained and at least partially characterized, as previously described, for albumin, α-1-antitrypsin, glucose-6-phosphatase (G6Pase), dipeptidylpeptidase 4 (Dpp4), γ-glutamyltransferase 1 (Ggt), SVT, and β-actin expression using RT-PCR. Clones were also assessed for albumin secretion into the culture medium using ELISA. All of the cell line secreted approximately 10 mg/dl of albumin, which is equivalent to the amount secreted by primary hepatocytes. In further experiments, this cell line will be used for transplantable cells or artificial organ using HAC. These results represent an important step toward the development of immortalized hepatocytes.
Routine Use of Recombinant Human Bone Morphogenetic Protein-2 in Posterior Fusions of the Pediatric Spine: Safety Profile and Efficacy in the Early Postoperative Period

BACKGROUND:Previous studies using recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 (rhBMP-2) in the adult lumbar spine have shown consistently good results. There have been no pediatric case series. OBJECTIVE:To determine the safety and efficacy of rhBMP-2 use in posterior instrumented fusions of the pediatric population. METHODS:A retrospective review of 19 consecutive pediatric patients who underwent posterior occiptocervical, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, or lumbosacral spine fusion from October 1, 2007, to June 30, 2008, at Texas Children's Hospital was performed. The average age was approximately 12 years old (range, 9 months to 20 years). The minimum follow-up was 17 months (average of 19 months, range: 17–25 months), with computed tomography (CT) evaluation and grading of fusion by an independent radiologist at 3 months after surgery. RESULTS:The average CT grade was 3, indicating bilateral bridging bone. No pseudoarthroses or loss of correction was identified clinically or radiographically at 3 months and latest follow-up. There was one complication of bony overgrowth and restenosis of the spinal canal necessitating reoperation, and two superficial wound infections. There were no deep wound infections. CONCLUSION:Early outcomes using rhBMP-2 in the pediatric population show that it is a safe and efficacious adjunct to posterior spine fusions of the occipitocervical, cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and lumbosacral spine. It dependably results in the development of stable bridging bone at 3 months after surgery with good maintenance of correction and stability in long-term follow-up. Lessons learned from the case of unexpected bony overgrowth are discussed.