Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
P21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) signaling influences therapeutic outcome in pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND Therapeutic resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is attributed to various cellular mechanisms and signaling molecules that influence as a single factor or in combination. DESIGN In this study, utilizing in vitro p21-activated kinase 1 (Pak1) overexpression and knockdown cell line models along with in vivo athymic mouse tumor xenograft models and clinical samples, we demonstrate that Pak1 is a crucial signaling kinase in gemcitabine resistance. RESULTS Pak1 kindles resistance via modulation of epithelial-mesenchymal transition and activation of pancreatic stellate cells. Our results from gemcitabine-resistant and -sensitive cell line models showed that elevated Pak1 kinase activity is required to confer gemcitabine resistance. This was substantiated by elevated levels of phosphorylated Pak1 and ribonucleotide reductase M1 levels in the majority of human PDAC tumors when compared with normal. Delineation of the signaling pathway revealed that Pak1 confers resistance to gemcitabine by preventing DNA damage, inhibiting apoptosis and regulating survival signals via NF-κB. Furthermore, we found that Pak1 is an upstream interacting substrate of transforming growth factor β-activated kinase 1-a molecule implicated in gemcitabine resistance. Molecular mechanistic studies revealed that gemcitabine docks with the active site of Pak1; furthermore, gemcitabine treatment induces Pak1 kinase activity both in vivo and in cell-free system. Finally, results from athymic mouse tumor models illustrated that Pak1 inhibition by IPA-3 enhances the cytotoxicity of gemcitabine and brings about pancreatic tumor regression. CONCLUSION To our knowledge, this is the first study illustrating the mechanistic role of Pak1 in causing gemcitabine resistance via multiple signaling crosstalks, and hence Pak1-specific inhibitors will prove to be a better adjuvant with existing chemotherapy modality for PDAC.
Implementation of a multilevel cascaded H-Bridge drive for an Ironless Axial Flux Permanent Magnet motor for electric vehicle applications

A Multilevel Cascaded H-Bridge (MLCHB) converter was designed and implemented for the application of an Ironless Axial Flux Permanent Magnet (IAFPM) motor drive. This paper provides an analysis of the IAFPM motor and the performance of the converter's ripple current regulation capabilities. Lastly a comparison between the simulation and the experimental results is presented.
How Does the Value Function of a Markov Decision Process Depend on the Transition Probabilities?

The present work deals with the comparison of discrete time Markov decision processes MDPs, which differ only in their transition probabilities. We show that the optimal value function of an MDP is monotone with respect to appropriately defined stochastic order relations. We also find conditions for continuity with respect to suitable probability metrics. The results are applied to some well-known examples, including inventory control and optimal stopping.
Kūno kultūros mokytojų nuostata dėl komunikacijos kaip mokinių požiūrio į kūno kultūros ugdymąsi determinantė

Straipsnyje analizuojami veiksniai, lemiantys mokinių požiūrį į kūno kultūros ugdymąsi. Remiantis mokslo tyrimais, iškeliami du pagrindiniai veiksniai: kūno kultūros mokytojo elgsena ir kūno kultūros kaip mokomojo dalyko turinys, nusakantis mokinių požiūrį į ﬁ zinį aktyvumą. Paskui pristatomas tyrimas, kurio tikslas — atskleisti kūno kultūros mokytojų nuostatos dėl komunikacijos kaip mokinių požiūrio į kūno kultūros ugdymąsi determinantės ypatumus. Pažymėtina, kad tyrimo prielaida apie kūno kultūros mokytojų neigiamą nuostatą dėl komunikacijos formuluota remiantis įvairiose šalyse (ir Lietuvoje) atliktais tyrimais pedagoginės komunikacijos srityje ir prasminės nuostatos koncepcija (Augis, Kočiūnas, 1993). Tiriamąją imtį sudarė 110 kūno kultūros mokytojų, atsitiktinai parinktų iš bendrojo lavinimo mokyklų didžiuosiuose Lietuvos miestuose. Taikytas V. V. Bojko (2000) testas iš tokių penkių skalių: neatskleistas žiaurumas bendraujant su žmonėmis ir apie juos samprotaujant; bendraujant atvirai demonstruojamas žiaurumas; pagrįstai neigiamas požiūris į bendravimo situacijos dalyvius; niurzgėjimas dėl nepagrįstai neigiamai vertinamo bendravimo; negatyvi patirtis bendraujant. Nustatyta, kad tirtų kūno kultūros mokytojų nuostatai dėl komunikacijos socialiniame gyvenime būdingesnis netie-sioginis žiaurumas ir pagrįstas neigiamas požiūris į komunikacijos akto dalyvius, mažiau būdingi — niurzgėjimas bendraujant ir neigiama patirtis bendraujant. Be to, tyrimo duomenys rodo, kad 33,6% tirtų kūno kultūros mokytojų nuostata dėl komunikacijos neigiama. Verta pažymėti, kad kūno kultūros mokytojai vyrai turi neigiamą nuostatą dėl komunikacijos socialiniame gyvenime (atitinkamai 57,5% ir 42,5%; p < 0,05). Tyrimo rezultatai leidžia formuluoti išvadas: 1) dažnesnė kūno kultūros mokytojų neigiama nei teigiama nuostata dėl komunikacijos atskleidžia tokią kūno kultūros veiklos situaciją, kurią retokai galima būtų apibūdinti kaip pedagoginį demokratiškumą; 2) vyresni kūno kultūros mokytojai dėl amžiaus, taigi ir profesinės bei gyvenimiškos patirties, dažniau nei jaunesni pedagogai modeliuoja bendravimo situacijas vadovaudamiesi kauzaliosios atribucijos principais. Raktažodžiai: kūno kultūros pamoka, nuostata dėl komunikacijos, požiūris į ugdymąsi, pedagoginis demokratiškumas.
Development of Reference Procedures for Broth Microdilution Antifungal Susceptibility Testing of Yeasts with Standardized Endpoint Determination

Standard guidelines for the broth microdilution antifungal susceptibility testing of amphotericin B, flucytosine, fluconazole, miconazole and itraconazole are reported. These are a modification of the method developed by the National Committee for Clinical Laboratory Standards (NCCLS) on the following two points: standardization of the means of endpoint determination and the inclusion of miconazole and itraconazole in the testing. MIC was determined to be when the positive control had a turbidity of 0.2 at the 630 nm wavelength. The endpoint was 80% inhibition for azoles and 100% inhibition for other drugs. The method provided good reproducibility, and a wide range of MIC distribution was observed in all antifungal agents except amphotericin B.
Improved control‐to‐output characteristics of a PWM buck‐boost converter

An indirect control variable for improving the control‐to‐output characteristics of a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) buck‐boost converter is introduced in this letter. The voltage gain and the small‐signal model of the buck‐boost converter are reviewed. The actual voltage command at one input of the PWM comparator is from the proposed indirect control variable and the peak value of the high‐frequency PWM carrier. The resulted voltage gain function appears proportional to this indirect control command. Also the dependence of the DC gain of the control‐to‐output transfer function on the duty cycle is eliminated. Experimental results conform well to the theoretical analysis. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A pilot study to assess the efficacy of photodynamic therapy for Japanese patients with actinic keratosis in relation to lesion size and histological severity

Background/purpose: Topical 5‐aminolevulinic acid (ALA)‐based photodynamic therapy (PDT) is effective for actinic keratosis (AK); few studies have examined Oriental patients. The aim of this study is to assess the efficacy of PDT for the treatment of Japanese AK patients classified by lesion size and histological severity.
Mutagenicity and antimutagenicity of Croton cajucara

Croton cajucara Benth. (‘sacaca’) is a tree of the Euphorbiaceae family, native to the Amazon region in northern Brazil, where it is widely used in the popular treatment of various diseases. Its active principle, the terpenoid trans-dehydrocrotonin, has been credited with a variety of medical properties, including antiulcer, antiinflammatory, antitumor, antimutagenic and hypoglycemic activity. In this investigation, possible mutagenic and antimutagenic effects were evaluated in treatments using methanol extract of this plant on Swiss Albino mice by examining their peripheral blood cells for micronuclei. In these tests, the material obtained by methanol extraction of C. cajucara tree bark was administered to the mice by gavage. None of the doses evaluated in this study presented mutagenicity. Analysis of the results obtained from studies evaluating antimutagenicity revealed protection against the chemotherapeutic agent cyclophosphamide for the two highest doses used.
Interactions between cumulus convection and its environment as revealed by the MC3E sounding array

This study attempts to understand interactions between midlatitude convective systems and their environments through a heat and moisture budget analysis using the sounding data collected from the Midlatitude Continental Convective Clouds Experiment (MC3E) in central Oklahoma. Distinct large‐scale structures and diabatic heating and drying profiles are presented for cases of weaker and elevated thunderstorms as well as intense squall line and supercell thunderstorm events during the campaign. The elevated cell events were nocturnal convective systems occurring in an environment having low convective available potential energy (CAPE) and a very dry boundary layer. In contrast, deeper convective events happened during the morning into early afternoon within an environment associated with large CAPE and a near‐saturated boundary layer. As the systems reached maturity, the diagnosed diabatic heating in the latter deep convective cases was much stronger and of greater vertical extent than the former. Both groups showed considerable diabatic cooling in the lower troposphere, associated with the evaporation of precipitation and low‐level clouds. The horizontal advection of moisture also played a dominant role in moistening the lower troposphere, particularly for the deeper convective events, wherein the near surface southeasterly flow allows persistent low‐level moisture return from the Gulf of Mexico to support convection. The moisture convergence often was present before these systems develop, suggesting a strong correlation between the large‐scale moisture convergence and convection. Sensitivity tests indicated that the uncertainty in the surface precipitation and the size of analysis domain mainly affected the magnitude of these analyzed fields rather than their vertical structures.
A Tightly Regulated Genetic Selection System with Signaling-Active Alleles of Phytochrome B1[OPEN]

Tightly regulated phytochrome B-based cassettes enable facile phenotypic selection of transgenic plants without the use of antibiotics or herbicides. Selectable markers derived from plant genes circumvent the potential risk of antibiotic/herbicide-resistance gene transfer into neighboring plant species, endophytic bacteria, and mycorrhizal fungi. Toward this goal, we have engineered and validated signaling-active alleles of phytochrome B (eYHB) as plant-derived selection marker genes in the model plant Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana). By probing the relationship of construct size and induction conditions to optimal phenotypic selection, we show that eYHB-based alleles are robust substitutes for antibiotic/herbicide-dependent marker genes as well as surprisingly sensitive reporters of off-target transgene expression.
Shamir's Scheme Says It all

Over the past fourteen years many different types of systems for sharing a secret have been proposed. These include t-out-of-n perfect threshold schemes, general secret sharing schemes, democratic schemes, multipart schemes, multilevel schemes and prepositioned schemes. In this paper it is shown that all of these schemes can be implemented by adapting a t-out-of-n perfect threshold scheme originally proposed by Shamir in 1979. This scheme is based on polynomials modulo a large prime. It provides one with an efficient method for generating shares, decoding to recover the secret and changing the access structure when required.
Effect of pentobarbital on visual processing in man

To investigate the effect of sedative agents on visual processing in humans, we analysed the BOLD contrast signal response to a visual stimulation paradigm in 15 healthy, adult volunteers using functional magnetic resonance imaging. The subjects were tested during alert state and under sedation following intravenous administration of pentobarbital. The injection of pentobarbital not only significantly reduced the response signal strength but the reduction in BOLD contrast signal was related to the ratio of amount of sedative administered and the subject's body weight. The three subjects with the highest relative sedative dosage even displayed an inverted (negative) BOLD contrast signal. A significant reduction in the number of positively correlating pixels was found 15 min after administration of pentobarbital. All measured parameters returned to near pre‐sedative levels by the end of the experimental session. The relative dosage dependence of the strength of the BOLD signal the negative BOLD signal in the three subjects with the highest relative sedative dosage indicates that pentobarbital had a more pronounced effect on cerebral blood flow than on cerebral oxidative metabolism. Hum. Brain Mapping 10:132–139, 2000. © 2000 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Synaptic organization of projections from the amygdala to visual cortical areas TE and V1 in the macaque monkey

The primate amygdaloid complex projects to a number of visual cortices, including area V1, primary visual cortex, and area TE, a higher‐order unimodal visual area involved in object recognition. We investigated the synaptic organization of these projections by injecting anterograde tracers into the amygdaloid complex of Macaca fascicularis monkeys and examining labeled boutons in areas TE and V1 using the electron microscope. The 256 boutons examined in area TE formed 263 synapses. Two hundred twenty‐three (84%) of these were asymmetric synapses onto dendritic spines and 40 (15%) were asymmetric synapses onto dendritic shafts. Nine boutons (3.5%) formed double asymmetric synapses, generally on dendritic spines, and 2 (1%) of the boutons did not form a synapse. The 200 boutons examined in area V1 formed 211 synapses. One hundred eighty‐nine (90%) were asymmetric synapses onto dendritic spines and 22 (10%) were asymmetric synapses onto dendritic shafts. Eleven boutons (5.5%) formed double synapses, usually with dendritic spines. We conclude from these observations that the amygdaloid complex provides an excitatory input to areas TE and V1 that primarily influences spiny, probably pyramidal, neurons in these cortices. J. Comp. Neurol. 496:655–667, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Modified methods for preparation of cryostat sections of skeletal muscle

We developed two modified methods for the preparation of cryostat sections of skeletal muscle: one using solid carbon dioxide and the other using the ultra‐low freezer to prepare 2‐methylbutane (isopentane) for freezing of skeletal muscle. The results were quite satisfactory, with good preservation of cellular details and histochemical properties. Freezing artifacts were minimal when compared with the standard liquid nitrogen method.
Sp1 Family of Transcription Factors Regulates the Human α2 (XI) Collagen Gene (COL11A2) in Saos‐2 Osteoblastic Cells

Genes encoding type XI collagen, normally associated with chondrogenesis, are also expressed by osteoblasts. By studying Saos‐2 cells, we showed that the transcription factors, Sp1, Sp3, and Sp7 (Osterix), regulate COL11A2 expression through its proximal promoter. The findings indicate both ubiquitous and osteoblast‐specific mechanisms of collagen gene regulation.
Scheduling algorithms for saving energy and balancing load

In this thesis we study problems of scheduling tasks in computing environments. We consider both the modern objective function of minimizing energy consumption, and the classical objective of balancing load across machines. We first investigate offline deadline-based scheduling in the setting of a single variable-speed processor that is equipped with a sleep state. The objective is that of minimizing the total energy consumption. Apart from settling the complexity of the problem by showing its NP-hardness, we provide a lower bound of 2 for general convex power functions, and a particular natural class of schedules called scrit-schedules. We also present an algorithmic framework for designing good approximation algorithms. For general convex power functions our framework improves the best known approximation-factor from 2 to 4/3. This factor can be reduced even further to 137/117 for a specific well-motivated class of power functions. Furthermore, we give tight bounds to show that our framework returns optimal scrit-schedules for the two aforementioned power-function classes. We then focus on the multiprocessor setting where each processor has the ability to vary its speed. Job migration is allowed, and we again consider classical deadline-based scheduling with the objective of energy minimization. We first study the offline problem and show that optimal schedules can be computed efficiently in polynomial time for any convex and non-decreasing power function. Our algorithm relies on repeated maximum flow computations. Regarding the online problem and power functions P (s) = s, where s is the processor speed and α > 1 a constant, we extend the two well-known single-processor algorithms Optimal Available and Average Rate. We prove that Optimal Available is α-competitive as in the single-processor case. For Average Rate we show a competitive factor of (2α)/2 + 1, i.e., compared to the single-processor result the competitive factor increases by an additive constant of 1. With respect to load balancing, we consider offline load balancing on identical machines, with the objective of minimizing the current load, for temporary unit-weight jobs. The problem can be seen as coloring n intervals with k colors, such that for each point on the line, the maximal difference between the number of intervals of any two colors is minimal. We prove that a coloring with maximal difference at most one is always possible, and develop a fast polynomial-time algorithm for generating such a coloring. Regarding the online version of the problem, we show that the maximal difference in the size of color classes can become arbitrary high for any online algorithm. Lastly, we prove that two generalizations of the problem are NP-hard. In the first we generalize from intervals to d-dimensional boxes while in the second we consider multiple-intervals, i.e., specific subsets of disjoint intervals must receive the same color.
Fidelity of Histone Gene Regulation Is Obligatory for Genome Replication and Stability

ABSTRACT Fidelity of chromatin organization is crucial for normal cell cycle progression, and perturbations in packaging of DNA may predispose to transformation. Histone H4 protein is the most highly conserved chromatin protein, required for nucleosome assembly, with multiple histone H4 gene copies encoding identical protein. There is a long-standing recognition of the linkage of histone gene expression and DNA replication. A fundamental and unresolved question is the mechanism that couples histone biosynthesis with DNA replication and fidelity of cell cycle control. Here, we conditionally ablated the obligatory histone H4 transcription factor HINFP to cause depletion of histone H4 in mammalian cells. Deregulation of histone H4 results in catastrophic cellular and molecular defects that lead to genomic instability. Histone H4 depletion increases nucleosome spacing, impedes DNA synthesis, alters chromosome complement, and creates replicative stress. Our study provides functional evidence that the tight coupling between DNA replication and histone synthesis is reciprocal.
Adjustment to College in Students With ADHD

Objective: To examine college adjustment in students reporting an ADHD diagnosis and the effect of medication treatment on students' adjustment. Method: 1,648 first-semester freshmen attending a public and a private university completed a Web-based survey to examine their adjustment to college. Results: Compared with 200 randomly selected control students, 68 students with ADHD reported more academic concerns and depressive symptoms. This was explained by higher rates of inattentive symptoms among students with ADHD and was unrelated to hyperactive-impulsive symptoms. Among students with ADHD, medication treatment was not related to better adjustment or diminished ADHD symptoms. The contribution of inattention to academic concerns and depressive symptoms remained significant when controlling for personality traits. Conclusion: Students with ADHD experience greater academic performance concerns and depressive symptoms during the transition to college. Medication treatment did not appear to diminish ADHD symptoms nor enhance students' adjustment. (J. of Att. Dis. 2008; 11(6) 689-699)
Dairy Products Expenditure Pattern in Vietnam: Effects of Household Characteristics on Expenditure for Dairy Products

In this study, Vietnamese households’ expenditure on dairy products for home consumption is analyzed using the latest Vietnamese Household Living Standard Survey datasets in 2010 (VHLSS 2010). Vietnam is the 20th most important importer of dairy products in the world and it is foreseeable that the demand continues rising. This makes Vietnam a highly potential market for dairy exporting countries and for investors in the dairy industry. The aim of the paper is to analyze the effects of socio-economic and demographic variables on Vietnamese households’ decision to purchase dairy products and how much to spend per capita on these items. A double-hurdle model is estimated to accommodate non-normal and heteroskedastic errors for milk and milk products. The parameter estimates for the demand decision variables are presented in the paper. The results suggest that socio-economic and demographic variables effect household expenditure on dairy products. This may help policy makers to implement policies related to dairy industry, nutrition and food security. The results also are useful for dairy products marketers in planning and developing strategies.
Diagnosing architectural degeneration

Software systems evolve over time and undergo changes that can lead to a degeneration of the systems' architecture. Degeneration may eventually reach a level where a complete redesign of the software system is necessary, which is a task that requires significant effort. In this paper, we start by presenting examples of such degeneration and continue with an analysis of technologies that can be used to diagnose degeneration. These technologies can be employed in identifying, degeneration so that it can be treated as early as possible, before it is too late and the system has to undergo a costly redesign.
Patterns of paediatric analgesic use in Africa: a systematic review

We conducted a systematic literature review with two objectives: (1) to assess reported patterns of analgesic use in African children and compare these observed patterns to the analgesics given in the WHO Essential Medicines List for Children (EMLc); and (2) to summarise outcomes related to effectiveness, adverse events, cost and accessibility of these analgesics. Eligible participants were children (≤12 years) living in any African country who received an analgesic administered with the intention of relieving pain in any setting. Thirty-four peer-reviewed, observational studies representing 7772 African children were accepted. Studies were conducted in 25 different regions of 12 countries. Pain was attributed to surgery, burns, sickle cell anaemia and conditions requiring palliation in 32% of children, and was unspecified in the other 68%. Of the three EMLc analgesics, paracetamol and ibuprofen were widely employed, constituting ∼60% of all analgesics, while morphine was used in 20 children (0.2%). There were 455 suspected adverse drug reactions which included 17 deaths. Analgesic use reported in African children appears to fall short of WHO standards.