Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Long non-coding RNA Unigene56159 promotes glioblastoma multiforme cell proliferation and invasion through negatively regulating microRNA-194-5p

Long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) serve a vital role in tumor progression. The present study identified a fundamental role for a novel lincRNA, Unigene56159, in the progression of glioblastoma (GBM). Unigene56159 gene expression was found to be significantly upregulated in tissue samples from patients with GBM as well as in GBM cell lines by reverse transcription-quantitative PCR, while microRNA (miR)-194-5p expression levels were decreased. This higher expression level of Unigene56159 was positively correlated with poor overall survival in patients with GBM. However, the mechanism by which this occurs remains to be elucidated. lncRNAs may act as endogenous miRNA sponges for binding to miRNAs or participating in the competitive endogenous RNAs (ceRNA) regulatory network. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to silence the expression of Unigene56159 and inhibit the proliferation and invasion of GBM cell lines by MTT and Transwell assay. Unigene56159 was found to directly interact with miR-194-5p, and rescue assay was performed to further confirm that Unigene56159 contributed to glioma progression by regulating miR-194-5p. Thus, Unigene56159 may function as a competing endogenous RNA by sequestering miR-194-5p in GBM cells. These findings suggested that Unigene56159 may serve an oncogenic role in GBM and may promote disease progression through interacting with miR-194-5p. This could be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of GBM.
Pregnancy Does Not Increase the Risk of Bell's Palsy: A National Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVES The objective of this study was to compare the incidence of Bell's palsy between women during pregnancy or postpartum periods and non-pregnant/non-postpartum women (controls). METHODS Using the national cohort from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service, pregnant/postpartum participants (63,264) and control participants (126,528) were matched in a 1:2 ratio based on age, income, region of residence, and medical history. The incidence of Bell's palsy in both groups was measured from pregnancy to 1 year postpartum. RESULTS Among the 63,264 pregnant/postpartum participants, 20 were diagnosed with or treated for Bell's palsy during pregnancy, and 38 during postpartum periods. The annual incidence of Bell's palsy per 100,000 women during pregnancy was 43.4 in the patient group and 80.2 in the control group (p < 0.05), and that during postpartum periods was 60.1 the patient group and 50.6 in the control group (p > 0.05). CONCLUSION The annual incidence of Bell's palsy was not increased in pregnant women relative to that in the control.
Image Super Resolution Techniques Applied on Satellite Imagery

This paper proposes an idea to apply deep learning models that generate super-resolution (SR) images for satellite pictures. We newly define the task by exploiting images of different zoom levels and demonstrate the results of implementing several recent models using over 12,080 samples. These models use satellite images at zoom level 16 and produce high-resolution images at zoom level 17 (i.e., four times the area of zoom level 16). We find that EDSR and RDN show significant improvement over Bicubic interpolation for images of urban built-up, but generate blurred output for other kinds of landcover such as vegetation. GAN-based methods create sharper images with details, although they achieve low PSNR scores. We confirm that different SR models are suitable for handling each landcover type on satellite imagery.
Persistent whole day meal effects of three dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 inhibitors on glycaemia and hormonal responses in metformin‐treated type 2 diabetes

Dipeptidyl peptidase‐4 (DPP‐4) inhibition has effects on both fasting and postprandial glucose. However, the extent of this effect over the whole day and whether different DPP‐4 inhibitors have the same effects have not been established. We therefore explored the whole day effects of three different DPP‐4 inhibitors versus placebo on glucose, islet and incretin hormones after ingestion of breakfast, lunch and dinner in subjects with metformin‐treated and well‐controlled type 2 diabetes.
The impact of intercellular communication for the generation of complex multi-cellular pre-vascularized tissue equivalents.

In reconstructive surgery the use of pre-vascularized soft tissue equivalents is a promising approach for wound coverage of defects after tumor resection or trauma. However, in previous studies to generate soft tissue equivalents on collagen membranes, microcapillaries were restricted to superfical areas. In this study, to understand which factors were involved in the formation of these microcapillaries, the levels of the angiogenic factors Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Interleukin-8 (IL-8) and basic Fibroblast Growth Factor (bFGF) in the supernatants of the tissue equivalents were examined at various time points and conditions. Additionally, the influence of these factors on viability, proliferation, migration and tube formation in monocultures compared to cocultures of fibroblast and endothelial cells was examined. The results showed that VEGF production was decreased in cocultures compared to fibroblast monocultures and the lowest VEGF levels were observed in endothelial cell monocultures. Additionally, the highest levels of IL-8 were observed in cocultures compared to monocultures. Similar results were observed for bFGF with lowest levels seen within the first 24 hours and highest levels in cocultures. VEGF and IL-8 were shown to promote endothelial cell viability, proliferation and migration and angiogenic parameters such as tube density, total tube length and number of tube branches. Addition of VEGF and IL-8 to cocultures resulted in accelerated and denser formation of capillary-like structures. The results indicate that VEGF, IL-8 and bFGF strongly influence cellular behavior of endothelial cells and this information should be useful in promoting the formation of microcapillary-like structures in complex tissue equivalents. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Distant connectivity and multiple-step priming in large-scale semantic networks.

We examined 3 different network models of representing semantic knowledge (5,018-word directed and undirected step distance networks, and an association-correlation network) to predict lexical priming effects. In Experiment 1, participants made semantic relatedness judgments for word pairs with varying path lengths. Response latencies for judgments followed a quadratic relationship with network path lengths, replicating and extending a recent pattern reported by Kenett, Levi, Anaki, and Faust (2017) for an 800-word association-correlation network in Hebrew. In Experiment 2, participants identified target words in a progressive demasking task, immediately following a briefly presented prime (120 ms). Response latencies to identify the target showed a linear trend for all network path lengths. Importantly, there were statistically significant differences between relatively distant words in the step distance networks, for example, path lengths 4 and beyond, suggesting that association networks can indeed capture distant functional semantic relationships. Additional comparisons with 2 distributional models (LSA and word2vec) suggested that distributional models also successfully predicted response latencies, although there appear to be fundamental differences in the types of semantic relationships captured by the different models. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2019 APA, all rights reserved).
Retrospective study of small pet tumors treated with Artemisia annua and iron

Artemisinin from Artemisia annua L. and its derivatives are well-known antimalarial drugs. In addition, in vitro studies, in vivo studies and clinical trials have demonstrated that these drugs exhibit anticancer activity in human patients with cancer. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate whether a phytotherapeutic A. annua preparation exerts anticancer activity in veterinary tumors of small pets. Dogs and cats with spontaneous cancer (n=20) were treated with standard therapy plus a commercial A. annua preparation (Luparte®) and compared with a control group treated with standard therapy alone (n=11). Immunohistochemical analyses were performed with formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tumor biopsies to analyze the expression of transferrin receptor (TfR) and the proliferation marker Ki-67 as possible biomarkers to assess treatment response of tumors to A. annua. Finally, the expression levels of TfR and Ki-67 were compared with the IC50 values towards artemisinin in two dog tumor cells lines (DH82 and DGBM) and a panel of 54 human tumor cell lines. Retrospectively, the present study assessed the survival times of small animals treated by standard therapy with or without A. annua. A. annua treatment was associated with a significantly higher number of animals surviving >18 months compared with animals without A. annua treatment (P=0.0331). Using a second set of small pet tumors, a significant correlation was identified between TfR and Ki-67 expression by immunohistochemistry (P=0.025). To further assess the association of transferrin and Ki-67 expression with cellular response to artemisinin, the present study compared the expression of these two biomarkers and the IC50 values for artemisinin in National Cancer Institute tumor cell lines in vitro. Both markers were inversely associated with artemisinin response (P<0.05), and the expression levels of TfR and Ki-67 were significantly correlated (P=0.008). In conclusion, the promising results of the present retrospective study warrant further confirmation by prospective studies in the future.
Anticancer effects of NSC‑631570 (Ukrain) in head and neck cancer cells: In vitro analysis of growth, invasion, angiogenesis and gene expression.

NSC‑631570 (Ukrain) is an aqueous extract of Chelidonium majus, a herbaceous perennial plant, one of two species in the genus Chelidonium, which has been demonstrated to selectively kill tumor cells without affecting non‑malignant cells. In the present study, the components of NSC‑631570 were examined by combined liquid chromatography/mass spectroscopy (LC‑MS) and the effects of NSC‑631570 on HNSCC cell lines, as well as primary cells, were analyzed with respect to growth, apoptosis, invasion, angiogenesis and gene expression. LC‑MS identified chelerythrine and allocryptopine as the major alkaloids of the extract. Moreover, NSC‑631570 suppressed the growth of all tested HNSCC cell lines, including a paclitaxel‑resistant and P‑glycoprotein (MDR1)‑overexpressing cell line. Mucosal keratinocytes were also affected by the extract, while fibroblasts proved to be much more resistant. In contrast to allocryptopine, chelerythrine had toxic effects on HNSCC cell lines at low doses. NSC‑631570 significantly induced apoptosis in the FaDu and HLaC78 cell lines. As analyzed by a spheroid‑based invasion assay, cell migration was significantly suppressed by NSC‑631570 in FaDu cells on gelatine, fibronectin, collagen, laminin and Matrigel®. Migration of the highly invasive cell line HLaC78 was also inhibited, albeit to a lesser extent (not significant on laminin). Microarray analysis revealed the downregulation of genes encoding key regulators, including EGFR, AKT2, JAK1, STAT3 and ß‑catenin (CTNNB1), all of which are involved in cell proliferation, migration, angiogenesis, apoptosis as well as the radiation‑ and chemo‑resistance of HNSCC. The strongest upregulation occurred for cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) and 1B1 (CYP1B1), involved in the metabolism of xenobiotics. Upregulation of CYP1A1 was at least partially caused by chelerythrine and allocryptopine, as shown by RT‑qPCR in two HNSCC cell lines. In addition, NSC‑631570 showed a high anti‑angiogenic action on the tube formation ability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). In conclusion, this study highlights NSC‑631570 as a promising therapeutic approach for HNSCC.
MAXIMUM LIKELIHOOD ESTIMATION OF OPTIMAL WEIGHT FUNCTION FOR WEIGHTED LOG-RANK TEST

We revisit the optimal weights for the weighted log-rank test for nonproportional hazards data. It is noted that the optimal weight function can be derived by assuming a stable distribution for an exponentiated omitting covariate from the proportional hazards model, which induces the nonproportionality. A special case is the weight function for the popular Harrington-Fleming’sG test statistic. However, in practice it is not straightforward for investigators to determine the optimal value of the tuning parameter ρ for the weight function in the G test statistic. We propose a maximum likelihood method to estimate the parameter from the observed data, noticing that the parameter ρ is inversely related to the index parameter from the gamma distribution commonly assumed for the frailty model. The simulation results indicate that the test statistic with the estimated weight function from the data are more powerful than the commonly used Harrington-Fleming test with ρ = 1. We also propose a different weight function that possibly gives more power than existing ones to detect middle difference. Three datasets from phase III clinical trials on breast cancer are illustrated as real examples.
Association of pregnancy per artificial insemination with gonadotropin-releasing hormone and human chorionic gonadotropin administered during the luteal phase after artificial insemination in dairy cows: A meta-analysis.

One strategy for improving fertility in cattle is administration of GnRH or human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during the luteal phase, which increases progesterone (P4) secretion and delays luteolysis. To provide an overview of how GnRH or hCG treatment between 4 and 15 d after artificial insemination (AI) improves pregnancy per AI (P/AI) in cows, a meta-analysis was performed on 107 different trials from 52 publications. Data from 18,082 treated cows and 18,385 untreated controls were meta-analyzed. The meta-analysis explained the relative risk for P/AI with GnRH or hCG treatment under various circumstances. The results did not show any difference in P/AI between cows treated with hCG and cows treated with GnRH. Compared with no treatment, treatment with GnRH or hCG improved the chances of P/AI in cows with very poor (<30%) and poor (30.1 to 45%) fertility, whereas treatment did not benefit cows with very good fertility (>60.1%). Moreover, treatment with GnRH and hCG improved the chances of P/AI in primiparous cows. The improvement was much better in primiparous cows with very low fertility. Treatment with buserelin at a dose above 10 µg and with hCG at a dose above 2,500 IU was associated with increased chances of P/AI compared with lower doses. Treatment with GnRH 10 d after AI was also associated with increased chances of P/AI compared with earlier treatment. In conclusion, the present meta-analysis showed that the use of GnRH and hCG after AI should be focused on cows expected to have low or moderate fertility. Day and dose of treatment have to be considered as well.
Evaluation of micronutrient intakes of children and adolescents: National Nutrition Survey 1995 and comparison with 1985 data

Nutr Diet 2003;60:16–22) Objective: To evaluate the vitamin and mineral intakes of two to 18-year-old participants in the National Nutrition Survey 1995 (NNS95) against recommended dietary intakes (RDIs) and a previous national survey (1985) of ten to 15-year-olds. Design: Secondary analysis of the NNS95. Subjects: Nationally representative sample of 3007 two to 18-year-olds surveyed in the NNS95. Main outcome measures: Percentage of subjects in each of five age groups by sex with nutrient intakes < 0.7 RDI. Statistical analysis: Data were adjusted for non-respondents and day-to-day variation using weighting and correction factors respectively, provided by the Australian Bureau of Statistics. Descriptive statistics and Pearson’s chi-square tests for comparisons by age and sex and between 1995 and 1985. Results: Among two to 11-year-olds calcium was the only nutrient for which more than 6% subjects had intakes < 0.7 RDI. In 12 to 18-year-old males more than 10% had intakes of vitamin A and calcium < 0.7 RDI, and in females intakes of these two nutrients plus iron, magnesium, zinc and phosphorus were < 0.7 RDI in between 12% and 50% of subjects. Among 12 to 18-year-olds, 5% males and 23% females had three or more nutrient intakes < 0.7 RDI. Subjects who had nutrient intakes < 0.7 RDI ate less food but also food of lower nutrient density. The proportions of subjects with intakes < 0.7 RDI were similar to 1985. Conclusion: Many adolescents, particularly females are at risk of inadequate micronutrient intakes which may put them at risk of disease. Food and nutrient intake of children and adolescents must continue to be monitored in order to guide the development of appropriate health promotion strategies with the potential to reduce future disease burden.
Analyses of mRNA‐seq and miRNA‐seq of the brain reveal the sex differences of gene expression and regulation before and during gonadal differentiation in 17β‐estradiol or 17α‐methyltestosterone‐induced olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus)

Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is a commercially important flatfish species cultured in East Asia. Female flounders generally grow more rapidly than males, therefore control of the sex ratio seems to be a proposed way to increase production. However, the sex determination gene and sex determination mechanism have yet been elucidated. The brain is an important organ that is involved in gonadal development. To explore the sex differences of gene expression in the brain before and during the flounder gonadal differentiation, we used messenger RNA (mRNA)‐seq technology to investigate transcriptomes of male and female brains. Between female and male brains, 103 genes were differentially expressed before ovarian differentiation, 16 genes were differentially expressed before testicular differentiation, and 64 genes were differentially expressed during gonadal differentiation. According to annotation and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes information, the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were involved in circadian rhythm, circadian rhythm—fly, circadian entrainment, dopaminergic synapse, calcium signaling, glutamatergic synapse, taste transduction, herpes simplex infection, long‐term depression, retrograde endocannabinoid signaling, and the synaptic vesicle cycle pathways. MicroRNA (miRNA)‐seq was performed during the gonadal differentiation and the target genes of miRNAs were predicted. Integrated analysis of mRNA‐seq and miRNA‐seq showed that 29 of the 64 DEGs were regulated by the differentially expressed miRNAs during the gonadal differentiation. Our study provides a basis for further studies of brain sex differentiation and the molecular mechanism of sex determination in olive flounder.
The mTOR Pathway in Reproduction: From Gonadal Function to Developmental Coordination.

Reproduction depends on many factors, from gamete quality to placenta formation, to fetal development. The mTOR pathway is emerging as a major player that integrates several cellular processes in response to a variety of environmental cues that are relevant in many aspects of reproduction. This review provides a general overview, summarizing the involvement of the two mTOR complexes (mTORC1 and mTORC2) in integrating signaling pathways, sensing environmental status, and managing physiological processes inherent to successful reproductive outcomes and pluripotent stem cell function. As a well-known governor of multiple cellular functions, it is not surprising that mTOR has a key regulatory role in determining cell quiescence or differentiation. In the gonads mTOR helps maintain spermatogonial stem cell and follicle identity and tightly regulates differentiation in both systems to ensure proper gamete production. The mTOR pathway is also known to prevent premature follicle exhaustion, while also controlling the blood-testis barrier in the male gonad. In stem cells mTOR again seems to have a role in controlling both pluripotency and differentiation, mirrored by its in vivo roles in the embryo, notably in regulating diapause. Finally, although there are clearly more complex systems intertwined in placental function, mTOR seems to serve as an early checkpoint for development progression and successful implantation.
Running head: Two facets of conscientiousness The Two Facets of Conscientiousness: Interaction of Achievement Orientation and Dependability in Predicting Managerial Execution

The two facets of conscientiousness, achievement orientation and dependability, have frequently been found to relate to performance outcomes in different manners. However, little research has examined the interaction between these two facets. In this paper we examine the main effect and interaction of these two facets in predicting managerial execution. Using two separate samples of Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) students (N = 167 in Study 1 and N = 269 in Study 2), we found that dependability but not achievement orientation had a direct positive association with coworkers’ rating on managerial execution. More importantly, there was an interaction effect between these two facets. Dependability was strongly associated with execution among managers with high achievement orientation, but not among managers with low achievement orientation.
Solving Datapath Issues on Near-Data Accelerators

Leveraged by the advent of big data applications, many studies have been migrating accelerators closer and closer to the data in order to improve efficiency and performance. The most prominent types are classified as embedded Near-Data Accelerator (NDA) or Processor-inMemory (PIM) accelerators. However, the adoption of these accelerators requires at least three novel mechanisms, since traditional approaches are not suitable to tackle these issues: how to offload instructions from the host to NDA, how to keep cache coherence, and how to deal with the internal communication between different NDA units. In this work, we present an efficient design to solve these challenges. Based on the hybrid Host-Accelerator code, to provide fine-grain control, our design allows transparent offloading of NDA instructions directly from a host processor. Moreover, our design proposes a data coherence protocol, which includes an inclusion-policy agnostic cache coherence mechanism to share data between the host processor and the NDA units, transparently. The proposed mechanism allows full exploitation of the experimented stateof-the-art design, achieving a speedup of up to 14.6× compared to a Advanced Vector Extensions (AVX) architecture on Polybench Suite, using, on average, 82% of the total time for processing and only 18% for the cache coherence and communication protocols.