Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
High management impact of Ga‐68 DOTATATE (GaTate) PET/CT for imaging neuroendocrine and other somatostatin expressing tumours

Introduction: Ga‐68 DOTATATE (Ga‐octreotate, GaTate) positron emission tomography (PET)/CT has multiple advantages compared with conventional and In‐111 octreotide imaging for neuroendocrine tumours and other somatostatin‐receptor expressing tumours. This study assesses the management impact of incremental diagnostic information obtained from this technique compared with conventional staging.
Neurotransmitter release from tottering mice nerve terminals with reduced expression of mutated P‐ and Q‐type Ca2+‐channels

Neurotransmitter release is triggered by Ca2+‐influx through multiple sub‐types of high voltage‐activated Ca2+‐channels. Tottering mice have a mutation in the α1A pore‐forming subunit of P‐ and Q‐type Ca2+‐channels, two prominent sub‐types that regulate transmitter release from central nerve terminals. Immunoblotting analysis of purified forebrain terminals from tottering mice revealed an 85% reduction in the protein expression level of the mutated α1A subunit compared to expression of the α1A subunit in wild‐type terminals. In contrast, the expression of the α1B subunit of the N‐type Ca2+‐channels was unchanged. Release of the amino acids glutamate and GABA and of the neuropeptide cholecystokinin (CCK) induced by a short (100 ms) depolarization pulse was unchanged in the terminals of tottering mice. Studies using specific blockers of Ca2+‐channels however, revealed a reduced contribution of P‐ and Q‐type Ca2+‐channels to glutamate and cholecystokinin release, whereas a greater reliance on N‐type Ca2+‐channels for release of these transmitters was observed. In contrast, the contribution of the P‐, Q‐ and N‐type Ca2+‐channels to the release of GABA was not altered in tottering mice. These results indicate that the expression of the α1A subunit was decreased in terminals from tottering mice, and that a decreased contribution of P‐ and Q‐type Ca2+‐channels to the release of glutamate and cholecystokinin was functionally compensated by an increased contribution of N‐type Ca2+‐channels.
ER-bound PTP1B is targeted to newly forming cell-matrix adhesions

Here, we define the mechanism through which protein tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) is targeted to cell-matrix adhesion sites. Green fluorescent protein (GFP)-labeled PTP1B bearing the substrate-trapping mutation D181A was found in punctate structures in lamellae. The puncta co-localized with focal adhesion kinase (FAK) and Src, and defined the distal tips of cell-matrix adhesion sites identified with paxillin and vinculin. PTP1B is largely associated with the external face of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and the puncta develop from ER projections over cell-matrix adhesion sites, a process dependent on microtubules. Deletion of the ER-targeting sequence resulted in cytosolic localization and altered the distribution of PTP1B at cell-matrix foci, whereas mutations disrupting interactions with Src homology 3 (SH3) domains, and the insulin and cadherin receptors had no effect. PTP1B recognizes substrates within forming adhesion foci as revealed by its preferential association with paxillin as opposed to zyxin-containing foci. Our results suggest that PTP1B targets to immature cell-matrix foci in newly forming lamellae by dynamic extensions of the ER and contributes to the maturation of these sites.
The estimation of population differentiation with microsatellite markers

Microsatellite markers are routinely used to investigate the genetic structuring of natural populations. The knowledge of how genetic variation is partitioned among populations may have important implications not only in evolutionary biology and ecology, but also in conservation biology. Hence, reliable estimates of population differentiation are crucial to understand the connectivity among populations and represent important tools to develop conservation strategies. The estimation of differentiation is c from Wright’s FST and/or Slatkin’s RST, an FST‐analogue assuming a stepwise mutation model. Both these statistics have their drawbacks. Furthermore, there is no clear consensus over their relative accuracy. In this review, we first discuss the consequences of different temporal and spatial sampling strategies on differentiation estimation. Then, we move to statistical problems directly associated with the estimation of population structuring itself, with particular emphasis on the effects of high mutation rates and mutation patterns of microsatellite loci. Finally, we discuss the biological interpretation of population structuring estimates.
Microbiota, a key player in alcoholic liver disease

Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is a major cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Only 20% of heavy alcohol consumers develop alcoholic liver cirrhosis. The intestinal microbiota (IM) has been recently identified as a key player in the severity of liver injury in ALD. Common features of ALD include a decrease of gut epithelial tight junction protein expression, mucin production, and antimicrobial peptide levels. This disruption of the gut barrier, which is a prerequisite for ALD, leads to the passage of bacterial products into the blood stream (endotoxemia). Moreover, metabolites produced by bacteria, such as short chain fatty acids, volatile organic compounds (VOS), and bile acids (BA), are involved in ALD pathology. Probiotic treatment, IM transplantation, or the consumption of dietary fiber, such as pectin, which all alter the ratio of bacterial species, have been shown to improve liver injury in animal models of ALD and to be associated with an improvement in gut barrier function. Although the connections between the microbiota and the host in ALD are well established, the underlying mechanisms are still an active area of research. Targeting the microbiome through the use of prebiotic, probiotic, and postbiotic modalities could be an attractive new approach to manage ALD.
Research on Permanent Magnet linear Synchronous Motors Driver for Micro-fabrication

Thrust ripple such as side force, slot force and normal force is key factor which affects the properties of permanent magnet linear synchronous motors (PMLSM). Furthermore, model uncertainties and disturbances greatly affect the PMLSM's motion properties too. Side force was greatly decreased by optimizing the length of the PMLSM mover, and slot force caused by slot effect was greatly reduced by using fraction slot structure, and normal force was calculated though finite element method. Then the uniform formula of Thrust ripple was obtained through Fourier series nonlinear regress. To model uncertainties and disturbances, a global-stable nonlinear position controller was introduced to the PMLSM driver. Then a lyapunov function was constructed to verify the stability of the designed controller. Experiment shows that the positioning accuracy of the PMLSM driver can reach about the accuracy of the position sensor resolution (1mum). So the PMLSM feeding platform can be applied to the production of micro-fluidic chips, and it can be easily introduced to other fields just replacing a position sensor with corresponding resolution
GC‐biased gene conversion links the recombination landscape and demography to genomic base composition

The origin and evolutionary dynamics of the spatial heterogeneity in genomic base composition have been debated since its discovery in the 1970s. With the recent availability of numerous genome sequences from a wide range of species it has been possible to address this question from a comparative perspective, and similarities and differences in base composition between groups of organisms are becoming evident. Ample evidence suggests that the contrasting dynamics of base composition are driven by GC‐biased gene conversion (gBGC), a process that is associated with meiotic recombination. In line with this hypothesis, base composition is associated with the rate of recombination and the evolutionary dynamics of the recombination landscape, therefore, governs base composition. In addition, and at first sight perhaps surprisingly, the relationship between demography and genomic base composition is in agreement with the gBGC hypothesis: organisms with larger populations have higher GC content than those with smaller populations.
Tissue Transglutaminase Is Essential for Integrin‐Mediated Survival of Bone Marrow‐Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells

Autologous mesenchymal stem cell (MSC) transplantation therapy for repair of myocardial injury has inherent limitations due to the poor viability of the stem cells after cell transplantation. Adhesion is a prerequisite for cell survival and also a key factor for the differentiation of MSCs. As a novel prosurvival modification strategy, we genetically engineered MSCs to overexpress tissue transglutaminase (tTG), with intention to enhance adhesion and ultimately cell survival after implantation. tTG‐transfected MSCs (tTG‐MSCs) showed a 2.7‐fold and greater than a twofold increase of tTG expression and surface tTG activity, respectively, leading to a 20% increased adhesion of MSCs on fibronectin (Fn). Spreading and migration of tTG‐MSCs were increased 4.75% and 2.52%, respectively. Adhesion of tTG‐MSCs on cardiogel, a cardiac fibroblast‐derived three‐dimensional matrix, showed a 33.1% increase. Downregulation of tTG by transfection of small interfering RNA specific to the tTG resulted in markedly decreased adhesion and spread of MSCs on Fn or cardiogel. tTG‐MSCs on Fn significantly increased phosphorylation of focal adhesion related kinases FAK, Src, and PI3K. tTG‐MSCs showed significant retention in infarcted myocardium by forming a focal adhesion complex and developed into cardiac myocyte‐like cells by the expression of cardiac‐specific proteins. Transplantation of 1 × 106 MSCs transduced with tTG into the ischemic rat myocardium restored normalized systolic and diastolic cardiac function. tTG‐MSCs further restored cardiac function of infarcted myocardium as compared with MSC transplantation alone. These findings suggested that tTG may play an important role in integrin‐mediated adhesion of MSCs in implanted tissues.
RSF1010 and a conjugative plasmid contain sulII, one of two known genes for plasmid-borne sulfonamide resistance dihydropteroate synthase

The nucleotide sequence of the type II sulfonamide resistance dihydropteroate synthase (sulII) gene was determined. The molecular weight determined by maxicells was 30,000, and the predicted molecular weight for the polypeptide was 28,469. Comparison with the sulI gene encoded by Tn21 showed 57% DNA similarity. The sulII-encoded polypeptide has 138 of 271 amino acids in common with the polypeptide encoded by sulI. The sulII gene is located on various IncQ (broad-host-range) plasmids and other small nonconjugative resistance plasmids. Detailed restriction maps were constructed to compare the different plasmids in which sulII is found. The large conjugative plasmid pGS05 and the IncQ plasmid RSF1010 contained identical nucleotide sequences for the sulII gene. This type of sulfonamide resistance is very frequently found among gram-negative bacteria because of its efficient spread to various plasmids.
Inter street interference cancelation in urban vehicular networks using network coding

An urban scenario is the center stage for vehicles to roam around the concrete jungle. Any sorts of wireless communication would be affected by hidden terminal problems, fading and interferences. Unintended nodes are unnecessarily bothered by such huge volume of microwave communications. The most common forms of communication are beaconing messages, which let the vehicles know about its neighboring vehicles and possibly choose an appropriate forwarder for safety and non-safety messages. However, such influx of broadcast messages may lead to beacon overhead and congestion resulting in low message reception as well as excessive delay. Interferences due to inter-street beacon messages may affect emergency messages, channel arbitration messages and other control messages which share a common channel as specified by DRSC/WAVE. This paper proposes a scheme to cancel interferences due to inter-street beacon communications by adaptive transmission control, while maintaining application layer transmission range, through multi-hop beacon forwarding and network coding. The simulations show that our scheme has higher packet delivery ratio and higher successful channel utilization compared to CSMA/CA protocols.
Racial differences in antidepressant use among older home health care patients.

OBJECTIVE The objective of this study was to determine the association of race (black and white) with depression diagnosis and antidepressant use among older home health care patients. METHODS Cross-sectional data were obtained from the 2007 National Home and Hospice Care Survey of patients 65 years and older (N=3,157). Data were analyzed by race, antidepressant use, and charted depression diagnosis. RESULTS Whites had greater odds than blacks of receiving a depression diagnosis (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=4.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]=1.52-13.09). Whites with no depression diagnosis were also more likely to receive an antidepressant (AOR=2.62, CI=1.58-4.36); however, the difference in receipt of an antidepressant between whites and blacks with a depression diagnosis was not significant. CONCLUSIONS Older blacks were less likely than older whites to receive antidepressants, independent of a depression diagnosis. This finding suggests that older blacks with depression in home health care may face two disparities relative to whites: underdiagnosis and undertreatment of depression.
Termination of amblyopia treatment: when to stop follow-up visits and risk factors for recurrence.

BACKGROUND This study estimated when it is safe to stop follow-up visits after cessation of amblyopia treatment and to identify factors associated with deterioration of visual acuity. METHODS Study patients included 282 patients aged 7 to 13 years who were monitored for deterioration after cessation of amblyopia treatment (median follow-up: 3.9 years). RESULTS Six (2.1%) patients lost 2 or more logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution levels of visual acuity and 77 (27.3%) patients lost 1 or more Snellen lines of visual acuity. Good compliance with re-treatment stopped further deterioration and lost visual acuity was regained (average follow-up after re-treatment: 3.3 years). Life table analysis indicated that 95% of the cases that deteriorated occurred within 24 months after cessation of treatment. Multivariable analysis corrected for duration of treatment uncovered factors independently associated with deterioration. CONCLUSION A clinically important risk of deterioration of visual acuity was found during the first 2 years after cessation of amblyopia treatment. Follow-up time longer than 2 years is recommended in the presence of a developing risk factor such as increasing anisometropia. With prompt re-treatment and good compliance, deterioration can be stopped and visual acuity can be restored.
The market impact of the Involvement of the EU/ECB/IMF in Crisis-Affected Countries during the European Sovereign Debt Crisis

Purpose - This paper aims to examine whether the release of news about policy interventions by the troika [European Union (EU)/the European Central Bank (ECB)/International Monetary Fund (IMF)] in the crisis-affected EU countries (Cyprus, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Portugal and Spain) and whether the policy responses of these countries’ governments had impacts on the return and risk of stocks in the financial and real-economy sectors of these countries. Design/methodology/approach - The paper uses a broad set of news announcements concerning the troika authorities’ policy interventions and the policy responses of the affected Eurozone states’ governments. To test for the risk and return effects of these announcements during the crisis period, a set of regression equations is estimated under a difference-in-difference approach using intercept and slope dummy variables for news releases from troika authorities and from the national governments of the six EU countries. This enables unraveling the effects of the crisis (first difference) and the effects of news announcements (second difference). Findings - The results indicate that the involvement of the troika managed to reverse some of the unfavourable market effects of the crisis. Moreover, the policy response of national governments was found to have stronger favourable effects in the markets of the affected countries implying that investors likely waited for the response of the national governments before they reacted to the policy actions of the troika. The simultaneous release of news from the troika and from national governments had adverse effects on the returns and risk of the firms in the real economy sectors, suggesting that cross-news announcements conveyed negative information in the markets. Originality/value - The paper provides evidence on the effects of policy-related news announcements on the development of the recent sovereign debt crisis in Europe. This issue is highly important, as it can reveal the effectiveness of the IMF’s and EU authorities’ policy interventions in affected Eurozone member states during the first major crisis in Europe since the monetary union.
What Factors Need to be Considered to Understand Emotional Memories?

In my original review (Kensinger, 2009), I proposed that to understand the effects of emotion on memory accuracy, we must look beyond effects of arousal and consider the contribution of valence. In discussing this proposal, the commentators raise a number of excellent points that hone in on the question of when valence does (and does not) account for emotion's effects on memory accuracy. Though future research will be required to resolve this issue more fully, in this brief response, I address some of the concerns outlined by the commentators and suggest a few steps that may help to elucidate the dimensions that should be incorporated in models of emotional memory.
Role of σs in transcription from the positively controlled Pm promoter of the TOL plasmid of Pseudomonas putida

Transcription from the TOL plasmid Pm promoter is dependent on the XylS regulator activated by benzoate effectors. We analysed transcription from Pm in several backgrounds with differing Escherichia coli alpha and sigma subunits of RNA polymerase. In different RpoA backgrounds, transcription from Pm was as high as in the wild‐type background throughout the growth curve. In the σs‐deficient background provided by E. coli RH90, high levels of transcription from Pm (XylS/3‐methylbenzoate dependent) were observed in the early logarithmic growth phase but not in the late logarithmic phase or early stationary phase. This contrasted with the results obtained in the isogenic σs‐proficient background, in which high levels of transcription were observed throughout the growth curve. XylS/3‐methylbenzoate‐dependent transcription from Pm in the late logarithmic growth phase in the RH90 background was restored by cloned rpoS. The transcription initiation point of Pm was the same regardless of the growth phase and the σs background. The requirement of (σs for stimulation of transcription from Pm in the late logarithmic and early stationary phase was overcome by using certain mutant Pm promoters, e.g. Pm5 (C‐47 → G, A‐44 → G), and the mutant regulator XylSG44S. It is suggested that the transcription from Pm involves the use of two sigma factors: σ70 during the early logarithmic phase and σs thereafter.
Further Investigations on Noise-Tolerant Zeroing Neural Network for Time-Varying Quadratic Programming with Robotic Applications

Recently, a modified zeroing neural network (MZNN) model has been presented for solving quadratic programming problems, which is of noise-tolerant ability. In this paper, we conduct further investigations on such a model and then present a nonlinear function activated model. Finally, the presented nonlinear function activated model is applied to the motion control of robots.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus enteritis outbreak following a wedding banquet in a rural village - Kampong Speu, Cambodia, April 2012.

INTRODUCTION Foodborne outbreaks are common in Cambodia, but only a few investigations documenting the etiology and source have been conducted. In April, we learnt of 49 acute diarrhoea cases in a village following a wedding banquet. We undertook an investigation to identify the pathogen, source and mode of transmission. METHODS We interviewed banquet hosts and food handlers to obtain the menu and guest list. Guests were asked about signs and symptoms and onset of illness, time of meal and food or drinks consumed. Rectal swabs were taken from 13 cases for culture. A case-control study was undertaken; cases were guests who had acute diarrhoea within three days after the wedding and controls were guests who remained well during the same time period. RESULTS There were 256 guests. Of 69 interviewees, 52 got sick (attack rate 75%). Aside from diarrhoea, cases had abdominal pain (94%), vomiting (48%), nausea (42%) and fever (25%). Incubation periods ranged from seven to 51 hours (median 16.5). Rectal swabs from three cases grew Vibrio parahaemolyticus. Among the food and drinks served, vegetable salad with raw octopus was the only one associated with illness (odds ratio: 6.6, 95% confidence interval: 1.3-36.1, P = 0.01). DISCUSSION Vegetable salad with raw octopus was the suspected vehicle for transmission of this Vibrio parahaemolyticus enteritis outbreak. Messages regarding the risks from eating raw seafood were disseminated, and food handlers were advised to cook seafood to high temperatures. Efforts to improve foodborne disease surveillance and food safety are being undertaken.
Küreselleşme Sürecinde Fırsatçı Politik İş Çevrimi Modelinin Geçerliliği: OECD Ülkeleri Örneği

Makro ekonomi ve politika bilimini iliskilendiren politik is cevrimi modelleri makro ekonomik degiskenlerde gozlenen dalgalanmalarin nedenini secim sureciyle aciklamaktadir. Firsatci ve partizan politik is cevrimi modellerine gore siyasi partiler secimleri tekrar kazanmak ya da ideolojik politikalar uygulayabilmek amaciyla secim oncesinde ekonomiye para ve maliye politikasi araclariyla mudahale etmektedir. Ancak son yillarda kuresellesme sureciyle birlikte artan uluslararasi butunlesme ve kurumsal gelismelerin iktidar partisinin cikarlari dogrultusunda ekonomiye mudahalesini kisitladigi belirtilmektedir. Bu calismanin amaci da kuresellesme sonrasinda firsatci modelin gecerliligini OECD ulkeleri icin dinamik panel veri analizi kullanarak sorgulamaktir. 1995-2010 doneminin analiz edildigi calismadan elde edilen bulgular, secim surecinde firsatci davranislarin gozlendigi yonundedir. Ancak firsatci gudulerle ekonomiye mudahalenin oldukca sinirli duzeyde oldugu tespit edilmistir.
Receptor-mediated internalization and degradation of diphtheria toxin by monkey kidney cells.

The receptor-mediated internalization and degradation of radiolabeled diphtheria toxin by cultured monkey kidney cells was studied. The ability of a number of enzymes and chemicals to remove cell surface-bound toxin was tested; the combination of pronase and inositol hexaphosphate (PIHP) proved most effective. Using PIHP, the kinetics of toxin-cell association at 37 degrees C was resolved into two compounds: surface binding and internalization. The PIHP assay also allowed estimation of the half-time of toxin internalization (about 25 min). An assay involving precipitation of culture supernatants with trichloroacetic acid was developed and used to measure the rate of degradation and excretion of cell-associated toxin. Agents which markedly inhibited toxin internalization similarly prevented degradation, implying an intracellular location for the degradative process. The primary radioactive product excreted by Vero cells was monoiodotyrosine. The extent and rate of toxin degradation indicated lysosomal involvement. Finally, agents which blocked internalization or degradation, or both, (e.g. antibody and concanavalin A), protected cells from the cytotoxin action of diphtheria toxin, suggesting that these processes are necessary for expression of biological effect.