Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of anthocyanins on the prevention and treatment of cancer

Anthocyanins are a class of water‐soluble flavonoids, which show a range of pharmacological effects, such as prevention of cardiovascular disease, obesity control and antitumour activity. Their potential antitumour effects are reported to be based on a wide variety of biological activities including antioxidant; anti‐inflammation; anti‐mutagenesis; induction of differentiation; inhibiting proliferation by modulating signal transduction pathways, inducing cell cycle arrest and stimulating apoptosis or autophagy of cancer cells; anti‐invasion; anti‐metastasis; reversing drug resistance of cancer cells and increasing their sensitivity to chemotherapy. In this review, the latest progress on the anticancer activities of anthocyanins and the underlying molecular mechanisms is summarized using data from basic research in vitro and in vivo, from clinical trials and taking into account theory and practice.
Mechanical and Electronic Properties of XC6 and XC12

A series of carbon-based superconductors XC6 with high Tc were reported recently. In this paper, based on the first-principles calculations, we studied the mechanical properties of these structures, and further explored the XC12 phases, where the X atoms are from elemental hydrogen to calcium, except noble gas atoms. The mechanically- and dynamically-stable structures include HC6, NC6, and SC6 in XC6 phases, and BC12, CC12, PC12, SC12, ClC12, and KC12 in XC12 phases. The doping leads to a weakening in mechanical properties and an increase in the elastic anisotropy. C6 has the lowest elastic anisotropy, and the anisotropy increases with the atomic number of doping atoms for both XC6 and XC12. Furthermore, the acoustic velocities, Debye temperatures, and the electronic properties are also studied.
Identification of Norway Spruce MYB-bHLH-WDR Transcription Factor Complex Members Linked to Regulation of the Flavonoid Pathway

Transcription factors (TFs) forming MYB-bHLH-WDR complexes are known to regulate the biosynthesis of specialized metabolites in angiosperms through an intricate network. These specialized metabolites participate in a wide range of biological processes including plant growth, development, reproduction as well as in plant immunity. Studying the regulation of their biosynthesis is thus essential. While MYB (TFs) have been previously shown to control specialized metabolism (SM) in gymnosperms, the identity of their partners, in particular bHLH or WDR members, has not yet been revealed. To gain knowledge about MYB-bHLH-WDR transcription factor complexes in gymnosperms and their regulation of SW, we identified two bHLH homologs of AtTT8, six homologs of the MYB transcription factor AtTT2 and one WDR ortholog of AtTTG1 in Norway spruce. We investigated the expression levels of these genes in diverse tissues and upon treatments with various stimuli including methyl-salicylate, methyl-jasmonate, wounding or fungal inoculation. In addition, we also identified protein-protein interactions among different homologs of MYB, bHLH and WDR. Finally, we generated transgenic spruce cell lines overexpressing four of the Norway spruce AtTT2 homologs and observed differential regulation of genes in the flavonoid pathway and flavonoid contents.
Variable Selection for Marginal Longitudinal Generalized Linear Models

Summary Variable selection is an essential part of any statistical analysis and yet has been somewhat neglected in the context of longitudinal data analysis. In this article, we propose a generalized version of Mallows's Cp (GCp) suitable for use with both parametric and nonparametric models. GCp provides an estimate of a measure of model's adequacy for prediction. We examine its performance with popular marginal longitudinal models (fitted using GEE) and contrast results with what is typically done in practice: variable selection based on Wald‐type or score‐type tests. An application to real data further demonstrates the merits of our approach while at the same time emphasizing some important robust features inherent to GCp.
Metabolic Cost of the Stimulated Beating of Isolated Adult Rat Heart Cells in Suspension

Heart cells from adult rats were induced to beat in suspension by electric field stimulation. We have gained evidence that all the rod-shaped cells in suspension were indeed beating, and that the beat had dynamic characteristics similar to those of intact heart muscle contracting under zero load. The cells were undamaged in the process, as judged by maintenance of ATP levels, morphology, and ability to beat. In gaining such evidence, we also measured the metabolic cost to the cells of beating under zero load. In cells with oxidative phosphorylation inhibited by rotenone plus oligomycin (termed anaerobic), the rate of beat-dependent lactate production suggested an equivalent rate of ATP utilization of 0.126 ± 0.013 nmol ATP/beat per mg protein (plus isoproterenol), and 0.058 ± 0.005 nmol ATP/beat per mg protein (minus isoproterenol). In respiring cells, the rate of beat-dependent oligomycin-sensitive oxygen consumption gave an equivalent rate of ATP utilization of 0.198 ± 0.009 nmol ATP/beat per mg protein (plus isoproter-enol), and 0.126 ± 0.013 nmol ATP/beat per mg protein (minus isoproterenol). The cells beat with the same approximate maximum velocity whether isoproterenol was present or not. We calculate that-in the case of anaerobic cells without isoproterenol-this rate of ATP utilization can account for only about a 15% degree of activation of the contractile proteins. In addition, we have found an oligomycin-insensitive beat-dependent mitochondrial respiration of 0.023 ± 0.006 nanoatom O/beat per mg. The cause of this respiration is not known. The total rate of oxygen consumption of cells and also the rate per beat was comparable to that measured in nonworking whole hearts.
Design and optimization of interior permanent magnet traction motor for high-speed train considering the short circuit current

In this paper, a 600kw 4200rpm interior permanent magnet (IPM) traction motor for high-speed train has been designed, and its characteristics under typical short-circuit faults are particularly analyzed using the finite element method (FEM), especially the short-circuit current. Solutions and fault tolerance ability for short-circuit faults are proposed according to the analysis above. Furthermore, key design parameters of the IPM traction motor influencing the short-circuit current are discussed in order to provide some methods to reinforce the short-circuit fault tolerance ability.
Expression of α-catenin in α-catenin–deficient cells increases resistance to sphingosine-induced apoptosis

α-Catenin, an intracellular protein, associates with the COOH-terminal region of cadherin cell adhesion molecules through interactions with either β-catenin or γ-catenin (plakoglobin). The full activity of cadherins requires a linkage to the actin cytoskeleton mediated by catenins. We transfected α-catenin–deficient colon carcinoma cells with a series of α-catenin constructs to determine that α-catenin expression increases the resistance to apoptosis induced by sphingosine. Two groups of constructs, containing deletions in either the middle segment of the molecule or the COOH terminus, induced morphological changes, cell compaction, and decreases in cell death. In α-catenin–expressing cells, inhibition of cadherin cell adhesion by treatment with anti–E-cadherin antibodies did not decrease the cells viability. α-Catenin expression partially suppressed the downregulation of Bcl-xL and the activation of caspase 3. Expression of p27kip1 protein, an inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases, was increased by α-catenin expression in low density cell cultures. The increased levels of p27kip1 correlated with both increased resistance to cell death and morphological changes in transfectants containing deletion mutants. Transfection-mediated upregulation of p27kip1 decreases sphingosine-induced cell death in α-catenin–deficient cells. We postulate that α-catenin mediates transduction of signals from the cadherin–catenin complex to regulate the apoptotic cascade via p27kip1.
Cleavage and polyadenylation factor CPF specifically interacts with the pre‐mRNA 3′ processing signal AAUAAA.

Cleavage and polyadenylation factor (CPF) is required for the cleavage as well as for the subsequent polyadenylation reaction during 3′ processing of messenger RNA precursors. Here, we have investigated the interaction of CPF and poly(A) polymerase with short RNA substrates. CPF activates poly(A) polymerase to elongate RNA primers carrying the canonical hexamer recognition signal AAUAAA. CPF specifically binds to such RNA as shown by gel mobility shift assays and competition experiments. Upon binding of CPF, two polypeptides of 35 kDa and 160 kDa can be covalently crosslinked to the RNA by irradiation with UV light. These polypeptides may correspond to the smallest and the largest subunit contained in purified CPF fractions. In addition, chemical modification‐exclusion experiments demonstrate that CPF interacts directly with the AAUAAA recognition signal in the RNA. The entire hexamer signal is involved in binding of CPF since modification of any of its bases interferes with complex formation.
Engineering an Ontology for Autonomous Systems - The OASys Ontology

This paper describes the development of an ontology for autonomous systems, as the initial stage of a research programe on autonomous systems’ engineering within a model-based control approach. The ontology aims at providing a uniﬁed conceptual framework for the autonomous systems’ stakeholders, from developers to software engineers. The modular ontology contains both generic and domain-speciﬁc concepts for autonomous systems description and engineering. The ontology serves as the basis in a methodology to obtain the autonomous system’s conceptual models. The objective is to obtain and to use these models as main input for the autonomous system’s model-based control system.
The Zds proteins control entry into mitosis and target protein phosphatase 2A to the Cdc25 phosphatase

Protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A) is a key regulator of mitosis, but the roles that it plays are poorly understood. New evidence in budding yeast shows that the Zds proteins form a tight stoichiometric complex with PP2A and target its activity to the Cdc25 phosphatase, which is a key regulator of entry into mitosis.
Monitoração da competitividade científica e tecnológica dos estados brasileiros. Um instrumento de macropolítica de informação

A resposta das nacoes industrializadas aos impactos da globalizacao e das mudancas tecnologicas tem sido a de buscar um alto nivel de competitividade dentro e fora dos limites nacionais. As tecnicas de inteligencia (competitiva, economica, tecnologica, social) estao entre os instrumentos utilizados pelos agentes estatais e privados na busca da competitividade, a partir da monitoracao do ambiente em que o pais ou a organizacao considerada esteja inserido. No presente estudo, parte-se da conceituacao de inteligencia, nas suas diversas manifestacoes e atividades, mencionam-se as estrategias das nacoes mais desenvolvidas no trabalho de inteligencia economica em apoio ao setor produtivo e propoe-se um servico de monitoracao com base em um conjunto de indicadores de competitividade dos estados brasileiros em ciencia e tecnologia (C&T), a partir de dados produzidos pelo Sistema Estadual de Informacao em C&T-Seict. O servico proposto, base para um sistema integral de inteligencia competitiva, tem como clientes prioritarios as autoridades governamentais do Sistema Nacional de C&T e secundariamente esta aberto a todos individuos e organizacoes publicas e privadas. Com o presente relatorio, pretende-se apenas antecipar para os gestores dos sistemas estaduais de ciencia e tecnologia o potencial de analise que o Seict oferece para a administracao dos niveis de competitividade em C&T, via gestao do conhecimento e da informacao, foco prioritario quando as autoridades brasileiras discutem as bases para transformacao do pais em uma sociedade da informacao, centrada no conhecimento e na tecnologia.
Multisensory Integration of Visual, Tactile, and Olfactory Aesthetic Cues of Appearance

Integration of olfactory, visual, and tactile aesthetic cues of appearance in the impression formation process was examined. Eighty-nine female college students, each responding to three fragrances, rated 30 fabric swatches on 7-point Likert-type scales as to the fabrics' likeliness to be worn by someone who prefers to wear a particular fragrance. Rank orders of fabrics for the two fragrances with similar olfactory structures were associated (p <. 05) whereas rank orders of fabrics for two pairs of fragrances with dissimilar structures were not associated (p > .05) according to Spearman correlations, suggesting multisensory integration of appearance cues. A priori visual and tactile aesthetic qualities of fabrics ranked high or low for each fragrance were examined for similarities. Similarities of visual and tactile qualities were found within each group of fabrics for each fragrance, suggesting multisensory integration of appearance cues on an aesthetic level.
Spread spectrum modulation and signal masking using synchronized chaotic systems

Abstract : Chaotic dynamical systems are nonlinear deterministic systems which often exhibit erratic and irregular behavior. The signals that evolve in these systems are typically broadband, noise-like and similar in many respects to a stochastic process. Because of these properties chaotic signals potentially provide an important class of signals which can be utilized in various communications, radar and sonar contexts for masking information-bearing waveforms and as modulating waveforms in spread spectrum systems. Recently, it has been demonstrated that the chaotic Lorenz and Rossler systems can be decomposed into a drive system and a stable response subsystem which will synchronize when coupled with a common drive signal. This property has several practical applications and suggests novel approaches to secure communication and signal masking. In addition to the Lorenz and Rossler systems, we discuss and demonstrate that the continuous-time Double Scroll system and discrete-time Henon map are also decomposable into synchronizing subsystems. We then propose and explore in a preliminary way how synchronized chaotic systems can be used for spread spectrum communication and for various signal masking purposes.
Size-dependent melting temperature of individual nanometer-sized metallic clusters.

Gold and silver clusters with diameters in the nanometer-size range were grown in an inert-gas beam and deposited on the end of a tungsten field emitter. The field-emission current from an individual cluster is used to study a size-dependent change in shape of the cluster as a function of temperature. Three experimental signatures indicate an abrupt change in cluster shape at a temperature below the bulk melting point. This temperature is found to depend on cluster size and is in agreement with a thermodynamic model for cluster melting, provided the cluster diameter is greater than {approximately}2 nm.
I'll Call You Back on My Mobile: a critique of the telephone interview with adolescent boys

Abstract The telephone interview is commonly associated with mass surveying and political and marketing polling. It is generally eschewed as a serious research tool by many qualitative researchers and particularly by those working within an interpretivist paradigm and its use with some groups such as children is clearly problematic. However, there appear to be some circumstances in which the telephone is a highly appropriate tool for eliciting qualitative data that provide thick description. This article reports on longitudinal research in progress examining adolescent boys' career decision‐making using telephone interviewing. Juxtaposing the self as both a respondent and a researcher employing the telephone interview, the telephone interview as a research tool is critiqued. It is concluded that, rather than a concern with the relative merits of the telephone interview as compared to the face‐to‐face interview, there is a need to clarify the semantic tools to better reflect the nature of the relationship between respondent and researcher that lies at the heart of the paradigmatic difference between positivism and the interpretivist approaches.
Realist versus instrumentalist approaches to clarifying the conditions for orienting response habituation

The article by Gati and Ben-Shakhar (1990) reported 2 well-designed and methodologically rigorous experiments and provided results that were hypothesis testing in the realist, strong-inference sense. However, in that interpretation, there are instrumentalist strains in which theories are equated with models and in which certain brute facts that are contrary to Sokolovian orienting-response theory are not attended to sufficiently for the realist aims that these authors had set for themselves, to clarif[y] processes involved in orienting response elicitation (p. 251)
Perceived Performance of Top Retail Webpages In the Wild: Insights from Large-scale Crowdsourcing of Above-the-Fold QoE

Clearly, no one likes webpages with poor quality of experience (QoE). Being perceived as slow or fast is a key element in the overall perceived QoE of web applications. While extensive effort has been put into optimizing web applications (both in industry and academia), not a lot of work exists in characterizing what aspects of webpage loading process truly influence human end-user's perception of the Speed of a page. In this paper we present SpeedPerception1, a large-scale web performance crowdsourcing framework focused on understanding the perceived loading performance of above-the-fold (ATF) webpage content. Our end goal is to create free open-source benchmarking datasets to advance the systematic analysis of how humans perceive webpage loading process. In Phase-1 of our SpeedPerception study using Internet Retailer Top 500 (IR 500) websites [3], we found that commonly used navigation metrics such as onLoad and Time To First Byte (TTFB) fail (less than 60% match) to represent majority human perception when comparing the speed of two webpages. We present a simple 3-variable-based machine learning model that explains the majority end-user choices better (with 87 ± 2% accuracy). In addition, our results suggest that the time needed by end-users to evaluate relative perceived speed of webpage is far less than the time of its visualComplete event.
Quantification of Self-Recognition in Multiple Sclerosis by Single-Cell Analysis of Cytokine Production1

Identifying and quantifying autoaggressive responses in multiple sclerosis (MS) has been difficult in the past due to the low frequency of autoantigen-specific T cells, the high number of putative determinants on the autoantigens, and the different cytokine signatures of the autoreactive T cells. We used single-cell resolution enzyme-linked immunospot (ELISPOT) assays to study, directly ex vivo, proteolipid protein (PLP)-specific memory cell reactivity from MS patients and controls. Overlapping 9-aa-long peptides, spanning the entire PLP molecule in single amino acid steps, were used to determine the frequency and fine specificity of PLP-specific lymphocytes as measured by their IFN-γ and IL-5 production. MS patients (n = 22) responded to 4 times as many PLP peptides as did healthy controls (n = 22). The epitopes recognized in individual patients, up to 22 peptides, were scattered throughout the PLP molecule, showing considerable heterogeneity among MS patients. Frequency measurements showed that the number of PLP peptide-specific IFN-γ-producing cells averaged 11 times higher in MS patients than in controls. PLP peptide-induced IL-5-producing T cells occurred in very low frequencies in both MS patients and controls. This first comprehensive assessment of the anti-PLP-Th1/Th2 response in MS shows a greatly increased Th1 effector cell mass in MS patients. Moreover, the highly IFN-γ-polarized, IL-5-negative cytokine profile of the PLP-reactive T cells suggests that these cells are committed Th1 cells. The essential absence of uncommitted Th0 cells producing both cytokines may explain why therapeutic strategies that aim at the induction of immune deviation show little efficacy in the established disease.
Strain typing with IS200 fingerprints in Salmonella abortusovis

A collection of Salmonella abortusovis isolates was examined for the presence of insertion element IS200. All proved to contain three or four copies of the element. One IS200 hybridization band of approximately 9 kb was found in all isolates, indicating that all S. abortusovis strains carry an IS200 element in similar or identical locations; this band can be potentially useful for serovar identification. S. abortusovis collection isolates from distinct geographic areas were highly polymorphic, suggesting that IS200 fingerprints might provide information on the geographic origin of S. abortusovis strains. Isolates obtained from the same geographic area (the island of Sardinia, Italy) were less polymorphic: all shared three constant IS200 hybridization bands, indicating that they derive from a single ancestor. Most strains analyzed contained an additional copy of IS200 in the variable region of the virulence plasmid. Certain Sardinian flocks proved to be infected by only one S. abortusovis strain, while others harbored two strains. Strain typing with IS200 fingerprints proved to be more reliable than plasmid analysis, because the latter yielded a high degree of polymorphism, even among isolates from the same flock.
Mutation of the Murine Bloom's Syndrome Gene Produces Global Genome Destabilization

ABSTRACT Bloom's syndrome (BS) is a genetic disorder characterized cellularly by increases in sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and numbers of micronuclei. BS is caused by mutation in the BLM DNA helicase gene and involves a greatly enhanced risk of developing the range of malignancies seen in the general population. With a mouse model for the disease, we set out to determine the relationship between genomic instability and neoplasia. We used a novel two-step analysis to investigate a panel of eight cell lines developed from mammary tumors that appeared in Blm conditional knockout mice. First, the panel of cell lines was examined for instability. High numbers of SCEs were uniformly seen in members of the panel, and several lines produced chromosomal instability (CIN) manifested by high numbers of chromosomal structural aberrations (CAs) and chromosome missegregation events. Second, to see if Blm mutation was responsible for the CIN, time-dependent analysis was conducted on a tumor line harboring a functional floxed Blm allele. The floxed allele was deleted in vitro, and mutant as well as control subclones were cultured for 100 passages. By passage 100, six of nine mutant subclones had acquired high CIN. Nine mutant subclones produced 50-fold more CAs than did nine control subclones. Finally, chromosome loss preceded the appearance of CIN, suggesting that this loss provides a potential mechanism for the induction of instability in mutant subclones. Such aneuploidy or CIN is a universal feature of neoplasia but has an uncertain function in oncogenesis. Our results show that Blm gene mutation produces this instability, strengthening a role for CIN in the development of human cancer.