Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Fibronectin on the Surface of Myeloma Cell-derived Exosomes Mediates Exosome-Cell Interactions*

Exosomes regulate cell behavior by binding to and delivering their cargo to target cells; however, the mechanisms mediating exosome-cell interactions are poorly understood. Heparan sulfates on target cell surfaces can act as receptors for exosome uptake, but the ligand for heparan sulfate on exosomes has not been identified. Using exosomes isolated from myeloma cell lines and from myeloma patients, we identify exosomal fibronectin as a key heparan sulfate-binding ligand and mediator of exosome-cell interactions. We discovered that heparan sulfate plays a dual role in exosome-cell interaction; heparan sulfate on exosomes captures fibronectin, and on target cells it acts as a receptor for fibronectin. Removal of heparan sulfate from the exosome surface releases fibronectin and dramatically inhibits exosome-target cell interaction. Antibody specific for the Hep-II heparin-binding domain of fibronectin blocks exosome interaction with tumor cells or with marrow stromal cells. Regarding exosome function, fibronectin-mediated binding of exosomes to myeloma cells activated p38 and pERK signaling and expression of downstream target genes DKK1 and MMP-9, two molecules that promote myeloma progression. Antibody against fibronectin inhibited the ability of myeloma-derived exosomes to stimulate endothelial cell invasion. Heparin or heparin mimetics including Roneparstat, a modified heparin in phase I trials in myeloma patients, significantly inhibited exosome-cell interactions. These studies provide the first evidence that fibronectin binding to heparan sulfate mediates exosome-cell interactions, revealing a fundamental mechanism important for exosome-mediated cross-talk within tumor microenvironments. Moreover, these results imply that therapeutic disruption of fibronectin-heparan sulfate interactions will negatively impact myeloma tumor growth and progression.
Hypophosphorylation of residue Y1045 leads to defective downregulation of EGFRvIII

Down-regulation of the EGF receptor is the net result of receptor degradation and recycling. Cbl functions by specifically targeting activated ErbB receptors for ubiquitination, facilitating ligand-induced desensitization of EGFR. The interaction between EGFR and c-Cbl has been shown to depend upon receptor phosphorylation at tyrosine residue 1045, the major docking site for c-Cbl. To better understand the biological consequences of EGFR mutants in human cancers, we compared wild-type EGFR and EGFRvIII internalization, as well as gefitinib sensitive and resistant EGFR kinase mutations found in non-small cell lung carcinoma. We observed that Cbl failed to associate with EGFRvIII as well as an inability of the receptor to undergo ubiquitination and degradation. The most intriguing observation is that EGFRvIII tyrosine 1045 residue is either un-phosphorylated or hypophosphorylated. This is in contrast to other tyrosine residues in EGFRvIII, such as Y1173, which exhibit levels of phosphorylation comparable to those of wild-type EGFR. These results suggest that hypophosphorylation of tyrosine residue 1045 is likely to be the cause for EGFRvIII escape from c-Cbl-induced ubiquitination and degradation, enhancing EGFRvIII’s ability to increase proliferation in breast cancer cells. Interestingly, inefficient degradation was only observed in the gefitinib resistant EGFR kinase mutant, despite the fact that this mutant receptor is capable of recruiting c-Cbl and undergoes ubiquitination. The gefitinib sensitive EGFR kinase mutant exhibits similar ubiquitination and degradation patterns as the wild-type EGFR. Collectively, different EGFR mutations exert various negative mechanisms that have the potential to modify receptor internalization and degradation, and may play a critical role in resistance to tyrosine kinase inhibitory treatments.
Post‐operative pressure lability and cardiac baroreflex in normotensive patients as a function of age

Background: Pressure lability may be linked to the loss of the cardiac baroreflex. The reduction of the sensitivity of the cardiac baroreflex has not been delineated in the post‐operative period according to age in normotensive patients. This study addresses pressure lability and slope of the cardiac baroreflex as a function of age.
Platelet-endothelial cell interactions in murine antigen-induced arthritis.

OBJECTIVES Growing evidence supports the substantial pathophysiological impact of platelets on the development of rheumatoid arthritis. At present there are no methods for studying these cellular mechanisms in vivo. The aim of this study was to visualize and investigate platelet-endothelial cell interaction in the knee joint of mice with antigen-induced arthritis (AiA) by means of intravital microscopy. METHODS In 14 mice (Balbc) intravital microscopic assessment was performed on day 8 after AiA induction in two groups (controls, AiA). The severity of AiA was assessed by measuring knee joint swelling and by histological scoring. Ex vivo fluorescently labelled rolling and adherent platelets and leucocyte-endothelium interactions were investigated by intravital fluorescence microscopy. RESULTS Swelling of the knee joint as well as histological score was significantly enhanced in arthritic animals compared with controls. In control mice intravital microscopy revealed low baseline rolling and sticking of leucocytes and fluorescently labelled platelets. AiA induced a significant increase in the fraction of rolling leucocytes (3 times) and rolling platelets (6 times) compared to the control group. Furthermore, AiA induction resulted in a significantly enhanced number of adherent leucocytes (3-fold) and adherent platelets (12-fold) in comparison with control animals. CONCLUSIONS Platelet kinetics were directly analysed using intravital microscopy in the arthritic microcirculation in vivo for the first time. We provide the first evidence that platelets accumulate in arthritic vessels, indicating platelet activation due to AiA. Platelet recruitment and subsequent activation might play an important role in the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis.
Mobility enhancement and hysteresis phenomenon in WSe2 FETs

Two-dimensional materials are layered materials with outstanding electrical and optical properties in atomic thickness. Here we report on a back-gate transistor with a two-dimensional material WSe2 as channel material. Our device shows a significant mobility enhancement by Atomic layer deposition (ALD), from ~0.95 cm2/Vs to ~26 cm2/Vs. Moreover, we explored the hysteresis phenomenon in our device and fitted our data to make the mechanism clear.
Earth observation as a tool for tracking progress towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets

Biodiversity is continuing to decline. This crisis has been recognised by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), whose members have set ambitious targets to avert ongoing declines in the state of biodiversity by 2020. These so called “Aichi Biodiversity Targets” (ABTs) are organized around five strategic goals, with indicators showing the level of progress made towards each target. Currently, measurements of many ABT indicators are not available. The Essential Biodiversity Variable (EBV) framework, developed by the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON), attempts to form a coherent and harmonised set of observations of biodiversity. In this paper, we explore the potential role of Earth Observation (EO) as a tool to support biodiversity monitoring against the ABT and EBV frameworks. We show that EO‐based measurements are adequate for assessing progress towards 11 out of 20 ABTs. In addition, 14 of the 22 candidate EBVs have a fully or partly remotely‐sensed component and can be considered as Remote Sensing Essential Biodiversity Variables (RS‐EBVs). Those with a partial EO component require further in‐situ data and/or modelling effort to complete the EBV. While the status of biodiversity can be assessed with both fully and partly measured RS‐EBVs, assessing trends is more challenging, particularly for partly measured RS‐EBVs, as coincident time series of EO and supporting data are lacking. A synthetic pathway for developing generic biodiversity indicators using RS‐EBVs is proposed.
Asthma : Environmental Factors are Major Triggers in Children-A Teaching Hospital Experience

Bronchial asthma is one of the common chronic childhood illnesses. An increasing prevalence and severity of asthma has been reported worldwide. Indian studies are limited regarding asthma in children. Recent reports show wide variation 4-19% in the prevalence of asthma in India. Objective: To study the risk factors and triggering factors for bronchial asthma in children. Materials: This study has been conducted upon 92 children (n=92) suffering from bronchial asthma in a teaching hospital, Nizamabad, Telangana State, from 2013 to 2015, to find out the risk factors and triggering factors for bronchial asthma. Results: Among 92 children (n=92) under study, risk factors for bronchial asthma are identified in 86 (93.4%) cases. They include environmental factors 41 (44.5%), dietary factors 21 (22.8%), physical factors 17 (18.5%), family history 7 (7.6%). In 6 cases the exact triggering factor is not found but occasionally emotional factors seems to be underlying cause like exam stress , after laughing, after crying, after hearing bad news. Conclusion: Environmental factors including increasing exposure to pollution, allergens, environmental tobacco smoke and sedentary lifestyle have been identified as risk factors for asthma.
MAODV multicast routing protocol based on node mobility prediction

Mobile Ad hoc network is a multihop and provisional automous networks without support of infrastructure, which is composed of a group of mobile nodes with wireless transceiver. Based on MAODV, the paper proposes NMP-MAODV multicast routing protocol for the link disconnection problem caused by node moving so that the node is out of its upstream node's signal range. The protocol improves the packet delivery ratio and average delay in highly mobile network using node mobility prediction and active-link switch. Simulation results prove the feasibility and effectiveness of NMP-MAODV in Ad hoc networks.
A Novel Electronic Beam Steering Technique in Time Modulated Antenna Array

In this paper, a novel technique for electronic beam steering in time modulated linear array (TMLA) is proposed. The beam steering technique is realized at the flrst sideband by controlling the switch-on time sequences of each element in the TMLA without using phase shifters. The difierential evolution (DE) algorithm is employed to improve the gain and suppress the sidelobe levels (SLLs) at both the center frequency and the flrst sideband, simultaneously. An S-band 8-element double-layered printed dipole linear array was used to verify the technique experimentally. Measured results are compared with numerical data, and good agreement is reported. Moreover, some simulation results on the binary phase shift keying (BPSK) modulated signals arriving from difierent directions received by the proposed approach are presented, which validates the application of the proposed beam steering technique.
Nonlinear output regulation via Takagi-Sugeno fuzzy mappings: A full-information LMI approach

Trajectory tracking has been long ago set into a formal mathematical framework through the nonlinear output regulation theory. Results thereby derived have been hardly implemented in a systematic way due to their complexity, which forces the designer to lead with expressions which are not necessarily computationally tractable. Fuzzy regulation has intended to fill this gap by introducing systematic procedures based on Takagi-Sugeno models and linear matrix inequalities. This paper offers a systematic approach to solve the nonlinear output regulation problem via state feedback and convex representations of the required mappings; in contrast with former results, this one takes full advantage of the time-derivatives of the membership functions. Moreover, it is fully based on element-wise linear matrix inequalities which are numerically solvable by interior-point-based methods.
Patient Activation: A Primary Care Tool to Tackle Overweight and Obesity

A June 2015 report published in JAMA Internal Medicine found that, in the period between 2007 and 2012, 75% of U.S. men and 67% of U.S. women ≥25 years of age were overweight or obese (1). Because overweight and obesity are associated with type 2 diabetes and other chronic conditions, preventing weight gain and facilitating weight loss can do much to prevent type 2 diabetes and improve health outcomes in individuals with diabetes. Primary care providers (PCPs) provide care to the majority of individuals in the United States, meaning that they see more overweight and obese than normal-weight individuals in their practice every day. As a result, PCPs are crucial to efforts to stop or reverse this alarming trend. During the same time period, primary care patients were followed in a large, longitudinal study of the role of patient activation in improving health outcomes and reducing costs (2). Patient engagement and activation are central pillars of health policy, based on evidence that links better health outcomes with more engaged and activated patients (3). Higher patient activation scores at the beginning of the …
Raw Material for a Situational Test of Honesty

The recent studies of Goldstein and Wright ( 1966) and Goldstein and Easterly ( 1967) exemplify a family of human discrimination learning procedures in which there are several types of trial, some permitting only a guess but others susceptible to total mastery. Assorted comments from Ss and students over several years have indicated that many people act on the assumption that total mastery of all trials ought to be possible. The likelihood of such an assumption may be heightened when the procedure is described as a test, because ordinary tests do make it possible for an informed S to achieve complete success. Moreover, other human discrimination learning tasks can be mastered completely (e.g., Goldstein & Weber, 1965) and may increase misconceptions about insoluble trials when present in the same context. As a result, the insoluble nature of certain trials at times amounts to highly privileged information in the psychologist's possession. This privileged information can perhaps provide the basis for future tests of honesty. We must distinguish A, the person administering discrimination learning tasks, from E, the person ultimately in charge. It is assumed that E sends A to test S, a simple matter because the tasks involved make only clerical demands upon A. But E neglects to inform A that some trials allow S nothing better than a guess. The consequence is that those trials test the honesty of A and S while other trials test the ability of S. It is hoped that someone wiU see fit to develop a situational test of honesty out of the raw material here described. The author has other leads to pursue and lacks the time to do this one justice. The main problem ahead is that of designing a situation that favors the manifest emergence of otherwise hidden dishonesty in A and/or S. Particularly promising is the possibility of collusion between A and S when both have something to gain, when A feels personal loyalty to S and wants him to look good, or when either A or S is E's confederate. The apparatus of the three cited studies is not recommended for present purposes. Instead, one should use a stack of cards that clearly yields no record of S's performance other than the written record provided by A.
Self-similarity matching with predictive linear upsampling for depth map

We propose a real-time upsampling scheme for depth maps. The proposed scheme contains two upsampling stages; one is self-similarity matching (SSM), and the other is predictive linear upsampling (PLU). SSM accelerates cost volume filtering by using a variant of joint bilateral upsampling, which utilizes high-dimensional vectors, which is neighborhoods of an RGB image and a depth map. The high-dimensional upsampling suppresses edge blurring and scattering problems. PLU generates smooth surfaces with keeping edges guided by the results of SSM. Experimental results show that the proposed scheme has higher accuracy than the state-of-the-art upsampling. Additionally, the proposed method has real-time performance on a multi-core CPU.
Immune‐mediated damage is not essential for the expulsion of Nippostrongylus brasiliensis adult worms from the small intestine of mice

Nippostrongylus brasiliensis adult worms are expelled from the rat small intestine during a primary infection by two steps. First, host immune responses cause damage to the worms, and then a nonspecific inflammatory response initiates expulsion. We have tested the two‐step expulsion hypothesis in mice infected with N. brasiliensis. After a primary infection in C57BL/6 mice, adult worms started to lay eggs on day 5 postinfection (p.i.) and were expelled around day 9–10 p.i. According to the rat system, 5 day‐ and 8‐day‐old worms were assumed to be ‘normal’ and ‘damaged’, respectively. When 5 day‐ and 8 day‐old worms obtained from C57BL/6 mice were transferred surgically into the small intestine of naive C57BL/6 mice, both 5 day‐ and 8 day‐old worms were almost simultaneously expelled by day 6 postworm implantation (p.w.i.). In contrast, when 5 day‐ and 8 day‐old worms of mouse origin were implanted into naive Wistar rats, 8 day‐old worms were expelled by day 5 p.w. i. , while 5 day‐old worms were expelled by day 8 p.w. i. Similar results were obtained when BALB/c mice were used. Therefore, mice can expel N. brasiliensis adult worms as rapidly as rats expel ‘damaged’ worms, regardless of the status of the worms (‘normal’ or ‘damaged’). Stat6‐deficient mice were unable to expel implanted 5 day‐old worms up to day 10 p.w. i. , suggesting that cellular mechanisms depending on Stat6‐signalling system are necessary for the expulsion. When N. brasiliensis adult worms obtained from Stat6‐deficient mice 5 and 15 days after a primary infection were implanted into Wistar rats, the former established in the recipient rats for approximately 1 week and were then expelled by day 10 p.w. i. , whereas the latter were expelled by day 4 p.w. i. These results suggest that immune‐mediated damage of N. brasiliensis adult worms (first step) is not a prerequisite for expulsion from the small intestine of mice, although adult worms are actually damaged by Stat6‐independent immune mechanisms.
Endosonographic features of Brunner's gland hamartomas which were subsequently resected endoscopically.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS Brunner's gland hamartomas are uncommon duodenal submucosal tumors. We aim to describe their morphological characteristics, with particular attention to the endosonographic features. PATIENTS AND METHODS We reviewed the radiological, endoscopic, endosonographic, and histological findings from six Brunner's gland hamartomas which were completely removed by endoscopic resection. RESULTS The lesions appeared as broad-based, sessile, or pedunculated submucosal tumors, measuring 0.7 to 2 cm in maximal diameter. Three lesions contained tiny dimple-like depressions on the surface; in one lesion these were only recognized following the use of an endoscopic dye-spraying technique. All the lesions could be safely removed by endoscopic resection after endosonographic confirmation of the layer origin within the submucosa. The internal echo structure of the tumors appeared to be solid echogenic in two, simple cystic in two, and multicystic in the remaining two lesions. In three lesions with an indistinct boundary, some stromal proliferation and solid Brunner's glands were recognized in an area extending from the mucosa to the submucosa. These endosonographic features corresponded to histological findings comprising stromal proliferation and various degrees of solid and cystic glandular Brunner's glands. CONCLUSIONS Brunner's gland hamartoma is characterized endosonographically by a heterogeneous solid and/or cystic mass within the submucosa.
High-Current Vacuum Arc Shunted by a Semiconductor Switch on Kiloampere Current Interruption

This paper reports on the study of physical processes in a high-current vacuum arc shunted by semiconductor elements. The switching dynamics between a vacuum circuit breaker (VCB) and an assembly of several semiconductor elements connected in parallel to the VCB is investigated. The breaking capacity of a VCB-thyristor system is analyzed. It is found that at the instant of current switching, the arc can operate at a rather low voltage of 8-10 V. It is shown that there exists a certain limiting mode close to the conditions for current switching. In this mode, at least two cathode spots are observed.
Extract and fraction from Ulmus wallichiana Planchon promote peak bone achievement and have a nonestrogenic osteoprotective effect

Objective: This study aimed to determine the skeletal effects of total ethanolic extract (TEE) and its butanolic fraction (BF) from the stem-bark of Ulmus wallichiana, which is rich in C-glycosylated flavonoids, in growing rats (for peak bone [PB] achievement) and in ovariectomized (OVx) rats (for menopausal bone loss). Methods: TEE (750 mg kg−1 d−1) and BF (50 mg kg−1 d−1) were given orally for 10 weeks to weaning female Sprague-Dawley rats and for 12 weeks to adult OVx rats of the same strain, respectively. In studies with OVx rats, sham operated + vehicle, OVx + 17&bgr;-estradiol, and OVx + vehicle groups served as various controls. Bone mineral density (BMD), biomechanical strength, bone histology, formations of osteoprogenitor cells, osteoid formation, and bone turnover/resorption markers were studied. Bioactive marker compounds in TEE and BF were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. One-way analysis of variance was used to test significance of effects. Results: In growing rats, both TEE and BF increased BMD, bone strength, and bone formation rate, suggesting higher PB achievement. OVx rats treated with either TEE or BF exhibited increased BMD at various anatomical positions and improved bone strength and trabecular architecture compared with the OVx + vehicle group. Serum osteocalcin and urinary type 1 collagen degradation product levels in OVx rats treated with either TEE or BF were significantly lower than those of the OVx + vehicle group. Neither TEE nor BF exhibited uterine estrogenicity. Analysis of marker compounds revealed significant enrichment of two bioactive markers in BF over TEE. Conclusions: Derived from U wallichiana, BF at much a lower dose than TEE was effective in PB achievement and prevention of OVx-induced bone loss.
Equity Ownership Structure , Risk-Taking and Performance : An Empirical Investigation in Turkish Companies

The paper describes the main characteristics of ownership structure of the Turkish nonfinancial firms listed on the Istanbul Stock Exchange (ISE) and examines the impact of ownership structure on performance and risk-taking behavior of Turkish firms. Turkish corporations can be characterized as highly concentrated, family owned firms attached to a group of companies generally owned by the same family or a group of families. Ownership structure is defined along two attributes: concentration and identity of the owner(s). We conclude that there is a significant impact of ownership structure -ownership concentration and ownership mixon both performance and risk-taking behavior of Turkish firms. Higher concentration leads to better market performance. Family owned firms seem to have lower performance with lower risk. While firms with foreign ownership display better performance, government owned firms have lower accounting, but higher market performance with high risk.