Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Insulin/IGF‐I receptor hybrids: A mechanism for increasing receptor diversity

Insulin and IGF‐l receptors are homologous disulfide linked α2β2 tetramers. These tetramers are formed biosynthetically when proreceptors containing α and β subunits in a single uninterrupted linear peptide from disulfide linked homodimers and are subsequently proteolytically cleaved at the α‐β junctions. Cells expressing both receptors also express hybrid receptors that contain one insulin receptor α and β subunit, and one IGF‐l receptor α and β subunit. These presumably from by the association of mixed proreceptors. Hybrid receptors greatly expand the possible repertoire of cellular responses to hormonal stimulation. Although not yet examined in detail, both the hormone binding and the signaling properties of the hybrid receptor appear to be different from that of either insulin or IGF‐l receptor. Regulatory mechanisms that involve either insulin or IGF‐l receptor, at the level of expression or subsequently, could alter the expression or function of the hybrid receptor or the other receptor. Similarly, pathology in one receptor could affect both the hybrid and other receptor, or perhaps be partially compensated for by a hybrid receptor. The magnitude of these effects could vary greatly in different tissues depending upon the relative level of expression of the different receptor forms. These postulated responses might explain some of the complex heterogeneity and linkage of these receptors that have been observed previously.
OFDI and Home Country Structural Upgrading: Does Spatial Difference Exist in China?

ABSTRACT Based on Chinese provincial-level data, this paper integrates the adjustment variables of the characteristics of Chinese outward foreign direct investment (OFDI) into a “standard structural” model and analyzes the impact of OFDI on China‘s industrial upgrading. First, OFDI can promote industrial upgrading in countries that are targets of investment. Second, the rapid investment process restricts the industrial upgrading effect of OFDI. This means the different tempo will make enterprises in the investing country unable to adapt to the rapid changes in market demand. Third, the irregular investment process will restrict the industrial upgrading effect of OFDI. OFDI has a slower, planned, regular, continuous pace that gives enterprises in the country making the investment time to adjust. Last, the industrial upgrading effect of OFDI in different regions of China are affected by the characteristics of adjacent regions. That is, the OFDI in each province in China is affected by the investment mode of neighboring regions.
Consumer-level multimedia event detection through unsupervised audio signal modeling

In this work1, a novel acoustic characterization approach to multimedia event detection (MED) task for unconstrained and unstructured consumer-level videos through audio signal modeling is proposed. The key idea is to characterize the acoustic space of interest with a set of fundamental acoustic units around which a set of acoustic segment models (ASMs) is built. A vector space modeling technique to address MED is here adopted, where an incoming audio signal is first decoded into a sequence of acoustic segments. Then, a feature vector is generated by using co-occurrence statistics of acoustic units, and the MED final decision is implemented with a vector space language classifier. Experimental evidence on the TRECVID2011 MED demonstrates the viability of the proposed approach. Furthermore, it better accounts for temporal dependencies than previously proposed MFCC bag-of-word approaches.
Advanced‐stage cervical carcinomas are defined by a recurrent pattern of chromosomal aberrations revealing high genetic instability and a consistent gain of chromosome arm 3q

We have analyzed 30 cases of advanced‐stage cervical squamous cell carcinoma (stages IIb–IV) by comparative genomic hybridization (CGH). The most consistent chromosomal gain in the aneuploid tumors was mapped to chromosome arm 3q in 77% of the cases. Acquisition of genetic material also occurred frequently on 1q (47%), 5p (30%), 6p (27%), and 20 (23%). Recurrent losses were mapped on 2q (33%), 3p (50%), 4 (33%), 8p (23%), and 13q (27%). High‐level copy number increases were mapped to chromosome 8, chromosome arms 3q, 5p, 8q, 12p, 14q, 17q, 19q, 20p, and 20q, and chromosomal bands 3q26‐27, 9p23‐24, 11q22‐23, and 12p13. In the majority of the cases, the presence of high‐risk human papilloma virus genomes was detected. High proliferative activity was accompanied by crude aneuploidy. Increased p21/WAF‐1 activity, but low or undetectable expression of TP53 were representative for the immunophenotype. This study confirms the importance of a gain of chromosome arm 3q in cervical carcinogenesis and identifies additional, recurrent chromosomal aberrations that are required for progression from stage I tumors to advanced‐stage carcinomas. Genes Chromosom. Cancer 19:233–240, 1997. Published 1997 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Biochemical and functional interactions between the neurotrophin receptors trk and p75NTR

Neurotrophins bind to two structurally unrelated receptors, the trk tyrosine kinases and the neurotrophin receptor p75NTR. Ligand activation of these two types of receptor can lead to opposite actions, in particular the prevention or activation of programmed cell death. Many cells co‐express trk receptors and p75NTR, and we found that p75NTR was co‐precipitated with trkA, trkB and trkC in cells transfected with both receptor types. Co‐precipitation of p75NTR was not observed with the epidermal growth factor receptor. Experiments with deletion constructs of trkB (the most abundant trk receptor in the brain) and p75NTR revealed that both the extracellular and intracellular domains of trkB and p75NTR contribute to the interaction. Blocking autophosphorylation of trkB substantially reduced the interactions between p75NTR and trkB constructs containing the intracellular, but not the extracellular, domains. We also found that co‐expression of p75NTR with trkB resulted in a clear increase in the specificity of trkB activation by brain‐derived neurotrophic factor, compared with neurotrophin‐3 and neurotrophin‐4/5. These results indicate a close proximity of the two neurotrophin receptors within cell membranes, and suggest that the signalling pathways they initiate may interact soon after their activation.
Experimental implementation of a linear control technique for a single-phase matrix converter

This paper describes a matrix converter with a three-phase input and single-phase output that can be used as a building block for high-power cascaded converters. In this paper a sinusoidal pulse width modulation technique with a linear controller is proposed for the single-phase output matrix converter. The proposed modulation and control will be used in the cascade configurations for high-power applications. Simulation and experimental results are presented to validate the proposed modulation and control approach.
Activation of the 92-kDa Gelatinase by Stromelysin and 4-Aminophenylmercuric Acetate

The matrix metalloproteinase 92-kDa gelatinase is a major product of inflammatory cells. Macrophages synthesize and secrete this proteinase as a proenzyme in association with tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases (TIMP) (92), whereas neutrophils store and release it from secondary granules as a TIMP-free proenzyme (92). Metalloproteinase proenzymes can be activated in vitro by a variety of agents, including organomercurials and proteinases, resulting in loss of an 8-10-kDa NH2-terminal domain which disrupts the interaction of a conserved cysteine residue with the catalytic zinc molecule. We report that the activation and processing of 92-kDa gelatinase differs depending on its association with TIMP and the nature of the activating agent. We observed that 92 undergoes classic activation to 82 kDa by stromelysin, whereas exposure to 4-aminophenylmercuric acetate (APMA) results in a final product of 83 kDa that still contains the “prodomain” cysteine. Association with TIMP appears to stabilize the COOH-terminal domain, whereas 92 is converted by APMA to a final product of 67 kDa lacking the COOH-terminal portion. In the continued presence of APMA, which maintains cysteine-zinc disruption, the 67-kDa species is at least as active as the classic 82 kDa. In contrast, activation of 92 by stromelysin initially generates the 82-kDa form which is followed by final conversion to a 50-kDa species that lacks the catalytic domain of the parent molecule. Therefore, although stromelysin activation of 92 is initially efficient, the active 82-kDa form is short-lived and is replaced by an inactive 50-kDa product. This complex pattern of activation of the 92-kDa gelatinase may serve to restrict its proteolytic capacity following exposure to stromelysin and may serve to regulate proteinase activity in vivo.
A Social Capital Perspective to Understand Individual Contribution of Social Support in Healthcare Virtual Support Communities

Drawing from social capital theory, this study attempts to present a model that applies the structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of social capital to theorize the determinants of the provision of informational and emotional support in healthcare virtual support communities. The results show that individual provision of emotional support is determined by his/her extent of social interaction with other community members, and his/her social identification with the community. Moreover, one's contribution of informational support can be predicted by his/her level of healthcare-related expertise.
Relative activities and stabilities of mutant Escherichia coli tryptophan synthase alpha subunits

In vitro mutagenesis of the Escherichia coli trpA gene has yielded 66 mutant tryptophan synthase alpha subunits containing single amino acid substitutions at 49 different residue sites and 29 double and triple amino acid substitutions at 16 additional sites, all within the first 121 residues of the protein. The 66 singly altered mutant alpha subunits encoded from overexpression vectors have been examined for their ability to support growth in trpA mutant host strains and for their enzymatic and stability properties in crude extracts. With the exception of mutant alpha subunits altered at catalytic residue sites Glu-49 and Asp-60, all support growth; this includes those (48 of 66) that have no enzymatic defects and those (18 of 66) that do. The majority of the enzymatically defective mutant alpha subunits have decreased capacities for substrate (indole-3-glycerol phosphate) utilization, typical of the early trpA missense mutants isolated by in vivo selection methods. These defects vary in severity from complete loss of activity for mutant alpha subunits altered at residue positions 49 and 60 to those, altered elsewhere, that are partially (up to 40 to 50%) defective. The complete inactivation of the proteins altered at the two catalytic residue sites suggest that, as found via in vitro site-specific mutagenesis of the Salmonella typhimurium tryptophan synthetase alpha subunit, both residues probably also participate in a push-pull general acid-base catalysis of indole-3-glycerol phosphate breakdown for the E. coli enzyme as well. Other classes of mutant alpha subunits include some novel types that are defective in their functional interaction with the other tryptophan synthetase component, the beta 2 subunit. Also among the mutant alpha subunits, 19 were found altered at one or another of the 34 conserved residue sites in this portion of the alpha polypeptide sequence; surprisingly, 10 of these have wild-type enzymatic activity, and 16 of these can satisfy growth requirements of a trpA mutant host. Heat stability and potential folding-rate alterations are found in both enzymatically active and defective mutant alpha subunits. Tyr-4. Pro-28, Ser-33, Gly-44, Asp-46, Arg-89, Pro-96, and Cys-118 may be important for these properties, especially for folding. Two regions, one near Thr-24 and another near Met-101, have been also tentatively identified as important for increasing stability.
Abdominal aorta morphometric study for endovascular treatment of aortic aneurysms: comparison between spiral CT and angiography

OBJETIVOS: Este trabalho visa comparar a acuracia da tomografia computadorizada e da angiografia para avaliar os aneurismas de aorta abdominal (AAA) para posterior implante de endoprotese vascular. METODO: De junho de 1997 ate marco de 2001, foram atendidos 113 pacientes portadores de AAA, tendo sido submetidos a estudo por tomografia helicoidal computadorizada de abdome e pelve e angiografia com cateter centimetrado do eixo arterial aorto-iliaco. A idade dos pacientes variou entre 51 e 88 anos (S:69a.), sendo 104 do sexo masculino e nove do feminino. RESULTADOS: Quando comparadas as medias dos diâmetros aferidas pela tomografia computadorizada e pela angiografia, notou-se que a diferenca do diâmetro foi significativa para o colo aortico infra-renal (r 0,05). Quando comparadas as medias das extensoes aferidas pela tomografia computadorizada e pela angiografia, notou-se que a diferenca das extensoes foi significativa para o colo aortico infra-renal (r < 0,05), para a distância entre a arteria renal e a bifurcacao aortica (r < 0,05) e para as arterias iliacas comuns (r < 0,05). A comparacao entre as medias tambem foi significativa para a extensao entre a arteria renal e a arteria iliaca interna (r < 0,05). CONCLUSOES: Na avaliacao por imagem dos AAA houve diferencas estatisticas significativas entre os dois metodos diagnosticos. A tomografia computadorizada aparentou ser o melhor metodo pre-operatorio para a medida dos diâmetros, e a angiografia por cateter centimetrado para a avaliacao das extensoes (comprimentos). Portanto, os dois metodos se complementam, devendo ser realizados na avaliacao de todos os pacientes candidatos ao implante de uma endoprotese aortica.
Acupuncture for postchemotherapy fatigue: a phase II study.

PURPOSE To determine whether improvement in postchemotherapy fatigue following acupuncture treatment is substantial enough to warrant a controlled trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS We accrued patients at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center who had completed cytotoxic chemotherapy but experienced persisting fatigue. Patients with severe anemia, clinical depression, or Karnofsky performance status score less than 70 were excluded. Thirty-seven patients were registered in two cohorts; 31 provided follow-up data. Patients received acupuncture either twice per week for 4 weeks (25 patients) or once per week for 6 weeks (12 patients). The primary end point was change in score on the Brief Fatigue Inventory between baseline and 2 weeks after the final treatment. A baseline Brief Fatigue Inventory score of four or greater was an eligibility requirement for the trial. RESULTS Patients had completed cytotoxic chemotherapy an average of more than 2 years previously. Baseline fatigue scores were high, with approximately half of the sample scoring in the "severe" range. Mean improvement following acupuncture was 31.1% (95% CI, 20.6% to 41.5%), meeting our prespecified criterion for declaring acupuncture worthy of further study. Increasing age was associated with poorer response and failure to complete the study. There was no important difference in improvement following once-weekly and twice-weekly treatments. CONCLUSION Acupuncture is worthy of further study in the treatment of postchemotherapy fatigue.
The Pediatric Investigators Collaborative Network on Infections in Canada Study of Predictors of Hospitalization for Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection for Infants Born at 33 Through 35 Completed Weeks of Gestation

Background: Infants born at 33 through 35 completed weeks of gestation (33-35GA) are at risk for severe respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, and palivizumab prophylaxis lowers hospitalizations for RSV infection by as much as 80%. The 33-35GA cohort comprises 3-5% of annual births; thus expert panels recommend limiting prophylaxis to situations in which frequency or health care impact of RSV infection is high. This study sought to identify independent risk factors for hospitalization for RSV infection. Methods: This was a multicenter, prospective, observational cohort study of 33-35GA infants followed through their first RSV season (2001/2002 or 2002/2003). Baseline data were collected by interview with parents and review of medical records. Respiratory tract illnesses were identified by monthly phone calls, and medical records were reviewed for emergency room visits or hospitalizations. Risk factors were determined by stepwise logistic regression. Results: Of 1860 enrolled subjects, 1832 (98.5%) were followed for at least 1 month, and 1760 (94.6%) completed all follow-ups. Of 140 (7.6%) subjects hospitalized for respiratory tract illnesses, 66 infants had proven RSV infection. Independent predictors for hospitalization for RSV infection were: day-care attendance (odds ratio, 12.32; 95% confidence interval, 2.56, 59.34); November through January birth (odds ratio, 4.89; 95% confidence interval, 2.57, 9.29); preschool age sibling(s) (odds ratio, 2.76; 95% confidence interval, 1.51, 5.03); birth weight <10th percentile (odds ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.14, 4.22); male gender (odds ratio, 1.91; 95% confidence interval, 1.10, 3.31); ≥2 smokers in the home (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.07, 3.26); and households with >5 people, counting the subject (odds ratio, 1.79; 95% confidence interval, 1.02, 3.16). Family history of eczema (odds ratio, 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.18, 0.996) was protective. Conclusions: Specific host/environmental factors can be used to identify which 33-35GA infants are at greatest risk of hospitalization for RSV infection and likely to benefit from palivizumab prophylaxis.
Smoking is associated with several functional gastrointestinal symptoms

Abstract Background: The etiology behind functional gastrointestinal symptoms is not clear. Only a few studies have examined how lifestyle factors affect these symptoms, especially in middle-aged or elder subjects. The aim of the present study was to describe the prevalence of functional gastrointestinal symptoms in a Swedish population-based cohort of middle-aged to elder subjects, and to examine associations between symptoms and smoking and alcohol use. Methods and materials: This study was conducted on a web-based baseline questionnaire from a part of the EpiHealth study. The cohort included 16,840 subjects between 45 and 75 years of age. Subjects with organic gastrointestinal diseases were excluded. Gastrointestinal symptoms were defined as functional abdominal pain, functional bloating, functional constipation, and functional diarrhea. Parameters regarding age, gender, educational level, occupation, civil status, physical activity, and body mass index (BMI) were described, and association between smoking and alcohol habits were calculated, adjusted for parameters with >5 percentage difference between cases and controls. Results: An association was found between former and current smoking and functional abdominal pain (OR: 1.15, 95% CI: 1.03–1.28 vs. OR: 1.30, 95% CI: 1.08–1.57). Former smoking was associated with functional bloating (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.04–1.33) and functional constipation (OR: 1.28, 95% CI: 1.06–1.56). There was a trend of decreased functional abdominal pain, functional constipation, and functional diarrhea in subjects with a moderate alcohol intake. Conclusion: Smoking is associated with functional abdominal pain, functional bloating, and functional constipation. A moderate alcohol intake tends to be associated with decreased risk of functional gastrointestinal symptoms.
The (Eigen)value of diffusion tensor imaging to investigate depression after traumatic brain injury

Background: Many people with a traumatic brain injury (TBI), even mild to moderate, will develop major depression (MD). Recent studies of patients with MD suggest reduced fractional anisotropy (FA) in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), temporal lobe tracts, midline, and capsule regions. Some of these pathways have also been found to have reduced FA in patients with TBI. It is unknown whether the pathways implicated in MD after TBI are similar to those with MD without TBI. This study sought to investigate whether there were specific pathways unique to TBI patients who develop MD. Methods: A sample of TBI‐MD subjects (N = 14), TBI‐no‐MD subjects (N = 12), MD‐no‐TBI (N = 26), and control subjects (no TBI or MD, N = 23), using a strict measurement protocol underwent psychiatric assessments and diffusion tensor brain Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Results: The findings of this study indicate that (1) TBI patients who develop MD have reduced axial diffusivity in DLPFC, corpus callosum (CC), and nucleus accumbens white matter tracts compared to TBI patients who do not develop MD and (2) MD patients without a history of TBI have reduced FA along the CC. We also found that more severe MD relates to altered radial diffusivity. Conclusions: These findings suggest that compromise to specific white matter pathways, including both axonal and myelination aspects, after a mild TBI underlie the susceptibility of these patients developing MD. Hum Brain Mapp 35:227–237, 2014. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Cytotoxic and immune‐mediated killing of human colorectal cancer by reovirus‐loaded blood and liver mononuclear cells

Reovirus is a promising oncolytic virus, acting by both direct and immune‐mediated mechanisms, although its potential may be limited by inactivation after systemic delivery. Our study addressed whether systemically delivered reovirus might be shielded from neutralising antibodies by cell carriage and whether virus‐loaded blood or hepatic innate immune effector cells become activated to kill colorectal cancer cells metastatic to the liver in human systems. We found that reovirus was directly cytotoxic against tumour cells but not against fresh hepatocytes. Although direct tumour cell killing by neat virus was significantly reduced in the presence of neutralising serum, reovirus was protected when loaded onto peripheral blood mononuclear cells, which may carry virus after intravenous administration in patients. As well as handing off virus for direct oncolytic killing, natural killer (NK) cells within reovirus‐treated blood mononuclear cells were stimulated to kill tumour targets, but not normal hepatocytes, in a Type I interferon‐dependent manner. Similarly, NK cells within liver mononuclear cells became selectively cytotoxic towards tumour cells when activated by reovirus. Hence, intravenous reovirus may evade neutralisation by serum via binding to circulating mononuclear cells, and this blood cell carriage has the potential to investigate both direct and innate immune‐mediated therapy against human colorectal or other cancers metastatic to the liver.