Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Cardiovascular side effects of cancer therapies: a position statement from the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology

The reductions in mortality and morbidity being achieved among cancer patients with current therapies represent a major achievement. However, given their mechanisms of action, many anti‐cancer agents may have significant potential for cardiovascular side effects, including the induction of heart failure. The magnitude of this problem remains unclear and is not readily apparent from current clinical trials of emerging targeted agents, which generally under‐represent older patients and those with significant co‐morbidities. The risk of adverse events may also increase when novel agents, which frequently modulate survival pathways, are used in combination with each other or with other conventional cytotoxic chemotherapeutics. The extent to which survival and growth pathways in the tumour cell (which we seek to inhibit) coincide with those in cardiovascular cells (which we seek to preserve) is an open question but one that will become ever more important with the development of new cancer therapies that target intracellular signalling pathways. It remains unclear whether potential cardiovascular problems can be predicted from analyses of such basic signalling mechanisms and what pre‐clinical evaluation should be undertaken. The screening of patients, optimization of therapeutic schemes, monitoring of cardiovascular function during treatment, and the management of cardiovascular side effects are likely to become increasingly important in cancer patients. This paper summarizes the deliberations of a cross‐disciplinary workshop organized by the Heart Failure Association of the European Society of Cardiology (held in Brussels in May 2009), which brought together clinicians working in cardiology and oncology and those involved in basic, translational, and pharmaceutical science.
Taking advantage of behavioral changes during development and training to assess sensory coding mechanisms

The relationship between behavioral and neural performance has been explored in adult animals, but rarely during the developmental period when perceptual abilities emerge. We used these naturally occurring changes in auditory perception to evaluate underlying encoding mechanisms. Performance of juvenile and adult gerbils on an amplitude modulation (AM) detection task was compared with response properties from auditory cortex of age‐matched animals. When tested with an identical behavioral procedure, juveniles display poorer AM detection thresholds than adults. Two neurometric analyses indicate that the most sensitive juvenile and adult neurons have equivalent AM thresholds. However, a pooling neurometric revealed that adult cortex encodes smaller AM depths. By each measure, neural sensitivity was superior to psychometric thresholds. However, juvenile training improved adult behavioral thresholds, such that they verged on the best sensitivity of adult neurons. Thus, periods of training may allow an animal to use the encoded information already present in cortex.
ErbB-2 Amplification Inhibits Down-regulation and Induces Constitutive Activation of Both ErbB-2 and Epidermal Growth Factor Receptors*

ErbB-2/HER2 is an important signaling partner for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR). Overexpression of erbB-2 is also associated with poor prognosis in breast cancer. To investigate how erbB-2 amplification affects its interactions with the EGFR, we used a human mammary epithelial cell system in which erbB-2 expression was increased 7–20-fold by gene transfection. We found that amplification of erbB-2 caused constitutive activation of erbB-2 as well as ligand-independent activation of the EGFR. Overexpression of erbB-2 strongly inhibited erbB-2 down-regulation following transactivation by EGFR. Significantly, down-regulation of activated EGFR was also inhibited by erbB-2 amplification, resulting in enhanced ligand-dependent activation of the EGFR. The rate of EGFR endocytosis was not affected by erbB-2 overexpression, but the rate of lysosomal targeting was significantly reduced. In addition, erbB-2 overexpression promoted rapid recycling of activated EGFR back to the cell surface and decreased ligand dissociation from the EGFR. Our data suggest that overexpression of erbB-2 inhibits both its down-regulation and that of the EGFR. The net effect is increased signaling through the EGFR system.
Genetic admixture estimates by Alu elements in Afro-Colombian and Mestizo populations from Antioquia, Colombia

Abstract Aim: This work was intended to gain insights into the admixture processes occurring in Latin American populations by examining the genetic profiles of two ethnic groups from Antioquia (Colombia). Subjects and methods: To analyse the genetic variability, eight Alu insertions were typed in 64 Afro-Colombians and a reference group of 34 Hispanics (Mestizos). Admixture proportions were estimated using the Weighted Least Squares and the Gene Identity methods. The usefulness of the Alu elements as Ancestry Informative Markers (AIMs) was evaluated through differences in weighted allelic frequencies (δ values) and by hierarchical analysis of the molecular variance (AMOVA). Results: The Afro-Colombian gene pool was largely determined by the African component (88.5–88.8%), but the most prominent feature was the null contribution of European genes. Mestizos were characterized by a major European component (60.0–63.8%) and a comparatively low proportion of Amerindian (19.2–20.7%) and African (17.0–19.3%) genes. Five of the Alu loci examined (ACE, APO, FXIIIB, PV92 and TPA25) showed an adequate resolving power to differentiate between continental groups, as indicated by δ values and AMOVA results. Conclusions: The peculiarity of the Afro-Colombian gene pool seems to be associated with intense genetic drift episodes that occurred in isolated communities founded by small groups of runaway slaves. ACE, APO, FXIIIB, PV92 and TPA25 could be efficiently utilized in studies dealing with demographic history and biogeographical ancestry in human populations.
Global maritime surveillance with satellite-based AIS

A space based receiving system for signals of the Automatic Identification System (AIS) will extend the coverage of the existing ground network, which is limited to the coastal zone (30–50 nautical miles) to open seas. With newly available satellite-based AIS receivers, the complete global ocean shipping fleet of about 60,000 ships (AIS Class A) can be tracked. The safe processing and distribution of satellite-based AIS messages to authorized users by a public traffic monitoring centre will contribute to a significantly enhanced maritime safety and security.
Diabetes Mellitus and the Risk for Developing Cancer

Diabetes mellitus is a serious and growing health care problem, globally.The 'westernization' of diets around the world has led to an increase in obesity. Other contributing factors such as smoking, lack of physical activity and aging has led to epidemiological concerns regarding the link between diabetes and cancer. Research evidence suggests that patients with diabetes may be at greater risk for the development of some forms of cancer. The patient being discussed in this case report presented to New York University College of Dentistry (NYUCD), with a history that included type 2 diabetes mellitus, seeking comprehensive dental care. During the interim between his initial exam and following appointment, a lesion had developed on the palate, which was subsequently diagnosed as adenocarcinoma. This prompted the review of current literature, regarding the link between diabetes and the development of various cancers.
Obesity and the Environment: Where Do We Go from Here?

The obesity epidemic shows no signs of abating. There is an urgent need to push back against the environmental forces that are producing gradual weight gain in the population. Using data from national surveys, we estimate that affecting energy balance by 100 kilocalories per day (by a combination of reductions in energy intake and increases in physical activity) could prevent weight gain in most of the population. This can be achieved by small changes in behavior, such as 15 minutes per day of walking or eating a few less bites at each meal. Having a specific behavioral target for the prevention of weight gain may be key to arresting the obesity epidemic.
Subjective evaluation of pcm coded speech

Subjective quality ratings of pcm coded speech were obtained with the aims of (i) determining the effects of certain coder parameters and their interactions on speech quality, (ii) finding objective measures for predicting perceived distortions, and (iii) providing guidelines for optimizing coder design. Coders with various combinations of four clipping levels, seven step sizes, four bandwidths, and three logarithmic companding laws were simulated. The coders were rated for quality on a 10-point scale by 48 listeners who heard male and female speech processed by the coders. The ratings depended strongly on clipping level and step size, but only weakly on bandwidth. None of the coder parameters interacted strongly with another. Clipping noise power grossly overestimated the extent of perceived overload distortion; instead, clipping percentage is proposed as a much more realistic predictor. Signal-to-granular-noise ratio was a good predictor of perceived granular noise. For a given bit rate, the coder with the highest quality rating was not the coder with minimum total clipping and granular noise power, contrary to traditional wisdom.
Effects of Nitric Oxide on Neuroendocrine Function and Behavior

Nitric oxide (NO) is an unusual chemical messenger. NO mediates blood vessel relaxation when produced by endothelial cells. When produced by macrophages, NO contributes to the cytotoxic function of these immune cells. NO also functions as a neurotransmitter and neuromodulator in the central and peripheral nervous systems. The effects on blood vessel tone and neuronal function form the basis for an important role of NO on neuroendocrine function and behavior. NO mediates hypothalamic portal blood flow and, thus, affects oxytocin and vasopression secretion; furthermore, NO mediates neuroendocrine function in the hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal and hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axes. NO influences several motivated behaviors including sexual, aggressive, and ingestive behaviors. Learning and memory are also influenced by NO. Taken together, NO is emerging as an important chemical mediator of neuroendocrine function and behavior.
The analysis and design of the integrated magnetics in small power supplies and chargers

This paper analyses the integrated magnetics with EI core in CUK circuit. The magnetic circuit model is built. From the model, it gets the conditions of zero-ripple in both input and output current. This paper also presents the integrated magnetics designing method and calculation process. The paper designs a small charger according to the method. The design result is valid and feasible
Resource Allocation for an Underlay Wireless Powered Cognitive Radio

This paper investigates an underlay cognitive radio (CR) that extracts energy from radio-frequency signals of one primary user. We assume that both the wireless energy harvesting and the secondary transmission processes of the CR suffer Rayleigh block fading. Considering the intrinsic harvesting- transmitting tradeoff, we optimize the harvesting time and transmit power of the CR to minimize the outage probability of the secondary transmission, subject to the primary interference and the energy causality constraints. Numerical evaluation validates the correctness of this work.
Energy Dissipation Model for 4G and WLAN Networks in Smart Phones

With the modernization of the telecommunication standards, there has been considerable evolution of various technologies to assist cost effective communication. In this regard, the fourth generation communication services or commonly known as 4G mobile networks have penetrated almost every part of the world to offer faster and seamless data connectivity. However, such services come at the cost of energy drained from the smart phone supporting 4G services. This paper presents an algorithm that is capable of evaluating the actual amount of energy being dissipated while using next generation mobile networks. The study also performs a comparative analysis of energy dissipation of 4G networks with other wireless local area networks to understand the networks that cause more energy dissipation.
Marital correlates of blood pressure.

In 1982, 1,260 white spouse pairs, aged 18 years and over, were interviewed as part of the Connecticut Blood Pressure Survey. The present report is based on a systematic analysis of 1) the personal characteristics and behavior of the spouse, 2) the roles and responsibilities of the material partners, and 3) similarity between spouses on selected variables. Results indicated that a number of these marital variables were associated with either systolic or diastolic blood pressure in husbands and in wives. Some components of the marital situation were associated with lower blood pressure whereas others were associated with higher blood pressure. Effects of marriage on blood pressure were observed both for husband's and wife's blood pressures, although the effects varied by sex. Similarity in spouses' behaviors and characteristics were more frequently associated with blood pressure than the individual effects of these behaviors. Age difference, measured as husband older than wife, was associated with lower blood pressure in husband's but with higher blood pressure in wives. Spouse's educational level and occupational status were not significantly related to blood pressure. Responsibility for common household chores (e.g., cooking) was associated with higher blood pressure in wives but responsibility for the family's health care was associated with lower blood pressure in both spouses.
Circularly tapered antipodal Vivaldi antenna for array-based ultra-wideband near-field imaging

In this paper, the design of a low profile circularly tapered antipodal Vivaldi antenna for array-based UWB nearfield imaging is presented. The antenna with the dimensions of 45×48.5 mm achieves satisfactory impedance matching and radiation performance across the frequency band from 2.7 to 26 GHz. The proposed antenna exhibits consistent UWB characteristics over a wide angle, which is crucial for near-field imaging applications.
Comparison of the effects of commonly used wound agents on epithelialization and neovascularization.

BACKGROUND The primary effect sought with most topical wound therapy is antimicrobial. Topical wound agents are thought to promote normal healing by protecting the wound from infection. In this study, we examined the effect of six commonly used topical wound agents (bacitracin, sodium hypochlorite, silver nitrate, silver sulfadiazine, mafenide acetate, and povidone-iodine) on epithelialization and neovascularization in noninfected wounds. For this study, a new wound model was used in which direct visualization and quantification of wound epithelialization and neovascularization were carried out throughout the entire healing process. STUDY DESIGN We measured the effect which 500 U per g of bacitracin, 0.25 percent of sodium hypochlorite, 0.5 percent silver nitrate, 1 percent silver sulfadiazine, 8.5 percent mafenide acetate, and 10 percent povodione-iodine had on the rate of wound epithelialization and neovascularization. The agents were applied topically to 99 circular full-thickness wounds (2.25 mm diameter, 0.125 mm depth) created on the dorsum of male hairless mouse ears. This model enabled us to visualize and measure directly wound epithelialization and neovascularization repeatedly throughout healing, using intravital video microscopy and computerized digitized planimetry. RESULTS Control wounds and wounds treated with silver sulfadiazine (n = 18) and mafenide acetate (n = 14) epithelialized in 7.2 +/- 0.7, 7.1 +/- 0.3, and 7.3 +/- 0.3 days, respectively. This was significantly (p < 0.01) faster than the wounds treated with povidone-iodine (n = 10), sodium hypochlorite, (n = 8), and bacitracin (n = 13). Wounds treated with povidone-iodine epithelialized the slowest (11.8 +/- 0.55 days). Wound neovascularization was completed most rapidly in the groups treated with povidone-iodine and silver sulfadiazine (15.0 +/- 0.4 and 15.3 +/- 0.7 days, respectively). This was significantly (p < 0.05) faster than wounds treated with silver nitrate (n = 15), which neovascularized in 18.4 +/- 0.56 days. One-half of the wounds treated with sodium hypochlorite (eight of 16) did not epithelialize or neovascularize. CONCLUSIONS The various antimicrobial agents studied in our in vivo model affect wound epithelialization and neovascularization differently. These effects on these two very important aspects of healing should be taken into consideration when indicating a specific agent for treatment of different types of wounds.
Cultura empresarial y rendimiento de la PYME en el estado de Aguascalientes (México)

La cultura empresarial es un factor determinante para alcanzar el exito competitivo de las organizaciones. Este trabajo analiza el tipo de cultura implementado en las empresas y su relacion con el rendimiento. Para llevar a cabo este analisis se ha realizado un estudio empirico con una muestra de 400 micro, pequenas y medianas empresas (mPyme) del estado de Aguascalientes (Mexico). Los resultados muestran que la cultura predominante en las empresas es la de tipo clan. Y encontramos evidencia de que existe una relacion positiva entre la cultura clan y el rendimiento de la empresa, mientras que surge una relacion negativa con la cultura jerarquica
Distributed robust image mosaics

We describe a distributed robust image mosaics system that is robust to outlier and is better in computation efficiency. The system integrates a Web-based user interface, a robust image mosaic, and a distributed computing model. In robust image mosaics, we combine both feature-based and correlation-based approaches for image registration, and then incorporate a skipped mean estimator with Levenberg-Marquardt method for robust nonlinear parameter estimation. The distributed comparing model is used to speed up the computation of the global processing of image mosaics on a network of workstations. Load balancing strategies are proposed to improve the efficiency of parallel computation under uneven load situation. Experimental results show that our system is indeed robust and has significantly speedup in computation.
miR‐200 Regulates PDGF‐D‐Mediated Epithelial–Mesenchymal Transition, Adhesion, and Invasion of Prostate Cancer Cells

MicroRNAs have been implicated in tumor progression. Recent studies have shown that the miR‐200 family regulates epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) by targeting zinc‐finger E‐box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1) and ZEB2. Emerging evidence from our laboratory and others suggests that the processes of EMT can be triggered by various growth factors, such as transforming growth factor β and platelet‐derived growth factor‐D (PDGF‐D). Moreover, we recently reported that overexpression of PDGF‐D in prostate cancer cells (PC3 PDGF‐D cells) leads to the acquisition of the EMT phenotype, and this model offers an opportunity for investigating the molecular interplay between PDGF‐D signaling and EMT. Here, we report, for the first time, significant downregulation of the miR‐200 family in PC3 PDGF‐D cells as well as in PC3 cells exposed to purified active PDGF‐D protein, resulting in the upregulation of ZEB1, ZEB2, and Snail2 expression. Interestingly, re‐expression of miR‐200b in PC3 PDGF‐D cells led to reversal of the EMT phenotype, which was associated with the downregulation of ZEB1, ZEB2, and Snail2 expression, and these results were consistent with greater expression levels of epithelial markers. Moreover, transfection of PC3 PDGF‐D cells with miR‐200b inhibited cell migration and invasion, with concomitant repression of cell adhesion to the culture surface and cell detachment. From these results, we conclude that PDGF‐D‐induced acquisition of the EMT phenotype in PC3 cells is, in part, a result of repression of miR‐200 and that any novel strategy by which miR‐200 could be upregulated would become a promising approach for the treatment of invasive prostate cancer. STEM CELLS 2009;27:1712–1721
Tissue factor pathway inhibitor-alpha inhibits prothrombinase during the initiation of blood coagulation

Significance The generation of thrombin by prothrombinase, a complex composed of activated (a) factors X (FXa) and V (FVa), is a final step in blood coagulation. We demonstrate that tissue factor pathway inhibitor (TFPI) blocks thrombin generation by prothrombinase at physiologically relevant rates and concentrations, but only during the initiation of clot formation. TFPI mediates this inhibitory activity through two high-affinity interactions, one with FXa and one with FVa. This is the first description of an endogenous human protein that inhibits prothrombinase under physiological conditions and may prevent a full thrombotic response to subthreshold coagulant stimuli that otherwise could occlude blood vessels. It provides unique understanding of thrombotic disorders and has important implications for development of anti-TFPI agents to treat hemophilia. Tissue factor (TF) pathway inhibitor (TFPI) is a well-characterized activated factor X (FXa)-dependent inhibitor of TF-initiated coagulation produced in two alternatively spliced isoforms, TFPIα and TFPIβ. The TFPIα C terminus has a basic sequence nearly identical to a portion of the factor V (FV) B domain necessary for maintaining FV in an inactive conformation via interaction with an acidic region of the B domain. We demonstrate rapid inhibition of prothrombinase by TFPIα mediated through a high-affinity exosite interaction between the basic region of TFPIα and the FV acidic region, which is retained in FXa-activated FVa and platelet FVa. This inhibitory activity is not mediated by TFPIβ and is lost upon removal of the acidic region of FVa by thrombin. The data identify a previously undescribed, isoform-specific anticoagulant function for TFPIα and are a unique description of physiologically relevant inhibition of prothrombinase. These findings, combined with previous descriptions of differential expression patterns of TFPIα and TFPIβ in platelets and endothelial cells, suggest that the TFPI isoforms may act through distinct mechanisms to inhibit the initial stages of intravascular coagulation, with TFPIβ acting to dampen TF expressed on the surface of vascular cells, whereas TFPIα dampens the initial prothrombinase formed on the activated platelet surface.
The structural basis of ryanodine receptor ion channel function

Large-conductance Ca2+ release channels known as ryanodine receptors (RyRs) mediate the release of Ca2+ from an intracellular membrane compartment, the endo/sarcoplasmic reticulum. There are three mammalian RyR isoforms: RyR1 is present in skeletal muscle; RyR2 is in heart muscle; and RyR3 is expressed at low levels in many tissues including brain, smooth muscle, and slow-twitch skeletal muscle. RyRs form large protein complexes comprising four 560-kD RyR subunits, four ∼12-kD FK506-binding proteins, and various accessory proteins including calmodulin, protein kinases, and protein phosphatases. RyRs share ∼70% sequence identity, with the greatest sequence similarity in the C-terminal region that forms the transmembrane, ion-conducting domain comprising ∼500 amino acids. The remaining ∼4,500 amino acids form the large regulatory cytoplasmic “foot” structure. Experimental evidence for Ca2+, ATP, phosphorylation, and redox-sensitive sites in the cytoplasmic structure have been described. Exogenous effectors include the two Ca2+ releasing agents caffeine and ryanodine. Recent work describing the near atomic structures of mammalian skeletal and cardiac muscle RyRs provides a structural basis for the regulation of the RyRs by their multiple effectors.