Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Genetic Evaluation of Dairy Cattle in Canada

The calculation and publication of all dairy cattle genetic evaluations in Canada is the responsibility of Canadian Dairy Network (CDN). An 8-member board of directors, the majority being dairy producers, governs this non-profit national organization. Member organizations include all breed associations, milk recording agencies and artificial insemination centres across Canada as well as Dairy Farmers of Canada. CDN’s annual budget includes approximately $1,000,000 for operations related to genetic evaluations plus $400,000 that is allocated to support research projects in the area of dairy cattle genetics. Member organizations provide all funding required each year through a pay-for-service fee structure.
The method for detecting energy reserve of components of computer-integrated systems

The paper presents a method for detecting energy reserve of components of computer-integrated systems, which is determined by a combination of techniques for using conditional simulation principles, dimensional theory properties, conditional performance criteria, comparative analysis, Boolean functions, theory of algorithms, Venn diagrams and algorithmic model, the procedural path of which contributes to simultaneous research of certain multiparameter component.
Functional antagonism between YY1 and the serum response factor

The rapid, transient induction of the c-fos proto-oncogene by serum growth factors is mediated by the serum response element (SRE). The SRE shares homology with the muscle regulatory element (MRE) of the skeletal alpha-actin promoter. It is not known how these elements respond to proliferative and cell-type-specific signals, but the response appears to involve the binding of the serum response factor (SRF) and other proteins. Here, we report that YY1, a multifunctional transcription factor, binds to SRE and MRE sequences in vitro. The methylation interference footprint of YY1 overlaps with that of the SRF, and YY1 competes with the SRF for binding to these DNA elements. Overexpression of YY1 repressed serum-inducible and basal expression from the c-fos promoter and repressed basal expression from the skeletal alpha-actin promoter. YY1 also repressed expression from the individual SRE and MRE sequences upstream from a TATA element. Unlike that of YY1, SRF overexpression alone did not influence the transcriptional activity of the target sequence, but SRF overexpression could reverse YY1-mediated trans repression. These data suggest that YY1 and the SRF have antagonistic functions in vivo.
Lapatinib plus capecitabine for HER2-positive advanced breast cancer.

BACKGROUND Lapatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor of human epidermal growth factor receptor type 2 (HER2, also referred to as HER2/neu) and epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR), is active in combination with capecitabine in women with HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer that has progressed after trastuzumab-based therapy. In this trial, we compared lapatinib plus capecitabine with capecitabine alone in such patients. METHODS Women with HER2-positive, locally advanced or metastatic breast cancer that had progressed after treatment with regimens that included an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab were randomly assigned to receive either combination therapy (lapatinib at a dose of 1250 mg per day continuously plus capecitabine at a dose of 2000 mg per square meter of body-surface area on days 1 through 14 of a 21-day cycle) or monotherapy (capecitabine alone at a dose of 2500 mg per square meter on days 1 through 14 of a 21-day cycle). The primary end point was time to progression, based on an evaluation by independent reviewers under blinded conditions. RESULTS The interim analysis of time to progression met specified criteria for early reporting on the basis of superiority in the combination-therapy group. The hazard ratio for the independently assessed time to progression was 0.49 (95% confidence interval, 0.34 to 0.71; P<0.001), with 49 events in the combination-therapy group and 72 events in the monotherapy group. The median time to progression was 8.4 months in the combination-therapy group as compared with 4.4 months in the monotherapy group. This improvement was achieved without an increase in serious toxic effects or symptomatic cardiac events. CONCLUSIONS Lapatinib plus capecitabine is superior to capecitabine alone in women with HER2-positive advanced breast cancer that has progressed after treatment with regimens that included an anthracycline, a taxane, and trastuzumab. (ClinicalTrials.gov number, NCT00078572 [ClinicalTrials.gov].).
Platelet volume responses to cytoplasmic acidification in essential hypertension.

Using a Coulter-based cell sizing method, we have previously demonstrated that, in response to cytoplasmic acidification by 140 mmol/l sodium propionate, both the mean initial rate of amiloride-sensitive platelet volume swelling and the net volume change achieved at steady-state are greater in essential hypertensives than in normotensives. In the present study, we extend this observation by showing that, in response to graded propionate exposure (56-140 mmol/l), steady-state amiloride-sensitive volume responsiveness (as percentage increase over baseline) increases linearly, and the mean slope of the line relating amiloride-sensitive volume change and propionate concentration is increased in hypertensives (0.40 +/- 0.02 versus 0.32 +/- 0.02% per mmol/l propionate, P less than 0.003). In 56 mmol/l propionate, average amiloride-sensitive platelet swelling is significantly less in hypertensives than in normotensives (7.6 +/- 0.8 versus 11.1 +/- 0.9%, P less than 0.05), but in 140 mmol/l propionate, swelling is significantly increased in hypertensives (40.8 +/- 1.7 versus 36.2 +/- 1.5%, P less than 0.05). Since platelet intracellular calcium concentration is elevated in some hypertensives and Ca2+ is known to stimulate Na(+)-H+ antiport, the transport system that is the primary determinant of amiloride-sensitive cell swelling during propionate incubation, we studied the effects of the Ca2+ ionophore, ionomycin, on volume regulation. In both normotensives and hypertensives, ionomycin (2 x 10(-10 to 2 x 10(-7) mol/l) causes dose-related increases in amiloride-sensitive platelet swelling during graded propionate exposure. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Confounding by ill health in the observed association between BMI and mortality: evidence from the HUNT Study using offspring BMI as an instrument

Abstract Background The observational association between mortality and body mass index (BMI) is U-shaped, leading to highly publicized suggestions that moderate overweight is beneficial to health. However, it is unclear whether elevated mortality is caused by low BMI or if the association is confounded, for example by concurrent ill health. Methods Using HUNT, a Norwegian prospective study, 32 452 mother-offspring and 27 747 father-offspring pairs were followed up to 2009. Conventional hazard ratios for parental mortality per standard deviation of BMI were estimated using Cox regression adjusted for behavioural and socioeconomic factors. To estimate hazard ratios with reduced susceptibility to confounding, particularly from concurrent ill health, the BMI of parents’ offspring was used as an instrumental variable for parents’ own BMI. The shape of mortality-BMI associations was assessed using cubic splines. Results There were 18 365 parental deaths during follow-up. Conventional associations of mortality from all-causes, cardiovascular disease and cancer with parents’ own BMI were substantially nonlinear, with elevated mortality at both extremes and minima at 21–25 kg m−2. Equivalent associations with offspring BMI were positive and there was no evidence of elevated parental mortality at low offspring BMI. The linear instrumental variable hazard ratio for all-cause mortality per standard deviation increase in BMI was 1.18 (95% confidence interval: 1.10, 1.26), compared with 1.05 (1.03, 1.06) in the conventional analysis. Conclusions Elevated mortality rates at high BMI appear causal, whereas excess mortality at low BMI is likely exaggerated by confounding by factors including concurrent ill health. Conventional studies probably underestimate the adverse population health consequences of overweight.
A Fast Panorama Stitching Method of Image Sequence

An image stitching application panorama gives serious distortion when compositing a long image sequence. To overcome the distortion, improved algorithm is proposed in this paper, including altering the way of selecting the reference image and putting forward a method that can compute the transformation matrix for any image of the sequence to align with the reference image in the same coordinate space. Additionally, the improved stitching method dynamically selects the next input image based on the number of SIFT matching points. Compared with the traditional stitching process, the improved method increases the number of matching feature points and reduces SIFT feature detection area of the reference image. The experimental results show that the improved method can not only accelerate the efficiency of image stitching processing, but also reduce the panoramic distortion errors, and finally we can obtain a pleasing panoramic result.
Aβ Oligomer-Induced Aberrations in Synapse Composition, Shape, and Density Provide a Molecular Basis for Loss of Connectivity in Alzheimer's Disease

The basis for memory loss in early Alzheimer's disease (AD) seems likely to involve synaptic damage caused by soluble Aβ-derived oligomers (ADDLs). ADDLs have been shown to build up in the brain and CSF of AD patients and are known to interfere with mechanisms of synaptic plasticity, acting as gain-of-function ligands that attach to synapses. Because of the correlation between AD dementia and synaptic degeneration, we investigated here the ability of ADDLs to affect synapse composition, structure, and abundance. Using highly differentiated cultures of hippocampal neurons, a preferred model for studies of synapse cell biology, we found that ADDLs bound to neurons with specificity, attaching to presumed excitatory pyramidal neurons but not GABAergic neurons. Fractionation of ADDLs bound to forebrain synaptosomes showed association with postsynaptic density complexes containing NMDA receptors, consistent with observed attachment of ADDLs to dendritic spines. During binding to hippocampal neurons, ADDLs promoted a rapid decrease in membrane expression of memory-related receptors (NMDA and EphB2). Continued exposure resulted in abnormal spine morphology, with induction of long thin spines reminiscent of the morphology found in mental retardation, deafferentation, and prionoses. Ultimately, ADDLs caused a significant decrease in spine density. Synaptic deterioration, which was accompanied by decreased levels of the spine cytoskeletal protein drebrin, was blocked by the Alzheimer's therapeutic drug Namenda. The observed disruption of dendritic spines links ADDLs to a major facet of AD pathology, providing strong evidence that ADDLs in AD brain cause neuropil damage believed to underlie dementia.
The ocular effects of xylazine in rabbits, cats, and monkeys.

Xylazine is an agent frequently used in combination with ketamine to anesthetize rabbits. Xylazine is also related pharmacologically to clonidine, a relatively selective alpha 2-agonist. In the present studies, xylazine was examined for its effects on intraocular pressure (IOP) and pupil diameter (PD) in rabbits, cats and monkeys and on noradrenergic function in the cat nictitating membrane (CNM) preparation. Topical and unilateral administration of xylazine (1.0 mg) lowered IOP bilaterally in normal, unanesthetized rabbits, cats and monkeys and caused unilateral miosis in rabbits and cats. These ocular effects of xylazine were attenuated in superior cervical ganglionectomized (SX) cats and rabbits. In addition, intra-arterially administered xylazine (10, 33 and 100 micrograms) produced dose-related inhibition of contractions of the CNM elicited by electrically stimulating the pre- and postganglionic sympathetic trunks without altering the response to i.a. norepinephrine (10 micrograms). These data suggest that ocular effects of xylazine are mediated, in part, by alteration of sympathetic neuron function. Xylazine suppressed ocular hypertension induced by water loading and IOP recovery rate following hypertonic saline infusion in rabbits suggesting that aqueous flow was inhibited. Topical pretreatment with 0.05 mg of timolol caused potentiation of the ocular hypotensive response to 0.05 mg of xylazine in rabbits. These results indicate that xylazine lowers IOP, in part, by suppressing sympathetic neuronal function which causes a reduction in aqueous flow. The augmented response to timolol and xylazine, as compared with either agent alone, suggests a rational basis for combining a prejunctionally active agent with a postjunctionally active one.
A multi-mode model of a non-classical atom laser produced by outcoupling from a Bose-Einstein condensate with squeezed light

We examine the properties of an atom laser produced by outcoupling from a Bose-Einstein condensate with squeezed light. We introduce a method which allows us to model the full multimode dynamics of the squeezed optical field and the outcoupled atoms. We show that for experimentally reasonable parameters that the quantum statistics of the optical field are almost completely transferred to the outcoupled atoms, and investigate the robustness to the coupling strength and the two-photon detuning.
Insulin Receptor Isoform A, a Newly Recognized, High-Affinity Insulin-Like Growth Factor II Receptor in Fetal and Cancer Cells

ABSTRACT Insulin-like growth factor II (IGF-II) is a peptide growth factor that is homologous to both insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) and insulin and plays an important role in embryonic development and carcinogenesis. IGF-II is believed to mediate its cellular signaling via the transmembrane tyrosine kinase type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-I-R), which is also the receptor for IGF-I. Earlier studies with both cultured cells and transgenic mice, however, have suggested that in the embryo the insulin receptor (IR) may also be a receptor for IGF-II. In most cells and tissues, IR binds IGF-II with relatively low affinity. The IR is expressed in two isoforms (IR-A and IR-B) differing by 12 amino acids due to the alternative splicing of exon 11. In the present study we found that IR-A but not IR-B bound IGF-II with an affinity close to that of insulin. Moreover, IGF-II bound to IR-A with an affinity equal to that of IGF-II binding to the IGF-I-R. Activation of IR-A by insulin led primarily to metabolic effects, whereas activation of IR-A by IGF-II led primarily to mitogenic effects. These differences in the biological effects of IR-A when activated by either IGF-II or insulin were associated with differential recruitment and activation of intracellular substrates. IR-A was preferentially expressed in fetal cells such as fetal fibroblasts, muscle, liver and kidney and had a relatively increased proportion of isoform A. IR-A expression was also increased in several tumors including those of the breast and colon. These data indicate, therefore, that there are two receptors for IGF-II, both IGF-I-R and IR-A. Further, they suggest that interaction of IGF-II with IR-A may play a role both in fetal growth and cancer biology.
Cigarette Smoking, Nicotine Dependence, and Motivation for Smoking Cessation in Psychiatric Inpatients

Objective: Cigarette smoking is the leading preventable cause of death and disease in Canada, and is disproportionately more frequent among psychiatric patients. Smoking cessation interventions can be successfully implemented with psychiatric patients, yet no Canadian studies have evaluated smoking prevalence, nicotine dependence, and motivation for smoking cessation in psychiatric inpatients. Our study did so to help plan appropriate interventions for these patients. Method: All inpatients aged 18 years or older admitted to acute-care psychiatry units at the Foothills Medical Centre in Calgary, Alberta, during a 6-month period completed a survey involving questions from the Canadian Tobacco Use Monitoring Survey, the Fagerstrom Test for Nicotine Dependence (FTND), the Readiness to Quit Ladder, and the Decisional Balance for Cigarette Smoking. Responses were analyzed for correlation with discharge diagnoses, age, and sex. Results: Among the total inpatients (n = 342), 211 (62%) completed the survey. Among those, 55% were current cigarette smokers and 17.5% were former smokers. Nicotine dependence (FTND ≥ 6) was reported in 45.2% of smokers. Smoking prevalence and nicotine dependence severity was greatest in the substance use disorders (SUD) and psychotic disorders groups. Current smokers endorsed more negative than positive attributes of smoking. Regarding smoking cessation, 51% of patients were precontemplative, 12.7% contemplative, and 36.2% preparatory or action-oriented, despite few receiving advice to quit. Conclusions: Cigarette smoking and nicotine dependence are highly prevalent in psychiatric inpatients. However, self-reported motivation for smoking cessation is noteworthy, emphasizing that cessation advice and appropriate follow-up care should be provided to psychiatric inpatients who smoke.
Conduction-band and valence-band structures in strained In1-xGaxAs/InP quantum wells on (001) InP substrates.

We study conduction-band and valence-band structures in strained In 1-x Ga x As/InP quantum wells on (001) InP substrates using the k-p perturbation approach and magneto-optical absorption measurements. We evaluate the band offset between In 1-x Ga x As and InP using the tight-binding model. We derive a formula for calculating conduction-band dispersion both in biaxially strained bulk layers and quantum wells from the first-order k-p perturbation. We use our formula to show that the electron effective mass of strained In 1-x Ga x As and strained In 1-x Ga x As/InP quantum wells are anisotropic, and that the masses depend significantly on the strain and well width
The Ribosomal Protein L2 Interacts with the RNA Polymerase α Subunit and Acts as a Transcription Modulator in Escherichia coli

ABSTRACT Identification of interacting proteins in stable complexes is essential to understand the mechanisms that regulate cellular processes at the molecular level. Transcription initiation in prokaryotes requires coordinated protein-protein and protein-DNA interactions that often involve one or more transcription factors in addition to RNA polymerase (RNAP) subunits. The RNAP α subunit (RNAPα) is a key regulatory element in gene transcription and functions through direct interaction with other proteins to control all stages of this process. A clear description of the RNAPα protein partners should greatly increase our understanding of transcription modulation. A functional proteomics approach was employed to investigate protein components that specifically interact with RNAPα. A tagged form of Escherichia coli RNAPα was used as bait to determine the molecular partners of this subunit in a whole-cell extract. Among other interacting proteins, 50S ribosomal protein L2 (RPL2) was clearly identified by mass spectrometry. The direct interaction between RNAPα and RPL2 was confirmed both in vivo and in vitro by performing coimmunoprecipitation and bacterial two-hybrid experiments. The functional role of this interaction was also investigated in the presence of a ribosomal promoter by using a β-galactosidase gene reporter assay. The results clearly demonstrated that RPL2 was able to increase β-galactosidase expression only in the presence of a specific ribosomal promoter, whereas it was inactive when it was assayed with an unrelated promoter. Interestingly, other ribosomal proteins (L1, L3, L20, and L27) did not have any effect on rRNA expression. The findings reported here strongly suggest that in addition to its role in ribosome assembly the highly conserved RPL2 protein plays a specific and direct role in regulation of transcription.
Absence of maternal microchimerism in very early onset inflammatory bowel disease R1

Kamio et al . have reported three local cases of A. xylosoxidans infection in the liver. 3 Computed tomography image of their case showed liver abscess. However, it also represents a liver mass simulating malignant tumor, as in the present case. The lesion exhibited a coralloid appearance and microscopically showed confluent epithelioid granulomas with necrosis and abscesses, but A. xylosoxidans itself is invisible on tissue specimens. The diagnosis can be made only by culture. Interestingly, all three reported cases and the present case had a history of cholecystectomy for cholecystolithiasis; the period between surgical intervention and the first symptom ranged from 5 to 38 months. This suggests that the cholecystectomy is the inciting event for pathogenesis. The source of the infection is unknown. Because A. xylosoxidans has been isolated from the gastrointestinal tract, this could be the source of the infection. 2,4
Academic procrastination and statistics anxiety

Statistics anxiety, which is experienced by as many as 80% of graduate students, has been found to debilitate performance in statistics and research methodology courses. As such, it is likely that statistics anxiety is, in part, responsible for many students delaying enrollment in these courses for as long as possible. Moreover, it is possible that, once enrolled in these courses, students with high levels of statistics anxiety tend to procrastinate on assignments. Thus, the purpose of this study was: (a) to examine the prevalence of procrastination among graduate students, and (b) to investigate the relationship between academic procrastination and six dimensions of statistics anxiety. Participants were 135 graduate students enrolled in three sections of a required introductory-level educational research course at a university in the southeastern part of the USA. Findings revealed that a high percentage of students reported problems with procrastination on writing term papers, studying for examinations, and completing weekly reading assignments. A canonical correlation analysis (R c1 =.51) revealed that academic procrastination resulting from both fear of failure and task aversiveness was related significantly to worth of statistics, interpretation anxiety, test and class anxiety, computational self-concept, fear of asking for help, and fear of the statistics instructor. Implications for statistics anxiety reduction as a procrastination intervention are discussed.
Predictors of Relapse in Smoking Cessation with Nicotine Patches

Objective: This research aims to study the efficacy of nicotine replacement therapy (Nicotine patches) in smoking cessation and to detect the risk factors for relapse after abstinence. Methods: Eighty-nine male smokers were invited to participate in this study in smoking cessation clinic in Facous cancer center (Sharkia Governorate). The smokers used Nicotine11 patches 30, 20 and 10 which deliver nicotine at rates of 2 1, 14 and 7 mg respectively over a period of 24 hours for 9 weeks, 3 weeks for each type. The baseline variables included smoking rate and history, demographic characteristics, the Fagerstrom Tolerance Questionnaire (FTQ) score, alveolar carbon monoxide (CO) concentration, body mass index (BMI), motivation to quit score and Hamilton Beck depression scale score. Forty five subjects who had maintained abstinence for 9 weeks were followed for a period of 1 year to ascertian individual characteristics that were predictive of later relapse. Results: The rate of abstinence at the end of 9 weeks was 50.6%, at the end of 6 months was 28. I % and at the end of year was 25.8%. Among abstinent subjects, those who were more dependent, more depressed and with less motivation to quit relapsed more significantly. Conclusion: This information may be helpful to clinicians seeking to match specific patients to specific treatments with transdermal nicotine in order to maximix ireatment outcomes. El Ainin H, Abdel Azeein E