Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mutation analysis and mRNA expression of trail‐receptors in human breast cancer

The chromosome region 8p12‐p22 shows frequent allelic loss in a variety of human malignancies, including breast cancer (BC). The tumor necrosis factor‐related apoptosis‐inducing ligand (TRAIL)‐receptors TRAIL‐R1, ‐R2, ‐R3 and ‐R4 are located on 8p21‐p22 and might be candidate tumor suppressor genes in this region. To evaluate the involvement of TRAIL receptors in breast carcinogenesis, we have analyzed the entire coding region of TRAIL‐R2 and the death domain (DD) regions of TRAIL‐R1 and ‐R4 for the detection of somatic mutations in a series of breast tumors, lymph node metastases and BC cell lines. Overall, we detected 1, 11 and 3 alterations in the TRAIL‐R1, ‐R2 and ‐R4 genes, respectively. Although functional studies have not yet been performed, we assume that most of these alterations do not alter the function of TRAIL‐receptors. Additionally, we analyzed individuals from BC families for the detection of TRAIL‐R2 germline mutations. One alteration has been found in the Kozak consensus motif at position ‐4 with respect to the translation initiation AUG [1‐4 (C→A)]. We further studied the mRNA expression of TRAIL and the 4 TRAIL receptors. In BC cell lines, a strongly decreased mRNA expression of TRAIL, TRAIL‐R1, ‐R3 and ‐R4 was found, whereas the expression of TRAIL‐R2 was only slightly reduced. In breast tumors, a 1.2–3.6‐fold reduction of mRNA signals of the 5 genes was observed. No correlation was found between the expression level of TRAIL and the receptor mRNAs and clinicopathologic variables and between the expression of TRAIL‐R2 and TP53 mutation status and loss of heterozygosity (LOH) at 8p21‐p22. Taken together, we cannot exclude the involvement of TRAIL‐receptors in BC. Our mutation studies indicate that DD receptor mutations occur at low frequency and are not the primary cause for the altered mRNA expression of TRAIL and TRAIL‐receptors in BC. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Explorations in promoting conceptual change in electrical concepts via ontological category shift

Chi (1992, 1993) Chi et al. (1994) suggests that many of the difficulties encountered by students in learning Physics concepts arise because they attribute the ontology of material substances to these concepts. These concepts are actually a special type of process - 'Constraint-Based Interactions' (CBI). Slotta and Chi (1996) reported on a study where a group of students explicitly trained in the CBI ontology showed significant gains over a control group in problem solving performance in eight simple electric circuit problems. This paper reports on a series of four studies which explore the usefulness of the ontological categorization framework in investigating students' alternative conceptions of electric circuits and in developing a teaching strategy for promoting conceptual change in the learning of basic electric circuitry concepts.
IOT-enabled Quality Management Process Innovation and Analytics in China’s Dairy Industry: A Data Flow Modeling Perspective

Since the "melamine" incident was reported in China, China’s dairy industry attracts more and more attention, leading some scholars to conduct research on quality management and safety monitoring issues of China’s dairy industry. The technology of the Internet of Things (IOT) is viewed as one of the best ways to solve the safety problems of China’s dairy industry by supporting the development of dairy traceability systems. This paper firstly analyses the current situation of China’s dairy industry supply chain to get at the root of the problem. We then propose an IOT-enabled quality management framework which is an innovation mode of quality management in China’s dairy industry supply chain. To further highlight the important role of IOT technology, we employ a business process modeling approach based on data flow perspective to describe this innovation management mode. The artifacts we design, especially the matrix of dairy products and process information, can help the practitioners to efficiently monitor the quality information of dairy products.
The Sharp Theta Rhythm on the Occipital Areas of Prematures (STOP): A Newly Described Waveform

This study on 500 prematures and neonates with conceptional ages (CA) of 23-49 wks describes the STOP pattern (sharp theta on the occipitals of prematures). STOP is similar to PT theta (premature temporal theta) in configuration, but is faster in frequency, lower in amplitude, more often unilateral, aside from the obvious difference in location. The incidence (%) was highest at the youngest age, decreasing to zero near term, and the amount (number of bursts) was greatest at 25 wks (CA). Three different parts appear in the incidence and amplitude curves, and these three parts may be related to changes in the laterality of the pattern. In the youngest age these rhythms are mainly bilateral, in the older neonates they are unilateral and are either for the ages between those extremes. STOP is seen more often in active sleep, but is reduced in incidence in patients with abnormal slow waves, ictal or immature patterns. Right-sided STOP was more frequently associated with abnormal EEGs, especially in males with right-sided sharp waves, often noted in the patients with seizures and intraventricular hemorrhages.
Development of New Deep Venous Thrombosis While on Apixaban

The efficacy of novel oral anticoagulants (NOACs) in preventing deep venous thrombosis (DVT) has been established in large multicenter trials. Predictable pharmacokinetics, avoidance of routine laboratory monitoring, and lesser drug interactions have made NOACs safer and more tolerable treatment option in comparison to warfarin. However, cases of treatment failure mainly due to interindividual variation in plasma drug levels can be seen rarely. In this report we describe a case of acute DVT of right lower extremity in a patient who was on apixaban for prevention of venous thromboembolism (VTE) due to underlying nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF).
The interaction of factor VIIa with rehydrated, lyophilized platelets

The experiments presented here were undertaken to determine if factor VIIa (rFVIIa, the Novo Nordisk product NovoSeven™) will directly bind to rehydrated, lyophilized (RL) platelets for the formation of a catalytic surface with an enhanced ability to generate thrombin. The interaction between rFVIIa and the RL platelet surface was examined by measuring equilibrium and non-equilibrium binding of the coagulation factor to the cells and by following the effects of the surface modification on the kinetics of thrombin generation. The association of rFVIIa with RL platelets was rapid with saturation occurring within minutes. Disassociation was slow, with over half of the coagulation factor remaining bound after two hours. Densities of over one million molecules of rFVIIa per RL platelet were obtained when high concentrations of rFVIIa were incubated with RL platelets. Thrombin generation measurements showed that RL platelet-bound rFVIIa was catalytically active. Thus we can expect that RL platelets, which have been shown to effectively bind to sites of vascular injury, will localize rFVIIa to wounds for an increase in therapeutic index. These studies indicate that rFVIIa-RL platelets are worthy of preclinical and clinical development as an infusion agent for severe bleeding.
A critical role for IL-21 receptor signaling in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus in BXSB-Yaa mice

Interleukin 21 (IL-21) is a pleiotropic cytokine produced by CD4 T cells that affects the differentiation and function of T, B, and NK cells by binding to a receptor consisting of the common cytokine receptor γ chain and the IL-21 receptor (IL-21R). IL-21, a product associated with IL-17-producing CD4 T cells (TH17) and follicular CD4 T helper cells (TFH), has been implicated in autoimmune disorders including the severe systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-like disease characteristic of BXSB-Yaa mice. To determine whether IL-21 plays a significant role in this disease, we compared IL-21R-deficient and -competent BXSB-Yaa mice for multiple parameters of SLE. The deficient mice showed none of the abnormalities characteristic of SLE in IL-21R-competent Yaa mice, including hypergammaglobulinemia, autoantibody production, reduced frequencies of marginal zone B cells and monocytosis, renal disease, and premature morbidity. IL-21 production associated with this autoimmune disease was not a product of TH17 cells and was not limited to conventional CXCR5+ TFH but instead was produced broadly by ICOS+ CD4+ splenic T cells. IL-21 arising from an abnormal population of CD4 T cells is thus central to the development of this lethal disease, and, more generally, could play an important role in human SLE and related autoimmune disorders.
Traffic Signs Recognition using HP and HOG Descriptors Combined to MLP and SVM Classifiers

Detection and recognition of traffic signs in a video streams consist of two steps: the detection of signs in the road scene and the recognition of their type. We usually evaluate globally this process. This evaluated approach unfortunately does not allow to finely analyze the performance of each step. It is difficult to know what step needs to be improved to obtain a more efficient system. Our previous work focused on a real-time detection of road signs, by improving the performances of the detection step in real time. In this paper, we complete the work by focusing on recognition step, where we compare the performances between histogram projection (HP) descriptor, and the histogram-oriented gradient (HOG) descriptor combined with the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) classifier, and the Support Vector Machine (SVM) classifier, to compute characteristics and descriptors of the objects extracted in the step of detection, and identify the kind of traffic signs. Experimental results present the performances of the four combinations of these methods “Descriptor-Classifier” to identify which of them could have high performance for traffic sign recognition.
A transformation-optical approach to enhance optical gradient forces with metamaterials

In the interaction between light and matter, linear momentum can be transferred from electromagnetic waves to particles to generate so-called optical forces. Recently, it has been suggested that optical gradient forces can be used to actuate nanophotonic devices since measurable displacements can be achieved [1]. The typical setup consists of two waveguides positioned in each other's vicinity such that they are coupled through the interaction of the evanescent tails [2]. Although the gradient forces between these waveguides can be enhanced considerably with the use of electromagnetic resonators, the resulting displacements remain relatively small [1,2].
Reduction of hippocampal long‐term potentiation in transgenic mice ectopically expressing the neural cell adhesion molecule L1 in astrocytes

The influence of the neural cell adhesion molecule L1 on hippocampal long‐term potentiation (LTP) was investigated using transgenic mice ectopically expressing L1 in astrocytes (GFAP‐L1). L1 is a member of the immunoglobulin superfamily of homophilic adhesion molecules predominantly expressed in neurones. Previously, it has been demonstrated that local application of L1 antibodies and recombinant L1 fragments impair the expression of LTP. Here, we show that LTP induced by theta‐burst stimulation or by pairing presynaptic stimulation with postsynaptic depolarisation was strongly reduced in GFAP‐L1 mice, whereas basal synaptic transmission, post‐tetanic potentiation, and paired‐pulse facilitation were not modified. These results further support the idea that L1 is involved in synaptic plasticity and suggest that adhesion molecule‐dependent changes in synaptic morphology contribute to the expression of LTP. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
An Analysis of Chest Wall and Diaphragm Motions in Patients With Idiopathic Scoliosis Using Dynamic Breathing MRI

Study Design. The motions of chest wall and diaphragm were measured in patients with scoliosis and healthy individuals using dynamic breathing magnetic resonance imaging. Objectives. To investigate the motions of the chest wall and the diaphragm during deep breathing in patients with idiopathic scoliosis. Summary of Background Data. Despite the central role of the respiratory motions in maintaining ventilation, it is difficult to measure and describe the motions because of the limited methods available. The kinematics of respiration in scoliosis have not yet been clarified. Methods. Dynamic fast spoiled gradient-recalled echo sequences were used for 18 patients with idiopathic scoliosis and 9 healthy individuals. The chest wall and diaphragm motions were evaluated using a cineloop view and a fusion display of maximal inspiratory and expiratory images. The data were analyzed quantitatively by measuring displacements. Results. Respiratory chest wall movements were significantly restricted in patients with scoliosis, although the diaphragm motion was normal. An analysis of the fusion magnetic resonance displays superimposed with the maximal inspiratory and expiratory images facilitated the understanding of the abnormal respiratory motion in patients with scoliosis. There was some correlation between the values of respiratory motions and pulmonary function tests. Conclusions. The present technique is useful for assessing respiratory mechanisms dynamically and noninvasively. One of the distinguishing features of respiratory dysfunction in patients with scoliosis is their limited chest wall motion.
Milestones in the development of pediatric hematopoietic stem cell transplantation—50 years of progress

Abstract: In the 1950s, the first infusions of hematopoietic stem cells were given as a form of treatment for childhood leukemia. This heralded the beginning of a field that has expanded to include the treatment of immune deficiencies, a variety of leukemias and solid tumors, and then genetic diseases. A number of milestones are highlighted, particularly in regard to the use of alternative sources of hematopoietic stem cells such as unrelated donors, peripheral blood stem cells and umbilical cord stem cells. In addition, newer techniques of using non‐myeloablative preparative regimens helped to reduce the toxicity and long‐term consequences of hematopoietic stem cell transplant. Many diseases now benefit from the replacement of the marrow stem cells and the provision of a new immune system and improved immune surveillance.
Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate-dependent and -independent inhibitory effects of epinephrine on insulin release in rat pancreatic islets.

The role of cAMP in the inhibitory effect of epinephrine on insulin secretion was studied by comparing the dose-response relationships of the effects of epinephrine on insulin release and [3H]cAMP content in rat pancreatic islets prelabeled with [2-3H]adenine and stimulated by various agents in vitro. Glucagon-stimulated insulin release and increased [3H]cAMP in islets were inhibited in a parallel dosedependent fashion by epinephrine. In contrast, glucosestimulated insulin release was more sensitve to inhibition by epinephrine than was glucose-induced [3H]- cAMP accumulation. Thus, 3 × 10-8 M epinephrine produced 50% inhibition of the insulin release stimulated by 26.7 tnM glucose, whereas 10-6 M epinephrine was required to produce 50% inhibition of the [3H]cAMP response to glucose. In contrast to the inhibitory effects of a high concentration of epinephrine (10-6 M) on glucagon and glucose-stimulated increases in islet [3H]cAMP, this concentration of epinephrine did not decrease the increased [3H]cAMP le.
Flat corrugated antennas in the THz

In this work, two different antenna prototypes working at THz frequencies and consisting of a central slot surrounded by corrugations are analyzed. In the first case, the corrugations are annular, leading to a moderately high gain. Its radiation and temporal properties are analyzed both numerically and experimentally. The other antenna has straight corrugations with triangular profile. Its radiation characteristics are numerically compared with the typical square corrugations profile, with no significant differences between them. Experimental results at 0.5THz show good performance of the design. These results could be of interest for the development of new THz sources and detectors.
Association of Serum Fetuin-A Levels with Allograft Outcome in Renal Transplant Recipients.

PURPOSE To determine serum fetuin-A pattern after renal transplantation and its association with graft outcome. MATERIALS AND METHODS In 41 renal transplant recipients, serum pretransplant fetuin-A levels and serum fetuin-A concentrations on days 7 and 30 after transplantation were measured using the enzyme-linked immunosorbent as­say (ELISA) method. Also, the association between serum fetuin-A levels with clinical and laboratory parameters was evaluated. RESULTS A significant decrease in serum fetuin-A levels was noted in the first week after transplantation (P < .001). Subsequently, it started to increase and surpass pretransplant values during the first month (P < .001). Pretransplant fetuin-A levels did not differ among patients with different diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) results. In addition, serum fetuin-A levels did not significantly correlate with metabolic parameters. CONCLUSION In this prospective study there was no increase in serum fetuin-A levels during the first month and pretransplant fetuin-A levels are not predictive for allograft outcome in renal transplant recipients.
Mechanisms of the regional hemodynamic effects of a mu-opioid receptor agonist microinjected into the hypothalamic paraventricular nuclei of conscious unrestrained rats.

The present study was undertaken to characterize the mechanisms of the hemodynamic responses to microinjection of the selective mu-opioid receptor agonist [D-Ala2,MePhe4,Gly5-ol]enkephalin (DAMGO) into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, in conscious rats chronically instrumented with pulsed Doppler flow probes. We found that i.v. pretreatment with phentolamine had no effect on the tachycardia elicited by DAMGO (1 nmol); however, the pressor response was reversed to a state of hypotension, the renal and superior mesenteric vasoconstrictions were attenuated and the hindquarter vasodilation was potentiated. In the presence of propranolol, the pressor response and renal vasoconstriction were unchanged, whereas the superior mesenteric vasoconstriction was reduced and the hindquarter vasodilation was abolished. Moreover, in those animals we observed bradycardia followed by tachycardia. Combined i.v. pretreatment with phentolamine and propranolol abolished the pressor and heart rate responses to DAMGO but had no effect on the renal and superior mesenteric vasoconstrictions, although the hindquarter vasodilation was reduced. Intravenous pretreatment with a vasopressin V1 receptor antagonist or captopril had no effect on the cardiovascular responses to DAMGO. Together, these results indicate that the hypertension observed after injection of DAMGO into the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus was secondary to alpha adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstrictions in renal and superior mesenteric vascular beds and to beta adrenoceptor-mediated vasodilation in the hindquarter vascular bed, whereas the involvement of circulating vasopressin or angiotensin seems less obvious from the present findings. However, we cannot exclude the possibility that nonadrenergic, nonvasopressinergic and nonangiotensinergic vasoconstrictor mechanisms were acting in the renal and superior mesenteric vascular beds.
Dietary Threonine Supplementation for Improving Growth Performance and Edible Carcass Parts in Japanese Quails, Coturnix coturnix Japonica

3 Abstract: The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary threonine amino acid supplementation on growth performance and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails. Day old, two hundred and seventy quail chicks were divided into six dietary treatment groups comprising 45 birds each, which consisted of 3 subgroups containing 15 birds for each replicate. Experimental diets were prepared and contained 0.81, 0.86, 0.91, 0.96, 1.01 and 1.06 % threonine amino acid, respective to groups 1-6, on fresh matter basis. Birds were fed these experimental diets respective to treatment for 35 days. Total feed intakes and the changes in body weights were determined on weekly basis. At the end of experiment 35-d, birds were killed humanly to determine their edible carcass parts. Results showed that threonine supplementation to the diet did not affect growth performance and edible carcass parts (p>0.05), assuming that birds can make metabolic adaptation to current dietary threonine supplementations.
Microtubule Nucleation from Stable Tubulin Oligomers*

Microtubule assembly from purified tubulin preparations involves both microtubule nucleation and elongation. Whereas elongation is well documented, microtubule nucleation remains poorly understood because of difficulties in isolating molecular intermediates between tubulin dimers and microtubules. Based on kinetic studies, we have previously proposed that the basic building blocks of microtubule nuclei are persistent tubulin oligomers, present at the onset of tubulin assembly. Here we have tested this model directly by isolating nucleation-competent cross-linked tubulin oligomers. We show that such oligomers are composed of 10–15 laterally associated tubulin dimers. In the presence of added free tubulin dimers, several oligomers combine to form microtubule nuclei competent for elongation. We provide evidence that these nuclei have heterogeneous structures, indicating unexpected flexibility in nucleation pathways. Our results suggest that microtubule nucleation in purified tubulin solution is mechanistically similar to that templated by γ-tubulin ring complexes with the exception that in the absence of γ-tubulin complexes the production of productive microtubule seeds from tubulin oligomers involves trial and error and a selection process.
Colistin-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii Clinical Strains with Deficient Biofilm Formation

ABSTRACT In two pairs of clinical colistin-susceptible/colistin-resistant (Csts/Cstr) Acinetobacter baumannii strains, the Cstr strains showed significantly decreased biofilm formation in static and dynamic assays (P < 0.001) and lower relative fitness (P < 0.05) compared with those of the Csts counterparts. The whole-genome sequencing comparison of strain pairs identified a mutation converting a stop codon to lysine (*241K) in LpsB (involved in lipopolysaccharide [LPS] synthesis) in one Cstr strain and a frameshift mutation in CarO and the loss of a 47,969-bp element containing multiple genes associated with biofilm production in the other.
Enhanced Ribosomal Association of p27Kip1 mRNA Is a Mechanism Contributing to Accumulation during Growth Arrest*

p27Kip1 regulates the decision to enter into S-phase or withdraw from the cell cycle by establishing an inhibitory threshold above which G1 cyclin-dependent kinases accumulate before activation. We have used the HL-60 cell line to study regulation of p27 as cells withdraw from the cell cycle following treatment with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA). We found that the amount of p27 is maximal in G0 cells, lower in G1 cells, and undetectable in S-phase cells. In contrast to the protein, the amount of p27 mRNA was the same in these populations, suggesting that accumulation of p27 during the cell cycle and as cells withdraw from the cell cycle is controlled by post-transcriptional mechanisms. In S-phase cells, the degradation of p27 appears to predominate as a regulatory mechanism. In G0 cells, there was an increase in the synthesis rate of p27. Our data demonstrate that, in G0 cells, accumulation of p27 is due to an increase in the amount of p27 mRNA in polyribosomes.