Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Importance of the mTOR Regulatory Network in Chondrocyte Biology and Osteoarthritis

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a chronic disorder associated mainly with pain, limited range of motion, stiffness, joint inflammation, and articular cartilage (AC) destruction. Recent studies demonstrated the involvement of chondrocyte differentiation (hypertrophy) as one of the mechanisms of cartilage degradation in OA. This indicates the involvement of profound alterations in chondrocyte metabolism in the course of cartilage resorption orchestrated by principal changes in the regulation of cellular function. Mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) controls critical cellular processes such as growth, proliferation, and protein synthesis, and integrates extracellular signals from growth factors and hormones with amino acid availability and intracellular energy status. The importance of mTOR activity during AC destruction in OA is supported by considerable alterations in the mTOR regulatory network, involving multiple intracellular (availability of growth factors, adenosine triphosphate [ATP], and oxygen as well as autophagy) and extracellular (glucose, amino acid, lipid, and hexosamine) signals. Moreover, variable mTOR gene expression in the peripheral blood of OA patients is associated with increases in pain or synovitis, and indicates a profound metabolic dissimilarity among patients that might require differential approaches to treatment. These issues are discussed in the present review article.
Melanosome–iron interactions within retinal pigment epithelium‐derived cells

Melanosomes were recently shown to protect ARPE‐19 cells, a human retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) cell line, against oxidative stress induced by hydrogen peroxide. One postulated mechanism of antioxidant action of melanin is its ability to bind metal ions. The aim here was to determine whether melanosomes are competent to bind iron within living cells, exhibiting a property previously shown only in model systems. The outcomes indicate retention of prebound iron and accumulation of iron by granules after iron delivery to cells via the culture medium, as determined by both colorimetric and electron spin resonance analyses for bound‐to‐melanosome iron. Manipulation of iron content did not affect the pigment's ability to protect cells against H2O2, but the function of pigment granules within RPE cells should be extended beyond a role in light irradiation to include participation in iron homeostasis.
Surfactant Protein D in Pseudomonas aeruginosa Keratitis

Purpose: To determine the importance of surfactant protein D in Pseudomonas keratitis. Methods: The surfactant D status of wild-type and surfactant D-deficient Black Swiss mice was confirmed by PCR reactions and immunoblot assay. Mouse corneas were infected with one of three strains of P. aeruginosa. At 1, 2, 3, and 6 days postinfection, eyes were scored by slit-lamp examination and bacteria per cornea quantified. Results: Infected wild-type mice had slit-lamp scores on 3 and 6 days postinfection that were significantly lower than those of surfactant D-deficient mice (p ≤ .0185) and only wild-type mice recovered from the infection. On day 6 postinfection, the number of bacteria per cornea was found to be significantly lower in wild-type mice as compared to surfactant D-deficient mice (p ≤ .0233). Conclusions: Surfactant D is important to the ocular innate host defense against Pseudomonas keratitis.
Genetic parameters for egg production and egg weight of laying hens housed in single and group cages

Abstract. The present study was conducted to estimate the heritability and genetic correlation of monthly egg production and egg weight of 2 lines White Leghorn hens in single and group cages. A total of 2289 records (line A) and 2596 records (line D) from single cages, 518 and 541 records (for line A and D, respectively) from group cages, were analysed. (Co) variance components of single cage data were analysed using the programme VCE4 applying the REML method and a multiple trait animal model. An EM-algorithm was used to obtain (co) variance components for group cage data. Genetic correlations between single and group cages were analysed using the programme VCE4 based on sire model. Heritability estimates for monthly egg production in single cages ranged from 0.08 to 0.44 (line A); 0.04 to 0.43 (line D) and those for group cages were 0.02 to 0.42 (line A); 0.02 to 0.19 (line D). Egg weight was highly heritable for single and group cages (heritability = 0.25 to 0.54). The genetic correlations between monthly and cumulative egg production were 0.25 to 0.95 (line A); 0.26 to 0.86 (line D) for single cage and 0.24 to 0.84 (line A); 0.26 to 0.96 (line D) for group cage. Cumulative egg production in single cage were highly correlated with those of group cages (0.89 and 0.63, respectively for line A and line D). Single cage records gave higher estimates of genetic parameter than group records. However, the trend of estimates is almost the same. High genetic correlations were found between single- and group cages in most of the production periods.
Multiplex Reverse Transcription-Polymerase Chain Reaction as Diagnostic Molecular Screening of 4 Common Fusion Chimeric Genes in Taiwanese Children With Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Background The classification of B-lineage acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by specific chromosomal translocations has prognostic implications for risk-directed therapy. Reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) assay is a useful tool for detecting fusion transcripts from common chromosomal translocations of ALL cells. Methods Multiplex RT-PCR and nested-PCR assays were used to detect ALL-type BCR-ABL1 transcripts of the t(9;22), TCF-PBX1 transcripts of t(1;19), the MLL-AF4 transcripts of t(4;11), and 2 variants of ETV6-RUNX1 of the cryptic t(12;21) in 148 leukemic samples upon diagnosis. The patients received risk-directed protocols of the Taiwan Pediatric Oncology Group-ALL-2002 that consisted of multiple chemotherapeutic agents of different intensities. Event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were analyzed for genetic abnormalities detected by multiplex PCR and conventional cytogenetic analysis by the Kaplan-Meier method, and compared with the Mantel-Haenszel test. The Cox proportional hazards model was implemented to identify independent prognostic factors for EFS and OS. Results In this cohort of Taiwanese children, the relative frequencies of the 4 translocations of B-lineage ALL were 8% with ALL-type t(9;22)/BCR-ABL1, 4% with (1;19)/TCF-PBX1, 2% with t(4;11)/MLL-AF4, and 17.6% with t(12;21)/ETV6-RUNX1. Patients with t(12;21)/ETV6-RUNX1 fusion, hyperdiploidy, and t(1;19)/TCF-PBX1 fusion had the most favorable outcomes, whereas those with the t(9;22)/BCR-ABL1 fusion or t(4;11) and other MLL gene rearrangement had poor prognosis (P<0.001 for EFS and OS). BCR-ABL1, MLL gene rearrangement, and very high-risk group were independent prognostic factors after Cox regression analysis. Conclusions The biological factors of leukemia cells are associated with treatment outcomes in childhood ALL. Multiplex RT-PCR assay is an efficient and sensitive diagnostic tool that may improve the ability to accurately and rapidly risk-stratify children with ALL.
Optimizing ECT technique.

To the Editor: The special issue of the Journal of ECT (Vol 24, No 1, 2008) focused on and brought together a wealth of information on cognitive side effects of electroconvulsive therapy (ECT). Some patients still experience unacceptable cognitive impairment from ECT. They should not have to. Numerous strategies are available to optimize ECToutcome: varying ECT technique, anesthesia, and pharmacological interventions. We have reported of a large series of ECT without cognitive deficits. The design of the ECT devices used in these series was based on animal experiments devised to optimize ECT stimulus. Apparently, safe and effective ECT is possible, given proper stimulus characteristics and electrode placement. Electroconvulsive therapy stimulus has several parameters, none of which quantifies it adequately. Pulse shape, width, frequency, peak current, stimulus duration, energy, charge, and power cannot be changed independently. The optimal combination remains unknown, but progress is being made. Ultrabrief pulses and longer stimuli of up to 8-second duration are becoming more common. The optimal frequency and peak current are not yet known. Unilateral ECT (UL) causes less cognitive damage than bilateral ECT, but it may be less effective. Various electrode placements have been used, but others might be more advantageous. The use of UL initially focused on nondominant hemisphere to minimize cognitive deficits; but because laterality does not really matter, most clinicians use right unilateral ECT. R.D. Maxwell suggested alternating sides with UL (verbal communication, circa 1978) on the basis that UL repeated on the same side produced EEG slowing with delta and theta waves consistent with encephalopathy and ECT-induced brain dysfunction, whereas alternating sides did not. In my experience, he was correct, and alternating sides reduces cognitive deficits substantially. He also suggested a diagonal electrode placement of electrodes to maximize the current flow through the centrencephalic regions, placing one electrode frontotemporally on one side and the other occipitally on the other side. This holds a promise of higher efficacy if the generalization of seizure activity to the deeper brain structures is the key to its therapeutic effect. Another idea for electrode placement comes from anesthesia. Electroanalgesia uses placement of one electrode on the forehead and two electrodes behind the ears. This results in the electric current flowing along the CSF duct and surrounding structures, including the limbic system. Further improvements in safety and efficacy of ECT are certainly possible.
Clinical manifestations of pulmonary and extra-pulmonary tuberculosis

Cough is the commonest presentation. Initially it may be nonproductive, but as inflammation and tissue necrosis ensue, sputum is produced. Haemoptysis is occasionally a presenting symptom but usually results from previous disease and may not indicate active tuberculosis. It may arise from tuberculous bronchiectasis, rupture of a dilated vessel in the wall of a cavity (Rasmussen’s aneurysm), bacterial or fungal infection (especially Aspergillus mycetoma) in a cavity or erosion into an airway (broncholithiasis). Inflammation of the lung parenchyma adjacent to a pleural surface may cause pleuritic pain. Dyspnoea is unusual unless there is extensive disease and may result in respiratory failure [11, 12]. Rales or crackles may be heard in the area of involvement and bronchial breathing indicating consolidation.
A study on content-based music classification

Content-based music recognition can play an important role in human cognition research and multimedia applications. In this paper, we present a study on content-based music classification using short-time analysis techniques together with pattern recognition techniques to distinguish between five music styles. A database of total 1027 audio signals (99 piano, 204 symphony, 304 popular song, 242 Beijing opera, and 178 Chinese comic dialogues) is used for the experiments, which is much larger than the previous works. A comparative evaluation between different short-time features in terms of their classification ability, as well as between different classifiers is carried out on the database. The results show that harmonious degree is the most effective feature and the BPNNC is the best classifier. Some interesting results about different music styles are also reported.
Detection of Chlorella‐specific IgE in mould‐sensitized children

The content of IgE, specific to the unicellular green alga Chlorella sp. , was analysed in sera from 46 atopic children sensitized to moulds, using radioallergosorbent test (RAST), immunoblotting and crossed immunoelectrophoresis/crossed radioimmunoelectrophoresis (CIE/CRIE). Chlorella‐specific IgE was found in 23/46 sera by RAST, in 28/41 sera by immunoblotting and in 6/30 sera by CIE/CRIE. The Chlorella components most frequently binding IgE as analysed by gradient gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting were of molecular weights of approximately 13, 17, 19, 26 and 49 kD. Twenty‐nine precipitating antigens, including seven IgE‐binding precipitates were detected by CIE/CRIE. The study shows that low concentrations of specific IgE are formed to the green alga Chlorella in sera from atopic individuals sensitized to moulds.
NIPBL mutations and genetic heterogeneity in Cornelia de Lange syndrome

Cornelia de Lange syndrome (CdLS, also called Brachmann de Lange syndrome; OMIM 122470) is characterised by pre- and postnatal growth retardation, microcephaly, severe mental retardation with speech delay, feeding problems, major malformations including limb defects, and characteristic facial features.1 Facial dysmorphism includes arched eyebrows, synophrys, short nose with anteverted nares, long philtrum, thin upper lip, and micrognathia. Although few autosomal dominant forms of CdLS have been described,2,3 the large majority of cases are sporadic, and the scarcity of these familial forms has hampered the identification of the gene(s) underlying CdLS.4 Finally, rare cases of CdLS have been associated with balanced chromosomal translocations.5–7 A gene responsible for CdLS has been recently identified by two groups. Indeed, Krantz et al performed genome-wide linkage exclusion mapping in 12 CdLS families and identified a locus on chromosome 5p13.8 This locus mapped close to both a translocation breakpoint and a small de novo deletion associated with CdLS. Studying the 5p13 translocation breakpoint allowed both groups to identify a disrupted gene which they called NIPBL , for Nipped-B like.8,9 NIPBL is the human homolog of the Drosophila Nipped-B gene, the product of which belongs to the family of chromosomal adherins. The Drosophila Nipped-B protein is involved in chromatid cohesion processes and enhancer-promoter communication.10,11 The exact function of the human NIPBL gene product, called delangin, is unknown, but its wide expression pattern, including expression in embryonic limb bud, branchial arch, and craniofacial mesenchyme, is consistent with many of the anomalies observed in CdLS. NIPBL mutations have been identified in 20–50% of CdLS cases,8,9,12 suggesting that some mutations may have escaped detection and/or that CdLS is genetically heterogeneous. To address this question, we performed a comprehensive clinical, cytogenetic, and molecular study in 14 affected …
Immunoglobulins in nasal secretions and nasal mucosa in perennial rhinitis.

Quantitative identification of albumin, and immunoglobulin G, A, M and E in the nasal secretion and serum was done in 25 patients with perennial rhinitis and in 15 normal subjects. By immunofluorescent microscopy of biopsies from the inferior turbinate immunoglobulin-producing plasma cells were identified by using FITC-marked antiglobulin against IgG, IgA, IgM and IgE. The presence of IgG and IgA in the nasal secretion and serum was not significant, and there was no difference between normal and patient groups. IgM was detected in nasal secretion in the patient group, probably due to increased permeability of the mucosa. This explanation is supported by the fact that albumen was also found in a rather high concentration in the patient material. The presence of IgM-producing plasma cells was more frequently found in the patient group than in the control subjects and in those patients where presence of these cells was proved, a higher concentration of IgM in serum was shown, possibly indicating a generally .
ROBUST CONTROL AND VISUAL SERVOING OF AN UAV

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to show that a combination of a nonlinear controller for an UAV of quadrotor type and visual servoing for trajectories generation leads to better stability results in a perturbed environment. The quadrotor is an underactuated system and highly nonlinear, which induces some difficulties in the design of the controller and in particular the application of visual servoing. The dynamic model of the quadrotor has been established by taking into account the gyroscopic effects of the rotors. The state-space representation of the system has been chosen in such a way that it enables to derive a backstepping controller. To generate the trajectories, three types of visual servoing have been investigated, 2D, 3D and 2D1/2, in order to draw the advantages and the drawbacks of each approach. Numerical simulations have been performed and have confirmed the validity of the theoretical results, besides the backstepping controller has shown the ability to control the quadrotor in the presence of relatively high perturbation conditions.
Transglutaminase 2 inhibition found to induce p53 mediated apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC), the predominant form of kidney cancer, is characterized by high resistance to radiation and chemotherapy. This study shows that expression of protein cross‐linking enzyme transglutaminase 2 (TGase 2) is markedly increased in 7 renal cell carcinoma (RCC) cell lines in comparison to HEK293 and other cancer cell lines, such as NCI 60. However, the key role of TGase 2 in RCC was not clear. The down‐regulation of TGase 2 was found to stabilize p53 expression, thereby inducing a 3‐ to 10‐fold increase in apoptosis for 786‐O, A498, CAKI‐1, and ACHN cell lines by DAPI staining. MEF cells from TGase 2–/– mice showed stabilized p53 under apoptotic stress to compare to MEFs from wild‐type mice. TGase 2 directly cross links the DNA binding domain of p53, leading to p53 depletion via autophagy in RCC. TGase 2 and p53 expression showed an inverse relationship in RCC cells. This finding implies that induced expression of TGase 2 promotes tumor cell survival through p53 depletion in RCC. —Ku, B.M. , Kim, D. ‐S. , Kim, K. ‐H. , Yoo, B.C., Kim, S. ‐H. , Gong, Y. ‐D. , Kim, S. ‐Y. , Transglutaminase 2 inhibition found to induce p53 mediated apoptosis in renal cell carcinoma. FASEB J. 27, 3487–3495 (2013). www.fasebj. org
Enhanced Band-to-Band-Tunneling-Induced Hot-Electron Injection in p-Channel Flash by Band-gap Offset Modification

A novel p-channel flash device with a SiGe layer is proposed, which is based on the analysis made with the simulator MEDICI, to enhance the band-to-band-tunneling current and improve the programming speed. The programming biases of the p-channel flash device can be reduced with an equal programming speed. Simulation results show that more than one hundred times enhancement in the programming speed or 35% reduction of the drain voltage can be achieved in the proposed p-channel flash device with a 40% Ge content in the surface SiGe layer. In addition, a Si-cap layer is inserted between the SiGe and the tunneling oxide to obtain a high-quality interface and to optimize the cell structure
Supersonic Relative Velocity Effect on the Baryonic Acoustic Oscillation Measurements

We investigate the effect of supersonic relative velocities between baryons and dark matter, recently shown to arise generically at high redshift, on baryonic acoustic oscillation (BAO) measurements at low redshift. The amplitude of the relative velocity effect at low redshift is model-dependent, but can be parameterized by using an unknown bias. We find that if unaccounted, the relative velocity effect can shift the BAO peak position and bias estimates of the dark energy equation-of-state due to its non-smooth, out-of-phase oscillation structure around the BAO scale. Fortunately, the relative velocity effect can be easily modeled in constraining cosmological parameters without substantially inflating the error budget. We also demonstrate that the presence of the relative velocity effect gives rise to a unique signature in the galaxy bispectrum, which can be utilized to isolate this effect. Future dark energy surveys can accurately measure the relative velocity effect and subtract it from the power spectrum analysis to constrain dark energy models with high precision.
Nature of the genetic determinant controlling encapsulation in Staphylococcus aureus Smith

Two strains of Staphylococcus aureus, Smith and M, were studied for the elimination of encapsulation. For S. aureus M, encapsulation was stable. For S. aureus Smith, spontaneous loss of encapsulation was 1.3% and increased markedly in medium containing surface-active agents. In the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate, unencapsulated cells had a considerable selective advantage. Attempts to demonstrate covalently closed circular plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid were unsuccessful. In cultures of unencapsulated cells, encapsulated cells were observed occasionally. These data argue against a plasmid location for the determinants controlling encapsulation in this organism in spite of a high spontaneous loss of this character.
Physical activity, diet and gene–environment interactions in relation to body mass index and waist circumference: The Swedish Young Male Twins Study

Abstract Objective The aim of the present study was to examine the relationships between genetic susceptibility to obesity, physical activity (PA), dietary fibre, sugar and fat intakes and 4-year changes in body mass index (BMI) and attained waist circumference (WC) in a cohort of 287 monozygotic and 189 dizygotic young adult male twin pairs. Increased knowledge about interactions between genes and environment may provide insight into why some individuals are more prone to obesity than others. Design Information about PA, BMI, dietary habits, WC and potential confounders was collected by questionnaire in 1998 and 2002. The cohort data were analysed by mixed linear models. Results Twins with low PA attained larger WC than twins with high PA (difference 2.5 cm; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.3, 3.6). The twins with the lowest fibre intake were found to have attained the highest WC and to have increased most in BMI (difference between highest and lowest fibre intakes: 1.6 cm, 95% CI 0.4, 2.9 and 0.45 kg m−2, 95% CI 0.15, 0.76, respectively). Furthermore, our results suggested the presence of interactions so that twins with genetic susceptibility to obesity were more prone to have larger WC if sedentary than twins without genetic susceptibility. Conclusion PA and a diet rich in fibre may be protective against weight gain among younger adult men. An interaction between PA, genes and attained WC is a novel finding which needs confirmation by other studies.
Persistent neurotoxicity of systemically administered interferon‐alpha

Fourteen cancer patients had evidence of persistent neurotoxicity of interferon‐alpha therapy long after their treatment was discontinued. Although most of the cognitive symptoms were mild to moderate in severity, they were incapacitating to these individuals in their usual work. The neuropsychological test abnormalities were not attributable to subsequent therapy, disease status, or other medical problems. The pattern of deficits was consistent with frontal‐subcortical dysfunction. Of the four patients who had follow‐up assessment, two had improved and two had deteriorated. These findings suggest that in some cases interferon neurotoxicity is not reversible. NEUROLOGY 1991;41:672‐676