Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mammalian‐enabled (MENA) protein enhances oncogenic potential and cancer stem cell‐like phenotype in hepatocellular carcinoma cells

Mammalian‐enabled (MENA) protein is an actin‐regulatory protein that influences cell motility and adhesion. It is known to play a role in tumorigenicity of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) but the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate the oncogenic potential of MENA and its capacity to regulate cancer stem cell (CSC)‐like phenotypes in HCC cells. Real‐time‐PCR and western blot were used to assess mRNA and protein levels of target genes in human HCC tissue specimens and HCC cell lines, respectively. Stable MENA‐overexpressing HCC cells were generated from HCC cell lines. Transwell cell migration and colony formation assays were employed to evaluate tumorigenicity. Ectopic expression of MENA significantly enhanced cell migration and colony‐forming ability in HCC cells. Overexpression of MENA upregulated several hepatic progenitor/stem cell markers in HCC cells. A high MENA protein level was associated with high mRNA levels of MENA, CD133, cytokeratin 19 (CK19), and epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) in human HCC tissues. Overexpression of MENA enhanced epithelial‐to‐mesenchymal transition (EMT) markers, extracellular signal‐regulated kinases (ERK) phosphorylation, and the level of β‐catenin in HCC cells. This study demonstrated that overexpression of MENA in HCC cells promoted stem cell markers, EMT markers, and tumorigenicity. These effects may involve, at least partially, the ERK and β‐catenin signaling pathways.
Patterns of parental relatedness and pup survival in the grey seal (Halichoerus grypus)

Levels of parental relatedness can affect offspring survival and susceptibility to disease. We investigated parental relatedness of live and dead Halichoerus grypus pups between and within island populations and between possible causes of mortality. Nine microsatellites were used to calculate internal relatedness (IR) and standardized mean d2. We find that pups with higher than average levels of IR have significantly lower survival and that this varied between island populations and that certain loci contributed to the effect more than others. Although, there were no significant differences between causes of mortality, peritonitis, infection and stillborn had the highest levels of IR. These results provide evidence that parental relatedness is an important determinant of pre‐weaning pup survival in the grey seal and that this may vary with cause of mortality given a larger sample size.
Advances in Distributed Optimization Using Probability Collectives

Recent work has shown how information theory extends conventional full-rationality game theory to allow bounded rational agents. The associated mathematical framework can be used to solve distributed optimization and control problems. This is done by translating the distributed problem into an iterated game, where each agent's mixed strategy (i.e. its stochastically determined move) sets a different variable of the problem. So the expected value of the objective function of the distributed problem is determined by the joint probability distribution across the moves of the agents. The mixed strategies of the agents are updated from one game iteration to the next so as to converge on a joint distribution that optimizes that expected value of the objective function. Here, a set of new techniques for this updating is presented. These and older techniques are then extended to apply to uncountable move spaces. We also present an extension of the approach to include (in)equality constraints over the underlying variables. Another contribution is that we show how to extend the Monte Carlo version of the approach to cases where some agents have no Monte Carlo samples for some of their moves, and derive an "automatic annealing schedule".
Pneumonic lesions in lambs in New Zealand: patterns of prevalence and effects on production

Abstract AIM: To describe temporal and spatial patterns of the prevalence of pneumonia in lambs in three regions of New Zealand, and determine effects on liveweight gain. METHODS: A longitudinal study was conducted in 1999–2000 on 14 commercial sheep farms, five from the Southland region of the South Island, and five from the King Country and four from the Northland regions of the North Island. Pneumonia was known to be a problem in lambs on all farms selected. On each farm, 400 lambs were randomly selected at weaning and allocated at random to one of two groups (Groups I and II). Lambs in both groups were weighed at 4-weekly intervals. The extent of pneumonic lesions in lungs was scored visually at slaughter in 40 randomly selected lambs after each weighing (Group I). Lambs in Group II were selected for slaughter by the farm manager on a commercial basis of liveweight and body condition, then assessed for pneumonic lesions. RESULTS: Prevalence of extensive pneumonic lesions (≥10% lung surface area affected) increased from December to March from 1.4 to 10.1% lambs in Southland (n=1,917),1.2 to 25.7% in the King Country (n=1,831), and 4.7 to 21.4% in Northland (n=1,485). Overall, 42.3% of lambs in both groups had pneu- monic lesions (n=5,233) and in 15.1% of these, ≥5% of the lung surface area was affected. Daily weight gain in the month prior to slaughter was reduced in lambs for which ≥20% lung surface area was affected in Group I (p<0.05) but not in Group II. CONCLUSIONS: The association between pneumonic lesions and reduced weight gain was highly significant in lambs from Group I, but not from Group II. Thus, pneumonia had a negative impact on weight gain, and selection by farmers of lambs for slaughter counteracted this association in lambs from Group II. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Pneumonia occurs commonly as a subdinical disease in lambs in New Zealand. It has no public health significance and is not recorded at slaughter plants nor reported to farmer clients. Effects of the disease on daily weight gain of lambs is considerable and costly for lamb producers.
[Quality of life in multiple sclerosis: relation to the clinical parameters of the disease].

PURPOSE Multiple sclerosis is a chronic progressive disease with multiple neurological and psychological impairments. The object of this study was to investigate the relation between quality of life of MS patients and main clinical parameters of the disease. METHODS The study included 100 patients diagnosed with multiple sclerosis who were treated at the Department of Neurology, Clinical Center University in Sarajevo. Quality of life was evaluated by using MSQOL-54 questionnaire. Internal consistency of Bosnian MSQOL-54 version was evaluated. Associations between disability level (EDSS score), clinical type, disease duration, presence of pain and sphincteral problems and the MSQOL-54 physical and mental health composite scores were determined. RESULTS The MSQOL -54 questionnaire, translated to Bosnian, proved to be highly reliable (Cronbach alfa > 0.75 on all scales). All clinical determinants used in the sudy proved to be significantly related to the quality of life scores based on the Mann-Whitney test (p < 0.05). Method of linear regression analysis showed presence of pain and EDSS score as the most significant independent predictive factors of the physical health composite score (R2 = 0.827). The presence of pain and clinical type of disease, proved to be independent predictive factors of the mental health composite score with present, but less significant role of EDSS score (R2 = 0.598). CONCLUSION The presence of pain retained the most significant role in the prediction of both physical and mental composite scores, which proved the importance of pain management in treatment of MS patients. Disability level (EDSS score) showed minor importance in predicting mental health composite scores which proved deficiency of clinical scales and emphasize the importance of the quality of life measures as independent criteria in the evaluation of multiple sclerosis patients.
Revisió del gènere de cinípid «Zapatella» Pujade-Villar & Melika amb la descripció de dues espècies noves de Colòmbia (Hymenoptera, Cynipidae, Cynipini)

Es descriuen dues especies noves de Zapatella dels departaments colombians de Boyaca i Cundinamarca: Z. cupulae Fernandez-Garzon, Caicedo, Rodriguez & Pujade-Villar n. sp. i Z. migueli Pujade-Villar i Fernandez-Garzon n. sp. Les noves especies corresponen respectivament a una generacio d’agamiques i a una altra de sexuals que provoquen gales als aglans de Quercus humboldtii. Es mostren i il·lustren els principals caracters morfologics d’aquestes noves especies. Despres d’aquest estudi, Zapatella inclou un total de tretze especies distribuides en el continent america tant a la regio holartica com a la neotropical. Tambe s’hi inclou una clau d’especies de Zapatella .
Age-associated Changes in /3-Adrenergic Modulation on Rat Cardiac Excitation-Contraction Coupling

Previous studies have demonstrated that the ability of (.-adrenergic receptor (.BAR) stimulation to increase cardiac contractility declines with aging. In the present study, the control mechanisms of excitation-contraction (EC) coupling, including calcium current (Ice), cytosolic Ca2" (Ca? ') transient and contraction in response to BAR stimulation were investigated in ventricular myocytes isolated from rat hearts of a broad age range (2, 6-8, and 24 mo). While the baseline contractile performance and the Ca? ' transient did not differ markedly among cells from hearts of all age groups, the responses of the Ca;' transient and contraction to fi-adrenergic stimulation by norepinephrine (NE) diminished with aging: the threshold concentration and the EDSO increased in rank order with aging; the maximum responses of contraction and Cai+ transient decreased with aging. Fur-thermore, the efficacy of fiAR stimulation to increase 1C. was significantly reduced with aging, and the diminished responses of the contraction and Ca? ' transient amplitudes to NE were proportional to the reductions in the Ic response. These findings suggest that the observed age-associ-ated reduction in fAR modulation of the cardiac contraction is, in part at least, due to a deficit in modulation of Ca? +, particularly the activity of L-type calcium channels. (J. Clin. Invest. 1994. 94:2051-2059.)
Expression of oxidative phosphorylation genes in renal tumors and tumoral cell lines

To investigate the regulation of genes encoding the proteins involved in energy metabolism in cancer cells, we studied the expression of several mitochondrial and nuclear genes involved in ATP production. Northern blot analysis was performed on renal tumors of different types: a clear cell carcinoma, an oncocytoma, and urothelial tumors at two different stages. The steady‐state transcript patterns were compared with those observed in cell lines derived from renal tumors and in transformed cell lines. Striking differences were revealed among the three types of tumors, their respective controls, and the cultured renal cells. The levels of all mitochondrial transcripts were lower in tumor biopsies and tumoral cell lines than in the normal cell types. Moreover, a higher transcript level of nuclear genes involved in oxidative phosphorylation was observed in the oncocytomas and in the more malignant urothelial tumor. Different transcript patterns were observed in each of the tumoral and transformed cell lines, explaining the difference in metabolism between the different tumors and the tumoral or transformed cell lines. In particular, a high transcript level for the adenine nucleotide translocator isoform 2 (ANT2) gene, which is usually not expressed in differentiated cells, was observed in oncocytoma and malignant urothelial renal tumor. This phenomenon was also observed in renal carcinoma cell lines and transformed cells. These data provide the first argument for the involvement of the ANT2 protein in glycolytic ATP uptake in cancer cell mitochondria and suggest a possible ANT2 antisense strategy for cancer therapy. © 1996 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Effects of Quality of Energy Intake on Growth and Metabolic Response of Enterally Fed Low-Birth-Weight Infants

Carbohydrate and fat may vary in their ability to support protein accretion and growth. If so, variations in the source of nonprotein energy might be used to therapeutic advantage in enterally fed low-birth-weight infants. To test the hypothesis that high-carbohydrate diets are more effective than isocaloric high-fat diets in promoting growth and protein accretion, low-birth-weight infants weighing 750–1600 g at birth were randomized in a double blind study to receive one of five formulas differing only in the quantity and quality of nonprotein energy. Groups 1, 2, and control received 130 kcal·kg−1·d−1 with 35, 65, and 50% of the nonprotein energy as carbohydrate. Groups 3 and 4 received energy intake of 155 kcal·kg−1·d−1 with 35 and 65% of the nonprotein energy as carbohydrate. Protein intake of all groups was 4 g·kg−1·d−1. Growth and metabolic responses were followed weekly, and macronutrient balances including 6-h indirect calorimetry were performed biweekly. Greater rates of weight gain and nitrogen retention were observed at high-carbohydrate intake compared with high-fat intake at both gross energy intakes. Greater rates of energy storage and an increase in skinfold thickness were observed in group 4 (high-energy high-carbohydrate diet) despite higher rates of energy expenditure. These data support the hypothesis that at isocaloric intakes, carbohydrate is more effective than fat in enhancing growth and protein accretion in enterally fed low-birth-weight infants. However, a diet with high-energy and high-carbohydrate content also results in increased fat deposition.
Relationships between cagA, vacA, and iceA genotypes of Helicobacter pylori and DNA damage in the gastric mucosa

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) is believed to predispose carriers to gastric cancer by inducing chronic inflammation. The inflammatory processes may result in the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species that damage DNA. In this study, we investigated the relationships between DNA damage in the gastric mucosa and cagA, vacA, and iceA genotypes of H. pylori. The study was conducted with biopsies from the gastric antrum and corpus of 98 H. pylori‐infected and 26 uninfected control patients. H. pylori genotypes were determined by PCR and DNA damage was measured in gastric mucosal cells by the Comet assay (single cell gel electrophoresis). All patients were nonsmokers, not abusing alcohol, and not using prescription or recreational drugs. Levels of DNA damage were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the H. pylori‐infected patients than in uninfected patients. In comparison with the level of DNA damage in the uninfected controls, the extent of DNA damage in both the antrum (OR = 8.45; 95% CI = 2.33–37.72) and the corpus (OR = 6.55; 95% CI = 2.52–17.72) was related to infection by cagA+/vacAs1m1 and iceA1 strains. The results indicate that the genotype of H. pylori is related to the amount of DNA damage in the gastric mucosa. These genotypes could serve as biomarkers for the risk of extensive DNA damage and possibly gastric cancer. Environ. Mol. Mutagen. 44:91–98, 2004. © 2004 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
The interaction between L1-type proteins and ankyrins - a master switch for L1-type CAM function

L1-type cell adhesion molecules (CAMs) are important mediators of neural differentiation, including axonal outgrowth and pathfinding and also of synapse formation and maintenance. In addition, their interactions with cytoskeletal components are highly conserved and regulated. How these different aspects of CAM functionality relate to each other is not well understood. Based on results from our and other laboratories we propose that ankyrin-binding to L1-type CAMs provides a master switch. The interaction with ankyrins directs L1-type adhesive proteins into different functional contexts, either ankyrin-independent functions, such as neurite outgrowth and axonal pathfinding or into ankyrin-dependent functions, such as L1’s role at axon initial segments (AIS), paranodal regions, synapses and in dendrites.
Amino acid changes in the Sindbis virus E2 glycoprotein that increase neurovirulence improve entry into neuroblastoma cells

Sindbis virus (SV) is an alphavirus that causes encephalitis in mice and results in age-dependent mortality. The outcome is dependent on the virus strain. Residues at 55 and 172 in the E2 glycoprotein determine the neurovirulence for mice of different ages and the efficiency of replication in the nervous system and neuronal cells. To determine the effects of these two residues on the initial steps in replication, we studied viruses with a histidine or glutamine at E2 position 55 and a glycine or an arginine at position 172, E2[H55G172], E2[Q55G172], E2[H55R172], and E2[Q55R172]. The production of virus was detected earlier for viruses with a histidine at E2 position 55 in BHK-21 cells (4 to 6 versus 6 to 8 h) and for E2[H55G172] in N18 cells (6 versus 8 to 10 h). As shown previously, viruses with a glycine at E2 position 172 bound more efficiently to N18 cells and a histidine at E2 position 55 further improved binding only slightly. Viruses with E2[H55] exhibited more rapid internalization and degradation of viral proteins in both BHK-21 and N18 cells. Incubation of E2[H55G172] and E2[Q55G172] at various pHs and temperatures did not reveal differences in virion stability. These data suggest that the amino acids at E2 positions 172 and 55 affect both adsorption and penetration of SV and that these early steps in the replicative pathway contribute to increased neurovirulence.
Primary human herpesvirus 6 infection in young children.

BACKGROUND Human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6) is a recently discovered virus that, on the basis of serologic evidence, appears to infect most children by the age of three years. However, the clinical manifestations of primary HHV-6 infection have not been well defined. METHODS We studied consecutive children two years old or younger who presented to an emergency ward with febrile illnesses. Our evaluation included the isolation of HHV-6 from peripheral-blood mononuclear cells, an immunofluorescent-antibody assay, the detection of HHV-6 by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and restriction-endonuclease-fragment profiles of HHV-6 isolates. RESULTS HHV-6 was isolated from 34 of 243 acutely ill children (14 percent). The children with viremia had irritability, high temperatures (mean, 39.7 degrees C), and inflammation of tympanic membranes (in 21), but few other localizing signs. Two children were hospitalized, but all 34 recovered after an average of four days of fever. The rash characteristic of roseola, which has been associated with HHV-6 infection, was noted in only three children. In 29 children (85 percent), serum samples obtained during convalescence had at least a fourfold increase in IgG antibody titers; 4 infants less than three months old who presumably had maternal antibody did not have this increase. HHV-6 was isolated from blood obtained during convalescence in only one child, but in two thirds of the children the virus could be detected by PCR. The isolates had genomic heterogeneity, indicating the presence of multiple strains. CONCLUSIONS Primary infection with HHV-6 is a major cause of acute febrile illness in young children. Such infection is associated with varied clinical manifestations, viremia, and the frequent persistence of the viral genome in mononuclear cells.
The Effect of Aging on Visual Attention Shifting in Collaborative Document Editing

Many tasks, including driving, require frequent shifts in visual attention. Some visual shifting of attention is due to distraction from a secondary task, or from non-task relevant stimuli in the environment. Older people (e.g. over 60) are generally slower to react to stimuli and less skillful in learning to use new technologies. In this paper we are interested in studying the effect of age on the ability to shift visual attention in a task that involves computer use. An experiment is reported involving 10 participants, five who were over the age of 60 and five who were in their twenties and thirties. A collaborative editing task was carried out where participants, run one at a time, had to edit a document in real-time based on comments made by three research assistants (who were not participants for purposes of data collection). In one condition participants had to constantly shift their visual attention from a desktop computer they were using to a large shared screen where the research assistants made editing suggestions and used a laser pointer to indicate which part of the document (shown on the large shared screen) they were referring to. As expected, time to perform each editing task increased in the two-screen (vs. one screen) condition. However, the amount of slowing due to the use of two screens for the task was considerably greater for the older group. The results are interpreted in terms of the use of redesigned tools and technologies to assist older workers perform more effectively.
Factors Affecting Nonunion of the Allograft-Host Junction

Nonunion of allograft-host junction after bone transplantation is not uncommon, and its treatment frequently is problematic. To improve the understanding of these nonunions, a retrospective review was performed of 163 nonunions in 945 patients who underwent allograft transplantation (17.3%) for various benign and malignant tumors at the authors’ institution between 1974 and 1997. Of these 945 patients, 558 did not receive adjuvant therapy. Chemotherapy was administered to 354 patients and only 33 patients received radiation therapy alone. Seventy-one patients had radiation treatment and chemotherapy. Of the 163 patients who had nonunion develop at the allograft-host junction, there were 269 reoperations performed on the involved extremity. In 108 patients, treatment was successful resulting in union of the allograft-host junction. Forty-nine patients did not respond to multiple surgical treatment attempts. The greater the number of surgical procedures, the worse the outcome. The rate of nonunions increased to 27% for the patients who received chemotherapy as compared with 11% for the patients who did not receive chemotherapy. The order of allografts from highest rate of nonunion to lowest was as follows: alloarthrodesis, intercalary, osteoarticular, and alloprosthesis. Infection and fracture rates were higher in the patients with nonunions as compared with the patients without nonunions.
Visual Exploration of Word Vector Embeddings

The use of word vector embeddings as the basis for many upstream tasks in text processing has lead to large improvements in accuracy. However, the exact reasons for this success largely remain unclear, as the properties and relations that these embeddings encode are often not well understood. Our goal in this ongoing project is to design effective interactive visualizations that help practitioners and researchers understand and compare such spaces better. The initial steps we have taken is to review relevant literature to identify properties and relations of word vectors that are important for various applications. From these, we derive basic tasks to inform the design of adequate and effective interactive visualizations that help users gain deeper insights into the structure of vector spaces. In addition, we present three initial designs to support these tasks.