Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Polyamine – Lipid Conjugates as Effective Gene Carriers: Chemical Structure, Morphology, and Gene Transfer Activity

Development of more efficient and safer gene carriers using nonviral compounds is one of the most challenging aspects of gene therapy (Kay, 1997; Lasic, 1997). Compared to viral carrier systems, nonviral gene carrier systems have advantages in simplicity of use, lack of specific immune response, and ease of mass production due to the low cost of preparation; however, they have the disadvantage of low transfection efficiency, which needs to be overcome (Miller, 1998; Li & Huang, 2000). To improve the efficiency of nonviral carriers, many synthetic organic compounds, including cationic lipids (Felgner & Ringold, 1989; MacDonald et al., 1999; Felgner et al., 1987; Behr et al., 1989; Meyer et al., 1998), polycations (Boussif et al., 1995; Petersen et al., 2002; Koide et al., 2006; Russ et al., 2008; Haensler & Szoka, 1993; Shim & Kwon, 2009), and combinations thereof (Guillot-Nieckowski et al., 2007; Wu et al., 2001; Ewert et al., 2006; Takahashi et al., 2007; Matsui et al., 2006; Mustapa et al., 2009; Kogure et al., 2008), have been developed as nonviral gene carriers (Mintzer, M. A. & Simanek, E. E., 2009; also references cited therein). Substantial research has been reported on structure–activity relationships for cationic amphiphiles concerning the cationic and hydrophobic portions (Remy et al., 1994; Geall et al., 1999; Ewert et al, 2002; Byk et al., 1998; McGregor et al., 2001). Such amphiphiles form self-assembling micelles and liposomes in an aqueous phase, the structures of which have been investigated using small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) to gain knowledge about structure–activity relationship, particularly those involving ordered structures (lamellar, inverted hexagonal, and cubic phases) and their morphological changes (Koltover et al., 1998; Koynova, Wang & MacDonald, 2006) as well as about the size of complexes (Aoyama et al., 2003). The mechanism of gene delivery by such cationic carriers probably involves an endosomal pathway (Wrobel & Collins (1995)): (i) cellular uptake via endocytosis, (ii) DNA release from endosome, and (iii) entry into the nucleus. Many researchers have devised cationic compounds that facilitate the process, for example, ligand-conjugated molecules targeting a receptor such as integrin (Mustapa et al., 2007; Varga, Wickham & Lauffenburger, 2000), pH-responsive or cleavable molecules that enable escape of DNA from endosome (Russ et al, 2008; Oupicky, Parker & Seymour, 2002; Dauty et al., 2001; Miyake et al., 2004; Anderson,
Clinical value of fluorine-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography in bladder cancer.

PURPOSE Fluorine-18 2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG) positron emission tomography (PET)/computed tomography (CT) has been approved for imaging in many malignancies but not for bladder cancer. This study investigated the value of FDG-PET/CT imaging in the management of patients with advanced bladder cancer. PATIENTS AND METHODS Between May 2006 and February 2008, 57 patients with bladder cancer at our center underwent FDG-PET/CT after CT (n = 52) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI; n = 5). The accuracy of FDG-PET/CT was assessed using both organ-based and patient-based analyses. FDG-PET/CT findings were validated by either biopsy or serial CT/MRI. Clinician questionnaires performed before and after FDG-PET/CT assessed whether those scan results affected management. RESULTS One hundred thirty-five individual lesions were evaluable in 47 patients for the organ-based analysis. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 87% (95% CI, 76% to 94%) and 88% (95% CI, 78% to 95%), respectively. In the patient-based analysis, malignant disease was correctly diagnosed in 25 of 31 patients, resulting in a sensitivity of 81% (95% CI, 63% to 93%). FDG-PET/CT was negative in 15 of 16 patients without malignant lesions for a specificity of 94% (95% CI, 71% to 100%). Pre- and post-PET surveys revealed that FDG-PET/CT detected more malignant disease than conventional CT/MRI in 40% of patients. Post-PET surveys showed that clinicians changed their planned management in 68% of patients based on the FDG-PET/CT results. CONCLUSION FDG-PET/CT has excellent sensitivity and specificity in the detection of metastatic bladder cancer and provides additional diagnostic information that enhances clinical management more than CT/MRI alone. FDG-PET/CT scans may provide better accuracy in clinical information for directing therapy.
Adjuvant chemotherapy in stage IB neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the cervix

Background. Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the cervix is a very rare and aggressive tumor which tends to metastasize early. This tumor is similar histologically to small cell carcinoma of the lung. Conventional treatment with surgery and/or radiation therapy has not been successful and has prompted the use of adjuvant chemotherapy regimens similar to those used for small cell carcinoma of the lung.
FITNESS COSTS OF RAPID COLD‐HARDENING IN CERATITIS CAPITATA

Rapid cold‐hardening (RCH) is a unique form of phenotypic plasticity which confers survival advantages at low temperature. The fitness costs of RCH are generally poorly elucidated and are important to understanding the evolution of plastic physiology. This study examined whether RCH responses, induced by ecologically relevant diel temperature fluctuations, carry metabolic, survival, or fecundity costs. We predicted that potential costs in RCH would be manifested as differences in metabolic rate, fecundity, or survival in flies which have hardened versus those which have not, or flies that have experienced more RCH events would show greater costs than those which have experienced fewer events. One group of flies cooled to 10°C for 2 h for 11 consecutive days experienced daily RCH (Hardened), whereas the other group exposed to 15°C for the same 2‐h period each day formed a Control group. Hardened flies had higher survival at –5°C for 2 h than control flies (69 ± 9% vs. 44 ± 19%, P = 0.04). Hardened flies showed no metabolic or fecundity costs, but had reduced average survival (P = 0.0403). Thus, a major cost to repeated low temperature exposures in Ceratitis capitata is through direct mortality caused by chilling injury, although this appears not to be a direct cost of RCH.
Aetiology of peripheral atherosclerosis.

1 Gusella JF, Wexler NS, Conneally PM, et al. A polymorphic DNA marker genetically linked to Huntington's disease. Nature 1983;306:234-8. 2 Youngman S, Sarfarazi M, Quarrell OWJ, et al. Studies of a DNA marker (G8) genetically linked to Huntington disease in British families. Hum Genet 1986;73:333-9. 3 Haines J, Tanzi R, Wexler N, et al. No evidence of linkage heterogeneity between Huntington's disease and G8 (D4S 10). Am Hum Genet 1986;39(suppl):461. 4 Wasmuth JJ, Hewitt J, Smith B, et al. A highly polymorphic locus sery tightly linked to the Huntington's disease gene. Nature 1988;332:734-6. S Gilliam Tc, Bucan Al, MacDonald ME, et al. A DNA segment encoding two genes verv tightly linked to Huntington's disease. Science 1987;238:950-2. 6 Youngman S, Shaw DJ, Gusella JF, et al. New DNA probes localised to the region 4p S5. I-pter. Cytogenet Cell Genet (Human Gene Mapping 9) 1987;46:724-5. 7 Gusella J F, Tanzi RE, Bader PI, et al. Deletion of Huntington's disease-linked G8 (D4S10) locus in Wolf-Hirschhorn syndrome. Nature 1985;318:75-8. 8 Pritchard C, Casher D, Uglum E, et al. Physical mapping studies of the region surrounding the Huntington disease locus. AmJ Hum Genet 1988;43:(suppl):A1 55. 9 Anonymous. Presymptomatic detection of Huntington's chorea [Editorial]. Br Med J 1972; iii:540. 10 Thomas S. Ethics of a predictive test for Huntington's chorea. BrMedJ 1982;284:1383-9. 11 Quarrell OWJ, Tyler A, Mieredith AL, Youngman S, Upadhyaya M, Harper PS. Exclusion testing for Huntington's disease in pregnancy with a closely linked DNA marker. Lancet 1987;i: 1281-3. 12 Meissen GJ, Myers RH, Mastromauro CA, et al. Predictive testing for Huntington's disease with use of a linked DNA marker. N EnglJ Med 1988;318:535-42. 13 Harper PS, Sarfarazi M. Genetic prediction and family structure in Huntington's chorea. BrMedj 1985;290:1929-31. 14 Harper PS. A genetic marker for Huntington's disease. BrMedJ 1983;287:1567-8. 15 Morris M, Tyler A, Meredith L, Harper PS. Predictive testing for Huntington's disease: methods and problems. J Med Genet 1988;25:640. 16 Morris M, Tyler A, Harper PS. Adoption and genetic prediction for Huntington's disease. Lancet 1988;ii: 1069-70.
Unwinding the functions of the Pif 1 family helicases

Helicases are ubiquitous enzymes found in all organisms that are necessary for all (or virtually all) aspects of nucleic acid metabolism. The Pif1 helicase family is a group of 5′→3′ directed, ATPdependent, super-family IB helicases found in nearly all eukaryotes. Here, we review the discovery, evolution, and what is currently known about these enzymes in Saccharomyces cerevisiae (ScPif1 and ScRrm3), Schizosaccharomyces pombe (SpPfh1), Trypanosoma brucei (TbPIF1, 2, 5, and 8), mice (mPif1), and humans (hPif1). Pif1 helicases variously affect telomeric, ribosomal, and mitochondrial DNA replication, as well as Okazaki fragment maturation, and in at least some cases affect these processes by using their helicase activity to disrupt stable nucleoprotein complexes. While the functions of these enzymes vary within and between organisms, it is evident that Pif1 family helicases are crucial for both nuclear and mitochondrial genome maintenance.
Hemoglobin cycling in hemodialysis patients treated with recombinant human erythropoietin.

BACKGROUND Treatment with recombinant human erythropoietin (rHuEPO) has been a major advance for the management of anemia in patients on hemodialysis. Therapy, however, is often observed to be associated with recurrent cyclic fluctuations in hemoglobin levels. The purpose of this analysis was to describe the phenomenology of hemoglobin cycling during rHuEPO treatment. METHODS Data were analyzed for 281 hemodialysis patients treated at Winthrop-University Hospital Dialysis Centers between 1998 and 2003. Eligible patients' first full 1-year period with less than 10 hospital days was studied. Hemoglobin cycling (cycles with amplitude >1.5 g/dL and duration >8 weeks) and excursions (half of one full cycle) were analyzed. RESULTS Greater than 90% of patients experienced hemoglobin cycling. The mean number of hemoglobin excursions was 3.1 +/- 1.1 per patient/year. The mean amplitude per hemoglobin excursion was 2.51 +/- 0.89 g/dL. The mean duration of hemoglobin excursions was 10.3 +/- 5.1 weeks. Factors associated with initiation of up excursions included increases in rHuEPO dose (84%), intravenous iron treatment initiation or increase in dose (27%), posthospital discharge (36%), factors associated with down excursions included rHuEPO dose hold (15%) or dose reduction (62%), infection (6%), discontinuation of intravenous iron therapy (5%), and hospitalization (14%). Patients with frequent hemoglobin cycling (>two full cycles per year) were characterized as being more responsive to rHuEPO [index of EPO responsiveness (ERI) 1036 +/- 659 compared to 1992 +/- 701 for other patients] (P = 0.02). CONCLUSION Hemoglobin cycling is a common occurrence in rHuEPO-treated hemodialysis patients. It is most closely associated with frequent rHuEPO dose changes, hospitalization, and iron treatment practices.
On the Application of Locality Sensitive Hashing to Behavioral Web Analytics

In today’s constantly connected world, the dependence on web-based technologies is ubiquitous, creating opportunities for both malicious and benign activity. As a result, it is essential that we be able to identify users on the web. Although simple methods, such as tracking a user by userid or by IP address exist, these methods can easily be evaded if the user so desires, by creating multiple ids or operating from different IP addresses. However, due to habit, a user does not often change the way he or she browses the web, such as the time of day that she visits various genres of pages. In this project, we evaluate locality sensitive hashing (LSH) to uniquely identify and authenticate users based only on the day of the week, time of day, and genres of websites. In addition, we provide a novel extension of LSH, Mode Closest Hash (MCH).
Transcranial Doppler in 178 Patients Before, During, and After Carotid Endarterectomy

From July 1991 to March 1995, 178 patients who underwent 198 carotid surgical repairs were investigated preoperatively, intraoperatively, and postoperatively by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD). Preoperative TCD evaluation showed stenosis of the middle cerebral artery (MCA) in 4 patients (2.2%), siphon stenosis in 3 (1.6%), incomplete circle of Willis in 23 (12.9%), a decrease of mean blood flow velocity more than 70% of the basal value during digital common carotid compression in 31 (17.9%), and a critical reduction of vasomotor reactivity (no significant increase of mean blood flow velocity in the MCA during breath–holding test) in 34 (19.1%). Nine patients (5%) had surgery without preoperative angiography. In those patients the indication for surgery was based on color Doppler imaging and TCD investigations. Ninety surgical procedures were carried out under general anesthesia and 108 under locoregional anesthesia. In 37 surgeries (31.7%) a shunt was inserted: The use of a shunt was based on a decrease of mean blood flow velocity in the MCA below 50% of the basal value under general anesthesia or loss of consciousness combined with a decrease of mean blood flow velocity in the MCA higher than 70% of the basal value when locoregional anesthesia was employed. lntraoperative TCD monitoring showed a decrease of mean blood flow velocity in the MCA due to shunt malfunction in (8.3%) of 36 surgeries, turbulence of blood flow during declamping in 79 procedures (39.8%), and microembolic events in 10 patients (5%) that were related to one transient and one permanent neurological deficit. Another permanent deficit occurred in a patient without TCD signs. After surgery, TCD reliably detected an early asymptomatic occlusion of the carotid artery, hyperperfusion syndrome in 12 (6.0%), and an increase of vasomotor reactivity in 10 (29.4%) of 34 surgeries.
The broken trust and cooperation in borderline personality disorder

Trust and cooperation are essential features of human interpersonal transactions. Recent evidence suggests that these processes are related to brain areas implicated in social decision-making. These novel data provide a unique opportunity to characterize psychopathological conditions in which trust and cooperation are potentially impaired. Using economic games, independent investigations revealed that trust and cooperation are disrupted in patients with borderline personality disorder who have severe difficulties in their personal relationships and exhibit abnormal emotion regulation. Data from functional neuroimaging indicated that the abnormal activation of the anterior insula might be a key factor during these processes, together with the cingulate cortex and the amygdala.
Energy substrates for the rumen epithelium

A l’intdrieur du rumen les aliments subissent une digestion microbienne trks intense. Les acides gras volatils (AGV), produits terminaux de la fermentation des glucides alimentaires, sont largement absorb& h travers I’CpithClium ruminal dont les besoins CnergCtiques, liCs en grande partie au renouvellement cellulaire et aux processus de transports membranaires, peuvent ainsi &re couverts soit par les substrats CnergCtiques apportCs par le sang artCriel (glucose, glutamine, etc.), soit par les AGV directement issus de la lumikre ruminale. Avant le sevrage, les fermentations microbiennes a l’intkrieur du rumen ne sont pas encore bien Ctablies et le glucose constitue une source d’Cnergie importante pour 1’tpithClium. Ensuite son utilisation diminue au profit des AGV qui deviennent les principaux substrats Cnergttiques captts par la paroi du rumen. Contrairement h l’intestin grCle, l’epithklium ruminal utilise peu la glutamine comme substrat CnergCtique. Une partie des AGV absorbis est mktabolisCe dans 1’CpithClium ruminal et 18-33% de l’acide acCtique, 30-70% de I’acide propionique et 74-90% de racide butyrique produits dans le rumen n’apparaissent pas dans la circulation sanguine. Ce mCtabolisme depend en premier lieu d’une &ape d’activation transformant les AGV en acyl-CoA. L‘activitC relative des acyl-CoA vis-a-vis de I’acide acCtique, de l’acide propionique et de l’acide butyrique, mesurCe in vitro, est en accord avec les diffkrences de taux de mktabolisme observCes in vivo entre les diffirents AGV. Ces diffkrences de capacitC d’activation ainsi que les compCtitions entre AGV au niveau de 1’Ctape d’activation semblent favoriser le mCtabolisme de l’acide butyrique au niveau de 1’CpithClium ruminal alors que l’acide propionique serait principalement mCtabolisC dans le foie et l’acide acktique dans les tissus pkriphkriques. La production d’knergie par oxydation complkte des AGV n’est cependant pas l’unique voie du mCtabolisme des diffkrents AGV. L’acide butyrique est relativement peu oxydC dans l’kpithklium et la principale orientation de son mktabolisme est la production de composks citoniques. Le mCtabolisme de l’acide propionique peut libCrer de 1’Cnergie et du C02 mais il peut Cgalement donner du lactate, du pyruvate ou de l’alanine; l’importance relative de chacune de ces voies mktaboliques n’est pas encore bien connue. L’acide acCtique peut servir de prCcurseur 2 la synthkse de composCs cCtoniques mais sa principale utilisation est la production d’Cnergie via le cycle de Krebs. Ainsi, bien que le taux de mCtabolisme de l’acide acCtique dans 1’CpithClium soit faible, Ctant donne que cet AGV est le plus abondamment produit dans le rumen, il constitue vraisemblablement la principale source d’knergie pour les cellules CpithCliales.
Transpiration modulates phosphorus acquisition in tropical tree seedlings.

Several experiments were conducted with tropical tree and liana seedlings in which transpiration ratio and leaf phosphorus to carbon ratio (P:C) were measured. Transpiration ratio was expressed as kg H(2)O transpired g(-1) C incorporated into plant biomass, and leaf P:C as mg P g(-1) C. Leaf P:C was positively correlated with transpiration ratio across 19 species for plants grown under similar conditions (R(2) = 0.35, P < 0.01, n = 19). For five species in the dataset, multiple treatments were imposed to cause intra-specific variation in transpiration ratio. Within four of these five species, leaf P:C correlated positively with transpiration ratio. The slope and strength of the correlation varied among species. In one experiment, whole-plant P:C was measured in addition to leaf P:C. Patterns of correlation between whole-plant P:C and transpiration ratio were similar to those between leaf P:C and transpiration ratio. Together, these observations suggest that transpiration can influence the rate of P uptake from soil in tropical tree and liana seedlings. We suggest that this occurs through transport of inorganic phosphate and organic P compounds to root surfaces by transpiration-induced mass flow of the soil solution. The positive correlation between leaf P:C and transpiration ratio suggests that leaf P:C could decline in tropical forests as atmospheric CO(2) concentration rises, due to decreasing transpiration ratios.
GHz FBAR and SAW resonators manufactured ON GaN/Si

This paper presents the manufacturing and the microwave characterization of FBAR and SAW type resonators on GaN thin films grown on a high resistivity (111) oriented silicon subnstrste. The resonators have been manufactured using advanced micromachining technologies (for the FBAR structures)and nanolithographic techniques (for the IDT of the SAW structure). FBAR structures working at frequencies higher then 5 GHz have been obtained. For the SAW type structures a resonance at 4.8 GHz has been obtained for 250nm fingers series connection of the SAWs, and 7.1 GHz for 100–150nm fingers face to face SAW structures.
Lipid absorption and secretion in the chick: effect of raw soybean meal.

Lipid absorption was measured in 19-day-old chicks after feeding diets containing raw or heated soybean meals for 4 days. "Y served as an unabsorbed reference substance. There was considerable secretion of total fatty acids, lipid phos phorus, cholesterol and bile acids into the duodenum, accompanied by rapid absorption of all components between the duodenum and upper jejunum. Absorption of residual lipids and bile acids decreased steadily in the lower jejunum and ileum. Raw soybean meal caused greatly enhanced secretion of total fatty acids, lipid phosphorus, cholesterol and bile acids into the duodenum as compared to chicks fed heated soybean meal. There was also a markedly increased absorption of lipids and bile acids between the duodenum and upper jejunum, but a reduced rate of disappearance of the residual amounts of these compounds in the ileum and colon. The overall net absorption of fatty acids was slightly reduced by raw soybean meal, but quantitatively this effect was very small compared to the increased secretion and absorption. J. Nutr. 103: 1299-
Roscovitine Targets, Protein Kinases and Pyridoxal Kinase*[boxs]

(R)-Roscovitine (CYC202) is often referred to as a “selective inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinases. ” Besides its use as a biological tool in cell cycle, neuronal functions, and apoptosis studies, it is currently evaluated as a potential drug to treat cancers, neurodegenerative diseases, viral infections, and glomerulonephritis. We have investigated the selectivity of (R)-roscovitine using three different methods: 1) testing on a wide panel of purified kinases that, along with previously published data, now reaches 151 kinases; 2) identifying roscovitine-binding proteins from various tissue and cell types following their affinity chromatography purification on immobilized roscovitine; 3) investigating the effects of roscovitine on cells deprived of one of its targets, CDK2. Altogether, the results show that (R)-roscovitine is rather selective for CDKs, in fact most kinases are not affected. However, it binds an unexpected, non-protein kinase target, pyridoxal kinase, the enzyme responsible for phosphorylation and activation of vitamin B6. These results could help in interpreting the cellular actions of (R)-roscovitine but also in guiding the synthesis of more selective roscovitine analogs.
Images of Gaussian Random Fields: Salem Sets and Interior Points

Let X = fX(t);t 2R N g be a Gaussian random fleld in R d with stationary increments. For any Borel set E ‰ R N , we provide su‐cient conditions for the image X(E) to be a Salem set or to have interior points by studying the asymptotic properties of the Fourier transform of the occupation measure of X and the continuity of the local times of X on E, respectively. Our results extend and improve the previous theorems of Pitt [24] and Kahane [12, 13] for fractional Brownian motion.