Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
OCT4 spliced variant OCT4B1 is expressed in human colorectal cancer

OCT4, a POU‐domain transcription factor is considered to be a key factor in maintaining the pluripotency of stem cells. Several OCT4 isoforms are differentially expressed in human pluripotent and non‐pluripotent cells. Reactivation of OCT4 expression is postulated to occur in differentiated cells that have undergone tumorigenesis. To examine OCT4 expression in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissues, and to assess the efficacy of OCT4 as a potential biomarker for CRC, in this study, we investigated its expression in CRC tissues, evaluated its relationship to various clinicopathological parameters and defined the isoform of OCT4 that was found to be expressed in CRC cases. Primary tumor tissues and matching adjacent non‐cancerous tissues were obtained from 84 CRC patients. OCT4 expression and isoform determination were documented by reverse transcription‐PCR and real‐time PCR. OCT4, Sox‐2, and NANOG localization were performed using immunohistochemistry. The isoforms expressed in the studied cases were confirmed by sequencing. Twenty biopsy specimens representing healthy tissues, retrieved from colonoscopy were studied in parallel as controls. OCT4 expression levels were higher in CRC tissues compared to matching, adjacent non‐cancerous tissues, and healthy controls. Additionally, the levels of OCT4 expression in CRC tissues correlated with tumor stage. OCT4 and Sox‐2 were localized in the nuclei and the cytoplasm of CRC cells. In all CRC cases, we found that the OCT4B1 isoform is expressed. Over‐expression of OCT4B1 was found in poorly and moderately differentiated CRC tissues. In conclusion, the data imply that OCT4B1 isoform may represent a potential biomarker for the initiation, progression, and differentiation of CRC. Mol. Carcinog. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Refactoring Java So ware Product Lines

Refactoring is a staple of Object-Oriented (OO) program development. It should be a staple of OO Software Product Line (SPL) development too. X15 is the rst tool to support the refactoring of Java SPL codebases. X15 (1) uses Java custom annotations to encode variability in feature-based Java SPLs, (2) projects a view of a SPL product (a program that corresponds to a legal SPL con guration), and (3) allows programmers to edit and refactor the product, propagating changes back to the SPL codebase. Case studies apply 2316 refactorings in 8 public Java SPLs and show that X15 is as e cient, expressive, and scalable as a state-of-the-art feature-unaware Java refactoring engine.
Prostate cancer detection with office based saturation biopsy in a repeat biopsy population.

PURPOSE Patients at increased risk for prostate cancer with previously negative biopsies pose a diagnostic challenge. We have previously demonstrated that extensive saturation biopsy can be performed in an office setting. We now report the diagnostic yield of office saturation biopsy in patients at increased risk for prostate cancer and at least 1 negative prior biopsy. MATERIALS AND METHODS We performed saturation prostate biopsy with local anesthesia in the office in 116 patients with at least 1 prior negative biopsy and with certain risk factors, namely persistently elevated prostate specific antigen, abnormal digital rectal examination, or prior atypia or PIN on prior biopsy. RESULTS A total of 34 cancers were detected for an overall diagnostic yield of 29%. A 64% detection rate was noted when a patient had undergone a single prior sextant biopsy. Subgroup analysis revealed a cancer detection rate of 41% when only prior sextant biopsies were performed, and a 24% detection rate when 10 or more cores were taken on prior biopsy. The detection rate was 33% when only 1 prior biopsy was taken and it was 24% when 2 or more prior biopsies were performed. CONCLUSIONS Saturation biopsy can be performed safely and effectively in the office with a significant diagnostic yield even in patients with previous extended biopsy schemes. We believe that it should be the next diagnostic step after an initial negative biopsy in patients in whom the diagnosis of prostate cancer is strongly suspected.
New technologies in clinical ultrasound.

Ultrasound (US) is the imaging modality of choice for a wide variety of clinical indications because of its excellent image quality combined with lack of ionizing radiation, relative portability, and low cost. Numerous advances in US technology over the past fewdecades, such as color and power Doppler, speckle reduction, compound imaging, harmonic imaging, and 3-D imaging have become the standard of care, adding critical information to the US examination. More recently, innovations in US technology, such as elastography, US contrast media, and high-intensity focused ultrasound (HIFU), have been introduced into clinical practice; other new technologies, such as capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) and photoacoustic imaging, are in development and are nearly ready for clinical use. These new and emerging technologies are the subject of this review.
Inhibition of human ether à go‐go potassium channels by Ca2+/calmodulin

Intracellular Ca2+ inhibits voltage‐gated potassium channels of the ether à go‐go (EAG) family. To identify the underlying molecular mechanism, we expressed the human version hEAG1 in Xenopus oocytes. The channels lost Ca2+ sensitivity when measured in cell‐free membrane patches. However, Ca2+ sensitivity could be restored by application of recombinant calmodulin (CaM). In the presence of CaM, half inhibition of hEAG1 channels was obtained in 100 nM Ca2+. Overlay assays using labelled CaM and glutathione S‐transferase (GST) fusion fragments of hEAG1 demonstrated direct binding of CaM to a C‐terminal domain (hEAG1 amino acids 673–770). Point mutations within this section revealed a novel CaM‐binding domain putatively forming an amphipathic helix with both sides being important for binding. The binding of CaM to hEAG1 is, in contrast to Ca2+‐activated potassium channels, Ca2+ dependent, with an apparent KD of 480 nM. Co‐expression experiments of wild‐type and mutant channels revealed that the binding of one CaM molecule per channel complex is sufficient for channel inhibition.
Changes in perceived heaviness and motor commands produced by cutaneous reflexes in man.

1. This study examined the relationship between the perceived heaviness of a weight and reflexes acting on the motoneurones required for the contraction. The perceived heaviness of low (100 g) and high (500 g) reference weights lifted by the first dorsal interosseous muscle was estimated using a matching task. Weights were also lifted during stimulation of the digital nerves of the index finger at two times and four times sensory threshold (T). Averages of force and EMG were also made when isometric forces of 100 and 500 g were maintained. 2. Stimuli at 4T produced a significant increase in perceived heaviness in each subject for both reference weights. Averages of EMG made under isometric conditions showed a short‐latency inhibition with a reflex reduction in force following single stimuli. This inhibition was also observed during weight lifting when trains of stimuli were given. 3. Stimuli at 2T produced less‐marked changes in EMG, averaged force, and perceived heaviness for individual subjects. However, for the group of subjects, perceived heaviness declined significantly with 2T stimuli for the 500 g but not the 100 g weight. This decrease in perceived heaviness was associated with evidence of short‐latency facilitation within the motoneurone pool. 4. Inhibition of the motoneurone pool was associated with an increase and facilitation with a decrease in perceived heaviness. These observations favour a role for a signal of centrally generated motor command in the sensation of heaviness and provide insight as to how this signal must change when reflex inputs change and when high‐threshold motoneurones are recruited.
Differential effects of lorazepam on sleep and activity in C57BL/6J and BALB/cJ strain mice

Compared to C57BL/6 mice, BALB/c mice exhibit greater ‘anxiousness’ on behavioural tests of anxiety, and can show significantly longer sleep disruptions after exposure to anxiogenic situations. Relative to C57BL/6 mice, BALB/c mice also have reduced benzodiazepine (BZ) receptor densities in the brain and fivefold less BZ receptor density in the amygdala, a region important in anxiety and in the control of arousal. Lorazepam is a BZ receptor full agonist and has been used to treat both anxiety and insomnia. Differences between C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice raise the question of whether BZ agonists would impact sleep and activity differentially in the two strains. We examined the effects of two doses of lorazepam (0.5 and 1.5 mg kg−1) or saline alone (0.2 mL) on sleep and activity in C57BL/6 (n = 8) and BALB/c (n = 7) mice. Compared to saline, both doses of lorazepam significantly increased non‐rapid eye movement (NREM) and reduced activity in both strains. In C57BL/6 mice, rapid eye movement (REM) was increased at both doses. In BALB/c mice, the 0.5 mg kg−1 dose had no significant influence on REM, whereas REM was reduced significantly after the 1.5 mg kg−1 dose. The results demonstrate significant differences between C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice in the effects of lorazepam on REM, whereas the effects on NREM and activity were similar. Strain differences in the number of BZ receptors in the amygdala, but not other brain regions, suggests possible site specificity in the effects of lorazepam on REM. These differences in BZ‐binding sites in the amygdala could be a significant factor in differences in the sleep response between C57 and BALB/c mice.
Prospective evaluation of household contacts of persons with hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome in chile.

BACKGROUND Andes virus (ANDV) infection, which has a case fatality rate of 37% in Chile, often occurs in household clusters and may be transmitted from person to person. METHODS To determine the incidence and risk factors for additional household cases, we conducted a prospective study among recent household contacts of persons with hantavirus cardiopulmonary syndrome (HCPS) in Chile, including testing of serum for anti-hantavirus antibodies and blood cells for ANDV RNA by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). RESULTS We enrolled 76 index case patients and 476 household contacts, of whom 16 (3.4%) developed HCPS; 32.6% of 92 cases occurred in household clusters. The risk of HCPS was 17.6% among sex partners of index case patients, versus 1.2% among other household contacts (P<.001). Person-to-person transmission was definite in 3, probable in 9, and possible in 2 of the 16 additional household case patients. We detected ANDV RNA by RT-PCR in peripheral blood cells 5-15 days before the onset of symptoms or the appearance of anti-hantavirus antibodies. CONCLUSIONS In recent household contacts of persons with HCPS in Chile, the risk of HCPS was greatest among sex partners. Among the household contacts who developed HCPS, viremia preceded the onset of symptoms and the appearance of anti-hantavirus antibodies by up to 2 weeks.
Learning natural and unnatural phonological stress by 9- and 10-year-olds: A preliminary report

Research into adult learning of natural and unnatural pairs of artificial languages have demonstrated that it is easier to learn a phonological rule that is based on naturalness in language than a similar, but unnatural, version of the same rule (Wilson 2006, Carpenter 2010). Infants' learning of natural and unnatural phonology has produced mixed results (Gerken and Boltt, 2008; Seidl and Buckley, 2005). The present study focuses on older children's learning of a natural and unnatural version of a stress rule based on vowel height. The results show that 9- and 10-year-olds exhibit a bias towards the natural rule. I suggest that the bias develops from an interaction between general cognition and a language-specific one.
Deep Semantics-Aware Photo Adjustment

Automatic photo adjustment is to mimic the photo retouching style of professional photographers and automatically adjust photos to the learned style. There have been many attempts to model the tone and the color adjustment globally with low-level color statistics. Also, spatially varying photo adjustment methods have been studied by exploiting high-level features and semantic label maps. Those methods are semantics-aware since the color mapping is dependent on the high-level semantic context. However, their performance is limited to the pre-computed hand-crafted features and it is hard to reflect user's preference to the adjustment. In this paper, we propose a deep neural network that models the semantics-aware photo adjustment. The proposed network exploits bilinear models that are the multiplicative interaction of the color and the contexual features. As the contextual features we propose the semantic adjustment map, which discovers the inherent photo retouching presets that are applied according to the scene context. The proposed method is trained using a robust loss with a scene parsing task. The experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the existing method both quantitatively and qualitatively. The proposed method also provides users a way to retouch the photo by their own likings by giving customized adjustment maps.
Transfusion‐transmitted arboviruses

There exists considerable risk for transfusion transmission of arboviruses due to short periods of asymptomatic viraemia in populations with variable and sometimes extremely high incidence of arboviral infections. Aside from West Nile virus, few arbovirus transfusion transmissions have been proven, mostly due to difficulties in ruling out vector‐borne transmission in recipients with arbovirus disease. Nevertheless, arbovirus transfusion risk models and assessments of viraemia prevalence in blood donations indicate substantial transfusion transmission of dengue and Chikungunya viruses in epidemic areas. Many other arboviruses, several of which are importation risks in the Americas, Europe and Asia, also cause large outbreaks and threaten transfusion safety. Prevention largely depends on excluding donors from outbreak areas or implementation of highly sensitive nucleic acid amplification tests. Because of the increasing emergence of arboviral disease globally, it is prudent to prepare for both endemic and exotic arboviruses capable of producing large epidemics and subsequent transfusion transmission risk.
Discrete-time distributed optimization for multi-agent systems under Markovian switching topologies

The present paper develops a distributed protocol solving the distributed optimization problem for multi-agent systems with the discrete-time dynamics under Markovian switching topologies. Both the completely known probabilities and partially unknown probabilities in the transition matrices are taken into account. Through the proper coordination of transformation, the optimization under consideration is transformed into stability analysis of the closed-loop systems with the optimal point. Furthermore, we avert to use Young's inequality to derive the convergence condition, which is simpler and less conservative. Numerical simulations are also given to testify the proposed theorems.
Fracture resistance and mode of failure of various types of root filled teeth.

AIM To investigate ex vivo the influence of the post system on fracture resistance and failure mode of root filled incisor, canine, premolar and molar teeth. METHODOLOGY Eighty human teeth were divided into eight groups (n = 10) resulting from the interaction between the two study factors: post system (glass fibre post; cast Ni-Cr alloy post and core) and type of tooth (maxillary incisors, maxillary canines, maxillary premolars and mandibular molars). All roots were prepared with a 2-mm ferrule and restored with metal crown. Fracture resistance (N) was assessed in a mechanical testing device, and the data were analysed by two-way anova (4 × 2) followed by Tukey's test (α = 0.05). The failure mode was evaluated using an optical stereomicroscope and classified according to the location of the failure. Failure mode data were analysed by two-factor anova and Student-Newman-Keuls (SNK) tests (α = 0.05). Correlation between fracture resistance and failure mode was analysed by linear regression. RESULTS Glass fibre and cast posts and cores had similar fracture resistance, regardless of the type of tooth. Canines and molars had significantly higher fracture resistance (P < 0.001) than premolars. Incisors teeth had significantly lower fracture resistance (P < 0.001) than premolars. The fracture mode for incisors, premolars and molars was more amenable to restoration when the teeth were restored with glass fibre posts. Fracture resistance had no correlation with fracture mode, regardless of the post system and type of tooth analysed. CONCLUSIONS Post system had no significant effect on fracture resistance, regardless of the type of tooth. The mode of fracture was more restorable with glass fibre posts.
Design of a contactless sensor system for woven-bag manufacture monitoring

An affordable and robust contactless sensor system was designed for woven-bag manufacture production monitoring. Based on user requirements and the need to function in the presence of moisture, dust, and other harsh environmental conditions in a factory such as constant vibrations, a closed-loop Hall-effect magnetic field sensor was selected. The system was constructed and then lab-tested to be rugged, reliable and maintenance-free. In addition, a production management system using the sensor was developed to improve the effectiveness and efficiency in controlling the overall manufacturing process. This system is capable of detecting defects related to machine operations in a woven-bag manufacturing factory in order to improve production rates.
Factors influencing faecal nitrogen excretion in sheep. 1. The digestibility and level of intake of pelleted diets.

Zusammenfassung Einflusfaktoren auf die fakale Stickstoffexkretion bei Schafen. 1. Der Einflus der Verdaulichkeit des Futters und des Futterungsniveaus bei pelletierten Futtermitteln Bei Schafen (38–51 kg Lebendgewicht), die mit einer Kanule am Duodenum versehen wa-ren, wurde die Durchflusgeschwindigkeit von Stickstoff im Duodenuminhalt gemessen. Die Tiereerhielten zwei verschiedene Pelletarten mit unterschiedlichem Rohfasergehalt und jede Pelletart wurde bei drei verschiedenen Futterungsniveaus verfuttert. Die Pellets bestan-den aus Grasmehl (Futter 1) oder aus einer Mischung von gemahlenem Gerstenstroh (70 %), Sojabohnenextraktionsschrot (20 %), Gerstenmehl (6,5%), Mineralstoffen (3,0 %) und einer Vitaminmischung (0,5 %) (Futter 2). Futter 1 wurde in Mengen von 350, 795 und 1060 g Trockensubstanz und Futter 2 in Mengen von 854, 1281 und 1708 g Trockensubstanz tag-lich verfuttert. Bezogen auf die verzehrte Menge organischer Substanz zeigt das Futterungsniveau kei-nen Einflus auf die Durchflusgeschwindigkeit der gesamten Stickstoffmenge, der Menge an mikrobiellem Stickstoff, der Stickstoffmenge im Duodenalinhalt, der Stickstoffmenge aus Zellwandmaterial pflanzlicher Herkunft wahrend der Passage durch das Duodenum. Die Konzentration von 2,6-Diaminopimelinsaure(DAPA) wurde eben falls nicht beeinflust. Bei hohem Rohfasergehalt (Futter 2) hatte das Futterungsniveau einen hoch signifikanten Fin-flus auf die Stickstoffausscheidung im Kot und zwar durch den Anstieg des wasserloshchen Stickstoffes im Kot. Daraus wird geschlossen, das bei Schafen die Herabsetzung der scheinbaren Stickstoff-verdaulichkeit, nach Aufnahme von rohfaserreichen Futterstoffen, entweder durch eine er-medngte Reabsorption von endogenem Stickstoff oder durch eine erhohte Sekretion von stickstoffhaltigen Verbindungen verursacht wird.
Human thrombomodulin: complete cDNA sequence and chromosome localization of the gene.

A human umbilical vein endothelial cell cDNA library in lambda gt11 was screened for expression of thrombomodulin antigens with affinity-purified rabbit polyclonal anti-thrombomodulin immunoglobulin G (IgG) and mouse monoclonal anti-human thrombomodulin IgG. Among 7 million recombinant clones screened, 12 were recognized by both antibodies. Two of these, lambda HTm10 and lambda HTm12, were shown to encode thrombomodulin by comparison of the amino acid sequence deduced from the nucleotide sequence to the amino acid sequence determined directly from tryptic peptides of thrombomodulin. Thrombomodulin mRNA was estimated to be 3.7 kilobases in length by Northern blot analysis of endothelial cell and placental poly(A)+ RNA. Thrombomodulin mRNA was not detected in human brain, HepG2 hepatoma cells, or the monocytic U937 cell line. Additional cDNA clones were selected by hybridization with the 1.2-kilobase insert of lambda HTm10. One isolate, lambda HTm15, contained a 3693 base pair cDNA insert with an apparent 5'-noncoding region of 146 base pairs, an open reading frame of 1725 base pairs, a stop codon, a 3'-noncoding region of 1779 base pairs, and a poly(A) tail of 40 base pairs. The cDNA sequence encodes a 60.3-kDa protein of 575 amino acids. The predicted protein sequence includes a signal peptide of approximately 21 amino acids, an amino-terminal ligand-binding domain of approximately 223 amino acids, an epidermal growth factor (EGF) homology region of 236 amino acids, a serine/threonine-rich segment of 34 amino acids, a membrane-spanning domain of 23 amino acids, and a cytoplasmic tail of 38 amino acids. The EGF-homology region consists of six tandemly repeated EGF-like domains. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
A Constructive Algorithm that Converges for Real-Valued Input Patterns

A constructive algorithm is presented which combines the architecture of Cascade Correlation and the training of perceptron-like hidden units with the specific error-correcting roles of Upstart. Convergence to zero errors is proved for any consistent classification of real-valued pattern vectors. Addition of one extra element to each pattern allows hyper-spherical decision regions and enables convergence on real-valued inputs for existing constructive algorithms. Simulations demonstrate robust convergence and economical construction of hidden units in the benchmark "N-bit parity" and "twin spirals" problems.
Antinociception Produced by 14,15-Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acid Is Mediated by the Activation of β-Endorphin and Met-Enkephalin in the Rat Ventrolateral Periaqueductal Gray

Cytochrome P450 genes catalyze formation of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) from arachidonic acid. The effects of 5,6-EET, 8,9-EET, 11,12-EET, and 14,15-EET microinjected into the ventrolateral periaqueductal gray (vlPAG) on the thermally produced tail-flick response were studied in male Sprague-Dawley rats. 14,15-EET microinjected into vlPAG (3–156 pmol) dose-dependently inhibited the tail-flick response (ED50 = 32.5 pmol). In contrast, 5,6-EET, 8,9-EET, and 11,12-EET at a dose of 156 pmol were not active when injected into the vlPAG. 14,15-EET failed to displace the radiobinding of [3H][d-Ala2,NHPe4, Gly-ol5]enkephalin (μ-opioid receptor ligand) or [3H]naltrindole (δ-opioid receptor ligand) in crude membrane fractions of rat brain. Tail-flick inhibition produced by 14,15-EET from vlPAG was blocked by intra-vlPAG pretreatment with antiserum against β-endorphin or Met-enkephalin or the μ-opioid receptor antagonist d-Phe-Cys-Tyr-d-Trp-Orn-Thr-Pen-Thr-NH2 (CTOP) or the δ-opioid receptor antagonist naltrindole but not with dynorphin A[1–17] antiserum or the κ-opioid receptor antagonist nor-binaltorphimine. In addition, tail-flick inhibition produced by 14,15-EET treatment was blocked by intrathecal pretreatment with Met-enkephalin antiserum, naltrindole, or CTOP but not with β-endorphin antiserum. It is concluded that 1) 14,15-EET itself does not have any affinity for μ- or δ-opioid receptors and 2) 14,15-EET activates β-endorphin and Met-enkephalin, which subsequently act on μ-and δ-opioid receptors to produce antinociception.