cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Transcriptional targets of Notch signaling in lung cancer
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Lung cancer is currently the leading cause of cancer death in the United States and in the world. It is often diagnosed late due to the lack of specific symptoms and the lack of proven effective screening strategies. The responses of lung cancer to radiation therapy and to currently available chemotherapeutic agents are poor. Thus lung cancer portends a poor prognosis that has not improved greatly over the past several decades. A better understanding of the basic biology of lung cancer development and progression is urgently needed so that better therapeutic modalities can be developed. The Notch signaling pathway is a fundamental developmental pathway that regulates cell fate determination. This signaling pathway is critical for the development of many tissues, and has also been implicated in the pathogenesis of many cancers, including hematologic cancers such as T cell leukemia/lymphoma and solid organ cancers such as breast, gastrointestinal, and skin cancers. We found that Notch signaling is necessary for the development of Clara cells, an airway epithelial cell type that is thought to be the progenitor cells of lung adenocarcinoma. In addition, we found that the expression of components of the Notch signaling pathway is significantly decreased in human non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) samples compared to that in normal lung tissues from the same patients. We also found decreased expression of the Notch pathway in NSCLC cell lines. These findings lead us to postulate that deregulation in Notch signaling contributes to the development and/or cellular behavior of NSCLC. The molecular mechanism whereby Notch signaling may contribute to lung tumor pathogenesis is not known. Activation of Notch signaling leads to the induction of transcription of Notch target genes. Many Notch target genes are themselves transcriptional regulators, which in turn regulate the expression of other genes. Many of the genes whose expression is regulated by Notch signaling may be oncogenes or tumor repressor genes. Thus alteration in Notch signaling may lead to deregulation of the expression oncogenic or tumor suppressive gene products. We proposed to identify transcriptional targets of Notch signaling that may contribute to lung cancer pathogenesis. We will identify genes induced or repressed in lung adenocarcinoma cells by Notch activation using gene expression profiling. We will also identify transcriptional targets of Notch signaling by genome-wide location analyses (ChIP-on-chip assays).
Synthesis and property investigation of Schiff-base polycavitand nanocapsules
Creators: name: Sun, Junling
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2013

description: Disclosed are studies on the design and synthesis of polycavitand nanocapsules and their encapsulation properties. In Chapter 1, a general overview about capsular molecules is presented. In Chapter 2, the synthesis, characterization and chiral guest recognition of chiral tetracavitand nanocapsules and chiral hemicarcerands are described. For tetracavitand nanocapsule 41a, a two-step enantiomerization process is discussed. In Chapter 3, the rational design and synthesis of giant nanocapsules, including octahedral and rhombicuboctahedral nanocapsules is discussed. These nanocapsules formed quantitatively from condensation reactions between deep cavitands and linear aromatic linkers. In Chapter 4, effective molarities (EMs) of a series of hemicarcerands and nanocapsules were measured. The results show that solvents and the linker rigidity play an important role in the formation of hemicarcerands and EMs of nanocapsules 23, 65a, 6&a and 69 are mainly controlled by entropy. Furthermore, stepwise EMs of hemicarcerands 20b, 20d and 20g are discussed, too. In Chapter 5, the synthesis of hemicarcerands through liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) is described. Furthermore, encapsulation inside hemicarcerands 20b, 20d and 20g by grinding is discussed.  In Chapter 6, water-soluble acylhydrazone rhombicuboctahedral nanocapsules were synthesized. Preliminary results of protein encapsulation are also presented.
MOESM1 of Toll-like receptor-4 differentially mediates intestinal and extra-intestinal immune responses upon multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa association of IL10−/− mice with chronic colitis
Creators: name: Grunau, Anne
name: Escher, Ulrike
name: Kühl, Anja
name: Bereswill, Stefan
name: Heimesaat, Markus
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Genetics
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: Pharmacology
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Immunology
subject: FOS: Clinical medicine
subject: Cancer
subject: 110309 Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences
subject: 60506 Virology
subject: Computational Biology

description: Additional file 1: Figure S1. Large intestinal histopathological changes in IL10−/− mice lacking TLR4 following peroral association with multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa. Representative photomicrographs of hematoxylin and eosin stained paraffin sections illustrate histopathological changes in large intestines of conventionally colonized IL10 deficient (WT IL10−/−) and TLR4 deficient IL10−/− mice (TLR4−/− × IL10−/−) at day 14 following peroral challenge with a clinical multi-drug resistant P. aeruginosa (PA) strain. Naive (N) mice served as negative controls. Continuous and dotted arrows indicate mucosal and submucosal infiltrates, respectively. The star points towards a dysplastic crypt. Scale bar: 100 μm (100× magnification).
Antibody-CpG conjugates for the treatment of lymphoma
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Non-Hodgkin B cell lymphomas are common cancers diagnosed in over 60,000 persons in the U.S. each year. Despite recent advances in therapy, such as the introduction of anti-CD20 monoclonal antibodies, most patients still die of their disease. The anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody rituximab (Rituxan®, Biogen-IDEC/Genentecch) has revolutionized the therapy of B cell lymphomas, but is only partially effective, as most patients eventually recur. De novo or acquired resistance to anti-CD20 antibody therapy is a major clinical problem in lymphoma care, and antibody-drug conjugates that alter the tumor microenvioronment may overcome this. As rituximab’s major mechanism of action involves antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) by natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages, many past efforts to improve antibody efficacy have involved systemic administration of cytokines or other immunostimulants. However, these efforts have not yielded clearly increased efficacy, even using potent stimulants such as toll-like receptor (TLR) agonists, which stimulate release of numerous cytokines. In preliminary studies, we have now demonstrated that a single dose of rituximab directly conjugated to a TLR9 agonist (CpG oligonucleotide) displays striking activity in eradicating established aggressive human CD20-expressing murine B cell lymphoma (38C13-huCD20 model). This level of anti-tumor activity has not been previously reported in the literature or observed with any other maneuver we have tested. We propose to: 1) Further evaluate the efficacy of rituximab-CpG conjugates against larger 38C13-huCD20 tumors and A20-huCD20 tumors grown in huCD20- transgenic mice. 2) Determine the mechanism(s) of action for rituximab-CpG using in vivo depletion of NK cells and macrophages (ADCC effectors) and T cells (potential secondary adaptive T cell immunity), and 3) Test rituximab-CpG conjugates against human lymphoma xenografts in immunodeficient mice. These studies have immediate relevance to the therapy of B cell lymphomas, common cancers in need of improved therapies. Antibody-CpG conjugates may find also application against other cancers for which antibodies against other tumor-associated cell-surface targets exist.
Novel nanophotonic structures and devices for optical interconnect and lithography applications
Creators: name: Tan, Jun
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2013

description: Silicon photonics witnessed spectacular progress in the past decade. Optical interconnects, low cost telecommunications and optical sensors are three main application areas. Photonic crystal is composed of periodic scatterers. When the scatterers are of the proper size and the periodicity is on the order of wavelength, all the reflections and refractions will cancel, forming photonic band-gap forbidding light to penetrate into it. If we remove one line of the scatterers, the light will be confined in this "wire" tightly, forming a photonic crystal waveguide (PCW).  To date, most of the PCW research has been focused on the even TE-like mode. However, a PCW often has an odd TE-like mode inside the photonic band gap exhibiting the slow-light effect as well. We demonstrated a novel scheme to control the excitation symmetry for a slow-light odd-mode in a PCW, and investigated the spectral signature. An odd-mode Mach-Zehnder coupler was introduced to excite a high-purity odd-mode with 20 dB signal-to-background contrast. Assisted by a mixed-mode Mach-Zehnder coupler, slow-light mode-beating can be observed, and determine the group index of this odd-mode. With slow-light enhancement, this odd-mode can help enable miniaturized devices based on transforming mode symmetry.  The evolution of the transmission spectrum of a PCW under electro-optic tuning was studied in the band of an odd TE-like mode. The spectral signature of the interband scattering from the TM-like mode to the odd TE-like mode was characterized at various bias levels. The shift of the odd-mode band was determined. Simulations were performed to explain the spectral shift based on electro-optic and thermo-optic effects in the active photonic crystal structures. Potential impact of interband scattering on indirect interband-transition-based optical isolators is discussed and potential remedies are offered.  Nanopatterning is one of the key steps in nano-fabrication. We applied the negative index material (NIM) to enhance the evanescent wave in the near-field region and excite surface plasmons. Superlens devices working at 193nm DUV wavelength were fabricated, imaged on the photoresist, and characterized by AFM. A series of Finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) simulations were performed to analyze the imaging mechanism of the superlens.
Tetramorium latreillei Forel
Creators: name: Bolton, B.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 1979
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Tetramorium
Tetramorium latreillei

description: Tetramorium latreillei Forel
Tetramorium {Xiphomyrmex) latreillei Forel, 1895 a: 247. Syntype workers, Madagascar: Imerina oriental {Sikora) (MHN, Geneva) [examined].
Worker. TL 4.7 - 5.1, HL 1.14 - 1.20, HW 1.04 - 1.12, CI 91 - 93, SL 0.90 - 0.94, SI 82 - 86, PW 0.74 - 0.80, AL 1.38 - 1.46 (4 measured).
Mandibles striate, median clypeal carina present. Frontal carinae long and strong, divergent throughout their length and directed towards the occipital corners posteriorly. Antennal scrobe a well-defined groove capable of holding the scape. Posteromedian portion of head, in front of the occipital margin, impressed, transversely concave. Metanotal groove absent. Propodeal spines long and strong, metapleural lobes low and rounded. Petiole node in profile subrectangular, with vertical and nearly parallel anterior and posterior faces and a feebly convex dorsum. Head, alitrunk and pedicel regularly longitudinally rugose, the pedicel segments more weakly so than the head and alitrunk, the petiole sometimes with a smooth mediodorsal strip. Erect hairs sparse, present only upon the head and pronotum, apparently not developed on mesonotum, propodeum or pedicel. First gastral tergite with fine greyish appressed pubescence but without hairs, the remaining tergites with hairs. Colour uniform dark brown to black.
In the Malagasy fauna a total of 8 species are now known in which the first gastral tergite lacks hairs. Four of these belong to the schaufussi-group, one to the ranarum-group and two to the weitzeckeri-group. T. latreillei is so far the only member of the tortuosum-group in which this character occurs, and it serves to separate easily this species from its close relatives.
Material examined
Madagascar: no loc. (Staudinger); no loc (Sikora).
description: Published as part of Bolton, B., 1979, The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Malagasy region and in the New World., pp. 129-181 in Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 38 on page 146
Gymnotidae Rafinesque 1815
Creators: name: Angulo, Arturo
name: Betts, Joel T.
name: González-Alemán, Néstor J.
name: Castañeda, Edgar
name: Berghe, Eric Van Den
name: Elías, Diego J.
name: Mcmahan, Caleb D.
name: Matamoros, Wilfredo A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Gymnotiformes
Gymnotidae

description: Family Gymnotidae Rafinesque 1815 (Fig. 3C). Gymnotids, Nakedback Knifefishes, Gymnotid Eels; Peces Cuchillo, Anguilas, Machetes
Description: Body elongate, strongly compressed to subcylindrical; usually less than 30 cm in length; mouth superior, lower jaw protruding; eyes very small; scales present, small; pelvic and dorsal fins absent; anal fin terminating at a point near the tip of the tail; usually brown in color (Bussing 1998, Angulo et al. 2021, Nelson et al. 2016). Distribution: Freshwater; North (southern Mexico only), Central and South America (Nelson et al. 2016). One genus and two species in Nicaraguan freshwaters.
description: Published as part of Angulo, Arturo, Betts, Joel T., González-Alemán, Néstor J., Castañeda, Edgar, Berghe, Eric Van Den, Elías, Diego J., Mcmahan, Caleb D. & Matamoros, Wilfredo A., 2023, Continental fishes of Nicaragua: diversity, distribution and conservation status; with an annotated and illustrated checklist of species and an identification guide to families, pp. 1-89 in Zootaxa 5376 (1) on page 25, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5376.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/10208788
Didymoglossum Desv. (Desvaux 1827
Creators: name: Ahamada H. Saïd
name: Sabine Hennequin
name: Germinal Rouhan
name: Jean-Yves Dubuisson
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2017
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Plantae
Tracheophyta
Polypodiopsida
Hymenophyllales
Hymenophyllaceae
Didymoglossum

description: Subgenus Didymoglossum
Except Didymoglossum hildebrandtii (Kuhn) Ebihara & Dubuisson, the Comorian species belonging to subg. Didymoglossum share hairy lamina margins and emersed sori with tubular base and bilabiate lips with brown margin.
description: Published as part of Ahamada H. Saïd, Sabine Hennequin, Germinal Rouhan & Jean-Yves Dubuisson, 2017, Disentangling the diversity and taxonomy of Hymenophyllaceae (Hymenophyllales, Polypodiidae) in the Comoros, pp. 1-53 in European Journal of Taxonomy 313 on page 14, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2017.313, http://zenodo.org/record/896401
Additional file 1: Figure S1. of Impact of the number of repeated inhalations and patient characteristics on the residual amount of inhaled laninamivir octanoate hydrate dry powder in pediatric patients with influenza
Creators: name: Murasaka, Toshiki
name: Ikemura, Kenji
name: Enokiya, Tomoyuki
name: Muraki, Yuichi
name: Ikemura, Mayumi
name: Terada, Koji
name: Iwamoto, Takuya
name: Okuda, Masahiro
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Space Science
subject: Medicine
subject: Microbiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: 59999 Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Earth and related environmental sciences
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Developmental Biology
subject: Science Policy
subject: 110309 Infectious Diseases
subject: FOS: Health sciences

description: Correlation between PIF and age in pediatric patients receiving laninamivir dry powder inhaler (nÂ =Â 64). Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman correlation coefficient. Each point represents the patients. PIF, peak inspiratory flow. (PDF 716Â kb)
Role of the Wnt signaling pathway for tumor progression in adenoid cystic carcinoma of the salivary gland
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Adenoid cystic carcinoma (ACC) is the most common neoplasm in the salivary glands. Most patients (~90%) with ACC survive more than 5 years after surgery and post-operative radiation therapy. Nevertheless, the survival rate at 10 years suddenly drops to 40% due to multiple recurrences and distant metastasis. Notably, the distant metastasis can develop despite good local control and can occur more than ten years after the initial treatment. ACC is therefore considered as a systemic disease. However, conventional chemotherapy for the treatment has a poorly defined role with ACC. We therefore need more effective targeting therapy for the population. A recent report has demonstrated that ACC has mutations in genes within the Wnt signaling pathway. Our preliminary data from the UCSF archive collection supports the observation. In this proposal, we will test our hypothesis that mutations in the Wnt pathway cause aberrant expression of ß-catenin, and may deregulate a number of ß-catenin/TCF target genes in ACC. We expect that the genetic alterations will result in acceleration of tumor progression in ACC. To test our hypothesis, we will first assess whether pharmacological inhibition of the Wnt pathway can inhibit cell proliferation in ACC cells (Aim 1). We found that cultured ACC cells accumulate ß-catenin in the nucleus and ectopically expressed dominant-negative (DN) form of TCF4 blocked proliferation of the cells. We will first perform flow cytometric cell cycle analysis in the ACC cells following inhibition of Wnt signaling. We will inhibit the signaling through either chemical compounds or lentivirus infection expressing DN TCF4. We will also evaluate the effect of growth reduction through short-term and long-term observation. We will next identify the molecular mechanism of growth inhibition following blockade of the pathway (Aim 2). We will assess transcriptional profiles for the cells through expression array technology. We will narrow down candidate target genes that are mutually reduced in all samples treated with either chemical compounds or DN TCF4. We will then determine ß-catenin target genes that are responsible for tumorigenesis in ACC (Aim 3). Finally, we will knockdown the candidate genes using siRNA or shRNA in ACC cells, and will assess that TCF/ß-catenin target genes can be used as therapeutic targets. We believe that elucidation of ß- catenin target genes in ACC and their interaction with tumor progression will make advance the field toward improving treatment of A
MOESM1 of Screening a protein kinase inhibitor library against Plasmodium falciparum
Creators: name: Hallyburton, Irene
name: Grimaldi, Raffaella
name: Woodland, Andrew
name: BaragaĂąa, Beatriz
name: Luksch, Torsten
name: Spinks, Daniel
name: James, Daniel
name: Leroy, Didier
name: Waterson, David
name: Fairlamb, Alan
name: Wyatt, Paul
name: Gilbert, Ian
name: Frearson, Julie
Publisher: name: Figshare
Year: 2017
Subjects: subject: Biochemistry
subject: Molecular Biology
subject: 39999 Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: 69999 Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: 80699 Information Systems not elsewhere classified
subject: FOS: Computer and information sciences

description: Additional file 1. Supplementary information.
Characterization of novel mechanisms for KASH proteins at the outer nuclear membrane
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Many important cellular functions with relevance to cancer take place on the cytoplasmic surface of the nuclear envelope. We study a class of proteins called KASH proteins that designate the outer nuclear membrane and extend into the cytoplasm to interact with components of the cytoskeleton. Our current funding focuses on how the C. elegans KASH protein UNC-83 interacts with microtubule motors to mediate nuclear migration in post-embryonic tissues. Here we propose to study a novel, essential C. elegans KASH protein KDP-1, which we recently identified. KDP-1 is required for gonadogenesis and normal progression through the early embryonic cell cycle. Knockdown of kdp-1 by RNAi leads to nuclei with morphological defects reminiscent of some tumor cells. In Aim 1, we propose to better characterize the lethal phenotypes of kdp-1(RNAi) embryos and gonads and to determine if KDP-1 functions in meiotic chromosome pairing or apoptosis. In Aim 2, we will perform a yeast two-hybrid screen to identify proteins that interact with KDP-1 with the goal of identifying mechanisms of KDP-1. Candidates will be studied for similar functions to kdp-1 in RNAi experiments in C. elegans. Finally, in Aim 3, we plan to shift into a mammalian tissue culture system. We will identify new KASH proteins using a membrane-bound split-ubiquitin yeast two-hybrid system that was successfully used in C. elegans to find KDP-1. Identification of new KDP-1 partners and new mammalian KASH proteins will form the basis of future outside grant support. The kdp-1 mutant phenotype effects processes with obvious implications in cancer and down regulation of other KASH proteins has been associated with the progression of cancer. Thus, although basic in nature, this project has great potential to elucidate cellular mechanisms with implications in the progression of cancer.
Essays on the determinants of foreign direct investment and its impact on home countries
Creators: name: Tang, Jitao
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2013

description: Both policy makers and policy analysts are interested in the extent to which host country policies influences foreign direct investment (FDI). While much work has focused on the impact of government policies on aggregate FDI, little attention has been paid to the possibility that different types of FDI may respond differently to changes in policies. In this dissertation, I investigate whether local policies affect distinct types of FDI in different ways. In addition, I also study whether the FDI undertaken by multinational enterprises (MNEs) generates spillovers to their home countries.    In the  first chapter, I test the effect of environmental policies in host countries on horizontal, vertical and export-platform FDI. In a simple model I show how different types of FDI respond to a stricter environmental policy. Using U.S. outward FDI in 50 host countries and a survey measure of local environmental regulations, I find a significant deterrent effect of environmental regulations on horizontal and export-platform FDI. Furthermore, I find that in host countries with stricter environmental regulations than U.S. regulations, export-platform FDI exhibits a greater sensitivity to local environmental regulations than horizontal FDI.    I extend the analysis in the first chapter to the effect of local corporate tax rates in the second chapter. The empirical evidence suggests that the effect of statutory corporate income tax rates is negative and significant on vertical and export-platform FDI but insignificant on horizontal FDI. The tax effect is found  to have grown stronger over time. More importantly, I find that different types of FDI respond in distinct ways to variation in tax rates across "third" countries | all other countries beside the actual host country of FDI.    In the third chapter, I investigate the spillovers generated by MNEs when they invest abroad to domestic  firms using  rm level information from Standard and Poor's Compustat data. Similar to most previous studies on host country spillovers, only spillovers from MNEs to their suppliers are found to be significant. Moreover, the realization of positive spillovers depends on a few  rm characteristics,  including exporting status, size and absorptive capacity.
Metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 in human malignancies
Creators: name: Teh, Jessica
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2013

description: The role of the glutamatergic system in cancer cell homeostasis has expanded exponentially over the last decade. Once thought to participate only in synaptic transmission and neuronal excitability, the presence of functional glutamate receptors has since been demonstrated in peripheral tissues. Most notable is the implication of glutamatergic signaling in the pathophysiology of various human malignancies presenting intriguing possibilities to make glutamate receptors putative novel targets for  human cancers. Our group previously described the oncogenic properties of metabotropic glutamate receptor 1 (mGluR1/Grm1), a GPCR, in melanoma development in vivo. TG-3, a transgenic mouse line, developed spontaneous melanoma with 100% penetrance in the absence of any known stimuli. Stable Grm1-mouse melanocytic clones display transformed phenotypes in vitro and were aggressively tumorigenic in vivo.  This thesis has two key aims. The first is to elucidate key downstream effectors of mGluR1 in melanocyte transformation. MAPK and PI3K/AKT signaling were previously identified as downstream targets of mGluR1. Here, we demonstrate a novel pathway for mGluR1-mediated tumorigenesis involving the transactivation of IGF-1R. Disrupted IGF-1R signaling in stable Grm1-melanocytic cells led to the abolishment of mGluR1-induced AKT activation and the suppression of tumor growth. We propose that IGF-1R activation represents a previously overlooked key pathway involved in the  mechanisms by which mGluR1 exerts its transformative properties.  In my second aim, as most human cancers are of epithelial origin, we utilized immortalized mouse mammary epithelial cells (iMMECs) as a model system to study the transformative properties of Grm1. Phenotypic alterations in acinar architecture were assessed using 3D morphogenesis assays. We found that mGluR1-expressing iMMECs exhibited delayed lumen formation in association with decreased central acinar cell death, disrupted cell polarity and a dramatic increase in the activation of the MAPK pathway. Orthotopic implantation of mGluR1-expressing iMMEC clones into mammary  fat pads of athymic mice resulted in tumor formation. Persistent mGluR1 expression was required for the maintenance of the tumorigenic phenotypes as demonstrated by an inducible Grm1-silencing RNA. Moreover, relevance to human breast cancer may be suggested by the observed expression of mGluR1 in human breast tumor biopsies and cell lines, and the consequences of mGluR1 modulation on tumorigenicity therein. Our findings demonstrate that mGluR1 may be oncogenic in mammary epithelial cells and may play a role in the pathophysiology of breast cancer.
Using matrix metalloproteinase gene and protein expression profiles to determine the risk of central neck lymph node metastases in papillary thyroid cancer
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: The American Thyroid Association recently changed its management guidelines for papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) to include routine central neck lymph node dissection during thyroidectomy. However, central neck lymph node dissection results in lengthened operating time and increased operative morbidity of hypoparathyroidism and recurrent laryngeal nerve injury. Many surgeons therefore do not perform central neck lymph node dissection unless these nodes are grossly enlarged on preoperative ultrasound or intraoperative inspection. Numerous clinical papers have addressed the question of whether central neck lymph nodes should be prophylactically removed during thyroidectomy, but there have been few studies using molecular expression profiles to determine risk of central neck lymph node metastases. Significant attention has recently been focused on the role of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) in regulating the growth and metastasis of thyroid cancer. Increased MMP gene expression is correlated with more aggressive PTC in general, but the role of MMPs in central neck lymph node metastasis has not been specifically addressed. We hypothesize that patients with PTC and positive central neck lymph nodes will exhibit different gene and protein expression of MMPs when compared to patients with no central neck lymph node metastases. We will use frozen tissue samples of normal, tumor, and lymph nodes from patients with PTC and perform quantitative real-time PCR for genes encoding MMPs. Once we establish the MMP gene expression profiles of patients with and without central neck lymph node metastases, we will perform immunohistochemical analysis on paraffin-embedded tissues in order to determine whether MMP protein expression correlates with MMP gene expression and whether these data can help distinguish patients with and without central neck lymph node metastases. Our long-term goal is to establish a predictive model based on clinical and molecular profiles that will identify patients who should and should not undergo central neck lymph node dissection during thyroidectomy for PTC; we hope to reduce the number of unnecessary central neck lymph node dissections and thereby improve operative morbidity rates and long-term outcomes for the surgical treatment of PTC.
Chemical factors affecting degradation processes of vegetable oils during frying
Creators: name: Tian, Xin
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2013

description: Food oils degrade rapidly when exposed to high temperatures in frying, but the mechanisms responsible have never been fully elucidated. Thermal degradation is usually described as a combination of hydrolysis and accelerated autoxidation. Thermal scissions of lipid chains have also been identified but remain controversial and largely ignored. This research sought to elucidate the reactions underlying thermal degradation, reconcile roles of thermal scission and autoxidation, and determine where catalytic factors intervene in degradation at frying temperatures.            Thermal degradation processes were investigated in high oleic sunflower oil:corn oil blends (60:40 w/w) heated in an OxipresTM oxygen bomb at 180°C for three hours under 2 bars (O2, air, or O2/N2 blends) to determine rates and amounts of oxygen consumed during heating. Degradation products (conjugated dienes, peroxide values, aldehydes, free fatty acids) were measured in samples removed at various time intervals. In a parallel study, volatiles released during heating were trapped and analyzed by GC-MS. Effects of oil state and pre-oxidation were evaluated using stripped, fresh, and steady-state frying versions of the oil blend. Effects of oxygen, metals, water, phospholipids and free fatty acids were tested individually and in combinations to reveal synergistic catalysis of degradation.    Results supported thermal scission of lipid acyl chains as the dominant process controlling degradation at high temperatures, generating radicals that are the precursors for a broad range of downstream products.  Terminal peroxyl radicals formed by addition of oxygen to thermal scission radicals abstract hydrogens from lipid chains to initiate autoxidation chains as a secondary process.  Oxygen and water were the major forces driving secondary reactions. Traditional catalytic factors known to induce lipid oxidation had relatively minor effects alone but in combination with water triggered rapid consumption of O2. Except for oxygen, catalytic factors affected secondary oxidation processes and product distributions rather than initiating oxidation. Mismatch between O2 consumption and levels of oxidation products demonstrated presence of reaction pathways that consumed oxygen but led to products other than those measured.            Data was integrated to develop a new reaction scheme for thermal degradation of oils. Application of this new information can be used to improve stabilization of frying oils.
Tetramorium pleganon Bolton, 1979, sp. n.
Creators: name: Bolton, B.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 1979
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Insecta
Hymenoptera
Formicidae
Tetramorium
Tetramorium pleganon

description: Tetramorium pleganon sp. n.
Holotype worker. TL 3.8, HL 0.92, HW 0.87, CI 97, SL 0.64, SI 74, PW 0.68, AL 1.10.
Mandibles with very faint, delicate longitudinal striation. Anterior clypeal margin with a very small median impression. Maximum diameter of eye 0.20. Frontal carinae strong, surmounted for most of their length by a narrow rim or flange, occipitally becoming indistinguishable from the surrounding sculpture. Antennal scrobes shallow but broad. Dorsal alitrunk transversely flattened, in dorsolateral view appearing only very weakly convex. Sides of alitrunk bluntly marginate. Propodeal spines elongate and strong, somewhat downcurved along their length. Metapleural lobes short-triangular, acute apically. Node of petiole in profile slightly higher than long, the anterolateral angle roughly a right-angle and the dorsum sloping posteriorly to the much more rounded posterodorsal angle. Postpetiole evenly convex. Dorsum of head regularly longitudinally rugulose, without occipital reticulation; about 11 rugulae between the frontal carinae at the level of the eyes, the spaces between them with very feeble ground-sculpture. Middle of dorsal alitrunk longitudinally rugose, with four roughly parallel strong rugae running from anterior pronotum to propodeum. Outside of these the rugae are more disorganized and meandering, with traces of a broken reticulum in places, especially on the pronotum. Petiole and postpetiole strongly rugose dorsally, the two about equally strongly sculptured. Basal third of first gastral tergite finely and densely reticulate-punctate. All dorsal surfaces of head and body with abundant fine hairs, dorsal surfaces of hind tibiae with suberect to subdecumbent short pilosity. Colour blackish brown, the appendages lighter.
Paratype workers. As holotype, but with dimensions TL 3.7 - 4.0, HL 0.92 - 0.96, HW 0.88 - 0.92, CI 96, SL 0.66 - 0.70, SI 75 - 76, PW 0.66 - 0.69, AL 1.10 - 1.12. Eye diameter 0.18 - 0.20 (2 measured).
Holotype worker, Madagascar: 84 km SW. Sambava on road to Andapa, 70 - 160 m, 17. ii. 1977 degraded for. AB 43, strays on path (W. L. & D. E. Brown) (MCZ, Cambridge).
Paratypes. Three workers with same data as holotype (MCZ, Cambridge; BMNH).
This is the only known Malagasy species with 11 - merous antennae which has the first gastral tergite sculptured.
description: Published as part of Bolton, B., 1979, The ant tribe Tetramoriini (Hymenoptera: Formicidae). The genus Tetramorium Mayr in the Malagasy region and in the New World., pp. 129-181 in Bulletin of the British Museum (Natural History) Entomology 38 on page 146
Characterization of DEPDC1 family proteins in G protein signaling
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Heterotrimeric G protein signaling pathways are used in many organisms for a wide range of cellular and developmental processes. Canonical G protein pathways, in which the binding of ligand to a transmembrane receptor activates a signaling cascade, are well characterized and defects in signaling have been associated with cancer. More recently, a ligand-independent heterotrimeric G protein signaling pathways has been described and functions in mitotic spindle positioning during asymmetric division. The ligand-independent systems utilize a complex containing GaGDP, a GoLoco domain protein and a coiled-coil protein. This is thought to be the active signaling complex, as it can directly associate with microtubule motor regulators that provide the forces to move the spindle. Our studies in C. elegans identified a novel negative regulator, LET-99. LET-99 binds to Ga and prevents formation of the active Ga complex at certain regions of the cell cortex, resulting in asymmetric spindle movements. LET-99 is a DEP domain containing protein similar to the DEPDC1 and 1B subclass of human DEP proteins. DEPDC1 and 1B are upregulated in bladder and breast cancer cells respectively, and inhibition of DEPDC1 slows proliferation. However, the cell signaling mechanism by which DEPDC1 acts remains to be elucidated. Based on our studies of LET-99, I propose that DEPDC1/1B proteins play conserved roles in G protein signaling in multiple cellular contexts. In addition, the DEPDC1 proteins have a degenerate RhoGAP domain, which implicates them in signaling events mediated by Rho GTPases. The proposed experiments will test the hypotheses that DEPDC1/1B proteins bind to Ga or other components of the ligandindependent G protein signaling pathway, and that they interact with Rho GTPases. To test the first hypothesis, we will screen for interactions between human Gai and DEPDC1 using in vitro binding assays and the yeast two-hybrid system. The second hypothesis will be tested using similar assays on the C. elegans DEPDC1 protein LET-99, as the candidate Rho family GTPases are better characterized for this system. DEPDC1 proteins will also be examined for their effects on the GTP loading and GTP hydrolysis of Ga or Rho GTPases in vitro. To test the hypothesis that DEPDC1 proteins act broadly as regulators of G protein signaling, we will further explore the roles of DEPDC1 proteins in C. elegans and human cells. let-99 mutants will be examined for defects in other known G protein signaling processes. As the fir
Macrocoxodesmus marcusi Schubart 1947
Creators: name: Bouzan, Rodrigo Salvador
name: Iniesta, Luiz Felipe Moretti
name: Brescovit, Antonio Domingos
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2019
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Arthropoda
Diplopoda
Polydesmida
Chelodesmidae
Macrocoxodesmus
Macrocoxodesmus marcusi

description: Macrocoxodesmus marcusi Schubart, 1947
BRAZIL • 1 ♂; Minas Gerais, Manhuaçu, Rio Matipó, Fazenda Floresta; 20°15′30″ S, 42°02′01″ W; Dec. 1919; R. Fonseca coll.; MZUSP.
description: Published as part of Bouzan, Rodrigo Salvador, Iniesta, Luiz Felipe Moretti & Brescovit, Antonio Domingos, 2019, Cladistic analysis and description of a new species of the Brazilian genus Atlantodesmus Hoffman, 2000 (Diplopoda: Polydesmida: Chelodesmidae), pp. 1-17 in European Journal of Taxonomy 538 on page 15, DOI: 10.5852/ejt.2019.538, http://zenodo.org/record/3346493
Gymnotus cylindricus La Monte 1935
Creators: name: Angulo, Arturo
name: Betts, Joel T.
name: González-Alemán, Néstor J.
name: Castañeda, Edgar
name: Berghe, Eric Van Den
name: Elías, Diego J.
name: Mcmahan, Caleb D.
name: Matamoros, Wilfredo A.
Publisher: name: Zenodo
Year: 2023
Subjects: Biodiversity
Taxonomy
Animalia
Chordata
Gymnotiformes
Gymnotidae
Gymnotus
Gymnotus cylindricus

description: Gymnotus cylindricus La Monte 1935. Round Knifefish; Pez Cuchillo, Pez Cuchillo Redondo, Pez Navaja, Pez Machete, Anguila, Anguila Falsa, Madre de Barbudo, Guabina
Vouchers: UCR 3115-004 (1); other collections: ANSP 113929 (1), CAS 61383 (3), 61389 (2), CUMV 64678 (1), KU 18690 (1), 18702 (1), UMMZ 199622 (1) and 199633 (1). Distribution: Central America; from central Guatemala to eastern Costa Rica, Atlantic and Pacific drainages; (Nicaragua) Co, UI, WK, Pr, GM, KP, Es, BF, IM, To, Sa, SJ, RF, LN (Atlantic) and Ch (Pacific); 2–319 masl; Pri, Pot. Occurrence and conservation status: Nat; LC (2020), population trend unknown. Literature: Astorqui (1975: 155, as Gymnotus carapo Linnaeus 1758 — misidentification; brief description, including illustrations and an identification key, and information on distribution and ecology), Villa (1982: 108; detailed description, including illustrations and an identification key, and information on distribution and ecology), Carr & Giovannoli (1994: 101, as G. carapo —misidentification; brief description, including information on distribution and ecology), Bussing (1998: 130; brief description, including illustrations and an identification key, and information on distribution, with a map, and ecology), Gros & Miguel-Frithz (2010: 217; brief description, including illustrations, and information on distribution and ecology, plus indigenous science and ethnoichthyology), van den Berghe (2015: 39; listed, including an illustration and information on distribution and ecology) and Angulo (2021: 28; listed, including information on distribution).
description: Published as part of Angulo, Arturo, Betts, Joel T., González-Alemán, Néstor J., Castañeda, Edgar, Berghe, Eric Van Den, Elías, Diego J., Mcmahan, Caleb D. & Matamoros, Wilfredo A., 2023, Continental fishes of Nicaragua: diversity, distribution and conservation status; with an annotated and illustrated checklist of species and an identification guide to families, pp. 1-89 in Zootaxa 5376 (1) on page 25, DOI: 10.11646/zootaxa.5376.1.1, http://zenodo.org/record/10208788
Computational analysis of olfaction and artificial nose technologies
Creators: name: Tsitron, Julia
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2013

description: Cross-selective receptor arrays coupled with higher-order neural processing can be seen in naturally occurring olfactory systems, where a large number and variety of analytes can be detected, distinguished, even quantified using relatively few receptors and clever combinatorial odor decoding.  This strategy has been imitated in artificial sensor array systems that are paired with computational signal-processing tools in diverse applications that range from vintage wine year discrimination to disease diagnosis.  However, the complexity of receptor response patterns to even a single analyte, coupled with non-linearity of response to mixtures of analytes, makes quantitative inference of individual compound concentrations within mixtures a challenging task. In this work, I show how output from two distinct types of sensor arrays, each combined with Bayesian analysis, can be used to predict component concentrations in complex mixtures.  In the first case, the array consists of four engineered G-protein-coupled receptors used for deciphering mixtures of highly related sugar nucleotides.  We employ a biophysical model that explicitly takes receptor-ligand interactions into account in order to quantify mixture constituents.  Furthermore, we develop a universal metric of receptor array performance, and use it to study the fundamental limits imposed on the accuracy of ligand recognition by the physics and biology of receptor-ligand interactions.  This provides design guidelines for sensor arrays optimized for mixture analysis.  Antagonistic receptor response, well-known to play an important role in biological systems, proves to be essential for precise recognition of mixture components.  The second array consists of a mixed-potential electrochemical sensor operating under different applied bias currents to monitor gas mixtures in diesel engine exhaust.  Here, the sensitivity and selectivity of a device is tuned by current application, thus a single sensor serves as an entire array when operated under multiple conditions.  Both a linear and non-linear model are used to quantify ammonia gas in the presence of propylene interference.  While more data-intensive, the nonlinear model captures cross-interference between analytes and yields more accurate predictions.  Our Bayesian methodology is easily generalized to other `artificial nose' applications by the inclusion of additional models.
Human neural stem cell differentiation and electrical stimulation on a novel single walled carbon nanotube-polymer composite
Creators: name: Turner, Jeffrey Thomas
Publisher: name: No Publisher Supplied
Year: 2013

description: Increasing control of human neural stem cell (hNSC) differentiation is critical to development of cellular models for neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease because current methods do not result in the required fully developed cells. In addition, existing cell culture and differentiation regimen are inefficient due to lengthy differentiation times and low yields of functional cells. The use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs), particularly in 3D geometries, offers a possible solution by improving the kinetics and efficiency of NSC differentiation. Electrical stimulation through conductive substrates, such as CNTs, can cause increased rates of NSC differentiation. In this work, a combination of a three dimensional, in vivo mimetic, single walled CNT substrate and electrical stimulation is used to investigate survival and differentiation behaviors of hNSCs derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). First, fibrous poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA) substrates, with an average fiber diameter of 1.11μm, are manufactured via electrospinning onto a flat plate collector. A novel vacuum driven impregnation technique forces an aqueous dispersion of CNTs to coat the PLGA fibers while maintaining the microscale features of the fibers’ architecture. The CNTs provide increased electrical conductivity, >0.1 S/m up to 25 S/m, and nanosurface roughness, which can increase neurite interfacial interactions, resulting in improved differentiation of NSCs to neurons. Immunocytochemistry of hNSC differentiated on these surfaces reveal an 18% rise in the number of cells staining positive for neurofilament M (NFM), a marker of maturing neurons, on CNT versus control PLGA substrate after 14 days of differentiation. When a 10 minute, 30μA direct current stimulation is applied on the 3rd day of differentiation, there is a further 4% improvement in the number of cells staining positive for NFM on the 14th day of differentiation. Calcium imaging indicates that on day 14, 0.3% of cells on PLGA scaffolds compared to 5.9% of cells on the CNT composite substrate had an electrical event in response to electrical stimulation. These results strongly support the use of electrically conductive CNT substrates for neural differentiation and suggest electrical cues could be more systematically investigated for directing the differentiation process to sub-type specific and functional human neuronal systems.